One step ahead…

Just one step ahead…

Always one step ahead of the game…

One step ahead of everyone else…

Ah yes, how can the story begin without a main character? Ah, but this story's main character is anything but a main character. No, let us call it the leading role.

The boy had always been aware of his placement in the world, highly ranked above the commoners. Yes, this boy was of the privileged few in the world.

Gifted with intelligence and craft, the boy was praised among the rest of the people. He had everything a normal boy could ever want; wealth, fame, and a steady living.

Absolutely everything was no more than fabulous for the boy indeed. Yet, despite his gifts and prestige, a looming fear began to grow in the little lad's mind.

You see, the boy had been privileged and all, but as they say, such things come at a great price. "Nothing is for free in the world"; the boy knew this all too well.

His family had a history you see. Although young, the boy knew the truth behind the family he had loved.

Although it is common among royalty to fight for succession, the boy's family was much more different in these terms.

On the surface, the family was considerate and well-mannered, but underneath, their feelings were much more hostile. The adults knew well who had the chance to obtain the crown, but were determined to tip the succession into their children's favor. The boy's eldest brothers and sisters knew ways to keep the chance in their favor.

It was a constant battle between siblings, although quiet and subtle. The boy had known that he was more than capable to gain the throne. He had no fears of whoever got into his way, until his younger brother began to strive in his own way.

The two would duel in all sorts of matters, yet the boy had always been the victor. It would seem to have been futile to continue such gestures of unimportance. But it wasn't until the younger brother had challenged him into a game of strategy, a sort of "battle of wits" if you must. Much to the boy's surprise, the younger brother had played on par with him. But it ended just like any other challenge the two had before.

How is it that the boy continued to succeed in life? The answer is simple; keep one step ahead of everyone else. It was that same spark that would create him into the man that he is today.

"Lelouch, do you understand now?"

No response came back.

"Your plans, your strategies, all of them were still useless when it came to me. All of the cards were in my hand; all I had to do was to force you into making the first move."

Lelouch kept his head down, surprising Schneizel a bit.

"I guess it is no use trying to explain something to you."

"Tell me, Schneizel…"

"What was that?"

"Do you always think like that? Having others make the first move just to gloat about being refined and calm?"

Schneizel smirked. "As I said, I'm always a step ahead of everyone else."

"Is that why you killed off the rest of the family?"

Schneizel was surprised by the remark. "Always one step ahead of everyone else…"

"So, you justify their murder with such a simple saying?"

"You know as well as I that ambitions require some sacrifices…"

"I suppose that Nunnally is also one of those sacrifices?"

"Such is the tragic flaw of royalty; where one succeeds, others fail."

Schneizel had scoffed a bit at the irony of such actions. "To me, she is just another pawn waiting to be used…"

Lelouch coughed a bit and raised his head slowly, revealing a cold gaze at Schneizel.

"And I suppose that you find her more valuable than yourself, right Lelouch?"

"I may not be as cold-hearted as you, but there is one thing that I do better than you ever could."

"And what might that be?"

Lelouch paused for a moment. His mind replayed the moments of his life that showed him kindness and laughter.

"I know how to be considerate."

Schneizel had frowned at Lelouch's words.

"I know who is dear to me, people who should not be sacrifices for my own gain."

'It may have been too late to realize it, but I knew how to appreciate them.'

"I can perfectly see that you cannot do that simple task."

Schneizel smirked once more. "But then, look at where those feelings have gotten you now. Albeit that I may not know the same things you know Lelouch, but unlike you, I can easily accept the consequences of my actions."

"I don't think you can, Schneizel…"

"Then prove me wrong Lelouch."

Lelouch thought up of ways to disprove his brother. It had hit him right then.

"I know how you are lying."

"And how is that?"

"Because I'm still here Schneizel…I'm still alive, still standing in front of you."

Schneizel felt a bit rattled by that comment and begun laughing loudly for a moment then spoke.

"I'm surprised that you would say that now…even though you are basically staring at your own death."

The soldiers began to tense up as they poised their guns at Lelouch. Lelouch stared down at the soldiers, scanning the positions they were in. Not surprisingly, the soldiers were all within the cavern. Lelouch smiled to himself.

"Now Lelouch, what will you do about your situation? It is futile to escape."

"Oh, I was never thinking about escaping…brother!"

A 'click' echoed in the cavern. Suddenly, a few mini-explosions were set off. The blast had originated from each of the entrances. Farther into the caves, a few more explosions could be heard mixing with the sounds of crashing rocks. The soldiers ran in panic, some were crushed under the falling rubble. When the dust settled, about a handful were left in the cavern, along with Lelouch and Schneizel who had remained unscathed.

"So, you still had a trick up your sleeves Lelouch?"

"Yes, all thanks to this."

Lelouch pulled a trigger from his coat pocket and showed it to Schneizel and the troops. The guns were automatically upon the trigger and Lelouch.

"I wouldn't shoot if I were you guys. I had already bugged this place before with more explosives than you think. With another push, this whole cavern will collapse."

Schneizel was a bit annoyed with Lelouch's persistence.

"Now neither of us can leave."

"I should have dealt with you years ago…"

"And that is your flaw Schneizel…you think everything will go just as you planned. Well now, was getting stuck in a cavern really part of your plan?"

Schneizel's hand soon tightened.

"I thought not. So, what I want you to do is to think about your life. Have you ever planned on me coming back from the "dead" and taking my revenge? Did you ever plan on ever getting rid of me? I don't think so, and neither is it that easy. Now let me tell you a story Schneizel…"

Lelouch took in a deep breath.

"You see, what I learned from being a noble was being persistent in my ambition. When no one was there to help my sister and me out, I strove to stay alive. I clung to the belief that I would get my revenge and help change the world by getting rid of my father…it was the sole purpose that I ever had. I had to lie and cheat my way into young adulthood, while still trying to keep my identity under wraps. I became more and more bored with this existence, until C.C came along. I had gained power, power that I needed to make a difference. I made a difference; I had taken the first step towards having the retribution that I could be satisfied with. I had ultimately paid the price for such things like that. I lost everything just for my own sake. Everything betrayed me, including my sister, and yet I was fine with that. And now…"

Lelouch had begun coughing up some blood. After it subsided, he continued.

"Now I see that in order to correct the world, the world my father made, the world that I created, and the world you sought would be the last of the sacrifices…"

Lelouch's thumb had pressed down on the trigger.

"This is checkmate, Schneizel."

Lelouch threw the trigger at Schneizel. As it flung into the air, the soldiers aimed their guns at Lelouch. Schneizel gave the command and thus the troops fired their rounds. As the bullets blazed, Lelouch did not falter, not one bit. The feeling left his body the instant he flung the trigger, so one can say when the bullets came they had hit nothing but a corpse.

When the bullets stopped, Schneizel picked up the trigger that Lelouch flung. When he examined the trigger, Schneizel felt a bit relieved.

"What a way to go out, Lelouch…Too bad you were the only one who…"

A ticking sound began to echo in the cavern. The soldiers were searching vigilantly at the walls of the cavern. They found no sign of bombs around the cavern. Schneizel on the other hand looked at the trigger in his hand. His eyes were wide in both astonishment and dread. When the ticking noise stopped, Schneizel could only say a few words to his most formidable opponent.

"One step ahead…"

In an instant, a pink glow began to engulf the cavern and everyone in and around the room. The glow began to grow larger and larger, until the final explosion came, decimating the whole island, leaving no trace behind. It was a FLEIJA bomb hidden within the trigger itself. It was Lelouch's ultimate last resort.

The blast could be seen from both Japan and the Damocles. Everyone could see it; soldiers, the Knights of Rounds, the Black Knights, and even the delegates Lelouch had held hostage. All were in complete confusion as to why a FLEIJA bomb was detonated on the island. Many were questioning the reason how it was detonated there. Some were silent in awe as the bomb receded. To a special few, the reason was clear; the war had ended with the blast's detonation.

High within the sky, the Damocles warship had begun its self-destruction sequence. At the final altitude, the Damocles began to explode, bursting into flames. The interior began first, and then the exterior exploded after withholding the pressure. Below, the Black Knights began to cheer as word of the Damocles's destruction spread. To most, victory was now obtained; to some, anxiety had begun to set in.

The two kids gazed across the barren land. The destruction that had been covering the land slowly died down over the days. The boys heaved a sigh at the major loss of beauty the land once had before.

'Hey, Lelouch…'

'What is it?'

'Do you think things can get better?'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, will things ever be right again between Japan and Britannia?'

Lelouch tried to suppress the rage building within his soul. Bitterly, Lelouch spoke.

'I cannot guarantee that things will get better, so long as my dad is Emperor. But I hope that things will get better.'

Suzaku sighed at his friend's reply.

'I hope so too…'

For a moment the two stood in silence, gazing at the devastation. The sun was beginning to rise from the horizon. Even though the land was destroyed, the sun had somehow revealed the beauty left within the land itself.

'Lelouch…are we still going to be friends?'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, are we still friends?'

Lelouch sighed and smiled.

'Of course, no matter what happens…'

'No matter our course in life…'

The two grasped each others' hand and shook on it.

'No matter what we become, we will always be friends!'

'Friends to the very end!'

The two threw their hands up in acknowledgement, smiling one more time.

To be continued…if desired…

A/N: I hope I could get this done before the final episode…(highly doubt it)…but I hope this can give you some relief…thanks for the support…