Nunnally of the Insurrection
Part Twelve
Kallen Stadfield's red hair was slicked down as usual as she walked meekly along, silently cursing her need for a cover. 'Why did I decide to pose as being sick and feeble?' she thought to herself, sighing as she walked. It was a good cover, admittedly, but it was annoying to maintain too.
As she neared the student council rooms Kallen's eyes widened as she saw a familiar figure. 'Princess Euphemia?' she thought, seeing the young woman walking beside Suzaku Kururugi. 'What is she doing here?' she thought, frowning.
Just then Kallen saw Nunnally hurrying up the hall, and before she could shout a warning the two women collided. They sprawled most amusingly, but Kallen was surprised to see the surprise shifting to joy on Euphemia's face. "It's all right, I wasn't watching...," Euphemia trailed off, meeting the gaze of her half sister. "Nana?" she cried, hugging her.
"Euphie?" Nunnally yelped, as the other girl's fierce hug nearly knocking her down.
Kallen watched in shock as the two women hugged, wishing she could get close enough to hear what they were saying. It was obvious that Princess Euphemia knew Nunnally, and was overjoyed too see her. Back when they had all been hostages of the Japan Liberation Front Milly had brushed off explaining with 'it's a long story' but now Kallen wished she had pressed the other girl.
Suzaku helped them both up then the three headed into the student council rooms, leaving Kallen feeling very troubled. She walked towards the student council rooms then hesitated, lingering by the doors. 'Can I sneak in, or...?'
"And what are you doing?" the amused voice came from nearby, making Kallen jump.
Kallen whirled around, meeting the coolly smiling face of Nunnally's friend CC. "Don't DO that!" Kallen yelped.
Her long green hair flowed down her back as CC casually added, "Spying on Nunnally now? Are you becoming some kind of stalker?"
"I am not a stalker," Kallen denied hotly. She hesitated a moment, "She's meeting with Princess Euphemia in there, I just want to know what's going on."
"The sub-viceroy, huh?" CC mused thoughtfully. She didn't even hesitated as she took Kallen's hand and said, "Come on."
"Huh?" Kallen yelped as CC took her to a side door to the Student Council rooms, leading her up to the balcony over the room. "Why are you helping me?" she hissed as she crept along to a area over where the three were talking.
They were looking down at the three as CC quietly said, "Because sometimes Nunnally gets too damn clever for her own good." Below them, they picked up the conversation pretty easily...
"I'm so glad you're all right," Euphemia was saying, smiling at Nunnally warmly. She frowned gently, "What happened? I mean...?"
"After father sent me to a country we were about to go to war with?" Nunnally asked dryly, and Euphemia flinched.
Suzaku made a face, the young man almost unconsciously standing protectively by the princess.
"Was there anything she could have done?" he asked pointedly.
Nunnally nodded, "Sorry, I guess it still bothers me."
"Father...?" Kallen whispered.
"Keep listening," CC answered softly.
Euphemia shook her head, "I still can't believe father was so cruel to send you to Japan after your mother and brother were slain by terrorists."
Nunnally snorted, "Are they still passing that story around?"
"Story?" Suzaku asked while Euphemia looked confused.
"The Aries villa was one of the best guarded places on Earth," Nunnally said as she looked at them impatiently, "you cannot get near it without multiple security checks." She spread her hands as she said, "It had to have been a inside job."
Euphemia paled as she said, "It can't be..."
Relentlessly Nunnally said, "I am certain someone in the royal family aided in my Mother's murder, though why I don't know." Flatly she added, "For all I know my brother's death was just collateral damage."
Kallen listened as her eyes got wide. "Aries villa is the exclusive home of the Emperor's family... she's a Princess?' she murmured.
"And a exile," CC agreed quietly.
Euphemia slumped in her seat, her expression stunned. "It's not possible," she shook her head, "our sister Cornelia was guarding her!"
Nunnally smiled gently, "I don't blame her, at least not any more." As both looked at her questioningly she added, "Cornelia was ordered away, shortly before the killing. I still don't know who or why, though."
Perceptively Suzaku asked, "Is that why you let people think you died in the invasion?"
Giving Suzaku a approving nod Nunnally said, "I have no idea who targeted Mother, and I don't know if they want me dead too. Until I can find out, it's best if I stay dead."
Euphemia didn't look happy about it, but she nodded reluctantly. "Can I tell Cornelia about this?" she asked timidly.
"I would prefer if you didn't," Nunnally said, taking Euphemia's hand in her own. "I respect Cornelia immensely, but I think she'd feel honor bound to tell father I'm alive."
Euphemia's eyes widened, then narrowed. "You think he is involved?" she demanded, shocked.
"I don't know," Nunnally sighed, sounding frustrated, "and I don't want word getting out that I'm alive. At least, not until I'm ready."
"I don't agree," Euphemia frowned, "but... I have to respect your decision."
Nunnally smiled wryly, "Thank you." She looked over at Suzaku thoughtfully, "You don't seem terribly surprised by all this..."
Suzaku shrugged slightly, "I was aware of a lot of the things that happened before the invasion, Nunnally. My father was Prime Minister of Japan, after all."
Euphemia blushed, both over their discussing family issues in front of a near stranger and the fact he might know more than she did, "What do you think about what happened to the Empress?" she asked, curious to hear his opinion.
"I don't know all the details about security and such," Suzaku cautioned, "but... I tend to agree with Nunnally. It probably was a inside job."
Euphemia nodded slightly, her expression troubled. "I see," she murmured.
Kallen sat back on the upper balony, feeling just a bit shell shocked. Nunnally was the lost and presumed dead princess of Britannia, assumed dead for years? Someone in the royal palace, and possibly the Emperor Charles himself, had plotted her mother's murder? It was all a bit much to take in.
CC, damn her, looked more amused than anything else. "You knew," Kallen scowled at her.
"Of course," CC smirked as she whispered back, "Nunnally is my partner, after all."
Kallen grit her teeth as her imagination conjured up disturbing images. She was almost certain that the two girls did not have a relationship like that, but...
Nunnally, Euphemia and Suzaku were sitting around the meeting table, now, and there was a more relaxed feeling as Nunnally asked, "Were you all right after the kidnapping? I didn't get to stick around and ask."
"Other than being scared out of my wits, I was fine," Euphemia smiled suddenly, "you scared me half to death, volunteering to be killed like that!"
"I had some contact with the Japanese underground over the years," Nunnally said, shading the truth quite a bit, "I used that to talk a guard into taking me to the bosses. After that it was simply a matter of being very convincing."
Suzaku snorted, then covered his mouth.
"What?" Euphemia looked at him curiously.
Nunnally was glaring at him but Suzaku shrugged. "When she was staying with my family my trainer Todo found her impossible to discipline," he told her wryly, "Nunnally could wrap him around her finger without really trying."
Euphemia laughed as she looked at Nunnally, "Really?"
Nunnally slumped in her chair, actually looking mildly embarrassed. "I don't think Todo was very used to dealing with young girls," she told them wryly, "the 'big eyes and quivering chin' thing got him every time."
Suzaku grinned, "He often told me you were his best and worst student in tactics."
CC smirked, clearly amused by that little revelation. Kallen agreed as she muttered, "I could so imagine her as a cute kid..."
"As cute as these?" the voice asked then grabbed the crouching Kallen from behind and squeezed her breasts familiarly.
"Aiee!" Kallen yelped as she was groped.
"Milly!" CC grinned, watching at the other girl got very thoroughly groped.
A few moments later Nunnally, Euphemia and Suzaku were up on the upper balcony and Milly had let Kallen go. "Do you have to do that!" Kallen yelped.
"Yes," Milly smiled.
"Dumb question," Nunnally noted with a sigh. She turned to Euphemia, "This is Milly Ashford, our student council president, Kallen Stadfield one of her loyal minions..."
"Hey!" Kallen growled.
"Make that hench person," Suzaku suggested with a laugh.
Nunnally ignored that, "... and Cynthia Cunningham, my partner."
"Partner?" Euphemia raised her eyebrows.
"Just call me CC," she smiled coolly, offering her hand.
"Ladies," Nunnally moved gracefully along and lied through her teeth, "I'd like you to meet my cousin, Euphemia. She's a nice kid and doesn't need your perverted antics, Prez."
"Aww," Milly pouted.
"Nice to meet you," Euphemia bowed, even as she wondered what CC, Kallen and Milly might have heard. 'Hopefully it's not too bad,' she sighed.
To be continued...