The Student Council Room

Lelouch eyes widen and his body froze up, thank goodness he had his back turned to the rest of his friends or they might have questioned what was going on.

"I'm assuming you're with your student council right now, Mr. Vice President. So how about you draw yourself away them, unless of course you want me to put a bullet into the pretty head of your crush." The mysterious voice threatened with a snakelike voice. "Oh and make sure not to tip off that father-killer friend of yours, no need to have any backup with you." The voice continued in a smug tone.

Lelouch eyes widen at this revelation.

"How the hell does he know that!?" Lelouch thought to himself.

"Lelouch? Everything okay?" Rivalz asked, wondering what was up.

"Remember, no hanging up and no telling." The voice said in sing-song like tone.

So with that, Lelouch put on his neutral mask and turned back to his friends.

"Oh yeah, Shirley was just telling me she was feeling a bit sick this morning, which is why she didn't make it to school. But she's telling me she's starting to feel better and she wants to discuss our get-together later." Lelouch explained casually.

"Oh, ho, ho. She finally asked you out, huh? Took her long enough!" Rivalz teased.

"Glad I was able to get her to climb out of her shell." Milly said, patting herself on the back.

"Hey I helped too." Suzaku whined.

"I'm sure you did." Lelouch deadpanned at him, making Suzaku whine in annoyance and the others laugh. Internally though, he was sweating bullets, he had to get away from the council, now. "Anyway, she wants me to see if I can find a suitable place for us to be later on while she gets ready."

"I understand. Go on lovebird, fulfill your queen's wishes." Milly encouraged in a teasing voice.

Lelouch sighed and started to go towards the door.

"But Lelouch, what about Joseph?" Nunnally asked him.

He was about to answer when he heard the voice again,

"Tick tock, loverboy." The voice told him arrogantly.

"Ok, Shirley, I'm going." Lelouch said tiredly.

"Sounds like she's already got you on a leash, you two will make a great couple!" Milly exclaimed happily, making Lelouch roll his eyes.

"We'll discuss it when I get back later, Nunnally. I promise." Lelouch told her as he kissed her on the forehead.

"Okay..." Nunnally said in a disappointed but understanding tone.

With that, Lelouch left. Leaving the council back to their earlier topic.

"You know, you guys can visit Joseph today if you want." Nunnally told them.

"Oh, are you sure Nunnally?" Kallen asked, surprised when just a second ago she seemed more willing to go.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want you or Lelouch to feel left out." Rivalz said.

"Absolutely, I know you guys miss him just as much. I'm sure he'd be happy to know you came to visit him." Nunnally said in an unselfish manner.

She also knew that the discussion that her and Lelouch will have later, would probably just end with them not even going. She knew how protective her big brother was, especially when it came to protecting their real identities. Seeing Joseph at the Viceroy Palace would just risk their exposure, and knowing what would happen if such a thing were to occur would just cause trouble.

Especially when it came to that man.

...

As soon as Lelouch walked out of the room, his demeanor turned deadly seriously.

"Who are you? What have you done with Shirley?" Lelouch asked quietly but intensely.

"Ah, ah, ah. Temper, temper. You just do what I say and your girlfriend lives." The voice said slyly

"What do you want?" Lelouch asked.

"Let's just say you're letting a certain someone stay with you at the moment, I would like it if you brought her along." The voice told him.

"C.C.?" Lelouch thought to himself.

"I'll send you coordinates where I want you two to meet. But please, keep the line on. No reason you need to have hidden tricks up your sleeves, that is if you want Shirley to reach her 18th birthday." The voice said condescendingly

Lelouch gritted his teeth in anger as he went to his room, he found her lazing about on his bed. She noticed his demeanor.

"What's got you frazzled?" C.C. asked in a bored tone.

"Put me on speaker." The voice told her excitedly.

Lelouch did so.

"Is that you C.C.? It's me!" The voice said enthusiastically.

C.C. eyes widen and she jumped out of the bed with energy that Lelouch has never seen her with before.

"Mao!?" C.C. said in actual surprise.

"So that's his name." Lelouch thought to himself as he tried to hatch a plan.

"It's really you C.C.! Finally, after all this time, I finally found you! It's so good to hear your voice!" Mao said esctastically.

"Mao, why are you here? How did you find me?" C.C. asked him.

"How isn't as important as much as the why. He stole you from me, C.C. So it only seems fair I steal something of his." Mao told her.

"If you hurt Shirley, I swear..." Lelouch threatened with menace.

"Big talk, mister. Let's see if you can meet expectations in person. You should have the coordinates now." Mao told him.

On cue, a map was sent to him with coordinates on it. It looked to be somewhere in the ghettos.

"I want confirmation that she's alive!" Lelouch demanded.

After a moment of silence, Shirley's voice came on, she sounded terrified.

"Lelouch, don't-"

Mao didn't let her finish as he voice came back.

"See you soon, lover boy." Mao mocked.

"Hang on, Shirley..." Lelouch thought to himself in determination.

...

"This thing about saving people's lives… at first I thought he was just, you know, sensitive, but now, I mean, it's more like an obsession, isn't it?" Cecile said worriedly as she thought about all those times Suzaku put other people's lives before his, especially in combat.

"His performance data is still solid, right? Is this a good time to put that new thing to a test with him?" Lloyd asked casually as he ignored the "food" Cecile made for him.

"But still treating Suzaku like he's just another part of the machine could have serious consequences. We'd better deal with the human issue here first." Cecile argued.

"Pardon me, but really aren't you taking care of him in place of someone else?" Lloyd teased.

"I'm not sure about that, but…" Cecile said nervously with a blush before noticing Lloyd's smirk. "You're quick to catch on the something silly, aren't you?" She asked playfully.

"I'm the boss, so you're stuck with me." Lloyd teased further.

He then heard his cellphone ring, his took it out and saw the caller ID belonged to Suzaku.

"Ah, speak of the devil. Or at the very least, his faithful servant." Lloyd said as he answered the phone. "And how is my human devicer today?" He asked, before receiving a backslap to the head by Cecile.

...

Viceroy Palace

Throne Room

"In this last operation and also at Narita, they were specifically targeting you, Your Highness." Darlton said.

"Eliminating the leader is a standard tactic." Cornelia told him.

"They also eliminated Prince Clovis." Guilford argued.

"Zero was not merely fighting Britannia. He has a deep hatred for the royal family, and he wants blood." Darlton calculated.

"Hatred?" Euphemia thought to herself as she remembered the conversation she and Joseph had the night after the hotel-jacking.

...

(Flashback)

Joseph was hanging out with Euphemia in her room as there wasn't much they could do, given the extra attention they had due to them being held hostage just the other day. Thankfully, Joseph was able to keep himself entertained with his music.

Currently, he was working on some "stoutness exercises" while lip-syncing.

When I up, down, touch the ground

It puts me in the mood

(Joseph does push-ups with the beat of the song)

Up, down, touch the ground

(Does push-ups with one hand)

In the mood (smacks lips) for food

(Pushes himself into standing, Euphemia giggles when he smacks his lips)

I am stout, round and I have found

Speaking poundage-wise

(He twirls around the room like a ballerina)

I improve my ap-po-tite

(He jumps onto one hand and balances on it)

When I ex-tro-cise

(Flips over and lands on feet, hands in the air)

Euphemia claps and giggles in delight.

"I haven't thought about that song in ages, I'm surprised you still remember it." Euphemia commented happily

"Can't beat classics!" Joseph said enthusiastically. Making Euphemia giggle again, then she thought about something.

"I was wondering Joseph, why did you cheer for Zero like that last night?" Euphemia asked curiously.

"Why not? Superheros deserve cheers!" Joseph argued enthusiastically.

"You really see him as such? Even if he killed Clovis?" Euphemia asked, surprised by his stance. Joseph looked at her in a serious manner, hopped onto her bed and sat crosslegged.

"Clovis...sad he's dead. Not know well. But still brother. But...act like villain, treat like villain." Joseph told in a rare serious but determined tone.

"A villain?" Euphemia said, surprised by his answer.

"Shinjuku. All those people, kids, elders, killed. Wave of hand from Clovis. (Waved his finger and made a "tsk" sound) Evil, very evil. While not like death. Not un-coming." Joseph explained.

Euphemia was now confused.

"But...the reports said..." Euphemia quietly said.

"Eyewitness!(Points at himself) Britannian Soldiers, gunning people. Left, right, up, down, sideways, back-ways, fore-ways, slant-ways, all ways! A slaughter!" Joseph emphasized.

Euphemia stared in shock.

"I...I can't believe he..." Euphemia couldn't finish her sentence, tears building up.

Joseph pulled her into a hug.

"Sorry..." Is all he said. Euphemia holds tight onto him.

When they broke the hug, Euphemia looked at him in a serious manner.

"Do you think he'll eventually challenge Father?" She asked.

"Come on, Eup. Both know dad. It be Spider-Man vs Green Goblin, Superman vs Darkseid, Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader!" Joseph exclaimed as he jumped on top of Euphemia's work desk to emphasize his point.

"Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader?" Euphemia asked in surprise, more by that last statement than by Joseph's actions.

"Exactly!" Joseph cheered.

That placed Euphemia in a thought.

...

"Zero...could he be...?" Euphemia thought to herself.

"Careful, Euphie." Cornelia said gently has she put her hand on Euphemia's shoulder.

"Huh?" Euphemia said, being brought out of her thought process.

"I don't want another crisis like that at the hotel." Cornelia told her.

"Why not assign a knight to her?" Guilford suggested.

"A knight?" Euphemia asked, surprised by the sudden topic.

"Yes, if we assign one knight as a permanent sentinel, then we can build a complete royal guard unit around him. As Sub-Viceroy, Princess Euphemia has the right to a personal champion." Guilford reasoned.

Before that conversation could continue, a soldier walked up and gave a small bow.

"Your Highnesses, we just received word from Earl Asplund that Warrant Officer Kururugi and his classmates are here to visit Prince Joseph." The soldier told them professionally.

"Oh, wonderful!" Euphemia said happily.

"Hmmm..." Was all Cornelia said, intrigued to meet these "friends" of Joseph.

...

Black Knights Base

"Man, it was so close! We had her right there! Next time, Kallen will beat that traitor, Kururugi, and his white Knightmare!" Tamaki said excitedly.

"Where is Kallen anyway?" Sugiyama asked.

"She said she was going to visit Prince Joseph today." Inoue told them.

"Oh yeah, didn't she say he fell into a coma during the end of the battle at Narita? I wonder if we're responsible for that?" Minami asked a bit guiltily.

"I doubt it, moron probably hit his head one too many times. Hey, at least we don't have to worry about him butting into our business now!" Tamaki cheered.

"I don't know, it seems to me that unless you provoke him, he's pretty harmless. Besides, he did get the Viceroy to almost surrender to us." Sugiyama reasoned.

"Oh please, we could have taken her down easily if we wanted to." Tamaki argued.

"Don't you mean Kallen could have taken her down?" Inoue emphasized with a cheeky smile.

"Whatever!" Tamaki said as he rolled his eyes. He then noticed Ohgi who was deep in thought. "Yo, Ohgi. You okay?" He asked.

"The J.L.F. warship…" Ohgi spoke up, sounding conflicted. "Why did it blow up?" He asked, surprising the group.

"What do you mean? It self-destructed." Tamaki argued.

"We did contact them and say we would help, right?" Ohgi reasoned.

"You're not doubting Zero again, are you? That's why he took action. They wanted to see his face!" Tamaki argued.

"Well, it's just that-"

"Yes, it's just that the timing was too convenient, right? So what are you going to do, if you find out Zero was behind it?" Diethard said in a sly manner.

"What are you trying to say Diethard?! I heard you got wussy and ran away! A gutless Brit's got a lot of cojones talking trash to his superiors like that!" Tamaki said angrily.

"I was merely making an assessment, that's my new job here. Ohgi, you agreed to it, too, didn't you?" Diethard asked.

"Ah, that's right. And Zero did approve it." Ohgi said, deciding not to push the subject.

...

Subway Train

"Tell you what, if you do a handstand for the next hour, I'll consider letting her go." Mao teased over the phone, pissing off Lelouch to no end.

"He anticipated this. He wants to me to squirm." Lelouch thought angrily.

He brought his phone down, Mao may still be able to hear them but no reason he had to listen to his aggravating, self-indulging comments.

"From what you're telling me, Mao's geass lets him get right in the someone's head and hear what they are thinking and planning. I've got that right, don't I?" Lelouch deduced.

"Yes, the way Geass manifests is different for each person. If Mao concentrates, he can hear thoughts up to 500 meters away and he can read clear down to your subconscious if he wants to. For someone like you, who fights with his head, he's the worst possible enemy." C.C. told him.

"500 meters… Well it doesn't really come as a surprise to me. I knew there must be others who have the power of Geass. Did you make a contract with him?" Lelouch asked.

"11 years ago." C.C. told him blankly.

"So he's my predecessor. Is there some reason that this forerunner is also my enemy?" Lelouch asked angrily.

"Mao's after me. He may be your enemy, but he's not targeting you." C.C. reasoned.

"Really? Is that why he went after Shirley in my stead? He could have reveal my true identity and told the police or the military who I am but instead my friend's life is on the line! Why didn't you tell me of his existence!?" Lelouch shouted in anger and frustration.

"He wasn't relevant until now. I didn't think I would see him again." C.C. said, keeping her cool.

"Hey! I miss talking to you! Pick back up!" Mao yelled over the phone, Lelouch did what he said begrudgingly. "You're not being mean to my C.C. are you? If so, your date might just have a little accident before you get here." Mao said with threatening sweetness as the sound of a gun clicking could be heard.

"You!" Lelouch said with gritted teeth, wish he had this man in his grasp right now to teach him a lesson.

"Put me on speaker." C.C. told him quickly.

Lelouch was surprised but did what she said.

"Mao, it's me." C.C. said.

"Ah, C.C. You really are the best there is!" Mao said happily.

"Mao, please stop this. You have no reason to involve them in our affairs." C.C. bargained.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, my dear. This boy committed a heinous crime by stealing you from me and he has to pay the price! I'm a prince on a white stallion, and a prince has to rescue the princess. Doesn't that make you happy, C.C.?" Mao asked excitedly.

"Mao, we talked about this before. I told you that you and I-" C.C. tried to say before being interrupted by Mao.

"Those were all lies. Lies! C.C., you love me! And I'll prove that we were meant to be together when I slay the demon that kidnapped you, just like a fairytale story. What a quandary! What a quagmire! What a crunch!" Mao said with crazy enthusiasm.

C.C. looked down with pity. Lelouch was just thinking.

"If Mao can read my mind, then he'll already know my weak points and that's where he'll strike." Lelouch thought to himself, trying to devise a plan.

...

Viceroy Palace

The Student Council waited at the entrance of the Viceroy Palace, as a guard just got off the phone.

"The Viceroy and Sub-Viceroy will be down here to greet you momentarily." The guard told them.

"Thank you." Suzaku said with a smile.

"Man, I never thought I would actually get to go inside the Viceroy's Palace. Talk about eye-catching." Rivalz said in awe.

"Do you think the Princesses will look lowly at us, Milly?" Nina asked in quiet nervousness.

"Well, while I can't speak for Princess Cornelia, I knew Princess Euphemia back then, and I can say she's a very kind, social person. You don't have to worry." Milly told her in reassurance, which calmed Nina down a bit.

"Too bad Lelouch, Nunnally, and Shirley couldn't be here today. Oh well, we'll tell them all about it when we get back." Rivalz said.

"Yeah, about that. Would it be possible you guys could keep them out of the conversation around the princesses?" Suzaku asked awkwardly.

This confused the group, except Milly.

"Um...why?" Kallen asked, not sure what to make of that.

"Because, I'm sure they have their own stories to tell about Joseph and it would be rude to talk about them when they're not even in the same room. Plus, it's always fun to see Lelouch and Shirley squeal whenever a relationship is brought up between the two." Milly reasoned.

"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense." Rivalz said. Nina nodded as well.

Kallen, however, wasn't entirely convinced. And would have pushed more if the guard hadn't spoken up.

"Announcing their Majesties! Princess Cornelia Li Britannia and Princess Euphemia Li Britannia!" The guard yelled as he stood straight, as did the Student Council.

The sisters came forward to the group. Euphemia had a small smile on her face with her hands grasp below her waist while Cornelia had a stern look on with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Your highnesses!" The group said with a formal bow, though Kallen did so with some trepidation.

In their conversations, Kallen always heard Joseph say wonderful things about his sisters, Euphemia especially. And based on appearances, she looked friendly enough, so she was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

When it came to Cornelia on the other hand, she had to resist socking her right then and there. Especially considering that she's had to deal with her in battle a couple of times now. But she wasn't here for that, she was here for Joseph.

"Please, raise your heads. There's no need for formalities when it comes to Joseph's friends." Euphemia assured them kindly.

"So you're the people my brother keeps running off too." Cornelia said with scrutinizing eye.

"Uh, y-yes your highness. I'm Nina Einstein" Nina said nervously as they rose back up.

"Rivalz Cardemonde." Rivalz waved awkwardly.

"Kallen Stadtfeld." Kallen said in her sickly tone.

Cornelia eyed them for a second.

"Milllicent, it's good to see you. How's Reuben?" Cornelia asked politely.

"It's good to see you as well, Cornelia. Grandfather is doing quite well, he sends his regards." Milly told her in a friendly but polite tone.

"Well then, how about we go inside and see Joseph." Euphemia told them cheerfully.

"Hold on, Sub-Viceroy. Before we go, I want to know just exactly what your intentions are." Cornelia told the group sternly, surprising them.

"I don't understand?" Milly couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"Millicent, I know that you were childhood friends with Joseph back in Pendragon and I'm grateful that you welcomed him back with open arms. But there is also the fact that your family lost their noble rank when Lady Marianne perished. For all I know you and your friends are just using his mental status as a way to gain points in with the royal family." Cornelia accused harshly.

"Cornelia!" Euphemia exclaimed angrily, she was afraid she would do this.

Kallen's fury really started to rise at that accusation. How dare this woman think of her as such! She wasn't her bitch of a step-mother! She probably would have broken character if Milly hadn't spoken up.

"I understand why you would think that way. If he was my brother, I probably would feel the same too. But please know that I'm not, nor none of my friends, are like that. We care about him and like him for who he is." Milly told her in an understanding tone.

"Yeah, we love his taste in music. And he's been teaching us some of the coolest dance moves!" Rivalz added as he showed off an awkward attempt of the moonwalk that Joseph showed him. Making Euphemia giggle and Cornelia roll her eyes.

"He's been very kind as well, he never looks down on us, always as an equal. I honestly never would have expected that." Nina said with small blush.

"Look, we've seen his scars, we know he's been through a lot. Please, we just want to make sure he's okay." Kallen chimed in as well.

Cornelia took a second to think about this and then she looked at her sister, who had a pleading look on her face.

"(Sighs) Very well, I suppose I should be happy my brother has conjured up a group of people who seem to genuinely care for him. Come along." Cornelia told them as she gestured them to follow her.

"Oh right!" Rivalz cheered as he went to catch up with her.

Nina was beaming, and actually sweating a bit as well.

...

Viceroy Palace

Medical Facility

When the Student Council finally laid eyes on Joseph's sleeping form, where the heart monitor next to him was giving off a beep every couple of seconds with fluids being pumped into his veins, the words seem to have left their mouths and they couldn't find anything to say after. They just stood there in silence, and looked in both surprise and sorrow.

"Is everything alright?" Euphemia asked.

"Yes, sorry. We just didn't expect him to look so..." Milly started quietly, not sure how to end it.

"...vulnerable?" Cornelia finished for her.

The group nodded.

"It's a rare look honestly, one I haven't seen from him in a long time." Cornelia said quietly. Euphemia had her eyes down, knowing exactly what she talking about.

"...Is-is it okay if we got closer?" Nina asked nervously.

"Of course, don't be afraid to interact with him. I wouldn't be surprised if a part of him is hearing this conversation." Euphemia said optimistically.

"Really? What makes you say that?" Kallen asked.

"Well, while I can't reveal too much. Let's just say we learned some things the other day, and it made Cornelia glow like I never seen her before." Euphemia said happily.

"Euphemia..." Cornelia said embarrassingly as her cheeks turned red.

Kallen was the first to approach Joseph's sleeping form.

"H-Hey, Joseph...it's good to see you." Kallen said in awkward quietness.

"It's okay, Ms. Stadtfeld. He's already survived through hell and back." Cornelia said with a small, reassuring smile. Remembering those words from Lady Rebecca when she first introduced him to her.

Kallen nodded, actually feeling a bit better

Nina came up next, hands against her mouth and tears starting to sprout from her eyes.

"Your highness..." Nina said in a small voice. She then felt a hand gently grasp her shoulder and saw it was Euphemia.

"You must really care for him." Euphemia stated with a sad smile, Nina nodded.

"He saved our lives that night. I'm forever grateful to him." Nina said tearfully.

"Well hey, whoever said this was suppose to be downer visit. I say we liven things up with a bit of his music!" Rivalz said, wanting to put the group back in good spirits.

"I couldn't agree more!" Milly said happily.

Euphemia smiled happily as well as she reached over to Joseph's walkman and pushed the play button.

...

Shinjuku Ghettos

"You're getting closer. Just a few minutes and our game can begin." Mao said with excitement over the phone on speaker.

The area they were in was nearly abandoned due to the massacre that happened with Clovis, the massacre that started Lelouch's journey as Zero.

"Does he have any weaknesses?" Lelouch asked quietly.

"He can't turn his power off. In a crowd he hears all the minds rolling and writhing around him, whether he wants to or not." C.C. told him.

"I see, so he specifically chose an area that wouldn't disrupt his mind. This will make it harder to beat him." Lelouch thought to himself.

"It will indeed. But that just makes it all the more fun won't it?" Mao teased.

This surprised Lelouch. If he knew what he was thinking, then they must have been close.

"Right again! In fact, our meeting place will be very familiar to you both." Mao said excitedly.

When Lelouch and C.C. turned a corner, their eyes widen in surprise as they recognized what it was that Mao was talking about.

It was the abandoned warehouse where Lelouch gained his Geass from C.C.

The moment when he became Zero.

"Yes, that's right! This is the same place where you stole C.C. from me!" Mao yelled out in anger. "But please do come in. Shirley has been waiting anxiously for your arrival." Mao mocked as he hung up.

Lelouch gritted his teeth in anger as they entered the open hole that was there, where he finally laid his eyes on the kidnapper.

He looked to be around the same age as Lelouch, except maybe a year or two older, he had grayish hair with a pale skin complexion. He was dressed in a white robe of some sort with a visor on, covering his eyes, likely to protect him from Lelouch's geass. Lelouch however could see the faint redness in his eyes, indicating that his Geass couldn't turn off as C.C. said. In his hand was a gun, and to complete his look was a shit-eating smirk that was begging to be smacked off.

Behind him, he could see a frightened Shirley who was tied up and gagged. She had her school uniform on, indicating that she was on her way to school when she was kidnapped. She looked at Lelouch with tears in her eyes and tried to say his name under the gag.

"Shirley!" Lelouch said, both in relief and fear.

"Well, if it isn't Casanova! I'm glad you can both make it. Especially you C.C., your mind is so quiet. It's the only one I can't read." Mao said happily.

C.C. stepped in front of Lelouch.

"Mao, I-"

*BANG*

C.C. never got to finish her sentence as she shot in the head by Mao. Shirley let out a muffled scream as she just witness a "murder" right in front of her.

As shocked as Lelouch was, he managed to catching her limp form before it hit the ground.

"C.C.!" Lelouch yelled.

"Please forgive me C.C. But I can't have you give this thief an unfair advantage because of your gift. I'm sorry, so sorry!" Mao frantically said apologetically.

"DAMN YOU!" Lelouch said with hatred.

"There's that temper again. We don't want the game to end this early do we?" Mao asked in a mocking way as he turned the gun to Shirley, who was crying her eyes out.

Seeing he had to no choice, he put C.C. down and stood back up.

"Well I'm here, what game are you hoping for?" Lelouch asked in a calm manner.

Mao smirked at this and stepped to the side, revealing a chess board and its pieces on it.

"You specialize in this, don't you?" Mao asked him knowingly, making Lelouch glare at him.

"So that's it huh?" Lelouch asked angrily.

"Mind you, I never played the game before, so this should be interesting to say the least. Here's my wager, you win and I'll let you and your lover go. Simple right?" Mao asked teasingly.

"And if I lose?" Lelouch asked with menace.

"I think we all know the answer to that." Mao said with a sneer. Lelouch made his way to the chess board.

"Black's your color, right? I'll let you go first since you're the expert." Mao said mockingly, making Lelouch even angrier.

"Your mind is twisted. No wonder C.C. left you." Lelouch said bitterly, as he made his first move.

"Provoking me won't work. I can read your thought, so I know what you're trying to do. I'm afraid you're not the type of person who can keep your mind empty. There's the part of you that's a critic, constantly watching your own moves… and there's another part that's an observer watching the critic — watching you. You're that kind of person. But I know all your thoughts, so I'm always a step ahead." Mao said with an evil smirk.

"Damn it! With his ability, he'll predict all my moves. But I have to try, I must win, for Shirley!" Lelouch thought in determination.

...

Some time later into them game, it was obvious that odds were not in Lelouch's favor. So he tried to think of ways to use his mind to his advantage.

"Bravo! Your plan is to think of seven things at once to confuse me and trip me up! But you see, if I focus my Geass directly on you, it's easy to tell which one is your true thought." Mao said slyly as he made a move that took away Lelouch's bishop.

"What do I do? I'm out of strategies. I can't call for backup as long as Shirley is being held hostage." Lelouch thought nervously and fearfully.

"It's seems your last plan is failing. But I guess it can be expected when it's not the first time you've miscalculated." Mao teased, Lelouch was curious what he was talking about. "After all, when you're a leader, you often have to ask yourself, 'Is that the right move?', 'Are you sure you wanna do that?' And the wrong answer can have the worst consequences." Mao lectured with a sneer.

Lelouch eyes tighten in anger.

"Tell me, did any of this occur to you when you started that mudslide and destroyed that town back in Narita?" Mao asked wholeheartedly.

Shirley's eyes widen at this revelation.

"Oh, didn't he tell you? Your 'Lulu' is the reason your father almost perished that day and it took his retarded brother to save him." Mao mocked.

"Stop it, Mao." Lelouch said quietly

"What? It's true isn't it? Because of your pride and arrogance, you made so many families mourn for their loved ones." Mao teased.

"Please stop. Isn't this enough?" Lelouch said, a bit louder.

"Tell her, Lelouch! Tell her how it's because of you, because you're Zero, that she almost lost her father! And she would have to if the dimwit hadn't shown up!" Mao cheered.

"STOP IT!" Lelouch cried out, he was shaking in anger, but also sadness.

He looked at Shirley with a cloud over his head.

"I'm so sorry Shirley. I never meant for you to get involved in any of this." Lelouch said with sorrow, ashamed of himself and full of regret.

Shirley just looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Aaah, how sweet, how romantic. And how does she respond?" Mao said cheerfully as he removed her gag.

"Lulu...it's okay...I know you're not a bad person...I forgive you..." Shirley said tearfully.

"(Sighs fondly) She really is an angel." Mao mocked.

"Mao...I admit it…you have beaten me." Lelouch said quietly.

"Huh?" Mao spoke up in surprise.

"You've gotten everything you wanted! Let Shirley go! Please!" Lelouch practically begged.

"Very well said! You're finally speaking the thoughts from the deepest part of your soul, huh? That feels great! Fantastic!" Mao cheered. "...But no. This is checkmate." Mao concluded as he moved his pawn to take out Lelouch's king.

Lelouch's eyes widen in fear.

"Take gratitude in the fact that you two got a moment together." Mao said evilly as he aimed his gun at Shirley's head.

"NO!" Lelouch yelled.

He would have pulled the trigger if he hadn't heard Shirley shocked thoughts. Instead he turned and shot a revived C.C., whose head was still bleeding from the gunshot wound, in the kneecap. Making her fall to her knee and grunt in pain.

"Y-You're...h-how..." Shirley stuttered, not believing what she was seeing.

"Why must you make me hurt you, C.C.!? It hurts me to see you hurt!" Mao cried.

"Mao, please, stop this! I'm not worth it, I left you alone and betrayed you!" C.C. told him sadly, a tone that Lelouch never thought he would hear from her.

It's alright C.C., I know you didn't mean it, you're the only one! The only one I want forever. Lelouch doesn't matter at all. If you just come with me." Mao said excitedly.

"You're wrong! I was just using you right from the start!" C.C told him furiously. Mao was confused now.

"What are you saying? You shouldn't tell lies like that. You really shouldn't." Mao said frantically as he shot her in the kneecap. "Lies are very very wicked. Wicked lies!" He said wickedly as he shot her in all her joints so she was deemed immobile.

"Stop it!" Shirley shouted, shocked this man was torturing this woman.

"Mao!" Lelouch shouted, running towards him. Hoping to do something.

Only to get whacked in the face by the gun, he landed on the ground and received a hard kick to the stomach.

"Lulu!" Shirley cried out.

"You both really care for this boy, don't you? He's the problem! Once I get rid of him, we can be together forever!" Mao said ecstatically as he aimed for Lelouch.

"No!" Shirley cried, trying to get out of her restraints.

"Is this your revenge? You're punishing me?" C.C. said with fear, for the first time in a long time.

"Oh, no, I'm not. I'm not, I'm not! I'M NOT AT ALL!" He yelled with a crazed smile as he planted his foot on Lelouch's back. "I'm showing you my gratitude." He said sweetly as he cocked his gun, ready to fire.

"Forgive me, Shirley, C.C., Nunnally, I tried." Lelouch thought with regret.

"LELOUCH!" Shirley shouted with tears.

*CRASH*

The wall to their right suddenly burst into pieces! Leaving a large hole in its place. As if a cannon just fired upon it.

This shocked everyone, including C.C. and making them turn to see what caused it.

When the dust settled, they saw a man.

A man with a trimmed beard, short reddish-brown hair, a bandage around his head, scars on his chest, barefoot, wearing sweatpants with a 1986 walkman clipped to it as well as a long black overcoat with patches around it and a furious look in his eyes to finish.

"JOSEPH!?" Lelouch, Shirley, and even C.C.(though with less volume in her voice) said with shock and confusion.

Joseph had his eyes focused on Mao, who was just as shocked and confused as the rest, and he could see the dimwit was NOT in a happy mood.

"Away from them, yooooooou Bitch..." Joseph in a very unhappy tone.

...

To Be Continued.

Dun, Da-Dun, Dun-DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Joseph is back and to the rescue! How did he get out of his coma? How did he know what was going on with between Lelouch and Mao? Just what will Mao face when dealing with the wrath of Joseph's anger?! All will be revealed next time on The Many Adventures of The Dimwitted Prince! In all seriousness though, I had some trouble writing this chapter this time around due to my own disliking of the arc, but I hope you guys liked it and hope you tune in for more next time. Tell me what you think and see you next time.