az: Spent a day replaying the scenes on this chapter. Now I hoped I managed to type it out as it is in my head. As this is completely new chapter with no refs from the old chapter... This is going to be a fun ride.

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..

Chapter 4.0: Wings of Despair

By honou-no-izumi alias Izzu alias Izumi Ishtar

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Kallen backed a few steps as she stared him in disbelief.

“Lelouch... why—Why are you here?”

Lelouch shrugged.

“Before I answer that question... would you mind untying me first? I assure you I’ll explain everything.”

Kallen blinked but gradually she snapped out of reverie and helped untie his hands and arms. As she threw away the strings, a thought hit her. Earlier when she had pulled Lelouch away, Kururugi Suzaku was with him. And she had thought that Lelouch and Suzaku were friends! Why would Suzaku—and why would he talked to Lelouch in such hostile way? She could not understand it.

“You—why were you here? And why did they tied you up—?“

“That same question, should I ask the same for you? What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to find Ze—you! Didn’t you recognise this uniform I’m wearing—my clothes, my appearance now... and what happened to your eye?“

Lelouch grabbed her hand as he tried to convince her to follow him. “I’ll explain later, we’ve got to leave—“

Kallen refused as she tried to run towards the opposite direction. “No, I can’t leave now! They said... Zero might be here. I’ve got to—almost everyone were captured now—!“ Lelouch gave a grunt as he pulled on her even harder. “Leave them be! Important thing now is to leave this place—!“

“But Zero—!“

“I am Zero!”

Kallen gasped as she pulled away from Lelouch. Lelouch looked at her, unwavering. Suddenly she felt this different aura from Lelouch that was unlike what she used to feel when she was around him. She immediately pulled her gun out and aimed it at him.

“Don’t joke with me! What trick are you playing?”

“Kallen! We don’t have time for this...”

“No, we had enough—you’ve been there when I got the first call from Zero. You can’t—“

“That was because I’ve used a trick to make you think Zero was not me. Kallen... I’ll explain everything to you later after this, let’s go. The Order needed to get back together now—“

Kallen did not lower her gun. Lelouch cast a long look at her.

“Don’t you trust me? Kallen... aside from that witch, you’re the only other person who had ever got close to Zero. You should know Zero a lot more than the rest of the Order combined. Even if there are people who would pose as Zero, you should be able to tell the difference—“

“Don’t come near!”

“Kallen.” Lelouch came nearer. “Am I now... not worth your trust?”

“No... Lelouch, I didn’t mean—can I trust you?”

Lelouch smiled before his expression grew serious. “Of course. Now, tell me what had happened to the Order?”

xxx

“Hnn... C.C said that?”

Kallen nodded. “Though I do not know what she wanted to do.”

“How many of our men still outside?”

“Not many... Urabe-san managed to gather the remaining men to another of our rendezvous points though. I’ve gone out to try gathering information, which was how I heard that Ze—I mean you, were here. Lelouch, there something I thought I should tell you... Ashford—“

“Hey you! Aren’t you—“

Lelouch immediately took off his eyepatch and turned towards the guard. “You did not see anything over here! Go towards the other side of the building.”, ordered Lelouch as his Geass did its work. Another voice came from the guard’s communicator as the man reported that it was a false alarm. Mechanically, the guard turned the other way and left, ignoring them. Lelouch sighed in relief, had he made the wrong move their locations would have been easily found out! Kallen stared at the scene in disbelief.

“What... what happened just now?”

“Explanations later, let’s go!”

At that brief moment, Kallen noticed Lelouch’s left eye as they ran towards the exit. She gasped and gave a loud cry but Lelouch ignored her as he dragged her out. As they reached the main gates, Lelouch’s strength faltered as they abruptly stopped. Kallen pulled her arm free in anger.

“Lelouch, what’s the meaning of this? What was that about... on that guard? And that eye? What’s the meaning of the thing we saw earlier?”

Lelouch turned towards her as he tried to control his breathing. “I said I’ll tell you later! Is that a way to address Zero?”

“I am talking to Lelouch now!—“

Lelouch sighed but before he could speak another voice stopped him. Both of them turned as Suzaku and Schneizel came to view.

“Lelouch... don’t make the same mistake anymore. I’ve told you, there should be another way—“

“I refuse.”

Schneizel’s words were cut off as Lelouch spoke out coldly. “Even as your words do interest me, I do not think that what you proposed is possible. Do you think things will go as you planned as long as I concede and follow you? I rather fight on my own, with my own way.”

Suzaku snarled as he heard the troops arriving not far behind him.

“You think that bloodshed could solve everything? I really don’t know you now... Lelouch!”

Lelouch snarled. “You don’t know anything about me if all that you conclude of my actions is THIS—“ A sound of incoming vehicles was heard coming from behind them as Kallen turned to look. She grimaced as she realized that it seemed that they were cornered!

“Do you think you can even escape this place?—“

“As long as I am alive I would always find a way—!“

“Big brother... Stop!”

Lelouch froze. Kallen stood stunned. Everything did not make any sense, she did not understand what was going on around her. Helpless and feeling numb, she turned her attention towards Lelouch.

“Lelouch, please don’t act rashly anymore! We could settle this peacefully—“ That voice belonged to Cornelia and Lelouch could not help but laugh at the irony.

“Are you sure about that... Cornelia? Did you forget... this person, this hand had been the one that pulled the trigger on Clovis and Euphie?”

Cornelia went silent. Kallen glanced between the two of them in confusion. Somehow, she sensed that there was something between the two that she could not grasp. The tone of the voice as well, for some reason she could not decipher the emotions conveyed in Lelouch’s words. There was hatred yet she felt sadness as well. If she did not mistake her own feelings as well, she thought she could sense regret as well. Because of this, she was truly baffled.

“Lelouch...” Schneizel started to say but Nunnally suddenly spoke.

“Big brother... you’re really Zero is it? You did... Clovis and Euphie-sis...”

Kallen turned her attention towards Nunnally. Euphie-sis? Then Lelouch... what’s his true identity—!

Her thoughts were cut off as Lelouch suddenly let out a maddened laugh.

“So in the end you told them about Nunnally’s location to stop me, is it? Suzaku?”

xxx

“I don’t get it. Why would they take Nunnally away?”

“Rivalz, don’t get nosy...”

“But you’re wondering as well, didn’t you Shirley? Lulu hadn’t returned as well, if the guy came back and looking for her what would you say? You know the guy was all over protective over Nunnally. I just hope that he didn’t get into some kind of trouble—“

Millay waved her hand over the two bickering friends as she gave a sigh. “Both of you need not to worry. Those people would not harm Nunnally. Even then... I’ll still worry.”

Rivalz and Shirley looked at her in curiosity. “Senior Millay, would you know something more about this by any chance?”

The girl blinked.

“Ah? No... No! How on earth I’d know something—“ answered Millay nervously. Both of them looked at her curiously before dropped it all together and went to talk about other things. Millay sighed in relief before turning her attention towards the news report on the television. Silently, she prayed that the two siblings would be all right. And she hoped that the uneasy feelings that she had felt at the moment in her heart, was not an omen signifying something bad that might happen in the future...

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az: I could probably end this in one or two more chapters. Wanted to make this chapter longer... but decided to break this at this point of time.