Chapter 17

Of Dauntless Scale

As a religious order, the uniforms Eden Vital issued to its members were a compromise between stylish class and functional simplicity. While those of high station like Lelouch might be draped by flowing robes with fancier suits underneath, lay members tended towards more practical outfits that were easier to move about in. This was especially the case for the sisters that composed Lelouch's immediate entourage, whom tended towards clothes that could double as both field dress when they needed to escort Lelouch someplace as his guards and also not look out of place when attending to him in the office or at some ceremonial function.

Some modifications were of course made to accommodate the slightly different requirements of such duties. When actively guarding Lelouch or taking to the field of battle, his retainers wore a few pieces of light armor in place of their usual collared jacket. And when on secretarial duty or the like, Lucretia and Sancia had the tendency to prefer long pleated skirts that fell almost down to their ankles. With the Order's emblem emblazed across the center of their outfits, each member of Lelouch's entourage cut figures ranging from dashing to cute to even alluring. The woman now standing at attention before Lelouch arguably might be capable of exhibiting that second quality, but the first and last likely came more naturally.

"Welcome back to Japan," Lelouch said with a slight quirk of his lips as he addressed the young woman, "Sister Kallen."

"Thank you, Your Eminence," Kallen said, allowing a hint of a smile to touch her own lips.

Lelouch leaned back in his chair a bit, assuming a more relaxed pose in Kallen's presence than he would have around other, more casual associates. A sign that the cardinal was prepared to let Kallen into his innermost circle, given time and further proof of her own dedication and competency.

"I understand you had some lengthy conversations with both the grandmaster and the archbishop."

Kallen raised an eyebrow, curious as to why Lelouch was being so circumspect even in the sanctity of his own office. It might have been just overdue caution on his part considering how important C.C. and Nunnally were to Eden Vital, and arguably humanity as a whole. Or it might be a sign of the emotional compartmentalization that the cardinal engaged in to allow himself to make decisions as dispassionately and rationally as possible. Considering the consequences of any decision Lelouch might make, it was certainly important that he not allow sentiment and emotion unduly sway him. Still, having to restrain his emotions like this must weigh heavily upon Lelouch. Indeed, now that she paid attention, there was a certain weariness to the cardinal's expression that she would not have noticed before.

"Indeed I did," Kallen responded. "They were most, enlightening. And frankly a tad frightening."

Lelouch gave an empathetic nod. "It took me a few years before I matured enough to understand the ramifications of the secrets I had been admitted into. If you ever feel the need to assuage any anxieties they elicit, I am here to lend an ear."

"The thought is appreciated, Your Eminence," Kallen said earnestly.

Lelouch nodded once more, then his expression shifted ever so slightly. "My understanding is that you have agreed to whatever service the grandmaster has demanded of you. I however have not been briefed on what form your geass has taken. Might you enlighten me?"

Kallen tilted her head slightly. "Mmm, might be easier to show you, Your Eminence."

"Fair enough," Lelouch said.

"Though I will need a little help," Kallen said. "Is Dalque about?"

Lelouch glanced over at Sancia, whom promptly summoned the younger girl. A moment later Dalque trotted into the room.

"You called, Your Eminence?"

"Kallen here requires your assistance in demonstrating her geass," Lelouch cocked his head in the direction of the girl in question.

"Alrighty," Dalque said as she turned to face Kallen. "Whatcha need?"

"Throw a punch at me," Kallen said, "with your geass active."

Eyebrows rose all about at that one, though not on Dalque or Kallen's expressions. The former simply regarded Kallen for a moment before shrugging.

"Alright, if you're sure."

And promptly did exactly as requested before anyone could intervene. The punch she threw did certainly have her geass augmenting it and carried enough force to easily snap bone. That was however still only a fraction of the force Dalque was capable of projecting if she got serious. Even so, the hollow thud that sounded when Kallen intercepted Dalque's fist with an open palm was definitely not what any of the others were expecting. Indeed Dalque's movement had been stopped cold, something that took the girl herself by surprise from the way she blinked blankly at her fist and then Kallen.

As the others stared at the two, Kallen raised her free hand and snapped her fingers. Or at least that was what it looked like she did. It was a bit hard to tell when a boom sounded and knocked Lelouch tumbling over the back of his chair. Dalque immediately clapped her hands over her ears as she ended up landing on her rump, while Sancia managed to somehow stay standing. The shockwave from Kallen's snap was even able to make the windows shake, and was loud enough that a moment later Anya burst in with gun drawn in response.

"Uh, whoops," Kallen said sheepishly. "Didn't expect Dalque's punch to pack so much energy."

"What the bloody hell was that!?" Lelouch exclaimed as he pulled himself off the floor, his usual stoic demeanor shattered.

"Umm, simplistically put, I can absorb and convert kinetic energy," Kallen said. "When Dalque punched me, I took the energy behind her punch and then expelled it when I snapped my fingers. That shockwave was the consequence."

Lelouch gave an exasperated sigh. "While I will admit that was an impressive demonstration, perhaps in the future we could restrict such showmanship to the outdoors?"

Kallen gave a sheepish laugh while Lelouch and Sancia dealt with the inevitable inquiries from palace security as to whether there was some sort of threat. It seemed the boom Kallen had set off was strong and loud enough to make some think a bomb had been detonated. Fortunately the newly minted lay sister had held back just enough to not actually damage anything except perhaps some people's dignity, not exempting her own. Once everyone that needed placating was dealt with, attention returned to Kallen's demonstrated power.

"So, the ability to convert and redirect kinetic energy," Lelouch thoughtfully stroked his chin, now back in his seat. "Has the Order identified the mechanism by which you achieve this feat?"

"Not yet," Kallen said with a shake of her head. "About the only words I understood out of Sabine researchers' explanation was thermodynamic work, but the rest of it might as well have been gibberish."

"Thermodynamic work," Lelouch murmured. "Interesting."

Kallen raised an eyebrow. "That actually mean something to you, Your Eminence?"

"Likely not to the same extent as the Order Sabine, but I do have a basic understanding of what they think underpins the abilities our geases grant us," Lelouch said. "In general, our powers involve the manipulation of the fundamental forces of nature. Alice's superspeed for example comes from the manipulation of gravitational pull to accelerate herself and other objects. Dalque manipulates electromagnetic force to magnify the contact force at macroscopic scale, granting her super strength. Thermodynamic work can exhibit change in a multitude of forces, including both gravitational and electromagnetic. That suggests you are able to manipulate multiple fundamental forces, much like myself." The cardinal smiled slightly. "Which in and of itself is quite rare. I see I was right about your potential, Lady Stadtfeld."

The young woman gave a slight snort at that. "I'm glad you're pleased, Your Eminence."

"Indeed I am," Lelouch said as his smile widened wryly. "Considering how rarely multi-force manipulation manifests, the Sabine researchers have few opportunities to study it. Anything that diverts their attention from pestering me to perform experiments for them, I wholeheartedly welcome."

Kallen sighed. "Oh joy of joys, like I didn't have to do enough of those back at the Citadel."

Lelouch chuckled, then regarded Kallen pensively once more. "I presume there is some sort of upper limit as to how much kinetic energy you can absorb?"

The young woman nodded. "Yes, Your Eminence. Though by all indications that limit is growing as I practice more with my power. There's probably a max threshold, but I haven't reached it yet."

"Interesting," Lelouch tilted his head. "Hopefully we do not end up discovering what that limit is under duress."

Kallen gave a slight snort there. "Hopefully."

Lelouch responded with a wry smile before his expression hardened again.

"Your return is actually quite fortuitously timed," he said, leaning back in a relaxed poise again but clearly conveying a stern intensity nonetheless. "Certain matters have, developed beyond my expectations, and I am finding myself severely constrained resource wise."

Kallen cocked her head aside. "In what way, Your Eminence?"

"You are aware of the Princess Cornelia's arrival in Japan?" Lelouch responded with a question of his own.

A nod. "Is Her Highness causing you inconvenience?"

"To a degree, but Her Highness has made up for that inconvenience by lending me the aid of her office," Lelouch said.

If Nunnally and C.C., Lelouch's own full-blooded sister and surrogate mother, did not warrant being addressed by relation instead of their titles, then it was hardly surprising that Lelouch would retain the same formality for Cornelia. That Lelouch felt a need to do this, or perhaps possessed a genuine need to maintain this emotional compartmentalization, Kallen felt genuine worry for him. Along with a strong urge to help him however she could so that the burden might be lifted ever so slightly, maybe even enough one day that he could be more open with his feelings. Curious, that.

"The complication comes from how one of my other siblings decided to emulate the Princess Cornelia and drop by uninvited and unexpected," Lelouch continued, sounding both genuinely annoyed and genuinely worried. "And in the case of this sibling, there is nothing within Her Highness' present capacity that would allow her to offset the inconvenience of her presence."

"The presence of family is an inconvenience, Your Eminence?" Kallen asked with eyebrow raised.

"It is when it is not within my capacity to provision the additional defenses obligated by their presence," Lelouch said heavily.

That, Kallen could understand and sympathize with. As annoyed or even angry as Lelouch may appear, the worry he felt was rooted in how deeply he loved his family, despite the gulf that had widened from his long absence.

"Which of your siblings has so inconvenienced you, Your Eminence?" Kallen asked.

"The Princess Euphemia," Lelouch answered with another sigh.

Kallen tilted her head as she searched her memories for what she knew about the Princess Euphemia. The girl had a vague recollection that Euphemia was the younger full-blooded sister of the Princess Cornelia, which considering the rather close relationship the latter had with the Empress Marianne, suggested that Euphemia might have been similarly close with Lelouch and Nunnally back before Marianne's murder. That probably explained the effort Euphemia exerted to reconnect with her siblings, despite Lelouch's calculated aloofness.

"I can't say I know much about the Princess Euphemia," Kallen finally said. "I'm not sure I even know what she looks like."

The cardinal grunted at that. "I suppose that serves as some measure of proof my family's success in keeping her out of the public eye."

That saw Kallen nod slowly. Considering how little she could recall, it made sense that there was a deliberate effort to shield Euphemia. That the effort was so successful in this day and age was actually quite impressive in its own right.

"Whether her relative anonymity will continue to hold with her in Japan is however another matter," Lelouch said unhappily. "Without that anonymity, she would require far more active protection to keep her safe, and it is a protection that I genuinely cannot spare right now."

"Where is Her Highness now?" Kallen asked.

"At Ashford," Lelouch said. "Her Highness managed to convince her sister to let her enroll there."

An eyebrow rose. "And yourself as well, Your Eminence?"

Lelouch's lips thinned. "It was more a recognition that she would be too stubborn to sway."

Pots and kettles came to mind, though Kallen refrained from saying so out loud. Still, the girl pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"In what sort of capacity was Your Eminence intending to employ me in upon my return?" Kallen asked.

Lelouch blinked. "I had thought you might be helpful in an administrative capacity, to serve as a public persona overseeing the dispensation of aid and the restoration of infrastructure and services to the Japanese populace."

That saw Kallen's eyebrow quirk upward again. "You believe me to be qualified for such managerial duties, Your Eminence?"

"You would have able attendants to help deal with the actual planning and supervision," Lelouch said.

The cardinal certainly felt like he had an answer for everything. Sometimes though he could be too clever for his own good.

"Is there an absolute necessity for me to remain in the palace to carry out that role," Kallen began, "or might I also be able to perform that duty while continuing my own attendance at Ashford?"

Lelouch narrowed his eyes in a speculative manner. For good measure he also pursed his lips.

"An interesting thought," the cardinal said. "And your presence would also help provide protection for certain other personages at Ashford."

"Like Milly?" Kallen said with a slightly teasing smirk.

"The Lady Ashford would certainly be one of your priority charges," Lelouch said without missing a beat, "indeed she would arguably be your primary charge. Next would be Miss Kaguya Sumeragi, who just recently enrolled at Ashford at my behest. Only after them would you be prioritizing the Princess Euphemia."

The smirk disappeared as Kallen regarded the cardinal.

"You're serious? Your Eminence."

"I am," Lelouch said. "Lady Ashford's family is involved in certain projects crucial to Eden Vital's interests, and the role that she personally plays is similar to the one I intend for you, to provide a public persona to the overall uplifting of Japan. Losing her would be a severe setback. Miss Sumeragi's importance should also be self-evident. She is the primary heir to the Sumeragi family, which controls the Sumeragi Group. And as a member of the Six Houses of Kyoto, retaining her cooperation is crucial to convincing the Japanese Liberation Front to demobilize."

Kallen made a choking sound at just how blithely Lelouch revealed that last tidbit. As a former resistance fighter herself, the young woman knew of Kyoto House and the JLF even if what she knew was mostly in the form of hearsay. It was however widely acknowledged that the JLF was the strongest of the various resistance movements in Japan, not least because it was primarily composed of former Japanese military servicepeople. The other reason for its strength was because it was ostensibly backed by Kyoto House, rumored to be composed of powerful collaborationist families that were really working to free their homeland. That Lelouch apparently had in motion a plan to neutralize both was a forceful reminder that, for all his willingness to help put the Japanese people on an equal footing with Britannians, he was not motivated to see Japan regain its sovereignty. Indeed as Kallen had learned at the Eden Vital Citadel, Lelouch had many, many reasons to stymie any effort in that vein. A slight frown creased Kallen's expression, a shift that did not go unnoticed.

"Is something the matter?" Lelouch asked.

When Kallen signed on with Eden Vital, a part of her recognized that she was in some ways giving up on the dream of restoring Japanese independence. That she was basically making a trade, prosperity in exchange for sovereignty. Not just prosperity though, dignity as well. For if Britannia was prepared to treat her people with respect, to acknowledge the Japanese as proper equals, Kallen could see how in such a context the Japanese did not require sovereignty in order to still be true to themselves. It was by no means an easy compromise to make, but it was still one that Kallen was prepared to accept instead of pointlessly getting more of her people killed for an abstract ideal that might not even get them back what they had lost.

That all being said, the current reality was still far from that hypothetical ideal of equality. They were certainly making strides, but there were still too many visible examples of prejudice and inequality that Kallen could see for her to be overly blasé about the issue of sovereignty. After all, one of the few levers by which the Japanese populace could pry greater recognition from Britannia was the threat of continued insurrection, as horrid as the further shedding of blood may be. But it was because of that very horrid nature that the threat was so effective in getting Britannian attention, and until the gains the Japanese made were sufficiently solidified as to be irrevocable, it was not one they could afford to give up.

With this being the case, that Lelouch was actively working to render that option infeasible caused a reflexive alarm in Kallen. She could understand why Lelouch was doing so, and she could even rationalize how the effort would be of great benefit to the Japanese goal of restored dignity and recognition. But the unease it elicited was still there, and Kallen did not feel especially certain that it, in combination with some other unforeseen developments in the future, might not push her level of tolerance beyond reason. Even in the face of the oath she swore to the grandmaster.

"I think Your Eminence knows exactly what is wrong," Kallen said in a very low tone.

Lelouch's eyes flickered before his own jaw tightened. He then gave an apologetic nod.

"Your pardon, Kallen. I spoke far too crassly in that regard. I recognize, and appreciate, the personal compromise that you have made, and are making, by entering my service. I will take better care not to abuse your tolerance."

Kallen regarded Lelouch for a moment longer, before dipping her own head. "Your apology is accepted, Your Eminence."

The cardinal took a deep breath. "Even so, what I previously said holds. While I sincerely hope you will never run into a situation that warrants it, necessity demands that there be an order in priority. First is the Lady Millicent, then Miss Sumeragi, and only then the Princess Euphemia."

The look on Lelouch's face was grim and unhappy, but it was also resolute. The cardinal really meant it when he placed his own sister dead last in priority. And the thing of it was, Kallen could understand fully the rationale. The relative anonymity Euphemia achieved was also a consequence of her not being noted for any particular feat or talent of prominence. Without such qualities, when measured against the very real and concrete benefits Milly and Kaguya brought, Euphemia simply did not measure up. As such, the only rational decision was to place her last, even if emotionally it must have torn Lelouch up to do so.

"I understand, Your Eminence," Kallen thus said in a sympathetic tone.

Lelouch nodded and let out another sigh. Somehow, he seemed even more tired now, and elicited within Kallen an urge to try to help lighten the weight Lelouch shouldered, even if only briefly. As Kallen considered in what ways she might be able to do so, she recalled a promise that Lelouch had made. A mischievous grin crossed Kallen's face.

"Now that I have returned, Your Eminence," Kallen said in an all too cheery tone. "I also intend to collect on that other promise of yours."

Lelouch looked over at Kallen and blinked a few times, before he too remembered. Immediately, Lelouch adopted a much warier expression. Even a worried one.

"Ah, I don't suppose you would consider some other form of recompense, Kallen?"

Kallen cracked her knuckles, grinning all the while. "Nope."

While an eyebrow rose on Sancia's expression, and Dalque simply looked on quizzically, no one seemed prepared to actually come to Lelouch's rescue. The cardinal sighed, then stood up and walked over to the girl. Kallen had to give him credit, Lelouch really was a man of his word.

"Then let us get it over with," Lelouch said. "And please recall my request that you refrain from utilizing your geass."

The grin somehow grew wider. "Your request has been duly noted."

As it was, with his jaw still sore even after fortifying his body, Lelouch could not be entirely certain his request was actually heeded. In that way, the punch managed to achieve all of Kallen's objectives, whether it be venting some of her frustration over Eden Vital's complicity in the invasion of her home, and distracting Lelouch from his worries by giving him something else to focus on. Even if all that something did was replace emotional pain with physical pain.

"And that should be everything in order for your transfer," Milly said, hitting save on her tablet with her stylus.

Euphemia gave the older girl a wide smile. "Thanks for all the help, Milly. It means a lot to me."

"You are more than welcome," Milly flashed a smile of her own. "Besides, the suddenness of your arrival notwithstanding, it's good to see you again after so long, Euphie. And I know for a fact that I'm not the only one that thinks so."

The princess' smile faltered ever so slightly, but she kept on a brave face.

"I certainly hope so," Euphemia said as a sigh escaped her. "It's just, you did try to warn me, but I still couldn't help but, well, hope."

"And you weren't wrong from doing so," Milly assured her. "Lulu is, well, he isn't the boy you may remember from back then. But whatever his name and title, he is most definitely still your brother."

"Well, I suppose if anyone would know, it would be you," Euphemia said, sounding slightly forlorn.

"Well," Milly drawled. "I won't deny that."

The two girls looked at each other for a moment before both broke out into giggles.

"The tabloids have been going a bit nuts about Lelouch back in the homelands," Euphemia said, "probably as much because of how hard it has been for them to get anywhere near him as anything else. And you, for that matter."

"Don't remind me," Milly said with an exaggerated sigh. "The school's security has had to chase off, and even threaten arrest on, so many paparazzi and other so-called reporters from the gossip-rags that the guards have taken to keeping score amongst themselves about who's bagged the most trespassers."

"Has it really gotten that bad?" Euphemia now sounded genuinely worried.

"Oh, it's mostly transparent to me," Milly said with a dismissive wave. "I do end up seeing the security reports since I'm head girl, but otherwise our guards tend to be really good at their job."

"That's good to hear," Euphemia said, as much for her own sake as Milly's.

"Still, I take it then that rumors at least have reached the homelands?" Milly remarked.

To that Euphemia gave a nod and a wide smile. "They started flying the moment you became the first person to dance with Lelouch at the ball that welcomed him to Area 11."

"Ah, the wonders of the internet," Milly said dryly. "What a glorious, wondrous age we live in, where information can move at the speed of light, and the only thing that spreads faster is gossip."

Euphemia gave another short a giggle. "How often do you see him?"

"At least once a week. I've been handling the general briefings about Ashford Industries' progress in fixing up Japan's infrastructure, as well as updates on how the school's Japanese education curriculum is going."

The princess tilted her head. "Is that all?"

"By the time our discussions finish, it's usually late enough that Lelouch always invites me for dinner," Milly said with a slight smile.

"So he hasn't asked you on any actual dates at all?" Euphemia said, sounding somewhat incredulous.

"Ahaha," Milly chuckled. "That might be asking a bit much from Lelouch right now. It's not like we could just take a stroll downtown or something, Lelouch's face is a bit too well known for that. And with the kind of security screen that someone as important as him needs, it'd be kind of hard to relax."

"I see," Euphemia said thoughtfully. "I suppose I've really been taking for granted my anonymity."

"Oh, you're not alone there," Milly said with a dry smile. "Before Lelouch reentered my life, I could still wander around downtown with just Sayako or one of the other attendants shadowing me. Now, there's at least two guards accompanying me at all times that I can see, and I'm pretty sure quite a few I don't."

"Is that so," Euphemia said, looking off to the side. "I suppose one day I too will face similar constraints.

Milly gave the younger a sympathetic smile. "And then there's the issue of timing. Lelouch is so busy with his work that in some ways, he's sneaking out a bit of time just having dinner with me. Things are improving, but they're probably not yet at a point where he can afford to take an entire day or even evening off to play around."

To that Euphemia frowned slightly, looking almost confused. "How can Lelouch have so many responsibilities? I mean, I know he's supposed to be a cardinal of Eden Vital, but he's only a year older than me, and a year younger than you. How could he possibly shoulder the duties of a cardinal? Or a viceroy?"

It was a valid question raised by Euphemia. At seventeen years of age, Britannian law would have normally considered Lelouch to still be a minor and thus a ward under the care of his guardians. When Lelouch's appointment as cardinal was announced however, it was also made public that Lelouch had gained emancipation to be considered an independent citizen responsible for his own person and free from the control of his guardians. Even then, Lelouch's sheer youth meant that, despite his clear intelligence, he simply did not possess the accrued experience that was so crucial in guiding people in making wise decisions. To heap upon his shoulders the duties of leadership despite Lelouch's lack of experience could easily be construed as recklessness on the part of those that so entrusted him, whether it be Eden Vital for naming him a cardinal or the Emperor Charles for appointing him as envoy and then viceroy. That so far Lelouch seemed to be doing a good job, indeed he was clearly doing a much better job than his immediate predecessor, his own elder half-brother, was not by itself enough to assuage such concerns. The cardinal could after all have just gotten really lucky so far, or the successes were simply the result of extremely competent subordinates. There was no quick and easy solution to assuaging these concerns. It would only be with the passage of time, with people seeing Lelouch accrue more achievements, and doing so in a way that could be visibly attributed to him, that their confidence in the cardinal would grow. In the meantime though, such concerns were likely to remain prevalent, whether they were privately held or publicly expressed.

"I can't say one way or another about how much of the work is being done by Lelouch himself," Milly answered frankly. "Even if he isn't doing all the legwork himself though, he seems to know with exacting detail what is being done. Every time we meet, it's all I can do to keep up with his questions." The girl smiled dryly. "Honestly, it's actually kind of exhausting trying to keep up with him. Never thought I'd be on the receiving end of something like that."

Euphemia giggled. "I remember how you always seemed to be on the move, never stopping for anything."

"Well, having to sit around and focus so long is a different type of exhausting than just running around," Milly said. "But as to your original point, even if it would be impossible for you or me to serve as a cardinal or viceroy, it really does look like it's possible for Lelouch. He's smart, and can focus better than most adults I've ever met, and has a pretty impressive staff backing him up. So it's not like he's in this all by himself. He is getting lots and lots of help, and I like to think that I'm one of those providing some of that help. But Lelouch is definitely the lynchpin holding it all together."

The younger girl did not seem entirely convinced, or perhaps she simply did not understand. In her own way, Euphemia was also lacking in experience. It might not be beyond her imagination to envision someone as intelligent and capable as Lelouch, but it was certainly beyond her experience. No, that was not entirely true. There was one other person that seemed possessed of as remarkable a talent as Lelouch, and that man was also bound by blood to Euphemia. Schneizel el Britannia, Second Prince of the Realm, had countless achievements and accolades to his name. By the time he was Lelouch's age, Schneizel had already been acknowledged as a prodigy and predicted to achieve great things. This Schneizel had done and more, even rising to the post of prime minister at the age of twenty-five. But despite his current lofty rank and authority, even Schneizel had not been entrusted with the degree of power that Lelouch arguably wielded now. So it was not as if Euphemia could not conceive of or did not have some experience with persons of immense aptitude. Rather, it was perhaps she had firsthand experience with such persons that a great disquiet ran through her mind. Nonetheless, Euphemia graced Milly with a warm smile.

"Please, make sure that Lelouch is not left alone." The expression turned forlorn. "That seems to be something beyond my capacity right now."

"Oh Euphie," Milly said, reaching out and gripping the other girl's hand. "Oh, the words I'm going to have with Lelouch about how he's treating you."

The princess tried to maintain a strong front, but the quiver of her lips told all. After having been separated for so many years, the long dreamt of reunion lacked any sense of warmth or closing of the distance. As things were, neither Lelouch nor Nunnally were any closer to being returned to their family as Euphemia had hoped. Worst of all, the one thing that the princess truly could not fathom, that was as yet completely outside the bounds of her imagination, was what to do to get them back. Euphemia took a deep breath.

"No, no, don't," she said. "When I think about how much it hurts, and then to imagine Lelouch himself feeling it, I don't want to add to that. So please, be there for him."

One could call this a sign of Euphemia's maturity, or perhaps her sheer compassion. It would also not be wrong to call it an act of coping, an excuse she was giving herself to also remain strong. A very transparent excuse, from the worry that suffused Milly's face. The older girl physically moved over to Euphemia's chair and squeezed in next to her, wrapping her arms around the princess.

"I'll be here for you too," Milly assured her.

Euphemia gave a slight sniff. "Thanks, Milly. And sorry for all the trouble."

Milly blew a raspberry. "What, this? Honestly this is pretty mundane all things considered. And don't worry. I know Lelouch insisted that the two of you can't meet easily in order to keep your cover intact, but His Eminence is severely underestimating me if he thinks I can't contrive some means by which you can't see each other without arousing suspicion."

The princess' eyes lit up as she met Milly's gaze. "Truly!?"

A wide grin spread across Milly's face. "Just leave it to your big sis. What would any of you do without me?"

"I'm sorry we didn't keep in touch as much as we could have," Kaguya said. "If we had, then maybe, well," the girl's gaze lowered, "this wouldn't have happened."

Suzaku looked down himself at the wheelchair before giving a wry smile. "Well, I can't say was a particularly fortuitous turn of events, but some good has come out of it. If nothing else, I've made the acquaintance of some very good people."

The two were in the sitting area of Kaguya's dorm room, a very nicely appointed one at that, one usually rented out to only the wealthiest or most prestigious of students that boarded at Ashford. Kaguya certainly qualified as one of the former, and in due time she may well also be counted amongst the latter. Getting Suzaku entrance to the room had been a bit more complicated, seeing as this room was in the girls' section of the dorms. Boys were by default forbidden entrance, requiring dedicated passes to visit. Getting a pass was no easy task either. One first required a written invitation from one of the residents with a valid reason for the invitation, along with consent of the inviter's roommate if she had one. Then permission had to be granted by the head girl or one of her prefects, and finally by a member of the faculty. Even then, the dorm mother could deny a passholder entry at her discretion, with only the headmaster himself able to overrule her. Fortunately a variety of factors had made Suzaku's obtainment of one of these rare passes smoother, what with his paraplegic status likely excluding any possibility of mischief and the fact that the girl he was visiting was family, even if a few times removed. Kaguya idly wondered how the dorm mother would have reacted had she known there was talk of an arranged marriage between the two of them when they were still children. That might have been a fun reaction to see, but probably not worth chancing Suzaku's prospects of future visits.

"You mean His Eminence?"

"Yes," Suzaku said. "Everything that he has promised, he has held true to his word."

Kaguya tilted her head. "You know, just because he's kept his word so far doesn't mean he'll always do so in the future."

"Oh, I know," Suzaku assured her. "But to a degree, the cardinal's ability to keep his promises stems from how much effort others put into helping him. In a way, merely having met him has given me the opportunity to lend my hand." The youth gave his knee a pat. "That much I can still do at least."

Kaguya considered her cousin's words and found that, to a degree, she did not disagree. Looking back at everything that had happened since that fateful day in Shinjuku, the changes wrought upon Japan were certainly not done by the hands of one man alone, no matter how great that man. Lelouch may have given the word, but it was his followers, in both Eden Vital and the Britannian government, and even more crucially, the people that called Japan home, Japanese and Britannians alike, that actually carried out the actions to bring about those changes.

Still, there was another side to dancing to the cardinal's tune like this, in that they were helping the Empire more firmly solidify its control over Japan. But the important thing to remember was that was not the sole outcome of their actions. It was really a question of balancing priorities, where one placed the value of dignity and prosperity against pride and conviction. Kaguya was steadfastly determined to do right by her people, she would never willingly accept enforced subordination. But neither was she so dogmatic as to let that determination outweigh the very lives she sought to give meaning to.

If the opposition to Britannia was a spectrum from fanatical opposition to subservient acceptance, Kaguya stood at a delicate midpoint of sorts. Winning her over could be done, but it would require a significant concession. And loathe though she may be to disparage her dear cousin, Kaguya was fairly certain the price at which Suzaku could be bought was much, much less than her own. No, not less. Just different enough that her own personal sense of values would consider it to be worth less.

"Is that why you have declined being discharged from the military despite qualifying for release?" Kaguya asked.

That Suzaku was an Honorary Britannian was not in and of itself some great mark against him, seeing as Kaguya herself held that nominal status. That the youth had actually enlisted in the Britannian Armed Forces however caused significant disquiet amongst the Six Houses and what was left of his direct relations. Whereas for Kaguya and the others used their status as convenient covers, Suzaku seemed to genuinely desire a closing of the distance between his people and the Britannians, enough so to even be willing to bear arms for the Empire. That desire, and especially his willingness to possibly take arms against those of his fellow Japanese that disagreed, had been a bridge too far for some of his family, and Suzaku had nearly been formally disowned over it. Such an outcome was narrowly averted after heated debate, but even if Suzaku remained formally a member of the House of Kururugi, for many years he was held a great remove by his remaining family, Kaguya included.

Now though, with the appearance of the Cardinal Lamperouge, a Britannian of authority that seemed genuinely willing to restore to the Japanese their dignity and grant freedom to exercise their culture, Suzaku's seeming idealism did not seem so farfetched or misplaced. Maybe. It was still early days yet, and for all the impressive progress the cardinal had achieved thus far, the gains their people had made remained tenuous. It would take a lot of effort to solidify those gains until they were irrevocable, which was why Kaguya herself was here. At the very least, Suzaku could also be counted on putting his all into that as well.

Suzaku gave a firm nod. "There are still things I can do, even without my legs. Ways in which I can make a difference."

"Oh? In what way?" Kaguya asked with a curious look.

To that Suzaku smiled wryly. "Sorry, Kaguya-chan. I'm still bound by security classifications, so I can't really talk about what I do."

Kaguya puffed her cheeks out. "You know I've grown into a fine young lady, Suzaku onii-sama. I think I've graduated from chan."

Suzaku gave a chuckle and reached over to give Kaguya a pat on the head, as if she were still the little girl he had parted ways with all those years ago.

"Yes, yes, you've grown splendidly, Kaguya-dono."

Somehow Kaguya's cheeks managed to grow even bigger, but she did not draw away. After so many years apart, she could grant Suzaku this much leeway. Besides, it was not as if it felt bad to be dotted on by an older brother. Kaguya had no siblings of her own, and amongst her various cousins, Suzaku had actually been the one she was closest to before their separation. Even if he had clearly changed since then, she was still glad to have him back in her life.

"Still, it'll be somewhat troublesome commuting back and forth, I imagine?" Kaguya remarked, looking down at the wheelchair.

"Well, I'll figure something out," Suzaku said.

An eyebrow arched upwards on Kaguya's face. "Suzaku, don't tell me you were planning on trying to take public transport or something back and forth every day?"

"I mean, that is what it's for, no?" Suzaku said.

As true as that may be, and despite the war, the population density of Tokyo was such that at peak hours, the subways, trains, and buses tended to be so full that the people inside were packed like sardines. Taking a wheelchair onto them was, while possible, just shy of practical. If Suzaku wanted to avoid the crunch, he would have to travel during off-peak times, which for mornings at least meant getting up ridiculously early.

Kaguya sighed in exasperation. "And whatever are all these connections that you have good for if not to ease your way through such inconveniences? I will have a car arranged to chauffeur you wheresoever you find need to go."

"That's really not necessary-" Suzaku began.

"You are family, Suzaku," Kaguya said firmly. "And after all those years where we were not there for you, I refuse to continue standing idly by and not lend you a helping hand. Indeed if you protest any further, I may well construe it as an affront to my family's generosity." The girl smiled slyly. "You wouldn't do that, would you?"

After looking at Kaguya for a few moments, Suzaku gave a resigned sigh. "Very well, Kaguya, if you insist. And, thank you."

"You are more than welcome," Kaguya said, her smile returning to its usual brightness. And then a slight gleam lit up in her eye. "By the by, what do you make of that young lady that dropped in on us the other day?"

Suzaku frowned slightly. "Should we really be talking about that? We did promise to keep quiet."

"We promised to not make mention of her to anyone else," Kaguya pointed out, "and I intend to keep my word. I see no reason as to why we should not discuss it amongst ourselves, however."

Actually both youths could think of plenty of reasons why discretion might be wiser in this case, but curiosity was a powerful thing. It could even bring back the cat it killed.

"Well," Suzaku began reluctantly. "She's obviously someone Milly knows, and pretty well at that, considering that was probably a nickname that Milly used. But she was also someone Milly was not expecting to see."

All that was fairly self-evident, but saying it out loud was also a method of organizing the facts, so Kaguya nodded in agreement.

"Euphie, she was called," Kaguya said. "I actually did some checking, and there is an imperial princess by the name of Euphemia. Specifically, a younger full-sister to the Princess Cornelia."

Suzaku's eyes flickered nervously, the youth clearly not having indulged his curiosity like his cousin had.

"Oh don't worry, Suzaku," Kaguya assured him. "I'm not going to let a peep slip out about this, and I'm sure you'll be similarly discrete. But surely you find it curious, no, that yet another imperial scion has come to Japan?"

"I suppose," Suzaku allowed. "Though, why would she be here?"

"Well, maybe she's just here to visit family," Kaguya suggested. "Both her older full-sister and older half-brother are here, after all."

"Maybe," Suzaku allowed. "But if that was all she was doing, then why would Milly be surprised at seeing her here?"

"That's true," Kaguya nodded. "Milly's really close with His Eminence, and she also lived in Pendragon back when she was a child, so she likely also knew the Princess Euphemia personally. Perhaps Her Highness intended for her arrival to be a surprise?"

Suzaku blinked. "Can princesses even do that? I thought all of them were always surrounded by lots of security and whatnot."

"I don't know," Kaguya admitted. "It's just, I actually couldn't find much of anything about the Princess Euphemia. I couldn't even find a recent photo of her, just some when she was a much younger child."

"Really?" Suzaku said, sounding genuinely surprised.

The girl nodded. "Maybe her family has been keeping her hidden away for her safety. And maybe her relative anonymity allowed her to come to Japan unnoticed."

"If she really did come here like that, then is she safe?"

Kaguya blinked a few times as she registered the remark. "What, are you worried about her or something?"

"No, well, I guess," Suzaku seemed at a slight loss. "It's just, I'd hate to see her getting hurt or something."

It was with a very curious and intense gaze with which Kaguya regarded her cousin now. Granted they had been apart for many years, but her instincts as a young woman and been piqued as she sensed some deeper meaning behind Suzaku's words. Now the girl in question, even setting aside whether she really was the Princess Euphemia, was clearly quite beautiful, something even Kaguya could see, so it was not really any surprise that Suzaku might feel some sort of attraction. That he would be attracted to a Britannian girl to begin with, well, Kaguya was not so old-fashioned as to find anything wrong with that, even if certain other members of their extended family might object profusely. No, if anything, the notion of her cousin pining for a girl tickled Kaguya's whimsy something awful. There was certainly some promise of amusement to be had, even if nothing came of it.

"Well, mayhap you will have opportunity to meet her again," Kaguya said with a serene, composed smile. "After all, who knows how long she may be calling upon her siblings."

"Huh?" Suzaku said, instinctively sensing reason to be wary of Kaguya's smile, but not quite able to pinpoint why. "Umm, sure. That'd be nice."

Kaguya continued smiling at her cousin, all the while considering the possibilities. For some odd reason, not once did she ever think of when she herself might play such a starring role.

A fist came crashing down upon the table, followed by a roar of a voice.

"You cannot be serious!?"

The other officers present all regarded the speaker reproachfully, even if they understand the cause of his outburst. Still, decorum demanded some degree of restraint.

"Sit down, Kusakabe," Tohdoh said, issuing an order and reprimand both with those words.

"But Tohdoh!"

"General Katase is still speaking," the other officer stated. "Do you intend to continue such a display of discourtesy even so?"

To that Kusakabe clamped his jaw shut, swallowing any further protests he might have uttered. Instead he bowed his head towards the general.

"My apologies for the outburst, General. My shock at the news you bear saw my sense take leave of me for a moment."

"Your surprise is not unwarranted," Katase allowed graciously, "but it would not do to allow your emotions to overtake you so easily, Lieutenant-Colonel."

The general took a moment to survey the gathered officers, the senior ranking commanders of the Japanese Liberation Front. Each had served in the Japanese Armed Forces before the cessation of Japan as a sovereign state, and each was dedicated to seeing that sovereignty restored. That the fight might cost them their lives was a price everyone here had accepted. Yet as Kusakabe's reaction demonstrated, there were far harder things to stomach.

"Make no mistake," Katase continued, "the discussions between Kyoto House and the Cardinal Lamperouge are at a very preliminary stage. That there is the impression of considerable effort having been undertaken is an indication of just how wide the gulf between our two peoples are, it should not be misconstrued as a sudden closing of that gap."

Solemn nods all around there, and something that might pass for satisfaction crossed Kusakabe's face. It disappeared quickly at Katase's next words however.

"At the same time, it would be folly to presume that this gulf will remain wide forever," the general stated. "We must be mindful of the possibility that a genuine compromise is reached, and not close our minds to accepting it solely out of spite."

Kusakabe's face twisted into discontent once more, at both the general nuance and the more specific reprimand directed at him.

"Surely you do not believe the Britannians would ever willingly relinquish control over Japan, General," the man spoke up, unable to restrain himself further. "Even this cardinal of Eden Vital has made clear he possesses neither the intent nor the authority to make such a concession. Short of that, what could Britannia possibly offer us that we could accept without forsaking our honor!?"

"As of yet, I know not," Katase said simply. "But I do know how we can all too easily discard our honor without Britannia having to lift a finger. For the one thing I, and all of us, should fear more than continued occupation by the Empire, is a civil war wherein our people tear each other apart. That I will not countenance, and if there are any here that would," the general's gaze swept across the attending officers before settling on one in particular, "say so now so that we may part ways."

Despite his clear desire to speak his mind, Kusakabe finally held his tongue. The man was still visibly seething, a telltale sign that his current restraint did not equate acceptance of the general's position. That would have to be watched out for, but Katase was entirely earnest in his belief. He did not wish to find himself at odds with his own people, even if disagreement existed. And as asinine as Kusakabe could be, the general still counted him as one of his people. For now, at least.

"That will be all," Katase dismissed his subordinates. "Attend to your duties and remain vigilant."

The others all rose and issued crisp salutes before taking their leave.

"Tohdoh," Katase spoke up, causing the man in question to turn back. "Tally a moment."

A few curious glances were shot the man's way, but Tohdoh himself remained solemnly at attention as he waited for the others to leave. Once the door closed, Katase nodded towards the chair to indicate that Tohdoh should seat himself again. Even so, the silence lingered a few moments longer before Katase spoke.

"Answer me truly and without reserve, Tohdoh," the general began. "Would you be willing to swear to Britannia, if it was genuinely for the sake of our people?"

Tohdoh's eyes widened and his mouth opened, only for it to close silently. A thoughtful expression replaced the surprised one as he pondered.

"If I am given proper proof that it would genuinely be for the betterment of our people," Tohdoh said very carefully, "then yes, with the heaviest of hearts, I would."

Katase nodded slowly, but said nothing immediately in response. Seeing his superior seemingly tongue tied, Tohdoh elected to prompt him instead.

"May I ask that you answer a question of my own with full forthrightness, General?"

Katase blinked, then gave a wry smile. "Ask."

Tohdoh dipped as head slightly. "Have talks between Kyoto House and the Cardinal Lamperouge reached a greater level of progress than previously insinuated?"

"Greater than we feared, but more than we ever previously hoped," Katase said. "You are aware that Sumeragi-dono has enrolled at Ashford Academy in Tokyo?"

"I had heard news of it," Tohdoh stated.

"Well, that was obviously not done on a whim," Katase said. "She is there in part to assess the new Japanese language and literature program that the academy has established, to allow students to learn our language and culture. And if the program is proven to be successful, to help advise on how it might be rolled out to schools all across Japan."

"Truly?" Tohdoh said, sounding genuinely taken aback. "That, represents a rather large concession on the part of the Britannians, at least compared to their prior policies."

"The changing of the viceroy has brought both good tidings and bad," Katase said with a grunt. "He is giving our people hope, and after so many years of being downtrodden, they are eager to believe, regardless of whether that hope is merely an illusion."

"Do you think it to be an illusion, sir?" Tohdoh asked.

Katase stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I think that the Cardinal Lamperouge is entirely earnest in his intentions. But those intentions do not include amongst them a restoration of Japan as an independent nation."

That was as fair a statement as it was true, Tohdoh recognized. And aptly summed up the conundrum facing the Japanese Liberation Front and Kyoto House. As much as some possessed an intense desire to see Japan free from the Empire, there were plenty others that preferred concrete prosperity over abstract liberty. And when that prosperity was accompanied by an accordance of dignity, to exchange all that for sovereignty was to ask a very high price indeed.

"And that is why you asked if I could swear myself to Britannia, if it were for the good of my people?" Tohdoh more stated than asked.

Katase tilted his head slightly however, indicating subtly there was more to it than that.

"The goal of both Kyoto House and the JLF is the restoration of Japanese sovereignty," the general declared. "But Japanese, that can mean either the nation, or the people. And a people can obtain sovereignty even without obtaining a nation."

To that Tohdoh frowned slightly. He grasped the distinction that Katase was trying to annunciate, but something about it still felt off, or rather incomplete.

"To possess true sovereignty it is not enough to merely win acknowledgement and recognition of the claim," the lieutenant-colonel thusly said. "One must also possess the means to defend, with one's own power, that claim."

"Exactly," Katase said, sounding pleased that Tohdoh arrived at such a conclusion. "It is certainly true that the Britannian authorities have shown far greater recognition and acknowledgment with the program of reforms that they currently dangle before Kyoto House, but that does not change the fact that such recognition is clearly at the Empire's sufferance. To have a true say, there must be genuine consequence at any attempt to withdraw that recognition. A consequence enacted with power that we can call our own, instead of power borrowed from some other, however benign that other is right now."

A power that certainly included military force, both men understood all too well.

"Is such a concession even possible for the Empire to grant?" Tohdoh asked. "Britannia's goal is the full incorporation of Japan as part of its sovereign territory. Could they ever perceive the possession of such power by our people as anything but a challenge to their authority?"

Katase clasped his hands together. "Tell me, Colonel. What do you know of the Empire's provincial system?"

Tohdoh regarded the general with mild befuddlement, but decided to humor his superior nonetheless.

"Britannia's provinces are the largest administrative subdivision within the Empire, at least of regions that have been fully integrated," he answered matter-of-factly. "They are technically the personal fiefs granted to the great peers of the realm-"

Tohdoh's words came to an abrupt halt as he registered the implication of what he just said. He closed his mouth, spending a few moments trying to work through as many ramifications of his realization as possible.

"Is Kyoto House's goal," he began very carefully, "to have one of its members installed as the provincial lord of Japan?"

The wariness in his voice was quite understandable, seeing as members of the JLF and Kyoto House especially were sensitive to the suggestion that they fought not for the sake of their countrymen, but for their own personal advancement. With their public personas as collaborators, it was all too easy for that accusation to be levied at members of the Six Houses, and all too easy for people to believe it, despite their substantial support for the JLF. For the most part, the soldiers of the JLF understood the necessity of the compromise their sponsors had made, and even agreed with it, seeing as the relative freedom that collaboration brought was what allowed them to support the JLF and other resistance movements and keep alive the dream of Japanese independence. But to accept a peerage from Britannia, especially one that granted effectively ownership over Japan, it was hard to view that as anything but selling out.

"Provincial lords within Britannia are automatically granted a seat in their House of Lords," Katase stated, clearly aware of Tohdoh's misgivings and expanding upon the point to try to assuage them. "And in Britannia, the prime minister is whomever can muster a majority in the Lords, not the Commons. Furthermore, lesser peers in the Lords tend to coalesce along provincial lines, forming blocks that can sway the outcome of votes. And if they are further aligned with their provincial lord, such blocks may well grow large enough to have a direct say in the direction of the Empire."

Tohdoh could not help but widen his eyes at the sheer audacity of what Katase was suggesting. There was no other way to describe the gambit the general was describing. To go from feigned collaboration to a seat at the highest echelons of power within Britannia, that would grant power aplenty to protect their people. Indeed it was so much power that the unease Tohdoh felt actually increased instead of disappearing. A great deal of faith would be needed to trust the members of Kyoto House to not be playing some long con on all of them, even for someone like Tohdoh that personally knew several of the house heads. At the very least, awareness of this gambit made Tohdoh heavily inclined to scrutinize Kyoto House more carefully than ever.

"In addition to this political standing," Katase continued, "provincial lords possess one other right that accords them genuine power. They are allowed to raise a regiment to service as a provincial guard."

That saw Tohdoh narrow his eyes instead of widen them. Perhaps because of his own martial calling, the lieutenant-colonel found it easier to speculate and conceptualize the ramifications of that particular tidbit. One of the most concrete expressions of power the Japanese people had left was the existence of the various resistance movements, with the Japanese Liberation Front standing at the pinnacle. These armed forces represented power that the Britannians could not ignore, and even as the Empire sought to destroy or disarm them, the implicit threat of their existence forced the Empire to tread more carefully than they might otherwise have. Granted the past few years saw sheer incompetence on the Empire's part screw up that treading more often than not, it was still undeniable that the resistance movements were the only actual check against Britannian oppression. All too often they were still not enough, but not enough was better than nothing at all.

This being the case, one of the trickiest complications to any sort of accommodation between the Japanese people and their new Britannian rulers was what to do with the resistance movements. It was in Britannia's strategic interest to see them disarmed and demobilized, and indeed it was even in the general societal interest for that to happen. But if this was done unilaterally and without the appropriate safeguards, the end result would only enhance the power imbalance between the Japanese people and the Britannian state. And seeing how that state was responsible for untold suffering these past few years, no reasonable person could fault the Japanese for rejecting such an outcome. Indeed one major reason for why most resistance fighters, not excepting Tohdoh himself, had assumed that their fight would be one to the death, was because none of them could conceive of a way in which the Japanese people could integrate into Britannia while still retaining the sort of power granted to them by bearing arms, even of those arms were a last resort. It just seemed so impossible that the Empire would ever countenance such an arrangement. Now though, Katase's suggestion actually seemed to offer just such an avenue by which an arrangement might be arrived at. If the accompanying notion of achieving major political standing in the Empire was audacious, retaining military power, even in such a form, seemed outright fantastical. And yet, it could work. Could.

"I know understand why you asked the question you did," Tohdoh stated.

"As I knew you would," Katase said.

The lieutenant-colonel took a deep breath. "I can see the rationale behind the notion. I can even see its merits. But would Britannia share such a perspective?"

"That is yet to be seen," Katase said with a sigh of his own. "But the effort to make such an outcome reality, as much would be required of us as of the Britannians."

To that Tohdoh could only nod in agreement. Despite ostensibly fighting for the sake of their people, there were examples aplenty of resistance members being more interested in vengeance than justice. Even amongst his fellow JLF, Tohdoh could name a few soldiers and officers that would rather Japan burn to the ground than accept any sort of compromise with the Empire. Such persons were thankfully not a majority, or even much of a plurality, but they were still enough that things could get very ugly if the matter was handled carelessly.

"What would you have me do?" Tohdoh asked.

"Keep your eyes and ears open," Katase said. "Be mindful of any discontent. And determine which of your subordinates understand the necessity of putting our people before themselves."

The lieutenant-colonel bowed his head. "I will do so, sir."

An irate Kusakabe stomped into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The man did not quite throw a tantrum now that he enjoyed some relative privacy, tempting as that was.

"I presume things are going poorly?" a sly voice sounded.

One reason Kusakabe refrained was because his privacy really was relative, seeing as Mao was seated at the table awaiting his return.

"You presume correctly," Kusakabe growled. "This Eden Vital cardinal is proving a more tenacious and cunning foe than I had feared, his honeyed words are starting to find purchase amongst even Kyoto House."

"Dear me," Mao said, sounding rather nonchalant compared to Kusakabe's temperament. "All the more reason to eliminate him, no?"

Kusakabe snorted. "Easier said than done. Lest you have already forgotten, the security surrounding the viceroy's palace is considerable, and it has only grown more impenetrable since the cardinal's ascension. Killing him might well require fighting through the Concession with an entire army, at which point we'd have won Japan's liberty already."

That was probably an exaggeration in multiple ways, but the point was taken.

"Then why not strike at the cardinal when he is outside the palace's security?" a feminine voice sounded.

The JLF officer looked over towards the petite girl leaning against the wall.

"Again, finding such an opportunity would require a degree of access that we would likely only get if we were in position to win a decisive victory again," he said without missing a beat. "While your proposal sounds simple, it is anything but in actual execution."

"Ah, but there is such an opportunity," the lanky youth said, and Kusakabe's attention shifted over fully and naturally back to him again. "After all, in two months' time, we can say with exact certitude that the cardinal will be away from the palace at a known location."

Kusakabe frowned. "You refer to the Sakuradite Conference?"

"Indeed," Mao said, drawing Kusakabe's gaze back to her.

"And what makes you think security at the conference would be any easier to penetrate?" the officer said with a snort. "The conference will see attendance by not just members of the Britannian government, but delegations from both the EU and China."

"By virtue of the security being a more temporary apparatus," Mao said, returning Kusakabe's gaze with a level one of her own. "Such a system will by its very nature have gaps that can be exploited, especially if a means exist to enter via entirely legitimate means, say, as members of the Chinese delegation."

To that Kusakabe's eyes narrowed speculatively. What Mao suggested was certainly interesting, even if the difficulties inherent in the task remained. But at least the feasibility was now shifted from outright impossible to merely extremely difficult. And in all likelihood, none of the soldiers that took part were likely to make it out alive. But if it meant dealing such a blow to the Empire, the lives sacrificed were a small price to pay, even if his own was amongst them.

"There would still be an issue of procuring weapons," Kusakabe said, testing to see if Mao actually had put any further thought into the matter, or was only making the suggestion on a lark.

"Procuring the weapons themselves will not be difficult," Mao assured him with a smirk, one the youth tended to put on when he had an especially nasty idea in mind. "They can even be preplaced inside the site of the conference."

"How?" Kusakabe demanded.

"Have some faith, Lt-Colonel," Mao said with an exaggerated flick of his wrist. "I am after all an intelligence operative. I do know a few tricks of the trade."

Kusakabe grunted. "Fine. How many weapons can you sneak in, then?"

"How many soldiers do you think you can recruit for the mission?" Mao asked, tilting her head quizzically.

"As many as are needed," Kusakabe stated confidently.

And it was not a matter of overconfidence, either. Even if some of his fellow soldiers seemed to be growing overly fainthearted, Kusakabe knew plenty of others that still shared his burning passion to eject the Empire from Japan. And what better way to reignite that passion in his comrades, indeed in all his fellow Japanese, by striking down that sweet talking cardinal? If nothing else, it should show Britannia that the Japanese people would not be swayed to surrender their dignity, that they would fight to their last breath to retake their home. And if the Empire reacted as predicted, his people would be forced to recognize that the only true path was one that led to a final victory over Britannia, or to die trying.

"Then let's get down to business," Mao said, standing from his seat. "Numbers, guns, and all that. There are only two months to prepare, but if we hurry, we'll be able to give the Empire a real shock."

Kusakabe nodded resolutely, then smiled slightly. "It is heartening indeed to see that Japan can still count upon such a steadfast friend as your masters, Mao. I thank you for all the help that you have rendered."

"No need to thank me, Lt-Colonel," the two Maos said in perfect synchronicity, even as Kusakabe heard only a single voice. "The pleasure is all mine."

End of Chapter 17

Well, I suppose this answers the question of how they differentiate.

One thing that I wanted to make sure came across was that Lelouch is not the only one capable of a certain degree of cunning or daring. While Katase may be the one communicating it, the gambit itself is very much Kirihara's brainchild. It's certainly audacious, as noted in the chapter itself. And it'll be very interesting to see what Lelouch's response to it will be.

Those that read Calculus will recall that Kallen's geass in that story was basically hyperawareness. That power overlaps significantly, but is not entirely the same as, the geass that Lucretia has, so I ultimately decided to go with something else. It needed to be something good enough to allow Kallen to maintain her ace status though, and the ability to basically absorb and channel kinetic energy seemed like something that is sufficiently overpowered that it would do. As indicated, there are still finite limits, Kallen's body can only store so much energy before it overwhelms her, but it is expected to grow and will probably be needed sometime in a future chapter. Hinthint.

I'm starting to realize just why the scenes in this story sprawls so much. I've been spending a lot more time and effort exposing the inner thoughts of characters. While this is something I've done in other stories, I don't think I've kept doing it so consistently and so often in my prior works. This does however present a slight problem for me, namely that the pacing of the story is moving a lot more slowly than what I consider acceptable. I'm not yet willing to cut content, since everything that's in there amounts to what I consider to be the bare minimum of detail to maintain the story's coherency, but I also want the overall pace to feel faster. As such, I've made a decision to drop my previous chapter limit targets. From henceforth, the chapters will be as long as they need to be to get whatever plot development I feel is necessary to pack into a single chapter and have enough things happen to not be bogged down. The consequence this time around was to make the chapter almost twice as long as my usual. I'm fine with that. Another consequence would be, even setting aside my RL job's time demands, it might well take longer to get future chapters out. I'm fine with that as well. You guys, might be less so.

Yes, I know I have other stories that I've been neglecting. I've had to prioritize, and the stuff for this story has been gnawing at me more strongly.

I wouldn't say Lelouch isn't upgrading Ashford Academy's defenses, he's already had quite a bit of work done that'll show up later as warranted. He's just reaching the point where he doesn't have any additional manpower that would make a measurable difference being at the school. Kallen's presence will help a little bit, but she's not really trained to be or serving as a guard. All in all, he's having to gamble a bit. We'll see whether it pays off or not.