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Of Kings and Pawns	By : tenohikari Category: +. to F > Code Geass Views: 5631 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Come on, if I owned Code Geass I would have put the Lelouch cross-dressing and all other crack dramas into the anime. So Sunrise owns everything, and all I have is this piece of fan fiction.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Title: Of Kings and Pawns
Pairing: mainly Schneizel x Lelouch (more to come)
Summary: The Order of the Black Knights has handed over their King in return for Japan. However, with Zero claimed dead and Lelouch in his grasp, Schneizel is only a couple turns away from claiming checkmate on the entire world.
Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Code Geass and all I own is this piece of fan fiction and I make no money writing this whatsoever. So please don�t sue me.
Warnings: M-Rated for lots of pr0n, incest, and violence.
Additional Warnings: Written in spare of the moment with OOCness and tons of grammar and spelling errors.
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Chapter 8
Tick� tock� tick� tock� tick� tock�
Although there was no such sound coming from within the Shinkiro, its current pilot could hear the ticking of a winding clock within his mind. The assassin known as �Rolo� had the power to stop ones perception of time; however, his Geass was indeed a double edged sword. He had told Lelouch � Zero - of this Achilles heel long ago that made him unreliable. For each time he stopped and resumed� his own heart would also stop but may not resume. Every time he used his Geass, it was like knocking on Death�s door.
He was knocking rather loudly now.
Rolo grit his teeth as weaved the Shinkiro through streams of laser fire that crisscrossed in the night sky. His fingers fumbled at the control panels as he was unable to enter in such complex calculations to raise the Absolute Protection shields to appear where they needed to be. Even thought he was sweating and breathing heavily; the boy couldn�t help but break into a proud smile.
�My big brother really is amazing� to pilot this Knightmare with ease.�
�Stop calling me your brother!� Lelouch had yelled at him back on the Ikaruga. �I hate you! I tried to kill you!�
The words had hurt. Far more than any wound inflicted by blade or bullet; and Rolo had fled, putting as much distance between him and Lelouch as possible. Ironically, the place where he had sought refuge was the Shinkiro�s cockpit. He would flee, leave everything behind; all except for the Knightmare frame that his false older brother piloted, and it would be his keepsake along with the heart-shaped locket. However, it was while he was crying while inside the hanger, he had learned of the Coup D�etat within the Black Knights.
Lelouch was a liar; a false older brother who cared only for himself and a blind crippled princess. That was why he couldn�t will himself to move even though something was urging Rolo to save his brother� he was afraid. What if Lelouch yelled at him again? A bleeding heart felt much worse than one that stopped beating. So he waited� and listened, and maybe � just maybe�
�Fools!� he had heard Lelouch sneer behind his mask, �you finally realized I was just using you? The world is a chessboard, and you�re all nothing but pieces in my game.�
Why? Why had Lelouch said that in front of the soldiers who once followed him, the soldiers who were aiming automatics at him? Did he want to die? Rolo�s lavender eyes widened. Of course! Lelouch was a liar and a manipulator. Even now he was goading the Black Knights to kill him.
�What do I do?� was a mantra repeating inside his head. �Do I save him? Do I let him die?�
�What about when you said your life was more important?� he had asked when he stopped Guilford�s mortal blow with his Vincent, �yet you risked your life for this?�
�Because� you�re my little brother.�
�Brother? Me?�
�Do I save him?�Rolo asked himself as his hands trembled at the Shinkiro�s controls.
The Black Knights, the very same organization that was founded by Zero and had reawakened the demon once more in Babel Tower; they were going to put him back to sleep� forever. If only those damn numbers had just left Lelouch alone to begin with!
Rolo didn�t care if they, the OSI, never achieved their mission objective to capture C2; he had loved the lie that was family. He longed for the days at Ashford Academy where he was just as precious to his older brother, Lelouch Lamprouge, as he was to him. Then Zero had to awaken and ruin everything. Everything Lelouch had promised about their future was nothing but a lie, just as their past. Yet the present� the present they spent together� it felt real.
�Are you really that dense?! I was only using you, you fake sibling! Get out and never come back!�
�Or do I let him die?�
It was obvious, Lelouch had wanted to death. Time was running out and the assassin, conflicted by these torturous emotions, gave a small hopeless cry as his grip eased from the controls and quickly moved to cover his own ears. He would give Lelouch what he wanted, even if his heart would bleed forever.
Tick� tock� tick� tock� tick�
�Rolo?� Lelouch�s voice screamed at him from outside the Knightmare frame, �what are you doing here? Stop using your Geass over such a wide area! Your heart can�t take that much strain!�
The boy quickly opened the hatch to let Lelouch to climb in and quickly closed it shut as the bombardment became much heavier. The older boy stepped down beside him, and tried to coax him to move aside and let him pilot. Yet the requests fell on deaf ears when Rolo glared at the screen. Not only was he being pursued by Britannian forces but the Black Knights as well?!
�Lelouch,� Rolo finally speaks as he gives up on entering the calculations and focuses more on defensive maneuvers, �do you still want to die? Or do you want to live?�
�Rolo� what are you saying?�
The younger boy swallowed hard, as he built up the courage to face Lelouch once more. �Please answer me, truthfully. If you want to die, I would die with you. If you want to live, I will die defending you.�
Lelouch stared at him with guilt and shame, before horror crossed his features when the other Geass user narrowed his mismatched eyes at the approaching enemies.
�No, Rolo! Don�t use your Geass anymore� I�!�
Tick� tock� tick� tock�
~*~*~*~*~
The Knight of Seven had all but grabbed C2 by the arm and dragged her over to a military plane to pursue the Shinkiro. She hadn�t resisted but her golden eyes were boring holes in the back of the brunet�s head. Along the way Suzaku barked orders for someone to get a hold of the Avalon or at least to the Tristan or the Mordred.
�You won�t catch up to them,� C2 informed him upon being released within the plane�s cockpit, �this aircraft is no match for that Knightmare�s speed, and if somehow you do get within reach, you�ll be shot down.�
Suzaku quickly strapped himself down in the pilot�s seat though fervently wishing he was within his own Knightmare, missing limbs and all. �I�m going after Lelouch, if he thinks he can escape��
C2 sat down in the navigator�s chair and frowned at him even though the pilot of the Lancelot wasn�t paying any attention to her. �You think he planned this? Are you really that dense, Sir Spins-a-lot?�
�The timing was just too convenient!� he snapped, �He must have�somehow��
Somehow contacted the Black Knights who claimed Zero was dead to help him escape? Yet Lelouch had sealed himself in that other world� so what was the point? Surely he hadn�t anticipated on the soul of his mother and C2 to show up like they did.
�Lelouch had placed that eye-patch on and considered your leader as his new accomplice; therefore, he had no intentions of running away, especially not without me,� C2 reminded him, �This kidnapping must be that Rolo guy�s plan.�
The Knight of Seven had clenched his teeth as he was forced to agree. She grinned behind the Cheese-kun plush and leaned back in her chair as the craft raised itself up from the ground and took off in the fleeing Knightmare�s direction.
�Suzaku,� The Knight of Three�s voice broke out over the radio, �are you all right? What the hell is going on?�
The brunet�s eyes never left his flight path as they began to distance themselves from Kamine Island. �Listen, Gino,� he began, �Can you call off the Britannian air forces to cease the pursuit of the Shinkiro?�
�Suzaku, have you lost it?� He could actually picture his friend�s jaw dropping in disbelief. �That�s Zero�s Knightmare isn�t it? That must mean��
�Zero is dead!�
�So you�ve said before.�
The pilot of the Lancelot practically growled. �Look, I don�t know who is piloting the Shinkiro now. Just order our forces to keep their distance while I go pursue. Contact Prince Schneizel and let him know that I�m bringing that Knightmare and its hostage back.�
�What?� Gino asked, confused more than ever. �What are you talking about, Suzaku? What hostage?�
He cut off communication after giving his orders, never mind the fact that Gino officially outranked him. Suzaku simply couldn�t explain the details now. He only hoped that the Avalon would provide back up.
C2 only shook her head and reached out to the control panel before her and pulled up the navigation screen. �They�re heading for Shikine Island.�
~*~*~*~*~
Kallen leaned back against one of the hanger walls, and although Ohgi insisted that she was not needed for this mission, she was still dressed in her red and gray pilot suit. It had been Tamaki�s unit that had been dispatched to hunt and destroy the Shinkiro. Ever since Zero�s personal Knightmare frame debuted in the Chinese Federation, it would always be linked to the rebel leader who was dead and would never return to them. It hadn�t surprised her that their new leader, Xingke had given the order; but even Rakshata who referred to the Guren as her child, had consented.
�I can�t believe some damn traitor would steal the Shinkiro,� a pilot from her own squad muttered as the group remained on standby, �and now we have to destroy it��
Another pilot was trying to dry her eyes and failing miserably, �Master Zero, please forgive us.�
The pilot of the Guren lowered her head as the others did but for different reasons. Unlike them she wasn�t in mourning, and was actually envious to be the only one who had known the truth all along. She had known at the failed aftermath of the Black Rebellion that their revered leader was not a knight for justice as he claimed to be.
�It�s Zero I believe in, it isn�t you Lelouch!�
That later became a lie, especially when he had come back to them even when the weight on his shoulders had become much too heavy to bear. He was even ready to inject himself with Refrain; the cursed drug that Kallen�s own mother became dependent on. Kallen wondered if she had not shown up when she did, he would have most likely been an addict for the rest of his life; while the Black Knights would have met their end at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
�What do I do now?� she wondered. The pilot also famously known as the �The Red Lotus� visibly wilted as she stared down at the Knightmare�s key in her hands.
�The Guren Mark II is yours now, Kallen.�
�Mine? But we have a lot of people now, and we can�t afford to loose you. We need the Guren�s defense to protect you��
�You�re a top notch pilot, and I am a commander.�
Her fingers curled around the key and remembered sitting down before Xingke and Ohgi, the latter had yet to stop being concerned for her. After all, she was willing to die besides the man who had orchestrated the massacre within the first Special Zone.
�Zero is gone, Kallen,� Xingke tried to be patient with her. He respected her as a pilot and a devoted subordinate to a man even he admired at some point, �You have to let him go. We, the Black Knights, still need you.�
She blinked back the sting she felt behind her blue eyes and tried not to think about her last meeting with Schneizel from his last visit. He insisted that Zero was indeed dead, but Lelouch would live on. The Black King had been captured, but the Knights were still free to move and they were needed as the UFN�s fighting force.
�What should I do, Zero?� she whispered out loud.
�Kallen, you must live on.�
You must let Lelouch go.
~*~*~*~*~
�A hostage�?�
�Yes, that�s what Suzaku told me,� Gino answered after giving his brief report, �should the Tristan and the Mordred go and back him up?�
�No, withdraw for now and return to the Avalon.�
�But, sir�!�
�We will not engage in another battle with the Black Knights. Not until we know the details of the situation. Is that clear, Sir Weinberg?�
�Yes, your highness, Tristan out.�
Although Schneizel remained emotionless on the outside, he was frowning from within. At his right, even Kanon seemed unsure what to make of this unexpected development. They have finally received intelligence back that Bismark, the Knight of One, had been killed and now the Emperor was missing. The gate and its control panel were destroyed.
All in all it seemed as if the assassination plot had been carried out effectively, but they couldn�t understand why the Shinkiro had shown up.
Then there was the whole �hostage� part that did not settle well for Schneizel. If Suzaku was pursuing it could only mean the hostage was Lelouch. Were the Black Knights trying to reclaim their former leader? Was Xingke also aware of his plans? He turned his head slightly to look at the man dressed in a dark suit at his left.
Diethard hung up his phone while looking grim. �That was my contact aboard the Ikaruga. Apparently, the leaders are claiming that some traitor stole the Shinkiro and it is to be destroyed rather than recovered.�
Schneizel did frown outwardly this time, his mouth hardened in a thin line of displeasure. He had instilled fear and paranoia among the Order of the Black Knights concerning the power of Geass. The Shinkiro had taken Lelouch and now the Black Knights were out to destroy it along with man who had been Zero.
Kanon seemed to be thinking along the same lines and he waited patiently for the Second Prince�s orders. �Move the Avalon out and patch me through to Sir Kururugi. Our primary target is the Shinkiro, capture it in one piece.�
~*~*~*~*~
Tick� tock� tick�
��Just using you!� Lelouch finished yelling from where he left off after time resumed, �Using you for my own ends! You don�t have to do this! I�m not a prisoner, so please��
The prince broke off as he watched in both dread and concern as his year-long sibling broke into a fit of coughs. Rolo�s pale face was covered in a sheen of sweat, and dark rings appeared under his eyes which he struggled to keep focus on the battle ahead. His hands fumbled at the control panel as he struggled once more to raise the Knightmare�s defensive shields.
�I knew,� the younger boy whispered hoarsely, �I knew I was just another pawn to you� but I�I didn�t care. I was happy with the time I spent with you as family. I never had one before. Even if it was all a lie� to me, that time meant everything. I��
Lelouch�s eyes widened in disbelief and then fear as he leaned forward and placed a gloved hand over the trembling one that belonged to his sibling. He opened his mouth but couldn�t form the words to apologize for his actions and those harsh words spoken when they parted. Rolo had tried to replace Nunnally and killed Shirley; Lelouch thought that was unforgivable. He had been wrong. What he had done to Rolo� this heartless deception� was much worse. He was no better than his own parents.
�Brother�� Rolo�s soft voice drew him out of his turmoil, �You still didn�t answer my question.�
The older boy averted his gaze and glanced at the screen to try and change the subject. �It� it looks like the Britannian forces have pulled back. All we need to do is put distance between us and the Black Knights.�
�All right� once more��
Lelouch swiveled his head back and stared at the other Geass user in horror to see him struggle to concentrate. �No! No more! Don�t use that�!�
Tick� tock�
Rolo smiled as he stared at the other�s frozen expression. Lelouch was scared, and scared for him. He would have laughed in elation, if it wouldn�t be a complete waste of his oxygen. While increasing the distance between them and the Black Knights who were falling from the sky and crashing into the water below; he managed to bring one trembling hand to his chest and retrieved his cell phone. The small silver locket dangled before his eyes and he smiled in memory.
�Happy Birthday, little brother.�
Clutching it close to his aching chest, he wondered what Lelouch would want for his birthday this year. He could use a new cell phone. Or maybe a new chess set, since the old one had been left behind. The month of December was still far away, but Rolo wanted to plan everything in advance. Just like his big brother would.
Time resumed and Rolo broke out into another series of hacking coughs, while the other boy resumed yelling at him. He let that frightened and angry voice wash over his tortured soul like balm. His brother was worried for him, and even in this grim situation, Rolo had never been happier.
��Power� Do you really want to die!?� Lelouch blinked as he noticed that they were no longer being pursued and Shikine Island appeared below them. How much time had past? How long had the other Geass user suffered to get them here?
�Rolo!� a voice barked over the radio, �What�s going on over there?�
�Jeremiah, is that you?�
�M-Master Lelouch�?�
�We�re landing, Jeremiah, be on stand by!�
�Yes sir!�
Once the Shinkiro had landed safely, kneeling close to the ground and taking cover among the trees, Lelouch could finally breathe easily. The same couldn�t be said about Rolo. They would have to find a doctor somehow. The younger boy looked in worse condition than he was before.
Lelouch quickly moved over to the front of the pilot�s seat, leaning close to check the other�s pulse. After a few torturous seconds, he scrambled over to retrieve his cell phone from one of the compartments within the cockpit. He could at least call some local hospital� and then have Jeremiah take them�or call Suzaku.
�You didn�t answer�,� a meek voice accused him, preventing Lelouch from dialing, �My question��
�If you want to die, I would die with you. If you want to live, I will die defending you.�
He wanted to argue. He wanted to scream. He wanted to be selfish, to tell the boy to shut the hell up and save his breath. The boy, who was and wasn�t his brother; who stared back at him with dull violet eyes that once sparkled with adoration.
�I�� he began, holding back the tears that threatened to fall, �I want to...�
Tick�
Rolo smiled as his fingers curled around his heart shaped locket. He took one deep breath and willed himself to lean towards Lelouch�s still form. Lelouch�s unhidden violet eye was surrounded by a glowing red circle.
Even though he had the power to freeze one�s time, Rolo had been hesitant to do something that wasn�t murder to show how much his brother meant to him; yet he was too scared to make any attempts in the past. The present was different, this was his only opportunity and he selfishly wasn�t going to squander it. The assassin brushed his lips over the other�s still ones in a chaste kiss.
�I love you, Lelouch.�
He slumped back onto the pilot seat, and time continues to move freely for his precious person once more.
��Live.� Realization hits Lelouch hard as he sees Rolo�s most prized possession now within his own hands.
�Yes� I knew that all along�� Those dull violet eyes are loosing the battle stay open as the world darkens before them. Even as his head lolls over to the side, the smile remains on his youthful face, frozen for all of time. �I know everything about you� big brother.�
The sound of a ticking clock is replaced with that of an opening door.
~*~*~*~*~
Jeremiah remains a silent guardian as he and his master stand before the makeshift grave of Rolo Lamperouge. It was still odd that this boy had been a trained assassin under V2 whose mission was to kill Lelouch if the latter regained his memories. He wondered briefly what turn of events must have occurred for a cold blooded assassin sacrifice his own life to save his former target. He brought his hand to rest upon his heart and prayed silently to the boy he would respect for the rest of his life.
Dawn was approaching, and with it a storm. He keeps silent until the winds pick up and the pitter patter of rain starts to fall. Jeremiah turns to the prince who still refuses to move. That single uncovered eye is still fixated on the small grave, as if expecting something� a miracle perhaps. Jeremiah�s heart aches for him and he fervently wishes he had an umbrella as the rain comes down harder; for there was no convincing his liege to move and seek shelter.
�Master Lelouch,� he finally breaks the silence, �It�s raining.�
The dark prince lifted his head and sighed as small droplets of water pelted and streaked down his face. It wasn�t strange at all how most of the rain had gathered at the corners of eye. It was raining tears� Lelouch almost wanted to laugh at the idea that maybe God was crying with him.
�Yes, Jeremiah,� he whispered back, �It�s raining.�
�Just pointing out the obvious, my lord.�
The son of his Lady Marianne let out a low sobering laugh and then the silence resumes once more. Jeremiah does his best to shield the boy but it�s a lost cause as they stand together being drenched by the rain. Five more minutes, the former Pureblood leader tries to tell himself. He would give Lelouch that much more time to grieve before dragging him away, before he caught his own death in this weather. Five more minutes, he repeated for the sixth time.
It wasn�t long before Jeremiah�s sensitive hearing picked up the sound of footsteps and he turned sharply, activating the long blade hidden under the sleeve of his coat. He would have charged forward had he not recognized the intruders from a distance, and hesitantly shot a glance to Lelouch who seemed unconcerned. Straightening, he sheathed his weapon and resumed his place as Suzaku Kururugi and C2 approached.
Although there was no marker on the grave, the Knight of Seven stared at it and then towards the small silver locket charm that was now dangling from Lelouch�s own cell phone. It didn�t take long for those two images to snap into place like pieces of a puzzle. C2 must have figured it out much sooner as she walked past both him and the self-proclaimed knight, to stand by her accomplice
�You can just make those two boxes of pizza,� she spoke softly, �with extra Tabasco.�
The boy�s lips twitched in a smirk and he only nodded his head while handing her the contents of his wallet. �Jeremiah��
�Yes, my lord?�
�Please take C2 back to the Tokyo Settlement. She knows of a facility you can both use there.�
Jeremiah looked confused and almost hesitant to obey even when the immortal witch had turned to walk towards him. �You�re not coming with us?�
�No, not right now, I�m not� going to run away. I will contact you when I need you.�
Although the words did not make sense to C2 or Jeremiah; they complied without pressing for explanations and started towards the Siegfried.
Left alone with the Knight of Seven, Lelouch crouched down, to stare at the mud that began to swallow up the few flowers laid upon Rolo�s grave. He couldn�t help but wonder if the dead boy had really been content with being just pawn for his older brother, and it made himself wonder about his own situation with Schneizel. He was the captured Black King now turned pawn.
His old self as Zero, would no sooner have taken his own life in such a predicament. However, he was not Zero anymore. He was a king without followers and a rebel without cause. Schneizel knew all along; by giving Lelouch what he desired � to have his revenge � he had crossed those checkered floors over into the White army.
�Surrender to me.�
It was strange; no longer did those words make him shiver with dread.
�I want to live�� he told himself, �so I can help make this world peaceful.�
�Lelouch,� Suzaku began, wiping his soaked bangs from his eyes, �The Avalon will be here within a few minutes.�
He pocketed his phone, but not before stroking the heart-shaped locket, and said his final goodbyes to Rolo. Maybe someday, he would like to return and give his little brother a proper gravestone. Ignoring the aches and stiffness coming from the muscles within his legs, he rose to stand.
Schneizel was waiting.
--------------------------------------
End Chapter 8
Author�s Note:
Okay there are things I need to clarify before you start sending me confused and angry reviews.
Lelouch�s Geass: Did not spread over to his other eye. Remember that only happened when he claimed to want a future. Also, Charles did not give Lelouch his code� I�m not sure that�s even possible since the two don�t have a contract with one another.
Lelouch being out of character: You�ve all read the summary and the warnings right? This is a �What If� sort of alternate universe spin off that will diverge from the anime storyline. There�s no Zero Requiem � only Damocles.
Rolo�s Death: You might have seen his death as pointless since Lelouch wasn�t about to die and wasn�t officially a prisoner; however, Rolo didn�t know this and only wanted to make up for not saving Lelouch before.
Argh! I�m running late, but I had to finish this chapter once I got a good five pages in. The next chapter will be what we�ve all been waiting for: Schneizel and Lelouch�s reunion (and smut, of course).
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- 9
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Of Kings and Pawns