A.N.: Flame Ice here. Sorry, I'm baking a cake, so I can't take too long here! Had a problem with the Document Upload, so I was unable to post! I'm giving special mention to Lost-Chan (Somebodylost) for a) Pseudo-beta-ing one of my works and b) Being such an awesome friend that she helped me fend the boredom away (in a good way). Thanks Lost-chan!

Btw: "This is normal talking"

These are normally foreshadowings. These two styles may sometimes interchange roles (this (b+i) is special).

These are thoughts.

- Lastly, these are my own Author inputs as a pseudo-deity talking. -

WARNINGS: Occasional language, alcohol and suggestive themes (which encourage the imaginations of yuri fans) from a certain black-haired Empress.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN CODE GEASS. ONLY THIS STORY, ITS PLOT AND ANY OCS I MAY CREATE TO HELP MOVE THE STORY ALONG.

*****EDIT!*****: It wasn't obvious thanks to me, and so I'm saying it now; the scenes concerning the members of the Black Knights all take place in a time hours before the scenes concerning the Britannians. I know I've left many waiting, so I'm also announcing this; the fifth chapter is being written as you probably read this. I should have gotten around to doing this two days before, but I haven't been feeling well, especially today, but I'm still writing. However, it seems to be killing some of my creativity, so don't expect the next chapter to be bigger than the previous ones. I'll try, but I can't promise anything! As a last note, the chapter will focus mostly on Kallen and Kaguya. Readers will know what I'm talking about.

...Gather around my friends, and hear the tales of woe, of those who helped shape our world...

...For each founder had a tale of their own, so each founder had woes of their own...

...Let us resume the tale, with the main character once more...

...And So, There Was The Beggining Of An Union...

Not even turning to look towards the door, the raven-haired man asked, "Who was it?".

"You'll love this; it was one of the guards placed to watch Anya. She's woken up."

The woman smirked as the answer had the expected effect, as almost instantly, the Emperor turned to her, and with barely a motion of his hand, signaling her to follow, was already out of the room and a dozen steps into the hallway, leaving flustered guards and some stray maids to bow hurriedly at him. Rolling her eyes at the display, she went after him, eventually reaching his side as the guard that had come from earlier was trying to balance the tasks of keeping up with them and giving a coherent report. She shook her head, forlornly.

"Give him just a little treat, and he'll gobble it all up before you can even blink. He's like a child!" Amused words coming from a disembodied female voice could give a scare to anybody. But C.C. wasn't just anybody. Not in the mood for more chit-chat, she strove to "kill".

"A child? Are you seriously comparing you're little monster of a genius son to a mere child? Are you freaking kidding me woman?! I'd say he's more comparable to a massive pod of genetically augmented piranhas! ...With gold teeth." Pausing for one last remark, she found it, "…And a Cheese-Kun motif."

She congratulated herself for not cracking a victorious smile, as uncontrolled laughter promptly resonated throughout her mind. That takes care of her for a few minutes. Nodding in satisfaction, she wasn't so surprised to find the three of them already before the door to Anya's med. Ward room, with various soldiers kneeling, heads bowed to the floor, before the presence of their Emperor.

She heard the mental sighs of relief as Marianne "got her breath back"—how she did that (or would even need to do that) without an actual body was lost on her. With small nagging curiosity, she asked, "So how does the great Marianne the Flash suppose the following conversation will go?"

Giving a nonchalant sigh, Marianne responded, "Oh I don't know. Methinks the first order of business will be to lure her in with his own promise to restore her memory. Probably get Jeremiah to do it. Of course, he'd have to get her to agree to a deal first; you'd be surprised how sneaky that girl can be… Or used to be—dunno how much the presence of little 'ol me messed up her brain."


"…He's definitely not the only child in the Lamperouge line." Wrong words C.C.

"Oh quiet you! We of the Lamperouge name have a long, now forgotten, history as feisty people! How do you think the Lamperouge and Ashfords are in such good terms?! It runs on our blood! …Though Lelouch got the short end of the stick in that regard. Though Nunally used to be just like me when I was her age! Oooh, if she had the chance to stay that way all the way to her puberty, Lelouch would have had hell keeping her under control! A rebel like her mother! OMG, makes me so happy to think about it…!" An excited, out of control, and most of all, distracted Marianne was an extremely dangerous thing. Poor C.C. forgot that, and now she would be forced to hear her rant on and on and on.

"Damn it! How could I let her get bored?! Shit, she's switching between moods faster than me that time I ate pizza after a failed month-long fasting resolution! And wait, Nunally? Rebellious?! Somehow, my mind can picture that, and I find it extremely disturbing; one Marianne is enough! And OMG? More like OMFG! Marianne, you've been messing around with Anya's blog way too much!!"And crazed laughter was all the poor witch got, and it drove her up the wall, drove her faster and harder than that time Marianne got a little too physical and it lead to—

"NOOO! Bad thoughts, bad thoughts! Bad C.C., bad! Oh god, someone kill that thought with fire!" Blushing a bright red, she only earned the weirded out looks of the surrounding people, who fled the scene at top speed when Lelouch, annoyed, snapped at them to set up the perimeter, and for someone to go get Jeremiah. Giving her a glare, he reached for the door's handle and turned it.

But as they prepared to enter the room, Marianne slipped in one last remark, and it was only by the Author's mercy that the green-haired woman did not faint from blood loss at the memory spurred from Marianne's comment, "Oh come on, koi. It wasn't that bad, was it? Sure, you struggled a bit at first, but five minutes in, and you already were writhing against me as my hands moved all over that sexy, small and lithe body of yours. Oh, I can vividly remember as you moaned out my name, when my fingers found that little spot just above your—!"

- …Let's just cut off her perverted reminiscence here before she jacks the rating up to M… And did I mention that C.C. was getting turned on? …Oh, I just did…? -

- …You know what, shutting up now. -

…And Then There Was An Unsealing…

Turning her pink head towards the door, Anya Aelstreim prepared to receive a visit from the current Emperor, 99th Emperor Lelouch Vi Briannia—son of her late etiquette tutor, apparent acquaintance from a forgotten childhood, former fellow member of the Student Council from Ashford Academy and the man who knew how to restore her memories. The man who held the key to end her suffering… And so as the door opened, her surprise was understandable when she was treated to the sight of a Britannian schoolboy, and a green-haired woman in a white and black outfit. This was the new Emperor? Somehow, she expected a bit more…

Catching her look, the already annoyed expression of the man turned even nastier, as he remarked, "You know, it is not a good idea to antagonize the ruler of an Empire spanning well over a third of the globe. I can tell by just the flexion of your face that you're not impressed, and honestly, I don't blame you; I've just gotten my measurements taken. So this school outfit I first donned and a robe are all I can take for now. But what you see is what you get, and so I present myself to you. I am Lelouch Vi Britannia, 99th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire." With a flamboyant bow, he then motioned to the woman who entered with him—who she just realized, looked like she was off dreaming about something, something good, what with that lost look and heavy blush in her face.

"And the lime-haired witch over here is C.C. She is my advisor, and will mediate between us while we wait for one of my associates to get here. Now, on to business."

Taking a seat on the comfortable chair prepared for him in front of the girl's bed, he settled on it, just as the woman—C.C.—snapped to attention, and went to sit on a chair beside the Emperor's. The two parties spent a few moments contemplating each other, before the Emperor chose that moment to finally voice aloud his desire.

"Miss Aelstreim, I believe that you have been informed of the removal of yours status as Knight of the Round?" Not even waiting for an answer, he continued; "Of course you have. And of course, it is also your desire to recover it, so as to make sure your years of tireless service to the Crown as a Knight of the Round are not in vain. Otherwise, my mother would be sorely disappointed in you. Or so you believe." Smirking when the tiniest hint of a frown, and dull surprise appeared on the girl's face, he rose from his sitting position to pace towards the window.

"I believe it's easy to know why I'm saying all this; you know what I want, I know what you want, and we both know that the other is aware of this. I want you to serve me, Emperor Lelouch Vi Britannia, as a loyal Knight of the Crown. In return, your status as Knight of the Round shall be returned. In fact, I'll be generous; I shall even raise your rank if you so desire." He did not even need to see her face he had caught her attention. Smirking, he waited for her reply.

Frowning, the usually deadpan expression on her face replaced with indecision, she bit her lip. She was not sure how to proceed… "Tell him your problem." Eh? What was that? "Tell him you can't remember things very well. Ask him to help you." But… "Do it child. Trust in me…" That voice… It sounded so much like the Empress's…Warm and caring, but playful...

Face calming, she reached a decision. "Very well. I trust in you."

"I shall agree to those terms…" Grinning in victory, he began to turn around. "Excellent! Then—" But he was cut off. "On one condition."

Stopping himself, he frowned. Condition? What else could she possibly want?

"This better ought to be good, or I'm placing a Geass on her." "Wouldn't do that if I were you, son." "Wha—?!

But before he could elaborate on that voice, she continued. Snapping to attention, he refocused on reality. Uninterrupted, Anya continued. "I want you to help me remember."

Remember what? Voicing aloud those doubts, he watched as the girl seemed to struggle with herself as she debated whether or not to truly confide in him her problems. But the voice speaking to her seemed resolute, and so she was eventually forced to comply. She didn't have anything to lose either. This was all she had left. But the pressure of the whole situation was getting to her, now when she was at her most vulnerable state. She was caving in.

Not looking at the Emperor, her eyes looked to the side, and her expression turned sad, "…Ever since that day, nine years ago… Ever since that day, when the Empress was killed… And from then to this very day, I've continued to suffer from blanks in my memory. Sometimes the world goes red, and I wake up back in my room, or in a garden, with no recollection of what I did; I also find that a substantial amount of time had past since I lost awareness, and that I can't remember anything from that time... Sometimes, I simply go various days without even knowing what I'm doing, and when I stop to check, I find I can't remember how much time passed, so I have to ask someone like Gino or another Knight of the Round... Sometimes, I check my blog, and find entries and photos I don't ever remember writing or taking… And sometimes, I take out that diary I don't remember ever having, and find entries in a hand-writing that is not my own… Yet, the diary has my name on it, and only I know where it is…"

She kept on, not realizing she had the complete attention of both a now mellower Emperor, and a calm C.C. She didn't even notice how her body had begun to shake, and unconsciously hugged herself. Tears had begun to gather at her eyes, and where beginning to slowly spill forth. "…I can't remember so many things… I hate it… I hate how my memory goes blank so much… I hate it how I can hardly recall the happiest moments of my life… I hate it how everyone can so easily think back to a time where they simply enjoyed a good time with friends, yet no matter how much I try, I think and think, but I … I…" Her head bowed, the tears flowed without restraint. She was truly miserable. Never had she felt so much sadness before…

…I can't…!

…And so much unlike herself, she burst out into sobs. She had dwelt on such things, on how she was different, on how others did not have her problems. She always felt this same, negative feelings… Anger, sadness, grief… But always, something happened that made her focus on other things, or she would start to lose awareness of herself, which would lead to more blanks in her memory. She had learnt how to stop herself from thinking on it, but it was always nagging her, in the deep reaches of the back of her mind.

But now that this may be it, that her suffering could end, she had to. She had to think of her problems, of her sadness, of her causes of anger and grief, of jealousy at the happiness of others. She had to, or else she wouldn't be able to move on… So she let it out…

C.C. knew all of this, having spoken with Marianne all throughout the darkest moments of Anya's life. Thus, she pitied her. She knew that this girl wouldn't last long with all those worries bottled up. But if their plan was to work, it would not be her who would have to comfort her. But just as she was about to give Lelouch "The Look", the one that could force any man to do as a woman bids, she found it not necessary; Lelouch was already at Anya's side, and in an uncharacteristic show of sympathy, wrapped an arm around Anya's shoulders, allowed her to cry into his chest, gently stroking her back and whispering softly into her ear. Slightly raising an eyebrow, she followed his example, enveloping them both in an embrace as well.

Through their combined efforts, Anya managed to calm down. She notably looked… happier, as to say. Smiling just a little, she looked away again. "…Thank you…" That felt better. Getting it out helped her mood… But the matter was not yet resolved.

No longer smirking, but just smiling, he spoke, "It is nothing. I… used to do the same, for my little sister, whenever she had nightmares… Once…" Fighting with himself to not grieve for her again, he refocused. "…Regardless, that does pose a problem. However…" And remembering that day again, when he ended the Ragnarok Connection, he found the solution. Anya perked up, looking hopeful. "…I believe I have the answer."

Looking sideways to C.C., he met the witch's gaze, and received a nod. Nodding back he motioned for her to go to the door. The green-haired woman did, and opening it, she found a solemn looking Jeremiah standing behind it. Stepping aside without a word, the man entered and bowed to the girl on the bed, before kneeling before his lord.

Anya did not understand. What did this man have to do with her situation? And so, the voice spoke up again. "He's the answer, Anya. Loyal only to Lelouch, he can remove the Geass on you, which will unlock your memories. But only at Lelouch's command."

Frowning, she let out that word without meaning to. "…Geass…?" It was only a split second later that she realized all three of the people in the room had now focused their gazes on her, and so she knew she had to explain, "A voice in my head mentioned something like that… A voice I've only heard recently. But what is "Geass"?"

The Emperor waved her off, instead motioning for the man—Jeremiah—to stand. "We shall explain later. But, our pact is sealed then? This man holds the power to unlock your memories. At my command, he will restore them. In exchange for that, and your reinstitution as a Knight, will you serve me, and only me, Lelouch Vi Britannia, 99th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire?"

"Yes." The response was immediate. There was no hesitation. This would be it.

But he had to make sure, "…Even if what you will see, what you will learn, may be more than what you can stomach? Even if your beliefs are utterly shattered? Even if your purpose in life may have been a waste of it? Can you still go through with it, knowing that?"

"Yes I will." And again, she remained resolute. She had been waiting for too long. She WILL get her answers, finally after so many years.

Nodding, serious, he pat Jeremiah on the back and the man rose, raising a hand to the side of his head. But before he took action, the Emperor spoke one last time.

"Well said! Face your past demons, conquer your present grief, and claim your brilliant future! Jeremiah!"

Nodding, the blue-haired man opened up the eye-hatch on the strange device covering that side of the man's face. "Geass Canceller!"

Anya saw the mismatching green eye of the man light up slightly, before a strange blue sigil, reminiscing of an inverted bird, appear on the surface of the pupil. The bird flew out of his eye, before entering hers, and a faint blue field expanded to envelop her bed.

And so, just like that, the Geass impairing the girl's memory and her mind was broken, and like a glass wall, the seal was shattered, allowing for a monstrous stream of memories, images and voices alike, to rush through her mind, taking their long-denied rightful places, and thoroughly storming the poor girl's mind without mercy.

And as Anya's mind began to attempt to cope with the massive influx of information, the storm left behind a sobbing girl on the mindscape, as she herself, was forced to cope with the truth of her tutor's death, and what that implied for her…

Outside of her mind and in the real word, Anya let out a small scream of pain as she clutched her head, allowing the alarmed Emperor to hold her again as she was forced to cope. It eventually proved too much, but by then, the pain had subsided quite a bit, and strangely, a small, almost invisible sigil similar to the bird that came out from Jeremiah's eye, appeared on the raven-haired man's hand. Unnoticed it went by the Emperor as he held the unconscious form of the Knight of Six, but ignored not for the Gray Witch…

Would Anya be able to cope with nine years worth of memories? Will her mind succumb to the numbing pain of reality? Would her spirit be broken, to leave behind a shell, or would it hold fast, to leave her stronger than ever before? Only time would tell, and unknown to any of them, the destruction of Charles's Geass would unseal more than just her memories… -

…And Then There Was Grievance…

With nary a flexion of the face, the capable and ever professional leader of the Shisei-Ken, Kyoshiro Tohdoh, walked down the hallway of the Black Knight's Flagship, the Ikaruga, leading to his quarters, his private little haven on this world filled with death and destruction. Garnering massive respect from all of his colleagues, he remained impassive in the face of the bows and salutes he received, continuing, taking it all in stride as he went. When he finally reached his quarters, he bent slightly over a pad in the wall next to the doorway, so as to cover it with his body as much as he could. Two Black Knights stepped to either side of him, giving him their backs; this whole thing was routine by now, and so these two helped him whenever they were around.

Acknowledging their presence with a nod, the general took a glance to either side of the hallway behind him. Seeing none of them on any side as of the moment, he chose to put his right hand against the wall, next to the pad, open with the side of the pinky pressed against the wall, as if doing a chop at the wall. Lastly, with precise, practiced and swift moves, he input the 12 digit code to open the doorway, but not before he quickly swiped a card on the scanner on the side of the pad. As the door opened, it stopped halfway through. Tohdoh appeared to expect this, as he simply turned 90º to his right, and walked sideways into the room, the door closing as he entered. The two men, seeing their duty done, gave each other pats in the back before walking off in different directions, never once looking back…

And as this whole spectacle ended, various members of the Black Knights had massive sweatdrops, while another group, most notably composed of women, were all comically bent over in a corner of the hallway, heads barely peeking over from between their knees as they all in unison spun their right index fingers in idle circles on the metal floor. Were one to stand next to them, they would feel all their happiness drain away to be replaced with a bloating shroud of misery. Already some members were taking quite a few steps away from them, some with blank looks, others with boredom all over their faces and a few ones with a totally-weirded-out look.

If one bothered to look, one could spot Nagisa Chiba to be amongst "The Miserable". Her dark aura of misery was also notably bigger than the rest of the lot. Seeing this, many people sighed almost in unison.

Honestly, the lengths the general went to keep his fangirls away from his pants…

- …Ok, so there wasn't grievance just quite yet. But you're getting it right NOW! -

…And Then There Was REAL Grievance…

…And after all the daily shit the poor man (in his own opinion) could finally rest in peace in his domain. Here, he was alone. Here, he could think. Here, he could meditate. Here, he could repent. Here, he could laugh all he wanted at those fangirls out there (the room was soundproof). Here, he could do whatever he damn wanted to do. He could read a book. He could sleep! He could change in peace! He could watch porn! He could jack off if he was into that! In this room, he was GOD!

…Or so he liked to think as he was finally released from his duties for the day. He'd have to remember to increase those two men's pays. Again. They were always so helpful, assisting him in protecting his room's code from those raving fangirls, who wouldn't hesitate to charge him en masse and gang bang his poor self…. Or so the tired man liked to think to help amuse himself, if only just a bit. Amusement and good-natured intentions were scarce these days, ever since they were betrayed by their leader and the 99th Emperor took over. "No, that's a bit wrong.", he thought with a grimace, "Ever since we betrayed Lelouch, and in response, he became Emperor. That's a bit better, if not entirely accurate."

Letting out a tired sigh, Kyoshiro went to fetch himself a cup of his favorite sake, kept in secret stashes in multiple parts of his room. While he would normally drink with his fellow Shisei-Ken, that would no longer be, for only he and Nagisa were left. Thinking of his deceased comrades, the man allowed just the smallest hint of sadness to show through.

…Kosetsu, sacrificing himself in order to assure that Zero would live, for Japan and its hopes would forever live on as long as Zero did...

("Urabe Kosetsu, thanks to your efforts, Zero returned, and he led Japan to victory, just like he once did. Your death was not in vain.")

…Ryoga, losing his life on a mission to kidnap the Viceroy, with whom they could bargain for the release of their enslaved nation…

("Senba Ryoga, you bought us all valuable time in that dark time, where that battle went south because of the overwhelming threat of nothing less than three Knight's of the Round attacking at once. Once again, your experience saved us, friend. Your death was not in vain.")

…Lastly, Shogo, who lost his life to the FLEIJA blast, the horrendously powerful superweapon which nearly decimated the entirety of the Settlement…

("Asahina Shogo, during that battle, you warned me that Zero could not be trusted. It was with your information and your death that I agreed to hear Schneizel out. While it may have been for the best, for Japan, I can't help but feel that Japan is now but a puppet for Schneizel's plans. Nonetheless, your death was not in vain.")

Shaking his head to clear the thoughts, he kept to his set task. His friends would have his head when he joined them in the afterlife, if they knew that he was reminiscing about them after they died. "Honor the dead, but let ghosts of the past rest in past times of glory, not of present times of shame." Ryoga said that once, and they all took it to heart.

…But with a pause, he realized he had called them all "friends". Letting out a sad chuckle, he seated himself on the mat floor and served himself. He did not take to calling them all friends so readily just yet, but now that they're almost all gone, he truly learned how much they meant to him. Acquaintances, teammates, compatriots, fellow war heroes, friends, family… That's what they all were to each other. Ever since Kyoshiro first took command of that company, he could tell that the 4 people who would eventually become his closest allies were all unique from all of the other soldiers, each in their own way. It was that uniqueness that made their achievements and deeds greater in his eyes, than those of the common soldier. And it was that same, shared ability, that incredible capability to carry out any order with exemplary effort and success, that led him to take the four and form a special unit, led by himself, as a Special Black Ops unit.

…And now, all but he and Nagisa were gone, and it was all because of their foolishness. If Japan had not gotten greedy with its status and new-found wealth of sakuradite, if they had not hanged the mineral over the other nations' heads just to watch them scuffle over who got the best trades for the sakuradite. Perhaps then, they might still have their Japan, they might still have been able to live peacefully, and most of all, they might not have lost so many loved ones.

But that was in the past, and so, general Kyoshiro was forced to focus on the most current happenings; even if not being able to properly mourn his friends was bad enough, now that they had gone and betrayed Zero, the Order of the Black Knights was now essentially in a state of jeopardy. While the absence of the genius mind of Zero was a tremendous blow to both their battle capacity and the troops' morale (seeing that only the higher ranked Knights, who were the ones who directly betrayed Zero, knew the truth), he could still be replaced with the combined efforts of Xingke and himself, not to mention support from Schneizel, a man who's mind was every bit a rival for Zero's. But in doing so, Japan would be no better than it was after Britannia invaded.

Let it be known that Kyoshiro Toudoh was no fool; rash at only the most extreme of times perhaps, but a fool he was not. Not long after Lelouch was taken away by Rolo, when a meeting was arranged between them in a few hours to better decide how to break the news of Zero's "death" to the Japanese, Kyoshiro sat in this room, in the exact same spot he was in, doing the same exact thing; reminisce about the past, and of his choices, and, after the rush of information regarding Lelouch was fully processed, he quickly realized just how badly they screwed up by giving Zero to the White Prince.

Firstly, even if Japan and its citizens would be restored in name, that did not mean that they were essentially out of Britannia's clutches, much less out of harm's way. First and foremost, since they accepted his help in such a way, they would be naturally be expected to maintain a closer relation with Britannia, once the war was over. Because just as the Japanese were proud keepers of the code known as honor, they were also forced to it, lest they shame their selves, their families and their nation; they were now just another set of pawns for Britannia, and Kyoshiro did not trust in himself enough to go to war with Schneizel El Britannia with just Xingke and himself as strategists, when taking into account the sheer size and power of Britannia compared to the Order. Zero may have been able to pull it off, and that's counting in his seemingly limitless Geass power, but they had to go and let their emotions take control of themselves. That Schneizel would likely hold their already dishonorable act of mutiny over their heads would only add insult to the injury.

Secondly, it was the hitch in the plan to kill Lelouch; they absolutely had not expected Rolo to rescue him in the Shinkiro, just as they were about to execute him. His escape was more than enough to lightly strain their deal with the prince, but not enough to terminate it. But then they just gave Lelouch the best opportunity to not only eliminate the Emperor, one of the few people in the world, alive, who could stop him, but also gain a powerful ally in Suzaku, and to top it all off, gain absolute control of Britannia and well over a third of the globe by crowning himself as 99th Emperor, all in one, swift move. Had the circumstances not been so shocking, he might have chuckled at the sheer audacity of the whole plan, something that he would not have put past Lelouch.

It had taken him some time, some time to remember. Back then, back before Japan was taken over. And so, he thought and thought, until he found them, found the memories. He remembered, quite clearly now, how the wayward prince had been sent to the care of the Kururugi Household, as a bargaining chip from Britannia, carrying with him a young girl whose eyes would not open. He remembered how he forced the physically impaired child to learn how to defend himself, with little success, alongside Suzaku, his martial arts apprentice, who would eventually turn into Lelouch's best friend. He remembered how he got to know the boy, not as a prince, but as a person; a young boy, with strongly defined morals and a rather uncommon view of the world, who already acted as if he was a man, taking care of his crippled sister—A cold hearted child in the outside, a big softie for his beloved little sister on the inside. And above all, he remembered how brilliant the child was, how much potential of a genius he possessed, and how much he hated Britannia, his own country, for taking his mother, hurting his sister and dumping the both of them half way to the other side of the world.

The whole war they were now fighting in was a tragedy in the making, and Tohdoh suspected that with the recent intrusion of Geass into their lives, that the war had been destined to occur well before Lelouch was even born, probably because of the previous Emperor. Lelouch himself hated Britannia—no, loathed the Social Darwinism Britannia indulged in, with every fiber of his being. The fact that they gave him up because of a panic because of his Geass, was simply stupid, plain and simple. Schneizel played them all for fools, controlling the information he gave them and the flow of the meeting right from the very beginning, and they all fell right into his trap, like a moth to a venus flytrap.

This brought him to the third point. Even disregarding all of the above, the deal the Order of the Black Knights made with the Britannians, as the single, unified and concise entity of organized defense being designed to serve the U.F.N. on its own, was to allow Japan, and Japan only, to abandon its designation of "Area 11" and return to being called Japan, with the citizens becoming Japanese once again. But now, after thinking everything through, he realized that they also excluded all of the other nations and Areas subjugated under Britannia, united under the U.F.N. banner, from recovering their true names. Once Schneizel would have established himself as Emperor, and gone through with his part of the deal, if that, then the world would quickly learn of not only how Japan had discarded all of its honor and dignity to become mere pawns, if cleaner ones, of Britannia, but how they also betrayed the rest of the U.F.N., using its formation, the hopes of millions, and all that the whole union stood for, selfishly forgetting of the rest of the enslaved ones, and ultimately culminate in the world knowing of their betrayal of Zero.

When such a point reached, as a nation, Japan would be finished. Britannia would more than likely use it to extrapolate deals with surrounding nations because of the sakuradite reserves of Japan; the people would never trust the Order again, never even see them as Japanese (Hell, he bet that even the lower ranked members of the Order would call them all, the higher ranking ones, all traitors); all of its alliances would be severed when such news of dishonor spread; the U.F.N. would likely disband, and if not, become a disorganized conglomeration of armies bent on a desperate struggle for freedom. If not that, they would likely seek revenge from the Japanese, and even if they would emerge victorious, the result of such a war would be pyrrhic in nature; Japan's ecology and population would be devastated after so much wars on its soil, and the few surviving forces of the U.F.N. would probably be all that truly remains of those nations, for he held little doubt that Britannia would move to take advantage of the situation, and claim the rest of the world in little over a few days with impunity.

In short, the Black Knights handed the world to Schneizel El Britannia in a gold platter, and all it took was to panic just once, because they were unable to trust in their leader after all he did for them, just once.

Being able to hold his liquor quite well, Kyoshiro was already on his 7th cup and going strong. Taking a break, he found small solace in the fact that now that Lelouch crowned himself Emperor, the only way Schneizel could still rule the world was to get through the entirety of Britannia. Though he doubted how much good they'd do when he had those accursed FLEIJA warheads, the Black Knights would undoubtedly aid Schneizel; with that fool Kaname Ohgi as the acting commander in the absence of Zero, the Order, the Japanese as a whole, were now more pawns in this gigantic game of war. Even if he commanded a lot of respect, he was still only general in ancient rank, now a Chief-of-Staff, and he could do little to override the command of Ohgi now. That man would assist Schneizel, believing he'll keep his word. While that was not unlikely, keeping his word or not would spell disaster for the Japanese either way.

But breaking him out of his thoughts was the sudden banging on his door, and without really caring who it was he opened it, idly fingering his katana in case it was a fangirl. He was surprised to see none other than Li Xingke on the other side, but took it all in stride, instead allowing the man to step in, and closed the door. Both taking seats on the floor, the Japanese man wordlessly served sake to the other man, before both took a sip of it.

Xingke was the first one to break the silence, and he grimaced. "I'll be blunt, for once: We fucked up. We all really fucked it up this time." And that uncharacteristic display of language done, he emptied his cup in one sip, and promptly poured himself another one.

Barely reacting to this side of the Chinese commander, he simply raised an eyebrow, before letting out a grim chuckle. "Tell me about it. Once you take the time to think everything through, you realize just how badly we got played by Schneizel. Matter of fact, I was just thinking what it entails for Japan, the U.F.N., the world as a whole, things like that. If it weren't for Lelouch crowning himself just like that, I'd be pretty sure that in a month or two, Schneizel would have done so himself, and we'd all be tried for treason, ranks be damned." He did as Li Xingke did, and poured his 9th cup.

Raising his own eyebrow, he allowed a tired smile to show on his face. "Why, Kyoshiro Tohdoh. You sound as if you've given up." Xingke was not asking, he was stating. It was obvious the man was tired, he was too, and both had practically lost all hope in the face of such grim circumstances.

Tohdoh did not even raise his head. "Old news."

"Urabe, Ryoga, Shogo… What would you all do in my place? Would you run? Would you continue to fight? Would you stay neutral to everything? My friends, how I wish you could be here and offer us your counsel in this matter… Japan… Our beautiful Japan is ruined… With this, it will never truly recover…"

The general allowed a stray tear to make its way down his face and into his sake, landing in the liquid with a "plop!"—evidence that the normally proud man had reached his limit, for no man could hold all his woes in and never expect the dam to burst. Xingke, for his part, did not make any comments. He did not speak, did not offer condolences, but neither did he mock or laugh at him. He simply took a sip of his sake, just a small one, and raising his head a bit, the telltale signs of stress could clearly be seen on his face. He let out a small mutter before keeping on with his drinking.

"…Zero… Lelouch, it's all in your hands now…"

Woeful war heroes attempt to drown their sorrow in sake, try to lose themselves in the mist of liquor and escape, escape from this imperfect world, from their duties, their lives, the death, the destruction. Woes woven from their own actions, foolhardy thus, because of haste.

…The sake would bring them solace, passing as it is, before cruelly dumping them back into their hells… Nothing they could do to escape the pyre… But to let destiny run its course…

- Li Xingke and Kyoshiro Tohdoh, both brilliant and capable leaders of the Black Knights, defeated by themselves because of a single rash action, which spun multiple events out of control, and threw the whole world for a loop.

While the two men try to find a hint of comfort in the drunken haze, let us focus to the next person in this tale, let us hear her wails, let us watch her zeal… -

…And Then There Was Despair…

FLASHBACK #º2: "Kaguya's Pain"

"How? How could it be?!It-it was impossible! Zero-sama… Zero-sama couldn't possibly be dead!! She made him promise! She made him promise he would return to her when he won the war! He always kept his promises, s-so he just HAD to be out there, probably injured, but not dead! Y-yeah, that has to be it… S-o why…? Why can't I stop crying…?"

And it was the truth. Kaguya's eyes would not stop releasing tear after tear, and she herself could barely keep from breaking out into inconsolable sobbing. Ever since they were given the news that Zero d-died, everyone was in a state of shock and grief. Zero, their great and beloved leader, Zero, had died fighting for Japan, after doing so much for it. While such a death would no doubt garner him the ultimate respect, it did nothing to lessen the impact of the news, and his most devout followers, particularly Kaguya, who loved him, were all heartbroken.

Imagine a moth, lost in the darkness, flitting around aimlessly. Then imagine a bright, beautiful light explode into existence, calling for the moth, playing on its yearning for light. The moth goes to the light, but unlike most, the light is warm, but not burning. It's warm, and embraces the moth, filling it with happiness. The moth lives in bliss, always with the light, but suddenly, the light is enveloped by the darkness, and the moth is left alone in the cold, where it would eventually die.

…That analogy, Kaguya thought, was a good way to describe how she felt. Ever since Britannia took over Japan, her whole life was dedicated to find ways to save it, but all failed, as the Occupation Force was just too strong, and most of their inversions were in mere resistance cells, most lacking in military training, not to mention lacking in resources. Kaguya was forced to grow up quite quickly, though she still kept a part of her childish self in her heart. But reality was grim, and so she was unable to let it out. But then, Zero appeared, and the world itself changed entirely for her. When he made that daring appearance, that bold claim, she could only watch in awe as he succeeded where they failed; he got one over Britannia, admitting to killing Clovis, rescuing her cousin, and throwing the military in momentary disarray. And that night, she allowed a little of her childish self to show, and as a smile blossomed in her face, together with just a small blush, she felt a strange feeling, familiar, but fleeting, form in her chest, and her heartbeat increased. And it felt wonderful.

And as the world bore witness to Zero's continued exploits, continuously proving to be an exceedingly dangerous threat to all of his enemies, she allowed more and more of her inner child to show, she allowed her smile to grow wider and wider, and she felt the feeling grow bigger and bigger. And then, on that final culminating moment, when he truly established his own foothold over Japan, when he revealed his loyal soldiers and compatriots, the Order of the Black Knights, she felt it all reach an outstanding climax, felt her smile reach her ears, felt her blush spread to her whole body, felt the feeling grow to its maximum, easily rivaling the long-buried feelings of her previous love, young Lelouch, and felt her childish heart become happy again, willingly merging with her current self, and utterly completing her world.

And it was then that Kaguya realized what this meant all along; she had fallen in love with Zero. She was completely smitten, heads over heels in love. Initially, she found the idea of the masked man appealing. Then, as the date to the day when they met grew closer, she found the man himself to be absolutely intriguing. And finally, the day they met, she had fully accepted her feelings, fully accepting Zero, regardless of who was behind the mask, for she could see his heart as he waged war with Britannia, and it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen; a blinding light, attracting all to it, and repelling the surrounding darkness without pause. And Kaguya felt happy.

But now, well over a year later, her heart broke, shrouded in darkness once again. Her light was gone, and so her happiness gone with him. No one to give her a shoulder to cry in, for she had bolted straight to her room the moment the news registered in her mind. And most of all, no one who could share her pain, who knew how it felt…

"But wait, that's not true…", Kaguya thought, sobbing now, "There's Kallen. I'm sure she's going through a lot right now…"

Knowing at least that there was someone who felt similarly to her, she wiped her tears away, newfound determination settling in her eyes. Zero-sama would be disappointed in her if he knew she was crying because of his death. She couldn't have that, so she would devote herself to become stronger, so that when her time came to join her beloved in heaven (for someone as beautiful and compassionate a person as him could go nowhere else), he would be there to receive her with open arms, and she would be able to see his face, and then, they would be happy together, forever.

Noting with little care that she was deluding herself, she made herself more presentable, and left her room, ready to face the world. Her time mourning was short, she knew, but with the war going on, she couldn't dwell on such a grim thought for long. When this was all over, she would mourn for him properly, like a wife should for her departed husband. When the war was over, and Japan was free again, she would have a mighty statue befitting someone of his greatness erected were everyone would see it.

And most of all, she thought, uncharacteristic hatred blossoming in her heart, before this war was over, she would find who killed him, and she would avenge him, personally.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." She thought with a smirk.

It was only later, when this memory was over, that Kaguya would be amongst those who received the reports of the activity in Kamine Island. With such strong forces, there was only one person Kaguya knew who would attempt, much less successfully, to pull such a stunt. With no small amount of suspicion, she would later question Ohgi about the true nature of Zero's "death", and would be given the shock of her life.

But this would only fuel her determination more, for now she knew who his "killers" were, and now she knew what to do. Nothing would stop her. First though, she would need an ally, and she knew the perfect person for such a position.

Knocking on the door, she waited a few moments before opening it, sneaking her head around the door. "Uhhh… Kallen? Can I talk with you for a while…?"

…The gears turned, and time moved on. This would be but the beginning…

END OF FLASHBACK

This was crazy, she knew. Her plan, the whole idea, was crazy. But she had to do it, she just had to! She had to be with him, or else she would never be happy. She no longer cared for the Black Knights, so long as they were led by those fools. Only one person could lead those men and women to victory, and he had been betrayed by the people who now led them. The Order was doomed as it currently was. She felt a bit bad about leaving Tianzi alone with all those bigots, but she had Li Xingke to defend her, so she thought she was fine. Not to mention that since Ohgi was supposed to act as CEO in case of Zero's absence, and Zero would be acting Chairman should she be incapacitated, Ohgi now essentially had control of the U.F.N., once her plan was put to action.

Thus, those people were all doomed with a fool like him leading them. Only Zero—no, Lelouch, for while they were both one and the same, she would learn to tell them apart, for she as she loved Zero, she thus loved Lelouch, and now even more so when taking into account her previous feelings for him—could, and he would not return to those honor-less stand ins.

She was being a bit hypocritical, she knew, but as it stood, the only ones to deserve her wrath in the Order would be Tohdoh, Xingke and Kallen. The previous two, understandable given the circumstances and their own responsibilities. Kallen was now her accomplice, in a manner reminiscing to C.C., who she remembered, often called herself Zero's "partner in crime". The two of them would join him, and together, they would show them all. They would show the world that you did not mess with them and got away long enough to boast about it.

Most of all, she would show them, the price to pay for betrayal… and maybe show her beloved just how she had grown, for her body was finally starting to enter puberty, and damn, she was growing fast.

…Maiden once pure, her heart was clouded with darkness with the truth of her love's situation. The devil had taken her heart, but would not devour it. This she knew perfectly, and happier she couldn't be. She would grow stronger, physically and mentally, and the higher echelons of the Order of the Black Knights would learn of their folly soon enough…

…For every character in a story though, there always existed at least one to pair with them, be it romantically or as a team. Let us an insight into her mind, and reveal the plot the two concocted…

…And Then We Yield The Scheme…

Crazy. That's the perfect word to describe it. Beautifully crazy. And I still can't believe where going through with it, but we are. She's going to him because she loves him, and I'm going because I need to be sure I care for him because I want to, not because he ordered me to… If I want to be with him… If I even desire to… To even realize if what I feel is truly mine… I must speak with him… I HAVE TO!

Man... Since when has Lelouch affected me so much? It's... It's weird. When I first met him, I didn't think much of him. My "friends" commeted from time to time about this "handsome" boy, who came off as "dark and mysterious, but in a cute way", who happened to be the Vice-President of the Student Council. I just thought he was like any other rich Briannian, arrongant and snobish. And it seemed like it, at first. But then, after the Black Rebellion... When C.C. told me about Zero's identity, I didn't know what to think... Was I loyal because he put a Geass on me? Did I mean anything to him? Was I just a pawn? All these questions... They stormed my mind, did not allow me to think clearly, and paranoia ruled me... Even when you said how "my loyalty was my own", my worries still nagged me, but now they were at their lowest. But they returned, that night when we betrayed you... They returned, stronger than before, and I became desperate to know... And... Well, the est is history.

And now, Kaguya's enrolled me for this crazy mission to infiltrate the Empire and meet with Lelouch. And I'm going through with it... Which means I'll be leaving the Black Knights...

Sorry, Ohgi. Sorry, everyone, but I can't take it anymore. I won't stand by you anymore. I've seen the looks you've all sent me, even you Ohgi, the looks of suspicion you give, when in your paranoia, you can't even tell if I'm on your side or just pretending to. Well, it seems you've reached a conclusion, because I've also reached mine, and I'm not sticking around anymore when any of you could snap and shoot me when my back is turned at any moment. So I'm going with Kaguya. We're going to Britannia. We're going to slip by as a noble and her loyal servant, into the very heart of the Empire itself. We're going to meet the Demon himself, and we will join him.

Lelouch… Even if what I feel is not mine… I will still stand by you… Because I have nothing else left… You are my last hope, Lelouch… Please…Please, even if I fall in the middle of all this, never forget me, Kallen Kouzuki and Kallen Stadtfeld, as one of the women who loved you. Because I know that you just have that damn effect to entice pretty much any girl to become interested in you, and before they know it, they've already fallen for you… I should know…

Wait for me, Zero…

Crazy was it described, but crazy it was, and let it be known that the line between crazy and genius was always rather thin. The chances of their mission ending in catastrophe were high, but they would not give up. They would succeed. They would defy fate itself, and they would go to the Devil's side.

This is destiny. And unlike the beliefs of many, destiny would not be denied this time.

But for all the tales interwoven continuously with one another, the need to explore the perspective of the person who could make or break them all was dire, and so, we will lastly focus, on Milly Alysia Ashford, supreme coordinator of the festival were many fateful lines would converge…

…And Lastly, There Was Love…

Fate is rarely kind to one. Because if one lives a good life, it is because Fate was kind to them. If one has the occasional stroke of good fortune, it is merely that, fortune. If one lives like me, then they know that Fate was not kind to me, because for all the fortune I possess, none of this truly catches my undivided attention. All of those parties, I throw because the thrill I get from them is simply amazing. I have yet to find something more entertaining than making Lulu's life so difficult! Heeheehee!

Yes, to develop and design a party, so that I can have a good time with my best friends, is what truly makes me happy. But my family would not condone it, for they would rather have me married off to some rich noble boy who could better their chances of restoring their kinship. Ha! Do they honestly believe that…? That I could make that difference…? …No, they don't. They're just deluding themselves. They have become so desperate, to have just one more taste of that ancient glory, the past prestige that our name of Ashford once boasted. But that name was bloated, with the death of Empress Marianne…

…And now, well over a decade later from that horrible day, here I am, sitting in an intricately designed and carved redwood desk, with a myriad of papers all around me, coming up with the finer details for the St. Valentine's Festival. Gosh, coming up with parties was supposed to be my strong point, but the ideas just can't seem to come to me anymore! Oh brother, if I can't come up with enough material for a plausible enough festival to be formed and upgraded, then Lord knows what Lelouch may do to me…

No, snap out of it Milly! He may have changed a bit, but he's still Lelouch in there! …Yes… He's still the same little kid I played with Nunally and Euphemia when we where children… He's still the boy I teased about marriage alongside them… He's still the child whose world fell apart when his mother was killed before his very eyes… He's still the son of the woman, who made our family's entire success possible…He's still the person who came back to us, when Are—no, Japan, was invaded… Most of all, he's still the man I eventually fell in love with… Yes, I love him with my entire being, but I can't help but make him squirm! It's just so cute… How he remains cold and aloof to advances from most girls, yet how I can so easily break his cool… How he seems uncaring to anyone who speaks to him, yet how loving and gentle he is to his brother…But most of all, it was so cute of him, when that one day that one of my prospective suitors got rather physical with me, he helped me plot a nasty one for that pervert. Thinking of the way of how the man ran for the hills with a complete entourage of big men after him still cracks me up!

Yes, Lulu won't hurt me. I know he won't. He's never done anything to lose my respect, and so I will trust him. That's what a woman should always be willing to do for her beloved, right…? …Wait…

…Trust? I remember… That one day I had Nina build something for me for this idea I had for a St. Valentine's carnival, but discarded because we did not have the necessary materials or people willing to try it out… But she still made the blueprints… And I bet she still has them! Yes, that's good! Brilliant! Hahahahahahahaha!

Yes, if I take this idea, and apply it like his here, and then here, and make a few changes like these and…

Bingo! This ought to be good… But first, I'll need Nina's help. Let's see, when was the last time I saw Nina? I think it was during the party to commemorate the union of Empress Tianzi and Prince Odysseus, failed one I'll say. Yes, she mentioned she now worked for Second Prince Schneizel as chief of his R&D team… "In Vogue"? Yes, that's what it was called… But wait, with use of that bomb at the Tokyo Settlement, Nina's I heard, I bet the poor thing is scared out of her wits… Many people are probably after her… So she's probably in hiding. The question is, where? Hmmm…

If I were Nina, were would I go? Well, I'd go to my safe haven, the only place in the world where I think I can be safe from danger… But what place would Nina consider that to b—wait… Can it really be that easy?

…Ashford Academy…?

With no time to lose, the blonde woman quickly grabbed her cell phone and called the number of a person she hadn't seen in quite a while. She awaited with held breath, and was happy when she was answered, as words came through with palpable unease and surprise.

"…Hello? Nina Einstein speaking… Um, Madame President? Is it really you?" Milly sat down, smiling a bit, and speaking in a compassionate tone. She was right, the girl did sound a bit nervous.

"Hey there Nina. Yeah, it's me, Milly. Why do you sound so nervous?" She had coax her to speak. It was the only way.

"W-well, you see… The bomb that killed millions in Tokyo Settlement? I-it was mine… I-I killed all of those people, just because I couldn't control myself…" Apparently the girl had been dwelling on it for a while, because she was sure that Nina wouldn't be so forthcoming otherwise. Shushing the girl as Nina let out small sobs, Milly made her question.

"Shh, calm down Nina. I'm not blaming you. You poor girl, you're probably pretty scared aren't you?" While it was not common, Milly often played the motherly role for Nina whenever the shy girl had a problem. So Nina eventually calmed down with the help of Milly's mother act.

"Yes, I am… There are lots of people who are looking for me. They want to take revenge on me because of how many where killed with my bomb… And I don't blame them! It was because of my insistence that F.L.E.I.J.A. was loaded onto Suzaku's Lancelot. Because I guilt tripped Suzaku into accepting it, he was forced to fire it, and so many people died."

"Calm down. People tend to take their worries out on a scapegoat whenever they feel down. While you may have made the bomb, you did not order its firing. So that's partly Suzaku's fault too! Silly Suzaku! And besides, Schneizel's mainly the one to blame! I mean, he did order you to build it for him. Know what that means? It means he's planning something." Letting out a sigh, she continued, "Look, let's not talk about those things. Where are you right now? Are you in hiding? Are you alright?"

Nina sounded a bit more sure of herself when she spoke. "…Thanks President. Yes, I'm hiding right now. I'm fine. As for where I am, well, I think I know you enough to say you probably suspect where I'm hiding, right?"

Chuckling, Milly responded. "Let me guess, it's a two-word name, and both words start with "A", am I right?"

"Correct. But, what is it you wanted from me? I don't think you'd just call to know how I was…"

Nodding, even though Nina wouldn't see it, she revealed her other reason to call, "Nina, I was named supreme coordinator of this years St. Valentine's Festival, by Emperor Lelouch himself.", ignoring the surprised gasp that she heard from Nina, the blonde continued, "I need to know if you still have the plans for the Trust'o'Meter. That project. Yes, that one. I need it for the idea I have in mind for the festival."

"Well, yes… I think I still have them somewhere in my files…"

Laughing in triumph, Milly proposed the next part of her plan, "Excellent! Because I think I have a way to allow you to go out of hiding, and pretty much become untouchable!" Hearing Nina express interest in her offer, Milly continued with an evil smile. Why, she was ripping off a page from Lelouch's book. She ought to be.

"Nina, I offer you the position of being my personal assistant for the festival. If you accept the offer, people would have to go through me, thus the Emperor and thus the entirety of Britannia, in order to get to you. Do you accept?"

Look alive, as the temptress Milly, made a second pact. We shall leave the decision up to Nina Einstein, as the fate of the world once again passes hands to this girl, only to pass hands again and so forth, like an endless game of ball…

They say that love conquers all, and in the case of one Milly Ashford, this seemed to be true, for, if only unconciously, she momentarily broke through the Emperor's Geass, gaining access to a limited set of powerful memories; the memories pertaining to the Devil, th one who claimed her heart. Still, the Geass remained strong, and so they were snatched away once more. Only one way to return them permanently, and that, was to meet with the 99th Emperor once more...

…And Thus, Culminates This Stage Of Our Tale…

Lulz!

EDIT: Thanks, to lelouch3071, for pointing out a flaw in this chapter during Milly's inner monologue. I tried to correct it, slightly, via that extra few sentences at the end, otherwise, I'd risk the whole paragraph losing it's feeling. And also, Milly Alysia Ashford. If I remember correctly, her 2nd name was never given, so I'm going with this. The name means something like "noble or of noble value" or something like that. Lastly, thanks to everyone who reads, favs and such this fic! It means a lot to me!

A.N.: Done! The seriousness streak will get beaten away with a flaming stick by the time the Festival section begins, at which point crack abounds. Btw, this is now a LelouchXHarem fic. I got tired of the poll, sorry. Also, the destiny bit there is a direct reference in order to mock Naruto. I just hate that. Oh well, please Review. Reviews allow authors to gain experience points, points that help correct their errors when they level up. Don't flame me unless you're offering constructive criticism!