I hope people found last chapter to be an improvement like I intended. As far as things went, it could have been far worse. The fight between Lelouch and Mao was far less climactic than it really could have been, but I'm not too concerned about that. Mao - as I made apparent last chapter - was really no more than a character I added in solely for the purpose of being a test subject for Lelouch. Rai plays a more prominent role than him, really.

Now, onto the conclusion to Narita that is coming. Flame if you will, because I most certainly deserve it. I'm absolutely disgusted with how fast paced I made it, but with all that needed doing this chapter I couldn't help it. Hopefully the content itself makes up for how rushed it is, but I very much doubt it.

Anyway, ineffective attempts at getting your pity aside, there isn't really anything else that needs saying. So let's just get things rolling!

--

"Charge, Black Knights! Lord Zero will arrive soon!" Tamaki cried, charging ahead of the rest in his enthrallment of scoring such a victory over Britannia. The feeling of victory was not one unknown to him but this one, he surmised, would be so much sweeter than their victory at Saitama. This one was against Cornelia herself, after all. He caught sight of another Gloucester, readying it's lance for the conflict to come, and immediately veered off course to attack it.

"You're powerful, for an Eleven," Guilford commented through his open comm channel as their lances clashed, smiling slightly. "But we Britannians are bred to be strong. Don't think you can measure up."

"Don't look down on us just for having a title you gave us!" Tamaki cried, and with one forceful move removed Guilford's lance from his hands. "Prepare to die, Britannian!" he pushed his lance forward, aiming straight for the cockpit. By swift twisting of his legs Guilford managed to dodge enough for the lance to only leave him without one of his arms, but the force of the blow was enough to send him into a steady descent of the mountainside.

"Impressive. Your Highness, we can't fight here," Guilford managed to stop his descent, bringing himself to a steady climb again. "I'll defend the plateau while you retreat. We can't afford to lose either," he brought out his rifle, firing up at Tamaki who resisted the shots with swift dodges or allowing the shots to hit where armor was thicker, rendering them useless against his powerful Gloucester.

"...You're right, Guilford," Cornelia pulled away from the two Sutherlands attacking her, wheeling about and descending. "Royal Knights and Glaston Knights, we're retreating! Darlton, protect us!" she ordered, steering around rocks protruding from the mountainside, already taking to studying her radar for a suitable location to retreat to. "Regroup with the Third Division!"

"You're brave, for a Britannian," Tamaki conceded, pointing his lance downward at Guilford's climbing form. "But bravery isn't enough! We will get our names back!"

"By following Zero? And what of your own desires? Or do you have no care for them, so long as Zero delivers victory?" Guilford taunted, swerving enough to the side to be out of the lance's trajectory, only to have Tamaki turn to aim at him once more.

"I don't care! Zero can win our independence! He can save the world from Britannia's Darwinism!" Tamaki pushed his lance forward, through the chest of Guilford's Gloucester. Guilford quickly put himself in reverse, pulling away from it before any critical damage was done. But the damage was done regardless, and he quickly found it growing harder and harder to urge his Frame forward.

"And what will he replace it with? What leads you to believe he can give you something better than what Britannia has given you?" Guilford asked, putting everything he had into one final spurt as he forced his Gloucester forward.

"He'll replace it with peace! An ideal world! One where we keep our names! All numbers!" Tamaki roared, taking his own rifle and firing down at Guilford.

"Fool. Such a world can't be created," Guilford said coldly, forcing himself to eject. Tamaki cursed under his breath at the failure to eliminate the foe, but allowed it to slide for the moment.

He could always take out the Lancelot, he decided cheerfully. That would be many times better.

"Alright, the plateau has fallen!" Ogi cried out as the Black Knights grouped together, Cornelia having already gotten too far away to be worth the risk of pursuit. She certainly was worth every bit of praise regarding her abilities on a battlefield, even if Zero trumped her completely, save for in raw piloting skill. "Ichitaka, Minami, Lord Zero wants you to regroup with the JLF and work with Todo. The rest of you are with me. For Japan!"

"For Japan!"

And all Frames were moving once again, building confidence in just those two words.

o--o

Boredom.

That one thought was shared between all three leaders of the Purist Faction. Having been stuck on guard duty - stuck protecting the rear lines alongside Earl Lloyd's division simply as an ironic punishment for failing to protect a prison from Zero, that was really the only thing that coursed it's way through their minds at the time. It was quite unfair, really, that despite Cornelia's order, officials denied their deployment on the grounds this being punishment for their past failure. That didn't explain why the Lancelot hadn't been deployed, but there was one person that suspected even those with the greatest hatred toward Elevens - that is, the Purist Faction - wouldn't be able to prevent it joining the battlefield soon.

That person was none other than the Purist Faction's leader, Jeremiah Gottwald.

In his hot-headed disdain of the situation, Kewell was the first of the three to crack, "Why are we on defense, huh? Zero won't be coming here! It's a waste of our forces!"

"Don't underestimate him, Kewell," Villeta chided. All she got was a grunt in response, to which she answered, "Or do you want to go join the cannon fodder up front?"

"C-cannon fodder?! I could handle some Eleven bastards!" Kewell retorted angrily.

Villeta simply shook her head pitifully, keeper the more rude comments to herself. "What of the Shisei-ken, or that red Frame?"

Jeremiah stopped listening beyond that. He would not allow a momentary bickering amongst his comrades to take away his present glee. He would be free soon, he kept telling himself. Free of the disdain people held toward him for being the first non-royalty to lose to Zero. Free of the guilt he had for having failed Marianne all those years ago.

He felt a faint vibration at his lower leg. Reaching down, he removed his cell phone from his pocket, taking only a moment to look at the ID. He really didn't need to, of course. The time was now.

"I'm here, Orange-kun," Lelouch's voice, along with his codename for his new ally, reverberated through Jeremiah's ears several times before he caught on to what was being said. In his enthrallment of serving Marianne once more, although only in the theoretical sense this time, he'd had several other cases of mental lapses to speak of, unfortunately. Such was his complete joy at the moment.

"Orange proceeding with Phase Four, Lord Zero."

o--o

"It's Zero! He's behind us!"

"He... he's behind us?! How?!"

"A rift has been formed in the Purist Faction! They're attacking eachother! Sir Jeremiah is working with Zero?!"

Clovis took all the new information in stride, hardly surprised by the turn of events. Lelouch knew of Jeremiah's loyalty to Marianne and he was sure to exploit it at some point in time, Clovis admitted, and that was not anyone's fault but his own. But did he regret inadvertently giving Lelouch so much information that was now furthering his own goals? His colder, more self-satisfying side certainly did. But that fell by the wayside when Lelouch was in question, who was more important than, well, just about anyone or anything to Clovis.

"Your orders, sir?"

Clovis didn't answer. And when he didn't answer, they knew the answer. The answer that, for whatever reason, pained Clovis in more than one way. "...Giving the order for the Lancelot to launch now, sir."

o--o

"You're clear for launch, Suzaku," Cecile's caring and almost motherly tone of voice lifted Suzaku's damaged spirits slightly, and he managed a small smile as he muttered 'Launching' in response. Ever since his recent talk with Lelouch, he'd caught himself pondering over the meaning of his friends words more and more. He knew it was foolish to question his ideals. Foolish to suggest that illegal methods were even remotely acceptable. But were Britannia's darwinistic ways really any better than illegal methods? Where was the line drawn between the two?

More importantly, what made Lelouch become so adamant in believing in Zero? Sure, he had once said he wished to destroy Britannia, but it didn't take a genius of Lelouch's caliber to realize time had changed him. His acts of kindness seemed far less forced than Suzaku remembered, and he showed a more than genuine regard for human life. Which was something Zero couldn't quite attest to, Suzaku feared.

"Suzaku, your target is Zero's Gloucester and the rebelling Purist Faction members under Jeremiah," Cecile's voice reminded him smoothly, as if afraid he'd do something drastic were the orders not drilled into his head. It was reasonable to assume so, he admitted sadly, recalling past missions in which his desire to protect civilians had come before his duty. It was all a jumbled mess that had resulted in him being neglected and thrown aside more and more, out of fear that the Eleven pilot would once more do such a thing.

But when the Black Knights were the enemy, Suzaku had no such worries. Strangely - although it was never deliberated amongst those higher up the military chain, Zero always seemed to make sure civilians were never caught in the crossfire. When Zero acted, not one civilian lost their life. Past battle reports even showed divisions of the Black Knights dedicated to ensuring civilian safety.

Perhaps Zero did show regard for human life?

No, he refused to believe that. If that were the case, why would Zero rebel to begin with? Clearly he desired change, but at the cost of so many lives? Although, similarly, was Britannia any better when it came to their conquests? In fact, in the comparison between Britannia and Zero, the latter seemed more humane. So why was Suzaku on Britannia's side? To change it from within, without using methods such as Zero's, he convinced himself.

So why was he in so much turmoil when it boiled down to making that decision?

o--o

"Zero, all their Frames are damaged already! Is it really reasonable to fight them?" one of the Purist Faction members - who clearly valued loyalty to his direct superior over loyalty to the entire chain of command, given that he now took orders from Zero - grudgingly asked. His teeth were gritted and his fists were clenched, only having just finished taking a part in Zero's plan to neutralize Villeta and Kewell, both of whom were now restrained and being held in their respective Frames.

"Fighting them can't be helped. But try your best not to kill them," Lelouch stated cooly, much in contrast to the reply the disgruntled Purist Faction member's had expected. "See if you can convince your allies to change sides, if you feel so inclined. Until the JLF and Black Knights arrive, it's just us out here. The extra firepower will be appreciated."

"What happened to 'emotion will only hold me back'?" C.C. asked from behind him, in her own seat in the cockpit.

Lelouch just stared, no flicker of emotion making itself known on his face, "Being emotionless and having regard for human life are two very different things, C.C.," he stated, eyes showing just a momentary annoyance before he turned about and returned to overseeing the conflict that was unfolding. Jeremiah was leading an ever growing number of Purist Faction members against their allies, who - having taken at least some damage in the Black Knights' rockslide - could do little in retaliation. The fight was not unlike watching a massive slaughter, Lelouch noted sourly, although even his allies were victimized in the rockslide. Jeremiah, Kewell and Villeta seemed to have been the only ones amongst the Purist Faction still with fully operable Frames.

"Oh? Where did a line like that come from?" C.C. retorted, face contorted into something caught between a grin and a smirk, quite vividly showing her amusement.

"...Clovis taught it to me," Lelouch replied, almost sadly. "When we reunited six years ago, he changed considerably. He was still a cold person who valued furthering his own goals no matter what the cost, but he also taught me many things. He taught me that blind vengeance - which had been my original plan - was foolish, and that I was no better than those I sought revenge against if I showed no regard for human life. I suppose you could say that, without him, I'd be no more than what Charles is."

C.C. didn't reply. Not at first, anyway. It hadn't really occurred to her that Lelouch had such surges of emotion that he kept bottled inside, but it intrigued her. His regard for human life didn't particularly matter to her, of course: no matter the path he chose, they'd walk it together. But it was probably a good thing that he was more than a heartless murderer, she theorized. "Why do you take his words to heart. Lelouch? He's your enemy," she pointed out coldly, gazing at the back of his head intently as she awaited a response.

"He's not my enemy," Lelouch growled. "He's my brother. Him, Euphemia, Cornelia... all of them. We may be on different sides, but we're siblings. I won't kill them if it can be helped, witch."

"Orange reporting!" Jeremiah said suddenly, cutting into their conversation unknowingly. "They've all either been neutralized or recruited, Zero. Only three confirmed deaths."

Lelouch visibly relaxed when he heard that, which surprised C.C. further still; it was the first time he'd shown any reaction to people dying since his relieving sessions after the Shinjuku incident. "Good. Take the time to go over the damages to our Frames, and get back to me --"

"-- It's the Lancelot!" one of the troops cried suddenly. Lelouch immediately dropped his initial order and, grabbing his phone from his pocket, quickly sought out Ogi's number in his speed dials and kept his phone at the ready.

"All forces, spread out!" Lelouch ordered, readying himself as well. "Don't lose heart, and follow my orders exactly! We can defeat the Lancelot!" his attempts to raise spirits was met with little success, but he hadn't expected much else.

"Zero spotted," Suzaku said to himself, quietly. "Eliminating the target now, Cecile."

The Lancelot sped toward Lelouch, closing the distance in the blink of an eye and bringing down one of it's MVS swords toward Lelouch's Frame's head. He quickly swerved out of the way, calling out, "All forces, attack from different angles! Keep it boxed in hold out! If it comes toward you, listen to me!" he ordered hastily, slashing his MVS sword toward the Lancelot from the side.

"Are you sure you can handle trying to kill Suzaku?" C.C. asked with a tinge of mirth lacing her words.

"I won't kill him," Lelouch responded cooly, finally hitting the button on his phone to make the call. He pressed the phone to his ear, and as soon as he heard the noise signaling it had been answered on the other side, he said, "This is Zero, Ogi."

"Z-zero! Where are you?!"

"I'm with the Purist Faction near their mobile base. Jeremiah Gottwald is on our side now, as are most of the Purist Faction," Lelouch answered quickly, pulling back as his attack failed, just narrowly avoiding another slash. He probably would have been caught on that one, had it not been for the large number of Sutherlands surrounding the Lancelot, opening fire when the moment proved opportune.

"The... the Purist Faction?" Ogi replied, dumbfounded.

"I'll explain later, Ogi," Lelouch surprised his second-in-command with those words; neither could recall a time when Zero had promised to explain what he did on the side. "I'm currently engaging the Lancelot. How is everything on that front?"

"All in accordance with your plans, Zero. We have them on the run even now. They're moving toward you. Do you want us to do anything else?" Ogi asked, for insurance's sake among other reasons.

"No, continue as you are. But send Karen to reinforce me down here. You go need only push the attack alongside the Japanese Liberation Front," Lelouch ordered firmly. Suzaku closed the distance between them once more, only to be forced to back off as Jeremiah fired toward his landspinners, threatening to bring the Lancelot to a complete halt. Lelouch took the moment to open fire as well, noticing how quickly his power was being drained using the MVS sword. 'Certainly not something to be used continually with the Gloucester,' he noted sadly, now all the more enthused about granting the Black Knights the ability to use such weaponry more freely. Which would be possible with the funding to make use of their Lancelot Club schematics. Although, much as it pained Lelouch to say it, noting the incredible firepower before him, there were more important things to fund.

"I understand."

Lelouch hung up after that, returning the whole of his focus to the Lancelot in front of him. Suzaku charged once again, this time intent on plunging one of his MVS swords straight through Lelouch's Gloucester. Lelouch, however, had no plans for making Narita his gravesite, and swiftly maneuvered out of the thrusting sword's path, firing at the Lancelot's arm from close range, damaging it considerably. Suzaku growled under his breath, more due to the fact that it was Zero of all people to do any considerable damage to him than anything, but wouldn't let that get him down. He immediately turned to attack but was forced away as Jeremiah and several others opened fire, threatening to put Suzaku into a grave of his own.

"Kururugi Suzaku!" Lelouch beckoned, firing at the Lancelot's chest to keep it at bay for as long as possible. Which, noting the exceptionally high performance of the unit, wouldn't be long. "Why do you fight for Britannia?"

"I..." Suzaku tried, distracted by both the hard pressed situation he was in coupled with the aftershock of Zero knowing who he was. That part, among other things, was the biggest shock. "I fight to change Britannia from within! Illegal methods won't work. And you, Zero, are nothing more than a heartless terrorist."

"Is that so?" Lelouch replied bemusedly. Even if it was Suzaku, and he knew the man was as thick as they came, being forced through the same torrent of self-satisfactory speeches of morals, right and wrong, and all the other things Suzaku took pride in believing was nothing short of dreadful to Lelouch. "And by betraying your own people, will you be able to change their fate? Will you be able to give them a future? Tell me, Suzaku Kururugi, do you truly believe such peaceful idealisms will reach the hearts of Britannians?"

"Le-lelouch..." Suzaku muttered, recalling his close friend having asked the exact same of him. "Lelouch asked the same of me, Zero. I'll tell you what I told him," he paused, activating his MSV shields to render the mass of firepower coming at him useless before speeding forward, cutting off one of the arms of Lelouch's Gloucester in a single fluid motion. He aimed to remove the other, but Lelouch quickly pulled his MVS sword out and blocked. "Peaceful methods are the only way to achieve true results! What you're doing, what you seek to accomplish, is nothing more than murder!"

"And what of every number? Will they be left to Britannia's Darwinism? Is it okay to sacrifice their freedom, so long as the Japanese get their's? Where is the justice in that?!" Lelouch cried, enraged. "There is no justice in saving only the Japanese! Even if I must become the devil himself, I, Zero - no, Lelouch Vi Britannia - swear to save all the numbers!" his anger getting the better of him, Lelouch pushed at the Lancelot with every bit of his might. Despite his best efforts, it didn't seem to be enough, and his own sword was forced from his hand, the shock pushing him back at the same time.

"Lelouch?! You're... Zero?!" Suzaku asked, having taken several moments simply to comprehend what had just been said. "But why?! Your enemy is your father! You are fighting your own siblings! Is that your justice?!"

"Suzaku," Lelouch started, calmly. "Are you telling me that I should roll over like Cornelia and Schneizel, and accept Britannia's Darwinism?" Lelouch stalled, grabbing his rifle and pointing it at Suzaku. "I do not wish to fight my siblings. Nor do I want to fight you. But it can't be helped. If you cannot understand Zero's ideals, then we are enemies. And if that is the case, I will not hold back."

"Lelouch..."

"Don't!" Lelouch gasped out, quickly finding it harder to breathe. He didn't know if the heat rising in his cockpit was the cause, or if it was himself trying to hold back his mixture of rage and anger, but if was almost to much to handle. "I don't want your sympathy, Suzaku. I chose this path, knowing what would happen to me. I accepted the gifts I was given, knowing it would make me lonely. I will accept it all, so long as I create a better world. If you would stand in the way of my better world, then we have nothing more to say."

"...I understand," Lelouch looked down at his lap, almost ashamed of what had become of him and Suzaku in only the past few minutes. All the same, however, he prepared to fire, forcing back the pain he felt at the realization that he and his best friend were now trying to kill eachother. Somehow, it was more painful for him when Suzaku knew that it was Lelouch he was trying to kill, rather than Zero.

"Zero! This is the end!" Lelouch whirled about, seeing Kewell - having broken free of his captors - charging at him, rifle poised to fire. As the distance was closed he fired his slash harken, intent on trapping Zero before eliminating him. He was stopped, however, by the Lancelot blocking the way, taking out the head of Kewell's Sutherland before he could get to Lelouch. "Heh, so the Eleven turns traitor. I should've seen it coming," Kewell gasped out before ejecting, clearly having been wounded slightly by the blow.

"Suzaku?!" Lelouch cried out, surprised. Despite his sheer shock, however, he couldn't prevent a victorious smile from gracing his previously scowling face.

"I do not agree with achieving these ends through heartless means, Lelouch," Suzaku told him sternly, not so much as turning the Lancelot to face him. "But if your path makes you lonely, than I will fight by your side. But promise me that you will always take the more humane path, and that you will not become the demon you told me you'd become."

Lelouch pondered that for a moment. Was there really a humane path to creating a worldwide war? He - much as he hated to admit it - didn't know the answer to that. With that thought in mind, he said, "When we find the humane path, I will surely take it, Suzaku."

o--o

"Ah... Stubborn Britannians!" Karen muttered, annoyed. She had received the order to move and assist Zero well over ten minutes ago, but had since been hard pressed as a small squadron of Sutherlands, who seemed to be ignoring the fact that the unified JLF forces and Black Knights had them on the run, decided to assault her. It was a game of cat and mouse as she struck and pulled back repeatedly, finding it hard to find any sort of opening.

"Damn Elevens, thinking they can measure up to us... Everyone! The one who takes down that red Frame will be a hero!" Walker Laurence, leader of the 49th Armored Frame Squadron, cried. The other six Sutherland filed around him, three on each side forming something of a wing. They all charged forward at once, turning in and circling around Karen, effectively trapping her. "Take this, Eleven scum!"

"I don't think so!" Karen retorted, grabbing onto Walker's Sutherland and releasing her Fukushahado waves into it. Walker cried out in sheer agony as his Sutherland heated up, it's outer armor looking as if it were bubbling before the agony became too much and Walker was forced to eject. The damage had been done, however, and his body was completely covered in burns. He lost consciousness as soon as his cockpit reached safety in the distance, out of Karen's sight and out of her mind. Not that she'd be so cold as to attack an ejected cockpit.

The rest, however, were rendered immobile as they witnessed their Colonel being defeated so easily. In their shock they were picked off rather easily, and Karen took to a rather methodical circular movement, taking out each of them one by one. Each was left in nothing more than a flaming heap of metal, the cockpit having been ejected to safety in the surrounding forest. Karen sighed to herself, relaxing her reflexively tensed muscles. Her shoulders immediately cracked despite her attempts to prevent it, and the cracking sound resonated through the cockpit several times before falling dead. The red headed ace winced involuntarily.

"Karen, move to intercept Cornelia," Lelouch's commanding voice said suddenly, causing her to jump much against her will.

"What? But I thought..."

"Situations have changed. I'll explain later," and with that, the communication was cut as abruptly as it had been opened. Karen raised a half bemused, half confused eyebrow before returning her hands to their controls. So long as Zero wanted the same thing he'd told them he wanted - and nobody had reason to believe otherwise - she didn't mind if she was used. It was a little disheartening to think of herself as a tool, but having the Guren at least made herself feel like a more important tool.

But in reality, even she realized that a tool could never be important.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Karen - taking half a moment to read her radar for the most effective way to intercept the Britannian forces before they reached the mobile base - began her continued descent down the side of Narita mountain, ever hopeful that she wouldn't run into more disobeying fame seekers amongst the routed Britannian forces. The last thing she wanted was more carnage, necessary though it may be in the grand scheme of things. The landslide they'd executed had done enough damage. Instead, the extent of the damage she wanted to cause was centered around a single person.

"I'm coming for you, Cornelia," Karen said, smiling to herself. "...For Japan."

Rather than sneezing, as per Japanese superstition, Cornelia growled in rage, for an entirely different reason. With all of ten Sutherlands and four Gloucesters - Darlton, Bart and two of the Royal Knights - Cornelia found it nigh impossible to fend off the seemingly limitless JLF forces mixed with the Black Knights that kept coming forward. Bravery, among other things, had bought them enough time to allow the remainder of their routed forces to retreat, but even that had seemed to be running dry.

"Persistent Elevens!" one of her soldiers cried, shortly before charging forward in what Cornelia could only surmise to be another attempt to prove the Britannians were superior to the Elevens. But all attempts, when faced with the situation they were in, had come to much the same result. "Take this, damned Elevens... agh!" wincing as the knight was forced to eject, that attempt ended no closer to success than the last, Cornelia admitted sourly.

"Don't fight recklessly! We're playing right into Zero's hands if we do that!" Cornelia cried, firing at any Knightmare Frames that came into her line of sight as her own Gloucester moved backwards. "We have to get away from the mountain," she gritted her own teeth in previously hidden rage as she finally admitted defeat. To Zero, of all people.

"But Your Highness," Darlton tried, calm and collected. "Zero attacked from the Narita Settlement itself. The Purist Faction as defected, as has the Lancelot. The mobile base has all been captured."

This made Cornelia snap, among other things. Zero managed to win over the Purist Faction? As troublesome as it was, she had to admit that it would be a good means by which to judge Zero's character. An emotionless leader of Elevens certainly wouldn't have been able to win over the Purist Faction - the very faction dedicated to eradicating Elevens from society - without some other motivation. Much less would he be able to win over the morally driven Suzaku Kururugi - even if he was an Eleven, it was common knowledge amongst the Britannian military that he despised any and all illegal methods to achieving things.

"Your Highness?"

"...We're abandoning the mobile base. Zero's goal wasn't us. He won't pursue."

Judging by the tone of voice, Darlton knew better than to have doubts regarding his princess' judgment. Smiling slightly, he said quietly, his voice full of admiration with a large amount of regret - as a byproduct of the realization that they were leaving Clovis in Zero's hands, "Yes, Your Highness."

o--o

"They're retreating! I can't believe it!"

"Zero made another miracle!"

"Not Zero, you idiot, us! Todo of Miracles created another miracle!"

Cries lost somewhere between sheer shock and overwhelming joy were heard all across Narita mountain as Japanese Liberation Front soldiers and Black Knight members alike cried out their thanks to their respective miracle creators. Several amongst the higher ups in both groups thought to silence them, but opted against it after realizing just how despairing their situation had indeed been at the onset. Soon afterwards, even they joined in, allowing the brief moment of happiness to wash over them.

Lelouch climbed out of his Gloucester inside the mobile base they'd just captured, with Jeremiah and Suzaku doing the same on either side of him, both falling into step with him as he made toward the control room of the mobile base, C.C. trailing just a bit behind Lelouch. Suzaku recognized her immediately after noticing her, and cast a confused glance at Lelouch. He was still put off talking to that mask known as Zero rather than his friend, Lelouch, but shrugged off the feeling. He had enough doubts already, and didn't need the added pressure. Trying to change his thoughts, he said slowly, "She's..."

"The one we found in Shinjuku, yes," he replied, not glancing over at his friend. "Orange-kun, have your men done as I asked?" he glanced to his left and at Jeremiah, who's expression seemed considerably lighter than it had been when they last spoke. He seemed almost... content.

"They have, Zero. But what are we to gain from doing this?" Jeremiah replied, casting an inquisitive glance at Lelouch, trying his best to look at his new superior as the man behind the mask rather than the cold leader that had Britannia putting the vast majority of it's focus on Area 11. The situation was heading in that direction prior to Lelouch's rebellion, he knew, but Lelouch had spiraled things into what he recognized to be the makings of a worldwide war. He couldn't help but wonder, however, if that was Lelouch's aim.

"In time. We have one other guest on his way, and another waiting just ahead," Lelouch needed not explain further, as they entered the control room, C.C. quickly hiding just outside the room. Clovis and several other officials - among which was the captured Villeta Nu - were tied up in the center of the room, surrounded by members of the Purist Faction. Some struggled while others simply closed their eyes and accepted the defeat they'd been handed. Clovis, unsurprisingly to Lelouch, was amongst the latter. "Clovis La Britannia, it's been a while," Lelouch greeted, smiling warmly behind his mask.

"Zero," Clovis responded the gesture, glancing at his masked captor with one analyzing eye. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Zero, why did you call me here?" all eyes but Lelouch's turned to the doorway where Todo stood, his usual bemused expression gracing his slightly aged features.

"Unty them," Lelouch ordered and, although hesitant, the Purist Faction obeyed. "Clovis La Britannia, do not move. The rest of you may leave."

Everyone, even Suzaku, looked at Zero as if he had grown a second head. The captives, realizing the hopeless situation they were in and how impossible it was to save their prince, allowed themselves to be escorted away by the Purist Faction. When they were alone, Lelouch turned to Todo, finally gracing him with acknowledgment of his presence, "It's been a while, Todo," he greeted, holding his hand out.

Confused as he was, Todo accepted it and shook it. "What do you mean, Zero?"

Rather than answering, Lelouch gripped his mask and slowly removing it. Confusion came back full force for a moment before Todo realized who it was he was looking at, and a small smile graced his features before they hardened once more. "So it's you," he said simply and sternly, yet somehow seemed relatively glad at the same time.

"Lelouch..." Clovis started, earning the desired effect of having all eyes turn to him. "What are you planning? Why do all this, just to get to the Japanese Liberation Front? Why attack your family?!"

Lelouch scoffed, stepping away from his half brother, looking at everyone. "I am not attacking my family, Clovis. I am doing what is necessary to change the world. But changing the world through terrorism, Todo, is not right. Which is why you are here," he paused, offering his hand to Todo once more. "Convince your allies to join the Black Knights. Join me in creating Japan's personal army, and join me in creating a new world."

Todo glanced at the hand hesitantly for a moment, before smiling slightly and taking it. "You aren't interested in restoring Japan, are you?" he said, despite the smile on his face. "You're aiming much higher. You're aiming to save all numbers, aren't you?"

"Would saying yes change anything?" Lelouch asked, smirking as their hands withdrew. "A world where the weak are left behind is a relic of a lost age. I want a world of equality. One where people like my sister aren't left behind because they're weak. If, to that end, blood must be shed, I will not hesitate."

o--o

Things changed dramatically that day. The Order of the Black Knights was no longer looked upon as nothing more than a highly effective terrorist group. With the near doubling of our numbers upon the Japanese Liberation Front merging with the Black Knights, Elevens recognized us as their rightful saviors. Clovis promised his support, and had since begun working to protect inside men such as Diethard, maintaining our access to the public.

Through Diethard's channel, Suzaku publically revealed himself as the son of Genbu Kururugi and as the pilot of the Lancelot, as well as revealing himself to be Zero's right hand man. That further increased support of the Black Knights, but also had several negative effects. One being the Japanese officials that had fled to the Chinese Federation, requesting asylum with the Black Knights. I'd wanted to decline, but more negative sides to recent changes showed in the form of Suzaku forcing me to grant them asylum.

Todo was relatively easy to please, placing him in charge of all military operations and drilling our members in their piloting talents. Rakshata had a field day looking over the Gekkas that the Shisei-ken were using before surmising that ace pilots such as them deserved something better, and thus began production of a more energy sucking version of the Katen Yaibatou, which she named the Seidotou.

All things considered, things were going splendidly. Being recognized as the saviors of the Elevens coupled with having Suzaku in our ranks had us swarming with new recruits, and Tamaki was rather content to be kept so busy. With the ever growing forces of the Black Knights, however, it grew yet harder to maintain secrecy. An answer came, of course, but it was not one I wanted, given current conditions.

India had begun a war for independance in the Chinese Federation.

--

A few things were out of place here, really, but I opted against expanding on them. Suzaku's current position is an exception of course, given how greatly his views differ from Lelouch's. Expect that issue to be present for a long time to come. And yes, I am sorry to the very many of you who despise Suzaku. But as you can see, the reasons you most likely hate him for are hardly relevant this time around.

Anyway, my plans for this fic were turned back a bit. Main reason being, I didn't want another 10,000+ word chapter, and it would have been if I had included everything. So expect a part two of sorts to be coming next chapter, which I don't mind since, as you have hopefully noticed, means the big Chapter 10 is the one that starts my slowly turning gears of major changes.

And lastly, regarding possible questions regarding Todo and Lelouch's conversation. I had the idea that, although it was never really mentioned, it is assumable that Todo, like Taizo, knew Lelouch when he stayed with the Kururugis. And so, that explains that. I also added Orange this chapter, more as something of a small joke based around the initial intent of the name, but that really deserved nothing more than a footnote.