Though still limited by her nation's rather outdated views regarding gender and experience, as well as the fact that her ability to influence events was still largely concentrated in the Britannian Occupied Japan, Kaguya Sumeragi was still a force to be reckoned with.
While often chided by her peers for what many would describe as childishness, an easy assumption to make considering that unlike the rest of Kyoto's leaders she was the only one under the age of 50, the young Japanese girl possessed an uncanny ability for accurately judging the potential of those who drew her notice. Even if it was somewhat tempered by the naivety that all children possess, even one of her upbringing.
The two prime examples would be in regards to not only the 1st Chancellor of the European Reich, but also the masked revolutionary who had made his debut by claiming responsibility for the death of a Britannian Prince.
While in public she kept her opinion about Chancellor Krueger to herself, for it would have been unwise to be seen criticizing of perhaps the greatest external threat the Empire had ever faced, in private, the Japanese heiress lacked the same admiration for the German leader that many other enemies of Britannia possessed.
For while she acknowledged his accomplishments in revitalizing what had once been a dying nation, the methods in which he had chosen to use in order to secure his power did much to repel her since she believed that they were nearly identical to the manner in which the Britannian Empire kept its power.
It is still uncertain how she came to form this opinion given the fact that until the Black Rebellion, she had never before ventured beyond Japan's shores. But the most likely reason was probably from listening to the rumors that were carried by those few Japanese nationals that preferred to return to the nation of their birth without carrying about the political climate.
Many people dismissed these stories as yet another scheme by the Empire to try and discredit the only nation that had successfully imperial encroachment, but considering that Kaguya had previously wished to seek European aid before these rumors began to surface, it is likely that this is what caused her to change her opinion.
Her perceptions of Zero on the other hand where considerably more positive in scope.
While it cannot be questioned that Zero had a talent for not only the theatrical, but also military planning, after the Battle of Saitama, more than a few people had decided to dismiss the mask man as little more than a minor nuisance to the Britannian garrison.
Yes he could somehow infiltrate guarded areas to assassinate one of the more air headed members of the Royal Family, and yes he had a talent for inflicting moderate casualties on an enemy that both outnumbered and outgunned its opponents. But until the Battle of Narita, and to a lesser extent the hostage situation that irrevocably damaged the national prestige of the remnants of the prewar Japanese military, the only thing he had managed to achieve was to replace an inefficient colonial governor with a more militant one.
Of course his defeat at the hands of Princess Cornelia influenced him into making the rather obvious decision to build a fighting force that was loyal to him and him alone, but his early defeats did much to damage his credibly until he managed to restore his reputation.
Kaguya, with the possible exception of her friend and mentor Taizo Kirihara, was perhaps the only ranking member of the Japanese Resistance Movement that remained steadfast in her earlier positive opinion of the Masked Revolutionary. And indeed, her faith was soon rewarded.
And indeed, she took great pains to remind people that her loyayty had never waivered.
(Excerpt from Smoldering Embers: A Brief History of the Japanese Resistance Movement
Doing her best to maintain the composure that had been drilled into her ever since she was old enough to walk, Kaguya barely managed to keep an expression of calmness upon her face as she listened to one of her so called peers insult not only her, but also the man who would, hopefully, father her children.
"It appears that once again we are provided with an undeniable example that youthful idealism is something that will never triumph over pragmatism gained over years of experience. While I do not deny that I too shared a degree of admiration for the manner in which he embarrassed the Empire, his actions during and after Saitama have shown him to be nothing more than a showman with little resources to back him up".
Knowing that it would be unwise to speak up in both hers and Zero's defence, at least until her mentor and leader gave his opinion, the young Japanese girl remained silent as Munakata's boasting met agreement from his goateed ally
Kubouin.
"Indeed. Not only has Zero's actions resulted in the complete destruction of the Yamato Group, which I point out will do much to solidify the Empire's influence in that portion of our country, but it has also shattered the slowly growing myth that he is the only one to challenge Britannia without suffering the consequences. Perhaps he can somehow salvage his image amongst the inhabitants of the ghetto if he chooses to act like some sort of Robin Hood, but it's clear that as a military commander, his time has passed".
On that last point, Kaguya had to disagree.
Yes Zero had allowed his past victories to go to his head, believing that the previous used methods would work time and time again just because they were his methods. However, that did not mean that he couldn't learn from his mistakes, and make a comeback that would restore his reputation as an intelligent leader.
Something in which she had no problem pointing out to her fellow house leaders.
"Just because he has suffered a defeat, that does not mean he cannot learn the lessons that it imparted to him. Or do you all deny the time honored wisdom that 'defeat is the greatest teacher one can have'"?
Allowing a small-satisfied smile to cross her features as she watched her peers sport grudging looks of agreement, Kaguya quickly sported a frown of her own as Munakata managed to recover from her chastisement with a retort of his own.
"While I cannot deny that your words possess wisdom far beyond your age Lady Kaguya, I'm afraid that I too have a piece of wisdom in which to remind you of. And that is that 'time is a double edged sword'. For while it is possible that Zero may learn from his past mistakes, Japan cannot afford the time it will take him to do so. For every day that passes, the new Imperial Viceroy continues her efforts in snuffing out the remaining embers of freedom that continue to exist within this country. And for every cell that she wipes out, the dream of Japan's resurrection becomes ever so much more distant".
Having been presented with an argument that she could not deny, no matter how much she wanted to, the youngest member of the Houses of Kyoto decided to change tactics by revisiting another topic in which she still disagreed with.
"And who's to say that we will regain our independence if we decide to turn to the Reich for help? I cannot deny that Chancellor Friedrich Krueger is perhaps the strongest enemy Britannia has, but that does not mean that the concept of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' will apply with him. Or haven't you noticed that every resistance movement that fails to adhere to Berlin's conditions for aid tends to get wiped out by an enemy that both parties stand against"?
It was an argument that had managed to successfully keep the Reich's influence in Japan to a minimum, even if many of the more militant cells would have gladly disagreed with Kyoto's decision. For while the Gross Europa Reich had the capability and inclination to supply far off resistance cells, and punish those that failed to follow its direction, it didn't bother to waste its attention on those movements who refused to accept their offers of aid.
But unfortunately, most of her superiors now failed to be concerned about this any longer.
"Considering the desperate situation Japan now finds itself in, I'm afraid that we can no longer fail to ignore such offers. Besides, the conditions the Reich has attached to their offer is quite reasonable given the circumstances, even if some of the more headstrong leaders of the Resistance will be somewhat reluctant to accept. The presence of some European advisors, as well as shipping regular supplies of Sakuradite, a small price to pay for the tools in regaining our freedom".
Gritting her teeth in anger at her bearded colleagues' inability to see the danger in accepting the presently mild offer of a nation that if possible was more militant and nationalistic than the Empire of Britannia, Kaguya had to fight the urge to sigh in relief as her mentor decided to enter the conversation.
"Whether that price will continue to be small is yet to be seen Lord Kubouin. However, for the time being, we are forced to use whatever tools are presented to us if we are to continue to persevere as we have always done. And if this Zero manages to quickly learn from his defeat while there is still a chance to resist the imperial tide, then we will consider whether or not he will prove to be a worthwhile tool in our arsenal. Are we all in agreement"?
Nodding her head with the rest of the council, though hers might have been a tad overly enthusiastic at the prospect of Zero's revived fortunes, Kaguya could only hope that the man who had rescued her misguided cousin could meet this rather ambiguous deadline.
But considering his penchant for surprises, it was highly possible that not only would Zero meet her expections, but surpass them in a manner in which she could never have expected.
…..
Though it had been some time since she had been able to indulge in one of her favorite past times, her previous assignment being far too dangerous to even consider risking what was most important to her for a momentary period of relaxation, Cornelia found herself listening with mild amusement as her younger sister decided to portray the role that she usually did whenever they were alone together.
"I still can't believe you would do something so foolish sister. Yes I know you prefer to do things in a hands on manner, not to mention your continuing regretful disposition to disregard the feelings of the indigenous population if they stand in the way of your goals, but I think you went too far last time with this little stunt of yours".
Shooting an indulgent smile at her currently glaring sibling, which in her mind was more adorable than intimidating, the 2nd Princess of the Britannian Empire dismissed her sister's concern with a wave of her hand.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you Euphie. While Zero proved to be a more competent commander than other terrorist cells I have encountered, the fact remains that his potential is greatly limited by not only the resources that are at his command, which I point out are far inferior in number and quality than what I possess, but also by his arrogance. I hate to speak ill of our late sibling, but a great military commander Clovis was not".
Turning her eyes down in a brief moment of sadness as she remembered her more flamboyant half sibling, Cornelia found herself frowning as her pink haired sister reminded her of something that her most loyal subordinates continued to worry about.
"I do not think Zero is the only one who is cursed with arrogance sister. You and I both know that during the Battle of Riyadh, the only reason why you weren't seriously hurt in the fighting was because of pure luck. Even a mighty warrior can be brought low if they continue to take their so called strength for granted".
Grimacing at Euphemia's uncharacteristically scolding tone, though also at the knowledge that the pink haired princess had a point, Cornelia reluctantly nodded her head in agreement with her beloved sibling.
"You have a point Euphie. However, our enemies in Area 11 are far less equipped and skilled than what we faced in the Middle East, and are far more deluded that those fanatics that I faced in the desert. So I doubt that I have to worry about being on the opposite end of another rocket bombardment".
Frowning at the manner in which her sister dismissed the danger she faced, but knowing that there was nothing more that she could say to convince Cornelia of her view point, the pink haired royal nevertheless couldn't help but try and get the last word before her sister changed the topic of the conversation.
"You maybe right. But that doesn't mean I can't worry about your safety sister. However, since my personal ability to protect you from your own mistakes is somewhat limited when it comes to the battlefield, I suppose I can always give Lady Nonette a call should I feel that you are once again over your head".
Giggling at the brief expression of horror that had crossed her sister's face at the mention of the lime haired Knight of Rounds, Euphemia smiled her most serene smile as the elder royal managed to regain her composure.
"While I am sure that…Woman would love to catch the next plane to the area to keep…keep me in line, I'm afraid that the Emperor is currently keeping her in reserve should the Empire and the Reich enter a more open state of conflict. And besides, her efforts would be largely wasted here since the Elevens lack the necessary pool of skilled manpower to stand against my Glaston Knights. Let alone a warrior of Enneagram's power".
Frowning as her sister once again exhibited signs of being not only over confident, but also underestimating those that she deemed inferior, the pink haired princess allowed her pacifist nature to once again make itself heard as she continued to question her more militant sibling.
"I truly hope that it won't come to that. I know you will disagree with me sister, but I still maintain that it is possible to reach a peaceful accommodation with Europe. I've already lost 1 too many siblings to the cause of violence, and I will be devastated if I lose you as well".
Her eye's softening at the mention of her beloved half siblings, Cornelia couldn't find it in her heart to strongly chastise her younger sister for her continued belief that Britannia could somehow achieve a lasting peace with the Reich.
"I know Euphie. And I can't fault your desire to live in a more peaceful world, nor for your desire that I pursue a less violent career in the service of the Empire. But sadly, this world will only be at peace once there are no more enemies to fight. And since I am one of the Empire's most capable agents of achieving this, I must continue to do what I do. That being said, I do not believe that we have to worry about open conflict with the Reich at this point in time. Neither they or the Empire has achieved a significant position of superiority in terms of global affairs, so I doubt that I will be leading our armies to Berlin anytime soon".
Smiling in sadness at her sister's continued refusal to give into her demands of leading a more peaceful life, Euphemia was granted little time to reflect further on this by her sister's sudden change in mood.
"Anyway, enough talk about such dreary topics. How are you settling in? I heard from one of your bodyguards that you are planning on making another random excursion".
Smirking in amusement as her younger sister tried to recover from the shock at having her plan found out, Cornelia decided to take pity on the young pinkette before she had a chance to explain her actions.
"You needn't worry Euphie, for I've already decided to give you my permission. Of course you'll have to travel in disguise, since it wouldn't do to have an Imperial Princess seen mingling with commoners, but as long as you do that, as well as keep your body guard close to you at all times, this weekend you may go to Kawa..".
She never got to finish. For in a breach of Imperial protocol, one that her younger sister constantly broke and which she tolerated only in private, the purple haired Chief General of the Imperial Army was tightly embraced by her now squealing sibling.
"Thank you sister. Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou".
Chuckling as she disentangled the now beaming pinkette from her person, Cornelia, smiled fondly as her sister hurried off to prepare for her outing.
Her ability to indulge her sister were few and far between, thanks to not only her duties as Britannia's Goddess of Victory but also due to the need to keep Euphie's more pacifist tendencies in check.
For if the full extent of her sister's peace loving nature was discovered, not to mention her tendency to treat the numbers as equals, she was certain that like the Vi Britannia siblings, who she had loved almost as much as her full blooded sister, her father would have no qualms in punishing her for her defiance to his whims.
Only one man possessed the strength to be truly free from suffering the effects of the Emperor's wrath. A state of affairs that managed to inspire a sliver of admiration that was similar to the feelings possessed by her more energetic former colleague.
But unlike Nonette, whose viewpoints were influenced by her desire for a rematch against the only man who had managed to defeat her in individual combat, the 2nd Princess's were motivated by the fact that her nation's primary advisory worked hard to achieve the position he now currently enjoyed.
And while she still possessed to a degree her nation's viewpoint when it came to lineage, she could not deny that there was something refreshing about seeing an individual rise from obscurity to become the 2nd most powerful man in the world.
A shame that most men she dealt were either too self-absorbed to appreciate hard work, or too mindful of the differences of social status to consider pursuing a less professional relationship, but such was the life of an Imperial Princess of her rank and position.
For while at times she would become slightly depressed at the limitations that had been imposed upon her, she wouldn't trade them for anything since they were what allowed her to shield her sister from the more poisonous aspects of her beloved homeland.
And she would give her last breath to not only maintain Euphie's innocence, but also hunt down those who dared to steal her most treasured relationship.
…
Kicking her bare legs into the air as her most recent contractor continued to prepare for the first step in bringing down his more physically impressive father, the green haired immortal gave voice to a thought that had been bugging her ever since she had met Marianne's grown up son.
"Hey Lelouch. Do you mind if I ask you a question"?
Sparing a quick glance at his unwanted roommate before returning his attention to the final preparations that would hopefully gain him the first cadres of his army, the exiled royal allowed a hint of annoyed impatience to enter his voice as he guessed what she wanted.
"If it's a demand for more pizza then the answer is no. I don't mind paying for the odd box now and again, but my grocery budget wasn't designed to support 4 large boxes on a daily basis. Especially when you don't even allow me the courtesy of enjoying a slice from the pie that I paid for".
Keeping her face blank as she stared at the ceiling of their shared bedroom, C.C. nevertheless asked her question, but only after she got back at Lelouch's stingy behavior with an insult of her own.
"Considering the current state of your physical capabilities, I believe adding pizza to your diet would only further diminish the poor athletic ability you currently possess. Besides, I would have thought with the power I gave you, obtaining money would be the least of your problems. Anyways, what I wanted to ask you was if you hate the Empire so much, why did you decide to bide your time in this conquered land, when there was already a nation that possessed both the strength and will to accomplish what you are striving towards? For the Reich has always welcomed those that were willing to fight against the Empire, even if their strengths lay more in the intellectual domain rather than the physical".
Shooting a glare at the insulting woman who was only dressed in one of his shirts, Lelouch nevertheless had to concede that insults aside, C.C. had asked a very good question. For which he believed he had a very good answer prepared for such an occasion.
"You have a point, however there exists several factors that influenced my decision to stay in Japan. The first one I don't think I have to remind you of"?
Expecting the girl to come up with some sort of insulting guess, the lanky teen was somewhat surprised at hearing the almost approving tone that came out of the usually emotionless girl.
"The fact that it would have been impossible for a 10 year old boy, one bereft of all but the most meagre of resources, to safely smuggle both himself and his crippled sister out of Japan on one of the few ships that managed to escape the Britannian blockade"?
Nodding his head at the green haired immortal, and doing his best to fight the swelling bitterness that always surfaced when forced to think about that time where he and Suzaku took turns to not only carry Nunally through a war torn landscape, but shield her from the horror that they themselves could not escape, Lelouch expanded upon her answer.
"Correct. We were lucky that the Ashfords had already managed to establish a presence in this country after their fall from grace, otherwise, I'm certain that things would have become much worse for us. However, the decision to remain in Japan even after Milly's family allowed us to get back on our feet was influenced by the fact that living in the new Europe would be far more difficult than it has proven to be living in a Britannian colony".
Though she would keep it to herself since she did not feel that Lelouch needed to know about her activities before her capture by Clovis, C.C. had to agree with the black haired royal on this point.
Having come so close to destruction at the hands of the Empire, both through the use of traditional military power and the more underhanded methods of backroom dealings, the Reich had seen fit to enhance its security to a level that would have been impossible to do when it was still a technically democratic union of nations.
There were still ways to get around it of course, for she knew from centuries of experience that it was impossible to completely isolate a country from its enemies, but she had to concede that without a sizeable amount of money to purchase the necessary paperwork, along with connections to those powerful enough to keep the ISD at arm's length, the former royals would be unable to enjoy the same amount of relative freedom that they currently enjoyed.
And since Nunally's aliments effectively made her useless to contributing to the overall strength of the Reich, and was unable to obtain disabled benefits due to the fact that they couldn't produce the proper paperwork to show that her injuries were a result of the war, C.C. had to concede that staying in Area 11 had been the wiser choice.
Though she suspected that there was another reason to this decision.
"And I suppose that the option of offering yourself as propaganda tool is another reason why you have chosen to remain here rather than in a country that has successfully held back the Empire"?
Eyes narrowing as he remembered the last time he had been forced to suffer the indignity of being used in such a manner before being cast aside, Lelouch slowly nodded his head.
"You are correct. As former royals, ones who have been not only discarded by the Emperor, but also having been seen to challenge him, the Reich would take great pleasure in using us as puppets with little will of our own. For if I ever dared to protest on what was being asked of me, Nunally would be used as a bargaining chip to force my compliance, and I would never dare put my sister in that position".
Observing her contractor with a blank expression before turning her attention back to the ceiling, and feeling the odd desire to grace the teen with her opinion, C.C. gave a reply that she knew would both confuse and upset the exiled royal.
"I think your wrong in that regard. Something tells me that if you did reveal your identity to the authorities of the Reich, you wouldn't have to worry about being treated as a political mouthpiece".
Remaining silent as her words caused the desired reaction in the lanky teen, as well as the light huff of indignation that came from the mental voice of the woman who had presented her with the chance to finally end her existence, C.C. couldn't help but ponder on whether or not her current contractor would cross paths with the man who had by the barest of chances been denied accepting the cursed gift that she carried.
If they did, and if Lelouch's true identity was revealed, she suspected that it would end in a manner that was not only violent, but would have wider global implications that anyone could have possible dreamed of.
…
You know what. Originally was going to have this chapter a taaadd longer by at least 1 or 2 more segments, but I think this is a good place to end =).
Surprised by how quickly I was able to write this, but hey, when inspiration strikes and all that XP.
Anyway, next chapter will see not only some of the consequences of deal between the Emperor and Chancellor, as well as the deal between the Reich and the houses of Kyoto, but will also have (in some form or another) the entrance of the Black Knights, and perhaps the presence of everybody's favorite murderous fake sibling.
I know it's a tad early to be saying this when I haven't even reached the end of the first 3rd of the 1st season, but I intend to have the storyline that plays out in the second season differently.
Anyways, that's enough spoliers for now lol
So as always, REVIEWS PLZ J, no flames.
And Heil Europa.