I do not own Code Geass.

Set after Narita.

Stage 03: Shadow vs. Zero

Street in Tokyo Settlement, Area 11

5:20 P.M.

Lelouch was furious that the white Knightmare prevented his capture of Cornelia. Things weren't better after he heard rumors of Zero violently killing sixteen cops at a nighttime robbery of the Tokyo National Museum. The Black Knights questioned him about security videos that were aired on the news revealing someone in a mask like Zero's.

Lelouch decided to find the culprit as soon as he found out. When he saw the security videos and recognized one of the other two people in the video with the faker as Alice so the other must have been Shinji. 'They must know something,' he thought as he rounded the corner to Ashford.

He was out getting groceries. Normally he'd send Sayoko but he needed the fresh air to think so he grabbed his street clothes and brown jacket and headed out. He turned another corner on the street and crashed into a kid in a black leather jacket, both fell flat on their butts. Lelouch dropped his groceries and a pair of sunglasses fell off the other boy's face.

"Sorry," said Lelouch as he looked up to see the face of the person he ran into. He was surprised at what he saw. The boy he ran into looked very similar to him except his hair was white with black highlights and he had blood-red colored eyes. Their bodies had similar slim builds but the red eyed boy seemed to have a more toned body.

Neither said a word until the white haired boy got up putting back on his sunglasses. "Well, this is uncanny," he said holding out his hand to Lelouch helping up. "Seems like I have a double."

"Yeah," Lelouch said chuckling as he picked up his groceries. The white haired boy held out his hand again for a handshake and introduced himself. "I'm Ryu Aire. Who are you? You look familiar."

Lelouch raised his free hand and shook Ryu's, chuckling at what he thought was a joke. "Lelouch Lamperouge."

Ryu had a slightly shocked expression. That expression faded to a smirk that reminded Lelouch the kind of smirk he gave Kallen to tick her off. Ryu then released his hand and asked something Lelouch didn't expect.

"Lelouch? You mean like the missing Britannian prince?" Lelouch was shocked at Ryu's deduction but he didn't show it.

"No, what makes you say that?" he replied with a questioning look. 'Damn,' he thought, 'This guy must know who I am and can't use Geass on him because of those sunglasses.'

Shadow's smirk widened and he answered, "Because you have the prince's surname and the family name of the late Lady Marianne, also saw a kid photo of you. You've grown up," he paused to see Lelouch's angry expression as he shuffled his feet back and continued in a mocking voice, "If your going to live under a fake name don't use ones so close to you, especially your own name."

'Shit, what should I do?' thought Lelouch. 'If he tells anyone me and Nunnally will be used again!'

Ryu sighed, putting his hands into his pockets and said, "Don't worry I have no intention of ratting you out. Being used as tools is...tragic indeed."

Lelouch laughed in disbelief, "Why should I believe you?"

Ryu looked at Lelouch right in the eye and said with a hint of sadness, "Because, I too suffered a tragedy. The only difference is I have nothing left."

Lelouch couldn't help but believe him because he felt that Ryu reminded him of himself when he was just cast out of Britannia. Empty and hateful. Still doesn't mean Lelouch trusts him.

Ryu continued his way down the street past Lelouch neither saying anything until Ryu stopped just beside Lelouch. "It was interesting meeting you. Hope we can meet again, Princy."

The two resumed down their respective paths.

4 hours later Lelouch received an anonymous call, telling him to head to the Black Knights warehouse.

4 hours later inside a run down apartment building

Shadow turned off his cellphone.

Shadow was dressing in his original black and red outfit. He found a possible lead to another philosopher stone, thanks to Alice's underground sources. This mission would be the first time he would be working with her. Their target was the jewels of Princess Euphiemia, inside the government building. Apparently she bought the blue stone from the museum before Shadow got there.

While he ran decoy, Alice was to steal the blue egg-shaped crystal. Shinji was to prepare a quick escape for Alice if she was caught, and their friend Eddie, which surprisingly to Shadow was only a 13 year old boy, he was going to hack the power grid and make sure that it was down.

Still, playing decoy wouldn't be easy. Shadow had his Advent powers but they were not yet mastered and he is not an army. He walked over to his bed and pulled out his mask and the case that held Alondite. He laid the mask and case down on the bed. He opened up the case and attached the sheathed sword to the back of his hip with sword handle on the right. He peered to look into the seemingly narrow case and looked at the rest of the tools inside after pulling out a small black pouch.

To anyone else they looked like small metal balls all in a stack of five, connected by metal clamps, but Shadow knew better. The green ones were grenades, yellow was flashbang, and black was smoke. There were also small silver disc-like objects, the were grav-lifters, compliments of the AURA. He took one of each and put them in his pouch which he clamped to the front of his silver belt.

When Shadow was satisfied with his equipment closed the case and returned it under his bed. He looked at the clock on the stand next to the bed, 10:00 P.M. He put on his mask and left out the window to the government building.

Black Knights warehouse, Zero's office

11:30 P.M

Zero was in his chair, watching the news with C.C., and on T.V. was the imposter. The view of the camera was from a helicopter over the Britannian government building. The imposter was standing on the top of the building.

The top part of the building was in smoke since an hour ago. An hour and a half ago the power in and around the building was knocked out completely. The power just came back on.

At first glance it seemed like a terrorist attack, with the Zero imposter standing out long enough for Zero himself to take the blame. But to Zero the man on the screen was a decoy for something else.

The helicopter moved closer to the building to get a better look of the assumed culprit. At that moment another bomb detonated under the imposter. Smoked enveloped him and when it cleared, he was gone.

Go to the Black Knights warehouse Zero. It's time we meet.

That is what the anonymous caller said. And when Zero saw the masked man disappear, he knew his impersonator was coming.

"So what are you going to do?" asked the green-haired witch as she ate a piece of pizza.

"Simple, I'm going to catch him," replied Zero.

Zero got up and walked into the warehouse holding the Black Knights' Burai and the Guren Mk-II. He was greeted by his second in command Ohgi Kaname followed by Kallen Kozuki.

"Ohgi are the lookouts in place?" asked Zero.

"Yes, we have guards set at all possible entrances for that imposter," said Ohgi, "It's going to be difficult for anyone to get past the guards unnoticed but, are you sure he's coming?"

"Yes."

"But, how do you know?" Kallen asked this time.

"Because he told me himself," Zero stated as he walked over to the Guren to speak with the blond haired Indian scientist, Rakshata.

Ohgi and Kallen were bewildered at that statement. What idiot would tell an enemy what they were going to do?

But that didn't matter to Kallen, she was going to make this faker pay for impersonating Zero. She checked and loaded the ammo of her pistol and holstered it. She couldn't wait to catch him.

Kallen didn't have to wait long, because about ten minutes later the front door opened with a loud slam. The guards stationed there were thrown to the floor unconscious, right after that a gold colored katana flew through the warehouse and landed just at Zero's feet. Through the door came a man wearing a Zero mask with a red lens and a sword with a silver hilt on the back of his hip.

Immediately all of the Black Knights soldiers inside, and Kallen, aimed their pistols at the intruder. Zero picked up the sword that was thrown at him and walked to the source of all the commotion. He handed the sword to Kallen. Zero faced the masked man before him and Lelouch had weird feeling that this already happened to him today.

"So, you're the faker who's been causing me all this trouble," said Zero in a mocking tone.

"Faker?" said the man in a calm voice, way too calm for someone surrounded by armed terrorists, then he added in an equally mocking tone, "Your the only fake around here. Comparing you to me? Ha! You're not even good enough to be my fake."

'Man! This guy has a big ego,' thought Kallen.

"That's pretty cocky for someone surrounded!" yelled Tamaki.

The imposter ignored him and continued talking to Zero. "But, I suppose our masks are too similar," he said as he raised a gloved hand to his mask. When he placed his fingers on the lens his mask changed shape. It became more rounded and formfitting, next flat antenna sprouted from the temples and formed an incomplete halo around the man's head. Lastly the one face lens became three smaller circular lenses in a triangular formation.

Everyone was taken aback at that trick, even Lelouch tho it was hidden by his Zero mask. 'Was that Geass or a trick?' he thought.

"Nice mask isn't," said the intruder, knocking every one out of their stupor.

"That's a nice trick," said Zero, "but that doesn't change the situation, Mr....?

The man mockingly did a gentleman's bow and said as he rose back up, "My name is Shadow, the Dark Knight, and I will be your Grim Reaper someday soon."

This didn't scare any of the Black Knights and Zero simply said, "If your an enemy, then you will die. Fire!"

The Knights complied and fired at the man who himself called Shadow, only to watch their bullets stopped by seven floating see-thru weapons that seemed to appear out of thin air. The shooters were baffled once again.

'It has to be Geass, but one that creates matter?!' thought Zero as he stared at the seemingly absolute defense

"It's futile," said Shadow, "Guns won't work. Now, hand me back my sword." He pointed to the katana in Kallen's hand. That gave Kallen an idea.

'If guns won't work then...' she thought as she holstered her gun and charged Shadow with his own sword, hoping she was right. She ran past the wall of blades as if they weren't there.

This didn't surprise Shadow too much, he quickly sidestepped the blade and grabbed Kallen's wrist with one hand, while his other stole her pistol. He raised the gun to her head and ordered her to let go of the sword. She reluctantly did as he said, giving him a death glare, and letting go of the gold sword which became as clear as the the others and joined the wall.

Lelouch thought about what he just saw. 'He can't use them to prevent close combat attacks, and it seems he can only solidify one of them at a time.' They weren't much but they were a weaknesses nonetheless.

Shadow took a good look at the girl then remembered what Shinji told him and coolly said, "Red spiky hair, blue eyes, and a voluptuous body. You must be Kallen Kozuki," he paused smirking at her angry face turning red and coldly added, "Zero's main attack dog." Being called a dog really made her face angry red

"Let her go," commanded Zero.

Shadow looked back at Zero and complied saying, "Very well," but still held the gun pointing at Kallen's head. Kallen backed off from the man with the three eyed mask. When she was far away enough he tossed her back her gun after removing the clip.

"I'm glad we met Zero. And Kallen next time don't act so hastily, because next time I won't be playing games."

With that Shadow turned and left fading into the darkness of the night. Cursing to himself that he revealed a weakness to his Infinity Eight.

'Yes next time we'll hold nothing back,' thought Lelouch.

Next Stage 04: The Terror of Death

Well, hope you enjoyed reading. Review please, ideas for the story will help.

Next chapter will introduce the Skeith.