***Thanks to Demons Anarchy of Pride, BlackTyrantValvatores, mcdinh, 1000 Sakura/1000 Cherry Blossoms, Ulrich362, MrtheratedG, OBSERVER01, Republic (nine times), Matsukaze Tenma, and Jarjaxle, the ten people who reviewed the previous chapter!***

Guest Review Reply - Republic: Hm. You seem to have put a great deal of effort into coming up with your alternate history… and… w-wait, this is your favorite story? Am I reading that one review right? I'm… I'm so very honored you think it's that good.

Author's Note Part 1: Ah… aha… haha… Oh my goodness do I love reading you guys' reactions to chapters where I through a bomb at you right at the end. Especially when I think about why I included that scene, and you guys seem to have not picked up on the massive hints dropped in it. (Actually, the same could be said for the scene with S.S…) I also can't help but laugh at the fact that you don't seem to realize that I left out a few scenes that happened in the anime (namely everything that happened in Shinjuku in episode 5).

Oh well, more fun for me.

…I do apologize ahead of time if Kallen and/or Suzaku seem OOC in this chapter. It's a bit more difficult than it was originally for me to write their characters now that the former knows who Zero really is and about his Geass, and the latter is supposed to be one of Zero's allies. Kallen in particular is harder…

I don't own Code Geass or its characters, but I hope you still enjoy this chapter!

Stage 11: Mask Thief

As soon as Lelouch was certain Suzaku was gone, he shot the best glare he could muster at Z.Z. He had gone over the line by endangering Nunnally's life. And the fact that all Z.Z. did was yawn in return made him that much angrier. "You think this is funny?! My sister is in the hospital because she had a heart attack, and it's your fault!"

"Technically that's my sister's fault," Z.Z. replied impassively. "Your near-heart attack was mine. Technicalities, though. So by all means, go ahead and blame me. That's all anyone cares about when something goes wrong; who to blame, who to suffer the consequences. I've watched countless worlds go by, and lived through six of them. It's always the same…"

I was right. This isn't the first time he's come to one of these worlds… but it is S.S.'s first time. Is this why he handles things so nonchalantly? That was still no excuse for his actions. "The nightmare I had that was your fault, and the nightmare my sister had that was your sister's fault… what makes them different?"

"Three things. One, we sure as hell aren't in C's World, so I have literally no idea where those memories could be coming from. Two, the fact that Nunnally received one from S.S.—that just shouldn't be possible, but then again, neither should the one you received. And three, the fact that either S.S. or I receive the most painful headache in all eternity along with snippets of someone talking when Nunnally or you, respectively, receive one of these fragmented nightmares. Don't bother asking—I have no idea what triggers our headaches."

Lelouch gave an exasperated sigh, turning from Z.Z. and thinking it over. It made perfect sense, but he really did wish that Z.Z. and his sister would have more control over the situation than they already had. At least Nunnally was okay… but it was unforgivable for endangering her in the first place—accident or no. "You better work on finding out why this happened, then."

"But of course! That headache was painful!" Z.Z. exclaimed with a grimace on his face. Upon realizing Lelouch was still glaring at him, he grudgingly added, "…And I don't want you or Nunnally dying before you're supposed to."

Oh, and you just happen to know when we're supposed to die. Right… Lelouch thought sarcastically. He scoffed, "Just don't let it happen again. Also, the next time you need to speak to me, wait until I'm actually alone. Suzaku knows who you are, and I have a feeling he already suspects who Zero is. I don't need him figuring out that I am Zero before I want him to."

The blonde shrugged dismissively. "Eh. Waiting is boring. Besides, it's not like Suzaku won't go along with a lie you tell him. For one thing, he trusts you. For another, he definitely doesn't want anyone to know about his loyalty to Zero."

"Waiting a few hours won't kill you," Lelouch said dryly. But he does make a point. Suzaku will go along with whatever lie I tell him… The question is, what will that lie be?

Z.Z. laughed as he slapped him on the back. "Ah… good one, Lelouch." He paused for a moment, his face going entirely serious. "Though you should be careful about what you joke about. They might have… disastrous consequences."

He wasn't even going to try asking what Z.Z. meant by that. He knew he wouldn't get a straight answer. He scowled, and it looked like he would keep scowling for as long as Z.Z. was there. That was when Lelouch saw a cat with dark purple fur, a bandage wrapped around its front left leg, perched on the balcony away from the two. His entire world froze—that cat… it somehow had his Zero mask on his head. At that moment, he didn't care how the creature got it, he simply had to get his mask back.

The cat leapt to another part of the roof—a part that Lelouch wouldn't be able to get to from where he was.

Dammit… I can't let that cat get away! Lelouch darted to the staircase.

Z.Z. sighed to himself, "Looks like Arthur has shown up a little earlier than usual. …Fine, I'll help him. If anyone else finds Zero's mask, well, that just makes my job a thousand times more difficult. Isn't that right?" He didn't see anyone in the courtyard below the balcony, so he opted for a much faster way of getting down—jumping. It wasn't like that would kill him…

No one could say that Suzaku had been eavesdropping on Lelouch and that accomplice of Zero's, because he hadn't been. He didn't hear any of what they were saying, except for an exclamation of "…attack… your fault!" from Lelouch, and one of "…painful!" from Z.Z. All Suzaku was doing was watching the two from the stairs, just to make sure Z.Z. wouldn't harm Lelouch. Suzaku couldn't let anyone hurt Lelouch—he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he had. (Then again…)

He heard Lelouch shout—not in pain but in surprise mixed with fear. Immediately after, the black-haired teen ran for the staircase…

I can't let him think I was eavesdropping! Suzaku scrambled down the steps, then turned around and started heading up them—he could always say he heard Lelouch shout if he asked.

Lelouch was wide-eyed with fear and panting when he nearly ran into Suzaku. He stepped back with a flicker of confusion, but quickly went back into panic mode. "Now's not the time Suzaku—a cat's running away with something that belongs to me!"

"A cat…? What's so important that a cat has you this riled up, Lelouch?"

"I-It's… none of your concern! Just let me through!"

Not wanting to be a bother, Suzaku stepped to the side. Hmm… that "none of my concern" bit is interesting… "Hey! Can I help look for that cat?!" he called after Lelouch.

"I've got it… under control!" came the reply.

I… don't think you do. You never were one for exercising… how are you supposed to catch a cat if you can't even run for a few seconds without wheezing? Suzaku sighed, shaking his head. Maybe Lelouch would actually decide to build up his endurance after this… He'd have to be pretty embarrassed if he couldn't even catch a cat.

Suzaku realized that Z.Z. hadn't come down the stairs yet, and he did want to talk to the guy (even if he was just as crazy as his sister), so he ran back up to the roof, only to catch a glimpse of the guy jumping off of said roof. Suzaku couldn't shout in time to make him stop, and he knew he wouldn't be able to make it over there in time, but he still ran over to the edge, his eyes wide with a different type of fear than Lelouch. From this high up… there's no way that Z.Z. could have…

There was no one lying on the ground. A small patch of red—blood?!—but no person. In fact, Z.Z. was already halfway across the courtyard… somehow. He was limping a little, but alive. Suzaku heaved a sigh of relief. He didn't like that man, but he would never wish him dead. Z.Z. must be very lucky…

She hated him. That much Kallen had decided when Zero—no, Lelouch—had given all of her friends jobs to do until he contacted them next, but ordered her to continue going to Ashford Academy simply because he didn't plan on leaving the school, and wanted a bodyguard of sorts. As if an exiled and disinherited prince had any right to order her around!

And not only that, but it had been a full week and Kallen had yet to be able to speak to him in private—oh, how she wanted to do that. He'd either be in class or with the Student Council, where she had to be a quiet weakling, or at the hospital visiting his sister, where she wasn't allowed to go thanks to the hospital's stupid visitation rules. She was also certain he had smirked at her when they'd finally been alone in the Student Council Room… and Shirley had walked in and made the whole thing awkward.

Zero, though? She would listen to Zero. The masked man had more than proved his worth at Shinjuku, and when rescuing Suzaku from his military escort. His special power would definitely be a major asset, too.

Dammit, why do they have to be the same person? Zero is a hero, when Lelouch is… an asshole. Kallen thought angrily as she walked into the courtyard. For once, it was almost entirely empty. The almost was caused by a purple cat… wearing a mask… Zero's mask, walking proudly down the sidewalk. Quite a distance away, Lelouch was trying to catch up to the cat but failing miserably, and his one accomplice Z.Z. was almost outpacing him while limping.

As much as she'd like to let Lelouch learn his lesson—what sort of idiot does it take to let a cat steal incriminating evidence?—Kallen knew she had to keep the other students from seeing that mask. That would ruin Zero, after all, and he was their ticket to destroying Britannia and liberating Japan.

"Hey! You guys need help catching that cat?!" Kallen called, discarding her bag underneath a bush (that bag would only hinder her running, anyways) before running to the two men.

"That would be… great," Lelouch said, bent over while trying to catch his breath. "We need to… corner that animal… somewhere it can't escape…"

You know, for a man who's supposed to be leading a rebellion against Britannia, you suck at exercise if you're this worn out after running.

"Perhaps the bell tower?" Z.Z. suggested. "It'd be nigh impossible for Arthur to escape if we cornered him there."

"You know… that cat?!" Lelouch shouted.

"Me? Not really. I just happened to know that your sister Euphemia named him Arthur after tending to his paw."

Kallen was about to interrupt. Nunnally was the name of Lelouch's sister, not Euphemia. Then she remembered the whole "Britannian prince" thing. Euphemia must have been one of his half-sisters. "Alright, cool, we know its name now. How's that supposed to help us catch it, exactly?"

"That cat's male…" the blonde mumbled, his expression blank.

Lelouch smiled proudly when he saw that stupid cat run into the bell tower's entrance. Arthur wouldn't be able to stay away for much… longer… His glee immediately vanished, sucked out of him by… Oh shit who just made it into the tower before us?!

Whoever it was, they'd see Zero's mask…!

"Kallen! Z.Z.! Stop that person!" he cried. They were farther ahead than he was; they obviously had the better chance than he did, catching the person with the head start. Curse… my… pathetic… endurance… And DAMN. THESE. STAIRS. TO. HELL! He could hardly breathe, but he knew he had to press on. If only there weren't so many of these goddamn stairs…!

…

Apparently Z.Z.'s definition of "stop that person" was to knock them to the ground and sit on their head. While that was an effective strategy, with Kallen holding down the person's arms, that person was Suzaku.

I thought I said I didn't need your help… Lelouch thought disdainfully, shaking his head while he continued past the three. You're too altruistic for your own good, you know.

At last! He almost cheered when he made it to the roof of the tower—it meant the end of this stupid chase, and he wouldn't have to run anymore! His smirk only grew wider when he saw the cat perched underneath one of the bells, and it didn't look like he would be moving anytime soon. Not that he'd be able to go anywhere if he did—Lelouch was blocking the one exit, and Z.Z., Kallen, and Suzaku would all be able to catch Arthur if he made it around Lelouch.

It was when he was trying to swing around from the window to get on the roof that his foot slipped, and he couldn't regain the traction—he couldn't even dig his fingernails into the roof tiles. He just kept falling… until he hit the edge of the roof, and was able to grab onto the gutter.

No! I can't… I can't die here! Not yet…!

There was no way he'd be able to pull himself back up. Even if he hadn't worn himself out from running across campus and up a ton of stairs, he still wouldn't be able to. But he couldn't just cling to the gutter until someone saved him—he could already hear the metal groaning under his weight. Gutters weren't meant to hold up people.

"Lelouch!" Suzaku's worried face appeared above him, both of his hands grabbing Lelouch's wrist.

Lelouch heaved a sigh of relief, but frowned. Wait… how is he…? Oh. Z.Z. was holding onto one of Suzaku's legs while also holding onto the window frame. Kallen was up the roof, holding Arthur… and the Zero mask. My identity is safe. "Ah… thanks, you guys…"

Suzaku grinned at him, "Well, I wasn't just going to let you fall…"

Lelouch was almost glad his near-death experience on the tower happened, if only because Suzaku had been the one to save him… and that made some people warm up to the idea of having an honorary Britannian at Ashford. It even gave him an excuse to ask Milly to let Suzaku join the student council.

There were two reasons why he wasn't actually glad. The first being… well, he almost died. The second being the fact that it led Shirley to give him another "You need to be more careful, Lulu" speech, something he'd been hearing a lot in the past week. It was nice to know he had someone who cared about him… but the same speech multiple times was enough to get under his skin, at least a little bit.

"…Are you listening to me?"

He blinked. The crowd of students that had gathered upon seeing him almost falling to his death was gone, even Shirley and Milly. He couldn't see Z.Z. or Kallen, either. Instead, Suzaku was the only one in front of him. "Ah… I'm sorry, I wasn't," he said. "What were you saying?"

"I asked about how you knew Z.Z. He's… dangerous."

Of course he'd ask about that. "How do you know he's dangerous?" Time for the story I came up with. "I never pegged you as the gambling type, Suzaku."

His Japanese friend narrowed his eyes. "…Gambling?"

"Well, the reason he showed up today was that I forgot I owed him a hefty sum of money after losing a bet…" Lelouch said, attempting to pull off a sheepish look to sell his story. "I've been preoccupied at the hospital ever since Nunnally was rushed there last week…"

Suzaku, not knowing what had happened, instantly gasped, his eyes going wide. "Nunnally's in the hospital?! What happened?"

Suzaku wasn't sure if he fully believed Lelouch's explanation as to how he knew Z.Z. The man was recognizable enough even without his mask on, provided they saw him up close. He would have to be even more meticulous about showing his face than Zero—and that man had a mask that functioned as a helmet so as to cover his entire head. Gambling with someone would be very risky… But he knew Lelouch couldn't be Zero or one of his allies, the only other explanation for him knowing Z.Z.

Then there was the matter of Nunnally. He was certainly looking forward to seeing her again, but the fact that she had a heart attack just a week ago worried him to no end. And Lelouch seemed a bit… angry underneath his fearful demeanor when he spoke about Nunnally's condition. Like he knew someone had caused the heart attack… But that couldn't be the case, so he shoved the very thought even deeper in his mind.

The two stopped just outside of Nunnally's hospital room, and Lelouch looked at him with his violet eyes. "Suzaku, try to be quiet and match my footsteps exactly. I want you being here to be a complete surprise to Nunnally. She… deserves one to cheer her up after being stuck in here for a week."

He definitely agreed with that. "Sure, no problem."

Suzaku missed several of Lelouch's steps once he actually laid eyes on Nunnally for the first time in seven years. She hadn't really changed other than growing older… but her skin was still a few shades paler than he remembered. A lingering reminder of the fact that she almost died last week…

The girl's head turned towards the two of them. "Big Brother… who's here with you?"

"Shoot. I was trying to make it be a complete surprise…" Lelouch replied. He gave Suzaku a slightly dissatisfied look before cocking his head towards Nunnally. "Go ahead, take her hand," he mouthed to Suzaku.

So take her hand he did.

Nunnally gasped slightly as she put her other hand on top of Suzaku's, rubbing it gently. "This hand… Oh, I'm so glad you're alright, Suzaku!"

He chuckled a little, "You're the one in the hospital, Nunnally. Shouldn't that be what I say to you?"

It was Nunnally's turn to giggle. "Maybe so…"

They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and sharing a lot of laughs—it was almost like the time he'd spent with Euphy travelling around the Settlement, and that helped Suzaku forget about his worries that much further.

Still, the more and more time he spent in that little hospital room, the more Suzaku rationalized Lelouch not being Zero. He obviously wouldn't risk Nunnally's safety if he was caught playing the role of a wanted terrorist.

…Right?

Kallen had to wait several days before she'd get a chance to speak to Lelouch in private, and that was only when he approached her resistance group to speak about their next exploit together… preventing a massacre similar to what happened in Shinjuku, only over in the Saitama Ghetto this time. One of his "informants" in the military had supposedly informed him of the new Viceroy, Cornelia li Britannia's plan to purge Saitama in two days in an attempt to draw out Zero while also eliminating the terrorists there.

He intended to go meet with the Yamato Alliance immediately—to warn them of the assault, and to extend his aid in protecting the citizens/defeating Cornelia's forces—and preferred to have at least one person there for backup. Kallen had stepped up, knowing there would be a chance to talk to him without interference from anyone else.

Not that he really needs backup, though. With that power of his, he can order them to do anything. She shivered at the thought. He might have promised to never use his Geass on any of his allies, but what stopped him from using it to make the Yamato Alliance join him?

"Zero… what do you plan to do if Yamato refuses to join you, or they turn tail and flee from Saitama?" Kallen asked while she drove them both over to the other ghetto.

Minus the helmet, Lelouch was already dressed in the Zero costume underneath a sweatshirt and baggy pants. He was even sporting a beanie and sunglasses—if they were stopped by a police barricade, checkpoint, or something similar, they'd think he was just a common street thug, not a criminal mastermind. "Until we're there, I'm not Zero, but Lelouch," he responded.

She scowled at him. "Well then Lelouch, what's your plan?"

"If I can't convince them… you already know what I can and will do."

"Geass…" The contempt in her voice was evident to the both of them.

"I assure you, I'll only resort to that if I must."

That didn't make her trust him any more.

"By the way… I never did properly thank you for getting my mask back from that cat," Lelouch said, his gaze still fixated on the scenery outside the truck. "So… Thank you."

Kallen grumbled something under her breath about it taking him several days for a proper thank you, and turned her attention back to the road.

Getting into the Yamato Alliance's headquarters was easy enough for them thanks to Zero's publicity. Getting them to listen was also a very easy task. Getting them to decide to follow Zero… that was a different story.

Kallen could tell there were a few members who would definitely support Zero, no questions asked. They really got behind what he was saying—how he had proven in Shinjuku that Britannia was not invincible, and how they had a duty to protect the innocent Japanese who lived in Saitama, and how they would likely never get another favorable opportunity to counterattack Britannia like this.

But those people were few and far between. Most of them were either too skeptical of Zero—that was due to his mask—or were simply too scared to even think of facing Cornelia's Royal Guard head on. Unfortunately for Kallen and Lel—Zero—the leader of the Yamato Alliance fit into the former of those two categories, and would not be swayed by anything Zero said.

At one point, the masked man simply quit speaking. He tilted his head down and sighed. "It appears I have no choice… Kallen, close your eyes." The last part was whispered to her, and she listened.

He's going to use his Geass.

Kallen heard the panel on Zero's mask slide open, and several gasps of confusion as her fellow Japanese watched obliviously. Then she heard the swish of Zero's cape—no doubt he had thrown an arm out in one of his outlandish poses as he ordered, "All of you, obey me without question!"

There was a second of pause, before everyone else in the room chorused, "Yes, Master Zero!"

The deed finished, the redhead opened her eyes. She surveyed the scene in front of her with a frown on her face. It… hurt to see all of these people robbed of their free will. It didn't matter what Zero's end goal was… this just felt wrong on so many levels. She looked up at the masked man. "Are you sure this was really necessary? You could have used it only on their leader…"

"For most people, there is a limit to loyalty. Even if their leader remained steadfast, if the other members of the Yamato Alliance thought it was an unwinnable battle, they would flee in a heartbeat. I cannot allow for any more variables… especially with what I intend to do." Zero replied. "Don't worry… I can and will give them all back their free will once the battle with the new Viceroy is completed."

Even with that in mind, it didn't ease Kallen's conscience at all.

Author's Note Part 2: So yeah. Cat chase scene except not with literally everyone on campus participating in it, and Lelouch failing at physical activity. I kind of needed a comic relief section after everything I've pulled.

Then there's the lead-in to the Saitama Ghetto massacre. Maybe Lelouch was being pretty heartless, but hey, he couldn't convince them normally, and he knew what that meant (them bailing in the middle of battle).

Oh, this is going to be fun.

Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed this story, and I hope you guys all leave a review for this chapter!