az: I think I gonna start breaking the chapters in two and post it with decimal numberings for the sheer love of it and since some of my timelines will be complicated and overlapping. Thanks for the reviews. And now I really hope I did not screw this plot thing.

Edit '08: Since by the time I rewrite this R2 is already starting well I might borrow some elements in the series but this fic will still be AU and different than canon. Changes had been done starting from the end of 2.5. Feel free to reread or abandon this fiction to your own leisure. But yes. I now have come out of my writer's block.

Disclaimer: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch is copyrighted by Sunrise as well as character designs by CLAMP. I'm only borrowing the fandom for the sake of the fic and the love of it. Note: This fic will take place in a probable future and will be an Alternate Ending/What-if scenario...

Shadow Sun

Chapter 3: At the Pinnacle of life and Death

By honou-no-izumi alias Izzu alias Izumi Ishtar

o

o

Another day another battle...

Suzaku sighed as he climbed out of Lancelot's cockpit. He walked towards the resting area as he took a cup of water and sat down to drink. He sighed again as he took a breather. Everything hurt. Every limb and muscle in his body ached. It was all because of this war.

It was hard enough that he was fighting the Order alongside Britannians. To think that he was helping Britannians to subdue the Japanese revolutionist, hit his heart harder. Ever since that fateful day, the majority of the Japanese had turned their allegiance towards the Order. Now it was not just some small terrorist group fighting the Britannian administration—it was the whole population! All of this chaos, all of this started because of Zero's existence. If Zero did not exist, this nightmare would not have started. But reality was not that hopeful. It cannot be denied that this nightmare had happened. Nothing can change that fact now. Denying it—and wishing for a different thing to happen instead would not bring back the dead. It will not bring back Euphie from the dead.

Hah. Even as Zero now no longer leading the Order, nothing had changed. The Order had continued to take over some parts of the region and drove the Britannians away from those areas. As if Zero was still leading them. He had heard rumours. That after the news that Zero had gone missing the Order had been led by another person. He even heard that Toudou-sensei had now taken over the leadership for the Order's military activities.

Zero.

Unbelievable. Just because of this one person, the whole world had started moving to a completely different direction. Because of his daring act of fighting against Britannia, now everyone was rising against the empire. Just because of one person.

Lelouch.

Why did Zero have to be Lelouch?

The memories of seeing the back of his former friend flashed again into his mind. Memories of his retreating form before the lad stopped and the flames consumed him. When the flames died down and dust still floating in the air, he had Lancelot scout around the area. No trace of Lelouch's body can be found. He found his mask instead, its visor cracked and Zero's cape several meters away from it. Some traces of blood could be found near the area. But there was no Lelouch. It was possible that he had survived but with the thick layer of dust surrounding the area—it was nearly impossible for someone to survive from that. Though, it could be that he might be trapped under the rubble...

Suzaku shook his head from the image.

Zero was his enemy. But he cannot deny the fact that Lelouch was his friend. Thinking on how he might have died did not make it easier for him to swallow. And his mind hovered over Nunnally.

For the time being, she—along with the rest of the Ashford students was safe. The area where the academy situated was after all located near the military facilities. The fact that many of Lady Cornelia's men stood guarding the area had also protected the academy from danger. Despite of that, Suzaku dared not to drop by and take a look at Nunnally. That young girl would have certainly asked about Lelouch and he hadn't the heart to tell her—or the student council members that he might be dead. Even though he was not the one directly responsible for causing Lelouch's death—indirectly, he did. Lelouch would have not been out of his KnightMare had he not wanted to talk to him. And that was the main reason that he could not face Nunnally. Lelouch had been everything for Nunnally. In fact he was everything that Nunnally ever needed. To think that he had caused Nunnally grief; despite how the girl had tried to cheer him up in the past. It was unacceptable!

Lelouch. Why did you have to—why did you have to be that person!

xxx

Suzaku blinked as he glimpsed Lord Schneizel coming out towards the corridors. He immediately made himself scarce as he spied the room from which the man had come out off. He frowned as he noticed that it was one of Avalon's med-room. But he had not heard of anyone getting injured... more over people whom the prince would take to himself to check on them personally. And as far as he had remembered, Euphie's body had already been taken away earlier and was on the way to be sent to the homeland.

The Japanese cautiously sneaked pass the corridors towards the room that he had spied and entered it. When he turned to see the person that was lying on the bed, it took him all of his willpower to not swear aloud. Suzaku Kururugi could not believe his eyes. No wonder he could not find any dead body...

So this was where Lelouch Lamperouge had been. Who would have thought?

xxx

Funny to think that your thoughts would venture towards something and it happened as you had wished and then you wanted it to happen the other way. Because that was exactly what he had been thinking now. Deep inside his heart he had hoped that Lelouch would survive, yet—he wished that Euphie's killer would just die. Hah—why couldn't life be any less complicated?

Suzaku turned on the switch that controlled the glass cover as the cover retracted itself. He stared towards Lelouch as he barely heard the sound of his soft breathing. He looked as frail as Euphie was but unlike her, Lelouch was not injured as fatally. How he had wished that it was Euphie instead before him rather than...

A crazy thought hit him suddenly as Suzaku removed the oxygen mask from Lelouch's face and wrapped both his hand around Lelouch's neck. Slowly and steadily he applied pressure onto his hand as he slowly strangled the person once known as Zero before him. Lelouch reacted unconsciously as his breathing become harder. As Lelouch became weaker, the machine that monitored his heart beat suddenly emitted a loud sound. That jerked Suzaku out off his trance. As if just realizing his actions, he immediately let go of his hand from Lelouch's neck.

Suzaku felt a slight feeling of contempt towards himself again as he buried his face onto Lelouch's chest.

"I'm sorry... Lulu—"

Suzaku cried as he held on Lelouch body lightly.

"You... are really... hopeless, Suzaku. I thought you said I am your most hated—"

Suzaku gasped as he pulled away from Lelouch's side. Lelouch slowly opened his eyes as he stared blankly at him. He turned his eyes towards the ceiling.

"So... I had lived, yet again. Who was the idiot—"

The door slide open as Lord Schneizel entered the room. He blinked as he saw Suzaku in. Before he could say anything, Lelouch turned away and closed his eyes. Schneizel cocked his brow at this.

"So this is the response I've got in return for saving your life—"

Suzaku blinked.

"Who asked you? Don't expect me to go head over heels in gratitude at you. Besides... hasn't it been awhile? How did you feel to see again a brother you've thought long dead?—"

Schneizel flinched a little. He shook his head. "There is no need to be so aggressive. Lelouch... you are not my captive, I—"

Lelouch turned around and glared at him. "Not your captive? And I missed the point on why had you rescued Zero of all people and acted as if it was normal for someone to save the enemy out of one's own kindness! And what of these restraints? Release me!"

Schneizel blinked as he noticed Lelouch's glowing left eye. "That—yes, I'll release you.", said Schneizel suddenly as Lelouch felt the restraints coming off of him. He groaned as he pulled himself up to a sitting position with difficulty. Suzaku pulled out his gun as Lelouch glared at him. The sudden movement made him wince.

Lord Schneizel shook his head as the sudden bout of haziness left him.

"What... ah? When did you—? And your left eye..."

Lelouch stared blankly at his half brother. Schneizel glanced towards Suzaku and back at him as he realized the answer. Could it be that he had unknowingly deactivated the restraints holding Lelouch at the bedside? Should be—else how Lelouch could be doing it himself? And judging on some of the strange loopholes that he had found earlier regarding his investigations on Zero; he had heard of similar occurrence. And if his memory served correct, Lelouch had just been taking to him earlier—until to a point that he did not remember what more had been said. So this was the secret to Zero's power?

"—so, this was how you had managed in the past?", said the blond man as Lelouch frowned.

Lelouch snorted. "You managed to catch up so fast. I can't help but be surprised, but at least now I don't need to be careful too much with my words. So what do you want to do with me now... Schneizel? And why did you saved me? E—she said that she never told anyone else about me. About me being Zero. So how—?"

Schneizel frowned again as he forced Lelouch to look at him. "She—? Did you mean to tell me that Euphie knew of your identity?"

Suzaku looked up towards this statement as Lelouch remained silent. Suzaku continued glaring at Lelouch's direction as Schneizel stared straight into his eyes. Seeing that Lelouch gave no sign of answering, he released him. He sighed before turning towards Suzaku.

"Leave this room for now... Kururugi."

"But your High—yes, your Highness.'

Suzaku bowed before casting a dark look towards Lelouch. He left hurriedly after that. Schneizel walked towards the exit and closed the electronic door. He turned back towards Lelouch. Lelouch watched the scene with slight interest as he pondered about his brother.

"Since that time when I've seen you face to face, I had a feeling about you. I've read all of the reports on Zero and noticed that Zero not only seemed to want to fight Britannia, but more like... to fight against the Imperial Family. It was because of that I had saved you. I wanted to know the reason behind it. I wanted to know who was this person having such a heavy grudge and enmity and is crazy enough to dare making such a bold attempt to challenge the Emperor himself!"

"I had not expected that Zero would be the half-brother whom I thought had long died—"

Lelouch snickered. "What? Are you disappointed? That I had not died?"

As soon as he said it, Lelouch felt himself thrown to the side. He pulled himself up again as he placed a hand over his burning cheek.

"I ask you again! Did Euphie knew—no, she knew for a long time, isn't it? That's why she had not been afraid of Zero. Then did you—to Euphie, did you turn her into that? Why... aside from Nunnally, I thought you were quite close to Euphie so why—"

"Does it matter anymore now? It doesn't, does it? Euphie... is already beyond this world now. So you shouldn't have bothered asking for that answer. You could not change what had happened."

Lelouch glanced back towards Schneizel. His eyes had now become glassy, revealing nothing behind them. Schneizel frowned as he sensed something deeper.

'Lelouch... tell me what really happened that time between you and Euphie. Something tell me that you had not intended for it to happen that way—"

"Enough of that topic! You still had not answered my questions! Why did you capture me... Schneizel?" Lelouch shouted.

He sighed.

"—how long had I been here? In this span of time, the Order would not have lie still only because I had gone missing. The ball has already been set rolling... they would have just continued the fight even without me. The Order's strength could match the Britannians at the rate that it had. You and the rest of the higher ups would have had harder time if you wanted to settle things peacefully with the rest of the Japanese population. Especially after that Specially Administrated Zone incident—"

"You know that isn't completely true. You should not try fighting it anymore. Our army had managed to capture a lot of the Order's members. Even if there were many still in hiding and managed to elude our men, it's a fact already that your efforts has failed. Japan had fallen again... this time by your hands. You should know better how much your influence had affected your men's morale. Our forces had it easy with the task of apprehending most of the Order's members. Even now, rumours had been spreading about Zero's death!"

"You—!"

Lelouch sighed. Even though he could not believe how easily the tides had turned against him, he could not deny the truths in Schneizel's words. The Order's strength... had been mostly because he had been leading them. Without him... the Order would crumble as easily as a house of cards.

But wait a sec—him being here and Schneizel being the second prince—wouldn't it be suspicious if no one had any knowledge of this?

"You—", Schneizel and Lelouch spoke at the same time as Lelouch looked away.

"You've... changed, little brother. What made you turn like this?"

The lad snorted.

"I had lived. That's all you need to know. Why would you care anyway? Would you want me to lie still and wait for my death? It would be far more easier to do than fighting and leading this rebellion. I couldn't count how many times that I could have died in the past—"

"Lelouch... enough!"

"Why should you be concerned? After all it was the Grand Emperor the one sending me here to my death. Whether or not I had died or whatever I did after that should not be of your concern. In fact... shouldn't you be glad? One less successor to take the throne... one useless pawn to be discarded."

Lelouch snorted. "That made me think... me being here, do you want to make use of me?", he asked as he looked up towards Schneizel before laughing over the irony. "What's the use? I have no more value to you Britannians other than as a pawn."

Schneizel frowned.

"Had you really lost yourself... Lelouch?"

"That is one very stupid question, my dear Lord Schneizel el Britannia."

xxx

Suzaku paced around outside of the corridors as he waited for any signs of Lord Schneizel coming out. Somehow having him and Lelouch inside one room was making him worry. He had heard it from V.V that Lulu's Geass was that of absolute command. He could make just about anyone to follow his orders without resistance. Just like Euphie.

He frowned. If Schneizel could not convince Lelouch to stop his act, who else could—Suzaku suddenly thought of something as he ran back towards the room. He heard a shout as Lord Schneizel walked out of the room.

Schneizel gave Lelouch a cold look as he spoke. "Think about it Lelouch... You have enough time to do it now—" he said as he closed the door and locked it. Suzaku could barely hear Lelouch curse before the door shut him out. Sounds of banging could be barely heard as Lord Schneizel started to walk away. Suzaku stood still for a while as he heard the sound of banging becoming scarce and there were no more. Perhaps Lelouch had exhausted himself trying to ram the door. He chased after Lord Schneizel.

"My lord... wait!"

Schneizel looked at him in concern. "My apologies Kururugi about just now I—"

"—About Lelouch, perhaps I could suggest something to make him change his mind..."

xxx

"BASTARD SCHNEIZEL OPEN UP! OPEN THIS FRIGGIN—"

Lelouch gasped as he felt his strength gradually disappearing. He collapsed onto the floor and hissed as the pain from his injuries returned. He glanced towards the ceiling.

"Heh... so this is as far that I could go now?" he muttered aloud. He sighed. Schneizel's words started replaying themselves inside of his mind.

The Order was falling apart. Although many of them still continued the fight, Britannian troops had managed to capture a lot of the militant Japanese serving under the Order. The ones that had managed to escape were now scattered and in hiding. And just recently another ambush had been made on one of the hiding place of the Order. Schneizel had mentioned that many of his men had been captured. Even Toudou. Lelouch sighed. He had overestimated his own capabilities. It's true that in reality, the Order's strength were not any less stronger than Britannia's but it cannot be denied that in terms of skills, the Order would lose out against them. He had overlooked the fact that the reason the Order had been strong all this time was because of his existence alone. If not because of him, the Order would still be a small guerrilla resistance group; unable to do more but only defending themselves against Britannia.

He wondered about the other people. What would that witch be doing now while he had been here, inside this place? What about the rest of the Order? What about Kallen? Had she been caught yet? And Nunnally... it was already several days since. She must have been worried about him. What a great pinch he's in now.

Lelouch sighed helplessly as he felt his eyes growing heavy and fell asleep at the corner of the room.

xxx

The day after.

Kallen staggered towards the driveway. She had not expected their locations to be found out so suddenly. But that did not matter now, there were nothing else they could do to change the situation. At least not all of them had been caught. She had managed to tell the others to go into hiding until they could regain their strength once more. So until then, she should find somewhere to hide.

'Ashford Academy?' mused Kallen by herself. No, she could not risk it. That place was near the area that Britannian army had been stationed. Too dangerous!

She sighed again. How was everyone back there? Were they safe? Millay, Shirley, Rivalz, Nunnally... and Lelouch. Her thoughts went back towards the random dream she had. She snickered. Why on earth had her thoughts wandered towards him again?

She shrugged. All of the Student Council members should be alright. They had nothing to do with her resistance and there were no reason for Britannia to hurt them, no harm should befall them. Kallen glanced towards another direction of the city. It seemed that despite recent battle, the destruction level was not that bad in these areas. Already she could see some group of workers starting on the rebuilding works for the city. Her eyes finally landed towards the direction of the hospital that she had sent her mother in. Silently, she prayed for her mother to remain safe until they finally succeeded in their revolution.

Kallen was about to leave as a sudden movement caught her eye. A small carrier escorted by Britannian police entered the gates of Ashford Academy. Kallen frowned. For what reason did they came to the academy anyway? Kallen did not have to ponder long as she hid herself in a secluded corner of the building. Two Britannian soldiers passed by near her, chatting idly. She paid them no attention until the point that she heard Zero being mentioned. Kallen turned as she tried to catch whatever they were talking about.

xxx

"—you heard it right? Or was this just rumours. My Lord won't do such things—"

"But it was still suspicious. I've heard that since that Zero bastard went MIA, Lord Schneizel had been seen acting strange. It's like he was doing something in secret—"

"Hush. You have no right to question the authority. Perhaps my Lord Schneizel was trying to think up ways to capture the remaining rebels. You know they were like lizards—"

Kallen formed a fist behind her as she strained to keep her temper down. Damned Britannians...

"But hadn't you been wondering as well? Lady Cornelia and her knights had personally come to that school over there under cover—"

The other guy quickly nudged the other in alarm.

"Silence! This was supposed to be a secret. The brass will get our heads if something goes wrong. Let's go—"

The two soldiers hurriedly left the area as Kallen came out of hiding. She frowned.

Why on earth Lady Cornelia came all this way to Ashford?

Something was not right. But she would get to the bottom of that later. What bothered her were the stuffs mentioned by the soldiers earlier. What was that Britannian prince thinking of doing? Perhaps he had captured Zero during the chaos few days ago? After all, Zero had since gone missing without a trace... and she had never believed the hearsays about Zero being killed.

Kallen bit her lips. It was a shallow chance but it was worth the risk. She'll save Zero for everyone's sake! With that resolve, Kallen disappeared into the shadows.

o

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az: Been a while since I wrote this... and Episode 24-25 came and I had been stuck. And a long wait there was... till now R2 is out. And despite I tried to convince myself that this fic won't be influenced by R2 as well as ep24-25 of R1, can't help it to be affected as I realized that the way that I had wrote this earlier would be a bit unrealistic and some of the portrayal had been off. Well... the firsts few chapters would still be unchanged. Chapter 2.5 will have a bit of diversion and starting this chapter, the story will change a lot than in the original chapters.