Chapter Twenty One: Just Like You Do

Arc Six: Definitions Of Freedom

Opening: "Wave" - Lily

Lelouch gritted his teeth as the surgeon wiped his chest, covered in blood and other substances with a wet cloth, clearing away the layers of foul, sticky half-liquids and exposing what had become, with a week's treatment and surgery, a pockmark where Euphemia had shot him. For all the pain it caused him it was a humble wound, a scar that could be missed at a glance of Lelouch's modest torso, just up and to the right of the depression between his lungs marking out his heart.

"There we are, Your Majesty." the surgeon nodded, hiding his cloth like an embarrassing secret. "I'll leave you be."

"Lamperouge is fine."

The man was Britannian, and while trained and reserved for royals and their discretion, he clearly was not sure what to think of the teen before him. Either way, the doctor nodded to confirm the statement, which Lelouch thanked him out of a bizarre respect for what was still unquestionably a damn good doctor.

Even now, with sharp painful breaths and a projected months sentence in hospital, the Minister acknowledged he was incredibly fortunate. A few inches down, a few degrees of differing aim from his half sister, and he would have perished, his scheme to tie Kallen to the Chinese for naught.

He hadn't even attempted to consider the ramifications of Kallen, with her hypnotic abilities, being Zero. All he knew was that the Provisional Japanese Government had her in custody, and there would be a legal fight over which Government got the pleasure of prosecuting her.

However, one thing he had considered very deeply over the course of his bizarre, drug fuelled week of surgeries was Euphemia. From what little information he could scrounge from his surgeon and his quiet nurses, she had recovered from minor head injuries and was eager to see him, though both Lelouch, feeling both introspective and wracked with pain, and the doctor agreed it was too early for visitors with such vigor. However, as stated he had been thinking very deeply about her and had even formed an internal theory as to how he had survived.

He had noted when Euphemia shot at him her hand jerked upwards at the last moment. It was inconceivable that a member of the Royal Family had not had some degree of marksman training, and to off Lelouch at that range would take no marksman. Thus, he concluded Euphemia, whether by some flaw in Kallens power or sheer force of will, resisted the order. His survival was owed to Euphemia's strength. And Suzaku's, but that was a more straightforward matter.

On the topic of the Prime Minister, he had been in twice to see him in spite of protestations. Lelouch couldn't remember much about the first instance, though apparently Suzaku was in a stormy mood. He recalled the second visit more clearly, Suzaku informing him of what happened in the battle after he had been shot, though due to Lelouch's condition at the time, it had been a one sided conversation. In fairness to the man, from Suzaku's retelling it did appear he had done a bang up job executing the last stage of his plan and defeating the Sino-Black Knights coalition, ensuring the Black Knights were out of negotiations, and they had several new bargaining chips, including the fate of Zero and a debt of protection.

Which, Lelouch determined, was worth getting shot for.

Apparently, to Lelouch's amusement yet not to his surprise, the Chinese officials in the expansive Government had distanced themselves from the "rogue Generals" that "did not represent the Government, and were acting illegally.". While it was clear they would be singing different tunes if victory had been achieved, both Britannia and Kururugi's Cabinet were more than happy to let them stew, having their own differences to settle.

As Lelouch sat, his bare, flat front exposed to the cool air of the Royal College of Surgeons, there was a knock on his door, as a nurse slipped her head in and mentioned "There's a pair of gentlemen insisting on seeing you Your Majesty, your elder brother and the other Prime Minister… your colleague."

Lelouch could hardly stop himself from chuckling in spite of his tight chest, which suffocated his breath like a stuck pig. Not only did the nurse have an amusing unwillingness to address Suzaku properly, but it occurred to him both his brother and his friend both held the same technical position in their respective Governments. Both Suzaku and Schneizel were Prime Ministers. It also brought him great amusement to consider the conversations the two very different men would have in the waiting room.

"Schneizel first." Lelouch announced, hoping to get the likely substantive visit out of the way first. While Schneizel was hardly a man stricken by sudden bursts of familial affection, it was very likely that Suzaku would want to discuss policy for the upcoming negotiations for the S.A.Z, which he could not attend himself for obvious medical reasons. Believing the more important meeting should go first, Lelouch was satisfied with his choice as the tall, blonde man stepped inside, seeming to absorb the space in the room unto himself without even intending to do so. Even more than Lelouch, Schneizel was an enrapturing figure that demanded attention, even when performing mundane activities such as examining the state of the medical apparatus by Lelouch's bed.

"Hmm." Schneizel quietly noised as he read Lelouch's lifeline like a menu, his eyes practically glazed as he scanned over the doctor's handwritten notes.

"How's Kanon?"

"He is well. Regrettably, he couldn't see you or Euphie, though he passes on his wishes for a speedy recovery. He's busy setting up for the new conferences you see."

"Is father still delegating?"

"More than ever."

Lelouch sighed as he mulled over this information. Schneizel was easily the most dangerous man in the world by Lelouch's admittedly narrow measure, more focused and less insane than their father and less emotionally charged than Cornelia. However, he had long acknowledged that Schneizel had his own weaknesses, including a certain apathy born out of a bizarre internal nihilism that led him to be careless towards his own person. As such, he realised Schneizel could be disarmingly open, and would react well to that in turn. Given that Schneizel had what was in Lelouch's view a fatal disregard for the personal over the geopolitical, he made for a good acquaintance to pick the brain of. He just had to take nothing personally.

Not that Lelouch had ever had the problem of taking things too personally.

"So, how are you finding Japan?"

"Dry. A lack of investment combined with our late brother's lack of taste created an unfortunate atmosphere. On that topic, please ask your colleague to be less trite in future." Schneizel drily commented.

Oh, Lelouch had missed Schneizel's uncaring tones. While the master diplomat maintained himself in public, Lelouch drew much entertainment out of the intimate knowledge of how little he cared for any of them. It would be legitimately funny if it weren't coming from arguably the most powerful person on Earth, with presence to match. However, Lelouch was relaxed, feeling more than qualified to spar.

"It's a habit of his, but someone has to keep our ships moral anchor in check. Its why you lost, you know."

"I lost, like I was intricately involved."

"I would be amazed to learn you did not see what was happening, at the very least from a distance."

"Be amazed. I was more focused on the bigger economic picture in Britannia. I felt Area 11 was secure under Cornelia, given that at the time the terrorists were of a more traditional nature, rather than gold hoarders and Thomas Paine enthusiasts sitting in the ghetto playing monopoly."

"I am suitably amazed. I'll have you know Montesquieu was a far better writer."

"No less heretical, and not of Britannian origin to boot."

"It's why I like him. A Frenchman, coming up with a better, more representative yet more stable form of government than you managed. It says something about supposed Britannian superiority."

"We once owned France."

"Your use of the past tense is telling."

Schneizel chuckled as he tapped at the desk, before Lelouch continued, curious now they were in a more private setting "You don't… really believe that, eh? That nonsense of racial superiority?"

"It is the position of our government." Schneizel replied uncaringly, not even turning his pale eyes to acknowledge the question, forcing Lelouch to cheekily reply "And is it your position, o' bastion of reason and logic?"

"Wherever is needed." Schneizel responded without a breath, continuing to look on. "Though, in private I will admit the propagation of that idea is more important than the idea itself."

Lelouch leaned his head back into his pillow, satisfied. He had often seen demonstrable proof in his colleagues that they were fully capable, if a little shortsighted through naivety than anything else. Certainly, on a macro level one thing that could be undoubtedly determined from seven years in Japan was that none of the impoverished men and women of the ghetto held any more or less guilt than the despairing many of Britannia's inner cities and squalor. It had struck him as amazing that a government, though led by a vengeful, elderly manchild, but still manned by men like Schneizel, could ignore this. The confirmation his enemy was not that stupid brought a certain relief.

Schneizel of course could disclose this because for Lelouch to know it was no danger. It hinted at the fact that the political authority he wielded was not wielded blindly, which would theoretically intimidate Lelouch, though that was a reach. At the same time, there was little practical use for the information; it was for Lelouch's personal satisfaction, nothing more, but absolutely nothing less.

"So, if we're doing questions, it struck me as curious you chose a position of such low seniority within your own government? To use your own words, I would be amazed to learn you were not leading much of the efforts, not to buy into the… nonsense, as you put it, particularly on the financial and planning front."

"It serves my purposes. Why don't you execute a coup and become Emperor? Similar logic."

It was a slight flanderization to say it was that simple or that brief. Lelouch had aspirations towards power, but he also had policy goals he would really rather put a different face to in the long term. After a moment's thought, Schneizel responded "Watch this space, but I see your point. You'd have done well if you'd came back to Britannia. I still doubt you wouldn't want to get even with your father, perhaps sit opposite on the table of nation states."

Lelouch pondered this, noting Schneizel's ambition creeping in briefly in his reply as well as the proposition he put forward. While it would be extremely satisfying, it was a long way down the road, and would be little more than gratification. Eventually, he countered "Would I? A lot of my bases would be covered by either you or Euphemia, to which point I would become a Kingmaker. Interesting, but certainly less than ideal. Here, I've cornered the market, as it were. Rather than appeal to the Empire, I've segregated Japan, so my appeal may be narrower. All I've done here in reality is gerrymander, if you want to look at it from an egotist viewpoint. Besides, I'm not a child anymore Schneizel."

"Yes, you are."

Lelouch, struggling to keep at his neck at an angle to still see Schneizel standing in the back corner of the room, pitched himself over and raised an eyebrow, responding with a simple "Oh?"

"You rejected the idea of coming back because being a lynchpin caught in a coalition with no real will of your own did not appeal to you. While I understand your point, you cannot deny that the only reasonable takeaway is that you appreciate autonomy in politics, which is more befitting an Emperor than a Prime Minister. I'd go so far to say we're both in the wrong jobs."

"Trite. Having some will and disliking the governmental systems of Britannia, as well as laterally acknowledging I would never have won is as far is as removed from delusions of power as you are from reality." Lelouch snarkily replied

"I guess I won't be seeing you in diplomatic meetings then."

"Please. I have plenty on my plate with my… trite colleague."

Schneizel shrugged. "Colour me surprised. In any case, I'm at the very least disappointed we won't get to do this more often. I'll leave you to your Prime Minister, Minister Lamperouge."

"I'm free on Fridays, be sure to call for an online match."

"It's been too long. Just remember; you may be winning the Long War, but I'm here now, and eventually you are going to have to step off the horse and govern."

With a wave, Schneizel left him in silence, as Lelouch released a breath he hadn't realise he had been holding. Schneizel scared the hell out of him, with presence like Charles and vision that pierced even the best lies. It was very often the case Schneizel would know more about you than you knew yourself, and combined with his callous, uncaring nature, it made for an incredibly uncomfortable atmosphere. Peeking at the mirror, he came to realise he had paled dramatically. Schneizel was so disarming yet so shockingly toward he could have hardly been helped from knocking the wind out of someone for coming in to arrange the flowers.

Of course there was a purpose. It was foolish for Lelouch to ever imagine otherwise. Schneizel had no ability to communicate without purpose, and the purpose for this meeting was clear; to put Lelouch on edge. He wouldn't be at the conferences anymore, which suited Schneizel fine, but perhaps Lelouch passing on second hand intimidation would allow Schneizel to better dominate Suzaku when it came to brass tacks. It took Lelouch several moments to organise himself to the point where he could invite Suzaku in from the hall, who stepped inside far more leisurely than Schneizel had. Lelouch couldn't let Suzaku be beaten by Schneizel.

"Get over here."

"Good afternoon to you too."

Lelouch sighed and leaned back as Suzaku stepped towards the foot of his bed, his arm fresh out his his cast, and dressed very well in his conference outfit. Lelouch nodded, saying "Congratulations on the cast."

Suzaku smiled and nodded, rubbing his shoulder gracefully as he thanked Lelouch and added "We both took bullets, eh? So much for this peaceful resistance thing being better for our health. Nunnally was furious."

Lelouch and Suzaku shared a chuckle, as Lelouch cast his mind briefly back towards his full sister. He liked to imagine she was still proud of him, even in spite of his ventures with Kallens trickery. He was being as moral as was feasible, while still bringing her the peaceful, free nation she had always hoped to live in. That, he believed, was why Schneizel was wrong. Lelouch recalled he had once told Suzaku that he fought "because no one else seems to bloody know how to", and while he felt that was still the case to an extent, Nunnally in his mind was a critical factor in his continued fight. More than anything else, she served as an example of the weak that had to be protected from people like Charles, who scorned them. Such rhetoric would very obviously hit closer to home if you lived with such a loving, yet weak person who would be under such a direct threat in such a nation.

"So what did you need?"

Lelouch nodded, swiftly returning to the coming fight. It was critical he warn Suzaku of the potential consequences before he went up against an opponent he wasn't sure his colleague could take on. Propping himself up in his bed by his elbows, he waved with his right forearm to gesture towards bringing Suzaku closer, beginning "I need you to listen very carefully. I'm not entirely sure what substances I'm on, and I just got massively spooked by my insane half brother, so I need you to keep my on track."

Suzaku, taken aback by Lelouch's burst of nervous energy, nodded vigorously, as Lelouch noted both of their breaths tick upwards in pace and volume. He took a moment to calm himself down, before rocking his head back slightly and affirming "You're going to the conferences in Midway, right?"

"Yes, Ohgi and I. You would have gone too-"

"I get that, but when are you heading off?"

"First thing tomorrow."

Lelouch sighed, losing the prior need for his urgency. He felt a hollow hunger, and there was a sugary energy that ran skin deep through him. While he felt like he could run at the speed of plane on energy, he also felt like he might faint at any moment. It was a bizarre sensation he didn't enjoy. Nonetheless, he spoke more in more measured tones from then on, explaining "Okay, very good. Again, please listen carefully. I wish I could help more, but this will have to do."

Taking a deep breath, he spoke faster "When you are in Britannia, speak to no media sources. Try and avoid making definitive statements outside the meeting room, and make your own notes." Suzaku understood, as Lelouch ran through everything in his head. This was simply not enough time to prepare him, which sent him into yet further depths of nervous belly fire. Attempting to calm himself, he got to his central thesis, saying "Suzaku, Schneizel is the toughest opponent you will ever face, regardless of whatever fronts or fights you choose. I wouldn't wish Schneizel on my worst enemies, though partly because it's him. Nonetheless, be on your guard, analyse every word, and do not trust any deal he promises in private. He is only as good as the word he is willing to put before Cornelia, and barely that. Hold onto every point, no matter how trivial, especially if it is trivial, inflate its perceived value to the point where relinquishing it will gain you many concessions. Fight dirty, trick, deceive, lie. Do these things I know you hate to a man and an Empire who deserve it more than anyone else. For the love of God, do us well, and stay in touch."

With that, and a few other pointers towards policy, Suzaku departed with appreciation for Lelouch's almost personal concern. Indeed, Lelouch was worried on a very human level for Suzaku, and hoped all would go well. However, a guilty thought did occur to him.

He could hardly be blamed for a bad treaty out of a conference he couldn't attend.

A guilty thought. Even as Lelouch is beginning to isolate himself from the other Ministers in his ambitions, he still feels like he needs to stick by them in the overall "doing the right thing" idea he has been nominally embracing over the story. We see him use Nunnally as justification for his rebellion, and even Schneizel points out he didn't take over as PM. And yet, there is that part of Lelouch that is always eyeing the crown. Eventually, he will decide between his outer creed and inner desires, however a decision that will be made without him is how Japan ought to be released from Britannia.

I can imagine it might hurt to miss Lelouch throw down verbally with the Britannian aristocracy, but don't underestimate Suzaku's abilities to throw out a burn, even with Lelouch's concern that he's not ready. In terms of plot, their separation here will prove to sow more discord between Lelouch and the others, as Suzaku and Ohgi are isolated from a Lelouch who is delivering instructions from a hospital bed without a full appreciation for what's going on. Plus, Suzaku and Ohgi deserve more Chapter time, straight up. This has felt like Lelouch's story for some time, and while his arc is central, so is Suzaku's, and to a lesser degree Ohgi's. We need to see them being Ministerial before the timeskip to allow for a smooth transition into running a country efficiently after the timeskip. This timeskip by the way is happening at the end of this arc. Stay tuned.

On the topic of staying tuned, stick around for Chapter 22, Not In Kansas Anymore, coming soon. Until then, be well, be nice to your siblings, and be kind enough to leave a rating and review!

~Eth0