Empire of Japan, Tokyo, Kururugi residence
A month had passed since the negotiations at Damascus. Japan was now in the process rebuilding itself from the Britannian invasion. Genbu couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. With Britannia's sudden invasion, the E.U. and the Chinese Federation, quickly sent diplomats to Tokyo, to discuss stationing their forces in the region. With the current state of the military he of course quickly agreed to the idea, but under certain conditions of course. Japan is a neutral state and will remain so. First, their military forces will only temporarily be stationed in the Japan, which will be for five years. Second is that they will be stationed in one region of the country for each superpower, the Diet is currently deciding on which Regions will host the military forces of the two superpowers. Third is that they will send a limited amount of troops to be stationed as they don't want to provoke the Britannians into thinking that they are going to choose a side.
Armed Neutrality.
That has been the policy of the Kururugi administration ever since the first Pacific war. It had been their clan that ended the war and negotiated the treaty for Japan from being occupied by the three superpowers at the time. However even though they are a neutral state, they can never let their guard down. Beneath Japan, layed approximately 70% of the world's Sakuradite reserves, which made the nation have a monopoly over the resource. This also made the nation a target for many nations as the world was dependent on it, due to the high energy out put it produced. So it was National policy for Japan to have a standing army and for all men in the Empire to partake in a Mandatory military service for up to 3 years maximum.
Genbu Kururugi, the third Prime Minister of the Empire after succeeding his father before him, was now currently at his main estate in Tokyo. He looked out the window, his eyes layed upon the ruined city which was currently being rebuilt, as sipped a cup of tea. The Prime minister looked at the city with mix thoughts. For one he was deeply angered by how much destruction the Britannian Royal Army had done on the Imperial Capital. Even if it's the administrative capital, the fact is that it is the city where the Meiji Restoration had begun and where the Empire of Japan had been established. While at the same time he was ecstatic, because it proved one thing, Japan never gave up. Even when all hope was lost and when Britannia had used all its might to crush them, they didn't fall. Genbu could only grin satisfied.
"My dear, you look very pleased today?" His wife and Suzaku's mother, Shinano Kururugi says as she approaches her husband, wearing a light purple Kimono. She was raven haired woman who looked to be in her early forties, with green eyes and pale skin.
"Why wouldn't I be my love," Genbu sips on his tea. "Japan was able to repel Britannia's invasion and here we are still standing. As Prime Minister and a patriot, why wouldn't I be pleased."
"I suppose you're right dear," Shinano says as she stood opposite of her husband, looking out the window. "While Japan gets to maintain its existence, our people are still traumatised by the invasion."
Genbu sighs, averting his eyes. "Yes...it can't be helped. Britannia took us by surprise from their sudden invasion," Genbu says, gritting his teeth. "And here I thought that those two Royals will keep us safe."
"Don't blame yourself dear," Shinano tries to assure him. "None of us thought that Britannia would abandon its Royals, much less ones who were thought to be his favourite Empress's children."
"It just proves how barbaric the current Britannian Emperor is," Genbu says, clicking his tongue. "I really can't believe it, Britannia has changed a lot."
"It really has," his wife says agreeingly. "To think the nation that came to our aid in the first Pacific war, would be ones to invade us years later."
"It's a sad reality for us dear," Genbu comments as he sat down his chair. "But we must not dwell on the past. We have more pressing matters to attend to, such as the two Britannian Royals that are currently taking asylum in our country."
"Former Royals you mean, dear," his wife corrected him as she sat down.
Genbu scoffs. "They are useless to us now, so what's the point in keeping them here?"
"Because they have nowhere else to go," Shinano says, with a a frown. "Their mother is dead and their father has practically abandoned them. If they return, they'll face even more danger."
"Hehe, the venomous Hydra known as the Royal court?" Her husband snipes, which made his wife chuckle a bit of his interpretation.
"There is that, but those two are our Son's closest friends," Shinano mentions, which made the Kururugi head smile a bit.
"Yes, they are our Son's closest friends."
"Which is why I'm in favour of the Emperor's decision," she says standing up. "I want what's best for our son and that includes his friends as well."
Genbu waved his hand. "I know, I know, dear."
"Also, shouldn't you head to the Imperial Villa? I thought you were summoned there?" Shinano asks, wondering why her husband hadn't left yet.
"I'm waiting for Tohdoh to arrive with Katase," Genbu tells her. "The Emperor is keen on meeting our Miracle maker."
"Oh I see, if that's the case take Suzaku with you," Shinano tells him as she leaves the room. "I have a feeling it has something to do regarding Suzaku's friend."
After his wife left, Genbu was left all alone in the room. He pondered about the future of Japan and tried to see if its necessary to keep the Prince and princess in Japan at this. Their use as hostages is useless now, since its pretty evident that Britannia doesn't care about its royals. He wondered what made the Emperor decide to grant asylum to the two. He could only wonder.
Akasaka Imperial Villa
Genbu had just arrived at the Imperial villa along with Tohdoh and Katase. As per his Wife's demands, he also brought along his son, who seemed to be a bit nervous. Well he can't exactly blame him. For he is about to enter the residence of the Imperial Family, the gods of their people.
"I wonder what's all this about?" Katase asked, a bit annoyed.
"The Emperor had summoned us for a meeting," Genbu says. "Though I'm not sure what it's about, But if I had to guess, I believe it has something to do with the Britannian children."
"The useless ones?" Katase asked.
"They aren't useless!" Suzaku angrily screamed at the General. His father quickly put a hand on his son to calm him down before speaking to Katase.
"Katase, I hope you restrain yourself. We may have taken them as hostages, but they are still children," Genbu tells the old man, which quickly calm the old General.
"Forgive me, Prime Minister. The invasion still has left some scars on me," Katase says.
"It's a sad reality for us dear," Genbu comments, putting his hands over his son's shoulders. "But we must not dwell on the past. We have more pressing matters to attend to, such as the two Britannian Royals taht are currently taking asylum in our country."
"Were the six houses only summoned, Prime Minister?" Tohdoh asked, as he noticed the vehicles of the Kyoto houses.
"I think so, the Kazoku is busy dealing with rebuilding their local territories so it's not surprising that aren't here," Genbu says.
"Though I wonder why I was also summoned?" Tohdoh says, feeling a bit nervous as he was about to meet the Emperor.
"Why wouldn't he, Tohdoh," Katsase nudged his elbow on the young miracle workers waist. "You were the one to bring our first victory against the Britannians, so of course the Emperor would summon you."
The young hero could simply flush by the General's praise. "Please General, it was nothing. I simply just lured the Britannians to a trap, that's all."
"Nonetheless it was a well earned victory for Japan," Genbu tells him. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to develop the tactics necessary to fight against the Knightmare frames." The Japanese prime Minister Pats the soldier's back. "Be proud of yourself, Tohdoh."
Before Tohdoh could say anything, his student, Suzaku Kururugi cuts him off. "Yeah master, you were so cool! One day I want to grow up to be like you!" Suzaku tells him, which only made the young adult smile as he patted the young boy's head.
"Is that so, then looks like you'll have to focus more on your studies if you want to be like me," Tohdoh tells, which made the Kururugi shiver at the thought of studying.
Genbu laughs at Tohdoh's words. "Then I should add more classes for Suzaku then, if that's the case."
Suzaku could only grow terrified upon hearing those words, holding tight on his arms. He really wished he hadn't said that. Of course the adults around noticed and simply chuckled at the boy's reaction.
As the group were talking amongst themselves, a member of the Imperial Guard division came up to them.
"Prime Minister Kururugi, General Katase, Major Tohdoh," the guard salutes them, which the two soldiers of the group return back. "The Emperor is expecting you. Please follow me."
"Of course, lead the way," Genbu followed the Guardsman, along with everyone else.
Following the man inside, the group saw many workers inside the Villa as they all repaired the damaged Imperial residence. Members of the Imperial Household Agency can be seen supervising the repair work as to not make sure that any mistake is to be made when restoring the residence to its former state. As they all walked to the meeting room, all the workers and servants immediately bowed to the Prime Minister upon seeing him, some of them also gave a salute to the hero of the invasion as well, which of course made the young man flustered a bit rubbing the side of his nose with a finger.
The group had followed the guard for about a few minutes, Suzaku of course was getting somewhat impatient how much walking they had been doing, before reaching their destination.
"Wait here," the guard tells them as he entered the room to announce their arrival to the Emperor. Not even a second later, the guard comes back out. "You may enter."
The group after hearing those words entered the room. Upon entering, they saw the Emperor sitting the end of a long table, eating a traditional western meal of steak and various other foods. Sitting next to them were the heads of the Kyoto House; Kirihara, Sumeragi, Munakata, Osakabe, Kubouin and Yoshino. While Tokyo had now been the capital of Empire, the six clans of Kyoto which had served the Imperial Family throughout their long history, held the most political power within the Empire, next to the Kururugi's of course. The clans of Kyoto rose to power by taking advantage of the modernisation project which Emperor Meiji had started. The clans invested many of their wealth into the Emperor's modernisation plans and benefited quite a lot from it. Due to this reason, it is how Kyoto has managed to stay influential in the eyes of the Emperor for the past few decades. The clans of Kirihara and Sumeragi had been two of the Kururugi clans most closest allies, die to the fact that Kirihara had been close to the first Kururugi Administration and were also the ones to establish the Kururugi family presence in all of the Empire. The Sumeragi's were a very recent ally of theirs, mostly die to the marriage of Prime Minister Kururugi and the eldest daughter of Sumeragi clan's marriage to one another. However the remaining four clans were quite distasteful of the Kururugi clan. Due to the Kururugi's being a low level clan from the Kyushu, they have been quite jealous of the Kururugi's sudden rise to power.
Genbu could care less about them and their complaints. It was because of his great grandfather that Japan able to negotiate their way out of that war. What really got attention was-
"Lelouch!" Suzaku called out the boy's name who sat beside Taizo Kirihara and the Emperor.
Yes, the Britannian prince. His wife was correct, it did had something to do with the boy. He wondered what it could be about, since he know has been granted asylum and has been claimed oficially, he really questioned what made the Emperor make this decision.
"Suzaku what are you doing here?" Lelouch asked surprised, as he didn't expect his best friend to come as well.
"I don't know?" Suzaku tells as he goes up to his friend. "My mom told my dad to take me with him."
"Miss Kururugi?" Lelouch asks.
The head of the Sumeragi clan chuckled a bit upon the mention of his sister. "My sister really is quite careless."
"Enough," the Emperor ordered as he cut through his steak. "I gathered you all here because there is something I want to discuss with the young boy along with the rest of you."
"Discuss?" Genbu asks, quite confused by the Emperor's words.
"Yes, exactly," Akihito confirmed, eating a piece of steak. "Sit down please. If Suzaku wants, he can sit next to Lelouch."
The young Kururugi's eyes lit up when heard that he can sit next to his friend as he turned to his father seemingly trying to get permission. His father seeing his son desperately trying to get permission, simply nods, which made the ecstatic as he grabs an empty chair and places it next to Lelouch, which he then sat on. Lelouch while a bit annoyed was honestly glad that his friend was there with him. The rest of the three adults all sat on the opposite side of the Kyoto group.
"So what is it that you want to discuss, your majesty?" The head of the Munakata clan asked.
"It's regarding our military, Tousai," the Emperor answered.
"Our military?" Katase asked confused. "What about the Imperial military, your majesty?"
"There is nothing wrong with it, I assure you General Katase," the young Emperor assured the elderly General. "But, the recent invasion has made me doubt the future of modern warfare."
Tohdoh looked at the Emperor, with a knowing look. "It's regarding the Knightmare frames that Britannia deployed, am I correct?"
The Japanese Emperor nods in confirmation. "You are correct, Tohdoh."
"Your majesty, why should we be worried over such a weapon?" The head of the Kubouin clan asked. "The Britannia's failed invasion, just shown us how useless of a machine it is."
"Lord Kubouin," Tohdoh called out the clan head. "Did you forget how much of our forces were destroyed during the initial stages of Britannia's ground invasion?"
"What about it?" The Kubouin head just asks, ignorant of what happened.
"Britannia destroyed nearly half of our defence lines and all of our tanks. We have only a million soldiers left compared to the five million that we used to have before the invasion." Katase reports, which made the Kubouin head flinch upon hearing it.
"Exactly as you heard, Hidenobu," the Emperor glanced at the old elder, who could only lower his head. "Which is exactly why, I decided to create a Knightmare program."
Upon breaking the news, the whole room, except for Suzaku and Lelouch, with the former being confused and the latter simply smiling at the situation, all erupted into surprise and shock by the Emperor's decision.
"I beg your pardon your majesty?" Genbu asked the Emperor, who just continued to eat his meal. "But what made you decide on creating a Knightmare project?"
"Oh why it was our dear friend Lelouch who gave me the idea," the Emperor pointed to the young boy. Everyone in the room quickly turned their eyes to the young boy in question as even Suzaku looked at him in surprise.
"Eh? What's he talking a our Lelouch?" Suzaku asked, confused as to what was going on.
"Exactly as he said," Genbu slammed his fist on the table. "What did you tell the Emperor you child?!"
Lelouch just shrugs, as his face forms a smug smirk. "I just suggested building a few Knightmares in case Britannia tries to invade again."
"Invade? Again!" The head of the Osakabe clan exclaimed. "After that humiliating defeat!? There's no way the Britannians would ever return from such a blow to their forces!"
"You really are an idiot, Tatsunori," Sumeragi head comments, which infuriated the Osakabe head.
"What did you say, Takashi!?"
The Sumeragi head simply grins. "This is Britannia we are talking about. They're an Empire that controls the entire new world and have a military that can possibly take on both the two superpowers at the same time. Should I even mention they don't like to take defeat. Since we have pretty much humiliated the Britannian Army, it's pretty likely that they'll begin preparation for a another invasion in the years to come."
"Which is exactly what I have told his majesty," Lelouch spoke out. "Britannia won't let go of this humiliation no matter what. I don't how long until we can expect another invasion, but my guess is at least a decade."
"A decade!?" The Yoshino clan head exclaims.
"That quick?" Taizo asks, rubbing his chin.
"That's just not possible!" Genbu slams his fists on the table.
"Tch, Britannia really knows how to keep a grudge." The Kubouin head scoffs.
"After everything that we did to repel them," Katase mumbled angrily clenching his fists.
"General..." Tohdoh says softly as he glanced at the elderly man worried.
"How are you so sure child?" The Osakabe head asks the young boy.
"Like lord Sumeragi had just said, Britannia isn't a nation that likes to take defeat. With Tohdoh having humiliating Britannia's forces in Itsukushima and the development of Anti-Knightmare tactics, it isn't that far fetched to believe that the Britannian Royal court isn't already preparing plans for another invasion," Lelouch answers, which made many of the adults in the room wince at his logic.
"He has a point," the Munakata head says.
"Agreed, I guess we haven't been keeping up with the current state of Britannia over the past years," Osakabe also agreed, finally calming down.
"But what would Britannia want to that?" The Kururugi heir asks as the attention went toward him. "I mean they lost? Why would they want to do that again? That doesn't make sense."
"Suzaku..." Genbu looked at his son with a pitiful look.
Akihito wipes his lips with a handkerchief. "Because Suzaku, humans are a strange species. We sometimes do illogical things, out of pride, greed, envy and wrath. Britannia falls to the former, they are prideful nation, that prides itself as an Empire of exiles. I believe you are familiar with Britannia's history, aren't you?"
Suzaku nods. "Yes, Lelouch told me."
The Emperor smiles as he continued his explanation. "Because it is a nation of exiles, Britannia doesn't wish to lose its second Homeland, so in response to that, they built themselves from a small colony in the new world to a continent spanning Empire. All of this was because of current ideology that was established over a few decades ago by the 96th Emperor, Social Darwinism."
Lelouch and many of the adults in the room cringed at the very ideology's name. Japan, while a Xenophobic and somewhat hostile nation to foreigners, was never in favour of such a horrible ideology. The idea of a race being superior by might, almost takes them back to the days of the pre-Kururugi era, when the Ultra-Nationalists of the Empire had taken over the government and had been oppressing the native people and non-Japanese of their former Taiwan colony and Okinawa. Might makes right. A slogan that haunted many of the older generation including the old Kirihara. They vowed after the first Pacific war to never let the Ultra-Nationalists take back control ever again or Japan will return back to the dark page of their history again.
"You will understand as you grow up Suzaku," The Emperor tells the young green eyed boy with a smile. "But as of now, you are still young and naive."
"But..." Lelouch put a hand over his friend's shoulder, shaking his head sideways.
"Then your majesty," Genbu spoke up. "How exactly are we going to make our own Knightmares?" Genbu asked.
"Leave that production process to me," Kirihara tells the Prime Minister. "Kirihara Industries has the factories and the facilities suitable to manufacture such machines. So we won't have to worry about that."
"But what about a development team?" The Sumeragi head asks, raising his hand in the air. "We don't know how exactly those machines worl much less tick."
"I know someone," Lelouch says, which caught everyone's attention.
"And who would that be?" Katase asks skeptically.
"Reuben Ashford," Lelouch answered which had gained a mixed reactions from the adults.
"Ashford?" Osakabe rubs his chin.
"That fallen family? Munakata says, remembering the news of the Ashford Foundation's fall.
The head Sumeragi clan looked on with a interested look. "What an Interesting turn of events, might I say."
"I may be able to convince, of course it comes with a price," Lelouch adds, which raised a few brows.
"And what would that be?" Akihito asks, clasping his hands.
"...is it possible...for a foreigner to gain a noble title?" Lelouch question, instantly silences the room.
The adults did not even move even a bit as the young boy's question was not a normal one. A Foreigner with a Japanese noble title? That sounds completely preposterous!?
"BHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" The head of the Sumeragi clan, huge laughter breaks the silence in the room as many nearly all the heads of the Kyoto House were all flabbergasted regarding this question. "My what an intresting child. Are all of Sherry's siblings like this?"
Akihito on the other hand looked on with a calculated and interested look. He already figured what the young boy had meant by giving a Japanese noble title to a foreigner, he had heard all about the great Ashford family and about its rise to nobility. Since it was thanks to Lelouch's mother, the fifth Empress, who had awarded them the titles in return of their backing. The Ashford family was one that's sole aim was to enter the Royal court, but now that they're titles have now been made meaningless and their territory about to be taken away, he does see some merit to the plan.
"...how sure are you that he will accept the offer?" The Emperor asks, which made everyone in the room surprised by the Emperor's question.
"Your majesty!" The head of the Yoshino clan exclaimed slamming his hands on the table as stood up from his chair.
"The chances are low, but if I was the one to tell him, it's likely he would accept," Lelouch answered.
The Emperor of Japan, held his chin as he thought about the plan. Seeing as they are in need of a Knightmare development team and someone who has a better understanding of the these machines, it was a tough decision. He has to make a decision quick, he is the Emperor. The God of his people and their leader. He knew the consequences of what will happen if he decides to accept a foreigner into the Imperial court, but he did not care about that. What Japan needs right now is strength and he could care less about those nobles.
"Begin the necessary preparations," The Emperor orders them, which saw many of the nobles oppose his decision. Suzaku could only remain confused as to what was going on, but Lelouch just smiled as everything now just went accordingly to plan. "I have made my decision, and no one can convince me otherwise."
"But your majesty, the Kazoku will not allow this!" Genbu exclaimed, trying his best to persuade the Emperor. "A foreigner gaining a noble title is unheard of, it will cause a scandal that Japan cannot recover from! We already are having a bad time as it is from recovering from the war."
"I will take responsibility for this," the young Emperor tells him. "Besides this isn't a situation where we can be picky, like Lelouch said we have approximately less than an year until Britannia decides for a second invasion. We need every available resource and manpower we can get to prepare for a second invasion."
"But..."
"Prime Minister, the Emperor has a point," Everyone turned to the elderly Imperial General with shock and surprise.
"Katase?! What do you mean by this, I thought you of all people would be opposed by such a decision?" The Yoshino head demands to know the General's motive, finding this very uncharacteristic of him.
"After what how many people have died!" Katase exclaimed. "We have lost too many of our people in a single month. As a soldier I cannot allow for anymore deaths to occur, even if it means to give a Britannian a seat on the Imperial court."
"General please calm down," Tohdoh puts his hands over the General's shoulder as he tried to calm him down. "You are getting too emotional about this."
"Of course I'm emotional!" Katase slams his fist on the table. "My wife died from her injuries from the Britannians missiles, my son was killed in combat and my grandson and daughter in law were crushed on top their home! WHY WOULDN'T I BE EMOTIONAL!"
Tohdoh winced his eyes looking down on the floor as he let's go of the General's shoulder.
"General...I am truly sorry for your loss," Genbu conveys his condolences. "But you must understand, this is a risky plan and we will surely lose face among the public."
"Who said anything about revealing it to the public?" Lelouch says, which confused everyone once more.
"What do you mean?" Kubouin asks.
"I never said anything about telling the public about giving a Britannian a Japanese noble title. Giving the Ashford's a noble title and its privileges is enough for them," Lelouch explains, which gained an interested look from the adults. "We don't have to tell the Japanese public about it, because it won't matter. What matters is that we now have a development team capable of creating advanced Knightmares for us."
"He... he has a point," Osakabe says, seeing some logic behind this.
"Our speciality is Information control, so it is quite possible to pull off something like this," Munakata added, seeing potential.
"It's a bold move, and I like bold moves," the Sumeragi heads says with a smirk.
Genbu in the meanwhile had a worried and dissatisfied look on his face as he continued to listen the discussion. While he largely agreed with Lelouch's ideas, he still wasn't hopeful on it. Largely due to how young and inexperienced the young child, as he is well... a child. What's made it even worse is that the boy is a foreigner who doesn't know much of Japanese politics. Sure it isn't as complicated and horrible as Britannia's but it is still something that not many foreigners can understand. Japan for centuries has been doing it's own thing, with its neighbours like Korea and Vietnam which have tributaries to the dynasties of China, they had largely different views on things compared to them. With Japan having a warrior like culture while China was more philosophical and political. This made them have a very unique hierarchy among other civilisation which still many outsiders still don't quite understand. Yet this child thinks he now has them figured out.
"How arrogant," the Japanese prime minister thought as he made a glance from the side of his eyes to the Britannian child.
"Then that's settled," the Emperor said as he gestured for the servant to take his plate away. "Now Tohdoh, the reason for you being here."
Tohdoh looked confused as he points at himself. "Me?"
"Yes, the reason I summoned you was that I have an assignment for you," the Emperor revealed which took the Japanese hero by surprise. "I'm putting you in charge of teaching Lelouch military strategy and warfare."
"What?" Tohdoh says a little exasperated.
"Lelouch here is interested in joining the Imperial Army when he comes of age. I'n thinking of having you teach him until he is ready to join the Imperial Kyoto military Academy," The Emperor said, which made everyone in the room mouths open wide.
"Your majesty?!" The Munakata head exclaimed.
"This is insane, we can't let a Britannian join our ranks. First giving a Britannian a noble title, I this?!" Yoshino added, getting tired of the Emperor's antics. "This is insanity."
"Exactly," Genbu agreed with the Kyoto house head. "If you continue to make such decisions, the anti-monarchists groups will try to use it as an excuse to abolish the Emperor system."
"Let them," Akihito simply says, which terrified the clan heads and military commanders. "Let's see if they can, after all I am the god and head of Shinto faith. It simply doesn't matter. They sure as try can get rid of me, but they will pay dearly if they try to do so."
The Emperor had a devilish smile on his face as he said so, which made the Kyoto heads worry terrified. The clan heads of Yoshino, Munakata, Osakabe, Kubouin, all were calculating their next move wondering what they should in this situation. Meanwhile the Head of Sumeragi clan, simply looked on with an amused and a terrified face as he could only find opportunity in the situation.
"Then this meeting is over. I'm counting on you, Tohdoh," the Emperor says, as he stood up.
"Wait your majesty, we still haave much to discuss about!" Genbu exclaims as he still had so many things to say regarding the Emperor's decisions.
"Save it for another time," he tells the as he approached the door. "Kirihara will take care of the Vi Britannia's as their legal gurdians. I hope you can get used to the children in due time."
After that the Emperor had left the room, leaving the Heads the Kyoto House, Prime Minister, the soldiers and the children alone. Having had heard enough, the Munakata, Kubouin and Osakabe heads all left the room enraged by the situation. Soon followed by the Sumeragi head and later both Lelouch and Kirihara had left with satisfied looks in their faces. Suzaku turned to his father, as he understand what had just happened. However he was left frightened look on his face after seeing his father's furious face. Suzaku cpuld only keep his head down. Katase turned to the Prime Minister with a worried look.
"Prime Minister..."
"Follow through with the Emperor's orders," Genbu simply says. "I'll need to hold a cabinet meeting to handle this new problem of ours."
"Should I order the the Kempei to get rid of him?" Katase asked.
"The Emperor most likely have agents close by to keep him safe," Genbu waved it off. "For now, we'll observe the situation. If he proves to be a libaility for us, that's when we make our move."
Yes indeed. While he had been grateful for the young Prince's help in their defense against the Britannian forces, providing them with information regarding Britannia'a military and Knightmares. Though he questioned how he got that information. The thing about this kid, is that he is a wild card. When he was negotiating with thhw Britannian officials back at Damascus, truth be told he was surprised to see how concerned how the second prince was about the statu of his siblings. He thought that the Britannian Royal Family had abandoned them, but it seemed that it wasn't the case. Cause of this, he is hesitant to keep the vi Britannia's in Japan. If Britannia found out the truth, they would likely begin another invasion much earlier than Lelouch had predicted. For now, he'll just keep him around. He already has shown his usefulness in front of the Emperor, so thet lost the window of oppertunity to get rid of him. Once the Prince has outlived his usefulness, he won't hesitate to get rid of him. As it is the duty of tth Kururugi clan to keep Japan safe at all cost.
And he won't let a child jeporadise Japan's existence.
"So be it young Prince, if you want to politics I will gladly let you do so. But don't think for a moment I will let you go that easily."
The Prime Minister of Japan gripped his fists tightly. He will definetly be sure to ge rid of Lelouch to keep Japan safe.
By any means neccessary.
Holy Britannian Empire, Grand Duchy of Alaska, Anchaorage, Ashford Estate
The fallen family, Ashford. Once one of the most powerful families that were feared throughtout the western coast of the Homeland, has now been reduced to a mere estate in Alaska. The Grand Duke had been kind of to let his family keep their assets in the Duchy. He never would've thought his late son and the lord of Alaska had been friends since their time at Royal Technology Institute. Another reminder of how terrible of a father he had been to his son. He could only blame himself for his son's death. If he had paid attention to him, maybe, just maybe, he wouod still be alive and Milly would still haave her father. All because of his greed and arrogance. Aftee reaching the top, he began to flounder his family's new found wealth and power, hosting large parties and buying all sorts things to show off his power to the nobles. Oh how things have turned. Of course, it wasn't just because of hiis own doing that Ashford had fallen. It was also because of the assassination of his former devicer.
Marianne vi Britannia.
The fifth Empress of the Empire and former Knight of Honor to Emperor Charles zi Britannia. It was because of her Ashford rose to power, but now with her dead almost everyone on her faction is either dead or fallen. Marianne was was like the daughter he never had. When he first scouted her, he never expected her to be associated with the then fifteenth Prince of the Empire at the time. Of course after learning of her situation he decided to take her in. Through rigorous amounts of hardship and failures, she eventually became one of Britannia's ace's, the Flash and the first person to ever pilot a Knightmare Frame. Now she is gone ad there was no one to help them. Not even her children, whom were sent to Japan shortly after her death.
The old Ashford sat on his chair guilt ridden in his personal study room, of all the descions he had made over the years.
"If only..." the old man gripped his chair. "If only I had prevented the from being sent to Japan."
Suddenly his phone began to rang, and Rueben was quite taken aback from the sudden ring. He wondered who it was that was calling at this hour. Most of his assocciates were currently busy with other matters and the Grand Duke of Alaska is away at Zilkhistan for a diplomatic mission.
Rubeun without hesitation picked up the phone and answered. "Hello?"
"Rubeun Ashford?" The man on the call asks. Rubeun took note of the Japanese accent, wondering why a Japanese was calling him a Britannian of all people.
"Yes, who is this?"
"Forgive me for calling you at this hour. I am Ichiro Tanaka, an agent of the Imperial Household Agency," the man Tanaka answered, which left Ashford even more confused.
"The Household Agency? What do they want," Rubeun thought, as he was left confused on why the Japanese Household Agency was calling him. "What may I be assisstance to you, Mister Tanaka?"
"How would you like to become a noble of our Empire, sir?" Tanaka asks straightforward.
Rueben blinks a couple times. "Pardon?"
"A position in our the Imperial court, lord Ashford," Tanaka says once again.
Rueben was left speechless. His eyes widened and his mouth wide open confused wondering if this was all some sick joke. A Japanese noble title? That's absurd, even he could see how impossible it is for him to get offered such a position. He wondered what was going one. He assumes it had to do something with OSI, considering recent events. He noticed that the OSI unit under tyye Emperor's command have been spying on hiis family for the past couple of weeks after the negotiations at Damascus. He wondered what hhe had done to gain the Emperor's attention. He had pretty much gone into hiding from noble society after Marianne's death along with his family. So he had to make sure this wasn't some OSI operation to make him appear a traitor to his country. Because he certainly can't do that, not when he still has a family to take care off.
"Is this is some sick prank?" Rueben questioned hesitantlty.
"Not at all, lord Ashford," the agent answered. "His holy majesty simply wishes to use your skills for our Empire."
"Skills?" Rueben thought confused. He was quite sure that Rosenburg institute ha made sure to erase his name from the records of his involvement in the Knightmare frame project. Not even Japan can know about this, considering how tight lipped the project was... unless. "It couldn't be...?"
There was only a few people who knew about his involvement and there is only one person who could've told them.
"So he's alive," Rueben grinned in relief, knowiing Marianne's children are alive and well.
"You catch on quick," the agent commented.
"I'll gladly accept that offer of yours then. I'll prove my worth to Japan," Rueben readily accepted the offer after now figuring out who is behind all of this.
"The Emperor has high ecpectations for you, lord Ashford," the agent tells him. "Do not disappoint him."
"I will make sure of it, my loyalty lies to the vi Britannia's. If they have made Japan their new home, I will dutifully follow," Rueben tells the man.
"Heh, I didn't expect such a response," the agent said out loud, a little surprised. "We'll arrange for your arrival to the Capital and your living arrangements as well."
"I'll prepare my family for our departure until then," Rueben says as stood up from his chair.
"Do so, we'll contact you once again when we have prepared your departure arrangements," the agent says before cutting call off.
Rueben wasting no time quickly got out of his room and went straight to his daughter in law's room to get her to pack her and Milly's belongings. He will have to send a letter to the Grand Duke of Alaska to tell him of his permanant departure to Japan and to thank him for taking care of his family. He really can't believe it, Marianne's children are alive. He couldn't hold baack tears as he was relived and glad to know that their deaths were fake, most likely Lelouch's doing. While nobility is great and all, the only thing he could care mire about was his late devicer's children being alive and well. Of course he is curious to know how the child was able to convince them to give him one. Well that doesn't matter, all that does is what the Japanese are going to be needing him. Even he knew why he was called in for this. And that was because of his knowledge on Knightmares. Britannia has already abandoned him, so it's fair that he does as well.
"I will bring justice to your murderers, Marianne."
A/N
Sorry for the late update, I was gonna update it earlier, but the app's been kinda buggy when typing.
So yeah here we are, Lelouch has now faced off against the Kyoto house. We see that many of tthe don't approve of Lelouch and of course the head of the Sumeragi clan is not sick here.
Genbu of course not liking how arrogant Lelouch is. Which we will see a lot throughtout. I did want to give more lines to Kirihara, but I couldn't thinknof any, just in case you're wondering.
In canon, Kaguya's father was said to have a frail body and was sick a lot, so here I decided not to to do that.
So what I'm going to do for all my fics is that all if them are going to have very different things goinng on with certain character and different OC's.
For example Izanami will only be mentioned in Rise of the Reaper and Elijah will only be in Miracle Emperor.
Anyway back to the story, Ashfords are now Japanese nobles, and are going to be developing Japan's Knightmare frames. They will of course first use the Burai's, but as time goes on they will have fifth gen units as well. The idea I'm having is a mix of the Burai and the Sutherland.
Anyways, I could add a few more things in the A/N, but by is the document really buggy. It's really frustrating me right now.
Until then,
Peace.