A/N: Well... I hope you like it :) I'll try my hardest to update as often as possible, so please hang in there!
Disclaimer: Code Geass is not my property.
Ch. 11
C2 thought her hand was in danger of breaking, but she didn't say anything and only watched Lelouch's reaction. His eyes had narrowed, as if he were trying not to cry. She put her hand on his cheek, as if silently telling him, "There's no reason to weep."
"Big brother, if it really is you, please say something. Are you angry at me for misunderstanding your intentions? I'm sorry, big brother. I really am. I've missed you everyday ever since you…. Big brother, please look at me!"
Nunnally's voice was getting louder, and as it increased in volume, it also started to crack as she began to cry. Cian, perturbed, shifted uncomfortably on his feet; this was obviously something private, but he wasn't quite sure how to react; he finally settled on asking, "Your Highness, when you say "big brother", are you perhaps referring to the late Emperor Lelouch vi Britannia?"
The weeping girl ignored the blonde and only continued to appeal, "Big brother! It's you, isn't it? I know you should be dead right now, but I'm sure it's you, so why won't you answer my pleas?"
Lelouch swallowed; his throat was dry, but his eyes were not. He could feel C2 coming closer, her arm slipping around his waist. He looked towards her and read in her eyes, "It's time to go." Nodding, he heavily began to walk away from his younger sister, when she started to scream, "No! Don't leave me again! Big brother, come back to me! Come back to our family! We… No, the world has become a better place because of you! Everyone is happy, because of your efforts to achieve what no one else could! After all of that hard work, you deserve to be happy! Come back to me, big brother, and I promise you I'll work my hardest to make you content, just as you have for everyone else! Big brother! Please, don't leave me… I miss you."
She broke down completely into sobs, and Cian was completely torn; should he comfort the sorrowful Empress, or chase after Leroy and Cera, whose identities he was now seriously doubting. He didn't finish his anxious pondering, as several armed men rushed around the corner and surrounded the crying monarch. Coming to the side of her wheelchair instantaneously was the masked savior, Zero. He put a gloved hand on her shoulder and knelt down, silently asking, "Are you well, your Highness?"
"There's no… N-need to sur-surround me like this…. I'm fine…. Just take me…. Back to my… My room, please." requested the young girl. She had finally calmed down enough to speak. The captain of the guard bent down and said, "But your Highness, we must capture the two who made you upset and interrogate them. It could be a possible assassination attempt."
"N-no. Let them go. Don't bother any villagers; please tell Chief Brandon that I'm tired from my trip to here, and that I've returned to my room to rest; also that I apologize for not being able to patronize the Annual Southern Ireland Derby. However, don't let my absence disturb their celebration."
"Yes, your Highness." the man replied, while bowing. As she was taken back to the suite that had been prepared for her, Nunnally closed her eyes and reflected on what had just happened.
She had just met a man who looked strikingly similar to her deceased older brother; the height, the way he walked, his hair; everything was exactly the same. But how could it be? He had clearly died in front of her; she remembered the way the warmth left his hand that she held onto as if it had happened yesterday, and the horrifying way his blood had been smeared all over the banner of Britannia. Despite that however, she couldn't shake off the feeling that the masked man was Lelouch; not to mention the woman besides him; she had clearly been C2. Her odd hair color, and the voice proved her correct.
So if it really was Lelouch, why didn't he answer any of her questions? Why did he not return her gaze? Why had he left her for the second time? Those were the questions that had been flitting around her head as she begged him to stay, when she had promised him that she would make him happy. Desperation flooded her as he walked away from her, and she questioned why he would doubt her in her promise to give happiness to her beloved older brother. She was sure he would agree with her, despite it's selfishness, that he deserved some happiness for himself; so why wouldn't he allow her, as a way to atone for her grave misunderstanding?
Her queries were answered by none other than her brother; when the guards had arrived, when all attention had been focused on her, she looked past them to the pair on the crest of the hill. The man had finally turned back, and the two violet eyes that stared at her told her all she needed to know; that yes, her brother was alive, and yes, he thought he deserved some joy for all that he did for the world, but he had also wordlessly told her that she would not be the one to fulfill his desire for contentment. That she could not, no matter what she did. He asked her to understand him, and to keep his life a secret.
Nunnally was not content; she desired to help her brother in his path for elation, not allow him to fade away from her again. In truth, she wasn't quite sure how she would keep something like this a secret; she knew if the secret that her brother was alive were ever spilt, he would be in grave danger again. 'How could he entrust such a big secret to me?' she thought while staring out of the large window. The sun was setting, and she was reminded of the way her older brother had constantly told her, "Whatever may have happened today, Nunnally, there's always tomorrow, and with tomorrow, there comes new opportunities to try again."
She had asked in trying for what, and he had answered, "In whatever you wish. It could be painting a bowl of fruit, making a new friend, even changing the world for the better. Even though the day ends, hope should not."
"Big brother, is this the chance that you've always wanted, to wipe away the pain from your past? Is this what you've always been looking to in the future?" she questioned.
Sighing, she thought, 'If you think that it's best for us to separate and go our own ways, I suppose I should listen to your suggestion, no matter how difficult it will be. Goodbye, big brother. Although the world may curse you, I will always know the truth. Thank you, for your sacrifice. We will always be in your debt.'
. . .
Lelouch sat down on the edge of the bed in their room, completely slumped over. His balaclava, dress shirt, and shoes were scattered everywhere on the floor, but no one bothered to pick them up. C2 suggested gently, "Lelouch, you should change your clothes. If you just sit there in your undershirt, you'll catch a cold; you're still drenched from the race."
He gave no reply and only rested his forehead on his clasped hands. The emerald-haired woman sat down besides him and hugged him; placing her chin on his bent-over shoulder, she said quietly, "I know you're upset from running into your sister like that suddenly, but Lelouch, you need to hold yourself together. I'm sorry that I'm being so insensitive to your situation, but we need to leave now. And in order to leave, I need your cooperation."
"I… I understand. Just give me a minute."
He never expected to run into Nunnally ever again after the Zero Requiem; he knew that he would hear things from rumors and the news about what the new ruler of the Britannian empire would do or say, but he never anticipated him meeting her in person. The incident completely shocked him; it was almost as bad when he first heard Nunnally's voice during the period when he thought she had died. Thinking of his alarm during that time, he reflected how his sister might feel at the moment; Lelouch had only heard of her death, but she had actually seen him supposedly die. The usual protective instinct that had culminated over several years for his younger sister woke again, and he felt the need to seek her out and pacify her fears and distress.
"C2, before we leave…"
"Yes?"
"There's someone I want to visit."
"…. Lelouch, I don't think it'll be a good idea to-"
"Don't worry. I'll cover our tracks."
"…. If it's what'll put you at ease." reluctantly said the witch.
"Thank you." replied the warlock.
. . .
While the entire village was enjoying themselves, Lelouch and C2 went to work; they packed their suitcases, along with food and water. The two wrote a short letter to the three villagers, thanking them for the hospitality and compassion they had given to two complete strangers and wishing them a long life full of joy. In the letter was an explanation for their sudden departure, saying that it was high time that they leave, especially with the threat of Luke. Putting it in an envelope marked with, "To Brandon, Cian, Alex, and Niamh", they left it, along with a sack of money behind the bar for the usually anxious but kindhearted village chief to find.
When they were on the village road back on their cart, C2 asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine. I just have to say goodbye to someone specifically."
"Lelouch, I still don't think it's a good idea."
"C2, let me just have this one last conversation with her. It will be quick."
"…. Alright." she replied after sighing.
The raven-haired man somehow managed to climb a tree near the lodge where the Empress of Britannia was staying. Before rapping on the double French doors, he looked down from the balcony where he stood and gazed down at his fiancé, who was waiting with the cart. She waved him off, and he nodded, greatful that she allowed him to make this one stop.
. . .
Nunnally was woken from her nap by a curious knocking. It wasn't from the wooden door that served as the entrance to her suite, but rather from the balcony. Carefully rolling towards it, she grabbed a letter opener from her desk. Unlatching the doors, she asked, "Who is it?"
"Nunnally, you're not going to hurt anyone with a blunt object like that."
In surprise, she dropped the dull knife and could only stare at the person in front of her. He stepped inside, and she managed to say, "Big brother… You really are…"
"Alive?" Lelouch said for her.
"How are you…." she couldn't even finish her question.
"It's a long story, Nunnally."
For a while, there was only silence, until she suddenly broke down and began to cry. In between tears, she managed to choke out, "Big brother…. I'm so sorry… For misunderstanding you….. I'm so sorry…"
"It's okay; don't cry. Nunnally, it would be mean to cry, when I worked so hard to make a world that would please your morales."
"I'm sorry… I'll stop…" she struggled to obey her brother so that he wouldn't be put off.
Another pause in their conversation ensued, and when no more tears were flowing, she asked, "Would you like to sit down?"
"No. I only came to tell you that I'm leaving."
"But... But we just-"
"I have to leave. It's too dangerous for me here." explained the raven-haired man.
"Oh… I understand…"
"And that… Nunnally?"
"Yes, big brother?"
Lelouch knelt down so that he was eye-level with her and took her by the shoulders. Taking a deep breath, he ordered, "You are to forget your meeting me here, along with everything I told you the day the Zero Requiem took place. You are to only remember me the way everyone else in the world does; as the demon emperor who ruthlessly murdered millions of innocent people."
Her eyes began to glow red, and she bent over, saying, "No, no… No, I can't do that…. I love you, big brother, I… I… I hate… I hate big brother. I am so ashamed of him; how could someone be so inhumane? Huh? Why are the balcony doors open?"
She could hear cheering and laughing, and once outside, she spotted a cart rumbling down the dirt road. Nunnally momentarily wondered who would be travelling so late at night, but paid them no mind. She retreated back into her bedroom and found on her bed a framed picture of her older brother, the infamous 99th emperor of Britannia. In rare disgust, she threw away the picture, horrified of how she could think to carry the picture of such a damned and hated person.
. . .
"Lelouch, what did you do in there?" questioned C2
"I made sure no one would know that I'm alive." he replied in a slightly depressed voice.
"You used your…."
"I did." he answered tiredly.
C2 continued to drive the cart, giving her companion some time to organize his thoughts. As he looked over at the silvery river running besides them, Lelouch thought back at what the witch had told him when they were first running away from Pendragon.
"Lelouch, there's something that I haven't told you."
"There are many things you haven't told me, C2."
"It's about your Geass and the Code."
"What is it?"
"As you know, when you gained the Code from Charles, you lost your Geass." she had said.
"And?" he was only paying attention slightly as he was struggling to control the horse.
"However, you have one last opportunity to use it. One last time to use Geass, and then it's lost forever."
"So you're saying that now that I have the Code, I can only use my Geass one last time."
"Yes. Choose well, Lelouch. Don't just waste it on something frivolous."
"I know without you having to tell me, witch." he snapped, irritated.
He, who had had the power of the kings in his grasp for the past two years, who had been able to make nearly everyone in his path bend down to his will, was now completely free of the chains Geass had graced him with.
"How do you feel, now that you've returned to being a powerless person of little significance?"
"I would hardly say that I have little significance. To others, my existence will soon fade when enough time has flowed by but never to you, I hope." was his response. She gave a small smile and said, "Hmmm, well it really depends on how you treat me in the future."
"Have I not always treated you well?"
"Oh yes, throwing me into a truck full of tomatoes is definitely good treatment." C2 reminded him sarcastically of what had happened at one of the school festivals.
"Considering the situation, I think I did well."
"Well, let's not have a repeat of those circumstances then."
"Of course." Lelouch said while taking the reigns of the horse from her.
. . .
When they arrived at the nearest port city, the two deserted the cart and momentarily checked into a posh hotel. Inside, they prepared themselves for their journey to Barbuda, the island that would allow Lelouch to throw away his mask for the time being. As C2 bought their tickets, the raven-haired Britannian looked at their counterfeit passports. When his fiancé put the phone down, he asked, "Why do we have the passports of two girls?"
"You'll momentarily be transformed into Luluko."
"Luluko?" he refused to believe his ears. She carefully explaind, "Nobody will become suspicious if a seasick girl doesn't come out of her cabin, especially if she's partially injured. Trust me; I've done this with Kallen when you lost your memories. It'll be easier for you than me during our trip to the island."
"But still…. Luluko?"
"Well, you won't be Luluko by exact name… Lelouch, you won't even have to wear a wig or a dress, save for the hour that it takes to get on the boat, and the hour that it takes to get off. I'm sure the student council president at your school made you cross-dress for a lot longer than that."
"….. Whatever. I don't want to argue about this."
"I wasn't the one arguing." C2 told him.
Once they were on the boat disguised as two sisters who were distantly related to the Empress of Britannia, or so they declared, Lelouch began to relax slightly; maybe they really could make it without any trouble. When they were in their first-class cabin, the two shed their wigs, leaving two piles of black hair on the large beds. The former Emperor took off his balaclava and remembered the woman's reaction when she had seen his passport.
"Passport, please."
"Marianne, your passport." repeated C2. She had also donned a black wig, so that it would be more believable that they were two siblings. Lelouch, who was masked and completely uncomfortable in a dress, silently handed it to her, who in turn gave it to the bored employee. When she had scanned it over the computer for its validity, the bespectacled woman requested, "Could you take your mask off please, Miss LaFontaine?"
"My sister can't."
"I'm sorry, but it's international travel's law, and-"
"Did you see her picture?" asked the witch.
"What?"
"Her picture on the passport." C2 was already bored with how incompetent this woman was. The dullness she felt disappeared soon, as the worker turned to the computer monitor and a look of utter horror appeared on her face. She hurriedly apologized and waved the two through the gates.
When they were out of earshot of anyone, C2 commented, "She has such a weak stomach."
"Well, considering the entire lower half of my face is terrifically disfigured, or so my "passport" states…. I think the woman handled it with grace. At least she didn't throw up."
"Nope. Look at her now. She's running by to the restroom."
The two laughed quietly, whether in amusement or in relief, they both weren't quite sure, but were glad for the opportunity anyways.
"C2."
"What is it?" she answered.
"What are we supposed to do in this room for the next seven days?" queried Lelouch as he changed from the clothes of a woman. His fiancé sat up from the bed and replied, "Well, I was thinking we could decide what we're going to do with this part of our lives in Barbuda. I'd like some food to eat, preferably pizza, and we also need somewhere to live."
"I see…"
"Are you any good at drawing?" the emerald-haired woman interrogated.
"Drawing? I'm not the best, but-"
"Drawing on a computer."
"Why?" he stopped buttoning his dress shirt to stare in surprise.
"It's time to create the blueprint of our new home. We need to finish it in four days, but if this is all we're doing for the next few days, I'm sure it'll be enough time."
"And after the four days?" he questioned.
"We send it off towards the construction company."
"The payment?"
"Will be made once we see the completed house."
"However did they agree to something like that?" he wondered out loud.
"Never underestimate the power of persuasion."
"I'll keep that in mind." said Lelouch while smiling.
. . .
Strangely enough, even though the closest Lelouch got to going outside for a week was sitting by the window, he was never really felt frustrated with being closeted in a room, no matter how large. C2 left at times during the day to stretch her legs or to get a bite of pizza that her lover was now sick of. His thoughts, which had been once been busy with analyzations of situations, and what path and method would produce the best result in overthrowing the 98th Emperor's reign, was now full of questions, such as what would create the best home for himself and C2 in the years to come.
"Lelouch."
"Yes?"
"Are you done with the blueprint?"
"I am. What do you think?" he asked while leaning back in his chair. The computer was before him, and on it was the electronic plan for their new home. C2 came closer and examined it closely.
"Hmmm….. Could we move the kitchen closer to the entrance?"
"That's what I was debating over. Because if we do, then we have to shift the bedroom to here." the raven-haired man explained.
"I'm fine with that."
"Alright." he replid while making the correct adjustments.
Bending over his lap, she sent the electronic drawing to the company in Antigua, the more populated sister island of Barbuda. Closing the laptop, she asked, "Well, now you have completely empty hands for the next three days. What are you going to do now?"
"Hmmmmmm, I don't know. What will I do with myself for the next three days? What do you think, C2?" he voiced his rhetorical question before kissing her. Standing up from the chair, they stumbled backwards onto the bed, where she replied, "Nap."
"What?"
"Nap. Take a nap. I'm tired today, Lelouch, after eating all of that pizza."
"You should really try to eat something else besides pizza. It's not good for your health." he told her while brushing her long hair away from her face. She replied, "Lecture me some other day, I'm sleepy." while rolling away from his grasp. Sighing, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back to him. Closing his eyes, he rested her head in the crook of his neck. C2 said, "What are you doing?"
"I'm taking a nap, like you told me to."
She only stared at him and he opened his eyes.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"I thought you were tired."
"I am." C2 answered.
"Then go to sleep. We have lots of time." Lelouch stated.
"I know that. I told you."
"That you did."
There was silence until she said, "Lelouch."
"What is it?" he mumbled.
"I love you. You know that, right?"
"Yes. Why are you telling me this all of a sudden though? Are you planning to disappear in the middle of the night?"
"Even if I did, I have a feeling that you would just find me again one way or other, especially with that head of your's."
He smiled and told her, "I would. But then again, why would you leave me?"
"That's true."
She closed her eyes to sleep, when she heard, "I love you too."
"What?"
"I said that I love you too. I have, I do, and I will. Which is why I gave you this." he raised her left hand and showed her the ring that seemed to glow in the dim lighting. As the two stared at the ring, C2 asked, "When are we going to get married, Lelouch?"
The raven-haired man sighed and said, "When our situation allows it; I don't want it to be an impromptu ceremony, but in order to have an actual wedding, we need to be entirely safe, which we're not yet. You understand, right?"
"I do."
"I want to get married as soon as possible too. You're not the only one."
"So until that day…"
"When we're no longer in immediate danger, that's when we'll go and pick a wedding dress for you."
"You promise?"
"Yes." he whispered into her bangs as he kissed her forehead. Choosing to trust Lelouch's words, C2 closed her eyes for the last time that evening and fell asleep in the loving embrace of Lelouch.
. . .
Two weeks had passed since their arrival at Antigua. The construction of their house had finished, and two pair had moved in. Just as Lelouch had said, Barbuda was uninhabited, allowing the raven-haired man to roam around outside without having to wear a mask. Their white house, with it's large windows and open spaces, sat near the beach. It had a large patio that faced the ocean with a latticed roof overhead for shade. It was when they had finally comfortably settled in, that Lelouch showed C2 the jar.
She was sitting at the table on the porch braiding her hair, when Lelouch set down a glass container in front of her. She said, "What is this?"
"Do you remember when I was shot in the knee, and you told me to fold a thousand cranes and think of a wish?" he asked her while sitting down besides her. She replied, "That's when you told me you wanted to marry me."
"Look in the jar, C2. What do you see?"
"Folded cra…. When did you finish a thousand of them?" the emerald-haired woman questioned.
"I did it when you weren't looking, and I'm finally done. And…."
"And?"
"Shouldn't my wish be granted now?" he put his elbows on the table and leaned forward. His fiancé said, "What's your wish?"
"It hasn't changed."
"Changed from…. Oh."
"What do you think?" Lelouch began to smile, and C2 smiled back while answering, "I think it's one of your best ideas."
"Then shall we go to town to start planning?"
"Yes."
He stood up and offered her his hand. The witch took it and also rose from her chair. The jewels on her engagement ring caught the bright light of the tropical sun and threw rainbows everywhere, as if to say that it too was glad to finally change into a wedding band.
A/N: I realize that there's hole in the chapter, because Lelouch already used the Geass on Nunnally before in R2, and there are going to be people who go: WTF and all I can say, quite frankly, is... I'm sorry. I really am. I suppose I could have rewritten the chapter, but I couldn't bring myself to. It just felt right that Lelouch erases Nunnally's memories so that she can live unburdened by how nobody in the world knows the truth about Lelouch's actions and decisions. But once again... I apologize deeply for the way I destroyed the original Code Geass plot :( I hope you'll forgive me.
A/N 2: It's nearly the end! I can feel it! I think there'll be one more chapter, or maybe two. We'll see how it goes. But I'm so glad that Lelouch and C2 are finally safe! Don't you think so?
Also, I'm sure someone out there reading this will think: But he just made Nunnally hate him, so how can he act as if nothing is wrong? I didn't write this, but it was kind of inferred that Lelouch is still hurting. He's still upset about having to do that to Nunnally.
And regarding a curious issue that I should have addressed earlier... Lelouch's fistfight with Luke. Some of you were surprised when you read what had happened to Luke versus what had happened to Lelouch. You were probably like: How is that even possible? Even I was surprised. But an important thing to note: never underestimate the power of jealousy and love, and what strength it can give ^^
One last thing; if you happen to be unsatisfied with what happened to Luke... Don't lose hope! It's not the end yet!