Okay so, this is the last chapter I have typed up. School is crazy this month, so I'm not sure when I'll have the next one ready. Hoping soon. Next chapter will be Lelouch though
Disclaimers: Same as first chapter
Warnings: Gore, Blood, that stuff, no adult themes, but implied obsession, some swearing.
Rating: M (for violence)
"And I present to you, the successor of the throne. Princess Cornelia Marianne vi Britannia!" Schneizel A.'s announcement brought both surprised whispers and loving cheers as the pink haired girl took the podium. As her ever present shadow, Zero stood beside her stoic as ever but under his mask, green eyes narrowed and glanced at the first prince.
Schneizel A. was acting way out of character. He had always been steadfast in his goals and passionate about his wishes. Suzaku himself had first hand experience with that. As a child, he had wanted to peek under the elusive Zero's mask, but once he reached his late teens the curious touches became even more so and the brunette began realizing which way this obsession was taking. He had quickly removed himself from the picture and made it very clear where his intentions lay.
Yet all through the years, the same vigorous chasing of anything he set his mind to never changed.
So what the heck was he doing now?
The blonde seemed to sense the masked gaze on him and he sent a small, professional smile in the immortal's direction. Suzaku turned away.
There was something going on, something he couldn't place his finger on. The geass he received from Lelouch was not acting up. The fact that it still did from time to time was an anomaly on its own now that Suzaku himself was Code Bearer, but this was likely because Lelouch was both a Code Bearer and a Geass User. The geass he placed on Suzaku still reacted in life-threatening situations, especially in ones he wasn't aware were life-threatening.
The brunette resisted the urge to scowl and tried to listen as the princess addressed the crowd. But he couldn't stop the feeling that something was desperately wrong.
So caught up was he in these feelings, that Suzaku didn't even realize the event was over until the princess began to move away. He followed, years of living allowing him to turn his scrambling into something elegant and poised. The tinted cover of the mask of Zero kept the flashes of the cameras from blinding him and the reporters who shoved their mics in his and the princess direction unknowing of his annoyed expression. He quickly assured the princess towards their escort and returned to the palace.
The three princes were not far behind.
There were many times over the years the Suzaku regretted not having Lelouch's strategic thinking and amazing tactical ability and this was one of those times. Throughout the entire trip from the car to the princess's room, he couldn't help but stay tense, mulling over the thoughts of what were those princes planning-
"Zero?"
He snapped back to the present as the young princess turned towards him at the entrance to her quarters.
"Your highness. Or perhaps I should refer to you as your Majesty now." he clarified which earned him a small blush.
"I-it doesn't matter." She stuttered before regaining her poise. "I just want to thankyou for your assistance with this situation. I admit, it is not easy taking up the throne but I want to help my people, give them the hope and reassurance that they will be safe. And I'm very glad that you are here to help me, Sir Zero."
Suzaku smiled and gave a low bow.
"It is my honor, Your Majesty."
Then a sly look crossed the princess's face.
"If it truly is your honor, then you will follow my orders to the 'T'." she opened her doors. "Go and get some rest." Then she closed the doors.
Suzaku blinked, all words stuck in the back of his throat.
Did….did she just dismiss me.
His princess really was turning into her namesake wasn't she.
It was half way to his own chambers when Suzaku realized what he called her.
His princess.
The only one he ever called that had been….
In the safety of his room, the brunette let out a groan and slumped into the love-seat by the coffee table. This immortality thing was beginning to drive him insane. Truth be told, he was rather glad the princess had dismissed him, the thoughts in his head were going crazy and he was noticing some overlapping with his past experiences. The cons of living forever, you tend to mix up your memories. If your not careful, you may end up looking a little psychotic. There had been a time where that had occurred, but after he got a hold of himself, the public and royal family simply believed the mask had changed individuals. It was a little terrifying how much trust the royal family placed in him, not requiring him to reveal his face. To bypass any future issues, Suzaku had created a ledger of sorts that listed the names of all the Zero's that ever served.
Truthfully, there should only be two names.
In reality, there were….alot.
Currently the name he was going by was….Echo Wiscount? Or was it Simon Chantler? Ah, well, no one really asked, all that mattered was what was on the ledger. And that only mattered if someone asked or demanded.
As he filtered through his thoughts, Suzaku de-robed from his Zero outfit and settled back on the seat, mask on the mahagonny table. Now that he thought about it, leaving the princess might not have been the best course of action, but he trusted his subordinates to watch over her in his stead. He trusted even more in the fact that if the prince's were to pull something off, they would wait until after her coronation, in order to relieve themselves of suspicion.
It was then that Suzaku caught another glimpse of himself in the mirror. Still the same old figure stared back, that taunting mark bright red and glaring.
His eyes, now free of the cursed red mark, remained their same shade of green, the only difference being the dark bags under them.
Suzaku hummed quietly to himself at that. Dark bags, signs of exhaustion. Did the Code allow him to feel exhausted? The yawn that followed answered that.
Right then, maybe I should head to bed. He thought to himself, but made no move to get up. Since the king's death, his dreams hadn't been very pleasant and he doubted that tonight would be any different.
He kept dreaming of him.
Lelouch.
To this day, Suzaku wondered, how his best friend was doing. He most definitely noticed that C.C was no longer around because if he didn't then Suzaku would have to question his sanity.
He chuckled.
Perhaps he should question his own sanity.
Slowly but surely, against his wishes, his eyes slipped shut and the immortal found himself in a cosmos of dreams and memories.
"Hm? Come in." Princess Cornelia Marianne vi Britannia called out as a familiar knock sounded on her door. At the entrance of her older brother she couldn't stop her smile from gracing her face.
"Brother Charles." The tall, wide shoulder man grunted in reply looking as rough as ever. He had been the one to teach Neli the art of the sword as well as other forms of combat. She was not on his level yet, but she strived to do so.
"What brings you here brother?" she asks, settling down the documents in her hand.
Charles took a seat across from her and leaned back. He sat different from Schenizel who would steeple his fingers and look at at her like a chess match, or Vincent, who would splay his legs apart and sit in anyway except how you were supposed to. Charles on the other hand would lean backwards and place his arms on the rest of the chair, as if seated in a throne. He was burly and strong, more muscle than brain, but Nelia could see the big heart he harbored behind all the brawn.
Charles sighed and looked at Neli, his deep indigo eyes looking so much like that of their late mother's.
"Neli." he began, deep voice heavy with…something. "What you are about to do, is going to be difficult. I want you to know that-"
"Brother."
The large man flattered and the pinkette stood from her seat. She patted down her short dress and let her cape fall down her back. She smiled, lips curling in a more dangerous form. She was not just some little girl who needed to be protected. She was going to be queen and the people needed a strong leader to look up to.
"I am aware of my new responsibility and I am ready for anything that may come my way. I will protect the people of Britannia. And I am glad that you support my coronation."
Charles fell silent.
He watched with an expression of worry and a semblance of sadness, seemingly shocked speechless by her words.
"I see." he said after a moment, words slower than usual, not that he talked fast. "If that is your final decision then I don't see much reason for me to be here." and he got up and left, leaving poor Nelia utterly confused at his cryptic departure.
But it all made sense when the ever loyal Sir Zero burst into her quarters covered in blood and cutting the third prince down.
Suzaku jolted awake at the sound of knocking. He blinked rapidly, trying to discern dream from reality, specifically the part about a certain violet eyed prince.
He had been in C's world, shrouded in mist and fog. Everytime he attempted to walk through, the fog seemed to push him back. The endless fog that held nothing inside.
Or at least, until Suzaku heard his name called. Turning around he had seen a frantic looking Lelouch, an expression of complete shock on his face before he had been ripped from the graces of sleep.
His forehead throbbed painfully as the brunette whipped away the small line of drool that had leaked onto his chin and stumbled to his feet. There was a pulsing in his veins as he rubbed his left eye and yawned, a pounding pain that was all too familiar. The Code was acting funny. Perhaps that dream wasn't a dream at all. Honestly, he had difficulty caring.
The brunette quickly slipped on his mask, forgoing the decorative blazer and cravat before addressing his unexpected visitor.
"Yes?" he asked, opening the door coming face to face with none other than the second prince. Well, more like face to chest really. Blinking, green eyes drifted upwards finding a pair of indigo orbs looking just as surprised as Suzaku felt, although the square jaw and straight nose contained no such expression, stoic as always. To be honest, Suzaku would be surprised as well if the second most dangerous man alive had just opened the door dressed in nothing but a pair of pants and a blouse. Oh, and the purple mask. That was there too.
"...Prince Charles Wilbur." Suzaku addressed and gave a small bow. "Is there an issue?"
The taller male collected himself without so much as a shudder and simply gave a nod.
"Yes sir, it has to do with a security breach in one of the Hidden Passages."
Shit.
The Hidden passages were created roughly 80 years ago by a king who was far too paranoid for his own good. Most were shared with Zero for security reasons, but the rest were discovered by himself. Eternally roaming the halls had its perks. Of course, keeping them hidden was preferable, only knowledgeable to the royal family in case of an emergency. But if there had been a security breach, he was the only one who could respond. Heck, he was the only security personnel who knew of the passages in the first place.
In record time, Suzaku grabbed Zero's outfits and was out the door, jacket on, cape swirling, and fixing his cravat, storming down the halls at a brisk pace. The second prince followed close behind, much like how he did in his earlier days back when Suzaku had taken the liberty to teach him. Unfortunately, the boy's fighting style was vastly different from his own, preferring brawn over speed but the immortal could proudly say that he was yet to be bested in their spars yet. Out of all the princes, Charles was ironically his favorite. A bit dim, and far too stubborn, he was relatively gentle with his siblings. But he could be loud. Very loud.
With a quick twist of his body, Suzaku proceeded to barrel down a stairwell, the heavy foot falls of the prince stumbling just ever so slightly. It brought a small smirk to the masked man's face. At the bottom of the stairwell there was a door, however behind the final stairs there was a hidden trap door, large enough to fit three people of his height and build side by side. He opened its double doors, which were rather heavy mind you, with little struggle and then waited for the prince to lead the way. Charles W. gave no notion of acknowledgement and simply proceeded down. Suzaku followed, making sure to close the doors. They proceeded lower on another set of stairs reaching the start of a corridor lit by torches made of a certain lumescent mineral that has had its name lost amongst Suzaku's endless memories. The passage was damp, cold, with trickles of water running down the cracks in its stone walls. The footfalls, one light and graceful, the other heavy and hard, echoed throughout giving them no chance to sneak up on the intruder. The shadows cast by the torches were harsh and eerie yet providing no space for anyone to hide. There was nothing but an empty stretch of stone, nowhere to duck and protect from projectile weapons. It was a straight line. A straight line that Suzaku couldn't see due to the prince's much, much larger form blocking his view. They continued for a little while but pretty soon, came to a sudden stop. There was a small door to the left, nearly hidden by the shadows, its color almost identical to the deary reddish-gray of the walls.
Taking the initiative, Suzaku stepped around the prince and pulled out his sword. This specific door leads to a decoy room which the intruder would find no way out of. His geass was slowly flickering, pressing at the back of his eyes and Suzaku had a small inkling that this intruder was a bigger threat than he thought. Not a lot of people were a danger to him after all.
"Very well then. Your Highness I respectfully ask that you-"
"I apologize Zero." the interruption was so sudden that it caught the brunette off guard and he turned to face th-
Shiiink
The sound of dripping water intensified before the dripping turned into a splatter.
Suzaku gasped.
It…hurt.
The second prince pressed himself closer, sliding the sword even deeper into Suzaku's gut who let out another, more gurgled noise.
What….what was this? Why was Charles…why was the prince… this wasn't making sense.
Are you sure?
Lelouch…..
"C-charles…" Suzaku whispered before coughing, blood coating the inside of this mask. The prince made no sound, although his hands tightened on the handle of his sword. The sword that followed his larger figure as it stepped back from the masked man. The pull of metal through his fresh wound, sliding against torn muscles, tissues, organs, and bones had Suzaku choking on yell of pain, the blood bubbling up his throat muting almost all sound. Nothing existed except the absolute amount of pain.
It hurts.
Suzaku felt his legs give out.
It hurts so mu- live
He felt weightless, falling forwards, before he hit the floor with a thud, the sound echoing around his mask.
Live.
It hurts, make it stop, stop, stop
His vision left him first, the sight of stone floors stained red with his blood that conjugated into an ever growing pool faded out, darkness creeping in from the corners of his sight. Then his sense of smell, the iron tang giving way to a mix of nothing. Finally, his hearing vanished the sounds of uneven ,heavy footfalls shifting to a pitchless ring.
All that was left was the pain.
The utter, unrelenting pain.
Live.
It was dark out, very much so. The great grandfather clock situated on the wall ticked quietly, its chim's echo long since faded from between the halls. Within the throne room of swopping velvet curtains, gold accents on twisting pillars and carpets of ruby gems the moonlight spilled in from the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminating the blonde figure that stood before the elaborate chair. The throne itself was a piece of art itself, the intricate armrests, swirling into the head rest that reached pointed tips towards the ceiling mosaic. Its cushions of deep indigo color looked plump enough to disappear into, the red sash standing starkly against it.
The figure that stood there, ran his ringed fingers across the armrest, a lecherous grin curling the sides of their mouth. Blonde hair, smooth back by oils, left two unruly strands looping over in the front, just falling short of plucked eyebrows that rested above lavender eyes. Those very orbs glistened with some untold victory and as the doors to the great chamber shifted open, flickered over to the newcomer.
The second individual was twice as large as the first who had large shoulders as well, their dark blue suit pulling taut across their chest. This one on the other hand had their clothes bulky and obviously specifically tailored to match their girt. He got down on one knee, long dirty blonde hair staying stiff behind their shoulders.
"Big brother, I have accomplished the mission."
The first individual let his face pick up an expression of amusement, a new, dangerous gleam sparking to life in their eyes.
"I can see, Charles."
Indeed, the second man looked calm and collected, their purple attire of royal robes looking well kept. Except for the blood. The incredible amount of blood that stained the clothes on the front and side, the white dress shirt underneath turned red.
The first man stalked down the small set of stairs that led to the throne and came to a stop in front of his brother.
"Well done."
Charles gave no reaction other than a clench of his jaw. Killing a man was never easy, especially if it was someone they had known for years.
"With the queen out of the way our victory is now guaranteed." the blonde continued walking past the kneeling man who slowly stood. "The king will fall before sunrise."
"Schneizel, are we really going to…"
Schneizel scoffed.
"Of course not, we're not killing our dear sister. No, no no." Instead, he fingered the cutlass by his side and gave a deep, satisfied sigh.
"We'll simply palace her aside for the time being, removing her from the eye of the public. Permanently."
Charles gave a grunt and followed his older brother out the door.
By tomorrow at this time, I will be the lone victor. The lone king. Thought the blonde and a malciouse chuckle escaped up from his chest.
Wake up.
It was so dark, there was nothing. Nothing except the pain.
Oh the pain!
Please Wake up.
Why does it hurt so much? Why? What's going on? Why can't he just die?
Wake up!
Please, just let him die. Why can't he be left alone-
Suzaku, wake the fuck up!
Green eyes snapped open.
The Hidden Passages' walls spread out around him, the stone structures slowly coming into focus as his sight cleared. The floor was wet, very much so, and the bricks, while normally a rusty color, were splattered red. A pulsing orange light glowed gently, the shadows it casted flickering.
First is sight.
The strong scent of iron hit his nose, stabbing up his nostrils and into his brain embedding itself and bringing forth a memory to associate with the smell. Blood. But there was the stench of sewage as well, and a stale smell that came from behind underground.
Next was smell.
There was a sharp tang in his mouth, bitter and rich, and iron flavor accompanied with a prickling dryness that burnt his tongue.
Then there was taste.
He could hear as the drops of water trickled down into the passage, while others made plinking sounds as they landed into the pool of red that lay around him.
Finally, there was sound.
Then the pain.
A chest that had stopped moving half an hour ago stuttered before the body took a gasp of air.
Suzaku coughed, throat dry and stuffy, his mouth feeling as if it were full of cotton. He shifted his left hand into his sight, but quickly gave up on moving anymore. Everything ached. The pain was slowly disappearing, but the dull ache of dying resonated in his bones.
The brunette blinked slowly.
Holy Shit.
He had died.
But, Suzaku thought to himself as he attempted to wiggle his toes and fingers. Why had I died in the first place? He racked his brain for a correct answer, but couldn't place his finger on one. Or at least until he began to analyze his injuries.
There was a stab wound in his chest.
A stab sound that speared him straight through, killing him nearly instantly.
No wait.
The wound was gone, if anything all that was left was a massive hole in his Zero uniform, his pale, markless skin pressed to the cold stone floor of the passage.
Zero.
Stab wounds.
Pulsing forehead.
And slowly, the pieces connected. Charles had led him down, saying there was an intruder but had instead stabbed him (killed him) and the Code had kept him alive.
Or more like brought him back to life.
Charles had stabbed him…
"Fuck." Suzaku swore and curled his fingers, forcing them to move. If Charles had tried to kill him then…Schneizel was behind this.
Cornelia.
He should have known it was all too good to be true.
With the princess on his mind, Suzaku gritted his teeth and began to push himself to his feet. Halfway there, on his hands and knees, he realized what he had been laying in.
It was a pool of blood. The red liquid proceeded to drip in rivulets from his suite, joining its brethren below. His entire front was stained, as was part of his back if the weight of his clothes meant anything.
He was soaked in his own blood.
Suzaku felt sick.
It was the constant pulsing of his forehead (the code) that kept him going. With difficulty, he managed to push himself to his feet, retrieving his sword while at it. If Charles had tried to kill him, Suzaku could only assume that Schneizel's next move would be on the princess. He didn't have much time, heck he hardly knew how much time had already passed but….
He had made a promise.
With a grunt, Suzaku began to make his way down the hall each step yielding to a surge of strength that kept pushing him. By the time he arrived at the stairs, he felt ready to take on the world.
Okay, not really. He still felt like shit. But he was able to move. Able to fight. Able to save the princesses.
He managed to start running, picking up speed as he reached the top of the stairs. The trap doors were locked, but with assistance from the geass he managed to break through. Then it was a straight run to the princess's room. Suzaku barreled up the stairs shooting past maids who looked pale at glance and probably fainted after. He was no doubt trailing blood after him but he couldn't care less. The cape of Zero flew out behind him providing drag as his legs pumped harder, feet pushing against the floor to go faster, faster, don't be late. He continued to pick up speed, his inhuman abilities kicking in, swerving around corners and shooting down halls. Then the princess's doors came into sight.
With a final push, Suzaku burst through the chestnut pieces of wood, most likely cracking them on the way in, the lock flying through the air, and slicing his sword straight across the back of the third prince.
The man let out a scream of agony as he hit the floor, revealing the shell-shocked, pale face of the princess. Cornelia sat in her chair, feet pulled up in a position of self-defense. She gazed at her brother's body with wide violet eyes before shooting their piercing look towards Suzaku. He could tell when she realized what exactly his state was and a gloved hand came up to cover her mouth.
"Sir Zero, what-"
"There is no time, your Highness." Suzaku interrupted, stalking forwards and grabbing the young girl by the arm. "We need to leave immediately."
The princess proceeded to look terrified, until a sudden dark look crossed her face.
"How dare you!" She screeched and attempted to yank her wrist from his hold, unsuccessfully mind you. "You-you killed Vincent! And now your trying to-"
"They're trying to kill you!" For a second, Suzaku lost his composure and yelled at the young girl, grabbing her shoulders. It took everything in him to resist shaking her. Did she not see his appearance after all? "Prince Charles attempted to kill me in the Hidden Passages and the third prince was armed, threatening your life." The two glanced over at the still form of the blonde and the obvious knife peeking out from his sleeve caught both their attention.
"I.." Cornelia began, but was cut off at the sound of metal from the halls.
"Shit." Suzaku swore again and let go of the princess. "Look your highness, I need you to come with me. I will get you to safety and protect you from your selfish brothers. I have kept the royal family to this day and I am not about to let some greedy bastard destroy the peace your family stands for." He held out a hand to her, forgetting the amount of blood that covered his black gloves.
The princess continued to stare at him, her large violet eyes reflected in his mask, shimmering with unshed tears. She bit her lip and reached out. The moment her white, elbow length gloves touched his hand they stained red, however she didn't seem to mind.
Just as she stood up, three individuals appeared before the broken doors and Suzaku breathed a sigh of relief. It was the his on squadron, the Zero Division.
"Sir Zero!" One of them called, his black visor disguising the panic in his eyes. "W-what hap-"
"Never mind that Captain Garwin." Suzaku declared and led the princess towards them at a brisk pace. "The three princes are attempting to overthrow the future queen. We need to evacuate her from the palace immediately."
The three stood stock still, but quickly gathered themselves together.
"Through the Hidden Passages Sir?" Garwin asked but Suzaku shook his head.
"No, they have been compromised."
"Aerial transport?" Came the proposal of the only female soldier present to which Suzaku agreed.
"W-wait? Don't I get a say?" Cornelia began as Suzaku proceeded to drag her down the hall, his brisk pace forcing her to stumble.
"No." Suzaku replied harshly, letting go of her wrist. "At this moment, your safety is my priority therefore I can not let you jeopardize this." He then slipped his arm under her legs, the princess letting out a small yelp at his actions.
"I know you may be hesitant to believe that your brothers would attempt something like this but the moment your father died they have been trying to claim the throne. I was the only thing that stood between them." He explained, setting an even faster pace then before, his soldiers jogging to keep up.
"But, they were…"
"Supportive, of course." Suzaku continued, turning down another hall, ears straining to hear the sound of anything suspicious. "They had to throw me off after all. And they did. Regrettably."
They continued in silence for a while, only the sounds of shoes clacking against the floor sounding through the hall and small group. They were headed towards the higher-level hanger, or more specifically one of the helicopters built for a speedy evacuation, the R-16s. With it, Suzaku wanted to escape to the borders between Britannia and Europia, preferably before anyone raised the alarm. Suzaku had no doubt that the majority of the military were under the princes' control. True, he was their direct superior however their respect only went as far as his victories on the field.
"Sir Zero?" The princess spoke up when they got near the hanger. "What happened to you? You said Charles tried to kill you but your clothes are torn right through, almost as if…."
She trailed off and for once, Suzaku cursed her observation skills.
He was saved from attempting to explain by the sound of an alarm echoing throughout the halls. With a scowl, he and the others began to run, bursting through the metal doors of the hanger. There were roughly five guards already but were quickly dealt with by the Zero Division.
"Head out to the heli-pad." Suzaku ordered, already making his way there, the princess tightening her hold around his shoulders. About two thirds to the hanger's massive doors that led outside the sound of armed men bursting in through the entrance echoed throughout the giant chamber. Gunfire opened immediately and Suzaku ducked behind one of the jets parked nearby. The Zero Division proceeded to the same.
Suzaku held the princess closer and began to make his way towards the exit, keeping down low and close to the machines. Most of the bullets bounced off the metal around him, but the occasional one shot cleanly in front or behind, eliciting a sound of worry and surprise from Cornelia. Suzaku just thanked whoever was listening that the guards hadn't thought of closing the hanger doors.
He managed to make it out to the launch pad, a helicopter already waiting. The fourth member of his squad sat in the cockpit saluting in a professional manner. Garwin and the other two brought up the rear, firing back at their pursuers, but they could only do so much against submachine guns. Suzaku helped the princess into the R-16 and gestured for his soldiers to board as well. Mari was the last to board but a well placed shot suddenly landed in her calf. With a shout she fell forwards, her partner catching her before she hit the floor. Suzaku shifted to the side as three more bullets whizzed by, clanking off the helicopter.
Damn it, they're so close. And so many. It was only a matter of time before they got to the jets and if that happened…
"Sir Zero!" The man at the controls, joined by Garwin, called, urging him to get on. Instead, Suzaku stepped back and unsheathed his sword, pulling out a glock-18 as well.
"Sir?" came a question, nearly lost amongst the sound of revolving blades.
"Go, get the princess to the border. I'll hold them off to make sure they don't follow you."
"But-"
"Just go!"
"Zero!"
The cry from the princess forced Suzaku to look back, making eye contact with the beautiful violet orbs that threatened to spill their tears.
"Please, don't go. You'll die."
Suzaku smiled sadly.
"No I won't. I can't."
Cornelia huffed and bit her lip.
"Of course you can't. I still need you Sir Zero. So you can't stay here." But Suzaku just shook his head. Another bullet clattered nearby and he couldn't help but hiss. They were cutting this close.
"Please, let me help you!" The princess cried and reached out her stained glove. It was then that something sparked in Suzaku's chest, something he wasn't sure was his own. His Code pulsed gently and a series of words came to the forefront of his mind that he did not believe were his own. But he acted on them.
"If you want to help me princess then head to Europia, find a man by the name of Lelouch Lamprouge and tell him that the Knight of Zero and C.C sent you. He will help you regain your throne and safe Britannia. I will try to meet you at some location but for now, that is what you can do."
The princess regarded him with big eyes, hand falling limp.
Deeming his work finished, Suzaku stepped away from the helicopter and turned around, ready to face the small army headed towards him. He felt as the machine took off, a muffled yell sounding nearby, but he ignored it. Instead, he focused his attention on the men leveling their guns at him.
"Sir Zero. By a decree of his Highness, Prince Schneizel Alexander vi Birtannia, you are under arrest. Resist and we won't hesitate to open fire."
Suzaku took a deep breath and sighed. He adjusted his grip on his sword and flicked the safety off his gun.
"How about 'no'." He said and then shot forwards.
The soldiers, true to their word, opened fire, but not even the slew of bullets managed to injure the immortal and Suzaku, letting the powers of his geass take over, launched himself above the barricade of men. He fired five shots and five men fell. Upon hitting the ground amidst his opponents, Suzaku swung his sword. A man was decapitated, another lost his arm, a third was skewered and a fourth got sliced in half. Five more received bullet holes to their heads. Quickly and surely, the men began to drop like flies Suzaku cleaving through them in a dance of blades, bullets and blood. His once pristine purple suit was now completely stained and soaked through with red, his once snow white cravat a deep crimson. His mask received splatter after splatter of red liquid painting the perfect image of a monster on a rampage.
After two minutes, Suzaku pulled his sword from the body of one of the men with a tired huff. He left his shoulders slump forwards, exhortation clear in his stance.
"Zero."
The one, sure word caught his attention and the masked man turned to face the blonde. Schneizel A. stood not far off, a line of soldiers on either side of him, guns raised and at the ready. Beside him stood Charles a look of pure and utter shock on his face.
Well, shit.
Now Charles knew he was alive, when he had killed him. Whoopse.
"An impressive performance." the first prince continued. "A massacre really. And I thought we had you." Suzaku could tell he was amazed. No one had ever really seen him at full throttle before, not needing to since most of the fighting was done back in his early days, during the reign of the first Charles. And even now, it was mainly with long distance weapons or only a few opponents at a time. Definitely not enough bodies to cover an entire landing platform, blood dripping down the sides of the building.
A massacre in deed.
Schneizel turned to his younger brother, a look of indifference on his face.
"I believe you told me the job had been completed."
Charles simply stared at Suzaku, indigo eyes wide.
"I-it was." he stuttered. "I speared him straight through his chest an hour ago. The amount of blood lost alone should have been enough to kill him."
Something lurched inside Suzaku.
He wasn't sure what brought it on, or why, but he suddenly broke out into a cold sweat as the first prince froze stiff. The blonde slowly turned around a look of utter surprise on his face coupled with something Suzaku wasn't sure of.
An eerie malicious look.
"I see." was all he said before reaching into his jacket. Had Suzaku not been out of bullets, he would have shot the bastard right then and there, but unfortunately he was, so all he could do was watch and regain his strength, readying himself for the next strike.
The first prince pulled out a gun of his own and leveled it with the immortal, a grin creeping across his high cheekbones and chiseled jaw.
"I am truly impressed Zero." he began his monologue. "Who would have thought you could survive something like that. And without a scratch."
Suzaku scowled. Where was this going?
"Although I must say," Schneizel continued. "I do not really understand why you fight so hard to kill my men even though you yourself can not die."
What?
Green eyes narrowed in confusion and Suzaku shifted into a stance.
"I have no idea-"
"Oh, now don't deny it Zero." the prince interrupted, tilting his head to the side. "It's obvious, you don't need to worry about getting injured or losing since no matter what, you won't die. You will always live regardless of what happens to you."
Something jolted.
Suzaku choked.
And the buzz of his near ever constant geass, Lelouch's command to 'Live'...
Disappeared.
The fuck!
But Suzaku realized what this was. He had always known that he would never die, he would always live. But being reminded of it in the middle of a battlefield was like a slap to the face. He would never die, he would always live, thus there was no need for his geass to be activated.
But without it-
"And that is why I have no qualms about this either."
There was a bang as a shot was fired and Suzaku had no time to react. The bullet buried itself into his forehead, cracking his helmet straight down the middle. The force of the blow sent him reeling backwards, stumbling over a discarded weapon.
Suzaku went down.
He hit the floor with a thud.
The mask of Zero clattered beside him, one half on each side.
He had been…shot.
Suzaku felt his limbs tremble as the Code took a hold of his body, healing the wound on his head and forcing his systems to continue working. The brunette gritted his teeth, ears perking at the sound of gasps from the men as he forced himself to twist over and push himself up.
"My, my, my, I don't believe it."
At the sound of the first prince's deep voice, Suzaku looked up. He glared out from under his bangs and he felt more then saw the symbol of the Code glow on his forehead.
Both princes stared at him, one with complete shock, the other with barely contained excitement.
"A Code Bearer."
Schneizel's words sent a shiver down Suzaku's spine. He scowled and proceeded to push himself to his feet.
"How do you know what a Code Bearer is?" the brunette snapped, wavering in his now standing position. The prince's grin only seemed to stretch further, turning into a malicious leer.
"How do I, Suzaku Kururugi?"
For a second time, Suzaku's heart stopped. Or at least almost. There was no way. No way did this man know who he was. It- it was impossible….
"It is surprising really, you haven't aged at all. Or at least hardly. You are a near identical copy of the boy in Empress Nunally's keepsakes." Schneizel A. continued as he lowered his gun. "Who would have thought that one of the most inconspicuous people in the image could have been the legendary Code Bearer.
So, Suzaku gathered his thoughts. He doesn't know my relation to Lelouch or the Empire. The only connection he could make was that I was Zero, the one who wished to liberate Japan.
Suzaku huffed, letting strength return to his body. If he didn't pick himself back together again then he would die.
But that's fine, you'll come back to life anyways, so you aren't technically dead.
This time, the voice sounded far too much like the slimy words of the man across from him. And unfortunately, it worked.
Lelouch's geass stayed silent.
Shit. This was not going to end well. True, he couldn't die, but he could still feel pain, and that could inhibit him. There was no way he could take on so many men.
The brunette gritted his teeth and leveled Schneizel A. with a glare, slipping into a well known stance and bringing up his sword.
Win or lose, he was not going down without a fight.
Apparently, the first prince knew this as well because he gestured for his men to lower their weapons.
"It seems that no matter what I say from this point, I won't be able to ally myself with you however," he drawled, deep voice sounding out loud across the platform sending a feeling of danger coursing through Suzaku's very being. "I suppose formalities are necessary."
Schneizel A. opened his arms wide, a perfect target for any attack, his white suit unmarked and pristine. Suzaku found himself itching to stain it red.
"Why don't you join me, Zero. Help me create a world where we no longer have to worry about pain and suffering. A place where no one would dare defy or attack us. A place of eternal peace that no one will ever be able to break. With you by my side, nothing will be able to stand in our way. A world where the strong can live to their full potential."
The look on the first prince's face was terrifying and eerily resembled that of Emperor Charles li Britannia. Suzaku simply scowled more.
"You're a fool Schenziel A." he said. He did not yell, did not shout, but his voice carried to all that were on the platform, the soldiers squirming at his authority and the blonde man narrowing his eyes in offense.
"If you really know who I am, then you can believe me when I say I have seen people try what you claim. I have seen rulers of Bitannia succumb to their greed even while attempting to fulfill the purpose you claim to dream of. I have already seen past the lies you paint since I have already encountered them. You are right, you have no chance of having me on your side. My loyalty lies with the Britannian royal family that protects the peace of the world, not walks all over the innocent."
Green eyes glowered more.
"What you propose to do will result in a genocide. And as a good friend of mine once said 'the only ones who should be killed are the ones who are prepared to kill'."
The prince dropped his arms to his side, face void of any false cheer or excitement. His brows fell together and his mouth dipped into a frown. His high cheekbones and chiseled jaw only added to the dangerous shadows collected over his eyes.
"Your judgment is clouded by your years Zero." the man hissed. "You have endless knowledge of strategies played against you, solutions to counter every move that may be made to take you off the board. But regardless of who you are or whether you can die or not, this time," the prince grinned, pearly teeth gleaming in the harsh light of the landing platform. " I call Checkmate."
Something flickered at the back of Suzaku's mind, a warning, a spark of a presence before Schenizel A. swept his hand out to the side.
And Suzaku's world filled with pain.
A jagged scream tore through his throat as volts of electricity were pumped into his body, muscle clenching up, unable to move or release. He felt something, or somethings, snap and break before the Code buzzed and added more burning pain to his veins. He felt himself choke, an iron tang on his tongue while his vision went blurry. His hearing slipped into a dull ring while his body was continuously tortured by the endless waves of white, hot pain.
Then it stopped.
Suzaku felt himself drop for the second time that day, collapsing onto the hard floor of the landing platform that had open wires leading to small pools of water. Factors that had slipped from Suzaku's notice completely.
He watched as a pair of neatly cladded feet approached him, stopping just at the edge of the new pool of blood he lay in, trickles of the red liquid spilling from his lips. At this point in time, it was only the Code keeping him alive. Or at least on the brink.
"Incredible." said a voice from far away. "You're still alive."
Something slinked against his cheek and Suzaku's fading vision was filled with blonde and purple.
"Finally, after all this time. I've finally found you."
And Suzaku succumbed.
Schneizel A. removed his fingers from the side of the young boy's face, feelings of complete and utter elation coursing through his veins. At long last…after years of searching…the code bearer. Who would have thought they were hiding under his nose all this time, behind the infuriating mask.
The blonde stood up, elegance and grace resonating throughout his broad shouldered form. Lavender eyes turned onto the armed men gathered behind him, all who seemed absolutely shocked at what they had seen. It wouldn't do well if word got about this. Perhaps something to make them forget. Or make the world forget them. Ah well, it didn't matter much at this point. Nothing could stop him now, even if something wanted to.
The first prince turned his gaze back on the brunette, letting his eyes slip over the prone form cladded in purple. Purple stained red. His previously burning green eyes were slid closed, long lashes pressed gentled against his skin. Skin unblemished, any injuries brought forth during the fight already healed. Seamless. Had Schneizel A. known this was what lay beneath the mask, well, he would have….
He couldn't stop the smirk that curled up the corners of his mouth.
With a motion almost as easy as breathing, the blonde scooped up the fallen knight, one arm under his legs, the other under his torso. The teen's head lolled backwards, exposing a pale neck. Scarless. It was a little surprising how light he was, but the prince had always assumed Zero wouldn't weigh much, his build far too slight and lean no matter how strong or how much muscle he had. Blood dripped like a fountain from his dangling limbs and trickled from his lips. Lips parted ever so slightly further enhancing the image of death. The cold that seeped through his destroyed suite was the final period.
With the world's most dangerous man defenseless in his arms, Schneizel A. turned back to his men and with long strides, made his way towards his brother. His brother, who proceeded to watch in complete and utter shock.
Foolish.
"Take the men somewhere private and do something about confidentiality." he spoke in a hushed tone. "I'll take our…guest to his new accommodations."
Charles nodded, slowly.
Without a second glance back, Schneizel A. proceeded back inside, the feelings of victory never leaving his veins.
Checkmate.
Poor Suzaku, his loyalty always getting him into trouble. Lets see what happens
Avoir
Kayup