Zero pressed his palms against the Geass shaped figure on the rock-solid, almost, 15 foot tall door. He had no real idea how he'd get in, but he knew he would find a way. After all, look how far he's gotten already. Dropping his sly smile, he released a heavy sigh and-
Zoom! The bullet whirled past him, just missing his left ear, grazing the door, and causing Zero to freeze, and let out a stunned gasp, his eyes widening.
…
Suzaku wasn't planning on killing Zero, at least not yet. If he did, that shot would have done anything besides miss its intended target. With the gun in his hand, a shiver ran down his spine. The same man who had stained his gloved hands with blood, Japanese and Britannian alike. What game was he playing, but more importantly, whose face was he hiding under that mask? It was time to find out.
"Turn and face me, very slowly," Suzaku ordered, his hands shaking slightly. He was a bit worried of who'd be the hidden one under that costume, but he tried to hide his anxiousness as best he could. With that, Zero chuckled darkly, unmoving from his position. "Princess Euphemia of Britannia randomly murdered millions of Japanese people. You would fight for a woman like-"
Suzaku showed no weakness in his eyes or his posture. "Geass power is a bit convenient, isn't it?" He sliced right through Zero's words with stern strength. "You get to hide and cower while others take the blame for doing your dirty work. What an abuse of power."
Zero's eyes seemed to widen more. He knew of Geass? "How do you-"
Again, he was cut off by Suzaku. "Does it matter? I don't know who you're hiding behind that mask of yours, and I have a hunch, but I need to know for sure. I'll ask you once more, show me your face."
Zero turned around slowly, and confidently. "Who I am underneath matters not-" Cut off once again.
"Save it!" Suzaku shouted, pulling the trigger from pure anger. The bullet raced forward and Zero made no attempt to move. From the mouth of the cave, a still, hidden Kallen stopped herself from running to her leader's aid. She only watched as a crack formed in Zero's mask, top to bottom, and down the middle. Holding on for not even three seconds, the mask gave in, breaking in half and falling away.
Kallen covered her mouth and gasped, swallowing a sob. Without a thought, she fled from the area.
Suzaku lowered his gun, glancing down for a little then back up to confirm who he was looking at. Staring back at him, was his best friend, Lelouch Vi Britannia. The last person he wanted it to be. Yet, he was a soldier. He couldn't be weak now, no matter the circumstances.
"It had to be you…of all people. This is not something I wanted." Suzaku muttered aloud, causing Lelouch to laugh wickedly.
How could this be? Zero was his best friend? And his friend that he had fallen in love with? He didn't want to believe it, but how could he not? The facts were right before his eyes, and they were unmistaken. "Why…why didn't I arrest you when I had the chance?"
Lelouch smirked. "Why didn't you? I bet you knew it was me!" His laughs echoed in the cave.
Was he reading Suzaku as if he were an open book? "I assumed. I just didn't want it to be true. But it is, and you've been lying to me, to your friends, your sister and probably to the Black Knights." Suzaku said, spitting out every word with bitterness. "Why?"
The prince replied, and when he did, he said it as if it was the easiest thing in the world, as if he were right. "The world, this world, is a goddamn game of chess. It's about planning and attacking before you're attacked. Lying is a ally of beating your opponent and a small price to pay when-"
Suzaku's eyes narrowed angrily and he raised the gun, yelling, "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"
Lelouch watched him quietly, feeling no threat. "You wouldn't shoot me, Suzaku."
"I said, SHUT UP, Zero!" His voice growled at the name of his enemy. "If I have to, I swear I will!"
With slow steps, Lelouch moved forward and reached out. Suzaku didn't flinch even as he watched his friend grip his gun, pulling it from his hands, and throwing it to the side, it hitting the floor with a small clank. Suzaku had no idea why he had just allowed Lelouch to disarm him, but just as he was about to lunge for his weapon, the unmasked Zero wrapped him up in a…hug. "My only true friend," he whispered.
Suzaku, trapped in Lelouch's arms, blushed a bit, but quickly regained his anger. "No…you're Zero! Let go!"
He tried to break free, not using as much strength as he could have. However, with every passing second, his attempt to get away became harder and harder for Lelouch, as he was not very fit, especially against Suzaku.
Lelouch let it go on for awhile, but when he felt his grip loosening, he pulled a gun from his jacket, pressed it against Suzaku's arm and allowed his index finger to do the rest of the work.
As the gun shot filled the empty air, so did Suzaku's cry of pain. He fell to the floor on his back, holding his bloody wounded gash with his unharmed arm. Suddenly becoming short in breath, his heart pounding loudly, he groaned and glared up at his attacker. "Damn you!"
Lelouch got to his knees beside his victim. "Damn me, indeed. I never planned on hurting you. I didn't want to."
Something about him, looked almost worried, somewhat sad. Was he feeling bad? Or was it just a lying expression?
Suzaku tried to sit up, but Lelouch pushed him down again, causing him to cry out. He could feel his wound bleeding more and more, his hand getting soaked with his own blood. Was he going to be left here by Zero? And if so, would he die before help could arrive?
Lelouch applied pressure to the base of Suzaku's neck; pressing down with such force it choked him, which was probably the point.
For a minute or so, he suffered, suffocating and seeing Lelouch do it with no problem, and then his vision started to fade to black. He was beginning to lose consciousness. Before he blacked out, he heard a faint voice say, "Remember, Suzaku. Live." Live. Live. Live…
