Episode 12 – The Messenger from Kyoto
The episode starts with a meeting between Cornelia, Euphemia, and many of the Britannian officials working in Japan. Despite Cornelia’s defeat in the previous episode, the Japan Liberation Front has been scattered across Area 11. Guilford chastises the officials for neglecting to target the subway systems, mountains, and other major hotbed areas of anti-Britannian forces, and one of the officials counters by quoting one of Clovis’ major mandates. Darlton brings up the issue of the NAC, a government group that may have had ties with the rebels, and the officials become noticeably disturbed. However, the seemingly head official states the problems taking out this group could have on the government and the economy in typically evasive politician fashion. The officials are certain that Zero was behind the Narita attack, but they cannot give any more information.
As Cornelia comments on the Six Houses of Kyoto, the most important of all the rebel groups, Euphemia looks at the list of dead Britannian soldiers, which most importantly includes Jeremiah, who is most certainly alive. Though, one fun fact is that he was originally supposed to die in the Battle for Narita. His popularity with the fans, however, prompted the writers to keep him alive. I guess that kind of makes him the show’s breakout character.
Elsewhere, the Six Houses of Kyoto worry about the situation, now that the JLF is basically out of business. At Ashford Academy, Shirley worries about Lelouch, and Milly teases her. Because it really is very easy. Just mention Lelouch, and Shirley starts blushing. Then, almost as if on cue, Lelouch arrives, stating that he had to miss school since Sayoko was busy, and Nunnally was not feeling well. He starts to do his chores for Milly, but he accidentally picks up an envelope with tickets to a concert that Shirley received from her father. She chases after him, and she musters up the nerve to ask him to come with her. C.C. and a mysterious guy with white hair and funky goggles watch from afar. That guy will be coming back soon.
At the Black Knights’ base, Ougi delivers to a Lelouch an invitation to meet with the Six Houses of Kyoto. The issue of Zero’s real identity gets brought up again, but Kallen defends him to the rest of the group. Back at Ashford, Nina . . gets a tad dirty while looking at Euphemia’s picture. I could say more, but I think it is rather obvious as to what she is doing, and it is somewhat well . . . Nunnally walks, or rather, rolls in on this embarrassing scene, though Nina manages to hide what she was doing. The Black Knights continue to worry about Zero’s true identity, and Kallen apologizes to Zero for their behavior. Lelouch returns home to Nunnally, but Nunnally is beginning to sense that they are growing apart. However, Lelouch reassures her that he will always be there for her.
The next day, Lelouch cryptically asks a favor of C.C., though we do not get to see what that favor is until later. After that, Lelouch gets a strange call from Shirley saying she will be late to the orchestra, though Lelouch was not actually planning to attend, due to the Kyoto issue. Lelouch, as Zero, is later picked up by a limousine to take him to Kyoto. At Narita, Suzaku worries about what he saw when C.C. touched his Knightmare Frame, Lloyd realizes that Rakshata Chawla, another famous scientist, has sided with the rebels, and Cécile wonders if Suzaku can beat Kallen and the Guren Mk. II.
Zero and his top officers are taken to the Kyoto headquarters, where its leader meets with them behind a screen. The Black Knights are surprised to see that they are just above the Fuji mines. The Kyoto leader then demands that Zero unmask, telling Ougi to take his mask off. Although Kallen tries to stop Ougi, Ougi takes off Zero’s mask, revealing… C.C. That was the favor. Kallen explains that C.C. is not Zero, and one of the Knightmare Frames guarding the room destroys the other ones. The real Zero pops out, claiming that Kyoto’s methods are outdated. He also reveals the Kyoto leader’s identity: Kirihara Taizou, the biggest industrialist in the former Japan. Zero states that he is indeed not Japanese but explains that he wants to destroy Britannia and, therefore, is fighting for that reason. He then takes off his mask in front of Kirihara alone, and Kirihara instantly recognizes him as Lelouch. Back when Lelouch and Nunnally were forced to live in secret in Japan, Kirihara was friends with the Kururugis and thus got to know them. He then completely changes his mind, convinced about Lelouch’s convictions and skills, and tells the rest of the Black Knights that Kyoto will fully support them.
Back at Narita, Villetta helps Shirley and her mother identify a body, though we are not sure whose body it is. Later, Lelouch arrives late at the orchestra, and he is unable to contact Shirley.
Shirley in the Rain
He then finds Shirley standing in the rain outside, crying. The body Shirley was identifying was her father’s, as he was killed in the landslide Zero caused during the Battle for Narita. Shirley does not understand why her father died, as he was a kind person who never did anything wrong. Lelouch is stunned by what has happened, and she hugs him as they stand in the rain. This is one of the few events that ever shake Lelouch’s convictions about the justness of his crusade as Zero.
