Note: Do you like Bleach? Come check out my other fanfiction, The Lost Secrets of the Quincy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. It belongs to its creator. I only own this little fanfiction, and a few books.

Chapter 8

Aya

"Ah, it's actually nice to have my Knight next me again." I said happily. I was in the infirmary now.

"And it's nice to know you're safe." Suzaku said. I smiled.

"And it's also nice to finally have my fiancée next to me as well!" I added, touching Shi-chan's hand.

"I am pleased to see that you are alright. I was worried about what Zero was planning to do." Shi-chan said.

"I was getting worried whether you were annulling the marriage or not!" I said.

"Forgive me, but things have been quite busy lately." Shi-chan explained. I smiled.

"All that matters is that you are here now." I said, patting his hand. "Is Nina going to be alright?"

Shi-chan and Suzaku looked at each other. They did not answer.

"Oh no…" I began. "Shi-chan! Can't you do anything? Nina was just over depressed! She would have killed him! Isn't that a good thing? She just got me out of the way! It was an accident!"

"Then why did you and Kururugi stop her?"

I stopped. I couldn't tell them that my true love was under that mask.

"I-I don't want Nina's hands tainted with blood." I answered. It was partly true. Suzaku nodded.

"You three went to school together?" Shi-chan asked.

"Yes…Shi-chan, could I have Nina visit me now?" I asked. Shi-chan and Suzaku stared at me.

"You are by far the bravest woman I have ever met…" Shi-chan murmured as he opened the door. Nina walked in shyly. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw me.

"Oh, Aya! I'm so sorry!" she cried, running up to me. Suzaku got between us defensively.

"Oh, come on Suzaku! She obviously regrets what she did, though I don't blame her." I protested. Suzaku backed off, but remained ready just in case the tiny chance that Nina might attack me came.

"Nina, I understand perfectly. Euphie's always been my best friend. We were practically sisters…" I explained and beckoned Nina closer. Suzaku was still edgy.

"I'm so sorry…" Nina repeated. I shook my head.

"No. I'M sorry." I said. Everyone stared at me.

"Nina, you asked why I stopped you from killing him." I continued, taking Nina's hands. "But I do not wish for these hands of yours to be tainted with murder. You were meant to create, not destroy, do you understand?"

Nina nodded. I looked at Shi-chan.

"Prince Schneizel, would you drop all charges on this woman?" I requested. Suzaku smiled.

"Your wish is my command." Shi-chan answered. He escorted Nina out. I collapsed back on the pillow.

"GAH I'm exhausted!" I exclaimed once they had left. Suzaku didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"Thank you." He suddenly said.

"Huh?"

"For saving Nina. There was a possibility they would execute her for what she did to you." He continued. I sighed.

"You know, Nina may have almost killed me, but if she was killed because of that, then I'm afraid I'd feel much too guilty to move on…" I said.

"But she won't be, so you'll be alright." Suzaku said.

"Yes…" I trailed off.

That may have been true. For now.

Lelouch

I sat in my quarters, C.C. eating more pizza behind me. I banged my fist on the table.

"Damn it! What was Aya thinking?" I thought aloud.

"That turning herself in would be safer for you, just in case you did something stupid." C.C. answered. "That's why I let her out."

"And you fell for that?" I cried.

"Who knew what you would do? For all I could have known, you could have pulled a gun on Prince Schneizel. We both knew you hated him." C.C. explained. She calmly continued to eat.

I gritted my teeth. Aya did it for a different reason. But why? When I revealed my true identity to her, she was overjoyed. Why would she want to leave?

No matter. The wedding of the first Prince and the empress was tomorrow, and I must stop it.

The day of the wedding, Karen and Kaguya went, while I remained somewhere close by, hidden.

All of the sudden, Xing Ke, Empress Tianzi's protector, interrupted the wedding.

"I question…to the voice of the skies…to the cries of the earth…to the hearts of the people!" Xing Ke cried. "Where, in this marriage, is the will of the Chinese Federation?"

He unsheathed his sword.

"Have you lost your mind, Xing Ke?" one of the eunuch generals cried, standing up.

"Silence, Zhao Hao!" Xing Ke said. "Representing all citizens, we protest this marriage!"

"Take him down!" the soldiers cried as they unsheathed their swords and ran to attack Xing Ke.

"This moment…I…" Xing Ke began to say as he cut down all of them.

"Cut the broadcast!" another eunuch general cried.

Anya and backed up to protect Prince Schneizel.

"Suzaku!" Cecile cried.

"I know!" Suzaku said. They ran off.

"Hold your fire!" a eunuch general ordered. "If we hit Britannian people, it would be a serious matter! Take him down!"

"Disloyal fool!" a soldier cried. "Trying to make the Empress Tianzi your belonging!"

"…to bring Empress Tianzi to the outside world!" Xing Ke thought aloud.

"Xing Ke!" the Empress cried. "Xing Ke! Xing Ke! Xing Ke!"

She held up her hand, making a mysterious sign.

"There is no more hesitation in my heart!" Xing Ke suddenly cried, understanding the sign.

"Xing-ke!" the Empress cried again, holding out her arms toward Xing Ke.

I dropped the banner and came from my hiding place. I put my arm around the Empress, capturing her.

"I thank you, Xing Ke." I said. "Thanks to your help, I was able to move with more ease."

"Even that man's…" a eunuch general began to say in horror.

"Zero, what is the meaning of this?" Xing Ke asked, moving towards us.

"Don't move!" I cried, putting a gun at the Empress's head.

"Dirty…"

"Zero, I told you many times not to come…" Schneizel threatened. Aya revealed herself from behind him as he put his arm around her; she was in a wheelchair. She glared at me, giving me a slight shake with her head that no one noticed but me.

"I thought the Black Knights owe me a favor from Area 11, no?" Xing Ke asked.

"Which is why I will destroy this marriage, as your group desired." I said. "However, the bride shall be mine."

"Xing Ke!" the Empress cried, struggling against my grip. Aya closed her eyes and bowed her head, her hands balling into fists.

"Empress Tianzi!" Xing Ke cried. "You fiend!"

"Oh, really?" I asked. I then laughed.

"Xing Ke!" Tianzi cried again.

"Zero, do you have any intention of giving the Empress back?" Xing Ke asked nervously.

"Xing Ke, do you think you can bring freedom to Empress Tianzi?" I asked. "I think not."

Toudou then crashed in with his Knightmare.

"Toudou, secure Schneizel and take Future Princess Ayame." I ordered.

"Understood." Toudou answered me. He turned towards the Prince, who put his arm in front of Aya protectively.

Suddenly, something stopped him.

Suzaku

"I will not let you take Ayame or His Highness!" I cried as I flew straight at the Knightmare.

"Suzaku." A familiar voice said.

"It can't be…Toudou?" I asked in disbelief. I clashed swords with him as he jumped into the air, attacking me. From the corner of my eye, I saw both of the Princes, Gino, Anya, and Aya fleeing. The Eunuch Generals fled as well.

I battled against Toudou, and he stopped attacking for a moment.

"Okay, here!" I said to myself, aiming Lancelot's gun at him. I pulled the trigger, but the shot was blocked by a mysterious shield around Toudou's Knightmare!

"The same system as Guren?" I thought aloud. "But with this…"

I upgraded the gun and aimed at him again.

"Can you fire in this position?" Toudou asked. I looked behind him to see the city.

"The Forbidden City…" I said to myself. I zoomed to see two other Knightmares in the distance fleeing. "No way…"

"Kururugi Suzaku, it ends here!" Toudou yelled, flying above me.

"Toudou Kyoshiro, not yet!" I cried.

"Shadow slash-" Toudou said, slashing his sword at me and destroying my float unit.

"It's just the float unit!" I cried, punching his Knightmare.

"Toudou, retreat for now." I heard Zero order. "Having destroyed Lancelot's float unit suffices. It won't be able to pursue us now."

I landed the Lancelot, cursing.