Farid was once again showing the shocked look on his face. Lelouch's smile grew wider. "That's right, Farid. I know the secret. I found out as soon as I walked in the door. 'Why would he just let us walk through? Why would he have to hide from me?' You just made it painfully obvious.

I know you can't make them last more than 72 hours before you have to make another one. I also know that you know how to cure the diseased blood that runs through my veins. The ironic part is that you need my blood to make the clones last forever and I need your clone serum to keep my blood from destroying itself. So how about we make an agreement? You sharpen my fangs and I will sharpen yours?"

"How can I be sure that you will follow through with your end of the bargain?"

"In the event that that happens...." Lelouch took one last look at Ishi. "If that happens, you can kill me."

"I just hope you know what you're doing," Ishi whispered to Lelouch, finding his hand with her own and grasping it tightly.

Lelouch looked back at Ishi. "Me too."

~

Ishi paced nervously around the area outside the door, feeling too queasy to walk inside fearing that she would suddenly throw up and disrupt Farid from whatever he was doing and making a mistake and ending Lelouch's life. And that was the last thing she wanted to happen. She would walk in eventually...when her stomach calmed down from all of the anxiety and nervousness.

'Oh man...I just hope that Farid is keeping his side of the bargain...'

Lelouch stayed strapped to the table for what seemed like hours as Farid performed experiment upon experiment using his blood. He had no idea how much blood he had lost already but as long as the pay off is worth it, he didn't care about the cost. "What more do you need, Farid? I find it hard to believe that you still haven't found out what you need."

Farid didn't even bother to look at Lelouch. "You don't know how complicated this is do you? It's not as easy as just mixing your blood in. I need to isolate the protein in your blood that is specific to your kind. It's a trial and error process that takes time."

"Well, could you at least try to speed it up just a tad bit?" Ishi said finally walking in, still a bit queasy though not as much as before.

Farid gave Ishi a firm grunt of annoyance. "I already told you, you can't speed these kind of stuff up. If I even miss or skip one crucial step then the whole batch is useless and I doubt you want me use more of your precious boyfriend's blood than I need to right?"

Lelouch lifted his head so he could see Ishi. "Take his word for it Ishi. Besides, I don't know how long I can hold out so I am trying to end this soon." He looked over at his right arm that had what seemed like thousands of puncture wounds from the needles Farid used to draw out his blood. The scars were building up and puss and blood stained his flesh.

Color rushed to Ishi's cheeks as she prepared to lecture Farid on who knows what, but stopped when Lelouch spoke his words. Instead she looked at his arm; judging by the marks there she would have to use some of her healing magic to clear those right up.

'Is a Crimson Crest even worth losing Lelouch's life? I don't even want to be a part of the Watchmen...' Ishi pondered, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms just watching Farid work. 'All of this for a clone serum that keeps clones alive forever. Wait...clones...'

"I think I want to make a change to our deal, Farid..." The Kobaneoh said as she gazed into Farid's eyes with her own silvery ones.

Farid just looked back at her. "Well that depends on what it is exactly you want to change." Farid had a syringe already inserted into the werepyre and just held it there while conversing with Ishi. Lelouch looked up at the Kobaneoh. "You really couldn't have stopped him later. I mean come on, there is a freaking needle in my arm. OWW! Don't wiggle it around, that hurts." Lelouch yelled at his father.

"Actually this is more of a request than a change," Ishi corrected herself as she pulled out tiny burlap sack from her holster, opening it and revealing a lock of pure white hair. "You can keep your Crimson Crest as long as you finish what you need to do with Lelouch and ensure that he remains alive, but only if you do me the favor of creating a clone from this hair here--hair that came from my friend that Acelin decided to dispose of."

Farid had almost a look of shock on his face from Ishi's request. "You would rather trade in vast amounts of power for a simple sentimental feeling for a friend? Well, if that is your choice then I have no right to change your mind." As soon as he was done he leans in and whispers into Lelouch's ear. "You have quite the...interesting friend there." Lelouch laughs to himself. "Try living with her." He didn't mean that in a bad way, he just felt that maybe he and his father were finally coming to terms with what has ripped them apart for so many years.

Ishi smiled to herself as she saw father and son smile at one another, getting along for once even if it was a small moment. "Thank you," she replied, smiling and holding the pouch tightly.

Farid tried to make it seem like he wasn't chuckling at Lelouch's comment but he couldn't help it. He was actually laughing with his son, for the first time since....... well, EVER. He had never really connected with his son before since he ran away at such a young age. Maybe now was a time to start getting to know his own flesh and blood. "Well, Lelouch.....what....you know...what have you been up to these past few years?" Farid was nervous about this.

Lelouch was slightly surprised to see his father take such interest in him after all this time but he wasn't going to complain. "Not much. Surviving I guess. Been roaming around with Ishi from quite some time. Ran into her several years ago and ever since then I have been by her side."

Farid nodded to show he was listening. "I see. That's quite a long time to be with someone as free spirited as you." Farid gave a small chuckle. "You never did like hanging around one area too long which kind of made it hard for people to get close. But it seems you are doing well for yourself, Lelouch. I........I am......proud of you." Farid lowered his head and went back to the table to try another experiment.

Lelouch just laid back with a small smile on his face.

"With a son like him, I find it impossible not to be proud of him," Ishi added as she warmly pressed her forehead against Lelouch's, pecking his nose in a soft brush of the lips.

"Well, let's just say that if takes ANYTHING after his father, that will be enough for me. Haha." Farid was actually enjoying talking to them. He couldn't understand it but whatever it was, it was better than shedding more blood for unnecessary reasons. Of course that doesn't mean he can replace the past. He has sinned against Lelouch by taking what was most dear to him. He knew Lelouch would never forgive him for that but he was hoping that he could at least try to make up for it. "Almost done here. Just need a few more minutes. Seems I have found the hidden gene in your blood. Now I just need to find a way to fit it in with my formula."

"I'm sure you will be able to find it," Ishi said, turning back to Lelouch. "How are you hanging there, Lelo?"

Lelouch flexed his arms and legs to make sure they were still working. "Not too bad apparently. Seems like you didn't need too much of it, Farid. Since you are almost done mind if I hop down from the table?"

Farid turned back to Lelouch. "Oh, my apologies. I forgot that you were tied down. Ishi, would you mind untying him? My hands are full." Farid turned back to his table.

"Sure," the Kobaneoh said as she moved to work on the restraints, making sure Farid was keeping his attention to whatever he was doing at the lab table. Very sneakily she slipped her hand into Lelouch's trench and ever so gently started tickling his sides.