Author's Note: I haven't written much of anything for at least three weeks now. Part of it was lack of inspiration and the other half was just not knowing what to do. The latter of which, mostly, came about after a death in the family about two weeks ago.

That aside. I have been debating actually writing this, but I think I will. I have some cool ideas for it. Of course I also don't know if I'll write much more for A Blast from the Past. Speaking of which. Not much changed, but I did recently edit it slightly. Fixed some mistakes and changed a couple of lines. Though I did add a tad as well. So feel free to re-read chapter 1 if you have read it before.

Also. I apologize in advance for the mini-rant that will come up in the AN at the bottom of this chapter. It is just something I feel like I need to get off my chest involving a certain CG pairing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass to any capacity.

In Memory of my grandfather

Stage 02
Go Ninja

"Sayoko! Escape Plan Delta!"

Sayoko had heard him slam the door and was already been in the process of packing. The maid, without slowing down, slipped by Lelouch and spoke hurriedly. "As you wish Master Lelouch." With a shared nod between them the two went to work. They had little time to spare.

It is largely thanks to the raven-haired teen's paranoia when it came to Nunnally's safety that allowed them to pack so efficiently. As a rule he always had a few boxes stored in a spare closet for this very occasion. Knowing his own luck he set them out, just in case, that morning after talking to Milly. Even more than that a few of them had already been filled. Clothes, being the easiest thing to put away, were already packed.

Of course Lelouch had to deal with the withering looks Sayoko was sending C.C. as the frustrating woman simply lounged in his room. Ignoring everything but the pizza he bought her so she would leave him alone earlier on that morning. The teen simply promised to explain later so they could finish packing.

Perhaps the hardest thing he had been forced to do is telling Nunnally. As the Japanese woman ran around to do a round up of anything they missed he kneeled in front of the young girl. Taking his blind sister's hand as she laid in bed he told her what exactly what was going on. She already knew they were leaving, but the why was a mystery. "It wasn't Milly at the door, Nunnally. It was Euphemia." Lelouch lightly squeezed her hand as the feverish girl returned the gesture.

"Can . . . can I talk to Euphie? Before we go?" Her sweating brow trembled as she already knew the answer.

The amethyst-eyed prince smiled sadly as he kissed her forehead softly. His lips lingering comfortingly against her skin. "I wish you could, but we don't have the time. They haven't yet found her outside our door, but . . ."

"I understand big brother."

He needed to make her feel better. Lelouch could see how she hated she wouldn't be able to talk to either of their sisters. Not even Suzaku. He shifted slightly before gently picking her up. He grinned as her face lit up in surprise. "Tell you what. While you can't talk to them in person I think I could manage something after we escape. How does that sound?"

"R-really?" The teen nodded, making her smile brightly, and lean up to kiss his cheek. The sick princess happily relaxed against his chest as she drifted off to sleep. "I love you Lelou."

Lelouch's eyes shined down at her and, though she couldn't hear him, he responded in kind. "I love you too Nunna. Which is why I will create the gentle world you want. No matter how far down the rabbit hole I have to go to do it. I promise that by the time you open your eyes again your wish will have come true."

Carefully he walked back to the living room, making sure to not jostle his sister too much as she slept. Sayoko's own gaze softened when she caught sight of the siblings. Allowing a caring smile to spread across her face the maid approached the prince quietly and spoke similarly. "I have taken the boxes down into the passage. I'll drive Master Lelouch."

The raven-haired boy nodded before the tail end of her sentence registered. "Sayoko. I couldn't possibly ask you to come with us. It will be dangerous."

Shaking her head, "That is exactly why I'm coming." Then, how he didn't know, she vanished in front of his eyes. Only to reappear behind him and almost give him a heart attack. "I am not just a maid. I am Sayoko Shinozaki the 37th Successor of the Shinozaki School. Allow me to protect you and Mistress Nunnally."

Being so caught off guard by this he did something unusual for him. "Holy shit. You're a ninja." Lelouch wasn't one to use such language, but sometimes things can only be fully expressed with it. This was most certainly such an occasion. The woman at least tried to look embarrassed though he could tell she was pleased by his reaction. It normally took a lot to surprise him.

"I suppose that is one thing I have been called."

Despite himself he began laughing, but was forced to abruptly stop once Nunnally shifted in his arms. The information took him so off guard he, momentarily, forgot about the fact she was sleeping in his arms. Smiling instead, "Very well then. I trust you to keep us safe Sayoko." From there things moved quickly again. Lelouch was well aware of the fact that time was short. Especially as he could hear Cornelia outside the door with Euphemia. His friends were there as well of course with Milly's own voice chiming in.

With his hands full he had Sayoko place the picture frame for the two sisters on the table. Then had her quickly write up a note to place beside it. Using his own words of course. He was thankful for her unnatural speed and efficiency that he put down to her being a trained ninja. All four of them slipped into the hidden elevator in pantry just as the door was being unlocked. As the front door opened the elevator closed. The cabinet quietly slid back into place to hide the lift door from prying eyes.

Not two minutes later an inconspicuous car was driving towards the exit of a tunnel. Away from Ashford Academy and into the heart of the Tokyo Settlement.

One wouldn't be wrong to describe the way Suzaku Kururugi slipped from Euphemia's hug as logically impossible. Upon the Viceroy's screech to get off her sister he basically vanished from the pinkette's arms and appeared on the opposite side of the room. It took several moments for what they had just seen to register in everyone's mind. Even then they couldn't grasp it. The Japanese teen had, within the span of five seconds, peeled the Sub-Viceroy off of him, slipped out of her reach, and found his way to a spot easily ten feet away.

Though considering Cornelia's tone no one could blame him. Not even Euphie herself. Despite her rather visible pout. Several moments were spent in silence before the purple-haired princess spoke to the frightened boy again. An approving smirk on her face, "Now about you saving Lelouch's life. Why were Clovis's royal guard trying to kill him?"

Suzaku blinked as he slowly relaxed, "I found him in the subway in Shinjuku. He was in the back of the terrorist vehicle. Apparently, from what he told me, he had went to go help them when they had crashed earlier on. Unaware of it being driven by terrorists he went to make sure they were okay. Somehow he ended up in the back of it."

The blue-haired teen's grey eyes lit up. "I was there! I remember that. Lelouch and I were heading back to Ashford when that truck came bearing down on us like a bat out of hell. It swerved as it tried to pull out in front of us and went front first into a construction site." Kallen was rapidly turning pale as she realized Lelouch probably knew she was a terrorist. If he was in the back of the truck then he would have seen her. Why did he never say anything?

Unaware of the red head's train of thought Rivalz continued. Encouraged by the gaze of the two princess's. "He couldn't get to the front so instead he climbed up the ladder on the outside. As he was calling through the back the truck backed out in a hurry. The momentum threw him inside."

Holy shit. Kallen was pretty sure she remembered hearing someone calling from the back just after the crash. Even as she thought this through another thought crossed her mind. Is it possible . . . could Lelouch be Zero after all? But why would a prince of Britannia be Zero? Why were they in hiding at all?

As these questions plagued the faux sick girl Cornelia narrowed her eyes at Rivalz. "This happened during school hours. Why weren't you two already at Ashford?"

He froze and was unsure how to answer her. Unfortunately for him the option to lie was taken out of his hands. Shirley, with an innocent look on her face, chimed in. "Lelouch has the bad habit of skipping school to go gamble in chess matches against nobles. Rivalz was his ride."

Sweating nervously the blue-haired teen backed away as Cornelia glared at him. He was worried that her look alone would kill him when the pink princess started to laugh. "That is just like Lelouch. He loved chess as a child. Even then he had been a prodigy."

The Viceroy relaxed, somewhat at least, as she remembered their brother's love of the game. "Yes. That does sound a lot like him doesn't it?"

Kallen had become increasingly sure he had just tricked her with that phone call. He loved chess and Zero had referred to her, and her friends, by chess-related codenames at Shinjuku. The blue-eyed beauty's attention was drawn back to Suzaku as he decided to continue his tale. "When I found the truck I, like any soldier would do, contacted the royal guard and told them the location before ever approaching it. It was a pleasant surprise to see Lelouch again." He smiled softly as he thought back.

His smile soon turned into a frown, "As you know the terrorists stole what was reported as poison gas, but just before the Guard could find us the canister opened on its own.." He hesitated before continuing, ignoring the disbelieving stares, "And, instead of deadly gas, a girl fell out."

Immediately Cornelia recognized that that means that only a select few were privy to what had actually been in the container. A group that now included those here. This fact left her with an important question however. Why had her brother hidden the woman as poison gas? What had Clovis been up to?

It was hard for Kallen to not show how dumbfounded she felt. They had kidnapped a girl? What the hell? "She was in a prisoner's straitjacket, but only moments later the Guard came up. Whoever she was she was part of something top secret. Unfortunately I don't know what happened beyond that point."

Prince Clovis's Royal Guard told me they'd be willing for forgive me for finding out it wasn't poison gas. I just had to shoot Lelouch to do it, but there was no way I could. He was unarmed and an innocent bystander. Not to mention my best friend. So the captain shot me in the back. I'm quite lucky to be honest." Suzaku unconsciously rubbed the back of his head, "I would likely be dead if it wasn't for my father's pocket watch that I had on me. Stopped the bullet."

The group fell into contemplative silence. With everyone feeling a varied amount of horror at the idea that Lelouch would have been just short of dying. Both Cornelia and Kallen shared similar thoughts when it came to how despicable the royal guard had acted. "If that is true Private Kururugi then my brothers royal guard were dishonorable cads." The purple-eyed woman sneered in disgust.

Euphemia let out a audible sigh of relief. "Whatever happened I'm just glad that Lelouch made it out alive. Thank you for being such a good man Suzaku. I'm also glad that you made it out." His face began to burn and he bowed in respect, and thanks, to the princess. Feeling too tongue-tied to speak.

"Yes. My sister is correct. You are a good man." The Witch of Britannia looked at him and, grudgingly, nodded as a sign of her own respect. The woman looked at a clock and did a double take, "We've spent far too long here, but there are still somethings I want to talk to you about. I need to call Guilford. He will be getting worried before long." She pulled out a cell phone and disappeared into the next room over.

Sensing gossip Milly raised an eyebrow at her old friend. "So . . . who is Guilford?" The blonde's eyes shined deviously.

Euphemia debated whether she should tell her or not. In the end she wanted to tease her sister, even just a bit, so she grinned. "He is her knight. Neither ever admit it when I ask, but their relationship is clearly more than just that. I expect that Guilford will be here shortly."

An evil grin flashed across Milly's face as she wondered what she could do with this information. Not much considering it does involve Cornelia, but that doesn't mean she can't tease her once her man shows up. Still though. She was a little worried, "Can he be trusted to know Lelouch and Nunnally are still alive?"

The pinkette nodded, "He is very loyal to Cornelia. Perhaps to a fault. If we decide that we don't want it known then he won't tell anyone."

Kallen knew this gave her the opening she needed. "Excuse me. Why were Lelouch and Nunnally in hiding in the first place?"

Both Milly and the princess froze before shifting their gaze over to her. It was clear the others wanted to know too based on how they started paying even closer attention. Euphemia hesitated, but knew as the friends of her brother and sister they should know. "Seven years ago their mother, Empress Marianne, was killed in a terrorist attack on their home. During the attack Marianne had Nunnally with her and that's how she became crippled." A lone tear slid down her face as she remembered the excitable girl who never stopped running. "Nunnally had always been so full of energy and the loss of her sight and legs were, and are, to this day a terrible tragedy. One perhaps even worse than the loss of Lady Marianne."

The abnormally serious blonde gently squeezed her shoulder in comfort. "Lelouch gained an audience with our father to demand that justice be carried out. The emperor had halted the investigations into their mother's murder. My brother lost his temper after our father called Nunnally a weakling. That he had no use for her. So he renounced his claim to the throne and in return both of them were sent as political tools to Japan."

They were horrified to learn what their friends had went through. To learn how callous the emperor was even to his own children. The princess went to continue, but Suzaku did for her. "When they first arrived at my family's shrine Lelouch and I didn't get along. Not at all." He laughed lightly, "Officially they were there to help bring some kind of peace deal, but unofficially the negotiations never actually had the chance to start. It's likely the emperor never intended to go through with the peace deal."

"How long they spent with us before the invasion doesn't matter. Just know that one morning we were fairly happy and the next the three of us had to escape across Japan." He shuddered as he remembered the invasion and solemnly continued. "Lelouch and I saw things that we'll never be able to forget. At a point we both expressed that we were glad Nunnally couldn't see. As terrible as that sounds we, in no way, wanted her exposed to what we had been."

"Lulu . . ." Shirley trembled in horror. Realizing that she didn't know the boy she had a crush on as well as she thought she did.

"Oh god." Princess Euphemia was crying again and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. The group fell into silence as they let all this sink in. The only one who didn't look surprised was Milly. Something that only Cornelia noticed after coming back from her call. Though she hadn't been happy to see her sister crying the reason behind it helped calm her. Also true to the pinkette's words not five minutes later a soldier with glasses came through the door. He was quickly identified as Guilford.

The two princess's and the knight had spent too much time at Ashford and they knew it. It had been nearly two hours since Cornelia's knight had appeared and they were only now getting ready to leave. Milly had been regaling them with stories, sometimes accompanied by pictures, of Lelouch and Nunnally since the end of the invasion. On their part, if only for the sake of the student council, also told stories of what they were like back at Pendragon. Even Kallen felt relaxed though she was in company of royalty. People she, by all rights, should loathe and yet these two in particular, especially Euphemia, were different. She couldn't quite like Cornelia thanks to her involvement in the military, but she had to admit she had grown to respect her. She is an honorable woman.

Before they left the Viceroy still had one last question to ask. "Ms. Ashford . . . Thank you for taking care of our family. It is clear you are very close to them. Despite that I must ask if you know where they might be."

Milly looked at her for a few moments before shaking her head. "Lelouch was always paranoid about being discovered and shipped off back to the mainland. I know several places they could have gone, but because of the situation I'm in there is no way he would go to one of them. For precaution's sake there were about three different places that I don't know the location of. I just know there are at least three. Similarly he had several plans of action that varied on where he was when he was found."

Euphemia's eyes lit up in hope, "I remember him calling out to someone called Sayoko. He said Escape Plan Delta."

The blonde nodded, "Ah. That one. I know most of the details of that one. Just not where they would go." She stood up and stretched, "I'll show you how they escaped if you like." With a nod from Cornelia she disappeared into the into the kitchen and waited for them by the open pantry door.

The purple-eyed woman raised an eyebrow, "How did they escape here?"

With a devious smirk Milly stepped inside and pulled a string attached to the light in the room. Then she pulled it twice more in quick succession. Making the light turn on, off, and on again. Nothing happened for several moments when, before they could ask if she did it right, the cabinet in front of them slid to the side. There, in front of their eyes, was a set of elevator doors. "This goes into a tunnel that leads out to Tokyo Tower. This path hasn't been discovered because the exit is also hidden like the elevator itself is."

"That is . . . AWESOME!" Rivalz yelled with visible excitement. Not that anyone disagreed with him. This was pretty cool. Just no one would admit to thinking the same thing.

"Lelouch and Nunnally do care about the both of you. I can't say the same for the rest of your family, but you two are an exception. I'm certain you will see them before long. At least Lelouch at any rate." The blonde smiled encouragingly at them and, though Cornelia wouldn't say it, it helped. Then Suzaku dropped the bomb.

"I just hope that next time we see Lelouch it isn't as an enemy." The narrowing of the Viceroy's eyes made he uncomfortable. "One thing I didn't say earlier is that Lelouch doesn't just dislike the emperor. He despises him."

Milly began to glare at him, "Is that really something to tell them when they thought their brother and sister were dead only hours ago." With an uncharacteristic scowl she continued, "Though you've already opened this can of worms. Might as tell them."

"Y-you know?" Her unimpressed look told him all he needed to know. With her permission granted he continued, "Before the invasion it was clear Lelouch harbored a grudge against his father. Once the invasion was over that grudge changed. At one point as we ran for our lives, after seeing unspeakable things, he vowed to me that he would obliterate Britannia."

That gave pause to the everyone, but Milly. Kallen knew then she had her answer for why he might be Zero. "During Shinjuku I attacked him at first because I didn't recognize him. It was what he said that I made the connection. He repeated himself seven years later. I had hoped his hatred, if he was still alive, would fade. Instead it only burned stronger than ever. There we were, in the subway, and he was telling me that I should just destroy Britannia."

"If Lelouch joins Zero then it is to make Nunnally's wishes come true." At the mention of the name of the man who killed their brother Cornelia's rage rose. Everyone looked back to Milly. "As it is now Nunnally would be looked down on in the mainland and we all know it. All she wants is to remain beside her big brother and for a more gentle world. Lelouch loves her to death and would happily do whatever he could to ensure her happiness."

Euphemia looked at her with sad eyes because she knew how much he cared about Nunnally. Being basically abandoned by their entire family would have only strengthened that bond and having to go through a war zone like they did would have done the same. From the tales the blonde president had told earlier Lelouch essentially became Nunnally's primary caregiver. He would do anything for her. Even if it meant walking a dangerous and bloody path so she could live in peace. It was clear they had a lot to talk about. Cornelia and herself. A lot to consider.

What will they do if they find out Lelouch has joined Zero? Or even worse, a shiver raced down the lavender-eyed girl's spine, that he is Zero.

The moon had risen high into the sky. The halls and classrooms of Ashford Academy were empty. Empty of all, but one. As silent as could be a woman was walking through the darkness towards the Student Council building. Slipping into the meeting room the light caught a flash of blonde hair. Blue eyes darted to the bookshelf and, after approaching it, pushed something it swung outwards like a door. Revealing a secret room.

Milly Ashford sat down in front of the computer in the room. It was top of the line and had booted up once she had moved the bookshelf. "I'm sorry Viceroy, but this is one thing I couldn't let you know. After all only Lelouch, myself, and grandfather know of this room." Carefully she clicked, only once so as to not open them, on each of the shortcuts on the desktop and in a specific order. Nothing happened for several moments until the screen turned pitch black.

Slowly the woman began to type her message.

L,

Nel and Eu decided against announcing your and N's survival. At least so long as you two are hiding from them.

Be careful. Don't take too many unnecessary risks. N needs you now more than ever. Good luck miracle man. Just ask if help needed. With anything.

From M

Distantly the blonde bombshell wondered how Lelouch would take the fact that she was admitting that she was aware he was Zero. After all she knew him too well. He really should of known that without her telling him she knew. Milly was amused at the knowledge that he would not be happy. Probably just as happy as he would be to know that she was offering to help him in his crusade.

The unusually serious president snorted as she pushed send. "Look on the bright side Lulu. At least I have the sense to do it over a secure line. Next to no one knows this place and, by extension, the system this is goes through. Can't hack what you don't know exists." Though, she reasoned, that doesn't mean she shouldn't speak in code in these messages. Perhaps Lelouch's paranoia was rubbing off on her?

Author's Note 2: How was that for an ending note? I still don't know if I'll write more, but if I do it won't likely be often unless I hit a really good idea. Still though. It has potential though.

As for the mini-rant? I just want to say . . . I don't understand Suzaku x Lelouch. It isn't even just because they are men. It is a part of it, but only because they are also clearly very straight. Their relationship throughout the series and everything they did just makes a romance between them impossible. Lelouch is over the top yes, but he isn't GAY dramatic. He has a different sort of flamboyance. I could see Clovis batting for both teams. Not Lelouch.

Suzaku being gay, or bi, is even more hilarious. He doesn't even have that flair for the dramatic that Lelouch has. I am legitimately confused about why the pairing pops up as much as it seems to when everything about them and what happens in the series makes such a thing make no sense. Even if it is AU it doesn't make much sense. It is the characters themselves (IE who they are, their personalities, and etc.) that make it not work. Not just because they are straight men. There is flat out nothing there. Hell after the SAZ it is the complete opposite of love between them.

Feel free to try to explain it to me though I doubt I'll agree.