Code Geass and its characters belong to Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi.
I only own my OC, Lynn 'Rin' Rossellini and her family.
"Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved."- Erich Fromm
Zero's Lady
Chapter 11: Refrain
At the Stadtfeld House...
Kallen was in her room, wearing only her lower pink coloured underwear and out of exhaustion has collapsed on her bed due to another night of work as a Black Knight.
The radio was on as the red haired girl boredly listened to it.
"Clearing the last of the debris from around the Lake Kawaguchi Convention Centre Hotel."the Reporter exclaimed. "It's been two weeks since Zero unveiled his Black Knights. But there's still little insight into the man behind the mask. They weren't able to track his escape route? They let the hostages go and somehow made it to the other shore."
CRASH!
Kallen suddenly heard a crash sound coming from outside her bedroom door before standing up from her bed and placed on her pink rope to check what was going on.
When the Stadtfeld girl opened the door she found Aiko had fallen off of a stepladder and shattered a chandelier.
"Kallen. I mean, miss. Forgive me."Aiko pleaded lightly. "I didn't wish to wake you."
Kallen glanced at the broken ladder before looking at the maid again.
"Again?"Kallen questioned.
"I'm sorry."Aiko apologised and looked at the broken ladder. "It was the step ladder this time, it broke."
"Well, just get it cleaned up. And be quick about it."Kalllen ordered. "I have to leave for school."
Aiko smiled at Kallen.
"Mistress, you've been attending school quite a bit lately."Aiko remarked with a smile. "Making any friends there?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business."Kallen retorted with a glare.
Kallen went back inside the room and shut the door before leaning against it with her eyes shut.
"Just go, will you."Kallen scowled in annoyance.
The red haired girl glanced at the photo which showed her as a little girl with Naoto and Aiko, whose face was covered by a bunny sticker.
At the Government Bureau…
Cornelia was strengthening her troops in the wake of the Europia United doing the same and plans to not only stamp out terrorism, but also punish the Elevens for their 'laziness'.
Euphemia listened carefully to her older sister as she spoke to her.
"The EU is starting an offensive along the El Alamein front."Cornelia exclaimed. "We can't go on dragging our feet around here. I want to solidify domestic affairs. It's high time Area 11 was made a satellite nation. For that to happen we need to stamp out terrorism, of course. But another major problem is the rampant abuse of Refrain amongst the Eleven. Productivity is plummeting. It's coming in on the Chinese Federation's Kyushu route. We have to put an end to it."
"Yes, but be careful."Euphemia instructed.
"You as well."Cornelia added. "I don't want you leaving the settlement."
"Cornelia, what about Black Knights and Zero?"Euphemia asked.
"I'll let them roam free a bit longer. I owe them that for saving your life. However, upon my return."Cornelia instructed and gently touched Euphemia's cheek. "Once I've cleaned up this Area, I'm entrusting it to you. Try to stay out of harm's way from now on. Alright, Euphie?"
Cornelia then walked away as Euphemia thought about her conversation with Zero.
"You are innocent and harming the innocent is not something that I am willing to do."
Euphemia looked down with an unsure expression.
"When he spoke to me that night, did he mean everything he said?"Euphemia thought. "Suzaku, what would you make of all this? About what Zero is doing and of me."
At Ashford Academy…
Milly, Suzaku, Shirley and Rivalz had tied Lelouch to a chair to put cat make up on him for Arthur's welcome party and have even set stuff aside for Kallen and Rai when they come.
Rin was painting pink whiskers on Nunnally's face while Alice stood next to her friend.
The brunette wore a sleeveless cyan blue shirt with matching trousers and flats. Her dark brown hair was in its usual hairstyle with blue coloured cat ears and black whiskers were painted on her face.
Alice wore a dark velvet cat dress with matching cat ears, long tail and short fluffy boots. There was velvet eye shadow make up and black whiskers on her face that was designed by Milly.
Nunnally wore a pale pink to white gradient shawl worn over a white ruffled top. The shawl had white fur around the neck and lining the bottom along with several white pom-pom. At the middle of the chest were two large pearl pink buttons and the short ruffled pleat skirt was a pink gradient with faint print of paws along with a trim of white fluff. Her cat ears were white and had black whiskers designed on her face. A small gold bell was on her chest and there were pink shoes with white tights on her feet.
Since Nunnally couldn't see or walk, Rin and Shirley helped her get dressed for Arthur's welcome party.
Two weeks had last since the incident in Lake Kawaguchi. However, Milly, Shirley, Nina, Nunnally, and Alice were constantly surrounded and questioned by people of the event they took part in. There had also been newspapers with the pictures of them being shown with the title 'Zero had rescued the hostages with the Ashford Academy students being among them!'.
The girls had little to no time to have time for themselves as everywhere they went, they would be bombarded by other people, even when the girls took their bathes, their fellow female students would hound them with questions.
Nunnally felt the cat ears on her head.
"Umm...what is this?"Nunnally asked.
Rin gives Nunnally a hug to see how adorable she looked in her cat outfit.
"Oh my gosh!"Rin cooed happily. "You look so cute, Nunnally!"
"No."Nunnally responded with a confused look. "That's not what I am asking."
Alice scowled since she was embarrassed of the outfit she was forced to wear.
"Hey, I'm still in middle school."Alice reminded with an embarrassed look. "And I am not part of the Student Council."
"That's true, Alice."Milly agreed. "But Lelouch insisted you be an official junior member of the student council just like Nunnally is."
Alice shot Lelouch a deadly glare causing the seventeen-year-old boy to smirk at her.
"Hey, you've become Nunnally's close friend, so it's fair to make you a member of the council."Lelouch stated with a smirk.
"Thanks a lot."Alice declared sourly. "I look like a fur ball."
Nunnally giggled as Lelouch struggled to move his face away to prevent Shirley and his other friends from drawing on his face.
"Come on, Suzaku, hold him down!"Shirley demanded.
"Damn it, Suzaku, cut it out!"Lelouch snapped. "Stop it! I'm not kidding!"
"Sorry, Lelouch."Suzaku apologised. "But it's the President's orders."
"Yeah, like you're not enjoying this at all!"Lelouch snapped.
"Will you hold still!"Shirley repeated.
Alice smirked at Lelouch's misfortune before noticing Kallen and Rai coming from inside the room.
"Good miaowing."Milly greeted while waving her paw hand.
"Good morning, I guess."Kallen said gently. "What is all this?"
"Are you guys playing a dressing up game?"Rai suggested.
"What do you mean?"Rivalz asked in confusion. "Didn't we tell you? It's our welcome party for Arthur."
Arthur let out a yawning meow as he relaxed on his cat house.
"Sounds like fun?"Kallen guessed.
"Well, classes are postponed, we might as well have some fun, right?"Milly remarked.
"I set some stuff aside for you, over here."Shirley declared, gesturing to the cat costumes at the other side. "To make up for all my getting so upset before. Take your pick."
"What?"Kallen said in surprise. "For us?"
Rai sweat dropped. "Do we have to?"
"They don't need costumes."Lelouch stated smugly. "They already are wearing masks, right?"
Rai blinked in confusion at Lelouch's words as Kallen frowned at him.
"You really are a riot, you know that?"Kallen scoffed. "You ought to be on television."
Rivalz looked at Shirley.
"What do you think, Miss TV Star?"Rivalz asked.
"Oh, I thought that she meant Lelouch."Suzaku commented.
"Would you quit joking about that? The whole thing's a huge pain in the butt."Shirley scowled. "We've been hounded with questions day and night. Even in the bath!"
"We haven't been able to leave school grounds in a week."Milly admitted.
"The same goes for me and Nunnally."Alice agreed with a frown. "We were hounded by the students in our classes too."
"I guess you guys have gained some sort of fame."Rin remarked.
"It's utterly annoying though."Alice scowled and glared at Rai. "And by some miracle, you aren't getting those paparazzi hyenas hounding over you even though you were actually with us, Rai."
Rai let out a nervous chuckle while Rivalz looked at Milly.
"Not that I don't feel for you, but I don't see why we can't leave either."Rivalz complemented.
"Hmm, that's the price of friendship."Milly declared. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: "It matters not that we were born apart, upon this day we die as one."
"Is that your idea of a love quote?"Rivalz questioned.
"If I go down, then we all do."Milly declared.
Rin smiled wryly at Milly's respond as Nunnally giggled while covering her mouth.
"That's a little dark."Rivalz commented and looked at Suzaku. "Right, Suzaku?"
"I'm glad…that we could all be together again."Suzaku remarked in tears of joy. "You know, like this."
Lelouch, Rin and Nunnally smiled at Suzaku.
"Come on!"Rivalz chuckled. "Hey, we're supposed to be unwinding in here!"
Rivalz tackle-hugged Suzaku and they both fell on the floor causing everyone to laugh.
"That's what's so refreshing about Suzaku, though."Shirley complemented.
"Yeah, but once in a while you just want him to get a clue, you know?"Milly replied.
"Oh, sorry about that."Suzaku apologised.
"Oh, you lovely puddy cat."Rivalz taunted.
Everyone in the room laughed again while Kallen and Rai lightly smiled.
"It's so funny to think I helped save their lives."Kallen thought.
Rin walked around town as she reflects on the actions of the Black Knights since then, the group having become what Zero prophesized they would be; the weak have rallied behind them, corrupt people have been wiped out and they even have Knightmares despite continued skepticism due to Clovis's death.
"Ever since we made our big splash at the hotel jacking, the Black Knights have taken the world by storm."Rin narrated. "We've become a friend to the weak, just as Zero proclaimed we would. Terrorists who involve civilians, an overbearing military, criminal syndicates, corrupt politicians and profiteers. If the law would not punish them, then we would. In the blink of an eye, we'd become heroes. Support for us has swelled. And we've even gotten our hands on some Knightmares again. Of course, no one could show that in public, because…"
Kallen smiled seeing three boys in the park wearing black capes and playing together while making her way home.
However, her smile vanished when a mother of one of the boy's told him to stop playing.
"Stop pretending you're a Black Knight."the mother demanded.
"But why?"the small boy asked.
"You musn't ever say anything against Britannia."the mother warned strictly. "We're Elevens. Have you forgotten that?"
Kallen looked at scene with a hint of sadness.
"Because our leader Zero had killed Prince Clovis."Kallen thought. "There are many in our ranks who wish to know his true identity. Naoto and myself included. But if we push too hard, I suspect that he would vanish. And without him, I'm fairly certain we'd be finished."
At the Japanese Liberation Front…
The Four Holy Swords were asking questions about the Black Knights' legitimacy and why people would support them, deciding to take action.
"Why would the masses flock around those who saved Euphemia?"Urabe asked.
"Even Kyoto has said that they would send the Black Knights the Guren MK-II."Senba admitted.
"To those would-be Robin Hoods?"Asahina questioned.
"They're not part of the resistance."Chiba commented. "Killing Kusakabe was proof of that."
"The colonel killed himself, didn't he?"Urabe asked.
"Well, I hear they didn't try to stop him."Senba responded and looked at Tohdoh. "In any case, Lieutenant Colonel Tohdoh, we can't let this stand."
Meanwhile…
Aiko called out for Kallen to tell her that Milly had stopped by to visit.
"Mistress Kallen!"Aiko called out. "Mistress Kallen!"
Kallen walked down the stairs and became surprised to see Milly.
"Madam President?"Kallen asked.
"I just dropped by to give you something."Milly responded.
Aiko looked at Kallen.
"Where would you like me to show her to?"Aiko asked. "The parlour perhaps or maybe…"
Kallen frowned. "We'll be in my room."
"As you wish."Aiko responded.
Delilah arrived in the stairs and looked at her step-daughter.
"Oh, I heard you had a friend down here, I was sure it would be a boy."Delilah retorted, earning the three women's attention. "Out all night and missing school. Not to mention all your visits to the ghetto just like your useless older brother."
Anger rose inside Kallen at hearing Delilah insult her older brother while a sad expression came on Aiko's face.
"You have no right to insult Naoto!"Kallen scowled.
"I'm the mistress of this house, young lady. I won't tolerate you raising your voice at me."Delilah informed sharply. "You must enjoying yourself while your father's back in the homeland."
Delilah glared at Aiko, the ex-wife of her husband.
"No fighting one's blood, is there?"Delilah questioned.
Aiko looked down in shame as she backed away a little before Kallen gave her step-mother another glare.
"You're the one, who is enjoying Dad not being around here, aren't you?"Kallen scowled.
Delilah glared back at Kallen.
Frightened by the lady's presence, Aiko backs into a vase and accidentally smashed it.
"Oh dear, what have I done."Aiko gasped in shock.
"What's wrong with you?!"Delilah scowled.
Aiko bent down to slowly pick up the pieces of the broken vase.
"Forgive me, milady, forgive me."Aiko begged.
"Can't you do anything right?"Delilah retorted rudely. "Besides selling your body, that is."
Milly and Kallen go to her room to talk after the small incident.
"Quite the complicated home life you have, isn't it"Milly said.
"So what was it you wanted to give me?"Kallen asked.
"Grandfather asked me to pass this on."Milly admitted.
"You mean the Principal?"Kallen assumed.
Milly opened her school bag and gives Kallen her middle school transcript since she was secretly half-Britannian and half-Japanese.
"Your transcript since middle school."Milly stated. "I thought I'd better give them to you off of school grounds."
"So my secret's out then, isn't it? That I'm actually an Eleven and Britannian half-breed like Rin."Kallen said lightly. "That was my step-mother down there. My real mother was that clod of a maid who knocked over the vase."
"And your father...is he the head of the Stadtfeld family?"Milly asked.
"My mother is such a fool. In the end, she wound up a servant."Kallen retorted. "She doesn't have any real skills. And no matter who's ridiculing her, all she can do is laugh like it's nothing. She didn't have to chose to stay in this house, you know? She's just clinging some old lover who jilted her."
"You really hate your mother, don't you?"Milly said.
"I just find her depressing."Kallen commented.
"Well, this is getting a little heavy."Milly responded. "Imagine, the wife and the daughter and the other woman, all living together."
"Ah, it could be worse. Three square meals and a roof, right?"Kallen exclaimed and poured some tea in her cup. "I mean, it's not unbearable. Most of the time, anyway."
"That's good. Still, some things in life we can bear on our own, but when you add them all up, they eventually break you."Milly declared
Milly earned a look from Kallen.
"Oh, don't worry."Milly remarked. "I won't lie, I'm always hungry for secrets, but I'd never talk about this."
Milly took a sip from her cup of tea.
"So, what is your brother like?"Milly asked.
"Well…"Kallen started.
Aiko's room was extremely small in size, just big enough for a single bed and a cabinet to be placed without blocking any space to walk around. The walls were very dirty and there were several cruel phrases in red and black paint that read: 'STAND UP', 'IMBECILE' and 'WE WILL KILL YOU'.
Aiko was inside her room, just staring at the floor.
Almost trembling, the Japanese maid opened her cabinet with a key, to show that inside were several bottles and a contraption for making injections.
She was using Refrain behind her children's back.
In Ashford Academy...
Lelouch was checking the magazine about the Black Knights while Rin helped Suzaku take things out from a couple of boxes.
"I can't believe you teared up."Lelouch declared. "That's so embarrassing."
"It's called honesty."Suzaku responded.
"Well, good thing's the Black Knights were there to save them."Lelouch commented. "That's all I can say."
"If they wanted to catch criminals, they could have joined the police force, you know?"Suzaku suggested. "Why don't they, I wonder."
"They probably don't think the cops are up to the job."Lelouch replied. "I tend to agree."
"The police may not be that effective right now, but they could evoke change from within."Suzaku stated with a frown.
Rin scoffed at Suzaku's respond.
"Really? The civil force of this state are nothing but dirty crooks in case you haven't notice, Suzu. Law and justice doesn't really exist."Rin declared with a small glare. "I heard they are completely racist to people, who are not Britannians and just allowing crime to happen. Sorry to say it, but the whole changing from within act doesn't actually work."
"Yeah, and in the process, they get all tangled up in red tape and bureaucracy."Lelouch joked sarcastically.
"If they had done everything in their power to change things that might hold water."Suzaku said. "As long as they don't, then all of it's just self-righteous posturing."
Rin felt rising a wave of anger growing within her while Lelouch narrowed his eyes at their friend.
"Self-righteous?"Lelouch repeated.
"And what constitutes evil in their eyes?"Suzaku questioned. "What standards are they using? It's nothing, but self-satisfying gratification."
Immediately remembering the murder of her mother and other relatives of the Sumeragi Clan, Rin became furious and got up from her feet to slap Suzaku directly on the face.
Lelouch was completely stunned by Rin's sudden action.
Suzaku held his slapped cheek while looking at Rin in shock as the brunette glared down at him with a raged expression.
"Self-satisfying posturing and gratification?!"Rin growled. "Are you trying to say the Britannians are right to use our people and countless others around the world from different races, who are less fortunate as scapegoats?!"
"Rin, I…"Suzaku started.
"And in case you have foolishly forgotten, my own mother and the rest of the Sumeragi clan had plenty of supporters and yet no one did anything to help them. Even though they were just telling the truth and opposing Britannia's ideals. Beside their rebellious acts, they were still good people!"Rin snapped, her voice was filled with contempt and venom that Lelouch or Suzaku had never seen before. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The Britannians killed the family members of me and Kaguya with great pleasure. And yet, you decided to support their own self-interest and let them treat you like you were their pet dog to play with or get whip! The only thing you are actually doing is trying to force people to accept a peace of slavery!"
Rin stormed out of the room as Lelouch glanced at Suzaku.
"Now you've done it."Lelouch murmured.
"I know, Lelouch."Suzaku replied, feeling upset that he hurt Rin's feelings. "But it seems to me that Rin actually supports Zero."
"Maybe."Lelouch responded.
The door suddenly opened and Shirley entered the room.
"Oh, it's just you two?" Shirley asked.
"Hey, Shirley."Lelouch greeted.
"Shirley, hi."Suzaku greeted as he stood up."Anyway, I have go back to base so I'll see you later."
"Okay, later Suzaku."Shirley remarked.
Lelouch had an unhappy expression and Shirley noticed something was going on as Suzaku left.
Shirley turned to face Lelouch and approached him a bit before bringing up the courage to speak up.
"So um, Lulu."Shirley spoke up. "I was wondering-"
"Back to base."Lelouch muttered coldly, interrupting Shirley. "He still doesn't get it."
In the Principal's Office…
Ruben was being visited by Jeremiah and Villetta.
"Greetings, Jeremiah."Ruben greeted. "It's been a while."
"Indeed it has, Lord Ashford."Jeremiah agreed.
Ruben glanced at Villetta.
"Major Nu, I assume?"Ruben suggested.
"Yes, sir."Villetta replied.
"What brings two members of the Purist Blood Faction here in my academy?"Ruben asked.
"We have some clues in regards to Zero."Jeremiah admitted.
This caused Ruben to become a bit startled, but he kept a calm expression.
"Zero in my academy?"Ruben said in disbelief. "That's absurd."
"We would like to investigate the male students attending in your academy, Lord Ashford."Villetta declared. "We're certain that one of them has some connection to Zero. He could be one of Zero's supporters."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Major Nu."Ruben stated.
"Why not?"Jeremiah questioned.
"For the safety of the students."Ruben declared with a small glare. "If you say Zero is attending in this academy, it will cause them to panic and not attend here anymore. Not to mention my family's name will sink lower into the dirt than it is now. If words gets out that I've been hosting Zero within my academy-"
"Lord Ashford."Villetta spoke up, trying to reason."We've all due to respect, this investigation regards bringing Britannia's most wanted criminal to justice and having your students out of harms way. If you help us discover and capture the person that help us find Zero, you and your family will surely be rewarded."
A frown appeared in Ruben's face.
"My family rewarded? Don't make me laugh."Ruben retorted."Major Nu, do you even have proof that the person you saw in the Shinjuku Ghetto was a student that attends my academy?"
Villetta was taken back at the question that Ruben just asked her.
"No, I don't."Villetta replied, trying to give a reason."But if you just let me see the students-"
"Then I'm afraid I can't help you."Ruben declared bluntly. "Now then if you two have nothing pleasant to say, I would like you to leave now."
Both Jeremiah and Villetta then left the Principal's office to make their way out of the academy.
"The old man is hiding something."Villetta retorted with an annoyed expression.
"Yes, I know."Jeremiah responded.
"I'm going to try and investigate without Ashford's academy."Villetta stated in a firm tone. "The student in Shinjuku had definitely the uniform of one attending here."
"You could try, Villetta."Jeremiah said. "But Ruben Ashford has his connections."
A sudden sound of laughter suddenly caught Jeremiah's attention and saw a girl with blonde hair playing with a girl that was blind and sitting on a wheelchair.
A stunned look appeared on the man's face upon seeing the blind girl on the wheelchair.
"Is that-"Jeremiah started.
"Lord Jeremiah, are you alright?"Villetta asked.
Jeremiah shook his head.
"It is nothing, Villetta."Jeremiah answered simply. "Let's go."
Later that Night…
The Black Knights were preparing to raid the site where the refrain dealing, we're taking place and stop it from spreading may further in Japan.
Naoto sat inside his Sutherland while Kallen and Rai were on Burais.
Everyone accepted Rai without any objection and Kallen supported the silver haired boy's current position.
Tamaki looked at the burai that Rai was inside in.
"Hey, new guy, try not to drag your feet."Tamaki remarked. "We don't want you to break our precious and valuable Burai."
Rai nodded. "Right."
"You have Kallen's recommendation."Inoue assured with a smile. "Don't worry about anything, Rai. Just keep calm."
"I honestly don't understand why we are doing police work, guys."Sugiyama stated. "Zero says that we'll defeat Britannia, but yet so far…"
Naoto looked at Sugiyama.
"Overall, our popularity is growing every single day."Naoto said with a smile. "People are rallying on us because they understand we are the knights fighting for justice."
The Black Knights were in the area between the ghettos and the settlement.
The deserted warehouse district.
Kallen and Rai stood at the top of their Burais as they waited with their companions.
Rin sat down waiting with a troubled look on her face.
Yoshida notice something was bothering Rin.
"Rin, what's wrong?"Yoshida asked.
"It's fine."Rin replied simply, getting out of her thoughts on Suzaku. "Don't worry about it."
The masked brunette suddenly spotted a flashing green light not far from where she and the Black Knights were standing.
"There's the signal from Zero."Rin commented before looking at Kallen and Rai. "Are you guys ready?"
"Yeah."Kallen answered.
Rai nodded. "Yes."
"I can't believe he got in there."Sugiyama said.
"How many tricks does this guy have up his sleeve, anyway?"Tamaki demanded.
A smirk grew on Rin's face as she placed bullets inside her pistols.
"More than you can imagine."Rin sneered.
The Black Knights shoot down the door to the drug compound with only machine gun bullets as the drug dealers return fire.
"The Black Knights have arrived!"Tamaki announced and fired his gun.
Rin fired her pistols at the drug dealers, killing five of them.
Kallen's Burai rushed inside followed by Rai's.
The two Burais were attacked by some machine guns, but the common weapons had no change against a Knightmare.
The main force lead by Zero rushed in and the dealings site instantly was taken control by the Black Knights.
Then Naoto, Kallen and Rai piloting their Knightmares barrels through the drug dealers and send them packing.
"These Knightmares really are amazing."Kallen complemented. "Each one is an army unto itself."
"You said it, Kallen."Rai agreed.
"Yes."Naoto replied and frowned a bit. "Just remember to keep your eyes open."
Kallen's Burai breaks through another door and into a warehouse to find scores of Japanese people, who were moving strangely and everyone was talking as if they were in the prime of their lives.
Through his Burai, Rai could see several silhouettes beyond and immediately could tell they weren't the people from the illegal smuggling organisation.
The people inside the room seemed to be addicts, who were currently in a hallucinatory state from taking Refrain.
From inside his Sutherland, Naoto scowled bitterly at the sight before him.
"The strong ruling over the weak."Naoto muttered. "No one should ever do something like that."
"Japan!"A man chanted in joy. "Japan! Japan!"
"That's right, I'm getting married next month!"A woman remarked.
"I've been promoted!"A second man complemented happily. "I'm going to the Paris office!"
"Leave it to us!"A third man cheered. "Japan is on the vanguard of technology!"
"Damn, Britannians."Rai retorted in a cold tone.
"Refrain."Rin said quietly, understanding why they were acting like that. "How awful."
From his mask, Lelouch frowned at the sight before him.
"It's worse that I thought."Zero muttered.
"I'm studying abroad!"the hot dog man cheered. "I can't believe I got in!"
Kallen stared at the sight with a hurtful expression.
Then Kallen remembered what Milly told her, when the blonde haired girl came to her house to give her a middle school transcript, revealing her half-Britannian and half-Japanese family heritage.
"When you add them all up, they eventually break you..."Milly's voice stated.
A serious look appeared on Kallen's face.
"That's right, which is why I'm here."Kallen declared.
"Careful, it's dangerous to run like that."Aiko's voice rang out.
Kallen became shocked to see Aiko among the Japanese people in the influence of refrain.
"Mother?!"Kallen said in shock.
Rai notice Kallen's attention to the woman in her Burai's hand.
"Kallen, what's wrong?"Rai asked.
Naoto followed the others inside and became stunned to see Aiko among the people using Refrain.
"Mum."Naoto murmured. "She's here too?"
Rai glanced at Aiko.
"That lady is your mother?"Rai said in surprise and his expression saddened. "That is just depressing."
Aiko suddenly tripped causing Kallen's eyes to widen.
Kallen picked her mother up in her Burai's hand as Mrs Kozuki thinks she was trying to stop Naoto from running too fast.
"Really, Naoto."Aiko instructed. "Please, I need you to keep an eye on your little sister."
Kallen shut her eyes closed, couldn't stand seeing her mother in such a state.
"My God. How weak a woman are you, mother."Kallen scowled and opened her eyes. "First you give in to Britannia, then to a man, and now this?!"
"Kallen…"Naoto said.
"Big brother, why can't you see? Why can't you understand?"Kallen questioned angrily. "Our dad betrays our mother to be with that greedy whore and yet she decides to become a maid, just to still cling onto him. And now she is relying on drugs to save her! When are you going to learn that you can't help her?"
"Kallen, the reason mum is-"Naoto started.
A sudden burst of shooting hit the shoulder of Kallen's Burai's right arm and sent it flying off.
"A Knightmare Police?!"Kallen gasped.
Kallen began to flee in her Burai while carrying her mother with her.
Naoto let out an angry growl as he notice several Knightpolice coming where his Sutherland and Rai's Burai stood.
"Time to end these trash holes!"Naoto retorted.
"I'll help you out!"Rai declared.
Naoto's Sutherland and Rai's Burai began fighting against the Knightpolice.
Zero, Rin and the Black Knights stared at the Knight Police with disgusted looks.
"Isn't that a police unit?"Minami asked.
"They're in on this deal?"Inoue questioned.
"You damn right they are!"Tamaki retorted. "I checked it out and there were cops actually involved!"
"Exactly how I predicted from the start."Rin growled in a cold tone.
"Corrupted filth."Zero responded in disgust.
The Knight Police continued to do damage on the Burai causing Kallen to try and drop Aiko on the spot, but emotionally couldn't.
"You're in the way!"Kallen shouted angrily. "Damn it! We don't need you! I don't want you!"
"Kallen, what are you doing?!"Naoto demanded in shock.
Naoto slashed down a Knightpolice with his Sutherland and became horrified when he saw what his little sister was going to do.
"Kallen, don't!"Naoto yelled out.
"We don't need her, Naoto!"Kallen responded. "She'll just bring us down!"
Kallen's hesitation allows the Knightpolice to immobilize and repeatedly shoot her Burai, in the process putting down Aiko in her condition.
"Kallen."Aiko whispered quietly. "Naoto."
"I'll go back up, Kallen!"Rai declared.
"Wait, Rai!"Tamaki shouted. "There's another one coming your way!"
Rai became alarmed when he notice another Knightpolice aiming at Kallen from the container.
The silver haired boy immediately took aim and pulled the trigger of his Burai causing the bullets to penetrate the Knight Police's thin armour with ease.
"Impossible!"the Enemy Police shouted. "How could an Eleven?!"
The Knightpolice exploded along with its pilot inside.
"Yes!"Tamaki cheered.
"Good job!"Sugiyama added.
Zero, Rin and the Black Knights rushed forward and saw Kallen's Burai unable to fight back against the Knightpolice since it was badly damaged.
"The Burai..."Rin started with a nervous look.
"It won't work on a Knightmare."Zero commented.
Kallen notice Aiko slowly standing up and began walking towards her Knightmare.
"Go on, run!"Kallen shouted. "Get moving, you idiot!"
"I'm here for you."Aiko admitted gently. "I'm here for you, Kallen and Naoto. I'm here, as I always have been."
Kallen became shocked as she realised that her mother stayed in the house not to be with her ex-husband, but to be with her and Naoto.
"Then that's…that's why you stayed in his house? You stayed there for us?"Kallen responded in shock and began to cry. "You fool!"
Kallen shouted as her Burai shook violently and the Knightpolice took out a knife to finish her.
"Or maybe…I'm the fool."Kallen admitted in realisation. "I should've listened to you, Naoto."
Rai quickly moved his Burai to go and support Kallen.
Kallen's frame had fallen down and the other Knightpolice was about to attack her with its knife.
"Get away from her!"Rai shouted with a raged look.
Rai's Burai rammed against the enemy knightmare with his shoulder, the side of his torso collapsing from the impact as he slammed into it with all his might.
The enemy's escape system received damage as it activated, making it eject the wrong way.
Kallen's Burai slowly stood up as Rai's Burai went over to her.
Naoto's Sutherland came forward after destroying the last Knightpolice frame.
"Are you guys alright?"Naoto questioned in concern.
"Yeah, Naoto!"Kallen answered. "We're fine!"
Kallen got out of her Burai and ran up to her mother, who she has been protecting throughout the battle.
Naoto got out of his Sutherland and approached as well.
Tears developed in Kallen's eyes as she and Naoto stared at their mother, who had a peaceful look on her face while sitting down.
"I'm so happy for you. You both can finally become Britannians now, Naoto and Kallen."Aiko remarked. "Nobody will ever be able to hurt you now, my darlings. And you're free to travel and use the phone anytime you want. Naoto, be sure to look after Kallen. You are her big brother and it is your job to protect her always, my little boy."
Kallen and Naoto's eyes were welling up and they both hugged their mother while Zero looked on with Rin and the rest of the Black Knights at his side.
"So this…is their mother?"Zero asked in a quiet tone.
"Yes, it is."Rin sighed sadly.
Unknown to everyone, C.C watched the whole ordeal from above one of the interior beams.
"False tears bring pain to those around you."C.C admitted with a solemn expression. "A false smile brings pain to one's self."
Afterwards...
Aiko was brought to the hospital, where she was still on refrain and will take a long time to recover, but was also given 20 years in prison.
Kallen stood in her mother's bedside as the nurse spoke to her.
"It's an after-effect of Refrain. She's unable to talk much."the Nurse explained. "She'll recover eventually, but it will take time."
The nurse left the room, leaving Naoto and Kallen with their mother.
"20 years."Naoto muttered bitterly, glaring down on his right and clench his fist. "That isn't fair."
Kallen continued looking at Aiko.
"Mother, your sentence…you got 20 years. But just you wait!"Kallen vowed with determination and began to tear up. "I'm working to change things when you get out, I swear to you! I'll make a world where you, Naoto and I can live a normal life again. But please forgive me for everything I ever said to you. So please, Mother…"
Aiko placed her hand onto Kallen's quivering fists which surprised the teenage girl.
"Hang in there, Naoto. Hang in there, Kallen."Aiko informed. "My precious boy. My little girl."
Kallen nodded as she forced a smile on her face as tears appeared on her eyes.
"Don't you worry. we will."Kallen answered as she happily held her mother's hand. "We promise you."
Naoto let out a weak chuckle and wiped away the tears that were forming in his eyes.
"You can bet on it."Naoto remarked with a smile.
The Black Knights took down the spread of Refrain.
See you in the next chapter:)