The Chess Match

14

-L/L-

Lelouch returned to the makeshift campsite with a large jungle leaf full of berries and a coconut. Even though he didn't recognize the berries, he had frightened off some birds that had been eating them; it seemed a good enough indicator of their edibleness. He wasn't sure how they would open the coconut, but he figured he'd leave it to Kallen to figure out. She was much better at brute force than he was, which was why he'd left her to finish the animal trap as well.

He could smell the meat roasting before he arrived, and his stomach rumbled hungrily. He hadn't been this hungry since the summer Britannia invaded and he had had to walk to the Ashfords'.

"Relax, it's just me," he said as he approached from the bushes. Kallen relaxed her defensive stance and went back to tending the fire. She turned a defeathered bird—was that a chicken?—over on a spit, the juices running down and hissing in the fire below.

The redhead looked up and squinted at him with a strange expression on her face. "You're so different from what you pretend to be at school. I have to admit, you really had me fooled."

Lelouch set down the berries and his mask. He'd carried it in case he ran across any more unwanted people on the island. At the rate he was going, however, he might as well screamed the truth for Diethard to broadcast to the world. C.C. was going to laugh at him. He sat and picked up a berry before responding. "Again, you're one to talk."

She frowned. "Yeah, but you actually live there, don't you? I mean, I only go part-time, but it's still exhausting to pretend to be weak all the time."

Lelouch laughed lightly. "My persona at school isn't so drastically different from Zero, really. I just am quieter at Ashford."

"But everyone at school knows you! I thought you were annoying and aloof and didn't care about anything important or politics. You're the Vice President…." She made a face. "Zero is my Vice President… and do you realize how much of the Student Council is now involved in this war?"

Lelouch nodded. "I never imagined Suzaku would be a pilot, let alone that white-head's. But you yourself are responsible for Light's involvement. And as Zero, I can't refuse a good soldier."

"I never thought about it that way. Is that why you seem so at odds with him sometimes? At school, I wasn't sure if you two were friends—not that I cared or anything, er, wait, that's only because I thought of you as just Lelouch and…." She turned a faint pink and looked back at the cooking bird. She turned it and Lelouch could tell it was just to have something to do with her hands.

Lelouch was glad Kallen looked away. He wasn't quite sure what emotion his face was showing. The strangeness of being able to remove his mask as Zero in front of Kallen was messing the one he held for her at school as well. He didn't know the answer to her question. Distaste? Distrust? Confusion? "Light is… very difficult for me."

His words immediately brought her blue-eyed attention back to his face. She spoke to him with some caution. "You said earlier that I shouldn't trust him…."

"And I will repeat it if necessary. There is a lot more to Light than he lets on. He is…" Lelouch trailed off and then laughed, "…more of a liar than I am, but I don't know his intentions yet. It's disturbing to find someone more twisted than I am."

"You're not twisted!" Kallen shot back immediately, her eyes righteous.

"I'm a Britannian fighting Britannia. I can guarantee I have more of reason to hate that family than you. That's not twisted?"

She shook her head, her hair swinging in the fading light. "Doing the right thing isn't twisted. And neither is Light."

Lelouch swallowed. Here was his opportunity to try to dissuade Kallen from Light, but… it made him feel hollow and petty. But what if… could it save Kallen? She was important to him as the Guren's pilot, but also with her support of his identity, that meant a lot to him. Keeping her from Light and the monstrous being that followed him… that meant keeping her from Kira and a deadly heart attack. She was a terrorist after all, and even if Kira hadn't targeted the Black Knights specifically… a few members had died, but nothing of significant note and with a lower percentage than the general population. As much as he didn't want to involve himself in something that would undoubtedly degenerate into a domestic dispute, since Kira was involved….

"You're thinking hard about something. It's strange to see it on your face… is this what happens under your mask when you're silent before announcing a mission?"

He shook his head. "There's something you need to know about Light."

Kallen looked uncomfortable. It must have been the tone Lelouch had spoken in. "What is it?"

"It's never a good idea to start a topic with this phrase, but I'm going to do so anyway," he began and then hesitated. A slight wrinkle appeared in Kallen's forehead. "This is going to sound crazy, but he has a strong relation to Kira." Lelouch plunged forward before she could interrupt. "It's clear that Kira has a supernatural power, right? It's otherwise impossible for him to kill as precisely and in such a fashion as he does. You know C.C., of course? She's not my lover, but it's a convenient excuse to keep her close. She can see things others can't. She saw a creature that identified itself as a God of Death that follows Light wherever he goes, and it's invisible to normal people. I'm not stupid. I can put two and two together as I'm sure you can. Whether Light is consciously aware of it or not is hard to say, but he is undoubtedly a great actor and full of himself enough to pull off ignoring a God of Death if he chose. To the Black Knights, Light could either be one of our greatest strengths or our downfall."

At first, she had paled, then been puzzled, and finally left with a mask of confusion on her face. "That's…" she began, with hesitation, before she transformed into her fiery personality, "You're right. It does sound crazy."

"You don't have to act on anything, Kallen. I just want you to know and to be careful."

She scoffed. "Who are you? My dad?"

"No," he replied, casting his voice into the one he reserved for Zero's most solemn moments, "You are my most valuable knight and I'm Zero."

-L/L-

They had spent the night on the sand near the fire, Suzaku and Light taking turns to watch the fire and make sure it didn't die out. Light wondered how Suzaku could possibly be so naive—Light could just walk away if he felt like it—but decided he wouldn't break that trust yet. It wouldn't be profitable….

The morning found them leaving the campsite in search of something—anything—else on the island. Light felt he had a good chance of being rescued if he stayed with the Princess and her Knight. The way things were now, no matter who showed up first, Light would be safe. Princess Euphemia and Suzaku would keep him safe from Britannian judgment and the Black Knights would welcome him with open arms for the best possible outcome of the mission. If he needed to break Suzaku's trust, now that would be the time. Besides, Zero did not seem intent on killing the pilot of the Lancelot; it was more likely the masked man wanted to use Kururugi Genbu's son as his own weapon. Clearly, whoever Zero was, he didn't know Suzaku personally or he would have realized the futility of changing Suzaku's loyalties.

Suzaku and the Princess were chatting amiably in front of him, the Knight holding back branches and doing other mightily chivalrous things for his lady. On one hand, he felt a bit like a third wheel here, but on the other hand, both these naïve, child-like people struck him somewhere in the protective section of his heart. If the world were made of these people, Light might need to find some more brains, but at least the world would be kinder.

Suddenly, the Princess let out a bleat of surprise and Suzaku was pushing her behind him. Light modeled his behavior and pulled the Princess behind a tree. There was no doubt that they had stumbled upon the Black Knights instead of the Britannians judging from Suzaku's reaction, and the knight had with all the naiveté in the world let his most valuable item fall into Light's hands. While creating a better world was his goal, saving himself was the only way to continue to save the world. Light peered out from behind the tree.

It wasn't just any of the Black Knights, it was Kallen and Zero! Light calculated quickly. That meant three against two… he should take Princess Euphemia hostage now—Kallen could handle Suzaku and Zero was now brandishing a gun. But then if the Britannians arrived next, there was no way Suzaku and the Princess would ever trust him again…. He had to think quickly.

Like always, his soundtrack was that of a laughing deathgod.

He had to balance for all possibilities. If it were only Kallen, no problem, but Zero… could he manipulate the mask man as well? There was no time, and no choice. He had to try. If only he knew if Zero would follow his lead! But the man was so closed and always gave nothing away. But he had to try!

"Kallen, you too?" Suzaku was saying, clearly dumbfounded.

This was his chance. Light released the Princess and stepped from behind the tree, moving to bridge the gap between the two groups in the little clearing. "Kallen! You're alright!"

Both Kallen and Zero took a step back at Light's arrival. He had clearly unnerved them by being with Suzaku. Damn. Kallen wasn't rushing into his arms or proclaiming that she was glad he was safe—

"I should have known," Suzaku said, a little helplessly. "But Kallen, you're Britannian, why are you…?"

Light rose to the occasion, defending her, which would bring her back to him. He turned back towards the Britannian side of the clearing. He trusted that Kallen wouldn't let Zero shoot him in the back. "She's Japanese, Suzaku, like us." He emphasized the relationship; they were all the same, it made sense for Light and Suzaku to work together at a time like this.

"That's right!" Kallen said, striding forward, all fire and passion to stand by his side. She looked magnificent. "It's Kallen Kouzuki, and even if I were Britannian, there'd be nothing wrong with fighting against tyranny!"

It was suddenly a full blown argument between ideals and philosophies.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to change things from within the system! It's not all bad!" Suzaku's green eyes flashed as he risked a glance to the Princess's hiding place, and his fist clenched. "Zero, your end results don't matter if you don't use the right methods!"

"Oh?" came the resonating response. Zero took a step forward, his posture haughty. "You believe Britannia will allow you to change anything? The only reason you're still alive is because I broke the rules to save you. My methods saved your life and that of countless others. Thousands of Japanese have already been murdered in cold blood, years after they surrendered. Nothing has changed with their administration. You have the power to change things, but not within a system as corrupt as Britannia."

"You don't belong with the Britannians, Suzaku," Kallen cried out. "The Black Knights help people, no matter who they are—we helped save the Student Council, remember? And the Princess! This is where you really belong! With us!"

"I can't condone what you're doing! You don't care about the consequences!" Suzaku shouted. The white knight advanced, the Princess following timidly a few steps behind and Light felt vaguely threatened. There was no predicting what Suzaku would do if he felt his darling pink princess were in danger. Surely he was required to take a stance right about now in the argument as well….

Light raised his hands, carefully placing one on Kallen's upper arm, the other towards Suzaku as if he were breaking up a fight. "This isn't solving anything. We need to calm down and be logical—"

"So you're taking his side, Light?" Kallen asked accusingly, just as Suzaku reached his outstretched arm and gently, yet firmly lifted it aside. Great.

Now it was Zero moving in closer. The gun raised. "Kururugi Suzaku, you will not attack my Knights."

"No, Suzaku, don't fight!" Princess Euphemia gasped, reaching out desperately and leaping the last few steps.

The ground rumbled, the dirt lit up and light scattered in all directions. Light felt sick, a wave of vertigo tossing him to his knees as Kallen struggled to reach for him in return. Someone was yelling, or maybe all of them were. There was laughing and a flash of something red and ugly, a sigil, burning into his mind and across the universe. The world grew dark, shadowy and smelled of earth, like a freshly prepared grave. The shaking ceased and Light regained his feet as his eyes adjusted to the gloom.

About fifty Britannian soldiers were staring at him. It was a split second before it all erupted into mass hysteria. Guns erupted, and Kallen jerked roughly on his arm. "This way! It's a Knightmare Frame!"

"Stop firing! You'll hit the Princess!" The gunfire lessened, but didn't completely cease. The air was alive with metal balls and hoarse unintelligible shouts.

Then Zero's commanding voice cut across the sunken ground they had fallen upon. "Perfect. We'll use that!" Without hesitation, the three of them darted towards the hulking machine. Bullets flew and Light was sure his luck was about to give up… this sort of thing was not his specialty. He'd never been literally under fire before.

Zero scaled the machine quickly, if not gracefully, and landed lightly in the cockpit, as he cursed a name that made Light scan the crowd. He couldn't have said… but there! Light hadn't heard wrong. The Second Prince and Councilor of Britannia, Schneizel, was here! Why would he be…? There was no time to ponder it now, though, and Light tore his eyes away to face his escape. If only he had stayed with Suzaku and Princess Euphemia, he might had have a chance to—a bullet whizzed by, ruffling the hair at the back of his head. Shit. No time!

Kallen leapt onto the thing's shoulder, hugging one of the protrusions to keep clear of gunfire. Surely this Knightmare was much bigger than any Light had ever seen. The machine started up and Light jumped, finding purchase where he could. He swung himself up towards the opposite shoulder just in time. Zero was clearly wasting no time in their departure and the wheels spun on the dirt and stone. Light had just a moment to glance back to see the strange cavern into which they'd fallen. The image burned into his mind, the shafts of light and dust falling in front of the ancient doors, the same sigil sweeping across the stonework like a warning, and Suzaku, sunken on his knees, staring sightlessly up into the void.

-L/L-

"The school festival still seems so far away," Milly pouted, her arms folded across her ample breasts. She looked wistfully out the window instead of at Lelouch. "Don't you think we should do something fun sooner?"

Lelouch sighed and put his pencil down. The clubhouse was nearly empty, and Lelouch wasn't sure why he had bothered to come to school. Shirley had a swim meet, Nina was god-knew-where, Rivalz was at his part-time job, and no one else from Shikinejima had shown their faces today. All the more reason he supposed he should, however. Still, he was bone weary. His head still ached and he had awoken in a cold sweat the night before, nightmares of a different sort plaguing his nighttime imaginations. He massaged his forehead. "Milly, I can hardly keep up with the festival preparations already. You know the drama club and the dance club are up in arms since they both want to use the same music. It's only a few more weeks."

The older girl swiveled away from the window to face him, the sun making a golden silhouette of her wheat-colored hair. "I didn't mean something quite so extravagant, Lelouch."

He smiled wryly at her. "With you, everything is extravagant, Miss President."

"You're such a brat, Lulu," she retorted, but then laughed, loud and hearty, before becoming musing again. "But you know, I was thinking of something a little smaller. Maybe just the Student Council. We haven't done anything together recently—not since the field trip went so poorly—and… I just don't want to lose everyone. I'm graduating soon, you know, and there's so much going on in the world…." She laughed, although this time, the tone was melancholy. "Listen to me, going on about such pitiful things. I'm just going to miss you, that's all."

Lelouch was a bit at a loss for words, but he smiled back. It was rare for Milly to show her weaker side like this, and Lelouch suspected he was one of the few people who ever saw it. "Don't be ridiculous, Milly. This is still Ashford property, after all. You'll always be able to return to this school, even if you're not a student."

"That's not exactly what I meant."

Lelouch nodded. "I understand, but we all have to grow up sometime."

She cast her eyes down, her lashes dark against her skin. She shook her head. "That's the problem, though, Lelouch, isn't it? Sometimes I feel like we're all growing up too fast. I'm on my fourth fiancé at seventeen, Suzaku is a Princess's Knight, Nina's doing a background check, Kallen is so sick all the time I'm afraid she'll just keel over one day. Light is so clever he'll get himself in trouble by being a Number and talented, and you, well… you know. We need time to be children. To be youthful and carefree. I think that's real important in life."

"Milly…" Lelouch began, but there weren't words. She was right, in a sense, but there was nothing he could do to change it. A party wouldn't fix the mess they were all in, strangely interwoven threads. Nothing would change that three of the members of the Student Council were terrorists, and another was actively trying to kill them all.

She smiled softly. "I know, it's a lot to ask."

"You can always throw a party, Milly. You, of all people, don't need a reason for that." Lelouch rose and stood next to her. He gently plucked her hand up and held it in his like a precious gift and locked his purple eyes to her blue. He chose his next words carefully, letting them fall like sand through a sieve, "But you can't stop time. You can't change the past. I haven't been a child for a very long time, and that has nothing to do with you. You know that, but yet you've always done your best by us. You've given Nunnally a childhood and that is what truly matters to me."

She blinked quickly and pulled her hands away. They slid through his fingers. "Jeez, Lelouch, you sure know how to charm a lady. But you really have such a sister complex." She smiled, a faint tinge of pink on her cheeks and Lelouch realized that she just might…. Even though Milly would never.

Lelouch returned her smile and then laughed. "You know, I wouldn't have said all that if I weren't so tired. You're sappy mood is wearing off on me, Miss President, and I don't have anyone else to take the brunt of your mood this afternoon."

"Oh my, Lulu," she retorted coyly, "You haven't been sleeping much? Does this have anything to do with a certain. Green. Haired. Girl?"

Lelouch paled suddenly. He realized Milly was still teasing, but he didn't know how to respond. If Milly knew, then who knew who else did? Had she gotten something from Nunnally? Or… he narrowed his eyes. "Light told you?"

"Oho? So you admit to it? My, when you said you weren't a child, I didn't think—"

Lelouch rolled his eyes. "Light's just thinks he understands everything immediately. She's not my girlfriend or lover or anything. She's just a friend. She… well, she was going through a rough time—her father is abusive—and needed a place to stay for a bit, so I let her stay at my place." He smiled a bit sheepishly to soften the lies. "I know I should have told you, but I figured she wouldn't be kicked out if no one knew. Light, of course, went and snooped around my rooms and found her."

Milly frowned. "That's hardly any fun to tease you about. Are you sure she isn't sleeping in your bed with you?"

He made a face. "Trust me, I would notice and she's not my type."

She grinned, cat-like and Lelouch could tell she was having fun at his expense. He retreated back to his chair; sitting never looked so inviting as when one was exhausted. Milly stalked after him, plunking her bottom down on the table next to him, her skirt riding a bit more than what was decent up her thighs. "So what is your type? I mean, earlier we were all surprised to find out that you're gay and all, so…."

"And I was surprised you all misunderstood me so easily when I'm so charming to the ladies."

"You need to make up with Shirley."

"And you need to stop playing matchmaker."

"She's perfect for you, don't you see? I just want you to be happy. I know you care for her."

"That's exactly why I can't."

She leaned back, studying him. Then she sighed and stared at the ceiling. "You know, Lelouch, sometimes I really don't get you."

Lelouch suddenly wished he wasn't alone with the Student Council President. She was shrewd and sensitive to people's emotions. She'd known Lelouch for the last seven years and wasn't bad at reading him. She would, of course, know that he was hiding something from her and he could tell it bothered her that he was shutting her out.

But he cared about her too. She had been there since he moved into the Settlement. She had made it so that Nunnally had a place to live, to grow, to thrive.

The path of kings is an isolated one. C.C.'s promise echoed in his head and his heart. He needed to distance himself. He might be leaving school sooner than Milly, but he needed to find someone to keep Nunnally safe. Now that Suzaku was out of the picture, would Milly be able to handle the responsibility?

He was too tired to think straight. There was no way Milly would be the right fit. She didn't have the kind of strength Lelouch was looking for. Milly was good company, but if it came down to a real struggle, she didn't have the experience or know-how to outrun a government or fight back. He needed to go home. He straightened his papers.

"Milly, I need to go home. Come up with a proposal and I'll look over the budget and we'll do something fun. Maybe shoot for next Friday."

He rose and picked up his bag. As he reached the door, she spoke. "Hey, Lelouch?"

He turned.

"It's okay to be happy."

Lelouch didn't respond. Milly would know if he were lying this time.

-L/L-

"Suzaku?" Light waited patiently for a response. The mobile phone was tucked inside his hoodie. He spoke quietly, but of course, Kallen was still listening in anyway.

"Who is this?" the reply crackled with suspicion over the phone.

"It's Light. I want to talk with you."

"Light?" the voice held more relief now. "I wasn't sure how to get in touch with you… or if you would at all…." There was a hint of regret there, as if Suzaku blamed himself for doubting Light's integrity.

"I borrowed your number off Milly. Sorry. But… well, you haven't told anyone." It was a statement. There was no way Milly would have texted Light Suzaku's number if she knew Light was a member of the Black Knights. She'd probably think he had dragged Kallen into terrorist plots, and not the other way around.

"Er, well, I'd hoped that I could convince you, well, I mean, we did talk but then you still left with Zero, even though we did reach an agreement, but I was thinking you probably still needed to talk to Kallen…." Suzaku sounded lost, like he didn't know the next step to make their truce legitimate. That was fine with Light, however, as it just meant Suzaku would be that much easier to manipulate. Light would be able to use this alliance very much to his advantage if he could pull the right strings. And there was little doubt in his mind that he would.

"I'm surprised you could figure me out so easily. You're right, I already talked to Kallen about what happened. She's in agreement—at this point, we just want to be able to go back to school without being arrested." Light didn't even change his smooth, slightly wry tone when Kallen punched him in the shoulder. He gave her a shove and a look with narrowed, almond eyes. He didn't need her input or interruptions on this matter; it was for her good just as much as his in this case, and he wasn't going to let Kallen ruin anything.

"Oh?" There was a tiny hesitation after the trembling syllable of hope. "Does that mean you two are giving up the Black Knights?"

Light sighed into the phone as if he didn't like the truth, but had resigned himself to it regardless. "Well, that's a bit difficult to explain. We can reduce activities, but dropping out completely would arouse too much suspicion. I doubt anyone would let Kallen go and I can't leave her here alone. It'd be too dangerous." Another punch headed for his shoulder, but this time, Light was anticipating it and caught her fist. He looked directly into her eyes intensely, while his voice lied sweetly into the phone, "But I still want to work something out." Kallen seemed utterly taken aback by the incongruity of his expression and his voice. Fine. At least it was keeping her quiet. "Suzaku, it might be best if we stay so at least there can be some kind of dialogue between each side. Right now, we're still trusted and we'd be listened to. But if we left for the Britannians, we'd never be safe in the ghettoes again, let alone being able to work out any meetings."

Kallen's shock and outrage died on her pretty lips, unspoken. She seemed to understand his idea and his actions, which pleased him. Undoubtedly, it was a good cover he had created for them to stay with their eyes and ears on both sides—Kallen and he were already acting as double agents every day at Ashford. The necessity was a bit more pressing for Light, however, as he needed the stability of Ashford as an exit route if the Black Knights lost their winning streak. Light would never be able to pass for a Britannian the way Kallen could, and she was apparently well-known enough in Zero's order that they'd never doubt her loyalty there either. Ashford was Light's ticket out of being treated constantly like dirt beneath the feet of the Britannians.

"I guess that makes sense. Actually, it'd be really good, since Euph—I mean, Princess Euphemia wants to talk with Zero. If you two could do that, then you really should stay until..."

Light smiled then, nodding to Kallen. "We'll do our best. But, well, I'd hate to fight you, even accidentally, so maybe… I don't know," he concluded, pretending he was torn by the thought of facing off against Suzaku seriously. Kallen's blue eyes were wide and he could almost hear her thoughts whirring.

"Well, I can't give out any confidential information, of course," Suzaku mused, and Light watched Kallen's face sink with his own small hopes. It had been worth a shot.

He quickly covered up. "Of course, I wasn't asking you to do that! Just maybe if you were deploying, just a yes or no type of thing. Then maybe we could at least avoid each other. I wouldn't tell anyone else besides Kallen, so that at least we wouldn't have to fight you."

"It doesn't work like that, Light," Suzaku's reply was harsh and Light realized he had pushed it a little too far. Kallen was straining to hear Suzaku's rough voice through the tiny speakers, for all purposes sitting in Light's lap. "I can't go against orders. This is the side I've chosen and I believe in it. I'll keep your secret safe at school and wait for you two to arrange the meeting. But if we meet on the battlefield… I'll be going all out. We all have the choice whether to fight or not that day. Mine shouldn't affect yours."

His words rung coldly in Light's ear and he remembered the way Suzaku had returned to the classroom late the day the body had been found. There was a deep coldness there, like the icy waters under the warmed surface layer of a lake. It was easy to forget that Suzaku wasn't quite as naïve as he acted; in reality, there was a depth that the other boy tried to cover up with smiles and earnestness. There was something dark and shriveled in there, something that Kira might need to know if Suzaku gained more power and the ability to change the world…. He pulled himself out of those thoughts—he was wearing a mask for Kallen and couldn't let that slip. Light was practiced enough at layers.

"Well, I guess that's the best we can do for now, then," he let his tone show that he wasn't pleased with Suzaku's response, like the words hurt or depressed him. "But if you hurt Kallen," –now was the time to show a hint of his own anger—"all bets are off. I believe that you and the Princess are going to do your best, but something has to change soon. We've been waiting so long for our freedom, you know. Not everyone has a Princess fall in love with them."

Suzaku spluttered on the other end, and Light gave Kallen a slow wink. He had neatly maneuvered the conversation back to where Suzaku was dancing like the naïve puppet he was. "It's not like that, Light!" Light could hear Suzaku exhale deeply. "But I understand. We all have to do what we believe. I won't stop trying to convince you that Zero's methods are wrong though, especially if Zero doesn't agree to the meeting."

"Sounds fair. I think we've reached an agreement then. I'll see you at school." Light let his smile follow through in his voice.

There was another sigh from the other end, but this one was in relief. "Yeah. See you at school, Light."

As always, I again took forever to write and post this chapter. Hope it's still worth it for all of you, as even my slow-and-steady pace is worth it for me! Currently, I've just rewatched the entire CG series and am working on another Lelouch cosplay... when not working at work-work, in an office. Sheesh. Anyway, please drop a review, and let me know what you think! The timeline is starting to go off-kilter now as Light's interference in the Code Geass world takes effect... nothing will be quite the same anymore!