Episode 6: The strongest cat in the world
Kallen wanted to know why Suzaku was at the school. She didn't care how nice Suzaku seemed at times, he was a traitor. He made his choice. She didn't care if her cover is blown but if Lelouch is in danger, she hopes her on-screen self guts him. To her Lelouch represents the most important thing: Hope.
Kaguya, on the other hand, was glad Suzaku was at school. When he was not fighting for Britannia, he was actually bearable. How great would it be if he became a normal student with no part in the war? Even if that is not the case, as long as he doesn't betray Lelouch on-screen, it means his loyalty to Britannia is not absolute. There is hope for him yet.
With hope in their hearts, they began the next episode.
It begins with the emperor standing in some mysterious ruin when a officer comes to report to him.
"What is that place?" Euphemia wondered. It didn't look like a place from homeland.
"It looks like... it is in the sky?" Kaguya observed doubtfully. After all, it didn't look like some ship.
C2 felt pleased at holding all the answers but not sharing any.
"The remains have arrived, Your Majesty."
"I was just conversing with Clovis actually." The emperor replies.
"What?!"
Understandably, that statement created an intense reaction.
"Is Clovis still alive?" Euphemia hoped.
"We saw him die," Kallen snapped, equally shaken.
"And that officer is talking about 'remains'. I think he is talking about Princr Clovis' remains," Kaguya added, completely crushing her hopes.
"Could it be...a ghost!?" Shirley shouted in fear.
As one, all eyes turned to her. Her words were driven not from logic but from normal fear of a girl her age, but it opened new doors in their minds.
"Could it be his geass?" Milly mused. "Talking to the dead, maybe controlling spirits..."
She was really getting enthusiastic about the idea discomforting the rest.
"Miss C2, is that my father's power?" Nunnally asked, wondering if he could talk to her mother too.
"No idea. As I told you, I don't know what geass he has," C2 continued to claim. "But I have never heard about that ability before."
No one was satisfied with that. More than anything, they were curious what happened to souls after death. Maybe the video will answer.
"The project must proceed without a moment's delay."
"Is he talking about code R?" Kallen questioned out loud.
Suddenly something occured to Euphemia. "If father is talking to Clovis, won't he tell him about Lelouch?"
Several people tensed but no one panicked again. By this time, they had already adapted to the idea that what happened on the screen won't affect their lives. It was only useful for reference.
Still, Kallen cursed in a low voice. "Shit, Lelouch has the worst luck."
Milly mused what to take from this and ended up with: Don't share information with soon to be dead. Ghosts can leak information.
It was amazing to her that such an outrageous sentence made perfect sense in her life now.
The stolen mask.
"Is there any chance it is not talking about Lulu's Zero mask?" Shirley pleaded someone to give an alternative but everyone turned their faces away. "Right, just checking."
"Maybe one of us found his mask and become his sidekick." Milly said. She wondered how she would react if it was her. It was one thing to plot Britannia's downfall here but she didn't know if she had the courage to do something that will endanger her family in reality.
The scene changes to Ashford Academy where many students are gossiping about Suzaku, the Eleven, and suspected terrorist.
Nina Einstein seems particularly troubled by his presence. Shirley defends him and reassures her.
Kallen made a face but wasn't surprised at the welcome Suzaku got. There was a reason she had to hide her Japanese ancestry and it wasn't just because she was secretly a rebel.
Lelouch signals Suzaku and they meet up at the rooftop secretly.
Milly raised both eyebrows. "So they have secret signals! We need it too. Secretary, put it on the to-do list."
Shirley sighed tiredly. "I am not your secretary, President. And you are the one with the list."
They recall the past. Suzaku asks about C.C. but Lelouch pretends he doesn't know her fate.
Lelouch tells Suzaku that he goes by Lelouch Lamperouge now that his former identity is dead.
Suzaku implies Euphemia enrolled him at school and he didn't know Lelouch was there.
"They really are close friends." Euphemia relished the scene. "And Suzaku really is a nice person."
She found Suzaku's personality very likeable.
Euphemia is looking at Clovis' paintings, one of them of Lelouch, Nunnally and Marianne.
Nunnally got emotional when she saw her family. Oh brother Clovis!
She couldn't help but regret his death. She wondered what Lelouch would have done if he had seen this painting before he had killed Clovis. Would his resolve shake if she were to tell him about it?
Cornelia and her forces destroy rebel groups in search of zero.
Kallen's heart clenched at the sight. Those were her people dying in the screen. Her hatred for Cornelia was overwhelming.
Kaguya was nervous. Britannians were too strong. Even with the new machines they had could they really challenge Cornelia. Was Lelouch and his geass really their only hope?
Suzaku and Nunnally have an emotional reunion. Suzaku lies about his post in the military to the siblings.
"Both of them are lying to me," Nunnally said in dissatisfaction.
"I wonder what they will do when they find out each other's secret," C.C. said in interest.
C.C. questions Lelouch about his closeness to Suzaku, someone from the military. But Lelouch brushes her off.
"Wow, Lelouch really trusts Suzaku." Milly was amazed. Lelouch wasn't one to trust easily and so openly. She felt...jealous.
Guilford clears Jeremiah of treason charges but demoted him for letting Zero go.
Suzaku asks Lelouch to keep a distance from him at school to avoid exposing himself. Lelouch gets angry at Suzaku for his self-sacrificial behavior.
"Suzaku really is a great friend," Shirley marvelled. "But there is no way Lulu is going to leave him alone."
The rest of them were not so sure. After all, Lelouch's secret would put Nunnally at risk too.
As expected Lelouch pretended not to know Suzaku much to Shirley's disappointment.
Nunnally was incensed when she saw that Suzaku was being bullied. Lelouch did nothing about it. Because of her. Yet again, she was a burden on her brother.
Ohgi informs Lelouch about Cornelia's attacks on rebel groups. He asks for help but Lelouch tells him to wait for instructions.
"Blood of the Samurai!?" Kallen couldn't believe her ears. They were one of the strongest groups and they were ruthlessly crushed!?
Kaguya had a grim frown on her face. She wanted to see how Zero would fare against the Witch.
Lelouch's idea of cutting ties with Ohgi sent Kallen into a screaming fit. "Don't you dare! He is trusting you. I knew Britannians couldn't be trusted, especially the royalty."
None of the Britannians contradicted her as she was nervous but they felt she would be eating those words soon enough. Lelouch was meant to be the rebel leader after all.
Nina admits to being scared of Suzaku to Nunnally.
Euphemia was aghast. Suzaku was a loyal soldier of Britannia and he didn't deserve this. But she wondered where Nina's fear came from. Was this really discrimination or something else...
C.C. opens the door to receive pizza not noticing a familiar cat moving into the house.
"Oh, there is the cat Suzaku and I saved earlier." Euphemia cheered up. "I am so glad it is okay."
"And what are the chances that of all the places it ended up in that house." Milly was amazed. "Is this fate or what?"
She decided not to call out C.C. for ordering pizza and endangering her identity again. The immortal girl obviously didn't care.
Nunnally calls Lelouch out for tea. The cat moves when C.C. is distracted, dons zero's mask and runs away.
Many eyes flew wide at the sight. They recalled the title of the episode but couldn't believe this was where it was going.
Milly's eyes danced in mirth. "This is so interesting!"
For a moment, she almost forgot the danger of Zero's mask leaving the room.
Nunnally and Lelouch discuss Suzaku's predicament. But Lelouch is distracted when he sees a cat wearing his mask walking out of his room.
Milly lost all restraint. "Hahahaha! This is hilarious. Look at Lelouch's expression." She pointed at the screen and descended into another laughing fit.
"President, this is not a laughing matter." Shirley tried to be the voice of reason but she was covering her mouth to smother her giggles.
In fact, all the girls were laughing.
The cat runs out of the gate and Lelouch gives chase.
"I bet you Lelouch can't catch the cat," Milly joked. But she had lost her smile. She was thinking how they would deal with the situation if someone saw that mask.
C.C. was the only one who continued to find the situation amusing. "I think he will catch the cat, eventually. Or his little rebellion will be over before it starts."
Lelouch chases after the cat out of a window vowing not to be ousted by a cat.
Milly lost control of her laughter again. "He really needs to exercise. How does he plan to defeat Britannia if he can't defeat a cat."
Shirley was biting her nails in worry. "Madam President, aren't you worried?"
Milly shrugged. "Nothing I can do about it. So I better enjoy myself. Provide entertainment to me Lelouch, I command you!"
Her dramatic laughter brought life back to the room. Everyone relaxed, willing to enjoy Lelouch's cat chase before it goes to south.
C.C. decides not to help Lelouch with the cat as he had told her not to leave the room.
Kaguya glanced at her in amusement. "Why does it feel like you are not helping him because of the pizza rather than his orders."
"Pizza is a heavenly food," C.C. said matter-of-factly.
Nunnally shares with the student council that Lelouch had something important stolen by a cat.
Nunnally doesn't know it is the mask so her friends guess that it must be something embarrassing. So, obviously they decided to get their hands on it before Lelouch.
Milly knew where this was going and tried to find mirth in it. It was very hard. If Lelouch got caught because of his carelessness, it would be funny. But if it was due to her, she'd feel guilty.
Shirley was relieved that she wasn't involved in this.
Lelouch wishes Ohgi and his pals were around to help him deal with the enemy: the cat.
He even ponders seeking help from Kallen before rejecting the idea.
Kallen rolled her eyes. "As if I will help you with anything without knowing your reasons."
She was trying to pretend she wasn't finding Lelouch's situation hilarious but the way it was edited, she couldn't take it seriously.
Many students see the mask and Lelouch has to use his geass to make them forget.
Milly breathed out in relief. "I almost forgot about his geass. It's okay, now. We can enjoy this fully. Even if he is exposed, Lelouch will take care of it."
Everyone completely relaxed. They chose to forget that there were some people in the school who were already immune to Lelouch's powers.
To make matters worse, Milly makes an announcement for cat hunt.
Whoever brings the cat to her will get a prize: a kiss from a member of student council of their choosing.
"Madam President!" Shirley protested. "This is completely acceptable. You can't use members like this."
"I never said you have to kiss on the lips, Shirley." Milly said craftily. "Besides, what if Lulu catches the cat and asks for a kiss from you."
Shirley immediately shut up, her face red as her mind wandered off.
Kallen realises she is on the prize list too, which is affirmed by her creepy stalkers. They declare that they will get a kiss from her and run for the cat. To save herself, Kallen has no choice but to join the cat hunt.
Kallen shuddered at the thought of her losing her first kiss like this, especially to one of those creeps. "I am having second thoughts about joining the student council."
Shirley sympathized with her. If it wasn't filled with her friends, she would have quit the council long ago.
"You must join, Kallen. We have the best parties." Milly hugged her neck. "I promise to deal with your stalkers if you do."
"Deal."
Clubs begin to look for the cat with great enthusiasm.
Euphemia was amazed. "Is school always like this?"
"Our school is special," Milly said with pride.
Shirley didn't think the spectacle in the screen was painting their school in the best light, actually. But Kaguya and Euphemia seemed very interested.
Lelouch, Kallen and Shirley were greatly troubled by Milly's actions. Kallen and Shirley join forces to look for the cat.
Milly cackled loudly, revelling in the Chaos she created.
Shirley and Kallen felt their bonds of friendship strengthen due to their shared misery.
"By the way, I am not offering people as prizes. You can back off in the end if you want. I can always drop you out of the council temporarily." Milly clarified to Kallen.
Nunnally tells about the cat's injured leg to Milly and mimics it's cute meow.
"Nunna, you are so cute." Euphemia rubbed her cheeks to her sister's in happiness.
Shirley and Kallen find the cat.
Kaguya hummed. "Wonder what you will do, Kallen, if you find out Zero's identity now that you have achieved a miraculous victory following him."
"I don't know." Kallen said. She was certain in Lelouch's determination to oppose Britannia but her future self has no way to be sure. Were two successful missions enough to overcome her prejudice? Besides, his statement to abandon Ohgi and the rest was still bouncing in her head. So, she wasn't sure trusting him completely was a good idea.
Just when Kallen is ready to catch the cat, Shirley stops her. She is worried that Kallen will ask Lelouch for a kiss.
Cat takes advantage of their conflict to slink away.
Kallen spluttered in embarrassment. "Shirley, I really don't see Lelouch that way. That was a misunderstanding!" She explained herself despite no need to do so.
"I know." Shirley mumbled from behind her palms. She was so mortified that she wished the sofa will swallow her whole.
"Shirley, you are so cute when you are jealous." Milly missed no chance to tease her friend.
The rest of the girls also found the scene hilarious.
Suzaku spots the cat at the roof and rushes for the stairs. Lelouch runs after him.
Kaguya sighed worriedly. "There is no way Lelouch is catching that cat before Suzaku. Their physical abilities are too far apart. He has to use his geass."
"Lelouch won't use it on Suzaku." Nunnally said with conviction.
C.C. rolled her eyes at her. "I don't know where your confidence comes from. It's obvious you don't know your brother as well as you think. But if you are right, this will be a life changing moment for the two of them."
Nunnally nervously held hands with hands with Euphemia, praying for a miracle.
Just when Suzaku is about to reach the cat, Lelouch slips and almost falls off the roof. Suzaku saves him and pulls him to safety.
There were several screams when Lelouch almost fell which turned into relieved sounds when Suzaku saved him.
"Lulu is so reckless!" Shirley gasped as terror finally left her. "Thank God for Suzaku or something could have happened to him."
Lelouch watches the cat lose his mask on top of the bell tower and is relieved. Now that the mask isn't moving around, he could retrieve it secretly. And the cat hunt will no longer affect him. He lets Suzaku take the cat and follows him after securing his mask. Most of the school is gathered under the tower, having witnessed Suzaku saving Lelouch's life.
Student council members thank him for saving one of their own.
"Now Comes the final moment. Who will Suzaku choose for his reward? I bet it's Lelouch!" Milly chuckled.
Shirley spluttered. "They are both boys!"
Milly gave her disappointed looks. "Weren't you the one who always said that love is power and love is justice? Now you want to get in the middle of true love?"
Shirley went pale. "He is not- they are not-"
Milly took pity on her and stopped. "Okay. Okay. I was just kidding."
Shirley still looked completely freaked out. Obviously, she was treating Suzaku as a strong love rival.
Lelouch admits to being Suzaku's friend publicly and requests that he joins the student council. Milly accepts the request much to the delight of the rest of the members minus Nina.
Normally, Shirley would have applauded Lelouch's actions but now that she was treating Suzaku as a rival this was only making her more nervous.
The kiss reward was delivered by Nunnally to Suzaku and Lelouch's cheeks.
There was applause in the room. Shirley finally called down but her vigilance towards Suzaku wasn't completely gone.
"See, everything turned out alright." Milly said to Kallen.
Later, all the students gather to watch the funeral of Clovis live.
Many princes and princesses attend the event. And if course the emperor.
Nunnally felt melancholy at the sight. She could guess the identities of many who she had seen before losing her sight.
Emperor Charles gives a speech. He hardly mentions Clovis. Instead, he talks about how all men are not born equals. Inequality is the truth and equality is a lie. He mocks EU's democracy and Chinese socialism while applauding Britannia's meritocracy. He believes even with Clovis dead, Britannia will continue to prosper.
"How could he say something like that on his son's funeral!" Shirley protested.
"Easily. He has always been like this." Euphemia said bitterly.
Nunnally was not surprised either. This was the man who had thrown her out to fend for herself just because she was handicapped. And her brother too for daring to defend her.
As the crowd shouted: "All hail Britannia!" fanatically, Suzaku watched in frustration, C.C. in curiosity and Lelouch in hatred.
Nunnally and Euphemia shuddered at the look on their brother's face.
"Well, he is a piece of work. The emperor, I mean. No wonder Lelouch wants to kill him." Milly sighed happily at expressing her true thoughts without fear of repercussion.
Shirley pursed her lips but didn't rebuke her. She had the same thought, actually.
"Well, there was nothing informative in this episode except for that mystical place and the emperor's ability to talk to the dead." Kaguya muttered.
"We still don't know enough about the place or the emperor's power to tell which one was responsible for his conversation with Clovis," Euphemia added.
"Apart from the slight tension, this episode was mostly entertaining. Let's see how the next one goes."
Milly pointed the remote at the TV.