The Stolen Mask (episode)

The Stolen Mask is the sixth episode of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

Summary
Suzaku transfers into Ashford Academy and faces the scorn of the Britannian students. Cornelia continues her hunt for Zero, destroying several rebel strongholds but finding no clues to his whereabouts. A stray cat slips into the Lamperouge residence on campus and takes off with Lelouch's Zero mask and a massive, comedic chase involving the entire student body follows. The Emperor of Britannia makes a speech during Prince Clovis' funeral on the virtues of inequality and the social battle for evolution and betterment.

Plot
The episode begins with a look at some mysterious ruins when a Geass Directorate walks up a flight of stairs and informs the Emperor that the remains of Prince Clovis have arrived. Without much concern in his voice the Emperor informs the man that he was somehow just conversing with Clovis.

The scene then changes to Ashford Academy where many of the students are gossiping about the recent arrival of Suzaku, the Eleven and suspected terrorist. Nina Einstein seems to be particularly upset at the arrival of Suzaku while Shirley Fenette wants to get to know him. Lelouch stands up to leave the class and, whilst he has the attention of Suzaku, gives a short tug on the collar of his jacket as a secret signal the two know to meet on the roof. Suzaku goes to meet Lelouch who express his gratitude to Suzaku for saving his life earlier. Suzaku claims he was just repaying the favor from seven years prior and asks about what happened to the girl that emerged from the capsule. Lelouch lies and says they got separated during the fray. Suzaku asks what he should call Lelouch and he explains that Lelouch vi Britannia died when the invasion took place so he goes by Lelouch Lamperouge now. Next, Suzaku explains how Euphemia li Britannia arranged for Suzaku to attend school because she believed that is where a 17 year old should be.

It shifts to show Euphemia examining the artwork done by Prince Clovis and among the art is an old picture of Lelouch, Nunnally, and Marianne.

Next, the skirmish of the Blood of the Samurai is shown. Cornelia is leading the charge and eventually goes in solo to search for Zero and wipe out the remainder of those that were fighting.

Now back at his home, Lelouch, Sayoko Shinozaki, and Nunnally all converse for a short moment until Lelouch tells Nunnally that he has a special present for her. Suzaku quietly walks in and grabs Nunnally’s hand and she immediately recognizes who it is. The three old friends spend the night catching up. Lelouch eventually cleans up the plates and takes them into the kitchen where C.C. is waiting for him and questions whether or not it is wise to have Suzaku so close. Lelouch reassures her.

It changes to show Guilford releasing Jeremiah Gottwald from his prison cell claiming that the courts couldn’t find anything about orange. Jeremiah is demoted three ranks for letting Zero escape.

After the dinner Suzaku and Lelouch are standing on the porch about to part ways when Suzaku claims that he and Lelouch shouldn’t be friends in order to protect their true identities. Lelouch gets upset to this but ultimately the matter is left undecided.

The next day at school is an awkward one for Suzaku. Lelouch initially doesn’t pay him any heed and the rest of the students abruptly stop talking whenever he enters a room. Furthermore, a couple of guys break into his locker and put spray paint on his clothes. Also during this day, Ohgi calls Lelouch to explain what happened to the Blood of the Samurai. He asks for direction but Lelouch provides little reassurance and contemplates cutting his ties with them. In another part of the school, Nunnally converses with Nina and Nina explains her fear of Elevens Around the same time, C.C. is seen ordering pizza yet again as Lelouch performs maintenance on his Zero outfit. As C.C. opens the door for the pizza delivery man, Arthur slips in unnoticed. Lelouch has succeeded in hiding Zero's outfit in a suitcase. As he packs everything up, Arthur manages to get the Zero helmet on his head and walks out the door with it. Lelouch notices this and tries to stop the cat but it gets out the door with him in chase. Nunnally apparently calls the student council as Milly Ashford, Rivalz Cardemonde, and Nina show up. Nunnally explains that a cat stole something from Lelouch and Milly decides to get very, very involved in the cat hunt. Lelouch is continuing with his chase of the cat and he uses his Geass on anyone that sees the cat so that they do not remember they saw it. It is at this time that Milly announces over the school speakers that whoever catches the cat will get to kiss a member of the student council. Shirley hears this just as she is about to take a dive and promptly falls off the diving board after hearing this. Kallen Kōzuki also hears this information and freaks out a little when a bunch of guys pop out of the bushes and say that essentially they will all kiss her whether she wants to or not, and began debating over where they will make her do it before running off. Stalker and rape undertones aside, it is revealed that Kallen has never kissed anyone before, and promptly goes after the cat to try and avoid such a bad first kiss. Some of the female students start imagining kissing Lelouch, while one thinks of kissing Milly. A bunch of clubs get started in a frantic search for the cat.

Kallen runs into Shirley in search of the cat and Nunnally meows over the intercom which starts a running gag of the show. Shirley and Kallen then corner the cat under a table and are about to capture it, in order to protect their lips, when Shirley decides to ask Kallen who she would kiss given the opportunity. Her insecurities abound and she asks if it would be Lelouch. As the two continue to converse the cat gets away and somehow gets on the roof of the school.

Suzaku and Lelouch both track the cat to a particular building and as they both run up the stairs, Lelouch gets severely outpaced by Suzaku and arrives at the top a few moments after he does. Suzaku begins to climb the roof but when Lelouch attempts to do the same he slips and almost falls off just to be saved by Suzaku at the last moment. It is at this time that Arthur finally slips out of the mask which rolls down to the ground. Lelouch heaves a sigh of release as his secret is safe.

The two guys and the cat go back down where they both receive a kiss on the cheek from Nunnally for saving the cat. Lelouch also explains that he and Suzaku are old friends and invites him to join the student council. Milly agrees and Suzaku becomes part of the group.

Later that day the entire student body gathers to watch the funeral of Prince Clovis on the big screen. The emperor gives a rousing yet incredibly racist speech to conclude the funeral service, while Lelouch and Suzaku angrily listen. C.C. also sees the speech and realizes that the emperor is Lelouch's target.

Battles

 * Blood of the Samurai Skirmish (Concluded)

Powers or Abilities used

 * Lelouch's Geass

Conversation
Charles' Soldier: Your Majesty. The remains have arrived.

Charles: I was just conversing with Clovis actually.

Charles' Soldier: Huh?

Charles: The project must proceed without a moment's delay

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Student: What's an Eleven doing here?

Student: He was a suspect in Prince Clovis' murder!

Kallen: But the teacher says the charges were dropped.

Student: He was suspicious enough to arrest, though. Right?

Student: You don't really think he is a terrorist, do you?

Kallen: Uh...

Student: Of course he isn't. The school board would know something like that.

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Nina: An Eleven here at school?

Rivalz: He is an Honorary Britanian.

Nina: I know... but still all the same.

Shirley: Well he doesn't look all that scary to me, why don't we just talk to him? I'm sure he's totally...

Rivalz: Hey, the guy just got here. Give him some space.

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Lelouch: Seven years since we used this signal. Long time, huh?

Suzaku: Meeting on the roof like the old days.

Lelouch: Yeah.

Suzaku: I'm glad you're okay. I've been worried.

Lelouch: Alive and kicking thanks to you. You almost died trying to protect me.

Suzaku: I was just returning the favor from 7 years ago.

Lelouch: Uh.

Suzaku: Ah, what about that girl? You know, from the capsule.

Lelouch: I don't really know. We got separated during the fray. But you would know more about her than I do, right?

Suzaku: No. The only ones who knew anything were the inner circle of the Royal Guard.

Lelouch: I see.

Suzaku: And your name. Do I still call you Lelouch?

Lelouch: The records count my old identity among the dead. I go by the name Lelouch Lamperouge now.

Suzaku: Oh.

Lelouch: And you? What happened at your court-martial? And why did you enroll at the school?

Suzaku: I'm as surprised as you are. What are the odds that we'd end up at the same school? Truth is, someone arranged for me to receive a proper investigation. And that person said that a 17-year-old should be in school.

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Euphemia: Were all of these painted by Clovis?

Butler: Yes.

Euphemia: Such gentle colors. Very much akin to my brother.

Operator: We've successfully identified the guerrillas.

Darlton: That's good. Now all we need is their hide-out. Get that intel to the Viceroy.

Operator: Yes, my Lord.

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Soldier: What a...

Soldier: Is that Cornelia?

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Cornelia: Relics of a forgotten age.

Cornelia: Darlton, in here? Correct?

Darlton: Yes, my Lady. Shall we accompany you?

Cornelia: Not for this level of resistance.

Darlton: Understood.

Cornelia: Surrender at once, you feeble-minded Elevens!

Resistance: Down with Britannia!

Cornelia: Doesn't seem Zero is here. No point in going after them one at a time, I suppose. Vermin. Rot like the filth that you are!

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Nunnaly: Hi, Lelouch! I returned home.

Lelouch: Hi, there! Welcome back, Miss Sayoko. I've got a special present for you today.

Nunnaly: Really? What could it be?

Lelouch: H'm.

Sayoko: Huh?

Nunnaly: Ah... Ah! This hand... Thank heaven. I knew it. I just knew you'd be alright.

Suzaku: It's been a long time, Nunnaly.

Nunnaly: So, tell me you will stay the night, won't you?

Lelouch: Suzaku's enrolled as a student at Ashford Academy now. So you can see him anytime you want to.

Nunnaly: Is that true?

Suzaku: Well, I still have military duties, so I can't be here every day.

Nunnaly: Oh, you're... you're still in the military?

Suzaku: Don't worry. I've been reassigned to the Engineering Corps. It's a lot less dangerous.

Lelouch: How cool. Engineering, huh.

Suzaku: Oh, let me help you.

Lelouch: You just sit down. Unlike seven years ago we get to be your hosts now.

Suzaku: Uh... huh.

Lelouch: It's funny. You're lot more mellow than you used to be.

Suzaku: And you are a bit more rough.

Lelouch: Ha-ha. I suppose.

________________________________________________________________________________

Lelouch: Huh? I told you to stay in my room.

C.C. : That boy out there, he is the Britanian soldier from Shinjuku, isn't he? Is that wise?

Lelouch: Don't worry, it's fine. He's...

C.C. : Huh?

Lelouch: He is a friend... from the past.

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Guilford: You getting out, Jeremiah.

Jeremiah: Lord Guilford! You see I'm innocent, don't you?

Guilford: Well, it seems in the eyes of the court you are anyway, Orange Boy.

Jeremiah: Huh?

Guilford: Whatever the truth is, Zero got away. And you Pure Bloods let it happen. You've been demoted three ranks for failure. You have two options to choose from. Starting over as a pilot, or cultivating in orange farm.

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Lelouch: You should come by again. Nunnaly would enjoy it.

Suzaku: Sure. But...

Lelouch: Huh?

Suzaku: Lelouch, I... I don't think we should be seen together at school.

Lelouch: What do you mean?

Suzaku: Think, how would you explain it. Being friends with an Honorary Britanian? You have to guard your secret. No one can know your royalty.

Lelouch: Ah.

Suzaku: And the same goes for Nunnaly. I don't wanna cause you any trouble.

Lelouch: Doing it again, huh? Everyone's needs but your own.

Suzaku: Again?

Lelouch: Forget it.

Suzaku: Eh, thanks for having me. It was a lot of fun. I'll uh, see you later.

Lelouch: Right.

Suzaku: I'm so glad, you know?

Lelouch: Huh?

Suzaku: I never thought we'd get another chance to talk like this.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Student: Why did they do it?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Rivalz: So, what's the deal? Something happen to ya yesterday or what? You didn't even show up for the council meeting.

Lelouch: You know, I kinda tanked that history exam.

Rivalz: Please, I don't buy that. The way you study? Uh...

Student: Stop you guys...

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Quotes

 * Conversation between Charles and man from the Geass Directorate
 * Geass Directorate Man: "Your Majesty, the remains have arrived."
 * Emperor Charles zi Britannia: "I was just conversing with Clovis, actually."
 * Geass Directorate Man: "Huh?"
 * Emperor Charles zi Britannia: "The project must proceed, without a moment's delay."
 * "There's no way I'm getting exposed by a lousy feline!" - Lelouch Lamperouge
 * "If I had those terrorists with me, I could encircle the enemy. Maybe Kallen... No, she's suspicious of me enough as it is." - Lelouch Lamperouge
 * "This is Milly Ashford, your student council president. Cat hunt, everybody! There's a cat loose on campus that needs to be rounded up. Put everything on hold, people. Participating clubs will get budget priority. And whoever catches our feline friend will get an extra special prize: A big old kiss from one of the members of the council!" - Milly Ashford
 * "All men are not created equal. Some are born swifter afoot. Some with greater beauty. Some are born into poverty. And others are born sick and feeble, both in birth and upbringing. In sheer scope of ability, every human is inherently different. Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another. Which is why there is struggle, competition and the unfaltering march of progress. Inequality is not wrong, equality is! What of the E.U., which made equality a right? Rabble politics by a popularity contest. The Chinese Federation with its equal distribution of wealth? A nation of lazy dullards! But not our beloved Britannia. We fight, we compete! Evolution is continuous! Britannia alone moves forward, advancing steadily into the future. Even the death of my son Clovis demonstrates Britannia's unswerving commitment to progress. We will fight on! We shall struggle, compete, plunder and dominate! And in the end, the future shall be ours. All hail Britannia!" - Emperor Charles zi Britannia
 * "The word 'hatred' is not strong enough. If my father is the embodiment of Britannia, he must be destroyed. And if Cornelia gets in my way, she'll suffer the same fate. You may not know it yet, but I have power. So long as I possess Geass, I can go this alone." - Lelouch Lamperouge (Preview for the next episode)