Shattering News (Brit Royals/Military/Nobles only)

[izumi]

Izumi cleared entrance to the Government complex with his ID, which both recognised him as a Captain, and the royal advisors son. He walked up to the first few steps in full military uniform however, as this was no cosy meeting. He had arranged to talk with Sylvana today, if anyone had to know first - it was her. Of course the rest of the royalty would be told, but might as well get the worst of it out of the way.
One of the maids opened the door to let him in, and he sat in what could be considered the front lounge. Not that being the size of a house detered that part - but still...
"Tea sir?" One of the maids asked, but he merely sent her away. He couldn't have his train of thought disturbed right now. Just how was he meant to tell her what had happened in the ghetto? That he had failed to save Ayame before even trying? Would she see this series of events; the failed captures of Sakura Shizuka and the kidnapping of Ayame as proof that Izumi - subconciously or not - was helping the black knights? He may have known Sylvana for many years, but her mind was often still a mystery to him. All women were.

[Sylvana Li Britannia]

Sylvana had been stretching herself very thin lately which did nothing to help her already sour mood. The first princess was running on very little sleep; both stress and worry laid heavily upon her heart, and neither was going to fade quickly. Much more of either one, however, and Sylvana was likely to make herself sick. She had found next to no information on where Anderson worked which meant she had no leads on where Tristan was which only served to further dampen her mood. The worry in her was starting to distract her from her official duties, but she couldn’t do anything about it; there was no chance of ignoring it. Having hit a dead end, Sylvana had forced herself to return to the wedding plans that had lain forgotten in her office. Being productive in something was better than doing nothing, but even while she worked half her mind was elsewhere.

The first princess’ mood was no secret, and she had been avoided by most simply because no officer or messenger or sibling wished to become collateral damage. Their fear hadn’t been misplaced either, because the messenger who had come to inform her of the meeting with Captain Kaoto had almost gotten a paperweight to the head for disturbing her. Needless to say, no one came to remind Sylvana of the arranged meeting. It certainly wasn’t necessary, but it was their usual procedure.

It was customary to arrive to a meeting before the scheduled time, and out of respect the first princess was usually a few minutes early wherever she went, but Sylvana couldn’t stand to sit and do nothing if Izumi himself wasn’t there early as well, so she left herself with just enough time to make it down on time if not a minute or so late. Izumi was already there which meant that there was no wasted time. Sylvana might not like him much as a person, but she didn’t doubt his ability as an officer, and therefore would never deny a request to meet with her. (Although in her current mood, she had in fact considered it.) Mind though that she wasn’t exactly pleased to be pulled away from her work, but she assumed there was a reason. That didn’t mean though that Sylvana was going to go out of her way to make her mood any more pleasant. “What did you need to speak with me about?”

[izumi]

[color=Blue"Well first, may I please request that all sharp objects be removed from the room? This could get inconvenient otherwise."[/color] He explained, and the various objects were moved by various maids and servants.
He watched as all the doors of the room closed, and the cameras shutting down.
"I don't want any of this information reaching the public before those who should really know." He explained, rubbing his forehead. This was gonna be really hard to explain. Maybe he should just... come out with it.
"Its about Ayame." He started, stopping to see Sylvana's first reaction, and then continued. "After Captain Leodegrance was abducted, she's been poking around for information. Mostly in more... dubious places." He again watched for Sylvana's reaction, she was a smart woman, so it was possible she was seeing where this was going.
"What I'm trying to say is... Yesterday at approximately 1300 hours... Your sister was kidnapped by a man and woman I believe to be associated with the black knights, as one of them was a woman that Intel has been keeping an eye on - Aoi Akuma. I was there, and attempted to prevent her abduction, but something - or someone - struck me in the back of the neck with a blunt object. I'm lucky that the blow to my nervous system didn't kill me." He said, moving the top of his uniform's collar to show the hard plaster cast on his neck. Though he doubted that would be his only wound soon enough.

[Sylvana Li Britannia]

Blue eyes glanced at some of the servants that quickly made themselves scarce and closed the doors. Izumi had apparently told them that this was to be a private conversation, apparently extremely private. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a quiet warning alerted Sylvana that this meeting could be a ploy. The first princess didn’t think that Izumi planned to try to harm her, considering that he’d been one to eliminate the assassin that had greeted her upon her arrival to Area 11. The thought stirred the worry in her again, but Sylvana returned her attention to Izumi.

“I don’t want any of this information reaching the public before those who should really know.” It was an odd statement. Mind that it was certainly nice to be informed of mishaps or crucial information before hearing about it on the evening news, but right now Sylvana just thought the captain was stalling. Stalling meant he was preventing her from returning to her work. “It’s about Ayame.” That made Sylvana pause, and give the captain her undivided attention. Ayame? The first princess tried to think. Had she done something? Had she found something? Sylvana didn’t dare even think her other possibility, but she couldn’t recall seeing her little sister today or most of yesterday. She’d been busy, and hadn’t gone to bed last night, so she hadn’t even checked in on her.

“After Captain Leodegrance was abducted, she’s been poking around for information. Mostly in more… dubious places.” Now that Sylvana knew, or had at least suspected. She didn’t necessarily condone it, but she hadn’t exactly tried to stop her. It was very likely that Ayame would have more luck finding information on Anderson her way than Sylvana had been having. Sylvana had been aware of it and done nothing, and the fact that the captain was mentioning it made fear settle heavily in her chest, and it showed in her eyes.

“What I’m trying to say is… Yesterday at approximately 1300 hours… your sister was kidnapped,” The fear that had settled in her chest slowly wound tight fingers around her heart, and she couldn’t breathe. “by a man and woman I believe to be associated with the Black Knights,” It squeezed tighter, and Sylvana’s hand sought her chest. “as one of them was a woman that Intel has been keeping an eye on – Aoi Akuma.” The name meant nothing to Vana. She didn’t have every name on that watch list memorized let alone the information about them. “I was there, and I attempted to prevent her abduction, but something – or someone – struck me in the back of the neck with a blunt object. I’m lucky that the blow to my nervous system didn’t kill me.”

Fury flashed in Vana’s eyes as she looked to Izumi. Lucky was not the word she would have used. The captain had been so eager to brag about his skills when Sylvana had first met him, and she had wanted him to gain a little humility, but not like this. Not at Ayame’s expense. “You were there, and you couldn’t stop them?!” Sylvana took a step toward the young officer fully intent on taking some kind of retribution, but went no further than that single step. Her legs her weak. Tears lined her eyes. The facade that Sylvana prized was cracking. One hand clutched her chest, the other covered her mouth as her breath came too quickly in sharp gasps. It was too much. Her heart hurt. She couldn’t take it. Vana was breaking.

Some part of Sylvana managed to keep enough control that Vana didn’t completely break down in front of the officer. “Find her… I don’t care how you do it. Find her!” The first princess’ voice was strained, but she managed not to choke on her words. She had to get rid of him. She had to.

[izumi]

“You were there, and you couldn’t stop them?!”
"Yes, am I'm sorry for it." Izumi closed his eyes expecting his jaw to be sore. Instead however he opened his eyes to see Sylvana just standing there, tears streaming down her face. This was probably the worst thing in the world that could happen, at least for her. Ayame had often gotten herself in trouble, but this was different. This was a matter of life or death.
“Find her… I don’t care how you do it. Find her!”
"I've already made orders for as many available units as I can get to sweep the ghettos for any black knights. Haven't told them what they're supposed to find with the BK though. The troubling thing is that I placed a tracker in her teddy bear - Pin-pin or something like that, and if it were anywhere in a good 20 kilometres radius - covering all of tokyo - it'd be picked up on this." He said pulling out the small radar like device. "I know she'd never let that bear go, so if we can get this thing beeping, we can find her. However theres also-" He hesitated, should he tell her that on the same day Ayame was kidnapped a boat had departed for Penglai Island?

[Sylvana Li Britannia]

Izumi wasn’t leaving. Why wasn’t he leaving? Did Sylvana have to spell it out for him? She had thought it was clear enough that she didn’t want him there, and whether she wanted it to be or not, she thought it was extremely clear that she was falling apart and needed to be alone. Even if not alone, she needed to be away from soldiers, away from officers. Most might consider the reaction she was trying to prevent, human. Maybe it would be acceptable for someone else, but it wasn’t acceptable from her. She had to work twice as hard, know twice as much, and be twice as perfect to get the amount of respect that she wanted from her colleagues. If she couldn’t get rid of the captain soon, most of if not all of that respect was going to be in jeopardy.

"I've already made orders for as many available units as I can get to sweep the ghettos for any black knights. Haven't told them what they're supposed to find with the BK though.” Sylvana had every intention of heading the search herself; she didn’t trust anyone else with the life of her sister. But right now, Sylvana couldn’t do that job. She didn’t want to put her faith in someone else, but she had to until she could look at the situation with a clear head. So for now, Izumi’s process was fine. He didn’t need permission. She’d already given it! “The troubling thing is that I placed a tracker in her teddy bear - Pin-pin or something like that.”

“Pon-Pon…” It was a whisper mostly lost behind her hand that Vana didn’t bother making louder. It wasn’t important, but just thinking of her sister’s beloved panda pulled at Vana’s heartstrings again.

“And if it were anywhere in a good 20 kilometres radius - covering all of tokyo - it'd be picked up on this." Sylvana didn’t care right now. She didn’t! She should, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. Nothing was going to process properly right now. Vana couldn’t be a commander right now. Not right this second. She needed a bit of time to fix herself, to gather herself, to put herself back together. "I know she'd never let that bear go, so if we can get this thing beeping, we can find her. However theres also-"

“What? What else?” Vana had meant to yell it. She’d wanted it to sound firm, but sounded more frustrated than anything else. Her voice was failing her, betraying the emotion that was already plain on her face. If it was something important that the captain had to say, Sylvana might be able to remember it, but details wouldn’t process for her. They didn’t matter. Yes, they would be invaluable in finding her precious sister, but until Sylvana had composed herself, she’d be no help to that search, and information would likely have to be repeated to her. But if finishing what he’d came to say got the captain away faster, Sylvana didn’t care.

[izumi]

Izumi watched Sylvana's reaction, and even he of all people could tell she was breaking down every single second. Yet, she'd pretty much just given an order - and as a soldier he had to comply.
"However theres also the possibility that the princess isn't even in area 11 anymore. A boat that had been in the harbour for several days left for Penglai Island mere hours after princess Ayame's kidnapping."
Silence hung in the air. A piercing silence that pretty much decided Izumi's response.
"I will take my leave now." Izumi said as he exited the government complex. He had some searching to do.

[Sylvana Li Britannia]

“However, there’s also the possibility that the princess isn’t even in Area 11 anymore.” Not even here? Not anywhere were Vana could find her? The princess’ breath came faster as the fear settled heavily in her chest. “A boat that had been in the harbor for several days left for Penglai Island mere hours after Princess Ayame’s kidnapping.” Behind her hand, Sylvana’s lips formed words that she couldn’t even begin to speak. Her voice had been stolen away. “I will take my leave now.”

For a long while after the captain had left, Vana stood frozen. Fear had turned to terror and it had a tight grip on her heart. She felt cold; she couldn’t breathe. This was her fault. She had been so preoccupied with Tristan that she hadn’t kept an eye on her sister. Not only that, but Ayame had been taken while trying to help her! Ayame would never have been in that situation if Sylvana hadn’t cared so much, if she hadn’t gotten personally involved, if she hadn’t been so angry. The fact that Ayame got into enough trouble on her own currently eluded Vana.

It wasn’t enough that Ayame had simply been kidnapped. No, now it was likely that she had been taken to Penglai Island; out of Vana’s reach. The island, while still likely in the hands of the Black Knights, was still Chinese territory. Finding Ayame there would not be as simple as sending out search parties to certain sectors of an area already under their control. Sending troops to Penglai Island could easily be deemed an act of war. At the moment, however, none of that mattered to Vana. She wanted her precious sister back by any means necessary.

That kind of thinking, however, was dangerous. Vana was emotional, not even close to rational. On some level she recognized that, but recognizing it didn’t lessen the pull on her heart any. She longed to be out looking for her sister. She didn’t trust her sister’s life to anyone else, and if anything happened to her… The terror clutching her heart choked her. Vana would never forgive herself. She shouldn’t be thinking like that, but the thoughts came unbidden. She had to calm down, but was having no success though admittedly she wasn’t trying very hard. She needed to let it out.

Alone now in the room, the tears finally spilled over and started to fall down her cheeks. It was so tempting to collapse right here. Her legs were weak and her heart hurt. She was breaking, and she just needed to let it out. Despite being alone now, some part of Vana knew she wouldn’t be alone for long. She needed privacy. No one else could see her like this. With strength she didn’t think she had, Sylvana made herself start toward the doors. Her steps were shaky at first, but as more tears fell down her cheeks, she forced herself to walk faster. The princess paused for a moment at the door as the tears dripped down her face. She would have to run.

Sylvana threw open the door and bolted from the room She brushed past the maids lingering in the hallway and made her way quickly past soldiers and officers. Running urgently through the halls was hardly normal behavior for the First Princess, but it was certainly better than the alternative: walking, and letting them se her broken and weak as she was. Sylvana knew what she was running from (eyes, officers, subordinates), but not where she was running to. Ayame’s room? She doubted she’d regain her composure very well while surrounded by constant reminders of what she’d lost. Her own quarters? Sylvana’s room was her haven; the place she could just be Vana, not a commander, but it was Vana that was hurting. Her mask wouldn’t be very easy to put back together there.

Maybe then it wasn’t solitude she needed. She needed someone or some place that would console Vana, but let her quickly enough fix herself and regain control. There was only one place the First Princess could think of, and she could only pray he was alone.

Vana’s feet carried her to Euric’s office and she didn’t bother knocking before throwing open the door and bursting into the room. “She’s gone!” The door had barely closed behind her before Sylvana fell to her knees. Tears still fell from her eyes and her body shook. “They took her! They have Ayame!” Vana’s breath came in shaky gasps, only partially due to her sprint through the building. Her hands twined in her hair to clutch her head. “They kidnapped her, and it’s my fault.” Sylvana rarely cried and never broke down. The last time she’d been close to a similar reaction was when her mother had died, and that was 10 years ago. But even then, Vana had been old enough to have seen it coming, and she’d had to be strong for her sisters, so she had dealt with her own grief alone. Even Euric had been too young for her to be willing to burden at the time. Now, however, there were no such conditions, and Vana was hurting. With nowhere else to turn, Vana had sought her younger brother. At least for the moment, she needed him.

[Euric Qi Britannia]

“She’s gone! They took her! They have Ayame!”

Fortunate for her, he had no company. But no more efficient could have been the way to catch Euric's attention than such a shriek, which snapped him right out of his thoughts and of reading one of those few in number but oh, so ample in length missives going through his office every day. He definitely hadn't heard the door and to be stated slightly, was quite startled by the sudden yell. But even more startling was for him to actually realize who had come in, and who had been the one giving out the cry. Her appearance alone made a chilly feeling run trough Euric's body - never had he seen his sister like this, which alone already alarmed him, but the words she had shouted made the feeling of a sudden freezing grasp around his heart even stronger.
"What..?" A silent whisper, half unconsciously, escaped the First Prince's lips. He stood up, the papers simply slipping out of his grasp and spread around the table, his chair and the floor as the fell. In front him, in the middle of his office, Vana was completely breaking down.
“They kidnapped her, and it’s my fault.”

Had he heard it right? Ayame... ...kidnapped?
What? Who? Where? How?? The thoughts rushed through the First Prince's mind. How could it- well, she was the nowadays royal spazz and always going her own ways. It could have been one of those 'normal' disappearances of hers... Euric if someone was one to know about such 'field trips' - he, after all, was the one spazz at those before Ayame. It was his thought at first, a denial as a defense against accepting that Ayame could really have got herself kidnapped this time, but soon enough was his mind forced to abandon any such a thought of false consolation. This wasn't the Sylvana if something of such had happened. She was broke. The big sister who had always been the strong one, the one to whom also Euric had looked up to and who he highly respected because of many of her commendable traits, never broke down. Sure it wouldn't happen for nothing - hell, she wouldn't break down even for a lot. And there she was now, right in front of his eyes.
It was dead serious.

Frankly, at first, he froze from the shock of seeing her in such a state. But for too long he didn't hesitate - of course he could not. No way he ever would have left Vana all alone and broken in such a state. Never. It would have been unacceptable - not that Euric would have even thought of such. The sight of Sylvana - Vana - like this, though, made him feel a bit helpless, if not even anxious, but it didn't mean he wouldn't do his best. The number one thing now would be to calm her down, give her the solace she had sought for.
So in the next moment he rushed down to the floor, kneeling next to her and lay his arm around her shoulders, taking a hold of her and supporting her to lean against his chest. He suppressed the cold feeling growing inside himself, overall trying to hide his own feelings and calm down to concentrate solely on comforting his sister for now. Time for questions would come - but not quite yet.
"Shh, Vana... Calm down... Breathe... Hush... No, don't speak now, just try to calm down first... Shh..." He let half go of her for a moment when he reached for a handkerchief from his pocket, then leaned back to Vana to gently wipe off the tears from her cheeks.
"Now, there's no blaming yoursel, you're not at fault here... I'm sure of it... Now, please... Everything's going to be okay... Hush now... I'll be with you, don't worry... Shh, Sylvana..."
Gently he held her in his arms, and spoke to her with quiet words, his tone of voice being soft and soothing and as calm as he could keep it. He did not move, did not rush her. He would not, for now, but just let her be there as long as she would want to, and need to.

[Touya Sakamoto]

-Thread Finished-

Izumi Kaoto: (772 Words, Normal RP) - 78 EXP, 78 Credits [0]
Sylvana Li Britannia: (2461 Words, Normal RP) - 257 EXP, 257 Credits [+10]
Euric Qi Britannia: (712 Words, Normal RP) - 82 EXP, 82 Credits [+10]

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