Author's Note: With the number of CG one-shot ideas I've been getting I should just make a one-shot specific Code Geass story . . .
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass. If I did I wouldn't be here writing this would I?
Chapter One
He Who Laughs Last
If the price for a peaceful world to become reality was to be his life then he was willing to give it. Just as planned he put his phenomenal acting skills to one final use as Zero leapt in front of him. His gun was knocked from his grasp and he let a small smile grace his face as his knight thrust the sword through his chest. Though no matter how content with the Zero Requiem he might have been nothing could have prepared him for the pain.
His smile left his face for just a moment as the pain registered in his mind. He gasped out as the reality of the situation finally hit him. He was going to die. Very soon. That fact alone loosened his tight grip on his emotions. As he shuddered in pain and forced himself to keep the smile on his face he realized something surprising. "I don't want to die." That thought made him laugh inside even as he stuffed it to the back of his mind. He let his pale smile relax as he leaned on his friend.
"The punishment for what you have done shall be this then. You will live on, always wearing that mask, serving as a knight for justice and truth." He gently raised his hand, covered in his own blood, to the mask. "You will no longer live your life as Suzaku Kururugi. You shall sacrifice the ordinary pleasures of your life for the benefit of the world for eternity."
"This Geass I do solemnly accept," Suzaku uttered softly. Strangely enough Lelouch could hear sadness in his best friend's voice. Despite all he had done to Suzaku he was still crying for him. How strange. His blood smeared against the side of that mask as he dropped his hand. He let his smile grace his lips again even as Zero quickly slid the blade from his body. Lelouch stumbled forward and quickly fell down the slope. He slid down to his sister and he allowed himself to relax in his last moments before death.
He smiled lovingly at Nunnally even as she stared at him in horror. "B-big brother?" Her eyes spoke volumes to him as she took his hand in hers. His smile widened in content even as her eyes widened and filled with tears. Lelouch was fading away fast while his sister called out to him. "You mean . . . all this time? NO! You can't leave me! I need you big brother!"
He gathered the last of his strength and breathed out his last words. An admission of his goal to his beloved sister. "Yes . . . I destroyed the world . . . and created it . . . anew." Everything faded to away and the last thing he heard before his heart stopped was the loving cries of his sister. The Demon Emperor was dead.
Nunnally pulled her brother close and held his body close to her as she sobbed over him. "No! I love you! Come back to me Lelouch!" She sat there in a daze for some time, how long she wasn't sure, as she felt someone fiddling with her chains. Her pain-filled eyes looked over to find it was Zero. She tried to focus her hate on him, but she couldn't feel much at the moment. Nothing, but despair anyway.
Her cries doubled as he tried to pry her off of Lelouch's body. "Don't make me leave him! Please!" Her sobs wracked her body as she was pulled off of her brother, "How can I look forward into the future without you!? Big brother!" Suzaku didn't say a word, knowing nothing he said would help, and just looked at her sadly as he carried her gently in his arms.
Nunnally tried to leave his arms and go back to her brother, but he tightened his grip. He asked Cornelia to make sure Lelouch's body wasn't harmed in the celebrations. She would have argued, but didn't for Nunnally's sake. The girl began hitting him in some hope he would let her go, but he never did. She even called him all sorts of names before finally quieting down.
He turned his gaze down to the girl, to make sure she was okay, only to find her asleep. Despite that Nunnally continued to weep and Suzaku allowed her tears to stain the Zero costume.
Lelouch found himself floating in a white space. He didn't have any clothes on, but he also wasn't naked. He knew he was in C's World and sighed in relief. Everything has gone according to plan. He seemed to be floating upwards, towards a large eye, before his ascent stuttered to a sudden stop. Confused he looked around only to find two people appear in front of him. His eyes widened in recognition.
"Shirley! Euphie!" He looked at them in shock as suddenly his chest began to burn. He hissed in pain, strange since he was dead, and pressed his hand to his chest. "I-I'm so sorry."
They just looked at him sadly, "We don't blame you Lelouch. Don't live with the regret of our deaths. Just remember us." Shirley nodded resolutely and Euphie smiled.
"The massacre was an accident. I understand that. While I wish it had happened differently you did the right thing. You needed to stop me from killing all of the Japanese." Euphie hesitated, "Suzaku deserves to know the truth of the SAZ. Also . . . please tell him that I'll be waiting." She smiled awkwardly and had a light blush on her face as she looked away from Lelouch.
Something Shirley had said bothered him for a few moments before he realized what it was. "Wait! Why would I have to live with the regrets?! I'm dead!" His chest burned again, stronger this time, and he finally looked down. Only to find the symbol of Geass emblazoned on his chest, right where he was stabbed, and it was glowing. He looked up frantically, "Please don't tell me . . ."
"I will still find you again one day Lulu. I'll keep falling in love with you over and over. No matter how many lifetimes I have." She smiled widely in encouragement, "I will always love you. Immortal or not."
His eyes widened in panic and the mark glowed brighter as his chest seared with an intense pain. Before he could say anything more he found himself falling.
It had been a busy twenty-four hours. In spite of having to deal with so much they had arranged Lelouch's private viewing for that day. They didn't expect many of the people they invited to show up, but it was more out of courtesy. To invite the people who knew Lelouch the best. Much to their surprise most of the people they invited came. Though considering they invited so few people as it is the room was still fairly empty.
Interestingly enough C.C. showed up despite never receiving an invitation. Mostly because they were unsure where she even was. The witch kept gazing towards Lelouch's body as if expecting him to get up. Which obviously confused everyone who noticed this and didn't confuse her gaze with anything else.
Nunnally herself, while not crying, was staring blankly towards the open coffin. Of course while her presence didn't surprise those who came. It was the fact Zero was there that surprised all but a few of them. He stood confidently next to the princess with his hand around hers in comfort. Which was perhaps the most surprising thing of all to the others considering her interaction with him just the day before.
Nina, Rivalz, and Milly were talking with Kallen. All of them seemed to be avoiding talking about the war and instead reminisced about Ashford Academy. Back when Suzaku, Lelouch, and Shirley were still with them. Though each harboring their own questions. Ones that made them wish that Lelouch was still around to answer.
No one went up to speak in memory of the man, but it wasn't needed. Those there were remembering the good times with Lelouch rather than the bad. Even the Demon Emperor deserved that at his funeral. Nunnally wanted to speak of course, but she didn't trust herself to not tell everyone of Lelouch's plan in her weakness. All she wanted was these people, those closest to her brother, to be able to appreciate him. Even if the rest of the world didn't. She resisted that desire. For the sake of the Requiem she couldn't even tell those who were here.
C.C. approached the coffin and she cried out as her forehead began to glow. This gathered attention of course, but Suzaku, knowing no one should touch her at the moment, made sure no one got too close. She sank to her knees as she faced the crowd. The mark of Geass pushing her bangs out of the way. In much the same way a red glow emanated from the coffin. She, despite the pounding of her head turned to look at her accomplice, "I see. So I was right it seems."
Those of the Black Knights who didn't know of C.C.'s connection to Geass were sickened when its symbol made its presence known on her forehead. They had seen she had a marking there certainly, but her hair never allowed them a good look at it. Suzaku's eyes narrowed when he heard the immortal speak, "What do you mean, C.C.?"
She looked back at him with more emotion in her eyes than he had ever seen before. "It seems Charles had the last laugh after all." Dread pooled in his stomach as he realized what she must have meant. His gaze shifted in fear towards the body and he flinched at the sudden sound of a heavy intake of air. Suzaku knew who it was immediately. It sounded like someone taking a breath of fresh air after being under the water for too long. Lelouch, though he was supposed to be dead, jolted up and groaned in pain. He held his chest even as he gulped more air.
Lelouch coughed harshly as he became aware of his surroundings. The dead man noticed that he was laying in a coffin and, from the gasps he heard, it was clear what his situation was. Deciding it would be better to get it over with he looked towards the group of people. All of them staring in shock. Some with hatred, others with sadness, and for some both. "B-big brother?"
"Damn it." He groaned and unceremoniously laid back down in the coffin, "Even in hell you had one last surprise for me, old man." In denial he refused to sit back up even when C.C. approached. "Nope. I'm dead. Can't convince me otherwise . . . Witch. I can't be alive for peace to reign."
She rolled her eyes and gave him a sardonic look, "There is always the bright side to this. You could have woken back up in public. So it could always have been worse my Warlock." She winked teasingly, "I will concede though. Having to explain your sudden revival to the people you have tried very hard to make despise you . . . There isn't much of a bright side to that. You could always be proud that you died putting on perhaps the greatest act in history. In another life you would have done well as an actor."
Lelouch just sent her a sour expression. This finally knocked everyone out of their stupor and Kallen, thanks in part to her temper, spoke up first. "What the hell is going on?!"
"Murphy's Law, Kallen. That's what is going on!" Lelouch called out in frustration and beat his fist against his coffin. He grimaced before he sat back up, "Someone get me out of this. It seems I'm not going to be buried any longer. All those months of planning for nothing!" He looked at his knight, "Come on now Zero. You aren't imagining things. Help me out now if you will though."
Most of the people in the room looked at the masked man in confusion. Wondering why he would help him when he suddenly started laughing. This startled them as he quieted down and approached the Demon Emperor. He was strangely friendly as he spoke, "Your luck sucks. You know that don't you?"
Lelouch grumbled, "Don't need to remind me. My assassination went off without a hitch, yet, as my luck would have it, it was the aftermath that doesn't go according to plan. Should be dead as a door nail right now, but oh no we can't have that it seems! I swear God itself gets a laugh out of ruining my plans. Constantly."
C.C. grinned with amusement, "Not taking the whole surprise-you-are-immortal thing well are you?" His glare spoke volumes as Suzaku lifted him from the coffin. "If only you still had your Geass is what I'm sure you are thinking right?" His glare intensified. "Don't remind you of that either?"
The low sound of wheels moving sounded so loud in the silent room. "Big brother? Are you really . . . alive?" Lelouch looked at Nunnally and allowed himself a gentle smile. He pulled her into a hug."I am, however," his eyes hardened, "I can't stick around."
"Lelouch!" Suzaku reprimanded him, "You don't need to mention that for now."
The immortal shook his head, "I'm afraid I must. I can't let you get too attached to the idea my beloved sister." He pulled away from Nunnally to find her on the verge of crying again. "I am in fact supposed to be dead. That was my intention. Which you know very well Nunnally." He smiled softly, "You are to become the 100th Empress of Britannia. With that power you can take advantage of the aftermath of my assassination. With my death the world will not want another war any time soon. Your gentle world is waiting for you. Even though I remain, despite it not being the plan, Lelouch vi Britannia must stay dead. My name must stay in infamy."
His sister shivered at the intensity in his eyes, "I-I will do it for you Lelouch. You created this possibility all for me and all those you care about. I will do it for you and the world."
Cornelia, who was there for Nunnally's sake, angrily stalked towards him, "Would you mind explaining this to us!?" She growled as she pointed her sword at him. "How are you alive Demon!? What dastardly plan do you speak of?!"
He sighed, "I really wish I still had my Geass . . . not that it would help really. There would still be several of you who would remember this meeting. The consequences of it being a one-use per person thing I suppose." Lelouch blinked as he realized he probably still had the contacts in. So he reached up and took them out. Proving he no longer had his Geass.
Her eyes narrowed, "Answer my damn questions. Stop avoiding it."
Lelouch rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, "I don't have much of a choice really. Before I do though . . ." He turned his amethyst eyes towards each and every one of them, "What I tell you all here in this room remains a secret. Many of you are people I hold dear, even if you don't believe that, but for the sake of the world I will silence you if I must." His eyes not only promised retribution, but also held a resigned sadness.
The shiver his gaze got from many in the room made him aware that they understood, but Cornelia refused to put down her sword. He chuckled, "You may as well put the sword down sister. It wouldn't be able to kill me anyway."
She hesitated, but still didn't back down, "Why wouldn't it?
Lelouch just raised an eyebrow, "You just saw me rise from the dead and you believe your sword can kill me? That was tried just yesterday and, unfortunately mind you, it didn't work." She frowned, but knowing he had a point she put her sword away.
"One more thing though. Jeremiah?"
The turquoise-haired man was kneeling to him in an instant, "Yes my lord? What do you need of me?"
"To clear up some issues use your Geass Canceler on everyone in this room," he looked around to ensure his brother wasn't there. "Where is Schneizel though? I must ensure he is nowhere near here. We can't have my order over him be cancelled."
Zero nodded resolutely, "I have already sent him to the capital. Even now he should be there working to seat Nunnally on the throne."
Lelouch grinned, "Excellent. Thank you for working so quickly Suzaku." Zero stiffened everyone's gazes instantly turned towards the masked man. Their eyes wide at the implications of his identity. "I know what you are thinking my knight. Unfortunately I will have to explain the Zero Requiem to those in this room. So they would have learned soon enough."
Suzaku grimaced under his mask, though he knew Lelouch was right, and took off the Zero mask. "I never thought I would have to take this mask off in front of anyone, but Nunnally. Especially only a day after I took up your mantle."
Author's Note 2: This WAS going to be a one shot, but as I write it I realize this will probably get very long. So I'm splitting it up here to help it feel not so draining to read. I'm going to upload the second part of this soon. I just need to write it first. I should be working on the rewrite of The Search For Lelouch, but . . . at least this time I haven't been doing nothing. This is the third Code Geass short story I'll be uploading since I notified you all that I was rewriting it.
I've been slow at it, but I am actually working on chapter 4 right now. Four other chapters have already been written. I will try to catch up to where the story was originally ASAP. If only my mind stops thinking of these plot bunnies for short stories and focused on TSfL. Oh well.
