Code Geass: Jinchuuriki of the Crimson Knightmare

by Resurrection of the Forgotten

When Naruto is thrown into a whole new world that is all but at war with itself, who can he trust? Whose side will he fight on? And just because he's in a new world doesn't mean he isn't the Child of Prophecy.

12. Chapter 11

AN: After several months and 30k words I've finally been able to post the next chapter. While it has taken me a while to post this I've recently gotten into working on my other fics on my phone so my smaller stories, i.e. those besides S.D.H. and Crimson Knightmare, and possibly a couple of others, it should see me updating more frequently. This is not a grantee but another update is close in the future just not for my two bigger stories.

Not completely sure what my main focus will be on next considering how I am working on writing updates for this fic now that I am done with this update for one of my bigger fics. Most likely another update for S.D.H. but nothing is clear.

Anyway on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto, Code Geass, or anything else that might appear in this fic.

---

Chapter 10

"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Speakers/Radio"
Flashback
"Jutsu"
(Author Notes)

It was a normal day at Ashford Academy after classes had been let out for the day. The normalcy of the day had one notable exception though and that exception was Shirley's shouts being heard all across the campus, mostly because Arthur had accidently turned on the PA system. The origin of the screaming though came from the Student Council building where all the members of the Student Council were currently located.

"Naruto you Jerk! I can't believe you did that!" Shirley shouted at a grinning Naruto, holding a large thick book that she had been trying to hit Naruto with for the last several minutes. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing last night was?!" The orangette demanded swinging the book at Naruto only to miss and end up knocking over a stack of files from the table which they had previously sat on. "How could you!"

Naruto had jumped over the table located in the council room, that being the reason that Shirley inadvertently knocked the stack of files over, and landed on the other side as he gave the yellow-green eyed girl a fox like grin. The other members of the Student Council would have been awed by Naruto's gymnastic feat if he hadn't been doing similar stunts for the past several minutes in order to avoid Shirley's wrath. "It's not that bad." He claimed lightly.

"Not that bad." Shirley repeated, "Not that bad!" She screamed rushing around the table charging at Naruto with the book raised, only for the shinobi to quickly back away. "The entire world saw Suzaku kiss me because of you!" The girl stated with only a bit of an exaggeration. "It's all anyone has talked about all day!" What Shirley left unsaid was the phone call that she had also received from her parents. Questions were asked that Shirley would rather not remember or risk having her face redden and draw even more questions from her friends.

With a grin still plastered on his face Naruto tried to deflect the culpability off of himself. "Hey Suzaku was the one he actually went through with it." Naruto pointed out as he glanced over at the Honorary Britannian.

Suzaku and Rivalz had been the ones who had been unofficially voted to clean up the mess caused by Shirley in her rage. As such Suzaku head snapped up from where he was picking up some of the files that Shirley had knocked over from the ground to stare at Naruto shocked. Shirley blinked a couple of times as Naruto's statement registered in her mind before her eyes widened in realization.

"Naruto's right," Shirley declared before fixing her glare on the messy brown haired Knightmare pilot. "Suzaku!"

"Uh oh, someone's in trouble." Rivalz teased lightly, nudging the boy beside him with a grin on his face. The grin didn't last long when Suzaku stood up and backed up accidentally knocking the files over once more as Shirley now moved towards him. "Hey!" The blue haired teen complained.

Suzaku held up his hands as he did his best to placate the quickly approaching girl. "Come on Shirley I explained it last night, it was the quickest way to get them to stop." Suzaku reasoned as best he could.

"That's just an excuse. And it doesn't help with what I had to deal with today." Shirley countered. "You should have just ignored them; they would've stopped eventually." She stated taking one slow, threateningly, and deliberate step towards Suzaku at a time gradually backing him to a metaphorical corner.

"Uh," Suzaku uttered trying to come up with something to say. "Lelouch," He said looking toward his oldest and best friend for help.

Lelouch had been sitting at the table filling out some paperwork that Milly had given to him, while also keeping an eye on the show that Naruto and Shirley were putting on. When Suzaku called his name he tore his eyes away from the paper in front of him to focus his attention on him. An amused smile graced Lelouch's face, "Sorry Suzaku I'd love to help you but I seem to recall someone saying that I wasn't all that good with women." The black haired Britannian said with a faux apologetic tone to his voice. Honestly he found the entire situation rather amusing and a nice distraction from everything going on with Zero and the Black Knights. Plus, Lelouch would admit that watching Suzaku squirm a bit provided its own sort of amusement.

At the other end of the table Kallen casually petted Kyu and though her face remained rather blank she found the situation just as funny as the others. "I think it was courageous of Suzaku to do what he did." The redhead said evenly not even bothering to look away from the purring vixen. "Kissing Shirley in front of so many people, how bold." Kallen finished further burying Suzaku.

"It was just an innocent kiss on the cheek." Suzaku protested.

Milly had a brilliant smile on her face and mischievousness clearly evident in her dark blue eyes. "Now, now Suzaku." Milly said pacifyingly. "You shouldn't sell yourself short. Kallen's right that took a lot of guts." She teased her underclassmen.

Nina was busy working on some project on the computer in the corner of the room but even still the bespectacled girl seemed to nod her head in agreement.

Rivalz left the files a clutter on the floor as he moved to throw an arm around Suzaku's shoulder. "Yeah, who would have thought that you'd have it in you." Rivalz joked with a large grin.

Shirley slammed the book she had intended to smack Naruto with, and then Suzaku, on the table drawing everyone's attention back to her. "This is not funny guys!" Shirley protested loudly.

"Fine, fine." Milly said with a sigh, crossing her arms under her breasts. "We'll leave you two lovebirds alone." She finished taking one last opportunity to make fun of the pair.

With that everyone got settled down, Naruto taking a seat next to Kallen and Rivalz dropping his arm from around Suzaku's shoulder to get back to picking up the papers that had been dropped earlier. Suzaku spared a quick look at Shirley hoping that the orange haired girl had calmed down, but with her cheeks slightly tinted red Shirley let out a huff before turning away.

Milly gazed at everyone with a small smile on her face before turning her attention to Lelouch. "So how are the plans coming along for the Ball?" Milly asked her Vice-President.

Lelouch shuffled through a couple of papers for a moment before finding the one he was looking for. "Everything seems to be almost ready. The food for the Ball has been ordered, it won't be anything fancy but everyone is sure to like it, and the entertainments been booked." Lelouch told everyone before glancing up at Naruto with a smirk on his face and amusement glittering in his eyes. "Though we've been getting a lot of requests from the female students to try and get Spiraling Leaf to play." The purple eyed Britannian revealed. "Including Nunnally." He added remembering his sister's hopefully inquiry on the chances of the band playing.

Naruto was grumbling to himself a bit having been badgered almost relentlessly by his fangirls trying to convince him to play at the Ball, but the news about Nunnally being a fan of his drew his attention. "Nunnally is a fan of mine?" Naruto asked getting a nod from Lelouch as the shinobi gained a thoughtful look.

"Have you changed your mind about performing?" Milly asked only to be disappointed when Naruto shook her head in response. "Is there anything else?" The President asked looking at Lelouch.

"Well thanks to our patron," Lelouch began again, nodding his head towards Naruto who waved back in response when everyone looked at him for a moment before returning their attention back to Lelouch. "We managed to remain within our budget and order most of the decorations, including table and chairs. There are a few things that we will still need to go out to the stores to order so that they can be delivered for the Ball along with a few minor supplies." The black haired Britannian said handing Milly a list of materials that they would still need.

Milly looked the list over before nodding her head coming to a decision. "Alright then," She said. "Naruto you should go out and take care of ordering these things." The blonde haired Britannian decided, passing the sheet of paper down to Naruto.

Naruto took the paper that Kallen ended up handing him, glancing at it, before he looked at Milly curiously. "Ok, but why me?" Naruto asked her.

Milly folded her hands in front of her and rested her chin on them, faintly reminding Naruto of Tsunade, with a smile playing across her lips. "Because out of everyone in this room only two of us have a viable mode of transportation." She pointed out, causing Naruto and Rivalz to glance at each other. "So between the two of you I think it would best that you go an order the rest of the decorations since you also have the best knowledge of the budget and what to get so we stay within it." Milly reasoned rationally.

Naruto eventually nodded his head in agreement as he saw the logic behind Milly's thinking. "Alright I'll go take care of this then." Naruto said standing up from the table with the paper in hand.

"Good," Milly said nodding her head as she watched the blonde supposed half-Britannian left to carry out his task.

The doors had no sooner closed behind Naruto before Suzaku was out of his seat and walking towards the windows drawing the curious glances from everyone else. Eventually it fell to Lelouch to question Suzaku about his actions.

"Suzaku what are you doing?" Lelouch asked.

"Give me a second." Suzaku replied without looking away from the window.

While the members of the Student Council were still confused but decided to leave the matter alone until Suzaku decided to explain himself. With a lull in the conversation Milly turned her attention to Shirley with a concerned look on her face. "So Shirley, how are holding up?" Milly asked carefully. "With your father and all?"

Shirley's expression noticeably dimmed but she still had a small smile on her face all the same. "I'm fine," Shirley promised softly. "Really I am." The orangette reaffirmed when everyone still looked at her dubiously, though most of them didn't know what was wrong, Suzaku turning his head slightly so that he could also see Shirley while also keeping a visual of the outside. "My dad is recovering nicely and he should be out of the hospital in a couple of days." She told them.

"What happened to your dad?" Rivalz asked concernedly this being the first time that he heard that something happened to Shirley's dad.

"He was caught in the landslide caused by Zero and the Black Knights." Shirley revealed surprising Rivalz and Nina and shocking Lelouch and Kallen. "He almost didn't make it and would have suffocated where he was buried if Suzaku hadn't found him when he did." The yellow-green eyed girl said giving Suzaku a thankful smile. A smile that Suzaku returned, though it slipped slightly when Rivalz shot out of his seat and threw an arm around the green eyed teen once more.

"Now that's how you do it!" Rivalz cheered. "You save her dad then kiss her on national TV live, you really know how to charm a girl Suzaku. Who would have thought?" The blue haired Britannian joked a little. "Do you mind giving me some pointers?" He finished in a mock-whisper sounding just a tad bit more serious than before.

"It wasn't like that." Suzaku protested trying to get out from under Rivalz arm. "I was just doing my job searching for any survivors. I'm just glad that I got lucky when I did and was able to save Shirley's dad's life." The Honorary Britannian stated.

Kallen had a sorrowful look on his face recalling her part in the landslide, particularly that she was the one that started the landslide in the first place. "Shirley I'm so sorry that, that happened." Kallen apologized regret with each word she spoke.

"Oh, stop." Shirley admonished the girl lightly. "What have you to apologize for?" She asked unaware of the pang of guilt that struck at Kallen's heart. "Really it could have been a lot worse than it was and for that I'm grateful." Shirley spoke honestly.

"I feel awful though." Rivalz muttered. "It just that... when we were all watching the hotel jacking on TV, I thought the Black Knights were... you know, heroes. I mean the news was handling it all wrong, anyway I was posting online how I thought what happened in Narita was kinda cool, and I... Forgive me." Rivalz apologized as well."

A frown marred Shirley's features as she clenched her fists so tightly that they started to shake. "I get it." Shirley muttered. "After what happened in the hotel I didn't think the Black Knights were all that bad either, I mean how could I they saved my life along with Milly's, Nina's and Naruto's. But after yesterday," Shirley voice trembled. "They're supposed to stand for the weak, but my father. My father didn't deserve to be nearly buried alive. He is so gentle. He never ever hurt me. He didn't do anything wrong. So why did he have to almost die?" Shirley questioned at the verge of breaking down.

Milly seeing the stated that her friend was out of her seat in a second and pulling the younger girl into a comforting embrace. "Hey," Milly said soothingly. "It's alright. Your dad's okay he's recovering. It's like you said things could have been worse but they're not so there's no need to be distressed." The blonde Britannian said comfortingly. After a few more seconds Shirley seemed to calm down and regain her composure.

Suzaku took that moment to tear away from the window and make his way over to the microphone connected to the PA system. Suzaku only stopped when he was right in front of the device to look at Milly, who along with everyone else was looking back at Suzaku. "Is it alright if I use this for a second Madam President?" Suzaku asked, though he looked like he was going to use it anyway considering he had his finger right above the button that would turn it on.

"Uh, go ahead." Milly answered unsure about what Suzaku was planning but interested in seeing what he was going to do.

Suzaku nodded his thanks as he turned the system on. "Attention students Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze has agreed to take one person out on a date today." Suzaku announced to everyone currently on campus, and shocking the others. "First one to catch him will be the lucky winner!" The Japanese said rather cheerfully, though with an almost wicked grin on his face, before he turned the PA off.

"SUZAKU!" Naruto's voice came out loudly from outside.

Suzaku only did the bare minimum to hold back his snickers as the high-pitched squeals of various fangirls resounded through the air. "That's payback for last night." Suzaku said out loud for the benefit for everyone else to explain why he did what he just did.

After a bit Shirley giggled taking a certain amount of pleasure in the revenge that Suzaku had acted out on, and Naruto's subsequent misery as a result. The others had varying degrees of amusement at Naruto's plight, though mostly they felt relief that Suzaku had inadvertently managed to lift Shirley's spirits.

Though Kallen had a small smile on her face it didn't really last long as she was still feeling guilty about the part she played in the landslide. Without much preamble stood up. "I should probably go help Naruto." Kallen announced suddenly before leaving.

Lelouch was feeling the same, if not greater, amount of guilt as Kallen for being the one to come up with the landslide and then executing the plan. With his hair shadowing his eyes Lelouch gathered the papers in front of him. "There's some papers I forgot in my room." Lelouch told the remaining members. "I'll be back in just a second." He finished, leaving before anyone could respond.

---

C.C. was in Lelouch's room on his bed opening a package that had come with the pizza that she had ordered when the black haired Britannian walked into the room, his head lowered, C.C. looking at him momentarily from over her shoulder. The violet eyed teen's presence surprised the immortal witch as Lelouch rarely ever came to his room during school hours, including when he should with the other members of the Student Council, so him showing up now was a real shock to her. "Well this is a surprise." C.C. said almost nonchalantly from her position on the bed as she continued to open her package. "What brings you back so early?" She asked him but when Lelouch didn't answer immediately she turned her attention back to him and finally noticed the air about him. "What's happened?"

Lelouch proceeded to tell C.C. what he had learned about Shirley's father. How the man had almost died; because of the landslide that Lelouch had engineered.

C.C. looked at the teen with an impassive stare as she clutched a yellow plushy that looked a lot like a mere blob with a hat on top of its head and eye smiles. Despite the maturity that Lelouch carried himself on a daily bases and that he was a tactician genius C.C. was reminded of the fact that Lelouch was still young, little more than a child in her eyes. She knew countless military leaders who lost their resolve in similar situations, so C.C. wasn't all that surprised that a boy of 17 would be having doubts now. "Do you regret it?" C.C. questioned Lelouch disenchanted, the Britannian prince sitting on his couch across the room with his back to her. "That your friend's father was caught up in all this? You were just accusing Kirihara of being too soft. What happened to the path of blood?" She asked dissatisfied.

"Shut up." Lelouch muttered without even looking at C.C.

"But it turns out you're the soft one." The green haired immortal pointed out patronizingly. "Did you think this was all just a game?" She asked rhetorically. "You've already killed your fair share of people. By hand, or words more often than not." C.C. said logically.

"Just shut up." Lelouch nearly growled out with angry look.

"All of them left behind a family, all had lovers and friends. Are you really telling me you hadn't grasped that yet?" The woman asked almost sounding like she was mocking Lelouch. "I would have thought you to be better prepared." C.C. scolded her contractee.

"Just shut up! I am prepared!" Lelouch roared. "I have been from the moment I killed Clovis!" He claimed remembering holding a gun up to his half-brother's head and pulling the trigger.

"Then why this hesitation? Has she shaken you so badly?" C.C. asked with a sly smile on her face trying to get a reaction out of Lelouch. "This wouldn't be some knee-jerk reaction to seeing Suzaku kiss her last night is it? Because really I would expect so much more from you." She commented. "Because if that isn't the case then for all your preening and posturing, you're really just a spoiled little boy with a swollen head and a big fat mouth..." C.C. paused momentarily as Lelouch launched himself at her pinning her to his bed with his hands on her shoulders, even then she didn't release her hold on her knew possession. Despite the position that C.C. found herself in she didn't appear at all fazed at suddenly being immobilized by Lelouch. In fact, the golden eyed girl almost looked bored as she gazed up at Lelouch. "You're in way too deep to be turning back now." C.C. stated evenly. "You've passed the point of no return. You need a reason for living, don't you? You're not going to disappoint me, are you?"

Lelouch visibly reacted at C.C. final question almost recoiling away from the immortal witch and releasing his hold on her.

C.C.'s frown deepened just a bit more as she continued. "From this point things will only get more difficult for you. More than likely people you know, your friends, will end up dying in the crossfire if you continue down this path." C.C. pointed out. "If you continue to hesitate like this then you might as well give up now because if you continue to second guess yourself there is no chance you'll ever defeat Britannia let alone your father." The immortal witch pointed out steely.

Without a word Lelouch released his hold on C.C. as he stood up silently before leaving the room, leaving C.C. on his bed impassive to his leaving.

After leaving his room Lelouch entered his bathroom to take a shower in an effort to clear his head. Unfortunately, it almost seemed to have the opposite effect Lelouch thought, as he slammed his fist against the shower wall, as his mind seemed to only get more clouded.

"Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another."

His father, the emperor, Charles Zi Britannia.

"So, is that the reason why you killed my brother."

Euphemia.

"Any ends gained through contemptible means aren't worth anything."

'It's nothing but self-satisfying gratification."

Suzaku.

"Are you really going through with this?"

Ohgi.

"That's all easy enough to say, isn't it?"

Kallen.

"You can't! We may have different mothers, but you and I are still blood."

Clovis.

"Justice is such a fickle thing don't you think. You say you fight for justice, but only what you perceive justice to be."

"I fight to protect that which I consider precious. So I will fight for this city, for this country, for my home and the people in it. It doesn't matter to me if they are Japanese or Britannian I will protect them to the best of my ability."

Kurama.

"The feeling of being alone, of feeling worthless, like you don't exist and it wouldn't matter if you lived or died because no one cared, and that nothing will ever change isn't the sort of thing most people can handle on their own. And they end up breaking under the pressure."

"I don't ever want anyone to feel like that."

Naruto.

"I wish the world was a gentler place."

Nunnally. A flash of his sister in medical care after his mother's assassination.

"And to have this Utopia you'd…"

"You appear to have a reason for living."

C.C.

"Are you embarking on the path of blood?"

Kirihara.

"And I've come back to change everything."

Even his own words echoed in Lelouch's mind. It all resulted in his resolve being steeled as he focused on the one thing that mattered most in his life, the only family Lelouch still believed he had. Nunnally. His life since the night of his mother's murder had revolved around two things getting revenge on Britannia and taking care of Nunnally. He still felt regret for what he had unintentionally put Shirley and her family through but Nunnally was his top priority he couldn't let anything else get in the way of that.

Returning to his room Lelouch ignored C.C. presence completely as he grabbed his cell phone and dialed a number. "Ohgi," He spoke into the receiver. "It's me, Zero." He said solemnly.

---

"Man that came out of nowhere." Naruto muttered, Kallen nodding her head in silent agreement. "First that thing Suzaku pulled then this." The pair had been out ordering the final supplies for the Ball when a sudden rain shower caught the two unaware. Luckily they were able to get refuge in a nearby café, even managing to get a couple of towels to dry off with, while they waited it out.

"At least we managed to get out of it before it got too bad." Kallen reasoned as she finished drying her hair as she took a glance outside the window from the booth they were sitting at. Outside a few stragglers were getting soaked as they rushed to reach their desired destination or a suitable place to wait out the rain.

Naruto hummed in agreement before giving the redhead a wide grin. "Thanks by the way for your help back there." Naruto said referring to the fact the girl sitting across from him just barely managed to save him from one of his more ravenous fangirls.

Kallen returned Naruto's grin with a smile of her own. "Don't mention it." She told him not voicing the bit of pleasure she took in snatching Naruto away from the fangirl. For a moment the two teens sat in semi-comfortable silence after having the drinks they ordered to warm themselves up delivered when Kallen eventually broke it. "Naruto," The girl began hesitantly drawing Naruto's attention to her before she continued. "After you left the Student Council room the others began talking about the Black Knights and what happened to Shirley's father, you know what happened to him don't you?"

"Yeah," Naruto admitted with a nod. "Well I asked for a report with the names of any survivors and casualties and saw the name Joseph Fenette so I knew he was there but not that he was Shirley's dad or what happened to him exactly." The shinobi clarified.

"He was caught in the landslide created by the Black Knights." Kallen revealed. "And now because of that the others think badly of the Black Knights despite what happened at Lake Kawaguchi. I wanted to know what you thought of them." She admitted. "Do you think the Black Knights are in the wrong for fighting back? For standing up to Britannia?" She questioned, as she pictured Shirley nearly breaking down in the club room, a hand she had laid on the table visibly shaking.

"They're not wrong." Naruto tried to reassure Kallen softly as he laid his hand over hers. "The way Japan' is now is wrong and the Black Knights realize that." The blonde claimed. "But the way they're going about things will see a lot of people, both good and bad, die and more lives forever ruined. They're fighting because it's the only thing that they can do to stop Britannia from hurting anymore Japanese people feeling justified and ignoring the people they hurt in turn."

"Then what should they do? Sit back and just let Britannia do whatever they want?" Kallen demanded with a bit of fever in her voice. "What would you do?"

"I'm doing it." Naruto replied withdrawing his hand.

"Huh?"

"Forcing your ideals and beliefs on other people will only cause conflict and rebellion." Naruto stated, a picture of both the Emperor and Lelouch/Zero appearing in his mind. "On the other hand simply submitting to those with power would cause people to eventually subjugate one another with things only getting worse from then on, things won't change after that and worse why would they?" Naruto continued the image of Charles Zi Britannia and Lelouch in his mind being replaced with one Suzaku Kururugi. "But if there is someone who is willing to look past all the differences that set us apart and tries their best to accept and understand others no matter their circumstances and treats them with kindness it is then when we can find any true peace." The shinobi finished the person flashing through his mind this time not himself but Euphemia.

The Third Princess of Britannia treated everyone equally and with kindness. He admired the girl a lot because it.

Kallen contemplated Naruto's words for a moment. She could see each of Naruto's points and how each one was currently being implemented, the JLF and the Black Knights, Japanese who chose to become Honorary Britannians, and Naruto's efforts with the Namikaze Corp., but knowing all that didn't make things much easier for the red haired half-Britannian. Kallen had decided though what it was she was going to do when she joined her brother's rebel group, she was determined on fighting Britannia in order to free Japan and its people. She had born witness to much of the Britannia's cruelty and their feelings of self-entitlement to let things be. Kallen didn't want to stand on the sidelines slowly watching as things in Japan bettered themselves, and while she would definitely support Naruto in any of his endeavors with the Namikaze Corp., she wanted to do her part in the fight to change things. "So are the Black Knights doing the right thing?" She asked again though there was a strong resolve in her voice this time.

Naruto stared at Kallen silently for a moment as he mulled the question over for a second before answering. "I already said they're not technically in the wrong." The blonde shinobi reiterated. "As long as they remember what they are fighting for and are aware of the consequences of their actions then they should fight with everything they have." Naruto stated surely.

Kallen nodded her head in understanding a little relieved that Naruto would probably not think any less of her if he ever discovered about her involvement with the Black Knights. At least Kallen hoped that if Naruto ever did discover the truth that he would be understand why she did what she did. With a mental shake of her head Kallen decided to ask Naruto about something else she was desperate to find out about. "So," She began trying to sound casual about it. "How is Akira, my maid, doing?" She asked doing her best to seem uninterested.

Naruto could tell instantly just how curious Kallen really was, with good reason considering that it was about her mother, and smiled knowingly to himself using his mostly ignored drink to hide it. After a couple more seconds Naruto answered her. "She is doing good." Naruto said. "She is starting to respond more to her treatments and has even started speaking a little now."

"Oh?" Kallen muttered nonchalantly as she took a sip of her drink, throwing a quick glance outside noticing that the rain seemed to be letting up now.

"Two names to be specific." Naruto decided to clarify a bit. "Kallen and… Naoto." The shinobi revealed taking some delight in the way that the news seemed to shock Kallen enough to cause her to choke on her drink a bit.

After composing herself Kallen stared at Naruto tensely her mind racing. Kallen wondered, not for the first time, how much Naruto really knew about her and how much she could share with him. She could lie and brush off her mother saying Naoto's name because she was their caretaker when they were younger. Kallen though wasn't comfortable with the idea of lying to Naruto about that, especially because it involved Naoto. The memory of her brother didn't deserve to be used like that. Absently Kallen remembered the advice that Milly had given her the day the Council President had given her, her transcripts. With a mental sigh Kallen admitted to herself that Milly had been right about carrying so many burdens on her own and it would be nice to be able to confide in someone about something. It made sense to her that she could at the very least confide in Naruto about this. "I guess that would make sense." Kallen eventually said.

Naruto remained silent choosing to let Kallen get whatever she wanted off of her chest.

"Akira Kozuki she's… she's Naoto's and my mother." Kallen revealed, at least she thought she did. "That makes me and Naoto half-Britannian and half-Japanese like you." She finished.

"I know," Naruto admitted causing eyes to widen in surprise.

"What? How? Since when?" The red haired half-Britannian questioned slightly shocked.

"Since the day we met." Naruto answered. "I kind of figured that it was like that from some the things that Naoto told me the night we met."

"And you didn't think to mention this before?" Kallen asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I wasn't sure until after I had met your mother." Naruto replied with a shrug. "You look a lot like her." He pointed out. "Before that I just guessed from what little bit Naoto told me the night we met." The shinobi explained. "Besides it would have meant more if you told me yourself." Naruto added.

"Oh, how?"

"Well it meant that you trusted me, right?" Naruto returned.

Kallen smiled slightly finding some reason in Naruto's statement. "Yeah I guess that's true." She admitted. While she still had secrets that she hadn't told Naruto about, and wasn't planning to in the foreseeable future, Kallen would admit that she found herself trusting Naruto more and more every day. Due mostly to Naruto's sincere, if not somewhat blunt and at times almost stupid, way of being that made it easy for people to trust him when everything was said and done.

Naruto grinned brightly at Kallen before taking her hand and standing up from the table, leaving money on it to pay for his and Kallen's drinks. "Come on," The shinobi urged having looked quickly outside to see that the rain had let up.

"Where are we going?" Kallen asked following Naruto, effectively leaving their drinks mostly unfinished.

"Well if we're here we might as well have some fun right." Naruto reasoned.

Not really feeling like arguing with the blonde student Kallen let herself be led out of the café by Naruto. Admitting to herself that it would be nice to spend a few hours relaxing and hanging out with a friend having fun for once.

---

Walking into her room after returning to her home a few hours later Kallen had a rather noticeable smile on her face as she recalled how she spent the last few hours with Naruto holding an object in her hand. Most of the time the duo spent their little excursion window shopping, along the way Kallen had managed to get Naruto to tell her some stories about his youth including some of the pranks that he had pulled. So during that time the redhead found herself either smiling at hearing how Naruto and his friends, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Choji, and how they would cut out on detention while their teacher, Iruka, would yell after them. Or Kallen would find herself laughing at the pranks he would pull and the ensuing chaos said pranks would cause. She especially liked the ones where Naruto ended up being chased by large groups of people and somehow always managed to give them the slip leaving them all confused.

At the end of their outing Naruto and Kallen commemorated the occasion, at Naruto's insistence, by having their picture taken at a photo booth, the pictures which Kallen was currently looking at. The first couple of pictures were of the two smiling at the camera, the next was of Naruto making a ridiculous expression with his face, the one that followed was of Kallen laughing as a result while Naruto had a wide fox like grin, the last picture of the set was once more of the two smiling for the camera only this one had them far closer together to the previous one. Kallen placed the pictures so that they rested against the one she had of her younger self, Naoto, and their mother.

'Maybe I should ask Milly for a copy of that picture she took of Naruto and me.' Kallen absently thought remembering that Milly had taken a picture of Naruto and her when the Student Council held the party for Kyu and Arthur.

It would only be until much later that Kallen would realize that the time she spent with Naruto that day was the closest thing to a date that she might have had ever.

---

Cornelia stared up at the Lancelot with a grudging amount of respect for it and its pilot for the role they played in her rescue at Narita. Cornelia knew that she was a hard woman to impress and one that didn't give out compliments easily, but even she would reluctantly admit that she had been awed by how well Suzaku Kururugi and the Lancelot matched up against the Black Knights Knightmare and later against the Kyuubi Knightmare Frame.

"Good evening Viceroy," Lloyd greeted the Second Princess of Britannia as he walked up to the dark pink haired women, a wide smile on his face and his hands in his pockets of his coat. "To what do I owe this magnificent pleasure?" He asked.

Cornelia's frown deepened slightly at the sound of the man's voice as she turned to face him. "Tell me Asplund," She began. "What is the condition of the Lancelot?"

"It's at 100% of course." The scientist practically sang out.

"Good," Cornelia said with a nod of her head. "Considering its performance at Narita I've decided that it will be part of our next operation from the beginning." She declared.

"Understood your Highness I'll have Lancelot working at tip top efficiency for whatever's required." Lloyd promised.

Cornelia nodded her head in acceptance before returning her attention back to the Lancelot. For a while the Second Princess just stared up at the white Knightmare before speaking again. "You've analyzed the data of the fight between the Lancelot and the other two Knightmares." Cornelia stated rather than asked, confident as well that the slightly mad scientist knew which two Knightmares she was referring to. "Your thoughts?"

Lloyd's smile slipped some as he became a tad more serious. "Both of them are quite impressive." Lloyd admitted. "The Black Knights new Knightmare Frame is really quite impressive. Its speed is easily a match for Lancelot's meaning that it can be classified as a seventh generation Knightmare Frame as well. It has increadible offensive power as expected of a Knightmare with the Radiant Surge equipped on it." Lloyd evaluated recalling some of the information that the military had been able to gather from the red Knightmare from its battles at Narita.

"Radiant Surge?" Cornelia repeated questioningly.

"It's technology that was developed by an old acquaintance of mine, a woman by the name of Rakshata." Lloyd explained vaguely. "It really is quite fearsome, though the last time we talked it was still only a theory that she was developing." The lavender haired scientist said. "Of course just because it has the Radiant Surge doesn't mean that it is stronger than my Lancelot." Lloyd claimed.

"And the Kyuubi." Cornelia pressed.

"Another impressive Knightmare." Lloyd admitted, though he was a little upset that new Knightmares were constantly showing up recently that could match the Lancelot. "It's capabilities are a match for Lancelot and the red Knightmare, in fact it seems to be just tad bit better." The lavender haired scientist reluctantly conceded. "It doesn't seem to have much in terms of long range combat but its close range capabilities make it extremely dangerous. That's not even considering those bladed tails of it. Normal bullets and projectiles are deflected harmlessly, which is why the VARIS bullets actually seemed to have some effect. Then again if Suzaku is to be believed, from what he could remember before blacking out, getting in close allows for an opening for Slash Harkens at close range, though that would only be a safe situation with a skilled pilot and/or a highly advanced Knightmare to be able to keep up." Lloyd reasoned.

Cornelia frown visibly deepened at the last bit. Guilford her Knight, and admittedly the best pilot under her command, was barely able to keep up with the Kyuubi Knightmare Frame when it made its appearance in the Saitama Ghetto. The black haired Britannian had reported to her about his fight with Kurama and how he was eventually overwhelmed, almost easily, by the advanced Knightmare and its pilot. "That's disconcerting," Cornelia admitted. "Without some type of advantage most of our army won't stand a chance against these Knightmares and we can't rely on a single unit to win every battle." The dark pink haired Viceroy muttered out loud, though she was speaking mostly to herself.

The most obvious solution to Cornelia's dilemma would to upgrade their existing Knightmare Frames to be able to face the red Knightmare and the Kyuubi. The problem was how unrealistic that idea was in a short amount of time, as enhancing the Gloucester to be a match either Knightmare would take months.

"That's true I suppose." Lloyd mused with smile. "Though I plan make some improvements to the Lancelot to give it an edge." The scientist said determined to make his Lancelot the strongest of the three Knightmares, taking it as a personal affront that his creation wasn't the best.

"That's all well and good." Cornelia said. "But I want you to get started on planning some upgrades with the rest of the Knightmare Development Unit. I don't expect you to come up with a complete overhaul of our Knightmares, but I want any improvements that can be applied in a short amount of time that will enhance their combat capabilities done." The Viceroy of Area 11 commanded.

Lloyd frowned as he tilted his up to the ceiling. "That's going to be a real challenge." The man muttered before returning his gaze back to the dark pink haired princess, a wide smile once more on his face. "Sounds like a hoot though, so I'll get right on it." Lloyd declared cheerfully.

Cornelia nodded her head in acceptance. "See that you do." Cornelia stated. Spinning on her heel the Second Princess of Britannia began to walk out of the hanger that contained the Lancelot. "Keep me informed of any developments." The princess ordered without looking back at the greyish blue eyed scientist.

---

A week later the male members of the Student Council were gathered in Naruto's game room within Namikaze Corporation for a game night, due in no small part to the fact that the female members of the Student Council wanted to have a girls' night. In other words, Milly had basically decided for herself that they would be having a slumber party at the Student Council building. Tomorrow night Ashford academy would be hosting the Ball that was being sponsored by Namikaze Corp. so the members of the Student Council decided that a night of relaxation was in order before the big event the following night. Already the quartet was more than a few hours into their game night and they were currently taking a small break while Naruto was gathering food from the kitchen.

"This is really awesome," Rivalz said cheerfully, sitting on one of the gaming chairs Naruto had in the room across from the T.V. that encompassed an entire wall, a controller for the game console in his hands.

Lelouch and Suzaku chuckled lightly, from their own individual seats, at the blue haired Britannian's exuberance though both would admit that they were both looking forward to their night of gaming. The only person actually missing at the moment of their little group was the whiskered shinobi.

"How could it not? Naruto has the biggest T.V. screen I've seen in my life with surround sound, this is going to be really fun." Lelouch agreed with his friend with a smile on his face. For a brief moment the black haired Britannian was enjoying a bit of normalcy in his life, though there were a million other thoughts going through his head, knowing that before the night was over a part of one of his many plans to defeat Britannia would be completed.

"I'm back," Naruto announced as he entered the room, pushing a cart filled with snacks in front of him with one arm and pulling in a second larger cart behind him with multiple bowls of ramen. "And I've got food!" He stated obviously.

"That's great." Suzaku cheered with a wide smile on his face. "I'm starving." He declared standing up from his seat and making his way to the two carts, though he kept most of his focus on the first one as he and the other members found out what happened when someone came in between Naruto and his ramen. To put it simply it wasn't pretty. "How'd you get all this food ready? Shouldn't have all the cafeteria works left by now?" The brunette asked after seeing some of the food that Naruto had brought with him.

"I had the chefs prepare stuff earlier." Naruto answered, as Lelouch and Rivalz joined the pair and got their own food, having had everything prepared for the night earlier.

"So Lelouch," Rivalz began, regaining his seat after he and the others got their food of choice from the carts. "Has the Madam President told you what she has been working on?" The blue haired Britannian asked. For the last couple of days, the blonde Student Council President had been working on something private that drew the attention of the other members due to almost mad giggling the girl would break out into every few minutes as she worked on something on her personal computer.

"Not a clue." Lelouch answered honestly. "When I asked Milly said she wanted it to be a surprise." He said with a light shake of his head and letting out a sigh. "Knowing Milly though we will probably learn whatever it is she is planning tomorrow at the Ball." The black haired Britannian finished.

"Well it couldn't be all that bad could it?" Suzaku said rather optimistically.

"The Crossdressers Ball," Lelouch remarked, causing both of the two newer members of the Student Council to cringe slightly, as he reminded them of one of the other ideas that Milly had come up with in the past. "Hopefully the fact that the Namikaze Corporation is technically sponsoring the Ball will keep the President from doing anything too crazy." Lelouch said focusing on Naruto. "You did make sure that the Namikaze Corp. would have final say in any decisions right?" He asked the blonde half-Britannian.

Naruto tilted his head to the side in thought and after a moment shrugged his shoulders unsurely.

Lelouch looked at the blonde teen dryly. "You don't know." He deadpanned. "Well should expect some form of insanity from Milly tomorrow night." Lelouch said with a sigh.

"Come on what could go wrong?" Suzaku asked with obvious positivity in his voice. The other three male members of the Student Council stared at Suzaku blankly for a minute before he realized what he just said and the likely hood of how he just jinxed them. "Oh," The Honorary Britannian murmured. "Maybe it won't be that ba-!" Suzaku was interrupted when Naruto shoved some food in his mouth in order to make him shut up.

With another sigh and a small smile Lelouch stood up. "Well before Suzaku causes the end of the world." The black haired Prince of Britannia joked lightly. "I need to go use the restroom." He said.

"Down the hall to your right." Naruto directed absently focused instead on a match that he had started with Rivalz.

Lelouch waved gratefully for the information from over his shoulder as he stepped out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind him Lelouch turned left.

---

At Ashford Academy the female members of the Student Council were gathered in the Council Room a few pillows and sleeping bags scattered about, though there were plenty of empty guest rooms that Sayoko had prepared if any of the girls decided not to sleep on the floor. Each of the girls was dressed in sleepwear with Milly's being the risqué out of all of them.

"Alright let's get this party started!" Milly shouted cheerfully, a glass held in her hand with a bit of its contest spilling as she raised it up into the air.

"Madam President please keep it down," Shirley chided softly. "Remember that Nana has to be sleeping now."

"Relax~" Milly replied offhandedly. "I doubt Nunnally is going to hear us all the way from her room." The blonde reasoned as she took another swig of her drink before she let out some giggles.

Shirley let out a reluctant sigh silently admitting that Milly had a point, "Fine," The orangette relented before shooting the giggling blonde teenager and the drink that she was drinking a suspicious look. "Madam President what exactly are you drinking?" Shirley questioned.

Milly again giggled before answering. "Would like a sip to find out?" She offered.

"Madam President!" Shirley cried exasperatedly. "You really shouldn't be drinking alcohol. It sets a bad example." The yellowish-green eyed girl chided.

Milly gave the girl placating smile. "You really need to loosen up Shirley. It isn't alcohol." Milly reassured the girl, though Shirley didn't look at all convinced. "Come on we're supposed to be having fun and unwinding from everything that's going on." The Student Council President argued.

"Wasn't that the whole point of the Ball tomorrow?" Shirley returned arm crossed under her breasts, having the unintentional effect of making them look bigger. "To let everyone relax and enjoy themselves after everything that has been going on." She stated.

"It is." Milly claimed, "But we've all been working really hard to get everything set up and ready that I thought we could treat ourselves before the big night." The blonde haired Britannian explained. "Besides this would be the first time that we had a girls' night that Kallen would be a part of." She added at the end joyfully.

"I guess you have a point." Shirley finally relented glancing at the red head beside her. With a smile spreading across her face Shirley focused on the soft spoken girl with blue eyes. "It's great that you decided to join us Kallen." The orangette said honestly.

"Yeah," Kallen agreed though only she knew that it was mostly halfheartedly. Truthfully the half-Japanese pilot would have rather stayed home or even spent the night with the other members of the Black Knights, but Milly had been so insistent that Kallen and the others attend what would amount to be a sleepover because she had something to tell them away from everyone else. Eventually Kallen had agreed that she would attend. "Thanks for inviting me." She said.

"Well of course~!" Milly said as she squeezed in between Kallen and Shirley, throwing her arms around the two girls and bringing them closer. "We're friends so why wouldn't we have invited you?" She asked rhetorically. "Besides," The Student Council President continued. "You definitely wouldn't want to miss tonight." She stated with a slightly impish grin.

Nina who as usual had been at her computer by the corner working glanced over at the other three girls with a curious look on her face. "You still haven't explained why that is Madam President." The glasses wearing girl pointed out inquisitively. Shirley and Kallen also looked at Milly curiously hoping that the blonde girl would finally tell them what she had been meaning to tell them.

Milly winked at them all conspiringly with a playful smile still in place. "All in good time." She promised amusedly, as she withdrew her arms from around Kallen and Shirley and moved so that she was sitting across from them. "For now let's get started on some good old fashioned girl talk." Milly said a gleam in her eyes. "Do you all have a date for tomorrow's Ball?" The blue eyed blonde Student Council President asked, taking a bit of delight in the surprised looks on Shirley and Kallen's faces. Nina's expression was more even but Milly could see the faintest tints of pink on the black haired girl's cheeks.

"Date?" Shirley squeaked out embarrassedly.

"Of course~," Milly said. "It is a Ball after all." She pointed out. "So who are you all going to go with?"

"I didn't think that we needed dates." Kallen admitted. "I thought the members of the Student Council would have been too busy keeping everything in order." The redhead admitted honestly, though she didn't intend to go to the Ball using the excuse that she wasn't feeling well.

"Of course not." Milly dismissed. "We might have done all the planning but the teachers will be the ones chaperoning the Ball."

"Oh," Kallen murmured.

"So come on you two spill." Milly insisted eager. Her gaze shifted between the two girls before finally settling on Shirley. "Shirley, you must have had it though. Having to choose between the guy you have feelings for and the budding romance with his best friend." She said before ending with a dramatic sigh. "Oh Shirley I envy you." Milly stated somewhat truthfully.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Shirley denied with a pout and a light blush on her cheeks. "I've already told you that there is nothing going on between me and Suzaku." She refuted once more, though her blush did darken as she remembered the kiss that Suzaku had given her at Naruto's concert. "As for Lulu…" The orange haired girl trailed off a bit before giving a huff of indignation. "If you had told us sooner I'd have asked him myself, or dropped some hints, or…or something!" Shirley finished throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation.

Milly laughed openly. "It's probably for the best that neither of you did ask." She admitted getting her laughter under control. "It would make things kind of awkward with what I have planned." Milly mused wistfully once more peaking the girls' interest.

"Madam President what are you talking about?" Shirley asked almost demandingly.

Milly grinned figuring that she has kept them waiting long enough. "While we were getting everything ready for the Ball I was getting something extra special planned as well." Milly began. "I spread the word that at the beginning of the Ball tomorrow night the Student Council would be holding a Student Auction of the male members of the council with the highest bidders getting, at least, the first dance of the night." Milly revealed with a sly smile. "So it's a good thing you two didn't ask any of them to be your date or it would have been really awkward if somebody else wins them."

The admission took a few seconds to really sink in with Shirley to the first to react. "Madam President! What were you thinking?!" Shirley shouted scandalized with bright red cheeks. A frown marred Kallen's face uncomfortable with the idea that Milly had put forward, especially where Naruto was concerned. Nina's reaction was more subdued as she merely sighed in slight exasperation and shook her head, as she transferred what she was working on to her laptop so that she could move closer to the others before Milly forcibly did it. Mostly likely while managing to fondle her in some way.

"Calm down Shirley." Milly said attempting to sooth the rather irate orangette. "It's just some harmless fun to make tomorrow night even more fun for everybody." The blonde Britannian claimed. "Besides look at it this way all you have to do to make Lelouch your date now is win the auction. Easy right?"

Shirley's eyes glazed over for a moment as she thought over Milly's suggestion, though for a second the person who she happened to be dancing with hair changed from black to brown, before vigorously shaking her head to rid herself of her fantasies. "That's not the point." Shirley denied vehemently. "Do Lulu and the others even know about this?" She questioned her friend sure that none of the male members of the Student Council would agree to be a part of a student auction.

"Nope," Milly freely admitted. "I plan to surprise them tomorrow."

"And you really think that they'll go through with it?" Kallen questioned dubiously.

"Of course." Milly answered immediately. "They won't really have much of a choice at that point." She added.

"That's rather devious." Kallen decided.

"I know it's a gift." Milly replied happily with a light giggle, causing the other girls to sigh mentally at their President.

What none of the girls noticed was that one of the doors to the room was slightly open. Nor were they aware of the light-green haired girl that stood just on the other side listening in on the female members of the Student Council as they talked and laughed. C.C. listened for a moment longer before leaving returning Lelouch's room, a part of her wishing that she could have joined them instead of having to be on her own.

---

When the night of the Ball finally arrived the entire student population was bursting with excitement to the point that the teachers were having trouble getting their students to focus on their work. As such it came almost as a relief to the teachers when they called classes over early for the day so that the students could get ready for the Ball. The auditorium had been decorated earlier in the week so that when the students started to arrive they were left in awe as they were hardly able to recognize it.

Something that Milly had intentionally had failed to address was what exactly the dress code was going to be for the Ball. It was obvious that dresses and suits were necessary but beyond that the Student Council President hadn't said a word. As such the dresses that the female students wore ranged from the simple too elegant and extravagant, while the male students mostly wore tuxes with a few exceptions who wore robes similar to the ones nobles would wear.

At the moment Milly was overseeing a last few things before the Ball really got started once more students arrived, as she waited for the other female members of the Student Council arrived with the exception of Nina who had arrived early on and found herself a free table off to the side. The blonde Britannian wore a long purple colored dress with a few frills that were lighter in color that fell down to the floor. The sleeves weren't attached to the dress leaving her shoulders bare while she had a purple choker around her neck with a small necklace hanging off it. Nina's dress was modest, a simple short yellow ruffle dress that came down to a little pass her knees with sleeves that went halfway down her arms with red lace on the edge. There were also a few red accents along the collar of the dress to give it a bit of a highlight.

Milly had ensured that the male members of the Student Council, Naruto, Suzaku, and Lelouch anyway, had arrived early, before the start of the Ball, so that she could make sure that they were all there for her surprise. At the moment Milly had them waiting backstage and planned to get them once enough people arrived before springing her surprise on them, when she marched them on the stage and started the auction. The blue eyed Student Council President had made sure that each of them were dressed to the point that they could make just about any girl swoon.

It was a few minutes later that Milly finally spotted Shirley and Kallen entering the auditorium, both girls taking a brief look around the decorated auditorium turned Ball room before spotting Milly and making their way to her. Shirley was wearing a long flowing light green dress that gave the barest hints of her cleavage, with white sleeves, and which skirt ended shorter on one end then the other giving a nice view of her legs. A white sash tied around her waist and she wore white strapless heels. Shirley had done her hair up tying it in a loose bun hairstyle with a few curled bangs falling to the side of her face with the lightest bit of makeup.

Kallen wore a red Ball gown with the straps going around her shoulders instead of over. The dress had a black flower design up and down the entire length of the dress with what looked like vines connecting each flower. The vines went around the front of Kallen's chest creating a red flower like pattern that was semitransparent that revealed her breasts the tiniest bit for viewing pleasure. Like Shirley, Kallen had applied a little bit of makeup on her face and pulled her hair back while letting a couple of bangs frame either side of her face.

"Madam President," Shirley said in way of greeting before taking another glance around at the decorated auditorium. "This turned out fantastic." Though the Student Council had been busy getting everything ready they weren't involved in setting up the decorations so the final result was a surprise to them as well.

"It's amazing." Kallen remarked looking around though she was scanning for someone specifically.

"I know right." Milly replied in agreement. Making a show of it Milly looked both girls up and down as a sly smile spread across her face. "Well don't you two look absolutely exquisite. Hoping to catch certain someone's eyes?" She asked enjoying the way that both girls' faces suddenly darkened at her question. "Well I'll be rooting for both of you to win the auction if you're going to bid." The blonde Britannian stated before focusing specifically on Shirley. "Shirley I hope you've decided on who you'll be bidding on." She finished just as Rivalz walked up to the three girls.

"Ladies," He acknowledged trying to come out sounding suave. Rivalz was dressed in a fitted black tux with a light blue tie. He had combed his blue hair back with a few strands fell forward. "You're all looking lovely this evening." Rivalz complemented.

Milly was the one to reply for the three of them. "Why thank you Rivalz." Milly replied. "You're looking quite handsome yourself." She returned the compliment.

Rivalz visibly brightened up at his not so secret crush's compliment. "You think so?" He asked a little sheepishly. Milly smiled at the blue haired Britannian but didn't say anything else.

"Wait what are you doing here Rivalz?" Shirley asked confused as she stared at the male teen.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the auction?" Kallen added just as confused.

Rivalz looked at the pair strangely. "What auction?" He asked them instead.

A giggling Milly drew Kallen, Shirley, and Rivalz's attention to her. "Yeah about that." Milly began. "While I was letting everyone know about the auction a lot of the girls only seemed to be interested in Naruto, Suzaku, and Lelouch." Milly said offering an apologetic look at the devastated Rivalz.

"Wha-WHAT?! Rivalz shouted, causing a few students to start to look at him strangely. Noticing that he was causing a bit of a scene Rivalz blushed lightly in embarrassment and toned it town. "How? I mean I get Lelouch and Naruto but how am I less popular than Suzaku?!" The blue haired Britannian demanded in a hushed whisper as not to draw any more attention to their conversation.

Milly shrugged her shoulders lightly as she tried to placate her junior. "Suzaku has this whole forbidden romance thing going for him, you know?" Milly tried her best to explain it. "You know the kind of guy that a girls' parents wouldn't approve making it all that much better when you see them behind their back." She stated with a self-assured grin on her face and her arms crossed under her breasts, an action that momentarily distracted Rivalz, and to a lesser degree Kallen and Shirley, due to the emphasize Milly unintentionally put on their size when she did that. "Just ask Shirley she knows what I'm talking about." Milly continued teasingly.

Shirley reacted at once to Milly's teasing as her cheeks darkened, though she recovered rather quickly. "I'll have you know that my parents happen to like Suzaku, especially my father." Shirley retorted without thinking.

"Oh," Milly mused. "Already introduced the boyfriend to your parents. I didn't think your relationship was that far along." The blonde haired Britannian continued to tease. When Shirley failed to respond, besides her face darkening even further, Milly laughed out loud joyfully. "Oh Shirley you're too easy and so much fun to tease."

Shirley stared at her friend blankly. "Please find some other way to amuse yourself." The orangette pleaded dryly.

Milly giggled a bit more. "That's not likely to happen." She announced merrily causing Shirley to sigh unhappily. After laughing a bit more at her friend's perceived misfortune Milly turned to leave. "I should get going so we can start the auction." The Student Council President decided. "Kallen, Shirley make sure to be ready to place your bids." Milly called from over her shoulder as walked away.

The three members of the Student Council watched their president walk away before Shirley focused her attention on the red head standing beside her. "Are you going to bid in the auction?" Shirley asked tentatively.

"I don't know." Kallen lied and she knew it. Initially Kallen hadn't even planned on attending the Ball but once Milly had announced her plans for the auction that Naruto would unwittingly be a part of Kallen knew that she would be attending. Not only attending though but actively taking part in the bidding to win the obligatory first dance that Naruto would owe the winner. Afterwards… well if afterwards Naruto wanted to dance a few more songs with her and be her date then Kallen wouldn't mind all that much.

"Hey guys." Rivalz spoke up drawing the two girls' attention. "Be honest you two would bid on me right?" He asked them hopefully. For a moment the two girls stared at Rivalz blankly without saying a word in confirmation or denial. After a while Kallen and Shirley turned and walked away from Rivalz without answering his question. "Hey!" Rivalz shouted after them. "Come on guys, you're just messing with me right?" He pleaded almost sounding desperate to anyone who was paying attention to him.

---

In Lelouch's bedroom within the Student Council building C.C. was staring up at the ceiling from where she was lying on Lelouch's/her bed her thoughts drifting aimlessly, as she hugged Cheese-kun, the name she gave the yellow blob, close to herself. The immortal witch wasn't expecting Lelouch any time soon knowing that he and the rest of the Student Council were currently at the Ball they had been planning, as such she wasn't expecting for somebody to suddenly knock on the room's door. Before she could even form a reply the door opened and Sayoko, the maid in employment of the Ashford family to take care of the Lamperouge siblings especially Nunnally, entered the room.

Walking into the room Sayoko took a quick look around looking for any clutter that needed to be taken care of. Recently Lelouch had insisted on maintaining his room himself, so Sayoko had hardly been in the room. But besides some empty pizza boxes the maid didn't find anything to concern herself with. Having taken her survey of the room Sayoko focused her attention on the room's sole occupant. Sayoko while not an overly curious person, allowing her charges the privacy of leading their own lives, kept herself well aware of everything that happened within her domain. The brown haired maid kept a close eye on the light green haired woman since the night she first appeared, making sure she didn't do anything untoward to Nunnally, and had kept a careful watch of her since then. So it was no surprise to Sayoko to find the woman in Lelouch's room. Sayoko would wonder what kind of relationship C.C. and Lelouch had, but really what other kind of relationship could two people of the opposite gender have when they were sharing the same room and trying to keep it a secret from the rest of the world.

C.C. sat up, with Cheese-kun still held in her arms, and looked at the woman passively. "What is it?" She questioned with just the tiniest bit of curiosity. Despite all the time C.C. had spent living there the Japanese maid hardly ever addressed C.C. in any form unless it involved preparing food or washing the golden eyed woman's clothing. For Sayoko to intentionally seek her out was an irregularity that hadn't happened before.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you." Sayoko apologized with a slight bow. "But there is someone at the door for you." The maid informed C.C. politely.

"For me?" C.C. repeated confused, getting a reply of confirmation from Sayoko. As far as she was aware the number of people that knew where she was staying could be counted on one hand with a couple of extra digits to spare. First of all, there was Lelouch, but it had been him he could have simply come get her himself instead of sending Sayoko. The second person would be said maid so that obviously ruled her out. The last person who should know that she had taken residence in the Student Council building was Naruto and C.C. figured he would be busy at the Ball considering that a big reason that they were having it was to promote his company with the Students of Ashford.

Without really having any other choice C.C. went to see who was asking for her, making sure that she was wearing the bracelet that Naruto had given her just in case. Opening the door of the Student Council building C.C. was puzzled to find a girl waiting there for her holding a black dress bag. The girl had light blue hair, which she let fall freely, with pink colored eyes wearing a light purple top and black skirt. C.C. would have commented to herself that she didn't recognize the girl, but considering that she spent all her time within the Student Council building it wasn't that hard to imagine that more than half of the students were complete strangers to her. "Yes?" C.C. asked plainly.

"Are you C.C.?" Aria asked her face furrowing up a bit at the strange name. "I was told you'd also answer to Blasphemes Pizza Witch?"

C.C.'s eyebrow visibly twitched at the name as the face of a certain whiskered blonde immediately appeared in her mind. "That damned ramen addict." The immortal witch muttered under her breath. Focusing back on Aria, C.C. answered. "I am C.C.," C.C. replied, not acknowledging the second name that Aria had been given, with a light nod of her head. "How did you know to find me here? And who might you be?" She returned.

"I am Arianna Casterwill, you can just call me Aria." Aria introduced herself before continuing with a grand wave. "I am the personal assistant of Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze-sama!" The bluenette declared proudly. "He sent me."

C.C. looked at Aria dully for a moment before an amused smirk made its way onto her face. "Really he has you calling him '-sama'?" The woman questioned with an un-lady like snort. "Somebody wants to make himself feel important." C.C. remarked.

"That's not it at all." Aria denied vehemently, shaking her head so that her hair flew around wildly. "I just really respect him." She stated before explaining herself. "I call Naruto-sama, Naruto-sama because of how smart, cool, and talented he is." The bluenette claimed, her eyes starting to glaze over as she went off in her own little word listing the various things that she found admirable about her blonde hero. "His music is amazing. Naruto-sama is also a very kind person, he tries to help everyone without discrimination no matter what anyone says. Plus, he is so handsome and his whisker marks…" The pink eyed teen murmured with a dreamy sigh before she managed to snap herself out of it with a start, her eyes widening in slight panic. "I didn't mean to say that!" Aria cried out blushing furiously. "N-not that I didn't mean it, or anything." She continued in a flustered tone. "I just, uh."

C.C. while initially amused by the girl's embarrassed state was quickly growing impatient. "Was there any specific reason that you were sent to find me?" C.C. asked trying to get the bluenette to focus back on the reason that she called her here in the first place.

"Oh right," Aria said regaining her composure in almost an instant. "Naruto-sama wanted me to give you this." She said presenting C.C. with the bag. "He said he hopes to see you at the Ball tonight."

C.C. took the bag from Aria, staring at it for a moment without opening it, before letting out a tired sigh and turning her attention back to Aria. "While I might appreciate Naruto's invitation I'll have to decline." C.C. said as she tried to hand the bag back to Aria.

Aria refused to accept the bag as she played the only card Naruto had given her incase that C.C. refused the initial invitation like she had. "That's too bad." Aria said trying to come off as sounding casual. "According to Naruto-sama the Ball has a buffet of pizza as food for anyone who wants any." The young Casterwill commented.

As Aria watched C.C. it wasn't hard for the blue haired girl to imagine that if their life was an anime a pair of furry animal ears would have suddenly appeared on top of C.C.'s head twitching in excitement and interest, whether a tail would also be swishing behind C.C. would be up to debate. "Pizza?" The light green haired girl repeated retracting her hand. "Well since Naruto was being so considerate in inviting me I guess it would be rude of me not to go." C.C. finally decided.

Aria had a small awkward smile on her face as she stared at C.C. with a bit of surprise etched onto her features at the 180 the woman did once she heard that pizza was being served at the Ball. 'She's like Naruto-sama when it comes to ramen.' Aria thought to herself having witnessed how her boss got when it came to his favorite food. 'That would probably explain the name Naruto-sama had me call her.' The bluenette realized imagining how the two must butt heads when it came to their preferred food. "Alright," Aria began bringing herself out of her silent musings. "I hope you have a goodnight Miss C.C. and enjoy yourself at the Ball." She finished before excusing herself and leaving.

Shutting the door behind her after Aria left C.C. starred at the dress bag for a second before opening it to see what it contained.

---

Back at the Ball Milly stood on the stage with a nearly giddy smile on her face as she called for everyone's attention. Behind the closed curtains Lelouch, Suzaku, and Naruto waited for her announcement still unaware about why exactly they had been gathered there, only knowing that it was something Milly organized on behalf of the Student Council though they wondered amongst themselves why the others were missing.

"Hello everyone~!" The blonde Student Council President greeted everyone cheerfully drawing the attention of all the students. "So glad you could all be here tonight." Milly said with a radiant smile on her face. "Now before we officially get things kicked off I would first like for us all to give our thanks to the Namikaze Corporation for sponsoring tonight's event." She declared getting everyone in the room to cheer loudly. "Throughout the night we will be holding raffles where the lucky few will win prizes that have been generously donated by the Namikaze Corp. which range from computers, laptops, and music players to name a few. Sadly, I couldn't convince Naruto to contribute a sports car." Milly announced, joking a bit at the end, once more getting a few cheers and a few groans from those who were disappointed that a car wasn't one of the prizes. Milly giggled a bit at everyone's reactions before continuing. "So I hope everyone held on their ticket to the Ball because that is what we will be drawing lots from. But despite all the prizes that we have I'm sure that's not what us girls are most interested in. That's why I'd like the announce the beginning of the auction for the male members of the Student Council." Milly said gesturing with her hand behind her as the curtain began to open.

"WHAT?!" Naruto's voice shouted loudly from behind the opening curtain, as he and the other two had heard Milly's proclamation.

When the curtain fully opened it revealed the three teens standing beside each other, Naruto in the center Lelouch to his right and Suzaku to Naruto's left. The clothes that the three members of the Student Council were wearing looked like robes that would have been worn by noble and royals alike, something that Milly had commissioned the Sewing Club to make. Lelouch's robes were black with sharp silver accents going up and down the length of the coat with a white ruff ascot and ruffles along the cuffs. Around his waist the black haired Britannian carried a black prop sword that had a purplish jewel at the tip of its base. On Lelouch's left ear was a black adornment attached fairly reminiscent to a wing with a couple of other jewels hanging from it.

Suzaku's clothes were nearly the opposite in color scheme to Lelouch's with it being primarily white with gold accents all along the coat. But unlike Lelouch's silver accents the ones on Suzaku's clothes took the form of wings the most noticeable were the ones on his back, a smaller pair on the cuffs and if one were to pay close enough attention they would notice a gold bird on the back of Suzaku's collar. Suzaku also had an ascot but his wasn't nearly as ruffled as Lelouch. Around his waist was another prop sword but it continued the theme of golden wings as the made up the sword's guard and at the base of the hilt a red jewel. An adornment was also on Suzaku's ear only his was on the opposite ear with the wing like design and red jewels on it.

Naruto's clothes, while similar in design to Lelouch's and Suzaku's, were the darkest red possible with black accents. The accents took the appearance of archaic looking flames each one intricately designed, showing just how much effort the Sewing club had put into Naruto's clothes. But instead of the flames going up and down the length of the coat they only went about halfway down the front. A single flame pattern went down the length of a majority of the sleeves before stopping at the shoulders where a larger flame was located. Naruto had a black dress shirt and pants on with his necklace clearly visible. Unlike Lelouch and Suzaku, Naruto didn't have a sword hanging off of his waist, though there was a dark blue almost black sash with a bit of its length left hanging, or ear adornments. What he did have was a bright red headpiece in his hair that looked reminiscent to a pair of ears that styled his hair so only a few bangs fell in front of his face.

Though they had weary and somewhat surprised expressions still on their faces there was no denying that the trio stood out amongst the male students. For a moment everyone just stared at the three silently causing Naruto to almost start to fidget before it was finally broken because of the cheers and squeals coming from a majority of the female student population. It took several moments before the noise of the crowd finally started to die down, at which point the ever aloof Lelouch was even beginning to grow a bit uncomfortable.

Milly all but bounced to the center of the stage with a large pleased smile on her face very happy with how the trio's clothes turned out considering she had given the Sowing club a vague idea of what she wanted the clothes to look like. The blonde Student Council President would freely admit that each of the males looked absolutely scrumptious. It was too bad then that her friends had already laid claim to them; two of them by the same person.

'Life just isn't fair sometimes.' Milly thought absently with a mental sigh before she waved those thoughts off so she could focus. "Alright girls settled down." Milly said quieting down the last few cheering girls, though it was futile endeavor since Milly was sure that it wouldn't be long before they were all shouting again with just as much zeal as they tried to have their bids heard above everyone else's. "Let's get started on the auction~!" The blonde Britannian declared ecstatically.

"Hold on a second." Naruto whispered loudly, but still only loud enough for Milly, Suzaku, and Lelouch to hear. "When did we agree to do an auction?" The shinobi questioned the girl.

"Oh you didn't." Milly replied casually with Cheshire like smile. "But I thought that this would make the night more interesting." She told them, taking some pleasure in Naruto's disgruntled look and Suzaku's nervous one. Lelouch had grown mostly used to her eccentricities when it came to her wild ideas so besides a heavy sigh Lelouch didn't react much spoiling Milly's mood a bit, luckily she now had two new victims that she could torture.

"Madam President I'm not com-" Suzaku tried to protest only to be cut off by Milly.

"Suzaku's just volunteered so we'll start with him!" Milly declared pulling Suzaku forward by his arm so that he was standing right beside her. "Ok we'll start the bidding at…"

Shirley looked up at the stage with a troubled look on her face. While some of the students of Ashford were from well off parents they didn't make a majority of the students. Her father for example while a businessman wasn't that high up on the economic ladder, so while Shirley was never left wanting for anything while she was growing up her family wasn't exactly rich. She also doubted that any parent would give their child money to spend on a student auction, well besides possibly Naruto so the few richer students could talk to him about their parents' business, so like her she was sure they only had a certain amount that they could bid.

What was troubling the orangette was the fact that she could only bid for one person and she was torn between bidding for Lelouch and Suzaku. Lelouch was the guy she has had a crush on for the longest time and tonight was her chance to make some progress in starting a relationship with him. Suzaku on the other hand was her friend and she could see how uncomfortable he was getting as the bids were getting higher and higher.

"50!"

"75!"

"120!"

A few more bids and Shirley knew she had to act. "200!" She shouted, holding her hand up to make sure that it was clear that she was placing the bid, her cheeks burning a bright red.

It seemed to take a second for everyone to register that Shirley was serious about her bid before Milly eventually accepted it. "200 to Shirley!" Milly declared while pointing toward the orangette. "Do I hear 250?" The blonde Britannian questioned pausing a second to see if anyone was willing to raise the bid that high. Few people whispered amongst themselves but they all seemed reluctant to try and outdo Shirley's bid. "How about 210?" Milly asked once more searching around for any takers. "200 going once… twice… SOLD!" Milly declared with a large grin on her face.

Suzaku briefly glanced over at Shirley as he was being ushered off the stage by Milly so that she could begin the next auction with Lelouch. Though he really wouldn't like to admit it, especially at the risk of the amount of teasing he would suffer at the hands of well… nearly the entire Student Council really, he was unsettled by the number of girls that seemed to want to dance with him and how much they were willing to spend in order to have that dance. So he was relieved when Shirley placed her bid for him and won sparring him from having to dance with some random girl during the first dance of the night. Though he was also confused as to why she would do that when she had a perfect chance to get closer to Lelouch and she had basically thrown it away.

Several minutes later the bid for Lelouch had just ended with the black haired Britannian Prince being won by one of his many adoring admirers. While not really pleased by how the evening was turning out to be because of Milly's auction Lelouch could bear with a single dance where he had to be extra polite. Now though the chatter throughout the auditorium was building up as Milly prepared for the final auction of the night.

"Okay the moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived~." Milly announced drawing loud squeals from all of Naruto's fangirls. "Now we're going to start our final student auction of the night with the one and only Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze~!" The blonde Student Council President declared the shouts from Naruto's fangirls becoming almost deafening. "Alright let's start the bidding at-" Milly tried to get out only to be cut off half way through.

"150!" One girl shouted out instantly.

"160!"

"200"

"225!"

From there the bids were raised only small amounts each bidder praying that no one would be able to outbid them, some girls looked toward their friends hoping that if they pooled their money together that at least one of them would be able to get to share a dance with Naruto. Either way the bids kept rising without any real sign of slowing down any time soon.

Kallen looked on beside Shirley and Suzaku, the brunette Honorary Britannian having joined the girls after his auction, the irritation that she was feeling rising with each bid that was placed on Naruto. She tried to appear impassive to the proceedings but Kallen knew that she was quickly losing her composure, something she was losing all the faster once Naruto started to strike possess at Milly's insistence.

"Kallen are you alright?" Shirley found herself daring to ask even as she could feel the waves of anger that were rolling off of the redhead.

"I'm fine," Kallen answered shortly with a twitch of her eyebrow.

"275!"

"290!"

"300!"

Even though she claimed otherwise Kallen felt her fists clenching tightly turning her knuckles as the bids continued. "Wow." Suzaku uttered in surprise. "These girls really are willing to pay a lot of money to dance with Naruto. I guess he really is popular huh?" He observed, with an amused smile appearing on his face, as the bids for Naruto having long since passed his own and had already caught up to Lelouch. Though the Lancelot pilot suddenly grimaced in pain when he felt Shirley's elbow dig in to his side. "Ow," He groaned rubbing his side. "What was that for?" Suzaku demanded from Shirley lightly.

"You need to learn to keep some things to yourself Suzaku." Shirley whispered heatedly at the confused green eyed teen.

Kallen did her best to ignore the whispers coming from the two beside her as she decided that she let this farce continue long enough. "450!" Kallen called out loudly surprising quite a few people, including her supposed "friends", as she had never spoken so loudly or with so much strength in her voice.

"450!" Milly instantly accepted Kallen's bid having been expecting it for a while. "Do I hear 460?" She asked in an effort not to show favoritism.

"Uh," One girl tentatively raised her hand. "460."

"500!" Kallen instantly countered just as strongly as before.

"SOLD!" Milly shouted deciding that there wasn't much of a point in continuing the bidding when it was obvious that Kallen was determined on winning. "And with that ladies and gentlemen we can now officially get this Ball started." The blue eyed Britannian stated music starting to play right after her declaration.

---

Naruto met Kallen near the center of the dance floor before the shinobi held out his hand to her. Kallen stared at Naruto's outstretched hand for a second with a bit of surprise on her face before eventually taking it. The two drew close and began to dance to the rhythm of a song befitting a Ball. For a little while the two just stared at each other with slight smiles on each other faces before Naruto eventually broke the silence between them.

"You look beautiful Kallen." Naruto complimented the girl earning a blush from the redhead.

"Thanks," Kallen replied a little shyly before quickly regaining her composure. "You don't look half bad yourself." The half-Britannian returned the compliment honestly taking another appreciative look of Naruto and what he decided to wear for the night, stopping to look at the ear like headpieces on top of his head. "But aren't you taking the whole fox theme a little far though?" She asked, though she would silently admit that they suited Naruto and made him look even more handsome than he already was in Kallen's eyes.

"Milly's idea." Naruto admitted with a slight huff. With his heightened hearing Naruto could hear more than a few whispered conversations amongst the gathered girls about their renewed and amplified desire to rub his cheeks like he was some kind of pet. "Like that auction." He continued before turning a careful to Kallen. "Did she tell you about it?" The shinobi asked suspiciously, after all it wasn't all that common for someone to be carrying around at least $500 on them especially to a school Ball without forewarning.

"She told us last night." Kallen confessed shrugging her shoulders as best she could while dancing with Naruto. "With how busy we were today I didn't get a chance to warn you ahead of time." She stated.

"So you decided to win me?" Naruto concluded with a teasing grin.

Kallen huffed slightly but with a tinge of red on her cheeks that she tried to fight down. "Don't go getting a bighead Naruto." The blue eyed girl said flatly a dull look in her eyes. "I figured that you would need someone to save you from your fangirls again." Kallen said almost teasingly, reminding the blonde about how she had saved him from Milly's previous plot to set him up on a date.

"So you're going to save me by going out with me instead of me having to go with one of my fangirls?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well," Kallen began a little bashfully before she managed to shake it off. "I'll be busy sometimes so you'll just have to fend for yourself those times but otherwise I don't see why not." She said trying to come off sounding indifferent.

Naruto smiled as he spun them around catching Kallen a little off guard at the impulsive turn. "I don't think that would be too bad." The shinobi admitted. "Though I could just call so that we could hang out you know." Naruto added his smile widening so that he was basically giving Kallen one of his fox like grins.

Kallen stared up at Naruto silently for a second, her cheeks reddening, not expecting Naruto to all but ask her out all of a sudden. "Like a date or something?" She tried to clarify.

"Yup." Naruto answered readily.

Kallen shook her head a little exasperated with Naruto's frank proposal and response, but with a smile on her face. "You don't beat around the bush do you?" The redhead half-Britannian asked.

Naruto shook his head. "Not when it's something I believe in or want." Naruto replied. "I told you Kallen I like you. I like the fire that you hide in your eyes, the fire that everyone got a glimpse of tonight. It makes me want to get close to you."

Kallen was both flattered and unsettled. Naruto was being genuine in his interest in her, Kallen could see that a mile away. Not the Stadtfeld name or her admittedly impressive body, though Kallen was sure that, that was something that Naruto at the very least appreciated, but her. What unsettled the half-Japanese was that the façade she used to fool everyone didn't seem to work with Naruto, what was possibly worse was that Naruto seemed intent on revealing her façade to everyone. Kallen knew she would have to be more careful from now on or risk being discovered to not being the invalid that she pretended to be. "As long as I'm not busy I'd like that." Kallen confessed willingly getting a delighted grin from Naruto.

Not too far away Suzaku and Shirley were holding a conversation of their own as they danced across the dance floor.

"Shirley," Suzaku began attentively after a lull in their conversation. "Why did you bid on me?" The brunette asked her curiously. "I thought for sure you would have bid on Lelouch." He stated, thirty minutes ago if he had been aware of the student auction Suzaku would have been sure that that's what Shirley would have done. "You should have. It would have been a great chance to spend time with Lelouch."

Shirley thought over Suzaku's words and a part of her knew that she should have done exactly what she said, but she also knew that she didn't regret helping out Suzaku the way she did. "You're probably right." Shirley agreed with him. "But you're my friend and you looked really jumpy up on the stage so I couldn't just leave you up there and not help you. I owe you for saving my father after all." She told him.

"You don't owe me anything Shirley." Suzaku denied with a small shake of his head. "Besides you already thanked me when you took me to Naruto's concert so you don't have to do anything else for me." The Honorary Britannian reminded her.

Shirley shook her own head in refute to Suzaku's claim. "I love my father; he's always been so good to me. You can't even begin to imagine how much saving his life means to me." She told him briefly being overcome by memories of her childhood. "I think doing this is the least I can do to show you how thankful I am Suzaku." The orangette told Suzaku honestly. "Besides it's not like I can't try to convince Lelouch to dance with me later right?" Shirley asked with a smile.

"Right." Suzaku replied relenting with a smile of his own. "I'll be sure to help." The green eyed pilot promised.

C.C. walked into the auditorium doing a meager job of not drawing attention to herself more concerned with finding the snack table that held her prize, all the while knowing that it would be pointless to try and appear inconspicuous in her current attire. Even with the passing glance C.C. spared some of the students she could tell she had entranced them.

"Hell-"

One of the male students approached C.C. with a charming smile on his face but before he could even finish his greeting, hoping to woo the green haired golden eyed beauty, C.C. walked passed him without even acknowledging his presence; her gaze still searching for the buffet table that her ultimate goal was supposed to be located at.

"Hey!" The male student tried to once again to gain C.C. attention, rushing after her with his arm outstretched.

Before he could put his hand on her C.C. looked back and fixed her gaze on him freezing him in place, his hand just inches from grabbing her shoulder. C.C. gaze could almost be considered completely disinterested, to the point that one could almost think she didn't even see the teen standing in front of her, yet with a cold edge to them. The penetrating glare that C.C. was giving the teen had him regretting foolishly coming up to the woman with a half-assed plan to charm her. "If you have any common sense you will leave right now." Though C.C. said that with complete and clear indifference the teen still felt a trickle of sweat go down his brow as he pulled his hand back quickly. Without another word C.C. left beginning her search once more for the snack table while the teen scurried away.

Across the room Kallen and Naruto were enjoying another dance with each other while making a bit of small talk. Naruto was telling Kallen about one of his misadventures back in the ninja academy and his subsequent punishment by Iruka-sensei, the only man to ever catch him when one of his pranks had been too grand to keep his part in it hidden, causing her to giggle. As funny as hearing about Naruto's pranks were Kallen found the trouble that Naruto would get into because of them just as funny. Kallen, in turn, told him a bit about her childhood before Britannia invaded Japan and renamed it Area 11. Her outstanding grades in which always got her praise from her mother. How'd she'd looked up to her older brother enjoying anytime she got to spend with him playing games and just having fun in general.

Their dance though came to a sudden halt when Naruto spotted C.C. across the room. "Sorry Kallen I have to go for a sec." Naruto apologized a bit distracted as he kept an eye on C.C. "But I'll be right back." He assured her.

"Ok," Kallen replied, releasing Naruto from the hold she had in while they had been dancing, though she was rather put off by the blonde's sudden need to leave. Kallen kept an eye on Naruto as she slowly made her way to the couple of tables that were occupied by the other members of the Student Council. Despite Kallen's attempts to keep track of Naruto the redhead soon lost sight of him in the crowd of students. With a sigh Kallen was about to turn away when she caught a flash of familiar light-green hair out of the corner of her eye. A frown marred Kallen's face as she searched through the crowd for the person she was sure she had gotten a glimpse of, but like before it was impossible for Kallen to see through the dancing crowd of people. 'What are you doing here?' Kallen wondered picturing the light-green haired golden eyed woman that she had first seen hanging out with Naruto in the shopping district and again standing in between Zero and Kurama after the battle at Narita.

"Hey Kallen what's the matter?" Milly asked, after Kallen had joined them, before making a show of looking around. "Where's Naruto?" She questioned the blue eyed half-Japanese.

"It's nothing." Kallen denied with a shake of her head, though a slight frown was still on her face. "Naruto said he had to go take care of something." She told them.

"I didn't think that there was anything left for us to do." Shirley said as she looked curiously over at Milly expecting her to know if they had any other obligations.

Milly, resting her closed hand against her chin, thought the unasked question over for a second. "Besides handing the prizes from Namikaze Corp. later tonight there really isn't anything that should warrant Naruto's attention." She stated.

"Maybe he spotted a cute girl he wanted to dance with." Rivalz said while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Kallen frowned deepened as she once more began to search for C.C. positive that she had seen the woman. Milly noticed the reaction that Kallen had to Rivalz's suggestion and how she immediately started to look through the crowd in no doubt in search of the blonde singer. That's why Milly didn't hesitate, and hardly held back, when she hit Rivalz over the head hard causing his head to fall forward and almost end up hitting the table. "That's not funny Rivalz!" Milly scolded him.

"Hey!" Rivalz protested rubbing the back of his head.

The other members of the Student Council, with the exception of Kallen, started to laugh at the duo but the redhead half-Britannian was still looking out into the crowd a fact that Lelouch took note of. "Kallen are you sure you're okay?" He asked with a mild bit of concern for the best pilot that was under his command. Lelouch could tell that Kallen was distracted and if something was distracting her he wanted to make sure that whatever it was wouldn't have an effect later on when she was out on the field impairing her skills as a pilot.

"I'm fine." Kallen assured him as best she could. It didn't need pointing out that she failed to sound convincing at all.

Lelouch didn't believe her and he was about to press the issue a bit in a meager attempt to confide in him he would ask her later as Zero, someone Kallen was more likely to disclose information to, but the sound of Naruto's voice stopped Lelouch before he could voice his question. Turning toward the blonde Lelouch's eyes widened as his blood had trouble deciding if it was going to run cold or boil over. 'C.C. what the hell are you doing here?!' The banished Britannian Prince shouted in his mind, seething at the sight of the green haired witch standing next to Naruto.

---

After Naruto parted away from Kallen the shinobi made a quick stop at the snack table before he walked up behind C.C. "Yo," He greeted the golden eyed woman drawing her attention. "I think you were looking for this." Naruto said holding out a plate to her with a few slices of pizza on it.

C.C.'s eyes lit up the moment they landed on the pizza slices that Naruto was presenting her. In a blink of an eye C.C. had snatched the plate out of Naruto's hand so fast that the shinobi actually blinked a couple of times in surprise that his hand was now empty. Without even returning Naruto's greeting or thanking him for bringing her, her favorite food C.C. began to eat one of the slices, letting out a delighted moan that managed to make Naruto blush as how erotic she had made it sound.

While C.C. took a moment to enjoy her favorite food Naruto took that same moment to take in her appearance that had drawn so much attention from the male population and a few of the female ones. C.C.'s dress was a long flowing primarily black dress with white ribbons decorating the length of the front of the dress and a long white ribbon tied around her waist. The dress gave an ample view of her breasts with some black frills lining the top and an open back that went down to almost the small of her back with white ruffles running down each side. C.C. had a white wing like head ornament on the top of her head with a few small blue jewels adorning it with a shimmering long veil attached to it that fell over the back of her head. She had a black choker around her neck and the jeweled bracelet that Naruto had given her on. (1)

After taking several more bites of her pizza, and enjoying every single bite, C.C. finally focused her attention on Naruto, a long strand of melted cheese still connected from her moth to the pizza slice. Breaking the strand of cheese C.C. addressed Naruto. "Thank you." She told him softly honestly grateful that he had gotten her even a single slice of pizza having been on the verge of shouting in frustration at not being able to locate her favorite food, or at least she would have if she was someone without her amount of self-control. Despite the gratefulness that C.C. was feeling a teasing smile soon made its way across her face. "I couldn't help but notice though that there isn't a single bowl of ramen anywhere in sight." She pointed out.

Naruto crossed his arms in front of his chest with a grumble. "I was out voted." Naruto revealed sulking. "The others just don't understand the greatness that is ramen." He argued.

"Or," C.C. countered. "They actually possess some sense, unlike a certain someone, and recognized that more people would want pizza over ramen." The light-green haired woman argued almost teasingly as she took a few more bites of her food.

"You all lack any real taste." Naruto retorted shaking his head in sorrow for the poor saps that were missing out on the greatest of food. C.C. had a slight smile appear on her face while Naruto was obviously delusional she did enjoy the banter they shared on which food, pizza, was better. "You look nice by the way." The whisker marked teen commented casually.

"I would hope so." C.C. commented keeping her voice as even as possible and her face expressionless. "I can only imagine how much this dress ended up costing. Tell me do you make it a habit to buy people clothing?" She questioned him with a raised eyebrow.

"Not really." Naruto admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I knew you wouldn't have anything for a Ball and I thought you could have some fun if you came." He said honestly.

A small smile crossed C.C.'s face at the admission though she wondered what kind of fun she could have at a school Ball. This would hardly be the first Ball she would attend in her long life and only reason she bothered attending, or at least a very large reason, was to get some free pizza. After all, avoiding the advances of a bunch of hormonal teens was hardly her idea of fun. Besides the pizza the only thing that could make it worth it would be learning more about the mysterious blonde and his abilities. "All I need to enjoy myself is my beloved pizza." C.C. eventually replied taking another bite out of a slice.

Naruto rolled his eyes at C.C.'s response. "Come on let me introduce you with the other members of the Student Council who made it possible for you to eat your pizza." The shinobi said gesturing to where he knew the others were sitting.

C.C. was looking toward where Naruto was pointing, though she couldn't see them, before shaking her head. "That's probably not a wise decision." C.C. stated. "Suzaku Kururugi, according to Lelouch, was there the day that he and I met. It would be best if he didn't see me." The light-green haired girl said before turning introspective. "Actually now that I've got my pizza I should probably return to Lelouch's room." C.C. murmured softly to herself.

Most people would not have caught the miniscule change in C.C.'s expression as a look of sadness appeared in her eyes, but Naruto was not most people and easily caught the change and how unwilling C.C. really was on leaving. A second passed before Naruto spoke up. "Are you wearing the bracelet I got you?" Naruto asked her.

C.C. gazed at the blonde trying to determine what he was getting at before answering. "Of course." The immortal woman stated, lifting her hand so that Naruto could see the bracelet. "Even with it I don't think it would be good to let Suzaku Kururugi to see me." C.C. said.

Naruto smiled at the woman before taking her hand and started to lead her towards the others. "Trust me." Naruto said confidently.

C.C. looked at Naruto's back as she followed before sighing. "Something tells me I don't have much of a choice." C.C. murmured mostly to herself but Naruto heard her and answered her anyway.

"Nope." He said looking back at C.C. from over his shoulder a fox like grin on his face.

As Naruto and C.C. walked up to the other members of the Student Council most of them took a careful look of the woman that Naruto was leading to them.

"Well looks like I was right." Rivalz commented slyly with a smile. For his comment Milly AND Shirley smacked the blue haired boy this time on the back of his head. "Hey!" He complained.

"Shush." Milly hushed the bluenette.

Suzaku stared at C.C. firmly his mind linking her appearance to the one of the woman he had seen a couple of times before now. 'Is that really her?' The Honorary Britannian wondered though he was fairly sure it was.

"Guys!" Naruto greeted the group quickly walking up to Suzaku in particular, throwing his arm around Suzaku's shoulder, and pulling the brunette closer for all appearances making it look like he was about to introduce Suzaku to the golden eyed woman. "This is a C.C. a friend of mine." Naruto introduced them all to her. While staying in close contact with Suzaku, keeping him between Naruto and the others, the shinobi made eye contact with Suzaku flashing his Sharingan on for a second, the tomoes spinning rapidly, before turning off once more.

That second was all it took for the hypnotizing power of the Sharingan to take effect on Suzaku as his green eyes glazed over before snapping out of it. Shaking his head mildly Suzaku focused back on C.C. with a smile on his face as he held out his hand to her. "Hi I'm Suzaku Kururugi it's nice to meet you." Suzaku greeted her.

C.C. raised a delicate eyebrow in question wondering at the total lack of recognition in Suzaku, but greeted him just the same. "C.C." The woman returned sparing Suzaku's outstretched hand a glance but refusing to take it.

One by one the members who hadn't met C.C. before introduced themselves until it was Lelouch's turn. "Hello again." The banished prince greeted pleasantly, masterfully masking his irritation towards C.C. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you here of all places." Lelouch said his real meaning only clear to him, C.C., and Naruto.

While C.C. knew what Lelouch was really trying to say she rather mess with him by feigning ignorance. "Understandable," C.C. answered simply. "Naruto invited me last minute, he even got me this dress." She added gesturing to herself and the dress she was wearing. "And once I heard there was going to be pizza there was no way that I could possibly refuse his gracious invitation." The light green haired woman finished with the faintest of smiles.

Despite how much Lelouch wished he could curse C.C. at that moment he kept his composure and remained friendly outwardly. "Well I hope that you enjoy yourself." He said as genuinely as possible. "And that it was worth your time coming here." Lelouch's words were a little harsher at the end but hardly anyone noticed.

C.C. looked at Lelouch slyly. "I'm sure it will be." She said back before turning her attention to Naruto. "Now that I've met the rest of your friends do you have something else planned for me or can I enjoy my delicious, much better than your ramen, pizza in peace." C.C. requested of Naruto.

Naruto spared the golden eyed girl an exasperated glare. "You're still lying to yourself C.C." Naruto told her with a fake smile on his face. "It's okay to admit that you were wrong and that ramen is much better than pizza. None of us will think any less of you for it."

For the members of the Student Council who hadn't seen this interaction between Naruto and C.C. before they looked at each other with confused and concerned looks on their faces. They knew how much Naruto liked ramen by how strongly he argued to have it served tonight only to out voted in the end causing Naruto to pout childishly.

"Hey," Shirley said trying to draw the two's attention and keep them from arguing. "There's-"

"It's statements like that, that show how much of a child you are Naruto." C.C. returned. "Because surely only a child would believe that ramen could ever be better than pizza. Still ignorant of the greatest food in the world, living under the delusion of his own obliviousness that a thing like ramen could ever compare." The light-green haired woman returned a challenging and defiant look in her eyes.

"Ramen," Naruto said firmly.

"Pizza." C.C. returned just as decisively.

"Ramen!"

"Pizza!"

The members of the Student Council weren't sure if they were just seeing things or if someone had managed to spike the drinks. What they were seeing could only be some sort of hallucination since lightning seemed to be shooting out of Naruto's and C.C.'s eyes and clashing with one another, while behind each of them was a flag with their respective favorite food printed on them. They started to question their sanity when an army of pizzas and ramen appeared behind the two carrying weapons prepared for war.

"Foolish pizza loving witch."

"Ignorant ramen obsessed brat."

Naruto and C.C. stared each other down for a few more seconds before Naruto eventually broke eye contact. "Fine," Naruto relented turning around. "Wait here I'll go get you some more pizza." The shinobi said as he set off.

A pleased smile appeared on C.C. face as she took a seat at a table patiently waiting for Naruto to return with her pizza.

Milly being the most outgoing amongst her friends immediately approached C.C. to get a feel for the golden eyed women that Naruto seemed to be acquainted with. "So," Milly began taking a seat near the woman. "Is C.C. a nickname for something?"

Internally C.C. sighed blaming herself for not realizing sooner that Naruto's friends would ask her questions. "Yes," C.C. answered evenly as she gazed at the blonde Britannian aloofly. "But I'd rather keep my name private if it's all the same to you."

"That's okay." Milly replied a little uneasily not used to someone could act so indifferent. "You and Naruto seem kind of close, how do you know each other?" The blue eyed Britannian continued to question C.C.

"We're not really." C.C. replied indifferently. "We met one day and just ended up spending the day together. He's interesting I admit and he's helped me out on occasion, but I wouldn't consider us close." The light-green haired woman said though she felt that was a bit of a lie considering that Naruto was the only person to know her real name, although he had learned it inadvertently by her own actions. It wasn't much but even that little bit made it so Naruto knew more about her personally out of just about anyone else with the fewest of exceptions.

Off to the side Lelouch watched everyone carefully as he slowly made his way next to Suzaku's side. "Hey Suzaku." The banished prince spoke softly in order to not draw any attention. "She looks sort of familiar don't you think?" He asked keeping a close eye on the brunette.

At Lelouch's question Suzaku tried to see if he could remember anyone with C.C.'s appearance only for his eyes to glaze over once more for a second before snapping back to attention. "No I don't think so." Suzaku eventually replied looking over at Lelouch. "Why? Who does she remind you of?" The Honorary Britannian asked in turn.

With how closesly Lelouch was watching Suzaku looking for any sign of recognition prepared, even if it would have been very reluctantly on his part, to use his Geass on his friend to forcibly make him forget about C.C. if necessary. So he had noticed the slightly dazed expression that appeared on Suzaku's face before the Honorary Britannian came back to attention. Though at Suzaku's return question Lelouch immediately backtracked. "No one in particular." Lelouch answered trying to come off sounding as innocent as possible. "I just thought she looked like someone we might have known back when we were kids." He finished innocently enough.

Suzaku stared at his friend with an amused smile on his face. "I think I'd definitely remember meeting someone with green hair when we were kids Lelouch." Suzaku pointed out with a bit of a chuckle.

"Yeah I guess you have a point." Lelouch said lightly with a small laugh of his own. For a moment Lelouch enjoyed just getting a chance to laugh freely with his oldest friend, even if it was mostly fake. But that moment soon came to an end and his mind started to race thinking about what he had witnessed and what it could mean. While he wasn't completely aware of what was going on it was obvious that something was going on for Suzaku not to recognize C.C. The most logical conclusion that Lelouch could draw was that it was power similar to Geass that allowed C.C. to move freely unrecognizable. That though brought up the question of why she had to hide from the military in the first place if she had such a power. 'Unless she just obtained it.' Lelouch theorized to himself. More questions rose with those thoughts promising a conversation between C.C. and Lelouch later.

A few minutes later Kallen and C.C. sat by themselves at the tables commandeered by the Student Council. Milly had been able to pull most of the members of the Student Council out to dance with her with the exception of Shirley and Lelouch, the orangette managing to convince the black haired Britannian to share a dance with her. Kallen had been able to stave off Milly's invitation by stating that she was feeling a little tired, using her cover of possessing a frail body, and wanted to sit back and rest for a bit. All this for the sake of having a few minutes alone with C.C. so that they could speak freely away from the others.

"What are you doing here?" Kallen demanded of C.C. speaking rather harshly to the golden eyed woman. With the loud music playing and the noise inadvertently caused by all the other students Kallen was confident they wouldn't be overheard unless the person had been standing right beside them. Though she was still rather careful about it.

"I would think that would be rather obvious." C.C. replied as she held up another slice of pizza before taking a bite out of it.

"Stop messing around." Kallen snapped softly trying to keep her composure. While they couldn't easily be overheard that didn't mean it was okay for the half-Britannian to start shouting and expect not to draw attention. "Why are you here? Did Zero send you?" She asked intensely.

"No." C.C. replied almost rolling her eyes. "Despite what you might think my life does not revolve around Zero or his plans. He didn't know that I would be attending this Ball, neither did I for that matter up until half an hour ago." The immortal witch said, taking a few more bites of her pizza before continuing. "I'm here because Naruto invited me and bribed me with all I could eat of the most glorious of foods." C.C. finished holding a pizza slice up almost reverently.

Kallen watched C.C. with a sweat drop as the light-green haired girl all but worshiped the food she held. Though she was somewhat used to it considering Naruto acted in a very similar fashion when it came to his ramen. "How can you eat all that?" Kallen wondered quietly to herself more than a little jealous that the golden eyed woman was indulging in her favorite food, and if it was just as often as Naruto, and didn't seem concerned about gaining any weight.

"Did you say something?" C.C. asked not having heard what Kallen said clearly.

"No nothing." Kallen denied with a shake of her head. "What do you want with Naruto?" The redhead questioned. "Or are you going to tell me that it's just a coincidence that you're getting close with someone with money and powerful ties."

C.C. smiled slyly at the blue eyed girl. "You sound protective Kallen." C.C. pointed out drawing a light blush from the girl, but Kallen quickly suppressed it as she stared back at C.C. sharply. With an amused smile on her face C.C. answered Kallen "You shouldn't be so worried." The golden eyed immortal said in a halfhearted attempt to placate the young woman. "While our meeting wasn't a coincidence for the most part my interest in Naruto has nothing to do with the reasons you're thinking."

That hardly reassured Kallen at all. "Then why are you interested in him?" she asked rather defensively.

C.C. had the same knowing smile on her face as before. "That would be telling." C.C. answered mysteriously giggling a bit at the displeased look that appeared on Kallen's face. "Though Zero might be interested in Naruto for the reasons you suggested." C.C. hinted with little doubt.

"Zero knows what he is doing." Kallen defended almost dismissively. "What I don't understand is why you are getting involved with Naruto and what you get out of it." The dark blue eyed half-Japanese stated.

"And I don't expect you to understand my reasons." C.C. returned evenly. For as much as C.C. could reveal to Kallen with vague comments and insinuations there was far more she couldn't tell Kallen that would help paint a clear picture for the redhead. Her own secrets for starters the secrets that Naruto kept, not to mention Lelouch's secrets, and if there was one thing that C.C. had gotten good at in her long immortal life it was keeping secrets from others.

Confusion and frustration were clearly apparent on Kallen's face but before she could press the issue any further the person that they had been talking about walked up to the table. At the sight of him Kallen immediately fell silent, secretly grateful that he hadn't snuck up on them, so he wouldn't hear anything about the other life she led.

"Yo," Naruto greeted both women moving so was standing between them.

"Naruto," Kallen greeted back, not sure if she should be thankful or not about his sudden appearance considering how irritated C.C. was making her with the conversation.

C.C. simply nodded at the blonde acknowledging his presence as she finished off another slice of pizza. Though when C.C. looked at her plate for another slice she realized that she had just finished the last pizza slice of the ones that Naruto had gotten her. With a frown C.C. thought over her options. First she could leave but she still wanted more pizza. Second she could go out looking for more food for herself, but that opened her to being accosted by a bunch of hormonal teenagers. Third, and the option that she preferred, C.C. could send Naruto once more to get her more pizza. It was a no brainer for the immortal. "Naruto," C.C. spoke up drawing Naruto's complete attention. "I'd like some more." She requested holding out her plate to the blonde teen.

Kallen began glaring at C.C. "You could get it yourself you know." She told the light-green haired girl reproachfully.

"It's fine, she is my guest after all." Naruto assured Kallen, though even Naruto would admit that he was a little annoyed at being ordered by someone to fetch them food, with a wave of his hand. "But first you have to dance with me." He stated holding his hand out to the golden eyed woman.

"What/What?!" Were the twin cries of surprise from C.C. and Kallen.

"What?" Naruto parroted, letting his hand fall to his side, taken back by the surprise that the two women were displaying. "It's just one dance." The Kyuubi pilot tried to reason. "I don't go to a lot of these things, but it kind of ruins the whole point of coming if all you do is sit on the sidelines." He rationalized.

C.C. narrowed her eyes at Naruto almost challengingly. "And if I refuse." C.C. retorted.

The two stared each other down for a moment before Naruto answered her. "I could always hold the pizza hostage." Naruto threatened, causing Kallen to sweat drop. It only grew when C.C. seemed to take Naruto's treat seriously.

C.C. gasped with wide eyes. "You wouldn't?" The light-green haired woman whispered out.

"Wouldn't I?" Naruto returned with a raised eyebrow. "You know some of the things I'm capable of?"

"You monster." C.C. muttered. For another minute the two once more stared at each other before C.C. seemed to resign herself as she let out a sigh. "Fine," She finally relented as she stood up from her seat. Holding her hand out Naruto took it in his and proceeded to lead them out to the dance floor.

At that moment Shirley and Lelouch returned from finishing their dance to find Kallen all but grinding her teeth as she stared into the crowd of dancing students. "Kallen what's wrong?" Shirley asked tentatively more than a little concerned for herself and others as Kallen glared into the crowd.

"Nothing's wrong." Kallen snapped at Shirley feeling more than a little irritated having to watch Naruto walk off with C.C., unsure if it was jealousy or just annoyance because of the conversation that she was having with C.C. and how unforthcoming the women decided to be.

Shirley, at Kallen's response, took a shaky step back away from the girl. "O-okay." She squeaked out.

Lelouch raised an eyebrow at Kallen's sour attitude as Shirley hid behind him. "Where did C.C. wander off to?" He asked after not spotting C.C. in the seat she had been occupying before.

Kallen turned her glare on Lelouch before letting out an exasperated sigh before jerking her head away. "She's out there." The redhead muttered gesturing to the dance floor, but refused to go into further details about it.

Lelouch looked away from Kallen and stared into crowd of dancing students. 'What are you playing at C.C.?' Lelouch thought staring into the crowd fixedly with a frown on his face.

Out on the dance floor Naruto and C.C. swayed gently to the music being played. They had only been dancing for a couple of minutes and during that short amount of time neither said a word to the other as they stared at one another. Naruto's gaze was light, almost carefree, as he stared at C.C. with a small smile on his face enjoying the small victory he had gotten over the golden eyed immortal. C.C. on the other hand was staring at Naruto carefully with a frown on her face. "I hope you are satisfied." C.C. said blandly. "First bribing me with pizza to get me here, then threatening my pizza to get me to dance with you. Have you no shame?" The green haired witch questioned.

"I'm a shinobi." Naruto replied simply. "Whatever advantages we can use is fair." The Knightmare pilot claimed. "Besides its pizza, it's not like it is ramen." Naruto said with a shrug of his shoulders.

C.C. gazed at Naruto blankly even as the blonde shinobi spun her. When Naruto pulled her back in she still had that same expression on her face before it changed to a haughtier one as she shook her head disbelievingly. "You keep trying to make me believe that your ramen is better than my pizza but there is no point you'll never convert me to your heretic beliefs." C.C. stated surely.

Naruto smiled confidently at C.C. "I'm not the kind of person who ever gives up." Naruto told her. "Or goes back on my word." He finished earnestly.

C.C. looked into Naruto's shining blue eyes searchingly. She could see that he meant more than he was saying and could easily get a grasp of what he was implying, and it wasn't about ramen, subconsciously causing her to lean herself closer to Naruto. A sincere smile appeared on C.C. face never breaking eye contact with Naruto. "I heard words similar to those spoken so many times." She acknowledged to him. "In the end they fail to live up to their promises and die or compromise them for the sake of selfish and self-centered intentions going back on everything that they claimed to stand for." C.C. said honestly her voice slightly listless as she recalled some memories from her past.

"Maybe," Naruto said in slight agreement with an uncommitted nod of agreement. "But were any of them as awesome as me?" Naruto asked her.

C.C. snorted in amusement, as the music picked up speed and they started to dance a bit faster as well. "I doubt any of them are half as cocky as you." She admitted with almost a touch of fondness in her voice.

"I'm not hearing a yes." Naruto pointed out lightly with his fox like grin.

The music picked up causing Naruto to purposely spin each other faster, Naruto's cloak and C.C.'s dress twisting around each other. Soon enough everything around them faded away as they only focused on each other. As they danced C.C. found a smile unconsciously spreading across her face her heart starting to race as the music sped up and so did their dancing. Eventually the music ended in a crescendo leaving Naruto and C.C. a little short on breath while still holding each other closely.

"That was fun, right?" Naruto asked as he quickly re-caught his breath.

A smile was still on C.C. face as she was catching her breath though she quickly regained her composure. "A bit." She admitted before pulling back a serious look now replacing. "Now we've danced get me my pizza." C.C. ordered before spinning on her heel and walking back to table.

Naruto watched the light-green haired woman walk away with a sweat drop going down the back of his head. Soon enough though the shinobi was grinning once more as he shook his head disbelievingly as he went to do as he promised.

---

Later that night Lelouch stormed into his room to find C.C. already their lying on his bed with a couple of magazines in pajamas, her dress neatly folded away unlike her jumpsuit that she left lying wherever she felt like, with a plate of pizza that she brought over from the Ball next to her. Throwing the coat, he was wearing off before focusing entirely on C.C. "What were you thinking showing up at the Ball?!" Lelouch demanded.

C.C. let out a sigh as she put her magazine down. "Welcome back Lelouch I hope you had a good time tonight too." C.C. said blandly as she sat up to look at Lelouch, pulling Cheese-kun to herself as she set her plate on the nearby desk.

Lelouch scowled at the golden eyed woman. "This is not a game C.C. you exposed yourself to Suzaku what exactly were' you planning to do if he recognized you tonight?" He questioned her.

C.C. would have rolled her eyes at Lelouch if she didn't remember once more that he wasn't aware of all the facts. "I told you that it was taken care of there is no real reason to worry." She stated surely.

Lelouch's eyes narrowed at her statement. "Which you've never explained." He pointed out. "If you expect me to trust you then explaining exactly what safety precautions you take each time you go gallivanting around would be helpful." Lelouch said.

"Something tells me even if I did explain everything to you, you still wouldn't believe me." C.C. replied with an amused smile.

"How about you let me come that decision on my own." Lelouch stated evenly. "Whatever you are doing it puts you at risk of being caught along with my identity being revealed and jeopardizing Nunnally's safety." The banished prince said.

"And here I thought you were actually concerned for me for a second." C.C. joked lightly before growing serious. "Listen well Lelouch, you and I have a contract as long as you hold up on your end than I swear to help you, by any means necessary, to fulfill your goal to destroy Britannia. Nothing I do will risk the fulfillment of our contract because there is nothing more important to me than that." C.C. declared earnestly. "How I am concealing my identity is irrelevant because if I wasn't sure it worked I would not reveal myself like I have."

Lelouch stared straight at C.C., analyzing her as best he could but unable to garner much, before letting out a sigh. "Very well I'll trust you, for now." Lelouch decided. "You being able to move around freely might actually prove beneficial to my goals." He said revising a few plans accounting for this new possibility.

"Don't get too excited." C.C. told him drawing him out of his thoughts as she laid back on the bed and turned her back towards him. "It's still not a good idea for me to be drawing to much attention to myself." She informed him.

---

In the end the Ball was a success with everyone enjoying themselves and a good bit of PR being generated for the Namikaze Corporation. After he finished dancing with C.C., Naruto once more found himself dancing with Kallen in his arms. The redhead was a bit curious about what Naruto and C.C. had been talking about while they danced but just sighed, as long as feeling slightly relieved, when she learned that they were just arguing once more about which of their favorite food was better.

Suzaku was recalling that night fondly, specifically the dances he shared with Shirley, as he stood by the Lancelot having been told earlier that he should stay behind for something. He was brought out of his musing by the sound of approaching footsteps and the sound of Lloyd's voice.

"I have some bad news, Suzaku." Lloyd said in his ever up beat and cheerful tone. "We've just got word from Cornelia's Royal Guard. We're on deck for the next operation. Are they acknowledging your skill or do they need another decoy?" He wondered a little darkly.

"Oh Lloyd," Cecile walked up behind the silver haired man, carrying a tray of Onigiri. "Care for another lesson in proper social etiquette? You look like you have some time to kill." She said disapprovingly.

"I'll have to take a pass on that." Lloyd replied with a sour look on his face. "Now then I believe we're talking about your mission." He continued turning his attention back to Suzaku. "We'll have to make this quick as I have a meeting with Princess Cornelia soon and its best not to keep her Highness waiting, wouldn't you agree?" The scientist said with a sly smile.

---

Several minutes later Lloyd walked into the hangar that contained Cornelia's personal Gloucester along with Darlton's and Guilford's Knightmares. Immediately upon walking into the hangar he noticed Cornelia along with Guilford and Darlton standing near the Gloucesters. The Second Princes of Britannia was looking the Knightmares over carefully looking for any obvious differences. "Sorry about the delay." Lloyd apologized lightly. "I was informing Warrant Officer Kururugi about his part in the upcoming mission." He explained.

"Very well." Cornelia said, not caring in the least for the man's excuses, as she turned her attention away from the Gloucesters and focused it on Lloyd. "Tell me Asplund what modifications have been made to our Knightmares." She ordered. Cornelia wasn't stupid by any sense of the word and she knew that just because she couldn't see anything different with her Knightmare didn't mean that Lloyd hadn't done the task she had given him.

"Straight to business then." Lloyd murmured. "I hope that you aren't expecting much with the short amount of time I had I wasn't able to get much done." He warned them.

"We understand just get on with it." Guilford ordered sternly.

"Right." Lloyd continued walking past the three pilots so that he ended up standing next to the Knightmares. "I thought it prudent to maximize energy output in order to boost your Gloucesters' speed and mobility. The Radiant Wave Surger that the red Knightmare that the Black Knights poses makes it ridiculous to even consider trying to match it power wise. Though with evened speeds and respectable piloting skills I'd imagine things would be far more favorable Viceroy." The silver haired scientist informed.

Cornelia nodded her head but continued to look at Lloyd expectantly. "Anything else?" She questioned him.

The glasses wearing man nodded his head. "While the enhanced energy output has been applied to all the Gloucesters and even a few Sutherlands." Lloyd informed them. "I have designed some particular modifications for your Gloucester Viceroy. After going over some of the reports it showed not only that you were a pilot with extraordinary skills, but also make use of Slash Harkens unlike any other. Taking this into account I've already set plans in motion to integrate additional Slash Harkens similar to the ones located on the Lancelot."

While Cornelia hardly needed Lloyd's praise in her piloting skills she could see the reasoning behind why he would make the changes that he was suggesting. "How long before you add the new armament?" She questioned him.

"With your permission Viceroy I can have it completed by tomorrow night before the upcoming mission." Lloyd promised. The only reason he hadn't already started the process was because only a fool would mess with the Second Princess Knightmare without express permission.

"Very well." Cornelia nodded her head. "Get it done." She ordered as she spun on her heel and left the hangar, Darlton and Guilford following behind her.

"Are you sure it is wise to let that man perform those modifications so close before the mission your Highness?" Darlton asked carefully as he followed after the Viceroy of Area 11.

Cornelia nodded her head in confirmation. "As much as I hate to admit it we need any advantage we can get over the Black Knights' new Knightmare." The dark pink haired princess stated without stopping or looking back at the two men following her. "At the moment only the Lancelot is able to match both that Knightmare and the Kyuubi. I highly doubt that I need to tell you both that chances of winning any war when relying on a single unit is highly unlikely." Cornelia said with a frown on her face. She already had a bad taste in her mouth at having to be recused like some damsel during the battle at Narita she was going to make sure that it didn't happen a second time.

---

Villetta watched the house across from her carefully waiting for her target to appear from the car she was in. On the passenger seat next to her was a dossier of a student she only faintly recalled. It was a blurry memory but she believed that he was present during the incident at the Shinjuku Ghetto before everything started falling apart for her. Since seeing his photo in that girl's phone her mind had fixated on him, making her believe that he was very important. Then there was what Jerimiah claimed about not recalling releasing Suzaku Kururugi linking her suspicions of Zero to that student.

Spotting her target Villetta exited her car determined to find out what connection Lelouch Lamperouge had to Zero and her and Jeramiah's lose in memory. She would figure out what secrets he was keeping and regain the status that she had lost.

---

The sun began to set as Zero gathered the Black Knights in an abandoned warehouse near the docks. They had gotten some intel earlier and were now waiting for Zero's order to move out, but Ohgi was feeling nervous considering how they came about the information to begin with and what Zero expected them to do.

"Wait a second, Zero." Ohgi called out to the masked man who was standing above them sitting on top of a bunch of scrap metal, behind him was his personal Burai and the Guren. "I realize this is a request from Kyoto. I think we can definitely handle it." He continued nervously. "And I'm pretty sure that Japan Liberation Front would rather join with us than flee to foreign soil in all. But..." The Japanese man trailed off not really sure how to say what he wanted to say.

Zero, seeing that Ohgi was struggling, focused his attention on someone else. "You are the one who brought us this information. Diethard, wasn't it?" He questioned. The person in question was a sandy blonde haired male with indigo colored eyes. His hair is pulled back into a pony tail except for a single wavy blonde bang that fell in front of his face all the way down to his cleft chin. He wore a dark blue blazer and pants, black dress shoes, and a burgundy turtleneck shirt. But what was most noticeable to everyone and a major cause of the unease that Ohgi was feeling was Diethard's Britannian nationality.

"That's right." Diethard answered completely ignoring the two members of the Black Knights who had their guns trained on him. "It is an honor that you'd meet me like this, Zero." He said reverently.

Zero wouldn't admit it, or even react, but he was feeling slightly creeped out by the way that Diethard was staring at him. Trying to ignore it he continued. "So, Princess Cornelia's going to deploy the Royal Marines on General Katase and the Japan Liberation Front, is that correct?" The Leader of the Black Knights asked double checking the information.

"Yes." Diethard replied instantly. "The network was already poised to broadcast a special report on it."

Zero mused thoughtfully as he went over everything in his mind. "Lieutenant General Tohdoh will never make it Katase in time." Zero rationalized. "Which means that Japan Liberation Front has no military strength right now. Their only chance of escape is the liquid Sakuradite they're carrying." He stated surely.

"Which is why we should help General Katase escape instead of going after Cornelia." Ohgi argued. Zero's insistence that they focus on capturing Cornelia being the other issue that Ohgi had with the bit of the plan that Zero had detailed out at the moment.

"Ohgi, who are we?" Zero asked him.

Ohgi was taken back by the question having not been expecting it. "W-we are the Black Knights, Zero." He answered hesitantly unsure where Zero was going with his line if inquiry.

"Then we have but one task." Zero continued. "We will destroy Cornelia's troops. And in doing so, rescue the remnants of the JLF. Tonight, we regain what was lost to us at Narita." He finished as he stood up.

Ohgi reluctantly nodded his head indicating his agreement, though he still wished that they would act to help the JLF instead of just letting them be the bait for Cornelia. "What are the chances?" He asked instead.

While there was visible sign of it Zero was clearly amused by the question and it was clearly evident in his voice. "Need you ask?" Zero asked almost rhetorically.

"Understood." Ohgi replied a little more confidently. Despite not agreeing with everything it was reassuring to know that their chances of victory were all but guaranteed by Zero.

"Begin preparations. You all have your orders to carry out." Zero instructed turning to leave.

Kallen seeing that Zero was leaving called out to him having a few things that she wanted to talk with him about. "Uh... Zero." She said drawing his attention.

"I have something to attend to." Zero said looking back at the redhead from over his shoulder. "Whatever it is, save it for later." He told her. Zero could already guess what some of the things that Kallen wanted to talk to him about were, but he honestly didn't have the time to waste with her at the moment if he wanted his plan to work out like he intended.

Kallen watched Zero walk away forlornly.

---

In another nearby warehouse Suzaku listened attentively as Darlton went over the mission details and relaying what Suzaku's role during the operation would be. "Just so you know, the Viceroy has reservations about using the Numbers." Darlton explained as he stared down the younger male. "But 'Use every able body', I always say, even if it's the son of the former Prime Minister." The light brown haired male said, unintentionally and possibly uncaringly making Suzaku uncomfortable with his remark, before continuing. "Our target is Katase. Take him out and the Japan Liberation Front is finished. We are sending in a Royal Marines. Your job will be to provide supporting fire from the shore until the marines have Katase. As well as annihilating any stragglers left over." Darlton told him.

Suzaku eyes widened in shock as he looked at the man disbelievingly. "Uh... I'm to annihilate them, sir?" He repeated hoping as impossible as it might have been that he had misheard his superior.

"Nobody but the target is to survive. Is that clear?" Darlton repeated looking at Suzaku intently with a frown on his face. When Suzaku didn't answer the Britannian continued much more seriously. "Warrant Officer Kururugi, show your loyalty to the crown." He commanded turning his back to the Honorary Britannian. "This is your chance to get ahead in the world, soldier." The Knightmare pilot finished with a smirk almost on his face. Unlike most Darlton didn't see a need to discriminate between soldiers if they proved themselves capable in combat then it made sense that they should rewarded for their merits.

Suzaku looked down at the ground as he regrettably accepted his orders. "Understood, my Lord." He answered subdued.

As Darlton walked away Lloyd walked up to Suzaku with his usual smile fixed in place. "Onward, Christian soldiers." The silver haired man voiced. "Conflicting morals, right?" Lloyd asked Suzaku. The messy brown haired teen looked away refusing to answer.

---

Shirley found herself near the docks as the sun began to set searching for Lelouch. The orangette had been following Lelouch since he left Ashford but he ended up losing him a little while ago. "No, Lulu. It can't be true. He would never get tangled up with someone like that." She muttered to herself remembering what that woman had told her earlier.

Flashback

After approaching Shirley, Villetta led Shirley back to her car and presented the young woman with the dossier she had complied on Lelouch with his picture on the front. "There is a possibility that this boy is linked to the Black Knights." Villetta told Shirley as the young yellow-green eyed girl stared at Lelouch's picture.

"What're you saying?" Shirley asked her breath coming in short. "He's involved…"

"In terrorism." Villetta finished.

Shirley shook her head desperately. "I don't believe you!" She cried disbelievingly almost tearing the file in her hands. "It can't be... It has to be a lie!" Shirley almost pleaded being unable, and unwilling, to make the connection in her mind that the boy she loved could be involved with the terrorist group that almost took her father away from her.

Flashback End

Shirley pushed that memory away as she continued searching. 'Lulu... I'm so sorry to be doubting you like this. But... Please... I wanna believe in you.' She thought to herself.

Unknown to Shirley, Villetta was several feet behind following her from the shadows. 'Dammit, she lost him.' Villetta silently cursed as looked from around one the many warehouses at the searching Shirley. 'If she'd just called me sooner, I could've had him. I should've grabbed him when I had the chance.' She thought before mentally shaking her head knowing that capturing Lelouch alone wouldn't be enough. 'No, I need proof. If he talks to her, I can learn what his roll is in all this. Which is all the more important if he can manipulate memory somehow. I won't have to die, striped of my position and honor like Jeremiah. Hell, this is the chance to move back up again. So I have to find out a link to Zero. It has to be me.' The silver haired woman decided stepping out from behind the warehouse to continue follow Shirley.

---

Aboard the ship that the JLF were planning to escape on General Katase was having a meeting with one of the last people he ever thought he would be meeting with. "How exactly did you find us, Kurama?" Katase demanded glaring at the fox mask wearing man that was standing across his desk from him. On either side of where the General was sitting were a couple of soldiers with their guns focused on Kurama and another two flanking him from behind. "Why are you here?"

"I have my ways and reasons." Kurama answered enigmatically completely unconcerned with the firearms that pointed at him.

Several floors below deck and well away from where Katase was located a second Kurama moved through the ship stealthily while a clone of his talked to the old General. The JLF soldiers were few in number with most either on the main deck, patrolling the upper levels, or guarding Katase leaving him near free mobility as he searched for his target.

'Why are we searching for the liquid Sakuradite?' Amami questioned her former container from within the seal. 'With the Namikaze Corporation we can obtain it easily. Plus, with the negative emotions I'm sensing in the area this is pretty much a trap.' The red haired vixen pointed out.

"Any Sakuradite that we got would be on record. Meaning that if any of it suddenly went missing people will get suspicious and want to know where it went launching an investigation." Kurama answered her as he entered the cargo area. Entering the cargo area Kurama spotted the barrels that contained the liquid Sakuradite safely held in place. "Found it." He murmured to himself mostly as he grabbed a few scrolls to start sealing the canisters away, creating a few clones to make the process go faster.

'I see your point.' Amami admitted. Some of the projects they had planned, along with future developments on their Knightmares, that had to be kept secret from the public. Amami knew for a fact that Naruto intended to use the liquid Sakuradite along with the energy reactor that he had been developing with the help of Aria. 'Fine, but hurry.' Amami advised. 'I sensed a single person with negative emotions, the closest I could place it to is killing intent, swimming to a point in front of the ship and then swimming back.' She told him.

"Okay," Kurama nodded his head as he sealed another container of the liquid Sakuradite away. "A possible trap then." He reasoned. "Let me know when we've gone over that spot?" Kurama asked his partner.

'Yeah, yeah.' Amami replied dismissively. It would be annoying for her to keep track of the point the person swam to not impossible just annoying.

Back in Katase's cabin he was looking at the clone of Kurama incredulously. "What do you mean you want to make sure we leave Japan?!" The man demanded. It was humiliating enough for the old general and his men that they were already being forced out of their home because of the Britannian military. To then have Kurama come in and enforce the point not only added insult to injury but also rubbed salt into the wound.

"Your part in this war is over. It has been for a long time now." Kurama told them, causing a couple of the soldiers to glare daggers at the masked individual. "Your tactics have proved useless against the Britannian military and you've barely been surviving these last few years."

"Do NOT underestimate the Japanese." Katase gritted out. "We will fight to the death to free Japan from Britannia."

"And you will die." Kurama retorted. "Don't you get that this is no longer your war to fight. You're been reduced to running in order to survive. It's time the next generation to take the lead." He finished.

---

Lelouch rested in a warehouse as he dried his hair off, a towel resting on top of his head, with his upper body left bare. He had just come back from planting an explosive in the path of the JLF ship and was taking a short breather as he thought everything over. Doubts clouded his mind as he second guessed his actions, not only todays but also what led up to Shirley's father being hospitalized. Even still Lelouch had one thing that justified all his actions those he had committed and those he will commit, Nunnally. A sudden sound from the entrance of the warehouse caused Lelouch to snap his attention in that direction. "Who is there?" He snapped.

Kallen walked in to the warehouse intent on asking Zero a few questions only to stop abruptly. Looking into the shadow of a nearby container the red haired pilot could barely make out the silhouette of someone sitting against it, yet unable to make out any distinguishable details. "I... I'm sorry," Kallen apologized suddenly unsure of herself. She planned to ask Zero about C.C. and the reason they were fighting. She wanted to know what Zero was having them fight for. "I'll go." She said as she turned to leave.

"Second thoughts?" Lelouch guessed correctly, stopping Kallen from leaving, considering they had been plaguing his mind as well.

Even though she stopped Kallen didn't turn to face Zero as doubt crossed her face. "C.C. who is she exactly?" Kallen asked curiously. "I never seen her before Narita and she isn't here now. I guess I want to know if we can really trust someone who appears out of nowhere?"

"You trusted me." He pointed out with the barest hints of amusement in his voice and the ghost of a smile on his face. Lelouch wasn't sure if he should be surprised or not that instead of voicing her concerns she asked about C.C. Even still he thought reassuring Kallen a bit about C.C. would help earn him more of her trust. "I guess you could call C.C. my benefactor." Lelouch revealed vaguely.

"Benefactor?" Kallen questioned.

Lelouch leaned his back against the container. "C.C. gave me the means to be able to confront Britannia ahead of the schedule I'd originally planned. Everything I've achieved since Shinjuku, everything we've achieved, is all thanks to her." He told her honestly. "I can't claim to know all her motives but I do know that she won't betray the Black Knights or risk losing something that matters to her. What she wants might not be to destroy Britannia but its destruction is a means to end for her as long as that remains true we can at least rely on her when necessary."

"Is that why she is getting close to Naruto of the Namikaze Corporation?" Kallen asked curiously. "Because he can help her get something she wants?"

"I honestly don't know." Lelouch replied. "She acts in her own self-interests and doesn't feel the need to explain herself."

"Oh," Kallen murmured.

"Was there anything else you wanted to know?" Lelouch asked knowing that Kallen hadn't asked everything that she wanted to.

"I get that this might not be the right time, but before anything happens I have to know this." Kallen started as she turned to face Zero and when he didn't reply she continued. "I thought that when you formed the Black Knights the goal was justice." Kallen stated. "The only reason I've fought until now is because I thought it was the right thing to do." The redhead said thinking about the conversation she had with Naruto in that little tea shop. "So I could live with the killing, but now..." She struggled as the state that Shirley was in when she talked with her father appeared in her mind. "Tell me. Is this real? Is what we are all doing here really going to change the world for the better?"

Lelouch reflected for a moment at similar their reservations were before answering. "Yes, it will, or rather it must change the world." He began with complete confidence. "Will there be sacrifices? Not only just soldiers but the innocent as well." Lelouch said, both knew that this fact was inevitable and that already people's lives had been lost due to their actions. "And yet, because of all these things, we have no choice but to continue on. No matter the cost, even if people see us as cowards, we have to prevail. If that means more blood will be shed, so be it. We've spilled so much to get here. I can't let it be in vain." Lelouch spoke with conviction laced into every word he spoke. The dark haired Britannian took a second to calm himself down a bit before continuing. "But I won't force you, Kallen. If you wish to turn back, now is the time." He told her giving the half-Japanese pilot a choice.

Kallen was silent for a second as she thought about everything that Zero had just said, what Naruto had told her in the tea shop, and most importantly what she believed. She already had blood on her hands, before either Zero or Kurama appeared, and she could deal with it because she fought in memory of her brother. What worried her was how fast things were changing since Shinjuku and it was a bit overwhelming. With a deep breath Kallen came a decision. "I've made my choice." She said surely. "I'll follow you." The redhead told him. Both Zero and Naruto had said things she could appreciate but ultimately her reason for fighting had to be her own.

"I'm grateful, Kallen." Lelouch told her with a hidden smile.

Kallen nodded her head before leaving. Justice and destroying Britannia might be the goal of the Black Knights, but she was still fighting for Japan and now her mother. What was right was that Japan and the Japanese shouldn't have to suffer under the oppression of Britannia.

---

C.C. stood in Lelouch's room within Ashford with the folded cloak that Naruto had loaned her at Narita held in her hands, having failed to return it. After a few more seconds of simply staring at it the immortal witch put it on closing the top part. Facing a full length mirror that Lelouch had in his room C.C. turned this way and that seeing how she looked in the garment. And, while I did not exactly compliment her white jumpsuit, C.C. would admit that she agreed with Naruto when he said it suited her.

"But now I can see you,"

"No matter what happens in the future from this point on I won't forget or deny who you really are. You won't have to be alone, if you feel like you're not strong enough to face the world then I'll be there whenever you need me to lend you my strength."

"Cera,"

C.C. heard Naruto's voice in her head before shaking it to try and dispel her memory of the things that Naruto said. "What am I doing?" She asked herself as she took off the Akatsuki cloak, but held it in her hands staring at the garment.

---

Back at the docks the soldiers were standing at attention waiting for the single for their commanding officers to move out.

"It's time." Darlton informed Cornelia.

Cornelia barely nodded her head in acknowledged Darlton before issuing out her orders. "Commence the operation!" She declared her hand held out in front of her.

"All underwater units, hit the water! Dive! Dive! Dive!" The officer leading the Royal Marine Infantry of the Portman Knightmare Frames commanded over the radio. Following the command, the Portman's fell into the water before heading toward where the JLF ship was docked.

Suzaku watched over the monitors of the Lancelot from where he was stationed as the RMI made their way toward the JLF as he listened to his orders from his superior. "Our unit will be covering them from the shore." The leading officer explained. "Careful though, we want that tanker in one piece."

"Understood, my Lord." Suzaku replied as he got the Lancelot in proper position in preparation.

"Once torpedo attack is confirmed, all units go to weapons free. Repeat, weapons free." The leader finished as the rest of the Knightmares got in position after the Lancelot as well.

The Portman closed in on where the JLF were docked each firing a group of torpedoes that blew a set of doors that were in their way. The explosions drew the JLF soldiers' attention as they all started to gather at the front of the ship. Though the moment they each stepped near the bow of the ship the Knightmares on land started to open fire on them with their rifles killing them in a hail of bullets.

Ohgi watched through a pair of binoculars as the members of the JLF were being killed before he tried to contact Zero. "It looks like it's started." He said into his radio. "Zero, you wanna move out or what?" Ohgi asked though he was disturbed when Zero didn't answer. He understood that their goal was Cornelia, but that couldn't mean they were just going to stand by and do nothing while the remnants of the JLF were killed right in front of them were they? "Hey? Do you read me? They're closing in on the JLF. Come in."

Finally, after a couple more tries Zero answered Ohgi. "We have to hold." Zero instructed. "Cornelia moved faster than expected. If we go now, we'll die along with them." The leader of the Black Knights tried to explain. He along with a select group of members of the Black Knights, including Kallen, were in their Knightmares within a ship designed to carry Knightmare Frames over water.

Suzaku watched as slowly the members of the JLF were shot down one by one without mercy, their lifeless bodies falling into the ocean. "This isn't battle." He muttered his hands shaking slightly unable to bring himself to open fire like his fellow soldiers. "This is wholesale slaughter."

An image of Cecile popped up in a window on one of Lancelot's monitors the blue haired woman having noticed Suzaku's hesitation and decided it would be best to address it. "Officer Kururugi." Cecile began seriously.

"Go ahead." Suzaku replied yet unable to turn his attention away from the slaughter that was happening in front of him.

"I certainly know this must be hard for you." Cecile started with a bit of compassion in her voice. "But you are a soldier, remember that." She told him.

Suzaku nodded his head reluctantly. "Right, I understand." He said regretfully though he still refused to fire.

---

"Those damned Britannians! How could they've found us?!" Katase demanded from within his cabin having received a report on the current situation.

"Are you really that surprised?" Kurama's clone questioned the man humorously. "I was able to find you after all." He pointed out.

The general glared at the fox mask wearing individual before addressing one of his subordinates. "Where is Tohdoh?" He commanded.

A soldier looked nervous flinching a bit at every explosion and sound of a gunshot. "We can't locate him, or the Holy Swords." The man informed.

Katase slammed his fist on his desk. "What about Kyoto!? They said they would send help." Katase continued losing his composure as his temper rose.

"Yes sir!" The soldier confirmed but not with any good news. "But we have no way of contacting them now."

"So they're just gonna sit back and watch us die here?" General Katase raged as his mind to come up with any possible solution to save themselves.

"It seems you have a choice now." Kurama said. "Accept my help in getting out of Japan or watch as your soldiers are killed around you." The masked shinobi gave his ultimatum. Katase glared at the man hatefully yet seriously considered his choices. His pride demanded he refuse Kurama's help, but as a general he had to think about the lives of his men.

"Fine," Katase relented grudgingly.

Kurama nodded his head. "Good," He stated. "Gather your men. We don't have much time."

---

After several minutes of being slaughtered by the Britannian army the members of the JLF on deck that managed to survive the onslaught started to broadcast their surrender. "We surrender! Please cease fire! This is the Japan Liberation Front! I repeat we surrender!" The message declared even as the sounds of bullets flying and men dying could be heard in the background.

Suzaku hearing the message and no action been taken by his superiors tried to bring it to their attention. "Sir, they're issuing a surrender over an open channel." Suzaku informed hoping to bring an end to the needless violence.

"Ignore it." His commander replied uncaringly.

Suzaku was shocked by how callous the man was being. "Yes. But sir..." The Honorary Britannian tried to argue. Before he could finish making his argument he watched as the ship that the JLF were on started to sail away. The Brunette also noticed that all the JLF soldiers had retreated below deck.

"You see?" The leader of the squad that Suzaku was a part of said smugly. "They're just buying time. Now, carry out your orders!"

Ohgi continued to watch as members of the JLF were killed by the Britannian military "Dammit!" The black haired Japanese man cursed. "It'll be too late soon! When does Zero plan to move?" He wondered out loud.

Diethard stood behind Ohgi, having been assigned to Ohgi so that the senior member of the Black Knights could keep an eye on him, while the JLF tried to make their escape. "I just hope that he isn't doing all these to honor some childish notion of justice." Diethard said. While he held a great amount of respect for Zero he was still curious about the man hoping to understand what kind of person he was.

Through his binoculars watched as Slash Harkens shot up out of the ocean and imbedded themselves onto the deck before retracting, pulling the Portman Knightmare Frame out of the ocean and onto the ship. "The Knightmare are boarding the ship!" Ohgi reported.

"I see... That leaves only one way out. They have to be careful around their precious Sakuradite." Zero mused out loud.

"Zero!" Ohgi yelled into his radio. "If we don't hurry..." He left the rest unsaid.

"Very well then, go ahead." Zero ordered as he pressed a detonator that he held in his hand. A detonator for a bomb that was waiting just ahead of the JLF ship.

Aboard the ship the real Kurama raced to get to the outside of the ship having just finished sealing away the last of the liquid Sakuradite. For the last couple of minutes Shadow clones of Kurama had been moving through the ship grabbing any surviving members of the JLF and whisking them away with Shunshin before they would be transported away from Japan by other means.

"Hurry Naruto!" Amami urged her partner. "We're almost over where the mark should be."

"Got it!" Kurama replied as he sprinted through the halls of the ship. At the rate that he was going though if the shinobi didn't find a way out he was prepared to make an exit of his own. Seconds later though Kurama burst out of a door that led out to the deck before using the Shunshin himself propelling himself faster and further away from the ship. Not a moment too soon as not even a second later the ship exploded being torn in half by an explosion that came from underwater. Many of the Portman were instantly destroyed in the explosion, killing their pilots, while a lucky couple fell back into the now turbulent sea heavily damaged. Kurama landed on the surface of the water in a crouched wince. "Barely made it." Kurama muttered to himself, his back scorched slightly from the explosion.

"What now?" Amami questioned Naruto once she made sure that his injuries weren't extensive. "It looks like there is a battle going on nearby." The vixen said sensing the mounting aggression coming from close by.

Kurama thought it over for a second before eventually shaking his head. "No." He decided turning to leave. "I should get back and oversee things with the surviving members of the JLF and take care of the liquid Sakuradite." The battle would probably between the military and the Black Knights, not the kind of battle he saw himself getting in the middle of when there were no civilians in danger and he had more important things to worry about.

---

Cornelia watched the JLF ship fell into the ocean, winds and waves surging. "I can't believe this idiocy!" Cornelia muttered angrily. "They blew up the liquid Sakuradite?" She finished unable to reason what she was seeing in front of her.

Ohgi, with his mouth hanging wide open, watched as the JLF ship went up in flames. "Just what you'd expect of the JLF, choosing to take the Britannians out with them." Ohgi heard Zero say over his radio.

Zero's voice barely registered in Ohgi's mind as he just focused on the ship. "Suicide?" He said disbelievingly. "But they never mentioned…" The Black Knight member mumbled.

"We're going to rush Cornelia's position head-on!" Zero snapped, as the ship carrying the Black Knight's Knightmare Frames moved out using the waves created by the explosion to boost their speed as they rode them. "Forget about everything else. All that matters is' achieving our goal. If you want to avenge the JLF, then capture Cornelia. And show them our strength and determination." The leader of the Black Knights declared inspiring his troops with his small speech. In the back of his mind Zero questioned the size of the explosion having estimated it a far bigger one considering the bomb that he planted and the liquid Sakuradite that the cargo ship was supposed to be carrying.

"This is like Narita all over again." Ohgi muttered to himself.

"It's outstanding!" Diethard shouted amazed running towards a ladder and sliding down it.

Ohgi was a little taken back by Diethard's suddenly taking off. "Hey, get back here!" Ohgi yelled at the man pulling out his handgun and aiming it at the running man. "Where are you going? Hey!" He shouted pulling the trigger on his gun and firing at the man only to miss.

'The JLF was just a bait.' Diethard thought excitedly completely ignoring the bullets that Ohgi was firing at him. 'Their command is wide open now. One of the oldest tricks in the book.' His mind was racing as he considered what he just witnessed. 'It makes perfect sense! He wants to cripple his enemy's defenses using the Liberation Front as a living trap! He's excellent material, this Zero! He's chaos incarnate! More, show me more of your genius! Let your ego engulf the world!' Diethard thought almost worshipfully as he ran off before bursting out in mad laughter.

Heading towards where Cornelia was located the ship carrying the Black Knight Knightmare Frames fired a couple of missiles that took out a couple of Britannian Knightmare Frames. The waves created by the explosion made the ship rise higher up to the point that it rose above the docks, though the waves didn't manage to push it up high enough causing the ship to have a bit of a rough landing. The hatch at the top of the ship slowly pulled back reveal the Guren at the front, a few Burai, and Zero's Burai at the very back.

In the back of his mind Suzaku registered all the voices over the comlinks that were all distressed as they called for help or tried to make contact with members of the RMI. "Why would the General kill himself?" Suzaku wondered absentmindedly. "It doesn't make any sense." He muttered with furrowed eyebrows before he spotted smoke rising from where he knew the Second Princess and her forces had been stationed, using the Factsphere Sensor to get a more accurate reading everything that was happening in the cloud of smoke. "Ah… the main force!" The brunette gasped already moving Lancelot towards the main force. "Could they have used the tanker as a decoy?" The Honorary Britannian questioned. It made some sense in his mind. Suzaku wasn't a master strategist that could predict things a hundred moves in advanced but hindsight was 20/20.

The Britannian soldiers, those who hadn't been wiped out in the initial assault, were scrambling to reach their Knightmares as quickly as possible. "Mount up now!" Darlton ordered climbing up into his own Knightmare. "Form a defensive of line, on the double!"

Cornelia rushed toward her Gloucester while looking back at the destruction that had been wrought. "How did they know we were here!?" She questioned out loud.

Zero piloted his Burai so that it leapfrogged to the front of the line landing beside the Guren. "Knock their Knightmares into the sea before the pilots can mount! Guren Mk-II, you're with me!" He ordered before taking off once more passing by the Britannian cannon fodder without a care, his focused locked on the Viceroy of Area 11.

"Yes sir!" Kallen replied taking out a couple of Sutherlands that were focused on Zero.

"Your highness, we can handle this." Guildford said trying to get the dark pink haired woman away from the danger.

Cornelia growled lowly. "Quiet!" She snapped at her knight from within her Knightmare as she powered it on, silently impressed at its quick response as it activated much faster than any time before. "How many times you think I'll allow them to mock me!?" Cornelia questioned rhetorically. Looking in front of her Cornelia saw Zero's Burai charging at her probably intending to slam into her before she could react, possibly assuming that her Gloucester was even activated yet. Expertly Cornelia dodged around the Burai, it coming to a stop just before hitting the wall, so it's back was to her. "Do you think you can best me in Knightmare combat!?"

"What the?!" Zero muttered. "How did she…?!"

Cornelia's Gloucester fired two of its Slash Harkens pushing the rest of the way so it was right up against the wall. Leveling its spear, the Gloucester rushed the Burai intending to impale the other Knightmare right through the cockpit.

Zero let out a grunt of pain as his Burai was slammed into the wall. The masked man took in a ragged breath. 'Damn it,' Zero cursed mentally. 'It's faster than it was at Narita!' He fumed as he tried get his Burai to move. At the last second Zero noticed Cornelia's Gloucester closing in on him with its spear aimed at him just managing to move his Burai out of the way so that only its arm ended up destroyed instead of killing him. Even though Zero managed to dodge a fatal hit the Gloucester still managed to drive his Burai through the wall. Zero's Burai tumbled across the ground suffering some damage from not only being driven through a wall but also scrapping across the ground.

Cornelia rushed in to finish off Zero only to stop before she reached him by bullet fire hitting her Knightmare from behind. Looking over her shoulder Cornelia spotted the Guren with its arm gun raised at her approaching quickly. "That new model again?" The Second Princess muttered as she dodged the Guren's next salvo. Dashing toward the side the Gloucester swerved around and raised its rifle and opened fire on the Guren. The Guren in turn dodged the hail of bullets that were rained down upon it firing a Slash Harken at the Gloucester.

Zero attempted to get his Burai to pick itself up from the ground with its one remaining arm. "I'll smash your hatch and drag you out, Cornelia!" Zero snarled just managing to get his Burai up on one knee. He was about to have his Knightmare turn around and engage Cornelia when the screen in front of him focused in on a figure that was peeking around a few containers further back. The image cleared up and Zero's eyes widened beneath his mask at the person he spotted for the briefest of seconds. "Shirley!?" He gasped out, but before he could confirm if it was the orangette or not his radar saw something closing in on him from behind. Spinning around, sparks flying from the leg that scrapped across the ground, the Burai had to immediately pull back to avoid being struck by the Lancelot. "Well, if it isn't the knight in shining armor." Zero said temporarily forgetting about seeing Shirley in favor of the bigger threat.

From within the cockpit of the Lancelot, Suzaku glared heatedly at the Burai piloted by Zero. "Zero, your methods are not going to change anything. You focused on goals, and don't understand the pain of others." Suzaku muttered even as he dodged the barrage of bullets from Zero's Burai's gun. "These are people's lives you're playing with. You're nothing but a murderer!" He finished closing the distance between the two Knightmares first knocking the weapon out of Burai's hand and then landing a kick to its head causing it end up sprawled on the ground once more.

"Zero!" Kallen cried out in concern seeing her leader on the ground once more. She tried to reach Zero but was cut off before she could even get close by Cornelia as she thrusted her Gloucester's spear.

"This is payback for Narita." Cornelia said firing one of her Gloucester's newly mounted Slash Harkens that was located on its arm.

The Guren sped back in order to avoid the Slash Harken before lifting its right arm and firing the gun attached to it. The Gloucester held up its spear in front of itself to block most of the gunfire. Seeing the little effect that its gun was having the Guren stopped firing and reached for the spear with its other hand activating the Radiant Wave Surger.

Knowing that she had precious few seconds before losing her spear, the weapon already suffering under the effects of the Radiant Wave Surger, Cornelia pushed on the Guren forcing her spear as close as possible before backing away leaving the spear in the Guren's grasp. The Guren in response threw the spear off to the side, the weapon exploding once it hit the ground. The Gloucester raised its rifle only for it to be knocked out of its hand by the Guren's Slash Harken. The Guren tried to grab a hold of the Gloucester with its right hand only for the Britannian Knightmare to stay just out of reach.

"Get out of my way!" Kallen shouted extending the Guren's right hand out further.

Cornelia scowled as she tried to get her Gloucester to retreat faster with the hand only a few inches away. Cornelia fired the Slash Harkens on the Gloucester's waist behind her using them to help pull here out of the Guren's reach and then jumping back so that she landed on top of a container. Kallen didn't let that stop her as she put the palm of the Guren's right hand against the container and used its Radiant Wave Surger once more. Cornelia seeing the red Knightmares intentions jumped off the container before it was destroyed. Firing the Slash Harkens once more Cornelia expertly dodged the bullets that the Guren fired at her from behind, moving from side to side, only ending up with the bullets tearing through her Knightmare's cape.

Zero tried his best to survive the onslaught he was suffering under the powers of Lancelot but slowly his Knightmare was being destroyed by the Seventh Generation Knightmare Frame. "Why! Why do you keep getting in my way?" Zero questioned angrily.

"Why do you keep spilling people's blood without meaning?" Suzaku unintentionally asked back

"If it wasn't for you!"

"Because of you!"

Zero and Suzaku yelled respectively as with one final punch the Burai's remaining arm was destroyed. Left with few other options Zero knew that he had to get away from the Lancelot or risk being captured. Firing a Slash Harken above the Lancelot's shoulder Zero used it to help his Burai jump over the Lancelot, even as the white Knightmare fired at it with its VARIS. Suzaku wasn't about to let Zero escape that easily as he kept his sights fixed on the Burai firing the Lancelot's own Slash Harken to knock the Burai out of the sky. As a result, the Burai crashed into the ground its ejection system unintentionally going off sending Zero trundling across the ground electric sparks arcing off the Knightmare's consoles. When the escape pod finally came to a stop Zero was hanging out from the cockpit passed out with a bit of blood coming from his head, his mask partially off.

Suzaku slowly moved the Lancelot toward where Zero had come to rest with a solemn look on his face. "Zero, this is the end result." The green eyed Honorary Britannian muttered.

"Lancelot, behind you!" Cornelia's voice suddenly shouted from behind the Lancelot drawing Suzaku's attention.

Spinning around Suzaku watched as the Guren jumped towards him right arm poised to strike. "Get the hell away from him!" Kallen shouted activating the Radiant Wave Surger. Caught off guard by the Guren's sudden attack Suzaku had no other choice but to block using the Lancelot's VARIS creating an explosion and a huge cloud of smoke of a result.

While the Guren and the Lancelot fought each other, the Guren occasionally having to contend with Cornelia's Gloucester as well, no one noticed as Shirley carefully approached Zero's downed form stopping by his gun to pick it up.

Through the fighting and explosions, a single gunshot was heard going off.

---

AN: Not sure if this is all I planned to write for this chapter, but it was as good as spot as any to stop so that I can finally post this.

Shirley's, Milly's, Suzaku's, Lelouch's, and C.C.'s clothes are all outfits I looked up online so if anyone wants to see what they look like they can be searched.

Until next time please remember to review.