Nunnally's Reason
Nunnally vi Britannia, leader of the new Britannian Empire reduced to just its homeland, stirred violently in her sleep as another countless nightmare plagued her. Suzaku Kururugi who now donned the identity of Zero sprang from the bed he was sleeping on in the room adjoined to hers ran to her bedside kneeling there. He brushed sweaty bangs out of her face. "Nunnally?" She opened her eyes. "It's okay it was just a dream."
"Suzaku?" She whimpered focusing her eyes. "But you died."
"No but the world is meant to think so."
She looked away. "And my brother?"
"I can't lie to you anymore. This was all mine and his doing…"
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In the darkened palace the lone figure of Suzaku Kururugi Knight of Zero approached the closed door of him emperor. Receiving a reply to his soft knock he entered the room. "Forgive me Lelouch." He closed the behind him. "I couldn't sleep."
Lelouch offered his childhood friend a seat on the end of his king size bed. The requiem?" Suzaku closed his eyes and nodded. "We both know it has to be done."
"I know, but that doesn't make it any easier, and what of Nunnally she lives for Onii-sama."
"That your job now, Suzaku You'll be her reason to live. I've known for a while now that she loves you and you love her too. You may not have seen it but it was there and still is. Even when you were with Euphemia, I knew. You are meant to be with her. Promise me you'll take care of her and she'll give you a reason to live too."
"I promise she'll never want for anything."
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Suzaku climbed next to her atop the covers and pulled her into his arms. "The 'Zero Requiem' He called it. The plan to make the whole world hate him and to destroy that hatred by his death and I agreed to take up Zero's mantle and assassinate him. He did it for you, for me, and for the peace of the world." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and wiped away her tears. "You were his everything, he loved you and… so do I. And I am here for you now."
She sniffled a fresh batch of tears sliding down her face. "I love you too, just so much."
He pulled her tight against him. "What I wonder is why you never said anything before now."
She looked up. "I hadn't realized it until my brother brought it up, but by than you had become Euphie's knight and I never had that chance after that. Besides that day at the festival she told me about you and her." She closed her eyes. "And I decided to let you and Sister is happy by putting away my feelings." She snuggled against his chest.
"You should go back to sleep, you'll need your strength for tomorrow. We talk more about it later."
She sighed softly. "Don't leave me."
"Don't worry. I'll be here when you wake." She put a hand on his face fingering his lips. "So sad."
"I miss Lelouch too."
She reached up with a kiss that landed on the corner of his mouth before kissing him full on the lips which he returned briefly.
"Umm, Nunnally. Hmmm." He broke it off. "We shouldn't, not right now you're going through a really hard time, I don't want to take advantage."
"I'm sorry I meant to do that for so long. That was selfish I know you loved Euphie."
"No." He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I just didn't want to pressure you into anything. It's true Euphie will always be part of me but that doesn't mean that I can't fall in love again."
"I glad."
"It was Lelouch who tought me to let go of the past and face tomorrow. If you give me a chance I'll stay by your side from now on." Their eyes met and this time it was Suzaku who kissed her.
Much later he lay awake as she slept naked in his arms. He knew everything would be alright. They would get through adjusting to life with out Lelouch together.
TBC
