Fuyuki City.
Rest was required.
Never had a statement about sleep rung so true for Lelouch until after the events of the night before. Kariya especially needed some sleep after what had happened. Blowing himself up, nearly being killed after succeeding in his revenge, and very much being eaten alive again by the reawakened Crest worms, it all left the man in a serious need of a vacation from this whole ordeal.
That wasn't to forget Nobu's needed time off after using her noble phantasm. With Gilgamesh's escape attempt destroying it instead of her disabling the Reality Marble, it drained her more than it had to. Last night's fight was a victory if having taken a few unexpected turns.
Yet, the young boy couldn't get his mind off of his last exchange with the King of Heroes.
Archer's words about kingship didn't leave Lelouch even as he escaped to the world of dreams. How could he when the Demon Emperor continued to reminisce about the last days of his former life? The terrible atrocities he committed, all those he'd lost… After the last battle in the skies of his world's Japan, Lelouch had an entire month to make sure no one would ever forget his name. Ever.
He killed and destroyed, Lelouch wrought hell on Earth to any and every who would dare stand in his way… all for the sake of peace…
But even now… the single thought persisted in his tired head.
'Can I take pride in my sins?'
Of course not. No sane human being could ever just accept it all like the King of Heroes had demanded of him. And yet, he hadn't exactly been a sane teenager after he took the first step on that bloody path, hadn't he? Parenticide would make anyone seem crazy.
'But I did it for Nunally… I became the emperor for the sake of Zero Requiem. Not rule the world for my own pleasure.' And yet Gilgamesh cared little about the reason, only that Lelouch ruled according to his vision of a king. A ruler. 'My mask as the last Emperor is something I have no right to discard. After all deaths and suffering I inflicted upon others, it would be cowardice to run from that part of my life. As Gilgamesh said, neither Iskandar nor Artoria would reject their reign. Their legacies.'
Except, of course, though she accepted it, the King of Knights was actively trying to avert it.
Arturia Pendragon's view on kingship was complicated. Saber's wish was to rewrite the history of her legend so the mistakes she made would all be erased. Even if that meant including wiping herself from the pages of history.
Lelouch couldn't agree with such a goal. King Arthur was the legend that inspired many generations. It was the same for him as a child. Many rulers of Britannia's past, corrupt or not, led people using that legend as an example. Even if it led to the subjugation and eventual rule over billions under their heel, it had played its part in shaping the present of his world. The same could be said of here, in this world's own Britain and Euro continent.
Take that legend away, and many things would change, cultural or not. Many would likely not speak the same language or share the same values as the idealistic king who died attempting to quell an unjustified rebellion.
And yet, he could understand where Artoria was coming from. In her eyes, she failed her nation, her people. She failed them all and could blame no one but herself. Then, of course, the only solution she'd come to was to allow someone else to lead, someone she believed would be more worthy than herself.
Lelouch would disagree with such a conclusion, but the former rebel leader Zero couldn't outright deny her desperation. He too thought about changing the history of his world, only he couldn't undo what was already set in stone. Not when he realized the flawed nature of the Grail itself could only exacerbate the problem.
The desire, quiet it may be, still remained.
'If the Holy Grail wasn't a scam, could I wish the same as Saber? Removing myself from the history of my world, making sure I wouldn't be able to hurt people who are close to me?'
Lelouch remembered the words of his first friend. Out of anger for what he'd done to Suzaku's tenuous peace, his old friend once said it would have been better if Lelouch had never been born. Perhaps it was deserved. After all, killing a thousand murderers would never atone for the sin of killing an innocent. More so Euphemia… one he'd manipulated by accident yet used to his advantage when all was said and done.
'Hm, there was a time when I could agree with him,' the boy regrettably chuckled to himself at past-sins-turned-sacrifices. 'But Gilgamesh was right. Even if my time as Demon Emperor was nothing but a play, a means to an end, I should be proud of how I played this role. Heh, indeed, my last performance won't be forgotten for generations to come.'
Therefore, an effective and worthwhile example that would deter future leaders from treading towards. He'd done his part and finished his act. No one would ever be able to top a world-conquering emperor who was as cunning as he was merciless.
Of course, there was another thing the King of Heroes said that bothered Lelouch still. The part about how there were other otherworlders like Lelouch.
Gilgamesh said something about how he vaguely remembered, yet also not, some kind of organization. However, from the way Archer said it, his encounter was outside this war. Perhaps even outside this world. Such a revelation raised even more questions. Many of which, the boy attributed to both the Grail and the so-called Throne of Heroes. But Lelouch didn't know where to start looking for definite answers.
He doubted either Rider or Saber would know anything else, forget sharing. Nobu as well didn't know what Archer was talking about apart from the Throne that she only gave a general explanation of what he was already aware of. In fact, his partner went so far as to insist on forgetting about the 'King of Fools'. Lelouch found it odd she'd still be seething at the now-dead Servant.
'Speaking of Nobu…' He held Nobu in high regard and thought of her as a dear partner of his. But without knowing how long he had, Lelouch didn't want to start something that wouldn't last. 'This uncertainty… can't persist. I don't know when I might be killed again, or what will happen once I will achieve my mission. I might even be killed today and she'll just be forced to return to Throne of Heroes.'
Gilgamesh said something about how Lelouch was a strange entity and that he would like to meet under different circumstances. However, it didn't mean that Lelouch would be free to do so after he accomplished his task. For all he knew, the power that resurrected him might have another use for him and just whisk him away elsewhere, into another world that needed his help.
His future was very much unknown even to him. Death, once an uncertainty, had been undone for him once. What's another?
'Right now our bond is good, great in fact. But I don't know what might happen if we try to advance it any further. I… don't want to give her false hope.' God knows the trouble he caused for his former accomplice, abandoning her all on her eternal own. 'For now, it will be best to continue this in a professional manner... But… if maybe—! No, don't. There's no point wistfully wondering about it now.'
Biting his lip, he sighed. Right now all of them were inside the small room in some cheap motel. It was Kariya's place, and despite not sleeping here for two nights, the man hadn't been kicked out yet thankfully. It was a sufficient place to take a quick rest and hide away from the remaining Servants. The room they stayed in wasn't big enough for four occupants, but for him and Kariya, it would suffice. Their Servants could rest in spirit form, something Berserker always did outside the fights. Nobu was less enthusiastic about not sleeping like a normal person, having gotten used to it over the times she and Lelouch slept in their hideout, but she complied anyway.
At the moment, her partner was lying on the small cot. Lelouch didn't trust the motel's cleaning service and slept in his own clothes. Not the most comfortable thing considering the long trek they'd taken in the woods, but he didn't complain. In fact, when he woke up, he felt something soft and warm pressing against his back.
It didn't take long to realize who was behind him. Kariya wasn't exactly the picture of health, so the only one who would exude such sensations was clear as day for the boy. He rolled over on his side and came face to face with his partner, literally.
The redhead Servant lay down next to him, face inches away from Lelouch. Thankfully she was wearing her battle gear, except the cape. That didn't stop her red eyes from piercing through his startled violet orbs.
"Hey," she said it with such a sultry voice, the small smile on her face looked a bit more predatory than usual.
Lelouch didn't want to give in as he narrowed his eyes, mumbling back, "You're too close."
"I can be closer if you want." The smile turned devilish wide as she leaned in closer. Lelouch could already feel her hot breath.
"Avenger—" he started, sending a quick glance over to his host still sleeping off to the opposite side of the room. But then he felt a finger shut his lips.
"Didn't you say you will do anything for me last night?" she asked with a fake innocent smile. "Right when I tried to show that King of Fools what happens when someone goes behind my back and chats with my master."
She made to emphasize the possessiveness of the word.
Lelouch remembered. Of course, he did. Gilgamesh was lying there, near-death yet still having the energy to taunt his executioner. It didn't mean that he deserved torture as death, prick to Nobu as he may have been.
But it was also done more out of precaution. After all, he still didn't know how the downtrodden King managed to get out of Nobu's Reality Marble. According to her, Archer pulled out some kind of sword that she had never seen nor understood. She couldn't describe it properly. Anytime she tried to speak about it, a headache would overcome her.
It was difficult to calm down when the lynchpin in their trap for the golden Servant was also acting odd about the unknown weapon he pulled out. But now that he was gone, they needn't worry over whatever Gilgamesh's noble phantasm was.
Still, that didn't excuse her spoiled behaviour.
"Indeed, I said as much then. But, my dear Avenger, surely you would like to wish for something more than simple copulation."
Lelouch went on the offence. Knowing her, playing defensively would only play right into her hands. Hoping a bold move will make her back down, however, backfired. Her red eyes went wide as she grabbed his hand.
Lelouch bit his lip to hold himself back from shouting in surprise. A Servant's grip was powerful. But when he saw the hungry smile on her face, a wild grin that showed her fangs, he noted she was doing it to accentuate her domination over him at the moment. That was despite the redness on her face.
"Ara, ara! How bold of you, Master. I simply thought about giving you something comfortable to sleep on." She said so whilst squeezing her bosom together suggestively. Lelouch was not amused. "But turns out my precious Master would offer me more than just some mana transfer."
"Mana what?" He didn't know what it was, but with the ferally eager look on Nobu's grin and how she trapped him from wriggling away, it sounded dangerous at the moment.
"Hahahah! You're quite the splendid guy, aren't you!" She wasn't even bothering to cover up her mirth as she chuckled silently. "Come on, come a little closer! Let this young lady treat you well! It will be a new experience for both of us!"
"Wai—!"
Nobu then closed the distance between them. Lelouch's eyes went wide, expecting her to go all out. To do so would've been shocking enough already, but in someone else's room, while they were sleeping not two meters away? That was beyond racy for Lelouch's comfort!
However, she didn't do what he was imagining. Instead, she did something… … less lecherous.
"Ngh! Oi, Avenger! Don't rub your cheeks together with mine—nya!" The Demon Emperor who took over the world said as the older woman rubbed her face against his. "I said stop!"
"Eh? Geez~~~! No need to be so embarrassed, my adorable little Lulu~~~!"
'That's enough, Nobu!' Lelouch decided to use their connection to shout his complaints. 'Our ally is literally sleeping in the next bed! Do you want to give Kariya an eyeful?! Or Berserker for that matter?!'
"Berserker is outside in spirit form." That didn't make things any better. That was still a Servant, a being whose senses were far more enhanced than a normal person. "And who cares about some walking corpse? Just look at him," she whispered such while motioning towards the man who remained still, deathly asleep on the small bed. "Hm... he actually looks like a corpse, now that I noticed."
"What—?" That she said it aloud, clearly this time, was worrying. Matou Kariya was lying quiet, motionless.
Managing to break away from Nobu, Lelouch stumbled over to stand warily over his remaining ally's side. The Master of Berserker didn't look like he was breathing at all. His body remained in one position, making the two demons observe him in perpetual silence.
'Don't tell me… Did he actually die?'
"Ngh!"
Lelouch's worries disappeared when Kariya's body suddenly jerked and the man let out a muffled yet pained groan as he sat up. Slowly breathing, Kariya tried to collect himself with an expression that looked half well-rested while also looking half-dead. A day alive meant he was happy that the Crest worms didn't eat his organs while he slept.
Turning to the boy who had a worried expression on, the man who'd been oblivious to their earlier flirting gave an awkward half-smile. "Ah. Good… morning?"
"Good… morning," Lelouch replied, still concerned. "How're you… feeling?"
"Never better!" A slight groan as the man made to move off his bed said otherwise, but Lelouch took it as the best positive Kariya could muster in his condition. "Slept well, you two?"
Considering his muddled thoughts, Lelouch could only answer vaguely. "Yeah… somewhat…"
"Tch…" Nobu, however, clicked her tongue whilst glancing to one side, earning a perplexed expression from the clueless man. 'Mood killer.'
Lelouch was grateful she kept her comment between them.