Fin – I love how, out of all the things you had to say about this chapter, you talked about Euphemia, who isn't even in this story yet XD (but she will be). Who knows – it could happen, it could not happen. Don't get your hopes up, but don't get them down either. Patience benefits the wise.

Demons – One blind little girl determined the fate of an entire world. It's what I like about Code Geass – the personal problems of two young men affected the world on a large scale.

Been a while since we had a Lelouch-centric chapter, but here it is. Guy's got a long road ahead of him.

[*****]

When Lelouch woke up, he saw snow. Snow was a fairly common sight in Japan, except he wasn't in Japan – he was in the Aries Villa, of all places. He recognized it immediately – the imperial, stately manors and outbuildings, the sagebrush, the flat, grassy hills, the huge but simple and elegant fountain in the center, which still had water flowing from its core in spite of the winter weather. Lelouch vaguely remembered tossing coins inside of it whenever he wanted to make a wish, remembered being surprised that Suzaku and his family didn't do that.

This place… I'm home? I'm actually home?

He was in his Ashford Academy uniform, not the elegant, princely clothes he remembered wearing – and hating – as a child. Lelouch angled his face to the sky, watched in silence as snow began falling.

I don't ever remember it snowing at the Villa. It rained, and sometimes we had hail, but I never remember snow. Cold weather, sure, but not snow.

He reached out, let some snowflakes fall into the palm of his hand. To his surprise, the snow didn't feel cold. In fact, Lelouch didn't feel cold at all – he felt perfectly neutral.

It's snowing, and the sky is cloudy. I should feel cold.

Lelouch stuck his tongue out, tried to taste the snow.

I'm such an infant, he said, chuckling lightly when a few flakes hit his tongue. He couldn't taste them.

Lelouch began looking all around, walking for a spell, trying to find someone. Lelouch didn't particularly care who it was, he just wanted to talk to someone. Ideally, Euphy – she was always Lelouch's favorite. But he also liked Schneizel, and Odysseus, and Cornelia, and Clovis.

Well. I used to like Clovis. Before Father ruined everything.

Lelouch swallowed the urge to punch something and kept walking. Snow continued to pile on the ground, rising to the top of Lelouch's shoes; regardless, Lelouch kept walking without any difficulty or resistance. The more he walked, the more sights he recognized – the training facilities where Cornelia's guards practiced that always smelt like gunpowder, sweat, and burning steel; the Hall of Knowledge, which was really just a huge library that Schneizel loved to frequent;

"Euphy?" he called out, curious. "Schneizel? Anya? Carine?"

No wait, I hated Carine.

"Odysseus? Euphy?" Lelouch paused. "…Mother?"

Lelouch stopped at the July Gardens.

These were so beautiful… And even as the snow fell, the flowers and grass and trees remained as brilliant and colorful as ever.

Wait, if these are the Gardens…

Lelouch glanced to the right and saw the Imperial Palace. He stared at it for a good few moments – a sight like that only brought back bad memories.

"You are dead to me. You have always been dead to me. I gave you the clothes you wear, your home, your food. I gave you security and protection—"

"We aren't secure or protected, Father! Mother's dead and it's all your fault!"

"And even after giving you everything, you have the nerve to speak up against me. Your Father. Marianne must have raised you wrong."

"Why? Because you were never there?!"

He remembered lunging for that man, intent on beating him up in front of a court full of nobles, just to give him a taste of the humiliation and anger Lelouch had gone through, before being held back by a pair of guards who didn't even have the courage to look at their Emperor's eyes.

"Lelouch vi Britannia, I am exiling you to Japan. You haven't proven yourself worthy of being my son. With any luck, that ruinous country will finish you off for me. Let this be a message to all of my offspring! Do not fail me in the same way this fool has, or else your punishment will be equally as severe."

He remembered how the guards escorted him outside very gently, as if they were afraid of breaking him. He remembered crying. He remembered talking to Euphy before leaving.

"B-but I can get Cornelia to talk to Father for you!"

"I'm not going back. Not this time. He treats his kids the same way he treats his wives. Like hell."

"Lelouch, please, I don't want you to leave… I'm going to miss you. Everyone's going to miss you."

"The feeling's mutual, Euphy… but I can't. It won't feel right."

"…Do you think Mari is watching over you?"

"…I hope so. I really hope Mom is."

He remembered what Schneizel said: "Stay alive." It was simple but effective, and it stuck with Lelouch for a very long time.

Lelouch clenched his fists and turned away from the Imperial Palace. Suddenly, the clouds broke, and Lelouch saw the gray sky slowly turn blue. Before he could see the sun, however, he drifted back to sleep.

[*****]

"…Mother?"

A familiar chuckle. "Not quite."

Lelouch rose and immediately regretted it. His everything ached, and he felt incredibly groggy. He knew that he was in some kind of bed, but he wasn't sure what room the bed was in. The air was cool and moist, almost subterranean.

Wait… I'm underneath Ashford Academy. This is the basement of the clubhouse… well, my house.

"Is this?"

"Yes." Seated next to Lelouch's cot was Sayoko, and Lelouch felt relief well up inside of him.

"Oh my god, Sayoko…"

She gently laid him back down, pulling a blanket over him. "How do you feel?"

"Horrendous… but mostly exhausted. And a little smoked…"

"You maintained quite a few wounds, Master Lelouch, mostly around your arms and legs."

Being tossed around in a Knightmare tends to do that. I hadn't expected it would be so painful. "Yeah…"

"Why is that?"

Lelouch tore the blanket off of him – his arms immediately protested but he decided to ignore it. Upon realizing he was still in his Zero costume, fear hit him like a freight train.

Waitwaitwait… the Geass…

Relaxing, Lelouch began to rub at his right arm, the one that hurt the most. "I, um, got caught up in the attack last night."

Sayoko frowned, pried Lelouch's hand away from his arm. "Try not to touch it too much. And I heard about that… it's terrible."

"I saved a recording of it."

Wait, C.C.?

The familiar green-haired woman appeared out of nowhere and inserted a tape into the television in the corner. She was still wearing her prisoner's uniform, her body language as nonchalant and tone as emotionally callous as ever.

"C.C., were you in the battle?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes."

"I told you not to get involved," Lelouch scolded.

"That's one way to say thank you."

"…Oh. You got me out of there, huh? Sorry. Thanks."

C.C. shrugged, waving his Thank-You away. "Can't have you dying on me. Here."

Lelouch turned his attention to the screen. He wasn't surprised to find Diethard Reid – he was, however, surprised to read the headline.

"Soldiers and Innocents Injured In Terrorist Confrontation"

What.

"—At about 6:30 PM last night, a battle raged between the Purists, led by Viceroy Jeremiah Gottwald, and the Black Knights, led by the renowned revolutionary Zero; a majority of the action was focused in the Britannian-founded Telmen District of the Tokyo Settlement. The Black Knights came in from the Verdilunar Plains – which is the forested area surrounding the Viceroy Palace – with the Purists hot on their trail. A brawl promptly commenced between the two powers, the Black Knights leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Numerous buildings, including hospitals, restaurants, and the historic Clovis Plaza, suffered damage."

Diethard read off a list of all the people that were killed or wounded in the accident, but Lelouch decided to tune out at that moment. He was lost in thought.

I don't remember a single thing. Is that really what happened…? I thought for certain Jeremiah would have held off once he realized where he was, but he didn't. He didn't stop for even a second.

"…The Black Knights managed to escape, using debris as barricades to make their escape. Numerous Britannian soldiers have been wounded in the skirmish, key among them Viceroy Jeremiah Gottwald and especially Baron Kewell Soresi."

I do remember that. Blowing up a Chaos Mine in his face.

"More details about the battle and the people involved will be posted after this break." Click.

Lelouch turned to face C.C., barely registering all that. "C.C., what time is it?"

"About 9 AM."

"When did the battle end last night?"

"A little after 8 PM."

"And I got wounded around that point?"

"Sort of. You had wounds the whole battle – they just all hit your system around that time."

"How many innocents were hurt?"

"…A fair number, Lelouch. Weren't you watching that?"

Lelouch gave a shaky breath and reached up to scratch his hair.

"I guess that's to be expected," Lelouch muttered. "This is war. People get hurt."

"Don't make excuses for your shortcomings, Lelouch."

Lelouch glared at her. "Piss off. Try being Zero for a day, see what that's like."

"Nobody said you had to get involved in this revolution of yours at all."

"That doesn't matter!" Lelouch spat, slamming his fist on the bed, pain springing into his wrist. "If things had gone according to plan, none of this would have happened."

"Sometimes things… don't go right."

Lelouch rubbed his eyes. "What else? Is there anything else?"

C.C. looked at Lelouch weirdly. "Well, if you insist."

At that exact moment, Sayoko looked back at C.C., the Geass presumably fading away for the time being. "This may be a little too much excitement for him right now."

What.

"He asked," C.C. protested.

"Show me," Lelouch demanded. "Show me."

C.C. and Sayoko shared one more look before C.C. loaded in another tape.

"You might want an inhaler," C.C. said.

And then Lelouch saw it. And he wanted to scream.

[*****]

"My name is Lelouch vi Britannia of the Holy Britannian Empire! I am the 11th Prince of the Realm, and I've come back from the dead! You heard that right, world – the Ghost Prince is back in action. A majority of the people at Pendragon probably remember me as the little shit that stood up against none other than Emperor Charles zi Britannia, only to get exiled to the shithole called Japan! The Britannian army tried their best to kill me, but they forgot that Lelouch vi Britannia is invincible! That he cannot be killed, that he cannot stay down!

And after years of planning, I've decided to return! I have to graciously thank Prince Schneizel – Russia is a beautiful country, by the way, if you ignore all the drunkards and poverty – for allowing me access back to Pendragon. In fact, I'm on a private jet as we speak. I can't wait to meet everyone again. For the most part, anyway. I won't be happy to see Carine again – fuck you, Carine, your hair is stupid and you look like jailbait! Guinevere, you look like a vampire! Castor… well, actually you're cool, but your hair is turquoise. Out of all the strange hair colors I've seen, yours is probably the strangest. And your twin is gay – you heard that right, Pollux. Gay. You're likely a homosexual.

But that's about all I have to say for now. I'll be back, everyone. I have a few scores to settle. Until next time! Sincerely yours, the Baron of Time."

[*****]

Lelouch shot out of his bed and was roaring up the basement staircase, his eyes full of confusion and fear and humiliation.

Sayoko: "Master Lelouch, wait!"

WHO IS HE?!

With speed he didn't know he possessed beforehand, Lelouch was in the living room, and then in seconds he was in his bedroom, shutting and locking the door.

WHO IS THIS IMPOSTOR?! HOW DOES HE KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ME?

Lelouch was tearing through his cabinets, looking for an Ashford uniform. Once he found one, Lelouch ripped off his Zero uniform, hating how intricate and complex the two-piece suit was. He was sweating.

After all this time and effort and pressure trying to keep this a secret, everyone knows. Everyone knows. I can't be seen around school or around the streets or anywhere because people will immediately know who I am! And I can't prance around the streets as Zero because people would recognize that too!

There was knocking on his door but Lelouch ignored it as he put on his Ashford uniform, looking around for anything that could conceal his face.

I'm doomed. I'm doomed. I'm absolutely doomed.

"Master Lelouch, please open the door!"

He did so, with more force than necessary.

"Sayoko, where are my things?!" he shouted, frantically searching around for a suitcase, something.

"Le—"

"Where the hell is everything? Was my house raided?!"

"Mast—"

"I can't be seen here! Why am I at Ashford?! If I'm spotted—"

Sayoko put her hands on his shoulders, very gently, and it had some kind of ethereal, calming effect on Lelouch. Sayoko looked into Lelouch's eyes, and he looked back submissively.

"…Master Lelouch, everything is alright," she assured. "I saw the report last night around the time Miss C.C. brought you back here. We worked together on getting all of your materials in place – they're downstairs. We wanted you to double-check them yourself, make sure that you had everything you needed. We've prepared a car to get you out of here, and I had a chat with Ruben Ashford; he agreed to loan us use of his safehouse."

"…Mr. Ashford? What did you tell him?"

"I told him it was of vital importance that Sir Lelouch needed it." She smiled. "He likes you quite a bit."

"Yeah… tell him thanks for me…" Lelouch's shoulders tightened. "We still need to hurry, Sayoko."

"Do you want to say goodbye?"

Oh. Right…

"…I do," Lelouch said, sitting down on his bed. "Call Milly for me. Tell her to come right away. I can't wait any longer, not around here…"

Sayoko gave a timid nod and got on the phone. Lelouch planted his face in his hands, scared.

Think, Lelouch, think. You're going to need to change your appearance. Get new contacts… or maybe just one, so I can use my Geass. A haircut, definitely, or a wig. Makeup. Lots of makeup. I'd have to put on some weight and some muscle… easier said than done. New identification, new name. Again. I'm tired of changing my name all the fucking time.

Before he even realized Sayoko was finished with the phone call, she was sitting next to him.

"You needn't worry, Master Lelouch. I'm as confused and worried as you are… but everything will be alright."

Hope is an anchor for the soul. "Milly. Is she coming over?"

"She's bringing the rest of the Student Council with her. Is that alright? I can tell her to make it private."

"…No. It's better that way. They deserve to know… Rivalz especially."

I've lied to them this whole time.

"Do you want a few moments alone, Master Lelouch?" Sayoko asked, standing up.

"I would like that very much, Sayoko… and if C.C. tries to come in, just beat her up or something."

A light smile crossed her face and she bowed as she exited the room.

How many masks am I going to put on? First there was Lelouch vi Britannia, a boy wearing the false title of a "Prince" – at the time, he hadn't cared too much about being a Prince. It was simply a bragging right, a way to get everything he wanted. Then there was Lelouch Lamperouge, an outcast prince adopting the persona of a "Civilian", someone who gambled his problems and anxieties away. Then there was Zero, a terrorist adopting the persona of a "Hero".

No. Stop. I'm not a terrorist. I don't kill civilians just for the hell of it. I'm not Britannia, even if I am a Britannian. I don't oppress people even if my Geass…

Lelouch clutched his legs to his chest. Even if it destroys someone's will…

"Geass responds to the receiver's deepest wish."

I've just been lying. Lying lying lying lying lying.

"Know who you are. Otherwise, you'll crumble beneath the weight of your own lies."

I'm doing this for Japan.

"That wasn't your choice to make."

I have the power to change the world. Everything had been going so right. And then it crumbles.

"Sometimes things… don't go right."

Lelouch looked at his alarm clock.

"You are dead to me."

The alarm clock read 9:21 AM.

"You haven't proven yourself worthy of being my son."

Lelouch took the alarm clock and hurled it across the room, screaming as he did. It slammed against the wall above his desk with a satisfying wham. When that wasn't enough to satiate his fury, he took a pillow and tossed it across the room as well, then another, then another. He didn't even care – or noticed – that his arms were screaming with the effort.

That done, he fell back against the bed, his chest heaving up and down. He glanced over at his discarded alarm clock – it was perfectly okay, much to Lelouch's surprise.

What am I going to do now? I was prepared… but not for this.

He heard activity outside of his door, and immediately he felt sick with nervousness.

What am I going to tell them? I have to say something.

Sayoko knocked on his door lightly.

"Master Lelouch, they're here to see you in the living room. Are you… ready?"

"…Yes. I'm ready," Lelouch responded, rising up, trying to regain a look of nonchalance.

He let his eyes wander across his bedroom, that familiar haven he'd come to know and love over the years, and the realization that he may never sleep in it again hit him like a brick. Lelouch knew that he'd have to cut his ties with Ashford Academy at some point, but he didn't think his hand would be forced so soon, so quickly.

His heart heavy, Lelouch opened the door and walked into the living room, to see his friends for what could have been the last time.

[*****]

When Milly saw Lelouch, a simultaneous feeling of relief and shock washed over her. Relief that he was still okay in spite of the absolutely confusing news; shock at his appearance. He looked like he was bone-tired – she hadn't seen him look so defeated or stretched-out ever since Lelouch first came to Ashford, begging for security and protection from the invading Britannians.

My old friend, I'm so sorry. Milly reached out to hug Lelouch; he accepted without comment, without feeling. His arms sort of dangled at his sides.

"I'm glad you're okay, Lelouch…" she whispered.

"So am I, Milly," he whispered back, his voice hiccupping a little.

She heard Rivalz gasp in exasperation behind her; Shirley and Nina were dead quiet, eyes locked on the two of them. Milly pulled away from Lelouch and sat down on a recliner.

"Lelouch, what's…?" Rivalz trailed off, not sure how to begin.

"Leave." Lelouch ordered.

Milly swore her heart skipped a beat. "I-I'm sorry?" Milly stammered.

"Leave, witch."

"I'm perfectly content where I am." It was only then that Milly realized that there was somebody else in the room. Somewhat petite, with long green hair, yellow eyes, and a look of utter apathy.

"I deserve a few moments alone with my friends," Lelouch ordered, his voice rising.

"He asked you to leave him alone," Shirley scolded. "Go."

"I have a contract with this young man," the girl insisted, standing her ground like a child.

Contract?

Lelouch clenched his fists and turned around to face the green-haired girl, glaring at her – for an instant, Milly thought he was going to strike her. Silence and an uneasy tension filled the room as the two of them had an invisible showdown. Wordlessly, the girl turned away, strutting down the hallway with a pissed-off swagger about her.

"Who…?" Milly began.

"Long story. Without her, I wouldn't be alive," Lelouch confessed.

"You should sit, Lelouch," Shirley said.

"I'd rather stand…"

Milly cleared her throat. "Lelouch, I understand this is hard for you, but could you please tell us what's going on?"

"Yeah," Rivalz added in, uncannily quiet and somber. "Why there's one of you on television, and one of you… in this room."

The room was warm, still and silent. Lelouch looked away before looking directly – and a little compassionately, she thought – into Milly's eyes.

"My twin brother," he proclaimed.

This was news to Milly.

"…You have a twin?" Nina spoke up timidly.

"I do."

"Marianne never told my grandfather that," Milly muttered. "Honestly. I'm not even feigning ignorance."

Lelouch gave a little laugh. "He was exiled just like me. Just taken to another country. But… somehow he managed to return to Pendragon."

Milly had no idea what to say. Luckily, Rivalz did it for you.

"You're a prince. Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian prince?" Rivalz stood up, running both hands through his hair and then across his face. "Why… did you never tell us?"

"Didn't want anyone to figure out," Lelouch muttered. "And before you say it, yes, I trusted you… I trust all of you with my life, which is why I had Sayoko call you all here. But… a secret like mine had to be kept. If word had gotten out… they would have found me. And then I'd be forced to go back."

His voice wavered a little around that part. Milly remembered how long it'd taken to pry the truth out of Lelouch all those years ago – when he finally did tell her what happened at the Aries Villa, what happened when Marianne died, it was a one-time thing; he never mentioned it again after that.

Until now.

"This twin brother of yours…" Shirley began. "Is impersonation a crime? If he's not you, and he's acting like he's you…"

"…Well. That's the thing. I asked him to do this."

Once again, Milly was shocked. After all this time keeping it a secret, he decides to just let it out like that?

"I don't understand," Milly said.

"This is all part of my plan," Lelouch not-explained, holding his hands up consolingly.

"Plan?" Rivalz drawled. "Sounds kinda ominous."

"It is," Lelouch chuckled. "But it'll all work out."

"This is… a lot to take in, Lelouch," Milly said, wrapping her arms around herself, hugging her body tightly.

"Does this mean you'll have to leave?" Shirley asked.

"...Yeah," Lelouch confessed.

Milly was aching with sadness; judging by everyone's solemn expressions, they felt it too. Lelouch was an intelligent, relaxed person, an exemplary student (even if his grades said otherwise), and he'd been a good influence (sans the gambling) on everyone.

Will things ever be the same after this?

"As in… for good?" Rivalz asked, tentatively, like a little kid.

"I don't know," Lelouch admitted. "But my… twin and I, we've been working things out. I promise you that."

"What's this plan about?" Milly asked, although she had a fair idea as to what it could be.

"I can't tell you that," Lelouch said, knowing that she knew more than she let on.

"Buddy, seriously, if this is the last time, then…" Rivalz said, his hands shaking. "I just… holy shit, dude, what do I say? What am I supposed to say? I just want to say I'm sorry and I'll miss you, but it doesn't feel like enough!"

Lelouch looked away, smiling lightly. "Honestly, Rivalz, it is."

"I-I mean," Rivalz continued soulfully, "Who am I going to go party with? Who am I gonna tell all my secrets to? Who am I gonna do all kinds of dumb shit with?"

"Rivalz—"

"I can't have any fun knowing my best friend might be in danger! I mean, I thought being a Prince was awesome, the cream of the crop, but from what you've said, it sounds terrible!"

Lelouch was stunned into silence, ditto for Milly.

Rivalz groaned. "I'm sorry, I… I'm just so surprised, buddy. I'm going to miss you. A lot."

"As am I," Shirley said, playing with a strand of her auburn hair. "The Student Council room is going to feel a lot… emptier without you."

Nina nodded, shrinking into her seat. "Are you going to be alright?" she practically whispered.

"I can only hope," Lelouch said. "I… I need you to do me all a favor, okay?"

"Anything, buddy, anything," Rivalz said, reaching out to Lelouch.

"Don't tell anyone about this. About my twin, about my being here. Not a word. In order for this plan to work, it has to be top-secret. I'm going to disappear for a while… I'm still going to stay in Japan, working and working to make sure my plan goes right. I'm not going to tell you where I'm going, how long I'm going to stay there. I might be able to see you all at some point… but I cannot stress this enough. Everything that happened today has to be kept a complete secret. As far as you're all concerned, I'm in Pendragon, living a cushy life as a Britannian Prince. Please. Swear."

"I swear!" Rivalz said. "Not a word, dude! Not a single word!"

"Me too," Shirley followed, hands folded in her lap. "You've earned it."

Nina gave a little thumbs-up.

Lelouch looked at Milly. The urge to hug him and never let go consumed her once again, and she felt a few tears spring to her eyes.

"…I've known you for a long, long time, Lelouch," she said, laughing. "Very long. I've kept your secrets… well, secret. You're my best friend… no, you're our best friend."

Everyone nodded affirmation. All Lelouch could do was smile.

"Your secret is safe with me," Milly warmly promised. "And if you ever need a home, a place to stay, anything… Ashford Academy will always welcome you back."

Lelouch was smiling from ear to ear.

"Thank you all so much."

[*****]

HOURS LATER

Lelouch felt his cellphone ring. Although he really should have ignored it, he decided to fish it out anyway.

He did a once-over around the van. In the passenger compartment behind him, C.C. was lost in a deep sleep. Sayoko was driving, but the only way to speak to her was to knock on the sliding panel at the front of the compartment.

I have a moment of privacy. Why not.

Click. "Hello?" he whispered.

"Hey, me."

It was him. The impostor Lelouch.

Lelouch's stomach swirled with anger and fear. "You."

"Wouldn't the correct term be myself?" the faker taunted.

"How did you get this number?"

"Dude, I'm you. Why would I not know my own number?"

"This isn't funny."

"I'm not laughing, am I?"

Lelouch clenched his teeth. "How's it feel to be a Prince again? To be another Britannian slave?"

"Oh, I'm not in Pendragon yet. It's a long, long flight from Russia to the Homeland. But I will be, soon. And I plan on reaping the benefits."

"You have ruined my life. If you think you can escape punishment, think again. When I find you – and it's only a matter of time before I do – you're going to suffer. You have no idea who you're messing with, and you're going to find out just how far out of your league you really are."

"Damn. I don't remember being this scary."

Lelouch's hands were shaking with quiet fury.

"But I'm not here to ruin you, Me," the faker continued. "I'm here to help you."

"You've helped enough."

"I don't think I have. How's Ashford?"

"How. Do. You. Know?"

"I am you, idiot! I'm you from another world!"

"Don't give me that shit." The urge to scream into the phone was all-consuming.

"Alright. Fine. I'm 17 years old. Black hair, purple eyes, A Negative. About 120 or so pounds, give or take. I have two little birthmarks on my back and upper thighs. I love seafood and Japanese cuisine, hate pork and steak – in fact, I hate most barbeque, but ribs are an exception. I love diet sodas. I'm a baritone. I was supposed to have a sister but a miscarriage happened. I had a premature crush on Euphemia li Britannia, Milly Ashford, too. I have an IQ of about 162, considered a prodigy. I enjoyed gambling in my free time until I decided to take up—"

"Enough."

Lelouch's jaw was almost to the floor. There's no doubt about it. He's me. He knows things about me nobody else would know except… me. Mother's miscarriage... my favorite foods… my crushes. My birthmarks.

"You've convinced me," Lelouch said, his hand gripping the armrest. "What do you want?"

"Since I'm you, I want the same thing you do. To defeat Britannia."

Thank God he's not saying that in Pendragon. "How do you know nobody's listening in on your call right now?"

"You and I both know that Geass is persuasive."

That sealed it for Lelouch. "Well, sorry to say, "Me", but you've hurt more than helped. I can't show my face around Ashford Academy."

"For the record, call me Time Baron. And that's exactly the point. You don't have to show your face around that place ever again. You can devote yourself to being Zero 24/7, nothing holding you back."

"I enjoyed being at Ashford."

"I know. I did, too."

Shell-shocked, confused, and a little hurt, Lelouch found that he had nothing to say.

"I'm going to presume this awkward silence means you're done talking," Time Baron said. "I should go myself."

"Wait." Lelouch regained his composure, took a deep breath. "What are you going to be doing?"

"You know how Kururugi always talked about changing Britannia from within?"

"..."

"Well. Guess what. Boy's getting his wish."

"Keep in contact with me. I still don't trust you, but you could be of use to me."

"Good old me. Always scheming. But don't worry. This is for your… our best interests."

"Goodbye."

"Till next time, twin."

Lelouch was left without a clue as to how he really felt about the whole experience. Instead, he just decided to go to sleep. And slept he did.