A Code Geass fanfic. I own nothing.
A sequel to The Funeral.

Contains spoilers for R2.
Kallen tells us in the end of the series that the world has gotten a lot better, but that there's still much to do. This is my take on the following events and what may had happened.

~ Truth or Lies

Informations

"Tell me Zero. What do you think is right?"

The masked man looked up, uncertain about the question. They were walking down the hall, him pushing the wheelchair with the young empress.

"I do not understand the question, your majesty"

Nunnaly looked at the masked man, smiling gently. "What do you think is justice? What do you think of the system we use to judge those who we believe are wrong? Do we do the right thing? Is it right to believe yourself to be right? To always be able to judge without prejudice?"

He didn't answer right away. They moved on in silence. Nunnaly waited patiently. She knew he thought about her question. This Zero, he never answered a question right away.

Not very much like the old Zero. The words came to him just as naturally as breathing.

"Majesty, I do not believe it is possible to determine good and evil simply by using a system made by humans. It is all a matter of perspective, and perspectives change. Evil deeds done by one man can be viewed as good by another. It is the same with rendering judgement. Humans can never be perfect, but we can try and do our best."

Nunnalt nodded. "I guess you are right about that. But tell me then, what if we can't do our best? Or if our best isn't good enough?"

He stopped.

"Majesty, You can only do your best. And if you know your best isn't enough, then use that knowledge to become even better. If one don't know the answer, one can always ask others for help."

"And if the person you ask isn't just?" she turned around.

"You can only ever trust yourself Majesty. But do not keep that knowledge from listening to others. Use your common sense to do good things."

"I can trust you, can't I?"

He started walking again. "Of course your Majesty. I am your protector, and I will guard you with my life. You are the leader the country has been waiting for, a leader who believes in the power of words instead of firearms."

Nunnaly didn't respond, until they reached the aircraft that would transport them to Japan. She gently laid her hand on top of Zero's.

"You trust me, Zero?"

"With the entire world, your Majesty."

"Then I hope you can forgive me." she spoke softly as they entered the airplane. He didn't get the chance to ask what for, the rest of the company that would accompany them to Japan were already on the airplane. He would have to wait.

Nunnaly greeted all of them, and started talking with one of her advisors.

Zero didn't say anything. He let go of the wheelchair and walked to the back of the plane where he sat down. He preferred keeping himself in the shadows, out of sight. His place on travels like this were in the back end of the ship, where he would rest. Being onboard an aircraft provided him with a rare opportunity to relax a bit.

The world had gotten better. He could see it. He could feel it. And it made him very happy, to see the world unified in the task of creating a better world. It had been their goal, after all.

But. His first task was to protect Nunnaly from the people who had lost power because of empress Nunnaly and her major changes in Britannia.
And that was an exhausting task. Nunnaly wanted to visit everyone and everything, the whole world, he own people.

And despite him trusting Nunnaly, he didn't trust many of the people in her court, parliament or advisors. Most of them were good people. Earl Asplund and Miss Cecile for exampel. And many others.

But. He'd tried trusting people before. And it did not turn out very well. Not because they broke his trust in them. But because he found that they started to trust him.

And I can't be trusted.
I told Nunnaly she could trust me. And I lied. Again.

It isn't normal to think about suicide every day. He'd promised to be by Nunnaly's side, to guard her. And yet, everyday he would think about running away, to give in to the burning need in his soul.
And for what? The simple pleasure, the simple satisfaction of dying?
He hated himself for thinking like that. The idea of not being there for Nunnaly, it disgusted him that he would even think like that. In the beginning the strong geass command had kept the worst thoughts at bay. But as each day ended and started he felt the power of the king growing weaker.

It had now been a little more than a year since emperor Lelouch had died. Could the power really be wearing off? So soon? Nunnaly had been under the old emperors geass for many years. But perhaps it depended on the person. Nunnaly thought she was blind, and didn't fight it before she had to. He, on the other hand, had wanted to die, and had wanted it from day one, even before Lelouch ordred him to live. He had fought agaist the Geass as soon he realized what it was.
It scared him that the effect were disappearing. He'd expected it. Waited for it. But he didn't know what he would do when it finally disappeared altogether.

Will I kill myself? Or will I be strong enough to continue guarding Nunnaly?

Laughter from the front of the plane brought his attention back to reality for a moment. Nunnaly was laughing, her chief advisor Gellian had made a joke about planes.. or something. He never followed their conversations, he didn't have to. Gellian was a good woman, just and righteous.

Zero tapped his finger against the armrest. He wished the empress hadn't decided to go to Japan.

For now he'd been able to avoid the questions around his person. But now, with Kaname Ohgi as prime minister he seriously doubted that he could avoid them any longer.

And then what? Should he reveal who he really was, to the former Black Knights? To Nunnaly?

Thoughts of suicide, the simple solution came back into his head.
It would be really easy.

And yet he knew he could never take his own life. Not even because of the geass. He couldn't bare the shame, alive or death, of having neglected a promise to a dying friend.
And I will never tell them who I am. Not even Nunnaly.

"Zero, please come." he raised himself when Nunnaly called for him. He took place beside her, guarding and observing.

Nunnaly's advisors guarded him as well. They didn't trust him. They trusted him to protect Nunnaly, he'd proven that when he took a bullet a few months back. A bullet meant for Nunnaly. And he'd then killed the assassin.
They didn't trust him because of the role Zero had played. Of course, they didn't know that he was a new Zero. They believed him to be the former Leader of the Black Knights, the sworn enemy of Britannia.

"Yes, your Majesty how can assist you?"

"When we arrive to Japan, we'll be greeted by the new prime minister and some of the officials from the Japanese Parliament. After that we'll go to the Parliament itself, and there I'll make the official apology. After that we'll be transported to the prime ministers house where we will have a private meeting with him and some of his advisors. You will accompany me all the time, as will Gellian and Jacob. The rest of our party will make themselves useful until we leave again in five days time."

Zero nodded. He'd expected something like that.
Jacob Edwards, the second in command of security, leaned forward. "Excuse me your Majesty, but may I ask why we stay so long in Japan? The crimes committed by Britannia against the country are great, but you are also needed back home."

Nunnaly smiled. "I know Jacob, and it warms me to hear your worry. But as you point out, the crimes against Japan are severe and I need to redeem them. I also have some personal matters to attend to while I'm here since I don't know when I'll be able to return again. And you don't need to fear for the homeland, my sister will guard it well while I'm gone."

Jacob bowed his head. "Of course your Majesty. Forgive me for asking."

"There is nothing to forgive. Now, if you please. I wish to speak with Zero in private."

The two got up, bowed and retreated to the back end of the plane. Nunnaly patted the chair beside her. "Please sit down."

He sat down.

"Tell me, Zero. How do you greet somebody in Japanese?"

New characters. Nothing like some OC's to mess up everything, right?

Anyway, I don't plan for them to be a big part of the story. Just minor parts from time to time.

I've just started a new job, and are in the middle of moving so can't really say anything about the regularity of the updates. But I'll try my best.