Hello everyone,

here I am with another story. A new genre this time, Code Geass.

I am pretty sure you all remember that moment where Lelouch accidently gave Euphemia that order. to kill all Japanese Code Geass could have ended much earlier and with less bloodshed if his Geass didn't mess up then. But like it happened it gave us 28 more episodes of war, pain, deaths and betrayal. So how could have it continued if that didn't happen?

Most likely someone already thought of that before but a friend from university told me about it and because I am still terrible at choosing gifts, I am writing the story instead. I will try my best to finish it, promise ^^'

Happy birthday to you again

Hope you like the story

Anyway, the first chapter is more or less just the conversation between Lelouch and Euphemia in Episode 22. It's not all that easy too copy the discussion word for word if you don't own the DVD and have to search it on YouTube. But I sure don't own the scene.

Warnings: Uhm, not that much. The usual stuff, cursing, violence, probably character death later on and eventually SuzaLulu (Shounen-Ai in later chapters). Rating might perhaps go up. Spoilers for different parts of the series

Disclaimer: I am not sure who exactly owns Code Geass, but it's definitively not me

With a last sound the room at the top of the commanding vehicle shuts down. The lights go out, only leaving the emergency strips on the ground, giving the room an eerie blue look. With another button press the cloaked figure locks the door.

"You're taking a lot of care, aren't you? Even though the cameras are off," a light voice sounds from behind him.

He turns around, "Because I've been hiding for a long time," Zero says, while starting to pull off his mask, "The fault of a certain empire I am afraid."

He takes the helmet off to reveal Lelouch vi Britannia, or Lamperouge as he is called these days. The woman, Euphemia li Britannia, smiles when she sees her half-brother's face. Well, only the top half of it that is, because the rest is still covered by a black cloth. The hand that is not holding his helmet reaches into his cloak and suddenly draws out a small gun.

"This is a needle gun, made from ceramic and bamboo," he explains smugly, "It can't be picked up by a detector."

Surprised the girl looks at him, "Lelouch… You wouldn't shoot me, would you?" she asks, hoping for the good side of her half-brother.

"No, I wouldn't," he says determinedly. She wants to breathe in relief but he continues, "You'll be doing the shooting, Euphy."

Her eyes widen. She is supposed to shoot? Who? She surely doesn't want to kill anyone. What is Lelouch planning? The two are standing still opposite each other for a moment before the raven continues with explaining his plan. He at least wants his sister, who was one of the few in the royal family who were nice to him, to know what is going to happen unlike the others who all lost their memories afterwards. He knows he has to betray her and her beliefs but it is necessary to achieve his goals and he would do anything for that, no matter who he has to sacrifice for it. Apart from Nunnally that is. The girl meanwhile stands shocked at what he tells her.

"This ceremony is being broadcasted worldwide," he says while still holding out the gun to her, "And the world is going to see you, a Britannian princess, shooting Zero. What do you think will happen then?"

She frowns, what is he planning, "Violence would break out, I imagine."

"Right," he grins and pulls his second mask down as well, exposing the rest of his face, "Zero will become a martyr, tricked into a deathtrap, and your popularity will crash to the earth."

"What kind of nonsense are you saying?" she cries out, "Help me rebuild Japan…"

But he interrupts her harshly, "If you arbitrarily push it upon us from on high, you're being just as bad as Clovis was!"

She winces. That is not was she is planning. She wants to help the Japanese! Of course this step comes from top, from a Britannian, but it is the only possibility. None of the Japanese has the power to change enough. Lelouch is making good progress but with terrorism alone, he can't change everything either. And he is getting countless people killed along the way. This zone is just a start and from here they can continue to free Japan, with the help of the people of course and in a much less violent way. And it's not like she is forcing anyone to join the zone.

"All conditions for this situation have been cleared," he continues determined, "After hovering near death, Zero will be cheered when he makes a miraculous recovery. People don't care about reason. But they can't resist a good miracle," he smirks, "Now take the gun."

She gasps. No way, she is doing that. She wants to restore Japan in a peaceful way. Shooting Zero is going to destroy everything. And she could never shoot Lelouch anyway. But why can't he see reason? Why he is he so set on that he is the only one who can change anything? Why can't he let her help him? Together they could achieve much more than he alone.

"There can only be one messiah. Once they see you're a false one," Lelouch smirks on, "the people will…"

But suddenly a harsh pain shoots through his left eye. He gasps and falls down on one knee. Damn it! Why now? Is something wrong with the Geass? A bad feeling shoots through him. Immediately after seeing the boy fall, Euphemia runs over to him.

The pink haired girl kneels next to her brother, concerned laying her hands on his shoulders, "Lelouch!"

What is wrong with him? Is he injured? But he slaps her hands away harshly and jumps up straight. One gloved hand is covering his left eye while he glares angrily at the girl who has fallen over at his sudden movement and is sitting on the floor.

"Stop it!" he yells, "Stop giving me your pity! I won't take your charity! I have to try and achieve this on my own!"

Lelouch is furious. Not only is Euphemia trying to force her version of peace on the people. Just like the rest of Britannia! (The small voice in his brain that tells him, her idea isn't all that bad, he has been effectively ignoring since her first announcement.) No, she is also completely disrupting all his plans. The Japanese have started to gravitate to her side because it promises a less violent solution than the Black Nights. But it's only a false hope. Why can't they see it? Britannia can't be trusted. No one who belongs to that country. He had to experience that way too often.

"And for that, I'll stain your hands with blood, Euphemia li Britannia!" he rants on, standing angrily next to her.

He pulls his hand from his eye. Automatically his Geass springs into action, glowing bright red in his eye. He focuses on the girl on the floor and is just about to give her the order when…

"I have given up that name!" she shouts determinedly.

That shocks him enough, so that he stops. His face changes to slight confusion and the Geass deactivates. Why would she give up her name? She is a princess and loves the rest of her family, especially Cornelia, way too much to do such a thing.

"There'll probably be an announcement from the homeland soon," she continues energetically while picking herself from the ground, "but I've given up my claim to the throne."

He stands stunned opposite her, "Why? Not because you accepted Zero, is it?"

She smiles at him, happy about having quelled his anger for now and maybe he will finally listen to her, now that he doesn't see her only as a Britannian princess anymore, but rather as the person she is, "A price had to be paid for doing something this selfish, right?" Not that she regrets it.

His eyes widen. Could she be genuine in her plan to help the Japanese? Could he maybe, just maybe trust her? The Euphemia he knew from his childhood was a kind, but intelligent person who would be a loyal ally. On the other hand he can't say how much the time in between and time spent in the Britannian government changed her. But if it is true. Maybe there would really be a safer way to solve this problem, with less war. Less risks of Nunnally, Suzaku or anyone else important to him getting hurt. But it's not so easy for him to believe. Why would she do that in the first place?

"It's easy for you to give it up, isn't it? I suppose you did it for my sake," he asks warily.

To his surprise she giggles at that, "You're as conceited as ever I see. I did it for Nunnally."

He stares at her surprised. What has his little sister to do with this? She smiles and turns away.

"She told me herself: 'As long as I can be with my brother, I don't need anything else'."

His face softens, "And that's why you?!"

With a brilliant smile the girl turns back to the raven, "And that's what made up my mind. It made me consider what was truly important to me," she tells him with all honesty she has.

He just stares at her. But at least he isn't angry anymore. He seems more shocked. But now he seems to understand her motives. Maybe now she can convince him without the prejudice he acquired over the years looming over it. Because she knows inside his heart her brother is not an evil person at all. How much he cares for his little sister should be enough proof for anyone.

"So do you see, Lelouch? I'm not giving up anything that's truly important to me," she means it, in the last years, being a princess had become more of a burden than a joy for her, "And don't worry! I won't tell anyone about you!" she hurriedly adds to quell that problem as well.

Lelouch sighs and bows his head, a small smile creeping on his face. That girl is really impossible! Giving up her title as princess so easily. Maybe he can really trust her. The small voice he had been trying to ignore, is becoming louder by the second and he is starting to believe that maybe she is right. Laughing to himself he turns to the side.

"And Cornelia?" he challenges the girl.

"It's not like we'll never see each other again," she pouts.

"You're a fool," he admits bemusedly, "An amazing fool."

"I may not have ever been able to beat you at games or studies, Lelouch, but…" she protests.

"But in your own rash way," he interrupts her again, but with a much gentler voice this time, "you ended up winning it all," he smiles at her, "When I think about it, more than being the sub-viceroy or a princess, you were always just plain little Euphy."

She smiles at his admission, "Then will you do this with plain little Euphy?" she asks hopefully and holds out her hand to him.

A frown finds its way back onto his features as he looks at the outstretched palm. Inside his mind his beliefs are still battling themselves. But when he looks at her determined face, he starts to believe that they can actually do that. Together and with less bloodshed than his plan involved. He smiles wistfully when he makes a decision.

"You…" he starts slowly, "You are the worst enemy I ever faced."

But nonetheless he turns back to her. He smiles softly at the girl, an image from the days he spent with her and Nunnally happily in the palace. Slowly he extends his hand too. She smiles back and her eyes light up when she notices what he is doing. With a last move he finally grabs the pale hand with his own gloved one. She smiles brightly. Finally he understands. Now they can work together to create a better world for the people.

"You win!" he admits softly.

She gasps and stares at him incredulously. Lelouch admitting that someone else won? Apparently he has rediscovered his soft side. She is glad though surprised.

"Let's figure out a better use for this special zone of yours," he continues and her whole face lights up, "Oh, but I won't act as your subordinate, all right?" he adds (just to make sure).

"Right!" she grins happily, "Still, you don't have much faith in me, do you?"

"Hm?" he looks up surprised at that, what does she mean?

"Did you really think you could get me to shoot you just by threatening me?" she explains.

"Oh no," he smiles relieved, "that's not it."

Of course she can't know about the Geass. If he had used it she would have shot him whether she liked it or not. But no need to tell her about that.

"If I really order someone to do something, no one can resist," he explains it cryptically, "To shoot me, to dismiss Suzaku, any order at all."

She laughs, "Oh, you're just being silly now."

Of course she wouldn't believe him. So maybe he needs an example that is so unlike her, she would never do it with her sane mind.

"I'm serious," he says, "For example, no matter how you felt about it, if I told you to kill…"

That's it for today. Thanks for reading.

Aw, am I evil? ;)

Nah, not really, you all know what's gonna happen, don't you?

Okay, different from most of my stories which I try to update regularily I don't know when the next one will be up here. Probably when I have written it ^^'

Well, hope you liked it. Reviews are always appreciated and see you next time.