Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to Code: Geass or Naruto.
"Kallen."
The red haired pilot stopped and saw Naruto, wearing his cloak and mask behind her. "What is it Nar-Seizan?"
"When we're are the stadium for the opening of the Special Zone keep an eye out. I sense that the Geass Order will try something." Naruto whispered.
"What do you mean?" Kallen said, her voice just as quite as Naruto's.
"The Geass Order and the Emperor don't care about peace and how many people that may die because of the wars they might cause. They want C.C. and they might try something to bring her out into the open." Naruto explained. "C.C. and I will be with Lelouch to keep an eye on him. You stay with the others and watch out for sudden attacks on the stadium."
"Does Lelouch know?" Kallen asked.
"He might suspect it but he's more worried about Euphemia at the moment and he won't be worried too much if C.C. and I are with him. If you see something like an air strike or a sudden movement of armed forces moving towards the stadium don't hesitate to act." Naruto said. "The main objective is the protection of the people in that stadium. If something happens they will need protection and you and the the rest of the Black Knights will be the ones to protect them."
Kallen's eyes hardened and she nodded. "I understand. Good luck, Naruto."
"Hey, it's me." Naruto's voice was light and filled with humor. "What could go wrong?"
Kallen didn't answer but the glare made Naruto both scared and happy as he chuckled and walked away.
As he walked away he muttered something 'Red heads and their temper.'
He was so lucky that they were in view of the others as they getting ready or she would have whacked him on the head.
"Kill the Japanese?" Euphemia whispered in horror. "But why?! My plans for the Special Zone were approved by Schneizel!"
"I apologize sister but my orders were given to me by the Emperor himself." Pollux answered, a mocking apologetic grin on his face.
"The Emperor?" Euphemia's eyes widened and her body stiffened at the mention of her father.
Lelouch narrowed his eyes. 'I should have known… He must have known I would meet Euphie. Damn it! I walked right into it!'
"So without further interruptions we will carry out our plan." Pollux's eye flashed red. "We will order the soldiers to kill the Japanese and Zero… you will assassinate Princess Euphemia li Britannia."
Lelouch's eyes went wide as he realized what Pollux was planning. Start a massacre that would lead to Euphie's death and frame the Black Knights for the crime. Once the Black Knights were accused all of their allies would turn on them and the organization would collapse.
"Now… God Bless. Take the gun." Pollux's eyes were both red now, showing his Geass was fully evolved as he held out a gun for Lelouch. "And shoot Euphemia."
'He doesn't know his Geass has no effect on me. I could use this against him but we're too outnumbered and everyone except Pollux are using goggles and no doubt with protective lenses.' Lelouch thought as he slowly took the gun, ignoring Euphemia's urges for him to not do it. 'I need a way to summon Naruto and C.C. in here. If I drop the kunai Naruto gave me the guards will shoot both me and Euphie but if I nothing Pollux will get impatient and maybe even pull the trigger himself. Do Naruto and C.C. even know about this? Their Rinnegan should have detected Pollux's Geass by now!'
Time was running out and he needed to do something fast. His mind was racing, coming up with different scenarios but none of them ended well for him or Euphie. If he was killed the Japanese would rally and use him as a martyr which was his plan, only he planned to live. If Euphie was killed everyone would accuse the Black Knights of being against freedom and the Japanese would turn on them, gutting the Black Knights and ending any chance of them becoming a power against Britannia. If both died Britannia would spin a story of Zero trying to kill Euphemia but the princess struggled against him and accidently killed each other while fighting over the gun.
He could take the gun and simply shoot Pollux, eliminating him as a threat but his men would simply shoot him and he had no idea if Euphie would survive or would be shot with him? He could use his Geass now and order Pollux to kill his men, allowing him and Euphie to escape in the resulting chaos but there was no way of knowing if either of them would make it out in the resulting cross fire. There was no way out of this.
At least not for him.
"Now kill her." Pollux ordered.
"How about no and you can suck it?"
Everyone's eyes widened as one of Pollux's guards exploded in a puff of smoke and from that smoke came several shuriken that knocked out the weapons Pollux's guards were carrying out of their hands.
"What?!" Pollux shouted as Naruto wearing his cloak and mask stepped out of the smoke. "What are you?!"
"Just a friendly guy here to give a helping hand to his friends." Naruto smirked at Euphie and Lelouch. "You guys okay?"
"You took your sweet time." Lelouch grumbled.
"Hey. The hero always arrives at the last second. You know that." Naruto retorted as he turned to Pollux. "Now about that order. Consider your plans cancelled."
"How dare you?! Do you have any idea who you are speaking to?!" Pollux angrily shouted.
"A whiny homicidal brat?" Naruto rhetorically answered, scratching the cheek of his mask.
"He's a member of the Royal Family and possibly a member of the Geass Order." Lelouch answered, pointing the very gun Pollux had given him at its previous owner. "And you consider yourself my prisoner now."
"Get them!" Pollux shouted.
The guards charged forward but Naruto was one step ahead, moving too fast for anyone to see and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks that knocked them all out instantly. "Wow, this is sad. Don't you guys actually train?"
"You…" Pollux gritted his teeth but grinned. "It's a good thing I came prepared."
"Hm?" Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I mean right now my troops are in position right now to begin killing the Japanese." Pollux grinned manically as he pulled out a radio. "And I just need to give the order!"
"Stop him!" Euphie shouted in horror.
Lelouch was about to shoot Pollux but Naruto threw a kunai that hit the radio, breaking it before Pollux could get a single word. Naruto quickly followed up with a punch to the face, knocking Pollux out with one blow.
"Don't you hate it when they get all homicidal?" Naruto asked with a sigh. "Seriously, what's with these idiots and killing people?"
"Naruto, did anyone outside see you come in here?" Lelouch asked, putting the gun down.
"That's a trick question, right?" Naruto asked as he took off his hood and mask. "Who do you think I am?"
"Naruto." Lelouch scowled.
"Sheesh how can you be related to Euphie and Nunnally? They both know how to take a joke." Naruto rolled his eyes. "No, no one noticed I was gone because they think I'm still out there with C.C."
"Uh…."
Euphie trailed off, staring at Naruto who smiled at her. "Hey, Euphie. How's it been?"
"Naruto, you know she was just through an assassination attempt and you ask her 'how's it been'?" Lelouch's left eye twitched.
"Well she's alive and no one hurt her so I figured she was okay." Naruto shrugged. "Besides with this Pollux bastard down you won't have to worry about anyone trying to kill her and turn the special zone into a blood bath."
Lelouch sighed. "Very well you have a point there. What is important now is that we make sure Pollux is not able to order anyone to start a massacre."
"Don't worry about that." Naruto put a hand on the knocked out Pollux who vanished a second later. "Good thing C.C. taught me her dimensional technique." Naruto stood up, putting his mask and hood back on. "Well, I'll let you take it from here Lelouch and good luck on stage."
And like that Naruto vanished in another puff of smoke.
"Uh…." Euphemia stared at where Naruto vanished. "Lelouch, who exactly is Naruto?"
"I've asked that question more than once." Lelouch shook his head. "I'll try and explain later Euphie but right now we have to attend to the Special Zone."
"Oh right." Euphemia nodded, deciding to ask Lelouch more about Naruto later.
She needed to make sure nothing else happened or the dreams of the people outside wishing for a better life would be crushed. As the two left the room they did not notice that a single camera was still active in the room that recording everything.
"Well she's alive and no one hurt her so I figured she was okay." Naruto shrugged. "Besides with this Pollux bastard down you won't have to worry about anyone trying to kill her and turn the special zone into a blood bath."
Lelouch sighed. "Very well you have a point there. What is important now is that we make sure Pollux is not able to order anyone to start a massacre."
"Don't worry about that." Naruto put a hand on the knocked out Pollux who vanished a second later. "Good thing C.C. taught me her dimensional technique." Naruto stood up, putting his mask and hood back on. "Well, I'll let you take it from here Lelouch and good luck on stage."
And like that Naruto vanished in another puff of smoke.
"Uh…." Euphemia stared at where Naruto vanished. "Lelouch, who exactly is Naruto?"
"I've asked that question more than once." Lelouch shook his head. "I'll try and explain later Euphie but right now we have to attend to the Special Zone."
"Oh right."
The person reviewing the life recording turned the monitor off and slipped his helmet on. "The first plan has failed. I will proceed with the second one."
There had been contingency plans set up to make sure the main objective did not fail to take in C.C. and this 'Naruto's strange abilities into account.
The second plan was now in effect.
Euphie stepped back onto the stage with Lelouch who was wearing his Zero mask again.
"Princess Euphemia!" Suzaku rushed up, quickly bowing. "Are you all right, my lady?"
"I am fine, Suzaku." Euphie replied with a smile. "There is nothing to be worried about."
"Zero did not harm you or make any demands?" Suzaku cast a look at Lelouch who remained calm.
"No, he did nothing. Now it's time we begin the celebration." Euphie replied as she stepped up to the microphone. "People of Japan, I have just spoken with Zero and he has agreed to support the Special Administrative Zone!"
The people let out cheers and applause while Suzaku looked at Lelouch who was standing with Naruto and C.C. in silent shock. 'He… agreed?'
"Zero has agreed to work with us to create peace in the zone and ensure that you all can embrace the freedom and peace this zone offers." Euphie continued happily, seeing all the people cheering for the zone, for her, and for Lelouch.
SLASH!
The guard fell over, his throat slit open and moment later his body was dumped to the side as the person now wearing his uniform walked over to the window, seeing the crowd in the stadium standing before the stage as Princess Euphemia continued her speech.
" Working together we will bring an end to the death that has plagued Japan for the last eight years. "
He held the rifle up and aimed it at the stage.
" Together we shall take the first steps into the future. "
Looking through the scope he saw his target perfectly.
" And it will be made possible by you, the people of Japan. "
He knew that he couldn't chance someone not spotting him or hearing the shot and moving his target out of range. In order to avoid that outcome he would have to make sure the entire stadium would not stop him.
It would be risky.
But he would carry out his orders by any means necessary.
" And so I dedicate the Special Administrative Zone to you… "
His left eye flashes red with the crest of Geass shining through the scope. And from it the effect spread, trapping people in its power as it travelled to the stage, paralyzing everyone it touched, including Princess Euphemia and the target.
"You die now, Lelouch vi Britannia."
He pulled the trigger…
"It's happening." Naruto narrowed his eyes as the red light associated with Geass froze the crowd and everyone on the stage. "And I don't need to bet the next dinner on who it is."
Not only did he see the Geass with his Rinnegan but as everyone froze he could sense Rolo's killing intent. Lelouch also noticed that people were seemingly freezing, as becoming frozen in time and he noticed it happening to Euphie just now.
'What is going on here? Everyone's just freezing… Is it… Wait I remember! A Geass that freezes one's perception of time!' Lelouch realized. 'It's that Geass assassin Rolo! He must be trying to assassinate Euphie!'
"That's too bad but I don't take sucker bets anyways." C.C. remarked, looking at the source of the light. "That little killing machine of V.V.'s is up to his little tricks again. That little brat never knew when to stop when he was told."
BANG!
Naruto moved quickly, seeing the bullet heading straight for Lelouch who was moving towards Euphie just as the Geass effect was wearing off and pushed Lelouch out of the way. The bullet left a hole in the edge of Naruto's cloak as he and Lelouch hit the ground while the bullet left a hole in the stage. As the Geass wore off C.C. disappeared in a puff of smoke before anyone noticed and everyone was left to see what had almost happened.
Zero had almost been shot.
Euphie turned around, her eyes widening in shock while her mouth as she looked at Lelouch as Naruto helped him up.
"Are you all right?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah." Lelouch nodded, narrowing his eyes. "One second Euphemia was speaking but then… I thought she was the target."
"Nope. It was you. Good thing the seal blocked his Geass." Naruto remarked. "And we have someone on the job to catch that rat."
"Damn it!" Rolo dropped the rifle upon seeing Lelouch was still alive. "They couldn't have known I was here or move fast enough to save him!"
His position had been compromised and he knew he had to move before he was discovered. He quickly rushed to the door but just as he was out a fist slammed into his face, knocking him down and knocking him out at the same time.
"I really don't like playing with V.V.'s toys but I can't have you or him ruining this and making things difficult." C.C. remarked dryly. "Naruto already saved Lulu and Euphie so it was my turn."
"What happened?"
"Someone tried to shoot Zero!"
"Filthy Britannians! It must be them!"
"Euphemia is a liar! She set him up!"
"Princess Euphemia!" Suzaku rushed forward, hugging Euphie to her as the people started shouting and booing at Euphie, some of them even started to throw food and objects at her.
Euphie's bodyguards quickly surrounded her, blocking the projectiles aimed at the shocked princess.
"Are you all right?" Suzaku asked.
"I'm all right… Someone tried to kill Zero." Euphemia looked up at Suzaku, her eyes filled with pain and fear. "I didn't order this… I didn't want this… Who did this?"
Suzaku looked at Zero who walked out in front of Euphie's bodyguards. 'Zero… Someone tried to kill him. After he agreed to support Euphie. Who would do this? Euphie ordered that no was to harm or arrest him here.'
"Zero!"
Just when things couldn't get any worse, the masked woman Shinryoku landed on the stage with a bound Britannian soldier.
"Shinryoku, is that the assassin?" Leloich narrowed his eyes.
"Yep. Caught him just as he tried to flee." C.C. answered simply. "It was like catching a frightened puppy."
That seemed to set off the crowd who saw it was a Britannian soldier who tried to assassinate Zero.
"Liars!"
"Murderers!"
"They lied to us just to kill Zero!"
"Princess Euphemia is just like them!"
"Killer!"
"Massacre Princess!"
Euphemia stepped back in horror as the insults were directed at her, even as the bodyguards and Suzaku pulled her back. The Japanese had gone into a frenzy of insults and anger that showed as they rushed to the stage and climbed up, all of them wearing expressions of anger, hate, and outrage for apparently being deceived.
"Get the Princess out of here!" Darlton shouted as he moved to hold off the mob. "This is falling out control."
Euphemia couldn't believe this happening.
She only wanted to stop the fighting for Nunnally and Lelouch and be with them like they had been as children. Why was this happening? She didn't wish for anyone to be hurt. She didn't want any of this.
Lelouch, seeing the mob was going out of control quickly tapped his mask. "Kallen, Todoh, I need you here now!"
" Zero, what's going on? " Kallen asked.
"Someone tried to assassinate me and the Japanese are blaming Euphemia. I need you here now before this turns into a bloodbath." Lelouch answered quickly. "Now!"
" Understood. " Todoh answered before cutting the line.
Lelouch looked up, seeing Euphie's bodyguards pulling out their guns and quickly stepped in between them and the Japanese mob. Naruto and C.C. shared a look and nodded, looking to their Knightmares as they activated. In the cockpits were Shadow Clones they had left as a precaution and quickly brought the Knightmares between the crowds, next to Lelouch while careful not to step on anyone.
"STOP THIS!" Lelouch barked loudly, earning everyone's attention. "There will be no killing today! As long as I stand no one shall harm a hair on Princess Euphemia's head!"
Both the Japanese and the Britannians were shocked at what they had heard but Lelouch was not done.
"You believe that Euphemia set this up as trap to kill me but that is impossible for when we spoke in private she revealed to me that to make this happen she gave up her title as Princess of Britannia and her claim to the throne! She is now just as an ordinary citizen with no political connections to the Britannian courts!" Lelouch continued, watching as everyone was still in shock.
'Euphie… Gave up her claim to the throne?' Suzaku looked at Euphie who was staring at Lelouch with everyone else.
"This assassination is indeed Britannian but it could not have been ordered by Euphemia. She is no longer a princess, therefore she does not have the authority even if she knew a great many people capable of assassination. Why would she give up her claim to the throne and do all this for you if her goal was only to bring me here to kill me? I ask you all, look at her and see if she is truly the tyrant and murderer you believe her to be!" Lelouch stepped out of the way, gesturing to Euphie. "Look at her and see!"
The Japanese all stopped and looked at Euphie, seeing her frightened tear stained face as she stared back with fear, anguish, and shame in her eyes. In that instant the bloodlust seemed to vanish upon staring into those blue eyes and everyone stepped back, no longer feeling the anger and indignity at feeling deceived.
"Do not cast your anger on her. Cast your anger on those who ordered this assassin. Cast your anger on those who would turn what was meant to be a path of peace into a bloodbath. Cast your anger on Britannia itself that selfishly oppresses its own people to further its goals and would even betray its royalty to justify its ideology!" Lelouch shouted, earning cheers from the gathered Japanese who became emboldened by his words and began to chant.
"ZERO!"
"ZERO!"
"ZERO!"
"ZERO!"
"ZERO!"
The Black Knights had arrived in time to see the Japanese crowd chanting Zero as Lelouch stood on the stage before the crowd with Seizan and Shinryoku standing by him, looking every bit the knights their pilots had made themselves to be.
"What's going on? I thought there was a riot." Tamaki commented in confusion.
"Zero must have managed to calm them down." Todoh stated, seeing the way Lelouch was standing.
'He's stopped the crowd from hurting Princess Euphemia but he's turned them completely against us.' Darlton gritted his teeth as he looked on. 'He's even more of a threat now and if anyone were to try and kill him now he would be a martyr.'
Suzaku looked on in shock as the Japanese chanted for Zero, the most wanted terrorist in Japan. 'They're chanting for him. Don't they realized what they're doing? It was Britannia that set this zone up for them and they're chanting for the terrorist that is responsible for so much death. Don't they realize this?'
If the Japanese were now on Zero's side they would turn against Britannia and cause the Special Zone to fall apart, destroying all of Euphie's work. How could they support a terrorist after everything Euphie had done for them?
"From this I declare this Special Zone open to all Japanese looking to make a fresh start without fear of oppression from Britannia. We will work with Euphemia who gave up everything to make this possible a reality. We will not let her dream be destroyed by Britannia's petty propaganda of the strong lording over the weak. Here, now, we make our stand and declare this… OUR DAY!" Lelouch ended with a scream that was echoed by thousands of Japanese now seeing him as their savior.
And the world had seen it all happen.
"This is unexpected." An elder in the council of the Chinese Federation stated. "Zero now has the complete support of the people and with Euphemia's status of princess gone in light of this assassination attempt Britannia's credibility will suffer."
"The Japanese will rally behind Zero even if he declares war on Britannia." An E.U. officer said as the event continued to be broadcasted.
Charles zi Britannia watched silently at spectacle, actually smirking at the crowd as they chanted his son's title.
"Euphie…" Nunnally stared at Euphie's face on the television screen, seeing the heartbroken look on her face. "This was not your fault. You were betrayed… Just like we were."
'He singlehandedly calmed them down and stopped them from causing a blood bath. If they got near Euphie someone would have been shot and the whole place would have turned into a warzone.' Nonnette silently thought. 'Is it because of Lelouch that Zero is protecting Euphie? Awfully considerate for a man who has already killed Britannian Royalty.'
Euphemia could only watch as the Japanese chanted Zero, hailing him and the Black Knights as heroes and they were right to do so. She had given them hope and she not been able to stop the betrayal of her country from happening. Her brother Schneizel had approved it, making her honestly believe that there was no chance of anything bad happening even if her father or sister didn't approve. She was wrong and her brother had nearly paid for it by almost being framed for killing and almost being killed himself.
There was only one way to make this right.
She straightened herself up and stepped away from Suzaku and her bodyguards, moving towards Lelouch.
"Princess Euphemia!" Suzaku took a step after her.
"Stay back!" Euphie said loudly, causing her guards and Suzaku to stop. "There is no need for concern and as you have heard I am not a princess anymore."
Lelouch turned, facing Eupie as she walked up to him. "Euphemia, I apologize."
Everyone stopped look at Lelouch in surprise for what he had just said.
"I came here, suspecting a trap even if you had no intention of harming me and in my blindness I did not consider the possibility of someone acting against your orders. For that you have my apology for my short sightedness." Lelouch bowed his head.
Euphie smiled and shook her head. "I am the one to blame for this. I did not believe that anything like this would happen and you almost paid for it. There is only one way I can make amends for this… Though I am no longer a princess of Britannia I was left in charge of this Special Administrative Zone which I failed to protect from pointless violence, even from my own country. Therefore there is only one way to redeem myself… Effective immediately I surrender control of this zone and myself to you, Zero and the Black Knights."
If today was not already filled with surprising events this was the big one. Everyone was flabbergasted by Euphie's declaration but none more than Suzaku who started with wide shocked eyes, unable to say a word.
His mouth hung open, unable to even breathe as Euphie bowed before Zero who nodded. "Very well. We accept responsibility and promise that all who join the zone will be protected."
"Princess Euphemia, you can't!" Darlton shouted, knowing how her sister would react.
All of Japan would be turned into a warzone once Cornelia found out. She would search high and low for her sister and it would galvanize the Elevens to side with Zero who could start an all-out rebellion with the support of the entire country.
Euphie looked over at Darlton. "Tell my sister I do not want her to search for me and I will not allow anyone to be hurt by her in my name."
"Yes… Euphemia." Darlton reluctantly nodded.
Euphie looked at Suzaku who only stared in muted shock and smiled. "Do not worry for me, Suzaku. I will be fine."
That seemed to shake Suzaku out of his silence. "Please reconsider this, Princess Euphemia! You are handing yourself over to a man who has murdered royalty! He cannot be trusted! Let me take your place!"
"No." Euphie stated sternly. "This is my decision and I am no longer a princess. You do not answer to me anymore as my knight."
Suzaku gaped. "Eu-Euphie…"
"I will be fine." Euphie said before facing Lelouch. "This zone and its people are under your protection, Zero. Treat them well."
"I will." Lelouch nodded and held out his hand to her. "And you will not be harmed either, Euphemia."
Euphie smiled as she took and allowed Lelouch to lead her to the Arashikage, sending one last look at Suzaku before she slipped into the cockpit.
Lelouch looked at the Japanese as they stared back at him, awestruck and gratefulness in their eyes. "Children of Japan, today is the day you can stand proudly and declare yourselves Japanese for all the world to hear!"
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers as Lelouch entered the cockpit and activated the Arashikage, standing with Seizan and Shinryoku and the rest of the Black Knights as they left the stadium, having much to do.
Euphie looked at the monitors, seeing the people who cheered for Zero…
And her despite her failure.
Lelouch looked at his sister, knowing that look on her face. It was the same look he had when he was betrayed by Britannia when the Emperor called off the investigation into his mother's death. Euphie no doubt blamed herself, believing she was a fool for thinking she could do something good and not become a victim of Britannia's cruelty.
He needed to help her.
"Any idea what Zero's going to do to Euphemia?" Tamaki asked, looking at the rest of the Black Knights in who sat in the living room of their mobile headquarters. "I mean having a princess surrender is big."
"She's not a princess anymore. By giving up her claim to the throne she is longer recognized as a Princess of Britannia." Todoh replied.
Diethard nodded. "And with the Special Zone under Zero's control and the people rallying behind him in light of the failed assassination attempt on Zero. The people will no doubt demand retribution against Britannia."
"It really worked out for Zero didn't it?" Rakshata remarked casually.
"So how do we use this? What do we do now?" Minami asked. "What exactly do we do with the zone?"
"Well we can use it to protect anyone who joins the zone. Euphemia gave total control of the zone to Zero and the Black Knights." Ohgi suggested.
Kallen was about to say something when her phone rang and when saw the caller I.D. she quickly answered. "Zero? All right."
She put him on speakerphone. " Todoh, Oghi, is everyone with you?
"Yes, Zero. We were just talking about what happened at the zone." Todoh answered with a nod even though Zero couldn't see him.
" Good. Get in contact with Kyoto and speak to them about how establishing a security detail in the zone. "
"Right." Todoh nodded.
"Zero, where are you and is Princess Euphemia with you?" Ohgi asked.
" She is with me and I'm setting her up in a hidden location where Britannia won't find her. Cornelia will no doubt demand her return, even threatening to invade the zone. We'll have to prepare for that and find a way to prevent Cornelia from making such a move. " Zero answered.
"Are you going to use as a hostage?" Chiba asked.
" No. Britannia already tried to use her, meaning they were willing to endanger her life. She cannot offer us anything in military matters and the Japanese see as much a victim as us. For now remain undetected and wait. Expect a call in about a week. And Kallen? "
"Yes, Zero." Kallen answered.
" Go back to school. " With theat said he hung up.
Lelouch put his cell phone away and turned to Euphie. "That should keep them busy for now. We can set up a room for you and no one will think to look for you here."
Euphie smiled. "It was sort of obvious when you think about it. I can't believe Cornelia never looked here, considering how close the Ashfords and Lady Marianne were."
The Arashikage had been left in the tunnels underneath Ashford Academy while Lelouch slipped out of his Zero outfit and into some ordinary clothes. Euphie was already wearing sunglasses and a cap over her pink hair and slipped out of her dress and into casual clothes to walk with Lelouch without being recognized.
"I guess I should consider myself lucky then." Lelouch replied, smirking. "The Ashfords have been very accommodating to us over the years."
"I remember." Euphie smile became sad. "They were loyal and yet they were stripped of their status. They did not deserve it."
"Milly and her grandfather do not seem to mourn the loss of their family status. If anything they could care about as much as the Empire as I do. Unfortunately Milly's parents seem determined to get back their status by any means, even trying to betroth Milly to any dukes or earls." Lelouch said, scowling slightly.
"I heard she had been engaged to Earl Lloyd Asplund." Euphie commented thoughtfully. "Though I'm not sure the Earl of the Asplund family agreed simply to help the Ashfords or even cares if Milly cheats on him. I believe he was more interested in the Ashford family's military work, specifically the Ganymede."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "The Ganymede?"
"It would make sense though, right. The Ganymede is the prototype of all Knightmare frames." Euphie pointed out. "It makes sense that he'd want it."
"And it's a good thing I made sure that Milly has everything she needs…" Lelouch smirked. "To call off the marriage."
Euphie glanced at Lelouch, looking surprised. "Really?"
"She helped me and my sister when I needed it. It was the least I could do and I don't condone what her parents are putting her through." Lelouch stated solemnly.
Milly's parents were not much different from typical Britannian nobility, only in some ways they were worse for trying to force their daughter into a loveless marriage. Milly's father, the son of Ruben Ashford never cared for the military work the Ashford family specialized in and attempted to set up other branches but he lacked the business skills his father had and had literally no sense of intelligence or wit to the point it was hard to believe that he was actually Ruben Ashford's son. Her father was a spineless idiot who couldn't help himself, but her mother on the other hand, Milly hated her mother with a passion and Lelouch disliked her just as much. Milly's mother was a snake who used her pretty face to hide her poisonous fangs, seducing her brainless husband into marriage to become matriarch of the noble Ashford family and had done everything in her power to regain the family's status.
She had even attempted to reveal Lelouch and Nunnally to Britannia but was stopped when Sayoko stepped in, threatening to slit her throat in her sleep. She didn't take it well but with both Ruben and her own daughter protecting the vi Britannia siblings there was nothing she could do. For all her ambition Milly's mother was too arrogant and impatient, unable to see her own weaknesses that left her an open book to both her despised father in law and traitorous daughter who easily outmaneuvered in any scheme she could come up with. She and her husband were toothless and even more so in the fact that only Ruben could approve of the marriage between her and Lloyd Asplund and if Milly wanted to she could call off the marriage.
Only Lloyd could care less about the marriage, he only wanted the Ganymede and in some ways Milly benified from it more than Lloyd but she still had her doubts.
"Now let's see Nunnally. She's probably worried sick." Lelouch changed the subject.
"Won't she suspect you are Zero?" Euphie asked.
"I'll simply say that Zero knows of the Ashfords and contacted them, ordering them to look after you or reveal the few deals Milly's mother tried to make behind Ruben's back."
Nunnally knew what was coming before she even looked out the window.
She knew the only place that her brother would bring Euphie to was the same place that kept them safe. The door opened and Lelouch walked in, followed by Euphie and the both of them smiled as Nunnally ran up to them, hugging them both with all of her might. Well, all the might she controlled to avoid crushing her brother's frail body.
"Lelouch! Euphie! I was so worried about you!" Nunnally cried out.
"Nunna!" Euphie hugged Nunnally back just as fierce. "I'm so glad to see you again!"
"Me too!" Nunnally looked up at Euphie with a big smile. "I saw what happened. I can't believe someone tried to do that."
Euphie smiled was slightly saddened but she was still happy. "I know… But no one was hurt and I'm here now."
"Does Zero know we're here?" Nunnally asked, looking at both Lelouch and Euphie who exchanged glances.
"… Yes. He contacted me and ordered me to bring Euphie here." Lelouch answered. "He told me that no harm would come to us and said Euphie was no longer a princess. She had no political use for him and gave her to me… To help start a new life."
Nunnally looked at Euphie who nodded and understood what happened. Euphie didn't know that she knew and Lelouch continued to keep his secret. A part of her was upset that her brother was still hiding from her.
But she was still happy to be with both him and Euphie and wanted nothing to change for the moment.
"So what happens now?" Naruto asked, looking at the door to the cell Pollux and Rolo were in. "The Geass Order's going to be pissed when they find out about this and Pollux has a twin brother who no doubt already knows what happened."
"Knowing V.V. he'll try to use what happened at the zone to his advantage. Even if there was no massacre he won't take this lying down." C.C. hugged her Cheese-kun to her chest. "That little brat is no doubt having a temper tantrum by now. Either way, who cares? We got through it and we've had a long day. I want to relax now." She looked at Naruto with an expected look. "Now let's go. I want pizza and you in the bedroom in three seconds."
Naruto sighed but grinned. "Yes dear."
Suzaku stared blankly up at the ceiling of his room.
Today had started off perfectly.
The violence would finally end and Japanese would be given what they deserve after eight years of suffering.
Only it ended terribly.
Princess Cornelia had been furious with him and Darlton when they returned and Suzaku had been ordered to stay in his quarters for the time being. Suzaku suspected she would have done more but Darlton managed convince her it wasn't his fault. The whole debacle had blown up in their faces and worst of all with the special zone under Zero's control he and the Black Knights were now untouchable. The Japanese hated Britannia even more than before and Zero was now their messiah, the one they looked to lead them.
Didn't they understand what kind of man they were following?
Didn't they understand that Zero would use them to sow chaos and death?
And then there was the assassin that tried to kill Zero. He claimed that Britannia had ordered the assassination without Euphemia's consent, using as a pawn to kill Zero and turn the zone into a blood bath just to lure out the Black Knights.
It was a lie.
It had to be a lie.
Why would Britannia turn on its own princess?
It didn't make any sense.
It could not be true.
Zero must have used the assassination as a way to further his own schemes.
But if the assassin was not Britannian than who was responsible?
The door slid open, causing Suzaku to sit up. "Who's there?"
"Suzaku Kururugi." The person who spoke, sounded like a child. "Would like to know the truth of what happened?"
"What?" Suzaku stared at the shadow standing at his door.
"The truth of the zone… and Zero's power."