A/N – Lelouch and co. are 23 years. Chalk up OOC-ness to the fact that the last eight years have been different. My thanks to the two guests who reviewed, and to keroblade for their encouraging review as well. Please, continue to enjoy the story, and let me know what you think!

Chapter 2

How Not to Rule An Empire

Eight Years Later, in 2025,
The Palace of the Emperor

Lelouch sighed as he shuffled some papers around his desk. He scratched his eye-patch idly as he calculated just how much more work he'd have to do. More demands for additional funding from Rakshata, routine military report from Kallen, petition for marriage between Empress Tianzi and some Li Xingke fellow…it just went on and on and on. Nina took care of most of the boring work, i.e., the stuff dealing with numbers and statistics, but that still left a tidy amount of stuff that required his personal attention.

Life had fallen into a repetitive routine ever since he'd ascended the throne. Not that Lelouch was complaining, mind – there was global peace, Nunnally was safe, his siblings weren't trying to kill him, and things were looking good. Even the papers were fairly regular, being basic reiterations of the same requests over and over again.

Through the years, he'd had to reveal his former alter-ego as Zero to a few people, of course. When Kallen found out after the coronation, she'd nearly strangled him with a telephone cord for the stunt he'd pulled in the shower. It was only when he decided to offer her the post of Commander of the Britannian Peacekeeping Forces that she'd calmed down – a wise decision, as she seemed to have been made for the job.

Suzaku, of course, was informed of the matter almost immediately by Euphemia. He'd had the hardest time coping with it, finding it difficult to believe that he'd been fighting Lelouch all along with the Lancelot. He viewed it as a personal betrayal and refused to meet Lelouch again for a good deal of time. After several months, Euphemia managed to talk the two boys into meeting each other, and while they still disagreed about ideologies, they reached equilibrium. While Lelouch still espoused his "ends-justify-the-means" beliefs, he agreed not to discuss the matter in front of his friend.

Lelouch also privately informed Suzaku of the existence of the Knight's own Geass command – "Live!" While initially skeptical, the remembrance of his temporary blackout at the military facility on Shikinejima Island, as well as some practical demonstrations, soon convinced Suzaku of the reality of Lelouch's control. He took it fairly well, not having breathed a word about it to a living soul for the last six years, ever since Lelouch had ascended the throne.

The actual ascension of the throne itself had been a pretty messy affair, and was in fact the main reason Lelouch has informed Suzaku of his Geass power. It had taken some serious strategic talks with C.C. before he'd come up with a fairly simple strategy to remove his father from power.

First, he'd gone on a quiet world tour to…visit…his many siblings. Purely innocent, of course. No, there was no ulterior motive, he just wanted to chat with his brothers and sisters. Yes, that was it. Chat. (For some reason, Suzaku had some qualms with these harmless conversations, bleating on about "morals" and "ethics". Took him quite some time to cool down.)

While Lelouch was performing his completely innocuous journey around the earth, Suzaku and C.C. were investigating V.V. Eventually, after baiting the pseudo-child to a Thought Elevator under the pretense of blowing said Elevator to smithereens, the duo managed to ambush him. Using the element of surprise, C.C. extracted his Code and applied it to herself, leaving V.V. mortal, and C.C.…even more immortal…apparently. The Elevator was then demolished by the Lancelot, taking V.V. with it.

Suzaku had required a lot of convincing before he was willing to kill what seemed to be a boy, but he dropped a lot of his ridiculously impractical scruples after he'd heard exactly who V.V. was and what the boy had done.

After V.V.'s death, the trio had joined up and visited another Thought Elevator (which, according to C.C., would allow Lelouch to access God…or something. C's World was mentioned, as was the collective consciousness of humanity).

There, he'd used his fully developed Geass to order whatever he was talking with to turn against Charles, wiping him off the face of the earth. There was some mention of Marianne, but Lelouch didn't pry – the less he knew about that can of worms, the better for everyone involved.

The following power struggle for control over the Empire was a good deal more sedate than the preceding ones. In fact, it really wasn't so much a struggle for power, as a simple handing over of the reins to Lelouch. For some reason (unfathomable to the young man), literally every one of his brothers and sisters each made a public statement tantamount to the following: we do not wish to become ruler, and will loyally serve whoever is selected, striving to maintain the peace.

The only group who did not issue such a decree was the embassy from Japan (Euphemia and Cornelia), who did nothing whatsoever. Neither of them wished to grab the title of Empress, they simply did not see the need to voice their stance aloud like their siblings had.

Lelouch was quite relieved by the fortuitous turn of events, although Suzaku kept making noises about "unfair advantages". Lelouch simply couldn't see his point of view – after all, he'd worked from within the system and made it to the top! Wasn't that Suzaku's dream? To change the system from within? But Suzaku would not be mollified, and they still had fights about it.

Lelouch didn't mind too much. He'd become emperor, after all, and had changed the world for the better. Nunnally was safe, as were the rest of his friends and family.

And that's how I wound up here, though Lelouch, pulling himself out of his reverie. I've got to get through these papers if I want any free time today, he though, steeling himself for some hardcore paper reading. Euphemia and Cornelia are having a tea party, as I recall. If I finish quickly enough, I may be able to join them for some quiet conversation.

With this goal in mind, he read intently for the next half-an-hour, completely focused on the task before him. Request from Lloyd Asplund for the use of Tohdoh as a 'component' in the latest Knightmare, blah blah blah, Petition from Carefree Customer demanding free pizza, blah blah bl– Wait a minute. What was that again?

Petition #257621, submitted by one Carefree Customer: All those who are in an advisorial role to an Emperor of Britannia are hereby empowered with the capacity to arrogate unlimited quantities of the foodstuff commonly known as "pizza" from suppliers located anywhere in the realms of Britannia. This edict is enforced by the signature of the undersigned, Lelouch vi Britannia, 99th Emperor of the Holy Empire of Britannia: Bringer of Peace, etc.

Scrawled in an untidy hand at the bottom of the page were the words SIGN HERE, followed by a crooked line that spanned half the page's width.

Lelouch arched one eyebrow. Surely she doesn't think I'll actually–

"So will you?"

"Ahh!" Lelouch jumped in his chair before glaring at the witch who had snuck up behind him. "What do you think you're doing?"

The green-haired adviser walked around his chair to the front of the desk. Perching herself on the wooden surface, she clarified, "Will you sign it?"

"Of course not, you preposterous female! What do you take me for, an imbecile? Lelouch Lamperouge, he who destroyed the world and made it anew, relegated to the buyer of pizza for a gluttonous immortal with no self-control? I think not! Why, the day that I sign this paper is the day that I–

"I'll tell Suzaku what really happened on Japanian Independence Day."

Lelouch clammed up immediately and glared at C.C., who remained unfazed. Suzaku knew that the Geass had been used on him, but Lelouch had tastefully refrained from mentioning the fact that Euphie had been Geassed in the past – to protect Suzaku from needless worry, of course. As far as everyone was concerned, the reason Princess Euphemia could hardly remember a single part of the greatest speech of her life was stress. Nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, C.C. knew the truth. Lelouch had had to tell her everything when she recovered from that gunshot, but she would have worked it for out herself even if he hadn't. After all, why else would meek, kind Euphemia decide to kill someone if she wasn't being forced to do so?

"That was a low blow, C.C." Lelouch gritted out as he signed on the specified line. Guess I'm going to have to foot the bill when she binges…again. Crazy witch.

"It's not my fault that you're so insecure about your relationships. Seriously, what's the worst that could happen if you told Suzaku the truth?" she said as she examined the signature carefully. She nodded gratefully and rolled the contract up, tucking it into her belt.

The door swung open as the man in question strode in. "Told Suzaku the truth about what? Morning Lelouch, C.C."

"Ah, Suzaku. Greetings. I need you to run this paper off to the kitchen staff immediately and warn every Pizza Hut within a twenty-mile of the need to begin preparing inordinate amounts of pizza," Lelouch rapped out, handing Suzaku the newly-passed pizza law.

"OK, boss," he said, glancing at the bill and whistling. "Another one, eh? How does she get so many by you? Nina's refused to help you with any more 'pizza laws', so you know it'll take at least three days to repeal this, right?" Suzaku slid Lelouch a canny look. "And I'm going to be not sidetracked that easily. What are you trying to hide from me, O Mighty Emperor?"

Lelouch ignored the second of Suzaku's questions, answering the first off-handedly. "I am well aware of the ramifications of passing this bill, Suzaku. I was forced into it by mitigating circumstances."

"Forced into it, you say," Suzaku said, musing. "This wouldn't have anything to do with that truth that you keep trying to sidle the conversation away from, now would it?"

An expertly faked smile appeared on the Emperor's face, along with a lightly forced laugh that would have made a seasoned actor proud. "Why, Suzaku, I do believe you're getting paranoid. Now why did you come to see me this early in the morning?"

Suzaku sobered up instantly and fixed his friend with an earnest gaze. "Ah, yes. About that, Lelouch, I've been meaning to ask you. Do you think you could love a guy like me?"

Suzaku Kururugi had served honorably as the Knight of Princess Euphemia for the past eight years, never once leaving his charge's side for anything short of a military emergency. Through that time, he'd gotten increasingly closer to Euphemia, as they were frequently alone were lengthy periods of time.

Shortly after the foundation of the United States of Japan, Princess Euphemia had dismantled the Britannian government structure of Area Eleven along with Princess Cornelia. Together, they removed the position of Viceroy and Sub-Viceroy from the Japanese – excuse me, Japanian – power structure, allowing the Japanians to select their own Prime Minister.

Suzaku had been the first obvious choice and had initially been willing to take up his father's mantle and redeem his family name. However, when he found out that becoming Prime Minister meant that he'd have to give up all prior connections and engagements, including that of being a Knight to one of the royal family, he had refused point-blank to touch the position, and had nothing more to do with the matter.

Lelouch was more interested at the time with becoming ruler of the world, so Zero couldn't be chosen. Why settle for Japan when the world was ripe for the taking?

Eventually, the vote had actually settled upon a dark horse – Kaname Ohgi. He was an honest man, if not the sharpest blade in the bunch, although his wife, Villetta Nu, more than made up for his deficiency in that department. He led Japan with the same steadfast determination he'd led the revolution through, forever confident of a positive outcome.

While all this deliberation regarding Suzaku was going on, the man himself was leading a quiet life, forever in the shadow of Princess Euphemia. He seemed quite content with his life, and became one of Lelouch's advisers – mainly as a favor to an old friend, but also to make sure that the world didn't stray too far from proper morality.

Lelouch loved Suzaku like a brother and trusted him with his own life, but still clandestinely kept extremely close tabs on the man's relationship with his half-sister, Princess Euphemia. The man may have had the personality of a saint and the record of an angel sent from heaven, but Lelouch would be hanged if he let any man play around with Euphemia, best friends or not. His observations had proven extremely gratifying, however, with Suzaku acting as nothing less than a perfect gentleman every time he was in her presence.

His findings, however, had never indicated that his friend was raving mad.

For a good three-and-a-half seconds, there was pin-drop silence in the room. Lelouch's mouth hung slightly open, and his eyes, though looking in Suzaku's direction, were staring off into the distance.

C.C. pulled her emergency pizza box from below the sofa cushions and settled down among the plush cushions. This promised to be entertaining.

After some more silence, Lelouch decided to breach the gap, trying to let his friend (?) down gently, saying softly, "Suzaku, it could never work between us. You're a knight, I'm an emperor…it's just impossible. I'm sorry, but…no, I can't let this happen."

Suzaku looked confused, then crestfallen. "Huh? You mean…the gap's too wide? That…that's pretty harsh, Lelouch.

C.C. took another massive bite from the pizza slice, eyes never leaving the tableau playing out before her.

Lelouch nodded sagely. "Yes, well, the truth had to be spoken. Now, moving on to the matter of the pizza ordinance…?"

Suzaku kept talking as though the his friend hadn't spoken. "I mean, I know I'll never be worthy of her, but you didn't have to…"

"Worthiness? When did that come up?" And 'her'? What's he babbling on about now? The Emperor watched uneasily as his friend struck a resolute pose.

"Besides, Lelouch, you're the one who was always talking about abolishing the royal family, so what better way to accomplish that than to bring a commoner into the fold through marriage? I refuse to give up!"

.

.

.

Lelouch spoke in an eerily calm tone of voice. "C.C., would you please leave us for a minute?"

The girl thought about it while grabbing another slice from her box, which was running on empty. I suppose I do need a refill…but on the other hand, quality entertainment like this is just too hard to find nowadays. Better stall for time.

"But why? Is something the matter? I thought things were going fine," she asked with her face completely straight.

Lelouch slowly turned to face her, his one visible eye twitching noticeably. "Fine? How, exactly, is everything here fine?" Suzaku is standing here confessing…something, and this witch has the gall, no, the brazen temerity, to say that things are going fine?

Unfazed by his appearance, C.C. chewed the bite in her mouth, reveling in the texture of gooey cheese as it melded perfectly with the tangy tomato sauce before speaking: "Well, Suzaku had just come in to talk about whether he was a person capable of being loved, when you overreacted and thought he was confessing…something else."

She swallowed and pick up the final piece of pizza. "He then proceeded to indirectly ask for the hand in marriage of one of the royal family – again, a statement that you managed to misinterpret spectacularly, throwing an even deeper cloak of obfuscation over the conversation."

The advisor continued, "These consistent misunderstandings lead me to ask an even more pertinent question: How narcissistic can a certain Emperor be if he assumes that a close friend of his who comes to him for advice upon a matter of the heart is professing his undying love for said narcissist?" She sighed and shook her head sorrowfully. "I fear that you are on a level of self-absorption that I shall never attain, no matter how hard I strive for it."

She finished the last slice and stood up, making her way to the door. "All in all, I give this farcical dialogue an eight for originality, but a ten for heartfelt performances all around."

And with that, the witch was gone for more pizza.

"She has a point with the narcissism, you know…"

"Stop insulting your Emperor, you treasonous wretch!" Lelouch took a few deep breaths to calm himself, steepling his fingers in thought. What did she mean misunderstood? I suppose I'd better clarify some things…

"OK, start from the beginning. What did you want to ask me when you walked in?" And if it has anything to do with a Fiction M story, I'm outta here. I do have a public image to maintain, you know.

Unaccountably, though, Suzaku's mouth was downturned and his face was a mask of…shame? No, that's not it, it's something else. Let's see…guilt! He's feeling guilty about something. And, judging by the look on the Knight's face, it was a pretty intense emotion.

"When I asked you if you could love a guy like me, I meant it as a question of worthiness, Lelouch. I mean…I've done terrible things in my past. I joined the police force and unknowingly assisted the Shinjuku Massacre, I lied to my friends about my past…" I killed my own father because I was a coward…

Suzaku looked at the ground. "I mean, what am I worth? Is this the sum measure of my life: Suzaku Kururugi, son of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Knight to Princess Euphemia. Guilty of aiding and abetting large-scale manslaughter, of being a liar extraordinaire, of the crime of patricide…how dare I attempt to attain happiness?"

Sobered, Lelouch realized what the original question had meant. Of course! The 'she' he mentioned was Euphemia. He was coming to talk about the Princess, and I totally misinterpreted it. Still, it's a shame he's got such a guilt complex – that must be a barrier in most of his relationships.

Lelouch understood the turmoil that his friend was going through, and came to a conclusion in his mind. He stood up, walked around his table and stopped behind his friend.

Speaking softly, he said, "I think you're looking at someone else in the mirror, Suzaku. Because when I look at you, I don't see a father-killer, or a liar. When I see you, I see a friend to Nunnally. A protector for Euphemia. A Knight of Peace."

He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder lightly. Suzaku tensed at the contact, but made no other movements. "And a friend to your Emperor."

Suzaku took a shuddering breath before regaining his composure. "Thanks, Lelouch."

"Now, about the reason you came here in the first place…"

Suzaku laughed and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Ahh, about that…it's in regard to my personal life."

"Oh? You have one of those? With all the time you spend with Euphie, I'd have though that your personal life shriveled up and died several years ago…Well, what about it?"

Suzaku blushed at the mention of the Princess. "Errm, well, ah…I don't know if it's such a good idea now…"

"You let me be the judge of that. Come, what favor did you want?"

"…well, if you insist…I suppose…"

Suzaku was as red as a tomato and appeared to be sweating profusely. Before Lelouch had a chance to wonder what had caused such an adverse reaction in him, the man blurted out his request.

"I want your permission to marry Euphemia!"

Lelouch's response was automatic and immediate, almost as though it had been rehearsed. In one smooth motion he grabbed Suzaku by the neck and pinned him against the wall with his right hand, using his left hand to pull his cell phone out of his pocket. Fluidly dialing Cornelia's number, he began talking over the unintelligible gurgling noises Suzaku was making.

"Cornelia, this is Lelouch. Yes, I'm fine. No. I don't care." A pause as Cornelia chattered on.

"Actually, I'm calling to tell you that Suzaku is now OADILWOS, and to move Euphie to Zone 4 immediately."

A moment of silence, during which Suzaku had to physically stop himself from pulverizing Lelouch through sheer physical superiority. After all, Suzaku was a trained Knight on a strict fitness regime, while the Emperor avoided actual physical exertion like the plague. As Suzaku was contemplating the advisability of just knocking his friend out, Lelouch replied to his sister.

"What? Come on…how unprofessional." A pause. "Yes, I have him restrained here", to which Suzaku snorted. Restrained? Inconvenienced, at best. "You know…OADILWOS! Obsessively And Desperately In Love With Our Sister! We discussed this just last Tuesday! You can't have forgotten already, can you?"

Another pause. "Well, at least admit that my paranoia was justified! Come on, Cornelia, work with me and just move Euphie to the safe house…Look, if you won't do something about it, then I will!"

Suzaku had had enough. What is it with this guy and being over-protective? He's known I've loved his sister for the past eight years! How did he not see this coming?

Reaching out a hand, Suzaku expertly pinched a nerve cluster in Lelouch's neck, dropping the man like a stone. The Knight winced as his superior fell on top of him, grunting as he shifted the fallen Emperor to the floor. Talk about a dead weight.

Prying the still-active phone from Lelouch's hands, Suzaku tried talking into the microphone. "Hello? Is this the Princess Cornelia?"

A rather bored voice answered, "Yes, is this the love-struck Suzaku? Honestly, when Lelouch gets into his protective mode it's like I've been dropped into a parallel Universe…" She covered the receiver with her hand, and Suzaku heard her muffled voice talking to someone in the background. "No, Euphemia, nothing's wrong. Don't worry about it."

Suzaku heard a familiar voice in the background sounding mildly worried. "Are you sure? He sounded like Lelouch was upset about something…"

"Don't worry about it, Euphie. Why don't you go check on Schneizel while I wrap things up here?"

"Umm, OK…"

Cornelia waited a minute after her sister had gone before returning to the phone. What did you do, Suzaku? What could possibly make Lelouch lose his composure this much? The last time he gone this crazy was when…oh. Well, that must have been it.

Next time, Suzaku, ease into the topic before you ask to date one of his family. After all, we all know what happened last time…

A/N: R&R, please! Remember, this is my first Geass fanfiction. Also, I know I said it would be a two-shot, but I'm going to have to make it a three-shot. Sorry, but the idea of an epilogue that was actually longer than the original just didn't sit well with me for some reason, so I broke it into two. I had absolutely no idea how to get rid of V.V. and Charles, so I just came up with a haphazard scheme that would never have worked. Still, getting rid of them made the story so much nicer, neh?

And to further please our whimsy, expect the final part soon – a week, tops; barring interference from the Organization. Okabe Rintarou (or, to those in the know, Hououin Kyouma) is away! Tutturu! La Yohda Stasella! El…Psy…Congroo!

xxXxx