A Code Geass fanfic. I own nothing.

Contains spoilers for R2.

The Funeral

Thoughts of a dead man

The clock was around 4 in the morning. Not many were awake. Most of the population slept soundly after almost two days of celebration.

Except him.

He wondered if he would ever be able to sleep like a normal person again. After all, he had killed so many people, including his own friend, and caused so much destruction and despair. The nightmares were a small price to pay.

His face remained emotionless as he walked slowly down the hall. Not that any emotions his face held would've actually been visible.

He was very tired. A comforting feeling. It told him that he was still, kinda, human.

He hadn't slept since that.

He had spent the first hour in shock. And after thirteen hours he'd finally managed to find a room to be alone in. And then he'd broken down. For exactly ten minutes. Because that's how long it took yet another person to knock on the door.

He signed, walking down the hallway. He was the only person here. In fact, he could take of the mask and still be completely safe. There were no guards on duty in this section of the palace, thanks to Jeremiah and Cornelia. The public thought the body had been moved to the Imperial Church already, so all guards had been stationed outside of the building to make sure the church wouldn't be overrun by the masses.

So, he walked in silence. He had been in this part of the palace only twice before.

The first time had been when Lelouch brought him here to explain his final plan, the Zero Requiem.
It seemed so long ago. Though it was only a couple of months.

The second time had been just after the death of Lelouch, mere hours. Jeremiah had brought the dead emperor to this place. The two of them had honored the dead emperor and his sacrifices in silence.
Then Jeremiah had showed him the letter with the instructions for the funeral. He didn't recognize the area code, but he was pretty sure it was somewhere south of the settlement. Jeremiah said he would take care of everything. Finding the location, checking it and preparing it. He would prepare the body. He would inform Nunnaly and Cornelia about it too. The only thing Jeremiah asked him to do was the reason he was here now.

The third time he had come to this place was to take the body to its final resting place.

He stopped, the door just in front of him.
He hesitated.

Jeremiah had called him just ten minutes ago, telling him that Nunnaly had invited those who knew the truth, to the funeral. That went against the letter, the last will and wishes of Lelouch. He had only wanted Nunnaly to be there.

At first he had been angry, and even considered not following his orders. But Jeremiah said something, something Nunnaly had told him.
'I believe that it is important they are offered a chance to bring this nightmare to an end.'
She was right. Everybody had the right to attend.
And if they should try an do something, he would stop them.

He really doubted they would though.

He opened the door, and entered.

He felt dead inside. Lifeless.
The room was cold. He couldn't see his own breath, but he gave an involuntary shudder. Whether it was because of the cold or his task he did not know.

Jeremiah had lowered the temperature of the room to make sure the body didn't start decomposing.. He felt bile rose up in his throat.
Oh god, why did I think about that?

The thought of Lelouch's face and body turning into nothing in the ground was too much for him. He vaguely wondered why Lelouch had asked to be buried like this, instead of been cremated. Cremation was, in his opinion, the most dignified way to die.
But this had been Lelouch's choice, and he would honor that request.

He took a deep breath, and walked over to the body.

He stopped, waiting a moment before looking down. Trying to collect himself, trying to prepare himself.
He looked down.
And, to his own surprise, he felt his lips form into a small smile.
The second time he had been here with Jeremiah, he had been inconsolable.
But now, only some hours later.. it almost felt like the peace from the dead emperor had transferred to him.
The dead feeling inside him disappeared along with the doubts of this being the right thing to do.

He kneeled down, bowing his head. It was time.
Jeremiah had asked him to do this. Lelouch had asked him to do this.
The murderer bringing the victim to rest.

He had to go. The others had already left the settlement half an hour ago. He would be late and the rising sun awaits no one. Not even a king.

He stood up. After a second of hesitation he gently lifted the body from the table.
Jeremiah had prepared a small plane, so the king could travel dignified one last time. It was fast, and based on the Avalon's float system. It could cover great distances in a short amount of time, and most important: it made no sound, and could not be tracked.

As he walked towards the plane, carrying the body, he felt.. weird.
It was not normal. It was against the rules, the rules of society. The murderer should be punished, not asked to play undertaker.

He didn't play by the rules anymore. Just look where that got him in the first place. If he had teamed up with Lelouch from the start much would have gone differently.
But then again, there were no guarantee things would have gone better. No one can change the past, but it is possible to shape the future.

The small plane left the settlement unnoticed.
As he flew over Ashford Academy he briefly wondered if Rivalz or Milly would ever be able to visit the grave of their friend. They loved Lelouch, and he was pretty certain Milly had figured out the truth by now.

Perhaps Nunnaly could talk with them, when everything had quieted down.

He could not.

He was the mask now.


Dead man walking people.
I didn't have a plan for this chapter. It just evolved from one word to the next.