AN - Thank you for patiently awaiting the next chapter of Kindred Spirits. Hopefully the - slightly - longer chapter helps make up for it, along with the increase in details.

Special thanks goes to Ratt9, who has agreed to become our beta. Thank you Ratt, we are extremely grateful for your assistance :)

This chapter is especially dedicated to Light who died on Janurary 28...R.I.P

Light was stunned. "Kill the man who will be called Zero? What, is he a criminal or something?"

Ryuk laughed. "Not yet, but he becomes a vicious terrorist. Why not head him off at the pass...? Figure out who Zero is and kill him as soon as possible, and you will have your redemption."

Light began to think to himself. 'Is it really right for me to kill somebody before they become a criminal just because the shinigami tells me he will be one...? I need to see if he is indeed a criminal first...'

"Ryuk, I'm afraid I can't just kill this man without knowing he is evil. I'm going to have to watch him carefully, but I will neither trade for the Shinigami Eyes unless absolutely necessary or kill him without knowing he is a criminal."

"Heh, thought so... Still it was worth a try to help you for once..."

Light began to wonder why Ryuk tried to help him in the first place... "Why? It's not like you ever helped me before..."

"Exactly. I wanted to make it up to you for nearly killing you in your world."

Something was bugging Light. "Ryuk. You said that redemption would come if I kill this "Zero" person." Ryuk, who had thought this conversation was buried and done for perked up slightly at the sudden interest. " Yes, Light?" Light at the Shinigami intently " Who exactly would be giving me this redemption?" Ryuk just stood there, staring at the crimson eyes of Light. " ... The Shinigami King..." he reluctantly said, hoping he wouldn't ask if he could confirm this information with him. Light was sharp, and he noticed Ryuk's hesitance on the matter, but let it go. He had to find a way in.

It was rather odd of Light to just let some information regarding everything about him just die, but he was more curious as to what this man zero would be like. He had killed plenty of terrorists, but never one from a different world.

...

Lelouch stared in boredom as the history teacher droned on in a dull monotonous voice. His thoughts began to stray towards the man he had seen earlier... What was he doing..? Why did he have blood on his jacket? He didn't seem like he had been in a fight, just bloody... Was he at the warehouse?

"Lelouch. Are you paying attention? Who was the ninety-first emperor of Britannia?" The teacher jolted Lelouch from his thoughts.

"Alec la Britannia." Lelouch answered almost automatically. After all, when talking about Lelouch's own family – however estranged they may be – Lelouch knew almost every name and could easily remember details about them.

"Very good, now please, pay more attention to the class."

"Yes sir."

...

I need a way to make money, and fast. There isn't anything I can manage to do without having money. Killing a criminal and forcing him or her to give me money beforehand – out of the question. Not only would it be too suspicious, but using the Death Note for monetary purposes would feel as if I was somehow reducing my purpose of the Death Note, which was solely to create a new world... At least, until L joined the fray. Damn L...

Light began his long search for sources of money. He had checked the local job areas that were hiring – either they only hired Britannians, or the pay wasn't worth the effort for the God of the New World. The police and detective work didn't do much, as the only crimes were done by the terrorists – who just so happened to have lost every attempt at something... Except for the recent 'Shinjuku Incident' that nobody seems to have any information about. Eventually, he returned to Ashford Academy... He couldn't explain or understand the reasons why. Soon, he came across the student he had ran into earlier, who was speaking to another student, this one looking average, except for his strangely parted purple hair.

The average-looking student spoke. "Hey Lelouch -" apparently this was the other student's name - "You did an excellent job in the gambling tourna-"

"Shut up Rivalz. You know that's illegal. Especially when we cut class for it. You shouldn't talk about it so openly in school, where there may be any number of people listening in." The other student – Rivalz – had a... strange, name. However, in this place, maybe Rivalz and Lelouch aren't so strange, whereas Misa, Takeda, and Mikami would be strange names... Something to look into if Light wanted to set up a fake identity.

"Oh, right, sorry Lelouch. I just think it's strange that the Shinjuku Incident happened when we were on our way back, considering that was the one terrorist attack that actually succeeded."

"You're right... But with how many times they try, it was only a matter of time before they actually succeeded at one."

"I suppose you're right... After all, we don't know the exact details of what was going on – maybe Britannia's security was more lax than usual?"

"Probably. Now we should return to class, before we are late again."

Gambling, huh...? Well it's probably a fast and easy way to make money for a genius like myself... but it's illegal... First I should see if I can find any better ways to make money.

...

As Lelouch headed towards his next class, he thought he caught a glimpse of the person from earlier – the one who had blood on his jacket... What would he be doing back here? Why was he here in the first place? But when he turned, the man was gone.

Never mind. I was probably just imagining something... Possibly a side-effect of the Geass? I'll have to ask the witch about that... Although she probably won't give me a straight answer, or even a decent hint. Lelouch dismissed the thoughts of the man for the time being, and began to think about the Shinjuku Incident. It was possible, but not likely, that somebody could relate him to the terrorists' successful attack by knowing he didn't return to school right away and was in the area while noticing that was the first 'win' for them. And that's without everybody knowing he was a genius, especially in chess, which is all a battle really is – a more realistic, less reliable, version of chess. Strategy. One of the things Lelouch was absolutely best at. As far as the world is concerned, nobody has ever defeated Lelouch; the only person who ever won against him was his brother Schneizel, and as Lelouch Lamperouge never met any members of the Imperial Family, there was naturally no way they could ever have played against each other. So, in order to prevent such a thing from happening, he needed to put up some countermeasures.

The next time I'm at a computer – and alone, that part is crucial – I will have to create a program that will alert me of the internet protocol address of anybody who searches the Shinjuku Incident in relation to other terrorist attacks. Once I have that, I will be able to pinpoint the location of the person who is looking for me, and use my Geass to force them to forget all about the search, along with a compulsion to never search them in relation to each other again. Sighing at how much work such a program will require, Lelouch sat down in his seat, ready for yet another easy class – Arithmetic.

...

After searching throughout the next week, Light had been entirely incapable of finding any way easier than gambling to make money. All it took to be allowed in – as it seemed even here, they tried to discriminate against Elevens – was to... hint, at the fact that gambling was illegal anyway. When he 'suggested' that he had enough evidence to take to the Britannians, the bouncers at the entrance had quickly rushed him in, after writing a note that he was an exception to the rule of 'no elevens' as he was a potential informer if they did not acquiesce to his demand of simply being allowed in. They had even allowed him a loan – granted, he had to pay it back as soon as possible before he was allowed any winnings – after he explained that he didn't really have enough money to match the stakes. He had gotten into the business of gambling over chess, which was the easiest for him to make money from. All the other forms of gambling required luck, where chess was all skill, intellect, and strategy – which Light had plenty of. The fact that he could act well enough to appear under pressure only increased his monetary gains, as when he would make it seem as if he was beat, the other player would increase the stakes to wring the most money out of him. Using this technique, he had already won multiple games – at least five per day, as after that point not many remaining would wish to challenge him. Apparently, the next day nobody cared; maybe they thought he had been lucky, due to his acting skills?

I really hope this next person is at least a slight challenge; no point in finishing today without any sort of fun in my fifth game.

Unfortunately for Light, the next person was the worst of the day. He had been a total idiot, and allowed Light an easy win within thirteen turns. Light collected his winnings, and began to leave. Then somebody else had sat down – another challenger? As Ryuk would say, Interesting. Light looked up at his new opponent.

What? But what is HE doing here?

Light's new opponent was none other than the person he had learned was Lelouch.