Stage 0 Novel translation, epilogue
Novel epilogue translation. First person narrator parts seem to be C.C. Not cleaned up.
[To get this particular part, a small recap : Back in Lelouch's portion of the novel, he and Suzaku ran into a group of seven men who didn't mean well for the Britannian siblings. Suzaku downed six of them, and Lelouch used bluffs and tricks to take down the leader and scatter the rest as they regroup. They won, but the incident got Lelouch to decide who wanted him dead (he thought they were assassins) and why. Answer : His father, and because their deaths will be a convenient excuse for war.
This disagrees with anime canon!Lelouch a bit-in episode 8.5, the script implied that the Empire invaded well before his supposed death. Of course it's 8.5 and colored by Lulu Quality versions of events, but it's the obvious scenario. And the novel makes it pretty clear that people in the know (Genbu) thinks it's not the Emperor, although the possibility remains. So who is it really? Who knows. The novel sure doesn't answer this, but the irony of the situation is worth keeping in mind for reading this part, which does answer who the 'assassins' were.]
------Japan, 2010 - 6 - XX
When you really think about it, they have nothing that can be called a father. In the legal sense, yes, but nothing more, nothing less. Nothing real.
Indeed.
One boy hates his father from the bottom of his being, and comes to desire his and his country's fall.
One boy is trapped in his father's death, and struggled on and on to free himself.
What waits for them at the end of the road?
What will they see?
This, I do not yet know.
*
The tides were relatively higher today, strong waves that crashed and roiled in spraying white as they breached the border between land and sea. It was not a sign of storms but simply that of strong winds. Clouds dotted the sky, but the sun still shone onwards dutifully.
Suzaku padded shifting sand and sat down to look at the sea.
He was wearing a blue hakama, like always, but no wooden sword hung from his waist, nor was there a sign of it beside him. Suzaku simply sat gazing at the sea with a certain lightness of being, while white seagulls flitted about in the air above him.
Suddenly---
Sunlight turned into shadows. Clouds had blotted the sun.
Abruptly, the amorphous atmosphere surrounding him was gone, and his eyes glinted with something wildly different. Suzaku stood up on the spot and with narrowed eyes glanced behind him.
"----Quite remarkable. To think I merely wanted to slip in a little sense of bloodlust."
A man appeared from the rocky shade, speaking in a youthful tone. He wore a dark green military uniform, and features so pointed they looked like sharpened blades.
"Well, perhaps this is no situation to say 'I see your skills have improved', and I'm no longer your teacher---I suppose my words should be 'Long time no see' then, Suzaku-kun."
"Toudou...san."
Suzaku suddenly felt as if strength had left his body.
He was smiling.
The man sat straight on the green tatami before Lelouch, but he was not Japanese. He wore a black suit and darkly coloured sunglasses-----and there were burn scars on his neck.
Under Lelouch's wordless stare, he respectfully put his hands on the tatami and bowed. Lelouch briefly wondered where he learned that particular custom.
"My apologies for not remaining in contact, Prince Lelouch. Since our parting at Narita, is it not?"
Indeed. He was the man with Lelouch and Nunnally when they first arrived in Japan, their sole travelling companion.
But.
Though he received the man's greetings silently, Lelouch started to grin after a moment.
"No, not Narita."
The man looked up and raised an eyebrow. Lelouch promptly ignored him.
"I wouldn't say 'not remaining in contact' is too correct, either. We met only twenty days ago, I think. Did you make good your escape looking like that?"
The room's atmosphere seemed to turn into ice for a moment, but only a moment. The man removed his eyeglasses, and his eyes seemed to contain apologies---
"You knew, milord?"
"No. It was just a lucky guess." Lelouch shrugged. "But when I thought about it afterwards, everything about it was off. It's just too clumsily handled as far as assassinations go, and I have never heard of weaponless assassins."
"I don't mind," the man laughed bitterly. It was the first time Lelouch had ever seen his true face. "To be honest, my master also gave me quite a dressing-down after that particular incident."
"I figured he would."
The man was not someone especially trained for the job. The right-hand man of this 'master' he might be, a combat expert he was not. However, losing against two children like that was pitiful even for someone untrained, : Having your team decimated by one boy, then having said team scattered away in panic because of another boy's bluff.
"So...why are you here today?" Lelouch asked lightly. "Did you give up on the 'kidnapping'?"
"Yes, we did," the man answered without needing to compose himself, showing unexpectedly good character. "And more importantly, we no longer need to do so, as those on our side have reached an agreement. In this way, I should be able to retain my honour as well."
"Hm~m." Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "Somehow I can understand that, but there are points I find unclear yet. Why did you want to abduct us in the first place?"
"Of course, Your Highness, that was in order to protect your life. Your lady sister's as well."
"I thought the Ashfords have officially ended their support for us?"
"Do you really mean that, sir?"
"No," Lelouch answered with no hesitation. "In that case, I'm sure both our lives would already be lost here in Japan."
It was a simple fact. Perhaps the likes of Suzaku---no, perhaps the entire Kururugi household would not know this.
"But even then, I still don't understand. My sister and I have been disinherited as imperial successors. What would the Ashfords gain from helping a prince who has no future?"
"Seeking profit where there is none is our family motto, shall we say," the man answered in the same nonchalant tone. Lelouch knew he couldn't get any more answers for this line of inquiry, regrettably so, as the man's position was far better than his own right now. Ranks and titles are meaningless in situations like this.
"I understand. I will no longer ask you about this."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."
"Please get to the main subject, then."
"I shall immediately-----Prince Lelouch, and of course Princess Nunnally, we require both of you to die."
Even Lelouch couldn't help but widen his eyes at that. But the surprise went away soon enough. He touched his lips with an index finger.
"I see...so it's that route. That's why you wanted to abduct----"
"It is the most reliable method. That was my specialty from the beginning---although we had to take some detours, we already have the necessary papers prepared. The only thing left is to wait for the right time, then present our case to the right people."
"...From what you said, it looks like things will only grow more and more dangerous for my sister and I, doesn't it?"
"Quite observative of you, Your Highness."
"You're telling me to throw away my name and identity."
There is no other way to save you and Princess Nunnally but this. If both of you are no longer royalty, then those who have designs on your lives will no longer have reason to be concerned. For the time being."
Again, Lelouch was deep in thought. It did not take him very long to reach a conclusion. He looked the man straight in the eye, and nodded.
"I understand."
"Do we have your consent?"
"Well, it is the most reliable way. But…I do have certain conditions."
"Conditions?"
"There is something I want to ask. Who tried to kill me and my sister...no. That's not it."
For the first time, Lelouch's expression changed. Certainly, his face yet retained the cherubic innocence of youth, but what came upon it was almost a ghastly, bloodthirsty thing. He asked in a quiet voice completely different from what danced across his face.
"The one who killed my mother---who is it?"
For the first time, the man's face went as hard as stone.
The sea was as wild as it had always been. White foams rushed in and out in intervals. Suzaku and Toudou silently sat on the sands, looking at the wide, great ocean before them.
They had only talked once. A question asked by Suzaku, and answered by Toudou---
"The war, it won't be stopped, then?"
"Ah. Even when no one wanted it to happen."
And that was it.
Afterwards, there was only the roar of waves rushing to the shore.
It was finally noon.
Toudou stood up, though it seemed the clock was not a factor. Wordlessly, he turned his back on the still-sitting Suzaku, and walked away with sandy crunching footsteps.
But before he was gone, Suzaku spoke up.
"Toudou-san. I'll stop learning kendou."
Toudou turned back. Suzaku was still staring at the sea, as if he would not look at him at all.
"But, maybe...I won't drop my sword, I think."
Toudou stared at Suzaku's back intently. He shook his head a little.
"I see."
"Thank you, Toudou-san. I'll certainly pay back for this debt someday."
Toudou chuckled.
"There's no need. You have already paid me amply in return."
Then, within moments, he was gone.
*
It was-----
A truly selfish promise, I think. Meagre, transient, and unclear whether it could ever be fulfilled. Both to Lelouch and to Suzaku.
But that was certainly where it all started.
The paths they will walk----
"Suzaku."
Hearing someone calling him from behind, Suzaku turned back. And on the white sands stood Lelouch's figure.
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Lelouch."
Suzaku turned back to the sea without answering the question, and whispered.
"You know, I want to fish here again someday."
Lelouch appeared surprised.
"Someday, what. We can still do it today."
Suzaku laughed.
"When we're old and wrinkled, I want to fish here again, the three of us, and catch a tai." [They caught one early in the story.]
Lelouch was silent, but then smiled a little.
"That would be---nice."
"Right?"
"And just so you know : I won't lose again when we come to it, Suzaku."
"Mm. You'll win, Lelouch."
"You said it."
"I did."
On the distant, distant horizon, little white clouds disappeared into the sky.
*
(this part is regular history we've heard a hundred times and I'm lazy to find the exact words, so : Several months later, Britannia attacked Japan. Japan became Area 11. The boys are separated, but will meet again 7 years later. Cue in collective OSHI)
[To get this particular part, a small recap : Back in Lelouch's portion of the novel, he and Suzaku ran into a group of seven men who didn't mean well for the Britannian siblings. Suzaku downed six of them, and Lelouch used bluffs and tricks to take down the leader and scatter the rest as they regroup. They won, but the incident got Lelouch to decide who wanted him dead (he thought they were assassins) and why. Answer : His father, and because their deaths will be a convenient excuse for war.
This disagrees with anime canon!Lelouch a bit-in episode 8.5, the script implied that the Empire invaded well before his supposed death. Of course it's 8.5 and colored by Lulu Quality versions of events, but it's the obvious scenario. And the novel makes it pretty clear that people in the know (Genbu) thinks it's not the Emperor, although the possibility remains. So who is it really? Who knows. The novel sure doesn't answer this, but the irony of the situation is worth keeping in mind for reading this part, which does answer who the 'assassins' were.]
------Japan, 2010 - 6 - XX
When you really think about it, they have nothing that can be called a father. In the legal sense, yes, but nothing more, nothing less. Nothing real.
Indeed.
One boy hates his father from the bottom of his being, and comes to desire his and his country's fall.
One boy is trapped in his father's death, and struggled on and on to free himself.
What waits for them at the end of the road?
What will they see?
This, I do not yet know.
*
The tides were relatively higher today, strong waves that crashed and roiled in spraying white as they breached the border between land and sea. It was not a sign of storms but simply that of strong winds. Clouds dotted the sky, but the sun still shone onwards dutifully.
Suzaku padded shifting sand and sat down to look at the sea.
He was wearing a blue hakama, like always, but no wooden sword hung from his waist, nor was there a sign of it beside him. Suzaku simply sat gazing at the sea with a certain lightness of being, while white seagulls flitted about in the air above him.
Suddenly---
Sunlight turned into shadows. Clouds had blotted the sun.
Abruptly, the amorphous atmosphere surrounding him was gone, and his eyes glinted with something wildly different. Suzaku stood up on the spot and with narrowed eyes glanced behind him.
"----Quite remarkable. To think I merely wanted to slip in a little sense of bloodlust."
A man appeared from the rocky shade, speaking in a youthful tone. He wore a dark green military uniform, and features so pointed they looked like sharpened blades.
"Well, perhaps this is no situation to say 'I see your skills have improved', and I'm no longer your teacher---I suppose my words should be 'Long time no see' then, Suzaku-kun."
"Toudou...san."
Suzaku suddenly felt as if strength had left his body.
He was smiling.
The man sat straight on the green tatami before Lelouch, but he was not Japanese. He wore a black suit and darkly coloured sunglasses-----and there were burn scars on his neck.
Under Lelouch's wordless stare, he respectfully put his hands on the tatami and bowed. Lelouch briefly wondered where he learned that particular custom.
"My apologies for not remaining in contact, Prince Lelouch. Since our parting at Narita, is it not?"
Indeed. He was the man with Lelouch and Nunnally when they first arrived in Japan, their sole travelling companion.
But.
Though he received the man's greetings silently, Lelouch started to grin after a moment.
"No, not Narita."
The man looked up and raised an eyebrow. Lelouch promptly ignored him.
"I wouldn't say 'not remaining in contact' is too correct, either. We met only twenty days ago, I think. Did you make good your escape looking like that?"
The room's atmosphere seemed to turn into ice for a moment, but only a moment. The man removed his eyeglasses, and his eyes seemed to contain apologies---
"You knew, milord?"
"No. It was just a lucky guess." Lelouch shrugged. "But when I thought about it afterwards, everything about it was off. It's just too clumsily handled as far as assassinations go, and I have never heard of weaponless assassins."
"I don't mind," the man laughed bitterly. It was the first time Lelouch had ever seen his true face. "To be honest, my master also gave me quite a dressing-down after that particular incident."
"I figured he would."
The man was not someone especially trained for the job. The right-hand man of this 'master' he might be, a combat expert he was not. However, losing against two children like that was pitiful even for someone untrained, : Having your team decimated by one boy, then having said team scattered away in panic because of another boy's bluff.
"So...why are you here today?" Lelouch asked lightly. "Did you give up on the 'kidnapping'?"
"Yes, we did," the man answered without needing to compose himself, showing unexpectedly good character. "And more importantly, we no longer need to do so, as those on our side have reached an agreement. In this way, I should be able to retain my honour as well."
"Hm~m." Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "Somehow I can understand that, but there are points I find unclear yet. Why did you want to abduct us in the first place?"
"Of course, Your Highness, that was in order to protect your life. Your lady sister's as well."
"I thought the Ashfords have officially ended their support for us?"
"Do you really mean that, sir?"
"No," Lelouch answered with no hesitation. "In that case, I'm sure both our lives would already be lost here in Japan."
It was a simple fact. Perhaps the likes of Suzaku---no, perhaps the entire Kururugi household would not know this.
"But even then, I still don't understand. My sister and I have been disinherited as imperial successors. What would the Ashfords gain from helping a prince who has no future?"
"Seeking profit where there is none is our family motto, shall we say," the man answered in the same nonchalant tone. Lelouch knew he couldn't get any more answers for this line of inquiry, regrettably so, as the man's position was far better than his own right now. Ranks and titles are meaningless in situations like this.
"I understand. I will no longer ask you about this."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."
"Please get to the main subject, then."
"I shall immediately-----Prince Lelouch, and of course Princess Nunnally, we require both of you to die."
Even Lelouch couldn't help but widen his eyes at that. But the surprise went away soon enough. He touched his lips with an index finger.
"I see...so it's that route. That's why you wanted to abduct----"
"It is the most reliable method. That was my specialty from the beginning---although we had to take some detours, we already have the necessary papers prepared. The only thing left is to wait for the right time, then present our case to the right people."
"...From what you said, it looks like things will only grow more and more dangerous for my sister and I, doesn't it?"
"Quite observative of you, Your Highness."
"You're telling me to throw away my name and identity."
There is no other way to save you and Princess Nunnally but this. If both of you are no longer royalty, then those who have designs on your lives will no longer have reason to be concerned. For the time being."
Again, Lelouch was deep in thought. It did not take him very long to reach a conclusion. He looked the man straight in the eye, and nodded.
"I understand."
"Do we have your consent?"
"Well, it is the most reliable way. But…I do have certain conditions."
"Conditions?"
"There is something I want to ask. Who tried to kill me and my sister...no. That's not it."
For the first time, Lelouch's expression changed. Certainly, his face yet retained the cherubic innocence of youth, but what came upon it was almost a ghastly, bloodthirsty thing. He asked in a quiet voice completely different from what danced across his face.
"The one who killed my mother---who is it?"
For the first time, the man's face went as hard as stone.
The sea was as wild as it had always been. White foams rushed in and out in intervals. Suzaku and Toudou silently sat on the sands, looking at the wide, great ocean before them.
They had only talked once. A question asked by Suzaku, and answered by Toudou---
"The war, it won't be stopped, then?"
"Ah. Even when no one wanted it to happen."
And that was it.
Afterwards, there was only the roar of waves rushing to the shore.
It was finally noon.
Toudou stood up, though it seemed the clock was not a factor. Wordlessly, he turned his back on the still-sitting Suzaku, and walked away with sandy crunching footsteps.
But before he was gone, Suzaku spoke up.
"Toudou-san. I'll stop learning kendou."
Toudou turned back. Suzaku was still staring at the sea, as if he would not look at him at all.
"But, maybe...I won't drop my sword, I think."
Toudou stared at Suzaku's back intently. He shook his head a little.
"I see."
"Thank you, Toudou-san. I'll certainly pay back for this debt someday."
Toudou chuckled.
"There's no need. You have already paid me amply in return."
Then, within moments, he was gone.
*
It was-----
A truly selfish promise, I think. Meagre, transient, and unclear whether it could ever be fulfilled. Both to Lelouch and to Suzaku.
But that was certainly where it all started.
The paths they will walk----
"Suzaku."
Hearing someone calling him from behind, Suzaku turned back. And on the white sands stood Lelouch's figure.
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Lelouch."
Suzaku turned back to the sea without answering the question, and whispered.
"You know, I want to fish here again someday."
Lelouch appeared surprised.
"Someday, what. We can still do it today."
Suzaku laughed.
"When we're old and wrinkled, I want to fish here again, the three of us, and catch a tai." [They caught one early in the story.]
Lelouch was silent, but then smiled a little.
"That would be---nice."
"Right?"
"And just so you know : I won't lose again when we come to it, Suzaku."
"Mm. You'll win, Lelouch."
"You said it."
"I did."
On the distant, distant horizon, little white clouds disappeared into the sky.
*
(this part is regular history we've heard a hundred times and I'm lazy to find the exact words, so : Several months later, Britannia attacked Japan. Japan became Area 11. The boys are separated, but will meet again 7 years later. Cue in collective OSHI)