The secret chambers in the heart of Mt. Fuji were close to a panic.
Kaguya herself was the only one who remained mostly calm. She did not care so much for the emergency meeting itself as she did the fact she had to put her other work aside for it. They had precious little information to work on until now, so they were regurgitating the same points back and forth. Suspicions and ideas, no more.
Then a message was handed to Kirihara, their nominal chairman. He scowled down at it before addressing the room.
"General Katase has answered our missive with concerning information. Apparently, the JLF occupation of the Kawaguchi Conference was one Lt. Colonel Kusakabe acting against orders. This is a power play."
Kaguya tried her best not to mirror her mentor's expression. She still rubbed her forehead in irritation, both for nonsense like this and because she did not quite get what the plan was. "Could you elaborate on the reasoning behind such a boorish decision?" she requested softly, to which Kirihara nodded.
"Of course, Sumeragi-san. This Kusakabe is a known advocate for more aggressive rebellion and guerilla tactics. I imagine the recent paradigm of keeping our heads down drove him to act; he wants to show the Japanese that we are but cowards to hide away from Britannia. So he challenges Princess Cornelia out in the open."
Munakata piped up once Kirihara finished, bearing a scowl of his own: "So the JLF loses either way. They get weakened siginificantly if Kusakabe fails, but Katase is supplanted by a hotheaded hardliner if he succeeds."
"We can not afford either of these outcomes," Yoshino agreed, "especially in a time of crisis like this. If we lose the JLF, we lose our chance at freedom."
Kaguya did not agree with that last stance, but she let it stand. The elder truly seemed to believe it, too. Perhaps his wanting Kaguya to marry a JLF man was more than a bid for power after all.
Regardless, Kirihara had less qualms about saying what she only thought: "While I disagree with the sentiment that they are our only chance to be free, I agree we can not afford to lose them. Our position becomes far, far worse with the JLF taken out."
Osakabe, ever the mediator, cut off the tangent: "But I believe we can agree that of the two options outlined, we prefer Kusakabe fail here? It is true this will lose the JLF men and material, but it will not cost us the entire JLF."
A general air of agreement followed his reasoning. Kaguya inclined her head as well, though even the partial loss left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Osakabe studied the reactions for a moment. With nobody disagreeing, he pushed them forward: "Very well. Is there a way for us to prevent both outcomes from coming to pass?"
Thoughtful looks went all around, but nobody stepped in with an idea. Seeing that nobody had anything concrete, Yoshino picked back up: "With this comes the added problem of public perception. Kusakabe made his play for all the world to see; if he withdraws now, he and his men lose their honour. I doubt he is willing to commit Seppuku to atone for this major blunder."
"That is a good point," Kirihara agreed. "Even if someone managed to recall Kusakabe, all of Japan will see a member of the strongest resistance group running with his tail between his legs."
Silence fell then as everyone mulled over the situation. Kaguya tried to let all the facts sink in properly, examining as many facets as she could think of. She knew the unspoken consensus was to prefer Kusakabe die 'heroically' in battle with Princess Cornelia. But even such an act would still cost them precious material and even more precious soldiers.
"May we hear your thoughts, Sumeragi-san?" Kubouin prompted after a time. He had not spoken in a while, now his words aligned the attention of five old men on her.
Kaguya's gaze lifted from the little bonfire they settled around. She knew her input was desired eventually, but she had to delay while sorting her thoughts: "I understand that we are currently caught between a rock and a hard place. Weighing costs and benefits will not be useful going forward, at least not in the way of money. So I wonder which narrative is the most likely to help us in the long term?"
She left a short pause to gather everyone's impressions. All but Munakata nodded agreement, and he simply queried her instead: "Do you have a suggestion, Sumeragi-san?"
Even knowing he wanted to marry her off, she appreciated to be treated politely. Kaguya tilted her head, not quite a nod nor a shake. "I have the beginning of one, but it depends on where we want to head. If, for example, we wish to raise contemporaries to the JLF as a fallback plan if they ever fall, then we could try having another group defeat Lt. Colonel Kusakabe. Public opinion will certainly be with them after he attacked a civilian conference with completely unreasonable demands."
Now even old Munakata nodded as her angle became clear. Unfortunately, Kubouin then had to point out the issue with her idea: "Alas, I believe there is no group willing to challenge the JLF. Especially now that Princess Cornelia is laying siege to them."
"I agree," Kirihara added. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, having caught onto something else. "Though I wonder what stops her from charging in. Thus far she did not seem inclined to so much as give resistance fighters the time of day. Is this conference that important to her?"
Nobody quite knew an answer to that. Kaguya could not conceive of a reason for the Witch of Britannia to stop her relentless assault, either.
In the sudden silence between them, Kaguya's phone rang.
All eyes went to her in interest while she pulled the device from her pocket. It was not Nunnally calling, but an unknown number. Kaguya squinted at it and cut the call.
"Apologies, I-"
It rang again, same number.
By now Kaguya was getting embarassed, even more so when the whole dance repeated a second time. She quickly got to her feet and bowed at the group. "Please excuse me, it seems I need to take this."
There were some fond grins she pretended to ignore. Her mentor covered for her by making a break of it and calling for tea.
Kaguya all but ran from the room and into a small side chamber, embarassment turning to indignation. Why now of all times?
After picking up the call, she snapped into the receiver: "Who are you and how did you get this number?"
"Kaguya," the voice on the other end growled in Japanese. "Did you know?"
She could not tell if it was someone she knew, but the lack of a honorific to her name bothered her. "I do not know what you speak about," she shot back, quite truthfully at that. "I do not even know who you are."
The implicit demand came through her voice more than her words. If nothing else, it gave the other side pause.
"It's Lelouch," he said, causing Kaguya to blink at nothing. Her anger abated somewhat, replaced by confusion about him of all people calling her. Lelouch did not wait for her to answer, though. "Now tell me, did you know that conference will get hit?"
"No, why- wait."
It hit her with a sudden, chilling clarity. Nunnally mentioned something about a trip by the Ashford student council. "She isn't there, is she? Please tell me she isn't!"
His silence said it all. Kaguya broke into a cold sweat at the thought that Nunnally was among the hostages. Any hour that passed could be her last.
And more than that, she now knew why he asked about her knowing. His presence turned menacing even over the phone. Kaguya began to shiver.
"L-Listen, I promise I had no idea," she pleaded. "I give you my word! This is a JLF officer acting against orders, we only heard about it after it already happened!"
She was babbling and did not care. Her fear for Nunnally and of what Lelouch may do kept her mouth running until he cut her off.
"I believe you."
A weight fell off her shoulders when she heard those words. Kaguya almost sighed in relief as the air of danger receded. She wiped some sweat off her brow before answering: "Thank you. We are still discussing, but there is no time to waste. What are you going to do?"
Quiet answered her for a time. Then, almost hesitant, Lelouch answered: "I'm going."
"Without showing your face?" Kaguya asked back without even truly thinking. Nunnally never confirmed it, but now she needed certainty.
"Yes."
It was but one word, but it felt heavy. Another secret she now bore on her shoulders. Kaguya allowed herself a deep breath to center herself.
"Okay. Just be careful. Nobody will be happy if you die there as well."
Even as she said it, a new plan began to form in her head. She spoke of raising a contemporary to the JLF before; they were an army, but what Japan lacked was a hero. And as ironic as it would be to make Lelouch that hero, this might just work.
"I can clear the way for you on my end," she offered, "but the conference building is being blockaded by Princess Cornelia."
"I know, don't worry. And... thank you."
"It is nothing. Good luck."
"Same to you."
He hung up on those words.
Kaguya took a moment to regain her composure, still shaking. Her eyes stung as tears tried to fight their way out; she wiped them off.
"Please succeed," she whispered, almost whimpered, the phone clasped in her hands. Then she put it away. Now was not the time to worry about her friend. She had her own part to play.
Shoulders squared and head held high, Kaguya glid back into the room. She settled back on her tatami mat as primly as she had before, legs folded in a proper seiza. A steaming mug of tea was offered, of which she took an appreciative sip. The warmth helped center her, and so she began to speak.
"As luck would have it, there is someone willing to challenge the JLF. I just received word that Zero is going to make an appearance."
This earned her a decent amount of surprise, not to mention a number of questions about being acquainted with the mystery man.
While Kaguya was kept busy answering these questions without revealing the truth, Nunnally felt almost bored.
It had been hours since the JLF took everyone hostage. Night fell by now, Shirley's wristwatch told them that much. There were no windows in the large room the hostages were held in, though.
Milly, Nina, and Shirley all huddled around Nunnally as if to shield her. Nina in particular was deathly pale, shivering and shaking whenever one of the guards so much as looked in their direction. Euphemia was nearby as well, though she kept herself covered to avoid recognition.
They were not bound, but they were told not to talk, or do much of anything at all. The silence settled over them like a suffocating blanket, broken only whenever someone shakily asked to go the bathroom; it was the only thing they allowed, and that only under guard. This included Nunnally, which swiftly killed her plan to use her hidden phone to call Lelouch. Everyone else's was taken, she just kept hers hidden by pointing out her 'big sister' Milly as her minder and playing up her youth. Maybe her demure act mollified the man who demanded their phones, though. He did not even ask any further questions.
That aside, someone was grabbed from the crowd every hour; nobody knew where they were taken, nor did they return. Nunnally expected the worst and did not let her thoughts stray. Although her mood dove even further whenever she heard muttering about them taking her, the cripple, instead of a 'proper' Britannian. If nothing else, those people quickly got shouted at to be quiet. Nunnally felt a vindictive glee at that, even if it did not help her situation.
Her eyes were drooping by now. It was past her bedtime, but she did not dare try to sleep. There were six uniformed men in the room, two pairs of two at each door and two more patrolling. Many eyes followed them.
This time they passed right by Nunnally's little group. At first she thought nothing of it, but then a quietly muttered "Elevens" reached her ears.
Unfortunately for the frightened Nina, one of the soldiers heard it too.
"What did you say?!" he bellowed in broken Britannian. "We are Japanese!"
With fury that matched his words, he dashed between them and pulled Nina up by the arm. Her terrified shriek woke Nunnally right up, just like it roused everyone else to stare in fear. The poor girl struggled against the far stronger grip.
"You're right!" Milly shouted, trying to interpose herself and pry the soldier's hand off Nina. "She's sorry, please let her go!"
All that earned her was a backhand to the face. Milly fell back into Shirley, who caught her.
Nunnally's left eye flashed red then, a bird flapping its wings within. The commotion distracted everyone; nobody noticed one hand slipping into her wheelchair's hidden compartment.
Just as the soldier made to bark something else, a sanguine rose bloomed from his chest.
He was too surprised to even make noise, so Nunnally sank three more shots into him. His partner was shocked, but he caught himself before she got to him. His rifle rose, but a shout of "Contact!" was cut off when her finger squeezed the trigger again. His was frozen above, unable to pull.
The second body fell deceptively slow as she rotated her wheelchair. The remaining four soldiers stood baffled at what they saw, but they swiftly aimed their rifles. They clearly tried to gun down the crowd, but once more their fingers were frozen above the triggers. Something stopped them from shooting. They were in the merciless grasp of what to them was a vengeful Kami, yet none other realised their predicament.
Nunnally took aim and shot again. She hit the third in the abdomen, then took down the fourth. The final two frantically dropped their rifles; one grabbed his handgun, the other a grenade. Yet the same thing as before happened; no trigger could be squeezed, no splint be pulled.
She gunned them down before they recovered enough of their wits to do something sensible, like calling for reinforcements or taking cover.
Then it was quiet, if not for the thunder of her racing heart. Nunnally took a shuddering breath as her focus slowly expanded again. Nina was curled up into a ball nearby. Milly and Shirley stared at Nunnally with wide eyes, both in shock.
Then the screaming started among the agitated crowd.
Some attempted to shove and flee, but nobody could exert enough force to push anyone aside. Just like the soldiers before, they were unable to hurt others under her Geass.
Nunnally frowned at the chaos while reloading her gun. The crowd slowly tried to get out the doors, but those were locked from the outside. The JLF were a cautious lot, but they had to be to stay intact for seven years.
Instead of bothering with the sheep any longer, she maneuvered herself back to the other girls. Euphemia joined them since, kneeling next to Nina's insensate form. Nunnally stopped by their side, her gun hidden away again. At first she tried leaning forward, but she could not reach. An annoyed sigh was lost in the general hubbub.
"Shirley, stop staring and comfort her already. Milly, round up some people to drag the bodies somewhere they won't be seen when coming in."
Her orders came sharp, snapping both girls to attention. They did not even question her taking charge; Shirley started soothing Nina while Milly bustled away. The crowd also began to calm down, seeing how any heated arguments and insults were also stopped by Nunnally's Geass.
"It's okay," Shirley whispered gently. "the bad people are gone. Nobody is going to hurt you. Here, I'm going to touch you now. It's all good."
Nina gasped and struggled for a moment before recognising Shirley. Then she simply cried into her chest.
Euphemia scooted closer in the meantime, her aide following. At first the three only watched Shirley work.
"That was quite brave of you," Euphie noted after a minute, just as quiet to not be overheard.
Nunnally could not tell what her half-sister thought; then again, she did not really stop to think before drawing her weapon, either. In the end she simply nodded, even more tired now that the adrenaline slowly left her system.
Milly soon got back to them with a quartet of strong-looking men. They seemed queasy, but they did grab the bodies by their feet to drag them into a corner. Milly stared at the trail of blood with a little shudder that confused Nunnally. She did not like the look the older girl gave her afterward, either. Like she never saw her before.
"Since when do you have a gun?" Milly asked.
Nunnally looked back at her, awfully tempted to give a non-answer. But now was not the time to be contrarian, so she decided to be somewhat honest: "About six weeks."
Milly rubbed her forehead in response, disturbed. Euphie was oddly quiet as well, even sad for some reason. Nunnally did not get to hear why they had those looks, though. Someone else came up to them, a middle-aged man in a business suit none of them knew.
"What do we do now?" he asked, looking to Nunnally of all people. "How do we get out?"
She had no real answer to give right now. Trying to wrack her brain for a response yielded precious little insight.
Euphie interjected after a moment: "We have to trust that Princess Cornelia will save us. Please be calm. Ask around who has experience with firearms and have them carry those terrorists' rifles. If more of them come in, we can fight them and flee that way."
He nodded as if the pinkette spoke gospel, then quickly did as told. Milly and Nunnally both understood what Euphie just did, though the girl herself seemed conflicted; chances were she still did not want to reveal herself.
Nunnally sank back into her wheelchair for now. Part of her wondered if she should feel something about having killed six people. Disgust or horror, perhaps. But all she did feel was indifference; they were no better than all the rest that trampled over the innocent without a care. Their deaths were nowhere near as visceral as C.C.'s, either.
Nina stopped crying by now. She hung limply in Shirley's arms, exhausted from her fit. Milly crouched next to her to spend comfort as well, voice gentle. "It's all good. You will be fine," she soothed, then threw a glance back to Nunnally. A hesitant smile showed. "Nunna made sure they won't ever hurt you again."
She could only smile back, uncertain what to even say here. Nothing came to mind.
"Her reaction was quite strong," Euphie noted as she settled next to Nunnally. "Will she be alright?"
"A bad case of xenophobia," Nunnally explained quietly.
"I see."
She could say more. Nunnally suspected things to be a little worse than that, but it was all speculation. Nina never talked about it, though she admittedly never asked. Hence why Nunnally kept quiet on those thoughts.
Meanwhile, Milly turned to them with a conflicted expression. She ignored Euphemia for the moment, hesitantly looking Nunnally up and down.
"I'm not sure what to think here, but thank you for protecting her."
Nunnally's lips quirked up in response. "Anything for a friend," she said.
Now however, with all this sorted out, she slowly became aware of their surroundings again. Fearful looks went her way now. Most of them were justified because Nunnally remembered. She remembered the many scowls directed at her before. She remembered the people who wanted the JLF to take her instead of them.
She was no longer a victim to these people. Someone they could trample on however they saw fit. She was a threat.
Nunnally looked back blankly. She wanted to glare and drop sour comments at them, but somehow managed to swallow the bile. She forced herself calm, well aware that disunity among the hostages could cause a stampede.
She considered speaking up, but everything that was needed had already been said.
Just then, a door opened.
Nunnally heard the noise first, hence why she was the first to spot the dark cloak. Her Geass fluttered to life in an instant.
When Zero entered, he stopped in surprise at the three guns pointed his way. The desperate men carrying them tried their hardest to squeeze the triggers, but their fingers would not move.
"Stop that!" Nunnally barked at them. Her voice cut through the starting upset, startling the men so much they almost dropped the weapons. "He's here to help."
Some people wheeled around to her at that. Someone from the crowd piped up, hidden in their anonymity.
"How'd you know that? Bet you-"
"Are you daft?! Why else would Zero walk in here alone and sprinkled with blood?"
Silence followed her outburst. Milly and Euphie were clearly shocked, the rest of the crowd cowed. Nunnally's nerves were frayed by now. She was tired. And on top of it all, these people just tried to kill her brother. So she glared the room into submission instead.
Meanwhile, Zero glanced around the room momentarily. He spoke up next, voice carrying to every corner: "Indeed. I already punished Lt. Colonel Kusakabe and his troops for their transgressions. What happened here?"
People hesitantly pointed to Nunnally, whose Geass fluttered once more. Only Lelouch could see it, they already figured that out. Only people aware of Geass could behold them.
"I see," Zero answered, as if he divined the truth from a few gestures. "Then there is one other matter before you all may leave."
Heads turned back to him at the prompt, some curious and some fearful. Nunnally looked as well, though she understood the moment that slot in his mask opened.
"It was I who killed the guards in this room and freed you all," Zero ordered. And his Geass took flight.
Nunnally watched with interest how everyone locked up for a moment. The pause was minuscule, then they all bore smiles completely unfitting of the situation. Even Nina did after she managed to raise her eyes from the ground.
What both siblings missed were the fact Euphemia was looking to Nunnally instead, and that the princess's aide watched Euphemia out of concern. Both of them turned back in confusion when people agreed with what Zero said.
The masked man's hidden gaze wandered across the room once more as the crowd came to. He nodded to them.
"Wait for ten minutes, then make your way to the foyer and leave through the front entrance. I will give advance warning to Princess Cornelia."
He stood there as people hesitantly agreed to do as he said. Only Nunnally could tell it was hesitation that kept him; she felt his gaze on herself. Lelouch did not want to leave her alone. So she gave a quick nod and a faint smile, hoping he understood.
Zero remained in place a moment longer, then he turned around. His cape billowed out, trailing after him as he left.
Noise broke out with his parting, the door still open. People chattered excitedly, some cried or hugged each other in relief. Shirley did both, even; she picked Euphie as her hug target, completely unaware she was now bawling into a princess's shoulder. The pinkette held her with a delicate inexperience, her silently scandalised aide watching the whole thing.
Milly's hand found Nunnally's and squeezed it tight. She returned the gesture, relieved that it was over.
Once the initial joy began to fade, the older dignitaries started organising them. They soon made their way through the corridors in orderly rows, though people once again sneered at Nunnally in her wheelchair. They completely forgot that she was armed, just as Zero decreed. Euphie and Milly hovered over her, though.
Meanwhile on the outside, Cornelia li Britannia stared hard at the conference building. If thoughts could kill, the entire JLF detachment would have dropped dead a long time ago.
Another hour was up, but no hostage had been thrown off the building yet. There was no communication at all, in fact. Something was up, but she could not tell what. A part of her feared that they found Euphie among the hostages.
Cornelia was on a hair trigger, so close to ordering the breach. Only the Lancelot being prepped for sortie below staved her off. The Eleven got this one chance to pull off what the others could not.
"Your highness," someone shouted, "something's coming through!"
"It's on TV, too!" another voice added.
Her head snapped to the small screen set up nearby for her to receive radio and audio-visuals. What looked back was Zero's mask of all things. Cornelia gnashed her teeth at that, quietly irate about more problems adding themselves to the pile.
"Citizens of this country!" Zero began his address, voice firm. "Britannians and Japanese alike! I am Zero, and tonight I speak to you of a grave injustice committed!"
The picture flipped to the Kawaguchi building, a shot from just before sunset. Cornelia's eyes narrowed, all attention on the feed.
"Earlier today, an officer of the Japan Liberation Front acted against orders in an attempt to challenge the Britannian administration. Lt. Colonel Josui Kusakabe took over a hundred civilians hostage in the conference building at Lake Kawaguchi, threatening to execute them one by one unless his demands were met."
The image flipped back to Zero, whose posture oozed as much disapproval as his tone. Cornelia could not help but arch a brow in curiousity; why would one terrorist disagree with another?
She did not have to wait long for an answer. Zero threw out one hand for emphasis.
"This is unacceptable," he said, deceptively calm. "Not now and not ever should innocent people suffer for the crimes of another. Hence why I personally saw to punish his transgressions. The hostages have been freed and make their way out of the building as I speak."
"Contact!" someone shouted. "Friendly, hold fire!"
Cornelia's gaze snapped up before they even finished. People flooded out the entrance, a scene she quickly saw on the live feed from Zero as well. The masked man kept speaking over the scene.
"None of the JLF splinter faction that conducted this atrocity was left alive. All the rest shall remember my words: I am not fighting Britannia, I fight corruption and injustice wherever they appear. And I will continue to do so for as long as I am needed!"
The feed flickered out on those words. Cornelia finally regained her wits, primarily from spotting Euphie in the crowd. Her relief quickly turned to determination; she would catch Zero right now and end this charade.
"Move!" she roared. "All forces forward!"
A company of soldiers ran right by the startled hostages. At the same time, Lancelot led a dozen Knightmare Frames through the underground tunnel. The gauss cannon did not return fire this time; moments later, the crew was reported dead from gunshots.
It took until the hostages reached them and were taken into custody before more reports flooded in. Cornelia desperately wanted to check on her sister, but she kept herself in place and emanated strength to all those looking to her. She presented calm as best as she could, though the reports slowly made her brows rise.
Just like Zero said, every single Eleven in the building was dead. The vast majority died in their improvised command centre, all from gunshots. It was a massacre.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say they shot each other," the team leader relayed. Cornelia was too busy breaking into a cold sweat to rebuke him for the ridiculous notion.
Just who was Zero? Who helped him achieve this? And most of all, how did he get out undetected?
She ordered the divers to check the lake. Although she already suspected they would find nothing, a gut feeling did not exempt one from doing their due diligence.
However, with all teams agreeing that the area was secure, Cornelia gave in at last. She ziplined from her purple Gloucester, leaving the machine unattended. Her faithful knight, Gilbert G.P. Guilford, followed right after. As always he took her right side, ready to defend at a moment's notice.
The hostages were still being checked over by paramedics when she approached. Everyone seemed alright at first glance, the shock notwithstanding. Some being particularly pale was what Cornelia noticed in passing, though she did not stop. People quickly took a knee whenever they saw her pass by.
The plan was to only take a quick look at Euphemia in passing. She could not afford more without compromising her sister's cover. Cornelia changed her mind when she spotted a vaguely familiar face next to Euphie. The girl from back then had grown into a young woman, yet her lush golden hair and facial structure were so like her mother's that they made her simple to identify.
So Cornelia adjusted her course and strode straight at the gaggle of schoolgirls. All of them took a knee, excepting one in a wheelchair. Cornelia merely acknowledged her existence, not at all interested. That one's pale blonde hair hid her face as she bent forward at the waist to bow, anyway.
"Millicent Ashford," she greeted. Her commanding tone had the heiress stiffen, though it was fleeting. Cornelia did not let the silence linger, either; she was not here to pressure the girl who was once a playmate to her lost brother.
"I was unaware that you were present for the conference."
Now that the girl was expected to answer, Cornelia took the chance to pretend looking her group over. In reality she only checked Euphie, who took a knee in accordance with her role. She seemed unharmed, which was a releif.
Meanwhile, Millicent found her voice: "Y-Yes, your highness. I am honoured you would recognise me."
The younger woman did not dare look up, well aware of her station as a commoner. It was a remarkable show of restraint for a former noblewoman.
"Regardless the standing of your family, you were never to blame for their fall from grace," Cornelia allowed. "If nothing else, I am glad to see you unharmed."
As always, words were cheap. This was all it took to make Millicent perk up. She even offered a grateful smile.
"Thank you, your highness."
Cornelia nodded back. Deciding that she established superiority long enough, she bid Millicent to stand. The younger woman rose slowly, shoulders always remaining subtly bowed to convey subservience. It was an impressive display of control and etiquette; she clearly kept up with her lessons. Cornelia wondered how good a noblewoman this one could have made
She knew people were watching them. Especially the pesky reporter nearby, who earned a curt look; he took a knee with his camera no ten metres away to broadcast the whole scene. If nothing else, Diethard Ried had the spine not to shy away from her attention. It did not make him any less anoying.
Cornelia paid them no further mind, nor did Millicent. The younger woman shuffled a little awkwardly, though. Cornelia attributed it to nerves, never realising that the blonde hid Nunnally from the cameras with her body.
"Now tell me, what happened in there? Begin from when the terrorists arrived."
Millicent then summarised the events as best as she could; from armed men storming the building, over their phones being taken away, to the hostages being corralled into a single room.
"They came and took someone away every once in a while, your highness. I don't know where to or what became of them. Then, just a little while ago, Zero came in and killed all the guards before they could fight back. He told us to wait a few minutes before coming out and left right after."
Cornelia did not interrupt so far. Her keen eyes were focussed on Millicent, but even then she did not miss the way Euphemia's aide balked at the last part. Euphie herself did not react to them, though. Nor did Millicent appear nervous beyond what could be expected when speaking with royalty. Was the girl that good a liar, or was there just an oddity to her phrasing?
She conciously stopped her brows from knitting together, still presenting total calm.
"Elaborate how he killed the guards."
This question, however, seemed to stump Millicent.
"Erm... with a gun, your highness? Please forgive me, I do not know much about the specifics of firearms or combat maneuvers. He walked in and shot them one by one."
She truly did not seem to realise how surreal it sounded. One man walked into a room and shot dead six ex-soldiers without so much as a scratch? Even with her low opinion on Eleven military expertise, she knew not to underestimate them.
"What type of firearm?"
"A handgun, your highness."
And not even a rifle? Something stunk here, but Cornelia could not tell what. With Millicent seeming entirely truthful, she had to wait for reports from other sources to compare against.
She stopped digging in that direction and switched tracks: "Was Zero alone?"
"Yes, your highness. I did not see him speaking with or contacting anyone."
"I see," Cornelia said. All the questions she could think to ask were answered. "This was illuminating. Take your students and get some rest," she all but ordered, then turned to the police hovering nearby: "There is no need to question these girls any further."
A chorus of "Yes, your highness!" followed. Millicent bowed respectfully, though Cornelia spotted her grateful smile nonetheless. It was a calculated move, both currying favour and being nice in one. Those girls looked exhausted; they were not even adults yet and it was after midnight.
Millicent quickly ushered the other girls way. Cornelia absently noted that one with long, orange hair started talking at her about as soon as they took some distance.
She kept herself going as well; the convenient excuse to stop next to Euphie was gone, now she had to take attention off her sister.
Meanwhile back at Mt. Fuji, the six heads of Kyoto House were silent. The TV they brought in to see the news was turned off and taken away.
Kaguya had been tense ever since Lelouch called her. Now all that tension turned to relief upon spying Nunnally safe on the news broadcast; her friend was mostly hidden from view, especially her face. Nobody else could identify her even if they checked.
She tried her best not to let it show, although she doubted anyone had the attention to spare anyway. Not with the fierce arguing about Zero and his achievements starting up.
"It is true that we got our wish of a different outcome," Yoshino led, "but that does not make Zero any less suspect. We know nothing about them. They allegedly work alone, yet commit to a feat which none of us are capable of."
"You expect Princess Cornelia to let herself be humbled for all the world to see for some elaborate ruse?" Kirihara asked back right quick.
"I am merely offering the possibility," Yoshino clarified. "Though the point is moot for now: we have no means of contacting Zero regardless of our stance, and no budget to spare at the moment."
Munakata inclined his head. "While this is true, we should come to a conclusion ahead of time, rather than delay it."
Yoshino agreed with that, after which Kubouin chimed in: "It also seems as if Sumeragi-san knew someone who- oh."
The elder had turned to Kaguya for answers, only to find her with her eyes shut and breathing softly.
All of them fell silent as they realised what happened. Kubouin himself shuffled a little awkwardly, but said nothing. Kirihara in turn allowed himself a fondly exasperated sigh. A glance at the clock told him that it was four in the mourning. Of course their youngest would fall asleep where she sat; the fact none of the old men followed her yet was a small miracle.
"Perhaps we should all get some sleep," he suggested quietly.
Nobody had any objections. The crisis was averted, so they did not need to rush for now.