A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm back for another round of Code Geass fan fiction. Please support me as you have been doing all along 11, 000 + views for Red lotus and 42 Favs. Arigatou gozaimashita minna-sama! I love you all! Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement for Red Lotus.

The War of C is going to be long in my estimation and I am trying to delay some major events I have planned since R2 is almost finishing and I'd like to know how the cannon ends but the first few chapters should start off the plot and have you all salivating for more hopefully.

The story will turn dark at times; it will be raw and full of love, turmoil, decisions that determine ones life and death. In essence it will be like Code Geass. I will try to stick as close as I can to the canon but expect some changes here and there. Please read and review and enjoy the prologue!

"Remember this well Lelouch, the Power of the King is a lonely one, I will be the only one left in the end to keep you going." C.C.

The War of C

"O-Otou-sama!" A young boy of 13 years protested as the cloth he had taken earlier from his father's drawer was taken from his hands, trying to quell the redness in his cheeks at being caught. "I only wanted to wear it." A slight frown was directed at him.

"You should have asked Naoto. I didn't raise you to be a thief. You know the rules in this house. You want it..."

"You earn it. Yeah yeah." The boy recited hanging his head at the reprimand in his father's voice, mentally prepared for whatever crazy sort of punishment was being formulated at the moment. Maybe he would be lenient and not make him run laps around the house like last time. In his opinion it wasn't necessarily stealing since this was his house as well. His father gave him a long look. Wait, had he said that last part out loud?

"Yes you did and this is indeed your home but remind me who pays the bills again?" As expected from his father the most driven and might he say cheapest man he had ever known. He had him in a corner and he couldn't reply to that with a witty remark since his father did pay the bills. Naoto decided it would be best to admit defeat for now still hanging onto the hope he would beat his father one day. A sigh escaped the older man's lips as he calmly grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around.

"Watch me and memorise how to do it. You're a grown boy so you should know how to do this by now."

Lelouch knelt before his eldest child, tying his white silk ascot in a knot, slow enough for Naoto to follow, his violet eyes fixated on the demonstration. He pinned it with his own favourite gold pin, completing his formal attire.

"Arigatou Otou-sama," he said face glowing with contentment at having his father's attention on him. It had been a while since he had done so since he had recently been very busy with work.

"You're welcome. After all, this may be the last time I may do this kind of thing for you anymore ne?" Lelouch replied touching his son's combed hair but he suddenly grabbed for his left eye, squinting in pain. Naoto looked up at his father, worried.

"Are you alright otou-sama?" He asked worried. He hadn't said anything before but he had been noticing that his father was getting these headaches more often lately. Lelouch straightened up, forcing a reassuring smile on his lips.

"Ahh, don't worry about me. Now, where are those sisters of yours? Ah, here they are." Two pairs of plum eyes were drawn to the two as they descended the main stairwell of their residence in Japan, both of them forgetting about the headache.

His eyes brimmed with pride as Naoto extended both his hands towards his sisters however Euphie decided to jump into his arms instead, all smiles, her white and red dress billowing, pink-reddish hair slightly askew. Naoto caught her, used to her antics, setting his baby sister down and trying to fix her hair.

"Mattaku Euphie, you're going to give me a heart attack one of these days!" he said frowning slightly.

"Demo onii-sama, you always catch me!" A vein popped at his temple as she stuck her tongue out playfully.

"We'll see, next time I'll let you fall flat on your face pink-chan!" He teased with a smug smile.

"You shouldn't tell lies oni-sama." Euphie replied serenely with that ever present smile.

Marie-Ann descended the rest of the stairs gracefully with a small smile on her lips watching her younger siblings squabble. Her father moved forward and helped her down the last steps, rewarded with a brighter smile.

She looked beautiful with her dark hair half pulled back by a silver broche, deep sapphire sleeveless ball gown accentuating her crystal azure eyes that she inherited from her mother.

The plum eyed man regarded his children amazed that 13 years had already come and gone. It felt like only yesterday when he had taught Naoto how to play chest, Marie-Ann how to sow and Euphie how to bake in her make believe oven. Even earlier when he tought about when they were just infants that depended on him for everything.

Today his eldest were to be present in court before their uncle, the Emperor, to choose whether they wanted to formally accept their places in britannian court as royalty. This was what he and Kallen had decided when they were aware she was pregnant with the twins: that their children would chose their own futures and live by their own decisions. The three of them stood before their father, bowing and curtsying.

"We shall be departing otou-sama." The twins chorused rising. Lelouch smiled touching both their heads.

"Whatever you decide tonight, your mother and I love you. Never forget that and never forget who you are." He advised removing his hands. Both of them nodded.

"Hai hai!" Euphie smiled jumping forward, the bow in her hair moving about. "Can we go now? Suzaku-oji-san is waiting for us at the party!" She exclaimed tugging at her father's dress pants. He fixed her stubborn bow just as their front door opened.

Instantly, the children milled around the beautiful woman dressed in full Japanese regalia, her gentle smile pointed towards them, brightening their home. Her gaze caught their fathers, her features softening

"Aren't you ready to go?" She asked taking as Naoto held the door open for her and his sisters. She gave Euphie over to Marie as the kids headed towards the limousine parked in front of their home, the chauffer already waiting to help them in.

"I'll join you there; I have to pick up some gifts for those two and Euphie of course. I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't." He replied. She frowned.

"You're spoiling them again." She chided eyes clear with playful reprimand. Lelouch shrugged his shoulders.

"I can't help it. I'll get you something as well, anything you want." He said pushing a stray strand of her hair away from her pretty face.

"Just show up, that's all I want. And don't be gambling with Rivalz for old time's sake or raiding the guest list for imaginary threats." She added smacking him with her fan lightly before she engulfed him in a hug, her hands holding onto his back, taking in his scent.

"I want you to always be smiling. Always like this, no matter what." She murmured before letting him go. Lelouch touched her cheek with a relaxed grin he only showed to those he was close too, to those he loved.

"I'll see you later, stop worrying. I promise I'll be there on time. I'll meet you guys at the New Aries Palace after the ceremony alright?" He promised kissing her briefly on the forehead, her face reddening. She nodded happily and left to join the children in the car.

Lelouch was late. He knew he shouldn't have relied on Rivalz to help him pick out gifts for the children as they did indeed get a little sidetracked at the players lounge. They would be mad at him but he had brought more than enough gifts to ease their anger superfiacially until he made up for being late another more personal way at a later date. He walked up the stairs to the gardens and instantly could feel something was amiss when there were no guards at the gates. He shook off the feeling and continued upwards when he spotted a cloud of smoke emanating from the gardens and the palace.

Not letting panic take over, Lelouch sped up his pace and once arrived at the main gateway of the gardens his eyes widened. Everything was immersed in chaos. Britannian and Japanese soldiers were everywhere and a perimeter had been set up around the lower levels of the gardens, preventing entry to the higher gardens that led to the New Aries Palace. Pockets of nobles and guests could be seen around the yellow tape, aghast and distraught at whatever had occurred here. Lelouch approached the nearest soldier who stood immediately at attention.

"Your highness!"

"What happened?" The soldier's eyes shifted uncomfortably as he lifted the yellow tape letting Lelouch make his way deeper into the gardens. The higher up they went, the more destruction followed, the size increasing but precise, he noted. This wasn't the work of novice. The soldier who had let him through was following after him, trying to keep up with his fast steps.

"Your highness, there was an attack tonight on the royal family while they escorted your family within the New Aries Palace. Everyone injured was immediately taken to the nearest hospital. Lord Kururugi Suzaku took your children to the hospital himself." He explained as they arrived at the main scene of the attack and the sight of the broken windows, ravaged flowers, bullet casings and pools of blood upon the benches and cement on the ground made Lelouch shiver with fear for his family but what bothered him the most was that his eyes were burning with a familiarity he did not wish to revisit but he recognized the sensation immediately.

"Who did this?" He hissed mind already set on delivering retribution.

"W-We are still investigating. The children were thankfully unharmed your highness." The soldier reassured seeing the look of panic and pure rage in Lelouch's eyes. Relief coursed through him at those words. They were safe. Thank God.

"...Unfortunately Lady Kallen was hit." Lelouch dropped the bag that held the children's presents and the flowers he had bought.

Withou wasting another second, Lelouch dashed back down the steps and into his waiting car. He ordered the man to drive as fast as he could to the nearest hospital, praying for their safety.

Lelouch stormed into the hospital nurses and doctors rolling victims of the attack to and fro. He didn't even bother with the front desk, walking right past the nurse who tried to stop him from going beyond her desk but the withering look he gave her shut her up immediately.

The doors to the private wing slid open and he immediately spotted Suzaku emerging from a room, running a hand over his face, a band aid on his upper left cheek with white gauze wrapped around his forearm.

"Suzaku, what the hell happened?!" He demanded, "Where are they?" Suzaku's green eyes looked haunted as he leant against the beige wall behind him.

"The children are fine. Euphie doesn't seem to remember much since Naoto and Marie kept her eyes covered. Nao-chan...He saw it happen with Marie. Kallen and I told them to run away but they refused to leave and...He isn't talking to anyone and has been demanding to see you or Kallen to the point of near violence. The doctors put him to sleep a few minutes ago for his own good." Lelouch touched the glass that separated him and his children, watching them all sleeping soundly in their hospital beds, his palm forming into a fist. He hadn't been here to protect them when they needed him.

"I've called Nunally from her meetings in Europe, she's on her way back." Suzaku said hoping that the thought of Lelouch's precious sister would calm him down.

"...Suzaku, where is Kallen? Where is she?" He asked calmly, eyes fixated on his children.

"Lelouch-" The frazzled prince grabbed Suzaku by the jacket and shook him hard, the auburn haired pilot not resisting one bit to the assault.

"TELL ME!!" A doctor emerged from the emergency room down the hall removing his face mask with a sigh as the nurses emerged after him one lingering by his side with a clipboard handing him the pen. He signed the papers giving some final orders before approaching the two men, face wrinkled with lines of aging.

"I'm Doctor Isamu I lead the emergency surgery. We managed to get all of the bullets out of her body however, the gravity of her wounds are fatal. I'm afraid she won't survive the night. She has requested we not put her on life support. She is asking for you." He said bowing his head towards Lelouch. "I'm sorry."

His blood seemed to run cold for a few brief moments, making him numb all over.

"He's joking right Suzaku?" He asked hoping with all of his being that this was but some sick joke but a joke none the less. The tears in Suzaku's eyes crushed any hope he held onto.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect her..." Lelouch shook his head walking towards the emergency room, brushing by the doctor.

"Bring a life support unit in that room immediately. No one is dying today." He ordered before stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

His eyes widened with shock and disbelief. She looked so frail, so broken. Who would do this to her? He sat by her side touching her hand, careful of the IV needles, trying to fight back the tears. Her crisp white bandages had already started seeping with her blood.

"Why? Why...?" He repeated over and over holding her close, not caring if her wounds bled onto his clothes. All these years together and it ends like this?

"L-Lelouch, is that you?" She croaked weakly. He leaned closer standing in her line of vision, a shaky smile on his face.

"It's me." Her weak eyes went over his body widening at the sight of red on his white shirt.

"A-are you hurt?" She coughed reaching for his chest. He caught her hand half way and held it, disgrace infiltrating his soul. Not his blood. It was all hers. He had failed her. He had failed to protect her. How can she think of him while she laid here dyi-No! He wouldn't let her.

"The doctor said you were going to make a full recovery so hang in there." He pressed with a warm smile.

"Don't do that, d-don't lie to me with that fake smile on your face." His face fell as she saw through his façade. "Please don't be sad...I chose to do this. I...I wanted to protect them..." She managed without too much difficulty even if her pulse reading was getting weaker.

"I never want to lose anyone I love! I've lost too many as it is." She smiled shakily her hand touching his cheek lightly.

"I only ever wanted you to myself...When we were younger I was always jealous of other girls around you because I wanted to be the one you confided in. Then I dreamt of us two growing old together and having children with you and becoming your strength. These last thirteen years have made something very clear to me...I won't ever love anyone like I have loved you. I will always cherish the time we spent together dearly...I will always be loyal to you." She swore eyes filled with a deep love, despite the pain she must be in.

"Don't talk like that, you'll be fine. Save your strength so you can recover." She shook her head her hand tightening over his cheek with a pained smile.

"You can't save me Lelouch. Gomenasai."

"NOOO! Live!" He pleaded ripping his contacts off his eyes, his full Geass burning brightly with desperation. "Please live!" Her eyes shimmered with tears as a red circle surrounded her irises but he knows it won't work. He has already used it on her before but he has to try. For her. He owed it to her to try

"Back then during the Rebellion, in a world full of lies, I wanted to be the one thing that remained truthful in your life...Whether it is as a lover or as a friend...That's all I wanted." She whispered tears leaking out of her eyes. Her monitor was beeping erratically; her pulse was lowering. At this rate...

"I won't let you die." He swore wiping her tears away with his thumb as gently as he could. All he got in response was a gentle loving smile as her eyelids wavered fighting to get her feelings out before the last of her energy left her.

"Lulu...no matter how many times I'm reborn, how many times I forget about you...whatever sins you commit, even if your heart belongs to another, I-I will always fall in love with you...Zettai..." Her arms started going limp, her hand sliding from his warm wet cheek as her eyes closed, a peaceful smile on her face.

Her monitor flat lined.

"NNNOOOOOOOOO!" He bellowed holding her close, looking down at her, willing her bright honey gold eyes to open. But they wouldn't.

Not ever again.

"...SHIRLEY!!"

Kururugi Suzaku opened the door to the children's rooms quietly standing in the darkened room, hearing their breathing fluctuate in their slumber. How did it come to this? Hadn't all the fighting been resolved when they had faced the Emperor and Marianne? Shouldn't they still be living peacefully and trying to make this world a better place? His thoughts were interrupted when he heard one of the kids' stirring.

"S-Suza-oji-san..." The knight moved closer to Euphie's bed, taking her small hand in his as he sat near her.

"I'm right here Euphie." He responded, forcing a smile on his face as he watched the girl that was named after his first true love open her blue eyes slightly, as if fighting to stay awake. Suzaku quelled the wave of déjà-vu he felt as he tried to listen to the young girl.

"Papa...Papa-wa?" The knight forced a smile on his face.

"He'll be here to see you soon. He has to take care of some things..."

"I-I have to tell him something." She whispered sleepily.

"What is it? I can tell him for you."

"Those bad people...I saw one of them." Suzaku moved closer.

"Do you remember what they looked like?" He pressed. Her eyelids closed and he thought she had fallen asleep when she spoke.

"...I remember one thing. They had eyes like papa." Suzaku frowned.

"They had violet eyes?" She shook her head.

"Iie, papa's other eyes..." She said yawning, the medication in her IV kicking in again as she fell asleep. Suzaku frowned at her words, running a few fingers over her cherubic face that was slowly losing its baby fat. "Other eyes?" He mumbled to himself looking out the window, the stars twinkling brightly as if mocking their loss when it finally hit him.

"Masaka! Could it be-"

"Geass." A weary voice finished from the doorway. He spun around, green eyes widening as they settled on the injured figure leaning against the doorway, dressed in a hospital gown, supporting herself on the portable stand for her IV drip, bandages covering her legs and arms.

"Kallen."

TBC

Yes I killed Shirley. But I did not simply kill her because she died in the show, I did it for another reason as well that will be revealed later on in the story. More characters will be present in the next chapter and it goes across the spectrum to be honest but it remains focused on Lelouch and his family as well as the main cast. Oh yeah and by the way, none of the children are aware of their father having Geass and of its existence...yet. (hehe)

Please review and tell me what you think. Suggestions are still welcome if anyone has more ideas that they haven't already PM'd to me. I hope to see you all next chapter!

PREVIEW

"The twins' innocent days have come to a screeching halt as they realise the harsh realities of this world run by adults. Pain, loss and regret: these are the feelings that run amok through the minds of those left behind. The time to grow into their adolescence has arrived much more quickly than expected. Everyone must make their choices and move forward with whatever they have chosen yet questions echo in their hearts.

Who is my enemy? Who is my ally? Who am I?

The world's shell is cracking, who will rise up from their despair and mend the seams?"

Next time on

Code Geass the War of C: Decisions.