Nunnally waited patiently at the front of the cafe. She drummed her fingers, resisting the temptation to scratch at her hair, which was hidden beneath a bright red, oversized cap. It was so big it hid her eyes perfectly, and the Scottish shirt she wore emphasized her small frame, giving her a more, homeless appearance. The dirty green, worn pants made people stop and look at her sympathetically; some would even offer her money. She smiled and merely shook her head. The world had, indeed, become a kinder and gentler place.

She couldn't help but stare at her bandaged hands, and though they weren't injured, she flinched at the imaginary pain. She still wasn't very comfortable with them on. She has, after all, seen enough pictures of her dead brother to shirk away from bandages, however useful they were. She was about to take them off when she heard Milly's familiar footsteps She looked up and saw the blonde raising towards her.

"Hey!" she screamed, causing people to turn to her strangely. Even Nunnally flushed in embarrassment. She was a professional newswoman now, wasn't she? But she found herself welcoming the former president with open arms. Milly smothered Nunnally in her chest, her strong arms suffocating the poor girl. "It's been too long," she whispered.

It took some time, but Nunnally managed to pry herself away. "I know. I'm sorry you had to see me like this."

"It's fine." Milly opened the door for her, as the two stepped inside. She gave the reporter a genuine smile, the same one she gave Jeremiah when he removed the Geass on her…apparently. Still so many secrets she didn't know; was she going to spend the rest of her life trying to uncover her family's lies? The prospect didn't sound appealing.

Milly shoved Nunnally behind her, as if trying to ward off unwelcome strangers. The girl pouted her lips. All day, people kept mistaking her for a boy, so it's not like anyone would know the Empress right away.

At last, she chose a table, and she promptly sat Nunnally down. She called out to the waiter and ordered two chocolates. "Milk chocolate too." She winked at the man, who hastily turned away while unsuccessfully concealing his blush. She turned back to Nunnally. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"I…just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Oh?" Milly laughed lightly, scanning the room to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Of course not. What could anyone want with a poor, impoverished boy? "Is it that important that we have to meet away from your home?"

"It is." Nunnally whispered. "I'm just a little tired, you know, from all the security checks. I just want to get away from it all."

"Those checks are for your safety."

"I know, but still." The waiter came back, brandishing two large, glass cups filled with a heavenly aroma, which reached Nunnally's nose. She greedily snatched the cup away, before looking down and stammering a quiet "sorry."

To her surprise, he shook his head. "Milly is a dear friend of mine. Her guests are always welcome." And with that, he left, making Nunnally stare at the reporter for a while. "How did you do that?"

"I'd rather not tell you. Your sister wouldn't like it, I imagine."

"Tell me later then." Milly chuckled. "You're more lively than I remember. I didn't think you' be that kind of girl."

"I'm a young woman now Milly," Nunnally replied jokingly. Their conversation went on like that, and for a brief moment, Nunnally let herself relax. It was just like old times, before she was ripped away by Britannia; she can't even begin to recall all the hours she's counted, the seconds passing her boy. She worried, she cried, she even pleaded for Suzaku to let her see everyone, until at last, she was made the Viceroy of Japan. To this day, she still apologized to Suzaku for behaving the way she did, even if she never meant it.

But her expression grew more morose with every word spoken. And it was when Milly finally finished her lecture on maidenhood did Nunnally inquire on the others. Milly answered her question, unsuspecting of the girl's concerns. "I hear Shirley's going to the Central Saint Martins, in London. She's really good at fashion."

Nunnally's wide eyes pierced Milly. From what she understood, not even Guinevere could get into that place, and she was really good. Shirley must be incredibly talented to gain acceptance. She clapped her hands involuntarily. "That's wonderful! Are you gonna do anything?"

"We're holding a celebration. You should come too; everyone will be so happy to see you."

"What about Rivalz and Nina…and Kallen-"

Milly put a finger to Nunnally's mouth, silencing the girl. Her shoulders shook with humor when she leaned back against her seat, taking a sip of her chocolate while she was at it. "Ugh, the idiot! Rivalz decided to own his own casino. Gino talked him into it."

"Well, he did strike me as that type." The girls giggled in all their silliness, and Milly continued. "Nina's working with Harvard, I believe. They're gonna try doing some space colonization thing; I called dibs, of course. And Kallen's still trying to decide on where to go. She's a really good pilot, but she just…doesn't see herself in the military for very long. You know," Milly winked suggestively. "I think she's gonna try getting into law school."

Nunnally blinked. "Why?"

"Looks like she and Zero have a little…ah…" Her words failed her, seeing as Nunnally still could not understand her hints. She sighed; the Empress's innocence was truly astonishing. "And I'm doing just fine with my career!" She flaunted her hand flamboyantly. Nunnally laughed. "I know. Congratulations by the way; I never got to talk with you much after that."

"Yeah, well, I was considering quitting."

"What? But you're so good at it!"

"I just can't let go of Ashford. What do you think?" That maniacal grin made its way to her face. "Should I raid our little clubhouse again? I might even try to turn it into my own personal closet. Boys-"

"Will be the hangers," Nunnally finished. Milly blinked, before smirking. "Well sure. What else are they good for besides standing there? Ah!" She grabbed her vibrating phone, and checked the id number. She bowed low with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry, I need to take this."

"Go ahead."

Milly tousled her cap and turned, walking away briskly. Judging from her tone, it seemed urgent. Nunnally continued to watch her, hiding her eyes whenever someone walked by, whether to ask if she was fine or needed money. She simply waved them away, begging for them to go back to their business; they obliged to her request. She closed her eyes, and listened.

Her voice sounded agitated, and it appears as if she was screaming at one of her assistants. No, it was more informal, and though Nunnally made it out to be playful, her normally cheerful tongue now sparked with agony. Whatever for? There were many things Milly could report on, good things. Whenever Cornelia or even Sayako turned the television on, all that went on were the latest events of humanitarian aid, the successful agreements between countries, firemen saving cats from trees…

When she heard "Lelouch", her ears perked up.

A phone picture, a doll master, someone named Titania…they made no sense to her. Were they talking about another Lelouch? It was a common enough name…but no one, no one, could get Milly as riled up like her brother had, always skipping out on meetings, behaving as callously as he had. She had a crush on Lelouch too, but to Nunnally, they weren't really compatible. Was this really just another 'Lelouch'?

Of course it was. Her brother bled to death; she saw it with her own eyes, felt his skin go cold with her own hands.

She found herself shutting down. She pinched herself sharply, screaming at herself for almost giving in. Milly was calming down, but was incredibly angry. "How could you let someone take it? Find it!" she grumbled viciously. She snapped the phone shut, and stayed there for a little. She was done.

Nunnally opened her eyes and put the chocolate in her mouth. "Is…everything okay?"

"What? Oh…yeah," she sighed, twirling the cup in her hands. "Just trouble at work. They don't want me to leave yet."

Nunnally narrowed her eyes, her heart pounding against her chest. "They don't want you leaving for Ashford?"

"And they're chaining me down!" she wailed, once again, making their audience stare at them with incredulous eyes. Nunnally gripped the glass tightly, as she heard herself carry on their usual banter. It seems that Milly was going to lie to her too.


Suzaku arrived at the Exelica Gardens, just as the gates were closing. There were no guards again, but that made the job easier.

He came in his blue trench coat, his sunglasses clinging to the neck of his shirt. He leapt across the iron fences and landed on the soft grass, grateful he didn't make much sound. He looked around, and headed to the middle of the gardens.

It was just as beautiful as he remembered it. Suzaku always meant to come visit, but Zero had taken up all his time. The flowers were still just as sweet, and though they weren't as vibrant as Euphie's, they were real; no matter how much affected his emotions, they were there, unbending, unchanging. The white marble steps graced his presence, though he had no right to be there.

His memories took him far, far away from the present, and to the time of the Zero Requiem. This was the spot they planned it. The gruesome details resurfaced, but he fought down a shiver; he didn't want to meet his friend with tears running down his cheeks. Suzaku didn't want him to see his former knight crying his eyes out like some toddler.

The coolness of the wind blew down his back. The scene was welcoming enough that he sat down, taking in the evening skies and stars. There were so few, unlike the ones back in at the Kururugi Shrine, but there were more lights here, and, as he had to admit, more urbanized. The old regime truly had no place left in the world, and it made him a bit sad. His father was erased from many of the Japanese, and instead, was replaced by the vigilante Zero. How cruel fate is at times.

But his peaceful second left him nothing. There was a deep shine from beneath the waters. Suzaku's hand automatically flew to his gun, and he squinted his eyes to try and make out the intruder's silhouette. There was no one, save for him and the figure forming on top of the waters. He blinked, trying to clear out the excess light. He stood up, watching the shape of a hand move from above the glittery surface.

A man dressed in black elegantly passed through the water's reflection, as if it were his own. The particles of light seemed to draw from the gardens, and in turn, accentuated his inhuman features. As he climbed out of the pristine lake, the shadows overtook his skin, and embraced it in dark delight, with the stars above hiding themselves from their sight. A tiny, black feather hung from his left side, and because of the darkness, it gave the man an eerie impression, along with the fact he was walking on water.

Then he lifted his feet and groaned. He turned to his companion and said, "Suzaku, there's always been a floor here."

It was by this comment Suzaku came back. He walked towards Lelouch with a nervous chuckle. "Sorry; I didn't think you'd come…that way."

Lelouch raised his eyes. "Well, it was the easiest way to get here. I bet Vivien's gotten every eye trained on Kanime Island." He fixed the cuff of his sleeve and looked back at Suzaku. "What?" the knight asked.

"You've got pink in your bangs."

"Y-yeah." Suzaku closed his eyes. "How about my eyes? Notice anything familiar?"

"They're the same shade as Euphie's. I'll explain on the way." Lelouch stared at the gardens, smiling slightly at the old hideaway. Did Nunnally ever visit? No, it would've been much too sad for her. He kept his focus on the goals accordingly. "Where are the Black Knights now?"

"Still at Horai Island, though it seems lately we've been scattered all over the place."

"Any cover up?"

"Not yet." The two began walking away. Suzaku balled his fists. "I've never been really good at lying, but I don't even know if Nunnally-"

"We can assume that they remember nothing?" Lelouch interrupted.

"Yes. I've spoken with most of them already."

"What about Vivien?"

"She's gotten close to Nunnally. She's taken the Shinkiro."

"That's alright." Lelouch smirked. "The woman probably thinks she's invincible now. There's no doubt she's trying to lure Euphie out, but it's sad really. Being a pest is really all she knows how to do."

"But she's damaging Euphie's reputation."

He stared at Suzaku, putting his hand on his hip. If he's thinking like that, then he's no better than Titania. "Suzaku, even after all she's put you through, you're still willing to remain at her side."

"I was her knight. I bear the responsibility."

"Though you've done nothing wrong?"

"I should've known!" Suzaku said fiercely. All those times she came crying, asking for comfort…he should've known it wasn't some ghost or lost emotion of love and pity. It was her, really her, and he disregarded it like some coward. "I was the one person she could rely on, and…I blew it."

Lelouch shrugged. "Maybe. I wouldn't know."

He scoffed. "You're her brother, aren't you?"

"She's gotten more enigmatic these past months." His bangs fell to his eyes, as he took in that last moment of melancholy. The rose bushes were gone, replaced by daffodils and marigolds. Their bright orange seams were sorely out of place, but they kept gloating, the marigolds, even when the entire garden submitted. How cruel they were, to take the nutrients from the defiant soil, when no one wanted them there. "I can't tell what she's thinking anymore."

"How…how is she?"

"Better. Everyone loves her." The two strolled across the gardens, the gate still a long ways off. "No one opposes her rule, so even if Vivien somehow manages to obtain the throne, it's highly unlikely they'll just sit back and watch Euphie waste away."

"So she's safe?"

"I've been with her, Suzaku. What'd you take me for?" Lelouch paused then, staring up at his friend strangely. "By the way, where did you come from?"

"I snuck into the garden. How else did you expect me to get here?"

"So…you have no transportation?"

"The walk will help you."


Euphemia read Lelouch's proposal once, twice, then three times. She read it again and again and again, trying to make sense of his flowery diction. She's never liked tactics like that; she preferred being brutally honest, even if people hated you for it. But his skill rubbed off on her, so much so she brought back her facade without regret. She examined it mentally, to make sure that there were no gaping holes.

She took a deep breath, and put the documents away, ready to confront the former advisors. C.C was just outside, organizing the collective damage and preparing the emergency budgets. Her calm demeanor helped the majority of the victims facilitate their grievances, though she shut down any mention of declaring war on "those cold-hearted bastards." Still, they wanted to know what Euphemia was going to do, and with Queen Mab arriving soon (the brat delayed the meeting), she had to hide/fix the mess as best as she could, without betraying any chaotic feelings.

The soldiers were stationed loyally next to the citizens, conversing with them as if they were normal peers. They too, were shocked at the sudden attack, but it was through their efforts that no one, thankfully, was hurt. Even Lisette, who hid in the bakery, emerged unscathed. Her mother, however, wasn't as lucky. She suffered from internal bleeding, possibly due to a stray bullet crashing through the harvests.

She came forth to her office, finding the angered men bombarding her with insults and threats. She clenched her fists; she didn't want Lulu to see her like this, else he'd think her insane, a victim of psychosis and schizophrenia. She took a deep breath and cut them off with her hand, like she always did. "You were dismissed due to your incompetence and inability to see what was good for the people. I trust Mordred's judgement and agree with his decision."

"But your Majesty!" someone cried out. Euphemia never got a good look at the man; she was too tired. "I don't even think he read any of our legislations! He…he…!"

"Heh," she snickered. "Good artist."

"He drew bunnies with bats!"

"But that wasn't all he drew." Euphemia squinted, rubbing the weariness from her eyes. "In fact, he's been very analytical. I see marks, comments, illegible scribbles, probably due to frustration. Sir, I can assure you he's been extremely thorough."

"He-"

"I warned you many times over," the queen proclaimed, flicking her eyes irritatingly at them. "My rule was established to benefit everyone, not just yourselves. I will listen to you only if you actually have developed brainstems. In fact, why don't I do just that? I will go check on my people," she enthusiastically noted how they all flinched, "while you all revise your proposals. Should you still refuse to heed my warning, you will be banned from this castle. Understand?"

She didn't wait for their excuses; she had no need for something a trivial as excuses. Even when they screamed her name, she refused to look back, afraid their pitiful eyes would arouse her empathy. She was, too, once in their shoes, desperate for someone to listen, for some kind ear to hear her out. She was always Cornelia's little sister, the figurehead, the innocent…and those names sickened her.

As Euphemia walked along the metallic walls, she placed her fingers on their sharp tongues. Though they drew blood, she didn't move it, and forced the wounded extremity to endure its hardship. Personally, Euphemia didn't believe she imposed the same limitations on Lelouch; in fact, it was because of her orders she kept him safe, away from the dangers, away from the hurt and the pain and the sorrow. And it was because of those edicts Lelouch will finally get to see Nunnally again, a wish she knew he kept close in his heart. Who knows? Maybe he'd prefer to stay there than he did here.

But what of C.C? What did she want? Euphemia had already proven herself multiple times, so it wasn't like she needed the witch any longer. She was free to live out the rest of her immortal life the way she chose, without Avalon's interference; Euphemia had given her all the entertainment she could.

Yet for some reason, she couldn't get the two out of her mind. No matter how often she saw them, there was a longing for their continual presence. She liked fighting with Lelouch, she liked it when he scolded her, she liked how gentle he was when joking with her. She liked when he sat at the foot of her throne, or sleeping on the steps, a peaceful, unguarded look on his face. She liked the arguments he got into with C.C, verbal or physical. She liked the way C.C appeared, keeping herself shrouded with mystery while advising Euphemia on issues she couldn't begin to comprehend. She liked C.C's blatant personality and political savvy; it amazed her still, how she managed to charm her way into the Seelie Courts. She liked the comfortable friendship she had with C.C, even if it was fragile and frail, nonexistent almost.

She wasn't willing to give any of it up.

She clutched her skirts and looked out at the shattered remnants of the day. Debris was thrown everywhere, and civilians were now just starting to pick up the pieces. Many of the soldiers were helping, while a few lagged behind, grumbling on how unfair it was for them to do all the work. Colored rags were scattered all over the streets, and feasts were soiled with ash and metal. There were questions, demands, and concerns, but almost all were curious about what Euphemia would do after the incident. Even little Lisette will look to her Auntie for answers.

And she would tell them she was handling the situation. They needn't worry any longer.

But what if they come again?

She'll kill them, simple as that. She won't allow them to take away her fools.