Pendragon - 2007
11-year old Joseph sat upon the kitchen table and looked at the wound that was bleeding from his knee. He jumped from a tree a while ago, trying to get enough air to attempt to fly around as he tried to explain. Cornelia gave him a verbal lashing about it, nagging about not doing "dangerous" things like that. Rebecca was just more concerned about bandaging his cut knee, and told him to start off with a smaller tree next time and work towards taller trees when he was older.
As she went to get the first aid kit they had at their house, Joseph stared curiously at his wound.
It didn't hurt, in fact, when Joseph thought about it, nothing ever really hurt. Not whenever he hit his head, not when he ran into the door, not when he accidentally burned his hand on the stove. It was more of an annoyance than anything else, but it never hurt.
Joseph wasn't sure why.
As he poked at his wound, his mom came back in with some anti-bacterial ointment and a bandage.
"Don't touch it, dear. You don't want it to get it infected." She said kindly as she opened the bottle of ointment.
"Infected?" Joseph asked curiously.
"Yes, it means it can make a wound worse than it already is. Making it more painful than before." Rebecca happily explained as she dabbed the wound with a wet paper towel.
As she rubbed the wound with the ointment, Joseph's mind was stuck on that word: pain.
"Mom...what pain?" Joseph asked wonderously after Rebecca got done putting the bandage on his wound.
She looked at him with surprise, not expecting that question from him. But then again, her little bundle of joy was always fun of surprises.
"What do you mean, Joe?" Rebecca asked.
"Hear word all time. 'Always hurt self, how no pain?', 'Sister lost mom and little sis, so much pain.', 'That dimwit pain in ass!'" Joseph explained. "Not know what mean. More pains than one? What different?" He asked in a confused tone.
Rebecca couldn't help but chuckle at Joseph's innocence.
"Well honey, I would say there are two types of pain. Physical and mental." Rebecca started to explain as she offered him a piggyback ride, which he gladly accepted. "Physical pain is what our body feels, like how you got that cut on your knee from jumping off the tree. It's what makes people say 'Ow!', usually all it takes is a simple bandage like the one on your knee to help it heal. However, the bigger the wound, the more bandages are required and the more time it takes to heal. And sometimes the physical pain isn't always shown on the outside, sometimes it happens on the inside, like a broken bone." She continued as she soon settled into the living room and put Joseph down on the couch.
"Get hurt all time, no feel pain." Joseph said.
"Well that's because you're a tough little soldier! Other people just don't have the endurance you do." Rebecca said encouragingly as she squeezed his cheek, making him laugh.
"And mental?" Joseph asked after she let go.
"Hmmm. That one is a bit more complicated. Like a broken bone, it happens on the inside, specifically to your heart and mind." She explained as she sat down next to Joseph.
"Brain and heart get pain?" Joseph asked, surprised.
"Oh yes, dear. More often than you think." Rebecca told him. "Remember when we watched Titanic and Jack died, sacrificing himself for Rose. That sadness she felt, imagine all the cuts and bruises you gotten and multiply it by a hundred, all of it impacting your heart and brain." She continued.
"Scary!" Joseph said, sad poor Rose had to live without Jack.
"It is dear, but it also part of life, whether we like it or not." She told him with a sad smile.
"Does bandage heal?" He asked curiously.
"Not exactly. It takes a lot of time, and a lot of support from the people who love you. Like I said before, the bigger the wound, the more time it takes to heal. Some are able to recover while others get swallowed up in it." She explained.
Joseph looked down at his chest, and clutched his heart.
"How know if feel?" Joseph asked.
"Trust me, you'll know. And when it happens, I'll be right there to support you all the way through it." Rebecca said with a bright smile.
"Thanks mom!" Joseph said with glee as he hugged Rebecca with delight, who happily returned it.
"By the way dear. Who said you were a pain the ass?" She asked in a motherly tone.
"Cassius." Joseph said simply with his dopey smile.
"Good to know." Rebecca said with a devious smirk.
...
"...WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!" Joseph shrieked.
Four months. FOUR MONTHS!? How the Hell was he stuck inside that vortex thing for four months!?
Joseph's shriek made the nurse back away in fear and Nunnally and Suzaku cover their ears from the high voice volume. Like a flash, he grabbed Nunnally by the shoulders and went inches away from her face.
"Four months!? What year?! What season!? IS CHEESE STILL CHEESE!?" Joseph asked frantically as he shook Nunnally back and forth.
"Uh...it's still 2017, Autumn, and cheese is still cheese..." Nunnally said in a nervous tone, making Joseph sigh in relief.
"Good...good." Joseph said in relief, confusing Nunnally and Suzaku to no end. "So, if here, then everyone here! Where Lelouch, where Corn, where Eup?" He asked excitedly.
Suzaku's expression turned into one of regret, Nunnally's turned into one of sadness.
"...What?" Joseph asked, confused by the sudden mood change.
Nunnally opened her mouth to say something, but she just couldn't find the words. Instead, Suzaku gently grasped her shoulder and then approached the confused Joseph with hesitation. He took him by the shoulders and took a deep breath.
"Joe...Euphemia's passed away." Suzaku said quietly.
Joseph stared at him with a blank expression.
A second passed, then two, then suddenly:
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Joseph blurted out laughing hysterically, bewildering Suzaku and Nunnally both. "Hoooo, almost got, training buddy!" Joseph said happily as his laughter died down.
"I...I-I don't..." Suzaku stuttered, not sure what was happening.
"Look, get it, in coma long time, now up, you think: 'Gotta prank prankster'! Good one! Haha! Okay, now come out Eup!" Joseph said joyfully as he waited for Euphemia to pop out wherever she was hiding.
Suzaku's and Nunnally's expression got sadder at that.
"Joseph...Euphemia was killed back in Area 11." Suzaku struggled to say.
Joseph's grin stayed on his face, but he was starting to get very confused. Suddenly he started speed-walking down the hall like a man on a mission.
"Joe?!" Nunnally called out, recognizing his footsteps walking away.
"Okay, Eup, come on! Come out! Pulled one on older bro! Very good!" Joseph said as he continued walking, looking around to see if she was going to pop out a door or something.
"Joe, stop!" Suzaku called out as he pushed Nunnally's wheelchair, knowing that this was going to be hard.
Joseph on his part, didn't stop. For he was familiar with the building. He kept walking until he burst through the doors of Euphemia's bedroom.
Looked a lot like how he remembered it, it even had the photo of when Cornelia and Eup were younger and dressed up as angels.
"Come out, Lady Ladington! Give high-five to Mr. Man! Great prank!" Joseph insisted with a wide smile as he raised his hand in a high-five gesture.
"Joseph..." Suzaku said as he stood by the door of Euphemia's room. "...Euphemia's gone." He said with finality in his voice.
"No! She! Not! You, here! You, her knight! You said protect! If here, then Eup here! Not opposite!" Joseph annunciated aggressively as the smile faded away from his face, really started to get mad.
"I'm sorry Joe, but she-" Suzaku didn't to finish as he was suddenly grabbed by the throat by Joseph and slammed against the wall.
"STOP IT! NOT FUNNY ANYMORE! WHERE EUP! TELL WHERE EUP IS!" Joseph said in fury, Suzaku didn't flinch as he knew he wouldn't hurt him, he knew he was starting to come to terms with the truth.
"Joseph!" Nunnally called out, gripping Joseph's free hand, making him look at her. "Please..." She quietly begged.
At that, Joseph let go of Suzaku and kneeled down in front of Nunnally, gripping her hand tightly.
"Nunne, where Eup? Please tell. Please." Joseph asked kindly, wearing a smile that could shatter any minute. "Please Nunne...where our sister...just tell..." He continued, tears started to gather in his eyes.
Tears had already started to fall down Nunnally's as she took her free hand and put it on top of Joseph's.
"She loved you so much, Joseph. Don't ever forget that..." Nunnally said softly as she once did when his mom died.
Joseph's pupils shrank, his vision became blurry, and he started to have trouble breathing. The vision of Zero shooting Euphemia flashing in his mind again. The vision of Lelouch shooting Euphemia.
He let go of Nunne's hand and fell to the ground, he started to hyperventilate. Suzaku and Nunnally going to his side in concern.
"Is this a panic attack?" His mind couldn't help but ask.
He looked around, he saw Suzaku shouting something to the nurse, but he couldn't understand what he was saying. Suddenly he felt someone caress his cheeks, he looked over and it looked like a blurry version of his mother.
"Mom?" Joseph thought to himself.
She said something, it was unclear at first, but the more she said, the more it became clear. As was as her image, which wasn't his mother, but Nunnally.
"Breathe...okay Joe...just take deep breaths. In(inhaled to show as an example)...and out(exhaled to show as such)." Nunnally said sweetly, she repeated the action so Joseph would follow along with her.
Which he did, he breathed in, he breathed out. Inhale, and exhale. Over and over again.
When he finally calmed down, he looked up and saw Suzaku looking at him sadly, he saw Nunnally look at him with that same sad smile, tears running down her closed eyes. He didn't say anything, he just slowly kneeled in front of Nunnally again and pulled her in a gripping hug.
She could barely breathe, but she didn't care. She could tell her brother was hurting, and she returned the hug with as much might as she could.
Suzaku put his hand on Joseph's shoulder. "Princess Cornelia made sure you were in a familiar place when you woke up, she also ordered that you were told as soon as possible." He said quietly.
Joseph responded by pulling Suzaku into the hug, which he returned in kind.
Joseph wouldn't cry, not now, not until he got answers.
Because the only thing he knew for sure, if the visions were true, then Lelouch had killed their own sister.
...
After a while they finally convinced Joseph to change into some clothes, which consisted of a plain white t-shirt, black pants, and sneakers. He looked himself in a mirror, and saw he had a scar where the bullet hit his head, it was faded but recognizable. He also had a trimmed beard that he was going to make sure grew out and he styled his hair in the same fashion as Star-Lord like before.
They sat him down and told him what happened.
Or to be more specific, Suzaku told him what happened, as Nunnally was suddenly dragged away by servants who told that her Etiquette classes were beginning. She wanted to stay with Joseph, but Suzaku insisted she go ahead and they could hang out later. Though Joseph was confused by this, he knew from his visions and from detective shows that two different people tell two completely different stories.
So from what Suzaku told him, Euphemia, out of nowhere, had ordered the Britannian Military to kill all the Japanese, for no reason at all. Joseph already knew this part, but the vivid memories of the incident still helped him be shocked by the retelling. After Zero had found Euphemia, he shot her(Joseph hissed at breath at that), it was then the Black Knights had staged a rebellion against the entire Tokyo settlement. He had used Ashford Academy as a HQ to plan his attacks, keeping the students as hostages. Joseph voiced concern for the Student Council, but Suzaku reassured him that they were okay and were still in Area 11, and Nina had actually taken an apprenticeship under Lloyd, who got her a recommendation at the Science Academy. While Joseph thought that was nice, he wanted to hear more about the battle, about Corn, about Kallen, about Zero.
Suzaku, in his words, said that while Zero was able to take out Darlton and incapacitate Cornelia, it soon became clear the Black Knights were losing, Zero tried to hasten a retreat. However, Suzaku had beaten him to the punch and destroyed his knightmare in the middle of the ocean, killing him in the process. Charles had awarded him The Knight of Seven for such an accomplishment.
Military had found Nunnally at the school, taking her back to the homeland. Lelouch, however was nowhere to be found.
Joseph thought about all this, he thought about poor Darlton.
Darlton was a good guy, he always treated Joseph with respect despite his antics and his reputation. He would make sure to pay his respects later.
"...did Eup suffer?" Joseph asked quietly.
"...No, she died peacefully." Suzaku said sadly.
"...Corn..." Joseph asked.
"She left Pendragon a month ago, wanting to get answers about why Euphemia gave that order." Suzaku said with bitterness in his voice.
"...Kallen..." Joseph asked.
"She escaped with some members of the Black Knights, we don't know her whereabouts at the moment. Same with her mother and Sayoko." Suzaku informed him.
Joseph sighed in relief at that, glad that his best bud, the Lightning Servant and Nao were okay. Or at least not being held prisoner.
"...Lelouch missing?" Joseph asked in a confused manner.
While Suzaku kept a blank face, Joseph could actually see a sense of anger in his expression. Specifically at the mention of Lelouch.
"No, we tried to find him, but so far nothing has shown up." Suzaku said with a straight face.
"Make no sense though. Never leave Nunnally, never!" Joseph insisted, also knowing Sayoko wouldn't just let her be taken, especially by Lelouch's orders.
"I agree, it could be he got kidnapped by the Black Knights before they retreated." Suzaku told him. "Or maybe he got a punishment fitting of his crimes." He thought venomously.
Joseph looked at him curiously, he remembered the vision between the two. When they were holding guns at each other, screaming each other's name in hate, so much hate.
"Said killed Zero in knightmare right? Not person kill, just big explosion like action movie?" Joseph asked, wanting to get something straight.
"Uh, yes. Military made sure to check themselves when they came by later, the body was burnt to a crisp." Suzaku said straightforwardly.
"...Yeah, I'm not buying that." Joseph thought to himself, unconvinced, not if his visions were anything to go by.
Suzaku was definitely hiding something.
But Joseph wasn't going to let him on though. He still needed to do some things.
"Eup have grave?" Joseph asked. Suzaku silently nodded. "Take me." He told him.
...
Euphemia was buried on top of the hill that he and his siblings would hang out at night to watch the stars. She had a gravestone that read:
PRINCESS EUPHEMIA LI BRITANNIA
October 11, 2000 - May 08, 2017
BELOVED DAUGHTER AND SISTER
Joseph stared at the grave, Suzaku had stood a few feet away to give him space.
Joseph still wasn't sure if this was real, he didn't want to believe it was real.
He was right there when it happened, he was right there as she took the first shot, he was right there...
...and there was nothing he could do to stop her.
Joseph dropped to his knees and took out his walkman, he opened it and took out the photo of him and his three siblings together when they were younger, when they were all happy. He took out a couple of incense sticks he found, along with a bowl to put them in. He lit the incense with the rocks he had.
He gave her a Japanese prayer, because he knew how much she loved the Japanese.
"So sorry, Eup. Sorry for not protecting. Sorry for not saving." Joseph whispered. It took all the strength he had not to cry, he wasn't going to cry yet!
And then he thought about Lelouch, the first thing that came to his mind when he realized that Lelouch killed Euphemia was to strangle the life out of him and RIP his head off! Thankfully, mostly because he wasn't here, cooler heads sufficed. Because he knew what Lelouch did, what he made Euphemia do, was an accident.
He saw how much Lelouch changed since they first reunited, he knew he wouldn't do anything so cruel like that on purpose, and judging by the reaction Lelouch had when he realized what he had done, he would be right.
Joseph wished Lelouch could have found a different way to keep her from killing more Japanese, but he realized no other solution would have been better. For if Euphemia were to ever get freed of that Geass and remember what she did, it would have been the end of her. She would have given up, given up on everything, she would have been a hollow shell of what she once was. In the end, Lelouch had done her the only kindness he could give.
...Even so, Joseph was definitely going to hit Lelouch when he found him.
How does he know he was going to find him? Because of what Eup's last words were to him:
"Help Lelouch, Joseph. Help our brother! Remember Ragnarok!"
He bent down to her grave, and kissed it.
"Don't worry, Eup. I will." He said quietly and then proceeded to get up and go back to Suzaku.
Suzaku took that moment to kneel in a knight's position.
"Please don't blame yourself, Joseph. Like you said, I was her knight, I failed to protect her. This burden is on my shoulders." Suzaku said with regret in his voice. "I don't expect you to forgive me anytime soon but I promise-" He was interrupted by Joseph pulling him into a hug.
"Not your fault. You tried. Thank you." Joseph said quietly. Suzaku returned the hug, struggling to hold the tears in.
While Joseph knew Suzaku was hiding something about Lelouch, he knew in his heart that he truly regretted the lost of Euphemia, and it tore him inside even more than when he killed his father. He could see that Suzaku truly loved her, and he would have died for her if he could have. A worthy Knight, and a worthy brother.
"Well, well. What have we here, a retard and a Eleven, hand in hand." An obnoxious voice said.
They looked up and saw it was Cassius with a sneer, Odysseus with a look of concern, Carine with a mean smirk, and Guinevere with a neutral look on her face.
It was Joseph's other siblings, and Joseph couldn't help but smile at them, happy to see them again. Even if most of the group didn't like him.
"Prince Cassius, perhaps its best you don't use such language when referring to his highness." Suzaku requested with a neutral face.
"Oh please. You may be a Knight of the Round but I'm still a prince! And I can talk to my "sibling" any way I like." Cassius said with an ego.
Joseph on the other hand, just ignored him, and went up to his siblings.
"Hey family!" Joseph said with a cheerful wave.
"Joseph! It's been so long. I'm glad you're finally awake." Odysseus said as Joseph came in for a handshake.
"Ozzy!" Joseph replied with glee.
Odysseus eu Britannia, his oldest brother. A kind, gentle man. He was one of the few people in his family to show any genuine affection for him, and would sometimes come to visit him and his mom. They called him The Mediocre Prince because of his gentle nature, but Joseph thought it just made him special, like him. He wanted to attend Rebecca's memorial but the snakes around said it was a bad idea. Joseph still loved him though.
"Carine!" Joseph said as he went in for a high-five towards the 14-year old.
"Finally got that half-dead brain to work again, huh retard?" Carine asked indifferently.
"Carine..." Odysseus said with a sigh.
"Oh, you little rascal!" Joseph said happily as he ruffled Carine's hair.
"Cut it out!" Carine said annoyed as she pushed his hand away.
Carine ne Britannia, the exact opposite of Nunnally. Mean-spirited, prone to violence, and often insulting others. But Joseph couldn't really hate her for it, he just took it as bad-parenting. Plus, she was still young, always time to change.
He then turned to look at Guinevere de Britannia, his oldest sister, the one who...
"Gwen!" Joseph said as he pulled the uncomfortable Guinevere into a tight hug.
"Alright, alright! Don't drool all over me." Guinevere said in annoyance as she pushed him away.
"Same old Gwen. How been!?" Joseph asked excitedly.
"Pretty much the same when you left." Guinevere said with a monotone.
"Cool. Eat PB sandwich?" Joseph asked randomly, making Guinevere arch an eyebrow up in confusion.
"...No." She said simply, while she would never admit it, she sort of missed that randomness.
Cassius approached them at that moment.
"You know, it is a real shame you couldn't see Euphemia off. She probably would have liked to have you at her burial. But hey, you can always join The Massacre Princess in the dir-"
Cassius didn't get to finish his statement as he suddenly found his face gripped tightly by a still smiling Joseph, and then proceeded to throw him into a nearby lake, fifty yards away.
His brother Cassius...well, he tried to be friendly, but this usually ends up happening.
Odysseus and Carine looked on in surprise, while Guinevere just sighed.
"He never learns, does he?" Guinevere asked, more to herself than anyone.
"Nope!" Joseph gladly answered anyway. "Well, great seeing guys, but got task!" Joseph said determinedly as he marched his way back to the building Nunnally was having her class.
"Wait, Joseph!" Suzaku said, confused by Joseph's statement, but following him nonetheless.
The three siblings were left in bewilderment.
"Hasn't changed a bit, I see." Odysseus said wholeheartedly.
"Ugh, I honestly don't know why father didn't just have him executed for betraying the crown?! The less with have to deal with him the better." Carine said angrily.
Guinevere didn't say anything, she just looked on with a sad look in her eyes. "Joe..."
Suddenly, they heard the noise of Cassius calling out for help while paddling water around him as he was having trouble staying on the surface.
"That idiot seriously can't swim?" Carine asked with annoyance.
...
"Thanks for flowers." Joseph said as he pushed Nunnally's wheelchair in the hallway, Suzaku following alongside.
"You're quite welcome, though I shouldn't be the only one you thank. Someone else got you flowers as well." Nunnally said sweetly.
"Who?" Joseph asked curiously.
"We don't know actually. But sometimes when we came to replace the dying ones, there were already fresh ones in the vase." Suzaku explained.
Joseph smiled, he had a feeling he knew who it was.
"I'm so glad you're awake now, Joseph. With big brother missing and all our other siblings being busy, it'll be nice to spend some quality time together again." Nunnally said cheerfully.
"Agreed, little sis! In fact, quality time now! Know perfect place!" Joseph said determinedly as he increased his walking speed.
"Oh, but where..." Nunnally said, surprised by the sudden speed change.
"Uh, shall I-" Suzaku tried to offer his accompaniment, but was shot down by Joseph.
"Nope, nope! Quality time, training buddy! Just she and me! Catch later!" Joseph insisted as he turned a corner with Nunnally.
Suzaku was left there, bewildered but also a bit suspicious.
...
Joseph turned on the light and got down to business.
"Alright Nunne. Have questions." Joseph said as his cheek was mushed together with Nunnally's.
"Uh, Joe. By the size I'm getting from this room. I'm guessing we're in a closet. Why is that?" Nunnally asked, her voice a bit muffled by Joseph's cheek.
"Utility closet. For privacy. Too many ears. Less echoey in small room." Joseph said with a hint of paranoia in his voice.
At the moment, due to the size of the closet, the two of the them were stuffed together like unfolded laundry.
"I'm not sure that's-." Nunnally tried to suggest before being interrupted.
"Question time! Nunne, Suzaku said found by military, that true?" Joseph asked.
'Well, yes...officially anyway." Nunnally told him.
That got Joseph's attention.
"Unofficially?" He asked.
"It's not something I like to think about." Nunnally said with a scared tone.
...
(Flashback)
Four Months Ago...
Student Council Building
Nunnally, Sayoko, and Naomi waited patiently inside the empty student council room while her friends searched for Suzaku.
Sayoko and Naomi stayed behind to look after her.
"Do you think they'll be alright?" Nunnally asked in concern.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, Mistress Nunnally." Sayoko reassured.
"Though I hope this battle is over soon, I hope Kallen makes it out of this okay, Naomi." Nunnally told her.
"I hope so too, Nunnally. I hope so too." Although Naomi tried to sound positive, Nunnally could tell she was scared for her daughter.
Suddenly she heard approaching footsteps.
"Oh, who's there? Is that you, C.C.?" Nunnally asked.
"No, it's not." Someone said, it was the voice of a child.
"A child...?" Naomi said in a confused tone.
Suddenly she felt Sayoko get in front of them.
"Who are you?!" Sayoko asked harshly, troubled by this child's sudden appearance.
"Nunnally…I've come to take you with me." The child said, ignoring Sayoko.
"Mistress Nunnally isn't going anywhere with you."Sayoko affirmed, taking a stance against this child.
"Don't get involved in affairs you know nothing about maid. You can try and get in my way, but Nunnally is coming with me." The child said casually as he started to walk towards her.
Only for Nunnally to hear the sound of a knife, and someone collapsing.
Naomi gasped in shock.
"Sorry you had to see that, Naomi." Sayoko said apologetically as Nunnally heard the sound of a knife being pulled out.
"Sayoko, he was just a child." Naomi exclaimed in shock.
Nunnally got the feeling Sayoko just killed the stranger.
"I've been around plenty of children, Naomi. He was not one of them." Sayoko said.
"How right you'd be." The child said out of nowhere.
Sayoko, Naomi, and even Nunnally even gasped at this.
"I-It can't be..." Sayoko stuttered and then she suddenly screamed and collapsed.
"Sayoko?!" Nunnally shouted in concern.
"Wait! Please, don't hurt Nunna-AHHH!" Naomi shouted as she too collapsed.
"W-Wha...what did you do to them?" Nunnally stuttered in fear.
"Nothing that concerns you. They really should have minded their own businesses." The child told her as she suddenly the sound of a gun cocking.
"Wait!" Nunnally shouted. "I'll go with you! Just please, don't hurt them." She pleaded.
She could feel the child give an icy smirk upon her.
"Good choice." He said with a sneer.
(Flashback End)
...
Pendragon
"He did something to make me fall asleep, because the next thing I know, I'm waking up and I hear father's voice." Nunnally said sadly.
"Could it be the same kid I saw in those visions?" Joseph asked himself. "Talked to dad?" He said in surprise, but also a bit scared that he now knew her and Lelouch were still alive.
"He told me that the child was an agent of his and was assigned to get me away from the battle and that what happened was classified and that the official story was I was rescued by the military, Suzaku was there too when he told me." Nunnally explained.
"And Lelouch?" Joseph asked.
"Father just said not to concern myself about him. But I could tell he was hiding something. I know Lelouch, he would never abandon me." Nunnally said
And there it was, Joseph's paranoia paying off.
"Con-spiracy!" Joseph exclaimed.
"You think so?" Nunnally asked.
"Abso-toda-lutely. Too many holes. No duct tape." Joseph implied, confusing Nunnally to no end. "Discuss more later. Come on." He said as he kicked the door opened and pulled both her chair and himself out since he had no way of turning around.
However, once he was able to, he saw that both Suzaku and a bitter-face looking woman were waiting for him. This woman looked familiar actually, Joseph couldn't exactly put his tongue on it, but he felt like he wanted to punch this woman right in her face a long time ago.
"What on Earth were you doing with the princess in a utility closet!?" The woman asked with her bitter voice.
Ah. Now Joseph remembered, it was "favorite" teacher, Alice Lohmeyer.
"Oh great. C_meyer." Joseph said in a bitter monotone.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME!?" Alice shrieked with fury.
Suzaku had to hold Alice back while Nunnally was just shocked by the language used.
"Joe! Let's not use that language!" Suzaku lectured.
"Well she is!" Joseph insisted.
"You got some nerve! Especially after I did Princess Cornelia that favor to try and teach you some things about being Britannian." Alice fused with her bitter attitude.
"Like being bitch." Joseph happily offered.
"YOU!" Alice said with fury, about to have an aneurysm.
"Joseph, please." Nunnally said, not wanting to make it any worse for him. "How did you two know where to find us?" She asked, wanting to get the heat off Joseph.
"Well, considering you guys were in a tiny closet, it wasn't that hard to hear your voices." Suzaku said with a back scratch to his head.
"Damn! Should have know they mic up their closets!" Joseph cursed to himself.
"What exactly were you guys talking about in there?" Suzaku asked curiously.
"Quick! Come up with an excuse so Nunne doesn't get in trouble! Let's see..." Joseph thought to himself as he racked his half-brain to give something to tell them.
"...Porn. Favorite porn films." Joseph told them with a triumphant smile. Failing to see the weirded out expression from Nunnally, the hand pinching Suzaku's tired eyes, and the gritted teeth from Alice.
"Ugh! We don't have time for this! Princess Nunnally, I allowed you an hour break time, that hour is over, time to return for your lesson." Alice insisted angrily.
"Wha-Her teacher?! NO! Come on! Suzaku, not her! Bad teacher! Really sucks!" Joseph whined, making Alice even more mad.
"I'm more qualified than you'll-"
"Miss Lohmeyer, I suggest you take Nunnally back to her lessons before you say something you really regret." Suzaku warned, and while Alice didn't like taking orders from an "Eleven" like him, she also knew it was not a good idea to insult a Knight of the Round and a prince, dimwit or not.
Instead she just breathed out some frustration. Joseph in turn lowered himself to Nunnally's level and put his hands on her shoulder.
"Remember. 16 now. Don't let boss. Be own person!" Joseph said in a motivational way, making her smile.
'Understood." She said gladly as she took his hand in appreciation real quick before Alice pulled her wheelchair away.
"Trust me, if it had been my call, Nunnally would have definitely gotten a teacher with a much more friendly personality. But the Emperor insisted on her, so there's nothing I can do." Suzaku told Joseph as they watched her get wheeled away.
"Dad is boss." Joseph said simply, a curious look on his face. "Surprising though."
"What's surprising?" Suzaku asked, confused by Joseph's manner.
"Just that, Knight of Round big honor here. Biggest honor there be. Yet gave you, pretty nice, considering who you be." Joseph said in an even tone.
"He gave me the Knight of Seven because I killed Zero." Suzaku said in an equal even tone.
"Right! But killed Zero in explosion, yes? All by self, no witnesses? Funny Britannians took word for. And saw no face? Think be big deal for people, 'specially when you do it. See Suzaku, know Britannia, know dad, and doesn't give without merit, good merit. Also strange that Zero killed, Lelouch missing same time, same time without Nunnally. Know Lelouch, sister most important. Not leave ever. You know, I know, dad know." Joseph continued, his voice getting more suspicious as he continued. "So...what you have that dad like?" He asked with a heavy tone in his voice.
It was then, Suzaku came to the realization of something:
"He knows..."
They stared at each other, eyes intense with emotion.
And suddenly, Suzaku tried to unsheathe his sword, only to have his arm grabbed by Joseph and pushed against the wall.
"What you do?!" Joseph asked fiercely, and then pushed him further into the wall, scaring him a bit. "WHAT YOU DO?!" He demanded.
"I did what had to be done! I made sure Lelouch never terrorizes another soul again! I only regret I wasn't able to kill him." Suzaku said determinedly, even with a struggled breath.
"Where Lelouch?! WHERE?!" Joseph yelled.
"Prince Lelouch's whereabouts are none of your concern right now, your highness." A polite, stotic voice said.
Joseph turned to his left and saw a tall, dark gray long-haired man with his left eye sewed shut. He had a couple of soldiers with him too, pointing guns with silencers right at Joseph.
The man looked familiar to Joseph, he used to see him by his dad's side all the time when he was younger. His name was...
"Biscuit?" Joseph asked in surprise.
"Bismark, your highness. It's been a long time." Bismark corrected him, his stoic expression unchanging.
"Yeah, how you be?" Joseph asked casually, still holding Suzaku against the wall.
"Joseph, I'm going to have to ask you put Suzaku down." Bismark said, ignoring Joseph's question.
"Bring back up?" Joseph asked Suzaku with a glare.
"I just told him you were asking questions. Bismark, there is no need for these soldiers." Suzaku said, still trying to break free of Joseph's tight grip.
"Your situation clearly says the opposite." Bismark told him bluntly. "Joseph, the Emperor would like to speak with you." He told him.
"Dad? Is that what Suzaku did to Lelouch?" Joseph wondered.
"I ask again, put the Knight Of Seven or we'll be forced to take drastic measures." Bismarck requested, the soldiers aiming for Joseph's legs.
Joseph pondered all of this, then looked at Suzaku with hurt in his eyes.
"...This it, Suzaku? Join dark side?" Joseph asked, feeling betrayed.
Suzaku could only look down as a response.
With that, Joseph sighed. And then threw Suzaku onto the ground and ran quickly down the hall.
"Joseph!" Suzaku called out. Only for the soldiers to start shooting at him.
Joseph bounced left and right off the walls to avoid the gunfire.
"Hold your fire!" Suzaku ordered. "You said you were just going to take him to the Emperor!" He said angrily at Bismarck.
"I've seen the news, boy. You can't seriously expect an individual as unpredictable as him to go quietly." Bismarck said with narrowed eyes.
Meanwhile, as Joseph continued to run down the halls.
"I gotta find Nunne and get us out of here!" Joseph thought as he started kicking down doors, hoping to find his sister.
...
Meanwhile, Nunnally was continuing her lesson with Alice.
"And don't forget to make sure the servants always bow when they're in your present's. Royalty must always demand respect after all." Alice drawled on.
"I can see why Joseph hated these classes so much." Nunnally thought dully in her mind, when suddenly:
*BREAK*
The door was kicked off its hinges and hit Alice right into the ground. Making her groan in pain.
"...What just happened?" Nunnally asked, a bit spooked by the noise and Alice's sound of agony.
"Nunne! Gotta go!" Joseph told her quickly, grabbing her wheelchair.
"Joe?! Wait, what's going on!" Nunnally asked frantically.
"Explain later!" Joseph said, making his way to the door.
Only to be stopped Suzaku, Bismarck, and multiple soldiers coming in, point their guns at him.
"Joseph, please. The Emperor just wants a word with you." Suzaku told her steadily.
"Suzaku, what's happening?!" Nunnally said, confused out her mind.
"It's alright Nunnally, I'm taking care of it." Suzaku reassured her. "Joseph, I told Lelouch I'd look after Nunnally, let me do the same for you." He tried to bargain, not wanting his friend to get hurt.
"You tell him that before or after holding him at gunpoint?!" Joseph thought with gritted teeth as he backed away with Nunnally in hand.
He found himself in quite a pickle.
He could try to take Nunne with him, go together to find Lelouch.
However, that could lead to a massive search for the both of them, and being on the lookout for a girl who's crippled makes for a much more narrowed search. Plus, he didn't want to endanger Nunnally than she already was, their father clearly got his hands on Lelouch, who knows what he might do to Nunnally.
While he didn't trust Suzaku right now, he did believe he was sincere about taking care of Nunnally, if not, he would have done something by now. Because they both knew Nunnally was an innocent bystander in all this.
Lelouch was the one in danger.
He came to a decision as he leaned into Nunnally's ear and whispered:
"Gonna find brother."
He then jump away from Nunnally, doing a back flip, and crashing through the window. He fell 36 feet before landing on another building and quickly jumped from one to another.
"JOE, WAIT!" Suzaku called out to him.
Joseph responded by turning back and flipping him two birds.
Back in the building, Suzaku watched his friend run away in the distance, a regretful look on his face.
"I'm sorry Joseph. I didn't mean for it to come to this." Suzaku thought to himself.
"Suzaku, please tell me what's going on!" Nunnally begged.
Before Suzaku could say anything, Bismarck stepped in.
"His majesty, the Emperor, wanted to interrogate him about his involvement with Zero." Bismarck explained.
"Is this about him saving Zero from a bullet? He's just looked up to him is all, like a superhero, it was a harmless action." Nunnally tried to reason.
"An action that let a terrorist run around longer than he should have. It's clear now he has gone traitor." Bismarck said, Nunnally and Suzaku looked at him in shock.
"Lord Bismarck, please, I'm sure there's-" Nunnally tried to think of something to help her brother, but Bismarck wasn't having it.
"I'm sorry, Princess Nunnally. But the only thing Joseph can be branded as now is a criminal." Bismarck said solemnly.
"Bismarck..." Suzaku said conflicted.
"His majesty is going to want a full detailed report of this, Suzaku. Come with me to see him at once, that's an order." Bismarck said with finality as he and the soldiers left.
Suzaku could only sigh and look at Nunnally.
"I'm sorry Nunnally, I didn't mean any of this to happen." Suzaku said.
"It's alright, Suzaku, you always have the best intentions. I just hope wherever Joseph goes, he's safe." Nunnally said in concern.
"I honestly hope so too." Suzaku thought to himself.
"However, I think Miss Lohmeyer may need some assistance." Nunnally said awkwardly as she could hear the continued groaning coming from her tutor.
"Right, I'll contact some paramedics." Suzaku said as he went on his way.
"Thank you." Nunnally said simply, thinking back to what Joseph.
"Gonna find brother."
"Please do, Joseph...please do..." Nunnally thought sadly as now another beloved brother of hers has gone away.
...
After secretly hitching a ride in a food delivery truck, Joseph found himself in the desert.
Just like he did 8 years ago.
Except this time, he was a man on a mission. He was going to find out where Lelouch was and what the Hell was going on!
The place to find that out, was Japan.
He wasn't sure why, but it was like a voice in the back of his mind was telling him to go there, to go back where it all started.
So that's what he was going to do!
He looked back at Pendragon that was now a far distance away.
"I'm sorry, Nunne. I didn't mean our reunion to end so quickly." Joseph thought sadly, but then becoming determined as he looked forward at the desert in front of him. "BUT! HAVE NO FEAR! FOR I, JOSEPH DU BRITANNIA, WILL FIND LELOUCH AND GET ZERO BACK IN THE GAME! BUT NOT BEFORE I PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE!" He looked through his coat and made sure he had all the essentials. "Coat? Check. Walkman? Check. Tree bark? Check! Motivational music? Check-a-roo!" He said with triumph as he pushed the play button on his walkman and electro music started to play, and then a lady sang:
I got the power!
"Don't worry, Lelouch. I'm coming." He thought, ready for anything as he started running into the wide desert.
...
Charles' Throne Room
"Landed on a building, thirty-six feet below him, eh?" Charles said before chuckling. "I guess what my son lacks in brain, he makes up for in endurance." He said in a somewhat complimentary tone. Suzaku and Bismarck were both kneeling towards him. "However, it's a trait that only gets you so far." As he stood up from his throne and walked down the steps towards the two knights. Suzaku took this moment to speak up.
"Your highness, if you believe he's heading for Japan. I'll gladly-"
"Don't bother, there's not much he can do." Charles told him, surprising Suzaku.
"B-But, if he sees Lelouch in his current condition..." Suzaku tried to reason.
"I'll be surprised if he doesn't end up going around in circles, never even making it there in the first place. But by some chance he does, he'll either draw C.C. out of hiding or our agent will take care of him." Charles said, shocking Suzaku.
"Wait, you don't mean-"
"Joseph could have gotten out of this without facing harm, but you failed to capture him. If he dies, it will be by his own actions." Charles told him sternly before developing a sneer. "Either way, he's a barely even a cog in the machinery I've created."
...
Couple of Months later...
E.U.
Somewhat into the European forest, Akito was gathering wood for their campfire. He was starting to feel normal again after defeating his brother Shin.
Right now, him and the rest of the Wyverns squad, consisting of Ayano, Ryo, Yuikya, and their leader Leila, decided to retire their posts from the E.U. and live with the Gypsies they made friends with.
As he walked down to the lake he saw Ayano and Leila wringing out a bed sheet, while Yuikya was washing some clothes and Ryo was gathering some water. It was getting colder each day and it was probably going to start snowing soon so they had to use the lake as much as they could before it was too late in the season.
"Leila, you have to hold on tight!" Ayano lectured.
"I will, I promise." Leila insisted as they wrung the sheet out in circles.
"That looks fun. Want me to take over?" Ryo asked.
"No way! You got your own job, keep getting water." Ayano ordered.
"(Sighs) Fine." Ryo grumbled.
Suddenly, he felt a pair of elderly hands on his bosom, making him jump a bit into the water.
"AGH! Lady!" Ryo exclaimed.
"I can't keep my hands off you. Can't an old girl get a little love?" An elderly gypsy lady flirted.
"Not from me!" Ryo said with an angry blush before suddenly becoming completely submerged into the river.
The rest of the group saw this and went after him.
"Ryo!" Yukiya exclaimed.
"He doesn't know how to swim!" Ayano said.
"Somebody help him!" Leila said.
As they were about to dive in and help him, they heard a splash.
They looked and saw a thick-bearded man with a long black overcoat go into the lake and then dunk his hand in. A few moments later, he lifted up a gasping Ryo.
"Remember, live underwater, gotta grow gills." Joseph lectured as he waved his finger at the bewildered Ryo and brought him back to the land.
"Are you okay?!" Ayano asked in concern as Ryo coughed up water.
"Damn old hag!" Ryo complained.
"I had no idea you couldn't swim." Lelia said before turning her attention to the bearded man. "Thank you so much for helping for him, sir!" She said with gratitude as she gave a small bow to him.
"No prob, bob!" He said with a thumbs up.
Yukiya then noticed something.
"Hey, wait a minute, you look familiar. Aren't you..."
"Joseph Du Britannia. Royal Prince." Akito said with a tiny glare in his eyes.
The Gypsies and the rest of Leila's group looked in surprise.
"Huh? Seriously?!" Ayano said in shock.
"The actual Dimwitted Prince?!" Ryo asked in equal shock.
Joseph on the other hand, got a bit nervous.
"Uhhhhhhhh...no! Not Prince Joe! Look like, sound like, but not! My name...Mr. Magoo!" Joseph said with a convincing smile.
The group just looked at him with half-closed eyes, not convinced at all.
"Damn, they're not buying it! Why doesn't that excuse ever work?!" Joseph complained to himself. "Alright, fine! Yes, me, Prince Joseph." He said defeated. "But no spread. Keep low profile." He whispered as he got close to the group and gave them a whispering gesture with his finger.
The group was surprised to find a Britannian Prince here of all places. From the looks of it, he had been traveling on foot for awhile. His clothes were dirty and his shoes were torn apart, and it smelled like he hadn't showered in who knows how long.
Leila didn't know much about Joseph until she saw the popular "Eat that Horse!" footage almost a year back. She thought he was strange, but seemed like a good-hearted fellow. He earned her respect however when she learned he saved Zero from a bullet back at the Fukoaka Base, not much good it did considering he was killed not too long after. But, she harbored no ill-will towards the man.
Akito, however wasn't a big fan of the royals. Thinking they did whatever they wanted and killed whoever got in their way, absolute scum of the Earth. He had some hope for Princess Euphemia but the SAZ massacre proved otherwise. While Prince Joseph had nothing to do with that, as he was in a coma during that entire mess and is, to put it bluntly: a moron, he was going to keep his eyes on him just in case.
Last thing the group heard was that he was transported back to Britannia's homeland, Pendragon.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness. But what exactly are you doing here in the E.U.?" Leila asked after giving a small curtsy.
"This Europe? Yes! On right path!" Joseph cheered, confusing the others.
"Where are you heading, exactly?" Yuikya asked.
"Japan! This meeting good, could use directions." Joseph said as he approached the group, taking a piece of paper out of his coat. "Got map for going right way but want no mistakes, what you think?" He asked as he opened his map for them to see.
They looked at it with curiosity, only for it to turn to surprise, confusion, astonishment, and more confusion.
As Joseph's "map" consisted of nothing more than a dot with a caption above it that said: "YOU HERE". Alongside three dashes going to the right, followed by an X with a caption up above that said: "JAPAN HERE"
"...Oh my God..." Ayano muttered, amazed by this man's stupidity.
"I guess he is called the Dimwitted Prince for a reason." Leila thought awkwardly. "Well, you made it this far, so that's a good sign. How about we let Yukiya here draw you up some new coordinates. If that be alright with you, Yukiya?" She asked him.
"Uh, of course Lelia." Yukiya said as he took the "map" from Joseph and went to go see if the Gypsies had their own.
"Won't you join us for lunch? We never had a prince in our company before." One of the Gypsies offered.
"And wash yourself a bit, boy. You stink to high heaven." Another gypsy said.
"Thanks. But can't stop. Get to Japan ASAP!" Joseph told them with haste.
"Please stay, just until Yukiya gets done with your map. Besides, it looks like you could use a meal and a chance to clean up." Leila kindly offered.
Joseph thought about it, and figured it would be rude to turn down these nice Gypsies.
"Okay, lunch and bath it is!" Joseph declared as he walked with Gypsies who gathered around him. "But no throwing away coat! Precious treasure." He told the Gypsies as he wrapped it tightly around him.
Leila and her group hung back a bit.
"With that 'map' of his, I'm surprised he even made it out this far." Ryo said.
"You sure it's a good idea to let him be in our company. Remember that it was his sister who-" Ayano tried to warn, only for Leila to interrupt her.
"And you have to remember he was in a coma when all that occurred, Ayano. No reason to blame him for something out of his control." Leila lectured.
Ayano sighed, knowing she was right. Akito just continued to keep an eye on Joseph.
...
As Joseph washed himself, the Gypsies took care to clean his overcoat. Making sure to take out his belongings, such as his Walkman, mixtapes, bag of tree bark, and the photo of his mother.
Leila looked at the photo with a smile.
"Ah yes, his mother was 'Rebecca the Unhinged'. I remember hearing stories about her growing up." Leila said with a chuckle.
"Probably explains his personality." Akito commented.
"Look at this thing, I only ever seen these at bargain stores or pawn shops." Ryo said as he looked over Joseph's Walkman.
He pressed the play button and the sound of an accordion and a man yodeling came out the speakers.
"Hell yeah! My jam!" Joseph shouted in glee as he came out of one the carriages, wearing spare clothes the Gypsies had given him.
He wore a long-sleeve white shirt with a v-neck and high-collar, a black vest went over it and a grey scarf that wrapped over his shoulder. He also had dark green pants on with a belt around his waist with tiny ornaments attached to it. And to finish the look, he had a blue bandana wrapped around his head.
He then started dancing an Urkel Polka dance around the Leila's group and the Gypsies, who clapped along to his dancing until he finally jumped on top of the table.
"I Captain JoeBeard! Dimwit Pirate of Seven Seas!" Joseph proclaimed.
Leila couldn't help but giggle at Joseph's silliness, while Ayano sighed at him.
"Media was definitely not inaccurate about this guy." Ryo muttered with a small smile.
Meanwhile, Yukiya was still working on directions for Joseph to get to Japan.
"Why did he get men's clothes?" Yukiya quietly complained as he looked at Joseph's makeshift map. "And how on Earth did he get anywhere with this map?" He asked himself before looking at a world map.
But then he noticed something, he took Joseph's makeshift map and placed it over the world map, and saw the dot landed perfectly on the Capitol of Pendragon and the X landed perfectly on Japan.
"Huh. Guess in madness, there is method." Yukiya said, mildly impressed, but then realized something. "Wait, he didn't know he could have gotten to Japan sooner by crossing over the Pacific Ocean, not the Atlantic?" Yukiya thought to himself in befuddlement, before he shrugged and started sketching down directions.
"So, why exactly are you going back to Japan, your highness?" Akito asked with a somewhat suspicious tone.
"No 'highness'! Just Joe." Joseph said with a smile as he began to chow down on the rabbit that was cooked for him. He liked rabbit, had a nice chicken quality to it. "Why Japan?" He said with a full mouth. He swallowed his food and then looked to his left and right in a suspicious manner.
Even though he just met these Gypsies, they seemed like trustworthy people. He leaned towards the group in front of him and whispered, "Keep secret?"
The group was confused by this.
"Uh...sure?" Ryo said, a bit perplexed by the sudden secretive nature of the conversation.
"Gonna find Zero." Joseph said with a smug grin.
Now the group looked at him in shock.
"Uh, dude...I know you've been in a coma for awhile now, but I'm sure even you heard that's Zero dead. That Kururugi guy killed him in a fiery explosion in the middle of the ocean." Ayano said straightforwardly.
"Ah, ah, ah. Say that, but no ID, burned to crisp. Why that be?" Joseph said as he arched up his eyebrows in a knowing manner.
"...Because that's what happens to bodies in explosions, they get burned to a crisp." Ayano deadpanned with a twitching eye.
"Phoo-hardy I say! Alive! Got gut-feeling!" Joseph exclaimed as he patted his stomach.
"Why though? Why still help Zero even after killing your sister?" Akito asked bluntly.
"Akito!" Leila scolded.
Joseph on his end, demeanor dropped at that, a sad one taking over.
"Good question, complex answer." Was all Joseph said.
"...It must be hard for you." Leila said sympathetically, thinking about her own father.
"Not gonna cry, not gonna cry yet! Have to get to Lelouch first!" Joseph chanted to himself, he couldn't break now. Not from this or the lack of sleep he was making sure he wasn't getting.
"Yeah...but it okay! Japan situation, it Empire Strikes Back! Two Towers! Deathly Hallows Part 1! Always cliffhanger there! But know what next? Return of Jedi! Return of King! Deathly Hallows Part 2! Always hope at end! Just gotta find!" Joseph told them with a triumphant tone and then raised his fist up to his face. "And gonna find!" He said determinedly.
Leila's group couldn't help but look at him with a mild bit of awe as they could tell he was he serious about all of it. Leila formed a small smile at that.
"And you traveled all this way to make it so." Lelia said with respect in her voice.
"Damn right." Joseph said with a thumbs up, before taking another bite of the rabbit. "This delicious!" He complimented the gypsy who made it.
"A prince complimenting my food is a dream come true!" The gypsy cook said wholeheartedly.
"...You're a very strange individual." Akito said with arched eyebrow.
"Thank you." Joseph said with his dopey smile.
"I don't know about finding hope, but I would I say I made your trip a lot easier. I took the liberty of updating your map with specific locations that will you let know you're going the right way." Yukiya gladly said as he handed Joseph's map back to him.
"Thank you, ma'am." Joseph said gratefully.
Leila's group started to snickering at that while Yukiya blushed embarrassingly.
"Oh, uh, I'm a boy actually." Yukiya explained.
"Ooooooooh. Like dresses. Totally get!" Joseph said in an accepting tone, making the others laugh and Yukiya more embarrassed.
"Nonononono, I'm only wearing this because-"
"Where my coat?!" Joseph asked as he went to search for it, making Yukiya groan.
"We took the liberty of patching up the holes we found, from the looks of it, you've carried this coat for a long time." A gypsy said.
"Many generations." Joseph said with a nostalgic tone as he put his coat back on, hugging himself, and then proceeded to put his stuff back in his pockets.
"It's best you wear these too." Another gypsy said as she offered him boots. "It'll be snowing soon, you'll want to protect your feet with all the traveling you'll be doing." She instructed.
"Good idea!" Joseph cheered as he put them on.
"Take this too." Leila said as she approached him with a knapsack filled with bread, fruit, vegetables, and water. "Ration them at good rate and proportion and they should last awhile." She offered kindly.
"Aw, thank you!" Joseph said, touched by their kindness. He knew he must give something in return. "Here!"
He reached into his inner coat pocket and took out his bag of tree bark, he opened it, took Leila's hand and dumped some in her hand.
"Have tree bark, good protein!" Joseph said in a thankful tone.
Leila on her end, was just perplexed by the gift.
"Uh...thank you?" Leila said, a bit unsure of the contents of the gift, but knowing he meant well.
Suddenly, Joseph threw his arms around Leila, pulling her into a hug, making her squeak in surprise.
Leila's group looked in shock while Akito flinched into action, his military training almost kicking in.
Leila was shocked at first too, but then a smile grew on her face as she could feel this was a genuine hug, and gave it in return.
"You guys too!" Joseph said gleefully as he gestured for a hug after releasing Leila.
"I don't think so." Ayano said in an awkward tone.
"I'm not really a hugging person." Akito said.
Joseph didn't seem to hear them as took the rest of Leila's group into his arms. "Best gypsies ever!" He said as he shook the baffled group back and forth.
"What about us? Don't we get some love?" One of the elderly Gypsies asked.
"Get here!" Joseph said proudly as he took time to hug all the Gypsies there.
After that was done, the Gypsies and Leila's group saw him off.
"Bye friendly Gypsies!" Joseph said happily.
"It was an honor to meet you. When you find that 'hope' you're talking about, let us know." Leila said encouragingly.
"Will do!" Joseph said with a thumbs up.
"Good luck." Akito said simply with his neutral face.
"Remember to follow the notes I wrote down, please." Yukiya insisted.
"And if you're going to continue with this 'low profile' of yours, try coming up with a better fake name. Like 'Mark', there are plenty of Britannians named 'Mark'." Ayano advised.
"Mark...hmmm...Marky Mark and Funky Bunch! Brilliant!" Joseph said excitedly, making Ayano sigh tiredly.
"And I know you're called The Dimwitted Prince, man. But try not to do anything stupid." Ryo said.
"Hey, do something, do it stupid." Joseph said proudly, perplexing the others. "Now, ZOINKS! AND AWAY!" He yelled heroically as he started running away into the forest and then taking a leap onto the trees with a "WOOHOO!"
The Gypsies waved goodbye while Leila's group watched him leave in wonder.
"Well, that's definitely going down as the most random encounter I've ever had in my life." Ryo said.
"You know, for a Britannian royal, he's not that bad." Ayano said with a small smile.
"And not as dumb as he makes himself out to be." Yukiya added.
"...He seems...genuine...on the type of person he is..." Akito said in honest surprise.
"Yes...he does." Leila agreed wholeheartedly.
"You think we'll ever see him again?" Akito asked.
"I don't know, but I do hope so." Lelia said with a smile.
A smile that believed in the prince's words.
...
One Month Later...
Area 11- Tokyo Settlement
Joseph stood on top of a building in the middle of settlement, he took a deep breath of the air there.
He finally made it! He was finally back in Japan!
He was still wearing the clothes the Gypsies gave him, though now dirtied from all the traveling he did. But he still had some food left that they gave him, and his beard crew to a nice puffiness he liked.
"Now, all I gotta do is find Lelouch." Joseph thought determinedly. "Let's see, if I was egotistical dictator likedad, what kind of dungeonwould I hide Lelouch in?" He asked himself.
He jumped around building to building until something caught his eye.
It was a certain group of students, his eyes widen in recognition.
He jumped down to a lower building to get a better look, and it was without a doubt them!
It was the Student Council!
His childhood friend, Milly Ashford! His new secretary friend, Ri-valz Cardemonde! And his new little sister, Shirley Fenette!
Joseph couldn't help but smile in glee, happy they were alright!
No Nina though, Suzaku did say she was an apprentice for Lloyd, maybe he wasn't lying about that.
Milly and Shirley seemed to be chatting with each other while Rivalz was carrying a bunch of bags.
Joseph was about to leap in and greet them until he noticed a couple of more students following slowly behind them, bags in their hands too.
One looked to be around Nunnally's age, even looked like male version of Nunnally. Light brown hair but shorter, kind of had a petite nature to him with his pale skin.
Alongside him was...
"LELOUCH?!" Joseph exclaimed in his head.
He was also carrying a bunch of bags, struggling more than the others.
"What's going on? Did he somehow escape and is keeping a low profile? And who's the male version of Nunne?" Joseph asked himself.
He decided to get a closer look and jumped down to an alleyway. He snuck in a bit to catch what they were saying.
"Hurry up you two, you're dragging behind! We have to get get everything ready for the Christmas festival!" Milly ordered.
"Maybe if you two were to carry a few bags, we would be able to keep up the pace!" Lelouch said with a struggled breath.
"Yeah, why are you making us do all the work?" Rivalz complained.
"He's right, Milly. We should help." Shirley insisted
"Ah, ah, ah! They're men, Shirley. It's their duty to do manual labor for us women." Milly said with a delightful tone.
"You're such a she-devil." Lelouch muttered.
"I try." Milly said with her Cheshire grin.
Joseph couldn't help but smile, glad Milly was still Milly.
"Sorry for making you stay behind, Rolo." Lelouch said to the person next to him.
"It's all right, big brother. I know it can be a challenge for you." Rolo reassured.
Now THAT got Joseph's attention.
"'Big brother'? Did dad adopt akid? What the hell is going on?!" Joseph's mind raced with questions.
As he was about to go and confront them, he felt a hand grab his arm.
He turned around and saw it was a familiar green-haired girl with golden eyes.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." C.C. said simply.
"Seaweed!?" Joseph said in shock.
To Be Continued...
...
So as you have noticed, I got done with this chapter faster than I usually do. Well, considering the previous chapter was a bit of a bummer to say the least, I decided to excel the writing for this one as I wanted to keep the story moving.
And once again, I AM SORRY about the massacre. I know a lot of you don't like I kept it canon with Euphemia, but it's my story, I'm going to write it the way I want to!
And I will it say again, IT WILL NOTEND THE SAME IN R2. THERE IS HOPE!
With that out of the way, let's get back to the main focus.
Joseph's out of his coma, he knows Euphemia is dead and Suzaku has betrayed Lelouch. He travels all the way back to Japan to find his brother, only to find things amiss. Will C.C. be able explain everything? Will he see Kallen again? Tune in next time if you're still reading! Comment and tell me what you think!
P.S. For those hoping for an appearance by the Akito the Exiled characters, that was it.
I only know these characters from the fan fictions I read and the tiny bits and pieces of the show I watched so I really didn't want to make them a big part of the story. Plus I just wanted to keep it focused on the main characters of Code Geass. Anyway, I hope you like what I did with them.
Whether or not I have them show up again later on depends on if I watch the miniseries.
P.S.S. And yes, Joseph NOT taking Nunnally will be addressed by Lelouch later on. We have to remember that Joseph always goes for those in immediate danger, like the little girl back in Shinjuku, Lelouch and Shirley with Mao, Euphemia with the massacre. Right now, Nunnally's not the one in immediate danger, in his mind, it's Lelouch. And that's what he's focused on.
Anyway, thanks for reading!