I'm a horrible person. I haven't updated this in SO FREAKIN' LONG. But you all know that… I'M SORRY! I was all ready to type it up and post, and what do you know, my brain suddenly decides that it hates what I've written and makes me rewrite it all. But that's no excuse. So, I'll stop talking now and just let you wonderful people read in peace.
Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine.
Dedication: I'm normally not someone to dedicate my work, and I know he wouldn't have given a rat's ass about someone dedicating a fanfiction to him, but whatever. Carson, you made such a huge impact on everyone's life. Fly high.
Chapter Three: Power
"How? How did this happen?" Blayne whispered. His life had come crashing down. After the history lesson, he, Keiji, and a group of friends had all gone to a café to talk about what they had heard.
"I really can't believe all that happened," Keiji said. "I mean, I know the call Zero the knight for justice, but some the things he did were just amazing! It's like he isn't human, or has some crazy superpower! I still want to know if the Zero we have now is the same one as before, though. Dad did say he died in the second Battle for Tokyo."
"Even so, Zero is Zero," a girl named Amy entered the conversation. "Does it really matter who Zero is under the mask? They never knew who the original Zero was, so even if we know who this one is, it still wouldn't answer the question. As long as Zero acts as Zero and keeps the peace, it doesn't matter who he is."
"True," Keiji replied. "We don't need to know who Zero is it's just that Zero has no need to hide his face. We're in a time of peace now, and he's definitely not going to be shunned or anything. It doesn't matter anymore what race he is, or if he's disfigured, or anything of that sort!"
Blayne, who had been sitting quietly until that point spoke up then. "But that's just it. Zero stands for all the good and justice that everyone has in them and deserves in turn. His name, his face, they just don't matter. He could be anyone, just as long as he's there."
"That may be true, but I still think there's something a little off about that story. Like Dad wasn't telling the full truth. But whether or not it's because he doesn't know or doesn't want us to know is the question."
"Whatever, guys," another boy chimed in. "All this philosophical crap is making me sick. Now what about Lelouch? That was some crazy shit, neh?"
At the mention of Lelouch's name, Blayne froze. It brought the memory of the strange encounter even more to the forefront of this mind. It couldn't have been Lelouch in the alley that day, because Lelouch was dead. He had been purged twenty years before by Zero the messiah. Besides, it had been dark, and Blayne hadn't really gotten a good look at the strange, black haired man.
He stood up abruptly, interrupting the conversation. "I'm not feeling well. I think I'm gonna head home. See ya!" And with that, Blayne ran off.
As soon as he got back to the Ohgi residence, Villetta called him into the kitchen. "Blayne, a letter came from your parents today," she said gently. "I didn't read it, but I would appreciate it if you told me what they say. After all, they are my friends."
"Um, yeah, alright." Blayne took the letter, unwilling to open it. He could feel the tenuous balance he had struck beginning to tip. His whole future depended on one little package of paper and ink. In his room, Blayne slowly turned the envelope over in his hands, and opened it. The letter was written in his mother's delicate handwriting.
Blayne,
How is your stay in Japan? Say hello to the Ohgi's for me, and tell Villetta I may be coming to visit sometime. Unfortunately, things have not gotten much better between your father and I, and as such, we are going through with the divorce. I really just can't stand being around that man anymore.
To make things worse, we were notified today that the McAlistor's are no longer part of the Britannian nobility. I'm ashamed to admit that this was the result of a screaming match between your father and I at a society event. Blayne, I must apologize to you. We have not been good parents to you as of late, but ever since Annobel died, things have been hard for us too. Please try to understand.
As of right now, almost all of our personal accounts have been frozen in order to stop either your father or I from stealing any money. However, your personal account is still yours to use freely. I'm just telling you this so you don't expect any more deposits from us. I love you always, and I'll try to come to Japan sometime in the future once the divorce is settled.
Love,
Mother
"Bullshit," Blayne muttered to himself. "Utter bullshit. She shouldn't be making excuses." He noticed a second piece of paper behind the letter from his mother. Although, piece of paper was a bit generous, it was more like a scrap torn off a notepad.
Don't screw up and make things even worse for us.
That was it. One sentence, written in his father's barely legible chickenscratch. And those ten words sent Blayne over the edge. He was pissed. Shoving the letter in his pocket, Blayne stormed out of the house, ignoring Villetta's worried "What's wrong?"
He had wandered the streets for what seemed like hours, feeling the rage boil up in him. Who were they to decide his fate? He glared at everyone, just daring them to come close and pick a fight. He wanted a fight. He wanted to punch someone, make their lives as wrong as his.
All of which led Blayne to his current situation. His roaming had once again gotten him lost in the streets of Tokyo. "Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit," Blayne muttered, punching the side of building.
"Now, now. Don't go losing your temper."
Blayne whipped around, looking to see who had spoken. "You," he growled. "Who the hell are you?" It was the same person from two weeks before. "Why do you keep following me?"
"I told you, didn't I? I've been watching you, and you're the perfect candidate to receive ultimate power," the strange teen smirked, seemingly amused.
"Yeah, you said that. But why, in the name of all things holy, should I believe you?"
"Why shouldn't you?"
Blayne paused, taken aback by the unexpected reply. He gave a hard stare, directly into the other person's eyes. He had known it. The nagging feeling in his gut had been correct. Standing in front of him, impossibly, was Lelouch vi Britannia, alive and well. "Maybe because you murdered missions of people and destroyed the world."
"What are you talking about?" the stranger replied, feigning innocence.
"You know damn well what I'm talking about. Lelouch vi Britannia. That's your name, isn't it?"
"What's in a name," Lelouch mused. "Is it a person's soul, their identity? Or is it simply a collection of letters, random sounds come together that we simply associate with someone because we don't know their true nature? True, for a time that was my name, the name the whole world knew and feared. But tell me: why is this relevant? What have you got to lose?"
Blayne swallowed. What did he have to lose? With a jolt, the answer came to him. Nothing. He had nothing to lose. Annobel was gone, and his parents were as good as. He didn't give a damn about nobility. He didn't have any particularly close friends besides Keiji. So why not? He took a deep breath. "Fine. I accept your offer. When do I get this 'incredible power'?"
"Tonight. Meet me at this address, at this time." Lelouch pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Blayne.
"You seem to have anticipated my answer," Blayne commented.
"Of course. I know you better than you do yourself." And with those ominous words and a smile, Lelouch was gone.
~oOo~
Blayne looked at the seemingly abandoned warehouse. He double-checked the address; it seemed strange, but this was the place where Lelouch wanted to meet. He shrugged, and entered the building.
"So you made it. Good. I fixed the lock on that door so it only opened in a three minute interval. You passed the test." Lelouch smiled. "Very well. I promised you power, did I not? Come here." And with the delicacy and caution of a hare approaching a sleeping wolf, Blayne approached Lelouch.
A red light began emanating from Lelouch's chest, illuminating the darkness of the warehouse. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Blayne registered the fact that the storeroom was filled with giant crates, filled with who-knows-what. But the majority of his thoughts were focused on what was happening before him. Lelouch reached out his hand, and placed it firmly on Blayne's forehead, almost pushing him back. And suddenly, he wasn't in the warehouse anymore.
Of course, on some level Blayne knew he was still standing on the cracked cement floor, but for all intents and purposes, he was no longer there. He traveled down a tunnel of glowing blue light, only to end up in an endless white space. There in front of him was Lelouch, refracted a thousand times, constantly shifting, changing. "Good, you're here," Lelouch said. In this space, which seemed both enclosed and endless, his voice was larger, louder, echoing. A voice of power. "You are about to receive the power of the King, Geass. It will both bless you and condemn you. But the path you walk will be forged by you alone; your fate is in your own hands." Lelouch reached out and touched Blayne's chest, right above his heart.
And then Blayne was soaring. A feeling, indescribable, filled him. If it was, then it also was not. It was as if every nerve and cell, every fiber of his being, was being razed and burned, but Blayne was unable to decide if it was painful or not. He saw snatches, glimpses: a swirling mass of red and orange with a strange symbol upon it; a mass of people chanting a word- Zero- over and over again; Knightmares firing at each other and exploding.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. He was back in his own body, standing in the warehouse. However, everything felt… new. Changed. Blayne was now aware of a power within him, making him feel like he could do anything, destroy anything. He was unable to tell if the power had been there all along, and he had only just become aware of it, or if it was something new, now merged with his very soul.
What had felt like hours in the strange other dimension had been merely seconds in the real world. Blayne looked at the person before him. "That… Was that…?"
"Yes. That was Geass. What just happened was essentially forcibly induced meditation, where you delved into the deepest depths of your mind and soul. That allowed you awaken the power and obtain Geass."
"So, now what? What do I have to do in return? Be your slave, obey your every command?"
"Oh, no," Lelouch laughed. "Nothing of that sort. But that doesn't mean you can't still be useful to me. To complete your part of the contract, you must help me fulfill my greatest wish. Although, you will certainly be better off in the long run if you follow my orders when I give them."
"What is this wish?" Blayne was instantly suspicious. What could Lelouch the Demon possibly want? Revenge against the world?
"Let me just say I have some unfinished business." Lelouch smiled a cryptic smile, like whoever had wronged him was going to pay. Big time. Blayne was beginning to wonder just what he had gotten himself into. But now, he knew he could deal with it, whatever it was. Then a thought came to him, a question that had been nagging at him, but had been forgotten in the excitement.
"How are you here? How are you alive? Weren't you killed by Zero twenty years ago? What the hell really happened?"
Lelouch sighed. He had known this question would be asked at some point. "That's irrelevant right now. But just know this: what Kaname Ohgi told you is only part of the truth. That was the official story, and there are parts he didn't tell you; some because they have been purposely omitted, and some because they are simply unknown."
Blayne glared at him. "That still doesn't answer my question."
"Tell me this first, then. What do you know about me?"
This was the last thing Blayne expected to hear. He said, somewhat shakily, "Um… you were born in Britannia, and were the eleventh prince. You disappeared for eleven years, before coming back as the 99th emperor. You caused misery around the world, so Zero killed you. But you didn't die, and now you're here."
"You're ignorant," Lelouch stated bluntly. "You think, just because you have that single scrap of knowledge, you can correctly deduce everything. Why don't you try to figure out what happened during the years I 'disappeared'. By the way, you're the Ashford student council Vice President, aren't you?" Blayne mutely nodded. "How ironic," Lelouch laughed. "But those things are the least of your concerns right now."
"What are you-?" Blayne started to say. But he was cut off by a loud shout from behind, causing him to jump. He looked behind him, and inexplicably there was a member of the Black Knights. He looked at Lelouch, wondering what was going on.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? This is a storage warehouse for the Black Knights. A guard comes by every half hour. So, Blayne. What are you going to do?"
And despite his instinctual feeling that he was about to be riddled with bullets, Blayne knew exactly what to do. Somehow, he understood the general nature of the power he had received minutes before, as well as how to utilize it. He made eye contact with the man, relaxed the restraint he was holding on his power, and felt it surge through him.
~oOo~
Black Knights recruit John Grady Cole had recently been stationed in Japan, and had been given the job of night patrol around the warehouses. It was well known to be one of the worst jobs, but he was happy to take it, because he wanted to serve the world in any way he could. So when he saw two strangers standing in the middle of one of the warehouses, he immediately sprang into action, even though it was just two teenagers who were probably pulling a prank. With a shout, he called their attention. He saw the blond one turn to his friend, and heard the last words the kid with black hair said to his companion. "What are you going to do?"
At this, John Grady was thoroughly confused. He was armed with a semi-automatic machine gun, and the two teens had nothing. Then the blond one turned his head and looked directly into John Grady's eyes.
From the stacks of crates behind the two intruders came a fully functional, and highly armed, Knightmare. For John Grady, who had only ever seen Knighmares in training sessions, seeing a highly dangerous and hostile giant robot coming directly at him was too much. He dropped to the ground in a dead faint.
~oOo~
Seeing the man drop, Blayne grinned and slowly reigned in his Geass. He knew, of course, that the Knightmare had not been real; merely a wraith conjured up from his imagination for the Black Knights member to see. For that was his power, his Geass: he could make anyone see what he wanted them to, whether it was their biggest fear or the thing they loved most, or even nothing at all. That was the power of illusion.
Since I know there were a lot of questions about this, I'm going to clear it up right here. C.C. gave Lelouch her code before he was 'killed'. I know it makes more sense for him to have taken Charles' code, but I need it this way for the plot. Yes, I actually do have a plot semi planned out. I know, right? Oh yeah, I also don't own John Grady Cole. I just like to make bad things happen to him… But anyway, summer is here, so I actually will be able to update sooner than half a year! (I really am sorry about that.) Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed, favorite, followed, or even read this. You guys motivate me to write the best I can! So don't forget to review!