Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to Code: Geass or Naruto.
Nunnally at first hated how Lelouch became Zero and started a war with Britannia for her sake. She didn't care about the peaceful world she told him about. Sure she wanted a world that was just and kind but it wouldn't be that world if her brother was not part of it. She was upset that he had kept secrets and she was still upset.
Why wouldn't she be?
Lelouch had lied to her about so many things, murdered his own flesh and blood, began a war against their former homeland, and even used a power to control people against their wills. How could he lie to her without a second thought so callously? How could he think he could keep it all a secret from her without her eventually learning about? She was sure she should be outraged at everything he had done but could she really be angry?
Ever since she regained her legs and sight she had stepped out of the small home that allowed the world she envisioned, a world without cruelty and violence, to exist. She saw how some students still treated Suzaku and the Japanese, she saw the injustice and evils of the world she wanted to leave behind slowly all around her no matter how much she wished it didn't, and she remembered what had happened to her that made her blind and crippled that night her mother was murdered.
It had scarred him, possibly for the rest of his life. The soft and caring side he showed only with her and their friends was only reserved for them since they were close enough for him to feel anything other than rage and misery.
It made her realize how much of a naïve and spoiled child she had been in a world where life was not far.
It made her realize how much her brother wanted change things for the better and for the lives of people who all wanted things to change.
It made her angry.
Angry enough that a small part of the innocent princess her brother wanted her to be actually died, allowing the hardened warrior she never she'd be to be born.
Angry enough that she made the same contract her brother made and gained the power to change the world. Lelouch gained the Power of the King while Nunnally gained the Eyes of God, becoming one of the six who could be chosen to wield this power. This power actually suited her more than Geass would as the training Naruto and C.C. put her through helped her realize that she had possibly the potential to become like her mother who was skilled enough to defeat the Knight of One. Lelouch had the intelligence but that was not enough to fight the war he had started.
She knew Lelouch would have tried to stop her just as she would have tried to stop him but she then realized she couldn't stop him anymore than he could have stopped her. So for now she would let him keep his secrets just as she would keep her own secrets from him until the day he was finally ready to confess. She would train her new power, becoming his shadow and protect him from any and all dangers.
She would be Zero's shadow.
"Lelouch?" Nunnally asked as Lelouch came in with a cup of tea.
"Yes, Nunnally?" Lelouch sat down at the table.
"What do you think will happen now that the Black Knights now run Japan?" Nunnally asked, playing the innocent sister.
Lelouch adopted a thoughtful face. "Well, Zero said that anyone who wishes to leave will be allowed to leave so it's likely that most Britannians will chose to leave."
"Will they want us to leave?" Nunnally asked, looking worried.
Lelouch shook his head. "The Ashfords had been here before the invasion they've made a few friends with the Japanese. I am sure Rueben Ashford can convince them not to force everyone to leave."
"So we might be able to stay along with any of our friends who want to stay too?" Nunnally asked, now hopeful.
Lelouch nodded with a smile. "You know Milly and her grandfather. They know who to handle pressure and they know how to negotiate."
"What about Suzaku? What will happen to him?"
That changed the mood.
"… I honestly don't know." Lelouch looked away slightly. "He chose to fight for Britannia from beginning. I know a lot of people will be angry with him for that."
Meaning Suzaku will either be thrown in prison or exiled. Nunnally understood that much from what she had seen and heard. She hadn't been happy to know that Suzaku was actually fighting his own people and knew that his belief in changing the system was flawed. Even she knew invoking change from within was unrealistic because of the hundreds of people, nobility and royalty that liked the system the way it was and would never accept the idea of equality.
She had seen through the shared vision with Naruto and C.C. that Suzaku had started changing from the good friend he had been to someone that she almost did not recognize.
'Poor Euphie. She didn't do anything to deserve what has happened to her. Suzaku, you really have no faith in the people you care for do you?' Nunnally idly wondered.
Like how she had been angry at Lelouch she had been angry at Suzaku for lying to them as well but she was also angry that Suzaku could just so easily believe the bastard who was responsible for her mother's death over Euphie and Lelouch so easily.
Did he really believe that Euphie wasn't acting under anyone's influence except for her own?
He didn't even try to consider her words. That was enough to make Nunnally angry at him, especially for trusting the words of V.V. who was thankfully no longer alive…
In a sense.
C.C. had used the power of the Human Path to remove V.V.'s soul from his body that was kept alive by the Code, proving that a soul was not needed for the Code to keep the body alive and immortal. C.C. then used her chakra to destroy V.V.'s soul, removing him from this plane of existence forever and had now gone to entomb V.V.'s body cement and transport it to the deepest and darkest abyss at the bottom of the ocean using her Takamagahara . Without a Code-Bearer the Geass Order could not produce anymore Geass users and whatever her father planned to use C.C. for was finished once and for all. He would either launch a full attack on them or hopefully pull and realize that he could not hope to win at all.
However she knew her father was not one to give up so easily.
'Father, you have no idea just what you are up against. You let our mother die and then cast us aside without second thought, forever scarring me and my brother. I was scarred physically and was spared the emotional and mental scars that Lelouch had suffered when we were exiled and through the war. In a great sense I was spared a great deal of pain and suffering.' Nunnally narrowed her eyes. 'But that only makes me hate you so much more for everything you did my brother. You did this to him. You set him down the path that created Zero and set me down the path that I have chosen to protect him from you. The Path of Rebellion.'
Just as Zero rose from the depths of her brother's scarred heart a new and more powerful icon would emerge from hers and she would see to it herself that would destroy the world and create it anew.
But for now she would enjoy the moment of peace.
He saw the large house that Zero had entered and had finally cornered him.
Finally he would end one of the greatest threats to the Empire.
Finally he would have his honor restored.
Finally he would destroy Zero.
"All hail…" The man roared as he charged forward, smashing the door down. "BRITANNIA!"
Nunnally and Lelouch heard the shouting as the door was smashed down and Lelouch quickly pushed Nunnally down under the table.
"I know you are here, Zero!"
Lelouch gritted his teeth as he recognized the voice. 'Jeremiah! You just won't die, will you?'
Jeremiah marched into the room, spotting the two shadows under the table. "I have found you! I know you are in here!"
"Jeremiah Gottwald. I don't know why you are here but if you want me come and get me, Orange Boy!"Lelouch quickly rolled out and started running towards the back door.
Jeremiah let out another scream as he chased after Lelouch. "DIE!"
Nunnally peek her head up as Jeremiah chased her brother out of the room. 'Jeremiah… Jeremiah Gottwalt, one of mother's guards!'
The man Lelouch had humiliated was a former guard at the villa she and her brother had lived in when they were children.
And now he was trying to kill her brother.
Nunnally's eyes narrowed as they morphed in the Rinnegan. "No more hiding for us, brother."
She was at her closet in a second and pulled out a large locked suitcase. She could have just summoned Sayoko who was elsewhere in the school trying to help keep the students and staff calm but she wanted the maid to have some time off and enjoy just some time with her brother. And to be honest she was through letting others fight her battles for her.
"It's time for me to show you the other Bringer of Miracles."
Lelouch wasn't exactly a runner.
Okay, he wasn't exactly good at anything involving physical labor.
But his determination to prevent his sister from any harm was enough for him to run out of the clubhouse with a crazed cybernetic disgraced Britannian chasing after him.
But it only worked for a few seconds.
Jeremiah had easily caught up to him, slamming into him and knocking him down to the ground. "I HAVE YOU NOW!"
Jeremiah had a crazed look on his face as he kept Lelouch face down on the ground, having finally captured the one who had repeatedly humiliated him.
"This is it… Now you will die for all of the times you defeated and humiliated me and the Emperor will reward me for my loyalty!" Jeremiah said, laughing madly.
Lelouch closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. 'Nunnally, I'm so sorry.'
"NOW DIE!" Jeremiah raised a fist to smash Lelouch's head and finish him once and for all.
A kunai shot out and hit Jeremiah in the shoulder, causing him to grunt in pain.
"Step away from him now."
Jeremiah and Lelouch looked in the direction of the voice and where the kunai had come from. Standing before them was someone, short in height and wore a white flowing cloak that hid their head over a white body-suit similar to the armor Naruto and C.C. wore under their cloaks along with white eblow length gloves and white knee length boots. The person wore tight white face mask that covered their entire face save for a single slit that showed their eyes.
'Rinnegan.' Lelouch realized when he saw the ringed eyes starting at Jeremiah. 'C.C. must have given this person those eyes. They're another Path.'
"Who are you?" Jeremiah growled as he glared at the stranger.
"I am Infinity." The person, girl spoke in a cold robotic tone. "And you will step back away from him or perish. Possibly painfully before it's over."
"NO! You will not stop me from ending Zero and his threat once and for all!" Jeremiah shouted before charging head on towards Infinity.
Infinity however seemingly danced out of the path of Jeremiah's fist before leaping him and delivered a spinning kick to Jeremiah's back, knocking him head into the ground. Jeremiah growled as he stood back up, the cybernetic modifications having hardened his body and increased his strength. But it did not help that his rage was clouding his judgement and making him easy to predict. She easily dodged and countered his attacks as he went on a full rampage.
"HOLD STILL!" Jeremiah shouted as Infinity danced past a kick from him.
"How about you hold still?" Infinity asked as she tripped Jeremiah and punched him in the back of the head, knocking him out instantly. "Be thankful I held back in that blow or your skull would have been shattered."
"I see Naruto and C.C. wasted no time in training you." Infinity turned around, hearing Lelouch's voice and watched him slowly approach her. "I knew Sayoko and Rakshata were made into two C.C.'s Six Paths but either they didn't tell me about you or you are a recent addition."
The way he looked at her showed Infinity the dangerous intellect in his eyes and the way he carried himself was worthy of a leader confident in himself. However where as he inherited the fine qualities of a leader she inherited the skills of a soldier, or possibly a warrior depending on who ask and who actually knew her and who her mother was. Luckily for her he could not recgonize her due to her Rinnegan eyes being seen instead of her normal eyes.
"So, Infinity huh? The opposite of Zero. Was this Naruto and C.C. making a joke at my expense or do you like emulate Zero a bit?" Lelouch asked.
Infinity smirked, knowing what Lelouch was doing. He was fishing for her true identity, trying to see if she was someone he knew.
'Nice try, Brother but just because I'm not a genius like you means you're going to be able to trick me.' She thought before speaking. "Perhaps it means I am everything Zero is not."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow. "And what could that mean? Is Zero not the leader that brought about the revolution that liberated this land and created a brand new country in its wake? A country forged from the blood, sweat, and tears of those helped make this miracle possible?"
"Zero is a leader but I am not. I do not inspire others to follow me and I do not work to create miracles. I am not a Knight or Hero. I am… A Warrior. I fight in the darkness, eliminating my enemies and deliver judgement on all those who have committed unforgivable sins while spreading death, destruction, and pain in their wake." Infinity answer stoically. "Zero is an icon, a symbol for others to rally behind to fight for a better world. I exist in the shadows only to kill the enemies of that better world and end the previous world. You use Geass, the Power of the King and you have formed your kingdom. I use the Rinnegan, the Eyes of God to smite the enemies of this kingdom."
"The opposite of Zero, you say?" Lelouch frowned, looking Infinity over.
There was no true way for him to see just who this person could be or if she was someone he already knew. Her voice was slightly muffled and cold, like a true assassin. And yet she was possibly younger than any of the other paths which was saying something. In a way she was possibly everything she had said about herself.
Zero and Infinity, opposite of each other in perhaps almost every way.
But where they allies?
"Do I get the courtesy of seeing the face behind the mask? I am sure you know of the face Zero wears under his." Lelouch offered.
"And ruin the surprise?" Infinity asked and Lelouch believe she was smirking under her mask. "Even Zero cannot know all."
With that said she and Jeremiah vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Lelouch to stare at where she had been. 'Infinity… I need to speak with Naruto and C.C. This may be them thinking ahead in case Zero had been compromised. Still there is something about this Infinity…'
"Brother!"
Lelouch was cut off as Nunnally rushed out of the clubhouse and ran at him, jumping right into his arms and knocking them over. "Ooof!"
"I was so worried about you!" Nunnally cried, burying her face into Lelouch's arms.
Lelouch hugged her back. "I'm okay, Nunnaly. I'm all right."
As Lelouch comforted her Nunnally opened one eye and looked up, seeing a window and looking down at them was a surprised looking Milly.
Nunnally saw the surprise and recognition in her eyes. 'It seems someone else knows about you, brother.'
Cornelia li Britannia was a prideful woman.
This was known just about by anyone who knew her or knew of her. She was stone cold hearted woman, only showing her hidden soft caring side for those she cared about.
Her sister Euphemia li Britannia being one of the top people, perhaps at the very top.
And it showed when she was escorted into her former officer and saw her sister, still wearing the black and silver dress that showed her new allegiance, standing at the window. She turned around and smiled as Cornelia entered the room while the guards closed the door to give them privacy.
"Euphie!" Cornelia rushed forward and hugged her sister so tight she might as well have glued the two of them together.
"Sister." Euphie smiled, returning the hug. "I'm glad they let you out."
"I'm glad you are okay." Cornelia reluctantly pulled away. "How have you been? I heard something about Kururugi making you cry? What happened?"
Euphie looked away slightly, now looking sad. "I… I…"
Cornelia quickly hugged on arm around her little sister. "Euphie, it's okay. Just tell me."
"… After I left your cell I visited Suzaku and tried to explain to him why I chose to surrender myself to the Black Knights. He didn't believe me and believed that Lelouch had brainwashed me. I tried to prove him wrong but he didn't listen to a word I said. Then I told him that Lelouch was Zero he…" Euphie trembled a bit. "He got angry and started shouting, thrashing wildly. He kept on shouting that I needed to free him and stop Lelouch. I saw his eyes and I couldn't stay in there anymore… I I had to get away… I had to be anywhere else because the look in his eyes terrified me. I thought I could prove to him that Lelouch wasn't the bucher that Suzaku thought he was but when I looked at him… I never seen him so angry and he looked at me like I was a stranger, that I wasn't who he thought I was… I just… I just…"
Cornelia hugged her again, allowing the few tears to fall onto her shoulder while cursing Suzaku for hurting her sister like that. It was enough that she hoped she would be taken back to her cell so she could try and murder Kururugi for what he did and now she understood why that boy, Naruto refused to let Suzaku speak to Euphie.
Cornelia would have just shot him for daring to ask.
"And you haven't been brainwashed or manipulated?" Cornelia asked.
Euphie shook her head. "No, my mind and my choices are my own. I chose to give my claim to the throne, I chose to create the Special Zone, and I chose to surrender myself to Lelouch when the zone nearly failed."
Cornelia looked her sister in the eye and saw nothing but truth. Her sister had made no one's choices but her own.
"So you will just stay here?" Cornelia asked. "The Elevens… The Japanese will never forgive or accept you or any Britannians who stay here."
Euphie smiled. "Are you sure about that?"
Cornelia looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Lelouch's intention was to create a nation independent of Japan and he's done it. A new nation that accepts all cultures. It may be hard but many honorary Britannians have joined up with us and are helping stabilize the country in the wake of the battle. And I'm going to be part of the political leadership, acting as a representative of any Britannians that remain behind, no matter how small the number." Euphie explained happily.
Cornelia was genuinely shocked. "Really?"
Euphie nodded. "Yes. Kaguya Sumergi, a member of the new government and the soon to be new Prime Minister for the United States of Japan approached me with this offer on Lelouch's behalf. She and the Six Houses of Kyoto want me to help create what I wanted in the Special Zone, only now for the entire country and for everyone."
Cornelia could almost hardly believe what she was hearing. Her sister, a former princess of Britannia now acting as a poltical representative of an independent government. Such a thing was not considered possible as at best royalty would act as diplomats, like the times Schneizel represented Britannia in many diplomatic meetings with the Chinese Federation and E.U.
"What about me?" Cornelia asked finally.
"If you stay Lelouch will speak on your behalf and keep you safe. And so will I." Euphe answered honestly.
Cornelia considered her options and no matter what she would never ever leave her beloved little sister behind.
Even if they could never return to their homeland she would always stay and protect Euphie.
"I will never leave you behind, Euphie." Cornelia said once she finally pulled back.
"Good. Now then there is a matter of something I need help with discussing to the Prime Minster." Euphie said with a big smile.
The call was out and many Britannians were now being escorted to the docks where the ship that would take them home was waiting. It gave Kallen no small amount of pleasure to see her step mother walking out of the Stadfelt mansion, complaining as her maids and butlers cleared the entire mansion, except for Kallen's room.
It made her even happier when the woman saw her and glared hatefully. "You… I should have figured you'd be with those terrorists."
"Technically we're not terrorists anymore. We're the citizens of the United States of Japan. Ceritified citizens." Kallen retorted with a nasty smirk.
Her step-mother scoffed. "How disgraceful that you cast aside your heritage for these barbarians. I should have cast you out with your bitch mother when I had the chance."
"Good luck explaining to Dad about it." Kallen snarled. "I'm sure he'd love to hear how you sheltered a terrorist in your own home."
The woman gritted her teeth and snarled before turning away and stomped through the gates, having nothing else to say to her traitorous step-daughter. For Kallen it had been the best thing to see since witnessing the legitimization of the new Japan.
"That must have felt good."
Kallen jumped and spun around, spotting C.C. leaning against the fence with her arms crossed. "When are you going to stop doing that?"
C.C. smirked. "When you learn to mind your surroundings. Member of the Zero squadron and you still can't tell when someone is behind you."
Kallen sighed but she was less irritated with C.C.'s charm despite what happened the previous day due to how good things had been lately. "What is it now? Where's Naruto?"
"Oh, Naruto's helping people in the ghettos who are happy to be able to live better now. Clearing up debris from the battles with his shadow clones, dispensing food and medicine to those who need and all in all trying to help out with everything." C.C. shrugged. "But I suppose you've heard of what's happening tonight."
"Tonight?" Kallen questioned that caused C.C. to sigh.
"Clearly not."
Lelouch had just finished cleaning up and calming his sister down as he left to call Sayoko back to keep an eye on Nunnally. At first Lelouch was afraid Nunnally would think he was Zero but she hadn't asked him anything. Given how scared she was it seemed to Lelouch that she had been too scared to remember which was both relief and infuriating. Jeremiah's attack had shown Lelouch that his recent victories had caused him to lower his guard and almost got his little sister killed because of his arrogance.
That was unacceptable in Lelouch's mind and he would not let that happen ever again. Just as he finished cleaning up the mess there was a knock at the door.
He walked over and opened, thinking it was Sayoko but instead it was Milly. "Milly?"
"Lelouch." Milly said calmly. "Or should I say Zero?"
Lelouch's eyes went wide. "Exc-"
"Drop the act, Lelouch." Milly cut him off. "I saw that man attacking you and heard him. When I heard him it all made sense."
Lelouch quickly closed the door, leaving the two of them outside so Nunnally wouldn't hear them. "… Yes, I am Zero."
SLAP!
Lelouch staggered back from the slap Milly gave him.
"That's for scaring everyone in the school when you took it over and made it into a command center, including our friends." Milly said coldly. "I'd do more but I want you to explain to me right now what you are hoping to achieve with this."
Lelouch rubbed his cheek as he straightened himself up. "You know why I chose this."
"This is about your mother. You did all this for revenge?" Milly's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe even that would be enough."
Lelouch nodded. "You are right. My mother's murder is a key motivation but there is another reason."
"Nunnally." Milly stated. "You did this for her too."
"Yes. For the last seven years she had been blind and crippled, a victim of the cruelty of the Empire that was ruled by our father, the Emperor. In the world that he invisioned Nunnally would be weak, disposable, or a pawn to be used by those in power. That is why we faked our deaths but it couldn't last forever." Lelouch sighed. "Eventually we would either be discovered or forced to reveal ourselves in some form. I knew it even as the first bomb was dropped onto this country the day it was invaded and knew what I had to do. If Nunnally was to ever live without fear of being exploited I would have to change things and that could only be done by defeating Britannia. Not the country or its people but the very idea it stood for. The idea of the strong enslaving and exploiting the weak to suit their own needs."
"And Nunnally doesn't know?" Milly asked, looking more neutral than angry now.
"She doesn't and she can never know." Lelouch said sharply. "I won't let her feel like she is responsible for my choices."
"But you can't hide it from her forever." Milly pointed out. "Eventually you will have to reveal everything to her."
"Perhaps. I have considered that possibility but for now she cannot know. She's only just begun to feel like a normal young girl again. I can't tell her that I am Zero, the masked terrorist who killed their half brother, no matter how justified I may have been at the time and I speak honestly when I say if you knew what Clovis had done you would understand why I killed him." Lelouch stated.
"And Kallen?" Milly asked again.
"She was a rebel before I even started. I am sure you know of her heritage." Lelouch said honestly.
Milly nodded. "I do. To be honest I shouldn't have been surprised because I always felt there was something to her that she kept hidden. She's a child of both Britannia and Japan but she chose her Japanese heritage. To be honest I can actually understand why given my own experience with Britannian nobility."
She was of course referring to her parents and their attempts to marry her off to an Earl to regain their noble status but both she and her grandfather could care less since in their eyes they had been wrongfully betrayed by the Emperor after the death of Lelouch's mother, Marianne vi Britannia.
"So what now, Lelouch? What will you do now?" Milly asked, getting back on track. "Are you going to start another war with Britannia?"
Lelouch shook his head. "For now I plan to stabilize this country, set up a suitable government, see to it that the Japanese gain back their lives and ensure there is no hostility between them or any Britannian that chooses to stay."
"Chooses to stay?" Milly asked.
"I will not keep anyone as a hostage. As we speak many nobles are packing up and heading for the docks to leave and my sister, Euphie has agreed to act as a representative on behalf of any Britannians who might choose to stay." Lelouch said and then looked thoughtful. "But I believe you can help if you, Milly."
"And how's that?"
"A grand party?" Kallen asked.
"Yes, organized by the soon to be Prime Minister to celebrate the formation of the United States of Japan and to help set up key political figures and to honor the Black Knights. You'd be surprised at how quickly everything is being set up for tonight." C.C. said with a small smile.
"And Lelouch knows?"
"Knows? He approved of it, agreeing with Sumeragi's idea to help honor the Black Knights and Zero while at the same time ensuring that Zero was there. It's also to bring all Japanese leaders together to help form the government and even set up a representative to the Britannians that might be staying." C.C. answered.
"So why are you telling me this?" Kallen asked. "I would have gone anyways as a member of the Black Knights."
"So you would go as a Black Knight…." C.C.'s grin widened. "As the recongized celebrity pilot of the Guren alongside Seizan and Shinryoku."
"Yeah. Why are you asking?" Kallen asked, now wondering what the greein haired powerhouse was getting to.
"Well in that case we'd better make sure you'd get all dressed up since it's a formal and serious occasion." C.C. remarked mischeviously.
Kallen's eyes widened. "I don't need to dress up. My Black Knight uniform would do just fine."
C.C. sighed and shook her head, knowing that she was going to be stubborn since both she and Naruto would need to be taught a thing or two about formal events. "Really? That drab jacket uniform? Did you learn nothing about formal occasions?"
"I'm not that kind of girl, C.C." Kallen retorted. "Besides, why does it matter to you?"
C.C. shrugged. "Well, you can consider it a part of the contract I made with you."
"What?"
"We have a contract remember like what I made with Lelouch and my paths. Anyways with V.V. dead and left entombed at the bottom of the ocean and my Code altered beyond the point of being useful it no longer matters if Charles knows I am here or not. And I want to enjoy it, the feeling of being free." C.C. explained as she walked up to Kallen and stood in front of her. "I actually want to enjoy the feeling of being human again. Well, somewhat human. And I want to enjoy it with people I've grown close to. It's not like we'll be fighting much for a while."
"That makes sense, kind of but how does that have anything to do with me?" Kallen questioned.
C.C. smirked. "Still don't get it, huh? Well, let's say I want my contractors to be happy and find someone to love. While having an excuse to mess with them some more as I like to play with all of my toys."
Kallen frowned. "Just when I thought you were actually flipping the witch switch off. Sorry, C.C. but I don't think I'll find anyone interested in me or someone who will be interested in me. I'm a little busy for that."
"Yes, you sure are stubborn aren't you? But unfortunately…" C.C.'s yellow eyes morphed into her Rinnegan. "So am I."
Needless to say Kallen was not ready for what happened next as she blacked out.
Suzaku's eyes shot up as the door to his cell opened and in walked Todoh. "Todoh-sensei."
"Suzaku. I came here because it's time to make your choice." Todoh said stoically.
"To stay in the new Japan or leave." Suzaku surmised.
"Yes." Todoh nodded.
Suzaku closed his eyes and made his decision.
"Traitor!"
"Murderer!"
"Go back to your masters!"
Suzaku didn't spare them a glance as he boarded the ship with the Britannians who chose to return to the homeland. He refused to stay in the new United States of Japan, refusing to believe that Japanese could support the creation of a country that will cause more pain and suffering in the world. The world that needed to be united for peace to survive and this country will only create more wars.
'This isn't about Japan or Zero it's about you and your father!'
Suzaku's fist clenched at the memory of Naruto's voice.
'You killed your father and you've been guilty about it ever since! You believe the only way to repent is act like a good boy while secretly hoping you'll die in battle and somehow find redemption! Only you've been looking for your so-called redemption at the blood and expense of your own people because in your eyes resisting Britannia is what your father wanted and he died because you didn't believe it that way. You've built your believes around the idea that if everyone follows the rules they get rewarded and any other way is unacceptable.'
'Stop it.' Suzaku thought, trying to block the voice out.
'You've destroyed the lives and dreams of others for your own goals to keep your morals clean and believing if you obey you will be rewarded… You are a traitor, Suzaku. And those who betray their friends, families, and people are lower than trash.'
'I didn't betray anyone. My people betrayed themselves by fighting a war that was lost!' Suzaku shut his eyes.
"He's my brother!" Euphemia cried. "My brother… Lelouch is Zero and he would never hurt me."
'But he did, Euphie. He brainwashed you.' Suzaku felt a tear form in his right eye.
"I know who he is… I've known since Kamine Island and that is why I wanted to create the Special Zone. I wanted to end the fighting for him and for our sister Nunnally. I wanted us to come together and be a family again. But then I was betrayed and I nearly got him killed so I surrendered to him and went to be with him and Nunnally."
'He's not your brother, Euphie. He's a murderer!' Suzaku banged the railing. 'Why couldn't you hear me? You had to see it.'
"I don't brainwash people, Suzaku, unlike those bastards you serve whom you belief will reward you for kissing their asses. You should check your facts before believing everything you hear. Euphie chose to join us of her own free will and she tried to make you understand. But you just refuse to believe anything out of your sad little delusion. Euphie came down here to help you and you made her cry simply because you refused to listen… To understand how she felt and what she believed."
'She believed in non-violence but you twisted her beliefs, Naruto.' Suzaku's mind shifted to the image of Naruto, whom he believed to be just an enemy to true peace as Lelouch.
Naruto closed his eyes as he sighed. "And oppress more people? How many countries would you conquer before that even happened if it ever actually happened at all? And what about the other Areas?"
"What?" Suzaku looked confused.
"You planned to help them right? Or were you only going to help Japan? Don't you think they need to change for the better? All the people you would have to kill to rise up in rank and you only want to help Japan." Naruto shook his head. "You still don't get it. The system will never change and you would sell your soul with hope for change. The Emperor, the nobles, and anyone else in power don't give a damn about the people in the Areas who are simply numbers to them and you only wanting to run Japan even with the Emperor looking over your shoulders to make sure things go his way and you would go along with it just because you think obeying him would help change the Empire. You'd have sold your friends, family, and people out for nothing."
'That is not true!'
"You don't know that!" Suzaku shouted.
"Yes I do!" Naruto shouted back. "You're blind and you won't accept that the Japanese and the other Areas will always fight for their freedom! They will not stop so as long the dream of a free world lives within them, their hearts and their dreams. They will always fight against for what Britannia stands for and for what you believe in."
Suzaku shook his head. 'Not if they see the good in joining together. They can come together and make the world better.'
"You were foolish enough to believe that you could actually help people by turning them into slaves and building a worldwide empire on their backs. You call this violence and bloodshot but what you planned was the same on a worldwide scale. These people didn't choose to be part of Britannia as Elevens but they chose this, something you would have not allowed because if they chose anything but what Britannia offered you'd say they were wrong. And for what?" Naruto shook his head as he took off his mask. "To lord over them and turn Japan in whatever you want while allowing the Empire to do whatever it wants to the other areas you helped establish? You would take away their pride, their dignity just for a grab at power."
'And what you and Lelouch have done is not a grab for power?'
"That power was what I needed to make things better. I know I can become the Knight of One and change things!" Suzaku said but Naruto only shook his head again.
"You're not the best, Suzaku. You may have been skilled enough to operate the Lancelot but you are hardly the most skilled pilot in the world. There's no guarantee that you would ever become the Knight of One and if you had died it would have all been nothing, despite you looking for an honorable death. They don't make martyrs out of Numbers. And even if you had managed to take control of Japan it would probably with the Emperor looking over her shoulder to make sure everything is the way he wants it to be. Hardly fair to the people." Naruto retorted.
'If I am not the best then I will become stronger!' Suzaku declared.
"They would understand when I show them that it's a better alternative to open war! I cannot understand how they can support this! I cannot understand how you can support this! Don't you understand the only way to make things better is for people to stop fighting and work together to change the system!" Suzaku said, looking out the window and saw them celebrating. "This is wrong! This is not how it supposed to be!"
"You are such a child!" Naruto threw his arms up. "Screaming out how this isn't what you want. That only you can decide how things are supposed to be. Saying how everyone else except from you are wrong and at fault."
"It is your fault! You and Lelouch chose to betray the system for your own selfish needs!" Suzaku shouted.
'All this death is your fault.'
"Like I said, just call me a God of War then. The people don't want to wait years of being treated like trash just to hope that things might change for the better. And they won't want to be led by a man who betrayed them to climb up in ranks. They want to live free for themselves and their families, free of tyrannical oppression of any kind.
And for the record the system betrayed Lelouch long before I showed up and I never was part of the system to begin with. So you can't betray someone who betrays you first and you can't betray something that you were never loyal to in the first place. That is not delusion. That is fact.
You know of Lelouch's history, you know how his father abandoned him and Nunnally here when all Lelouch wanted was answers for his mother's death which should have been clear from the beginning how rotten the Empire is. And then he did it again when he set Euphie up to be a pariah by nearly killing Zero. This is a clear example of how mad the Emperor truly is and how he deserved to be kicked off that throne." Naruto shook his head. "You may be right about people needing to work together but what you are doing is not working together. Working together doesn't mean fighting other people and forcing them to work with you. That is not working together, that is slavery. The kind of thing you claim to be fighting against."
'A God of War. Fine, you made your choice and I will see you brought down. You will see that I am right.'
"I did what I had to do! You think all of this will last? All you've done is prolong the inevitable!" Suzaku exclaimed.
"You are wrong on so many things, Suzaku. We've started a change that will one day end with peace finally being achieved. And it won't be done at gunpoint as you would have it.'
'Naruto, you hypocrite. You and Lelouch trick and decive everyone around you to get what you want and you have the gall to condemn me.' Suzaku gritted his teeth and gripped the railing so hard it actually started to bend.
His mind flashed to Ashford, all the times he spent with Lelouch, Naruto, Tsunade, and Kallen.
All those times and he never suspected.
He looked at back at the city and saw the people who were so happy.
Happy to be part of a country created by a madman and a monster in human flesh.
'I'll prove them all wrong. I will rise to the top, I will become the Knight of One, the right hand of the Emperor and I will change the system. I will be the one who brings peace to this world by showing them all how someone can change the system for the better from within.' Suzaku held up a hand and clenched it into a fist. 'Lelouch, Zero. Naruto, you both are enemies to peace and I will not stop until you both are brought down and face justice.'
He would succeed even if he had sacrifice his life to make it happen.
Naruto could honestly say he was slightly exhausted by all the effort he made to help in the clean up the battle fields, sending thousands, actually millions of Shadow Clones all over the country to help clean up. Of course he made sure that they all disguised themselves to avoid anyone one pointing out the massive clone army that was helping them out. Now he was returning to the government bureau where he knew Rakshata had set up shop to examine the Lancelot and the massive Knightmare Jeremiah had piloted before it was buried. He smirked at the memory of seeing Nunnally beat down Jeremiah through her eyes and easily capture him before vanishing.
Lelouch would throw a fit if he knew who Infinity really was.
It was sun down when he made it back the bureau on the roof and saw all the decorations Kaguya had been making for the big party she was throwing tonight. Naruto could only smile as he looked around for Cera and found her waiting for him in the Viceroy's office by the window.
What he didn't expect from her was how beautiful she looked.
She wore an expensive looking white evening gown that bared her shoulders and fell to the ground, exposing one leg that showed the white sandles on her feet with her hair tied into a neat elegant bun that made her look even more beautiful in Naruto's eyes.
"C-Cera!" Naruto stuttered.
C.C., Cera smiled as she glided towards Naruto and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hey you. You were almost late for the party."
"Uh… Right, the party." Naruto stuttered, trying to remember how to actually think.
Cera grinned as she leaned in. "Tonight's a special night. That brat Vincent is dead and with him gone Charles and Marianne's plans have gone to hell. I don't have to care if anyone sees me anymore. I am free… Thanks to you, Naruto."
Naruto smiled as he held her. "You have no need to thank me, Cera."
"Idiot, you saved me and gave me the means to be free from both those two and being an immortal." Cera said with an annoyed look on her face.
Naruto chuckled as Cera pulled back. "Yeah, I guess so but you saved me too, Cera. You gave me a life after I lost my old one and you were the first to ever… Consider having a family with me."
"And you were the first to ever truly love me." Cera smiled as she patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Now go get dressed and I mean actually dressed. Sayoko should be able to help you."
As if saying her name had some sort of magic command Sayoko appeared Naruto with a bow. "At once, Lady Cera."
Naruto yelped as Sayoko grabbed him and they both vanished in a puff of smoke. Nearly half an hour later they were back with Naruto staggering from everything happening so fast. Cera smiled, satisfied to see Naruto was now dressed in a formal black tuxedo while his hair looked shiny and combed back.
Naruto rubbed his head, blushing slightly from how Sayoko had helped him get cleaned and dressed. She obviously had great experience ensuring that any of her charges were dressed and ready for almost any occasion. "Well, I guess I'm ready."
"I see Sayoko was well prepared." Cera commented as she walked forward and straightened the tie.
"Yeah." Naruto said, feeling slightly uncomfortable being dressed so formally. "So is this for the party."
"Yes. But first… Here's our third wheel." Cera said as she activated her Takamagahara that caused a distortion to form.
And out of it appeared the red-headed ace of the Black Knights.
"Kallen?!" Naruto's jaw dropped.
Kallen was slightly disorientated from the sudden rush but when she regained her senses she found herself in the Viceroy's office of the bureau. And when she looked down at herself her face turned complete red as she looked back at Cera and then back at herself.
"What did you do now?!" Kallen growled.
Cera smirked. "I got you ready for the party."
Kallen was now wearing a red satin dress that complimented her figure greatly with fancy white sandles on her feet while her hair was now straight and fell down to her shoulders, sparkling slightly in the light, and a golden chance necklace around her neck. The last thing Kallen remembered was speaking to C.C. after her stepmother cleared out about the party before C.C. activated her Rinnegan…
She must have knocked her out and dressed her!
"C.C." Kallen growled, looking ready to pounce on Cera and beat the hell out of her.
"Now, now, Kallen you didn't have any formal ware left in that now empty house so I helped out." Cera said teasingly.
Kallen clenched a fist as she stepped forward until Naruto stepped in between them. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Come on, let's not fight tonight. We're supposed to be celebrating, not fighting."
Kallen stared at Naruto, looking him over unconsciously and admitted how good he looked. The both of them stared at each before they both blushed and looked away.
"Fine but if you and C.C. is trying to trick me into a three-way I swear I will rip your balls out by the-" Kallen threatened.
Naruto held up his hand frantically. "No, no, no! Nothing like that!"
Behind him Cera was smirking at Kallen that caused the red head to scowl even further. Kallen held both fingers to her eyes and then pointed them at Cera, transmitting a silent 'I'm watching you'. Naruto sighed, knowing Cera was looking for an excuse to have some fun but she seemed genuinely happy tonight.
"So let's get this over with." Kallen calmed down and walked forward ahead of the two.
Naruto looked at Cera. "Did you really have to do that?"
"I wanted all my contractors to enjoy tonight. Lelouch will probably be making a grand speech, Rakshata will have the Lancelot and Jeremiah's Knightmare to herself, Sayoko will probably be helping Nunnally who be here as well." Cera said as she wrapped her arms around Naruto's arm and pulled him along to the roof of the bureau where the party was taking place.
The party was in full swing with music with the woman dressed in fancy dresses and kimonos and men like Ohgi wearing formal suits. Todoh was dressed in a formal dark brown kimono with Chiba wearing a dark formal kimono with a flower in her head, standing next to him with a small smile. The three were mildly surprised to see Milly there as well with Lelouch in his Zero guise, wearing a blue strapless dress and high heels, looking calm and slightly at ease. Euphemia was there, still wearing the black and silver dress but oddly Cornelia was next to her, still in her uniform.
Sayoko was standing at a table, next to a girl with long wavy blond hair, blue eyes, and slightly tanned skin while wearing a cyan gown. She looked at the three and winked, showing Naruto and Cera that it was Nunnally but disguised as someone else.
"Master Naruto, Ladies Kallen and C.C., allow me to introduce Nemo." Sayoko bowed as they approached.
"Nemo?" Kallen asked.
'Nemo' nodded with a smile. "Glad to meet you, Kallen. I look forward to speaking with you more after the party."
Any further conversation was cut off as Kaguya Sumeragi stepped up to the microphone and cleared her throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Esteemed leaders of Kyoto, members of the Black Knights, and honored guests, it is my pleasure to welcome you all today as we celebrate the first day of our independence and the birth of our new nation. It has been a long road for many of us and many have died to help us reach this destination. Their sacrifices have not been in vain as today we stand and together we can make country great again with leaders like Lord Zero and Commander Todoh to lead us. Now as we celebrate our victories there still much to be done and I speak for the United States of Japan that we still need your help. To that we ask for you all each to contribute to the building of the government." Kaguya stepped aside and allowed Lelouch to speak.
"Thank you, Lady Kaguya for you wise words. It will indeed be a great journey, building the greatest country in the world but it can be done. You are all here because you believed in a world where the people, the common folk would be free from oppression and it was because of you that it was made possible. And now we have been called on upon to build that world for all to live their lives in peace. I ask you, will you help us?" Lelouch called out and was silent as most of the party answered back with cheers. "Very well. To that end, divisions will be set up to aid in creating the government. They will be focused on education, construction, and management of news, food, and supplies all over Japan. The Six Houses of Kyoto will function as the main political cabinet with Kaguya Sumeragi as Prime Minister. For any Britannians remaining in Japan, Euphemia li Britannia, former Princess of Britannia along with Milly Ashford, heiress to the Ashford family have agreed to act on behalf of the remaining Britannians to ensure that no more hostilities break and show the world that we are not like Britannia who would discriminate anyone not worthy in their eyes. This is merely the beginning but for now, let us enjoy this night, dance to the sound of tranquil music instead of hearing the screams and cries of the dying in warzones with friends and comrades, and let your troubles fade away into the night!"
The party cheered and clapped as music resumed playing and the party resumed, everyone trying to enjoy themselves. Cera quickly dragged Naruto out onto the middle of the roof where they enjoyed dancing with several others, quickly becoming the center of the floor. It was peaceful to everyone to simply enjoy themselves for the night and it showed on the smiling faces of the many people attending the party. Even Kallen had danced with Naruto when he and Cera finished and the red head honestly could say she enjoyed dancing with him, finding him to be good, if a little clumsy but it was fun regardless.
Naruto approached Milly, seeing how nervous she might be and offered a dance to help her try and enjoy the night and to make up for the events that happened to Ashford during the Rebellion. Milly accepted, if only because she suspected Naruto to be one of the Black Knights, likely one of the two masked warriors that always accompanied Lelouch, the fox masked man known as Seizan while Tsunade was Shinryoku. So she danced and she looked at Naruto, seeing him as more of a mystery than any person she had met before and she wanted to know who he was. Cera watched with a smirk before Naruto came back with Milly and allowing her to be near friends, knowing that even if the battles were over for now things would get very interesting.
For now, there was peace and it was the start of healing a scarred country and its people.