Authors Note:

Let me began by thanking you for clicking on this story. I'm not well with summarizing stories with a short character limit; especially when the plot in mind doesn't follow just one simple theme or plot. But I will do my best to very briefly give you an idea what this is about before you read it.

First off, this will probably end up being quiet long (though will have shortish chapters since I like to keep the story organized) since my mind is flooded with ideas revolving around Lelouch/Zero, his double life and Suzaku. I really love the concept between the characters. You know, almost like it's a "friends by day, enemies by night" thing. They're both very powerful characters with the same goals, but unfortunately perceive the tactics leading to the accomplishments differently. This causes quite a lot of conflict, thus I really wanted to dig in deeper with these characters and show their true colors… well, how I see it anyway.

This story will be aimed mostly around Suzaku and Lelouch, though other loveable characters will also be involved. Themes include their rivalry on the battlefield, their friendship at school, flashbacks from childhood, and bitter and sweet romance.

WARNING: This story will contain yaoi. But, this wont just be a smutty story or anything. It's more of an actual plot with some smut and romance. Ha. So that being said, if you dislike reading yaoi or sexual content, you may still like the plot itself for it will also have drama, action and my own failed attempts at humor. (I will make a note on the chapters containing sexual content for those of you not interested... Or for those who want to jump right to it. XD) Also, in later chapters this will (or perhaps already does for some) contain spoilers. So if you haven't fully finished the series, I suggest you do before reading this!

Sorry for the long and pointless introduction! Enjoy!

Chapter one: High stakes

"Since you'll be here a while, how about we play a game of chess, hm?" The masked commander of The Black Knights suggested to a securely tied hostage seated in front of him.

"Of course, the stakes at hand will have rewarding benefits." He declared smugly as he arranged the pieces within the black and white squares.

The restrained man remained mute on the opposite side of a small table with a checkered-pattern board neatly placed on top. There was a dim overhead lamp illuminated above it.

Zero twined the King between his fingers as he gawked across at his huffy competition. In a hasty motion, he collided the King piece down onto the glass board, which made a reverberating echo bounce off the solid concrete walls surrounding them. "It will also have its penalties."

The crashing sound of the King hitting the glass caused the captive to stir weakly and alert him out of his stunned daze. His eyes enlarged as he fully grasped he had been abducted by Britannia's most hostile adversaries: The Black Knights. And seated right before him was the infamous head superior, the masked man known as Zero himself.

But how... How did I get in this predicament? His mind dashed in a haze; looking for the memory to fit the answer of his own question. Imageries flashed in his head of the recent events he could recall from earlier. His thoughts came up with a memory of himself seated in his Knightmare; he was on the look out for The Black Knights because there was suspicious claims they would show up. But there was no recollection of being seized by them.

How... How can I not remember...! Did they get me by surprise somehow? Did I fall unconscious?

He would of held his head in attempts to eliminate pressure from his throbbing skull if it wasn't for his hands being bound behind him. The confined man began to feel a pileup of anxiety and puzzlement tumble upon him.

"From the look on your face, your mind seems to be jumbled up with bewilderment. Though, you should release your tension. Right now we have a match to start." The mysterious man stated.

Emerald eyes that belonged to Suzaku Kururugi daggered fiercely at Zero's reflecting helmet. It was already wordlessly determined that the match had begun between the two contrasting rivals from the infuriated look on the captures face.

"I'll now untie you, but only to grant you access to play the game." Zero lifted out of his seat and glided to back of the captive's chair in a strident motion.

"Don't bother trying anything slick, your ankles will still be shackled to the chair you're seated in, which is bolted to the ground, so you escaping is impossible. I can reassure you that you wont be harmed further as long as you play by my rules." he instructed as he untied the rope from around Suzaku's wrist.

The tight ropes pressure had released from around the prisoners skin. Suzaku pulled his hands out from behind him and gripped one hand around his wrist and rubbed the rope-burn marks in a reeving motion.

He pierced a growling gaze at the masked man returning to his seat.

"Shall we begin?" Zero questioned as he sat.

"What for?" Suzaku averted his gaze away in an uninterested manner, but his expression turned fowl as he glared back at his own refection on Zero's helmet. "It's pointless. I don't have time for games."

"That is where you are wrong." Zero spoke up over Suzaku as he was finishing his sentence. "You have plenty of time because I don't plan on releasing you until I get my wish granted."

"Oh?" Suzaku moaned out with a mordant attitude. "You wish for more? Don't you already have enough?"

The brunette boy folded his arms and tilted his head down distastefully. "You're in control of a - I dare admit - powerful group, you're mindlessly controlling the population of the 11's because they believe you're some type of knight in shining armor that's destined to be their savior. And on top of this, you somehow always seem to get your hands on the finest military equipment and technology. You shouldn't push your luck any further, mainly with me, because you may be in for disappointment."

Zero chucked enigmatically, "I'm flattered for you to say that. Thank you."

Suzaku became baffled by the mans enthusiastic sounding words. "Uh… Flattered…?"

"Yes, I'm flattered that you have recognized my achievements."

Suzaku sighed at Zero's exposure of immaturity. He found it useless to correct the fact it sounded as if he were complimenting him, since he certainly was not.

"I don't believe I will be disappointed, though. I'm quite well at chess after all." Zero claimed confidently.

Cognition ignited upon Suzaku. "Oh I see now, you're going to somehow waver a deal over a game?"

"Indeed. It's safer to have a duel here than on the battleground, correct? You're an important piece after all, I wouldn't want to accidently injure you. Heh. Though, it's hard not to admit that it's quiet fun battling on the field together." Zero sneered menacingly. "Anyway, do you wish to hear the rewards and penalties now?"

"Hmph. I wouldn't think you were one for humor." Suzaku murmured, then inspected the pieces in front of him. He noticed it was already pre-affirmed by the way the pieces were set that he would play as white, and Zero would be black.

"The Black Knight against The White Knight, aye?"

Zero smirked, "I'm glad to see you've noticed the connection. Of course, you being white gives you a small advantage, you get to move first."

Suzaku glared back down at the board, then cornered his eyes back at Zero cuttingly. "Let me hear the conditions."

Zero propped back in his chair, crossed his legs, and mirrored his fingertips together. "Since I want to get on with the game, I wont drag this out; I'll just get right to the point. If you win, you can leave. But if I win, you stay. Simple enough?"

Suzaku's eyes widened slightly. "S-Stay? What the hell? You mean join The Black Knights?" The brunette propped up agitatedly in his seat; his body hardening up.

"Heh, now now, don't get too ahead of yourself. But we will discuss details later, right now, we will begin the game."

"I don't see how that's reasonable! I demand to know what you mean by that. I have the right to know if I'm going to play your game!" Suzaku disputed forcefully.

The masked man flicked his pointer finger at him and waved it side to side. "Nuh-uh-ah. Ease your tension now. As I said, you play by my rules, and my rules say I don't need to explain myself. Even if I did tell you the details, it doesn't make a difference. Whether you like it or not, the rules will remain the same, so it's pointless. Perhaps you not knowing will give you a better chance at defeating me since you wont know exactly what's at stake. You wont feel as much pressure." He flared his arms out invitingly. "I'm giving you an advantage here." he prophesied.

Suzaku swallowed hard; a drip of perspiration glided down his cheek.

"Okay, fine." He reached out his arm and gripped a middle Pawn between his fingertips and moved it two spaces forward. "Let's began."

Zero rapidly, as if with no thought, moved his black knight out in front. He snickered as he slanted his head in a cocky fashion to have it support on his upheld hand.

Then, as if to mocking Zero's quirky tactic, Suzaku also drew out his white knight out from the back. The black and white knights now were placed onward from each other; only two spaces away in distance.

"It seems as though both of the Knights are out for battle." Zero proclaimed.

Suzaku nodded. "Your move."

"Tsk. You look so serious." The tone indicated the masked man was smiling. "Chess is supposed to be fun, remember?" He pulled out his second knight, now two black Knights guarded in front of the black army.

Suzaku moved up another Pawn two spaces, but suddenly flinched, for the rules of chess were slowly coming back to him. His turn with the Knight came as a mirrored move of Zero's without much thought, but he had forgotten momentarily the Knights move placement and how they can craftily capture you if you don't pay close attention. For that error, Zero had claimed his white Pawn.

Suzaku stared down at the board. He couldn't be that careless again. He tried to quickly review the move placements of each piece in his mind. He had learned the rules of chess years ago by his dearly cherished childhood friend Lelouch. A smile dimly released from his face as he thought back to the adolescent times.

The voice of a small Lelouch was recalled in his consciousness as he heard him explaining the pieces to him…

I hope you enjoyed the read, thank you very much for checking out this chapter. Please review and give back some feedback. I would greatly appreciate it. Stay tuned for more!

-A