Between Us
Chapter 2: The Plot
Suzaku just could not concentrate since he returned to Japan. The paperwork in front of him was just mumbo jumbo to him at the moment. Plus he was also annoyed at C.C.'s teasing, mostly about him and the new empress of Britannia. Sad thing was, was that she was right. He could not get the violet-eyed empress from his mind. Good thing though, he was able to pay attention in his meetings.
Now in a few minutes he was going to have a meeting with the Prime Minister of Britannia. He wondered what Schneizel wanted to speak to him about.
-X-
Lelouch sat in the study that belonged to her father. No one ever comes in and now it was now hers. She kept looking over the documents that sat in front of her. She just could not concentrate. She knew something big was going to happen, she just did not know what.
After all, the assassination attempts were fruitless approaches. She knew about them. It was not surprising after all. Many of the nobles probably would not want her as empress and running their empire. It also was no secret that her other siblings did not want her running the empire too, especially Guinevere. Father's will is father's will. Guinevere would not go against it. It does not stop her from saying things behind her back.
Either way, it was trivial and of no importance.
Lelouch let out a tired sigh. Being empress had no good qualities of the job.
"Those documents are not going to speak to you, you know." Lelouch growled in annoyance. There was only one person that would and could enter the study.
"What do you want V.V.?" Lelouch asked the child looking figure standing in front of the closed doors.
"Nothing, I just came to see my favorite niece and how you are holding up as empress," V.V. said to her.
"Buzz off," Lelouch responded. She did not have time for mindless word games with him. She felt his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, soon everything will be better and you can hand Schneizel the throne in the new world," he said before walking to the door. He paused before he exited and turned his head to look at her. "I heard the Prime Minister of Japan's birthday is coming up. Perhaps it would be best to attend. That way you two can finish where you left off on the balcony. Remember its Uncle V.V." He let out an amused laughter as he walked out the door, narrowly missing the vase that was thrown at him.
Lelouch growled softly, mentally cursing her immortal uncle. Looking at the invitation addressed to her, she sighed, gathered a pen and paper and wrote her response.
-X-
C.C. observed her partner in crime. Suzaku was a walking disaster waiting to happen. She wanted to spare him the embarrassment.
"You know, Milly's family will be very devastated if you did not invite the family friend," C.C. said holding a stuffed pet she named Cheese-kun.
"Family friend?" Suzaku questioned. He did not know any of the friends of the Ashford family since they were exiled from Britannia. Either way, he was glad to convince the government to take them in since the death of one of the former emperor's many wives. C.C. left the answer to Sayoko.
"The Ashfords were friends with the deceased empress, Marianne vi Britannia. It was rumored that the current empress and her little sister are the daughters of the former emperor and empress," Sayoko answered. She was able to gather some good gossip among the week they were able to stay within the Aries Villa. She chatted it up with the captain of the guard Jeremiah Gottwald. They got along pretty well.
Suzaku pondered on the information. He could see how that was a possibility. It was news to him. Lelouch never did talk about her mother nor her father, mostly about Schneizel, Cornelia, Euphie, Clovis, and Nunnally. Only when they were younger.
Suzaku had another thing to worry about. The proposal Schneizel had given him. He had been trying to figure out if it would benefit in his favor. He did not see the downside to it. Perhaps there was a way to twist it in his favor. Gathering a pen and paper he wrote a response and sealed it in an envelope with Schneizel's name on it. He gave it to Sayoko to deliver, leaving him and C.C. alone.
Giving up on the silence, Suzaku walked out of the office and down the hall. He had a lot of thinking to do. Being in the same room as the annoying immortal witch distracted him.
-X-
July 10th 2018 a.t.b.
Suzaku did not want the party. To him it was just an excuse for the rich to clamor around each other about how they are better and more successful than the other. With the argument against his advisors, this was one battle he lost. Plus, he had an excuse to see the empress of Britannia. She did send him a note that she would be coming. It would be an excuse for him to not mingle with the other guests, especially the embarrassing ones like Tamaki. That poor excuse of a soldier just has sheer dumb luck, in Suzaku's opinion.
Finally he spotted the group of girls that he was looking for. Euphie was the first to wave him over. He happily went over. He said his formal greetings, while they did the same and wished him happy birthday. Suzaku had no care for his birthday, it just meant he survived another year. His eyes trailed over to the disguised empress. Although, he could tell it was her, but at a passing glance it was just another person. He let a smile and she smiled back.
Euphie drew them into a conversation, but Suzaku kept glancing back at Lelouch. A million questions wanted to fly out of his mouth, but he kept himself in check because he did not want to be given glares by Cornelia. He knew the Witch of Britannia had a very big soft spots for the three sisters. Perhaps they could meet up later to talk.
-X-
Lelouch hated parties, especially drunkards. Seems like someone spiked the drinks and there was this weird Japanese man that tried hitting on her. The name was Tama-something. She did not get the last part of what Suzaku said except for a brief apology and dumping the drunk on Sayoko to dispose of at the moment. Lelouch liked that bodyguard. Quiet and very reliable.
Well from the two Knights of Round that she picked to accompany her were reliable too, Gino Weinberg and Anya Alstriem. The Knight of Three, Gino, was a carefree guy with the typical Aryan features of blond hair and blue eyes. No one would suspect him at all. Then there was Anya Alstriem, she was still a teen with pink hair and green eyes. No one would suspect her either, but she was very good pilot. She was the Knight of Six. The other knights he would not trust especially Bismark, the Knight of One. Either way, she picked her people well.
A soft knock sounded at her door. Lelouch called whoever to come in. Anya walked in dressed, ready for bed. Lelouch turned to greet her and saw the red rings around her eyes.
"Mother…" Lelouch breathed out. This was also the reason she kept Anya as her only personal knight. When her mother was assassinated, her mother used her powers called the Geass, which was to see into people's hearts and placed her soul into Anya's body before she actually died.
"How are you holding up Lelouch?" the possessed Anya/Marianne asked while sitting next to her. Lelouch just sighed.
"Why didn't father just give the throne to Schniezel?" Lelouch asked not really expecting an answer.
"It is much easier this way. Besides, it is easier now that we are in Japan. Your father is waiting for us on Kaminejima island. First you have to take care of things here, especially Schniezel." Marianne said pulling her eldest daughter into an embrace. "Besides I'm here for you and to help you."
"I know mother. You should go back to the room and let Anya rest."
Lelouch bid her goodnight and lied down, thinking how to proceed further.
-X-
Marianne closed the door behind her and walked straight to her room, where her other meeting was going to take place. She did not knock this time, she just opened the door and went in. She took it slow and walked over to the girl on the bed sitting up and smiling at her with her bright violet eyes.
"Mother," Nunnally greeted. Marianne sat on the edge of the bed, and then pulled her youngest in an embrace.
"You should be sleeping Nunnally." Marianne said brushing the golden hair away from Nunnally's face.
"I wanted to wait for you." Marianne just smiled before gently pushing Nunnally to lay down. "Mother, how long before I could leave my eyes open?" Nunnally asked.
"Just until your sister takes care of everything. Then your eyes can stay open." Marianne answered. She tucked her in, bid her goodnight and went straight back to Anya's room to let the girl sleep.
-X-
"So, I see you invested in my offer," the blond stated.
"Of course. It has its advantages," the brunette answered back. He was handed an invitation.
"Do attend. I'm sure you have someone to fill in for you for a while."
TBC--------------------
BLK Angel of Destruction: I know it's a late update. So here it is immediately. I hope its to your liking. Soon everything will be much more exciting. I hope… Anyways thanks for you reviews! I really appreciate them!
Review! C+C accepted. No Flames!