I do not own Code Geass

This chapter is going to focus mainly around Suzaku and Euphy, but Lelouch and Nunnally will be thrown in too, don't worry!

Euphemia is alive.

Those were the words that Lelouch heard over and over in his head, but no matter how many times he tried to piece together the meaning, he would draw a blank. Euphy couldn't be alive. It just wasn't possible. He had killed her himself, and Suzaku had watched the heart monitor flat line.

"What do you mean?" he asked CC after what seemed like an eternity (but in truth was probably no more than a minute).

"She didn't die, it was a hoax," CC told him. "Your mother knew that if Euphemia lived, she'd go through hell that she didn't deserve, and your father realized that it would be better for the time being if he just faked her death and put it off until later. Through Anya, he and your mom talked about it an decided to put Euphy in a medically induced coma, that way they wouldn't have to kill her, but they wouldn't have to deal with the bad publicity of the Massacre Princess."

Lelouch was about to say, I don't believe it, but then he caught himself. Actually, he did believe it. "That's just like my parents. They convince themselves they care by doing petty things such as letting Euphy live, but really they're just looking out for themselves and their power. But, CC, how do you know this?"

"Your mother and I were very close," CC replied.

Lelouch wasn't quite sure why, but that made him feel very strange.

"So? Back to Britannia?" CC asked. Lelouch was silent. "Come on . . . Think about it,Lelouch . . . Your sister is still alive. This is possibly the only chance in the world to get closure on what you did to her. You could apologize for what you did; isn't that what you want? All you have to do is tell Nunnally about it and get her to-"

"No," Lelouch said. "I won't need to tell Nunnally, because she already knows, or she will soon enough. Euphemia is already back in Area 11."

"What are you talking about? How could you possibly know that?"

"Think about it, CC. Cornelia is the ruler now, meaning any big royal secrets that had previously been kept from her she'll now know. And, knowing Cornelia, the second she found out that Euphemia was alive, she would have demanded that she be taken out of her coma. As soon as that happened, they would have had to explain to Euphy everything that's happened in the time she's been asleep, including the death of her father, two brothers, and most importantly, the man she loves; Suzaku Kururugi. Once she finds this out, she'll want to fly to Japan immediately to see him, or rather; his grave. That's just the way Euphy is. Meaning, right now, Euphemia is most likely in Japan, staying with Nunnally and Suzaku (aka Zero), but has no idea that it's actually him," Lelouch said.

CC was silent for a moment, then, she asked with true concern, "ever wonder if you over think things, just a little?"

"So, Nunnally," Euphy said later that night as the two of them sat down for their private dinner. No one else was around except Gino, who was keeping watch at the door. "Do you have any idea who Zero really is?"

Nunnally bit her tongue. Euphy couldn't know the truth . . . "No, I have no idea. But I'm grateful to him for saving me from Lelouch."

Euphemia looked down sadly. "You know . . . This really doesn't make any sense."

"Because Lelouch was Zero?" Nunnally asked.

Euphy's eyes grew. "You knew about that?"

Nunnally nodded. "Yes, Cornelia and Schnizel told me. I honestly wasn't very shocked . . . I had suspected from the beginning. Lelouch was always getting home late, and I recognized Zero's voice from somewhere. But I didn't want to believe it, so I just put the thoughts in the back of my head."

"You know why he was doing all those things that he did, don't you, Nunnally?" Euphy asked. She was grasping onto every last piece of evidence that her elder brother might actually be the kindhearted man she knew him as.

"He said he did it so that he could create a world where I would be happy," Nunnally said. "And maybe that was true at first, but, in the end, he was ready to execute me, along with all the other Black Knights who he had once called his friends. If Zero hadn't killed him . . . Well, we wouldn't be sitting here now." Which might not be so bad . . .

"Will I get to meet this 'New Zero'?" Euphemia asked.

Nunnally nearly spit out her tea. "Uh . . . I just don't think that's the best idea, Euphy. I mean, no one besides Gino and I are to know that you're here, and to trust that information to someone whose face we've never even seen . . ."

"Oh . . . right. That would be kind of dumb, wouldn't it?" Euphy asked, and gave her signature fake smile. But that's all it was; a fake smile. Euphy had nearly mastered them. It wasn't hard to fake a smile, the hard part was to keep one going.

Suzaku stared at himself in the mirror. And while that sounds rather cliche, the truth was he felt like he needed to. Not because he had forgotten who he was as a person, or wanted to take a look at himself from an outsider's perspective on his life (although both those things were true), but because he had sincerely forgotten what he looked like. All day, every day, he was wearing a mask. There were no mirrors in his own bedroom, and in the bathroom in the morning it was just something he never stopped to check. It didn't matter what he looked like; no one would see him!

"I need a shave . . ." he mumbled to himself. This was somewhat new. Up until recently, Suzaku had never really needed to worry about shaving. Facial hair just wasn't something he had. Maybe this was just all part of growing up . . .

You're still just a kid, he told himself. Even though it really doesn't feel that way. I feel like an old man, but I'm not even a legal adult yet! 18-years-old and my life is over . . . It just doesn't seem right.

But, then again, his life had felt like it had been over for years. When he and Lelouch were children, they were both put through so much that they were forced to grow up at a young age, and it seemed like they never even really got a childhood. Nunnally hadn't either, but not for the same reasons. Her childhood was taken by her father to cover up her mother's murder. Lelouch and Suzaku had to make the choice to grow up, and it was one they had made without even realizing it. The truth was, Suzaku didn't feel like an adult, but he didn't feel like a kid either. He felt as though he had drifted into some strange limbo that was in between the two. When he was at school, or with Euphy, he always felt like a kid again. However when he was in battle or at work, he was an adult. It was strange that a person could switch personalities so quickly and not even realize it.

And that was the main thing that had been troubling him. After losing Euphy, that childlike part of Suzaku that was always buried deep inside went away, as if she had taken it with her. He had been more serious than ever before, and slowly began to devolve into exactly the person he said he'd never become. For a moment, he had become his father. The stubborn, proud, cocky, and self-hating man who would fight to the death just out of boredom. He stopped trying to save people; it just wasn't as important.

But then, Lelouch gave him a responsibility so great, he had thought he was beginning to go back to his old ways (although he'd never be completely the same again). And now, after seeing Euphy alive . . . He didn't know what to feel. He knew that she was the same old Euphy she'd always been, but he had become a completely different person. There was no way she could possibly still love him, and how could he be sure that he still loved her? All he needed was to see her one last time. If he could just get a second alone to see how he felt around her . . . He'd know. And that would be all he needed.

. . . Right?

It killed Nunnally to watch this unfold. Euphemia and Suzaku's life seemed to have popped right out of an old Shakespearean romance. At first, their love had been forbidden, but somehow they slowly made it work. Then, just as the first act of the play would draw to a close; Euphemia was "murdered" by Zero. When the second act begins, Suzaku had been clearly affected by this. He begins to go mad without his love, and eventually, he ends up dead too. Then, just as the music stops playing and audience rises to leave, they both appear again, alive and well. And even in the exact same place at the exact same time! So what's the problem? Where's the tragic ending?

Well, it's hidden in the fact that the two lovebirds will never be able to know that they're standing right next to each other, and that, is the worst tragedy of all. At least, that was how Nunnally saw it.

"So, Euphy . . . Be honest with me. How have you been feeling about Suzaku?" Nunnally asked, hating herself for asking but knowing deep down she needed the truth. She felt like a monster for keeping the two apart, she at least needed some closure.

Euphy's head dropped down quickly so that Nunnally would not be able to see her face.

"Please, Euphy," Nunnally begged, subconsciously using the same tone she had as a child when she wanted something Lelouch wouldn't give her.

Euphy was silent. She had been avoiding this moment - the time when she would have to face her own feelings. It sucked. "I . . . I can't believe he's gone. And I mean that literally. There is no possible way I can find to convince myself that I'm never going to see him again, that he's actually . . ." -tears began to steam down her face, leaving sticky traces and soaking parts of her hair- "gone. I miss him, but the same way I'd miss him when he went off somewhere for work or whatever. Deep down, I just keep expecting him to walk through the door with that big goofy grin he always tries to hide and say 'I've returned, my princess' in that formal way he always did. It's pathetic . . ."

Nunnally's heart broke in that moment, sewed itself together, and then broke again. This truly was a travesty. "You're not pathetic, Euphy. Not one little bit. I still feel the same way about Brother, and I held him as he died. 'Death is something that humans find impossible to full grasp until it faces them.'"
Lelouch told me that at our mother's funeral . . . He was so wise, even as a child.

Euphy used a napkin to clean her face. "You really feel that way? Even after all he did . . . You miss him?"

Nunnally nodded. "Of course! He was my big brother, and for a while, the only family I had."

Euphemia nodded, set down her napkin, and stood up. "If you'll excuse me, my lady, but I am in need of some fresh air."

Nunnally began to roll her chair out after Euphy. "Please allow me to-"

"I'd rather be alone," Euphy said kindly. "If that's alright."

Nunnally rolled back in and gave a sad smile. "Of course, Euphy. Just be careful not to leave my quarters . . . You can't be seen. There's a balcony right in my bedroom, next door over."

Euphy nodded. "Thank you."

And as she walked out the door, she meant it. But once the wooden frame was closed off behind her, she knew where she was really going; and it wasn't Nunnally's balcony. It was Zero's room.

She had to seem him, the man who had killed her brother and stolen his identity. Suzaku had been killed in battle; at least Zero had a body she could mangle. He would pay for everything; even the things that weren't his fault. And she would unmask that bloody bastard just so she could see the face of the man she knew she hated more than anything. Because when bad things happen, you need someone to blame. Even if it's just for a little while; you need someone to take your anger out on. And Euphy had been pushed off the edge of calmness and compassion. And she hadn't even noticed, but in her hand was a knife from Nunnally's dining room. She must have taken it on her way out, not realizing. Well . . . This would make her life easier.

Suzaku had just finished shaving when he heard the loud bang coming from his bedroom. He was in the bathroom; only a doorway away.

"Who is it?" he called. He slipped his shirt over his head and grabbed the mask from it's place on the counter, then placed it on his head. Before he had time to exit the bathroom and confront the intruder, the door was kicked inward from the outside.

Standing there, face red as a tomato, was exactly the person Suzaku had been waiting to see. Euphemia li Bri - No, this was Euphemia Lamperouge.

"Euphy!" Suzaku exclaimed, completely forgetting himself for a moment, then catching himself too late. I'm Zero! I'm Zero! I'm Zero!

"You know me?" she asked, pausing for the slightest second. Then she shook her head. "No, no. Everyone knows me, I'm Princess Massacre. And you . . . You killed my brother, so now I'll kill you."

Suzaku couldn't believe what he was hearing. Euphy, his Euphy, was threatening someone's life? That was impossible! But at the same time . . . It wasn't. Euphy had had everything in her life that was of significance taken from her in what seemed like a second (but in truth had been a year). After all that happened, wouldn't she need some way to let that out? Someone to punish for what had happened to her? And who better than the murderer of her own big brother! Suzaku knew then what he'd have to do.

"Euphy wait . . . Hear me out," he tried.

"Save it!" she shouted. She quickly tackled him to the floor, kneeled over him, and raised her knife above his chest. "I don't need an explanation! I don't care who you are-"

"Are you sure?" Suzaku asked, quickly removing the mask from his face to protect his own life. "You don't care at all who I am?"

The knife clattered to the ground, and Euphy's knees buckled. "S-Suzaku . . ."

"Shh!" he hissed. He raised his hands, motioning for her to be quiet. "Yes, it's me."

"B-but you're . . ." Euphy raised a hand to her head. Her knees gave in, so she was now siting on him.

"Dead?" he asked. "So are you."

She shook her head. "This is a cruel dream . . ."

"It's not a dream," he told her. "I promise. Now shut the door and we can explain everything to each other." How am I being so calm right now?!

Euphy did as he said, and locked the door behind her. The two of them were now completely alone in the bathroom; blocked off from the rest of the world.

"Now, let me-"

Suzaku didn't even get to finish his sentence before Euphy had slammed herself into his chest, shaking with sobs.

"Eu-Euphy," he stuttered.

"Don't ever leave me again, Suzaku," Euphy said. "Promise!"

"I promise. But you have to promise me the same thing."

Euphy looked up at him and nodded. "I-I promise. Never again. B-but how are you . . .?"

"Lelouch helped me fake my own death," Suzaku told her. "You see the truth is, I can't die right now. Lelouch used his Geass on me so that I'd always have to live. Knowing that, he chose me to be Nunnally's new knight, and ordered me to publicly kill him so that the dictatorship would end, but the countries of the world would remain united. It's kind of simple really."

"So he died for world peace?" Euphy asked, wiping away her tears. "That's just like him . . ."

"But what about you?" Suzaku asked. "I actually watched you die . . ."

Euphy shook her head. "No, you watched me fall into a medically induced coma. My heart rate was perfectly normal. I got lucky and Lelouch's bullet missed my heart by literally a quarter of a centimeter. I'm lucky he always had such bad aim . . . But the truth is, my heart rate was perfectly normal. Everything that happened was staged."

"Were you in on it?" Suzaku asked.

She shook her head. "I didn't even know what I had done until I woke up. But I remember that you . . . You lied to me, Suzaku. You told me everything went perfectly because you knew I was dying. Why?"

"I wanted you to have a reason to keep fighting, I guess," Suzaku replied. "And I didn't have the heart to tell you what you had done . . . I knew that there was no way you had done it on purpose, and even if you had . . . I'd still love you."

"But there was a moment when I almost . . . Suzaku, I almost killed you!" Euphy exclaimed. "How could you-"

"Euphy," he interrupted. "You were lying on your death bed. I wasn't exactly afraid of you."

Euphy giggled a little, and Suzaku joined in. They kept going and going until they were both crying and laughing at the same time. Finally, it stopped with a final hiccup on Euphy's part. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. "How are we going to do this?"

"We'll make it work," he promised.

She picked up her head and kissed him. It was so sudden that Suzaku didn't even think before he kissed her back. And that was when he knew how he really felt about Euphy. He still loved her. And he probably always would.