Code Geass: Lazos de sangre
Chapter six:
Rough Diamonds
How did Luciano know he was there? There was only one explanation: he must have followed him. Lelouch's remembered that Luciano was at the Britannia party with Schneizel. Seventeen years ago, he was working for Charles zi Britannia. Did it mean that he was now Schneizel's henchman? Lelouch wasn't disconcerted. He inferred that Britannia Corps truly wanted to get rid of the vice president, they would try to dissuade him by all means. Force wouldn't be the exception. Luciano was neither patient nor generous. If he hadn't already killed him, it was because Schneizel ordered him not to. Before embarking on his crusade, Lelouch was aware that, in challenging the Brittania Corpse, he would be forced to face Luciano again. He imagined that their reunion would be in some darkened room. Lelouch would be bound and gagged as Luciano and his gang would stalk him like hungry predators. The new element, and for whom he most feared, was Kallen.
After his warning, Luciano remained silent, giving them no further took forever to hear his and Kallen's shaky breaths until the car came to a sudden stop. They were shoved out. Unnecessary, but it was too much to ask for Luciano. Without removing the hood, they threw Lelouch to the ground. Immediately, he made an attempt to get up and one of the thugs stomped his back with their foot. Luciano took out a cigar and lit it. Lelouch sharpened his senses. He could hear a soft gurgling coming from his right and the wild roar of waves crashing furiously against something. Also, a salty smell reached his nose. Was it possible that they were on a pier? The university wasn't far from the bay. Surrendered to uncertainty, Lelouch felt his childhood fears return to him. For Kallen and himself, he had to push them aside and think of something that would help them out of this situation. This time he wouldn't be paralyzed.
"Why did y… ?!"
Lelouch fell silent when Luciano stubbed out the cigar in his hand. The burning was so acute that he felt the fire going through his veins, boiling the bloodstream and destroying his nerves. He had to bite his tongue to keep from screaming. Lelouch squeezed his eyelids with exaggerated force.
"You're not the one asking the questions," Luciano reprehended him in a harsh voice, bringing his face close to Lelouch's. His nicotine-scented breath penetrated the black fabric of the hood, causing Lelouch to cough. "You'll just obey. Listen to me, Lamperouge," Luciano said, adopting a stern tone. "Get out of Pendragon. You'll go back to the fucking sewer where you came from and you'll never come back or I'll kill you with my bare hands. Okay?"
Gasping with rage, Lelouch raised his head to where he thought Luciano was at.
"Tell your master that I won't leave this city while I live," he muttered.
"No, no, no, that wasn't a request. Nor is your proposal an option. Either get yourself exiled forever from this city or I'll make you watch as I cut up your slut until you change your mind, starting with her nipples," he concluded, smoking another cigarette.
Luciano crouched down next to him again and dropped the charred filter into his palm.
"Do you dare to kill an innocent woman and not your prey? I don't understand, what good would it do to kill me later? Why don't you just do it now?" Lelouch asked breathlessly, grimacing increasingly grotesque as the particles fused with his skin. "Answer me something, how much does your boss pay you?"
"No questions."
"I can offer you twice the payment if you let us go."
"No."
"Why? Did your boss order it? Look, he's not here. Right now, you're in charge, as far as I can see. I'm willing to reach an agreement that favors both of us if you agree to listen to me."
"Shut the…"
"Aren't you interested in what I have to say?" Lelouch cut him off provocatively. "Is it because you don't want to or your boss forbade you? Yes, that's it. You have no authority. You're a bastard bitch who sucks his master's cock. And I thought that I could ..."
Luciano put his mask back on and traced a circle in the air with his finger. Two thugs yanked Lelouch by the arms, pulling him to his feet. The hood was removed. As soon as he could see where he was at, Luciano struck three blows to the face, in rapid succession. If it weren't for the fact that his thugs were holding him up, Lelouch would have crashed to the ground again. With the speed of lightning, Luciano put the barrel of the revolver between his eyes. It was cold. It tickled him. Feeling like he was going to choke, Lelouch spat blood. He didn't take his eyes off his attacker. Through the holes in the mask he could see the red rim of his eyes. Lelouch could bet he was scowling at him.
"I told you to shut the fuck up" He repeated slowly. "The last guy who call me "you bastard bitch" regretted it. Trust me; you wouldn't want to run with the same luck." An evil smile curved Luciano's lips. He paused thoughtfully. "My boss ordered me to keep you alive, although he didn't mention that I couldn't cut out your tongue. Then you'll learn to shut your trap."
Luciano was a man of his word. That was clear to Lelouch. It wasn't so much the threat itself as the enthusiastic note in his voice that set Lelouch's pulse racing.
"You bastard bitch."
It wasn't Lelouch who said that but a female voice. There was only one woman among them. Luciano turned his head to Kallen. He quickly peeled off her hood. She fixed him with that fierce look of hers. Two of the thugs made sure she didn't go anywhere. One grazed her neck with a razor. Any sudden movement she made would be fatal.
"I'm not a man, you bastard bitch," she repeated so he wouldn't have any doubts that it was her.
"So, it was you who said that? How brave!" He laughed. "And how stupid. That reminds me that I haven't been with a woman in some time, especially with one as beautiful as you are."
Luciano took a step forward. He examined her up and down. He noticed that her jacket was tight around her chest. He grabbed the razor that was pressing down on her throat and eagerly ripped at her jacket and blouse. Her breasts were huge and provocative, volcanic. Would they be white and round? He couldn't bear to rip her brassiere to find out. A woman with small breasts lacked attractiveness. That's what he thought. Luciano was sick of them. Although the fabric interfered, it wasn't an impediment for him to pinch her. The woman bit her lip. Luciano didn't finger her as he supposed he would, but the fire of bounder lust blazed in his gaze. It wasn't her body that enraptured him. It was her pain.
"ENOUGH! LEAVE HER A…!"
Lelouch didn't finish his sentence because another of the gangsters hit him in the stomach, taking all the air out of him. Instinctively, Lelouch wanted to bend forward to catch his breath, but the thugs wouldn't let him. His arms were starting to ache from being raised for so long. Luciano turned momentarily to Lelouch and pointed the knife at him.
"Shut up. You missed your chance, Lamperouge, so you give me no choice. You know, being honest with you, I'm glad you chose not to leave Pendragon," he added, smiling. And so, he turned to Kallen again. "It would have been a shame not to have enjoyed your slut."
No woman who had been with Luciano was ever with him again. It wasn't that he didn't like them, quite the opposite. But they wouldn't continue living to repeat it. Luciano slapped Kallen with all his might.
"That was for the 'bastard bitch' thing!" Luciano explained, shaking his hand. Even he got hurt by the blow. Then he grabbed Kallen by the chin forcing her to look at him and showed her the knife, "and this is to pleasure you and me."
Luciano was about to make a cut on her face when Kallen unexpectedly lunged at him and caught his nose with her teeth. Luciano screamed so hard that his agonized cry pierced through his men and Lelouch. The redhead felt how his scream made the blood burn in her veins increasing her energies. The thugs ran to separate them. As much as Luciano was being pulled, Kallen clung angrily. She didn't release it until a few seconds later when no one expected it. Luciano fell off his ass.
"FUCKING BITCH! YOU SHRED MY NOSE!" Luciano yelled with tears in his eyes. "Take the bastard and kill that bitch!"
Luciano's nose was bleeding profusely. He tried apply pressure to it to stop the bleeding. The pain forced him to rock back and forth, like a child. In the midst of his heart-rending howls, Kallen plunged her knee into the man's stomach, pinning it several times quickly, until he hunched over. She raised her leg and landed a withering kick on his back and that's when he finally released her. The man who stood at the other side wrapped his beefy arm around her neck, strangling her. She kicked his shin with her heel and buried her elbow in his stomach. His growl was music to her ears. He backed up until they collided with the vehicle behind them. Unconscious, the man couldn't hold her anymore. She managed to get away. Luciano's blood trickled down her jaw. She ran his tongue over her lips. It tasted fresh, bitter, and strangely pleasant.
Luciano, on the other hand, who had a red stain in the middle of his grotesque mask and who saw how Kallen had beaten two of his men in the blink of an eye, struggled to his feet and staggered toward one of the cars. When the woman tried to prevent it, another of the thugs who was wielding a knife pounced on her, distracting her; which gave Luciano a chance to get in the car and escape like a soul that takes the devil. The redhead veered out of the way of her attacker, grabbed him by the elbow and threw him toward the car. His head went through the window, shattering the glass. His weapon slipped from his fist. Kallen seized it. She noticed that Lelouch was being taken into another car. She didn't even think about it. As the man was opening the door, she threw the knife at him. The edge pierced his hand. The gangster screeched in pain. The cleft began bleeding immediately. The other man holding Lelouch captive pulled out a gun. Kallen arrived before he could pull the trigger, grabbed his hand and forced the pistol up, firing into the air. She wedged her leg into his groin and tucked her elbow into the crook of his throat. The man dropped to his knees. The pistol landed near a weak Lelouch, who had completely lost his sense of direction. At this, another thug charged Kallen at her back, catching her by the waist. Leaning on his shoulders, Kallen wrapped her legs around his head in a reverse cartwheel and flipped him over. They both collapsed.
Meanwhile, the man whose hand had been pierced by the knife yanked it away. A stream of blood dripped onto the floor in a diagonal line. He ran toward her at a speed that blurred his silhouette. The sound of the crash was equal to two trains meeting face to face. Kallen tried to push him; but nothing could slow his imminent advance. The man had become a machine. She couldn't protect herself against the edge that split her flesh. Her pupils dilated. The man pulled out the knife and Kallen collapsed in front of Lelouch's wild eyes.
"¡KALLEN!"
Kallen's vision filled with black dots and a chill began to spread from her abdomen to her chest. From one second to the next, she could no longer move her legs neither her arms, nor any part of her body. She could only glimpse Lelouch's face, pale with horror, staring at her. The last thing she saw were Lelouch's lips mouthing her name...
Kallen hadn't seen his brother for a long time. He looked just like in his photos. No, better than that. His red hair burning like fire and his bright blue eyes, years didn't pass for him: he was still in his twenties. They were at home. Naoto was smiling at her. He looked proud. Perhaps because of the courage she had shown that day. Kallen hugged him and expressed her desire to be with him. Naoto didn't say anything. She pulled away to see him once more and then his image began to fade. Engulfed by a powerful light. Kallen begged him not to leave her, but he didn't have the power to help it.
"¡Naoto!"
"Be careful!"
Kallen flexed sharply. Her gaze scattered around. She slowly recognized the place. She wasn't at home. She was lying on a gurney in the emergency room at a hospital. She wasn't with Naoto either. The redhead felt the ghost of a hand on her flat abdomen. Beside her was Lelouch sitting and his hand did indeed rest there. Apparently, he was startled when she made that rude move. He withdrew it as soon as they exchanged a glance. He didn't look well. The chill hit in her stomach threw a handful of confused images into her mind. As soon as she rearranged them, the redhead looked down. A few stitches drew a long, thin line on her right side.
"What happened?" She asked harshly.
"You lost consciousness and I brought you to the hospital. Fortunately, a doctor was able to attend you quickly. He told me that the stab hadn't touched any vital organ and that you were out of danger, but you should rest," Lelouch explained laconically.
"No. I mean before that," Kallen clarified. Her voice was stifled at the end.
She hugged herself holding back the chill that rose from the pit of her stomach. Lelouch sighed.
"After you were stabbed, that man went after me, but some freighters saw us and he fled. I asked for their help in taking you to the university hospital. It seems that we were taken to a pier." He frowned, focused on the memory. "Anyway, all that matters is that you're safe."
She racked her brains to dig deeper into her memory. It was at sunset. They spent a long time in that horrible place. It was a late hour. She could understand why the dock was so empty. Nor was it impossible for a passerby by walk then. The redhead glanced at Lelouch. He was crestfallen and clutching his hands, wringing them. She could feel the tension building up as an electrostatic charge in the environment.
"Are you telling me that you carried me in these little arms?" Kallen snapped, half teasing, half serious, dabbing one of his slender arms with her finger.
"Well, it's not a must to have the muscles of a bodybuilder to get you up," he grumbled with his wounded pride.
"Ha! Sure," she conceded sarcastically. "Out of joke, thank you," she added instantly, getting grave, tucking a strand behind her ear. Lelouch didn't reply. He was still lost in his thoughts. When the silence became unbearable for Kallen, she said, "That's enough. I want to get out of here. Don't even think about stopping me."
She yanked the covers back and stood so abruptly that she swayed. Lelouch stood up, startled by her sudden movement, stretching out his arms as if prepared to keep her from falling. He closed his hands, counseling the threat.
"Okay, but first..."
Lelouch took off his jacket and covered the woman's shoulders. Up to that point, Kallen hadn't been aware of the cold draft emanating from the air conditioner. Not to mention that the thug tore her blouse. His jacket was warm, in contrast. Holding it by the lapels, Lelouch tried to further protect her bare skin. They looked for the doctor, spoke with him and immediately went to the reception. Finally, they got into Lelouch's car. He'd give her a ride home. It was late in the night. Kallen checked her cell phone. She was unconscious for six hours. She had two missed calls and a message from Ohgi. He would be surprised since she hadn't arrived and that she didn't show signs of life at all. He had never been annoying or paranoid. Quite normal, she was already an adult when she started living with him. However, she had never been stabbed and didn't know how to explain that without feeling uncomfortable, so she chose to answer him so that he could have time to digest the news before they met.
Kallen snuggled by the window. Trees, buildings, people and cars were left behind very quickly. Their shapes were blurry, though she could identify them. In the reflection of the window pane, she noticed that her blouse was ripped. Her brassiere was visible. On the sly she glanced at the rearview mirror; it was reflecting Lelouch's eyes on her. Kallen noticed something twinkle in them. Something she has never seen. It wasn't lust, perhaps was it worry? She couldn't be sure what was showing in his eyes. In any case, his gaze was still penetrating. Her cheeks were stained red. Kallen hid inside his warm jacket. Lelouch looked away.
"Who's Naoto?" Lelouch asked. Kallen turned her head towards him, how did he know his name? Lelouch added as if he could've read her mind, "You were saying that name in your dreams."
Of course! She woke up screaming his name. How could she forget it?
"He's my older brother," she replied, turning to the window.
"Do you live with him? You should tell him that you're coming soon. He may be worried."
"No," Kallen whispered, inaudible. "He disappeared," she clarified. Lelouch didn't say anything. It was supposed to end there since he didn't ask anything more, but the image of her brother remained floating in her mind. "I was ten years old. He was teaching me martial arts at the time. He wanted me to learn to take care of myself. He knew Pendragon was dangerous and couldn't be around to protect me. Neither could our mother: she was mired in depression and only drugs could put her in a state of peace. She had traces of refrain in her blood, and that's why the bastard who bumped into her and left her in a coma managed to get out of the past. I could barely contain myself to seek out that son of a bitch to give her the one she deserved. I was stopped by the fact that I didn't know his name." As she said that, her voice reached a tipping point. "Actually, that isn't entirely true. My brother asked me to use my abilities to protect myself and those in need..."
"Was that why you saved me?" He questioned her with measure.
"Just because I dislike you doesn't mean I want you dead nor have your tongue cut out." Kallen sniffed. "And the promise I made to him includes you," she moaned. She wiped with the back of her hand as she felt the moisture in her eyes. "Why am I telling you this?" She snorted.
Lelouch glanced at the rearview mirror. The reflection returned the image of Kallen from behind, shrinking. She was protecting her face. Kallen mustered her strength to suppress her sobs.
"It's okay. I didn't mean to bother you," he murmured. Lelouch took his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. The woman hesitated but saw how Lelouch had his gaze fixed on the steering wheel trying not to cross it with hers. Not that it disgusted or irritated him but because he perfectly knew that she didn't want him to see her vulnerable. Kallen accepted the handkerchief. "I'm sorry I put you in danger. This is by the judgment of the vice president. They tried to intimidate me into dropping the case and they used you to do it."
"You're really weird, Lelouch Lamperouge," Kallen smiled. "You never apologize when you have to and you do it when you're not to fault, tks! You said it, was it your fault that they threatened you?"
"They scared you..."
"Me? Scared? You don't know me at all. I've lived in this city for years and have been robbed at gunpoint four times, why do you think my brother taught me to fight? Do me a favor and don't underestimate me. You're offending me." She sighed. "When he threatened to cut your tongue, that's when I was scared. When he said he was going to… Well…" Kallen whispered, looking down. She covered herself more with the jacket. "What the hell were you doing by fucking antagonizing that psycho?"
"I was trying to make a deal with him. He just didn't seem open to negotiations, so I thought I'd flatter his ego into agreeing. Since it didn't work, I hurt his pride."
"And you almost got your tongue cut out. If tonight served to teach you that your tricks won't always work, I don't mind the fact that I was stabbed."
"I'm not good with violence. I couldn't save our lives by that means," he admitted in a thread of voice. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel.
"Absolutely. Your weapon is that long tongue you've got," she pointed out mockingly. "I'm good at violence, luckily for both of us. You owe me this one, huh? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have anything."
"That was another alternative: having someone use their fists for me, even though you fought of your own free will. I'm sure if Naoto knew what you did, he would be proud. Well, that's what I would feel if my sister put into practice what I taught her," he said, shrugging. Kallen thought he added that to dissolve any hint of mistrust she had against him. "I owe my life to Naoto for instructing you and to you for saving me. Thanks."
Until that moment, all she had heard from him were lies. Or they sounded like such. She couldn't believe he managed to speak a truth without burning his lips. She couldn't trust a liar. So how did it sound to hear the truth from his mouth? Dry, concise, if it was more ornate, she might think he was saying it out of courtesy. But this time she thought he was saying it from the bottom of his heart.
"You're welcome," she replied, glancing at the rearview mirror where she knew their gazes would finally meet.
And they arrived. The redhead thanked him for bringing her home. She was going to give him the jacket back, but he stopped her: it was cold that night, she would need it. Kallen realized that it had been stupid, agreed with him and said that she would return it later. They went down. The pizzeria was closed, but Ohgi was waiting for Kallen from inside. Recognizing her, he rushed over.
"Damn you, Kallen!"
"You could be glad I'm still alive, right?" She growled.
She joined him promptly. Ohgi sensed a shadow that remained behind. It must be Lelouch. Kallen had told Ohgi about him a couple of times, or maybe three, perhaps way more. He had imagined him older and not so young or handsome.
"Ah! You're Lelouch, right? Kallen told me about you." Ohgi paused. Maybe he wasn't addressing him properly. Still, he didn't know how things worked in a law firm. "I'm Ohgi Kaname, a friend of the family. Thank you for bringing her house, safe and sound."
"It was nothing."
"Would you like to come in? I could make you a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you want," he offered shyly.
"I appreciate the invitation, but I must decline it. Someone's waiting for me tonight," he justified. "On another occasion, I would love to. This will be goodbye for now."
"I understand. It was nice meeting you."
Ohgi and Lelouch shook hands. His skin was strangely cold. Kallen wasn't exaggerating when she said there was a gloomy aura around him. Rather, it was his expressive gaze that disturbed him. He was bigger, yet Lelouch was imposing. He said goodbye to them and got back into his black Volvo. Who would wait for Lelouch, into the night? C.C..? No, there was another person. Someone whose existence she didn't know until that night: his sister. Maybe because of her negative opinion of him or that the day she brought a pizza it didn't seem like there was anyone else besides C.C. living in their apartment, the woman presumed that Lelouch was alone. Of course, that didn't mean he didn't have a family. What kind of person could his sister be? Suddenly Kallen was mildly curious.
Lelouch was driving fast. He skipped several stop signs, and he didn't care. He also wouldn't mind if he got a ticket for speeding. Both his hand on the wheel and his jaw were clenched. Because of his stupid miscalculation, he was on the verge of losing her and failing on his promise.
Seventeen years ago, Luciano murdered his mother while they were struggling. Marianne yelled at him to run away. But he couldn't move everywhere. His legs were paralyzed. Run? Where to? What about his mom? And Nunnally? Uncertainty and terror had him on the ropes. If it weren't for someone else taking action, he would have stayed there, petrified. That person was that young man who tried to dissuade Luciano from killing him. It was Naoto Stadtfeld. He took the little Lelouch in his arms and carried him away. He struggled to break free. Nunnally was still at home with those men, why should he run and she not? And his mother, he must be with her! Naoto ignored his protests and continued running without looking back. The rain had intensified and the darkness was getting thicker and thicker. They only stopped to catch their breath when they were too far away, in an alley where the neon lights were all the lighting they had.
"I shouldn't have left my sister alone. If those guys killed my mother, they can do the same to her," Lelouch muttered angrily.
"Don't worry; she'll be fine," Naoto gasped. "I'm know that what I'm saying doesn't make sense but trust me. As it is, she can't go very far. Now you're his interest," he explained. Lelouch frowned suspiciously. That wasn't Charles zi Britannia's order. "What's your name?" He asked, changing the subject. It was clear that he hadn't convinced him.
"Lelouch."
"I have a younger sister, she's the same age. She often makes that face on me when she thinks I'm lying to her. Her name is Kallen." He smiled at him compassionately. The man straightened up again and became serious. "Okay, Lelouch. You're not safe here. My intention is to leave you wherever you're going to be. Do you know where?
His mother told him to take refuge with the Ashford family. However, they lived in the neighboring city. It would take a while to get until they get there. It was better to hide that night, especially since they needed a shelter from the rain. Not to mention, Lelouch didn't want to leave the town with so many loose ends. Apart from their mother, they had no relatives in the city, who could take them in?
"There's only one place," he whispered thoughtfully, "Suzaku Kururugi's house. He's my best friend."
Naoto nodded.
"Well. I hope he can protect you from the Britannia Corps."
What he actually meant was: "I hope he wants to protect you from the Britannia Corps." Whoever aided the enemies of the Britannia Corps automatically became one as well. The man resumed his march carrying Lelouch on his back. He just met Naoto and felt like he could trust him. It could be his sincere gaze, his gentle smile, his determined attitude. There was something heroic about him. Lelouch had recognized those virtues in Suzaku when he watched him on television for the first time in years. They were eventually found. Luciano had said: "Stadtfeld," and thus they knew that their hours were counted.
The next thing he remembered was waking up in a hospital bed. Before that, his mind was blank. As if the book of his memory was missing a page. He had been treated by numerous psychologists, even psychiatrists, and they had all told him that his own mind had probably blocked those memories as a defense mechanism to overcome the traumatic event. Naoto disappeared since that day and Kallen had lost her brother, the only person who cared for her, because of him. Lelouch had sworn to himself that he would watch over her. Frustrated at nearly falling short of his promise, he struck the steering wheel furiously.
He arrived at his apartment, tired.
"You're at home! I heard the door!" Nunnally exclaimed. "C.C. told me you were the victim of an assault," she announced. Lelouch shot a reproachful look at C.C., who was sitting in the dining room, smoking. The woman shrugged. "Tell me everything. Did they hurt you?"
"No," he answered, hiding the hand with which Luciano stubbed out his cigarettes behind his back. He didn't want Sayoko to notice and tell Nunnally. "We were surprised when we left the scientific research institute. I thought I could negotiate with them and they turned out to be bolder than they looked. Criminals in Pendragon are different. A colleague who was an expert in mixed martial arts was with me and defended us, even though she was injured."
"How do you negotiate your life with criminals and hope you succeed?! I don't know you, brother. It was stupid what you did," she chided in a shrill voice. It wasn't that she never got exalted, but it was the first time she had scolded him. "May you always remember it so you don't repeat it," Nunnally added sternly. "Thank God she was there! How is she?"
"She's out of danger. She was discharged and I took her home."
"Thanks heavens!" Nunnally sighed, as if she'd been holding her breath for an eternity, as she drove two of her fingers between her eyes. "Poor dear, she surely had a terrible scare too. She might not be sleeping well tonight thinking that both almost…"
Nunnally didn't dare to complete the sentence.
"She was very brave fighting these raiders alone. She acted like a hero," C.C. intervened in order to prevent the silence from lasting longer.
"Courage is reckless these days," Nunnally replicated sadly. "Pendragon can't allow its citizens to risk their lives like this. It's time to stop romanticizing deaths and see them for what they are: tragedies!" She stated, crumpling the fabric of her dress. "Officials like prosecutor Kururugi are the heroes we need. I hope you report this to the police; otherwise, I won't speak to you until you do!"
"Alright, I understand. Anyway, I was thinking… uhm!"
Lelouch touched his left eye.
"Are you okay?!" Nunnally gasped.
"Yeah. It was a stitch. You know I have a migraine," he muttered. Lelouch advanced on his sister. "Forgive me for worrying you so much. I was arrogant and stupid. I promise it won't happen again."
He dropped to his knees and rested his head on her lap. He didn't hold back his sigh. She tousled his hair lovingly and ended up hugged him. Lelouch heard her heart beating. He closed his eyes and fell into her heartbeat. It was the sweetest sound he knew.
"It's okay. Don't be so hard on yourself either. It's enough for me that you understood," she agreed, softening her tone. "Maybe you should freshen up in the bathroom. Sayoko, please heat my brother's dinner and mine. I think it would be good for us to eat after…" She hesitated, searching for a word that would synthesize everything without stirring up the brand-new sensations, "this experience."
Nunnally never dined without her brother. It was the time of day when they could share. Knowing that and the fact it would take him a while to meet her since he chose to wait for Kallen to wake up, he called C.C., explaining to her what happened and the lie she would tell Nunnally. Of course, in the end, she did what she wanted. Lelouch snuck into the bathroom. He turned on the tap and washed his hands. The water was cold. He scrubbed vigorously, as he had never done in his life, under the nails, the cuticles, the space between the fingers, the wrists, and the back of the hands. He had to treat those cigarette burns as soon as possible. Even though they were tiny, they stung like fuck. At this, a sudden pain twisted his stomach and he leaned over the sink, vomiting violently. Lelouch tried to stand up at once, but his knees were shaking, just as if he'd been hit in the gut. It desperately urged him to hold onto something. In the rush to recover, he sucked gallons of air. He ran his hand down his forehead beaded with sweat.
"Aren't you happy that I stayed here looking after your sister instead of going with you?" C.C. commented, standing behind him. "I wouldn't have been of any use to you there."
"You weren't planning on staying home to take care of her," he replied in a throaty voice.
"You're right," C.C. admitted, letting out a scathing laugh. "Even if the Britannia Corps men had raided this apartment and taken us into custody, I would have done nothing. It doesn't matter if you asked me. I'm not a hero."
Lelouch raised his head slowly. In the mirror he glanced at C.C., leaning lazily against the jamb, clenching a new cigarette between her teeth. She turned it on. Lelouch increased the power of the jet of water to sweep away the vomit.
"Why did you tell Nunnally? You only manage to make her worry," he admonished, angry.
"She was long before. What did you expect? You were held without communication for six hours. I had to give her an answer or else she would have a fit and I'm not a doctor either," C.C. excused herself, listless. "Anyway, I didn't come to talk about me. Then Kallen lost consciousness, what happened?"
"Some people happened to pass by and left. They didn't want to attract attention."
"How convenient! Angels appear when your savior is knocked out. Not before, nor after, just right in time." She smiled caustically. Then she straightened and snaked toward him. "You entrusted your plan to me before than anyone else, Lelouch…" she said, raising her voice.
"You earned that trust."
"... You knew what I was and I knew who you were from the beginning."
"I know."
"There have never been any lies or secrets between us."
"That hasn't changed."
"Hasn't it changed?" She questioned. "So, tell me. You can give your sister and Kallen that terrible excuse; your lies don't work with me."
"And if that's not what happened, then what?" Lelouch asked. He had already regained control of his body, and his voice was sounding poised again. "Another savior came? Or are you implying that I killed them?" Turning, Lelouch shot C.C. a vexed look. "How did I do it?"
"I don't know," she said, shaking her head, "but you do." she sentenced, pointing with her chin at the remains of the vomit on the ceramic.
C.C. retired. No hint of concern appeared on Lelouch's face. The lawyer turned around and went about his business. With his hands he formed a container and filled it with the cold water. He spread it over the sink to clean it of traces, washed his face, and leaned back against it. Through the mirror, he noticed that there was a tall window next to the door. It was a night without the moon or stars. Even the brightest flame would pale before its blackness. Sidelong, he watched his fingernails. Kallen's blood hadn't yet been drawn from under them. Despite the throbbing pain in his left eye, his lips feigned an ambiguous smile.
The early morning of the next day, before Nunnally, Sayoko, and C.C. woke up, Lelouch left in his car in order to close a pending matter...
Kallen had the third worst night of her life. The first was when Naoto didn't return home and the second was the day, she learned that her mother was admitted to a hospital in a coma. The wound burned. Her muscles felt heavy. Breathing had become painful. Her eyes were a bit puffy. She was hoping the makeup would cover it up. She didn't feel very well. Her mood was no better. And still, she went to the firm. She was aware that she had to rest. However, that meant lying on her back in bed. Kallen hated feeling worthless and if she did nothing, she would think about the pain, which would be twice as bad. The other option was to help Ohgi at the pizzeria and she didn't feel like being nice and cute or cooking. An office job was better.
The office was open when she arrived, although she didn't see Lelouch around. She didn't think he was so careless that he forgot to lock the office, who else could be there? C.C. or Tamaki? The redhead wandered around the place.
"You shouldn't be here," a thick voice greeted her. Her owner was a few feet behind her. Kallen was startled. "Lelouch told me everything. I'm sorry. Will you let me see your war wound?"
"What?! No!" Kallen grumbled, grimacing.
"Too bad," she clicked her tongue, disappointed. C.C leaned closer. "Phew! You look fucked up. I think I know what you need."
C.C. slipped into the room that had once been a kitchen. She took two beers from a box in the fridge, which she bought behind Lelouch's back and with his credit card, of course, and a bottle opener. C.C. returned and they went to her desk. She removed everything that was in the way on the table and placed the bottles down. She opened them one by one.
"Shall we have beer at this time?" Kallen questioned. C.C stopped when she uncovered hers and looked at Kallen, expectant. "Why not?" She answered herself.
C.C. smiled and finished opening it for her. Kallen was funnier than Lelouch. She handed it to her. They clinked their bottles in a friendly way and took a long drink. Right away, C.C. hastened to take out a cigarette and a lighter. Quick as a wink, it was already on.
"Could you not smoke in front of me?" Kallen asked sullenly. "I'm not a smoker and it bothers me."
"Excuse me, did you say something?"
C.C. sucked on her cigarette, taking advantage of the pause, and blew out a spiral of smoke. Since she wasn't going to listen to her, she had to make herself understood in another way. Kallen tore the cigarette from her and threw it away.
"Don't smoke in my presence."
"Auch!" She moaned. "Kindness isn't your main virtue, right?" She smiled at her, taking a sip. Kallen crossed her arms. "Answer me a question," C.C. asked. Her breath was hazy from the cold. "What ties you to Lelouch? Fate, work, friendship, sex..."
Kallen choked on her drink, embarrassed. C.C. raised her eyebrows. Still smiling.
"If I have to be honest, I'd say a promise. Absurd!" Kallen laughed at her own response. She felt a stab of pain in the wound from every movement, but she didn't care. "How about you? What's your relationship with him? Is it work, is it sexual...?"
"The sex is good, his tongue works wonders" C.C. took another sip from the bottle. Dumbfounded, Kallen stared at her silently. C.C couldn't take it anymore and spat out a laugh, a trickle of liquor running down her chin. She rinsed with a finger. "I'm joking!"
"Ah!" Kallen exclaimed belatedly. Doubtful of how to react. "Seriously? You and he aren't…? Why?"
"Because I'm smart. The one who falls in love with him is doomed and I don't want that for myself. Sex doesn't unite us either because I'm asexual," she confessed, drinking another little. The redhead nodded, stunned. Not so much because of her sexual orientation, but that she just revealed it to her after by meeting for the third time. "Don't you believe me? Do you want us to kiss so you can see that I don't feel anything?" She asked, wiping the corners of her mouth with her tongue. Both laughed. Kallen realized that the less she took C.C. seriously, the better they would get along. "What really ties us is a contract. I was his first employee and his first client. If it hadn't been for him, I'd be rotting in jail for a while."
Kallen blinked, notoriously confused.
"Why?"
"For gravely injuring a person," she replied, rubbing her hands together. The bottle was cold. She felt the bitter liquor go down her esophagus and settle in her stomach. "I was defending myself from a stalker. I attacked him using what was within reach, which was a candle and the guy began to scream. People who never listen to anything I said came out and they locked me up. The police already had me booked for the crime of fraud and falsification of documents and they weren't going to let me go so easily. He, on the other hand, had no criminal record. It was then that Lelouch arrived." Kallen didn't realize at which point her characteristic light-hearted tone changed to a spare one, disappearing from her story almost completely. Only up to that line, she noticed that the pace was faster and her voice was different. Still, she had been listening intently. "He had graduated from college and needed to scratch money. You know that people tend to be wary of newbie lawyers. Lelouch knew the adversity he faced and came up with a solution. Where better could a graduate lawyer get cases than in jail with the desperate? He released me that same day and placed a restraining order on the stalker. I thought that was the end of the story but Lelouch didn't think the same and asked me to stay in my apartment. He suspected the stalker would attack me again. I thought he was delusional ..."
"And it turned out that he was right?" Kallen interrupted.
"When isn't he?" C.C. snapped, rolling her eyes. "Not that my stalker was a hefty or martial artist, but he was unhinged. Then I looked at Lelouch and he didn't seem like a hero to me. With the odds playing against him, he faced him. My table was made of glass and in the middle of the fight he landed on it! He buried a piece of it in his hand, it was bleeding, but that didn't discourage him. He held out until the police arrived." C.C.'s gaze was wild. Telling stories was a way to relive them. "I had no money to pay him and he suggested that I could work as his office manager. That way he would get a free employee and I would start an honest life. I've been with him since that day," C.C. took a deep breath. She fixed her eyes on her interlocutor. "I certainly sensed intelligence in his gaze when we first met and also a spark of madness. In short, he was a person worth following. You can't do anything without a bit of madness," she added. "Well, no man put himself in danger to save me!" C.C. laughed softly, changing the nuance of her voice back to the usual one. "Maybe I was wrong and it was the lighting of my little room that amazed me. Sometimes I wonder if when he gets up in the morning and goes to the bathroom to wash and sees his scar he thinks of me. He wouldn't have it if it weren't because for me."
Both C.C. and Kallen exchanged a strange look. They thought the same thing and they both knew it. At the same time, they took the bottles by the neck and took a drink. The redhead shuddered. Not because of the cold of the drink. Her beer was lukewarm: she hadn't touched it because she was sucked into C.C.'s tale. She hadn't thought of it from that point of view. She has been fighting for herself for seventeen years. Yesterday she saved another person at the cost of her life. In a way, this scar entwined their destinies. It was a tangible memory of that night. Would she think of Lelouch every time she got dressed? She banished the idea by shaking her head vehemently. It was one thing to protect him, another to imagine that he was in her room. Kallen took another drink.
"What are you thinking about? Perverted things? Yeah, that has to be it to make you blush like this," C.C. said resting her head on her fist. Lelouch just walked into the office. "Speaking of the devil…" Lelouch looked, first, at the bottles on C.C.'s desk, and then the women. "Hey you! We were talking about you!"
"Bad, I guess. Get rid of that, if someone comes in and sees it, they'll think we're drunk," Lelouch growled.
"C.C. was telling me how both of you met," Kallen put in.
"Oh yeah? Did she tell you about her ex-boyfriend?" He asked raising an eyebrow, conferring a scathing note in his voice. C.C., in response, forced a cold smile.
"Yes. Also, she told me that right before she was your office manager, she made a living scamming others and falsifying documents," she added, sitting up abruptly. She regretted it on the spot, for she felt a tear in the wound. "Is this what you meant when you said that the qualities, skills and requirements you were looking for in your staff were something special? To work with criminals?"
"Ex-criminals," he emphasized. "Once they started working for me, they promised to give up their bad life and they have. You know why? When I met them, they were submerged in a hole, abandoned to despair and I held out my hand because I noticed something valuable in them that no one had bothered to look at," Lelouch explained with a peculiar smile. Kallen frowned. Her mind was dark, but he would enlighten it for her. "Did C.C. tell you that her parents died when she was a child and that she grew up on the streets? Tamaki is one of those many Japanese immigrants who went through an odyssey to find a place here. You should understand. I'm sure he'll have no qualms about telling you his story, although he tends to get sensitive remembering it," he pointed out, as if he found the gesture adorable. "What is their fault that they were born in a different environment from us? With a little more luck, they would have become successful professionals. Meanwhile, they managed as best they could until I provided them with the second chance that society denied them. Time has only confirmed that I did the right thing: C.C. is an excellent manager and Tamaki is a good investigator. In the same way, I had a similar feeling with you," he indicated. Of course, it would have been foolish not to turn annoyance into an opportunity to gain her trust further without making it seem obvious. "Just like I trusted them, I'm going to trust you and let you show me what you are capable of."
"Are you telling me that we're rough diamonds, to you? I had no idea you had such a generous heart." She smiled wryly, crossing her arms.
Although her reply was mocking, her body posture wasn't defensive. What's more, her features had relaxed. He deduced that she was impressed. He had persuaded her. Lelouch's smile widened in sign of triumph.
"What I'm saying is that the world can't be seen on a black and white scale. We all make mistakes, but we have the right to be forgiven and to try again," he corrected gently.
"Whatever you say," she snorted. "By the way, here, another reason to come by today, It's your jacket."
Kallen handed him the jacket, tucked away in her purse. It was carefully folded. Lelouch accepted it.
"Thanks. You should go home. The doctor said you need to rest. Don't worry. C.C. and I can prepare my defense for the third trial."
"There in my house I'm a burden as I am. I'll be more productive here and I'll stay, whether you like it or not. You won't get rid of me," she warned defiantly.
With her intentions declared, she went to her office.
"Trust me, charlatan, that's the last thing I'd like to do."
Kallen stopped short, shook her head, and continued. C.C. and Lelouch followed her with their eyes until she walked through the door.
"Bear in mind that if your arguments ever get to the point of exchanging blows, I'll put all my money on Kallen. She would beat you in a fair fight, even if she had a hand tied behind her back and a wound in her side. " C.C. smiled at him provocatively.
"That's indisputable," Lelouch admitted, serious. He didn't find that possibility as amusing as she did. "However, that day is farther and farther from happening: Kallen is on our side and becomes more convinced that she made the right choice. I just met Tamaki. He was unable to locate the owner of the vehicle. I suspect Schneizel took her out of the country so we couldn't find her. I'm counting on you to tell me something nice."
"You're starting to be demanding already!" She complained. "I reviewed the video several times during the night and may have come across something interesting. Did you say the vice president is married?"
"Yes, I noticed that he has the marking of an engagement ring on his ring finger."
"So, among the belongings the police confiscated must be the ring," she reasoned aloud. "Well, here's the fact: the man in your video doesn't have a ring. I don't have to explain to you what that means, do I?"
"Like I said, an excellent office manager," he reaffirmed, pleased. "Let's see that video ..."
Arthur watched as Suzaku poured water into a blue bowl. As the kitten noticed that it became more filled, its huge yellow eyes shone with greater intensity. It waited for him to move away to come over and lick its drink. Suzaku decided to leave it alone and go back to the living room, where Euphemia was. She had come to take the kitten home, just as they agreed. Nevertheless, he thought it would be rude to hand her the cat and send her off point-blank without asking her to come in. Suzaku discovered the young Britannia inspecting the photographs on the wall.
Euphemia had never been into a single man's apartment. She was nervous and excited. What would the home of the White Knight look like? Neat and clean. Suzaku confessed with some embarrassment that he was rarely home. He used to eat and sometimes sleep in the prosecutor's office. There was no secret to keeping it in pristine condition. Euphemia couldn't help but smile compassionately at him.
Suzaku positioned himself beside her. He also wanted to see what she was staring at. It was his photo from the day he graduated as a lawyer. Commissioner Tohdoh was representing his family.
"It had to be a very happy moment," she commented, turning to the framed diploma. "How was it? How does a man decide to put his life at the service of the city? It shouldn't be an easy choice."
"It wasn't," Suzaku conceded with a sad smile. "I decided to become a prosecutor because of a promise to a friend. His mother was murdered in front of him and his sister lost her ability to walk and her sight. He was really mad. I reassured him that at the trial the truth would come out." He sighed. "The trial was rigged, the culprit never went to prison, and the people he trusted to do justice betrayed him. That friend sank into despair and all I could do was watch. I was his only support and it hurt me not being able to do anything and even more to hear him say horrible things." Suzaku's melancholic expression faded even more. He walked to a table where a photo was, picked it up as he continued talking. "He told me that men are "selfish liars; cowards, who only think about how to increase their own power," and that they don't mind stepping on others to achieve it. I assured him there were still good men. I didn't convince him: I'd already been wrong once," he confessed softly. Euphemia joined him. Over his shoulder, she glanced at the photo he was holding and she turned white. "I couldn't blame him. I said that because a part of me was angry. I didn't want to agree with him. I refused to admit that there was more evil than good. But I didn't even believe in myself. Not after what I had seen. So, for that reason I promised that I would work hard to become that prosecutor that he needed. One who would fight in the name of justice and who could win with the truth."
"This is Lelouch?" Euphemia asked, stroking the photo.
The image behind the glass showed young Suzaku and Lelouch. They were on the top of a hill. Both had gone there because they heard that from that place, they could see the stars and make a wish, a very tempting adventure for some children. A photo was taken as proof of their trip. Suzaku remembered taking Lelouch by surprise by jumping on his back, causing Lelouch to scream in fright as they fell to the ground. For that mischief he was huffy with him for a while. He didn't regret what he had done: the photo wouldn't have been as funny otherwise. Suzaku smiled, drunken with joy.
"Yes. It's the only one I have of him," he confirmed. "I should ask him to have another one with me."
"Is his mother's name Marianne Lamperouge by any chance?" Euphemia inquired, anxious.
"Yes," Suzaku replied, serious. "Did you meet her?"
"She worked for my family's law firm," Euphemia said absently. "I really liked her. She was kind and funny. Sometimes she would take her children to the office and we would play," she explained. She was silent for a few seconds. "The day she didn't come back, I asked what happened and they only told me that she committed suicide and that her children had gone who knows where to." Euphemia suddenly turned to Suzaku, alarmed. "Do you think Lelouch hates me?"
"No, he would be incapable!" He denied, scandalized.
"So why didn't he tell me we knew each other?" She asked, pained. "The first time we met, he gave me the impression of having met somewhere and denied it..."
"Well, I'm not Lelouch, I can't speak for him; but if he did that, it was probably because he didn't want you to feel uncomfortable," Suzaku replied, trying to comfort her. "He has always been a fair person and knows that you had nothing to do with it. I'm his friend, I know it..."
"You also said he may have changed," Euphemia pointed out, hugging herself.
"Yes, I said so. You could ask him though," Suzaku mumbled, scratching his head. "Are you and him dating?" He asked cautiously.
"No! We're friends," the woman clarified, blushing. "But that doesn't mean I care less."
"How did you meet him?"
"At an art exposition, he had returned to the city and wanted to familiarize himself with the change. We got along pretty well," she replied. She bit her lower lip. "Suzaku," she began uncertainly, "are you sure that lawyer Lamperouge didn't commit suicide? Don't take it bad! It is a question. Now that you are an adult, what do you think?"
"I've never doubted the word of my best friend," he answered firmly. "Also, why would a child make up something so horrible?"
"I guess you're right," Euphemia whispered. "Either way, you became the prosecutor you dreamed of being! Congratulations! Have you already told him why you are a prosecutor?"
"No," he said, cocking his head.
"You should," she encouraged him, smiling. "I'm sure he would be moved! You chose to be a prosecutor because you saw that Lelouch needed hope. You couldn't give it to him then, but you can with the citizens of Pendragon." Euphemia placed her hand on his cheek, drawing him toward her, so that their gazes met. "They see a light in you that I also see. You're a sun."
Her sweet smile widened and they stayed that way for a few minutes. His loyalty and affection were so warm that they pierced her heart like rays of sunlight. She was unable to doubt his honesty. Lelouch was lucky to have Suzaku as a friend. Suddenly, she seemed to realize what she was doing and pulled away, flushed. Suzaku felt the entire skin of his face tingle. They looked away, to regulate the rhythm of their accelerated breaths.
"Would it be an abuse if I asked you to tell me what happened at the trial?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Of course not."
Suzaku and Euphemia took their seats. The story was long and it was better to be comfortable. It was curious that in the short time his friend had been back, he met Euphemia and became Taizo Kirihara's lawyer. Both were linked to the company that disgraced his family and his life. Lelouch assured him that he was hired by the vice president without further ado and that there was nothing between the two of them, but exactly him? Two coincidences at once? Suzaku remembered that Lelouch had told him, when they were young, that coincidences didn't exist and that a man had to make his own luck. So, he did it? Is this how he came to cross the roads of Kirihara and Euphemia?
Prosecutor Kururugi couldn't imagine how right Euphie's words were until he verified it for himself. On the last day of the trial against the vice president of the Britannia Corps, a group of people greeted him and wished him luck. They trusted that he would bring out the truth, just as he always had. Lawyer Lamperouge, for his part, wouldn't make a statement to the press until after the trial had concluded. The assistants, the court clerk, the prosecutor, the lawyer, the accused. They all took their respective places in the courtroom while waiting for the judge. As he prepared, Lelouch scanned the audience: he noticed Nina and Kaguya. It wasn't any of them he was looking for. He tried again. He located Tamaki. Nor was it his goal. Lelouch chose not to be distressed. It was too early. He would come over the course and when that happened, Tamaki would know what to do. He had given him a simple and very special instruction. The Japanese man sent him a sign.
"Do you still think you'll win?" The vice president asked, barely moving his lips.
His skepticism would have offended Lelouch had it not been for the fact that other clients already doubted him at the last trial. The lawyer smiled, confident.
"I'm sure," he confirmed. "The contract we signed was my guarantee. Remember that payment for my services is the information that deprived you of your freedom."
Lelouch focused his sights on the prosecution. Suzaku returned his gaze with apprehension. He shook his head and continued looking at the papers on the table.
The judge appeared and everyone rose to welcome him. Taking advantage of the brief irruption, Tamaki changed places, sitting next to Nina discreetly.
"Vice President Kirihara is on trial today. The prosecutor Kururugi asked for ten years. How many years do you think they'll give him? May it be ten or less out of consideration for his age?" Tamaki asked with a note of slight emotion in his voice. Nina ignored him. Tamaki insisted. "I heard that he's a widower and that his only son and his wife died in that plane that crashed fourteen years ago. He only has his granddaughter, Miss Kaguya Sumeragi. It's that one over there. Poor girl, she hasn't finished her studies at the university and the only family she has will go to jail. Do you know her?"
"Will you shut up?" Nina muttered grumpily. "I can't hear the judge."
"I'm sorry," he smiled sheepishly. "I have that defect of speaking when I'm excited or uneasy." Tamaki didn't add more. Nina thought that she wouldn't be bothered again, but in fact, he was waiting for the moment to interrupt. "The truth is that I would like old Kirihara to win, for my boss."
"I told you to…" Irritated, Nina turned to Tamaki. She didn't complete her sentence because she was distracted by repeating, to herself, the last words of that stranger. She expressed it aloud in the form of a question, "your boss?"
"My boss," Tamaki repeated. "The lawyer," he pointed out him. Nina followed the path of his finger, leading her to Lelouch. "I'm his gangster," he whispered in her ear. "I used to work for the Black King until they locked me up. Lelouch got me out and I serve him. Everything he orders me to do, I do it."
The feeling of panic seized the heart of Nina. What was that? How could he tell her out of nowhere that he was a gangster? Was he stupid or was he smarter than she supposed? Nina frowned without understanding. She analyzed the situation quickly. He mentioned that he worked for Lelouch. Was he threatening her? At that moment, the defense asked to show the video that was presented in the second trial. At a certain point, he stopped playing it.
"This is one of the pieces of evidence provided by the prosecution. If you look closely at the hand that's presumably that of the accused, you're going to notice that he's not wearing his wedding ring. Since the day his wife died, Mr. Kirihara hasn't taken off his ring at all." Lawyer Lamperouge walked over to his table and picked up a sheet that he showed to the attendees. "Here is the list of possessions he was carrying on the day he was placed under arrest. This list, registered by the police, indicates that there is a ring, so how can it be that he has it if the video doesn't show it?"
"Haven't you considered the possibility that the defendant kept the ring off because he knew it would link him to the crime?" Prosecutor Kururugi countered subtly.
"What's the intention of the defense argument?" The judge intervened. "Are you saying that the evidence presented is a hoax?"
"Yes," the lawyer confirmed instantly. "The man in the video isn't the defendant."
The sensations in the auditorium were diverse. The vice president felt his pulse slow down. Relief crossed Kaguya's features. Nina's mouth twisted. Most looked stunned. The prosecutor stood up.
"If he's not the defendant, are you saying that the prosecution hired an actor and made a montage?" He hinted.
"Or was it just sent as a fake video," the lawyer replied, smiling briefly. He turned to the judge. "To determine the authenticity of the video footage, Your Honor, I'm going to call Ms. Einstein to the stand."
The request was accepted. Nina had no choice but to go. Indeed, someone entered the courtroom. Some looked back at the sound of the door opening. Nina was one of them. The newcomer was neither more nor less her professor and the head of the Institute for Scientific Research where she worked, Lloyd Asplund. What was he doing there? She was unable to answer her own question. Tamaki changed seats a second time. He lay down behind Lloyd. Nina made a face. "Why did he sit right there?" The lawyer attracted her attention by clearing his throat. She straightened, although she avoided his gaze.
"Witness, you've only been working for the Britannia Corps for a few months, but that's not your only job: you're also one of the researchers at the Vogue University Institute for Scientific Research. In fact, you were recommended from there, right?"
"Yes," she affirmed through clenched teeth, as if the answer was difficult for her to say.
"You were developing a project focused on refrain, correct?" He inquired.
"Where was he going with that?" The woman didn't know if she should answer frankly. She didn't have to because prosecutor Kururugi did it for her.
"The defense is making questions unrelated to this case, Your Honor."
"Defense lawyer, ask pertinent questions," the judge conceded.
"You were working on a scientific project whose general objective was to study the composition of this hallucinogen and its effects on the brain. Did you have enough funds to carry out your research?" The lawyer asked. Nina couldn't hold his gaze. In the light, his face looked like marble, smooth and hard. "I asked you a question, witness..."
"No," she answered in a whisper.
"So, you had no choice but to stop it," he continued. "Since you couldn't ask for a loan; the amount is exorbitant and your salary as a chemist wasn't enough to cover it, even if you saved for nine months. Was that when it occurred to you to use Vice President Kirihara to get the money you needed?"
"Objection!" Prosecutor Kururugi intervened. This time, standing up. "The defense is delaying the trial on unsubstantiated suspicions."
"Defense, you are being warned," affirmed the judge in an imperious voice.
The lawyer Lamperouge passed by the protests of the prosecution and the reprimand of the judge. He slapped the microphone away and rested his hands on the podium, leaning in so that only she could hear what he had to say:
"You're not much older than Miss Sumeragi, are you? If it were your teacher who was in the place of Mr. Kirihara and she, where you are now, wouldn't you die of anguish knowing that his words could forever doom his life and career? Take a good look at them," he encouraged. Nina resisted looking into the lawyer's eyes, she didn't want to confront them, and now that he was inches from her face, she felt cornered like a mouse. It wasn't difficult for her to obey. She looked first at Kaguya and then at Professor Lloyd. "He knows, Nina," he said hoarsely. Those words totally captured Nina's attention. She looked at him suddenly as if she had forgotten that she was on trial, that he was there. His catlike eyes caught her. "I told him everything!" He stressed. "I promised him that you were going to tell the truth because you seemed like a good person to me and that's why he's here. Would you be able to lie in front of your professor? Do you think he would be proud of your methods? Are your teachings based on lies?"
"Defense, stop now!" The judge ordered, losing patience.
"I'm going to ask you," he warned, not even daring to break the hard-won eye contact. "Is the man in that video Vice President Kirihara?!" Shouted lawyer Lamperouge loud enough to exonerate himself from the need to repeat the question.
"He knows what?! What exactly had he told Lloyd?" She hadn't discussed this with anyone but Schneizel and he would never betray her. And, of all places, why did the bully sit behind Lloyd? What message did he want to convey to him? If she wasn't telling the truth, was he going to order the thug to hit him? Nina's hands were sweaty. Her chest rose and fell fast. Her mind was scattered. And the screams of the judge and the prosecutor stunned her more. She turned to the only point on the court where she felt safe: her teacher. His forehead was folded in thousands of wrinkles, and anxiety gleamed in his blue-gray eyes. She had never seen him disappointed. Frankly, she was terrified to find out.
"No," she answered. Slowly she straightened and put her lips to the microphone. "Vice President Kirihara is innocent."
Prosecutor Kururugi dropped into his chair, frustrated. Mr. Kirihara intertwined his fingers and taped them to his forehead. He felt like he was relieving himself of a heavy anguish. Kaguya was grinning from ear to ear. Lloyd closed his eyes regretfully. Nina cried on the dais, red with rage and shame. There was no room for joy in the lawyer. Another judgment won. The rest didn't matter. With such a statement, it was natural for the plaintiff to drop the charges.
Both the prosecutor and the lawyer vacated the room almost at the same time, finding themselves face to face on the steps of the court hall. Behind them was a large stone statue of the Lady of Justice. The prosecutor liked that his image was the first thing people saw when they entered. Perhaps it was of no value to his colleagues, but to him it was. At the entrance, there was a conglomerate of journalists. They were crowding each other. Each wanted to be the first to have Lawyer Lamperouge answer their questions. He was in no rush to interview reporters. It wouldn't kill him to give his lifelong friend a few minutes.
"Congratulations," Suzaku began. "You won."
"The truth won. An innocent man was released and someone recognized her mistake and preventing a tragedy in time," Lelouch corrected. "Get happy!"
"I know Nina. We were classmates from the institute. There's no way she could've plotted that on her own. You must have suspected it at some point," Suzaku said in a deep voice. "This was the opportunity to catch the Britannia Corps."
"It really wasn't it," Lelouch disagreed. "In any case, I just did my job. If you'll excuse me, the journalists are waiting for me. See you soon, old friend."
Lelouch waved goodbye with a consoling smile.
"Do you know why I became a prosecutor?" Suzaku blurted out when Lelouch turned his back on him. The lawyer slowed down. "It was because of that trial. I haven't been able to forget it after all this time," he answered on the spot. "Even if we face each other in court, I'm not your enemy. I became a prosecutor to bring justice and fight on behalf of those who cannot, like you seventeen years ago."
Whether or not he was moved, there's no way of knowing it. Lelouch was on his back. Seconds later, he descended the steps. Suzaku clenched his fists as he watched him walk away.
News of the Britannia Corps vice president's release reached President Schneizel before the media broke it. As like last time, he appointed one of his trusted men to attend the trial and be his eyes. Shortly after the session was adjourned, he called him into a secluded corner and updated him on the results.
"I understand. Look, I'm busy now. I'll call you back as soon as possible." Schneizel hung up and addressed his companion. "Sorry, unimportant business matters."
At that moment, he wasn't at Britannia Corps but in the gardens of the mansion enjoying a lovely afternoon with Euphemia. Their magnolia tree had blossomed and they went to admire it. Its immense size gave them shade and its beautiful pink flowers so flagrantly perfumed the environment without saturating it. Euphemia knelt in the grass and picked up some fallen flowers. She was planning to make a flower arrangement and take it to her room, just like she did every year.
"It's okay," she replied, sympathetically. "The dedication and care that you put into the company are worthy of praise. Our brother Odysseus used to say that you would be a much better president than him. He would be proud of your management."
"Odysseus was a good man, an obedient son, a loving brother, and he could've been a good president with the best and most loyal advisers," Schneizel indicated modestly. "His love for us was immeasurable and pure like yours," he added. Euphemia smiled as the blush rose to her face. "The third trial against Vice President Kirihara took place today." He changed the subject. "I pray that lawyer Lamperouge did well."
"I'm sure he did," she said. "He's an intelligent man and a convincing speaker. He's attentive, he's not interested in obtaining prestige and he aspires nothing more than to make his little sister happy, whom he adores with all soul."
"That's a good description of myself," Schneizel joked with a hint of irony that Euphemia missed. She laughed.
"Didn't he give you that impression?"
"He's charismatic and confident. He has a penetrating gaze like few men have I have seen, an obvious sign of an insightful mind. I wish I could say more, but we talked so little at the party that from here on I would be throwing random guesses." He waved. "You like him, don't you?"
"Oh well…!" The beautiful Euphemia was cut off at the direct confrontation. Flushed, she looked away.
"Is the question difficult?" The President asked with a sympathetic smile. "I'm not judging you, Euphie. I'm your brother. You know I love you and you can tell me anything, but you don't have to answer me," he clarified. "It's simple curiosity. Cornelia thinks you like the lawyer and is concerned about you."
"She's a bit overprotective," Euphemia murmured, in turn caressing the flower petals she cradled against her chest.
"Because she loves you and wants the best for you. I think if she knew him better in a comfortable environment, she would see that he has no ulterior motives. Although the slightest trace of concern could be completely diluted if I spoke favorably to her about him."
"Of course! She always listens to you. If you approve him, she would have to, too. But, in order for you and Cornelia to interact with Lelouch, I should invite him home. It's the only place the three of them could be together," she observed, speaking to herself. She bit her lip. She stood quiet for a fraction of a second until she shared her reflections aloud with her brother: "Are you telling me this because you want to help me?"
"I ask you what's that your heart feels because I want to know how I can support you," he declared gently.
Affectionately, Schneizel brushed his long, wavy silky hair. He ended up pulling a lock behind her ear. Euphemia laughed, seized by the tickling. Young Britannia leaned down to plant a quick kiss on his cheek and gave him a radiant smile.
"You're the best, did you know that? I'm going to call Lelouch on the pretext of finding out how the trial went, and I'm going to invite him to dinner with us! Hopefully he'll accept!"
"He shouldn't have any reason to decline your invitation."
Euphemia ran inside the mansion wanting to make her plan happen. Schneizel planned to stay in the garden for a longer time. It was relatively easy to lead her sister to that conclusion; he has no need to insist too much. All it took was a little push. His smile widened.
He could barely contain his excitement at the thought of seeing the lawyer again.
A/N: and this was it, roasted marshmallows! Now, I would like to apologize for the delay. Translations and corrections have been affected both by issues inherent to the university and our emotional state. Speaking for myself, October was a depressing month. My mood was all over the floor. I couldn't write or read or correct the fanfic at all. This year, these days, they have been very difficult. I decided to take a just and necessary break. I took up the novel again in November and I'm now working on that. I'm going step by step. I don't want to give up. Today I'm not feeling very talkative, so tell me what you think of the chapter: did it coincide with your expectations that Lelouch won? There are two particular reasons why I let Lelouch have the victory. The first and most superficial is so that Schneizel would've an excuse to invite Lelouch to his house. The second will be telling later. Did you imagine that was the reason why Lelouch recruited Kallen? What do you think really happened in the confrontation between Luciano's men and Kallen? Is Lelouch telling the truth or is he hiding something from us? What do you expect to read in the continuation of this story? What's your favorite scene? I could make a top three: the intimate conversation between Lelouch and Kallen in the car, the confrontation between C.C. and Lelouch in the bathroom and the pleasant chat between Kallen and C.C. at the firm. They were scenes in which the three mentioned bare their souls in a certain way. I don't know if you all agree with me.
Without anything else to say, I'm off for the time.
We'll meet in the next chapter: Zero Squad.
Take care! You're all loved and respected!
PS: I'm very sorry that the chapter took so long to be published. Cookie Monster had some setbacks.
Responding to Ryan: Hello! Thanks for following the story. I hope you like what you're reading and have understood everything. Google Translate doesn't always provide a good translation from Spanish to English, although it's understandable at best. I would like to read you more often. Take care of yourself!