Note: Plot bunny that would make a fantastic extended piece (hint). How would a dying Zero change things, especially if he'd been ill most of his life. Completely out of character, these two scenes were kind of just to let me satisfy my plot bunny for sick!Zero. It has a certain romanticism to it, no? The dying Revolutionary who simply changed the world with his genius. This form of Tuberculosis was dramatized with plenty of artistic license and is not correct in regards to the disease .

Rakshata is said to have a background in Medical Cybernetics, which would require some medical training, so I used artistic license to make her more medically knowledgeable

I - Eavesdropping

Ohgi Kaname was not a man who eavesdropped on others. After-all, he was a private kind of person; enjoying his own personal thoughts that no other was privy to, yet, passing through the makeshift lab that Dr Chawla had claimed as her own - he eavesdropped.

From his line of vision he could see Zero with his mask removed, standing facing Dr Chawla which meant Ohgi didn't see anything except dark hair that was hardly uncommon in Japan. This was wrong of him, listening in to something that wasn't meant for his ears, but he couldn't help it.

Dr Chawla, a normally laid-back woman was rather distressed looking.

"Streptomycin is the best method of treating this rare form of Tuberculosis, Zero. If, as in your case it ceases to be effective in treating the condition..." the Indian woman trailed off, her face darkening as she was unwilling to finish her sentence.

"Tell me this, how long do I have, Rakshata?" Zero spoke, a calm and collected voice that had Ohgi thrown off guard.

"A year, maybe two at best. It'll gradually worsen until you are on a ventilator. " She answered promptly.

"I see. "

Rakshata frowned, staring intently at what was most likely Zero's unmasked face, something that a large part of Ohgi felt tempted to try and catch a glimpse of 0f.

"You don't seem very bothered for a dying man, Zero. "

Zero didn't answer at first.

Ohgi was frozen to the spot at hearing this revelation. What he had just discovered was something that scared him to the core - a world without Zero?

This man in a mask had swept through years of failure and frustration to lead the Black Knights to victory. Zero had in the matter of a few weeks brought hope to the downtrodden Japanese, his death would be the end of that, without his leadership...

Japan would never be free.

"I'll save that for when I'm dead, Rakshata, " the delayed answer an unexpected one, his voice almost amused, "but, for now let us keep our minds on track with defeating Britannia within the year. "

Rakshata let out a peal of laughter.

"Oh, Zero, you simply aren't one to let a terminal illness put you down, ahahaha. "

Ohgi had always held admiration for Zero; there was a charisma around the man who seemed to reel everyone in, and that admiration had increased tenfold today. Despite struggling with a rare form of a disease then being handed a death sentence, the Man of Miracles was calm and collected.

A part of Kaname couldn't help but to wonder if this was the reason he was a distant leader; one trying to distance himself because of his illness. Zero must feel so very lonely. In defeating Britannia he had nothing to gain, only the last months of his life consisting of stress and long hours devoted to fighting them: just who was Zero?

II- Cat's out of the bag

Ohgi should've recognised the signs immediately. Zero had entered the HQ,accompanied by the green haired woman known as CC and he'd been muffling coughs. Now, Ohgi had been dealing with a fight that Tamaki had started, which had commanded his attention enough that he only briefly noted the muffled coughs, and overlooked them.

All senior members of the Black Knights had gathered in the meeting room, seating themselves in preparation for hearing Zero brief them. Zero had been six minutes late. That short amount of time wasn't something that was unusual, if the person who had been late was someone other than Zero, but since it was Zero - everyone was on edge.

He entered the room in his usual silent manner. If Ohgi hadn't known that Zero was so seriously ill he may have missed the carefully controlled steps and stiffness in his posture - he knew, so he didn't.

"This Special Administrative Zone will fail. Euphemia li Britannia does not have the influence to bring it into realisation, despite her good intentions in proposing it, it will only be torn apart by outside Britannian powers. However, the Black Knights cannot oppose it publicly or we'll lose greater momentum with our supporters - exactly why the Viceroy and Prime Minister approved of it. " Zero's voice didn't hint at pain, illness or weariness, just matter of fact in what the Black Knights had to know.

Tohdoh was the first to speak, "They have maneuvered us into a position that will weaken our position without it impacting on Britannia. Quite a move, not something one would expect from Cornelia, so-"

"Schneizel has entered the battlefield. " Zero interrupted, stating the sentence softly.

Ohgi didn't see why that changed anything, neither did others amongst the group.

"Cornelia is a skilled Commander with a strong grasp of strategy and tactics, but she is a soldier. Schneizel has a grasp of strategy and tactics equal to my own..." the masked man paused for a deep breath, continuing with, "And, perhaps even greater with his experience. He is the most dangerous man in all of Britannia and now he has set his eyes on the Black Knights. "

"On you," Rakshata spoke up, smirking, "who happens to possess a mind of equal brilliance to his own. The JLF was of no consequence to a man of such intellectual brilliance like Britannia's White Prince or the one whispered by the EU the Cold Blooded Strategist. What has now changed is your début in turning Japanese Resistance into a Japanese Revolution. "

Everyone was looking towards Zero.

The man in question was hunched forward, a gloved hand splayed protectively over his chest, as he slumped down into a motionless position on the floor with a thud.

Ohgi jumped up, kneeling beside Zero while pressing his ear to the man's chest. Zero wasn't breathing. White hot panic shot through the former teacher turned Black Knight as he searched for some sign of life that wouldn't necessitate betraying Zero's identity by removing his mask in full view of others.

"Dr Chawla, get him to your lab, " He found himself barking orders.

Within minutes the Indian Scientist with a minor medical background had surprisingly with ease heaved Zero out of the room.

That left Ohgi to calm the chaos that had erupted.

Ohgi prepared himself to tell the truth, feeling guilty for betraying Zero again.

"What happened?"

"Is Zero dead?"

"Is it poison? Is he dead?"

"Zero is terminally ill, he's been ill for what I think is a long time, but over the course of the past months the treatment lost its effectiveness..." Ohgi had successfully silenced everyone with that brief statement, "Dr Chawla was the only other aware of his condition. I discovered it by accidentally overhearing a discussion between Zero and Dr Chawla about his illness. She estimated a year to live with two years being the maximum. "

Tohdoh had listened thoughtfully as Ohgi had detailed what he knew. His hawk-like features twisted into a deep frown as he processed what they had just been told.

"This remains amongst only us, do not confront Zero on his condition, forget you were ever told. Rakshata Chawla with her background with some medical expertise was told out of necessity, it seems, this illness changes nothing as he has proven with his vigour in fighting for Japan. " The former JLF soldier was firm and uncompromising in how he commanded the others.

Ohgi felt thankful that Tohdoh had taken matters into his own hand, using his formidable appearance and reputation to settle matters with only a few sentences.

Now, all that mattered was that Zero pulled through this sudden extreme lapse in health. Silently, he prayed for the founder of the Black Knights...

He prayed for a miracle.