2Author's note: After scanning through the Code Geass section of fanfics, I found that there are not many Schneizel and Kanon stories despite there were so many hints of them in the anime and especially the picture dramas (Kanon got whipped by Schneizel and my, he was cute) so I have decided to write one . I found them pretty hard to write and I can already see it to be a story that can span over several chapters unless I made my target words higher than this chapter. Please give me your support and leave a review!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion nor R2.
…/
Zero Requiem, wasn't it a plan to free everybody from Emperor Lelouch's reign? Yet this happiness was in the end still built on others' sacrifices, especially Schneizel-tenka's.
No matter how confusing the situation was, Kanon Maldini was an adviser for the royal family's second prince; a fearful tactician that suited to be Schneizel-tenka's personal strategist. It took Kanon only minutes after Emperor Lelouch's death to figure out the existence of the plan; to notice that the death could not be a mere coincidence. It took him one day to confirm that it was indeed a plan, and one week to come up with the list of suspects for who the current Zero is; and Emperor Lelouch's personal knight, Knight of Zero, and at the same time also his best friend – Suzaku, was on top of this list. Suzaku has inhuman reflexes; it won't be hard for him to fake his own death. But to do that much for someone who killed Euphie, to give up his life, and worse, to live as someone else for a murderer, Lelouch would have meant a lot, no, he must have meant the world to Suzaku. But Kanon was confident that what he feels towards Schneizel-tenka is stronger than that. Kanon remembered that before Schneizel-tenka lost himself to the cursed Geass, he had said that he was more than certain who Zero was, and commented that Lelouch was a fearsome opponent that could not be taken lightly. Therefore he was more than one hundred per cent certain that this Zero must be Suzaku and that it was Lelouch that convinced Suzaku, somehow, to carry on being Zero, probably as a way to repent. Suzaku was that kind of person after all. The type to take on blame for every fault in the world, the type that feels guilt too easily, the type that is too kind-hearted for his own good. That kindness would destroy him one day, maybe even without himself realising.
Though Suzaku is altogether another person, he was chosen by Lelouch to be Zero. Kanon believed that there must be some other factors involved other than affections. Still, Suzaku would be a lot easier to deal than Lelouch.
Kanon had not been doing nothing since Lelouch's calculated death. Zero Requiem was a good plan. Kanon acknowledged that himself and felt the need to praise this seventeen years old to think of this plan and further, to carry out such a good plan that includes self-sacrifice. But Kanon would never admit that the plan fulfilled its original purpose; he would never admit that Lelouch died as a good emperor for the people – wouldn't Schneizel-tenka count as a part of 'the people'? Why should Schneizel-tenka give up his life for Zero? Why should he do that unwillingly, without his own say? It pained Kanon to see his Schneizel-tenka like that. Schneizel-tenka never bowed down to even the 98th Emperor Charles who ruled the Holy Empire of Britannia like it was kid's play. So why should Schneizel-tenka bow down to Zero? A fake Zero at that.
Kanon knew about the Geass Canceller, V.V. had created one before his own dear twin brother ended his too-long life (sixty-something), V.V. had given this power to Jeremiah. Even though Kanon could not find anyone to help him on this project, he never gave up. With what Schneizel-tenka said right before Lelouch's message flickered on in that fateful cabin in mind, he worked tirelessly day and night in secrecy, trying to rebuild a Geass Canceller.
"Kanon, I'm sorry that I got you caught up in this." Schneizel, from his sitting position, tilted his head a little so that his mesmerising purple eyes met Kanon's crystal blue ones.
"What are you talking about, Schneizel-tenka?" Panic slightly surfaced in those soft sapphire eyes, I'll follow you anywhere, and the one I serve is not an Emperor, nor Highness, nor Majesty. It's you.
When Schneizel-tenka says something like that, it was either to tease Kanon, or to foretell that a storm is on its way. Kanon never understood the way that person's mind works. Even if it's that eccentric Schneizel-tenka, he couldn't possibly want to joke at such a grim timing.
Schneizel Tenka let out a sigh, "I have lost." He said with nearly absolutely no lingering desire for this world. Nearly. Upon seeing the brunette's confused expression, he elaborated on what he had said, "Lelouch is already in Damocles, he will get into the control room before we can escape in time, I have not a single care in the world about my life, but for you to lose yours is such a pity. Besides…"
That was the first time when that Schneizel-tenka showed a hint of the person underneath that perfect façade. Though during the time he served Schneizel-tenka he never left his side, even so, ever since the incident in that Institute happened, Schneizel-tenka had successfully kept that perfect façade on, and never gave Kanon a chance to peek beneath that mask, until now. But fate had decided not to give Kanon the time to notice.
Kanon never knew what he was about to say. After an awkward pause, Schneizel Tenka had changed the subject, then that despicable screen had flicked on. Having no desires for his own life, or in fact anything at all, was his downfall. Kanon always wondered if it would be better if Schneizel-tenka had a desire in any he about to say something about Lelouch? No, Kanon knew Schneizel-tenka well, being his personal advisor and all, that look in Schneizel-tenka's eyes was something he had never saw before. It was something resembling a glimpse of true kindness.
Schneizel-tenka had always been hailed as the kindest and the most caring member of the royal family. Kanon had always thought that way too, until Schneizel-tenka utilised FLEIJA and decided to abandon Nunnally, to leave his own half-sister to die. Was that caring nature and kindness a façade? Despite that possibility, Kanon still could not help but to love him, his façade, and his true self when the time comes should Kanon unveil that side of him.
/./././././.
The emergency alarm rang violently throughout the palace. Suzaku was warned by Lelouch the day before Zero Requiem's final stage, that Kanon may try something for Schneizel. But at that time, Suzaku could not have listened and took it to heart. His mind and soul was thrown into turmoil just by the thought of having to kill his lover and his best friend.
Still, this is reality. Kanon and Schneizel are both missing. Suzaku knew that Kanon was up to something, shutting himself into laboratories all day and night whenever he was free of politics, but he claimed that it was only to pass time. Besides, Suzaku did not feel like being Zero at the time, it reminded him of Lelouch too much, he knew that his best friend would have questioned Kanon thoroughly. But Suzaku, on the other hand, sympathised with Kanon, he knew that Kanon and Schneizel were close, (they were seen together almost all the time) and at the same time, Suzaku also knew the heart-breaking experience of losing a close one twice. Euphie, by his lover's hands; and his lover by his own hands.
Suzaku sent people searching them throughout the palace, Suzaku panicked, what would Lelouch have done in this situation? Would Lelouch let this happen in the first place?
/./././././.
Memories rushed back like a rapid flow of a river downstream. He had lost to Lelouch and was casted into eternal darkness by the Geass. He wasn't himself for a week or so, he was, for that time, a pawn under Zero's command.
Schneizel slowly opened his eyes, he saw a very worried Kanon. Slowly Kanon's face changed from anxiousness to a delighted expression. One that would make an angel cover her own face in shame.
"You woke, Schneizel-tenka." Kanon addressed him with much relief. Schneizel was surprised, not only at the way he called him, but at his loyalty to the second prince. Kanon was not obliged to do this much for him, Schneizel no longer held a position the moment he was freed from Geass. What motivated Kanon to go as far as to risk his own life for him?
They were under a giant tree, which looked like the middle of nowhere, or to be more precise, much like an enchanted forest in a fairy tale. He was amazed that Kanon got this far, especially with a burden. But Schneizel was sure he knew this place. It was somewhere he had been to before, when he was very young.
The sunlight shined through the green leaves, creating weird shapes on the ground, on them. There were little breeze in that forest. It was very peaceful, but it would only be a matter of time until Zero issues a search through this place.
/./././././.
"They could not have gone far! Search with more care!" Cornelia commanded the soldiers with authority. Though the Holy Empire of Britannia was liberated by Lelouch, the country remained a democracy outside, but a dictatorship within, though a much more friendlier dictatorship, where everyone gets their say, but the final decision goes to Zero.
Cornelia threw a glance at the worn out Zero sitting on the throne but slightly lacking the confidence and authority that Lelouch had, she ignored him after an intense glare and continued giving command at the courtroom, "Make sure this news does not leek outside the palace, we do not want our citizens to panic!"
/./././././.
Suzaku retired back into his own chamber, leaving a storming Cornelia in charge. He sat on the soft bed which he and Lelouch often than not shared and sank into deep thoughts.
Lelouch trusted him with this Geass, this wish, to bring salvation for his people even if it meant that he would die being hated and cursed. Suzaku was not going to let him down, this was Suzaku's repentance as well. The numbers of people Suzaku betrayed, for his father whom he killed, he had decided to do a good job as Zero until his own death. Suzaku knew it should be time to let go of the past, he visited Ashford Academy with Nunnally and watched the fireworks, though Lelouch was not there to see it with them, they had felt Lelouch's presence, was it not then that he had decided to leave the past behind? He couldn't reminisce now, he couldn't afford to. He had to track Schneizel and Kanon down before they could cause any harm.
Suzaku ordered Lloyd to get Lancelot Albion ready. He had to take action before it was too late, Schneizel was a strong opponent even for Lelouch, could he face him alone? Without his best friend beside him, could he achieve anything?
…/
Author's note: Thanks for reading, please review!
