One Last Shot at Life…One Last Shot at Victory

Stage 6 "Masquerade"

A/N: Oh my goodness –gets teary eyed—thank you for all of you who have been reviewing this story from the beginning. It's kept me going and updating at this frightening pace…so, onto a disclaimer!

DISCLAIMER: Hello all, I do not own Code Geass or the characters, Bandai Entertainment does…but, on the other hand, I do own this plot so…NO STEALING! MINE! Haha, yeah…that's it…

So, shall we head into chapter six?

Stage 6 "Masquerade"

Kallen ran through the hallways up onto the main bridge of the Iceberg Ship. She was breathing heavily, and kept thinking to herself how she needed to get to Tohdoh so she could get the report back to Zero. "Tohdoh," She hollered, waving her arms about so that the Black Knight's general could see her.

The former Japanese military officer turned so he was facing his Commanders ace pilot. "What is it Kallen?" he asked, his hands tightly wrapped around his katana that hung loosely at his hip.

The red-headed pilot took a moment to catch her breath. She was hunched over with her hands on her knees, her head lowered and she was gasping for air. Kallen didn't think that she had ever run so fast in her entire life. "Sir, Zero…he…wants a report." She gasped.

Tohdoh only nodded, waiting for Kallen to regain both her composure and her breath. "I see…" he muttered when Kallen lifted her head. "Tell him we could use him right now. Kallen, be prepared to go and pilot the Guren. Rakshata has been playing with it recently."

Kallen nodded then quickly turned when she heard Zero's strong voice. "L-Zero!" She stated, dumbfounded. "Where's Lady Nunally?" She then asked.

Zero only put a hand on Kallen's head, bending down so that he could whisper in her ear. "She's safe. I sent Ohgi out with her in an escape vessel. They're heading to our main ship now…" he paused, letting Kallen absorb all the information he had told her. "We don't have the power to defeat Britannia this time, we need to retreat."

Kallen straightened up slightly and nodded firmly. "Yes, of course Zero." The young pilot turned towards Tohdoh, who had probably heard everything. "Let's pull back."

Tohdoh only closed his eyes in response. Zero was right. They didn't have the man power to defeat Britannia at this time. His dark coloured eyes gazed up at the sky, and widened. They had sent out the Rounds. The Knights of the Round were right behind. "Zero!" He shouted.

Lelouch turned and titled his head so he could see the sky. He squinted slightly and his arms dropped by his side. The young man was completely dumbfounded. "Shit." Was all that could force its way passed his lips, and that was fairly shaky. Lelouch quickly made his way to balcony that was above the main deck, his hand managing to snatch Kallen's in his quick sprint. "All hands, brace for impact!" He shouted above the roar of engines and crashes and booms.

Kallen stared, Lelouch was shaking. He really had no idea what to do right now. Probably, the young terrorist wanted a quiet room where he could think up a quick plan. "Lelouch…" Kallen started slowly.

Lelouch glanced over at her, the mask in his hands. "Yeah, Kallen?" he answered simply, replacing the mask back over his face. His hands were still slightly shaking; he was really trying his hardest to regain his already destroyed composure.

"Are you all right?" She asked quietly, her hand reaching out for his, which he graciously took. She tilted her head to side slightly, her eyes wavering with concern for her commander. She also didn't know what to do.

"They're retreating, thank God…" Lelouch murmured. "I really wasn't prepared for that." He blinked, his mind whirling. "Why would they retreat?" He asked quietly.

"The Chinese Federation," Tohdoh replied from behind the couple. Both Kallen and Zero broke apart, blushing. Tohdoh only quirked an eyebrow at them, "Xingke managed to get them to agree to a cease fire." The older man explained simply.

Zero nodded slowly, brushing off the invisible dust on his clothes. "Right, so we're good for now?" He asked, he felt slightly stupid, and not himself. Of course they were good for now; the Britannian Army had backed off thanks to the Chinese Federation.

Tohdoh nodded and turned his back to the two teenagers. "Right, so I'll leave you and Kallen to whatever it was that the two of you were discussing." The two only nodded at Tohdoh's back. As he walked off, he mumbled quietly to himself, "Teenagers…"

Lelouch sighed and leaned on the railing that was in front of him. He didn't think he had been so frazzled in his life. No one was on deck so he casually took his signature helmet like thing off, letting it dangle from his fingers.

Kallen smiled softly at her Knight in shining armor and leaned lightly on his shoulder. "Everything will be all right, Lelouch," Her hand gently took his again. "Can you look here for a moment, Lelouch?" Dark violet eyes met her sapphire ones. Kallen smiled cutely and leaned up, pressing her lips to his. Once again, the two were in a moment of pure bliss, just with each other. Lelouch once again wrapped his arms around Kallen, holding her close to him. She was one of his most precious people. He couldn't lose her. Not now, not ever. It was Kallen who broke their kiss. "Oh, Lelouch," she whispered softly. "You're amazing…you really, really do amaze me."

The young man smiled sweetly at her and brushed some of her bangs out of her face. "Thanks, Kallen," He let the girl lean on his shoulder again. "I really needed that." He laughed lightly and pulled her into a tight, loving embrace. "Thank God no one's on deck."

Kallen quirked an eyebrow at her secret lover, "Hence why I pulled that sweet little stunt." She grinned at him and gently smacked him upside the head. "You freak." She whispered, leaning back into his embrace. "Do you think we'll win the war against Britannia?" She asked curiously.

Lelouch blinked and looked at her awkwardly. "Of course, Kallen, how could you doubt us…what an odd question." He mumbled softly, leaning his head on hers. The commander of the Black Knights sighed. He was truly happy. Nunally was safe on their main ship with Ohgi and Rakshata and he was with the one girl he loved. Not that he would tell her. He though that she could already guess how he felt about her. And he already knew how she felt about him.

Kallen all of a sudden started to laugh. Hysterically. She was now laughing so hard that she was crying. The young pilot's knees buckled under her and she used Lelouch to help support her. "Oh God…" she laughed.

Lelouch, holding her up just stared at her. "What's so funny?" He demanded. It wasn't a commanding tone just a light tone that you used with a lover, with someone that you cared about.

Kallen could only shrug. She really had no idea why she was laughing and Lelouch groaned at her vague answer. "S-sorry," She laughed. Her eyes were welling up with tears and she was clutching onto Lelouch with an iron grasp, attempting to hold herself up.

Lelouch only shook his head. "You laugh at the most random, weird things." He grumbled, adjusting the way his feet were situated to compensate for the added weight to them. She was now only giggling. Lelouch found her random outbursts of laughter amusing. They kept his mood light and slightly airy.

Kallen grinned and stared back up at her commander. "And that's what you love about me, right Lulu?" She had never once called him Lulu. She found it disrespectful, even before she knew who Lelouch was.

The dark haired Britannian blushed and glanced away, mumbling a quiet 'yeah, sure' under his breath. He would have never expected Kallen to call him Lulu. Shirley and Milly, sure, but Kallen, it was odd. "You're lightening up around me, Kallen."

The blue eyed teenager smiled softly at him. "Yeah, I guess I am. I guess, you don't seem as mysterious anymore, you've let me into your life Lelouch and I'm really happy about that. I've started to dream about you too…" her voice trailed off when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs closest to them. "Quick, your mask," She hissed, snatching the Zero helmet from his fingers and forcing it back on his face. Kallen then pulled herself, against her will, of course, away from Lelouch and made it seem like they were only having a simple conversation between soldier and commander.

Lelouch turned to see who was coming their way. "Oh, Tamaki," he frowned slightly from underneath his mask. "What is it that you want?" He asked simply. He wanted answer. He demanded an answer, and it need to be a good one too.

Tamaki grinned, slightly tipsy, and waved the sake bottle that he had in his hand around a little. "We're celebrating, Commander, Kallen, c'mon, come join us!" He giggled. He was definitely more than a little tipsy. He was drunk more than anything.

Kallen frowned and stepped away from Zero, walking up to Tamaki. "This is no time to be celebrating, Tamaki, you're not even following the budget plan that Lel…that Zero set up for us are you? It's not like we won that battle!"

The drunken soldier raised his eyebrows playfully for a moment. "Well…I…" he was speechless. "Why're you spending so much time with Zero, eh, Kallen?"

Kallen's eyes widened and she finally smacked Tamaki across the face. "How dare you," she ground out through gritted teeth. "We're working on plans to defeat Britannia while you go off and get drunk!"

Lelouch cleared his throat slightly, adding some authority to his voice. "That's enough you too." He growled, stepping in front of Kallen, so she wouldn't get anymore violent than she already was. "Chill out, Kallen," he whispered to her, and she slunk back slightly. Zero directed his attention back to Tamaki. "But, Tamaki, Kallen does have a point. We don't have the money to spend on luxuries such as liquor. And like Kallen also said, we didn't win against Britannia. The Chinese Federation saved us from defeat. That's nothing to celebrate over."

Tamaki just glared at Zero. "If you had been prepared—" he started, but Kallen and bolted from behind Zero and delivered a punch to his face.

Lelouch sighed. "Kallen, please, that's enough…"

The red-head sighed and nodded, helping the man she had just punched to his feet. "Yes, I'm sorry Sir." She grumbled softly.

"Yeah," Tamaki growled, "You'd better be damn sorry, Kallen," He pulled himself away from Kallen's grasp and turned to head back inside. "I'll talk to Tohdoh 'bout these actions."

"There will be no need, Tamaki." Zero hissed; his temper was getting very, very hard to control right now. He was trying really hard not snap. And Kallen could see this from his tone, and the way his fists were clenched.

"Sorry, Tamaki," She mumbled. Her apology had no heart in it and it made her feel like a little kid again. Like she was three and fighting with the next door neighbor's little girl who was a year older than she was.

After Tamaki had fled the scene, Zero removed his mask and sighed, laying a gentle hand on Kallen's tense shoulders. "Relax," he cooed gently, pecking her cheek swiftly. "It's over and done with Kallen, it's all right."

The girl just glanced up at Zero and sighed. "Yeah, I'm sorry about my behavior…" her eyes glanced back down at the ground, they almost looked wet the tears welling up in them, but Lelouch's finger gently drifted across her cheeks, wiping away any tears that had escaped.

"No need to cry," he whispered, "Tamaki can be very irritating sometimes. He smiled slightly and led Kallen to the stair case that led to the lower deck, sitting her down on one of the stairs, him setting himself next to her smaller frame. "Look, it's a full moon tonight." He smiled over at her and took her hand again, squeezing it reassuringly.

Kallen nodded and smiled. "It's beautiful, the way it reflects off of the ocean water." She squeezed Lelouch's hand back, letting him know that she was okay. The two stayed there until the sun started to rise over the water. Finally, Lelouch had yawned and headed inside, telling her that she should follow. Swiftly, she stood following her man inside the ship. There was something unbreakable between those two, something that only they would know.

A/N: Uber fluff…that's some pretty amazing writing material, hahaha, once again, I'd like to extend thanks to all who review; chapter 7 shouldn't be so mushy gushy ha-ha. So, anyway, I'll let you all go so I can start chapter 7…click that little review button please!