The Dark Bride

by Bolmung LK

FF#1 Kallen falls in love with Zero, but she soon finds out that she is being forced to marry Lelouch. Torn between the two how will the truth come out that Lelouch IS Zero?

14. Sexual Harassment and Guns

Bolmung LK: Sorry for posting later than promised. I needed sleep! Then I had to proof-read it! The long wait is over! I've fixed my chaos and my life for the most part. The writing may commence! Once again my biggest fear is that I may have lost the feel to this story. I hope this isn't the case! You won't have to wait long for the rest of the story though, this is the second to last chapter I believe. I don't think I'd like to let you all wait any longer for more. I was re-inspired to finish this story when I went back and read the review…I love you guys!

I'm reintroducing Koji, since he wasn't actually put into the live story. He was one of the characters that I wrote in, but the chapter was destroyed when my computer crashed. He was on an entirely different computer than what I use now.

"An author never updates too early nor too late; an author updates precisely when the next fucking chapter is finished." – myself…..

Chapter ? – Sexual Harassment and Guns

The Dark Bride

It had been a few days since the Lelouch being captured incident and things were going well. Lelouch worked up the courage to discuss Black Knight issues with Kallen. Lelouch agreed to pretend he knew nothing of Kallen being a Black Knight and Kallen agreed to never involve Lelouch with it.

It was now the last day of rehearsals and they had the play pretty much down pat. The only things left were to get some rest then perform live at ten o'clock the next night. Kallen hung the fancy blue dress up on the rack and met Lelouch by the exit door. They walked silently side by side until they got to their lockers because they had to split up. Kallen's locker was on the top floor while Lelouch's was next to the boy's dorm. Kallen let out a small sigh then smiled gently, she hadn't felt this at peace in quite some time. Usually being at school was chaos and torture, but it was relaxing and calm today. Like the calm before the storm that will inevitably come.

Her phone began to ring and to her surprise, but delight as well, it was Zero. She answered it as she began grabbing her homework books from the small locker.

"Hello, this is Q-One." She said in her serious voice.

"Kallen, I need you at the base. We've just received a call from one of our look outs that there's an opening to attack the King and Queen tomorrow. Come prepared to stay the night at the base." Zero said then hung up without allowing her to respond.

'Well at least we weren't under attack….' Kallen thought as she put her phone into her pocket and grabbed her hand bag. As she walked down the busy hall to the boy's dorm she smacked straight into a boy.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She groaned in her fake polite voice as she rubbed her shoulder.

The boy turned around to look at her with an irritated scowl, but smiled upon the sight of his attacker being a pretty girl. Kallen looked at the cell phone in his hand, the screen read "Kallen" as if he'd just hung up his phone. When the screen went blank she looked up into his arrogant red eyes. His eyes were lidded heavily and were black like insanity or insomnia. He gave her a snarky smirk and walked away leaving her flustered. Kallen blinked, looked behind her to see the boy making his way down the hall, then she looked straight ahead to see Lelouch making a silly face at her from his locker. She wanted to laugh at Lelouch's cute disposition, but right now he heart was beating as fast as possible. She ran up to Lelouch's side and whispered into his ear.

"I was just called into work. I need to go now." She said then turned to leave. Lelouch grabbed her by the arm and stopped her from leaving.

"Alright, but kiss me first!" he pleaded in a silly, but fake, whine. Kallen smiled gently and grabbed the sides of his head. She pulled him into a warm kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist. As the kiss broke apart he looked down at her sadly, like he thought she was never coming back.

"Oh don't' look at me like that!" Kallen giggled and looped her arms around his neck to hug him. As her chin rested on his shoulder he nuzzled his nose into her hair. They stayed like this for a few moments until Rival came up alongside Lelouch and make a loud whooping noise followed by Milly.

"Get you some Lulu!" Milly laughed hysterically as she passed them up.

"Oh prez, so bold." Rival said nervously as he looked back to the scowling Lelouch and Kallen. "I-I'll catch you guys later…heh…" Rival stuttered as he broke into a power jog after Milly.

"Alright, I have to go now." Kallen pulled away from him.

"Be safe." He whispered as he turned to walk into the boy's dorm. A part of Kallen's heart dropped, but she kept her composure as she exited the school.

Kallen took her time getting home to her father's mansion, taking a bath, changing clothes, getting her supplies ready and walking casually to the base. Once she got there Zero was already waiting for her. She changed into her Black Knights uniform and sat in the mess hall with everyone else awaiting orders. Once Zero was done reading his directory his stood up and prepared to make a speech. As he began giving orders of the next night's missions Kallen was lost in thought about the boy she'd run into in the hallway. His phone read "Kallen", but she had clearly spoken to Zero. Was this boy who transferred to the school only a year ago really Zero? She had her doubts, but why would someone be calling a girl named "Kallen" at the same time Zero had called her?

"Kallen, it's your job to deliver the flowers." Zero said suddenly very loudly as he noticed she wasn't paying attention. She jumped in her seat and laughed nervously.

"I'm sorry, what?" she asked as her heart pounded in her ears.

"We're going to have you and several other Black Knights dress up as castle servants and you're going to deliver the poisoned flowers to the Queen directly. Be careful not to breathe the poison in, but make sure the Queen gets a good whiff of it. I'm not so sure you could pull this off with the King, but try as you might. You'll park your Guren just a mile outside of the castle grounds and head to the castle on foot. We've already-"

"Wait, what if she gets in trouble and has to break out of the joint?" Tamaki questioned. "I mean you expect her to run a whole mile in heels through a muddy forest to get to her Guren if she gets caught?"

"Tamaki is usually a complete dumbass, but he's right this time. It's too risky to send Kallen to that sort of suicide mission." Ougi retorted. Zero took a deep breath.

"Kallen is easily the fastest runner I've ever seen. She can outrun anyone. Besides remember last year's training routines? Kallen lapped you guys several times in ten minutes. I don't think running a mile would be too hard for her. The reason we need the Guren so far away is because it needs to be hidden. Yes there are patrols for the entire area, but if we time it right Kallen should be able to park, get to the castle to give the flowers and then run back to the Guren before the next patrol comes along."

"Alright, it's fine. I don't' mind running a lot. Just please don't make me wear a stupid maid's outfit that reveals almost everything." Kallen moaned.

"Sorry, the castle has its own dress codes. Maids wear heavy, full length gowns. Since you'll be running I don't' recommend the maid outfit, so we'll have to disguise you as a guy and get you into the servant's suit; which will be immensely easier to run in." Zero added.

"I vote for that one." Kallen said sheepishly.

"Meeting adjourned for now. I have other duties to fulfill." Zero stood up and left the room and disappeared into a back room. Kallen was tempted to follow him, but decided to remain with Tamaki and Ougi for now. After several minutes of hanging out, Kallen's cell phone rang again.

'Zero? Why didn't he just come get me in person? We're in the same building…' She thought as she answered the phone.

"Kallen, meet me on the rooftop of the base. Immediately." Zero commanded. Kallen was taken aback by the sudden urgency of his tone and quickly jumped up from her spot and made a rush for the rooftop.

"Zero, is something wrong?!" she practically shouted as she made it to the pitched-black roof. Since it was now night time and there were no lights on all she could see was the moonlit silhouette of Zero standing before her.

Zero said nothing, he simply approached her. He closed the gap between them and stood only inches away from her with his helmet hovering dangerously close to her face. Kallen couldn't help but just feel the ominous vibe radiating from his very being. For some reason she couldn't explain, the Zero before her was much heavier in persona than before. She swallowed hard and reached up to place her hands on his masculine shoulders, but he stopped her by grabbing both of her wrists harshly with his hands. He squeezed her wrists tightly as he made a slight groaning noise. Kallen took a step back, but couldn't back up any further due to his hold on her. She eyed his silhouette up and down, but relaxed when he let go of her. She rubbed her wrists in slight pain. She was taken off guard when he suddenly thrust himself into her for a tight hug. She was more confused than anything at this point, such odd behavior for her stoic Zero.

"Zero, what's the matter?" she asked timidly as she returned his mysterious hug.

"I need you." He panted through the mask. His synthetic voice gripped Kallen's heart like a force of magic. "Right now." He pleaded as his hands slid down her back.

"Out here? On this roof?" she questioned his sanity.

"Why not? You were originally the one that wanted to fuck in the park last month!" he cackled as his grip loosened and he thrust is head backwards dramatically.

Kallen was slightly offended by this, but she withheld her retortion. She suddenly heard the click of his mask being removed followed by the most awkward crashing noise across the roof where he'd clearly throw this heavy mask away. The outline of his dark, messy hair was met with the red glaze of his eyes. Kallen remembered him in this same light back in her room months ago. The red pools of magic in his eyes were as they were before in that moonlight bathed bedroom. He pulled down his lower cloth mask and leaned forwards to kiss her. She turned her head to the side to dodge his lovely assault and his lips descended upon her slender jawline. She gasped at his harsh pressure being placed upon her. His arms were roughly looped around her lower back and he leaned over her to make largely open kisses down her neck. He began to bend her back backwards so that her knees were bent into between his legs and her head was leaned back. Her medium length spiky hair cascaded towards the floor as her lips parted to moan. She wasn't horribly turned on by his rough act of perversion, but she wasn't entirely put off by such a primitive act of innuendo.

"Oh…Zero-sama…!" she cried out elegantly as she felt him straight out bite her; not a love bite truly, an actual bite. The pain of his domination went straight into her abdomen as a burning pleasure that blossomed into desire quickly. He grinded his hips against her lower abdomen; their difference in height was staggering and their hips did not align. With her knees bent ever so slightly she felt incredibly shorter than him, or maybe he was just wearing a higher heel on his boot tongiht.

"Now." He commanded darkly as he lowered her to the floor and allowed her to sit. He crawled over her and reached for the clasp on her Black Knight shorts.

"No wait!" she pleaded as she grabbed his wrist. "You want me to marry Lelouch right? Should I even be doing this? Isn't this wrong?" she questioned, the guilt hitting her full force so suddenly.

"Lelouch is a pawn." He groaned in near rage. Kallen could sense that something was off with his voice, but she couldn't tell exactly what was wrong. "A pawn for the King. Stay with me Kallen. That's an order." He roared with power.

Kallen trembled, she had no idea what had gotten into Zero, but it was definitely not his usual tone of character. "But Zero, this is…wrong.." she whimpered.

"Augh! Don't be such a girl Kallen!" he hissed fiercely. Kallen's eyes opened wide. "Where's your fighting spirit? That beautiful fire you ignite everytime you get inside of a nightmare frame? Why is your true self hiding behind this pansy-girl?! What happened to the Kallen that smirks at the death of a Britannian?!" he stood up and screeched in agony.

"What the hell have you been thinking of me lately? Why are you acting this way Zero?" Kallen stood up and back away all the way to the door.

"Because I love you! Kyahaa! I love you Kallen Kozuki….I love you like the sun loves a good solar flare!" he cackled madly as he spoke. Kallen's fear transcended into horror and panic as she turned to run the other way, but found the door to back inside was locked. This is where she began to fear for her safety.

"Zero stop!" she turned around and shouted. He once again eliminated the gap between them and attempted to embrace her. "Don't hurt me!" she shouted as she fell to her knees.

Zero froze; as he did so Kallen looked up at his black and white monochrome figure with anticipation. He kneeled before her and extended a trembling hand out to her. She placed her hand atop his wordlessly to see his reaction. He held her slender hand in his larger rough hand like a stone holding a feather. She could suddenly sense the torment within him, she could not explain how she felt it so, but she did. The sadness, fear and anger building up within him were being transmitted into her via the physical contact. He pulled her into a hug that she returned with less vigor. He whispered apologies into her ears as he gently stroked her hair. He gently pulled away from her with the intentions of standing back up, but this time it was Kallen who refused to let go.

"Zero, tell me exactly what's bothering you. I wish to help you." She offered in her serious tone. Although she couldn't' see it, a most wicked smile broke loose upon his face.

"Love me like you used to." He whispered hoarsely; Kallen lost all sense of guilt.

As much as Kallen dearly loved Lelouch, she also loved Zero with a burning passion.

XxXxX SEX SCENE 18+ ONLY XxXxX

Within seconds of that line his pants had fallen along with her little black shorts. He atop of her and she beneath him submissively.; they committed a most unsightly sin as his erected entered her. He thrust into her harshly and lingered for a second before pulling half way out and thrusting in again. Kallen could tell he wasn't acting his normal self even during sex. It was like he was relearning the very basics all over again. She allowed him to control her for a few more moments before she took control and flipped him onto his back while he propped himself up on his elbows. She straddled him and began working her hips in a circular motion; grinding against him in the most indecent act she'd ever participated in. She slammed herself down upon his slightly thicker than usual erection with intense desire. He must have been incredibly longing for her, that might explain his sudden girth change. The faster she rode the worse it became; his grip on her hips was sheer bruisingly wild. He thrust up to her at a fast pace than she pushed downward, making an awkward and unsynchronized rhythm.

His heeled shoes slid around on the gravel as he lost himself in her sweet dominance. He was only an instance away from expelling himself inside of her when his animalistic instincts took control and he rushed forwards and topped her again. Her clothed back hit the gravel harshly, but she oddly enjoyed the discomfort. Something about this entire intercourse was arousingly primitive to her; she loved it. He mauled her, in every essence of the word. He laid on top of her with all his weight and thrust himself into her parted legs. His chest forced hers down as she lay face-up with her arms and legs wrapped around him in a desperate attempt to keep up with him. His head was beside hers with his nose nearly touching the ground as he once again latched onto her neck with his mouth aggressively.

With the final thrusts he panted and groaned in masculine ecstasy as he ejaculated inside of her. "Come with me!" he shrieked lowly.

"Oh! I am!" she responded as his hot semen triggered her natural senses. The final pounding of his hips was enough to force her into her own orgasm.

"Aren't I better than…Lelouch?" he breathed out almost evilly. Kallen moaned satisfyingly in reply.

He remained inside of her for a while as he finished spilling himself inside of her tiresomely. They gasped for air out of rhythm as he lifted his upper body off of her chest, but remained connected at the waist. It was like he was refusing to leave her. With the last of his arm strength his lowered himself to her mouth and gently kissed her; the ravaging rage and masculine dominance left him and was replaced by affection and docility. This was the old Zero she recognized, whatever was bothering him seemingly ceased as it had been released upon her; his demon let free. He finally pulled out of her and he repositioned himself properly. He helped her up and went to retrieve his mask as she put her shorts back on.

XxXxX SEX SCENE OVER XxXxX

As they lay on his cape above the graveled rooftop she cuddled into him. During the intercourse she noticed his scent was a more natural aroma than normal. Usually his smell was that of either new car or gunpowder from the warfare. The new car she assumed was from piloting a new Knightmare frame every other week. His Knightmare got busted up so often it was replaced after only a couple of battles on average. Tonight however he smelled of men; not nasty sweaty men, but of a true man. Like he'd set the world on fire and conquered it. Such a silly thought she agreed, but it's the conclusion she'd come to. He let out a deep audible sigh of content as his arms went under her neck and around her shoulder. This was a feeling she hadn't experienced in quite some time.

"Zero, I think we need to get some sleep. We have a mission tomorrow and I have a play on top of it." She said as she sat up.

"Yes, you're right." He agreed as he stood up and offered her his ungloved hand to assist her. As her hand touched his and stood up, she felt the unusually harsh feel of his hand. It wasn't calloused, it wasn't rough, it was just strong and larger than she was used to. Maybe Lelouch's girl-hands were getting to her; literally!

"Remember, you promised me that you'd be at the play!" she puffed her cheeks out. She felt like a little girl pleading her boyfriend to watch her ballet recital. He chuckled deeply from his chest.

"I know, I'll have a front row seat as I previously promised." He said with delighted vibrancy.

They parted ways here; Kallen returned to her personal bedroom inside the base and Zero remained on the roof. Exhausted Kallen collapsed onto her bed and before she had time to even think about it she was unconscious and dreaming of her wild Zero-sama.

XxXxX

A loud knocking noise came from her bedroom door, what else could it be besides the morning patrol waking her up to start the mission. She looked out her window to see it still incredibly dark outside.

"Alright I'm up!" she shouted in agony as she felt the dull aching in her lower back. She'd have to give Zero a lesson in gravel versus humans before the mission started.

She changed into her red fighter uniform and made her way down to the mess hall where Ougi was focusing on something intently and Tamaki was already hammered. She grunted in his direction with disapproval and he snorted at her.

"We had to send three callers up to wake you this morning Kallen! At least I'm awake!" Tamaki laughed as he slurred.

"At least I'm not drunk at four in the morning!" she hissed back at him as she sat next to Ougi.

"Well if you were paying attention to Zero's speech last night you'd of known the mission was at five in the morning and you would've woken up sooner!" he belched.

"Gross!" Kallen squealed and waved her hands to disperse the dreadful scent of Tamaki's wretch.

"Good morning everyone." Zero said casually as he walked into the mess hall. "Kallen now that you're awake are you ready to begin preparations for your mission?"

"Oh yes, what is there to be done?" she stood up straight.

"First we'll have C.C. chest bind you and then we'll let Inoue put the wig and outfit on you. Then we called in a tailor to fit the suit on you to make you appear more manly." He said as he flipped through his notes in his haphazardly stapled packet of papers.

"Wha- Chest bind me?" she stuttered stupidly.

"Yes, since it'd be too hard for you to run a mile in a heavy dress you'll need to disguise yourself as a man. Kallen groaned miserably, she's bound her chest once before, it was last night against Zero's chest. Not the best feeling in the world.

"Yes sir, where do I go to prepare?" she asked in her serious attitude, even though deep down she was hesitant to perform this mission.

"Follow me, Kallen." C.C. said as Kallen glanced behind her to see the green haired woman with a box full of miscellaneous items. Kallen followed C.C. into a back room where she was stripped nude and strapped with the bindings.

C.C., with her inhuman strength, wrapped Kallen's breasts up tightly until she looked damn near flat chested, but bulgy like a man's masculine chest. She added slight padding to Kallen's curves to add to her faux-masculinity. Inoue tied her hair up into a tight ponytail and placed a skin cap tightly over her hair. The rubbery cover pulled sharply on select few strands of her hair and she whimpered in pain as the wig was shoved onto her head. The wig was the same color and style as her real hair, but much shorter and wilder. It was completely untamed as if she'd never brushed it a day in her life, but it wasn't outright tangly. She was then fitted with a royal servant's suit that made her lower half look as manly as possible. C.C., for the fun of it, stuffed Kallen's crotch with a rolled up pair of socks.

"There! You look manly!" C.C. laughed wickedly like the witch she truly was. Inoue stifled her laughs and continued to tailor and hem the pants.

"Next time it'll be you doing the undercover assassinating!" Kallen said through grit teeth.

As everyone was prepared for the mission, male Kallen boarded her red Guren MK and flew towards Pendragon castle. Kallen and the others parked their Knightmares several hundred meters apart to elude that more than one of them was there should one knightmare be discovered.

"Q-One, the others are on the lookout for you. They'll alert you to any trouble that may be coming your way. So keep an eye out for Inoue or C.C. giving you signs that it's unsafe." Zero said over the radio.

"Got it." Kallen replied and leapt from her cockpit. She had practiced her manly voice while in the Guren on the way to the castle. Much to her surprise she wasn't half bad at it. She held the poisoned flowers firmly in her grip at a slight distance, she didn't want to breathe it in. The anthrax powder that was dusted over the lilies was quite a deadly mixture. Normally anthrax would take some time to kill you, and with proper treatment it was curable. This concoction however was far more deadly than normal. Kallen had a vaccine for it, but it wasn't a guaranteed immunity to it. She walked the mile through the thickets, she made it to the castle ground and walked straight up to the front gates. She was met with many guards who eyed her up and down.

"Sir, may we see your identification badge?" a guard asked stiffly. Kallen wordlessly pulled out the counterfeit badge and handed it to him.

"Welcome back to service this morning, Mr. Kozuki." The guard said and pulled out a skeleton key from his pocket. He twisted the lock and the chains were removed from the gate. Kallen was permitted entrance and she walked straight into the royal courtyard.

A man passed her in the courtyard and waved a friendly hello to her. She waved back not wanting to be rude. He ran up to her and looked her up and down.

"Hello, you look familiar. Do I know you?" he questioned innocently.

"No, I don't believe you do." Kallen said in her deep voice.

"You look like one of my classmates from Ashford Academy. I know! You're Kallen Kozuki!" he smield brightly.

'Shit this idiot! I always knew Koji was a moron! Ever since he transferred to our school last year he's always been the class clown and number one idiot! Now he is gonna blow my cover!' Kallen frowned.

"Alright you got me, but please I'm under strict order to be male while in the service of the imperial family! The king's orders I'm afraid!" she giggled fakely. This was the boy she'd bumped into yesterday in the hallway in the boy's dorm.

'Wait, he's the one who had my name on his phone! I still never figured that out.' She thought as she studied his face.

"Well I have to go meet Prince Schneizel about reorganizing Princess Euphemia's garden! I'll catch you later!" he waved casually as he left. "By the way your disguise is great, had I not of known you from class I wouldn't' of recognized you at all!" he yelled back.

She took a deep sigh of relief that her disguise was successful thus far. She made her way up the marble steps and into the palace's open doors that were easily twenty or so feet tall. The clobbering of her fancy shoes hitting the floor with each step was occupying her mind as she marched towards the front desk. She shifted the vase of flowers so that she could stand straight with them at her side.

"Yes?" the grumpy old woman at the front desk asked arrogantly. Kallen cleared her throat and prepared her man-voice.

"I have a delivery to Queen Lauris of Britannia. These snow white lilies are from Prince Endimion himself as a royal invitation to his next ball." Kallen said deeply from her chest.

"Go up the right stairs and go all the way down the hallway. It's the last door on your right." She snorted as if Kallen should have known this. Kallen bowed and thanked the woman regardless of how irritated she actually was. "Nice accent by the way sugar, I like a man with class." She suddenly purred as Kallen turned away from her with a horrid look upon her face.

'I must make an attractive guy…' she thought in disgust. She continued walking without replying to the bi-polar woman's remarks.

She entered the staircase and slowly made her way up the steps. Many other servants passed her, some maids giggled about Prince Schneizel being handsome and some muttered under their breath about being overworked. Kallen was just glad she didn't have to live this dreadfully boring lifestyle at a constant pace they did. Once she made it down the hallway she stopped in front of the designated door and took a deep breath and shuddered. She felt the urge to sneeze come along, but she managed to suppress it. She knocked on the door three times at an even rhythm and waited for a reply.

"Who is it that disturbs me at this hour?" came the groggy and frustrated voice of the emperor.

"I have a most urgent delivery for the Queen from Prince Endimion himself! It is an invitation to the ball in Egypt next month." Kallen said boldly. The door flung open and the delightful smile of the Queen met Kallen as she grabbed her childishly by the shoulders and tossed her inside the room.

Kallen barely managed to keep her balance and hold the vase steady as the Queen roughly handled her. She slammed the door closed, grabbed the vase from Kallen and shoved her to the side like an old dog. Kallen stood upright and bowed trying now to blow her cover. The Queen squealed in delight as she sniffed and patted the lilies in excitement. She showed the flowers to the emperor, but he refused to smell them he turned his head to the side stiffly and looked directly as Kallen.

"Boy, who are you?" he asked loudly as a king typically does.

"I am Collin Kozuki, a servant of the holy emperial family. I am nothing but a servant who wishes to serve you my lord." She said with her head down.

"Collin Kozuki? What does that name sounds familiar? Oh! You're the half breed daughter of Stadtfeld, a duke. Why are you a man today?" the king frowned.

"I'm sorry, it was orders from….from my father that I present myself as male when addressing the royal family." She lied nervously.

'FUCK!'was her only coherent thought.

"I see, no matter. You're still technically female and can perform the tasks a female should." He stood up and approached her.

"You highness…?" Kallen's now feminine voice questioned his actions.

He reached down to her chest and ripped the chest binding apart from the now unbuttoned dress shirt she wore. She was now back to her busty self with no bra on. He grinned down at her with a hell awaiting her in his eyes.

"You ought to act as god created you, vermin." He said as his rancid breath reached her sense of smell.

"Oh darling, no more impregnating the maids. You have enough heirs as it is!" the Queen huffed. "Besides, you don't need another half eleven wayward child to taint the throne." She snorted.

"You're right." The king agreed and proceeded to tear Kallen's black blazer off of her and toss it to the side. He then reached into her pants and removed the wad of socks from her groin. As he did this his large hands brushed against Kallen's sex, which caused her great anger, disgust and repulsion. "I'll just have to toy with you without any sort of penetration." He chuckled.

"Save yourself for me, would you?" the Queen placed a hand on his forearm that was outstretched and grasping the waistband of Kallen's suit pants.

"You ruin all my fun, Lauris." He frowned and let go of Kallen. Kallen fell to the floor with eyes filling with the tears of realization of just how dangerous this mission was.

"Get yourself up off the floor you brute. This room is a wreck, hurry up and clean it." He tapped Kallen's side with his booted foot.

Kallen scrambled on her hands and knees to pick up the books that were laying messily all over the floor. She was ordered to dust shelves, rearrange the king's porn magazines, the Queens erotic romance novels and even take their soiled laundry to the laundry brig. After two hours of exhausting work she was finally released from their command. She hobbled sorely out of the room and down the hallway. As she reached the top of the stairs a horrid fire began to well up in her stomach. She proceeded to vomit violently all over the hallway. She wasn't sure if she was just disgusted by the king that badly, or if she had inhaled some of the anthrax.

Inoue ran up to Kallen and helped her stand up straight. "Oh god Kallen, what happened?!" she screeched as she saw Kallen's battered appearance.

"I'm okay, I just need to get back to the base now…" she slurred as if she were drunk.

"The base…? Oh you filthy eleven! You're a Black Knight member!" a nearby servant screamed. "Guards! The Black Knights!" he hollered down the hall.

The king and queen flew out from their bedroom and stared at Kallen from down the hallway. The queen made a mad rush towards Kallen with the intention of beating with her bare fists, she was such a feisty queen. Kallen was still stable enough to defend herself and pushed the Queen back into a wall.

"You'll never beat a Black Knight you fat disgusting slob!" Kallen barked at her and turned to run with Inoue.

"The Black Knights?" the Queen of Britannia questioned loudly. "Guards! Seize her! At once!" The Queen then kneeled down gasping; the flowers had worked their magic. "Damn you…little fucking whore…."

Kallen tried her best not to panic as she broke loose from jogging to sprinting to her Guren. Around fifteen or so guard surrounded her and she froze on the spot.

"You're not going anywhere you filthy half-breed eleven!" one guard shouted in disgust.

"I'm not getting myself caught like this! I still have to be Cinderella tonight!" Kallen said sarcastically and caipora-kicked the two guards in front of her. As she flipped above another guard's heads she pulled out her Guren pilot key. She did another front flip over a garden flower hedge and tumbled down a grassy hill into the woods. Once she got to her Guren she immediately skid to a stop and hid behind the closest tree.

'Why ishehere of all times?!'Kallen thought sporadically as Koji stood leaning against her Guren's leg. Was he waiting for her all this time? Did he even see her?

She huddled around the tree and faced the opposite direction so that she was facing back at the castle. She saw hordes of guards pilling down the hill after her and she decided to ignore Koji entirely and bolted for her Guren. He looked up in time to see Kallen in her disheveled form charging at him at full speed.

"Move out of the way!" she yelled and he dove off to the side as she charged straight into her cockpit and turned the Guren on immediately.

"Zero! This is Q-One! I've been discovered, but I'm escaping now! Recall everyone from the castle!" she yelled over the radio and her Guren lifted off the ground. She took one last glimpse down at Koji who looked up at her bewildered.

As Kallen flew away Koji twitched. The guards lined up next to him and joined him as they watched Kallen fly away. Koji shook nervously on the ground and turned on his heel to leave.

"Kallen!" Zero's voice over the radio echoed. "Are you alright? Inoue just told me that you were still trapped inside the castle!"

"What? No I'm not! I'm in my Guren flying back to Japan right now! Tell her I'm alright!" Kallen pleaded.

"I'm sorry, I'm already inside the castle myself, I was looking for you."

"Well get out of there! I'm already-"

"Kallen—zzzzt" the radio went silent.

"Zero!" Kallen turned her Guren around and headed straight back for the castle. Like hell she was going to abandon Zero inside Pendragon Castle.

Kallen relanded her Guren in a new location and leapt out. She searched and searched the chaotic castle, but there were no signs of Zero anywhere. Suddenly Koji ran up to her again with a pleading look upon his face. Kallen allowed him to lead her to a back room where none of the guards were fighting the Black Knights that had remained inside the castle.

"Koji, where's Zero?!" she asked, no longer caring that her entire cover was blown.

"Zero? I don't' know. Why would I know? I'm just a servant. If Zero really is inside the castle then wouldn't you of all people know?" Koji scowled.

"Damnit!" she cursed and turned to leave, but he grabbed her by the wrist.

"You can't leave." He said sternly. "As a Black Knight you're not allowed to leave for your act of terrorism!"

"Oh like hell I'm not!" she shouted and landed a hard impact punch to his left cheek. He let go of her and stumbled backwards.

Kallen used this opportunity to escape, unknowingly to her a smile spread across Koji's face. Kallen raced down the hallway in an attempt to find Zero or any Black Knight that knew his location.

"Kallen!" Inoue shouted as she spotted Kallen.

"Inoue, why did you tell Zero I was still in the castle?" Kallen pleaded.

"I didn't! I was told by Zero that you never got out. He ordered us to stay here until you were found!"

"What? That's not what I was told! Damnit what the hell is going on?" Kallen groaned in anger.

"No time, we need to leave now. Zero is probably already outside now that he knows you're not in here."

"Right!" Kallen agreed and together they ran outside of the castle. Once out in the courtyard they found themselves face to face with an ever so angered King Charles and a dead Queen Lauris.

"Kallen Kozuki!" he roared with a fire in his voice.

Suddenly a smoke flare went off and Kallen and Inoue were lifted up by harken slashers onto Tamaki's Knightmare frame. He carried them back to their knightmares where they all escaped. Back at the base everyone relaxed knowing that they were safe from Britannia while in their hidden base. Several members that were a part of the mission went to go get cleaned up. Kallen retreated to her bedroom and took the disguise off and bathed. When she was done she changed into her Black Knight uniform and headed back down to the mess hall where everyone seemed tense.

"What's wrong guys?" she asked. Ougi turned back to Kallen with a confused expression.

"Kallen….what are you…you're alright!" he sighed in relief.

"Of course, I've been alright for the last hour." She blinked at him.

"Not according to the radio call we got a few minutes ago. " Tamaki looked up at her perplexed.

"What radio call?" she asked.

"Listen…." Ougi said as he hit the replay button and a cinematic film of Kallen and Ougi began playing..

"Ougi! We have a problem! I think Zero is going to betray us at Pendragon!" Kallen's static voice cried out over the Guren's radio.

"What? Are you sure?" Ougi's eyes went from lazy to horrified.

"I think I found out who he is….and there's no way this guy wouldn't have a good reason to betray us all right now!"

"Who? Who is Zero?!"

"That guy.,…from my class…the one with black hair and a wicked smile…." Kallen choked out.

"What was his name?"

"Koji."

"Kallen, assassinate him! At once!" Ougi shouted and the screen flickered a hazy grey.

"I can't! Augh!" Kallen's screen cut out as it showed her camera being destroyed.

"You think that's real? I was in a suit disguise, remember? That recording clearly shows me in a Black Knight uniform with no shred of make up what so ever! It's fake!" she shouted.

"Oh thank goodness!" Tamaki smiled. "Maybe that gives us hope that this is fake as well." Tamaki handed Kallen a pink envelope.

"How I truly love you my bright star! Like a sun loves a solar flare, I love your bright shine from no matter how far.

With this mask I hold to thee; my eternal heart should from you I flee.

In a king's chamber I await, in a kings bed my life I debate.

My lovely C.C., you will be my Queen and I shall dance just for you!"

Kallen wanted to puke. "Can't believe Zero would write something this crumby, and at a time like this at that!"

"Wait, you seriously mean Zerowrote this?" Ougi asked as he held up the perfumed letter in question.

"Haha! I always knew Zero had a soft side! Writing his mistress poetry like that! I bet Kallen will be pissed!" Tamaki roared in laughter.

"No. Not funny Tamaki. This may not be a love letter; it could possibly be a secret plea for help." Ougi said sternly with a dark expression. Tamaki's giggling halted.

"You mean big-boy has been captured? By who?"

"King Charles." Ougi said as he pointed to the line about kings.

"Tamaki, I'm not angry. I think it's fake." She flipped the paper over and sniffed it. Much to her horror it smelt like Zero did last night.

"I was just at the castle in the King's bed chambers, Zero wasn't there. This letter, that video…it's all to throw us off from where the real Zero is. Whoever captured him wants to lead us to either C.C. or the castle for an ambush."

"Speaking of C.C., she didn't come back either." Ougi noted.

"Really, now that you mention it….I didn't see her at her station in the castle during the mission." Kallen thought deeply. "Oh! Also Inoue said Zero told everyone else that I was still inside the castle and to search for me."

"We know, that's why when I rescued you at the castle and got that transmission I'd feared for the worst that you didn't' make it out afetrall." Tamaki sighed.

"Now I'm incredibly confused. This makes no sense…none what so ever….Whoever organized this scheme did a terrible job at predicting our reactions." Kallen wanted to laugh as she reread the love letter.

"Does anyone recognize Zero's handwriting?" Kallen asked as she noticed the quirky letters.

"I do. I see all of his signed papers." Ougi said and took the letter. "No, definitely not Zero's penmanship." Ougi tossed it onto the table.

"Idiot should of typed that shit." Tamaki giggled.

"How can you be laughing at a time like this? Zero is missing!" Kallen shouted at Tamaki who cowered.

"But we have nothing to go on, it's not like we're gonna find him anytime soon!"

XxXxX

Lelouch's gun was pointed straight ahead at his own mirror image. The person standing before him mimicked him in absolute mockery in every sense of the word. A false Zero pointed a hand-gun straight into Lelouch's direction. The clattering of Lelouch's gun shaking in his grasp echoed throughout the otherwise silent room deep inside Pendragon Castle. The false masked man did not move nor speak; instead he intended to draw fear out of Lelouch like an emotion sucking vermin. The stand-off was silent, unmoving and seemingly endless as both stood entirely still; the only thing that set this scene apart was the unearthly noise of both Zeros breathing heavily. Lelouch knew this couldn't go on like this forever so he decided to cock his gun to gain some sort of reaction.

How did they get into this situation? After the false report from Inoue came in that Kallen was trapped inside the castle Lelouch barged in and was met with his own face glaring back at him.

"Who are you?" Lelouch asked through the synthetic Zero voice produced by his mask as his gun was cocked loudly.

"I am Zero, is it not obvious?" the other spoke in the same vocal.

"Incorrect, I am Zero. You are a failure who attempted to sabotage my assassination attempt. The Queen is dead, Kallen is safe and you are at the end of my gun." Lelouch said as he felt himself calming down, he was regaining that which originally made him Zero.

"No, I have not failed; yet. I have accomplished half of my goal long before you even knew I existed!" the imposter chuckled and allowed his gun to point down to the ground as his arm relaxed to his side.

"What have you done pray-tell?" Lelouch asked as he followed suit and allowed his gun to droop. This didn't mean either was off-guard, just less tense.

The false Zero pulled out a remote control and pressed a button. A computer screen rose up from the nearby desk that began showing clips of Lelouch and Kallen walking together, dancing together, eating, smiling and sleeping together. Lelouch was startled at first, but he then realized how easy it is for anyone with access to technology to stalk him while he isn't Zero. Suddenly a video began playing, a video that would haunt Lelouch for the rest of his life.

Lelouch watched as the screen showed Kallen standing on the rooftop of the Black Knight base talking to "Zero". The date on the recording was from last night, and Kallen and "Zero" were having the roughest sex Lelouch could imagine on the screen. Lelouch had no memory of having sex with Kallen the night before. In fact it had been many days since they were together sexually. Even though the false Zero didn't have the pleasure of seeing the horrid look upon Lelouch's face, he knew it was there. Lelouch shook visibly, this was enough to get a rise out of "Zero". A mechanical laughter erupted from Zero as Lelouch's sights were glued to the screen of Kallen on her back with her legs around another Zero. He made a whimper of agony from the bottom of his heart as he took a step backwards. The other Zero took this as an opportunity to charge at the distracted Lelouch and rip off his mask and disarm him of his hand-gun.

"Oh! Come with me!" came his male voice from the screen.

"I am!" Kallen's voice said.

"Aren't I better than….Lelouch?"

"Mmmm!"

"You fucking bastard!" Lelouch shouted. Zero raised his gun to Lelouch's temple. The gun pressed harshly into Lelouch's forehead as he heard the clicking. "You raped Kallen! My Kallen!" Lelouch roared under the grasp of the guards.

"Yes, she's mine now." Zero laughed wickedly.

"Who the fuck are you under that mask? Tell me!" Lelouch screamed at the top of his lungs.

Zero shrugged his shoulders, put his gun back into his coat pocket and reached up for his helmet. As soon as his hands touched the metallic black mask he paused and let loose a loud maniac cackle.

"You think I'd tell you?! Hah! Don't make a fool of yourself Lelouch! You've lost!" Zero laughed.

"Did you like the recording of me and Kallen fucking like little wild animals Lelouch?" Zero raged blissfully. A tear stung at Lelouch's eye, but he held onto his sanity.

"She doesn't love you! She only did any of that because she thought you were me! Had she of known you were not the real Zero she would never have done that!" Lelouch retorted.

"Such a pity, she even agreed that you were nothing but a pawn!"

"You said that, she never agreed!"

"She also didn't stand up for you when I called you a pawn. Kallen's heart belongs to Zero; a title you have lost!" Zero laughed manically.

"Never! When I found out who you really are I'll kill you! I swear it!" Lelouch threatened as he glared up into the faceless mask of his alter-ego.

"Now Lulu-Chan, I'm going to kill you! The love letter I dropped off from you to C.C. should convince Kallen that you've run off with the witch and abandoned her! Once you're gone she'll come crying to me!" Zero laughed menacingly. Each laugh grew louder and more horrifying in Lelouch's ears.

'Is this the punishment I get for not confessing to Kallen sooner? Is this the justice I so truly deserve? No! This is certainly not what Kallen deserves either!' Lelouch's mind reeled with thought of his beloved fiancé. Yes, Kallen is Lelouch's fiancé. Not Zero's.

"Zero….you fail to realize one thing in the letter you sent…" Lelouch staggered to stand up from his previously kneeling position. "C.C. can't be killed! Even if you set me up with her and try to kill us both C.C. will ensure that Kallen never ends up believing you're the real Zero!"

"Oh that won't be an issue! I know C.C. is immortal! Or…was."

Silence. The entire room was filled with the static silence of Lelouch's horror.

"What?" he mumbled.

"I fulfilled C.C.'s contract in your place!" he informed him sarcastically.

"You mean…you know about Geass?"

"But of course! All I ha-"

"Lelouch! It's a lie!" C.C. screamed from the balcony. Lelouch looked straight up at her. "It's all a lie! All this maniac has done is toy with people!"

"Damn you woman! Now I actually have to kill you…." Zero blared up at her.

"You can't kill me you fool!" C,C, spat down the balcony at him where it landed on his mask.

"Ohh, I like feisty women! You kind of remind me of Kallen!" Zero laughed up at her.

"You won't have either of them!" Lelouch lunged at Zero while he was looking up at C.C.

Lelouch and Zero toppled to the ground and C.C. leapt off the balcony to assist him. Zero thrust Lelouch's smaller body off of him and pointed the gun at him to kill. C.C. jumped between them just as the gunshot fired. Lelouch, mortified, grabbed his own Zero mask that had been removed before the fight even started and ran out of the door. He ran as fast as his unathletic body could go down the castle hallways.

'Alright you have a moment to think Lelouch. Who the fuck is this guy and what is he after besides Kallen?' Lelouch thought as his heart raced with adrenaline. He managed to get himself lost in the maze of doors and winding hallways. He wasn't too worried about C.C. considering she was immortal and she can only be killed in accordance with her desires.

'He can imitate other people's voices, he's got a second grader's skills in video editing and he's a massive pervert. God why does that sound familiar?!' Lelouch made it out of the castle's courtyard where he climbed the courtyard fence.

"Holy hell! It's Zero, get him!" a guard shouted and several more castle guard began chasing after him.

Luckily for Lelouch, the fake Zero was in hot pursuit and the guards would likely catch him first. Unluckily for Lelouch Zero was much faster and far stronger physically than he. It was a ten guard – two Zero chase. Lelouch reached his Knightmare frame less than a few seconds before the fake Zero caught up to him and began open fire. Lelouch flew off unharmed and watched on his cockpit screen as the other guards tackled the fake Zero.

'I guess they'll turn him into the King and he'll be executed. But I can't be too sure of that. As much of an idiot as he is he managed to cause me this much trouble. He snuck into the base last night without an issue and was able to impersonate me to near flawlessness. How the hell did he know what me and Kallen have been doing for the last few months?' Lelouch frowned and bit his tongue. He then tried to contact the base, but the signals weren't synching up.

"God damnit!" he cursed loudly and pounded his fist on the keyboard. Suddenly the video of the fake Zero and Kallen having rough sex appeared on his screen.

"Augh….ah….Mother fucker!" Lelouch grunted as he took his gun and pistol whipped the screen until it shattered and the picture ceased.

"Oh….auhhh….."

"Aren't I better than….Lelouch."

"Mmmm…..hmmm…"

The sound continued to play and it drove Lelouch to the point of insanity. Lelouch unleashed the most blood curling scream he's ever made before as he struggled madly inside the cockpit and shot the speakers out with his hand-gun. He fired all six shots into both speakers and the Knightmare frame began descending to the ground. Essentially he was crashing, but luckily he was over water and he had stationed back up under the sea.

When the backup crew spotted his nightmare they immediately began helping him by catching his falling knightmare. They air lifted him back to Japan as he sat in the cockpit sobbing his heart out. He reached for his gun again and tried to fire it at the still on-going sex tape sounds, but the gun was out of ammo. He ravagingly searched his cockpit for another round of ammo and quickly loaded his gun with shaky hands. He fired away another twelve shots at the surrounding dashboards. It was a good thing that he arrived at the main base when he did because after two hundred something bullets in the dashboard it started to spark, it may have caught on fire.

XxXxX

"Everyone! Zero is back!" a Black Knight shouted and the biggest of waves of relief hit everyone.

"Zero buddy! I just knew you were alright!" Tamaki cried out.

Kallen ran up to his knightmare frame and approached it from behind where the cockpit opens. She waited for it to open, but it never did. Worried Kallen called up a technician.

"Maybe it's jammed?" Kallen asked.

"It's broken." One of the airlift backups said. "His knightmare suddenly stopped working over the ocean. We couldn't radio him or get the systems online or anything. It's completely dead in there. All I know is there were gunshots coming from inside. I don't know if someone is in there with him or not, but I doubt the release hatch is working. You'll have to pry it open."

"Well what the hell are you waiting for! Open it! He could be dying for all we know!" Kallen shouted.

As the technicians used heat guns to melt the hatch open they began to hear a soft clicking noise coming from inside. The clicking was repetitive and non-stop, like someone was pushing a button over and over again. The back of the hatch was peeled off to reveal Zero sitting in the cockpit hunched over with a gun pointed at his head repeatedly clicking to shoot, but it had no ammo. Kallen didn't know how to translate this scene properly, was Zero trying to commit suicide?

"Zero, are you okay?" she asked as she pulled his seat out backwards so that he was no longer inside the suffocating hot cockpit. "Oh my god! It's so hot in here! Someone help he's probably overheated, get some ice and water!" she called out. She pulled Zero out of the cockpit by the underneaths of his arms and dragged him into a sitting position on the floor.

The crew poured ice cold water all over him, but he was still practically on fire underneath the heavy Zero suit. Kallen removed his cape, jacket and undershirt in an attempt to cool him off, but his temperature still continued to rise as he sat motionless.

"Is he unconscious?" Ougi asked as he ran over with a bag of ice.

"I don't know, I can't tell with the mask on." Kallen whined with worry.

"Kallen, please. Take him to his personal bedroom and remove his mask, he's probably suffocating in it. I imagine that thing is hard to breathe in." Ougi commanded.

"But-…but I can just do that! Who knows hwo he'll react!" she retorted even though she agreed.

"Would you rather protect his identity and let him die or save him so that he may live another day to help us save Japan and its many stragglers?"

Ougi had a good point and Kallen nodded. She dragged him to a standing position and put his arm over her shoulder and Ougi did the same on his other side. Together they dragged him into his bedroom and laid him on the bed. Ougi removed Zero's pants so that he was in nothing but boxers and his mask. Kallen swallowed hard and braced herself for whatever may lay beyond that mask that controlled her so. Her hands slowly reached out and grasped the sides of the mask. She pulled gently upwards, but the mask didn't budge. She pulled gently to each side, but the mask refused to loosen its hold around Zero's head.

"It's stuck." Kallen frowned. Ougi pushed her to the side and tried it himself, but no avail. The mask appeared to be glued to his head. Ougi grabbed it by the chin and tilted it upwards which seemed to make it slide up a bit, but overall it remained in place.

"Either he can shrink his head to pull this thing off or there's a release button on it somewhere…." Ougi grunted as he let go. Kallen wanted to smile, but knew this wasn't the time for jokes. She once again placed her hands on the sides of the helmet and fiddled with it in search for a button or release hatch. She eventually found a button and pushed on it. Sadly this did not loosen the mask, instead a small portion that covered his left eye slid open to reveal his eyes were closed. Kallen jumped back slightly and Ougi went back in for attempt two.

"This damn thing…" Ougi hissed quietly under his breath as he found the button for the other eye. "Rubix cube of masks I tell ya!"

Suddenly Zero's eyes popped wide open to reveal his demonically red glowing eyes. Both Ougi and Kallen took in a deep breath of fear and adrenaline as Zero sat up and glared them both down. Kallen previous suspicions of Koji may have been true. Koji's eyes were indeed red and rather wicked looking. Zero blinked several times before Ougi spoke up.

"I'm sorry, you were going to die of heat stroke if we did nothing. Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine now. I just need to attend to something personal." He said in his usual calm demeanor as he slid off the bed and reach for his pants that were soaking wet.

"Zero, were you trying to commit suicide inside your knightmare?" Ougi asked rather angrily. Zero looked back at him with sarcasm in his ruby eyes.

"No, I was angry is all. I knew my gun wasn't loaded." He said then slipped the wet pants on along with his jacket. He left the shirt off and the jacket open. He put his shoes back on and exited the room.

Behold, the most unusual thing the Black Knight have ever seen in their lives. Zero walked ominously slow down the hallway, dripping wet, mask half open to reveal his demonic eyes, with his bare chest exposed. Many of the girls who found him mysteriously attractive squealed in delight, but the men became afraid that their leader had lost his sanity.

"Kallen…" Ougi began back in the room. "Have you ever met someone in this day of age with red eyes? I thought the red-eyed ones had all died out hundreds of years ago to religious folk who deemed them demonic."

"Yes, I have actually and I know it to be a myth. In Britannian schools they teach you better to believe in witches and demons. Red eyes was just a rare thing overall."

"But red eyes that glow with the symbol of birds?"

"Birds?" Kallen tilted her head.

"Yes, a glowing red bird….where have I heard of that before…" Ougi thought deeply. "I'll research it later, right now you should get some rest."

"No, I think I'll follow Zero for now." Kallen whispered harshly then exited the room. Ougi could sense how heavy the static in Kallen's words were, as if seeing Zero's eyes was a burden on her.

Kallen caught up to Zero in the mess hall as he was about to exit the base, she grabbed him by the upper arm and shook him to a halt. She pleaded him to stay at the base until he recovered. He shrugged out of her grasp and she grimaced in anger. He wasn't getting away from her that easily. She reached up and tugged on his mask and it slid right off.

The entire mess hall gasped as the heavy metal mask slipped from Kallen grasp and hit the floor with a loud clank.

A strange silence took hold as Zero turned around to face them all. Kallen's heart dropped, but at the same time it began to beat quickly.

And that's when she woke up. Kallen had fallen asleep while awaiting Zero's return. She lifted her head off of the table and glanced around the room. It was the mess hall. She frowned and looked around like a helpless kitten at the vet office.

"Yo Kallen, you alright?" Tamaki asked.

"Uhm….what time is it?" she asked.

"It's noonish. You're missing school." He said as he sipped his beer.

"Did Zero come back?!" She asked ecstatically.

"Yeah, hours ago man. The mission started at five, ended at seven, you fell asleep at eight and now it's noon. You've been out for like…an hour man." Tamaki giggled.

"Did Zero overheat?" she asked.

"Overheat? Don't know what you're talking about, but he came back at about ten o'clock then left. He's been gone for a few hours, don't know where he went."

"What about that crumby letter?"

"Oh that, he said it was fake, along with the video of you calling him a traitor. Something about a class A moron was pulling a prank on us." Tamaki waved his half-full can of bear around as he spoke.

"A red glowing bird shaped symbol in Zero's eyes." Echoed the memory of her dreams. Since when were people with red eyes deemed demons? 'Man that was a fucked up dream…it felt so real….like Zero was really some sort of demon….like he was on the rooftop last night…'

She went back to her room, got dresses and headed for school. She didn't want to miss the entire day because the Cinderella play was that night. She cursed herself for having such an unusual dream that threw her off schedule. The red bird kept nagging at her like paper that kept trying to catch on fire. What the hell did it mean? What all was the dream? Was is just Zero practically catching on fire he was so overheated, or was the castle mission part of the dream…she wasn't sure anymore. Today had to have been one of the most confusingly messed up days she'd ever had.

'Today doesn't make sense….sense it makes not…not sense makes does it…..' she repeated in her head trying to keep herself distracted as she walked into Ashford several hours late for class.

She would have had an average day at school had it not of been for the fact that Koji blocked her path to the door of her next class. She stopped in her tracks and looked him dead in the eyes. No red bird symbol. She turned her head sideways but kept her eyes locked onto him.

"I need to get inside." She said flatly.

"I'm sorry, Lelouch is getting lectured big time by Ms. Villetta. He was late for school and is getting detention most likely." Koji grinned bastardly.

"Tch, that doesn't mean….I mean, oh I see…" Kallen caught herself and pretended to be her shy self once more. She'd almost completely forgotten her sickly facade.

He frowned in disappointment and moved away from the door allowing Kallen to approach it. Just as she reached for the handle he grabbed her wrist tightly and squeezed.

"What the hell?" she asked rudely.

"Just because I moved doesn't mean you can go in." he smirked in delight.

"But please….I don't want to miss my whole class…" she whispered fakely. He tossed her hand down as if it were a piece of disgusting trash. He glared down at her with a grimace. She looked back up into his eyes with slight freight, some of it legit fear; mostly just sheer confusion. She reached for the handle again and he once again stopped her. She growled and dropped her bag to grab his wrist that held hers. She struggled against him and her leg kicked the door harshly several times in her flailing.

"Let me the fuck go!" she barked loud enough for the entire classroom to hear. Lelouch held the door open and stood there to see the struggle between the two.

"Kallen Stadtfeld, two days detention for inappropriate language young lady!" Villetta said sternly from inside the classroom.

"I'm so sorry, I was just….I haven't been feeling well lately and it's been making me moody and I-"

"Excuses!" Villetta shouted. "Now all of you sit down. Koji you can come back in."

All three reentered the room; Lelouch sat next to Shirley, Kallen sat a row ahead of them and Koji sat in the front of the class. As class dragged on Lelouch noticed that Kallen kept looking dead ahead at Koji and not the blackboard. Villetta attempted to get Kallen's burning attention away from the back of Koji's head, but failed.

"Kallen, if you have such a massive crush on Koji then sit next to him. I'm tired of you staring at him instead of paying attention to me! Now pay attention!" Villetta screeched. Nearly the entire class laughed at her, Koji simply glanced back and gave her a wink.

Lelouch dug his nails into his pant leg until his knuckles went white at the comment. Kallen now focused her burning rage at Villetta. This was easily the worst feeling Lelouch had all day. Even the sex tape was easier to accept than it being outright stated that Kallen liked another boy.

"Not you too Lelouch….Everyone with a massive crush on Koji please stop staring!" Villetta rubbed her forehead. This time Kallen managed to giggle at it, Lelouch didn't find it as funny as everyone else in the classroom did.

'Fuck! Zero and Lelouch in my class! How the hell am I supposed to deal with this? How will Zero react when I kiss Lelouch at the play tonight? What will Lelouch do if I hesitate?' she thought as her eyes transfixed on the blackboard now.

"Don't develop feelings for the blackboard now Kallen." Villetta laughed lightly as she noted Kallen's new found obsession with staring. Kallen found nothing amusing about this.

After class was let out Villetta agreed to hold off any detentions until after the play due to it being that night. Lelouch and Kallen headed straight for the auditorium across town where the play was being set up. A sudden burning sensation erupted in her chest that grasped at her throat and mouth. She violently spewed out of her mouth and onto the sidewalk of the street. Lelouch's eyes nearly popped out at the sudden action. He grabbed her shoulders from behind and held her hair back as she finished expelling her insides out.

"I'm sorry, I think my illness is acting up." She half lied. This wasn't a pre-existing illness, this must've been from the anthrax. Lelouch knew she'd be alright, she had a vaccination after all.

"Will you be alright for the play tonight?" he asked gently. Right now Lelouch wanted to forget the whole Zero and Black Knights issue and just focus on normal life with Kallen. The sex tape was tucked away into the back of his mind now that he'd had his knightmare frame cockpit pity party. He knew that he needed to tell her that he was Zero, and soon, before that fake Zero lunatic struck again.

"Kallen..I…I have to tell you something important." He sighed and swallowed his fear.

"Can it wait until after the play?" she asked and they continued walking again.

"I…I'd rather tell you now, while we're alone." He said whimsically. Kallen noticed the unusual expression on his face and became worried. She pulled out a wisp, on the go toothbrush, and cleaned her mouth out quickly. Luckily in Britannia the cleanup crew will take care of any messes that happen to occur on the streets.

"If it's really important, I don't want to be emotionally conflicted during the play. Can it please wait?" she pleaded. "I've had enough stress for today and I have a lot on my mind with you know…my job." She hinted.

"Yeah, I understand…okay…" he mumbled as they continued walking. Lelouch and Kallen walked side by side elegantly, but awkwardly silent. The moment was gentle, peaceful, but full of so much conflicting emotions. Once they reached the auditorium Lelouch stood still.

"Hey, I have to call Nunnally and arrange her ride to the play. You go on ahead, I'll be back soon." He said and she agreed.

Lelouch headed across the street towards an active theater where they were about to begin a Halloween special movie. Koji followed Lelouch in closely. Kallen from across the street witnessed this and her heart raced. Why the hell would Koji and Lelouch go to a movie together? Why now of all times? Did this have anything to do with Lelouch needing to tell her something? Did Lelouch know Koji was Zero? Is Koji actually Zero? She had to know these things. She snuck across the street and over to the other theater, but Milly and Shirley caught her,

"Ah hah! You cannot escape Cinderella!" Milly shouted as she grabbed Kallen from around the shoulders and began dragging her back across the street to the auditorium.

Back inside the theater they paid to enter the loudest movie possible. Lelouch organized it so that during the scene where monster A attacks monster B with a gun, the audience won't hear it. Even though there were better places to kill him, he had the feeling wouldn't go solo against Lelouch again. He probably thought he was there to simply talk in private. They walked in at the perfect time….

"So Lelouch, what'd you call me out here for?" the boy said as he smiled innocently.

"You've interfered enough with my plans. It's time you were rid of." Lelouch's voice was suddenly dark and ominous.

"Huh?" Koji blinked nervously as Lelouch pulled out a gun and cocked it.

Through the darkness of the theater, the shrieks of the crowd and the blaring epic music of the movie was the horrifying sound of a gun being fired. Blood stained the popcorn red and tears of children sobbing were met with the sounds of agony of the victim.

Lelouch swallowed hard as the lights to the theater room turned back on. Koji hovered over him with a gun in hand.

"Kallen shall be mine, I shall be Zero and you shall be obsolete."Koji's voice echoed in Lelouch's mind.

'Geass?! Koji has Geass?!'were Lelouch's last thoughts before his world went blacker than the knights he lead. Koji leaned down to Lelouch's ear.

"Goodbye, sweet prince." He whispered softly and patted Lelouch's head sarcastically. Koji exited the theater, now free from his demon.

Lelouch lay bleeding on the floor, no one to help him. The lights flickered on and off, a lighting tick used to scare people. Unconscious and helpless was he, Zero, leader of the rebellion, may actually be done for this time.

XxXxX

A couple of hours rolled around and no sigh of Lelouch. Milly pouted, she hoped that he'd show up soon enough to get dressed for his scene.

"Oh Lelouch! If that boy doesn't shop up I'll ream his neck the next time I see him! I don't care if he's dead, he needs to zombie walk his ass onto the stage!" Milly screamed in frustration. All this work she did to hook Kallen and Lelouch up with the lead roles was quickly going down the drain.

"Prez, relax. You know Lulu, he's probably off procrastinating somewhere until the last minute to make a dramatic entrance!" Shirley huffed with her hands on her hips.

"You sure about that?" the blonde frowned displeased.

"Well no, but he's done it before!" Shirley smiled. Suddenly the music began playing all around the theater.

"Well let the show begin…" Milly sighed and slid off her chair and walked up to the main stage.

"Hello everyone! Welcome to the Ashford Cinderella play!" Milly announced and the crowd did a generous outburst of clapping.

"Shit! Call prez back here!" Rival screeched from back stage loud enough for the audience to hear. Milly immediately dashed behind the curtain.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Lelouch is actually missing! Koji said he was supposed to meet him out back, but he never showed up. There's also been a report of a murder at the theater across the street, some guy in our school's uniform was found dead in the theater!" Rival panicked. Milly and Shirley's eyes went as wide as they could go.

"Do you think it was Lulu?" Shirley began tearing up.

"No idea, but I'm really freaked out right now man! I'm totally scared! Oh please somebody tell me they know where Lelouch is!" Rival began crying as well.

"Shit!" Milly cried out as she made a dash out the auditorium's back doors and across the street to the theater where everything was completely roped off and surrounded by police.

"Hey officer! Officer!" she called out.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know the identity of the boy who just died in there?" Milly pleaded desperately.

"Not yet, but we aren't allowed to release the name yet even if we did." The officer rudely shrugged.

"Augh!" Milly cringed as she hopped the "do not cross" rope and power dashed into the building. She was immediately stopped at the first theater interval where it took three police officers to hold her down.

"Miss you can't go in!"

"My friend was in here! Please just let me know if he's okay!" Milly cried as she looked up at the men with her big blue eyes.

"Sorry, can't do that." They said and they escorted her out of the building.

Milly dragged her feet with woe back to the auditorium where Shirley and Rivals waited with heavy hearts.

"Well?!" Rival said quickly as she reentered.

"They won't tell me who it was." She said sincerely.

"Don't worry prez, why would Lelouch of been at the theater anyways? He was supposed to get here with Kallen and go straight into the auditorium…" Shirley mumbled only slightly sure of herself.

"Remember we caught Kallen trying to get into the theater when we found her? Maybe she was following Lelouch!" Milly bit her lip.

"Maybe she got lost and was following other students into the theater?" Rival tried reasoning.

"Let's go ask her!" Milly shouted and bolted for the dressing room.

"No prez! If it isn't Lelouch we'll have caused an uproar for no reason! Please stay calm until we know anything for a fact!" Shirley said as Milly calmed down.

"Hey prez! The first scene is about to start! We need you and Shirley on the set!" Nina shouted.

Milly and Shirley took deep breaths as they entered the stage and began their roles. Kallen emerged from the dressing room and waited for her scene to begin. Milly walked off stage and into the back stage because her scene ended. It was now Shirley and Nina alone.

"Oh Kallen, have you seen Lelouch yet?" Milly asked trying not to sound panicked.

"No, but someone said he was in the dressing room a minute ago getting ready." Kallen said and Milly let loose a loud ass sigh of relief.

"Man, am I ever glad to hear that…" she let her shoulder roll then droop.

"Why?" Kallen asked with an awkward smile.

"It's just that Lelouch was missing a little while ago and there was a murder of an Ashford student boy in the theater across the street. We were all worked up for nothing!" Milly giggled now incredibly happy. Kallen looked up at her with pure terror written across her face.

"Relax honey! Lelouch is in the dressing room right?" Milly patted her shoulders and now it was Kallen's turn to relax.

"Yeah, Suzaku said Prince Charming was getting dressed." Kallen's heart beat slowed again.

"Alright!" Milly pumped her fist in the air. "Time for your scene Kallen!" she shouted and pushed Kallen onto the side of the stage just as Nina was leaving.

Kallen sighed miserably and very loudly. She fiddled with the straps on her dress, they were beginning to itch her shoulders. She swore that never again in her life would she wear such a heavy, posh dress again after the play was over. The make-up that caked her face was starting to make her sweat lightly. This just added to her misery. Suddenly her chest began to sting with pain again, a pain she had come to recognize but never learned how to deal with. The burning sensation welled up in her lungs and held on like a desperate fire. She took slow and deep breathes hoping to quell the rage in her chest.

'Okay focus! Zero said he'd be in the front row tonight. There's only twenty front row seats. I can narrow down who he is by eliminating women, obese men, short men, old men and men with facial hair. He said he was a high schooler too, so he could potentially show up in a school uniform….Also-'

"Oh Cinderella!" a voice chimed from on-stage. Not just any voice either, a wicked menacing voice; the step mother!

Kallen groaned before walking on stage elegantly and making her way to the 'step-mother's'side. She took a quick glance at the audience, but the stage lights were too bright to see anything besides silhouettes. She quickly remembered her next line and composed herself dramatically.

"Yes mother dearest?" she feigned docility.

"Prepare lunch, clean the cellar, sweep the kitchen and polish the marble floors on the first floor. Also Anastasia needs her new dress hemmed another inch. I'd like my tea cold and my toast hot. After you've finished those chores you can…." Shirley paused as she saw the expression of wretched pain upon Kallen's face. She leaned in and whispered into Kallen's ear.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I just….I have slight stage freight, ignore me! Let the show continue!" Kallen pleaded. This was a lie, Kallen was used to the spot light from Black Knight victory parties. The real issue was that the heat from her chest was now raising itself to her head. Shirley nodded and stepped back again.

"After you finish your chores you can reorganize my personal library! Don't forget to feed Lucifer as well!" Shirley let out a hearty laugh. Kallen whimpered, but not because it was in the script to do so.

"Y-yes…m-mother…." Kallen whispered as she fell to her knees.

"Prez! Cut the lights!" Shirley called out of character and the lights immediately dimmed. Kallen tilted her head to the audience to see only three men who fit the description of Zero in the front row. Koji and two other boys she didn't recognize were the three highschool boys that fit Zero's description. The lights went pitch black, the curtain was drawn closed and the audience gasped and booed.

"Kallen, what's going on?" Milly asked as she ran up to them in the dim lights of the back stage.

"I don't know, she just suddenly collapsed. She didn't look to well a minute ago either." Shirley said.

"I'm okay, I just got nauseous from…from st-stage-Augh!" Kallen proceeded to hack up her last meal all over the stage floor."

Moments later Milly appeared from behind the drawn curtain and grabbed the microphone.

"I'm sorry for the sudden delay, it seems Cinderella hasn't been sleeping too well with all her chores and such." Milly laughed nervously. The audience chuckled slightly, but for the most part remained dead. Milly bit her lip and tried to think of a way to entertain them while Kallen was cleaned up back stage. Koji got up from his seat and walked towards the back of the audience as if to leave. Milly panicked thinking the audience was getting bored and tried her best to entertain them with linear jokes with slighted racial slurs. Thus was just her style and was usually well appreciated in Britannia.

"Kallen, you got vomit all over the only Cinderella dress! Please tell me there's a costume in the back that will suffice!" Shirley shouted from outside the dressing room. Shirley wasn't angry, she was just nervous herself. Her mother was here to see her last high school play and she didn't want it to go badly.

Kallen felt immensely better after letting everything out of her stomach, but the nagging feeling that the night was to get much worse lingered in the back of her mind. She sighed in dismay as something fell atop her head while she was completely naked in the changing room. She grabbed the material and held it up.

'The dress the Britannians made me wear while I was in prisoned?!'she thought as her eyes widened.

"It looked so good on you!" Gino said as his blonde head peeked from above the changing stall.

"Kyaaah! Get out of here!" Kallen shouted as she used the dress to cover her exposed breasts. Shirley pulled on Gino's legs as she tried to get him off the stall.

"Gino! You're such a perv!" she hissed as she managed to get him back to the ground.

"She ain't got nothin' I've never seen before!" Gino said with a wink. Shirley growled.

As Gino and Shirley left the area for Kallen to change in quiet the memory of the front row audience returned to her. Koji was her prime suspect. He was in the area when she was relieved of her Black Night duty yesterday and earlier this morning he was near her Guren. It had to be him!

"I don't think yellow is your color." Came the notorious voice of Koji as he opened the stall door. Kallen instantly twisted in fear as he tossed an all-black dress at her. She held it up in confusion.

"Oh my lovely Dark Bride! Black is so your color." He grinned. Among the things that stood out as ominous like his smile, speech and smirk was the fact that he was wearing Lelouch's Prince Charming outfit.

Kallen took a cautious step back in absolute horror as she realized that Lelouch might actually be dead and the prince charming getting dressed was just Koji. She began to scream for Milly who immediately came running back to her side.

"Koji, why are you wearing the prince's outfit?" Milly questioned.

"Oh, before Lelouch got to the auditorium he told me to take his place for now just in case he didn't make it back in time for his first scene." He lied.

"Didn't make it back in time? Where did he go?" Milly asked.

"Not sure, but he mentioned the theater across the street. I've been waiting for him to get back for quite some time now."

Chills were sent down Milly and Kallen's backs.

"Wait a second, that's a lie and you know it. I saw you two enter the theater together when I first got here." Kallen placed her hands on her hips. The yellow dress swayed beneath her and she marched towards him and pointed an accusing finger in his face.

"Well…that is…he wanted to keep it a secret….Oh hey prez can you give me and Kallen a moment alone please?" Koji smiled nervously.

"Yes, please do Milly. I need to speak with him alone." Kallen's voice now darker and heavier than ever. Milly walked away biting her lip in fear for Lelouch's life.

"Tell me what the hell happened!" Kallen demanded as she grabbed him by the collar of the outfit.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know if you put on that dress!" he smirked. Kallen turned to reenter the dressing room, but he stopped her. "In front of me."

Kallen obliged, but only because she was that desperate to get an answer. After she was fully dressed she gave him her most serious death glare she could muster.

"Oh that's it! The fire I like in you so much!" he clapped his hands together with lust.

"You're Zero aren't you?" she asked as she tightened her fists.

"Bingo! You finally got me! It's about time too!" he cackled as he placed his hands on his hips. Kallen's expression transformed into anger and hatred within that second. The Zero she once loved so very much just died before her eyes.

"I thought you promised never to hurt Lelouch!" she roared with rage.

"About that…you know he's the prince of Britannia. He-"

"Don't give me that shit!" Kallen's voice hitched a high note on accident as tears spilled forth from her blue eyes.

"Ohh, I like it! That look in your eyes! So fierce, so ….nasty!" he licked his lips at her.

How Kallen ever allowed this man into her pants was now a mystery to her. She reached out and smacked Koji across the face as hard as she could.

"Is he dead?" She asked now sincerely pissed off more than anything.

"Don't know; don't care. You're mine now. No one is left to interfere, let's ditch this show and start our lives with the Black Rebellion now!" he offered his trembling hand out to her.

A lough scream, a punch that could knock out a bull elephant and a battered boy later everyone was rushing to the backstage. Milly, Shirley, Rival and everyone else involved with the play witnessed Kallen beating the holy day lights out of Koji who sat there and just took it.

"Woah Kallen stop!" Milly tried holding her back.

As fighting, arguing and chaos erupted behind the stage the audience was left wondering what in god's name was going on backstage.

"He killed Lelouch!" Kallen screamed at the top of her lungs! Everyone froze except for Kallen who was breathing heavily and screaming.

Suddenly the backstage main door flew open with a loud bang and someone walked inside. The Empror stepped into the backstage and everyone froze entirely. Koji made a twisted face of disgusted confusion.

Bolmung LK: Oh god….I executed that soooo poorly….so horribly….I'm so sorry…..I'm sleep deprived….the next chapter will be a thousand time better I promise! Forgive me for plot error and holes…this was some terribad patchwork!

Tell me I'm still doing this right…..