A/N: a bit later than I had planned, but best I do not rush work like this given what I got planned later in this story so it feels like I am walking over eggshells when doing some of Lelouch's scenes. I wish this chapter turned out better especially involving the Three Beasts, but trying to consider anything that was happening I ended up choosing this as the best route.

A quick shout out to draconichero21 for the ideas for Lelouch's Teigu, I originally was going to go with something different but I was convinced to go with something a little more familiar, but let's leave it at that.

Another topic of discussion was who would Lelouch best be paired with and we narrowed it down to three choices, not in my particular order.

It will be Chelsea, Mine or Sheele.

One of them will end up in a romantic relationship with Lelouch, but depending on who Lelouch develops the strongest bond with will determine who will win his heart and be the character to stand with him for that important moment in what determine the direction in which his life will go. Draco knows what I intend, so the choices we discussed was narrowed down to these three based on that. Although he strongly advised me that Mine was the best choice considering what I got in mind for Lelouch later, but Sheele might be an ok choice. Chelsea was questionable, but considering how others I discussed the idea of Mine and Lelouch as a possible couple reacted I am going to keep Chelsea and Lelouch as a possibility.

Anyway thank you all for the reviews and enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 3

Demons

After the agreement between the two assassins was struck Lelouch formed a new plan, although it was risky it did provide a higher success rate than the first. Lelouch would sneak into Liver's room to take out the aged general, but in the likely possibility he wakes up and attacks Chelsea in the guise of Nyau would assassinate Daidara when he would attempt to aid Liver. Lelouch would have gone after Daidara first as he had originally planned, but he found that the second oldest of the Three Beasts had barred his room using furniture. Although this added a complication to his plans, but this merely confirmed Lelouch's suspicions that others before him had likely tried to assassinate them while they slept which probably meant assassinating Liver would not be easy as he thought.

In fact a battle between them seemed certain now.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'll prepare a plan B just in case a battle breaks out, but rather I should say when it happens. I suspected I am not the first person to attempt assassinating them like this, but what I found with Daidara barricading his own room like he has done confirms it." Lelouch said to Chelsea as the two were discussing a chance in plan.

"What is Plan B?"

"I was hoping not to resort to this kind of tactic, but with the situation as it is...I have no choice." Lelouch said before drawing out a bomb from his bag. "These are just something with a little something extra to give them a little kick."

"That's a bomb right, so what kind of kick are we talking about?" Chelsea asked eyeing the explosive ordinance.

"If I put this in the right place it should be enough to level this place." Lelouch explained.

"That probably won't be enough?"

"Maybe so, but if a fight breaks out using this could wound them, kill them if I am lucky or create an opening I can use. But before that we need to take out Daidara first."

"You said he was in his room and you can't get to him right?"

"You are correct, but if Liver is under attack he'll come help him and that is where you'll come in." Lelouch said as Chelsea realized her intended role in this.

"You want me to kill him?"

"Yes and if the situation allows it you should have a good opportunity."

"You realize that is a very risky gamble?" Chelsea noted while sucking on her lollipop.

"I do, but it's better than whatever you had planned compared to my previous plan wasn't it?" Lelouch asked which Chelsea found no room to argue against.

However if the situation demanded it then Lelouch had a trump card to play. The Teigu which Lucien had given him could only be used by a member of the royal family would turn the battle to his favor. However considering he had Chelsea with him he feared that if he used it and she saw its ability in action he worried it would lead to his true identity being exposed. He wasn't even using it now preferring not to become overly dependent on its use.

'I'll use it if I have no other choice, but I'll use it to kill him.'

The Teigu he had wasn't so much of a combat Teigu, but it was still considerably powerful in its own right. Although he could use it on Liver and his followers towards a different purpose, but Lelouch decided against it for another set of reasons which he decided would be best for his long-term goals.

"But don't worry I have a trump card to play if things get out of hand."

"Well ok then."

Putting his plan into action Lelouch snuck out of the room he and Chelsea had been talking in and went down into the basement to plant the bomb in the right location so he could get the most devastation out of the resulting blast. It would probably destroy the inn thanks to its placement under the gas thank used for heating, hot water and cooking in the inn, but to accomplish the mission now he couldn't hold back no matter what. Sneaking his way back up stairs he went for Liver's room upon which he began unlocking it silently.

Unlike Daidara's room Liver's room wasn't bared shut from the inside, but still Lelouch was on high alert as he could feel his body tense up in a mix of anticipation and alertness knowing that Liver won't be a simple kill like his previous targets had been. Liver was sound asleep, but Lelouch felt a sensation in his stomach telling him he shouldn't approach any further. He thought about just blowing up the inn, but he knew the resulting explosion would not only draw the local guards but it would also make recovering their Teigu more difficult.

'Of course there is the chance the explosion wouldn't be enough to kill them.'

Lelouch thought about planting the bomb under Liver's room and blow it up, but then he would have Daidara to deal with still. Of course Lelouch wanted to be sure he could recover Liver's Teigu and make a swift escape before the guards could descend on this place.

'If this whole inn is blown up then the response to the guards should be keeping the fire contained and getting the fire department to put out the flames. I just have to hope they are under the impression that it was an accident and not an assassination attempt.' Lelouch thought, but he knew the moment those explosives went off he would need to kill his targets, get their Teigu and get out of town fast.

Deciding against approaching any closer Lelouch readied his blow-dart gun on his left wrist which carried a powerful poison similar to what he had used on his last job, but more concentrated so the result should kill Liver within a few minutes. Taking a deep breath Lelouch took aim ready to strike the neck and kill the aged general in one shot. Hesitating for a moment to be sure he didn't notice anything to indicate that he was awake or showed signs of being aware of his presence.

Lelouch fired the dart gun releasing its deadly projectile silently, but right before hitting its mark Liver's eyes opened as he lashed out with a knife he concealed under his pillow deflecting the dart. Seeing the opportunity Lelouch fired the one-shot pistol he had in his other forearm bracer, but Liver jumped out of bed to dodge the bullet.

Drawing his sword Lelouch rushed at the aged general to attack him, but using his Teigu upon his ring finger Liver used the water inside a serving jug to attack Lelouch. Forming the water into a whip the old general fought back while trying to go for his own sword as well. Lelouch dodged the whip while he rushed forward to attack with his sword, but Liver managed to parry it as the two locked blades.

"So another assassin comes to claim my life."

"I am not surprised you were sleeping with a knife under your pillow." Lelouch mused with a grin under his mask.

"A black mask, so could you be the infamous Zero?"

"Perhaps I am."

Meanwhile as their confrontation happened Daidara was awoken by the sound of the gunshot fired by Lelouch's hidden gun prompting him to remove the item blocking the door leading into his room. Outside he found a seemingly worried Nyau who as far as Daidara believed had come out at the sound of the gunshot alerting him there was trouble.

"Damn it we got another assassin on our hands. Nyau go get the guards just in case there are more of them." Daidara said readying his axe-like Teigu for use, but as he turned his back to the blonde haired boy he felt his body go numb moments later after Chelsea used her needles to swiftly assassinate the muscular bound blonde.

"Sorry, but Nyau has been dead for the last couple of days. Give that despicable brat my regards." Chelsea said as a shocked Daidara fell onto the ground face first onto the ground dying seconds later.

Chelsea decided to leave the inn knowing what Lelouch intended to do next, but she made sure to pick up Daidara's Teigu putting it into a sack she had to holding Nyau's Teigu. Once she had both Teigu secured in her bag she fled the inn just as Lelouch used his free hand to reach for a remote detonator he had for the bomb he placed in the basement.

"I hope you weren't expecting an easy kill with me boy." Liver said as he tried to use his Teigu to draw more water to him, but he found none around him he could use.

"Of course not, which was why I made sure to give myself as much of an advantage as possible." Lelouch replied before diving out a window upon which he triggered the bomb in the basement. Lelouch was on the ground when he set off the explosives while Liver also chose to follow Lelouch realizing the danger he was in. Although the resulting explosion from a powerful fertilizer bomb. It also helped that Lelouch had placed it where gas stored to be used for the heater and for cooking was kept adding more of a destructive kick to the explosion.

The fact that Lelouch closed all of the values on the boiler to build up pressure would add to the resulting explosion.

The foundations of the hotel was blown apart and Lelouch would have been injured if he hadn't guided across the air landing in the alleyway across the street taking cover behind some boxes as the inn came apart under the explosions that tore its foundations apart. Liver was caught in the blast and thrown across the ground injuring him slightly, but tipping the balance more in Lelouch's favor who remained for the most part unharmed.

Rising to his feet Liver surveyed the damage, but a moment later he saw a seemingly injured Daidara coming up to him holding his arm with his left arm.

"Are you alright?"

"What happened to Nyau?" Liver demanded.

"I am not sure I was barely out of my room when that explosion brought the whole place down on me." Daidara answered.

Liver was trying to recover from his injuries didn't show it, but he was suspicious as something didn't feel right. Unfortunate he didn't have time to dwell on it as Zero emerged from the alleyway with his sword River was ready with his blade, but Daidara began to approach Liver from behind just as he and Lelouch were about to cross swords once more. All in all Liver was impressed by how well prepared his enemy had been from rigging the hotel to explode and from cutting off the hotel's water to limit the effectiveness of his Teigu.

'Yet something still feels off.' Liver thought as he and Lelouch crossed swords, but to his growing amazement the masked man held his own matching every blow. But Lelouch had yet to see an opening he could exploit.

After jumping back Liver had his back to Daidara, but at that moment he felt a needle beginning to go into his neck. Reacting instantly he spun around while at the same time he jumped away swatting the needle from his neck. He cut towards Daidara with his sword, but because of the quickness of his escape he didn't leave a fatal wound but he did wound Chelsea as she fell back with the effects of her Teigu fading to reveal her true form.

Liver's eyes went wide now realizing what had been going on.

"I see, so Nyau and Daidara are dead…eliminated one by one by you." Liver said glaring at the wounded woman as she clutched her torso.

But Liver didn't escape Chelsea's attempt to kill him unharmed as he could feel his arms and legs were a little sluggish now. Lelouch resumed his attack, but realized he needed to end this now, especially as he raise Liver preparing to use Chelsea's blood as a source of water to compensate for the lack of a more easily accessible water source.

Reluctantly Lelouch decided to use his Teigu as he pushed a special button along the side of the mask opening a small panel that revealed his right eye.

'I didn't want to use this, but I have little choice now.'

"Liver," Lelouch roared prompting the man to look over his shoulder making eye contact with him. "I command you to die."

Lelouch's orders was followed by a glowing red light from his right eye which caught Liver in a spell of some kind as he brought his own sword to his throat.

"As you command!" Liver replied before committing suicide by using his own blade to slit his own throat.

Lelouch's Teigu, one that only his bloodline could use, granted him the power of absolute obedience giving him the power for just one to give an order to anyone he wished and they would carry out that order without question. Lelouch had been against using it, but only because if anyone realized what his Teigu was he feared it would lead to his true identity being exposed which would prompt the Prime Minister to use everything at his disposal to get rid of him. He did use it from time to time, but only when he was certain he could cover up his usage of the Teigu and leave no evidence of him using it behind.

Using his sword Lelouch quickly delivered some cuts with his blade before beheading Liver to cover up the suicide, but after leaving his calling card upon the body he quickly confiscated his Teigu before turning his attention to Chelsea.

"What did you do to him?" Chelsea asked holding the cut on her torso.

"I'll tell you later, but we need to go now." Lelouch said helping the woman to his feet, but he was glad to see her bag she had which was filled with the Teigu that had belonged to Daidara and Nyau.

Even through Lelouch hadn't planned on having someone leave town with him he did have an escape route already prepared. Despite the injury Chelsea and Lelouch quickly hurried away from the area just as members of the Fire Brigade and the local guard arrived on the scene. The two made their way down to the river where Lelouch had a boat prepared for a quick getaway. He helped Chelsea into the boat before untying it from the dock with Lelouch pushing it away before proceeding down the river quickly.

'Once we're clear of the town there is a small cabin we can stop at.' Lelouch thought as he prepared a small abandoned cabin Lucien had noted inside the notes he had given Lelouch as a good place to fall back to before making his way back to the capital. He could tend to Chelsea's wound there before they continue on, but of course he was faced with the issue of what he could do with her.

'Leaving her behind had its own risks and problems that it could bring especially if it leads to hostility between me and Night Raid.' Lelouch thought, but he wasn't certain if it would be wise for him to bring her along.

Chelsea was quiet, but she was thankful Zero was bringing her along to escape with him. She couldn't help but wonder what Zero had in mind for her. It seemed killing her was unlikely otherwise he could have very easily have done so back in town, but because she knew next to nothing about him she didn't know what to think. The duo traveled down river in silence for a full hour, but what Chelsea couldn't figure out was how Zero was able to see in the pitch-black darkness around them.

Along the way, once they were safely clear of the town, Lelouch applied a cream-like substance to her wound to help ease the pain and the bleeding until he could reach a safe place to treat it more properly.

Never the less after another hour of travel he directed the boat into a small lagoon, which the small river leading into it was hidden behind some bushes and some branches making it difficult to spot unless you knew where it was. The area was thick with bushes and trees making a good hideout, but Lelouch remained alert in the event anyone else had decided to make use of the cabin since he had inspected it earlier today.

Once he was sure the close was clear Lelouch helped Chelsea into the cabin.

The interior of the cabin had the obvious signs he hadn't been used in a long time, but the structure was still stable and intact. It had a table with some chairs and the wooden frame of a twin bed. However there was no bed in the frame leaving it bare. Lelouch had earlier placed thick black strips of leather over the windows to block out the light of the lamp Lelouch was lighting that hung from the ceiling. To an outside observer the cabin was still dark and abandoned.

"I better tend to your wound immediately." Lelouch said as he gestured for Chelsea to get onto the table and lay down so he could tend to her.

Chelsea unbuttoned and opened her vest before undoing the buttons of her dress shirt around her wound allowing Lelouch better access to it while keeping the rest of her shirt buttoned up. The cut was above the stomach, but fortunately as Lelouch suspected it didn't cut too deep but it could become a problem if left untreated. Chelsea laid back as Lelouch went to work on treating the wound by first bringing out a field medical kit he had on hand. He began by cleaning the area around the wound, which caused Chelsea to grunt in pain while doing her best to keep still despite fighting her body's urge to get away from what was causing the pain to flare up.

Once he was finished Lelouch began tending to the wound.

It was fortunate for the female assassin that aside from assassination techniques he had been taught a member of field medical skills in which he could tend to most wounds sustained in his line of work. Chelsea's wound wasn't serious, but if left untreated it could have been a problem.

"Good news is you won't need stitches."

"Well that is good, but is there any bad news?"

"No, but you should probably take a break from assassination missions until this heals." Lelouch said before bringing out a cream to help the wound and prevent infection.

"I think after this I could use a short vacation." Chelsea mused with a grin before she felt a sharp pain shoot through her as Lelouch had finished with the wound and was bandaging it.

"Could you lift yourself a little?" The masked man requested.

Chelsea did as instructed as Lelouch wrapped the bandage around her torso, but he made sure it was tight enough to prevent the wound from reopening while it healed and loose enough so it wouldn't cause too much discomfort and hinder her movements. After finishing Chelsea lowered herself onto the table gently despite a feeling of some slight comfort, but she did feel a lot better compared to earlier.

"I don't know what you used, but thanks…I feel much better." Chelsea said complimenting the young man.

"It's something we found that work very well on helping wounds heal and prevent them from bleeding. The other solution I used on you earlier was similar, but it was more designed towards being a quick temporary solution to wounds like the one you got to stop the bleeding until a safer location could be reached for treatment and rest." Lelouch explained, but he decided to withhold where exactly the ingredients for the solutions and cream he had that made up his first aid kit came from.

'I somehow doubt she would like to know that I rubbed venom of a Chaurus larva mixed with the crushed egg sacs of those spiders that infest the caves near the hideout.' Lelouch thought, although he couldn't deny how effective the various healing concoctions Lucien and his followers created from such ingredients. The venom of the Chaurus is very deadly, but the undeveloped venom sacs of the larva possess healing properties when prepared correctly are excellent for treating injuries especially those from bladed weapons. That said through he remembered how Nunnally reacted to finding out what the ingredients were since after Sayoko rescued them she had to use one such concoction to mend a injury Nunnally sustained.

The poor girl didn't react well to what the healing cream had been made from, so he thought it was best not to mention it to Chelsea.

"So what happens now? Are you going to do something to me with that mind control power?"

"No I have no intention of doing that. Even if I did use it to enslave you it would only hinder your skills and abilities as an assassin." Lelouch answered before explaining. "Early on while experimenting with it on some assassination targets I found that while enthralled to my Teigu their abilities to operate independently and creatively had been limited as they act according to my orders."

"Then building an army of mind controlled servants was out of the question then?"

"Yes they would have only been good as wasteful canon fodder." Lelouch said before adding. "However I have found it useful during combat situations as you saw with Liver and for interrogation purposes as well too."

"Well that sounds handy then."

"It's problematic as well, which was why I craved up Liver's body as I did to hide the fact I had him commit suicide. If they figured out my Teigu's abilities it would be a problem for me in more ways than one."

"You're worry people would realize what you are doing and find ways to defend themselves against your ability right?"

"Not only that, but there is another reason I do not wish to explain right now."

"Oh…something personal I take it."

Lelouch was silent, but his silence was enough of an answer for Chelsea.

"Knowledge of the abilities of my Teigu isn't the only reason I am keeping you, but if you prove to me I can trust you I'll tell you why."

"So it's really THAT personal then?" Chelsea asked raising an eyebrow.

"You could say that, but I know that if you died or anything negative happens to you could cause me to have an antagonistic relationship with Night Raid, which I do not want to deal with since fighting a war on two fronts would be counterproductive."

"What makes you think I won't try to escape?"

"One you are injured and even though I tended to your wound you are hardly in any shape to be traveling on your own. Second would you be really throwing away an opportunity to form an alliance between me and Night Raid, which by extension would mean with the Revolutionary Army." Lelouch pointed out while grinning under his mask, although it was a risky gambit upon itself. But Lelouch knew he would need allies and powerful Teigu wielders to help him deal with the stronger of the Empire's warriors if he wanted to get to Prime Minister Honest and his son.

Chelsea pondered the possibly and she knew the Revolutionary Army was very interested in recruiting Zero, but she also wondered why Zero was very concerned about trust.

"No I don't want to be the one who ruined that chance, but why exactly are you so concerned about trust?"

"I have certain difficulties when it comes to trusting others due to…past experience. I want to be sure I can trust Night Raid and the Revolutionary Army before I am willing to reveal anything to them."

The female assassin eyed Zero trying to figure out why he would be insistent on building a trust before revealing himself let alone agreeing to any kind of alliance.

"Is it because you are really ugly under that mask?" Chelsea said deadpan.

"That's not the issue." Lelouch shot back.

A few days later Seryu and Suzaku were dispatched to the town of Narita to collect information the demise of the Three Beasts for their superiors. Word was that it was Zero, but instead of some minor military captain or rich wealthy merchant his targets were the infamous Three Beasts led by General Liver and the personal bodyguards to General Esdeath. The duo with Seryu's Teigu Koro in tow arrived in the town with the wreckage of the inn and the surrounding street cornered off. There were some members of the local police who had patrolled the area to ensure no one came in or out until the Garrison arrived from the capital to collect their report and investigate the area.

"Step aside I am Seryu Ubiquitous of the Capital Garrison! A Hero of Justice!" Seryu declared while showing her badge.

Suzaku was quiet as he followed Seryu who began speaking with the captain who had been put in charge of the area and keeping civilians out.

The two were informed that by the time they arrived they found General Liver dead with his head having been cleaved off by who they are convinced the killer was Zero since his calling card had been found at the scene next to Liver's body. The body of Daidara, or what was left of it, was found inside the remains of the burnt building. The only one seemingly unaccounted for was Nyau whose body had yet to be found, but the Teigu owned by Liver and Daidara had been obviously taken by Zero.

Unlike most assassinations involving Zero it was obviously a fight broke out, but it seemed Liver was the only one who managed to fight back before he was killed.

'But it seems Zero was ready for Liver.' Suzaku thought as he overheard that they had found water to the inn had been cut off before it was destroyed when the fire brigade went to close the pipes to stop water from flowing into the building which would have been wasted at that point for obvious reasons. The bomb seemed excessive, but Suzaku knew Liver by reputation along with the Three Beasts. 'Zero wasn't taking any chances.'

The fact that Nyau's body wasn't found troubled Suzaku. Could it mean that one of them had betrayed his comrades to Zero and helped him?

'Somehow that doesn't make any sense, but still it's odd his body hasn't been found.' Suzaku thought with one hand on his chin as he was in deep thought.

As Suzaku and Seryu continued their investigation while collecting everything for a proper report for their superiors word of what had happened to the Three Beasts had reached not only the capital, but it had passed along to another group of assassins. The members of Night Raid minus their leader was seated at the dinner table as Akame wearing her favorite apron with a cute animal printed upon it served everyone lunch. It wasn't long before their leader Najenda joined them with a neutral expression on her face as she sat down at the head of the table.

The former general of the Empire wore her preferred attire of a black suit, her matching eye patch that covered her missing eye while her right arm she had lost in the same incident that took her eye had been replaced with a green armored plated prosthetic replacement. She had light silver hair with a purple eye and a fair skin complexion.

"I just received word that Zero has struck again." Najenda announced surprising some of the members of Night Raid.

"Who was it this time some pompous merchant who finally got what he deserved?" Mine said sounding indifferent before eating a pancake.

"No it was the Three Beasts." Their leader announced stunning everyone present including Bulat.

"He assassinated all of them, including General Liver?"

Najenda nodded in response before she continued.

"Unlike the other times it seemed a fight broke out between him and General Liver, which I guess Zero must have known he wouldn't be easy since he apparently blew up the inn he and his subordinates."

"That seems a little excessive." Lubbock commented before eating a sausage patty.

"General Liver was a great general of the empire and a soldier before receiving his Teigu which made him more dangerous than before. I had heard there were assassination attempts on him in prison and even after he started working under General Esdeath, so I think a battle was unavoidable." Bulat said recalling from the time he had served under him before his imprisonment, which was a key factor in Bulat defecting to the Revolutionary Army before joining Night Raid.

"You aren't holding a grudge Bulat?" Najenda asked out of concern because he knew how close he and Liver had been as friends.

"No, although I am surprised Zero defeated him. If we were to cross paths again I am sure a fight between me and Liver would have been unavoidable, which only one of us would walk away from." Bulat responded, although it was regrettable he knew from what he had been hearing about Liver's service under Esdeath. More than anything he imagined Liver was probably greatly indebted to her, which would have made him loyal to the Empire's strongest warrior. "But I am curious about this Zero."

"We might have a chance at that, because this information came along with word that Night Raid's team that operates beyond the capital has been nearly wiped out."

"What do you mean by that?" Leone asked after she finished eating an apple.

"A couple of days ago near the town where the Three Beasts were killed a meeting was taking place among the village leaders and representatives of the Revolutionary Army. The Night Raid team for taking missions beyond the capital was asked by HQ to provide extra security. The Empire obviously got word as someone sold them out, which prompted them to ask Esdeath to send her personal bodyguards in to wipe them out."

"But what happened to the last member of the team through?" Akame asked.

"She managed to survive as the body of Nyau, a member of the three beasts, had been found in the river when a group from the Revolutionary Army had been dispatched to find out what happened when they lost contact." Najenda said before pausing to think about something before continuing. "The only one who could have killed him and likely taken his place was Chelsea…her Teigu allows her to assume whatever form she wants. She might have infiltrated the Three Beasts after killing Nyau likely planning to avenge her comrades."

"So what you are saying is that Zero probably had some unexpected help?" Bulat asked.

"Yes because so far they only found two bodies, one belongs to General Liver and the other to his subordinate Daidara. Nyau's body hasn't been found at the inn, so it's likely Chelsea is alive and she is with Zero."

"Would Zero kill her for being a witness?" Mine inquired.

"Somehow I doubt that, because considering the potential negative repercussions that could bring. But it would confirm whose side he is really on through."

"So what do we do then?" Lubbock asked.

"For now there isn't anything we can do except wait and see."

Around the same time in a swap located a distance away from the capital where Lelouch and Chelsea were navigating the treacherous terrain. It was an unpleasant place, but even more so it was filled with high-level danger beasts so it made this region fairly remote. The swamp however made it even more dangerous for travelers as you had various creatures that didn't actively hunt like some Danger Beasts, but in fact there were many in this swamp that would lie in wait and ambush unsuspecting prey.

Thankfully Lelouch had come prepared as he carried an essence burner which burned a concoction that would keep the Danger Beasts from attacking them or at least the most dangerous of them lurking in the swamp.

"I can't believe you are crazy enough to have set up a base in the middle of this pit." Chelsea said while thankful she was wearing boots.

"This base has been here since the founding of the Empire, so it was built to last." Lelouch noted as he they reached a small cave seemingly at the heart of the swamp. "When we checked it out it was still possible for it to be used and its location while dangerous makes a good hideout."

"Yeah if you can survive being attacked by a Danger Beast every five steps you take."

"That is what this is for." Lelouch said reminding Chelsea of the essence burner he had been carrying.

"So what now then Zero?" Chelsea inquired.

"We meet up with my associate who is waiting for us."

"How do you know she is here?" The female assassin asked before Lelouch pointed to a pair of large Danger Beast carcasses that had been killed fairly recently. They looked like a mix of a giant dragon and plant-like creature, but Chelsea couldn't tell much more than that due to how the corpses were piled on top of one another. But they had been using the cave recently as a nest until whatever killed them had come along. "Oh…well ok then lead on."

Lelouch or rather Zero led Chelsea into the cave, but despite the small size of the hill it was built into the cave began to descend deep underground. Lighting a torch that had been left for him hanging on the wall, he used a lighter from his supply belt so he could provide light for Chelsea to follow him. After descending underground the two came to a dead end with a black and red painted hand upon the wall.

"So this is it?"

"Just watch, but don't say anything." Lelouch said placing his hand on the painting.

"What is life's greatest illusion?" A heavy and faint voice asked.

"Innocence, my brother." Lelouch answered as the door accepted his answer.

"Welcome home…" The voice said before the wall before them began to part to the sides revealing a pair of heavy armored doors behind the wall itself.

Chelsea was stunned as she didn't expect that, but she was now growing all the more curious at the kind of allies Zero clearly had.

Lelouch opened the doors and gestured for Chelsea to follow him inside, but it wasn't long before the passageway closed behind them. Much like the hideout Lelouch had spent a good portion of his early teenage years in the interior was built like a castle. There were signs that it hadn't been used in a very long time, but it did have some signs of recent activity. Nevertheless the idea that such a place like this underground in one of the most dangerous swamps near the capital was quite a sight to behold.

"I am surprised this has gone unnoticed for long ago did you say this was built again?" Chelsea asked.

"It was built during the founding days of the Empire."

"So did you know about it then?" The girl asked, but another joined their conversation at that moment.

"Oh my…Zero I am surprised to see you brought a girl home, so the boy is starting to grow up." The voice was obviously female, but it had a mix of amusement and teasing.

"It's nothing like that C.C…there were some unexpected complications, but the mission was a success." Zero snapped at the woman known only as C.C.

She looked close to the same age as Chelsea and Lelouch, but it was hard to really tell. She had waist-length green hair and a fair skin complication. When combined with her yellow eyes she looked almost like a doll, but Lelouch knew that deep inside she was probably worse in some ways than Chelsea was. At least when it came down to teasing and how much they could annoy him.

'Wait…C.C. is worse than Chelsea when it comes to teasing and annoying me.' Lelouch thought correcting himself.

C.C's attire consisted of a pair of white shorts with black boots and a white shirt she wore under a long sleeveless black tunic trimmed with gold while parting below the waist to prevent the movement of her legs from being restricted.

"I see…well welcome home Zero." C.C. greeted.

A/N And at last C.C. makes her entrance. What is she exactly and what role does she have. Well you'll have to wait until next chapter to find out.

Yes I regret things with Liver didn't go as well as I would have preferred, but I am going to make up for it in coming chapters and battles. Lelouch was forced to cut it short knowing that explosion that wrecked the inn would call in the local law enforcement for the town along with everyone else, so he had to end it and then flee with a wounded Chelsea before they could arrive.

But the discussion with draconichero21 did convince me to using a Teigu adapted form of his Geass from the series, but it has some limitations but it does have something that makes it a capable counter against the more powerful Teigu in the possession of the current Emperor. Originally I was going to have Lelouch use a sword and armor like that of what Bulat used until his death, but I guess it is about time I do a crossover where he has his Geass….or rather a Teigu version of it.

The details of it will be revealed in the next chapter, but I am debating if I should make it an artificial eye that assumes the form of the wearer's eye when inactive or a contact lens-like item.

Also I am going to see how long can I keep Seryu alive for...at least until Wild Hunt gets involved, but maybe...I wonder if she should survive the story.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to your reviews.