Change in the Path of Life
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.
Author Notes: I can read you thoughts and it goes something like- ANOTHER FIC?! Yes, I know I still have to update the others but this isn't a serious fic. Just a two shot, kind-of crack fic with slightly Crack pairings. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: A New Life, A New Wife
Lelouch vi Britannia died with a smile on his face.
"Lelouch?" Groaning, he buried his face deeper into the pillow. Wait a minute….. pillow? He bolted up and looked around trying to make sense of what was happening.
He was supposed to be dead. He couldn't be alive. He shouldn't be alive. That was the whole point of taking over the world. If he survived then it would ruin the purpose of the Zero Requiem. He had made sure that he wouldn't be saved. He-
"Lelouch, are you alright?" Nunnally.
For a moment, Lelouch merely gaped at his sister in surprise. She was standing by his bed with a concerned expression on her face. He let the fact that she was standing by her own without any support or help sink in.
"Nunnally? You got cured?" He blurted out. Now it was Nunnally's turn to be confused.
"Was I sick?" She asked, titling her head to the side.
Lelouch didn't reply and kept staring at her. "Nunnally! Lelouch! We are going to be late." A sharp rap on the door made both the siblings jump.
"Coming Euphie!" Turning back to Lelouch she said, "Get dressed soon Lelouch. We have to get there soon if we want to be there on time." And with that Nunnally exited the room. Lelouch was still in shock.
'Euphie is alive.' He thought. And it was then he noticed his surroundings. There was a bit of change but he had no doubt that this was his bedroom in the Aries villa. 'But how did I reach here?' The last thing he remembered was staring into Nunnally's eyes as he took his last breath. That meant he couldn't be dreaming.
"Master., I think you better dress up soon before Princess Nunnally and Princess Euphemia get angry." At the familiar voice, Lelouch tumbled out of bed rather comically.
"CC." And there shew as standing by the doorway wearing a maid's uniform, complete with an apron. (But he was slightly comforted by the fact that her face had the same apathetic expression he was used to)
"How are you here? What is happening?" Lelouch fired his questions.
"My, my Prince Lelouch, isn't it irresponsible to forget about you engagement party?" The slight mocking tone CC used didn't bother him as much as seeing the formal suit that had been kept on the couch.
"My engagement party?" Lelouch's voice came out choked.
CC merely smiled. "Your engagement party you are going to be late to if you don't hurry up." And just as she turned to leave she glanced back with a grin.
"Think of it as a second chance." And she was gone.
Numbly, Lelouch dressed up before making his way out of his room. The hallways looked the same like he remembered. But his mind was busy trying to understand what CC had meant by the statement.
'Second chance?'
"Lelouch! There you are. Come one! We are already late as it is." Lelouch's breath got caught in his throat when he saw Euphie coming towards him. She looked as young and innocent as the last time he had seen her.
(Only last time she had a gun in her hand and blood all over her)
"Euphie…." She grabbed his hand and dragged him along with her. He didn't understand what was happening. Was it some kind of heaven? But Nunnally was not dead.
As he furiously tried to figure out what was happening they had reached their destination.
A huge airship was waiting for them. "Nunnally has already boarded." Euphie began dragging him up the stairs, into the air ship
"Where are we going?" Lelouch asked.
With an exasperated look at him she replied, "It's no time to joke Lelouch. We are going to Chinese Federation for you engagement party."
'Who? Who in Chinese Federation?' Lelouch closed his eyes and leaned back. The only one eligible to marry him would be the Empress but she was a child for God's sake! There was a reason he had kidnapped her from her wedding.
Frowning, he sighed tired. If this second chance at life meant he had to marry a child then he would rather go to hell.
(Though Lelouch did realize that she was only 2 years younger than him her size didn't reassure her)
"We have landed your Highnesses." Lelouch's eyes flew open. He had dozed off and didn't even realise that they had reached.
He wondered if it would be possible for him to hide in the plane until all the festivities were over.
"Let's go Lelouch. Suzaku is going to meet us here." Euphie grinned and eagerly got out. At Suzaku names Lelouch felt his mouth go dry. Suzaku Kururugi. The man that had ruined his best laid plans. The friend that helped him save the world. The best friend who had killed him. Swallowing thickly, he nodded and followed Nunnally out of the plane.
The sky was blue. So, so blue. Exactly like the day he had died.
"Nunnally?" Her violet gaze pierced him. "What's the date today?"
"22nd October 2018."
And Lelouch had to smile at the irony that he had supposed; he been given the second chance on the day he had died.
"Lelouch." He looked up to meet green eyes of his best friend. They had stepped out of the plane and were standing on the tarmac.
A big, black limousine was waiting for there. Beside it stood three people. Tw of them Lelouch could recognize very well. His ace and his Knight of Zero. He had never met the 3rd but he could guess his identity well enough. Naoto Kouzuki.
"You look nervous," Suzaku grinned at him and Lelouch idly noted that this Suzaku resembled the 10 year old Suzaku he had befriended all those years back instead of a soldier of Britannia. His green eyes held no sorrow and his shoulders didn't slump with the weight of the world.
"It's his engagement. Of course he's going to be nervous." Kallen scoffed.
"I don't remember you bring nervous during out engagement." Suzaku's eyes twinkled as he grinned the blushing Kallen.
'Engagement? Kallen and Suzaku?' Lelouch glanced at Euphie. She seemed unaffected, smiling happily at the apparent couple.
"She wasn't the blushing bride, she was more like Godzilla. You should've seen her scream at the soldier in her nervousness." Naoto jibed as Kallen scowled and punched him on the arm.
"Well it's your turn next. Let me see how you fare." She growled and Naoto just laughed and pulled Euphie closer to him.
Then it clicked in Lelouch's mind.
Suzaku and Kallen.
Euphie and Naoto.
"Rolo!" Nunnally squealed as another limo pulled up and Rolo stepped out.
And Nunnally and Rolo.
Lelouch promptly fainted.
"Lelouch? Lelouch?" A bit of water was sprinkled on his face. This had to be a dream. There was no way that his little sister and-
"Lelouch wake up!" A sharp sting on his face jolted him out if his fantasies and he looked into the sharp blue eyes of Kallen.
"Kallen." Suzaku sounded exasperated. "You didn't need to slap him."
"He wasn't waking up." Kallen sat back. It was then Lelouch realized that he was lying back on a leather seat. The limo. He sat up and looked around groggily. Only Kallen and Suzaku were here.
(He ignored the fact that they were staring at him warily)
"Where are the others?" He asked instead.
(And by others he meant Nunnally.)
"They went in the other limo." Suzaku informed him, the concerned expression never leaving his face. "Are you alright Lelouch?"
That made Lelouch pause.
What is he had been going at it in the wrong way? Maybe the rebellion, exile and his death was a dream and this life was real. But he had felt the sword penetrate through his skin. He had felt the pain of losing the people he cared about.
That could not be a dream.
And he didn't even remember this life. There were also CC's words to consider.
"Is CC here?" He blurted out.
Suzaku and Kallen blinked.
"CC? Who the hell is CC?" Kallen narrowed her eyes. "Is there something we should know about you and this CC?" Kallen's suspicious tone didn't fail to register in Lelouch's mind.
"No no! It's not what you think! Lelouch expression turned into a grimace as he thought about what Kallen was trying to imply. "God! It's nothing like that. It just slipped out."
Kallen's suspicious expression didn't falter while Suzaku merely looked confused.
Lelouch sighed. It was going to be a long ride.
"Lelouch-sama!" A voice squealed just as he got out of the limo with (a still suspicious) Kallen and (a still confused) Suzaku in tow.
"Kaguya. Let Lelouch breathe." Naoto's amused voice cut in.
Kaguya merely giggled before letting Lelouch go. He coughed before standing up straight.
"I am just greeting my best friends' fiancé."
Kaguya winked.
Lelouch felt like banging his head.
So his assumption had been correct. It was Tianzi that he was engaged to.
"Prince Lelouch vi Britannia!" Li Xingke stepped forward. "Welcome to the Chinese Federation." Lelouch was surprised to see a gentle smile on the usually stoic man's face. It didn't suit him.
Lelouch forced a smile and nodded.
Lelouch had worked with Li Xingke and the smile didn't fool him.
They were all taken in and escorted to their respective rooms to rest. As soon as the door close behind him Lelouch flopped on the bed and the thick pillows helped muffle his screams.
After a few minutes of screaming, he felt better. Letting himself off the bed, he ignored the suit he was supposed to wear for the party and stood in front of the huge mirror.
Gingerly, he traced the edge of his eyes. No geass. No sign of it. Running a hand through his hair, he sighed. He had no other choice other than to play along for now.
He proceeded to take a nice hot (not to mention long) shower and wear his suit. "Lelouch, you ready?"
With one last glance in the mirror, Lelouch sighed and opened the door to reveal Suzaku standing there with smile on his face.
"Congratulations."
Lelouch smiled. "Thanks."
"You don't seem too excited about it." Lelouch pursed his lips.
"I'm just… nervous." Lelouch smiled nervously. "You too were on your engagement party if you don't remember." Lelouch didn't know whether Suzaku was nervous or not but he did know Suzaku for the past 8 years and knew how he reacted.
Smiling sheepishly Suzaku nodded. "Yeah, that's true."
"Come on, let's go." Suzaku led the way. They reached a grand door and Lelouch strangely felt like a prince in the fairy tales he used to read to Nunnally. As Suzaku opened them and entered Lelouch felt a strange sense of Déjà vu. It seemed to be the same scene that he had experienced in his dimension (the only difference being that they had entered from another door than the one he had entered as Zero and that he was the one getting married to her this time)
There were many people milling around and Lelouch saw the High Eunuchs sitting on the long table that was elevated. He and Tianzi would have to sit on it later in the night for dinner.
"It's good to see Britannia and Chinese Federation mixing together so nicely." Suzaku commented cheerfully unaware of the inner turmoil Lelouch was going through. "Anyways I better find Gino and ask him about the security arrangements." Suzaku grinned at Lelouch and disappeared into the crowd.
"Your highness." Lelouch glanced up and caught the sight of Jeremiah.
"Jeremiah. What- "He also caught sight of Sayoko who was standing a bit too close to Jeremiah.
"Sayoko-san." The bulge of her stomach didn't go unnoticed by Lelouch. "The baby-"
"Is doing perfectly fine." Jeremiah looked excited. "He has started to kick."
"He?"
"We are expecting a boy." Sayoko intervened. "We thought of naming him after you."
Lelouch just stared at them numbly for a moment before regaining his senses and smiling warmly.
"I'm honoured."
"Lelouch!"
"Miss Milly." Sayoko smiled at the girl that had come running up to them.
"Sayoko. I see that you are getting bigger." The trademark Milly grin was present on her face. Lelouch didn't know whether he should be glad or very, very afraid (especially after her smirk turned a bit twisted when she directed it at him)
Sayoko just smiled before saying. "Well excuse us as we go and meet Ohgi-san and Villeta."
Milly just nodded and turned to Lelouch.
"What are you doing here?" Lelouch asked. It wasn't that he wasn't glad to see her. On the contrary, he was happy he was able to meet one of his closest friends again.
"How rude." Milly huffed folding her arms across her chest. "Clovis bought me along with him."
"Uh?"
"Fine. I might've thre- warned him that he may lose his fiancée if he doesn't take her with him." Milly's blue eyes twinkled and Lelouch was dumbstruck.
"You and Clovis are-"
"Don't worry. I won't be breaking up with him since he bought me here." Milly grinned.
The amount of unexpected couples he had come across since he woke up had rendered him speechless. But then he decided that they both suited each other; in a very weird and strange way. Since Clovis would never be seen with a commoner, Lelouch decided that the Ashfords might've never lost their noble status. That seemed plausible since he was still a Prince.
"There comes the Empress." At that Lelouch turned towards the doors. People were beginning to part to make way for the young Empress to enter. Tianzi was wearing the traditional dress that Lelouch recalled her wearing during the party he had crashed with Kaguya. She still looked small but there was a spark of confidence in her features Lelouch was sure wasn't there in his time.
"Like what you see?" Milly gently teased him. Against his will, his grimaced. Realizing that it wasn't the most appropriate behaviour from a future groom he tried to school his features into something more pleasant. But Milly immediately spotted it.
"What's wrong?" Her eyes were narrowed as she placed both her hands on her hips.
"Nothing." Denial.
"Lelouch….." She trailed off and from experience Lelouch knew that there would be some threat at the end of it. "If you don't tell me what's wrong I will make sure that all your family members AND your future bride gets a copy of the photograph of the time you dressed up in a kimono." And he was right. Used to such threats Lelouch merely sighed. (He didn't remember dressing up in a kimono- in this dimension)
"Don't you think we make an…..unusual couple?"
"Unusual?"
"We don't suit each other." He mumbled conscious of the people surrounding them. Most of them were from the Chinese Federation and Lelouch knew better than to anger them. "Isn't she a bit too small for me?"
Milly frowned. "She is Nunnally's age."
"Exactly! I can only see her as a small sister and nothing more!" Milly looked amused.
"You didn't have a problem before. I remember Suzaku bringing up the same point but you said that 'it was a political move and not an emotional one'. What happened suddenly?" Lelouch just stared at Milly for a moment before rubbing his forehead. He had forgotten that he had been bought up a prince over here then the ideals would be drilled in his head.
"I changed my mind."
"Isn't it too late for that?" Milly asked crossing her arms across her chest. At Lelouch's dejected look Milly sighed and let her hands fall to her sides. "Fine. I will see what I can do." At that Lelouch brightened up. If there was one thing he had complete faith in was Milly's manipulation skills. He had been a victim of it many a times. "But no guarantees." She wagged a finger.
Lelouch merely grinned.
With that she disappeared into the crowd.
"Prince Lelouch!" A hand wrapped around his shoulder and he supressed the urge to jerk away.
"Weinberg." He muttered instantly recognizing the blonde. He hadn't spent much time with him but he did remember Gino from Ashford Academy.
"Recorded." Looking up in surprise, he saw Anya with her pink camcorder. But Lelouch immediately spotted the difference between the Anya he knew and this Anya. This Anya had a smile on her face and amusement danced in her eyes as she observed them. There was something more… girlish and childish about her that hadn't been present in the Anya he knew. He was glad that the girl was not suffering from any problems caused by his mother.
"Enjoying the party?" Lelouch forced a smile on his face as he detangled himself from Gino's arms.
"It is certainly a lot of fun, Your Highness." Gino remarked pulling back.
"By fun he means he is enjoying stuffing his mouth with Chinese Cuisine."
"Not my fault if their food is so amazing." Gino defended himself. Anya merely shook her head, an amused smile playing on her lips.
"Whatever you say Gino."
"Have you already started badgering Lelouch?" Lelouch glanced to the side where Suzaku made his way towards them with a grin on his face.
"I wasn't badgering him." Gino pouted.
"It sure looked like that." Suzaku laughed as Gino poked his tongue out at him.
Lelouch felt like an outsider as he observed such a normal scene. He was used to war and bloodshed. He was used to see the anger and hatred in Suzaku's eyes and he was used to Gino and Anya being on the opposite end of the battlefield. The moment went against everything he was used to.
"I will be back." At their questioning glances, Lelouch smiled (fakely) and explained, "I need some fresh air."
They didn't seem too convinced but nodded their heads anyway before turning back to talk. Only Suzaku's eyes followed Lelouch as he made his way towards the balcony.
Leaning against the railing, Lelouch rubbed his forehead tiredly. He didn't understand. He was a logical person. According to him, he should be dead. This cannot be a dream since the dead don't dream. Even if he was saved then this wasn't the world he was born in. So what was happening?
"You are overthinking again."
Lelouch didn't raise his head as the voice floated to him. He felt her presence beside him.
"I am Lelouch. That's what I do."
He heard her sigh as she stepped closer to him. "Just let it go. Stop thinking for some time. Enjoy the chance you have been given." Lelouch pursed his lips and turned his head to the side to glare at her. She looked as relaxed as he wanted to feel.
"It's easy for you to say. You aren't the one who was supposed to die but woke up in another world where you are still a Prince and engaged to a child." Lelouch snapped. He knew that she had something to do with all this. She always had something to do with whatever went wrong.
"I told you to take it as a second chance."
"A second chance at what?" He asked exasperated.
"At life. To enjoy the things you couldn't." CC titled her head to study him. "To die with old age rather than assassination."
"I think I rather die young than to marry a child."
"She isn't a child you know. She is only 2 years younger than you. And she is quite the Lolita." CC grinned at the horrified look on his face.
"T-that's- she's like Nunnally!" He scowled as she threw her head back and laughed merrily at his misery. But he didn't say anything else knowing that anything he tried to tell would just make her more amused. But he couldn't just stand quietly while he got married to a child. And he still wasn't able to accept the fact that he was in a different, happier dimension.
"Well…. Is that the only argument you-"
"Lelouch?" The person in question froze as he resisted the urge to bang his head on the railing.
"Who are you?" Another voice cut in. It was then Lelouch realized that CC was still beside him and he could not mistake the irritation and suspicion in Kallen's voice. Suzaku was quiet so Lelouch wasn't keen on turning around and seeing the expression on his face. For the first time since he had started talking to CC, he noticed that she was wearing the same Black Knights dress she used to wear.
"Me? Just a well-wisher." Was CC's voice as mocking to Kallen as it was to Lelouch?
"What? I don't remember authorizing any unofficial guests in this-"Yes, it was.
"Calm down Kallen." Suzaku's firm voice cut in. "Lelouch can you please explain?"
Now Lelouch had no other choice than to turn around and face the suspicious couple staring at CC in interest.
"Who are you?" Kallen still seemed adamant on interrogating CC.
"I am CC." At that Kallen's eyes widened and she turned her attention on Lelouch.
"You were asking about her in the car!" Lelouch marvelled the fact that Kallen's hair seemed to be on fire when she was angry. "That means you- you and her-"Lelouch was left spluttering at her wide eyes accusation as even Suzaku looked startled at the turn of events.
"Oh really Lelouch? You missed me so much?" Of course CC wasn't helping the situation much. The slight smirk on her lips clearly gave out the sign that she was hugely amused by the situation and her eyes held glee at seeing Lelouch cornered.
"W-Whu? NO!" Lelouch shot back as soon as he regained his senses and napped out of his shock and disgusts. "Me and thi- this witch?" Lelouch might respect CC and consider her as his closest ally and even as a trustworthy friend but nothing more than that. She was older than his great- great-great grandparents.
"But that wasn't what you said the last time we met my dear Warlock." He felt the sudden urge to strangle CC despite claiming her to be his ally. It didn't help that Kallen and Suzaku seemed to believe her.
Taking a deep breath, Lelouch organized his thoughts and calmed himself down.
"Listen." Once he was sure that he had the attention of the couple, he continued,"CC is merely an accomplice. A friend at most."
"Accomplice?" Kallen didn't seem convinced.
"She is here to help me get out of my engagement with the Empress." At that both Suzaku and Kallen stilled and stared at Lelouch with wide eyes. But CC merely titled her head and looked at him curiously.
"I don't remember offering my help for-"
"You got me in this mess so you are getting me out of this." Lelouch hissed.
CC just raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed at Lelouch's anger.
"You want to break off of the wedd-" Suzaku started but Kallen quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and glanced behind them. The balcony doors were open and Lelouch could see people milling about. Though they were left alone for now there was no saying what kind of eavesdroppers were listening into their conversation.
"And should I ask what prompted this decision?" Lelouch resisted the urge to groan when Kallen continued to glare at CC. He should've known that Kallen would think that there was something going on between both of them. "When we tried to talk you out of it you didn't-"
"You tried to talk me out of it?" Lelouch cut in looking at Suzaku and Kallen.
"Of course we did! Don't you remember? Marriage should be done because of love not because of political gains." Suzaku explained heatedly. Lelouch resisted the urge to smile at the idealistic Suzaku he remembered. He wondered if Suzaku hadn't met Euphie in his original dimension would he have ended up with Kallen. Or would being on the opposite sides of the battlefield stop them?
"Lelouch are you listening?" Giving a sheepish smile to Kallen he straightened up keeping an eye on the doors. The party still seemed to be in full swing.
"Well, looks like I changed my mind. I don't want to get married to a girl who I can compare to Nunnally." Lelouch stated firmly though he was careful to keep his voice low.
"Isn't it a bit too late for that?" Kallen folded her arms across her chest. "If you would've said it yesterday also the situation would be salvageable but you are telling us now! Tomorrow is your wedding in case you don't remember." Lelouch nearly balked at that.
"Well well… looks like we have got quite a situation on our hands." CC was now sitting on the railing and swinging her legs about as she glanced at Lelouch with amusement dancing in her golden eyes. He merely glared at her. "Why don't you talk with the Empress herself?" C.C suggested lightly.
They gaped at her. She rolled her eyes. "Go and talk with the Empress and ask about her opinion on the marriage. Maybe she is as against this as you are."
Lelouch frowned, beginning to open his mouth in protest before closing it as he came to a realization. C.C's grinned at him. "I see you have understood." Lelouch just mutely stared at her.
"Understood what?" Kallen didn't like being kept out of the loop.
CC didn't reply but merely got down, dusted her dress before gliding towards the party. But before crossing the doors she turned back with a smirk on her face. "Good luck with you chance." With that she disappeared into the crowd.
Lelouch merely stared after her. "What did she mean by that?" Suzaku asked turning back towards Lelouch.
Milly arrived out of nowhere. "Lelouch!" She came to an abrupt stop when she saw who else were there.
"They know." Lelouch said.
"Oh good then. I found out something from Kaguya." She stepped aside and from behind her Kaguya was visible.
"Lelouch-sama!" Luckily Lelouch had braced himself for impact and was able to regain his balance.
"Lady Kaguya." He frowned. Why had Milly bought Kaguya with her? Kaguya was a very close friend of the Empress Tianzi and he didn't think it would be safe for her to get involved. Especially not when she was as devious as Milly.
(Maybe it was only the fact that her cunningness rivalled Milly's that made Lelouch hesitate and not the fact that she was friends with Tianzi)
"What did you find out?" Kallen apparently was the only one who had heard that part of the sentence. Everyone turned to look at Lady Kaguya. She giggled (and to Lelouch it sounded more menacing than a villains evil laugh) and looked at them.
Leaning forward as if divulging a great secret, she whispered. "Tianzi is in love with someone else."
Everyone's jaw dropped at that revelation (except for Lelouch and Milly)
"Wait a minute! So Lelouch isn't the only one with a lover here?!" Kallen raged and Suzaku hurriedly slapped a hand on her mouth to quiet her down lest someone else herd them.
"Oh ho. So Prince Lelouch already has a special someone for him?" Apparently someone did hear Kallen. He sauntered into the balcony, blue eyes gleaming with excitement. A pink haired girl trailed in behind him her eyes alight with curiosity (And it wasn't an expression Lelouch had ever seen on her face)
Lelouch growled at the implication but Milly just raised an eyebrow at him- the look on her face promising a very thorough interrogation later.
"Gino! Anya! What perfect timing." At the flabbergasted looks other were giving her Milly shrugged. "We need all the help we can get to pull this off. And I'm sure that they are not going to say anything to anyone riiiight?" Milly turned to the duo smiling sweetly (too sweetly; she may give others diabetes) and they sweat dropped.
"Of course not Ms. Ashford. We would never even dream of doing such a thing!" Gino chirped while Anya nodded in agreement.
"Who is she in love with?" Suzaku whispered.
At that everyone turned to look at Kaguya again. Lelouch rolled his eyes. He knew who that person was. After all, even in his previous life they had loved each other and in this life too he had seen how Xingke reacted to the marriage proposal….
"Wait a minute!" Lelouch blurted out. Everyone frowned at him, Gino and Anya made shushing noises but he ignored them. This was a political marriage to bind two nations together. In a way it wasn't any different from the marriage between Odysseus and Tianzi in his dimension. And Xingke had tried to rescue the Empress by-
"We need more people don't we?" He asked, a victorious smile blooming on his face as the gears in his mind began turning and he started to form and discard plans as quickly as he did while he had been Zero.
Kaguya nodded.
"I am going to gather a few more people who I think will be helpful to us in this. Who already have a plan actually." Lelouch ignored everyone's look of surprised and began making his way back into the party. "Find a place where a meeting can be held without anyone eavesdropping on us. I will be back with the allies."
And he sauntered out a plan forming in his head.
(Because there was no way he was getting married to a child no matter what dimension)
Author Notes: Over! And this was just the first part. There is another chapter- the last one where Lelouch's other family members are included. When will I upload that? I don't really know. Review!