Excalibur: The Witch in the Lake

by Aminta.defender

Lelouch bent his knee to his father to protect those he loved, but expectations continue to rise. Meanwhile, his sister, Nunnally flirts with radicalism and their secrets begin to unravel. Unknown to them, their parents' sins threaten to throw awry well laid plans. Book 2 of Excalibur

40. The Sun Rises

Chapter 40: The Sun Rises

---

Recap: Leila, assisting with Area Elevens defense, has learned of the EU's involvement. At a Purist party, the Emperor and Lelouch command from afar. Suzaku, due to Kusukabe's rallying cry, now has to embrace his heritage as the heir of Japan.

I cannot condone collaborating with the JLF when they kidnapped and brainwashed a child to use for their own purposes. Their entire leadership is beholden to a wench who spreads her legs for the Britannians. Fucking dishonorable cowards, the lot of them.

—Josui Kusakabe

---

Viceroy Palace, Area Eleven

A hand settled on Leila's shoulder, and Colonel Vaughan nodded to her. "Take a breather. You're swaying on your feet."

Her bladder burned, and she pinched her lips together as she saluted before hurrying out of the room to the nearest bathroom, escaping the judgemental gazes. They were all waiting for her to run back to the safety of the E.U.

Her blood hummed, and there was an anxious twitch in her eyes. A breather? Impossible.

Splashing water on her face, she listened to the unnatural silence of the palace and the distant thunders and howls, either from the battle or storm. The palace staff was undoubtedly sheltering somewhere in the cellars, leaving only soldiers to stampede through the halls.

As she began to make her slow way back, her footsteps echoed, lonely and hollow. She simply needed a moment to clear her head. The EU was there, objectives unknown. If she could ascertain their goals, could she fulfill her duty in protecting the people and help the EU?

But what could they possibly be after? A few Alexanders, regardless of whatever hidden surprises they contained, would never be enough to tip the tide of battle against all of Britannia. Especially, after they split and outpaced their supply lines.

A suicide mission?

She stopped, her foot brushing against an abandoned, golden cup.

A glimmer of silver sliced through the faint light, and she scrambled backwards, air hissing as the blade skimmed over her arm. Her hand dropped to her side, searching for the familiar weight of her service pistol before remembering Britannians had some foresight and therefore neglected to arm her.

Should she scream?

Her eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips. She definitely didn't owe the Britannians her life.

The swordsman paused, momentarily pulling back, before clamping a hand over her mouth and pushing the sword against her neck as he pushed her into the neighboring room. "Leila?"

The hand pulled away slowly and her heart calmed in disbelief. "Akito?"

She barely remembered him. They hadn't been especially close in the academy, especially with him clearly being a refugee. Had he defected? Joined the Empire of Japan? Was that why he was here now?

Akito tugged on the collar of her uniform, his face twisting in disdain. "Why are you in a Brit uniform?"

"Why are you here?" she hissed.

Assassination. The EU had agents, but assassinating a high ranking target tended to result in the swift end of everyone remotely associated. In the heat of invasion, a death could be more easily attributed to other causes or the blame clearly directed at the invading foes.

Akito hadn't lowered the sword. "I didn't believe it when they said you turned traitor. But you're here, in their uniform. Are you fighting for them?"

She grit her teeth. "And you're here, helping a sham of an invasion which will end with thousands of dead and the Japanese, your people, treated even worse off. If the EU wanted to help, they would finally declare war instead of endlessly dragging their feet. Nothing good will come out of this suicidal skirmish."

"You're right." His eyes hardened and the sword pushed against her neck, her skin stinging. "Yet that is no reason to lose our principles."

Her shoulders shuddered, and she hastily buried her sobs, "I tried, Akito. I tried. Principles mean nothing in Britannia, and I can't be useful, can't do anything, if I'm locked in my father's estate with only the Emperor's spy to keep me company. Do you know what that's like! Nobody to talk to. Nobody I can speak my mind to without risking an execution? I can't even write my thoughts down. She reads everything I write. This is the only way I have a sliver of control over my fate, because if I can get them to trust me, I can actually do something useful instead of having the rest of my life ruled by a simple mistake."

The sword lowered, and Akito stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. Come on, let's get home."

"I can't," she gasped. "He'll kill Jeanne."

"Who?"

"The Emperor."

"It doesn't matter. We'll protect her. I promise. You can come home. I'll be behind you... although if you could say where Clovis is..."

She shuddered; his ghostly hands suddenly wrapped around her instead. "He's not here. He left with Bartley."

Akito sagged in irritation and grabbed her hand, pulling her along. "It doesn't matter. Come on, Leila."

For a moment, she indulged in the fantasy and the promise of freedom. She could return to a life not filled with subterfuge in every corner. A life where every word didn't have to be watched. A life where a prince's word wasn't the law and nobody could just endlessly take and take.

She pulled her hand back. "Akito, go before I sound the alarms."

"Leila?"

She hugged her arms, hatred broiling in her gut. "If I leave, I'll die."

"But we can protect—"

"Not against a poison for which I'm awaiting the antidote. Just go, please. I'll find some way to be of use."

Conflict warred across his face before it hardened. Defiant, she glared into his eyes as he approached until only a hand's breadth separated them.

"I'm not letting you do this alone," he said.

"Your mission—"

"They expected me to die anyway." He grimaced. "You need allies, and if you can gain their trust, then you have the chance to strike at the very top. Let me help you."

---

Tokyo, Area Eleven

The knightmare hummed beneath Suzaku's hands, and he marveled at the smooth fluidity of the Sutherland—a phenomenal machine. The beaten down Glasgow he had used before couldn't compare.

As heavy rain destroyed any visibility, Suzaku launched himself through the streets, listening to vague updates over the radio. The Chinese knightmares were strange beasts, easily able to find enemy units despite the poor visibility.

Suzaku reeled backwards as a splash of red invaded his thermal visioning. His arm extended in a feint. Well honed instincts pushed him further. He jumped, a knife through the air, and slammed his heel into the exposed shoulder.

Tortured screams clawed into his ears, demanding his attention, and then gone just at quickly they arrived.

A street light flickered in the distance, and his breath caught in his throat as a young woman clambered onto the debris, her green hair flowing like a gentle stream behind her despite the violent gales.

A shadow loomed.

"No!" Suzaku shouted.

Foolish, his sensei would say. Suicidal, Lelouch would say.

His arm buckled. The metal screamed, like a child's final cry. A loud rumble reverberated through the air, mixing into the deafening cracks of thunder.

Pushing forward, he shot his slash-harkens and sighed in relief as the knightmare collapsed on the ground. Scanning the area, his heart pounded in his ears as he realized the woman, the civilian, was nowhere to be seen.

Was she stupid? Everyone was supposed to evacuate, not brave the elements and run headfirst into battle.

His radio crackled with new orders. He closed his eyes. He wanted, no, needed to protect his people.

His boots splashing through puddles, he approached the pile of debris where he first spotted her. Had he imagined the woman? No. That was the coward's way out.

His foot brushed against a smooth, cylindrical object. It cracked and bile rose in his throat. He lowered the flashlight.

An arm. Fresh.

"Ma'am," he shouted again, desperately. She had been there! And she was undoubtedly bleeding out because Suzaku hadn't been fast enough. Because he wasn't good enough. Because Suzaku could save no one. Not Chiba, not Ko. He was always reliant on others.

Thousands were dead because Suzaku had helped Ohgi and his group steal from Clovis. Now, another woman would join the number.

"Please," he begged, climbing the rubble and scanning for streaks of red in the endless rivers of rain.

His efforts paid off. The water had pooled between two rocks, shining red. A thin strand of green hair swirled in the eddies.

Renewed with purpose, he worked his way upwards, disturbing the debris. The woman's survival was suddenly paramount. Proof that he could help someone. That not everyone who was close to him was destined for a grisly death.

Maybe, Suzaku should've turned himself over to Lelouch. Accepted the inevitable bondage and servitude. It would be better than the mind shattering terror and indecision which plagued him now.

People expected him to lead. Tohdoh had faith, or so he claimed. But lending a hand, teaching his students... None of that could possibly compare to being the leader of Japan. Or worse, the prince of Japan.

His stomach rolled at the notion.

Someone groaned, and he froze, already drenched to the bone. Frantically, he dug, the skin on his hands peeling off. Distantly, he pondered the lack of pain. If he survived—no, he had to survive. For Tohdoh's sake at minimum. For the people who had put his faith in him, however underserved.

A hand shifted through the rocks, grabbing him with inhuman strength. Slowly, the woman pulled herself upright. All Suzaku had to do was stand tall.

She rolled her shoulders and tutted when she examined her arm. Miraculously, she wasn't bleeding. Had a well placed rock applied enough pressure to stem the blood flow? No. That was ridiculous. Had she been burned?

"You're Japanese," she said dully. Her face was perfectly impassive, carved like a porcelain doll—inhuman.

Silently, Suzaku scolded himself. He didn't know her tale. Who knew what she had lost under Britannia. He shouldn't judge her prematurely. His instincts screamed at him to flee or fight. She was dangerous.

"You helped me." She tilted her head. "Why?"

"I don't want more people to die," he admitted. Recovering his wits, he pushed forward, hands reaching for her wounded shoulder. "Where are you hurt? I have a basic first aid kit."

She pulled back. "I'm not Japanese."

He shivered at a violent breeze and pulled off his drenched jacket. It was better than nothing. "Here." He held it out expectantly. "You need to seek shelter, ma'am. You should head inside, barricade yourself in the bathroom. It's too dangerous now."

"I hadn't heard that Numbers could become knights now," she said.

He flinched. "I'm not. Please, just go and be safe."

She snatched his hand, running a finger over his bloodied knuckles. "You hurt yourself to help the enemy."

"You're a civilian."

"You're going to die with that attitude." She sighed and stood, far too relaxed for the middle of a warzone. Or a typhoon. "Pilots are always a strange lot."

"Hey," he grumbled.

She focused on him again, eyes drawn together. "You should heed your own advice. The Flash is almost here."

"What?" he asked.

She pushed past him.

"Wait!" he protested, grabbing her arm. "It's not safe. You really need to head inside."

"Naive, foolish boy." She patted his cheek, condescension dripping off her. "You should worry more for yourself. It's improper to waste your time on an enemy like this."

Britannia then.

"I know who I am. I won't betray myself, my goals, for convenience. At least let me tend to your wounds," he begged.

Her shoulders drew together and a wistful smile tugged at the edge of her lips. "You don't owe me any debts, boy."

"This isn't about debts!" he shouted. "Enough people have died already! More will die. I know that! But I can at least try to help people. To protect them."

"A naive sentiment which condemns you to either an early grave or a tragic awakening." She whipped forward, her finger snaking past his defenses and striking him on the forehead. "But perhaps, you may last longer than most. The world could use a little more kindness."

He fell backwards, a headache blossoming between his temples.

---

Viceroy Palace, Area Eleven

Leila's hands shook as she returned to the command center. With every breath, she was sure someone would call her out for Akito.

Treason. She wasn't even Britannian, but she had already internalized their damn fear. Just another thing to hate them for.

"Major Breisgau," Colonel Vaughan said.

Her heart jumped to her throat.

"Prince Clovis requested a video call to discuss the strategic situation."

"But I'm—" Nobody. "Did Prince Clovis request me specifically?"

"No." Colonel Vaughan stopped in the door and raised an expectant eyebrow.

She hurried after him into the conference room. Clovis, next to Bartley, occupied the largest monitor. The other monitors slowly flashed to life, depicting various generals and their aids. The army had been successful in reestablishing control in the central regions of Area Eleven. In the north, Hokkaido remained difficult due to local assistance and minor sabotage. Once reinforcements arrived, the lieutenant general assured Prince Clovis that the rebels would fall.

"Rebel control over Fukuoka remains strong and the local airstrips have either been destroyed or commandeered, giving them the benefit of air control." The brigadier frowned. "The rebels have had the opportunity to harden their defenses and the locals are being employed as hostages."

"The peasants are inconsequential. They can be replaced," another cut in. "The traitorous Elevens pose the real challenge, alerting the rebel troops of our movements and ambushing our units. It may be time to consider contingencies, including liquidation."

Liquidation? They couldn't possibly mean— A sharp stabbing pain from her foot made her pause, a half step forward to protest. Colonel Vaughan discreetly shook his head, his mouth pressed in a tight line.

"If I may?" a young woman interrupted, her steely blue hair pulled in a tight bun and her rank insignia that of a lowly major. Her statement was met with disgruntled and a few disgusted looks, but none stopped her. "I have no love for the Numbers, but Lord Gottwald continues to advocate for their proper integration in society. I believe if he had the opportunity to be here, he would oppose liquidation. Instead, we should cull the military of the Honorary Britannians."

An older man snorted dismissively. "And Lord Greenford would support liquidation. I am confident he would provide assistance for any financial consequence. Every moment we tarry, the Elevens gain advantage. They have been given a taste of hope; they will not settle quietly. If part of the flock is diseased, we must cull it entirely."

Another chimed in with his support. "This insanity could spread to other Areas if not curbed immediately. I concur. The Elevens have outlived their usefulness."

Leila winced as her superior's heel ground into her toes, stopping her from speaking out against the travesty being proposed. She would never be able to forgive herself for this, but hadn't she just rejected Akito's offer? It was far too late to turn back now. Her dissent would be meaningless, only marking her as even more of an outsider.

As the meeting continued to turn in support of the complete eradication of the Elevens—no, Japanese, Clovis watched in silence, impassive. If only she had ignored the consequences and killed Clovis when he first tried to force himself on her.

Her shoulders sagged. That assumed his replacement would be opposed.

Prince Clovis cleared his throat. "Colonel Vaughan. Do you have anything to add?"

"Without the assistance of the Elevens and the efforts of the JLF, Tokyo would be suffering from much greater casualties. I am opposed to the proposed plan."

"Number sympathizer," someone muttered.

Colonel Vaughan stiffened. "An operation of such scale should at least seek the input of the Emperor first. His Majesty has been involved in coordinating our troops and defenses while you nurse hangovers. His Majesty has not given any order regarding the Elevens but has undoubtedly considered the merits of such a plan which means His Majesty found it flawed.

"Please. The Emperor is not here. The Purists have been screaming for decades over the erosion of our traditions, our society. We tried being liberal, gave them influence in the economy, even elevated one of their brood so she may marry a prince. We have been repaid with treachery. The Elevens cannot be reasoned with."

"Enough," Prince Clovis ordered. "We will not be pursuing such an operation at this time."

"Because Lord Ashford would oppose it?" The brigadier scoffed. "He is not the governor of Area Eleven. A coward such as him has no place in military discussion, and his previous meddling in the Shinjuku affair was a blatant overreach of power."

"What would you consider the Purist's actions then?" Prince Clovis countered coolly with a hint of anger underlying his words. "I am not blind to your dealings and regular creative interpretations of my mandates. The Emperor is already angered by the production loss from Shinjuku. Will you answer to him when you cripple Area Eleven's economy through this folly? The Elevens will be necessary to rebuild. Tell your subordinates that any undue force being employed against the locals will be met with repercussions."

"You are making a mistake, Your Highness."

"I am preventing one."

Another officer scowled. "A wise ruler listens to his subordinates. The Purists have helped you in the past."

"A wise subordinate follows orders," Prince Clovis barked. The transmission cut.

Leila blinked, feeling as if something far greater was afoot. She would've expected them to jostle for public recognition, but instead, they had fallen into line, a sudden cohesive block of support for mass murder. How could Britannians be so inhumane?

"Will they listen?" Leila asked softly. The officers had been outright disrespectful, near mutinous.

"A substantial amount will; a few won't," Colonel Vaughan answered sadly. "Remember me, the next time you meet Prince Lelouch."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because Prince Clovis just burned his bridge with the Purists; they will destroy him, and I refused to fall in line."

"You hope he will speak to the Emperor on our behalf?"

Colonel Vaughan smiled sardonically. "Welcome home, Lady Breisgau. May we survive the storm. It hasn't even begun."

---

Ashford Academy, Area Eleven

Marianne's lips curled in satisfaction as she landed before her daughter's school, already prepared for action. Stadtfeld had held out well against the new Chinese knightmares, their corpses littering the battlefield.

Her energy filler was only a third full, courtesy of her launching in the air to arrive sooner. Flight was simply not efficient enough, draining the energy filler in minutes if one wasn't careful.

"K2, this is the Knight of Six. Status update on energy reserves? Over."

Stadtfeld swerved backwards, avoiding the onslaught of bullets. "Refuel team arrives in ten. Out."

Marianne rolled her eyes at the child's impertinence. Sure, she was fighting and undoubtedly hadn't intended any rudeness, but it was rather amusing. The girl had a backbone. Good.

Taking a moment, she observed the battlefield. Fadiman was holding out surprisingly well, and the enemy was slowly being pushed back to the harbor. Stadtfeld had clearly taken her words from their duel to heart. Her every strike screamed commitment.

Marianne flexed her claw and withdrew her lance. She could be helpful and hurry the inevitable along.

Another message from Charles beeped, and she rolled her eyes. He could do his games another time. Reuben was her ally. He had suffered enough damage already, and her daughter's friends were in that school. All inconsequential to Charles, but not to her.

Bitterly, she wondered if he hoped that Ashford Academy would fall. It would crush Reuben's influence and her daughter's resulting wrath could then be redirected at more useful targets. Unlike Euphie, Nunnally held the same potential as Lelouch. She wished her children were less talented. For Charles, the Empire would always come first, meaning they would be made of use.

Her lance skewered her opponent with a little more force than necessary. Sloppy. She scowled as a hatch opened and a soldier attempted to escape.

She crushed him beneath her foot.

As the storm faded, the Chinese rats scurried back to the harbor, relentlessly pursued by Britannian forces. Marianne detached herself from Stadtfeld and moved out to sea, swooping above the water and baiting the Chinese forces to challenge her. One by one, the brazen idiots fell.

"Knight of Six, this is Mr. Eight. Thank you for your assistance. Over."

Looking at the broiling waves and her flashing energy meter, she sighed and turned back to shore. "Congratulations on your victory, General. Lelouch wasn't even there to hold your hand. Over."

He took a moment to respond. "You are too kind, Your Majesty. Over."

"Have Stadtfeld report to me in a half-hour. The Ashford technicians should be able to inform her of my whereabouts. Out." She paused, considering her next move before opening a channel to Ashford labs. Her son would get over it.

Inside the labs, she freed herself from the coffin and a crane lifted her out of the chassis. Wincing, she massaged her temples and her hand reflexively searched her pockets for her pills. A technician hurried over with a glass of water. Under their watchful gaze, she took her painkillers. When they turned away, she took another two.

She yawned and resisted the urge to check her phone. She would only be given more work, and right now, sleep called to her more than anything. Or a nice relaxing bath with her favorite TV show.

"Your Majesty," Stadtfeld interrupted, bowing deeply.

"Is that a bird?" Marianne asked, inspecting her pilot uniform. It was simple and practical although it fit her a little too tightly, clearly repurposed from a male uniform than designed with Stadtfeld in mind. On the other hand, it would make PR's job easier.

"I believe it is a goose," Stadtfeld said warily.

"Walk with me," Marianne ordered. "I see you took my advice."

"Yes, Your Majesty.

"You should develop a more fitting symbol before you become known as the Knight of the Goose."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Marianne rolled her eyes and waited for Ashford's security system to recognize her and open the door. "You did well today."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Rolling into the room, Marianne relaxed and paused for the door to close before focusing on the young girl. "You remind me of myself, you know."

Stadtfeld's shoulders rose defensively. "It is an honor, Your Majesty."

"You have permission to speak freely." Marianne raised her hand before the girl could reply with an overly polite tone. "Enough with the titles. You're a knight, a proven one. This conversation will be incredibly irritating with all that pomp. I highly doubt Lelouch lets you waste his time with all those pleasantries."

Stadtfeld winced. "No..."

Marianne hid her own grin. She could certainly imagine this girl having forgotten herself a few times more than appropriate. The girl was a fighter; it was only natural, even if she spent a great deal of effort wrapping herself in the proper decorum of a lady. "What do you think of my son?"

A flash of panic crossed her face before smoothing over. "He is a skilled commander."

"And of him personally?"

This time Stadtfeld scowled. "Does it matter?"

"You don't like him." Marianne nodded, drumming her finger on her arm rest. That made things more complicated. "Most people find him charming."

"He's an asshole," Stadtfeld spat before wincing. "My apologies, Your Majesty. It is of course his right to act as—"

Marianne held up her hand. "I wanted your honesty, girl. It would hardly be fair for me to reprimand you for it. He can be difficult to work with at times as I well know." She smiled gently as the girl calmed. "If you feel that way, then neither of you should have objections when I test your skills again in a year's time. According to Gino, you've been improving at a phenomenal rate. There will be a spot on the Rounds waiting for you."

This time, Stadtfeld froze, face rapidly draining of color. For a moment, she swayed, treacherously close to fainting before righting herself, fists clenched at her sides. "I will regretfully have to decline. Prince Lelouch has made me part of his Royal Guard."

So he did like her. Even if it was because he refused to have the Rounds poach another of his talented pilots, he would have never put someone he disliked in the perfect position to betray him. The royal guard required trust, and her son had trust issues in spades.

The royal guard... together, spending time alone, watching each other's backs, relying on each other. Oh, Charles could accuse her of being impatient, but Marianne could wait and watch things come together. The seeds were there already, and while Stadtfeld's animosity was unideal, her son was much like Charles. He needed someone to oppose him.

"Then I will make sure to schedule a spar when things settle down a little. You will need to hone your skills even further. If you can last against me for ten minutes, then you are ready to pursue a more intimate relationship."

Stadtfeld reddened and squeaked, "A Knight of Honor?"

"Well, that would only require five," Marianne teased. "And while I would support you in a courtship, the choice would naturally be between the both of you."

The poor girl somehow reddened even further as she became intensely interested in the floor. "Your Majesty... my mother is—"

"An Eleven." Marianne sighed. Honestly, she would prefer it otherwise, but it was an advantage. "My son is ridiculously attached to the islands, and you know how to conduct yourself unlike a certain someone. The nobles will always complain because of my heritage, and Lelouch could only appease them by marrying the most traditional lady, but I would rather not see him miserable. "

"I'm honored, Your Majesty," the girl said quietly.

Marianne observed her silently. "I won't push you. It's an option for you. Lelouch won't initiate, and if you approach him with doubt in your heart, he'll rebuff you. If you continue to see him as nothing more than an asshole"—her lips twitched—"then continue with your duty and protect his life. That is all I ask."

A knock on the door interrupted them, and one of Lord Ashford's guards bowed to her. She nodded, and the rest of the men pushed their way inside. In the center, walked a young man, two young boys in his arms. Next to him, visibly shaking, a young girl clutched the hem of his pants.

The young man blanched upon seeing her, and he nervously lowered the children before pressing his forehead to the ground. His arm snaked up and pushed the children to the ground with him, enforcing that they would show respect. The Eleven heritage was obvious between them all.

"I thought I asked for two children," Marianne said, rolling closer. To her side, Stadtfeld had stiffened, her breaths whistling in quick, shallow gasps. "Not three and a young adult."

"They were together, and he was less than forthcoming, Your Majesty," the guard explained.

"What is your name?" Marianne barked.

The young man stiffened, but he continued to bow, only shifting to keep the two children at his side on the ground as well. After a minute deliberation, he finally spoke, "I've acted as Lord Ashford's secretary before. He arranged the papers to avoid our family's embarrassment, but I was born Naoto Stadtfeld."

So the girl had an older brother. That had not been on her file, but Lelouch was aware, squirreling the boy away in his base. "And the third child?"

He paused.

"My younger brother," Stadtfeld interrupted. "Oscar. He was born after the invasion."

Marianne studied her for a minute and the concern she so desperately tried to conceal. No wonder Lelouch felt comfortable enough inducting her into his royal guard. He had two hostages to ensure her compliance. Marianne would have to do something about that. Hostages, while effective, were most definitely not romantic.

Perhaps that was why the girl hadn't succumbed to his charm.

"Rise," Marianne bid. The young man immediately scooped up the boy with bright red hair. Now, the family resemblance was rather obvious. To his side, the young girl stared at her with awe, only ducking her head when Marianne returned her gaze. Impudent child, but while she was an Eleven, she clearly understood the order of the world. The boy...

He did not.

Brown eyes glared at her defiantly, hatred burning in his gaze.

What was it about these two children that made Lelouch openly defy his parents? They were nothing special to look at. Both were half starved, and the defiant boy had a sickly yellow hue to his skin, hinting to recent illness. She certainly hoped her son hadn't caught anything from the Elevens.

Her lips curled in disgust. The girl stood even straighter as if it could hide her trembling hands.

"Why did you come along... Naoto Stadtfeld," Marianne finally asked.

"Le—Prince Lelouch asked me to look after them while he was gone," he answered dutifully.

So a hostage, but one loyal to Lelouch? That was... interesting.

The two children meanwhile jerked, clearly unaware of her son's identity. Oops? No. They should understand how unfathomably lucky they were. If Lelouch was going to take in Elevens and bathe and feed them, then he could ensure they would be of use. But really, why two? Couldn't he get whatever he wanted out of one pet Eleven?

"Can you do anything?" Marianne snapped and waved the young man off before he could reply.

The girl trembled but dutifully replied, "I can wash and cook and find the best parts—"

"Enough," Marianne barked. Absolutely useless. "And you boy?"

He crossed his arms and glared but said nothing.

Why did her son have to be so attached? She could do nothing to them without upsetting him and risking years of frosty silence. Lelouch was older now. He would most definitely be even more creative in expressing his displeasure.

At least the boy was the impertinent sort. If Charles couldn't convince her son otherwise, then perhaps Lelouch would cast him out after dealing with a young child's attitude. The hate in the boy's eyes was personal. The girl though... For all that she was suitably impressed, she didn't seem to be the least bit upset by the news, more excited than anything.

"How old are you, girl?" Marianne demanded.

"Thirteen," she said eagerly. "Fourteen in February and then I'm going to sign up and I'll be the best pilot ever."

Naoto Stadtfeld winced and prodded her gently.

The girl scowled. "I will be the best pilot. And it's fourteen! I can enlist."

First Stadtfeld, now her. Why did the Elevens have to be interested in knightmares? She was going to end up liking them. A shudder ran down her spin. Stadtfeld was barely acceptable. The actual Eleven would never amount to anything.

"Take them back," Marianne ordered the guards before turning to Stadtfeld. "I have an invitation for you."

---

Boston, Homeland

Back from the party and the impromptu command center, Lelouch gently bid Kaguya goodnight before storming into the study after his father. He had held his tongue for so long, aware of curious ears, but he refused to let the issue lie. Those had been his men that his father had ignored—no, pushed to be sacrificed. Britannians, not just Numbers.

"You knew," Lelouch accused. "You knew this would happen, there is no way you were unaware, and you let it happen anyway. How many people died? And for what!"

His father watched him impassively. "There was hardly a real threat. They lacked the numbers to make occupation possible. Valuable resources were moved to safety and we had the fortune of watching our enemies reveal part of their hand without showing our own."

"Our citizens died," Lelouch spat. "Are dying. We have a duty to protect them."

His father snorted, sat down at his desk, and logged into his computer. "Their sacrifice is not in vain. Their deaths serve Britannia. The eunuchs will respond to our demands for justice by expelling the Tianzi's loyal supporters. Schneizel, for his failure to stop them, will wed by next summer."

"She's twelve, not even fourteen!"

"The Eunuchs have no such concerns. If she wishes to blame anyone it should be her father who failed to give her the power needed to dominate her country instead of being dominated by it."

Lelouch dug his fingers into his palm, desperate to keep his temper. "So you would sell off Nunnally for political gain simply because she is a symbol of Britannia."

"Fortunately, I have more than one child who could fulfill that role," his father said dryly. "Your sister has enough potential to become someone more. I would be a fool to discard her so easily."

"What more do I need to do?" Lelouch asked desperately.

"Your sister is about to turn fourteen. It is not your job to shield her."

"Cornelia does. Euphy is safe because of her."

"And Cornelia and Euphemia are weaker for it. Be glad that your sister is not so utterly devoid of potential that she is nothing but a chain around your neck."

"Euphy isn't useless."

His father raised a skeptical eyebrow and Lelouch winced. "Despite your sister being blind, if I were to give her a gun and point her in the right direction, she would at least shoot."

That was rather unfair. Euphie collaborated with Nunnally on their treasonous scheme, but Lelouch wasn't enough of a fool to admit to what they were doing. Euphie would have to prove herself in more legal pathways, and she would have the opportunity. His father liked giving opportunities.

His father sighed. "At least Euphemia does not take after Clovis—competent enough to be difficult to remove and capable of great damage."

Lelouch inhaled slowly, his mind running over his father's words. Nunnally was out of Japan because Lelouch removed her. Lelouch was out of Japan because his father insisted. Milly, from what he heard, had been invited to Guinevere's festivities, while Lord Ashford had not. "You set up Clovis to die."

"As I said, difficult to remove." He shrugged. "A part of me had hoped he would do something of worth, but apparently your friend, Breisgau, is the only reason he is still alive and prevented massive casualties. It was a chance for him to be finally of use, either through death or a notable victory, and he squandered it."

His heart pounded painfully in his chest, and Lelouch licked his parched lips. If he forced himself to ignore the bonds of family, Clovis's death would have been the perfect bloody flag to unite Britannians. Nunnally's treacherous activities had exposed plenty of Britannians to treasonous sentiments. But they were family and Clovis was a royal. "We would have looked weak. We already do!"

"Not with how the Purists have been worming their way into every branch of governance in Area Eleven. The protests in Area Eleven focused on Clovis, and therefore, the royal family. Many were turning to nobles, like Lord Ashford, to defend them instead of the crown. That is how revolutions form. Yes, the invasion shakes our people's faith in the might of the Empire, but I was the one to lead the defense. You were the one to continue it. The Purists, the most subversive group of nobles, were seen gossiping and laughing in the full sight of the servants. This night will be remembered for many years to come and remember it was the Crown who saved them." He paused, irritated. "And Breisgau."

"People died for a PR stunt." Lelouch defiantly met his father's eyes. "There were a myriad of other options which did not invoke a massive casualty toll."

"It was convenient and allowed us to accomplish numerous objections. Your girlfriend benefits from the turn of events. Her rival in the Kyoto House has been safely removed for his treachery. It is only unfortunate that Kirihara was too shrewd and avoided the trap."

"Convenience." His voice rose. "Convenience. How can we justify Britannia's existence when it discards her own citizens, which she has a duty to protect, like pawns."

His father scoffed. "A nation is the people, you mean? A quaint little idea, and perhaps a government exists for the people, but if that were true for a nation, then we would be thousands of countries, as every gang, corporation, and religion declared their right to sovereignty. A nation is far beyond such feeble attempts of human organization. It is a belief, and as a royal, your duty is to defend and nurture that belief before anything else, whether it is the people, your selfish desires, or family. That is what it means to be royalty, to be the Emperor."

"And with no people, the nation then dies!"

"Do not be obtuse. It is not all one or the other." His father stood and strode to his side, clasping a hand on his shoulder. "When Napoleon invaded the isles, Britannia rose from the ashes because enough followers carried our beliefs on their lips. For the same reason, we still speak of Rome and Caesar and Augustus. Their legends, along with Napoleon, still spur the E.U. onward in the vain hope that their conglomeration of inefficient bureaucrats can ever relive their glory. It is the belief in the nation that lets the Russian independence movement resurge every decade. It is what keeps India nursing their rebellious fires as Chinese troops terrorize their homes. It is what keeps Area Eleven's resistance alive and well."

"And our colonial policies are in any way conducive to thwarting their national dreams?" Lelouch asked sarcastically.

"We tamed the Americas with the might of the sword," his father murmured. "That has been how every Empire rose. When their swords dulled, they fell. With them, they brought comforts and advancement only possible through consolidation. A few would suffer, but their sacrifice lifted the rest from poverty. An Empire's greatest advantage is time and resilience. We wait and their national ideology is starved to death, supplanted by one far superior. Yet in Japan, we are unable to provide superior living conditions. Your policies have been much more effective and suited for the modern era."

"What?" Lelouch asked. His policies?

"Your division is an interesting example of a cult of personality, but your education bill is truly inspired. It turns their culture against them, providing nobles and established businesses an easy way to exploit local culture while the Numbers are now barred. As for education, it is a poisoned promise and provides the excuse to drive a wedge between the children and their parents. They will grow up learning they are nothing."

"That wasn't the point," Lelouch said hotly, tearing himself free from his father's tight grasp. "I don't want that! It is only temporary until the Number system is abolished."

"But it will be the effect, and while you have shown the power of hope in securing loyalty, the Number system is essential to Britannia." His father frowned. "The commoners are the majority, but as long as they can feel superior to someone, their plight is more digestible. They will hate the nobles for their immediacy, but the hate remains there, instead of being directed at the royal family or Britannia itself."

"The Number system is wrong," Lelouch said firmly. "It is unjustifiable. An accident of birth—"

"—is how the world works. Fairness is unattainable. Their sacrifice saves billions by keeping the Empire stable."

Lelouch stared, trying to find the right words. The sense of wrongness was a stone in his gut. "I cannot agree."

Some things were just unjustifiable.

"I was once optimistic as well," his father said softly. "Experience will reveal your eyes to the truth. And until then, the Number system will not fall because I will it."

"Odysseus does not agree with it either," Lelouch said.

His father stroked his beard. "Then abolish it. They will never be accepted regardless. Culture is far stronger than any legal doctrine. You only need to remember that a ruler guards the concept of a nation. To reject culture and supplant it with your will is tyranny. Regardless of strength, you cannot survive a nation turning on you to protect itself."

Lelouch shuddered. He would keep the warning in mind.

Still, furious, he didn't wait to be dismissed and turned around. His hand stopped on the door handle. "Why did you try to kill my division? If Clovis had died, Zero would've been to blame. You provided them no support."

"A prince cannot be Zero and especially not a leader of a Numbered division."

Because it would upset the social order which his father cared for at the expense of everything else. His chest ached.

"They're my men, Father."

"And you are their natural enemy. It hid you perfectly because no one would ever look for you there, but can you truthfully tell me, my son, that if they were to discover who you are, that you would be alive the next day? You are their enemy. That is not easily forgotten, regardless of how many meals you cook for them."

York's voice whispered in his ear, echoing the accusation. His own doubts rose. In the end, the division was built in opposition to Britannian policy. His men enjoyed going after nobles and reminding them they were not all powerful. Their hate was of great use, but the royal family was behind their suffering. That Pablo hadn't turned on him, merely needed time, was a miracle.

Lelouch sagged, the door supporting his weight. "No. My staff officers... They would trust me." They actually knew another. "They wouldn't betray me."

A snort clearly expressed his father's disdain.

"They won't," Lelouch reiterated, his voice weaker than before.

He had to believe that everything they endured together meant something. That York was wrong. That his father was wrong.

"Why—" Lelouch bit his lip as he faced his father once more. He needed to know if Art's musings were true. "If a prince can't lead the Numbers, you set me up to fail."

"Failure is a lesson best learnt early on, when one is young and has the luxury of time. The intention has always been for you to learn. You certainly exceeded my expectations. The division allowed you to grow far more than the Imperial Academy would have, yet had you attended, you would have experienced failure by design." A wry grin passed over his father's face. "Or perhaps not. Creative and unconventional solutions are your forte. When you finally face failure, I fear it will be a painful lesson."

"I failed with Kusukabe."

"An inconvenience is hardly a failure. You have yet to learn how to handle failure."

"Failure," Lelouch spat, Edgar's dying breath echoing in his mind. The room faded, only his father and his incompetence remained. "Failure. You think I don't know what It means to fail? I've failed over and over again. I watched Japan, the country I called home for two years, burn. I couldn't even convince Mother to show mercy to my friend. When I tripped one of the OSI's stupid little tests, I had my finger broken for it and my friend used as a hostage to force my compliance. And Mother knew but did nothing. Between the prisoners York tortured before me and the countless corpses we cleaned up, I could barely sleep. They all died for nothing because I was too proud to intervene, like I should have!

"Oh, and let's not forget the dear Count. She made quite sure I understood exactly how I failed while she hung my hands from the wall and lectured me. And every time I failed to hold the position, she punished me. Do you know how it feels to drown on dry land? I said whatever she wanted to hear; I did everything I could to stay alive. I failed as a prince, or even a Britannian."

Lelouch inhaled sharply, letting the silence between them speak for itself.

His hand clasped over his wrist where his sleeve had ridden up during his gesticulations. The thin white scars glared at him viciously. Another failure. A prince was not to be marked. After a week of captivity that was all the evidence which remained; he was lucky. Compared to the OSI, the Count had been gentle. He couldn't call it—

Torture.

It wasn't that. Couldn't be that.

He inhaled. "Failure is an experience which I am intimately familiar with, Your Majesty... I apologize for losing my composure. As you see, I continue to fail, even now."

"Lelouch..." Crouching, his father brushed the hair out of his eyes. "I did not mean to imply that you have yet to experience failure but that you have yet to learn to deal with it—to move on. There will be incidents where ignoring or hyper fixating will not work. Even now, it does not seem to be working."

"I'll be fine once I'm back with the division..." Except a prince could not lead a numbered division. It was beneath him in the public's eyes. "What do you intend to do with them? They've served Britannia well; you cannot repay that with a slaughter."

"They will not be liquidated."

"They'll be wasted. The next general won't understand why they work so well, nor will they care because Numbers are beneath them. After all this time, they do not deserve to become cannon fodder again. Haven't they proven themselves already?"

Amusement tainted his father's voice. "It would be a waste to lose such an asset. Fortunately, your second passed his job interview. The chaos of the invasion makes crafting an appropriate cover story simple. Fadiman will be recognized for his excellent service in a task more fitting his cover story. He will be granted a minor lordship in recognition and his perceived taint will stall questions when he is given his command over a Numbered division."

Lelouch shook his head. "And if Clovis had died? Would he have failed your test?"

"It would have made it easier for Zero to retire and offered a reasonable explanation for why I decided to introduce fresh, unaffiliated blood in Area Eleven. Ultimately, it would have been slightly more convenient. That was not the test."

On the one hand, Lelouch was relieved because Roy would take good care of his men. That was if he could keep holding their loyalty when they found out that their recently transferred Gosling was a prince. On the other hand, it would destroy Roy's dreams for his future.

"He can't become a noble or a knight; his inheritance will be lost. Please."

"Officers are nobles or knights. Exceptional achievement is recognized through granting a title and allows people to climb the ranks."

"You married Mother despite her not having any titles. You could have given her a few and waited a year before marrying her. You spat on tradition."

"Your mother is an exceptional—"

"Then you acknowledge the divide between commoners and nobles is a farce." Lelouch met his father's eyes, waiting for the Emperor to reprimand him for daring to interrupt. "I'm heading home."

Pensive, his father nodded. "I have a task for you."

---

Tokyo Bay, Area Eleven

The Chinese were pulling a full retreat and the storm was finally abating, allowing Britannian airships to take to the sky. Across the harbor, the sea erupted in colorful bursts of light as the first of Britannian naval reinforcements arrived and engaged. Tokyo had taken a beating, but it still stood strong, and the JLF had helped them do it.

"Suzaku," Tohdoh greeted warmly as he stepped outside and the cold breeze gnawed into his bones. "Did everything go well?"

"Yes... sir?" Suzaku cringed as Tohdoh's tired face transformed into one of amusement.

"Try not to defer to me too much in public," Tohdoh warned as he pulled him to the side. "There are many who are here out of a sense of loyalty to you."

"Please don't swear to me," he grumbled.

"That bad?" Tohdoh hissed in discontentment as another recruit with a haphazard bandana around his head dropped into a deep, respectful bow as they passed. "That might be a problem. You went dark for a short while. I was worried."

"There was a woman, a civilian. I think. She was strange. I thought she was injured, but she ended up fine and tried to warn me about the storm. Maybe it will get worse?"

"What did she say?"

"That the flash was here? I guess we could have more lightning."

Tohdoh froze, the traces of color vanishing from his face. "Marianne isn't supposed to be here."

Lelouch's mother? Empress Marianne. A woman who hadn't balked at executing innocents to flush out terrorists. A woman who sought his death for committing the crime of befriending her children. A woman who was an ace knightmare pilot—oh.

Already, Tohdoh was barking orders and pulling out his radio to hail the co-operating Britannians. Whatever moment of reprieve they were enjoying abruptly vanished and the co-opted warehouse burst into activity.

Ducking into a corner, Suzaku fished out his phone and smiled at Euphie's messages and her concern. Ashford Academy is safe, he reassured her. A ridiculous urge to tell her of his part, of the woman, overcame him, and he shook those suicidal thoughts out of his head.

Going to be back in Area Eleven for Nunnally's birthday. We should meet up. I know Nunnally would be thrilled to see you again.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets guiltily as footsteps approached. Tohdoh rounded the corner, looking at him strangely. "I need you in that knightmare. We are making a break for the bay now. Come back to me alive, please."

Suzaku nodded stiffly. "We're abandoning Japan then?"

"The majority of our forces are. Subsidiary cells were given the option to join us or not. Many will be staying, and our own relief focused branches are staying as well. We will be back, Suzaku. I promise. We will fight abroad and earn the experience, picking up various refugees who are not content in China or the E.U. And your cousin will continue the fight here, as effective as she has always been. Perhaps even more so."

At least she did things. Suzaku would be a figurehead, absolutely useless.

They gave him a fresh knightmare, a custom unit from the JLF whose head had been retrofitted in a way that made it seem like a demon—an oni. Perhaps, it was Japan's vengeful spirit. The hand guards would be useful and he hungrily gazed at the slender sword strapped to the back. Gently, he ran his hand along the chassis, the metal burning his hand from the cold.

"Gloves, Tennō Heika?" a soldier offered. His eyes lowered respectfully as Suzaku studied him. "It is an honor to serve by your side. I would like to offer my loyalty if you will accept?"

No wonder Lelouch had changed his hair color so he could escape this ridiculousness. Suzaku had lived in the slums like the rest of them. He was nothing special. Kaguya's son would have a better claim. Hell, they should put her on the throne. She actually knew how to handle politics.

Suzaku didn't even know if he could refuse.

"Your name?"

"Takei Kyo."

"I am honored to have you fighting for Japan alongside me." That was formal sounding, right?

Suzaku slipped on the gloves, bowed respectfully, and escaped up the ladder. The knightmare hummed to life beneath him, and he shot forward. The new factsphere was nice, letting him see the world despite the black clouds swallowing the sun, or the moon by now.

Behind him, the JLF troops and an associated mix of resistance fighters and civilians streamed to the dock. The Britannian presence near them mysteriously receded. At least they were keeping their word; one could never trust Britannians to do so.

Groaning, he rubbed his eyes and the growing headache behind his temple. It almost felt like he was being watched, and he half expected the strange green haired woman to step out into the open. It was ridiculous.

A knightmare rolled to a stop next to him—Teika. Four knightmares down was Tominaga; the man with the sword. Somehow, he gave off the impression of being nervous.

The hour ticked by safely as they scurried onto the warship in the harbor, the repair crew quickly disposed of.

His attention drifted upward and his heart jumped to his mouth at the streak of red shooting toward them—to his men, to Tominaga.

The sword dropped into his hand, humming to life in a vivid orange. He jumped into the air, aiming at the space right above the man's knightmare. "Move!"

Tominaga miraculously dodged backward, and Suzaku rammed his blade into the long lance whistling through the air. His attack was swiftly parried, leaving his unguarded shoulder to ram into the baffling knightmare's side. Since when could they fly?

"To your left!" Teika shouted, shooting forward.

Suzaku ducked, his heart settling into a steady rhythm. He needed to focus. He could fight. He had piloted before, and this time, there were others with him. He could feel them. There was merely one enemy unit. They had the advantage.

The lance twirled, the moves similar to a staff, and Suzaku let the feint harmlessly pass over him. He knew weapons. The staff was one he mastered in childhood. Emboldened, he opened a public channel. "I feel like we should switch. The staff for me. This sword for you. I can hardly imagine a Britannian would be a master of the staff."

The knightmare shifted backwards, and Suzaku could feel it; the moment of danger and him shooting forward, already knowing he was too late. The staff skewered through the cockpit of the soldier to his right. They were dead.

A woman laughed cruelly. "Your people were not the only ones who managed to pick up a stick and be of some use. It seems your friends have no such education."

"The Flash," Suzaku whispered.

"You didn't know?" Teika hissed. "What other Britannian pilots some horror movie contraption and uses a big stick?"

"And with what money would I have bought which newspaper that would tell me that? I taught kids self defense; this was not on my future career plans. I remembered her for swinging around a gun and killing people. Her knightmare in 2011 looked completely different!"

"Unfortunately for you, that was an unrefined prototype that made the mistake of allowing you to live the last time."

Suzaku was cursed. There was no other way around it. He had spent years trying to avoid Lelouch's mother.

And as a note to himself: turn off the public chat and talk in Japanese. Maybe, Tohdoh should have actually trained him.

Empress Marianne's knightmare shifted. The easiest person in reach was ten paces to his right. Suzaku lunged. Again, she effortlessly parried his attack, again his shoulder slammed into his side.

This time, she spun with the weight, and his stomach rose as he lifted into the air and plummeted to the ground.

The recruit died. They had only been sixteen years old. Another knightmare fell. Suzaku didn't know them.

They had to hold her off. Everyone behind them was depending on them. They had to leave Japan, and she intended to stop them.

He rolled over and adjusted the grip on the sword. It was not a katana. He had to stop treating it like one. Another three knightmares fell, their screams ringing through the coms. This time it wasn't quick. She left them to have their life slowly slip away.

It was monstrous.

Suzaku charged.

He parried the staff's first strike and pushed towards her so she lacked the leverage to wield the staff effectively. Her hand rammed into his side, tearing through plating, and he barely disengaged in time. The warning light blared across his screen. A moment longer and his leg would've been of no use. Close combat was just as deadly, perhaps even more so.

"We're dead," someone mumbled.

"Not if we do this together," Suzaku assured. "Tominaga, you take point. I need someone to draw her attention, and I'll focus on attacking her when she's distracted. I'm fast enough."

It was a beautiful dance to behold. If they were his students, Suzaku would praise them endlessly for such effortless teamwork. Perhaps such things were merely easier when one's life was at risk.

The Flash was a different creature altogether. She wove between their attacks with an effortless ease. Every motion was anticipated. Suzaku barely had time to search for an opening, too busy covering holes in the other's defenses. His sword sparked threateningly. If he blocked with it for much longer, it would break.

He fired his chest mountain machine gun. The bullets bounced off.

Three knightmares fell. One burst into bright purple flames, feeding on the leaking energy filler. Their tortured screams abruptly cut off on the radio. The second tried to escape on foot. She flicked him into the air with the staff, and his limp body crashed into the ground. The last tried to eject. Instead of him heading to the ship, she batted him back to Tokyo.

Another five fell. Then seven. Then two.

There were only five of them left.

"We're trying to leave," Suzaku cried. "We helped Britannia and this is how you repay us?"

"I eliminate threats. You should have laid down your arms instead of pillaging Bitannian resources."

"Like you pillage Japan?" Suzaku growled.

"Enough of this. I have better things to do than entertain a group of amateurs."

She doubled in speed, and Suzaku jerked backwards, the tip of the staff screeching along his chassis and breach alerts flooded the screen. A cloud of steam erupted from him. The next strike toppled him to his back.

If only he had more experience. if he could know exactly to what limits his knightmare could be pushed. If she didn't have a knightmare that so severely outclassed him and all knightmares that the JLF had resources to build.

Allowing the momentum to carry him, he extended his arms and kicked up with the legs. A knightmare could apparently perform a handstand. The metal groaned treacherously. The safety harness dug into his shoulders.

"You're the pilot from Shinjuku," she noted.

He jumped, spinning through the air and slamming his heel into her head. She flew backwards and then higher into the air. Fuck. When humans fought, fist to fist, no one had to worry about spontaneous flying.

Unbalanced, he landed on his feet. He was screwed, his turn was too slow. She was traveling too fast.

"Banzai," Tominaga shouted, bursting into the space between them. His harkens twisted around her. "Retreat, Tennō Heika. I have her."

Four more knightmares rushed to his aid, their shouts mixing over the comms. Three were destroyed before they could reach him

Tominaga's knightmare glowed and Suzaku dutifully retreated, eyeing the upcoming explosion warily. She was Lelouch's mother. What would he and Nunnally say when he learned he was responsible?

Sparking, Tominaga's knightmare fell to the side and the shredded remains of his slash harken fell to the ground. Empress Marianne took a moment to readjust her grip on the staff, then skewered him.

His sacrifice had been utterly useless.

"Noooo!" Suzaku shouted, lunging.

A tap to his leg sent him tumbling to the ground, the metal cracking in thin spiderwebs around him. He couldn't move.

Strangers had sacrificed their lives for him without hesitation. He was supposed to protect them; they died for him instead. Tears built in his eyes.

Teika, the last knightmare, stood between them, ready to fight.

"Please," Suzaku begged in Japanese. "You have a chance to live. Warn the other to take off now before she destroys them all. I can stall her for a little longer."

"I swore my loyalty to you. It is my duty to protect you and my honor to do so."

"How does it matter if we all are going to die! Don't let your death be meaning—"

A red light spilled from his back and the lance burst through before being withdrawn just as quickly. The knightmare crashed into the ground. The radio hissed with static.

Their deaths replayed again and again before his eyes as he glared up at her. They had put their faith in him, and he failed them.

"Just kill me," Suzaku begged. It would be a favor to everyone.

The staff raised above him, and he looked up at his demise.

"Your questioning will be interesting."

Fuck.

A grey blur slammed into her. A small jeep squealed to a stop beside him and a crew of soldiers rushed out, tools ready to extract him.

"Get out of there now!" Tohdoh ordered. A plume of heavy smoke washed over their arena. He spun around. His hands dug into the metal carcass of his knightmare, extracting Suzaku's cockpit. "Brace yourself."

The thrusters suddenly roared to life and Suzaku was hurtling to the ocean, to the ship docked at port. He twisted, and from the thin viewports he watched as Tohdoh's knightmare emerged from the smoke, barely dodging Empress Marianne's slash-harken. His sword batted the next one away as he continuously retreated.

Then, she suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Why?" Suzaku later asked as Tohdoh fussed over him in the medbay.

"Flying has to be energy intensive and she's an experienced enough pilot to not let her energy filler run dry in the middle of hostile territory, especially when she couldn't be sure of what resources I had. We got lucky, especially in that you held her off or we would all be dead."

"I couldn't do anything," Suzaku mumbled bitterly. "Just like with Gottwald."

"You did very well, Suzaku. She is the best pilot Britannia has to offer, and even the EU and China have no hope in confronting her head on. Thankfully, there is only one of her."

---

Boston, Homeland

"Miss Sumeragi," one of the impassive guards interrupted by the door. Kaguya set aside her dress and straightened, her heart thundering.

Had her premature packing aroused suspicion? The festivities would undoubtedly continue here, but she couldn't bear to stand by for a moment longer. An urgent email from her household staff in Kyoto had alerted her to the destruction of her tea cup collection—Munukata was dead.

She needed to know more. If it had been Kusukabe trying to eliminate the Kyoto house as traitors or if it had been the Emperor's agents. Either way, under the Emperor's suspicious gaze was the last place she wanted to be.

Even Lelouch, whose duties would undoubtedly increase as Zero, wasn't necessarily safe. She would be investigated. Of that, she had no doubt. The potential spies in her household would have to be monitored more extensively to ensure they picked up on nothing untoward. She needed to instruct Sayoko to clear up any loose ends. Her own business demanded a more personal touch.

The guard receded from the doorway, and she silently counted to five before following. At the end of the hallway, she spotted Lelouch vanishing around the corner. She entered the Emperor's office.

"Your Majesty," she greeted respectfully and curtsied deeply.

"Rise." He was facing away from her, contemplatively staring out the window as the slowly rising sun. "Kururugi."

She wiped her sweaty palms off on her skirt. "My cousin?"

"What is he like?"

"I have not met him—"

"Do not lie to me. You know he is alive."

She closed her eyes. "Because the night my father turned traitor, he was told of my cousin's survival and I overheard. He is the last of my family, so I admit that I wish him well, but we have not spoken to each other since Area Eleven's establishment."

"But you have kept in contact." He turned, the weight of his gaze threatening to drive her to her knees. There were five guards in the room, each prepared to move at a moment's notice. "What is he like?"

"Headstrong," she whispered. "He and Lelouch hated each other at first. Suzaku tended to use his fists while Lelouch ran his mouth." Her heart twisted in remembrance of those idyllic times. "Suzaku wasn't stupid; he had a mischievous side. My father would rant about how the Britannian influence was corrupting his nephew, but Suzaku was like that before... just more lonely. He was a terrible liar and he was very proud of his father and Japan."

None of that was useful, she knew. Suzaku was definitely capable of lying now, but she had kept her distance purposefully. She didn't even know where he disappeared to after he vanished from the Stadtfeld residence. There was nothing she could betray regarding him.

"So he and Lelouch schemed."

She shrugged. "I was too young and my family wasn't keen on me spending too much time in Britannian company. I am sure Lelouch could provide you with a more accurate assessment of his character. Suzaku preferred rushing headfirst into things, but he trusted Lelouch enough to follow his lead. Complicated plans were never his strong suits; he preferred to improvise along the way. He and Lelouch got into a few explosive arguments because of that."

The Emperor would know of this all. There had been Britannian guards at the Kururugi residence. If he had shown an ounce of parental concern over Lelouch, none of this would be a surprise. They had seen more than Kaguya ever did.

"A pawn then," the Emperor said dismissively. His eyebrow rose. "You disagree?"

"Less than Lelouch was," she said with a tad too much anger in her voice. "The Kururugi family went through countless tutors because Suzaku would eventually throw a fit and accuse them of only using him to get close to his father. I imagine he would have been a much worse hostage."

"Then it was his decision to declare himself the Emperor of Japan?"

"What?" Kaguya asked blankly. "He hates politics."

"Kusukabe claims he is a captive of the JLF and he intends to restore him to the throne."

"Kusakabe is an idiot," she said, relieved. Suzaku hadn't acted like an idiot, but he would bear the consequences either way. Britannian operatives had undoubtedly been deployed already to secure his head and eliminate the threat he posed. "It may be selfish of me to ask, Your Majesty, but if he was captured, Lelouch or Nunnally would be able to secure his loyalty. He could be of service."

"You have agents better integrated in the Eleven populus. Did Lelouch meet Kururugi in Shinjuku?"

"You're asking me to spy on my fiance."

The Emperor stepped forward, looming over her. "I am asking you to serve the Empire."

The guard pressed inward.

She betrayed people. It was what she did. Her shallow relationships with other nobles and business were meant to be discarded. If Kallen's sacrifice would better Japan, Kaguya would do it without a thought—the same as for any agent of hers. She had betrayed her father.

Raising her chin, she countered, "Lelouch is the future of the Empire. I would be a fool to betray him. If he has no issue with me tracing his movements in Area Eleven, then I am happy to be of assistance."

Zero was too big of a secret to be revealed so the Emperor could indulge his curiosity.

"If you hurry, you can catch a flight to Japan with Lelouch." The Emperor's tone was as bland as his visage. There was not a hint as to his thoughts. "Your associate, Munukata, suffered an unfortunate accident in the chaos. You will soon have the opportunity to clear certain rumors regarding his activities."

---

Viceroy Palace, Area Eleven

"Alex," Lelouch hissed as he stepped into his room in the palace. The staff had been diligent in their repairs. Everything looked pristine, but there were clearly holes in their security if Alex could slip all the way through to his rooms.

"I heard a special representative of the Emperor was coming," Alex explained unhelpfully. He shifted to the side of the room as Henry fumbled in the room behind them with the luggage. "It's urgent. You'll want to come alone."

Lelouch tensed, studying his friend's face for a hint of deception. "Frederick and Henry will panic."

"It won't take long. I'll meet you by the painting of the fountain."

Sighing, Lelouch turned around and with a half hearted smile sent Henry to check in with Roy and ensure that the children were fine. With a tired nod, he addressed Frederick, "I'll be back in an hour. There is something sensitive I have to attend to."

"You can trust me, Lelouch."

"Fine."

In the servant hallway behind the painting, Alex eyed Frederick warily before leading them out into the city and to the abandoned OSI base. "I told Art that there were a few more files that I needed more time to get to, but— Frederick, you should stay out here."

"I'm not going to—"

"It's called plausible deniability," Alex snapped. "You can't betray what you don't know. I haven't even told Art, and he wouldn't say anything, but he'll be the first one to be questioned."

Frederick's lips thinned. "It's your call, Lelouch."

"Stay out here," Lelouch said after a considerable pause. "you'll have an easier time lying if need be then."

Emergency lights lit the inside of the hallways in a harsh red. The corpses had been removed, but their bloody stains remained. It was a sobering reminder of what Henry was capable of.

Alex twisted his hands together and reached into a broken file cabinet. He withdrew a worn folder and set it down the table before cautiously stepping back. "I'm sorry."

Pulling out a seat, Lelouch flipped it open and stared at Kaguya's face. He should be surprised; he had always known. The bitter taste of betrayal seeped into his mouth anyway. "How bad is it?"

"Most of this hasn't been filed with the main office. They were digging into the Kyoto House and NAC and their connection to the JLF. It was an active investigation which we interrupted.. Tousai Munakata and Taizo Kirihara were the main suspects. The former died during the recent chaos."

"It was the Emperor," Lelouch said absently, flipping to the next page. "There is more?"

Of course there was.

"There were some financial documents that nobody had the time to peruse. They go all the way back to the establishment of Area Eleven. Kaguya Sumeragi has improved, but a few years after the invasion she funneled a substantial amount of her profits into a shell corporation which then funneled into a now known front of the JLF."

Financial support was to be expected. it made sense. He used her assets as well. "I can work with that and cut her ties."

"I know she is a friend, Lelouch... That's why you needed to know, so I did some more digging..."

"I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"She's good at covering her tracks, and I'm like ninety-five percent sure her maid is an assassin, but they made mistakes when starting out, and if you know where to look... The entire Kyoto House is traitorous. They are all funneling money into the JLF, although with Kusukabe splitting off, there has been some infighting." Alex stepped out of the room, returning with a much beefier binder. "The OSI will eventually figure this out, but I suspect it will take a while with meddling noble hands. There are ten families within Area Eleven who were providing support for Kusukabe as well. There are quite a few major families backing them from out of the Area, but it's unclear who they are. The intention is to run a coup against Clovis. I suspect they hoped for his demise. If he's incapacitated or considered unfit—"

"—an accident will befall Bartley. Then Gottwald, a Purist, is the highest ranking military officer in Area Eleven and will be the interim Viceroy. How much did he know of this?"

Alex shrugged. "You would have to ask him. He's not very politically active, but it is hard to say what happens behind the scenes. Sumeragi despises Kusukabe, and the Purists hold particular disdain for her, partially because of her relationship with you. We raided one of the minor nobles involved in this; they were digging into her as well, undoubtedly for blackmail."

This was such a mess. He held his head, eyeing the folder but not having the energy to unveil the painful secrets which would force his hand. "Just spit it out."

"Put together, Kaguya Sumeragi is the head of JLF intelligence. I suspect she is also responsible for various assassinations which benefited the JLF. Some of the meeting notes with Kusukabe's representatives indicate that he was upset that the JLF was trusting a traitorous wench." Alex snorted. "Lord Kimble sent an amusing letter advising his co-conspirators to avoid sending female representatives when dealing with the man."

"Her ally sold her out to the Purists?" Lelouch asked in disbelief.

"He said enough." Alex slowly lowered himself into the seat across from him. "I can turn it in and file the information. It'll surface eventually and they'll be arrested. You could act and arrest those involved, taking the clout for yourself."

"You mean Zero would," Lelouch said bitterly. "There's nothing to gain that way. Give me a copy of the files on the nobles. I can at least threaten them, maybe make them give up how they're connecting with Kusukabe, so I can finally claim his head for this ridiculous stupidity."

"As for Sumeragi? There's enough on the OSI side to issue a warrant and question her. She won't be able to hide her activities under that degree of suspicion, and if I include my summaries, she'll be questioned and executed. So, what do you want?"

A spy. And here Lelouch had been fretting over Stadtfeld's inconsistencies while ignoring the spy master at his elbow. He was only a tool to her, nothing more. He knew their relationship had been built on lies, but how many times had he been unwittingly used? Sympathetic was expected. Even funneling money to the JLF was understandable. But running a network of spies beneath the Emperor's nose and actively sabotaging Britannia?

"I should arrest her. That's my job," Lelouch said tiredly. She had slept on his lap on the flight back to Japan.

"Or you could do that," Alex said hesitantly.

She would die. She would be tortured. Japan would suffer for her mistakes.

"Remove her name," Lelouch ordered. "Not all mentions, that would be suspicious as well. Let them be suspicious, as long as there's nothing concrete."

"She'll continue, make another mistake. They all do, Lelouch."

He flipped open the folder, ignoring the churning in his gut. She had betrayed him, but he already had to let Suzaku go. They were enemies now. He couldn't lose Kaguya as well. "I guess I am marrying her."

Even if she wished to marry one of his brothers. Lelouch couldn't trust them to protect her if necessary. He could. He had the influence with his father to get away with it. He would be able to stop her as well. This wasn't what he wanted for either of them.

She could never know his role as Zero.

"A year. Then it's done." He had given his word. "How many OSI agents are in her employ? Who would betray her?"

"Four of note. They have access to nothing important. She might not know who they are specifically, but she clearly suspects something." Alex leaned over and flipped to the next page and the various headshots. "Robert is the one closest to her and with the most access. Sasha is a bit dull but she's a good assassin. Rebecca is newer, a young and fresh face. She requested a reassignment because she felt useless. Theodore is a very adept investigator but also under the most suspicion."

Lelouch stared at the four. He was a prince. He would act like one. "Kill Robert and approach Rebecca. I want her working for me instead and integrating her into the household. Let her know that she'll be working for me and that Robert is your handiwork."

Oh, Kaguya would hate him for this. At least she would be alive to do so. A healthy dose of paranoia would keep her alive for the year.

It was probably too much to hope that she would turn her back on them.

---

Worldbuilding Thoughts:

-The wiki has knightmares made out of tungsten... yes, the metal is very hard, but it's exceedingly brittle.

-Flying knightmares are running on the logic that it drains the energy fillers very rapidly. I don't think I'm going to remove that constraint anytime soon as it leads to the more boring knightmare fights from s2.

-We know CC can feed shock images to people, but I wonder what else she and VV are capable of.

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Author's Note:

Yay, I'm back. So resumes your regular Excalibur updates.

To all the commenters who wanted more detail in the battle and etc... You may disagree with my choice to focus more on the civilians and the events around it, but that was my intent. In the grand scheme of things, this battle was essentially a footnote. The impact on Britannia is trivial and no characters you could possibly care about were slated to die or suffer from a grievous injury just yet. It made no sense to drag this out for more chapters to give the detail you desired in comments. I also know that there is a large portion of readers who finds battles tedious and boring. I probably already lingered too long for their tastes.

I do promise when people actually start dying and suffering, we'll get more details. Lelouch also won't be halfway around the world then. XD

Thank you Dark, Jarod, and Nektry for your beta work.

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Politics:

Oh I pissed off some people when I mentioned BLM last time, but this is a political fic which draws from recent history, aka politics. I don't believe in putting my head in the sand, and according to FFN, 46% of my audience is in the US, so I will take a moment to discuss the recent overturn of Roe v Wade in the US. If you think this doesn't affect you because you lack a uterus, I fear that is an incredibly naive position.

First, Roe vs Wade was based on the right to privacy, an interpretation of the first, third, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendment. This was established in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), a case establishing the right to contraception. As the US has no proper data protection law, your personal data—precise geolocation, browsing or internet activity, search history, private communications, social media posts, photos, videos, financial transactions, etc—could possibly be involuntarily coerced from companies in any suspected abortion case. If your girlfriend is suspected of an abortion, your own data may be used in an attempt to determine her pregnancy status. I am not enough of an optimist to believe that this would be used in good faith and not to harass and prosecute minority groups or political dissidents.

Furthermore, numerous other rights are based on the right to privacy and that means Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), contraceptives, Loving v. Virginia (1968), interracial marriage, Lawrence v. Texas (2003) sodomy or anal/oral sex, and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), same sex marriage, could be overturned as well.

I know every person will have their own opinion on the morality of abortion, but I wish to discuss for the moment the consequences. The Mayo clinic estimates that about 10-20% percent of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage. The actual percentage of miscarriages is likely much higher due to them being especially common early on before women know they're pregnant. In countries where abortions are banned, miscarriages are often persecuted as a crime. In the US, the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) found over 1,700 legal cases involving pregnancy loss since 1973. This was in a Roe v. Wade world; this number will only rise. As there is a significant lack of science in our current legal system, women may be found guilty of inducing a miscarriage due to alcohol consumption, drinking coffee, routine prescription medication, stress, or even exercise. Maternal mortality rates in the US have already been rising and are among the highest in developed nations. In the long run, we'll see more women arrested on bogus charges, families suffer an unfathomable invasion of privacy when struggling with the loss of a wanted pregnancy, more pregnant woman dying from preventable causes, and more children suffering abuse as our social system is unable to handle them.

Lastly, the supreme court's various recent decisions have chosen a great disregard for precedent and the constitution. The overturn of Roe v. Wade is just one prominent example. A new case on the docket, Moore v. Harper, poses a great threat to our democracy. In the worst case, it will give each state's legislature the right to decide their own election rules, ignoring their own judicial system. In effect, it could spell the end to fair elections in the US.

Please vote in the midterms.

My condolences to the victims and families of the Highland Park mass shooting and the Uvalde school shooting.

Happy Fourth of July