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 14

Lelouch

"The Emperor is still alive!" I cried, coming into my room where C.C. awaited.

"U-Umm…Welcome back." C.C. nervously said. Ever since my encounter with my father, C.C. lost her memory of me and the Geass, acting like a servant girl just as she had in the past.

This isn't good…I have to save Nunnally right now…Right now!

I could use the Cornelia card here…No, he's not the type that a hostage would have any effect on. I could use Jeremiah and Rolo to…No, I can't. Geass doesn't work on him. Should I announce to the world that Zero is Lelouch? But if the leader is a prince of the enemy country, the Order of the Black Knights would collapse. If there's no country that would take us in, then it's pointless even if I save Nunnally.

What should I do?

"H-Here, I saved some for you, Master." C.C. said, coming up behind me. "It seems like you didn't eat breakfast yet. Umm, here-"

"Shut up!" I yelled, throwing my mask at her face. She blocked it using the plate, crying out and falling as the plate shattered. I saw what I had done, noticing her finger was bleeding.

"Hey…" I began, walking towards her.

"I'm sorry! I'll clean it up right now!" she cried, shielding herself with her arms.

"That's not what I meant!" I cried. "You're bleeding."

"I'm fine…" C.C. assured me. "This is nothing compared to what I usually receive."

Usually? I remembered seeing C.C.'s past.

"But it helps when I'm cold." C.C. continued. "It stings and burns. When I'm cold, my hands and feet go numb, and it's hard to work…So I'm fine. Hurting on the outside is better than hurting on the inside…"

I put my other hand over hers. It was shaking.

"Master, are you cold?" C.C. asked.

"Yeah, maybe I am." I answered. C.C. put her uninjured hand on top of my shaking one.

"What did you use to do when you were hurting on the inside?" I asked.

"I…Friends…If only I had some friends…Unlike parents and siblings, you can always make friends later…But I never had such allies…" C.C. answered.

"Allies…" I began.

"Umm, that's what I heard, is it wrong?"

"No, it's not wrong. That's what friends are."

I stood up and called the one person I had not spoken to as the real Lelouch.

"Yes."

"Suzaku?"

"Lelouch…"

"Yeah. Umm…You've seen the news, right?"

"Yes. Area 11 is about to become a battlefield again."

"Do you think the Tokyo Settlement is in danger too?"

"That's up to you to decide, isn't it? Lelouch…Are you Zero?"

I gasped.

"That's right." I confessed. "I am Zero."

"What business does an enemy of Britannia have with me?"

"Please, save Nunnally. The Emperor is holding Nunnally hostage to keep me at bay. That's why I had no choice but to act from the shadows." I explained. "I'm begging you, Suzaku. You're the only one I can rely on."

"You think I'll accept your request?"

"I don't. But you're the only one I have."

"Why don't you ask Aya? She'll gladly help you!"

"Unfortunately, he can't. Nunnally isn't the only one in grave danger."

Aya's voice felt so nostalgic.

"Aya, what do you mean?" Suzaku cried.

"Turns out Prince Schneizel didn't marry me because he wanted to. It was so the Emperor could have me in the palace. I just received news that I would be on the battlefield as well." Aya answered. "He knows I will betray Britannia to protect Lelouch. I've only been played into his hand."

"Suzaku!" I said, reminding him that I was waiting for his answer.

"How selfish…" he said.

"I know! But you're the only one…The only one…Please! Protect…Protect Nunnally, please." I begged.

"All right." He answered. "But on one condition. If you want me to protect Nunnally, come by yourself to Area 11, where Nunnally is. The place will be the Kururugi Shrine. Let's meet, just the two of us."

Suzaku

Lelouch agreed, and then I hung up. Aya looked at me, her eyes sad.

"Suzaku…I don't mind that you are going to go meet Lelouch…Just don't kill each other, okay? I don't want to have to see you never come back or Lelouch to never appear on the battlefield…" she said in a meek voice. "I…I can't stand this much pain anymore…It's been happening too long…While you both battled on the outside, I battled on the inside, hoping for a victory that was impossible…"

"You know what he did to Euphie." I answered simply. Aya shook her head.

"I guess it is of no use then…No matter how many times I tell you…You never listen to me…" she said, then left quickly.

"Aya!" I said, catching her wrist. She wrenched it out of my hand.

"If you don't listen, then there is no reason to remain here." She said coldly. She then left, and I didn't stop her.

Lelouch and I faced each other at the Kururugi Shrine.

"You came alone?" I asked, just to be sure.

"I did promise." Lelouch answered.

"I'm amazed you made it here."

"There are 31 routes established because of the circumstances. The routes associated with the Royal Families are especially lax…"

"No, Lelouch. I'm amazed you were able to show yourself to me. That's what I meant. Because you promised? There's no way I could trust your promises at this point."

"Then why are you here alone too? You also…"

"Because I don't want to have to lie anymore. I had to lie to Nunnally and Aya. Just like you did. You're the worst. What friendship? You always betrayed me. And not only me. Everyone from the student council, and Nunnally…E-even Aya and Euphie!"

I showed him my Knight Badge. Lelouch backed away one step.

"I want to make certain. Did you use the Geass on Euphie?"

"Yes."

"To massacre the Japanese?"

"I gave the order."

"Why would you use such a Geass? Answer me!"

"To make the Japanese take action. If the Special Administrated Zone of Japan had been established, the Order of the Black Knights would have collapsed."

"What about Shirley's death?"

"It's my fault."

"You're inhuman…" I seethed. "Were Shirley and Euphie nothing but pawns for your ambitions to you? And what of Aya? Is she just a pawn in case you're in danger?"

"That's right. I'm guilty of everything. But Nunnally has nothing to do with that."

"You're a coward! Using Nunnally as an excuse…"

Lelouch kneeled in front of me.

"Suzaku…I'm sorry. This is the first time in my life that I'm bowing my head to someone. I don't care what anyone will think. I don't need anything but this. So please, save Nunnally! I'm begging you!"

I pushed his face into the ground with my foot.

"What is this, all of the sudden?" I said. "You think I'd forgive you? With something like this…?"

"I don't." Lelouch answered. "But this is all I have…I have no choice but to depend on you to save Nunnally!"

"You think I'd forgive you? You think anyone would forgive you? All those who've been manipulated by you…Those who died because of you…Euphie too…! If you want me to accept your apology now, then bring Euphie back! Right now! Save the world with your evil intentions! Right now! Aren't you Zero, who can create miracles?"

"There are no miracles. It's all calculation and arrangement. Zero's mask is a symbol. Just a device to be able to lie."

"What device? You think I'd accept an excuse like that? If you're going to lie, then lie until the very end!" I cried, picking him up by the collar of his uniform.

"But I can't go back in time. I can't do it all over again!"

"Answer me, Lelouch!" I yelled, throwing him backwards. "Why did you put a Geass on me to live? Why? "

"The Geass you put on me, ordering me to live, shook my principles. Why would you put such a curse on me?"

"Because I wanted to survive."

"Why was I saved when I was accused of being guilty of the assassination of His Highness Clovis?"

"To gain trust of the Japanese."

"Why did you save everyone from the Student Council during the hotel hijacking?"

"Because I thought I could take advantage of it during the Order of the Black Knights' debut."

Those eyes…I know them…These are the eyes you make when you're hiding something and taking the blame. That's why I joined the Britannian army. To make up for the tragedy. So it won't happen again.

"You're lying, aren't you? Lelouch, there is one way to atone for your lies. Make them real. You lied about being an ally of justice, right? Then become an ally of justice for real. Take your lies all the way to the end…"

"But, how should I…?"

"You will end this war. If you're Zero…No, that's something only Zero can do. Make the world peaceful using a method that makes everyone happy. If you can do that, Nunnally will…"

I gave him my hand.

"You'll…save her?"

"Once again for Nunnally's sake, with you. And, we'll save Aya as well."

"Thanks…If we work together, nothing can-"

A shot rang, barely missing Lelouch's hand as he was about to let me help him stand.

"Th-This is…!" I cried, standing up.

"That's enough, Zero! We already know your identity!"

"Are you alright? Lord Kururugi! Please step back."

Two Knightmares and some soldiers came to protect me.

"Suzaku…" Lelouch said, trapped. A gun was aimed at him.

"From the beginning, you…!" Lelouch then cried as two soldiers grabbed him.

"Please wait!" I cried.

"This is a fabulous contribution, Lord Kururugi. With this, the war's over."

"I see…" Lelouch growled. "You were planning on selling me out again…You betrayed me, Suzaku…You betrayed me!"