like my uncle, you're not. Your intentions are good Suzaku, but you know what they say about good intentions."

"I don't think I should mind hell," said Suzaku. "It's just heaven for bad people."

"You consider yourself a bad person?" asked Lelouch.

"I'm talking about becoming an international assassin and I murdered my own father," said Suzaku. "Some would say that makes me a bad guy. I'm fine with that. I can't imagine a life of peace for me Lelouch."

"Even one with Euphemia in it?" asked Lelouch.

Suzaku said nothing but he couldn't hid his blush from Lelouch who chuckled.

"Or where you really just taking advantage of Euphemia's feelings?" said Lelouch, continuing to tease his friend. "In that case I'm afraid I cannot protect you from Cornelia's wrath."

Suzaku thus began to babble in his defense while Lelouch only continued to laugh. After a good five minutes at laughing at his friend's expense Lelouch calmed and straightened his face.

"You know...my father wanted Britannia to stand as the envy of the world," said Lelouch. "A triumph of man over man's ego and all the evils that come with it. To overcome the inherent flaws in our society. He believed it was the duty of a king to be the pillar for which that society was to measure itself to and reach up towards that goal. That inspiration would thus act as the support for the society he envisioned."

"But people often don't," said Suzaku. "They see what greatness they could achieve and they throw it aside and bury themselves in the mud of their own corruption."

Ohgi and Viletta's stake out had gone on for a few days. None of Ohgi's contacts in the ghettos had been able to bring up any new information about the Beast. Often this would leave the Britannian knight and the Japanese rebel with nothing more to do than talk to one another.

Ohgi, not being too much of a conversationalist, often just tried to discuss the intention of the man they were hunting.

"Zero doesn't think 'Impure' has to do with their race or their nationality," said Ohgi.

"So then what do you think it means?" asked Viletta. "If he's attempting to unite the Japanese behind him then why kill members of his own cult?"

"It might be something they lack," said Ohgi.

"Something they lack?" asked Viletta.

"Something that doesn't fit with whatever ideology they have at the core of their cult," said Ohgi. "Honestly if we could at least know what they hold as their core ideal we could at least get an insight into how these people think."

"Psychological warfare?" asked Viletta.

"Pretty much," said Ohgi.

The two of them had managed to get along fairly well. Viletta had a charm about her and she even volunteered to cook at times, and she was pretty good at it. And Ohgi had impressed Viletta with his own brand of knowledge. She once even said she had always been turned on by men of intelligence. The blush he released after that comment earned him a giggle from the female knight.

"So...what did you want to do after you became a noble?" asked Ohgi.

"I want to have children," said Viletta.

"Really?" asked Ohgi.

"Yeah," said Viletta. "And if I were a noble then my children would be nobility. They'd be able to have a prosperous life, or as prosperous as a life could be in V.V's Britannia."

Ohgi merely hummed at his desk. The two had come close to settling in for the night, their investigation so far hitting a dead end.

"So why do you think the Kyoto Group is so interested in catching this guy?" asked Viletta. "Call me pessimistic but I doubt they're that altruistic."

"If anything it could be because he's been gathering followers from all over Japan," said Ohgi. "As sad as I am to say it the most likely thing we can look forward to, the Japanese I mean, is some overly ambitious and greedy old fool who desires power and glory for himself more than for the good of the people. Someone from the Kyoto Group most likely. The Beast could be seen as competition."

"Couldn't they see Lelouch as competition?" asked Viletta.

"He's not Japanese," said Ohgi.

"Ah," said Viletta.

Before the two could discuss things further the door burst open and a figure in a dark cloak stood in the door way. Reacting quickly Ohgi drew a pistol and shot at the figure, the bullets however did not seem to have an affect on the figure as he quickly ran up and knocked the gun out of Ohgi's hand with his left hand and with his right hand shoved Ohgi against the wall so hard the plaster gave way. Viletta attempted to strike with her sword, only for the figure to catch the blade and break it easily and grabbing her by the throat in one fluid motion.

"You have sought me," the figure said in an almost hushed voice. "I am...the Questing Beast, the omen before the kingdom's fall. I am the salvation of Japan, the way to our purity. Send this false god, Zero, to me in the world beneath. I wish to have words with him."

"Let...let the woman go," groaned Ohgi, attempting to rise.

The Questing Beast stepped on Ohgi's chest, with such strength that he nearly broke Ohgi's ribs.

"Sacrifices are required," said the Questing Beast.

Still holding Viletta by her neck the Questing Beast left the house as Ohgi continued to strain to his feet. He crawled over to the phone and began to call Lelouch.

News of Zero had been reaching far and wide all over the Earth. Even on places that could not be considered 'on Earth'.

"He looks so beautiful my darling. He's so strong and so powerful and he's managed to make a contract," said the woman, kneeling upon what could be easily confused for a shrine.

It appeared to be several raised platforms that did not appear to be held by gravity. And bathed in light that came from no sun. Above the woman was a great and vast celestial body, appearing almost like the gas giant planet Jupiter.

"My lady," a young man said, standing at the base of the shrine.

"Rai," the woman said, rising to her feet. "How are you?"

"I am fine my lady," said the young man, Rai.

He had silver hair and blue eyes, the most beautiful blue eyes.

"I was just talking with my beloved husband," said the woman. "I've also been talking to my dear friend. You're going to be very popular with a certain young lady."

"I'm eager to meet her," said Rai.

The woman sighed, Rai had a dry and serious personality that couldn't help but annoy her at times. It was no fault of his own, but she had always been more lively, a free spirit. Although a part of her did think it reminded her a bit of how stuffy and serious her late beloved could be at times.

"Rai, sweetheart you don't even know who I'm talking about do you?" asked the woman.

Looking down bashfully Rai's silence was an admission of its own.

"Nunnally, her name is Nunnally," said the woman. "And she's just the sweetest. Even if that C.C is teaching her some...habits."

"I'm honored you'd believe me worthy of your daughter...M.M," said Rai.

M.M, once Marianne Vi Britannia smiled, enjoying the young man's mentioning of her title.

"Please, Rai you're practically family," said Marianne. "Especially if Nunnally winds up liking you."

"It would be an honor," said Rai, as dry as ever.

Sighing once more, Marianne descended the shrine, raising the him of her long dark silk robes, until she stood in front of the young man. She reached for a locket she held around her neck, resting over a crimson symbol of Code at the top of her chest.

She opened the locket and showed Rai the pictures that rested within them. On the right was the picture of Lelouch and on the left was her daughter Nunnally. However the photos were of the two as they were now, images captured thanks to a few hidden resources Marianne had placed around her children. In her eyes Lelouch had grown up so handsomely, she imagined that all the girls of his school must have wanted him. And sweet Nunnally was blossoming into womanhood so beautifully. She had taken a liking to dance and her body was toned and athletic, much like she was at that age according to her friend and former mentor.

Glancing over at Rai, Marianne smiled at how interested he seemed to find Nunnally. The evidence was all in the blush he seemed to be giving.

'At least C.C's lessons should serve Nunnally well for this boy,' thought Marianne giggling.

The sound of the Reverend Mother's giggle seemed to bring Rai out of his stupor.

"Anyway, did you have something you wanted to tell me?" asked Marianne.

"Oh...yes," said Rai, regaining his composure. "We have information that two members of the Eden Elite are in Japan. The mind-reader Mao and the time-stopper Rolo. We have reason to believe they're hunting Zero. Also there is possibly a rogue Geass at loose as well."

"Two enemies and a wild card," said Marianne. "All converging on my boy."

Marianne looked at her locket, recalling how difficult it was for her to leave her children as she did. For seven long years she had been forced to stay away from her children. It had not been an easy decision but it was one that had to be made. She wanted her children away from the fighting for as long as possible. But fate had played everything against her. Lelouch was now at war, armed with Geass, and without true knowledge of the war he was fighting.

"Rai, I want you to go to Japan," said Marianne. "I'm sure Lelouch can handle the rogue, but the other two are experienced users. And C.C is no help at all. I hadn't hoped to reveal ourselves to Lelouch just yet but...Vincent has forced my hand."

"As you wish M.M," said Rai.

"And be sure to take the Adonis," said Marianne.

"Yes, Reverend Mother," said Rai.

Marianne turned back to face the great orb in the otherworldly sky. She felt a feeling of dread wash over her. Whether it was the fear of a mother whose child was in danger, or an even deeper fear beyond that.