Suzaku stood in the rubble, looking up at Zero. All of today had been tiring for him. A strange man in a strange mask, comes along and rescues him, claiming to be the one who had killed Prince Clovis. In all appearances he seemed to be a terrorist. Standing above Suzaku to show how superior he was, and asking Suzaku to join him. Suzaku refused, he had to, he would not be a part of this. He couldn't accept Zero's ways.
"My court martial is in an hour," said Suzaku, believing this conversation to be over.
"So is that it then? You'll serve those who oppress your people, for your naive idealistic belief? How selfish. You go back to them, and you will serve the man who would abandon his own children, to die in a war zone without care." Suzaku froze. Heart beating too loudly, blood rushed to his ear as he heard his own heartbeat getting louder, that he thought Zero could hear it.
"What do you know?" Suzaku's voice as raspy, fear lacing it. If Zero knew about Lelouch and Nunnally, then.. Then. his eyes widened with fear, he stayed frozen, his back to Zero.
Zero hopped down, now walking towards him, his footsteps echoing in the empty building.
"Seven years ago, Charles Zi Britannia sent his ten year old son and six year old daughter to Japan, as political hostages," Zero's voice wasn't loud, but it was matter of factly, reciting everything almost emotionless, but Suzaku could detect a bit of anger in his voice.
"The Lady Marian, their mother, had been assassinated. Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally, were sent to your home. Tossed away like garbage by their so called family." Suzaku's hands clinched. He couldn't breath, sweat trickled down his face, his heart bumping.
"Then the empire attacked, and like everyone else in Japan, they left for dead." Suzaku heard Zero scuff. "They were even pronounced dead, weren't they? Without anyone looking for the prince who faced his father in fury, or the crippled blind princess who can't defend herself. Now tell me Kururugi, is that the man you are willing to serve, sacrifice everything for, and die for? Is he that worthy?"
"Not every Britannian is like him," said Suzaku, trying to cling to something. "I can still change things from within," his voice became stronger saying that.
"No," said Zero. "To them, you are an Eleven. To them, you are not a person. Just a tool. And no matter how much you try, no matter how much you go up, even if you achieved the highest honor any knight could achieve, to them you will always be an Eleven. So long as That Man sits on the throne."
Suzaku turned around, he glared half heartedly at the masked man. "Do you know what happened to them?" he said, then averted his eyes.
Zero walked a few steps closer. Gently he took Suzaku's chin in his hand. Zero's thumb was under his lips, while his index and middle fingers were on Suzaku's chin. Directing Suzaku's face right to the mask, where Zero's eyes would be.
"They're alive. They're safe, both of them."
Suzaku let out a breath he didn't know he held. "How do you know all of this?"
"I have my spies to inform me on such information. Think about it Suzaku. If you join the Empire, if you serve them. Then you forsake Japan, you forsake your people, and you forsake the Vi Britannians," Zero's hand finally left his face.
"I would never betray them," Suzaku whispered.
"But you might be called upon to do so," He paused for a few seconds. "I do not know what it is," Zero said, "But I do see the guilt in your eyes," Zero took one step backwards, and extended his hand. "Whatever it was that you have done, Suzaku Kururugi, I can assure you of one thing. Neither I nor the Vi Britannian's would care. Come, join me. For them. They need you."
"How do I… how do I know that you won't hurt them?" Suzaku asked.
"And what, pray tell, would hurting them serve?" replied Zero. "They have been betrayed by their own, left for dead. The cruelty of Britannia is something they've survived. It's people like them that I intend to help. I do not seek destruction, nor chaos. I seek justice and vengeance, for all those who had suffered. I entend to protect the innocent, whether they be Japanese or Britannians."
Both of Suzaku's hands were clenched, his eyes were closed, head downcast, and his entire body shook. Be it from fear, frustration or anger, Zero could not tell.
"I see that you are not entirely convinced yet," Zero's hand finally fell, no longer extended. "Very well, then I will give you another chance. I can tell you where the Vi Britanians are." Suzaku's head shot up in surprise, his eyes wide, with fear lurking behind them. It was hard to breath. And it was killing him as those seconds Zero was silent in felt like decades.
"You will not expose them, of that I am sure. Go back to them, spend a day with them, and come back here the next night. Then, and only then, give me your definite answer. Go back to the Britannian Military and betray them. Or join me, and be their knight."
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
It took half an hour to reach the address Zero has given him. Suzaku had no idea why he was following the instructions of a terrorist. Why was he doing this in the first place? If anything Lelouch and Nunnally would be safer if he never saw them again. He was nothing but trouble. He could hurt them.
Even though these thoughts raced through his head, they didn't stop him ringing the door bill. A few seconds past, and Suzaku just wanted to run away again. What would lessening to Zero achieve? Did he really want to protect them? Did he really want the freedom of Japan? These thoughts raced through his head until the door was opened and the light from inside hit Suzaku.
A Japanese woman in a maid's outfit stood in front of him. She blinked, confused. Her eyes widened when she recognized him. She took one fast step back as if she was ready to fight, before a familiar voice was heard.
"Saiyaku? Who is i.." Lelouch came to view, and froze, his eyes wide, his lips slightly apart. It felt like eternity, before Lelouch took a breath through his teeth, and smiled. His eyes became half lidded, as he flung himself at Suzaku, giving him a hug, as tears filled his eyes.
"Suzaku!" he yelled happily, burying his face in Suzaku's neck. "We were so worried about you."
Lelouch tried to take a step back from his best friend, but Suzaku's arms encircled his waist, and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. Lelouch could feel Suzaku's body shaking with tears, as he souped.
"I'm.. I'm just, so, so glad that you're, that you're ok."
A small sad smile appeared on Lelouch's lips. He closed his eyes, then threaded one of his hands in Suzaku's hair, and started to stroke it. It took a few minutes, but the soupes finally subsided, and Suzaku finally felt that he could let go of Lelouch.
"I'm sorry, Lelouch. It's just, it's been a long night," Suzaku smiled a teary smile at him. Lelouch returned it tenderly.
"Come on in, Suzaku," said Lelouch, then took a step to the side, and with his arm gestured to the still open door, where Saiyaku was still standing there stunned at her young master's reaction. "Look at you still in that straight jacket. Come on hopefully we'll find something in my closet that would fit you, at least pajamas would an improvement at the moment."
"I..I mean, I don't want to intrude," said Suzaku and fidgeted in place.
Lelouch's arms settled on his hips, and he gave Suzaku a less than impressed look.
"Idiot," Lelouch sighed. "You are staying the night, and that is final. Clear?"
Suzaku chuckled and nodded, then looked at his childhood friend, with a smile. "Thank you."
Lelouch sighed in exasperation again. Suzaku walked a step behind Lelouch. The young prince gave him a small smile, and put his finger on his lips signaling for both people there to not say a word.
The three of them headed to the room Nunnally was sitting in. "Is that you big brother? What took you and miss Saiyaku so long?"
Suzaku came closer to her, and put his hand in hers. Nunnally gasped, unable to believe it. "Suzaku? Is it really you?" she asked, daring to hope.
A small smile came to both boys in the room. "Yes Nunnally It's me, I'm here."
"Thank god you're ok! you're staying with us tonight right?" she asked a small hopeful smile on her lips.
Before Suzaku can say anything in return Lelouch answered her "He is, at the very least staying the night."
Suzaku turned his head to look in surprise at Lelouch.
"That's wonderful!" said Nunnally crushing any hope of being able to refuse his best friend now. "Lelouch and I have missed you so much."
A sad smile came to Suzaku's lips. "I've missed you too."
After a shower Lelouch gave Suzaku one of his pajamas. After dinner, Lelouch guided Suzaku to his room.
"Take the bed," Lelouch ordered gently.
"No I can't do that, I'm just your guest," Suzaku tried to protest.
"And as my guest, and especially after all that had happened to you today, you are taking my bed," replied Lelouch gently but with finality in his voice.
"I don't deserve all of this Lelouch."
The prince scophed. "Idiot. You deserve so much more. Goodnight, Suzaku. "
"Goodnight, Lelouch."
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
"You can't stay another night?" Nunnally asked, she sounded sad. And it broke Suzaku's heart to hear her voice like that. Suzaku knelt, a sad smile on his kips.
"I'm sorry, Nunnally. I have to go. At least for a little while. There is someone I have to meet tonight."
"Alright. But promise me you will come back and visit us soon," the young princess said cheerfully. Suzaku chuckled. "I'll try, I promise you that."
"You're not going back to them are you Suzaku?" she asked.
"Hmm?" Suzaku hummed in confusion. "Who?"
"The Britannian Military. You're not going back to them are you?"
"Nunnally."
"It's just, they wrongly accused you. I.. I know there is no way that you have done it. But they pinned it you any way because you're Japanese didn't they?"
"I…"
"It's you're choice Suzaku, but," it seemed like she was about to cry. "Lelouch and I, we love you, we want you to be happy, and in a place where they won't stab you in the back because of who you are." Suzaku hugged her suddenly, fighting tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks.
Lelouch had completely skipped school for the day. The three of them had stayed all day together. Going to the park, catching up on everything that had went through all the years that they have been apart. It was one of the happiest days in Suzaku's life, after everything he's been through, being with Nunnally and Lelouch once more, was paradise for him. He didn't deserve them, or their kindness. But he was going to do everything in his powers to protect them.
Suzaku got out of the door. "Suzaku!" he heard Lelouch yell. A small smile came to his lips, and before he turned around, Lelouch wrapped his arms around Suzaku's waist, pressed his body to Suzaku's back, and buried his face in Suzaku's neck.
"Please, Suzaku. Come back to me," Lelouch whispered, his voice husky. Suzaku's heartbeats became faster, his head felt lighter. He wanted to turn around, to wrap his own hands around his prince, to press him harder into his body. But he had to leave, he had to give Zero his answer tonight. And if he didn't leave now, he knew he never will. Not with Lelouch so close to him like this.
"I'll see you soon, hopefully," Suzaku sent Lelouch one last smile before he untangled himself from the prince, and headed towards the place where he agreed to meet Zero there.
When he finally reached the place Zero was already there. "Did you make your choice, Kururugi?" Zero asked as he started walking towards Suzaku. When he was close enough, he extended his hand once more. "Will you join me?"
Suzaku looked at the mask, and extended his hand, reaching for zero. "For their sake. I will join you. Do you truly mean everything that you said to me?"
"Every single word I said."
"Tell me, how?"
"This world is rotten and corrupt, where the weak suffer for the pleasure of the strong. This world, cruel and vicious, needs to be destroyed. So innocent people, the weak and the defenseless, can live with no fear. A place, where a child such as the princess Nunnally deserve to live in."
"What do you need me to do?" An unseen smirk of satisfaction appeared on Zero's face.
"I want you.. no , I need you to be my Knight."
Keeping his eyes on the mask, Suzaku knelt in front of Zero. "Is this going to be a parody of a knighting ceremony then?"
"No, not at all," said Zero. Suzaku's eyes widened in surprise.
"Suzaku Kururugi, do thee swear your loyalty to me? To be my hand? To serve me as I see fit? To protect the weak? To slay my enemies as if they were your own?"
It took a moment of hesitation from Suzaku, but he finally answered with his head bowed. "I swear it."
"Do you swear to guard and protect Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally Vi Britannia? To crush their enemies? To be their Knight, until the day you die."
"I swear it, my liege," there was no hesitation this time. His voice was strong with determination.
"Then rise, my Knight of Zero." Suzaku did as ordered. "I understand that the two of them are precious to you, Suzaku. And therefore, you are not merely my knight, you're their knight as well."
"Thank you, Zero," Suzaku bowed to the masked man.