[Chapter 3] The False Masks

G-1 Mobile Base – Area 11, 10 August 2017 a.t.b.

Clovis la Britannia stared in shock at the revelation that his thought to be dead brother, Lelouch vi Britannia, was alive.

He shot up from his throne. "Lelouch!? But I thought-"

"I was dead?" Lelouch gave a smirk. "You were wrong, Your Highness. I have returned."

As he rose to his feet, he leveled his gun at Clovis.

"And I've come back to change everything."

-~-

Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

Kallen glanced back at the land cruiser that housed the prince. She and the resistance were moving along with a crowd of survivors who were leaving the devastation that was left in their city. The Britannian soldiers stood by, watching them leave. While she couldn't see their faces, she could guess that they were confused and angry that they were letting them go. She sees a man with teal hair shouting into a radio.

"Why the hell are we letting the Elevens go!? What about the poison gas they've stolen?"

His grimace told her whatever he heard, he didn't like it. "Yes, I heard about the Prince's orders! I asking why are we doing it!? Where are Bartley and the officers?"

Somehow, his grimace grew even more pronounced. "What do you mean they're not at their post? You're telling me that the Prince is in the briefing room, ALONE!?"

"Kallen."

Knocked out of her eavesdropping, she looks at Ohgi, who walks up next to her. He looked at her with a disapproving look. "I saw what you were about to do. Back there at the Safehouse."

She frowns and looks forward, keeping her stride. She's already dreading the conversation.

"Naoto said that you shouldn't use your ability-"

"Unless absolutely necessary. I know." Kallen finishes. "But what was I supposed to do? Let us get shot?"

"I understand that. But using your ability draws attention. And you know what happens if they find those with abilities."

Kallen's frown deepens, shuddering a bit. She's heard many rumors about what happens to those who Britannia caught, none of them pretty. Ohgi looks around, seeing way too many ears and whispers to her. "We'll talk about this later."

She nods, still keeping her frown.

-~-

G-1 Mobile Base

Clovis stared in fear at the gun pointed at his head. Slowly, he sits back down on his throne.

"I... I'm overjoyed, Lelouch." He said, eyes nervously shifting from the gun to his brother. "They said you and Nunnally died when Japan was brought into the fold."

Lelouch gave nothing but a cold look, the gun never wavering from its target.

"We should depart to the homeland straight away!"

"So you can use me as a tool for diplomacy once more?" Lelouch narrows his eyes. "It seems you've forgotten why we were sent to Japan in the first place."

Clovis wides his eyes as he realizes what he meant.

"That's right. It's because my mother had been killed." Lelouch closes his eyes as the painful memories pop back up.

The bullets flying through the windows.

The smell of blood in the air.

His mother's body over his sister, protecting her. Nunnally staring at her mother in shock and horror.

Him standing by the stairs, screaming as he witnessed the tragedy.

For years, he had questioned why that happened. Why was their mother killed? Why did the Emperor not do anything about it? Why did he send him and Nunnally away?

Why?

Why?

Why?

And for years, he had received no answer. No clues. No closure. He was just left there to seethe in the ocean that was his rage.

Until now.

He opens his eyes, glaring at Clovis. "Mother held the title of Knight of Honor, but was a commoner by blood. No doubt the other consorts held her at contempt." He then scowls. "You may have made it look like the work of terrorists, but I'm no fool. You people killed my mother!"

"It wasn't me, I swear!" Clovis scrambles back in his throne, waving his hands in front of him.

"Then tell me who it was. The truth can no longer be hidden from me." He activates the Power of the Kings within his eye. "By whose hand was she slain?"

Clovis widens his eyes as he sees the sigil before his eyes glaze over, his will succumbing to another. In a monotone voice, he spoke. "My siblings, Second Prince Schneizel and Second Princess Cornelia. They can tell you."

Lelouch's eyes widen at this revelation. "They were at the heart of this!?"

Clovis remains silent, his expression revealing no emotions.

"I see." The former prince furrows his brow. "That's all you know, isn't it?"

Appears that's all Clovis can say. He either wasn't privy to their plans or he truly didn't know and suspected those two. Either way, he at least knows where to look.

As he deactivates his power, Clovis wakes up from his trance. "I swear, it wasn't me!" He screams, panicking again, the memory of what happened moments before, gone.

"I believe you." Lelouch lowers his gun. Clovis blinks at this before sighing, relief flooding his veins.

"However..."

Lelouch gives a devilish smile as he raises his gun, this time pressing it against his brother's head. Clovis' heart races as he stares at Lelouch with terror in his eyes. "WAIT! We may have different mothers, but you and I are of the same blood!"

However, this does nothing to faze the former prince. "You can't change the world without getting your hands dirty."

He pulls back the trigger.

-~-

Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11, 11 August 2017 a.t.b.

"LELOUCH, WAKE UP!"

The schoolboy is rudely awake by a hit to his head. Looking up, he sees Milly Ashford in her school uniform, an angry look on her face and a long, rolled-up piece of paper in her hands. Which she used to hit his head. Again.

Repeatedly.

"I know you're sleeping. Your hands stopped moving." She said, continuing to still rain blows on his head.

"Well, you don't have to beat me about it." He said, raising his arm to block.

"HA! Serves you right for ditching me yesterday." Rivalz said as he sat at the head of the table. The children were in the Student Council, sitting at the long table on which they performed their club duties.

Sorting out paperwork.

"Yeah. What was up with you yesterday?" Next to him, Shirley asked as she worked on her set of papers. She sent him a questioning look, remember all that he did yesterday.

Lelouch looks away. "Oh, uh..." Desperately, he sought for an excuse.

Luckily for him, Milly puts her foot down. "That's enough, you guys. We can't get sidetracked here. If we don't come up with a budget for the club activities, there'll be no funds for anything."

"And if it comes to that point..." At the corner, Nina sat at a desk, working on her set of papers.

"The Equestrian Club will be pissed. We don't want them riding in here on horseback." Rivalz finishes.

Milly frowns. "Rivalz, can't you be a more serious Student Council member?"

Unbeknownst to her, a man in uniform rode past their window on horseback, peering into the room.

Shirley gives Milly an annoyed look. "You know, it would have been helpful if you reminded us a day earlier."

Rivalz shrugs. "I would have suggested a day later. Then we would have given up."

"Good idea." Lelouch agreed. "Let's do that."

"GUTS!"

Everyone in the room winces and turns to Milly, who stands in a pumped-up pose glaring at them.

"Are you trying that 'guts' spell again?" Rivalz asked with an exasperated expression.

"Yep." She smiles, her previous expression vanishing as if it weren't there. "I want you people to start putting your all in this."

"I don't think your magic is going to do anything." Lelouch said.

Milly scoffs. "Who said anything about magic? It could be my special ability for all you know." She gives a cheeky wink at him.

He chuckles. "Don't go joking about such things." However, with how she's able to get people to follow in her antics and, given that he has the power to control minds, maybe he can't rule out the supernatural.

"Well," Shirley said, raising her hand. "I think it's got me all fired up."

"Supple and willing. That's what I like." Milly smiles at her.

"I train hard at the Swimming Club!" Shirley said proudly, flexing her arm.

"That's not what I meant."

"Huh?" Shirley notices Milly gazing suggestively at her. Or, more specifically, what was below her head. Following her gaze, she sees her bosom.

"You're a ten. From what I heard in the girl's bathroom, anyway." Milly teases with a smirk. "You're filling up in all the right places."

"Hoho." Rivalz leered down as well. Shirley covers her bosom, her cheeks flushed red.

"PERV!"

Lelouch gives a small, hidden smile as he watches the shenanigans that are a common occurrence. Never a dull moment in the Student Council.

Finally, they finished their work and were getting ready to head to their next. As he was about to leave the room, he was stopped by Milly. "Lelouch."

He looks back. "Yes?"

"Have you seen Maya lately?" She gave him a concerned look. "She never came back from her errand."

"Is that so?" Ah, he thought something was missing. Maya Garfield, one of their recent members. A bit of a distant and quiet girl, but who's also hard working. She also goes on errands whenever lunchtime comes. No one knew where she went, but she usually came back late, slightly chipper than before, he might add.

That was, until now, apparently.

"Yeah. She never did this before. So if you can, check up on her, please? And to give her this." She hands him something that surprised him.

An origami in the shape of a crane.

"Where did you get this?"

"She dropped it as she left. I planned on giving it back, but she left before I could. Thought I would give it to her today, but as you can see..." She shrugs.

He looks over the origami, admiring the craftsmanship. Whoever made this certainly had a lot of passion put into it.

"Wait," He looks up. "Why can't you do it now?"

Milly laughs. "Oh, that's quite simple, my Vice President." She places her hand on his shoulder. "I have you to do it."

He gives her a bemused look. "What am I, your errand boy?"

"Of course not. You're my Vice President. Besides, Rivalz already got his punishment, so all that's left is you." She tights her grip, giving him a look that said she will not take 'no' for an answer.

He sighs.

In the background, Lelouch could swear he heard Rivalz laughing.

-~-

"Shesh, our president is just a dirty old man inside, isn't she?" Shirley said as she and the other members walked to their classes.

"That's Milly for you." Nina said.

"Relax." Rivalz said, nonchalantly waving at them. "At least we managed to get the budget done."

As the three entered their class, they saw a peculiar sight. Many of their classmates surrounded those with computers. On those computers was the news of what happened in Shinjuku.

"They used poison gas!?"

"Man, that's freaky."

"Shinjuku is just 30 minutes from here."

"I saw smoke coming from there." A gasp. "Maybe that was the poison gas!"

Around the class, many students expressed fear and distress that such a weapon of mass destruction was so close to them.

"Shinjuku?" Shirley asked.

"I heard about at it in real time." Behind her, Lelouch entered the class. "That's why I called you yesterday."

As the class continued to discuss the poison gas, Lelouch narrowed his eyes, seeing the news, and noticing a lack of coverage surrounding the Prince's death. This is strange. Are they covering it up?

The death of a member of the Imperial Family should be sending out shockwaves throughout not just Area 11 but throughout the entirety of Britannia. Especially given that Clovis has made himself to be a very populous person, at least to the Britannians in Area 11.

He pulls back the trigger.

"GUH!" He gags, quickly covering his mouth and rushing to the bathroom as the urge to vomit grew intensely.

-~-

In the bathroom, Lelouch cleans himself at the sink after vomiting. Turning off the taps, he stares into his reflection in the bathroom mirror. "Heh, guess I wasn't as tough as I thought I was." He chuckles bitterly.

Not only had that been his first kill, but even with hatred in his heart and the blood on Clovis' hands, he remembered a time when they were still brothers who enjoyed each other's company.

As he leaves the bathroom, he thinks back on the cover-up of Clovis' death. Now that he thinks about it, it makes sense. The Prince just died, right in what was supposed to be the most secured area of the land cruiser. Of course, they were panicking and were trying to buy some time to salvage this.

So, they're not to incite a panic, huh? Hmm, then by the time they would announce it, they would have gotten a scapegoat. However, since I'm the killer, the question is then...

Who?

-~-

Fort Perry, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

Fort Perry is a series of surrounding military bases around the Viceroy's Palace and is the main headquarters of the armed forces within Area 11. As such, it's responsible for the defense of the island dominion.

And in Jeremiah's eyes, it's clear that they failed at doing that.

"That ex-civil servant is a joke." He said, glaring as the black sedan that he was in passed through the routine check-up at the gates.

"Are you referring to Bartley, my Lord?" Sitting next to him, Villetta glanced at him.

"The killer breached through our heaviest security. Twice." He scoffs. "These perfunctory inspections are nothing but a farce."

"He says he doesn't remember how it happened." Villetta pointed out. When they weren't receiving any more orders from the Prince, they went to investigate. What they found was the Prince's corpse with the killer long gone. And nobody knows how they did it. All that they could gather was that no one had any recollection of what happened between the Prince's orders and his death.

"Don't tell me you believe him." Jeremiah looked at her with incredulity.

"I'm not saying that I am, sir. I'm just suggesting that they may be another element to consider here." Villetta said, a memory coming up. Oddly enough, she too doesn't remember how she lost her Knightmare. One moment she was carrying out the late Prince's commands. The next she wound up in that warehouse.

She furrows her eyes. A glimpse of someone standing in the middle of the warehouse appears in her mind.

Was someone there?

Jeremiah scoffs. "If you're saying that the killer had a meta-ability, I suggest you stop while you're ahead. Many have used that excuse to cover up their failures. So unless more evidence comes forward, merely forgetting something will not get them out of trouble."

"Very well, sir." She drops the subject, knowing that Lord Jeremiah can be very stubborn when he wants to. "On another matter, this could be the chance, us purebloods need. With the prince gone-"

"Let me make that call." He holds up a finger at her. "We still need to woo everyone over."

-~-

Ashford Academy – Area 11

As Lelouch walks back into the class, he comes across a circle of girls surrounding a desk. At the center, he sees a girl with short red hair and blue eyes.

"Kallen, it's been ages!"

"Sophie's been worried sick."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Kallen said softly, with a tired expression. "I just have to go easy for a little while."

Lelouch studies the redhead. Kallen Stadtfeld. Known for being a quiet and sickly girl. She comes from the Stadtfeld family, a noble family with vast amounts of wealth at their disposal. Her appearance in the classroom has been so little and whenever she did, she didn't take part in any physical activities. Still, despite her frequent absences, she always remains in the Top 10 in class, so she isn't lacking in intelligence at all.

Still, he feels like he has seen and heard her from somewhere...

"Because that would mean a bloodbath!"

His eyes shoot wide open.

The terrorist!

So that's why she sounds so familiar.

Walking back to his seat, he studies her again, this time though with intent. So she's a terrorist? That would explain why she's never been to class. And as he watches her interact with the class as the day goes on, he notices some differences.

While the girl at the truck sounded confident and had a fiery look to her, the girl in his class is more soft-spoken and has a quiet demeanor, as if she's trying to not draw attention to herself. Even her hairstyle showed this change, with her classroom persona having her hair combed to be more straight while he remembers it being wild.

"So," From behind, Rivalz sneaks up on him, a smirk on his face. "See something you like?"

Maybe he should have been more discrete...

"You've got a thing for her, don't you?" Rivalz looks at him, a knowing look on his face.

"I just think it's odd. She hasn't been here since the semester started." Lelouch said, trying to dissuade the thoughts he knows are running in his friend's mind.

Unbeknownst to the schoolboys, Shirley took a glance at Lelouch from the corner of her eyes before going back to the book in her hands, burying the oddly burning feeling in her chest when she saw Lelouch looking over Kallen.

Elsewhere in the academy, a particular girl with her eyes closed was strolling down a hallway in a powered wheelchair. She has brown curly hair flowing down her back and wore the Ashford Academy uniform, however, instead of the usual yellow and black scheme, she wore a pink pinafore over a long-sleeved white shirt and a red tie with the Ashford insignia woven in gold. She wore rogue pink knee socks and black shoes as well.

She is Nunnally Lamperouge, Lelouch's little sister and a former princess of Britannian. Just like her brother, she had been living with the Ashford family ever since the invasion of Japan. And just like him, she attended the academy, though, given her age, she was assigned to the middle school district within the academy.

Still, she was fine with that. She got to meet up with her brother and her friends daily, so with a bright smile, she went on her day.

"Well, if it isn't the freeloader."

Nunnally felt a stone drop in her stomach as she heard three sets of footsteps in front of her.

Before her stood three girls. On the right stood with short black hair and hazel eyes. She wore the same uniform as Nunnally, meaning that she, too, was in the middle school district. She was Alexandria Medici, a member of the wealthy Medici family, a family with ties in the financial markets.

On the left, another girl stood with brown hair in a ponytail and brown eyes. She, too, wore the same uniform. She was Isabella Borgia, whose family is rumored to have connections in many places.

In the middle of the two stood Ekaterina Sforza. A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She also wore the same uniform. She was a member of the Sforza family, a noble family with an influential position among the Britannian nobility.

How does Nunnally know any of this? Because these girls like to repeat it.

A lot.

Nunnally slows to a stop and addresses the girls. She nods. "Miss Ekaterina, Miss Alexandria, Miss Borgia. While I would love to stay and catch up with you all, I have classes I must attend to."

She tries to roll past them but Ekaterina stops her by grabbing onto the wheelchair. "Hold it! I didn't permit you to leave." Ekaterina said, glaring down at Nunnally.

"Where's your respect for your betters? For a low-born noble such as yourself, I had hoped that you'd been taught about your poor manners by now."

Nunnally sighs. "I'm sorry if I offended you, but I truly must get to my classes." Again she tries to leave, but Ekaterina pulls the wheelchair back, making Nunnally fall out. "Ah!"

"I said you're not leaving!"

As Nunnally picked herself up, she felt a sudden rush of wind and heard a new voice popping up. "Really, Sforza? This again? Don't you have a better use of your time?"

Surprised by the sudden gush of wind, Ekaterina and the other girls turn around and glare.

Behind them, leaning on the wall, was a girl with blond hair and red eyes, as well as a wide grin on her face. She also wore the same uniform as everyone in the hall.

Ekaterina glowers. "Stay out of this, Beaumont. I am in the middle of educating the uneducated about showing respect."

The girl's grins grows even further as she looks down. "Is that so? Well, you don't exactly give the image of a respectable teacher."

It is then that Ekaterina feels a sudden draft from below. She, Isabella and Alexandria looked and shrieked. Somehow, without their notice, their skirts had fallen to the ankles, revealing their panties.

As they scrambled and pulled their skirts up, they glared at the red-eyed hair howling with laughter.

Ekaterina growls, face red. "You'll pay for this, Beaumont." And with that, she and her friends leave the hall. The girl scoffs, shaking her head before making her way to the struggling girl on the floor.

"Here, let me help you up." The girl left Nunnally back into her wheelchair.

"Thank you, Alice." Nunnally gives a smile to the girl. "But what in the world did you do to them that had them screaming like that?"

Alice smiles. "Just a little trick of mine. Don't worry, they're not hurt. Can't say the same about their dignities, though."

The former princess sighs in relief. "Thank God."

Alice frowns at this. "I still can't understand why you won't let me punch in their stupid faces. They obviously deserve it at this point."

"Yes." Nunnally said, not denying her friend's words. "But then you'll get into trouble."

She scoffs. "I take any punishment from the academy."

"I'm not talking about the academy." Nunnally fiddles with her hands. "Miss Ekaterina may get punished, but in doing so, she may drag you and the academy down as revenge. I can't let that happen to you."

Alice looks down at her and sighs. "I don't like it, but fine. Now then, let's get to class."

As Alice pushes Nunnally to her class, Nunnally tries to ignore how tightly her fingers are clenching her pinafore.

-~-

When lunch break rolled by, many in the academy took to either eating at the cafeteria or sitting outside in the courtyard. Amongst the students, Kallen and her group of friends sat outside, eating their lunch while discussing topics. Though, Kallen stayed mostly silent during this, content with just eating her sandwich.

That was until a bee flew into the group.

"Ah! A bee!"

"Don't let it sting me!"

"Kallen, run! Come on!"

As the girls scrambled away from the flying insect, Kallen, in contrast, calmly got up, jogged and crouched behind some bushes.

"I don't get it. Why is a bee following me?" She asked as she saw the bee buzzing around her face. "Is there a beehive nearby?" Annoyed by the constant buzzing from the insect, she raises a palm towards the bee.

Pop.

Suddenly, the bee popped like a bubble, its small remains falling to her feet.

"God, I hate this! I shouldn't have chosen to act as a weakling!" Kallen said, her Japanese slipping out as she rose to her feet. Her previous expression of a soft-spoken girl vanishes as she scowls. Why does she have to put up with this? She should be out there with the Ohgi and the others, doing missions.

Not mingling around with these Britannians.

With a huff, she goes back to eating her sandwich and walks back to her seat. But as she turns, she freezes.

Standing not too far from her was a boy with black hair and violet eyes staring at her.

Ah, crap.

-~-

No doubt about it. It's definitely her. Lelouch thought as he saw everything that took place. Her Japanese slipping out. Her quiet demeanor falling away, revealing the fiery personality that lay within. And even what she did to the bee.

Interesting.

He watches as she freezes upon seeing him. She gulps down her sandwich and tries to act natural before speaking to him in English. "A-ah, may I help you or something?"

As she stood there, hoping that the boy didn't see too much, the schoolboy decided that now was a good time as any to receive some answers. So, with a blink, he activates the power within his left eye.

"You will answer my questions."

The bird-like sigil flaps its wings before flying through Kallen's eyes and into her brain. And like a flip of a switch, Kallen's will became his. Her eyes glaze over as she falls into a trance. "Of course." She said in a monotone voice.

"Were you the one to pilot the red Glasgow?"

"Yes."

"Why terrorism?"

"Because I'm Japanese. Though technically, I'm half Britannian."

"Half-blood?" He asked, surprised. So that explains some things. Her appearance is like that of any Britannian. Her mixed heritage was how she fit in so easily as a Britannian while fighting as a terrorist. It also makes sense why she would hide it. Britannian society isn't fond of half-bloods. The nobility especially don't kindly to any Britannian if they have a mixed heritage, more so if they're from numbers.

Just another he hates about his former home.

"Why go so far?"

While he understands that as a Japanese, she probably felt that she shouldn't stand by while Japan suffered under the yoke of Britannia. However, if that was the case, many people would have already taken arms and fight. So why does she fight?

"Because of my brother's goal. Of a free Japan." She said.

"Your brother?" Lelouch mutters.

"Yes, my brother passed away, so I've taken up to achieving his goal for him."

So that's why she fights. An admirable goal, one he himself can understand as well. He then looks down at the tiny remains of the bee. "What did you do to that bee?"

"I used my Meta-ability."

His head shoots up to study her. Ah, so she's one of them.

About nearly 3 decades ago, there was a report of a newborn baby in the Chinese Federation. Normally, that wouldn't exactly be newsworthy, except for one fact.

The child was glowing.

The newborn was reported to glow with such brightness, that it was almost as if a god had descended. The parents, as well as the doctors, were in awe. No human could emit such visible light and they couldn't explain it. The baby soon became a national sensation, becoming one of the most famous individuals in the federation. Hell, they even appeared on international news networks.

However, as time went on, the news cycle settled. Other than reporting from people who said they felt great and safe within the brilliance of the child's light, there wasn't much else about it. And soon, people moved on, thinking that this was it.

Then the next one came.

A year later, they found another individual who also made news. In Britannian, there was a tragic train derailment that took the lives of everyone on board.

Except for one man.

When authorities arrived on the scene, they made a surprising discovery. The man was unharmed. Other than the tattered clothes he wore, there was no damage anywhere. No bleeding. No broken bones. Nothing.

And it didn't stop there.

Over the years, more and more people of various ages with extraordinary abilities came forward. And with each person came more miracles. It was at that point that people were getting the memo.

Something abnormal was happening to the world.

Lelouch looks back at Kallen. "And what does your ability do?"

"I can blow up anything I touch."

"Is that so?" That's a powerful ability to have. "Anything, you say? Any limitations?"

"It works best on solid objects. If it's a liquid or a gas, I get tired quickly. It depends on the material and size as well. Some things are easier to combust than others."

What a treasure trove this girl is. Makes sense why she keeps it a secret.

"When you received your ability, did you ever see a girl with green hair with a strange mark on her forehead?"

"No."

Lelouch narrows his eyes. "Who was with you when you received your power?"

"Nobody. I was alone when I received my power."

Tsk. So that's a dead end here. Still, he'll figure out just what the girl was.

After that bout of interrogation, Lelouch decides he has received enough information from her. So, he deactivates his power; the glow receding from his eye.

Kallen blinks, her mind coming back.. "Uh, do you need something?" She asked, not remembering a single thing.

"No." Lelouch turns around. "I got all I needed."

As he's walking away, he stops, a thought in his head. "Just to be safe." He turns around and activates his power. "Don't tell anyone about Shinjuku."

"Hmm? What do you mean by Shinjuku?"

Shockingly, instead of succumbing to the power, Lelouch watches wide-eyed as Kallen tilts her head. "Why did you mention it?"

He tries again. "Go back to class."

"After you answer my question." Again, instead of obeying, she glared at him.

Just what the hell was going on?

-~-

Inside the academy, Shirley walks down the hallway, looking for Lelouch. Lunchtime was ending, and they had chem class coming up. It was Lelouch's turn this time to set up the equipment.

Now, where was that boy?

Passing a window, Shirley looks out at the courtyard. Stopping, she gapes at a sight as her mind races.

Lulu and... Kallen!?

No wait. That can't be right. Lulu never showed any interest in other girls. 'The Ice Prince of Ashford', the girls call him. Though there was that time when he stared at her earlier today...

Shirley shakes her head, squashing the burning feeling that popped up again. No, Kallen just got into this semester. Most of the time, she's absent. He couldn't have the time to meet up with her.

Although, what if, all those times he went gambling, he wasn't actually gambling? She freezes, as thoughts of a... not so wholesome nature creeped into her mind.

She blushes before shaking her head again.

No! There's probably just a misunderstanding!

That's all!

-~-

What's going on? It's not working!? Lelouch cursed. He takes a step back from the redhead who was now viewing him with suspicion. His mind races, quickly looking for a way out...

"Lulu! Kallen!"

Lucky for him, Shirley came to the rescue. The two looked up and saw Shirley sticking out of a window above them. "We have to get to the Chem class! Come on!" She shouted, waving them in.

"Oh crap!" Lelouch said, placing a palm on top of his head. "And it's my turn to set up the equipment!" With that, he rushes to class, leaving behind Kallen.

Inside, Lelouch chided himself. He grew arrogant with his power, and now it cost him. Not only does he fail at using it on Kallen again, but now he brought suspicion to himself.

Why didn't it work? It was working beforehand.

-~-

Unknown Laboratory, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

"The project is a complete failure." Bartley said as he addressed a group of people who wore lab coats. "Therefore, this research division is being gutted."

He was inside a secure laboratory hidden underneath the Viceroy Palace, where they conducted research that most would consider... unethical. Only the late Prince Clovis, he, another staff officer, and these researchers knew what goes on in this laboratory.

And now, the Prince was dead, caused by an event he cannot even remember. Bartley could see the writing on the wall. His and many other heads were on the chopping block. Which will inevitably expose this research division and its secrets.

"What? But..."A researcher stood from his chair in disbelief, his expression shared with the others.

"I've already set up a place for you in Narita. Move everything out. There, you'll work with the division already there." A bit of fear creeps up on Bartley. "While we may not remember, the fact remains that the staff officers and I left the prince alone. I'm going to be called back home for this. If the Emperor finds that the project has gone without his consent..."

Bartley shudders, not even willing to imagine just what the Emperor would do.

"Head out as quickly as possible." With that, he leaves the room. Behind him on the desk where the researchers worked, there were many documents laid about, as well as many photos. One was a photo of a green-haired girl strapped to a metal chair, with machines connected to her as well as researchers surrounding, taking notes. Another photo, this one grayed out because of age, shows a battlefield where early tanks rolled over trenches. However, the tanks were not the focus of the photo, but of the same green-haired girl in a brown coat as she ran across the battlefield.

As the door slid closed, he let out a stressed sigh.

"I told you we should have sent out the irregulars."

Bartley turns to his side and spots another man in the same uniform as him, glaring at him. He had bleached blonde hair and a small beard.

"I told you we should have sent them out, but no. You want to do this nice and quietly. Have as few eyes and ears as possible. Well, how's that working out for you?"

Bartley growled. "The Prince's orders were explicit."

"Prince Clovis is dead. And it's on you." General Yan growls out, pocking Bartley in the chest. "If we had a greater force, we would have crushed this little terrorist cell into oblivion. Instead, you wanted to do this nice and quiet. And failed. Now, we have too many eyes looking at us, looking at your failure."

Bartley frowns, seething at what he said. He slaps his finger away. "You would've had us rushing and destroying the terrorists, leaving us exposed, as people would start wondering why all that build-up was there for."

"Like your plan was any better. Because now, all our heads are on the chopping block."

Bartley growls before shaking his head. "We don't have time for this. Have your men escort these researchers to Narita. Discreetly." He glares at Yan before turning and walking away. "And don't you worry, I will resolve this matter."

Bartley ignores the scoff he hears from behind.

-~-

Student Council Clubhouse, Ashford Academy – Area 11

As the sun went down and the evening night sky rolled by, some student went to their dorms within the academy while others went home. Apart from the dorms, there were the buildings where the Student Council did their business. Not only does it have the main Student Council Conference Room, but it also holds a kitchen, a dining room and bedrooms.

And one of those bedrooms, Nunnally, wearing a green dress with white sleeves, sat in her wheelchair. In front of her was a table covered in colorful paper, almost all folded.

Sitting next to her was a Japanese woman with short brown hair and light brown eyes. She wore a maid uniform that had a frilly dark gown with a white long apron, a white veil, thigh-high socks, dark shoes and a white maid's hat.

In her hands was a pink piece of paper being folded. "What shall we do? He may be late again this evening."

"I'll wait." Nunnally said. "He promised me we're going to have dinner together."

The woman smiles before handing over the finished product. "Here you go."

Nunnally reaches out for the origami. "A bird?" She asked, feeling the shape.

"Yes, it's a crane."

"Amazing." Nunnally moves her fingers along the folded paper. "Japanese Arts continue to amaze me."

The woman smiles at her. Truly, Lady Nunnally's curiosity about Japanese culture is a treasure to behold. Suddenly, Nunnally stops moving her fingers and turns her head to the door.

"Nunnally-sama?" The woman said, before turning to the door as well. Soon, she hears footsteps before the door slides open and Lelouch walks in. "Sorry, I'm late."

"Hello, Lelouch." As Nunnally greeted her brother, Sayoko took a glance at her. She sensed him coming before she did? That was... incredible.

"Welcome home." The blind girl said, her trademark bright smile always present.

"Yes, welcome home, my lord." The woman said greets the former prince.

Lelouch gives a genuine smile. "No place like it. Right, Sayoko?"

Sayoko Shinozaki smiles back.

-~-

As the night rolled by, the Lamperouge siblings finally had dinner. There they sat in the dining room, with their dishes before. Eating and discussing their days.

"Miss Sayoko was teaching the arts of origami. Fold a piece of paper the right way and you could make birds, boats, anything really." Nunnally explained as she took a spoonful of her food. However, she ate a little too fast with some of the food drooling past her lips. Lelouch notices this and grabs a napkin.

"Easy there. You don't need to tell me everything at once. I'm not going anywhere." Lelouch smiles as he wipes her lips clean.

"Sorry. You're right." Nunnally said, a bit of red on her cheeks. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Speaking of origami, he's reminded of the origami he has in his possession. Outside of Sayoko and Nunnally, he didn't expect someone to have one. Especially a Britannian. Maybe if they were Japanese, but last he checked, Maya Garfield was a Britannian, right?

He then thinks back to Kallen and her mixed heritage. Before that revelation, he just thought of her as another Britannian student. Perhaps it's the same with Maya.

"It's just that..." He turns back to his sister, who is fiddling with her fingers. "I'm so happy because you scared me yesterday."

"Did I?" Lelouch asked, surprised. He thinks back to yesterday. Ah, he came late last night due to what happened in Shinjuku. Didn't even have the time to have dinner with her. Of course, she'd be scared. He has to make it up to her soon. "Sorry, I just had a lot on my mind."

"It's okay. I'm just happy you're here now." Nunnally said, giving her usual bright smile at him. He gives one back. After a brief pause, Nunnally grabs her origami and hands it over to him.

"Hey, they say that if you fold a thousand paper cranes, your wish comes true. Do you have a wish?"

"No, not really. How about you? Do you have a wish?"

She hums, thinking about her answer. She then smiles, having found one. "I wish that the world was a gentler place."

The former prince smiles. "When the time comes when you can see again, I'm sure it will."

"Really?"

"I promise." Lelouch said, resolve flowing through his veins. He'll move heaven and hell for her wish. He'll make sure of that.

He has to.

The truth is, though, we have little chance of survival in the future.

They couldn't hide forever. Soon or later, something will happen. And they will be forced to run or risk being found and killed.

Or worse, be forced back into the Imperial Family.

The Ashford Family are sheltering us, but how long will that last?

He was thankful to the Ashford family for taking them in. He truly was. It's just he can't always rely on them to protect them. He was long-time friends with Milly, dating back to when he was still a prince, so he knows she won't betray him. Her family was a different story, though.

Milly's mother, Madeline Ashford, has been trying to bring the Ashfords back to glory. And he knows one of those attempts involves revealing himself to Britannia and marrying Milly. He knows because she tried to convince him. Luckily, Milly's grandfather put a stop to it. However, he knows she hasn't given up on it.

And if not her, the many enemies of the Ashford family would certainly benefit from having his identity revealed.

And if our identities are revealed, even Rivalz, Shirley and the others would abandon us.

While he certainly enjoys their company, Lelouch can't trust them with such a secret. If even one of them reveals it, it'll put Nunnally and him at risk. He can't do that. We'll just be used as political tools again or casualties of royal ambition.

He watches Nunnally caressing her paper crane. I have to build a world where Nunnally can find happiness.

He won't gamble on Nunnally's safety. He'll make that dream of Nunnally's a reality. Even if it cost him.

Suddenly, Nunnally grabs his hand. While she couldn't see her brother's face, she could still tell something was worrying as he stayed silent. With their hands connected, she slowly let go, finger by finger until their pinkies were holding each other.

"Sayoko taught me this the other day." She said, holding up their pinkies. "It's a Japanese promise. A pinkie promise. May I be struck with lightning if I lie. I'll be struck by lightning and eat a thousand needles if I lie, I swear." She sang, reciting the song in Japanese while shaking the pinkies up and down.

Lelouch blinks, taking in the act before smiling shakingly. "Well, that's scary. I might have to eat a thousand needles someday!"

"Yup!" Nunnally grins. "So I'd better not catch you telling lies, all right?"

He laughs. "Don't you worry. I won't lie." His lips turn into a somber smile.

Not to you, anyway.

-~-

Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

As the night rolled by upon the city capital of Area 11, a peculiar sight took place on one of the many bridges connecting the settlement to the rest of the nation.

On this empty bridge, a convoy made up of two semi-trailer trucks, escorted by three armored cars; one leading the convoy, another in between the trucks and the final one trailing them from behind, drove down one of these tunnels. They wore a white suit with a gray bulletproof vest, as well as a white helmet with dark goggles. On the arms was an insignia made up of two lines, white and gray, twisting around a white pillar.

In the driver's seat, the driver let out a sigh.

"What's wrong?" His companion sitting next to him asked.

"It's just... man, what the hell is going on?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, just think. Prince Clovis dies and no one knows how the killer got in. Next thing we hear, we're supposed to transport these guys all the way to Nagita. Don't know about you, but to me, its sounds like they're looking to off us."

"Hmm, you're right. However, if that was the case, why do they have us hauling this around?" The passenger gestures to the trailer behind them.

"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you.

"The hell I know. We're paid to shoot, not think."

"I'm fine with that. What I'm not fine with is being told nothing."

The passenger glances at his partner with a deadpan, his goggles doing little to hide it. "Buddy, you know Command never tells us anything."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just, why can't just put these guys in a capsule and stuff them in some car? Wouldn't need us to do it."

"Can't." The passenger shrugs. "They said it's a bad idea to put a live human in a capsule. Whatever that means."

The driver scoffs. "That's a load of bu-"

The armored car in front of them exploded. It flips into before coming back down. The truck's tires screech as the drivers slammed down the brakes.

"Contact!" Their radio cracks out before an electronic howling scream overtakes it. Right as soon as the world underneath them lit up.

Then they knew no more.

-~-

Earlier

Inside the trucks, a bald man with an orange-tinted visor sighed. He wore a white coat with a back armband, dark green pants and boots. On the armband was the same insignia as the other soldiers.

The bald man turns to look at his companions for this trip. It'll certainly be hard to conduct research in such a contested region. That would explain why General Yan had ordered them to escort them. However, he feels that a convoy such as this would still bring attention.

Major Guin glances at the occupants in front of him. Sitting before him were five researchers. They sat quietly, not talking to him or each other, which he was thankful for. He wasn't much of a conversationist anyway. They were the research team that General Yan had ordered to be escorted to Narita.

Though I doubt that's the real reason we're here.

His glance turns to a case held by a researcher with glasses. He tried to act calm, but the way he gripped the case spoke of its importance.

Suddenly, everyone got flung in the air harshly as the truck bounced and shook, screeching to a stop.

"What was that!?" One researcher said.

Major Guin grabs his radio. "What the hell happened!? Why did we stop!?"

Instead of an answer, an electronic howling scream was all he could make out from the radio. "Report! Report, damn it!" What the hell was this? Were their communications being jammed?

"Tch!" He then turns to his soldiers. "Go out there and find out what's going on!"

"Yes, My Lord!" The soldiers nod before walking up and opening up the trailer. As soon as they did, the sounds of gunfire, dimmed by the walls of the trailer, grew louder. Stepping out as well, Major Guin walks out and takes in his surroundings.

In front of the convoy, he sees two armored black cars pulled up, with unknown fighters dressed in black with red highlights, taking cover behind and firing at them. The white-colored soldiers fought back with gunfire of their own, but it's very clear how affected by the sudden attack they were.

He then notices that the truck's entire front is nothing but a still flaming slag of metal. They were going nowhere.

All around, bullets went flying. Major Guin ducked back behind the truck, a bullet bounced off where his head was. He turns to the soldier next to him. "Get the Radio back up and running!"

The soldier nods before grabbing his radio. Major Guin scowls, turning back to the trailer, the researchers looking at him with fearful expressions. "The truck's stuck, so we have to transport you elsewhere! Follow these soldiers as they'll lead you away!"

As he points to the soldiers in question, he hears something skidding on the ground near him. Looking down, his eyes widened. Surrounding them were very recognizable cylindrical devices.

The guards tackled him away from the grenades as they exploded. His world shifted as multiple bright flashes went off and a loud ringing overtook his ears. Shaking himself up, he realizes the multiple grenades were flashbangs as he still had his limbs.

As the ringing in his ears slowly fades away, he still can't see further than his own hands. However, it wasn't because of lack of sight, but because all he saw was smoke.

Smoke grenades.

These weren't normal terrorists. Were they Blood of the Samurai or the JLF?

Luckily, the smoke slowly dissipates, allowing his soldiers to surround him with their rifles raised. Ready for any attack. As time went, it was clear no attack was coming. None of the gunfire was directed into the smoke cloud. And as he looked around, there were no attackers who took advantage of their lapse in sight.

"What the hell...?"

"It's gone!"

He looks back at the trailer. The researcher, who held the case, stood at the end of the trailer. "The case is gone!"

WHAT!?

Major Guin looked past the researcher and saw no sign of the case inside. "How!?"

The researcher shakes his head. "D-don't know! I held on to the case, but then suddenly I felt it ripped out from my hands!"

Major Guin growers at the researcher. Of course, they weren't here to attack them. They were here for the case. "Well, find it then!" He orders his soldiers, who nod. Pointing to another squad, he said. "Take them away now. We can't wait for reinforcements to..."

Suddenly, he heard the screeching of landspinners. Major Guin looks down the tunnel and sees a particular sight.

A white and black Sutherland raced towards them at ludicrous speeds.

Reinforcements? That was quick. Way too quick.

The Sutherland raced, moving faster than any Knightmare he'd ever seen. The white Sutherland fires on the terrorists, bullets tearing up the ground towards one of the terrorists' cars.

The rounds hit the car, tearing it up and engulfing it in a fiery explosion. Guin hears a feminine scream near the explosion. The air shimmers and flickers as if glitching. Suddenly, the effects give way to reveal a pink-haired girl, wearing a revealing red leotard. The girl flew forward and crashed back down, giving out a cry of pain. Next to her, a small four-legged dog-like robot whirled as it approached her, sparking a bit. As the girl groans, blood dripping from her wounds, Major Guin sees what landed not too far from her.

The case!

Groaning, she picks herself up and looks around. The other terrorists picked themselves up and started firing on the Sutherland with rockets. One terrorist shouted at the girl. "Get out of here! We got this!"

She nods before running, grabbing the robot and the case, and jumping over the railing of the bridge, sliding down on a curve pillar holding the bridge. As she reaches the ground, she dashes around a building corner, narrowly avoiding bullets from the soldiers and Knightmare hitting the ground near her.

"After her!" Major Guin shouted, pointing at the fleeing girl. "She has the package!"

The soldiers shout out. "Yes, My Lord!"

As the soldiers gave chase, Major Guin grabs his radio.

"All forces, package in enemy hands! I repeat package is in enemy hands! Apprehend a pink-haired girl in a red leotard! Top priority!"

-~-

The sound of footsteps and heavy breathing echoes down the street as the pink-haired girl dashes, the little dog-like robot in her hands. Blood continued to drip behind, leaving a bloody trail. As she ran, ahead of her was a bridge over a river connecting to the Shinjuku ghetto.

The girl hears the screeching of landspinners behind them. Flying out from behind, the white and black Knightmare arrives. Upon seeing her, the Knightmare raises its rifle and fires.

The bullets land behind her, launching her forward screaming and onto the bridge. There, she lands outside with a grunt of pain.,

Weakly, the girl tries to push herself up. The little bot whirled and chirped at her as if encouraging her. Behind, she can hear the Knightmare speed towards her. She closes her eyes as the Knightmare raises its rifle.

Hearing a loud bang of clashing metal, she looks up and sees the Sutherland being held back by a dark black Glasgow.

"Go! I'll hold them off. Get to Gai!" A feminine voice came from the Glasgow.

The girl nods before pushing herself up and running, grabbing the little bot as she goes. As she runs away towards the bridge, she hears the screeching of tires as the Knightmares fight. The Glasgow kept the Sutherland's weapons aimed away, but it was slowly being pushed back.

As the pink-haired girl reaches the bridge, she hears a crash and looks behind. Her eyes widen as she sees that the Sutherland, fed up, pushed the Glasgow away and raised their rifle at her. With a gasp, she jumps to the side.

The rifle fires a round and an explosion hits right where she stood moments before. The girl cries out as she is flung away from the blast.

And off the bridge.

"NO!"

Clutching the bot and case to her chest as she falls, the girl gasps as she looks up at the starry sky, stars sparkling through the already bright city.

Beautiful.

And with a splash, she crashes into the water.