Wow, heh, well I don't know what to say. Don't let the small numbers fool you. Never has one of my stories gotten so many views on its first day. I'm truly humbled and I thank each and every one of you who read it, even if you got halfway and stopped, thank you for taking interest.

As promised, I will continue this story and let it unfold on its own. I will try to update it as often as I can, but I'll only upload new chapters when I feel they're ready. I don't want to dish out anything that would dishonor the series. Though, I do apologize that it took so long for this update.

Disclaimer! I do not own Code Geass or any related characters.

Turn 2: Resetting the Board

Birds fluttered outside in the garden of the royal palace. Princess Nunnally hadn't slept the entire night. Instead she was at the table in her room. Her left hand grasping the small hand-held TV watching the world's reaction to Lelouch's assassination through news reports and other social media. Her right hand was tightly gripping her brother's hat which had fallen off from the impact of being stabbed.

A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts as she quickly hid the hat under the blanket that was on her lap. "Enter." She said.

The door opened and Zero stepped in. Suzaku had known Nunnally since they were children and he recognized that tone in her voice. She had been crying. Walking into her room and seeing her face only confirmed his suspicions as he saw the tired look on her face and the tear stains running down her cheeks. She coughed to clear her throat, but he knew she was trying to compose herself and put on a brave face.

"Your highness." He bowed to her.

"What do you want?" Nunnally was a very gentle spirit, but she was addressing the man who had killed her brother less than twenty four hours ago. She would have given anything for Lelouch to be the first one to greet her in the morning, like he always used to. It was something that always made her smile and now, never again would she...

Zero interrupted her thoughts as he spoke.

"It's my honor to serve you. The gentle soul who will aid me in leading this world toward peace." Suzaku tried his best to act just as Lelouch would in this situation. "Just how did he manage to keep this act up so well?!" He thought, suddenly wondering if he could be as good a Zero as his best friend had been.

Nunnally glared at him for a moment before turning her head away and sighing; letting her anger flow away on the wind. "I know it's you, Suzaku."

Though his emotions were hidden beneath the mask, Suzaku was surprised. Surprised that she had figured it out and so quickly too. Moments went by before Zero stood up and grabbed the front of his mask, triggering it to open from the back. Slowly he removed it to reveal his true identity. "How'd you know? The only one who knew was-"

"I saw you accept the mask from Lelouch when I..."

"When you embraced him yesterday." Suzaku finished for her. Nunnally was crippled, not stupid. It was foolish to think she'd lose her ability to see the truth in people even after retaining her eye sight. "Nunnally,...I-"

"It's alright Suzaku. I saw my brother's thoughts. I knew it was his idea, something he wanted to do and you were against it." She interrupted him.

"But, I still agreed to it. I'm not happy about what I did, but we knew it was the only way to end all of the suffering."

Nunnally kept looking out the window. Suzaku knew that she was fighting to hold back a fresh wave of tears, if her eyes didn't give it away, her quivering lower lip did. That's when he noticed she was holding onto something with her other hand. Suzaku took one step closer and noticed it was Lelouch's hat. He wanted to end her pain now. To tell her that her brother was alive, but it was too soon and it was Lelouch's choice if he wanted her to know.

"Well..." Her voice derailed his train of thought as she had managed to compose herself enough to speak again. "I guess Lelouch didn't have to eat a thousand needles after all."

Suzaku blinked in confusion. "What?"

"We made a promise. I wished for a gentle world and Brother promised that he'd fulfill that wish. I told him how happy I would be when it happened, but,..." Her moment of strength was brief and fading as tears began flowing down her face once more. "...but I never thought it'd turn out like this. I just wish Lelouch was here."

Suzaku's frown was full of sympathy for her. He was about to speak when a knock at the door alerted him and he quickly put the mask back on. Nunnally swallowed and quickly wiped her eyes before hiding the hat once more. "Yes?"

"It's you're lady's maid, Your Highness. You have a meeting with the leader of the Black Knights scheduled in an hour."

"Yes, I'll be down shortly, thank you."

Nunnally looked back over to Suzaku. "The reports said that you had been killed in battle. Are you planning to let people know that you're alright or, are you going to hide behind a mask like my brother did?"

Suzaku thought about that for a moment. True he could easily disappear, like Lelouch everyone believed him to be dead save for a few, but he knew how much Nunnally hated the mask of Zero. It was the very symbol that took her brother from her even if Zero stood as a symbol of hope for everyone else.

"I haven't decided yet. Perhaps after everything has quieted down I'll give it some serious thought." He wasn't going to lie to her anymore. He swore that there would only be one thing he would keep from her and nothing else.

Nunnally nodded. "I understand. Now, would you mind joining me in welcoming the Black Knights? You did rescue them after all, Zero."

The masked knight bowed. "It would be my honor, your highness."

Somewhere near Ashferd Academy in the downtown area in a small apartment building, on the third floor in room number 23B Lelouch was sitting on the couch. While still a little nauseous from the effects of the serum he was otherwise back to his old self. His hand was on the remote, watching the news channel. The former Student President, Milly Asferd was broadcasting the coverage of the new order of the world. The Empress of the Forbidden City, Lady Kaguya, Ohgi, Kallen...they were all gathered and waiting for the arrival of Brittannia's new ruler. A minute or two went by and Milly filled in small details of the people on the screen and reciting some of their deeds during past battles.

Lelouch was bored with the details since he had already seen them first hand as he was the one who had planned most of those battles. Finally Nunnally's personal escort arrived and out she came. Helping her wheelchair along was Zero.

"Do you miss it?"

The voice caused Lelouch to look up. Behind him Cornelia was leaning against the doorway's wooden frame. He shook his head with a forced smile and turned back to watch the TV. "There's no point wishing for something you can't reach."

Cornelia tried to study her brother carefully. "You could at least tell Nunnally you know. It would mean a lot to her to know that you've alive."

"She's doing just fine without me." He replied watching her greet Ohgi, the new CEO of the Black Knights and a popular choice by the looks of it. Lelouch noticed the way Kallen was looking at Zero, while she admired the symbol of hope as she always had there was also a hint of sadness. He had seen that look enough times to know when she was troubled by something, but he kept forcing himself to stop worrying about it. It wasn't his problem anymore. He was dead to the world. Everyone was better off without Lelouch, the Demon Emperor.

Cornelia had given up trying to engage in a conversation with her younger brother. He had always been quiet and kept to himself even when they were younger. She made for the kitchen and started making lunch.

"Lunch is ready." Came her voice twenty minutes later. "I'm not going to let you starve to death so get out here and eat before I force it down your throat!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming. You're worse than Milly when it comes to certain things." To protect his sanity, Lelouch kept his attitude in a student's perspective. It was the only mindset he had that held any remaining sense of normalcy.

When he finally sat down he was utterly disgusted by what was on his plate. It looked like it was once been a type of omelet or perhaps some kind of taco. Raising an eye brow at his sister she closed her eyes in frustration. "Alright, so I'm not the best cook. It doesn't taste as bad as it looks."

"Why you, of all people?" Cornelia was caught off guard by his sudden question.

"Excuse me?"

"You loved Euphie and I killed her. Why are you going out of your way to protect her murderer-and don't say it's because I'm your brother. That shouldn't matter."

Cornelia set down her fork and looked across the table at her brother. "Because of the world you created. You destroyed the world where hatred and revenge ruled with an iron fist. The new world is one of hope and new beginnings. that goes for everyone, including you. I told the same thing to Suzaku when I found out what the two of you had planned. Your sins were erased when the world saw the Emperor fall from his throne."

"It makes no difference," Lelouch replied.

"It makes all the difference!" Cornelia retorted. "The man that died yesterday was a monster, a tyrant and a liar. He wasn't you. you did all of those things to change the world and make it better, safe for everyone to live freely without fear of their race or heritage. You can't fool me, Lelouch. Everything you did brought the world to where it is now and everyone finally has a reason to be happy because of it."

She glared at him as he looked away. "Now, quit feeling sorry for yourself and eat your lunch!" With that she took a bite and fought the urge to spit it out. It tasted horrible. Lelouch glanced back at her and failed to hide the slightest of smirks. The normal serious expression she carried was replaced by a pretty comical expression. A mix of embarrassment and a look one would have as if they were about to vomit.