Pre-story notes: This story is set in the AU produced when I wrote The Kiss Goodbye and The Show Must Go On. I suggest that the reader start with those stories, in the order I enumerated them, before proceeding to read this one.

Disclaimer: Code Geass belongs to Sunrise.

On the Subject of Time

Much time and effort had been spent over the years attempting to get a better understanding of how Time works. A contemporary scientist by the name of Albert Einstein managed to deduce that time is relative: if you move fast, time moves slowly; if you move slowly, time will move fast. Theoretically, if you can manage to make yourself go absolutely still, you may find yourself in the future.

What most would like to accomplish, however, is to move backward in Time. The most common reasons for wanting to do so are generally selfish ones: to make a different choice, to prevent an encounter, to cause a death, to save a life - all to undo to some extent the misery one presently experiences. Some would argue that some of those reasons were noble, but how could one consider a reason to travel back in Time to be truly noble?

Perhaps Time itself can be a judge of it? Yes, what if Time itself is sentient the same way Nature is sentient? What if Time allows some forms interaction with it but not others? What if when violated, Time can and will lash at the violator? What if Time, when violated, can move to right itself? What if Time can decide to reward those who helped with protecting its sanctity? Or, in this case, from being prevented to move at all?

On the Subject of Masks

Mask - n., a covering for all or part of the face, worn to conceal one's identity; anything that disguises or conceals; disguise; pretense;

Persona - n., (in the psychology of C. G. Jung) the mask or facade presented to satisfy the demands of the situation or the environment and not representing the inner personality of the individual;

Lelouch Lamperouge. Zero. Lelouch vi Britannia.

Real names. Real people.

No, that's not right. They're all the same person.

Those who knew one could attest that he was not the other two. Yes, each mask was created so perfectly that they're completely separate, each with his own manner of speech, manner of dress, manner of dealing with those around them. So distinct, even, that their creator forgot which one was his true self. The loss of his one anchor, his sister Nunnally, rendered the identification impossible.

There was one person, however, to whom the distinction between two of those three masks was blurred, and eventually faded into nothingness. Kallen Kouzuki finally accepted that her friend Lelouch Lamperouge and her commander Zero were driven by the same purpose of creating a better world. It was a shame, indeed, that the realization came too late, when those two masks were buried in favor of one she'd never met.

A shame, because when the masks were no longer distinct, then one can say that one has finally found his or her true self.

But what if she had met him before?

Or him, her?

I am Lelouch vi Britannia.

That was the name I was given at birth, and, for a time, that was my true self. I was eleventh prince and seventeenth in line to the throne of the Holy Empire of Britannia.

When tragedy struck, I hid under the name Lelouch Lamperouge, which became my first mask. Under that mask I have gained some sense of peace, living with my sister and a few people I trusted. I however, was not free - not until I can regain the use of my true name; not until my sister can live in this world without fear of discrimination or neglect.

By some twist of fate, I gained the Power of Kings - Geass - which increased my desire to achieve that better world, and with it the certainty that I could make it happen. Zero was born from that sense of certainty, and those who were awed by his miracles became his personal army, the Black Knights. As Zero I gained power, an army, and the means to create a new world - all of which cannot be gained as Lelouch Lamperouge.

While close to my goal, however, I was still not free. It was euphoric, but I was not free.

Then I lost Nunnally. It was their fault. I blame them completely.

And so I took control. I reclaimed the use of my true name, and buried the two masks. I took the throne, so I am now the ninety-ninth emperor of the Holy Empire of Britannia - the birthright of neither Lelouch Lamperouge nor Zero. But is this my true self? I'm not quite certain. I haven't been Lelouch vi Britannia for so long, even I don't recognize who I am. What if my current self has become a mere mask as well?

But there is no turning back now. Everything is in place. I have to see this through.

"As much as I'd hate to admit it, your plan has some merits."

It was my other self. The new entity formed from my two masks. The two masks that I have buried but stil managed to haunt me.

I stand here in the place of my memories, the place where I seal away the memories I have no further use for. I am informing him of my plan. He sits on the armchair in a posture of boredom, throwing Zero's mask up and down as if it were a ball. I'll let him surface one last time, as the plan I conceived requires it. After that, it's over.

"I appreciate your saying so. However, you must understand that this will be the final time I will allow it."

"Of course," he answered as he caught the mask. "Kallen will be heartbroken, though."

Why is he so persistent? "She means nothing to me, nor do I mean anything to her."

Zero's mask is sent crashing to the floor and he stood up. "Have you so completely discarded your past that you honestly don't remember?!"

How dare he? How dare he claim to know something that I don't? How dare he claim to know about me?!

I met his gaze squarely. "Play your part when the time comes. My answer, should I decide to give it, won't matter after that."

"... As you wish."

End-Notes: Definitions for Mask and Persona are borrowed without permission from Dictionary-dot-com.

With the KaLulu fandom losing steam because of the recent developments in R2, I'm sincerely hoping that this story's progress won't seem forced, rushed or cliched. If you think it's any one of the three, let me know.

2009-02-05: Minor edits done.