At the Lamperouge Suite…

So much time has passed since the massacre, and everyone was reeling.

Those loyal to Euphemia were still in shock at the bloodbath that from terrorists they never expected from, saved by those they swore were the enemy and now in hiding from their own country. Euphemia was drowning in guilt for the countless deaths of so many innocents and the grave injuries of her own sibling who protected her from a bomb and then gunfire. The Black Knights, the world was upside down, not only were they almost killed by another form of rebels or that Suzaku helped them get away, but their leaders, their own leader was not only Britannian but the long-lost princess of Britannia itself and they couldn't question him (or her) about it.

"In some sense, I'm not surprised." Toudou voiced as his words caused his comrades to look at him with astonishment, "Out of everyone I knew around that time as a hostage with her sister, I know she would be the one to survive… and with a grudge."

"Wait, you knew Princess Brit was Zero and you didn't tell any of us!?" Tamaki scoffed.

"Watch your mouth, Tamaki. He may have come from the enemy's country, but he is still our leader. I know without a doubt that Luicia-er Lelouch would never ally himself with the crown." Toudou defended the teenager still comatose from the massacre and being watched by his lover and sister.

"How can you be so sure?" Ohgi wondered, still unsure if Zero could be trusted for lying to them about their identity.

Toudou looked at them all so they could understand.

"I remember him as a child, a child with a crippled and blinded sister who watched his own mother die at the hands of their own country, then was cast out by their cruel father for showing compassion. There is no love for Britannia. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to burn it all to the ground." He answered as he remembered the child's coldness towards his own country and did not blame them in the slightest.

"Woah, so she's an outsider, like us." Tamaki breathed then smiled, "An Honorary Japanese."

"But do they have any love for Japan? If memory served, we weren't the most welcoming towards them, even went as far as stuffing them in a shed." Ohgi reminded him.

"What?" Kallen gasped at this information.

"We'll ask once he wakes up and go from there. Zero has led us to victory so far and has proven his honor. It would be foolish to abandon him now."

They then heard someone come out of the room and saw Suzaku, who turned to the Black Knights.

"She's awake. L-Zero wants to speak with you." Suzaku informed them while Euphemia went to Suzaku to ask him about his condition.

The Black Knights then entered the room, where Lelouch would be waiting with answers behind their mysterious leader.


In Lelouch's Room…

Nunnally held her beloved sibling's hand as she wished not to let go after waiting for so long for her to wake up.

Lelouch was covered in bandages from his Geass eye and forehead down to his chest and arm that suffered in the bombing to his legs that were broken. The only things that seemed to be working right now were his voice, ears, and the only arm that wasn't damaged. Everything was blurry as his eyesight was still recovering from the ordeal. Sayoko explained that the eye may sometimes shut down when the other one cannot see at the moment or through trauma, being temporary for both.

Lelouch was thankful for Nunnally being unable to see him in such a state, it might have been too much for her.

"Oh Nii-san, I hate you are in this state. I wish there was something I could do." Nunnally wept as her sibling was injured by the same hate they tried to escape from.

"Oh, don't cry my Sweet Nunna. I'll be okay, I've been given medicine to not feel anything and I'm a quick healer. I'll be up on my feet in no time-!"

"No!"

The sudden outburst from his younger sister caused Lelouch to jump.

"You are doing nothing but heal until you are completely better! Nothing Else! No Zeroing, no rebelling, no cooking, no cleaning, just laying and healing!" Nunnally firmly decided, putting her cute little foot down, theoretically.

Lelouch knew better than to disobey his sibling and with Sayoko and Suzaku around, she would probably make sure that rule is enforced. Since he can't use his Geass (He would never on Nunnally) to barely move at this point, there is no one to help him to get back to work as the Hero of this world at this moment. He will know that Britannia will respond to what has happened at the massacre-.

"URK!"


"…And so together, we can make the statement that Japan deserves to be a free nation once more-." Euphemia spoke proudly as she was blissfully unaware of the danger right underneath her very dainty feet.

Zero was quick!

"Euphemia, get out of the way!" Zero howled as he grabbed her and flung themselves away from the podium!

The bomb ticked to zero.

BOOM!


"LONG LIVE JAPAN!"

"LONG LIVE BRITANNA!"


"Lulu? Lulu!" She pleaded then soon saw someone with a gun aimed at her.


LONG LIVE JAPAN!"

"LONG LIVE BRITANNA!"


"LELOUCH!"


"Nii-san! Nii-san! Calm down!" Nunnally pleaded as she snapped Lelouch out of his trauma.

"Urk, oof… I'm okay. I'm okay…" Lelouch breathed, but his little sister didn't need to hold his hand to tell that was a complete lie.

But… was it a lie to her… or to himself?

Nunnally knows her sibling is tormented by many, many things in his life, forced to grow and take charge of everything, to the point that he is facing against evil itself with an army that believes in his ideals. Though inspiring, she could tell it was taking a toll on him, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and then his own emotions took the hardest hits. Nunnally could see the suffering without needing her eyes and wished she could help him, more than just smile for him, even when he says that's enough for him to make it through.

No, she wanted to do more.

They soon heard a knock on the door.

"This is Ohgi and the Black Knights." A male voice spoke from the other side of the door.

"…Please come in. I am just here with my dearest sister." Lelouch answered, trying to compose himself, even in the state he was in.

Always trying to make himself presentable, no matter how much it hurts.

The Black Knights then came in with many conflicted emotions.

"I understand that we have much to talk about." Lelouch assumed then showed something in his hands, "But I don't have the energy and feel a little faint. So, this will answer all your questions."

It was a flash drive as Toudouh took it.

"The password is Code Geass."

That was all that was said before he succumbed to sleep.