A Code Geass fanfic. I own nothing.
A sequel to The Funeral.

~ Truth or Lies

Success

"Where is C2?" Nunnaly asked, as Zero pushed her wheelchair down the hallway, towards the conference hall.

"Among the journalists. She's disguised, don't worry. She can look after herself." he answered softly.
Nunnaly smiled, content with the situation. Behind them walked Ohgi and Viletta. The empress would arrive through the doors to the conference hall together with the prime minister, to make sure everybody understood that she didn't see herself as being more than her japanese hosts.
Zero would enter, walking behind all of them.

So unlike how he acted in the past.

The main characters in the press conference would be Nunnaly, Ohgi, Viletta and Kaguya. Kaguya were already present, warming up the journalists from around the world, answering a few questions about the UFN before it was time to round up the diplomatic social visit from Britannia.

Nunnaly wasn't nervous. She'd been to countless of press conferences, and this were on top of that a friendly one. No questions about the crimes, the war, the now destroyed Damocles.. only questions about her visit and the future between Britannia and Japan and the world. The young empress looked up at her guardian.

For some reason, Zero was tense. She could tell. He walked a little slower than normal, looking at everything that moved before judging it not to pose a threat to the empress.

He'd been alone together with C2 last night. Nunnaly felt a very small stab of jealousy. So small. But still there. She was sure Zero had revealed his face to C2, that her brothers guardian knew who this Zero was.

But the small pain of jealousy was nothing compared to great relief of knowing Zero finally had someone to talk to. A person who knew him. The real him.
The two of them, herself and Zero, had talked briefly before she went to sleep last night, about the press conference. And he'd sounded more relaxed and content than he'd been in a long time. All because of C2. And what ever she said to him. No matter what it was, it was clear to Nunnaly that it had been just what her guardian needed to hear.

She reminded herself of the talk she'd had with Zero yesterday, at the grave.
Everyone has a bit of evil inside of them, as they have goodness. It's human nature she repeated to herself, knowing she shouldn't feel guilty about being jealous of C2.
She could feel, good and bad. But she would only ever show the good side of her, the patient, gentle and understanding. The feelings the world needed.

Britannia had conquered Japan to gain control of its underground resources. Jealousy and greed had driven them to tear the world apart.
Understanding and respect would pull it back together again.

But Zero, why are you so tense? Last night you were so calm, and now your're so tense.

They reached the door, and Zero let go of her wheelchair. Ohgi stepped up beside her, holding Vilettas hand. Zero took place one step behind them.
"Are you ready your majesty?" Ohgi asked, smiling.
Nunnaly smiled back at him. "I'm always ready to make a difference prime minister."

I can ask Zero why he is so tense afterwards. There'll plenty of time on the plane back to Pendragon.

C2 had taken place on the front row, to the right. The empress and Zero would take place close to where she was standing. Of course.

She had been there for some time now, waiting for the real thing to start.
She listened when Kaguya answered to the questions regarding the UFN. But she didn't pay that much attention. Kaguya was a wise young woman. But politics bored the living daylights out of her. If only they served pizza.. but no, only water. As if that would do any good.

She had been uncertain wether she should attend this conference at all. Journalists bored her to death, and chances were some stupid photographer would snap a photo of her and then hell would break lose ones she was recognized.

The door opened, and Nunnaly came into room, side by side with Ohgi and Viletta. Zero came into the room half a second later. And C2 then knew she'd made the right decision going to the conference.

He is nervous? What for? She looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Every person in the room had their attention on the now five people standing in the middle of room. Zero took his place by Nunnalys right, as Kaguya and Ohgi took place on her left. Viletta went to stand with the Black Knights. Everyone from the meeting the day before were there. They had one eye on her. They hadn't known she would attend the press conference undercover, so when Kallen recognized her and whispered the information to Tohdoh and Xing Ke Li the stares of distrust had all been focused on her, much to her great amusement. She turned her head, to the far right.

The Britannian staff members who all had, until this day, worked very hard on the new connections between Japan and Britannia, were all present in the room, standing with the Japanese politicians. They all looked very pleased.
And the security guy, Jacob Edwards, who'd disturbed her talk with Suzaku last night, also seemed very relaxed.

So what.. She trusted no one in this room more than Suzaku, especially on the topic of security. She frowned, uncertain of what she should do about it.

Hopefully is only because of the many people in a crowded room.

"Thank you all for coming on this special day." Ohgi voice could be heard in every corner of the large hall.
"This marks the end of a very successful meeting between two nations, who until very recently harbored hatred, anger and distrust towards each other. I'm very proud to say, that the past is in the past, and that we can walk into the future with the help from our friends around the world." at this Kaguya smiled, and stepped forward.

"As chairman of the United Federation of Nations it brings me great happiness to see two countries once at war now in deep collaboration to built a better future. Britannia still is the worlds largest country, but they now share bonds with every other country on earth. Her Majesty empress Nunnaly did, as most of you know, finish a series of visits much like this one in the EU only a few months ago, all with the purpose of offering a apology and to start making roads towards the future of tolerance and respect." Kaguya smiled to Nunnaly.

"Thank you lady Kaguya, for those kind words. That been said, nothing is done yet but all beginnings are tough and hard. Countries needs to be rebuilt, many with the help from others. And those who have the power to create offer their expertise to foreign nations in desperate need of it. I've been told that this visit have been very successful, not only on the diplomatic front. A collaboration between japanese and britannian engineers have started yesterday to work on plans to rebuilt and recreate the destroyed buildings of the japanse culture. When the war ended every country on earth agreed that no country should pay for the damage done in war. No more hard feelings. I'm proud to say, that Britannia now have students, workers and helpers all around the world, helping recreate what was destroyed in wartime. None by force, but by the goodness in their hearts. They are learning about others, and with learning comes respect and understanding, the values the future needs to rebuilt and be better. My hope is that a war of discrimination like the ones we have experienced in the past will never ever be repeated."

She bowed in japanese fashion as good as she could sitting down.
"Thank you so much for letting me stay in your wonderful country for the last days. The kindness you've shoved both me and my countrymen are nothing short of incredible." she turned her head to look at Ohgi. "Thank you prime minister Ohgi Kaname, for showing me the hospitality of letting me stay at your house."

Ohgi returned the bow.
"Thank you empress Nunnaly. We share the happy feelings of the results of this meeting. And now, ladies and gentlemen, you may ask your questions."

The journalists then one by one asked either Nunnaly, Ohgi or Kaguya about various things regarding the new future. C2 got rather bored. It took some time, each journalist got to ask one question.

And I'm sure they pulled every last damn journalist on earth into this room!

Although, she wasn't the only bored out of her mind. It gave her some satisfaction to watch Tamaki yawn very loudy only to get caught on camera and then to get scolded by Kallen. That caught the attention of everyone in the room, and while some tried to conceal their laughter C2 turned her head back and frowned.

The security man, Jacob, had left his post. She looked around, but couldn't see him anywhere. A quick glance on Zero told her he'd also noticed.

Did he se anything? C2 were about to go look for the now missing security chief, when Nunnaly spoke again.

".. and I hope to return again soon." Nunnaly looked around, very pleased with a happy smile on her face. The atmosphere was relaxed and calm. She opened her mouth to bid farewell, when flash from a camera caught her eye. Not the flash itself, but rather the object reflecting the light. Her smile froze.
She was looked straight into the darkness of a gun, pointed directly at her. And Ohgi. And Kaguya.

She never even had the time to be scared before the sound of a gun firing broke through the air, the gun firing again and again and again and again and again.
Then everything turned black.

It felt like forever, but in reality nothing more than a few seconds went by.

And then the screamning started. She blinked, seeing once again as the blackness in front of her disappeared.
And what she saw tore her heart apart.

"ZERO!"

I've changed some things in the previous chapters as well as the summary of the story.

I've dreaded this chapter, mostly because it felt like giant hill I just had to walk over. But I'm on the top! And ready to write the last two chapters.

Sadly I won't be able to write anything until Sunday. Hopefully I'll find the time, because my mind is just overflowing with awesome and I need to have it on paper!

Enden er nær, lige meget om du kan lide det eller ej (danish lesson! The weird looking words means 'the end is near, wether you like it or not'.)

Spelling mistake in the Title.. how awkward. But I can tell you, that success in danish are spelled succes. So I can hide my mistake by going a bit international on this one! Haha!