To me, Code Geass somewhat resembles a laptop. Why? Because I don't own either.

Shadows danced at the edge of his vision, slinking patches of blackness somehow differentiating themselves from the uniform darkness that seemed to be everywhere. There was no sound, only the silent roar of pain that rippled from the centre of his being, ever outwards. This confused him. He should be dead. There should be no more pain.

Then something else struck him. How could he be conscious of the absence of light? Dead men cannot see - he should not be able to recognize the darkness. More to the point, how could he be conscious at all?

It says much about his character that, even having asked a favour of God, he did not believe in an afterlife. Maybe it was because he knew the collective unconscious was exactly that - unconscious.

He noticed now a muted whispering in the background, an endless repetition of syllables that pricked constantly at his awareness, for he had now accepted the fact he was most probably awake... and thus alive. He tried to listen, tried to recognize both the words and the voice, but before he could concentrate, he slipped back into the pure nothingness that surrounded him, back into the absence of thought that was almost like death.

Lelouch awoke again. It seemed to him that some time had passed, but he could not tell. He had no connection with the outside world, nothing to tell him it even existed, only memories of whispers in the dark. All he had was his self-awareness, and all the questions surrounding it.

The whispering had gone away at some point during his second journey through the void, but now it returned once more, just beyond what he thought must be his hearing. It had to be hearing, for how else could he recognize sound?

He realized now that he must have eyes, for if he did not, how could he feel the sensation of light upon them? How could he sense what could be the slow dawning of the sun, the lazy retreat of the shadows that obscured his sight as they gave way before advancing rays, if he could not see?

So thus, Lelouch opened his eyes, an act made extraordinarily difficult by the searing pain that had been coursing through his body since he had first regained some semblance of life. He couldn't tell if it had lessened by now, and he didn't really care, for if he was still alive, then he had failed, and if he'd failed then he deserved the pain.

The first thing he saw was nothing, as his eyes adjusted to the fact they were once more required, but slowly his vision returned to him. The second thing he saw was an eye. This struck him as rather strange, until it reconciled itself into a single orange orb framed by blue hair and the face of a career soldier. Jeremiah stared down at him, a smile cutting through his haggard expression. Lelouch wondered why he was smiling, until he realized that out of all the people in the world, his knight's was perhaps one of the only lives he hadn't destroyed beyond repair. An unconscious smile dawned on his face to mirror Orange's.

Jeremiah helped him up off the cold, uncomfortable metal bench he'd been lying on. Lelouch stood up gingerly, relying on the assistance of his sole remaining knight to guide him to unsteady feet. He looked around slowly, taking in his surroundings in one long motion, savouring his first glimpse of his new life. The results were uninspiring, but not too surprising. Bare grey walls surrounded him on every side, with the sole decoration coming in the form of a thick, steel door. A very thick door.

It seems he was imprisoned. Good. That's what he deserved.

He heard a strange buzzing noise, and looking around in confusion before noticing that Jeremiah's lips were moving. It seems that apart from forgetting how to die, he'd forgotten how to hear as well. The sounds slowly pierced through the fog that surrounded his thoughts, and resolved themselves into a question.

"My lord, are you well?"

This time Lelouch meant to smile, and it was a harsh, bitter smile. Not the sort of smile Orange deserved, but the sort Lelouch deserved. His voice rasped out, hoarse and weary from disuse, making him sound even more the demon.

"Well, my dear Jeremiah? I'm the Demon Emperor. Did you expect a mere sword through the heart to do anything more than inconvenience me?"

Jeremiah's visible eye widened, but before he could say anything Lelouch cut across him, once again resuming the role that had made him the world's greatest enemy.

"Now, to you who hold me, you filthy, traitorous rebels. How long will it take for you to face me? Or will you be forever content to cower like the rats you are? I promise you; every second of my time you waste is another three you'll spend begging me to kill you."

Jeremiah realized what Lelouch was trying to do, and his face transformed itself into a sinister smile, a visual promise of his master's wrath. He'd have matched the smile with his blade, but sometime in between subduing him with Gefjun disturbers and placing him in a cell, the Black Knights had managed to reduce it to a mere stump.

Outwardly mirroring Jeremiah's expression, Lelouch sat back down on what should have been his final resting place, that metal bed it seemed he'd been on for years as opposed to days. Inwardly he was laughing, laughing at his own failure. Of all the plans to fail, it had to be this one, didn't it? He'd thought he could finally escape the curse of his existence, the never-ending spiral of lies and deceit that wrapped around his very soul, but it seemed that even he didn't comprehend all of his secrets.

He didn't know how long he'd sat there, drowning in futile introspection and despair as he waited for something, anything to happen. It must have been a while, because by the time the voice of Todoh echoed through the hidden speakers Lelouch could barely move from the aching stiffness that seemed to be everywhere. Considering he'd been stabbed through the heart only a few days ago, he thought his body might have other things to worry about than simple soreness, but he couldn't complain. It made it much easier to maintain the illusion of the immortal, uncaring Demon Emperor if he didn't even bother to move or look around when being addressed.

He replayed what Todoh had already said in his mind, mentally catching himself up to what he was supposed to be responding to.

"Lelouch. It seems that your evil has even conquered death. Not that this really changes anything – all it does is give us all the more time to punish you as you deserve. However, even the most sadistic, psychopathic murders get their day in court, and so will you. But first, I think it's time you answered a few of our questions."

Lelouch smiled again; it seemed to him that Todoh couldn't have given him a better opportunity to ensure the Demon Emperor never saw the light of day for the rest of his existence.

"Punish me as I deserve? What I deserve is none of your concern, traitor. It's what you deserve that you should be worried about. You think to put me on trial? A secret, closed trial where the judge, the jury and every 'lawyer' will be a Black Knight? To think you once told me I make mockery of justice. And beyond that, dear Todoh, I do not recognize your authority. I recognize no authority but my own!

As for your questions, I will answer if and what I choose, as is my right as Emperor of the world. Sheep do not demand answers from a wolf. Sheep cower and hide and pray to their gods that the wolf is feeling merciful. I suggest you do the same."

No reply came for a while, as if Todoh had been expecting a different answer.

"I see death hasn't changed you, demon."

Lelouch laughed, a bitter, twisted sound that matched the tone of his thoughts if not his words.

"Did you sincerely expect it to? I bow to nothing, not even death. So, tell me, Todoh, how does it feel to know that no matter what you try, you will never defeat me? Does it hurt as much as the knowledge that even your greatest hero, who you know to be an impostor, failed in his task? Does it hurt as much as watching me here, talking to you when you know I should be dead?"

This time it was Todoh who laughed, and Lelouch thought to himself that it sounded strangely appreciative, as if the general had understood the irony and double meanings that littered the Emperor's speech.

"What I may or may not feel pales into insignificance when compared to that inflicted by your crimes, Lelouch. And even that fades into nothingness when compared to what your death, however much a lie that is, has saved the world. So I ask you, demon, how does it feel to know that your greatest weapon, the ability to lie, has been turned against you for the good of the world? You will never get out of here, and the world will never know the truth of your survival. And by that lie humanity will be united. Not under the dictatorial yoke of one man, but by the bonds of peace."

Lelouch's eyes widened slightly at Todoh's words – the man had, by intent or simple accident, stumbled directly on what the Zero Requiem aimed to accomplish. He could only hope that Todoh hadn't realized the truth, or pray that he was the only one who had, lest everything be ruined by his inability to die. Most men's greatest wishes might be to live forever, but as far as he was concerned, he was cursed. Perhaps this was the punishment that had been decided for his crimes. To have immortality and never be able to enjoy it. To have all the time in the world to contemplate his own failure to die.

But at the moment, he didn't have that time. First he needed to make sure that Todoh's impressive declarations rang true; to ensure that the Demon Emperor was imprisoned forevermore. To make sure peace would prevail. For if he didn't, not only would the world descend into the chaos of warfare once again when Zero was exposed as a fraud, but also all those who had died for his sins would have been sacrificed in vain. And as memories of shades of pink and orange swirled and mixed together with the remembered sounds of innocent laughter and the smell of blood, Lelouch swore to himself that they―that Shirley and Euphie―would never be forgotten.

He was wrenched from his reverie by the screeching of metal against metal and the thud of a body hitting the floor. He looked up to see the huge door of his cell opening, and Jeremiah collapsed against a wall nearby. Lelouch wondered why, before he noticed a muted green glow from within previously-hidden holes in the wall. So that was how they could allow him and Jeremiah a shared cell – Gefjun disturbers triggered by the movement of the door prevented his knight from attempting to escape, and as for Lelouch, they knew he'd never be able to overpower anyone, let alone a trained Black Knight.

And it seemed they were protecting themselves against his Geass as well, because when Todoh walked in to the room carrying a strange case, flanked by two guards, they were all wearing the visors Lelouch had given them long ago to hide their identities from the cameras. Lelouch began to laugh at the irony as the guards hustled the crippled Jeremiah out of his cell, binding him hand and foot with what looked like specially-designed industrial steel cables.

The Emperor didn't resist as Todoh shackled one of his hands to the corner of the steel bunk he'd been lying on and then blindfolded him. Resistance would serve no purpose, and besides, the Demon Emperor was always in control. Which meant he must always act as if everything was going according to plan; not that he had any trouble doing so, given that Todoh was doing exactly what Lelouch wanted him to – treating him as a still-dangerous enemy, and one who must be confined at all times.

"So, what brings you to my palace, Todoh? Perhaps you want to beg me for forgiveness, to beg for me to be merciful despite your severe lapses of loyalty. Or are you here to ask some of your questions? Whatever it is, be quick about it. My time is valuable to me – infinitely more valuable than your own pathetic life."

In response, Lelouch heard the clunk of a heavy object hitting the steel top of his bed, followed by a sound he knew very, very well – the sound of wooden chess pieces being set up on opposite sides of a board. He wondered why – perhaps Todoh thought that by making him concentrate on a game, he'd let slip some piece of information about C.C.

She could be the only reason why they had any questions for him; considering she'd managed to vanish without his knowledge the day of the Requiem, he very much doubted that the Black Knights had captured her. But if that was Todoh's plan, he was sadly mistaken. Lelouch had played Todoh once, back when he was Zero in truth - the man was good, as any general should be, but Lelouch had managed to beat him easily whilst planning his next assault in his head.

"Oh, do you want me to honour you with a game of chess? An interesting choice, I'll grant you, but if you're trying to placate my wrath, you're going the wrong way about it. I don't think I'd be satisfied by anything less than the heads of every traitor in this facility. Including your own."

Todoh's only reply was to inquire as to which side Lelouch wished to play.

"While I'm tempted by the irony of playing as black, the Emperor always plays as white. It's a family tradition."

With that, he turned to face the board. He heard Todoh rotating it and guessed that it had been set up with him playing as black rather than white. Good. He wanted to be unpredictable – after all, people were often more wary of those who were unpredictable, and Lelouch wanted nothing more than for them to be wary of him. Perhaps he'd have to make some form of escape attempt every so often, just to keep them on their toes.

Returning to the present, Lelouch reached out, suppressing a smile of satisfaction when he located the piece he wanted to move without having to touch another for reference and began to play. For a few minutes all he could hear were the clicks of pieces and Todoh calling out his moves for him to respond to, so it came to him as somewhat of a surprise that, whilst Lelouch was contemplating his next move, the general's voice broke the silence.

"I notice you've decided to use your queen rather than sacrifice her this time around, demon."

Then the door burst open.

Author's Note:

A very special thank-you to theAsh0 for beta-reading this chapter (if you haven't already read and become addicted to at the very least Gambit, you're missing out. A lot. Seriously, go read it).

Before I say anything else, I must urge any of you who've read this to go and listen to Awake and Alive by Skillet. In this case, not so much because it fits the theme of this chapter perfectly (only somewhat), but because it's an awesome song.

Anyhoo, welcome back to Breath of Life, and its latest installment. Hopefully this chapter is up to the expectations those delightful people who took the time to review the first chapter seem to have of me. I was quite overwhelmed by the number of people who actually seem to like what I'm doing even though the story hasn't quite gone anywhere =D

I apologize for the lack of obvious action in this chapter; all I really have to say is that I believe it's necessary for the progression of the plot (when the plot begins in earnest, of course) =P

Now, who'd like to guess who, or what, is coming through that door? Could it be Cornelia, out for revenge? Or has Jeremiah's loyalty proved too much for any physical restraint? But what about Kallen, isn't she meant to feature heavily in this story? Or, could it be the last thing anyone would expect... THE SPANISH INQUISITION!?

Uh, anyway... that's about it from me for now, apart from asking you to review (Who knows, there might even be a cookie in it for you if you figure out who busts the door open! Yes, I'm trying to shamefully buy reviews with cookies) and stick around for the next chapter.

Until next time,

Magery

P.S in response to feedback I've been given (not only on this site but from friends in real life as well), I've removed all the lyrics from "No Light, No Light", and did some aesthetic editing to improve it slightly. There's no need to re-read it, nothing major has been done.

P.P.S did anyone notice last chapter's disclaimer was in Haiku, or is that form of poetry just too obscure for people who aren't weird like me?