AN: Once again, my thanks go out to all my wonderful reviewers (new record on the last chapter!) as well as new favouritee's and alertee's. So thanks to: LawliPop, Trishmeister, darkshadowarchfiend, 13thhourbells, Ex-neko, Kalista Jia, half-goddess-katia, .VanillaRouge's Productions, monty shen, yukidaru, 2stupid, anjuri, GoGothGirl, -w- easy enough, kuroi78, heidi-mayer87, streifer, terracannon876, whoever [insert name here] is…, eternal solace, HitsuxIchi-is-love, RangerInBlack, eMi to mAo 374, piratepenguin666, spirit117, L Lexuran, Serenata Vespera Aureole, MusicAndAnime, BlackIrisRose, Vermillion Lies, Serena the Hikari of Love, Unadorned, Wasabi-sama, Tsuki no Akebono, lost-ai, and Dragonrider4000.

I did a lot of 'research' for this story this week. 'Research' mainly being my excuse for watching a lot of Code Geass… nevertheless, my research helped me figure out three things… none of which are relevant to this chapter… so I'll stop rambling and let you get on an read it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.

The pair boarded the plane in silence. Lelouch maintaining his grip on Suzaku's hand as the other navigated his return to coherence. He didn't want the dazed and confused brunet to wander off or walk into someone after all. Internally Lelouch was still laughing; the expression on Suzaku's face had been well worth the small blow to his pride.

As much as Lelouch would have loved to continue this game, he figured that they should probably get down to business. He was certain that Suzaku wanted further details on why they were going to Japan. He himself wanted more information on Nunally and her potential successors, but that was less pressing. The matter in Japan was more imminent and should be dealt with first.

Suzaku seemed to finally settle into complete awareness as a flight attendant directed them to their seats. As annoyed as he was with Suzaku for his risky seat swapping manoeuvre, he couldn't deny that that sitting together on the plane would be useful for the exchange of information, and would prevent him from getting bored on the long flight. And, of course, it allowed them to maintain their cover… Maybe he could find some time for a little more of their game after all.

He smirked as they sat, and Suzaku twisted their fingers together. Apparently Suzaku didn't want to surrender yet either. Or perhaps he just figured he needed to keep up their façade regardless.

They sat in silence as the plane filled up and the rest of the passengers settled down. Lelouch watched Suzaku out of the corner of his eye, whilst pretending to look out of the window. He was watching out for any sign that Suzaku was planning retaliation, but his expression remained warm as his eyes roved over the rest of the passengers. Lelouch could tell the other was assessing them for any potential threats. His habits as Nunally's bodyguard had not relaxed even slightly during the period that he'd been away from her, and Lelouch was glad. His protectiveness was an automatic instinct, and Lelouch was glad that Nunally had had such a vigilant guardian during her time as empress. And he wasn't going to ask Suzaku to relax now, he was glad for the protection, and he was certain he was the only one who could spot the focused analysis going on behind that soft expression. He smiled vaguely to himself.

The flight attendants finished their announcements and retreated. Lelouch hadn't paid much attention, preferring to think on how to explain this trip's purpose to Suzaku. So when the plane lurched and started moving forwards he was caught by surprise. His grip tightened on Suzaku's hand, his perfectly manicured nails digging into the other's hand. He wasn't afraid of flying. That would have been a ridiculous concept, especially considering all the time he'd spent piloting Knightmare's. He wasn't afraid. But, maybe, he was just a little apprehensive about returning to Japan, worried for both himself and Suzaku that they would be recognised.

He tried to force himself to relax, but it was too late, Suzaku had noticed. He was surprised when the other made no comment on his tension, but instead allowed his hand to softly caress the one of Lelouch's he was holding. This simple action, perhaps no more than a pretence, helped Lelouch to relax for some reason he would have been unable to explain. He shouldn't worry. It was a proven fact; between the pair of them, there was nothing they could not achieve. He hoped that the situation in Japan would be no different; he had no idea of what troubles might lay ahead.

Lelouch sighed, he wanted to talk to Suzaku now, but there were too many people around. It was a long flight. He would have to wait. Instead he settled for discussion of a more mundane topic. The hotel they would be staying at. Lelouch had called them before they'd left and had managed to get his single room bumped up to a double. He hoped Suzaku wouldn't mind sharing a bed again, but he hadn't been able to think of a good reason why they, in their pretence as a couple, would want separate beds. The less suspicion they aroused from the hotel staff the better.

Suzaku seemed pleased by the news. Obviously he hadn't thought far enough ahead to even consider where he would be staying and was glad Lelouch had provided a solution.

The time passed easily, and eventually, when Lelouch had decided enough of their fellow passengers were asleep, he dropped the doting fiancé act and prepared to broach a more serious topic of conversation.

Suzaku too snapped himself to attention as he noticed the shift in the other's demeanour. He pre-empted Lelouch's conversation shift by providing one of his own.

"I think we should call your sister when we get to Japan. She has a right to know what we're doing after all."

"Ok," agreed Lelouch.

"Ok?" Suzaku queried, obviously expecting some kind of resistance.

"It seems logical that we should provide some sort of forewarning of how I, at least, intend to arrive. It means she can prepare in advance for the arrival of a 'female' relative. My arrival won't be so mysterious if people know of it in advance, and therefore I will attract less attention."

"Ah, ok then" Suzaku agreed.

Lelouch didn't mention the other reason he agreed so easily, though he suspected Suzaku knew without him saying. He wanted to hear his sister's voice. It had been entirely too long since they had spoken. Watching her rule through the eyes of the media did not equate to what he wanted to share with her. In all honesty he hadn't truly spoken with her since before she was kidnapped by VV and his father had wiped his memories. One brief five second exchange with Rolo's assistance didn't count, and neither did all those words he'd exchanged with her using a fake persona. He just wanted to speak with her, and apologise sincerely for all the grief she'd gone through due to his actions. He would make it up to her.

He looked up, realising Suzaku was talking again.

"I was thinking that maybe I could ask her to send us some information. Since we might be there for a while, you may as well have a look at who she's considering as her successor."

"… That's a good idea, if she has a trustworthy contact in Japan. I don't know how long we'll be there after all."

"Lulu?" queried Suzaku. "Are you going to tell me exactly what we're doing in Japan?"

"I've told you haven't I? Someone needs my help."

"That's it, that's all you've told me."

Lelouch remained silent.

"You said… that you couldn't tell me who it was, because they didn't know themselves." Suzaku paused, thinking. "Does this have something to do with that dream you had last night?"

Lelouch looked up, meeting Suzaku's eyes sharply. How did he know what he'd been dreaming?

"You were talking in your sleep," said Suzaku, responding to the unspoken question. "I'm right aren't I?"

"Yes," said Lelouch, "I've been dreaming about this person for a while. I say dreaming… it's more than that… I think it's more like they're using my sleeping mind to call for help. And I'm the only person they've found who can hear them."

Suzaku lowered his voice. "Is this a geass thing?"

"Most likely," Lelouch replied. "Last night… when you held me…" he paused blushing slightly. "They knew you were there; it's more than just one way communication."

"I was trying to help" said Suzaku "… it looked like a bad dream."

"Well, it helped. They were very afraid. I think they may be being experimented upon… some of the things they were thinking about… I don't think they're enjoying it much."

"In that case, I hope we can help" said Suzaku earnestly. "Do you know whereabouts in Japan we're going?"

"Not really. I'm hoping that a solution will present itself when we arrive."

Suzaku sighed softly to himself. It was unlike Lelouch not to plan everything in advance right down to the last possible detail and eventuality. He remembered the stringent planning and thousand and one 'what-if' scenarios he'd gone through in preparation for Zero Requiem, as if he couldn't trust Suzaku to handle it if a situation should have arisen. Well... Suzaku had allowed that. Lelouch was planning his own death after all; it seemed fair he should be allowed the control over it he desired. Apparently 'what if I become immortal before I die' hadn't featured in his list though. He supposed Lelouch had done as much planning as he could.

"I guess… I'm hoping that being closer to them…I'll be able to work out where they are. Maybe they'll even be able to tell me more, now they know we're coming."

Lelouch stopped speaking as a flight attendant bustled past, he watched her form warily, as if he were afraid she'd been eavesdropping. It turned out that she was just back here to dim the lighting now that most of the passengers were asleep.

He relaxed as she once again walked out of earshot, and stifled a yawn

"Tired?" asked Suzaku.

"I suppose," replied Lelouch. "I haven't been getting much sleep lately with these dreams… besides, it's been a long day." Constantly keeping your guard up was quite tiring; he could tell Suzaku was starting to feel the strain too.

"You should go to sleep then; I'll stay up and keep an eye on everyone," said Suzaku.

"But don't you need to sleep too?"

"It's ok, I can stay up. It may have been a while, but I have military training remember? Besides, if you go to sleep now, there's a chance we'll have more information by the time the plane lands."

"I suppose" conceded Lelouch, sitting back and trying to get comfortable. "I don't know how anyone manages to sleep in these things."

"You're too skinny, that's why you can't get comfortable." Suzaku leaned over and took Lelouch by the shoulders, turning him slightly, lowering the armrest between them at the same time.

"What are you doing!" hissed Lelouch, not wanting to struggle unless he woke someone up and revealed himself.

"Lean on me," said Suzaku. "That way, you can be comfortable and we can maintain our cover, even while you're asleep."

Lelouch relaxed somewhat, allowing Suzaku to hold him. Maintaining their cover… he had to admit, Suzaku had a point. And he was comfy. And warm, which was nice considering the air in the plane was quite cool. He allowed himself to relax further and for his eyes to drift shut. He felt Suzaku shift slightly, and assumed the other was uncomfortable. Well too bad, he'd volunteered for this so he'd have to put up with it.

With his eyes closed, Lelouch missed the flicker of a smirk on Suzaku's face.

Suzaku waited a few moments until he was certain Lelouch was relaxed. And then he learned forwards, looking down onto Lelouch's face from above. He lowered his head, and brought his lips to gently brush Lelouch's forehead.

Raising his head once more he could see Lelouch glaring up at him, though the other had not moved. He could see the query in his annoyed expression.

"A goodnight kiss, for my darling fiancé Lulu," he murmured before reclining.

He heard Lelouch sigh, and could tell he was rolling his eyes. Suzaku chalked himself up a point. Lelouch had apparently not been expecting that.

Lelouch awoke as they were announcing the landing. He felt very refreshed; it had been his best night's sleep for a while. He carefully extricated himself from Suzaku's grip. He was irked, but unsurprised, to see that he'd apparently given up on keeping watch, and had fallen asleep himself.

He took a moment to stretch; working out the stiffness in his muscles he'd obtained from sleeping oddly, then shook Suzaku awake.

Suzaku yawned, eyes glancing around as he found his bearings. He looked at Lelouch apologetically, "Sorry, I fell asleep."

"It's ok," said Lelouch, slipping easily into his female persona one more. "No harm done."

"So, did you sleep well?" asked Suzaku, leaning forward to whisper in Lelouch's ear in pretend affection. "Learn anything new?"

"Yes actually," Lelouch whispered back. "I think I know where we're going, and…" He paused momentarily to take a breath, ensuring only Suzaku could hear him, "and we have more than one person to rescue."

AN: Oooh! So mysterious… I won't ask who Lulu is referring to, because you have absolutely no chance of guessing. Perhaps a better person to ask about would be… who the contact in Japan could be. I was gonna mention some of Nunally's potential heirs this chapter, but I saw the opportunity to give another cast member a cameo appearance…