The evening slowly moved forward, with Fushimi hard at work on his computer, and Lelouch growing bored. He had started skimming some of the books Fushimi had, but before long his hunger took precedence.
"Am I going to be confined to this room for the duration of my stay? Or am I allowed to leave and find food? No doubt a building like this has its own kitchen, right?"
"Yes. You'll find whatever you need down there. If you're lucky, Kamo will be there."
"Kamo?"
"He used to own a restaurant or something before the Captain recruited him."
Lelouch stared at the back side of Fushimi, who still refused to look away from his computer. "And you don't think it would be suspicious of me to wander alone?"
Groaning, Fushimi finally looked back at him. "You're going to make me show you, aren't you?"
"If you'd rather do it by your own volition," Lelouch chuckled. "Or you can see the extent of my power firsthand."
"No, I'll do it…" Fushimi said as he pushed himself up from his chair.
As Lelouch walked towards the door, he heard a soft mumble from Fushimi behind him. "I don't get paid enough for this… didn't ask to be babysitter."
He is still strange. His lack of motivation is curious. It makes me wonder how he actually handles in a combat situation. If things take longer than I hope for… Maybe I'll get lucky…
After being led down another series of hallways, they entered an eating area. There was a kitchen area, no doubt stocked with plenty of food, and a table with a couple of Scepter 4 men at it. One of them was even the man who had questioned him earlier. That man had straight, light brown hair while the other had wavy reddish hair.
"Hey, Fushimi. I see the Captain has you monitoring the Strain?" the red headed young man asked.
"Yes," Fushimi answered curtly.
"And he's just following you around?" the other asked.
"He was hungry, and I needed to grab a new soda," Fushimi muttered before going to the fridge.
"I can assume both of you haven't been given a report on me yet," Lelouch asked as he approached the table.
"If the Captain plans to send it out, I haven't seen anything yet. Oh! I'm Andy Dōmyōji! Nice to meet you!"
"And I'm Yūjirō Benzai, though I'm not sure how much you remember me from before."
"I can recall a little, but that's behind us now. I am Lelouch Lamperouge."
"Wow, fancy name there," Dōmyōji stated. "So, you said you were hungry? Help yourself to what's in the kitchen. There's plenty of stuff to choose from."
Lelouch nodded in thanks before walking into the kitchen area to see what foods were available.
"So Lamperouge," Benzai started to say. "I know we'll get the report from the Captain later on, but can you tell me… how does your power actually work?"
"I simply look my target in the eye and state a command, and whatever it is they will follow through."
"Ah, so that's how you were able to make that cop leave you alone and he agreed so easily."
So, he had been spying on me since then… maybe even longer given what Munakata told me, It seems strange for them to be asking, as if it is natural… but to them, it is natural. There are those Strains that run around with powers. What I have is nothing out of the ordinary to them, which makes it all the weirder for me, considering back home I have to keep it such a tight-lipped secret for the sake of everyone.
"Yes, you would be correct. That is all there is to it."
Benzai raised an eyebrow. "Really? Is it that simple?"
"And it could be anything? Could we see it?" Dōmyōji asked curiously.
Lelouch stopped looking though the fridge and returned to the table. Fushimi was now sitting down at the far end from the rest of them, drinking a soda quietly,
"Would it really be wise to ask me to do a demonstration without your boss present?" Lelouch asked.
Dōmyōji sighed. "I guess… but it could just be something small right? Oh! Hey, if it can be anything, does that mean you could make Fushimi eat vegetables?"
Benzai snorted. "That would be quite the feat."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow curiously, giving a glance to Fushimi. "It would be nothing for me. All I would need is to give the command and he would do it."
A throwing knife was suddenly lodged in the middle of the table between him and the two other Scepter 4 members.
"I would kindly ask you to not force me against my will to eat vegetables," Saruhiko hissed.
"Are vegetables that much of an issue for you?" Lelouch laughed. "I could easily make it not a problem.
"It would help better Fushimi's diet," Dōmyōji snorted.
Fushimi pulled out another knife miraculously from his sleeve. He twirled it effortlessly between his fingers. "Keep talking like that and let's see what I do of my own will next."
Chuckling nervously Dōmyōji held his hands up. "Okay, Fushimi is getting scary. We'll stop, okay?"
"Too bad, it would have been interesting to see," Benzai commented.
If I were to do a demonstration, that would mean my geass would already be used on either one of them or even both. If I had to make an escape at some point and needed to use my geass on any of these Scepter 4 workers, then they would no longer be affected. But that is something I can't let them know about…
"Perhaps your boss will want a demonstration at some point, maybe then you can see what my power is capable of," Lelouch mused as he walked back into the kitchen. He finally started to gather up what ingredients he needed to make himself a simple meal.
"Can we at least ask some questions?"
"That depends, what do you intend on asking?"
"I don't know, it's not every day you meet such a unique Strain that the Captain actually will let him walk around Scepter 4. Most dangerous Strains end up being imprisoned if they resist help from us," Dōmyōji stated.
"Well, I guess I should start with the fact that I am not from this world at all. From what we have assumed, I come from a different dimension."
He watched as the two Scepter 4 members stared in awe. Fushimi however, having heard it before, seemed less interested.
"Really? Another dimension?" That sounds cool!" Dōmyōji stated.
"That would explain such a strange name," Benzai added.
As Lelouch cut up some fruit to add to a quick makeshift salad, he let the curiosity sink in. As he approached the table once the food was done, he could already see the questions forming in the eyes of Dōmyōji and Benzai.
"The timeline I come from though isn't one that you'd expect. The world is in a bad state where those who have power push down and abuse the weak and helpless. The Japanese aren't even allowed to call themselves that, being reduced to nothing more than a number in Britannia's eyes."
Quickly, as he expected, the curiosity and wonder in their eyes fell.
"You're serious? The world is that… grime?" Dōmyōji asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. The Britannian Empire has conquered many places in the world, labeling them with numbers, Japan included. But you don't have to worry, for once I'm back home, I have plans to take them down and change the world."
Benzai nodded. "That sounds pretty impressive. You alone think you can challenge an empire?"
Lelouch grinned. "Oh, I'm not doing it on my own. I have my resources. People who will follow me with the safe desire for a safer world. I have all that I need to win, but as you expect, you must first play slowly and steadily before making a grand move."
"Well, I hope you can do it!" Dōmyōji replied with a positive smile.
If only they knew the horrors of my world, then they would know my task is far from easy.
After that, the two let Lelouch eat in peace. It wasn't long before they excused themselves, saying that they had other work to attend to.
That just left him and Fushimi, who had started scrolling through his phone. Though, after a moment he glanced up at Lelouch.
"Do you really expect it to work?"
"Hm? Except what to work?" Lelouch asked, pretending he didn't know what Fushimi was referring to.
"You say you want to change the world, to challenge what sounds like a tyrannical dictatorship. Even if you have a group of followers, how do you expect that to work?"
Lelouch laced his fingers together, resting his arms on the table. "Strategy. I see what the Empire is doing and plan to counter strike. Slowly, I'll make the walls of that empire crumble."
"Tch, but that still doesn't say how you can do that."
Fushimi is hard to convince. As much as I don't want to reveal my true intentions, I still need to remind myself this is a different world. The people here don't exist in my world and the same goes for myself while I'm here. Perhaps… I'm curious to see if I can convince him of my cause.
Lelouch chuckled. "My goal is to take out the royal family. I'll work my way until I reach him. Charles vi Britannia himself. He is the cause of much of Japan's suffering. Once I can eliminate him, then there will be little left to fight back."
"Hm… it sounds like you have more reasons to go after him than just wanting to save the world," Fushimi asked, his eyes narrowing.
"And if I do?"
He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Merely an observational statement. I don't really understand why you'd go through so much effort. Just to try and change the world, seems like far too much work."
"And you're saying you wouldn't if you were in my position?"
Fushimi slumped back into his chair with a sigh. "I could care less about the world."
"And why is that?"
Fushimi clicked his tongue. "I'm not going to bother answering that. Just finish up eating."
Strange. Does he really not care? Though, he made a comment earlier about the world, calling it tiring. Perhaps he just has a strong indifference to the world around him. If not for wanting to give a better world for Nunnally and the need to avenge my mother's death… If not for them I could very well feel the same as Fushimi does.
As Lelouch was finishing up his food, Munakata stepped into the room. "Ah, I thought I might find you here, Mr. Lamperouge."
"Is there something that you need?"
"Yes, I was hoping that you could come with me and provide a demonstration of your ability. After reviewing the data, I think it would be important to test your powers here."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow. "And you still trust me to not use it against you?"
He can't be that careless or foolish…
"I have every precaution in place for such a matter, but I still trust that you would cooperate, considering we are trying to help you get back home."
Right, he has a point. They are my only chance of getting back home easily.
"Very well," Lelouch said as he stood up. "Where will we do this then?"
Munakata smiled. "Just follow me. And that goes for you too, Fushimi. You are required to attend as well."
The young man sighed, standing up as he shoved his phone into his pocket. "Alright…"
The three of them walked down another hallway, this time leading into a larger room. Other members of Scepter 4 were standing there, including the two that Lelouch had just met before. All of them had dark visors over their eyes, but they were all looking his way.
Awashima was standing at the opposite end of him, and Lelouch stopped just a few feet before her. Fushimi stood back, joining the ranks of his group while Munakata stood beside Awashima.
"Now, Mr. Lamperouge, I brought you here so you could provide us with a live demonstration. While we have witnessed your ability in use through Benzai's observation, I wanted to see it for myself in person. As you provide us with a demonstration, we will be able to fully observes and track the levels of your power."
"And just what will you want me to do?" Lelouch asked, crossing his arms.
He watched as Munakata adjusted his glasses, giving that same weird grin as before. "Anything that you think would be good enough to prove you have the ability to make anyone follow a command, given of course, that it isn't something that will be harmful or inappropriate. If you do decide to pull such a thing, I will have my men arrest you and you will properly be detained in one of our prison cells."
That was simple. He didn't have to give out such a dire command, especially since he would have nothing to gain from it. All he needed was something simple… perhaps even a little amusing.
"That can be arranged. Are you going to be the one I test my ability on?"
"Yes, I thought that it would be-"
"Captain! I must object!" Awashima said as she took her visor off. "I cannot trust him. He could ask you for information!"
"And what vital information would he get from me when he isn't from our world to begin with?"
"I… I'm unsure, but I cannot allow my King to put himself in this position. I will take on the task and be the one he orders to do something."
"Oh? That is quite bold of you, Miss Awashima. Are you sure? If you are worried about what Mr. Lamperouge might make me do, wouldn't you be just as concerned for yourself?"
"I will do it. Whatever it is, I will take it on before putting my King at risk?" she stated as she held out her visor to him.
Munakta took the visor and smiled a much more normal smile. "I suppose I cannot argue with that." After that he slid the visor on and waited.
Now that it was just Awashima that he could make eye contact with, he breathed in, staring her right in the eyes. "Be aware, whatever I have you do, due to its effect you will not remember what happens."
She huffed. "Understood. But, if I find that you've caused me to do something inappropriate, prepare to suffer the consequences."
Lelouch smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I won't do anything like that. But" he paused, staring her right in the eyes as he activated his geass. "Until I tell you to stop, you will follow any command I give you."
A half second later Awashima nodded. "Yes. What do you wish for me to do?"
Lelouch ignored the murmurs and gasps around him, focusing solely on the woman before him. "First, I want you to bow before me."
She nodded and gave a grand bow before him, causing more murmurs.
"Now… dance gracefully as if you were a ballerina."
As it was commanded, Awashima started to dance around the room, acting as graceful as possible. Which, much to Lelouch's surprise, she managed fairly well. Maybe having combat training helped aid in her swift and gentle movements.
He gave it a few moments before giving the command for her to return to her original spot. As much as Lelouch knew he could make this into one grand spectacle, he thought to keep it short and simple. From the whispers all around him, he knew he had proven himself enough.
"That will be all, you may stop now."
Awashima blinked and cleared her throat. "Are you going to begin?"
Now there was another series of gasps.
"She really doesn't remember!"
"Just like he said!"
Awashima's eyes widened. "Wait… You really already did it? But I don't…"
Lelouch shook his head. "I said that you would not remember what you did when under my influence. But don't worry, it wasn't anything bad."
Munakata came up beside her as he took off the visor. "Yes, Miss Awashima, it was quite impressive. And I must say, I never knew you could be so light on your feet."
The woman's face reddened as she avoided eye contact with her boss. "T-thank you, Captain."
"And with that I think that is all that we needed for a demonstration. Thank you for your time, Mr. Lamperouge. You may return to whatever it was you were doing before. As for everyone else, return to your duties as you were before."
Everyone cleared the room slowly, with Awashima giving one last concerned look towards Lelouch. After a moment she looked away, her face still red, no doubt trying to figure out what embarrassing thing she must have done. Lelouch tried not to snicker, but he wouldn't deny he was curious what her reaction would be once Munakata inevitably told her.
"So," Lelouch said as soon as it was just him and Fushimi. "I suppose there isn't much else to do for the evening?"
"Nothing that I have to do," Fushimi said with a shake of his head.
"Then I suppose it's best to call it an evening."
Together the two of them walked back to Fushimi's dorm room. There, Lelouch took up the offer to borrow some of Fushimi's spare clothes. He figured it would be better than going out to buy new clothing if he was just going to return within a day or two.
Laying down on the lower bunk, Lelouch tried to fall asleep. His mind was still racing with the fact he was in another dimension. An entire world where it was safe from the clutches of the Britannia Empire. From what it sounded like, this world was peaceful. A world without an ongoing oppressive war that riddled countless nations.
If Nunnally were here, she would probably be happy. A world where everything is peaceful…aside from those Strains, but maybe I am getting ahead of myself. After all, I've been here less than a day. How can I be so sure this world is truly peaceful? Maybe if I am here long enough, I will see that this world is no different than my own, just with different circumstances.
And another chapter done and posted woo! Thanks to the reviews so far! I am glad people are interested in my story here. And I got plenty more plans to come for this so just you guys wait!