A/N: Okay! So I just read up a rather interesting review by firestorm100, and with regard's to what you said...

1. Suzaku had his memories from the moment of birth, Euphemira did as well, only that the part of her mind that had those memories only managed to have them be outwardly be expressed by her conscious self at minor instances, such as her having memories of the fond time's she had with Suzaku, leaving most to believe she was simply referring to an imaginary friend. Expect Lelouch Believed her fully, cause he's Lelouch. Oh and she know's about what happened after her death cause she watched it unfold alongside Suzaku, in other word's she was a ghost during the event's of Canon that sought to remain beside her loyal Knight.

2. While I would not exactly say that the interval step for the world's from which the Fake Clovis and 'Charles' would be the exact same, it's pretty much the case in that they (and other's that have yet to appear!) are from world's and timeline's where thing's could be considered 'mostly canon' in that sense, and don't worry about Native Clovis, he'll get freed at some point, I wouldn't be so cruel as to have him be forgotten!

3. And you are pretty much right about Rai having the memories of all of his different Route's, and while I won't say that what you said about Nunnally was an Initial thought of mine, it is something to consider later on, thank's for helping out with giving me an idea!

4. Lelouch and Kallen ARE Self Insert's with a Twist like you said, they just each think they are the only one and don't know about the other yet. But you messed up on the exact nature of their soul's in relation to Wayfinder and Ranger. I won't say anything to spoil you all, just know that thing's aren't what you think they are, You'll just have to wait and see like the rest of the character's in the story will... Oh and Ranger and Wayfinder have been around for FAR longer than just enough to inform the like's of George Lux Britannia as to what would happen to the world upon the completion of Ragnarok...

5. As for the Lord of Wraith's, it's more akin to a being like Darkseid from DC comic's fame, that being a sentient thought/self-aware idea that exist's beyond the traditional confine's of our three Dimensional Existence. If you want to get a better idea, look up on youtube the channel 'The Imaginary Axis' he's a guy who talk's a bunch about Comic Book's and some of the thing's they have, his most recent video talk's about what Darkseid ACTUALLY IS (He's not a God, he's WORSE!) And while Darkseid might be considered the prime example of all evil in the DC Mulitverse. You can view the Lord of Wraith's as being the DARKSEID of Darkseid, or to put it more simply. The Lord of Wraith's is to Darkseid what Darkseid is to us, a being on a level of power and scale that is beyond our true understanding, did you never consider WHY Darkseid kept coming back? It's because those form's we see in the comic's are just SHELL'S that contain only a FRACTION of the ACTUAL Darkseid. Who is pretty much quite actually 'Evil Incarnate' or the 'Absence of Good, the void in your heart' as a basic understanding, in that sense, the Wraith's that serve their lord are little more than minor fragment's of it's fuller self. And your second mistake being the idea that someone or something CREATED the Lord of Wraith's, and I'll leave it at that for now, tell me your response to that! Oh and do watch the video in question before you reply, it will help give you a better idea of what I am talking about. Oh and if your asking if there is some sort of counterpart to it, I'll just say that the being who Ranger and Wayfinder call their 'Bosses' are a good starting point to work from...

Anyhow that's enough about that, let's get on with the story!


Code Geass: Specter of the Rebellion

Chapter 15

Narita, and what will come after

Narita Mountain Region, Area 11, August 27th, 2017 a.t.b

Lelouch P.O.V.

I must say, having the information and support from those who are meant to lead two opposing armies in an active battle is something many a leader would DREAM to have for their own usage...

Still, as annoying it might be to have so many potential soldier's be lost in this battle, I am afraid I will have to order my Black Knight's to act as the 'stations of canon' dictate me to do so, unless I would rather have the grand strategy be ruined...

Such a waste for something that is sadly needed to occur...

'At the very least we can take comfort that the force's caught up in all of this are of those who we would condemn to death either way, from both the JLF and Cornelia's own 'forces' present.'

And indeed it was true to say the least, having had contact's with both Cornelia and Todoh-sensei. I was informed about how the force's both side's would deploy are made up of soldier's who have solid evidence for criminal action's, be they war crime's or otherwise. And that I informed them of my Plan to create a landslide that would result in the soldier's present being buried under it and dying as a result...

Needless to say the look on each of their face's at the reveal of my plan was Priceless, as was the overall meeting we had two day's earlier...

I had just finished explaining my full plan and Strategy regarding Narita and Yokosuka to both of them. Their eye's were wide with the fact that not only would I reveal such a plan, but that I would ask them to ensure it would carry out as exactly as can be...

"Lelouch, what reason do you have to tell us this?" Cornelia ask's, disbelief in her voice...

"It is because I wish to earn the Trust of the people, while also showing I do not play favorite's for any one person or group. And because I wish to prove that I can trust you both to see thing's through." I tell her.

"You do realize that it will mean the JLF will be all but disbanded do you not my Second Student?" Todoh asks me with a piercing gaze...

"I am fully aware of the consequences of my action's, Todoh-sensei. And I feel nothing but pain and regret in my heart for the lives that will be lost as a result, but would you rather face the fact that innocent people will die, knowing that even if you were not the cause, they would still die due to you inaction." I tell them.

"To save one you know and let five stranger's die, or save the five stranger's and let the one you know die..." Cornelia mutter's, using the comparison of the classic thought experiment that was rather apt I suppose.

"A rather fitting comparison Sister Nelly, except that if I do nothing, all six would die in that situation, so the only choice I can make and think of, how many can I save by the end of it all?" I tell her, grief tinging my voice as I tell the two who would know the most above all other's of what sort of struggle I am going through with all of this...

"Such is the burden of those who lead, knowing the one's who follow them might not survive..." Todoh say's, his voice grim...

"How? How is it that one deals with it?" I ask them both, knowing that the main reason I asked them to meet me was that I needed an idea of how to cope that does NOT involve me seeing all of those around me as little more than pawns or a chessboard...

"Every Leader deals with it in their own way's, some might try to drink the sorrow's away, other's resorting to the pleasure's of the flesh, and other's still try to distance themselves from those who they command, knowing that they will most likely die..." Cornelia tells me, a grim frown on her face...

"BUT I DON'T WANT THAT! I DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF THOSE THING'S! I CAN'T RESORT TO THOSE THING'S!" I yell out, anger filling my voice as Images of a Lelouch standing there his eye's showing pain and grief, a needle filled with Refrain, ready to be injected...

And no Kallen to stop him...

"Then, if you wish to still end this with your ability to empathize with other's and your view of them unshaken, might I suggest you have someone who you can trust your secret's and pain's to?" Todoh say's.

"Oh, and you two would be the expert's on THAT HUH?!" I snap out at them...

"Yes, well, for me it is my Knight, but you already know that Brother Dear, didn't you?" She say's while referring to past experience's we shared...

Of time's we cried together when the insult's just became too much...

Yes, I did know that without me and Nunnally, the only other people Cornelia could turn to for such thing's were Euphie and Gilbert, and since she wished to appear strong to Euphie...

"I figured out of anyone you would share such thing's with, it would be him... You really trust him a lot don't you sister?" I say to her...

"With all of my life, and you Todoh?" She say's.

"Nagisa Chiba, the only woman among the Four Holy Sword's, the other's understand, even if they enjoy teasing her about it..." He admit's.

"And let me guess, the rest of the rank-and-file like to claim that the two of you are 'Together' in way's most would consider beyond Military Relation's?" She ask's, a ghost of a smile on her face.

"Yes, very much so..." He say's, a ghost of a smile on his own now.

"You know, it's actually kind of funny..." I say, my voice a slight whisper.

"What is?" They ask me.

"You sister, a Princess and commander in the forces that conquered Japan, have so much in common with a Man who fought for it and managed a Miracle of a battle..." I tell her.

"And you, Todoh-sensei, despite your status, could be considered the one most equal to the like's of my sister in term's of skill, as well having similarities in having a guard you who trust with all your feeling's and thought's on the matter..." I tell him.

"Itsukushima correct? That was where you fought Todoh?" Nelly say's.

"Indeed, I was the one who wound up taking command and pushing back the Britannian force's sent in." He say's.

"To think that I would meet the one person who would actually beat me in command during the invasion..." She say's with a smirk.

"Wait a minute, you where-" I say with surprise, I know she was present during the invasion, but to think that SHE was the person in command of the Britannian force's at Itsukushima...

"Indeed Little Brother, the one defeat I had during the invasion, and I can't help but feel glad I could meet the man who had bested me, thank you Todoh-san. It was an honor having fought you back then." She say's while giving a formal Japanese bow of respect to one's opponent.

"Are you certain it is worthy to praise one who had beaten you?" Todoh ask's, a hint of surprise on his face.

"All that people have called me was to do with whatever 'victories' I might have had, every single one of them made me wish to just hide away in a corner and cry my heart out and forget who I was. You defeating me was like a breath of fresh air and a relief from what I had come accustomed to as being a form of torment." Nelly admits, faint traces of tear's in her eye's...

Todoh take's a second to process it and then say's "It is because of the one loss that you felt was your greatest one yet, isn't it? If so, then I accept your thanks, and I am honored to have fought against the like's of you, Princess Cornelia Li Britannia."

I knew well enough that the look's they shared in their eye's was that of two commander's who had known the shared struggle's of leadership, and that they were glad to have met one who understood. I knew well enough the connection they shared was one of a deep respect for a fellow warrior and leader, and that it was nothing more to it. I could tell who's heart's were meant to be their Twin Flame's, with Nelly's being Gilbert, and Todoh-sensi having Nagisa-san...

I wished to see them and so many other's alive, so that I may one day see these two commander's and their closest aid's finally realize their shared feeling's and that I might one day see the children to take up their title's as heir's to the like's of the 'Goddess of Victory' and her Knight, as well as the like of 'Todoh of Miracles' and his own loyal second-in-command...

How did I know Chiba was the second? Because I was there when she was told as much by Todoh himself after the Battle of Itsukushima all those year's ago...

May this Geass I wield grant me my wish...

"So then Brother, do you know of one to act as your bedrock for the time's ahead?" Nelly asked me.

"No, not yet, but I suppose if I ever do find such a person. I think you both will be able to tell who they are." I told them.

And now I await the moment of battle, still unsure of who would act as my one aid, to be someone to confide in my greatest fear's and emotion's in...

'Well, you'd be willing to confide in them ALMOST everything...'

THANK'S FOR REMINDING ME! Asshole...

'Does it REALLY Bother you that badly?'

You're inside my mind aren't you? Can't you just look through my Memories?

'Um, not really, that's why I talk to you duh!'

Smartass...

'Well, what are we going to do now?'

I'm looking over the area, still doing last minute calculation's for it all to work out...

'Is it about Shirley's dad? You KNOW that Nelly had the town evacuated due to, concern's of Live-Fire Exercises in the region possibly putting the lives of 'loyal Britannian's' at risk...'

Oh the Irony, it sure is something to behold, isn't it?

'That combined with ensuring that those Element's of the JLF that will prove loyal to our cause will have already evacuated due to 'intercepted transmissions' that Todoh managed to get a hold of from an 'anonymous source' that did not wish to be named...'

I do love it when thing's come together so well...

'Think it might be time to inform Kerwell about how 'glad we are' yet?'

I don't know for certain if it would be so wise, besides if he's as reckless in this instance as in the 'baseline' version, then it would be a simple matter of him getting caught up in battle too much.

'Let's not jinx it though okay?'

Fair enough to err on the side of caution, it's got me this far as is...

Kallen P.O.V.

I'm wondering how come the town down bellow was evacuated...

Not that I am complaining or anything, I would rather NOT be the main cause of the Death of Shirley's own father...

I'm not sure how I would handle the idea of killing someone who is close to a person I know...

That and hopefully, the member's of the JLF that would be most helpful to us will be mostly alive too...

'Something tells me that thing's will end up being a LOT better in the long run...'

That so huh? Well best to temper optimism with practicality and the like...

"Hey Kallen." I hear Naoto say on the internal radio.

"Yeah Naoto, what's up?" I say, wonder what he want's...

"What do you think about Zero?" He asks me

What DO I think of him?

On the one hand, he seems to be more genuine in wanting to help people, and it seems as if his parent's aren't planning on any sort of world ending event...

And yet, something is bothering me...

I should have a good idea of what drive's him, and why he is willing to resort to all of this...

But I feel as if there is something missing...

'But you don't even know what it is, right?'

I...

'Nothing wrong in admitting you don't know, I'm sure it'll be revealed on it's own...'

I don't know...

I don't know why he's doing this, I don't know why I feel as if I SHOULD know what's behind all of this but I DON'T!

And to be honest...

IT'S PISSING ME OFF!

"Kallen?" Naoto asks me.

"I don't know what to think of him, OKAY!" I tell him with more anger than I needed him to hear.

"Okay sis, geez. I was just asking..." Naoto say's.

"Sorry about that, I'm just tense is all..." I trail off

"I've noticed, been noticing it a lot lately..." He say's.

"I'll try to keep focused on the mission, I need to-" I start

"Kallen." He cut's me off

"WHAT!" I shout back at him

"You need someone to talk too, it doesn't have to be me, you just need to talk with SOMEONE. Please Sis, I'm begging you." He tells me.

"I don't NEED to talk to anyone, all that I NEED is to be able to fight, that's all that matter's." I say.

"DAMMIT! KALLEN KOZUKI-STRADFELD! WILL YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE!" He yell's out to me in anger, getting the attention of the rest of the Black Knight's around us...

Oh shit, he used my full name...

"LISTEN TO ME! When we first started our Resistance movement, we did it because we were angry at Britannia, at the people who called themselves 'family' if only cause they were related to dad, who had wanted NOTHING to do with them! And I saw how you were back then, you had a fire in your eye's yes, but all I saw was how that fire was KILLING YOU INSIDE! But then, when we were talking with Zero, and when I saw you two being like that... I saw that fire in your eye's turn from one that would destroy you, to one that would SAVE you!" He ranted on at me...

Was-was he telling the truth?

Did I really look like that to him?

"I saw it all too, Kallen." Ohgi said.

NOT YOU TOO OHGI!

"You guy's must be making a mistake, there's NO way I'd-" I try to explain.

"CUT THE BULLCRAP! YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS!" Naoto yells at me again...

I then notice that he's crying now...

"All my life, since you came into my world. I've seen your eye's have a spark to them, when we came to New York, and when you met HER for the first time and I saw the two of you light up in response. I couldn't help but feel more proud of you, I WAS PROUD OF YOU SIS!" He tells me in between sob's...

Oh Naoto, I...

"And then, when the Invasion came, I saw that even though you were scared, I saw that spark in you begin to flare up, little by little..."

I just wanted to protect you, ALL OF YOU!

"And then, when they forced Mom and Dad apart, and set him up with that BITCH, I saw your eye's flare and roar in anger..."

I know, that's why I have to do this, ALL OF THIS. So you guy's don't have to suffer, so that you can all HAVE a future...

Even if I'm not in it...

"And I was scared..."

What?

"I was scared, of YOU Kallen, we ALL were..."

Don't you get it Naoto? I am like this BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE FAMILY I HAVE NOW! I CAN'T!

"But then, I saw how you were when you were with Zero, and you looked so happy, as if you had finally found someone who understood who you really were..."

No...

That's impossible...

It can't be real...

IT JUST CAN'T BE REAL!

I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOW'S THING'S LIKE THIS!

ONLY ME!

NO ONE ELSE CAN UNDERSTAND ME!

I! AM! ALL! ALONE!

There's no one else like me, their just can't be...

I can't afford to be happy, otherwise I will ruin it all...

I have to play my part...

I have to act out my role...

And if it mean's I have to live alone for all of my life, with no family or friend's to turn too...

Then I will do so, no matter what ANYONE else say's...

"I'm sure you don't want to believe it Kallen, but I'm POSITIVE it's true..."

NO!

YOU'RE WRONG!

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

I'm the only one in this world who is acting as if I were someone else...

And not even my own Family can know about it...

They just can't...

Not mom, not dad...

Not even you, Naoto-Oniisan...

NONE OF YOU CAN KNOW!

"Please Kallen, promise me that you can at least talk to someone, ANYONE, PROMISE ME!" He cries out, now he can't help his tear's anymore...

"I can't." Even though I want to...

I can't even though I feel as if my Soul is being torn apart at the seam's...

I can't, even though I feel as if I am going to die...

I just can't...

"Q-1, I'm sorry, but, It's time for us to begin our operation..." I hear Lelouch say, his voice sounding as if he would rather just drop EVERYTHING and comfort me...

But I can't have that happen...

"Understood Zero, I'll get the Guren ready..." I tell him, trying to hide the pain in my voice the best I can...

The show must go on...

But just as I walk past him, he put's a hand on my shoulder, and hold's a tight grip on it...

"When this is done, I want you to talk with me, in Private..." I hear him say...

He'll just want me to give him an A.A.R. and an estimate on the combat performance of the Guren, no doubt...

"Yes sir..." I tell him, trying to hide my tear's behind my mask...

"And expect this to be a common occurrence. Q-1..." He tells me, his voice soft and caring...

Why?

Why does he want to talk to me?

WHY?!

"Understood, Zero." I tell him, I'm just barely hiding the pain in my voice as I speak...

"Don't die out there Kallen. Promise me that much." He tells me, dropping my code name.

"How did you-" I start.

"It was easy to put it all together, even if the record's from before the invasion are rather spotty at best, it was understandable what motive's you would have..." He tells me, I already know it, but I have to keep acting...

"What do you want from me?" I ask him...

"I just want you to have something more to fight for, and I don't want the future I want to create to be missing you in it..." He seems to genuinely care about me, but I don't know if it's just another mask of his, or how he would feel about my own...

"And what about you?" I ask.

"I am willing to suffer whatever fate has in store for me, but I would like to be able to see the world I would seek to create. Just as I'm sure you do, Kallen..." He tells me before letting go and getting into his own Knightmare Frame, the other's already in their own and ready for me to start the battle...

He's right...

I am willing to suffer everything the world has to throw at me...

Because I want to see the future world that I create...

No, the one that WE create...

Even if I'm the only one who is an actor in this world in all matter's...

Even if I am alone in that regard...

If he is willing to accept my word's and thought's on the matter's to come...

If he want's to talk to me, to HEAR me say all that there is...

Then I guess I might be able to handle the loneliness just a bit better, if he is willing to have me by his side...

Even if I am alone, I don't have to feel like I have to be alone...

Well, time to get this started, I can see where he want's me to start off...

'You ready for the first day of the rest of your life?'

I guess I am, ready as I'll ever be anyhow...

Lelouch P.O.V.

Seeing the result of the RWS creating a Landslide, I can't help but feel as if my mind is far away from the battle taking place, even though it is so easy...

I wonder if Nelly and Todoh felt that I might have my mind be so distracted, and so made it a bit easier for me and the Black Knight's...

Honestly, it doesn't matter...

'It's about Kallen, right?'

Yes, I would rather not have her deal with the trauma of having to bottle up so many emotion's inside...

'Because you know how it feel's right? Mr. 'I have to play my role's and hide behind mask's'...'

...

'...'

...

'Well?'

...

'You ARE going to say something as a comeback right?'

...

'Right?'

...

'Was it something I said?'

I, am just so TIRED of having to hide who I am from the people I care for and love the most!

'Yeah, and?'

I AM SICK OF HAVING TO PLAY THESE STUPID ASS ROLE'S!

'WOAH, Easy there pal. You should just-'

NO! YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LET ME DO THIS!

'WOAH! HEY DON'T GO SO CRAZY! REMEMBER THE PLAN!'

FUCK THE PLAN! FUCK THE WORLD! FUCK EVERYTHING! I AM SICK AND FUCKING TIRED OF ALL OF THIS!

'That's it, I'm taking over...'

HA! I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU-

'Woah, okay that's interesting...'

What?

'...'

WHAT THE FUCK!

'I don't know okay? I just...'

Give me back control, NOW!

'Look I don't know what I did, okay? Just-'

I SAID NOW!

'Look, you are getting too high strung, if you want this all to succeed as planned, then SHUT UP and let me take the wheel...'

...

'...'

...

'Well?'

Only for the duration of the battle, and to see how well your skill's are at commanding an armed force...

'They'll be in good hand's, don't worry.'

If anyone die's, I am going to DESTROY you!

'Not to worry, Zero...'

Suzaku P.O.V.

I had expected thing's to go about as what Lelouch planned, but this...

This was something else entirely...

Honestly, it's all kind of hard to believe it all went down the way it did...

The opening act went about as expected, landslide and all...

But then when it came time for the second wave of force's to be deployed, ZERO came in on a Sutherland painted black and looking like it was put through utter hell and announced...

"PRINCESS CORNELIA LI BRITANNIA! I DEMAND THAT YOU AND YOUR BEST MEN FIGHT ME AND NO OTHER'S! LET NO NEEDLESS BLOODSHED CONTINUE TO STAIN THIS MOUNTAINSIDE ANY LONGER!"

Even Cornelia was shocked at the sudden shift in character from Lelouch, to say nothing less of Darlton and Guliford...

She told the two of them to go to their Personal Gloucester's, and for me to get in the Lancelot...

I asked her why me, and she said...

"He said to send my BEST MEN didn't he? I think you count among them, Warrant Officer Kururgi..."

And while I guess in a sense she wasn't wrong, but I have to admit it was strange to see such an open display of trust from her, even more so to have it directed at ME of all people!

But I figured they would need me and the Lancelot, plus Loyd has been BEGGING for a chance to get more data like what happened in Shinjuku, so I had no choice but to comply with my order's...

Honestly, I don't know what possessed Lelouch to act and fight the way he did, but if I ever found out...

I'd ask it to not fight us again, and instead just focus solely on the Lord of Wraith's...

Loyd dropped Unconscious after seeing what little remained of the Lancelot and the Gloucester's of the Princess and her trusted guard...

Miss Croomy was barely able to keep herself from going under due to the shock of how easily we where beaten, as well as how concerned for how we managed to get out unharmed...

I'm pretty sure whatever was in place of Lelouch at that moment did care for us all, as he just simply broke our frame's just enough to leave most of the internals exposed, and thankfully for the Lancelot at least, it wasn't at a point that it would need to be scrapped and replaced with a new version...

Still, looking on at the Knightmare, seeing much of it's armored exterior blasted and torn off, shot in all matter of place's, looking as if it was just barely holding on after what happened...

What kind of force does Lelouch try to keep in check? Does he even know about it?

Or Perhaps, is IT the one keeping HIM in check...

...

...

I'm not sure I know which answer I prefer, just that both make me glad that he still views me as a friend to cherish and protect, even when he's like that...

Kallen P.O.V.

I don't know what could have made Lelouch act the way he did, I'm just glad he only limited it to being done to Cornelia, Guliford, and Darlton's Knightmare's, and Suzaku's Lancelot of course...

Still though, what I saw...

It make's me glad that Knightmare's are fully mechanical and not some Bio-Mech's, otherwise I think I and a number of other's would have thrown up at the sight of it all...

'I'll say, yeesh. I'm sure the ASEEC crew are going to be PLENTY busy, not to mention the Prime Minister is going to get PISSED when he see's the report's...'

I just hope the Lord of Wraith's doesn't decide to just go after us NOW, we wouldn't survive!

'Agreed, well, either way we should go and talk to him, okay...'

I'm kind of scared to be honest, seeing how he was like all of THAT and all...

'Yeah, but I can tell you were feeling OTHER thing's as well though.'

STOP THAT!

'Fine, fine, well. Time to face the music right?'

Fair enough...

Okay Kallen, deep breath, in, and out.

In.

Out.

Giving a few light tap's on my cheek's to get myself up to face whatever is behind the door I open it and...

"Zero." I say, trying to keep any lingering fear at seeing him and, other thing's, from coming back at full force.

"Q-1, come in." He tells me, and I do and close the door behind me...

"I'm, sorry you all had to see that..." He tells me.

"It's okay, there's time's where I get like that in battle too." I tell him.

"..."

"..."

...

...

'Awkward...'

Yeah, I'll say...

"I-I have something to confess, and I would like it if you could hear me out..." He say's, a nervous tone to his voice...

This isn't Lelouch Lamperouge, nor is this Zero...

This is...

Something else entirely...

"Um, okay, what is it?" I say, unsure of what to do here, should I just stand and listen or...

"I, have been known to have much anger at how thing's are. As I am sure you can imagine..." He say's.

"Yeah, I mean, the whole 'Zero' thing and all that..." I say.

"Yes well, it's just that often I have... Difficulty keeping that anger in check..."

"We all have issues from time to time, it's normal..."

"In a sense yes, however the anger I had felt was rather, explosive in it's possible effect's."

"How bad was it?" I ask him, unsure of what else would happen...

"It was enough I had to have a, Sub-Persona as it were to take over and help, bleed off, the excess rage I had inside if you will." He said.

Considering the sort of thing's he has to deal with, him having a secondary internal mask to take over when his main one's falter or get out of hand with his emotion's is honestly something I can see him doing...

"I see, and do you have. A name for it or something?" I ask, I mean it would do good to know in case it happens again...

"I've taken to calling it, Ranger. As it were..." He say's.

"Oh really? Well, thing is. I've got one like that too, I call it Wayfinder." WHAT AM I SAYING! TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH INFO!

Oh KAMI! What if he can make the connection between me and the ACTUAL Wayfinder, oh who am I kidding, HE ALREADY HAS!

"That's nice, does it come out often?" He asks.

Wait, WHAT THE FUCK!

...

...

...

You know what, whatever, it doesn't matter!

"Not really, though to be honest if it did, I'm not sure you'd be able to tell the difference, at least in how I fight anyhow..." I tell him, and you BETTER not make it seem like something is off, DO YOU HEAR ME!

'Yes, yes, my Queen, anything else?'

DON'T CALL ME THAT!

"Well, I am certain you are wondering why I've asked you to come here and talk with me..." He say's.

"Kind of, yeah." I tell him.

"The truth is, I happened to meet with two people who I happen to know the difficulties of being a leader..." Cornelia and Todoh most likely...

"Yeah, and?" I ask him, what did they tell him?

"They told me, that if I am to ensure I end up leading my Black Knight's to victory without viewing them as less than the actual people that they are. Then I should..." He trail's off.

"That you should?" I ask, come on. Tell me!

He take's a deep breath "That I should have someone who I can trust and confide in with my biggest secret's and fear's. To keep me from losing my sense of Humanity, to ensure I do not lose in touch with the people who I fight for, that I do not lose what make's me who I am. That I do not let all of this Kill me inside..."

That, that's just like what Naoto told me!

Did he hear us? I'm sure he did with how much Shouting was going on between us...

"That's um, kind of funny, considering the um. Argument I had with my Brother..." Even if he didn't hear it, might as well tell him the truth of what went on between us.

"I know, I saw it in your eye's and body language..." What? But my eye's were covered by the mask!

"I saw the tear's you had, even though you tried to hide them..." DAMMIT! I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE!

"Kallen." He speaks to me in a serious tone.

"Ye-yes Zero." I ask him, what does he want me to do?

"I want you to confide in me, just as I am willing to confide in you. I would rather spare you the pain, but you would keep going regardless. I know I would do the same if you told me as such. So rather than try to keep the pain from affecting the other, let's instead face our pain's and fear's together..." He tells me while offering his hand...

...

...

...

He want's me to... Confide in him?

'You do know what that mean's right? It mean's-'

I know that it mean's! It's just, unexpected for me is all...

'It seems he's willing to put his trust in you though...'

Yeah, it seems like a lot, but with everything we have in our way, we might just need that shared trust...

"Sure thing then, Zero." I say, as I take his hand in mine, sealing the pact between us both...

Of course, I won't tell him EVERYTHING, a Lady's got to have SOME secret's after all...

Ranger P.O.V.

It seems the first step's to realization are underway...

'Still, it is something to know just how much RAGE you've had in your soul for all this time...'

Yes, I felt it at the fools in my old life, in that old world. The people who focused on petty matter's and issue's of 'Identity Politics', when there was far more pressing matter's to focus on...

'Are you not going to ask about my own?'

I am aware of the pain in your soul, and how it matches my own...

'Although mine stemmed from my losing my whole family, leaving it so I was the only one of my Family left in a world who cared for nothing of me...'

And my soul can't help but wish to cover your own, and wish the pain away...

'And mine can't help but wish the same for yours too, my love...'

I know, but I am at least glad they are beginning to open up and learn to trust each other, which is something they will need in the coming time's ahead...

'Agreed, and what of their meeting with the Kyoto Houses?'

i assume it will go over rather well, it will also be a way for him to express how much he trust's them with one of his secret's...

'I wish that our Better Halves would not need to hide their true selves to the world, but they have no choice to to play their roles...'

It will be worth though in the end for them, my love...

'I know it will be, my lovely Ranger...'


A/N: So that's it for this chapter! And sorry that I didn't go over the battle proper, but as I said I am not really that good at writing Fight scene's yet. Still I think it work's considering what happened. Our Earl of Pudding is going to be having a LOT of work to go through in pretty much getting the Lancelot in working order, still it will be soon enough for Port Yokosuka. Which I expect to be a rather Easy affair, needless to say the Soldier's of the JLF will NOT die that day, instead they will live on within the Black Knight's! As it stand's, the reason why they will do so will come in the next chapter...

Make sure to leave a review!

Anyhow, til next time!