I know some are going to be displease as to what this is, but I'm sorry! The idea popped into my head (And I'm certain someone else has done it, likely on here, but I haven't seen it, and this will be meandering off onto my own path if there is interest in me continuing it anyways) and I simply couldn't get it out, as much as it pained me to do this to one of my favorite characters.

At any rate, I own nothing of value that would bring down a lawsuit on me.

That imperious voice, the countless eyes of the onlooking nobles, some viewing with pity, others indifference, and yet a few with glee as they observed the headstrong young Royal finish demolishing the vi Britannia line. Indeed, what more could one expect from the child of Marianne, the common born soldier with a particular ability for piloting a Knightmare Frame. Once feared as a former Rounds, the Empress was no more. Dealt with handily after too many years of besmirching Britannia's royal family with common blood.

And now, all that had remained was to deal with the two children. The younger was no longer a threat, caught up in the same attack with her mother, now crippled, blind, all but powerless in a nation that thrived upon the Darwinian theory of 'survival of the fittest.' She was at best, a cheap pawn, to be shuffled off to some foreign location as a guarantee to some temporary Britannian treaty.

The elder though... could be trouble. Age could matter little among the Royals, with proper support from loyal nobles, as well as the fiery drive that had been seen coming from the elder could come out dangerous, unpredictable. That was why the Ashfords had been dealt with so quickly, stripped of land and title, expelled from the Empire. And now, here before them, the elder, without guidance, lost within the whirlwind of emotion of having a mother stolen, and sister crippled, the elder had sealed the fate of the Lamperouges.

By demanding justice from the Emperor, they were finished, no longer would they have an avenue to the throne, nor likely even any power within the Empire. Everyone but an emotional child knew that demanding something from the Emperor without something of equal or greater value was pointless, and so it was, even in the case of the child that so resembled the Emperor's late favorite. Renouncing one's claim to the throne, when they were only 17th in line, could hardly be seen as something equal to the young royal's demands. The Emperor probably wouldn't have even batted an eye if it were Schneizel threatening renunciation, much less given him whatever he had demanded.

And so, now they watched, heads turning as the child stormed out of the throne room, tearing off the cravat, so indicative of nobility, or royalty. Few considered the possibility that something would, or even could, run afoul with the loss of one heir. Some, some though, had caught the glint in narrowed violet eyes, seen the promise in them. Those who did shuddered slightly, little did they know that they had witnessed the birth of the greatest threat any one individual had ever become to the Empire.

The rest, those who had observed just one more audience with the Emperor, or watched with glee as the baseborn bitch's spawn was spurned, all that they saw was the receding figure of the sixth, no, former sixth Princess Lelou before turning their gazes back to the Emperor awaiting the next of the many audiences scheduled for this day.

Rivalz glanced over at the Vice-President in his sidecar, and gulped. He couldn't help it. While he should have long since been used to her, there was just something about her that didn't seem quite right at times. After a year of being in the same class, and now serving together on "Queen Milly's" student council, they'd become friends, at least so he thought. It was a little hard to tell what went through the mind of Lelou Lamperouge. He snorted to himself at that thought. A little? More like impossible. While it's always fun to be around her, I'm not convinced I've ever seen her actually open up, and show an emotion without making a logical decision as to whether she should show it or not. Well, aside from whenever Milly does something particularly crazy.

Even so, he'd been more than happy to play chauffeur for her the first time she'd asked. He hadn't asked why she'd wanted to go to that particular hotel at such an odd time like during lunch. He'd even kept quiet as she'd led him inside, towards the elevator after giving the doorman a familiar nod and one of those patented almost-smiles. Cardemonde had grown a little nervous as she stopped in front of a room flanked by what could only be a noble's bodyguards, nearly identical goons in suits, jackets bulging with what he assumed was guns.

She hadn't even acknowledged their existence, though she must have been expected, as they didn't so much as twitch when she pulled the door open, nodding for him to follow. He hadn't known what to expect beyond the door, and so he'd been more than a little surprised to look around the room, seeing a few more security goons, and a rather rotund man with a sneer that could only belong to nobility. "You have my praise, girl. You have courage to show up to play chess with the 10th ranked master in Area 11. I would have even let you go had you not shown up."

Cardemonde's eyes had widened at that. He knew a little about the chess world, and recognized the noble. He was telling the truth about his rank. There were some bad rumors about him though, the sort that had a tendency to be true, and were crushed with all of the strength that a Baron could bring to bear. He'd been about to tap her on the shoulder, to ask if she knew who she was dealing with, but stopped mid-motion as she responded in a haughty, callous tone. "And you have mine, Baron, for not backing out of an inequitable challenge. A weekend with me if I lose, and a hundred thousand pounds should I win? I only hope that you have the money ready."

Rivalz had all but gaped at her back, who was she, a mere first year to challenge a Baron, and with such high stakes. He had gaped as he watched the Baron nod to one of the goons, as he leered at Lelou in her school uniform. The crazy first-year smiled as the suit opened a small case, filled with pound notes and nodded before turning back to the other student and simply asking, "How long do we have to make it back for the next class?"

He looked at the girl with new eyes, she wasn't simply distant as she had seemed in class. She was insane! Still, he thought a moment on her question. "If we rush on the way back, 20 minutes."

She had given him a smirk at that, one that held a genuine edge of amusement. "I'll ask you to drive safely then."

And then it had begun. While he didn't know much about chess aside from the very basics, he knew that something was off, the noble was rapidly becoming flustered after the first five minutes. Lelou, on the other hand, maintained the same cool detachment that she showed in class. She didn't even stir as the Baron smiled lecherously at her as he seemed to turn the tide, beginning to take piece after piece of hers. And then, at twelve minutes in, he let out a triumphant cackle as he swept up her queen in hand, tossing the black-crowned piece aside. "And soon, you will belong to me for a weekend, just as your queen does. Perhaps then I'll be able to teach those lips of yours to have proper respect for your betters."

Rivalz was worried now, wondering just what he'd have to do to rescue her when she lost. He wasn't about to let a girl be forced to spend time in the 'care' of one with a reputation like the Baron's. Again, he winced as she opened her mouth and made the situation worse, "And perhaps, Baron, you will learn how to show more respect to unknowns after I claim your hundred thousand."

She had begun a furious assault on the Baron's position, returning from an almost hopeless position, or so Rivalz had thought. And then it was over. The Baron's eyes went wide as she called her victory, one simple word, one that only a few in all of Area 11 were able to call before him, and yet here was this commoner student, calling it after she had triumphed over him. He snarled as he rose up, grabbing her wrist from across the table. "Oh, I don't think so. You must have cheated girl, you realize how serious an offense it is if a noble were to bring you up on charges of deceit don't you?"

She tilted her head to the side, one eyebrow raised as she reached into her pocket with the other hand, pulling out her phone, showing it to him, how it had been transmitting for the duration of the match. "Of course, Baron. And I'm sure you realize how poorly it reflects on a noble, and his family to threaten a Britannian citizen, even a commoner, with something like that. Not to mention the fact that a good lawyer could get you on human trafficking charges from what you've said so far. Now give me what you wagered, and let my friend and I leave, and I will have the recording, and its transmission to my lawyer, stopped."

His face had twisted in anger, and Rivalz had thought he would harm her. And just before he stepped closer, the Baron had flung her wrist away, nodding jerkily to the goon with the case, who came over, handing it to the girl before she gave the Baron an arrogant half-curtsy. "Good day, My Lord."

After they had reached the elevator, and punched in the parking floor, he'd turned to her. "Oi, oi, Lelou, don't you think that was a little much? Betting like that with a noble with a reputation like his?"

She'd simply given him a curious look before replying, her voice normal, no longer the cold contempt she'd held for the Baron. "And why not? I planned ahead, expecting the trouble, even if there was no lawyer or recording, and he handed over what he had wagered. I lost nothing but a short time analyzing his personality and doing some digging into his past, and I gained a hundred thousand pounds."

"Well... that may be true, but isn't this sort of underground thing dangerous for a girl?" He'd rubbed at the back of his neck, a little embarrassed at showing such obvious concern; while fearing that she'd just snap at him for it.

Instead, she'd just given him another look, and then smiled. She had a smile that lit up her face, while normally severe, when her lips quirked into that smile, she was almost as enticing as Milly Ashford was the first time he'd seen her. He gulped as she opened the case, pulling out several of the pound notes, handing them over to him. "Then how about next time you come with me again, you can keep an eye on me, and I'll split my winnings with you."

He'd accepted the five thousand pounds that she'd handed him, reluctantly anyways, but that had been more money than he'd ever held at one time, all just for driving her from and back to school. He'd gotten an interest in her though, not of the same type he held for Milly, but one that had led him to befriend her, and continue going with her to all of the shady games that she did. He'd made quite a bit of money being her friend, rarely were the games she went to as high stakes as the first, and in apparent acquiescence to his protective nature of his friends, she no longer bet herself, but rather the finances that she'd earned after each victory. She had yet to lose though, and he was convinced that no one, perhaps short of Viceroy Clovis, the top-ranking player in Area 11, could.

Her victories had earned her something of a reputation in the underground though. And now, practically a year into their friendship, he was getting a little worried for her once again. Rarely was she challenged directly, generally called in as a second for someone else, and recently the stakes for those that she was seconding were getting to be quite high; this most recent game, the one he was driving her back to school from had been for the owner of a restaurant. Driven by a noble into bankruptcy, and then challenged to a game of chess, losing requiring full payment of his debt in money, the land his restaurant stood upon, or in the form of his daughters, and victory earning him forgiveness of his debts, as well as a guarantee that the noble would no longer interfere with his business.

Giving another snort, he turned his gaze from the Vice-President, focusing back on the road. She was odd. At first she'd seemed interested only in making money, but now, she would play for others for practically nothing. Especially if it meant being able to play against a member of the nobility. Though that might be because she was certainly wealthy enough to not need to play for money. By now, she was likely able to pay for university out of her own pocket, and all at once.

As they'd left, he'd only listened with half an ear to the Viceroy's speech, on yet another act of Eleven terrorism. He hadn't worried about it. Such things were common, though usually restrained to the edges of the Britannian settlement of Tokyo, or against Britannians foolish enough to enter the ghettos. He figured that the attacks would slow eventually, though it had been years since the Elevens surrendered. Someday soon, they would grow used to Imperial rule. He hadn't noticed the way that Lelou's eyes had narrowed, nor the tension in her limbs as she listened to her half-brother.

"Your first move, why'd you start with the King?" He asked, genuinely curious. Whenever she put her hands to chess, should the move be available, she opened with the King.

A slender finger flicked a page across, her eyes glued to Hamlet even as her hair fluttered behind from beneath her helmet. "If a King does not lead, how can he expect his subjects to follow?" Her tone was light, almost bored, the usual. Rivalz had learned that it wasn't her trying to be offensive, it was just who she was.

Rivalz smiled at that. "Didn't someone ever tell you that it's not right to answer a question with another question?" He chuckled lightly before his tone turned a little more serious. "About that though, do you want to run a corporation or something after university?"

That question pulled a reaction from her. She turned to look at him, one eyebrow quirked as she studied her partner in crime. "Of course not. A weird dream like that would ruin your life-"

Cut off by a loud honk, she turned back to view a large bulk carrier, about to barrel into them. Rivalz's eyes went wide as he swore, quickly swerving right, even as the transport went left, down an off ramp, before crashing into a construction site. Quickly bringing the bike to a stop on the shoulder he looked over at the dust cloud. "Uh... was that our fault?"

Lelou hopped gracefully out of the sidecar, smoothing her skirt as she went to the edge of the highway, gazing down as the cloud dissipated. "I don't think so, we were doing the speed limit, and they're the ones that almost hit us from behind." Pulling her helmet off she blinked, seeing a weird light appearing over the container. Her eyes narrowed again, as she saw the crowd beginning to form around the site, just looking on, some laughing at what an idiot the driver must be, others saying to call the police. Not a one approached though, none decent enough to check to see if the driver was alright. And so she turned jogging down the off ramp, going up to the truck to find the cab half buried under girders.

Rivalz chuckled as she left, before he began pushing his bike closer to the edge, grumbling to himself. "I know helping is the right thing to do, but I really wish she'd keep that pride of hers in check. We're going to be late for class."

A loud squeal caught his attention, turning again to look down at the crashed truck as it quickly reversed, before speeding onto another road. "Huh... Is that what they call a hit and run?" He looked around, but couldn't spot the familiar beige trimmed in gold over black skirt. "Oi! Lelou!... Aw man, where'd she go?"

"Hey! Are you alright in there?" Lelou called out from the container's ladder, hopeful that the driver was still conscious. The teen twitched as she sensed... something. She felt the truck shudder as gears were changed, the machine pushing backwards. Her eyes went wide letting out a little scream as she plunged forwards into the open container. She winced as she tumbled into an airtight container, before gently getting up, even as the vehicle bounced over something.

"Why isn't there a ladder in here?!" She tensed as she heard the characteristic whine of a hoverjet, and then a commanding, very Britannian voice calling out an order to surrender, followed shortly by the sound of gunfire, and the pattering of something against the container's exterior. Lelou swore as the truck swerved back and forth, flinging her against the odd pressurized container yet again.

Perhaps it was a bit of good fortune though, as a door hissed open, determined steps echoing through. She watched from hiding as a red-headed girl dropped a coat before heading further back into the container. Lelou tensed as the girl yelled something about entering a subway. This isn't good. It seems these people would be the terrorists we've been hearing so much about from dear brother Clovis. Typical, he never was any good at anything but looking pretty and painting.

Lelou blinked, eyes going wide as she stuck her head out to check on what the terrorist was doing, only to catch sight of the container opening, just before a slash harken flashed out to swat one of the hoverjets out of the sky in a plummeting fireball of twisted metal. Great, I'm now trapped in the back of a terrorist vehicle. Looking back to the fallen coat, she noticed a flashing light. Upon further inspection, she pulled out the radio frowning to herself. Again, the truck swerved as holes were punched in the sides of the container, her eyes going wide as one was just inches from her head. Giving a weak chuckle, she spoke quietly, "How simple, just a few inches and I'd be dead, my dreams, ambitions, everything gone in an instant."

And then it darkened, light no longer pouring through the open container top, only a dirty cracked brick roof passing overhead. She swore quietly, knowing that she had to get out of there. If they were in the old subways, the only place they would be going would be one of the ghettoes likely Shinjuku, and that was no place for a Britannian student. I may hate the idea of army protection, but if I'm careful, and if I give them a terrorist communicator maybe...

Letting out a sigh, she pulled a hair tie from her wrist, gathering the soft black strands into a hasty ponytail to keep it out of her way. A spark flashed in the container, electricity arcing from wires attached to the capsule. That worried her. At least until she was thrown against the capsule once again, battering an already bruised shoulder with a cry of pain as the carrier comes to a sudden stop. The side began to slide open, and so she darted back further in, hoping to remain out of sight should it be that the terrorists had come for the cargo. Peeking out, and seeing no one coming, she decided to creep further, until she heard something, her head turning to see a figure whipping around with a powerful kick. Arms flashed up instinctively, catching the armored shin on slender forearms, but it was too much too sudden. To her shame, she let out a rather pained cry as she flew, landing heavily on her back. It was all she could do to raise her arms in front of her face and turn it aside as an iron grip took hold of her collar, pulling, lifting her up slightly off the floor as if she were a ragdoll. "W-wait! I'm-"

She twitched as she was cut off by one of the angriest voices she had ever heard. "I can't believe you would use poison gas!"

"I'm not-!"

"Don't lie to me!"

She snarled in fury, her face twisting with anger as she rolled her hips, bringing her leg around with all the strength she could muster, forcing the figure atop her to jump back even so, she grazed the front of his armor. She heard a quiet chuckle of surprise as she rose up, the armored figure only now recognized as a Britannian infantryman, dropped down into a fighting stance as she staggered trying to remain upright. "If there's any gas, it was Britannia that made it! If you don't want there to be more deaths, then you should destroy Britannia!"

She twitched as the infantryman dropped his guard, his hands reaching up to remove the helmet that had concealed his identity. "Lelou, it's me, Suzaku."

As I said earlier, if there is interest in me continuing this, I'll be happy to do so. If there's enough interest, I'll also work harder at polishing it up from the cellphone typing quality that this is because I have a tendency to write on it in class... At any rate, feel free to review if such a thing floats your boat, criticism welcome!