A single stone ...the river flows

The phone rings steady and strong. The voice on the phone ...causes anger in the one whom goes to silences it. Questions curl on the receiver's lips, but terror is what holds his words in it's grip. The nightmare begins, the path he had feared is coming to reality as the truth is lay bare. His hand tightens on the phone, as he feels his blood run cold, and his green eyes shine with his own resolve ...his anger dissolved as he focuses on the caller's every word.

The path through mountains a river can cut...can a single stone it's path disrupt?

Different? Strange? His mind reels with the knowledge that yes there has been a change. He simply states about the girl's missing days ...a truth for a truth. Though he decides it's best if he is the one to investigate before the caller makes an even bigger mistake. Though those words don't spout from his mouth, and before it's resolved ...the call is lost. The cat ...the stone that had changed it all ...lunges for his hand and dig deep his claws. Dropping the phone ...dropping the call ...and that important moment in time is lost.

The rivers divide again.

"OUCH, ARTHUR."

Suzaku can only exclaim as he pry claw by painful claw from his hand. The phone lay on the floor ...the sound of the dial tone loud even to his ears ...as he looks at the offending cat as though he is a demon in kitty fur. An expression that soon dissolves with a single meow, and a flick of the cat's tails as he heads back for his sanctuary in the huge scratching post. Why was he such a sucker for animals, and why did they all treat him so cruelly? He has never seemed to have an affinity for any beast through his childhood, and even now ...it seems nothing has changed. He loved them, and they attacked him. He wonder if that was just a flaw of his personality as his mind whirl back to Zero ...and Lelouch whom were so like the cat in front of him that he dropped his head into his hand.

"I am such an idiot."

"Suzaku?" Nunnelly's voice rings clear reminding him that he wasn't alone in the room. That the conversation brief was probably for the best, as he looks up at her and smiles even though he knows she can't see it.

"That was Lelouch, simply calling to tell you that he would be late again." "Though he was suppose to help me before he came home for dinner, thus, it seems I am on my own again." "I probably should be going ...I need to study."

Suzaku lied quite plain.

The conversation before about the princess would have to be entertained for another day ...as something occurred to him. He stops in his track as he looks at the two in the room, Rivalz and Millie. The race was on. There was no sense in him trying to call again, Lelouch wouldn't answer and he wouldn't call him again either. Suzuku knew this as he wrap his bleeding hand in a fabric to prevent his blood from dripping. He had to find Shirley first before the mistake made becomes worst.

Lelouch had gotten the information he wanted, the chain of thought continues, and now, everything would be about his actions.

Every movement, every moment, and the resolution that should be clear would be clouded in mist. The path Lelouch would choose would be as clear in his head as fog on glass, and it made the boy slightly shiver. This one was too close to home. For all the strategist that Lelouch might be ...he lacked the most important pieces to be the best of them. The ability when it strikes at his heart to keep that same level head that he did when the pieces that were on the field was those that he didn't mind losing. It got him in trouble quite a bit ...like when children teased Nunnelly, and he tries to stop them with his fist. The moment in childhood become clear then, and he had to keep the smile from reaching his lips. Such a flaw, is was makes Lelouch human, and it was another reason why Suzuku wanted him to back out of this madness. That flaw got men killed on the battlefield, but those were thoughts for another time as he tries to seize the moment.

"Millie and Rivalz do you know where Shirley is?" "Since Lelouch is busy I want to ask her for help studying for this assignment."

A moment of insight as he stares at the two in question.

Timing was one thing that had always been his strong point, and Lelouch's weakest. The call couldn't have taken place at a better time as the two in question sat not more than ten feet from him. Their talk of the young princess had kept them occupied in those moments of conversation, but now, their focus was on him.

Yes, the race is on.

And, he had always been faster than Lelouch in such physical activities, but, considering that half of this race depended on the mind ...the boy had to wonder if he could indeed win it. Or if not, stop him in time to prevent another tragedy. His hand touching his pants pocket, and at the same time insuring himself that inside of them were the same black shades that had protected him during the moment of enlightenment that now had him torn between his duty to his country and his duty to his friend. The same conflict that had been the root of evil he had committed many years ago.

The river merges as one again.

He was too slow ...Suzaku knew this as he catches the train to Narita. He should have guessed this first, but Millie wasn't exactly the easiest person to deal with when she thought she was preventing a love triangle from forming. He had to constantly reassure her that he was only concern for Shirley's well being with her missing so many classes. For once he had discovered that she was no longer on the academy's grounds, ...his reason for finding her had to change. He knew she had to have it rough with her father's death, it was a pain he had knew only too well, and it was those words that convince her to help. Though it had take a lot more ...manuvering to keep them from deciding to come with him as he had to dive even deeper into his own private hell to get them to agree to stay behind.

The boy chuckles but there is no light in it as he sits down on the train, his mind racing but with nothing else to do he simply review the events of the past ...as it seemed that Lelouch was excluding a very important resource from his arsonal in Millie. That girl knew everything about that school, and could find it out much more effectively than even Lelouch's eye. Her connects ran that deep, and it was her ability to do that ...that had helped Suzaku to find out not only Shirley's whereabouts ...but about the fact that she had been approached by strangers a few days prior. That had probably been the start of the trouble, because, Suzaku could think of no way that she would think it was wise to come to a battlefield alone. That, she would try and take revenge against Zero, especially considering that the military had already failed. Someone had to have guided her down that path, and that left another fear in the pit of his gut. What if he wasn't the only one whom knew Lelouch's secret?

The train didn't move fast enough for him.

The river merged slowly starts to divides again

The boy arrives in Narita, but it's isn't as simple as having only one place to go. His mind whirl with the thought of where they can be, and his heart beats wildly. He could almost sense it in the air, the blood, the pain ..., but he shakes his head. "Surely," Suzaku tells himself, that he is only letting his anxiety get away from him. He closes his eyes and as people rushes around him to their destination he tries to concentrate on where to go. Where he would go if he was lost and confused. His feet lead him the way he already knew. Though this was no longer the town, no longer the same japan, he knew the places here just as well as he knew his own face. He was heading towards the memorial ...towards the place where those lost souls were honored for the sacrifice that day. Needless deaths, because Zero's plans only recognize the piece he have placed.

He tightens his fists as he walks.

The fastest way in his memory was by rail, but this is where the fact that this place was no longer the same came into play. The railways ...he hoped silently that it was simply a slump in sales, but as he got closer he realized his worst fears. It had all, but been abandon. He had lost more time in coming here, or so he thought as he saw them there near the platform ...each one wrapped in the other's arms. For a moment he thought to turn away, but those words ...he heard them clear, and the mistake he had to move to stop ...he rushes towards both of them.

The shades he flicks over his eyes as his footsteps make Lelouch turn towards him. The bird in his eyes had formed, but disappears as soon as he realizes it is him whom comes.

"Shirley, Lelouch?"

The questions is there and as the girl drops to her knees and sob harder as he is given his answer. Suzaku wasn't happy as he locks eyes with Lelouch to notice the rage that appears in Lelouch's eyes. This leads to another question, but now wasn't the time to ask ...as Shirley's sobs turns his attention in another direction. In chess it's is always foolish to make a move before checking the position of all the pieces on the board ...as Shirley is moved to a bench while Lelouch sits at her side. Suzaku talks to them both ...there was nothing now to hide as he see the surprise in her eyes as he reveals his knowledge of the situation and she looks up at him with tears forming thickly. A confession made, twrice in the same day, and even Suzaku could see that her soul was cracking and splintering under it's weight. And new information and a new power is introduced in this tale to the game, as for once, Lelouch doesn't try to curve the damage of what has passed.

Simply guilt.

It was the first thought on his mind, but a hand of comfort on her shoulder is all Suzaku can do for Shirley. He knew without a doubt that the true resolution would have to come from Lelouch himself, and he hated what he was going to propose. Yet, he could see clearly what has happen had cracked her soul, and that too much more of this pressure would shatter it all together. Shirley didn't deserve such a fate as he thought about the death of her father and wondered, why that wasn't enough tragedy for the girl. Then he turns his attention as he practically growls at Lelouch in such a way that the boy jumps as if startled, and once he was sure that Shirley would stay ...he leads the boy for a moment away.

"You were going to take her memory away weren't you?"

The moment that he was sure of the safety of their distance he asked, and Lelouch only nods as he voices heatedly.

"She is suffering because me ...what other choice do I have?"

A smile came briefly on Suzaku's lips, and Lelouch's angry scowl keep those words behind his lips.

"Not many now," Suzaku amends his words. "I don't like that power of yours, but, she is suffering too much as she is now." "I don't think ..." and the words caught there, but he forces them loose, " as she is now she will survive." "She is too innocent, and her soul too pure." "I warn-."

Suzaku once more has to force the words away again. Blame would get them no where at this point ...there would be nothing to gain with accusations ...no matter how true.

"But, you can't just play with someone's mind easily ...especially after all the trauma." "Shirley ...she loves you ...you know."

Lelouch's guilt was plain then as he looks at the ground.

"I know." "I know that now, that is why she must forget all about me?"

The boy declares, and Suzaku's eyes goes wide.

"That's stupid." "You don't think someone will notice such a big change, and not only that ...but how will that protect her in the long run." "You don't think she figured out you were Zero by accident, or that it was mere luck that she ended up at that battle field." "She was chasing after Zero which lead all of this to pass." "Even if it was that strange guy's doing, how does that make her even less vunerable if she forgets all about you, but remember her hatred of Zero." "I hate to say this, because I don't exactly like your power, but ...maybe the command you should use is simply forgiveness for what Zero has done to her father and forgetfulness of everything that happen from the moment she decided to go after Zero that day until tomorrow morning."

"That's even stupider."

Lelouch comments sourly, but Suzaku saw it in his eyes. Even behind the shades, that he saw some worth in his suggestion though he would put his own spin on it. The conversation than drifts to silences as Lelouch takes the lead back towards Shirley.

"Thanks."

The words were utter in that moment as Suzaku looks up at him in surprise, but turn his eyes away. The shades a constant reminder of the rift that had formed between them.

"If you really mean that, stop being Zero."

Suzaku counter's back.

"Things are starting to come too close to home and I can't promise that I will always have your back."

Lelouch shook his head then. Though he made no point to say anything back. Those same words from childhood, but the context was so different. A fight, a taunt, a promise that never once did Suzaku every fail to complete stir in his memories. But, there was also a bit of ominous tension in them this time as he pause. His direction is clear, but he would bear those sins. If he could just protect one above all others. Then somehow his decisions would be bearable as he broke the silences just before Shirley would look up into his eyes. The words he needed to say before his task to take her sins away.

"I know ...just keep Nunnelly safe."

The bird then flew free of it's cage, and the world for one would be okay again.

The single pebble ...is swept away

By the river of time ...it seeks a new way

The force of the water ...behind it's strength

It hit the earth, and it causes only a small rip

The water's force further the crack's length

Bury it deep, the crack gains width

A new path form ...but the old isn't gone

One leads to the ocean, the other unknown.