(A/N: Lelouch has declared a formal writ of challenge to Takumi. What impact will this have on the kidnapping? Let's find out!)
Euphemia sat there in the chair, wincing as the sound of gunfire echoed around her. Takumi was effectively wasting ammunition, frustrated beyond all words that Zero had the audacity to call him out. He was shooting at birds landing on distant buildings.
"He's been doing that for the past five minutes since the broadcast. Is he gonna be okay?" Hinata asked.
"I…I don't really know," Oboro stated. "I'm more pissed that he's wasting ammo."
"Hey, better at nothing than at us," Hinata remarked, sweating.
"Better at the Britannians than at nothing," Oboro emphasized.
Click. Click. Click.
Takumi sighed. Out of ammo. He sat down, dangling his legs over the edge of the bombed out building that he was holding Euphemia on the top floor of. Oboro took this moment to walk over to him.
"You gonna be okay?"
"No, I'm not," Takumi remarked, swinging his head down and to the side. He then snapped, "Where the hell does Zero get off, calling me out like this? He should be thanking me, the cretin! I sacrificed a lot of men to get this hostage! He even said he wanted Britannia's destruction! He's a damned hypocrite is what he is!"
"Well, hopefully he'll beat the Britannians to this place and we'll have a chance to ask him," Oboro said. She sat down next to Takumi, sticking her own legs out over the size, hands plopping into her lap. The moon gazed down on both of them. She stared up at the stars. "You know…I told Lord Ryoma I would stop you from doing something completely crazy. Yet I was the one who advised we kill Princess Euphemia in the first place. You're the one who spared her."
"You didn't have to follow me to the grave, Oboro," Takumi said, turning his head away.
"It was my choice. You're my liege. You took me, the orphan of a seamstress and a carpenter, and you had Kyoto House take me in. You believed in me, a shy, shivering girl that only knew hate and fear, and you gave me a purpose."
Takumi turned his head towards her. "Because I saw something in your eyes when we found you, a deep-seated hate for Britannia, something I could get behind, and…also…the will to live."
Oboro smiled. Takumi blushed.
Euphemia smiled, unbeknownst to her captors. Even if she hated them, hearing them talk so earnestly about their past, she could see the romance blossoming under the stars.
"Lord Takumi, I…"
Oboro was interrupted by the military radio Takumi had set down to communicate with his troops. Frustrated, she bit back her lip as Takumi went to answer it.
"Yeah?" He answered.
"Sir, Zero is coming. Do we shoot or let him pass?" One of his men radioed.
"Depends, I need details, soldier," Takumi told him.
"He's with your sisters, sir. Lady Sakura and Lady Hinoka are both accompanying him. And he's just…walking straight through here."
"He brought Hinoka and Sakura?!" Takumi snapped.
"Unquestionably. They're both flanking him. Orders, sir?"
Takumi winced, sweating. Zero…you coward. "Don't shoot. Let him find his own way here. Disable the mines if my sisters get too close. I don't want them getting hurt trying to take Zero down."
"Understood," The soldier responded and then the radio went quiet.
"Trouble?" Hinata asked.
"Zero brought my sisters, the bastard," Takumi grumbled. "He's effectively using them as shields so he can get straight here."
"What should we do?" Oboro asked.
Takumi was quiet for a while. "We don't yield. Reports haven't come in about any other soldiers in the area, so if it's just Hinoka, Sakura and Zero, we'll see what he's offering."
"Hey, we're not gonna…kill Zero, are we? Even our own allies would have our heads for that," Hinata pointed out.
"Just because we can't kill him doesn't mean we can't prove we don't need him. We'll figure it out. Be ready. Take rations and take two minutes of shut eye, not a second more. Zero's not getting to Euphemia without a fight, verbal or otherwise."
"You got it!"
"Understood." Hinata and Oboro stated at the same time.
Zero, Takumi thought, hissing under his breath.
As Zero made his way through the ghetto under cover of darkness, taking great care not to trip any nearby explosives that his strategic mind could either see or predict, he recalled how he got himself this far.
Earlier…
"Ah, Zero. We just saw your broadcast," Azama commented as Zero walked into the bunker. "A fine performance indeed."
Zero ignored the bushy haired man and directly addressed Hinoka from across the room. "Lady Hinoka, your younger brother has all but tied the noose around his own neck. Princess Camilla is unlikely to show him mercy if we allow her to go in there with a full military escort. I could sense your guilt when we spoke. If you wish to keep your brother alive, come with me."
"You…you want me to…"
"Takumi is unlikely to wish to hear anything I have to say if I go alone, or with the entirety of the Black Knights. However, just the two of us? He may even be willing to call the whole thing off."
Hinoka nodded. "I'll go. I don't want to see Takumi get hurt."
"Excellent. Then let's depa—"
"I'll go too!"
Zero looked to the loud shout from the younger Sakura, looking, as always, like she was on the verge of tears.
"Sakura, no! Out of the question!" Hana exclaimed. "That's not even remotely close to safe!"
"He's my brother!" Sakura shouted. "What about this is unsafe for me?" she questioned.
"The part where it turns into a battlefield once Britannia arrives," Hana argued. "At least let me go with you."
"No need, Hana. If Sakura's going I'll protect her," Hinoka stated, never more serious.
"I mean, I guess," Hana remarked. "But if you're going, who's watching you?"
"I trust Zero with my life," Hinoka remarked seriously. "He got us this far, even swayed both Princess Camilla and Princess Cornelia to our cause. If the three of us go, we'll be fine."
"At least take a few of the Black Knights," Subaki lamented.
"No, we'll move faster in a small group," Zero stated. "I came only to fetch Lady Hinoka. Sakura, I'm against it, but I can't stop you from coming. But if you have the passion to do so, follow us." He could use his Geass on Sakura, but he was concerned about such a blatant, liberal use of it. Not to mention a command of "Wait here!" might be taken too literally and rob her of her free will. And for a more elaborate command, time was of the essence. Besides, she might actually prove useful, he felt.
"Y-Yes! Yes, of course!"
The two ladies quickly scrambled to follow Zero out the door. Zero let them pass by and proceeded to leave last. Right before he left, Kallen called out to him.
"Zero!"
He turned to face her.
"Good luck," she stated seriously.
"I appreciate the sentiments, Q1," Zero said as he turned to leave, and fanned out his cape. "But luck will have nothing to do with it."
"You didn't have to come, Sakura," Zero repeated the sentiment. "I only needed Hinoka." Earlier she had only insisted she was coming along. There wasn't really time to refuse her insistence.
"I…I know, but…Takumi's my brother too. I just…if there's anything I can do, I want to be there," Sakura remarked, sounding sorrowful.
"There is a high likelihood our plans may fail and you'll end up witnessing Princess Camilla executing him without due process. Knowing that, you'll still come along?"
"If she tries, I'll beg and I'll plead for my brother's life. I…I know what he did was wrong, but he's still my brother!" Sakura shouted.
Zero nodded. "Don't fall behind then," he told her, gazing in the direction of his intended march. "We're about to pass a point of no return. Any further and it's not going to be safe to head back on your own, not until the mines have all been disabled. Stay close."
"R-Right," Sakura said and followed closely behind Zero and her sister.
The rebellious figurehead and the two noblewomen navigated their way down alleyways and around buildings. Very often, Zero would stop their movements just to point out a claymore mine attached to a wall.
"Your brother has certainly rigged the place up well," Zero said after the fourteenth time this happened.
"If nothing else, Takumi has an eye for strategy," Hinoka said. "Which is why I think he could still prove useful to us. I don't want to see him get killed."
"That will be a time sensitive situation and the more mines I find, the less comfortable I am with this operation. Right now Camilla, Cornelia and the others have the perimeter surrounded," Zero said, looking down at a business issued smartphone Camilla had issued him so he could contact her. He began transmitting orders via text. "I'll have to shrink the perimeter little by little to keep Princess Camilla from getting restless and reckless, but eventually her patience will wear thin."
"Takumi," Sakura sniffed. She knew if Camilla took one look at Euphemia in Takumi's clutches. His life was probably forfeit. Sakura may have been softhearted, but she was far from naïve.
Eventually, however, after dodging the twentieth mine, Zero, Hinoka and Sakura finally could see Takumi standing atop a building, glaring down at them. He was carried a bolt-action rifle in his right hand. His left hand was balled into a fist.
"Takumi!" Hinoka shouted.
"Big brother!" Sakura called after her.
Takumi continued to glare. He then aimed his rifle at Zero. "Step away from Zero, Hinoka, Sakura."
"You're going to shoot, Zero?!" Hinoka questioned, blocking him with her arm. "Are you insane?!"
"I'm not going to kill him! I'm going to prove we don't NEED him! Zero, I order you to become my prisoner. I see your little alliance with Princess Camilla and Princess Cornelia, you hypocritical traitor!"
"Politics make strange bedfellows," Zero said. "You shouldn't rage at my choice of allies, you should be asking myself how I managed it and what they want."
"I know exactly what they want! They want Ryoma's head on a silver platter! They're not getting it!"
Zero took a step forward, intending to start talking and making his case, but Takumi fired a warning shot about ten paces in front of him.
Takumi growled.
From such a high ground vantage point, Lelouch was hardly in a position to negotiate Euphemia's safe return and if Takumi was going to shoot him on sight, he had to be very careful with his approach.
"You leave me no choice. Hinoka, like we discussed."
"Right," Hinoka said. She stood right in front of Zero. Sakura stood directly to his moonlit left side. Now, Takumi couldn't get a clear shot. He could still shoot from his left to Zero's right, but that side was frame in shadow and the way Hinoka and Sakura were positioned, they could easily pivot the minute he moved.
"Stop using my sisters as shields, you bastard!"
Zero just gazed up at Takumi, said nothing and proceeded inside the building.
"BASTARD!" Takumi shouted and ran for the staircase.
"Lord Takumi!" Oboro followed after him, leaving Hinata to watch Euphemia alone.
High up in the air, a news helicopter far beyond the reach of any rifle or Knightmare, was broadcasting the scene. Diethard Reid was on a hot mic.
"We're bringing you the hostage situation of Princess Euphemia live from Channel 6! The mysterious Zero has braved certain danger to reach Takumi Sumeragi, who has just fired a warning shot that Zero did not heed! It appears Zero intends to confront the young Eleven inside the building! We can't bring you X-ray coverage, but we will let you know as soon as we know what's going on! This is Diethard Reid with Channel 6 news!"
He then had the cameraman cut the feed.
Zero…do you really intend to bargain to save Princess Euphemia? I thought you were against Britannia entirely. What's your end goal? He questioned.
Inside the building, as Hinoka, Sakura and Zero made to the blown out, partially dark and partially moonlit third floor, a shot rang out, hitting the wall by a window. Takumi was in front of the only staircase leading up.
Zero hung by the entryway to the staircase to the second floor, perfectly obscured by shadows. Hinoka strolled forward. "Takumi, please, put down the rifle!" Hinoka demanded. "If you keep this up, Britannia will kill you!"
"Not you too, Hinoka!" Takumi shouted. "Don't tell me you're soul to Britannia! Where's your Japanese pride?"
"My pride hasn't gone anywhere, but I'm not turning down free help, you idiot!" Hinoka shouted.
"There's always a price!" Takumi shouted. "There's no way Cornelia and Camilla would help us because they believe in us. They want something from us! I'm not giving it! So, I'm taking something of theirs!"
Zero only now chose to come out from the shadows. "Takumi Sumeragi, you claim to stand for Japan's Independence, but it sounds like you instead stand for Japan's superiority. I have calculated the situation. If Japan and Britannia can go back to being allies, that would serve Japan's best interests. The Japan of seven years ago was the Japan that managed to hold a balancing act between China, the EU and Britannia. It was one of the last neutral bastions of its time. It can become so again."
"Shut up! What would you know about Japanese pride and politics! You're not even Japanese!"
"Fine," Zero said. "I'm no longer asking."
Sakura gasped and whined in a way that had Hinoka turn around. She now looked distraught.
Zero had a hand firmly clenched on Sakura's shoulder to the point that it was probably hurting her. Then, as Takumi and Hinoka put their full attention on Zero, they heard a clicking noise. Zero then put a black plated handgun to Sakura's head.
"Let me at least see Princess Euphemia," Zero told him.
"LET HER GO!" Takumi shouted.
"Zero! What are you doing?" Hinoka shouted. She drew her trusty naginata and aimed it at the revolutionary. "If you shoot Sakura, I'll kill you!"
"Should it come to that, trust me when I say, none of you will leave this room alive," Zero said. "I am fully capable of sacrificing pieces on the board that are of no interest or use to me. The only story that would air would be the one I tell the media. The Sumeragis hold no power. The only power they have is what I give it." He brought the gun closer. "I can easily take it away."
"Zero…please…no…don't…don't hurt Sakura," Hinoka sweated.
But it didn't matter what Hinoka said. Zero could give her up if he absolutely had to. Takumi's reactions were far more important. He was now in a standoff with Takumi, the man clearly wondering if he could make the shot to get Zero instead of Sakura and without Sakura being killed first.
Fortunately, Sakura did Zero's work for him. "TAKUMI DO WHAT HE SAYS!" she shouted. A loud voice for such a small girl.
"Sakura…" Takumi gasped, wincing. He then, after some reluctance, lowered his rifle. "Fine," he said. "She's this way. Please don't shoot my sister."
"Don't make me," Zero said and kept using Sakura as a hostage until he could reach Euphemia.
"Ah, Zero! It's you!" she exclaimed, upon seeing the helmet…and then she gasped when she saw the tearful Sakura with a gun to her head. "Hey! What are you doing? Let her go! I thought you stood up for the helpless!"
"I also have fantastic self-preservation instincts," he said. "Takumi Sumeragi would shoot me if I did not use Sakura in this manner." He then noticed the wound on her dress. "Huh? Your leg." He turned towards Takumi. "You shot her?"
"I did. What of it?"
Zero didn't immediately respond. However, he walked with Sakura backwards, careful not to expose his back to Oboro or Hinata.
"Negotiations are now underway," Zero said. "Britannia may not negotiate with terrorists, but I will. What are you hoping to gain out of this?"
"Princess Camilla and Princess Cornelia's heads, obviously," Takumi responded bitterly.
"That's not happening. So, what can I get for you that would satisfy you?" Zero asked.
"Let me ask you a question then: why so keen to bend the knee to Britannia? If we kill Euphemia, we can prove to Britannia that we are the ones in charge here."
"Princess Euphemia may hold no power, but she is a crucial emotional crutch to the Britannian allies already aligned with us." Using his gun touting arm, Zero pressed it to Sakura's neck, now aiming the gun at her chest so he could fetch his phone. He began to text orders to Camilla. He then showed the tiny text, unreadable from the distance Takumi was standing at, to the second son of the late Emperor Sumeragi. "Disappoint me, and I'll send the cavalry in. Perhaps you aren't aware, but you're already surrounded."
"What?! That's impossible! Hinata! Channel eight!"
Hinata grabbed the military radio and began trying to reach Takumi's forces. "Yamato, come in! Yamato!"
Static.
"Hitoshi!"
Nothing.
"Takemaru!"
Zilch.
"Your men have either been killed, dispatched or taken prisoner. You have the option to save them? You want them released and placed back into militaristic action? I can do that. You want the lives of perhaps the Japanese citizenry around the Fuji Mountains spared? I can do that. You don't seem to understand, Takumi Sumeragi, that I am not bending the knee to Britannia. Princess Camilla and Princess Cornelia bend the knee to me!"
Takumi took more aim at Zero. "Like hell I'll believe that! That's a bunch of nonsense!"
Using his free hand, Zero dialed Camilla on speaker. "Princess Camilla."
"Yes, Zero?"
"I'm engaged in negotiations with the enemy. When we're done here, do you think you could allocate some infrastructure funds to restoring life, roadways and tourism to Lake Inawashiro?" Zero asked earnestly.
"I don't see why not. In fact, I'd be more than happy to," Camilla answered, almost without a moment's hesitation.
"Thank you, Viceroy. I appreciate your cooperation." Zero then hung up, leaving a confused Camilla on the other end of the line.
However, whatever Camilla confusion felt was not nearly as egregious as the pure unadulterated befuddlement on Takumi's face. Princess Camilla, the Smiling Demon, had a reputation for being the most bullheaded and insistent person in all of Britannia. And Zero had gotten her to accept helping out a broken down region of Japan in record time with just a word.
"What…are you?" Takumi asked. This wasn't just surreal. It was inhuman.
"I have said it before, but I will say it again. I am Zero, the man who makes miracles!" Zero declared. "And I am here to save Japan!"
"Lord Takumi…maybe we should let Zero help us," Oboro suggested.
"No! No, it has to be a trick! You…somehow you pre-recorded that!" Takumi shouted. He had a crazed look in his eye. "I don't believe you!" He moved his aim. "Maybe I can't kill you, but I can sure as hell kill Princess Euphemia!"
BANG!
Oboro thought her heart was going to stop when she saw Sakura flinch, but only one gunshot had been fired. Takumi had aimed at Euphemia, but he missed really badly. This was because Hinoka had forced his aim to the building roof.
"Are you crazy?!" she shouted.
"Let go of me, Hinoka!" Takumi shouted.
"You're lucky I noticed Hinoka was moving," Zero said as reaffixed his aim to the side of Sakura's head. "That could have just as easily been mutually assured assassination."
Sakura was now crying her eyes out. "Takumi…please…please stop! I don't want Britannia and Japan to be enemies!"
"Sakura…I…"
"Takumi Sumeragi," Zero's voice echoed. "Do you really believe shooting Princess Euphemia will lead to Japan's liberation? If so, the only thing you will have proven today is that Japan is full of fools! I once thought as you did. I once thought that Britannia had to crumble prince by princess with its Emperor at the top. But that is no longer the case. I will defeat Britannia without a war! I will crush the Empire in a single, decisive battle, on its home soil! I'd like for all of the most important people in both nations to see that through!"
"You really think I'd make that much of a difference?" Takumi asked him. "If you want Princess Euphemia back that badly, just shoot me and get it over with!"
"If I wanted to do that, I'd have already done it," Zero responded.
"You smug sunuva…" Takumi grumbled.
"Put down your weapons and call off your men. We can resolve this without further bloodshed. You were able to keep me at bay for as long as you have. I could use a man of your talents. Think of what we could do if we worked together, rather than act as enemies," Zero said to him.
"Zero's right, Takumi. Do the right thing. Let's give Princess Euphemia back to Britannia," Hinoka stated. "Look what Zero's done with Sakura. Look how stressed we are at the thought of her being taken away from us. What would Ryoma say if he found out your own recklessness not only got yourself killed, but Sakura too? Could you face him in the next life with that on your conscience?!"
"I…no…no I would not," Takumi stated. "I don't even think I'd be able to face Sakura or mother if I did that." He grumbled frustratingly. "All right, fine. You win, Zero. Hinata. Untie Euphemia."
"You got it, boss!" Hinata exclaimed and made for the ropes.
"Oboro, tell the men to turn off the mines!" Takumi ordered.
"On it!" Oboro exclaimed and grabbed the radio to talk to the inner units nearby, which hadn't yet been rounded up.
Zero waited until Euphemia was completely free, and then finally, finally pulled the gun away from Sakura's head.
He then sent word to Camilla that the situation had been resolved peacefully and Euphemia had been rescued.
In their cockpits, both Cornelia and Camilla breathed sighs of relief upon hearing that.
"Zero," Takumi said, noticing Britannia drawing in. "Negotiate my sentence, and the sentencing of my men that are still alive. Whatever you're after, you clearly have a goal in mind. I may not like that I lost today, but I accept that you're clearly resolved to see the whole thing through. And…I don't want to disappoint Sakura or Hinoka. Maybe I'll start to see what they see," he said.
"Humane treatment I can manage," Zero said.
However, as soon as he said this, Euphemia suddenly fell over, caught by Zero. He examined her body. Dark circles were under her eyes. Lelouch then noticed that, despite the fact that Oboro had staunched the blood flow from Euphemia's leg wound, it hadn't stopped bleeding and, throughout all of this, Euphemia had lost a lot of blood.
Rapidly, Zero requested a medical team, reporting the exact following words: Euphemia has fallen unconscious from a gunshot wound in her leg, received before I arrived on the scene.
He shot…Euphemia. The little rat bastard had actually gone and shot her dear little sister. No. No. Maybe she was overreacting.
Zero received a text back: Is it life threatening?
Camilla and Cornelia received the same response: It wasn't at first. It has escalated as such. She's lost a lot of blood.
Camilla then asked: Where is he?
Zero responded: We're at the agreed upon pick up location for my plan. You'll find us all there.
Camilla's next text chilled Lelouch. Good. Good. Cornelia, call off the military police. We won't need them. Just send the ambulance, and the corpse disposal unit.
Lelouch hoped Cornelia would see reason. And while her response wasn't perfect, it was at least a sign of cooler heads prevailing.
It read: Camilla, don't be ridiculous. We can share pulverizing him if we aren't there in time.
Camilla's response was not heartening: Oh, I'll be there in time. Ahead of any of you.
She then clutched the Harlech custom and sped off with it at full speed.
That's not comforting, Lelouch thought. He didn't want to see this go up in flames. But, unfortunately, he wouldn't have a good chance to talk Camilla down until she was on the scene. It would be the perfect way to show Takumi that he did actually have Camilla under his thumb.
In order to prevent the worst, he texted Corrin on the side.
"Come to the pick up location and stand by."
He did hear emergency sirens, but he then heard the Harlech's wheels speeding towards his location and Camilla emerging upon the horizon.
"And be quick about it."
Through her factsphere, Camilla spotted Euphemia in Hinoka's lap, Sakura trying her best to keep Euphemia from passing on with the best emergency medical aid she could provide.
"Stay with us, Princess Euphemia!" Sakura exclaimed. Unfortunately, the first aid kit did not come with sutures or stitches. And an adhesive wouldn't stop the sheer amount of blood flow escaping through the wound.
Zero turned his attention towards Princess Camilla and her Harlech as the Briar Rose Barbarian came to a dead stop, gazing down at him.
"Move out of my way," Camilla demanded sweetly. "I have a heathen to slice thinner than cheese."
"I knew it! I freaking knew this would happen!" Takumi shouted, getting up and aiming his rifle at Camilla's mech. "I should have never trusted you, Zero! You double crossed me!"
"Maybe you'd be in better social graces if you hadn't shot Princess Euphemia! I asked for an ambulance!" Zero shouted. He turned back towards Camilla. "What I got was the execution squad." He then asked. "You can hear the sirens, can't you? Help will arrive soon."
"He shot my sister, Zero! Get out of the way!"
I can't use my Geass on her while she's still locked inside her Harlech, Lelouch thought. And I can't appeal to her as myself while the Sumeragis are watching. He tried using one of the few cards he had left to play. "Are you going to deny Takumi Sumeragi his due process for his crimes? I thought you were better than that," Zero stated.
Whatever Zero expected next, it was not the Harlech's fist slamming into Takumi's whole body, burying him under its entire metallic weight and kinetic force.
"TAKUMI!" Hinoka shouted.
"LORD TAKUMI!" Oboro shouted, rushing over to him.
Quite a bunch of Takumi's bones were broken and, the longer Camilla held him down, the greater his need for oxygen became. He could feel his ribs being pressed against his lungs and heart. He could feel his stomach being squeezed by metal plates.
"WHY?!" Camilla shouted. "WHY CAN I NOT JUST KILL HIM?! WHY DO I HAVE TO BEND THE KNEE TO THIS PATHETIC RAT?!"
"So much for control," Takumi uttered, only to cough.
"Princess Camilla, stop!" Zero demanded. Dammit, she's in a completely berserk state. I knew this might end badly, but I don't know how to reign her in.
He had one idea, but would it even work? It would be conceding a lot and he'd never be able to take it back. Much as he loathed the short term repercussions, the long-term problems of Takumi dying right now after a peaceful surrender, with Diethard's team filming all of this, would be disastrous.
Oboro began whacking the Harlech's wrist with her naginata. Camilla backhanded her across the way, breaking her arm as she landed.
"Oboro!" Hinata exclaimed.
Takumi now lay there, about to get punched a second time, likely pulverized. Fortunately, Corrin stepped in, using the Slash Harken of her custom Sutherland to grapple the wrist of Camilla's mech.
"Camilla, stop!" she pleaded. "I know they hurt Euphemia, but they're also my family too! Do you want to upset me?"
Camilla was about to respond, but she received a text from Zero.
It read: Stand down, and I will take you out on a luxury dinner date. My pocket. Your choice of food. Candlelight. Formal wear.
Camilla screamed over the speakers of her Harlech, pulling with such force to get her arm free that she knocked Corrin's mech down before driving her Harlech to a building, smashing the shoulder against it, and proceeded to use the oversized axe to do to it what she would have rather done to Takumi.
Once it was rubble, Zero received a text.
"If he ever does something like this again, I will kill him. End of discussion."
The response she received was: "No need for a discussion because if he tries something like this again, I'll kill him."
Camilla responded: I expect wine and bed snuggles :U
Lelouch smiled beneath the helmet. "That can be arranged."
The situation fully de-escalated after that. Takumi, despite his injuries, was able to be stabilized and escorted to a medical facility. Euphemia, luckily for her, was able to get patched up and given plenty of oxygen on sight. Her hospital stay would be a formality.
"We should have her out of the ER by the end of the night, Viceroy," a medical officer saluted.
"Thank you, officer. You're dismissed," Camilla told him.
Cornelia had decided to ride with Euphemia to the ER so she was clear of the situation. Meanwhile, Camilla was about to turn her attention to Zero, Hinoka and Sakura. And she was in a mood. She saw Corrin speaking to the media, likely smoothing things over. If there was one strength Corrin had, it was being a polite people person.
However, before Camilla could say anything, Sakura approached her first. "Th-thank you for not killing my brother, P-Princess Camilla," she said, tears forming in her eyes. "I-I know he caused a lot of trouble, b-but…h-he's our brother. So…so…" Sakura gave a full, formal Japanese style bow, "Thank you very much!"
Camilla was shocked at the gratitude. Mostly because of how unexpected it was, but also because, looking at and hearing Sakura, she was almost entirely reminded of her baby sister, Elise.
"Well aren't you just a sweetie?" Camilla asked. She walked right up to Sakura and snuggled her, head in her bosom. This action sparked a shocked reaction from Hinoka. She raised a protestive arm, but Corrin put an arm in front of Hinoka, shaking her head. The message was clear: it was best to let Camilla do this.
"I suppose if you are Corrin's sister, then that makes us sisters and given how cute you are, I will have no choice but to spoil you rotten."
"Um…uh…I uh…" Sakura stuttered.
"Go easy on her, Camilla," Corrin requested, chuckling. "Sakura's not the sturdiest little bean."
"Princess Camilla," Zero's voice then echoed.
Camilla turned her attention towards him. Her gaze caught somewhere between intrigued and serious, but definitely not happy.
"We all have family we cherish and desire to see safe. Sakura was instrumental in seeing Euphemia's safe return. And although I disparaged the idea of bringing her, I will admit that I could not have done this without her," Zero remarked. "Not in the same way, at least."
"Instrument—you pointed a gun at her head!" Hinoka exclaimed.
"You did what?" Camilla asked, surly as possible. She was now effectively glaring at Zero.
Zero groaned, pressing his fingertips to his forehead. "I had virtually no other choice."
Camilla let Sakura go and then, much to the shock of Hinoka, Camilla, and Corrin, hoisted Zero up by the clasps of his cape. "Now you listen to me, you unbelievably foul man. How dare you use an innocent little girl as a hostage!"
"Would you have preferred I come back with Euphemia dead?"
"Silence! You just said you would have had other ways! I thought I knew what you were about, but I can't believe you would use such vile tactics! What if they both died? What if it all didn't go just as planned?! Hmm? What then? I thought we were past this!"
Zero did not immediately answer.
"This sounds like it's getting oddly personal," Hinoka whispered to Corrin.
"It kind of is," Corrin responded, sweating.
"This isn't the place to discuss such things," Zero said. "We have an audience. I am more than happy to discuss the matter with you in private."
Camilla frowned. "Fine. Also, the debt is now 900 billion."
"N-Nine hundred…" Hinoka started to sweat.
Corrin rubbed her shoulder. "Relax, Hinoka. I'm…pretty sure that debt is not measured in dollars." She then gulped. "At least I hope not."
Camilla refused to go to dinner until she heard the word that Euphemia had, in fact, been released from the ER. Until that moment, if Lelouch had somehow lied to her, nothing would stop her from embedding a freshly sharpened axe in Takumi's skull.
But, Euphemia would recover. Whether Takumi did or not was immaterial. Camilla didn't even have to spend any amount of time facing the media over the situation. Corrin had done an expert job giving Channel 6 an exclusive.
At present, the official story was that Zero had talked down Takumi into giving Euphemia back and surrendering. Euphemia's injury was officially labeled as a "torture wound" given she was waterboarded. Takumi and those of his men that had survived the situation, were all being locked up in a military facility. Zero gave an official statement from sources that he did not condone extremism.
"Princess Euphemia is, by all accounts, a bystander in the general affairs between myself and Britannia. If I kidnap anyone, it will be someone who matters," he had stated.
Camilla had resolved to go see Euphemia tomorrow. She was going to bury her in sweets and snuggles. For now, she was in front of her vanity table, freshening up.
She was in the middle of making adjustments to her lip gloss when Cornelia walked in. "Sister, I…oh. You're freshening up? At this time of night? Usually you're winding down."
"Oh, hello sister!" Camilla exclaimed, currently on cloud nine. "I imagine you've heard the news."
"Yes. I was actually planning to go check on Euphemia myself," Cornelia said. "We are of full blood, after all. I was going to ask if you would come with me, but…"
"Oh, I'd hate to overwhelm the poor dear. She just came out of the ER, Nellie. She needs her rest. I will have plenty of time to remind her how much she is loved tomorrow when she's awake and recovered," Camilla stated.
Cornelia, not exactly a poor observer, came to a conclusion and asked, "Dinner plans with Lelouch then?"
Camilla felt exposed.
"It was about the only thing I could think of that would be more important than checking on Euphemia to you, awake or asleep," Cornelia remarked. "I…heard about the drastic measures he used today."
"How did you…?"
"Corrin told me. She wanted me aware of the lengths he's willing to go to. She's afraid of the methods he may use in the future and wants me looped in on reigning him in," Cornelia responded. She sat down on the edge of Camilla's bed, facing her sister, who was seated at her vanity table.
"Camilla, Lelouch isn't the same person he used to be. The brother we loved would never take a hostage to save a hostage. That's not the person he was," Cornelia stated sternly.
"I…I know," Camilla said and frowned. "I'm rather upset with him myself."
"I know you're doing all of this because you were right and we were wrong, but I think it's at least worth considering that the person Lelouch has become is very different from the boy we once knew, Camilla."
"He hasn't changed! He's exactly the same!" Camilla retorted.
"That's not true and you know that!" Cornelia snapped.
"HE'S MY LULU!" Camilla screamed. "HE SURVIVED AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS!"
She buried her face in her hands, sniffling.
"Don't cry, your makeup will run," Cornelia said and got up to help her younger sister. She dabbed her face of the runny spots.
"Cornelia, I know," Camilla sniffed. "I know Lulu isn't the same anymore. He's a broken, fractured shell of himself. But that's why I have to show him my love. That's why we agreed to help him."
"Camilla, fixing what's broken is admirable," Cornelia said, reapplying her sister's makeup for her, "But you have to understand that if he's willing to take hostages, he might employ other unsavory tactics."
Camilla seemed to get what her sister was driving at. "Cornelia…you don't actually think Lulu would…sacrifice us, do you?"
"I'm saying that, if it came right down it, as things stand, it's not off the table," Cornelia said with a rational tone of voice.
The rush of everything that had happened since the attack on Shinjuku came flooding back to Camilla like a tsunami. She slumped against Cornelia's arm and shoulder. "Nellie…I need a hug. I'm about to vomit."
Cornelia strategically placed the small metal crash can by the vanity table behind her and offered Camilla the tenderest of hugs, bringing her younger sister to kneel on the carpet with her. She pat Camilla's back, and stroked it. She said nothing.
Camilla gripped at Cornelia's uniform. "What have I…what have I been doing? What have I done…just for Lulu's sake? Lulu…he's not even my Lulu anymore and I…what have I…?"
Cornelia stroked the back of Camilla's head soothingly. "If you want to pull out of it, it's too late. We have the means to crush the rebellion. We can go back to how things were, like nothing ever happened.
"NO! NEVER!" Camilla shouted, clutching tighter. "I can't…I can't do that to Lulu." She cried, burying her face in her sister's shoulder. "The thought of him being without me, the thought of him being abandoned again. I can't, Nellie. I can't do that to him."
"Then, perhaps at dinner tonight, you should find something out," Cornelia said. "Do you truly love Lelouch, or do you love the idea of him?"
Seven years ago, that question would have been unthinkable. Honestly, even as recently as five or three, Camilla would have thought the question laughable. But…Cornelia had a point. And this was not a revelation Camilla felt comfortable with. She reached for the bucket and heaved into it.
"You should probably postpone dinner," Cornelia told her. "Unless you want to puke it back up."
"Yes…probably for the best," Camilla said and had Cornelia help her get ready for bed instead of dinner.
As Cornelia stood over her sister, she stroked Camilla's head, dabbing it with a warm, damp washcloth. "Remember," Cornelia told her. "I'm always here for you, Camilla. We may have different mothers, but we are still blood. You will always be my younger sister."
Camilla smiled. "Thank you, Nellie."
"Get some rest. Let's go see Euphemia tomorrow," Cornelia told her.
Camilla nodded. She had hoped to fall asleep quickly, but her bed felt very cold. She missed Lulu. She sniffed, using a pillow as a poor substitute. She wanted to be near him again, to feel him… She took in a deep breath. …To smell him.
Lulu… Camilla thought as her own body heat warmed the bed. She slowly fell asleep. Lulu…
It was early afternoon when Camilla and Cornelia's schedules lined up to go check on Euphemia. Damn bureaucratic nonsense. Camilla and Cornelia were quite surprised to see Euphemia's room, once they got past security, surrounded by stuffed animals and flowers, a lot of it expedited from the homeland, but plenty of it from family and friends on this side of the pacific.
"Cornelia! Camilla!" she exclaimed happily.
"Euphie!" Camilla did her best not to hug Euphemia too tightly. She'd been through a lot.
"How's your leg?" Cornelia asked her.
"It'll heal. I'll probably need crutches for a little while, but the doctor said if I'm still walking funny in three weeks, they'll perform some surgery to fix it better," she told her sister.
Cornelia exhaled. "That's a relief."
"I start rehab on Monday." She said and smiled warmly. "I'm going to be just fine."
"I'm so glad you're alive," Cornelia said.
"Yes, but I always knew that I'd make it out. I was surprised Zero came to my rescue, but…I'm glad to know he wasn't alone."
"How did you…?"
"Corrin told me," Euphemia said with a smile. "She was here already. Oh, and she brought me something. I haven't opened it yet though. Apparently, it's a care package from her and Suzaku's school."
"Ashford Academy is it?" Cornelia questioned. "Shall we open it up together?"
"Yes, let's! That could be so much fun!" Euphemia exclaimed happily.
The big reusable bag Corrin dropped off contained such thoughtful gifts as flowers, snacks, several stuffed animals, but there was one gift among the items that stuck out to Camilla. It was pink. It was shaped like a marshmallow and it had wings and a horn. Also, it was fluffier and softer than even some faux fur robes she owned.
"AHHHHHHH! It's a unicorn! I love it!" Euphemia exclaimed, snuggling it.
Cornelia chuckled. "Corrin knows you well."
"Hmm? No, Corrin's gift is over there," Euphemia said, pointing at a box of her favorite chocolates.
Camilla and Cornelia looked at each other. "You don't think…" Cornelia said, trailing off. She covered her face with her hand interrogatively. Unless Corrin told Suzaku, it was the only thing that made sense. However, the taped together stack of Japanese snacks suggested otherwise.
Camilla swooned, hugging herself. "See, Nellie? He does care about us. You had me all worried."
"Hmmmmm," Cornelia didn't sound entirely convinced, but then she cracked a smile, watching Euphemia nose to nose her squishmallow. She sighed. Lelouch, it seemed had his rough edges, but, perhaps, Camilla was doing the right thing by attempting to reign him in. Because, if nothing else, Cornelia absolutely, like her sister, wanted her brother back in her life.
Camilla's chosen restaurant was a penthouse steakhouse at the Tokyo Settlement's very own Babel Tower. Camilla showed up in a flowing, opulent dress of purples and blacks. The style of the dress had no shoulders. The fabric was mostly silk. Her makeup and hair were impeccable. She was dressed to enjoy the best evening of her life. Lulu had promised he would pay for everything. She stepped out of the elevator in her finest leather pocketbook.
Lelouch was already waiting for her in the lobby. A black blazer and tie with dress pants, capped off with a white button down t-shirt were his choice of attire for the evening.
"You couldn't have dressed a little more…extravagantly?" Camilla asked.
"I'm trying not to stick out, remember?" Lelouch reminded her. "Oh, before I forget." From the inside of his suit pocket, Lelouch took out a small, glass case. On the inside was a corsage comprised of bright purple heliotropes.
"Lulu!" Camilla gasped, taken aback, covering her mouth with her gloved hands. "It's beautiful."
With a charming smile, Lelouch remarked, "May I?" as he took Camilla's arm.
Camilla giggled, saying nothing, but she wiggled some fingers. A rush of emotion ran up her torso as Lelouch slipped it on her.
Camilla swooned as Lelouch gallantly kissed her hand.
"Shall we get our table?" he asked.
"Oh my such a gentleman," Camilla remarked, heart aflutter.
She and Lelouch were escorted by the waiter. Cheekily, Lelouch had made the reservation under Allen Spacer.
As soon as the two were seated, the waiter came by. "Ah, Princess! I welcome you to our humble restaurant. If there is absolutely any accommodation we can make for you tonight, say it and it will be done."
"Prioritized service would be nice," Camilla responded with a smile. "You know how I hate to wait."
"Of course, Princess," The waiter bowed politely. "Of course. And the lucky gentleman?" he inquired.
"None of your nosy business," Camilla spoke bluntly with a hint of harshness. "I am here to enjoy a lavish dinner without being asked fifty million questions. Anger me and I'll have more than your job. Are we clear?"
"Ah, a thousand pardons, Princess Camilla. I meant no disrespect," the waiter apologized. "Do you two need a few moments to decide on what you'd like to have for the evening?"
"I'm not quite sure. Lulu?" Camilla asked, blinking bedroom eyes at him.
From his front shirt pocket, Lelouch produced a slip of paper and handed it to the waiter. "This should be everything we're looking for. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
The waiter looked over the list, very carefully so as not to miss anything. "Mmmmhmmm. Mmmmhmm. Yes. We can absolutely make these dishes and the accommodations. You two have a fantastic dining experience."
"Keeping it a secret?" Camilla asked.
"I know your favorites. That said, yes, Shrimp Puffs are an appetizer," he told her.
"Aha, you never cease to amaze me," Camilla said. The two were then brought ice water. Camilla sipped nearly half her glass. However, as she waited for the food to be cooked, the two sat there in silence. There was plenty to talk about, but a lot of it would be awkward with so many people around. Still…
"Euphemia got your gift," Camilla said to him.
Lelouch turned his head. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
Camilla laughed. "I know when you're lying to hide your embarrassment, Lulu. Come on, a unicorn? You're one of the few people I know that knows about how much Euphemia loves them."
Lelouch sighed in embarrassment, blush forming.
"You make me worry about you, you know? One moment, you're inviting me to a lovely dinner and providing me with an absolutely lovely corsage," she said, showing it off. She then became much more somber as she said, "The next minute, you're taking children hostage at gunpoint. I…don't understand that at all. Why Lulu? Why do you do these things? I thought you were trying to make a stand for the weak, not use them as pawns."
"Because in the interest of time, I didn't want you rolling in and killing him," Lelouch responded. "I wasn't proud of it, but it got the job done."
"You should have just let me do it," Camilla frowned.
"And what would that have accomplished? Yes, Takumi Sumeragi could have very well met his end yesterday, but, as I told him, every soldier fighting for the cause is better than fighting amongst ourselves," Lelouch said to her.
Camilla was silent for a bit. "I'm…confused," she finally said. "Because you make it sound like you threatened someone else's life out of compassion for my sensitivities and to keep Takumi Sumeragi alive."
"Had I seen Euphemia before taking Sakura hostage, that would have been a very different turn of events," Lelouch told her. "And believe me, I'm not about to forget what had happened."
"Corrin got a statement from Euphemia as to why. I really should go kill him. He only spared her because she was fortunate enough to know Suzaku. If not for that, we could have ended up rescuing a corpse," she pointed out to Lelouch. "What then?"
"If Takumi Sumeragi had killed Euphemia, he would have lost all of his leverage. I would not have hesitated to avenge her." He then said so quietly. "She's still my sister."
Camilla smiled. "Lulu…"
"Let's talk about something else," Lelouch said to her. "I invited you out here as a means to an end, but now that we're here, let's make the most of it. We've spent all of our time with each other scheming about something or another. Let's just…talk. Knowing you, I'm sure you're dying to know how the education system is treating me."
Camilla made giddy squealing noises from her unparted lips.
From there, she and Lelouch just talked throughout the meal. Lelouch shared his day to day in school, mostly complaining about Milly.
"If she continues to give you trouble, I could always—"
"No."
Camilla pouted. "You didn't even know what I was going to say."
"It doesn't matter. I don't need Milly threatened with the imminent fear of death."
"Too late. I did that already," Camilla said with a smile.
Lelouch sighed.
Of course, once Camilla started sharing her gripes about the Viceroy Office, Lelouch thought she would start ordering wine until past midnight the way she was carrying on. Hearing his sister talk, it was clear she didn't spent all of her time goofing around. She seemed to take her duties as Viceroy very seriously.
The pair had polished off almost all of their lavish banquet and was now waiting for dessert, when collective laughter could be heard coming off the elevator. A large party had arrived, no less than fourteen in size, all of them noblemen or women in some capacity. A man of overly indulgent girth was at the front of the party. He was flanked by two women of, from what Lelouch could gather, low intelligence, but ivory beauty. Clearly, Lelouch presumed, he was rich, probably the CEO of some company, or possibly a Duke or Marquis. Women liked a man with plenty to give after all. And, between his blonde, colonially styled hair, ascot, and curly mustache, and the clip of money in his front pocket, he clearly was not shy about flaunting his wealth.
This man may as well have been the personification of the worst Britannia had to offer: a vile, wealthy sort that would buy his neighbor's house right from the bank, and use the land to make his own private swimming pool that his now homeless neighbor wasn't allowed to use.
Worse? He noticed Camilla as his party crossed to the back of the restaurant. "My, oh my, Princess Camilla. I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't exactly broadcast it on the four o' clock news," she said and sipped her wine gracefully.
"My, but if you were looking for a lavish dinner," he said as he grabbed Lelouch's chair. "I could always buy you the world."
"I've no interest in rats," she said. She then glared at him. "You're ruining my evening."
"Ah, but why so cold? The night is so young," The rich man said and pulled Lelouch's chair back, instantly having it swapped with an empty one so he could sit down. "I don't normally get to make your acquaintance." He reached for Camilla's hand, but she pulled it off the table.
"You have five seconds to get up, or you will find yourself in pain," she told him. "One."
Lelouch, preferring that this didn't have to get violent, decided to try and be polite about the situation. "Um, excuse me. I was..."
And that was when the man in front of him made what Lelouch would call a critical error. Grabbing the glass that Lelouch had been drinking from, he proceeded to splash Lelouch with the contents. However, in his haste, he'd pushed Lelouch's fork forward into the dish it was resting in. The collision sent a drop of spaghetti sauce through the air and it came down right onto Camilla's corsage, splotching it with seasoned tomato paste.
The only people taken by complete surprise, were the thirteen people he'd come up the elevator with. Camilla proceeded to grab the heavy, metal, single support shaft that split on the bottom into three legs, and proceeded to use the table, giving no care about the dishes, like a mace to beat this man within an inch of his life with the table.
Nobody thought to stop her, lest they get in the way. One woman fainted, but that was only when blood started spurting from the victim's nose after it caved in from one of the strikes.
Lelouch didn't even remotely bother to stop what was happening. Was it an extreme reaction? Yes. Should the man have known better? Probably. Was this going to end up a scandalous tabloid? Maybe. For the moment, however, Lelouch simply went to see if he could find his and Camilla's waiter to…let him know about the situation, as Camilla continued to fly off the handle in a berserk frenzy.
"YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Camilla shrieked at the top of her lungs. "DON'T YOU EVER DO SOMETHING SO DISRESPECTFUL TO HIM, YOU FILTHY WORTHLESS PIG!"
The man tried to scream but his throat was injured and he was choking on his own sobs in an attempt to call for help.
The entire restaurant then watched as Camilla dragged the man's carcass across the floor by the back of his button-down shirt and proceeded to hurl him through the window with no support. He screamed, loudly, falling over eighteen stories, where he would land on hard blacktop—or someone else's car—to his death.
Camilla then turned towards the thirteen men and women that the man had come to this restaurant with. The outdoor draft blew at her clothes. Camilla looked absolutely furious with rage and anger enough that the citizens could be forgiven for thinking she was possessed by a demon.
"Would anyone else like to join him?" she asked. "I'm sure there's still table for however many I can fit on the street?"
Most of the now dead nobleman's party ran for the elevator. The one woman was still fainted on the floor. The two women that had been hanging off him, ran screaming to the other side of the restaurant.
Camilla then looked at her corsage. "My gift," she sniffed. "It's ruined."
"Then I'll buy you another one," Lelouch stated, walking up to her, having just washed his hands with the way he was drying them off with a clean cloth napkin.
"That's not the point, Lulu. It was…tonight was supposed to be perfect. And they ruined it!"
Lelouch put a finger to Camilla's lips. "None of that," he told her.
She wiped her eyes with her arm, sniffling.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand. "I have something to show you."
"Hmm?"
As it turned out, the restaurant had its own private party suite that had been swept clean within the last few minutes.
"You did ask for prioritized service. The previous guests were more than happy to make accommodations for their Princess and Viceroy, and so was the restaurant," Lelouch said with a smile.
Camilla sniffed. "Lulu, you're too good to me." She hugged him. "Can you help me make this vanish?"
"What? The stain? It's a real flower. Just apply a little water and it'll be good as new," he told her.
Camilla chuckled. "I mean the body. I can't have all of this ruining my reputation after all."
Lelouch was confused, greatly confused at that. "Sister, are you feeling okay? Last I checked you were the type to leave a pile of bodies in your wake, and then ask the maid for cleanup without a care in the world the mess it caused politically. It's how you got the Briar Rose Barbarian moniker."
"People change, Lulu, especially for those they love. I don't want that stupid nickname anymore, especially once I'm a mom," she told him.
Lelouch was surprised, and then gave Camilla something she hadn't seen in years, a genuine smile. "Come on, dessert will be ready soon. We should take our seats."
Camilla swooned. "I love your smile, Lulu. It's so dreamy."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure it is," Lelouch said. "Save it for once we're home, sister."
Camilla managed to stay with Lelouch at Ashford for the evening. He did promise after all. However, what surprised her was just how quickly Lelouch cuddled up to her. Usually she had to scoop him like a reluctant cat into her embrace.
"L-Lulu. Wh-what is…?"
"You listened and I promised. And, it's a reward…for doing the right thing. It's not as if I crave your affection or anything, so don't get the wrong idea. I…" Lelouch stopped talking when Camilla started stroking his hair. She tightened her hug.
"I love you, Lulu. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I do."
"I don't love the idea of you. I love who you are. And…I'll make you feel whole again. I promise," Camilla told him. "So that you don't have to resort to such harsh things like holding children hostage with a gun."
"That's a tall order."
"I'm prepared for the challenge," Camilla told him.
"Well, I will say this," he told her, sinking down onto her. "You're awfully warm tonight."
Camilla smiled. "Sleep tight, Lulu. Cammy's here."
Lelouch nodded and then squirmed deeper into Camilla's embrace. She purred.
"I wonder if we start now, how many children we could have," Camilla said.
"Have you forgotten the logistical problem involving that?" Lelouch asked, referring to his lack of a libido.
"Oh…right. Oh! That reminds me."
Camilla then grabbed Lelouch and gave him the biggest, most passionate kiss she could manage. "I wanted to do that back at the restaurant. I thought about letting everyone know this is mine, but I remembered that you want to keep a low profile, so I waited."
Lelouch smiled. "I think tonight is the first time I've seen you think about people other than yourself, Camilla."
"I'm always thinking about others," Camilla said, offended.
"Not when it comes to your impulses, you don't," Lelouch told her. He chuckled. "Well, it's immaterial. You've done a lot of good tonight." He thought about the corpse outside the skyscraper. "In with the bad, but no one's perfect."
"For what it's worth, he was a horrible man and he deserved it," Camilla pouted.
"Yes, yes, nobody may harm what is yours for you are infallible and all must bow to your queenly majesty," Lelouch remarked insincerely.
"Are you making fun of me?" Camilla asked, sounding offended.
"Am I not allowed to?"
"That depends, have I done enough to—"
"I would let you know if you had. I…I would let you know," Lelouch said, now disappointed a little in himself.
Camilla hugged him tenderly. "It's…it's fine. Don't worry, you'll recover. Like I said, Cammy's here."
"Mhm," Lelouch responded and allowed Camilla to envelop him tenderly. And then, he fell asleep.
Halfway across the settlement, as the pair slumbered, they were completely unaware of a passenger entering into Tokyo's harbor on a luxurious passenger cruise ship. He stood quite tall with white hair with massive, thick sunglasses—odd for night time to be certain—and wore a massive white coat, rather unseasonable for the weather.
As he exited the harbor, cranking up the volume dial on the massive headphones, he stopped at the edge of the harbor at the nearest street that led into the settlement's main urban area.
"So," he said. "This is Area Eleven. I wonder, what sort of evil witches can I catch in their web of lies? I wonder, I wonder, oh I wonder." He then grinned malevolently.
(A/N: So place your bets folks? How do you see this going down? Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Camilla can't be happy for more than five minutes it seems, can she? Well, next time on CotD, a villain…er…an annoyance, rears his ugly head and then it's finally time to address some major plot points. Hey! How long do you think he'll last? One chapter? Two? Half of one? Place your bets and see if you're right! :D
Until then, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!
SPECIAL THANKS to my Patrons ShawnH, Nier 99, and Wizard Aro. Without the support of you and all of the rest of you reading this, none of this would be possible! If you'd like to support my work, consider subscribing. Feel free to also leave a comment, write a review, or just say hey. It helps out a lot and it keeps me motivated to write more. And I'm sure everyone wants that :D I know I do!