Chapter Two

The Knightmares' arms smashed together with a force that sent Lelouch's older model skidding backwards.

"That's enough mindless murdering."

That's a lot of shit, coming from you.

Lelouch growled, saying nothing over the loudspeaker, but instead fighting back. He knew Suzaku's attack pattern, how his mind worked, how he fought. He'd beat him back here, and no unnecessary casualties had to happen this time.

"You seem to know the enemy's tactics well." C2 said, "May I ask why?"

"Because he's my best friend." Lelouch said darkly, the Knightmares' blades smashing together.

C2 must have saw his face change, because she was quiet once more as he beat Suzaku back.

"Just who the hell are you!?" Suzaku's voice was wild, desperate to stay with the upper hand in this fight.

Lelouch debated what could happen if Zero outed himself here. Well, they'd just take him as another terrorist... For now.

"I am the knight of justice!" He shouted over the loudspeaker, "A man with a wish for equality and a gentler world! I am Zero, now back down, or you will die here!"

"You say you wish for a gentler world, but so far all you've done is make chaos!"

"Oh, Private Kururugi..." Lelouch shook his head, "You are as blind as the rest of them. People don't respond to mere words, people respond to action. And you can't change the world without getting your hands dirty! Now back down!"

Suzaku stayed put.

"Stubborn as always..." Lelouch grumbled, "So be it!"

The Knightmares were clashing against one and other, so violently that every other soldier had ceased their fighting.

I need to get to Clovis, or things won't go as well as they did before.

Lelouch pulled a very risky move and slammed his Knightmare into Suzaku's, and the Knightmare fell like a boulder.

He turned the Knightmare and went straight through the crowd of Britannian forces.

"Are you crazy!?" Came Kallen's voice over the intercom.

"Just maybe, Q-1."

"There he is!" Suzaku followed the rest of the fleet after the terrorist. Zero, he'd called himself. Suzaku had to admit, he was incredibly skilled. But... Who was he? Was Lelouch okay? That... That girl?

The Knightmare was standing there, weapon raised. They moved towards it cautiously.

"Come out of the cockpit and keep your hands in the air!" The commander shouted.

The Knightmare made no attempt to move.

"Now! Or we'll shoot!"

Silence.

"Is anyone even in it, anymore, sir?" Suzaku asked cautiously.

"There's no way he could have gotten out that fast!"

But upon inspection, it was found that Suzaku was right. The cockpit was empty, and the man calling himself Zero was nowhere to be found.

Lelouch walked along the street, his school jacket over his shoulders.

He was calm as could be, considering what he'd just done. No doubt they'd try to cover it up, and when they couldn't find out who'd done it, they'd use a scapegoat.

It would not be Suzaku this time.

They would not get a scapegoat. Zero would tell them outright.

He walked onto the school grounds, and it appeared that it was lunchtime. The student council saw him and ran towards him.

"Lulu!" Shirley slammed into him, her red locks flying around them in her flurry to reach him.

"Hey, Shirley."

"Oh, God!" She was gripping his shoulders, glaring at him fiercely, "Rivalz said that you got caught up trying to help a truck after it slammed into a wall. But it turned out that it was a terrorist truck!" She hugged him, and he hugged her back.

"I'm fine, Shir... Really."

She nodded against his shoulder.

"Well, just don't scare us like that again." Milly said, "You could have died!"

"But I didn't." Lelouch grinned. He'd missed his friends, and Shirley- Oh, God, Shirley- and everyone. If he'd died with them thinking he was a terrible person, with regrets, he was glad he could make them up now.

Shirley pulled back, and he smiled at her, which caused her to flush.

"Well, if you need a room..." Milly teased.

"Madame President!" Shirley shouted, obviously flustered. She hadn't realized that her arms were still around his neck.

"Um... Shirley..." Lelouch said nervously, turning his head away. Oh good- now he was blushing!.

"Oh!" She pulled her arms back, "S-sorry, Lulu..."

I'm honestly not complaining.

"I-it's okay..."

"Okay," Milly clapped her hands together, "so, when's the wedding?"

"Milly!"

"Welcome home, Lelouch."

Nunnally.

Lelouch almost sobbed at the sight of her.

But instead, he smiled, "Thanks. How was your day?" He sat down next to her.

"Oh, it was great! In Science, we got our lab partners. Mine's a boy named-"

"A boy, hmm?" Lelouch smiled, and jokingly said, "Is 'e cute?"

Nunnally laughed, "He sounded so! I couldn't tell you otherwise."

There were chuckles between the two of them.

"How was your day?" She asked.

Lelouch frowned, "It was okay."

Nunnally giggled, "Mm-hmm. Milly tells me you and Shirley were flirting at lunch!"

Lelouch felt the blood rush to his face.

"Don't believe everything Milly tells you! She's a schemer, she'll try to dig up the darkest-"

At Nunnally's raised eyebrows, clearly saying, "Oh, do go on." Lelouch shut up.

"Well..." He said, "Maybe.. A little.. But- Stop laughing!"

"I'm happy for you!" She said, smiling, "After all that we've been through, I think you deserve happiness. Mom would have wanted you to be happy."

"Uh-huh." The sarcasm was evident, and it took Lelouch a moment to realize she didn't remember- didn't remember that their mother was a liar, a schemer, and a betraying, selfish bitch-, "Sorry." He said, "I don't know where that came from." He took her hand, "Of course she'd want me to be happy, but you, too."

Nunnally smiled, "I am happy, big brother, don't you worry!"

"Hey, I saw Suzaku today."

Nunnally's face took on that of surprise, and she smiled, "You did? Where?"

"He was on his way to some military stuff, must'a been that thing in Shinjiku. But we talked for a second, and he's been in the Britannian military for years. I don't know why. If I were him, I'd be joining those fighting back."

"But you're not him." Nunnally said, "And I know that you seem to think that His Majesty helped kill our mother-"

"I don't think- I know."

"-but the fact still remains that he's our father, and by staying out of the line of fire, you might keep the casualties low."

"But it still keeps people suffering..." Lelouch's eyes dropped, "Did you know that Japanese, and the other Numbers, aren't legally citizens? It just makes me want to punch something, you know?"

Nunnally nodded, "I do. I understand, but right now, things are calming down in Area 11. So..." She took his hand and smiled, "Let's try not to start a ruckus, okay?"

Lelouch nodded, but meant none of it, "Okay."

So, Clovis is dead, we had some Shirlulu fluff, and Lelouch and Nunnally had a chat.

But really though this is going to go downhill so fast you don't even KNOW

Also, Lelouch made a promise to make sure that Britannia wouldn't be able to use a scapegoat this time

Lets just say that he keeps that promise