Divine was the only word fit to describe the private chambers in which the emperor of Britannia resided. High, arched ceilings, adorned with murals that whispered the stories of Britannia's glory, reached high, forming a rotunda. Small glass panels connected to form long floor to ceiling windows that gave a view to the wide rolling hills that lay just outside the palace. Their stained tops proclaimed symbols important to Lelouch; Ashford's emblem, Geass, the Knights of the Round, even the Black Knights' symbol stood glorified, bathing the room in its golden life alongside the others. In the center of the circular room resided a bed that reached almost half the height of the room. An ivory hued canopy stood tented, high above the ornate mattress on thin, delicate, golden poles. The bed was made up neatly, a spread of white trimmed on the edge with gold, and in the center of the bed laid the insignia of Britannia, in a monochrome, pale gold.
The floor was made up of simple white tiles that extended their reach even outside the private quarters that when stepped on echoed a ghostly emptiness through the room. A reflection of its only resident. Across from the bed a huge wardrobe stood proudly, half the height of the room. Its capacity was astonishing, although it remained unused, save for one garment of purple, gold, and black; Zero's guise. In the wall directly across from the entrance to the room, a balcony jutted outside into the peaceful spring air one of the few places left where songbirds still weaved their enchanting music, still able to be heard over the roar of war. Oval in shape, it held just enough room for two individuals to fit comfortably. This simple balcony faced the sun and at just the right time each day, a light breeze rushed its cool fingers over the white marble, twisting in and out of the cylindrical supports of the railing.
On this peaceful alcove a boy of slender stature, pale as the white robes he was wearing basked peacefully in the warm sunshine. White and gold spilled over his shoulders down to his feet in a constant theme, disrupted only by red gems set in navy, eyes which told his enemies he was not a force to be reckoned with, serving the same function as the eyes on a peacock's tail. His glossy, raven-black hair was tousled by the wind as he stared off in the distance. His head rested in his hand, long fingers cupping his face, and as he recalled fond memories of the past, a pained grin took hold of his soft features. He possessed an aristocratic air about him; lived up to his name as emperor of the all commanding Holy Empire of Britannia.
This tranquility was found only on this balcony, Lelouch's favorite place to stand and think. He knew however that this peace was only momentary, and soon he would need to return to the hate he had brought upon himself. This constant loathing from his own people was for the good of the world, but as Lelouch was only human, it hurt him, slowly drove his own compassion out of him, leaving him as a cold empty shell; moving through the motions of life, but yet at the same time, not really living.
Lelouch's thoughts were interrupted by the hiss of the automatic door behind him. The familiar click of his boots on the polished marble told him that the only person he felt he could trust, the only person he felt truly alive with had walked through the doors; his knight, Suzaku Kururugi. Lelouch turned to take in the sight before him. His extremely observant nature allowed him to see in a few seconds what most people needed a few minutes to take in, noting every detail.
His purple eyes ran up and down the proud knight, feeling up everything they could get their hands on. They smoothed over his chocolate, unruly hair, admiring the way the hood of his cape accented the shine of it. They rested their hungry fingers for just a moment on the pure white and blue fabric painted upon his broad shoulders and the flat plane of his chest. Running down his body they ran along his toned abdomen, and long, powerful legs. Even though each of these features were worth pause, the thing they lingered on the most were his forest green eyes, and the mysterious sparkle they possessed; almost like a pair of emeralds shining gently in the sun, radiating beauty. Lelouch was genuinely pleased by what he saw, but did he best not to show the brunt of it, burying his emotions under his carefully crafted mask, although some still shone through, and Suzaku noticed.
Nodding his head in reply to Lelouch's slightly pleased gaze, Suzaku strode over to join him, leaning against the railing, his long arms folded gracefully across his chest, staring off into the distance, finding it just as entrancing as his superior did. A long moment passed where neither party uttered a single word; they didn't need to. Each understood the others feelings and intentions. Lelouch understood that Suzaku had nothing pressing he needed to brief the emperor on; Suzaku understood that Lelouch was out here just to get a break from the world.
"Lelouch," Suzaku shattered the peace on the balcony with the topic that had plagued both boy's minds for quite a while. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? The Zero Requiem I mean…" Suzaku looked away from the soft meadows attempting to catch the amethyst eyes of his emperor. His inky hair blew softly in the wind, as the wind ran her pleasant warm fingers through it.
At the mention of the Zero Requiem Lelouch's grip on the banister tightened keeping his eyes on the meadows. He paused for a moment before speaking, choosing his words carefully. So as not to hint to the only thing he could never tell Suzaku, Lelouch spoke in a powerful, commanding, formal voice, "Yes, Suzaku, I'm entirely sure. I know it may be hard for you to understand, but this, truly is the only way to achieve my goal." He turned to face Suzaku, staring into his unyielding emerald eyes. Suzaku's worried expression unintentionally caused him to speak in a softer gentler tone. "As my knight, I ask you to serve me, until the very end. Did you not pledge your utmost loyalty to me; that you would obey my every command?"
"But Lelouch…" Suzaku's eyes were coated with a film of tears, as he returned his gaze to the meadows; looking at Lelouch was too painful. "I don't know if I can bring down my friend of so many years with my own hand; we've been through so much. I took you in to save you, and now you're asking me to... to…" Suzaku choked back tears, running his hand through his hair to compose himself. A long moment passed, and Suzaku found that with each second, he was getting closer to breaking down.
"Lelouch, I'm sorry, I can't stay here… It's too much…" were Suzaku's final words before leaving the balcony in a rush. He scurried out of the private chamber heading down the hall, his cape whipping behind him, a flag blowing in gale force winds.
With the Knight of Zero gone, Lelouch was once alone on his balcony, accompanied only by his own thoughts. Once again, his hand cradled his soft face, and without realizing it, a warm smile crept across his features, instead of being tinged with a hint of guilt.
"We've been through so much…"
"Yes Suzaku we have…" Lelouch muttered to himself. "Being at each other's throats, aiming our guns at each other…" Lelouch let out a chuckle at the irony of the situation.
Suzaku, if only I could tell you the truth… It would ease your pain, which is something I can't stand to see you burdened with. Even so, I can't afford to let anyone know, so for now the impossible weight of your task remains on your shoulders. I'm sorry I've been forced to curse you with so much already. I swear I will ask no more of you Suzaku.
Lelouch let out a heavy sigh, frustrated that even the peace on the balcony had been shattered. He walked back into his quarters, and paused, debating on what he should do. He ultimately decided on wandering down to his imperial gardens. Quite hurriedly he pushed his was through servants and other individuals asking him a myriad of other questions. He had made it almost to the door when, through the frosted glass he spotted the figure of a woman standing with her arms folded across her chest, staring into the sun.
"Sh-shirley?" Lelouch threw the doors open, and was greeted by his familiar red-haired classmate. She was surrounded on all sides by tall rose hedges, butterflies flitting about in the gleaming sun. Occasionally a bird flew by and landed on a nearby marble bench. Lelouch was bewildered by the sight of his dead friend standing in the middle of an unfamiliar part of the gardens that he himself had personally drew the plans for.
"It's good to see you again, Lelouch. " Her voice sounded like a hollow empty version of its former self. All the color was gone from her face, and her emerald eyes were dull.
"Shirley? That can't be you… you died in my arms! I FELT YOUR HEART STOP!" Lelouch's bewilderment slowly turned to anger. "Whoever you are, stop acting like you're her! You have no right to go parading around as Shirley! You aren't her!"
"Lelouch it is me. I'm here because of you. You let me die Lelouch. You could have killed Rolo when you had that chance. You shouldn't have trusted him, and look where it got me. You killed my father. You killed me." She turned around and her eyes met his. Her eyes contradicted themselves, filled with hate and sadness at the same time.
"No Shirley! I didn't do it! It was Zero, not me!" Lelouch's eyes had gone wild, spooked like a horse. He pleaded Shirley to understand but to no avail. His entire argument was shattered with one sentence from his beloved former classmate.
"You are Zero." Shirley's doe eyes narrowed, filled with hatred unbecoming of her personality. "Don't try to lie to me anymore! I loved you once. You were the world to me! Then my father died! Then I died, Lelouch. I can never forgive you for that." As she turned around to face him fully, she slipped a dagger from her sleeve.
Shirley ran at him with all the skill of a trained assassin. She slashed at him, moving so fast her hand was invisible. Red streaks appeared everywhere on Lelouch's body, yet he didn't fight back. Still, Shirley showed no restraint, and gave it all she had. Pushing him up against the wall she raised her arm and prepared to strike, like a rattle-snake ready to bite its victim.
"This is for my father." Were the final words Shirley whispered before dealing the final blow, Lelouch's body crumpled to the ground, and watched Shirley vanish through blurry eyes.