2010-08-09 18:09![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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code_geass
inulovinkit.livejournal.com in code_geassHoly shit, I finished it? O:
Rating: R this chapter (Suzaku and Lelouch's curse a lot in here, don't they?)
Pairing: LelouchxC.C., (implied) Suzalulu, SuzakuxEuphemia, and SuzakuxKallen.
Summary: So, what would have happened if Suzaku had received the Geass in Stage 1 instead of Lelouch?
Chapter archive here.
“It’s been over a month since Lelouch was crowned emperor. And still, nothing.” Ougi turned back to Kallen. “You were wrong; he’s done nothing to help Japan. He’s only done more to increase his own power!”
“But he hasn’t attacked Japan, either!” she pointed out. “He hasn’t done anything—”
“But that’s the point! He could still be selling our secrets to the Britannian army! They could be preparing a counterattack as we speak! They could—!”
“If so, then we’ll have enough troops to fight them off for a time,” Toudou pointed out.
“Fight them off for now. Depending on the size of the army they send, we could get slaughtered. And if the emperor decides for an all out assault on us—”
“Unfortunately,” A voice they all too well recognized spoke out, “the Emperor has no such plans. He still thinks he has friends in Japan.”
There was a clatter of guns being drawn as all turned and pointed them at him—Zero. “How did you get in here?” demanded Kallen, never lowering her gun.
Lelouch, what did you come back here for? It certainly wasn’t for her.
“The Emperor figured you wouldn’t have changed your access codes. You might want to do that soon.”
“The Emperor? Wait...who are you?” Now that she looked closer, she noticed that this Zero was slightly shorter than the previous one…and not as skinny.
Zero shrugged. “I’m not him. I just want to build a better world.”
“You think we’ll just accept that?” Kallen spat, shoving her gun against the smooth fiberglass mask. “Who are you?”
“You really want to know?” Zero snarled beneath his mask. And then, Zero reached up and removed it before them all.
“No…it can’t be…” some of the Black Knights stammered, as Suzaku Kururugi stood before them all.
Kallen was the most surprised. “Suzaku…why…”
Suzaku folded his arms, giving them all a harsh glare. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t fight for any country. I fight so I can kill Lelouch; that is all.”
“Lelouch…but…you were the Emperor’s knight!” Ougi accused. “You were there when he was crowned! So why—?”
“Why else? So I could gain his trust; learn how his security works. Unfortunately, he suspected and sent me away. But he doesn’t know about this. Hmph,” a sinister smile crept up on Suzaku’s face. “The Emperor who prides himself on being all-seeing never saw this coming.”
“And why would you want to kill him?” Kallen demanded, her gun still pointed at him. “Answer me, Kururugi!”
All noticed Suzaku’s hand form into a fist. “You know that Lelouch—as Zero—killed Euphemia. It’s true what she was doing was wrong, but…he shot her in cold blood. I can forgive the Black Knights for their actions on that day, but I can never forgive her killer. Since you people have a grudge against him as well, I believe we can come to an agreement.”
Ougi exchanged glances with Kallen—last time they entered into an agreement they all weren’t so lucky. “And what would be the terms of your ‘agreement’?”
“I’ll lead the Black Knights past Britannia security to the Emperor himself. But, I’ll be the one to kill him.”
“And after that?” demanded Kallen.
That smirk—so reminiscent of Lelouch, Kallen noticed—came up on Suzaku’s face again. “Well, we’ll see what happens.”
Ougi sighed, and thought a long moment. “Fine. But after you lead us to the emperor’s palace, we’ll decide what your role in our organization is.”
“I don’t care. Just as long as I can kill Lelouch.” Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said, picking up his mask, and leaving the room.
He was barely into the hallway when he noticed he was followed. “Wait!” Kallen called after him.
“What do you want?” demanded Suzaku. Last time they had met it wasn’t so friendly.
“Why are you here, Suzaku?”
He continued walking down the hallway, not in the mood for these questions now. “I already told you why. I don’t need to explain it again.”
“Yes, you do.” She crossed in front of him, standing in his way. Arms folded, she stated, “Back there at Kamenejima, I saw you and Lelouch leave together. If you really wanted to kill him, you would have killed him right there—you’re not one to wait and plan. If you want someone dead, you don’t wait a second.”
He pushed past her. “Unfortunately, I’ve changed.” Oh, here was Zero’s room all right—if it was still Zero’s room. Again the code that Lelouch provided worked perfectly—didn’t these people realize it was a security risk if your enemy knew all your access codes?
Again, Kallen followed him into the room. Suzaku wondered if Lelouch ever had to put up with this. Knowing her, probably. “And Lelouch? Has he changed too?”
Suzaku set the mask down, and let the cloak slip from his shoulders before looking her in the eye. “No, Lelouch…he is the same man that he ever was.”
Kallen glanced away for a brief moment. “The same…I see…”
Oh, looks like Lelouch was better with the ladies than he thought. And knowing him, he’d never have realized it too. Poor Kallen.
“Kallen,” this was the first time he had addressed her by name. “If things had worked out differently—would you have been the one to kill Lelouch?”
She seemed slightly surprised by his question, and again, her thoughts were betrayed by that subtle shift in her eyes. “If I had to…If he stood in the way of Japanese freedom, then I would.”
“You’ll kill him for your freedom…would you die for it, too?” Hell, even Suzaku knew that freedom was something worth dying for, yet…
Even though they were once rivals on the battlefield, each hoping that they would take the life of the other in each fight…he didn’t want her to die.
After Euphie…no one else should die.
“If I had to, I would die.” Kallen answered at once. “If I had to die for Japanese freedom, I would do it in a heartbeat. My brother died for it, so when it comes down to it, I don’t care.”
“You should care.” He reached up and in an instant, the contact was removed and the geass set loose. “You shouldn’t want to die so easily—you should want to live, and live at all costs. Live to see this new world.”
“Live…?” she repeated, as the geass fell upon her.
And then it faded, and her own curse was set.
He quickly replaced the contact ass her eyes faded back to normal. Kallen looked around, surprised. “What? Did I space out…?”
Suzaku sighed, “Perhaps you were thinking of your brother. Thinking of dead ones that were close to us can do that.”
“Oh…right.” Well, she didn’t suspect. For now.
She turned to go, but stopped before she reached the door. “Suzaku…” she asked, without turning back to him. “Lelouch said once that you wanted to die. Do you still—?”
“Yes.” Hmph, he was even telling the truth for once. What had that time in Britannia done to him? “But I have something I have to accomplish first.” Besides, why do you care? He desperately wanted to ask. Didn’t she want him dead not so long ago?
“You’re being a hypocrite again,” She glared back. “If you’re going to scold me for wanting to die, then don’t go on and say you want to die yourself! That’s one thing I’ll never be able to stand about you, Kururugi, and I don’t care who you think you are now, I’ll never respect you for it!”
She stormed off, leaving Suzaku to stare at the empty space where she left, wondering why he cared that she thought he was a hypocrite.
His only reason for living was dead. Wasn’t that enough to give up on life?
“Onii-sama? Where’s Suzaku?”
Lelouch smiled slightly as he glanced back at his sister. “He’s out on a mission. He’ll be back soon, I promise.”
Nunnally’s fingers clenched against the blanket covering her—Lelouch kept her to her room, claiming she still needed to recover, but she knew the real reason—he was hiding something from her. “I’m worried about Suzaku. After Euphie…”
Now that she could see, Lelouch didn’t dare let emotion show in his face. “Suzaku is strong. He knows that this mission is important. He won’t let it get to him.” He wouldn’t dare let it…not when this is finally his chance to die…
Nunnally’s fists tightened. They told her that Euphie had succumbed to an old injury, but the circumstances were kept secret. But if Euphie had been so injured, then how could she have visited Nunnally just a day before and seemed completely healthy?
She knew her brother had lied to her again. He lied to her about many things, but about Euphie…it was too much.
“Onii-sama…how did Euphie die?”
He paused for only a second. “I told you. She survived the incident at the Special Administrative Zone, but she was in a coma for a year and badly injured. She was able to wake up, but her injuries were—”
“Stop lying to me!” Nunnally screamed, causing the emperor to freeze in shock. “I know you lie to everyone else, but don’t lie to me! Not about this! Not about Euphie! She was our sister! Don’t you even care enough about her to at least tell me the truth?” Tears pooled and rolled down her cheeks. “I hate not knowing, when everyone else knows what’s going on. It’s always been like this, hasn’t it? But after I was taken prisoner, I listened. I learned. I know all about what happened a year ago, and I want to know what’s happening now.”
Glaring back at her shocked brother’s face, Nunnally wiped the tears from her eyes. “So if you love me at all, Onii-sama, tell me the truth. All of it.”
He couldn’t look her in the eye. She was right—he had lied to her from the very beginning. He had always lied to her. He thought it was better that way—she couldn’t be hurt by what she didn’t know.
But he was wrong. She was hurt. And maybe if he had been a little more truthful, she wouldn’t have had to suffer like she did for all those weeks…
He took a breath. Euphie had died because they couldn’t tell her the truth. He wouldn’t put Nunnally in the same danger as well.
“I’ll tell you what happened to Euphie,” he said at last, voice wavering. “I love you, Nunnally…I’ll tell you, I promise.”
“Right now,” she encouraged, putting her small hand on his.
“Right now.” He nodded. “But first, there’s something else that you should know.” He reached into his pocket. He didn’t know why he had taken to carrying it, but perhaps it was always meant for this. He pulled out a small, gold and white locket on a chain.
“Onii-sama?” she looked at it quizzically. “What is that?”
She opened it, and inside there was a tiny picture of Marianne vi Britannia. “Mother?”
“That locket belonged to someone. Now I’m giving it to you.”
“Who did it belong to?”
Even still, he hesitated. “Your twin brother.”
“People of Japan! The Emperor has betrayed us! He promised us our freedom! He promised Britannia would withdraw and never take another step on our shores! He lied! He lied just as all the other emperors lied! He promised a new beginning, and instead gave us the same drivel that every other Britannian has promised! We must rise! The armies of Britannia are rebelling against their unworthy emperor! Now is the time! Now we must fight for our freedom! Join me! Zero will make miracles once again!”
“You’re almost as good as Lelouch,” Kallen rolled her eyes, as Suzaku came back to his room, removing the faceless mask.
“I spent a whole year studying Zero’s tactics. It’s not so hard to ham it up.” Suzaku shrugged. “Though since you all had the sense not to tell all of Area 11 that Zero betrayed them, it’s easy to get the Japanese on Zero’s side again.”
“You don’t sound excited.” Kallen muttered.
“Why would I be excited?”
“When Lelouch began the rebellion, every time he rallied the people, he was overjoyed. More support meant more of the chance of success. You just look at it with the same look of indifference. Like you don’t actually care. Like it’s all part of a plan.”
Lelouch had taught him well enough about quick excuses. “It is part a plan. Part of my plan to overthrow Lelouch.”
“I wonder…” Her eyes narrowed. “You say you hate Lelouch, but your heart is not in it. If you really wanted to kill him, you’d be more excited about your plan coming along. Instead, you act like you just don’t care.” She continued to gaze at him carefully. “What’s in it for you, then, if this plan succeeds? Lelouch dies, then what? You plan to mope about for the rest of your life?”
He clenched his teeth. “What I do is none of your business—”
“It is if you’re planning to betray us.” Her hand reached for the gun in the holster. “I’ve learned since Lelouch left us. I can smell a trap. And if you think for one second, Kururugi, that I’m just going to buy all this bullshit you’re spewing, then you’ve got another thing coming—”
“Good for you, you finally learned to open your eyes, huh?” He snarled. “Glad to know that even you can come to your senses when someone hits you hard enough.”
The gun was pointed up in his face. He only glared back in response. “Give me a reason, Kururugi, I dare you.”
“You’d try to kill me, knowing that I have been geassed to live? Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought, Kozuki—”
Whatever Kallen was about to shout was cut off as a knock came at the door. Both yelled, “What?” without even moving from their positions—neither was going to give the other an opportunity to strike.
“Um…” Oops. Sounds like Ougi heard them. Honestly, neither of them cared. “Forgive me, Zero, but there is an urgent matter—”
“Are we being attacked?” Suzaku snapped. That was the only reason he’d be willing to end this fight here.
“No, but…well,..we have visitors and—”
“Visitors?” With one last glare, Suzaku looked away from Kallen and grabbed Zero’s mask. Kallen was forced to put the gun away and resume the…argument at a later time.
When Zero opened his door, a gun pointed in his face.
He didn’t even blink. He was getting used to that sort of greeting.
But Kallen reacted. “Hey, Ougi, what—?”
“I said no guns!” Ougi yelled, but no one heard him. Zero took a step back as Viletta Nu, still holding the weapon, entered the room.
“Britannians!” Kallen yelled. “Why are they here?”
“Oh relax, girl, there’s only two of us. Think of us as goodwill ambassadors.”
“Goodwill?” Zero said, eyeing the gun.
“Yes, goodwill.” Viletta said, never lowering her weapon. “Don’t worry—we came here alone. Your knights already searched us for bugs or weapons. We report to no one.”
“Searched you for weapons, did they?” Kallen gave a scowl.
“Well, some of your knights aren’t so good about keeping their weapons to themselves.” She finally lowered the gun. “Now, shall we talk?”
“Talk about what?” Lelouch warned him this might happen, but he didn’t imagine it would be her.
“The Black Knights seek to unseat the current Emperor of Britannia, don’t they? Right now, we share the same objective.”
“Do we?” Kallen glared. “Somehow I doubt that.”
Viletta rolled her eyes. “Most of the Britannian army does not recognize Lelouch vi Britannia as their emperor. They’d prefer to have the crown prince, Schniezel, on the throne. If we work together, I think we can all accomplish the same objective.”
Suzaku was glad Zero’s mask hid his smirk—yes, it was exactly as Lelouch had predicted. “Interesting.”
“Zero!” Kallen glared back. “These are Britannians! You cannot trust them!”
“But taking on only a small part of the Britannian military is more preferable to taking on the entire military, is it not?” Oh yes, exactly as planned.
“But they are—”
“Don’t worry, Kallen, we will have terms.” Hmph. Did she think he would trust Britannians so easily? “The Black Knights and the rogue Britannians will work on separate missions. I do not think the Japanese would so easily trust you all as I will. After the work is finished, Britannian influence must leave Japan, and never return. Also—while you seek to unseat the Emperor, I must be the one to kill him.”
“I thought as much.” Viletta said. “But we have terms as well.”
Another figure entered the room, and even Suzaku couldn’t hide his small gasp—it was Gino.
He couldn’t help but feel small regret down in his heart. He had always felt Gino was annoying, but back there at the castle, he didn’t deserve those things said to him. Gino thought he was his friend. He didn’t deserve to be cast aside.
Wasn’t that what Lelouch had said to him about his brother, after it was all too late? He didn’t want it to be too late with Gino.
But he was afraid it probably already was.
“And you are here for?” Kallen asked, looking interestedly at Gino.
“I came here to build a better world,” was all that he offered.
“What are your terms?” Suzaku said, turning back to Viletta, hoping he wouldn’t have to spend too much time looking at the former Knight of Three.
“We agree to everything you said, but we have only one thing we want before we can fully agree. Remove your mask, Zero.”
“What?” Kallen stepped in front of Zero, gun pointed back at them. “That is out of order! No matter who he is, he is the man who will save us—!”
“I know Zero was once Lelouch Lamperouge, who now is the emperor of Britannia.” Viletta said sternly. “Unless it is possible for him to be in two places at once, the one in that mask is not Lelouch. Let me see him. I have my suspicions, but I want to make sure before we continue.”
Suzaku hesitated. He wouldn’t have minded showing Viletta—he hardly knew her. But Gino…somehow, he had hoped that he would never have to see him again after their last meeting.
“Well, Zero? Do we have an agreement?”
Suzaku gave a sigh, and reached up for his mask.
“Wait, Zero—!” Kallen looked back at him, but Suzaku said nothing. After a moment’s pause, he removed his mask.
“Hmph. I thought as much.” Viletta muttered. Gino gave a small gasp, but besides that, they both tried their hardest not to notice each other. “And what would the Emperor’s Knight of One be doing leading a rebellion in Japan?”
Suzaku clenched a fist. “Lelouch killed the one most important to me. He owes me his life.”
“And you couldn’t have achieved that when you were working together?”
“Killing a man in his sleep has no meaning.” Suzaku still didn’t look back at them. “I want him to know I am coming for him. I want him to realize why I am doing this—I want him to know how much she suffered, and for him to know the same suffering.”
“How eloquent.” Viletta rolled her eyes. “I’ll choose to believe you—for now. The Britannian deserters are at your command. We will go back to them and announce our alliance. I suggest you start planning for this invasion. Because the world against him or not, Lelouch has a geass. It won’t be an easy thing to get by.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Suzaku said, gathering up his mask. “I already know what I’m going to do.”
“Fair enough.” On her way out, she passed Ougi. Both of them glanced at each other for a brief moment, and then she continued on. “I guess we’ll be seeing each other from now on.”
“I guess.” He added quickly.
With a smirk, Viletta added, “It’s a pleasure to see you again, sensei.” And with that, she left, wondering when this world had suddenly gone mad.
Gino had remained behind, shuffling his feet as if he was going to say something. But he kept silent. “You should go back.” Suzaku said roughly. “I don’t think she’s going to wait for you.
Gino opened his mouth to say something, but shut it quickly. With a quick nod, he left the room, leaving Suzaku feeling guilty again.
He hoped Kallen hadn’t noticed. She had. Damn it. “You really are just like Lelouch.” She glared. “You’d treat former friends like scum as long as it meant the furthering of your plan.”
Suzaku could only look into the faceless mask staring up at him. “I learned from the best, after all.”
“The number of Britannian deserters grows every day…we won’t have a chance against them when they make it here.”
“We have to try anyway! What good is it if we don’t try! Besides, Britannians working alongside Elevens…it will never work. There will be bickering and strife and soon the Elevens will grow angry with their Britannian comrades, and war will erupt between them. We only have to wait.”
“But you don’t understand! We don’t have time to wait! Schneizel is moving forward with his plans and—”
“Oh, don’t worry about Schniezel.” Lelouch smirked. “I don’t think he will find himself with the upper hand much longer…”
Cornelia glared back at him. “What have you done to Schniezel?”
“Oh nothing, my dear sister. Absolutely nothing…” But that grin was not helping to convince her.
Her hand reached for her gun. “I’m not going to do this much longer, Lelouch. I’m not convinced this is the right way. An army against us and even the might of Britannia has no hope against the world united! If it weren’t for Euphie’s last wishes then I’d—”
She stopped herself. But he knew what she wanted to say.
“Do you want to leave, Cornelia?”
Cornelia didn’t look him in the eye. “You saved Euphie. You may not have been able to save her at the end…but you gave me more time to talk to my sister. I was able to see her again, after I thought she was completely lost to me. You gave me that. If you hadn’t—”
Lelouch sighed. “You owe me nothing.” He said at last. “I just delayed her death, that’s all…If I had kept a better eye on her, she wouldn’t have died at all. I was the one that cast the geass that led to all this happening. Even if I didn’t pull the final trigger…it was still mostly my fault. I saved her that time to ease my guilt. You owe me nothing at all.”
Cornelia didn’t look back at him. “Euphie asked me not to fight you anymore. She didn’t care why you did it—and I don’t, either.”
“But you still wish to leave?”
Cornelia didn’t reply, but he knew her answer.
“If you want to, then go, I don’t care…but Cornelia, you remember the last phase of the plan.”
“I remember.” She added swiftly.
“For Euphemia’s sake…for everyone’s really, please...”
“I will do it.” She told him, turning way. “You can think of it as my way of thanking you for what you did for her…and for me. It will be the last thanks I ever give you, Lelouch.”
He smirked slightly. “No more than I would expect from you, Cornelia…”
Schniezel el Britannia smirked to himself as he read the headlines on the computer. Renegade Britannian forces untied with the Black Knights? An army to surpass the small force left in Britannia…Finally, it was all coming to fruitation.
He really should thank Lelouch. If he hadn’t thought to get rid of the old man, none of this would be possible. The forces were already advancing on Britannia’s borders, and in days, even hours, the capital would fall.
He could see it at last—his final victory achieved. Now all there was to do was sit back and let it happen—
The door of his office burst open. At first Schniezel sat up, alarmed, but he relaxed when he saw who it was. “Oh, it’s you, Zero. I was wondering when you’d get here. Now, about our forces, I think we should attack from the south—”
“I don’t need your help.” Snarled Zero.
Schniezel frowned. “I was under the impression we were working together—to unseat Lelouch and put me on the throne.”
“I am working to kill Lelouch—but you were never a part of it.”
Schniezel was about to press his security button, but he hesitated. Something about this Zero seemed awfully familiar. “Oh, and why is that?” he smirked.
Zero reached up, and took off his mask. Schniezel only smiled upon seeing his face. “Oh, it is you, Kururugi. I figured, once I noticed you missing from my brother’s side. I suppose that even a one-time friendship cannot defeat undying hatred.”
Suzaku glared. “Oh, you are right about that. But in our case, it was more like a one-time acquaintance.”
Only now did Schniezel stop smiling. “What do you mean, Kururugi?”
“I mean that your time is finished.” Suzaku reached up for the contact in his eye. “You once had the pleasure of removing me from my post—and now it’s time for me to return the favor.”
Schniezel stood up. “You—!”
But he didn’t get the chance to do a thing about it.
“You wanted to keep the Elevens living in squalor and filth. Now go live like the Elevens you persecuted. Now go live like a dog and die like a dog!”
And in the last moment Schniezel had of free thought, he knew that the real man he should have feared was not Lelouch—but Kururugi Suzaku instead.
Lelouch may have wanted his brother’s crown, but Suzaku only wanted one thing—a free Japan.
And anyone who got in the way of that goal would be eliminated.
C.C. looked out the window of the palace. “The forces are advancing. They will be here soon.” She turned back to Lelouch, who sat calmly on the sofa. “There is no turning back. Are you sure about all of this?”
He met her eyes. “It is the only way any of us will have peace. The world has untied to destroy me. And I shall be destroyed. A peaceful world will be born from the ashes. And I will have achieved everything I always wanted.”
C.C. sighed and shook her head. “There are so many problems with that logic that I can’t even begin to sort it out.”
“It is the plan that Suzaku and I agreed on. It is the only way.”
“He doesn’t know about the last part of the plan, you know.” She gave him a guilting look. “He wouldn’t have agreed if he knew.”
Lelouch gave a little smile. “I think he will once he realizes what it means for all of us…and him. He thinks this all has to end in tragedy. It doesn’t. I won’t let him sacrifice himself when there’s so much more he can do.”
“I think you just don’t want to see your best friend die.” C.C. gave a knowing smile.
“Perhaps.” He smiled back.
His smile faded as he remembered. “C.C….There will be a battle here. You don’t have to stay if you—”
She flicked him on the side of the head, getting a satisfying “ow!” in response. “You always forget that I’m immortal. You don’t need to worry. Besides I’m not leaving. We have a contract. Until death, I am tied to you.”
“Yes, a contract.” Lelouch smirked. “But that’s not the only reason you stay, is it not?”
She flicked him on the side of the head again, yet smiled despite herself.
“Until death, I will never leave you. You fulfilled my wish. It is the least I could do.”
“Oh?” Lelouch smirked. “And that wish was?”
C.C. smirked back.
After so much together, no words needed to be spoken.
“The gates have fallen!” A soldier reported, as the entrance to the Pendragon castle stood clear. “We have won!”
“Stand aside!” Zero yelled, as he led the way. “Capture all Britannian forces. Do not kill them! I will deal with the emperor!”
“Zero, wait!” Kallen yelled, rushing towards him. “Allow me—!”
“No!” Suzaku turned back. “I will go alone.”
“But Zero!”
“I said I’m going alone, Kallen!” Why didn’t that stupid girl ever listen to him? She listened fine and well for Lelouch… “Stay here and help the others!”
And with that, he ran off into the palace.
Kallen was left alone, watching another Zero run off towards the unknown.
He was her commander. He had given her an order. The best thing to do would be to follow it, and hope he got out all right—
Fuck that!
It was Suzaku—he could never be her commander in the way Lelouch was! He wasn’t nearly as self-assured, or smart, or well—anything that Lelouch was! His orders were half-assed at best, and it was all luck that got them this far!
She would never trust him the way she had trusted Lelouch, and if he thought she was just going to sit back and follow his stupid orders well, he had another thing coming!
Pulling out her gun, she followed him in. Let’s see if you really are telling the truth, Kururugi…
The throne room was dark as Suzaku stepped into it. He walked along the long hall, gun raised, keeping an eye out on all sides—until at last he saw his quarry.
Only a few candles were lit at the end of the hall, and Lelouch vi Britannia, dressed in all his majesty as 99th Emperor, sat on the throne.
When Lelouch saw him, he rose from his seat. “At last, Zero, Hero of the Japanese, is here.”
Suzaku reached up and took off his helmet, casting it aside. “I am.”
“And you were not followed?” Lelouch glanced around suspiciously.
“I ordered them to stay put. The name of Zero still commands some respect.” Suzaku said with a smirk.
“I should think so.” Lelouch smirked back.
Kallen made her way silently into the throne room. There at the end of the hall, Lelouch and Suzaku stood. What were they doing? Suzaku had his gun in his hands, but why didn’t he shoot?
And then she let out a gasp as Suzaku dropped the weapon and kneeled before his emperor.
“There.” Suzaku said sharply. “I did it. I let Zero’s armies to the castle. All that is left is for Zero to make his final stand—and sacrifice his life. Dying and becoming a national hero.”
“That is true.” Lelouch nodded. “Zero will die here today.”
“Good. Now fulfill your promise, Lelouch! You promised you’d release me from my Geass!”
“As he did,” Now C.C., who had been hiding behind the throne, came out to greet him. “Today, Kururugi Suzaku will live no more.”
“Well, hurry up!” Suzaku begged. “I’ve waited long enough!”
“Suzaku…” He let out a small gasp. It was Nunnally. Lelouch helped wheel her over to him. “Do you really not want to live anymore?”
He bit his lip. He didn’t want to have to say it in front of Nunnally. “But…Euphie…I killed Euphie! I was the one who placed the geass on her that killed her! I killed my father, too! I’ve done so many horrible things that I just—!”
“Suzaku.” Lelouch stepped closer to him. “We both killed Euphie. I have done many terrible things as well. Should I die for my crimes as well?”
“Lelouch…”
“Kururugi Suzaku can die today, but you can still live. We all can. We are going to leave. A bomb will go off in this throne room and kill all four of us. No bodies will be identified in the blast. Today, Kururugi Suzaku, Emperor Lelouch, Princess Nunnally and Empress C.C. will all die. But the four of us can still live.” He grabbed Suzaku’s shoulders. “Suzaku, let’s leave all of this behind and find somewhere where we can all live! No one will ever know, but we can know peace again. Remember those happy days at the shrine? Wouldn’t you like to live them again?”
Suzaku had gone into that throne room ready to die. Instead, Lelouch was now offering him a glimmer of hope. “But…for everything I’ve done…what about that?”
“You don’t need to atone! Suzaku, if this works, we will have achieved peace. That is atonement enough, don’t you think?”
“Suzaku,” this time it was Nunnally who grabbed his hand. “We’ll achieve a peaceful world. And then we can go to our own peaceful world. Wouldn’t you like that?”
He deserved to die.
He deserved to die.
For everything he’d done, everything he was—a hypocrite and a murderer and a betrayer and a lousy best friend—he deserved to die.
And yet…now that it had been offered to him…he wanted to live.
Damn it all, he didn’t deserve it, he’d never deserve it, but he wanted to live!
“Live, Suzaku. Live for both yourself…and for Euphie.”
He bit back the tears in his eyes. Why did Lelouch have to mention Euphie! He stood up and stepped towards him. Lelouch offered out his hand.
“You stupid—!” Suzaku growled, smacking Lelouch hard.
“Hey!” Lelouch gasped, before Suzaku grabbed him…and hugged him.
“I hate you for this.” Suzaku muttered. “I hate you so much—!”
“I know.” Lelouch smirked. “You can hate me more later. But let’s get out of here, Suzaku. Let’s get on with our new life.”
Kallen raised her gun, hardly believing what she was seeing. So Suzaku was planning on betraying them after all! He was going to go off with Lelouch and—!
But…their plan was for Japan to win its independence. Britannia would be finished. Lelouch would abdicate. Even if it was a betrayal…everything worked out for the Japanese in the end.
She promised herself she would kill him if he betrayed them, but…did she really have to do it now? She would never see any of them again...perhaps things were better off left alone.
Though somehow, knowing she would never see Suzaku again made her feel a bit worried, more than relieved.
She turned her back, ready to sneak out. No point in hanging around only to get killed by their escape bomb…
Lelouch released Suzaku, but kept his hands on his shoulders. He couldn’t help but smile. At last, Suzaku had found something to live for. At last, things were going to turn out all right. He had lost so much in all of this—his mother, Shirley, Rolo, Euphie…he would never see Kallen or Cornelia again, and the Black Knights thought he betrayed them…the whole world hated him…
But at last, he and Suzaku, and Nunnally had found their perfect world. It was going to be all right, at last…
At last…
There was a movement behind one of the curtains. Everyone else was busy looking at the two of them that they didn’t notice—only he saw it.
He was about to bring it to their attention, but then the person stepped into the light and he couldn’t speak.
V.V. Though bloody, bruised and broken—he limped forward on a broken leg, and held a gun with one arm while his other battered one he clutched to his chest—he had somehow not died falling off the roof. Only then did Lelouch remember that many of the bedrooms had verandas.
They didn’t check to make sure he was dead. They hadn’t thought of it.
And now he had come back.
And he was pointing a gun right at Suzaku.
It was all because of you, Kururugi Suzaku! V.V. snarled, cocking the gun. If it wasn’t for you, Charles’ plan would have succeeded! We should have killed you the moment we learned of you!
Now at least I will have peace knowing you are dead!
It was like the time Rolo tried to kill Suzaku—Lelouch knew he only had seconds. No one here had a weapon—V.V. would shoot before Lelouch alerted anyone to his presence.
And Suzaku couldn’t see V.V. The geass wouldn’t activate if he didn’t know his life was in danger.
Lelouch only had seconds to decide. And decide he did.
“That softness might end up getting you killed some day.” C.C. had once said.
Heh, it was true.
But no matter what, Suzaku was his best friend. He would do anything for him.
Even this.
BANG!
Flecks of blood spattered across Suzaku’s face. Someone had pushed him aside, and though there was blood, he didn’t feel any pain…strange…
That was when he noticed Lelouch’s body, hand still outstretched where he had pushed Suzaku, falling towards the ground, blood spattered across his front.
Lelouch hit the ground, unmoving. Nunnally screamed. C.C. gasped and ran towards him. Someone at the end of the hall cried his name. But Suzaku could only stare at his best friend…his best friend…
“Lelouch…?” he said weakly.
His best friend…bleeding on the ground to save his miserable life.
A roaring cry came out of Suzaku as he picked his gun off the ground and fired—two, three, four—all of his rounds were emptied towards that curtain where the shot had come from. It wasn’t until the clip is emptied that he let up, and he saw a body—V.V.—fall to the ground, a hole through his skull, finally, finally dead.
Breathing heavy, Suzaku dropped his gun, turning back to Lelouch. Nunnally was crying. C.C. was looking grave. Suzaku heard a noise, and looked up—Kallen was running towards them. But when she saw, she stopped, unable to speak.
He couldn’t even tell her off for following them.
“C.C. Do something.” He begged, kneeling at Lelouch’s side.
“I cannot.” She bit her lip.
“C.C.!”
“I do not have the power to heal him!” She cried out, and now he saw there were tears in her eyes. “V.V….he was mortal and did not have his code...if he had, I would have been able to sense…” she shook her head.
“Please, you can do something, can’t you?” Tears flowed down his cheeks. “Can’t you? You’re an immortal witch, right? CAN’T YOU DO ANYTHING?!”
“I cannot give him a code while he is dying; he has already stepped beyond Geass’s boundaries!” She burst out, tears flowing now. “If I could, don’t you think I would have already…” She bit her lip and said no more.
“Suzaku…” Suzaku gasped, turning back as hazy purple eyes opened.
“Lelouch!” Suzaku grabbed his hand as Lelouch looked back at him. “You idiot! You stupid idiot! Why did you do that?”
Lelouch gave a weak smile. “Because I couldn’t see my best friend die right in front of me…”
“Stupid! I wanted to die! You were the one…you were the one that wanted to live! Why didn’t you just—?”
“Ask the witch…she says I’m too soft for my own good…” he gave a weak smile as blood dribbled past his lip. Nunnally began sobbing.
“Nunnally…” Lelouch looked back at his sister. “Onii-sama always loves you.”
He then looked to smirk back at C.C. “See you on the other side, Witch.”
C.C. did not smile back. She was fighting the tears as best she could.
It was then that Lelouch noticed Kallen standing there. All he gave was a weak “Sorry…” before turning back to Suzau.
“Suzaku…don’t let yourself die…take care of Nunnally for me…and C.C. as well.”
Teardrops were even falling onto Lelouch’s face now. “What the Hell are you doing, making speeches like you’re about to die—!”
“You deserve to live…you can do so many things, you know that? You’re hard headed enough to get them done…You saved Japan, and you can do it again. I know you can. Live for that, if nothing else…”
“Lelouch--!”
“Just don’t let yourself die…or what I’ve done will be in vain.”
“Lelouch, don’t…DON’T YOU DARE LEAVE ME—!”
Lelouch gave another raspy breath, and looked up towards the ceiling… “Dying for your sins, was it? Fitting that a demon king should end this way..."
"You're not." Suzaku said through tears, reaching up to remove his contact. "Lelouch vi Britannia died a hero."
There was a red ring around his eyes, and yet Lelouch smirked, as if he had always known it would come to this. "A hero, huh? I destroy worlds...and remake them. I finally got to make my perfect world...but I won't get to see it..."
He gave another cough...and then...
His hand fell limp in Suzaku’s.
Nunnally let out a wail and hugged her brother’s body. C.C. sat back, head cradled in her hands. Kallen sunk to her knees, unable to move from shock and despair.
And Suzaku merely stared at his best friend’s body, hating himself more than he ever had.
He thought when Euphie died it hurt the most.
He was wrong.
How long they sat there like that, he didn’t know; time meant nothing to him. But soon they could hear the Black Knights nearing, and all would be lost if they didn’t complete his plan.
Lelouch was dead.
But he had begged Suzaku to let his plan live on.
“Come on, we have to get out of here,” Suzaku said, wiping his eyes and standing up.
“Suzaku?” Nunnally asked weakly, as Suzaku tried to get them up.
“Lelouch…he wanted his perfect world. We have to follow his plan to make it a work.”
Kallen finally spoke. “But Lelouch…he is…”
“I KNOW HE’S DEAD!” Suzaku roared. “But he gave me a mission, he died so I could complete it. And that’s what I’m going to do! If you all want to stay here and mope then fine! But I will give him his perfect world no matter what! Is anyone with me?”
It took a moment, but after each in turn glancing down at Lelouch and remembering what this meant to him—what this meant to all of them, they nodded.
“Right,” Suzaku once again wiped the tears away. “Let’s finish this. For him.”
“Don’t let yourself die, Suzaku.” Lelouch had begged. “Live for Japan, if nothing else…”
And so he would.
He wanted to die, but now he had a purpose, something that even as he put in motion this plan of Lelouch’s, he could not forget.
He had to live life for all of them now—himself, Euphemia, and Lelouch.
And he wasn’t going to waste that for the world.
The flowers were set on the grave, as Prime Minister Kururugi looked on in silence. It was a beautiful memorial, backed by the Fountain of Peace in a garden devoted to the lives lost in the last war.
The words on the plaque read “Here lies an unknown, who gave his life for everlasting peace.”
Only a few knew the truth of who really was buried in that grave.
Suzaku continued to stand in silence, while a few onlookers turned and pointed. “It’s a good thing, for the people of Japan to see their Prime Minister placing flowers on a grave.” Kallen said, reassuring him.
“I don’t do it for the publicity.” Suzaku glared, wishing very much that he had decided to sneak out and have this little visit at night.
But of course, his loyal bodyguard wouldn’t allow that, now would she?
It had been two years, but Lelouch’s dream had been realized. Cornelia li Britannia took over Britannia’s throne in the ensuing chaos, and she had kept her promise to him. Britannia released the areas, and devoted its military to ensure the lasting peace. Suzaku had a feeling that perhaps she was against some of these measures, but if there was one thing he learned about the Britannian royal family, it was this—when promises were made over a dead loved one, they kept them.
The alliances the Black Knights made were useful in keeping the peace after Britannia relinquished its territories. There was struggle, yes, but the name of Zero still commanded respect and fear, across the world, even if the man himself was dead.
Zero died a war hero, a man who gave his life to bring down traitors. Yet, his body was mysteriously never found. And even still, when there was threat of trouble, Zero would mysteriously be seen and then suddenly vanish—that was all it took for any threats to disperse.
Somehow, even Suzaku wasn’t sure how it had happened, but when Japan was released and when they wished to form a new government, he was selected to reign as Prime Minister. He supposed at first that it was traditionalists who nominated him, because his father once held the post.
But then he began to hear of the everyday citizens who rallied behind him as well. Many Japanese remembered his reign as Governor-General. And they didn’t hate him for what he’d done—they’d taken it as a sign that Kururugi Suzaku had remembered his native people after all.
He didn’t want to accept. He just wanted to go away, far away and take Nunnally with him. Find a place where they could live in peace and mourn Lelouch. But Nunnally finally begged him to do it, “Suzaku…please, I know you can do it. You were able to help the Japanese all you could back when this country belonged to Britannia. Don’t you want to help them now? Onii-sama…I think Onii-sama would want you to do it. Why don’t we make Japan into this perfect world?”
He accepted.
Nunnally stayed with him, and somehow, oddly enough, so did Kallen. As she put it, “Lelouch would want someone to watch your back.” And she became Prime Minister Kururugi’s personal bodyguard.
There was someone else Suzaku wished could have stayed to watch his back. C.C. had disappeared after they completed Lelouch’s plan and left Britannia. He had sort-of hoped that she remembered their contract and would eventually come back, but he never heard from her again.
“I don’t understand,” Kallen had said. “She had a contract with both of you. Wasn’t it about ‘staying with you until death’?”
“She did have a contract with both of us,” he had admitted. “But she always cared more for Lelouch.” That’s why she was gone now…probably to wait until death to join him. Even after their contract was broken, she would wait for him. “Even though it was for such a short time, Lelouch did fulfill her wish. She’s not going to forget that easily.”
“Her wish?” Kallen had asked. Suzaku only gave a small smile and turned away.
Her wish was something only Lelouch could fulfill for her. Suzaku accepted that, and let her go, even if he did miss her rather odd company.
“It looks like it’s going to rain,” Kallen pointed up at the darkening sky, bringing Suzaku back to the present.
“Yeah, we’d better get back…I have to find out how they reacted to my proposal to rebuilding the railway system…”
“You said you’d have to raise taxes in order to finish it. Of course they’re not going to be happy.”
“Well, if they want to get around the country easier, they’re going to have to accept it—” He turned, but was then stopped in his tracks when he saw who was standing there.
“Gino…?”
The former Knight of Three looked rather odd in street clothes, Suzaku thought, and in his hands was a small bouquet of flowers. “I thought…didn’t you go back to Britannia?”
“I didn’t.” He said quickly, trying to look anywhere but at his former friend.
Kallen could barely take the silence. “Why are you here?”
“You people aren’t the only ones with someone to remember,” Gino snapped, beginning to head in the other direction.
Suzaku was just fine in letting him go, though he tried to ignore the small pang of regret in his heart. But Kallen wasn’t going to have any of it. “Gino, why don’t you stop by the office for tea sometime?”
Suzaku gaped at her. “Kallen—”
“—The Prime Minister would love to have you.”
Gino gave a hopeful look, but dropped it quickly. “No, its fine…I’m sure The Prime Minister is busy—”
Now Kallen had it. Grabbing her gun, she ever-so-gently added, “I don’t think I made myself clear. The Prime Minister would love to have you over. Isn’t that right, Suzaku…?”
Damn it. If they hadn’t insisted that it would look bad if the Prime Minister was always carrying around weapons, he could take her.
Hell, he could probably take her right now if he really wanted…but there were witnesses and it was all about the goddamn publicity…
“Right.” He said quickly, forcing himself to look back at Gino. “That’s right…it would be nice to see you and…catch up.”
Before Gino could say anything, Kallen casually twirled the gun in her hands, smirking slightly. “Yes…that would be…great.”
Kallen gave Suzaku a very hard nudge. “Er…how about tomorrow? Ow! Damnit, Kallen! Uh…afternoon tea?”
Even Gino couldn’t disguise the hopeful look in his eyes. “Great! I’ll…uh…see you then.”
“You’d better!” Kallen called after him as he left to go pay his respects to the other fallen.
Once Gino was out of earshot, Suzaku rounded on her. “Damnit, what the Hell was that about?”
“Listen here, Kururugi Suzaku!” Suzaku really wished she wouldn’t nudge him in the chest with her gun. “You already had to watch one friend of yours die. I’m not about to let you have that regret a second time.”
“You don’t even know why we stopped talking!”
“I know that. And I don’t care.” She finally put the weapon away. “Lelouch wanted you to have a reason for living. And if nothing else, I’m here to make sure you have it.”
Glancing back at the memorial, Suzaku gave a sad smile. “He sure was an idiot, huh? Ow! Stop hitting me—!”
“He was an idiot,” Kallen agreed. “But he was an idiot that did what he set out to do.”
“You mean make his perfect world.”
Kallen couldn’t help but share the small smile Suzaku held on his face. “Well, that, and…”
Not too far away, hidden behind one of the other memorials, a figure in a cloak watched on as Kallen and Suzaku enjoyed a small laugh and then went back to the office, to continue running this perfect world.
Maybe it wasn’t such a mistake after all, in giving you the Geass… C.C. thought, pulling the cloak tighter around her. You said you never wanted it, but it gave you the strength to do what you didn’t dare do before…
You were never a man of Britannia. Always, no matter what the cost, you fought for Japan. And while you saved Japan, Lelouch…he saved your soul.
A few droplets of rain began to fall, and with a small, sad smile, C.C. took one last look at Lelouch’s grave, before turning away, leaving them all to enjoy their perfect world.
I had many different ways I was thinking of ending it (one reason it took so long) but I felt this was the best way. One thing that bugged me about the ending of the series was that Suzaku STILL hated himself and wanted to die. At the core, this story was about Suzaku learning to live with himself, and more than that, wanting to live. So that's how I decided in the end.
So for maybe the two people who stuck with this long and not-frequently-updated story, thanks for reading and putting up with my insane ideas.
Rating: R this chapter (Suzaku and Lelouch's curse a lot in here, don't they?)
Pairing: LelouchxC.C., (implied) Suzalulu, SuzakuxEuphemia, and SuzakuxKallen.
Summary: So, what would have happened if Suzaku had received the Geass in Stage 1 instead of Lelouch?
Chapter archive here.
“It’s been over a month since Lelouch was crowned emperor. And still, nothing.” Ougi turned back to Kallen. “You were wrong; he’s done nothing to help Japan. He’s only done more to increase his own power!”
“But he hasn’t attacked Japan, either!” she pointed out. “He hasn’t done anything—”
“But that’s the point! He could still be selling our secrets to the Britannian army! They could be preparing a counterattack as we speak! They could—!”
“If so, then we’ll have enough troops to fight them off for a time,” Toudou pointed out.
“Fight them off for now. Depending on the size of the army they send, we could get slaughtered. And if the emperor decides for an all out assault on us—”
“Unfortunately,” A voice they all too well recognized spoke out, “the Emperor has no such plans. He still thinks he has friends in Japan.”
There was a clatter of guns being drawn as all turned and pointed them at him—Zero. “How did you get in here?” demanded Kallen, never lowering her gun.
Lelouch, what did you come back here for? It certainly wasn’t for her.
“The Emperor figured you wouldn’t have changed your access codes. You might want to do that soon.”
“The Emperor? Wait...who are you?” Now that she looked closer, she noticed that this Zero was slightly shorter than the previous one…and not as skinny.
Zero shrugged. “I’m not him. I just want to build a better world.”
“You think we’ll just accept that?” Kallen spat, shoving her gun against the smooth fiberglass mask. “Who are you?”
“You really want to know?” Zero snarled beneath his mask. And then, Zero reached up and removed it before them all.
“No…it can’t be…” some of the Black Knights stammered, as Suzaku Kururugi stood before them all.
Kallen was the most surprised. “Suzaku…why…”
Suzaku folded his arms, giving them all a harsh glare. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t fight for any country. I fight so I can kill Lelouch; that is all.”
“Lelouch…but…you were the Emperor’s knight!” Ougi accused. “You were there when he was crowned! So why—?”
“Why else? So I could gain his trust; learn how his security works. Unfortunately, he suspected and sent me away. But he doesn’t know about this. Hmph,” a sinister smile crept up on Suzaku’s face. “The Emperor who prides himself on being all-seeing never saw this coming.”
“And why would you want to kill him?” Kallen demanded, her gun still pointed at him. “Answer me, Kururugi!”
All noticed Suzaku’s hand form into a fist. “You know that Lelouch—as Zero—killed Euphemia. It’s true what she was doing was wrong, but…he shot her in cold blood. I can forgive the Black Knights for their actions on that day, but I can never forgive her killer. Since you people have a grudge against him as well, I believe we can come to an agreement.”
Ougi exchanged glances with Kallen—last time they entered into an agreement they all weren’t so lucky. “And what would be the terms of your ‘agreement’?”
“I’ll lead the Black Knights past Britannia security to the Emperor himself. But, I’ll be the one to kill him.”
“And after that?” demanded Kallen.
That smirk—so reminiscent of Lelouch, Kallen noticed—came up on Suzaku’s face again. “Well, we’ll see what happens.”
Ougi sighed, and thought a long moment. “Fine. But after you lead us to the emperor’s palace, we’ll decide what your role in our organization is.”
“I don’t care. Just as long as I can kill Lelouch.” Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said, picking up his mask, and leaving the room.
He was barely into the hallway when he noticed he was followed. “Wait!” Kallen called after him.
“What do you want?” demanded Suzaku. Last time they had met it wasn’t so friendly.
“Why are you here, Suzaku?”
He continued walking down the hallway, not in the mood for these questions now. “I already told you why. I don’t need to explain it again.”
“Yes, you do.” She crossed in front of him, standing in his way. Arms folded, she stated, “Back there at Kamenejima, I saw you and Lelouch leave together. If you really wanted to kill him, you would have killed him right there—you’re not one to wait and plan. If you want someone dead, you don’t wait a second.”
He pushed past her. “Unfortunately, I’ve changed.” Oh, here was Zero’s room all right—if it was still Zero’s room. Again the code that Lelouch provided worked perfectly—didn’t these people realize it was a security risk if your enemy knew all your access codes?
Again, Kallen followed him into the room. Suzaku wondered if Lelouch ever had to put up with this. Knowing her, probably. “And Lelouch? Has he changed too?”
Suzaku set the mask down, and let the cloak slip from his shoulders before looking her in the eye. “No, Lelouch…he is the same man that he ever was.”
Kallen glanced away for a brief moment. “The same…I see…”
Oh, looks like Lelouch was better with the ladies than he thought. And knowing him, he’d never have realized it too. Poor Kallen.
“Kallen,” this was the first time he had addressed her by name. “If things had worked out differently—would you have been the one to kill Lelouch?”
She seemed slightly surprised by his question, and again, her thoughts were betrayed by that subtle shift in her eyes. “If I had to…If he stood in the way of Japanese freedom, then I would.”
“You’ll kill him for your freedom…would you die for it, too?” Hell, even Suzaku knew that freedom was something worth dying for, yet…
Even though they were once rivals on the battlefield, each hoping that they would take the life of the other in each fight…he didn’t want her to die.
After Euphie…no one else should die.
“If I had to, I would die.” Kallen answered at once. “If I had to die for Japanese freedom, I would do it in a heartbeat. My brother died for it, so when it comes down to it, I don’t care.”
“You should care.” He reached up and in an instant, the contact was removed and the geass set loose. “You shouldn’t want to die so easily—you should want to live, and live at all costs. Live to see this new world.”
“Live…?” she repeated, as the geass fell upon her.
And then it faded, and her own curse was set.
He quickly replaced the contact ass her eyes faded back to normal. Kallen looked around, surprised. “What? Did I space out…?”
Suzaku sighed, “Perhaps you were thinking of your brother. Thinking of dead ones that were close to us can do that.”
“Oh…right.” Well, she didn’t suspect. For now.
She turned to go, but stopped before she reached the door. “Suzaku…” she asked, without turning back to him. “Lelouch said once that you wanted to die. Do you still—?”
“Yes.” Hmph, he was even telling the truth for once. What had that time in Britannia done to him? “But I have something I have to accomplish first.” Besides, why do you care? He desperately wanted to ask. Didn’t she want him dead not so long ago?
“You’re being a hypocrite again,” She glared back. “If you’re going to scold me for wanting to die, then don’t go on and say you want to die yourself! That’s one thing I’ll never be able to stand about you, Kururugi, and I don’t care who you think you are now, I’ll never respect you for it!”
She stormed off, leaving Suzaku to stare at the empty space where she left, wondering why he cared that she thought he was a hypocrite.
His only reason for living was dead. Wasn’t that enough to give up on life?
“Onii-sama? Where’s Suzaku?”
Lelouch smiled slightly as he glanced back at his sister. “He’s out on a mission. He’ll be back soon, I promise.”
Nunnally’s fingers clenched against the blanket covering her—Lelouch kept her to her room, claiming she still needed to recover, but she knew the real reason—he was hiding something from her. “I’m worried about Suzaku. After Euphie…”
Now that she could see, Lelouch didn’t dare let emotion show in his face. “Suzaku is strong. He knows that this mission is important. He won’t let it get to him.” He wouldn’t dare let it…not when this is finally his chance to die…
Nunnally’s fists tightened. They told her that Euphie had succumbed to an old injury, but the circumstances were kept secret. But if Euphie had been so injured, then how could she have visited Nunnally just a day before and seemed completely healthy?
She knew her brother had lied to her again. He lied to her about many things, but about Euphie…it was too much.
“Onii-sama…how did Euphie die?”
He paused for only a second. “I told you. She survived the incident at the Special Administrative Zone, but she was in a coma for a year and badly injured. She was able to wake up, but her injuries were—”
“Stop lying to me!” Nunnally screamed, causing the emperor to freeze in shock. “I know you lie to everyone else, but don’t lie to me! Not about this! Not about Euphie! She was our sister! Don’t you even care enough about her to at least tell me the truth?” Tears pooled and rolled down her cheeks. “I hate not knowing, when everyone else knows what’s going on. It’s always been like this, hasn’t it? But after I was taken prisoner, I listened. I learned. I know all about what happened a year ago, and I want to know what’s happening now.”
Glaring back at her shocked brother’s face, Nunnally wiped the tears from her eyes. “So if you love me at all, Onii-sama, tell me the truth. All of it.”
He couldn’t look her in the eye. She was right—he had lied to her from the very beginning. He had always lied to her. He thought it was better that way—she couldn’t be hurt by what she didn’t know.
But he was wrong. She was hurt. And maybe if he had been a little more truthful, she wouldn’t have had to suffer like she did for all those weeks…
He took a breath. Euphie had died because they couldn’t tell her the truth. He wouldn’t put Nunnally in the same danger as well.
“I’ll tell you what happened to Euphie,” he said at last, voice wavering. “I love you, Nunnally…I’ll tell you, I promise.”
“Right now,” she encouraged, putting her small hand on his.
“Right now.” He nodded. “But first, there’s something else that you should know.” He reached into his pocket. He didn’t know why he had taken to carrying it, but perhaps it was always meant for this. He pulled out a small, gold and white locket on a chain.
“Onii-sama?” she looked at it quizzically. “What is that?”
She opened it, and inside there was a tiny picture of Marianne vi Britannia. “Mother?”
“That locket belonged to someone. Now I’m giving it to you.”
“Who did it belong to?”
Even still, he hesitated. “Your twin brother.”
“People of Japan! The Emperor has betrayed us! He promised us our freedom! He promised Britannia would withdraw and never take another step on our shores! He lied! He lied just as all the other emperors lied! He promised a new beginning, and instead gave us the same drivel that every other Britannian has promised! We must rise! The armies of Britannia are rebelling against their unworthy emperor! Now is the time! Now we must fight for our freedom! Join me! Zero will make miracles once again!”
“You’re almost as good as Lelouch,” Kallen rolled her eyes, as Suzaku came back to his room, removing the faceless mask.
“I spent a whole year studying Zero’s tactics. It’s not so hard to ham it up.” Suzaku shrugged. “Though since you all had the sense not to tell all of Area 11 that Zero betrayed them, it’s easy to get the Japanese on Zero’s side again.”
“You don’t sound excited.” Kallen muttered.
“Why would I be excited?”
“When Lelouch began the rebellion, every time he rallied the people, he was overjoyed. More support meant more of the chance of success. You just look at it with the same look of indifference. Like you don’t actually care. Like it’s all part of a plan.”
Lelouch had taught him well enough about quick excuses. “It is part a plan. Part of my plan to overthrow Lelouch.”
“I wonder…” Her eyes narrowed. “You say you hate Lelouch, but your heart is not in it. If you really wanted to kill him, you’d be more excited about your plan coming along. Instead, you act like you just don’t care.” She continued to gaze at him carefully. “What’s in it for you, then, if this plan succeeds? Lelouch dies, then what? You plan to mope about for the rest of your life?”
He clenched his teeth. “What I do is none of your business—”
“It is if you’re planning to betray us.” Her hand reached for the gun in the holster. “I’ve learned since Lelouch left us. I can smell a trap. And if you think for one second, Kururugi, that I’m just going to buy all this bullshit you’re spewing, then you’ve got another thing coming—”
“Good for you, you finally learned to open your eyes, huh?” He snarled. “Glad to know that even you can come to your senses when someone hits you hard enough.”
The gun was pointed up in his face. He only glared back in response. “Give me a reason, Kururugi, I dare you.”
“You’d try to kill me, knowing that I have been geassed to live? Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought, Kozuki—”
Whatever Kallen was about to shout was cut off as a knock came at the door. Both yelled, “What?” without even moving from their positions—neither was going to give the other an opportunity to strike.
“Um…” Oops. Sounds like Ougi heard them. Honestly, neither of them cared. “Forgive me, Zero, but there is an urgent matter—”
“Are we being attacked?” Suzaku snapped. That was the only reason he’d be willing to end this fight here.
“No, but…well,..we have visitors and—”
“Visitors?” With one last glare, Suzaku looked away from Kallen and grabbed Zero’s mask. Kallen was forced to put the gun away and resume the…argument at a later time.
When Zero opened his door, a gun pointed in his face.
He didn’t even blink. He was getting used to that sort of greeting.
But Kallen reacted. “Hey, Ougi, what—?”
“I said no guns!” Ougi yelled, but no one heard him. Zero took a step back as Viletta Nu, still holding the weapon, entered the room.
“Britannians!” Kallen yelled. “Why are they here?”
“Oh relax, girl, there’s only two of us. Think of us as goodwill ambassadors.”
“Goodwill?” Zero said, eyeing the gun.
“Yes, goodwill.” Viletta said, never lowering her weapon. “Don’t worry—we came here alone. Your knights already searched us for bugs or weapons. We report to no one.”
“Searched you for weapons, did they?” Kallen gave a scowl.
“Well, some of your knights aren’t so good about keeping their weapons to themselves.” She finally lowered the gun. “Now, shall we talk?”
“Talk about what?” Lelouch warned him this might happen, but he didn’t imagine it would be her.
“The Black Knights seek to unseat the current Emperor of Britannia, don’t they? Right now, we share the same objective.”
“Do we?” Kallen glared. “Somehow I doubt that.”
Viletta rolled her eyes. “Most of the Britannian army does not recognize Lelouch vi Britannia as their emperor. They’d prefer to have the crown prince, Schniezel, on the throne. If we work together, I think we can all accomplish the same objective.”
Suzaku was glad Zero’s mask hid his smirk—yes, it was exactly as Lelouch had predicted. “Interesting.”
“Zero!” Kallen glared back. “These are Britannians! You cannot trust them!”
“But taking on only a small part of the Britannian military is more preferable to taking on the entire military, is it not?” Oh yes, exactly as planned.
“But they are—”
“Don’t worry, Kallen, we will have terms.” Hmph. Did she think he would trust Britannians so easily? “The Black Knights and the rogue Britannians will work on separate missions. I do not think the Japanese would so easily trust you all as I will. After the work is finished, Britannian influence must leave Japan, and never return. Also—while you seek to unseat the Emperor, I must be the one to kill him.”
“I thought as much.” Viletta said. “But we have terms as well.”
Another figure entered the room, and even Suzaku couldn’t hide his small gasp—it was Gino.
He couldn’t help but feel small regret down in his heart. He had always felt Gino was annoying, but back there at the castle, he didn’t deserve those things said to him. Gino thought he was his friend. He didn’t deserve to be cast aside.
Wasn’t that what Lelouch had said to him about his brother, after it was all too late? He didn’t want it to be too late with Gino.
But he was afraid it probably already was.
“And you are here for?” Kallen asked, looking interestedly at Gino.
“I came here to build a better world,” was all that he offered.
“What are your terms?” Suzaku said, turning back to Viletta, hoping he wouldn’t have to spend too much time looking at the former Knight of Three.
“We agree to everything you said, but we have only one thing we want before we can fully agree. Remove your mask, Zero.”
“What?” Kallen stepped in front of Zero, gun pointed back at them. “That is out of order! No matter who he is, he is the man who will save us—!”
“I know Zero was once Lelouch Lamperouge, who now is the emperor of Britannia.” Viletta said sternly. “Unless it is possible for him to be in two places at once, the one in that mask is not Lelouch. Let me see him. I have my suspicions, but I want to make sure before we continue.”
Suzaku hesitated. He wouldn’t have minded showing Viletta—he hardly knew her. But Gino…somehow, he had hoped that he would never have to see him again after their last meeting.
“Well, Zero? Do we have an agreement?”
Suzaku gave a sigh, and reached up for his mask.
“Wait, Zero—!” Kallen looked back at him, but Suzaku said nothing. After a moment’s pause, he removed his mask.
“Hmph. I thought as much.” Viletta muttered. Gino gave a small gasp, but besides that, they both tried their hardest not to notice each other. “And what would the Emperor’s Knight of One be doing leading a rebellion in Japan?”
Suzaku clenched a fist. “Lelouch killed the one most important to me. He owes me his life.”
“And you couldn’t have achieved that when you were working together?”
“Killing a man in his sleep has no meaning.” Suzaku still didn’t look back at them. “I want him to know I am coming for him. I want him to realize why I am doing this—I want him to know how much she suffered, and for him to know the same suffering.”
“How eloquent.” Viletta rolled her eyes. “I’ll choose to believe you—for now. The Britannian deserters are at your command. We will go back to them and announce our alliance. I suggest you start planning for this invasion. Because the world against him or not, Lelouch has a geass. It won’t be an easy thing to get by.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Suzaku said, gathering up his mask. “I already know what I’m going to do.”
“Fair enough.” On her way out, she passed Ougi. Both of them glanced at each other for a brief moment, and then she continued on. “I guess we’ll be seeing each other from now on.”
“I guess.” He added quickly.
With a smirk, Viletta added, “It’s a pleasure to see you again, sensei.” And with that, she left, wondering when this world had suddenly gone mad.
Gino had remained behind, shuffling his feet as if he was going to say something. But he kept silent. “You should go back.” Suzaku said roughly. “I don’t think she’s going to wait for you.
Gino opened his mouth to say something, but shut it quickly. With a quick nod, he left the room, leaving Suzaku feeling guilty again.
He hoped Kallen hadn’t noticed. She had. Damn it. “You really are just like Lelouch.” She glared. “You’d treat former friends like scum as long as it meant the furthering of your plan.”
Suzaku could only look into the faceless mask staring up at him. “I learned from the best, after all.”
“The number of Britannian deserters grows every day…we won’t have a chance against them when they make it here.”
“We have to try anyway! What good is it if we don’t try! Besides, Britannians working alongside Elevens…it will never work. There will be bickering and strife and soon the Elevens will grow angry with their Britannian comrades, and war will erupt between them. We only have to wait.”
“But you don’t understand! We don’t have time to wait! Schneizel is moving forward with his plans and—”
“Oh, don’t worry about Schniezel.” Lelouch smirked. “I don’t think he will find himself with the upper hand much longer…”
Cornelia glared back at him. “What have you done to Schniezel?”
“Oh nothing, my dear sister. Absolutely nothing…” But that grin was not helping to convince her.
Her hand reached for her gun. “I’m not going to do this much longer, Lelouch. I’m not convinced this is the right way. An army against us and even the might of Britannia has no hope against the world united! If it weren’t for Euphie’s last wishes then I’d—”
She stopped herself. But he knew what she wanted to say.
“Do you want to leave, Cornelia?”
Cornelia didn’t look him in the eye. “You saved Euphie. You may not have been able to save her at the end…but you gave me more time to talk to my sister. I was able to see her again, after I thought she was completely lost to me. You gave me that. If you hadn’t—”
Lelouch sighed. “You owe me nothing.” He said at last. “I just delayed her death, that’s all…If I had kept a better eye on her, she wouldn’t have died at all. I was the one that cast the geass that led to all this happening. Even if I didn’t pull the final trigger…it was still mostly my fault. I saved her that time to ease my guilt. You owe me nothing at all.”
Cornelia didn’t look back at him. “Euphie asked me not to fight you anymore. She didn’t care why you did it—and I don’t, either.”
“But you still wish to leave?”
Cornelia didn’t reply, but he knew her answer.
“If you want to, then go, I don’t care…but Cornelia, you remember the last phase of the plan.”
“I remember.” She added swiftly.
“For Euphemia’s sake…for everyone’s really, please...”
“I will do it.” She told him, turning way. “You can think of it as my way of thanking you for what you did for her…and for me. It will be the last thanks I ever give you, Lelouch.”
He smirked slightly. “No more than I would expect from you, Cornelia…”
Schniezel el Britannia smirked to himself as he read the headlines on the computer. Renegade Britannian forces untied with the Black Knights? An army to surpass the small force left in Britannia…Finally, it was all coming to fruitation.
He really should thank Lelouch. If he hadn’t thought to get rid of the old man, none of this would be possible. The forces were already advancing on Britannia’s borders, and in days, even hours, the capital would fall.
He could see it at last—his final victory achieved. Now all there was to do was sit back and let it happen—
The door of his office burst open. At first Schniezel sat up, alarmed, but he relaxed when he saw who it was. “Oh, it’s you, Zero. I was wondering when you’d get here. Now, about our forces, I think we should attack from the south—”
“I don’t need your help.” Snarled Zero.
Schniezel frowned. “I was under the impression we were working together—to unseat Lelouch and put me on the throne.”
“I am working to kill Lelouch—but you were never a part of it.”
Schniezel was about to press his security button, but he hesitated. Something about this Zero seemed awfully familiar. “Oh, and why is that?” he smirked.
Zero reached up, and took off his mask. Schniezel only smiled upon seeing his face. “Oh, it is you, Kururugi. I figured, once I noticed you missing from my brother’s side. I suppose that even a one-time friendship cannot defeat undying hatred.”
Suzaku glared. “Oh, you are right about that. But in our case, it was more like a one-time acquaintance.”
Only now did Schniezel stop smiling. “What do you mean, Kururugi?”
“I mean that your time is finished.” Suzaku reached up for the contact in his eye. “You once had the pleasure of removing me from my post—and now it’s time for me to return the favor.”
Schniezel stood up. “You—!”
But he didn’t get the chance to do a thing about it.
“You wanted to keep the Elevens living in squalor and filth. Now go live like the Elevens you persecuted. Now go live like a dog and die like a dog!”
And in the last moment Schniezel had of free thought, he knew that the real man he should have feared was not Lelouch—but Kururugi Suzaku instead.
Lelouch may have wanted his brother’s crown, but Suzaku only wanted one thing—a free Japan.
And anyone who got in the way of that goal would be eliminated.
C.C. looked out the window of the palace. “The forces are advancing. They will be here soon.” She turned back to Lelouch, who sat calmly on the sofa. “There is no turning back. Are you sure about all of this?”
He met her eyes. “It is the only way any of us will have peace. The world has untied to destroy me. And I shall be destroyed. A peaceful world will be born from the ashes. And I will have achieved everything I always wanted.”
C.C. sighed and shook her head. “There are so many problems with that logic that I can’t even begin to sort it out.”
“It is the plan that Suzaku and I agreed on. It is the only way.”
“He doesn’t know about the last part of the plan, you know.” She gave him a guilting look. “He wouldn’t have agreed if he knew.”
Lelouch gave a little smile. “I think he will once he realizes what it means for all of us…and him. He thinks this all has to end in tragedy. It doesn’t. I won’t let him sacrifice himself when there’s so much more he can do.”
“I think you just don’t want to see your best friend die.” C.C. gave a knowing smile.
“Perhaps.” He smiled back.
His smile faded as he remembered. “C.C….There will be a battle here. You don’t have to stay if you—”
She flicked him on the side of the head, getting a satisfying “ow!” in response. “You always forget that I’m immortal. You don’t need to worry. Besides I’m not leaving. We have a contract. Until death, I am tied to you.”
“Yes, a contract.” Lelouch smirked. “But that’s not the only reason you stay, is it not?”
She flicked him on the side of the head again, yet smiled despite herself.
“Until death, I will never leave you. You fulfilled my wish. It is the least I could do.”
“Oh?” Lelouch smirked. “And that wish was?”
C.C. smirked back.
After so much together, no words needed to be spoken.
“The gates have fallen!” A soldier reported, as the entrance to the Pendragon castle stood clear. “We have won!”
“Stand aside!” Zero yelled, as he led the way. “Capture all Britannian forces. Do not kill them! I will deal with the emperor!”
“Zero, wait!” Kallen yelled, rushing towards him. “Allow me—!”
“No!” Suzaku turned back. “I will go alone.”
“But Zero!”
“I said I’m going alone, Kallen!” Why didn’t that stupid girl ever listen to him? She listened fine and well for Lelouch… “Stay here and help the others!”
And with that, he ran off into the palace.
Kallen was left alone, watching another Zero run off towards the unknown.
He was her commander. He had given her an order. The best thing to do would be to follow it, and hope he got out all right—
Fuck that!
It was Suzaku—he could never be her commander in the way Lelouch was! He wasn’t nearly as self-assured, or smart, or well—anything that Lelouch was! His orders were half-assed at best, and it was all luck that got them this far!
She would never trust him the way she had trusted Lelouch, and if he thought she was just going to sit back and follow his stupid orders well, he had another thing coming!
Pulling out her gun, she followed him in. Let’s see if you really are telling the truth, Kururugi…
The throne room was dark as Suzaku stepped into it. He walked along the long hall, gun raised, keeping an eye out on all sides—until at last he saw his quarry.
Only a few candles were lit at the end of the hall, and Lelouch vi Britannia, dressed in all his majesty as 99th Emperor, sat on the throne.
When Lelouch saw him, he rose from his seat. “At last, Zero, Hero of the Japanese, is here.”
Suzaku reached up and took off his helmet, casting it aside. “I am.”
“And you were not followed?” Lelouch glanced around suspiciously.
“I ordered them to stay put. The name of Zero still commands some respect.” Suzaku said with a smirk.
“I should think so.” Lelouch smirked back.
Kallen made her way silently into the throne room. There at the end of the hall, Lelouch and Suzaku stood. What were they doing? Suzaku had his gun in his hands, but why didn’t he shoot?
And then she let out a gasp as Suzaku dropped the weapon and kneeled before his emperor.
“There.” Suzaku said sharply. “I did it. I let Zero’s armies to the castle. All that is left is for Zero to make his final stand—and sacrifice his life. Dying and becoming a national hero.”
“That is true.” Lelouch nodded. “Zero will die here today.”
“Good. Now fulfill your promise, Lelouch! You promised you’d release me from my Geass!”
“As he did,” Now C.C., who had been hiding behind the throne, came out to greet him. “Today, Kururugi Suzaku will live no more.”
“Well, hurry up!” Suzaku begged. “I’ve waited long enough!”
“Suzaku…” He let out a small gasp. It was Nunnally. Lelouch helped wheel her over to him. “Do you really not want to live anymore?”
He bit his lip. He didn’t want to have to say it in front of Nunnally. “But…Euphie…I killed Euphie! I was the one who placed the geass on her that killed her! I killed my father, too! I’ve done so many horrible things that I just—!”
“Suzaku.” Lelouch stepped closer to him. “We both killed Euphie. I have done many terrible things as well. Should I die for my crimes as well?”
“Lelouch…”
“Kururugi Suzaku can die today, but you can still live. We all can. We are going to leave. A bomb will go off in this throne room and kill all four of us. No bodies will be identified in the blast. Today, Kururugi Suzaku, Emperor Lelouch, Princess Nunnally and Empress C.C. will all die. But the four of us can still live.” He grabbed Suzaku’s shoulders. “Suzaku, let’s leave all of this behind and find somewhere where we can all live! No one will ever know, but we can know peace again. Remember those happy days at the shrine? Wouldn’t you like to live them again?”
Suzaku had gone into that throne room ready to die. Instead, Lelouch was now offering him a glimmer of hope. “But…for everything I’ve done…what about that?”
“You don’t need to atone! Suzaku, if this works, we will have achieved peace. That is atonement enough, don’t you think?”
“Suzaku,” this time it was Nunnally who grabbed his hand. “We’ll achieve a peaceful world. And then we can go to our own peaceful world. Wouldn’t you like that?”
He deserved to die.
He deserved to die.
For everything he’d done, everything he was—a hypocrite and a murderer and a betrayer and a lousy best friend—he deserved to die.
And yet…now that it had been offered to him…he wanted to live.
Damn it all, he didn’t deserve it, he’d never deserve it, but he wanted to live!
“Live, Suzaku. Live for both yourself…and for Euphie.”
He bit back the tears in his eyes. Why did Lelouch have to mention Euphie! He stood up and stepped towards him. Lelouch offered out his hand.
“You stupid—!” Suzaku growled, smacking Lelouch hard.
“Hey!” Lelouch gasped, before Suzaku grabbed him…and hugged him.
“I hate you for this.” Suzaku muttered. “I hate you so much—!”
“I know.” Lelouch smirked. “You can hate me more later. But let’s get out of here, Suzaku. Let’s get on with our new life.”
Kallen raised her gun, hardly believing what she was seeing. So Suzaku was planning on betraying them after all! He was going to go off with Lelouch and—!
But…their plan was for Japan to win its independence. Britannia would be finished. Lelouch would abdicate. Even if it was a betrayal…everything worked out for the Japanese in the end.
She promised herself she would kill him if he betrayed them, but…did she really have to do it now? She would never see any of them again...perhaps things were better off left alone.
Though somehow, knowing she would never see Suzaku again made her feel a bit worried, more than relieved.
She turned her back, ready to sneak out. No point in hanging around only to get killed by their escape bomb…
Lelouch released Suzaku, but kept his hands on his shoulders. He couldn’t help but smile. At last, Suzaku had found something to live for. At last, things were going to turn out all right. He had lost so much in all of this—his mother, Shirley, Rolo, Euphie…he would never see Kallen or Cornelia again, and the Black Knights thought he betrayed them…the whole world hated him…
But at last, he and Suzaku, and Nunnally had found their perfect world. It was going to be all right, at last…
At last…
There was a movement behind one of the curtains. Everyone else was busy looking at the two of them that they didn’t notice—only he saw it.
He was about to bring it to their attention, but then the person stepped into the light and he couldn’t speak.
V.V. Though bloody, bruised and broken—he limped forward on a broken leg, and held a gun with one arm while his other battered one he clutched to his chest—he had somehow not died falling off the roof. Only then did Lelouch remember that many of the bedrooms had verandas.
They didn’t check to make sure he was dead. They hadn’t thought of it.
And now he had come back.
And he was pointing a gun right at Suzaku.
It was all because of you, Kururugi Suzaku! V.V. snarled, cocking the gun. If it wasn’t for you, Charles’ plan would have succeeded! We should have killed you the moment we learned of you!
Now at least I will have peace knowing you are dead!
It was like the time Rolo tried to kill Suzaku—Lelouch knew he only had seconds. No one here had a weapon—V.V. would shoot before Lelouch alerted anyone to his presence.
And Suzaku couldn’t see V.V. The geass wouldn’t activate if he didn’t know his life was in danger.
Lelouch only had seconds to decide. And decide he did.
“That softness might end up getting you killed some day.” C.C. had once said.
Heh, it was true.
But no matter what, Suzaku was his best friend. He would do anything for him.
Even this.
BANG!
Flecks of blood spattered across Suzaku’s face. Someone had pushed him aside, and though there was blood, he didn’t feel any pain…strange…
That was when he noticed Lelouch’s body, hand still outstretched where he had pushed Suzaku, falling towards the ground, blood spattered across his front.
Lelouch hit the ground, unmoving. Nunnally screamed. C.C. gasped and ran towards him. Someone at the end of the hall cried his name. But Suzaku could only stare at his best friend…his best friend…
“Lelouch…?” he said weakly.
His best friend…bleeding on the ground to save his miserable life.
A roaring cry came out of Suzaku as he picked his gun off the ground and fired—two, three, four—all of his rounds were emptied towards that curtain where the shot had come from. It wasn’t until the clip is emptied that he let up, and he saw a body—V.V.—fall to the ground, a hole through his skull, finally, finally dead.
Breathing heavy, Suzaku dropped his gun, turning back to Lelouch. Nunnally was crying. C.C. was looking grave. Suzaku heard a noise, and looked up—Kallen was running towards them. But when she saw, she stopped, unable to speak.
He couldn’t even tell her off for following them.
“C.C. Do something.” He begged, kneeling at Lelouch’s side.
“I cannot.” She bit her lip.
“C.C.!”
“I do not have the power to heal him!” She cried out, and now he saw there were tears in her eyes. “V.V….he was mortal and did not have his code...if he had, I would have been able to sense…” she shook her head.
“Please, you can do something, can’t you?” Tears flowed down his cheeks. “Can’t you? You’re an immortal witch, right? CAN’T YOU DO ANYTHING?!”
“I cannot give him a code while he is dying; he has already stepped beyond Geass’s boundaries!” She burst out, tears flowing now. “If I could, don’t you think I would have already…” She bit her lip and said no more.
“Suzaku…” Suzaku gasped, turning back as hazy purple eyes opened.
“Lelouch!” Suzaku grabbed his hand as Lelouch looked back at him. “You idiot! You stupid idiot! Why did you do that?”
Lelouch gave a weak smile. “Because I couldn’t see my best friend die right in front of me…”
“Stupid! I wanted to die! You were the one…you were the one that wanted to live! Why didn’t you just—?”
“Ask the witch…she says I’m too soft for my own good…” he gave a weak smile as blood dribbled past his lip. Nunnally began sobbing.
“Nunnally…” Lelouch looked back at his sister. “Onii-sama always loves you.”
He then looked to smirk back at C.C. “See you on the other side, Witch.”
C.C. did not smile back. She was fighting the tears as best she could.
It was then that Lelouch noticed Kallen standing there. All he gave was a weak “Sorry…” before turning back to Suzau.
“Suzaku…don’t let yourself die…take care of Nunnally for me…and C.C. as well.”
Teardrops were even falling onto Lelouch’s face now. “What the Hell are you doing, making speeches like you’re about to die—!”
“You deserve to live…you can do so many things, you know that? You’re hard headed enough to get them done…You saved Japan, and you can do it again. I know you can. Live for that, if nothing else…”
“Lelouch--!”
“Just don’t let yourself die…or what I’ve done will be in vain.”
“Lelouch, don’t…DON’T YOU DARE LEAVE ME—!”
Lelouch gave another raspy breath, and looked up towards the ceiling… “Dying for your sins, was it? Fitting that a demon king should end this way..."
"You're not." Suzaku said through tears, reaching up to remove his contact. "Lelouch vi Britannia died a hero."
There was a red ring around his eyes, and yet Lelouch smirked, as if he had always known it would come to this. "A hero, huh? I destroy worlds...and remake them. I finally got to make my perfect world...but I won't get to see it..."
He gave another cough...and then...
His hand fell limp in Suzaku’s.
Nunnally let out a wail and hugged her brother’s body. C.C. sat back, head cradled in her hands. Kallen sunk to her knees, unable to move from shock and despair.
And Suzaku merely stared at his best friend’s body, hating himself more than he ever had.
He thought when Euphie died it hurt the most.
He was wrong.
How long they sat there like that, he didn’t know; time meant nothing to him. But soon they could hear the Black Knights nearing, and all would be lost if they didn’t complete his plan.
Lelouch was dead.
But he had begged Suzaku to let his plan live on.
“Come on, we have to get out of here,” Suzaku said, wiping his eyes and standing up.
“Suzaku?” Nunnally asked weakly, as Suzaku tried to get them up.
“Lelouch…he wanted his perfect world. We have to follow his plan to make it a work.”
Kallen finally spoke. “But Lelouch…he is…”
“I KNOW HE’S DEAD!” Suzaku roared. “But he gave me a mission, he died so I could complete it. And that’s what I’m going to do! If you all want to stay here and mope then fine! But I will give him his perfect world no matter what! Is anyone with me?”
It took a moment, but after each in turn glancing down at Lelouch and remembering what this meant to him—what this meant to all of them, they nodded.
“Right,” Suzaku once again wiped the tears away. “Let’s finish this. For him.”
“Don’t let yourself die, Suzaku.” Lelouch had begged. “Live for Japan, if nothing else…”
And so he would.
He wanted to die, but now he had a purpose, something that even as he put in motion this plan of Lelouch’s, he could not forget.
He had to live life for all of them now—himself, Euphemia, and Lelouch.
And he wasn’t going to waste that for the world.
The flowers were set on the grave, as Prime Minister Kururugi looked on in silence. It was a beautiful memorial, backed by the Fountain of Peace in a garden devoted to the lives lost in the last war.
The words on the plaque read “Here lies an unknown, who gave his life for everlasting peace.”
Only a few knew the truth of who really was buried in that grave.
Suzaku continued to stand in silence, while a few onlookers turned and pointed. “It’s a good thing, for the people of Japan to see their Prime Minister placing flowers on a grave.” Kallen said, reassuring him.
“I don’t do it for the publicity.” Suzaku glared, wishing very much that he had decided to sneak out and have this little visit at night.
But of course, his loyal bodyguard wouldn’t allow that, now would she?
It had been two years, but Lelouch’s dream had been realized. Cornelia li Britannia took over Britannia’s throne in the ensuing chaos, and she had kept her promise to him. Britannia released the areas, and devoted its military to ensure the lasting peace. Suzaku had a feeling that perhaps she was against some of these measures, but if there was one thing he learned about the Britannian royal family, it was this—when promises were made over a dead loved one, they kept them.
The alliances the Black Knights made were useful in keeping the peace after Britannia relinquished its territories. There was struggle, yes, but the name of Zero still commanded respect and fear, across the world, even if the man himself was dead.
Zero died a war hero, a man who gave his life to bring down traitors. Yet, his body was mysteriously never found. And even still, when there was threat of trouble, Zero would mysteriously be seen and then suddenly vanish—that was all it took for any threats to disperse.
Somehow, even Suzaku wasn’t sure how it had happened, but when Japan was released and when they wished to form a new government, he was selected to reign as Prime Minister. He supposed at first that it was traditionalists who nominated him, because his father once held the post.
But then he began to hear of the everyday citizens who rallied behind him as well. Many Japanese remembered his reign as Governor-General. And they didn’t hate him for what he’d done—they’d taken it as a sign that Kururugi Suzaku had remembered his native people after all.
He didn’t want to accept. He just wanted to go away, far away and take Nunnally with him. Find a place where they could live in peace and mourn Lelouch. But Nunnally finally begged him to do it, “Suzaku…please, I know you can do it. You were able to help the Japanese all you could back when this country belonged to Britannia. Don’t you want to help them now? Onii-sama…I think Onii-sama would want you to do it. Why don’t we make Japan into this perfect world?”
He accepted.
Nunnally stayed with him, and somehow, oddly enough, so did Kallen. As she put it, “Lelouch would want someone to watch your back.” And she became Prime Minister Kururugi’s personal bodyguard.
There was someone else Suzaku wished could have stayed to watch his back. C.C. had disappeared after they completed Lelouch’s plan and left Britannia. He had sort-of hoped that she remembered their contract and would eventually come back, but he never heard from her again.
“I don’t understand,” Kallen had said. “She had a contract with both of you. Wasn’t it about ‘staying with you until death’?”
“She did have a contract with both of us,” he had admitted. “But she always cared more for Lelouch.” That’s why she was gone now…probably to wait until death to join him. Even after their contract was broken, she would wait for him. “Even though it was for such a short time, Lelouch did fulfill her wish. She’s not going to forget that easily.”
“Her wish?” Kallen had asked. Suzaku only gave a small smile and turned away.
Her wish was something only Lelouch could fulfill for her. Suzaku accepted that, and let her go, even if he did miss her rather odd company.
“It looks like it’s going to rain,” Kallen pointed up at the darkening sky, bringing Suzaku back to the present.
“Yeah, we’d better get back…I have to find out how they reacted to my proposal to rebuilding the railway system…”
“You said you’d have to raise taxes in order to finish it. Of course they’re not going to be happy.”
“Well, if they want to get around the country easier, they’re going to have to accept it—” He turned, but was then stopped in his tracks when he saw who was standing there.
“Gino…?”
The former Knight of Three looked rather odd in street clothes, Suzaku thought, and in his hands was a small bouquet of flowers. “I thought…didn’t you go back to Britannia?”
“I didn’t.” He said quickly, trying to look anywhere but at his former friend.
Kallen could barely take the silence. “Why are you here?”
“You people aren’t the only ones with someone to remember,” Gino snapped, beginning to head in the other direction.
Suzaku was just fine in letting him go, though he tried to ignore the small pang of regret in his heart. But Kallen wasn’t going to have any of it. “Gino, why don’t you stop by the office for tea sometime?”
Suzaku gaped at her. “Kallen—”
“—The Prime Minister would love to have you.”
Gino gave a hopeful look, but dropped it quickly. “No, its fine…I’m sure The Prime Minister is busy—”
Now Kallen had it. Grabbing her gun, she ever-so-gently added, “I don’t think I made myself clear. The Prime Minister would love to have you over. Isn’t that right, Suzaku…?”
Damn it. If they hadn’t insisted that it would look bad if the Prime Minister was always carrying around weapons, he could take her.
Hell, he could probably take her right now if he really wanted…but there were witnesses and it was all about the goddamn publicity…
“Right.” He said quickly, forcing himself to look back at Gino. “That’s right…it would be nice to see you and…catch up.”
Before Gino could say anything, Kallen casually twirled the gun in her hands, smirking slightly. “Yes…that would be…great.”
Kallen gave Suzaku a very hard nudge. “Er…how about tomorrow? Ow! Damnit, Kallen! Uh…afternoon tea?”
Even Gino couldn’t disguise the hopeful look in his eyes. “Great! I’ll…uh…see you then.”
“You’d better!” Kallen called after him as he left to go pay his respects to the other fallen.
Once Gino was out of earshot, Suzaku rounded on her. “Damnit, what the Hell was that about?”
“Listen here, Kururugi Suzaku!” Suzaku really wished she wouldn’t nudge him in the chest with her gun. “You already had to watch one friend of yours die. I’m not about to let you have that regret a second time.”
“You don’t even know why we stopped talking!”
“I know that. And I don’t care.” She finally put the weapon away. “Lelouch wanted you to have a reason for living. And if nothing else, I’m here to make sure you have it.”
Glancing back at the memorial, Suzaku gave a sad smile. “He sure was an idiot, huh? Ow! Stop hitting me—!”
“He was an idiot,” Kallen agreed. “But he was an idiot that did what he set out to do.”
“You mean make his perfect world.”
Kallen couldn’t help but share the small smile Suzaku held on his face. “Well, that, and…”
Not too far away, hidden behind one of the other memorials, a figure in a cloak watched on as Kallen and Suzaku enjoyed a small laugh and then went back to the office, to continue running this perfect world.
Maybe it wasn’t such a mistake after all, in giving you the Geass… C.C. thought, pulling the cloak tighter around her. You said you never wanted it, but it gave you the strength to do what you didn’t dare do before…
You were never a man of Britannia. Always, no matter what the cost, you fought for Japan. And while you saved Japan, Lelouch…he saved your soul.
A few droplets of rain began to fall, and with a small, sad smile, C.C. took one last look at Lelouch’s grave, before turning away, leaving them all to enjoy their perfect world.
I had many different ways I was thinking of ending it (one reason it took so long) but I felt this was the best way. One thing that bugged me about the ending of the series was that Suzaku STILL hated himself and wanted to die. At the core, this story was about Suzaku learning to live with himself, and more than that, wanting to live. So that's how I decided in the end.
So for maybe the two people who stuck with this long and not-frequently-updated story, thanks for reading and putting up with my insane ideas.
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It was such a coincidence that I was thinking 'when will the last chapter of Suzaku of Japan be out' this morning when I lent my Code Geass dvd to my friend this morning!!! (was actually fearing that you had drop this fabulous work of yours... >.<)
Thanks for all your hard work!! ♥ It's one of the best and most interesting Code Geass fanfictions and I enjoyed reading it very much!!!
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I don't usually read AU fics -- hell, I don't even usually like them
I'm too much of a canon whore, but this was brilliant! I actually would have preferred some of these events happening as opposed to the train-wreck that was R2. And NO, I'm actually not sucking up to you on that one. xDYou planning on writing anymore fanfics in the future? I'd love to read them! =D
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