(A/N: Hey how's everyone doing? I got some great news for ya. I finally decided how I want Ultimate Paradox to end. This means I have the winner decided and how the ending is gonna go down all planned out. However, I think it'll be a long while before we get there. Now then, let's start off the new chapter)

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass or Mirai Nikki

3rd Person pov

Lelouch chased after Shirley and finally caught up with her. "L-Lulu…I…um," the ginger was beet red.

"Shirley relax, there's nothing going on between Tsubaki and me," Lelouch said.

"B-b-but…but," Shirley was not willing to bite.

"I'm the Student Council Vice President and she's a member, is it strange for her to need something from me?" he asked her.

"But you gave her something didn't you?" Shirley spoke outright.

"Oh that," Lelouch looked to the side, "I gave her the glasses the president picked out for her. You were there remember?"

Flashback

"Oh drat!" Milly said reaching into her handbag and pulling out a case of some kind.

"What is it Milly?" Rivalz asked.

"I got these for Tsubaki and I forgot to give them to her," Milly answered.

"Oh are those the eyeglasses I asked you to get," Lelouch asked.

"Yup," Milly answered with a smile, "Speaking of which could you give them to her?"

"What? Why me?" Lelouch shot back.

"You were the one who requested I get them. You be the one to deliver. Comprende?"

"I didn't know you spoke Spanish," Lelouch said taking the glasses.

"What does it matter? Will you give them to her or not?" Milly asked.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Lelouch sighed, pocketing the specs.

End Flashback

"Yeah, but you 'requested' that Milly get them for her," Shirley reminded him.

"What's wrong with that, Tsubaki can't see very well. What's wrong with a guy looking out for his nakama? It's the same with Nunally really," Lelouch said, by that he meant that he couldn't stand seeing Tsubaki with such a handicap without something being done to curb it, of which something could in fact be done.

"Oh…I see," Shirley felt stupid now…and also intimidated in asking Lelouch what she was about to ask next. "Um…say…Lelouch…"

"Hmm, something the matter?" Lelouch asked.

"Um, actually," Shirley dug into her pocket and pulled out two theater tickets and held them out in front of her, "I-I-I got these from my father he gets things like this all the time and so…I was wondering…if you didn't have any plans if you would…"

Lelouch insouciantly plucked one of the tickets out of Shirley's hand and looked at it before whipping his phone out and checking it against anything. Sure enough there was space to add it in. "Sure," he said, without smiling, but with a kind expression as he looked at Shirley, "I'll be there."

"Ah-ah-ah r-r-really?" Shirley was so flustered that there were sweat beads everywhere and her cheeks were so rosy that if any more blood rushed to them they'd look like sunburns.

"Sure, no problem," Lelouch told her.

"So does that mean it's a da…a day…a dayaah…a…"

"A date? I guess it could be looked at that way," Lelouch scratched his head.

Shirley's entire face turned the color of a ripe tomato. "U-um…Lulu…I…"

"Hmm, something else the matter?" he asked her.

"I…that is I…well…that is…you see…um…do you…do you have anyone you like?" Every bone in Shirley's body was demanding that she run away, and eventually she followed her instincts. "I'm sorry, please excuse me!" she ran off.

"Ah, wait, Shirley," Lelouch said and sighed, realizing she wasn't coming back. He looked at the ticket. A date huh? He sighed again. Maybe I can't exactly go around keeping everyone at an arm's length. Shirley wouldn't understand that, and I've already agreed to help Suzaku take care of Schneizel. He let out another deep sigh. Might as well go make amends

Meanwhile Tsubaki was already on the other side of campus, frustrated and angry at Lelouch. She was running so fast that she tripped over her shoelace and stumbled. She heard someone gasp. "Who's there are you all right?"

Tsubaki recognized the voice to be Nunnally, Lelouch's younger sister. Tsubaki grudgingly put on her glasses and followed the voice. "I'm fine Nunally…it's just…" Tsubaki's voice left her when she saw Nunnally's wheelchair. She'd only met Nunnally once, and that was at her induction into the student council. She hadn't really gotten a good glimpse of Nunnally. Due to her bad eyesight she had always though the girl was just sitting in some special chair, but now she saw it. Nunnally was both blind and paraplegic.

"Oh Tsubaki it's you," Nunnally was able to recognize her from voice alone, "Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?"

"No, I'm ok, nothing broken," Tsubaki said nonchalantly. Again her voice left her and her face hardened. "Say Nunnally…are you…"

"Hmm, oh I suppose this would be your first time seeing me upclose," Nunnally responded, "Yes I'm blind and my legs don't work, but my big brother takes really good care of me."

"Really…good…care?" Tsubaki said practically in a whisper.

Nunnally, with her sharpened senses, heard her, "Uh huh, he's always been like that. Lelouch has always taken care of me for as far as I can remember."

"I want to create a fair world! A world where no one else has to suffer!"

So that's why, Tsubaki suddenly realized the true meaning behind Lelouch's words. He doesn't want to rule Britannia. He wants to crush the nation. He wants to lead, but the nation he leads will not be Britannia. What a fool I was, Tsubaki abashed herself, Lelouch…is still the same kind individual I've always thought him to be.

"Tsubaki?"

"Say Nunnally," Tsubaki sat down on the stone bench next to Nunnally's wheelchair, "Tell me more about your brother, the kind of person you know him to be."

"Tsubaki…do you like Lelouch?" Nunnally asked her.

"I do," Tsubaki said with a maidenly look on her face.

"You should tell him that," Nunnally said.

"I have," Tsubaki answered.

"Oh so you two are a thing already?" Nunally asked.

"Uh well…"

"Oh Nunnally there you are, I was looking for you," Lelouch's voice came from out of the blue.

"Oh Lelouch it's you. I thought I heard footsteps," Nunnally said with a cheerful expression. "I was just talking with Tsubaki. Lelouch are you two going out?"

"Wh-what?" Lelouch got defensive and blushed. "N-no…we're not…umm…it's not…"

"But Tsubaki says she likes you and said she told you," Nunnally said and then gasped, "Did you reject her?"

"Tsubaki what did you tell her?" Lelouch said crossly.

"Only the truth," the blue haired noble turned her head to the side. "I did confess to you after all, but you never did tell me how you felt."

"Oh I see now," Nunnally said and giggled a little, "Big Brother you're so easily embarrassed to hear words like that from a girl."

"Right, embarrassed…sure," Lelouch was eager to get Nunnally away from the area and then talk to Tsubaki one on one. "Tsubaki, would you come with me to take Nunnally back home so we can finish our conversation from earlier?"

"Conver…" Tsubaki was about to argue, but Lelouch winked, "Oh yes, that conversation. Yes you're right. Yes of course no problem," the noble responded.

Lelouch took Nunnally back to their living quarters and then brought Tsubaki into the living room. "Do you want anything to drink?" he asked her.

"I'm fine," she responded.

"Very well then," Lelouch said and after a brief pause began, "About earlier I…"

"You don't have to explain yourself. I get it. You're doing things for Nunnally's sake. You said you didn't want to see anyone else suffer. You weren't referring to just me. I know that now. You mentioned that you aimed to take Britannia and then added a 'but', but I cut you off. I think I know what you were going to say that that was your intention, but the nation you form will not be Britannia. You aim to destroy the nation in its entirety and create a fair world where everyone can live in harmony. Am I wrong?" Tsubaki asked.

"Even without your diary you still maintain some of that psychic insight," Lelouch complimented. "That's exactly it. Britannia will fall under the iron hammer of the Black Knights and from its ruins a new nation shall be formed and the tyranny of Britannia dismantled. I told you before, I will not permit a world where the strong devour the weak. Tsubaki, when I first saw you in that cage…words cannot express how infuriated I was. You're just like Nunnally, cast aside and just a fresh piece of meat for the mongrels of the world to chew on until they're full. I won't permit that in the slightest. When my new world is created I will make sure that the next high position you attain won't be just some front. Be it the head of the house or Empress of Japan, you will have the power your title gives you," Lelouch told Tsubaki.

"Lelouch," the noblewoman smiled.

"It was a mistake for me to try and hold you at arm's length. I was afraid it would just make things more difficult. Things are already hard enough with Nunnally as my weakness…I don't want to create more," Lelouch told her.

"How close do you want to hold me?" Tsubaki stood up. Lelouch didn't respond, only flushed. Tsubaki strode across the living room and, like a human hand around a drinking glass, clasped herself against Lelouch's body. "Like this?"

Lelouch surrendered. He realized it would be impossible for him to keep Tsubaki too far away from him. The girl was too devoted to him. She saw him as a knightly prince. "Yeah, like this is perfect," he answered wrapping his arms around the petit teen. Lelouch began to wonder who else may become too attached to him, people who could be used as effective hostages. He was wrong to think keeping Yuno from harming Nunnally would solve everything. He should've rendered her unable to kill. Then maybe he wouldn't be in this mess. Images of Shirley, Kallen and his friends flashed through his mind. He knew that they too could be used as fodder against him by the other holders. Zero did not have a weakness, but the man beneath the mask did. From the atmosphere and from the warmth of Tsubaki's body Lelouch wound up falling asleep.

C.C looked down from the second floor balcony that overlooked the living room. She pulled out a digital camera and took a picture. She looked up to the sky suddenly. "What? It's cute." There was a pause. The green haired witch grew cross, "Don't mistake me, he and I are not like that. Our relationship is contractual, nothing more."

At this same time, Suzaku was on a ride back to headquarters. He needed to talk to Euphie about the Kasugano family. He wanted her to pay another visit to the religious grounds of the Omakata. Tsubaki had invited her back after all. Suzaku had read up on the Omakata, how the previous Cult Elder, Funatsu was executed for discovery of high treason and how the cult had come under attack by a terrorist acting independent from the Black Knights. There were too many missing details as the reporters couldn't get them to talk, but if they turned down a visit from the Sub-Viceroy it meant they had something to hide. Suzaku explained as much to Euphie. He even said that if they went together there was a chance they could run into Lelouch. Euphie agreed to the plan after hearing that without hesitation.

Just as they were about to leave, someone called out to them. "Hold it!" It was Lloyd.

"Oh, Lloyd is there something you need?" Suzaku asked. "We were about to go to the school to ask the head of the Omakata religion about a visit to her grounds since she's a student so whatever you…"

"Hmmm, you forget Suzaku that I'm your direct boss. I need you right now," he told him.

"It's ok Suzaku, it's not like we're in any rush," Euphie said kindly.

"Very well," Suzaku said, defeated. He followed Lloyd who showed him his newest creation. It was a Knightmare built to look like Lancelot, but there were several changes in detail. The most obvious was the obvious wing set attached to the frame. Following that was that the once white Knightmare was now a deep shade of royal blue. Its head also had a three pronged crest as opposed to the single prong it used to have. "Whoa,"

"Pretty impressive isn't it. I spent the last 72 hours trying to get this thing built. Thank heavens I still had the schematics for the Lancelot and all the battle data you had stored on the Lancelot was intact otherwise I would've never gotten the framework done so soon. My creation is still in its alpha stage so there are plenty of bugs and its completely unequipped, but this will be your new Knightmare, Suzaku my boy. What do you think?"

"As expected of you sir. It looks impressive. So what's it called the Lancelot II?" Suzaku asked.

"My, my the name Lancelot simply won't do for a machine of this gloriousness. No, from now on you'll be piloting," Lloyd turned to face the blue Knightmare and spread out his arms and said with enthusiasm, "The Beowulf!"

"But if it's only in alpha stage what's the point of showing it to me now?" Suzaku asked.

"I'm glad you asked," Lloyd tossed Suzaku a key, "I want you to give it a test run. See if you can get it to turn on. You synced so well with the Lancelot so I'm hoping the Beowulf will accept you just the same."

Reluctantly Suzaku walked up the ladder and got into the cockpit. If I die, Lloyd stays away from my funeral. Suzaku may have been a death seeker, but going out in an accident as embarrassing as this one would be would just be humiliating in the next plane. He sighed and turned on the Beowulf. The deep blue panels suddenly began glowing the color of sun kissed sapphires. The Beowulf was acting at high efficiency, as if it naturally accepted Suzaku as its pilot.

Lloyd clapped his hands in enthusiastic delight, "Splendid, simply splendid. With such a success rate as this the Beowulf should be ready for combat in two weeks' time, just ahead of schedule for Schneizel's planned assault on the Narita Mountains."

"Right…the assault," Euphie seemed disheartened.

After a few more minutes Suzaku turned off the Beowulf. It was anchored to the ground so the only things he could really do was make sure the controls worked, and only within limits set by Lloyd. After he was done he and Euphie headed for the school in a limo. Suzaku had asked Darlton to come with him, to keep an eye on Euphie while he talked to Tsubaki about an arrangement. He knew exactly what would happen if Euphie set a foot on the grounds: Mobs. Since he had no way of knowing where she was he figured he might ask Lelouch. He called him.

Lelouch was sound asleep when his phone started buzzing. It didn't wake him up, but Tsubaki had her hand on Lelouch's pocket and it woke her up from her slumber. She reached for his pocket, but someone grabbed her arm. It was C.C. She had an almost untrusting look on her face. Tsubaki understood the reason. She wouldn't just be handling Lelouch's phone. She'd be handling his diary. It was easy to understand C.C's distrust with letting her hold that, even if they were friends.

The green haired immortal flicked Lelouch in the face. "Wake up!" she told him.

"Gah!" Lelouch woke up with a jolt only to notice his phone was going off. He looked at C.C as he fumbled for it. "You know there are less violent ways to wake people up." He got out the phone and saw Suzaku's caller ID. He hit the button to answer the call. "Oh Suzaku, I didn't think I'd hear from you. Work that boring?" the Britannian chessmaster joked.

"Very funny," Suzaku responded. "Actually I was wondering if your diary could help me locate Tsubaki."

"What do you want with her?" Lelouch asked as he rose to his feet.

"Euphie wants to take a visit to the Omakata religion. I don't have Tsubaki's contact information and it would be rude for us to just show up unannounced so if you see here could you…"

"She's right here with me actually hold on a second," Lelouch pressed the hold button. I figured this would happen the moment I called Tsubaki my ally, but it's all according to plan, he looked at C.C, as long as her loyalty to me is truly indefinite this will work. He looked at Tsubaki. "Euphie wants to take a visit to the Omakata grounds, but considering we're using that as a hideout…"

"I know, would the knights be able to make due outside the hideout for a while. I mean if you stay on the grounds I'm sure Suzaku intends to do an inspection," Tsubaki said.

"Indeed," Lelouch agreed, "And it's not like the Omakata clan can just turn down a request from the Sub-viceroy it was hard enough beating back the media. If we turn down the Sub-viceroy Britannia will think you have something to hide." If Suzaku finds evidence of the Black Knights staying there it'll only cause trouble. I can't ask the knights to just pack up all their things and go. However I can ask them to just stay away from the area until he leaves. Knowing that they may be stationed there is not the same as finding them there and of course there's no issue if Zero were to make an appearance. I can have the knights cleared out by tomorrow. "Tsubaki could you hold the meet tomorrow and allow me to be there as me?"

"Tomorrow, but…"

"Don't worry I have a plan. You just need to trust me," Lelouch told her.

"Very well, tomorrow's fine then," Tsubaki said, "I shall speak with my servants to have guest preparations made while you deal with whatever it is you need to deal with."

Lelouch nodded and then took Suzaku off hold, "Sorry about the wait. She said tomorrow's fine. I'll be there too so…"

Suzaku almost seemed happy to know that Lelouch would be there, "All right, tomorrow it is then. What time?"

Lelouch looked at Tsubaki who held up for fingers and then signed the letters 'P' and 'M'. "Does four in the afternoon work for you?"

"Works out well actually. I'll tell Euphie," he said.

"Right see you," Lelouch hung up.

"I do sincerely hope you know what you're doing Lelouch," C.C said to him.

"Relax, everything will be fine, however," he grabbed C.C's arm, "You and I have some planning to do." Lelouch looked at Tsubaki, "Can you get a ride to the grounds on your own?"

Tsubaki nodded, "I can get Mikami-san to come pick me up, but Lelouch are you sure you'll be all right?"

"I'm glad that you're concerned for me, but you don't have to worry," Lelouch told her. If all goes according to plan, and I'm sure it will, I'll be able to completely throw Suzaku and Euphie off my trail.

That Evening

Omakata grounds

Zero gathered the knights together and made a speech. "My fellow knights," he announced, "The enemy is headed this way to sniff us out. They will be here tomorrow. Rather than have you pack your things and go I want you all to just take what you can carry and lay low in the ruins of the Saitama ghetto until further orders."

"Why Saitama isn't Shinjuku closer?" Tamaki complained.

"Do you want to be in the same area as the pink terror Yuno Gasai?" Zero asked him. Tamaki realized Zero's point and subsided.

"But if we do that, what are you going to do?" Kallen asked.

"I am staying here. I do not intend to hide from the Britannians about our alliance with the Omakata group, but at the same time I cannot allow them to know that we are using these hallowed grounds as our base of operations. Therefore I want you all to lay low at Saitama until I give an all clear. During that time, Ohgi you're in charge of keeping everyone in line. Kallen you're in charge of rations."

"Yes sir," both saluted.

"Good, good," he looked Minene, "Minene, I want to talk to you in private after this group meeting I could use your hand in setting up a few special preparations."

Minene cracked a wide, evil smile and chuckled to herself, "No problem." If Zero was asking for her special hand in something it obviously meant he was preparing some fireworks and there was nothing the reformed terrorist liked more than making a big boom.

Minene and Zero locked agreeing glances before the glorious leader announced, "Knights! Have no fear. As long as you stand by me, no harm shall come to you! We stand united, for the destruction of Britannia, for the vengeance of those who have fallen who walked the same path as us, and of course for the liberation of Japan!"

Once again the Black Knights began chanting Zero's name in triumph and he stood there soaking it all in. All according to plan

The Next day

Lelouch arrived a couple of hours before the scheduled time. Tsubaki had sent her servant Ai Mikami to fetch him. The remainder of Tsubaki's servants had double lives, both as her servants and as Zero's soldiers, or allies in some way. When Lelouch arrived he met Tsubaki in the garden. She was in her standard orange robes and sipping tea while looking up at the clear blue sky, save a few clouds, and was wearing the glasses Lelouch and Milly had gotten for her. She cherished those glasses. Now that she and Lelouch had patched things up those glasses were like a sacred gift to her.

It's funny, Tsubaki thought to herself. I completely despised Clovis, but…Lelouch is…all right.

"Tsubaki," he called out to her.

"Oh Lelouch," she pat the ground next to her for him to sit down. "Thank you for being here, but if I may ask what plan do you have?"

"That I can't tell you, it'll ruin the effect. You just need to trust me on this," Lelouch said and opened his phone to look at his diary. Yes…everything should go according to plan. He put his phone away and looked at Tsubaki. "Well we have a few hours, what do you normally do on days like this when you have nothing to do?"

Tsubaki sipped her tea, and then said, as she put it down, "Not much of anything really. Ever since the Knights took command of the Omakata group and ever since I started attending school I've just being enjoying nature and doing my work. Of course…now that I can see there are so many books I want to read that are down in the library. I'm worried though," she said.

"I told you to trust me," Lelouch repeated.

"No, it's not about that," she said taking another sip, finishing off the tea, "When you were Zero and you reformed the group, many of the cult members left. I…I don't know if they'll go running to the authorities or not about us."

"You needn't worry about them, they've been sworn to secrecy," Lelouch told Tsubaki.

"You say that but…"

"If I say something isn't worth worrying about it isn't worth worrying about. Leave the worrying to me. You just live your life ok?" he asked Tsubaki.

"Yes," she smiled I understand.

Lelouch picked up her teacup, "I'll go find Ai to get you another round of tea. Maybe I'll ask for my own. I'll be right back ok?" Tsubaki nodded in understanding and Lelouch got up to go to the kitchen to get more tea.

Tsubaki looked back to the sky and continued to think. Yes…he is truly deserving of the title of handsome prince, but he makes a much better knight.

4pm

Euphie and Suzaku arrived promptly right on the dot at the Omakata grounds. Suzaku, as a safety precaution was armed with a single handgun. He and Euphie walked into the main room, which used to have Tsubaki's wooden cage, but was now one big room. Tsubaki stood alone in the room, wearing her glasses.

"Good day Miss Euphie it's been quite a while," Tsubaki bowed to Euphie.

"Yes it has good to see you Tsubaki. I must say those are very nice looking spectacles you have on," Euphie smiled.

"Thank you, the student council president bought them for me," she said.

"Speaking of the student council, didn't Lelouch say he'd be here," Suzaku asked. As if on cue the black haired teen came waltzing in from the right door entrance.

"Lelouch," Euphie said and began laughing happily before running over to Lelouch and throwing her arms around him. "Oh my older brother it's been so long since I last saw you. Oh I'm so glad to see you."

Lelouch's hardened face dissolved immediately and he put his arms around his half-sister. A smile could almost be seen on his face. He made his face out to be sympathetic and said, "Euphimia…I'm sorry about…Cornelia," he didn't exactly mean it, but he wanted to make it seem like he cared.

"It's not your fault, so don't worry about it," she told him, still holding onto him.

"Euphie let's not forget the reason why we're here," Suzaku told her.

"Ah yes of course," Euphie said, disheartened and fanned out her dress. She turned around to face Lelouch. "Lelouch, I'm sure Suzaku has acted as a go between for us for the Survival Game so I trust you know all about what's going on?" Lelouch nodded. Lying would be pointless with Suzaku standing right there. "That being said, why would you form an alliance with her and not us? I know you hate Britannia, but I'm your family aren't I?"

"True, but you're not helpless. You have the protection of the entire Britannian army, including the Glaston Knights to defend you, whether they know it or not. Tsubaki's about as defenseless as Nunnally and so I am protecting her until her time comes. We may be rivals, but like the 1st and the 2nd we are allies," Lelouch responded.

"But the Omakata group is in line with the Britannians," Euphie stated.

"Not anymore Miss Euphie," Tsubaki said, starting to understand Lelouch's plan, "the Omakata group disbanded for the most part. The only members left are my personal bodyguards ever since Funatsu was sniffed out. We are just a group of elevens prepared to fight the moment Britannia comes hunting for an example."

"Are you stupid? Britannia was protecting you, why would you…"

Lelouch put an arm in front of Tsubaki as if protecting her from Suzaku's words, "There are circumstances surrounding that that neither she nor I care to get into. Make no mistake though there is nothing outlandish going on here."

"Oh there isn't is there?" came a voice.

That's impossible, Tsubaki recognized the voice immediately as her eyes widened. She looked at Lelouch. He's standing right here, so how…

Suddenly a smoke bomb detonated and from behind Lelouch and Tsubaki Zero appeared. "Tsubaki! Lelouch! Behind you!" Both turned sharply.

Lelouch smirked when he saw Zero, right on cue.

"Zero what are you doing here?" Suzaku demanded to know.

"You came here suspecting you'd find some dirt to dig up, isn't that right Suzaku Kururugi? It is true that Tsubaki and your friend have formed an alliance, but in truth their true protection comes from me," Zero stated.

"What?" Lelouch feigned surprise.

"You mean you didn't know?" Suzaku asked Lelouch.

"How the hell was I supposed to know?" Lelouch shouted at Suzaku.

"Zero, for what reason are you here?" Euphie asked with a compelling voice.

"It's simple really. You are seeking out the truth and I simply have no reason to hide. The fact of the matter remains is that I am Miss Kasugano's bodyguard as are the rest of the Knights. She was our first client. Isn't that right Miss Kasugano?" Zero extended an arm to the blue haired girl.

Tsubaki looked at Lelouch and then at Zero confused. She then felt Lelouch squeeze her wrist slightly. She winced and her eyes opened only to land on Lelouch's phone which was flipped open to the text section with the words 'Play Along' written there. Tsubaki understood and then pushed Lelouch's arm down and walked towards Zero, "Yes it's true. I'm sorry Lelouch I didn't mean to deceive you," she apologized. She stood at Zero's side.

"Tsubaki," Lelouch pretended to be crushed.

"Zero! Bastard!" Suzaku whipped out his gun and opened fire. Nailing Zero with several shots. The terrorist hit the ground bleeding.

"Zero!" Tsubaki cried out in agony.

"Nice shooting," Lelouch falsely praised, but it sounded genuine. Suddenly Zero got up with the bullets still in the terrorist's body.

"That's impossible!" Suzaku shouted firing off more shots, "I shot you in several vital areas! How are you still alive!"

"Because I am not a man Suzaku Kururugi," Zero told the soldier, "I am a symbol," Zero then drew out a gun and aimed at Suzaku and Euphie. "And symbols are bulletproof."

"Run Euphie!" Suzaku told her.

Zero fired off several rounds at the Sub-Viceroy and her knight. Suzaku emptied the rest of his cartridge either missing or grazing Zero, but the terrorist refused to go down. Every shot Zero took missed Suzaku as a small explosions happened near the soldier as he dodged Zero's shots. Suzaku threw the gun, but it just bounced off Zero's helmet and Lelouch caught it. Right on spot.

"Lelouch?" Suzaku questioned.

Lelouch then pulled out an extra magazine cartridge and loaded it into Suzaku's gun. It was the exact type of bullets needed for the gun, "I'll hold him off, you get going, protect Euphie," he told her.

"Are you nuts?" Suzaku shouted.

"Just go. Once you're gone I'll make a run for it. Remember Zero's ideals. He won't kill me. You two just get going. Your invading on his territory and are therefore an enemy. He'll let me go once you two are safe, but things'll get ugly."

"But Lelouch!" Suzaku asked.

Lelouch held up his phone, "My DEAD END flag hasn't been raised. I'll be ok. Just get Euphie out of here! You want her to win don't you?"

"I'll come back for you I swear!" Suzaku ran off. Lelouch and Zero stared each other down until the car could be heard driving away.

Lelouch then lowered his gun. "Good job," he said to Zero. "You played your part rather convincingly."

"What?" Tsubaki was amazed, "This was part of your plan!"

"Of course it was," came C.C's voice as she removed the helmet of the Zero. She stood their standing in the outfit.

"Oh my god, how did you survive that a bullet proof vest?" Tsubaki could not comprehend what she had witnessed.

"I told you before Tsubaki, I'm a witch," C.C answered.

"But how did you sound like Zero normally sounds?" Tsubaki asked.

"It was all a recording," C.C said and pushed her hair back and detached a tape recorder she had taped to the side of her neck.

"But how did you plan all of this?" Tsubaki asked.

"I never told you about my diary's power before have I Tsubaki? It is called the Chessmaster diary. It allows me to read the actions and reactions of people I will know the actions and reactions of. In other words I knew the entire conversation that was about to take place beforehand, even where to stand when Suzaku threw his gun at C.C. My future self would examine the model number and other criteria allowing me to add the idea of grabbing an ammo cartridge from the supplies and use it. Suzaku knows how ridiculously overly prepared I can be."

"But what are you going to do about him later?" Tsubaki asked.

"I'll make up a story that I convinced Zero that I and your servants could look after you on our own. He then told me that you that I you could still call upon him if you ever felt threatened," Lelouch explained.

"I thought when I first heard the plan that you were absolutely crazy," C.C stated, "speaking of the plan how exactly did you create those explosions? You filled my gun with blanks remember?"

"And that's where the brilliant mad bomber Minene Uryu comes in," Lelouch said and pulled out a small detonator device from his left hand pocket. "I had her rig up a bunch of small bombs around the area. The gun your using it built to use explosive shells. It's impossible to know the difference when your adrenaline is pumping like a heart with high cholesterol."

"But what was the point of all this, why couldn't you just show up as Zero?" Tsubaki asked.

"I set this up in this manner to separate the idea from Euphie and Suzaku that I am Zero. That way anyone who suspects me as such will be completely thrown off that Zero and I were in the exact same place. Also I knew Suzaku would open fire on Zero. I could've used a bullet proof vest, but," Lelouch looked over to C.C as her arm and shoulder wounds began to heal themselves, "those don't exactly help if you don't get shot in the chest. C.C as you saw can regenerate. Like she told you, she's a witch. The advantage of this is that it makes Zero out to be some sort of unkillable legend. No normal human can take that many bullet wounds and remain standing with enough energy to fire off a gun. Even with that said do not tell anyone the truth of what happened here understand?"

"I understand, but what about my servants?" Tsubaki asked.

"I sent them all on a couple of errands shortly before I made my entrance," Lelouch's orders and also pre-recorded.

"You're amazing Lelouch, you planned so far ahead," Tsubaki was completely taken with the young Britannian. Lelouch nodded and then looked at his diary. "Anyway your servants should be soon. C.C make yourself scarce," Lelouch told her.

"I know," C.C said before fleeing out of sight. She retreated down into the basement before dressing back up in biker gear and taking off on it back to Ashford Academy. She returned to Lelouch's bedroom, got undressed, put her normal clothing back on, what was considered normal for her, and sprawled out on his bed. "Dear me that was exhausting," C.C sighed. After a pause she said, "Impressive wasn't it?" There was a pause before she said, "I see, so I'll be seeing you soon then…well somewhat anyway." She leaned against the window and looked out it. "Three days hmm, well Lelouch looks like Zero's job is about to increase in difficulty. Are you up for the challenge?"

Unknown to C.C an individual sat in a tree peering in through Lelouch's bedroom window. He had silver hair and wore tinted sunglasses, and also wore earmuffs. "Ah C.C, you look so beautiful just like the horizon does shortly before sunset. He opened up a phone and looked at it. It won't be much longer now before we are reunited." His mouth created a deviant smile.

To be continued…

(A/N: I think it should be obvious who that was in the tree just now, and I'll say this now it's an Early Bird Cameo. Before we expound upon that plot point I must first do the battle at Narita. [I like following canon timeline as close as possible]. Stil a LOT of shit went down this chapter and HOLY COW that was one brilliant plan by Lelouch. Without his Future Diary though, that would not have gone as smoothly. Moving forward next chapter I will slowly start leaning into the Narita Mountains arc. That means Gino and Anya will be touching down on Area 11 soil soon. Nevertheless: what does Mao have cooked up his sleeve? Will Suzaku believe Lelouch's story as to how he survived his encounter with Zero? What about Shirley? What will she think when she finds out Tsubaki and Lelouch are getting very cozy with each other? Does Lelouch even think of Tsubaki in that way, or is it just that he views her as he does Nunnally and therefore the relationship is just like friends so close they're like siblings? Regardless of what's what I really worked hard on this chapter so I expect reviews. See you all later)