Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I've been trying to focus on Kingdom Hearts and getting some of those stories updated and my mind begins to wander and this story is born. Really, I have no idea why I started thinking about Code Geass. I haven't seen it in years, but I remember the ending so vividly. I'm not ashamed to say I bawled my eyes out. Eh~ Anyway. I'm not sure if I got everything accurate, but one thing I didn't like was that Lelouch died...or did he? This is my AU of how he might have survived. :)

Disclaimer! I do not own Code Geass or any related characters. This is made by a fan, for fans.

Fool's Checkmate

Lelouch rode atop his personal transport visible to everyone. On either side of the street people stood in a line watching the horrible parade. In front of his vehicle was the prison transport. Kallen and the rest of the Black Knights were restrained and strapped down, making sure there was no escape. they were all heading to be executed for their crimes against the Emperor, Lelouch Vi Britannia.

Yes, he had finally achieved everything he had set out to do. His father had answered for his crimes as had everyone else who stood in his way. He did have one regret. His sister, Euphie had paid the ultimate price for the perfect world he had envisioned. He had never meant for her to suffer that horrific fate and he, being the one to pull the trigger.

He sat there on his throne of power and resisted the urge to show any emotion. He had to be completely firm if his plan was to succeed. There were some things he hated resorting to in order for it to work, but nothing angered him more than the way he was forced to treat his sister, Nunnally. With her eye sight restored she was forced to see her brother in a way he had never intended. Everything he had done in the past two years was to create a peaceful world for her. Now that he was so close he wanted her to be close to him, even if it meant forcing her to watch what fate had in store.

Without the use of her legs all he had to do was put simple chains on her to keep her from escaping. It made him inwardly sick to his stomach having to treat her that way. She was his entire reason for living. His life meant nothing to him unless it was spent making sure she was safe and happy. His plan would ensure at least one of them.

As the parade made its way along the path the crowd took a collective gasp and the vehicles stopped. There, Lelouch could just make out the shape from the vapor that rose from the street. A figure in a black cape. It was Zero. Lelouch inwardly smiled. It was finally time.

With amazing speed Zero charged ahead, easily getting past the security as if they weren't even there. Leaping over the Back Knight captives, Zero dashed past Kallen who was both confused and shocked. "But, how can that be Zero when Lelouch is-" She thought until she realized. Of course! His body had never been found.

The other members of the Black Knights cheered, knowing Zero would rescue them as he always had. Kallen on the other hand struggled against her bonds. Everything stopped as Zero jumped onto the Emporer's transport. For a split second the masked hero stopped in front of Nunnally. during that time, the true person behind the mask, Suzaku, felt horrible about what he was about to do. He didn't want to, but it was the only way.

Lelouch stood up as Zero made his way to stand in front of him. On the outside Lelouch appeared startled and shocked, but on the inside he was smiling, now convinced his friend wouldn't let him down.

This was it. The end of everyone's suffering. Everything his father had done to the world would be undone with this last act of justice. Pulling out a sword Zero pointed it at Lelouch. To break the cycle of hatred this had to be done.

As Zero struck those who knew Lelouch stared wide-eyed, unable to look away. After these recent events, they had felt such bitter hatred towards the person they had once called friend. But now, seeing him getting struck down, it felt as if they too had been stabbed.

Some of them, like his older sister Cornelia who had concealed herself in a secret room with several others turned to hurry outside, in order to do something, but it was too late.

The sword pierced through Lelouch's chest. As his strength left him he leaned into his killer. Thanks to the cameras, people could tell Lelouch was saying something, but his voice was too low to pick up, most assumed it was a threat, a curse or something as pitiful as a plea for mercy.

Lelouch brought a hand to Zero's mask and let the blood from his fingers stain the helmet. This seemed to break the moment as Zero pulled the sword out of his victim. Lelouch took a few steps forward until he fell and slid down to where his sister Nunally sat, chained by her ankles to look down at her brother.

She saw that he was still alive even as his blood left a trail from his fall. "...Lelouch?...Are you?...!"

She touched his hand, something she did when she wanted to know the truth about someone. No one could hide anything from her this way, a gift from when she was blind. Now the life that was flashing before his eyes played out in her mind as well. Everything. From his Geass to his actions. Those he hurt and those he saved. The people who he had tricked, defeated and manipulated like puppets. The time he spent with those he cared for. The ones he had to bury or mourn for. Those he loved and left behind. The truth about their parents, the memories they had together and the pain he felt treating her the way he recently had.

She could see everything, including what he and Suzaku had discussed leading to this moment. The Zero Requiem.

"You mean...everything you've done until now?"

She took his hand in both of hers and held it close to her face as she began to cry. "...Oh big brother, I love you!"

Lelouch raised his head slightly as he thought back over his life. Watching every last memory replay itself for the last time. While he knew that his sister was there, holding his arm as if trying to keep him with her he could no longer feel her touch as his limbs grew numb.

"I..." He whispered, just loud enough for her hear. "...destroy the world...and create...anew."

His eyes closed and his breathing stopped. Nunnally blinked and with tears openly flowing down her face she clung to him, embracing him as if trying to keep him with her. "It's not fair! How can I look to the future without you big brother? All I ever needed to be happy was to be with you!"

Cornelia appeared and called out to the crowd. "Lelouch the demon is dead! Free his prisoners!"

Everyone who had been forced onto the sidelines cheered and ran into the streets as the soldiers and nightmares were forced to retreat. A deafening chant broke out as everyone shouted Zero's name. The man who killed the enemy of the world. But beneath the mask, Suzaku could not hold back his tears. He had been forced to kill Lelouch, his best friend...or so he had made everyone believe.

A few hours later, after the sun had set and most were out celebrating or sleeping peacefully for once in a very long time. A man with short black hair stirred in his bed. Slowly and painfully he opened his purple eyes. He laid there for a moment, allowing himself to observe the environment around him when he realized something that caused his eyes to open wide in shock.

He wasn't suppose to be awake!

Sitting up with a jolt he instinctively placed his hand over his chest where the blade had stabbed him.

"Huh? Wh-where's the entry wound? The blade should have gone right through me! I felt it make contact!"

The door slid open and a woman with purple hair entered the room. "Surprised you're still among the living?...Lelouch."

Lelouch glared at her. "Cornelia. Why?"

"Before you jump to conclusions, let me provide you with the answer. It wasn't just one person who was behind it. Suzaku, myself and Lloyd."

"Why." Lelouch's response was more of a demand than a question. "The only way for the world to move on was to get rid of the one everyone hated."

"Honestly, little brother. Do you think after everything that's happened we'd let you just throw your life away? The world may be at peace thanks to you, but it also needs someone like you to make sure it stays that way. No one else has been able to do what you've done."

"I've already achieved what I set out to do. The Britannia we knew is gone. Everything our father stood for is nothing but a bad dream and I'm..."

"Stop preaching and be selfish for once!" Lelouch looked up at his sister. There were tears in her eyes. This surprised him. She was very strong-willed and despite being a princess she was also one of the best soldiers their military force had ever seen. The only time he remembered her shedding tears was when Euphie died.

"I've already lost enough of my family. I don't want to lose anymore." She admitted. "After everything you've put our family through, I wasn't going to let you go through with it. Not when it meant you were running away from your crimes."

"So what, you'll have me imprisoned?" Lelouch asked flatly. Amused at the thought of sending a ghost to jail.

"She means, stop trying to atone for sins that aren't yours to bear."

Lelouch looked over at the door where Suzaku was standing. He honestly didn't know what to feel. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to express how hurt he was that his friend had broken his solemn vow, but he couldn't bring himself to feel any resentment towards him, or to his older sister for that matter. There was only one thing he wanted to know from them.

"How?"

Both of them blinked in confusion.

"How did you do it? I could have sworn I felt the blade pierce right through me."

This earned a smile from both of them. Suzaku started first.

"It was a trick sword. One Professor Lloyd invented. The blade retracts upon impact and a red dye is released that smells identical to blood. A hologram emits through the retracted tip and appears to emerge from the other side of the victim. That was probably the sensation you felt."

"And the after effects? My strength faded until I..."

"Oh please, you only passed out from the effects of the serum I had mixed into your drink this morning. It's completely harmless and wears off after a few hours." Cornelia replied.

"Well, that certainty explains why I felt sick to my stomach." He thought.

While Lelouch was furious that they had gone behind his back and pulled this stunt, he was happy that they, his friend and family had realized his true intentions. "Who else knows? About my survival?" He asked.

"Aside from Professor Lloyd no one." Cornelia replied.

"Not even C.C." Suzaku added.

"Good." Lelouch laid back down and allowed a deep sigh to escape his unscathed chest. He woke up this morning, knowing that he was going to die and while he had accepted that play, he was equally relieved that hadn't been the final move. His Knight and his Castle had assured the King would live to play another round.

"So are you going to let Nunnally know?" Asked Suzaku.

"Wha?!" Lelouch blinked in surprise, stunned by the question. Right away his mind brought up only one thought.

"Would she even forgive me?"

Okay, so I'm not sure how often I'll be updating this or if I'll just end up leaving it as a one shot. I guess it just depends if I get any more ideas for it other than this, that and if people ask me to continue it I probably will. I've never written a Code Geass fic before, so I hope I did okay at least.

Edit: My gosh. The feedback from you guys is amazing. I don't remember the exact numbers, but never has one of my stories gotten that kind of response on the first day. Thank you, all of you! I said that if people wanted me to keep this going then I would and as promised a second chapter has already been started. I don't know when it'll be finished and ready to be uploaded, but I'll do my best to keep the momentum of this story going.I also went back and fixed the typos. I can't believe how horrible my spelling is at 2 am, but it happens. x3