Chapter 8
The Mean of Intention
As the historical capital of Heian era Japan, Kyoto was a city steeped in tradition, at least those parts that had not been paved over by modernization at least. One lingering legacy of its past was the very neatly organized streets and blocks of the city proper, laid out in a uniform grid. For anyone that ever tried to navigate Tokyo's tangle of streets using what they euphemistically called roadmaps, Kyoto's layout was a very welcome change.
After the fall of Japan, the Britannian occupational forces naturally set up shop in Tokyo as their administrative headquarters. The regional administrative hub was also sited in Osaka, with Kyoto more or less left to the Numbers Administration Council. The Britannians probably meant it as a token gesture, to give the illusion that if the Japanese would only acquiesce to their new place under the Empire's heels, that they could obtain a modicum of prosperity and some semblance of their previous liberties. As unimaginative as it was, it was indicative of the general negligence the authorities exhibited towards those parts of Japan that they were not trying to actively exploit.
That negligence was both a blessing and a curse as far as those gathered in a particular room of the old imperial palace were concerned. On the plus side, this made it easier for the NAC to hide their surreptitious support for the Japanese Liberation Front. On the minus, many people were left to fend for themselves where a functional government previously provisioned and funded needed services. The differences could be quite stark, with the contrast between the Tokyo Concessions and Shinjuku Ghetto providing a perfect example. Despite being physically right next to each other, one was a shining beacon of modernity, while the other still had not seen the damage done to it almost seven years ago from the invasion made good. At least in the case of Kyoto, the NAC's combined resources ensured that there was not such deprivation. And now, with the leadership change that just happened, things might become both better and worse, depending on one's point of view and priorities.
"It would appear we have been saddled with a much more competent viceroy with the Prince Clovis' passing," Taizo Kirihara remarked.
The assembled men and one woman, more a girl really, nodded in agreement at the self-evident statement. Then again it did seem to be a quirk of the Japanese mentality that even the most obvious thing was not considered evident until it was spoken aloud.
"More competent, and one whom is likely more adept at using the carrot than the stick," another of the assembled, Hidenobu Kubouin added. "That could be far more dangerous in the long run to the dream of restoring Japan's sovereignty."
"We always knew that not all of the emperor's children were feckless," a third, Hiroyosi Yoshino said. "The Prince Schneizel and Princess Cornelia were ample proof of that. This, Cardinal Lamperouge, merely provides a third example."
"An example that we may help in further setting," Tatsunori Osakabe grumbled. "Prince Clovis may have been too preoccupied with his own petty ambitions to risk disturbing the status quo, but this cardinal appears to have no such reservations. He seemed to discover this Purist Sarin plot with remarkable speed. What happens when he turns his inquisitive gaze our way? How likely are we to be able to hide our own plans?"
Plans that would see all of them executed for outright treason, for one would be hard pressed to find a better example of making war upon the state than organizing and launching a rebellion seeking to restore Japan's sovereignty. It was never going to be an easy endeavor, and all of them had accepted the very risk of death should they fail. But it was only human to fear one's own mortality, and despite their convictions the heads of the Six Houses of Kyoto were very much human.
"Perhaps we have become too lax, after the ease with which we were able to deceive Prince Clovis and General Asprius," a youthful feminine voice sounded, a stark contrast to the gruff old men that were otherwise attending the meeting. "The general after all made quite clear he only cared about how well his pockets were lined. If the cardinal is being truthful about how poorly he hid the Sarin evidence, he is likely to have done equally if not even more poorly in hiding the financial trail that would lead back to some of us."
That elicited more grimaces all around. A low chuckle sounded however.
"Astutely observed, Kaguya-sama," Taizo said. "The question is how deeply will the cardinal dig in order to determine what it is we sought to hide."
"And whether we could give him reason to turn a blind eye as Asprius did," Kaguya said. "Though we would likely need inducements beyond that of the purely monetary."
"Indeed," Taizo agreed, then tilted his head. "What say you, Kaguya-sama, as to what sort of inducements might tempt a man of the cloth like the good cardinal?"
"Well, were he like many other such men, it would be easy enough," Kaguya said lightly. "Wealth and pleasure would have served just as well with him as with Asprius. With the cardinal however, he will demand from us a far greater price, that of cooperation with his intent."
Young though she was, Kaguya was well-schooled in all the topics that might prove necessary during her tenure as head of the House of Sumeragi. As such there were times when she might speak with particular insight, or with awareness of matters that should be beyond her age. There was a limit to this insight however, as despite her basic intelligence, Kaguya still had seen far fewer years of life than the other attendants. There was simply not enough time for her to have accrued the same amount of experience, so much of her knowledge was still theoretical, and despite the fineness of her instincts, there was certainly more room to hone them. Still, nothing she had said thus far disagreed with the conclusions more experienced heads arrived yet.
"We must obtain a better understanding of the cardinal's intentions," Taizo stated. "Eden Vital has served as a safety net for many of our people, true, but they remain a Britannian institution. We may indeed share the goal of uplifting the Japanese people, but the means to reach it may prove fundamentally incompatible."
That was certainly true enough. While its intentions may seem otherwise noble, Eden Vital did not have as an aim the restoration of Japan's sovereignty. While the Order did not say it outright, it likely intended for the Japanese people to find a place in Britannia, a genuine place instead of the farcical segregation of the Numbers system, but still a place in the Empire. For men such as Taizo, whom remembered well a time when Japan charted its own course through the world, that was an intolerable affront to his pride.
"It is only appropriate that the NAC offers its condolences to the cardinal over the passing of his brother," Kaguya said, "as well as offer our assistance in ensuring a smooth transition. Is not the goal of this council to assist our lords in the management of our ancestral land?"
Wry smiles crossed the others' faces.
"Aptly put, Kaguya-sama," Taizo said. "In fact, why do we not have you make the approach?"
"I would be honored to," Kaguya said with a dip of her form. "Indeed, I look forward to the opportunity to meet another whom bears such responsibility at such a young age."
Taizo nodded. "Then go, but remember not to underestimate this cardinal. Young though he may be, he has already shown what caliber of man he is."
"And I will show what caliber of woman I am," Kaguya said as she rose and withdrew.
"Yes, I am certain you will," Taizo said with a slight, proud smile as he watched her go.
The other men similarly followed her departure, but when the door closed all eyes fell back upon Taizo.
"Was that wise, Taizo-dono?" one asked. "For all the expectations upon her, Kaguya-sama is not yet of age."
"Perhaps so, but it would be a mistake to treat her as a mere child," Taizo said. "And this cardinal, perhaps he will see a kindred spirit in our Kaguya. Another youth whom through circumstances must rise to bear responsibilities far beyond their age."
A few grunts sounded, of agreement if not necessarily of contentment.
"Besides, should Kaguya-sama manage to work her way into the cardinal's confidence, it may well offer her some measure of protection should the rest of our plans miscarry."
Confused expressions were exchanged by the others.
"What do you mean by that, Taizo-dono?" Hidenobu inquired for the rest.
"Of our various industrial conglomerates, only the Sumeragi Group did not directly pass on bribes to the Britannian authorities, an arrangement we settled upon for a reason," Taizo reminded all of them. "By insulating her like so, we provide the Britannians with sufficient plausible deniability to spare her from complicity with our other plans, and allow her to retain her standing. They will of course be ever more vigilant even should such clemency be granted, but so long as a single member of Kyoto House remains, the dream of a free Japan remains alive."
What Taizo described was very much a long shot contingency, as it assumed not only the complete defeat of the JLF, which arguably was more plausible than the others liked to think about, but also the right balance between confidence and foresight on the part of the Britannians to consider Kaguya both still useful and also sufficiently controllable that they would risk future indiscretion from her. For much of the occupation, that sort of balance seemed unlikely just due to the sheer incompetence of the Britannian authorities. Now with the appearance of the Cardinal Lamperouge, it was no longer a pipe dream, but it was still a long shot.
Taizo and the other members of Kyoto House had done their best to lay the necessary groundwork to make such an outcome more probable, and indeed Kaguya's age was itself a factor in their planning. Not that the Britannians were not ruthless enough to be willing to execute her regardless, but every reason they could provide the Britannians not to do so was one more chance that she might live to carry on their dream.
It was at times like this that Taizo truly felt his age. He was well past his prime, and it would not be long before his life would simply run out, regardless of anything the Britannians might do to him. In some ways that meant he had little left to fear losing, at least as far as his own mortality was concerned. What he did fear was more abstract, that of his people forgetting themselves, their rich culture, and their long history, to be buried under the tide of Britannia's so-called integration. Taizo was proud to be Japanese, and he wanted his fellow Japanese to have reason to be equally proud. As such his fears were for the future generation, for those like Kaguya, whom had grown up under the Britannian heel. Whom were never given the opportunity to experience the pride of being their own people. Whom had to accept what the Britannians deigned to allow them to be. That, to Taizo was arguably a fate far worse than death. And yet, there was no hope in death. So as contradictory as it might seem, if in the end he and Kyoto House failed to restore to Japan and her people their rightful sovereignty, he hoped that he could at least preserve their lives. And amongst those lives, that of the little girl that he saw as his own granddaughter.
When Lelouch entered the hospital ward, the same one he had been verbally thrown out of yesterday, he found a pensive, still tense young woman seated up on the bed. Recognizing that he was still very much in the dog house, Lelouch approached with care and bowed politely in greeting.
"Lady Stadtfeld."
"You can skip the formalities, Your Eminence," Kallen said, still sporting an impressive glare. "I suspect by the end of the day I won't be in possession of my noble dignities anymore, much like yourself."
At that Lelouch let out an audible sigh of relief as he pulled up a chair and plopped down.
"In truth Eden Vital does not have any requirements about surrendering any secular titles upon taking on its vestments," he said. "The imperial court however is very uncomfortable with having someone invested actually in the succession, and to remove me from the succession required Father to strip me of my royal titles."
"I see," Kallen said, her expression softening ever so slightly. "I take it your father would have personally preferred otherwise?"
"Probably," Lelouch said with a slight shrug, "but as emperor he cannot lightly divulge his feelings, even on matters touching family."
Kallen gave a sigh of her own. "Wow, your life has sucked."
Lelouch chuckled wryly. "One could arguably say the same for yours."
"Yeah." Kallen took a deep breath. "Yeah, it definitely has had its low points." She glared at him again. "And something tells me I'll be having a few more following you around."
"That is not my wish," Lelouch said. "But considering my duties, in all likelihood, yes, you would face further hardships in my service. But, as with life, I hope that you will also find opportunity for joy as well."
Kallen snorted. "We'll see about that."
A quiet lull fell between the two, as Kallen stared blankly ahead of her. Lelouch gave her a few moments, but when it looked like the girl would not be stirring anytime soon, he broke the silence.
"I must admit, I was not expecting you to call for me after only a single day," the cardinal said. "You have surprised me yet again, Kallen."
"Need to keep you on your toes, lest you start taking me for granted," Kallen said with a smirk. The edges of her lips flattened out quickly however. "And besides, it's not like you gave me much of a choice, not after spilling your guts like that. And don't think I don't know that that was your plan all along."
In that Kallen was not wrong. Recruiting the strong-willed young woman was never going to be about convincing her based on the merits of the facts or the righteousness of the cause, those Kallen was capable of working out herself without any handholding. Once she did so, Kallen was also smart enough to recognize that even if there remained a decision for her to make, there was never a question of choice to begin with. By initiating her into so many of Eden Vital's secrets, Lelouch ensured that Kallen had nowhere else to turn to except for the Order. After all, who would believe her even if she was somehow able to leave the hospital and tell an outsider what Lelouch had told her? Furthermore, even if they did, how many of those believers would be in any position to do a thing about it? And from that further winnowing, how many of those left would even want to try and bring the Order to heel? Scant few, that Kallen could also figure out. And even if by some miracle she found someone that believed her, had the power to act, and the will to act, what were the chances that their actions could be trusted to not make things worse? Especially when those few persons whom fit the first three conditions would in all likelihood be party to this heretical breakaway faction that precipitated the murder of the Empress Marianne. Somehow Kallen could not see any help such people would offer to be worth the inevitable price.
"I would not demean you by suggesting otherwise."
While Lelouch had certainly been counting on Kallen eventually accepting the inevitability of the situation, and hopefully without resenting him too much for putting her in such a position, the one variable that he could not really control or predict was how long it would take Kallen to run through the gamut of emotions that presaged acceptance. Anger and denial were after all powerful feelings, ones that could smolder for a very, very long time. Considering the gravitas of the information, there was arguably no good way of breaking it all to her. Trying to take a more gradual approach would not have averted the eventual outburst of fury, only forestalled it, and perhaps even amplified it considering the way Kallen's own family had been impacted. And so Lelouch had taken a gamble, that a shock therapy approach would allow Kallen to experience the full force of her emotional rampage in a single jolt instead of letting it fester and grow over a longer period. As painful as it must have been for the girl, it did seem to have worked. Now Lelouch just needed to survive whatever blowback Kallen decided he justly deserved for putting her through it in the first place, whatever its necessity.
"Besides," Kallen said, baring her teeth, "joining the Order would also give me a chance to have a little, chat, with whomever came up with the idea of invading Japan."
For some reason Lelouch did not look terribly concerned with how that chat might conclude. If anything he seemed even bemused.
"Well, to each their own," was thus his only comment.
Despite the curiousness of Lelouch's reaction, Kallen elected not to press the point. Instead she took a long, deep breath.
"But there's something that I don't quite get." Kallen's eyes were steady as she met Lelouch's gaze. "Why did you tell me any of this at all?"
Lelouch cocked his head aside. "Pardon?"
"I know that you told me all those things to convince me of the, necessity, of joining you," Kallen said. "And I'm provisionally prepared to accept all that as the truth. But wouldn't it have been easier to lie instead? To come up with an explanation that I wouldn't have found so hard to believe, or wouldn't have triggered my anger like that?"
"I came seeking your help, Kallen," Lelouch said, "and for you to provide meaningful help you need to understand exactly what threats you may face. Fabricating a deception that would provide you with sufficient information while also keeping the totality of the truth from you would have been far too complicated, not to mention far too easily pierced, especially considering the rest of my entourage know the truth and would need to coordinate heavily to maintain any such masquerade. The truth on the other hand is consistent, even if it sounds fantastical." The cardinal shrugged. "And besides, what I have revealed thus far is far from the end all and be all of Eden Vital's secrets. You will see and learn many more things during your augmentation and recuperation."
"Oh, thanks," Kallen said dryly, then regarded Lelouch thoughtfully. "So this, augmentation. It'll give me powers like what you have?"
"Of sorts," Lelouch said. "The augmentation itself is necessary to allow your body to bear the weight of the geass, as exercising its power is extremely taxing. As for what capabilities you will possess, that is hard to say. Each person manifests the geass differently, and it has thus far proven next to impossible to predict what sorts of abilities will appear before it is granted."
"Geis?" Kallen repeated. "Isn't that some sort of binding or contract that prohibits you from doing something?"
"You are likely referring to the Irish mythological concept," Lelouch said. "In some ways, that is an apt enough meaning all on its own, but the geass I speak of is not a condition or restriction. It is a contract wherein you are granted a power, in exchange for a service or promise."
"So, wait, that means there's someone actively handing out these powers?" Kallen said.
"Correct, and that someone is Eden Vital's grandmaster."
Kallen nodded slowly. "Okay, that actually makes sense. As much as anything else, at least."
Lelouch chuckled. "I am glad to hear it."
"So, I agree to join the Order, and she gives me a power?" Kallen postulated. "That's to be my service?"
"No," Lelouch however shook his head. "Your service to the Order simply qualifies you for receiving a geass. It is at the grandmaster's own discretion whether she finds you worthy of receiving one, and whether there is a service she desires from you."
Kallen frowned thoughtfully. "So you're saying that the grandmaster could actually decide not to give me a geass?"
"A slim possibility," Lelouch said, "as I have already received her consent to recruit you for this very purpose."
"Thanks, I think," Kallen said dryly, then regarded Lelouch. "So what is your service to the grandmaster, then?"
Lelouch's lips thinned. "That, is between myself and the grandmaster. As will be yours."
"Ah, so the Order does have some secrets that aren't just shared willy-nilly," Kallen said. "I'm almost relieved."
"There are always more secrets," Lelouch said. "That is the nature of the duty."
"Lovely," Kallen sighed. "Alright, so I get why you want me. And I also get what's in it for me, on a personal level at least. But I was never in this for myself, and as much as I appreciate the wider stakes, in a lot of ways, this is still about cleaning up your family's mess. So, I have some conditions."
"That is certainly reasonable," Lelouch said. "I hope your conditions themselves are equally so."
Kallen snorted. "I consider them to be. First, you fix my home. I don't expect you to be able to grant Japan independence, but I want equal standing for all my people. Japanese as full citizens, with none of this Numbers or Honorary Britannian bullshit. Anything a full-blooded Britannian can legally do, the Japanese can do too."
"Done."
That elicited a raised eyebrow. "Just like that?"
"The tiered level of citizenship that exists in Japan is quite frankly an obsolete piece of imperial law that was last used over a century ago," Lelouch stated frankly. "It was never removed from the books, frankly because I doubted anyone in the government expected Britannia to be going out to actively conquer more bits of the world again after we wrested the rest of the Spanish colonial empire from their previous masters. Indeed it should have stayed within the annals of history, but the same warmongers that my father used to precipitate the war with Japan then went and dug it out as a means to legitimize their intended looting of the area's economy. My father, and indeed my brother, the Prince Schneizel, are not unaware of these facts. But changing imperial law is a laborious task, especially when there are those in the House of Lords whom actively benefit from the preservation of those laws. The recent events however have produced the needed opportunity to ram through the necessary changes, and you can be certain that Eden Vital will throw its full weight behind the reforms." Lelouch met Kallen's gaze with a firm, steady look of resolve. "The Japanese will see their treatment elevated to full, equal citizenship within the Empire. This, I promise you."
Kallen regarded Lelouch for several long moments before seemingly deciding to believe the cardinal, for now.
"Know that I'm going to be watching for any backsliding," she warned.
"I would expect nothing less."
With a more or less satisfied nod, Kallen continued. "My second condition." Her expression was one of complete seriousness. "Once I'm back from this, augmentation, and have full control over my body again, I get to sock you a good one."
Lelouch blinked. "Pardon?"
"You heard me, I get one good shot at you for all the crap that's happened. You may not be at fault for the worst of the excesses that happened, but you embody the very institution that allowed it to happen. So, you let me sock you once, and I'll not get overly snippy about Britannian complicity or guilt. And I'll give my all for your cause."
For some reason Lelouch looked downright uneasy about that condition, far more so than the political dynamite that Kallen had insisted upon as her first one. Finally he sighed.
"Very well, but I request that if your geass manifests along similar lines to Dalque's, you refrain from employing it in the blow."
Kallen tilted her head. "And what does Dalque have?"
"Super strength, more or less," Lelouch answered very reluctantly.
For some reason a really wide grin crossed Kallen's face. "Don't worry, I won't hit you too hard."
"I am not assured in the least," Lelouch sighed. "But if those are the only two conditions you ask, I accept."
Kallen chuckled. "Good boy."
"Oh, I am a puppy now, am I?"
"Hrmm, maybe a wolf pup," Kallen said. "You're not cute enough to be a proper thoroughbred puppy."
This time it was Lelouch's turn to chortle, and then a sly smile crossed his face too. "Seeing as you have agreed to join the Order, there is already one task that I would appreciate your assistance in."
"What?" Kallen asked, immediately wary.
"Well, as you yourself pointed out, you are the bearer of certain noble dignities as the presumed heir of the Viscount Stadtfeld," Lelouch said. "While the Order does not really care one way or another whether you retain those dignities, your father may not share in that opinion." The grin widened ever so slightly. "Indeed he may disapprove of the entire notion of you taking vows. Seeing as you are his daughter, might I impose upon you to, explain, to the viscount why doing so would be advantageous not only to yourself, but to your House?"
The moment Lelouch mentioned her father, Kallen gave him a beady look. That only intensified by the time he got done with what he undoubtedly thought was a clever bit of machination on his part. Kallen's assessment of the whole thing was far less charitable. Still, she somehow managed a beatific smile as she gave her response.
"Your Eminence?"
"Yes, Lady Stadtfeld?"
With perfect clarity, Kallen spoke two words. "Fuck. You."
The two figures that entered the room were rarely seen apart, with their contrasting form making them easily distinguishable. One was a tall, lanky young man, whom always seemed on edge and vigilant. The other, a petite girl, exuded an uninviting aura that made people instinctively keep their distance. All the better, as the former was concerned, and the latter was apathetic enough to not care one way or another. Despite all this however, both unhesitatingly fell to a knee once they reached the appropriate distance from the seated figure.
"What is thy bidding, Grandmaster," the girl spoke for both of them.
The figure before them could easily have been mistaken for being the youngest of the three present. Indeed this perpetually youthful visage had been how V.V. had enticed his ostensible allies into granting him the resources necessary to expand his schismatic branch of Eden Vital. Now, after all these years, just as his reach was starting to attain something approaching his old authority, just when all his machinations might begin bearing fruit, another wrench was thrown into the works. A wrench by the name of Lelouch Lamperouge.
"Our pawns in Area 11's administration have been neutralized," V.V. declared, "demonstrating the inadequacy of working through intermediaries. Mao, you will go to Japan, and ensure that all our preparations are not for naught."
It was as yet unclear whether Lelouch had discovered the Purists' connection to V.V., the rogue grandmaster having gone to considerable lengths to hide his presence from even his Britannian pawns. Some of those pawns yet remained, but those in positions of actual authority had all been purged, leaving V.V. bereft of the instruments necessary to further undermine Britannia's occupation from the inside. A more direct approach would be needed, but that would take time to prepare. In the meantime, it would not do to allow Lelouch to pursue his agenda completely bereft of opposition.
"The Chinese Federation has tenuous connections with the Japanese Liberation Front," V.V. continued, "enough to allow you entry into their haven. Worm your way into their graces, convince them that we are their most trusted and faithful ally. And ready them to land the decisive blow necessary to open the way for us to claim Japan. Am I understood, Mao?"
"By your will, Grandmaster," both figures responded, for it was both that had been addressed despite the singular name.
"Go then," V.V. said, a dark, ferocious smile crossing his face. "With my blessing."
Whether that was something any sane person would want was debatable, but it was not as if those on the receiving end of this benediction were in any position to deny it.
"Our gratitude, Grandmaster," the two said before rising and taking their leave.
Left alone, V.V.'s chair slowly turned about to let him gaze at the large screen that took up most of the wall. On it was currently displayed a map of the world, with different regions shaded different colors to indicate the polity that laid claim to them. The map had seen a recent change, with another large splotch of blue replacing the previous green of the Middle East, signifying the completion of Britannia's conquest of that region.
While the rest of the world focused on the economic ramifications of Britannia now controlling some of the largest reserves of oil in the world, V.V. knew that such paltry prizes were not the true aim of the Empire's invasion. No, his brother's real goal was to seize control of the thought elevator located in the region, the success of which granted him and that harlot of a witch control of a majority of the devices. They likely thought such control would prove an insurmountable impediment to V.V.'s own plans. The self-proclaim grandmaster was content to let them waste their time and resources on such false assurances. It would make them that less prepared to face his true plans, after all.
Still, it would not do to let his brother or C.C. become too overconfident. That might tempt them into doing something unexpectedly daring, sufficiently so to genuinely threaten everything that V.V. had worked to build up. Hence his dispatchment of Mao to Area 11, where they would at least serve as a credible distraction for Lelouch. And who knows, they might just get lucky and manage to kill the bastard. V.V. would not spare any tears for ending that misbegotten seed spawned by Marianne, but he was not foolish enough to discount the young man's likely competency. Even if he was Marianne's son, he still had Charles as his father, and despite his brother's folly, V.V. had borne firsthand witness to Charles' guile and cunning too often. No, Lelouch was a threat, in many respects. Killing him would not be easy, and V.V. suspected it would cost him dearly to do so. But all things worth doing came at a cost, and V.V. was quite prepared to pay however many of others' lives were necessary to see it done.
It was a quiet evening, one that Lelouch was spending unwinding with a glass of wine. Even if it was not physically possible for him to get drunk anymore, he still appreciated the flavor of a good vintage. Considering the amount that he tended to drink, those unaware of his augmentations might accuse him of trying to drown his sorrows, or being an outright alcoholic. Lelouch would not have bothered to correct them however, since there was enough truth in both. Besides, letting people think he possessed at least some vices would help make him feel more approachable. And besides, loose tongues from overindulgence by those that chose to drink in his presence were often sources of useful information.
The door creaked as it was opened, but Lelouch did not turn about to regard his guest. If one of his attendants had cause to intrude upon his evening like so, the nature of the matter would have them announce their entry with varying degrees of urgency. That they did not call out to him indicated the present matter was, while serious, did not warrant any immediacy on his part. Thus he waited for whomever it was to round the sofa to enter his field of view. When she did however, the glass was stopped at the edge of Lelouch's lips. The cardinal promptly put it down on the table as his eyes met a violet pair that mirrored his own, albeit with a softer edge.
"Good evening to you, Brother," Nunnally greeted with a gentle smile.
"And to you as well, Nunnally," Lelouch responded.
One could be forgiven for doubting Lelouch's claims to immunity to alcohol at this very moment, as how else could the cardinal be hallucinating the presence of his little sister. That was if this was a hallucination in the first place.
"I hope I am not disturbing you?" Nunnally said.
"Never," Lelouch assured her. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
"My thanks," Nunnally said, then took a seat across from her brother. "I pray that you are as well as can be?"
Lelouch sighed slightly. "An apt enough qualifier. I am not heartless enough to be unaffected by the events of the past week, but I am pragmatic enough to recognize that it could have been much worse. But, it could have gone so much better."
Nunnally nodded. "I too am disheartened by Clovis' passing. And like you, I had hoped that the margin was sufficiently wide to allow for saving him."
"It was a margin that would not have existed without your projections," Lelouch said. "You have no cause for regret. It was I that failed to adequately take advantage of the margin. Clovis' death is none's fault except his and mine alone."
Nunnally frowned. "You know this to not be true, Lelouch. For this time or the last, or the next. Fault enters not into any of this, not unless we stand aside and let evil be done."
It spoke much of Nunnally's kindness that despite the pain she herself felt, she still thought of the pain of others first. It mattered not how much her own heart ached, she was always ready to lend what comfort she could so that others might find succor. Lelouch thus did not argue the point, but he hardly looked satisfied either. Seeing this, Nunnally rose and walked over, settling in next to her brother despite the relative lack of space. Chuckling dryly, Lelouch gave her head a pat.
"I suppose I do no one any good moping around like this?"
"Least of all yourself," Nunnally agreed, then with a slight smile. "I heard that you and Milly went a round on the dance floor after you arrived."
"Word certainly travels fast," Lelouch said with a sigh.
"But of course," Nunnally said. "Considering how much you were dotted upon by the Famulous sisters, would you expect the news to travel any less quickly?"
While C.C. might have become Lelouch and Nunnally's official guardian, her duties as grandmaster precluded her from constantly looking after them. It thus fell to the many members of the Order Famulous to see to the two siblings' care, during which time Lelouch's precocious nature naturally endeared him to many of the older women that took turns minding him. As Lelouch approached adulthood, more than one commented on his dashing figure, and predicated just what a heartthrob he was likely to be, as well as how it was a good thing his surrogate siblings seemed otherwise immune to his roguish appeal.
"Let me guess, Lucretia was the one that passed on the gossip?"
At least enough to poke some fun about it.
"She has a better sense of the romantic than any of the others, except perhaps Sancia," Nunnally did not exactly confirm. "How is Milly anyway? Is she still as mischievous as back in Pendragon?"
"Despite the passing of years, yes, she has somehow maintained her humor," Lelouch said.
"That is good to hear," Nunnally said. "Milly always had a big, generous heart. I am certain she will provide you with much succor should you give her the chance."
Lelouch glanced down at his sister. "Is there something you are not telling me, Nunnally?"
The girl smiled up at her brother. "Nothing you yourself did not already know, Lelouch."
The cardinal snorted, removing his hand from Nunnally's head but still cradling her form.
"I presume that you did not come merely to gossip like a schoolgirl?"
"To offer a measure of comfort to my dear brother is worthwhile all on its own," Nunnally said. "But, you are right, there are other matters that require discussion."
"Then let us hear it."
Nunnally's face morphed into a solemn expression. "The projection has shifted, as was desired. Britannia's hold over Japan has been strengthened, though the probability of a reversal remains uncomfortably high, especially if the heretics respond in the expected manner."
"Nothing that we did not anticipate before," Lelouch said.
"True enough," Nunnally agreed. "But the margin of success remains as ever contingent on the human heart, on whether the Japanese can find cause to accept Britannia. Your actions these past few days have stirred them, but it is not yet enough to sway them. To do that, to truly bind Japan to Britannia, a much greater price may yet need to be paid."
"Greater than the death of our brother?" Lelouch said softly.
"A great price," Nunnally repeated. "To whom that price must be extracted from, is beyond the scope of my sight. I am not omniscient after all."
"Even if you were, that would simply open up an entirely different set of problems," Lelouch said.
Nunnally smiled slightly. "True enough, dear Brother."
"So I am to stay my present course then?" Lelouch said after a moment.
"For the time being," Nunnally confirmed. "Should the projection begin to veer off our desired course, I shall warn you forthright."
"I trust you will." Lelouch took a deep breath. "Shall I also take it then that Japan's fate is thusly intertwined with the great design as a whole now?"
The great design, one that encompassed not just Britannia, but the whole of humanity. It might seem presumptuous or arrogant of them to assume to balance such scales, but those of Eden Vital were not one to shy away from such weighty matters. Not when it was genuinely within their power to try and direct the flow of history in the hopes of creating a better world.
"You may," Nunnally said. "Should Japan fall, it will not become impossible to achieve our desired end, but the available paths will narrow precipitously, and the cost will climb exponentially."
Of course, as with anything, success was not assured, and what was lost to reach one's destination was no small matter either. Nunnally's sight might have provided a map, but it was still up to others to read it properly, and then make sure they were capable of traversing the chosen path.
"Then I had best make certain that Japan be restored to its rightful heights, and carry along with it Britannia as a whole."
Nunnally's hands rose, cupping her brother's face and turning it to regard her.
"And not just Japan and Britannia, Brother. The same end is something that you should not forget also applies to yourself. No matter how great a height you may attain by your efforts alone, always remember that you may reach yet greater heights by taking the hand of others."
"Is this something you too have seen, Sister?" Lelouch inquired.
The girl smiled. "It is something I know, Brother."
For a long moment Lelouch simply returned Nunnally's gaze, before he took hold of her hand in his own. Leaning over, he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"You weary yourself remaining here so long, Nunnally. Rest, knowing that I take your words to heart."
Nunnally smiled. "I will, Brother."
And closed her eyes as she rested her head against Lelouch's shoulder. Lelouch caressed her hair once more as he felt her steady breathing. Then, that flowing brown hair faded, revealing a head of pink instead. And where he once cradled his sister, instead in his arms was Anya. After a brief moment, the girl stirred.
"You can probably stop now," Anya said of the hand that still rested upon her head.
"If you do not mind, Anya, a moment longer please," Lelouch said softly. "After all, you too must be weary."
Anya made no declination, instead closing her eyes. That moment stretched for a very long time as she dozed off, letting Lelouch cherish her like the sister she too was, by bond if not by blood.
End of Chapter 8
Finally. Thus concludes the Shinjuku Incident arc, and with its conclusion I'm going to take a break from this story and go work on Duty a bit more. I really, really need to get that story moving and through its current arc, since I kind of left its last chapter hanging in the middle of an active mission. So, yeah, might be a bit before you guys get your next fix.
A bit of text somehow got garbled in the previous chapter. One of Kallen's lines got dropped, resulting in two consecutive statements from Lelouch. The meaning wasn't dramatically altered, but it did break the flow of the scene, so I've gone back and fixed it up.
Just a note, for whatever reason, this site no longer forwards direct messages sent to me to my email, even though I haven't made any changes to my settings, and they're also not ending up in my spam folder. So if I don't see or respond to any messages sent, it's because I don't go into my account until I'm ready to upload another chapter, which can be a very variable amount of time. I also generally aren't that responsible with direct messages, so you're more liable to get my attention via a review instead.
Back when I was in secondary, a teacher of mine once said, "If you want to know what love feels like, just imagine being really, really angry all the time." Seeing as it seems to be an unspoken rule that husbands must be constant sources of exasperation for their wives, I think the remark was rather apt. Make of that what you will.
I could have arguably dragged out Kallen's decision over a longer period of time, with a few more scenes portraying her eventually coming around. I decided not to bother however, since I need to get the story moving.
In the context of my story, the existence of the thought elevators, the schism between V.V. and C.C., and even the fact that Eden Vital basically ordered Britannia to invade and conquer Japan, are small peanuts compared to the really big secrets held by Eden Vital. Lelouch alluded to that fact in this chapter in his follow-up conversation with Kallen. As such from Lelouch's perspective he wasn't telling Kallen anything that spectacular, even if the immediate consequences of those secrets were more evident to her. Once Kallen gets back from her augmentation, she will have a much different appreciation of what kind of scale Lelouch and his compatriots operate in, one far, far greater than her prior concerns as a mere insurgent. She is probably still going to want to sock him.
One of those much bigger secrets was laid out in Lelouch's little conversation with Nunnally at the end there. Not much information was outright stated in the scene, but the things put on display include both Nunnally and Anya's geass. Nunnally's is probably a bit easier to guess what it might be, especially for those that are familiar with Nightmare of Nunnally. Anya's I could arguably reveal in full here, since it doesn't really spoil anything. I'll reserve it for a future chapter's narrative prose though.
So, because I have sufficient disposable income that I can actually spend so much of my leisure time writing these stories, I have the luxury of spending some of that income in commissioning artists for renditions of my characters. The latest such rendition is of Lelouch in his uniform as an Eden Vital cardinal, which you can see by reconstructing the below link.
deviantart dot com slash z98 slash art slash Lelouch-the-Legate-839944244
The outfit itself is based off of what he wore in the ending of the Resurrection movie, though I had a few modifications done in terms of coloring. The fiery background was entirely the artist's choice, but I find it thematically appropriate. My intent, depending on the artist's availability, is to have images done for all of Lelouch's entourage, as well as a few other characters whom I won't list just yet as that would constitute spoilers. Not that they would get a picture, just that the specific rendition of them would very much be a spoiler.
I haven't said one way or another whether this will be a harem situation or not. What I have said is that I have worked out the general pairings (for not just Lelouch but for other characters as well), that Lelouch's current entourage will never become romantically involved with him because they're basically a family, and that not all of the women that Lelouch encounters from hereon will develop feelings for him.
Sedition is defined as incitement against or subversion of the authority of the state, at least according to Milly. Think about that really carefully before trying to claim that Lelouch was committing sedition. Think very carefully about what authority Lelouch himself possesses as Cardinal of the Order Militant of Eden Vital, as compared to a mere noble like Ruben. If the answer is not self-evident, at least one other reader has been able to postulate why Lelouch did not commit sedition. I'm sure there are others that could expand further, using the snippet I just dropped.