'Nowhere to run…nowhere to hide…'

That thought ran rampant in their minds as they raced down the darkened cave interior.

'No one left, but us…'

It seemed cruel, yet ironic that things should end like this for the two allies. Trapped like mice, they ran deeper into the cave until they reached a cavern with what seemed like a shallow lake in the center of the room, and at the side of the room, another passageway. Stumbling around the lake, the two kept running for their lives, knowing that the blood was dangerously gushing out of their wounds. Sadly, the damage had caught up to them both. The slowest gasped and fell down onto the cold, stone ground.

"Come on, we have to keep running"

"Go on without me…"

The faster graciously took his friend's hand and carefully dragged him to his feet.

"We need to get out of here!"

"But…to where?"

It seemed impossible to keep moving in the condition that they were in, but they have endured worst. As they neared the passageway, the faster's wounds had started to get to him, and so he leaned against a wall for support, trying hard not to succumb to his wounds. Yet, the slower had fallen limp onto the ground once again, while the faster had sunken to his feet in exhaustion. Using the wall as a crutch, he sat down on the ground beside his ally. In front of him, the slower was laying face down, a pool of blood slowly forming under his body. The slower had noticed that his friend was also sitting in a pool of his own blood.

"This is it, Suzaku…"

"I can't feel my legs, Lelouch"

The two looked at each other, realizing that both looked like Hell. Neither of them could hold in the ironic laughter and let themselves go. They seemed sad in their laughter, yet somewhat sounded content too.

Lelouch held himself with his back against the wall, trying to stay positive. Suzaku had just enough strength to roll onto his back, slightly closer to his friend.

"We screwed up, didn't we Lelouch?"

"Yeah…"

Suzaku laughed, a bit of blood spewing with a cough.

"How long ago was it Lelouch?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, where did things go wrong with us? What did we do to come to this?"

Lelouch saw Suzaku slowly closing his eyes.

"Stay awake, Suzaku…"

"I don't…think I can, Lelouch…"

"You have to…you must live…"

'To live' Suzaku thought. "You placed that order on me with your Geass…and I've always followed it. But now, I can't feel that strength anymore…"

Lelouch became a bit drowsy from the blood loss and was closing his eyes slowly too. Yet he somehow shook off the feeling and looked at his friend. Both of their eyes met.

"I want you to live…because you are my…friend…" With a bloody cough, Lelouch began to lose his sight.

"Death is closing in on us Suzaku…"

"I know Lelouch…I know."

Both of them were now nearing their last breaths; their lives passing them by with fading memories. Each began to see phantoms from the past; families, friends, allies, and themselves too.

"Tell me Lelouch…"

Lelouch turned to his only friend left in the world and wondered what it was Suzaku wanted.

"Tell me a story, Lelouch…"

"Why now?"

"Just tell me…a story…anything…"

Lelouch paused before responding with a nod.

"Forgive me if this doesn't raise your spirits…"

Suzaku nodded in reply.

"There were these two boys…"

TBC…More to come from me…if that is what you desire…