Chapter 2

'Onii-san, now that you're here, we can finally be together. You, Suzaku, and I… and Kallen and Shirley and all the others from Ashford. It's going to be just like the old times… You don't have to leave,'

Lelouch looked at Nunally's crying face. Back then, he never really imagined a life without her. Even when the idea of having his own family, a wife and children to love, sometimes dawned on him, he had not once taken his sister away from the picture.

He loved her very much, more than anyone else in the world, more than himself, for she was his only family.

Everything about his life was detestable, worthy of forgetting. Except his sister. Lelouch considers her as his safe haven, the one person who made him believe in the possibility of a future.

And hence, it never occurred to him that he will one day willingly part ways with her.

He gently held Nunally's hand. It felt like yesterday when he first held these hands.

He can still remember when his mother, the late Marianne, told him that he was finally a big brother. When he first saw Nunally.

Back then, her hands were really, really small he thought that he would break them if he'd hold them. But look at them now. They were the hands of a strong young lady though the warmness of her palms didn't change at all. It was still the same as the day when Lelouch first held them.

'Thank you, Nunally. I… onii-san, doesn't deserve your kindness,'

The lady had let out a troubled expression.

'But… why?'

Lelouch looked at her sturdily.

'You know how much I'd love to spend my whole life with you… and with Suzaku, and all the others. Just like the old times… but everything about me… and you and Suzaku… it has all changed,' he replied so quietly it was almost a whisper.

Fat tears started to fall from Nunally's eyes. But she swallowed the lump on her throat and tried to speak to her big brother as straightly as she could but to no avail.

'Onii-san… maybe… maybe you're only confused… Give it a few days… maybe you'll change your mind,'

Lelouch shook his head. He let go of her, stood up, and walked to the window. He took a lot at the world he tried so hard to fight for.

The weather was nice outside. If he didn't know any better, he'd probably think that there was no war that happened here a few days ago.

It was a sunny day and he can even hear the birds' chirpings. There was a garden outside this small villa where flowers of different kinds bloom. But it seems like nobody really maintains the foliage outside. The green bushes messily crept on the walls.

'Nunally… I still have a promise to fulfill,'

He looked at her sister. He can feel the warm rays of the sun touching his back… his face.

'For two years… C.C… She was travelling the world to look for a gate to bring me back to life… She was looking for a way to bring me back… and she was with me. The empty me. I can't really remember most things about those two years. But there were vague memories that remained,

And I thought that after everything we did… during the rebellion and after it… I never really gave her anything. For all her sacrifices for me… for us. I have a promise to keep,'

The tears started to escape from Nunally's eyes. Lelouch wanted to go to her and soothe her… and if he could, to give her what she wanted because that's what he always did all this time. He gave her everything he could. No matter the consequences.

But now he could no longer do that. He was a different person now. He wasn't merely her brother nor Britannia's banished prince. He wasn't anymore Zero. And most especially, he wasn't just Lelouch.

He was a Code and Geass bearer. With a promise and responsibilities to fulfill.

Lelouch didn't keep his words many times. More than anything else, he was a liar. But he didn't anymore want to lie about what he truly wants. Not this time.

Nunally wiped her tears away, and just like he thought… she gave him a warm smile.

'Then… I guess I have to let you go. Right, onii-san?'

Lelouch felt a searing pain within him. Like Suzaku's stab during the Zero Requiem. Possibly, even more painful. With quick strides, he went to his sister and gave her a tight hug.

'I wish for your happiness, Lelouch…' she whispered.

His heart was hammering so fast against his chest, he thought he was going to collapse any time now. The sun was hot and he was sweating all over.

'C.C.!'

He quickly dotted her evergreen hair on the way to the streams of refugees.

'C.C.! Wait up!'

She couldn't hear him.

'Hey, C.C… WAIT UP, C.C.!'

His knees were wobbling and he couldn't catch his breath.

Finally, she stopped and faced his direction, surprise painted on her face.

'Lelouch… you haven't changed that much in that regard,'

He was still panting, trying to catch his breath.

'It's not that… It's just… you… without saying… anything…'

God why was he so physically weak? He can't even talk straight.

'So what is it? Did I forget something?'

He tried to look up to her.

'I'm coming… with you,'

Would she say yes? He didn't think she would. He was still panting.

'Hmph, if you're looking for someone to wait on you, look for someone else. I'm on my way to track down the Geass fragments that Shamna left behind,'

Finally, he was able to breathe normally. He tried his best to keep a composed posture and looked straight at her.

'What about you? You bring someone back to life without asking, and now you're neglecting them? Hmph, such a self-centered woman!'

'You didn't know that? Of course, I'm a self-centered woman!'

She turned her back and started to walk away from him.

'Besides, what are you going to do about your name? If word gets out it's going to be a huge deal,'

Lelouch joined her stride and walked slowly behind her.

'My name? Well, taking from Lelouch Lamperouge, how does L.L. sound?'

He thought of it many times even before they defeated Shamna. He had set his mind to do this. He practiced saying it many times inside his head. Just in case she asks. He tried to say it as casually as he could. But damn did his heart drum really loud inside his chest, he thought it was going to explode. Especially when she turned towards him and gave him a dumbfounded expression.

Holy Britannian shit.

Did his confession fail?

'No good?' he asked wearily when she didn't speak.

She stayed dumbfounded for about twenty seconds and he couldn't say anything either. Then suddenly, tears started to flow from her eyes, and she smiled.

God. She smiled.

Lelouch felt as if a huge thorn had been plucked out from his chest. He couldn't help but give out a long, relieved sigh. Damn if that wasn't the most edgy experience he had since the Requiem.

'Are you that desperate to come and track down the Geass fragments?' she asked teasingly. Tears still flowing from her eyes.

In just two strides, he was already a few inches near her. Perhaps she can hear the loud drumming of his heart.

Lelouch had wanted to do this for a long time. Back when he was still emperor and he had to say goodbye to her, but circumstances did not permit.

He wiped the tears from her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile, the kind he gives only to his little sister.

'You don't have to do everything by yourself. Let's do it together. Like we always do,'

C.C. smiled at him, and somehow it made his heart flutter. He didn't know she had this kind of effect on him.

He cleared his throat in an attempt to regain his composure and sense of control. After all, some habits don't exactly die hard.

'Now, give me those bags,' he said, his cheeks still burning hot.

Why the hell am I reacting like this for? he thought. But somehow he couldn't help it.

Did he look like an idiot smiling like that a while ago? He didn't know.

'Are you sure? They're quite heavy,' she said.

'Yeah. Hand them to me. We're going to attract too much attention if you carry those,'

C.C. gave out a Cheshire smile.

'Hmmm, you're not offering your strength for something else?'

'Hmph, just hand them to me,'

C.C. handed him the bags.

Oof.

They really are heavy.

Was she carrying these for straight two years?

'Are you okay?' CC. said looking at him. She was tightly holding her Cheese-kun cushion.

'What do you take me for, witch?'

She gave out a hearty laugh. One that Lelouch has never heard before.

Boy, was it beautiful.

Smiling, he held out his hand to her, and side by side, they joined the stream of refugees leaving the Kingdom of Zilkhstan.

'L.L.~ your hands are sweaty,'

'That's because you had me chase you,'

Two immortals on their way to the future they fought so hard to acquire.

Fin.

A/N: It's really a joy to write about these two. I hope you liked this story. Pleaseee don't hesitate to leave a review. I'd be more than grateful for your comments! See you next chapter. Stay tuned!