Before you begn reading this story there are a few things I'd like to mention. First of all this is kind of an AU story because it does not follow the real story line. Secondly the last battle of the first season of Code Geass has been altered. While the Black Knights did lose, no one was captured. Also Lelouch and Suzaku did have their little fight, but Lelouch won. Instead of Kallen coming to the rescue, C.C did. She used her geass on Suzaku to give Lelouch enough time to escape. He did not manage to find Nunnally. Kallen does not know the identity of Zero and Rolo does not exist. With that said, I hope you enjoy this story because I believe it's got some potential. Credits go to 30 Seconds to Mars for the title and credits go to Muse for the lyrics used at the beginning.

I do not own Code Geass, if I did...ohh the things I would have had them do....

A Beautiful Lie

Chapter 1- Trust

Best, you've got to be the best
You've got to change the world
And use this chance to be heard
Your time is now

Zero sat alone with his arms and legs crossed. Kento could only guess he was planning more strategies inside that mysterious head; plans that would bring ends to even more lives, lives like his friend Inoue. Kento's fists balled up as anger pulsated through his veins. Everyone was still angered about Princess Euphemia's trick. They kept fuming on about how she could ever do such a thing. How's, why's and bitch seemed to be the favorite words from the Black Knights. Kallen approached Kento's side and gently nudged him. "You're staring," she stated.

"Oh. I was just thinking."

"About?" Kallen ventured.

"Well, everything's going to really change now."

"Don't you want that? Japan will finally be free! With Zero as our leader we can do anything!" Kento made a pained face and gently pulled Kallen along with him as they walked away from Zero's earshot.

"Can we really? Zero's just one man! Don't get me wrong, I have respect for the guy, and I do believe he's very good at what he does, but I think Cornelia is going to be on his tail for killing Euphemia now more than ever."

"Zero's defeated Cornelia before. He can do it again."

"I guess…" Kento looked for something else to say, and fast, "I'm glad you're so passionate about this. Naoto would be proud." Kallen blushed and looked away as she remembered her beloved brother who died trying to free Japan.

"Really?" Kallen's eyes looked hopeful.

"Yeah. I'm sure Zero's going to want you sitting beside him soon. He seems to play favorites with you."

"Hey Kento! I'm just his bodyguard."

"Are you not the slightest bit curious as to what's under that mask?" Kento asked.

"Of course I'm curious, but I'm not going to be like everyone else and try to force him to take it off."

"What if one day he does and he's some old ugly guy with missing teeth?"

"Kento, I'm going to punch you," Kallen said teasingly.

"Maybe he's missing pieces of his face?"

"Kento!" Kallen sat down next to Zero startling the man.

"Oh! Sorry!" Zero didn't respond though, he stood up, and all eyes turned to him, but he said nothing. He walked away and out of sight.

"I wonder what's going on in that head of his," Ohgi mused.

"That was…odd," Kallen said as she watched as C.C followed the man down the hall and into his room.

"Lelouch, you're troubled," C.C said as she squeezed Cheese-kun tightly.

"I don't want to talk about it." Lelouch turned his face into his pillow and allowed tears that needed to fall slide down onto the pillow.

"Lelouch…" C.C didn't know what else to say. She knew that the Geass was starting to effect his emotions. She knew he was starting to feel lonely and bitter. "I'm going to ask that one guy to make me some pizza." Lelouch didn't say anything nor did he move. His silent tears continued to pour from his eyes.

'Nunnally, Shirley, Suzaku, Euphie…I've become a monster.'

Kento was sitting with the rest of the Black Knights as they ate. Most of them were finished conversing about Euphemia and her massacre of the Japanese. Kento didn't seem too hungry though, he pushed his food around on his plate as he thought about the day. It looked so promising. Why did it have to go so wrong? He remembered back to when Inoue's knightmare blew up right before his eyes, he remembered everyone screaming about where Zero went off to. 'He never did tell us where he went!' He looked around as some of the Black Knights were joking and teasing. How could they just go back to normal so fast when so many had died? They had just returned from battle not but a few hours ago! How could they be so happy? "Are you finished eating?" asked a very uncaring voice. Kento looked up to see the girl with the long green hair; C.C.

"I guess so," he answered. Kallen looked up to see C.C talking to Kento, she watched as Kento made his way into the kitchen. C.C sat down alone and stared into space. Her facial expressions never seemed to change in Kallen's opinion. Kallen debated on going over to talk to her but thought better of it. C.C was strange, too strange for Kallen. Not long after did Kento come back with a steaming pizza as it had just been brought out of the oven. Kallen watched as Kento served the pizza to C.C. The woman didn't even thank him, she just started to eat. Kento exited the mess hall alone. He was depressed. No one seemed to be with him in his reasoning.

"Do you really think Zero had nothing to do with Euphemia's sudden decision?" Kento stopped in his tracks as he saw Tohdoh and Ohgi talking to each other.

"He said that it was a trap set up by Princess Euphemia," Tohdoh said.

"I know, I just can't help but speculate."

"You don't trust him either do you?" Tohdoh asked with a hint of a smile wanting to play at his lips. Ohgi scratched the back of his neck nervously and smiled.

"I want to. It's just hard sometimes. I mean, after I was shot, I heard that he was gone and you were in command."

"Trusting someone who doesn't trust you can be difficult," Tohdoh reasoned as he crossed his arms.

"He doesn't trust us?" Ohgi found the statement to be a little unsettling.

"How could he? He's a wanted criminal all throughout Britannia. Any of us could easily decide to turn him in."

"Yeah, but then Britannia would question that person if he did or didn't have anything to do with the Black Knights."

"I'm sure if you're the right kind of person, you can negotiate Zero's life for your own."

"What are you two talking about?" Kallen announced angrily. "Why are you talking about turning Zero in?"

"Kallen, we're not talking about that! We're talking about why he doesn't show us his face."

"Oh." Kallen walked up to the two men still wearing a stern look on her face. "It's not a good idea to speak of such things. What if someone was listening and didn't bother to listen to the entire conversation. You're ass would be turned into Zero before you had the chance to explain yourself."

"I'm sure Zero would understand if he just waited to hear an explanation," Kento said as he showed himself.

"You were listening in too?" Ohgi asked flabbergasted.

"Sorry, I heard you two talking about Zero, and I wanted to listen."

"You don't trust him either," Tohdoh stated. Kento didn't answer; he couldn't seem to formulate anything remotely intelligent to say.

"It's ok Kento; I already heard this story from you earlier. We should all be heading off to our rooms now. It's getting late and we all need our rest." Kallen smiled to everyone before she made her way to her room. Ohgi nodded and he and Tohdoh made their ways to their rooms. Kento stood in the hallway alone. Occasionally people would walk by, but they didn't talk to him. It was almost like he wasn't there. C.C saw him from down the hall and decided to do the same. She walked by but looked at Kento's sad face, deciding that it would be a good idea to inform Lelouch.

"The guy who cooks pizza for me seemed troubled," C.C said as she entered Lelouch's room. Judging by Lelouch's appearance, he seemed to have slightly gotten over his previous break down.

"Kento?" Lelouch asked for clarification.

"I guess, he's got the bluish-green hair."

"C.C, you need to start being more social. There's a reason why not many people like you."

"They all think I'm sleeping with you."

"Let them. You and I know the truth."

"I thought we were talking about why they didn't like me," C.C said emotionlessly.

"Oh, you were answering me. No, I was referring to your lack of communication to everyone else."

"Mm. I'm going to bed. Good night Lelouch."

Kento adjusted his eyes to the bright light of the computer as he sat in the darkness of his room. He pulled up pictures of Zero, articles of Zero and live recordings of the masked man making speeches to the world. "He's got good charisma; it would be easy to miss something he says if one were just entranced." Kento flipped through the pictures on the internet pertaining to Zero. "He's small, and thin. Either he's an old man or he's a teenager. Zero, who are you really?"

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A/N- Review and I'll return the favor!!