Part Six:
"The Regretful Knight"
"You won't find him," said a familiar voice. Suzaku turned his attention to a darkened portion of the room. "He's not here; he went gambling."
C2 stepped out into the open, her long green hair almost angelic in nature when cast with moonlight from the window.
Suzaku went for his gun. Rolo stopped him. "Let's hear what she has to say, my lord. He went gambling, you say?" Rolo directed the question to her. "And without me? He always brings me along. I bet I was smothering him."
"You're wise for your age, Rolo," she said. "Yes, you were smothering him. However, he still loves you. But you are not his family. Nunnally is his sister. But those memories implanted in his mind will forever be apart of him, if and when his memory is restored." She then looked at Suzaku. "And you, Suzaku, have grown very angry lately. You're no longer the innocent, caring person I've come to observe. Perhaps another boxing match with your friend Gino is in order."*
Suzaku gasped. "How the hell do you know about that?"
"I can travel between this world and C's World, and can manifest myself in other forms. There's much to know about Geass that mere genetic engineering can't teach you." She gave a brief glance to Rolo. "I'm sure your superior's have mentioned me to you. I figure this because you didn't look surprised when you saw me."
"Yes, they did. I'd like to know this information you speak of about Geass," Rolo said. "Are you saying it has unlimited potential? Who can use it?"
"Shut up," Suzaku ordered, shoving Rolo aside. He unholstered his gun and pointed it at C2. "Tell me where Lelouch is, right now!"
"You can't kill her, my lord," Rolo said.
"Why do you refer to him in such an patrician manner?" C2 said to Rolo. "He's inferior to you. You can kill him in an instant with your Geass."
"I chose not to kill unless absolutely necessary, or unless ordered to," replied Rolo. "And regardless of his insipid attitude towards me, I consider him an invaluable ally."
"Ally?" said Suzaku, lowering his gun.
Rolo nodded. "To find the truth about Geass and all its incumbent facets. And with C2's admission a moment ago, my theories on Geass existing with unlimited potential are now true. There has to be more out there than being someone else's pawn and a contract killer."
"Like I said, Rolo, you're very wise," said C2. "Perhaps someday I'll show you these wonders of Geass you seek."
"Forget about any theories you have," Suzaku said firmly. "Just do your job. We must find Lelouch!"
"You don't hear very well, do you," C2 said to Suzaku. "Lelouch is gambling somewhere across town. Even I don't know precisely where. But I did overhear him speaking with a friend from school about it today. I disguised myself as a typical student. He snuck away when Rolo left to meet you. He left via the back way. I haven't given him back his memories. He's still brainwashed, but one day I'll want him back. Lelouch and I have a contract, and I will see it to the end."
"What's this contract?" asked Rolo.
"Be quiet!" Suzaku snapped an order. "Lelouch wants nothing but violence and chaos. I can't allow that to happen again."
"You're a fool, Suzaku," said C2. "All Lelouch wants is a world where his sister can live peacefully without the constant threat of violence lurking overhead. It's Britannia who is the aggressor. The Japanese want peace, and that's what Lelouch was trying to deliver. Yet you choose to serve, unfavorably, I might add, an Emperor who cares nothing for the petty plights of his subjects, imprisoning them within a cage of fear, using the Knights of the Round to enforce tyrannical law to fight perpetual wars against anyone who defies his will. The consensus in the Eleven Ghettos is you're a traitor, Suzaku. Most want you dead."
Suzaku swallowed. "I can't regret my past now. I'll change Britannia from the inside. I'll show them to respect all life, not just their own."
"You're still as naïve as ever. No matter what people say, one person can't make a difference."
"I don't believe that."
"Then I'll say it again. You're naïve."
"I ask you again. Do you know where Lelouch is?" said Suzaku.
"I told you I don't know," replied C2.
"Then I'll play on the assumption his memory is restored and I'll call out our forces to hunt him down. The Emperor can easily erase his memory again, or kill him."
"You're making a mistake," C2 said irate. "Nothing has been done to foil your precious Emperor's plans of absolute rule, but if do this, then you'll be at fault. He'll blame you."
"Then I'll gladly take the blame if it means the prevention of another insurrection."
C2 stepped forward and slapped Suzaku across the face. Suzaku's mouth went agape in shock, feeling the sting on his left cheek.
"Lelouch gave you a gift, the gift of life," she said, stepping back. "And you're squandering it on pettiness and ego, self-absorbed ambition. He's your friend!"
"He killed Euphie. I'll never forgive him for that. I loved her."
"And so did Lelouch, more than you'll ever know."
"So then why did he kill her?"
"You'll have to ask him."
"I will. Now, I ask you a final time." Whether he could kill her or not, he aimed the gun at her head. "Where is Lelouch?"
But C2 stood firm. "You know what, Suzaku, you've turned into a nasty villain."
Suzaku gasped. "What did you say?"
"You heard me. Your new status in life has changed you. Lelouch is better off not knowing who you've become. He still knows you, but the old you. Not the bastard you are now."
Suzaku lowered the gun. "I am not evil, and I'm not a villain!" he said defensively.
"Just look in a mirror and say that. Better people than you have turned. Britannia has corrupted you."
"No! When Lelouch used Geass on me, he corrupted me! Twisting my convictions!"
"If you want to die, then just shoot yourself and get it over with!" shouted C2. "You killed your father. You put yourself in harms way, taking countless risks when you were in the Britannian infantry, hoping you'd be killed to atone for that murder. Unfortunately for you, you survived. Seven years later, you've risen the ranks, betrayed your best friend to the Emperor, and now attributed to stealing the most precious thing away from him, his sister. If that doesn't make you a villain, then I don't know what does!"
"You're right." He tossed the gun to C2, then lowered his head in shame. Tears formed in his eyes. "You know I can't kill myself. You do it."
Rolo immediately stepped in between them spreading his arms out to barricade Suzaku, even before C2 could rise the gun. Which she didn't. "Stop it. Whatever your inner demons, Suzaku Kururugi, you deal with them. As for you, C2, leave us. We'll deal with Lelouch by ourselves. I believe you when you say his memory isn't restored."
"You called me by my name?" Suzaku said to Rolo, looking up.
"At this point, I'll have to start calling you by your name anyway to avoid suspicion at school. So I better start now. I'm suppose to know you, and have for seven years. It's only correct I start now."
Suzaku nodded.
Rolo extended a hand to C2. "Please give me the gun. You have no use for it. Perhaps, we'll met some other time, like when you come for Lelouch to restore you contract, but for the time being, stay out of sight, and trouble. When you come for Lelouch, we'll be ready. But I have my orders. If Lelouch gets his memories back, I'm going to kill him."
C2 seemed to smile. She tossed the gun back.
Suzaku saw C2's face, looked into her eyes. He said, "Why are you smiling?"
"You can learn a lot from this one," she said. "He has strong convictions. Although, one day, they'll be challenged. Let's just see if they stand up to the test."
C2 made her way to the window, opening the panes. A cool brisk wind blew the curtains haphazardly. "I hope you enjoyed my card, Suzaku; it came from the heart," she said. "Remember, always keep hope alive. Without it, life isn't worth living." Then she leapt out.
Suzaku went to the window and watched C2 land safely, then she ran across the courtyard into the darkness. It quickly dawned on him - the card at the hospital signed by a mysterious person calling themselves Cee Cee. He had wondered who this person was. Now the mystery was solved.
Cee Cee - C2.
He smiled.
She was my mysterious savior. By her own admission, C2 was watching over me. Maybe it was a last minute instruction from Lelouch for whatever reason. Dressed as Zero, she must've attacked Hachirou Chika and his men and then taken me to the hospital.
Suzaku suddenly heard a click, like a trigger pulled from a gun. He turned around and saw Rolo pointing his own gun at him.
Rolo smiled. "There's something to be said about a person who carries an unloaded gun around. If the chamber was full, you'd be dead. And your death would've been attributed to the rebels." He lowered it. "You're not a villain, Suzaku. Far from it, in fact." He tossed the gun back, and Suzaku caught it. "Do you still want to see Lelouch?"
Suzaku holstered his gun, then shook his head. "I'll see him at school tomorrow. I can honestly say campus life is much more simpler than my present status. I believe C2. I looked into her eyes. It was like looking into Lelouch's. You can tell a lot about a person by their eyes."
Rolo smiled. "And your eyes are good, Suzaku. You've just frustrated, and I can understand that with all you've been through."
"You're an all right guy, Rolo."
"Some day, both of will learn everything our hearts seek. But right now, we have our orders."
Suzaku nodded.
He then left the mansion.
When Suzaku returned home, Arthur greeted him at the front door with a happy meow. He picked up the feline and cradled the cat in his arms, petting him. "I'm glad you're okay, Arthur. I assure you, nothing like what happened with Hachirou Chika will ever happen again. Gino's security system is now fully activated. I'll make sure to arm it every night, even if I have to work late, so at least you're safe."
Arthur purred contently.
After spending some time with Arthur, he got something eat. Then he armed the security system and retired to his bedroom. He was eager to continue the book Gino loaned him. He had fallen asleep half way through the first page and had not gotten back to it.
He had brought his cell phone. He wanted to check his voicemail before turning in. He had turned his phone off while at the mansion, so no unexpected calls would disturb the household. Nothing worse than having a cell phone ring when trying to apprehend a criminal. He had forgotten to turn it on until now.
There was a message from Gino. His voice sounded somber.
"Hey Suzaku. Listen. About Hachirou Chika. I have some bad news. The guy didn't make it through surgery. I suppose his mind couldn't take the strain of having his brother's tattoo's removed, or something like that. The doctor said he just died. They tried to save him. Sorry buddy. Talk to you later."
Suzaku sat down on his bed in shock, lowering his arm to his side, his cell phone dropping to the floor. He looked at Arthur staring back at him next to it.
"I cost someone their life for something petty as revenge. Hachirou Chika was Japanese, one of my own people…"
He turned and looked at the book Gino lent him sitting half way off the night stand. And it wished the book was a technical manual instead of a fictional story. It was H.G. Well's The Time Machine.
He cupped his face into his hands, and started to cry.
END