A/N: whew this was a difficult chapter to write mostly because I wanted everything from the dialog to the battles to feel just right.

This chapter took awhile, so I hope you guys enjoy it for all of the wait. But before we go further, I do want to thank all of you for the reviews and favorites so far as I greatly appreciate the feedback as it helps me to find ways to improve the story.

So without further delay let us proceed, and some long waited fights finally happen as the title of the chapter implies.


Chapter 11

Clash of the Kamui

"If the king does not lead, then how can he expect his subordinates to follow?"

Satsuki Kiryūin reclined in her chair in the lounge currently occupied by her and the Elite Four as she recalled Lelouch's words during the opening moments of their chess match. Against her expectations, Lelouch had proven far more formidable of a chess player than she had initially thought, but despite the outcome of the game, she wasn't upset at the results. She couldn't recall a time she had been challenged like this, although she had easily overcome most combat and physical challenges easily.

But this mental and intellectual challenge was something different.

More than that Lelouch Lamperouge intrigued her, but Satsuki was confident it was more than the fact she might have found her intellectual match. She saw something in Lelouch's eyes that reflected something familiar, a particular kind of ambition. She could already tell from their conversations and how Lelouch carried himself that he had little interest in higher status, or at least not in the same way she had observed many students who had become leaders of their own clubs.

She remembered and recalled how disgusted she was with Omiko when she was given her two-star uniform; the greed in her eyes was sickening.

That said Satsuki couldn't help but wonder what Lelouch's motivations for coming to Honnōji Academy were because she felt there was more to what he had told her. If he wasn't interested in status then what was he interested in? What was driving him?

Satsuki's thoughts were interrupted when Inumuta began giving his report on an incident that happened earlier that day.

"I have some information on the intruder who attacked the gardening club." The blue-haired member of the Elite Four announced as a photo of Tsumugu appeared on the large monitor behind Satsuki. "He is the same man who has been causing us some trouble over the last few months."

Inumuta brought up photos of various teenagers who had been wearing Goku Uniforms, but most of the uniforms were shredded or mostly covered in needles.

"The anti-uniform guerilla, he has been attacking all of our affiliated academies as well as military installations where we gifted some of their soldiers and commanders with Goku Uniforms," Gamagōri mentioned recognizing the man as he had seen some security footage of the man before when reports of his attacks came up.

"Yes, and his weapon of choice fires needles," Inumuta explained as he changed the screen showing information on the needle-like ammo Tsumugu uses. "Analysis shows that they are made of a special alloy that can sever the connection between the human body and life-fibers."

Sanageyama laughed it off before saying. "A weapon that can take out a Goku Uniform, I'll believe it when I see it."

"We can be sure he is not working alone." Gamagōri began before adding. "He is more than likely involved with Nudist Beach."

"Most likely, but strangely it seems his target is Ryūko Matoi," Inumuta added before playing security camera footage of Ryūko being attacked by Tsumugu earlier.

Gamagōri and Sanageyama were both surprised by this bit of information with even the Disciplinary Chairman questioning it. "Why on Earth would she be after her?"

"He must be after her Kamui," Satsuki said joining the conversation. "This is a struggle against a Sandpiper and a Clam nothing more."

"Then maybe I should change things up a little and cast the net." Jakuzure offered.

"Changing majors from music to fishing eh?" Inumuta noted.

"Well, the new girl totally wrecked my biology club so the Non-Athletic Committee should pay her back for that," Jakuzure answered while manipulating the skull on the top of her hat to mimic her speaking before asking her superior and best friend. "Of course that is with your permission, of course, Lady Satsuki?"

"Yes, but there are some alterations to that plan we must make," Satsuki said before silently gesturing to Inumuta to show her gathered followers the next item of discussion on their agenda. "After that intruder attacked Matoi some fascinating images were captured."

"This was taken by the cameras outside of the academy's main gate and then along the main highway leading from the academy itself," Inumuta explained as he began displaying the recordings from the cameras showing Tsumugu's encounter with O'Malley ending with the latter's car going off the highway.

"So the intruder killed his attacker so what?" Sanageyama said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"It's not over…look at what a nearby camera managed to catch." Inumuta said with a smile knowing what was coming next.

The rest of the assembled Elite Four watched as O'Malley emerged from the wreck before revealing his possession of a Kamui.

"Another Kamui! How many of those things are there?" Sanageyama exclaimed in shock as most of his fellow Elites were of the same mind.

"I recognize that guy too." Gino began as he joined the conversation. He had been near the doorway into the lounge having been invited to the meeting; although he wasn't part of the Student Council officially, Satsuki felt that Gino as a Knight of the Round who was going to be helping her should be aware of what was going on. "I have seen him visit the Emperor a few times. If I am not mistaken, he is part of the Office of Imperial Intelligence."

"I see…so he is an assassin then," Satsuki said before taking a sip of her tea. "He's after the intruder."

"So what do you want to be done with him Lady Satsuki?" Jakuzure inquired, but before she could get an answer the phone ringed.

Her butler was quick to pick up, especially since it was on the phone which only her mother and the Britannian Emperor knew the number for. But after a brief exchange with her butler, a shocked and slightly worried Soroi turned to Satsuki with the phone in hand.

"Forgive the interruption Lady Satsuki, but I have the Grand Courtier of Britannia on the phone for you."

"What!" Satsuki said, although her tone didn't change her eyes expressed surprise before accepting the phone from her butler while the rest of the occupants in the room watched what was about to unfold.

"Good evening Lady Satsuki," Saihō Harime said disguising his voice using an electronic voice box giving it an electronic distortion with a deep bass, "I apologize for hiding my identity from you, but I assure you I have a good reason for it. But onto the matter at hand, I assume you have found out about my assassin's little secret?"

"Yes I did…he is wearing a Kamui?"

"Actually the Kamui is wearing HIM." Saihō corrected.

"The Kamui has dominated its host?" The Kiryūin Heiress inquired mildly surprised.

"You are correct." The blonde haired young man explained as sat in his office tossing a ball of life-fiber yarn into the air before catching it again. "He is one of my experiments I conduct on Kamui, which the Kamui has taken full control of its host…made easier by the fact that the host is clinically brain-dead. I even modified O'Malley to utilize the host's voice box allowing him to speak through its host and to better blend in when in a populated area."

"What is the purpose of that experiment?" Satsuki inquired.

"I wanted to test if a host being dominated by a Kamui would have better combat potential than a Kamui and their Host working together; so far the results have been intriguing."

Does this mean he has another operative wearing a Kamui as well? Satsuki thought as she was convinced that it was likely that was the case.

"Anyway allow me to tell you the real reason I called because I wanted to give you a piece of information you would be interested in," Saihō said as a mischievous smile appeared on his face.


Elsewhere in Honnō City at that moment, but more specifically in a crowded seedy bar in the No-Star Slums was Aikurō Mikisugi. He was sitting at the bar with a cup of sake before him with the bottle next to it. He was still dressed in his teacher's attire, but he had the top buttons undone, and his black tie was hanging very loosely around his neck with his sunglasses gone and his hair slick back. Aikurō continued to enjoy his drink quietly by himself until the person he had been waiting for showed up dropping the needle he had used to deliver his message to him earlier today.

"I know what you are going to say…never interrupt me is that it?" Aikurō said without even looking as he already knew that Tsumugu Kinagase was next to him leaning against the counter, hands in his pockets, and a sour expression on his face.

"What do you want?"

Aikurō sighed knowing beforehand that it would be like this, but he needed to get Tsumugu to stop attacking Ryūko.

"Come on have a seat there isn't that many decent bars and this one has no Kiryūin spies we have to worry about." The blue-haired man said trying to ease the tension, but it wasn't working.

"What do you want?" Tsumugu insisted.

"I need you to leave Matoi alone. This is an important time for her."

"I can't do that."

As Tsumugu turned around to face the table, Aikurō continued his attempts to convince Tsumugu even though it was clear that wasn't going to happen.

"Satsuki Kiryūin is tightening her grip on Area 11 as the Japan Liberation Front is the only other resistance group beside us left as anyone else with any kind of military weaponry to pose a threat has been wiped out. Furthermore, Satsuki has almost brought the other academies under her control except for the ones in the Kansai Region and Ashford Academy."

However given her position as Viceroy it was odd that Satsuki didn't use her influence to bring them under her heel quicker, but other than seemingly giving the schools a chance to resist being brought under Honnōji Academy's control Aikurō wondered if Satsuki had an ulterior motive for not attempting a quicker conquest through her post as Viceroy.

Could the Chinese Federation be some cause for concern?

It was probably the only explanation that came to mind because since Japan had become Area 11, it was no secret that the Chinese Federation was very nervous about having an aggressive superpower in their backyard. Even before Japan was conquered the literally tiny island nation was facing the same issue, but it was made even worse by Britannia conquering Japan instead. The surrender a mere one month after the war began didn't give the Chinese a chance to intervene, which probably would have ended with Japan becoming a part of the Chinese Federation in one form or another.

The day of France's ruin is the eve of ruin for England. Aikurō thought quoting a familiar passage from history as France's fall into ruin led to England falling to Napoleon's armies.

"Remember what Dr. Matoi said…use the Kamui to thwart the ambitions of the Kiryūin Family." Aikurō said before adding in a slightly more serious tone. "That is the goal Dr. Matoi set for us and the job we of Nudist Beach signed up for. You're just getting in the way."

Tsumugu said nothing at first as he was busy enjoying a cigarette he had lit for himself as Aikurō had been speaking, but after a silent minute between them.

"That uniform is too dangerous."

"I understand, but if she can handle that uniform, then Ryūko can become a very valuable ally for the battle ahead," Aikurō said as he attempted to pour some sake into an empty cup that sat nearby, but Tsumugu blocked it by holding his hand over it.

"If she is consumed by that thing then she'll become a danger worse than the Kiryūin Family, even Britannia," Tsumugu said before adding ominously. "That is why I have to destroy it now before it consumes her and turns her into a monster."

"Zero has managed to master wearing his Kamui, so why can't Ryūko?"

"That is something else I have wanted to ask you?" Tsumugu began as he glared daggers at Aikurō. "Why didn't you tell me about Zero and his Kamui?"

"The fact that you came to Honnō City unannounced to attack Matoi because of her Kamui is enough of an answer. Zero has had his Kamui for much longer than the girl, over a year at least, so he has a greater level of experience than Matoi."

Tsumugu was angry and at the same time annoyed that he wasn't told about Zero's Kamui, but this didn't deter him.

"Then I'll destroy his Kamui as well."

"That is a terrible idea because Zero is not only more experienced, but he is not the type who would rush into a battle with sword swinging like Matoi would. He knows about your weapons and tricks, but most importantly Zero is ruthless, and he will not hesitate to kill you if you are a threat to him." Aikurō said honestly as Lelouch had warned him if his crazy Mohawk of a friend came after him because of his Kamui he would hold nothing back and kill him in self-defense.

"Is that so, then I am going to hold nothing back either."

"I think you're way over your head on that one," Aikurō warned although he wasn't sure how much of a combatant Lelouch was since he hasn't seen him fight all out wearing his Kamui. But if he knew the devious former prince enough, then he didn't doubt the possibility that Lelouch will likely be well prepared to deal with Tsumugu.

"The only good Kamui is a dead one."

"People and Clothing aren't enemies…isn't that what Kinue said?" Aikurō said, but he stopped when he heard the crushing sound of a porcelain cup.

A moment of tension passed before a previous stunned and shocked Tsumugu spoke.

"I owe you, and I would do anything you ask except when it comes to a Kamui."

Aikurō seeing that he could not convince Tsumugu to stop reluctantly allowed him to leave as he proceeded to leave the bar.

"Alright if HQ finds out about this they'll take all of your gear away! That is if you survive a fight against Zero."

"It doesn't matter. I'll keep hunting those two Kamui down as a naked nudist."

With that Tsumugu left, although he had thought about asking Aikurō about Zero's true identity, he knew the blue-haired undercover teacher wouldn't divulge that.

Aikurō sighed in frustration as he knew things were going to be hectic tomorrow with the undercover teacher now worrying that Zero may end up killing Tsumugu to protect himself and not to lose his Kamui.

As if to complicate even more Aikurō's cell phone began ringing. He hesitated upon seeing the number on the caller ID was the code name for the supreme leader of Nudist Beach.

"Hello Pizza Girl!" Aikurō said bracing himself for the conversation ahead as he spoke to the girl on the phone using her code name to hide her real identity from any eavesdroppers.

Sitting in her office somewhere in a hidden underground complex in another part of Japan sat a green haired woman who was roughly in her late teens with yellow eyes and a doll-like complexion. Still, Aikurō was among those who knew the truth about the successor and newly appointed commander of Nudist Beach with the demise of Isshin Matoi. She wore a white two-piece custom uniform trimmed with gold and red around the shoulders while her desk had a bunch of pizza boxes piled on top.

"Is Tsumugu with you?" C.C. demanded sternly with a clearly annoyed look on her face, even through Aikurō couldn't see it her voice alone made it clear.

"He was just here, but I couldn't get him to stop attacking Matoi."

"Are you sure you didn't try hard enough to get your boyfriend to stop?" C.C. asked while at the same time taking a moment to prod him.

"How many times have I told you it's nothing like that?" Aikurō grumbled as his boss was probably one of the most sufferable women he had known, but she did do a good job leading Nudist Beach in Dr. Matoi's absence.

"This comes from the man who takes any chance to strip." C.C. shot back while she was annoyed with Aikurō because he was responsible for creating the trend where most of their operatives wear almost nothing.

Just because we are called Nudist Beach doesn't mean you have to be nude. C.C. thought before redirecting the conversation to the matter at hand.

"Anyway, so you failed to get Tsumugu to stand down. Well, I guess I'll have to send someone to drag him back here." C.C said as she already had someone in mind to send.

"Look I'll keep trying to get Tsumugu," Aikurō said trying to stop C.C. from sending someone from the organization to get their now rogue agent back, but the undercover homeroom teacher worried about the punishment C.C. might put him through.

"Well clearly if you couldn't talk him out of it, then I need to send someone to get him before he kills Ryūko, gets captured by Satsuki's people, both, or worse he runs afoul of Zero and gets killed."

Aikurō swallowed hard as he feared tomorrow would be ugly.


Inside his secret basement chamber, Lelouch was at a workbench putting together some tools and supplies tomorrow to use when he becomes Zero. He had heard about the incident involving Tsumugu from Mako, through the needles her body had been covered with had provided a clue, and a message from Aikurō warning him. Lelouch had expected something like this would happen once Zero and his Kamui became public knowledge which was why Tsumugu was kept in the dark about Lelouch and his Kamui.

"So are we really doing this?" Reiketsu inquired.

"We have no choice. Ryūko is strong, but Tsumugu is someone with a lot of combat experience hunting down and destroying life-fiber infused clothing. He'll come more than prepared with weapons and bombs to beat Ryūko not through brute force, but through tactics and clever use of his weaponry." Lelouch explained before looking down at his Kamui.

"That was why I had to put you through that rough endurance test using those needles. I knew this would happen, but the timing couldn't be worse."

"I understand why you had to put me through that, but that doesn't mean I liked it any less than the next Kamui."

"I know, but the important thing is you have a very high tolerance if hopefully an immunity to Tsumugu's needles."

"I think you also know that we should be careful we don't run afoul of Satsuki or her own people as well." Reiketsu cautioned.

"I agree which is why I am making the proper preparations," Lelouch said with a slight smile, but on the inside, he was furious at this turn of events.

This was a dangerous complication, which could lead to a worse outcome for him especially if he is forced to fight Satsuki. He wanted to avoid fighting Satsuki until it came time to take her down and overthrow Britannia rule from Area 11, but an critical factor to that plan would be Satsuki remaining unaware of his full combat capabilities as long as possible to give him a tactical edge in their inevitable confrontation.

Not to mention Tsumugu's hatred of the Kamui and his relentless drive to wipe them out was another problem.

Even after being told I am on their side he still insists on hunting me and destroying Reiketsu. Lelouch thought as he worked to finish his preparations. Nudist Beach's lack of controlling their subordinates and keeping them in check is one of the reasons I began forming the Black Knights with Naoto and Ohgi.

The only plus side to all of this was that Lelouch had enough time to ensure he would be covered for tomorrow as well.


The next morning Ryūko stood in the middle of the Honnōji Academy courtyard holding her scissor blade, but hiding nearby using his Kamui's camouflage ability was Lelouch wearing his mask, and he had Reiketsu transformed.

She is nervous…I don't blame her, but Ryūko doesn't have the skills and experience to match a seasoned opponent like Tsumugu. Lelouch thought as he and Reiketsu quietly observed Ryūko while mindful of his own surroundings.

As planned Lelouch would intervene once Tsumugu had exhausted most of his needles, bombs and anything else he brought to ensure he could finish the battle quickly before Satsuki or the Elite Four could attack him. This was also to ensure that Ryūko would hopefully be a little humbled from this experience as her growing cockiness from her string of victories against the club presidents had made her arrogant in her abilities.

I suppose losing to someone not wearing a Goku Uniform should be a good experience to help her grow as a warrior.

"He scares you?" Senketsu said as he noticed the Scissor Blade shaking in Ryūko's hands.

"Shut up!"

"You can't fight if you are not in the right state of mind." The Kamui cautioned sagely, but Ryūko was quick to rebut it.

"Oh my god will you stop analyzing me. You are just a piece of clothing! I can I just wear you once without getting a lecture?"

"A PIECE OF CLOTHING?"

"Crap here he comes, so no more nagging got it!"

Ryūko managed to steady her hand and prepare herself for the coming fight. Tsumugu didn't come running in, but instead, he opened his attack with a barrage of missiles fired from a large portable missile launcher capable of firing off four miniature homing missiles at Ryūko. Thankfully Ryūko transformed in time before the first round of projectiles hit, although they didn't hit Ryūko directly the blast did cover Senketsu in a unique chaff-like substance designed to weaken the link between life-fibers and a host.

"Heh, I thought you wouldn't let me transform?" Ryūko mocked as her earlier arrogance began to return. Tsumugu was already running around the courtyard intending to flank Ryūko with needles while keeping a safe distance from the range of her blade.

Don't get hit by those weapons of his…they are designed to combat life-fibers. Lelouch thought while he wanted to shout out to Ryūko to correct her, but he couldn't risk giving away his position.

"I hope you have a plan B?" Ryūko shouted before charging at Tsumugu intending to face him head-on while ignoring the needles she was being shot at.

As Ryūko swung her blade to strike Tsumugu blocked it with the flat portion of his gun before being caught in a deadlock against Ryūko.

"Here is some advice…it takes a lot more than strength to win a fight." Tsumugu warned before using his free hand to push a button on a remote he was holding.

The discarded missile launcher activated as it was moving to aim directly at Ryūko using Tsumugu's position and a unique sensor to lock onto the life-fibers in Senketsu before firing another round of missiles at her. This time however they hit their mark stunning Ryūko as she recovered from the impact, her Kamui weathered the damage, but it was slowly becoming weaker of the chaff material it was being covered in.

Tsumugu used this as an opportunity to break away from Ryūko before hitting her with another round of needles, which actually began to weaken her visibly as a confused Ryūko fell onto one knee beginning to feel the effects of the needles.

"What the hell those weren't working on me a minute ago."

A Kamui can take a lot more punishment than a Goku Uniform. Even against those needles, Tsumugu uses which highly effective against Goku Uniforms are slowly to take effect when used on a Kamui. Lelouch thought as he recalled seeing this during the trials to help Reiketsu to build a higher resistance or immunity against those needles and similar weapons.

As if things couldn't get worse for Ryūko a few weaponized folding fans and zabuton with spikes were thrown at her from a distance while Tsumugu had to deflect a large number of bladed karuta cards thrown at him.

"Oh great what now?" Ryūko asked visibly annoyed.

"It's the Honnōji Academy's Rakugo Club, Three Masters!" Announced three young men including their club's leader being carried on lifters on the shoulders of one-star students dressed in simple brown kimono robes. The club leaders themselves wore more extravert kimonos befitting their club name.

"We are the Honnōji Academy's One Hundred Poet's Club, the horde of one hundred!" One hundred identical teenage girls wearing matching pink and green kimonos while sitting in Seiza positions on the ground shouted out in unison.

"GARDENING!" The last club to arrive on the scene shouted as a large group of One-Star Students wearing gardening attire held up various gardening tools as weapons.

"We are the backyard division of the Gardening Club, and I am Squinty-eyed Gardening Club Backyard Garden General Manager Kusatao Uwabami!" Kusatao shouted while he looked almost identical to the Gardening Club's president. "You messed up our garden, so you're going to pay to death."

Why did they send those clubs to attack them? Would it have made more sense to, Lelouch thought before he realized what was going on, I see so you are sacrificing your weaker clubs to collect combat data on Ryūko and Tsumugu.

If they had been serious about dealing with Ryūko and Tsumugu then it would have made more sense for the Elite Four to be dispatched to deal with them, so why send the weakest clubs in school against them unless they were just sacrifices to collect data on. Lelouch had already known the Gardening Club was virtually taken out save for its backyard division, so seeing them involved convinced Lelouch of their role as sacrificial pieces.

It didn't take long for a full-scale battle to erupt, but as Tsumugu was left to fight the clubs on his own Ryūko seized this chance to escape into the school's main building.

Retreating like that into the building isn't a bad idea, but you just gave Tsumugu a tactical advantage as he'll have more places to hide, set traps and set up ambush points. Lelouch thought as he observed the fight before deciding to relocate to another spot.

As Lelouch expected the three clubs, despite their impressive combined numbers, were swiftly defeated by Tsumugu before quickly entering the building in pursuit of Ryūko. The battle against Tsumugu and the clubs couldn't be called a battle because it was so wholly one-sided would be the best way to describe it.

"Ok maybe in here I can get the jump on him," Ryūko said thinking out loud as she finished making her way to the third floor.

She was planning on passing through one of the classrooms before climbing out the window to get to the lower floors hoping to double back and ambush Tsumugu. Unfortunately, Tsumugu had already realized what Ryūko was going to attempt so getting ahead of her he had set up various traps along the way while leaving the defeated unconscious bodies of the various club members he beat for the psychological effect to impede Ryūko's confidence to affect her fighting capabilities.

He's practically running circles around her. Lelouch thought although he knew the fight was going to be one-sided as a result of experience and extensive preparation on Tsumugu's part Lelouch didn't expect it was going to be this bad.

He wasn't expecting Tsumugu to defeat those clubs as quickly as he did, which alone was a testament to his formidable combat prowess, but Tsumugu was cornering Ryūko much smoothly than Lelouch was expecting which was a point of concern as Lelouch began to wonder if he was prepared for their coming fight.

But on the other hand, the more intellectual part of him was glad that he held back as all of those club members and fighting Ryūko will have deleted his amount of needles.

No matter what happens I must end this fight quickly and get out of the academy before Satsuki, or her Elite Four steps in to attack me.

Unknown to Lelouch he wasn't the only one waiting for Tsumugu to exhaust most of his weapons and his needle ammo.


Entering the academy at that moment was O'Malley who was wearing another black leather coat to hide the Kamui he wore underneath until it was time to unveil it. Armed with a mini-gun, he was carrying on his back while he had both of his life-fiber machetes drawn and ready. To complicate things further a sniper aboard a VTOL transport was hovering high in the air near the academy airspace. Onboard the craft with its passenger door opened aiming a specially designed high-powered anti-material sniper rifle. Van Pelt carefully took aim while his specialized inferred scope scanned the interior walls and terrace looking for signs of Zero whom according to his superior could camouflage himself.

On the third floor of the academy, the aged sniper found him.

"It is time for your appointment with Lady Satsuki."

The sniper pulled the trigger firing a powerful shot with the force of a canon that nearly caused the pilot of the VTOL to lose control, but the pilot was incredibly skilled, so he prevented a possible crash by quickly regaining control. As for the sizeable explosive sakuradite tipped Caliber .50 bullet, it hit its target by a shocked Lelouch and Reiketsu knocking them off their hiding place along the wall of the inner courtyard of the academy.


The bullet had the impact and destructive power of a canon leaving a sizable impact crater in the wall; although Lelouch and Reiketsu were unharmed the shot was more than powerful enough to knock them off the wall and expose Zero to anyone looking in the academy courtyard.

"WHAT THE HELL HIT US!" Reiketsu shouted as he was just as shocked as Lelouch was.

"I don't know," Lelouch said quickly regaining his composure because he knew he was in serious danger now, "but we need to…"

"This time you will not run away Zero." Satsuki Kiryūin said as she just finished descended down her set of un-foldable stairs from the top of her tower.

Lelouch was angry, but he calmed himself. As much as he had wanted to avoid fighting Satsuki at this stage, he knew now there was no chance of avoiding a confrontation now. Still, Lelouch was wondering who fired that shot to expose him, but at the same time, he was wondering if someone had told Satsuki in advance of his presence because Lelouch reasoned that she had arrived too quickly right after he was exposed for the incident to be a coincidence.

Someone set this up, but right now I don't have time to figure it out. Lelouch thought realizing that whoever shot him had done so allowing Satsuki to confront him before he could have a chance to escape.

"This is not exactly when and how I wanted our battle."

"I am aware of that," Satsuki replied as a smile appeared on her face as she quickly transformed Junketsu to ready herself for battle. "I know you wished to fight me when a victorious outcome would benefit you more, but I doubt you will be any less successful than the other resistance groups I have crushed."

"Don't compare me to them," Lelouch said harshly before he added. "They cling to old and failed tactics and cannot embrace new ideas and methods thinking they can restore Japan by simply overthrowing Britannia." Lelouch pointed his finger at her to make his point as he added dramatically. "They are wrong because even if a broken vase is repaired, it can never be restored to its original condition."

Satsuki's eyes narrowed in interest as she drew her blade while Lelouch did the same as he began walking towards Satsuki. "Really so are you saying they are outdated?"

"Yes among other shortcomings I can list, but I doubt you would be interested in that."

Satsuki smiled, but suddenly as the two approached a powerful concessive blast was unleashed between them. Lelouch and Satsuki stood their ground as they continued to approach one another with swords drawn, but windows around the courtyard were utterly shattered as the academy was shaken. It was felt clear up to the lounge some members of the Elite Four had gathered at minus Jakuzure who was getting ready to apprehend Ryūko once Tsumugu defeated her.

"Incredible their willpower released a concessive blast," Inumuta commented as he was clearly fascinated, but down in the sewing club, Shirō Iori was quick to grab hold of his coffee cup to keep it from falling over. As the president of the sewing cup placed his drink at a more stable location, he did his third check on the equipment that would scan and analyze every aspect of the coming fight to provide valuable combat data they could use to further Satsuki's plans.

"Let's hope the fight won't level the academy but having said that I hope the cameras and scanners we have set up beforehand will be able to endure the coming clash," Iori said feeling a little concerned.

Iori feared the equipment they had set up to collect as much data off of the battle as possible might not survive the conflict which could cost them valuable information.

"I wanted to take on Zero," Sanageyama said feeling irritated especially since he was being denied possibly a good fight.

"Those were Lady Satsuki's orders," Gamagōri said with some reluctance in his voice. "She didn't want any of us to interfere."

"I know that, but I suppose if it's any compensation we'll get to see how powerful Lady Satsuki is wearing a Kamui of her own like the Matoi girl." The Athletic Committee Chairman said with a smile as he was curious to see how much stronger Satsuki would be wearing a Kamui since he had battled her in the past so he was intrigued to see what kind of difference it would make.

Down below the two Kamui wearers were now close enough for a clash to begin but before that.

"Tell me Zero what is it that you want? Is it Japan's liberation?"

"Japan's liberation is but a stepping stone to my real goal, the destruction of Britannia. Then I shall change the world into something better in place of this one after I tear the old world down!" Zero declared proudly and without hesitation.

Satsuki eyed Zero trying to decide if he was delusional or actually serious.

"And so, do you believe that this is possible, that you can do it?"

"I can because I must. I have reasons which compel me execrably." Zero said before pointing his sword at Satsuki. "You represent everything I despise about Britannia, so you are the post which I will find out if I can accomplish my goals. As much as it angers me that this has drastically changed my plans, I will at least take some joy in taking you down."

The Viceroy of Area 11 simply smiled at Zero's declaration.

"Then come Zero…let's see if you are capable of what you claim!"

"Gladly!" Lelouch replied with determination as he and Satsuki assumed fighting stances.

Everything around them became silent until the sound of the wind blowing could be heard, but for Satsuki and Lelouch it seemed like an eternity as they both stood entirely still while staring the other down. A whole minute passed before Satsuki and Lelouch rushed one another before their blades met in a shower of sparks beginning their battle. Lelouch was holding his ground for now, but he knew staying in close quarters against Satsuki was dangerous.

She is just testing me to get a feel for my skill with a blade. Satsuki isn't attacking with all she has yet, but she will. Lelouch thought as he was fully aware of the fact that Satsuki was a better swordswoman than he was so the risk of being overpowered by her skill with her sword was high if he wasn't careful.

The first clash between their blades set off another shockwave that shook the entire academy while blowing massive amounts of dust and debris all around them. With each blow between swords, the impacts sounded like canons firing while stars could be briefly seen glowing around the courtyard. During the exchange of blows, Lelouch held his ground against Satsuki's enormous strength.


Meanwhile, Ryūko was being pushed into a corner by Tsumugu as the effects of his anti-life fiber weaponry were beginning to take effect as her movements slowed and her strength was diminishing. At that moment the sounds of Zero and Satsuki battling one another in the academy's courtyard accompanied by the windows around her in the hall shattering prompting Ryūko to gaze out the remains of the windows to see what was the cause.

"What the hell is going on out there?"

Ryūko saw Zero and Satsuki exchanging blows with one another at the beginning of a very intense battle.

"Zero is battling Satsuki, but why?" Senketsu commented.

"We got our own problems!" Ryūko shouted ending any further conversation with the Kamui before rushing up another flight of stairs, but along the way Ryūko ran into more of Tsumugu's traps including claymore mines rigged with the same anti-life fiber substance as his grenades. As she was trying to weather the explosions a bundle of spool grenades dropped from the ceiling going off behind her. The explosion alone was enough to send Ryūko up the stairs and crashing into the wall below a shattered window.

Senketsu was the first to recover, but when he looked to Ryūko's right, he saw something.

"Ryūko!"

"Shut up I am a little busy right now." Ryūko snapped in obvious annoyance, which wasn't directed at her Kamui but it was a result of her frustration with the battle coupled with the cold fact that she knew it was a losing battle even if she wouldn't admit it.

But when she looked to her right, she saw various members of the three clubs that had confronted them only a short time ago dangling from the ceiling with their uniforms destroyed or reduced to rags.

"Holy shit…" Ryūko muttered before a barrage of needles suddenly hit her in the head followed by the bound and gag form of Kusatao Uwabami, whose mouth had been stuffed with almost a dozen spool grenades.

The grenades went off inflicting enough damage on Ryūko to force Senketsu to change back, but Uwabami miraculously survived despite what happened if not barely.

"I…I…have reached my limit…sorry Ryūko."

Senketsu transformed back into his regular sailor uniform leaving the young girl at Tsumugu's mercy. The Mohawk man who came swinging in from the outside on a rope mere seconds later before Ryūko had a chance to move. He swiftly kicked her in the gut before he landed sending her into the men's bathroom until she slammed into the wall.

In that same instant, Tsumugu stood over her with his sewing machine gun leveled at her.

"It's about time those jamming rounds took effect," Tsumugu said before adding as a slight compliment. "I am surprised by how many it took, but then again that's a Kamui for you."

"B-Bastard…"

"Whatever it's over now. Your Kamui's power has been neutralized so take off your clothes."

"Yeah right like I am going to strip down for a prever-" Ryūko began, but she was quickly cut off by Tsumugu who kicked her in the stomach before hitting her in the head with his gun.

"There are two things you need to know. One…there was a woman who believed that people and clothes weren't enemies." Tsumugu said with a certain solemn tone to his voice, but his face hardened as he recalled a memory of a woman being torn apart by a lab-coat composed out of life-fibers. "But she was a fool, and in the end, she was betrayed by clothing."

Tsumugu armed his sewing machine gun with a new round before leveling it at Ryūko again.

"Two…the same path you are walking leads to the same fate."

Ryūko fixed with an angry glare, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"I guess not…"

"Go Ryūko I'll distract him," Senketsu said trying to use the last of its strength to remove itself from Ryūko to save her from Tsumugu.

Just as it removed itself entirely from a stunned Ryūko, the Kamui held out its arms ready to take the bullet for Ryūko. But before Tsumugu pulled the trigger, a knife was thrown through the air piercing Tsumugu's gun stopping it from firing.

"That won't be necessary Senketsu," O'Malley said from the doorway leading into the bathroom. "There will be no need to do the whole self-sacrifice routine to save Ryūko from this racist."

"Who the hell are you?" Tsumugu demanded angrily at the fact he had been interrupted again.

"Oh we met yesterday on the highway when I tried to kill you, but when you sent my car off the highway, you should have made sure I was dead," O'Malley said threateningly as he walked into the bathroom. "Worse yet I lost my favorite Trucker Hat because of you."

"You can hear Senketsu?" Ryūko asked, but at the same time, she wondered if he like Zero had a Kamui too taking into account that Zero could hear Senketsu as well.

"Oh sure I can, because I am a Kamui too," O'Malley said before ripping off his trench coat dramatically revealing himself underneath it as his Kamui traits became more profound and obvious now that he had stopped hiding. Drawing his ultra-hardened life-fiber machetes O'Malley leveled them menacingly at Tsumugu. "On behalf of the boss through I like to thank you two for drawing out this Mohawk prick so I can kill him."

"So it's me you are after then?" Tsumugu said removing the knife from his sewing machine gun to unload an entire magazine of needles against the hostile Kamui, but the needles simply bounced off of O'Malley's body.

"There are two things you need to know," O'Malley began mocking Tsumugu by intimidating him, "One I was created for the sole purpose of killing you among doing other dirty jobs for my maker, and second most important of all…being that I was made to kill you I was created to be highly resistant to your little needles."

"Damn it…" Tsumugu said beginning to back away seeing that his jamming rounds had no effect on O'Malley.

"Zero did the same thing with his Kamui, but I imagine it was a long and painful process for his Kamui to build up a resistance to those jamming rounds," O'Malley noted before he added. "But I should really thank Ryūko for making you use up most of your weapons and ammo. It just makes my job easier."

"So are you after me too?" Ryūko demanded as Senketsu quickly put himself back onto Ryūko's body.

"Nah the boss wants you to be left alone," O'Malley answered dismissively. "He has plans for you and Zero, but for now the orders are to leave you two alone."

O'Malley's brain-dead host began smiling reflecting the murderous intent within the homicidal Kamui.

"Now let us get down to business shall we?"


As events unfolded for Ryūko, the battle between Satsuki and Zero continued becoming fiercer by the minute with Lelouch forced onto the defensive against Satsuki's onslaught of attacks who was trying to overpower him. Lelouch was struggling to keep up with Satsuki's swings but was it not for his Kamui his female opponent would have killed him a long time ago. Yet during the intense exchange, Lelouch's mind was already devising a means of counters to fight back against.

"Reiketsu…now," Lelouch said as he grabbed a pair of spool grenades from a pouch on the back of his waist using his free hand.

Satsuki acting on instinct backed away at the sight of the strange weapons before they exploded, but using the explosion as a cover Lelouch had Reiketsu transform. Emerging from the smoke, Satsuki beheld Kamui in a new form called Reiketsu-Hōshu (Gunner). The two shoulder pads on Reiketsu transformed into a pair of cannons with the eyes of Reiketsu becoming the sights atop the barrels while the cape of Reiketsu's default activated form was withdrawn back into its body. The forearms grew thicker forming a pair of small, streamlined shields on his forearms while something that looked like a backpack with four spikes in the shape of an X could be seen.

"Locked on!" Reiketsu shouted before firing a pair of concentrated red beams from the cannons on its shoulders forcing a surprised Satsuki to dodge.

The two beams hit the ground resulting in a massive explosion that blanketed most of the courtyard in smoke sending rocks and debris everywhere. Satsuki was caught off guard having not expected the cannons to have so much destructive power considering their size, but she gracefully recovered in mid-air managing to land on her feet after the resulting shockwave from blast sent her into the air.

Impressive…I didn't expect his Kamui has evolved so much to have achieved such an offensive form. Satsuki thought as she was quick to press her attack.

Instead of rushing in a straight line towards Zero she moved to the left and the right to prevent Zero from getting a clean shot at her. Lelouch having anticipated Satsuki doing such a thing to avoid being shot at, but having a pair of cannons wasn't all that the Reiketsu-Hōshu was capable of.

Smirking under his mask Lelouch had one cannon fire at Satsuki, but the second cannon turned and aimed at the location Satsuki would have no choice to move towards to dodge.

The first cannon fired and just as Lelouch was hoping Satsuki dodged to the left to evade. Lelouch fired the second cannon just as she made her move, but Satsuki saw the attack and dropped low to the ground she could while sliding across the ground just as the second crimson beam flew over her only narrowly missing her. As soon as the beam passed Satsuki leaped into the air, but Lelouch was already ready for her as he fired another beam of red energy at her.

Instead of dodging Satsuki used her blade to boldly cleave through the red beam.

She is using her own sword to cleave the beam in two!

To Lelouch's shock, it actually worked, but he wasn't unprepared for the possibly Satsuki would close the distance.

The spikes on the back of Lelouch's body activated with one firing embedding itself into the academy walls before Lelouch was suddenly being pulled towards the embedded spike narrowly escaping Satsuki before she could swing her blade. As he was flying through the air, Lelouch attacked firing both cannons at once where Satsuki was standing, but the latter leaped into the air using the explosion to launch higher into the air.

She is a lot tougher than I thought. Lelouch thought deciding to move to stage two of his plan.

Satsuki rushed at Zero by running along the walls of the academy, but Lelouch launched himself off of the walls using one of the anchor spikes on his back to maneuver through the air by using the academy walls. The Viceroy of Area 11 was already moving to intercept him by launching off of the wall to pursue Zero, but instead of attacking Satsuki the masked Kamui user fired both cannons into the ground below him creating a large hole.

As Lelouch felt into the hole he had just created vanishing from view Satsuki adopted a look of irritation.

"Are you trying to run away?"

"No…" Zero replied as Satsuki was about to leap into the hole after him, but suddenly Lelouch came flying out having switched Reiketsu into Reiketsu-Arashi (Storm).

Flying up out of the hole at high-speeds catching Satsuki by surprise as he sucker punched her in the stomach using the force from his speed combined with his punch to deliver enough of a blow to stun her. Focusing his strength Lelouch accelerated heading higher into the air while taking Satsuki with him, but before she had a chance to fight back the shoulder pads on Reiketsu changed into a pair of grasping hands before attacking Satsuki to restrain her to prevent her from attacking Lelouch.

Lelouch continued climbing higher and higher into the air, but as Satsuki struggled against Reiketsu, she realized Lelouch's real intentions.

"You…you planned this?"

"You are correct? I know in terms of skill with a sword you are superior than I am. Without my Kamui, you would easily defeat me, but if I can't defeat you through strength and skill, then I'll defeat you by outmaneuvering you." Lelouch declared as he began laughing. "Sun Tzu said that all men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved."

A look of realization appeared on Satsuki's face, "You are bringing me into the upper atmosphere to fight me where I won't have the means to defend myself."

"Yes, but if I can get high enough, I doubt your Kamui will provide you with oxygen in the upper atmosphere."

Satsuki continued to struggle, but her options were limited, and she realized that Zero probably had an oxygen tank in his mask to provide him with oxygen.

I need to hurry up because I don't know if I can hold Satsuki like this indefinitely. Lelouch thought as Satsuki began struggling; although her arms were restrained, she tried kicking Lelouch and head butting him. For the next two minutes Lelouch managed to avoid any direct hits, but he was growing increasingly worried that one lucky shot will allow Satsuki to get free.

"THE SKIES BELONG TO ME YOU BASTARD!"

Lelouch looked down as a pair of recorder missiles flying at him. Behind them, the masked man saw Jakuzure was in hot pursuit having transformed her uniform into the Symphony Regalia Presto to chase after Zero to save her best friend, Satsuki.

Being forced to dodge the incoming missiles provided Satsuki with the chance she needed to kick Lelouch in the face stunning him allowing him to escape his grip, but Reiketsu was forced to release Satsuki to dodge the missiles more easily while trying to evade Satsuki's counterattack. After eluding Satsuki's sword swing that was directed at Lelouch the masked man flew away to put some distance between them while Jakuzure quickly hurried to pick up Satsuki as she landed atop the giant airship in a graceful grouch.

"Are you alright Lady Satsuki?" Jakuzure inquired.

"Jakuzure move away from these clouds."

"Yes, Lady Satsuki…"

In the air, nearby Lelouch was coming around as he reached into the pouch he was carrying, but instead of grenades, he drew out two items. A small transmitter and a remote, which he put one into his right hand and the transmitter into the other hand before rushing at the Symphony Regalia Presto.

"We have the advantage in maneuverability Reiketsu, so it's time for stage three of the plan," Lelouch said to his partner.

"Right let's proceed with the plan and blow her out of the sky."

Lelouch was angry because he was going to have to use them much sooner than he had planned, but perhaps this would be an excellent way to determine if a similar tactic could be useful in the future or if it didn't work out he could use the battle to find ways to improve it. Lelouch began his approach from below while trying to keep in Jakuzure's blind spot to mask his approach.

"Jakuzure he's coming from below at four o'clock!"

Quickly turning around Jakuzure unleashed a barrage of missiles, bladed musical notes and heart-shaped energy beams from her arsenal to attack the approaching Zero. However, due to his small size and higher speed, Lelouch was able to roll and dodge to the left and right to evade most of her attacks. Instead of attack Satsuki or Jakuzure, the masked man flew under the airship and tossed the transmitter onto the bottom of it where it stuck.

Lelouch pushed a button on the remote activating the transmitter.

"Lady Satsuki we just detected seven missiles launching from the no-star slums." Inumuta's voice announced through an earpiece communicator she had in her right ear.

"Jakuzure evasive maneuvers now…we have missiles coming from below," Satsuki ordered quickly as she stood ready as she expected this to be a prelude to another attack.

Jakuzure tried to move, but the missiles were being drawn to the small transmitter Lelouch had planned during his last pass. Upon realizing evading the missiles would not be enough Jakuzure began firing musical-sheet beams of energy from the back of her large airship-like body to shoot them down before they could hit. Four of the missiles were shot down while two went down a second later, but the last one had hit the belly of the Symphony Regalia Presto.

The missile had the same anti-life fiber ordinance as the spool grenades.

As the pink haired girl tried to recover from the attack, Lelouch began his next attack as he started an attack by charging straight for Jakuzure as she was recovering from the missile hit that weakened the connection between Jakuzure and the life-fibers that made up her uniform.

"Are you trying to play chicken or something?"

Jakuzure boldly met his challenge head-on as she fired everything the Symphony Regalia Presto offer as the skies around it became filled with missiles, laser-musical sheets, bladed musical notes and heart-shaped beams of energy. But Lelouch's superior maneuverability allowed him to evade all of it with ease as her attacks were too widespread without a means to accurately target such a small, fast-moving enemy. However just as Lelouch and Jakuzure were mere feet from one another he began to pull up, but as he did so, he tossed out whatever spool grenades he had left along with a flash-bang grenade directly in front of Jakuzure.

Lelouch and Satsuki's blades met briefly as he began to fly over the Symphony Regalia Presto, but when the flash bang and spool grenades went off blinding Jakuzure as well as further weakening her connection to her three-star Goku uniform. Satsuki managed to realize the danger in time and closed her eyes at the last second, but it gave Lelouch a chance to retreat into the sky above the Symphony Regalia Presto.

The masked man began another attack once he had gotten high enough as he made a nosedive for the sizeable airship-like craft.

"Now to bring her down!" Lelouch declared as he brought out his sword intending to use it, but as Satsuki stood ready to engage him, she saw the blade suddenly become enlarged growing to a size almost double that of the Symphony Regalia Presto.

"Jakuzure you have to evade to the left…do it NOW!" Satsuki ordered, but because her connection to her uniform had poorly been weakened the Symphony Regalia Presto was taking longer to respond than it should be. Now to mention the three-star uniform had grown weaker as a result too making it more vulnerable to attack.

It was all Lelouch needed, and Satsuki couldn't stop the gigantic katana blade from cleaving the Symphony Regalia Presto into two.

Upon being cut in half, the uniform erupted into a shower of musical instruments before exploding in mid-air which sent Jakuzure and Satsuki free falling towards the academy below. Lelouch was in a perfect position to continue the battle, but he knew to continue this fight would put him at risk as well. Transforming so much and using the heavy artillery weapons of the Reiketsu-Hōshu was especially draining for his stamina. Of course, there was the possibility the military or even the Elite Four would likely send fighter craft up into the skies to engage him which would only complicate things for him and possibly worsen the situation for him if the battle dragged on for much longer.

If Reiketsu is right about Satsuki, then she should be near her limit, but I hope he is right about that. Lelouch thought before deciding to make a tactical withdrawal by retreating into Toyko Bay so he could lose any possible means of pursuit by traveling underwater and then reenter the city through the sewers.

"Reiketsu we're going to withdraw for now. You know as well as I do that to continue this battle would gain us nothing."

"What about Ryūko?"

"We'll leave that to Kallen, but I hope she will be enough," Lelouch replied before he beat a hasty retreat from the area. "At this point, there isn't much we can do but just hope for the best."

Meanwhile as Lelouch withdrew from the battle, Satsuki and Jakuzure were left to their own fates as they continued to plummet to the ground, but fortunately for them, another uniform capable of flight was already on his way to retrieve them. Gino had transformed into his three-star uniform called the Tristan Regalia and adopted a sleek aerodynamic form.

Below his legs were transformed into a white armored jet boosters with golden wings on his back while giving his arms free movement. He looked more like a knight wearing blue and white armor with gold and red trimmed horns and a mirror-like face mask. He left behind his lance to allow the use of both hands to recover Satsuki and a furious Jakuzure who was angry over the destruction of the Symphony Regalia Presto.

"Don't worry ladies I am here to give you two a lift back to solid ground," Gino replied as grabbed onto the two falling maidens by retrieving Satsuki first before managing to grab a free falling Jakuzure.

"THAT SON OF A BITCH IS GOING TO PAY!" Jakuzure said as her face was bright red from pure anger.

"Calm yourself Jakuzure," Satsuki scolded before pointing out; "the Symphony Regalia Presto wasn't designed to combat high-speed moving targets like Zero and his Kamui. A weakness I intend to see corrected."

Even though she was much calmer about it than Jakuzure was, but the fact remained that Satsuki was not pleased with how this battle went. Despite not winning however this fight gave her invaluable insight into Zero's mind and how he fights.

We now know more about what he is capable of.

On the flipside however it was clear that Zero understood the power and capabilities of Kamui's much better and seeing how well he adapted and had a plan in place despite having been forced into a confrontation against her sooner than he intended. This showed that Zero was not only a brilliant tactician and strategist, but he was the type to make preparations well in advance.

He easily recognized and devised a plan of bringing down the Symphony Regalia recognizing its limitations in combat, and, Satsuki was thinking before a sharp pain shot through her. But this led her to realize something else as well. Wait…did he also account for Junketsu?

A few people only knew this, but Satsuki had been continually battling with Junketsu to keep her control over it. When she was not using it, she had to restrain it under heavy security as it would seek any chance to escape or devour her forcing Satsuki to limit her times of using it.

Despite this Satsuki couldn't help but smile.

I am superior with my sword against you, but in intellect, you may be my match.

Satsuki Kiryūin was more determined than ever to find out who was under that mask.


A/N: I would say as far as the two are concerned the fight between Satsuki and Lelouch technically ended in a draw, but for Lelouch it's a defeat for him because Satsuki now knows more about what he and his Kamui are capable of costing him some possible advantages in a future battle between them.

Either way, the fight did not have a proper conclusion, which was mostly because Lelouch knew there was little for him to gain if he beat Satsuki. But he knows in a sword fight Satsuki is better than he is and without his Kamui, the former prince would be mauled by the young woman.

But will they clash again in the future, and if so will Lelouch face Satsuki again alone?

Well, that is for later, but next chapter we'll conclude events with O'Malley as Kallen will come to help Ryūko out and recover, so it will be….Ryūko vs. O'Malley.

I think it's time for her and Senketsu to kick some butt don't you guys think?

I will also reveal what happened to Nui in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for the reviews.