A/N: Greetings faithful, welcome to chapter four. Thank you very much for reading, I truly appreciate your continued support and feedback. A lot of people are saying what a dark fic this is but that's the beauty of it, it doesn't have to be dark at all, just change your perspective ;) If you prefer the darkness, embrace the other reality lol. This chapter is dedicated to a specific reader, you know who you are.

Guardian

Kallen was nearly blinded by the bright hazed light as it slowly became sharper. A shadow waved back and forth in front of her, she came to realize that it was a hand snapping its fingers. After realizing that there should be sound it gradually grew until she could hear the snaps and the voice of the woman standing over her. "Kallen, Kallen can you hear me?"

Kallen shook her head and covered her face with her hand, rubbing her eyes and forehead to try and quell the headache that relentlessly throbbed throughout her skull. "Yes I can hear you." She clenched her teeth as she tried to sit up, the pain in her head seemed to get worse when she moved.

"I can see you're in some pain, the medicine we gave you should kick in soon. You're lucky to survive that blast you know. If it wasn't for the Guren's advanced shields you'd be dead right now."

"I'll be sure to thank Rakshata, now where's Zero?" Kallen opened her eyes to find herself in the medical wing of the Ikaruga, every bed had a host. Most were unconscious, those that weren't wept in either pain or defeat, she couldn't tell.

"Well master Zero is in his quarters as usual, he seemed rather upset. But Miss Kozuki I must insist that you wait a moment, your condition is rather delicate." The nurse said, her tone slowly dropping off.

"Meaning what?" Kallen asked with a raised brow.

"The Guren discharged a large amount of electricity when it overloaded. That's what caused you to black out, unfortunately it seems the voltage has caused some brain damage-"

"Brain damage!?" Kallen tried to stand and realized that jolt of pain in her foot, the same from when she had kicked herself. She quickly looked to her hand which had Zero written on it still. 'Shit.' That meant the other world was just as real as this one.

"It's alright Miss Kozuki, your motor functions are intact. From what we've observed over the last twenty hours it seems that nearly all of your neurological responses are fine. You may suffer some acute psychosis-"

"What does that mean?" Kallen could feel her breaths become restricted, taught in her chest.

"Basically that it will be difficult to discern between reality and your imagination. Also it's possible to temporarily lose consciousness for a short period of time. Your brain absorbed a lot of voltage-."

"I need to get out of here." Kallen stated flatly, she didn't have time to lay around in bed.

"Well while we can't force you to stay, I don't recommend it." The Nurse responded grabbing her charts to look over all of her vitals. "Although I suggest you take it easy. You've had a rough couple of days."

"You have no idea." Kallen scoffed and grabbed her clothes that were piled beside her bed. Right now she couldn't worry about her medical issue, besides she was having enough trouble deciphering reality since she woke up in her bed that morning, how much worse could it get? The only thing that mattered right now was finding Zero. After she changed into her Black Knight outfit she wandered back into the halls. They were rather sparse but she accredited this to the overwhelming numbers in sick bay. Her walk turned into a jog, then a full on sprint towards Zero's quarters. She'd visited his grave so many times since he'd passed, leaving flowers and origami cranes that she'd learned how to make. They always disappeared before she came back but this was probably due to looters or groundskeepers. She'd been so desperate to see him again, she made a thousand cranes, working until her joints hurt and her fingertips bled. It had taken her countless hours to make all of them, all for the wish that he would come back to her... Kallen arrived at the door to Zero's quarters, it was password protected but she was one of the privileged few, one of three to be exact. Her wish had come true, through her efforts she was granted this chance. Her heartbeat raced as she punched in the code, half expecting it to be denied, something had to go wrong, this was just too perfect. The doors hissed in acceptance and slowly opened, Zero was sitting with his hands crossed and his head hung in defeat. He didn't attempt to cover his face as she walked in. Kallen looked around but C.C. was nowhere to be found. Her lips opened but her words caught in her throat, she brought her hand to her neck and cleared her throat lightly. "Lelouch?"

Lelouch looked up slowly his face red from tears, "Kallen.." His voice was barely audible, he looked horrible and at the same time beautiful. The despair in his eyes and features were welcome compared to the last memory she had of him, dying on his float, bleeding out for the world to watch and celebrate..

Kallen could contain herself no longer, she ran to the couch tears in her own eyes as she wrapped him in the tightest embrace she could muster. She was very pleased to find him grasping back just as much. Holding onto her for dear life as it were. He was in a vulnerable state, thinking he had just lost his sister to the F.L.E.J.A. blast. "I've finally found you.." She sobbed into his shoulder, her embrace threatening to fracture his ribs. Kallen couldn't find the words to speak, nothing seemed to do her emotions justice. That moment, that was heaven, or what she could only speculate it to be. As imperfect as it was, it couldn't have been better.

"Kallen.. Nunnally was.." The words were heavy and cumbersome as they fell from his mouth.

Kallen adjusted her position so that they were resting forehead to forehead. She watched his lips for a moment, he was so broken. He was leaving himself wide open for her, all that time she had waited, this was that moment she'd dreamed of. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, feeling his breath on her parting lips. Kallen closed her eyes and her heart hummed as their lips brushed against each other. His lips tasted of salt from his tears. He gave into her kiss and returned it, his arms still wrapped around her holding her tight. Kallen's tears fell freely as she continued to hold their kiss, deepening it after a moment kissing his upper lip, allowing him to suck on her bottom lip. Her blood screamed out for him, burning hot beneath her skin. Her tongue danced across his lips, beckoning him to do the same. He complied and Kallen wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. God it felt good, the best she had ever felt in her life. She wanted to hold him there until the end of time, but she had to tell him. To ease his mind, and to prove that his actions were more than just his surrendering to the situation. Kallen pulled back to hold his face in her hands gazing into those long lost amythest gems of his. "No Lelouch, she's not..." His expression turned confused but a ray of hope shown through. He didn't speak, as if waiting for an explanation, did he dare hold out hope for his sister? If there was anyone he could trust it was Kallen, his most loyal piece. "I promise you Lelouch, I saw her shuttle escape myself."

Lelouch closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief, his features overwhelmed with joy to the point of more tears falling down his delicate face. "What would I ever do without you Kallen?"

"You're never going to find out." Kallen pulled him into another passionate kiss, he returned it hungrily. She could feel it in the air, this lust, it was very much real. No drug could replicate this feeling. She ran her hands down his chest as his hands found their way beneath her shirt slowly rising up her back, sending shivers up her spine. "Lelouch.." She moaned into his ear, his right hand nearing the clasp of her bra.

The ring of the phone pierced the air like a siren. They attempted to ignore it for a moment but it blared on. "If we don't answer they'll just come knocking.." Lelouch said none too pleased with the timing of the call. Something always seemed to interrupt him and Kallen, as if the gods were just teasing them both.

Kallen let out a heavy sigh and pulled herself off him. "I'll answer it.." She picked up the phone, "Hello?" Kallen tried to hide the frustration in her voice.

"Kallen? I thought you were in sick bay?" Ohgi said.

"Apparently not. What'd you need?" Kallen asked trying to get him off the phone.

"I was hoping to talk to Zero but it's probably better that I got a hold of you. I need you to bring Zero the main hanger." He responded, rather grim before hanging up.

"The main hanger?" Kallen asked aloud even though she knew he was no longer on the other line. Then a shock gripped her body. She'd forgotten in the heat of the moment but this was the time that the Black Knights turned on Zero. They were going to capture him and turn him over to Britannia.. Not while she still drew breath, she'd save Lelouch, she already knew their plan. She wasn't the greatest strategist but it's not too hard to play poker when you know your opponents hand. Kallen looked back to Lelouch who was waiting to hear what the phone call was all about. "Lelouch I need you to come with me." As much as she wanted to just damn the rest of the world and spend their last moments together she was determined to fix this. She would give herself the happy ending she deserved, somehow she'd find a way.

Lelouch looked at her puzzled for a moment and began to stand. "What is it?" He sensed something wrong with the way Kallen was standing and the tone she carried in her voice.

"Get your mask and let's move, I'll explain on the way." Kallen commanded firmly, it felt so strange to give Zero orders but she was the only one who could. She remembered this event as it haunted her in many nightmares since. This time she would simply take Lelouch to the Guren and break out of here, unfortunately the Black Knights would not be swayed, not now at least. She had to escape with him so they could regroup and meet on their own terms. With Kallen standing firmly at his side perhaps the Black Knights would be willing to listen. If she could bring the Black Knights under the command of Zero, perhaps she could change the future entirely. This was definitely a turning point in the war, she just had to ensure it turned the other way.

Lelouch grabbed his mask and put it over his face. "Kallen I demand to know what is going on." His tone was Zero's once more, strong and booming.

"The Black Knights have turned against us. I believe Schneizel is behind it. For now we have to get off this ship." Kallen said opening the door to exit. They had to walk casually, if anything seemed out of place Kallen may be discovered to be loyal to Zero instead of the Black Knights.

"Schneizel.." Zero growled beneath his mast, how he would treasure disposing of his older brother. Better yet he would use his geass on him, turn him into a slave for the rest of his pitiful life. That was an end fitting to the snake that he regretfully called a brother. Lelouch's thoughts carried to more important things, how could he turn this around? First he had to figure out just what his brother had fed the Black Knights, what bit of poison did he give them?

They arrived at the separate hanger for the Guren, it was dark. "Good no one seems to be in here." It was difficult to see but the Guren didn't look the way she remembered it. Upon closer inspection she realized that most of the Guren was charred and crumbling. "Oh no." She'd forgotten that the Guren was caught in the blast at Tokyo. She placed a hand on the shredded foot of the Guren, "I'm sorry." It was not operable at the moment, the Guren would need quite a bit of repair work before it could even fly, let alone escape the Ikaruga. "We'll have to go with plan B." Kallen said turning around to walk back towards the door.

"And that would be what exactly?" Zero asked.

"Give me a minute and I'll think of it. We can wait in here for a moment to come up with a plan." Kallen hushed, soon the Black Knights would get suspicious of her and send a search party for them. "We can't use the Shinkirou."

"Why not?" Zero questioned, he wasn't used to playing second fiddle. A position he cared not for.

"Because that's where the Black Knights are waiting to ambush us." Kallen breathed. She wasn't the first choice for on the spot plans for a reason. This was more Lelouch's area, but she was the only one with the information, there was no way to simply tell him everything she knew.

"How could you know that?" Lelouch asked suspiciously, for a moment he had to wonder if Kallen had been in on this whole thing. No one was above suspicion, but he dismissed it quickly, she'd have no reason to tell him about the ambush unless-

The doors to the hanger opened suddenly and the lights flickered on. One man with a visor over his face stepped in his gun raised to their chests, "I got em over here!" Tamaki shouted.

'Unless she was lying to keep him from the Shinkirou. This was the real ambush..' Lelouch finished mentally. 'Kallen you betrayed me!' Had that been their plan all along? Use the one person he knew he could trust in the entire organization and trap him in a hanger with no escape? With that visor he couldn't use geass on Tamaki, and he'd already used it on Kallen. The board had changed, his king left defenseless to stare down an entire army of foes. He was backed into a corner, defeat immanent.

The doorway quickly filled with more members of the Black Knights with their guns drawn. "Trying to escape were you?" Diethard said, capturing everything on film. "No matter, fire!" He commanded, he was pleased that the troops had waited until he arrived to capture this moment in history.

"NO!" Kallen lunged in front of Zero, shielding her face and chest with her arms in an 'X'. The Black Knights couldn't react fast enough, their volley of bullets already on their way. Kallen did her best to stand upright as nine bullets pierced her skin, most of them taken to the arms. Two in her stomach and one in her chest, close to her heart. The bullets ceased as almost immediately after the first rang out, she wasn't their intended target after all. Kallen felt weak on her feet, no longer able to stand she collapsed on the ground in front of Zero. "I-I'm sorry Lelouch.. I-I couldn't.. save.. you..." She looked up at the mask of Zero in pain and remorse, again she knew everything was coming and again she couldn't stop it. 'Damnit!' Her vision began to blur from loss of blood.

"Now, now. Didn't I tell you I wanted him alive?" Schneizel asked. The Black Knights lowered their guns at the request of the Prince.

Voices continued but were slowly drowned out by a loud, painful ringing. The blurry images faded to black as Kallen could no longer support the weight of her eyelids.

A/N: Alrighty, another chapter down. Things are starting to get intense. Hope you enjoyed it, I'd love to hear your thoughts or comments to please take a moment and review. Thank you again, I'll see you next time.