Chapter 7
The code bearer and the former princess arrived at the Ashford Academy where the United Federation of Nations was meeting.
A.A. walked down the corridor leading to the meeting room accompanied by Euphemia, who was wearing a pink kimono as well as the wig, glasses and mask to conceal her identity. To not raise any suspicions they decided that it was best to pretend that due to an injury in her throat she was unable to speak. He smiled as he approached Sumeragi Kaguya who was talking to some of the core members of the Order of the Black Knights.
"You seem to be doing well Kaguya." He said out loud.
"That voice... Ryuuji-san?" Sumeragi Kaguya turned around. "It really is you, Ryuuji-san! I'm surprised to see you here."
A.A. laughed. "You've surely grown into a nice lady! Anyway, with the many things that have happened lately I thought I'd check up on you. Mind introducing me to your friends?"
Kaguya smiled and introduced Kouzuki Kallen, Tamaki Shinichiro, Kaname Ougi and his soon to be wife Viletta Nu, Li Xingke and the Tianzi. Afterwards she introduced A.A. "This is Kyoto Ryuuji, he was an acquaintance of my grandfather. Ryuuji-san used to work as a bodyguard and according to Grandfather he is quite a skilled swordsman."
A.A. and Euphemia bowed formally. "It is a pleasure to meet you all. There is this green haired woman I am looking for, she has a tattoo in her forehead."
"C.C..." Kouzuki Kallen said, her face's expression clearly showed that she found disgusting to even think about her.
"Do you know where she might be?" A.A. asked her.
"I don't know and I really don't want to know." She answered in a firm tone.
"Hmm..." A.A. took out a photograph from his right pocket and showed it to Kallen. "Do you recognize the young boy in this photograph?" The picture showed a young Charles Zi Britannia and Marianne Vi Britannia along with C.C. and V.V.
The captain of Zero's personal unit was surprised. "No but, isn't the woman next to C.C..."
"The mother of Lelouch Vi Britannia, Marianne Vi Britannia. Also, that boy's name is V.V., he seemed to be a close friend of Emperor Charles." Viletta Nu said in shock. "I never thought Marianne-sama was acquainted with them..."
"Like father, like son." A.A. remarked laughingly as he put the photograph back in his pocket. "I suppose that perhaps someone in Britannia might know something about C.C.'s whereabouts."
"Maybe I could try asking Nunnally, though I doubt she knows anything. The meeting hasn't started yet so I can take you to her if you want." Kallen told A.A.
"That would be of great help. Lead the way, my bodyguard and I shall follow you." The immortal man smiled and followed Kallen.
"A man like you needs a bodyguard?" Kallen remarked.
"Only for this kind of events. Also, don't let her looks fool you, she's also my personal assistant and if she truly wished it, she would be able to kill you by only looking at you." Ironically, due to the nature of Euphemia's Geass this last statement was true.
"I see..." Kallen glared at him, thinking that he was simply over-exaggerating. After walking a bit more she stood in front of a door and knocked. "It's me Kallen, I've brought someone that I think you should meet." Gilbert Guilford opened the door and the three of them went in.
A.A. and Euphemia made a formal bow and knelt in front of Nunnally Vi Britannia and Cornelia Li Britannia. "My name is Kyoto Ryuuji, I am honoured to meet you. I hope you forgive my rudeness but there is an urgent matter I need to discuss with you." Immediately he took out the photograph out of his pocket and showed it to Nunnally. "Do you recognize this green haired woman? If so, do you have any information that could lead us to her whereabouts?"
Both Cornelia and Nunnally were surprised by the fact that in the photograph Marianne Vi Britannia was standing next to C.C. as if they were best friends.
"Is this some sort of sick joke?" Cornelia asked in a harsh tone.
"I apologize if this photograph offends you but, this is no joke." A.A replied.
"I am afraid we know nothing about her whereabouts nor where she might have fled after my brother's death. Do you mind if I ask you something?" Nunnally Vi Britannia took the photograph from A.A.'s hand and stared at it firmly.
"Not at all. Feel free to ask anything you wish Your Highness." He replied.
"Why are you searching for this woman?" The young princess asked A.A.
"There are several questions I want to ask her." A.A answered without hesitation.
Nunnally confronted him. "Or is it that you seek to obtain the power of Geass?"
A.A. let out a small laugh. "I have no need for such a thing, specially such a cursed power. Even though it is the key to obtaining eternal youth, the curse alone and its consequences make me doubt as to if it is even worth it going through all that suffering-"
"Cursed power? I apologize for interrupting you but, this is the first time I hear someone refer to Geass as that." Nunnally was perplexed at Ryuuji's words.
"Yes, it is indeed a cursed power. Research related to C.C. brought only shame and death to your brother Clovis La Britannia. It was the curse of Geass that lead to the death of your sister Euphemia Li Britannia." A.A. noticed how sadness overcame the room as Euphemia's name was mentioned. "My apologies, I seem to have touched a rather sensitive topic." He lowered his head as a sign of apology and respect.
"It sounds like you pity my Elder Sister Euphy." The young princess remarked.
"I do pity her. A girl with such a pure heart driven to do such a hideous thing and then killed by her own brother. As a Japanese I truly believed in her good intentions and this, is one of the reasons why I am searching for C.C.; she is the only person in this world that probably knows the truth behind the brutal murder of Princess Euphemia." A.A. made his words sound as if they were full of honesty and humility.
"Thank you for those kind words. I am sorry but, I have to ask you to leave as there are other things I have to tend to." Nunnally told A.A. while looking him straight into the eyes.
"Thank you for your precious time Princess Nunnally." A.A. bowed and left the room along with Euphemia and Kallen.
Euphemia remained silent all the time and with great pain avoided looking at her sisters for too long. After leaving the room she smiled while containing her happiness to see her sisters in good health and that Nunnally had recovered her sight.
As the door closed Nunnally sighed. "I don't know who that man is but he's pretending to not be so knowledgeable about Geass and Brother. Also, there's the fact of how he obtained a photograph like this of Father and Mother."
Cornelia Li Britannia clenched her fist. "He knows it was Lelouch that killed Euphy. How can he possibly know that Lelouch was Zero? Don't worry about that photograph, there's no way Marianne-sama would have ever been involved with someone like C.C., though because of things I've seen and heard about Father it's possible that Marianne-sama's death was related to Geass." She sighed. "Anyway, Nunnally, are you sure you want to say that speech in front of the Supreme Council?"
Nunnally Vi Britannia replied instantly. "Yes, I want the world to understand what was Brother's true final wish; he did it all for our sake, never for his..." Tears flowed from her eyes.
Cornelia knelt and hugged Nunnally tightly. Although the young princess was stronger than ever, it was still hard for her to embrace Lelouch's death.
A.A. approached Kaguya. "Say, how would I get around to acquiring a custom made Knightmare Frame?"
"Custom made! Why would you want one?" Sumeragi Kaguya was surprised by the question A.A. had asked so casually.
"It's a really nice and convenient method of transportation. So, who should I talk to?" He replied.
"I-I see..." Kaguya looked troubled. "Lakshata-san will surely be able to help you with that."
A.A. scratched his head. "Okay, thanks. By the way, I noticed that none of the Knights of Rounds are here, did something happen?"
"Well, a successor for Lelouch-sama, the 100th Emperor of Britannia, hasn't been chosen yet. Unofficially, along with Zero-sama, they are trying to get enough support for Nunnally-san and with her current plans for Britannia, including the promise of restoring the nobility system, odds are she will soon be sitting in the throne." Kaguya answered with a smile.
"So that's what's keeping the hero of the day away from his beloved Japan... Anyway, I suppose I'll pray for their success but for now I must bid you farewell Lady Sumeragi. Should anything occur summon me at once and I shall aid you to the best of my abilities. Well, then, if you excuse me." A.A. and Euphemia made a formal bow and left.
"I hope we meet again soon Mr. Kyoto. There is no need to be so formal..." Kaguya looked slightly troubled.
