Stage 6 - An Unexpected Party

The Tokyo settlement at night was a stark contrast to the relative chaos during rush hour. The city was almost serene, the quiet ambience only being interrupted from time to time by the odd passing vehicle or sound of revelry from a nearby bar.

Wishing he'd packed an umbrella, Jack walked through the streets on his way home after a successful operation. He'd need to rendezvous with Okazaki in the morning, but for now the anticipation of dissecting the data on Kingsley was at the front of his mind.

While turning a corner, and avoiding a few puddles that had formed, Jack smirked to himself. Maybe this data was all he needed to locate his final few targets. It was a shame his time in Tokyo had been so brief, but with this information he could return to exacting his revenge on those who had taken everything from him…

The rain suddenly gathered momentum - the sound of gentle pattering on the pavements replaced by a pounding. "Tch," he spat, quickly looking for cover.

After diving under a nearby awning for shelter, Jack heard a couple of voices approaching from the other side of the street.

"Hey Reynolds, what did you think about the game last night?" A deep but grating voice rang out, piercing through the sound of the rain.

"Whaddaya mean?! We talked about that already! Ya had too many JDs my friend!" Another voice slurred.

"Shit" Jack muttered under his breath. Those voices sounded like those two guards who had recently clocked off from security detail at the Embassy. They were still bar crawling it seemed. It wouldn't be good if he was seen here, not when he was wearing a guard's uniform and the same chestnut brown wig he had on back then…

Looking around for an escape route, Jack spotted the light from a nearby bar. Without paying attention to the name, he entered, hoping those two drunks wouldn't follow.

As he entered, Jack stopped in his tracks. The place was empty - maybe the bartender was planning to close up early? In any case, it was worth loitering here for a moment. He'd leave once those voices from outside died down.

"Hey, a customer!" A confident voice boomed from the other end of the room. "Well, what are you waiting for? Sit down and order a drink already!"

Slightly startled at the sudden break in silence, Jack looked back to the bar. As he did so, a Japanese man with a goatee emerged from a backroom, beaming right back at him.

"Well come on fella, what'll it be?" The barman asked cheerily, as if relishing the opportunity to greet a customer.

"Sorry to be a bother." Jack replied. "I thought you'd closed up for the night."

"No, no, no my friend! What you're seeing here is what we in the business call a 'dry spell'."

"That's pretty impressive… what with it raining outside and all" Jack responded sarcastically.

The barman laughed loudly as if that was the best joke he'd heard all day. "Well you're in luck. You have the whole place to yourself… and my undivided attention."

"Oh great…" Jack muttered. Although perhaps it was worth celebrating the night's success with a drink…

"Ok fine, I'll have a whiskey - what Japanese stuff do you have?" Jack finally responded, approaching one of the bar stools.

The bartender smiled gleefully. "A man of taste I see! I'll get you a glass of one of my best, just give me a minute to…" He suddenly furrowed his brow as Jack approached. "Wait, how old are you?"

Jack paused for a moment. Back in Switzerland, the legal age for drinking was eighteen. In Japan it was probably higher…

"Twenty-three" Jack lied casually as he took a seat. "Why? Do you think I look youthful? If so, I'm flattered."

"Hey I've got to ask these things!" The barman responded. "I'd take the compliment if I were you!"

Jack sighed. "That's true, I'll take anything I can get after the day I've had. My girlfriend has really been a nightmare lately…"

"Trouble in paradise, huh? Well that's ok, feel free to gripe about it to your new pal - Shinichirō Tamaki!" Tamaki proudly announced, patting himself on the chest as his voice echoed around the rather cozy bar.

"Nice to meet you Tamaki. I'm Tobias Underhill." Jack replied, as Tamaki began pouring a glass of amber liquid.

Jack smirked to himself. He'd have some fun with this guy for a drink or so and head back. If anything it was a welcome respite from the rain and at least here there was no chance of running into anyone he knew…

As Jack picked up his glass and took a small sip, the bell over the entrance to the bar chimed faintly in the background.

"Well what a surprise, if it isn't Kallen!" Tamaki yelled gleefully.

Jack almost choked on his drink.

Stage 6.2

Kallen smirked as she walked into the Zero Café. "Just as I expected, the place is as quiet as the grave…"

"Give me a break!" Tamaki pouted, rubbing the back of his head. "I've got one customer!" He protested, grinning as if it was the world's greatest accomplishment.

"Where are those two drunks who interrupted our phone call before?" She asked.

Tamaki sighed. "They left. Said that they wanted to do karaoke or something…"

Tamaki stroked his chin. "Actually… those two guys were wearing a similar uniform as this guy." He mused, gesturing at his lone customer. "Tobias - I'm guessing you work in corporate security at one of the offices near here?"

The customer stiffened, turning his head towards the back of the room. "Yeah… it's been a long shift. I can't really talk about it." He replied gruffly.

"What's the matter?" Tamaki grinned. "Don't tell me you're getting shy on me!"

"It's not that…but it sounds like you two are old friends. I don't want to intrude, that's all…"

"Nonsense! The more the merrier." Tamaki cheered. "Kallen - pull up a pew - it feels like it's been ages since we've had a proper conversation."

"You're still so damn noisy, even at this time," Kallen smiled wryly as she took a seat, leaning her umbrella against the bar. To be honest, she wasn't expecting Tamaki to have a customer in at this hour. Weirdly enough this guy - Tobias - seemed to be avoiding looking over at her. From what she could see, most of his face was obscured by sopping wet hair.

"So Kallen, how's school?" Tamaki asked, breaking her train of thought. As she adjusted her position on the stool, he slid an orange soda her way.

"It's alright…" she replied, grabbing the drink from the counter and taking a swig. "Just look at this place," she giggled, "you've really turned into a respectable business owner Tamaki."

Tamaki crossed his arms. "Now you're just making fun of me!"

"Maybe just a little…" she smirked.

After a moment's silence, Tamaki looked around sheepishly. "So… how are those guys you hang out with on the Student Council. I still feel kinda… awkward about what happened during the Black Rebellion."

Kallen was surprised Tamaki even remembered that. She had a vague recollection of Tamaki threatening Rivalz with the butt of his rifle when Rivalz tried to stand up to him. It certainly wasn't Tamaki's proudest moment, and she would have given him a serious tongue lashing for it at the time had everything not been so chaotic…

"They're fine…" Kallen replied. "If you see Rivalz again you should apologize… but I wouldn't worry too much. He's not the sort of guy to get scared for life over something like that."

Tamaki sighed. "S'pose that's something..."

Tobias stirred, continuing to look in the opposite direction to Kallen. "So you were both with the Black Knights? Even as far back as the Black Rebellion?"

"That's right! Try not to hold it against us," Tamaki beamed, returning to a cheerier persona. "You see that photo on the wall?" he continued, pointing at a collection of photos above the bar. "That's all of us at my bud Ohgi's wedding. He cleans up nicely, huh?"

Tobias scratched his hairline. "So you're both friends with the Prime Minister? I wouldn't have guessed. Maybe if you're struggling for business you should get him to come down every so often. That'd get the drinks flowing."

Kallen tutted to herself. What a mercenary outlook on life this guy had.

"That's… brilliant!" Tamaki praised. "Kallen - put in a good word with Ohgi would you?"

"In your dreams Tamaki!" She spat. "There's no way I'm asking Ohgi to cover for you just because you couldn't drum up business!"

"What a cold hearted woman you are…" Tobias mumbled.

"What was that!?" Kallen gasped. She couldn't believe this guy, a total stranger, had the nerve to make that comment. "And at least have the courage look at me if you're going to say stuff like that!"

Tobias turned his head slightly towards her, sweeping his wet locks along his face and focusing on her through one eye. "Friends should help each other out. Even if one is the Prime Minister and the other is the owner of a bar."

Tamaki laughed. "I like this guy!"

"Only because he's saying things that benefit you…" Kallen huffed.

Tobias turned back to face the bar and took another sip of his drink. "If you were both with the Black Knights during the Black Rebellion, then you must know what it feels like to lose everything. How did you manage to pull yourselves back from the brink I wonder…?" He mused rhetorically.

Kallen was stunned. The defeat of the Black Knights back then was probably one of the worst days of her life. Finding out Lelouch, someone she'd known as an aloof classmate, was Zero - the man she respected and trusted more than anyone - had been earth shattering at the time. Then there was the fact that Ohgi and the others were taken prisoner…

She didn't know whether to be pissed off at this guy or not for asking that question. He didn't sound scathing or clumsily curious. It was almost as if he'd been through something similar…

"Sorry." Tobias winced, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "I shouldn't have asked that. Forget I said anything. I'll get the next round as an apology."

Tamaki scratched the back of his head. "Nah, you don't have to do that. To be honest, I just focus on what's in front of me rather than getting wrapped up in the past. All I remember back then was that the prison food wasn't that great." He smiled. "Now I have my bar to look after; Kallen has school and the Student Council keeping her busy - all's going pretty well I'd say."

Tobias nodded. "Good to hear it."

Tamaki smirked before turning back to Kallen. "Speaking of school - there must be something interesting going on. You said it was 'alight' earlier - come on Kallen don't be so stingy! Back when I was in high school there was all sorts of chaos going on…!"

Kallen sighed. Tamaki was like a dog with a bone on stuff like this. She thought it best to give him at least something to chew on. "Well… a new guy joined the Student Council recently so there's that I guess."

Tamaki grinned. "Oh really? What's he like?"

Suddenly Tobias stood up.

"Well, I think that's about all I can handle for the evening. I better head off before my girlfriend gives me hell," he yawned.

"Oh no you don't" Tamaki laughed as he leaned over the bar, grabbing Tobias by the shoulders and pushing him back to a sedentary position.

"Hey! W-what are you doing?!" Tobias stuttered as he was forced to sit back down on the bar stool.

"There's no way I'm letting my only paying customer of the evening head off after one lousy drink!" Tamaki grinned mischievously.

"I get it." Kallen scoffed. "It must be boring to hear what a high school student has to say…"

Tobias sighed. "You're reading it wrong but whatever. Guess I've got no choice. I'm really going to get it later—"

"Then maybe you shouldn't have come out drinking in the first place," Kallen scowled. If he was such a considerate boyfriend he wouldn't have come to an empty bar to talk to a lone bartender.

"I'm starting to agree with you." Tobias muttered bitterly under his breath.

…

"Anyway!" Tamaki cut in, reaching for a bottle of whiskey behind the bar. "Kallen: what's this new guy like?"

"He's…different, I guess." She began hesitantly. "I don't really know how to describe him… he did this speech which resonated with the students the other day. It's weird, I don't really know how he pulled it off."

"It resonated with them?" Tobias interjected, relaxing his shoulders a little.

"Yeah…" she replied despondently. "Would you believe he got away with calling most students racist?"

Tamaki grimaced. "He did? Wait, even the Japanese kids!? The nerve of that guy!"

"Sounds like a weirdo to me." Tobias smiled. "Aren't those sorts of speeches supposed to be filled with inspiration?"

"Yeah… but he made it difficult to argue with him. It is true that there's awkwardness and resentment between some of the students, so all he did was make people reflect. Time will tell if it was a smart move…"

"You're probably right," Tobias acknowledged, taking a freshly poured drink from Tamaki. "I'm an outsider myself so I don't really see the benefit in getting tied up over who's from one culture or another."

Kallen sighed. This guy and Jack would get along just fine. "That might be true... but he didn't have to fool around at the start of his speech like that." She murmured wistfully.

"Fool around?" Tamaki asked.

"Well… he kinda, not-so-subtly, started his speech by making it clear I wasn't the nicest to him when he joined the Student Council…"

Tobias tapped his finger on the bar and paused for a moment before shrugging. "He sounds petty. He should have kept that stuff to himself."

Kallen raised an eyebrow. That's exactly what she thought initially, especially after a smug Britannian girl from her class greeted her, Rivalz and Shirley as 'the two kind members of the Student Council… and Kallen' when the three were eating lunch together. However, she couldn't shake this feeling she'd been just as petty towards Jack at times…

"Maybe… I'm not sure." Kallen sighed.

Tobias scratched his head. "You don't owe him any niceties or warm welcomes by default. Maybe he thought it would be fun to have a little in-joke without thinking through his actions. Whatever the case, if you were with the Black Knights, I'm sure you can handle this guy."

Tamaki laughed. "Sounds like fighting talk! I like it!"

Kallen smiled gently to herself. Maybe she was worrying too much, although these guys had only heard one side of the story…

"Oh actually!" Tamaki announced. "I'm not sure you heard Kallen, but Ohgi's decided on what to call his baby when it finally arrives. They're going to call it Naoto."

"Seriously?! I mean… I was kind of expecting it, but that's good news." She nodded. It was great that Ohgi had chosen to honor her late brother - Naoto Kozuki - in that fashion. She was sure her mother would be happy when she found out.

"This Ohgi guy has a pretty good taste…" Tobias muttered. "I knew a man by that name once. He wasn't exactly honest but he was a good friend and a true man of steel…"

"Who'd have thought!" Tamaki grinned. "And lookie here! it seems like you could use a top up! Why don't we use the opportunity to toast baby Naoto!?"

Tobias grinned under his rather messy mop of hair. "Fine… but just a small one." He conceded.

"Kallen?" Tamaki grinned mischievously.

"Oh… right." She said, tapping her empty soda can. "Slide another of those sodas across."

"Come on Kallen! There's no need to be shy. Why don't you try a bit of rocket fuel?" He grinned - pointing at the recently opened bottle of whiskey on the counter.

Kallen gasped in indignation. "No way Tamaki! You could lose your license for even suggesting something like that! And there's no way I'd go along with it. I'm only eighteen!"

Tobias snorted, turning his head away quickly so she couldn't even see the side of his face anymore.

"I-Is something wrong?!" Kallen stuttered archly.

"Well…" Tobias began, "it's just funny that someone who joined an organization that in its heyday broke all the laws known to man is getting flustered over a bit of gentle rule breaking."

"I-I just don't want to do anything illegal if I can help it." Kallen tutted.

Tobias sat back on his stool and stroked his chin before giving her a sideways glance. "Could it be… that you're a little scared of trying it and just using that as an excuse?"

"I'm not scared of anything like that!" She huffed. The nerve of this guy! She wouldn't be peer pressured into this. Her pride wouldn't allow it. Besides… she could smell the whiskey Tobias was drinking and she wasn't sure she'd like it… but that didn't mean she was scared, or apprehensive or anything!

Tamaki sighed. "Well if you're sure…"

Tobias clicked his tongue audibly. Kallen was sure he'd intentionally done it in the loudest fashion possible. In fact, she was pretty sure that in the history of tongue clicking no one had clicked their tongue as loudly as this guy.

"W-what? D-do you have a problem with that?" she spat, daring Tobias to elaborate on his apparent disapproval.

Tobias let out a sharp breath. "Well… I just feel a little sorry for Ohgi. Someone clearly dear to him is toasting the announcement of his new baby in such a… tepid fashion."

"What are you talking about!? There's no way Ohgi would be bothered by something like that!" she gasped.

"Well you might not get an opportunity to toast to the news of another one of his babies again. If I were you I'd want to celebrate this moment to its fullest…" He drawled.

Kallen stiffened. She wouldn't back down on this. "Look - I'm not drinking that stuff just because you're trying to make me feel bad. First of all, it smells disgusting and secondly…!"

She gasped, realizing her mistake.

Tobias' mouth twisted into a knowing grin. "There we have it ladies and gentlemen… So that's the real reason for your apprehension. Funny, I didn't peg you as a coward… I suppose cowardice does take different forms…"

Tamaki watched the two with a mixture of stunned silence and intrigue at how this would pan out.

"I…!" she began, blushing slightly at being caught out.

"If the smell bothers you that much, then I'm sure Tamaki has a fruit-based alcoholic beverage on hand. You know, something that even someone with a delicate little nose can manage," Tobias said neutrally, as if he hadn't just called into question her constitution and resilience.

…

After a short silence, Tobias shrugged. "Well ok then. Tamaki - do you want to lead on the toast? He's your friend after all."

"Y-yeah!" Tamaki beamed, transitioning back from spectator to participant in the conversation. He poured a new glass of whiskey, but this time much shorter, and slid it towards Tobias. "To Ohgi, Villetta and baby Naoto! Have a bright future!"

As Tobias reached for his new glass, Kallen swiped it without missing a beat and, after a split-second of hesitation, downed it in one.

"Have a bright futu—!" She sputtered before coughing. Damn that stuff was strong - her throat felt like it was on fire! As she looked back up she smirked in triumph, although she couldn't help feeling a little self-conscious.

…

"Wow… I can't believe you did that…" Tamaki muttered, nonplussed.

Tobias on the other hand looked like Christmas had come early. For a split second his eyes (both of them this time) were trained directly on her with a glint that said 'Thank you God'.

"W-what?!" She stammered, before blushing and turning away.

Tobias chuckled as she turned away from them both. "Nothing, it's just… that's not the best way to get a guy to buy you a drink…"

Tamaki roared with laughter.

Kallen squirmed. She wouldn't be doing that again any time soon…

Stage 6.7

"So you're who Ruben sent on behalf of Ashford Academy?"

Rivalz bowed slightly "Yes, my name's Rivalz Cardemonde - I'm the President of the Ashford Academy Student Council - charmed I'm sure!"

The nobleman gave him a quick look up and down. "I see … Ruben must not take events like these seriously anymore if he sent you in his stead. I was rather hoping he'd send his daughter..."

Rivalz's smile cracked somewhat at this upstanding gentleman's comment. "I can assure you he does them seriously. He's always interested in charitable endeavors. It's just that he had a prior engagement. Perhaps we can talk about how to get the students involved with some of the regeneration projects around the Settlement?" Rivalz explained, trying his best to sound enthusiastic despite the man's imperious glare boring into him.

"That sounds fairly reasonable," the nobleman grumbled begrudgingly. "Remind me - do you hail from any noble lineage? I'm struggling to place 'Cardemonde'."

"I'm a commoner sir," Rivalz beamed without missing a beat, "but that shouldn't stop us discussing—"

"Ah Alasdair!" The nobleman suddenly interrupted, waving his hand to catch the eye of someone else in the grand hall where they were currently standing. "I am sorry Mr Cardemand but I'm afraid I'll need to discuss this later - I've not seen Alasdair for years you see." He nodded with a faux-apologetic tone before walking off into the crowd.

"...It's Mr Cardemonde!" Rivalz muttered under his breath through clenched teeth. He was sure the nobleman had done that on purpose…

Catching his reflection in the large floor-to-ceiling windows, Rivalz did admit he was a little out of place dressed in his Ashford Academy uniform.

Here he was, at a charity event to which wealthy patrons from all over Tokyo had been invited. The idea was for the local nobles to provide support to struggling Japanese citizens by investing in infrastructure and new housing. Ruben Ashford had received an invite but sent Rivalz instead.

At first he'd been delighted that Madame President's grandfather had selected him, but he was starting to wonder if this was actually a poisoned chalice. Each time he started a conversation he was shooed away or dismissed, in the most socially acceptable way of course…

It was quite clear that no one he'd spoken to at the event, which was being hosted in a museum of all places, had any interest in helping out the local Japanese. If he was a gambling man (he definitely wasn't), he'd wager that the only reason the majority of noblemen had agreed to meet like this was to mingle among others with wealth or power and gorge themselves on the healthy selection of finger food. Perhaps not much had changed even if they were now in Japan rather than 'Area Eleven', other than the fact they were officially at peace.

As he carefully navigated the crowds of well-to-do citizens in cocktail dresses and dress-suits, his foot caught on a loose marble slab. He steadied himself but couldn't help gently collide into the back of a woman wearing a pale blue dress. This was not good.

"I'm so sorry!" He bowed, hoping that the worst he would get was an annoyed glare from the woman.

"Rivalz!?" The woman gasped.

"C-Carol?!" he stuttered, amazed to see a familiar face in this sea of privilege and wealth.

Carol regained her composure before breaking into a gentle smile, her olive-green eyes sparkling, reflecting light from the nearby chandelier. "I didn't know you were invited, but I'm happy to see another student here…"

"Well, the Principal needed someone from Ashford to attend so who better to line up for the slaughter than the Student Council President," he joked, returning her smile awkwardly.

Carol giggled. "I'm sure you're up to it. That speech the other day was marvelous. I felt more at ease after hearing it and I think many other students did as well!"

Rivalz grinned at her complement. To be frank, he thought that it was Jack's speech which stole the limelight somewhat. While it was far less upbeat, most students were still talking about it. Hell, he'd even noticed groups of Japanese and Britannian students mingling together around the dorms. Whether that was as a result of the students trying to stubbornly show Jack that he was wrong in making his accusation of racism or to acknowledge Jack's criticism, Rivalz had to admit Jack's speech certainly had an impact.

"I'm glad you think so." He eventually responded. "For the record, while I think Jack did a great job given the circumstances, I'm sure you would have also pulled it off with aplomb if you'd had the chance!"

"Oh I'm not sure…" Carol mumbled, averting her gaze. "I think you were right to turn me down. I'm not really a leader and I didn't realize you were looking for a Vice President so—"

"Don't sell yourself short!" he encouraged. "I'm sure once you've settled in at the drama club you'll be getting standing ovations in no time!"

Carol blushed slightly and started playing with her blonde hair. "Thanks, although I've not had as much time to practice as I would have liked." She mumbled, her tone losing its cheerful edge. "My father is keen to have me attend events like this. He… wants to establish the Lestrade name and so is interested in finding me a suitor…"

Rivalz shuffled awkwardly. There it was. Yet another noble trying to pawn his own daughter off for wealth or political influence. It struck too close to the bone, hearing Carol's plight. It reminded him too much of when he found out that Milly had been betrothed to Earl Asplund as part of an arranged marriage. Fortunately, Milly was not so easily controlled. It helped that Lloyd was also so relaxed about it…

"I'm…sorry to hear that" Rivalz responded. "If it's any consolation, there are girls out there that have been able to break free of family influences and follow their hearts," he assured. "I'm sure if you did that then your father would be sure to accept it. No father can avoid doting on their daughter to some extent."

Carol smiled gently. "I'm not sure, but thank you for saying it…"

Seeing her dejected appearance, if only for a moment, tugged at Rivalz's heartstrings. "I'll tell you what Carol!" he began confidently. "Why don't you help introduce me to your noble friends around here. I'll try and sell the Ashfords' interest in charitable pursuits and all the while you can pretend you're busy helping me out. If anything, that should prevent any would-be suitors from making a move. Although… if you see a guy you like the look of, feel free to break away!" he clarified.

"That's… a great idea!" Carol gasped, returning to life once more.

"Well then what are we waiting for!? Let's mingle!" Rivalz announced, gesturing to the hall behind them.

It might have been Rivalz's imagination, but he was sure he still detected a hint of sadness lingering in her eyes.

Stage 6.95

The rain had eased up since Jack had taken refuge in the 'Zero Café'. Walking along the street leading to his apartment, he discarded his brown wig and cap in a nearby bin.

He looked at his watch and grimaced. It was way too late to analyze the data on Kingsley now. He decided that instead he'd settle on sending the correspondence data over to Okazaki via an encrypted channel before hitting the hay. He didn't want to break his promise after all…

Entering the stairwell leading to his home, Jack couldn't help but smile wryly. Tobias Underhill had some fun tonight, but it was up to Jack Reiner to get the job done. In any case, that was now tomorrow's problem.

- END

Author's note

Naoto means "honest and/or esteemed" (I believe, just in case you missed that reference).

The legal age of drinking in Japan is (in the real world) 20. Heaven forbid our heroes engage in underage drinking!

And also… before anyone moans: Kallen doesn't know Jack's face particularly well and is used to seeing him with white hair so it's likely she'd just ignore any similarities in their appearance. And this is Code Geass … so you should suspend your disbelief on disguises a little…

Finally I was able to get to Rivalz a bit more.

Next up: Some Shirley content! And what will Jack find in the data on Kingsley?