Demon Emperor and Demon King

by Imperator's slave

Lelouch expected many things after his death. What he didn't expect was to find himself in the war between seven wizards and historical figures. Still, the prize seems nice enough so he might as well take it. Not to mention working with a fellow demon might be a unique experience.

24. Interlude: One

Fuyuki City.

The first thing he saw was the fire.

It was everywhere. The buildings, the trees, earth and sky. None was safe from the fiery tongues. In the hellish moment, infernos swallowed the entire world… or at least that's how the little boy's mind comprehended the heat and madness.

Not even the living, those that could run, were safe. The fires that burned through the buildings and streets had also trapped many, charring away into feeble human bodies as they did the metal beams and blackened concrete.

Screams for help filled the night. Wailing, crying, despair, all of them a chorus and horror perpetrated by the crackling of the hungry pyre. He shut it out. He forced himself to silence them all… all an attempt to preserve what sanity he had left. Even if it meant abandoning them all… he had to move, to escape. Thus, he marched, ignoring the rasps, the tears, the moans of the suffering and dying.

The only thing that kept him going, that accompanied his desperate trek through hell, was the heat of the flames and the thumping within. Was it the beating of his heart? His rage and frustration? Or was it just the instinctual urge to survive? The boy's footsteps didn't know. Nor could he even consider anything else. This child, the only one who was spared, was only able to by sheer luck.

Alone. Realization slowly but surely dawned on him through willpower that he was alone.

His amber eyes were dull at first, numbed by the haze that burned his lungs and skin. Then, it filled with horror the next. Panic and confusion on what to do, where to go and where his family had gone to. They wouldn't leave him, yet… he didn't know where they'd gone. The child couldn't understand how they'd been separated—couldn't remember…

It didn't matter. He forced himself to, and soon, he found his answer. Amber eyes sought to look past the orange haze and smoke, becoming hollow yet desperate all the same.

His trekking turned into a march, then into an anguished jog as his muscles strained, already at their limit. Not knowing what to do, unable to save those whom the fire didn't spare, he hoped against hope that at least someone survived!

But… eventually, the fire stopped… He managed to breach the fiery border and escape into a blackened landscape. The air was still warm behind him, but his fore was hit by an icy breeze. He'd done it! He'd escaped the flames! And yet… the boy didn't see any survivors. All he saw… was the aftermath of hell.

Ruins and rubble, cracked and broken. Asphalt and streetlamps bent and burned. Human remains… ashen… unmoving. Nay. Some still moved. But the pained cries they might've let out were muted. Silenced, they were, by the fires that took away everything except their lives. Of course, it wouldn't take long before theirs were forfeit regardless.

The child collapsed amidst a pile, tired, shattered. All he could do was watch as the smoke-filled skies started to turn cloudy and wet. The rain had started to set in. As though the world itself was crying, a downpour of tears fell over him. But… he couldn't even cry out. He could barely even reach out.

Then… a man clasped his hand.

There, appearing from his barely fading periphery, an old man about his father's age appeared. He smiled, exhausted, and cried, but in joy. A beautiful smile, happy to see at least one soul alive, instilled something, a grand emotion to well up within the child.

"You're alive!" he heard the man say. "At least… one is alive! Thank you… Thank you…"

Why would he thank him… for being alive? Why was he happy… that at least the child lived? The boy didn't know. Nor could he understand at the time.

'Why…'

Yet, he envied that man's smile. More so, especially because the man looked like he had been saved. Not him, the child. Shirou envied him…

'Why…?'

To be saved… by saving others… Such a simple thing… yet also not. He envied him… but he also admired him.

'Why…?'

He admired the man… for he could live with himself. Unlike the boy who'd lived through that hell.

'Why did you survive when everyone else died?!'

---

Shirou awoke with wide eyes and deep breaths.

Wet streaks ran down the sides of his face. He dreamed about that night, again.

It had been happening ever since, but the kid couldn't get used to it. Never knowing when his nightmare will end with wallowing feelings of regret or a small spark of hope… it wasn't healthy. To the latter, he'd wake up easy, wistful even. But to the former, Shirou often awoke trembling. Sometimes screaming. Kiritsugu managed to stave off his unease as best as he could, but only until the little boy would fall asleep again. Whether he would wake up differently after was another random chance.

Still, with his night terrors taking a more mixed approach this time around, Shirou managed to wake calmer and tried to relax himself. It wasn't easy, but he remembered the training his father taught him.

"Inhale… exhale. Inhale… exhale." Shirou repeated it several times until his thoughts drifted away from the nightmare.

He paused after for a minute. Now that he wasn't panicking, Shirou thought about going back to bed, before glancing at the nearby window and noticing that the sun was up already. It was already morning, and yet Shirou didn't hear the sounds of TV or Kiritsugu's attempt to cook something edible.

His foster father had been trying his best to take care of a seven-year-old child, but what amounted to his best meals were more bland barely-palatable rations. Not to say they couldn't be eaten. It was just… well, bad.

But to not hear any bustling in the home this early, Shirou felt something off as he walked out of his room and moved towards the kitchen. If it was nothing but the dream playing with his instincts, he could start preparing breakfast for the family of two. Relying on his father to not ruin meals was a foolish notion. And eating just junk food Kiritsugu brought wasn't a good idea either. Even a kid like Shirou could see that as a bad way to live.

Small footsteps against the cold hardwood floor thumped away.

The Emiya home was a quiet big place just for two residents. The large old Japanese-style building felt like a real fortress for the little boy at first, but after living there for a month Shirou got used to its homely feel. High walls but open air. Sliding doors that made gentle clacks when they were opened. Floorboards that made soft thumps with every step. Truly, it felt more like a vacation house than a family residence.

The place became familiar as he helped to rebuild it. Seemingly, Kiritsugu was not only a terrible cook but also a bad homeowner. What with half the lot looking like a gas canister blew up a shed and sent concrete shrapnel everywhere. When Shirou first arrived, he couldn't help but think the place had hosted an action movie's explosion stunt. That or survived a war or something for the dilapidated state it was in.

And that was despite being untouched by the fire.

Kiritsugu had said nothing of what happened there. Other than being evasive about it, he wasn't of great help rebuilding either. He looked more forlorn as he watched the workers replace what they could bit by bit. At least those big guys with tattoos that did the job, even allowing a kid like Shirou to help, were really nice and understanding.

Shirou sighed, sparing a nostalgic glance out the window before his attention returned to the present. Reminiscing about the past when it was barely a few months back made him feel a little older. Or maybe he was just worn out. Either or, when he was about to enter the kitchen, he stiffened.

There, just inside the room, Kiritsugu was up and about. But it was what he was doing that had Shirou holding his breath.

On one of the man's arms was a long gash, likely a result of mishandling a knife, which continued to drip down his elbow. In the other, a piece of paper with strange markings on it. Had it been a bandage, Shirou would think nothing of it. But on the parchment were writings written with blood. The very same that nearly dripped on the floor.

But when Kiritsugu slapped the paper on his wound and uttered something, the boy could only watch intently.

Fire erupted from the paper. Not regular flames like that of a campfire. Not a blaze akin to the one from weeks back, no. Instead, it glowed blue and barely carried any heat. A tender caress of flames that licked Kiritsugu's skin, gently, softly fading away to reveal a woundless arm coupled with the absence of any blood.

The injury that was once there had vanished, replaced by healthy skin and an old man's satisfied, if a little resigned, sigh.

The scene alone was like something out of a cartoon or fantasy show. No, it was—

"Magic?" Shirou muttered without thinking.

"Hm? Shirou?" Kiritsugu quickly covered his arm before turning to his son with a narrowed gaze. He seemed surprised that Shirou was awake, but looked like he wanted to brush what he had just done under the rug. "What's up? Why aren't you in the bed?"

"I—" 'had a nightmare, he didn't say. "I needed to use the bathroom… But I couldn't go back to bed after."

Kiritsugu gave a glance to the wall clock nearby before forcing a smile. "It's barely seven. Go back to bed and get some sleep or you will be late for school."

"I don't have school today. It's Sunday, remember?" His father's side glance shifted uncomfortably before slowly relaxing once more. "Maybe you need some sleep, old man?"

"Haaah… Shirou, please—"

"That was magic too, right?" Shirou pushed, disregarding Kiritsugu's attempt at dodging the subject.

"… Why are you always so interested in it, Shirou?"

What did he mean 'why'? The adult was asking this like Shirou hadn't answered him before. 'It's because it's real that it's interesting!' his son spoke had once answered with an excited tone. Never before had Shirou shown such interest in anything. Well, never since the fire. "What were you doing?"

"… Shirou, why are you awake so early?" Kiritsugu knew his adopted son's daily schedule, yet tried to play dumb. While Shirou was an energetic kid for his age, waking up early to prepare meals for two and clean the house had become more of a necessity than playing games. But it wasn't as though that was the only reason would be up this early. "Did you have that nightmare about fire again?"

The excited look quickly disappeared from the boy's face, replaced with a frozen expression.

Shirou said nothing. His trauma forced his mouth shut every time it was brought up. Who could blame him? The damage dealt was crippling. Anyone that gave a damn could see it. Kiritsugu definitely did, hence his sighing away once again.

It wasn't that the man was indifferent or callous of Shirou's plight. It was more due to his inexperience in dealing with such.

The man had once admitted it himself when they first met. Unexperienced in being a good parent, he only wanted to offer sanctuary to the kid he saved. The one he felt responsible for. Saying that he wasn't capable though didn't mean he wasn't trying. And boy, did he try.

Hobbies, TV shows, games, anything. Up until now, whatever Kiritsugu tried to distract Shirou with hardly worked. It was then that he resorted to something that shouldn't be ever shared. Sadly, it was the only thing that had an active effect on the boy.

"… It's not magic, son." The man sighed, sounding defeated.

"Dad?"

Kiritsugu closed his eyes. Unbeknownst to the kid in the room, he'd been asking himself if it was a good idea since the beginning. Of course, practically speaking, it was a resounding 'no'. Shirou wasn't of magus blood. He wasn't part of the moonlit world… only another victim of it.

But he saw it. Kiritsugu let him peek into the abyss, and he wouldn't ever forget about it. Even earlier, it was just a continuation of his asking about it until he got a real answer. Kiritsugu knew he could always close this topic for good, ordering Shirou to never bring this up with a shout. But how could he? How could he, after seeing the hope glimmer in the child's eyes for but a moment?

Even he, a bloodstained murderer that was the Magus Killer, knew this was poor parenting on his part, but to deprive the boy of something he needs versus wanting to keep him away from that side of the world… it was difficult.

He sometimes wished Irisviel was the one to survive, not him. But then… that would spell doom for them all, and the boy wouldn't even exist, let alone cause Kiritsugu this parental dilemma, wouldn't he?

"This isn't magic, Shirou. Never call it magic or you will get into trouble. It's actually called magecraft."

"Mage-craft?" Shirou blinked. "Wait, does it mean you're not a wizard?"

"Not in the sense that you believe." Kiritsugu dryly chuckled. "What I am… I'm more called a Spellcaster than any wizard. I barely learned any crafts that I didn't see useful. And they were more the basics of basics. What you saw just now was me using the healing fortune written on strips of paper I s—… acquired from a colleague. Depending on how much mana I put in, it can be used to heal minor injuries or large scars."

Kiritsugu showed him his arm. Clean and looking as healthy as can be, it denied the bleeding gash Shirou saw on him earlier.

"Spell… caster? Mana? I don't get it." Puzzled, he was met with Kiritsugu ruffling his hair.

"Sorry, I'm not qualified to be a teacher or even describe the simplest of lessons. I could try… But—"

But teaching a normal kid about the moonlit world wasn't the safest idea. More so when he had no intention of giving Shirou his family's Crest. If he dared inform him of that other side, there was no going back. He'd forever be bound to the moonlit world, no matter what he did with the knowledge henceforth.

However, Shirou had already been pulled into it before. The Fuyuki Fire. The disaster created by Avenger, the delusional Servant of—. Kiritsugu didn't want to involve the kid. Shirou was a victim. Just like Irisviel. Just like Maiya. Just like everyone and anyone that died there on that night, they were all victims of magecraft.

Kiritsugu himself wasn't devoid of blame either. He'd dragged it all out. He'd allowed for that disaster to exist, to happen. If it wasn't for his killing Avenger's Master, those avenging flames wouldn't have… Fuyuki would have been fine. They would have all been fine…

He'd failed the ones he loved once by overestimating himself. But… the least Kiritsugu could do was make sure his son, a victim all due to his mistakes, would know the rules and manage to stay out of trouble.

"'But'?" Shirou blinked. His earnest expression pulled the brooding man out of his shell and back into reality.

"But we need to discuss many things. One important thing is secrecy. Shirou, under any circumstances, you cannot reveal to anyone that you know about magecraft."

"Even to other wizards?"

"First comes first, kiddo. There are no wizards. They're called magi. And, more often than not, most of them are bad people. Second, you will need to keep it a secret because magi keep it a secret. If they find out you're exposing this to those, not like them, they will… do bad things to make you stop. Understand?"

The boy didn't if his uncomfortable shifting was any indication. "… But you can show me how to do it, right? This healing thing, I mean."

Kiritsugu shook his head, "Sorry, but I don't know any healing crafts. All I can do is use stuff like fortune spells and activate already-prepared techniques like earlier." The saddened experience on his son's face made Kiritsugu quickly add. "But, there are some crafts that aren't dangerous and should be simple enough for the both of us. However, there will be rules, many rules."

"I'll learn them!" he insisted. "I—I'll follow what you say! Honest!"

Shirou was eager and his father saw it, but it also made him curious. "Why are you so interested in this, Shirou?"

His son stopped, thinking about it as well. Why was Shirou so captivated by something he just saw? He didn't show the same interest in anything, maybe besides cooking, but Shirou always felt distant when he tried to do anything else. Was it because it was the most unusual thing the little boy saw until now? Or perhaps, seeing his old man perform a miracle reminded him about the warm feelings Shirou felt back on that night?

He didn't know. But what he did was… "I feel like this magecraft thing… can help me help others…"

Kiritsugu stared at his son. "You… want to help other people?"

"Mm… Is that bad?"

"No. Of course not, Shirou." He ruffled the boy's head as though to comfort him. But it was more to comfort himself, the boy didn't need to know. "Magecraft can do much good for others, yes. But although it could do many things, it's just a tool. Using it to help people might as well be the last thing any magi would do when they focus more on benefiting themselves."

Kiritsugu had seen magecraft used as a means to an end. He was no different. The only exception might have been Iri. But even she went along with the Holy Grail ritual knowing that it will cost human lives, her life. So long as it meant creating a better world for their daughter… she, as well as he, would accept magecraft's purpose as a tool. 'Hmph. So much for that dream…'

"Then it's a good thing I'm not one of these magi, right, old man?" Shirou said simply. Kiritsugu had to suppress the laughter.

"You can't imagine how right you are about this, Shirou. You aren't one and never will be. But maybe you will find something useful in it." Kiritsugu made up his mind. He would teach Shirou. But only to ensure his son won't run into troubles related to the moonlit world. "I can teach you some basics, but not right now. I haven't had breakfast yet. Come on, I bought some noodles last night—"

"Nope," Shirou said before moving to the fridge. "We had enough fast food yesterday. Today I will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner." he gave his dad a cheeky glance. "Before you poison us with your junk."

"Aren't I supposed to be the adult in this family?" That got him more concerned glares. Coming from a child, it wasn't all intimidating, but he knew he wouldn't be able to push this. So much for parenting when the child was practically more reliable than he. "Fine. You do you, Shirou."

"I won't disappoint. Promise you that, old man."

He knew he wouldn't.

Sighing once more, Kiritsugu felt at peace at moments like this. It was… nice. Having his adopted son take over and act as the responsible one was weird, but comforting in some sense. Less work for Kiritsugu in that department while he focused on managing the rest of their expenses.

Now that he was retired from 'that job', he had more of a normal life left in his hands.

Moving to take a seat in the dining room, he picked up the TV remote and turned the device on. 'Might as well get out of his hair until breakfast is ready.'

Flicking through channels, the first that took his interest was news covering a far off country Kiritsugu used to get a lot of contracts in.

"—we're back to you with the morning news. Returning to the situation in the Middle East, world leaders were happy to receive the news about the end of the Afghanistan civil conflict. The landlocked country, formerly caught up in a civil war for over two decades until last week, has finally found a semblance of peace when a new movement put an end to the conflict, apparently convincing each and every dissident group to accept peace. Three days ago the newly formed government made promises to restore the nation and lead it into a better future while working closely with the United Nations. We now go live to a public interview with the newly reformed nation's representative."

The newscaster was replaced by the image of the smiling old man. Aged well beyond his years, his confident yet also relieved smile looked more than happy to deliver the news concerning the end of the conflict. That the audience present for his interview was giving him a great applause when he motioned for a greeting spoke of charisma and charm that earned him popular and genuine support.

None among watchers would think that same man was just a mere shepherd months ago.

"Welcome, friends. Welcome, my people. The New Afghanistan government once asked for the world community to help it to 'stand up on its feet' so to speak. And they have done so. However, we promise not to take advantage of your aid and vow to return stability to our once proud country. We received the official message from the president of United St-"

"What are they talking about?" Shirou was too young to understand the politics nor pay them any mind, but from the tone of the newscaster and the sight of his father's soft smile, it was enough to garner some interest.

"Oh… Good news. Finally." Kiritsugu's lips continued to slowly curve up. While Afghanistan had been a good place to make some money once, the man who once wanted to be the Ally of Justice was very glad the local conflict finally ended. Now he was hoping the new government won't mess up or fall within a few days or something. The anchor herself said as much, inadvertently summarizing his thoughts.

"—and that's the Afghan situation so far. Hopefully, they make do with their promise and heal the wounds suffered by their nation's people. However, it seems not everything is good news in the region. We received info just this morning from our sources in Iraq. Reporting quote, 'A great inferno has claimed the government palace just last night'. Sources stated that the fire has claimed the lives of several people during a special banquet to host foreign diplomats. While none of the foreign emissaries were harmed, key figures including the elder son of the Iraqi dictator has gone missing just after the event. We are awaiting a statement if this is an accident or a mediated attack. We will notify the public as soon as any claims as to the main perpetrator themselves are made. In other news—"

---

Iraq.

Several hundred strong soldiers stood in salute.

Like a well-oiled machine, they who were once peasant farmers and herders now stood in disciplined attention, silently waiting for any command of their new commander.

Said commander admired the troops' formation and order from behind a familiar black mask.

With eyes battle-hardened and ready, one need not be a drill instructor to tell that each and every man and woman was determined to bring their best to the fold. But their gear was obsolete. Uniforms and weapons are outdated to the point of being antiques of the Cold War era. Yet, so long as it could help do the job, it would suffice. Until they secure means to obtain modern equipment or start manufacturing it themselves, the earnest pieces at the ready would be sufficient enough to topple the current corrupt order.

It was a fine start in the eyes of the Demon Emperor.

"They will do for now." His lover and partner in crime nodded, pleased with herself to see the fruits of their labours in Afghanistan. Oda Nobunaga did not bother to hide her face like her beloved one was doing. Instead, she was standing next to Zero, observing the, at the moment, finest of their first army.

These men had spent the last decade fighting for their homeland. For many, that was half their current life. Their forefathers off foreign invaders, then their parents endured the greed and corrupt ambitions that tore their home apart. Now, each and every man, woman, even child would offer their hopes and dreams to bring peace under the banner they believed in.

"We've come far," Lelouch muttered under his mask with a sigh. "It was within expectations, but it was still an honest pain to unite so many bickering fools. More so those blinded by tradition and oh so willing to kill their own for it…"

It proved difficult with the many different groups caring little about the lives of their fellow countrymen. Tribes often had rivalries, but when the relationship web was littered with enclaves that hated their immediate neighbours enough to betray them on the spot, a few heads had to be cut and replaced. Covertly 'elected' leaderships took quite a while to divert old hatreds in other directions, but they had to. The fighting itself and ending the civil conflict wasn't hard, both he and his queen had had enough experience in warfare to manage such. Swaying people to his whims without Geass though… that was a challenge.

A welcome one, for sure.

"Come now, darling! Is that any way to honour the sacrifice these people made for their home? Turn that tired frown upside down."

She wasn't supposed to be able to tell, under the mask as he was. But she could. And he chuckled a little for it.

"True. Those that stand here have willingly shed blood and beliefs to recreate a better world. Those who sacrifice more than their lives but their way of life itself deserves real respect." Lelouch muttered aloud as he spied the expressions of the many young and loyal he'd picked up along the way. Some were still older than he in his former life, yet they were no less determined in the face of struggle, in the face of war. Once, they looked at him with disdain and distrust due to being an outsider. Now though, they looked up to him with a burning fire, a passion ignited by the miracle he carried out to earn their allegiance. Capitalizing on that, and noting the nervous few still mixed among the crowds, he raised his voice and cried out. "Raise your heads! Raise your hands! All of you! Soldiers, citizens! Young and old! You who wish for freedom, you who've gathered together for the sake of rebuilding your nation, rejoice! For it is due to your works, your efforts, your hopes and faith in me, that victory is near! The rise of your nation, your home, on a global stage, has already begun!"

Their cheers resounded in his ears. The same cheer they bellowed when they, under his leadership, fell Kabul within hours of the fight starting. After which, the new government was announced to overthrow the old.

Many were in disbelief that their oppressors and the weak-willed were removed instantly and without infighting. Many were still so when the replacement remained strong and demanded the end to all fighting, not turning into another dictatorship looking to establish an exclusive hegemony over them. To anyone from beyond the borders, it would appear to be about time for another regime change. But to the common man who'd lived through the previous decades, it was a miracle when all of the groups obeyed and laid down their arms to ratify the newly established country.

Of course, it need not be said that everyone in power, over tribes and formerly radical groups, as well as those of the new government, were deeply in their pockets. Despite portraying themselves as acting advisors, behind the scenes, the former emperor made sure the current leaders of Afghanistan knew who it was that held the real power. He made sure to impress upon them who it was that held their peace in the palm of their hands.

As the result of their test run, Lelouch and Nobu secured themselves a puppet state with a good amount of resources that can be used in the future. That said, Lelouch had no intention of robbing the country of their prosperity. The people here deserved a better future, one he and Nobu would inadvertently provide for them.

Nobunaga didn't care too much, leaving the paperwork to her beloved. Lelouch wasn't all that deterred, though. Having to write down the strategies for the new Afghan government to ensure any possible scenario will be accounted for, served as an avid review of his former tactics with Britannia.

Tried and tested as his methods had been before, things might not develop the same way in this poor and disadvantaged country.

Britannian-Japan had the adage of experiencing both the Pacific War and his Zero-Requiem Britannian Conquest. The Middle East of this world may not be ready for it, but that only fueled his resolve to make it so. This once war-torn nation will be the first among many that will be saved by Demons from hell, being made into their subject yet prospering as a result.

"You hear them, Lulu?" she whispered lovingly into his ears after dismissing the still-cheering army and retiring to their quarters. "They love you."

"No. It's more apt to say they love the ideal I represent." Unmasking himself in the privacy of his temporary office, the young man smiled wryly as he took a seat and leaned back against it. "Their passion is shared by my ambition, hence they cheer. So long as we continue to benefit them, they will do so."

"And yet, they're loyal," Nobu interjected hopping into his lap and embracing him before play-biting his ear. "You saw it in the young ones' eyes. Even the older generation, cynical that they were before. Loyalty born of witnessing a miracle serves only to amplify the fire that burns within. I should know. My fire only burns stronger for you."

"What may be the norm for you isn't the same for them. Unlike you who took the fate of her homeland in your own hands, I'd simply given them back theirs."

And that was only after making them endure conflict after conflict, with death at their backs as the only repercussion of failure. It somewhat worked for the Black Knights in their early months, but it was largely more effective for those who'd always done so yet failed to achieve true success.

It was more accurate to say he provided these people with the illusion of success because, like his stint with the Black Knights and Japan, he was going to do far more than liberate a nation. He was going to use its people to his benefit.

"They will follow us as long as we keep providing miracles, feeding their delusions of fighting for the right cause." Lelouch poked Nobu's sides, stopping her from playing with his ear. But before she could retaliate, he froze her with a hand to the underside of her chin. "It's only fitting I lead them by the nose lest their selfish tendencies get the better of their fellow countrymen, no?"

"Hmph." Nobu eyed him curiously but gave in to his tickling her when he traced his fingers to just behind her ear. "The ones you picked, they aren't like some of the radicals we picked off, yes? The ones who would use religion to justify their atrocities."

For the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, using God or any religion just as means to control people was beyond tolerable. It was clear she despised people like that and her fury found its targets among the most radical groups in Afghanistan. Not even ashes remained after she was done with them. Such were the results of the twisted segments of her past and legend.

"I made a quick background check on them. Relax. Some could swing radically, but they could never betray our expectations." Lelouch pecked her on the forehead. "I cannot speak with full certainty for those who still try and push for a more secular agenda, but they'd volunteered to fight for us when they offered the decision. To stay and stagnate, or to revel in the peace their people fought so hard for. In any case, should they fail the second chance in life we gave them, sending them to hell would be as simple as snapping your finger, yes?"

"Oh, you'd like it if I did that for you, wouldn't you, darling?" Nobunaga said as she stuck her nose against his and shoved it further for a real kiss. Her breath was hot and needing, but she held back as she made to report. "Yesterday's fireworks went just as you requested. We've kept our side of the deal and I made sure nothing remained of the old fool's ivory towers."

"Good work," he rewarded her with a chaste peck on the lips. But of course, being the ever-greedy Demon King, she wasn't settling for just that. She pushed against his own lips with an eager smack. Smiling to himself, he allowed her the bonus. She did well after all.

With this, the anti-government faction was in their debt.

The dissident group of Iraq had been a thorn in the Hussein leadership's side for quite a while. Their opposition, though not much of one in recent years, had yet to be stamped out due to the people's ingenuity and the resources they managed to keep hidden from the dictator. Such talent and logistics was quite the boon he could gain from overturning yet another decadent nation steeped in oppression.

Inhumane it may be to degrade the people to nothing but resources, but he'd always been this way since gaining his resolve. In order to achieve their goal of a perfect information network in this country, he needed all he could find, be it the official face of a country or the black market that flowed beneath it.

Hurting the dictator in the worst way possible, that is to say, burning down his government's pride as well as his family, had cleared the conditions to earn the freedom fighters' trust.

'With this, the Americans may start asking questions…' Foreign powers were afoot. As any respectable world power should. 'It's only natural given they supported him from the shadows first…'

The Western powers would look idly at the happenings of the Middle East. But some of them wouldn't. It'd be best to start looking for countermeasures against the democratic powers subtly undermining their hold.

Still, with their getting rid of Saddam's spawn, Lelouch and Nobu were rewarded with several old military warehouses that were hidden from Iraq forces. Right now, two of them are planning their next move in one of the said warehouses.

"Bored, darling?" Lelouch asked when he broke away from Nobu's smooches and she returned the favour with a pout. "From that face, you're making, I can see you are. Unlike Afghanistan we can't just go guns blazing, killing everyone who is against us."

"What a shame. And here I thought to kill some time eating away at your face," she sighed disappointedly while he rolled his eyes at her coyly smirking. "Honestly, setting that castle of his alight was the most fun I'd had in a while. True, I did go a little bit overboard playing cat-and-mouse with junior Hussein, but doing so while forcing myself to stay hidden from their security cameras was dampening the excitement!"

He could tell. Due to the fact that she couldn't vanish into spirit form anymore, she had to actually start learning to fight like an assassin. It started off fun for her, learning to be a ninja and all that, but it all started to bore her when she had to get even less flamboyant with how she executed their enemies.

"Patience, my dear fire maniac. While we can't act as we did before, you will get your share of visceral combat." Lelouch turned to the map of the region that lay on the table. "Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq can be considered a regional power, even though it lost badly during the Gulf War. If we don't act carefully, a political backlash could result in destabilizing this country beyond recovery. Its neighbours will not sit idly when bordering a weakened rival."

"And we don't want that." Nobu finished, knowing that the entirety of Asia was their target. Allowing one country to become more powerful without hers and Lelouch's permission wasn't permitted. Though they ran around providing political and militaristic backing, they had no intentions of providing future targets with an opportunity to get stronger.

"Right now, we act surgically. At present, we've struck a key point in their regime's support. Slowly but surely, we'll be cutting off the head of this beast in such a way that there won't be anything left to stand in our new puppet's revolution for renewal. Taking out the current government should be left in the people's hands. Publicly, of course. In the meantime, we will need to get rid of any regime loyalists that will pose a threat. High ranking army officials, state-controlled media and means of information, and lastly, any foreign group that might act against our goals."

"Lelouch, honey, that sounds like a job for an Assassin. Don't forget my class. I am meant to spread the fires of vengeance, not hunt down tyrannical rulers from the shadows."

Lelouch caught her by surprise tickling her sides. "Then an Assassin of Vengeance. Your fires still work well in stoking the embers of revolution. Just having it made known that their regime is crumbling without naming their apparent killer works in our favour." Many may claim to have done the deed, but no one can capitalize on it better than Lelouch could. Not when he'd already snuffed out any would-be revolutionist not already under his umbrella. "Stay your hand just a little longer. We just need to make sure no one from the moonlit world is keeping an eye out our way."

Back in Afghanistan, Lelouch acted as strategist while Nobu was the fist of their operations. They worked mainly at night, leaving most of the daily skirmishes and operations to their puppet's army. This way, they could minimize the spread of rumours about the strange flames that couldn't be put out. Lelouch even prepared the false evidence that their new Afghanistan army was using white phosphorus they got from western allies back during the Soviet invasion. Sure, it might create some negative press for the puppet state in the future, but it was better than rumours of 'magical fire' spreading outside the small landlocked nation.

From the underworld channels, Lelouch and Nobu made connections with, he'd managed to pick up a few second- and third-rate mages and place them under his sway. According to them, the powers that be of the moonlit world hadn't paid too much attention to the Asiatic and Far East regions. It was still a given that it didn't mean they wouldn't ever do so.

They had a small window to abuse as much as they could before his meddling was brought to their attention.

The opposition they worked with wasn't something Lelouch wanted to replace Saddam with. He had no intention of replacing one dictator with another, no. For their dream of an Asian empire, a supposedly 'fair and democratic' system needed to be installed. One that would be enough to convince the world of its virtues and strength.

Lelouch didn't forget what he fought against in his past life. Tyranny, social Darwinism, imperialism, everything his father stood for. If they were going to take over this planet, he would make sure their new playground would bend to their wills accordingly, on the surface preserving the ideal utopia.

"Hm… Hahahah…," he sighed, feeling a bit nostalgic. "How ironic it is that I would recreate another apparent and egalitarian ideal from the ashes of yet another tyrannical dictatorship, only to rule it far crueller than their preceding regimes could imagine."

"Oh, Lulu…" Nobu leaned forward, closer. She snuggled up to him, sitting on his lap, her new favourite position, as she continued to whisper the words of pure madness into his ear. "You know that whatever hell we create in this world would be better than any nation, any government, any corrupt dictator could ever achieve. Through hellfire and the blood of the sinful, paradise will claim this earth. Mankind has no choice but to obey our order, for it will be better than anything they have right now."

"And if people won't accept us as their rulers?" Lelouch asked with closed eyes, already knowing what his lover would say.

"~Fufufufu~ They have the right to rebel against our rule, to challenge it with all their might. I won't deny them that privilege. However, that is only if they can survive the tide of change we bring. If humanity wishes to wrest their fate back from our grasp, to move forward in the way they please, they will need to earn it." Nobunaga laughed maniacally, but for Lelouch, it sounded like the most beautiful sound in the world. "Only the strong-willed and fearless can be given the chance to take such a role from us."

"Hahah, I would never have imagined myself to be back in this position." Not when he still lived as a human. "But… Living on… living for oneself like this… It's really fun." Freeing nations from their looming demise, gifting their people with the opportunity and hope of a new world, only for them to do it for you… Sounded like a regular bank. It wasn't a scam for he did as promised, but being at the top and having them serve his whims like this, there was only one thing to say. "I'm loving this!"

"And I love the fact that you're loving this, my love," Nobu said passionately.

"Well, aren't you the romantic, Nobu." Lelouch stared at her with a deadpan expression.

"Hush, you drama queen. I saw how you talk back in your world."

"As if you didn't make speeches even more overdramatic during your time. Aren't you chuunibyou yourself? Young, full of grandiose delusions, wetting herself in her sheer ambition. Was it not true that you would wear a red cape into battle?"

Nobu chuckled. "Please, I was just claiming what was rightfully mine, nothing more. And what's wrong with a red cape?!" She actually looked offended. "As if you don't dress just as ridiculous. With this mask of yours."

"Hmm, I have to disagree. The Mask of Zero is a symbol of something more than greater than life. There is nothing ridiculous about it—"

"And your panic when it was stolen by a cat?" Nobu smirked when Lelouch froze. "Hahaha! Got you there, didn't I?! Honestly, squeaking like a school girl when the animal found your secret plaything! If it was me, all I would do would be to cut it down before it did any damage! Poor softhearted Lulu could only run around like a schoolgirl with her diary stolen! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"That's—!" Lelouch wanted to say something, but all he could do was let out a sigh. "Is this how lovers usually act? Make fun of each other?"

"Don't know. Never had one I find to be equal to you, but I'm enjoying it." Nobunaga leaned closer. "Don't tell me you find our chat boring."

"Heh… Never in a million years. It's just… unusual for me to feel like this. This calm state of mind and soul." Lelouch closed his eyes, remembering his past life. Remembering the good old days. "Even when I was with Nunnally, at best, I felt content with her smile. On the other hand, with you, it feels as though I can't have enough. Like I need more of this time. If given the chance, I'd make time itself stop… just to prolong what we have at this moment."

Sure, he was busy enjoying himself in her company. But they had a time limit before the next war. Two demons taking their sweet time making preparations was tiresome at times, but their grand declaration of war against the world itself was going to be soon upon them.

To fulfil his contract, he would need to be ready for Nobu's sake.

"I too never thought I could feel the same way in another's arms…" The Daimyo muttered fondly. While history had accounts of the Great Demon King's marriage and siring children, those were merely strategic and political advances to further his reign. They weren't her equals nor could the present her truly recall them as such. Hence why she found no comparison to her beloved of the present. "I believe we both could learn more from this 'lovers' business."

"That, we agree on." Lelouch nodded as he snuggled against her crimson hair.

"Feeling a little laid back, my love?" Nobu whispered, sensing exactly that. "Hmm, perhaps watching some romantic movies will help?"

She motioned towards the tape cassettes near an old TV. In-between plotting coups and re-organizing their small forces, Lulu and Nobu used what little free time they had to live like an average couple. Not in the public eye, of course, but in private, lovebirds will be lovebirds. The bed in the office was certainly almost always dishevelled out of constant use, but the pair too wanted to see what this world's other forms of entertainment could offer.

"Ah…" But upon mentioning the television several decades outdated compared to his former world's own, Lelouch recalled yet another strain that plagued his plans somewhat. "I forgot that we have to invest in technology."

One constant hindrance was this time period tech. Compared to his original world it was outdated. Sure, the internet had been invented, but interconnectivity between systems was still in the premature stages. To put it mildly, it just wasn't developed enough for his taste and slowed his plans down a couple of years.

"Hm… After we deal with the Iraqi situation, we'd have to build up a research and development department."

"Oh?" Nobu sighed wistfully at her darling's wayward thoughts. "Is it so big a deal that you have to cut into our break time?"

"Very," was all he said. Disappointing as it was to bring up work now, it was true.

Lelouch wasn't some kind of genius engineer. He had knowledge about how technology would and could advance in the future, but he didn't have the means to bring it all on his own. Social change was easy to bring about with a revolution. Advancement on the other hand required innovation, knowledge, and resources. The country they took over, as well as the neighbouring regions, had a lack of most for decades, suffering brain drains and educational shortcomings after years of civil unrest.

Still, he'd brought about peace. And peace meant prosperity. All he needed now was a plan to efficiently enforce such progress onto their empire. Something Nobunaga was happy to actively contribute to.

"If it's a focus on enriching ourselves, I demand that I be allowed to take over the underworld!" Nobu clapped happily like she was a wife suggesting to her husband her best idea yet. "I had read about organized crime organizations all around Asia. It sounds so interesting, I want to control all of them."

"… … Control?" Lulu teasingly eyed her. "Not burn to the ground like everything else?"

Nobu pinched his nose. "Darling, you can't destroy the underworld. It will always exist no matter the regime or era. Take one out and you will just open the scene for a new organization far warier of you. Even during my time, no matter how many times I butchered bandits, sooner or later someone will replace them. In this case, grabbing hold of their strings and manipulating them as our own is the most efficient way. Of course, I will need to string up a few impudent rats to impress upon them who is the biggest fish."

She giggled that last part cutely but Lulu was certain it would be cute only for himself. "Hmm, do you have any particular organizations in mind?"

"But of course! I heard that my homeland is abundantly infested with a particular one. Yakuza, they call themselves." Her smile turned feral. "Parasites leeching on my country without my permission? I cannot leave my kingdom to such filth. I have already prepared a plan."

"That being?" Lelouch entertained her enthusiasm.

"Make an example of a few. Replace the heads of those that object. Convince the weaker ones that loyalty is best rewarded. The rest won't have a choice, but to fall in line. What do you think?"

"Carrot and stick, is it? Sounds simple enough and we will certainly have resources for this in the future." Causing a few heads to roll was easy. Sending a message to all of them would be child's play, considering Nobu's bombastic approach to intimidation. "But first, we will need to invest and build connections in the west."

"West? You mean those across the sea?" Technically, it was across the ocean, but he couldn't summarily put it that he included everything the wider world knew as the democratic hemisphere. "Why? I thought Asia was our prime zone of operation. Not to mention, those disgusting magi and churches have their eyes all throughout that side of the world, do they not?"

"It is exactly because their net is cast over the place that we must be prudent in our actions." He'd already taken precautions, but throwing a little more was never a bad thing. "I have a few ideas, but we will focus on it later. Right now I'm more interested in our current objective."

"Haaah… more Assassin games, is it?" Nobu asked somewhat dismissively. It was difficult for her love to not immediately notice.

"Waiting really is a bore, isn't it?" he stroked her cheek, expecting a complaint.

"Killing is fun and all. But I'm not a big fan of playing the role of an Assassin," Nobu said with a cute pout. "I prefer being… what do you call it? Hm…"

"'Being in the centre of attention?"

"Yeah!" the cute pout turned into childish disbelief. "I'm not an attention-whore if that's what you're insinuating."

"Never in a million years."

"Hmph," she retaliated with nibbling on his neck for a split second before her tone turned to melancholy once more. "Commanding forces and leading armies in the battle… it's such a fickle notion for me to reminisce of the adrenaline and past glories, but skulking in the shadows like a mere backstabber… It reminds me too much of those traitors I had to put down. Sure, I used hired killers for my own ends in the past, but I still have the preference of fighting it out myself. This hiding away, this mulling about… It's frustrating at times…"

Lelouch had to suppress his grin, thinking about someone who reminded him of Nobu right now. His older sister Cornelia was similar in this sense. Her enemies called her a witch that brought hell in the lands she conquered, but not because she thrived on conquest, no. Unlike he who was satisfied only with results, she couldn't sit still and play the role of a manipulator. Instead, she yearned for action, fought only on frontlines and never behind the chessboard, leading her men into battle and to victory.

It was a simple contrast of personality. A difference in preference. Still, Nobunaga's quirks and yearnings complemented his in a way.

Lelouch had moved from her cheek to her hands as he took them.

"My adorable Nobu, I can understand your displeasure. But please. Endure this for a little longer and I promise. You will have your battlefields and the armies who will follow you. After all, wasn't our experience in Afghanistan entertaining for you?"

"Well, it was fun while it lasted."

Nobu had to admit that commanding small strike forces, attacking enemy camps and bunkers, then rooting out dissidents in the many cave systems was fun. Especially covering everything in the all-consuming fire, leaving her enemies no choice but to either run or fight, either to feed their flesh and bones to the flames or get eviscerated by her blade.

"That is only the prologue to our protracted conquest, my dear. One cannot simply declare war and immediately start an invasion. Otherwise, what's the opposition to do? Apart from helplessly falling to your power, that is."

Nobunaga wanted a war, a real bloody one. He promised to deliver. But as things stood, theirs was going to be a boring conquest should she be sent forward from the very start. Not only did it leave them on the back foot in dealing with the magi forces, but the wider world also wouldn't take them as an appropriate threat should they go all out from the get-go.

Either they send specialists to assassinate them piecemeal or they simply nuke them from orbit. Neither would actually be much of a threat to the pair of immortal demons, but where was the fun in surviving a hit from a Damocles?

Who would properly submit to a monster that survives a blast like that? No. The best way to win was to make them all submit. And with that said, Nobu and he needed not just to beat the armies of this world, they needed to 'conquer' the hearts of their future citizens.

It sounded too much like something Iskandar would say, hence he elaborated it in a way that got Nobu's cylinders fired up but her patience untested by being reminded of a past foe. She was so excited, Lelouch had to calm her down with a peck on the lips. Maybe two.

"Ok, ok! I got it," she muttered, looking a little hot and bothered already. "Since you promised, I will endure this shadow play of yours a little longer. Of course, you will have to do more to please me and make me happy."

Lelouch smirked, knowing where she was leading with this. "And what would my great and mighty Demon King ask of me?"

Nobu licked her lips as she started to eye him hungrily. "Well, you can start by putting your silver tongue to better use. And your fingers. Your entire body in fact. I'm a needy woman, but you already knew that, didn't you Lulu~~~?"

"I do." Lelouch moved closer to her as he closed his eyes, anticipating what was coming next. Their soldiers knew their orders and wouldn't interfere until either of the Demons called for them. The couple had time to themselves, something Lelouch would have loved to spend doing a pleasing activity.

However, as he waited for Nobu to give in to her own carnal desires, the Demon King pulled back her head. The Demon Emperor blinked in confusion, a little disappointed his lover stopped. This sight made Nobu chuckle.

"Lulu, I also want you to join me on the battlefield."

"Huh?"

"You heard me, darling~~~!" Nobu's finger booped his nose. "Someone was spending too much time in the command centre behind a mountain of papers that I noticed he hasn't been paying little me any mind. Of course, it's not entirely out of selfish wants only. I worry that my beloved hubby could turn into an office bug."

"I was busy with strategizing whilst you took care of your assignment." He excused himself. "Let me remind you that one of us needed to make sure everything was going according to the plan. I—"

"Then, if my perfect strategist has everything covered for me in that case, next time I shall be the one to command behind the scenes while you will fight on the battlefield! It wouldn't do for me to be the only one having fun, no? That's not how a loving marriage works, is it not?" Nobu stated wryly before taking hold of either side of his face to level with hers. "Lulu, honey. You're a Heroic Spirit, you need to go out and fight our battles personally from time to time! Experience the thrill of war your mortal self could've never dreamed of surviving!"

"… And if I don't want to?" Lelouch knew he made a mistake when Nobunaga's face closed the distance between theirs.

"My adorable Lulu. You should know by this point that I know how to motivate you."

Her sultry voice tickled his ears before she gently bit his lobe. It didn't stop at teasing, however. The Demon Emperor had to bite his tongue when he felt the wet sensation of her tongue invading his auditory orifice.

"O-oy! What's the big idea—?!"

"Shhh," she uttered softly as she took a monetary break from her tongue assault. "Just let this happen~~~."

Sometimes it felt like she wasn't Demon King, but a Queen Succubus!

---

England. London.

The night sky and its numerous constellations captured the attention of the Astromancy department's director.

It was said that myths and stories could be told from reading the stars. Of man and monsters, of divinity and mortality. Invoking True Magic was a far-off dream of all magi who were stuck with mimicry through magecraft, but in the stars, such mythical powers were at the cusps of human fingertips. One could say it was in the stars that man saw the unimaginable and that it was from seeing it that dreams to attain that surreal goal were made.

But many forget that it was also in the stars where the unknown resided. And though they dreamed while looking up at the bright lights in the sky, the fear of the unknown still dwelt within, watching, waiting to surface and catch the dreamer off-guard.

Marisbury, head of the Animusphere family, stared outside the window. As usual, his mind was deep in thought as he observed the stars. The older man couldn't help but feel hypnotized by them. A usual occurrence when the star-filled night was clear. He wished he had more time to relax and enjoy the view, but the situation right now wasn't the time to be spent dawdling in daydreams.

The Clock Tower was a dangerous organization for the uninitiated. Drop your guard and a fellow magi could pull the wool over your eyes, pull the rug from under you, maybe even the floor and send you to your demise. Not in the literal sense, of course, although that would be more merciful than what many clans have done to their rivals in the past.

Yet, despite the cutthroat atmosphere among the ruling lords, the organization was currently under a lot of stress due to recent events.

One of the notable magi families, the Archibalds, had reportedly lost their heir and the magic crest he had on his person. The same went for his fiancée, daughter of the head of the Sophia-Ri, but her family didn't raise the same uproar as the Archibalds. There was also a mention of the death of the Tohsaka clan's head, an Asian magus family that had connections to the Church and often served as the Clock Tower's mediator to them.

It was quite the blow for such a small ritual to have. Which was the main problem.

No one knew how it became such a huge issue.

A prominent Lord of the Clock Tower, a prestigious member that served as a liaison to the Church, and also two executioners. Costly casualties that damaged the Clock Tower's reputation as well as hurt their relations with the Vatican. It would be an understatement to say the Lords weren't in a fluster.

Connections between the dead all denominated to the Fourth Grail War said to have been held in Fuyuki City, Japan. The ritual was known among the Clock Tower but was primarily regarded as a highly dangerous event with next to no chances of success. There was a reason it was called the 'Fourth'.

The price to pay was the death of so many talented magi. Sure, there had been survivors before, but the lucky few living through it couldn't reimburse the magic community of the losses sustained. More so when the bodies and crests couldn't be recovered, which was partly why this was a damning incident for the Archibalds. But there weren't even any witnesses which were more alarming. The job of assigning observers and arbitrators were the Church, but with the death of both nominations, one of them apparently having been a participant of the war in the first place, there existed no one who could attest to its end results. No one lived to tell the tale.

'No. Someone does know what happened. Or at least, their part in it.' Marisbury remembered the official reports, about the sole survivor.

Waver Velvet. A former student of the late Kayneth El Melloi Archibald. He'd apparently stolen a relic off of the Archibald family heir to participate, thereby causing the lord some headache and embarrassment in the Clock Tower, but such actually earned him praise from some of the members for his perseverance and defiant spirit.

It was said a defiant spirit that managed to pull through and survive the disaster that befell the others, three of which had been his apparent competitors. A mere student won out against an executioner and two highly regarded magi.

'Hm… I wish I could talk to the boy personally… but there might be some difficulties in reaching out to him.' He couldn't very well push too hard. Not with how shaken some of the lords were. 'Damn their archaic politics…'

If only they stopped with their petty squabbles, his goal would be within his reach…

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in." Marisbury didn't need to turn back to know the identity of the guest.

The newcomer's long crimson hair stood out the most thanks to his pale skin. The confident stature and air about him accentuated it further. However, the weirdest feature about the man was his tiny smile. One that never left his face no matter what. Eerie in some regard, it felt as if this man could only smile.

"Please take a seat, Doctor."

The man that was once known as Adashino Kurou silently did as he was told.

"What pleasure to meet the director of the Astromancy department himself." The doctor said with a slight bow, but Marisbury didn't even bother to look at him.

"Please, there is no need for such formalities, Doctor. After all, it was I who insisted on your coming here in the middle of the night. I know that after what happened to you, this place isn't the most welcoming." Sincerely, Marisbury tilted his head forward for the man. "My apologies."

"Don't worry, Lord Animusphere. Despite what happened, I don't hold you responsible for it. Not even partly," the doctor waved it away. "I at least remember my way around this place and know how to avoid unwanted attention. However, let's forget about those small things and focus on the urgent matter at hand." The redhead man pulled out a letter that had the seal of the Animusphere clan. "Your message was quite clear, but I still need to personally confirm whether you are sure this is what you want."

"Yes, absolutely." There was nothing in this world Marisbury wanted more than this. "I need it and you're the only one who can help me to achieve it, Doctor."

The guest looked down, re-reading the letter's contents a few times over for certainty. How the Lord of Astromancy managed to find him wasn't important. The Doctor always knew that if the Clock Tower Lords wanted, his life would have ended any day. Thankfully, none of the upper echelons of the moonlit world thought of him as someone dangerous enough to slay immediately. Perhaps he was spared for occasions like this when some Lord would need unofficial and illegal assistance that won't be monitored by the Clock Tower. Still, the doctor couldn't help but find the task Marisbury asked quite intriguing.

Nothing too difficult, all he needed to do was find out what happened in Japan in the past few months. However…

"A question, Lord Animusphere." The smiling man had to ask. "Why turn to me? Surely there are more competent specialists already trying to solve the mystery of what happened in that distant country. Not to mention, the Church would be doing the same. Would they not be more qualified to answer your queries than I?"

"That may be so," Marisbury affirmed without hesitation. "With my connections and resources, I could get my hands on any data about the so-called minor ritual that is the Fourth Grail War. I'm not afraid to spend money to get an answer. However… the news I get from anyone else won't be enough. I will be honest with you, I don't need the obvious report of what happened to cause the Great Fire, no. I need… something else to be confirmed. And to attain the answer that solves everything before and after the incident."

"Could you… please elaborate?" The doctor, now keenly more interested if his leaning forward was telling, requested with the same polite smile.

Marisbury made to look around. It was as though he was making sure no one else was eavesdropping before stepping closer and lowering his voice.

"I have some information—no. It is more an assumption with no legs to stand on, but still, I trust my sources." He closed his eyes. "Fifty years ago, something happened in Fuyuki City. Something big enough to threaten the very fabric of our world. I do not know what it was, nor can I be certain with my resources now, but I felt it. After researching the movements in the ley lines, I've noted a shift has occurred and has repeatedly been resurfacing over the decades. It maintained a constant frequency in the past, but it suddenly spiked five decades back. Since then, there have been minor beats. Small, but increasing and pulsing. Almost like a growing cycle. The last and largest shift appeared within a couple of weeks before the Great Fire incident a few months back. Then silence. I haven't felt or detected anything strange since."

"This feeling of yours…" The doctor muttered back. "Do you not believe it to be something less? Perhaps it could be an error."

"That's what I believed until I learned about the Grail War ritual. I have my suspicions that something greater is afoot in the east. Far greater than what the Clock Tower Lords would ever believe of me. The Counter Force is involved and you and I both know such wouldn't happen unless the minor ritual, as the other Lords would denote it, was worth the World meddling in it."

The pale-faced doctor didn't interrupt, merely smile and take it all in. Like a fragile porcelain doll. Marisbury's expression, however, slowly grew more frantic. The air about him subtly lost composure.

"The Holy Grail War is at the very core of this mystery… I cannot let things continue unattended. What's more, I feel like whatever happened in Japan has yet to conclude. Most likely, I predict detecting the shift once more. Whatever has me on edge will reappear and I—we will need to be prepared for it."

The doctor noticed something. Specifically about the way Lord of Astromancy uncomfortably kept staring into space. Despite the man's urgency, he came off distant, contemplating.

"Has something happened, my Lord?"

Marisbury stayed silent for a moment. "… My old friend, Lev Lainur Flauros, died a few days ago… Committed suicide, it was reported."

"My condolences." The smile never left his guest's face. It unnerved Marisbury who continued regardless, albeit pacing around the room without meeting the doctor's eyes.

"Wasn't simple suicide, though. He destroyed his own family crest. A grave loss for all magi. The man didn't have an heir so no one would have inherited it to begin with, but he—It all seems too strange."

"How so?"

"I was permitted to see the body. They requested me to identify him. It was easy for me and a rare handful knew the man well, both his face and the construct of his magic circuits. But… the scariest thing I saw on that day was the widest smile a dead man can wear in the face of his demise."

"A smile, you say?" the doctor never glanced over his shoulder. With his back to the Lord, he merely waited.

"Yes. One very much like the smile that never leaves your face." Marisbury's snapback was taken in stride. He didn't mean anything by it, only that he was stressed. It was an odd coincidence, sure. But that was all. "Apologies. His death… it disturbs me so."

"You need not ask for forgiveness, Lord Animusphere." The doctor's shoulders slumped as let out an affirming sigh. "Loss begets sadness. Sadness begets anger, or so I believe. It is understandable you should feel so."

"That's not it…" For a while, Marisbury fell silent. A minute passed, then two before he continued on. "I know not why he did this and I'm afraid that I never will. Yet, this isn't what worries me… What you said is true. Loss inevitably begets anger. When you lose those dearest to you, it is only human to feel such. And yet, the death of Lev brought me neither sadness nor anger. Instead, I felt at peace. I don't know why but I always had this uneasy feeling after meeting him. It felt as if I was anticipating something terrible to happen. Be it to him, to me, or to everyone I ever knew or cared about."

"Another 'feeling', my Lord?"

"You may think me mad for relying so much on impulse," the dignified head of the Animusphere household scoffed derisively. "But it is true that, on that day I learned of his death, I finally lost the looming anticipation of something catastrophic… for one day alone." Marisbury's tone and air tensed like a knife edge was drawn to his neck. "The very next day, I received word about the disastrous incident caused by the Fuyuki Grail War. And no sooner did the dreadful feeling return to me."

"You believe Lev Flauros could be related to it, sir?" the doctor concluded. Finally turning to face the Lord, he asked nonchalantly. "Is that why you want my service? To find out what causes those fears of yours and dispose of them?"

Marisbury shook his head. "No, not that. While I need you to investigate the war and how it ended, I would ask you to avoid directly confronting whatever danger was birthed in Fuyuki. I cannot ask that of you. It will be my… the Animusphere's responsibility… I simply ask of you to learn about the ritual itself, its conditions, purpose, and especially the summoning system utilized."

"Hmm?" the smiling doctor eyed him, showing even more keen interest. "Don't tell me your excellency plans to participate in the war? Maybe start a new one on your own?"

"The latter, no. The Clock Tower would never approve, despite their derision of it. As for the former, I plan to push for either myself or my daughter to participate in the coming twenty years. Or, at least, I feel we have that long before the shift reoccurs again." Marisbury didn't sound certain but he added. Rather ominously at that. "No… I believe that the next War will happen sooner than expected."

The doctor smirked. "Another feeling, yes?"

"Indeed." Marisbury nodded, answering faux sarcasm with genuine seriousness. "So, what say you? Will you take on my task?"

"To accept a request of a would-be deranged lord grasping at straws?" The insult would've had him killed on the spot.

"Even still." But not by Marisbury. The man was far less prideful than his colleagues to even dare waste resources or connections on a whim. "Would you accept it?"

"… I don't see any reason to decline. Sounds like an interesting assignment, one I would like to fulfil to the best of my abilities."

"Excellent! I already arranged everything you might need. Of course, everything has already been paid for. Should you have any issues, Doctor Adashino—"

"My Lord, please," said the doctor interrupted. "Only people who are alive can have names, and people with hearts can be considered alive. I, regrettably, am neither."

Marisbury paused. The magi was certain he was talking with a living being that wasn't a dead apostle. Otherwise, he'd never contacted him, to begin with. "Then how should I address you, Doctor?"

The calm smile never left the man's face. But at this point, it was obvious that it was the only expression he could show to others. A simple smile that was merely a lie. After all, without a heart, one couldn't ever smile honestly.

"Heartless. Doctor Heartless will suffice."

---

Iraq. One week later.

"Hurry up, Lulu! Don't trip! We're almost there!" Nobunaga happily said as she led her loved one further, leading him by the hand into the hangar.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. I want to be done with it as fast as possible too. I must look ridiculous." Right now Lelouch wasn't in the best position to move on his own. Who knew that when you were blindfolded you couldn't walk by yourself. This was the last thing Zero needed for their subordinates to see of him right now.

After all, the image of Zero being blindfolded while still wearing his full-head helmet surely looked quite absurd. How Nobu even got fabric big enough to cover his entire mask was beyond him.

"People are sure to assume we're having some sort of role-playing…" he uttered with a sigh.

"Let the soldiers think whatever they want! Doesn't matter to me!" Figures. Nobu didn't have much shame in this manner. To begin with, she didn't care much for the opinion of their subordinates. All that mattered to her was him and their conquest. "You're going to love this! I swear on the name of my clan!"

'Such a strange promise for someone hiding a surprise…' Lelouch sighed. "Your clan is no more, Nobu. Woah! Careful on the arm! I can't balance myself with how fast you're running! What are you? A child?"

"Come now, Lule! Having only lived less than a year of my new incarnation in this life, you know better than to ask for the technicalities."

"Ugh, whatever." He gave up trying to get out of this and just allowed his sweetheart to lead him into darkness.

"Ok! We're here! You can open your eyes, Lulu!"

Nobu chirped as she let go of his hand. The boy didn't need to be told twice, his hands quickly moved towards his head and immediately pulled down the annoying fabric that blocked his visor's vision. The moment his eyes fell on the object before him, however, any and all annoyance within him disappeared.

Nobu likely sensed his slack jawed expression through silence alone. "… This is—"

"Yup! The one from your memories!" Nobunaga circled around her Lulu with a happy smile before admiring her handiwork beside him. "It took me some time to gather parts and make a replica of that thing, but I managed it. Nothing is impossible for this Demon King. You should feel proud that I treasure you so much, darling~~~!"

The Demon Emperor had nothing to say. How could he when, stood right before Zero, was a metal titan that couldn't have been anything but a knight made out of shining armour. Its sleek grey and dark brown colours weren't too far off from the command module he always rode on into battle, and the giant arms and legs easily able to crush any puny human or vehicle that got in its way was as daunting sight as ever.

Knightmare. The mass-produced Burai model was painted with the commander variant colours to be exact.

Back in his world, this thing was nothing more than cheap copies of the backbone of the Britannian war machine, the Sutherlands. But here, in the world of magic where technology was still a few decades behind, the presence of armoured bipedal humanoid machines was unnatural. Was it perhaps because of world rules? Lelouch didn't know or care too much right now. What mattered was the fact that Nobunaga managed to build the exact replica somehow.

"But… how?"

"I have a good memory. Plus it was difficult to forget those awesome things! I did this because it was created by the Japanese of your world. Counterfeits as they were originally, it is still a feat I commend as their countrymen! Their ingenuity in the face of oppression, it burns my soul!"

Lelouch, in awe, muttered as he touched a hand upon its hard metal. "But how did you recreate Yggdrasil Drive or find an alternative to the sakuradite power cells?"

"Hmm? The what now?" He turned to meet Nobu's eyes. White and round while her mouth was still proudly guffawing her achievement, in place of the dangerous and unstable beauty that would dare bring such war machines to life, there now stood some kind of unfinished comedic doodle who had no idea what he was talking about. "First time hearing about those things, darling. What's that?"

"Wha—" Slack jawed for an altogether different reason, Lelouch facepalmed, wishing his hand could punch through his mask. 'Haaah… why did I expect anything less…'

"Oy! Oy! I was only able to recreate the outside appearance. I've no idea what those things look like from within. Besides, in your memories, you never went into detail about how exactly they operate. Plus, I doubt I would know how to make them work. I'm not some kind of genius creator or engineer as my people of your future are. Just your lovely arsonist."

'How can she be humble at times like this…' Lelouch sighed, scorning himself for expecting too much. He then stared at the faux Knightmare before him. "So… This is just a dummy?"

"Hahaha!" Nobu laughed with the same laugh she had before battles. "Oh, no Lulu. I didn't waste the time and effort of our soldiers to make some kind of giant statue for you to look at. No, I made it so you could use it in battles."

Lelouch stared at her, beneath his mask Nobu could guess that he had a questioning look. Without the tech to power it, it was just that, a statue. Yet she would say as much in an attempt to coerce him into combat… "How?"

"Duh, have you forgotten you're a Heroic Spirit now?" she stated it like it was the most natural thing in the world. "The part of your life, your legend, when you would command entire armies while piloting these titans is well ingrained into the Throne! Just because this one doesn't have its robotic heart or blood fuel to operate, it doesn't mean you cannot order them to move in some way."

'Order them…?' Could he do that through words alone? The doubt likely showed on his face as she continued.

"You are Zero, the man of miracles. You are also Lelouch vi Britannia, the Demon Emperor that manipulated the masses to form an obedient and unrelenting army to do your bidding!" Nobunaga walked to his side, caressing the metal of the statue's leg. "These dolls are nought but metal marionettes awaiting their puppeteer's command. Order them as you always have your men! Order them as you would order me into battle!"

Her confidence in him was stifling. Little did he know about the mechanics that was the Throne of Heroes, and little still was he aware of this world's magic system. Try as he might to practice and study, there could hardly be much progress when he himself wasn't aware of what constituted as a legend or not.

Defeating his father was one thing. Ordering a god to do his bidding was incomparable, vastly so. And yet, was it so hard to believe he could do as she imagined?

Zero said nothing as he turned to stare at the Burai before him. Perhaps there was merit to Nobu's words. The magic and the power of one's legend was something beyond the understanding of any mortal. And, having been recently resurrected, Lelouch was just the same. Iskandar could call upon his armies through the vastness of time and space, summoning the souls of warriors from a civilization long gone, yet they were still the loyal army and men he believed in and they believed in him. Not just that, but wasn't an anecdote of Sir Lancelot's myth the mere fact that he could use any and all things as a weapon he'd seemingly trained with for life? He was able to transform anything from modern weaponry to stolen treasures from Gilgamesh into his own merely by grasping it, utilizing them fully as though they'd been his Noble Phantasm this whole time.

Then, wouldn't it be the same for him as well? He who'd stood both in the rear as a commander and the fore as a leader of the armed forces of the united world?

Something soft pressed against his back. Nobunaga pushed her voluminous mounds against him in an attempt to hug Lelouch from behind. All the while, she uttered sweet words into his ear. "You were a general. You were a supreme commander. You were an emperor. In all aspects, you lead the masses in both action and rhetoric. Not a fighter, not a real one, back in your life, yet your conquest was nonetheless grand. You commanded them like they were your pawns. This doll is just the same, so move them, my beloved Demon."

If a knight could put any object into his weapon and master it in an instant, if a king of conquests could call upon his armies from beyond the grave… then why can't he, the Demon Emperor, corrupt mere metal and bend it to his will?

Lelouch focused on the ain't empty Knightmare before him, remembering how he commanded their pilots in the past. With conviction, with purpose, with power… power he knew he'd built up from grasping his soldiers' hearts. Here and now, there was another kind of power, one that resonated within his eye, as it merged together with this world's system, this world's mysticism and legends.

As though responding to his wishes, he felt his Geass surge with energies far different yet familiar all the same. Clicking the mask visor over his left eye open, the former Emperor commanded the shell of a knight.

"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you, obey me!"

---

Nobunaga watched with a silent glee, anticipating the unthinkable. However, to her confusion and a little disappointment, Lelouch merely sighed as he relented his grasp on the doll she tried so hard to make. Then, after a minute of silence passed, he just up and turned around, walking away from her gift.

"Lulu?!" Confused, Nobu quickly closed the distance between them. "Where are you going, Lulu? Did it not work?"

She couldn't believe it wouldn't. She'd seen the vision of him commanding his armies so vividly these days that she believed it a sign. That he used little to nothing of his powers as a Heroic Spirit clued her into his inexperience as one like her. Due to that, she'd sought to replicate his legend into manifesting it in some recognizable way in the present day.

But… were her efforts truly in vain? Had she wasted both of their time with her folly of wanting to see his eager expression on the battlefield once more?

"I'm taking a little walk for a bit, dear." So lost in thought was she, that his sudden peck on her lips had her fuming and confused.

"Eh? Where?"

"Outside. I want to test my new toy." Lelouch stood by the hanger's cargo entrance, grasping on the chains that would've taken a man larger than he to tug and open the sliding shutter gates. But he didn't need to raise his hands for such as he firmly stated, "Step forward, P1."

Nobu was almost immediately shaken by the sudden thud behind her. A giant's footfall signalled by a second thud had her glancing to the side and she was taken aback by the mass of metal marching forward with ease.

The Knightmare was up and walking towards him, towards her lord and beloved. That which was nothing but a hunk of metal mounted on an empty frame was marching with the same discipline as those of a seasoned veteran and the obedience of a loyal puppet.

"Hm. The weight distribution is likely far too taxing on its wheels. We'd have to design new Landspinner modules that would be less over encumbered. Then again, considering you lack the need for a cockpit or ejection system, the most it'll need is better armaments and frame-to-joint weight balance efficiency. Slash Harkens could soon follow, but all in due time, I suppose." Lelouch chuckled, rarely excitedly at that, to himself as she watched it grasp the chains and tug on it, easily opening the gates. "Come. We will have a test run, P1."

Nobunaga watched as her beloved was picked up and sat on the shoulders of the steed she worked hard on. Visually resembling was all she'd had in mind, but once again, her heart was thrown aback by the power her beloved bestowed upon her meagre recreation.

'To give life to a mere doll… to give a weapon a purpose beyond destruction…' Nobunaga chuckled as she merrily followed after, intent on watching his performance test from afar. "Really, Lulu. You've gotta give a girl a break, lest I fall in love with you all over again~~~!"

On that day the rules of modern warfare would summarily change. However, with the cadence of the master strategist, the rest of the world wouldn't learn about it until the two Demons would want it to.

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And here is the next chapter! Hope everyone enjoyed the antics of Lulu and Nobu as they ruin this world with their nefarious plans :3

But on a more serious note, this is most likely the last time it will have the presence of world politics to this degree, considering everything. Following it, chapters will mention how the Fate world is changing because of two horny warmongers.

Also, yes Shirou will have a presence in the future chapters. Not to the point of overtaking Lulu and Nobu as main characters, but there will be some moments of his own. We need to build up a Queen of his King to face off pair of Demons after all :3

Also, the next victim of arson was introduced, mainly to introduce far more interesting faker imo.

Special thanks to ReavesTheReader as usual!

Anyway, until the next chapter!