The next day Gino had it somewhat worked out how he was going to get back at the prudish brunette. However, when he snuck up behind him and saw the scratches on him, he paused.

"Holy shit Suzaku what happened to you? You look like you were attacked by a cat or something. Did that little gray furball…uh…Arthur do this to you?"

Suzaku froze and tried really really hard not to blush. "Ah Arthur didn't do it, but I suppose you could say a cat got to me…" he mumbled.

"Wow cats must really hate you…" Gino trailed off. He would let Suzaku off the hook…for now.

Suzaku cringed at the comment. Hate? No pretty sure this particular cat person did not hate him… that was probably very far from the truth…

Lelouch and Suzaku didn't really talk about what happened. Mostly because when Lelouch tried to talk about it, Suzaku always made an excuse and a fast dash away from wherever Lelouch was. Which infuriated Lelouch and he would have demanded they talk if CC hadn't told him to be patient. She also told him to quit thinking with his lower brain and start thinking with the brain in his head on how to get rid of Schneizel. It was a fairly good distraction….and he already had somewhat of a plan formed involving the kidnapping of Princess Euphemia. He would try to lure Schneizel out from behind his golden walls.

Gino walked out of the guest house that had been provided to Princess Euphemia and saw the black cars approaching. He frowned. Apparently Euphemia would have to wait for the treats she had gotten for her friends. Like the good little (or big. Wink wink) knight that he was he waited at attention and greeted Kanon respectfully as he walked up to him.

"Gino my boy. Did you get taller?" Kanon grasped his biceps in greeting.

"Nope. To what do we owe such a visit from the great and mighty Kanon?" Gino asked as he grinned back.

"Euphie's older brother was concerned and wanted to check up on her. Take her out to lunch."

"Oh well she's not here. She's at a friend's house."

Kanon's eyes narrowed. "I do believe that you are to remain by her side at all times are you not?"

Gino was a knight, so he did not take a step back. He was trained to look danger in the eye. "I can assure you she is safe enough in this particular house. Anya is with her now and it is where Suzaku Kururugi resides."

"Oh" Kanon responded. "If the great pilot Kururugi lives there it must be safe. I want the names of these friends she is with and you will take me there. That way I can make my own assessment. Her brother would not be satisfied otherwise."

"Alright. Follow me. She's visiting with Lelouch and Nunnally Lamperouge."

That caused Kanon to stumble in his steps and he grabbed the muscular arm of the blonde. "Come again?" He asked in a startled tone.

"Huh?" Gino looked at him in confusion.

"The names, you dumb blonde. What are their names again?"

"Lelouch and Nunnally Lamperouge…" Gino answered slowly as his eyebrows knit.

Kanon started laughing and clutched his sides. "You have got to be kidding me. She's pretty close to these friends of hers isn't she?"

"I suppose…" Gino was really confused at this point. Kanon was acting like a nut. His rose gold hair was bouncing with all the laughter. His blue eyes watering with tears.

Anya was sitting on the steps outside basking in the sunlight instead of hanging out with the three people inside that really were too obsessed with each other when she saw Gino approaching with Kanon. She instantly stood up to attention.

"Hmm…I see you're doing your job at least slightly better" Kanon said in way of greeting.

"I do try sir" Anya responded with a tilt of her head.

Kanon didn't waste any more time before walking into the house and following the sound of soft laughter. He burst through the door to the living room with a giant grin. Gino and Anya were on his heels.

"Kanon!" Euphemia stood up quickly and looked at Lelouch who was tensing very visibly.

"Euphie my dear!" Kanon gave her a quick peck on the forehead. Kanon's blue eyes roamed over the tall pale black haired young man and his smile grew into something predatory. "Lelouch darling boy. My have you grown into such a fine young man."

Gino's eyes darted between everyone in the room. Kanon who was smiling creepily. Lelouch who was bristling noticeably. His violet eyes narrowing dangerously. He also noticed that Nunnally was gripping the arms of her wheelchair tightly and her soft little lips were thinned tightly. Euphemia's own eyes were wide with a silent horror.

"You probably don't remember who I am" Kanon turned his gaze to Nunnally before focusing back on Lelouch.

"I know who you are Kanon" Lelouch said as casually as he could.

"Good. That makes this easier. I'm here to escort Euphie to lunch with her dear older brother. I am officially requesting that you and your adorable little sister come with. I'm sure Schneizel would love to meet some Euphie's friends."

Lelouch's brain was running wild with scenarios and escape routes and how he could turn this into his own benefit. If Schneizel learns of their existence, then everything would be over. He could not let that happen. He would not let that happen. He had a feeling that Schneizel was more interested in him then Nunnally, so he would just have to play this right.

"I will accompany you, but unfortunately Nunnally cannot. She has not been feeling well today and it is not polite nor proper to request a young lady to leave her home feeling under the weather." Lelouch squeezed Nunnally's shoulder slightly and the frail fawn brown haired girl let out a little cough. Lelouch smiled. His sister was as intelligent as she was beautiful.

"Of course" Kanon waved his hand dismissively. "Anya and Gino will stay here to make sure she is looked after. We should head out now. We don't want to leave Schneizel waiting."

"Please let me get Nunnally settled into bed first and then we can leave" Lelouch said and didn't wait for an answer before pushing the wheelchair out of the room. He was joined instantly by Sayoko in the hallway and she took over pushing. "Sayoko get Nunnally away from here to safety. Hide her."

"Yes master Lelouch" Sayoko nodded.

"Lelouch be careful" Nunnally said softly. "Don't let Schneizel take you to our father. Come back to me."

Lelouch bent down and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry Nunnally. I'll come back to you." He quickly darted away and slipped into his super secret lair. CC and Rolo looked up at him as he entered. (Convenient that the little assassin kitty was present).

"I suppose we're putting the abduct Princess Euphemia plan into action" CC commented bluntly. The security cameras outside of the residence had picked up the unexpected visitor.

"I would say that is an affirmative. We're just adding me to the mixture. Mobilize the Black Knights. Trace my location. Once we are in custody, make sure we are held separately. The two of you and Kallen will meet with me and we'll go from there."

"Yes your majesty" CC said in that monotone voice of hers and saluted.

Kanon called the driver of the car and they both met them in front of the Lamperouge residence. The pickup for Euphemia was supposed to be discreet, so there were two cars. Kanon, Euphemia and Lelouch climbed into the back of one. Only one guard and a driver with them. Lelouch smiled wickedly in his mind. This was nothing to deter the Black Knights and these little Britannian's thought they were relatively safe. Their guards were definitely down (haha punny).

Gino watched the cars drive away with a weird uncertainty. That had been weird. He knew that Euphemia and Lelouch were childhood friends, but the whole encounter had seemed tense with an underlying message. Anya didn't pay any attention and walked back into the house. She would go spend time with the little cripple girl. She was pleasant to be around. When she walked into the room and saw the little fawn brown cat ears of the distressed girl she frowned slightly. Sayoko instantly stood in front of the girl and Anya could see the little differences in her stance that screamed louder than words that Sayoko was not just a maid.

"You and Lelouch are Nekoti?" Anya asked in a low voice.

"Yes…" Nunnally said in a small voice. "Please don't tell anyone."

"I won't. If Kanon knows what you and Lelouch are, you are not safe here. I'll distract Gino long enough for you to get away. Wait for the right time and then please leave."

Nunnally looked at the tiny pink haired girl who met her gaze with reddish pink eyes. "You're not going to stop us?"

"No. I will not. Believe it or not, I want to help you. Unfortunately there isn't much I can do for Lelouch anymore" Anya said and then looked away thoughtfully and mumbled. "No wonder I could always smell him on Suzaku…he was marking him…"

"Thank you" Sayoko nodded her understanding and finished packing a bag for her lady. Nunnally was still confused, but didn't say anything else.

While they made their escape (hopefully temporary), the two black completely discreet cars were ambushed. The guards and drivers did their job to protect their passengers meaning only three hostages were taken…alive.

Lelouch in his Zero getup was sitting in a hotel room with slimmer/shorter Zero, Kallen and Rolo humming to himself as he held up Kanon's cell phone and selecting Schneizel's number.

"Hello Kanon. Where are you?" Schneizel asked in his typical arrogant condescending tone that made Lelouch scowl.

"Unfortunately Kanon and his cargo were taken on a little detour" Lelouch said.

"Hmm… Zero… It's a pleasure to final speak to each other. Let's get straight to the point shall we. What do you want from me in order to get Kanon and Euphemia back?"

"Oh so you only want the Princess and your little pet back? You don't want anything to do with the other person we found with them?" Zero said with a little chuckle. "I thought he might interest you… tall, pale, black hair, violet eyes…"

There was silence on the other line for a moment. "What do you want Zero?"

"You know what I want. I want you out of Japan. I want Britannia out of Japan."

Schneizel chuckled. "We both know that's not entirely what you want and not something that I can do. Just tell me what I have to do for you to release the hostages alive and no my death cannot be the answer either."

"How about a little game. You come find me and we can discuss what I want in person. I'm sure you've already tracked the call by now. Feel free to bring your cute little army with you, but when you walk into this hotel, you will only bring six men in with you."

"This sounds like I have the disadvantage. Why would I willingly walk into a trap? I could just surround you and take it by force."

"You could, but then I would kill all of your little friends I have with me. You know I have no qualms about killing little royal pests."

"How do I know they're not dead already?"

"Please hold a moment…"

"Schneizel. Shit I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" Kanon started sputtering.

"Is Lelouch really there Kanon?" Schneizel asked sharply.

"Yeah. Thank god we left Nunnally back at their house. God you should see him Schneizel, he's beautiful" Kanon said with awe. Lelouch smiled behind the mask. He might just have to let Kanon live for the hell of it. He was kind of a pretty flower anyways.

Zero grabbed the phone back. "Is that enough proof for you or do you want to talk to the Princess as well?"

"Alright Zero I'll play your game for now…We will be there in 20 minutes. Please do try to be patient."

"For you Prince Schneizel of course."

Schneizel glared at the slightly rundown hotel in the slightly rundown neighborhood. The Black Knights were not visible, but that definitely did not mean they weren't there. He had done the same with his own forces. He walked towards the hotel flanked by soldiers and a couple of personal knights. Like Zero ordered, he only brought six body guards with him when he walked through the front door. The remaining guards stood outside. He was greeted by Zero and a handful of Black Knights.

"Hello Zero" Schneizel nodded his elegant arrogant head ever so slightly.

"Schneizel. Come with me" Zero said.

Schneizel frowned. "You're not Zero."

"Zero is whoever he needs to be. Are you coming or not? We can just scratch this whole plan and start blowing each other to bits if you prefer."

Schneizel made a sneering smile. "Fine. Let's see what the imposter has to say." Schneizel followed the not Zero up a flight of stairs into a room with a desk and chairs on either side of it. Not Zero gestured him to sit which he did and crossed his legs resting his clasped hands on his knees. His knights and guards flanked him. Zero took the other seat.

"I suppose you want to see the hostages to prove that they are all in working order?"

Schneizel gave an easy going smile. "Sure. That would be ideal."

Not Zero made a hand gesture and an adjoining door opened. Kanon was drug in first with wide blue eyes and a gag. His hands bound. Euphemia was brought in next with tears pouring down her face. Her hands were also bound.

"Schneizel! Oh god I'm scared!" she cried and Schneizel stood up reflexively.

"It's alright Euphemia. I'll get you out of here" he said calmly.

Lastly, Schneizel watched as the tall elegant thin frame of his baby brother be drug in. The brother he hadn't seen since he was only 10 years old. A 10 year old with wide frightened violet eyes. Those same eyes were looking at him now. Terrified and unsure. He watched his brother shrug off of the guards and run to him. He didn't even notice that none of the guards were really trying to stop the boy and then Lelouch was in his arms…and plunging a needle into him…and the frightened face of the boy morphed into one of cool victory.

"Oh well played little brother…" Schneizel said as sleepily as the drug kicked in and he was knocked unconscious.

The next moments happened in a flash. A needle was jabbed into Kanon's and Euphemia's arms while the guards that had come with Schneizel were taken care of by Rolo and some Black Knights, but mostly Rolo. He was a fast little kitty cat. Lelouch looked down at the prone figure of his brother and his lips pursed thoughtfully. That had actually gone quite smoothly.

"Thank you for your cooperation young man. Like promised you are free to go now" Zero said calmly. Kallen walked forward and drug the boy from the room. Tamaki, a fellow Black Knight, put up a little bit of a protest to letting the boy go, but was quickly shut up. (He never said anything useful anyways).

They quickly bound and collected the bodies of the Prince, his pet and the Princess and left through a secret tunnel in the basement. Lelouch of course was blindfolded. It wasn't like the Black Knights could afford to have him know their secrets.

The Britannian military forces were getting squirrely. It had been too long. Schneizel had been gone for 45 minutes, but they had their orders, so they waited. Suzaku was freaking the hell out in his knightmare. These nuts had Euphemia! (There was a mention of three hostages, but Schneizel did not identify the third and Suzaku only cared about one). They were going to kill her and all he could do was sit in this goddamn knightmare and wait for a goddamn order! His only hope was Schneizel and he did have faith in the man, but Zero was unpredictable. Zero was dangerous! And here he was sitting outside of a goddamn hotel waiting. He was silently fuming in the cockpit when Lloyd's voice came through.

"Suzaku…I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. The troops are being withdrawn…The Prince and Princess are no longer in that hotel…"

"Lloyd what do you mean?" Suzaku choked on his words as what Lloyd said sunk in.

"Come back to base boy…There are no Black Knights in the area anymore."

Suzaku felt like the world was crashing down on him and all he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears. He wasn't even sure how he got back to the base. He was mostly piloting on instinct. He watched the video proclaiming Zero's victory of no more royal princesses and princes for the Britannian line…then the images filtered by of Schneizel hunched over a desk, his men in the background and Euphemia laying on a bed with a bullet hole through her head (Lelouch didn't want to do it. He really didn't, but it had to match up with all the other deaths. It had to!).

He stumbled home that night in an almost drunken stupor. Lloyd and Cecile tried to get him to stay there, but he couldn't. He needed to see Lelouch. He needed to tell him he failed. That their friend Euphemia was dead and he didn't do anything to stop it! Deep down he wanted Lelouch to hate him to yell at him, but he also wanted Lelouch to hold him. To take the hurt away…

Anya and Gino were waiting at the house and when the door opened they rushed to it. Gino gave him such a sympathetic look and tried to hug him, but he side stepped automatically.

"Where's Lelouch?" Suzaku said robotically.

"Oh shit dude! You don't know. Fuck! Lelouch was with them when they were abducted Suzaku. I don't know what happened to him. We haven't heard anything. Thank god Nunnally didn't go with them when they left. She's gone too though. We don't know where. Hey Suzaku…Suzaku. Hey!"

Suzaku had stopped listening after he heard that Lelouch had gone with them. The rest of it was white noise and his eyes unfocused. Gino's arms caught him before he collided with the floor.