I miss you
The light chirping of birds and the sound of wind ruffling the leaves filled the European countryside as a lone wagon rolled forward. Its driver had his face hidden from the sun's oppressive heat as he continued his long journey to sell his hay crop in town. Unbeknownst to him was a certain green-haired stowaway that happened to be using his cart as a bed. She had drifted off to sleep a little over an hour ago and had been enjoying one of her ever less frequent happy dreams of pizza and cheese-kun until it took a sour note when she saw a face she had been trying desperately to forget.
He appeared wispy and ghostlike like he was made of smoke and was stumbling through the world of C hunched over mumbling something she couldn't understand, as though none of what he saw was making sense to him. She began walking towards him cautiously, fearful that he was simply an illusion brought on by her own grief, and placed a hand on his shoulder surprised not only that it didn't pass through him but also at how bone-chillingly cold it was.
"Lelouch, Lelouch can you hear me, it's me C.C." she asked softly as a sense of skepticism and curiosity began to grow inside her.
He whipped his head up and turned towards her revealing not only the fact that his twin geass emblazoned eyes were almost glazed over but also a mark on his neck that made C.C.'s heart quiver "what the, C.C. is that you. Where are you C.C." he screamed
C.C. looked at him and then down to his neck again and there clear as day despite the rest of his body being vaporous was the clear mark of a geass sigil even giving off a slight glow much like her own. She felt as though all that pain of the past two months had melted away in that single instant and she couldn't stop herself from crying tears of joy and throwing her arms around him.
'He's alive. He's alive somewhere and that means I can find him so long as that idiot doesn't try to give up his code. Oh no that fools probably already thinking about giving some halfwit moron geass just so he can die again. I can't let him do something so stupid' she thought regaining her composure while placing her hands on both of his shoulders and looking him in the eyes.
"Lelouch I want you to listen very carefully. I need you to make sure you continue to live on until I can find you. Please don't do anything stupid like giving up your code so you can die or something. You won't find me waiting in the afterlife for you if you do something that stupid okay boya." She finished before she saw him start fading away as their connection was severed and she was left standing in the world of C alone.
'I hope that boy heard all that, though it was his first time here after all, but he'll learn and once I find him I'll have an eternity to teach him. Mark my words Lelouch, I will find you and we will be together.' She thought happily before waking up still on the wagon she had been on all day.
She looked around her once more before grabbing her bag and jumping off the back of the wagon beginning her long search for her lost love.
Lelouch was once again jolted from his pain induced slumber as the car he was in hit another bump in the road and his head hit the door. He had been slipping in and out of consciousness for the past two hours since he and his two new helpers had begun their journey to god only knows where.
Lelouch had been doing his best to think despite his condition and even from where he was sitting he had been able to see road signs indicating he was somewhere in the Britannian homeland. His first and foremost goal was finding a quiet, out of the way place to let his wounds heal themselves however after that he would need to begin the arduous task of not only finding someone to give geass to but also learning how to give it in the first place. He was at least glad he had managed to use the shock image sequence somewhat effectively on a guard that had almost stopped him and his new entourage at the door to the parking garage but he probably should have Geassed him to increase his new found army.
For that matter he still wanted to know why the hell his own geass hadn't forsaken him, but was willing to ignore it for now. So long as his two servants were accepting his orders he could care less why he still had his power and was still thankful it hadn't left him.
Geass aside he still needed somewhere that wasn't moving and bumping so that he could regain his strength properly without reopening his seemingly never shutting chest wound.
Lelouch managed to awkwardly sit himself up before he beckoned to the guard sitting in the passenger seat and getting his attention "Guard, I need you to stop somewhere where we won't be found for a while, understood."
The guard crisply saluted Lelouch and responded with the same sentence he had heard constantly during his reign "Yes your majesty."
'I suppose some things will never change eh' Lelouch thought as he felt the world spin once more and his world started turning black "good then I'm going to sleep for a bit. Please do your best to wake me when you find a suitable location."
As he began to drift off into his pain induced sleep a single image managed to lodge itself into his thoughts leaving him with a soft smile plastered on his face. Within his mind's eye along the shore of a lake in the imperial gardens stood C.C. with her beautiful green hair lifted gently by the breeze. It had been one of the last times he had seen her and remembering it now he was ashamed he hadn't seen the pain that was festering just below the surface of her shining golden eyes.
As Lelouch let himself be consumed by happy thoughts of his reunion with her in the afterlife once he found a way to die he could scarcely hear the faint whispers of the very woman he was dreaming of.
Suzaku Kururugi was having a truly awful first month as Zero.
Within hours after Lelouch's death he had been inundated with interview requests from the press as to the black knights' new affiliation with the Britannian government and then he had been asked the same question by the knights he was now supposed to be leading.
After stating that the black knights would now become the royal guard and elite militia of her majesty empress Nunnally he was hoping to find a place to compose himself and relax, but he hadn't expected to start be looked to as the new emperor and head decision maker while Nunnally was in distress. So from dawn till dusk every day for the past month Suzaku had been fulfilling all the jobs Lelouch had during his time as emperor, unfortunately for him Lelouch had been a true micro manager and hadn't appointed anyone to assist him in ruling. Which was fine for someone like Lelouch who had the ability to manage military operations, direct domestic policy, deal with public image (well maybe not that one), and keep everything in his empire under control while still finding the time to sleep at night.
Suzaku was no that type of person. He lacked Lelouch's elegant and efficient way of dealing with problems and I the last month alone he felt the stress had taken at least a year off his life expectancy. He would give almost anything for Lelouch's talent for politics and dealing with people, especially the media.
If one group had mad his time so far as Zero a nightmare it had to be the fucking news crews who had almost sensed that they would no longer be shot for asking questions and used that right to an almost foolish extent. Suzaku finally understood why dictators censored the media. In the short moth since he became Zero he had been asked anywhere from some of the most outlandish and idiotic questions ever uttered by human beings to deep social questions that should never be answered in front of millions.
He still remembered the one he had been asked moments ago as he walked towards his limo to go oversee the preparations for the viceroy's place in Tokyo to become the new capital.
flashback
"Mr. Zero. Mr. Zero. How do you respond to the situation involving the late emperor's body?" some hotshot reporter asked stepping in front of Suzaku and shoving a microphone up to his helmet.
"I'm afraid I wasn't aware of any situation but I assure you all that should something be amiss it will be rectified as soon as possible. Now then if you could please move I must get going" Suzaku calmly responded before trying to move the man aside only to be stopped by another reporter.
"sir what about the fact that shortly after the incident two guards were found missing and another near the parking garage was in a state of complete mental breakdown"
Suzaku felt his heart miss a beat before he did his best to maintain his mask of confidence. "I'm certain the other two guards will turn up soon. As for the third he was obviously traumatized by the attack and will be questioned once he regains his composure."
Once again just as the prior reporter left another swooped in and continued blocking Suzaku's way making him wish he could simply shove them aside until he remembered how he was meant to act noble and kind all the time now. "Lord Zero while on the subject of trauma, how much longer will it be before empress Nunnally's crowning ceremony and her ascension to the throne as the nation's true leader?"
Ah now this question was one of the more annoying ones that had been tossed around as of late, not only because it made him feel as though people didn't like him leading but also because it seemed to be a slam against Nunnally's ability to lead.
"Her majesty is still dealing with getting over the pain of losing her only real family member. As you are all aware he was the only one who took care of her after they were banished to japan. Despite his actions he still held a dear place in her heart and such a wound will take time to heal. As for the crowning ceremony that is really up to her majesty and not my place to speculate. Now if you would all be so kind as to move I must be going." Suzaku responded as he forcefully moved the final reporter out of the way and finally managed to sink into the back seat of his limo.
End flashback
When he finally had the time to digest the words of the first two reporters Suzaku became immediately worried. He was almost positive that the incapacitated guard was C.C.'s doing however he wanted to have facts before he acted not simply the words of some reporter. He took out his phone and called his closest advisor and one of the very few people who knew the truth about C.C.
He quickly hit the number that was proudly perched at the top of his speed dial list and waited while it rang until he was answered by the almost robotic voice of her voicemail
"Yes this is the Kallen Kozuki the incredible pilot who beat the infamous knight of zero. If you calling to arrange a meeting with me or want to grovel at my feat please kindly fuck off. If you are a member of the armed forces or the black knights and your problem matters call me on my emergency radio frequency. If you are a friend of mine or Zero then leave a message and I call back soon. Bye"
"Kallen, its Zero I need you to look into something for me if it's not too much trouble. I got a report about Lelouch's body being taken and one of the guards on duty was found in a state similar to the one cc left me in on Kamine Island. If you get a chance look into it okay, thanks bye."
Suzaku hung up and leaned back in his seat letting out a long pent up sigh. In a few moments he would arrive at the new "capital" of Britannia to begin another thrilling day of writing the word zero at the bottom of papers, and answering idiotic reporters' stupid little questions.
He was almost positive that wherever he was Lelouch was having an easier time than him.
AN: I just wanted to again thank the very few of you who read this and the very one of you who give enough of a shit to review. Thanks to "renielle14" for the, albeit short, review. To answer the question there won't be many direct C.C .x Lelouch scenes early on (due to them being separated) but later there most certainly will be.
One last note is in relation to Suzaku and whether he would be better with Nunnally or Kallen im rather impartial to one or the other and am looking for feedback from you the fans.
As always please do review and know that it is always greatly appreciated.
