laserarmâ:
She had wanted to insist, to hold the blade close to her chest and demand, Donât you have anything to say for yourself? But the thing wasâ the princess did. She did have something to say for herself.
Kallen had seen the footage, the glazed and wild look on Euphemiaâs face as she demanded that all the Japanese be killed, mouth still that perfect little curve of a smile, so regal as she said it, just as she had been regal on the news when she demanded the creation of the SAZ. How could they be the same person, and both of them here now, in this subdued little woman? This woman, who she could kill so easily. She could avenge all the Japanese, all of them who had died that day, and every day in the bloody war. She could run forward and jam the knife upwards into her ribcage, but the thoughtâ the frontal stab, a knife through the chestâ it made her remember Zero as he arced his blade through Lelouch, that dayâ
She dropped her weapon with a hollow clamor to the ground. Euphemia made her feel sick, made her want to go home, where it was all over, where wounds were growing over with fresh scar tissue, and life continued its forward march. Not here, where everything was backwards. Where ghosts lived among humans.
She couldnât decide if she wanted to look at the princess or turn away, to let her speak or to spit on her shoes. But if she killed her now, would she not be just like all of the Britanniansâ would she not be just like Euphemiaâs own bloodthirsty sister, killing without thought for the lives in front of her? She had done it enough. She had killed enough under Zeroâs orders. And then, it had always been toward an end, toward a fate better than the way life was. But here, nowâ what better life would she be giving, aside from one without Euphemia? She could not help but feel like this princess was harmless here, in front of her. No weapon, no demand for murder. She would be protecting no one with that murder, not even her own heart.Â
âSpeak,â she said, defeated. She reached down for her little wooden knife, crouched on the ground. âThereâs no excuse for it,â she said, a little louder. âIf you say one word against the Japaneseâ if you so much as look at me wrongâ I wonât hesitate to kill you again.âÂ
The emotions played across Kallenâs face as plain as day, and Euphie could barely keep eye contact. Remembering the SAZ, having nightmares about it-- That was one thing. Lelouch and Suzaku had told her the truth as gently as they could, and assured her that nothing was her fault.
But Kallen didnât know this. Kallen sees her as a cold blooded murderer. Even if it wasnât her fault, that fact would never change. She still caused the death of thousands, after promising a safe haven to live as they pleased. A knot forms in her chest, and when sheâs finally told to speak, she takes in as deep a breath as possible.
âI promise I will do my best to explain the situation.â She raises her gaze back to to the otherâs. âIt is somewhat complicated, and as such there is something I must know before I continue.â
âAre you aware of the power called Geass?âÂ
















