"I hate her, Yui."

"I know, Kaori."

"Can we kill her? Do you think we'd get away with it?"

"Probably not," Murayama sighed, staring up at the former fallen angel now devil hovering over them as they walked with heavy bags weighing down their every step. "But it's fun to think about."

"Chop chop, girls!" Raynare called down at them. "You're only worthless pathetic humans so if you want to even pretend to have value you need to cut the chit-chat and get running!" It appeared that for all intents and purposes, she had begun to consider herself de facto leader of the Pawns among the peerage.

"Why are you acting all high and mighty?!" Katase yelled up at her. "We're all Pawns and we all took just one piece each!"

"And that should tell you something! I was actually worth a full Pawn!" the former angel declared with full confidence, even though she didn't know if that was true or not. "While you two pathetic nothings were only a fraction of that! Not even worth a single piece! I was already strong before I became a filthy devil!" Somehow she still managed to hold onto her hatred of devils even after becoming one.

"... Didn't you get killed by humans?"

Also not technically accurate. But Katase didn't know and wouldn't have particularly cared about that part. Mostly she just wanted to bring the bitch down a peg.

Based on Raynare's silence and brittle smile, it worked. Also the somewhat concerning purple glow rising out of her hand forming into a long and narrow shaft sparking with malevolent intent, all while she still wore that same smile.

"U-Um, Yui!" Murayama whimpered.

"I know! Mistakes were made!"

As they were about to abandon their packs and run, they were relieved to see a caped figure resolve the situation. Lelouch appearing behind Raynare to drag her arm behind her back. "AH!" And forcibly ground her, driving her into the pavement. The light spear sputtered out instantly on impact.

"Raynare," Lelouch spoke with a deceptively calm tone. "What do you think you're doing?"

"They–! They said–!"

"I don't care what they said. Attacking other members of my peerage. That would be the worst kind of betrayal. You understand that, right?"

"But–!" She struggled, pinned down from above, her head pressed into the road. "I... I understand."

"Good. Now, are you going to apologise?" he asked as he flipped up her skirt to reveal her thong-clad backside. "Or am I going to have to punish you right here and now in front of them?" Left unspoken, he was going to punish her regardless. The question simply being whether the people she so looked down on would be there to witness her humiliation.

"... I'm sorry."

"For?"

The former fallen looked at the two former humans out of the corner of her eye, unable to turn her head. "For threatening you. And saying you were pathetic and worthless, even if you a–Nnn!" The slap to her ass silenced her before she could ruin her own apology.

Lelouch pulled her up so she would at least be on her feet, though still held her arm behind her back. He spoke quietly, these words only for Raynare. "I knew you would have a rebellious streak but I had no idea how severe it would be. Do you know what loyalty is, Raynare? Loyalty is serving me. Loyalty is protecting what's mine, no matter how little value you see in it. Remember that." He released her arm and gave her a gentle shove. "We'll discuss your punishment later. For now, since you're so obsessed with the idea of strength giving you worth, you get to train with Kallen today."

Even after the mild humiliation, Raynare perked up at her assignment. "Your Queen? The Red Dragon Empress? Thank you, Master! Uh, I mean, I guess that's fine, even if she, nn, I'll go do that then."

Katase and Murayama watched the woman who was probably about to kill them a half minute ago chase after their PE teacher like a schoolgirl with a crush. "Our lives are weird now," Murayama sighed.

"I'm sorry about that, you two," Lelouch said as he approached them. "I promise she won't attempt anything like that again. I'll make sure of it. She won't enjoy being Kallen's walking, talking heavy bag for the day either."

"Don't know whether that's a thing to thank you for," Katase muttered, "But I'll say I'm glad? Not looking to die again."

Their new King's expression flickered with something like regret but he didn't let it linger. "You two will be working with Anastasia first."

"Shouldn't we be working with Mash?" Katase asked, very transparent as she stared longingly at the pink-haired girl who was at that moment sparring with the Gremory Knight. "We're kendoka. Swordswomen. Like she is."

"So you don't want to learn magic?"

Murayama slapped her hand over Katase's mouth before she could answer. "Of course we do!" She wasn't about to let a girl crush prevent her from becoming a magical girl!

Lelouch smiled for at least one of them being enthusiastic. "You've trained with Mash every other day for the past year, and will continue to do so," Lelouch easily countered Katase's point. "Getting a little better with a sword won't help you anywhere near as much as adding a new skill set entirely to include in your swordsmanship. Raynare is not the sharpest, but she was right that you don't carry any inherent advantages for yourselves. That means it's in your best interests to seize every advantage that comes your way, rather than sticking to only the familiar and comfortable. I'll also have you training with Kallen in marksmanship, and both her and Sara for hand to hand."

"Marksmanship?" Murayama asked. "Like... Guns?"

He recognised her hesitance. But obviously didn't care. "Every advantage. Maybe you learn magic that makes firearms redundant, but I don't intend to let you stay squeamish." He raised a finger, a sphere of crackling black and red energy formed on it, with a circular pattern formed around it. "This could kill everything in a half kilometre in whatever direction I point. I understand your Japanese upbringing but as a devil, clinging to a fear of guns is just quaint." The sphere shrank back down and the circle fizzled into nothingness. "Murayama, go on."

The dark haired girl looked at her friend, at Lelouch, and understood. At least enough that he wanted to talk to Katase privately.

As did Katase. "What?" she asked, a little challenge in her voice. "Is this about Mash? I'm not giving up."

"Let's say for the moment I don't care about that. It's not why I want to speak with you."

"Then what?" She recognised she was maybe being a little confrontational, but they were love rivals! She had to fight for her right to one day kiss all up on Mash's stuff!

"Have you spoken to anyone about what happened?"

It took a long moment for Katase's brain to switch gears and realise what he was talking about. "Uh, I talked to Kaori a little I guess."

"That's good. I just want to let you know, I do appreciate what you did. I don't doubt Asia does as well, even if she doesn't quite understand just how much it helped her in the end. I didn't take it lightly when I asked you to do it, and you were very brave."

This was definitely not the talk she expected. "I... Thanks, I guess."

He nodded. "It's good you talked about it with someone. Bottling such experiences up rarely makes for pleasant outcomes. Just so you know, if you need to talk to someone who understands a little better, Anastasia or Kallen would be willing to listen. Or even me if for some reason that would make you more comfortable. I may be able to empathise better than you might expect."

"Isn't that really personal stuff for you to just blurt out without their permission?"

"You think I didn't get their permission?" he asked with a carefree smile. Like he knew she was still trying to see him in a bad light. Which she was. "Anastasia is a very kind woman. She would be willing to help regardless, and the circumstances of her death are taught as part of your classwork for next year. As for Kallen, well, she's still your teacher and your coach despite everything else. And she likes it when she feels like people rely on her, even if you'd have to fight hard to get her to admit it."

"And you?"

"I'm also your teacher. But more than that, you're part of my peerage. That means your wellbeing will always be important to me. Me, Kallen, Ana, even Mash, or just keep talking to Murayama when you need to. Whatever helps you open up and not bottle everything up inside. Understand?"

Katase wanted to call it a lie, but it seemed at least he believed that.

"That's all I wanted to say."

She shouldered the heavy bags again, looked at him. "... Thanks." She hated to admit it, but it felt... Nice. He didn't just use her death and move on without thinking about it. And he was right, she did help save Asia. Even if that whole thing worked out way weirder than she thought, Yui felt proud of that. Maybe... Maybe she could talk to Mash–

Her eyes moved to the bright, pink-haired girl sparring with Yuuto Kiba. Mash must have felt the eyes on her because she returned the look, and smiled.

... No. She couldn't talk about this with Mash. She wouldn't put this on her. Yui never wanted to make her feel bad about anything, especially her.

"Demonic power is the fuel that allows devils to perform magic– Oh! Katase, good! We were just starting! Put your bags down."

Anastasia was a fluffy person. It was a weird way to think of her, but that was the best Katase could come up with. She was like a fur and velvet-covered snowbank. Even in the near summer she still wore that big, heavy dress, though at the same time the air felt cooler around her.

"As I was saying, demonic power is the fuel for devil magic. It's also the simplest form of magic. All it requires is to give your imagination form and purpose. With enough power, you can shape the world around you in all kinds of ways." With a simple flick of her glowing fingers, a chilling wind ruffled the girls' clothes.

"So humans can't do magic?" Murayama asked.

"They can. Master Lelouch specialises in human magic more than devil magic actually." The wintery woman held out her palm as a glowing circle of patterns appeared over it that neither girl could make heads or tails of. Once again, a cold wind blew over them. "But human magic requires immense levels of calculation to achieve the same effects. It takes years of study or a genius intellect. Ideally both." She smiled at their curious expressions. "I've had close to a hundred years to learn."

"You... Look good for your age?" Murayama complimented?

Ana smiled again. Suddenly Murayama leapt up from her seat shrieking as she felt something freezing slide down her back under her shirt. "Ah! Cold! Cold cold cold!"

"If you'd like to learn human magic I'd be happy to teach you," the Bishop continued as though nothing had happened. "But for today, we'll stick with what's a little simpler to grasp."

-(-)-

Shirone was meditating.

It wasn't easy. Not with everything going on around her. The clashing of swords and fists and feet, demonic power being thrown around, the yelps of pain in the training hall away from prying eyes. Shirone could feel it all. That was the nature of her training, after all. She wanted to learn one thing more than anything else. She had to get better.

She remembers the letter Kuroka left her.

Shirone

It's been a while since my last letter. I'm sorry about that. I won't make excuses. I had one written for a while but after seeing you in the rating game I had to write a whole new one. There were so many things I wanted to tell you about, but I decided that could wait until we're together again and I can tell you in person. Oh, but did you know sex is really, really fun? Be sure to try it when you're older! It's great! Even with other girls!

Kuisha and I worked out our differences, by the way. I know! I'm proud of me too!

I love you, Shirone. I know you're doing well. It's the only reason I'll accept staying away. I'm so proud of you. You grew up strong, fierce and beautiful. You don't need me, and that makes me happy and sad all at once. I'll look forward to when we can meet again. We'll have so many things to talk about! I want to tell you all the fun places we've been! I want to hear about what it's like to attend a human school! I want to meet all your new friends. I want to embarrass you with all the stories of you being a little rascal.

I want to see you smile in person. I want to hug you and tell you everything will be okay. I know you don't need that anymore. That's just for me. A big sister worries, you know!

I love you, Shirone.

Kuroka

She had included a lot of instructions and precautions for Yojutsu. The cursed techniques of the youkai that she managed to scrape together in her travels. Kuroka was always looking out for her, even from so far away.

... She did. She did still want her big sister to give her a hug. To tell her it would all be okay. She didn't know how to not need that. But she would train hard. She would do everything she could so her big sister wouldn't need to worry.

Her body burst with energy like she was sitting in the middle of an inferno with an unnatural pale blue hue. Her teeth grew sharper. Her ears elongated. Her hair grew wilder. The pupils of her eyes glowed.

Senjutsu was a dangerous road to walk. It required self-control. Something Shirone always struggled with but she would master it no matter what. Her hands turned upward showing long sharp claws on her fingers. Erupting from her palms was a sickly purple flame.

Shirone would learn. She would grow stronger. She would learn all of these dangerous techniques and master them! And then she could tell her big sister not to worry.

Then she would get big sister hugs.

Nya.

-(-)-

"Hah!"

Two swords flashed at blinding speeds, countering, defending, deflecting, diverting. Two masters of the blade testing their skill against one another. They were both experienced enough that the movements were near automatic, letting them focus on the psychological aspect, the battle of wits atop the battle of skill. Attempting to understand the patterns and rhythms of their opponent to predict, exploit, and create openings.

This was part of the reason they were paired together. There were no others who were even close to their level in their favoured discipline. Mash ab-Galahad and Yuuto Kiba might as well have been born with sword in hand.

And despite the dance, despite having ideal sparring partners, neither of them were giving it their all. They were both distracted. Mash couldn't speak for why such was the case for Kiba. But she knew the reason for her. He didn't like her much. And she didn't understand why. It was so important to have an awareness of an opponent's eyes. They were often the first tell of what the next move was. What they were aiming for. Yet, Kiba wouldn't meet hers. It wasn't to deny the advantage. He was simply always like that. He didn't like looking at her.

Maybe it was because of that lack of focus that he was aware enough to turn and meet a two footed kick drilling toward him before he leapt back. "What is this? You're, Lelouch's Rook?"

"That's right?" Sara greeted as she landed, stretching her back muscles since he wasn't instantly fighting back. "I'd say good reaction, but we both know it's because you were slacking in the first place."

"Miss Sara, why are you interrupting our training?" Mash asked.

"Interrupting? Mash, I am your training," the muscular blonde corrected her with a somewhat patronising smile. "The point of the training is you're both swordsmen, yes. You'll get better by duelling. But you're also the honourable types. I killed a lot of honourable types who thought there were rules to a life or death battle. Lelouch decided that he would accept that from you, Mash." The expression on her face said she disagreed with that decision. But, "Fine. But he also doesn't want you to die like an idiot. So! If you choose to keep your honour! That just means you have to be strong enough that you never have to discard it. You get to fight each other in an honourable duel, and then I'm going to attack one of you at random and join the fight. How you react is up to you. If you want to be fair, be fair. If you want to win, take the advantage for what it is. An ally is supporting your efforts to defeat your enemy. Is it more important to be fair to your ally or your enemy?"

Mash felt like that wasn't the kind of help Lelouch wanted to give. But Sara had a way of interpreting orders her own way sometimes. She always meant well. Always had Master's best interests in mind. She always wanted to keep him safe. It wasn't even wrong. Shirone got hurt because Mash wanted to be fair to her enemy. If it were real instead of just a rating game...

She readied her sword. Kiba looked a little more concerned as he realised the situation he had just found himself in.

"Good girl," Sara praised her.

"I'm sorry, Kiba! I want to face you honourably, but allies fight together!"

It wasn't a long bout from there. Mash continued to hold back as she struggled to overcome her desire to be fair to her opponent. However, Sara being much more experienced was still more than able to pick out and tear open every hole in Kiba's defenses from being overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry, Kiba!" Mash declared with an apologetic bow as Sara vanished to prepare her next ambush on the next spar. "You should do the same to me next time!"

The blond boy panted for breath, rubbing his side where Sara had kicked him to end the match. "I'll keep that in mind," he said with a smile.

A fake smile. And he still wouldn't look her in the eye.

She had to ask. "Can I ask a question? Do you not like me?" His response was far more surprise than she expected. "I'm sorry, that was too rude! You don't have to answer!"

"You think I don't like you?"

She hesitated, feeling like she might have read things wrong. "I thought... We're both swordsmen. I thought we'd train a lot together when we first met. But this is the first time. You avoid talking to me, you avoid looking at me, and whenever you do you have that smile. It's not real. It doesn't reach your eyes." She hated that smile. It made him look like a doll, or a puppet. "It's okay if you don't like me. I'm sure you have a good reason."

He didn't respond immediately. Took long enough that she thought he really wouldn't acknowledge it and just force her to continue with things as they were. However. "... A long time ago," he said finally, "I decided it was better to smile, even if it's fake. That has nothing to do with you. That's just for my own sake. I don't dislike you either. It's... I understand you. Maybe more than you realise. And that's what makes it hard to be around you."

Oh. Oh! "Um...! Are you flirting with me?! Because I'm flattered but, and I don't want to hurt your feelings, but-!"

He laughed, and for once it seemed almost genuine. "No. Nothing like that. We just have more in common than I like to think about."

Oh... Well now she just felt embarrassed. "I don't want to ask, to pry. But, if you understand me, I'd like to spend time with people who understand me. I don't even understand me."

He smiled at her. It seemed a little less fake this time. He even looked her in the eye!

Then she felt feet drill a kick to the side of her head.

-(-)-

It had been a long while since he managed to get into contact.

"Things are moving," Lelouch said into his phone. "I won't be specific." Both sides had needed to dance tactically around the exact truth for fear that someone somewhere was listening in. "More strange bedfellows."

"I see," Sir Bedivere answered, not pushing for more. "Have you heard about the church?"

"They're acting? Why?"

"Someone stirred up more trouble and they were the target of it. I'm... Not permitted to tell you the details. It's far more our business than yours. Suffice to say, someone acted against them."

"The hero faction?"

"We genuinely have no idea, though we intend to find out. "There was a long, drawn out pause on the other end of the line, ended by a sigh from Bedivere. "How is Sir Galahad?"

"You're still calling her that."

"No matter the circumstances, no matter the separation, even as she is in your service she is a Knight of the Round Table. We will always seek to ensure her wellbeing."

Yes. 'We'. "You can tell Sir Lancelot she's doing well. She made friends, she's healthy, she's happy, and... I believe she would ask the same of him."

"I see. Then you may tell her he is doing far better now, come back to himself thanks to losing Arondight. And that he's very glad she found a way to be happy, despite everything."

"This would be much simpler if we didn't have to act as go-betweens."

"You preach to the choir." He heard another voice that sounded like someone complaining. "We should be able to keep in touch more safely now. Our previous pursuer was tenacious but has been dealt with. I shouldn't speak ill of my king's sister, but Le Fay can be rather terrifying at times."

"That's good to hear."

"The..." Bedivere hesitated. "The keeping in touch or Le Fay being terrifying?"

"Both," Lelouch answered easily. "The allies who are terrifying are often the ones to be most grateful for."

"Disconcerting as it may be, you might be right about that. In any case, it's possible we may need somewhere to lie low soon. We have a handful of new recruits and will need a safe place to train them. My king has not made the request, I'm merely floating the possibility on my own."

"I wouldn't suggest my location at present. For the moment it may be far more dangerous than anywhere else you may seek to hide."

"Unfortunate... I will speak to Arthur, though I make no promises on his behalf."

A strangely considerate offer. Though the reason for it came to him swiftly. "You were just that serious about keeping Mash safe, weren't you?"

"I very much was."

"Then I can say we have that in common."

-(-)-

A/N: This chapter seen very very early on THE GREAT FORBIDDEN P! FEAR THE P! LOVE THE P!