A/N: I apologize for the late update of this story, but I was waiting to see if Game777Guy would beta the rest of the previous chapters before continuing to allow him to catch up. But I guess he, unfortunately, lost his motivation, so I'll try to make due on my own. In the meantime I have been trying to improve my own writing style, so here is to hoping my writing style with this chapter will be a little better.

However, having held off on updating story gave me some time to think over some ideas and consider some other ones.

One thing I know for sure is whoever I end up pairing with Lelouch could change how the story goes and ends because of events that might lead to that pairing and the end.

And let's not forget you got Ragyō on one side and Charles on the other while everyone else is caught in the middle.

As for Saihō's speech in the last chapter, it was intended to be similar to Charles's speech from canon to show that while Charles publicly showed to be a supporter of Social Darwinism, Saihō has embraced it and sees it as a way of inspiration. It will play into events of the story later as he helps Charles's with his own designs to even the playing field while manipulating the other sides of the conflict for his and Charles's own benefits.

And the quote I used from Charles Darwin I admit I modified it to fit better with Saihō's own dialog that I found on Wikiquote.

Anyway, I thank all of you for your reviews and input, so without further delay on with the story.


Chapter 10

Trigger

The following morning Satsuki Kiryūin returned to Honnōji Academy after finishing mop-up operations dealing with any remaining stragglers who had managed to survive their initial onslaught. The local garrison and troops she had dispatched to the region were more than enough to handle any remnants while the high ranking members who had survived were now in prison located in the Toyko Settlement undergoing interrogation.

Upon her return, Satsuki Kiryūin had a more pressing matter to address as she knelt down on one knee before addressing the Emperor himself on a large wall monitor in a spacious room adorned by white pillars trimmed with gold. Satsuki bowed respectably as she finished telling the Emperor of her recent actions including another significant resistance group that had been put to the sword.

"All that remains now is Nudist Beach and the Japan Liberation Front, but tell me Satsuki why did you wish to speak with me today?" Charles inquired coolly as his face remained that of cold indifference as Satsuki knew perfectly well he was not interested in hearing about the state of the terrorists in Area 11.

"There was an incident at Honnōji Academy yesterday where one of our club leaders was provided a Goku Uniform made by the Grand Courtier of the Royal Family," Satsuki answered stoically.

"Oh," Charles said as a devious grin appeared on his face. "Ah yes I was made aware of that incident, but I can assure you the Grand Courtier of the Royal Family wishes to properly compensate you for the trouble by submitting your name to be among the first to be gifted with our first Avalon-class Air Fleet Battleship once the first ships of the line are completed."

"An Air Fleet Battleship?!" Satsuki asked with a look of suppressed surprise upon her face as she looked up at the Emperor's visage.

"We have a few under construction right now with two to be finished and ready for launch soon," Charles explained before adding. "I'll provide you with one, and I have heard Earl Asplund has joined your employ so if you have any questions on the technical details of the vessel he is more than familiar with them."

"I see…that is quite generous, but I feel there is something else you wish to inquire?"

"Yes I am aware of events surrounding Ryūko Matoi, and I am curious as to why you have not apprehended her yet?"

"I am using her to lure out Zero who I am sure you have heard has his own Kamui, but as of right now we have no leads on him."

"Of course I suspected as much…why else would you have allowed her to walk around free for so long, but I assume you intend to use her for combat data to improve your Goku Uniforms?" Charles asked as a sly smile adorned his face still.

Satsuki, in turn, smiled, "Yes I tend to use this situation to my utmost advantage."

If the title extraordinary leader belonged to anyone, it was Charles zi Britannia as Satsuki and her mother both agreed that Charles fit that term better than anyone since no sovereign to date has accomplished as much as he has. Although his speeches suggested he was bigoted, but what underpinned his principles was an extreme meritocracy.

The Emperor loves those with power and disgraces those without power. Satsuki thought remembering something her mother told her about the Emperor.

The best example of this was the fall of the Ashford Family and the Emperor stripping of their status once they proved incapable, but such stories were not uncommon in Britannia.

However, despite his public views, Charles did not hesitate to put those of foreign origin to practical use, which was another interesting aspect of a country that favored those who were pureblooded Britannians and Charles himself. This is what made Charles both such a capable and effective leader while a man of mystery at the same time as he was capable of calculating and reaping the benefits of supporting two ideologies to further his ever-expanding Empire.

It was these traits Satsuki Kiryūin found impressive about the Emperor, but his own intelligence allowed him to realize Satsuki's intentions for Ryūko made their discussion much easier.

"Very good, but I think I can help you further," Charles said as Satsuki's eyebrows twitched as a clear sign of interest. "The Grand Courtier of the Royal Family has sent an assassin to kill a target who will be appearing at Honnōji Academy sometime soon."

"Who is he after?"

"That is not important, but what is important is that the incident will give you a perfect opportunity," Charles said as his smile remained before he began explaining to Satsuki the opportunity she would have soon which only caused a devious smile to appear on Satsuki's face by the time the Emperor finished upon realizing what he meant.


It was a little past ten in the morning as Ryūko Matoi lazily sat at her desk listening to Mikisugi giving another lesson on world history. She was tired and feeling sleepy enough already, but the way Mikisugi was delivering his teachings in his lax and mind-numbing teacher persona made it worse. Mako was of course sound asleep with an open book raised up to hide her slumbering, but the snoring gave her away easily.

Unknown to Ryūko, Lelouch was asleep as well, but unlike Mako, he was more convincing that he was still awake with almost no one none the wiser.

As their history lesson dragged on a black car with tinted windows was driving along the man road heading to Honnō City. Behind the wheel driving was O'Malley and in the backseat were various assault rifles, explosives and heavy weapons that were being kept in the trunk. The vicious assassin was grinning evilly as he already knew a good place to lay in wait for his target.

Later that day during lunch period Lelouch, Mako, Kallen, Ryūko, and Suzaku were walking together to find a nice place outside to enjoy lunch.

"You seem quite calm today Ryūko," Lelouch commented noticing how relaxed Ryūko was.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You haven't heard?" Lelouch inquired which his response was a head shake from Ryūko. "Well, the word is that Satsuki Kiryūin has put out a bounty on your head, which states that for the student who defeats you they will be given a three-star Goku Uniform, but they must have a two-star uniform first."

"WHAT THE HELL!" Ryūko exclaimed before turning to Mako. "Did you hear about this Mako?"

"Uh-huh, I heard about this morning too that a lot of the club presidents are all going to be gunning for you," Mako replied with a smiling, carefree disposition.

Almost on cue, a gunshot was heard as Ryūko's lunch was shot out of her hands.

"Ryūko Matoi!"

An enraged Ryūko cast one last glance at her ruined lunch before turning her attention to the one who had shot it out of her hands with a glare that threatened to turn the culprit into ashes. The person in question was a skinny and tall young man wearing a hunter's outfit consisting of red and black trim with two airsoft guns strapped to his back and an ammo belt around his waist. He was armed with a large airsoft rifle that looked like an anti-tank rifle with parts of the weapon having the red hue of life-fibers infused into it.

Ryūko didn't waste time transforming Senketsu into its active mode.

"I am the captain of the air-soft club Elmer Fudd!" The bald-headed and blue eye kid declared proudly before Ryūko launched herself at her foe who quickly dropped his flamboyant introduction to go on the defensively. It only took Ryūko a few seconds to use her scissor blade to cleave Elmer's weapon into two before a very vengeful Ryūko cut apart his uniform leaving the now former air-soft club captain naked as the day he was born in an undignified heap.

Mere seconds later Ryūko was attacked again, but this time instead of a hunter it was a broader set snobby man dressed as a waiter wearing a fancy tuxedo with two red stars on the side of the coat if Ryūko's assumption was correct. He had curly blonde hair and green eyes while managing to look and act like the stereotypical stuck up waiter at a fancy restaurant.

The captain of the gourmet club began his attack by lifting the silver dome-like top off of a silver tray to reveal a nice of meat-loaf which leaped off the plate to grow to the size of a truck. The monster had onions for eyes, ketchup for blood and claw-like limbs made out of beef giving the creature the shape of some kind of crab.

"Behold Ryūko Matoi my best masterpiece that shall devour you allowing me to become a" Captain Louis of the Gourmet Club declared proudly before he added, "a three-star student allowing me to cook delicious meals for the…"

Louis suddenly noticed that Ryūko wasn't paying attention to him, but before he could angrily berate her for ignoring him, he turned to the source of her distraction to find his meat-loaf monster being vigorously devoured by Mako. A shocked Suzaku and Kallen were also observing Mako singlehandedly eat the giant living meat-loaf animated by the power of the life-fibers despite the creature's attempts to fight back against Mako.

Yet against all the odds Mako somehow managed to overpower the meat-loaf devouring it from the inside out with an inhuman appetite fueling her.

Lelouch was remarkably passive to another act of Mako's absurd and insane antics that defy all reason.

"How did she do that?" Senketsu asked as his single eye was also wide in shock at witnessing Mako do something that shouldn't have been remotely possible for a normal human being.

Shrugging her shoulders and deciding to take a cue from Lelouch to just to go with whatever Mako does since any attempt to figure out how or why she is capable of such things would only be more frustrating in the end. So Ryūko approached Louis who was still in shock at witnessing Mako seemingly devour his creator allowing Ryūko swiftly strip him of his uniform using Sen'i Sōshitsu (Fiber Loss).

Once she was sure, no one else was going to attack Ryūko transformed back to normal.

"Oh my god I can't believe she would pull that shit with me!" Ryūko groaned in frustration.

"I am somewhat surprised she hasn't sent the Elite Four or gone after you herself considering what happened on your first day here," Lelouch noted as he decided to give Ryūko some of his lunch to compensate for the meal she had lost giving the young woman.

Receiving a piece of chicken and a few plastic sealed cookies Ryūko accepted the compensation. Even through Ryūko thought about asking Mako for some of that meat-loaf, she was still gorging on as she consumed the last of it into that black-hole of a stomach Mako possessed she decided against it for obvious reasons.

"I am a little surprised by that as well since anyone who typically does what Ryūko has done has usually been arrested on the spot," Suzaku added as the matter left him curious as well too.

Although he understood Ryūko's reasons for wanting to find out who killed her father from what Lelouch had told him the brown-haired boy thought she went about it the wrong way.

"Hell if I know!" Ryūko replied, but she didn't give it a lot of thought.

"If I had to wager a guess I think she is using Ryūko to weed out the unworthy from the school ranks and maybe even do some combat testing on her Goku Uniforms," Lelouch admitted. For Lelouch, it was the only logical explanation why Ryūko had been allowed to roam free when she had done more than enough to warrant being arrested let alone executed for her recent actions given Satsuki's position.

"What do you mean combat testing?" Kallen asked becoming interested in the conversation.

"If you think about it…with the possible exceptions of Knightmare Frames, there hasn't been really anything to challenge Satsuki's Goku Uniforms until Ryūko started wearing her uniform called a Kamui right?" Lelouch pointed out in a matter-of-fact tone.

"That makes sense I guess," Kallen said putting one hand on her chin as she began pondering on the question even more.

"Seems like going overboard to me, but I don't see any reason to deny that possibility too," Suzaku said in reluctant agreement, but even so, he found no flaw in Lelouch's reasoning since he couldn't think of any other explanation that Ryūko hasn't been arrested yet.

"So I am basically I am a fucking Guinea Pig for her."

"Harsh, but true, unfortunately," Lelouch said in agreement.

"Damn it!" Ryūko grumbled although she could just leave the academy Ryūko knew she wouldn't be able to get the information on her father if she did.

"Just be careful, because Satsuki knows you want information about your father and who killed him, so she is likely going to use that information to manipulate you for her own ends." Lelouch cautioned sagely.

"Sure thing…" Ryūko said before munching on the delicious drumstick she got from Lelouch.


The following morning Satsuki Kiryūin and the Elite Four were gathered to greet the member of the Knights of the Round who had been sent to Area 11 to attend Honnōji Academy as a student but to also provide assistance to Satsuki. The young woman had been informed of Gino's pending arrival as well as the fact that Gino Weinberg was the youngest and newest member of the Rounds.

Stepping off the VTOL was a sixteen-year-old blonde-haired young man with blue eyes wearing the traditional white and black uniform of a Knight of the Rounds, but his cloak had a green and gold trim to distinguish his rank as the Knight of Three.

"Good morning Lady Satsuki I am Knight of Three Gino Weinberg." Gino greeted with a surprisingly amount of cheerfulness that hardly seemed befitting of someone of his rank.

Satsuki was surprised by the Knight's cheerful demeanor, but Sanageyama didn't seem bothered by it. Inumuta was neutral on the matter, Jakuzure was already getting annoyed with the new arrival, and lastly, Gamagōri was looking irritated with Gino's lack of professionalism. First impressions were half and half among Satsuki and her followers.


As the leaders of Honnōji Academy were becoming more aquatinted with Gino, another new arrival was scaling the outer wall of Honnōji Academy at that very moment. The man was dressed in a military dress complete with matching dark olive colored pants and black combat boots with a tanned skin complexion and a muscular build and a red Mohawk with his short black hair to complete his look as the infamous anti-clothing guerilla.

Tsumugu Kinagase took off his sunglasses to examine the Honnōji Academy grounds from his view atop its outer wall looking over the main building across the central courtyard ahead of him. After finding a good vantage spot, he opened up a weapon's case to assemble a heavily customized sniper rifle capable of attaching an unusual gun made in the shape of a weaponized sewing machine.

Silently gazing at some of the classrooms through his impressive scope on his rifle Tsumugu scanned each classroom until he spotted his target: Ryūko Matoi.

As he zoomed in closer in preparation to take a shot on the unsuspecting Ryūko Matoi but stopped when he realized someone behind him was there.

With a bored and annoyed sigh, he didn't even bother to address the people standing behind him.

"What do you want?"

A group of one-star students stood with their club leader a short man wearing a specialized uniform designed for gardening with red life-fiber infused gloves in the shape of watering cans while he carried a flower bed on his backpack.

"Heh heh, I just wanted to thank the guy looking after our flowers for us!" Kusanosuke Yaguruma, the Gardening Club Terrace General Manager, said mockingly.

By thanks, Kusanosuke meant to punish Tsumugu because the guerilla marched clear through a large flower bed on the roof leaving boot prints through the carefully cared for and managed flowers.

The armed guerilla ignored him before lighting a cigarette and taking a few puffs upon which Kusanosuke berated him once again.

"HEY, this is a no smoking section!"

"If you roll with life-fibers you can suck it for all I care!"

"Huh, how do you know about life fibers?"

"None of your business jackass!" Tsumugu said dismissively before flicking his cigarette into the flower bed.

"He…he threw a cigarette bud…into," Kusanosuke said in mid-shock before it gave way to rage, "The Sacred Flower Bed!"

At this angry declaration of war, the Gardening Club members began using watering cans to pour water into the flower bed on Kusnosuke's back moments before four rapidly growing carnivorous plants erupted from the flower bed.

"YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT! Behold my Gardening-spec green thumb enhancing Two-Star Goku Uniform, so now that you know its name, get ready to be planted!"

The four carnivorous plants attempted to devour Tsumugu, but the seasoned fighter dodged the attack narrowly before discarding his sniper rifle-attachment for his sewing machine gun. After avoiding the attacking plants, Tsumugu fought back by unleashing a storm of needle-like anti-life-fiber jammer rounds upon the gardening club. The one-star members hit by the barrage were down within seconds while Kusanosuke, unaware of the nature of Tsumugu's ammunition, stood defiantly.

"Hah bullets don't work on Goku Uniforms!"

The four carnivorous plants borrowed underground where they combined into a much larger single man-eating plant before emerging to attack the Mohawk guerilla.

The plant seemingly succeeded it when it captured Tsumugu in its jaws, but suddenly something went wrong as the planet began to quickly dry up and die just as rapidly as it had been grown releasing Tsumugu while Kusanosuke dropped to his knees as his whole body felt numb and weak.

"What is…happening…my power is drained."

Tsumugu stood over his defeated foe leveling his machine gun straight at Kusanosuke's face.

"There are two things you need to know: one I smoke where I want."

"Please have mercy I was just…" Kusanosuke began to plead, but he was quickly cut off.

"TWO," Tsumugu snapped with a clear and cold deadliness to his voice before he added, "never interrupt me…EVER!"

Ryūko woke up from her short nap unaware of the danger she was in.


Around lunchtime, Lelouch was trying to keep a straight face as he was being brought to meet with Satsuki Kiryūin, although it worried him Lelouch used whatever willpower he could muster to keep his emotions in check since Lelouch was sure Satsuki couldn't have figured out he was Zero. Lelouch suspected Satsuki was seeing him because of his friendly relationship with Ryūko, which concerned him if he would end up a hostage or if she had something else.

Somehow I suspect she doesn't intend on taking me hostage or she would have had one of the other clubs do it. Lelouch thought as his mind continued to list and go over potential possibilities and their outcomes.

Standing behind Lelouch was Gamagōri who was sent to bring Lelouch to her who would escort Lelouch off the elevator upon reaching the top where the lounge was located. Satsuki was waiting for him as she sat passively in the chair while her butler served her another cup of tea.

"Come in Lamperouge…" Satsuki said without looking at Lelouch while addressing him by his last name.

"Yes, Lady Satsuki you wished to see me?" Lelouch replied respectfully as he could, but he did so to avoid trouble with the young woman who was just one year his senior.

"Indeed, because I heard that you are the only No-Star Student to have ever realized the legal loophole I left in the rules and exploit it," Satsuki said as she finally made eye contact with Lelouch as the two stared at one another, but at the same time, Lelouch noticed Junketsu looking at him. "As I am sure you heard it was a test of observation and intelligence I left."

"Yes, Gamagōri informed me of such."

"It is unfortunate we didn't notice sooner, but the matter has been corrected, so it will not happen again," Satsuki suggested in an off-handed manner, but it did nothing to lessen Lelouch's suspicions. Still, Lelouch was mindful of being careful with his responses and actions because he couldn't tell if Satsuki had indeed summoned him here because of his tie to Ryūko, the possibility of him being Zero or both.

It's unlikely she would suspect me of being Zero, but regardless I must be cautious. Lelouch thought as he began shorting through the various possible outcomes this meeting could yield.

"I see…"

"You're wondering why I called you here?" Satsuki asked with a stoic expression.

"Yes, I am rather curious," Lelouch answered politely before he added. "I am sure you understand all things considered."

"Of course…" The Viceroy of Area 11 said in agreement. "Considering your capabilities I wished to inquire why you haven't formally joined a club since it is clear you could have joined one of the non-Athletic clubs and advanced to a One-Star fairly quickly."

"I see, so to answer your question then I suppose it's best to say that none of the clubs interested me."

"Would you mind elaborating on that?"

"I didn't like any of the Club Presidents because they reminded me too much of the over-privileged parasites of the nobility I saw and dealt with as a student of Ashford Academy. They are too greedy and self-centered for my tastes to be willing to tolerate." Lelouch explained although he had considered giving another answer in the form of a lie the former prince was convinced that being honest to a certain degree would be best.

"Oh?" Satsuki said as she seemed intrigued by Lelouch's answer as she knew most students would be eager to advance to obtain a better lifestyle. "You did not want to be a follower is that?"

"With all due respect Lady Satsuki if our positions were reserved would you join any of the clubs here in this academy knowing what kind of people most of them are?"

Satsuki did not answer that, but the knowing smirk she possessed on her face was enough of an answer Lelouch was going to get.

"Then why did you come to Honnōji Academy?"

"Because here I am in more control of my life, and it is here that life is not only more interesting here, but I don't feel like a zombie just going through simple ordinary motions of living an empty life. I may live in the slums, but I am more self-sufficient that I had ever been despite the poor living conditions." The black-haired student answered.

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the entire truth either.

"I see…an interesting response, so how about a test?" Satsuki proposed as her butler gestured for Lelouch to come to a table in the middle of the room where a chess set had been prepared. "I trust you know how to play?"

"Yes, I do…" Lelouch thought as he was trying to determine just what did Satsuki hope to learn about him through this meeting.


As Lelouch faced off against Satsuki in a chess match Ryūko and Mako were having lunch together. Kallen was away deciding to have lunch with her brother while Suzaku sat with the two girls, but he was wondering where Lelouch was. It wasn't too long ago when Ryūko had to rescue Mako from the hands of the biology club who in their own words wanted to make her their own human guinea pig, but it was apparent they were using her as a hostage so they could lure and take Ryūko down. Having just found a lovely quiet location for lunch Ryūko shrunk the size of her scissor blade down to a more compact size to keep in a pouch-like container on the side of her skirt.

Unsurprisingly Ryūko and her Kamui easily overpowered them defeating the club and saving Mako, but it was becoming clear to her partner that Ryūko's string of victories was beginning to make her cocky.

"You know your blood has been getting quite salty, which explains your cocky attitude." Senketsu scolded.

"You can tell stuff like that from how my blood tastes?" Ryūko asked having never realized Senketsu was capable of that.

"Yes, I can sense any change in your physiology from your weight to your BMI (Body Mass Index)."

"HEY MY BMI IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" A flustered Ryūko snapped.

"You should consider cutting back on the croquettes." Senketsu lectured sounding more like a scolding parent by the minute.

"I'll eat whatever I want! I got to keep my strength up to fight those jerks!" The black haired girl shot back while Mako continued to observe the seemingly one-sided conversation.

"Throwing tantrums is bad for you as is greasy food," Senketsu replied smugly.

"OH SHUT UP and wipe that smug look off your face!"

"Now how can I look smug when I don't have a face?"

"That's it you are coming off smart ass!" Ryūko angrily snapped as she began trying to take off Senketsu, but Suzaku chose to intervene.

"Uh Ryūko you realize you are still at school and people are watching?" Suzaku said calmly, which prompted Ryūko to stop what she was doing realizing he had a point.

"Isn't she hilarious Suzaku? I mean Ryūko is like a comedy duo, but with only one person." Mako commented on joining the conversation and not even caring about the fact that Ryūko was close to ripping off her own clothes only moments ago.

Her anger was quickly replaced with embarrassment as Ryūko had wholly forgotten that Mako and Suzaku were present with the latter likely thinking she was crazy because she was seemingly talking to herself.

"Anyway," Suzaku began deciding to change the subject, "do you two know what happened to Lelouch?"

"I don't know I thought he was with you or something? Are you guys supposed to be old friends right?" Ryūko asked gratefully for the change in conversation.

"Do you think he was abducted by aliens?" Mako offered, but both Suzaku and Ryūko concluded that was obviously unlikely.

"I doubt it because he was in class earlier today. The only thing that could have drawn him away is some kind of problem with his sister." Suzaku offered, but still, Lelouch would have said something to him. It seemed too sudden through.

"Is his sister sick or something?"

"Not exactly, but beyond that, I don't know what else could have happened." The brown-haired Japanese boy answered. "Anyway, we should probably eat lunch!" Suzaku suggested having already learned that Mako loves food almost more than anything else and it should brighten the mood in their group a little.

"It's a good thing Ryūko rescued me because it would have sucked if those guys cut my tummy open because my lunch would spill out and I would have to eat it all over again," Mako exclaimed while opening up her lunch box while Ryūko looked annoyed and Suzaku was understandably confused.

"Did I miss something?"

"Mako got kidnapped by the Biology club, so I had to go save her before they began cutting her open," Ryūko answered which shocked and horrified Suzaku.

"Didn't the Disciplinary Committee do anything about it?"

"Why would they? Satsuki put this bounty on my head, so the other clubs have been kidnapping Mako to use her as bait, so I guess it's anything goes." Ryūko answered with a huff.

"But that's just…" Suzaku was going to add something to that sentence, but he quickly noticed something happen to Mako. "We're under attack!"

Suzaku instinctively took cover behind the chain the group had been sitting on while Ryūko turned with her eyes going wide in horror as she saw Mako, frozen with eyes wide open and a smile on her face, falling back with a single needle stuck in her forehead. In less than a second as Mako continued to fall back, Ryūko watched as Mako was turned into a human pincushion with most of her body covered in sewing needles.

"MAKO!" Ryūko exclaimed in horror fearing the worst. "Hey come on say something Mako!"

"Ryūko get down!" Suzaku called out from his cover behind the large chain while trying to spot their attacker.

"Don't worry your friend is ok."

Stepping out from the shadows of the main building head of them was Tsumugu who calmly approached the two.

"The effects of the needles are therapeutic. When she wakes up, she'll be cured of all illness and any fatigue she has." Tsumugu explained calmly, although Ryūko was relieved that Mako would recover Suzaku saw some of the odd militarized gear on Tsumugu. He realized Ryūko was in danger and Mako was taken out to prevent her from interfering.

"Uh, thanks, I guess."

"But your uniform will get no mercy from me!" Tsumugu shouted as he leveled his sewing machine gun at Ryūko confirming Suzaku's suspicions.

"Get out of here!" Senketsu shouted realizing the danger as well.

Ryūko tried to run while drawing her scissor blade, but she didn't get far before one of Tsumugu's needles managed to hit her shoes pinning her in place. Tsumugu was upon her in seconds swiftly disarming her and flooring her within seconds. With Ryūko pinned Suzaku attempted to attack Tsumugu managing to get in a kick to his head using a flying spinning roundhouse kick through the air.

"Hurry up and transform Ryūko!" Suzaku shouted as he valiantly attacked the Mohawk assailant.

With only his hands and feet to fight with Suzaku fought with quick strikes and attacks when he saw an opening, but he was mindful of being cautious considering the odd assortment of weapons Tsumugu was carrying. An intense exchange of fists and kicks ensured with Tsumugu dodging and parrying some of Suzaku's attacks while the latter continued to attack aggressively hoping to keep his foe on edge and give him little chance to fight back.

Suzaku's experience and training in hand-to-hand combat allowed him to hold his ground against Tsumugu, but after attempting another roundhouse kick after his foe parried a punch meant for his face. Tsumugu fired a projectile from one of the large rings on his wrist pinning Suzaku's leg down causing to lose balance allowing the latter to riddle him with needles immobilizing him.

Suzaku's fight against Tsumugu gave Ryūko all of the time she needed to transform as she assumed a fighting stance against her foe.

"So which club are you from?"

Tsumugu said nothing as he took aim with his machine gun opening fire, but Ryūko quickly dodged it before attempting to close the distance for a counterattack. Grabbing one of the spools on his combat vest, Tsumugu threw one into Ryūko's path who paid it no mind until it exploded releasing a cloud of blue smoke soon followed by a second spool grenade that released a yellow cloud upon detonation. Ryūko lost track of her target in the smoke, but for some reason, the smoke was hurting her Kamui.

What's wrong...my connection to Senketsu feels weak? Ryūko thought before deciding to escape the smoke cloud before the effect could get worse.

As she tried to flee, she was hit by a volley of needles quickly followed by a second which began to slightly slow her movements a little. But before Tsumugu could continue his assault a small needle with a note attached to it struck his hand causing him to pause.

"Consider yourself lucky I'll be back tomorrow to strip you!" Tsumugu shouted in annoyance before using a couple more spool grenades to cover his escape.

"Who the hell was that?" Ryūko said as she assumed a defensive position while trying to escape the clouds of colored smoke caused the detonation of the grenades.

"Maybe we're lucky he left. I don't know how but those needles and those grenades make me feel weak and our connection becomes difficult to maintain." Senketsu admitted.

"Yeah I felt something weird too, so which club do you think he was with?"

"I don't think he was part of any club in this school, but for now we should probably check on Mako and Suzaku," Senketsu answered before Ryūko did as he suggested by checking on her friends who were not seriously injured in Tsumugu's attack.


As for the mohawk guerilla, he was just passing through the main school gates when he dodged a projectile from an RPG aimed at him. Assuming a fighting stance, Tsumugu saw his attacker who was none other than O'Malley who was carrying an RPG in one hand while the other hand held a Britannian-made Gibson XM109 prototype anti-materiel rifle. Such a weapon typically needed two hands, and ground mount to use it, but O'Malley seemingly had no trouble using it with one hand.

"Howdy Tsumugu the name is O'Malley! How do you like my Trucker Hat?" O'Malley greeted with a sadistic grin on his face, but Tsumugu felt a chill go down his spine. He wasn't afraid of his attacker per se, but rather the cold was the result of something profoundly wrong with the man before him that put the Nudist Beach Hunter on edge.

There was something not right about O'Malley.

Firing his sewing machine gun without a word Tsumugu watched as O'Malley hurled the empty RPG at the hail of needles to block them before lining up his sights with the anti-material rifle he was armed with. Responding on reflex and instinct, Tsumugu began dodging the shots with each one putting a considerable hole or impact mark on the floors and walls surrounding them as the entire area turned into the scene of an intense shootout.

The Nudist Beach guerilla countered the attack with a volley of needles, but when they hit he watched them bounce off the coat, O'Malley was wearing.

The assassin merely laughed it off before revealing, "My coat is specially made to resist your little needles, but those little things can't do shit against me anyway. I was prepared for the task of one day killing you when I got the order."

"Just who the hell sent you?"

"An old friend you knew and threatened to kill, so he created me to carry out the deed among other similar jobs he wanted to be done," O'Malley answered before firing his rifle off in rapid succession with inhuman speed and handling of his weapon forcing Tsumugu on the defensive.

Tsumugu was certain his foe was wearing a Goku Uniform of some kind, but at the same time, he was extremely suspicious of the fact that his opponent had something else instead of a Goku Uniform.

This guy…he can't be just wearing a Goku Uniform. Tsumugu thought as he unloaded another magazine of needles at his foe, but either O'Malley dodged it or his coat took the blunt of the attack nullifying the effects of the needles.

Knowing this was a fight he couldn't win without preparation and there was the fact he had used up most of his ammo facing the gardening club and Ryūko attempting to continue the battle would ultimately prove to be disastrous. Using what remained of his grenades Tsumugu tossed the last of them to create a blanket of smoke before escaping into the waterways leading into the sewers.

"You can run boy, but you can't hide."

Tsumugu didn't waste time as he hurried through the sewers reaching the place where he hid his bike. But once he was on the highway, O'Malley was right on his tail as he was in hot pursuit using his car. Breaking the front windshield, O'Malley began shooting at Tsumugu using a sub-machine gun in one hand while holding the steering wheel with the other. O'Malley was closing in as he was speeding up intending to hit the motorbike with the bumper of his car to force Tsumugu off the road, but after evading the bullets being fired at him, Tsumugu grinned.

"There are two things you need to know…one this isn't my first time being chased by someone attempting to kill me and two my bike is prepared for something like that." Tsumugu said before pushing a button on the handle of his bike to activate a concealed weapon.

The compartments on the back of his bike opened up as a very oily substance was released onto the road followed by a pair of built-in guns proceeded to shoot the engine and the tires.

This combination caused the car O'Malley was driving to spin out of control before hitting the railing, and the car went flying off the edge falling easily over a hundred feet before landing somewhere in the industrial area. Upon landing the vehicle exploded into a giant fireball seemingly killing the driver in the process, but Tsumugu didn't stick around to see if his foe was dead or not since he knew it was just a matter of time before Satsuki's forces caught up to him.

"Goku Uniform or not there is no way he could have survived that."


Meanwhile as the incident with Tsumugu was taking place, Satsuki and Lelouch were still engaged in their chess match, but instead of only Gamagōri observing Inumuta arrived with a laptop in hand to see the game in progress. Not wishing to interrupt Inumuta moved close to the towering Gamagōri whispering as quietly as he could just so the imposing member of the Disciplinary Committee could hear him without disturbing Lelouch and Satsuki as their game appeared to be quite tense.

"What brought this about?"

"Lady Satsuki challenged Lamperouge to a chess match, although I am uncertain of her intentions, this match has been going on for almost an hour now," Gamagōri replied as quietly, but enough so Inumuta could hear him.

"Really…" Inumuta muttered as he adjusted his glasses in interest as the only person who had been able to challenge Lady Satsuki in a game of chess and press a single match to continue for over thirty minutes was him. If she was pushing an hour against Lelouch, then his own intellect and aptitude for chess must be very considerable indeed.

Although Gamagōri wasn't the type who would not be interested in games like chess, he had observed a fair number of games where Satsuki had challenged Inumuta and a few others including the current president of the Chess Club whose track record of lasting against Satsuki was fifteen minutes at most before losing to her. The fact Lelouch was capable of not only holding out so long against Satsuki, but the fact he was pressuring his Lady Satsuki was alone an impressive feat.

Showing up moments later was Jakuzure.

"What's going on?"

"Lady Satsuki has challenged Lelouch Lamperouge to a chess match and is coming up to an hour they have been at it," Inumuta explained while gesturing for Jakuzure to keep it down.

"You got to be joking doggy, an hour Lady Satsuki would have mopped the floor with him by now."

"Actually it has been one hour, two minutes and forty seconds since their match began." Gamagōri corrected pointing to his watch on his right wrist.

"It should be ending soon both Lady Satsuki and Lelouch have little pieces left."


Meanwhile at the wreckage of O'Malley's car as the flames continued to consume the wreck, but against all odds, a burning O'Malley emerged from the wreck almost wholly unharmed except for the fact that his coat was on fire.

His precious Trucker Hat was lost in the inferno.

"Now that boy has done it now," O'Malley said before bursting into maniacal laughter. "The boss said that if I failed trying to do him in the normal way, I could go all out…so…the gloves are off!"

Tearing off the burning coat he was wearing O'Malley was utterly unharmed thanks to a full-body suit that was black with red trim. On his shoulders were armor plating that seemed to be part of the suit that covered his whole body from the neck down, but with the coat off a pair of large wing-shaped crests jutting out from O'Malley's shoulders appeared with a pair of yellow and red eyes on each crest. On centered on his back was a large blood red triangular ventilation grill.

"It is time for Kamui O'Malley to take down Mohawk man and make my creator happy!"


A/N: well we find out O'Malley was really a Kamui, modified to take possession of his host and use his voice box allowing him to blend in, but what of the host? That will be revealed next chapter as the fight between Tsumugu and Ryūko is going to get complicated with a homicidal bloodthirsty Kamui gunning for Mohawk.

I wanted to do a little more for the battle, but I didn't want to pour too much unnecessary detail. I am trying something new with some of the fights here to see if they flow better reading-wise.

And why did Saihō send such a deadly assassin after Tsumugu?

What became of Nui and how her fight with Alice ended will be revealed next chapter.

A clash between Kamui and Kings happen next chapter.

I thank you all in advance for the reviews and input they are very helpful and mean a lot.