Code Geass: Enduring Retribution

Key:

[ ] - Sound Effects

" " - Regular Speech

' ' - Unheard Thoughts

" " - Emphasis / Radio Communication

" " - Amplified Speech / External Speakers / Public Address System (PA System)

Disclaimer - Code Geass is owned by Sunrise Inc.

Chapter VII: Friends & Corporations

When most people tell others of their first meetings with their best friend, the stories are usually ones based upon rather positive notes, such as childhood playmates or school acquaintances; typical things most would say. Lelouch's first time with Suzaku, however, was not so perfect. Lelouch's first time with Suzaku, in fact, resulted in him getting a bloody nose. Ten years old he may have been, but the closest thing Japan had to a prince still disposed of a very nasty right hook. Of course the boy's father, Genbu Kururugi, had reprimanded the unwarranted act, though, even at the time, Lelouch had quite aptly noticed the not so reprimanding glint in the Prime Minister's eyes. At least the man took pride in his child, as opposed to some other, to remain unnamed, monarch and father.

But then again, that had been, at least to him, another lifetime ago, in every sense of the word. While such violent beginnings made for memorable affairs, Lelouch personally preferred to attempt and to avoid such an experience again, immortal or not. His Code might prevent him from dying, true, but it still didn't render one immune from pain, therefore it remained in his best interest to avoid a rematch with the overzealous meathead. Not to mention, as a sidetone, that their would be no crippled Nunnally to guilt Suzaku into halting his beatings, making the effort all the more serious.

'Though it would be rather interesting if I turned the tables on him.' Lelouch thought, an invisible smirk upon his lips. 'After all, I do believe it would serve as a kind of compensation for all the trouble he put me through for that first run.'

While vengeful images still floated around within his mind, Lelouch carefully disembarked from the Japanese military transport, some welcomed help from a newly respectful Tohdoh aiding him to plant his feet upon the ground, his legs slightly cramped from the long hours of immobile sitting.

Although he was going to attempt to initiate formal relations with his newfound hosts, it was, to Lelouch's expectation, that he found himself face to face with a glaring version of young Suzaku, a small fist flying through the air; its target: Lelouch's face.

Now, learning how to pilot Knightmares, contrary to the general populace's belief, is far from easy, the process being composed of a multitude of stages. To begin with, one must have a minimum amount of physical endurance, the controls of the standard, mass produced Glasgows and Sutherlands having always required a small amount of force to both adjust and manipulate. Not only this, but learning how to fight with a Knightmare, or basically what amounts to its primary purpose for even existing, is not a task that is accomplished only within the confines of the cockpit. Yes, the knowledge behind the war machines' parts, actions and movements remain essential, as well as the pilot's familiarity and acclimation to them, but such factors are only part of the larger whole. What is considered, in an arguably more important view, is the precise ability on how to fight, be it Close Quarters Combat, abbreviated CQC, or longer ranged styled engagements, typically with rifles or other such hardware. Details aside, the basic premise remains the same. Before one learns how to fight with a Knightmare Frame, one must learn how to fight without one. And if there was anything Marianne never did halfway, it was teaching others how to fight. Lelouch, much to his dismay, had been no different. Those many hours in the simulators where not the only reasons why he'd end up so sore by his lessons' end during those days. Mother's training had been as much as a blessing as it had been a curse, and he had the bruises to prove it.

'Mother must have had a rather physical childhood' He'd thought to himself.

And so, it was through the many hours of intense drilling, young as he may be, that Lelouch swiftly dodge the incoming punch and, by ingrained reflex, sent a swift, outstretched hand to the lower back of Suzaku's conveniently exposed neck, knocking the unprepared, and ergo undefended, Japanese boy out cold. It wasn't until a few moments later before he'd realized what he'd done.

"Oh." Lelouch commented, his tone sheepish.

Those nearby, more specifically an apparently disappointed Tohdoh and intrigued Genbu, simply eyed the two children's forms, one's face planted in the dirt, the other's simply starring blankly at his deed, an awkward silence hanging in the air. After several moments of, essentially, nothing, it was an almost enraged Chiba who spoke.

"What did you just do to him!?" She demanded, furry evident within her tone.

It was the much calmer, as well as amused, voice of the blue haired Urabe who answered, explaining how, "It would appear that Lelouch got the better of Nippon's Prince."

"But he just knocked the boy out!" Commented an equally flabbergasted Asahina, his face distorted in a manner expressing disbelief.

Then came Senba's apparent words of wisdom, commenting, "Well he did act in self - defense, it was rather obvious that Kururugi had intentions of attacking him, considering the fist and all."

Finally came the ever wise, as well as displeased, a displeased edge to his voice, stating, "Yes, I'm inclined to agree with Senba on this account, although I am rather disappointed at Suzaku's lack of restraint and poor form. I honestly believed he would have learned by now." His face then turned towards the violet eyed prince's own, Tohdoh continuing, "I must ask however; where is it exactly that you learned such a skill? It is not in my knowledge that Britannian children are taught hand - to - hand combat, at least not outside of the military, or at your age for that manner."

Himself rotating in such a manner so as to face the much taller military man, Lelouch both swiftly and calmly responded, "Mother never did things halfway when teaching me Knightmare piloting." The manner in which he'd answered was essentially nonchalant in its nature, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

A confused Tohdoh simply stared at Lelouch, his left eyebrow quirked, as if not understanding the explanation. He then asked, rather incredulously, "Knightmare piloting? And what exactly is that?"

'Right,' Lelouch mentally chided himself, having caught onto his blunder, 'Knightmares aren't exactly common knowledge at this point in time. Oh well, damned for damned.'

"They're essential giant armored robots; humanoid tanks on legs if you will. Learning how to control them requires a rather extensive training regimen, I'm sure you understand." He explained, his voice flat and indifferent.

At this, so far unknown, detail, both the Prime Minister and Japanese soldiers frowned. So the Britannian Empire had a new weapon, one that had so far eluded Japan's eye, and that was, essentially, the equivalent of giant bulletproof soldiers? This did not bode well.

'We shall have to address this issue at another time.' Genbu thought, the most recent information proving to be of a rather important concern, although the current situation did not make the best of environments to further inquire on the topic. He would have to accommodate his newfound guest, as well as carry back his, to his ever so slight annoyance, currently unconscious son, first, and only then he choose to delve deeper into the matter, a panel of more educated figures at his back in order to more effectively grasp the situation.

And so went the 'first' encounter between the Princes Lelouch vi Britannia and Suzaku Kururugi. It would be quite a event to remember.

'Revenge is a dish best served cold.' Lelouch mused, an inkling of a smile drawn upon his lips as he dutifully followed the local shrine's inhabitants, the limp form of Suzaku swaying on Genbu's shoulder. At least things would get interesting from here on out.

Lelouch was no stranger to management, having gained a rather large repertoire of experience surrounding the notoriously pragmatic skill. Dutifully maintaining a home for himself and Nunnally for a period of over seven years (At least until Sayoko's arrival, though it was he whom, by his insistence, still managed the household budget), preventing Ashford Academy's bankruptcy by watching over Milly's financial pits from endless celebrations, controlling an organization of several thousand soldiers and Knightmares that made up the Black Knights and, to top it all off, acting as the Holy Britannian Emperor, a nation which controlled a third, and eventually, by his hand, the entirety of, the world, all made for a ruthless trial by fire, one which he'd taken too as fish to water. Now, this did not mean he could control each and every aspect of these trials (Save maybe the first), nor did it mean he was unable to tire, he was only human after all. What it did mean, however, was that he'd become quite adept, his past years of practice having truly rendered of him a well versed person within the realm. It was also why, at this moment, he wasn't violently pulling his hair out.

Although it had been just under a week since he'd first arrived in Japan, Lelouch's first priority was the consolidation and readjustment of the LAC, which he'd left, to his dismay, unattended since his premier day of exile, having been unable to access his seat of power due to a lack of computers, his primary form of communication to said company. He truly did despise some of the aspects of conservative and traditional pre - invasion Japan, especially that of a 'no - electronics policy other than those in the Prime Ministers office'. It, write simply, both annoyed and maddened him to no end, his nerves having remained on edge for the time being.

Despite such setbacks, however, Lelouch had, eventually, been able to cajole an ever so sweat and eccentric Kaguya into letting him borrow her portable laptop, a privilege she'd earned from the aged, although slightly less wrinkled, Kirihara. Sometimes he wondered if there wasn't some sort of familial relation between the two, with the way the old man acted towards the young girl resembling all too similarly to that of a doting grandfather and spoiled grandchild. He might choose to take a look into the issue in a more serious fashion later, the untouched data potentially coming in handy at a later time, thought it remained unimportant for the time being. In any case, through some skillful manipulation of his not - so - secret - crush's feelings, he'd finally been able to gain access to the outside world.

For Lelouch, the LAC served a multitude of purposes. First of all, the conglomerate acted as the exile's primary base of power, a foundation upon which he would be able to build up both influence and authority over various sectors of the Britannian administration. Using the dual economic and technological sledgehammers of his business' products, Lelouch would be able to utilize the armament driven profits and innovations to coerce, or blackmail, key military and political figures within the empire into providing him with otherwise legally unobtainable goods and services, spinning an elaborate web of various relations and connections, all of which over he held the sole authority to pull the strings. It, essentially, would grant him a dominant role while avoiding any form of direct association, and therefore responsibility, should the LAC's actions come under investigation, none of his contacts disposing of the ability to implicate the LAC or himself without pointing fingers at themselves while doing so, guaranteeing their portion set aside, the LAC also performed the secondary task of providing Lelouch with his future home, both for the upcoming and inevitable war, as well as the years that would follow. The reason for this were, ironically, due to Lelouch's own actions, Marianne's survival having preserved the Ashford family's position within the higher echelon's of the Imperial Court, rendering him unable to hide within the confines of the, now nonexistent, Ashford Academy as he and his sister had once before, thereby requiring him to find some new form of local where he would be able to lie under the radar and escape the watchful eyes of both his father and V.V., or so he hoped. The final, and arguably most important reason, however, was that the LAC would provide Lelouch with the necessary resources to topple both the Geass Order and Holy Britannian Empire, an enlarged deposit of money, men and materials on which he would be able to call upon when the time would prove ripe. To simplify, it would, for all respective purposes, act as the more greatly empowered version of the Black Knights, though with all the means and support to spare. Unfortunately, however, it was obtaining these goals that were proving difficult for him.

Lelouch's absence from the reins of power had, regrettably, considerably worsened the LAC's already precarious natural state. Although originally well positioned and organized, the prince's company remained highly vulnerable to its larger corporate rivals within the market, its recent bout of inactivity promoting an essence of weakness to these said entities, acting in a fashion similarly to that of spilt blood in a pool of sharks. The struggle for survival was was a lethal indeed.

Not only this, but Lelouch was hounded by the constant pressure to establish a regional company headquarters within the Japanese mainland, having no more than a few months, at best, before the Britannian invasion would occur, and, as a result, limiting the time for establishing himself a safe - house. Should Lelouch fail to have some place to run to before then, his only remaining option would be that of returning to Pendragon, the secret of both his Code and survival no doubt insuring some form of permanent house arrest, hidden from the world, acting as nothing but a tool gathering dust until the Charles and V.V. unleashed Ragnarök. Either that or remain trapped in Japan with nothing but the clothes on his back, the disappearance of his Geass severely hampering any other possible endeavors. He'd briefly pondered the thought of joining the JLF, though he'd come to the conclusion that it was unlikely that he'd ever be accepted, let alone allowed a position in which he could actually exert some meaningful amount of change. At best he could hope for an officer's rank, but nothing more. The options were bleak.

It was why Lelouch had been, therefore, working himself ragged in the last few days, his Code coming in handy by preventing him from collapse due to sheer exhaustion.

'I wonder why C.C. slept at all…' A stray thought made its way within the raven haired boy's mind, remembering the amber eyed witch in question. 'It's not as if she needed sleep really, the Code seems to prevent that.'

"Now to secure my future…" He softly muttered.

Author's Note:

This chapter is only half the length of the typical ones so far, the primary reason being that I'm rather dissatisfied by it. While it started off relatively well, it appeared to gradually lose steam as it went on, ultimately leading me to a particular bout of writer's block. I therefore decided to cut things short, preferring to start a fresh chapter in which things, hopefully, will run more smoothly. I apologize in advance for any disappointments you may harbor, as well as for the much slower pace at witch updates have been occurring, school has been particularly busy these last few days.