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CLIFFHANGER! BEWARE!

Seriously, don't read if you can't endure that XD Especially as I can't promise anything concerning when the next chapter will be out. And it's a pretty mean cliffhanger… You've been warned.

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Chapter Nineteen:

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On some days Lelouch really didn't know what enabled him to get going. Coffee certainly not, despite brewing it quite strong it seemed to have lost its effect. He still felt groggy until that first cup after waking but apart from that, during the day, not really able to work against what little sleep he was getting. By now he drank it more for the sheer want that it may help, maybe to trick his mind into thinking he wasn't sleep-deprived.

After the negotiations and everything he had to oversee afterwards he had got only four hours of sleep. As his day was thoroughly planned out he had invited Kallen and Suzaku to breakfast in his own rooms, a way for him to get even more work done during a normal activity.

Over the course of the SAZ he had come to accept that some days just didn't have enough hours and had found ways to get work done during the most strange activities. Looking and if needed readjusting his timetable while brushing his teeth, signing off on paperwork with one hand while eating with the other. The list went on. Early on, when he had still had to attend most classes, he had even started doing work during classes.

Now all those extra hours and all his extra planning for the future was paying off, as he didn't know what he would do if he hadn't had pre-made plans for various scenarios that he now only had to alter or give to someone to work on the last details.

He could trust Kallen and Suzaku to handle everything at Ashford, especially as he could easily predict what would happen. Ruben had nothing left beside his school, had no interest in living in the homeland and was quite happy with his role as a headmaster. His former school was the perfect place to start and get the others to see that they wouldn't harm the children.

The same group that had helped Euphemia build and organise the school in the SAZ would now be in charge of overseeing all schools throughout Japan. In the end most would probably be empty of not only students but of teachers as well. If they had Ashford, which also could house quite a lot of kids, they would have a good starting point until solutions could be found for the others.

Easier was the organisation of the medical aid. While there were a lot of injuries, at least most hospitals had agreed to treat everyone fairly. Most of the Black Knights that weren't in a critical condition had been sent off to hospitals in the Chinese Federation.

Lelouch had to admit that without the SAZ he would have had more difficulties with finding the right people for all these jobs. Through their work in the Zone he was aware which hospitals had doctors that would treat everyone without prejudice and which to avoid.

Not for the first time he thought that as much as he had raged at first and hated the idea as the unworkable solution it had been, it had still been a blessing. It had pushed his operation back into the shadows where it flourished in a way it would have never done out in the light.

It hurt to think of Euphy and he suppressed the thoughts and images of her when they came up, he couldn't let himself be distracted, but he would be forever thankful to his sister. It didn't matter that it wasn't the way she had envisioned for the SAZ to benefit the Japanese but it had still brought a result she may actually would have been happy with.

Most certainly not the battle and deaths it entailed but in the end she had more or less told him she knew what he would have to do to free Japan. He just wished she would be here and could see what they had accomplished, thanks to her.

He wasn't fighting only for himself anymore, or for the kinder and gentler world that Nunnally wished for, but also to honour Euphemia.

That was most likely the reason why he kept going, why he pushed himself beyond anything and why he was now on his way to the first of many meetings for that day.

First matter of the day, going through the reports of what was currently going on. Despite Tohdoh's plea there had been quite a few Japanese attacking Britannians or their houses and shops. Britannians had defended themselves or lashed out first, but most had apparently hidden in their homes.

Still there had been quite a bit of bloodshed on both sides and the Black Knights with the help of the Chinese hadn't been able to prevent everything. Which wasn't a surprise, they couldn't be everywhere. Thankfully there also were reports of Japanese trying or actually stopping their own people from lashing out. That was really great and gave them hope.

They had to contain quite a few of their own people but all in all it wasn't as bad as it could have been. They were a bit stretched thin with everything that had to be done at the same time now but with the addition of the Chinese soldiers and police it was manageable.

Next on their agenda was trying to decide what kind of people to transport out first. Britannians that lived in the Tokyo Settlement weren't in too much danger at the moment, but the ones living near the ghettos should be the first to leave. As well as the first group of soldiers, injured ones that weren't in a critical condition, like a broken limb or damaged internal organs, but would also not be able to fight for now and of course no high-ranking officers.

His next meeting was about the rebuilding of Japan.

While they already had plans prepared beforehand they only now could plan out the details. They had to see what had been damaged during the fight, what they would rebuild and what wouldn't. As much as many would like nothing more than to tear down the Britannian Settlement and the Government Building in Tokyo, it was not feasible.

Maybe when everything had stabilised and Britannia wasn't a threat anymore but that could take years and for now it was more important to get a working environment. What they would certainly do soon was reconstruction of the ghettos or using their space for building something completely new.

For now they had to concentrate on rebuilding what was needed and see to it that all Japanese got housing befitting a human being. The ones in charge of that were the same that had greatly contributed to the building of the SAZ and where perfectly apt for this task. He wasn't of much help as he knew nothing about construction but he did point out what should be done first. The meeting was finished quickly and they were then joined by Rakshata and some of her team.

First was a report from the Indian on the numbers of Knightmares lost and how many were still feasible. The losses were kind of acceptable but every lost frame was a problem they would have to deal with. That was the reason why he had invited them.

Area 11 had never housed a Knightmare factory oriented to mass production. There were workshops designed for repairing Kightmares but nothing more. Spare parts, accessories and consumables as well as fully assembled frames were manufactured somewhere else and then shipped here. In an Area as volatile as Japan it had never been safe enough to build a factory here, despite its vast resources of sakuradite which would make the country a logical choice for it.

Rakshata had used the factories of India to build their army as it had been easier to secretly ship them than to build them here. They too only had places for repairs and maintenance and now they were gathered to decide where to build their own factory.

As much as India and even the Chinese Federation had offered their own in the long run, Lelouch wanted Japan to be as self-sufficient as possible. Being able to build their own machines directly was important. For now they would have to do with outside resources to regain what they had lost.

Li Xingke had agreed to let them readjust his factories so that they would build Akatsukis and not Gun-Rus and would let him keep the designs. Lelouch had no problem sharing what he perceived as his Knightmares with the Chinese General.

A man who cared for his people and had wanted to free them from the despicable Eunuchs was a kind of man he liked to work with. In a world dominated by Britannia and its inhuman policies it was a breath of fresh air to find someone like Xingke. He would not have to worry about him using their own frames against them as long as he stayed true on what they had agreed upon.

He really didn't have any further interest in the Chinese Federation than as an ally. As long as they would let India leave the Federation, therefore enabling him to keep his promise to Rakshata's superiors, he would not interfere in the country. Still they were their greatest ally and he respected Xingke and hoped that their alliance would prosper further.

That didn't help them with their current problem, building their own factory.

He had wanted to build the foundation of it during the months of the SAZ and had played with the idea of using the former JLF stronghold in Narita for it or the hidden headquarters of Kyoto inside Mount Fuji. But Narita didn't offer enough space and some sections of the hidden place had taken too much damage when he triggered the avalanche. That had come back to bite him.

Mount Fuji had offered more possibilities. Kyoto had built hidden entrances and places into the mountain but no matter how often he tried to find a solution he hadn't managed to find a way to safely build something. Mount Fuji had always been heavily guarded and he feared detection with such a big project underneath the watchful eye of Britannia.

Which brought him back to their current meeting. Finding a good place to start building their factory. The design was more or less finished by now so they would have to see where to built and how much resources they could put there as other projects also had a priority.

They were just arguing about the benefits of a hidden factory opposed to one near Fuji and its sakuradite when an unbearable pain shot through his head, or more specifically his right eye.

Unprepared as he was he couldn't stop himself from grasping his mask and bending forward with a shout of pain, halting all conversations around him.

"Zero-sama, are you alright?"

No, of course he wasn't or else he wouldn't be bend over, breathing heavily as pain coursed through him. He shook his head in response which proved to be a bad idea as he hissed when the pain increased.

"Do you need medical help? Should we call someone?"

"No need. I know what this is. Please excuse me and continue with the meeting."

He had no idea what was going on, but as it was centred in the eye that housed his Geass he would find no help from a doctor. Clenching that eye shut he tried to get back to his room without rising further suspicions. It took what felt like an eternity but he managed somehow to reach his quarters without any incidents.

On his way there he had tried to come up with a reason for what had happened.

His connection to C.C. had felt weaker ever since she fell unconscious and it had been on the back of his mind during the whole day, especially when he discovered this morning that she was still not awake and couldn't be roused. Her pulse had been steady and he knew that she hadn't had any injuries but she couldn't be woken. It was eerily similar to that one time in the cave at Narita but there she had had actual wounds.

Lelouch speculated that her Code had shut down her body to heal her then but he couldn't see a reason why she would now seemingly be in the same state and for such a long time. It hadn't taken her this long to revive from the various injuries she had gotten at Narita. It was a puzzle he couldn't solve due to a lack of information, and the only one who would be able to provide the answers was also the cause of it and not in a state to talk.

Once in his rooms he instantly removed the mask, pressing the palm of his hand against his still hurting eye, not that it helped in any way but he at least did something. On his way to the bathroom he nearly ran into the wall beside the door but he stumbled into it and made his way to the mirror above the sink on which he steadied himself.

The pain had lessened slightly but it still took a bit for him to force himself to look at his reflection.

What he saw there shocked him greatly.

The Geass sigil shone brightly in his eye despite him not having activated it. This should not be happening.

He had been careful ever since C.C. had told him how precariously close he was to having his Geass permanently active. He had accepted the possibility that it would happen in the future but he had really been cautious and used everything C.C. taught him to keep it under control and now it had suddenly overtaken him. Without warning, without any apparent reason.

He swallowed a painkiller that he stored in the bathroom and pocketed the rest, just in case. He turned back and made his way to the bedroom.

He needed C.C. now, only she would be able to explain this surprise and he could only hope that in the last hours she had awoken or at least could be brought out of the state she was in.

What he found was an empty bed at which he stared in shock for a long minute. Where was she?

He had thought that she would immediately contact him when she woke. She had made it clear to him that there were important things they needed to discuss. He went back to the main room, searching it and then going to the guest room but she was nowhere to be found.

The pain was finally receding but still there, thankfully not enough to hinder his mind too much.

He went back to the bedroom hoping to maybe find answers there and he finally saw what he had missed at first.

There on one of the pillows lay a paper he knew hadn't been there in the morning. He quickly picked it up.

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Lelouch,

Something had come up and I had to leave. The only thing you need to know is that I will finish what I started at Kamine Island.

But there is one thing you have to do. Get your sister out of the Chinese Federation, her location has been compromised.

I'll be back so don't do anything stupid. Just, do what you're supposed to be doing.

C.C.

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He stared at the words in shock. She had left, but why? And so suddenly? Also, how could she know that Nunnally was in danger? Where was she getting her informations?

Nonetheless, first things first. He took his phone out and dialed Sayoko's number, warning her. Their maid knew what she had to do and had everything at her disposal to get them out as quickly as she could. He knew he could trust her and there also was still Cornelia for whom he had hidden a few Knightmares at their location. Not that his elder sister knew that of course but he had given Sayoko the permission to reveal that fact. Like this they should be safe on the way back to Japan.

Then he called Kallen and told her to stay at Ashford to guard his sister. With her and Suzaku there as well she would be well protected. Three people he trusted implicitly and who knew how important Nunnally was to him should be enough to keep her safe. With the addition of the guards there it should be nearly impossible for anyone to get to her.

He breathed in deeply, trying to calm himself down again. His agitated emotions had once again increased the pain in his eye. He had done everything he could to protect Nunnally and now he had to trust the people around her to do what he couldn't.

He would like nothing more than to take the Shinkiro out and help to keep her safe himself but he knew, he just knew that whatever C.C. was up to was more important and he would have to concentrate on that.

He went to his work station while also calling the team in charge of watching their borders. He told them to expect a transport and to let them through while he started to look through the surveillance on board of the Ikaruga.

There were his own hidden cameras inside his rooms and he watched as C.C. left the bedroom and went straight to the door, leaving his rooms. He could see that she wasn't quite up to her usual grace but she seemed healthy enough. Whatever had kept her in bed was obviously over.

He followed her until she was in the main hangar where she got into a Knightmare and took off.

Lelouch once again contacted the border control team and asked after the information and why he hadn't been informed.

"Well, she said she was acting on your orders… and as she is, well, Lady CC we just accepted the truth of it. We weren't aware she wasn't allowed to leave… sir?"

He hid a sigh.

"She was allowed to leave, she just forgot to tell me. It's no problem. But please send me the data of her flight route as quickly as you can."

"Yes sir!"

He would have never thought that he would come to regret that he had never done anything against the rumours that C.C. was his mistress. Not that it would normally be a problem that they hadn't confirmed with him in terms of C.C.'s activities but this time it would have been really needed as he would have been informed earlier and wouldn't have found out by chance that she had left.

Thankfully she hadn't been gone long if the data was to be believed, what he found strange was the direction she was taking.

After her letter he would have expected her to go back to Kamine Island but she was flying towards the Chinese Federation. As she had warned him to relocate Nunnally she surely wasn't going there or she would have mentioned it in her letter and the direction also wasn't quite right.

What could she want there?

Now he hated the fact that he hadn't asked for details on what she had been up to on her mission on that island. But there had been so much else going on, that he needed to concentrate on at the time and he had trusted her. He knew that whatever she did was important or she would have stayed with him during the battle. Their relationship had grown so much that he had just accepted her word and focused on different matters.

One thing he knew absolutely was that she wouldn't have left if it hadn't been important. Whatever she was up to had had to be so or she wouldn't have left like this. C.C. also clearly didn't want him to follow but that thought didn't sit well with him.

In her letter she said she would finish what she started at Kamine and he had the strong suspicion that the Emperor was aware of Geass as he had send the Mordred after her, defying all logic and strategy by sending away an ace during the battle.

If his damned father really had something to do with Geass then that would make him even more dangerous. That could mean that C.C. wanted to protect him and didn't want to involve him. Was she going to confront his father? Did his father maybe have a Geass of his own and would be a danger to Lelouch? The thought of his father wielding the Power of the King send a cold shudder down his back. Was that what his witch had wanted to tell him that was so important?

It certainly would explain many aspects of this mystery.

The question was, what should he do now?

Without knowing what kind of Geass the Emperor had, he had no way of protecting himself against it if it was along the lines of Mao's power. If it were more like his own it would be easier but without knowing…

Still, something urged him to follow C.C. He didn't know what it was, certainly not his connection to her as she clearly didn't want to involve him so she wouldn't be sending him feelings of going after her.

Should he trust a mere feeling? Since getting this power he certainly accepted that there existed more than science and technology could explain but still… Lelouch wasn't one to trust a mere feeling. On the other hand, could he afford to just ignore it? Even if this ended badly, Nunnally's dream would come true.

As much as anyone always came to him for the end decisions, he knew he could trust in his people to do what had to be done and to further evolve his plans. He had written down many of his future actions and thoughts and Tohdoh, Kaguya and all the others would surely do their best to make them a reality.

Nunnally had Sayoko, Cornelia, Suzaku and all their friends at Ashford and he also knew that Kallen would also be there for her. The two of them had gotten quite close during the time of the SAZ when his ace pilot stayed as a student.

Should he take this gamble?

It went against his very nature to go into something like this, wholly unprepared and with too little information.

As he analysed the path C.C. had taken he distinctly remembered something and he quickly opened up another set of data. There it was, his opportunity to gain more information, maybe. He knew that he had to act quickly but he couldn't stop himself from hoping that his assumption was true.

For C.C. flew in the same direction Gottwald had come from during the battle at Tokyo.

He would take his chances, even if it didn't help any but then he would have at least done anything he could think of.

Seemed like it was time to interrogate his prisoner and if it proved unnecessary so be it. No matter what he would be leaving soon, he would take this gamble. He would risk whatever his father's Geass was because he would not allow this tyrant to have his witch.

With that decision made he went through his rooms, picking up a few things he would need before donning his mask again and leaving his rooms. He just hoped he wasn't leaving for his death.

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C.C. had finally found the hidden entrance to the Geass Directorate.

V.V. that damn brat had only given her the most essential of direction but she had her own way of speeding up the process.

Ever since he had left her mind she had used every bit of experience she had to strengthen her Code, the Elevator of the Chinese Federation staying open to her thankfully and she had drawn her power from there ever since. She was nearly back to full capabilities by now.

Now that she was here she picked up her phone and called Lelouch. After the first ring she disconnected the call and quickly turned her phone off. Now he would know that she was awake and would probably go back to his rooms and discover her letter. She just hoped that either V.V. hadn't send anyone after Nunnally yet or she hadn't waited too long with warning Lelouch and he would be able to get her to safety in time.

Still it had been needed for her to wait as she didn't want to encounter Lelouch and the last thing she wanted was him coming with her. One good thing about the whole incident was that with Nunnally in danger he would concentrate on that.

She left her Knightmare and made her way into the Directorate that she had left so many years ago.

Her first impression was that it had certainly grown bigger than it was in her time. Hidden underground was something that actually looked like a small city.

It didn't take long until she was approached by a scientist, bowing to her and greeting her as if she had never left. Maybe she could use that?

"We've been told of you imminent return. Please follow me."

Or not. V.V. clearly had left directions and so she followed him through the city, being bowed to and greeted by anyone she met. Despite having left years ago and there clearly being people she hadn't worked with during her time as leader they still knew who she was. She wondered if that would be to her advantage or disadvantage.

What truly shocked her were the amount of children running around. She knew that V.V. had wanted to experiment and make soldiers with Geass but she hadn't thought he would use children and not this many. It hurt to see how young some of them were. She had learned her lesson with Mao, children just couldn't hold out long to the power of Geass even if their minds were still susceptible to manipulation. Also she at least had stayed with him, trying to give him a better childhood he otherwise would have had.

This was just cruel and not something she would have ever done.

When she led the Directorate she had mostly tried to find a different way of getting rid of her code additional to analysing the power of the Thought Elevator and working on the Sword of Akasha for Charles and V.V.

But she had mostly used it for her own gain as she tried to find a way to end her existence, maybe even without forcing someone else into the same horror she lived for the last centuries.

She had agreed to the plan of them because she had thought if they could really kill god and therefore the Collective Consciousness it would also mean the end of all Codes and Geasses. That at least had been her theory which of course she hadn't shared with anyone.

Codes and therefore Geasses worked through the power of the Collective and its worlds, by destroying that it should have meant the end to the powers of Codes. It would have meant the end of her immortality and she hadn't cared for more.

When they reached the doors of the Thought Elevator she was starting to feel nervous. She didn't have a clear plan on how to work this. She just knew that she was more powerful and experienced than V.V. and that should be all she needed and by now her Code was back to full power.

Still she did not hesitate in placing her hand on the door and channelling her power into it, transporting herself fully into the World of C.

The first thing she noticed was that the Sword looked and felt stronger than she expected. She reached out with her consciousness and could detect that the Elevator on Kamine Island was not hooked back up and still very much out of reach.

Despite her confusion she carried on, walking up the steps to the shrine at the top where she was sure V.V. would wait for her. But she was in for another surprise.

She was met noy with the sight of the other, childlike, immortal but with the tall figure of Charles zi Britannia standing over his brother's body with Marianne at his side. That didn't look good for her at all.

"Ah, C.C.! You're finally here, I wondered how long it would take you. Why are you alone? I thought that my son would come with you."

"This was supposed to be between me and V.V. so I didn't bring him along. You of all people should know that he wouldn't be safe with your brother."

C.C. quickly looked them over. Marianne had red splatters on her dress and the amount of blood on V.V.'s clothes and around him indicated that he was very much dead. With Marianne's presence and her apparent involvement in his death it was safe to guess that his Code now belonged to Charles who also had blood on his clothes.

"Yes, his hatred for my dear Marianne and our children. I had to call back the assassins he had send after Nunnally and Lelouch."

"Oh really? So you do care about them?"

It was Marianne that answered this time and not her husband.

"We love our children! Of course we would want them safe!"

She snorted, looking up in disinterest at the false heaven that was shown. Maybe they thought they cared for them and Marianne had asked her to look after them when they had been exiled. But the truth was that it was only through luck and later because of her that Lelouch was even still alive.

"You were quite ready to kill him at the Battle of Tokyo."

"Circumstances have changed. He can have Japan if he wants it so much, soon it will not matter."

Marianne huffed, she never had been one that liked being reminded of her quick anger that sometimes erupted at the wrong moment.

"What do you mean? What changed?"

"The Sword of Akasha is nearly ready."

"What?"

That was not possible! She had taken the Elevator on Kamine Island from them and she had felt the power of the Sword, without the one in Japan they would have needed at least two additional ones to activate the Sword.

"We have guessed for some time that you may not be as dedicated to our plans as you used to be, so we've prepared for it. We worked on the smaller Elevators we have discovered over the years, they are not as strong as this one or the one in Area 11, but with the inclusion of all of them it should be enough.

"We thought it may be even enough should we not be able to use your second Code but as V.V. has lured you here we don't have to worry about it."

With that Charles called forth the control panel and she could see the Geass sigil glowing on his hand. He had already activated his Code? That was quite interesting, she would like to know what his first death had looked like and who had caused it but that was not important at the moment.

She opened her mind to the Sword and could feel and see the moment the new Elevators were connected. It were more than she had thought, she hadn't ever felt them. Which wasn't surprising as they felt different and certainly not as strong as the others. She tried to gauge the strength of the nearly dozen additional and if they were really enough. They might.

She cursed in her head. That complicated things. But she had made her decision a long time ago.

"I will not give you the power of my Code."

"No one asked you to do it willingly."

It was Marianne that had used her inattention to get behind her and she was now holding her in a tight grip and before she could try to free herself she felt Marianne entering her mind. With the direct contact there was nothing she could do to stop her, not even the power of her Code could help her. Marianne had gotten her Geass from her and she was not able to do the same to her as she did to Suzaku at Narita.

Before she could start to fight the invasion she felt Charles reaching out to her Code and suddenly she truly felt fear.

It came suddenly and she hadn't thought she was still able to feel afraid. But here she was trying to fight against two foreign presence at the same time and not knowing how to do that. Marianne was well accustomed to invading her mind, she had done it for years and Charles was a formidable opponent, much more than his brother.

The Emperor had had a very strong Geass for decades and had controlled it well and that experience helped him now in wielding the power of his Code. It may be a new Code, small in strength compared to her own but he seemed to also use the power of the Sword somehow.

She fought with all she had, she would not allow them to use her like this. She was older, better and stronger than both of them and her will to live had been newly awakened. She would not allow them to use the Sword of Akasha. She would accept her further immortality and enjoy the world that Lelouch would build.

She once hadn't cared what would happen after they went through with their plan, only caring about the end of her existence. But everything had changed now. She wouldn't want Lelouch to live in that kind of world.

So she fought with all she had but when she managed to push back Marianne, Charles was there. It felt endless with no one gaining any ground. She tried mocking Marianne hoping her attention would slip but it didn't help. It seemed she wasn't even listening to her, only concentrating on fighting her way into her mind.

This could become one lengthy battle. With Charles' connection to the Sword powering him and C.C. herself using the connection to the Elevator to give her strength it would take something else to make one of them win. With that thought she concentrated more on Marianne.

If she could get rid of her, Charles would be no problem, no matter if he already had worked out to use outside sources to power his Code. Her resources were still way greater than his but it would take time.

Then something else she had thought would be needed happened. Not in the way she expected and certainly not something she wanted to happen.

Suddenly Charles' attacks stopped and she instantly gave all her attention to the one holding her when she distinctly heard a gunshot. Marianne's mind vanished and before she could breath a sigh of relief her body was yanked away and she stumbled in the direction she was pulled, she was still too immersed in her mind to really grasp what was happening.

C.C. quickly gathered her wits and looked around, wanting to know what had happened.

What she saw made her heart stop for a moment.

Lelouch was there, still holding her arm with which he had pulled her away while his other held a gun. He was staring in shock at his mother who he had probably only now recognised as they had had their backs to the stairs before.

His arm was only half raised by now but the blood soaking the fabric at Marianne's shoulder clearly indicated that he had been the one to shoot. The former Empress was holding her other hand to the wound and was glaring fiercely at her son.

"This is how you greet me after so many years?"

"Mo… Mother?"

This could end horridly. While Lelouch may have given up on his plans of revenge and finding out who killed his mother for the goal of freeing Japan and defeating Britannia it didn't mean that he didn't still care about that.

At least he had managed one thing. He had killed his father, if his body lying on the ground was any indication. Sadly, it wouldn't stay that way for long.

Before Marianne could answer and do damage she quickly turned to Lelouch, laying her free hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her.

"Yes it is her, she had a Geass and survived outside her body. She was more or less alive all these years and always in contact with the Emperor. She was aware of mostly everything while she continued to work with Charles towards their goals. They want to build a world you would never be able to accept."

C.C. spoke quickly, knowing she had to get that out before turning back towards Marianne, situating herself half in front of Lelouch which forced him to let her go.

"You forgot to mention that I've also stayed in contact with you C.C. Really trying to turn my own son against me? Tz-tz… Well, Lelouch? Don't I get a hug after all these years?"

"I think I would prefer to first get to know what is going on."

His steady voice may be able to deceive his mother but her close proximity allowed her to feel the tremors running through his body. She was immensely glad that he was cautious about the whole situation. She wasn't sure what made him question all this, his natural wariness, the fact that his mother apparently worked with his father whom he hated and distrusted more than anyone or maybe even because of what she had said. No matter the reason she was thankful for it.

"Well as Charles is indisposed at the moment, I guess I could tell you."

Marianne sighed before going over to her husband and the former immortal lying near them. She tenderly stroked the Emperor's face before kneeling beside the childlike body.

"This is V.V., Charles' brother. He gained Geass and shortly afterwards his Code while the two of them where still quite young, during the Succession Wars. Those fights for the throne had left their marks and the two swore that they would build a better world, a world without lies. It's the lies that make this world the way it is. Charles got his Geass and together they started on their path.

"Fast forward, I became part of that plan but V.V., the little bastard, hated how close Charles and I were so he had arranged my death. He said he wanted to talk in private and as I thought that that could only mean talking about our plan I foolishly sent away all my guards so that we could talk in privacy. You know the rest."

Marianne picked up a sword that had been hidden by the body before rising and taking a cloth to clean away the blood on the blade before continuing.

"But I got my revenge in the end. I have to say the look on his face when he saw me entering the Sword of Akasha alongside my beloved was truly satisfying. Nearly as much as running him through with a blade. Charles may have given him the fatal wound but I still very much enjoyed the whole thing."

C.C. wondered, why Marianne's bloodlust scared her while her son's ruthlessness only impressed her. Lelouch was no saint but Marianne truly could be scary. But she had a truly golden opportunity here. Before anything else could be said, she reached back and lightly grasped Lelouch's hand, feeling the tightly clenched fist she stroked over his knuckles trying to calm him down. It got his attention but he thankfully didn't avert his gaze from his mother.

It was enough for C.C., she knew she had his attention and she quickly thought on how to get the message across in privacy. She decided speaking in Japanese would be enough, no one of his parents were likely to have learned the language.

"Keep her talking, I want to try something. And… please trust me."

C.C. hated how her voice wavered at the end of her whispered words. But she wasn't able to stop herself. Lelouch knew nothing about what has been going on and she had failed spectacularly in preparing him for this. If it were only his father it wouldn't be a problem but confronted with his mother…

He idolised her, had fought also in her name and thoughts on revenge on her killers had kept him going those last years through whatever life had thrown at him.

But she also knew him, knew that the world they wanted to create was not a world he could accept and certainly not the peaceful world his sister dreamed of, the one he wanted to build. It may bring peace but not one that was as true as the one he wanted to create.

He loosened his hand and entangled their fingers, giving them a light squeeze. She had a hard time keeping her stoic mask, not showing how happy that little gesture made her. They were partners and despite everything he trusted her.

They had called her witch and she would now have to work a miracle. Stopping the Ragnarok Connection somehow for a time, getting Lelouch out of here and then sitting him down and explaining everything.

Somehow she would have to accomplish all that and when she had they could sit down and plan how to stop this plan of his parents once and for all. They just needed time and to get out of here. So she got to work.

She kept herself vaguely aware of what happened with Lelouch but most of her mind was trying to work out how to stop the Sword of Akasha not only long enough for the both of them to get out of here but also for the time after.

C.C. didn't think she would be able to completely destroy it but she had to come up with something.

"You mentioned the Sword of Akasha, mother, what exactly is that?"

It was the booming voice of Charles that answered and C.C. quickly looked at her contractor. He didn't seem too surprised, but of course, they had hinted often enough on the fact that he wouldn't stay dead and he had likely worked out that he had taken V.V.'s Code. Lelouch gripped her fingers a bit tighter but apart from that and a heated glare at his father he seemed collected and in control.

As the Emperor started the explanation of the Ragnarok Connection and the Sword of Akasha she connected her mind to the World of C, not the Elevator or the Sword but the Collective Consciousness. Maybe that would bring her the results she needed.

What she felt there was not the calm storm of millions of minds that watched over the world but a sense of uneasiness, panic, even anger. The veil between the dead and the living, between the minds of the living world and those in the World of C was never meant to be torn down.

It would change the world on a fundamental level and it seemed like the World of C or 'God' was not happy about this. She tried to see how everything was connected. She hadn't ever done a deeper search of her connection to the World of C but she hoped she would be able to get an idea what to do.

She would have preferred to be able to fully concentrate on that task but she had to keep a small awareness on Lelouch and his parents while she kept the emotions of mankind at bay and at the same time trying to find the solution to her current problem.

C.C. ignored the minds of the dead, instead delving deeper, finding where the Sword of Akasha was connected to the Collective Consciousness and studying it, trying to find anything that allowed her to destroy it enough to give her the time-frame she needed.

"Are you saying Nunnally's blindness is the result of Geass?! That you took her sight from her?!"

The angered voice of her accomplice made her cringe and she tried to send calming emotions over their mind-link and suddenly she found herself in a world of pain.

The moment she brushed her mind against Lelouch's her body... no her soul felt as if it were torn apart. She felt as power was channelled from Lelouch to her and then again to the World of C.

She heard Lelouch's scream, the sound seemingly far away despite him standing so close to her and only a second later she was also crying out. It felt as if every cell of her body was on fire, as if her very existence was eradicated, every molecule and bloodcell that made up her body and despite her high pain-treshold she realised she continued to cry out in anguish.

This was nothing like she had ever experienced in her long life and the only thing she could do was bear with it as there was nothing she could do, as she didn't even quite understand what had suddenly happened.

She didn't know how long it lasted, it felt like eternity but suddenly it stopped and she gasped for breath as she shuddered with the after-effects of the pain she had just went through.

She felt Lelouch slump against her back and she somehow managed to keep them both upright despite her body feeling as if it had just gone through the shredder. Only years of experience keeping her legs from crumbling.

C.C. would love nothing more than to just lie down and ignore the world until she felt normal again but life was neither fair nor easy so she kept herself together, still very much aware of the two other people that were with them.

"What was that?"

The voice of Lelouch was hoarse and raspy and it sounded as if he had a hard time even speaking those three words. Before she could try and formulate an answer something unexpected happened.

The ruins around them crumbled but the platform they were standing upon remained, the false sky fell away until they were surrounded by darkness and Jupiter above them shining brightly. Shocked by that she looked around not understanding what all of that meant and a look to the other occupants showed their shock as well.

The console that worked the Sword of Akasha had crumbled too and she watched as Charles tried to pull it forth once again but nothing happened.

"What happened? What have you done C.C.?"

Shaking her head as answer provedto be a bad idea as her vision started to blur and she took a deep breath to steady herself. Whatever happened she had no explanation for it and she was ready to tell everyone but whatever was going on wasn't finished as a shocked outcry drew her attention and she too gasped at what she was seeing.

It seemed as if God had its own plans because she watched as beginning at his feet, Charles started vanishing.

"I am being absorbed by the World of C? That's not possible! I am immortal!"

The devious chuckle of Lelouch drew all attention to him and she turned slightly towards him, while managing to get a better grip on him to keep him upwards.

"Maybe it's poetic justice? For all that you have done against mankind it now takes its revenge on you."

"We worked for peace, a better understanding between everyone. "

"But at the same time you took away basic human rights of entire nations. Say what you will that isn't something people could easily forget or forgive. No, you just wanted to build a world that YOU wanted! And now good-bye! Checkmate so to speak, I win."

C.C. undestood why Lelouch would say that, it was his last insult to his father but it may have been better to gloat in silence as it enraged the dying Emperor who was now coming towards them. What did surprise her was the willpower with which Lelouch was able to raise his arm and fire at his father once again.

The moment the bullet hit his body he literally exploded and nothing was left of the 98th Emperor of Britannia, Charles zi Britannia.

The horrified cry of Marianne did nothing to lessen the elated grin of her accomplice and she felt the moment he completely lost the fight against his body as he suddenly crumpled to the floor in a quite undignified manner and she went with him.

There they were.

One former Empress staring in shock and grief at the spot her husband had only seconds before occupied while C.C. and Lelouch where sitting on the ground, leaning against each other to keep themselves upright and staring at the same place.

She was quite happy with the outcome, unexpected though as it was, she had been lucky and now the danger to Lelouch had lessened considerably. But Lelouch… he wore an unguarded look that spoke volumes. Smugness, elation, surprise. There was quite a mixture of emotions and she was sure that he was also immensely satisfied that he had actually gotten to kill his father twice.

It was impossible to stop the small smile from appearing because of that thought.

"You! You are the reason that this happened! The both of you! Are you happy now?"

"Immensely."

If she had been able she would have hit Lelouch for speaking that out loud. It only brought forth the quick temper Marianne had been feared for.

"You ungrateful brat! You've ruined everything!"

"It's over mother. Accept it, the world will become a better place."

"For you maybe. But you took away the one person that was more important to me than anything else."

The shocked gasp and jerk his body made was a proof that it hurt Lelouch to hear it so bluntly from his mother.

"Thoughts on revenge and finding your killer had kept me going through some difficult times but now I see that you're just like him, heartless. Maybe it shouldn't surprise me, you were his knight and favourite wife. I am sorry for your loss but I won't ever regret what I did."

Lelouchs voice sounded resigned to her ears but she knew him well enough to know that he meant what he said, despite the heartache he must feel at the realization that his mother hadn't cared for him in the way he had believed.

"If you would have just accepted the Ragnarok Connection for what it was, a perfect plan to bring peace to the world!"

Marianne actually had tears in her eyes.

"Are you still trying to sell that to me? I am not an idiot! The world you are speaking of would have been kind only to yourself and that bastard of father! We will build a peace that is truer than anything you could have ever envisioned! Wouldn't you want to see that?"

It was heart-warming that he still tried to reach out to his mother but Marianne only stared at them, looking from one to the other before her gaze became like steel.

For an unknown reason that was the moment she too started to be absorbed into the World of C and only a second later C.C. realized three things too late.

One, Marianne planned to take revenge for Charles. Two, she still held a perfectly sharp sword in her hand. Three, C.C. was in no position to protect Lelouch as she hadn't enough strength left to move.

She tried to reach for the gun that lay forgotten by Lelouchs hand but her body wouldn't cooperate. By the time she had moved a few centimetres, Marianne was already before them, sword poised beside her. C.C. could only watch in shock as the blade drew near and she didn't even feel it going through her.

What actually hurt was the strangled sound that came from behind her and she knew that the sword had also reached her accomplice.

"This is what you get for ruining everything."

With that Marianne withdrew the sword from them and with a smile vanished into the Collective Consciousness as her husband did before her.

Maybe it was the harsh breathing she heard from Lelouch or the renewed panic she felt but slowly, oh so damn slowly, C.C. was able to turn towards her contractor. The change made him collapse to the floor and her body nearly gave out on her as she settled his head on her lap.

Marianne had not hit anything vital which was the only reason she was still conscious but she had apparently aimed her thrust well despite her target being behind C.C.

By the sound of his breathing she had hit Lelouch far deadlier and when she looked to his chest she could already see the blood forming. Marianne may have missed the heart but that didn't mean that this wouldn't be fatal.

"Don't cry."

His words and the pained smile he gave her made her realise, that yes, there were tears gathered in her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I regret nothing."

Why was it that he was smiling and she was holding back tears? That was just wrong. The whole situation was just wrong and she couldn't do anything against it. She couldn't get him help, she couldn't even move and power of the World of C was cut off from her. While she could connect her mind to it she was met with a dead-end. She could do nothing but sit here and be with him.

She couldn't even give him her Code as his Geass hadn't matured to that point and she would gladly give it to him, not because she wanted to die but because she wanted him to live.

"I am sorry for not being able to uphold my part of our contract, that I will not grant you your wish, whatever it is."

Shaking her head she moved her hand slowly to his chest, over the wound that was slowly draining him, where she could feel his heartbeat.

Her original wish didn't matter to her anymore. What she wanted was for him to continue on, to shape the world anew, into a better one. He had spent so much time talking things through with her that she could envision it easily, it wouldn't be perfect, nothing was. But the way he had set everything up and with him on top she could see the kind of world he would create and she truly wanted to see it, be with him as he changed everything.

"I am an egoist as you know, so I would like to ask something of you."

"Anything."

Her agreement came out before she even thought about it. Whatever it was she would do anything for him and she could accurately guess what he would ask. He was predictable or she just knew him too well.

"The plans..."

Speaking seemed to be getting difficult for him, his breathing became more strained and she saw how he struggled against the inevitable, his already pale complexion turning ghostlike.

"I'll make sure everything continues the way you planned it. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the world is getting the peace you have worked towards."

She startled when his hand landed on top of hers and she grasped his fingers tightly. He gave her a thankful but also regretful smile. A true smile, accompanied by tears that were finally making an appearance in his pained eyes.

"One last wish..."

"I'll take care of Nunnally. She will be well cared for, there are many people who will make sure that she wants for nothing. I'll watch over her for you until her hair turns grey."

That got a small huff out of him that was probably meant as a laugh. But C.C. knew that he understood what she wanted to say. She was immortal and had just promised to look after his sister for the rest of Nunnally's natural life.

With her protection nothing would happen to her, not that she had good credentials but the sister wasn't as likely to seek out danger as her brother.

"Do you hate me for giving you Geass? I changed your life quite thoroughly."

Lelouch gently squeezed her hand again and she waited for his answer.

"Never... my decision... gave me... starting..."

"Hush… You shouldn't talk. I shouldn't have asked."

Another tightening of his fingers and a smile that said more than any words. The look she was receiving making it hard to keep the tears away.

Lelouch had once told her that he had always wanted to go against Britannia and that Geass had only given him the starting point and she finally accepted that he truly did mean it. Now, at the end, he still didn't hate or resent her for it, even if it changed his life drastically. He truly was one of a kind and the thought pained her. Why was it that the most perfect contractor would turn everything upside down?

She had known nearly from the start that he was different, had believed that he would be the one to finally free her of her curse of immortality. But what actually happened had completely taken her by surprise. Lelouch the damn boy had managed to make her enjoy life again, she had become attached to him in ways she hadn't been before. He truly was one of a kind and the impact he had on her was downright scary.

Still, despite the situation, she couldn't resent him for that. Maybe she should but she didn't. Lelouch had given her so much and she would now do everything for the world he had envisioned and she would do it gladly and wholeheartedly. It would be her new contract. Making sure the world got the peace it deserved.

But more important, she would make sure he was remembered.

"Tell Nunnally…. I love her... and I'm sorry… and… thank you… my dear Ceridwen."

The tears were finally falling. The way he said her name… that with one of his last breaths he would acknowledge her in that tone of voice. Like he had in Narita but so much better.

Through her blurred vision she tried to put his face to memory. Despite his best efforts the pain he was feeling was edged into his features and the dark circles he had acquired over the last days due to his immense workload stood out starkly against his deathly pale skin.

But what she would forever remember was the smile he still had, pained but happy, regretful but accomplished, sad but still bright.

Suddenly Lelouch gripped her hand so tightly that it hurt and she could only watch as he fought for every breath. Through their joined hands lying on his chest she could feel his struggling heartbeat.

"I created… the world…. anew."

A breathy whisper and a gasp and then Lelouch was closing his eyes, still smiling.

C.C.'s tears were endless and then she felt his heart give his last erratic beat before it stopped.

She raised her head up to look at Jupiter and screamed.

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DON'T KILL ME! Because dead author = no new chapters XD

Despite the evil ending I hope you enjoyed. Now to the ramblings: (For those who are interested)

If you read the last A/N you may remember me saying that my life was finally getting back to normal. Yeah… right…. That didn't last long. I actually wrote most of this chapter some time ago while at home sick for a week and a half, so sometimes getting the flu can be a good thing ;-P

That scene in the World of C was what popped into my head and made me redesign the plot. It was great writing it.

I'm also sorry for stopping to reply to the comments. Please note that I love you all dearly for taking the time to review but I just haven't managed to write back. I'll try to get better about it once again.

BIG THANKS go to Cinereo Cardinalem for helping with the chapter.

Updates: No promises. I really can't say when you may get the next chapter. Additionally to the regular problems of Real Life I am also moving into a new flat soon. As always I can only promise to try my best ;-)

Until next time!

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P.S.: Does anyone else need tissues? ;-) *holds out a box for everyone once again*