The weeks after meeting Zero were almost like a dream to Ohgi. Everything picked up the pace like never before.

The Black Knights did not advertise their strikes openly; they came under cover of night, killing the likes of drug dealers and human traffickers. Then they left them surrounded with messages of justice. This was the first week. The second, a corrupt politician was found crucified in front of his house.

It was hypocritical, he knew that much. But Zero was right that extreme actions were needed to shake the status quo. If nothing else, they did their research to ensure only deserving targets were hit.

And even though they stayed covert, people quickly drew the connection to Zero. Occasional witnesses speaking of a black-clad group with concealed faces in the area did their part in founding a legend.

Kallen delivered most of the news to them, seeing how she lived in the Britannian portion of Tokyo. The way she told it, recent events were hotly discussed and her schoolmates were in contention; at least some did not actually seem to hate the Black Knights. That did not mean they liked them, though.

Moreover, just like Zero predicted, people who were willing to fight but alienated by the terror tactics flocked to them. The Black Knights' numbers grew quickly, with the founding members also putting out the word. A new rally was held every week, each one a great success for at least this first month.

Ohgi's cell transitioned from scraping by to luxury so fast that he still had whiplash. They got all the equipment they ever wanted; weapons, ammo, electric devices, even food and more tea. They exchanged a dingy cellar as home base to a large truck equipped with lots of comfort, too.

This mobile headquarters was where they held their meetings; only they and a handful of other recruits were permitted, with those others staffing the truck after some careful vetting. Zero left as little as possible to chance; he was not above putting in the work himself, either.

And somehow, Ohgi's group had formed the Black Knights' inner council. It was them sitting around the table on a comfortable couch. Except for Kallen, who was at the hospital with her mother after last night's Refrain raid. That the drug dealers would have victims in their warehouse was a complication, but they thankfully dealt with it.

Everyone but Zero sipped on some tea to make the best use of their access to the herbs. In Ohgi's case, he also tried hard not to think of the drug's ugly side effects.

"It's been a month," Zero spoke then. His voice rarely ever lost that even tone, and the same was true right now. "How do you feel about your membership?"

The mask turned left and right as he gauged their reactions, but there was little beyond smiles and acceptance to be seen.

Yoshida and Sugiyama nodded, saying "All good with me" at the same time; then they looked at each other for the unintended echo.

Minami snorted at their display while inclining his head at Zero. "I had my doubts, but you thoroughly wiped them away."

"What he said," Inoue agreed, running a hand through her hair.

Tamaki simply showed a thumbs up, which may just be the greatest praise he could offer.

After hearing all of their responses, Ohgi offered a helpless shrug to their new leader. They actually talked it over on occasion before, only waiting for the subject to be brought up. "Like they said, we really have nothing to complain about. So if you'll have us, we gladly stay on."

"I'm glad to hear it, Ohgi-san."

Ohgi cracked a little smile at that. Getting along with the boss was a good thing, but they really struck gold to find a reasonable guy like Zero. He had his own oddities, but he listened to their opinions and accepted what specialist knowledge they had when it came up. Not the sort to pretend he could do everything, Zero played to his strengths and effortlessly assigned them to use theirs.

"And now that we've established how we stand," Sugiyama piped up eagerly, "will you fill us in on the stuff you kept under wraps before? Like who does the budget?"

Of course that last part had Tamaki jump in with a familiar complaint: "Yeah, I gotta ask that too. I've always been in charge of the cash, so why not me again?"

This time there was a short pause. Ohgi felt like Zero did not actually want to answer that question for some reason. But he was too curious to brush over the inquiries; at first they all thought Zero was in charge of their budget, but he always deflected questions in that direction before.

"The one in charge of our funds is an ally of mine who prefers to stay anonymous," he finally explained. "It's for their safety's sake. I'm afraid I can't divulge anything about them without their express permission, which I doubt that person will grant at this time."

It was a smooth answer, but Ohgi could tell how it ignited everyone's curiousity. He was no exception in that regard, either. "So you have an outsider do it?" he probed further, to which Zero nodded. Which set Tamaki off again.

"Again, why not me? I've got years of experience with this stuff!"

"This is not a slight, Tamaki-san," Zero said, as if to calm him down. "The decision was made before I even approached your group, and I will stand by it. Not to mention that I heard rumours of your being biased."

"What's that... oh come on! We're buddies, lemme have some fun!"

It was a fair point to make, Ohgi knew; Tamaki had a habit of skimming some off the top to buy snacks or drinks for everyone. Naoto let him get away with it, as did Ohgi, because it helped the group. But he could hardly keep doing it when there were so many more people around them.

The outburst did its part in earning a wordless stare from Zero, too. Tamaki, being Tamaki, did not even realise the amount of exasperation rolling off the masked man.

The uncomfortable moment ended when Inoue chimed in. She leaned forward and into Minami as she spoke: "His grumblings aside, I don't care who does the money as long as we have enough. Isn't it time you show us your face, Zero?"

All attention returned to him. Even Ohgi held his breath in anticipation; this was the big one. Everybody talked about it, crafting theories just who Zero was beneath the mask. A man, perhaps. Maybe an androgynous woman. A teenage hero or a seasoned war veteran. Anything anyone could think of, really.

Much to their disappointment, he shook his head.

"For my and your safety, I prefer to keep my identity hidden."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yoshida pressed immediately. "You mean you don't trust us?"

The others stewed on his refusal while he mulled that over. Ohgi felt a little wary himself; he understood keeping one's identity under wraps with temporary hires. But now that they agreed to stay with the Black Knights, there should be nothing stopping Zero from telling them. Unless he was someone with a high profile who wanted to stay hidden? But from whom?

After a minute of thought, Zero motioned for the lot of them.

"It's not exactly a lack of trust," he explained, "but rather that I don't want to underestimate Britannia. Let us assume that I lower my mask right now. Then one of you is captured somewhere down the line. The very first question they will ask you is 'who is Zero', which you can't answer if you don't know."

It was a good reason, if a sobering thought. Ohgi never really spent time on worrying about being captured before.

"You say it like we would talk," Minami noted quietly. He was not accusing, just observing what Zero said. The man himself inclined his head.

"Britannia may make you talk. It's a constant risk for those who go out to fight for what is right. If you don't know, then you can never be forced to give up the knowledge."

Inoue shuddered for some reason while Ohgi and Sugiyama made understanding noises. It really was not a nice thought.

"Man, I was so looking forward to this," Tamaki groaned.

Ohgi could sympathise with Zero's reasoning, though. As much as they were dying to know, their leader's actual identity was the most important secret of the group.

"I think I get it," he offered in a bid to smooth over ruffled feathers. "I hope you understand that we're all wondering who you might be."

"I do, and I apologise for having to refuse."

Zero hesitated there. His mask only turned the faintest bit before moving right back to Ohgi. "And I should admit there is another reason for this refusal," he continued, making everyone lean in curiously.

"At this time, I still worry about your reaction should you do learn my identity, as I am not Japanese."

Shocked silence followed his words.

Ohgi was thunderstruck. He had no idea at all; Zero, not Japanese? He spoke the language as well as any of them, his manners were picture perfect. Yet he himself just admitted to it.

The first to find his words was Tamaki. He lunged over and grabbed Zero by the collar with a snarl.

"You're Britannian?! I should've known, lemme- hey!"

He did not get to finish the sentence before Inoue and Minami dragged him away by the arms. Zero himself seemed unmoved by Tamaki's outburst. He merely straightened his collar as he took in everyone's shock.

"And that is why," he closed.

Ohgi wanted to argue that not everyone was like this, but he could only concede the point after what Tamaki did. In truth, he wavered as well; all of them were conflicted, even the two holding their loudmouth friend only did so half-heartedly.

"I see," he finally said. Being the leader meant he had to deal with this somehow. "Thank you for sharing at least this much. It definitely helps explain why you won't show us your face."

"But now it's kinda hard to just go along with whatever you say," Sugiyama added, ever thoughtful. "I mean, for all we know you could be a plant to snatch up all the willing fighters before selling them out. Oh, that's the worst case I think of," he quickly clarified at the end. Zero thankfully did not seem to take offense.

"It is a possibility to be concerned about, just like I must watch my back around overzealous freedom fighters."

A subtle nod went Tamaki's way, who took to stewing quietly.

Ohgi tried not to grimace, though he wanted to do so very much. "Don't worry, he will come around."

"Yeah, he will," Minami added his own assurance. Tamaki may be impulsive, but he always came through.

Zero did not seem as convinced, or at least that was what Ohgi took from his silence. It quickly turned awkward, with everyone thinking the same thing but not knowing how to say it. Ohgi so wished for Kallen to be here right now; she was half Britannian and sometimes talked about the friend she made at school. If anyone could make a case for some Britannians being good, it was her.

Ohgi wanted to make that case too, but he could for the life of him not think of a convincing argument.

Eventually, Inoue piped up with a speculative look: "I understand that you're worried about this, but Sugiyama has a point. So how about a compromise?"

She swiftly earned everyone's attention. The sudden shift gave Inoue herself pause, the blunette slowing down as if to weigh her words.

"Instead of showing all of us, you show your face to just one of us," she suggested, then gave a nod toward the surprised Ohgi. "Just to make sure you aren't some high-up Britannian playing games with us. We can rest easier if someone we've known for years confirms it."

The men around them nodded tentatively, though Ohgi still fought his surprise at being Inoue's person of choice. They got along well enough, but to stake so much on his word still meant a lot.

With how quiet Zero was, Ohgi worried he might say no anyway. But at the same time he worried about agreement, too. The way Zero talked about his identity, this knowledge felt like a burden Ohgi was hesitant to carry. Yet looking at the still suspicious Tamaki, he felt he ought to. Ohgi was Naoto's second-in-command since way back when, now he took a similar spot with Zero.

"This is an interesting suggestion," Zero finally said. "If I may have a few minutes to consider it?"

Inoue nodded at once. "Of course, take your time. I'm surprised you're thinking about it at all."

The mask turned to face her properly at that. "It's not that I don't understand where you all are coming from," Zero explained calmly. "My desire for secrecy is not born from malice. But just as you have only known me for a short time, the same is true in the other direction."

"Fair enough."

Once Inoue said that, Zero proceeded to turn his gaze square onto the table. One hand of his rose to rest on the mask, which Ohgi watched in interest; his palm rested where a cheek would be, the index finger curved to touch his temple. Seeing him emote like this made him feel a lot more natural, too; Zero usually tried to cut down on body language as best as he could, it was rare to see him like this.

While their current leader pondered, Ohgi himself turned to Inoue with a question of his own: "Are you sure you want it to be me?"

The uncertain question earned him a look from the blunette. She nodded once, certainty clear in her voice: "Yeah. You being the boss aside, you're our best choice here. Tamaki and Kallen are hotheads, Sugiyama thinks too much and acts too little-" "Hey!" "-and I personally don't know Minami and Yoshida long enough to trust their word over yours."

The last two made understanding noises; Ohgi understood, too. They were the last to join up with them.

Sugiyama still grumbled a little. "I can't help but feel you insulted me there, Ino-san," he teased, ignoring the face she made over the nickname with a grin. "But you got a point. Ohgi's the best choice."

"Yeah," Tamaki agreed. "I still don't like it, but I'll trust you."

He did not say any more, simply frowning at nothing instead.

All the same, their faith in him made Ohgi's heart swell a little. It was easy to forget how close-knit their little group actually was.

The faint rustle of cloth sounded loud in the ensuing silence. Zero made to stand, towering over them for the moment.

"Very well. Follow me, Ohgi-san."

"Oh, uh, sure."

He quickly followed the other man, still trying to believe that this was really happening. They passed by the others, who gave Ohgi thumbs ups and encouraging nods.

Zero led the way into a separate room turned office space for him, off-limits to anyone he did not invite in. The computer was turned off and Ohgi found no personal effects on a casual glance. This room had an almost clinical air to it, which made sense to him even though it was disturbing: with Zero being careful about his identity, he could not put anything in here that told others about himself.

Once inside, Zero closed and locked the door. Ohgi felt a little worried, being alone with a Britannian. His unease quickly settled when nothing happened, though. Zero himself stood still for a moment. He did not face Ohgi when he spoke:

"I hope you understand, I do this because I want to trust you as much as you want to trust me."

Ohgi in turn felt uncertain how to respond, or even whether an answer was wanted. A sense of awkwardness and anticipation settled over him, only to multiply when Zero finally turned around. That one hand rose once more, smoothly grabbing onto the mask.

And with some light clicking noises, he pulled it down.

Beneath was the face of a young Britannian man.

His features were sharp, his expression smooth, and his dark hair the slightest bit greasy from being under that mask for so long. Ohgi studied him for a moment, soaking up the sight until he met those piercing, lilac eyes. Something about them gave Ohgi pause, a sense of unease bubbling in his gut.

"Is this about what you expected?" Zero asked, almost flippantly. Now that Ohgi saw his face, hearing fluent Japanese come out of that mouth felt weird.

He chuckled a little awkwardly to play over it, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, not exactly. You're younger than I thought, is all. Or at least you look younger, I'm not sure."

Even as he spoke, it slowly sank in that this was the face of a promised rebellion. He certainly looked the part.

Zero's lips quirked into a faint smirk, unwittingly making Ohgi think back to the Britannians who sneered at his people whenever they could. He shook it off, though. Ohgi wanted to trust this man, just like Zero trusted him to keep this secret.

"I won't confirm or deny that assumption," the other man said. "There are other people who I protect with my silence, so I won't share any personal details."

"That's fine," Ohgi quickly assured him with a shake of his head. "This is already plenty. And, I guess, uh, nice to meet you?"

It felt a little awkward to say, yet also right. Zero seemed to agree, seeing how his smirk softened somewhat.

"Yes. A pleasure."

So saying, he offered his hand once more. Ohgi took it without hesitation. It felt different now, but not unpleasantly so.

"I have to admit I'm still surprised that a Britannian would want to help us," he admitted. "May I ask why?"

The hand clasping his squeezed lightly, a shadow falling over Zero's face. Something in his voice sent a tingle down Ohgi's spine: "I have lived in this country since before the invasion. So I know the darkness that lurks in Britannia better than most. Does this answer your question?"

There was an intensity to Zero now. Something that was not there before. Ohgi could not put it into words before the other man's expression smoothed out. He let go a moment later, Ohgi's own hand falling almost bonelessly.

"Yeah, I think I get it."

It was the truth. Thinking of the friends he lost during the invasion and its aftermath, Ohgi could make an educated guess what Zero talked about.

Then Ohgi blinked, just as Zero closed his mouth. He stared dumbly for a moment, then awkwardly rubbed the back of his head again. "Could you repeat that? I was zoning out."

"I was saying that I look forward to working with you, Ohgi-san."

"Ah, right. I look forward to it as well."

"Now, is there anything else you wish to ask me while we're here?"

He wanted to decline the offer at first. Yet before Ohgi could say anything, his thoughts circled back to the earlier discussion. Something clicked in his mind as the dots connected and curiousity drove him to say it.

"The person who does our budget," he started carefully, only for Zero's expression to stiffen; Ohgi knew immediately that he would learn nothing about them and diverted from asking about their identity: "Are they staying away because they're Britannian, too?"

The look he received in response was calculating. It took precious seconds before Zero gave a simple nod. The mask went back on soon after.

They returned to the others and Ohgi told his friends that Zero was fine. On the inside however, he kept mulling over that reaction; whoever Zero protected, that person must be someone he cared about. Keeping that secret from them did not upset Ohgi; if anything, it made him breathe a little easier. Even someone like Zero had people he was close to; that, as well as having seen his face, made him seem so much more real.

With his heart at ease, Ohgi continued to follow along the path Zero charted. The Black Knights continued their nighttime work, grisly though it was.

Zero did indeed ask them to fight Japanese on occasion, but so far he had not led them wrong. Gang violence across the nearby ghettos declined after several decapitation strikes, just like crime rates in general began to drop. It was just the fear of reprisal that kept people cowed, but Ohgi could not bring himself to care; women and children could walk the streets in relative safety again, trusting the Black Knights to punish whoever hurt them.

There were a few close calls with Britannian forces, too. Although Princess Cornelia herself did not come after them yet. It confused Ohgi for a time, until Sugiyama suggested that she kept showing up late and swept it under the rug to save face. It was a decent explanation, what with how quick and unpredictable they acted.

Either way, Ohgi felt content with what they achieved. Actual progress for the first time in years.

Although there was something deeply sad and ironic about the fact it took a Britannian to let them take on Britannia. Some days he actually wondered if there may be something to Britannian superiority; the best and brightest he knew were Naoto and Kallen, both half, and now Zero.

It was silly and stupid, Ohgi knew. But that quiet voice still whispered in the back of his mind. He tried not to let it bother him, though; there was a lot to do to free Japan, and beggars could not be choosers.