Atop the metallic desk at the far end er of the room, a ptop ced at its ter as a figure dressed in a full body, armored suit with the devil’s mask currently split in half to reveal the otherworldly tenance of a handsome young man.
Although he was alone in his own personal office within Amaterasu, the Bight’s new, extremely advanced fgship and greatest secret on, and no o the embers of the Bights were present and knew about this pce, he still wore his suit. After all, there might be a eoher than Lelouch, Tatsuya, Satoru, Karen, and Cecilia would e all of a sudden to his offibsp;
It had been a week sihe Bights, or at least, the very embers of the Bights moved their headquarters to the lo secret base.
In light of the current situation with Britannia, Lelouch had decided to reveal the existenaterasu to the embers of the Bights in order to familiarize them with their secret on and trump card in the uping major operation.
The members who Lelouch told about the Amaterasu were Ohgi and his closest friends, Tohdoh and the Four Heavenly Swords, Rakshata and his team, and a few members of the Bights which Lelouch had used geass on to make them obey his every orders.
Of course, he had also made Tohdoh. Rakshata, and their team take a pledge of secrecy so that they would not reveal the existence of this ship even to their “superiors” or “sponsors”.
The rest, such as Diethard and the other more minor members of the Bights, were left in the dark, and were given vague yet suffit answers when asked about their absen the “base”.
Sihe existenatearsu was revealed to them, Rakshata aeam had been expl every nook and y of the ship’s system as well as its onaries and hangars.
And in addition to the jaw dropping system which they couldn’t believe was developed with a decade old teology by a Japanese couple, they found two more hiddehat not even Yuuji, Lelouch, Satoru, or even Tatsuya, the “heir” and owner of the Amaterasu ied by his “parents”, knew of.
Within the hidde hangar, pletely hidden on purpose as a pce where eologies that were currently being developed were stored, they found two inplete knightmare frames.
One resembled the Guren based on the shape of its torso. But instead of only one, both of its hands resembled Guren’s cwed, rge, right hand. And instead of crimson, it had a mix of bd silver.
Oher hand, the sed was cerulean blue with ats of silver though its chest, arms, and legs. And instead e, cwed hands, arm guards and leg guards resembling that of a samurai protected its arms and legs. Two, sharp ssh harkeed beh its arm guards and awo oher side of its hips.
While its left hand… It held within it a long, massive, samurai sword that stood even taller than the knightmare itself; a on resembling that of a Japaraditional samurai sword, the Nodachi.
They were sukuyomi and Susanoo, and Rakshata’s team and Tatsuya had a field day pying with it at any free time they had.
And although Yuuji had also been helping with the programming and engineering stuff, he had mostly left it to the experts and spent most of his time doing what he did best; Robbing the rich Britannians through his preition level market analysis and iing skills.
Meanwhile, he also set aside much of his time w on Excalibur’s upgrade. And he did not fet to spend his free time with Karen and Cecilia, or Lelouch, Tatsuya, and Satoru as well when they’re free.
In clusion, his stay in Amaterasu had been quite peaceful and silent.
Though of course, with only around twenty people within such a massive ship, it wasn’t strahat it would be very quiet.
But just then, he sensed a presence approag his office along with the small sound of footsteps that he was only able to hear due to his enhanced senses. But just as he was about to put his mask ba, he reized the preseer seeing through the walls with his <
Soon, a knock came to his door as a familiar voice resounded from behind it.
“H-Hey, Mordred… you e with me for a bit?”
It was the familiar voice of Karen, which he had already expected. But something bothered him. Unlike her usual tone, her voice seemed… nervous, worried, and down.
“Karen…? What’s wrong?”
He opehe door using a button on the edge of his desk to let her in. And wheallic door slid open, his eyes widened slightly when he saw her standing there with a nervous look.
Worry immediately began to surfa his heart.
Did something happen with her preparation? The Guren, even with all the new features Rakshata and Tatsuya added at the st minute, should be all ready for battle. He, himself, had made sure of it after he finished with his Excalibur. So, there shouldn’t be a problem with it.
All that was left was for her to get used to the movement trols which were quite different from what she was used to. And for this, she had been training all day using a simutor.
But this shouldn’t affect her this much. She had been doing amazing in her simution and he had been “praising” her every night.
Ah, or perhaps…
Was she nervous about the uping… major offensive operation?
He stood up from his seat and approached her as she entered, letting the door slide back close behind her.
Yuuji immediately took her hands into his ahem tightly.
“Karen, what’s wrong?”
“Y-Yuuji… There’s something I o ask you for… A favor.”
“A favor…?”
Karen nodded as she fidgeted nervously.
Seeing this, Yuuji pulled to the other end of the massive offi, towards the small lounge area with couches.
“It’s alright. You don’t o hold back with me, you know? What is it?”
Yuuji sat her down on the couch before he sat down beside her, keeping his hold on her hands. He could feel her hands being damp with sweat, and he became increasingly ed.
He forted her for a few moments, and after taking a few breaths, Karen finally posed herself enough to tell him what she had been holding onto for a while.
“Yuuji… I-I know we’re extremely busy right now with the uping operation… But I need your help.”
“Of course. What is it, Karen?”
“...I want to take my mom out of that hospital.”
His eyes widened in surprise as Karen tio speak.
“With everything that happened… I-I don’t wao stay in a hospital operated by the Britannians. I’m afraid that she won’t be given the care she needs while she’s still rec from the aftereffect of Refrain… Her needs might even be ed…!”
flicts, riots, and skirmishes have occurred in various pces all throughout Japan. Some were between the Britannian army and the Japan Liberation Front, as they tried to poke and prod on each other’s positions and gain intel on each other’s movement. While others… Many others were started by Japaizens who were rioting, attag random properties owned by Britannians with a frequency that was increasing by the day.
It was utter chaos… A fitti unfortunate prelude to the uping massive battle.
The same thing had been happening in Britannia-runned hospitals as well… Many hospital workers, nurses, and doctors have been hurt, and some had left the hospital to avoid the many Japanese people who had started attag and pilging it as well, leaving behind many of their patients.
In light of such chaos, the JLF and the Bights have tried to prevent as many of these flicts and riots from happening. But with their preparation for the uping battle and the sheer number of these riots happening, they couldn’t stop all of them.
That’s why Karen wao take her mother out of the hospital she’s currently in.
“I see…”
Yuuji held Karen’s trembling hands tighter as she tinued.
“That’s why… Please help me bring her here…! We have a very nice health bay here with tons of great facilities and advanced medical equipment. We have her stay here for the time being so she be fortable and safe!
T-Though, it might be a bit dangerous wheart the operation and go to battle…”
Yuuji pced his hand on her bad began patting it as he smiled softly.
“Alright. Let’s move your mother to the medical bay in Amaterasu. I’ll ask Lelouch to secure some medical professionals who could take care of her. And when we go to battle… We’ll have her stay in our home and bring all the necessary medical equipment there.”
Seg medical professionals would be simple to do with Lelouch’s help. They simply o find some and have them e under Lelouch’s trol so they would dedicate themselves int for Karen’s mother and not say a word to anyone about this.
And when they go to battle, he could have her stay in his mansion, where he knew she would be safe.
Or perhaps… Better yet…
Yuuji made a mental o check the Chat Group’s shop ter on for something that could help heal Karen’s mother from the after effects of the Refrain drug.
Upon hearing his words and assurance, Karen’s expression immediately lit up. The clouds hanging over her head instantly vanished as she immediately jumped into his embrad ed her arms around his neck.
“!!! Thank you, Yuuji!!”
Yuuji returned her embrad began stroking her head.
“There’s no need for thanks. I’m also worried for her safety. In fact, even after she recovers, she’s free to stay in our home.
“R-Really?”
Karen separated herself from Yuuji and looked at him in surprise.
“Of course. I don’t think living together with your… step mother would be fortable for her. And since you’re staying over a lot, it’d be better for her to just stay there, where it’s safe.”
“Yes! Yes, that’ll be amazing! I-If she agrees to stay there, I’ll also move in!”
This was the best possible oute for her! She could feel at ease knowing her mother is safe within Yuuji’s mansion, and she’ll also be able to live together with her mother, free from her step-mother’s influence, and also be with Yuuji always!
“Great. Then, it’s decided. So, when would you like for us to go to the hospital?”
“Hm… It’s getting pretty te now. How about tomorrow m…?”
“Sure. Let’s go together tomorrow m.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“You’re wele.”
The two hugged once more before they began sharing a kiss.
And the rest of the night, they would stay in Yuuji’s private quarters within the Amaterasu, and cuddle after making love ‘till the dead of night.
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
Karen and Yuuji headed to the hospital the very m. And the moment they arrived, he could already see why Karen didn’t want her mother to stay within the hospital any longer.
There were multiple security guards and Britannian police forces stationed around the hospital. Though, from what Yuuji could see, they were quite few in numbers, enough to barely guard the perimeter. Perhaps there were more inside, but from where he was, he could see many of them.
They arrived before the entrae, and Yuuji could notice dents and scratch marks all over the metal gates itself. A clear sign of the struggle and riot it had to fad prevent from entering the premise.
Two guards guarding the entrance, equipped fully with armed ons and bullet-proof armor, immediately approached them with clear viginbsp;
“IDs and reason for visit?”
“I am Kallen Stadfeld. Here to visit my maid, who had been hospitalized a few days ago.”
“I am Alexander Kyrielight. Here to apany her visit.”
Karen and Yuuji immediately gave them her school ID, and after cheg it, they were immediately let in.
It seemed that as long as they were not Japahey would be let in easily, as Yuuji noticed their vigince immediately plummeting dowhey mentioheir Britannian-esque name.
They ehe hospital, and after giving their o the receptionist, Karen immediately headed to her mother’s room, having remembered the way to it by heart.
Yuuji held her hand all the way, knowing she was nervous for essentially introdug him to her mother for the first time. And for what’s to e…
After telling her his pn, Karen was overjoyed and hugged him tightly. But soon, her joy was clouded by nervousness…
Too be with her mother once more… And truly be with her this time, after all the years she had doo her as she kept enduring and enduring the pain and suffering…
She didn’t know how to face her…
“It’ll be fine, Karen. I promise you…”
“Y-Yuuji…”
Yuuji smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
“She’s your mother, who stayed by your side even through all the pain she had to endure. She loves you very dearly. I assure you, everything will be fine.”
“U-Uhn… Thank you…”
Karen held his hand tighter as they walked, and they soon arrived before her mother’s room.
Karen opehe door aered with Yuuji following her closely behind.
And the moment they ehey could see a beautiful, yet somehow withered, mature dy with brown hair casg down to her middle back, sitting on the hospital bed.
Her eyes, dull and unfocused, gazed down to the hands on her p as she stared at it dazedly, unmoving.
“Mom…”
The moment she saw the state of her mother, tears immediately pooled on the er of her eyes, threatening to stream down the side of her face.
She came closer, pulled a chair towards the side of her bed, and sat down, holding her mother’s hand tightly.
“Mom… I’m here… Everything will be fine, okay…?”
Ms. Kozuki slightly turned her head towards Karen, notig the voice. But her eyes was still unfocused, as if looking past her own daughter.
“Mom…”
She held her hand tighter before she loosened her hold when she felt a hand on her babsp;
“Karen… It’ll be fine.”
She looked up and saw her beloved, standing with a warm smile on his fad a beautiful, crystal vial with gold decorations that spiraled up the length of the vial to the lid, where a diamond sat at its top, held by golden prongs.
The vial itself could easily sell for thousands of dolrs from the sheer beauty of it. But the true value lies in the shimmery, clear liquid within it. An otherworldly potion that could s all minor illnesses and harmful effects from the body; A Potion of Minor sing.
It was a rare-raem that Yuuji bought from the Group Chat’s shop for 1000 GCP. Its effect was extremely potent tur person, capable of sing all matter of ailments and healing any disease that a person might suffer from, in addition to sing all impurities on the body.
It was only “minor” when pared to other otherworldly items sold within the Group Chat shop.
Yuuji hahe vial to Karen, and pced his hand on top of hers.
“Karen… Are you ready?”
“...Uhn.”
Karen nodded, holding his hand tighter.
“Alright. Then, go on.”
Yuuji let go of her hands and Karen opehe cap to the vial.
She looked at her mother for a moment, took a deep breath, and pced the opening of the vial to her lips, and tilted her head babsp;
The clear, shimmering liquid flowed from the vial into her chapped, pale lips. And Ms. Kozuki, despite dazed from the after effects of the Refrained drug, gulped down the liquid.
A few seds passed as time seemed to slow down for Karen. And before long… her mother’s eyes regais shine as she blinked a few times fusedly.
She turowards Karen, and her eyes widened in shock to see her dear daughter by her side, with tears and expression she hadn’t seen for years.
“....Karen?”
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