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 13

Aya

"Suzaku!" I cried, witnessing the entire thing. I ran up to them. Karen's face softened slightly as she saw me, but her glare remained. I looked at her and smiled. Karen recoiled slightly in shock.

"Thank you Karen." I said. "I've been meaning to give him a beating myself, but I'm not as strong as you are."

I stood up and took her hand. I beckoned her to stand up. She obeyed, and I embraced her, beginning to cry.

"Karen, I missed you…I promise you will get out of here, with no charges against you."

"How can you?"

"You haven't heard? I am now an official Princess."

I turned to Suzaku.

"Well, young child, I'm glad you have finally learned your lesson."

Suzaku stood up, wiping the blood off his face, and smiled.

"Suzaku…I'm sorry about…About what I said before…" I apologized. Suzaku and I sat on the steps in front of the place where I was called to attend the meeting when Zero proposed to be exiled.

"No, Aya, you were right. I was beginning to turn into him. Even Nunnally told me the same thing." Suzaku assured me.

"Is that why you have the worried look on your face?" Anya said, taking a picture of us.

"All I do is worry." Suzaku answered. "I thought I had decided eight years ago how I would live."

"How can you believe in yourself from eight years ago?" Anya asked.

"Are you trying to tell me past decisions are foolish?" Suzaku asked.

"People's memories are vague. They're not worth believing in." Anya answered.

"That's not true." Suzaku said. I clenched my fists.

"They're worthless. I have a diary that I wrote nine years ago. But I have no memories of it. There are many others too. Where my memories and the recorded data don't match."

"Anya…That's not true." I said. "Whenever I began to act strange…As if I didn't remember anyone or anything from my past…It was because I took Refrain."

Suzaku's eyes grew sad.

"I know…A maid found the bottle under your bed." He said. I looked at him, surprised.

"Well…I decided that remembering my past…The emotions I felt…That they were a burden..." I continued, tears starting to flow down my face. "But I was wrong…Memories being forgotten is one of the worst things…Memories aren't worthless…They are just a part of life…No one can be emotionless…It's just…Impossible…"

Suddenly, Arthur hissed. I cried out as Suzaku caught a knife that was just thrown at him.

"Say, Lord Kururugi the traitor, what is it that everybody needs? It's life."

"I haven't seen you since the Belarus front line, Lord Bradley." Suzaku answered calmly.

"Lord Bradley, what is the meaning of this?" I ordered, standing up.

"Looks like warming up the ladies is still your forte, huh? That Genocide Princess, too…"

"Lord Bradley, I order you to stop! This is uncalled for! I could arrest you for treason!"

"Oh, I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but the only traitor here is your so-called knight." Bradley answered, giving me a mocking bow. I gave him an icy glare.

"If you say anything more, I will challenge you to a duel on which I will stake my honor." Suzaku said, tightening his glove and standing in front of me. I looked at Suzaku, a horrified look on my face.

"Have you forgotten? I'm a master of killing people, you mere promoted number who understands nothing of lineage." Bradley continued, removing more knives from under his cloak.

Suddenly, a Knightmare landed in front of him.

"It's Galahad!" Suzaku said. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't get your opponent wrong, you two!" Galahad said from inside of the Knightmare.

"Knight of One…" Anya said. "Why is even Lord Waldtstein here?"

"A foolish question, Anya." Galahad answered. "If the Order of Black Knights were to invade somewhere, it would be this area. Luciano. I've brought the Valkyrie Squad for that purpose. I've prepared the Gareths for that as well. Show us your grandstand play on the battlefield. Now it's time for us to join forces under His Highness Schneizel's command."

"All right, I got it. If you say so." Bradley said, turning to leave.

I watched the broadcast of the United States being formed, sitting in between Shi-chan and Nunnally. I remained emotionless on the outside, but inside, I was smiling. Lelouch had almost done it. It wouldn't be long until he would fulfill his life-long goal…

"The allied states plan…as we expected." Gino said.

"But they lack cooperation between the armies raised by each country." Waldtstein said.

"They're just disorganized mobs." Mrs. Romeyer said.

"No, there is one way…"

"And lastly, United States Charter, paragraph 17. 'States that have ratified the United States Charter must forever resign their right to independent military power.'" Kaguya finished.

"Resign their military powers?" Suzaku said in disbelief.

"Are they mad?"

"In addition, and agreement with the armed organization, the Order of the Black Knights, which is not affiliated with any state, will guarantee the safety of all United States." Kaguya continued.

"Agreement accepted." Zero announced. "We, the Order of the Black Knights, will accept funds and manpower from the United Federation of Nations. In return, we will become the shield of all the United States, and the sword to suppress any foreign enemy."

"He did it after all, huh…?" Shi-chan said.

The announcement continued on with Empress Tianzi speaking. When she finished, Kaguya made that last bold move.

"And now, the first motion from me." She said. "Our territory, the United States of Japan, is being destroyed by a foreign country and continues to be unjustly occupied. We request the dispatch of the Order of the Black Knights. Those in favor, please rise."

All of the representatives rose.

"The majority is in favor." Kaguya said. "Thus, as the United Federation of Nations' first resolution, we request the Order of the Black Knights the liberation of Japan."

"Very well." Zero answered. "The United Federation of Nations' first resolution…The deployment objective is…Japan!"

The crowd cheered.

"Zero." The Emperor suddenly said, appearing on the screen.

Shi-chan and I stood up quickly.

"H-His Majesty the Emperor…has returned." Shi-chan said in disbelief. "You'll take part in their theater of falsehood, father?"

I cursed in my head. This was the man…Who murdered my entire family and erased all records of them existing…Including me…

"Zero…You thought you had outsmarted me?" the Emperor continued. "But it's not too bad. Of the three powers, the EU is already beyond hope. In other words, the charter you so cunningly created separates the world into those who are Britannian, and those who aren't. It's simple, and thus understandable. That means the side that finally wins the war, wins the world. Very well, Zero. Come and take me on. Will you gain everything, or lose it all? That is the very essence of war. All Hail Britannia!"

I stood there in horror.

A bloody war was just about to begin, and Nunnally was in grave danger.