"It's not so pleasant and it's not so conventional
It sure as hell ain't normal
But we deal we deal"
-"Camisado", Panic At The Disco
Chapter 3
Kickstarting The Wheel of Fate
The bell at the door rang, and Jeremiah absently called out from behind the counter as he finished packing away the last of the trays, "Sorry, I've already closed down the register…"
"It's a good thing we're not buying then, hmm?" C.C. said slyly, smiling. At her side, looking pale and rather worn, was Lelouch, who offered him a wan smile of his own.
"C.C.-san! Lelouch-sama! Thank God!" Jeremiah swooped down on them like a mother hen, checking Lelouch in particular for any signs of harm. "I'd heard the reports that they'd blockaded part of the city off for a military skirmish. I've been keeping the store running as normal, but…"
"Jeremiah, we're fine," Lelouch assured him, chuckling weakly.
"Your prince here is just exhausted from commanding his first military operation," C.C. added in wryly, and Lelouch shot her a dirty look.
"Military operation?" Jeremiah balked. "You took command? Not the rebels…"
"No, I convinced the Japanese high command to give me tactical control of the operation… I didn't have a choice," Lelouch asserted quickly, feeling pressured at the shocked gaze in his knight's face. "I… I know I turned my back on my countrymen today. But I had to save Suzaku… I… I just…"
Jeremiah placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "You are my prince. My loyalty is to you. Your enemies are my enemies. That is the oath I swore when I took you from the palace all those years ago. Whatever the decision you make, it is yours to make, and mine to abide by."
"Thank you, Jeremiah," Lelouch whispered quietly, hanging his head low.
They stood there, a boy prince and his lone knight bound by the threads of loyalty in a poignant picture of chivalry and honor.
Then, Lelouch's stomach rumbled audibly.
"Erm…"
C.C. nearly fell over a table laughing.
Jeremiah smiled, releasing him.
"I'll get dinner ready."
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It was well into the night when Milly Ashford retired to her private rooms, situated within fair walking distance of Suzaku's own. While the master still hadn't returned, Milly was sensible enough to know that pacing around and worrying like some of the other household maids was simply a waste of time. Suzaku-sama was a big boy, and he could take care of himself (well enough to survive, anyway, though how he would live without Milly handling his laundry, cooking, and various other daily needs was a mystery).
Of course, all the common sense in the world couldn't prepare her for the sight that greeted her upon entering her room.
"Erm… help, please?" Suzaku said helplessly, sitting awkwardly on her bed, gesturing to the bloodstained girl who was currently clinging to him in a manner that Milly would have teased him for endlessly at any other time (though she did remind herself to do it later).
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Earlier…
"This should do," Suzaku said tiredly, easing on the controls of the Caliburn. After parting ways with Gino's resistance cell, he had come to the painful realization that he now had to hide a Knightmare Frame from prying eyes. A golden Knightmare Frame, to add to that. The Caliburn was not exactly inconspicuous. But if he left it alone, well… that was just too dangerous.
After panicking for a few minutes, Suzaku finally settled on a temporary measure. His private mansion was situated on the grounds of what used to be a Brittanian government residence (it was damaged in the initial invasion and completely razed after Japan formally took control of the country- the Empire would never stand for its Crown Prince to live in a gaijin building), and as a result there were sections of the old building remaining underground, specifically escape routes in times of emergency. Suzaku often used them to escape his duties as the Prince, and only he and Milly knew all of them.
One of these escape routes, he recalled, old and unused for what looked like decades, was wide enough to accommodate the Caliburn, and Suzaku had decided to stash the Knightmare as close to the actual mansion as he could.
(The contrived convenience of having a convenient hiding place for his Knightmare directly beneath his own house did not cross his mind at the time, tired as he was)
His exhaustion was so complete, in fact, that he failed to notice the shifting of weight in his lap, not until a sweet, feminine voice asked hesitantly, "Um… excuse me… who are you?"
Suzaku's shriek of surprise startled Euphemia so badly that the girl flailed about in his lap and accidentally clipped him in the chin. The blow wasn't exactly fearsome, but being so unprepared for it, it knocked his head back into the unforgiving metal behind him.
"Oh my- I'm so sorry!"
"No, no, it's okay- wait, what the hell am I saying!" Suzaku stopped himself mid-sentence. "Euphie… you… you're alive! But you were shot! How… what…"
"Um… I don't really understand what you're saying, so can I ask… who is 'Euphie'? And um… for that matter… who are you again?" Euphemia asked with wide eyed sincerity so utterly guileless it couldn't be faked.
Oh hell, Suzaku thought to himself wearily.
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"So you're telling me this girl- who, by the way, has on what looks like a bullet hole in a restraining suit covered in blood, is Euphemia Li Brittania, a Brittanian Princess who you knew as a child but who disappeared during the invasion?"
Suzaku winced. "Yes."
"And that she has amnesia?" Milly said slowly, expression totally blank.
"Yes," Suzaku repeated uneasily, unsure of his maid's tone. His anxiety was only heightened by the fact that an uncertain Euphemia remained clinging to his side, hiding almost childishly behind his shoulder.
"Suzaku-sama… you do know that real retrograde amnesia is incredibly, incredibly rare. And the possibility of that million to one chance of the retrograde amnesia causing a person to completely lose all memory of themselves is… well…" Milly paused. "And that's not even taking into account the fact that you still haven't told me how you found her!"
Suzaku opened his mouth once, twice, trying to come up with a reasonable excuse for finding a lost, amnesiac princess covered in blood, and how to get around the giant golden Knightmare sitting not more than a hundred feet underground from them.
… Some days Suzaku really envied Lelouch and his brilliant mind.
"Ah… oh well. You're too terrible a liar to be making this up, so I guess it must be true," Milly said in a long-suffering tone, shrugging helplessly, hand on her forehead in the classic 'What can you do?' pose.
Suzaku blinked.
"Well, first and foremost… Euphemia, was it?" The girl in question peeked hesitantly from behind Suzaku's shoulder, and Milly smiled brightly, trying to coax her out. "I'm Milly Ashford. Nice to meet you."
"N-nice to meet you," Euphemia said nervously, straightening just a little to meet Milly's friendly gaze.
"Let's get you cleaned up, shall we? Those clothes just don't suit a pretty girl like you!" And without waiting for a reply, Milly picked up Euphemia by the arm and began marching her towards the door. Before she disappeared, however, Milly popped her head back in. "Anything else you need me to take care of, Suzaku-sama?"
The question was so servile and unexpected that it took Suzaku a moment to process, and then finally he smiled in gratitude. There's a… something I left in one of the escape tunnels. If you could help me get it hidden, keep anyone away from those secret passages…"
"Consider it done," Milly said, smiling back with a wink.
"You're the best," Suzaku said tiredly, the exhaustion finally fully setting in.
"I know, I know," she said dismissively, waving her hand away. "Now come on then, Euphie-chan! Let's go deepen our friendship with skinship! To the baths!"
"E-Eh? B-but…"
Suzaku just barely managed to cover his nose in time to catch the bit of blood that leaked out, his gratitude towards Milly dissolving in the face of irritation.
Not fair, he thought, annoyed, as he slowly made his way out of Milly's room, one hand still over his nose as he made his way towards his own room nearby, which made sense given that Milly was his personal attendant and head of the household staff.
It was with no small measure of relief that, without even bothering to turn on the lights of his room or to shuck the dirtied, slightly bloodied clothes that clung to his weary body like a second skin, Suzaku collapsed into the welcoming arms of his bed.
He would have easily fallen asleep immediately, however, just before he could, a harsh vibrating rang out through his room, startling Suzaku into sitting upright. After a moment of blindly groping in the dark, he found the source of the noise- his cell phone.
"Hello?" he said wearily.
"Suzaku!" Lelouch's voice broke out into audible relief. "Thank God- this was the fourth time I've tried calling you, idiot. Where have you been?"
Suzaku straightened, suddenly ashamed for having forgotten he had left Lelouch behind just a few hours before (God, only a few hours?). "I… I'm back home now. I'm fine. How about you? You didn't follow me into the Underground, did you?"
If he had… well, obvious he was safe, but Suzaku still cringed at the idea of putting his best friend in harm's way.
There was a moment's pause, and finally, Lelouch scoffed. "What do you take me for? An idiot? How about you? Did you actually manage to find out what was happening?"
Suzaku froze. Should he tell him? Lelouch was reliable, and his best friend. And his advice and ability to plan would be so helpful- Suzaku was no strategist, and logistics tended to make his head hurt. Lelouch could easily have devised ways for him to hide the Caliburn and Euphemia… and letting Lelouch know of Euphie's survival was also something to consider.
But Lelouch was also a Brittanian prince in hiding… bringing any trouble on his doorstep could make things extremely dangerous, and that was exactly what both Caliburn and Euphie were, no matter how he tried to look at it. If there was even a chance Lelouch could be implicated in Kusakabe's death, the Empire would jump on the chance for such a scapegoat. The Brittanian royals were a dangerous factor in the Empire's control of the country- while some, like Schneizel, were collaborating in one form or another, or others like Lelouch were in hiding, some had stepped beyond merely going underground and were seen as rallying points for rebels.
"Suzaku? Did you hear me?"
Suzaku shook his head. "Uh… yeah. Sorry. Just tired. I wasn't able to find anything. I just got lost in the Underground… managed to find my way out though."
"Oh. Good." The note of relief in Lelouch's voice sounded strange, but Suzaku dismissed it in his own relief that Lelouch had seemingly bought his alibi. "Well, I'm exhausted, so I'm going to go to bed. Good night."
For a moment, Suzaku regretted the lie. He wanted to take it back, wanted to confess everything to his best friend, wanted Lelouch's guidance on how best to proceed from here.
"Good night Lelouch."
He wondered if he was a coward or a hero for lying. The disturbing notion, combined with a mounting feeling of regret, kept Suzaku's tired mind from fully succumbing to sleep, meaning he snapped back to consciousness at the sound of a light knock on the door.
"Sorry to bother you," Milly said, sounding sincerely apologetic this time. Blessedly, she was perceptive enough not to turn on the light. "I just got Euphemia into the baths."
"I'm surprised you're not sexually harassing her," Suzaku said, smiling.
"I did a little. She seems a little too shy though. Maybe when we get to know each other better."
Suzaku shook his head, trying his best not to think about the implications of Milly's statement. His maid obviously knew what he was thinking, as she smiled cattily and winked at him. It faded, however, and her face became solemn.
"So what happened, really?"
Something a lot of people outside his household failed to see was that beneath the bubbly, cheerfully eccentric exterior of a beautiful young woman was a keen, perceptive mind.
Absently, Suzaku reminded himself again to keep Milly away from Kaguya. That meeting still had yet to happen, and if the gods were merciful, it never would.
Finally, he looked down, avoiding her gaze, staring down at his hands that only hours before had held the reigns of what might be the most powerful Knightmare in existence.
"I… I'm not sure myself. But I think… I think I have the power to change things now Milly." Suzaku glanced back up at her, face uncertain. "I have the power to make a difference. I just don't know what to do with it yet."
"I let you out of my sight for a few hours and you come back with a messiah complex and a pretty girl," Milly muttered despairingly, shaking her head. "What a troublesome master."
"With a troublesome maid," Suzaku quipped lightly, smiling.
"Like calls to like, I suppose," she said cheekily, before she abruptly added, "That's all I needed to know."
She turned aside as Suzaku blinked, uncertain of what had just happened.
"When you've got it all figured out… let me know, hmm?" Milly gave him a coy glance over her shoulder. "I've got to look after you, after all, or who knows what kind of trouble you'll get yourself into."
"You'll be the first to know," Suzaku promised, shaking his head.
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The next morning was not a pleasant one for Lelouch. For one thing, he woke up later than usual, no doubt from the lingering exhaustion of yesterday's efforts. And even after ingesting his habitual cup of coffee and a hot shower, he still felt more like the walking dead than anything else.
C.C., on the other hand, seemed to grow more and more cheerful the more tired he became.
"I think the Germans call it schadenfreude," C.C. said off-handedly, arms behind her head in a casual manner, clutching her school bag in one hand as they walked over to the school. The long sleeves of her blouse and the red ribbon fixed at the center of it fluttered in an errant breeze, and she absently smoothed her skirt down.
"Maybe that's the secret to your immortality. You feed on the suffering of others like a succubus," Lelouch muttered, hand over his face as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"How harsh. I'm a witch, not a demon."
"I'm pretty sure witches were once considered to be demon-possessed," Lelouch pointed out, absently straightening the red tie of his school uniform, which, like the sports jacket, slacks, and white collared shirt, was recently washed after yesterday's events and thus still faintly smelled of fabric softener (Jeremiah asserted that the clothes of a royal had to be as comfortable as possible).
"Is that right? Well, I'm a pretty demon, at least," C.C. shrugged. Without changing her tone, she abruptly asked, "So what was with lying to Suzaku about yesterday? I thought you two were bosom buddies or something?"
Lelouch barely even paused at the sudden change in topic, having lived with C.C. long enough to be used to (most) of her mannerisms.
"He'd… he'd only worry," he managed lamely. "It's my problem to deal with, not his."
"And here I thought you'd grown up a little," C.C. said with a sigh.
Before Lelouch could respond, they had reached the gates of their school. Absently, Lelouch read the plaque fixated on the outer wall, to the right of the main gate.
Sumeragi Academy.
For a moment, his lips quirked. It was no accident he chose this school.
Unlike many other schools in London, or indeed the whole of Brittania, Sumeragi Academy not only welcomed both Brittanian and Japanese students alike, but in fact encouraged Brittanians to enroll, offering scholarships and financial aid thanks to the generosity of the school's founder and student body president, in an effort to promote unity between the two peoples who were still starkly divided seven years after the war- an idea that Lelouch himself found appealing. It was innovative, bold, and not a little idealistic, perfectly reflecting the nature of the person who first decided to create it.
"The president is overseas again, hmm?" C.C. asked, noticing his fixated gaze on the school plaque.
"She won't be back for at least another week," Lelouch said absently. "Which means I've got a week of relative peace before the insanity starts again."
"I like the president," C.C. hummed, smiling.
"You would." Lelouch scowled. "You and she agree far too much on matters that involve my suffering. I wish she hadn't let you on the council… or would at least let me leave."
"But you make such a fine vice president," C.C. said, with enough false flattery that it was almost visible.
"And you make a terrible secretary," Lelouch shot back. "We still need more members, since Miyazaki-senpai and Kurosaki-senpai's parents were both transferred overseas. The workload is getting ridiculous."
"The president will probably appoint someone when she gets back," C.C. shrugged, looking bored. "Besides, it's not my problem."
"No, it's mine," Lelouch grumbled. "Come on, we're gonna be late for first period."
They made their way inside the high school building, passing the milling crowd of junior high and high school students who were also hurrying towards their own classes. Things began getting a little too hectic, however, and while sidestepping one burly high school student who looked more like a gorilla wearing clothes than anything else, Lelouch accidentally rammed into another person, knocking them over.
"Oh! Sorry," Lelouch said hurriedly, extending his hand out before he recognized who he had run into. "Oh, Earlstreim-san. How are you this morning?"
The person he had knocked over in question, Anya Earlstreim, wearing the longer skirt and more modest, old-fashioned type of sailor fuku that signified her to be in the junior high section, seemed as impassive as ever, even after being knocked down. She avoided meeting his gaze as always, even as she took his hand to get up, and tonelessly replied, "Fine. You?"
"I'm well enough, thank you," Lelouch said, smiling slightly. "Again, I'm sorry about that."
"Its fine," Anya replied, still not meeting his eyes, dusting her skirt off absently. "I'm going now."
Without waiting for a reply, she glided off.
Lelouch shook his head. "She's as odd as ever."
Behind him, C.C. had a strange look on her face, as she always did when he ran into that girl. He had tried asking her about it, but always got the same reply.
"It's not my business. If she wants to tell you, she will."
But it never seemed like Earlstreim did have anything to say to him. In fact, she preferred to keep their conversations as short as possible, and avoided him more often than not. At first, Lelouch wondered if she was being rude or didn't like him, but after seeing her around campus, he concluded that she was just that kind of person.
"Well, I guess we should get going." Lelouch started on towards the high school building again, and just as he reached for the door handle, another hand clasped it at the same time. Blinking in surprise, he looked up, and met the green eyes of a redheaded girl he was unfamiliar with, wearing the same girl's uniform as C.C.
Though he didn't recognize her, the redhead's eyes widened at the sight of him and she backed away as though burned.
"My apologies, miss," Lelouch said politely, and pulled open the door for her, meeting her eyes uncertainly. Do I know her? "Please. Ladies first."
The redhead continued to stare at him blankly. Finally, after a few more moments of awkward silence, a voice from behind the redheaded girl came up.
"Oi! Shirley! We're gonna be late!" a blue-haired boy popped up behind her shoulder.
"Oh… right. Thanks Rivalz." Deftly avoiding Lelouch's gaze, the redhead ducked inside the building, followed by her friend.
"Well, that was strange," Lelouch muttered. "I just don't get women."
Embarrassing as it was to admit, he was never much good with girls, not like Suzaku, anyway. Suzaku could talk to any girl fairly easily- easier than he could, in any case. Hopefully, he was having better luck with his morning.
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Oh God oh God oh God I can't believe I just ran into that guy again!
Shirley paused around the corner of the hallway, hand over her chest, still feeling badly shaken after her run in with the boy from the Underground. She had already realized from his uniform that he went to Sumeragi Academy, but she'd forgotten all about him in the ensuing chaos of the battle.
"I know what we've lost. And I know that killing is never going to bring the dead back."
Her fists clenched. What did he know about what they- about what she- had lost? Maybe killing wouldn't bring anyone back, but the dead deserved justice.
"Shirley? You okay?" Rivalz peered out at her, and then his concerned face broke out into an irreverent, teasing smile. "You like that guy or something?"
"Shut up Rivalz," Shirley muttered, rolling her eyes.
As the only other person in their resistance cell at her school, Rivalz was her de facto best friend. Not to mention the fact that she was hardly at school anyways to make any other friends- her skill with a Knightmare Frame made her too valuable not to take on most missions, no matter how reluctant Gino was to take her along. The fact that he was barely older than her was generally ignored- he had been enrolled in the military academy with high honors at the time of the invasion, meaning he already had some general training, however young. Shirley, however, was simply a civilian with a knack and above average skill for piloting.
"I saw that guy yesterday. At… you know," Shirley said vaguely, waving with her hands to try and sign her implied statement to him.
Rivalz paused, and his eyes widened slowly as he understood what she was saying.
"Weird," he muttered. "Hey, I wonder if he was the pilot of that golden Knightmare you and the boss were talking about. I don't remember the voice of the guy who captured me before Kusakabe, but it might have been him."
Now it was Shirley's turn to widen her eyes into saucers. Could that be true? She didn't know the timeline of when Gino had first run into that Knightmare and she had run into that boy… but on the other hand, what was he doing there in the first place?
Shirley frowned and crossed her arms, a contemplating look on her face. As she stood there, another female student in her class passed by, and offhandedly smiled and said, "Oooh! I'm so jealous, Shirley-san! You touched hands with Lelouch-sama!"
"Lelouch?" Shirley leaned forward, and caught the girl's arm with her own. "Wait. Do you know him?"
The girl gave Shirley a blank look for a moment, then finally blinked. "Oh right, I forget you have anemia and can't make it to school a lot of the time. Lelouch-sama is the idol of the school, along with his girlfriend, C.C.-san!"
"C.C.? That's a weird name," Rivalz cut in skeptically.
"She's so mature! And mysterious! Kuudere's are so cool! I heard from a friend who heard from an upperclassman that C.C. is from a foreign country in the Eurasian Federation or something, whose customs are all backwards or something, and like they dye everyone's hair green in that country, and only give people initials for names," the girl chirped with a bubbly voice.
"That... what?" Shirley blinked, fairly certain she hadn't understood the whole of the girl's sentence. After a few more moments of attempting to process the inane babble she'd heard, Shirley finally just shook her head, mumbled thanks to the girl, and walked off, feeling even more confused than earlier.
"Come on, we're going to be late," Rivalz reminded her, tugging on her sleeve, but she pulled away.
"You go on ahead. I need to talk to the boss about this." The look in her eyes and the set of her shoulders would brook no argument.
"… oh, alright. First period isn't for another five minutes anyway. See you in class!" and with that, Rivalz wandered off jauntily, whistling to himself.
Shirley barely heard him, fixated on punching in the number Gino had given her this week of his current cell phone- he made a point of changing the phone and number every couple of weeks to avoid detection.
It only rang twice before he picked up.
"Yes?" Gino's voice was subdued, even through the voice filter he was using to disguise himself.
Shirley briefly paused, trying to remember the code word they'd established for this month, in order to ensure the identity of both people on the line. "Oly oly oxen free."
"We're all free," came the response, the standard code word response to let the other person know the line was clear.
"God, do we have to use those for each new code word? Haven't we run out of childish rhymes yet?" Shirley muttered despairingly.
"Not by a long shot, girlie," Gino said lightly, chuckling. "So what is it?"
"I think I've got a lead on who the pilot of that golden Knightmare was," Shirley said quietly, and quickly outlined her encounter with the boy, Lelouch, both yesterday and today, complete with her suspicions that he was the pilot.
"What do you think?" she asked, once she'd finished.
Gino was quiet for a few moments. "Watch him. Don't let him know you're onto him- if he is, you don't want to scare him off. If he isn't, you'll just blow your cover. Try to feel him out."
"Understood," Shirley said quietly, already glancing towards where Lelouch had just been, a determined look on her face. "I'll find out what he knows."
And if he was a threat- she'd do whatever it took to make sure her comrades stayed safe.
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At the government building, Suzaku was having about the same feelings as Lelouch in regards to the morning, with a mounting headache as he sat in the council room, which was nearly the same as yesterday- with only one small, but powerful, difference.
The loss of Kusakabe had more repercussions than Suzaku had considered at the time. After all, now he was without a commander for the substantial military forces based in the country, and without a buffer for the onerous duties that Kusakabe had kept him out of. The Colonel had, whatever his questionable activities, been the Empire's true representative in the country, and the one who handled a lot of the day to day activities- Suzaku was intentionally kept out of much of the policy making and other activities done in his name.
And now the homeland was getting involved.
"I told you before," Suzaku said slowly, an undercurrent of fury building in his voice, "That report holds the extent of my knowledge about Kusakabe's doings. If you're insinuating something, sir, then say it openly."
"My prince, no one blames you for the loss of the Colonel. We merely need to follow the proper procedures for such an emergency, especially in the face of such a crisis. As the heir to the empire, you of all people should understand."
The wrinkled, bald face on the viewscreen held only a placid smile and spoke with an even, almost fatherly tone, but Suzaku didn't believe it for a second.
"Kirihara-san, I understand your good intentions, but I must remind you that the Colonel went behind my back, and more importantly, the back of the Empire, and was killed as a result of his own hubris," Suzaku said politely, though tersely. "If he hadn't have been killed by whomever he was dealing with, I would have put him under military tribunal myself. Is it really necessary to go through this investigation?"
Kirihara Taizou was the Chief Minister of the Imperial Council, a group of the most powerful men in the Empire who advised the Emperor and were entrusted with much of the day to day running of the government. Kirihara was the top dog amongst all of them as the Chief Minister, the head of the Council, and his vast political power was enforced by the fact that he was the richest man in the Empire, thanks to his other position, as Chief Executive Officer of Kirihara Industries, the world's leading supplier of Sakuradite.
Under Taizou's leadership, the company built by his family flourished, dealing in everything from manufacturing equipment to medical supplies, and of course, military technology. All Japanese Knightmare Frames in usage were built by Kirihara Industries, making the company the backbone of the Empire's formidable military might. And Taizou himself was the Emperor's closest advisor and friend, someone Suzaku could never trust.
"True, the Colonel's actions are suspect," Kirihara agreed generously. "And we will of course be making inquiries into the budget allotted to your colonial government in Brittania, to ensure that Kusakabe was not diverting government funds into his own private projects. That being said, we must ensure all the facts are verified first. The reports about the battle are still… incomplete, I should say, and need to be looked into."
"I can handle that investigation," Suzaku began slowly, but Kirihara interrupted him.
"No, please, my prince, such tasks are better left to men of common blood, not those born of Amateratsu's lineage," the Minister assured him with a toothy, knowing smile. "We also need to discuss the matter of a replacement for your Chief of Staff. The Council has already elected a candidate to replace the Colonel, and who will handle the investigation personally. He will be dispatched to Brittania shortly, along with a new complement of troops to replace what we have lost and to ensure the Emperor's Peace."
"I see," Suzaku bit out, irritated at how easily his authority was subverted. "May I ask the replacement's name?"
"We will inform you of the candidate's name once the offer has been accepted, my prince," Kirihara said smoothly, once again overriding Suzaku's supposed authority without ever breaching protocol. He smiled, and added, "No need to tell you before we are sure."
In other words, you won't give me time to prepare, Suzaku thought darkly. This stank of the Emperor's touch- the casual, backhanded insults were his father's way of saying hello.
"If there is nothing more to discuss, then we will contact you again, my prince, when the decision has been made." Kirihara bowed generously, as befitting Suzaku's station. A mere governor would never have the right to dismiss the Chief Minister in conversation, but Suzaku was, at least in name, more powerful than a provincial governor.
"Very well," he muttered, dismissing the Minister. Without a word to anyone else in the room, he stood, and stormed out of the room, nearly colliding headlong with someone outside.
"I'm so sorry!" came the squeaked out apology, which Suzaku found odd, considering he was the one who all but trampled down the other person.
It took a moment for recognition to set in, due to the change of clothes. After all, a demure, old fashioned maid's outfit was a radical change from the confines of a restraining suit.
"Euphie! What're you doing?" Suzaku whispered hurriedly, pulling her off to the side, warily glancing around.
"Oh, it's you… um," she hesitated.
"Suzaku," he said patiently.
"Right… Suzaku… erm… I mean… Suzaku-sama." Euphemia's voice halted and tripped over his name and the honorific, the words foreign on her tongue.
"I take it you still can't remember me. Or anything else then," Suzaku said lightly, vaguely amused at her embarrassment.
"Y-yes," Euphemia said quietly, casting her gaze down, pale hands wringing the length of her skirt idly.
Suzaku cursed himself for making light of her predicament. How frightening it had to be for a young woman, to find nothing familiar and be forced to trust someone who might only be claiming to be a friend.
He was terrible with girls. God, how he wished he could talk to Lelouch. Lelouch would know what to do- girls always flocked to him, and Lelouch seemed to handle himself well around them.
He, on the other hand, usually just fumbled around for the right words to say.
"Sorry about that," he apologized. "But really, you shouldn't be walking around like this. What if someone sees you?"
"I admit, seeing the young master doing naughty things with a maid would be a fairly scandalous sight."
Suzaku yelped, and practically leapt out of his skin as he whirled around to see Milly's amused face break out into a fit of giggles.
"You're too easy," Milly muttered, sounding in despair as she waved Euphemia over to her. "And you're getting in the way of her duties. Go along now, Euphie-chan. There'll be time to chat once you tell the driver that Suzaku-sama's meeting is finished."
"Right away, Milly-san," Euphemia said, straightening. She gave a polite bow to Suzaku, and then went on her way, looking relieved.
"Wh-you did this?" Suzaku said slowly, blinking in comprehension as he turned towards Milly.
"I hired her on. Who's going to question one of the maids, other than to tell them where to put the laundry? Servants can move around freely where someone else would get questioned." Milly shrugged, smiling blandly. "I figure you'd want to keep her close, so I thought of a way to make sure she's around you."
"That's… really smart," Suzaku admitted quietly. "Thanks."
"Well, since you're so grateful, I suppose I'll let you in on a secret," Milly said secretively, smiling wider as she leaned in close. "Sorry, Suzaku-sama, but I looked inside the escape tunnel."
It took only a second to process what she'd just said, and Suzaku felt an arctic chill run down his spine.
"You might want to find a way to hide that garish thing," Milly muttered, shaking her head. "Seriously, pure gold? Could it be any more conspicuous?"
Suzaku eyed her warily, suddenly reevaluating everything he knew about her. He trusted Milly a lot, but for her to suddenly breach his secrets like this was something he'd never expected.
"Oh, don't worry," Milly said brightly, smiling. "I closed up the tunnel and found a tarp big enough to conceal it for now. But we're going to have to find a better place to hide that thing. I know someone who might be able to help."
"Y-you're not going to ask about it? Or tell anyone?" Suzaku could have been knocked over by a leaf in his confusion.
"Of course not," she scoffed. "I'm your maid, you idiot, not the police."
"Oh… I… well… sorry about that," Suzaku said, embarrassedly scratching the back of his head and looking down like a contrite child.
"Think nothing of it. I'm the brains of this outfit. Thinking's never been your strong suit, after all, Suzaku-sama."
He bristled, but good naturedly rolled his eyes and muttered in annoyance, "Clearly. Why else would I have taken you on as a maid?"
Milly gave him a catty smile in return.
"Alright, so who's this person you said you could help? Are you sure we can trust them?"
"I'm sure," Milly said confidently, then she paused, and tilted her head to the side and pressed a finger to her cheek, as if reconsidering. "He's the best at what he does. Unfortunately, he's also… well, weird."
"Weird?" Suzaku blinked. That wasn't really an adjective Milly used.
"I'll tell you more later. For now we shouldn't keep the driver waiting. I know you still need to visit her later." Milly's voice took on a more solemn tone as she finished, as it always did when it came to that particular topic.
"Alright," Suzaku agreed, his face falling too at the mention of her. "Let's go then."
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"Sweet lemonade mmm sweet lemonade, sweet lemonade yeah sweet lemonade," Rivalz hummed under his breath, as he took a long gulp of said drink from a vending machine can.
"Could you not sing that?" Shirley muttered irritably, standing off to the side waiting for him to finish, keeping her eyes open for that boy they ran into this morning.
"Sorry, it's been stuck in my head all day," he said apologetically. "Why are we stalking this guy again?"
"We're not stalking him!" Shirley said heatedly, whirling on him as she lowered her voice so that only he could hear her. "He was there, that day! Which means he might know something about what happened to the cargo that went missing, and who was piloting that Knightmare."
"Alright, alright," Rivalz muttered, backing off. "No need to bite my head off."
"Just… keep quiet, okay? I need to make sure we don't miss him- oh shoot, I think that's him!"
"Over there?" Rivalz followed her gaze to where Lelouch had just turned the corner, idly fiddling with his cell phone.
"Stay here and watch my back, would you?" Shirley asked, and sped off without waiting for a response.
"A girl in love is a scary creature," Rivalz sighed, and started humming that Ear Worm of a song again under his breath. "Look at my horse, my horse is amazing…"
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Shirley was already out of earshot by the time Rivalz made his comment, thankfully for him and his good health, following Lelouch with the practiced ease she had gained from a few reconnaissance missions she'd undertaken for Gino's squad.
A pretty girl who claims she got lost, he insisted, to her chagrin, was far less suspicious than a man skulking in the shadows.
After tailing him for a while as he walked through the school, stopping by the teacher's lounge and a few other classrooms on the way, Shirley managed to gather some things about him.
Firstly, he was apparently very well known around campus, and well liked at that. Teachers often came by to sing their praises about his performance on tests, and most students who passed him at least waved, and in return Lelouch smiled back easily and always had a moment to greet anyone who spoke with him.
Secondly, and seemingly in contrary to her first observation, was that despite any number of people, both teachers and students, who waved and stopped to chat with him amiably, Shirley got the distinct impression that none of these people were truly close to him- there was just this subtle distance in his posture, and a lack of true warmth in his eyes that indicated he was simply not being completely honest. But it was just a feeling, and she tried to dismiss it.
Thirdly, and this was especially notable or her, was something mentioned in passing as Lelouch went by the teacher's lounge.
"Hey, Lelouch-kun," came the hesitant, though stern tones of the history professor, a balding, slightly overweight erudite. "Not that your grades have been suffering for it, but you might want to come to class more often. Yesterday's class wasn't quite as important, but you do remember attendance is part of your grade, correct?"
"Sorry professor," Lelouch said apologetically, bowing his head. "Something came up yesterday…"
The rest of it trailed off as a passing pair of students drowned out the conversation with chatter, but she managed to confirm that he hadn't been at school yesterday.
So far however, all she had was circumstantial evidence that he was really the boy she met, as well as a vague outline of his personality, which she contrasted with her first encounter with him, in the Underground.
There, he had been… fierce. Unbending in his convictions. Admirable, in a way, she had to admit- most people would never have preferred being killed to being indirectly involved in murder.
So who was the real Lelouch Lamperouge, if indeed that was him? The fierce idealist or the laid back student?
Her thoughts were interrupted as a green haired girl, the same one she'd seen with him that morning, walked up to him casually. She said something quietly, too quiet to overhear, and Lelouch's genial expression changed into annoyance- what Shirley guessed might be the first real emotion she'd seen from him so far.
"It's none of your business," he said curtly, just barely loud enough to be overheard.
The girl- C.C., Shirley guessed- smiled cattily and said something inaudible in response. Then, to her shock and absolute terror, C.C. glanced towards her, met her eyes, and said loudly, "I'll let you off for now. Looks like someone else has been waiting to talk to you for a while, from the way she's been following you around campus."
Without waiting for a reply, the green haired girl sauntered off.
Oh that bitch! Shirley's eyes widened as she felt frozen in the headlights, unsure whether to bolt or stand her ground and make up an excuse.
After a few moments of indecision, her choice was made for her when Lelouch turned around and spotted her, recognizing her after a moment.
"Ah… is there something you need, miss?" he asked politely.
"I… um… that is to say… you…" Shirley stammered, color flooding her cheeks in mortification. Her stalking- erm, that is to say espionage- skills were suddenly deserting her faster than rats leaving a sinking ship.
Lelouch seemed to take her hesitation without suspicion, and in fact an understanding look came to light in his eyes.
"Ah," he said slowly, and smiled gently.
Shirley blinked.
"I'm sorry miss, but I'll have to refuse your feelings," Lelouch said quietly, the words coming out with practiced ease, sounding for all the world like he had repeated this same phrase over and over to other girls before, "I'm afraid I just have no place in my life for romance right now."
WHAT?
Shirley's face, which had previously been flushed from embarrassment, changed abruptly into a stormy look of fury.
Lelouch blathered on, ignorant of the thunderheads that were gathering on the girl's face. "Please, don't take this the wrong way. I just… I don't even know you, and I'm afraid that-"
He was abruptly cut off, courtesy of a rather ferocious slap.
"How dare you!" Shirley hissed, "Of all the arrogant- self-possessed- you thought I was confessing my love for you!"
"I just… I… you… were acting…" Lelouch trailed off as the deadliness of her glare increased- if Shirley could have, she would have willed him to spontaneously combust on command right then and there, and damn whatever information she would miss.
"When girls usually talk that… it's happened to me before," he finished petulantly, as though his excuse would make a difference. Finally, gathering his wits about him again, Lelouch irritably rubbed his cheek and continued, "Well, in any case, there's no need to be so rude. It was an honest misunderstanding."
"You're lucky that's all I did," Shirley snapped back, crossing her arms. "Assuming things like that. Men!"
Lelouch continued rubbing his cheek for a few more moments, giving her a glare, before he finally sighed. "Anyways. What did you want from me?"
Shirley, for all her anger, froze again. She still didn't have an excuse.
"Ah, Shirley-kun, and Lelouch-kun! Excellent, you're both here." Her homeroom professor, an eternally stubble-chinned, glasses wearing man, walked in at that moment, smiling widely at them both. "Good, saves me the trouble of having this conversation twice."
"Ah, Takahata-sensei… what is it?" Shirley asked politely, bowing her head to hide the flush of relief that came from his presence.
"Well, I know with your weak constitution you've missed a number of classes, and it's beginning to show on your grades. So I talked it over with Headmaster Ougi, and he suggested that we ask Lelouch-kun here, being our star student, to tutor you," Takahata said casually, rubbing the back of his head with a chuckle. "But I see you've already taken the initiative to ask for a tutor yourself?"
"Ah… right!" Shirley said quickly, nodding her head, thanking providence for the sudden window of escape. "I heard Lelouch-san scored highest on the exams, so I wanted to ask if he could help me…"
Lelouch cast her a suspicious look at her sudden change in attitude, which Shirley met with a winning smile. "Please, Lelouch-san?"
"How about it, Lelouch-kun?" Takahata asked, peering over at him with a boyish smile. "I know it's a lot to ask, considering your duties as Student Council Vice-president, but a little of your time might really help Shirley-kun."
"Of course I will, sensei," Lelouch replied, inclining his head slightly in acquiescence. " We can even have our first meeting after school today, in the Student Council room. If that's okay with Shirley-san."
Now it was Shirley's turn to be suspicious. Why was he agreeing so easily?
"Great! Everything's settled then. Now, I think the lunch period is just about over, so Shirley-kun and I should be going. Don't be late to class, Lelouch-kun!" Her teacher patted her on the shoulder genially, waving to Lelouch.
As Shirley walked back to her classroom, she chanced a glance behind her- to her embarrassment, Lelouch had been staring at her, and caught her look. Their eyes met, and Shirley felt a strange fluttering in her stomach as she looked away.
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"Tell the driver we'll be leaving as soon as I get out of this," Suzaku muttered, absently shrugging his shoulders. The ceremonial kimono he wore as part of his duties as a Prince wasn't exactly uncomfortable in a physical sense, but he always felt as though he was trying to play at someone he wasn't whenever he was in it.
"Gotcha," Milly acknowledged. "I'll stay here then. Euphie-chan, go and help him change. He always wrinkles that kimono if he takes it off by himself."
"W-what?" Euphemia's face flushed.
"I can change on my own," Suzaku protested. Milly always made him seem more helpless than he actually was.
"Please, you probably don't even remember which drawer your clean underwear is. Besides, it gives Euphie here a chance to learn how to do her job. And make mine easier." Milly grinned.
"Sometimes, I swear you're the master here," Suzaku muttered, heading off towards his room, with a still flushed and meek looking Euphemia trailing distantly behind him.
"Sorry about all that," Suzaku apologized, after they'd entered his room. He stepped towards his closet, absently picking a dark, collared button down shirt and comfortable slacks out of it. "I know Milly can be… trying. You don't really need to help me."
"No, it's fine," Euphemia said quietly, stepping forward to take his clothes from him. "I… I am a maid now. I need to do my job."
Suzaku shook his head, smiling generously. "No, it's okay."
"It's my job," Euphemia insisted, tugging lightly on the shirt.
"Really, it's-" Suzaku began, pulling away from her with a reassuring smile.
"I said, it's my job!"
Suzaku blinked.
Euphemia's face had been set with a determined look, her chin jutting out and her eyes bright and fierce, but immediately afterward turned bright red and she ducked her head down again. "I-I'm sorry about that…"
"No, it's okay," Suzaku said, chuckling. "That's more like how you were… back then."
"Back… then?" Euphemia blinked, and her embarrassment shifted into melancholy.
Oh shoot, Suzaku thought inwardly. Right, way to remind the girl about her total amnesia, Suzaku. Brilliant work.
Sometimes, Suzaku wondered why the scolding voice in his head often sounded like Lelouch. Trying his best to make the awkward situation smoother, Suzaku said nothing, and changed out of his kimono and into the shirt and slacks in the bathroom. It was only as he was buttoning his shirt that the silence was broken.
"What… what was I like, back then?" Euphemia asked quietly, voice barely audible through the door.
Suzaku pushed open the door slightly and looked at her, uncertain. "You were… brighter. Happier. You loved picking flowers and weaving them into chains and then crowning me with them. But you could be really stubborn too. Just like now."
"Stubborn?" Euphemia raised her eyebrow, her cheeks puffing out indignantly as she planted her fists on her hips- it was a look she'd given him countless times before, usually right after he and Lelouch had done something ill-advised.
"Erm… I mean… well, one time me and Lelouch- your brother- told you that you couldn't go hiking with us because it was a boy's trip, and you would get dirty and muddy and smelly, and then you got mad and scolded us for being chauvinists and insisted on following us all the way out into the woods until you got lost…" Suzaku trailed off, chuckling to himself as the memory came back to him, absently finishing the last buttons on his shirt.
"So we knew each other as children, right? And you said this… Lelouch, was my brother? Can I see him? Where is he? And my parents?" Euphemia pressed, looking almost desperate.
Suzaku drew back, wondering what he should say. "It's… a long story. You should sit down."
He spoke at length with her, trying his best to explain everything, from his first meeting with her and the rest of the Brittanian Imperial Family, to the invasion of Brittania, and then as well a summary of the years up to the present as he possibly could.
"So… my brothers and sisters are all in hiding right now? And that's why you've hired me on as a maid, so you can make sure no one discovers who I really am?" Euphemia chewed her lip, a habit from childhood that signified she was contemplating all the facts thoroughly. "And my parents… are dead?"
"I'm afraid so," Suzaku said quietly, unable to meet her gaze. Her mother, rumors had it, had passed away two or three years ago from an illness. Charles Di Brittania's death had been the catalyst for the surrender seven years ago. "I would like to take you to see your siblings, but… it's too dangerous right now. People might try to use you if they find out who you really are."
"I see." Euphemia's voice was barely above a whisper, and she gripped the sides of the dresser she had planted herself on during the exposition with a white knuckled grip. "So I'm alone."
Suzaku felt lost. Nothing he was saying seemed to improve her mood. Finally, on impulse, he held out his hand. "Hey, come with me. I have someone I want you to meet."
Euphemia looked up at him, eyes shining with tears that were barely being kept in check.
After a few more moments, she took his hand.
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"Here's the Student Council Room," Lelouch said slowly, opening the door for Shirley, who continued to steadfastly ignore him.
The room itself was fairly spacious, though filled with all sorts of odds and ends, including a number of unmarked boxes overflowing with a seemingly random assortment of items, ranging from scuba masks to fabric to notebooks. A rack of clothes sat in one corner, from which hung a number of different costumes, including what looked like an overly large frog costume and a maid outfit. A large rectangular table sat in the center, ringed by cushioned wooden chairs. At the head of the table sat a chair that gave Shirley pause- it was a pink, high backed throne with an emblem that Shirley didn't recognize.
"The president's chair," Lelouch explained, noticing her gaze. "She has an 'open door' policy, so we don't really bother locking the door. Best be warned, I wouldn't recommend taking advantage of that policy. Our president's brand of help is… unique, to say the least."
He chuckled, remembering the last poor soul who came in for help. The animal shelter, the mall over by Hyde Park, and the military police were all still smarting over the incident- if the president didn't have such political and financial standing, the school would have gone bankrupt from the lawsuits it had faced.
Shirley remained stone faced.
Sighing inwardly, Lelouch decided to press on. "Since I'm not quite sure what kind of tutoring you need, you're welcome to drop by here and see me after school when you need the help. I'll do my best to make sure I have time-"
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Shirley cut in, staring straight at him with a hard look.
Lelouch stared back at her, seemingly unconcerned at her sudden inquisition into his motives.
"I read your file," he said quietly.
Shirley stiffened.
"You seem to get sick a lot, just like Takahata-sensei said, so keeping up with your studies is a problem. But more so, you also probably haven't had too much interaction with the students here," Lelouch continued.
"So what, you're just a Good Samaritan?" Shirley sneered, bristling against his calm tones, feeling as though she was being made fun of. "You pity the poor sick girl who can't make friends?"
"I also read that your father was killed in the invasion."
She flinched as though he'd physically struck her, and fell back a few steps, bracing herself up against the table.
"What gives you the right?" she hissed.
"I'm sorry. But… I think I understand you a little better now. My parents… they died during the invasion as well." Lelouch's face briefly contorted into an unreadable expression, and Shirley got the impression that he was struggling with something. "I know what it's like to lose someone you care about."
"So what, you're a social worker as well as my private tutor?" Shirley said disbelievingly. What the hell was up with this guy?
"I want to help you," he explained, placing a gentle hand on her arm. "Not just with your grades. But helping you get accustomed to the school. The Sumeragi Academy was built to foster relations between the Japanese and the Brittanians. As someone who was so hurt by the war, you are one of the people this school is trying to reach out to."
"How nice," Shirley said venomously, knocking his hand aside with visible contempt, turning away from him. "Shall we hold hands and sing songs as well?"
"The president has a quote she likes to say at times like these," Lelouch replied, seemingly unruffled by her increasing aggression, which should have made him suspicious given her supposedly weak constitution. "Peace is won with rice and salt, not swords and spears. Brittania is gone, Shirley-san. No amount of anger or fighting will ever change that."
"And you think it's okay to just roll over and take it?" Shirley whirled on him, eyes blazing as her long hair whipped about. "They killed our families."
"So what would you rather do? Kill them?" Lelouch asked chillingly, gazing back at her, his amethyst eyes darkening almost to midnight black.
Shirley swallowed, her angry retort strangled and dying in her throat. There was no doubt now, he was the same boy as yesterday.
"O-of course not," she stammered out, trying to hide the nervous edge in her voice. God, her anger had nearly blown her cover! "I'm not saying that. But… living in harmony with them? After everything that's happened?"
"In the ashes, life can be born anew," Lelouch murmured, so soft that Shirley barely caught his words. "We can't bring back the dead. All we can do is live the lives we've been given. I don't want to see one more of my countrymen losing their lives to avenge a nation that doesn't exist anymore."
His fists tightened, and the nails bit deep into his palm. Shirley wondered absently who was it that had died to avenge Brittania in his life.
"Blood can't wash away blood," Shirley murmured. It was something her father had said, once.
"You don't have to agree with me. Or like me. If you want, you don't even have to show up for tutoring," Lelouch said softly, as though he hadn't heard her. "But if you change your mind, I'll be here."
He held her gaze, not in challenge, but just… waiting. Patiently. There was no fire in those eyes like other people she'd argued with, only an ideal that was as calm, flowing water, wearing away at all resistance.
It was too much. Without saying a word, Shirley turned, and left, and for the second time in two days, wishing she could forget the words Lelouch Lamperouge had spoken.
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Placid eyes watched Shirley's dazed retreat from the corner, unnoticed by anyone else. For a while, her expression remained unreadable, until finally, as though hearing some inaudible voice, her nose wrinkled in annoyance.
"I'm not jealous," C.C. asserted, rolling her eyes.
Her ears twitched as though she heard some teasing reply.
"I'm not stalking him either. He's as helpless as a baby kitten. If I don't make sure he's safe…" C.C. frowned irritably, looking as though someone had cut off her tirade mid-rant. "I am not overprotective."
With a sniff, she whirled aside and began stalking off.
"God, I wish you'd shut up sometimes," she muttered.
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"The hospital?" Euphemia murmured quietly, so that they wouldn't be overheard. "Why here? Are you taking me to the doctor?"
"No, not just yet," Suzaku assured her, smiling gently. In his left hand he held flowers- bright magnolias and daisies, which Milly had produced just before they'd left. Questions as to why he had them had gone unanswered thus far. "We need to get all your records straightened out first. But there is someone in here I want you to meet today. Come on."
The building itself, named the Kirihara London Memorial Hospital, was one of the first buildings constructed after the war. It was a tall, sprawling building, and hosted most of the finest medical minds in the area, as well as cutting edge technology, as befitting its status as another subsidiary to the titan of a corporation that was Kirihara Industries.
Euphemia followed Suzaku through a side entrance, rather than the main one, that was seemingly reserved only for nobility. Two stern looking security officers stood guard at the entrance, glaring at anyone who even looked at the doors- and considering that the line at the main entrance held more than a score of people at any on time, it was to be expected that the line-free zone was envied.
The guards outside and the receptionist inside both already knew Suzaku and buzzed him on through as though his arrival was a routine matter. After passing through a spacious and comfortable waiting room, complete with a massive television screen, the two of them made their way into a hallway lined with large windowed rooms, most of which were sealed off by curtains.
"This is a private ward," Suzaku explained softly, as Euphemia looked around in awe. "I'm sad to say it, but this is usually where nobles go to get treated or to hide embarrassing illnesses from the public."
They said nothing further until Suzaku finally stopped in front of Room 2203.
"This is it," he announced quietly, and opened the door without preamble.
Euphemia followed him inside, taking in everything with a slow, cautious look. Suzaku, meanwhile, placed the flowers carefully inside of a strikingly crafted (and expensive looking) crystal vase sitting on the table, taking a pitcher of water that had been left thoughtfully by the nurse and pouring it in as well.
"The nurses know I always bring flowers, but forget the water, so they've started leaving water here for me," Suzaku explained without prompt, face unreadable as he placed himself on the chair closest to the bed.
"Who is she?" Euphemia asked softly, gazing at the figure before them.
"This?" Suzaku's lips briefly shifted into a melancholy smile. "This is your little sister, Euphemia. Nunnally. Nunnally vi Brittania."
Nunnally vi Brittania was delicate, she could see, even though most of her body was covered in white sheets, her skin so pale it was almost chalky. Her long brown hair fell down in waves similar to her own, and there was something in her bone structure where Euphemia could see a family resemblance. A few wires attached to her skin fed back into a monitor which beeped out a slow, steady heart rate.
"My sister," Euphemia whispered reverently. "She… what happened to her?"
"During the invasion, she was… hurt. She's been in a coma ever since. I had ever moved to this hospital after it was built, and I make sure the doctors are doing everything they can for her, but still… there's been no change in her condition. Physically, she's fine, but mentally…" Suzaku sighed, sounding older than he actually was. "Her mind's just… not there. It's inert. She just won't wake up."
"So you've been taking care of her this whole time? For… seven years?" Euphemia asked quietly.
"Your brother asked me, and even if he hadn't… Nunnally is a precious friend to me. I wanted her to be safe and healthy." Suzaku's knuckles tightened for a moment. "I just wish I could do more for her."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, and the sound of Nunnally's monitor filled the room with an almost melancholic monotone.
"I wish I could remember her," Euphemia murmured sadly.
"You will," he said quietly, gently, hesitantly patting her shoulder.
"How can you be so sure?" she turned towards him, eyes quivering, looking as frail and vulnerable as her sister.
"I'm sure. Look, I know Nunnally's not the same as a sibling you can talk to, but… I wanted to show you that there are members of your family out there. That you aren't alone in this world. And besides Nunnally…" Suzaku stood, back straight and defiant, and turned towards her, holding out his hand. "You are also a precious friend of mine, Euphie. You have me. I promise you, I will find a way to bring back your memories, and reunite you with your family. I swear it. I won't let you be alone."
Behind him, the sun lit up the room from the window, and illuminated Suzaku's frame, giving him the classic Against The Setting Sun imagery.
For some reason, Euphemia's heart skipped a beat, just before she took his hand.
"Thank you."
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Still no report from the front. He wasn't exactly concerned, not yet- they were only mopping up the last remaining South Equatorial League forces that had attempted to lay claim to the surrounding islands in the Gulf, with the main back of their forces already broken. It wasn't even a major conflict, more of a bloodying of noses than anything else, but Japan could never allow the enemy to claim islands so close to the coast of Yamato. No one was officially at war- Japan couldn't risk open war with the League without the possibility of the Federation allying themselves against them.
That was why they gave the mission to him, and his unit. Unlike more… ambitious members of the military, he wasn't that fond of bloodbaths. And he was grateful, really. Knowing the brass had started trusting him meant that things were finally changing.
But god damn, sitting around waiting was boring.
Not like humming. Humming was such a fun habit. And it helped while away the boredom. With a smile, he began to sing one of his own favorites under his breath cheerfully-
"Commander, my apologies for interrupting your… fun… but there's an incoming call from Kyoto."
Lieutenant Catherine Sancia, his adjutant, a dark haired Brittanian woman, approached him expectantly, arms clasped firmly behind her, looking completely at ease with interrupting his humming despite her apology. Her serious, level headed demeanor was commented as contrasting sharply with his own rather lax (at least for the military) style of command, and her ability to think critically made her a huge asset to his staff, despite her supposed handicap as a Brittanian.
The Japanese military was still very segregated, and "pure bloods" received more promotions, but they were making headway. His own unit, for example, the 75th Armored Regiment, was a mixed unit, thanks in large part to who they were attached to.
Sancia, and his sister especially, were sterling examples of a growing movement towards change.
"Alright, patch it through." He straightened in his chair, absently smoothing out his uniform. Never hurt to look nice in front of the brass.
The screen flashed, and the wrinkled, sly smile of Kirihara Taizou appeared.
"Kirihara-sama. It's been a long time," he greeted formally, bowing his head.
"Naoto-kun, really, there's no need to be so formal," Kirihara said genially, smiling toothily. "Your family may not be one of the Six Houses of Kyoto, but your family are nobles all their own."
It was, of course, a pretense, a simple flattery that was par for the course in Japan. The difference between a member of the Six Houses and any other noble was as substantial as the distance across oceans.
Naoto smiled tightly. "Please, you do me too much honor. What can I do for the Prime Minister this day?"
"Well, I was hoping to speak with you and your sister at the same time. Where is the lovely lady?" Kirihara questioned.
"Ah, she's at the front, as always," Naoto replied, and a note of genuine fondness, beyond the mask of politeness he'd adopted for Kirihara, showed through. "She requested to take the 1st Battalion to scour the last holdout towns, yesterday where the last of the Knightmare forces from the Equatorial League were hiding."
"A pity. Well, I have good news for the both of you," Kirihara said pleasantly. "I have new orders for you, Naoto-kun. You are hereby reassigned to the Brittanian province as Prince Suzaku's Chief of Staff. You are charged with investigating the circumstances behind the death of your predecessor, Colonel Kusakabe, and the defense of the homeland and its interests. Your sister, of course, can accompany you if she wishes. I'm sure the Prince will not object."
"Understood," Naoto acknowledged, inclining his head. "Suzaku, huh?"
"Your sister and the prince were childhood friends, if I remember correctly. I'm sure your sister will be very happy to be reunited with him. Especially given the recent decision made regarding their relationship." Kirihara looked for all the world like a benign grandfather making a gentle tease.
Which is what makes him so goddamn dangerous, Naoto thought inwardly, but kept smiling. "Of course, she will be. And she's always wanted to visit Brittania."
"Ah, of course, I remember," Kirihara nodded, and suddenly Naoto realized he'd made an error, "Your sister is a half-blood, correct? My, sometimes I forget, what with her sterling reputation…clearly, her Japanese blood remains strong, despite the gaijin influence."
Naoto bristled. He'd punched other men for less insulting comments about his sister. But from Kirihara, he could only stand there and have her accomplishments be whittled down to nothing more than "oh how fortunate she's risen above her handicap".
"Well, I'd hate to keep you any longer. You have a battle to win, and preparations to make," Kirihara continued, as though he hadn't just backhandedly insulted anyone, "Japan, Banzai."
"Japan, Banzai," Naoto replied dutifully, and the link closed. "Damn old man…"
"Sir?" Sancia asked quietly, stepping back into view now that Kirihara had ceased communications. The presence of a Brittanian would likely only have made things worse.
"Get through to my sister and the 1st Battalion, would you?" Naoto said tiredly, as he reclined back into his chair feeling drained after that exchange. Politics.
After a few moments, Sancia reported, "The channel is open, sir… we're receiving the feed from your sister's Knightmare now…"
"THIS HAND OF MINE GLOWS WITH AN AWESOME POWER!" came a roaring female voice from the speakers, "ITS BURNING GRIP TELLS ME TO DEFEAT YOU! SHINING-"
Naoto hit the mute button, and sighed. "I knew I should never have let her watch that show before a battle."
Sancia's lips twitched.
"Let her have her fun then, I guess, then give her an update when the battle's over," Kouzuki Naoto muttered. "Being a big brother is a hell of a job, I tell you."
Author's Notes
The joke about Lelouch thinking Suzaku is better with girls and vice versa is lifted from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. It's just too amusing not to use, and I'll probably keep using it long after this chapter, considering how much romcom I'll be sneaking in.
Milly is clearly the Alfred to Suzaku's Batman.
Sancia is a transplant from Nightmare of Nunnally, which I enjoyed and will be using as an occasional reference or to pull a new character out as necessary. I especially want to bring in Alice, but I still need to find a place for her.
Shirley's character was… difficult this chapter. I'm drawing a lot on Kallen's canon self as well, but Shirley's just turning out… darker. Hopefully though, her character development will put people at ease and show sides of her that are more in line with canon. Euphemia was marginally easier, though I need to adjust to writing her.
P.S. I couldn't get that damn Ear Worm of a song out of my head, so I infected Rivalz with the "Shut Up Woman Get On My Horse" song as well.