"I suppose that it is a bit ironic," Ishi agreed and sat in one of the unoccupied chairs, tossing her head back and closing her eyes, feeling the breeze flow around her loose hair.

"It's almost as if I can see and feel her sitting right here with us." Lelouch closed his eyes.

"Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if she was still here..."

Ishi opened her eyes and tenderly brushing one of his hands with her own. "You would be happier, for one, and no one would be hunting you down for being a hybrid..."

"I guess so. Maybe I would be happier with her here but..." Lelouch then grasped Ishi's hand in his so their fingers were interlocked. "That's not to say I am not happy now."

Ishi gave him a warm smile and rested her head upon him, sighing in contentment. "I'm glad..."

Suddenly, an explosion sound came from inside the mansion. "What the hell was that?!"

Lelouch smelled something in the air. "No.....it can't be.....that's impossible..." He quickly turned around and ran back to the house.

"What on earth...?!" Something happened, something bad.

Ishi's nostrils picked up the scent of burning wreckage and almost immediately she felt a premonition. She took off after Lelouch, hoping that whatever had happened in the mansion was not as bad as she felt it was.

Lelouch broke down the back door of the mansion, ignoring the shards of wood that were impaled into his arm. As he ran down the halls towards the main entrance, the bodies of the clones of his family were strewn everywhere. 'It's just not possible. There is no way this can be happening...'

He arrived in the main lobby to meet the intruders that have caused all the chaos. The one standing in the middle of the group turned around to meet eyes with Lelouch. "Well, well, well. Look who we have here."

Lelouch bared his fangs and let out a low growl. "Who are you? Why have you come here?"

"Is that any way to greet members of your own species?"

"Yes, now...is it?" The others spoke up in unison, eyes glimmering with sick anxiety as they looked at Lelouch, crescent moon smirks visible on every single face.

Ishi was standing outside of the entrance, back against the wall and listening intently to the conversation inside. 'Man, these guys sound annoying so far,' she thought and strained her ears to catch the next words.

Lelouch didn't know what to think. "No... it's not possible.... you're lying!" Lelouch's mind was in a scramble, his arms and legs were shaking, and yet he was filled with rage.

Lelouch suddenly heard the sound of footsteps running down the hall next to him. After a few short seconds, Farid was standing with his lab coat still on. As soon as he laid eyes on the figures standing in the lobby, his face became pale and frightened. "...H-H-Hara......L-L-Laya.....what are you doing here?"

The one that Farid called Hara turned to face him. "Hello there, Farid. Long time no see. Seems that you have been taking good care of my son. A little skinny but otherwise in good shape."

"Now, now Laya, I think your son is still a shaken so I don't think you are helping." said Hara in a casual manner as if nothing was happening. "Hmph. I suppose so. Just so glad to be able to see him again after so many decades. But honestly Farid, you should feed our boy more. He is slimming away."

Farid just looked back at them as if he was talking with old friends. "Well it's not like I didn't try at first before he turned into a rebel just like his father. Now would you mind why you had to make such a big mess of my house when you could just have easily knocked on the door? It's not like you aren't allowed in here."

"Yeah but I figured this way would be more entertaining. Oh, Farid, it seems like you have a guest. Come on out child, we won't hurt you."

'Crap. Why does this always happen to me...?' Ishi mentally complained as she suddenly felt someone grab her by the back of her jacket and drag her into the mansion, soon finding herself nose to nose with the one she believed to be called Hara. "Umm...hi there." Ishi waved sheepishly and wriggled in her holder's grasp.

Laya continued to caress Lelouch's face, taking in the face she had not seen for so long. His eyes now appeared to become glazed over as she stared into them with her own emerald ones.

"Look at this, Laya. Seems like our little Lelouch has found himself a girlfriend." At that, Laya immediately drew her sight straight towards Ishi. "Does he now? Well, then that means I will need to make sure she is good enough for my little Lelouch." Laya walked over to Ishi and stared her right in the eye.

'Your little Lelouch? You guys don't even look anything alike,' Ishi thought as she glared back at Laya, eyes briefly flashing luminescent as she stared the female werepyre down.

Laya just stared back into the fiery eyes of the Kobaneoh. "She sure has the fighting spirit in her, and by the looks of her hands and body she sure has seen her fair share of battle." Laya turned back and walked towards Lelouch to whisper in his ear, "I approve~" then she glided back to Hara's side.

Farid spoke out next, "So, Laya and Hara, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Hara answered with an unwavering voice, "We are here to take Lelouch back to where he was born."