A/N: I don`t own Code Geass.

VII Chapter.

That fateful day

Tokyo Settlement, a week later

Cornelia stood behind a window, observing emperor`s flagship slowing down before an airbase. An entire squadron of military jets was escorting it, matching the pace of floating ship. Guilford stood by her side, trying to guess what was on her mind.

Though her hands were still, she was nervous. Of all people, Charles wasn`t the one to wander with his Knights to the Areas without a very important reason. But no request, order or demand from the Homeland wasn`t made to her as a Viceroy. Previously, she had checked twice through her subordinates whether there was any business in the Area, that`d bring attention of such level. Aside from the Chinese Federation and the Black Knights, there was none.

If you were to look at the modern history of Britannia, you`d find a lot of mentioning of Cornelia. No wonder – the best tactician Britannia has. One of the most hailed people in the empire, and one, if not the most, despised people by the Numbers. Her string of victories brought Middle East under Britannian boots.

And now, she fails to stop the flames of Area 11 insurrection – one of the most unstable provinces of the entire Empire. Though that`s a Herculean task, none of the opposition her army faced was expected, especially on such level. Her forces are crushed trice by a man, whose face remains unknown and who poses the biggest danger to Britannian rule ever since Napoleon.

Indeed, Britannia uses Social Darwinism and some elements of meritocracy as its banner, but it is still an autocracy with the tradition of bloody revolutions and even more brutal retaliations.

"Being the most successful military leader brings its benefits, as well as downsides" Cornelia muttered. "As long as you win – you and your allies can have a great future. And if this string ends," she clenched her fists, "it can easily slip out of your hands"

"Your Highness, His Majesty may be simply making a visit in order to ensure no provocations from Chinese Federation will happen" Guilford tried to calm her.

"I thought about that, Guilford. If Schneizel made such visit, I wouldn`t even doubt that. But with the emperor such thinking usually fails." She slipped her hand into the inner pockets of her coat, revealing a small photo of Marianne. "He can be a powerful puppet master, who`d use anything, anybody against you, no matter who you were in the past." Cornelia took hold of her hands, simply in order not to damage the photo she held. "I remember how many were thinking of how late-empress Marianne used His Majesty and how her children were his favourites. Sadly, it turned out they were wrong. I tried several times to investigate her murder, or at least to find them. All attempts were overwritten" She stopped, recollecting her thoughts and getting hold on her emotions. Cornelia is a representative of Britannia, her homeland, and to cry before meeting the emperor could be harmful to her standing.

Not that she cared about it, but it was saving Euphy for now. And she knew by the example of her idol, how badly it can get if she lost her position. That girl was far too nice, or even naïve to be left alone in this cruel system.

Her knight looked at her, being too sympathetic to stop or calm her. He could, and he will, stand by her side, but that isn't enough.

Guilford saluted. "Your Highness, please remember, that I`ll follow you to the very end. You will always have my support, as well as of every officer I know."

Cornelia turned to see her knight, standing at the ready. "I`m grateful, my knight". In a corner of her eye, she spotted Darlton entering the room. "Your Highness, it`s time"

She let a sigh. "So, let`s move."

"May I ask, Your Majesty?" Cornelia looked to Charles, who was in the center of the group, left of her. Receiving a neutral reaction, she went further. "What was the reason for your arrival? As far as I know, most of the issues we`re facing could be dealt with in time by colonial administration or Prime-Minister."

"Schneizel has other matter I need him to attend. My visit has nothing to do with your current concerns."

Cornelia wasn`t satisfied with this response. "The terrorist activity of the Black Knights is under control, especially with newly arrived Glaston Knights, this Area will be pacified shortly…"

Bismarck stepped in. "We are informed on this matter. I understand your worries, but I`m not here to replace you as a Viceroy. You performed quite well, considering Zero`s abilities."

Cornelia fell silent. She is a genius tactician, but reading people such as Charles isn`t her ability. That`s was mainly the reason for her to ignore the prospects of becoming an Empress – too shady for her liking. "I heard he had a fight with Your Majesty`s flagship. May I ask whether it`s true and of his fate?"

Charles continued to look straight ahead, as he was passing through the corridor. "His plan didn`t include my appearance in the battle. That brought him defeat." He then looked at her. "Regarding his fate – you`ll see, soon."

He spoke like he handled the issue completely. But why he`s even here then?

In the middle of Pacific, four days ago

Lelouch was bored.

Kallen looked not much better. Lelouch was a royal, he could get better treatment than her. A lot better, if his crimes haven`t angered the emperor. She was a half-blood, a member of minor nobility, and no argument could protect her from execution or life sentence.

He was several times escorted out, as well as he got different clothes for himself. Probably Zero`s outfit pissed off Britannians too much. He wore a white coat with some elements hutched on it, in a shape of Britannian Imperial insignia, as well as white pants and gray brogues. Not exactly a ceremonial outfit, but decent.

He searched across the room, looking for something to distract himself. His hand glided through the bookshelf, tapping his fingers on each of the books like they were piano keys. Nothing of great interest. Most of the works of the classic literature, as well as the books he liked.

That, of course, didn`t include 'Otello', 'Hamlet', or 'Count Monte Cristo', which were replaced with much less interesting books.

The door opened, revealing the Knight of Six, accompanied by two guards. They entered the room and handcuffed both of them. "You will come with me." Getting a confused look from Kallen, she continued, "I am transferring you from this ship to the other location. And don`t worry, you won`t slip out" she smiled in the end, with her face looking determined and amused.

The guards led them both to an imperial shuttle, with the gangway open and guards around it. The insides of the shuttle were identical to the one used by the high-ranking officials of the Britannian Empire, with all of its expensive interior and safety.

Kallen had some reservations as she stepped inside. It was too classy to be used to transport criminals. What Anya`s intention – she couldn`t know. Her face had a strange expression, a mix of anger and sadness. Lelouch have been escorted out several times during their stay on the ship. He had something on his mind as well, but his mask was too impenetrable to see anything else.

Something had happened in the last three days, and Kallen can`t tell what exactly.

Tre trip was, for the most part, silent.

Kallen exchanged glances with firstly Lelouch and then Anya, but nothing to lessen the atmosphere came to her mind. She herself was burdened with some thoughts, but she decided to simply ignore everything and admire the ocean below them.

As the shuttle begun to lower altitude, city and its lights begun to show up more. They weren`t heading for the military base, but for the Pendragon itself! Anya quickly spotted the worry on Kallen`s face, "Yes, we`re in the Homeland. You`ll be placed here under my watch for some time"

"That…doesn`t really explain anything, like why`re we here?"

Anya ignored the question, as they were put into a car, with them in the back and the Knight of Six in the front.

"Where are we going?" Kallen asked loudly.

Anya remained in her seat, not moving an inch. "You`ll see"

The car rode fast through the streets of Pendragon. Kallen observed it silently. There were only two emotions going through her mind. First was sadness, for no district for Japanese in the Area 11 looked even for a dent as comfortable or supported as the poorest districts in here.

The other one was anger, mixed with hate. Countless buildings, built upon the resources, stolen from the Areas. If Britannia used its resources properly, even without benefits of sakuradite trade from Asia, it would sustain transforming all its cities or even villages into small paradises.

Kallen never had a clear vision of how Britannia should look like if they win, or, rather, when they win. She never cared on how should liberated Japan interact with Britannia, and how the latter should interact with them. Kallen was a fighter, here and now was more important to her. She knew – Zero can think of that instead of her.

She closed her eyes for a second, to gather her thoughts. She opened them again and looked at the streets.

The rebellion had only targeted Japan to liberate it. Zero, however, was the one to change that outlook into more radical – to crush Britannia itself, to secure prosperous future for every occupied peoples. If they succeeded, they`d probably have to fight here. District after district. If not for KMF`s – street after street, building after building. With them it`d still be a hellishly bloody affair.

Her eyes jumped to the Imperial Palace, which they were passing at high speeds. Britannians would concentrate their defenses around it, and storming it would be inevitable. The image of capitulating remaining Royal Guards after most of them being destroyed in battle… The image of Zero making a speech inside the Emperor`s chambers, declaring to the entire world his victory at crushing the Ancien Regime of Charles zi Britannia…

The image of such victory was diminishing each second she spent here. Kallen looked at Lelouch. He was down, near the borderline depression level down. Has he thrown in the towel already? Zero she remembered never would do this in any circumstance. Was her eyes and memories failing her, that he always was like this behind his perfect mask, or he is lost right now? That angered her, but for now there were more pressing concerns.

Like the one, where they`re going and what will be next.

Car begun to slow down. Only now Kallen bothered to look where they`re heading. The Temple Tower they have passed 10 minutes ago, as well as any other infamous prisons or military installations. The car had passed a metal gate, riding on the paved road. In fact, what she was looking was… a palace?

Kallen turned her gaze to Lelouch. He twitched, slightly, like it was a personal hell of his. Surprisingly, she spotted the same reaction in Anya, though better hidden.

"We`ve arrived" Anya proclaimed, as guard outside opened the doors for her.

Lelouch strolled inside, taking each step carefully.

In the background, he heard Kallen making an argument with the Knight of Six in the background, something regarding what was the intention of the latter. Was it a trap or showing the best of Britannia`s, before suffering in the Temple Tower?

But no. This place was a punishment in itself. A still existing reminder of what was.

He looked around. Two guards stood around the doors, some near the columns, and some up the stairs. A shed of light, from a small hole between the clouds, fell upon the staircase, illuminating the expensive red carpet on the stairs, probably replaced here month or so. His mind was overflown with emotion and a bit later – with memories.

Lelouch took a step towards the stairs. That was the place where the bullet begun to fall.

Another step. He looked at the window on his right. The glass from the previous version of it wounded some guards. Funny, how bulletproof glass wasn`t placed there before, it`d certainly help.

Another step. Lelouch covered his mouth with a palm of his left hand. This was where the true pain begun. No matter, how cleaned this place was, how everything changed from that time.

But his mind still drew a picture of a pool of blood, covering the entire bottom half of the stairs.

His vision became cloudy, but his legs drew him further and further.

First step on the stairs. Once Euphemia told Nunnally, how two vases, full of flowers, were placed at the end of the stairs in one of noble`s villa. The description was so nice, that Nunnally actually tried to put something like this here, but never got the opportunity. The two mock-ups of such vases are still somewhere here, probably in her room or in the storage. Marianne was against them, for untold reason. Probably because these lousy siblings would destroy them in the matter of mere minutes after they would be placed, and replanning entire staircase would be time-consuming.

Truth be told, flowers would look out of place here, but did it matter?

Second step. Third step. From here he stood, almost seeing the image of his mother, lying here that day. It took a great effort to proceed further.

Fourth step. Fifth step. On the left once lied a body of one of her guards, who slide here from the top, as he was hit by submachine gun.

Lelouch paid no attention to his surroundings, going higher and higher to the place, where he himself stood seven years ago. Memories continued to stream back into his mind, as his gaze became clearer and clearer.

Anya was too much invested in keeping an eye on Kallen, who was a massive thorn in her side for the last half a week. However, she rushed to him as soon as she looked at him.

He felt getting lightheaded. Before he could trip or fall completely, Lelouch felt Anya taking his hands, preventing him from moving further. She faced him, with small tears forming in her eyes. After all, he wasn`t the only one with bad memories about Aries Villa.

Lelouch looked up to her. With clenched fists, with anger and hate filling his eyes, he stood against her. The sight of the expression on his face left Anya stunned. A completely different person stood before her, the one she didn`t saw in the last three days. Or even never did she see him like that.

Is he really her Lelouch? Or was there something that she missed?

Or was it something that she wanted to believe her dear Charles in?

"I need explanations, now" Lelouch said, in a low and angry tone. "Contact me with him"

Anya nodded, but before she could respond, she saw a guard rapidly approaching them.

"There is an intruder on the left entrance!"

Charles was bored. Speaking or fighting Lelouch was much more interesting.

Countless toasts, dances, rumours, near constant exchange of covert discussions between nobles and industrialists. It wasn't strange that they sometimes forgot who they were talking to – with such person as Clovis who sat in that chair before him, that couldn`t be described no less than a throne, only with less gold on it. Even having Cornelia for some time as a Viceroy, they haven`t learned much.

Maybe they thought that Cornelia was simply too angry or due to her being a military officer, that they thought to try again with the other members of the Royal Family. Maybe they had some other hopes.

Being infinitely bored, Charles left the ball under the pretext of important matters coming up. He didn`t lie – he did receive a message from the Aries Villa through one of his servants.

Lelouch had his memories back and now he wanted, or, rather, demanded to talk with him.

Charles expected this to happen later, but now… It was meant to happen later, as Lelouch would acclimatise to the court life yet again, to the Villa. To agree with Ragnarok.

He read reports. Lelouch was too young and inexperienced, likely spoiled by freedom and scared nobles. He would need to grow up to understand the plan.

Charles went upstairs to one of the rooms, reserved for a high-ranking people like him. Did he misunderstand his son? Was he stronger than he expected him to be? Was there some influence of his brother on his plans?

Maybe there is a part of his son he didn`t really understand.

She looked around. Her newly-regained vision brought a lot of interest towards what her eyes were seeing.

After Jeremiah left the room to speak with C.C., Nunnally didn`t see him. As the green-haired woman explained, he went somewhere outside of Area 11.

Sayoko appeared, from time to time. Her loyal maid appeared slightly more… happier, than usual? She was blind, but she never needed her eyesight to know how someone was feeling. As her eyes were now open, she could see the hidden happiness, that her maid was hiding very well. Had she knew her less, that mask could`ve worked on her as well.

It was strange that Sayoko and C.C., the ones to whom Lelouch entrusted her, were supportive of what Zero was doing, and even participated in the official meetings of the officers of the Black Knights. Sayoko`s reasons were understandable, but what did C.C. want from all of it – who can tell.

From what she understood, she was placed in Zero`s personal cabinet, as most of the documentation was passing here. It was certainly strange, as the masked vigilante never even appeared in the room, though he should`ve used it all the time, with his high-ranking officers on the same submarine. Only C.C. and Sayoko were entering the room, which was at first strange, but then she got a word that it was believed that Zero was resting here from his wounds. That was strange, as she knew for a fact he wasn`t here, but she was confident that no Black Knight would enter the room, so here was some safety.

Regarding him, that Zero character was interesting. His table was organized, no documents were lying chaotically, and the layout itself spoke of perfectionism. There were even some bookshelves with novels, fiction and classic literature. Nunnally was surprised to see that all of them were in her language, not in Japanese. 'Hamlet, Count Monte Cristo – quite a choice for a rebel leader. I`d expect Sun Tzu, but not this!'

In short, he certainly looked like he would easily get along her brother.

That said, it wasn`t looking so organized like that anymore. The scent of pizza filled the room so much she was beginning to think that the iron walls themselves will smell with tabasco if this will continue for another day.

Being bored by not leaving the room, Nunnally decided to move to the desk. Most of the documents from the growing pile of them were copies of the reports. Most of responses to the reports came from someone else, and weren`t demanding it from Zero. There were some reasons she thought might`ve been the case: they thought he was wounded and didn`t appear in public or because the Black Knights knew she was here.

"Hm, interested in something?" C.C. asked her, while continuing to eat her pizza.

"I doubt I`m forbidden from looking at this" Nunnally replied, checking one document after another.

Interestingly, there were some intelligence reports, as well as some on the done work on propaganda and military preparations. Any shift of opinions in the ghettos, strange activity from the Britannians, everything was here.

In the middle of it lied an interesting paper, classed as of the utmost importance.

"The emperor is here?!" she exclaimed. "Father would never come here, and I don`t see any mention of Lelouch being with him"

C.C. placed the last slice back on the plate, approaching Nunnally.

"It seems strange though. Why is the structure so paralyzed? Did Zero really wield this much power in leading the organization? How Lelouch even agreed with him is a mystery for me. Big Brother wasn`t that much trustful, and Zero isn`t any better either."

One strange report fell into her sight. "A Britannian girl captured on the same day as we met Jeremiah?" Her eyes narrowed. "Description does look similar to…"

Her wheelchair rolled to the exit, and her gaze was determined to help her friend. After all, that`s what brother would`ve done.

Shirley was confused. Only seconds ago, she was in a pitch-dark docks, and now she was laying in a… what, a hospital bed? The room itself was bright, and the walls were white. On the small table near her was a glass of water and her pink phone. Her eyes looked around, to see if anybody is near her. No doctors, not even patients were around.

She sat in her bed, trying to gather her thoughts and to fight that awful migraine she had ever since she had woken up. Something before her was strange, but she kept her eyes closed from the pain in her head.

As she sat for a minute, she finally opened them again. Only then did she look at the doors, guarded by two soldiers. Something about their uniforms felt familiar, but they weren`t Britannian. And their appearance put a little bit of fear in her, as she tried to look at their faces.

Only as her eyes looked on a flag opposite of her did it dawn on her. It was a Black Knights flag. 'Was I captured? What had happened?'

Almost as if answering her question, she heard the doors opening. On reflexes, she hid under the blanket. Under it, she saw two figures approaching. Strangely, she felt like she knew them.

"Shirley?" soft and quiet voice spoke to her.

She took some of the blanket off her face. "Nunna? What are you doing here?" she spoke, with a hint of worry in her voice. "Were you captured as well?"

"No, I wasn`t. Because of C.C. the guards don`t raise any questions when I appear alongside her." Shirley looked suspiciously at C.C., who ignored her silent question. "Why are you here? In a report it said you were found near the containers in the Yokosuka"

Shirley opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. How could she explain this hole in her memories? And how could she explain it being restored?

Most importantly, did she know that Zero was none other than her brother?

"Nunna, I… lost my memories two weeks ago. After the school, I went here, like my mind was trying to tell me something. Before I passed down, I remember seeing a dark silhouette, that moved effortlessly, almost without taking breaths, and that my memories begun to return." She begun, throwing glances at Nunnally`s green-haired companion, who wore a prisoner`s uniform. Shirley could`ve sworn her eyes saw her almost unnoticeably flinch at the mentioning of her memory loss, that had somehow healed itself. "I don`t know what he was doing, but that`s all I remember. Uh, where are we?" She said, as she took her head in her hand, as headache had returned.

Nunnally, for some reason, also reacted suspiciously on her story. "We are currently on the submarine, owned by the Black Knights. Could you tell me more about what you remembered?"

C.C. stepped closer to her side, entering the conversation. "Tell me, girl, do you remember what happened at Narita?"

Shirley twitched at the mentioning of it. "What exactly? I don`t remember seeing you…"

"I was there, at the funicular" Shirley`s eyes looked to the ground, becoming wet. "By your reaction, you do remember. Now, what will you do with this information?"

She lowered her head, breaking into tears. "What will I do – I don`t know. Before my memories were erased, I wanted to join Lulu, I threw away all the hate I had for him for killing my father." Shirley looked C.C. into her eyes. "Tell me, what I should do?"

C.C. stood with her poker face, seemingly disinterested in this matter. What did find her curiosity was Nunnally.

Her eyes opened just recently, and now she had to face alien environment, under the 'protection' of Clovis` murderer. Knowledge of her brother being the one to be responsible for it…

"I knew there was something similar between them, but I never wished to believe it."

They continued to talk for another hour, speaking on all the matters they knew they needed to discuss. Marianne, Britannian Invasion of Japan, their heritage…

The two were slowly going through the corridor, the silence between them broken only by slight noises of the wheelchair.

"I should`ve known. The way he promised to Suzaku to obliterate Britannia, his sudden coldness and distancing ever after Shinjuku. All of this were hints that he was Zero. And now, my brother is in my father`s hands, with no way of telling what he could do to him" Nunnally looked down, with small tears falling from her eyes, "If only everything could`ve been prevented, then Clovis, even mother, all of them could still be alive!"

C.C. turned her head towards the girl. "So, now as you know all the details, what will you do?"

Nunnally looked up to the immortal witch. Her eyes were still teary, but a glimmer of hope was shining in them.

"What will I do? Where my brother goes, I`ll help him on his way."

A/N:

I have returned, for now at least

Happy Valentine`s day, the day this chapter was meant to be posted)

Another chapter done. Next one will be covering Lelouch, hopefully it`ll be posted before the end of February.

For now – I`d like your reviews and suggestions for the story. It helps to have a fresh look at it, or at least less biased than mine.