He drummed his fingers impatiently along the control panel, Horai Island underneath the view of his office. He faced away from the sea behind him, never taking in the dreamlike atmosphere for which the base was covered with. Humidity managed to seep through a tiny crack in the glass, the cold air lingering from inside his office. Once again, rosette claimed a bit of his hair, lavender eyes reaching out for the fairy's power as he continued on with his frustrations, the calm, tranquil scenery making his anger all the more obvious. The cold sunlight irritated his back, as if tearing down his already wounded pride, who knew full well the light was beginning to fade, and progress had yet to be made.
Suzaku bit his lip, carefully scanning the monitors for any change at all within the Chinese Federation. Though economic levels fluctuated from time to time, there seemed to be no record of the terrorist organization; in fact, the only thing he did manage to uncover was Empress Tianzi using a bit of the funds from Britannia to pay off the eunuchs' still mounting debts, placing some burden on her and the administration alike. Other than that were no traces of Alfheimr left in the world, none at all that provided even a slight hint for where their operations took place. True, it was a Court based system, but just sitting here, waiting for an attack won't do anyone any good. Aside from the Stonehenge and Kamine Island, there was no other point of entry that they could even consider.
So how did that one get through?
Euphie contacted him hours before he landed in India. The prospect that there was another gate was frustrating enough, but to think that Arthur was already getting an edge over them was more than either of them could handle. What with the trouble Alfheimr has already caused, it'd be a problem if Arthur could somehow open the barrier willingly. Euphie did set up protective charms of her own to prevent that, but even that was only a temporary solution. Lelouch wasn't making anything easier, since he seemingly persisted on remaining hidden.
Then there was Kallen, who, as of this point, was the only person that could have possibly hoped to see the former Zero to begin with.
He stopped.
He sat back in his seat, his fingers ceasing their incessant sound. Even considering the idea was risky, since the pilot was so popular, not only amongst the Black Knights, but in the UFN as well. Euphie reminded him time and time again how dangerous it was to pursue her, and, at times, had tried dissuading him from investigating further, pointing out the fact the pilot would never disobey Zero, at least not willingly. But he had no other option at this point.
He began typing furiously, his eyes watching the screen for the reports for all the Knightmares that accompanied him that night, when Alfheimr attacked the Chinese Federation. Kallen and Todoh were there, along with Nunnally's personal bodyguards, half of which consisted of the Zero Squad. Xing-ke was hovering over Tianzi as usual, and Kaguya stationed her own guards along Vermillion's outskirts. Oghi never brought anyone with him, trusting that the festival will go as planned without any unwanted interruptions.
His brain began sorting out the events that took place an hour later. Nunnally was shot. A man had them at gunpoint. He was asking about Euphie, the traitor to the Courts. Todoh and Kallen dispatched him, and Oghi escaped along with the others. Enemy Knightmares showed up after that. Suzaku was in the Lancelot, where managed to open up a crack in the barrier. He jumped in, and accidentally took Kallen with him. He was fighting. He shut down the Guren when she tried joining him.
There was a manor, from what he could remember.
Though he prevented Kallen from seeing the massacre, she might've gone into that manor to take cover, or to take out the leader, or whatever noble cause filled her head at the time. She could've stumbled across Lelouch then. She had a good heart, and seeing someone as helpless as that, someone who looked exactly like the man she once loved, was already a guarantee she would take him in.
Suzaku scrolled through the schedules then, detailing the times for which the Knightmares came in. Midnight, one, two, three, three-thirty…
The Guren didn't arrive until seven.
Even if he did take the attack into account, Kallen still had a two hour gap when she arrived in Tokyo. His mind went back to that little theory then, trying to delve further into the strange behavior. In this cruel, pathetic world he lived in, no one would want a Demon Emperor look-a-like in their own homes, nor would they want the copy anywhere near their businesses; that was already an invitation for trouble. However, Ms. Kozuki was a kind woman, so it'd be no problem if Lelouch came into her home, even more so since she probably had never seen the Demon Emperor before, aside from the newspapers celebrating the anniversary of his death. It'd be no surprise if he managed to find a refuge there. That would also explain why he was there in TU with Kallen that day.
But in order for Kallen to not arouse suspicion, she was going to have to take Lelouch with her while she was fighting. She'd be more careful then, faster, stronger, if only to get him to safety. Luzhin said that if Nunnally would give him to Alfheimr, they would cease the destruction altogether, meaning something must've already happened in the hostage crisis for things to have escalated that far. A few days later, she'd probably move him somewhere else, far enough away to avoid any suspicion, but close enough so she could contact him. She might've just called up Rivalz, or Milly, or even Shirley to take him in for the time being. Gino would do as well, though Nina might not welcome the idea as much.
Suzaku's hands gripped the edge of the desk, his eyes closed. Euphie can't do anything because Lelouch lost his memories. That soldier might already know where the stubborn friend was, and is going off to find him right then. Come on, where was he? Lelouch was practically staring at him in the face. He'd be an idiot if he missed it now.
Milly was too busy with her schedule to shelter the amnesiac code bearer. Though she was smart enough to keep secrets, Suzaku doubted she'd have the capacity to see her dead friend once again. Shirley still loved Lelouch, but the girl already had enough to deal with and Kallen might not want her involved. Gino fought the Demon Emperor before, and though he was amiable enough, she probably wasn't willing to take any risks. That left Rivalz, who always saw himself as Lelouch's best friend, his sidekick whenever they would go out gambling.
Suzaku felt the tension ease away from his muscles. His mind revolved around the former student council president for a while, but then went back to Kallen's household. What happened before the attack he wondered?
Lelouch cared about his family; even if he lost his memories he wouldn't change, as he demonstrated with Rolo. If Kallen kept him in her house, there was a good chance he would treat them as he would Nunnally. Ms. Kozuki was perhaps more of a mother than Marianne ever was, and if his nature allowed him, Lelouch would be fighting with Kallen every so often, like siblings would after a day or two of peace. He'd clash with Kallen because of her overprotective nature, and knowing Lelouch, he'd probably go out of his way to se the world he left behind, even if he couldn't remember any of it.
Yesterday, Kallen said her mother was out on a business trip, and that she'd be returning today. She was planning on calling a taxi for her, but there was a good possibility Lelouch might be there too.
The BigGlobe browser suddenly came on screen, his eyes searching through the countless number of terminals available in the Tokyo area. In the afternoon, Kallen had said.
An hour later, Suzaku stood, grabbed his mask, and made his way toward the door, a cautious smile pinned to his face.
"Thank you Jeanette," Nunnally said sweetly. "Make sure you get those files to Schniezel, alright?"
The maid bowed happily, before scurrying away from Nunnally's desk. She heard the girl's cheerful giggles from beyond the door, and even in the hallways, from which her light voice echoed from the arches.
The Empress stared at the door for a while, before returning to her work, her signature flourishing throughout the countless number of bills signed nearby. From the corner of her eyes, she stole a glance at her schedule; Ella was supposed to come in soon, to discuss the latest measures taken against Alfheimr.
From her sister's investigation, fortunately it turns out no country had been supporting the terrorist organization. But then again, despite her analysis of the country's profits, as well as the exhausting efforts researching the world's most wealthy individuals, it seems the enemy really did just pop up out of nowhere. Not only did they have their own Knightmares, they were well organized, and had a clear objective in ming. They won't hesitate destroying their own members if they turned to be liabilities, a concept Nunnally couldn't understand. Disobedience and insubordination will not be tolerated, all for that one little fool who managed to keep evading everyone's sight.
Lately, Alfheimr hasn't made a single move. Though she would question her maids from time to time, trying to pry whatever information she could about the organization, they knew little of their former masters, blocked from the affairs for which only soldiers had the right to know. Begrudgingly, she accepted their truth, her final source for obtaining information no longer viable, and the hopeful leads she carried evaporating before her eyes. Here Nunnally was, just biding her time, waiting for them to appear as she would her brother when she was still paralyzed. She would search the skies every night, wonder when they'd appear, wonder what they'd do, since they've already secured the resources necessary to demolish her, and the world along with it.
But she would also ponder on Mordred li Britannia, on the boy who looked just like her brother. His familiar face alone was enough to put her at ease, yet, at the same time, shatter the peace she'd been preserving for so long. Shame would weave its way into her heart, prodding her, asking her to track him down and get his opinion on the world's current state of affairs, if she'd done a good job staving off the world's inevitable, sinful lusts.
She'd shut her brain off after that, practically hearing the disgust in his voice.
Her thoughts were interrupted by another one of the maids, who slammed the door open, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
Nunnally jolted from her seat, and stared up alarmingly, her hand reaching for the pistol she kept in her drawer. "M-milady!" she managed to stutter.
Hurriedly, the Empress stood. "What is it?" she demanded.
The girl was breathing heavily, clutching her chest as she struggled to look her mistress in the eye. "There's…attack…"
Nunnally narrowed her eyes. "Speak up!" she ordered.
"There's been another attack!" she heaved. "Tokyo! International Airport! Princess Cornelia's fighting!"
Streams of light were strung through the air, tied by four large poles that gave the dancers their floors. Busy restaurants sporadically dotted the airport, with age old trees sprouting from the steel ground claiming a majority of green and red ribbons. Candles were situated on each table, the mistletoe fragrantly bestowing its beauty throughout the sky's bright, afternoon light. There were cups of hot chocolate off to the far left side of the waiting room, the children bounding around the table excitedly, their smiles alone enough to make their poor parents cave into any demand the young creatures so jubilantly squealed. Couples, both young and old, observed the carefree atmosphere gladly, their arms around one another, while whispering words of promise and hope toward the new year.
Naoko was sitting on a black chair, with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, counting the drifting sea of bodies aimlessly meshing with one another. He placed the cup toward the edge of his lips, the now cool liquid flooding his body as he observed the passengers passing through the gate, as well as friends and families who crowded along the marked off pathways. A slight air of anxiousness claimed the nervous onlookers, searching for their loved ones while holding up ostentatious signs, with presents frantically waving through the air. Hours later, however, their efforts would pay off, the restless actions worth the hours of pathetic humiliation. Good for them.
Ms. Kozuki was off on another business trip in Hiroshima. From what he could understand, she was working out another business deal with a company in the UK. If she got the plan approved, the Japanese branch here will have a foothold in the EU, and thus benefit from England's blossoming economy. They were paying for her accommodations apparently, and gave her a free stipend for each day she spent there. It was a good career move, in his opinion, even if she had to travel a bit more.
However, since Kallen was with the Black Knights, and Rivalz couldn't just take a day off from his business during the holidays, Naoko decided to pick her up instead. He hadn't told Rivalz about the little plan, but since he saved the money he received from his own tips, he managed to get a taxi to drop him off here. He had enough money to get back hopefully.
He breathed in deeply, before standing and walking toward the gates once more, looking around for the mother. It'd been a while since he last saw her. He wondered if she'd be mad to see him for coming this far, even though Alfheimr was still at large. Well, it's not like she'd tell Kallen about it; the aspect of getting hounded by the pilot again wasn't a very appealing outcome.
He turned to the clock; she's supposed to be here at around one, right? Maybe her flight was running a bit late.
He started to turn back when he noticed a young woman standing there, staring at him. Her olive eyes were wide with surprise, her orange hair hidden from behind her back, the strands peaking out from behind her peach coat. She had a cart near her, with two big brown bags strapped to it. There was a large, black suitcase off toward the side, her white gloves a testament to the contrast. It wasn't long before he managed a smile. That's right; she was another one of Kallen's friends, wasn't she? From the photos.
"Lulu?" she asked in a tiny voice.
The conversation ended when he heard gunshots from behind him. When he turned back, black bullet holes gazed back at him, entrenched in the very same crowds who stood by him just a few minutes ago.