Suzaku had been found not guilty due to insufficient evidence in the slaying of Prince Clovis. Suzaku was actually surprised and wondered if somehow Lelouch had a hand in that. To be honest he wasn't sure just how much had changed for his friend in the years since they'd last seen each other. He felt that there were secrets Lelouch was keeping close to the chest, like how he had been able to seemingly influence several of the guards at his execution parade.

And he had never known Lelouch to be particularly athletic and yet Zero moved with incredible speed and agility.

'Perhaps I should be looking into Lelouch as well,' thought Suzaku.

"Look out below please," a high feminine voice from above him cried out.

Looking up in surprise Suzaku saw a girl with long pink hair falling from the sky holding down her skirt to protect her modesty. Naturally this was the last thing Suzaku expected to see today, if he had ever expected to see it at all.

Instincts taking over Suzaku ran out and caught the girl in his arms. It appeared he would have to wait before meeting up with Lelouch again.

Lelouch had slept in class for a bit that day, getting a usual ribbing from the she-devil herself Milly, but eventually he had managed to get a bit of alone time when his free period came up.

He took the time to look over a project he had come up with when he heard someone walking up behind him. Taking a quick glance he saw it was Kallen.

"You have a free period too eh?" said Lelouch.

"Yes," said Kallen.

"Checking up on your fearless leader?" asked Lelouch, coyly.

"Searching for some peace and quiet," said Kallen. "Away from those..."

"Britannians?" asked Lelouch.

Kallen stayed silent, recalling what Lelouch had said the night before.

"I can hardly stand them either," said Lelouch. "They've let the V.V's rope squeeze almost all the humanity out of them. My father would never have had it. Although he did believe Britannia was the superior nation he had a unique view on it. He believed that those with the most power were duty bound to be an example for all the world. That power was not an end but a means to an end."

"And what end did he want?" asked Kallen, somewhat legitimately curious.

She had been a child at the time of Emperor Charles's reign, she knew very little about the man as V.V had ensured his brother had been all but erased from history.

Lelouch looked at her and sighed, recalling the day his father taught him about power.

2009

The young prince Lelouch Vi Britannia walked into the throne room where his father Emperor Charles sat upon his throne holding court. He was a man whom ordinary men would confuse for a giant, even when seated. Some believed he was the reincarnation of some Greek God, perhaps Zeus the highest of them all. He sat on the throne dressed in dark purple wearing a cape that held a lion's fur around the collar, mixing in with his cascading brown hair. He held a great broadsword unsheathed across his lap and his purple eyes were rich with intense purpose.

"You summoned me father?" asked Lelouch, making sure to put as much power and courage into his voice as he could given its high pitch.

"Yes," said Charles, his voice radiating strength. "Come forward."

Lelouch did as he was told and came to his father's throne. Following his father's gaze to the sword Lelouch ran his fingers along the flat of the blade.

"Bring him in now," Charles commanded to the guards.

The massive doors of the throne room opened and several guards dragged a man wrapped in chains and a straight jacket. The man appeared to be rather young, at least more like a teenager than a man.

"Lucarino Bradley," said Charles. "A star pupil in the Imperial Military Academy, son of noble blood, with skill that could very well have led him to become a Knight of the Round. However, evidence has been found to connect you to a disturbing number of murders. Murders of young men and women. When he had been asked of his motivation, he only sighted that he was of noble blood while his victims were not and that the skill with which he committed these murders would be a valuable asset to our military."

Bradley looked up and smiled, as if proud of his actions. His smile and the razor look in his eyes made Lelouch uneasy but he made sure to stand still lest his father consider him weak.

"To be a soldier requires skills more than that of a killer," said Charles. "A soldier ensures that the lives he is forced to sacrifice are with purpose. To work towards a greater goal for the sake of Britannia. The lives you have taken were nothing more than a waste. There is no place for you in Britannia's military or its society."

Rising from his throne Charles walked towards Bradley who blubbered for mercy, once more citing his noble breeding as the justification of his actions and existence.

"Your begging is unbecoming of one who loves to kill," said Charles. "Those who should kill should be ready to be killed."

The guards got Bradly into the proper position and Charles raised his great sword. Lelouch watched, determined not to look away for he knew his father wanted him to see this.

In one clean swing Charles removed Bradley's head from his body and Lelouch did not blink, no matter how much he felt compelled to. Charles handed his sword to one of the guards, who at first seemed to struggle with its weight, as he walked towards his son. Kneeling down Charles placed both his large hands on Lelouch's small shoulders.

"You understand why I took that boy's life Lelouch," said Charles, it was not a question.

"Because he abused the power of his position," said Lelouch, recalling other lessons. "Because instead of leading by example as the nobility should, to be worthy of that nobility, he chose to lessen himself to a mere murderer."

"Yes," said Charles. "All men are not created equal Lelouch. There are those who are of greater speed, strength, beauty, and intelligence. However those who are born greater have even greater responsibilities than other men. Because in us, as with any other, there is the need to conquer and to fight. But what we seek to conquer is not man but the evils that plague him. Britannia will stand as a pillar for the rest of the world to look up to. As we conquer crime, illness, poverty, and most importantly our need to conquer. It would be so easy for us to crush other nations, to decimate other peoples, but that would only seek to lessen us. The greatest control of power is to never let it control you. Remember that Lelouch, for it will be a trial you will face your entire life."

When Lelouch finished his tale Kallen was silent. She watched him as he watched a girl below them carve crosses on a wall. Kallen turned her attention to the girl and watched how she acted. It was like she was compelled. Turning her gaze back to Lelouch, Kallen saw once more that haunting red light in his eye.

"Curious about the girl?" asked Lelouch.

Kallen nodded wordlessly.

"The power you see glowing in my eye, this power I'm told is called Geass," said Lelouch. "Aside from allowing me some physical attributes it's primary function appears to allow me to bend others to my will with nothing more than the intensity of my thoughts."

Kallen gasped in fright at the revelation and then turned angry.

"Is that why Ohgi and I followed you last night?" she asked angrily, and wishing her blade wasn't broken. "Are you controlling us?"

"Would you even have the free will to ask if I were?" asked Lelouch.

"Don't answer my question with another question," yelled Kallen..

"From what I've experimented using my Geass I can only use it once on a person," said Lelouch. "I used it on you to ask you if you were the terrorist I saw in the truck."

"What?" asked Kallen.

"I was in the truck," said Lelouch. "You almost ran me off the road when you were making your escape. I went to check on any injured people and wound up an unwilling passenger. I wound up with this soon after thanks to what was in the canister."

"The gas?" asked Kallen.

"Not gas, a girl although I don't know if she's really human," said Lelouch. "In a moment of danger she gave me this power. I've been experimenting with it ever since and have come to understand it. First, I apparently have to be in relative proximity to whatever individual I want to control. I learned that when I called Rivalz once and willed him to cluck like a chicken but because he was in a different building at the time I never heard any sounds. Second, any memory of being under my influence seems to vanish. Most likely the result of brain damage from the Geass. Third, I can only use it once on a person."

"How did you figure that out?" asked Kallen.

"I'm willing you to kiss me right now," said Lelouch with a coy smile.

Blushing brightly Kallen immediately turned angry and went to slap him, only for Lelouch to catch her wrist.

"Apparently it's not working," said Lelouch.

Lelouch released Kallen and she merely fumed in frustration, she then turned back to the girl.

"And what's the point of her doing that?" asked Kallen.

"I want to see how long it can work," said Lelouch. "She's been at that for a few hours now. I don't know if it's because she had a weak mind or if its because I didn't set an end period for her to stop."

"What would your father say about this?" asked Kallen. "Bending others to your will with some...inhuman power?"

"He'd say so long as I use it to achieve a goal greater than myself it is necessary," said Lelouch. "This power, this Geass is what will allow me to destroy my uncle and liberate both our nations."

"I get that, but to control other people's minds..."

"You're willing to kill those who get in your way but you're not willing to use them?" asked Lelouch.

"It just seems..."

"Inhuman? Yes," said Lelouch. "But you forget we're up against a Demon. Isn't it only fitting that he be destroyed by something inhuman?"

Kallen couldn't find it in herself to argue against that kind of 'logic', but it didn't make her any less uncomfortable. Then something came to her mind. She was tempted to ask him, but decided against it.

"Was it always like that?" asked Kallen. "With him?"

"No," said Lelouch, thinking back. "In that moment he had to be as the Emperor grooming a potential heir. The moments when he could just be my father were...different."

"Could he have been much of a father since he had so many other concubines?" asked Kallen. "That's a lot of kids."

"Father tended to show more attention to my mother," said Lelouch. "It made a few others jealous. Same with a lot of my siblings. It was with their support V.V. managed to turn a majority of the nobility."

Kallen thought back to what Lelouch had said as Zero the other night. About how he had been the one to kill Clovis.

"Were you telling the truth? About killing your brother?" asked Kallen. "Did he support your uncle?"

Lelouch looked at her, his eyes normal now, but the girl on the wall kept carving.

"No," said Lelouch. "But he still went against our father's teachings. He had wasted innocent lives. If my father were still alive he would have had Clovis's head. He would still have wept though."

"Did you?" asked Kallen.

Lelouch said nothing but Kallen still found her answer. She recalled her own brother Naoto, and although she had not been responsible for his death as Lelouch was for his, she understood the pain of losing a beloved sibling. She couldn't forgive Clovis's actions but...she could still allow some sympathy for those whom he had left behind. She placed her hand on Lelouch's and surprisingly he did nothing.

The next day over when classes began Lelouch found himself facing an unexpected surprise. Suzaku Kururugi had been enrolled as a new student at Ashford Academy. Lelouch had attempted to meet with him but due to a moment of recklessness on his part, a stray cat had wound up with his mask on its head. The resulting chaos would have resulted in his exposure had it not been for him and Suzaku finding the cat and securing his mask.

At least that evening the two of them, as well as Nunnally, had some peace to catch up.

Nunnally had been so glad that Suzaku was alright she leaped up onto him in a tight hug that nearly toppled him. But after dinner and when Nunnally had gone to bed, Lelouch and Suzaku stood on the outside balcony finally having a chance to talk.

"So...Euphie's in Japan," said Lelouch. "Naturally Cornelia is here as well."

"You don't think they support V.V. do you?" asked Suzaku.

After he had caught Euphie and spent the day with her, Suzaku found her to be charming and very kind. He couldn't imagine her possibly supporting the man who had killed her father and hounded her most beloved siblings.

"No, if anything Cornelia is only trying to protect Euphie," said Lelouch. "She had tried to fight the Eden Elite once and failed. She doesn't want to lose Euphie to another failure."

"So where does that leave us?" asked Suzaku. "Are...you going to..."

"No," said Lelouch. "Not them. However, I can't imagine they'd be too happy about what I did to Clovis."

"You know there's something I've been meaning to ask," said Suzaku. "Why create the disguise of Zero? Why not come out as Prince Lelouch?"

"I will, once I sure up enough support and protection for myself and Nunnally," said Lelouch.

"So Zero's effectively a smokescreen?" asked Suzaku.

"More than that Zero is faceless and thus anyone can imagine themselves to be Zero," said Lelouch. "Faceless and without nationality to stand as a symbol of defiance against V.V's Britannia."

"Makes sense I suppose," said Suzaku. "But I think an actual face would inspire more confidence in some people."

"Perhaps, but if I revealed myself as a prince I would only be seen as another royal killing for power," said Lelouch. "And besides, that's the type of person you want to kill isn't it Suzaku?"

"Don't joke about that Lelouch," said Suzaku. "I meant every word of what I said."

"So, if it ever came to a point in which I seemed to allow my power and my ego to overcome any sense of duty I held towards the people would you kill me?" asked Lelouch, it was not a joke.

Suzaku's eyes narrowed and Lelouch found his answer.

"I think my father would have liked you," said Lelouch.

"Change the subject," said Suzaku. "Now."

'Someone needs to learn to lighten up,' thought Lelouch.

Lelouch activated his Geass and Suzaku gasped when he saw the strange light and symbol in Lelouch's eye.

"The girl survived and granted me with a great power," said Lelouch.

"Did you use that to survive Shinjuku?" asked Suzaku.

"I did," said Lelouch. "I also used it during your rescue. It allows me to control anyone I concentrate on but only once. And they seem to come out of when when their task is completed with no memory of whatever I had them do. It also seems to enhance my physical abilities. Jeremiah."

On command Jeremiah stepped onto the balcony, a naked sword at hand. Suzaku felt his heart race but he held himself under control, hoping that Lelouch had a plan. Then in an instant Jeremiah came at Lelouch with the sword. Suzaku felt himself compelled to move but faster than he could Lelouch had swung out with his hand flattened and once his flesh came in contact with the blade, the blade broke upon the force of the blow.

Once it was over Jeremiah gave a bow and returned inside towards the manor. Lelouch deactivated his Geass, feeling only slightly drained and turned to see a very shocked Suzaku.

"I've been experimenting with both gifts of this Geass," said Lelouch. "Nothing quite as dramatic as that though. But I just couldn't pass up seeing the look on your face."

Looking out at the sight from her window Nunnally could not help but gasp. From behind her C.C stood with her hand on Nunnally's chin and her other arm around Nunnally's waist.

"Your brother can have his secrets," said C.C. "You shall have yours."

"Why didn't he tell me?" said Nunnally.

C.C. stroked her chin, recalling her last pupil and how much indeed Nunnally was like Marianne. Young and naive and hers to mold.

"Lelouch believes he protects you," said C.C.

C.C then forcefully turned Nunnally so that she was looking directly into her eyes.

"As I said, let him have his secrets," said C.C, "and you shall have yours. Secrets I will tell you Lelouch will never know."

"But why if you're the one who gave Lelouch this power?" asked Nunnally.

"His lessons are his own," said C.C. "You're for a different path."

C.C ran her fingers through Nunnally's hair and down the side of her face. Placing both hands on her face C.C drew the banished princess's lips to her own. Lasting only a moment C.C broke off the kiss and looked at Nunnally with the eyes of a cat.

"Your brother seeks the Demon," said C.C. "What he will become is...well its a surprise. But you little Nunnally will take my place as a witch."

The following weeks in which Cornelia took over as Viceroy featured several attempts of Cornelia's to draw out Zero. She attempted to recreate the Shinjuku Incident with an attack on the Staitama ghetto, but thanks to Suzaku's warning and the efforts of Lelouch's helpers there had been an early warning and the people had been evacuated in secret.

Cornelia had been left with no bait and an ultimately useless trap.

"That damn coward!" Cornelia yelled, throwing aside the newspaper.

"You could have asked me if I would have liked to read it," said Euphemia.

"Oh...I'm sorry Euphie," said Cornelia. "I just lost it for a second."

Sighing Euphie reclined into the tub she and Cornelia shared.

"If it helps the steam was ruining the print," said Cornelia, bringing her foot up to Euphie's stomach and tickling her with her toes.

"Cut that out, you know how much I don't like being tickled," giggled Euphie, holding onto the towel wrapped around her long pink hair.

"I know," said Cornelia, using both feet now, laughing.

As Euphie had suggested when she offered to share a bath, Cornelia was in desperate need of relaxation, and as always Euphie had been right. Eventually she had enough and finally allowed her sister some mercy.

"Well I certainly hope you feel better now," said Euphie, catching her breath and straightening her towel.

"A little," said Cornelia. "It's just so frustrating, Zero slipping through my fingers. Allowing that murderer to go walk free. With our brother's blood on his hands."

While Euphemia did not care for violence or vengeance, she understood her sister's pain. Ever since their uncle Vincent took the throne from their father Cornelia had been left unable to avenge him due to her fear of the Eden Elite, and what they might do to her.

Being here in Area 11 wasn't doing much for her mood either. The place where their other siblings, Lelouch and Nunnally had been hidden, and killed on their uncle's orders. Cornelia did hold out some hope that her idol, Lady Marianne was still alive somewhere and continuing her fight. If she had the fortune to meet with her again, Cornelia would either offer Lady Marianne her blade to join her side or to take her life for her failure.

She heard that the Elevens called the ritual Seppuku, the act of when a warrior who feels they've dishonored themselves takes their lives to make up for their failure. In truth Cornelia found herself respecting the warrior code of Japanese samurai, having done some research on it in her spare time. She believed it would be useful if she ever came across the famed Kyoshiro Tohdoh, the only man in the former Japanese military to make considerable victory in a battle without the aid of Knightmare Frames.

He, as well as several other pockets of resistance had been greatly inspired by Zero. And even some Britannian dissidents who despised her uncle had popped up, not that she could blame them. She wondered if Zero had somehow predicted this and if so to what end was he working towards.

Some time later an incident occurred, a renegade faction of the JLF had taken a popular lakeside hotel under siege and captured many hostages, including Euphemia, as well as several members of the Ashford Student Council.

Working from both their positions, Suzaku, now apart of the Camelot group under an eccentric scientist named Lloyd Asphuld and his assistant Cecile Croomey and piloting the Knightmare Frame Lancelot, and Lelouch working as Zero, had managed to rescue the hostages. And Lelouch officially christened his crew as the Black Knights, and planted a Geass command on Euphie, as a means to get close to her and Cornelia.

"She'll be taking Cornelia and her most trusted knights to a restaurant I've staked out," said Lelouch. "I've already made the necessary arrangements."

"Private dining, drugged food, secure location afterwards," said Suzaku, reviewing the plan. "Quiet and sophisticated."

"I have my moments," said Lelouch, throwing a dark on the board.

The two of them sat in a private lounge in a large portable transport headquarters Lelouch had acquired. Suzaku was off duty and wouldn't be missed if he took some time to himself.

The green haired girl, C.C sat there as well eating pizza.

"So why haven't you offered Geass abilities to the others?" asked Suzaku.

"Geass is a powerful and deadly tool," said C.C. "Not a toy to be handed to children."

"Without training or discipline yes," said Suzaku. "But Lelouch seems to use it fairly well."

"I was in a desperate situation," said C.C. "Besides Lelouch is...gifted."

"I'm sure," said Suzaku.

"I hope you're not reading to into that," said Lelouch.

"None of my business," said Suzaku.

"It's not like that," said Lelouch.

"I already said I don't care," said Suzaku. "Anyway I better get going, I don't want to be gone too long before we're ready to start the operation."

"Alright," said Lelouch, throwing another dart.

As Suzaku opened the door he saw Ohgi, Kalle, and Tamaki standing ready to knock.

"Oh, hey," said Suzaku, moving so they could enter.

"Is this a bad time?" asked Ohgi.

"No, we were just going over the upcoming op," said Lelouch.

"I don't see why the hell we don't just kill them," said Tamaki.

"Do not make me explain myself to you Tamaki," said Lelouch, his back still turned to them. "You've already made a bad impression on me once. Do not make it worse for yourself. If you harm them in any way you will pay for it."

Before Tamaki could talk back Ohgi put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

"We'll play along," said Ohgi. "After all it's not like you can't make us."

Kallen had told Ohgi and her friends about Lelouch's powers, which he didn't mind, Lelouch could tell it made them nervous but none the less he figured he could work with nervous.

"I have no use for puppets on strings," said Lelouch. "I'm not my uncle."

C.C shot Lelouch an odd look, which only Suzaku seemed to notice.

"Anyway, what is you wanted to talk about?" asked Lelouch, now facing the three.

"You got a love letter," said Ohgi, holding up an envelop. "From the Kyoto Group."

"Yes, I wondered when they'd take an interest," said Lelouch. "If I can get them to support us we'll have all their financial backing. Then it's only a matter of getting the JLF into the fold."

"Combined with Cornelia and her wing of the military and every other resistance cell in Japan you'll practically be the ruler of the nation," said Ohgi.

"You make it sound as if I were some kind of super-villain," said Lelouch.

"You have seen how you look in that get up right?" asked Suzaku.

"I have style," said Lelouch.

"What you have is something psychiatrists write books about," said Suzaku.

"Weren't you leaving?" asked Lelouch, getting annoyed.

Suzaku only laughed as he left the room, leaving Lelouch with the three resistance fighters and the mysterious immortal. Kallen shot Suzaku a glare but if he noticed he didn't seem to care.

"Behave Kallen," said Lelouch. "Thanks to Suzaku we've managed to avoid Cornelia's traps so far."

"That still doesn't excuse what he did," said Kallen.

"He doesn't care," said Lelouch. "In his mind Suzaku is completely justified."

"Betraying Japan is justified?" yelled Kallen.

"Some would say Suzaku allowed Japan to live to fight another day," said Lelouch. "Anyway, thanks to that incident Suzaku has become someone I believe this world desperately needs."

"An assassin who plans to target world leaders is something this world needs?" asked Ohgi.

"Corrupt leaders like my uncle," said Lelouch.

"And what happens after that?" asked Ohgi. "What happens once V.V is dead? Have you given that any thought? Who's going to sit on the throne of Britannia after that?"

"I'll leave that to my siblings," said Lelouch. "After I've killed V.V I'm going to find my mother. C.C says she's still alive. And unfortunately she hasn't been willing to tell me anything else."

"What good would it be if I told you everything little boy?" said C.C.

Lelouch plucked a knife from the bar's counter and threw it at C.C's head. She slumped over dead but straightened up three seconds later.

"Temper, temper," she said.

"I am never going to get used to that," said Tamaki.

"I take it she also hasn't told you more about herself?" asked Ohgi.

"You know I am right here right?" asked C.C.

"Sorry but I'm willing to take a risk with Lelouch," said Ohgi. "At least he can still possibly die with the rest of us if something goes wrong. But you'll outlive us all, everything's expendable to you."

"I'll find my mother even without her help," said Lelouch.

Lelouch noticed an expression Kallen was making and decided it was time to end this conversation.

"I'm returning home, the base is yours Ohgi," said Lelouch.

Ohgi nodded, having been made second in command due to his past experience as a leader. He didn't mind as Lelouch seemed to fill the role of a leader pretty well.

'Obviously, he's a prince,' thought Ohgi. 'He was born to lead.'

The next day when Lelouch was walking through the park and to his surprise found Kallen walking around as well. She looked lost in thought.

"Kallen," he said, gaining her attention.

"Oh, Lelouch," she said. "Hello."

He expected something more aggressive from Kallen, but seeing as they were in public it would make sense for her to keep her cover as a sickly schoolgirl. He noticed a hot dog stand run by an Honorary Britannian and decided a convenient cover for the two of them. He led Kallen to the cart and got hot dogs for the both of them and then led her to a bench to sit and talk.

"So, what's on your mind?" asked Lelouch.

"Don't talk like you care," hissed Kallen.

"I'm offering an olive branch," said Lelouch. "If anything this is me attempting to ensure that one of my soldiers is at least functioning properly."

"Can you at least pretend to treat me like a human being?" Kallen grumbled.

"Can you at least pretend to act like a lady?" countered Lelouch.

The two looked away from the other, frustrated that they were being so difficult. Kallen looked back at Lelouch, and considered all that he had done since Shinjuku. He had managed to outwit the military for so long and was having a positive effect on the Japanese, and even a few of the Britannians, and so perhaps he did deserve some decency.

"Lelouch," she said.

"Yes?"," he said.

"About your mother, do you resent her for leaving you?" asked Kallen.

Lelouch gasped, and struggled to keep himself composed.

"Of course not," he hissed. "My mother left Nunnally and myself to try and draw V.V's attention away from us."

"But he came to Japan anyway," said Kallen.

"He hasn't found us," said Lelouch. "If anything he could have been after the Sakuradite mines for all I know. I know my mother was fighting him. Reports read of terrorist activity plaguing the empire all along the world. The response of Eden Elite troops could only mean it was my mother. She was keeping his true muscle away from us."

Kallen looked almost displeased from his response, as if she expected him to hate his mother for supposedly abandoning them. It made him almost desire to strike her with his first before she began to speak again.

"Your Geass...can it work on the mentally ill?" she asked.

Lelouch's rage was gone in that instant, replaced by curiosity. In truth he had wondered himself what kind of effect his Geass could have on someone who was mentally ill. Could he control madness itself? It was a possibility he thou-->>

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