I apologize for the delay. I have been busy preparing for the end of the semester. I know this chapter is brief, but I will be able to write longer chapters once I am done with final exams :)

Chapter Four: Rough Night

Suzaku did not sleep well at all that night. His thoughts were plagued with memories of his deceased love, Euphie. It was the truth that not a day went by when he did not miss her or think about her bright pink hair or her adorable giggle. His best friend had killed his first and only love, a fact that still unsettled him greatly. But, for the sake of everyone involved, he had been forced to forgive Lelouch. After all, Lelouch had suffered as well. He had to kill his own half-sister because of a mistake he could not help. There were days when Suzaku fought a war inside his head, going over all the alternatives there had to have been for Lelouch. Did Euphie really have to be sacrificed for this peace? But, in the end, Lelouch had sacrificed himself. To atone for all of his sins, including the murder of his kin. He could only imagine how Cornelia felt. Perhaps that was the reason why she had been so distant. Could she still be in mourning after all this time? Of course the pain of losing a sibling would never truly vanish, but Cornelia was a member of the royal family. Although she had given up her right to the throne and all power she once held, Suzaku believed that it was still her duty to present herself with grace. She was, after all, still nobility.

Suzaku breathed a deep sigh, wishing he could just forget all of it and focus on his new life. It was not his problem to worry about Cornelia and he certainly did not want to lament anymore on the past. But, in a way, he lived the past. It was because of the past that Suzaku became Zero. And so, his past remained his present every day. There were days when he wished that he could run away and leave everything he knew behind. But that was not noble and the two people who had meant the most to him in life would not approve.

His thoughts drifted off to C.C. She was such an enigma. He wished that he could just read her mind. If only he had the power of geass. He shook his head at that thought. It was not a power he wanted to be afflicted with. No, he would get results the Suzaku Kururugi way. He did not know why it mattered to him, but he was determined to learn more about the mysterious witch.

Was it because she suddenly became attractive to him? No, he could not think like that. He was still in love with Euphie and he could never look at another woman that way, especially not C.C. She was a rogue girl, not to be trusted. Who knew what crazy thoughts went on in that head of hers? There was also the question of what she meant when she said that Cornelia was hiding something. Was she some kind of psychic now as well? It did no use to ponder questions like these. He would either have to find out for himself or forget all of it. He had to put it all out of his mind in order for him to get some decent sleep. He needed his strength, because tomorrow he would have to test his wits against a sly immortal witch.