Trust

Trust
A Code Geass fan fiction story
Written by Archangel

Epilogue


{Author’s Note: This is it, ladies and gentlemen. Close curtain. I will write no more chapters in this story, so please don’t ask for them. The blanks that remain are deliberate; I leave it to your imagination to fill them. ^_^

There are actually three music suggestions for the epilogue. For Kallen and Kimiko, it’s “Washu’s Lullaby” from the anime Tenchi Muyo. The lyrics don’t really apply, but the emotional tone of the song is spot-on. For Kallen and Lelouch, the suggestion is “We Belong” by Pat Benetar. Finally, for Lelouch in the final scene the suggestion is “Spirit of the Sun” by Tim Janis. As always, I am happy to provide copies of any or all of them if you email me.

This chapter is dedicated to every reviewer to whom I haven’t been able to give an individual dedication. You folks rock ub3r-hard, and the fact that this story has continued to its conclusion is primarily your fault. ;)

Further notes at the end. Enjoy, and please provide feedback! RATE and/or REVIEW, please!}

[Suburban Tokyo, about seven years after the death of Emperor Lelouch…]

Kallen sat down on the park bench, watching her daughter run towards the playground to swing, slide, and sand-sculpt. The sun was shining, and a pleasant breeze fluttered its way past. Children shouted and laughed. All was right with the world. Or as right as it had ever been since that day downtown. The usual mixture of grief, guilt, and love flashed through her heart.

“What a beautiful day.”

It couldn’t be... “C.C.?” Kallen asked the green-haired woman sitting down beside her.

“Actually, I go by ‘Celestile’ these days,” the witch replied with a warm smile. “It’s good to see you again, Kallen.”

“You too! What have you been doing with yourself? I haven’t seen you since… well, not since the Avalon, I think.” The astonished Kallen looked her erstwhile colleague up and down. “You look… older.”

C.C.—Celestile—actually giggled. “I *am* older,” she told Kallen with obvious happiness. “I finally got my wish.”

Kallen had no idea what Celestile was talking about. However, there was no denying that her girlish features had given way to a more womanly beauty. She appeared to be a year or two older than Kallen’s twenty-five. There was something else different as well—she no longer had that air of stillness about her. She seemed… normal. “So what have you been up to? I thought you’d fallen off the face of the earth.”

Celestile shrugged, looking out at the children playing in the sunshine. “Wandering, really. Exploring the world. Living.” The last word seemed to hold special emphasis. “You?”

“Mainly taking care of my little angel,” Kallen answered, pointing out Kimiko. “I teach advanced martial arts a few nights a week, and that’s enough to support us.”

“I see she takes after you.” The grinning Celestile indicated Kimiko, who had just wrestled a boy twice her size to the ground. After speaking to him for a moment, the girl released her opponent and gave him a hand back to his feet. “Hard to believe she’s three-quarters Britannian by looking at her.”

Kallen smiled proudly. “She takes after her father a lot, too. Brilliant. Perceptive. Kind.” She sighed.

“You miss him.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Yeah. I understand now—why he did it—but... it’s like there’s always something missing, just out of the corner of your eye. Know what I mean?”

Celestile was silent for a time. “You should visit Nishikawa,” she said at last.

“Now that’s more like you—cryptic and unexpected,” Kallen responded with a wry chuckle as her daughter came running up, violet eyes studying Celestile curiously. “Kimiko, this is Miss Celestile. She’s an old friend of Mommy’s.”

Kimiko studied Celestile for a moment, then bowed politely. “Nice to meetcha!”

“Nice to meet you too, Kimiko.” Celestile stood for a moment to return the bow.

“So where’s Nishikawa, and why should we visit there?” Kallen asked as Kimmy settled onto the bench between the two women. Kallen stroked her daughter’s fiery hair, which was every bit as soft and silky as her father’s had been.

“It’s a little town in Yamagata prefecture. There’s a Shinto shrine about ten minutes’ drive from the town center. I think you’d both like it.” Celestile stood and brushed off her long white dress. “Well, take care.”

“Hey! Won’t you at least stay for dinner?” Kallen protested.

“No, that’s alright,” Celestile replied with one of her mysterious smiles. “My regards to the others if you see them.” She turned and disappeared into the crowd thronging the sidewalks.

*****

[Nishikawa-Jinja, the next evening…]

“It’s so pretty here!” Kimiko chirped as she skipped up the path.

Kallen agreed as she surveyed their surroundings. An acre or two of forest stood before them, its perimeter broken only by a red torii gate. A small wooden house stood away to the left, near a small lake. Beyond the lake, Kallen thought she saw a farm field or two in the evening light. A pervasive sense of calm enfolded the area.

The lengthy drive had definitely been worthwhile. “Perhaps I *can* find some peace here,” Kallen murmured to herself.

“What’d you say, Mommy?”

“Oh, nothing dear.” The world-famous knight smiled and took her daughter’s hand. “Come on, let’s go say hello to the kami.”

The ladies stopped and bowed low at the torii before passing through. The path beyond was clear and well-maintained, roofed by enormous branches thick with leaves. It was almost a tunnel, and soon emerged into a clearing.

“Where are the other buildings?” Kimiko asked in puzzlement; their local shrine had several. The single structure was a modest one of wood and stone. However, the surrounding forest and the mountain framing it from behind gave the little shrine a sense of great dignity—even majesty. The setting sun only enhanced the effect.

“This is just a little country shrine, honey,” Kallen explained. “The honden is a special room within the haiden.”

“Oh, okay.” They made their ablutions at the small fountain and shed their shoes.

The inside of the shrine was also impressive in its modest way. The quiet dignity of the place impressed even Kimiko, who stood quietly beside her mother. Hundreds of candles burned in clusters around the room, giving it a soothing light. Every piece of wood shone from polishing, and it seemed that dust was afraid to enter. Clearly the kannushi took his job seriously.

The kannushi was in fact present, and was currently—what the heck *was* he doing? The benches had been pushed to the walls, and the barefooted priest was engaged in a dance routine, or perhaps practicing martial arts in the open space. Kallen wasn’t certain which. His voluminous vestments seemed not to hamper his motions at all, nor did the fact that he kept one hand in a steady position in front of him. He was facing the door to the honden, and his waist-length mane of black hair mesmerized Kallen as it flowed with his movements. It shimmered in the candlelight, and was beautiful to watch. The motions could be attacks and blocks, Kallen thought, but there was no aggression in his movement at all.

After many minutes, the priest came to a halt and bowed deeply towards the honden. He finally noticed the two ladies as he turned, carefully marking his place in a paperback book. Kallen was astonished as she realized that he’d been reading the whole time! The kannushi’s eyes widened a bit in surprise but he recovered quickly, bowing in greeting. “Konnichiha. Welcome to Nishikawa-Jinja.”

He was a perfect match for the setting and the shrine, Kallen decided as she and Kimiko bowed back. His voice was soft and calming, and everything about him radiated peace and tranquility. That sleek black hair was cut close on the front and sides, exposing a handsome, angular face with a wonderfully gentle smile. Even his violet eyes were soothing.

The handsome face showed confusion as the priest studied Kallen. Then surprise. He took a step backwards. Color drained away, and his eyes went very wide indeed.

His eyes. Beautiful, intelligent eyes colored a vivid shade of purple. And that voice!

The pieces suddenly snapped together in Kallen’s mind.

No way. No freaking way.

“Mommy, your hand is like ice!”

The face blurred. Kallen fought to re-focus her eyes. He looked very different without the long bangs, but there was no doubt. None. “But you’re dead,” she whispered. “I saw you die.”

“What is it?” Kimiko piped up again after a few minutes. “Mommy, what’s going on?”

The simple question snapped both adults out of their shock. The priest quickly regained his composure, although his smile was slightly brittle. “Perhaps I should introduce myself, Kouzuki-san. My name is Kaimu. And you must be Kimiko,” he added warmly. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

“How do you know my name?” the girl demanded suspiciously, almond-shaped eyes narrowing in an eerie imitation of her mom.

‘Kaimu’ grinned. “Your mother is quite famous, young lady. The children of famous people tend to be known as well.”

“This… Kaimu-Sensei… he’s a friend of Mommy’s, Kimiko,” Kallen said softly, laying a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “From a very long time ago.”

The priest nodded. “From before you were born, in fact.”

Kimiko’s expression changed from suspicion to curiosity. “So you’re one of those friends she tells stories about?” she asked eagerly. “I don’t remember anyone named Kaimu, though. Who were you? What did you do?”

“It doesn’t matter,” ‘Kaimu’ replied smoothly. “I had a different name then, and it’s all behind me.”

“Aww, c’mon! Tell me, pretty please?”

“I don’t like to talk about it,” he answered, kindly but firmly.

A gentle squeeze from Kallen’s hand forestalled the girl’s next attempt. “Don’t be rude, sweetie.”

Kimiko nodded reluctantly. “I’m sorry, Sensei,” she told Kaimu sincerely with an apologetic bow.

“It’s quite alright, Kimiko-chan. So, what brings you two up here?” he asked with slightly forced cheerfulness.

Kallen still didn’t know what to think, let alone what to say. “Well,” she stammered, “someone, that is, I—” Kallen stopped and sighed softly. “She suggested that I come up here,” the former knight explained simply.

Kaimu instantly realized which ‘she’ Kallen meant. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I should have known,” he muttered. “Well. Since you’re here, you’ll just have to stay for dinner,” the priest concluded, genuine warmth infusing his face and voice.

“Oh, we don’t want to impose,” the startled Kallen replied.

“No imposition,” Kaimu assured her. “Actually, I’d like the company. And I do a mean stir-fry, if I say so myself. Stay for dinner. Please?”

The good humor in his tone was infectious. “Alright,” Kallen replied softly. “So what have you been doing all these years?” she asked after the trio had made their respects and left the shrine.

“Oh, wandered around at first. Saw a lot of Europe, Africa and Asia. About three years ago, I found myself in Nishikawa for the night. Someone mentioned that they really needed a kannushi. Liked the place, so I decided to settle down. Been here ever since.”

“What kinda stuff did you see?” Kimiko asked eagerly.

Kaimu grinned and ruffled her hair affectionately. “Travel stories, eh? Well, let’s see. I remember this one little town, not too far east of Moscow…”

Despite his vestments, the calm, serious priest they’d met earlier was gone now. In his place was a kindly, unassuming guy. You always could change personalities like shirts, Lelouch, Kallen thought as they walked towards the house through the warm night air. The retired knight hid a grin behind her hand as she watched Kimiko begin to bond with her father.

Dinner was excellent.

*****

Kimiko’s breathing deepened and regularized. Her mother’s hand gradually slowed, then stopped rubbing the girl’s back. Asleep, Kimmy looks even more angelic than she does awake, Kallen thought for the millionth time. She bent and kissed her daughter’s forehead before smoothing the old blanket out and standing.

Amazingly, the little wooden house had electricity and running water, but Kaimu—Lelouch—didn’t seem to use them much. No TV or computer, and candles heavily outnumbered light bulbs. There wasn’t much furniture, either; two of the three bedrooms upstairs were entirely empty. Although the priest had offered the ladies his bed, Kimiko had staked out the battered old sofa instead. Well, it is pretty comfy, Kallen thought. And who am I to argue?

She heard a soft step and turned her head to see Lelouch crouching down beside her. He’d exchanged his vestments for some torn-up jeans and a t-shirt with something-or-other written in Arabic on the front, and he’d let his long black hair loose. Now that Kimmy wasn’t watching, Kallen couldn’t resist stroking that hair. The wonderfully soft texture dispelled the last of her fears about this being a dream or a trick; the only other person in the world with hair like that was snoring cutely in front of them.

Lelouch gave Kallen a wonderfully warm smile. She smiled back as he turned his gaze to their sleeping daughter. As Kallen watched, Lelouch reached out and laid a hand on Kimiko’s dark red hair, letting his hand run down to her shoulder. The look of wonder and happiness on his face brought tears to Kallen’s eyes, and she saw matching tears glittering in the corner of his eyes when he looked up. Their hands found each other, and they spent many minutes just watching their baby sleep.

At last, Kallen rose and gently tugged Lelouch towards the door. He came along willingly, keeping his fingers tightly entwined with hers. Once outside, it was Lelouch’s turn to guide Kallen down towards the nearby lake. The full moon was shining on the still water. Crickets were chirping all around. The evening was magical. When Lelouch sat down in the grass near the shore Kallen sat behind him, wrapping her arms and legs around her long-lost lover. He leaned back automatically. Kallen pillowed his head on her breasts. Her head came down to rest against his.

The world was truly, unbreakably perfect.

Like so many times before, the two simply savored the silence, letting it settle around them like a comfortable blanket. But tonight the silence could not last forever; explanations were due. It was Kallen who spoke first: “Hey, you.”

“Hey.” Lelouch closed his eyes and sighed softly. “I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered, voicing their most prominent mutual thought.

“Then why didn’t you come find us?” Kallen asked gently, running her fingers through his luxuriant mass of hair. She knew that she ought to be angry—ought to be punching him!—but she wasn’t. He was so different now, so… peaceful. Where once he had exuded an aura of power and energy—with a strong undercurrent of anger—now Lelouch gave off a powerful sense of peace and contentment. Kallen realized that he seemed happy—truly happy—for the first time since she’d met him. And it was rubbing off on her.

“Two main reasons,” Lelouch murmured against Kallen’s breast. “One of them was that you live in Tokyo. I can’t go into a major population center. All it would take to unravel everything I’ve accomplished would be the wrong person recognizing me. I can’t take the risk. I… I couldn’t be that selfish, Shin-gan. I’m so sorry.”

Kallen held him tighter. “You could have called,” she responded quietly. “I’m not in the phone book, but this is you we’re talking about, Lelouch. You could have found my number easily enough.”

After a long moment, Lelouch sighed, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. “You’re right,” he whispered. “The truth is that… I was scared. I didn’t plan to survive, you know. After the way we parted and all the horrible things I had to do—hell, Suzaku almost killed you both!—how could we just pick up where we left off? I was afraid that you’d still hate me. That you’d tell me to go away…” he trailed off sheepishly.

“It’s okay,” Kallen soothed, rubbing her cheek against the crown of his head. “Kimmy and I are here now. We can finally be a family.” She sighed and squeezed him tighter. “Ever since I was little… I always wanted a real, complete family, you know?”

Lelouch nodded, rubbing his head against Kallen’s cheek. “Me too. But, Kallen… it’s not as simple as that.”

“What do you mean? So you can’t go to the city. That’s fine! Kimmy and I can move out here. I really like this place, actually,” she added with a chuckle. “I think she will too.”

A quiet sigh. “I said I had two reasons, remember?”

“So what’s the other?”

“I can’t age and I can’t die,” Lelouch replied flatly.

“What?!”

Lelouch sat up, pulling out of Kallen’s embrace and turning towards her. “Look at me, Shin-gan,” he told her gently, reaching out to stroke her cheek. “Really look, beyond the new haircut. I haven’t aged a day in seven years.”

He was right. While Kallen looked a fair bit older now—much as she hated to admit that to herself—Lelouch still had the slim, boyish features of a teenager. “Weird,” she replied, running a hand along his cheek. “But what do you mean, you can’t die?”

Lelouch pulled the t-shirt over his head and dropped it to the grass. He was a bit more muscular than Kallen remembered, but that only emphasized his slimness. Kallen found herself licking her lips as her eyes roamed over Lelouch’s shoulders and down his chest.

Then she saw it.

“That’s… she had that on her forehead! I saw it once or twice.”

“Correct. She did. This—” he touched the pronged symbol branded over his heart, and it glowed faintly, “—signifies the holder of a Code. C.C. passed her Code to me before I could die.”

Kallen shook her head fractionally. “You’ve lost me, honey.”

Lelouch gave Kallen one of those boyish grins that made her heart melt. “Sorry. It’s pretty simple…” He proceeded to give Kallen a comprehensive explanation of the Code and its relationship to Geass. Kallen listened intently until Lelouch fell silent.

“Okay.”

“That’s all you have to say? ‘Okay’?”

Kallen cradled Lelouch’s face in her hands. “It’s weird, I’ll give you that. But not a problem.”

Lelouch’s face was a study in disbelief. “Not a problem? When you’re—hell, when Kimiko’s grandchildren are old and gray, I’ll still look exactly the same as I do now! How can you tell me that there’s no problem with that?”

Kallen leaned forward, lips curling in an amorous smile. “I get to have sex with a gorgeous young guy every night for the rest of my life,” she purred. “Yeah, that’s a huge problem. Although I bet you’ll lose interest when I get old,” Kallen added challengingly.

“Not a chance,” Lelouch replied, matching Kallen’s smile and scooting forward. “You’ll still be wearing me out when you’re ninety.”

“Bet your ass,” Kallen affirmed, reaching down to give said ass a firm squeeze. They finally kissed, hands exploring long-lost territory. After a bit, Kallen pulled away and hopped to her feet. “Come to bed.”

Lelouch blinked up at her. “What about Kimiko?”

“She sleeps like a rock,” Kallen answered impatiently. “Come. To. Bed.” She held out a hand to the former ruler of the world.

“Been too long,” the fallen emperor replied, taking the hand and allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.

Kallen laughed as they ran towards the house. “Let’s make up for lost time, then! I want another baby.”

*****

[Nishikawa-Jinja, about one hundred and twenty years later…]

“Why come all the way up here? Everyone knows you can’t run from the Samurai, Tadashi. Now you get to pay for scratching Shinji’s hoverbike.”

The stated offense would have normally made Tadashi laugh. However, the even dozen members of the “Samurai”—Nishikawa High’s cruel and vicious gang—surrounding him took any hint of humor from the situation. These were some of the biggest and strongest boys in the school, mostly Seniors. They fought with real, adult bikers for fun, while Tadashi could barely throw a punch. And in his panic, Tadashi had managed to run all the way out of town, to the place he was least likely to find help: the old shrine.

But something deep inside him refused to go down without a fight. As the aggrieved Shinji moved in, Tadashi threw all his will into a desperate kick. Amazingly, his foot connected, bringing a whooshing noise as it forced the air from Shinji’s lungs. Tadashi blinked in astonishment.

Isamu, the gang’s “shogun,” clicked his tongue. “Now that’s what I call dumb,” he taunted, reaching a hand behind his back. “Disrespect we can forgive—just letcha off with a beating. But when someone attacks a Samurai—” There was a click and an ominous humming noise. “—that someone loses a body part.” Isamu’s hand reappeared, holding a short knife designed for industrial use. A vibroblade. “So, what’ll it be? I can take off whatever I—”

“My, my, my,” interjected a cheerful voice. Tadashi turned around to see a hunched figure in a purple robe ambling down the hill from the shrine, supporting himself on a tall wooden staff. A deep cowl completely hid the old man’s face, but his words carried clearly. “You call yourselves samurai, yet you seem to be acting more like ninja. Twelve armed fighters against one unarmed civilian is a bit dishonorable, don’t you think?” A single finger emerged from its voluminous sleeve and wagged disapprovingly. “Shame on you little boys. Run along home.”

The triumphant Isamu stared for a moment, then laughed. “Get outta here, grandpa. We’re just takin’ care of a little business with brainiac here.”

The stooped old man laughed right back, wry and mocking. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you to respect your elders, Isamu-Chan?”

This must be Kaimu-Sensei, the shrine’s kannushi, Tadashi thought. Wow, he’s even older than I’d heard—looks like he can barely walk! Nobody ever said how long he’s been here, now that I think of it.

“How the hell do you know my name, old man?”

“You’d be surprised at what I know, kiddo,” the priest shot back. “For example, I know that you are Isamu Nagamasa, a stupid little boy who plays at what he thinks is manhood.” A firm, commanding tone had supplanted the earlier amusement.

The vibroblade was no longer pointing at Tadashi. “I dare you to say that again, gramps,” Isamu snarled. “I’ll teach you to insult the Shogun!”

“Shogun?” Kaimu-Sensei asked with a soft chuckle. His steady, limping pace never altered as he breezed through the ring of gang members and stopped facing Isamu. “You pick on weaker children, then tell everyone that you beat up adults. You carry a blade you stole from your father’s butcher shop and wave it around like it makes you a shinigami. Oh yes, kuso-kun, I know exactly what you and your little friends do and don’t get up to. In fact, I bet you’d faint at the sight of actual blood.”

Isamu’s face screwed up and turned a rather interesting shade of mauve. He stepped forward, poising the vibroblade as if to take off Kaimu-Sensei’s head. “Y—you—!” he spat.

The robed priest began to straighten from his stoop. “I’ve been around a long time,” he said quietly. “And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years—” He now seemed to tower above the boys, radiating an aura of strength and power. “—it is that the only ones who should hurt people… ARE THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED TO BE HURT!!”

The staff was a blur as it shot out at Isamu’s knife hand. Kaimu was moving to the next bully before Tadashi even registered the sound of snapping bone. The old priest was a whirlwind of movement, dancing around the Samurai members like they were standing still, staff striking true again and again.

In less than ten seconds, the entire gang was on the ground—screaming, groaning, even whimpering for their mothers. Kaimu stood motionless in front of the dumbfounded Tadashi, staff planted vertically like some heavenly guardian of legend. “Now leave,” he told the bullies with quiet finality. “Do not return to this place until you have gained some wisdom and honor. Not you,” he added, the cowl turning towards Tadashi. “I’d like you to stay for a minute.”

“H-hai, Sensei,” Tadashi murmured as he watched the gang drag themselves off down the path.

Kaimu-Sensei watched them go with evident satisfaction. “Now then,” he said when they were lost to sight, “are you okay, Tadashi-Chan?” The old priest flipped back the cowl, revealing a handsome, boyish face that appeared no older than Tadashi’s own. And not Japanese, to boot.

Tadashi could only stare. “You know who I am, Kaimu-Sensei?” the boy finally blurted.

The priest gave him a warm, friendly smile, gesturing for Tadashi to follow as he began striding back up the hill to the shrine. Gone was the simulated frailty, and also gone was that frightening intensity. “When a student gets caught doodling calculus equations in algebra class, word tends to get around,” he answered cheerfully. “So what was that all about, anyway?”

In a few words, Tadashi explained the imagined slight that Shinji had invented after the class beauty, Hotaru, had taken to Tadashi instead of to him.

Kaimu shook his head slightly. “People never change,” he murmured. “Well, hopefully those idiots won’t be bothering you again for a while.”

Tadashi shook his head. “They’ll be back, and they’ll be out for my blood. Not that I don’t appreciate your help,” he added hastily, “but they’ll kill me for sure. Oh, what am I going to do?” he moaned.

“There’s only one way to deal with bullies,” the sensei replied as he stooped and picked a brilliant red flower from a patch in the middle of the meadow. “Stand up to them.”

“Just me, against that whole gang? I can’t beat one of them, let alone all!”

“By standing up, you set an example,” Kaimu explained calmly as they bowed to the torii. “You inspire other victims to stand with you. Together, you will defeat them.”

Tadashi was silent as they walked along the tunnel-like path. “You really think so?”

“I know so.”

“You’ve done it?”

Instead of making for the small fountain when they emerged, Kaimu turned to the right. “Yes,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“And it worked?”

“Indeed,” Kaimu repeated as he knelt before a simple marble headstone. It seemed a bit out of place; the local cemetery was over by the Buddhist temple. Tadashi watched curiously as the priest replaced the day-old flower in front of the headstone with the one he’d just picked, then didn’t move for many minutes. It seemed like he was actually conversing with someone, although there was nobody else around. Tadashi couldn’t make out the murmured words. Finally, Kaimu let out a quiet chuckle. “Don’t worry so much. It’ll be fine. I love you, Shin-gan.” Brushing off his robe, he stood and turned back towards the fountain, clapping Tadashi on the shoulder as he passed.

Without thinking, Tadashi asked “Who were you talking to, Sensei?” Kaimu gestured at the gravestone in reply. Tadashi bent to read the inscription beneath the old-style Black Knights symbol:

KALLEN KOUZUKI
3/29/2000 – 7/2/2093
BELOVED WIFE AND MOTHER OF FIVE
KNIGHT FOR JUSTICE

He caught up to Kaimu at a trot. “Sensei, who was she?” he asked curiously as they cleansed themselves at the fountain.

“My wife,” Kaimu answered quietly before turning to enter the temple.

“Your wife?” Tadashi protested as they passed within. “But—” he remembered where they were and lowered his voice, “—but you don’t look any older than I am, Sensei! And it says she died nearly fifty years ago! How can that be?” he blurted as the priest leaned his staff against the doorframe and knelt in the center of the candlelit room. The possibility that the kannushi had *actually* been conversing with a dead woman was more than Tadashi could safely contemplate at the moment, so he let it be.

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies,” the kannushi replied with a soft chuckle. “Okay, seriously,” he continued, looking over his shoulder at Tadashi, “you can try and figure it out and give yourself a headache. Or you can forget about it and pray with me; when we’re done, I’ll teach you to play chess. What do you say?”

After a moment’s reflection, Tadashi knelt awkwardly and clapped his hands twice in imitation of the priest. “What good will learning an ancient game like chess do me?” he asked with some bemusement.

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” Kaimu murmured with a smile, drawing a little black horse figurine from somewhere in his sleeve and gazing at it contemplatively.

*****

We belong to the light
We belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words
We’ve both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better
We belong, we belong
We belong together

{More Author’s Note: As I’ve said before, any questions left unanswered are there for you to answer for yourself. And let me also reiterate that “Trust” is now finished, completely and for all time. There will be no further chapters, so do not ask. If you wish to fill in the blanks with your own stories, be my guest. I’ll even proofread for you if you wish. ^^

For more detailed information about Lelouch and Kallen’s children, I refer you to my writing blog.

Okay, where do we start with the explanations? In no particular order:

First and foremost, about Lelouch receiving C.C.’s Code. I’m aware that the host needs to die to pass a Code on—or apparently so. For the purposes of this story, we will assume that C.C. found a way to pass her Code to Lelouch without dying. Well, without dying yet. She will now age and die normally.

Kallen’s mother helped her with raising Kimmy for the year or two it took Kallen to complete school. Then Kallen took a job as a martial arts instructor and moved to her own apartment not far from her mother’s. They’re still quite close, even though Mom isn’t seen or mentioned in this chapter.

I’m not sure what, if anything, Kallen told Kimiko about her father before all of this. Full explanation would have to wait until Kimmy’s teenage years, at least.

As far as all the Shinto terms, the shrine and so forth, I refer you to Wikipedia. That’s where all of that is drawn from. If there are any inaccuracies, I apologize. I’m not Japanese in any way, shape, or form, and I was raised Roman Catholic.

The idea for the shrine itself was inspired by “Tenchi Muyo,” if you haven’t guessed. Lelouch grows most of his own food, and also receives a small stipend from the shrine’s Ujiko (committee of parishioners). Since he lives simply, it’s more than enough to make ends meet.

“Kaimu” is the Japanese word that’s most synonymous with the English word “nothing,” as far as I can tell. It is the name Lelouch began using early in his journeys, long before he settled down in Nishikawa. As far as me choosing it, I can only tell you that it seemed appropriate.

I am aware that Lelouch could die someday by empowering someone with Geass and repeating the cycle. But Lelouch gave up *everything* he had to create a new, better world. Granted, receiving a Code was not part of the plan, but unleashing Geass once again is guaranteed to screw up the world once more. So I think it’s safe to say that Hell’s more likely to freeze over. Regardless, Lelouch views his immortality as a punishment/penance for all the evil things he did. He will continue living and watch over his adopted community for the same reason Suzaku chose to take on the mantle of Zero for all eternity.

Kallen does discuss the whole situation with Lelouch in far more detail, but not that first night. That first night, Kallen is a bit overwhelmed by everything… and also terminally horny for Lelouch. ;)

According to my research, “sensei” is the proper form of address to a Shinto priest.

“Kuso-kun” is a sufficiently profane phrase that I decline to translate it.

Kallen’s date of birth was also drawn from Wikipedia. July 2nd holds no particular significance for me, nor to the world at large as far as I know.

Feel free to pose any questions I haven’t answered, but be forewarned that when it comes to the plot it’s a short journey to the realm of Archangel-Doesn’t-Know. I will post answers on my LiveJournal.

Alpha readers: All That Is Left Unsaid, Mikey, Xagzan.

This may or may not be the end of my Geass writing (I’m honestly not sure), but I will definitely be working on my original stories a lot more. As always, you can find details and updates on my blog.

All of you, thank you for everything. You’ve been a wonderful readership.}