Three days before Coronation...

Suzaku followed quietly behind his Emperor like any normal day, making sure that he got to everyone of his meetings safely just like Gino has told him to do. So far nothing out of the ordinary has happen, which amazed Suzaku on his part. He stood back as he watched his Emperor sign endless amount of paper work with a bored expression on his face. He smiled a bit and remembered the first day he started. In that moment in his Emperor's bedroom, gave him little butterfly's in his stomach every time he'd remember.

"All finished finally." Lelouch chuckled softly as he grabbed all the paper and stacked them neatly in a pile beside him. He sighted as he laid his head back onto his chair and closed his eyes.

He smiled more as he watched his Emperor start to doze off some. Take a day for yourself. You look like you'd need it. He thought and chuckled to himself.

Lelouch reopened his eyes and looked up at him. "What's so funny?" He chuckled softly.

"It's nothing sire." He smiled down at him.

"Nothing huh? Alright then." Lelouch said and chuckled some more. "Three days from now is your Knighting ceremony. How are you feeling about it?"

"At first I was nervous about the whole thing but Gino and Anya told me not to worry so much. Once it was over I should enjoy myself at the Gala." He chuckled softly.

"Ah, yes that." Lelouch sighted softly. "If I had my way, I wouldn't attend at all."

He raised an eyebrow at him. "How come sire?"

"Gala's are not really my thing." Lelouch chuckled. "Even as a small child I loathed it."

"I've never been to one..." He said softly and gave a small smile. "Do you not enjoy spending sometime with your family?"

Lelouch sighted and looked up at him with a bit of sadness in his violet eyes. "I do like spending time with everyone...but as the Emperor of Britannia...I have to watch my back always. Even when it comes to my family."

"Do you not trust everyone sire?" He asked softly.

"I've only really trusted a few people. My little sister Nunnally, Euphie, C.C. and...you." Lelouch said and a small smile appeared on his lips.

He smiled back at him. "I'm glad I was able to gain some of your trust. It means a lot to me."

Lelouch chuckled softly some more and re-closed his eyes again. Suzaku thought for a minute and spoke. "Who exactly in your family are you most worried about? If I know, I'll maybe be able to protect you better if I know your enemies and those who might betray you."

"Hmm." He hummed softly. "About the entire Imperial family wants my position. They might go to extreme measures to get me off the throne and take it for themselves...it's happened once before...and I will not allow it to happen again." He said as Suzaku watched a single tear fall down his Emperor's cheek.

Suzaku nodded slowly and gently wiped the tear away with his index finger. As long as I am your Knight...no harm shall ever come to you or to those you love. I swear my life to you my Emperor... He thought as he brought his finger up to his lips and kissed the tear away, sealing his vow.

When the morning of Suzaku's Knighting came everyone of the servants hurried to get all the arrangements covered before all their honored guests came. The decorations for the throne room and the ballroom ready for the fast approaching event. Euphie took time out of her day to organize how she wanted the ballroom to look and thought it would please her brother greatly and make him want to stay and enjoy their evening. When the caterers started to arrive she tasted each and everyone of the foods and smiled brightly at their success and pointed to where she wanted the food to be set up.

After she was finished she skipped happily to her room to make herself presentable.

Suzaku moved the shower curtain to the side and shook his wet hair. Today is the day. He thought to himself and smiled brightly. He waited an entire month for this very day! Finally he was going to be Knighted! He could hardly sleep last night, because it was hard for him to contain his excitement! Even some of the nobles who once glared at him angrily, now applauded him for his achievement on staying the Emperor's Knight. Both Gino and Anya also congratulated him for coming this far and how excited they were for gaining a new brother among them.

"Finally." He chuckled softly and walked into his room and gazed down at his suit. A loan from Gino for this occasion. Once he was dressed he looked in the mirror and smiled at what he saw. He no longer saw the Japanese that once had nothing but took in his place an honorable Knight to the Emperor. He picked up the brush and combed through his hair and stood straight, with his shoulders back.

"You ready in there?" Anya's monotone voice asked through the door.

"I'll be right out." He chuckled and straighten out his suite and went for the door.

When he opened the door he saw that Gino stood beside Anya with a huge grin on his face. "Looking sharp!"

Suzaku chuckles softly and smiled. "You too. And you look very beautiful also Anya."

Anya took out her camera phone and took their picture, then her own. "Let's go. Everyone is here and were not." She said and looked to them as she walked forward.

The guys chuckled and followed behind Anya to the throne room. Suzaku looked over Gino's shoulder to see the whole room filled the entire nobility and their family's. He gulped nervously and stopped.

Gino turned to him and put his hands on Suzaku's shoulders and smiled. "Well brother! This is where we part ways! Until we see you at the Gala, will be in the front row." He winked as he offered his arm to Anya and escorted her inside.

He breathed softly and took a minute to explore the crowd of faces. Right off the bat he noticed Euphemia in her extravagant sky blue dress. Next to her must of been Lelouch's little sister Nannullay. She was in her pink wheel chair and dressed in a simple purple satin dress. He smiled as he looked at the happy pair and felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Lelouch standing behind him. He bowed slightly and smiled.

"You nervous?" Lelouch asked.

He nodded. "A little."

"Well don't be. Everything will be fine." He smiled and turned to face the doors.

"EVERYONE RISE FOR HIS HOLY EMPEROR LELOUCH VI BRITANNIA!" Jeremiah said as Lelouch looked back at him and winked before passing through the doors.

Everyone bowed as Lelouch made his way down the hallway to the center and faced everyone. "Today is the day we crown a new Knight! I know many of you disagree on this decision... but rest assure that by the end of tonight we shall see great things from him." He said and looked at Suzaku's direction. "I introduce to you Suzaku Kururugi!"

Suzaku breathed softly and stood up straight as he walked into the room. As he walked some of the Britannian's glared at him and started to whisper as he walked.

'An Eleven? As a Knight...?'

'What has are Emperor been thinking?!'

'This is a disgrace to all Knights!'

'An Eleven will never live up to become a Britannian!'

They continued to whisper negative comments to each other as Suzaku stood before his Emperor. He got on one knee and bowed his head down. Lelouch turned to his left side to grab hold of the sword Jeremiah held out for him. Jeremiah cleared his throat and spoke. "Do you Suzaku Kururugi swear to serve only his highness?! To give your life at any moment to ensure are Emperor's survival? To take on any punishment if resulting in any harm coming upon are Emperor? Do you also swear to be loyal and true to only are Emperor and no one else?!"

Suzaku looked up to stare Lelouch straight in the eyes. "I Suzaku Kururugi swear to protect and serve are Emperor till my very last dying breath!" He said and re-bowed his head again.

Lelouch lightly tapped the swords tip to both of his shoulders and stood back handing the sword back to Jeremiah.

"Rise Eleven!" Jeremiah said as he did and turned around to face the crowd. "NOW PRESENTING SUZAKU KURURUGI! KNIGHT OF ONE TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS LELOUCH VI BRITANNIA! AND NOW HONORABLY BRITANNIAN!"

The crowd took a minute to processed what just happened until Gino stood and clapped for him. Then Anya started to clap as did Euphy, then soon Nunnally did also, until the very crowd of nobles itself started to clap for him. He soon saw Jeremiah clap for him too with a slight annoyed look on his face. Though it didn't matter anymore. Not the annoyed look of the nobles, their harsh comments just didn't matter. Lelouch still made him his Knight and a honorable Britannian now. Suzaku stood straight and tall with the brightest smile he's ever shown. After tonight he was going to show them all that he was committed to being a Knight, and committed on doing it well beyond his capability.

End Of Stage Three

Hey there ^^ sorry it took so long to write this! I've been somewhat busy because of work and the lack of sleep I've gotten -chuckles- To tell the truth I had to rewrite this whole chapter, because the first time I wrote it...was completely terrible -chuckles some more- so I thought why should I start to slip up now in the story? And boring chapters and I'll soon lose your interest in this story -shakes my head- and that's something I don't want -smiles- So here's the better version of the chapter! I hope you all like it and always review with your opinions on this story!

Until next time!

-Max Nightmare-