Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.
Author Notes: This is not my best work. Since school is starting tomorrow, I won't have time to dedicate to my fics. I will try to update atleast once in two weeks but no promises. Read on.
Thank you for everyone who reviewed. Since I am short on time I won't be able to individually reply for now. Thanks for all your support and encouragement and I hope you continue to enjoy.
Ruben K. Ashford
He is an old man
He has seen how the world works
(Of how unfair and unjust it could be)
There are things he knows cannot be said out loud, things that are better remain hidden
(Secrets that can destroy the illusion of peace)
But he also knows that no secret can stay hidden forever.
One day, it will come out, clawing to the surface with its sharp claws and glinting teeth
(And it brings along with it the destruction of the people involved in it)
When he first sees the children of a woman who had been like a daughter to him, he feels an overwhelming sense of elation.
Their eyes are dim and faces drooping but they are safe
(And that's all he cares about)
He introduces them to Milly and she integrates them into the Academy as if they have lived there forever.
He helps cover their identity
(He knows he could turn them in and be reinstated as a noble but there were things in life that was more precious than status)
(And he learns that through experience)
He is an old man.
And like all old men of his age, he has wisdom that has accumulated through years of experience
As his fingers absently tap on the table, he glances at a small golden framed mirror to the side
(A gift from his dear grand daughter)
The lines on his face was clear as the sun outside and his hair is grey.
(But he bring himself to care about it)
He is an old man.
Sometimes he feels like he had always been an old man
When he sees the war that seems to be going on for ages he feels like he has lived forever
("Milly, you have to meet him next week." He can hear the words clearly even though he was sitting a fair distance away.
He notices the despair that dances across his grand daughter's face but says nothing. "Yes, Mother."
She looks up and gives him her brightest smile before waving goodbye.)
(And he can't help but admire her strength)
He sits alone in his simple office at Ashford academy.
("Should I come over for tea Grandpa?" Milly asks over the phone.
But he hears the incessant clicking of the keyboard keys and understands that he world is moving faster than he could comprehend.
"No thank you Milly.")
The sun shines brightly over the grounds of the Academy and he can see the students chatting, walking and enjoying life.
(Oh how innocent they are!
They danced, sing, have fun and go on
They have never seen the horrors of the outside world
And after everything that has happened, they probably never will)
He turns towards a framed picture hanging on the wall.
The Student Council of 2017.
There were not many people but all the people present had crave their names into either in history or someone's heart.
Milly; his bright and cheerful grand daughter.
(Who always had a smile on her face despite the circumstances)
Rivalz; a boy too simple yet had a heart of gold
(Someone who knew the worth of a family)
Shirley; an optimistic girl who had died too young
(With bright, shining eyes and heart that loved unconditionally)
Nina; the brilliant mastermind of the biggest destruction in history of Japan.
(A lonely girl who had no one to understand her)
Kallen; the half blood who was found guilty and had been slated for execution
(A frail and sickly girl who had lost her brother)
Suzaku; the Japanese who had sided with the demon and died in battle.
(A boy with eyes that shined as bright as emerald but that had lost its shine at the end of his life)
Lelouch; The so called tyrant and Demon Emperor. The one who had thrown the world into chaos.
(A physically weak boy who loved his sister with all his heart)
He doesn't turn on the brand new TV in his office.
There was only one news that adorned all the news channel
(The Demon Emperor has been slain... The tyrant... the worst man... cruel... too many adjectives for one young person)
Lelouch vi Britannia is dead.
He doesn't know what to feel
On one hand he was the child of a daughter and on the other hand he was a tyrant who had proclaimed himself as the Emperor of the world.
But he has also seen another side of the children.
Unbearably small, young and dirty; they had stood by the gates of this very Academy as it seemed to overshadow their tiny frames.
Even then, Reuben remembers seeing a look of fierce determination on the young boys face.
(But was he ever a young boy?)
He had seen the slaying of the Demon on his TV.
He is an old man.
And despite the fact that many people believe that as one grows old they become senile, it is actually quiet the opposite.
He notices things due to his age.
He notices the widening of everyone's eyes as Zero appears.
He notices the look of acceptance on the face of the blue haired knight
(who had also been the knight of Marriane)
He notices the deliberate lift up that helps Zero to reach the platform.
He notices the lack of reaction from Lelouch
(He knows that the boy could've done a number of things... he wasn't a fool... yet... yet he stood there, in the path of the sword)
He notices the tears on Nunnally's face as she cries for her brother.
(Her eyes are open at last...)
He notices the look of comprehension on the faces of the Black knights
(Did they expect Zero to come and save them?)
But most of all, he notices the old and weary man who had grown tired, hiding behind the mask of an young tyrant.
(But he didn't know whether it is also an illusion or the simple truth)
If he got the chance, he would've asked Lelouch several questions.
(Why did you do all this?|)
(Was it for Marriane?)
(If it was for Marianne how do you think she would be happy to see her son go against everything she believed in and imprison his own sister?)
But then, he is not going to last much longer.
His time is nearing.
(He knows that there was no use denying it)
Maybe he would get a chance to ask all those questions when he died.
Until then, he would remain alive as an old man who had seen too much.
Author Notes: Yes, I know its short but please bear with me for now. Here are the characters that are left. Is there anyone else?
Alive: Guilford, Tianzi, Kanon, Chiba, Kallen Mom, Sophie Wood
Dead: Kirihara, Rolo, Euphie, Diethart, Bismark, Luciano, Shirley, Rin (Suzaku mom), Genbu, Mao, Naoto, Bartley, V2, Charles, Marriane, Lelouch, God