How long, how long will I slide
Separate my side
I don't, I don't believe it's bad
Slittin' my throat it's all I ever
"Otherside", Red Hot Chili Peppers
Chapter 6
Know Your Enemy
"Hello," Kallen said, feeling more awkward than she had ever been in her entire seventeen years of life. The sea of dumbstruck, wide eyed expressions of the class did not help the feeling. And in the middle of them, staring straight back into her eyes with an expression of a deer in the headlights, was Lelouch Lamperouge.
The fact that he was in this class was as shocking to her as it clearly was to him, but she had to keep calm and pretend she didn't recognize him, both for her sake and his.
"Well, I'm sure Kallen-sama doesn't want to be standing around getting gawked at by you all," the teacher cut in blessedly, and smiled at her reassuringly. "Why don't you take a seat… ah, there! By Lelouch-kun!"
Lelouch looked thunderstruck. Kallen fought hard to make sure she didn't betray the same expression, and glanced over at the teacher, who gestured encouragingly towards the empty seat.
Hiding her reluctance, Kallen made her way over to the desk and said down as calmly, gracefully as she could, giving an acknowledging, neutral nod to Lelouch as she did so.
"How lucky!" she heard one boy mutter.
"That damn Lelouch, he already has C.C.-san!" was another annoyed whisper she caught.
C.C., huh? Kallen thought briefly back to the phone call Lelouch received the other day, and the girl who had been on the other line. Was that her?
"Well, Kallen-sama," the teacher said graciously, drawing her attention back to the front, "Since you don't have your own books yet… Lelouch-kun, would you mind sharing?"
"Not at all, sensei," Lelouch said smoothly, passing the textbook over to her, all the while steadfastly looking anywhere but towards her.
"Well then, all of you, let's get started. Turn your textbooks to chapter seven, and we'll continue…"
Kallen had the odd feeling that things were only going to get more awkward from here.
00000
The drone of the instructor's voice turned into an indifferent buzz in his ears, and allowed Lelouch's thoughts to relax somewhat as he considered the situation.
Kallen was here, at this school. His every instinct screamed that this was the work of the president- and indeed, there were few other ways that somehow could transfer to the school without at least a note passing by his desk as the Vice President of the Student Council.
There was nothing wrong with it, of course, other than the slim possibility that, if it came to light that he had met her before today, questions regarding his true identity might arise. But there was only the smallest of probabilities in that regard, and Lelouch felt confident it would be a non-issue.
Her presence at the school, however, would be… interesting, to say the least. As a known half-blood, Kallen was the poster child for all Brittanians, an example of progress in the empire. Seeing her in person would no doubt have a nice effect on the students here, and likely help further the goal of the Sumeragi Academy to promote a peaceful co-existence between the Japanese and Brittanians.
The president is, as always, clever, Lelouch thought to himself amusedly. Sometimes he wondered if the president's craftiness was beyond even his genius- certainly, the number of times she'd tricked, coerced, or otherwise forced him into situations he did not want to be in spoke volumes about her guile.
The rest of the classes passed by in a blur- despite the new arrival sitting next to him, very little had changed about his daily life, really.
It was only at the lunch break that a change occurred, in the form of Kouzuki Kallen standing over him.
"Um… you're the student Vice President, Lelouch Lamperouge, correct?" she asked hesitantly, and then, as if realizing it might be suspicious she knew his face, added quickly, "Kaguya-san told me to talk to you after classes, so if you have a moment, I would like to speak to you."
"Ah, of course," Lelouch said pleasantly, standing up from his desk and offering her a deep, respectful bow. "Please, follow me. We can talk in the Student Council Room."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw C.C., her expression unreadable. He only had a second to puzzle over the look she was giving him when he realized every male in the classroom was also glaring daggers at him.
Kallen, however, failed to notice, and simply nodded along. "After you."
Now somewhat reluctantly, Lelouch stood up and lead the way.
00000
"Kallen-sama is at school?" Euphemia asked curiously, standing next to him at the dining table, waiting for him to finish his lunch.
"Yeah," Suzaku answered distractedly, sipping a bowl of miso soup as he did so. "Her brother thought it best."
"School…" Euphemia trailed off, looking distracted. "That sounds like quite a lot of fun. I bet she'll really enjoy herself."
"I suppose she might," Suzaku agreed, polishing off the last of his miso. "Lelouch is there, so I'm sure he'll be able to help her out. And Kaguya will be back in a few days as well."
"It must be so nice to be able to spend so much time around other people your age," Euphemia said, a trace of wistfulness in her voice.
Suzaku, in a rare bit of remarkable insight, glanced over at her with a curious look. "Do you want to go to school, Euphie?"
She blushed and looked away, obviously flustered. "I- I'm perfectly happy as is…"
"Euphie…" Suzaku felt a pang of sorrow. "I would like to help you with that, but…"
"I know, I know," Euphemia interrupted, giving him an understanding smile. "I didn't even know my name before, and going out in public like that is just too risky."
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, reaching over and patting her hand. "I really wish I could do more."
"You've done more than enough," she replied, smiling a little wider. "You've done so much for me already, Suzaku-sama. I can't ask for more."
Suzaku had nothing more to say to that, and so he stood, piling up the last of the dishes as he did so. "Well, let's go then, and see Nunnally, I haven't been able to go since two days ago, and if you wouldn't mind accompanying me…"
"Of course," Euphemia said immediately, nodding.
"Where are you two off to, hmm?" Milly asked salaciously, offering them a catty smile. "A nice little rendezvous? And just after your fiancée gets to the country, Suzaku-sama?"
"Knock it off, Milly," Suzaku muttered, shaking his head and steadfastly refusing to acknowledge the slight heat in his cheeks. "We're going to see Nunnally."
"That might have to wait a little," Milly said apologetically, bowing her head. "Lloyd-sama and Cecile-sama are here, asking to speak with you. In the interest of keeping things quiet, I directed them towards one of the anterooms."
"Thank you," Suzaku said quietly, and glanced over at Euphemia. "Sorry Euphie, I need to take care of this. I'll come find you when I finish."
"Please, take your time," Euphemia said politely, bowing.
Suzaku gave her a look of thanks, and headed off through the mansion, Milly following close behind. She only hurried ahead of him once they reached the double doors of the anteroom, opening the doors for him as befitting her station.
"Suzaku-sama," Cecile greeted as she stood, bowing deeply, clad in a practical woman's business suit with a skirt that ended just at her knee.
Lloyd, on the other hand, merely waved from his seated position on the couch, dressed sloppily in a long sleeved shirt and jeans. "Heya Milly! Haven't seen you in a while!"
Milly smiled and bowed her head. "And hello to you as well, Lloyd."
"Lloyd-san, Cecile-san." Suzaku returned the greeting with a nod.
"Nice digs, your highness," Lloyd complimented, glancing around before he gave Suzaku a whimsical smile. "Though I have to say, isn't it rather unusual for someone so high ranking in the Empire to live in a Western-style house?"
Cecile glared at Lloyd as if trying to make him shut up through the force of her stare, but Suzaku only smiled.
"I like the style," Suzaku admitted, "My official reasoning for it, though, is that it's supposed to help me 'identify' with the Brittanian people."
That was his excuse to Kyoto, anyway, when requesting permission to build the mansion. Truth be told, it was also because taking away something else from Brittania, like its cultural style, in addition to simply ruling over them, was something Suzaku wanted to avoid.
Coughing, he diverted the topic towards business. "You have something for me, then?"
"After running some initial tests, I'm afraid we still have very little idea about the actual mechanics regarding the interface system," Cecile explained. "We have, however, identified the metal makeup of the Caliburn as a synthetic alloy, one that is currently not used by any known Knightmare Frame creator today."
"In fact, if not for Cecile-chan being so widely read and remembering that she'd read about these things in a journal, we might not have realized it at all!" Lloyd added cheerily.
"So you can't tell me anything about where the Caliburn came from?" Suzaku questioned, feeling despair.
"Well, not directly identifiable," Lloyd amended, smiling wider. "While it's true we can't trace the material to any kind of maker, the fact remains that there are only a few organizations in the world with the kind of resources and scientific ability necessary to create such a remarkable alloy. The Rosenbaum Institute, Kirihara Industries, the Ushiromiya Group, and the Atlantic Arms Corporation are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head, in fact."
"So we have four suspects," Suzaku muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Any one of them could be responsible for the Caliburn though, correct?"
"I'm afraid so," Lloyd answered.
Suzaku sighed. "Well, thank you for that."
"Suzaku-sama…" Cecile cut in hesitantly. "I hate to ask this, but… is there any more information you can provide us with regarding the internal systems of the Caliburn? The system is an impenetrable black box to any conventional method of trying to piece out the workings. If we had just an inkling of how it worked…"
Suzaku glanced over at Milly. He could divulge Euphemia's existence and the mysterious powers she possessed, but… he had promised to defend her. There had to be another way. He could talk about his own connection, perhaps.
"I have… a connection with it." Suzaku's voice seemed to echo within the silence of the room, and all three other occupants stood in rapt attention. "It responds to my will. Once, when I was desperate… it activated a hidden function without any kind of prompt."
Cecile seemed surprised, but Lloyd merely smiled.
"Is that so…" Lloyd murmured contemplatively.
"Do you think Suzaku-sama's DNA is a genetic key to the system?" Cecile questioned, glancing over at her employer.
"It's possible," Lloyd agreed, nodding as he gave Suzaku a hooded look. "And how did this… connection come about?"
"I received it from someone. That person is someone precious to me, however, and I won't divulge their secrets," Suzaku said firmly.
"So we have a control interface designed around a few conventional hand controls and direct nerve impulses stemming from a genetic key," Lloyd hummed thoughtfully. "Do you mind if we get a sample of your blood, Suzaku-kun?"
"M-my blood?" Suzaku blinked. "I… uh… sure. How are you going to get it?"
"We don't have to do it now, of course," Lloyd responded, smiling. "But the next time you get a chance, just come by the office."
"Fine," Suzaku agreed, though inwardly he disliked the idea of being pricked with needles like a science experiment. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Nope," Lloyd replied with a boyish grin. "We'll let you get back to doing whatever it is princes do then."
Cecile elbowed him rather hard in the ribs and offered Suzaku an apologetic smile. "Thank you the information, Suzaku-sama. We'll contact you as soon as we have more results."
As they left, Milly glanced over at him with an unreadable look.
"What?" Suzaku asked, curious.
"You really care about Euphemia, huh?" she asked, a secretive smile on her face.
He flushed. "I made a promise."
"Well, then I guess I should let you two run along on your little rendezvous," she sighed, looking for all the world like a helpless big sister trying in vain to guide a stubborn younger brother. "What happened to the days when you had no interest in girls, hmm? You've grown up so much!"
"And you haven't at all," Suzaku muttered, rolling his eyes, all the while pretending his cheeks weren't flamingly red.
"But in all seriousness," Milly said, tone losing its teasing nature, "Do you think hiding the information is the best idea?"
He turned towards her abruptly, giving her a searching look. "What do you mean by that?"
"Suzaku-sama… I like Euphie, I really do," Milly said hesitantly. "She's a sweet girl. But you never said anything about being psychically connected to that Knightmare. How do you know there aren't any kind of side effects…"
"I'm fine," Suzaku said curtly, suddenly irritated at Milly's protective caution.
"Sorry, I didn't meant anything against Euphie," Milly said, pulling back quickly. "But you've got to face the facts, Suzaku-sama. You're sheltering an amnesiac princess and hiding a Knightmare Frame that is apparently from Mars or something."
"What's the point?" he said roughly, giving her a challenging look.
Milly was undeterred by his irritated glare. "My point is, you're still a prince. Doing things like this is reckless- you're putting yourself and Euphie in danger. For right now, maybe things will be fine, but in the future… Suzaku-sama, just what are you going to do?"
Suzaku said nothing, and turned away.
Milly sighed, as if admitting defeat. "Who am I kidding? You'd charge a dragon with your bare fists to keep a stranger from getting hurt, let alone a friend."
"Milly…" Suzaku suddenly felt contrite for being so gruff with her.
Milly turned away, waving her hand dismissively. "It's fine. Sometimes I forget I can't really talk you out of doing crazy things. Just… be careful, will you?"
"I will," Suzaku promised.
"You won't," Milly said, chuckling as she glanced back over at him with a fond smile. "But I appreciate the sentiment."
00000
"I didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon," Lelouch joked, as he shut the door to the Student Council room, more out of nervousness than any kind of brevity.
"Yes, well, Kaguya-san threw this at me yesterday. Didn't really have much time to make an announcement," Kallen replied, her tone matching his as she took a seat (notably managing to not look surprised at the ornate pink throne of a chair that stood at the far end of the table).
"Well, what instructions does the princess have for me?" Lelouch asked, seating himself across from her and propping his elbows up on the table. Upon seeing Kallen's surprise at his intuitive guess, he added, "I've been working with her for a number of years already. Anticipating her actions is something of a survival skill I've picked up over the years."
"A wise decision," Kallen chuckled, shaking her head. "She wanted to let you know she's coming back in a few more days, after she finishes dealing with a suitor that the Imperial Council arranged for her to meet. And before she gets back she wants the new budget outlined, that way she's free to plan a 'celebration' for her return and my arrival."
Lelouch winced inwardly in sympathy for whatever poor, unlucky bastard Kaguya had tortured into deciding not to marry her. The president seemed to prefer her freedom, and any noble who was put into the veritable lion's den of engagement with her was just collateral to her desires.
"Well, she'll be happy to know the budget is done already," Lelouch said, a slight smile of smugness on his face. "And that despite her recent acquisitions, we are still well under budget, so whatever celebration she has in mind is fine."
"She was right about you," Kallen noted, causing him to blink. "You really do like to show off."
Lelouch looked flustered. "I do not," he asserted firmly. "And even if that were the case, there's no harm in taking pride in one's accomplishments."
"Sure," Kallen said dryly.
Lelouch coughed, glancing away. "How's Suzaku?" he asked, trying to divert the subject matter away from his own faults.
"He's fine," Kallen replied generously, allowing him to change the topic. She seemed oddly hesitant as she continued, her tone noticeably slower, "I uh… Haven't told him yet, about the day we met. About the fact that I saw my father."
Lelouch blinked, his placid expression twisting into one of confusion. "You haven't? Why not?"
"I haven't gotten around to telling him, that's all," Kallen muttered stubbornly, crossing her arms. "It's just… embarrassing. And after not seeing Suzaku in so long… I just didn't want to bring up things like that so quickly."
Peeking up from her downward gaze, eyes peering through her bangs, she asked quietly, "Have you told anyone?"
"No," Lelouch answered quickly, shaking his head. "That boy, Rivalz- the student we saw at the pub? He's told one person that you were around that day, but I've told no one about what you were doing."
"Thank you," Kallen said gratefully, offering him a smile. "Really."
"It was nothing," Lelouch responded, feeling mildly embarrassed. "By the way, since you're attending this academy… what about your duties to the military?"
Kallen seemed disconcerted by yet another change in topic for a second, before she answered, "I'll be attending this academy whenever I get the chance. If there's a crisis that the Emperor requires me to attend to, I will be absent. I'm not really here for the classes, as much as the experience. That's what Kaguya-san said, anyways."
"Sounds fair enough." Lelouch reclined into the chair, letting out a low breath as he crossed his arms behind his head, placing his hands upon his neck. "The president really is clever."
Once more, Kallen was confused. "What do you mean?"
Lelouch smiled. "She's giving you, a friend, the chance to experience life as a normal teenager. A chance I'm willing to bet you haven't had before." Kallen's embarrassed expression was all the confirmation he needed. "And meanwhile, you being here, at this particular academy… well, let's just say you are the paragon of what this academy wants to teach its students."
At Kallen's blank look, he elaborated, "Cooperation. You, Kallen-san, are proof that Japan and Brittania may have a chance at actually becoming something more than conqueror and conquered. That the Empire is changing, and that someday maybe the non-Japanese members of the Empire can rise above their station. For a half-blood like you to be the Seventh Sword, one of the Emperor's personal warriors… it's a sign that things can be better."
The level of passion, and even excitement in his voice gave Kallen pause, even as she squirmed at the level of praise he was directing toward her. "You sound like you really want this to happen. The peaceful merging of Brittania and Japan. Even though you're…"
A prince. The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Lelouch felt all the phantom weight of the name Vi Brittania on his shoulders again, as his blood stirred in remembrance of his royal heritage.
"I'm aware of my background," Lelouch cut in politely, offering her a neutral look. "But I've also cast that name aside. My name is Lelouch Lamperouge, Kallen-san. And as that person, my heart is set only on seeing a peaceful integration of our peoples. Suzaku is my best friend, and I think our friendship is another part of that. It may take time, but it will happen, God willing."
"God willing," Kallen echoed, feeling humbled by the vision he had painted. Her mind drifted back to her father- if that day did come, maybe her family could be together again too.
They drifted off into a comfortable silence, until at last Lelouch spoke again. "Well, I don't want to keep you here, especially during the lunch hour," he added, chuckling as he stood.
"I am pretty hungry, now that you mention it," Kallen agreed, feeling the hunger pangs for the first time.
"Well, the cafeteria is just down the hall. It's fairly good, I have to say," Lelouch commented as he opened the door, gesturing for her to move on through. "Ladies first."
"Hmph. Thanks," Kallen said sincerely, giving him a nod. "Really."
"No problem." Lelouch paused, as if remembering something. "Oh, and before I forget…"
Kallen turned, midway through the door, looking curious.
Lelouch smiled, and held out a hand. "Welcome to the Sumeragi Academy."
Kallen smiled back. "It's good to be here."
00000
"So that was Kouzuki Kallen," Shirley noted, arms crossed. She was standing just around the corner, watching Lelouch and Kallen head off toward the lunchroom with an unreadable expression.
"Told you she was in town," Rivalz said, grinning. "And man, she's even cuter in person!"
"Hmph." Shirley rolled her eyes at Rivalz's characteristic boyishness, determined to focus on the task at hand. "Going to this school was a good decision after all. Looks like we might be able to get some serious intelligence from now on."
"It's always business with you," Rivalz muttered, sounding despondent.
"That's because one of us has to be this way," Shirley shot back. "And what would you rather have me do?"
"I dunno. Maybe worry that your boyfriend is about to be taken away by the Empire's cutest pilot?" Rivalz teased, which earned him a stinging punch to the shoulder in retribution.
"Come on, let's go," Shirley muttered, turning away. "I've got to think about our next move."
"What move is that?"
Shirley and Rivalz both whirled about, startled.
C.C. stood behind them, smiling innocently. "You know, voyeurism is a pretty bad habit."
"We weren't- I wasn't…" Shirley trailed off, gritting her teeth. "Is there something you need, C.C.-san?"
C.C. ignored, stepping past them, her eyes fixed on the hallway that Lelouch and Kallen had departed down.
"So, that's who he ran into the other day, hmm?" C.C. murmured to herself, so faint that Shirley almost missed it.
"Were you watching them too?" Shirley asked, in a sudden burst of insight.
C.C. flicked a glance over at her, a mysterious smile on her face. "Just because it's a bad habit doesn't mean I don't do it either." And with that, she sauntered off.
"Do you think she knows?" Rivalz asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Shirley muttered. "I just don't know."
00000
"You've got to face the facts, Suzaku-sama. You're sheltering an amnesiac princess and hiding a Knightmare Frame that is apparently from Mars or something."
"Suzaku-sama?"
What does she want me to do? I can't just leave Euphie alone… and I can't trust the Empire with the Caliburn for sure. The only person who can take care of both her and that machine right now is me.
"Suzaku-sama?"
Suzaku remained unmoved by the greeting, hands folded tightly, lips pursed in concentration as he kept a taciturn vigil over Nunnally's unconscious form. The steady beeping of the machines that monitored the comatose girl's state seemed to echo loudly from within Suzaku's silence.
"Suzaku-sama!"
Finally startled out of his reverie, Suzaku glanced up with a surprised expression to see the rather annoyed face of Euphemia, who had planted her fists on her hips and was standing over him.
"Finally," she said, the annoyance fading into a look of concern as she pulled back. "You haven't said a word since before we even arrived here. Are you okay, Suzaku-sama?"
"Just what are you going to do?"
Suzaku attempted a lackluster smile. "I'm fine."
Euphemia pursed her lips in a disbelieving stare.
"Really," Suzaku insisted. "I'm just distracted, that's all. Did you need something?"
Euphemia shook her head, looking slightly hurt by his reluctance to confide in her. Upon seeing that look, Suzaku felt a wave of regret and he placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing slightly.
"I'm sorry if I sounded rough," he apologized. "There's just a lot of things I have to think about."
Euphemia's expression brightened, and she smiled at him. "No, it's okay. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Suzaku shook his head, offering a weak smile in return. "It's nothing important, just work-related. Nothing you need to worry about, Euphie."
Euphemia was silent for a long while, and Suzaku briefly hoped he had managed to convince her to let the matter drop. It faded, however, as she spoke again.
"You know, you don't need to lie to me."
Suzaku froze.
Euphemia did not look at him, her back turned away, shoulders set straight as she stared out towards the window. "I might not remember anything… but I'm not weak. You don't need to lie and tell me everything is fine."
He felt shamed by her words, and, with a hesitant glance over at her, he opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him.
"You've done so much for me, Suzaku-sama," she murmured, sounding at once grateful and sad, "That's why I don't want to be a burden to you. I want to be able to help you, even if it's only as someone who can listen to your problems."
She turned back towards him, and in that moment she was the Euphemia of old- kind, stubborn, and gentle.
"So please," she whispered, "Please don't lie to me."
00000
Kewell Sorsei was rapidly running out of things to do. With Lord Weinberg's strict orders that he was not to work on anything related to the rebellion for the next few days, it left him with admittedly few ways to spend his time. His family had left him with enough money to live off of for quite a while, and his level of involvement with the rebellion as Lord Weinberg's second meant that holding a regular job was simply impossible.
He had, in the past day, cleaned his apartment from top to bottom, paid off his bills, sorted his bookcase, and even gotten around to reading a few things on said bookshelf he had been meaning to read for quite some time.
In short, he was bored.
A knock caused him to look up from his reading, and he set the book down on the armchair as he stood up and walked towards the door. As a precaution, he grabbed the pistol he kept stuffed inside one of the jackets in closet next to the door, before peering through the peephole to see who it was.
"Kewell-san? Are you there?"
Upon hearing her voice, Kewell almost tripped over himself opening the door, and offered her a slightly nervous smile. "Y-yes," he said quickly, offering her a slightly nervous smile, "What can I do for you, Viletta-san?"
Viletta Nu was his next door neighbor, and, if he was being perfectly honest, a woman he was particularly fond of romantically. She worked two jobs to help support her younger brothers, as their parents had been killed during the invasion, leaving them destitute, and Kewell, being "a bit of a hopeless romantic" (according to Lord Weinberg, anyway), often volunteered to look after her brothers when work made it impossible for her.
She smiled, and presented him with a plate wrapped in tinfoil. "I made a little bit more food than I needed to for lunch, and my brothers are all full, so I thought I might bring it over here and see if you were hungry. I hope I didn't interrupt you."
"Not at all. I was just doing a spot of reading," Kewell assured her gently, opening the door a little wider. "Do you want to come in? I just cleaned up."
"I would love to, but I have to go to work now, actually," Viletta said apologetically. "But I wanted to bring you something to thank you for agreeing to help today."
"It's nothing," Kewell assured her, bowing his head in a humble gesture as he took the plate. "Really. The boys aren't any trouble."
"Thank you so much," she said softly, as her expression briefly flickered, showing a measure of sadness that made Kewell's heart ache, "I wish I didn't have to rely on you so much. You have your own life and problems, you don't need mine…"
"Viletta-san," he interrupted, causing her to meet his eyes. "It's my pleasure, I said."
"Thank you," Viletta repeated, smiling. They shared a smile for a moment, and Kewell suddenly felt a measure of courage stirring. Maybe he should say something, make his intentions and feelings known-
"I really have to go now," she said, and his courage deflated as rapidly as a balloon with dozens of holes poked into it by a particularly malicious child, "Thank you again."
"O-of course," Kewell responded quickly, his cheeks suddenly feeling uncomfortably warm, "Please, don't let me keep you. And thank you again for the food."
"My pleasure," Viletta said, echoing his own words with another smile.
And with that, she turned and headed off, leaving Kewell standing at the doorway holding the plate in his hands and a confession stuck in his throat.
"Huh, I can see why you're always so eager to help her out."
Kewell almost dropped the plate as he whirled about, to see the grinning, amused face of his lord.
"I'm not usually one for older women, but man," Gino said slowly, shaking his head as his grin widened, "You have good taste Kewell."
"M-my lord," Kewell said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Got bored, figured I'd come by, maybe borrow a couple of those books you're always referencing so you don't make me look like a complete fool all the time," Gino said, shrugging. "I finished the work pretty quickly, and even got around to requesting replacement parts for Shirley's machine. See? I'm not so irresponsible after all."
"I am impressed, my lord," Kewell said dryly. "Though I thought the Weinberg library had a much larger collection than the small bookshelf I have here in my apartment."
"Yeah, but most of that stuff is records or histories. Boring stuff," Gino said casually, brushing his way past Kewell into the apartment. "Besides, I haven't dropped by your apartment in quite some time. Figured I should look after the well-being of my subordinates."
"You didn't want to cook, so you decided to see if you could get some food from me, didn't you, my lord?" Kewell asked suddenly.
Gino had the grace to look sheepish. "Well…"
"My lord, you really should learn to cook for yourself," Kewell muttered, though there was a trace of fondness in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah," Gino replied, shrugging again. "Well, don't worry about that plate you've got in your hands- I'm not one to get between a man and the cooking of the one he loves."
Kewell flushed.
Gino made his way over to the kitchen which was adjoined to the living room, briefly pausing to glance over at the title of the book Kewell had been reading.
"A Tale of Two Cities? A bit sad for some light afternoon reading," Gino quipped.
"With the state of the country, I felt reading something light inappropriate," Kewell replied with a shrug of his own. "Besides, Dickens is always a good choice."
And, he was reluctant to admit, reading about sacrificing something for the one you love, amidst war and revolution, had a kind of romantic charm to him. At the least, reading about someone else's unspoken love in another turbulent time made him feel a little less pathetic about his inability to say anything to Viletta.
"Hmm," Gino said, shrugging. "I guess you'd know better than me." Switching tone, he practically skipped into the kitchen as he pried open the refrigerator. "Now, where's that food?"
Kewell sighed as he shut the door. "To the right, my lord."
Maybe next time, he promised himself. Next time he would say something.
00000
There was a long silence in the aftermath of Euphemia's declaration, and Suzaku felt hopelessly, utterly lost.
All he wanted for Euphemia was to keep her safe, to shield this girl, this remnant of the innocence of the past from harm, but in doing so he was clearly hurting her as well.
I'm being selfish, he realized suddenly, eyes widening. My desire to help her is what I want, not what she's asking for.
"I'm sorry," Suzaku murmured quietly, glancing up at her. "I was… wrong. I was doing things only with my own feelings in mind, not yours."
Euphemia said nothing, but her smile remained gentle and understanding.
"I was worried about what to do… about you, and the Caliburn," he admitted reluctantly, "Milly reminded me that I can't just hide you forever, and that I need to figure out something for the future."
"Oh," Euphemia said, face falling slightly as she fell back down into the seat next to him, falling silent.
"I'm not going to break my promise," Suzaku said determinedly, his gaze fierce. "I'm not. But I just… don't know what to do. I don't know how to make things right."
"You don't need to do that alone."
Euphemia was smiling as she placed a hand over his. "We can figure it out together."
Suzaku managed a smile of his own in return. "Together," he agreed.
00000
Kallen was ashamed to admit she had gotten lost in the Academy. It was after classes and, feeling reluctant to go home just quite yet, she had taken to strolling about the grounds- she had, however, underestimated just how sprawling the campus really was, and thus was now somewhere in the gardens, practically in a forest for all intents and purposes.
Still… it was a very beautiful place. Kaguya's tastes hadn't changed.
With a smile, Kallen sat down a nearby white marble backless bench and sighed, deciding to take a short break.
She was surprised to be so tired. Working as a soldier had taught her to cope with fatigue, and the rigors of the battlefield were something she was used to. Life as a civilian student was not something she had thought would wear her out so much.
But it had. And… it had been fun, in a way, to just live like a normal girl.
"She's giving you, a friend, the chance to experience life as a normal teenager. A chance I'm willing to bet you haven't had before."
"He was right," Kallen admitted softly to herself, a little reluctantly. Lelouch was remarkably skilled at reading people- he had seen into the relationship between herself and Kaguya with just a base knowledge of both of their personalities and histories.
Then again, Suzaku always did speak about how borderline scary Lelouch's intelligence actually was. It was probably why they got along so well- Suzaku with his impulsive, physical nature, and Lelouch with his cool-headed, razor-sharp intellect.
Suzaku. She wondered if he had ever wanted to attend school like this. It suddenly made her feel uncomfortably privileged- yes, she was a noble and one of the Shichitennou, but her responsibilities seemed practically inconsequential in comparison to Suzaku's. She was able to enjoy an utterly normal day as a student, while he could never escape the burden of being a prince.
"Power," Suzaku answered, eyes blazing with the inferno of a revolution.
His words from the other day came back to her, and most especially the expression on his face stuck out most in her mind. He had looked… different. Not the Suzaku she had known since they were children, but a man of relentless, ferocious, and above all else dangerous determination.
She hadn't much spoken to him since that talk, and really, she just couldn't think of what to say. Nothing he had said wasn't exactly incorrect regarding Japan and Brittania… but somehow, it just felt wrong to her. Suzaku had always felt guilty about helping the invasion of Brittania, but this was the first time he had ever shown so much fury about it.
Something was changing him, Kallen was sure.
What that something was, however, was unknown to her. Nevertheless, it also worried her greatly- Suzaku could be extraordinarily reckless sometimes.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she froze mid-contemplation, as instincts honed on the battlefield suddenly flared up.
"Who's there?" she asked slowly, straightening ever so slightly. It was probably nothing, just her being paranoid or some overeager teenage boy driven on by hormones, but…
"S-sorry," came a hesitant female voice, and from around the corner an unfamiliar girl with strawberry blonde hair stepped forward, wringing her hands nervously. "I didn't know anyone would be here."
00000
She's good, Shirley admitted grudgingly, as she turned the corner, keeping up the façade of a nervous student being called out in front of a celebrity. Shirley had some substantial experience infiltrating and avoiding detection, and had slipped by even military security before- but this Kouzuki Kallen had sensed her the moment she'd come close.
"No, it's my fault," Kouzuki said quickly, offering her a smile. "I was just being paranoid, that's all. What's your name?"
"Shirley Fenette, Kouzuki-sama," Shirley said, adding on the fake stutter and the honorific to present the façade of an overawed teenage girl.
"Just Kallen will do, Shirley-san," she replied generously.
The sheer… normalcy of Kouzuki's attitude sickened Shirley. Here was one of the Emperor's trained killers, a dog of war, sitting her and speaking to her like any other teenage girl off the street.
For a moment, Shirley considered drawing the knife she kept sheathed on a holster wrapped around her thigh. Assassinating one of the Shichitennou would be well worth the price of blowing her cover, but on the other hand, that was only assuming she could win, and with Kouzuki now alert to her presence, the chances of that seemed unlikely.
For now… she'd have to just play the student.
"O-okay," she agreed, smiling the shy smile she'd perfected over the years as a cover, "K-Kallen-sama."
"There we go," Kouzuki said, smiling back. She leaned back against the bench, gazing around the gardens. "This campus is so beautiful."
"Yes," Shirley agreed passively, though inwardly she despised the beauty of these gardens- money spent on this could have been spent on improving conditions elsewhere in the city, she thought privately.
"Have you been a student here long, Shirley-san?" Kouzuki questioned, jolting her from her thoughts.
Shirley pasted on the best smile she could. "I started attending the Academy at the start of high school, Kallen-sama. Before that, I lived outside the city, with my mother, and attended a public school there."
Kouzuki nodded. "And now? Are you living alone, or with your father? It sounds like your mother didn't come with you…"
Shirley stiffened. "My father is dead," she said tonelessly, "My mother is very weak, so she's still in the countryside. I'm living alone right now."
The other girl had the grace to blush and look deeply embarrassed, looking away. "Oh. I'm sorry… was it… was it during the invasion?"
Feeling guilty for the sins of your empire, Kouzuki? Shirley thought scornfully, but her mask of pained reluctance remained in place.
"Actually, it was a little after. During… during the Bloody Sunday riots," Shirley explained, and after she spoke, suddenly regretted the admission. "My father was killed in the confusion."
"The insurrection led by rebellious Brittanians who resisted the Windsor Treaty," Kouzuki murmured softly. "I see."
For whatever reason, Shirley spoke again. "My father wasn't an insurrectionist. He supported the treaty, and the peace. But the military police didn't care. The riots were too out of control, they said, and they went around and 'pacified' entire cities."
A part of her felt grim satisfaction as Kouzuki flinched as though struck physically by her words. It was that same part of her that led her to join the rebellion in the first place, to enjoy the thrill of battle and the dark gratification of killing her father's murderers.
"I won't claim the Empire is perfect," Kouzuki said suddenly, and Shirley blinked. "Or that I have any right to apologize to you. I've killed a lot of people. But… for what it's worth, I am sorry. I know something of what it's like… to not have your father around anymore."
The sympathy in her voice irritated Shirley, stirring up rage in the pit of her stomach. What could a spoiled noble, a favored servant of the Emperor, know about the pain of losing her daddy? To not even be able to see his face one last time, because of how badly the police had beaten him to death? To hear the strangled sobs of her widowed mother late at night, when she would come home after performing any kind of menial task just to get by?
Without thinking, her hand had begun to reach for the knife, but before it reached the little custom slit she had made in her skirt where she could have easy access to the weapon, Kouzuki had taken her hand.
Almost on reflex, Shirley started to move into the simple self-defense moves Gino had taught her, when she restrained herself at the last moment.
"But I promise you," Kouzuki said slowly, seemingly oblivious, "The government is getting bettered. Suzaku- er, Prince Suzaku, that is, is a good man. He's really dedicated to making life better here. And my brother too, he's also a good man. They can help make this… better."
It would be better if you all would just die, Shirley thought poisonously.
"I hope they can," she said instead, "This place… it could use help."
"We can do it," Kouzuki insisted, releasing her hand.
Shirley paused, and, deciding to take a gamble, ventured a quiet question. "Are you going to start by crushing the rebellion?"
It was a potent question to anyone in the government who talked about 'change', challenging them on the hypocrisy of wanting to 'help' while killing the men and women who were only fighting for the freedom and dignity of their nation.
Kouzuki did hesitate before speaking, and Shirley felt a flush of triumph.
Just like all the rest.
"I have no choice," Kallen admitted, her gaze fixed to the floor as her mouth twisted into a sad little smile, a response that actually shocked Shirley. "I'm still a member of the Empire. I understand the feelings of those rebels, and I sympathize- I really do. But fighting the Empire is only going to cause more and more bloodshed, rather than any real change."
"Is that so?" Shirley said quietly, also looking down now. "You think it's pointless then, to fight?"
"I have to believe that the system can change from the inside," came the quiet, but firmly determined reply. "There are good people on both sides. If they could work together, instead of fighting… things could be better. I was born a Japanese noble, I became one of the Swords of the Empire. These are things I want to believe I was given so I could help make the Empire something… good."
She sounds like him, Shirley thought, and Lelouch's face briefly crossed her mind before she squelched it.
After a few moments of strange, almost awkward silence, Shirley decided enough was enough and to bring back her cover, to douse any kind of suspicion that might be brewing inside Kouzuki Kallen's mind.
"You're amazing, Kallen-sama," Shirley said flatteringly. "I could never dream of doing such amazing things like wanting to change the Empire."
"But you can help change it," Kouzuki assured her, glancing up at her. "Change is something we all make happen, not just one person."
"Then I'll do my best to help you," Shirley said cheerily, while inside, she already knew deep in her gut that Kouzuki Kallen was someone she would fight someday soon on the battlefield.
You're wrong, she thought darkly. But I don't care about change, or freedom, or any of that stuff anyways. All I want… is to make you people pay for what you did to my father.
And if I run into you on the battlefield… I won't hesitate to pull the trigger and end that stupid little dream of yours.
00000
"So why'd you lie?"
Lelouch blinked, and turned towards C.C.. They were on their way home, and had been walking for several minutes in companionable silence before now.
She crossed her arms behind her head, a distinctly unamused smile on her face as she continued. "It's not like you to lie for such a small reason as meeting a girl. After all, you even avoided lying about your involvement in the battle in the Underground," she continued, as though he hadn't spoken. "So I'm curious why you felt it prudent to lie to both me, that Fenette girl, and even Jeremiah."
Lelouch stubbornly looked away. "It wasn't my secret to tell. I gave her my word I wouldn't tell people about it."
"How honorable of you," C.C. chuckled.
He glanced back at her. "You really went here to find me just to ask me that question? Now who's acting odd?"
C.C. stared back with a blank look. "You haven't used it yet," she said in lieu of an actual reply, her voice low enough not to be overheard.
"Used what?" Lelouch said, blinking in confusion.
"Geass," she murmured softly.
Lelouch stiffened, his face marred by a deep frown. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to be utilizing that power as often as I wished," he countered, sounding irritated.
"You know that's not what I meant," she shot back, narrowing her eyes.
Lelouch nodded reluctantly. "Me lying to you about this means I may not tell you if I begin using this power," he guessed, sighing. "And in doing so, endanger myself in ways I suppose you wouldn't approve of."
C.C. said nothing.
"Look, you don't have to keep looking over my shoulder, C.C.," Lelouch muttered stubbornly. "I can handle myself."
"Maybe," C.C. allowed, "But you and I both know that sooner or later, you will be compelled to do something, to act and use the power of Geass. There's a part of you that just won't be satisfied otherwise. And once that happens… someone will get hurt by what you do. And you won't be able to forgive yourself."
And to that, Lelouch had no reply, no rebuff. For all her teasing, all her constantly making him seem like he was still the helpless child she met seven years ago, she still knew him sometimes better than he knew himself.
"I'll tell you," Lelouch said quietly, at long last, "When that day comes. I'll tell you that I've made my decision."
"That's a start, I suppose," she said, sounding resigned as she pulled ahead of him. "I guess I can't ask for much more from someone like you."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Lelouch demanded, though his voice had a playful note to it as he fell in step with her down the street.
"It means what it means," C.C. said whimsically, a secretive smile on her face.
"Damn witch," he muttered, as they turned a corner, the Orange Bakery in sight now.
"Now, now, is that any way to talk to a lady?" she chided playfully, offering him a beaming smile meant to infuriate.
"If I saw a lady…" Lelouch's voice broke off into a strangled yelp, followed by a pained, startled exclamation of "Did you just kick me in the shin?"
"Want me to kiss it and make it better?" she offered teasingly.
"Oh shut up," Lelouch muttered irritably, though the corners of his mouth were also turned up in what were the vaguest traces of a smile. Their exchange ended as they entered the bakery through the back door. Most school days Jeremiah tended to put the shop on a short break when they arrived home, in order to prepare dinner.
True to form, Jeremiah was setting down a plate of snacks, as they walked in, and he greeted them with a bow.
"C.C.-san, Lelouch-sama, welcome home," the knight said pleasantly.
"Jeremiah," Lelouch acknowledged, smiling as he took a seat at the table, placing his jacket on the chair.
C.C. nodded in greeting as well, but moved towards the stairs. "Remember your promise, boya," she reminded him as she strolled up the stairs leisurely. "I'll hold you to that."
Jeremiah cast him a questioning look as C.C. made her way up to her room, and Lelouch could only shrug.
"Why are women so damn confusing, Jeremiah?" Lelouch asked despairingly, shaking his head. Suzaku knew how to deal with them, after all. They shouldn't be this… taxing.
Jeremiah barked out a laugh, shaking his head with a smile that could best be described as nostalgic.
"Oh, my lord… I'd almost forgotten you'd reach this age," he said slowly, voice full of mirth as he took the chair opposite to Lelouch. "To think you'd worry about girls now…"
Lelouch scowled.
Jeremiah, sensing his master wasn't pleased at being the object of mirth, quickly added, "I'm afraid it's the job of women to confuse men, my lord. It might be part of the reason why they fascinate us so much."
Lelouch rolled his eyes. "Jeremiah, if I wanted to hear that kind of cliché I would have asked a fortune teller or watched a bad romantic movie."
"Nevertheless," Jeremiah insisted, smiling as though he knew a secret, "As a man with a few more years under his belt than you, my lord, I can assure you that the mystery makes things… interesting."
"Really," Lelouch said disbelievingly, "All it does is give me a headache."
00000
The week following Kallen's arrival and subsequent enrollment in school had passed by quickly, if fairly mundanely, to Suzaku's eyes. He and Kallen had begun speaking more normally as of late, though there was still a tinge of awkwardness from the intensity of their argument lingering in the air.
With Naoto here, running the government became much easier, as Naoto seemed eager to handle most of the governance personally- though unlike Kusakabe, who did the same, Naoto would always run the most important decisions by Suzaku and make daily reports.
Today, however, Suzaku had been called to a meeting, one that Naoto had made private to just himself, Suzaku, and a few others. It made Suzaku curious, and he had stopped by his desk just before the meeting to see if there were any reports requiring his attention, which might also be the subject of the meeting.
There was of course, nothing, and now he was at the doors of the large meeting room. The very first thing he saw, as he always did- as everyone did- was the large banner inscribed with the kanji for Tenchuu, Heavenly Justice, and above it, the symbol of the Chrysanthemum Throne, the same symbol that Suzaku bore on the formal kimono he wore to meetings. It was a combination of symbols that was placed everywhere in the Empire- a reminder that the justice of heaven descended from the Chrysanthemum Throne, and nowhere else.
His stomach turned at the sight, and he looked away. The only occupants of the room were Naoto and his aide, Sancia, who were bowing deeply in greeting, as befitting custom.
He greeted them with a short, shallow bow of his own, before taking a seat.
"Now that you're here, Suzaku-sama," Naoto said quietly, and pressed a button. The large viewscreen opposite of the banner flickered on, and the smiling, toothy grin of Kirihara Taizou appeared.
"Kirihara-san," Suzaku acknowledged tersely.
"Ah, Suzaku-sama, Naoto-kun. Good morning," Kirihara said slowly.
"Good morning, Kirihara-sama," Naoto greeted.
"Well, I suppose we had best get started," Kirihara began, when Suzaku spoke up.
"Forgive me, Kirihara-san, but I'm afraid I wasn't told the reason behind this meeting," Suzaku interrupted, drawing all eyes to him. "Would someone mind explaining the necessity of such secrecy, and, of course, the presence of the Chief Minister, to me?"
"Of course. My apologies, Suzaku-sama," Naoto said quickly, bowing his head. "I wanted to act quickly, and I was hoping to make this meeting as discreet as possible. The reason I requested your presence, my prince, was to authorize a military strike against a suspected stronghold of the Brittanian rebellion. Kirihara-sama asked to be informed about our progress against the rebels, and I notified him."
"A military strike?" Suzaku blinked. "So soon? You've barely been here a week."
"I'm afraid my predecessor was… sloppy in regards to his investigations into the rebellion," Naoto said delicately. "In addition, with so much activity, the rebels are becoming much easier to find."
"Also," Kirihara cut in, smiling wider, "Acting swiftly is why we elected Naoto-kun to be your new Chief of Staff. We need to show these rebel dogs our strength, and remind them of why fighting against our Sacred Empire is utterly futile. A decisive move such as this is perfect for our needs."
"I still think it's a little too hasty…" Suzaku began, knowing that with the full force of the Japanese military bearing down on the rebels, they stood little chance of success.
"With respect, my prince," Naoto interrupted quietly. "There is one more reason I want to strike. That golden Knightmare Frame, the one that destroyed much of Kusakabe's division and is suspected of killing the Colonel himself, has yet to reappear again. If it is some new weapon of the rebellion, a battle such as this is perfect bait to draw it out."
Suzaku stiffened, and prayed his expression didn't betray him.
They were trying to lure him out. His actions with the Caliburn were not out of the government's mind yet, apparently.
Immediately, he felt guilty at such a cowardly thought. The Caliburn was his power, a power he wanted to use to force the world to change, to bring justice to the Empire. Of course there would be consequences.
"What about Kallen?" he asked quietly, trying to change the topic. "Are you sending her too?"
Naoto paused, but before he could speak, Kirihara once again stepped in.
"I would like to suggest she accompany the strike force," Kirihara said slowly, though everyone in the room knew it was no mere 'suggestion'. "Having the presence of one of the Shichitennou shows that the Emperor himself is no longer amused by the games of these rebels. In addition, should this… 'Kinma'," he scoffed, "Appear, I am sure that young Kallen is more than up to the task of dealing with this so called devil."
"Understood," Naoto said stiffly, his face making it clear he hadn't wanted to involve his sister in this battle.
Suzaku understood the other reason now of why Naoto had made this meeting so sudden and so secretive. He had been trying to keep Kallen's hands clean of the blood of her fellow Brittanians, if only for a little while.
Suzaku felt a pang of sympathy, but then the thought of this battle being an intentional lure for him- that so many Brittanians were about to die as a consequence of his actions- quickly smothered the sentiment beneath a wave of guilt.
"If there are no more matters to discuss," Kirihara murmured, smiling yet again, "I will leave you to planning the battle, Naoto-kun. I know you will serve the Empire well."
The viewscreen went black, and Naoto stood, looking tired.
"Naoto-san…" Suzaku began hesitantly. "Are you sure we should be doing this? Killing rebels, when the streets are still flooded with drugs and crime? I've read the reports- things are getting worse and worse out there, and we're about to add fuel to the fire. Don't you care at all?"
Naoto gave him a cold stare, and Suzaku immediately regretted his hasty words.
"I do as I am bid, Suzaku-sama," he said tonelessly. "The Empire is still our home, and we all do what we have to do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a war to fight."
He executed a perfect formal bow, and departed, leaving Suzaku sitting where he was.
"Damn it…" he whispered, clenching his fist so tight his fingernails left deep furrows against the skin. His eyes were once again drawn to the kanji of Tenchuu, the symbol of the Empire's irresistible, unstoppable might.
A force that would be descending upon people like Gino later today, one that would slaughter them all.
Because of him.
What the hell should I do now, Suzaku thought to himself bitterly.
Author's Notes
Another fairly quick update, for me anyways. Next chapter will probably be much longer, and thus take longer (not to mention the fact that I got into the Starcraft II beta, which may stop all writing completely for a while).
I had to double check with history and my own personal canon for I Heard The World to see if Charles Dicken's writing A Tale of Two Cities was even feasible, since it requires the existence of a French Revolution. But I remembered Napoleon existed in this canon, and so therefore the revolution had to exist. The choice of books Kewell was reading, btw, was not random, and the themes will pop up again later.