Location: Shinjiku Ghetto

Time: 12:36

1 Month after the death of the Demon emperor

Lelouch slowly opened his eyes, groaning as the low light assaulted them.

"The demon finally awakes." Said a familiar voice off to the right. To be honest he doubted it was possible to forget someone who could be that annoying.

"Shut up witch, this was hardly part of the plan." He snapped back without moving, his memories now back and ordered with him waking.

A small chuckle echoed out from the left of where C.C.'s voice came from.

"I like this guy already. I thought we were the only ones to call you a witch these days." The amused male voice was followed by a feminine giggle and a derisive humph from C.C.

This prompted Lelouch to sit up and look. Part of him noted that there was no pain but he ignored it for the moment. Looking around he realised he was in a warehouse. To his right of course was the green haired figure of C.C. sat lazily a short distance away, clutching her trademark Cheese-kun stuffed toy. She was quite clearly pouting at the pair to her right.

The two unknowns were clearly a couple the woman who had giggled was snuggled against the man, head on his shoulder and eyes closed obviously content with her position. With the man wrapping his arm around her protectively as he leant into her as well.

The man was well built but not overly so almost like Suzaku but slightly deeper set. His hair was dark blonde almost light brown, it was messy as well despite being quite short.

However it was the man's eyes that caught Lelouch most off guard. They were an amazing crystalline shade of cobalt blue that you couldn't help but be drawn in by. Then he realised the man's eyes were the same blue as part of the light that recovered him from the void.

The woman was more gymnastic in build. Much like a certain redhead that kept intruding his thoughts, though less endowed in the bust area. Her hair was a long fall a brunette strands hanging down to her lower back. She opened her eyes for a moment as her 'cushion' shifted slightly to make it more comfortable for both of them. The action revealed a pair of intense emerald green irises, confirming Lelouch's suspicions. These two were the ones who had rescued him from the void.

"Welcome back to the real world, Kid." Said the man, with a large grin on his face.

"You can call me shadow." He then dipped his head towards the woman who had apparently gotten so comfortable that she had fallen asleep.

"And her Seraph."

Lelouch frowned at being called kid by someone who appear to be his age but remained polite.

"I assume you are responsible for bringing me out of the… void as you called it, and for that I'm thankful. However I would prefer it if you didn't call me kid." His voice took an authoritive tone towards the end.

Shadow didn't even bat an eyelid at the change in tone. "Observant and deductive. I like you even more." He mused grinning. "As for calling you a kid. Well. Compared to your current company you are."

Lelouch looked at C.C. "Code bearers like you?" He asked.

"And yourself." She snapped back. Well that explained how he was still alive.

"But no they are not."

"Then how?"

Shadow decided to interject at this point. "That's for use to know." He said suddenly becoming serious.

Lelouch frowned by did not press further. Something told him that these two people were more dangerous than anyone he had ever met and possibly would ever meet.

Ignoring that feeling he changed track. " That aside why are you here. I doubt it's just because C.C. asked you to wake me up."

Shadows face shifted into an infuriating amused smirk.

"Why wouldn't I be here just for that. You are quite an interesting person. Demon emperor."

Lelouch shot him a look that said a combination of 'don't insult my intelligence' and 'yeah right.'

The blondes smirk faded as he became serious. As he did so he began to lightly stroke Seraphs hair.

"Your right. We're actually here to help you. Unlike C.C. the Demon emperor can't exactly walk unnoticed in a crowd. Which means you either need to disappear or become someone else. We can assist with either. Besides you need allies you lack the physical ability to work alone. As he finished Seraph began to stir.

Lelouch looked at him sceptically.

"What's the catch? No one does anything for free."

The blue eyed immortal frowned.

"We have our reasons. He paused to smile at Seraph who had just blinked awake.

"Besides you created this current world of peace. Don't you think you deserve some help?"

Seraph nodded in agreement.

Lelouch stared at him. "How do you know that?" He said angrily, turning to C.C. only to be stop when Shadow raised his hand.

"The Witch said nothing of it. I happen to be a mind reader. That's how."

The violet-eyed former prince cringed his last experience with a mind reader had been less than pleasant.

Shadow scowled. "DON'T even THINK of comparing me to that psychopath. He was an amateur using power given rather than earned." He snapped angrily, barely visible pale blue flames appearing around him for a moment until he calmed himself down.

Lelouch stepped back unsure whether to apologise for the thought or be angry at the intrusion.

Before he could decide Seraphs calm and smooth voice cut though the tension.

"Back to why we are here. There is another reason."

"And what would that be?" Asked Lelouch already feeling apprehensive about what the answer may be.

Seraph shared a look with Shadow for a moment.

"Something is telling us that the world still needs Lelouch Lamperouge."

That was definitely not what he was expecting.

"Why would the world need me? It has Zero."

The couple looked at C.C., who shrugged, before looking back at Lelouch.

"Zero is nothing but a symbol, an embodiment of an ideal. It's a powerful one but still just a symbol and one you created I might add." Said Shadow his tone becoming that of a friend giving gentle advice.

"But…" Lelouch barely started before seraph cut him off.

"The world doesn't need Zero. It needs the man who made Zero into such a symbol. It needs the man who was first behind the mask, the true man of miracles."

Lelouch was stunned; he had no comeback to that. How did you counter something like that?

"Besides." Shadow began again. "There is someone in this world who can't let go of the past. Can't let go of you. She figured out your plan at the end."

Lelouch's eyes went wide.

"And now can't forgive herself for betraying you."

The black haired man looked at the ground "Kallen." He breathed.

"So." Said Shadow his face completely serious. "What is your answer?"

Lelouch looked around. His gaze landing on the other 3 immortals one by one. Analysing the resources available to him.

"You said you could make me someone else?" He asked after a long moment.

Shadow and Seraph just grinned.