A/N: Thanks for the reviews and I appreciate the feedback. Yeah I couldn't think of anything to do with Sophie and given Kotonoha's back-story and the possibilities of what I can do with it she will make a better replacement and Kotonoha and Medea will likely get along quite well.

Chapter 3

Tragedy Strikes

The following morning as Lelouch was spending the day with Kotonoha as per her family's request believing she needed time with someone like Lelouch to help mend the pain she had suffered from yesterday. Despite her fears of males Kotonoha had no objections going out and spending time with Lelouch. Instead of another walk through the park Kotonoha made an interesting, unexpected suggestion to the former prince.

A visit to the new aquatic park that had opened not too long ago, but despite having some reservations the Dark Lord thought a little R&R couldn't hurt. It was the Clovis Aquatic Park and so far the park as a whole seemed impressive with Lelouch changing into a simple park of black swim trunks before heading out to pool to wait for Kotonoha.

As Lelouch stood by the pool side waiting he had to admire the world put into the water park before him because even he had to admit it was quite something.

'I suppose this park is quite impressive. I can see why it has gained so much popularity in the short time it has been open.'

Lelouch's thoughts were interrupted however as Kotonoha approached from behind calling out to him.

"I am ready Lelouch-kun, have you been waiting long?"

The former prince and Dark Lord turned around, but upon looking at the Japanese woman his mind came to a sudden grinding halt as he felt like someone had just hit him in the face with a brick. Lelouch's face turned red as his eyes unintentionally looked Kotonoha up and down gasping for air. Her body was immaculate, her skin was pure white, her long dark Indigo hair that hung over her shoulders framing her face, long smooth legs, a perfectly flat stomach, hips that curved gracefully in and out, and then her chest. The two piece light blue and white striped swimsuit added to her allure.

Lelouch almost felt a nosebleed coming on, but a thought passed through his mind while he swallowed hard.

'And the bastard of a gigolo left such beauty for a group of washing boards? That's it; the idiot has brain damage or deserves to be neutered for the betterment of mankind.'

"Lelouch-kun are you feeling alright, you look rather pale?"

'Curse hormones, but they will not control me…although look at her I think she has a good chance of being a rival to Luthien.'

"I am fine Kotonoha-chan…sorry just felt a little weak there."

"Well ok…let's go."

"Sure…" Lelouch replied following Kotonoha, but he found himself unable to pry his eyes away from her body.

'Luthien's tales of her beauty may have been legendary, but this young girl comes close to said tales'

The two spent time swimming around together and using the waterslides, but after a time the two young teenagers were sitting on the edge of the pool with their legs in the water before the two began having a conversation. Kotonoha seemed content just being in Lelouch's company as the two spent time together, although Lelouch was still a little concerned about the girl's mental state given what had happened within the last two days.

Yet despite all of that her manners and how she carried herself despite all that has happened was very surprisingly to the young man which further left him wondering how so many students at the school could despise her so much. It was quite baffling really. Even before Kotonoha was so quiet and reserved and was very polite…even to those who had been cruel to her.

'I swear she reminds me of Sakura in a way.'

"Lelouch-kun…"

"Yes Kotonoha-chan…" Lelouch replied almost forgetting to add the honorific in, but it might a smile to the young woman.

"You mentioned yesterday you have a sister right?"

"Yes…well two sisters if you count Sakura, although we're not related by blood or anything." Lelouch admitted while Sakura was as close to him as Nunnally to the point that he considered her a sister while Nunnally likewise thought of the girl as an older sister.

"But your bond is important right?"

"Absolutely, but I guess it was that which led me to want to help you."

"What do you mean Lelouch-kun?"

"You remind me a lot like Sakura…even your personalities are almost identical I almost asked your family if the Katsura and Matou Families were somehow related."

"Really?"

"Yeah…if you two met there is doubt you two would get along pretty easily. You both have a lot in common." Lelouch admitted while Kotonoha seemed thoughtful at the idea, but yet she doubted she could make friends.

"But…I…"

"You just need to find people you can make friends with. Sure things at school were going badly, but I think now you'll have a chance for better life." Lelouch said trying to cheer the girl up to keep her from slipping back into her depressed state from yesterday.

"You think so?"

"Yes…even if you pass through a dark tunnel there is always light at the end. So if you are in a tunnel you just need to keep going through it and the on the other side you'll find something better waiting on the other side." Lelouch explained.

"Ok…" Kotonoha said before she and Lelouch sat down at a bench together. "So what is your sister Nunnally like?"

"Nunnally…she is as kind and sweet as they come. She is like your younger sister, but she can't do much anymore these days." The former prince answered sadly.

"Did something happen?"

"In a matter of speaking yes, but it happened before we came to Japan. My sister suffered injuries to her legs and trauma from the incident took away her eye sight rendering both crippled and blind. Our mother died holding her after an accident that happened a couple years ago back in our original home in Britannia."

"I am sorry for bringing it up." Kotonoha said trying to apologize.

"It's alright…you didn't know, but its part of why I wanted to help you."

"What do you mean?"

"Sakura was almost raped once by her older brother…I had happened upon the scene and I feared he might do it to Nunnally so I stepped in and stopped him. I guess I can't stand people in trouble let alone ignore them its strange really."

"Maybe you like to do nice things?"

Lelouch couldn't help but laugh.

"That's an interesting way to put it Kotonoha-chan."

'But maybe she's right…every time I do something along the lines of a heroic act I feel a sense of fulfillment. An adrenalin rush probably isn't the best way to describe it, but I would say it's something similar.'

Lelouch admitted within his mind as he strangely enjoyed heroic acts and found itself awarding than anything he had done as a Dark Lord and a Servant of Morgoth had ever felt. It was a curious experience for one such as him, such so that he wondered if his humanity had some part to play in this effect. It was then Lelouch came to a realization as he recalled the heroic efforts of those who had bested him.

'Maybe there is something to be gained from doing heroic acts more so than evil ones that I am used to.'

"Lelouch-kun, are you alright?" Kotonoha asked putting her left hand on his back. The soft feel of her hand snapped Lelouch out of his train of thought…yet the feel of her skin on his back sent a tingling sensation through his body before Lelouch quickly composed himself.

"Huh…oh sorry I was little lost in thought there." Lelouch replied with a chuckle as the young girl seemed relieved. "Forgive me I sometimes think too much."

"It's ok Lelouch-kun." The young girl replied smiling at the young man sitting next to her.

It was strange, but Kotonoha felt more ease with Lelouch than she did with Makoto who had seemed rather forceful especially when he touched her inappropriately at times which frightened her. Yet Lelouch was different he was the gentleman with her and was very polite when compared to a number of the Britannians she had seen.

Lelouch was also different from the other boys at school who like Taisuke and Makoto seemed to be only more concerned about the physical aspect of a relationship, but looking at the young man Kotonoha wondered if he might make a better boyfriend than Makoto. Thinking about that, Kotonoha grew more curious about the young man wondering if there was more to him…he had siblings like she did and from what he spoke of they sounded quite nice and kind as well.

Although Nunnally's story was sadly tragic, given what had happened to her.

As the afternoon began rolling in the two started their way back home with Kotonoha and Lelouch walking side by side. As they drew closer to her home they saw a very alarming sight coming from the Katsura Family home as a pillar of smoke was seen rising up. Alarming yet was the sound of gunfire indicating that some kind of gunfight was taking place.

Kotonoha and Lelouch hurried on until they reached a terrible sight that would scar Kotonoha for the rest of her life. Lelouch was shocked by what was happening before him as he saw the Police Force surrounding the Katsura Home with over a dozen patrol cars and three Knightpolice Knightmare Frames firing into the house from different sides of the house.

"What the hell is going on?" Lelouch said thinking to figure out what had happened, although he had a good guess why the police were here.

'They found out somehow, the fucking cops found out, but how?'

Lelouch didn't have much time to think as he knew if anyone saw him with Kotonoha he and his plans could end up becoming comprised, but he couldn't bring himself to abandon Kotonoha either.

"Kotonoha…whatever happens stay close and don't let go."

"Huh, but…my…"

"I am afraid there isn't much we can do right now, but I'll protect you."

Lelouch said as saying those words caused something within him to rise up; a feeling of resolve of some kind, but the young man didn't have time as he took hold of Kotonoha and used his powers to bring both himself and Kotonoha into the Unseen World becoming invisible to all eyes of those in the Physical World.

Kotonoha was startled by the sudden change of the environment around her as they passed into the twilight world of shadows where Lelouch urged her to follow him. She couldn't bear leaving the scene not knowing what happened to her family, but Lelouch was right there wasn't anything they could do for them right now.

"If they see you, you could die as well."

Lelouch told Kotonoha as the girl finally did leave the scene with Lelouch, but the former prince knew this puts him in a pickle either way as he had a problem he needed to deal with so he could avoid becoming implicated. After carefully navigating the shadow world until the two reached an old entrance into the subway tunnels of Japan, Lelouch brought himself and Kotonoha out of the shadow world.

"Why was there police attacking my house?"

"I think it has something to do with the ties your family has to the Six Houses of Kyoto."

"Huh?"

"I knew about the fact they were using their international contacts and connections to smuggle weapons into the country in order to supply various resistance movements. In fact I was hoping to cut a similar deal with them for my own resistance movement against Britannia, but someone has obvious sold your family out."

"Why would someone do that?" A visibly shaken Kotonoha asked, but she was now wondering how Lelouch knew so much.

"I know a lot more than you think Kotonoha, but I'll tell you everything later. Right now the police are likely looking for us since they'll find out that you and I are together." Lelouch said trying to think of something knowing that he had very little time. "I won't turn you over to the police, but what I need is someone who can take the fall for you."

"...?"

Hearing something up the tunnel Lelouch spotted an emaciated stray dog with dirty brown fur digging through some trash with its nose. An idea came to mind, it was risky since he had never used his sorcerer and magecraft abilities for something like this. Yet he needed to do something and there was only one opinion before him.

The dog noticed him as it began growling at him.

"I am sorry, but right now I must prioritize her survival."

A short time later back in the park Lelouch was walking around with Kotonoha when Britannian Police Officers approached them. One of them however was obviously an emissary from the military judging by his uniform. He was middle aged with short light brown hair and blue eyes, but Lelouch saw the pin on his collar allowing him to realize that he's a member of the purist faction.

"Kotonoha Katsura in the name of the Holy Empire of Britannia I place you under arrest for conspiracy to terrorism." Kewell Soresi said while the police officers advanced upon the couple.

"WHAT…" Lelouch said acting out the role of a shocked escort.

"We will like to ask you some questions as well, so if you would please come quietly."

Kewell said as the young man didn't object, but Kotonoha without a word tried to run. However Kewell pulled out his side arm and shot the woman in the back killing her instantly. The gunshot panicked the nearby people, but other police officers arriving in the park managed to calm them down. Kewell put away his weapon as he faced Lelouch.

"You didn't bat an eyebrow when I shot her, so what was the Eleven to you?"

"Nothing more than a business acquaintance I was buttering up so her parents could give me a better deal."

"Oh…would you care to explain more down at the station."

"Of course."

Lelouch cooperated and after a drive downtown the group arrived at the police station where Lelouch and Kewell entered an interrogation room. A police officer handed a folder full of papers to the military officer as he began speaking with the young fifteen year old.

"From what it says here the Katsura Family originally wanted to purchase some old relics from you for a considerable sum of money, but you were unable to conclude the business transaction until the items themselves arrived from Fuyuki City. Yet I am curious what were you doing with their older daughter? You didn't even care when I killed her so…"

"It was as I said…her family was planning to sell them overseas, which I knew would be worth more than what I selling them for alone. So I saw an opportunity to win the family over and perhaps work myself a better deal for the relics." Lelouch replied with a devious smile.

"I see, so you're an opportunist."

"I am very good at what I do."

"Clearly…from your history, despite your age, you are quite the businessman."

"Some say I have a natural talent for bargaining and trading." Lelouch said proudly.

"That is obvious, although you are the legal custodian of the Matou Estate a family of wealthy Elevens. You were placed under their care by the Ashford Family until they could properly settle in Area 11, but when the head of the family was murdered and his killer…his own grandson vanished the Ashfords allowed you to take over the estate."

"With me and my talents I could carry out business exchanges and trade agreements easily on their behalf without having become involved themselves. The Matou Family still owns quite a lot of land and other valuable pieces that can fetch for a very good sum of money."

"I can see…according to this a percentage of what you made goes to the Ashfords while you keep a considerable sum for yourself."

"A man has to make a living what can I say."

"Of course, but so far everything checks out. However were you aware of the fact that the Katsura Family was responsible for smuggling in weapons used by some of Area 11's major terrorist factions?"

"No I did not…" Lelouch replied putting on a mask of genuine shock on his face.

"It's unfortunate, but it's too bad we couldn't get the older sister…I doubt the younger sister will know anything."

"What about the parents I assumed they were captured."

"No they were killed during the ensuring gunfight when police went to arrest them along with some members of the Japan Liberation Front. It was pure luck really, but we caught them meeting with the Katsura Family…when we tried to force our way in they fought back."

"I see…"

"On the plus side we captured one of their leaders, a Colonel who was using his body to shield the child, HQ hopes to use her to break the man and get some information out of him."

The interrogation went on for twenty minutes more with Lelouch being released since everything checked out and it helped that Lelouch appealed to Kewell's dislike of Elevens. On the way out however he saw Makoto Ito being released from jail. Lelouch might have been shocked if he hadn't read Kewell's minds for details.

Makoto saw him and flashed him a malicious smirk, which left Lelouch on the outside expressionless. Although on the inside he was burning with rage at the punk ass bastard who fabricated a lie to save his own hide which resulted in Kotonoha and Kokoro's lives being effectively ruined. Worse yet the JLF was having a meeting with the Katsura Family, but it explained why they wanted Kotonoha out of the house possibly to avoid becoming involved in the meeting.

Regardless Makoto had done something Lelouch found completely unforgivable and he will make the bastard pay in the worse ways possible. However he had to put retribution aside…he gleamed quite a bit of information from Kewell's mind including the routes and when they would transport Kokoro and the JLF leader they captured to Military HQ.

But Lelouch knew he needed some help as he reached out telepathically to contact his deadest servant.

'Witch King…'

'Yes master.'

'Gather some of your new followers I have a mission for you.'

Later that evening Lelouch returned to a small house he rented where in the basement was the real Kotonoha with the one Kewell having killed to be a double he had magically transformed that stray dog into leaving everyone to think Kotonoha Katsura was dead and clearing Lelouch of any possible implications.

Provided they find out she was alive, but Lelouch would make sure of that.

"I am sorry I took so long Kotonoha."

Kotonoha was unresponsive.

"Your little sister is alive they captured her along with a member of the JLF."

Some hope came back to Kotonoha's eyes as she had been slipping into her yandere mode, but the news that her little sister was still alive helped her current mode. However there were some questions she wanted answered including the truth behind Lelouch having realized he was hiding something. Kotonoha looked at Lelouch with an uncertain expression.

"Who exactly are you really?"

Lelouch sighed before he began. "I am Lelouch vi Britannia a former member of the imperial royal family. My sister and I were banished here eight years ago to Japan to be used as political bargaining tools. My sister was rendered blind and crippled after our mother was brutally assassinated and no effort was done on our father's part to investigate her death let alone go after those responsible."

Kotonoha was shocked that Lelouch was a prince from Britannia, but it would explain his current living situation with the Matou Family.

"Further more before the war began I made a discovery when Genbu Kururugi, Japan's last Prime Minister, planned on selling out his own country to Britannia because he wasn't satisfied with the power he held. He even intended to kill my sister, but he had considered selling her to a brothel." Lelouch said as the mere thought of that man intended to do angered the young man.

Kotonoha saw the anger and sorrow on Lelouch's face as a sense of pity came over her.

"But on that time I found out something about myself…in another life I was something else completely different…not human, but I was reborn as Lelouch vi Britannia."

"Reborn?"

"Yes…because…"

Lelouch began as in that instant he returned to the grand hall where the two divided halves of Lelouch's mind resided. The grand hall vanished as Lelouch regarded each part of himself, his humanity and his old self the Dark Lord of Mordor.

"It matters not what we were in the past, but what we must be for the future. Our desire, our core desire is for the ordering of this world created by the One. We can now pursue that goal and do much more than what anything we have done before." Lelouch said looking at his humanity. "But to be the force that bring change about and destroy this world so a better one can rise in its place…power and destruction are needed. A Dark Lord should exemplify the extremes of both good and evil instead of just one side…I need both of you." Lelouch said looking at the manifestation of his past life.

The three recombined into a single being, no longer divided in identity, but united now.

Before Kotonoha's eyes Lelouch transformed, but now into the Dark Lord Sauron…but into the Maiar's truest and original form. She could watch in only glowing awe and amazement at the transformation before her as Lelouch's clothes change into a the suit of armor his Dark Lord form wore, but it had taken on a glowing pure white appearance as did the rest of his attire. His hair grew longer while his face remained the same with his black hair extending mid-way down his back with his hair and body radiating with a pure holy light that was almost blinding.

'Mairon, Gorthaur, Thauron, Necromancer, Sauron and now Lelouch…the name and who I am aren't important, but how I act is what shall define me.'

"I am the Dark Lord Lelouch…and I promise to you now Kotonoha by my will your sister shall be saved."

From that moment a new Dark Lord had risen as Sauron and Lelouch combined into a single new mighty entity as Sauron and Lelouch ceased to exist individually within the young man merging into one.

A/N: It has happened Makoto has done the worse damage imaginable to Kotonoha, but little does he realize his actions has invoked the Dark Lord's wraith and it will have terrible results for anyone else who played a part in the suffering in Kotonoha's life as well.

Lelouch has unveiled his truest form, his Maiar Form, which naturally bears a resemblance to his human form, but it reveals his divine origins as an offspring of the One's thoughts. And now once the Dark Lord saves Kokoro there will be retribution as the Dark Lord has quelled his minor issue of identity aside accepting he is both Sauron and Lelouch, but while acknowledging...he's a new Dark Lord on the rise.

Thanks for reading and I hope you'll review and I'll likely update and modify chapter seven of the Return of the Dark Lord story.