2008-12-02 14:26![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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code_geass
inulovinkit.livejournal.com in code_geassSorry about the long wait. Nanowrimo, yaknow. :( (And I STILL failed it this year. D: )
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: LelouchxC.C., SuzaEuphie, (implied) Suzalulu
summary: So, what would have happened if Suzaku had received the Geass in Stage 1 instead of Lelouch? MOAR ANGST, is what!
Chapter 1 here.
I <3 LelouchxKallen mindrape scenes. They're so...goddamn sexy. But this was more of a "if I wrote Geass, this is what I would have done" rather than something that would have changed due to Suzaku's haxy mindrape powers.
Also, Viletta and Orenji have a legitimate reason to be in this chapter. Really. :/
This power the witch gave me…it is incredible!
“Lelouch vi Britannia commands you…to die.”
The sound of gunshots filled the air, and then there was silence.
Dead, all dead…he could kill his enemies without even lifting a finger…absolute control…yes, this power…it was wonderful.
And now, finally, he had it within his grasp—with this one gift of power, he had it—the way to defeat Britannia. Yes, he could see it now—as Zero, the leader of the Black Knights, the Man of Miracles, he could free Japan, and the rest of the world from the tyranny of Britannia.
It seems…that my way will win out in the end, Suzaku. The only way you can change the world is through power, not through good deeds!
Zero turned—away from the pile of corpses, the ringleaders of the recent spread of Refrain into Japan—glancing back at C.C. as she stood by the entrance to the dark hallway. “So, you like your power, do you?”
“I cannot thank you enough, C.C.,” Lelouch smirked underneath his mask. “With this power, all conditions are cleared. I could free Japan in less than two months, I think, if I used it to remove all obstacles from my way.”
“Hmm, confident, are you?”
“I had complete confidence in myself even before I heard of such a thing as ‘Geass’. After all, destroying Britannia was always my goal. But with your help, C.C.—this is now possible far earlier than I could have imagined.”
“Still, you know the dangers, Lelouch. And also, one more thing—”
Lelouch paused. “One more thing?”
“Suzaku. He has a Geass too, you know. A powerful one. What are you going to do about it?”
Lelouch thought a long moment, sighing, “There is very little I can do about it, C.C., only—”
“Ah, Zero!” he was cut off as someone—Kallen—came running into the room. C.C. quietly slipped into the shadows.
Kallen stopped, and stared as she saw the dead men behind her leader. “The…the men behind the Refrain? Did you—”
“I did not kill them,” Lelouch chuckled. “I merely told them of the uselessness of their crime—and they decided that without purpose, it was better to end it all.”
Kallen looked a little bit shocked—but after all, Zero’s methods brought them miracles. They were the best methods. “Still, wouldn’t it have been better to keep them alive, to learn who their source was?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, Karen. I managed to press them for information about their source before they died. Now, it’s not direct information, but it’s enough for us to go on until—”
He stopped, when he noticed Kallen looking a bit unsure, as if she wanted to say something. “Karen?”
She looked away. “Zero…I mean…Not to be questioning your methods or anything, but…why chase after the Refrain dealers? I know it’s important and all, but…how exactly is this helping us to free Japan?”
Lelouch gave a chuckle. “Oh, it’s simple really. In order to free Japan, we need to start by freeing its people, yes?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“We are freeing the people. We are liberating them from this hold on their lives. Refrain was a drug created by the Britannians targeted at the Japanese, correct? It was made in order to break their spirit, and their will. If the Japanese are forever broken by it, they will not rise up and demand their freedom. Now do you see why it is necessary?”
“Yes…I just thought…that after Narita we would be—”
“Well, unfortunately, we’ve run into a snag. Though we have the support of Kyoto and the Japanese Liberation Front now, we really can do nothing until the Britannians give us an opportunity. If we try to reach too far, we will be wiped out.”
“Oh…I see. That makes sense, I guess,” Kallen turned away, as if to head back towards the others, but Lelouch stopped her.
“Karen,”
“Hmm?”
“Karen, do you…trust me now?”
She stared. “What do you mean? You are our leader, there is no other—”
“That is not what I meant,” he cut her off. “When we first met, Karen, you seemed intent on not trusting me. Why now do you put so much faith in someone when you’ve never even seen their face?”
Hmm…was she blushing? Ah, it was just as he thought. “Well…since then, you have proven yourself to be our leader…there were plenty of times you could have betrayed us and you didn’t so…why shouldn’t I trust you?”
Excellent. Everything was going just as he had hoped. “I suppose I should be honored then, that I have earned your trust, Karen?”
“Huh?”
“I take it that there aren’t many people in your life that you trust.”
Her eyes glanced away for a brief moment. “Well…no…but, as a terrorist, there’s not many people you can trust.”
A perfect mask. “I guess that’s true. It did take a long time for Ougi and the others to warm up to me as well.”
“Yeah…”
And now time to see… “By the way, Karen. It will take a few days to track the source of the Refrain dealers. You should go back to school.”
“Huh?”
“You do go to Ashford Academy, correct? You should go back to school for a while…take a little break from this life. I’m sure you have friends there you want to see, yes?”
“I…I guess…but I’m not really friendly with any—wait, how did you know I go there?” she turned back, suspicious. “I never told you—”
Zero gave a little chuckle. “Just because I never heard it from your mouth doesn’t mean I don’t know. Besides, aren’t you in the Student Council there? You shouldn’t neglect your duties.”
Once again, her eyes narrowed. “I’m needed here more than I’m needed there.”
“Still, you should go back to your school once in a while. Several people there must miss you when you say you’re ill.”
Kallen was quiet for a moment. “Lucky guess?”
“Seems so,” Lelouch’s grin under the mask grew wider. “But you don’t have to listen to me, do what you want—”
“Why do you want me to go back to school so much, Zero?” And now out came her suspicions. “Is there a specific reason?”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, but…there’s a rumor.”
“A rumor...?”
“A rumor that there’s terrorist activity going on in Ashford Academy.”
“Terrorist activity? That’s…that’s impossible…Not unless they’re talking about Sayoko-san, since they never caught me.”
“No, no one was caught—the Britannians suspect, though. And here’s the interesting thing…they suspect terrorist activity going on in the student body.”
“Students as terrorists? Now that I find hard to believe.”
“Really, I don’t.” Lelouch chuckled. Kallen glared at the joke at her expense.
“No, I mean, I’ve never seen another student here…That’s why it’s impossible.”
“Hypothetically, though,” It was so very hard not to chuckle. “If you could name another student you suspected of terrorist activity in your school, who would it be? There must be someone…someone who’s done suspicious things…acted in ways you didn’t expect…”
He could tell by the look on her face. Yes…there was one…one person she suspected. And for a moment, he almost had it. She was about to say it, that one name that she had been thinking of…that one name she had suspected from the start—
She turned away sharply. “No, there’s no one, Zero. I can’t think of anyone I would know.”
“Ah, what a pity. I was hoping for a new lead.”
Kallen didn’t reply to his comment. “I’m…going to find Ougi. I’ll see you again later, Zero.”
And then, she left the room.
“Now that was a star performance,” C.C. spoke, coming out from the shadows. “You almost had her a few times there.”
“And, it proves my suspicions.” He couldn’t help but grin to himself. “Kallen really does suspect me…it was as I thought.”
“And so, what are you going to do about it? You practically fed her suspicions that way—”
“That was the intent,” he sighed. “Since Suzaku has left me…I will need some insurance.”
“Insurance?”
“Yes, insurance. In the form of that girl.”
“Ah, it’s so nice that we could have a picnic like this!” Millay said, as she lay out on the grass, looking up at the sky.
“Nice for you, maybe, Kaichou,” Rivalz complained. “But we were the ones who had to cook all the food!”
She chuckled, “Well, that’s because you’re my willing slaves, isn’t that right?”
All three of the males groaned.
“Besides, I thought that since we were all here for a change, we should do something together for once,” she looked over to glare at Lelouch, Suzaku, and Kallen.
“Well, I have an excuse,” Suzaku stuck up his nose. “I’m on official military business, it’s those two who don’t have any reason to skip—”
“H—hey, that’s not fair!” Kallen cut in, blushing again. Ah, she was such a bad liar. “I’m ill most of the time—he’s the one who doesn’t have an excuse!” she pointed directly at Lelouch.
“Well, Lulu, what’s your reason?” Shirley asked, opening up a can of some soda. “Gambling again?”
“Ah, well, maybe,” he said, scratching the back of his neck as if he was nervous. “But recently I’ve found an interesting game I like.”
Yes, a very interesting game indeed.
It was a credit to Suzaku’s acting skills that he said nothing, only pretended to be interested in a sandwich. Only Kallen gave him that suspicious look.
“So, where do you go, for this ‘game’ I mean?” Rivalz asked. “You don’t ask me to taxi you around anymore, so is it close by?”
“It’s…accessible, I will say that.”
“Oh, not going to tell us where you’re sneaking off to?” Millay smirked. “Why, is it somewhere secret? Somewhere illegal?”
“If it was, would I really tell you?”
“Hmm…probably not, but I bet someone here knows where you’ve been going…”
Both Suzaku and Lelouch froze up, knowing where this was heading.
“Isn’t that right, Suzaku?” Millay leaned over towards him, pointing a finger in his face. “After all, you two are such good friends, right? You even make Shirley jealous—”
“Hey!” Shirley cut in from behind her.
“I…I don’t know anything,” Suzaku said guiltily. “Whatever Lelouch does now is none of my business.”
“Oh, and why is that? Did you two have a fight? I noticed you haven’t been over at Lelouch’s a lot lately—”
“He’s had a lot to do with his new job,” Lelouch cut her off, hoping to change the subject before Suzaku cracked. “After all, he’s now Princess Euphemia’s knight, he’s got a lot more work to do.”
“That’s right!” Suzaku answered, a little too enthusiastically. “Her Highness keeps me busy.”
“Ooohh, how busy?” Millay smirked. “We’re all dying to know…”
Lelouch sighed, as Suzaku began to explain his duties to them. He didn’t particularly care to hear what Suzaku’s day was like now that he served his preciousPrincess Euphemia li Britannia, but…well, it had solved one problem…
“Oh, I forgot!” Millay cut in right in the middle of Suzaku’s explanation. “There’s something I forgot to tell you all!”
“Well, what is it?” asked Rivalz.
“We’re going to be getting a mentor to the Student Council.”
“A mentor? Like… a teacher? A supervisor?” asked Lelouch. “Why?”
“Well…it’s kind of silly but…The government thinks that there might be terrorist activity happening here.”
Kallen choked on her drink. Yes, exactly what I told you before, Kallen, Lelouch smirked.
“What? Terrorists, here? That’s insane—”
“I know, I know, but Grandfather’s been ordered—the want an official knight of the empire here, undercover, just for safety reasons. They though the student council would be a good place to start, since we have all the student files…Like I said, it’s silly, but we have no choice…”
The only three who said nothing to the accusations were the three who knew the truth. Suzaku and Lelouch exchanged glances for a brief moment; Suzaku, as if to say “I told you so”, and Lelouch only shrugged. Kallen continued to stare at Lelouch, as if trying to work something out.
“Well, we won’t get this mentor in for another week or so, so we don’t have to worry about it. The council will still be student run, the mentor is only there if we have a problem, really…Actually, I think we have the file of the new teacher up in the council room. We could read it later…”
“I can’t,” Shirley told her, “After this I have to call my Father…find out why he hasn’t been returning my calls…”
“Oh, I guess then…Kallen?”
She jumped ever-so-slightly at the mention of her name. “Yes?”
“Would you mind being a dear and getting it?” Millay asked. “I mean, it would be nice if—”
She stood up at once. “Of course.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lelouch stood up as well. “After all, you haven’t been to that many meetings—you probably don’t know where the files are. It would be a good opportunity to show you.”
Kallen looked slightly nervous at that. “All—All right then.”
While walking away, Lelouch took one last glance at Suzaku. Suzaku was glaring as if to ask exactly why Leouch wanted to go with Kallen. After all, Kallen was a known terrorist.
But Lelouch turned sharply away. Well, whatever he had to say to Kallen was no longer Suzaku’s business anymore. And since Suzaku didn’t want the world to know that he had been helping the terrorists along, he would keep his mouth shut.
“Well, they should be somewhere in one of these boxes,” Lelouch said, as they walked into the council meeting room in the clubhouse. “Nothing to do but search—”
He had started forward, when her hand shot out to grab his arm. Just as he had expected.
Lelouch gave a chuckle, “What, surely you don’t need to hold my hand for—” When he turned back, he no longer saw the weak Kallen that had presented herself to the student council. Before him was Kouzuki Karen, the terrorist, pointing a sharp knife right in his face.
“Is this…some kind of joke?” he kept up the façade just a little longer. “You know those things aren’t allowed on campus.”
“Don’t play dumb, Lelouch,” she spoke only in Japanese. “There’s something going on here, and I want to figure it out.”
Once again, he gave her nothing. “Ah, you speak it too,” Lelouch replied to her, in Japanese as well. “I was wondering if I would meet someone else at school who knew how to speak it, but what does this have to do—”
“I’ve been wondering, Lelouch. Wondering about you. You’ve missed a lot of classes recently, haven’t you? I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Lelouch Lamperouge—ever since I heard you speak Japanese to Suzaku.”
She came closer, backing him into a corner. “That’s…a little flattering, Stadtfeld-san, but…”
“I know exactly where the student files are kept, you know. And after that day, I looked you up. You came to Japan eight years ago, did you? Right before the war. It says that you and Nunnally’s parents died in the war, and you’ve been living at the Ashford campus ever since.”
“That’s all true. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Really? Then why is it that the names listed for your parents have no record of ever existing?”
Lelouch had to fight to look surprised—he couldn’t make this too easy for her, could he? “I don’t know why it would—”
“Let me tell you something else I found out,” she said, softly waving the knife threateningly. “I looked around some more and found something…interesting. The only record of any ‘Lelouch’ I could find…was the supposedly dead prince, Lelouch vi Britannia!”
Brillant. Just as he had hoped she would find out. She really was the perfect one to be chosen.
“So tell me, Lelouch—if that is your real name—what would a discarded prince of Britannia, who is supposedly dead, be doing here?”
Lelouch couldn’t help himself. A small smirk grew at the corner of his mouth. “And…if I am who you say I am…what will you do about it? A discarded prince of Britannia is hurting no one—”
“That is not it. As a prince thrown away by his country, you would have reason, wouldn’t you? A big reason…”
“Oh? Reason for what?” He could keep the façade no longer. She had figured it out. All was going as he had thought it would.
The point of the knife found its way back towards him. “You heard Kaichou, didn’t you? There is a suspicion of terrorism in this school. And as someone who was cast aside by their country—perhaps hates their country for it—you would have a reason. Tell me, Lelouch! Are you the one? The terrorist at this school?”
A chuckle broke through his lips, making her step back a moment. “An—Answer me!”
“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me, Kallen?” Lelouch told her, grinning widely. “Or should I say, Kouzuki Karen, the Ace of the Black Knights?”
She took another step back in shock, “You—!”
“I wonder why you’re so surprised. After all, you suspected, didn’t you? Don’t tell me the thought never crossed your mind that someone else may know who you are?”
No one outside the Black Knights knew, so then… “You are involved with the Black Knights. What are you, Lelouch? An undercover agent?”
He chuckled coldy, sending a shiver up her spine. “Ah, you know that’s not true, Kallen, after all, as a direct subordinate to Zero, you’ve seen the face of everyone in the organization.”
“That’s true…” And then, her eyes fluttered wide with shock and the realization. “No…it’s not…”
Lelouch said nothing, only continued to smirk her way.
“That’s not possible! You can’t be—!”
Violet eyes flickered in excitement, matching the wide grin. “I did tell you already, didn’t I? There was another in your school linked to terrorism.”
He never expected her to take it easily—there were tears in her eyes now. Her image of Zero probably shattering before her very eyes. I wonder who she really thought it was under that mask? Some brave warrior? Or perhaps maybe her brother, reborn again. Ah, well…
“No…no, I won’t accept this,” Regaining control, Kallen pointed her knife right back at him. “I won’t accept you as Zero!”
“Then what will you do?” Lelouch asked, “Leave the Black Knights? Stage a coup? You, after all, were the one praising my methods just the other day…”
“Don’t you bring that up!” She roared, running towards him, and pinning Lelouch against the wall, knife at his throat. All the while, he held his devilish smirk.
“Now, is this any way to treat your superior—?”
“You’re…you’re not my superior, Lelouch!”
His smirk faded, and he asked in a more serious voice, “Then what am I? And for that matter, what are you? And what will you be from now on? The terrorist, Kozuki Karen? Or the student, Kallen Stadtfeld?”
Kallen remained silent for a moment, the tears in her eyes growing bigger, until she turned sharply, blinking them away. In the next moment, she removed the knife and released him. “I am…the same person that I was when I was born. Kozuki Karen…”
“Very well,” Lelouch spoke, regaining Zero’s tone. “And I am the Man of Miracles, Zero. I will free this nation. And you, Karen, will help me.”
“My ‘help’ is given through my own will,” she told him sharply. “Not because you ordered it.”
He couldn’t help it, he smirked again. “Of course.”
“But tell me one thing,” She glared at him sharply. “Why are you Zero? Why fight for Japan?”
“Didn’t you already figure that out? I was thrown away by my country—Japan became my new home. As long as Britannia was occupied, there was a chance I could be discovered—better to free Japan and the Japanese, the only people who were ever kind to me, rather than stand by and do nothing. Do you accept that reasoning?”
“It’s good enough.” She retracted the knife and put it away. “But why tell me now? Zero kept his face from even those who trusted him. Why admit it, to me of all, people?”
Oh, it was so easy…“Why? Because the answer is simple. I trust you, Karen.”
“You…trust me?”
“Of course I do. You’re the best pilot in the entire Black Knights, you were there from the beginning—you were the first to take chance to see my miracles, I would be foolish not to trust you.”
“I see. And you still trust me now, after—”
“Even after that. I know you will tell no one.” The smirk he had before had changed into a friendlier smile “And I had a reason to tell you. Karen—when the Black Knights finally attack—it will be important that you know.”
“Important? How?”
“I will tell you later. Right now, we should be getting that file and getting back, shouldn’t we? Otherwise, Kaichou might send someone after us…someone like Suzaku…”
“Fine,” she glared, turning to the file box and grabbing the slim file. “But this isn’t over Lelouch. When the time comes—you will tell me everything.”
“Of course I will. Zero doesn’t break his promises.” She said nothing to that. “Oh, and one more thing,” He pulled her aside, the geass lighting up in his left eye.
“You will tell no one new of Zero’s identity.”
He blinked, and the geass was cast. Kallen stood, dazed for a minute, and then asked him, “Yes?”
“Nothing…I forgot. Oh well. Come on, let’s go back now—there’s no need to worry about them, they won’t ask for fear of making Shirley or Suzaku jealous…”
Just a little something else for insurance…
“So the assignment’s come in?”
“Yes, the Ashford school in Area 11. To tell the truth, it’s a rather silly assignment to send an official knight of the empire on, but, well…after all the problems in Area 11, it’s more of a precaution…”
“I understand, thank you,” the woman said, flicking open the file that read “Ashford Academy Surveillance—Special Agent Viletta Nu.”
The messenger that brought the file left, as Viletta read the file for a few minutes, remembering a few things from her briefing. Suspected terrorist activities going on at the Academy, a list of a few suspicious students to watch, etc. Really, for a knight trained for combat, watching after a couple of kids was boring. What a waste of military training if she was being sent abroad to be a teacher!
The door to her office whirred open, as a familiar face came in, “So, ready for you new assignment, Viletta?”
“Hmph, it’s quite boring. But perhaps I would have gotten something better if it hadn’t been for your blunder, Jeremiah.”
Jeremiah glared back at her with his orange eyes, leaning against the wall in the small office. “I told you , I didn’t—”
“I know your story, even if I hardly believe it. But there was a reason you were pulled from Area 11, just as I was to be sent to it. They’re splitting us up.”
“Hmph. It’s just a brief triumph for those who hate the Purists,” he muttered. “And besides, it wasn’t just because they’re trying to split us up that they’re sending you. There’s that other reason, you know.”
“Just because I studied in Area 11 before it became a colony of the empire doesn’t mean I’ll be good at the job. In fact, I tried to turn the assignment down, but since the Purists are in such bad positions these days…”
“That’s not the reason you turned it down,” Jeremiah said, glancing back at her. “You’re afraid to go back, that’s way.”
“I’m not afraid—!”
“Pipe down, or everyone around here will know. So far, I’m the only one, and a good thing, too, or you would have been thrown off the force.”
Viletta glared back at him. “One relationship with a professor while I was studying abroad is nothing—”
“Sure, the ‘relationship’ is no reason for them to kick you out. But it’s more about who…” Jeremiah paused for a moment. “They say he’s a terrorist now, you know—”
“I know that!” She spat back at him. “But that makes no difference. I will be at the school, and he…I presume, will be out doing whatever terrorists do in their spare time when not attacking Britannians.”
“That’s not what you’re worried about. How long have I known you, Viletta?”
“If that’s what you’re talking about, it’s meaningless,” she said, standing up from her desk and closing the file. “If I happen to come along Kaname Ougi’s path, then I will react no different than if I came upon any other terrorist—I will kill him.”
“So, how was your day at school?”
“Oh, it was all right,” Suzaku said, looking out at the garden on top of the Area 11 palace as he and Euphie walked in the garden. “I got to see everyone again after a while, and we even had a picnic on the grass.”
“Really?” she asked, smiling. “What was that like?”
“Well, like any other picnic, really…we had food—Kaichou made us make it—and we talked for a little while. Really, it was just nice seeing everyone.”
As they sat down on the grass, Euphie asked, “Tell me about your friends, Suzaku.”
He stared at her. “Well, okay, but why do you want to know?”
“As a princess…I’m isolated from many people,” she said, eyes downcast. “I don’t have many friends…so tell me about yours.”
He wanted to reach out and grab her hand at that, to let her know that he was still here for her, but…well…it was improper…
“Well, our president, Millay—she’s a year older than us, and while she’s nice, she can be a bit of a slavedriver! Though Rivalz seems to like it…he’s a bit of an idiot, actually. There’s Nina, who stays inside and works on something on the computer all the time…And Kallen, she’s ill a lot, but she’s a nice girl…and then Shirley, who’s nice too, and has this huge, funny crush on Lelou—”
Suzaku froze mid-word, realizing what he’d just done. “Um…a crush on someone.”
But Euphie had heard. “This someone…who?”
“Um…just another student. Not really important. Anyway, Euphie, you could tell me about those files you were going over again—”
“Su-za-ku!” Euphie said in a sort of singsong voice, before she turned back to him, glaring. He attempted to scoot away, but she leaned over and grabbed his green tie, pulling him back. “Who was it that you were about to say?”
“Eh, well…”
“Who was it?” Now it was no longer a game…there was a desperation in Euphie’s voice unlike Suzaku had seen before. She needed to know. Because if there was any chance that it was true…
It would be the greatest news in the world.
“Le…Lelouch.” He spoke hesitantly, his heart sinking a bit knowing he had broken his promise to his lifelong friend.
Euphie released his tie, sinking back. “Lelouch…Is it…is it really Lelouch?”
Suzaku played dumb. “I…I don’t know what you mean…”
“Of course you know!” she turned back to him. “It was your family that took them in! Tell me Suzaku, is it him? Is Nunnally with him too?”
“Euphie…”
“Please…is my brother alive?”
It was a long moment, but then, Suzaku gave a sigh. He couldn’t keep this from her…not when her eyes were begging him to set her at ease. “Yes…it’s him…them. Your brother is alive.”
Euphie let out a long breath of relief, looking back up at the sky. “So they are…they are still alive…I know I was told they died, but…I never stopped believing…”
“Euphie, I…” Suzaku reached out towards her. “I should have—”
She cut him off, turning back sharply. “It’s all right, Suzaku. I’m sure Lelouch would forgive you.” And with a big grin, she leaned over and planted a kiss right on his cheek. “And thank you.”
With that, she stood up, and walked off at once, leaving her knight sitting there in the grass, a hand on his cheek, completely dumbfounded.
It was early afternoon the next day when the doorbell rang, which puzzled Lelouch—Nunnally and Sayoko shouldn’t have been back yet.
It couldn’t be Kallen, could it? She wouldn’t confront him yet, would she?
However, when Lelouch opened the door, he was met than a greater shock than he could have anticipated.
“Lelouch…” Euphie asked, lifting up the glasses she had to conceal her eyes. “It’s you, isn’t it?”
“Eu—Euphie!” he stammered, staring at her. He hadn’t seen her face to face in eight years. “You’re…you’re here…How did you…?”
“Suzaku,” she said, looking a bit guilty. “He accidentally let it slip, and then I had to know if it was true.”
Suzaku…
“Speaking of him, where is he now? Why isn’t he with you?”
“Training,” Euphie explained. “I snuck out.”
“No doubt Corenlia will have a fit when she discovers you’re gone.”
“She will, but I had to risk it. Now, are you going to let me in, or just leave me standing here?” she glared, hands on her hips.
Lelouch smirked. Yes, Euphie was the same as she had ever been. And then he stepped aside to let her in.
“So, why did you come?” he asked her. “Nunnally’s out right now, but if you stick around long enough, you’ll be able to see her.”
“Lelouch, I came here because I wanted to see you two after all these years, but also…I have a question.”
“What is it?” he had turned to go to the kitchen to get some tea, but her question stopped him in his tracks.
“Lelouch…are you Zero?”
No! How could she…? Suzaku! He betrayed me after all! After promising me—!
“Are you?”
Turning towards her, he said, “Why do you ask? That’s not a very good conversation starter—”
“I noticed something,” she explained. “When I’m in meetings with Suzaku…and the subject of Zero is brought up, he seems kind of…tense. And guilty. And he refuses to talk on the subject otherwise. He was…the same when he didn’t want to talk about you. And after the notice about terrorism possibly being centered around this school…I put two and two together. Now I’ve explained my reasons, so I want an answer, Lelouch. For my own sake, no one else’s.”
Lelouch quickly analyzed the situation. There were probably no hidden cameras or microphones on her, Euphie wasn’t that kind of person. C.C. was upstairs, and she could tell if others approached the house unexpectedly. And if Euphie did look like she would run off and tell, he always had his Geass…even if he didn’t want to…
“Lelouch?”
He gave a sigh. She had probably already guessed from his actions. “You always were a good observer, Euphie.”
She stared. “So then…it’s true?”
“Do you think Suzaku twitches without reason? Of course it is.”
Euphie sat down on the couch, hands folded in her lap. “I thought so…but if he knew, that means—”
“High treason to Britannia. Why else would he be so nervous?” Lelouch gave a small chuckle to himself.
“But Lelouch…why?” She turned to him. “Why do you do this? Why fight Britannia? Why test Suzaku’s friendship by making him bear the burden as well, why—?”
“Why? Because, Euphie. I’m not like you. I can’t just forgive and forgive and forgive. I’m not that good of a person. Britannia cast me aside, and threw me at the mercy of Japan. Then when their greed made them conquer this nation, I live in fear daily of being discovered, afraid of being shipped back to Britannia, separated from Nunnally, and used as a political tool once again. As Zero, I can save myself from that. Freeing Japan…would free Nunnally and I from fear. It would create a safe place for us to live.”
“That’s why…so you do it for Nunnally.”
“Ever since Mother died, it is the only reason I keep on living, for her.”
Euphie sighed. “I guess that’s noble of you, but, Lelouch…did you really kill Clovis?”
He paused, and then admitted, “Yes, I did. Clovis found out about us. I had no other choice.”
“Still, you took a life. You took our brother’s life…”
“And the lives of many others, Euphie.” Now he turned back to her. “Can you still look me in the eyes and call me your brother?”
She looked at him, and as she did, she didn’t see the face of a murderer. She saw the face of Lelouch, but not just Lelouch…she saw a person, desperate for a bit of happiness, struggling to do anything he could for it. And now, he struggled, begging her for forgiveness though the words would never pass his lips.
“I…can,” she said, smiling back at him. “No matter what the years have done to you, deep down, you are still Lelouch.”
He couldn’t help it, he smiled back. “The same could be said for you. You are still Euphie.”
After a moment, Lelouch changed the subject. “So tell me, how is Suzaku doing?”
“I…I’m not sure what you mean—”
Lelouch couldn’t look back at her as he said the words. “Is he…taking care of you? I mean…as your knight, is he—”
“I know what you mean,” she laughed. “And yes, he is. Suzaku is a very honorable knight.”
Lelouch swallowed. “Good.” He still couldn’t look back at her, though.
“And now I have a question for you. How is Nunnally?”
“Nunnally? Well, she’s fine, if you wait another ten minutes, you’ll be able to see her—”
A sharp beep rang in the air. Lelouch tensed, suddenly afraid he had been discovered, but instead, Euphie took out a small pager. “Oh dear!” she said. “Onee-sama’s discovered I’m missing! They’ll find me here soon!”
“Well, can’t you stay—?”
“No, I can’t,” she told him, sitting up. “If I’m discovered here, they’ll find you too, Lelouch.”
“I guess…” But he still wished she could have stayed longer.
“Anyway, I’m off to go as far away from this place as possible,” she told him, getting up to head out the door. “But…one more thing.”
“Yes?”
Euphie turned back to him, that trademark smile on her face. “Lelouch…I…I want to try to find another way. A way all of us can be together, without you having to be Zero. I don’t know if I’ll find it, but…for Nunnally’s sake, I will try.”
And with that, she left.
Lelouch stood in silence for a while, remembering his sister’s face and her determination to find a better world for all of them. But, as he knew, it was futile.
You shouldn’t try searching, Euphie. There is no other way than the way I have now.
If there was another way, I would have already done it.
“Hmm, you’re here a lot more often now, aren’t you?” C.C. spoke, as she sat on the porch, around the circular table with Suzaku and Lelouch.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much official business these days,” Suzaku told her. “Euphie’s been in a lot of closed meetings I’m not allowed in.”
Lelouch said nothing, only glared at him above his newspaper. How terrible for you.
But C.C. noticed his mood. “What’s the matter, Lelouch? I thought you would be happy to see your friend?”
“I am happy,” he said, putting on a fake smile. “But there’s some things that just can’t wait—”
“Looking for articles about the Black Knights again?” Suzaku asked directedly. “I can’t imagine much—The Black Knights haven’t been doing a lot these days. What is it you have been doing, anyway?” Suzaku asked, looking suspicious.
“Chasing after Refrain dealers,” Lelouch shrugged. “It’s something to keep them busy while I work on a transfer of power.”
“Oh, and how long will that take?”
“Not much longer I hope…it all depends upon how my insurance works out.”
“Your…insurance?”
“That’s right. Of course, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.”
“Oh, what a surprise,” Suzaku rolled his eyes. “Still, you are still planning on giving it up when ‘the time is right’, aren’t you? Terrorists won’t be content with chasing after drug dealers forever—”
“I know that, but you can’t create a terrorist organization in a day…you also can’t leave a terrorist organization in a day. It’s complicated.”
“I bet.”
There was a stony silence after that, a silence that made C.C. slightly uncomfortable, and if she was uncomfortable—how could those two stand it?
“Lelouch,” C.C. turned to him. “I think the tea is ready, why don’t you go get it?”
“C.C….” he stared at her, but the eyes of his accomplice told him that she wanted to talk to Suzaku…alone.
Though he really wanted to know what was so important…He sighed, “Fine,” and went inside.
“That was obvious,” Suzaku pointed out to her. “Lelouch knows that you—”
“And I don’t care,” she cut him off. “There’s something I wanted to tell you…as the one who gave you your Geass. He has no reason to hear it.”
“Really? And what is that? Going to warn me about my Geass again?”
“Actually, yes, but it’s a different sort of warning,” She told him, deadly serious. “Your Geass is one of the most powerful out there, but not the most powerful. There are others with Geass, you know, and that is why I had to warn you of this…because one Geass cannot cancel out another.”
Suzaku stared at her. “And why tell this to me…now?”
“Just in case things get a little out of hand, I wanted to warn you. In addition to being more geass users out there…I’ve felt something…interesting.”
“Interesting?”
She nodded. “The Geass cult. They usually lie dormant where they are, and their leader never ventures out of their safe haven. But since we are all connected to each other, I felt him. He has left the cult, and is traveling abroad. But where to, I do not know yet.”
A Geass cult? The leader of the cult? What was this, and why was she telling him? “And this has to do with me, because…?”
“Whether you like to deny it or not, you are one that I gave the Geass to. It concerns you. And if the leader of the cult comes here…it would be dangerous. He cannot physically cast Geass himself, but he can manipulate it in several ways…erase Geass commands completely, accelerate the growth of Geass, take control of a Geass user and make them use Geass as he sees fit…”
“All right, I get it, it’s dangerous, but…why do you think he is after me?”
C.C. didn’t respond, but she knew the truth. Because I asked them not to use Lelouch…you are the only other one they can use…a user of Geass that I contracted…
“I just have a hunch,” she told him.
“Okay, fine,” Suzaku rolled his eyes. C.C. never gave straight answers. “If this leader of the cult is so powerful…is there anything I can do to protect myself from him?”
“If you see someone suspicious, don’t let them touch you. If he touches you, he has complete control.”
“Oh, thanks, that’s a great help,” Suzaku muttered. “Anything else?”
C.C. sighed. “Well, there is one thing I can do to protect you…” she reached out towards him, fingers lightly touching his forehead. “It will be uncomfortable for a few moments…”
Fast, disturbing images flashed before Suzaku’s eyes…images of death, destruction, pain…until one image froze in front of him.
An image he had denied…tried to erase from his mind…
The knife, the blood…the body falling down, down…And those eyes…glaring, looking at him, accusing him…knowing what he did—!
And then Suzaku screamed.
The tray of tea crashed to the ground as Lelouch ran out. “Suzaku! Suzaku!” He held his collapsed friend in his arms. “C.C.! What did you—!”
“I did nothing. Whatever he saw came from his own mind.”
Looking back at his friend, Suzaku was now staring wildly up at the sky, muttering uncontrollably, “Father! No…I didn’t…I didn’t mean to! I had no choice! The war…it would have gone on longer! More people would have died! I didn’t…! No, don’t look at me like that! I didn’t…I didn’t kill you! I’m not a murderer! I’m not a murderer!”
Lelouch sucked in a breath. “Kururugi Genbu…he committed suicide…”
“Looks like he didn’t.” C.C. commented.
“But…Suzaku! How could he…”
“I had a feeling,” she replied. “He always put himself in great danger…always trying to save everyone…as if he was guilty…trying to die to atone and save his own soul…”
Suzaku…How could he have…He killed his own father at a young age, and now…He kept this from me…and he wants to die for his sins? That’s…that’s just selfish!
Slowly, Suzaku came to. “Le…Lelouch…what happened?”
“You fell,” he explained quickly, hiding his concern. “It’s all right, though I dropped the tea…I can go make more…”
“Lelouch!” Suzaku suddenly grabbed his arm, trembling. “Lelouch, did I…did I say anything when I…”
“Say anything?” Lelouch raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t hear any—”
“Oh…good…” Suzaku still shook slightly. “I was afraid that I—had a nightmare, you know, I didn’t want—embarrassing…”
Lelouch helped him up, with a sad smile. “I know, Suzaku. I know.” And then, looking his friend directly in the eye, the geass lit up once again.
“Suzaku…Live.”
Chapter 7 here
BTW, there's going to be no real VilettaxOugi in this story, because really, it made me want to gag most of the time with the cheesy soap material that was thrown in R2. It's really only going to be more of a "So...yeah I slept with you ten years ago" awkwardness instead of the sappy RomeoxJuliet plot that was forced on us.
And ever since it was said that Ougi used to be a teacher, I had this image in my head of him with a schoolgirl fetish. It never really went away. >.>
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: LelouchxC.C., SuzaEuphie, (implied) Suzalulu
summary: So, what would have happened if Suzaku had received the Geass in Stage 1 instead of Lelouch? MOAR ANGST, is what!
Chapter 1 here.
I <3 LelouchxKallen mindrape scenes. They're so...goddamn sexy. But this was more of a "if I wrote Geass, this is what I would have done" rather than something that would have changed due to Suzaku's haxy mindrape powers.
Also, Viletta and Orenji have a legitimate reason to be in this chapter. Really. :/
This power the witch gave me…it is incredible!
“Lelouch vi Britannia commands you…to die.”
The sound of gunshots filled the air, and then there was silence.
Dead, all dead…he could kill his enemies without even lifting a finger…absolute control…yes, this power…it was wonderful.
And now, finally, he had it within his grasp—with this one gift of power, he had it—the way to defeat Britannia. Yes, he could see it now—as Zero, the leader of the Black Knights, the Man of Miracles, he could free Japan, and the rest of the world from the tyranny of Britannia.
It seems…that my way will win out in the end, Suzaku. The only way you can change the world is through power, not through good deeds!
Zero turned—away from the pile of corpses, the ringleaders of the recent spread of Refrain into Japan—glancing back at C.C. as she stood by the entrance to the dark hallway. “So, you like your power, do you?”
“I cannot thank you enough, C.C.,” Lelouch smirked underneath his mask. “With this power, all conditions are cleared. I could free Japan in less than two months, I think, if I used it to remove all obstacles from my way.”
“Hmm, confident, are you?”
“I had complete confidence in myself even before I heard of such a thing as ‘Geass’. After all, destroying Britannia was always my goal. But with your help, C.C.—this is now possible far earlier than I could have imagined.”
“Still, you know the dangers, Lelouch. And also, one more thing—”
Lelouch paused. “One more thing?”
“Suzaku. He has a Geass too, you know. A powerful one. What are you going to do about it?”
Lelouch thought a long moment, sighing, “There is very little I can do about it, C.C., only—”
“Ah, Zero!” he was cut off as someone—Kallen—came running into the room. C.C. quietly slipped into the shadows.
Kallen stopped, and stared as she saw the dead men behind her leader. “The…the men behind the Refrain? Did you—”
“I did not kill them,” Lelouch chuckled. “I merely told them of the uselessness of their crime—and they decided that without purpose, it was better to end it all.”
Kallen looked a little bit shocked—but after all, Zero’s methods brought them miracles. They were the best methods. “Still, wouldn’t it have been better to keep them alive, to learn who their source was?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, Karen. I managed to press them for information about their source before they died. Now, it’s not direct information, but it’s enough for us to go on until—”
He stopped, when he noticed Kallen looking a bit unsure, as if she wanted to say something. “Karen?”
She looked away. “Zero…I mean…Not to be questioning your methods or anything, but…why chase after the Refrain dealers? I know it’s important and all, but…how exactly is this helping us to free Japan?”
Lelouch gave a chuckle. “Oh, it’s simple really. In order to free Japan, we need to start by freeing its people, yes?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“We are freeing the people. We are liberating them from this hold on their lives. Refrain was a drug created by the Britannians targeted at the Japanese, correct? It was made in order to break their spirit, and their will. If the Japanese are forever broken by it, they will not rise up and demand their freedom. Now do you see why it is necessary?”
“Yes…I just thought…that after Narita we would be—”
“Well, unfortunately, we’ve run into a snag. Though we have the support of Kyoto and the Japanese Liberation Front now, we really can do nothing until the Britannians give us an opportunity. If we try to reach too far, we will be wiped out.”
“Oh…I see. That makes sense, I guess,” Kallen turned away, as if to head back towards the others, but Lelouch stopped her.
“Karen,”
“Hmm?”
“Karen, do you…trust me now?”
She stared. “What do you mean? You are our leader, there is no other—”
“That is not what I meant,” he cut her off. “When we first met, Karen, you seemed intent on not trusting me. Why now do you put so much faith in someone when you’ve never even seen their face?”
Hmm…was she blushing? Ah, it was just as he thought. “Well…since then, you have proven yourself to be our leader…there were plenty of times you could have betrayed us and you didn’t so…why shouldn’t I trust you?”
Excellent. Everything was going just as he had hoped. “I suppose I should be honored then, that I have earned your trust, Karen?”
“Huh?”
“I take it that there aren’t many people in your life that you trust.”
Her eyes glanced away for a brief moment. “Well…no…but, as a terrorist, there’s not many people you can trust.”
A perfect mask. “I guess that’s true. It did take a long time for Ougi and the others to warm up to me as well.”
“Yeah…”
And now time to see… “By the way, Karen. It will take a few days to track the source of the Refrain dealers. You should go back to school.”
“Huh?”
“You do go to Ashford Academy, correct? You should go back to school for a while…take a little break from this life. I’m sure you have friends there you want to see, yes?”
“I…I guess…but I’m not really friendly with any—wait, how did you know I go there?” she turned back, suspicious. “I never told you—”
Zero gave a little chuckle. “Just because I never heard it from your mouth doesn’t mean I don’t know. Besides, aren’t you in the Student Council there? You shouldn’t neglect your duties.”
Once again, her eyes narrowed. “I’m needed here more than I’m needed there.”
“Still, you should go back to your school once in a while. Several people there must miss you when you say you’re ill.”
Kallen was quiet for a moment. “Lucky guess?”
“Seems so,” Lelouch’s grin under the mask grew wider. “But you don’t have to listen to me, do what you want—”
“Why do you want me to go back to school so much, Zero?” And now out came her suspicions. “Is there a specific reason?”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, but…there’s a rumor.”
“A rumor...?”
“A rumor that there’s terrorist activity going on in Ashford Academy.”
“Terrorist activity? That’s…that’s impossible…Not unless they’re talking about Sayoko-san, since they never caught me.”
“No, no one was caught—the Britannians suspect, though. And here’s the interesting thing…they suspect terrorist activity going on in the student body.”
“Students as terrorists? Now that I find hard to believe.”
“Really, I don’t.” Lelouch chuckled. Kallen glared at the joke at her expense.
“No, I mean, I’ve never seen another student here…That’s why it’s impossible.”
“Hypothetically, though,” It was so very hard not to chuckle. “If you could name another student you suspected of terrorist activity in your school, who would it be? There must be someone…someone who’s done suspicious things…acted in ways you didn’t expect…”
He could tell by the look on her face. Yes…there was one…one person she suspected. And for a moment, he almost had it. She was about to say it, that one name that she had been thinking of…that one name she had suspected from the start—
She turned away sharply. “No, there’s no one, Zero. I can’t think of anyone I would know.”
“Ah, what a pity. I was hoping for a new lead.”
Kallen didn’t reply to his comment. “I’m…going to find Ougi. I’ll see you again later, Zero.”
And then, she left the room.
“Now that was a star performance,” C.C. spoke, coming out from the shadows. “You almost had her a few times there.”
“And, it proves my suspicions.” He couldn’t help but grin to himself. “Kallen really does suspect me…it was as I thought.”
“And so, what are you going to do about it? You practically fed her suspicions that way—”
“That was the intent,” he sighed. “Since Suzaku has left me…I will need some insurance.”
“Insurance?”
“Yes, insurance. In the form of that girl.”
“Ah, it’s so nice that we could have a picnic like this!” Millay said, as she lay out on the grass, looking up at the sky.
“Nice for you, maybe, Kaichou,” Rivalz complained. “But we were the ones who had to cook all the food!”
She chuckled, “Well, that’s because you’re my willing slaves, isn’t that right?”
All three of the males groaned.
“Besides, I thought that since we were all here for a change, we should do something together for once,” she looked over to glare at Lelouch, Suzaku, and Kallen.
“Well, I have an excuse,” Suzaku stuck up his nose. “I’m on official military business, it’s those two who don’t have any reason to skip—”
“H—hey, that’s not fair!” Kallen cut in, blushing again. Ah, she was such a bad liar. “I’m ill most of the time—he’s the one who doesn’t have an excuse!” she pointed directly at Lelouch.
“Well, Lulu, what’s your reason?” Shirley asked, opening up a can of some soda. “Gambling again?”
“Ah, well, maybe,” he said, scratching the back of his neck as if he was nervous. “But recently I’ve found an interesting game I like.”
Yes, a very interesting game indeed.
It was a credit to Suzaku’s acting skills that he said nothing, only pretended to be interested in a sandwich. Only Kallen gave him that suspicious look.
“So, where do you go, for this ‘game’ I mean?” Rivalz asked. “You don’t ask me to taxi you around anymore, so is it close by?”
“It’s…accessible, I will say that.”
“Oh, not going to tell us where you’re sneaking off to?” Millay smirked. “Why, is it somewhere secret? Somewhere illegal?”
“If it was, would I really tell you?”
“Hmm…probably not, but I bet someone here knows where you’ve been going…”
Both Suzaku and Lelouch froze up, knowing where this was heading.
“Isn’t that right, Suzaku?” Millay leaned over towards him, pointing a finger in his face. “After all, you two are such good friends, right? You even make Shirley jealous—”
“Hey!” Shirley cut in from behind her.
“I…I don’t know anything,” Suzaku said guiltily. “Whatever Lelouch does now is none of my business.”
“Oh, and why is that? Did you two have a fight? I noticed you haven’t been over at Lelouch’s a lot lately—”
“He’s had a lot to do with his new job,” Lelouch cut her off, hoping to change the subject before Suzaku cracked. “After all, he’s now Princess Euphemia’s knight, he’s got a lot more work to do.”
“That’s right!” Suzaku answered, a little too enthusiastically. “Her Highness keeps me busy.”
“Ooohh, how busy?” Millay smirked. “We’re all dying to know…”
Lelouch sighed, as Suzaku began to explain his duties to them. He didn’t particularly care to hear what Suzaku’s day was like now that he served his preciousPrincess Euphemia li Britannia, but…well, it had solved one problem…
“Oh, I forgot!” Millay cut in right in the middle of Suzaku’s explanation. “There’s something I forgot to tell you all!”
“Well, what is it?” asked Rivalz.
“We’re going to be getting a mentor to the Student Council.”
“A mentor? Like… a teacher? A supervisor?” asked Lelouch. “Why?”
“Well…it’s kind of silly but…The government thinks that there might be terrorist activity happening here.”
Kallen choked on her drink. Yes, exactly what I told you before, Kallen, Lelouch smirked.
“What? Terrorists, here? That’s insane—”
“I know, I know, but Grandfather’s been ordered—the want an official knight of the empire here, undercover, just for safety reasons. They though the student council would be a good place to start, since we have all the student files…Like I said, it’s silly, but we have no choice…”
The only three who said nothing to the accusations were the three who knew the truth. Suzaku and Lelouch exchanged glances for a brief moment; Suzaku, as if to say “I told you so”, and Lelouch only shrugged. Kallen continued to stare at Lelouch, as if trying to work something out.
“Well, we won’t get this mentor in for another week or so, so we don’t have to worry about it. The council will still be student run, the mentor is only there if we have a problem, really…Actually, I think we have the file of the new teacher up in the council room. We could read it later…”
“I can’t,” Shirley told her, “After this I have to call my Father…find out why he hasn’t been returning my calls…”
“Oh, I guess then…Kallen?”
She jumped ever-so-slightly at the mention of her name. “Yes?”
“Would you mind being a dear and getting it?” Millay asked. “I mean, it would be nice if—”
She stood up at once. “Of course.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lelouch stood up as well. “After all, you haven’t been to that many meetings—you probably don’t know where the files are. It would be a good opportunity to show you.”
Kallen looked slightly nervous at that. “All—All right then.”
While walking away, Lelouch took one last glance at Suzaku. Suzaku was glaring as if to ask exactly why Leouch wanted to go with Kallen. After all, Kallen was a known terrorist.
But Lelouch turned sharply away. Well, whatever he had to say to Kallen was no longer Suzaku’s business anymore. And since Suzaku didn’t want the world to know that he had been helping the terrorists along, he would keep his mouth shut.
“Well, they should be somewhere in one of these boxes,” Lelouch said, as they walked into the council meeting room in the clubhouse. “Nothing to do but search—”
He had started forward, when her hand shot out to grab his arm. Just as he had expected.
Lelouch gave a chuckle, “What, surely you don’t need to hold my hand for—” When he turned back, he no longer saw the weak Kallen that had presented herself to the student council. Before him was Kouzuki Karen, the terrorist, pointing a sharp knife right in his face.
“Is this…some kind of joke?” he kept up the façade just a little longer. “You know those things aren’t allowed on campus.”
“Don’t play dumb, Lelouch,” she spoke only in Japanese. “There’s something going on here, and I want to figure it out.”
Once again, he gave her nothing. “Ah, you speak it too,” Lelouch replied to her, in Japanese as well. “I was wondering if I would meet someone else at school who knew how to speak it, but what does this have to do—”
“I’ve been wondering, Lelouch. Wondering about you. You’ve missed a lot of classes recently, haven’t you? I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Lelouch Lamperouge—ever since I heard you speak Japanese to Suzaku.”
She came closer, backing him into a corner. “That’s…a little flattering, Stadtfeld-san, but…”
“I know exactly where the student files are kept, you know. And after that day, I looked you up. You came to Japan eight years ago, did you? Right before the war. It says that you and Nunnally’s parents died in the war, and you’ve been living at the Ashford campus ever since.”
“That’s all true. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Really? Then why is it that the names listed for your parents have no record of ever existing?”
Lelouch had to fight to look surprised—he couldn’t make this too easy for her, could he? “I don’t know why it would—”
“Let me tell you something else I found out,” she said, softly waving the knife threateningly. “I looked around some more and found something…interesting. The only record of any ‘Lelouch’ I could find…was the supposedly dead prince, Lelouch vi Britannia!”
Brillant. Just as he had hoped she would find out. She really was the perfect one to be chosen.
“So tell me, Lelouch—if that is your real name—what would a discarded prince of Britannia, who is supposedly dead, be doing here?”
Lelouch couldn’t help himself. A small smirk grew at the corner of his mouth. “And…if I am who you say I am…what will you do about it? A discarded prince of Britannia is hurting no one—”
“That is not it. As a prince thrown away by his country, you would have reason, wouldn’t you? A big reason…”
“Oh? Reason for what?” He could keep the façade no longer. She had figured it out. All was going as he had thought it would.
The point of the knife found its way back towards him. “You heard Kaichou, didn’t you? There is a suspicion of terrorism in this school. And as someone who was cast aside by their country—perhaps hates their country for it—you would have a reason. Tell me, Lelouch! Are you the one? The terrorist at this school?”
A chuckle broke through his lips, making her step back a moment. “An—Answer me!”
“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me, Kallen?” Lelouch told her, grinning widely. “Or should I say, Kouzuki Karen, the Ace of the Black Knights?”
She took another step back in shock, “You—!”
“I wonder why you’re so surprised. After all, you suspected, didn’t you? Don’t tell me the thought never crossed your mind that someone else may know who you are?”
No one outside the Black Knights knew, so then… “You are involved with the Black Knights. What are you, Lelouch? An undercover agent?”
He chuckled coldy, sending a shiver up her spine. “Ah, you know that’s not true, Kallen, after all, as a direct subordinate to Zero, you’ve seen the face of everyone in the organization.”
“That’s true…” And then, her eyes fluttered wide with shock and the realization. “No…it’s not…”
Lelouch said nothing, only continued to smirk her way.
“That’s not possible! You can’t be—!”
Violet eyes flickered in excitement, matching the wide grin. “I did tell you already, didn’t I? There was another in your school linked to terrorism.”
He never expected her to take it easily—there were tears in her eyes now. Her image of Zero probably shattering before her very eyes. I wonder who she really thought it was under that mask? Some brave warrior? Or perhaps maybe her brother, reborn again. Ah, well…
“No…no, I won’t accept this,” Regaining control, Kallen pointed her knife right back at him. “I won’t accept you as Zero!”
“Then what will you do?” Lelouch asked, “Leave the Black Knights? Stage a coup? You, after all, were the one praising my methods just the other day…”
“Don’t you bring that up!” She roared, running towards him, and pinning Lelouch against the wall, knife at his throat. All the while, he held his devilish smirk.
“Now, is this any way to treat your superior—?”
“You’re…you’re not my superior, Lelouch!”
His smirk faded, and he asked in a more serious voice, “Then what am I? And for that matter, what are you? And what will you be from now on? The terrorist, Kozuki Karen? Or the student, Kallen Stadtfeld?”
Kallen remained silent for a moment, the tears in her eyes growing bigger, until she turned sharply, blinking them away. In the next moment, she removed the knife and released him. “I am…the same person that I was when I was born. Kozuki Karen…”
“Very well,” Lelouch spoke, regaining Zero’s tone. “And I am the Man of Miracles, Zero. I will free this nation. And you, Karen, will help me.”
“My ‘help’ is given through my own will,” she told him sharply. “Not because you ordered it.”
He couldn’t help it, he smirked again. “Of course.”
“But tell me one thing,” She glared at him sharply. “Why are you Zero? Why fight for Japan?”
“Didn’t you already figure that out? I was thrown away by my country—Japan became my new home. As long as Britannia was occupied, there was a chance I could be discovered—better to free Japan and the Japanese, the only people who were ever kind to me, rather than stand by and do nothing. Do you accept that reasoning?”
“It’s good enough.” She retracted the knife and put it away. “But why tell me now? Zero kept his face from even those who trusted him. Why admit it, to me of all, people?”
Oh, it was so easy…“Why? Because the answer is simple. I trust you, Karen.”
“You…trust me?”
“Of course I do. You’re the best pilot in the entire Black Knights, you were there from the beginning—you were the first to take chance to see my miracles, I would be foolish not to trust you.”
“I see. And you still trust me now, after—”
“Even after that. I know you will tell no one.” The smirk he had before had changed into a friendlier smile “And I had a reason to tell you. Karen—when the Black Knights finally attack—it will be important that you know.”
“Important? How?”
“I will tell you later. Right now, we should be getting that file and getting back, shouldn’t we? Otherwise, Kaichou might send someone after us…someone like Suzaku…”
“Fine,” she glared, turning to the file box and grabbing the slim file. “But this isn’t over Lelouch. When the time comes—you will tell me everything.”
“Of course I will. Zero doesn’t break his promises.” She said nothing to that. “Oh, and one more thing,” He pulled her aside, the geass lighting up in his left eye.
“You will tell no one new of Zero’s identity.”
He blinked, and the geass was cast. Kallen stood, dazed for a minute, and then asked him, “Yes?”
“Nothing…I forgot. Oh well. Come on, let’s go back now—there’s no need to worry about them, they won’t ask for fear of making Shirley or Suzaku jealous…”
Just a little something else for insurance…
“So the assignment’s come in?”
“Yes, the Ashford school in Area 11. To tell the truth, it’s a rather silly assignment to send an official knight of the empire on, but, well…after all the problems in Area 11, it’s more of a precaution…”
“I understand, thank you,” the woman said, flicking open the file that read “Ashford Academy Surveillance—Special Agent Viletta Nu.”
The messenger that brought the file left, as Viletta read the file for a few minutes, remembering a few things from her briefing. Suspected terrorist activities going on at the Academy, a list of a few suspicious students to watch, etc. Really, for a knight trained for combat, watching after a couple of kids was boring. What a waste of military training if she was being sent abroad to be a teacher!
The door to her office whirred open, as a familiar face came in, “So, ready for you new assignment, Viletta?”
“Hmph, it’s quite boring. But perhaps I would have gotten something better if it hadn’t been for your blunder, Jeremiah.”
Jeremiah glared back at her with his orange eyes, leaning against the wall in the small office. “I told you , I didn’t—”
“I know your story, even if I hardly believe it. But there was a reason you were pulled from Area 11, just as I was to be sent to it. They’re splitting us up.”
“Hmph. It’s just a brief triumph for those who hate the Purists,” he muttered. “And besides, it wasn’t just because they’re trying to split us up that they’re sending you. There’s that other reason, you know.”
“Just because I studied in Area 11 before it became a colony of the empire doesn’t mean I’ll be good at the job. In fact, I tried to turn the assignment down, but since the Purists are in such bad positions these days…”
“That’s not the reason you turned it down,” Jeremiah said, glancing back at her. “You’re afraid to go back, that’s way.”
“I’m not afraid—!”
“Pipe down, or everyone around here will know. So far, I’m the only one, and a good thing, too, or you would have been thrown off the force.”
Viletta glared back at him. “One relationship with a professor while I was studying abroad is nothing—”
“Sure, the ‘relationship’ is no reason for them to kick you out. But it’s more about who…” Jeremiah paused for a moment. “They say he’s a terrorist now, you know—”
“I know that!” She spat back at him. “But that makes no difference. I will be at the school, and he…I presume, will be out doing whatever terrorists do in their spare time when not attacking Britannians.”
“That’s not what you’re worried about. How long have I known you, Viletta?”
“If that’s what you’re talking about, it’s meaningless,” she said, standing up from her desk and closing the file. “If I happen to come along Kaname Ougi’s path, then I will react no different than if I came upon any other terrorist—I will kill him.”
“So, how was your day at school?”
“Oh, it was all right,” Suzaku said, looking out at the garden on top of the Area 11 palace as he and Euphie walked in the garden. “I got to see everyone again after a while, and we even had a picnic on the grass.”
“Really?” she asked, smiling. “What was that like?”
“Well, like any other picnic, really…we had food—Kaichou made us make it—and we talked for a little while. Really, it was just nice seeing everyone.”
As they sat down on the grass, Euphie asked, “Tell me about your friends, Suzaku.”
He stared at her. “Well, okay, but why do you want to know?”
“As a princess…I’m isolated from many people,” she said, eyes downcast. “I don’t have many friends…so tell me about yours.”
He wanted to reach out and grab her hand at that, to let her know that he was still here for her, but…well…it was improper…
“Well, our president, Millay—she’s a year older than us, and while she’s nice, she can be a bit of a slavedriver! Though Rivalz seems to like it…he’s a bit of an idiot, actually. There’s Nina, who stays inside and works on something on the computer all the time…And Kallen, she’s ill a lot, but she’s a nice girl…and then Shirley, who’s nice too, and has this huge, funny crush on Lelou—”
Suzaku froze mid-word, realizing what he’d just done. “Um…a crush on someone.”
But Euphie had heard. “This someone…who?”
“Um…just another student. Not really important. Anyway, Euphie, you could tell me about those files you were going over again—”
“Su-za-ku!” Euphie said in a sort of singsong voice, before she turned back to him, glaring. He attempted to scoot away, but she leaned over and grabbed his green tie, pulling him back. “Who was it that you were about to say?”
“Eh, well…”
“Who was it?” Now it was no longer a game…there was a desperation in Euphie’s voice unlike Suzaku had seen before. She needed to know. Because if there was any chance that it was true…
It would be the greatest news in the world.
“Le…Lelouch.” He spoke hesitantly, his heart sinking a bit knowing he had broken his promise to his lifelong friend.
Euphie released his tie, sinking back. “Lelouch…Is it…is it really Lelouch?”
Suzaku played dumb. “I…I don’t know what you mean…”
“Of course you know!” she turned back to him. “It was your family that took them in! Tell me Suzaku, is it him? Is Nunnally with him too?”
“Euphie…”
“Please…is my brother alive?”
It was a long moment, but then, Suzaku gave a sigh. He couldn’t keep this from her…not when her eyes were begging him to set her at ease. “Yes…it’s him…them. Your brother is alive.”
Euphie let out a long breath of relief, looking back up at the sky. “So they are…they are still alive…I know I was told they died, but…I never stopped believing…”
“Euphie, I…” Suzaku reached out towards her. “I should have—”
She cut him off, turning back sharply. “It’s all right, Suzaku. I’m sure Lelouch would forgive you.” And with a big grin, she leaned over and planted a kiss right on his cheek. “And thank you.”
With that, she stood up, and walked off at once, leaving her knight sitting there in the grass, a hand on his cheek, completely dumbfounded.
It was early afternoon the next day when the doorbell rang, which puzzled Lelouch—Nunnally and Sayoko shouldn’t have been back yet.
It couldn’t be Kallen, could it? She wouldn’t confront him yet, would she?
However, when Lelouch opened the door, he was met than a greater shock than he could have anticipated.
“Lelouch…” Euphie asked, lifting up the glasses she had to conceal her eyes. “It’s you, isn’t it?”
“Eu—Euphie!” he stammered, staring at her. He hadn’t seen her face to face in eight years. “You’re…you’re here…How did you…?”
“Suzaku,” she said, looking a bit guilty. “He accidentally let it slip, and then I had to know if it was true.”
Suzaku…
“Speaking of him, where is he now? Why isn’t he with you?”
“Training,” Euphie explained. “I snuck out.”
“No doubt Corenlia will have a fit when she discovers you’re gone.”
“She will, but I had to risk it. Now, are you going to let me in, or just leave me standing here?” she glared, hands on her hips.
Lelouch smirked. Yes, Euphie was the same as she had ever been. And then he stepped aside to let her in.
“So, why did you come?” he asked her. “Nunnally’s out right now, but if you stick around long enough, you’ll be able to see her.”
“Lelouch, I came here because I wanted to see you two after all these years, but also…I have a question.”
“What is it?” he had turned to go to the kitchen to get some tea, but her question stopped him in his tracks.
“Lelouch…are you Zero?”
No! How could she…? Suzaku! He betrayed me after all! After promising me—!
“Are you?”
Turning towards her, he said, “Why do you ask? That’s not a very good conversation starter—”
“I noticed something,” she explained. “When I’m in meetings with Suzaku…and the subject of Zero is brought up, he seems kind of…tense. And guilty. And he refuses to talk on the subject otherwise. He was…the same when he didn’t want to talk about you. And after the notice about terrorism possibly being centered around this school…I put two and two together. Now I’ve explained my reasons, so I want an answer, Lelouch. For my own sake, no one else’s.”
Lelouch quickly analyzed the situation. There were probably no hidden cameras or microphones on her, Euphie wasn’t that kind of person. C.C. was upstairs, and she could tell if others approached the house unexpectedly. And if Euphie did look like she would run off and tell, he always had his Geass…even if he didn’t want to…
“Lelouch?”
He gave a sigh. She had probably already guessed from his actions. “You always were a good observer, Euphie.”
She stared. “So then…it’s true?”
“Do you think Suzaku twitches without reason? Of course it is.”
Euphie sat down on the couch, hands folded in her lap. “I thought so…but if he knew, that means—”
“High treason to Britannia. Why else would he be so nervous?” Lelouch gave a small chuckle to himself.
“But Lelouch…why?” She turned to him. “Why do you do this? Why fight Britannia? Why test Suzaku’s friendship by making him bear the burden as well, why—?”
“Why? Because, Euphie. I’m not like you. I can’t just forgive and forgive and forgive. I’m not that good of a person. Britannia cast me aside, and threw me at the mercy of Japan. Then when their greed made them conquer this nation, I live in fear daily of being discovered, afraid of being shipped back to Britannia, separated from Nunnally, and used as a political tool once again. As Zero, I can save myself from that. Freeing Japan…would free Nunnally and I from fear. It would create a safe place for us to live.”
“That’s why…so you do it for Nunnally.”
“Ever since Mother died, it is the only reason I keep on living, for her.”
Euphie sighed. “I guess that’s noble of you, but, Lelouch…did you really kill Clovis?”
He paused, and then admitted, “Yes, I did. Clovis found out about us. I had no other choice.”
“Still, you took a life. You took our brother’s life…”
“And the lives of many others, Euphie.” Now he turned back to her. “Can you still look me in the eyes and call me your brother?”
She looked at him, and as she did, she didn’t see the face of a murderer. She saw the face of Lelouch, but not just Lelouch…she saw a person, desperate for a bit of happiness, struggling to do anything he could for it. And now, he struggled, begging her for forgiveness though the words would never pass his lips.
“I…can,” she said, smiling back at him. “No matter what the years have done to you, deep down, you are still Lelouch.”
He couldn’t help it, he smiled back. “The same could be said for you. You are still Euphie.”
After a moment, Lelouch changed the subject. “So tell me, how is Suzaku doing?”
“I…I’m not sure what you mean—”
Lelouch couldn’t look back at her as he said the words. “Is he…taking care of you? I mean…as your knight, is he—”
“I know what you mean,” she laughed. “And yes, he is. Suzaku is a very honorable knight.”
Lelouch swallowed. “Good.” He still couldn’t look back at her, though.
“And now I have a question for you. How is Nunnally?”
“Nunnally? Well, she’s fine, if you wait another ten minutes, you’ll be able to see her—”
A sharp beep rang in the air. Lelouch tensed, suddenly afraid he had been discovered, but instead, Euphie took out a small pager. “Oh dear!” she said. “Onee-sama’s discovered I’m missing! They’ll find me here soon!”
“Well, can’t you stay—?”
“No, I can’t,” she told him, sitting up. “If I’m discovered here, they’ll find you too, Lelouch.”
“I guess…” But he still wished she could have stayed longer.
“Anyway, I’m off to go as far away from this place as possible,” she told him, getting up to head out the door. “But…one more thing.”
“Yes?”
Euphie turned back to him, that trademark smile on her face. “Lelouch…I…I want to try to find another way. A way all of us can be together, without you having to be Zero. I don’t know if I’ll find it, but…for Nunnally’s sake, I will try.”
And with that, she left.
Lelouch stood in silence for a while, remembering his sister’s face and her determination to find a better world for all of them. But, as he knew, it was futile.
You shouldn’t try searching, Euphie. There is no other way than the way I have now.
If there was another way, I would have already done it.
“Hmm, you’re here a lot more often now, aren’t you?” C.C. spoke, as she sat on the porch, around the circular table with Suzaku and Lelouch.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much official business these days,” Suzaku told her. “Euphie’s been in a lot of closed meetings I’m not allowed in.”
Lelouch said nothing, only glared at him above his newspaper. How terrible for you.
But C.C. noticed his mood. “What’s the matter, Lelouch? I thought you would be happy to see your friend?”
“I am happy,” he said, putting on a fake smile. “But there’s some things that just can’t wait—”
“Looking for articles about the Black Knights again?” Suzaku asked directedly. “I can’t imagine much—The Black Knights haven’t been doing a lot these days. What is it you have been doing, anyway?” Suzaku asked, looking suspicious.
“Chasing after Refrain dealers,” Lelouch shrugged. “It’s something to keep them busy while I work on a transfer of power.”
“Oh, and how long will that take?”
“Not much longer I hope…it all depends upon how my insurance works out.”
“Your…insurance?”
“That’s right. Of course, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.”
“Oh, what a surprise,” Suzaku rolled his eyes. “Still, you are still planning on giving it up when ‘the time is right’, aren’t you? Terrorists won’t be content with chasing after drug dealers forever—”
“I know that, but you can’t create a terrorist organization in a day…you also can’t leave a terrorist organization in a day. It’s complicated.”
“I bet.”
There was a stony silence after that, a silence that made C.C. slightly uncomfortable, and if she was uncomfortable—how could those two stand it?
“Lelouch,” C.C. turned to him. “I think the tea is ready, why don’t you go get it?”
“C.C….” he stared at her, but the eyes of his accomplice told him that she wanted to talk to Suzaku…alone.
Though he really wanted to know what was so important…He sighed, “Fine,” and went inside.
“That was obvious,” Suzaku pointed out to her. “Lelouch knows that you—”
“And I don’t care,” she cut him off. “There’s something I wanted to tell you…as the one who gave you your Geass. He has no reason to hear it.”
“Really? And what is that? Going to warn me about my Geass again?”
“Actually, yes, but it’s a different sort of warning,” She told him, deadly serious. “Your Geass is one of the most powerful out there, but not the most powerful. There are others with Geass, you know, and that is why I had to warn you of this…because one Geass cannot cancel out another.”
Suzaku stared at her. “And why tell this to me…now?”
“Just in case things get a little out of hand, I wanted to warn you. In addition to being more geass users out there…I’ve felt something…interesting.”
“Interesting?”
She nodded. “The Geass cult. They usually lie dormant where they are, and their leader never ventures out of their safe haven. But since we are all connected to each other, I felt him. He has left the cult, and is traveling abroad. But where to, I do not know yet.”
A Geass cult? The leader of the cult? What was this, and why was she telling him? “And this has to do with me, because…?”
“Whether you like to deny it or not, you are one that I gave the Geass to. It concerns you. And if the leader of the cult comes here…it would be dangerous. He cannot physically cast Geass himself, but he can manipulate it in several ways…erase Geass commands completely, accelerate the growth of Geass, take control of a Geass user and make them use Geass as he sees fit…”
“All right, I get it, it’s dangerous, but…why do you think he is after me?”
C.C. didn’t respond, but she knew the truth. Because I asked them not to use Lelouch…you are the only other one they can use…a user of Geass that I contracted…
“I just have a hunch,” she told him.
“Okay, fine,” Suzaku rolled his eyes. C.C. never gave straight answers. “If this leader of the cult is so powerful…is there anything I can do to protect myself from him?”
“If you see someone suspicious, don’t let them touch you. If he touches you, he has complete control.”
“Oh, thanks, that’s a great help,” Suzaku muttered. “Anything else?”
C.C. sighed. “Well, there is one thing I can do to protect you…” she reached out towards him, fingers lightly touching his forehead. “It will be uncomfortable for a few moments…”
Fast, disturbing images flashed before Suzaku’s eyes…images of death, destruction, pain…until one image froze in front of him.
An image he had denied…tried to erase from his mind…
The knife, the blood…the body falling down, down…And those eyes…glaring, looking at him, accusing him…knowing what he did—!
And then Suzaku screamed.
The tray of tea crashed to the ground as Lelouch ran out. “Suzaku! Suzaku!” He held his collapsed friend in his arms. “C.C.! What did you—!”
“I did nothing. Whatever he saw came from his own mind.”
Looking back at his friend, Suzaku was now staring wildly up at the sky, muttering uncontrollably, “Father! No…I didn’t…I didn’t mean to! I had no choice! The war…it would have gone on longer! More people would have died! I didn’t…! No, don’t look at me like that! I didn’t…I didn’t kill you! I’m not a murderer! I’m not a murderer!”
Lelouch sucked in a breath. “Kururugi Genbu…he committed suicide…”
“Looks like he didn’t.” C.C. commented.
“But…Suzaku! How could he…”
“I had a feeling,” she replied. “He always put himself in great danger…always trying to save everyone…as if he was guilty…trying to die to atone and save his own soul…”
Suzaku…How could he have…He killed his own father at a young age, and now…He kept this from me…and he wants to die for his sins? That’s…that’s just selfish!
Slowly, Suzaku came to. “Le…Lelouch…what happened?”
“You fell,” he explained quickly, hiding his concern. “It’s all right, though I dropped the tea…I can go make more…”
“Lelouch!” Suzaku suddenly grabbed his arm, trembling. “Lelouch, did I…did I say anything when I…”
“Say anything?” Lelouch raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t hear any—”
“Oh…good…” Suzaku still shook slightly. “I was afraid that I—had a nightmare, you know, I didn’t want—embarrassing…”
Lelouch helped him up, with a sad smile. “I know, Suzaku. I know.” And then, looking his friend directly in the eye, the geass lit up once again.
“Suzaku…Live.”
Chapter 7 here
BTW, there's going to be no real VilettaxOugi in this story, because really, it made me want to gag most of the time with the cheesy soap material that was thrown in R2. It's really only going to be more of a "So...yeah I slept with you ten years ago" awkwardness instead of the sappy RomeoxJuliet plot that was forced on us.
And ever since it was said that Ougi used to be a teacher, I had this image in my head of him with a schoolgirl fetish. It never really went away. >.>
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(no subject)
XDDDD Kyaaa... I love small hints! But yeah, the most interesting part is the LuluxKallen moments... hehehe...
Of course, many, many thanks of Milly's subtle hints! XDDDD
(no subject)
LuluxKallen was so much fun to write. They have such a twisted relationship.
Glad you enjoyed!