Chapter 2: Transfer Students

A young Malik awoke to find himself in a room with an IV, noticing that his surroundings were that of a hospital room. He quietly got out of the bed and opened a crack at the door, seeing a pair of men walking by as he slightly closed the door and hid beside it. Malik left the room quietly and took steps away, heading toward the next hallway. He glanced at the surrounding next to him, he saw guards. Judging from their uniforms they were Britannians as one of them spotted Malik.

"Hey, you!"

Malik ran based on his fight-or-flight instinct, knocking down a gurney as guards chased him. One of them tripped on the floor while the other clumsily leapt off the gurney, losing his footing in the next step. Malik glanced back and saw the guards fall on their asses before he was stopped by two more guards. They tackled him to the guards before he heard light, but loud footsteps coming his way as he looked to the direction of the footsteps. Amethyst eyes stared at him with malicious and sinister attention, covered by a smile.

"I must say you're quick on your feet, but not quick enough. I have much planned for you, little Malik." the voice said as guards drag Malik, kicking and screaming

"I lost my family due to the nature of the world at war between three big superpowers. I was in the Middle Eastern Federation when these agents find me and took me into their organization. They experimented on kids like you and me, turning them to be living weapons in service to the Holy Britannian Empire or just the Emperor himself. Either way, you and I couldn't take it anymore. We only made our move when it was time to plan, when it was time to watch, and when it was time to act."

"I remember. We escaped." Rai pressed his hand on his head. "But I just can't seem to remember what happened after that."

"Yeah, there was a crash and we got separated. I took work as a mercenary and was found by this group. I've been working with them ever since."

"And they taught you how to fight."

Malik shook his head. "Not really. The both of us learned how to fight and operate a Knightmare thanks to that organization. They augmented our body to be more compatible and adjusted into using Knightmare Frames. The irony on them when they trained us, we used we were taught and put them to use in escaping."

"Did you know who I was? Did I mention anything about my past?"

"No, not a thing. It seemed like the only thing you remembered was your name."

"That girl. The one we saw yesterday. Do we know her? Or who she was?" Malik shook his head in reply. "So, she wasn't there at the same we were. Or I just don't remember that much of her."

Malik shrugged his shoulders. "Not like we could ask her. We don't even know where she is."

"Fair point. About yesterday..." Malik glanced at Rai before the silver haired young man look him in the eye and asked. "What was your mission in the Tokyo ghettos? Shinjuku in particular."

"Retrieval of precious cargo of a Knightmare shipment. Although, we weren't expecting JLF to hit the convoy. I don't know how they found out."

"If it wasn't for the interference, we never would have met. Or more likely, reunite."

"Look what you did!" Rai and Malik quickly turn to see a group of Britannian teens harassing a japanese man. "Stinkin' eleven! Do you know how much these shoes cost!" one kicked the man in the gut while he was down. "You numbers should know your place in life."

Malik stood up from his seat on the bench with Rai grabbing his wrist. "Don't. You don't want to blow your cover with this many people watching you." Malik ball his fist as the teens left the old man alone before one of them spat on him. "This is how it is here. Britannians treat numbers like animals or less." Rai said

Malik sighed exasperatedly. "You're right, unfortunately." he admitted, glaring at the gang bullying the man

"So, what now?"

"It's up to you. You can come with me to a safehouse... or not, and we can catch up with each other another day."

"You trust me that much?"

"I got one of my good feelings. Always have since the day I met you." Malik smirked. "Plus, I could always tell if you're lying."

"If what you said about me is true... then take me to a Knightmare at least. Maybe getting my hands on one can restore some old memories for me."

"Good. What I wanted to hear." Malik turned to glare at the bullying Britannians beating on the same Japanese man from the park in an alley. "But first, I have something to take of. Wait here for a few, will ya?"

Malik walked to see the same group of Britannians taunt and beat the older man, putting on the black hood of his jacket to mask part of his face. One of them kicked him while he was down, and the other stepped on his hand. The Japanese man wailed in pain before getting kicked in the face.

"Teach you to show more respect to your betters, eleven."

"Hey." they turned to see a hooded person the same age. "Leave that man alone. Don't you have any better to do, or do you like beating on someone weaker than you?"

"And who are you to tell us what to do?" one berated, walking by Malik. "You don't look like a Britannian. Maybe you're another filthy foreigner. A number like this stinkin' rat." he saw only a devilish smirk. "What's with that-" he was cut off by strong hook to the face as his nose bleed violently

"Why, you-!"

The next was kicked in the face, breaking out a couple of teeth along with blood spitting out. Another attempted to land a jab at Malik, as the young merc simply grabbed his wrist and snapped it before tossing him toward a trash can. He punched the third one in the throat before slamming his head to a wall, as the Britannian fell into unconsciousness. The fourth and final bully trembled with fear as Malik took another step-by-step, leaving the terrified Britannian to grab a piece of wood and charged at him. Malik kneed him in the gut and took the blunt weapon in return, striking the Britannian hard in the face with it. He turned to the beaten Japanese man who trembled with the same fear of the Britannian abusers. Malik dropped the blunt object and offered the man his hand for him to stand up. The man cautiously took it and got up out of the ground.

"What do you want? A free ice cream? Let me just make one for you on the house-"

"Just take care of yourself." Malik said, preparing to leave the alleyway

"Who are you?"

"Who am I doesn't matter." Malik replied. "But I might take up on that free ice cream someday."

"Thank you, Yasuke!" Malik stopped once he heard that last word

"Yasuke. That word you said, what does it mean?"

"The dark one."

"Hmm." Malik glanced at the man. "You might want to pick their pockets for some money. Britannians tend to have some good cash." he said, walking out of the alleyway

Malik drove with Rai in the back of the car, his face covered up in order to hide the location of the safehouse. A Japanese man disguised as a homeless person opened the gated fence as Malik headed inside the building. He got out of the car and took Rai as they walked on ahead, stopping toward a Burai with its tracker on a steel table. Malik took the cloth off of Rai's head as he saw it was a modified Knightmare. All of a sudden, he heard the sound of a gun click that caught attention as he turned around to see a teen one or two years older than him. Beside him was a girl with blonde hair and red eyes, along with an old man with balding hair and glasses. Rai stared at the teal eyed boy aiming the pistol at him, his hands in the air until Malik gave the go ahead.

"So, this is the guy from the mission?" the teen with the gun asked, still keeping his eye on Rai

"Yeah. This is him. Like you three to meet Rai Franklin."

"Alice Kruger."

Carlito look up and down at Rai, then scoffed. "Carlito Rojas."

"This is Anatoly Harkov."

"You must be the Rai I've heard Malik talk about." Harkov extended his hand to Rai, who shook it in return. "I have been looking forward to meeting you. Some of the others are rightfully cautious of newcomers. I was hoping we could test your skills on a Knightmare simulator. To see how skilled and adept you are, of course."

"Apparently, I have experiences with Knightmares..." Rai paused staring at the VR simulation behind him. "But I don't know how well due to my gap on memory."

"Which is why we can try right now. Maybe you'll gain a memory reflex in the simulator." Harkov gestured for Rai to enter the simulator

Carlito crossed his arms and gave a narrow expression at Rai. "Why did you bring him here if he's got memory loss?"

Malik glanced over his shoulder at Carlito. "We got history." he then turned to Rai as he entered the simulator. "And maybe, maybe this will jog some of his memories."

"We will have to wait and see." Alice replied

Rai is a simulation of a war-torn district in Shinjuku, seeing a Sutherland wielding a lance charging at him. He moved the Burai in a defensive position and evade the incoming lance, taking it into the Knightmare's fists. He fired the assault rifle at the head and torso, damaging part of the Sutherland's head. He took it as an opportunity and used the sharp end of his melee weapon to pierce the cockpit. Another Sutherland appeared and opened fire, leaving Rai to take cover and find a strategic point of attack. Rai was now above the Sutherland using a slash harken to scale up to the roof of a small building. He used the Burai to jump and lunge at the Sutherland, tackling it to the ground before ripping off the head. Three more Sutherland started to appear as Rai used the Burai to hide, sticking to the shadows before taking them out one-by-one at a time. He fired the assault rifle, separating the three Sutherlands as they branched out to find their mysterious attacker. The first Sutherland was pulled in by a slash harken, as the cockpit was struck by the sharp point of two tonfas. A second Sutherland heard the sudden commotion and headed toward the area, seeing the road empty. All of a sudden, a shadow was looming over it as a Sutherland crashed into it. A slash harken pierced the head as weapon fire hit the torso and cockpit. The third and final Sutherland charged at the Burai and destroyed the assault rifle Rai's Burai was carrying, about to take fire with its weapon. Rai reacted quickly, as he used the Burai to grab the weapon and strike the Sutherland's leg before finishing it off with a few blows to the torso and head.

The others watched the simulation of Rai's combat skills in action. "He seems to be handling himself rather well." Harkov commented

Carlito crossed his arms and replied. "For now, anyway."

"Ali!" said person turned one of the mercs. "You and Fenrir team have a call from Oval command."

Malik glanced at Rai's training on screen before turning to Harkov. "Let me know when he's done, old man."

Harkov nodded. "I will."

"So, I take it your old friend Rai is getting him acquitted?" Oval asked

"He's in a VR sim right now. Some of his memories are a gap, but it seems he knows how to pilot a KMF." Malik said

"I see. Alice, Carlito. What's your take on Rai?"

"He seems fine to me. Kind, good nature attitude, and curious. However, I don't fully know him enough to give a clear assessment."

"There's something about him that doesn't add up. I just don't know what it is."

"Rai's an amnesiac until he could get his memories back." Malik added

"We will have information detailing him in the meantime. From what intelligence we gathered, Rai currently stays at Ashford academy."

"Yeah. He told me as much."

"Excellent. This is the perfect opportunity we can keep an eye on him."

"How are we-" Carlito's eyes went wide. "No, no, no way!"

"Your new objective is to infiltrate and blend in Ashford academy as transfer students. We'll get the paperwork taken care of."

Carlito shook his head in disapproval over his next mission. "Oval, you can get someone else for this instead."

"True, but you are the only ones who are close enough."

"Damn it." Carlito swore under his breath. "Of all the places, it had to be some stupid Britannian academy."

Malik turned and began to walk out of the room. "Nothing we can't handle, Little Wolf." he said smugly

"I hate when it you call me that."

"And yet, you like it." Malik remarked as he and Carlito walked out of the room

"I like being called Wolf, by the way. Not Little Wolf." Alice could hear Carlito before turned her attention to the screen

"Do you have something to say, Alice?"

"About Suzaku Kururugi..." Alice trailed, tugging the hem of her shirt. "Do you know where his whereabouts are?"

"Yes. It's the same place you're heading for your next assignment."

The next day, all three were now in a school uniform attire as Carlito tugged away on the collar. For the male students, it was a black school uniform. Black jacket with gold trimming, with a white long sleeve shirt underneath and black trousers. The female students wore light yellow jacket with gold trims, black cuffs, and black skirts. A green tie with the Ashford logo, as Alice adjusted her tie and her hair in her usual pigtails. She could pass for a regular student in the academy, but Malik and Carlito would immediately be dead giveaways as outsiders since most of the people in Ashford are Britannians. They walked into a large room as the teacher allowed them to introduce themselves. The trio scan the room with their eyes, spotting Rai being in the same room as Alice's eyes slightly widened when she noticed Suzaku Kururugi settling in his things. Malik saw Rai with a boy their age with dark hair and purple eyes, which gave him a strange feeling of memory gap for some strange reason.

Malik eyed the few aside from Suzaku Kururugi, specifically four. The first he glanced at was a girl with blonde hair and an attractive figure, as Malik had to make sure he didn't stare at her breasts for too long. An orange haired girl with green eyes, surprisingly enough wanted to greet Suzaku but was either stopped or convinced not to which made Malik and Carlito notice. A green haired girl with glasses who seemed fearful of Suzaku, or foreigners in general based on her fearful look. But the one that seem to have attract Malik's attention was a red haired who seem to look innocent looking, although felt it was nothing more than a simple facade. However, he focused on the task at hand as he glanced at Suzaku before glancing again the purple eyed one. Alice noticed Malik stare at the boy with purple eyes, slightly widened her own before regaining her composure. He and Rai were with another boy with blue hair, as Alice took her seat with some of the students throwing side glances at her. Carlito and Malik also went to take their seats, ignoring all the eyes staring at them as they brought out their things for class.

"There he is." he heard Carlito whisper to him. "Over there with those two vatos."

Malik glanced at the eyes on him and Carlito. "We can't do anything right now. Later on when this class is over." he whispered back

The trio of Fenrir finished their course for the day as Alice tailed Suzaku, seeing him follow the boy from behind. Ever since he tugged the collar of his jacket, Suzaku had been following him as Alice began to do the same. Judging by that motion, she realized it was their signal to talk in private. It was when the two of them were on a roof talking, Alice taking a peek by the door watching the old friends converse with each other. There was no doubt about it, this person Alice was seeing Suzaku meet was no other than Lelouch. One of two people from her past, his sister Nunally being the second. She slowly took a deep breath and exhaled before she stepped out of the door, catching the two by surprise upon her arrival on the roof.

"What- What are you doing here?"

"Who are you? Why were you following us?"

"I never thought I'd see you two again." Alice noticed the confused look on Suzaku, but a look of caution from Lelouch. "Don't the both of you remember me? Seven years ago, on the Kururugi shrine. My mother's name was Elsa Kruger."

Suzaku gasped. "Elsa." his eyes widened staring at Alice. "It's you. Alice."

"Right." Lelouch turn to stare at her with stunned realization. He began to recall a memory of a blonde hair girl with Nunnally smiling, and her mother holding a two-year-old little girl. "I remember. You played with my sister whenever Suzaku and I were on our own. Your mother, she looked after Nunnally. She treated all three of us as if we were her own children. You... you had a baby sister the last time I saw you."

Alice looked away upon the mention of her mother and sister. "They... they're gone. I had thought the same for you two and Nunally."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Alice." Suzaku said, offering his condolences. "Elsa, she was a good woman."

"My condolences for your loss." Lelouch said. "Why don't you come by the mansion? I'm sure Nunnally will be happy to see you."

Alice blinked with wide eyes. "Nunnally is still with you?"

Later in the evening, Lelouch arrived back home and waited for his sister. The door opened and Nunnally arrived with Sayako accompanying her.

"Hi, Lelouch! I've returned home." she said with a smile

"Welcome back, Nunnally." Lelouch said back with a smile. "Miss Sayako. I've got a special present for you today."

Lelouch signaled Sayako to be quiet for a moment as Suzaku and Alice walked in the dining room. Both of them saw Nunnally and walked toward her. Alice knelt down on one knee as Suzaku reached out and held Nunnally's hand, with Alice doing the same to her other hand. Nunnally suddenly realized the hands that held hers, as Alice smiled.

"These hands. Is it... is it really you?"

"It's us, Nunnally." Alice said with a tear in her eye and a smile

"Thank Heaven." Nunnally began to tear up. "I knew it. I just knew you two would be alright."

Suzaku smiled happily. "It's been a long time, Nunnally."

Alice was having dinner with Lelouch, Suzaku, and Nunnally. It was nice for the four of us to enjoying talking to each other. She obviously knew that Suzaku was still in the Britannian army but was more surprised to see him in Ashford Academy of all places. She was relieved to find out Lelouch and Nunnally were staying in Ashford, despite her and Fenrir team sent to infiltrate the academy and fit in just to meet Rai. Alice did take note that Suzaku was in the Engineering Corps, but part of her felt there was more to it than what he was telling them. While they talked, Lelouch went into the kitchen and spotted someone he told to stay in his room. The conversation went from Suzaku to Alice. Lelouch informed her that Suzaku and Alice were friends from the past, as he headed back to the dining room holding tea. After dinner, Alice bid Lelouch and Nunnally goodbye. To her disappointment, Suzaku hadn't changed all those seven years ago stating it would be better if he distance himself from her, Lelouch, and Nunnally.

"I know he's thinking of protecting Lelouch and Nunnally's secret, but that shouldn't even matter. He's just making things worse for himself." Alice saw Malik and Carlito walking by as she walked toward them. "Guys."

"Hey. What were you doing over there?"

Alice pointed her thumb at the mansion home. "Seeing some old friends. Like you have with Rai I imagine."

Malik shrugged and shook his head. "I wasn't able to meet up with him today. He had some friends of his from that student council occupying him."

"Since we've been here, every student hear has been giving us dirty looks." Carlito kept his arms folded. "What's the point of us being here aside from meeting Snowflake?"

"No one knows but Oval command. In the meantime, we stay on mission until we're told otherwise."

"I still can make these preppy Brits life hell for them."

"As long as you don't get caught and blow your own cover." Malik chided in a nonchalant tone

"Don't get caught, huh? Shouldn't be a problem for me."

The next day, Fenrir team remain attended at Ashford academy for the sake of their mission. Malik and Carlito simply ignored the worrying side glances and glares from some of the students, but there were others who were skeptical and mistrustful of non Britannians. Alice happened to embarrass some girls taunting her friendship with Nunnally by using her Geass to pull their skirts off, leaving to run humiliated by the prank. Malik was walking outside on school grounds as he suddenly ran into two Britannian students. One was overweight and the other was scrawny with glasses.

"You don't belong here, Number. What are you, anyway? An Eighteen?"

"Doesn't matter. If he isn't Britannian, he gets no special treatment. How did a lousy filth rat like you get enrolled here, anyway?"

"He should just go back where he came!" the chubby one held out a spray paint bottle, walking toward Malik who only stood still. "Time for you to know your place!" he said, grabbing the collar of his shirt

Malik simply pushed the lanky one off his ass by tripping him off his feet. "Oops." he said in a nonchalant tone, with a small grin. "Sorry, friend. Are you okay?"

"Why, you!" the scrawny prepared to hit Malik, only for him to simply grab his wrist and put a hold over him. "Hey! Let me go!"

Malik leaned his head forward to his ear. "Do you know my people are masters of the throwing knives?" he whispered intimidatingly in a calm manner. "If you both like, I would be happy to give you a demonstration. All I need is a knife." Malik picked the student's pickets and brought out a sharp pencil. "Or... I could just use this pencil. It's not as sharp as a blade, but I imagine we can make something work."

The bully duo eyes widened in horror at Malik, with the one caught in a hold by him screaming. "LET ME GO, YOU FREAK!" Malik let the scrawny one go as he and his lanky friend cowered behind each other

Malik grinned deviously. "Well, what do you say?"

They heard footsteps, as they turned to see Rai walking toward them. The duo ran toward Rai. "Get away from this freak! He's crazy! We're telling the principal about this!" One of them said as Rai prepared to use his Geass.

"You two will forget what happened here." Rai commanded as the Geass began to take affect on them

"Should have told them to act like chimpanzees while you were at it." Malik added

Rai grinned at him, as the two bullies did as Rai commanded and left. "So, now that it's just the two of us..." he folded his arms as he stared at Malik. "Why are you here?"

"Believe it or not, you're half the reason." Malik replied nonchalant

Rai cocked his head in mere confusion. "Half?"

"You and maybe a certain someone."

"Suzaku?" Malik glanced at Rai upon the mention of Suzaku's name

"So, you know him?"

Rai shook his head. "No, but I think him and Lelouch know each other. He might even know Nunnally, too."

"One of your buddies on that Student Council? How did they meet?"

Before Rai could reply, they hear a sudden voice on the speakers. "This is Milly Ashford, your Student Council President. CAT HUNT, everybody!"

Rai and Malik looked confused. "Cat hunt?" they both said

"There's a cat loose on campus that needs to be rounded up." Carlito and Alice heard Milly announce as they walk by to see Malik and Rai. "Put everything on hold, people. Participating clubs will get budget priority. And whoever catches our feline friend, will get an extra special prize; a big ol' kiss from one of the members of the Student Council. AH-HAHAHAHA!"

"What?!" the trio turned to see the shocked expression on Rai. "No, no, no, no! No way is that going to happen! Come on!" he said, running to find the cat while the other shrugged and followed him

"Is everything bizarre in this place?" Carlito huffed while running

"You have no idea. Of all things, Milly... really?!"

"No Britannian school like this would ever-"

"Meeow!" they heard a voice on the intercom say as Alice's face flooded with dread

"MEEOW!" the four heard everyone say out loud

Malik closed his eyes and sighed for a split second. "On second thought, maybe this place is bizarre."

"I can't believe Nunnally's getting dragged into this." Alice murmured

"Split up to find the cat."

"On it!"

Carlito and Alice went one way while Rai and Malik went another, the latter desperate to find the cat for Rai's sake. They looked everywhere while they ran through campus, as Malik used his Geass to spot the cat by sound or sight. That was when he discovered the cat jump down from a roof and headed off into another building. From what Malik could tell, the cat was heading up to a bell tower.

"What are you two doing here?" the two turned to Suzaku ask

"Same as you I imagine. Saw the cat over here." Malik replied

Suzaku spotted a forth person coming. "Lelouch?"

"Why are you three here?"

Malik pointed his thumb as the cat meowed from above them. "That's mostly the reason."

"Up there." Suzaku said being the first to run up the stairs, with Malik and Rai following behind

"Suzaku, wait! Don't go up there you three!"

"But the Student Council President said to catch it."

"That doesn't mean either of you should do it."

"Speak for yourself. I'm not getting caught in this mess with Milly!" Rai said, running close to Malik with Suzaku still at the top. "Plus, you're doing the same thing."

"I have my reasons."

"Lelouch, you know you were never faster than me." Suzaku said as Malik and Rai caught him, with Lelouch falling behind the three

"He was always an exercise nut." Lelouch said, catching his breath

Suzaku arrived at the top before Malik and Rai in a couple of moment. Many students were gathering outside. Milly, Rivalz, Shirley, Kallen, Nina, and Nunnally soon followed.

"So, who's the lucky winner that's got our feline friend cornered?"

"Up there!" Shirley looked up and saw Suzaku. "It's Suzaku!"

The students looked up and saw Suzaku climbing up toward the cat, as Rai slowly followed behind them. Malik climbed up next to see the cat was underneath where the bell was, glancing back to see Lelouch popped out of the window behind them.

"Easy now." Suzaku said. "You don't have to be scared."

"Suzaku, come back!"

"It's alright. Leave this to me."

Lelouch glanced down, then back at Suzaku. "You know it's weird. You never went along with a crowd like this."

Suzaku smiled. "Oh, that's true."

Rai noticed Lelouch slipping and started falling. "Lelouch!"

The other students were shocked and scared seeing Lelouch slipping from the roof. Suzaku slipped down after him as Rai and Malik did the same.

"You okay, Lelouch?"

"Yeah..." Rai saw Lelouch with a relieved look. "What's with the look? You seem pretty calm right now for a guy on the verge of death."

"I was just limp with fear."

"Ready?" Malik asked as they nodded, pulling each other up

Alice arrived at the scene. "What's going on?" she heard Nunnally ask

"Rai and those transfer students just saved Lelouch from a real close call." Milly told her

"Ah!" everyone turned their attention to see the cat was on Carlito's head, before Suzaku picked the feline off as they walked out. "Thanks."

"I think it's the same cat from the other day."

"How can you even tell?" Carlito asked, both of them seeing everyone stare at them surprised. "What?"

Shirley looked around and went up to Suzaku. "You saved him. Thank you so much, Suzaku."

"Yeah. Way to go there, new guy." Rivalz said, smiling

"That cat was carrying something, wasn't it?" Milly asked as she approached Suzaku

"There was something on its head. But I never got a good look at it. Guess it slipped off when I wasn't looking."

"That's it! An embarrassing secret he's hiding?"

"So, that's it, Madame President?" Lelouch said with a dirty look toward Milly. "That's what this little hunt was about?"

Milly sighed. "Hm? Aaah, after all this time I thought I had dirt on you."

"He almost lost his cool for once." Shirley said disappointed

"So much to the point you dragged all of us along." Rai chided

"So... do you know four know each other?" Malik glanced at the redhead from yesterday whose name was Kallen, then back at Rai who nodded

"Yeah, but... he's an eleven." Nina said, glancing frightened at Malik and Carlito. "And they're foreigners."

"What of it?" Rai said, catching everyone by surprise

"No, I just..."

Lelouch interjected. "He is my friend."

"Malik is also my friend. A childhood friend at that." Rai added. "Same with Carlito and Alice who are good friends of his. Which makes them okay in my book."

The other students were shocked at the sudden revelation

Lelouch turned to Milly. "Madam President, would you permit these two as members of the Student Council?" his question surprised Suzaku and the others

"Well, you are the Vice President. I suppose I can't refuse."

"By the way." they turned to Shirley as she spoke. "Who caught the cat?"

"Carlito." Malik replied with a smirk, as said person glared at him

Nunnally came over to them. "I'd say that's the end of that. Carlito, is it? Could you lean in closer, please?"

He shrugged and leaned closer to Nunnally, as she kissed him on the cheek

Carlito was taken aback. "What was that for?" he said, with a slight blush

"That's the reward Miss Milly promised. Since you caught the cat, you'll just have to settle for me." Nunnally said as Carlito's cheeks flushed red, seeing both Malik and Alice hold back their own laughter

"Not funny." Carlito said, glaring at the two.

"Alright then, let's celebrate the catching of the cat! Everything's on the newbies, naturally!" the blue haired one said, putting his arms on Suzaku and Malik

Shirley stepped in to introduce herself. "Oh, back off! Hi, there! I'm Shirley. Pleasure to meet ya."

"Oh, right. I'm Rivals." said person did the same introducing himself

"Milly Ashford, Student Council President." Milly finished

Malik nodded. "Hello."

"The pleasure is mine." Suzaku said

"Hey." Carlito said with a grin

"This is Nunnally." Alice introduced Malik as he took her hand and shook it

"Hello, Nunnally."

"How do you do?"

They introduced themselves and made them feel welcomed. Suzaku was grateful while Malik glanced at Rai who smirked. Malik returned the gesture while Alice did the same. Later that day, the entire student body, teachers, and faculty gathered at the assembly to watch the live broadcast of the funeral of Prince Clovis. It was displayed on the big screen, live in the Britannian capital Pendragon.

"And now..." the announcer spoke. "His Royal Majesty, the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire!" the emperor walked up to and stood by the podium

"All men are not created equal." he said. "Some are born swifter of foot, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty, and others born sick and feeble. Both in birthland and upbringing, in sheer scope of ability every human is inherently different."

Rai scoffed and glared at the emperor

"Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition, and the unfaltering march of progress. Inequality is not wrong, equality is!" he continued as Malik glared at the emperor with hateful intent.

"What of the EU, which makes equality a right," he asked. "A popularity contest. The Chinese Federation, with its equal distribution in wealth, a nation of lazy dullards."

Alice glared spitefully, balling her fist.

"But not our beloved Britannia. We fight, we compete, evolution is continuous."

Carlito scoffed, casting a constant glare at the emperor. "Yeah, right." he muttered under his breath in a whisper enough for no one to tell

"Britannia alone moves forward, advancing steadily into the future." The Emperor continued while elsewhere, Harkov narrowed his eyes at the TV. "Even the death of my son Clovis demonstrates Britannia's unswerving commitment to progress. We will fight on. We shall struggle, compete, plunder, and dominate. And in the end, the future shall be ours." The Emperor raised his fist in the air. "All Hail Britannia!"

"All Hail Britannia!" the audience in Pendragon chanted loudly in unison. "All Hail Britannia! All Hail Britannia! All Hail Britannia! All Hail Britannia!"

Harkov turned the TV off in mere disgust. "Gori v adu, ublyudok (Rot in hell, bastard)."

Later on that day, Fenrir team were successful in their infiltration mission. Rai did warn them of how... eccentric Milly was. Little did they know, that turned out to be an understatement as a party was thrown for the cat that hunted today. And as per usual, the cat was named Arthur. They got a good read on the rest. Aside from Milly, Shirley seemed nice albeit a bit clumsy. Rivalz was cheerily, whereas the girl Nina was xenophobic. Kallen was polite, but Malik felt there was more to her. The only oddball to them out of the brunch was someone Alice knew who was friends with Suzaku Kururguri. And that oddball was Lelouch Lamperouge. Malik knew nothing of the guy, apart from being friends with Alice and Suzaku based on what she told him. Speaking of Lelouch, Malik noticed him as he walked by with a mysterious aura resonating in the purple eyed vice-president of the Student Council.

"Oh, hey."

"How do you know Rai?" that question got him to stop as he glanced at Lelouch

"What do you mean? We've known each other since we were kids. Or used to, anyway. He told me he lost his memories."

"What are you true intentions regarding Rai?" Lelouch asked the power of his Geass

Malik turned to him. "Come again?"

Lelouch was shocked his Geass had no effect but maintained his demeanor. "If you really are with Rai, how do you two meet?"

"Before or after?"

"Before first, and then after."

"We were in a bad spot when we met each other. Throughout the time, we didn't trust it each other at first because one didn't know who the other was. But we started talking about our aspirations when we went... hunting. Rai was almost done until I saved his time."

"And after his memory loss?"

"We met again at Ishigawa park when I ran into him the other day."

"Is that so?"

"Lulu!" they turned to Shirley and Milly

Malik blinked as he stared at Lelouch. "Lulu?"

"Lelouch cringed in minor aggravation. "An annoying nickname Shirley picked for me."

"There you are! We need your help!" Milly exclaimed

"Help with-"

"Don't ask." Lelouch interjected

"Setting up a party for the cat."

"Cat?"

"Yeah! For Arthur."

Malik's expression turned to confusion at the two as he blinked twice. "You all already named it?"

"Madam Prez tends to festive when it comes to parties."

"Tempting, but I gotta-" Malik felt a pull at his collar. "What the?"

"You're helping too, new guy." she said, dragging both Lelouch and Malik to the Student Council room

"I'm pretty sure Rai doesn't have to do this."

Milly sent a smile his way. "Of course, he does. He's helping out right now."

"Not at all through on his own volition, I imagine." Lelouch chimed, also being dragged by Milly

Milly pouted. "Don't be such a downer, party pooper!"

While Lelouch ignored the yammering around him, he glanced at Malik being dragged by Milly. It was upon so that he recalled a memory, after announcing himself as Zero and freeing Suzaku from his trial. He had his outfit and Zero mask in a duffle bag as he walked the streets of the Tokyo settlement. Lelouch heard the sound of a car as he looked to see a dark-skinned teen, with takeout food driving by coming to a red light.

"They aren't even any cars around here." he heard him say, staring down at his food. "Don't wanna head back too late before this gets cold."

Lelouch walked toward the car. "Excuse me."

The teen his age looked at Lelouch. "Yeah? What is it?"

Lelouch brought his Geass as he stared at him. "Would you do me the honor of driving me to Ashford academy?"

The teen's eyes were affected by the Geass. "Sure. Hop in."

It was at that moment, the teen drove Lelouch back to Ashford. Back to reality in current time, Lelouch put two and two together. Malik was no doubt the one he used his geass on after his debut as Zero. But he wondered what sort of connection Malik had with Rai? He felt unease at the fact that Malik was partly being vague on how and Rai knew each other. Then there was his interaction with Alice and Carlito. How does she know them? He wondered if he should use Geass on Alice but shut the thought down entirely. Lelouch would not use Geass on her, and Suzaku for that matter to his benefit. There was a possibility he could Geass Rai, but highly doubt he would know anything about Malik, Carlito, and Alice. Which only left Carlito to be the participant for Lelouch to Geass. But it will not be today, as Lelouch would do so another time.

"Who are you?" Lelouch thought