A/N: Well after a week on vacation to my first anime convention I feel very fired up with this story since I had the pleasure of getting my Kill la Kill DVD autographed by David Vincent (Senketsu's voice actor) and Laura Post (Ragyō Kiryuin's voice actor) along with autographs from others who were at the convention.

So with the completion of chapter five, I am posting chapter four now.

We'll be broken away from canon as of chapter six for the most part, which I only say because I am keeping No-Late Day and this time Suzaku and Kallen are going to be involved in it. Lelouch, some of you, are wondering about his involvement, but at the same time, I am sure some of you are wondering how he survived the other No-Late days since his time at the Academy. All that will be revealed when it happens, and some might be surprised while others probably not considering this is Lelouch.

Also, I guess I am just worried about overshadowing Ryūko and Satsuki with Lelouch, so I am trying to be careful of that too.

Before I forget, I want to thank you all for the reviews, which were only two sadly but I suppose that was expected all things considered.

For those wondering Reiketsu means according to some Zero, but some translations suggest it also means cold-blooded which both works.

But this chapter is Zero's debut…so let's not delay, shall we!

Oh and when you guys see this ***, then I was playing Two Steps From Hell - To Glory (Invincible) for battle music when I wrote out the battle.


Chapter 4

The man called Zero

It was an afternoon with classes out for the day and sun beginning to set, although there was about over an hour before nightfall it was still a perfect time for a hostage situation to take place. As Lelouch had feared around the time classes had ended for the day Mako had been taken captive and was now being secured on a dipping machine of some kind. Mako's arms and legs bound as she hung upside down leaving her in an awkward position on a raised platform that acted as a make-shift stage leading to an elevator at the end of the runway. Ahead of the helpless Mako stood both Uzu Sanageyama and Takaharu Fukuroda was standing in the middle of a boxing ring.

With a microphone in one hand, Fukuroda spoke making an announcement that was certain to be heard throughout the whole city.

"Listen up transfer student…in one hour we're going to execute your little friend for treason against Lady Satsuki because she is an accessory to your crime against both Lady Satsuki and Honnōji Academy. So you better show up if you don't want her to get executed." Fukuroda announced as Sanageyama stood next to him.

"Taking a hostage is rather clichéd don't you think," The Student Council member noted with a laid back expression and posture.

"I don't have much of a choice since we know the girl was the only one who spoke to the transfer student. Besides if I fail this time, then my Goku Uniform will be confiscated, so I don't have too many options to work with," Fukuroda admitted, although it wasn't exactly his ideal method of handling this situation he didn't have a lot to work with to lure the transfer student to him.

"You have your priorities straight. That's good, so go out there and show them what you are made of," Sanageyama complimented with a smile.

"Oh no everyone is going to see my underwear…I should have worn my sexy panties," Mako cried as she tried to keep her skirt from slipping over and further compromising her modesty.

"BRING OUT THE VAT," Fukuroda called as a group of one-star students from the Boxing Club exited the elevator at the end of the runway leading to the ring. The group of students was wheeling a cart carrying a large bath filled with boiling oil that was being kept at a boil thanks to a propane tank powering a flame at the base of the tub full of boiling oil.

To give the audience an idea of what Fukuroda intended the boxer walked over to the tank before pulling out a shrimp that one of his club members drew out of an ice-box for him the same student had been carrying. After dipping it into some butter on a plate, another student held the boxer dipped it into the tub before everyone watched it get fried, which meant that Mako was going to get deep-fried alive.

Mako was on the verge of tears now as she wailed while struggling in vain against her restraints.

"NO…if you dip me in the firer then everyone is going to see through my uniform…this is so bad," Mako wailed causing Sanageyama to look at her with mild annoyance.

"Either that girl is incredibly brave or just incredibly stupid," The Student Council member noted while he suspected the latter was probably the most correct answer, but this did bring some concern to mind wondering if the transfer student would bother saving such an idiot.

I guess we'll just have to hope Zero shows up then, Sanageyama thought before he shrugged his shoulders hoping this would play out as well as he hoped it would. Using a hostage like this wasn't exactly the best plan he knew, and it left a slightly bad taste in his mouth, but if Satsuki wants it done to draw her enemies out then, he'll follow it to the letter.

Speak of the devil; Satsuki Kiryuin was presently standing atop her usual spot on top of her personal tower with the other members of the Student Council present with her. She was questioning the possibility if Ryūko would show up to save a girl she barely knew, but she was reasonably confident that Zero would hopefully show up instead.

I wonder what you are like Zero, but hopefully you'll be more amusing than the Matoi girl, Satsuki thought as her eyes scanned the grounds below looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Underground at the base of the elevator that led up to the courtyard where the make-shift stage and boxing ring had been set up stood was a man wearing a black cloak around himself as the unconscious bodies of four one-star students laid on the ground around him. Lelouch used a free hand to adjust the collar of the tattered black cloak that hid the activated form of his Kamui as there were two large lumps on his shoulders while the cloak covered the rest of his body. His polished black mask with no visible eyeholes, but on the outside, it was opaque from the outside while actually transparent from the inside allowing Lelouch to see clearly. It had a spiked designed on the back, with a gold bird like emblem stretched out along the base of the mask itself.

In his right hand, Lelouch was holding a long sword-like weapon with a strange black curved hilt with a golden trigger possessing a purple broadsword-style blade. The blade handle was ornate almost similar to that of a rapier, but it lacked the knuckle bow

"You know there is no turning back now right," Reiketsu asked out of concern for his wearer, but Lelouch merely smiled as he held a pair of sphere-shaped grenades in his free hand that he drew from a pocket from the cloak he was wearing.

"The die has already been cast, so let's find out if we are meant to succeed in changing the world, or we don't," Lelouch said boldly before stepping onto the elevator before stabbing the tip of his blade into the floor so that he could use his free hand to activate the elevator. Once the elevator was moving Lelouch removed the pins from the grenades while holding onto the clips to keep the grenades from detonating until after he has thrown them.

As the doors opened Lelouch rolled out the first grenade as its clip flew off the circular grenade as it rolled across the stage before Lelouch hurled the other two grenades at their intended targets.

Sanageyama was the only one to notice two objects thrown into the air before all hell broke loose.

The first bomb was a fragmentation grenade which destroyed part of the runway leading to the boxing ring causing panic and confusion to engulf the crowd gathered around while the two bombs Lelouch threw into the air was a flash-bang grenade with the other a smoke grenade. In the ensuing confusion, Lelouch as Zero rushed out onto the stage making a beeline for a captive Mako. Lelouch used his blade to cut a stunned Mako's restraints freeing the girl before getting off of the device she had been strapped to.

"Wow, you saved me…are you a superhero," Mako asked with stars in her eyes. Lelouch carried her away, but he was surprised by how stiff her body was. Regardless it made it easier for him to get her to safety without worrying about her limbs dangling about.

"Not exactly, but you need to get out of here so run for it!" Lelouch said, but thankfully his voice was being distorted by an electronic device in his mask that alerted his voice to mask it protecting his true identity. As the smoke cleared members of the boxing club descended upon Lelouch, but using his weapon he slashed through the Goku Uniform of the first one destroying it much to the shock of those watching from above.

A single red thread from the destroyed uniform was drawn towards Zero as his Kamui absorbed it.

Then surprisingly from under Lelouch's cloak the left arm of Reiketsu transformed into a club-like cylinder using it as a blunt weapon send three members of the boxing club flying. A second one attempted to attack him, but Lelouch evaded his punch before using his blade to strip him of his uniform. In the ensuing chaos, Mako managed to slip away into the crowd despite the ongoing battle, but soon the boxing club stopped their attack after Lelouch stripped a third member of his uniform right after using the flat-side of his blade to block a punch before side-stepping his foe to disrobe him.

Once the remaining boxing club members dragged away from their disrobed comrades one-star students wearing uniforms fashioned after karate style attire entered the fray.

Lelouch smiled under his mask, I see so they had the karate club waiting for me.

The first one tried to deliver a roundhouse kick to Lelouch, which the masked wearing Kamui user evaded by ducking. But as the karate club flew overhead one of the large lumps on Lelouch's shoulders fired at the precise moment hitting the unfortunate fellow in the groin while launching him high into the air. A loud crunch and the sad student letting out a high-pitched scream was heard as he was launched high into the air where he almost reached the same height upon which Satsuki and the Student Council stood on.

When another attacked him, Lelouch kicked him away putting him in the right position for the poor soul he sent flying into the air to land on top of him taking out both students.

Satsuki was more focused on what had erupted from Zero's shoulder, but upon inspecting it more closely, she saw a large pointed dark purple pauldron. What caught Satsuki's attention was the eye she saw the pauldron possess which had a bright yellow eye with black sclera. Her hands gripping the hilt of her sword began tightening as a sign of mildly repressed anger at the dawning realization of what Zero was wearing and why he was defeating clubs as easily as he had been.

It is not possible, but how did he get his hands on one, Satsuki began as her mind was racing to come up with an answer.

On the ground below Lelouch was fending off the karate club much more efficiently than anyone thought, but even for those who strike got through and hit the masked man, their blows didn't do any notable damage. However only a minimal number of hits that could be called lucky shots got through, but even after that, they were quickly dispatched.

"If none of you want to get hurt then I advise all of those not taking part in this battle to flee," Zero shouted to the crowd.

"So we're going all out now," Reiketsu said as his voice had an undoubtedly pleased expectation to it.

"Yes we held back long enough to avoid unnecessary casualties among the bystanders," Lelouch replied to Reiketsu as a karate club member rushed him trying to hit him with a punch to the face. However, the masked man side-stepped the karate club member before hitting him in the stomach with the bottom of his sword's hit that sent the one-star student flying across the battlefield where he collided into two more of his fellows along the way.

At that moment the captain of the Karate Club chose to make his attack on Zero. He wore a two-star Goku Uniform like all other Club leaders, but in style of the club, he led he wore dull gray karategi complete with a long black obi tied around his waist. His chest was exposed slightly through the opening of his karategi, but on his back was the kanji for power while on each side of his karategi was a bright red star. The man was six feet tall with a large muscular build, a bald head with black eyebrows and brown eyes with a tanned skin tone. He wore black fingerless gloves on his hands, and he was utterly barefooted.

"Alright you masked punk you have offended Lady Satsuki enough, so get ready to feet some PAIN," The Karate Club Captain Issei Tsubaki shouted.

Lelouch dodged his first strike that destroyed a good part of the ground instead of connecting with the masked man. Issei quickly spun around to attack again, but this time Lelouch was ready for him as he tossed something at him that he was carrying inside his tattered cloak.

"Here catch," Lelouch said as he tossed a grenade at Issei who despite wearing a Goku Uniform instantly panicked and began attempting to catch it failing to notice the pin hadn't been pulled.

With his eyes focused solely on the grenade, he was trying to catch fearing it would explode in his face the giant shoulder pads on Lelouch's Kamui struck as they launched themselves in quick rapid delivering a quick series of quick jabs to Issei's face. Once he had been softened up and barely able to stand Lelouch finished the fight quickly by using his blade to cut apart his Goku Uniform leaving the karate club leader as naked as the day he was born.

"ALRIGHT THAT IS ENOUGH," Fukuroda shouted at Lelouch while he held a microphone in one hand while using his other hand to hold Mako captive who the Boxing Club Captain had recaptured during the chaos of the battle. "I refuse to allow Lady Satsuki and the Athletic Clubs of Honnōji Academy to be humiliated, so surrender Zero or else!"

"How predictable and here I thought boxers were about honor," Zero said with a barely disguised sense of disgust in his voice.

"I didn't exactly want things to go down like this either, but all things considered it seems I got no choice," Fukuroda admitted with a shrug, but he realized he had no chance against Zero. If he didn't do something to capture him now, then he would be stripped of his Goku Uniform, which was an outcome he refused to accept. "You got two choices surrender, and this girl goes free, but if you resist she dies."

"I see…how predictable, but how about a third option," Zero asked with a coy smile hidden under his mask as he noticed someone wearing a brown cloak moving through the crowd.

"A third option," Fukuroda said before he began laughing, "what you beg for me to release her?"

"No," Zero replied flatly before the person he had seen moving in the crowd leaped onto the stage drawing a very familiar scissor blade.

Fukuroda barely saw the attacker coming forcing him to let go of Mako and drop the microphone to deflect the incoming attack. After landing in the boxing ring, Mako was pulled to safety behind a cloaked Ryūko.

"The guy with the mask took the words right out of my mouth. Taking a hostage is pretty low," Ryūko said while making sure to stand behind Mako and Fukuroda. "How about you and I have a rematch?"

"Chairman Sanageyama, I have a proposition for you...allow Ryūko Matoi to fight Fukuroda one on one. If she wins you let me, the girl and Ryūko leave quietly without further incident, but if she loses I'll surrender peacefully without resistance," Lelouch said with a grin on his face that was hidden behind his mask.

"You'll surrender if the new girl loses," Sanageyama said with a mixture of surprise and suspicion on his face wondering if the offer was too good to be true, but considering the damage Zero has done already and knowing that Fukuroda had soundly beaten Ryūko during their last encounter earlier it seemed like his best opinion. "Alright, but I expect you to honor your side of the agreement."

"Right back at you," Lelouch replied as his smile grew larger.

"She is not a member of the club, but I'll make an exception since this is a little more to how I wanted this to go," Fukuroda replied with a smile before his face turned serious, "GET READY!"

It didn't take long for the match to get started as one of the few club members who hadn't been knocked unconscious or had their uniform cut to pieces was chosen to handle and ring a bell to use as a signal to officially begin the match. Even a beautiful blonde student wearing a red, blue and white bikini walked into the ring holding up a sign Round 1 added to the atmosphere of a boxing match taking place.

"I am going to haze you like a freshman," Fukuroda cried out as he threw a punch with his left hand that unfortunately sent the poor sign bearer girl flying out of the ring, but it was good fortune for her as this safely threw her out of the ring to avoid being hit by Fukuroda's attack.

A stream of materialized small boxing gloves shot out of Fukuroda's left glove which proceeded to pummel Ryūko while the gloves that missed her began bouncing off the chain links making up the ring to slam into the girl further until she was being hit from all sides.

Despite these attacks, however, Ryūko stood her ground seemingly unfazed by the attacks.

"You like that…the ring is filling up with my juggernaut of left jabs," Fukuroda shouted out in pride.

Sanageyama noticed Ryūko wasn't even flinching despite the onslaught which had sent others who had been subjected to that attack flying by now. He cast a glance at Zero who had been calmly watching the fight so far, but if he wasn't wearing a mask, then the Student Council member could have gotten a better read on what he was thinking.

Back in the ring Fukuroda seemingly unconcerned with the fact that Ryūko was withstanding his blows charged at her preparing to strike her with his right fist.

"And here comes the right strike," Fukuroda said excitably, but as his right fist drew closer to Ryūko, it suddenly became a drill-like weapon. "Just kidding it's really a corkscrew…Ten…Ken…Fun…Sai!"

The blow connected with Ryūko who made no effort to dodge, but the only damage Fukuroda's strike had seemingly dealt was that the brown cloak Ryūko had been wearing was torn off. The Kamui Senketsu she had been wearing underneath was exposed to everyone watching the match, but Lelouch blushed at how revealing it was and slightly averted his eyes out of embarrassment.

You have my sympathy Ryūko, Lelouch thought.

Lelouch was VERY thankful that Isshin Matoi had given him a Kamui made for more of a male wearer in mind, although originally Lelouch's Kamui was just as revealing in its intital action form. However after training and mastering his Kamui, Reiketsu gained the ability to alter its default activation form just as it could change how it appeared when it was inactive. Now Lelouch's Kamui was not as revealing as Ryūko's save for a small portion of it on his back he was still very thankful it was nothing like Ryūko's Kamui. There was a trade off however that trying to handle the burdern of wearing such a Kamui that virtually covered his whole body was more taxing, so if the situation demanded it Lelouch could switch it back to its original default form to lift the additional burden of a Kamui's life fibers when he needed to fight at full strength without worrying about loosing control to the life fibers that composed it.

He tried to avoid looking directly at her out of consideration for Ryūko, which led to a slight blush to appear on his cheeks.

"What…what the hell are you wearing," Fukuroda demanded as he was just as shocked by the outfit Ryūko was wearing just as everyone else watching was. He was more shocked by her appearance than the fact his punch had inflicted no damage what's so ever despite Ryūko's revealing attire.

"None of your damn business," Ryūko snapped as her cheeks turned a brighter shade of red.

"You're…you're cheating…trying…you're just trying to distract me with your sexiness," Fukuroda said despite having some difficulty forming the proper words as Ryūko's revealing outfit was making it difficult for the Boxer to think let alone to form appropriate words. Even from his vantage point, Lelouch could tell Fukuroda was enthralled by her sexiness as he called it.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT ITS LIKE THIS," Ryūko shot back trying to defend herself, but she felt even more embarrassed as she could feel everyone's eyes on her.

"YOU SLUT," Fukuroda snapped trying to use his building anger to focus on the task before him without him being further distracted. "How dare you mock the gentleman's sport…you damn dirty SLUT!" The Boxing captain shouted angrily, but even then he was still having trouble focusing as he was more interested in Ryūko's nearly exposed breasts.

"I AM NOT," Ryūko snapped getting angrier by the second with Fukuroda eyeing her with a lecherous look in his eyes.

Backing away from Ryūko the Boxing Club Captain adopted a more relaxed and calm stature as he brought his hands to his belt.

"Alright then…I am stripping down too," Fukuroda said with an amused smile on his face.

"Ugh…now who is doing the mocking," Ryūko snapped as she was convinced Fukuroda was going to pull down his trunks.

"Keep your head out of the gutter you damn stripper," Fukuroda shot back as he pulled off a strap that had been attached to his right glove linked to his belt. The large glove that had been covering his right-hand slips off revealing a solid block of life-fibers underneath. "I am taking off the soft gloves I use for away bouts, so I bring out the pain."

Fukuroda raised his newly exposed hardened right glove to the air to show it off with a proud and joyful smile on his face.

"BEHOLD," Fukuroda declared proudly before adding, "This is the true form of my Honnōji Academy Boxing Club Athleticism-Augmented Two-Star Gloves!" Fukuroda pulled at the chain at the base of his glove causing spikes to erupt from it. "Now I am sure you're asking yourself why I didn't have this out earlier. Because if I did then the challengers from other schools would have been too scared to fight me, but when I bare them for the world to see I feel even stronger…THIS IS MY GOKU UNIFROM," Fukuroda announced proudly with an almost deranged smile on his face.

"I don't know the rules of boxing, but I am pretty sure those are illegal," Ryūko said looking at the huge glove with a raised eyebrow, but Lelouch also shared a similar thought with her on Fukuroda's gloves. "Oh well…bring it on!" Ryūko said with a smile challenging Fukuroda to come at her.

The bell was rung again as the battered blonde girl was out on the ring again holding a sign that read Round 2 on it.

In his excitement, Fukuroda rushed at Ryūko again while ignoring the fact he had hit the poor blonde girl again sending her flying out of the ring. He kept running towards her closing the distance quickly between the two.

"I didn't know what you were wearing, but now I am going to shred that bikini," Fukuroda shouted as he threw his punch, but like before Ryūko made no effort to dodge. The blow made contact, and everyone watched in silence. A loud crack was heard that caused the crowd to gasp in shock followed by another until Fukuroda's right glove broke apart with its broken pieces falling onto the ground before Ryūko's feet.

Everyone except Zero was shocked that not only did Fukuroda's strike fail to harm Ryūko, but his own glove had broken apart upon contact.

"W…what…what the hell," Fukuroda said as he was having problems processing what had just happened before him.

"I guess your glove isn't the only thing that turns to steel, so does my uniform," Ryūko pointed out with an angry expression on her face combined with how red her cheeks were still.

Zero began laughing before deciding to explain while mockingly quoting Gamagōri, "Too bad for you Fukuroda…your uniform is a two-star, but HER uniform is a Kamui which is superior to even a three-star Goku Uniform. To put it simply your attacks cannot do a thing to her."

Fukuroda glared at Zero, which didn't allow his words to shake him prompting Fukuroda to begin attacking Ryūko relentlessly using both hands and even his feet in a desperate effort to beat her. Yet as Zero watched with a smile on his face concealed by his mask Ryūko merely stood there growing increasingly annoyed by the minute by Fukuroda's vain attempts to hurt her.

"How is her outfit superior to a Goku Uniform," Inumuta asked trying to collect data on it, but yet at the same time he was growing increasingly curious.

"Wait doesn't that mean Zero has a Kamui too," Jakuzure inquired realizing the likelihood that Zero was wearing one as well which was why so many one star students and a two-star had failed to do any damage to Zero.

"Because unlike a Goku Uniform a Kamui is made completely out of Life-Fibers," Satsuki calmly said answering the questions of her two subordinates. "So Zero knew about Ryūko coming back with a Kamui of her own then," The Viceroy of Area 11 mused realizing that Zero had planned this as he seemed fully aware of the outfit Ryūko had returned with.

"Wow, I didn't know Ryūko knew how to box," Mako said with a smile while intimating some boxing moves.

"Uh I am pretty sure she doesn't," A boy younger than Mako said with a bored and unconvinced expression on his face.

He had short brown hair tied into a top-knot ponytail and reddish brown eyes with a skin tone similar to his older sister wearing sunglasses on top of his head, a black shirt and jeans shorts with black rubber sandals on his feet.

"But she is so totally awesome…so awesome," Matarō Mankanshoku said before his expression showed that he was a pervert who like a majority of the crowd was enthralled by her attire and how much it revealed.

Meanwhile, Ryūko had enough of the fight and was determined to end it now, "Ok now it's my turn to have some fun!"

Realizing she was going to attack Fukuroda jumped back to the other side of the ring where he unleashed another swarm of left boxing gloves against the young woman. But to his horror and growing worry Ryūko effortlessly evaded all of his attacks quickly closing the distance between them using an impressive display of speed and agility she didn't show earlier during their first fight earlier today.

"LEFT JAB," Ryūko called out as she hit Fukuroda with the handle of her scissor blade before spinning the blade around in her hand before using the blunt side of the blade to deliver a "RIGHT HOOK." With Fukuroda too stunned and dazed from her last two attacks to fight back Ryūko used the blunt side of her weapon again to knock Fukuroda into the air using what she called an "UPPERCUT!"

Fukuroda lost some of his teeth with that blow, but before his body could land on the ground Ryūko readied to attack with the sharp side of her weapon to deliver a finishing blow.

"Now for a right straight," Ryūko said rushing Fukuroda before delivering one slash with her scissor blade performing Sen'i Sōshitsu (Fiber Loss) which shredded the Goku Uniform leaving the Boxing Club Captain as naked as the day he was born with one of the remaining materialized miniature boxing gloves covering his unmentionable part of his body.

Not only had two club captains been defeated in one afternoon, but their uniforms had been destroyed as well too along with some of their own club members as well.

Like Zero had earlier absorbed the life-fibers of the uniforms he destroyed Senketsu absorbed the life fiber of Fukuroda's outfit.

An unconscious Fukuroda was flying towards Zero who decided to remove his cloak revealing the form of his Kamui underneath, and he did so in a dramatic way having said he would show Zero to everyone at the academy with some dramatic flair.

Aside from the pointed shoulders, he had the rest of his Kamui in its active form was that of a sleek bodysuit that covered nearly his whole body except for an area on his back between the top of his spine to a midway point down his back. The rest of it was dark purple with gold trim, it had a pair of gold gills-like events below and around the shoulders, a square-shape brace around his wrists. Two blue gems on the side of his hips outlined by the gold lines that extended down his leg and traveled along his body connecting to plates of armor around his upper chest and shoulder area. His feet were clad in boots that were gold underneath while they were all part of the Kamui's active form. Then extending from around the shoulder was a black cape also trimmed with gold and a purple interior.

The stream was being ejected from the vents along the under parts of the shoulders before the cape sprang to life coming together to become a giant fist. Lelouch spun around before the massive fist punched Fukuroda sending him high to the air directly at Satsuki Kiryuin. Two rows of one-star students formed a wall to intercept the incoming body of the beaten and naked boxer, but upon impact, some of his blood was about to spatter Satsuki.

Despite the efforts of Gamagōri, Jakuzure, and Inumuta to catch the blood spatter with their own bodies a small bit of blood-stained Satsuki's right cheek.

Seeing this Sanageyama was about to rush Zero with a look of anger in his eyes, not just only from the fact that he had disrespected Satsuki in such a way, but the Student Council chairman realized he had been played by agreeing to a sucker bet.

"HOW DARE YOU," The Athletic Chairman roared ready to attack Zero.

"Stand down Sanageyama," Satsuki ordered calmly wearing a stoic expression after wiping away the blood on her cheek with her right thumb. "You made a wager with Zero, and you shall honor it, but first I do have a question Zero. Where did you get that outfit?"

"It was a prototype gifted to me by Isshin Matoi," Zero answered before adding, "The name of my Kamui is Reiketsu."

"My dad…made that," Ryūko said looking at Zero's Kamui which was distinctly different from the one she was wearing.

That's not fair…his isn't a skimpy hooker's outfit, Ryūko thought while eyeing the uniform with envy at how it didn't comprise Zero's modesty in the least.

"Yes just as he created your Kamui after making mines. The field data he got from me using it helped him complete the Kamui you are wearing now. I am delighted you were able to come across it…otherwise, the afternoon might have ended differently for me," Zero admitted with a smug expression underneath his mask.

Ryūko was stunned as she began to wonder if that trap door she fell through was Zero's doing.

"Does that mean you opened that trap door at my house," Ryūko demanded suspecting Zero of somehow being behind that.

"Maybe, but you should withdraw right now Ryūko. You have yet to fully master your Kamui, so I imagine it's consuming a lot of your blood right now, so it would be best if you withdraw for now so that you can recover," Zero advised knowing that Ryūko's red cheeks from the embarrassment of wearing Senketsu were keeping her from synchronizing with it properly. Lelouch couldn't blame her for it since he cannot imagine too many people who wouldn't feel embarrassed to be walking around in such an outfit.

"No I need some answers from that bitch standing up there," Ryūko said in defiance, but she suddenly felt weak at the knees causing her to drop down onto one knee.

"He's right Ryūko you need to withdraw for now…you have lost too much blood already," Senketsu warned her as the stream was ejected from around the armor she wore.

"What are you getting full," Ryūko asked while glaring at the single eye of her Kamui.

"No, but at this rate, you'll lose consciousness in five minutes," Senketsu cautioned.

"Why the hell didn't you say so," Ryūko snapped, although she was clearly irritated by this, she could feel her body growing weaker. "I'll be back so we can talk and maybe then you'll give me some answers about who has the other half to my scissors," The girl snapped at Satsuki using the microphone left on the ground by her feet before running away, but thankfully no one went after her as all eyes were on Zero.

"You seem quite knowledgeable about Kamui and Life-Fibers, which I assume Isshin Matoi was the one who told you," Satsuki inquired using this as an opportunity to learn more about Zero by using his responses to get a better understanding of his personality.

"I would say I know enough," Lelouch replied impassively while he was planning on how to make his escape while his right hand grabbed a large smoke grenade he had attached to the back of his Kamui.

"I know what Matoi wants, but what of your objectives? Why challenge Honnōji Academy and me" Satsuki questioned wishing to discover Zero's motivations as another means potentially learning more about him and maybe deducing his true identity.

"I have many plans in mind, but I'll say for now my goal is destruction and reformation for the world," Lelouch answered before setting off the smoke bomb which blanketed a significant portion of the courtyard in a blanketing cloud of white smoke. The remaining members of the Boxing and Karate Clubs leaped into action trying to find Zero, but when the smoke cleared the masked man was gone.

"Forgive me Lady Satsuki," Sanageyama said apologetically while bowing in shame.

"No need to apologize Sanageyama, the plan was twofold. We may have failed to capture Zero, but we have learned much today about him and Ryūko Matoi. We can now plan more accordingly to deal with Zero in the future now that we have a better grasp of what we are facing, so in our failure, we were successful in learning more about our enemy," Satsuki said as she turned around clicking her heel on the surface before walking away.

Satsuki's mind was already at work trying to devise plans to counter and deal with Zero, although Matoi was more predictable and her experience with her own Kamui was clearly lacking Ryuko would be more manageable to deal with. However Zero was clearly different as he was apparently much more experience in using his Kamui to its full potential than Matoi was.

How did his possession of a Kamui go unnoticed for so long, Satsuki thought as she gripped the hilt of her sword tightly showing signs of suppressed anger.

It wasn't the mere fact that someone was running around Honnōji Academy with a Kamui for six months without anyone realizing it, but for Satsuki Kiryuin it was more personal.

It's unthinkable someone else was first.

Upon entering the lounge used by her and the student council as their meeting room, Satsuki sat down in her usual chair before she was joined by Inumuta, Jakuzure, Gamagōri, and Sanageyama who was the last one to arrive. After the gathered members of the Elite Four assumed their seats Satsuki gestured to Inumuta to play a recording of Zero's fight against the boxing club and karate club members via a large monitor that appeared from behind a hidden wall panel on the right side of the room opposite of the bar, Inumuta sat at.

"As a precaution should our plan to capture Zero failed I had Inumuta plant some sensors and cameras around the area to collect as much data on Zero as possible. Our previous lack of knowledge on Zero and his capabilities was a problem while planning the trap we had set, but no more," Satsuki said confidently.

"How should we proceed with hunting down Zero," Gamagōri asked standing at attention with his hands behind his back.

"Judging from his actions and words Zero is clearly intelligent and patient, unlike Matoi who rushed me without a second thought earlier today. He went in knowing it was a trap, but also he somehow had expected Matoi to return, so he likely counted on her appearance to tip the battle in his favor." Satsuki said acknowledging Zero's tactical planning and intelligence.

Regardless of his actions, Zero must have been careful about revealing the fact he had a Kamui. The clubs he attacked using hit and run tactics for the past six months must have been to gain more experience using his Kamui. Satsuki reasoned as her faithful butler gave her a prepared cup full of tea. But did he have it longer than that?

"Gamagōri I want you and Inumuta to check records with Disciplinary Committee handling security in the slums. I want anything records on any unusual disappearances that might indicate Zero's involvement," Satsuki ordered suspecting that Zero possibly could have engaged some of the more minor criminal elements in the slums before going after the clubs.

"I see," Inumuta began as the top of his uniform unzipped revealing his mouth before he added realizing Satsuki's line of thought, "There are many records on unusual or unexplained disappearances so we may encounter some difficulty, but we'll research it to the best of our ability."

"It is my hope we can find a timetable when he began conducting these acts of vigilante justice to help discover Zero's true identity," Satsuki explained before calmly taking a sip of tea.

"Should we run background checks on the students," Gamagōri asked respectfully.

"Yes we should, but I don't think we'll find anything at this point. In the meantime I want Matoi to be watched since Zero has a special interest in her," Satsuki ordered as her mind began contemplating a series of plans. "Soroi…prepare the helicopter and summon members of my personal guard to accompany me."

"Yes, milady I shall get it ready at once," Soroi said with a polite bow before leaving the room to prepare the personal transport used by Satsuki that sat on its helipad on the back of the tower.

"Shall I accompany you," Gamagōri asked since he was by extension the leader of Satsuki's personal guard as Viceroy of Area 11.

"No, I want you and the others to focus on your tasks. My personal guard accompanying me will be more than enough," Satsuki said calmly as Soroi suspected what the young woman had in mind as he made the proper predations for Satsuki's impending departure from the school to her most likely destination, the Kiryuin Manor.


Later that evening Ryūko was beginning to come too. Ryūko didn't know how long she was out for, but the last thing Ryūko remembered was getting onto the no-star cable car to escape into the slums before she passed out from losing too much blood. As her vision began to regain focus as her eyes slowly opened, she found a bright light shining over her, but at the same time, she noticed a considerable object looming over her. Once her eyes had regained their focus she saw a bright ceiling lamp was hanging over her, but the object that had cast its shadow over her wasn't an object but a very obese and heavy set male. The man looming over Ryūko had brown hair, oval-shaped glasses, a Band-Aid on his nose, a rumpled white dress shirt with a red tie, a brown jacket and lastly he was wearing white and red striped boxer shorts.

The fact the man was breathing heavily seemingly suggestively while he wore no pants caused Ryūko's mind to snap into reality already convincing her that the man above her intends to do something unwanted and weird with her, so she reacted accordingly.

She punched the man in the face with enough force to rocket him to the ceiling before he came crashing back down in a twitching heap with a lot of blood coming out of his nose. Ryūko was back on her feet with an expression of vengeful fury upon her face as she looked ready to inflict more well-deserved punishment upon the man who was on the ground. As she got up, she flipped over the table she had been lying on in her anger as her left hand held her injured right arm failing to notice it had been mended with bandages.

"YOU SICK PERVERT," Ryūko roared in anger, "Do you have any idea who you are messing with? I am the crazy bitch from Kanto with the scissor," Ryūko stopped her sentence short before realizing she didn't have her weapon on her. "Crap where is my scissor?"

"Here you go," Mako nonchalantly said appearing out of nowhere before handing Ryūko the silver case containing her weapon.

"Thanks, Mako," Ryūko replied quickly retrieving her weapon from the case before holding it defensively before her. "Mako you need to get back; this guy was trying to do something funny to me."

"Geez, dad what were you doing," Mako asked innocently leaning over the twitching form of her father, Barazō Mankanshoku.

"Uh…that's your dad," Ryūko said suddenly horrified and feeling guilty over assaulting Mako's father. "I am so sorry!"

"Wow…I…I see stars…you got a heck of a punch," Barazō said as he was slowly beginning to recover, but for him, the world was still spinning even after Mako helped her father up as he sat upon the ground.

"I say she does, she saved my life today," Mako said as her father made an almost instant recovery after using a rag he kept in his coat to wipe away the blood on his face.

Turning the ceiling light, after Mako quickly replaced the broken light bulb with a new one, back on Mako sat down next to her father while Ryūko sat on the floor with Mako and her father opposite of the two just as Mako's younger brother approached the group. Matarō Mankanshoku was grinning at Ryūko as he moved closer to her.

"You were totally badass wielding that scissor blade dressed like a hooker," Matarō complimented with a smile before adding much to Ryūko's growing embarrassment, "Only a psycho would fight with her boobs hanging out."

"SHUT IT," Ryūko snapped stopping the conversation from going further, but her cheeks remained red. "I had my reasons for that you dick."

"Why the hell did you do that," Matarō cried out nursing the bump on his head Ryūko had given him.

"Oh my," A new voice asked, but this one belonged to an older woman.

Looking over her shoulder Ryūko saw an older woman with light brown hair tied into a top-knot bun wearing a pink dress with a short-sleeve green jacket worn over it complete with a white apron. In her hands she held a tray holding some drinks on it; although her brown eyes were closed, Sukuyo Mankanshoku wore a cheerful expression on her face.

"If beating my hubby and Matarō makes you feel better then go right ahead," Sukuyo chirped and indifferent to the harm inflicted upon her husband and youngest child.

Ryūko was taken aback by how ok Mako's mother was with the punch she had given to Mako's father, but it was around this time she had finally noticed the bandages on her arm and her left thigh including some around her uniform as well too. Seemingly sensing what she was thinking Mako moved from her earlier spot to sit next to Ryūko who began to answer the question she was likely thinking of.

"If you are wondering who patched you up it was daddy and believe or not he is a back-alley doctor," Mako explained cheerfully before adding with the same sunny disposition, "His claim to fame that he has killed more patients than he has saved."

"Uh that is not a good thing," Ryūko said shakily while wearing a worried expression while thankful that she didn't end up one of those he didn't save.

"Please," Barazō began with a smile as he waved his left hand dismissively while the other hand held a cup, "at least the dead ones can't sue the crap out of you am I right?"

"That's right," Sukuyo chirped despite her husband admitting he lost more patients than he had saved, while at the same time it was clear where Mako got the overabundance of cheerfulness from. "I hope you are hungry."

Ryūko looked on in horror as Mrs. Mankanshoku dropped a large cooking pot filled with what was supposed to be soup, but it looked more like sludge made with who knows what. In fact, Ryūko could swear she saw a fish tail sticking out of it while the rest of it she couldn't begin to imagine what ingredients were used to make the questionable soup before her. Ryūko cringed even further upon seeing another plate filled with what was supposed to be fried meat, but as the soup, it was clear some unknown ingredients were used as worms were sticking out of them. The fact some of the worms were still wiggling was almost enough to make Ryūko want to flee fearing what might happen if she was to consume the food laid out before her…if she could even call it food.

"Dig in…my mom is the best cook in the world," Mako exclaimed happily before she proceeded to explain the dishes laid out before Ryūko who still looked upon it with a questionable expression trying to determine if it's real food or not. "Here is Miso Soup made with a lot of unknown things and her Mystery Croquettes also made with god knows what."

Mako's honesty didn't help Ryūko.

"Oh don't listen to her. I only use non-poisonous ingredients," Sukuyo replied with a smile seemed more amused by Mako's explanation than anything else.

"You better hurry before it's all gone," Matarō said with his mouth filled with food as he ate everything offered on the table to him vigorously.

Ryūko was rendered speechless as all of her higher brain functions came to a grinding halt.

At that moment a pit-bull dog with light brown fur opened the door, but the odd thing about it was the fact it wore a gray sweatshirt with a hood. After opening the door and standing on its rear legs, but instead of a bark it muttered "Guts." It quickly began devouring the food on Ryūko's plate who didn't seem very bothered by it feeling that the dog was saving her from whatever eating the food might do to her.

By the time it cleaned off Ryūko's plate Mako had stepped in grabbing the dog.

"Whoa…down Guts…bad dog your bowl is outside," Mako said as her father opened the window allowing Mako to toss the animal out, but it wasn't long before Guts opened the window and naturally leaped back into the house.

"He eats with a lot of guts, so we call him Guts," Matarō explained to a still stunned Ryūko.

"Eat up little lady you still look a little pale from all of that hemorrhaging," Barazō said before consuming a bowl of rice, which was the only ordinary piece of food Ryūko had seen so far.

Ryūko was utterly speechless, but soon Mako decided to help her friend by stuffing her mouth with her mother's croquettes leading to Ryūko to reluctantly eat them.


Next door to them Lelouch overheard some of the commotions from the Mankanshoku Household causing him to feel a mixture of guilt and worry for Ryūko. The former prince dug into his own dinner which consisted of a steak, cut vegetables and a glass of fresh water. The meat and water was still part of his stash of food he had stolen from the Cooking Club when he wiped them out while the vegetables were grown by Lelouch in the small private garden he had made to be self-sufficient.

"Are you feeling alright Lelouch," Reiketsu asked as it stopped playing with the Rubik Cube it was trying to solve to take notice of Lelouch's lack of interest for his dinner.

"I am just wondering if I made the right choice dropping her off at the Mankanshoku Clinic," Lelouch admitted with a slightly worried expression. "Even if they fixed her up I worry the food might make her sick or worse," The former prince admitted while swallowing hard.

"That Ryūko is tougher than she looks, so I wouldn't worry," The purple-colored Kamui said before returning its attention to the cube puzzle it was attempting to solve.

Lelouch sighed as his Kamui did have a point, I guess that is true because despite the concerning reputation Mako's father has…he is actually one of the better of the clinics that exist here in the slums.

The young man continued eating his meal, but soon his mind began to wander to other things including trying to contemplate how Satsuki might react to today's events. She had two Kamui users to contend with, although she might not see Ryūko as much of a threat due to her apparent inexperience at using her Kamui. However, Lelouch knew that for Zero the Viceroy of Area 11 would be taking him a lot more seriously.

Despite having made up today's plan on the fly and getting lucky with Ryūko showing up with her Kamui that was still way too risky, but since Satsuki knows I have a Kamui now, I need to be more cautious. The former prince thought as he would need to plan out some counters to whatever plans Satsuki decides to devise, but one thing Lelouch was confident of…how long would it before she brings that Kamui out of storage.

Isshin Matoi told me about a Kamui the Kiryuin Family has sealed away because its power was uncontrollable, but would Satsuki take such a risk to counter me?


Around the same time either tempted by fate or Lelouch's words Satsuki Kiryuin was disembarking her private helicopter that had touched down on the landing pad at the Kiryuin Manor which sat a distance away from Honnō City in the countryside on a large private estate. Rows of servants greeted and welcomed the eldest daughter of the Kiryuin Family home, but Satsuki ignored them because she had a reason for coming back and one reason only. Without a word she, Soroi and her armed escort of six Britannian soldiers made their way through the corridors of the manor before descending down a flight of stairs to an underground section of the estate. Near the location where the item she sought to claim for her use laid her path was blocked by two guards wearing black suits.

"Please stop Lady Satsuki…no one is allowed past this point."

"Stand aside," Satsuki coldly ordered as her escort of six Britannian Soldiers raised their weapons at the two shivering guards.

Unlike the usual foot soldier of Britannia's military, Satsuki's guards wore more regal uniforms of white and dark blue with gold trim similar to those worn by members of a royal family's guardsmen. Their weapons instead of spiked lances were assault rifles, and they wore white helmets with black reflective visors that covered their faces. Since becoming Viceroy, the Emperor had encouraged Satsuki to form her own personal guard given her position so it could be easier to provide protection and proper security wherever she went in Area 11.

Satsuki didn't need it so much, but still, it was something she could make use of which was why Gamagōri was the leader of her personal guard who alongside her had personally chosen each member of her private guard, but they were more than mere bodyguards through. Sometimes they acted as messengers for Satsuki Kiryuin, or at other times they served as Enforcers when sending in her Elite Four or coming herself was unnecessary. Right now their presence was to drive home the fact to the poor fools trying to stop her that nothing was going to stand in her way of getting what she came for.

"We have orders not to let anyone through here…not even you," The second guard replied while trembling in fear at the weapons trailed at him and his fellow guard.

"I'll ask one more time…stand aside," Satsuki said more coldly than the last time and with deadly seriousness in her voice.

"I am sorry we can't," The lead guard replied regretfully, but they were quickly dispatched by Satsuki herself who struck both men in the stomach with her sheathed sword dropping them on the ground. The two men could only clutch their stomachs in pain.

"I don't have time to deal with idiots such as you," The young Viceroy declared as she and her escort moved on heading for the sealed chamber ahead.

Entering codes into a keypad near the heavy security doors designed to withstand assaults from a pair of tanks, but after the last code was inputted into the keypad, the massive doors slid open allowing a stream of cold air to spill out. A pair of lights turned on illuminating a sizeable white pillar that was attached to the ceiling sitting at the top of a pedestal with steps leading up to it. Behind it, a series of pipes were connected to the wall and ground while attached to the white pillar containing what Satsuki Kiryuin had come for.

Her men stood guard at the doors along with Soroi as Satsuki alone made her way up the steps.

Once at the top, she pressed her hand to a biometric scanner which after confirming her identity the containment unit before her opened up revealing a sailor-like uniform similar to the one Lelouch wore, but unlike his, the one before Satsuki Kiryuin was made for a female wearer in mind. It was primarily white and blue with a high collar, shoulder epaulets and gold adornments along the sides. The Kamui's two eyes were located on the neck lapel. On the upper part of the left sleeve is a blue metal band with three clasps, which is used to activate and give blood to the Kamui.

"I have come for you Junketsu," Satsuki said looking upon the uniform which had been sealed inside a vacuum sealed bag with various bio-hazard labels placed upon it.

As Satsuki was about to remove the Kamui from storage the sound of running footsteps approaching drew her attention, but she didn't need to look over her shoulder to see who it was. The young woman knew he would try to stop her once word about his intentions reached him.

He was shorter than Soroi, but he was rounder and obese. He wore a black suit with a bow tie and wore a pair of black circular-shaped sunglasses that almost covered his eyes while he had black eyes and brown hair with a bald spot between the two patches of hair on the sides of his head and a small mustache under his nose.

"How could you stand by and do nothing, explain yourself Soroi," Takiji Kuroido demanded as he was quite furious with what was going on, but he found his path blocked by Satsuki's private guard who leveled their weapons at him.

"Well if it isn't Master Kuroido," Soroi greeted informally, which only angered Kuroido even further.

"Lady Satsuki, please return that Kamui to the containment unit, you know your mother has forbidden anyone to remove it," Kuroido said in a vain effort to persuade Satsuki from continuing on her course of action.

"I will not," Satsuki replied coldly without turning around.

"Urgh this won't do," Kuroido muttered in frustration before trying to assert his authority to stop Satsuki from removing the Kamui from its containment. "The care of the manor has been entrusted to me Takiji Kuroido, steward to the Kiryuin Family. You may be the lady of the house, but I will not allow such willful behavior."

When Kuroido tried to advance further into the room, Satsuki's guards aimed their weapons at the man. The sound of the safeties being taken off their guns prompted Kuroido to stop where he stood.

"Cannot allow it, just who do you think you are talking to," The young woman replied with a sense of disdain in her voice as a series of lights were turned on and focused on Satsuki as she began undressing. "A lady is trying to get changed," Satsuki began as she looked over her shoulder to look Kuroido in the eye before adding fiercely, "get out you peasant!"

"Please milady you can't be seriously attempt to try that Kamui on," Kuroido said as he shielded his eyes looking away while Soroi blocked out his own eyes with his arm as Satsuki undressed until she was standing completely nude before the containment unit. Satsuki's guards had their backs turned to their mistress as they kept their attention on Kuroido. Once she had finished undressing, she proceeded to tear off the bio-hazard labels and the vacuum seal bag Junketsu had been placed in.

"I am not just trying it on…I am fulfilling my ambitions," Satsuki replied more determined than ever as she tossed aside the last of the containment packaging allowing her to gaze upon the Kamui before her.

"Please reconsider milady if you try to put on the Kamui now you might not survive it," Kuroido said making one last desperate effort to persuade Satsuki from her present course.

"Calm yourself, clothing is meant to be worn," Satsuki replied before she removed Junketsu draping the sleeping Kamui over her left arm before using her sword to cut open one of her fingers on her right hand. "Take my blood Junketsu; it is the eternal vow…the crimson thread of our convent."

Satsuki dripped blood from the wound from her finger onto the Kamui. At first, it didn't react, but after five to six drops of blood had made contact and been absorbed by the Kamui its eyes snapped wide open before violently lunging itself at Satsuki. Satsuki was struggling against the feral Kamui as it was trying to overwhelm and consume her, but despite the struggle, Satsuki stood her ground.

"LADY SATSUKI," Soroi and Kuroido called out in panic fearing the worse for the young woman.

"HOLD YOUR TONGUES AND WATCH," Satsuki shouted as she struggled against the Kamui attempt to overpower her, but slowly Satsuki's will was beginning to prevail over it. "Ask now the sparrow how the eagle soars. You who aspire to nothing more than the shallow thoughts of commoners, but I…will not allow anyone to beat me at my own ambition, MY WILL IS ABSOLUTE," Satsuki roared in determination as she struggled against the Kamui, but now she was beginning to win the fight as a blue light was starting to envelop her.

The two men looked on in shock as Satsuki had done the impossible and seemingly tamed Junketsu.

"A Kamui is just clothing, and I will make it BOW TO MY WILL," Satsuki Kiryuin declared before a pillar of blue light shot up towards the ceiling as she released a victorious cry as she had successfully subjugated Junketsu by sheer willpower enabling her to now wield its power. As the light faded Satsuki was breathing heavily, but she had done it.

Now I am ready for you Zero, Satsuki thought with a hard and determined look in her eyes.


A/N: as Lelouch expected Satsuki has gotten Junketsu out of storage as a sign of how serious she is taking the matter with Zero. But they will not be facing off any time soon mostly because as Lelouch will explain in the next chapter, there is no benefit as her defeat doesn't mean he'll instantly gain control of Area 11. But there is another reason which will reveal that Lelouch was still pulling some punches during his fight as he did not unveil all of the capabilities of his Kamui.

If he is capable of partial transformations/configurations for his Kamui when limited to a single limb then just imagine how far he got in discovering or obtain new forms and configurations as a whole. Reiketsu's ability to disguise its dormant form as a no-star uniform is one of these abilities as a kind of camouflage ability he gained from his time with Lelouch among others.

In the following chapters, he'll be teaching Ryūko how to obtain these new abilities after she masters wearing Senketsu.

Another thought to consider too…Lelouch will need to be careful of others who may not like the idea that a Britannian, a former prince no less, possesses something like a Kamui if his true identity ever became known.

Satsuki and Ryūko are the top contenders for Lelouch still pairing-wise, but at the moment I am toying with a Gino and Mako pairing as well if the story presents me with an opportunity as well. I am considering some other crossover pairings but only if the story provides me with a chance to explore it.

So see you guys next chapter, and I look forward to your reviews.