4 days later
Kallen POV
Naoto"Hey Kallen, can I ask you something?",
Kallen now was curious"Of course".
Naoto"It's about the bet that Lelouch planning to do, I'm sending you and Tamaki to protect him".
Kallen was surprised but also happy, it was her first true mission on the field, until now the most dangerous thing that Naoto asked her to do was distribute supplies, but at the same type she had a question "Obviously I will help, but why me and Tamaki?
I thought you wanted to do this yourself whit Ohgi".
Naoto"We have something to do".
Kallen"What?".
Naoto"Nothing to worry about".
Kallen was annoyed, Naoto was excluding her again, in the last day he was pretty cold "Why I can't help you?".
Naoto"You are helping, I need you to not getting Lelouch killed" Naoto paused himself for a moment"And stopping Tamaki from doing something stupid".
Kallen was not satisfied, but was able to accept the thing"Fine, give me the details". Naoto POV
After giving Kallen her mission, he went to Oghi.
Naoto"We are ready?".
Oghi"Yes".
The plan was simple, they had bought fake ID cards and painted an old truck whit the transport company logo. Naoto called
Inoue"The True Truck is blocked?".
Inoue"Yes, you have 30 to 40 minutes of advantage".
Naoto closed the call"Let's go Oghi".
They drove to a department store center, they were ready to steal resources intended for the military, food, medicines and maybe weapons, it was risky, but Britannia used little bureaucracy, efficient, but made it easy to make things disappear without anyone noticing. They arrived at the gate.
Guard"You are early, give me your ID". Naoto handed him his ID and hoped everything worked out. The Guard verified his identity"Very well, you can pass". Perfect, all was going smoothly, Naoto and Oghi started loading the truck, but after 25 minutes another guard approached them.
Guard"Hey guys, you have news about Jack".
Naoto had no idea who this Jack is "I'm sorry, who are you talking about?".
The Guard was visibly getting a bit suspicious "Are you new to the company?".
Naoto had a realization"Yes, he is the guy we are replacing right, I heard he was sick".
The Guard simply said "I understand" and then started walking toward the exit.
Naoto reached Ohgi"We have to go now, I think he knows, he might have gone to call for backup". Oghi understood the situation immediately and they both got into the truck driving toward the gate, a few guards were already there waiting for them, one of the Guard shouted"STOP IMMEDIATELY". Naoto accelerated and the guards began shooting at the truck, the windshield was going into peaces, shard of glass flying, one scratched Naoto face, but luckily they made it to the boom gate, smashing it and reaching the road.
Naoto looked at Ohgi, he seemed stressed but not injured, starting smiling he screamed"WE HAVE DONE IT".
Ohgi seemed to relax a little bit"Yeah, we only have to not getting caught by the police now".
Naoto "Don't worry, I know, but if we stick to the plan in less than an hour we will be home".
From there everything went smoothly, Minami was waiting them at the meeting point with 3 other vehicles, they began to load the truck and load its contents into the other vehicles, then Naoto burned the truck before everyone parted ways, the last thing to do was making sure no one following him, even this went well, he thought this may be his lucky day, but on the way home he has seen Lelouch, Kallen and Tamaki from the distance, while he was getting closer Kallen noticed him.
Kallen"HELP, TAMAKI GOT SHOT!".
Naoto then noticed how Lelouch and Kallen were holding up a bleeding Tamaki"BRING HIM TO THE CAR, FAST"
Naoto POV
The 3 guys entered the backseat, Naoto had never seen Tamaki so pale, Lelouch tried to stop the bleeding, while Kallen attempted to keep the man awake, all Naoto could do was drive to a former Japanese doctor, hoping it wasn't already too late, he wanted to know what happened, but Lelouch and Kallen were handling the situation well, distracting them wouldn't do anyone any good.
They arrived in a few minutes at the doctor house, luckily the old man was home and offered his help immediately, Naoto carried his friend to a table and placed Tamaki on it before leaving the expert his space to work.
Naoto left the house, finding Lelouch and Kallen sitting on the ground, not a word spoken, for a moment he was not sure on what to do, but in the end he decided to approach them breaking the silence and asking the question"What happened?".
The two stayed silent for a few minutes, but then Lelouch spoke up"It was my fault, I exaggerated, my opponent didn't take it well, Tamaki tried to help but... he was hit before he could do anything...".
Naoto almost refused to believe it, he informed himself about Lelouch's opponent, never an accident, he always paid his debts, at least that's what he knew, otherwise he would never have sent Kallen...
Kallen"I killed him...".
Naoto had no idea how much time had passed before he actually realized what was said, his little sister had to kill, and it was is fault, he gave her the order to be there...
Lelouch"You saved us Kallen, it was us or them".
Naoto could only listen, he didn't have the heart to look them in the eye, but somehow he managed to say"Guys, get in the car, I will bring you home".
Kallen"But Tamaki...".
Naoto interrupted her"You will be the first people to know when he recovers".
Lelouch was the first to get up, soon followed by Kallen.
No one seemed willing to talk, this silence helped Naoto to think, all this is his responsibility, he couldn't continue to pretend nothing had happened, it was difficult to accept that his sister had killed someone, but it was even worse to think of the alternative, Tamaki would be dead, Lelouch would be dead, KALLEN WOULD BE DEAD... now he had to make a decision... in reality he had already done so a long time ago, he had continued to delay enjoying that fake peace that they had laboriously created, but now that the choice had been made he didn't know how to get the other two in the car to accept it; Lelouch, a guy who will do anything for his sister, he surely already knew of the resistance group activity, Naoto was well aware that he asked around in the Ghetto about him and what he does, and even if before today he had any doubt, right now is in a machine full of supplies and weapons with the Britannia army logo on it. And Kallen... He always gave her the choice on what to do, always believing that it was the best thing to do, but now he was not so sure, from now on... things will change radically.
They arrived in front of Ashford, he parked and looked at the two"Kallen, Lelouch, from now on do not return to Shinjuko, that time has passed".
Kallen tried to talk"BUT...".
Naoto didn't give her the chance"This is not up to discussion".
Naoto could see that Kallen was hurt by this, but it's now or never"Lelouch, when I can, I will send someone to protect you in your little game, but this is it".
Kallen can't believe what Naoto is saying"WE HAD A DEAL! WHY, what changed?".
Naoto loked in the eyes of his sister, tears threatened to fall"Kallen, until now I respected your choices, I let you stay and help, but I will not see you killed for my order".
Kallen"So do you expect me to live as a Britannian, TO SELL MY SOUL".
Naoto paused for a few seconds, he will make an offer, hoping that to be enough"Kallen, end your study at Ashford, if after those two years you will still consider youself Japanese, I won't refuse your help".
Lelouch"And what will you do Naoto? Are you embarking on the path of blood?".
Naoto paused for a moment, but he has already chosen"I will do what I must".
Kallen started crying and run away.
Naoto"Please, I know you meet me only a few month ago, but you are my only option, Kallen trust you, don't make her do anything stupid".
Lelouch didn't reply, before exiting the car and walking in the direction Kallen ran away.
Naoto was left alone, now there is no comeback... maybe in another life he wouldn't have made such drastic decisions, but after what happened... he could only hope this was the right choice.