(A/N: It's been almost a month since I updated this. Time sure flies. Curse you writer's block. Anyway time to write)
Disclaimer: I do not own Mirai Nikki or Code Geass
The Next Day
3rd Person pov
It was a Saturday. Kallen woke up feeling groggy. She could hear the doorbell going off and just grumbled that no one was answering it. She finally heard the door open and then heard high heels approaching her room. A hand banged loudly on the door.
"Kallen!"
Kallen groaned at hearing the voice of her step mom. Weekends were her time to sleep in, why couldn't she let her?
"Kallen, get up this minute, you have a guest," she shouted.
"Ugh," Kallen groaned. She got up and put some clothes on and brushed down her hair. "What do you want?" she snapped at her step mom.
"You have guest from the student council asking for you, she says her name is Kasugano," Kallen recognized the name immediately and rushed down the stairs to see Tsubaki in school uniform.
"Miss Kallen," Tsubaki smiled, "Good to see you."
"What…" Kallen breathed, "are you doing here…are you…crazy?"
Tsubaki tilted her head and looked up towards the sky, "I don't think so."
"I'll say it again," Kallen leaned against the door, "What exactly are you doing here?"
"I had to make sure of something," Tsubaki said, "Kallen could we talk somewhere…where no one will hear us?"
Kallen obliged and took Tsubaki out behind her house to the green house. "Such colorful plants," Tsubaki admired.
"What exactly do you want Tsubaki?" Kallen asked.
"Ah such an attitude," Tsubaki put the wrist over the side of her mouth, "Did I wake you, or perhaps you really are who I think you are."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kallen wanted to know.
"No need to try and hide it," Tsubaki felt the leafy tip of one of the ferns growing, "after all you and I are on the same team. Isn't that right," she glanced back at Kallen, "Q-1?" Kallen gasped in a low voice. "My eyesight may be poor, but two Kallen's both being red heads as mere coincidence," Tsubaki held up a finger, "I don't by that for a second."
"What do you hope to gain by telling me that you know this?" Kallen asked. "Just because we rescued you doesn't give the right to walk all over us like you're the queen."
"Tsk tsk," Tsubaki wagged her finger, "I wouldn't take that tone with me if I were you. Tell me something Kallen," she turned towards her, "What do you think Zero would think if he knew that you fought for him, but at the same time were submitting yourself and living a luxurious life behind the scenes. Hmm?"
"Aren't you doing the same?" Kallen asked.
Tsubaki placed her hand on her chest, "I just wanted to be normal. I'm letting you all use my clan grounds to function while at the same time paying off Britannian nobles who come snooping by. You protected me and I protect you, but I'm just so curious."
"You would tell Zero about this," Kallen was scared, rather annoyed. Tsubaki had played the victim of being a helpless young girl, but now that she was out in the open she acted like she owned the place, even at school. Kallen saw her yesterday. Unlike herself Tsubaki was not afraid to act tough. She was like a Yakuza in the form of an angel. But she had also seen Tsubaki act like an innocent young school girl around the Black Knights, which lead Kallen to wonder which person was the real Tsubaki. Did she put up a brave front at school or did she put on an act around Zero?
"I am Zero's mistress after all," Tsubaki now seemed pleased at the idea, smiling widely with her eyes closed, "I must make sure he is safe." She gave Kallen a serious look. "I am on borrowed time. You all saved me and so even if it would cost my life, I must make sure Zero succeeds. My life is his now."
"So you want to know why I fight then, is that it?" Kallen asked.
Tsubaki nodded, "I must make sure everyone in the Black Knights is loyal to Sir Zero. I don't want to lose the person who gave me a chance to live."
I see now, Kallen realized, They're both her. On one side there is the weak, scared noble who is just starting to have a chance to live now and on the other there is the repressed anger and deep hatred towards society. Kallen grabbed Tsubaki's wrist. "Come with me." She took Tsubaki to the garage and got the keys to one of the family cars. She opened the passenger side. "Get in." Tsubaki did so without question. Kallen shut the door and opened the driver's side and started up the car.
"Where are we going?" Tsubaki asked Kallen.
"To my reason for fighting," Kallen told her.
Kallen took Tsubaki to a hospital where upon she took her to a room on the 3rd floor and opened it without warning. "See her?" Kallen asked showing Tsubaki a woman with brown braided hair sitting in the bed inside the room.
"Who is she?" Tsubaki asked.
"My mother," Kallen said to Tsubaki.
"Your…"
"A day before we came to bust you out we dismantled an entire factory of refrain, my mother was one of its abusers," Kallen told Tsubaki with a bitter tone. "If you want proof to trust me, then look no further."
"But before this, what was your motivation?" Tsubaki asked.
"Because Britannia is a menace," Kallen answered, "My brother and I fought for those reasons. I am Japanese not an eleven. This chaos needs to stop!"
"No shouting in a hospital," A nurse called from the other end of the hall.
"Sorry," Kallen apologized and then looked sternly at Tsubaki, "Do you need any more proof?"
"What you have shown me is quite sufficient Kallen. Watashi wa ima anata o shinjiru" (I trust you now)
Kallen smiled at Tsubaki's use of their native tongue. "Arigato Tsubaki-san," Kallen responded, "Watashi wa ie ni kon, anata o toru ka?" (Shall I take you home now?)
"Hai, te kudasai," (Yes, Please) Tsubaki once again responded in Japanese. Kallen smiled and took the young girl back to the grounds.
The Next Day
Lelouch, dressed as Zero, sat in the hideout of the Black Knights, in the new underground base of operations they had set up beneath the Omakata grounds, planning his assault on Yukiteru and Yuno. Thanks to his diary he had discovered Britannia's ploy to attack as well. He also learned that Schneizel would actually be entering the battlefield. Besides Suzaku's White Knightmare he would also have to worry about Britannia's prototype, a miniature Knightmare model: the Lagann Ex-Pro. According to Lelouch's data it contained no pilot and was controlled remotely, but could sustain a pilot if need be.
The Black Knights, yesterday, had been entrusted with some new Knightmares from the Kyoto group, the most advanced of which he gave to Kallen. Lelouch had plans to steal the Lagann Ex-Pro and also the Knightmare Schneizel would be piloting: Cornelia's old Gloucester. It had been modified and turned into a more lethal weapon in order to better stand up to the Pelleas more efficiently. This, according to his data was controlled by Schneizel himself, the Lagann Ex-Pro remotely.
The plan was simple, let Britannia attack first, wait until they were wounded and damaged, take command of the confusion with the Black Knights, offering again to assist Yuno and Yukiteru and then, amidst the Chaos take Cornelia's Gloucester, and the Lagann Ex-Pro.
Thanks to his alliances he had not one, but two aces: Kallen and Minene. Kallen would take to the battlefield while Minene would sneak under the radar and hijack the proper Knightmares. She'd take command of the Lagann Ex-Pro first. Apparently manual input overrode automated commands. She'd then use the small robot to take Schneizel's Knightmare and return both to base before heading back out to the battle in Cornelia's Gloucester. The only real trouble would be Minene's encounter with Schneizel and Suzaku, but from his diary it appeared that Suzaku would be too busy handling the Pelleas to assist Schneizel, who, according to Lelouch's diary, was more concerned with recovering it than anything else. Once Britannia had been driven off, which they would be once Suzaku was the only real asset they had left would be Suzaku. With a modified Gloucester, the Guren MK II and the Lagann Ex-Pro at his command even Schneizel would have to order a retreat. With his battle plans in order Lelouch headed up the stairs to talk things over with the Knights…or rather Minene as she was currently the only one present. The others were out partying.
"Not much of a party girl?" Lelouch asked her as he watched her doing some work on a mechanical device.
"I've got wanted posters strung up all over the place," she responded, "the moment I walk into a joint is the moment the party dies."
"How unfortunate for you, but for now I suppose it works out," Lelouch flung out his cape, "I need to talk to you about tomorrow's battle plan, you'll be playing an important asset in the battle tomorrow. I have need of a special skill of yours."
Minene smirked and put down her things, "Whatcha need?"
Lelouch went over the details of the plan with Miene, retracing his steps over the specifics she would play out. "Think you can handle it?" Lelouch asked when she was finished.
"It's a pretty wild plan, especially your faith in me to hijack Schneizel's Knightmare," she commented.
"Schneizel's piloting skills are about next to none. If anything he'll be there just to intimidate Yuno and Yukiteru," he stated.
"And what do you plan to do with those two once the battle is over?" Minene asked him.
"Once we drive away Britannia there's a high probability Yuno Gasai will attempt to get rid of us." By high probability, Lelouch meant certainty, as that was what was predicted in his diary. The only reason Yuno wouldn't attack is if Yukiteru convinced her not to. "When that happens you'll just have to leave everything to me. Unless Yuno Gasai chooses to surrender the Pelleas will have to be destroyed.
"Destroy a Knightmare that wasn't meant to be used for another 5 years? That's pretty implausible for one of your plans," Minene commented with a sneer as she folded her arms
"It may be implausible, but you forget I am Zero the miracle worker. I can turn even the most certain of defeats into victories. Fear not, at the end of the day it is us that shall be victorious!" Lelouch declared. In truth he had used his diary to determine a special use that the Lagann Ex-pro was built for and why it had been constructed. He was counting on its use to clench the battle for him.
"Well someone's awfully confident for a guy who had to be bailed out by me," Minene twirled a lock of her hair.
"Which is exactly why I'm counting on you to see this plan through Miss Uryu," Lelouch told her. "You and Kallen are my most elite allies. It's like chess. I am the king, but instead of one queen I have two."
"You flatter me Zero," Minene chuckled, filling lifted by Zero's compliment.
Lelouch looked at the clock on the wall, "the others should be back soon. Knock when they return," Lelouch back to his room.
"Sure thing," Minene smiled. When Lelouch returned to his quarters he saw C.C there.
"How did you get here without being seen, more importantly what do you want?" Lelouch asked her.
"I come and go like the wind," she sprawled out onto his bed.
"Just leave me alone," Lelouch grumbled sitting down at his desk.
"Aren't you going to tell that woman about your secret? You already told the religious girl," C.C reminded Lelouch.
"Minene is already known by identity to the enemy. If they capture her they'll interrogate her. She's also an arrogant one and could let it slip that I'm a diary holder if she knows. I'll tell her if the time is right or if she asks for my help seeking the throne of god. Knowing her I can hear her already," Lelouch cleared his throat and then pretended to be Minene and himself. He switched both poses and voices. "I've been doing some thinking," he said, as Minene, "Oh have you," Lelouch changed his posture and position to be himself. He switched back to acting as Minene, "Why should we settle for just going after Britannia? Zero have you ever thought of aiming higher?" Lelouch switched back to being himself. "Higher you say what did you have in mind?" He went back to mimicking Minene, "Have you ever thought of what it would be like to be a servant of God?" He became himself again, "Why be god's servant when I can take god's throne?" he shifted to being Minene, "That's not what I'm offering." Himself again. "That may not be what you're offering, but it's something I can accomplish." He quit the charade. "Something like that."
"You should join the drama club," C.C teased. Lelouch growled under his breath. "All joking aside do you really think you'll be able to pull off defeating a physical manifestation of god?"
"If not now then later. She is one of the holders after all. She must be dealt with at some point or another. Better it be now than when she starts to become a thorn in my side," I responded.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Lelouch checked his phone, "The others should be coming back shortly."
Later that evening
Lelouch lay down in bed snoring. He opted to stay with the rest of the knights. Britannia was planning to attack at day break so he had to be here to launch his plan between the late morning and early afternoon. His door was locked and C.C was keeping watch over him. At the time she seemed to be talking to either herself or some form of imaginary friend.
"He's certainly a reckless one," she said, as she tossed Lelouch's helmet up in the air and played catch with it. She said nothing as if hearing an invisible response. "The girl has already seen me. If I botch his plans how is he supposed to trust me?" There was another pause. "This Deus sounds like an interesting person the more and more I hear about him. I'd like to meet him if I could." She stopped playing catch with herself and set Lelouch's helmet on the table next to her. "Now, now I didn't say anything about that." There was another pause. "I doubt he'd have it in him, even with all that power, to do that. Once he learns the nature of our connection he'd be mortified." C.C grew cross. "I'm referring to the one I have with him."
There was suddenly a knock at the door. C.C put a hand next to the door, "Yes."
"Oh, I thought this was Zero's room," it was Tsubaki.
"It is, he's sleeping Tsubaki, did you need something?" C.C asked her.
"I can't sleep," Tsubaki stated.
"What do you want him to do about it?" C.C asked.
"Can I just come in?" Tsubaki whined. C.C sighed. For a teenager, Tsubaki certainly had some childlike qualities to her. The immortal witch rationalized it must come from years of being hauled up in a prison cell. She walked over to Lelouch's bed and threw the covers over his face. Only Tsubaki and Lelouch knew that she had seen his face. C.C then opened the door.
"As I told you he's sleeping so be quiet," C.C told her. Tsubaki looked at her.
"Aren't you…"
"Hmm,"
"You're the green haired woman who was with Zero when we first met," Tsubaki recognized her.
"You can tell?" C.C asked.
"Green hair, yellow eyes, and I recognize your voice. My eyesight may be poor, but your hair color is very…unique," Tsubaki told her.
"I see," C.C stepped to the side.
"Is he really sound asleep?" Tsubaki asked C.C
"Out like a light," C.C said, leaning back against the wall and slowly shutting the door.
Tsubaki spotted the helmet on the table, "So you also know his true face?" she looked at C.C
C.C grew slightly hostile, raising an eyebrow, "What do you mean also?"
Tsubaki covered her mouth with her sleeve, "Zero showed me his face once and I see him all the time at school."
What a fool. C.C thought to herself. Lelouch prided himself in not letting anyone see his face so why let Tsubaki know what he looks like. Did he pity her because of her bad eyesight? C.C saw Tsubaki heading for Lelouch's bed and immediately swerved out in front of the girl. With Tsubaki's bad eyesight the long haired girl hit her thorat against C.C's thrown out arm and staggered back, coughing. Lelouch stirred, but only to turn over. "What are you doing?"
"I just…I just wanted to be near him," Tsubaki started to show signs of wanting to cry, "Is that so wrong?" she shut her eyes and began to wipe them to prevent tears, "To be want to be near the man who saved my life; the one who gave me a chance to live it as I saw fit."
C.C growled under her breath, at Tsubaki's theatrics but was starting to be able to see why Tsubaki had seen Lelouch's face. She loved him. Love. The one emotion C.C never grew to understand the concept of. Her 'Love Me' Geass that she had long since lost made it so that she could tell no longer the difference between infatuation of her and true love towards her, but she was still able to recognize it in others. C.C's eyes grew sympathetic and she sat down on one of the couches in the room. "Just don't wake him," she told Tsubaki with one eye open. "He gets very cranky when he doesn't get his rest. I swear he acts just like a teenage girl."
Tsubaki giggled, "You and Zero must be really close."
"I was asked to watch after him by a friend," C.C said, "Don't tell him I said that."
"You have my word," Tsubaki winked. She headed up the shallow steps to Lelouch's bed, but stopped and turned to look at C.C. "Oh I never caught your name."
"It's C.C," C.C responded.
"That's a weird name. You're not number are you?" Tsubaki said with an intuitive tone in her voice.
"Very astute, no I'm not, I'm" C.C looked over her shoulder towards Tsubaki, "a witch."
Tsubaki giggled, "You're funny C.C," Tsubaki walked down and stuck out her pinky to the age old Geass giver, "What's say we be friends. You and I will both look after Zero…nay Lelouch."
C.C smiled, "All right, friends it is," she and Tsubaki linked pinkies and shook.
"Lelouch-kun is lucky to have such a mature overseer and friend like you C.C-san," Tsubaki smiled.
"And Lelouch is very fortunate to have such a devoted ally such as yourself Miss Kasugano," C.C said.
Tsubaki laughed, smiling and then went over to Lelouch's bed, grabbed a blanket from a nearby shelf, wrapped it around her and lay next to Lelouch with her back against him. She fell asleep instantly.
"Sleep tight you two," C.C smiled and then looked up at the Moon that shone overhead through the one way glass, "Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
The Next Morning
The Ruins of Shinjiku
The sun was just coming up over the horizon. Yukiteru and Yuno were still fast asleep. Little did they know they were about to be in for a rude awakening. The Britannian army of Area 11, with Schneizel at its forefront headed off to eliminate them. Yukiteru's phone suddenly buzzed. It was an incoming text.
It read:
Yukiteru, the Britannian army is coming 2 get u. B prepared 4 battle as soon as u can
- Lelouch
The buzzing only caused Yukiteru to turn over and only after the sound of a loud explosion did both he and Yuno bolt awake. The blast had targeted a large tower about a mile northeast of his and Yuno's direction. Schneizel did not know where Yukiteru was hiding and the Pelleas' tracking beacon had been disabled when Yuno made her modifications to get it to work so he was unable to locate the giant green Knightmare. Realizing the attack for what it was he and Yuno climbed into the Pelleas. Yukiteru suggested escaping via flight mode, but the moment they took to the skies they were spotted by Schneizel's Knightmares who had secured the perimeter before he set off the detonation via rocket launcher. Yuno responded in turn by activating one of the Pelleas' laser cannons' ripping apart the ruins and the soldiers with them.
Suddenly Schneizel appeared on Yuno and Yukiteru's screen, "Ah good day to you Yuno Gasai, Yukiteru Amano. Top of the morning."
"Who are you?" Yuno growled.
"I am second prince Schneizel, replacement Viceroy of Viceroy Cornelia who you two murdered in cold blood. I am here for my revenge," Schneizel told them.
"You can take your revenge and shove it up your ass. No one hurts my Yuki and gets away with it. Britannia is dead!" Yuno shouted.
"My, my how violent. I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice. Ready the Hoplon 5!"
"What the hell is…" Yuno's response was cut short when a giant missile came roaring towards the Pelleas and slammed into it before exploding, sending it flying back.
"How do you like that? The Hoplon 5 is the Britannia's most advanced Anti-air cannon in existence. If you surrender now I promise I'll only take the Pelleas and spare you pathetic elevens," Schneizel scoffed.
"Not on your life!" Yuno declared.
"Then you leave me no choice, but to say. All forces attack! Destroy the Pelleas if you must, but kill Yuno Gasai and Yukiteru Amano!"
"Yes my lord!"
Knightmares began piling out of their bunkers and stormed towards Yuno and Yukiteru. Yuno smirked. "Yuki," she turned towards him with a smile. "Hit that glowing green button on your right."
"You got it," Yukiteru responded. He pressed the corresponding button and duct opened in the Pelleas' right arm revealing a giant, blue laser blade.
"Let's see how they like this!" Yuno went charging forward and hacked in half each Sutherland that came her way.
Schneizel observed this and smiled, "My, my, the Pelleas is surely a force to be reckoned with."
Suzaku looked at him in anxiety, "For gods sake's sir give the order to deploy the Glaston Knights!" Suzaku shouted.
"Now, now, Mr. Kururugi do not fret," Schneizel stated, "After all the Pelleas' combat abilities are unknown by all except those who worked on the project and then some. I want you to watch the battle and observe its movements. We can afford a few soldiers in the process and in the meantime if any do manage to score a hit then the Pelleas shall be weakened.
"But sir…"
"I am in charge here Captain Kururugi, perhaps you would like me to revoke your rank as Glaston Knight head or have the Sub Viceroy reassigned hmm?" Schneizel asked him.
"N-no sir," Suzaku responded.
"Good, now don't question my orders again," Schneizel told him. Suzaku growled and watched as soldiers died at Yuno's hands as she made her progress towards Schneizel's forces. She got a few dings and scrapes on the way, but the Pelleas was more than prepared to deal with measly Sutherlands. In addition to the right arm laser blade, it had a left arm hookshot blade, two shoulder mounted laser cannons and a solar panel charged head cannon. When Schneizel had observed it long enough he gave the command to let the Glaston Knights deploy. Suzaku jumped at the order heading down the elevator to the Lancelot's docking bay and jumped into the cockpit of the Lancelot.
"My someone's all fired up," Lloyd joked.
"Just deploy this thing!" Suzaku was in no mood for games. He knew that the Pelleas would be a real challenge his Knightmare was supposed to be the most advanced, but the Pelleas was 5 years ahead of its time.
"Oh very well," Lloyd said. Suzaku waited a few moments before hearing the words. "Lancelot, go!"
Suzaku charged into battle with a fierce cry, Darlton to his left flank and Guilford to his right, the rest of the Glaston knights travelled behind him. Schneizel also deployed himself. He had given Cornelia's Knightmare a new shielding and a new paint coating making it a Midnight Black. He set up the Lagann Ex-Pro next to him. It looked like a miniature version of another prototype the Britannians had in development: the Siegfried. There were two clear differences between the two however. The first was the paint job. The Lagann Ex-Pro was all white. The Siegfried was to be orange. The Lagann Ex-Pro also wasn't covered in spikes, like the Siegfried, but had a single rotating, stick like protrusion beneath it. It hovered next to the alternated Gloucester
Schneizel glanced down at the miniature, remote controllable Knightmare Frame. "When the time is right, you shall merge with the Pelleas and the greatest Knightmare ever shall become even more powerful," Schneizel said and laughed with that of someone with an evil plot in mind.
Suzaku continued his charge towards Yuno's location where she was continuing to wipe out Sutherlands. "Knights," he stated, "I'm going to go on ahead the Lancelot is faster on its own, cover me when you get in range."
"Kururugi are you an idiot?" Guilford shouted.
"No, the Lancelot can survive until you all get to me. I'll make sure of it. Yuno Gasai will rue the day she ever hurt the Viceroy. Isn't that right?" he asked Guilford.
"Yes indeed," Guilford agreed.
"For the princess we shall not fall!" Darlton shouted.
"No we shall not! This is for Cornelia!" Suzaku dashed forward with a burst of speed. "Gasai Yuno!"
Yuno was so distracted with Sutherlands that she never saw Suzaku coming until the Lancelot drop kicked the Pelleas right in its head's solar panels. Yuno went rolling back. "The white Knightmare," Yuno recognized the Knightmare for what it was. Only Lelouch and the Britannians knew of its pilot.
Suzaku radioed his communication to the Pelleas as voice only as he drew out a sword, "Yuno, I'm offering you a chance to surrender."
"S-Suzaku!" Yukiteru was surprised.
"Yuno, surrender the Pelleas and we won't kill you," Suzaku told her.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?" Yuno asked. "You're going down Suzaku Kururugi, you pretended to be our friend and then you sold us out to Britannia. I'm not going to go quietly! I'll kill you!"
"If that's your answer then so be it. Have at it!"
Suzaku and Yuno rushed towards each other. The battle between the most advanced Knightmares in existence was about to begin.
To be continued…
(A/N: And thus concludes another chapter of Ultimate Paradox. I will say this it was not easy getting through this chapter, and it will be even tougher getting through the next one. Although I must say I'm rather proud with how it turned out in regards to Tsubaki's character development. And it seems C.C is having a rather "interesting" conversation with a certain someone. Who will win the battle of the Knightmares? Will Lelouch's plan succeed? Who shall live and who shall die? Does the Lagann Ex-pro have anything to do with a robot of the same name from ANOTHER series or is it merely coincidence? Will Yuno accept Lelouch's help? Answers to these questions and more next time on Ultimate Paradox! Oh btw I turned 20 and as such I changed my username to reflect this fact :D)