A/N: So first of all, thank's for reading my story ryder77! Who if any of you don't know happen's to have wrote a fair number of Code Geass stories who's quality of writing FAR exceeds my own, and that is just from a humble guy who is mostly writing to get his skills up! Speaking of my writing...

So I am sure you guy's can tell my Syntax (That is the way my whole thing is structured with my word's and the like) happens to be somewhat lacking in term's of quality... Sadly I can only resort to using the site's own Copy-N-Paste feature to get my chapter's written, and I can't afford to get anything like Microsoft Word or the like to check for spelling error's or other issues in my writing, so if you are willing to be a Beta Reader/Co-writer for me ryder77. I would very much appreciate having someone who know's what to do when it come's to writing thing's out well, some error's I only notice after going over the chapter in question, and sometime's I feel as if something in the site itself make's it hard to get all of the word's I have in mind be updated as I want it to be...

Either way, I am also now aware of how the Android App for doesn't count reader's for a chapter, you'd THINK the would fix it by now... But then again I'm not the one in charge of managing the site so yeah!

Anyhow, Let's get on with the story!


Code Geass: Specter of the Rebellion

Chapter 18

Port Yokosuka, and talk's of Home...

Port Yokosuka, Area 11, August 30th, 2017 a.t.b

Lelouch P.O.V.

Calm down Lelouch, you don't have to deal with the death's of Katase and the rest of his men, nor do you have to face a grief stricken Shirley who might try to shoot you dead...

So, WHY THE HELL DO I FEEL SO NERVOUS!

'Is it because you're doing something so different from how thing's went normally?'

I suppose, and I KNOW Cornelia and Todoh managed to work thing's out so the JLF Pretty much aren't on the tanker, and that she will try to make it look all convincing, but even still...

'So many change's, and yet thing's could go anyway now, right?'

Yes, even with so many change's, some thing's might be bound to happen regardless...

'Like the antic's with Tamaki spending so much money on fancy dinner's?'

THAT I could deal without at the very least...

Two day's ago, Black Knight's Mobile HQ...

"Well Zero, look's like you have a love letter." I heard Ohgi say as he walk's in with a letter, of course I know who it's from, at least the GROUP in question that is, still best to humor him...

"How kind of you Ohgi, however I am afraid I don't swing THAT way, nice of you to try though." I tell him with mirth and humor in my voice, to which everyone else laughed at the humor and joke.

"Ha, ha, really funny guy's, actually it's not a love letter it's-" He say's before I go up and get the letter myself.

"An Invitation from the Kyoto Houses correct? Let's hope it isn't from Kaugya Sumeragi, otherwise I'm sure it would be an ACTUAL Love letter as much as a invitation..." I say while getting the letter open, thankfully it is instead written by Taizo Kirihara instead, so I am certain the man will be the member we shall meet later on...

"How did you figure it out THAT fast?" Namoi Inoue ask's me, surprise on her face at how I was so quick to predict such a possibility.

"It's simple rather, based on our Revealing as the Black Knight's, along with the various action's and battles since then, we have managed to gain Notoriety among Britannian's and Japanese alike, as with our good friend Diethard Reed here..." I say motioning to the man in question.

"Still Impressed on how you managed that whole event during the 'Nemesis Incident' what's your secret?" Reed ask's me.

"A magician can't reveal his secret's otherwise it would make his trick's be boring. But it's mostly because I know you're the type of man who want's an Impressive story above all else, so rest assured if you plan on turning my back on me for an impressive story from like say, the Prime Minister of Britannia, then rest assured I WILL Kill you if it come's down to it, and as such I can not trust you with knowing my method's, ALWAYS Remember that..." I tell and warn him, the look on his face indicate's he understand's and nod's quickly in acceptance.

"Ye-Yes Zero!" He say's.

"Good, now then as I was saying, the fact that we have gained such attention as we have mean's that the Kyoto Group would consider us to be potential Partner's or mean's by which they can expand their own doing's and influence beyond the current scale and scope of what they have now. As such I expected they would have an Interest in meeting the Infamous Zero and his Black Knight's, in fact I have no doubt on who they will send. But I would rather keep such info to myself in case Someone blab's about it and they get scared and call it off, or worse turn's a supposed meeting into a Slaughter..." I say while placing the end of the conversation as while looking at Tamaki in particular.

"What the HELL! Why you all looking at ME?! HUH!" He exclaims as he realizes that EVERYONE else in the room is looking at him expecting him to screw something up...

"We-well to be honest Zero, it would do a lot of good if we got support from the Kyoto group as it would help with our Fiances as is..." Ohgi say's sheepishly and nervous as is.

And here I was hoping I didn't have to deal with THAT brand of stupidity again...

'Then again, it's TAMAKI We are talking about here, so it would only make sense...'

Annoyingly yes, but still...

"I am pretty sure there would be NO Problem's if you had FOLLOWED OUT THE BUDGET PLAN I HAD PLANED FOR EVERYTHING!" I say with some actual anger and disappointment at the negligence displayed by them all. If only due to the fact that I had made said Budget Plan for all matter of eventualities...

'Including this one?'

As a matter of fact yes, I did...

"HEY! Don't look at ME! I was just trying to help the new recruit's is all!" Tamaki explain's as yet again all eye's are on him.

"Oh really? Then does having expensive dinner parties count among 'Recruitment' or 'Miscellaneous' expenses?" Kallen say's with a smile that just barley contains her anger and annoyance at Tamaki's antic's...

"Well-uh..." Tamaki tires to defend himself.

"In that case, might I suggest we have Tamaki here treat us out to dinner some time with money from his own Wallet? All In favor?" I ask to everyone else.

"I!" Everyone but Tamaki exclaim's, much to Tamaki's shock and horror at what he would have to deal with...

"Y-You guy's are KIDDING RIGHT?!" He say's with disbelief in his voice.

"Does anyone have an suggestion's? I know of one place I have been interested in trying out, only that it was a fair bit to pricey for my budget." I say to open the discussion of how to make sure Tamaki learn's an important lesson of what happen's when you fail to manage finances correctly...

Present, Port Yokosuka...

Needless to say, we all had a good laugh at his expense...

'And what's better is that since you managed to reveal yourself to all of them after meeting Kirihara. It mean's you don't have to hide your face to them while eating, how do you suppose you'll manage to keep anyone from figuring out you are Zero anyhow?'

It's rather simple really, as far as anyone know's it will be just a gathering of good friend's who just want to have a nice time out is all...

'Speaking of having a nice time out...'

...

'...'

...

'You ARE going to ask her out some time right?'

Yes I will, if only because we could both use some time away from our respective duties is all...

Kallen P.O.V.

Easy there Kallen, just take it easy, Shirley still has her dad, so we don't have to worry about her getting in the crossfire or anything like that!

'Just because thing's are going well, doesn't mean we can't plan out for all matter of event's that could play out...'

I know, I know, honestly being a Leader is HARD! WORK!

'Well you were ASKING for it when you wanted to keep Naoto alive and all that right?'

Yes, and I do not regret it in the SLIGHTEST!

'Rather Impressive with how you've helped manage thing's, think he'll take you as his overall Second-in-Command?'

Honestly I don't know, I'm fine with just being his Ace Pilot and all that, it's just...

'Just what?'

I don't know how good of a Leader I could be with something like the Black Knight's...

'Well, some of the official spin-off's of Code Geass in your old life depicted that Version of Kallen taking leadership of the Black Knight's and the title of Zero didn't they?'

Yes, but it's ZERO and the BLACK KNIGHT'S for crying out loud! WAY more of a different role to play than Kallen Kozuki-Stradfield!

'Why do I feel like there is something more to it then huh?'

It's just that, I can't replace Lelouch as Zero, I just CAN'T!

'I'm pretty sure he would consider you a worthy leader in his stead, yes you might not have the same level of smart's as him! But that doesn't make you any lesser as a leader by comparison!'

No, it's not that, I just feel that if I were to take a more notable role, it wouldn't be as a new Zero or the like...

'Ah, I see, so you plan on taking up the role of a Queen to his King huh? Not a bad idea actually...'

I already thought about this, you KNOW about it!

'Of course my dear, it's just now I know just a bit more as to why you have it in place!'

Well, it's best to see him and let him know how everything is ready...

'Think he'll be like his canon depiction in THAT Regard?'

Could you NOT!

"Lelouch?" I ask, not being able to see him that well due to the lighting of the whole warehouse leaving him mostly obscured while he is working on his Sutherland...

Honestly looking at it from up close. Really show's how he seem's to want to fight with all he has...

It's Black form has part's of it painted Purple so as to indicate it's his Knightmare above all other's in question, not to mention the various part's and alteration's being done to it, it seem's he's trying to get every single last bit of performance out of it...

Kind of impressive for someone who's meant to be a 'Mere Prince' of Britannia...

'Then again, Lelouch is no 'Mere Prince' now, is he?'

Between his Mother's fame as not only the Knight of Six but also for her skill with the Ganymede Frame. It make's sense he'd have SOME of her talent passed down, by her own doing if nothing else to ensure he can hold his own if it came down to it...

'Make's you wonder if Rakshata would be willing to work with him, that or just use him for any kind of experiment's...'

Honestly, I'm not sure what would be worse, if it was Rakshata doing that on him, or Loyd doing it on him, or either of them on me!

'Don't forget them deciding to TEAM UP and do it on BOTH OF YOU!'

...

'...'

...

'Sorry, too much?'

I'm just worried about what sort of length's they would go, Rakshata COULD have SOME restraint, but Loyd is a Self-Proclaimed Sociopath! He'd do whatever just to see what would happen...

"Yes Kallen? What is it?" Lelouch ask's.

"So, I've been thinking..." About a number of thing's, like how good you are as a Pilot for one thing.

"About what exactly?" He say's.

"Well, a few thing's, but one of them is, how exactly are you so good at being a Pilot, not that I am complaining or anything! It's just, well..." I say, unsure of how to go on with it...

"You're wondering wither or not my Skill come's from my Parent's, much less anything else. Correct?" He say's, looking at me from the shadow's.

"Kind of, yeah, I mean I can see how your Mom could be part of it, given how she's well, you know?" I say to him

"Marianne 'The Flash'? I suppose it is natural to assume as much, and while I suppose part of my natural aptitude could have come from her, in truth this is all mostly from my own practice and learning more so than anything passed down from either my Mother or Father..." He tell's me.

Huh, he never did say anything about having done some Training on his own, perhaps while he was with the Ashford's perhaps?

'Come to think of it, we don't really know ANYTHING about his life before he showed up in Shinjuku do we?'

Fair point, let's just play it safe for now...

"So, where did you find all the time to Practice using a Knightmare? I'm guessing from your time with the Ashford's?" I ask him, trying to gauge his response...

"Actually that only really cover's a small part of my training, the most of it was back when I was... At home..." He say's...

Home...

For most, it's just a place you come back to after a long day of work or anything else...

For some, it's a place you have memories of because of how people you care about are there...

But for Lelouch...

It's not just a PLACE, it's a part of HIS LIFE!

One that was STOLEN from him because of what happened during the Upheaval...

Lelouch P.O.V.

Home...

In my old life, I never did have a place I could call 'Home' by any real mean's...

Was it a place I resided in? Yes.

But it was never so simple to say it was ANY Place in particular...

I was often left having to move from place to place, region to region, all because of various circumstances beyond my control.

I lost count after 20 move's alone, and that was BEFORE my country of Origin was pretty much wiped out in all matter's of the word...

And even when I finally came to the one country that I had always wanted to come to...

Even when the time I would come to live there was when I had no real chance to visit prior...

I never did find a place that I would call My 'Home'...

To me, Home is more than just a simple place of residence...

More than just a place you go to when you have done all your work for the day...

More than a place that you invite people over to stay for a time...

To me, Home is a place where you feel like you belong somewhere...

That you can feel as if you can look at that place and tell people it's where you feel like yourself the most...

A place, that you can take comfort in the fact that you and your Family have a place where you can all live in comfort, knowing that no matter what, you always have a place to return to be with the one's you love...

I never did have a place to call 'home' in my old life...

In my current one, there are only two place's I have felt can give me a vague idea of what a 'Home' actually is...

Ashford Academy, and Ares Villa...

Ashford Academy due to the fact that I have friend's there that I care about, and is the place where Nunnally and I have had as a refuge along with Jeremiah for the past few year's...

And Ares Villa, because it was the place were I was born and raised as Lelouch Lux Britannia, and the place where I felt as if I could be PART of my actual self...

...

...

...

"What was it like? At Ares Villa?" Kallen ask's me, as even after everything, people would know the place of Residence of the Lux Britannia Line to have been the Ares Villa, even if they were forbidden to speak of the one's who lived there...

"It was... It was one of the closest places I ever felt to having an actual idea of what a Home is truly like..." I tell her, she probably think's it's how I only lived there for abour 9-10 year's before I was cast out from it...

"Was it nice? Did you enjoy your time there?" She ask's me again...

Did I really?

I knew how it was a place I might never see again...

How I would have to face the fact that whatever the reason, I would most likely have to leave the place of my Birth behind...

"I suppose, in a way I did..." I told her, and it was true in a way, even if I had only spent a set amount of time there, I did try to make the most of it...

"Oh yeah? In what way's?" Kallen ask's me, trying to get a better view of me...

'Why not just let her see? Nothing wrong with giving her an Idea of how you are is there?'

Honestly, after everything, it would be nice to lighten up a little, and I would rather not have to have her strain her eye's to see me...

Coming down from where I was working to give her a better view of me, and noting her blush, and feeling a bit of one on my own cheek's I figure it would be best to keep talking just to try and make it feel less awkward than it already is...

Finding a spot for us to sit and talk I tell her.

"Well, most of the time I had lived there, I was either learning the skills I would need as a Prince of the Royal Family. Be they in domestic affair's or foreign one's, or improving my skills in chess, honestly the only one's who could beat me where Father and Schenizel, and even then it was more of a equal Tie between them and me..." I tell her with a smile on my face at all the fond memories...

"Wait, you had the EMPEROR AND PRIME MINISTER OF BRITANNIA TIED WITH YOU AT CHESS!" She exclaimed in shock at my effort's...

Then again, it's not like that would be common knowledge for anyone outside the Royal Family and any Guard's or Nobles who happened to know about it...

"As a matter of fact, yes. One of these day's I wonder if I can ever Break the Tie with Schenizel in my favor, unless I might have to kill him that is..." I say with a tinge of sadness in my tone, and while I did respect my Older Brother in a number of way's. I did make sure to let him know I disproved of his idea of having people stay in line and have peace be made at the threat of their Mortality...

And while I do hope he's learned to give my thought's and question's enough thought to give my method's a fair chance, if it come's down to it, I WILL kill him if only to protect the people I care for and love, and the world at large for that matter...

'Who would you say is among the people you love, and you know what I mean by that!'

Honestly, it's hard to say some time's, if only due to how everything seem's so different when you live and see such live's firsthand rather then through the lens of Fiction...

'I'm sure when thing's finally come to a point, you will understand...'

I guess so, but for now I suppose it wouldn't hurt talking about my time at the Villa some more with Kallen...

"So, what else did you do there?" Kallen ask's me.

"A number of thing's, such as how I would often mess around with and play prank's on a number of my half-sibling's, and how I used to tease Nelly and Gil so much about them being together..." I say with a fond smile as all of the memories come back to me...

Of how Nelly and Gilbert would chase after me after I had dangled a Mistletoe one Christmas Evening, and their faces were so flushed when I said they have to kiss as tradition mandated, much to the roaring laughter of Father and Mother and Darlton and many other's who were fond of the two...

And of how Clovis would ask me for my thought's on any possible mistake's in his artwork that he made, often being pleasantly impressed with how I managed to notice such thing's that even HE missed at time's...

Of how Jeremiah would smile as I would give him an Orange to have whenever I heard his stomach growl, and how I would say 'Orange for Sir Orange!' when I did so...

Of how Euphie would talk to me about how she wished she could see her 'Imaginary Friend' Suzaku in person and how her own Mother and most of the Upper Nobility would often pass off her thought's and action's as the mere mind of a princess's overactive imagination of wanting a Knight in Shining armor to be there for her, and how glad she was that I fully believed her...

And of how at time's I would see Nunnally playing with Mother and Father, as if she didn't have a care in the world, and our Parent's looking on at such a happy and loving Daughter with such joy in their eye's that I wished to do them all proud...

I could feel the tear's I began to shed at such happy day's...

Of year's gone by...

Of time's that I wish to have again...

No...

I WILL have those day's again!

And I WILL finally have a place I can call home!

This much, I PROMISE to myself and for ALL whom I care for and Love...

That I will not simply attempt to have such day's back, but that I will have even BETTER one's to follow upon them...

Kallen P.O.V.

When I asked Lelouch about what his home was like...

I didn't realize it meant so much to him...

He must have had so many fond memories of his time there...

And then I saw his eye's light up and take on a determined look to them...

As if he was CERTAIN that he would not simply just have those day's again, but even BETTER one's to follow...

And I am going to HELP him get that wish of his to be a reality!

No matter what it take's to do so...

Lelouch P.O.V.

I can see how Kallen understood me...

How she saw the fire in my eye's, and how I saw the fire in her own light up in response...

Such a brave soul, and so willing to stand beside me...

But would she continue to do so when she would know the truth of who I am?

'With the way her eye's look, I'd say she could care LESS about who you are underneath it all!'

You know what, I think you might be right!

'Are you going to reveal it to her NOW?!'

No, I feel it only fair she know's about it when I tell everyone else, I shouldn't have to burden her with such a secret that she must keep from everyone she know's and love's...

'Well, that and you would rather not have to explain yourself twice huh?'

That too...

"And I also made an effort to take to the Vila's Personal Knightmare Training Simulator's as much as possible, if only to prove that the success of my Mother could continue on with me in combat as much as my Father's success with me in matter's of the mind..." I tell her after a few minute's of shared silence between us...

"What are you Parent's like anyhow? I know they were the Emperor and Empress, but that's the kind of stuff ANYONE would know about them. Who were they like as people? As your Mother and Father?" She ask's me...

"Well, that's a bit of a loaded question, why do you ask? Thinking about knowing your potential In-Law's?" I said with a smug smirk...

Her Face was flushed a fiery red as she said "N-NO! NOT AT ALL! I'M JUST CURIOUS!"

I gave a bit of a laugh at her reaction, considering how I was just joking around I felt it would do some good to keep the mood light considering what we would have to face...

'Not to mention she look's cute when she's pouting like that huh?'

Well, I suppose I'll give you a point there...

"Sorry, sorry, I just felt it would do good to help make it feel a bit more at ease with everything going on around us, and for that matter with everything we are going to face in the future no doubt." I tell her to placate her mood.

"O-Okay, just don't joke around about thing's like that okay! I already have to deal with enough guy's trying to ask for my hand in marriage as it is back at Ashford..." She say's.

"What." I say with a flat face and tone.

She blushes again, though only lightly this time and say's. "Honestly it's nothing serious! It's just that with the status my Dad has as the Head of the Ashford Family, and of our family's Business being what it is... It kind of make's a number of guy's consider me someone who they could have to flaunt their status of having ties to my family..."

"I'm guessing that Bitch of a Step-Mother of yours is all for it..." I tell her with venom in my voice...

'You think we are nothing, but WE ARE...'

Not the time for joke's, though I do think you are on the right track with that idea. Perhaps something to tell those idiot brat's to back off should do the trick...

'Marking your claim huh? Wonder when-'

"Yeah, to be honest I REALLY hate her, but she's the only thing keeping the rest of our Kin back home from selling us out to the Lord of Wraith's, and while Naoto and I are okay with dealing with that, we don't want our Mom and Dad to suffer the same fate..." She tell's me, burning resentment at the thought of the people she and Naoto and her Father have the unfortunate fact of having as relative's...

'Pretty sure you want to kiss her pain and anger away, or maybe even-'

"Exactly WHAT is it that requires that you deal with that insufferable woman anyhow?" I ask, I made sure to look up some information on the current Mrs. Stradfield, and needless to say...

I am not impressed with her, AT ALL...

Even Nunnally and the rest of the Student Council agree with me on that, which is saying something considering the tone my sister used when she thought about the pathetic excuse for a woman...

'Talk about a MOUTH! Wonder if she get's it from Mom or Dad?'

Probably both, if I am being honest...

"Well, you mentioned how you have a Guardian figure right? Well I'm sure you figured it out by now, but I also have one as well, and she's the one who called herself Shadow Wayfinder, and since you said how the Lord of Wraith's has something of a Grudge against yours..." She trails off.

"It would make sense that the one you have would also be such a target, which would explain in SOME part anyhow why the Lord of Wraith's is so interested in our Death's..." I finish for her.

"Not to mention what we saw in that shared Nightmare of our's right?" She said, obviously referring to the sight of our respective Guardian's being shown as broken and lifeless...

"It would, though to be honest, I would much rather have any sort of shared Dream like the one you and I shared that we both enjoyed..." I told her, making reference to the amazing dream that we shared after we finally fell asleep after breaking down in front of Suzaku...

'Pretty sure there are some other kind's of dream's you'd like to have with her, am I right?'

I would much rather not force her into thing's she is neither comfortable dealing with or anything else like it, besides it is unbecoming of someone like myself...

'Whatever you say, Your Highness...'

...

"Um, are you sure we had the same Dream?" She asked me, a fair blush on her face as she recalled the Dream in question, as well as how we woke up from it...

And I am too after recalling what we were JUST about to do before we woke up...

"Uh, Yes! I figured it would only make sense is all!" I say, trying to not give any sense of embarrassment in my voice...

"Ri-Right! So I know we were talking a little about MY Family, but I was pretty sure I wanted to talk about YOURS though!" Kallen say's...

Well, it would only be fair to inform her how they are like...

"Well then I suppose it is only fair, now then who should I start with?" I say, and who indeed?

"How about your Mother, since you seem to take after a lot from her." Kallen say's.

"Very well, my Mother is..." I say.

"She's?" Kallen ask's.

"A fair bit like Milly actually, or I should be saying Milly is a bit like her in a number of way's..." I say.

"In the sense that she want's to ship anyone and EVERYONE she feels fit together in her eye's?" Kallen say's rather flatly.

"Yes, though Nunnally and I have a good idea for when she is going to try anything that involves us, believe me when I say that Milly is TAME with her antic's compared to my Mother..." I tell her, a slight shudder at the thought of those two teaming up and working together...

Kallen seem's to have much the same sort of thought's of those two joining force's if her own Shudder is anything to go by...

"Though to be honest, when it come's to other's like Cornelia and Guliford, I guess you could say I happen to be an accomplice to my Mother in that sense..." I say with a proud and mischievous smirk as I recall my most recent ploy with them at Saitama Ghetto...

Sometime's I do ENJOY being the Younger Sibling, if only to tease and Pester my elder Sibling's in however many way's I'd please!

"Oh? Is that so?" Kallen ask's me.

"Of course, after all, I was the first person to suggest the idea of Cornelia and Guliford being more than just a 'Princess and her Knight' if you get my meaning..." I say.

How long ago it seemed...

"Really? The more you know I guess..." She say's.

"Indeed, to be honest. Nelly and Gilbert do well together, if only because of the shared scorn they have had to face..." I tell her with a slight frown on my face as I recall the various time's I had to comfort my big sister after a number of rather scathing comment's from a multitude of Nobles who I made sure to give the most of a Death Glare I could, and one that I apparently infamous for now...

I wonder why people seem to act as if there was something else around me when I look like that?

"What! You don't mean to say that The 'Goddess of Victory' is in fact a woman who can't handle a number of harsh word's!" Kallen exclaim's in surprise...

If it were anyone else, I might have been annoyed, but I can tell she mean's it in that she really has no idea. Though to be honest considering everything Nelly does to hide such a side to her, it's only natural the world would be fooled to believe her to be nothing more than just a cold, ruthless, military leader...

It's kind of Ironic really, how the one's I care for have no choice but to hide themselves behind various mask's...

And how they have no idea of the fact I have an ever greater number of mask's to hide behind...

One day, there will come a time where we can shed such mask's, if not fully to the world, then at least to the one's we know and trust...

"I would not say my sister is one who can not take a mere slight on her honor. But rather the sheer VOLUME and Intensity of them, combined with the fact they also were often sent to other's BESIDE'S herself..." I say, I'm sure Kallen can figure out the rest...

She hold's onto me tightly. "And here I thought the Royal Family had no real issue's to deal with aside from the normal thing's most people think they deal with..." She say's with a heartfelt tone and concerned look in her eye's.

I squeeze back ever so tightly and say. "Despite our status and birth's, we are as Human as anyone else. And as such we have to face our own amount of scorn and resentment from those whom think us lesser for whatever reason they claim as justified..."

"How bad was it?" She ask's me.

"For My Half-Sister's Nelly and Euphie? For my Full Sister Nunnally? For my Mother? Or for me?" I ask her, and I am saddened I have to ask who she would be referring to in particular with all of this...

She seems to understand what I meant by the distinction, and she ask's...

"You, if anyone else..." As she look's at me with such pain and tear's in her eye's, her voice cracking slightly as she know's how painful it would be for me to bring up such memories...

I hold her firm, holding onto her as if there was nothing else keeping me from falling into nothing and say. "They called me many thing's 'Whore-son', 'Commoner Bastard', 'Black sheep' and among other thing's, 'Wasted DNA that should have went elsewhere'..."

I can feel myself shaking at the memories of it all, how they would look at me with such disgust, that I was nothing more than a waste of time and energy, that I was undeserving of my title as the 11th Prince of the empire, that my Father wasted his effort's in siring both myself and Nunnally...

That I should have never been born...

Kallen P.O.V.

Lelouch...

...

LELOUCH!

I am holding onto him, tear's and crying being made ever apparent, as I feel my Heart overcome with such grief and sadness for the kind and well meaning soul before me...

WHOEVER THOSE BASTARD'S ARE THAT SAID THAT! IF THEY AREN'T DEAD YET! I AM GOING TO KILL THEM ALL!

KILL!

THEM!

AAALLLLLL!

I feel him embrace me and say "Kallen, do you honestly feel better knowing the truth? Of how I was viewed by all those people? Do you understand now? Just how hard it really can be? To be the son of a Emperor who took a mere Common Woman as his Empress? Who is faced with hatred for the nature of whom his parent's are?"

Yes, Lelouch...

I DO KNOW!

"I-I, I do feel better knowing that-That you really are a lot like me!" I tell him, not even caring if I sound as if I am yelling or not...

"I suppose you would understand, born of two people of different Nation's, unable to live as a family with their son and daughter, not unlike myself and my sister, who are forced to live away from our Parent's, and even then... The fact of who I am will never change in the eye's of those who care not for my suffering..." He tells me, tear's falling down onto my head, and I just hold him, because I want him to know that I DO know, and that I DO care for him!

Oh, Lelouch!

You poor, tragic thing!

"If-if you are going to have to suffer with this, then I'll suffer beside you!" I tell him, looking up at his eye's, those amazing, Royal, Purple Eye's of his!

"Kallen!" He say's, shock and surprise in his voice...

Honestly, with all that he's been through, he shouldn't have to face it ALONE!

"Why? Why do you wish to suffer beside's a Prince who has no Kingdom, whose Family is torn apart, and has no real worth in the eye's of so many?" He ask's me, unable to understand why I would choose this path...

"Why... WHY! BECAUSE EVERYTHING THOSE ASSHOLES SAID ABOUT YOU IS COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT!" I Yell out at him, not so much in anger toward's him, but to the one's who said all of these thing's!

"BECAUSE-Because I..." I start to say...

"Because?" He ask's me...

"BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU! IDIOT! AND THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN ANY OF THOSE ASSHOLE'S COULD EVER HOPE TO REALIZE! YOU! ARE! NOT! WORTHLESS!" I say to him, having my fist's pounding into his chest as I try to strike the last point's home to him...

And I do care about him...

And if the world would view him a demon king...

THEN I WILL BE A DEMON QUEEN!

Lelouch P.O.V.

Kallen...

You truly are something else, aren't you?

'She care's for you deeply, you know?'

I do, and I wish I could tell her the truth about me SO BADLY!

'But you can't, not yet at least...'

I know, I have to wait til it's after the first battle for Tokyo, THEN I will tell her, and ALL OF MY FELLOW KNIGHT'S!

'Your Fellow Knight's? Are they not YOUR Knight's?'

No, despite how I appear as Zero. I am no King, nor have I earned the right to call myself one...

Until the day come's when I am worthy of such a title, I am simply a fellow Knight alongside them all...

'Most would think it foolish, stylizing yourself after the King in chess, and yet you end up making yourself be nothing more than a simple Knight...'

Ironic isn't it? How despite everything I do and otherwise claim, I view myself as nothing more than a simple Knight on the board...

'I find it more fitting than anything, but I am certain that the day will come when you will become elevated to the status of King, and I feel that when you do...'

That Kallen will be beside me as my Queen?

'Yes, don't ask why, but call it a hunch...'

I know better than to disregard my own instinct's, so if you think it will be the case...

'I'm sure everything will come out in time, even if it will be a while...'

Yes, when the time comes to reveal the person behind the Mask of Lelouch...

THAT IS WHEN I SHALL TAKE MY PLACE AS A DEMON KING!

Suzaku P.O.V.

Honestly, it's the time before the fighting actually start's that get's to me...

It's not so much about the waiting itself...

But rather, how it feels as if the tension is building up, waiting to break...

"Suzaku?" I hear Euhpie call out to me.

"Yes, Princess?" I reply. What could she want?

"I just want to say, be careful out there alright!" My Princess say's...

Oh Euhpie, even after everything, you still worry for my safety...

"Don't worry Princess, I have no intent on dying any time soon..." I say as I feel the last remaining bit's of Lelouch's Geass from the prior timeline echo around in my mind...

For a time, I did all matter of thing's to have his command go off...

Not so much as try to kill myself, but I did the most reckless and extreme action's, just to feel that last bit of his presence ring out in my mind once more...

To people who didn't know any better, they would think the bond we shared was one of lover's...

But it was never like that with me and him, and even more so of the version of Lelouch I have come to know in this timeline...

If anything, it was always a bond of Brotherhood, one that went deeper than what most would think of...

I knew his heart was for Kallen's only, even if the way those two acted suggested otherwise...

And even more so when you count all of the other young ladies who cared for him...

My cousin among them...

...

It's easy to understand why, he has always been a kind and caring guy, who only wished the best for those he loved...

And yet, even with the various girls who loved him, I just knew that out of all of them...

Only Kallen was the right one for him...

Why?

Because, those two had the most in common with each other out of everyone else...

He was the son of a Common Born Woman and the Emperor of Britannia, such a status would give him the Ire and scorn from many...

And she was the Daughter of a Britannian Nobleman and a Japanese Common Woman, unable to decide which half of her heritage she wished to truly follow...

And it was also the fact they both hid behind mask's, her the sickly schoolgirl, and him the aloof Ice Prince...

Above all else, they represented each other on BOTH side's of their mask's...

Shirley only looked to Lelouch Lamperouge, a smart guy who cared for his sister, and the life of a normal person...

Whereas C.C. for example, she represented him turning away from his humanity, of being nothing more than Zero...

But Kallen?

Kallen showed BOTH side's of the mask's he wore, she knew him both as Lelouch Lamperouge, and as Zero...

And if thing's were better, she would have been able to know Lelouch Vi Britannia as well...

Indeed, if she knew that version of him, then perhaps he would not have been hated by the world...

And yet...

HE PUSHED HER AWAY!

AND IT WAS ALL OF MY FAULT!

Oh YES! I KNOW that it was that ASSHOLE who called himself his FATHER that was behind making Euphie become the 'Massacre Princess'...

And that HE planned on having me turn his OWN SON into nothing more than a mean's to an end, be it a Julius Kingsley, or as a unaware Lelouch Lamperouge, who had no idea he had a sister, much less that he was a prince...

It doesn't change how so much of it WAS MY FAULT!

CHANGE THE SYSTEM FROM WITHIN?!

WHAT A FUCKING JOKE!

I could NEVER hope to enact the change's I wanted so long as HE was in charge!

In fact, if thing's went as if Lelouch never got his Geass...

And never began his Black Rebellion...

Then 'God' would have been killed, the march of time Halted...

And everything would lose all meaning...

...

...

...

I swear, with all my heart, that beside's ensuring to live alongside Euphie

I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING TO PROTECT THOSE I CARE ABOUT!

Lelouch P.O.V.

We held onto each other for who know's how long, until I heard someone clear their throat.

"Um, Kallen, Zero?" Naoto ask's, thankfully he is outside, so he doesn't know how we are, though I feel he has a good guess...

"Yes? What is it Naoto?" I ask him, as we separate from each other, a stinging feeling in my heart as we do...

"Sorry that I have to break up whatever you two might have been doing, but it's almost time for the operation to begin..." He say's, in such a tone of voice that suggest that even though he wasn't around to hear us converse, he knew well enough that whatever it was meant a lot to us both...

And that he would know what that was to Kallen, for the most part anyhow...

"I suppose you are right, very well, and the JLF?" I ask, making sure they are kept aboard the Submarine we have in order to ensure nothing goes wrong, as well as having it be kept hidden should anything go wrong...

"Right where you asked them to, the fact that Todoh and his Holy Sword's agreed with you without argument made anyone who had any objection's swallow their pride and accept your term's..." Naoto inform's us.

"OUR Term's, though I am the Leader of our Organization in term's of ranking and structure. I am by NO MEAN'S a person who has the right to rule over anyone, not yet proven to be of worth yet at least..." I tell him, to which Kallen simply gives me a comforting squeeze to my hand to inform me that she views me as worthy, and I squeeze back in reply...

"Uh, right. Anyway's, how do you expect this to go down?" Naoto ask's me...

Going over the overall plan and possible outcome's one last time I say as I get fully dressed in my Zero outfit "As far as the world is concerned, the JLF will die here as a result of their Transport blowing up in the ensuring firefight between the forces of Cornelia Li Britannia, as well as that of our own Force's attempting to avenge the loss of our Brothers-in-arm's and Sisters-in-arm's by trying to capture Cornelia. However, due to the fact that the battlefield is never static, in all likelihood we would only deal a set amount of Damage to her force's and as a result be required to retreat after our time is up, in which we shall scatter to the wind's and ensure that the memory of the JLF will live on in our fight for Justice for Japan as well as to ensure the people know we do not favor one people or another above all else with these action's. As far as the world will know of course..."

And indeed their are other reason's to do all of this that the world would not know of...

Of which, to ensure the last remaining corrupt and guilty element's of those two forces that were not killed off at Narita would be finally slain...

I had a list of all of those whom would be killed off, and informed both Katase and Todoh, as well as Cornelia about the crime's of those guilty...

Needless to say it took all of my explanation's as to why my plan was the best choice rather than to just execute them as is...

"Well, I'm going to get the Guren Ready, see you later Zero, Big Bro." Kallen say's as she walks off to her personal Knightmare, it was something to know that Todoh ensured that the Black Knight's would be given it without having to resort to less, favorable method's shall we say...

At least it made Katase more accepting of my request to have them follow along with my plan, as well as when I revealed myself to him...

Needless to say, the old man was rather Impressed and said to Todoh he had picked a good student alongside that of Suzaku, and to a lesser extent Nunnally, who was grateful to be considered as such by him, even if Todoh said she had no real place on the battlefield...

And he was right, while Nunnally is many thing's, a Front Line Fighter she is not...

At least, not for a time anyhow, she was however able to accept such fact's...

And was able to accept the position as head of communication's for the Black Knight's, more so due to how she would be able to coordinate our force's in such an effective matter, that it impressed all involved, including Nelly!

'Not to mention she was annoyed at how her dear sister Nunna was going to be helping the force's fighting her own...'

Nunnally could use the experience, if for no other reason than because she need's to understand one of the most key aspect's of command...

'How to communicate and coordinate with various different force's of different background's and command styles...'

As well as how to ensure you keep as much Information on your force's out of your enemies hand's as much as possible when directing movement's, many a battle was won or lost simply due to lost or intercepted message's not reaching the proper recipient's...

'After all, the best weapon you can wield in war is the mean's to make your foe believe you are in one place with a small force, when you strike from another with a massive force...'

Something that all matter's of military leader's know of, yet many fail to recognize it until it is too late...

Suzaku P.O.V.

It look's like THIS much hasn't changed all that much, considering everything at least...

Although I feel the explosion of the tanker had less to do with Lelouch having it all explode, and more like some idiot shooting in the wrong direction or something...

In which case, I REALLY don't feel sorry for the guy's who drew the short straw and are getting their just reward's in all of this...

Even still...

"My god! Princess Cornelia! Are you seeing this!" I say as I look upon the one's causing the most damage among the Britannian Line's, the meager JLF Force's having been already wiped out to the last...

That being Kallen and Lelouch...

"I am, if by some reason I demand to fight Zero and his apparent Ace Pilot two-on-one, then I am making it a standing order for you to incapacitate me and Guliford if need be Suzaku." Cornelia say's while looking on in shock at the sheer force of nature that is the combined effort's of Lelouch and Kallen...

Honestly, it's rather beautiful in a way...

"Only one time I saw two figure's go around the battlefield like that beforehand, only they weren't in Knightmare's." Darlton say's.

"When was this? Sir?" I ask, though I have a good guess...

"Itsukushima, seem's like some amount of the two ghost's live on in them huh then Kururgi?" Darlton explain's.

And I can't help but smirk at what he say's...

"In that case, then I suppose I best not try anything stupid and damage the Lancelot then, right Loyd?" I say to the sociopath genius...

...

...

...

"Loyd?" I ask, why isn't he saying anything?

Turning to look at where the man and Cecile are, I happen to see him lying flat on the floor as if in a daze while Cecile just look's on in awe and wonder...

"Uh... Loyd?" I ask, trying to poke him to see if he's still alive...

"It's, it's so..." I hear him say under his breath...

Before he stand's up and shouts...

"I AM SOOO GLAD I DECIDED TO ACCEPT YOUR OFFER ZERO! NOW ALL I NEED IS A-"

"You aren't thinking of trying to take a sample of DNA from him or that ace of his? Are you Loyd?" Euphie say's while radiating an Aura that is VERY Much Worse than when she was under the command of Lelouch's Geass, and giggling all the while too...

Loyd might be a self-proclaimed Sociopath, but even HE has a sense of Self-Preservation that know's when he's denied such research it would be best to just go along with it...

"Y-Yes your Highness..." He say's meekly and hang's his head in defeat...

"Oh, that's good, for a moment there I thought you were going to try something absolutely ridiculous, I mean even YOU know better than to act as if Eugenics is something that has merit, right Loyd?" My Love say's while smiling in a way that is FAR to much like Lelouch's when he is mad...

"Pe-Perish the thought!" Loyd say's, knowing full well know that such effort's of ANY kind would not help him in the slightest...

...

...

...

"Suzaku..." Cornelia say's.

"Yes, Princess?" I ask.

She put's a hand on my shoulder and say's...

"I hope you know what you are getting into with my sister here..." In a flat tone of voice that suggest's that she is trying to WARN me of all thing's!

If I were anyone else, I would take it for what it was, but I know she mean's it as a challenge, to see if I am really worth it to be Euhpie's Knight...

Or anything more than that for that matter...

Putting on a sincere smile I say. "Actually, it make's me want to be by her side even more now!"

"OH! So you're one of THOSE Guy's then? Well I guess-" Loyd start's to say before Cecile grab's him by the ear and drag's him off to continue working on getting the Lancelot working fully again, since we figured it might be best to just stay out of it or risk a repeat of Narita again...

"Don't mind him Suzaku, I think you know how he is..." Cecile say's.

"Not at all! Though if you MUST know, I prefer a potential Partner who is willing to stand by her ideal's and know's what is needed to achieve them. Even if she doesn't like the thing's she has to do. I might not like having to fight and kill, but I do so because I care for those around me if nothing else..." I say to them all...

Darlton seem's to figure out who I am describing above all else and has a knowing look at Euphie.

"Well, well, Princess. Seem's like you've got one hell of a Knight on your hand's!" He say's to her before laughing at the blush on her face when she get's it.

"Well then Suzaku, I hope you find such a woman in your life and may she treat you as well as you would treat her." Guliford say's.

"Indeed, it would be a shame if you were to live alone for the rest of your life." Cornelia says.

...

...

...

Those two must be DENSE or something...

Darlton P.O.V.

No wonder those two haven't hooked up yet, considering how THAT is...

Euphemira P.O.V.

Sister, Gilbert, are you two REALLY that unaware of Romance...

Even in my first time around I WAS NOT THAT DENSE!

Lelouch P.O.V.

Nelly, Gil, you two are JOKING!

Right?

Oh who am I kidding...

Kallen P.O.V.

Wow...

Just...

wow...

Nunnally's P.O.V.

As sweet as you are sister, you really seem unaware of how dense you are, I am sure Mother would agree, and Father for that matter...

Elsewhere...

"Hmm..." Marianne Lux Britannia Hummed...

"What is it?" Bismarck Waldstien asked.

"Oh, just that Cornelia and Gilbert really are being just so dense for some reason..." She explain's.

"Ah..." Was the reply of the Knight of One, the former Prime Minister, and her Husband...

"Hmm, I wonder if C.C. and I should-" She start's.

"No." George Lux Britannia say's before she could say anything else.

"Aww... Why not?" She say's pouting...

"Last time you tried that... Do I even NEED to explain the effect's of the Hangover's ALONE." He simply said...

"Aww... But look at what that managed!" She said.

"If you mean causing me to end up becoming a Father and Husband, then I would have to agree with George on this one..." Genbu Kururgi said recalling the interesting turn of event's that led him being married and having Suzaku in secret...

Not that his Wife is around to comment on the fact anymore...

"What DID happen to her anyhow Genbu? She seemed like such a nice girl, and rather pretty too!" Marianne asked...

"It's, complicated..." Genbu said, and left it at that...

Back at Port Yokosuka...

Naoto P.O.V.

Oh Kami...

THAT was something else you two...

Honestly it felt like we were all second fiddle to the two of you both!

"Naoto, are you sure that was Kallen and Lelouch piloting?" Tamaki ask's with disbelief...

"Yeah, that was them, saw them climb in their Knightmare's myself..." I say.

"How. Just HOW!" Inoue ask's.

"All I can say is, those two have a LOT in common. Guess it also translates into fighting skill as well..." I tell them.

"..." Was all that was mentioned in response from the other's...

...

Lelouch...

I think it's about time you met our Father...

If only cause once he hear's about you, he is going to be GLAD to finally have someone to keep all of those brat's from hounding my little sis at school...

And that it might be time to get him involved in all of this...

Ranger P.O.V.

THAT was so amazing to watch!

'Agreed, as beautiful as our dance at Itsukushima...'

Now though, I do feel as if it will be time for a short break for them soon...

'After all they just did, it would be refreshing...'


A/N: And that's it for this chapter! So yeah I know I've got a fair amount of error's, but I sadly can't do much other than rely on others to point it out for me, so if anyone want's to be a Beta Reader or Coauthor with me then by all mean's! Other than that though, make sure you leave a review!

Anyhow, till next time!