2023 a.t.b, July 5th

07:17 AM

Japan

'So this is it, Lelouch, Naoto. The very country I was proud to be part of and fought for, I cannot set foot again for the rest of my life… Oh Lelouch, why did you have to choose this path?' Kallen thought as she looked back at Japan's sunrise for what was definitely the last time she would ever see this sight. 'Why did you picked this path!? You left me, your friends… And your children to suffer from your actions.'

She then felt her mother tug her arm, motioning to her that it was time to embark the aircraft that would fly them to their new home, Australia, far from the eyes of the world. A neutral nation that endured and stayed independent despite Britannia's conquest of the world. Lack of attention paid to the large nation was the perfect place to disappear and live the rest of their lives in peace. For her, her mother, and her twin sons.

Hugging tightly to her legs were here twin sons, Arthur and Naoto. Arthur looked similar to his father with his dark hair and face, while Naoto had her red hair and a face a blending of her and Lelouch. Both of them were shared the famous purple eyes signifying their royal status as princes of the Imperial Family of Britannia. The 1st and 2nd prince of the Holy Britannian Empire and Lelouch's heir. Seeing the toddler's tired and confused expression made her knee down to hug them tight.

'Everything I did for Japan and the UFN. The friends, families, comrades, and love I lost to make a peaceful world. And this is what I get paid with, getting scorned and hated by the very country I fought for, called a traitor by majority of the UFN for the crime of having Lelouch's children and raising them. Overnight, I became a hero to someone reviled nearly as much as Suzaku. Most of my friends and comrades abandoned me to face all of this alone.' Kallen bitterly thought in her head. 'The harassments, death threats, and finally the mob made it clear that I wasn't welcome in Japan; it wasn't my home anymore.'

"Mommy, where are we going?" Naoto whispered as he let out a yawn.

"We're going somewhere safe Naoto." Kallen whispered back.

"Why do they hate us, mommy. Did we do something wrong?" Arthur asked, the near similarity with his father, despite his youth, made him a visible target.

Kallen's heart sank looking at her son's confused and distraught face. She didn't know how to easily explain to them why they were hated by the kids or the adults because of who there father was. And why that meant they were being hated by large portions of the world.

"Kallen, it's time." Kaguya Sumeragi, the chairwoman of the UFN, said to the former Ace of the Black Knights.

The red-haired young woman nodded as she grabbed her children's hand and walked towards the aircraft shuttle. She stopped to look at the UFN chairwomen, giving her a nod as a silent thank you to her. She was one of the few to protect and not abandon her at her most desperate hour just because of the children she carried and the man she did it with to carry them. She did whatever she could to protect her and the children when their heritage was discovered, reining in mobs or officials demanding their deaths or people calling Kallen a traitor. Despite her efforts, Kaguya knew that Japan or the UFN was not a safe place for the family; they had to flee to safety elsewhere.

"I miss him." Kallen muttered.

Kaguya gave her a sympathetic smile to her, understanding what she was feeling as one of the few individuals to figure out what happened on the day of Emperor Lelouch's death. Only time would tell if it was worthwhile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more." The chairwoman apologised.

"You did what you could do, Kaguya. This is the choice I've made and my penance." Kallen replied as she embarked on the aircraft.

"Sayonara, Kallen." Kaguya Sumeragi whispered as she watched the aircraft lift up and fly away to the distance. A bitter feeling dwelled in her as she saw one of the greatest women and a hero of Japan forced into exile by the very people and organisation she sacrificed for. All Kaguya could do was keeping the peace and preventing further harm from being inflicted on the family.