It took quite a while for Cornelia and Euphemia to calm down after seeing the half-brother they thought dead for years, alive and well. Then there was the truth of Clovis's fate.

"Lelouch...why?" asked Cornelia.

"Because he went against our father's teachings," said Lelouch. "He wasted innocent lives in an attempt to cover up his activities. Even if they were meant to bring about an end to V.V it was still a waste. You know if our father were still alive honor would have compelled him to do the same."

Looking down, both Cornelia and Euphie knew that what Lelouch was saying was true. Their father was not above executing members of their own family if their crimes were severe enough.

"So...you've become Zero to challenge our uncle," said Cornelia.

"Yes, I intend to reignite the first of Japan's fighting spirit and construct an army to challenge that of the Eden Elite," said Lelouch. "If you join me Cornelia, the forces you command in the regular military will give us the numbers and the resources we need, combined with the renewed Japanese military under the banner of the Black Knights, and we will have that Demon's head on a pike."

"I want nothing more than to see that monster dead," said Cornelia. "But..."

Cornelia recalled the war from years ago, how she had been captured by the Eden Elite, and her unit killed. While they did nothing to her body, leaving her alone in a cell until it was all done, there were still scars she bore. She had failed utterly and that was a sin she believed she could never atone for.

"I was powerless against them before," said Cornelia. "The Eden Elite, I'm not sure what kind of training they recieved or what kind of goal drives them but the way they fight. It's not like anything human. Like V.V, they're more like demons."

"Then it is a good thing I have become a demon myself," said Lelouch.

The sisters looked up and saw a red, glowing emblem in Lelouch's left eye.

"What on Earth?" said Cornelia.

"Lelouch...what is that?" asked Euphie.

"It is a power called Geass," said Lelouch. "With it I gave you the mental command that allowed you to bring Cornelia into my little trap."

"You...you took over my mind?" asked Euphie.

"Don't worry, it only works once and it was nothing more than a suggestion on where to bring Cornelia to dinner," said Lelouch, putting up his hands. "You shouldn't have any memory of being under my control."

"That's similar to stories from the soldiers who were at Kururugi's execution," said Cornelia. "As if they had blacked out. I take it that's also how you've been able to avoid me all this time?"

"Actually a lot of that was due to Suzaku," said Lelouch. "He's been my spy for some time now."

"What?" yelled Cornelia.

"Suzaku as spy?" gasped Euphie.

What truly annoyed Cornelia more than the fact that she had allowed a spy in her midst was how affectionate Euphemia appeared to be with the boy.

'All this time, was he just using Euphie?' thought Cornelia. 'Toying with her heart as if it were all some game? Taking advantage of her innocence?'

'Sorry Suzaku,' thought Lelouch.

"Anyway, you know know Nunnally is alright as well," said Lelouch.

"Oh thank goodness," said Euphie.

"What about Lady Marianne?" asked Cornelia.

"I don't know much but according to C.C, the girl Clovis was experimenting on, the one who gave me my abilities, she is alive," said Lelouch. "She claims to have some connection to my mother but I haven't been able to get anything out of her. She's immune to my Geass and as an immortal torture won't due anything. For now I have no choice but to take her at her word. So...sisters will you join me?"

Suzaku and his former teacher sat across from each other at a small table a pot of tea and two cups between them. Suzaku managed despite having his hands tied.

He had just told his teacher and his Four Holy Swords the truth about what had happened to his father. If it were not for their great respect for Tohdoh, the four swords would have killed him. He also told of his ambitions.

"You're still a child Suzaku," said Tohdoh. "Have you not thought of the world that would be created if this dream of yours, to become the Symbol of Fear were to be realized?"

"Only that I hope those who would abuse their power would think twice before doing so," said Suzaku.

"If there were such a man who could inspire the level of fear you wish to then all world governments would be thrown into disarray," said Tohdoh. "Potential leaders would never rise for the fear you would judge them before you ever attempted to understand them. They would always be looking over their shoulders for you. Fearful of the day they do something which you personally consider unjust and corrupt. And because you do not establish your own definitions of right and wrong for them to follow they would be guessing endlessly what it is you want from them. And crossing political borders with no regards for their laws and customs could lead to misunderstandings and war between nations, especially when you chop off the heads of their leaders. The world would descend into chaos."

"There are some who would say chaos and freedom are the same thing," said Suzaku.

"You have spent too long with Lelouch," said Tohdoh, sipping from his cup. "And what of Lelouch? If you and he succeed in killing V.V a new emperor must take his place. If Lelouch reveals himself as Zero then the public will automatically want him on the throne as their hero. He'll be granted tremendous power. He will be a king and a potential target for you."

"It won't come to that," said Suzaku.

"Are you really so sure?" asked Tohdoh.

"I know what's in Lelouch's heart," said Suzaku. "His rationality is good enough that he can rule with the greatest benefit for the people. Even if they appear ruthless and cruel I know Lelouch only wants to ensure people live happy lives. He wants to conquer the evils of man, not man itself."

"The philosophy of the late Emperor Charles," said Tohdoh. "You do sound as if you've adopted certain Britannian philosophies as your own Suzaku. Tell me, do you even consider yourself Japanese anymore?"

"No," said Suzaku, without hesitation. "I'm considered a traitor by the Japanese and thus have decided to renounce my connection to this nation. I belong to no country."

"Essentially a Ronin," said Tohdoh.

"Essentially," said Suzaku.

Tohdoh sighed, not sure what to think of his former pupil. In a way he was glad that Suzaku had at least outgrown some of his naivete. However he seemed somewhat more jaded than he should be.

"Sensei, I realize that what I say must seem like madness," said Suzaku. "But I believe that this is my destiny. To be an agent of vengeance for all those harmed by the corruption of powerful men."

"I have no true qualms with your ideals Suzaku," said Tohdoh. "However, you lack something necessary to every soldier."

Suzaku said nothing, preferring to let his former teacher speak.

"I despise war Suzaku," said Tohdoh. "I fight only for the love of my nation and to protect those who are precious to me. I fight for the hope of a peaceful life with them. Although there will always be threats to Japan in which I will be called to fight again, I always fight with the goal of living in peace. What your path lacks is the goal of a peaceful life with someone you love. Otherwise your path will be one of only violence and everything you eat, everything you drink will have the taste of blood."

"I know," said Suzaku. "But I...I am willing to sacrifice all peace in my life if it is for the greater good of humanity."

Tohdoh sighed fearing for his former student's future, even if that future proved beneficial for Japan.

Lelouch, dressed as Zero, followed along the path towards his meeting with the Kyoto Group. Along with Ohgi, Tamaki, and Kallen as well as two hooded figures.

The destination for the meeting as it turned out was none other than the mines of Mt. Fuji. And upon that realization, hidden behind a curtain, the representative of the Kyoto group talked about the disgrace of the mountain's defacing as soldiers and Knightmares locked their weapons onto Zero and his allies.

"As we cannot trust a man who keeps his face hidden you will be unmasked," said the man behind the curtain. "As well as those two behind you. Which of you is Ohgi?"

"I am," said Ohgi, standing up beside Zero.

"Please, remove Zero's mask and the proceed to do the same with the other two," said the man behind the curtain.

"That will not be necessary," said Zero.

Willingly removing his mask, the disguise of Zero fell away, and Lelouch stood proud. The two hooded figures behind him revealed themselves as Cornelia and Euphemia. The soldiers, upon the realization that Britannian royals had infiltrated their sanctum, readied to kill them all. However the laughter of the man behind the curtain interrupted all their thoughts.

"Stand down, stand down," he laughed. "So the displaced prince rises to take his vengeance after all these years."

"Indeed, Taizao Kirahara," said Lelouch, having recognized the voice.

Pulling the curtain aside the old man revealed his face and smiled, still cackling like mad.

"Of course," he said. "Of course it would be you Prince Lelouch. A true enemy of Emperor Vincent."

"Yes," said Lelouch. "I have risen from the dirt my uncle sought to bury me in and have come to reap vengeance against him. And to return the favor to Japan for harboring me all these years I intend to liberate it as well as Britannia."

"And I see you've brought your half-sister Cornelia to your side," said Kirahara. "Tell me princess, have you grown so tired of licking the boots of your father's murderer that only now do you seek vengeance?"

"I have always sought vengeance against the Usurper," yelled Cornelia. "I only sought to survive these past years until I could sure up my own strength against him. Only now thanks to reuniting with my brother do I see the opportunity before me. Resurrecting the Japanese military and combining it with the considerable arms and means I have at my disposal, we can at least match the forces of the Eden Elite."

"Possibly," said Kirahara. "However, if I may ask for a show of loyalty of sorts to prove this devotion?"

"What kind of show?" asked Cornelia.

"Kirahara, know that I will not allow any humiliation or dishonor to befall my sister," said Lelouch.

"Of course, of course," said Kirahara. "I would never seek to insult you or your allies Zero. I only asked for a small use of the princess's power in investigating a disturbing matter that has come to my attention recently."

"And what would that be?" asked Cornelia.

"There have been disappearances of Japanese citizens within several ghettos all over the nation," said Kirahara. "Nothing has been reported as the Britannian police do not care about the fate of a few missing 'Elevens' and Japanese citizens attributed the disappearance of their neighbors to them joining a resistance movement."

"But you don't believe that to be the case?" asked Lelouch.

"No," said Kirahara.

"I think I heard of something like this," said Ohgi. "Rumors in the ghettos that there was some sort of beast who resided in the sewers that would accept the Japanese and bring them to salvation. I just thought it was some kind of urban legend people made out of desperation."

"Sounds like the promise of some would be cult leader," said Cornelia.

"Exactly," said Kirahara. "And like with any cult there are those whom this 'Beast' has made example of to keep his flock under control."

From beneath his robe Kirahara pulled out a file folder and handed it to his subordinate who in turn handed it to Lelouch. Opening the folder, with Cornelia leaning in, both brother and sister looked in horror at the image of several mutilated bodies strung up as if they were crucified with the word 'impure' written above them.

Tohdoh had Suzaku released of his restraints once word of the meeting with the Kyoto Group went. However he wanted to test his former student's skill before he would allow him to leave. Armed with training swords the former teacher and student clashed, each move meeting each other with neither man being able to truly lay a hit on one another.

"I'm glad to know your skill has not lessened after all these years Sensei," said Suzaku.

"And you have grown more confident in your own strength Suzaku," said Tohdoh. "You fight with purpose and drive, you have true ambition in your heart."

"Do you still not approve sensei?" asked Suzaku, bringing his wooden sword to meet Tohdoh's.

"If it were only Britannia I would applaud your ambitions, that your means to achieve your goal was an appropriate strategy, even if you would seek to be an assassin rather than a true warrior," said Tohdoh, clashing once more with his former student. "But your desire to become a Symbol of Fear, does it not remind you of your enemy?"

"I don't understand," said Suzaku.

"A tyrant Suzaku," said Tohdoh. "Your ambition is that of a tyrant."

Suzaku lost focus and Tohdoh took advantage of that. He knocked the sword from Suzaku's hands and Tohdoh forced his former student to the ground.

"To rule from a position of fear is the ambition of a tyrant," said Tohdoh. "It is how V.V rules Britannia, keeping many of the honorable former Emperor's children under his thumb. This fear has infected Britannia and has made her people into pale images of V.V, oppressing our people because they themselves are oppressed."

"But that's why I seek to become the Symbol of Fear for all leaders of the world," said Suzaku.

"But have you considered the effects of that fear?" asked Tohdoh. "Government is made to do for the people what they could not do for themselves. If you recklessly destroy all governments you deem corrupt then as I said before the fear you will inspire could stagnate the functions of society. And without a functioning government any form of national law and order cannot be upheld. People will be forced to rely on their own sense of justice, and because all people are different they will judge others according to their own laws. It will be a society of an eye for an eye, and the whole world shall be blind. That is the fundamental flaw in your ambition Suzaku. It is not enough to simply destroy corruption, you must replace it with something better. Talk this over with Lelouch, as your goals are very similar this is something he could help you understand, and something you can help him understand as well."

Suzaku listened to the words of his former teacher and nodded his head in agreement.

"I will, Sensei," said Suzaku.

"And try to lighten up, you're far to serious at times," said Tohdoh.

'Like you're one to talk,' Suzaku yelled internally.

Lelouch looked over the information that Kirahara had given him. The most recent killing had been fresh enough Cornelia had been able to arrange an autopsy be done on the body. From the medical report it appeared as if several organs had been removed from the body. Specifically, hearts and kidneys had been removed. It reminded Lelouch of the infamous Ripper killings that once plagued Pendragon in the 19th century. However it didn't appear as a knife had been used. It almost appears as if something had forced its way into the body and tore out the organs, as if bare hands had been used.

'That should be impossible but...'

Lelouch's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of C.C munching loudly on pizza. Glancing over at the witch as she lay sprawled out on a couch, nearly naked Lelouch recalled what had happened when he met with Kallen's mother.

After discovering someone with a Geass, similar to his had attempted for force Hisako Kozuki to kill her, Kallen had become expectantly withdrawn. Lelouch felt a desire to somehow comfort the young woman but he didn't know if it would even be appropriate to do so. He was effectively her commanding officer and she his subordinate, it was improper. But still he could not get the image of her withheld devastation out of his mind even as he forced himself to continue on with his operations.

And then there was the matter of another Geass user. He recalled what C.C said about some kind of Order and his mother.

"Does my mother have a Geass?" asked Lelouch.

"Yes," said C.C.

"You said she had returned to some kind of Order," said Lelouch. "Do they all have Geass?"

"Naturally, the Geass is at the heart of our Order," said C.C. "In many ways you could say ours is a religious order centered around it."

"A religion that bestows its followers with superhuman abilities," said Lelouch. "Why haven't I heard about such a thing before recently? Something like that should have more power and credibility than any other religion in the world."

"No more questions, I'm going to take a bath," said C.C.

"Why would a member of your Order take an interest in Kallen's family?" asked Lelouch.

"I said no more questions boy," said C.C. "That's for you to figure out."

C.C left before Lelouch could speak again and he was alone with the folder and his questions. At that moment all he could think of was what kind of Geass did his mother have and why she didn't tell him any of this long ago.

Did he even know his mother at all?

Ohgi had returned to the ghettos, hoping to gain some information about the 'Beast' and this cult that the Kyoto Group believed might be building. However he wasn't exactly alone.

"You're out of hot water, just to let you know," said Viletta, exiting the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her torso.

Looking away from her and back to his desk, Ohgi attempted to hide his blushing face while Viletta only laughed.

"Remind me again why you had to use my house as your HQ?" asked Ohgi.

"It's convenient, in the Ghettos, and her highness considers it a good start if you're hoping for the Britannian military and the Black Knights are going to work together," said Viletta, removing her towel and throwing it over Ohgi's head. "Besides, how can you possibly complain about having a beautiful woman like myself share a home with you? Afraid of what the neighbors will think?"

"Considering you're a Britannian, it can come off as very suspicious," said Ohgi, taking the towel off his head. "We can't investigate the 'Beast' if people think you're spying on them."

"In a way aren't we spying on them?" said Viletta, putting her clothes on.

"We're investigating a potential murderous cult taking advantage of their suffering," said Ohgi.

"You can almost say that's what your prince is doing," said Viletta.

Upon realizing that Viletta had been investigating her brother, Cornelia decided to bring her into the fold, swearing her to secrecy with the promise of a promotion to Baroness.

"He's your prince," said Ohgi. "Lelouch is as much a means to our end as much as we are a means to his end."

"And until then he's your leader," said Viletta. "Might as well be considered your prince as well."

"He's never asked to be called a prince, so I don't call him a prince," said Ohgi. "Besides I don't think he considers himself a prince now anyway. He's lived too long among the common folk."

"Thank the Usurper for that," said Viletta, venom in her voice. "You know under Emperor Charles I actually would have earned the position of a Baroness by now. Nobility was considered a goal to strive towards, the common folk of Britannia could strive and work towards gaining a higher position in life. You could rise from the gutter to the top if you had the skill, the strength, and the intelligence to do so. Part of the reason Lady Marianne had been an inspiration for so many people. Especially young women in Britannia."

"I can imagine," said Ohgi. "I guess the nobility under V.V isn't all its cracked up to be though."

"Pampered and decadent," said Viletta, getting part of her hair into a ponytail. "A veritable garden of sin and corruption encouraged by V.V so long as he has access to whatever he has to offer to them. If I weren't already in the military I might have been taken into a brothel and sold as a toy among V.V's pet nobles. Of course there's the risk that I'd become a part of the Eden Elite. I was just a private when the fighting with them began. Something about them was just...unnatural."

Ohgi hummed in thought, taking a glance at how Viletta seemed to tremble at the mention of the Eden Elite. Trying to survive the Britannian military had been difficult enough, he wasn't sure how to think about going up against the force that the Britannian military was afraid of.

"So did you come to Japan to get away from them?" asked Ohgi.

"I think a lot of people came to the various Areas to get some distance from V.V," said Viletta. "Not that it works."

"At least your people can prosper," said Ohgi.

"I suppose," said Viletta. "Not exactly a happy existence though. Things are fairly lax in the Areas but the Homeland is a...well it's brutal. Dedicated to the perfection of the Empire in V.V's image and the Eden Elite."

Ohgi couldn't help but think back to his days as a teacher when he would lecture about the ancient civilizations of Greece, particularly Sparta. Thinking about the lessons of history, Ohgi couldn't help but recall how modern Japan had been born from the fear and awe of the weapons of western civilization. He wondered how Japan would change once this dark period of their history was over.

Ever since she and Lelouch had gone to visit her mother and the revelation that someone who held Geass had ordered her mother to kill her, Kallen had been confused.

She had no idea who wanted to kill her or to force her mother to do it. Everything was just so confusing to her now. She wondered if she should talk to C.C herself or perhaps Lelouch. However she doubted either of them would be helpful.

"Kallen," said Lelouch, coming up to her as she ate lunch in the academy courtyard.

"Oh, hello," said Kallen, sounding legitimately tired.

Lelouch took notice of her mood and frowned slightly.

"I talked to C.C but...she either doesn't know anything about another Geass user or she doesn't want to tell me," said Lelouch.

Kallen didn't say anything, she only looked more forlorn. Lelouch decided to take a seat next to her and share with her the theory he was developing.

"I've been going over the file that Lord Kirahara gave me," said Lelouch. "Judging from the wounds it appears that a figure of great strength actually tore out the organs of their victims with their bare hands. Given how my Geass appears to enhance my physical abilities as well as my mental abilities, I'm making a wild guess that this Beast is a Geass user. If that's the case it would explain how he's gathering members for his cult. As for why he's killing off many of them I can't tell. From what the medical examiner can tell of their remains all were pure blood Japanese. So it's most likely these weren't a racially or nationally driven murders. And since there aren't any reports of missing Britannians I can only guess the Beast is keeping close to the ghettos. However he, or she, has been able to travel all over Japan for at least two years now. I currently have Ohgi and one of Cornelia's people attempting to dig up information. If they find anything important they'll call me first. If this is a Geass user I intend to face them myself. I want you to come with me when I do."

Kallen seemed to perk up a bit at those words.

"You...do?" asked Kallen.

"If this Geass user is also the one who cast a command on your mother to kill you then you deserve justice for that insult," said Lelouch.

Kallen didn't know what to say, she merely smiled and nodded.

"The training of a witch is two part," said C.C. "Body and mind."

Nunnally across from C.C, both their legs crossed and the symbol of the Geass painted on the floor between them. Nunnally was not unfamiliar with meditation, having done so with Sayoko before, but this felt somewhat different.

Taking Nunnally's hands in her own C.C closed her eyes and the mark on her forehead began to glow. In Nunnally's own mind she saw images of her childhood with Lelouch, her mother Marianne, and her father Charles. These images brought feelings of both happiness and sadness.

She also saw images of the day her entire world came crashing down on her family. When the Eden Elite were bearing down on Pendragon and her father led Lelouch, Nunnally, and their mother to an escape ship while he stayed to fight his brother.

From her closed eyes tears flowed through.

But then she saw an image she did not understand. The image of a large blue Knightmare Frame with a great horn on its head. Standing next to it was a young man about the age of her brother, with white hair instead of black, and the most beautiful blue eyes. He was a veritable Adonis in her eyes.

"He's beautiful isn't he?" asked C.C.

"Yes," said Nunnally, a smile gracing her face.

In the sewers beneath Tokyo a figure wrapped in a cloak stood before a kneeling audience.

"We...are blessed," he said. "For seven years we believed we were damned. But the invasion offered something we, the sons and daughters of Japan, have never had before. Suffering, and through it we are pure. We are made strong and through our strength we will be saved."

Snapping his fingers from beneath his cloak, several of his followers brought forth a young Japanese woman and threw her before him. Looking up in terror the woman attempted to beg for her life as she was stripped of her clothing. The hooded figure looked over her unblemished body and sighed.

"My dear," he said. "You cannot be one of us. But your sacrifice will not go to waste."

The hooded man then shoved his hand into the woman's chest, breaking through her rib cage and grabbed her heart. The poor woman could only scream in horror, especially as the last thing she saw was the blazing red eyes of the man who murdered her, filled with birdlike symbols glowing an unnatural crimson. Her screaming soon died down after the man tore her heart from her chest.

"All lives taken, feed me," he said to his flock. "Through me the way to eternal glory. Through suffering we are robbed of our impurities. This girl, this dear child, was impure. She bore not the scars we have endured for these past seven years."

Removing his cloak partially his flock beheld his many scars. His flock rose their heads, many of them baring scars on the faces or elsewhere on their bodies, and looked upon him with awe.

Before he could speak again, one of the flock rose and gained the man's attention.

"There is a man asking questions about you," the follower said.

"His name my son?" asked the man.

"Kaname Ohgi," his follower answered. "Rumor says...he serves Zero."

The man smiled and bit into the heart he had torn out from the girl.

Suzaku and Lelouch were in the clubhouse, working on one of Milly's insane festivals she had planned. Suzaku was quiet for a majority of the time and considering what he was dealing with Kallen, Lelouch was somewhat getting tired of his friends being so lost in their own thoughts.

"Lelouch," Suzaku said finally.

"Yes," said Lelouch.

"What do you think will happen to Zero after V.V is killed?" asked Suzaku.

"Like I said, after this war is over I intend to find my mother," said Lelouch. "Zero will be retired. I'll take Nunnally and mother somewhere safe and we can live our lives in peace. Cornelia or Euphemia can run the empire."

"But Zero is already becoming a powerful symbol for both Britannians and Japanese," said Suzaku. "You even said that taking up the mask of Zero was to avoid people seeing your cause as simply being another royal killing his family for power. You could take that even further after killing V.V. You can become what I seek to be."

"Is that what this is about Suzaku?" asked Lelouch.

"Yes," said Suzaku. "Tohdoh sensei, he...brought up some interesting points. He said my ambition was flawed. Because I don't seek peace for myself. And because the world I could create as the Symbol of Fear would be chaotic and that my ambitions were almost like those of a tyrant."

"In a way he's not wrong," said Lelouch.

"But I'm not out to become a tyrant," said Suzaku. "I want to strike fear into would be tyrants and ensure people can live in peace without fear of being abused by those with power."

"And that is the fundamental flaw," said Lelouch. "You seek to use fearful rule by using fearful rule. Effectively Suzaku you would become the tyrant of tyrants."

"But I'm trying to bring people peace," said Suzaku.

"People have to find peace for themselves Suzaku," said Lelouch. "Attempts to force peace is where tyranny springs. If you fear you're -->>

next page