Chapter 11: Lelouch's Zanpakuto

(A/N: You wanna know why this was delayed? Alex was playing Yu-gi-oh. Yeah you read that right Yu-gi-oh. Who DOES that anymore? The card game sucks. The show doesn't even have Yugi in it anymore. The only thing that's good about that series anymore is its Abridged Series and Dan Green's legacy. Anyway enjoy your chapter fanfic nerds)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass

Lelouch's pov

I woke up, yawned and stretched. I hadn't had a good night's sleep like that one in a while. It's been about two years since I joined the 2nd Division. I haven't had that recurring nightmare of mine in a while and three weeks ago a new captain was appointed to lead the 3rd Division. His name is Otoribashi Rojuro. The captains call him Rose for short. I get most of my daily news from the Seireitai Communication. The rest of it comes from whatever gossip I can squeeze out of Yoruichi or Urahara-san. He gave me permission to address him less formally. Urahara-san and Yoruichi both have a lackadaisical attitude about them, but that doesn't stop them from doing their job, or doing it properly despite what Soifon-senpai might think.

I haven't heard from Yuna in the time I've been here either save that first night. Either she's too busy to write, or she doesn't want me involved in any danger. Perhaps it's for the best. Speaking of being too busy, Urahara-san is always saying how he and I should have a friendly game of chess, but he always seems to be busy with something, or fast asleep, every time a good opportunity for me arises.

I check my desk for finished paperwork before heading out the door, fasten my Zanpakuto to my waist, and walk out. Every morning I get into the habit of examining the Squad Bulletin Board for assignments. The board is organized by seat number. Any division member can take any assignment of his or her rank or up to three ranks below or one rank above. Or they can assign a lower seated member that is four or five ranks below them an assignment or go on an assignment two ranks above them with their direct superior and only by permission of their direct superior's direct superior. In the time I've been here only two particular assignments ever caught my eye for my rank. A lot of the assignments tend to go to the 11th, 10th and 9th seats.

Today there was nothing of particular interest so I stopped by my second destination of the day: the box office. Despite showing little to none herself, Yoruichi had a very organized box office to give the proper division members and seated officers the proper paperwork. I got cut a break with a short line only to find out that I didn't have any paperwork assigned to me at all today. I asked three times to make certain that I there wasn't an error or something similar. I walked out of the box office now at a loss with what to do. Normally I'd receive my paperwork, do it, get something to eat, check up on Naomi to make sure she was doing her job, get a copy of the daily news, read it, and by that time it was usually the middle of the afternoon and I'd spend time until evening enhancing my physical fitness, practicing Kido and getting better at Shunpo.

I then realized I had a golden opportunity for something I had wanted to attempt, but never had the time or the energy to do in two years.

I went back to my dorm, sat down outside it, just to make sure nothing got trashed inside and withdrew my Zanpakuto from its sheathe. I looked at the blade, seeing my eyes reflected in the metal. It's either now or never. I told myself.

I sat down and folded my Zanpakuto across my lap. I emptied my mind of thoughts and focused on breathing until I could do nothing except let my mind freely wander. I wasn't sure what to expect. Every time, up until Akari-taicho's death, that I had tried to enter my inner world all I would get is a montage of memories and then be thrust awake. I had never seen my inner world or my Zanpakuto before. I was determined to enter this time.

I could feel my eyes wanting to open. I blinked a few times. My surroundings were not that of the division grounds. Beneath me the floor was mapped out like a chess board and all around me were pillars and there were giant chess pieces, as tall as skyscrapers, surrounding me. They were not in their starting spots, but rather scattered about the area. I could tell because I was standing next to a white knight and two squares away to my right was a black pawn. This was my inner world. I was in.

"So you've finally come." I heard a voice echo from behind me. I turned around. A figure began to march forward, but it was too far away for me to make it out. It began to draw closer until I could see who it was. My eyes widened when I recognized the figure.

"No that's impossible!" Standing before me was Zero, but I'm Zero…well Suzaku's Zero now but even so.

"Now how is it impossible?" Zero asked me.

"There are only two people who should be here my Zanpakuto spirit and me. You are obviously neither. Who are you?" I demanded to know.

Zero chuckled to himself. "Didn't you once say that Zero was a symbol not a being? My identity is void. I am not a man or machine, nor something in between. I am not even alive. I am inside your head. What am i?"

"Don't play games with me." I grit my teeth.

"Oh come now Lelouch Vi Britannia play along. You normally love riddles." Zero chuckled.

I grunted and decided to play along for now. "You're an idea."

Zero clapped slowly. "Very good. Here's another. I have no limit, no beginning and no end. I exist in all beings, but I vary size. What am I?"

I took a moment to think and then answered. "Knowledge."

"That's two for two. One more. I have no body, but I take a form. I am not dead, but I've been born. Some claim to see me, some actually can. This riddle is over. Now name what I am."

"The answer is simple. You're a spirit." I answered.

"That's right." Zero took a few steps forward. "I believe the time has come at last." Zero reached up and spread apart the uniform's cape, revealing the outfit to be red, not blue as I had worn it. "To discard my mask." Zero's fingertips touched the visor on the uniform's helmet. "So that you can see." Zero began to remove the helmet. Zero's voice became the voice I had always heard my Zanpakuto speak in as she said. "My true identity." A bright light flashed. When it died down my Zanpakuto spirit stood before me. She was still wearing an outfit similar to my Zero outfit, but it was clay red not royal blue. She was holding the helmet under her arm. Her hair was styled similar to C.C's, but her hair was strawberry red. I could see the color of her eyes, they were Olive Green.

"So tell me, what was the point of all that?" I asked.

"To test you." She told me. "I had to make sure you were still as clever as you always have been."

"You still don't think I've awoken do you. You still don't trust me." I said.

"Now that is a rude thing to say." My Zanpakuto replied. "When did I ever say that I did not trust you?"

"Then tell me your name." I said.

"As you wish. I am " A high pitched tone, like a high frequency tuning fork cranked up to a really high volume sounded through the area, drowning out my Zanpakuto's words when she said her name.

"As I figured. I can't hear you say your name." I said.

"Any why is that my fault?" she asked. "As I recall from your readings, it is the Soul Reaper's fault if they can't hear the name of their Zanpakuto."

"I thought all I had to do was realize who I truly am." I said, getting irritated.

"You do, but you have yet to do that. As I told you before one instance of using the Geass to speed up the process of gaining honor for your captain is not enough. It's a step in the right direction, but it's not enough." My Zanpakuto responded.

"Why are you pushing me in that direction?" I demanded to know.

"Who says I'm pushing you?" she asked.

I mocked her. "Use Geass. Remember who you are."

"They're just words Lelouch. It's your choice whether or not to listen to them." My Zanpakuto said now staring up at the nonexistent ceiling above us and playing catch with her helmet.

"Then let's try this from a different angle. Do you know why I can't hear your name?" I asked.

She stopped playing catch and looked directly at me. "I do." She answered.

There was a pause. I hate word games. I thought. "What is the reason or are the reasons why I can't hear your name?" I asked.

"A question for a question an answer for an answer." She replied.

"What?" I asked.

"It's a game Lelouch or don't you like games?" she asked.

"So now we're playing a game?" I asked. "What happened to the answer to my question?"

"I think if you play this game to get the answers to your questions it's much more fun, don't you think?" she asked.

Why is she replying in questions every time? Wait what did she say earlier? A question for a question an answer for an answer? I thought about this for a minute to understand the rules of her little game. "No I don't, so will you answer my question earlier?"

"A pity, now which question was that again?" she replied.

"What is the reason or are the reasons why I can't hear your name?"

"Lelouch, did you enjoy being manipulative and underhanded when you masqueraded in this outfit that I wear?"

"What do you think?" I turned the question on her.

"I think you enjoyed it, don't you agree?" she asked.

I was growing rather wearing of this guessing game. "No I don't agree, what does that have to do with anything?"

"I beg to differ, and I believe it was you who wanted to know why you couldn't hear my name yes?"

"True, but…wait are you saying that my alleged denial of enjoying being manipulative and wanting to atone because of all the blood I put on my hands to give the world peace is causing the problem? And that if I don't admit to who I am that I'll never learn your name?"

"That is exactly it. If you don't you may never. So I ask you Lelouch why did you become Zero? Why did you attempt to liberate Britannia with an army? What was your purpose? Didn't you say it was fun?"

I smirked. "Those are a lot of questions, you'd better have some answers."

My Zanpakuto clapped. "Catching me with my own rules. You are still in there somewhere it seems."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"What did it sound like?" she replied.

"Are we still playing this stupid game?" I growled.

"What do you think?" she giggled.

I growled. "How do we end this game?"

"Have you received your answers?" I glared. She laughed.

"If I say yes will this annoying game stop and can we talk normally?"

"Oh have it your way, you're no fun." She pouted. Considering she gave an answer to my question I could safely assume this 'game' of hers was over. She looked at me seriously. "Lelouch I want you to think for a moment."

"What about?"

"When you used Geass on those guards to get into the 3rd division, didn't you feel power rising within you? Didn't you feel a sensation coursing through you?" she asked.

I recalled the event. "Now that you mention it I do recall feeling much more powerful than usual. I was able to stop that squad member's attack with my bare hands. I had complete control of my reiatsu."

"I look how I am because I am a reflection of your memory and history. When you were Zero you enjoyed what you were doing, you felt like you were a hero to the Black Knights up until they found out what they believed you were all about." My Zanpakuto said to me. "If you hadn't believed Nunnally dead what would you have done differently when they called you out?"

"What does any of this matter? My past is over. I'm starting anew."

"Can you? You were the one who came here to stop monsters, but without me you cannot rise to become a captain." My Zanpakuto replied.

"Hoshima was corrupt. He needed to be put down." I defeneded.

"And you don't there are other people who are similar. You have already taken notice of some of the Soul Society's rather black and white policies. You want to change them, but you lack the power to change. It's ok to try and rise in rank and change the system from within like your friend, but you won't succeed if you play by his rules. The Lelouch Vi Britannia that lived played by his own rules, he manipulated every situation so that no matter what happened he won."

"Lelouch Vi Britannia is dead!" I shouted.

"And there it is out in the open." My Zanpakuto sighed.

"Sure maybe if I hadn't thought Nunnally was dead things may not have turned out like this. I would've never resorted to Zero Requiem and a lot of good people might still be alive."

"Including you right?" My Zanpakuto asked. I just sneered.

"I cannot change the past." I said. "The only thing I can do is move forward and create a new future. I have always strived for the future. You were obviously there when I said that little speech: My father wanted the past, Schneizel wanted the present, but I want the future."

"I do remember, but are you ok with the future you are headed toward?" My Zanpakuto wanted to know. "Bowing to authority? Going through the motions? Isn't that what Geass helped you escape? You don't want to admit that I'm right, do you? I can see it in your eyes. I cannot talk to you if you still deny who you are."

I conceded to her points. "I do not deny who I am. However, there's no enemy to hold my attention. I don't know who I'm supposed to be fighting. Treva is being dealt with as we converse and he's outside my league, even if I were to corner him his Shikai could stop me in my tracks. Even if that weren't the case you saw what happened with Vanguard. I was nearly killed."

"You're already dead."

"You know what I mean." I said irritably. My Zanpakuto folded her arms. "Maybe I'm not meant to know your name yet. The Gotei's system is a lot less screwed up than Britannia there's not much to change. The only enemies are the obvious ones. Perhaps my confusion is also part of the reason I have not learned your name."

My Zanpakuto nodded. "Yes, now you understand. And I believe you may find your enemy soon."

"When you are young you go looking for every fight you can, when you mature the good opponents come looking for you." I recited the old proverb.

"Something like that." After the reply everything began to begin to fade.

"Wait, I have one more question, why is it so foggy in my inner world. I can't see the whole chess board."

My vision blacked out, but I could still hear my Zanpakuto. "As you rise to the top you will see more of the board, and as your goal becomes clearer the fog will lift."

I opened my eyes. I was outside where I had sat down. I let out a small smile and sheathed my sword. I spent enough time with it today and I learned some important information. For now, I'd just have to wait.

5 months later

Winter was upon us. It had snowed the day before. I was currently sitting in the dining hall with some hot soup with a cloak wrapped around me.

"Ah there's my favorite low seat genius." A friendly voice called out as Urahara-san sat down in front of me.

"Something you need?" I asked as I sipped a spoonful of my soup.

He put a case on the table. "I think it's about time we put an end to our little waiting game."

"Waiting game?"

He opened the case, revealing a chessboard with pieces. "What do you say? You wanna play?"

I put down my spoon and set my bowl aside. "Fine, but I'm black." I said.

Urahara-san and I set up the board and got down to playing. "So," he said, "Why do you always play black?"

"If the enemy takes initiative I have the ability to respond and counterattack," I said, "Whereas I'd be rushing headlong into enemy territory without a plan the other way around."

"You seem to take the game very seriously." Urahara-san said with a friendly smile.

"Of course I do." I said. I moved my king.

"You're moving your king rather early." Urahara-san said

"If the king does not move into battle, his men won't follow." I told Urahara-san like I had told so many others.

"Did you pull this stunt with Aizen and still win?" Urahara-san asked me.

"Why don't you keep playing and find out?" I asked.

The game continued to progress steadily, but all throughout I never felt like I ever had advantage of the board, but at the same time I never thought Urahara-san had the advantage either. This man, despite being a rank lower than Aizen, was at a level of tactics, strategy and intelligence far beyond aforementioned Vice-Captain.

After several more turns both of us were out of pawns, my king was in the right-hand corner of my side of the board and Urahara-san's king was in the center of the board. I still had my queen, a knight and a rook. Urahara-san still had both his bishops and both his knights. It was his turn.

"Check." Urahara-san passed one of his bishops directly in front of my king. I took it with my king. "Check." He checked my king again with his knight. I moved my king out of the way. "Check." I was under fire from his other bishop now. I moved my king again. Urahara-san moved his knight so that I couldn't take his bishop with my king.

"Check." I checked Urahara-san with my rook. He moved his king to the side. I moved my knight. "Check." Urahara-san moved his king back towards his side of the board. I moved my queen so that it was adjacent to both Urahara-san's king and my own knight. "Check." He moved his king away. I pressed the attack with my knight. He sidestepped again. I put my king at Urahara-san's end of the board. There was only one move Urahara-san could make. After he did I moved my rook to a spot that completely prevented Urahara-san from moving his king, but he didn't have to. He wasn't in check.

Urahara-san checked my king with his knight, delaying the inevitable an extra turn. I moved my king so that it was adjacent to Urahara-san's bishop and knight, but in check by neither. Urahara-san moved his knight that was completely uninvolved in either skirmish. He was betting that I'd leave his bishop alive, which I could take with my king with no repercussions, but I was determined to win, not draw. I moved my knight to put Urahara's king in check. He could only do one move with his king. After he did it I moved my queen diagonally one space to check him. Once again Urahara-san only had one move to make and I cut off all his escape routes with my rook.

"And that, I believe, is Checkmate." I grinned.

"It is indeed. I concede Lelouch; you are indeed the chessmaster here." Urahara-san said. "Keep that level of ability where it's at or even improve upon it and you'll do great things for the Soul Society."

"Thanks for the compliment." I accepted his words.

"So what now? Do I get a prize of some sort for beating both you and Aizen?" I joked.

"I wish." Urahara-san responded. "It's not every day a low seat member is able to beat division members within the top 3 seats of the Gotei 13. Aizen and I have only ever lost to each other. Even Captains Ukitake, the Head Captain and Captain Kuchiki have been beaten by us each and every time."

"You and Aizen have played the Head Captain?" I asked.

"When you get to be a high rank officer you generally get invited to noble gatherings. Aizen and I both challenged the old man at one of the Shihoin family gatherings. The Captain commander nearly lost his temper he was beaten so many times." Urahara-san replied.

"And I beat both of you." I commented.

"Hey it could be beginner's luck, but who knows? If you do it consistently you might be regarded as the most brilliant mind in all of Soul Society." Urahara-san told me. I laughed smugly at the thought. "Of course the chess game wasn't the only reason I came down here. Urahara-san put a small stack of documents on the table."

"What are these?" I asked.

"Take a look at you'll find out." Urahara-san told me.

I read it over. They were assignment papers. I was being asked to take a teaching job in the academy for 1st year Kido students. I was surprised. "I thought teaching positions were only given to seated officers with rank fifteen or higher?"

"Yoruichi sent me down here with those and the chess board. She said that if you proved to have the capacity to beat me in chess that she'd take a chance and give you the opportunity to teach. You've got potential Lelouch, plus you graduated at the top of your class in Kido. If your physical strength and stamina were a little more stable you'd be climbing ranks easily." Urahara-san told me. "Do this and see how it goes. If you do well, maybe Yoruichi gives you a higher teaching position or higher rank."

"What does Soifon-senpai think of this?" I asked.

"Why does her opinion matter?" Urahara-san wanted to know.

"She's Yoruichi's second and always breathing down her neck, wanting what's best for Yoruichi and the squad. I was only curious if she put up a fight with Yoruichi giving me this position." I stated. I had to know exactly how much was expected of me. This was highly irregular to give someone of my seat a teaching position, high intellect or no.

"Maybe you should go ask her." Urahara-san suggested.

"Don't joke around." I said punctually.

"For once I'm actually being serious. I really have no idea what Soifon thinks of this. If you want her opinion you should ask her." Urahara-san said.

"I suppose I will then." I got to my feet only for my stomach to growl. I sat back down. "Of course I think I'll finish my soup first."

20 minutes later

After finishing eating and bidding goodbye to Urahara-san I asked for directions to Soifon-senpai's office or dorm or if anyone had seen her. I finally found myself standing in front of a hovel relatively close to the large building that housed the captain's office and bedroom and the squad meeting room.

That sort of figures. I said to myself.

I walked up to the door and knocked. There was no response. I counted to ten slowly before knocking again.

"All right, all right hold on a second." I heard complaining from behind the door. The door slid open revealing Soifon-senpai. "Oh, it's you Lelouch." She folded her arms. "Something I can help you with?"

"Yeah, I was curious. Did you happen to know Yoruichi was considering giving me a teaching position?" I told her.

"Of course I know about it. To be honest I think your rank is just a number. It doesn't matter your rank. Some people aren't meant to teach." She said. "It'll be up to you to prove whether you can or not. Your records suggest you have the potential, but your actions will determine if you have the ability.

"So in other words you really have no objection to this." I stated in confirmation.

"No, but allow me to say this." She said and then got bitter. "Yoruichi-sama is counting on you. She has every bit of faith that you can do this. If you prove her wrong, so help me I'll…I'll…you won't like what's in store for you from me if you fail!"

Nice to know her dedication to her captain hasn't waned. I smirked.

"What's so funny?" Soifon-senpai snapped.

"Nothing," I responded, "I was just thinking about how dedicated you are to the captain. Yoruichi did an excellent job in picking the captain of her guard. Speaking of which, where is she? Normally I'd expect to find you at her back."

"I…"

"Hmm?"

"Can you…keep a secret?" Soifon asked. Her cheeks were flushed.

"Depends, who do I have to keep it from?" I asked.

"Everyone, but most importantly Yoruichi-sama!" she responded.

"All right, fire away." I said.

"I…well…Yoruichi-sama's birthday is coming up and well…I don't know what to get her this year." Soifon-senpai tapped her fingers together.

"I see, trying to keep your gift hunting efforts a secret. I can sympathize with that." I responded. I recalled the few times I kept secrets of a similar nature from Nunnally.

"Well, as long as you're here, and considering your teaching position doesn't start until the spring season, I have a favor to ask…no more like an order."

There's no arguing with her. I know that much. "What do you want me to do?" I asked.

"While I'm out…gift shopping… please keep an eye on Yoruichi-sama for me." She requested.

"In other words you want me to your job of watching out for her basically." I said.

"Exactly, bring your paperwork with you wherever you go, make sure she doesn't leave your sight and if she asks you to stop following her tell her I told you to do it and that I'm on a secret assignment of great importance for her." Soifon said, getting passionate about all of this.

"And what do I get in return, besides the fact that you're higher up than me, what exactly do I get for helping you out?" I asked.

Bargaining hmm? I like.

Quiet. I ordered.

"I…Isn't my gratitude enough?" Soifon snapped.

"You be the judge of that. Ask yourself how much this means to you and put yourself in my shoes." I told her.

"I…" Soifon-senpai started to speak but swallowed.

"Hmm?"

"I…I will think of something…I…for now can you please just do this…please?" Soifon-senpai looked like she might cry, get mad or attack me if I kept messing around and I wanted to stay on my captain's good side.

"All right then. A deal's a deal. Shake on it?" I asked.

"Fine." Soifon responded and we shook hands.

"Right then," I said, "Let me just check up on Naomi and I'll get right to work on this."

"Please don't take too long. Yoruichi-sama is in a captain's meeting and she'll be back soon."

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. You just do what you need to do." I told Soifon-senpai.

"I…very well."

I left Soifon-senpai and went to check up on Naomi. I knocked loudly on her dorm room. Naomi slid the door open in haste. "Yeah?" she was completely disoriented. She saw me and stood at attention. "S-senpai, you're early."

"Something's come up." I told her. "That's not a problem I hope."

"N-no…n-not at all…P-please come in." Naomi led me inside. She seemed nervous. I took a look around her office and went over to her desk. Her paperwork was a mess on her table. "Uh…I…I'm not done with that yet. I-I will be soon. You can come by later…perhaps this evening?" I didn't respond and just kept moving about the room. I took noticed of a half-eaten sandwich. "Uh…I…I'm going to finish that." My eyes touched upon a scrap of paper lying on the floor. I went to pick up, but Naomi dove for it grabbed it and turned to face me.

"Trying to hide something from me?" I asked, folding my arms.

"You…you can't look at this Senpai." Naomi declared, gripping the corners of it and holding it to her chest. Now able to get a clear look at the back I could see the texture and shape and was almost certain that she was holding a black and white photograph.

I extended one arm out. "Naomi, give me the photo. Don't make me write you write you up."

"No!" Naomi backed away from me.

"Naomi we can do this the easy way or the hard way." I folded my arms again.

"You want it," she took the photo and stuffed it down her shirt. "Then go ahead and take it."

I rolled my shoulders and let out a deep sigh. If she was that desperate to hide whatever it was I didn't need make a big fuss about it. "Fine, have it your way." I told her. "I'll come back later this evening to get the paperwork. Make sure it's ready by then."

I left her room and headed for Yoruichi's office/dorm

Don't you think that was potentially worth investigating? My Zanpakuto asked.

I've known Naomi long enough to know that that's not contraband or incriminating. It could be a potentially embarrassing photo. I mean I did show up rather early. I defended my decision.

You've really lost your edge. I thought our talk a few months ago would've spurned you to be more ruthless. My Zanpakuto sighed.

I see no rhyme or reason to start manipulating people. Manipulation is what lost me so much trust at the very end. If I can gain trust through returned trust I'll be much better off.

Keep that up and I might just disappear for a while again.

You know to be honest I sort of liked it better when you WEREN'T breathing down my neck constantly.

Hmph.

I dropped communication and made it to Yoruichi's office. I knocked once.

"Come in." I recognized Yoruichi's voice. I opened the door and walked inside. "Oh Lelouch, it's you. I wasn't expecting to see you. You haven't seen Soifon have you?"

"That's sort of the reason I'm here." I told her as I stood at attention. "Soifon-senpai's working on a special assignment for your benefit and she asked me to substitute for her job with keeping a watchful eye on you."

Yoruichi donned a playful smile. "Did she now?"

"Do you want to ask her yourself?" I asked with the same smile.

Yoruichi turned her head to the side and held up her hand, shaking it. "Nah, its fine. Having a change out of the usual is good once in a while. Well here I am go ahead and do whatever."

"Ah, right." I walked farther into the assembly hall and sat nearby Yoruichi, but not so much that I was invading her personal space. She could draw her Zanpakuto if she felt like it and it would reach me if she pointed it in my direction.

"Don't you have something to do?" she asked.

"I get all my paperwork done before I eat." I responded.

"Well then, have fun sitting there till sundown." Yoruichi teased. I growled underneath my breath.

How does Soifon put up with this…then again this is the perfect opportunity to get to know my captain better. "Say, Yoruichi, since we have this opportunity we could always talk and get to know each other a little better."

"Well I suppose that's better than sitting here in silence for the next few hours," Yoruichi chuckled. "Normally Soifon just sits there quiet as a mouse and either does her paperwork or sketches. Funny thing is she never shows me what she draws."

I can only imagine what she might draw from this position Yoruichi. I said to myself.

Yoruichi and I spent the next few hours talking to each other over various topics. I let her speak more than me. It was the gentlemanly thing to do and I was in no way shape or form ready to trust anyone, not even Yuna, with my past. I learned a lot about the Shihoin family, about Yoruichi's childhood and about her friendship with Akari-taicho. It was a rather pleasant chat.

We talked for so long we completely lost track of time. It was when the moon shone into the room and Yoruichi yawned that we finally decided to end the conversation.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked.

"Well I'll probably bring my paperwork and follow you to eat tomorrow unless Soifon's done with her 'special assignment'." I told her.

"Sounds like a plan, thanks for the chat Lelouch." Yoruichi told me.

"No, thank you." I told her. I made for the door and bowed low. "Good night."

"Good night." She told me. We parted ways. I went back to Naomi's office and got the paperwork from her and then, as I walked back to my dorm, scanned through it. I had to sign off on both documents and deliver one of them to Armika Mei in 13th division. Simple enough. I noted

I got back to my room and signed both documents before putting them in the 'outbox' on my desk. I threw an extra blanket on my bed, settled down and went to sleep.

(A/N: Man Lelouch can't you tell when a girl actually likes you? Take a hint! Well at least we got to see Lelouch's Zanpakuto finally and Lelouch is helping Soifon with a personal matter. Anyway that's all for now folks.)