Uncomfortable thoughts churned in Kallen's mind as she landed in Japan. Her father had chosen to accompany her, and she wished that it didn't feel like she had become an assignment to him. That he wasn't here to spy on her and report her treasonous thoughts to the Emperor.

Of course, that might not matter if the Emperor and Lelouch really had a way to turn enemies into friends. Her skin prickled, and she focused on confidently disembarking the plane.

She would show no weakness.

The air, thick with humidity, embraced her, and she inhaled deeply. Then, she finally looked at the escort which had come to greet them.

There were two groups of soldiers, mulishly glaring at each other. Those on the right bore Cornelia's colors. The others, resembling the soldiers who had forcibly arrested Suzaku, she deduced belonged to Bismarck. Both eyed her with a blend of suspicion and desire.

"Lord Stadtfeld," an officer greeted, ignoring her entirely. "We have a car prepared for you."

"Good. Then let us not keep His Highness waiting."

The officer shifted awkwardly. "General Cornelia would like to speak with you, my lord. And my sincere apologies, but would you kindly submit to a search? It is a new policy, I'm afraid."

Her father sighed as he stepped before her and spread out his arms. "Uncertain times call for precautionary measures, but does Princess Cornelia wish to see my daughter as well?"

A flinch ran through the officer's face. "We were not informed your daughter would be arriving, only a criminal which Bismarck requested to see."

"I see," her father murmured. "Then she should go on ahead. I trust these men will treat her with proper courtesy?"

"Of course, m'lord," the officer stuttered, his eyes widening at the acknowledgment that she was a criminal.

Kallen didn't bother looking back at her father to try and understand what thoughts were going through his head. He had warned her that her will could be coerced, and for that, she was thankful. Yet he hadn't spoken a word in her defense. Did he know that Lelouch possibly shared the same talent as the Emperor?

What was this talent?

Or maybe, she was simply losing her grip on reality. Outside of the oppressive atmosphere of Pendragon and back home, the idea felt progressively more absurd. If the Emperor had such a device or technique at his disposal, why would he keep it quiet? The threat of stripping people of free will would be enough to make anyone bow. It was enough for her to bow.

Nauseated, Kallen stepped into the car that the guards had gestured to. The windows were pitch black, and as it began to move, she imagined herself in a coffin, carried forward by pallbearers until it would descend into the unforgiving earth.

Just like Shirley's father had been.

She squeezed her eyes shut. If she survived this upcoming meeting, she would have to face Shirley. The fight for freedom would always drag along innocents in its wake, but that didn't make it easier to accept.

The car stopped with a sudden lurch and the door swung open. Blinking rapidly, she stepped out with all the grace she could muster. She would not show these men weakness.

As her eyes adjusted to the bright outdoors, she made out a familiar lanky figure standing across the lawn. Lelouch.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Unfortunately, there was another familiar figure close by: Bismarck. She met his gaze coolly, wondering if he was involved in binding wills. Then, she chided herself for catastrophizing. It had been a turn of a phrase. People's minds were their own. They had to be.

What if she had fought for Zero because of a trick? Had it all been a trick?

"You're nervous," Bismarck noted. His analytical gaze swept over her, honing in on all the chinks of her proverbial armor. "Is it because you lied?"

"Isn't every knight nervous when professing their vows?" A stranger was wearing her face and smiling. "How can I lie when I've always been loyal to him?"

"Step a toe out of line," Bismarck whispered, "and I will gut you like the traitorous fish that you are."

Threats like these were easy to deal with. She knew them, understood them. Her life had always been something she was willing to lose.

She met Lelouch's eyes and wondered what she would do if he was an utter sham. Could she bring herself to kill him, the future Emperor of Britannia?

Put like that, it seemed easy.

Bismarck's rough hands ran down her body, and she grit her teeth as he searched her for weapons. Like she would need them to kill an unathletic teenager. She would only need enough time to prevent the guards from interfering.

"Kallen!" Lelouch shouted, the moment Bismarck indicated his search was done. He waved enthusiastically, his smile a performative sham.

How had she never noticed before that Lelouch, the way he carried himself, was like an actor in a play? Everything about him was a finely tuned lie.

It made her task seem indomitable. How would she ascertain the truths from his lies? He'd say what she wanted to hear, and it would be delivered perfectly. If it was the truth, it would be indistinguishable from a lie.

Bismarck's phone buzzed. He took a few measured steps away so he would be too far for her to hear anything.

Across the grass, Lelouch suddenly broke free of his guards, dancing through their desperate leaps to restrain him. It had to be nerve-wracking to guard a royal who so casually disregarded his own safety.

She blinked, trying to understand what the hell he was doing.

And then Lelouch was before her, drawing her into a tight hug before she had the chance to react. His head leaned past her, and she froze at the sudden intimacy.

"I'll explain everything later," he whispered. "I promise. But if we're going to survive, I need you to do everything I say… enthusiastically. Say, 'Yes, Your Highness' and swear your loyalty. They must think you're unquestionably loyal. I'm sorry."

He drew back just as suddenly as he arrived, and Bismarck glowered at both of them, one hand securely holding Lelouch's collar.

"You look like a cat," Kallen blurted out, unable to stop the slight giggle at the ridiculous sight. "I'm sorry… Your Highness."

"Lelouch is fine."

"What were you thinking?" Bismarck snapped, cutting through the levity as he dropped the prince unceremoniously. "You were to stand over there until it was all done. She could have tried to kill you."

Lelouch rolled his eyes, and she felt slightly insulted.

"Do not insult your mother's memory by being so cavalier with your life," Bismarck hissed.

Lelouch's face soured. "Yet you let the Emperor trample on her legacy." He straightened his jacket and patted down the most egregious wrinkles. "I trust her and… She won't be the same afterwards."

Her stomach clenched into an icy pit. His eyes briefly flicked to her, pleading for her to trust him. Then they relaxed, turning resigned and apologetic. How was she to tell what was real?

"Get it over with," Bismarck ordered.

She turned around, desperately searching for how they meant to force her obedience.

"The words we agreed to," Bismarck said. "You are on thin ice."

"Of course." Lelouch's sharp eyes focused on her, and she met his gaze, searching. And then it changed. His eyes changed. It felt like a dream, a sense of deja-vu, a trick of the light.

Red. Bright red. And a bird.

It felt familiar. A word at the tip of her tongue that she just couldn't place.

"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you to know yourself as a loyal citizen of Britannia and my loyal knight who has been protecting me in my years of exile."

That… Her heart clawed at her chest, urging her to run. How much longer did she have? They all believed this would work, and once it took effect, she would cease to exist.

Lelouch bit his lower lip as he finished. He was nervous. He had broken the rules to warn her.

And then the bird took flight.

Lelouch closed his eyes, cutting off his geass. His shoulders prickled, aware of all the guards watching in the distance. He had gambled everything on this ploy.

As long as Bismarck and his father believed her to be a loyal agent of Britannia, she would be safe. It wouldn't be a lie that would last forever, but it bought him precious time to figure out another solution.

Kallen sank to the ground. Her smile was slightly vacant. "Your Highness, I am yours, if you will have me."

That wasn't what he told her to say.

"I know I failed to protect you," Kallen continued, "but I beg of you to give me another chance, to prove that I can serve you."

Some of his discomfort must've shown on his face, because Bismarck asked, "Is this your first time modifying memories on a large scale?"

Still, no reaction from Kallen. She just bowed her head and waited patiently. It was unlike her. It was completely unlike her.

"Yes," he admitted uneasily.

"She's forming the story that makes the most sense with her memories." Bismarck paused. "That is if you actually used it."

Lelouch smiled thinly. "It should work."

"How to test?" Bismarck mumbled as he knelt down next to her. "What do you think of your Eleven mother?"

"I hate her," Kallen said with sudden venom. "She's weak. She couldn't bear the agony of defeat and turned to Refrain. She brings shame upon our family."

"A shame we don't have any of your former comrades around to test your loyalty," Bismarck said.

"Sir?" Kallen asked, finally lifting her head. "Are you concerned that I am compromised after such a long mission? I swear, I'm still loyal. I'll do better next time. I promise. I won't let His Highness get hurt again."

"Rise," Lelouch ordered before Bismarck could push further. "You will be my personal guard."

Kallen rose with an elegance he didn't know she had and offered a soft smile. "You're too generous, Your Highness." She didn't wait for orders, instead walked towards him.

"Kallen?" he asked, his voice breaking as she leaned against his shoulder. She blinked up at him languidly. "What are you doing?"

"I missed you. It was lonely without you."

Desperately, Lelouch looked at Bismarck in hopes that he would understand what was happening. His lips had quirked in amusement, and he unrepentantly returned his gaze.

"I imagine she had to reconcile her feelings for Zero with her loyalty." Bismarck grinned. "I guess you did know her pretty well. She could have just as easily become a grudging guard with those orders."

Could a geass change?

The thought struck him as Lelouch tried to peel her fingers off him. In the best case scenario, he had expected that she would grudgingly play along with him desperately covering her mistakes.

This? This wasn't Kallen.

She was supposed to be immune! But he had never tested the extent of immunity before. Maybe people were only immune for a few hours.

He should have never suggested this, risked it.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"What for?" she said cheerfully and kissed his cheek. "Don't worry yourself. I'm just happy to be here, at your side. I'll take care of you now. It must've been awful without me."

Lelouch stumbled back. She followed, clinging to him like a burr.

"Your father will be pleased," Bismarck noted.

"About what?" Lelouch snapped. "Kallen, what the hell are you doing?"

"Do mind your manners," Bismarck admonished, his eyes glittering with glee. "And perhaps get a room. You have been apart for so long."

"A room?" Lelouch repeated blankly. His mind finally caught up. "Absolutely not!"

"Did I do something wrong?" Kallen whispered.

He shivered. Oh fuck. He needed to fix this. He needed to find a way to free her from this hell he forced her into.

"It-It's still day," he stammered out. "I am quite busy."

She hummed. "Remember to relax. You like to overwork yourself, but I can wait."

That evening, Lelouch watched in horror as Bismarck finally called off the soldier that stood vigil in his bedroom at night. Instead, he would now be alone with… Kallen.

She didn't wait for the door to close before she was already pushing him on the bed. His head bounced on the cushion, and he stared up, into her glaring blue eyes.

"You've got a shit ton to explain, bastard," she hissed.

"Oh, thank God." Lelouch exhaled, slowly allowing the tension in his muscles to bleed away. "You terrified me there."

"Good." She fell onto the bed next to him. "You can start there. What the fuck were the red eyes?"

"Geass."

"That explains shit."

"Give me a moment." Lelouch pushed himself up on his elbows. "And… Thank you for trusting me enough to play along."

Her eyes were hard. "I don't trust you, Lelouch. I trusted Zero, but you can't claim to be him, not when you're the crown prince. You're going to answer me, and if I don't like it, I'll smother or strangle you. We're all alone."

Lelouch glanced at the pillow beside him. He had chosen it for its size and superb fluffiness. If he were trapped beneath it, nobody would hear him scream. And the sheets. He swallowed, already feeling the phantom sensation of silk cloth winding around his neck.

"Geass," he said again. "I can't explain much because I barely know anything about it. I know— No. I should start at the beginning. Do you remember when you were stealing poison gas and your truck crashed?"

Kallen nodded.

"I was there. I fell into the back. I saw you get into the knightmare, and then… The truck crashed again in the tunnels and the gas canister opened."

Her mouth opened.

"It wasn't poison gas. It was C.C. We were confronted by Clovis's royal guard, and they shot her in the head. I know it sounds insane…." Explaining this in a believable manner so Kallen wouldn't kill him was starting to seem impossible. "She's immortal," he rushed to explain. "I didn't know that, but she gave me a contract, my geass. And then… I ordered the guards to kill themselves, stole a Britannian's knightmare, and contacted your group. You know the rest."

"So you got your geass from C.C.?" Kallen asked. Her tone was deceptively neutral, leaving him no clue as to whether she bought his tale.

"Yes."

"And what does it do?"

Lelouch winced. She wasn't stupid. "Absolute obedience. I ordered Clovis's royal guard to kill themselves, and they did it with a smile on their face."

"So why am I not a Britannian slave right now?" Her eyes bore into him, promising to ferret out any lies. She had changed, become sharper.

Or maybe he had never known Kallen too well. Her school mask had been a sham, and there was no intimacy between a superior and his subordinates.

They hadn't known each other, despite valuing idealized versions of one another. They had simply been a genius commander and an ace pilot.

She was still waiting for his answer. Lelouch flushed. "My geass works only once… and that time in the courtyard—"

Her face tightened. "You ordered me? Was it all a lie then?"

"No!" Lelouch took a steadying breath. "I asked you why you became a terrorist. I don't… It's a power I barely understand. To use it recklessly en-masse, on people who I may have to rely on… that would be foolish."

She sneered. "Am I supposed to believe that? You had the perfect opportunity. And based on what Bismarck said, you could've rewritten my entire reality."

He slowly wet his mouth. He couldn't prove a thing. Yet…

How many times had he stared down at Kallen's eager eyes as she listened to him spell out the battle plan? She wanted to believe him. She needed a reason.

"You should kill me, probably," Lelouch said, staring at her boldly. "I am a Britannian prince, your sworn enemy. Isn't that right? Your comrades would've acted by now. Had I not given them victories beforehand, they would've killed me for being Britannian."

She wetted her lips, and for the first time today, the mask cracked.

Lelouch pushed. "Now, I've been given an empire on a golden platter, but do you know what terrifies me? The thought that I refuse to acknowledge? That my sister, my wonderful sister who the Emperor threw out like yesterday's garbage because she was crippled, is in grave danger. And I cannot do a thing, because if people see I care, it'll paint a larger target on her back."

"So it was Nunnally," Kallen whispered. The venom in her tone faded, leaving behind sheer exhaustion.

"What happened to you?" Lelouch asked.

Her shoulders shook, and she inhaled suddenly, visibly pulling herself together. "No."

"No?"

She groaned. "It doesn't matter."

He bit his tongue despite wanting to push. He needed to know, but it would gain him nothing.

Kallen rolled onto her back. "What is your plan?"

"Play the Emperor's game," Lelouch said bitterly. "There is little else I can do when the entire world knows my face now. I don't know his plan, what he wants. It doesn't matter. This diseased nation is my inheritance, and I will—"

He paused. He had planned on destroying Britannia. The urge was still there, but now things were complicated. He had to be subtle.

"I will poison my father's dreams and ambitions," Lelouch said. "I will make him turn his grave in fury, make him regret ever making me his heir. And then…" He smiled. "I will make a world where Nunnally can be happy. Can be safe, at last. A beautiful world where children never walk past mountains of the dead."

"You lived through the invasion," Kallen noted.

"Yes." He cursed himself for being needlessly curt. It was instinctive. "It's not—"

"No, you don't need to explain." She turned to face him again. "I am going to hold you to your word. I'll be with you every step of the way, but in return, you will free Japan as soon as you can."

"That I can do." He pondered how to push her on what happened. Why she felt inexplicably fragile, yet also like a ravenous beast with newly sharpened claws. "Is it because you're an exceptional pilot?"

"Lelouch," Kallen whispered. "My father is a spy."

"Well, shit."

"I don't know—He's—I just don't understand. I think that's why they let me live. Because he's close to the Emperor, and—He warned me that the Emperor could force my loyalty."

Lelouch sat upright. He was a damn fool. "He has a geass."

He swung his legs out of the bed.

"Where are you going?" Kallen asked.

"To interrogate C.C.," he growled. She had misled him, again. Was it too much to expect her to warn him? Especially when it concerned his biggest enemy?

V.V. That was the name she had given him.

Was that the Emperor's contractor?

"Wait." Kallen grabbed his wrist. "Lelouch… The Emperor is dying. My father believes it. The Knight of the Round with him believes it. You can smell sickness around him. It's not a lie."

Numbly, he sat down. The rumors were true? His father was dying? But then…

Was it conceivable that he was telling the truth? That he truly wished to put Lelouch on the throne? That he wanted to finally deliver justice for the one woman he supposedly loved before his final last breaths escaped him?

It was sentimental. Out of character. The Emperor lacked human weakness, the ones which continuously crippled Lelouch.

But death—

He shuddered. The haunting smell of decaying corpses engulfed him. It was an unforgettable stench. And so was the utter hopelessness when you're finally forced to confront your own inevitable and imminent mortality.

Death had a tendency to make one nostalgic, to clear the cobwebs from the mind, to turn sweet ambitions bitter.

And so, it was conceivable that the Emperor, faced with immutable proof of his imminent demise, would suddenly have a change of heart.

It was possible.

"So you're saying I just have to survive for long enough?"

"Yes."

Yeah it's been a while. Blame me writing a thesis. Also staring too long at academic writing may have resulted in me thinking everything I wrote was utter shit. The other factor was I told myself to not post this chapter until I had sent the next Excalibur chapter to the betas. Anyway, it's with the betas so expect an update on that sometime this month.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed. :)