Edited 6/22/2017 - Made changes to ages and years to preserve continuity for future chapters.


"I have another favor to ask of you, if you don't mind."

The dark-suited woman stood against the casino's wall, eyes upturned at the ceiling. Her cerulean eyes still hadn't locked with this client's, but it didn't matter. The voice of this one wasn't easily mistakable.

"Hmph. And how many favors does that make this now? Three?"

"Four, actually. But taking our history into account, the score still remains two in my favor."

The words were cordial, yet authoritative. But she didn't care. Amusement was all the jab was meant to garner from her, after all.

"Yes, well, remind me to never associate myself with charismatic gamblers like you in the future."

Her eyes finally dropped to take in the frame of her discourser.

"So then, what was it you needed me to forge? Another firearms license? Or perhaps a housing lease?"

Soft footsteps echoed as a manila folder was passed her way.

"Actually, I was hoping for something more along the lines of identification."

A calloused hand pulled out the files, interested eyes slowly perusing their contents. What they found, however, had made her brows rise ever so slightly.

"Leila Lamperouge, hmm?" Her eyes looked up inquisitively. "And you're sure you want this girl to share the same surname as you?"

Her client's ebony bangs parted, giving way to piercing, amethyst eyes.

"Well it wouldn't be much of an adoption paper if she didn't it, now would it?"


It had been her idea; to make the stay permanent.

Lelouch had protested, of course. Warned her of the political and social consequences. A Breisgau, he had maintained, was too important to disappear completely from the limelight. But Leila had known better than to accept those repercussions as absolutes. Lelouch always had a plan, it seemed. No matter the circumstance. So, while she had understood the obstacles in the way, she had also refrained from discounting the merit of insistence.

And indeed, while he had never admitted it, she had known that Lelouch's apathy would inevitably lose ground. Ever since their first chess match, after all, their relationship had only grown stronger. She had become his sense of purpose. A canvas that he could paint his wisdom onto after having lived in isolation for so long. Whereas he had become her bastion. A guardian who could empathize with all of her struggles, even those from her past.

It had been because of this, therefore, that she had finally read the golden lettering of her new identity on her 11th birthday. The triumphant grin she had sent his way following soon after. Lelouch had sheepishly defended himself, of course. Argued that he had only done it because the certificate was a formality. And, while he had been right to believe that the piece of paper held no emotional power on its own, he had been wrong to assume that it didn't contain potential.

But she had been too ashamed to admit the reason why.

Indeed. While love's augmentation may have been her primary motivation for the surname's adoption, securing liberty had always been her second. The latter wasn't a desire of the absolute kind, of course. She enjoyed Lelouch's company too much for that. It was, instead, a yearning that manifested from her own character. Her distaste for relying completely on others. And, while she had made her first attempt a year prior – when she had first learned the game of chess, she hadn't been blind to the opportunities that the surname Lamperouge maintained.

She had argued on his behalf before completely committing, though. Telling herself that his overprotectiveness wasn't inherently coercive. Lelouch, at least from what she had gathered from the snippets of his past, had not been treated kindly by fate. His parents, despite their best intentions, had died when he was young. His half-siblings, despite being related by blood, had turned their backs on him. And his only true sister, despite his love and care, had been lost to him years ago.

But, as her subconscious continued to remind her, it hadn't excused the parallels that Lelouch had drawn between herself and his last connection to love. They were two different people, she and Nunnally. And while Lelouch hadn't explicitly said it, she had the slightest feeling that his coddling wasn't born out of necessity, but out of fear. A fear that Nunnally's past ordeals would come to shape her own experiences.

Eventually, therefore, she had resolved herself to the idea of establishing herself as an independent entity. Granted, her request hadn't been as melodramatic as it could have been. Nor had it been an outright display of formerly concealed emotions. But even so, with the help of the certificate, it had gotten her point across. That despite her love and appreciation, she still had the desire to operate without him.

Indeed. She had asked him if she could go to military school.

It was amusing, she supposed, how beside himself Lelouch had gotten over the seemingly simple request. His immediate response, after all, had questioned whether the flaws in his teaching style had been the cause.

To that, she had replied in the contrary. She was a growing girl; her reasoning had explained. And while he had been a fantastic tactical mentor, she still required social interaction with children of her own age.

Then, his protests became methodical; targeting physical and hypothetical concepts alike. Warfare, he had argued, was hardly as romanticized as it seemed. Not to mention that other interested parties had the potential to take advantage of her identity.

She too, had a counter to that. Her parent's murder, after all, had been graphic enough to give her a stomach for war's atrocities. Not to mention, she had added with a smirk, that she was no longer a Bresigau. By all intents and purposes, her only relation had rested with him.

Lelouch had paused after that, seemingly stumped by the latest exchange. But finally, after what seemed like half a minute, he had met her gaze. If she was set on enrolling, he had drawled, he wouldn't actively stop her. But before he could voice his direct approval, she would also have to prove her strategic ability.

Or, namely, beat him in chess.

Naturally, she had voiced her gripe about the situation. Lelouch was a virtuoso. A man who spun the strategic into an art form. For her, an apprentice, to defeat him, it would require nothing less than a miracle.

But, as Lelouch would mirthfully reply, miracles weren't limited to the divine. He too had beaten his mentor in chess when it had mattered most. And, he was quick to remind her that she had requested his help regarding "self-defense" a year prior.

And so, in an act of begrudgement, she had set up the board.

Some years had passed since then. She was thirteen now. A little taller; a little wiser; with blonde hair flowing well past her shoulders. Expectedly, she hadn't won a single match. Nor had Lelouch offered her any concrete advice for success. Yet in what was almost an irrational display of fervor, she had still attacked the board with the same gusto that she had during that first attempt.

And so, as if honoring her tenacity, fate had granted her a change in record on January 7th, 2009.


"Hmph. I'm impressed. It looks like you've finally forced a draw."

Leila leaned back in her seat, her eyes exhausted, yet mirthful. It had taken her a long time to get this far; Lelouch having made a point of leaving her in silence after every loss.

"Yes, well, this is my first tangible trace of progress."

Lelouch chuckled softly before folding his hands onto his lap. His appearance hadn't changed much throughout the years. But the tired smile he sent her way had spoken of his own patient anticipation.

"Indeed. Yet by the way you say that, it almost seems like you're waiting for a prize."

She paused at that; her pursed lips carefully weighing the implications of the statement. Finally, however, she responded in the affirmative.

"Well… perhaps I am."

Lelouch hummed, a sound that captured both amusement and thoughtfulness.

"Then perhaps I could offer a sort of consolation." A raised hand signaled restraint. "Not what you're thinking, of course. Maybe just a word of advice of your choosing."

Her eyes, although crestfallen, still glinted at the words. An opportunity had presented itself, after all, and she took it without hesitation.

"Then can you tell me what each piece means to you?"

She fixed Lelouch with a probing stare, and waited as he paused in thought. Her question, perhaps, may have seemed unconventional given the circumstance. Yet from her constant study in Lelouch's library, she had known that it had merits beyond that of a simple strategic inquiry. Emotions, after all, were much more powerful inhibitors than ineptitude. And this would help her to understand a large majority of them.

"Very well. I suppose I can grant you that much."

She watched expectantly as a black pawn was plucked off the board.

"The pawn, as I see it, is much more than the early-game fodder that you use it as. True, controlling the center early with them is advantageous. But, if they manage to survive the sacrifices of war, they have much more power through their promotions and formations."

A wordless nod was her only response.

"The knight, by the same token, is equally paradoxical; in part, due to its misnomer of a name. Granted, its unpredictability gives it some unique defensive angles to work with. But, at the same time, its strengths truly shine when its offensive approaches are considered."

She gave another sign of acknowledgement.

"As for the bishop and rook, my point of view also varies greatly from yours. After all, to me, both are used most efficiently in discouraging opponent movement. Yet while my experience disagrees, I must admit that your own offensive procedure has its strategic advantages."

A small flush of pride met her features before she focused again.

"Regarding the queen, however, your tactics could use some work. Yes, while it is the most versatile piece on the board, its movements are also the most predictable. Efficient use of it requires temperance in its defensive actions. After all, just as in real-life, the queen has her own ambitions to consider."

She thoughtfully paused before motioning for him to continue.

"Lastly, then, is the king. The most important piece on the board. And yes, while it may seem logical to defend its person within a bastion of subordinates, such a tactic severely underestimates its potential. A philosophy I was once told fits it best. If the king doesn't lead, how can it expect its subordinates to follow?"

She blinked at that, her mind still absorbing all the information for her own use. Lelouch seemed to catch on to her entrancement, however, and smiled lightly.

"So then, I suspect that this will assist you in all of your future endeavors?"

She was quick to respond in the affirmative, her psyche all too pleased by the resulting influx of knowledge. But, at the same time, there was a small inconsistency that had been bugging her. One that she chose to bring to Lelouch's attention as he prepared to reset the board.

"So… Lelouch."

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering… you said that the king should always lead his subordinates, right?"

He paused at his task, amethyst eyes finally meeting her mauve orbs.

"Indeed."

"Then was there a particular reason why you didn't move your king this game?"

The question was an innocent one; meant to discern the differing strategies the king could employ. Yet while she had expected his hesitance regarding another exhibition of secrets, she hadn't quite predicted the absolute silence and sharp intake of breath that followed.

"Lelouch?"

Even with her strained ears, she barely heard the nearly inaudible response.

"No… it was just a foolish mistake, Leila."


When Lelouch was a child, Schneizel had once questioned his approach toward chess.

It was perplexing, his half-brother had mused, after having secured another victory over his king. Why did his strategy reflect his philosophies so predictably, even when it was obvious that he had the capacity to adapt?

To that he had replied, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, that a victory without his principles wouldn't have been a victory that he could have called his own.

Yet now, as he continued to pace about his private study, he could only wonder how many laurels he had claimed without heeding to that very sentiment.

Indeed. How long had it been, after all, since he had arrived here, in this alternate timeline? How long had it been since he'd experienced the thrill of the extraordinary? His initial assessment of this world had identified the implication of restraint, yes. Yet looking back on it now, his refrained consideration for the future – the very thing that he had denounced both his father and Schneizel for – seemed nothing less than absurd.

Yes, truly, if he hadn't known better, he would have thought that he had unwittingly geassed himself. The mindless acceptance of his ordinary life, coupled by his incredulous degree of hypocrisy was almost too out of character for someone of his disposition. Yet as he continued to meditate on the implications of that chess game; that reluctance he had toward even moving his king; he could only wince at the fact that shifting blame would be a fruitless effort.

It had been his own self-pity, after all, that had separated him from his individuality. That irrational sorrow toward having lost his former relationships to another that had overwhelmed his rationality. He had even, after thinking on it long enough, recalled himself deciding to wait on a sign to spur him into action. Rationalizing that Kallen had been the one who had pulled him out of his purposeless depression when he'd thought he'd lost Nunnally.

"… Tch."

Honestly. How incapable had he been these three years?

True, he had lacked a concrete connection to his past life; the very one that he'd died to preserve. Yet the opportunities he had at his disposal should have acted as signs of purpose from the start. He had the power over mortality. The knowledge of past, present, and future. And yet he had brushed off those gifts that he had been given as a cursory blessing. A curse he was not fit to bear.

It was simply pathetic, now that he looked at it in hindsight. But even that didn't compare to the delusions that had shaped his current lifestyle. After further consideration, after all, it had become painfully obvious that Leila Bresigau had been the original sign he had been waiting for. She was the antithesis to his past methods. The idealist with a wit that matched his own. And yet he had misinterpreted her purpose as one that remained independent from his past. Misinterpreted her function as an invitation for him to live out his ideal, ordinary life with an alternate "Nunnally."

Ultimately, it was a missed opportunity if he had ever seen one. Yet what was perhaps the most disturbing, was that he could understand his reasoning behind it. With every smile Leila gave; with every flutter his heart made; the lines between his happiness and intent had blurred perfectly. Truly, there had been no way that rationality could've convinced him of the temporariness of his paradise. No way that his subconscious could've brought out the uneasiness toward his circumstance. And no way that even Leila, the object of his ambition, could've persuaded him to enroll her into school.

After all, he had simply been too bent on sating his isolationism.

"Ah… Lelouch? Can I come in? Since you said you weren't feeling too well, I made dinner tonight."

Shaking his head slightly as to clear the last of his reflections, Lelouch paused just shy of his eleventh rotation around the room. He had been ruminating for quite a while it seemed. The clock on his desk read seven thirty-six in the evening. But, that was hardly justification for a complaint. Now that he had fully assessed the mistakes that had led up to his epiphany, after all, he had finally felt an emotion that had been deprived of him for far too long.

Confidence.

Or, more specifically, confidence in his next move.

"Oh! Sorry about that Leila, I didn't mean to worry you. Here, give me a moment to finish up something, and then I'll meet you at the table."

Throwing himself onto the leather chair in front of him, Lelouch booted up his laptop, his ears listening thoughtfully as the last of Leila's footsteps echoed away. He never enjoyed lying to the girl. Given her impact on his life, she at least deserved honesty on his part. But, even so, what he was about to do was much bigger than their relationship.

A flurry of typing was heard as he sifted through numerous web browsers at once.

Of course, he knew that heeding his newfound insight without abandon would provide less than desirable results. The chess game that he had been resurrected to, after all, had already chosen its players. Yet, at the same time, that didn't mean that he couldn't play another position off the board. The potential to act as the catalyst for all moves made in the future, after all, was just too fitting to be out of his reach.

The tapping of fingers abruptly stopped then; amethyst eyes taking in every bit of information on screen. Then, a familiar smirk bore fruit across his face.

"Well, what do you know?"

By the looks of it, he would just need to make a phone call to get it all started.


"Charles, I have a request."

He sat calmly, the curled cord of the phone wrapping around his finger.

"Speak then, brother."

"It's about C.C's directorship. Ever since her last visit to Britannia, her emotions seem to be having an undeniable influence over her polices."

He heard a sigh over the line. "We've talked about this before, V.V. What she does with those fantastical delusions of hers is beyond my control."

"Yes, but this time I'm not asking for you to reason with her." He paused, so his brother could process the words. "What I'm asking is whether or not you'll back one of my private projects, even if I, hypothetically, didn't have the Director's authority."

"… Those are still some dangerous waters you're treading there, brother."

"Granted. But, the way I see it, the opportunities that could be gained far outweigh the consequences."

"And what are those opportunities exactly?"

"The Genesis Program," he drawled deliberately. "I seek to reactivate it."

The silence that followed the declaration was deafening. But, after a half-minute of pensive deliberation, a click of the tongue was heard.

"Very well. You have my approval, if only for my own intrigue."

He grinned slightly. "Fantastic. I shall keep you updated on the progress, then."

"See to it that you do. Now, was there anything else that you wanted to bring to my attention?"

He pondered the question for a moment before speaking again.

"Well, there is one more thing." The stillness over the line told him to continue. "A few days ago, there was a geass related incident in Japan. One that we're now calling Code-Z."

"So, a disturbance in the Ragnarok Connection?"

"No, it wasn't the contracting of a geass user." He paused to shape his words. "It was more like a manifestation of the subconscious itself."

"A manifestation, hmm? Could the Collective be making their move against the sword, then?"

"It's certainly not out of the question. But, if you want my opinion, I think the only concrete danger being posed is the resulting being's potential to produce other geass users."

"So we could have an artificial Code Bearer on our hands. Now that is interesting–"

Suddenly the sound of his brother's reply cut out, replaced instead by the clicking of a door and the muffled voice of a woman. After a half-minute of background noise, however, Charles's voice finally restored itself.

"My apologies brother, but I'm afraid we're going to have to cut our conversation short. Marianne just arrived, and she's requiring my undivided attention."

"I... see." Lavender eyes narrowed. "Shall we continue this talk tomorrow then?"

"Yes, let's."

The receiver fell dead at that, and he calmly placed the phone back on its stand.

He supposed he could have expressed a more visible annoyance, given that Marianne still consumed the majority of Charles's time. He was the man's brother, after all. The accomplice who had shaped his destiny as Emperor of Britannia. Not someone whose charms had only manipulated lust.

Leaning back in his chair, V.V stared intently at the ceiling above.

But at this point, the opportunities at his disposal now were far more important than an affair that would be dealt with in a few months' time. And honestly, who could blame him for thinking such?

"Now then," he said to no one in particular, "how should I approach this?"


A/N: And that's the third chapter! An edition that marks the beginning of the end for not only the exposition, but also these horrendously long author's notes. Though, just in case my first author's note wasn't read, I'll give another reminder. EVERYONE'S AGES ARE THREE YEARS OLDER THAN IN CANON. My explanation for such can be found at the end of Chapter 1.

In any case though, while I'd love to comment on how fun it was to write this section – from Leila's complicated personality to the FORESHADOWING of Lelouch's piece analysis – the reason for this subscript pertains more to defending myself, than anything else.

And indeed, it makes sense for me to do so. After all, going through with a three year time-skip after having talked about character development appears to quite hypocritical.

So, let me explain.

Yes, while it's true that most time-skips are executed in a way that not only sacrifices characterization, but also creates plot holes, it's also true that these instances are done with the intent to get to the "fun part" of the story. And, while I will admit that this time-skip helps us proceed with the first bits of the rising action, the following chapters are hardly what I envision to be the story's climax. After all, it's only 2010. We still have seven years before Alexis evengets involved (directly, at least).

So, with that being said, don't fret over the idea of a characterization failure. This time-skip, while executed early on, doesn't sacrifice much in the way of plot opportunities. After all, the characters I introduced in the previous chapters need Alexis's exile to accelerate their own development. And, as for the ones that I haven't introduced yet, I stand by the fact that they only become relevant in 2010.

Anyway, that's been my two cents. Chapter updates will definitely be slowing down now, being that Christmas Break is nearing a close for me, but I'll still be reading your thoughts and opinions in the reviews.

Until next time!