ATTENTION: I lied. The 'M-Rated' version of this chapter is available with the title "The Female Rebellion: Unrated." Look for it in the appropriate section. You are welcome to just read this, but the 'uncut' version consists of this entire chapter including fluffy, funny smut. Do what you will but I had a lot of fun writing the sex scene so of course I am going to promote it.

There was no logical reason for her to be this frightened. On a one to ten scale of bad encounters, this was a three compared to the nightmares that plagued the former princess since childhood. If Jeremiah Gottwald pursued his previously closed investigation for her, he would most likely search within Kyoto. She would simply just never, ever go back, at least not as herself. She could lay low at Ashford until things blow over again. The Black Knights kept her busy enough that she didn't really have time for a social life anyway. It should be fine.

There was no reason to assume that he could question Suzaku regarding her whereabouts. Just because her and Nunnally were sent to live with the Kururugi family, didn't mean that being seen with him was a nail in her coffin. He wouldn't give her up anyway, so it didn't matter. She was definitely not going to be dragged back to Pendragon, presented to the Emperor, and then publically executed for her insolence. It made much more sense that she would just be stabbed to death in an ally somewhere, then teeth detached and body burned to remove the evidence.

Lelouch was going to be sick. She felt like she just found out the boogieman was real, since that was what Jeremiah seemed to be after all these years. At some point, she stopped being afraid of getting caught and merely kept up the facade because it was easier that way. She never should have let her guard down, yet what were the odds that it would turn out this way? There was no way to predict that her mother's assassin would be someone she couldn't control, someone who had already been manipulated via her geass. The possibility was so low that she didn't even bother calculating the exact percentage in her head. It was just nearly impossible.

But two impossible things happened that day; perhaps Lelouch wouldn't have been so shook up if the interaction didn't happen right after being hunted. God, I hate that word. She knew that wasn't completely the case either. The group of boys attempted to assault her not because she was a vulnerable female, but because they saw her with Suzaku. This fact made her feel slightly better, that it wasn't just naivety that put her in that situation, but it also made it worse. It meant that she couldn't tell him about it. She couldn't let him shoulder that guilt.

"I'm sorry." Suzaku said, not for the first time. "I shouldn't have left you alone."

"You had no way of knowing." Her voice continued to shake despite the fact that almost a half hour had pasted since the incident.

She became hyper aware of every glance towards them on the way back to the hotel. Thankfully, she only used geass once on this trip, so if anyone else approached her, she could have it under control. How many people in Tokyo had she used it on without thinking? She couldn't remember all their faces. It wasn't like used her power every day, it was that she didn't care to pay attention. If the person was a pawn, then it didn't matter. That thought process backfired, and she reaped what she sowed with those teenage boys.

Should she have let them attack that old man though? She couldn't stand there and let that happen. If she were to become so stingy with her power that she neglected to help those in need, then she would be going against everything The Black Knights stood for. Yet then she wouldn't have been in that situation, she wouldn't have had to be rescued by Jeremiah, and she wouldn't have found out that the person piloting the white knightmare was the love of her life.

"Stay with me." She pleaded when she noticed Suzaku's unease of dropping her off at her hotel room door.

He didn't know what to do. He wanted to console Lulu, but didn't want to ask about what happened until she calmed down. He wanted to think that the only thing that mattered was that she was safe, but that wasn't true. The only thing that mattered was that he failed her. Whatever happened, happened because he stepped away, allowed her to be vulnerable. He should have known better than to let his emotions get in the way of protecting Lelouch. All this occurred because he couldn't control himself.

The room looked exactly like his own: the carpet, bedspread, and furniture were mass-produced. Only the clothes laying on the floor, and makeup splayed across the vanity indicated that the space was any different. In his mind's eye, he could see Lulu analyzing each outfit and deciding which was best. That probably wasn't right, with how nervous she was in the beginning of their date, the girl probably didn't pick out her clothing in a calm analytical manner.

"Lulu." He said and walked over to where she was staring out the window. He wanted to reach out to her but feared that she would break. Everything bad that transpired that day was because he was thinking with the head between his legs, and not the one above his neck. He shouldn't touch her.

"Suzaku." She whispered and tears finally began to fall from glassy eyes. When she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and buried her head onto his chest, the decision was made for him. "He found me.

"After all these years, I forgot. I forgot why I was hiding, why I was afraid. When he said I looked just like my mother, I remembered. I remembered Rueben scolding me to be careful, to not get cocky just because nothing happened yet. What about Nunnally? Do you think seeing me could lead him to her? Oh god, what have I done?"

"You didn't do anything." Suzaku responded and began running his fingers through her short hair.

"That's the problem." She vehemently retorted, feeling anger bubble up within the ocean of her self-pity like methane gas. "I didn't do anything. I couldn't do anything. I was... Helpless."

"It's ok."

"How is that ok?!" She fought the urge to scream. Instead the words came out as a cruel whisper.

Suzaku pulled away to look at her contorted face.

"Because, I will protect you. I promise, Lulu, I won't make a mistake again. I won't let myself get distracted I-." He stopped and dislodged himself from her grip. He had no right to do this, yet the feeling of abjection did not stop him from bending down on one knee. It might have looked like a marriage proposal if his hand wasn't clasped before his heart or his head wasn't downcast.

"I promise, Lelouch Vi Britannia, to lay down my life for you. Protecting you is my sole purpose. I am yours, to do what you will, without question. My life matters naught without you. I promise, I won't let myself get distracted from protecting you ever again."

Her eyes were wide with shock when he finally raised his head to look at her. That adorable blush was back on her face, and he mentally chided himself for his reaction. Didn't he just say he wouldn't let this happen?

"I-I gave up that name long ago..."

"It doesn't matter. Neither of us can run from our past forever, but I promise to be there if yours ever catches up to you. I'll protect you even if it means my death."

"I would prefer you not die."

"I will do my best not to."

"And I don't mind you getting... Distracted." Lelouch felt like she was bipolar with the amount of various emotions that she experienced in the last ten minutes. "As long as it's me that's distracting you." She couldn't believe she said the last part.

Suzaku didn't respond right away. He just kept on staring in a way that made her feel as if she were on display. That was as close of a declaration as she was going to get. It was akin to saying 'take me now' or any other clichéd statement in a romance novel.

"Are you really that much of an idiot?"

"Only with you."

Any snarky retort died the moment her knight was on his feet. The kiss was unlike anything they ever shared before, even the last one, which left her feeling dizzy. This was more like erotica, or 'girl porn', something she wouldn't even admit reading to Milly.

Suzaku woke early, a habit that he usually hated on his days off, yet right then he cherished it. Being awake first meant that he could watch her without Lulu becoming embarrassed and scolding him. She looked so peaceful as she slept, and he felt his heart surge as memories of the night before flooded his mind. She loved him. He would have devoted his life to her anyway, but having his feelings reciprocated was obviously preferable.

She stirred as he ran his fingers through her disheveled hair and caressed her cheek. Feeling less guilty than he should, the boy sat up and pulled down the comforter, which was previously up to her shoulders, to get a better view. Lulu was perfection. Neither of them bothered to dress before falling asleep, and he unabashedly raked his eyes over every inch of her bare skin.

"What are you doing?" Lelouch asked still half asleep but noticing that the air had become cooler.

"Looking at you."

"Didn't you do that last night?"

"It was dark."

She thought about his statement for a moment before rolling over and curling up. "Whatever. I'm still sleeping."

"But it's time to wake up."

"Make me."

Suzaku smiled, remembering that there were still a few 'acceptable' condoms left in the variety pack.

When Lelouch said that she would deal with the implications of last night tomorrow, she did not mean the literal tomorrow, as in today. That day all she wanted to do was be in her own little fantasy world, where nothing, and no one existed besides her, Suzaku, and the room service attendant when she got hungry. There were no Black Knights, no Zero, no Britannian Empire to destroy, and definitely no White Knight, because Suzaku belonged with her and she didn't want to think about isolating his loyalties just yet.

"What do you want to do?"

"Nothing. I would prefer to be able to walk during school tomorrow." Lelouch didn't bother to look up from the book when she answered.

She was curled up on the bed with her head on Suzaku's lap. During her knight's exploration of the contexts of her suitcase, something even she was weary to going through, he found a copy of "The Art of War." At first the book caused her to become guarded, before reading the note written on the flap, which stated that her Goodreads bookshelf hasn't changed at all lately. There were also some tips on fun ways to read aloud that were ignored.

"I didn't mean that." He laughed and moved the hand that was previously stroking her hair to play with the hem of the skirt that was pooled around her upper thighs, not that the length was much longer when standing.

"Suzaku." She threatened and finally looked up to see his goofy grin. "Stop." It was a mistake allowing him to talk her into wearing the ridiculous night 'gown' that was included. Put this on and I'll let you read, my ass.

"I meant about us."

"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him.

If he is in superior strength, evade him.

If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

These -" She continued, ignoring the fact that she was following unsolicited advice as she said the words in a significantly different tonality than what was intended by the author.

"Lulu," Suzaku regretfully interrupted and pulled the book from her hands, resulting in a scowl. "I'm serious."

"So am I. We still have two hours until we need to check out of the hotel. I have more than enough time to finish reading."

"What do you want me to do?" He repeated, obviously determined to prematurely pop her bubble of blissful ignorance.

"Nothing. It would look suspicious if you defected now. Just keep doing what you are doing." She sighed when he looked like he was going to argue. "Look, I know you want to protect me, but if you start following me around everywhere it would be..." She paused, trying to find a better word than 'troublesome.' "Weird, out of the ordinary, and would likely draw more attention to me."

"Because it's my fault. Damned if I do, damned if I don't, huh."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

"And you are the most dispirited person I've ever met."

"What about school?"

She chewed on her lower lip as she contemplated his request. Before yesterday, she would have not given it any thought. If Suzaku wanted to look gay to everyone at Ashford then that was fine with her. The opinions of others never really swayed her decisions one way or another, but that changed when she realized how troublesome those opinions could be. The probability of anyone given them issue at school was minute. After their shared kiss last month, a sizable percentage of the student body already believe the two to be dating, and those that didn't know, wouldn't be surprised. There was a difference between suspicion and knowledge, however, and Lelouch wondered if 'coming out' with their relationship could cause more problems than it would be worth. She didn't know yet what Suzaku considered a threat, or how he would handle a disagreement among peers.

"Just don't be too obvious," seemed like a good answer.

Suzaku looked like he was mulling something over before he finally spoke. "I'm going to be gone for the next couple days." He paused and continued to think. "Maybe the whole week…. So don't leave the school until I get back."

Lelouch's eyes widened and she sat up from where she was sitting on the bed. She already decided that she wasn't going to ask him about his military involvement, considering that she had no right to judge him for keeping it from her. She still hasn't decided how much control she wanted to execute in their bond. If she still held a royal title, his life would be completely in her hands, and if he disobeyed, she had the power to kill him. That didn't sound like the workings of a healthy personal relationship.

There was also the minor detail that revealing knowledge of the Lancelot would force her hand regarding her identity as Zero. The mainstream media never gave details on specific battles and reliable information via the Internet was just as sparse. Plus it should be mentioned that Lelouch did not want to deal with this right then.

"I wouldn't think that the engineering corp. would be so demanding. You made it seem like a 9-5 kind of job."

"If that were true, I wouldn't be able to go to school at all."

She glared in response.

"I lied, but not really." He sighed. "My unit is categorized as research and deployment, but I don't do much research."

"You're the dummy then?"

"Well. Um." He stuttered feeling both a desire to shield Lulu from the truth and a duty to be honest. "Kind of. I test out a specific Knightmare frame."

"The Lancelot." She replied and added, "Gottwald mentioned it," as an afterthought.

"Yes. So I'm going to Narita for a mission. It will be fine though. I'm only going to -"

"Test out a superior Knightmare frame against the remaining JLF."

"Cornelia probably won't use me anyway. It's just a formality since Prime Minister Schneizel commissioned the project."

"I see. When is this happening?"

"The day after tomorrow, but I need to test out a new modification before joining up with the official units."

As much gaining information on Britannia's weapons development interested her, Lelouch was more concerned with Suzaku's bad lying ability. Unless her half-sister completely changed tactics, her knight would definitely be involved. Especially considering a plan to crash the party was already starting to form in her mind. With the recent Knightmares that the Kyoto group gifted the Black Knights, a surprise attack would be doable. It would be hasty, and against the recommendations of Sun Tzu, but 'The Art of War,' was just as much philosophy as it was a manual for literal warfare.

"An even if I were to be put into battle, the Lancelot is fully equipped. Within its cockpit is really the safest place to be. I know I asked you to make a decision for me, but..." He pause chewed on the inside of his cheek. "This is the reason I joined the military. I'm the first pilot who was formerly a Number, and if I can prove myself, then maybe more will join me. It will prove the merit of the Honary Britannian System and things will begin to change for the better."

Destroying Suzaku's delusions was something that would also wait for another day. For the next two hours, all she wanted to do was read, munch on grapes, and maybe use up the last condom in the box. It didn't like she was going to be going to school tomorrow anyway. Her mental abilities would be better spent calculating a strategy to take down Cornelia, and gain more members through the destruction of the JLF.

A/N: Poor Jeremiah! Lelouch, all he wants to do is take care of you! Why won't you accept him?! :Sniff, Sniff: I love misunderstandings.

Review and let me know what you guys think. As much as I'm trying in vain to stay cannon, I think this is where things are really going to break off. Thankfully, I've gotten some pretty awesome responses that are giving me the confidence to just do mah thing.