A/N: Well, welcome to my newly edited version of this story. I hope to make it much better than before. There will be yaoi in this fic, mainly between Lelouch and Shinichi. Don't like, don't read. There's also flirting with Lelouch/Kallen, and Lelouch/Shirley. Nina will die. Same as before.

Chapter 1: Cruel hands of destiny

A.D. 2010

The two young figures chased each other around the grassy field, the one boy tossing a black and white object back and forth, kicking it and guiding it back toward the second, who was too slow to really catch it.

The first boy put his hands on his hips, in imitation of his other best friend, and scowled at the second boy, who was panting dramatically. "Barou, this isn't that hard to do! Surely you can't be that inactive?" He snapped comically, but the corners of his mouth were up in a smile.

The second glared up at him, his violet eyes filled with annoyance and visible irritation. "Look, Kudo, like I said, I don't do sports. I suck at them, so please...leave me alone. Let me go back to Nunnally." He whined. This boy was skinnier and less well-defined than the first. He had messy black hair and purple eyes.

The first rolled his eyes. "What is it with you and your sister? You're too overprotective of her." His spiky brown hair fell neatly across his face, as he reached out his hand to the other, who grudgingly accepted.

"The things I do for you, Kudo..." He growled.

"Lelouch-san..." He said cheekily.

"I said to not call me that!" He cried.

"Okay, Kuro-tan." He chirped.

"I don't know why you're calling me that, but if it's an insult, I'll just ask Suzaku." He huffed, starting to walk away from the other child.

"Hey, Lelouch-san, we're friends, right?" He asked.

"...Yeah. We are." He said, his smile fading, "But we can't be seen together. You know how they react-"

"I don't care. You're my friend, even if you're Britannian. That means nothing to me and you know it." He said, his blue eyes sharp.

Suddenly, a loud whirring noise startled both young boys.

They glanced up, in time to see giant planes flying in the sky above them.

"I don't know what that is, or what that's about, but we'd better leave." Shinichi said.

Lelouch nodded, and the two boys took off for their respective homes.

That was the last fun conversation they'd ever have with each other.

The next time they met, Japan was in ruins and Britannia had invaded, taking over Shinichi Kudo's peaceful home and turning his world upside down, stripping him of his rights and freedoms and labeling him as a mere number, an Eleven.

"This is awful..." Suzaku mumbled, staring at the ground.

"What's happening?" Nunnally asked.

"Nothing too bad, I swear!" Shinichi cried, though his eyes were wet.

"What are you going to do now, Kudo-san?" Suzaku asked. The two boys had never really gotten along.

"I'm...I'm going to become a detective and seek out the truth behind why this happened. I'm going to make sure no one has to die." He said, "What about you, Lelouch?"

Lelouch was looking angered, wearing an expression that froze Shinichi to the core.

"I'm going to destroy them one day. Make them pay."

"Aw, damn it, they're gonna be angry with me for being late." The brunette teen cursed, grabbing a piece of toast before slipping on his uniform and heading out to the prestigious (and normally Britannian-only) Ashford Academy.

He sighed, noticing the wary looks people were giving him and put his hands in his pockets, holding his head high, saying nothing.

"Filthy Eleven. He thinks he's one of us."

"He'll never be one of us."

"He should stay with his kind, in the ghetto."

"Hey, ghetto trash, why don't you return to the slums where you belong?" An arrogant Britannian boy called, as his buddies laughed.

"Here's some advice: why not try cogitating and devising a sentient answer if you wish to communicate with me in a manner that isn't puerile and condescending?" He said, smirking widely.

They blinked stupidly. "What? What does he mean by that?"

"Simple as this. Why don't you three...have a...BALL?"

"What-"

WHAM.

The next instant, the lead goon was down and out for the count, lying on the ground, dazed, a huge red mark on his face. The other two glared angrily.

"You disgusting Eleven trash!"

Grinning widely, he sidestepped them. "You were saying?"

Growling in frustration, they attacked again, only for a blur to speed in and whack both of them in the chests.

"Nice save, Ran." He said.

The brunette Japanese girl scowled.

"Shinichi, don't go making trouble for yourself, you know how we're treated here." She said pleadingly, "You could've just stayed in the ghettos-"

"Then I wouldn't be able to make a living for myself. I'm an Honorary Britannian now and so are you."

"But, Shinichi, it's not real. They don't see you as one of them."

He smiled at her. "I'll make them believe I am, then."

As he walked closer to the school grounds, his eyes widened as he took in a familiar figure.

That tall young man with black hair...was that really?

"Lelouch?" He whispered, stopping in his tracks.

He had to know if it was him.

"Sorry, Ran, I'll be there in class in a few!" He said, running off, leaving a confused Ran behind.

He tailed the other boy before going behind him.

"Hello, Watson!" He chirped.

The boy jumped ten feet before turning around to face him, his eyes wide. "W-What the...?"

His eyes widened as he took in Shinichi, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"You..."

"Kudo Shinichi, detective at your service, Lelouch. It's been forever, hm?" He said.

"You idiot. I thought you weren't here."

"I thought you were dead. Why didn't you come say hello?" Shinichi said, walking beside him.

"Quit walking beside me. People will talk."

"Let them talk, Kuro-rin."

"Stop calling me that, Kudo." He muttered with a sigh. "Nonetheless, it's good to see you, too. I suppose I won't be seeing you around-"

Lelouch's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the familiar brunette seated in the Student Council room, grinning broadly.

"Yo. I thought I'd join."

The green-haired girl near him froze up. "An Eleven..." She muttered.

He rolled his eyes. "Wow, you're progressive." He remarked.

"I'm sorry...I just don't like Elevens...I was hurt by them a long time ago..." She muttered.

"That's no reason to be racist." He said sharply, "Who is this girl?" He asked.

"That's Nina Einstein, don't go making enemies, Shinichi." He warned, sighing. Leave it to Kudo to cause trouble right away.

"Oh, Lelouch, what is he to you?" Milly chirped, coming in, her eyes mischievous, which only meant one thing. "Long-lost lovers?"

Shinichi flushed a little. "No, we're childhood friends."

"Ohhhhh! I see." Milly said.

"Childhood friends? You didn't tell me you were friends with...with!" Rivalz cried, looking at Shinichi in disbelief. "Uh...no offense meant, but most of the time, when I picture an Eleven, I don't really see them as nice. The tv says you're scary."

"Well, the news is wrong. I'm Kudo Shinichi, nice to meet you."

An orangette immediately shook his hand. "I'm Shirley, nice to meet you."

"I'm Rivalz, and this is Milly. This is Kallen."

The redhead in the corner was looking at Shinichi in curiosity before she shook his hand, an interested look in her eyes.

'Could she be Japanese?' Shinichi thought.

"Miss Milly...I brought stuff for the new guest-"

"Hi, Nunnally-san."

Nunnally dropped the plates she was carrying.

"Shinichi-san?"

"Yep, it's me!" He chirped.

She started to cry as she felt his hand.

"It's been so long!" She cried.

"I know. But I'll be here from now on. I'll never leave you guys alone again. I swear."

As Nunnally held his hand, Shinichi glanced over at Lelouch, who was looking flustered but trying hard to hide a grin.

'You haven't changed, have you, Lelouch? At least I hope not.'