Hello everyone. I hope all of you are having a great time! Sorry for taking such a long time to update this work, but many things happened, and my main focus went into my most popular works. I'll try to make it up to all of you later! Until then!
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-The White Wolf of Winterfell (One Chapter!)
-The White Lion of the Red Keep (Two Chapters!)
-Boku No Overlord (One or two chapters!)
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Chapter 13
Lelouch sighed deeply as she stared at a furious and worried Student Council president, Milly. The blond-haired woman stared at Lelouch, who squirmed in her seat, trying to avoid the blue eyes.
"Milly, please..."
"No!" Milly exclaimed, and the other student council members in the room flinched. "I told you that you need to get back and rest!"
"I spent two weeks in bed! Two weeks!" Lelouch exclaimed back as she stared at Kallen and Suzaku. "Please, I can't stay there any longer. I'm going mad!"
Lelouch has been quite tired of being stuck in one place for a long time. Yes, she had a stroke. Of course, her health wasn't in the best shape; technically speaking, her time was running out. But, Lelouch still believed that her life was still worth keep fighting for. Whatever it was her Zero persona or that being, she was on Yggdrasil. Lelouch lived a life here without knowing anything of her previous life. All those memories meant something to her. The good ones and the bad ones. That's why, while on her knees and coughing blood. Lelouch still desires to experience that normalcy she so much enjoyed. A small reminder that she was alive and that her goals weren't as selfish as she thought.
Also, it does help her with keeping her mind clear out of everything else going on with Cornelia, the Black Knights and her entire war.
"Please, Milly... I... I need to at least pretend everything is fine," Lelouch's words made Milly close her eyes tightly. Trying to not think about what could happen in the future. It was already scary enough that Lelouch's health was Russian roulette, with no idea what could hit next. But she understood Lelouch's feelings.
"Fine, fine," Milly sighed. "But the moment you sneeze, you're out!"
"That's quite harsh," Nina whispered, as Rivalz only chuckled, albeit sadly.
"But hey, at least no more skipping classes, eh?" He added, trying to sound funny.
"At this point, I happily will enter history classes and pay attention to the entire runtime!"
Lelouch exclaimed, trying to just do anything that would entertain her so far. Suzaku and Kallen glanced slightly at each other while their animosity remained. Yet, they have come to a silent agreement to stop their bickering and do their best to ignore each other. Although the last part would be hard when they were around Lelouch.
"Well, hopefully, the rest of the year will go on without much problem," Nina whispered, with slight hints of hope. However, those there weren't so sure of such a thing.
"Don't worry, guys. We are here, and there's still hope for us to have a normal day!" Suzaku stated, trying to uplift everyone. "We have to believe nothing bad will happen. Don't you think, so Lelouch?"
"Ah... yeah, supper thrilled," Lelouch drawled, not quite joyful.
"That doesn't sound quite positive, idiot," Kallen muttered softly. "In fact, it sounds depressing."
"Yeah, Suzaku you need to practice your speeches," Rivalz added, earning a few chuckles from the rest.
"I-I can give you some books if you want," Nina said, albeit fearfully.
"Guys... I'm trying," Suzaku replied, ashamed of his lack of empowering words.
"You suck at making me feel happy, Suzaku," Lelouch replied as Suzaku blushed deeply.
"I'm trying!"
"Try harder! Now be a good friend and bring me food...!"
Suddenly, as the group was trying to get back to their student council work, entering the room was, a certain oranged-haired girl with a severe and emotionless face. Shirley's arrival took some by surprise, as she took a week off to be with her mother. They haven't seen her since her father's funeral.
Kallen just swallowed her guilt again. The fault lay with her, and Kallen couldn't quite express it. The idea of someone she knew suffering because of her was a decision. It didn't matter if Kallen didn't like Shirley. No one deserved such pain, of losing a loved one.
I'm so sorry, Shirley... Kallen thought, watching the girl simply look like an empty vessel of sorts.
It was still hard to cope with. However, Kallen wondered how does Lelouch feel about it. The red-haired woman glanced at her girlfriend and saw a sense of accountability and distress in those purple eyes.
How does it feel...? Having something else inside you that made other decisions?
Kallen's double life gave her an inside of what Lelouch could be feeling. But, still, it was different from what Lelouch may be experiencing.
"Shirley... welcome," Milly stated as the girl shook her head quickly. Shirley took a deep breath and put a big smile on her face again.
"Hello, everyone!" Shirley exclaimed as her usual self would.
Everyone looked at each other but nodded. It was time for them to move on, all they could, for the future looked grim enough.
"Shirley, good to see you!" Nina smiled as Shirley sat next to her.
"Me too! It's been quite a busy... week, but everything is fine now," Shirley said, looking at Kallen, who frowned a bit. "I just want to be with all of you!"
Lelouch stared at the girl and couldn't pinpoint this strange feeling inside her. There was undoubtedly something strange about Shirley.
"Shirley... I-"
"Lelouch, how are you feeling?" Shirley asked before Lelouch could finish her sentence. "I heard about what happened... is everything fine? Do you need help?"
Shirley's voice indeed shows some deep concern for her well-being. There was no doubt about it. But still, why does Lelouch feel odd, as if Shirley was trying to act normally, not because of her father's passing but something else?
"I'm fine... all things considered," Lelouch replied, looking at Kallen, who seemed to feel the same odd sensation. "I have some x-rays done, but nothing was found. Nevertheless, I should be careful from now on."
Shirley nodded happily. "Good, good!" Shirley replied with a strange voice. Almost diluted of emotion. That didn't sit well with Lelouch, who felt blindsided by how weird and out of character Shirley seemed to be behaving today.
Lelouch lay on her bed, resting as she sighed deeply. "Shirley acted weird all day," she said as Kallen sat beside her.
"I noticed it," Kallen replied. "Do you think... it's because of her father's death?"
Lelouch hummed, closing her eyes and trying not to think about it. "It could be. One can't simply forget or move on so fast. Shirley did love her father a great deal. She was devoted to him. It must be painful."
Kallen sighed, then lay next to Lelouch, holding her hand and enjoying the small peacefulness of the day as both stared at the ceiling. "I still feel... guilt about it. I kill him. It was me that pushed the bottom. So many lives lost in an instant."
Lelouch tilted her head and watched Kallen's face. Those blue eyes Lelouch loved so much. Yet, at that time, she remembered that Kallen was still young. A girl of just Seventeen years old, fighting on resistance against an empire that controlled her homeland. And Kallen has already bathed her hands with blood, or both, Britannia's soldiers and innocent civilians. Lelouch realised how much Kallen had done in such a short time. And how much she'll do shortly. All for the sake of her goals. Their goals.
"Hey," Lelouch turned Kallen around, so she could see her better, that nose, those cheekbones she loves to touch, to kiss. "You aren't the only one who feels guilty. Remember...? I... have Zero inside my head. I also take part in all of this."
"It's not the same-"
"It is... we are one Zero and I... no matter how much I tried or pretended this has nothing to do with me. Or that I have no fault in this. I may not remember much, but I share the guilt too. I want Britannia to be defeated. I will never be safe nor Nunnally as long as Charles is alive."
Kallen knew that for her, it wasn't just to liberate Japan from Britannia but to save Lelouch from whatever her father was trying to do. Something that even Zero needed clarification on. And watching what Zero could do. That power she held made Kallen worry. What does Emperor Charles know that they didn't? What were his end goals? What did he want to do with Lelouch? So many questions lying around with no clear answers nearby.
"I'll protect you from everything," Kallen declared with pure conviction as Lelouch chuckled, kissing her lovely.
"My knight of shiny armour."
Kallen chuckled. "I'll bear your guilty... no matter the cost."
"Kallen..."
"I promise I'll protect you and carry for you."
Lelouch sighed, wondering how big was the hole she dug for herself. "It's okay to feel guilty, shame, and regret things. In fact, I would've been worried if you didn't feel anything at all. You don't need to carry mine... I'm strong enough to do so myself. Just stay with me... and I'll be fine."
Kallen closed her eyes, wondering what she could do about it. Outside her Knightmare Frame, she lacks the strenght to do anything meaningful. Kallen couldn't throw lighting out of her hands or create strange energy spheres.
"We can always share the burden..." Kallen added while Lelouch breathed slowly.
"Share the burden... like a pair of mules or something?"
Kallen chuckled, bringing Lelouch close, kissing her girlfriend's forehead and cuddling. "If you put it that way, I guess we can... Do you feel guilty?" Kallen whispered lowly.
"I do, in many things," Lelouch's voice was soft and honest. There's a lot to regret. So much, I don't even know where to start. "But, we are still here. And, we can only move forward."
Kallen hummed while caressing Lelouch's hair. "Move forward..."
Kallen and Lelouch lay on the bed, simply enjoying their time together. The purple-eyed girl giggled as she began to kiss Kallen hungrily. That action made Kallen groan with the same hunger as an apex depredator.
"Lelouch," Kallen warned huskily, as Lelouch smirked before climbing on top of Kallen, looking at her red-haired girlfriend lustfully.
"Mm? It's there a problem?" Lelouch replied jokingly.
"You are..." Kallen tried to come up with words as Lelouch moved her hips, grinding on her while smiling wickedly at her. Lelouch took Kallen's hand and pushed them under her blouse.
"Am I doing something wrong?" Lelouch said playfully.
Kallen truly, hated that smile, that beautiful and lustful smile. "You're playing with fire," Kallen whispered dangerously as she raised her torso to meet her girlfriend face to face. Lelouch simply chuckled while putting her arms around Kallen's neck. Kallen's hand quickly went to grab Lelouch's bum and keep her in place, on top of her.
"Am I? Wanna put me in place?" Lelouch moaned as she began kissing Kallen, who knew what she wanted.
"I'll do more than that," Kallen replied viciously.
Both girls were about to begin their vigorous and quite naughty activity. However, suddenly, another guest arrived there.
"Nice, you two are getting started... let me take my clothes too."
Both Kallen and Lelouch whined loudly. "C.C., can you knock on the door?!"
The green-haired girl just stood there, watching with a big smile on her face, as she began to take her clothes off. "Why? It's better this way... don't stop for me. I'll be ready in a second."
"Enough you!" Kallen exclaimed as Lelouch, with no more lust, stood up from Kallen's lap and sat in front of her computer. A bit angry that she was cockblock by the green-haired witch, who only looked amused at how Kallen was staring at her, as C.C. was only in her underwear.
"Can you please put on some clothes?" Kallen asked, now annoyed at how C.C. simply shrugged her off as she lay on the sofa, holding up her Pizza Hut stuffed animal.
"Nop," C.C. replied, quite childish. "You should have just continued. If you didn't want me to join you, I'd like to watch... last time was quite the experience. It left me wanting more."
Kallen, surprisingly enough, became red at that idea. "W-watch? Wait... last time? What do you mean with...?" Then Kallen realised it as she stared at Lelouch, who coughed awkwardly.
"Wait...? Hey, Lelouch, look at me!"
"Look, it's better if you ignore it," Lelouch replied.
"She watched us?!" Kallen was now utterly stunned and felt quite uncomfortable, and the fact that C.C. was staring at her with that big sly smile just made things worse.
"Oh, I did more than just watch you both. It's been quite some time since I had the fun of myself... quite relieving too. Definitely an erotic view. I have to admit that you're incredibly fit and attractive. The way your moan-"
"Eiii! Stop it! Stop it!" Kallen squealed, utterly terrified. "I don't want to know that!"
"Stop it, don't be childish," C.C. stated, almost threatening Kallen with a good time. "Sooner or later, we will share the same bed. And you'll enjoy it."
Lelouch simply rolled her eyes at the fact that C.C. warning Kallen with such a thing. Nevertheless, it was merely amusing how C.C. behaved sometimes.
"I don't want that!"
"You say that now, but believe me... I have a good reach. My fingers have quite the skill."
Lelouch snorted out loud before noticing a call arriving. One that made her sigh.
"It's Ohgi," Lelouch said as the red-haired and green-haired girl stopped their entertaining chat.
"Ohgi," Kallen whispered slowly.
Lelouch looked at C.C., who understood immediately what she had to do. The green-haired witch picked up the phone and answered for Lelouch, who leant back, taking deep breaths.
"This is... C.C., what's the problem?"
On the port, near Tokyo bay, a group of Black Knights seemed to be preparing for what looked to be a long night in one of the hangars. Their armour, weapons, and how they behaved seemed different now. Especially since how prepared and fully equipped their order has become in the last months.
However, some looked clearly nervous about the upcoming event.
"This is my Knightmare Frame?"
"It's quite big... isn't it?"
"My hand can't stop shaking..."
Some of the newest recruits looked ready to faint at the stop. It was only conviction that kept them standing up. However, it was clear that some of the most experienced members of the order informed them that it would be okay. That they should trust each other and never quiver under pressure. However, that was easier said than done.
Among them, Ohgi sighed as he looked at the rookies. "We used to be like them, eh?"
"Yeah, that felt like long ago," Yoshida replied amusedly. "Nevertheless, sooner or later, we all spill some blood."
"Spill some blood," Ohgi only replied.
Soon everyone there heard the distinct breathing sound of their leader, Zero, arriving at the hangar, with Kallen at her side and Tamaki. They quickly gathered around a table, where the small map of the port and their positions were currently displayed.
"Ohgi, is everyone ready?" Zero asked.
"We are... although the rookies worried me."
Zero hummed, looking at the small group arriving with them. "Youngblood. However, they need experience. This operation should be fast and quick enough not to risk them too much."
"I know, but still..."
"Yoshida, try to keep them out of direct confrontation. Don't let them get too excited," Zero ordered as Yoshida nodded.
"Alright, I'll keep them on the backline as support and reinforcement."
"Good, now," Zero pointed at the ship in the port. "This request from Kyoto has come to us. What's left of the JLF and their leadership is on that ship. Supposedly, they are looking for safe passage to China or India to begin as a military group on those countries before coming back here."
Zero scoffed internally at the fact those idiots believed such a thing was possible. They had nothing to offer to those countries at all. She could see that the only reason China may have given them some support was to use them as possible scapegoats for whatever plan they were hatching.
"They are leaving Japan?" Kallen whispered, stunned that the once large and prideful JLF was now running from their homeland.
"Hey, what's this? This isn't what the JLF stand up for, right? Are they simply going to leave...?" Tamaki exclaimed, and his worries and anger were noticeable as well. Those who were hearing that shared the same belief. How could the group so proud of their ancestry and nationality leave and give up everything they once stood for? It was indeed a bizarre notion, but now that they were more mature to understand how an organisation works. They saw it as more of a cowardly move than anything else. No doubt, thank Zero's meddling.
"Escaping to a foreign country... but wouldn't the JLF prefer to fight with us then leave Japan?" Ohgi asked, and some could see some truth in his words. Zero also saw sense in them. However, that wasn't the case.
"They won't join us," Zero declared, much to the surprise of everyone. "Kyoto has already met with General Katase... and he wishes to keep the JLF as a separate entity and declined to... unite forces with us."
That seemed to bring some sort of bad reaction from the rest of the Black Knights. Some were angry, others confused. But it was clear that there was an underlying message there.
"They don't want to join someone not fully... like them," Zero only said, and Ohgi, Tamaki and Kallen understood what that meant.
"Are they really leaving Japan and pretty much-forsaken everything they stood for, just because...!" Tamaki was quickly shut up by Kallen, who just glared at him.
"It seems that they held some of Japan's worse attributes," Ohgi muttered, annoyed.
"In anycase, it doesn't matter," Zero replied. "We shall do what we must and prove those idiots the mistake they are making."
Truth be told. Zero couldn't care any less for the JLF. If they all die or live, it doesn't matter to her. So far, she was thankful they were making Cornelia focus on them since it allowed Zero to breathe before preparing her forces.
"You," Zero then pointed to the Britannia's volunteer, who was staring with quite irritation and unease. "You're Diethard, who offered us this information, correct?"
The news producer simply smiled as he noticed the weapons pointed at him.
"Yes. I'm honoured that you'd see me like this, Zero," Diethart replied as he stared at the woman with the strange robotic suit with utter fascination. The sound of the breathing, how those tubes and steam seemed to pour out every time she breathed. All of it was fascinating to someone like him.
"I expected Cornelia to move, but this is a while. The fact that she's deploying the mechanised marines and the few numbers of knights. It makes me wonder why she's risking herself coming all the way here," Zero hummed, believing her sister didn't truly understand she was overextending her forces.
"All of this to capture General Katase..."
"The princess wants to cut the head of a limping body to keep it from standing up again," Diethard stated, which makes sense for Zero.
"As I expected from her. Nevertheless, this is a good opportunity to defeat her and capture her. I have received news that new Britannia reinforcements are about to arrive here. Veterans from the European Front."
That made everyone look at Zero with quite a worried face. Zero understood that. Those knights and soldiers would be different from the ones they have faced here. Those had years of experience on an actual battlefront.
"Cornelia truly wants to make a good publicity stun," Zero stated, to which Diethard agreed.
"Yes. We're all ready at the network station for a special report on it," Diethard added. "It seems she wants to present a victory to the public to ensure the success of Britannia. And with the European reinforcements arriving in a month. We are told to do a big publicity stunt with a parade and everything."
Zero hummed, now understanding things better. "I see."
"Well, let's give them a huge front page!" Tamaki exclaimed, making everyone chuckle.
"So be it," Zero ordered. "Everyone in position. Let's get ready for the operation."
All nodded and quickly went ahead to their designated positions.
It would take a few hours until midnight. Hours in which Zero prepared herself for what's will come. She entered her mobile base and her private room, where Kallen awaited her.
"Zero," Kallen whispered as Zero went ahead and sat on her chair, taking her helmet on and allowing some fresh air in. It was pretty surreal for Kallen to see the face of Zero and not think of Lelouch. Yet, while their faces were the same. Those golden eyes and snowy white hair made her feel slightly nervous. Zero's expression was just so different from Lelouch's. More cold and distant, if any. Yet, with a hinder of Lelouch's gentleness.
"Bunny," Zero breathed slowly. "It's something wrong?"
Kallen bit her tongue, not knowing what to say. Nor that it was needed. Zero understood what Kallen was thinking.
"Is this about the guilt you feel?"
Kallen looked at those golden eyes, and for a small moment. She expected to see purple. But nothing of sorts happen.
"I thought... about what we are doing. This is for justice, right? I've fought until now because I thought it was the right thing to do. That's how I was able to kill people... but now... is what we're doing really going to be able to change the world?!" Kallen finally let out her fears. Those worries that she may be wrong. Or that her conviction was simply another coping mechanism for her insecurities. Kallen sees Suzaku and hates him for what she thought was a clear picture of what she could be or what she was, just on the other side of the coin. She doesn't want to be a hypocrite. Kallen genuinely wants peace and to change the world for the better. But how much was she willing to do for it? How much was she willing to sacrifice for it? That was the question that truly terrified her.
"It is hard... when it affects someone you know," Zero replied as Kallen looked down. "It's easier to think of it as if the rest have no dreams or sense of justice. We like to believe we know what justice is, but we must realise that. For them... we may be the villains."
Kallen just made herself small at those words. They weren't the type she wanted to hear at all.
"It's that good...? To justify our action in such a way...?" Kallen asked, as Zero simply remained silent.
"It's impossible to say, Bunny. I can't give you an answer to make you feel less guilty. Because that'll be a lie. We will fight Britannia, and people will die. Soldiers, us, civilians. Blood will be spilt. But we can't stop now. Otherwise, all that blood will be spilt in vain. We either win and free Japan from Britannia's shackles and find a way to peace. Or we lose, and all of us die. There's no middle ground."
Kallen just looked down at her hands as reality began to sink in. War was ahead of them, and even now, she must realise that no matter how much she tried to evade it. She'll end up doing things for the sake of her goals. Actions that could be considered evil. But there wasn't stopping it.
"Bunny, no one is stopping you from leaving. This may be your last time leaving everything behind," Zero said, and while it sounded cold, there was a lingering gentleness in her voice. Kallen simply shook her head.
"No. I'll keep going forward," Kallen declared. "Whatever future it may bring. I'll go where you go. Not only for Japan, for us, but also for Lelouch."
Zero chuckled. "Thank you, Kallen."
"Zero, Britannia's soldiers are moving," someone called outside the door.
Making Zero stand up and put on her helmet. Yet, she gave Kallen a brief glance.
"Bunny, after this, I'll like to speak with you about something."
"Uh?" Kallen tilted her head, wondering what that could mean. "Something?"
Zero didn't add more to the conversation, as she decided to cross that bridge later.
Ah, C.C., I think you will be angry. But this is something I must do. Zero thought as she prepared for the night raid.