Chapter 3: The Identity Crisis

Zero enters a room in which there is a couch, T.V., bed, and a coffee table with a meal set up on it, this room had a single attendant, who would make meals for zero, then leave for the next hour, as Suzaku had to remove his mask to eat. He sits down at the table and takes off Zero's mask and turns the T.V. on before beginning his meal.

"A single year, I thought all big threats were done with, now this man named Infinite comes with a plan he believes is in Lelouch's favor. But no one knows the truth behind that day; the day I killed him." Suzaku says to himself.

"Will this new adversary, Infinite, be successful in his quest to redeem Japan in the name of Lelouch, 99th Emperor of Britannia?" Milly Ashford says on the news channel. "How many forces will he be able to assemble with the new Britanninan restriction act? Many people posed this question, and it is a re-assuring question at that, only about every 1 in 10 Britannians are even being allowed into Japan since his announcement. And another question that is important is just how many KnightCrawlers has he assembled since he started his ambition? this number may be the difference between victory and defeat with their power." Just then someone knocks on the door. Suzaku glanced at this clock on the wall, obviously seeing the attendant wouldn't be back by now, and puts his mask back on for the moment.

"Come in," he says.

The person who enters is in a wheel chair, and he recognizes her.

Nunnally is the guest now in his room, and says, much to Suzaku's surprise, "Suzaku, please remove that mask for me." Suzaku is taken completely back at this, for he hadn't even told her about Lelouch's plan of death.

"Suzaku?" He asks, pretending to be baffled

"Don't play with me anymore!" Nunnally shouts at him obvious to him now that she has known for a long time.

He does so, sighing and asks, "How long have you known Nunnally?"

"I've always known, when I touched My brother's hand that day, I saw everything that happened with him Since you made that agreement." She says, and Suzaku can see she is now holding back tears. "Suzaku... What are the chances that Lelouch is alive?" She asks, and Suzaku, taken back again, realizes that she is being completely serious.

"Alive, Lelouch? No, he died in front of everyone, in your arms." He replies, partly sad to say this. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Because, when I said I saw everything of Lelouch since your agreement, I meant it. The women with green hair is C.C. right? I never saw her face." She asks

"Y-yes."

"She was immortal, with the Geass code, what gave my brother his Geass."

"Where are you going with this?"

"She gave Lelouch the code, and gave him immortality." She says, startling Suzaku. "If that is true, then he might be Infinite, the thought of my brother being alive has been the only thing keeping me going this past year."

"Lelouch... is Infinite?"

"There's a chance of it, yes."

"But if Lelouch is Infinite, what is he trying to accomplish? He wanted Japan free just as much as I did."

"Of that I'm unsure, but if he is, what are you going to do?" This question was the most troubling for Suzaku, despite everything, Lelouch was his best friend, the thought of fighting him again would be a lot to bear.

"I..." He began, "I can't turn a blind eye for him, especially in the case your wrong, and Lelouch isn't Infinite."

"I know that, what I mean is will you try to find a way to meet him and find out?"

"If I do that, and it is Lelouch, it could benefit him, but it could also hinder myself. However, on the chance it isn't, I would be put in an unfavorable situation."

"I see," Nunnally says sadly.

"But maybe there's a way to find out without meeting him directly." Nunnally straitens up at this. "Chances are, Lelouch is still using his old cell phone and number, because otherwise he would have to get a new one, which would involve using his personal information, which he wouldn't risk, so if I call him with my cell phone, we might be able to find out."

"OK," Nunnally agrees as Suzaku takes out his cell phone.

Suzaku starts dialing the number, and Nunnally's heart begins to race, and every second is an eternity at the thought of Lelouch being Infinite. When Suzaku finishes dialing the number he pauses, holding his thumb over the call button, and Nunnally could see the pressure in his eyes. Finally, after what seemed like a tortuous suspense for both of them, Suzaku pushes the call button on his cell, and holds it up to his ear. He hears the first ring.

Lelouch hears his cell phone ring, and takes it out of his pocket, about to answer, but then sees the caller ID flash across on the screen in bold letters he reads... SUZAKU

He tries to think of what to do... the second ring... If he answers, what would he do with Suzaku knowing he's alive... the third ring... If he doesn't he might risk valuable information... the fourth ring... He had to understand why Suzaku made this call... the fifth ring... but if he answered it, he could risk his identity being figured out... the sixth ring... he had to decide fast, his phone only rang ten times before going to voice mail... the seventh ring... What would have possible made Suzaku call this number now... the eighth ring... could he have been lead to believe he was really alive by Infinite appearing... the ninth ring... he had to make the decision, answer call, or end call... the tenth ring... He decided and pressed the button.

At Suzaku's side, he waited the ten rings then heard a sort of click made listened to what he heard, his face going pale in front of Nunnally's eyes, going pale herself. She watched Suzaku with anticipation. Had Lelouch answered and is now explaining something, or was he too shocked at what happened to put the phone down or speak. five seconds past and Suzaku hadn't said anything or even moved. But then the next moment he punched the table and gritted his teeth, startling Nunnally. He threw the phone at the wall and it broke.

"Lelouch..." Nunnally starts her question. "Was Lelouch on the other line?" She asked, he turned to her, both their faces were completely white but Suzaku's no longer carried an emotion.

"Lelouch..." He started. "is Infinite, he didn't answer the phone."

"Why didn't you answer the call Lelouch, who was it?" C.C. asks

"That was Suzaku calling me." Lelouch says, he was also pale.

"What, how does him not answering prove he's Infinite?" Nunnally asks

"I know how Lelouch thinks." Suzaku replies.

"Why on earth would he call your phone." C.C. asks Lelouch.

"I have no idea, I'm not even sure if I made the right call ending the call." Lelouch replies.

"What does that mean?" Nunnally begs.

"I knew that since Lelouch is alive, if he had nothing to hide, he would answer his phone, whether he knew what was going on or not." Suzaku replies.

"What if he thinks your alive and Infinite?" C.C. ponders.

"If that's the case, I probably made a bad decision." Lelouch says.

"But," Nunnally knows what's coming.

"But if he is Infinite, he wouldn't risk his identity being revealed because he answered the phone." Suzaku says.

"What if he knows your alive?" C.C. continues

"Then I made the absolute worst decision." Lelouch says.

"Please no, Suzaku?" Nunnally wants to deny what he's saying.

"But what he wouldn't have been able to realize was that not answering did reveal his identity, I'm sorry Nunnally, Lelouch is Infinite." Suzaku replies with dead certainty.

"So this means the heat is on, huh Lelouch?" C.C. asks.

"Yeah, yeah it does C.C." Lelouch replies sadly.

"We know he's up to something, but whatever it is, let it comfort you knowing it should in no way harm you, I or any of the world in the end." Suzaku says, putting a hand on Nunnally's shoulder.

"I know, thank you, Suzaku." She replies and turns, exiting the room slowly, and Suzaku puts the mask of Zero back on. And the attendant enters the room at the same time, wondering what she could have been doing here, and why she looked so sad, but figured it better not to ask.

"Lord Zero, are you going to finish your meal?" She asks.

"Well if that is the case, I'm sure he won't hold back, if that gives you any comfort." C.C. says and leaves the room, and Lelouch puts the mask of Infinite back on. A member of the Reverse Knights walks in.

"Lord Infinite, Dinner will begin soon, shall I fetch your meal?" He asks.

"No, I seem to have lost my appetite." Both Zero and Infinite say to their servers.