Interlude 28: Bad Moon Rising
"Man, this is the life. Sipping a beer, smoking a blunt, chillin like a boss."
I mean, not the greatest reason for why I got time to chillax and get fucked up, but I'll take what I can get.
It's been a few days since the boss man went and got his crazy ass beat the fuck up again trying to kill his uncle. And hooooly shit, did his harem get pissed the fuck off at him for it!
That shit was funny, yo. Watching him cringe and duck as everybody laid into him like mako tearing up a school of maguro. All with Mrs. Zero sitting to the side with a shark grin on her face, stuffing herself with pizza.
Thank fuck I ain't ever gettin' married. No way bro. Tamaki Shinichiro is a bachelor fo' life!
So afta' everybody got done tearin' the boss man a new asshole, we been on R&R and fixing shit up. Given the shit Orange said happened, can't say we didn't earn it. Fucking cyborgs, flying oranges, evil midgets, and a high speed train duel? Fuuuuuck that bullshit.
"Yo, Tamaki. Got a min?"
Huh?
My head turns to see my blue haired bro…fuck, Rivalz! That's his name. Rivalz, standing there, waving, wearing a tanktop and cargo pants and looking tired. Shit, ain't talked to him in a min.
"Hell yeah bro. I got a few six packs and blunts. My ass ain't going nowhere today," I loudly proclaim as I wave at him to come over.
Heaving a sigh of relief, he walks over and sits down next to me as we both watch the clouds drift overhead and the sun slowly begin to set from the upper deck of the Arcadia. Normally, anybody sitting here would get splattered by knightmares taking off from the catapult. But right now, ship's grounded for resupply and upkeep.
Hence my happy ass commandeering the best spot to watch the sunset and get stoned the fuck out.
"So what's happening? Did Mrs. Zero tell everyone to stop pounding the boss man into mochi paste?" I ask with a snicker as Rivalz almost spit takes his beer, stifling a laugh.
Wiping his lip as he tries not to laugh, "Haha, oh man. Even if he's my best friend, he kinda deserved that. And yeah, though it was Rakshata kicking everyone out to let him rest. She and Bartley wanted their turn to tear into him as they fixed him up. Prognosis is that he'll be back to normal in a week or less. Heard he's meeting the Tianzi tomorrow or the day after. No clue what that's about."
Tianzi? Who the fuck is that?
I raise an eyebrow as I take a pull of my beer, then turn to look at him, "Remind me who that is again. I don't speak that chinese shit, bro. Been hard enough learnin' this english crap."
Big ups to the boss man and Ohgi. Mighta hated it at the time, but learning how to speak Brit made my job as black market dude soooo much fucking easier. Yeah, I might sound like a Kansai hick or whatever the brit version is, but at least I know when some jackass is trying to screw me.
….Shit. I miss Osaka. Wish we could go back soon. Tokyo was aight, but Osaka is my home turf, it's where I grew up befo' I met Ohgi and Naoto. Ain't had Takoyaki, or Okonomiyaki, or even good Yakiniku in fucking years.
Bro Rivalz gives me a flat look as he palms his face, "The little albino girl? The one Lelouch and Jeremiah risked their necks to get out a couple days ago? The ruler of the chinese federation? How do you not know this, seriously?"
Shrugging as I take another pull of beer before belching, "I dunno. Ain't my job to know that shit. Thought she was somebody's kid we took in cause China is fucked up."
My buddy pauses before he says something, thinking for a minute.
"Well…that's not exactly wrong. I guess you could say she's kinda symbolic of how bad this country is. You know she's never left the Forbidden City of Luoyang since she was born?"
Wait, fo' real? "Man, that's fucked up, bro. Hope somebody's ass got wasted for that bullshit."
I ain't the havin' kids type. Any chick asking me to be a daddy got their head screwed on wrong. But even so, ain't no way I'd ever treat a kid like that. Shit's dead wrong, yo.
"Kewel, the cyborg, got to them already. Oh, don't go around badmouthing him by the way. Apparently he was a friend of Jeremiah's and he took it pretty hard when he died. Oh fuck, I didn't even tell you the craziest thing I heard before this latest uproar," Rivalz exclaims as he sits up, putting his beer down.
What kinda bullshit is going on now? Tamaki Shinichiro has only so much tolerance for weird shit on his weird shit-o-meter.
Taking my wave of a beer as an ok, Rivalz takes a deep breath before speaking.
"Ok, so…you can't talk about this. Like, to anyone outside the command staff."
Snorting as I toss my empty beer in a pile behind me, "Pshh. So what else is new? Half the shit you guys tell me I don't get, and the other half even a dumbass like me knows better than to say anything about."
Fuck, that came out wrong. Lemme try again.
"What I mean is..look, I ain't the smartest guy around. But don't think I don't get that you guys are trusting me with some heavy shit. I got yo back, bro," I proclaim, holding a fist up, which Rivalz bumps in a gesture of brohood.
Smiling as he nods, "Thanks man. That means a lot. So..you know Lulu's mom?"
His mama? Oh shit, the Flash, right?
"Yeah, she was the Flash, big shot Brit ace. Got killed almost ten years ago."
Ha! I can remember shit occasionally! Take that, 'weed is bad for your memory' health ads!
"Well…turns out she's not exactly dead-dead."
…Da fuck? How the hell do you pull that off?
"Huh?" "Geass bullshit."
Ohhh. Yeah, that it do. Fucking geass. I kinda get why the boss man hates it so much. God damn magic eyeballs, makin' people act like foos and asshats.
"Apparently her soul jumped into somebody else the night her body died. So she's been hanging in that person for years now. Kallen got to meet her when she was captured. And…let's just say Lulu got his crazy from both sides of the family," he notes with a grimace as he opens another beer.
All I gotta say is thank the Kami that my relatives ain't even a quarter as crazy as the Boss Man's. If I hadta deal with that shit, I'd be batshit too.
"...Fuck. That is heavy, bro. How the boss man taking it?"
Bro Rivalz takes out a J, taking a deep toke, blowing a cloud up before answering.
"So, he already knew thanks to CC. But Nunnally? Yeah. She didn't take it well when she found out."
….."ちくしょ。" (Fuck.)
Nodding in sympathy, he keeps going, "They had a big fight about it before all this happened. I heard afterwards Milly got them to talk to each other and stop being dicks. Last I saw, she took a nap next to him in the hospital room. Totally adorable, your teeth would have rotted from diabetes at how sweet it looked," he finishes with a cheesy grin as he taps ash out from his J.
Aww. Now that's the kinda shit that makes your heart go doki doki.
"おい！ たまき！どこか？！" (Oi! Tamaki! Where are you?!")
Aw man! It's my day off, fuck off! I said I ain't movin', and I mean it!
As I turn around to flip the bird and start cussin' some jackass out, the words die on my lips faster than Mrs Zero goes through pizzas. 'Cause standing there, looking ticked is Kallen in sweat pants and a sports bra.
"Uhh..sup?"
Crossing her arms, my buddy's lil sister, and dang it is hard to think about how she used to be before all this war shit happened, starts talking, "There's a supply chain issue for the gears used in the Akatsuki landspinners. The mechanics are complaining that they're wrong kind and fucking up the gear ratio. Where the hell have you have been?"
Rolling my eyes at her, my mouth starts moving before I start thinking, "Aw, lay off. Ain't my problem right now."
Ok mouth? We gotta talk. 'Cause that? That was some stupid ass shit.
Case in motherfucking point: Kallen growls and hauls me up by my sleeveless shirt with one arm. Shiiiiiet. She's been working out, and I'm 'bout ta be on the wrong side of a knuckle sandwich.
"What the fuck Tamaki?! If the gear ratio is fucked up, the landspinners could get jammed and wreck the drive system for the legs! If the knightmare doesn't have an air glide system, it would be a sitting duck! AND YOU THINK THAT'S SOMEHOW NOT YOUR PROBLEM AS HEAD OF PROCUREMENT?! GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY NOT!"
"Um..'cause it's my day off. I told my assistant Akari to handle it or ask Ohgi who could take over," I reveal, letting out a beer belch at the end with a sheepish grin.
Doooooon't laugh, motherfucker. Do not fucking laugh. Even if Kallen getting red faced and embarrassed like back when she was a kid is hella funny. You ain't the Boss Man. He can get away with that shit, you can't.
"Err, ええと。。それで。。" (Well, that is..) she stammers as she gently puts me back down, the urge to laugh like a mountain ape throwing pinecones at hikers getting awwwfully tempting right now.
Grinning like a dipshit prick, Rivalz chimes in, "Well gee Kallen, that almost sounds like you dun goofed and you owe my man here an apology, don'tcha think? After all, you were nobility at one point, right?"
I gotta be missing something here, 'cause something flew over my head there. Whatever it was, Kallen somehow got even more embarrassed. She's even looking away n' shit!
"God damnit Rivalz…Fine. ほんとに すみません、たまき。" (I'm very sorry, Tamaki.) she declares with a low bow, more than my ass ever got from her. Guess she really has changed.
Time was, she'd have just punched me and run off in a huff. Guess the Boss Man is good for her.
"きにしないで。" (Don't worry about it.) I mumble, still kinda surprised that I'm not getting punched. I mean, it's kind of a thing that happens. Hell, ain't like I don't earn it sometimes. My free hand pulls out a beer, offering it to her to show I ain't mad about it.
Face still flushed, she takes the beer, twisting the cap off and taking a deep pull off the bottle before taking a breath and not responding.
To which my bro Rivalz with more kintama than I got asks with that same smarmy grin, "So, you doing ok? And do I need to tell Lulu to lay off being a dumbass for five minutes?"
Ohhh. I get it. She ain't mad at me, she mad that the Boss Man being…well, the Boss Man. I think? I dunno, I ain't never understood what women be thinking.
"Fuck off Rivalz. And no, it's not him. I already chewed his smug egotistical pretty boy ass out for leaving me behind and almost getting killed AGAIN," she barks out brusquely as she takes another pull of her beer, finishing it off.
I scratch the back of my head, "So if it ain't the Boss Man, and I guess not Mrs. Zero, then why you mad? I ain't even done nuthin' today to get hit for."
..Something ain't right. Kallen's always running hot and shining like some kinda comet. Right now, it ain't like that. She don't get quiet and sullen normally.
Some kind of clicking sound makes me turn my head to see Rivalz lighting up a cigarette and taking a drag before lying back on the deck, "Kallen, what's bothering you? You're kinda on edge right now, and it's kinda a buzzkill. I was hanging out with Tamaki here, and you come in headup and mad about something that's not even his fault. And then you tell me to fuck off because…what? Seriously, what did I do?"
Kallen ducks her head, muttering something. Couldn't hear shit.
"Yo, what was that? Couldn't hear ya-" "I SAID I'M SCARED, OK!? HAPPY NOW?!" she screams at us as my chair falls over from my surprise. Like to see anybody not get knocked over by the lungs on that girl, damn man.
Rivalz blows a smoke cloud up from his mouth, pulling out a cigar from a pack and holding it up to her. Kallen's face scrunches up in annoyance before she sighs and grabs one out, holding her hand out for a lighter.
"If you don't wanna talk about it…" Rivalz starts saying, trailing off before she lights up the cigarette. Which immediately results in her coughing her lungs out as she doubles over.
"Ack! How do you-?!" *cough* "How the fuck do you like this?!" *cough*
"Buwahahahahaha! Didn't think you were that big a lightweight, Kallen!" I snigger, pointing at how fucking ridiculous she looks right now. Probably gonna get clobbered for it, but that shit right there? That's comedy gold, bro!
Shit, you think she'd be used to that with how much Boss Man smokes.
Afta 'bout a minute of coughing, she sits on her haunches, catching her breath and lookin' like she wants to be anywhere but here.
"...If I tell you this, don't laugh or make fun of me for it. Or I swear I'll throw both you smartasses overboard," she grumbles out, a pout on her face that seriously gets me with some nostalgia kinda vibes.
I pass her another beer, holding mine up, "Kallen-chan, ya know I go way back with Na-bro and Ohgi, right? I ain't gonna mock ya if yer being serious-like. 'Cause I kinda know better 'bout this shit now, ya know?"
Aw hell naw, don't gimme that look like you don't buy what I said. I ain't that fucking stupid no more!
"When did you of all people get emotionally insightful?" she notes, clinking her beer against mine as I let a grin bigger than Tokyo tower out on my face.
"Since I pulled your future hubby out of his knightmare afta we got our asses pounded in Tokyo last time. AND saved his life too! You go through some real shit, it makes you think and realize how to not be a dumbass sometimes. Some people might call me 紅いアホ, but I ain't some 'frainer dipshit that don't know-...the fuck did I do now?" I ask with a puzzled look at the stricken face she's making at me. Seriously, what? (Red retard)
"...My mother. She..was a refrain addict."
…Aw fuck. Here I go mouthing off 'bout how smart I been getting, and then prove myself a straight up dumbass right again.
Sighing as I hang my head and hold out an empty bottle to her, I give her the straight up, "Go on. Talkin' shit 'bout your okaa-san is kinda shitty and fucked, even for someone like me. So go ahead, take a swing."
'Sides, Na-bro would probably have decked me straight out fo' that back in the day. Hell, surprised Kallen didn't just do it.
"Tamaki…no. I'm not hitting you for something you didn't know. And as much as you annoy the hell out of me at times..Lelouch likes you and thinks you're a decent guy, so does onii-chan. I'm sure Okaa-san would remember you if you stopped by and saw her," she sighs out, taking a pull from her beer, leaving me holding this bottle like a dipshit.
Fuuuck. That's right, her okaa-san is around, ain't she? I gotta 'pologize fer letting Na-bro down back in the day.
Rivalz chimes in as he lights up another cigarette, "So it's not your mom, and it's not Lelouch, what's on your mind?"
"...Bradley."
Fuck. Room just got more dead than that one fucker Mrs. Zero ripped up awhile ago.
"Jeeeeeze, you ok?" Rivalz says after a moment, rubbing her shoulder while I sit there wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do here. I ain't no headshrinker or relationship guy.
Kallen rubs Rivalz's hand with her own before tossing the empty beer bottle back in the trash pile behind us, "Tamaki, hand me another beer. If I'm gonna talk about this, fuck being sober."
Letting out a whoop, I toss her a bottle and then raise mine up, "Hell yeah! Fuck sobriety! Gettin' fucked up is where it's at! World gone crazy, ain't no need to act all civilized like out here!"
Rolling yer eyes don't make what I said not true, Kallen. Trust ya boy Tamaki on this one.
Letting out a belch with a slight flush on her face, she looks up at the colors of the evening sky, in a kinda quiet tone that honestly, I ain't heard from her before now, "I'm scared because I have to face the monster that did this to me. And..I'm terrified that I'll freeze up, or that he'll get away because I couldn't pull the trigger on him."
Was that me letting out a gulp? Naaaah, couldn't be. Big Man Tamaki don't get freaked out. Anybody who say otherwise is eating knuckles for lunch.
"And then there's the other half. What I likely have to do before I can face him. I have to fight and hold off Suzaku if he shows up."
Suzaku? Heard the Boss Man say he wanted him back and that the Brits did something to him.
"Man, got more drama up in here than a 大河ドラマ. (Taiga Drama)," I whine, taking a toke of my own joint. Gotta pity anyone trying to figure this mess out.
"A what? I don't know what you said. Can you explain that one?" Rivalz asks, scratching his head in confusion.
Kallen responds before I can say anything. "Taiga Drama. Big River drama. It's a thing Japan used to do, the Nihon Hoso Kyokai, our national broadcasting company, used to do these big year long drama series every year. Okaa-san used to watch them all the time, I never got into it. It's like a soap opera, just more high class and expensive."
She then raises an eyebrow at me quizzically, "Since when did you watch those?"
Hey! I got things I like besides gettin' fucked up n' gettin' up to ill shit!
"Come on, even I got things I think about or miss from back in the old days! Stop hasslin' me and treatin' me like I'm some kinda gofer or retard!" I yell out, throwing a beer bottle to the side, hearing it shatter into glass as I sink down in my chair, sulking at all this hatin' being thrown my way.
"Just cause I don't got no big drama story behind me, or no super powers, or all that other shit, don't mean I ain't important somehow. Fuckin' hater."
Hey wait a min. This is my day off and my drinking spot. Why am I letting her do shit here?
"Time the fuck…out?" I start to work up a good mad, only to see her holding her mouth and giggling…at something? Did she get too high or somethin'?
"Hahahahaha."
My gaze glances over to the joint in my other hand, wondering what the fuck I'm smokin' now, cause if it got Kallen's uptight ass to lighten up…
My main man is looking like he's wondering the same, and wondering if whatever crazy ass bullshit that Boss Man got is contagious, "Umm, Kallen? You ok? Did you hit your head during the last battle? I'm sure we can get you a nice comfy bed next to Le-"
And she's waving him off, "Hahaha, no no. I just..I was laughing at what Tamaki said. I was taking both of you for granted. And that was seriously cunty of me. I'm sorry for telling you fuck off Rivalz, and I'm sorry for all the times I hit you Tamaki. It was a cunt move, and..fuck, I need to be better than that. I'm the one who's supposed to hold Lulu's crazy ass and CC's perfect fat ass in check, so me punching Tamaki all the time..it's…well..unbecoming I guess is the word."
Ok, I'm officially confused and have no fucking idea what's going on…..OH SHIT!
"FUCK! SHE'S ON THAT GEASS SHIT! RUN LIL' BRO! I'LL HOLD HER OFF!" I howl as I scramble to get to my feet so I can-!
"Tamaki, stand the fuck down NOW. That's an order from the Red Queen, Champion of Zero," Kallen barks out in a tone that immediately causes me to stand and salute.
"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" …wait. Da fuck am I doing?
Bro Rivalz meanwhile has been sitting on his ass and looking thoughtful like he's figured some shit out. Hell if I know what though.
"So just to be clear, we can bring you to Jeremiah or CC after this to make sure you're not geassed, rig-?" "God damnit, really?! I can't go one time with trying to act better without both you assholes thinking someone geassed me?! Fuck both of you!" she squawks in indignation, throwing her hands up in frustration. Ok, now I believe that's her.
Kallen stands up, draining out the last of her beer and tossing in the pile before she starts talking, "Look, I'm fucking scared of fighting Bradley, and of having to fight Suzaku, who actually has been geassed into a god damn killing machine, without killing his deluded ass. But that doesn't mean I get to be a bitch and take it out on everybody else. So excuse me for finding Tamaki ranting about how ridiculous this is, to be funny and looking for something, anything to take some of the pressure off, ok?"
"Umm, so..just, don't? I mean, you're the Red Queen. I'm just a punk ass from Osaka. I ain't no big deal like you are. So Suzaku is fucked in the head. Big whup. Boss Man got a plan, right?"
I mean, it's the Boss Man. He's always got something. It's when he don't have a plan like last time in Tokyo, that we're fucked harder than a 20 yen bitch in the red light district.
Kallen snorts, "Yeah, he's got a plan. As soon as he's fixed up, we're getting ready to mobilize. And the reason I'm preparing for Suzaku, is because Lulu is going to make sure he knows we're coming, which given how he was like last time I saw him? He'll come running like a kappa chasing a cucumber."
Shiiiiieeet. Fighting the White Death? Fuck the hell no. Thank Kami it ain't my ass going out there.
The other guy in this trio ashes his cigarette, shrugging, "You beat Cornelia when you were waaaay more off and screwed up than you are now. Think of it this way. You might be scared of fucking up out there. Which makes sense. But those guys in Japan? They're gonna be fucking terrified. Because Zero is back. And hell, imagine Bradley's face when you show up to scare the piss out of him."
Running a hand through her hair as she looks up, gotta admit, Kallen looks…different. I dunno, I ain't got the words for it. But something feels new. Or I'm just high. Could be that.
"...Thanks Rivalz. And thanks Tamaki. I'm still kinda scared. But I think-no. I got a good feeling it'll be ok. Feels like it's gonna be better than I thought tonight. Hey Tamaki?"
Huh?
"Can I take one of your six packs? I got somebody I want to spend some time with right now," she asks shyly, looking kinda bashful and schoolgirl like.
Ain't no big deal with me. Although...probably gonna regret this, but fuck it, might as well ask.
"No problem Kallen. So long as you tell who it is," I announce with a shit eating grin as she sputters and squirms at the question. Man, I wish I had a camera right now. Na-bro and Ohgi would laugh their asses off at this shit right here.
Lil bro blue sparks up another cigarette as he puts his hand on his chin, "Well, kind of a long list to figure out who it might be. Probably not Lulu&CC. No way the docs let him drink alcohol. And she's busy doing his job while he's laid up. Kaguya's not a beer drinker, I think? That leaves…I dunno, you tell us, Kallen?"
Swear to Kami, Na-bro is gonna be sore he missed this.
"Arghhh! Fine! It's Milly! Now gimme that!" she barks out as her hand snatches the six pack and stalks off in a huff, leaving Bro-Rivalz and me to look at each other, and laugh like demented loons.
"Buwahahahahahaha!" "Hehehehehehehehehe!"
This, this right here? This is the good shit.
If I somehow met me from….fucking a, has it really only been a year? Feels like way longer. If I somehow met me from like a year ago, I'da punched my retarded ass out and told me what a dumbass we are. …Fuck, this is making my head hurt figuring that out. Time to toss a few back and get more fucked up!
"So how much longer till we go take Japan back? Not that this ain't nice, but well…I kinda miss home, ya know?" I whisper in a reminiscing kinda voice, the kind where you get to thinking 'bout stuff from long ago.
My blue haired buddy doesn't say anything for like a minute, letting cigarette smoke float to the sky. Ain't like we're not scared. Even badass bitches like Kallen or Mrs. Zero, or certified asskickers like The Boss Man get scared.
"I dunno. Kinda surprised we're not rushing now. I guess Lelouch is waiting for something, hell if I know what. It's weird, dude. The quiet times like this kinda get me all nervous like I smoked some bad weed. And I'm not even out there fighting. You ever felt that way, Tamaki?"
ちくしょ。 (Shit.)
Belching to the open sky, I crack open another beer first. Gotta admit, Kallen had the right idea, fuck being sober.
"So..I wanna say you get used to it. But fuck if I know how some guys do that. Guys like Tohdoh do that samurai discipline shit, guys like you n' me? We get fucked up. And guys like Zero just fuck," I say, imply a whole lot with wiggling eyebrows. Which sets both of us laughing again.
Taking another toke, I let the weed lift me up, taking my worries, n' fear of what's comin' and all the nerves some other place. Not today, that shit ain't on me right now. Let some other jackass figure out this shit.
"Here's to the Black fucking Knights. To the pimp ass badass that's our Boss Man. To Kallen's tsundere ace ass. To my good buddies Na-Bro, Ohgi, and hell, lil bro Rivalz. Ain't nobody knows what's comin' for us. But we got the biggest bunch of stone cold crazy ass wild motherfuckers on the planet on our side. Da fuck do those guys 'oer there have, huh? Yeah, that's right. Fucking nothing. Tenka Fubu, bitch," I finish, nodding solemnly, looking like a real G…oh shitttttt!
Ugh…gah. Fuuuuuck. Really shoulda taken some water with all that beer. At least I hurled off the side of the ship.
"You ok, man?" "Yeah, yeah. Jus' lemme chug some water for a minute, then we can get back to chillin'," I mutter, waving him off as my clearly fucked up body slumps back in the chair, looking at the stars starting to come out.
Think it'd matter if I wished on a star? That shit'll work out? That it ain't gonna be like last time…
Nahhh. Pull it together, Tamaki. Quit that bitch talk. Boss Man ain't gonna fuck up twice…right?
Hell naw. That's what a real G would say. And Shinichiro Tamaki is always a real G.
Today's my day off. And I'm gonna enjoy it. 'Cause hell if I know when I'm gettin' anotha one any time soon…
I see the bad moon a-risin'
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see bad times today
Don't go around tonight
Well it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowin'
I know the end is comin' soon
I fear rivers over flowin'
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Don't go around tonight
Well it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise, alright
Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
Well don't go around tonight
Well it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Don't come around tonight
Well it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
End of Interlude.