High above some kind of landmass, Suzaku was sitting, waiting, bored. He was feeling more than a little nervous. He was with Euphemia, which normally made him happy. Today, however, he was on a plane, and in the company of Cornelia, and a few military officials she brought along with her. With the exception of the pink-haired princess, no one on the plane liked him. Normally he would just make small talk with Euphy, but she was busy talking with her sister about the advantages that come with being born into royalty, and how more people should try and be royalty like they are. While this royal conversation was being conversed, the officials were starring at Suzaku, as though they were waiting for him to make a mistake.
The plane was traveling to somewhere in Area 11, Suzaku wasn't quite sure where. They were all going to oversee the construction of some kind of memorial bridge being built in Clovis's honor. Suzaku was a fan of bridges, their ability to allow travelers to cross bodies of water, or large holes, came in handy quite a bit. He especially liked them when they were actually needed, but this bridge seemed rather unnecessary. Probably because it wasn't filling the gap of some hole, or extending across a body of water. It was just sitting on top of some governmental building taking up valuable casino space. The reason the royal family was being sent to oversee this simple endeavor was because the construction was a month behind schedule, and the homeland was getting pretty tired of the lame excuses coming from the people in charge. Also, Cornelia needed a ride back to Area 11 so she could do some real work with the military.
"So..." Suzaku started "Do you like working for the royal family?" The question was directed towards anyone willing to answer.
"Shut your filthy eleven mouth!" One of the officials generously answered. He then smiled at Cornelia, who simply continued talking to Euphy about how sweet the royal life is.
"And here I thought chivalry was dead" General Bartly said dryly. Suzaku was surprised that he hadn't noticed the large man until now, but he was none the less grateful for the assistance.
"It's okay sir, I probably deserved it" Suzaku said sarcastically "After all, I am a filthy eleven" The officials were not pleased with the events that had just transpired, but as long as General Bartly was on his side, the officials would make no more comments towards Suzaku. Instead they just sat there silently, and thought bad things towards him.
Suzaku looked at Bartly, and the reason for not noticing him became apparent. Bartly was resting his large frame as far back into his seat as it could possibly go, his eyes were closed, but he definitely wasn't sleeping. It was as though he was in his own little dream world, and Suzaku could only wonder as to what was going on inside.
By military standards, Bartly was very strange. Or at least he would be if he ever told anyone about the things that go on in his head. None of his thoughts were disgusting, or even that weird by normal standards, but as a person of high military rank, these thoughts were unacceptable. He was thinking about flowers, and how beautiful they were. Rose, Isis, Gardenia, Orchid, Ginseng, Aster, Jasmine, Hydrangea, Daisy, Lilac, Sunflower, Violet, and even the Dandelion, He loved all of them, but if anyone ever found out, he would be jobless faster than you could say Chrysanthemum. So he settled for simply thinking about them, and tending a small garden that hid behind a secret wall in his closet. Currently he was thinking about the multi-layered wonder known as the Orchid, and how it's beauty spoke to even the most simple-minded of people.
Everyone, with the exception of one stubborn official, buckled their seatbelt as the plane made its shaky descent. The captains voice rang out over the intercom, telling everyone about the slight computer trouble they were having, and about how everyone should remain buckled in their seat. No one was able to hear him though, due to the screams of that one stubborn official as he flew out the door, which opened up due to a slight technical error. Everyone decided that it would be best for them to just cut their losses, and forget about him.
After safely getting off of the plane, which was on the west side of the bridge, the group began walking towards the construction site, which was on the east side of the bridge. As they approached Bartly noticed a small flower, a rose, growing through the cracks of concrete, and rising towards the afternoon sun. To Bartly, this flower was a symbol. A symbol of everything he loved about this great nation of Britannia. It was literally beauty that was rising up from nothing, and struggling against all odds to reach something far greater than anything the world has ever seen. Bartly breathed in, letting the beauty of it all seep in, and fill his body with a joy he hasn't known for quite some time. The rose made a soft crunching noise as the heel of Cornelia's boot flattened it back into the crack from which it had so painstakingly sprung out from.
"Oh" was all Bartly said as a piece of him broke off and fell into the eternal abyss that was slowly consuming the entirety of his soul.
The group had no time to mourn for Bartly's loss, as they were nearing the construction site. Suzaku noticed a man coming closer to them. He was obviously part of the construction team, probably the guy in charge. "Princess, this is an unexpected pleasure, we're honored by your presence..."
"You may dispense with the pleasantry's commander. I'm here to put you back on schedule" Cornelia said interrupting him.
They began to walk along the incomplete bridge "I assure you Princess, my men are working as fast as they can"
"Perhaps I can find new ways to motivating them," Cornelia threatened. She then looked around at all of the people who were supposed to be working, but instead they were all taking a break.
The man stopped walking, and looked up at Cornelia "I tell you, that this bridge will be operational as planned," the man said, worry starting to show on his face.
"The Emperor does not share you optimistic appraisal of the situation" Cornelia said calmly.
The man in charge looked terrified; he had heard of the Emperor killing people for less. "But he asks the impossible," the man wined "I need more men"
Cornelia leaned in close to the man so that only he could hear what she was about to say "Then perhaps you can tell him when he arrives"
If it was possible the man became even more terrified "The Emperor is coming here?" He asked
"I don't know" Cornelia said as she pulled her head back "He never tells anyone where he's going"
"It's true, he travels a lot without ever telling anyone where he's going, or when he'll be back" Euphemia said "He might decide to show up to some unimportant social event just so he can make a speech, or he might not even show up to his own daughter's sweet sixteen party" Euphemia then let out a painful sigh of depression, and looked towards the ground in hopes that maybe the concrete would make an adequate replacement for her absent father. It didn't.
Thinking it would cheer her sister up, Cornelia told the man "Yes the Emperor's whereabouts are a great mystery most of the time. He could be doing work in the homeland, or he could be sipping wine at a fancy party in Area 3. Why, even as we speak, he could be standing right behind you!" The man quickly turned around in a most frightened way, only to see Steve, the slightly overweight construction worker, gently stuffing a doughnut into his mouth.
Both Cornelia and Euphemia started laughing "Haha, you actually looked, what a moron!"
Rejuvenated by this man's idiocy, Euphemia laughed out "To think my father, the Emperor, would actually show up here when he wouldn't even show up to the "Father Daughter Dance" back in elementary school, is ridiculous!" Euphemia's laughter quickly turned back into tears. Thats when Suzaku wrapped a surprisingly masculine arm around her.
"It's not so bad" Suzaku said in a soothing voice "At least your dad isn't dead... like mine" He whispered that last part.
"Anyway" Cornelia started "Make sure to finish this bridge by next month, or I'll have Bartly rip off your head. Roughly if necessary" She began to walk away, everyone following close behind her, except for Bartly, who made eye contact with the manager one last time.
"Talking off your head will be easier than removing a foul weed from a prestigious garden" Bartly's threats were very casual, which is probably why they had such a great effect on people. Batly then turned, and left the manager standing alone.
By the time Bartly had caught up with the rest of the group, they were already inside the building, and heading down to ground level. As they stepped out of the building Cornelia started searching angrily for the limousine that was supposed to be waiting for them. "Someone isn't getting their Christmas bonus" She said in a huff.
Suzaku decided that maybe he should be helping Cornelia look for the absent limo. As Suzaku began looking for the limousine he realized that his help in the matter would in no way effect the situation. He felt a little stupid, but he was too far into the looking process to stop now. Although he spotted no limo, Suzaku did see a great many wondrous things: the stunning train system, which in no way could ever be used as a weapon in battle. The many happy people that littered the streets of area eleven, who would all gladly help any person no matter their ethnicity.
"Out of the way you stupid eleven moron!" One of those happy persons said unhappily.
Suzaku saw in the distance a long white vehicle pull its rear axle across a turn that was much too sharp for it to handle, but it somehow managed to slide its rear wheels through the traffic, causing only minimal damage, before gliding up safely in front of Cornelia and her unhappy group of military officials. Suzaku noticed the fierce red splatter that painted the hood of the car, and he began to wonder "Either there was a big accident in front of the blood donors clinic again, or the royal family is trying their hand at modern art."
A small man came running out of the drivers seat, trudging his broad shouldered body around the front of the vehicle, and opened the passenger door for Cornelia. "My humblest apologizes your highness" The limo driver started, he had sweat running down the front of his face, and it was unlikely that it was caused by that quick jog he took just before. "I would have been here much sooner, but this man literally fell from the sky and flattened himself all over the front of my limousine! We're lucky it still works"
Cornelia waved a hand in front of the man, dismissing anything he might have said. "We'll talk about your execution after you deliver us to our destination" She wasn't yelling, she said this all as though it was an everyday occurrence. "Everyone get in the limo!" Now Cornelia was yelling, and when Cornelia yelled it was best to respond with obedience. Like a line of ants, the officials, led by Euphemia and ending with Bartly, got into the vehicle, as the driver moved back to his position behind the wheel, knowing that this was probably his last assignment. When it was Suzaku's turn Cornelia stopped him. "Not you Kururugi, you can walk"
"But I'm Euphemia's knight! I have to be around her in order to protect her from the inevitable terrorist attack!" Suzaku was really hoping Cornelia would let him ride with them. He didn't care much for the train system, and he was never reimbursed for the money he used, even though the army promised him transportation.
Cornelia seemed very tired, like she had just spent the majority of her day babysitting an obnoxious child. "Listen, if I need someone to give me encouragement as I make a fool of myself doing karaoke, or need some help finishing off a plate of sushi, you'll be the first person I call" She closed the door, and left Suzaku bewildered on the side of the street.
Suzaku felt extremely silly in his military uniform now that he was the only person wearing one. He shuffled off towards the trains at barely a snails pace, avoiding the eye contact of the now unhappy Britannian citizens. The train conductor seemed even less happy than usual when he handed Suzaku the train ticket, but Suzaku didn't care, he was to busy thinking about how unfair the system was. Not the train system, but the governmental system that controlled Britannia. Suzaku believed the system could be changed, he really did, and he believed that he was the person that could do it. All he had to do was exercise a little patience, and be unbeatable on the battlefield. It was a simple plan, no one could argue that. Still, it seemed so far away. "If only I could find out who Zero is, then I could earn some brownie points with the Emperor, and maybe he'd let me marry Euphemia" Suzaku's brain was working in over time, coming up with thoughts that normally would be miles away. "Maybe I could get Lelouche to help me? I'm sure he could easily deduce the identity of some freak in a mask" Renewed with this supposedly brilliant idea, Suzaku happily got of the train,and headed towards Ashford in the hopes that Lelouche had regained consciousness.
