Author's Notes: Wow, some much stronger opposition to the last chapter's revelations (albeit understandably so). People have raised the issue that the theory that Nunnally knew Lelouch was Zero because of her special powers conflicts with R2 canon. There is merit to this. However, this story will be working with the assumption that Emperor Charles used his Geass to erase Nunnally's memories of both her meeting with Mao and her knowledge of Lelouch's secret identity. When you have a mind reader like Mao, you're going to have quite a bit of people's true natures revealed. So I've attempted to portray that, highlighting overlooked or even hypothetical aspects of the characters. There was also some confusion about "the bomb", but there really wouldn't be if one understands a little bit about explosive compounds and thus what Mao actually made in his kitchen and what is now ominously hanging over Nunnally's pretty little head. Don't worry though, if you don't get it now, you will in the next chapter. Oh and Silencian, the two subordinates were men as well. You don't think a fascist nation like Britannia would tolerate such relations do you, especially within the military? And by the way, good catch of the feedback issue, not to mention that for the first time in his life Mao was on the RECEIVING end of a verbal scrutiny of his mind, rather than dishing it out. I thought that would be poetic to explore.

Recommended Music: "Man Verses Man" by John Powell from The Bourne Ultimatum Soundtrack, followed by "Treadstone Assassins" by John Powell from The Bourne Identity Soundtrack, followed by "Immanence" by Yoshihisa Hirano and Taniuchi Hideki from the DEATH NOTE Original Soundtrack, followed by "Semblance of Dualism" from the same, followed by (immediately once Lelouch enters the chapel) "The Night" by Disturbed (seriously, the intro fits the end of this chapter perfectly!).

Feigning Mao

"Hey Lelouch!"

"How are things with Shirley?"

"Uh…what?"

How can they ask such ridiculous questions at a time like this?

"Why don't you give her a present?"

Odd…he seems distracted by something

"More importantly, what about classes? If you don't attend-" Wait, he looks really upset…what's happened?

"I'm sorry, I'll…talk to you about tonight later."

Something is definitely wrong with him… I know my best friend

"I wonder if he's going gambling again? What do you think Arthur?"

As Mao listened to the interchange, his feet met soft grass and he adjusted his visor to shield his eyes from the sun's glare. His pace increased, staying close to the building so as not to be seen from the windows.

"What an idiot," Mao muttered to himself. "Can't believe it's taking him this long. But if he isn't able to find her, this is all pointless. I suppose I'll just have to help him out a bit more."

Acting on the whim, he drew out the cell phone and gave Lelouch another call. The line connected, but Lelouch said nothing.

"Lulu, since you haven't been able to find me no matter where you search, I'll extend the time limit by one more hour," Mao explained.

Damn, did he notice that I'm feeling anxious… He planned this—he wants to see me squirm

"That's good, he's looking at the photo," Mao whispered as he hung up. "That's right, Lelouch. Think about your dear sister…"

But what should I do? He should be somewhere within 500 meters in order to read my thoughts but—

"Lelouch!"

Huh? Suzaku! Damn, I have to put this photo away—oh shit…

Nunnally? Someone must have done something with her then…

"That's!"

Mao smiled thoughtfully as the chapel came into view. "Well, this is interesting. Suzaku Kurrugi, eh? Ah, so he was also at Shinjuku. And he knows that C.C. is immortal. Well since Lelouch hasn't used his Geass on him, I suppose it's alright. After all, I should probably eliminate anyone who knows something like that. Still, he is a soldier. So unlike Lelouch, he could pose a problem—physically."

"So something has happened to Nunnally."

With a grunt, Mao pushed through the familiar double doors, striding towards the altar. Up ahead was a single table over which Mao had draped a thick white cloth. Carefully, he removed the drape and set it aside, revealing a golden scale with two balances hanging from the sides. It was a cheap antique really, something he had hastily picked up at a nearby pawnshop in his rush to complete the preparations on time.

Time. It was Mao's one disadvantage in this scenario. He had rushed from the airport and devised this strategy, quickly gathering everything he would need along the way. He had managed to arrive at the Academy before Lelouch, set up the necessary conditions in the circulatory system and the chapel, secure Nunnally and catch his breath all before Lelouch arrived from his meeting with the Black Knights. But just barely. And now he worried that, due to the rushed nature of his scenario, Lelouch might find an overlooked flaw and exploit it.

"No," Mao assured himself as he stared down at the chessboard positioned in front of the scale. "There are only four possible outcomes from this scenario. And every one of them gives me something I've been wanting."

Drawing out the radio transmitter from his pocket, he carefully integrated it with the scale, fine tuning the weight threshold and reactivity. It required extreme precision in order to synchronize the devices, something made difficult because of Mao's anxiousness, and exacerbated by his broken fingers. Clearing his mind, he focused once more on Lelouch and Suzaku. They were searching together through the Academy, engaged in discussion. Actually, from Suzaku's standpoint, it was more like an interrogation.

"Who abducted her? Don't tell me it's an old debt from Britannia?"

"No. It has nothing to do with our identities." That's a lie. Well, it's not exactly a lie. But it doesn't matter. I can't allow Suzaku to use this to find anything about my secret. But if Mao has his way, all my secrets will spill out. "It's just some psychopath."

Mao scowled with slight amusement. "Psychopath?"

"Are you being threatened?"

"Yes. Our identities, might be exposed if this gets investigated."

Wait, isn't that a contradiction of what he said before?

"That's why I can't go to the police or the army."

"It can't be helped then. We have to think of a way by ourselves."

"But you swear you're not gambling?"

My god, Suzaku! "It has nothing to do with that."

"Well, do you have any clues?"

"Only the photograph and the fact that he's observing from nearby." Another lie.

Wait a minute… Of course! "That's right, I heard the sound of water flowing as well!"

"Water…? …The circulatory system!"

"The underground installation?"

"Finally," Mao exclaimed, rubbing his crimson eyes wearily. "Looks like they should be on their way to the hallway now." Mao began to snicker. "The little gift I left for them should be quite a surprise. If Lelouch meets his end there, then I will have already realized one of my goals in this little foray. Then you'll know what it feels like to be shot full of holes too, brat."

I'm surprised he didn't realize that sooner. "But that's odd."

"What is?"

"Normally, you would have noticed that immediately."

…He's right. Damn, I can't allow my feelings for Nunnally to cloud my senses like that. Mao will just use that against me. I need to stay sharp. Focus. Damn, my passcode isn't working. What's going on?

"What's wrong?"

"The data seems to have been changed. I'll have to hack into the login system." Let's see…here we go…

A smirk pulled at the corner of Mao's mouth. "He bypassed it? Well done Lelouch."

"But isn't that against school regulations?"

"I'll just change it back later."

"Then let me break in."

"Too late. It's already open."

There's no way he just figured that out. So this is how he does it… "Well, that was fast. You seem too familiar with it."

"That's because the Student Council is responsible for part of its management." Let's see… 'Low ground'…

"Lelouch, you've been using this to sneak off campus the whole time, haven't you?"

Damn. "Yes. Well, occasionally…" That doesn't sound so bad, right?

Mao winced as he accidentally sliced open his thumb. He quickly stuffed the member into his mouth, sucking off the blood.

"What's there?"

"It's just as you predicted. A machine gun is wired to the observation camera." I'm glad I have this camera phone with me. I know that turret type though—it's Britannian military. How did a random psycho get a hold of that kind of ordinance? "For that system, the lag time is only 0.05 seconds."

0.05 seconds? He's got us stuck with this. To get around it…we'll have to disconnect the power. But in order to cut the flow to something so instrumental as the circulatory system, we'd have to shut down the entire Academy. I could do it…or I could use my Geass to have it done. But it would undoubtedly cause a stir. The matter would be investigated. Someone would find out. Damn Suzaku, he'd probably admit it too. And with my record in the login system, scrutiny would fall on me. I wouldn't be able to answer those kinds of questions. Mao already knows this. It's just not fair… If C.C. were here, I could just push her through. She'd die a few times but eventually she'd be able to turn it off. "Then we can't get past it. Let's head up, the system—" Huh? What's he doing? "WAIT!"

I know I can do this. My muscles can outrun the firing mechanism. I'll exploit the extra delay time caused by the rotation of the turret head by running in an 'S' formation…

Impossible. Suzaku just outran a machine gun…and vaulted off the wall to kick it down! "That was…so reckless!"

"Cào nǐ zǔzōng shíbā dài!" Mao cursed hoarsely as he listened in disbelief, slamming his fists down into the table. "There's no way… No way! It's physically impossible! Does the universe now obey Lelouch's Geass?"

"Now, let's go. Nunnally is waiting."

"Regardless, this speeds up things considerably." Mao grinned, leaning against the table in anticipation, drumming his fingers.

"Nunnally!"

He found me! I'm so relieved.

"Brother! And Suzaku as well?"

"I'm sorry for leaving you alone. I'll get you out of there immediately!"

Oh no… "Wait. Look up."

No! Not again. "A bomb?"

Taking the opportunity, Mao dialed Lelouch's number again. "I'll excuse Kururugi's presence, since he came of his own free will," he announced once he heard the line connect. "But I can't wait to see how you two deal with this."

Poor Nunnally…

"Nunally, we'll diffuse the bomb. Don't worry, it'll be fine. There's nothing that can't be achieved if Lelouch and I work together, right?" Suzaku asked cheerfully.

Poor brother, he's so distressed now. But that man said he'd kill him if I told about the bomb. I have to just keep quiet I suppose. "Yes," Nunnally agreed weakly.

A shrill cackle escaped Mao's throat. He couldn't help but laugh.

A motion sensitive bomb? Looks like a solenoid is used to provide the energy necessary for it to remain in constant motion. "If any external forces interfere with the motion, then the bomb will…" Lelouch's voice trailed off.

"Explode," Suzaku finished. We can't move her either… "It could also happen if Nunnally is moved. We should take that into consideration as well.

"Can you calculate what kind of radius the blast would have?" Lelouch asked.

"The radius for a bomb of that size would have to be over 500 meters," Suzaku deduced.

That means that Mao must be outside of his Geass' effective range. Was this to lure me in? Or is he trying to mislead me? Seems like an incredibly stupid risk to take, given what happened last time.

Mao clamped a hand over his mouth, barely able to contain his derisive glee. "I never thought it would be so easy to deceive him," he scoffed. "Indeed to even think I would make such a blunder after what happened last time! So far, so good."

"Do you know a way to dismantle it?" Suzaku asked.

"Theoretically," Lelouch admitted. "We need to cut the power line that's linked to the detonator. This person isn't a demolitions expert, so we should be able to tell the fake wires apart."

"Right, I'm not an expert, though you can't even tell a real bomb from a fake," Mao quipped to no one in particular as he watched the sun's waning rays moving along the stained glass window, the colors deepening with each passing moment as they heralded the approach of the night.

"But we have to think of another way," Lelouch determined.

"Why?" Suzaku asked."We just need to be able to tell it apart and choose the right one." What's so complicated about that?

"To diffuse it while it's in motion is not humanly possible," Lelouch explained. "To attempt to do so, would only trigger the explosion."

"Let me do it," Suzaku assured him. If I just jump with the right momentum, surely I can cut the wire without a problem. I'm sure I could do it.

"Don't be so reckless!" Lelouch scolded fiercely. His antics are going to get Nunnally killed if I'm not careful."We don't have enough information."

Suzaku and brother are arguing. At a time like this? It's so hard to keep a secret…but it can't be helped. I have to protect brother.

"That's right Nunnally, think about your dear brother. Who will protect him if you don't?" Mao mused, quite satisfied with their collective struggle. "After all, one has to laugh every now and then, even at oneself. If just to keep from going insane."

"It's good to be cautious, but we have a time limit," Suzaku countered. "Look at me. I'm a soldier after all. Can't you make use of this fact."

"You can't let him do it, Lelouch," Mao muttered carefully into the dusty air of the empty chapel. "It's too much of a risk for you. If he tries though…and they trigger it, it won't take them long to realize it's ultimately harmless." A smile returned to his face as he repeated that word, "Ultimately. But then this part of my plan would be a failure," he mused. A slight nervousness began to nag at his mind, but he suppressed it, continuing to listen patiently. "The fact that he thinks I'm out of range, should make him overconfident just like I predicted. So what will you do now, prince?"

"Suzaku. I do have a plan. In order for it to work, you have to do exactly as I say though. I can't let you try and disable the bomb though," Lelouch began. "I'm not comfortable with that kind of risk, given the stakes involved."

"I'm listening," Suzaku replied carefully, shaking his head in disappointment. He should just let me do it. I know I can.

"This person's true target is me. I can't explain why, but he's fixated on beating me. I'm certain he has a way to disable the bomb. He'll use it to bait me. I'm going to call him and agree to meet on campus. He'll think I'm acting out of desperation, but really I want you to call Sayoko and have her come here immediately to wait with Nunnally, while you secretly slip out and come to the place I tell you," Lelouch explained carefully. "I'm going to distract him. When you hear me scream, it's a sign that I want you to rush into wherever we are and, using your authority as a soldier, arrest him. Do you think you'll be able to do that? He'll probably be armed."

"That's nothing. It'll be easy," Suzaku affirmed, taking out his phone and dialing Sayoko's number.

"Alright. Excuse me for a moment while I call him."

"Hello?"

"Sayoko, it's Suzaku. Lelouch needs you to come back to Ashford immediately."

"What's going on?"

"Someone's done something with Nunnally. Take an elevator down to the circulatory system, that's where we are." I hope she comes here quickly. Damn, I know I can disable this thing… Why does Lelouch have to be so slow about this stuff?

"I'll be right there."

Mao smirked. "Interesting plan. But even if you think you're out of range now, when you come here you know I'll be aware of your scheme," he mused. His phone was ringing. It was Lelouch. "I suppose I'll just have to play along till I can understand what his game is," he muttered, flipping it open and pressing the device against his ear. "So you decided to call me," Mao answered. "Have you given up yet?'

"Hardly," Lelouch replied sternly. "I want you to tell me where you are. I'll come to you. That's what you want, isn't it? You must have some kind of game prepared. We'll settle this there."

"Bold words," Mao replied. "But very well. I'm in the campus chapel."

Without another word, Lelouch hung up.

"Suzaku! We'll Sayoko be here?"

"Yes, she said she was on her way right now."

"Good. Listen, this guys waiting for me in the campus chapel. You know where that is right?"

"I'm pretty sure. I mean, I've never been there. Not really the praying type." Not with the kind of things I've done anyway…

"Suzaku, focus. Once Sayoko arrives, quietly slip out and wait around there. Find out his position by peering into the windows or something—careful not to be seen. When you hear me scream, burst in and take him down." This has to work…

"I understand."

"I'm trusting you completely, Suzaku. This whole plan depends upon you. I'm placing Nunnally's life in your hands."

"I'll save her. I promise. And good luck to you."

It isn't a matter of luck… Alright, now just one more thing. Here, this piece should do. Where's Suzaku? He's far enough away not to notice, I suppose. Activating my Geass… "Forget everything you've told Suzaku regarding your plan to defeat Mao."

Mao's eyes widened in surprised and his mouth fell open in shock. "He actually used his Geass on himself? I never would have expected that!" he exclaimed in astonishment. "Now he thinks I'll be unaware of his real plan, since he's unaware of it." A maddening smile spread across Mao's face as it set in. "With this…you…you've already been completely defeated Lelouch!" He stared off into space as he pondered this sudden change, his eyes gleaming wildly.

"How disappointing though. I've gotta say, this victory won't be much fun now. You tried too hard to win using your intellect, still refusing to accept the fact that even you—no, because it's you-could never defeat me this way. Well that's fine, thanks to your delusion of superiority, you'll die here today. And as for me, I will claim my victory, my revenge and my beautiful beloved!" He threw his head back as maniacal laughter issued forth from his throat, the twisted, blazing Geass in his eyes casting a deep crimson glow through his gaze; his thirst for revenge warping his mind beyond reason. When at last the fit subsided, he brought his face down once more, his eyes narrowing. "Still Kururugi coming here could be a problem—he's unpredictable…just like Kallen," Mao mused once he regained his composure. "The sign is a scream, which means Lelouch is expecting himself to lose without his memory. He's gotten wiser since our first encounter, I see. But he won't know it's a sign either. So I should shoot Lelouch, before Kururugi can get there, since I can't predict when he'll do something so base as scream. He knows that too; it's why he chose it. As for his new pawn, I honestly don't know if I could kill him or not—not after what I just saw him do to that turret. But…the mind is always fragile." A dark smile spread across his face. "Perfect."

Classes were so boring

Now I just need to last until the final exams…

It's the rule…

That stupid teacher!

Memorization…memorization. I get it already…

Mao raised a hand to his temple firmly to rub away the barrage, cursing himself for letting his mind wander. "What a bunch of ignorant selfish brats," he muttered. "That's why I hate schools so much." Taking a deep breath, he found Lelouch again and allowed himself another confident smile, taking a seat upon one of the chairs and crossing his legs.

What does he have planned next? The observation camera observing Nunnally should be transmitting to Mao. I can't believe he came to the school. What a reckless guy. I've left Suzaku there with her, though. She should be alright. The only thing left that I can do is…

Mao's lip began to quiver once more just as he sensed Lelouch reaching for the door. "No, I can't laugh now… I have to hold it in…just a little bit longer," he forced himself, pursing his lips together and breathing in through his nose. "After he dies…and I claim my victory."

The doors swung open, bathing the dim surroundings in the sun's waning light which cast an impressive glow against Lelouch's dark figure.

Mao sat enthroned before him, his face obscured by his visor and his bandages, all except the unnerving smile that broke across his features. Slowly, dramatically, he stood up from his throne and spread his arms, clapping his hands together in sarcastic acknowledgment as he focused his Geass fully upon the angry prince. "Well, if it isn't the heart breaker. You have no strategy, no weapons and you've left Nunnally just as she was. You can't use the Black Knights or that friend of yours," he mocked.

Psychopathic asshole… What am I doing here? I'm unarmed. He still has that damn visor too!'

"What's wrong, Lulu?" Mao teased.

"I don't have to explain anything to you," Lelouch declared, his mouth distorted into a deep frown. You're already crawling around inside my head. "You've prepared our last game, haven't you?" This time Mao… I'll make sure you're dead. For good.

Mao nodded. "Yes. Let's put an end to this…" he remarked, throwing off the white sheet to reveal a chessboard—the same one he had fought Lelouch upon last time. The same one he had delivered a crushing defeat with. "…With your specialty."

To be continued…

Endsong: "The Night" by Disturbed.

Author's Notes: In the show, Lelouch assumed Mao was 500 meters away. However, I believe this assumption was a miscalculation for three reasons. (1) Mao would have had to be a complete idiot to put Lelouch outside the range of his most effective weapon, especially given what happened last time. (2) Cut between scenes of Lelouch and Suzaku with Nunnally in the sewer are scenes of Mao laughing or responding in some way to their predicament without looking at his portable video screen—as if he's reacting to them, which he logically couldn't unless his telepathy was at play. (3) 500 meters is a rather large area (which is why Mao's Geass is so terrible). To put it into perspective: the enormous city of Tokyo is over 4 million meters in size. So Mao's Geass forces him to listen to the thoughts of an area 8,000th the size of Tokyo (which fits 5,847 people per kilometer), that is, roughly 0.319 miles. The apparent distance between the Academy building Lelouch and Suzaku are below (unknown distances involved there, but short enough for a quick elevator ride) and the campus chapel where Mao is are within walking distance, but I have reasonable doubts regarding that distance extending farther than that, given the time taken for Lelouch to walk there. There is also a 4th reason: When he made the statement, Lelouch didn't know Mao was in the chapel—he merely determined Mao had to be out of range because Suzaku said the size of the apparent bomb would have resulted in a 500 meter wide explosion.