August 17, 2018. Morning.

"I'm still not convinced he's worth trying to turn. But if you're that set on making the attempt, I've got an idea."

Nagisa Chiba looked up from her book, a technical manual she was using to brush up on emergency KMF field repairs, to regard her partner in crime with a raised eyebrow. "I'm listening…"

Sweat dripping from his muscular body onto a mat as he raced through morning exercises, Asahina started up his pitch. "They were saying earlier on the news that the traitor's laid up in a military hospital here in the city, right? And also that because that pink ditz of a Viceroy ordered a blanket arrest of administration personnel with ties to the Purists, there are serious manpower shortages all over the place that haven't been resolved yet?"

Chiba considered his questions for all of two seconds, before realizing in alarm the most likely connection between them. "Hold on, are… are you saying we find out where Kururugi's being treated, and walk in to apply for a job?! That's crazy!"

"Crazy like a fox," he said with a pointed look. "In their desperation and fatigue, the Britannians will be more likely to slip up on security checks. With something like latex masks or a similar prosthetic to disguise our faces a little bit, we can even claim to be ghetto survivors as a way of explaining away a lack of official paperwork. That way, we can get into the system, find Kururugi, and when the time is right – we either capture or kill him as the circumstances dictate."

On the one hand, Chiba as a samurai didn't care much for having to use such indirect and covert methods – and from the look on his face, it was clear that Asahina didn't either.

But on the other hand, their present mission didn't call for or even necessarily permit them to act as soldiers… but as spies.

And as a spy tactic, she had to admit it didn't sound half-bad. "You… might be onto something."

Asahina smirked at the compliment… and then immediately pissed away the moment by opening his mouth again. "It's just a shame that you're pretty bad with cosmetics for a woman."

"That's quite the foul mouth on a four-eyed boy who's better at kabuki than kendo," Chiba growled in response.

Locking eyes, the pair of former Heavenly Swords made to circle each other with hands on their respective blades with vengeful intent… before they both broke into chuckles and then full-blown laughter.

"Okay," Asahina admitted, "that one was pretty good. I don't know how I'm topping it."

Chiba just turned up her nose, enjoying a moment's shallow triumph. "Your chances at topping me are as good as they are at topping the Colonel."

Asahina grimaced at the low blow, before it morphed into a savage grin that warned of complete and utter destruction. "If anyone's an expert on those odds, it would have to be you."

A pyrrhic victory if I've ever known one.

Coughing into her fist in a useless attempt at regaining a moment's dignity, Chiba grabbed a pen and notepad from a nearby table. Whatever she produced would obviously be burned before either of them left the room, but in the moment it would help to get thoughts down and refine the details of their scheme. "All joking aside, let's nail down Plan A. The news hasn't reported what hospital he's in, but as long as we move before they can transfer him it's something we can work out through process of elimination…"

Ashford Academy, clubhouse…

"I have to admit I'm impressed, Lelouch."

One leg tantalizingly crossed over the other, C.C. patiently opened another box of delivery pizza on the couch while she waited to see her contractor's reaction. Would he go straight to bragging? Deflect? Request clarification?

The prince in exile raised an eyebrow, silently prompting an explanation but not lowering himself enough to ask for one. Such stubborn pride the boy had… C.C. could only think of a few in her life who could match it. "Between the schoolyard gossip, the newsstand rags, and what we've seen online," she explained, "it seems you've got the entire world wrapped around your finger. Your plan went off without a hitch."

That last line was, of course, bullshit. She'd seen the look of discontent on his face when he came home from that publicity stunt.

But even so, needling Lelouch to see whether he'd correct her and confess as much on his own? That was its own reward.

"...it didn't," he admitted, and C.C. felt her estimation of the boy rise a little bit.

For his part, Lelouch had bowed his head in frustration, leaning forward in a plush chair. "My plan had been to put a Geass on Jeremiah and use him to further break down the public's trust in Britannia while at the same time setting him up as a distraction to delay Suzaku from trying to pursue me…"

It wasn't a bad plan, she had to agree. And unless she missed her guess, it had very nearly played out as intended.

"I was within seconds of casting the Geass before Suzaku came into the picture," Lelouch hissed in annoyance, inadvertently confirming her suspicions. "Had I spent a little less time on showmanship, it would have gone perfectly!"

"And so you had to play a trump card earlier than you'd wanted," C.C. noted.

Lelouch glared at her for the remark, as though the observation had been a personal attack.

If not winning the way he wanted is enough to earn such a sour look, then I can't wait to see how he takes an actual loss. "Are you pouting because I'm right," she teased while bringing a slice of molten ambrosia to her mouth, "or because you're worried about your little boyfriend?"

And C.C. hadn't forgotten the other boy's unexpected offer, either. While she was confident that he wouldn't be as reliably entertaining to toy with as Lelouch, the immortal witch had to admit… it was tempting.

If for no other reason than to see the look on Lelouch's face.

Meanwhile, out in the settlement…

"Madame President! Madame President–!"

"My my," a certain blonde bombshell said with a grin. "I always wondered what you'd sound like crying out my name… but I suppose the title works just as well in a pinch."

Shirley Fenette, who had been running down the sidewalk to chase after the older girl, stopped as much to catch her breath as in confusion at the odd response – confusion that lasted until about two seconds after she raised her gaze from the sidewalk and caught Milly unashamedly staring at her heaving chest. "Isn't there any place where you won't strip me with your eyes, you dirty old man?!"

Milly, decked out in a fabulous sundress for a day at the mall, lazily dangled her purse from a finger. "You do remember that you could always tell me to stop if it bothers you that much?"

As was typical, Shirley proceeded to duck the question like a world-class limbo champion. "Look, that boy Suzaku was recommended to the school by a friend of yours, right?! Did she tell you how he's doing after what happened last night? I tried watching the news for a whole ten minutes, but nobody said anything at all about him!"

If Milly's first thought had been to tease the underclassman for showing interest in a boy other than Lelouch, it was immediately shelved by the urgency in her voice – and more so by Shirley's highly unusual attempt at following public events. "Elle and I don't speak much these days; some unresolved drama from a few years back," Milly explained. "What happened to Suzaku? Nina and I caught some of Zero's stunt on the bridge, but I convinced her to go to bed soon after for fear that whatever happened after might give her nightmares."

Well, I guess that makes sense given that they're roomies…

Shirley struggled to articulate the horrible experience from the night before, tears starting to well up in her eyes again just from remembering it.

"That terrorist guy, it… it looked like he killed him."

Milly sighed, her voice full of love and sympathy as she stepped in to wrap Shirley in a hug. "Sweetie, I'm certain it must have been absolutely awful to witness on TV, but Suzaku's a professional soldier. It's a sad fact, but he's probably had to do this kind of thing a few times and has learned how to deal with it by now–"

Leaning into Milly's hug and returning it, Shirley's voice cracked. "No, it's… it's the other way around. Suzaku was… he was lying there on the street, blood just… pouring out of his head and almost everywhere, he, he wasn't moving–"

As Shirley continued to ramble on in fear, Milly's blood slowly turned to ice in her veins as she fully processed what was being said.

…what.

Milly's phone had flown out of her purse and up to her ear before even she fully realized what was happening.

"This is a horrible time, Milly–"

"One of my friends is crying her heart out because she thinks she saw her new classmate Suzaku get murdered on TV last night," Milly blurted out. "Please tell me I don't have to set up another student's funeral."

For a long, horrid few seconds, dead silence was the only answer the blonde received… only for an agitated sigh to eventually cut through it.

"Suzaku's alive, but nobody outside of the military is allowed to visit him right now. I can't say anything more for security reasons."

Milly didn't realize she'd been holding in a breath, and basked in the precious relief washing over her, small though it was. "I appreciate it. I'll let everyone on my end know not to worry… we're all pulling for him to get better, alright?"

"Thank you Milly, I'll be sure to let him know," Elle replied with a much warmer tone than she'd used to answer the call.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Milly took in and let out several deep breaths. Damn it, she finally finds a guy who can help her get over that bullshit from middle school and he just had to have the bad luck of an action movie lead. "Suzaku's alive," she repeated to the frightened girl in her other arm. "It sounds bad," she continued with an optimistic smile, "but whatever else gets said about Britannia we do have the best medical science in the world. I'm sure he'll be alright soon."

"Miss Ashford," a concerned voice called from behind her, "is something the matter?"

As Milly turned to face the speaker, Shirley looked over her friend's shoulder to see Sayoko Shinozaki, for once shockingly not in her usual maid uniform. Instead, the older woman was wearing a fashionable sandy brown sweater and sharp pants… and an athletic knee brace as she slowly limped closer.

That brace, Shirley thought with wide eyes. Isn't that the same knee as where Suzaku hit Zero last night…?!

Sayoko and Shirley appeared to realize the latter was staring at the same moment, as Shirley looked away in mortification while Sayoko let out a faintly embarrassed chuckle. "You've only ever seen me at work, haven't you?" she asked. "It must be a shock to see me out of my usual style like this…"

Come on, Shirley, get real! It's just Sayoko – she's not some killer ninja terrorist! I'm positive that there's a perfectly good explanation for that knee!

"Uhm… Miss Sayoko, if you don't mind my asking… are you okay? Did something happen?"

Sayoko blinked, as if suddenly just realizing that her sign of injury was clearly visible to others. "Oh, this? I just had a biking accident on my day off yesterday and sprained it, it's nothing too serious. Master Lelouch permitted me some additional time to recuperate, and Miss Ashford wanted to go shopping with me."

If Sayoko was in much pain, she sure didn't show it. But then again, Shirley thought as she gave the off-duty maid a once-over, as a swimmer she'd occasionally been stubborn about staying active through minor injuries herself.

At least when she could get away with it, anyway.

"Oh, I know!" Milly exclaimed with an excited bounce. "As long as we're shopping anyway, we could pick up some get-well presents for Suzaku!"

With each passing word out of the blonde's mouth, Shirley recognized a burgeoning gleam in her eyes. "...you're already past get-well presents and planning out a whole welcome-back party for him, aren't you?"

"And just when I was wondering if we might not be soulmates," came the sultry reply, bedroom eyes and all. "You really do understand me~!"

"Madame President…"

"Alright ladies," Milly cheered, "let's get shopping!"

At a prominent military hospital…

Having finally gotten a free hour from her other obligations, Euphemia pressed her hand against the cool glass of a bleeding-edge nutrient submersion tank. She could see Suzaku floating inside, kept buoyant by a concoction of chemicals with names too complicated and specialized to adequately remember.

"He looks a little better than I was prepared for," she whispered.

The Princess had been there for upwards of five minutes already, and if she looked closely enough at any given scar or wound for long enough, she could see it slowly shrinking and healing over time as Suzaku's flesh painstakingly knitted itself back together.

"He's been in there for a few hours," the head surgeon replied. "Physiologically speaking, his body might technically be repaired enough to walk out of here tomorrow… but there's no telling how fully healed he would be. Given the lack of data we have on those Closer to Eden, it's almost impossible to say if this kind of treatment will be enough for him to regain 100% of his capabilities prior to the incident; we can only guess at how much or what type of additional physical therapy might be required. And that's even without discussing the coma…"

"He's truly been unconscious since the battle?" Euphemia asked.

"That's right. We've detected occasional brainwave variations and a few other curious anomalies, but there have been no indications yet of independent waking thought or awareness."

Euphemia tried for a brief moment to parse what she'd been told, and discovered quickly that she just didn't have the energy for it. "Begging your pardon, but can you repeat that in layman's terms?"

"He's asleep and we have no way of knowing when he'll wake up, or if he'll wake up. And even if he does, because we don't have any science about superhumans, he might or might not be reduced to a normal human's physical abilities afterward."

Euphemia almost snapped at the doctor for continuing on past her original question and for seeming so concerned about her beloved's superhumanity as to ignore his actual humanity.

Almost, but ultimately didn't. "I understand. …may I have a few moments alone?"

"Of course, Your Highness. If there's any change in his vitals, we'll come running."

The doctor stepped out of the ivory room as requested, leaving Euphemia alone with her thoughts and with a comatose man in a tube. "...I'm relieved you're alive," the Princess began. "Though I certainly do wish you were at least awake and could talk with me."

She paused for a long moment, on the off chance that her wish might come true, only to sigh in lament when it didn't.

"I'm sorry I can't stay here with you all day. But the truth is, I… I need to get ready. My big sister… Cornelia's on her way here. Do you remember the day we met, when you told me in the office that I could be more confident, and – and I… think I said something about not being able to measure up to her?"

Suspended in his healing nutrient bath, Suzaku didn't show any signs of response. Which was gradually becoming expected.

With a sigh, Euphie turned and leaned against the vertical tube containing Suzaku, before gradually sliding down to sit on the pristine hospital floor. Hugging her knees close to her chest, Euphie proceeded to tell her unconscious lover about the day everything fell apart. "It started that day in Pendragon, when the Emperor exiled Lelouch and Nunnally to Japan…"

Euphie recounted how she'd attempted to speak up in Lelouch's defense, hoping that she could inspire her brothers and sisters to do the same, only for Cornelia to clamp a hand over her mouth before she could even make a sound. "And in the years since," she continued, "even when Cornelia was on campaign somewhere and not personally around, she always tried to have someone loyal to her babysitting me. Scaring off people she didn't approve of from associating with me, and trying to nudge me towards people she did… even going so far as to sign me up for certain education courses without consulting me, guiding my experience and skillset to be just useful enough to keep around but not varied or in-depth enough for anyone to consider me a threat worth disposing of."

In the silence that followed, Euphie briefly wondered what Suzaku might have said if he were awake to hear any of it. "I understand why Cornelia did it," she admitted as a lone tear welled up in the corner of her eye. "I know that losing the vi Britannias the way we did broke something in her, and that she became so overprotective of me out of fear that I could be thrown away in a similar manner. …and whether or not my sister even realizes it herself, in trying to ensure that I wouldn't be endangered by any of our half-siblings, I know Cornelia molded me into the perfect hostage for the Emperor to use as leverage in controlling her. And as much as I love my sister…"

She swallowed, afraid to say it out loud but thankful at least that her captive audience wasn't in a state to judge her. "I'm not sure how I can forgive her for that, or even if I want to. And now that I'm coming to realize it more properly, I'm… I think I might be terrified of what might happen when I have to meet with her in person again. Not just of what she might do or say, but of how I might behave."

Before she could go any further, her phone started buzzing in response to a preset timer. "I wish I could spend more time with you, Suzaku. I wish the Emperor, Schneizel, Cornelia, and Zero weren't all making life so much more complicated than it had to be," Euphemia lamented, rising back to her feet and taking a moment to pat herself clean just in case.

"But even so," she said with a smile, "I haven't forgotten how you believed in me that day in Shibuya, and ever since then. Even if I'm still not sure that I can believe in myself… at the very least, I still want to believe in you."

The Princess chastely kissed her fingertips, before pressing them against the glass of the tank. "I won't let you down, my Knight! I promise you that!"

Feeling much lighter on her feet, Euphemia determinedly took her leave without looking back.

As the door swung closed behind her, Suzaku's finger twitched in the nutrient tank.