Chapter 2: Secrets Revealed

Euphemia slid over and allowed the two boys plenty of room to enter the limo. When she heard that Lelouch and Nunnally were sent to Japan it made the third princess extremely sad. However; when news reached the homeland that the two of them were killed Euphy was devastated. She had always thought of Lelouch and Nunnally not just as step siblings, but as an actual brother and sister. She remembered the days long gone where the three of them would play in the garden at the Aries Villa, and the argument that she got into with Nunnally on who would be the one to marry Lelouch.

For the first few moments there was an awkward silence in the back of the limo, and it was making everyone feeling a bit uncomfortable. Suzaku tried to break the tension and say "So here we all are, maybe we should have brought Kallen with us."

Euphemia who was resisting the urge to lean forward and hug Lelouch was taken aback by Suzaku's comment. She leaned forward so she could see Lancelot pilot and asked "Wait, you knew the girl that Lelouch was sitting with?"

Lelouch sighed before saying "Her name is Kallen Stadtfeld, and just like us she goes to Ashford Academy. The three of us are all members of the student council. I'm surprised the two of you know each other, and that you befriended a member of the engineering corp."

Before Suzaku could say anything Euphemia spoke up and asked "The two of you already know each other? When did this happen?"

'May as well tell her the truth now' Lelouch thought. He took a deep breathe before explaining everything that happened to him and Nunnally when they left Pendragon Imperial Palace. From how they met Suzaku along with Tohdoh, Kaguya Sumeragi and Taizo Kirihara. After that he explained how he had been hiding the two of them at Ashford Academy, which reminded Euphemia that Lady Marianne had a close friendship with the Ashford Family. Finally he told how about his gambling matches against nobles, he and Suzaku thought it was funny how easy it was to beat them, even Euphy let slip a chuckle or two.


Kallen rummaged through her bag, desperately looking for her cell phone, she had to call back Ohgi and let him know exactly what happened. It felt like so many things were jumbled together in a very confusing manner. It was obvious that Lelouch and Suzaku were friends, they even came out and said in when Suzaku joined the student council. The one thing that didn't fit in with all this is how Princess Euphemia was involved, and why she wanted to speak with the Prince of Ashford Academy. There was something suspicious going on and she felt that something needed to be done.

She found her cell phone and quickly dialed Zero's number. Kallen felt it was necessary to tell the leader of the Black Knights first. The line was ringing, but absolutely no response from the masked leader. Silently cursing her luck she quickly dialed the number of her friend Kaname Ohgi.

"Listen Kallen, I promised i would call you when the ammo arrived..." Oghi said

Kallen interrupted and said impatiently "Forget the stupid ammo, something bigger then that is going on and I can't get a hold of Zero."

"Okay, calm down and tell me whats wrong." Oghi said he sat leaning against the wall of their base

Kallen took a breath before saying "I was sitting in the park talking with one of my classmates when Suzaku Kururugi came over. He said someone wanted to meet him before he glanced at a limousine waiting on the street. The rear passenger window came down and there was the Sub-Viceroy Euphemia li Britannia. My classmate got up and followed Suzaku over to the car and they both got in, then they drove off. I just tried to get a hold of Zero, but he's not picking up."

Ohgi was at a loss for words after hearing what Kallen saw. He cleared hs throat before saying "Okay, come back here as quick as you can. I'll try and call Zero." as he ended the call

Kallen closed her cell phone and stuffed it back into her bag before jumping into a taxi. As they drove the hideout Kallen tried to make sense of everything. 'If Euphemia wanted to meet Suzaku's friends, why didn't he have her come along as well?' The ace pilot of the Black Knights thought. There was something strange going on and it was a safe bet the Lelouch had something to of it. After they were done with the next mission she would have to look up as much info on the Prince of Ashford as possible.

The cell phone in Lelouch's pocket was beginning to work his last nerve as they continued to drive. He could very well guess that it was Kallen trying to contact his alter ego Zero about what happened to him. When he was done here he would have to think of some way to get the Black Knights attention away from Euphemia and himself. If he was right they might very well try to kidnap him as well as Nunnally and use them as bargaining chips. As he continued his train of thought it was Euphy who brought him back to reality abruptly.

"Well isn't this a day of sweet surprise. To think you and Nunnally were so close all this time, and that you and Suzaku are friends as well. Nunnally, how is she?" Euphemia asked

"She's living with me, but she's still blind and crippled." Lelouch said

Euphemia moved forward and hugged her half brother before saying "I'm so sorry, the hatred you must feel for us and the rest of the Royal

Family. If there's anything Cornelia and I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask."

Lelouch was taken aback by the sudden embrace, but was thankful for it. If he could've been found by any member of his family, he was glad it was Euphy. After taking a moment to enjoy the hug Lelouch pulled back and asked "You haven't told anyone about me yet, have you?"

"Not yet, I was thinking about calling Cornelia and telling her the good news that we found you. I'm sure she would be thrilled to know that the two of you are still alive." Euphemia said brightly

'And if she finds out right now that we're still alive, no doubt she'll stick us on a plane for Pendragon.' Lelouch thought as he tried to think of a way out of this situation. After a moment he decided to just be straight, and explain why telling Cornelia shouldn't be told, at least for now.

"I don't know if I want her to know right now, if she finds out you can guess what will happen. She'll call Pendragon and let the Emperor know where I am, and he'll order that I be sent back to the homeland. I have no intention of becoming another pawn in his little game of chess, and i refuse to put Nunnally through anything else like that again." Lelouch said defiantly

"But if you just stay here in Area 11 like this..." Euphemia began to say before Lelouch placed his hand on her head

"I gave up my claim to the throne years ago, and i changed my name when I enrolled at Ashford. It may not be perfect, but i'm happy where i am right now. So please, don't tell Cornelia that i'm here yet." Lelouch said

The third princess began to tear up before she said "Alright, i promise i won't tell her, but you should. I'm sure she would be thrilled when she finds out that the two of you are still alive."

Lelouch sighed with relief before gently wiping the tears forming on Euphemia's face before saying "Thank you, i really appreciate it." before he looked out the window and realized they were approaching the Viceroy's Palace.

"Sub-Viceroy, we have arrived at our destination." a voice came through the intercom as they past through security and drove ever closer to the main entrance.

"I understand, driver would you please drive Suzaku and his friend to Ashford academy?" the third princess responded

"Of course your highness." the driver's voice responded

Lelouch reached down and took out a scrap of paper and a pen out of his bag. He wrote down the words 'Lulu' as well as the number to his cell phone. he neatly folded up the piece of paper and offered it to the third princess

Euphy took the piece of paper and opened it, she couldn't help but snicker before asking "Is this your phone number Lulu?" as she read the piece of paper

"Only the school girls, whom have crushes on Lelouch call him that." Suzaku said

Lelouch let out a rare chuckle before saying "yeah, just in case you want to talk or something. Who knows maybe we can all get together and have dinner or something. maybe we can get Cornelia can join us too."

"I'm sure she wouldn't miss that. It would be wonderful to catch up over dinner." the third princess said excitedly

"And i wouldn't miss asking her a few questions, while she's under effects of geass of course." Lelouch thought. He was considering using it on Euphemia, but there would be little that could be gained from it, at least not yet.

As the limo pulled up in front of the Viceroy's Palace, Euphy slipped the scrap of paper into the sleeve of her spectacular dress. She wore a huge smile plastered across her face as she walked past all the guards and palace staff.

"You know i'm surprised Lelouch. I would've bet that your first thought after seeing her would have been to run away as fast as you can."

Suzaku said as the limo on the Sub-Viceroy's orders were to take them back to Ashford Academy.

Lelouch took a moment to think of a decent excuse. After carefully thinking he said "Well, that would've looked extremely strange. Don't forget that Kallen also saw what happened as well. If I had tried to run away, she would've wondered what was going on. She would have asked me what happened next time she saw me on campus, and most likely members of the student council would've overheard. I think the two of us should keep what happened quiet, if this gets out we could be up to our necks in trouble."

Suzaku leaned back in his seat as he understood his best friends train of thought. 'I think I understand where Lelouch is coming from. If the student council or the rest of the student body did in fact find out what happened, it would be a complete and utter nightmare. Fans of the princess would pester and hound them with all sorts of questions. Milly, Shirley and Nina had to endure the same thing after the hotel jacking, and they haven't been able to leave schools grounds since because of the media.' Suzaku thought as the limo pulled up to their destination.

"Well this has been fun, but i got somewhere else i gotta be. Take care Suzaku" Lelouch said as he got out and started to walk in the direction opposite of the academy.

"Wait, aren't you going to go back to Ashford?" Suzaku called out as he climbed out and walked around the limo.

"Classes have been canceled for the rest of the day, so there's no point." Lelouch said as the limo started to drive away from the two boys.

"Ohh yeah, I forgot about that. By the way, what were you doing with Kallen anyway? Suzaku asked as he watched their ride turn a corner and disappear from sight.

"I had some shopping to take care of, and I just happened to run into her at the market." Lelouch lied. The truth is he was on his way the Black knights hideout before he ran into Kallen.

"And we grabbed you before you could finish right? Okay, i'll see ya later." Suzaku said as he waved goodbye and walked back into Ashford Academy

'Finally i can get back to my little Black Knights.' Lelouch thought as he started to walk away. He pulled out his phone to see how many missed calls he had gotten from Kallen as a result of what happened. 'Geez, over a dozen missed calls. Not only from our little ace, but from Ohgi as well. I'm starting to think they really are helpless without me' came to his mind as he reviewed the missed call list.


*Later, in the Viceroy's Palace*

As Euphemia sat at her magnificently handcrafted desk in the Sub-Viceroy's office while she finished on a politicians worst nightmare, paperwork. As she reviewed all the files, from terrorist reports to civilian affairs, it was obvious her mind was completely elsewhere. She was thrilled to know that Lelouch and Nunnally had actually survived after all these years would have been an understatement. It felt like only yesterday that Nunnally and herself were almost forcing Lelouch to participate in their little tea parties while Lady Marianne would watch over them.

It was then that Euphemia found a damage report on the Lake Kaawaguchi Hotel, and her happy mood turned somber. Less then a week ago she was at the mercy of the infamous terrorist Zero, but he didn't do anything to her. If he truly hated Britannia, why didn't he take her as a prisoner, or kill her like Clovis? But what really confused her was how he talked to her, saying that she hadn't changed. All this really confused her, because it made her think that he somehow knew her, kind of like an old friend or a brother..."

She stood up and looked out the window, as she gazed into her reflection only two words popped into her head.

'Brother...Lelouch'

Euphemia sat back down as a tear made it's way down her cheek. The more she wondered if Lelouch really was Zero, the more the evidence seemed to fit. Lelouch hated the Royal Family, and Zero made it clear that the sole reason he killed Clovis was because he was an offspring of the Emperor. As she continued to debate what to do next, a secretary walked into the room

"Excuse me your majesty, but the Viceroy of Area 11 is calling to speak with you" The secretary as she bowed her head

Euphemia turned away from the secretary and wiped away the tear marks on her face as she said "Thank you, that will be all."

As the woman left the room the Sub-Viceroy took a moment to gather herself. She turned around and picked up handset.

"Hello Cornelia, how's the investigation going?"


Author note:

That's it for this chapter. i gotta say thank you to all the people who favorited and are following the story. It really made my day when i woke up the morning after and saw my inbox showing the awesome responses this story has gotten.

So please review, and comment on how you liked this chapter.