The group moved expeditiously to ther destination. The clothes Milly gave them were forgotten. All that mattered now was getting answers. For Suzaku, this was mind-boggling.
'This has been a strange week. Who knew Lelouch was a prince? Then that means. . .then that means. . .'
"Lelouch!", Suzaku called.
"What is it?", he asked.
"I just realized, since you're a prince doesn't that make Euphie your sister?"
"You're a bright one aren't you Suzaku?"
"I mean after everything that's happened. . .my brain isn't working as fast as it usually does."
"Well why the sudden revelation?", Lelouch asked.
Suzaku started blushing. "N-no reason."
Lelouch thought about questioning him more, but decided against it. They trudged on until they came to a clearing. The group stopped and stared in confusion.
"What's a dojo doing out here?", Suzaku questioned.
"Dojo?",Rolo said in confusion.
"I'll check it out", Suzaku suggested.
He walked toward it to investigate. Lelouch noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
"Suzaku!", he called.
The brunette turned and swiftly dodged a projectile. He looked to his left and sticking from the ground was a kunai. Suzaku looked to the trees where it came from. Suddenly someone jumped from them and landed in front of Suzaku.
"A woman?", Lelouch said out loud.
"Explain yourselves", she ordered.
"We're just passing through", Suzaku said.
"Don't lie to me. I will defend this place with my life."
"Suzaku!", a girl's voice yelled.
Everyone turned and from the dojo came running a black haired girl. She ran up to Suzaku and hugged him. Everyone stood there in shock.
"U-um, do I know you?", Suzaku asked.
The girl looked up at him. "Of course you do! Don't you remember you're own cousin?"
"Who are you?", Rolo asked.
"My name is Kaguya Sumeragi. And this is Sayoko", the girl introduced herself and the woman who attacked them.
"I'm Suzaku Kururugi. What is this place?", he asked.
"This is one of the houses of Kyoto. The most prominent shinobi clans live and train here", Sayoko explained.
"But this house is special. It's the joint house where all the families come to commune with each other", Kaguya said.
"How do you know Suzaku?", Lelouch asked.
"We're cousins, remember? We always played when he came to visit", Kaguya explained.
"What? I'm sorry, but I don't remember you", Suzaku said.
"Why don't we finish this inside?", Sayoko suggested. "I'm making tea."
- - -
"You really don't remember me Suzaku?"
"I'm sorry Kaguya, I don't."
"But when my leg was broken you carried me around for weeks!"
"That does sound like Suzaku. He once took care of Rolo and I when Lelouch was sick", Nunnally said.
Meanwhile Lelouch was thinking. 'Suzaku can't remember his own cousin. And yet Kaguya claims they've been together since birth. I wonder. . .'
"Why don't you stay here for the night. The closest town is hours away and it's already sundown", Sayoko suggested.
The door opened and an elderly man stepped through. He glanced at the newcomers and gasped.
"S-Suzaku?!"
"Yes?"
"You've returned! But how!"
"He's with friends", Kaguya said.
"He also has no memory of Kaguya or the Houses", Sayoko explained.
"He doesn't?", the man calmed down. "My name is Taizo Kirihara. Are you sure you don't remember anything?", he asked Suzaku.
"No. What is it you all want me to remember?"
"Suzaku, you are the only heir to the House of Kururugi. You're father died, and you were taken away", Taizo explained.
"What?!"
"It's true", Kaguya said.
Suzaku sat in thought for a moment. "I always lived with Cecile and Lloyd, but I knew they weren't my parents. And even then, I couldn't remember my real ones."
Lelouch and C.C.'s eyes met. That night they were given a room to sleep in. Rolo and Nunnally slept near their brother. But Lelouch was awake. He, C.C., and Suzaku sat up and conversed in the dark.
"Our memories tell us that we've known each other for as long as we can remember", Lelouch said to Suzaku.
"But Kaguy says we've known each other forever. And then Kirihara said I'm not only the Kururugi heir, but that I was taken away", Suzaku finished.
"Is it possible that someone used a geass on so many people?", Lelouch pondered.
"Geass usually takes the form that is most useful when it is given", C.C. said.
"That means when it was given, the person wanted to change peoples memories."
"But who would want to change mine, yours, Nunnally's and Rolo's memories?", Suzaku wondered.
"As I said before, all our answers lie in Pendragon, with Marianne and the Emperor", Lelouch said.
With those last words, the eldest of the group went to sleep.
- - -
"Suzaku, you don't have to carry me around all day. I have crutches."
"I know. But this is faster, and it's great weight training."
Kaguya frowned. "Are you saying I'm fat?"
"N-no! Not at all!"
"Okay! Hey, what was your favorite part of the festival?"
"Hmm, I guess it was the fireworks. They're always fun. What was yours?", Suzaku asked.
"Mine was the play! I always love watching it!", Kaguya exclaimed.
"Well of course you would. They do The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter every year."
"I can't help loving the main character!"
"What?", Suzaku woke up and thought about the dream he just had. He was younger in it. And he was carrying Kaguya on his back.
Suzaku relaxed and laid back on his futon. He sighed. "Who am I?"
- - -
"I thank you for your hospitality. But we must be off now", Lelouch said the next morning to their hosts.
"Why so soon? It's been years since I've been with Suzaku!", Kaguya complained.
"Sorry Kaguya. But I promise, when our quest is over I'll come back to see you", Suzaku said.
"Suzaku, you're the best!", she exclaimed.
When she said that something clicked in his head.
"Suzaku?"
"What is it Kaguya?"
"You're the best! No one takes care of me like you."
When he came back Suzaku gave Kaguya a gentle smile. Kirihara tried to get Suzaku to return to the Kururugi House and bring back the honorable name. Suzaku politely refused.
"I have some business to take care of before I can come back."
They left the joint house and with each passing hour Lelouch's mind thought up more questions, ideas, answers, and plans to execute. It was almost nightfall when they came to a large gate with a watchman's post.
Guards stood alert when they approached.
"State your business in the imperial capital of Pendragon!", one of them demanded.
Lelouch had no patience for explaining himself. He walked up to the guards confidently.
"Let us pass through", he ordered.
The guards stepped aside and Lelouch and the others made their way in.
"We're finally here", Lelouch muttered to himself.
- - - - - - -
Up next: The royal court get the shock of a lifetime. But somebody already knows they're here.
Author's note:
I was at a loss for this chapter. Then I realized I didn't really tell much about Suzaku's background. So I came up with this. And that's the inspiration for this chapter! I'd like to introduce some LelouchxC.C. but I'm not sure how to incorporate it.
The same with SuzakuxEuphie. Thought that one I'm not too sure of because a lot of people don't like Euphie for some reason. So if anyone has any ideas for some LelouchxC.C. or SuzakuxEuphie moments that would help in this story, I'd like to hear them! Thanks!