[[Author's Note; These stories are set in a head canon, Lelouch and Suzaku are now lovely bishshojo and the concept of Geass never exisits, Marianne is still very much alive, and Nunnally can still see and walk. Leloucia has other reasons for hating the empire.]]

There wasn't a sound in the air as Suzako sat there, twisted pieces of shrapnel scattered at her feet. The sun was setting behind her, dyeing the sky in deep reds and oranges.

I-

"Suzy! Suzy!"

Olive eyes snapped up. There was only one person that could get away calling her that. Suzako stood up as the Britannian princess came into view, panting a little as her pace slowed. The bottom of her sundress was torn, and her legs were scratched and bruised.

"Luluko, your leg-"

"Here you are! Dammit, Suzy, why did you run away from me?"

Suzako looked away, trying to escape Leloucia's disapproving glare. "I-"

"Never mind that," Leloucia sighed and stepped closer to her friend. "They'll be here soon, so I came to say goodbye, Suzy."

Suzako's eyes grew wide, looking back up at the princess. "Goodbye?"

Leloucia nodded slowly, her features falling. She had always known she wasn't really sent here to study abroad. It was just a lie to keep her little sister, Nunnally, at ease. They were political tools and nothing more. So now that the war was over…

"I have to return to the homeland."

"Oh…" was the only answer Suzako could muster. She didn't have it in her to be angry at this situation. It was what she deserved for the sin she committed when she selfishly murdered her father. That was how she justified having her only friend taken away from her.

The princess looked at the ground between the two of them. She didn't want to admit that Suzako's reaction hurt her more than leaving.

"What about you, what are you going to do now?"

"Old man Kirihara says I should go to the Britannian military base for now."

"But you hate Britannia!"

"I don't have much of a choice."

Leloucia's fingers balled into fists and shook at her sides. She didn't know this girl standing before her. This person would roll over and obey orders. This person was not her Suzy. Her Suzy would argue and fight back, even if it was pointless to do so.

Suzako shook her head, smiling sadly. "But I guess now it's a good thing."

The princess gasped, looking wide eyed at her friend. "What?"

"I'm going to work to be your knight," Suzako said, a faint line of determination in her voice. She didn't know it yet, but she wouldn't trust Leloucia's life with anyone else.

Leloucia's face lit up, her eyes watering. Maybe she wouldn't have to live without this girl she had grown so close to. "Oh, Suzy!" Leloucia began to run forward toward Suzako when suddenly her arm was
grabbed. She cried out of instinct, trying to pull away.

"Your Highness, don't run off like that. It's time to go now." The guard spoke in a monotone.

"No!" Leloucia cried out, trying to break away from the man. She was always so weak. But suddenly, he had let go. When Leloucia opened her eyes, Suzako had the guard on his knees in pain.

"Don't touch my princess, you Brit shit!"

"Your princess?" Leloucia whispered, unsure if she liked the thought of belonging to Suzako.

Suzako turned around quickly, taking Leloucia's hands in hers. She knew she didn't have long before the guard recovered.

"Luluko, I swear to you I'll be your knight one day. For real this time," Suzako assured Leloucia as she pulled her into a tight embrace. "I promise you I will."

Leloucia stood there stunned; slowly she wrapped her arms around Suzako. There was a painful burn in her chest. This girl was willing to give up everything so easily. She felt tears collect in her eyes. "Suzy…" she whispered as she held the girl closer to her.

The two girls stood there holding each other, Leloucia's tears seeping into Suzako's shirt, until they were violently ripped apart by the recovered guard. Suzako was sent crashing into the ground. Her leg torn open by the twisted shrapnel.

She grit her teeth against the pain that clouded her eyes as she looked up at the guard. He had a tight grip on Leloucia's arm. The princess's face held a look of sheer terror as she watched through tear filled eyes as her friend bled into the ruined pavement. Suzako went to get up but her leg was already numb from the pain.

"Let her go!" Suzako screamed, frustrated that she couldn't move.

"Shut up, you worthless Eleven!" the guard spat as a town car pulled up behind him.

"What did you call me?! I'm Japanese!" Suzako yelled, her voice cracking out of fear- not fear for herself, but for Leloucia.

"You lost; you're nothing but a shit Number now." He yanked on Leloucia's arm, dragging her to the car.

"Suzy!" Leloucia cried out, mustering any strength she had to fight against the guard.

Olive eyes narrowed, determined, as her whole body was pumped full of adrenaline as she stood up against the indescribable ache in her leg. She stumbled forward towards the car. She had to save Leloucia from this man; she couldn't stand by; not if she wanted to be her knight someday.

The guard threw Leloucia into the car, slamming the door shut; muttering something about how there was no doubt that this little witch was Lady Marianne's daughter. Leloucia scrambled to the back window, staring at Suzako as she staggered behind the car.

"Suzy!" Her cries echoed through the town car, tears never stopping. How could they just leave her injured there like that? Her stomach churned, fear setting in. Suzako was so strong, but they were quite a ways from the shrine.

Suzako's leg buckled, forcing her to her knees. She clenched her eyes closed against the sudden wash of shameful tears that filled them. Her fingernails dug at the busted pavement.

"Luluko-!" she choked out, tears falling freely now.

She couldn't protect Leloucia. How would she ever be worthy enough to be a knight now? A sob caught in her throat, inducing a violent cough and gasps for air.

I failed you... Could you ever forgive me?