"Iron and blood are the currency of my time, I hope it won't always be that way."

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.

…

"Hmm, it seems Zero is improving his arsenal." The image of the tall samurai like machines cutting through Sutherlands as if they were nothing was not pleasant, almost worrying in fact, the performance was far higher than anything I thought Lelouch would be able to field in numbers.

"Those machines could actually pose a threat on the battlefield Brother."

"Agreed Brother, but how many does he have, is this but the first step of a great whole or a simple upgrade."

"You overthink everything Andre."

"It's what I do Ri, plan and calculate, improvise and adapt." My brother by bond leaned back in his chair, puffing from his cigar, a raised eyebrow pointed at me.

"And where do emotions fit in there Dre?" His question made me frown, what was he getting at?

"They do not, it's why I keep them separate from my plans."

"Sure as hell did not seem like it when you were fighting the Red Dragoness. Was almost like you were having fun, not even trying to win." The man looks away as I glare at him, even he knew that facing my glare head on was a great way of rousing the only emotion that could get control over me, anger. "Face it Dre, you have a soft spot for the Stadfeldt girl."

The anger melts, he is fucking right isn't he? Amon damnit he is. I had assumed the attraction I felt to her was purely a physical, a bodily function as simple as it could be, but was it something more? And if it was what in the hell do I do?

"Huh, I had not considered that possibility."

"Of course you didn't brother, you aren't good with emotions, otherwise you an Monica would have fucked years ago, question is, what are you going to do?"

A fair question, was there anything I could do about those feelings, all my knowledge and study into emotions had been from a purely outside perspective, having not experienced them before coming to this world, but it had seemed at that time that such feelings were hard, if not impossible to supress, or 'get over' as some might say. And even though it would be far easier, and maybe even better to get over these feelings yet... I feel like I do not want to...

"Fuck, emotions are complicated."

"They are, now answer my question Alexander, am I to treat the dragoness as an enemy on the field, and deal with her as such, or should I treat her as your suitor?"

"I... I don't know... can you wat for my answer until after I have spoken with her this Saturday?'

"I am your friend Dre, your best friend, of course I can wait, but I will need an answer."

"Thank you Ri, for everything."

"No problem Brother, it's never a problem."

…

"We have a problem, Zero, if I may?" The meeting room of the Ikaruga was filled with the still largely cheery officers of the Black-Knights, still high on their first true victory against the Lion, yet Lelouch felt like something was wrong, like he was still dancing to the Lions tune even after having beaten him. As the man would say, as if he won the battle to be led towards the war.

"Go ahead Diethard." Zero, currently C.C said.

"Thank you Zero, my contacts informed me of something worrying this morning." The former reporter activated the large screen at the front of the briefing room, showing an image of Priderock, seemingly taken by satellite, the Lions own satellite set above it. Maybe the Reporter was even more useful then he had thought, if he could get access to that when the illusive-bastard struggled to. "The Spartan Garrison at Pride rock has been halved."

"Well shit." Naoto's words summed the situation up rather well, the only conclusion Lelouch could draw was that his Brother was moving them to Japan to combat the Black-Knights.

"150 of the Britannian empires greatest soldiers piloting the best limited production Knightmares redirected to combat us." Kallen's was clearly excited with the challenge, gods save him from adrenalin junkies, he got enough of that when he was 10 with Suzaku. "It seems like the Lion is taking us seriously from now on."

"Yes, it does appear so Q-1," He said, all attention falling to himself even when his words were barely above a whisper, even when not dressed as Zero but as his second in command . "It's time to make our next move, The Illusive Man has informed me that the four holy swords are looking for our help."

"I thought those stuck up Samurai were too good to need the help of the four dragons." Rai's words were followed by a chuckle from Kallen and even Sayoko.

"Yes, but it seems they are willing to bend the knee to the soon to be Empress and her Shogun if we help them liberate General Katase and colonel Tohdoh before they are moved to Priderock."

…..

"The thing I miss most about the time before the invasion is the movies of my childhood, you just can't find them anymore these days." Kallen once again found herself resting in a comfortable chair within Andre's quarters drinking a very tasty glass of apple cider he had bought for her. She had no idea how he guessed her taste in liquor so well but appreciate that he got it for her, it must have cost a damned fortune as well.

"Studio Ghibli movies?" Andre returned her nod after her answer while Kallen returned to her train of thought. Those were the days, laying with her mother and brother in front of the tiny Tv in their old apartment, watching those masterpieces for hours on end. "Yeah father did not enjoy them, had most copies destroyed, except for a few."

His smirk made her frown slightly, he could not mean what she thought right...

"You don't mean... You have the Ghibli movies!?"

"I do, want to watch?" Damn this deal was getting better and better with each time she came over, now she got to watch those national treasures again, she might even start liking Andre if he kept this up. Well more than she did already at least, not that she would ever admit that of course.

"Hell yeah!"

….

Marius Ernst found himself stunned at the sight before him, of everything he had expected to find when entering his Princes quarters after his weekly 'hangout' with lady Stadfeldt it was not this. He had expected to find a distraught Andre, or one smiling pleasantly, or even to find them fucking. He had not expected this.

The tv screen was booming loudly with a movie, Kiki's delivery service he believed it to be, with lady Stadfeldt and Andre asleep on the couch, thankfully clothed but laid next to one another .Well he was reasonably sure he knew the answer to his question now, even if it did complicate matters on the battlefield.

Pulling a blanket from a nearby cupboard he slung the light cloth over the two, turning the movies sound down a good bit, before leaving for his date with Milly.

….

"So, you are the illustrious Tohdoh of Miracles, I must say, I expected someone less depressing."

His eyes snapped open at the firm words, a voice like a car salesman entering his ears, his eyes took in the man quickly, muscled, tall and scarred, blond hair framing a chiselled face upon which rested an infuriating small smile.

"Prince Alexander..."

"I suppose I am rather easy to distinguish... now Tohdoh, could I interest you in a game?" The man wheeled a table into his cell, causing him to rise to his feet to look at it, Kriegspiel...

"You're kidding..."

"Oh I am not, up for a game?"

"Why would I ever-"

"Because it offers you a way out, beat me, and you go free." Was he serious, he could not be, to give up a prisoner of his calibre in a game of all things, was he really that arrogant?

"Fine then."

….

"This is one of my favourites Suzu." He looked the painting over, paying more attention to it than the others because she had said it was her favourite, it was one of her family at what he could only assume to be the Ares villa. Euphemia was sitting at a tiny tea table, no older then twelve together with Cornelia and Nunally, all the sisters putting make up on a bemused Odysseus.

Clovis and Alexander were sitting together with Lelouch on a nearby bench, laughing at their brother's situation while Schneizel stood with what could only be Marriane, talking peacefully.

"Its life as it should have been, forever peaceful, though I would like you to be there too."

"It's beautiful Euphie." She grabbed his hands at his words, before turning his face to hers, leaning so close he had to resist temptation, laying her forehead against his.

"Will you help me make this world right, make this world better Suzaku?"

"Of course!" How could he not, how could he not help this angel to the best of his abilities, she was everything right with the world, she saw the light in everything and wanted to bring it forward.

"Then become my knight, my sword to stand for the innocent, my word on the field of battle, my knight of the Rose?"

"I swear myself to you Euphemia li Britannia, sword, life and soul."

…..

"Ronin units are in position, twenty, five men squads surrounding the prison ready to move in on your signal C.C." Naoto said as he and C.C drove the truck through the underground tunnels towards the exit Zero had prepared. "Lelouch and the other Dragons will move in with them to clear your path out. He also wanted me to tell you to stay safe."

'What part of immortal does that boy not understand?' She found herself rolling her eyes both amused and happy with him¸ he was probably her most fun contractor in a century, in more ways than one. The truck came to a stop and they quickly off loaded the machines, Gekka's she believed they were called.

"It will be fine, tell the boy that he should stop worrying would you red?"

"Red... why does everybody call me Red, my hair is pink damnit! Pink!"

"That does not sound better you know?"

"Shut it Greeny! Ha! how did you like that!?"

…..

"Are you sure about this Euphie, is he the right man for the job?" Cornelia was not entirely supportive of her decision, which she had expected of course, she and Andre had discussed this decision a thousand times over, and he had been working on softening Nellie up to Suzaku at her request, but it would still be difficult to convince her sister. "I have my doubts."

"I know he is, his loyalty is unquestionable and you have always said that was the most important thing for a knight. Never mind his skill with a Knightmare or his martial arts, he is a match for Ande and Marius respectively, and..."

Her sisters face scrunched up in both distaste and frustration, her rose quartz eyes locked with her sisters amethyst orbs, and she uttered the line that would put her in her brothers debt for long time.

"Andre supports it and has petitioned father for me."

….

"So, what is your real motive with this match Lion?"

"Seen through me have you, I did make it rather obvious..." The man moved his line forward, Russian soldiers fighting against his Ottomans across a kilometre long battlefield. "Well, I might as well tell you, not like it matters."

"Really?"

"I might not always give in to my supervillain tendencies to overexplain my plans often, but I feel like indulging." The Lion leaned back, and he kept his eyes locked on the man's face, the small amused smirk almost seemed genuine... "Zero is planning on busting you and the General out, of course I can't just let him do that even if the added challenge would be... entertaining, I have to keep up appearances you know"

"So you are setting a trap?"

"Of course, Zero almost got me with his trap last time, its only right I pay him back for that, so here I am, passing the time in the most entertaining way possible."

"How are you so sure Zero will show up."

"Oh I know my brother Tohdoh, he might not show up in person but he will send the one he trusts most, and will do something reckless when it goes wrong."

"Brother?!"

"Oh come on Kyoshiro, you recognized that movement too right, those flamboyant theatrics, you spent nearly half a year with him."

"Zero is Lelouch... Nothing is ever simple is it?"

"In my experience, no, nothing ever is."

….

"This is Butcher to all Spartan units, expect company soon, we have sensors triggered in the subway tunnels, be ready for a really fight for once." Marius smirked as the console of the Hercules lit up bright around him, sensors pinging conformations back at him, over a hundred Spartans reinforced by aircraft from the Olympus. Still it should be a thrilling fight, with both the Four Dragons, the Holy swords and the new Black-Knight machines taking the field against them.

RINGRINGRINGRING

"Gah, what, I thought I muted this bloody thing..." Marius muttered as he took his phone, noting that it was Dora calling him, he answered it quickly at that.

"Hey Dora, I am kinda busy right no-"

"That's why I am calling, look up Ri." He looked up to find his sensors detecting an incoming VTOL, carrying a Knightmare with a familiar energy signature. "Your big sister is here! Surprise!"

"How did you get away from Nontette Dora?"

"I got some leave from the conflict in Africa and well since you guys are, like, my only friends I decided to come an visit, might as well help while I am here." The Hippolyta touched down beside his Hercules with a soft tap, the machine had not gotten the upgrade that his Prince and himself had received but would still be an amazing help with its massive long range arsenal.

"Glad to have you Dora, as always."

….

"Your not supposed to be here." The mask was actually rather cool up close, Zero's cloak made him seem almost formless, or was it her, I actually can't quite tell. I gently thumbed a button in my suit, flooding Todhoh with a sleeping concoction that would keep him down for a few minutes.

"You know, I do own this facility right?" At my answer Zero tilted his head curiously, hmm C.C then, I am not surprised, you were never going to risk yourself for this Lelouch, not when there is a battle ahead. "Anyway, I feel its long overdue we had a conversation."

"Oh, how so."

"Come now C.C remove the mask, no need for such a thing here." She seemed to think for a moment, before slowly removing the foreboding mask, letting waves of green hair fall free next to her emotionless face. "Thank you."

"So, you know of me then?"

"Of course, I know about a lot of things, things I am not supposed to know, but that does not matter right now."

"How so?" She seemed the slightest bit amused, I closed my eyes briefly, letting Geass shine to the surface to reveal my two glowing eyes to her once more, the slightest moment of shock, quickly replaced with a tiny smirk. "Oh, interesting. I never thought V.V would give a contract to one of his nephews."

"Oh he did not, the overgrown garden gnome is not my sponsor. Again that does not matter right now, I have a deal for you."

"Go on."

"I can offer you your wish," My eyes locked with hers, I could see the same emotionless being I was once stare back, though there was the slightest bit of difference in there. "I can take your code."

….

"Nothing feels quite as good as a plan coming together."

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.

NA: Fuck I love cliff hangers too much.