Chapter 19: Happy birthday
Tokyo, 7:30 am
Saeko Kozuki was at her house, and she was preparing breakfast. Suddenly someone rang at the door.
Who will ever be?
The woman wondered, as she instinctively put a hand on a kitchen knife. After the murder / suicide that took place a few days earlier, she had become wary. She went to open, facing a woman with short brown hair and green eyes.
"Good evening, Mrs. Kozuki."
"Mrs. Fenette ..."
It was Elisabeth Fenette, her neighbor and mother of the late Shirley (once she and her daughter Kallen had been friends and classmates). Their stories were similar: she had lost a husband and daughter, Saeko two sons. Despite the Black Rebellion, the war between Britannia and the UFN and the conquest of the world by Lelouch she had remained in Japan, the land where her loved ones died. As she lived in an empty house, with only the company of memories. She spent her days watching TV, surfing the internet, cooking, ironing and doing other chores. She rarely went out, only to shop, and did not work. There was a rumor that Emperor Lelouch, who was there in person, sent her large sums of money with which she managed to get by, paying expenses and bills, and putting aside her advances. Saeko instead had to rely on her own strength, working as a waitress in a restaurant.
"Can I come in?"
"Please, take a seat."
"Thank you."
Saeko brought her into the kitchen, making her sit at the table.
"I was just preparing breakfast. Why do not you keep me company? "
"Willingly."
"Well."
The landlady returned to devote herself to the stove, while her guest looked down.
"I have to ask you some questions," she said.
"Questions?"
"Two weeks ago I heard shots coming from your home."
That sentence froze the blood to Saeko, who hesitated before asking:
"Shooting?"
"Yes, shoot. Two gun shots. I was watching TV when it happened. "
"It was the TV. I was looking at a crime film, and the volume was too loud. "Saeko hurriedly explained.
"Ah well. It was only to know."
Shit…. If he finds out what happened, I'll actually get into trouble!
She thought the Japanese, alarmed.
Pendragon, at 15.45 pm
The Victory hotel was a five-story white building; very famous hotel, tourists from all over the world stayed here. For many of them, staying in that place was a unique emotion, because not far from it stood the imperial palace, home of the divine Lelouch, absolute ruler of the world and god incarnate. The girl at the reception had just welcomed new customers.
"Good morning gentlemen. Do you want a room? "
"Yes. For me and my friends. "
"Your names?"
"I am Ursula Blondel, and their John Bitter, Dorothy Mc Donald, Fred Style, Bella Brackett, Wilhelmina Harker, Zhang Chung and Roy Thomas."
"I see ... Your signatures, please."
She said, handing them the register.
Hurry up this formality the group received eight keys, one for each room.
"I wish you a good stay."
"Thank you." Ursula replied, starting with her friends.
"Can you explain what this story is?" Leila asked.
"The hotel employees are almost certainly spies of the OSI. Using your name is suicidal. "Marianne explained.
"You're right." Cornelia gave her a hand.
"Okay, but ... Now what do we do?" Faye asked.
"We will go to our rooms, except one who will go in search of Sayoko." Marianne explained.
"And who?"
"Me." Said CC.
"Are you sure you're capable?" Edward asked dubiously.
"Yes. I can recognize it, since we once worked together with Lelouch. "
"Do you intend to go now?"
"No. First I will settle in my room. I will go to her search after lunch. "
"Well."
"Maybe it's better if I too, in case there were any unexpected events." Roy intervened.
"For me it's okay, an accomplice in the mission suits me."
"Listen, are we all in the elevator?" Esdeath asked.
"No ... Some of us will have to walk up." CC answered.
"Ah OK."
16:00 pm
"There must be a mistake ... Up until 15 o'clock the communications with the moon base Eowyn worked perfectly," said Lelouch, seated on the throne.
"It's true, your majesty. But after that hour he no longer sent news. We tried to re-establish communications but without success. "Loyd explained.
"What could have caused the interruption of communications?"
"Perhaps a failure at the communications center is not ordinary but sometimes occurs."
"How long will it take to fix it?"
"A matter of hours, if we're lucky. Days if we are not. "
"I see ... Sayoko!"
"Yes, your majesty?"
"Go to the city, at the headquarters of the INN, and tell Milly not to divulge the news. There is no need to raise concern for a simple inconvenience. "
"She will not listen to a simple maid."
"Tell him I'll send you, she will not object."
"With all due respect, your majesty, this task would be up to me. And then would not a phone call be enough? "Evergreen interjected.
"You must be by my side, as my personal secretary. And then I want Sayoko to deliver something to Milly for me. "
"What?" The waitress asked.
In response, Lelouch pulled a small box with a pair of gold earrings from his pocket.
"For her birthday." The emperor explained.
Sayoko took the box and pocketed it.
"I'll go right away, your majesty?"
"Do not be in a hurry ... You can even go there later."
"Yes, your majesty."