Unseen, Suzaku made his way across the roof. Below him, the settlement was preparing to turn in for the night, giving him an opening to complete his assignment. It was fortunate that one of his Templar superiors was in the military, lest he be charged with various crimes for simply being an Eleven running across rooftops.

Taking a moment to rest by a nightclub, Suzaku pulled out a PDA - a gift from some associates working for the Blume Corporation. Dialing a number, he was greeted by a familiar voice.

"What is it, Kururugi?"

"Lord Hilshire, I'm approaching the target location."

"Excellent. So, are you aware of why Mr. Green is in our sights?"

"He's gotten too comfortable with the authorities, and has facilitated the capture of our allies by authorities. More worrisome, though, is that he has recently been seen in the company of one Bartley Asperius."

"The Viceroy's aide?!"

"Indeed. We know not of what the association entails, but it can no longer be allowed to continue. So, please, silence Sir Alphonso Green."

"So, how is integration of the ctOS going?" asked Lelouch.

"Smoothly," replied Reuben. "Thanks to the Week of Blood, Britannia's developed an interest in making sure that better surveillance options are available to catch terrorists before they can enact their plans. Of course, they don't know that we will have a backdoor into their systems."

"true. Though I will admit that it seems odd that Assassins are benefiting off of a strategy that the Templars are likely to use."

"Technically, it is a Templar strategy. Blume is merely another front for the order - one that I admittedly have high standing in."

"Right. I seem to have forgotten that. Also, how's Milly handling things?"

"Well enough - nine month's worth of therapy has helped treat the worst of her issues, though I doubt anyone from Ashford will ever get over this in its entirety. You don't count, you're conditioned for this."

"True enough. How's Mr. Einstein?"

"Continuing to run Blume with efficiency and precision, though he has complained about his granddaughter saying some rather bigoted things about some of his Japanese employees. One cannot create a one world order if racism is a problem."

"Is there a particular reason so many children of Assassins and Templars go to your high school?"

"I wanted to have a place where my friends knew their children were safe from harm. No Assassin or Templar would dare attack the academy without great risk of harming the next generations of their orders."

"I see. Oh, and is your daughter-in-law still trying to negotiate with other nobles to return your family to its 'rightful place'?"

"Do termites gather wood to farm fungus?"

"Hardly a surprise. I'm amazed you still tolerate her presence."

"My son loves her, and somehow, despite being an utter embodiment of all things wrong with nobility, she seems to reciprocate. She'll manipulate him into practically being a footstool for her, but she seems to at least occasionally try to help him with others who abuse him. Even if she is the reason they do so in the first place."

"I presume that does nothing to earn her your respect?"

Reuben laughed. "Not at all. I will admit, though, her level of planning and preparation in her plans to try and supplant me are impressive. Were it not for her classism, racism, lack of empathy, and short-sighted ambition, I would have considered allowing her into the Brotherhood - a chance my weak-willed son will never have."

"That sucks for him."

Suzaku ambled forward, hidden amid the crowd. He had finally reached the building that Green was hiding in...well, not necessarily hiding. Green had official business to handle here - after a brief but notable tour of duty during the conquest of the Philippines, he had decided to devote himself to the private sector and taken to banking. A trait more heavily associated with prominent Assassins and Templars during the Italian Renaissance, but some were old fashioned that way.

Almost immediately after entering Harold and Simmon's Lending, Suzaku made his way up to a brunette teller by the name of Lisa Salazar. "Hello, I'd like to make a withdrawal."

"Of course. From which account-"

"Actually, I'd like to retrieve something from my safe deposit box."

"Oh. Which one please, and I will need some identification, please."

"Box number 215," replied the Japanese Templar. Instead of offering an ID, though, Suzaku merely raised his right hand, revealing his Templar Ring. "And I apologize, but I left my identification at home. An honest mistake, though one that seems to happen too frequently for my tastes."

"...I see. Well, I think this can be excused for one occasion. Allow me to retrieve your deposit."

The teller disappeared into the vault, only to return a moment later, holding a set of documents. As soon as she handed Suzaku the papers, she pulled him in close.

"Green is having a private call on the third floor. He has some guards posted up their, with orders to shoot anyone who looks suspicious. Word of advice, though, but they aren't the brightest tools in the shed, and the current shift is not the most observant. As for getting up there, there's a spare janitor uniform in a closet on the second floor, and the halls outside Green's office are to be mopped up in five minutes. That should allow you to sneak in. The rest is up to you."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"May the Father of Understanding guide us."

Pocketing the documents, Suzaku made his way to the closet and changed into his disguise. Internally, he noted how stupid he had sounded when using the coded phrase - one of many reasons he disdained deception as method of justice. Still, the time to back out had gone and passed. He was a Templar now, and even if he were to change sides - a choice he would never make - secrecy was the primary course of action for both hidden groups. Such was the way things went - and as much as Suzaku believed in change from within, even he knew that some things should not be changed.

Grabbing a set of cleaning supplies, Suzaku made his way to the third floor, careful to avoid looking too suspicious. Hopefully the guards weren't overly observant - if they were, they wouldn't need long to realize he didn't work here.

Fortunately for Suzaku, their observation skills were irrelevant - when he arrived on the third floor, the guards were busy conversing with a member of the maintenance staff. It seemed a smoke detector had broken and they wanted that addressed now. More fortuitously, Suzaku found that he had an excuse to enter Mr. Green's office - Mr. Green had requested it be cleaned after someone had spilled of whole pot of coffee during a conversation with an investor (which had also ruined one of Green's best suits).

Just as Suzaku was about to enter the office, though, he overheard his target having a conversation over the phone. And what he heard made him stop cold.

"Yes, sir, I'll be over in a moment. And once we are in a more secure location, I will discuss with you which of my associates might be more willing to assist the military. I believe that our organization has been working in the shadows for too long, and coming into the light will be more effective in advancing our goals. And I promise that I will provide more information concerning the fate of the Eleventh Prince."

It was a miracle that Suzaku was able to shake himself out of his stupor in time to avoid drawing suspicion from Alphonso Green. Once the man had exited his room, Suzaku hastily made his way downstairs, though not before entering the room and retrieving the suit, as well as a few documents of minimal risk - best to destroy those as well.

A moment after Suzaku had changed into his original attire, he called Lord Hilshire.

"What is it, Kururugi?"

"There's been a change in plans - Green is about to meet with someone in the military, most likely Bartley. And I don't have an opening to... dispose... of him quietly."

Hilshire swore. "Dammit. Give me a moment, I'll see what we can arrange."

Unnoticed to Suzaku or Lord Green, a group of masked figures had pulled up outside the bank, and wordlessly gestured between each other.

"Argh, I don't have any assets in the area to arrange an accident. Tail him and see if you can find an opening."

Suzaku grimaced. "I'll try, but no promises-"

Whatever else Suzaku wanted to say was cut off when the sound of gunfire filled the air.

"So, my boy, what do you plan to do tonight? Study? Prepare to go to war with Britannia? Maybe live a little bit and respond to one of those offers the girls at Ashford have made to you?"

Lelouch chuckled at that statement. "Perhaps another time, but actually, there's a memory I'd like to go over in the Animus - one from ancestor of mind that lived through Washington's failed rebellion."

"Connor?"

"Yes, him. It's been giving the Animus strange readings that I want to examine in depth now."

"I see. Well, I'll leave you be, but I do beleive that you should consider spending time with others of the fairer sex - you won't have to depend on my family's charity forever, and you have plenty of those who would be willing to keep you hidden from your father's eye. I think it is time that you learned to live a little."

Lelouch quirked an eyebrow. "Are you saying that honestly or because you want me to hook up with your granddaughter?"

Reuben smiled at that. "Honestly, I prefer that blue haired boy who chauffeurs you chess games over you as a future grandson-in-law."

"None taken, his name is Rivalz, and why?"

"Because he likes Millicent for who she is, not for her wealth or family name. He is, if nothing else, someone I could count on to keep Milly happy. I can also trust you to do so, but Rivalz also has other endearing traits."

"I see. Anything else you want to say?"

"No, not now. Farewell."

With that, the two Assassins parted ways - Lelouch needed to pick up some medicine for Nunnally on his way home, while Reuben had to deal with yet another of his daughter-in-laws efforts to secretly displace his dominance over the Ashford Family.

Ducking behind cover, Suzaku hastily applied first aid to an injured child before turning his attention to the ongoing shootout.

"Hilshire," he whispered, "is this planned?"

"No," confirmed the Britannian Lord. "This is not something our group planned. It seems to be a case of bad luck that these criminal robbed this bank while you were here."

"Not exactly sure it's bad, though," remarked Suzaku, "excluding the innocents in danger here."

"Oh, and why is that?"

Suzaku glanced at Lord Green, who was currently huddled up against a wall and applying pressure to his arm, which was bleeding from a bullet wound just below the shoulder. "Lord Green's been hit."

"...That is good news."

"I'm trying to get nearby civilians out of the bank, but once I'm done with that, I'll grab Green. I don't think he'll suspect that someone who tried to save him is the one who will end him."

"Fair enough. But don't let him escape."

XXXXX

Lord Green was surprised when the Japanese man moved to save him, but he wasn't complaining - beggars couldn't be choosers.

"Thanks for the assistance, young man. Now, could you take me around the back of the building?"

"Huh? Why? You're hurt, so shouldn't I be taking you up front where you'll have easier access to an ambulance when it arrives?"

"I already have medical personnel on the way, and besides, I'd rather they not get caught in the crossfire when the police arrive."

"Understood. Can I at least set you down first and check your pulse to see if you need more urgent treatment?"

"...I suppose. Though please, check my temples rather than my arms - I think you'll get a better pulse from them."

The boy acquiesced and placed a hand around the man's throat.

Green was surprised to notice that the boy was now frowning.

"What's wrong?"

"...I'm sorry."

"What for-"

ZAAP!

"..Oh. That's why."

"Yes. I'm sorry, but I could not allow you to divulge our order's secrets."

"But why?" questioned the dying Lord Green. "If we worked openly with Britannia, could we not achieve the peace we seek?"

"Britannia's peace would never be acceptable to the masses," replied Suzaku. "They enslave those they conquer, which will forever inspire them to rebel. If it is truly necessary for us to enslave others to achieve peace (something I earnestly hope is not the case), then it should only be their minds."

"You know that killing me will just draw more attention to the Order, right?"

Suzaku gave a dark smile. "No, it won't."

"Huh?"

"You were shot by those robbers in the femoral artery. Even with medical treatment, you'd bleed out too fast to recover. Even if suspicion is thrown upon us, the fact is that you were killed by a group unaffiliated with the Templars."

"Oh... well, you got lucky," croaked out the man, who then closed his eyes forever.

"Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. Rest in peace."

After dragging Hilshire out of the building and feigning shock at his death, Suzaku ended up being dismissed by officers on the scene - an Eleven's testimony was useless in this case. For once, Suzaku was glad his status was used against him - it saved him from having to answer too many revealing questions.

Once he was certain that there were no prying eyes watching, Suzaku called up Hilshire.

"The deed is done."

"Excellent. Report to Abstergo's main office in one hour - it's time your devotion to the cause is noted."

"Suzaku Kururugi," spoke one voice, a woman's. "Son of former prime minister Genbu Kururugi."

"Yes, my lady?"

"I'm merely stating information that my fellows may not have adequate knowledge about," admitted the woman. "From a young age, you've been a member of our cause."

"And one with surprising devotion, seeing what happened with your father."

"May we... not discuss that?" questioned Suzaku, discomfort growing within him.

"I don't see why not," conceded another voice, that of a man. "What happened to Genbu, and Suzaku's involvement in it, are well known facts to all of us here."

"So, shall we confer this promotion?" asked another voice, one that Suzaku recognized as Carmen Kingsley - Lelouch's maternal grandmother.

"I don't see why not," spoke a fourth voice - Hilshire's.

"Splendid," spoke a fifth, feminine voice. "First, though, you must swear to uphold the oaths we confer upon you."

"I understand."

"Do you swear to uphold the tenants of our order?" questioned the first voice - Lady Adachi, Grandmaster of the Templars in Osaka.

"I swear."

"Do you swear to protect against those that would hunt down our order?" questioned the second voice - Louis Hebert, Grandmaster of the Lyon Templars.

"I swear."

"Do you swear to eliminate those who have strayed from our path?" inquired Carmen, Grandmaster of the Californian Templars and CEO of Bloom.

"I swear."

"And do you swear to keep on living and striving until we have achieved peace in all things?" questioned Hilshire - Grandmaster of the Falkland's Templars.

"...I swear," admitted Suzaku.

"Very well," acknowledged the last voice. "Thus, with the approval of the Council, I, Amara Ogundimu, General of the Cross, hereby promote you to the Guardians of the Templar Order."

Without missing a beat, a nearby templar offered something to Suzaku - a badge carrying and black and red version of the Templar cross.

"So, and I do believe this needs emphasis: welcome to the Black Cross."

Hours later, after learning from his grandmother of Suzaku's promotion, Lelouch activated the Animus and delved into the life of his ancestor.

Connor watched as the Hessians chased after the strange girl, taking great care to avoid being noticed by them. As they split off to try and flank her, the half-native Assassin took the opportunity to pick them off, one by one.

Eventually, he had picked off all but one mercenary, who he swiftly slew with his hidden blade and bow. Only then did he approach the girl.

The most striking feature he noticed about her was her hair - after all, few people had green hair, and he knew none that had been born with such vibrant hair.

The sound of heavy footsteps, however, prevented him from doing anything to comfort the scared girl. Turning around, the Assassin found that he had missed five jaegers, who were now preparing to assault him.

As Connor made ready for a final stand, though, the girl suddenly stood up.

"Do you intend to fight them all?" asked the girl in English.

"Yes?"

"Why for?"

"To defend you?"

"Really? Then perhaps I can help you."

Then the girl put her hand in Connor's, and just before the Animus errored out for some reason, Lelouch's memory exploded into a world of color.

Hidden within a top secret reserach facility somewhere in Area 11, the same green-haired girl shuddered as if remembering something she had long forgotten.

And in the bowel's of Lelouch's mindscape, a serpentine figure pondered the significance of what its host had witnessed... and if it was perhaps time to speak with them directly.

AN: If you all are wondering, yes, the Council of Elders (the term for the heads of the Templar Order) know what happened with Suzaku and his dad.

And I really like that memory sequence.

So, read and review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!