Episode 1: Lelouch’s Return

With a clanking sound, the heavy iron lock slid from the door and crashed to the ground. The door slid open and a tall, slim figure slipped through, stepping lithely over the prostrate corpses of the two guards that had been flanking the entrance. His footsteps echoed off the stone floor as he entered the tomb and stopped in front of a pitch-black crypt, in which whose stone face were carved the words:

Here lies
Lelouch vi Britannia
99th Emperor of
The Holy Britannian
Empire
One Who Destroyed
The World
To Create Anew

His eyes lingered on the last words of the eulogy. His lips curled into a malevolent grin, and a pair of fangs flashed in the dim lighting of the tomb. He had found what he was looking for.


Suzaku removed his mask with a relieved sigh as the door to Nunnaly’s chambers closed with a whoosh. Nunnaly wheeled her chair to the small table in the center of the room. Surrounding the table were three ornate couches, and all were set in a dip in the floor. Suzaku settled into one of the couches while Nunnaly stopped herself on the fourth side of the table, which was free of furniture for her sake. She smiled at Suzaku, who was lost in thought, his chin resting on the palm of his hand.
It had been two years since Lelouch died by Suzaku’s hand, Suzaku had taken the identity of Zero, and Nunnaly had joined the United Federation of Nations. Nunnaly had grown into a beautiful young woman while Suzaku had only grown slightly taller and a little broader in the shoulder. His curled brown hair hung shoulder length now as well. Currently the world was in an era of peace while the U.F.N. continued working on the stabilization of the world economy, as well as perfecting the new police force that replaced the military. The force was merely meant to ensure that the new laws established by the U.F.N. would be followed. What remained of the original Knights of Round now acted as guards to the U.F.N. officials, and the use of Knightmares had been forbidden and all such weaponry destroyed. However, the Lancelot had been salvaged by Lloyd, who claimed he refused to see his greatest work demolished in any other way than in battle, so the power cell was removed and the frame itself now stands on display in the Japan branch of the U.F.N. World History Museum, frequently visited by Lloyd. Often Suzaku himself would visit as well. The only other Knightmare frame that had been spared was the Guren, previously piloted by Kallen, and stands in the Black Knights wing of the museum.
Lelouch’s body was now kept in a tomb in the royal gardens, located on the opposite side of the grounds from where Nunnaly and Suzaku now sat. Nunnaly had written the eulogy based off of her brother’s final words and stationed guards to protect his remains, which were perfectly preserved thanks to the technology developed by Lloyd and Nina. It was a place where Suzaku often found himself visiting, too.
The peal of a tiny golden bell, held by Nunnaly, jolted Suzaku from his revere and Sayoko entered the room. Dressed once again in the uniform of a maid, she had chosen to take up her position again as Nunnaly’s caretaker. This also would double Nunnaly’s protection due to Sayoko’s abilities as a martial artist.
“May I help you, Miss Nunnaly?” she asked, brushing the skirt of her uniform flat with the back of her hand.
“Sayoko, could Suzaku and I have some tea, please? Nunnaly asked sweetly.
“Of course,” said Sayoko. “The usual for both of you, then?”
“Yes.”
Sayoko bowed and turned to leave, when Suzaku said, “Would you also heat up some saké for me, please?”
Sayoko nodded. “Yes, sir,” she said, and left.
Nunnaly looked at Suzaku uneasily.
“You’ve been drinking every night this past week, Suzaku,” she said. “Is something wrong?”
Suzaku shook his head slowly. “No, nothing’s wrong, Nunnaly. Actually, this is a kind of tradition of mine. Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of my father’s death. I’m drinking for him.”
Nunnaly’s expression changed from concern to sympathy and she leaned over to rest her hand on Suzaku’s. “Then let me drink with you.”
“What?” said Suzaku, surprised. “Oh, no, no, Nunnaly. You’re too young.” At that moment, Sayoko returned with two cups of hot tea and a bottle of warm saké on a tray. She set the tray on the table, bowed again, and left. “Besides,” he added, “it’s not your weight to bare.”
“All right, then,” Nunnaly said, picking up her teacup. “How about I say a toast, instead?”
Suzaku hesitated, the slowly he nodded and poured himself a small amount of saké. Smiling, Nunnaly raised her cup, and he mimicked her.
“To former Minister Kururugi. Please rest in peace and know that your son’s heart is still full of love for you, even to this day ten years later.” She bowed her head and took a sip of tea. After a moment’s hesitation, Suzaku did the same, downing the warm liquor in one and savoring the taste as it slid down his throat. He wiped a tear from his eye and smiled at Nunnaly.
“That was beautiful, Nunnaly,” he said. Leaning forward, he rested on his knees and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” she said gently, and then she giggled. “You’re going to make me spill my tea.”
“Oh! Sorry.” Suzaku released her and sat back in the couch, grinning sheepishly. Then he placed his cup next to the saké bottle, which he capped. One drink was enough for the night.
A little while later, Sayoko returned to clear away the now empty teacups and cold saké. As she lifted the tray, a soft knock sounded at the door, followed by a dull thump as something fell against the metal panel, causing it to shimmer from the impact. Suzaku looked at Sayoko, who nodded. He stood and positioned himself between Nunnaly and the door, grabbing his mask and fitting it over his head while Sayoko approached the door. With a touch of a button, the panel slid open and someone toppled inside and to the floor.
Sayoko screamed in shock. Suzaku gasped and quickly removed his mask. Nunnaly craned her head to see past Suzaku and her voice caught in her throat. Lying on the floor, facedown and dressed in the white and gold embroidered robes he had worn during his few months as emperor and when he was buried, was Lelouch, unconscious but very much alive.