Disclaimer: I don't own code geass

a.n. thank you for those who read and fav/alert/review.

Warning: OOC characters, grammar/ spelling mistakes

Chapter 3: To Live and Survive

The days spent with the Kururugi family is by far one of the best things that has ever happen to the three children. The first time they've met Suzaku Kururugi, son of Japan's prime minister, they thought that he was a spoiled brat always glaring at them as if there was no tomorrow but that changed as the days passed by. Eventually, they all become best of friends.

At first no one knows how to act around Suzaku. There was Nunnally who ignored the boy simply because of how he acted around her big brother; then there was Rolo who hated the boy with a passion simply because he hurt his innocent older brother who was only at that time trying to help his little siblings adapt to their new life. Finally, there's Lelouch who was caught in between. He does not hate the boy yet he feels no affection for him either. But that soon changed when Suzaku helped him find the missing Nunnally and Rolo, who at that time went to one of the grassy fields to pick up a dozen or so of those sunflowers to make the house livelier. It probably helped that Suzaku managed to calm Lelouch down before a full blown panic attack took place when Lelouch saw Nunnally's abandoned wheelchair. What's worse is that he found no sign of his siblings in the vicinity which lead him in thinking that something must have happened to his precious siblings.

After that, with their excellent teamwork (Lelouch searching for clues and Suzaku with his physical prowess doing what Lelouch told him to do), they both found Rolo carrying Nunnally, who at that time was holding a dozen sunflowers, on his back heading towards their direction. And the rest as we could say is history. Once Lelouch treated Suzaku as a friend after the said event, Nunnally soon followed thinking Suzaku as a friend knowing that this boy treated her older brother with respect and kindness.

Rolo on the other hand took a long, long time before he could stop watching Suzaku like a hawk whenever he is within the area where Nunnally and Lelouch are. It is as if he is waiting for Suzaku to drop his 'act of friendship' and start acting all mean and cruel towards them. Of course that didn't happen since as we all know, Suzaku for the life of him could never live to tell a lie. He is also an open book that whatever you see is what you will get. Eventually, after some time, with lots and lots of persuasion from both of his siblings, he finally relented and slowly but surely accepted Suzaku in the list of the people he could trust with his siblings' life.

Days after that are filled with joy and happiness. Those precious days the four friends spend together are but a paradise, a heaven on earth. And with those feelings, Nunnally and Rolo forgot about their planned revenge on their father for the hatred they once felt within their hearts are slowly beginning to be replaced by joy and happiness. It was as if they were back to the old times though instead with their mother, it was Suzaku who filled that void in their hearts.

Those are the thoughts of those four friends and that the thought of war never reached their young minds; until they experience with their very own senses, the horrors of war.

Words cannot even describe the things they see during the war. The three boys thanked their lucky stars that Nunnally could not see something this horrible at least they spared her from seeing something that would lead her into relieving Marriane's death.

While resting for the night, Rolo stared at the scene with a bothered expression on his face. It was a well known fact that the only people who Rolo could never argue are Nunnally and Lelouch. That is why, when he suggested to his older brother to wear a blindfold and let Suzaku carry him while he carried Nunnally and treat everything as if they're playing 'I spy', that suggestion was quickly shot down when his older brother told him in a gentle manner that he does not wish to be a burden and they can still play with only Nunnally guessing.

How can he protect his older brother's innocence if they kept on seeing mutilated bodies, people killing and people dying around them in their travels? Rolo thought angrily.

"Are you okay Rolo-kun? Shouldn't you be sleeping by now?" Suzaku asked his still awake friend.

"I'm not tired Suzaku-san. Shouldn't you be sleeping too?"

"I'm also not tired. Something's bothering you, I can tell. Tell me, it might help with two people thinking than one."

Silence is the only answer Suzaku got from Rolo. Others would have taken it as a dismissal but not Suzaku. Let it be known that Suzaku is one hell of a persistent guy and so with this trait of his, he again asked Rolo what is bothering him.

Maybe it is Suzaku who kept on pestering him for an answer or maybe he is just that tired, Rolo finally relented and answered, "It was onii-sama. Why didn't he do what I suggested?"

"Which one? Was it the one where you suggested him to wear a blindfold?"

"Yes."

Suzaku remained silent as if waiting for Rolo to explain more but when he only got that quiet answer so he asked again, "Why would you ask him of that, Rolo-kun?"

"I-I want to protect onii-sama's innocence and if he kept seeing those things then onii-sama might lose his innocence then our promise would be broken!"

"Your promise doesn't seem to be broken yet Rolo-kun so you don't have to worry. Lelouch-kun is still the same as he was, the day I met him; but why would you promise such a thing?"

"It's a promise both Nunnally-chan and I made before going to Japan. Tell me Suzaku-san, did you know that we were sent here to Japan because father banished us; and do you know why? Well let me tell you Suzaku-san, it's because we are useless and the emperor does not have a need for the weak for it is the strong that shall succeed. Mother was murdered and Nunnally-chan was blinded and crippled and yet the emperor didn't care. And when onii-sama confronted that bastard about this, he only got that Darwinism speech father sprouted all the time. Of course he got angry and told the emperor that if that is what it is to be royalty then he doesn't want to be one. After that father sent us here as political hostage but there's one problem. Onii-sama changed after that and I know father did something to him to make him like this. Nunnally-chan even heard it happen. Even with the knowledge that we are here, Father still decided to invade Japan. His ideals are wrong Suzaku-san, those who are strong should help the weak, and never to be thrown away when deemed useless and that is a world I wish for my precious siblings to live. That is why I will crush Britannia and all its Darwinism ideals!"

"I didn't know that happened. I'm sorry for acting such a brat when you arrived but what are you talking about Lelouch-kun being different?"

"Nunnally-chan told me that father did something to onii-sama but she does not know what. She recalled onii-sama crying and asking for her forgiveness then father came and something must have happened because after that he was all smiles and defending that bastard!"

"I understand but I hope for your sake that that hatred would cease. Live your life as you see fit but to live a life of revenge would only hurt those you care about. I hope you heed my advice. Good night Rolo-kun."

"I see."

The four children did everything they can to survive thus the birth of their new roles came to be. Suzaku would be the main protector of the group. Rolo would be their secondary defence. Lelouch would be the one to strategize where to go, where to stay and how they can get pass without the soldiers noticing them. Then there is Nunnally who would take away their tears and make them hope for a better tomorrow.

Of course the distribution of their roles did not go as smoothly like the surface of a paper. For all his intellectual prowess, Lelouch has a weak constitution and would always be the one left behind with Nunnally when they needed to get more supplies. That is why one day after having had enough seeing Rolo get hurt for numerous times, he proposed that he should be the one to find food and medicine with Suzaku but as always he was shut down by Rolo and even Suzaku's reasoning.

"I should be the one collecting the supplies with Suzaku. As your older brother, I think it would be better for you if you stay and protect Nunnally." Lelouch said one day.

"No! onii-sama. You should stay with Nunnally-chan here and let me and Suzaku-san go look for more supplies." Rolo said quite panicked. His older brother should never be placed in any necessary danger especially if his older brother may have to kill someone for them to be protected. He cannot let that happen! Lelouch should be kept innocent as was their promise and obviously having to kill someone counts as something that would take that innocence away! That is why he needs to get stronger. If only he has more power, then nothing like this can ever happen.

"But-," Lelouch replied but is interrupted by his friend Suzaku who said, "Lelouch-kun, if you went out there, you would be shot and Rolo-kun and Nunnally-chan would be devastated if you died. Would you like that to happen?"

"No, I would never have wanted that to happened but-."

"Suzaku-san is right onii-sama. Stay by Nunnally-chan's side and tell her stories of the book you've read and let us do the rest."

"But, I feel so useless. I feel like I'm not doing enough and I am your older brother, Rolo! It should be my job to protect you and you seem to be doing the protecting."

"That's not true onii-sama. We are alive because of your plans onii-sama. Without them, we might not survive and besides, both Suzaku-san and I only followed your plan that's why we are still alive so don't ever think that you're useless."

"Rolo-kun is right, onii-sama. Don't ever think you are useless! You're the only reason why I am not afraid and that's because I know you are here protecting me," Nunnally said passionately.

"They're right Lelouch-kun. Don't worry I'll protect Rolo-kun with all my life so don't worry too much, okay?" Suzaku vowed.

"I understand. Thank you Suzaku-kun. Come back safely."

And that ends the argument of their role assignment.

The four friends continued their travel until it is time for them to move on their separate ways. Rolo and Lelouch have talked about where they would be going. Lelouch told Nunnally and Rolo that they should go to the Ashfords to seek protection until their father called for them but Rolo vehemently refused to go with the plan.

Rolo claimed that no one is to be trusted especially in this situation where their father could order their assassination and surely the Ashfords would report them back and use them as a leverage to bring back their family's glory before their mother's death.

Lelouch would have argued that the Ahfords were not like that and most certainly their father would never order their deaths but when Nunnally asked him why their father decided to invade Japan when they are definitely here, Lelouch could only come up an excuse on their father's actions which Nunnally and Rolo never bought in the slightest.

They would have argued more if only Nunnally didn't take Rolo's side. Two to one after all counts as a loss in his favour. That is why it was agreed that it would be better for them to stay out of the Ashford's influence until they deem it would be safe.

On another note, Lelouch agreed to the twin's plan to change their name to their mother's maiden name, Lamperouge instead of claiming that they are the vi Britannia. First for their safety since most if not all Japanese would use them against as a bargaining tool to have a leverage against their father; next is that their father hasn't ordered them to come back which means that it isn't safe for them to go back yet. Well that was what Lelouch's logical mind came up for approving the plan. Unknown to him, his siblings made that plan in order for them to be out of that man's hands until the emperor decided to kick the bucket, thus more protection for them in case their father did something like what he did to their precious older brother.

Another thing they talk about before continuing their travels towards Tokyo is if they are not to ask protection from the Ashford then where would they go to start their new life? Going to the ghettos would be more detrimental for they might find themselves at the receiving end of the Japanese's anger just by being a Britannian and all. They should also establish themselves in a city which means that they should have a place to stay preferably a house. And of course, they needed a story on why they are living alone in said house or else they might be sent in an orphanage which would eventually lead the three of them to separate with each other.

Before the night ends, the three siblings planned, with Lelouch doing most of the planning and Rolo and Nunnally giving suggestions or weighing down the pros and cons of the plan.

In the end, they all agree to "borrow" an abandoned house preferably one that was owned by someone who was declared legally dead and in the outskirts of the city in order for the authorities to not give them much thought; after all, the strong who mostly live in the center of the city are the ones Britannia serves while the weak who mostly lived outside of the city are ignored.

Once they found the perfect place to stay, they will then integrate themselves in the society as the Lamperouge siblings whose father was a poor commoner who works as a lowly soldier whom the empire have little to no knowledge of, their mother died during the invasion and their aunt who visits them once in a while. A perfect cover story if ever someone questioned them why they are no adults in the house. Of course, they also needed to pretend to have 'received' letters or gifts from their non-existent father once in a while but that can be taken care of once they have settled.

With the agreement of the plans, the three new christened Lamperouge siblings, continued their travel towards Tokyo with a new found purpose in life.

For Lelouch, it is to protect his siblings until they were called back to mainland after all, he still have this hope in his heart that everything will be alright in the end.

For Rolo, it is to protect his siblings most epecially from that monster they call a father.

And for Nunnally, it is to protect her siblings too even if she knows that she would always be the one who will need their protection. Eventually, she hoped that they will find a new life away from their horrible past.

A.N. 2 sorry this is only a filler chapter but don't worry next chapter is about what happens to the three siblings and the start of Shinjuku ghetto arc (episode 1 of code geass) and that's where the story would definitely start. By the way, I used the Japanese honorifics well because they are now in Japan and they must have learned it in their brief stay in the Kururugis.

Self-edit version 2: 05-05-15