(A very merry Christmas to all and a huge thank you to everyone still following along! I can't believe it's been exactly 5 months since this story was first uploaded :') we've come a long way!

I plan on releasing a few more chapters before wrapping up this first arc of the story. Until then, apologies for the slower uploading speed, and I hope you all enjoy!)

"The trick of real combat is that everyone is human." - Lelouch vi Britannia

Kallen propped the door open before walking in, a tray in her arms. "Here you go, Suzaku," she said, approaching his bed. She laid it by his feet. "Warm lemon tea and a slice of toast."

"Thanks, Kallen," Suzaku said gratefully. "You didn't have to do this."

"Nonsense. After what you went through, you could use something in your system."

He took a sip from the steaming mug. His eyes widened. "Oh, wow," he said. "That's...really good. What else is in here besides lemon?"

"Dried chrysanthemums, honey, and a little mint. Should help to calm you down." She sat herself down on the floor. "Is it working?"

"Very much so." He continued drinking eagerly as it warmed his throat, the ache in his muscles ebbing away. He let out a noise of satisfaction. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"No problem." She wrapped her arms around her knees. "Now that you're awake and feeling better, Lelouch will be relieved too."

"Lelouch, huh?" Suzaku began nibbling on his toast, the crumbs falling into his lap. Wheat bread, too—just the kind he liked. "Is he doing alright? I basically took over his room."

"Oh, he's fine," Kallen reassured. "It's a good thing you arrived right as he woke up, even though you scared the hell out of him. He's been worried sick ever since."

"Really? It's only been a couple of days."

"It's Lelouch. He gets hung up on everything."

"I suppose that's true," Suzaku said, smiling to himself. "I should feel bad about stressing him out, shouldn't I?"

"Do you?"

"Kind of. But it's not my first time doing so. I guess I never learn my lesson."

Kallen looked to him, a smile in her eyes. "It's crazy, isn't it? At one point we thought he was completely heartless. But he actually cared enough to push us away."

"I suppose. Even if it hurt us, or him, he did it anyway. So long as it was for the greater good." Suzaku stared at his reflection in the silver tray, lost among the cuts and bandages on his skin. "But sometimes the consequences outweigh the result. Sometimes it isn't worth it."

"But what if there's no other choice?" Kallen said. "He isn't the most moral person, sure, but he did what he had to at the time."

"I...can't believe that." His expression became bitter. "He hurt so many people. Caused so many casualties. His ambition overshadowed his virtue."

"Don't tell me you can't see why. Didn't you do the same thing?"

"Yes. To reform the world. But I had never hated myself more. I wished I could have stopped him before it got that far. Before it was too late."

"Wasn't the Requiem his plan?"

"It was a last resort. But I still cared enough for him that—"

"'Cared for him'?"

Suzaku froze, the remnants of his toast turning to ashes in his mouth. "Well...yes. He was my friend. I didn't want to see him go down the same path I did."

"I see." She glanced at the photograph on the table. Contemplating something, it seemed like, though hopefully not what Suzaku was expecting—things were complicated enough without Kallen getting involved. "Hey, can I ask you something, Suzaku?"

"Uh, sure." Tension shot up his shoulders. Nothing good ever came from someone asking to propose a question. "What is it?"

"I hope this isn't too personal," Kallen began, "but what is Lelouch to you?"

Damn it. He wished he could disappear into the blankets. "I thought we talked about this when we flew to Kamine Island."

"We did," Kallen said. "But a lot's changed since then. I haven't forgotten what you said on the farm."

"What I said?"

"'Take care of Lelouch for me'," she recited. "I've never heard you sound so passionate. Over anyone."

Suzaku blinked. "It wasn't anything special," he said. "It was in the moment and I was scared. That's all."

"I know, but 'take care of him'? 'For me'? Not 'keep him safe', or 'make sure he escapes'?" She gave him a strange look. "Sounds more, I dunno, like he's really important to you."

"I think you may be overthinking it."

Kallen said nothing. He fought the urge to look away. He should have known this was coming; Kallen had always been quick at catching small details, and it was only a matter of time before she found out anyway. But even so, why did it have to be now? He still wasn't ready for what hid behind the mask, and he doubted she would be either. Like him, her feelings for Lelouch were far from subtle.

Finally, she exhaled. "Yeah, you're right," she said, leaning back against the nightstand. A strip of sunlight had slipped through the blinds, falling across her face. "Sorry for jumping to conclusions."

"It's okay." He almost sagged out of relief. "He does mean a lot to me, remember? It's why I tried so hard to keep him safe."

"I do. And I get it," Kallen said. Her eyes closed slightly, lost in a memory. "I gave up so much for him. Not just recently, but also back when he was Zero."

"What's he doing now?" Suzaku wondered. He idly traced over the cats on his blanket with his finger.

"Tinkering with the radio outside. He's looking for any word from Britannia, hopefully an announcement or something."

"And C.C.? Have you heard anything?"

"Nothing. At first Lelouch wouldn't stop worrying, but he seems to have accepted it for now." She spoke with difficulty, as if afraid of the truth. "I'm sure she's fine. She can't die, after all."

"That's true," Suzaku agreed in an effort to convince himself. "Well, did he get anything from the radio?"

"Dunno. I came to check on you before he started." She stretched out her arms. "Speaking of which, I haven't checked. How are you feeling?"

"Fine." His hand unconsciously traveled to his chest. Still burning. The gash must have torn in deep, stopping just short of his vital tissues. According to her, he was lucky to still be breathing. "The salve you gave me worked wonders."

"Does it hurt? I can grab more stuff if you need it."

"I'll be alright, Kallen. Really." He gave her his most reassuring smile. "I just need more time to heal."

It did not work; she did not seem convinced. "Uh huh," she said. "Big words from someone who almost bled out on arrival. You know, you don't always have to act like some big, strong man."

"I'm not. I've gone through worse. Did you know I once survived getting shot in the back?"

"Eh, that's not—wait, you what?" She uncrossed her arms. "When? How did you survive?"

"A long time ago. Before I was the Lancelot's pilot, back when I was an Eleven soldier. I was with a squad at the Shinjuku ghetto—"

"Shinjuku? What were you doing there?"

"We were searching for something. Apparently some Japanese terrorists had stolen something important. A dangerous weapon, I think. I can't remember the details." He paused. "Uh, why are you staring at me like that?"

"Suzaku." She leaned forward, placing one hand above his leg. "I was there."

"Huh? You...you were?" he stammered. "But why? What were you doing? Don't tell me you were—"

"Wow. I know we've mentioned it before, but I never would've expected…"

She shook her head. "Never mind. It's a long story."

"We have time, don't we?" he said, his curiosity peaking. Now that he thought about it, he knew so little of Kallen's past. And with the day still early and Lelouch in safe hands, he could finally afford the chance to hear her side. The Black Knights. The rise of Zero. Lelouch. "Tell me what happened. Starting from back then."

Kallen briefly thought it over. "All right," she agreed. "Only if you tell me your side too. Especially about how you tried 'changing the system from within'."

He raised his eyebrows. "For Britannia? Which part?"

"Whatever you want to share." She glanced back at the window, watching the sunlight fight its way in. "I've got a feeling there's a lot for both of us."

He gazed down at the cats. A half-smile sprung to his lips. "I think so, too."

It must have been around noon when Suzaku had decided that enough was enough and had committed himself into leaving his bed, though Kallen's nagging for him to console Lelouch may have played its part. But even with her support the pain had torn through his body, spinning his head in circles, making it that much harder for him to put on Naoto's old clothes and inch his way out. "I thought it would have healed by now," he had muttered while trying to pull up his jeans.

"Your injuries were pretty severe," Kallen had said as she buttoned up his shirt; maroon must have been Naoto's favorite color. "It's going to hurt for a while. I'm sure running from those Knightmares didn't help."

"Suzaku." They had made it to the room right outside of his. Before them was Lelouch, already settled at the dining table. No longer wearing his farm clothes but a pale blue button-down, the collar popped open, and a pair of trousers slightly too big for his waist. The radio device fell out of his fingers as he rushed to his feet. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Perhaps you shouldn't—"

"I'm fine, Lelouch," Suzaku reassured. "Are you okay? You're not injured, are you?"

"No. I'm not the one who passed out from blood loss. Or had to elude a pursuing Knightmare." Lelouch scowled as he got closer. "You could've gotten yourself killed. Promise me you won't do something that stupid again."

Suzaku's expression, too, twisted. "It was either that or get captured," he opposed. "There was no other way." His eyes roamed past Lelouch's glare, hoping to land on anything else. The dining area they stood in was small, mostly empty, and reminiscent of the kitchen from his childhood home. Next to them were the cabinets, the beige doors popped open. A pile of dishes sat on a shelf by the fridge. Right by the dining table where Lelouch had sat was a shelving unit, covered in appliances and sliced wheat bread.

"It doesn't matter." Lelouch pressed his palm to Suzaku's cheek. His eyes pierced through his. "I'm not losing you. Do you hear me? Not like that."

For a moment, Suzaku forgot how to breathe. "Lelouch…"

"Alright, you two," Kallen interrupted. "I'll get lunch ready. Lelouch, help me carry him into that chair."

"Is your mom joining us, Kallen?" Suzaku asked as Lelouch took on his weight. The realization that they had switched places—since when was Lelouch the one taking care of him?—crossed his mind.

"Nope. She's taking a nap," Kallen said. "But she did help prepare us lunch. Give me a minute to heat it up."

She left for the fridge, leaving Lelouch to guide him to the dining chair. Suzaku winced as he sat. It would be some time again before he could move his limbs without them screaming out in pain. How unfortunate, considering he had just been nursed back to health. He couldn't afford to falter now, not during such a critical time.

"You're in pain." Lelouch's voice cut through his train of thought. "I can see it."

"Lelouch, I'm fine," Suzaku stressed. "It's nothing I can't handle."

But like Kallen, Lelouch did not seem to take his word. He sat down before him. "Suzaku," he said. He placed his hands in Suzaku's lap. "You said you hated me. When we were on the farm. So why did you go this far to protect me? Allowing yourself to get hurt?" He searched over Suzaku's expression, imploring. "I've already died once, and you never have. I know you wish for death, but this won't—"

"I don't, Lelouch." Suzaku said it before he could stop himself. "Not anymore."

"Then why are you behaving so recklessly?" Lelouch inquired. "Why even take the journey to Kamine? Why do you keep throwing yourself into danger?"

Suzaku remained quiet. The sound of a microwave nearby, humming softly, cut through the silence. It was a while before he answered with, "What do you mean, Lelouch? I did it to protect you."

"But I thought—"

"You're right in that I haven't forgiven you. Not yet." He clasped Lelouch's hands in his, his grip caught around slim fingers. "But I didn't go through all this to confront you. Or to tell you that I hated you."

"Huh?" Lelouch faltered. "You didn't?"

"No," Suzaku said. "I did it because you're my friend."

Lelouch's grip tightened. "I don't understand."

His expression crumpled. "I missed you," Suzaku mumbled, his voice thick. "Lelouch, you were the only one who understood me. We had both lost everything. And then to lose you too after the Requiem...I didn't know what to do. I was more lost than ever before."

"You mean," Lelouch said, the corners of his lips turning up, "it was strange to no longer have someone to focus your hatred around. Is that correct?"

"I guess that was part of it." He turned back up. Lelouch's hair was hanging low, slightly wet, the strands clinging over his eyes. He could still see the purple behind them. "But not all of it."

"So you actually missed me? Truly?"

Suzaku's grin was weak. "Is that so hard to believe?"

"Well, yes," Lelouch uttered. "You tried to kill me. You brought me before the Emperor so he could erase my memory. Should I keep going?"

"Hey. You tried to kill me too. Multiple times. Can't say the same about my memories, though." Suzaku lifted their conjoined hands. His smile disappeared. "I'm sorry for punching you back on the farm. And for knocking you out after they invaded."

"Yeah, you gave me a bruise," Lelouch said lightly. "It still hurts, by the way."

Suzaku bit his lip. "I didn't want to hurt you, Lelouch. It's just—I didn't know what else—"

"Suzaku, relax," Lelouch murmured. His thumb caressed over bruised knuckles, causing Suzaku's skin to tingle. "It's okay. I don't approve, obviously, of you throwing yourself into danger like that. But," he continued, leaning in closer, "I'd be dead by now if not for you. Still dead. Once again, I am in your debt."

"You have yet to repay your first," Suzaku said. A memory came to mind. One that used to make his blood boil, but now left him hollow. "At the Kururugi Shrine."

"Ah. That's right. I...suppose I'm not the best gambler after all."

"No, you aren't." His eyes met Lelouch's. They were split between unwavering compassion and Geass, between Heaven and Hell. "You've gambled with me in more ways than you know."

At that, Lelouch's expression scrunched up. "I'm not sure I follow."

Suzaku wasn't sure what it was that compelled him, but it drove him forward more than any Geass command could. "Lelouch. You don't know how hard it's been."

"How hard what has been?"

"Everything. Without you."

"...So I heard. I truly am sorry. Kallen told me as much."

"It's not only that. There's something I need to tell you. Something you should know."

"Hm? What is it?"

Suzaku froze. What the hell was he doing? He had driven too far, off the edge of a cliff and into the ocean. He squeezed his eyes shut. He could feel Lelouch watching him with concern, on the verge of calling for Kallen. With great effort he caught his voice in the back of his throat, struggling to keep the words from tumbling out. And choked out, "No. Forget what I said. It's nothing."

"Lunch is ready!" Kallen was suddenly there, approaching from behind. "Sorry that took so long."

Suzaku yanked his hands out from Lelouch's. "N-No worries, Kallen," he stuttered, praying that he did not seem too out of place. Though if he was to take anything away from Lelouch's expression, he probably did. And quite badly, too. "Thanks for getting things ready."

"No problem." She placed the tray down, making quick work of setting up the table. "You okay there, Suzaku? You look like you're going to throw up."

"I'm fine. Just...not that hungry is all."

"What is this, Kallen?" Lelouch said, trying to change the subject. He poked at the wooden box before him, solid and inedible, as if it were Arthur preparing to bite his finger. "How do you eat this? Isn't this made of wood?"

"No, you idiot," she said. "There's a lid right there. Open it."

"Ah." He did as he was told. A cloud of steam came rushing out. He glanced down at the box's contents. Then back up at her. "Er, what is this?"

"Lelouch. Really?" she said, blinking in astonishment. "It's a bento box."

"A what?"

"You know, like steamed rice? And meat? Sometimes vegetables? Usually I'll add tofu or…" Her voice trailed off. "Wow. You've never had one before?"

"I can't say that I have." He poked at a lump of brown with his chopsticks. "What's this over here?"

"Braised short ribs." She eagerly opened her own box. "There's a boiled egg and some pickled vegetables in there too. I can't believe you've never had it! It's my favorite meal."

"Well, it certainly seems like a lot." Lelouch tore off a strip of meat, chewing hesitantly. And came to a stop. His eyes immediately lit up. "This is...amazing!"

"Isn't it?" Kallen said, tapping her chopsticks together. "Mom makes the best short ribs. Come on, Suzaku, eat up before it gets cold."

"Oh, uh...alright." He reached for the lid, trying to ignore the shaking of his fingers. A blast of steam and the whiff of aromatic sauces made him draw back slightly, his stomach rumbling. "Thanks, Kallen. It smells fantastic."

"Of course. Dig in, everyone!"

"So you've heard nothing?" Suzaku said, unable to hide his disappointment. He stabbed into the remaining half of his egg. "I thought they would have announced something regarding C.C. at least."

"As did I," Lelouch said. He was the only one not eating after having finished his box in a matter of minutes, leaving Kallen more proud than ever. "But there was nothing. I ran through the channels all morning and not a single word. We'll have to source out other intel if we want to rescue her."

"I mean, I guess that makes sense," Kallen said, wiping at her mouth with her napkin. "They seemed like they were trying to keep quiet back at the farm."

"They didn't have any guns," Suzaku added, pushing his leftover rice into one corner. "Even the Knightmares were acting carefully."

"Likely because it was an assassination attempt," Lelouch pointed out. "Why else would they be keeping a low profile? They must not want the public to know of their dishonorable tactics."

"Right." Like usual, Lelouch seemed to have processed the situation three times over. Everything about him was jarringly familiar, from the way he spoke to how his mind spun like a well-oiled machine. Even if everything else around them had changed. "So what should we do now? We can't attack them head-on, can we?"

Lelouch turned to Kallen. "Kallen, is there anything happening at Ashford in the next couple of days?"

"Hm? Ashford?" she said, frozen in mid-chew. "Er, I don't think so. Why?"

"I heard about a festival. Something involving lights, I believe."

"A light festival?" She nearly dropped her chopsticks. "Oh, right! The mid-spring Lantern Festival! Rivalz was stressing out about it last week. With everything else going on, I completely forgot." Her nose wrinkled. "Isn't that coming up soon? It should be in—"

"Two days," Lelouch finished. "It's supposedly one of the largest events in the city. All students and faculty are encouraged to join. Though, if Milly has any say, they'll probably be forced to."

"But I don't see how that involves us," Suzaku said, perplexed. "We can't go back to Ashford. Not after what happened."

Lelouch leaned back in his seat, his eyes glittering. "Why ever not?"

"What?" Suzaku stiffened. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kallen do the same. "Lelouch. You can't mean that. They saw what we became. They thought we were dead."

"And what of it?" Lelouch asked innocently. "It's too late for pretense now. We've already been exposed. And with all of its resources, Ashford would be the perfect place for us to make our next move. Besides," he added smugly, "I do miss being home."

"You won't if you end up getting exiled. Or killed." Suzaku's voice had gone cold. "Did you even think this plan through?"

"Of course," he said. "With enough luck, we'll end up right in center stage. Exactly where we need to be to press our advantage."

"What advantage?"

"You'll see. I can't show my hand just yet."

"I'm not accepting that," Suzaku retorted. "If you want me to come along, you'll have to explain yourself."

"I'll explain what I must." There was an unbreakable calmness to his voice, a knife kept under silk. "But there's a reason to my methods. Trust me."

"And how am I supposed to do that when you won't tell us your intentions?"

"Must I clarify everything?" Lelouch asked, a puzzled look on his face. "I thought your faith in me was stronger, Suzaku. Especially considering what we talked about earlier."

Suzaku scowled. Of course Lelouch would be dangling their words over his head. Knowing he could do nothing to get within reach, not with his heart in the way. "Lelouch…"

"We'll do it," Kallen cut in. She gave Suzaku a look before he could interrupt, one that seemed to say follow my lead. "Tell us what to do. It involves this festival, right?"

"Right," he said. "Tell me, Kallen—what do you know about it?"

"Nothing." Her bluntness still surprised Suzaku sometimes. "I'm not part of the planning committee. I just know it's starting in two days. How did you find out? From the radio?"

"Not at all." He pointed. "Did you not realize you had a flyer right there?"

"Huh?" She turned. Stuck to her front door was a crumpled piece of paper, covered in the image of a giant floating lantern, along with a set date and time. "Oh. I guess Mom must've brought it in without telling me."

"Look closer," Lelouch said. "There's no fee requirement. No restrictions to entry aside from proof of connection, student or otherwise. And the event is being advertised to the whole city."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"The government wants to uphold an image of peace," he observed. "What better place to start than with Ashford's student body and their loved ones? The alma mater of their own Empress?"

"You think Britannia is going to be there," Suzaku said, the remnants of his meal entirely forgotten. "Trying to take over."

"Not just any part of Britannia," Lelouch added, "but royalty. Cornelia and Schneizel. They'll use Nunnally if they have her. A surprise visit would easily swoon the public over."

"But what if they're not there?" Kallen asked, her brows furrowed together. "We'll end up exposing ourselves."

"Not an issue." Lelouch closed his eyes. He gently sipped at his tea. "We'll win them over instead."

Suzaku stared at him. "Win them over?"

"Yes. The return of an emperor, one with the power to rise from the dead?" His smirk was a devious one. "They already know we are coming. Making the first move will inspire awe, if not terror, into them."

"Just like the Requiem." Even if everything else around them had changed. "The same way as before, Lelouch?"

"It's all we have," Lelouch responded, the light in his eyes obscured once more. Hiding something. "But I'll need both of your help. Can you get me into Ashford, Kallen?"

"I can," Kallen said reluctantly. Her mouth was drawn in a firm line. "But only if you promise me something, Lelouch."

"Tell me."

Her voice was hard enough to cut through glass. "You won't resort to what you did before," she commanded. "You won't put them in danger or keep them under siege. Either willingly or through Geass. Promise me that, at least."

Lelouch reached out. As he placed his hand on the table, the tips of his fingers grazed against hers. "I promise," he said.

She met his gaze. As time passed, Suzaku wondered what she could be thinking—not even he knew whether Lelouch could be trusted at this point—until finally she said, "Alright. When do you want to leave?"

"Hey, Nina?" Rivalz desperately knocked on the door. Geez, how could a couple of paper lanterns be so heavy? Did someone fill them up with lead? "C'mon, open up! I can't hold onto these for much longer!"

"Coming!" A thin voice came from within, followed by shuffling footsteps. The door swung open to reveal Nina in the doorway, wringing out her hands. "What are you doing, carrying all of that? Make sure you don't drop it!"

"I'm trying!" He teetered past her and into the student council's office, searching for something to break his fall. The boxes tipped precariously to one side. "Oh, crap! Quick, Nina! Grab the box with—"

"Gosh, Rivalz," a soft voice interrupted. The weight in his arms lessened, but it was already too late. He slipped and tumbled to the ground, the boxes scattering their contents across the carpet. "I thought you'd be more organized than this. Guess some things never change!"

"Oww." He rubbed at his head, groaning. "Sorry, Milly. I'm normally not this bad. Just today."

As she hoisted the box in her arms, Milly Ashford let out a giggle. "At least the lanterns in this one are okay," she said as she peered inside. "One, two, three...hm. Looks like all six are intact. Good job, Rivalz! You're not entirely useless after all!"

"Aw, c'mon. It's not my fault they're so heavy," he complained. "It's a good thing you came to help, Milly. Otherwise we'd be doomed."

"Oh, I know." Milly lowered herself to the floor, reaching for the scattered light bulbs. "You're supposed to be Student President, Rivalz. Are you handling it well? It's a lot of responsibility, and you're...well..."

"W-What do you mean? Of course I am! I've been doing it for a year!"

"That doesn't necessarily mean you've done well," Nina mumbled off to the side, not looking up from her textbook. "Though he certainly tries his best."

"See? Nina agrees with me!" Milly hopped back to her feet, one finger raised in lecture. "How often do you check the budget? Are the professors doing their job? When's the last time you looked over the security cameras? Can you recite the mission statement from—"

"Milly, please!" Rivalz clapped his hands over his ears. "I get it, I get it. I suck at being President. Can we move on? Will you help me now?"

"There you go! Took you long enough to admit it!" Milly's exuberance could have lit up the entire room. As she picked up another box Rivalz couldn't help but gawk at her, oblivious to the mess surrounding him. It was a shame that she did not visit Ashford as much anymore—her smile still made him weak in the knees. He missed seeing her giggle at his antics. The way she got him to keep his act together. And how pretty she was, and how nice she smelled, and how her breasts would always—

"Ack!" He shook his head rapidly. "Er, sorry. Did you say something, Milly?"

"Hm? Were you not listening?" She blinked. "I said, did you purchase the flowers already? This is a spring festival, after all. If nothing else, the decorations must be perfect!"

"Y-Yeah. I told Nina to order them three days ago." He looked over. "Right, Nina?"

"Huh? No, you didn't," she answered, bewildered. "You told me to answer phone calls."

"And order flowers," Rivalz added, already feeling perspiration gather on his forehead. "Remember? Pink carnations and blue hydrangeas?"

"Oh...you just said their names. I thought they were code for something else. "

"Huh? No, I—what? How did you even think of that?!"

"You told me we should use code names to keep things a secret. I-I just assumed—"

"Not for this!" Rivalz buried his face in his hands. "Crap. Now how are we gonna get enough flowers with just two days' time?"

Milly could not hold back her laughter. "That's okay, Rivalz. Those flowers are horrible choices anyway."

"Agreed. I think cherry blossoms would suit much better."

The words struck him like a blow to the chest. Rivalz choked. That voice. One reminiscent of motorcycle rides, chess battles, and lonely fireworks. Of how he had holed himself up in his room for an entire week, consumed by grief. Could it have been from his imagination? But then why did it sound like it was coming from a few feet away?

He looked up, his mouth drier than the dust coating the boxes. And saw him leaning against the doorway. "Lelouch?" He gasped. "B-B-But—"

"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Rivalz?" He looked the same as before. Same hair, same eyes, same grin, only a different outfit. The way he spoke sounded friendly, as if they were old friends reconnecting after a long break. "I've been gone for a while, I know. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." He raised a hand in greeting. "How have you been, Milly? Are things going well at the news station?"

There was a crash as Milly dropped the box in her arms. Her face turned pale, as if stricken by fever. She clawed at the green fabric of her vest. "Y-You—" she stammered. "Lelouch...you…"

"Hm? Why is everyone acting so strangely?" Lelouch stepped in and past Nina, who looked like she was about to snap her pen in half. "Am I interrupting something? Kallen, I thought you said they would be free at this time."

"I did." Then Kallen came in. What the hell was she doing with Lelouch? Didn't she fight against him during the war? Had she been brainwashed? "That's what I thought, anyway."

"Hm," Lelouch mused. "Strange. Perhaps this is a bad time."

A sense of dread traveled down Rivalz's spine. It was unnerving to see Lelouch so at ease. Just like when he had become Emperor and destroyed the world without a guilty conscience. Maybe all of this was a dream, and his sleepless nights were finally catching up to him. "Lelouch," he began, his tongue caught in his mouth—what could he possibly say?—before ultimately continuing with, "What...what are you doing here? Why are you here?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said, why are you here?" Finally, he had found his voice. He shook his head desperately, as if to wake himself up. Any second now. I'll wake up and this'll all be over. C'mon. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. "You. You were..."

"You were dead," Nina finished for him. If looks could kill, Lelouch would have collapsed on the spot. "So it's true. Even though he killed you. Zero."

But Lelouch ignored her. Ignored him. Instead, he gave Milly his full attention. "Milly, is everything okay? You look unwell. Do you recognize me?"

Milly recoiled as if slapped. Her eyes darted away. "Y-Yes. I do. I recognize you."

"Why are you shivering?" he asked. "Are you cold?"

"Stop." She said it weakly. "Lelouch. Please leave."

He blinked. "Leave? What do you mean?"

"Leave us alone," she said. She didn't seem to know where to look. "Don't do this. We don't have what you want."

"But I don't want anything," Lelouch said. He took another step forward. "I just wanted to say hi."

"Liar!" Nina stood up. "We don't want you here, Lelouch. Your actions are far beyond repentance. You need to leave. Now."

Rivalz held his breath. From where he stood he could make out Kallen in the back, moving to stop Nina. Until Lelouch held up a hand. Stopping her instead. It astounded him—was she following his command? Kallen? "Nina." Lelouch said her name without turning around. "It's good to see you."

But she didn't seem to hear him. "We had a deal," she said coldly. "You said if I helped you deactivate the FLE—"

"Can we all please relax?" Lelouch interrupted. He held up his other hand. "I don't have any ulterior motive, I swear. Is it so wrong of me to come and visit old friends?"

"Old friends?" Rivalz said. He gripped at one of the chairs, his fingers white. "Are you joking, Lelouch?"

"Uh...no?" Lelouch answered. "You're all my friends, aren't you?"

The way Lelouch was looking at him. Could he be telling the truth? But this was Lelouch they were talking about. Master of chess and mind games. The self-proclaimed Demon Emperor. And, now that he remembered, someone of royal blood. Rivalz frowned—he wouldn't let that one go so easily. If he were to die in this dream, then he would at least get some answers. "Are we, Lelouch?" he said. "Friends don't lie to one another."

"Is this about that time I told you Milly's favorite date spot? Because at the time it wasn't—"

"What? No!" Rivalz cried out, mortified, hoping that Milly was too preoccupied to have paid attention. "No, obviously not! You think that's what I care about?"

"Then what is it?"

"What is it?" Rivalz repeated. "Lelouch. You freaking died. On live television. In broad daylight. What...how? How are you here? What happened?" With each consecutive question he could feel the tension building inside of him, a cord about to snap. "Why did you lie about being of royalty? Why did you become Emperor? Why did you go and destroy the world? Lelouch, just, just...why?"

Lelouch had fallen silent. Sunlight poured through the tall windows of the student council room, illuminating his expression.

It was blank.

"Please, Lelouch, answer me!" Rivalz shouted desperately. Did he think they were that stupid? He had already fooled them once; he would not let him break their hearts again. Not his, not Nina's, and especially not Milly's. "You're our friend, right? Then why did you betray us? What do you want?! Tell me, or I'll, I'll...I'll use the PA system! I'll announce to everyone in the Academy that you're here! And then you'll—you'll have nowhere to hide!"

Rivalz felt fingers graze his shoulder. Milly's touch was delicate, enough to calm his trembling a little. Though scared half to death, he forced his eyes open, trying to ignore Kallen's stare from afar. Bracing himself for what he would find. Contempt. Disbelief. Maybe even hatred. But Lelouch may as well have been a stranger on the street, for his eyes were entirely empty. Just like the promise he once made to light fireworks with them.

Right as Rivalz was about to run up and shake him by the shoulders, Lelouch smiled again. "What in the world are you talking about, Rivalz?" he said. "Where did you come up with such a grand story?"

"Huh?" Rivalz blanched. "Story?"

"Are you feeling alright? It sounds like you've been awake for too long." His expression shifted. "Or is this another prank? We're not doing this again, are we? The one you pulled last time didn't even work."

Rivalz stumbled back, nearly tripping over the chair behind him. "Wha...Lelouch, how could—"

"Milly, is he okay?" Lelouch wondered. "Look, if this is another one of your grand schemes, you've won. I fell for it. A smashing success. But there's no need to get the whole Academy involved, is there?"

Milly looked like she was about to faint. "You can't be serious, Lelouch. Are you actually saying you don't remember?"

"Remember what?" He sounded exasperated. "Kallen, maybe you can talk some sense into them. What's going on?"

From her place by the door, Kallen bit her lip. "I don't know," she said, wavering, as if unsure of her place. "But Rivalz, Milly, Nina. I think you should give him a chance. He clearly isn't trying to hurt anyone."

If Nina were to give Rivalz the same look she was giving Kallen, he would have bolted out and never returned. "Kallen, you're going along with this?" she said. "You're siding with him?"

"I'm saying we shouldn't push him away so quickly. It's not what you think."

"Bullshit!" Nina suddenly erupted, like a bomb at the end of its fuse. She clenched the pen in her hand as if it were a knife. "I should've known you'd slither back to him! You people are all the fucking same! Nothing but dogs!"

"Hold on, Nina." Lelouch turned to her. He brushed his hand over one eye. "I don't want to cause a commotion. Could you please listen to what I have to say? Be reasonable, won't you?"

"Reasonable? You bastard, I'll show you—"

Then Nina froze. Her jaw went slack. She slowly straightened up, then nodded, the sharpness in her tone melting into vapor. "Yeah, sorry," she said. "I've calmed back down. I'll be okay."

"H-Huh?" Rivalz whipped his head back and forth. Did he just...hypnotize her? "Nina? Lelouch? What did you do?!"

"I didn't do anything," Lelouch said. He rubbed at his eye—the same eye—with his hand, as if exhausted. "Nina can be sensible when she wants to. She must have returned to her senses. Right, Nina?"

"Yes, I have. I shouldn't have overreacted." Nina nodded at them. She spoke with all the emotion of a robot. "Maybe you should see what he has to say, Rivalz. I don't think he means any harm."

Rivalz could feel the blood rushing out of him. His legs trembled, pushing him to make a run for it. But Kallen was guarding the door. She'd cream him in an instant. What if he tried jumping out the window? They were on the second floor; he could survive that, right? But what about Milly? How would she get out? He couldn't just leave her. But then they'd both be screwed. Unless he thought of something, quick. Something to escape this awful nightmare. This has to be a dream. This has to be a dream. Wake up now, Rivalz. For the love of God, wake up—

"Come on, Rivalz." He looked up. Lelouch was sitting at one of the round tables, patting the seat beside him. His grin was genuine. "It's been a while. Why don't you tell me what you've been up to?"

Before Rivalz could reply, he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. Milly was behind him again, her nails digging into his shirt. "Maybe we should listen, Rivalz," she murmured in his ear. Her voice was trembling. "Maybe he really has changed."

He stared back at her. "Milly? Are you hypnotized too?"

"No, of course not," she said. "But Lelouch could've killed us by now if he wanted to. I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling. I think...I think we should hear what he has to say. Something about him seems different."

"Different?" Rivalz turned back. Lelouch was waiting for them, his hands folded on the table. Were it not for...well, everything, Rivalz might have mistaken him for a regular student. A friend. His own friend. Passing notes in class. Messing with Shirley's belongings. Chopping potatoes together for school banquets. That was the Lelouch he had never stopped missing—could there be a trace of him still in there?

"Alright, Milly. I trust you." He shook his head. Then stepped towards Lelouch, his breathing shallow, the fear turning him into solid rock. "Okay, Lelouch," he said with a gulp. "We'll talk to you. But, uh, you won't hurt us, right? W-We're still your friends, right? Right?"

"Of course, Rivalz." Lelouch's expression softened as he beckoned them forward. As Milly sat beside him, Rivalz could only wonder whether they had become pieces in his chess game. "After all, you guys have always been there for me. Now please, tell me everything. How are things at Ashford?"

"Anything out here?"

"Nothing." Suzaku glanced down the hallway for the hundredth time. "You were right, Kallen. No one comes to the student council office after hours."

"Yeah. Rivalz makes it a huge deal that they aren't to be bothered after five PM. He loves slacking off when he can." She pressed her ear up to the door. "Looks like things have calmed down. I hope they're alright."

"Me too," Suzaku said. He stared down at his shoes. "I really hope this wasn't a mistake."

"What makes you say that?"

"I can't imagine what we're putting them through. If Lelouch were to hurt them in some way, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

"Don't worry," Kallen said. "I don't think he wants to. They were his friends once too. He's not a complete monster."

"I know. But I can't help but worry. Lelouch has a history of going too far."

"Which is why I warned him," she said as she pulled back. "That he can't hurt them."

"And do you trust him?"

"Yes. Don't you?"

Suzaku hesitated. "I do," he said. "But…"

"You trust in him and his intentions," Kallen observed, "but not his methods. Am I right?"

"Yes. Yes, exactly," Suzaku said partially to himself. "I hope this works. I don't want to consider the alternative he'd sink to if it doesn't."

But before Kallen could respond, the door swung open. "I heard that, you know," Lelouch said. Gently, he shut it closed behind him. "Luckily, there's no alternative to consider."

"Really?" Suzaku perked up. "So they're okay with us staying here?"

"For now. But we're forbidden from interacting with the students, or leaving this wing of the academy. There's some rooms in the floor above where Milly's father used to live. We can stay there until the festival ends."

"And...they're okay? With us? With us going to the festival?"

Not to Suzaku's surprise, Lelouch shook his head. "Not exactly. Milly and Rivalz have their doubts, but they're willing to give us a chance. As long as we don't cause a commotion, we are free to do as we choose. Oh, and by the way, Kallen, they're waiting for you inside. They want an explanation from someone they trust."

"Shit." Kallen sighed. "I saw this coming. I'm terrible at lying."

"Best of luck," Lelouch commented as she slid past him. "Try not to scare them too much."

"Ha ha." She made a face as she closed the door. Leaving Suzaku alone with Lelouch, their only company the paintings on the wall. A sense of unease breathed down his neck, one he could not shake off. There were a million things that could go wrong with this strategy, and using Ashford as a base was skating on thin ice. If their safety were to be jeopardized, he might be out of miracles to pull. The last thing he wanted was to put his home in danger.

Not your home anymore, a voice in his head reminded him. You never truly belonged here anyway.

"Are you okay, Suzaku?" Lelouch asked. "You seem troubled."

"I am," he said. "About a lot of things."

"Like what?"

"Your Geass. Did you use it?"

"I had to. On Nina. She was likely going to kill me if I didn't."

"What did you tell her?"

Lelouch sighed. "To calm down and listen to reason. Nothing too manipulative, I assure you."

"And Rivalz? Milly?"

"I was tempted, but no. They came around on their own terms." He ran a hand through his hair. "Satisfied?"

"For now," Suzaku said with a nod. "I'm choosing to trust you, Lelouch. Not only as your knight, but also as your friend."

"I guess that makes me the lucky one." Lelouch smirked. "The pieces have been set, Suzaku. With Milly and Rivalz on our side, all that's left is to wait."

"Wait?" Suzaku questioned. "Wait for what?"

"For their next move." The last rays of sunlight were dull compared to the sparkle in his eye. "Regardless of the outcome, it will make for a most excellent stage. And if there's one thing people love, it's an entertaining show."

C.C. mumbled aimlessly as she woke up. Dreams, hazier than the faces from her past, fogged her senses. It didn't last for long; the sound of a door being slammed brought her back to reality.

"Ugh." She sat up, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. Three days already. Or was it four? She was starting to lose count. Her imprisonment was nothing new, nor was her holding cell. The air reminded her of sewage, and that awful green light did nothing to ease her nausea. Her straitjacket, on the other hand, felt oddly appropriate given her situation.

It all leads back to Britannia. No doubt Lelouch must be worried out of his mind, trying to convince himself of his adequacy. She had seen him do so many times, back when the empire he built had been brought to its knees. Without realizing it, she smiled to herself. Normally the temperamental ones never got anything accomplished. But Lelouch had been the exception to many a rule, and his influence was one of a kind. Geass had given him the power to change the world, but only he could have pulled it into being.

Thank goodness that she had picked the right partner.

Footsteps. She heard them now, getting louder. Boots raining on metal. It was coming her way. Another guard to question her? Perhaps they had reached the torturing stage. Or they could be jumping straight to execution if they were really desperate. Not that it made a difference. The solace she felt upon blacking out was no more than a slumber, and she was more than used to experiencing pain.

A jarring sound reached her ears. The door to her cell had opened. In walked a tall figure, clad in purple robes. The green light reflected off of the mask they wore.

"So you finally came," C.C. said. "Zero."

Zero walked closer, their cape swaying by their ankles. And stopped before her. C.C. blinked. Was this supposed to be part of the interrogation? Rarely did they send someone of higher ranking; Clovis had been the one exception. "To what do I owe the honor?" she said.

"It's been a while, C.C.." The voice had no owner. "Are you surprised to see me?"

"Surprised? Not anymore," C.C. said. "I was, at first. But then I remembered that nothing in this world is sacred."

"Sacred, hm?" Zero lowered themselves to their knees. "Are you saying that salvation is out of my reach?"

"There is no such thing as salvation," C.C. answered. "People create their own definitions to push others' away. The idea is no different than justice. Universal, yet meaningless."

"What a fascinating answer!" Zero let out a sound that could only be described as a laugh. "Though I should have expected nothing different from you."

"And I should have seen that question coming from you," C.C. answered playfully. "You always did have a knack for hypotheticals. Didn't you, Marianne?"

Without another word, Zero raised their hands and lifted the mask off. Dark hair poured down her shoulders, followed by angular cheekbones. Under the dim light C.C. could see the warmth in her smile, one that could only belong to that of a mother.

"You know me too well, C.C.," Marianne vi Britannia said warmly. "It's true what they say—some things never change."