Path of the Zero Requiem

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass nor any of its characters.

Note to Readers: It's finally up! I am so sorry this took over a year. I know I have no excuses except the fact that I abandoned this story for a while. Thankfully re-watching Code Geass has sparked my interest for this story again. Once again, I am very very sorry for making you wait this long.

Note about Chapter: This chapter takes place during the month that Zero has disappeared and is considered by the masses to be dead. This takes place after Lelouch killed his parents, er…I mean indirectly killed them, and before Lelouch establishes himself as Emperor.

Important Note: Just to make things clear, Zero's Wavering Heart is a compilation of one shots put together, so to speak. My fanfics are placed into different time slots of Code Geass where I think are appropriate times for further developing the Lelouch x C.C. relationship.

"Will you join me, Suzaku? Will you sacrifice everything for the world that Euphemia always dreamed of?"

Lelouch's burdened amethyst eyes gazed into that of Suzaku's own heavy emerald ones. Suzaku gazed back with a hardened, blank stare.

"Well?" Lelouch narrowed his eyes at his betrayer.

"I have nothing left to sacrifice." Suzaku answered firmly. "Even if you are my sworn enemy, the means no longer matter. It is the results that I am seeking."

"Very well then, Suzaku Kururugi. Your fate, as well as mine, has been sealed. From this moment forward you shall be the Knight of Zero."

Suzaku kneeled down before his highness and swore with all his heart, "Yes, your majesty."

C.C. glanced away and said in an indifferent voice, "So this is it then, isn't it?"

Lelouch turned his eyes to her for a moment. Though her voice was solid, Lelouch knew otherwise. His heart, already burdened as it was, grew heavier if only slightly. After the Zero Requiem she would be left all alone again – forever doomed to face the never-ending hands of time. He was abandoning her. There was no escaping that fact.

Lelouch scoffed, looking straight ahead with a fiery look of ambition and said with complete confidence and a hint of sadness, "Yes, this is the end."

The hotel room door opened as Lelouch and C.C. walked in. The two of them were dressed in common clothing – with Lelouch wearing a ball-cap as an extra precaution. As he locked the door behind him he immediately flung off the accessory onto the nearest bed and ran his hand through his hair. C.C immediately made her way to the further bed and lied down with her arms folded under her chin and her legs swinging in the air. Lelouch slowly trudged to the opposing bed and sat down. His face was grim.

"That hat doesn't really do you justice, you know. It doesn't even cover your face properly." C.C. remarked.

"Pestering me even at a time like this, are you? You truly are a witch." Lelouch replied in a saddened tone. He leaned forward, lost in his thoughts.

C.C. sat up from her position and looked at the tragic prince. He had lost everything dear to him and now he was going through with the Zero Requiem...C.C. was surprised to feel a sudden pain in her own heart as well. What was this aching feeling that she had forgotten long ago?

C.C. stood up and kneeled before Lelouch, placing her right hand against his cold cheek. "I'm sorry." She said in a gentle tone.

Lelouch was a little surprised at the witch's sudden action, but he lightly placed his hand on hers in return – holding it against his cheek. It was so warm to the touch. He had forgotten the feeling of warmth and this sudden surge of energy pained yet soothed him at the same time. A swarm of torn emotions began to well up inside of him. He firmly grasped her hand with trembling fingers and held it tight against the side of his face. He was a broken man, a completely broken man. He felt so empty – so dead and lifeless inside that he couldn't stand it any longer. This warm touch, the touch of a witch, such a small act of kindness was too much for him. He wanted to be comforted, to be loved, to be accepted by someone in this world – even though he was unworthy of such a thing.

Lelouch looked into the deep golden well of her eyes and said in a low voice, "You said that the power of Geass would lead me to a life of solitude. You were right. I have lost everything dear to me and those who are left have betrayed me and wish me dead. I understand and fully accept the fact that these are the consequences of my actions, but I have to admit…" Lelouch lowered their linked hands and placed his other hand on top of C.C.'s slender fingers. "It is a lonely and cruel world, isn't it, C.C? That is why I have to change it – even if it means the cost of my own life."

At those words, C.C. pulled her hand away and turned her gaze from his own. Lelouch tried to ignore the gesture and began to speak once again - looking down at the floor the entire time. "But even though the fate of Geass may be true in most respects, it is not entirely correct."

C.C. looked up at him with a curious look on her face. It was subtle, but it was there.

Lelouch continued. "Through everything I have been through you're the only person who has stood by my side and never faltered. Though your reasons may have been selfish at first, I can't deny the fact that you're still here even though your wish had never been granted."

C.C. replied with a mask of indifference, "But I kept the truth from you didn't I? The truth about Lady Marianne. Much bloodshed could have been avoided if I had only told you what you wanted to know."

Lelouch lightly scoffed and folded his hands together. "It doesn't matter now. The point is that – is that…" He paused for a moment. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're the only person I can turn to – the only one in the world who I can trust."

C.C.'s eyes grew wide at his words. "What do you mean by that? You're not making any sense, Lelouch."

Lelouch smiled sadly. "I guess I'm not, am I?"

C.C. looked down at Lelouch's folded hands – they were shaking. She looked up at him and saw the distraught and pained face of a man who felt so very alone in the world. She knew that look better than anyone.

C.C. stood up and sat next to the prince – cradling his head in her arms. He seemed so fragile - as if a slight touch would completely shatter him. She brought her lips close to his ear and said, "It's all right, Lelouch. I promise you, I won't ever leave your side."

Lelouch gritted his teeth in anguish as he tightly clung to her. A lone tear trickled down his cheek.

C.C. gently stroked his hair and said in a soft and comforting voice, "I'm here."

Lelouch sat up slightly without letting her go and said in a voice that was barely audible, "I need you, _." He had said her real name.

C.C.'s eyes grew wide as Lelouch brought his lips to hers. She did not struggle – she did not resist. She melted. Her heart was finally beginning to unlock after years of imprisonment. Lelouch gently pinned her against the bed and covered her body with his own. Their breaths grew short. He kissed her with a passion and tangled his hands through her green hair.

Lelouch sat up with a start. He eyes were wild as he gasped for breath. He looked around the room. The morning light was beginning to shine through the small openings of the window blinds. Patches of sunlight were spread throughout the hotel room. Lelouch leaned forward and closed his eyes, his right hand supporting his head. It was just a dream – a nightmare. He gritted his teeth together in annoyance. He should be used to such dreams by now. After all, he experienced nothing short of nightmares even in his waking hours.

Lelouch turned to his right to see a naked C.C. by his side – tightly wrapping the covers closer to herself. He leaned back against the headboard and sighed. He never expected last night to turn out the way it did, but then again such occasions often happen unexpectedly. No matter, he felt…glad. No, that wasn't the correct term. He felt a sense of wholeness – completeness. He was still an empty shell of a man, but he felt stronger and refreshed. What he said last night was true. He needed her – more than anything.

Lelouch's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. He looked up in a slight panic and then narrowed his eyes – ready for any intruders to break in. He then heard a muffled voice from the other side.

"Hey, Lelouch. It's me, Suzaku. You're supposed to be up by now. It's almost 8:30." Suzaku said in an annoyed tone of voice.

Lelouch let out a sigh of relief, but that did not last for long. His body suddenly went frozen solid when he realized…

"Damn it, Suzaku! He better not have heard us last night. Are these walls sound proof? They look rather thin and he's only right next door. Either way he can't see us like this. Damn that bastard."

"Lelouch, let me in." Suzaku said firmly.

"Just a minute!" Lelouch replied in a slightly harsher tone than he intended. He turned to C.C. and shook her awake. "Hey, hurry up and get dressed. Suzaku is outside."

C.C. pulled the covers up over her head and muttered, "So? What's the big deal? Just let him in."

Lelouch glared at the witch beside him. "Damn it!"

He quickly put on his clothes and opened the door just enough to let himself out into the hallway. He quickly turned back into his calm and cunning persona.

Suzaku glared at the man before him, the man formerly known as Zero. "You said we'd be leaving at 8:45."

Lelouch replied, "Sorry about that. I forgot to set the alarm last night. Let's head downstairs first and make preparations to leave. C.C. will be with us shortly. You know how she oversleeps."

Lelouch turned to head down the hallway, all the while adjusting his clumsy hat in an attempt to hide his face. C.C. was right. It really didn't do him justice. Suzaku stared at Lelouch for a moment and then looked back at the closed door with knowing in his eyes. He quietly muttered under his breath. "Uh-huh, sure."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please don't forget to review it! Your opinions are greatly appreciated.