Chapter Thirteen: Paper Tiger

Arc Four: Discourses with the Chairman

Opening: "Nightmare Parade" - Fake Type

The masked figure stepped boldly into the room, and immediately a pair of pistols confronted him, though not a triad. Suzaku and Lelouch both drew on Zero as he entered, to which the man paused and shrugged, while Kusakabe, eager to diffuse the situation, said "Peace, peace, we are all friends of Japan here! Yuaikai, and..."

Zero remained silent as Lelouch replied "That depends heavily on your definition of friend", still having his gun aimed at Zero. Suzaku felt little guilt himself as he continued to aim at the orblike face mask, seeing it as self defence. Zero was dangerous.

So, as it turned out, was Kusakabe, who turned his gun more casually on Euphemia, saying "Look! We have good fortunes! We can use the Princess-"

"Bastard!"

Lelouch, with surprising speed and volume, swang his arms around and aimed his pistol at Kusakabe while hissing the profanity. Surprised, Suzaku, gun still aimed at Zero, used his free arm to usher Euphemia behind him, while Kusakabe looked on in awe.

"Have you lost your minds? Don't tell me you've become sentimental, Lelouch. Honestly. This is war, we must accept any cost-"

As Kusakabe began his condescending lecture at gunpoint, Suzaku saw Zero pull out a pistol of his own, to which Suzaku resteadied his aim, and called over a warning to Lelouch. Zero looked on, and aimed at Kusakabe.

The room was silent as the four armed men worked out where things stood. Lelouch and Zero were aimed at Kusakabe, who had Euphemia in his sights, while Suzaku took aim at Zero, who was the wildcard. To say Suzaku was puzzled at this turn of events was an understatement.

But the masked man explained all, as he addressed the room in grandiose tones. "Kusakabe, this development is indicative of the issues that lie at the base and heart of your conceited ideas, combining self destructive honour with utter cowardice. Hiding behind Princesses, while claiming to be the rightful military leader? Your place is not on the front lines, it is in The Hague, you unjust mongrel!"

Kusakabe, stunned, moved towards Suzaku and Euphemia, likely to attempt to stave off Lelouch and Zero, however Suzaku was having none of it, aiming his gun at the Lieutenant Colonel. Suzaku looked straight into Kusekabe's despairing face as he hissed "Josui, back off."

"Suzaku, she's a Britannian Princess."

"Sir, if you pull that trigger, nothing good will come."

"Kururugi, please see-"

"Put your gun down Lieutenant Colonel."

"It is not-"

"If you shoot Euphemia you will be shot next."

Kusakabe flinched at Lelouch's voice, injected with uncharacteristic immediacy and a hint of panic, creeping in like an unwelcome smell that could not be traced, merely detected. Suzaku now began to worry. If Lelouch was panicked, then they were in serious trouble. Then again, how much was he being affected by family in danger? Suzaku did not know.

Seeing Suzaku's uncertainty, Kusakabe raised his gun to his eyeline, lining up Euphemia and Suzaku, roaring "Back off boy!"

Somewhere far away, Suzaku heard a cry of "Kusakabe, stop pointing that gun at her!"

Then, in the next moment, stretched over what felt like hours, four things happened. First, Kusakabe fired his gun, as Suzaku shoved Euphemia aside. Suzaku saw the small lead body discharge with a small explosion, frighteningly loud and very bright, blinding him.

Second, Suzaku felt something hit his right shoulder with the force of a thousand punches, sending him recoiling back, falling in the dark. Thirdly, as he fell, someone shot at Kusakabe and missed.

And as he landed, someone shot at Kusakabe and didn't miss.

This certainly changed the mood of the room in a real hurry, as Suzaku saw when his vision returned. Kusakabe was dead, the second bullet having buried itself between his eyes, Zero was standing at the back of the room, apathetic as ever, as Lelouch and Euphemia tended to Suzaku's wounds, which felt at once blinding in and of their own painful nature and numbing, as if he was feeling a veiled reflection of the true damage to his shoulder.

He didn't have to wonder very much as to who had killed the Lt. Colonel.

"It's time to go." Zero concluded as the Britannian heirs raised him to his feet. "You two must not be spotted on your way out, or at the very least recognised. Euphemia, I trust you to create a diversion and prevent your sister having the opportunity to record their presence."

As Suzaku winced under his crippling pain, he tried to think through it to understand what he was hearing. Zero was helping them escape?

Lelouch verbalised this sentiment for him, asking "Why are you doing this? Killing Kusakabe, but not..."

Zero did not move initially, looking onto the lake, before putting away Schrodinger's pistol and commenting "Kusakabe was an enemy of justice, killing indiscriminately, hiding behind women and generally acting against those he claims to protect. You two, Yuaikai, are acting in the spirit of justice, while the Princess has not taken up office as of yet. As the arbiter of justice, I must not act against these ideas."

Suzaku would have protested, but he was already feeling faint, and he knew Lelouch was not idealistic enough to push the issue. True to his word, Zero organised the liberation of the hostages, while the Princess Euphemia diverted the Viceroys attention to allow the pair of pacifist rebels to slink away into the night. In truth, Suzaku wasn't clear on the details, given that he was focused on not bleeding out. Lelouch insisted they wait until their return to the college before seeking medical attention, and while Suzaku appreciated the need for secrecy, his shoulder didn't.

"Here you are…" Lelouch groaned, as he laid Suzaku down on his kitchen table, before sitting back in the chair. Lelouch wasn't fit enough to carry the Japanese teen, however the latter had leaned on his friend on the short walk back from the taxi, before Sayako and Ohgi had helped the rest of the way. The Japanese maid was now tending to his wounds with Ohgi's help with the tougher tasks as Lelouch chugged down a bottle of water, before commenting "That was pretty damn interesting…"

Suzaku braced to deliver a snappy retort, however a surge of agony that came from Sayako's merciless hands sent him into a fit of violent roars instead.

"Tsk." the maid commented. "Should've gone to a doctor. I don't give a damn if you're going out saving Japan; you get shot, you go to a hospital. I'm not even going to ask how you got wound up in this."

Suzaku moaned again, as Lelouch harrumphed. While Suzaku was dealing with his pain, Lelouch was mulling over the last few hours through his drink. Sighing, he stood up and said "I'm going to retire for the evening."

Neither Suzaku nor Sayako responded, and so Lelouch took his leave to his room, placing down his bottle and shutting the door behind him, not looking backwards as he opened up his wardrobe. He buried his head inside, searching for his nightgown, before a gentle clap grew behind him. It was slow, but firm, each bang clear and distinct, grabbing his attention like a hand grenade. His head pivoted to the noise as if it were disembodied, and he saw him, standing behind his door, leaning against the mellow wall with one piece sunglasses, wild, pale hair and a wicked smile.

"Oh, what's this? Lelouch Vi Britannia, a Paper Tiger of the highest order! Seems the hero of Japan has a lot to think about."

Stunned still, Lelouch saw the man suddenly leap forward, as his instincts barely took over as the man approached in a matter of moments, arms flying back before swinging towards him in a wide arc, meeting his temple in a disconnected strike he could barely react to. Lelouch was too tired, too off guard, to even recoil before he heard a shattering noise, like being inside a church bell. He fell to his knees, as the world blackened into fading nothing.

And that, as they say, was that.

Lelouch's dreams were rarely seen, passing by in displays of muted shapes and tones. Not so this time. He dreamed of gunshots, panicked escapes and mortal danger in harsh, sharp angles, displaying Suzaku, Zero, and foremost among the large, imposing figures was the man. His body leapt about the place, inescapable, always watching with piercing, unnatural eyes.

"Welcome ba-aack!"

It had seemed like hours before his consciousness returned to him.

It was sound for the most part. He felt a force around the centre of his head, and a scratching in the top of his ears, which led him to assume he was blindfolded-

"Well done! Always rational in a crisis. I'm impressed."

Lelouch explored his bindings, writhing his fingers around, before moving his feet around to test the waters. He was bound at the ankles and wrists, the latter of which were held behind the hard wood chair.

"It's a pity it won't help; this puzzles' not for your solving, Vi Britannia. That must really get you down, I know. Mm hm. But I'm afraid you'll just have to sit and wait with me for rescue."

Initially frustrated by his own helplessness, he was paused in his mental endeavours by what the man had called him. The fact he knew his identity-

"And far more! Your father, your mother, your little operation, and everything in between! To be frank, there's a sum total of nothing you can do. Still, I wouldn't worry, somebody will be along soon."

'Sod that.' Lelouch thought, as he attempted to ignore the growing uncertainty as he surveyed his surroundings. The room had an echo, and smelt of a saline solution-

"Oh, so rude! You never could learn when to stay out of things, meddling, making things worse. You got yourself and dear crippled Nunnally sent to a war zone, you got your friend shot, and lied to all your friends for petty revenge. No one knows who you are, but I doooo..."

Lelouch noticed his breathing rush, as he listened to the voice. He was not swayed by the content; Lelouch was quite self assured, and if in a place of greater comfort he could probably retort the philosophical points his captor was making, however it was too fast, and he was far too thinly stretched mentally. The jab at Nunnally did sting, however he had long come to terms with the fact that in the eyes of many, he would likely be judged as a person of poor moral basis. However, he had no opportunity to engage with this line of thought, and while the man's remarks in and of themselves did not anger him, they panicked him. How did this man know all of these things?

"How indeed."

The Prince was now noting his erratic heartbeat pulsing around his chest with increasing rapidity, before his mind raced into action. He knew where he had lived, as he had been lying in wait. It was therefore acceptable to assume he'd been watching Lelouch without his knowledge for some time. How close-

Suddenly, laughter filled his ears, as he was aware of the voice inches from his ears which caused him to wince. The crackled, haphazard chuckles and barks broke into silence before the voice mocked "Look at you, all up in a fuss. You're going at a mile a minute, a mile a minute! I'll be seeing steam soon. All it takes is for control and initiative to be yanked out of your hands, and you turn into a nervous wreck!"

"Bullcrap!" Lelouch roared, before his head snapped away. He was giving the man what he wanted. He attempted to clear his head, but there were too many mysteries, too many puzzles for him to get any semblance of calm, which he suspected to be intentional.

"MAO!"

This was a new voice, and female, though it was more aggressive and filled with passionate anger than any Lelouch cared to remember, including his own. It was tinny, and so likely over some manner of microphone. As such, he took little relief, still struggling as the man, Mao it seemed, laughed again and clapped. "And here's your saviour now! Do you feel confident Lelouch? Your life is in her hands."

He gritted his teeth, still trying to solve his issue in his head, before Mao laughed yet again, and called over "Nothing at all! Not an ounce of faith. I'd feel insulted, Miss Kōzuki..."

Lelouch didn't recognise the surname, though he did recognise the sound of a growl, one of frustration and portraying a furious helplessness. This did not improve Lelouch's confidence. After a moments pause, the woman asked "What is it you want, Mao?"

'Good question.' Lelouch silently quipped, still not seeing how he connected to any of this. Seeming to realise this, this Mao individual gasped in mock surprise. "Good lord, why should we be so rude to our… captive audience…" he spoke out, pausing at his own joke. Lelouch was almost certain he was holding in chuckles. "Lelouch, allow me to introduce you to Kallen Kozūki, half bred Japanese, better known as Kallen Stadtfeld, favourite child of Lord Stadtfeld and masked vigilante, the one and only Zero!"

Lelouch paused in shock. All the bottled up lack of understanding, the furious anger he had felt at having the truth just outside his grasp, the lack of control that had eaten away at his own cool calm, now contrasted with the plain understanding that was at once clear and thoroughly unsatisfying.

It couldn't be her. The gutless, indecisive girl, who read books and shied away. It was too convenient, it simply couldn't be her. She didn't have the temperament, the inspiration, or the health.

His mind stopped at health, as he regained his reasoning. Health. He recalled she had lied about that when they had met, as her complexion did not match her report. Thinking on the topic, he recalled their discussion. Beyond her soft, feeble voice, she had displayed interesting ideas, revolutionary if only indirectly. These were not indictments, but they did not form the instant dismissal he had secretly hoped for. He sought for evidence on the other side, examining who he had thought was Zero. He had been almost certain it was one of Ohgi's men, however Ohgi could have easily had women on his team. In fact, he distinctly recalled the spokesperson being a woman of roughly Kallens height, though he had not made the connection. Certainly, comparing what the spokeswoman had said to what Kallen had said, he began to form an extremely unpleasant image.

Mao, probably observing his face as it moved from anger, to contemplation, to realisation, applauded, roaring "And the penny has dropped! Best of luck Kallen, because your drop thinks you need it!"

Lelouch roared as he thrashed at his bonds, trying to release himself through the brute force of frustration. He could hardly sit and wait for assistance, especially from her. He didn't even want to consider the implications of her being Zero. He was almost distracting himself from his own helplessness, as Mao laughed into the despairing darkness.

Meanwhile, up in the annexe, Suzaku was just getting up, stretching his good arm out as his eyes explored the room. The light of the morning reached into the room, softly greeting his eyes with gentle, welcoming hues. He sat up, and shifted his silent gaze from side to side, observing the empty room silently. Indeed, everything was quiet, even as he stood up unsteadily, nausea creeping through his numb shoulder, wrapped up in an arm brace courtesy of Sayako and Ohgi.

He stepped slowly across the room, pouring a small drink of water into a plastic cup, before sipping away slowly at the tasteless fluid, the room otherwise empty and still.

He still remembered being shot; with more the memory of guttural illness than injury, as his stomach weakened and he nearly retched at the recollection. It was uncanny how dissimilar his body reacted to what the injury actually was, though that might have something to do with the fact he was high as a Dutch astronaut on painkillers.

It was for this reason he moved slowly across the room to peek out of the window at the warm, sparsely populated campus. It was a Sunday, so everyone was out doing other things. He felt somewhat bored, but he supposed it was the best for his arm.

Then, his door opened, and Suzaku turned in anticipation of Sayako's lecturing tones, asking what he was doing up, however disaster was soon averted as he learned it was just Nunnally, wheeling herself in through the unlocked door, feeling her way through the entrance.

"Good morning Nunnally." Suzaku cheerily whispered, still not fully awake, as he stepped over and squatted down opposite her. "How's things?"

"I heard about your arm Suzaku…" she began, unsteadily. Suzaku rubbed the numb cast, as she distractedly continued "I was just wondering… I mean, I've been looking… have you seen Lelouch anywhere?"

Pausing, Suzaku used his free arm to scratch at an itch on his cheeks and thought. He'd last heard him retiring to his room, to which he ventured with the stability of a drunkard only to find Lelouch absent, bed perfectly made, and no coffee mug indicating his awakening. It was as if he hadn't slept there. He turned back, calling to Sayako and Ohgi indifferent of the consequences "Did you see Lelouch leave?"

After a brief pause, he heard Ohgi call "Not unless he got up before five!", which was seconded by Sayako. Suzaku frowned, wondering where the hell his colleague was. He looked briefly out the window, before turning again.

"I'll go look around."

After a second glass of water and some half decent clothes, Suzaku sucked in his waist to ease his nausea before going out into the hall. He looked down the hall for clues, peeking towards the stairs, before a force hit him from behind, bluntly slamming into his backside and shunting him forwards, nearly forcing him to release the contents of his stomach onto the carpet. Once he returned to a balanced state, he stood round to see Kallen Stadtfeld looking more than a little stressed.

"Good morning to you too." he grumbled, as he looked down at her barely restoring herself in her exhaustion. Somewhat disconcerted due to having bigger issues, he heard her say "Sorry, I didn't mean to run into you. I was just hoping to see Lelouch."

"He's not here."

"I know… I mean…"

Suzaku quirked an eyebrow before noticing she was holding a small piece of paper and commented "If you have a message, I can pass it on."

"No, it's not-"

"Let's have a look at that."

In spite of verbal resistance, Suzaku swiped the paper with his typical speed, bringing it into view before he felt his stomach rise up a second time. He felt a quiver in his hands as he looked back up, furious and steadied. He could barely believe what he had just seen.

"Kallen… Where did this…"

She grabbed his wrist with surprising force, as he looked for some semblance of shame or concern in her eyes. Instead, all he saw was anger that matched his own, unguarded and unveiled.

"A man named Mao took him some time last night. You want him back? Then you must help me, or he will surely perish."

There was a ferocity in her tones, a steepness of tone that seemed several octaves beyond what had once seemed possible for a girl like her, however with the image of Lelouch, bound in a chair, blindfolded, and badly beaten in her possession, he was quickly realising there was far more to Stadtfeld than he had first envisioned. It was a startling transition, and one that briefly silenced him, before he nodded. It was interesting how she had flipped the responsibilities had flipped, and now he was answering her questions.

"What needs to be done?"

She looked at him clearly as if examining him, and commented "First, we need to leave the Campus."

In appearance it is very powerful but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of. Outwardly a tiger, it is made of paper, unable to withstand the wind and the rain. I believe that it is nothing but a Paper Tiger.

Perhaps not the most poetic quote, but it is iconic, and representative of the attitude of Chairman Mao towards the United States prior to meeting Nixon in 1972, decades after the Long March. What does this have to do with Code Geass? Nothing at all. That being said, it is an interesting, if somewhat missing in the why, parallel to Lelouch's character in both the show and this fic. Lelouch is a strong, resolute leader, who rolls over people like tanks in Tiananmen Square, however he is, in reality, easy to tackle if one knows where to strike. In the show, it is his sister. In this example, it's the right side of his head, followed by a considerable amount of his pride and perception of the nature of his environment.

I have been building up to this reveal for some time, and I hope I got it right. This is the last of my "apology" updates. Tell me what you think, and join me in Chapter Fourteen of For Hearts And Minds, Frame Of Mind. Keep yours intact, check behind your door, stay safe, and please rate and review!

~Eth0