A/N: Rating up to T.

Here is the rest of my story. Truth be told, I was so sad writing this. Heh, it's a real struggle to express the feelings of this fic, you know. I tried my best, even though it's not as good, I'm afraid. Anyway, I still hope you enjoy. Thank you for reading. Review much appreciated. Feel free to ask question too if there's any vagueness. And as always, sorry for the linguistic mistakes.

~X~

Like the Sun

Part 2

The downpour that's swept over the old pretty town for the last few days finally ceased today, allowing the new sun to make its way to the pure clear sky. Things seemed so fresh and lively too, as if the water from heaven had purified everything in its blessing touch.

Suzaku ran real fast to the meeting place – that beautiful wisteria tree where his angel was properly expecting him. He himself had had to wait for so long to see his friend again, all because of the persistent rain. And guess what, many unpleasant things had happened in those freaking long days. Suzaku scowled recalling the events. Whatever they'd said, he didn't care one bit! Who care about growing up! Who care about being a man with responsibility! Who care about inheritance of that despicable company! No, he didn't give a damn about it! He didn't!

But he promptly stopped as he got to the garden, panting heavily. No matter what happened to his outside life, here he wouldn't want to worry his friend at all. He just couldn't. He knew all too well he shouldn't go see his friend in such state of mind. But…since that revelation, he couldn't bear staying away from his friend for too long. His Lelouch was ill, seriously ill to the point he hasn't been allowed to go out even for a second. That...his fragile angel was…his heart ached just remembering it, Lelouch was to leave him one day! Suzaku gritted his teeth. His brows creased into a hard frown, eyes digging a hole on the innocent grass. Suddenly he felt so angry. There really was nothing he could do now for his dearest friend, just like there wasn't anything he could do in this damnable life of his. It just, wasn't fair. Not at all…

"Suzaku?" A very concerned voice woke him out of his inner turmoil. The boy looked up to find Lelouch approaching him, his face filled with unhidden worry.

"Hi…Lulu." Suzaku said weakly, smiling to reassure his friend, but it just didn't reach his eyes. Shit! He already made Lelouch worried! And he had promised to himself he would do anything to make the other happy always, hadn't he? Oh how he hated himself!

"You ok, Suzaku?" Again Lelouch asked, voice full of concern.

Now Suzaku thought, one must commit some awful crime to be able to feel as guilty as he was just hearing the tone. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath like he always did in such situation, and tried again more confidently, "I'm ok Lulu, really."

Lelouch narrowed his eyes suspiciously, then he stated sharply, sounding more like an actual accuse. "No, you're not." He then took some steps closer for them to just one foot apart, and putting a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder, he softened his voice, "I can tell when something is troubling you, Suzaku. Don't you want to share with me what happened?" But he quickly added, "Sorry I didn't want to pry."

Suzaku bit his lip, silently debating in his head. What was he to do? Should he…? No, did he even dare to worry Lelouch more! But…if he didn't tell, there would be a chance Lelouch would be sad…and he couldn't bring himself to go against his angel's will. Argh! Dammit dammit dammit dammmmmit!

"You can trust me, Suzaku." Like a morning breeze, Lelouch whispered into his jumbled mind. One tender hand caressed the boy's curled brown locks, the other brought up to massage his creases. He smiled that heart-warming smile of his, "I will just listen, promise. So don't worry about me either."

And that was the last straw. The distraught boy couldn't hold back any longer, 'cause he had had enough already. He wasn't in his right mind to think anymore. The lock that he'd used to bottle up every rude thing in a corner of his heart, now shattered like a bubble would, letting the cruel truth drown him in the depth of despair. Suzaku took Lelouch's small hand in his, intertwined their small fingers together, and bringing the both of them on their knees to the ground when his wobbled feet gave in. He clutched at the other's shirt tightly like no tomorrow, then burying his face into Lelouch's shoulder, he began his heartbreaking words.

"I'm so afraid Lulu! I'm so afraid! I don't wanna grow up like they said! I don't wanna become one of them! They are nothing but selfish, greedy and heartless adults wanting to decide everything for others!" He let go of the other boy, now targeted the ground instead, strong tanned fists punching the dirt with all their might, "They abandoned me, dammit! They abandoned me Lulu! They divorced when I was barely born! Leaving me in that damn uncle's hands for mercy for those ten fucking years! And they said they were busy all their life for me! They said they did everything for me! How could they! How can they!" He ground his teeth, pupils dilated into slits, "And now they dare to demand my responsibility, when theirs are all rotten! They want me to grow up! To have responsibility with that damn business! They want me to leave!" He looked at Lelouch with pleading, desperate eyes, "They want me to leave here, Lulu. They want me to leave you! They want me to go to America to study that godforsaken program for idiots who call themselves geniuses!"

Lelouch's breath caught in his throat. What…was Suzaku serious? He wasn't going to leave him, was he? So he was going to be alone again, right? To the end of his days, which was not very long from now, seemingly. He should see it coming. It was not that surprising…Yet he couldn't help but felt his heart break into small pieces. He lowered his gaze, and turned his head a little, away from the other's peering. He didn't want the boy to see his tearful orbs. He had promised…he wouldn't let his emotion shown.

"Please…Lulu…I don't wanna go! Tell me to stay Lulu…" Those words however did perk him up. Lelouch looked at his friend with hopeful eyes. "I don't wanna leave you alone. As I don't want you to leave me alone. I want us to be this way, forever! Never change. I don't care about anything else, Lulu. So please…" He inched closer to the other boy and hugged him, again resting his head on frail shoulder, "Promise to stay with me too Lulu." He finished; hope laced his voice like a child's would in asking for his favorite sweet, kicked-puppy look returning with full force.

It was Lelouch's turn to hesitate. He shouldn't be so selfish as to ask Suzaku to stay by his side always. And he wasn't going to promise what he couldn't hold. But…he couldn't crush his and Suzaku's hope. It was alright to be selfish sometime right? And a little white lie never hurt…

"Yeah Suzaku, I…promise." With a small voice he said his words, doubting for any cruel plan god had in store for them. He could just faintly hear the other's blissful 'thank you', and simply returned the embrace with his uncertain arms.

~X~

"Lulu, are you there?" Suzaku jogged toward the wisteria tree – their usual secret meeting place – eager to see his friend again after his so-called three-and-a-haft days of grounding (for not behaving in front of father's business partner – replaying the incident over in his mind, Suzaku rolled his eyes). He quickened his pace, and frowned slightly realizing that indeed, recently, he rarely had time to visit Lelouch as regularly as before; that was real disturbing. Still deep in thought, the boy couldn't reflex fast enough and therefore dashed head first into a solid object that appeared out of nowhere.

"Ouch!" Suzaku landed on his butt unceremoniously, "What on earth –" He cried out, pain clear in his voice, but stopped dead in his tracks as his emeralds eyes locked with cold blue ones.

There towering over him was a tall figure. Blond hair shone royally in the sunlight, face perfectly shaped as some god above, but emotionless whatsoever. He was clad in a very luxurious and elegant long white coat with beautiful golden patterns trimming along the hems of the jacket, lapels and sleeves; followed by a blue waistcoat and dark blue bow that underlined the color of his eyes; a silk white dress shirt underneath; and a pair of white full brogue oxford shoes adorning his feet, finished off the picture of a white prince.

A prince. Now that was the problem. Seriously, what was this prince doing in his Lelouch's house anyway? Did prince even trespass to other's property? Unlikely. But then his eyes suddenly widened. Wait wait wait wait! Was it meant, he had been caught? By a trespassing prince no less? Suzaku tensed, his hands curled up into fists. Prince or not, if anything, he was going to knock this man out first and –

"Staring is impolite, kid." The mysterious prince smirked, obviously noticing the boy's plan but choosing to ignore it nonetheless. "Are you going to sit there gaping all day or what?" That said, he offered one glove hand to help the boy up.

Suzaku didn't respond, he kept looking doubtfully at the stranger, very alert. He chose not to take the man's hand either, but stood up by himself instead. He might appear to be a kind gentleman, but who knew what was behind that beautiful mask? No, Suzaku couldn't risk it. Not when he hasn't seen his friend yet. "What are you doing here? Who are you!" The boy demanded, his mind racing for any escape plan that might actually work. This man looked anything but an idiot after all.

"I am Schneizel." He simply stated. "And what I want to do in my garden is none of your concern." He smirked again at the boy's dumbfounded expression, before he turned serious. "Come. I have something for you, Suzaku."

~X~

"My little brother, Suzaku, he is – was a little wonder. Strong – truth he had a weak heart, but he was never the type to show weaknesses – and very intelligent, and stubborn, yet also a real gentle soul–"

Suzaku closed his eyes, feeling the world crumbled under his feet. Beside him, Schneizel kept ranting about something he couldn't register as his brain seemed to stop its working already. He could only focus on one thing, the piece of paper in his grip – a letter with cursive handwriting arranging neatly on it. Those were words that would surely haunt him till the rest of his life, the lovely words that he's ever wanted to hear from Lelouch, the sincere words that he's always wished to be true…But, but not like that! He never dreamed of it this way! God never!

"–but he was always so lonely; though he had tried his best not to let it shown,–"

His head throbbed terribly, like someone was hammering his brain. His whole body ached over, like thousands of needles piercing through his skin. His chest hurt so damn much, like something was strangling his heart in its claws. It was so hard to breathe. He was going to be suffocated by the feelings alone. Suddenly, he felt so sick.

"You know, kid, he was so happy that day – where he first met you, babbling any wonderful thing that related to you all night and such. He seemed so fond of you–"

He clenched his trembling fists on his sides, hard. His mouth only a pale thin line. His mind screamed bloody murders. Liar. It was all a lie. A fucking lie! He still didn't believe it. He couldn't just believe it! He wouldn't! No way would Lelouch just leave him like that! They had promised hadn't they! They had promised!

"–you were the sun, Suzaku. Always shone so brightly. He said he liked it when you smiled, that it brought him the light he was missing. And, thanks to that light, he was not going to be terrified of his death anymore. Hm, seriously, that kid–"

Why…how…god! Why was god so fucking selfish! Wanting the angel all for himself! How could god abandon him, then kidnapped him away all as he pleased! Give him back! Give the angel back to him…Please…Just…please return Lelouch back to him…

A heavy sigh was heard. Then a light yet firm tap on his shoulder tugged at his attention. But it was the sudden show of emotion on Schneizel's usual stoic face that knocked him out of his denial, into the world of reality. It was there, although only barely visible, a trace of sadness and sorrow in those lilac-blue eyes.

"Listen, Suzaku." He gazed at the boy sternly, "He wished you to be happy. He never wanted to leave. But he had to. Everything was so sudden. There was nothing he could do, nothing I could do." Then his voice softened, "That kid, he smiled. He was smiling in his very last moment. He said he had found happiness, in the last days of his life. That's why he was not afraid. And he said he would always embrace the memories even though he was so far away. Suzaku..." And lowered his voice to just a whisper, he murmured his next words, "He said he was sorry...that he couldn't make it – seeing you for the last time."

Schneizel shook his head lightly, and beckoned for the boy to come closer, "Kid, just for today, I'll lend you a shoulder to cry on."

All the while Suzaku kept his mouth closed, he didn't trust himself to say anything in such state. He glared at Schneizel for a long second, before he broke into tears. Not waiting for any more word to be said, he took the offer without a second thought, tackling the man mercilessly. Lelouch…His Lelouch…His dearest friend…His amazing angel…he had missed the last chance. Now he was never going to see him again!

Unbeknown to Suzaku, a small drop of tear too rolled down the man's cheek, gently landed on the top of his chocolate hair.

~X~

Ten years later~

The young man strolled slowly in the large garden, as though he had all the time in the world. Forest green eyes darted around surveying the familiar surroundings, noting that, nothing has really changed since his last visit here, roundly ten years ago. The lush carpet of grass, the high walls of shrubberies, the old, giant trees, and the flowers in full bloom…everything was still pretty much in the same perfect condition as he remembered. He turned a bush – the same pattern he always made each time visiting here – and came to a stop in front of the beautiful wisteria tree. There, the endless waves of gentle violet-blue flower racemes were dancing in tune with the song of the wind, spreading about its particularly sweet fragrance, similar to that of ripe grapes. He closed his eyes, hoping against hope that, when he opened them again, the only missing piece of the puzzle would miraculously appear, just as the good old days.

But it never happened.

Suzaku smiled bitterly to himself. How stupid of him. Surely, he would never be there waiting for him again, after for too long…

He shook his head to clear his mind. Idiot. Not again. Now was not the time for those thought…

"I'm back, Lelouch." He greeted softly, smiling a little to no one. "I've finished all my studies as well as the company's businesses in that faraway country, now I'm coming home, Lelouch. I'm back for you."

He sighed; then taking some steps closer, he sat down, back leaning against the lumpy trunk. "Sorry, I've been gone for too long." He continued, a little louder than before, "I've missed you much, every day, Lelouch." He paused as if waiting for something, then resumed his speech a while later, a bit of pride now lacing in his playful voice, "Look at me now. See? A fine young gentleman I've become, quite impressive ne? I bet you can't recognize the same Suzaku of yours? But I am, Lelouch, I really still am." He grinned brightly, a hand brought up to lovingly touch the smooth petals, caressing them as one would to their lover's face.

"You know…I've been thinking for too long. About the words Schneizel told me all those years back. About the days we spent together, everything between the two of us. And about your words to me…your last words to me…" He reached into his breast pocket, and brought out a piece of paper smeared with the color of time, which he has treasured for all his life, "And I realized, last time, I forgot to say 'Thank you'. Haha, I'm really an idiot ne, yeah yeah I know." He chuckled softly, all the while nodding to himself, before his tone became more serious, "Thank you, Lelouch, for all the precious time we spent together, for your kindness and friendship, for your…love and care," His breath hitched a little, voice slightly trembling, but no tears was detected in those emerald gems. "And I thank you too, for the courage you presented to me, so that I could challenge my fear, facing the future on my own. Lelouch, so that I could leave to grow up, to be who I am now, the present Suzaku. I am not afraid of anything anymore."

He took a long, deep breath, and pressed the old letter a tad closer to his chest, as though trying to ease the pain that was clawing his heart, "Just like you, dear, who was not afraid of your own death…how come I let myself be frightened at anything." A small, content smile then graced his lips; Suzaku rested his head too against the sturdy tree and peered at the high blue sky through the violet veil. "You said I was the sun. I guess it makes me your sun then. Because, Lelouch, you were the one, every day, you are the one who makes me shine."

He paused again, listening to the friendly silence, letting his thoughts drift off in the peaceful memories.

"It won't be long, Lulu, I promise it will be real soon…" He mumbled sleepily, suddenly feeling very tired. The young man slowly closed his eyes, this time letting the gentle breezes lull him to sleep.

In his dreamy mind, Suzaku imagined he heard an angel's light, melodic laughter blended with the wind.

…till the day we meet again.

~Fin~