Chapter 33: Lelouch's Problems Solved?

(A/N: The polls are closed, I am back from vacation. Let me say that the poll winner was not the only deciding factor in my choice. My own original intents and purpose with this scene followed by some discussions with a few of my close online friends became the deciding factor in what happens. I won't bother saying who the winner was. You're gonna know it soon enough. Also, I have Soul Chess outlined and prepped up through the Soul Society arc. After that shit's gonna break apart and I'll really have to buckle down. Anyway, please enjoy. Oh do keep in mind that the chapter is kicking right off with the lemon. Just letting you know.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass

3rd Person pov

Lelouch walked out of the washroom and up to Rangiku. "Hey, thanks for being my spotter." He told her.

"No problem Lelouch." She said and then drew circles in the center of his chest with her finger. "Anything for my vice-captain."

Lelouch swallowed and did his best to avoid an obvious show of arousal. "I…" he coughed, "I need to be getting back to my hospital room."

He dashed away, leaving Rangiku confused and rather disappointed that Lelouch hadn't chomped at her bait. "Why won't he notice me?" she humphed.

Once in his room, Lelouch grabbed his Soul Pager and sent a message to a predetermined recipient. Please come. He thought to himself. He wished that his desired mate would come see him. He knew that he did in fact like her and his hormones made him want her so bad. He stood in the room, waiting for her when at last she arrived.

"Lelouch-sama, you…wanted me to come see you?" Nemu asked. Her query was met by Lelouch grabbing her by her upper arms, pulling her towards him and kissing her forcefully on the mouth. Nemu wrapped her arms around Lelouch's neck and motioned and moaned into the kiss. Lelouch put one hand on Nemu's shoulder and the other just above her ass. Lelouch released her and Nemu backed away. Her heart was pounding as her mind tried to keep in step with her emotions. She put her fingers to her lips. That was…so passionate. The sound of a door closing, locking and being soundproofed with a barrier of Kido broke Nemu out of her thoughts just before she found Lelouch standing in front of her.

Nemu was unsure now why Lelouch had asked her to come to him so suddenly. His message had said 'Come see me. I'll be waiting for you in my medical room.' He had given no details or additional messages, just that one that seemed to have a sense of urgency behind it.

"Nemu, recently I've found myself with these…urges as of late. They're urges I find myself unable to control as of late. I find myself longing for you. When you're near I feel…strange I…I'm just going to cut right to the point. Nemu," Lelouch kissed Nemu passionately and briefly, leaving the artificial Soul Reaper wanting more, "I want to make love to you."

Nemu was taken aback. Make…love? The words reached Nemu and lingered, as if they hadn't settled in her brain quite properly just yet. She desired Lelouch more than anything else, but she thought her desires were nothing more than wild fantasies of her own perversions. Nemu blushed and looked at Lelouch longingly. "I…do you truly desire me…my body?" she asked.

"I do." Lelouch said hungrily and wrapped Nemu in his embrace and licked up the right side of her neck. Nemu let out a very soft and maidenly moan. She then turned Lelouch to look at her and then drove her tongue inside his mouth.

When she pulled away she smiled. "I will make you happy, Lelouch-sama." Nemu told him. She pushed Lelouch away slowly and slightly so that her fingertips rested on her chest. She then gently lifted her arms out of her sleeves and then let the top of her robe hang down around her. She then untied the sash and completely removed her top, hanging it on the bar where the curtain around Lelouch's bed. She then motioned into Lelouch's embrace and twirled around him and lightly guided him so that his back was against the wall. Nemu then straddled down the side of Lelouch's body ever so slowly, letting her unexposed breasts brush down every inch of the youthful looking Soul Reaper until she was on her knees.

Nemu dropped Lelouch's pants and removed his undergarments to get to Lelouch's now throbbing manhood. Nemu opened her mouth and took the hard thing into her mouth and then clamped her tits around Lelouch's member. Lelouch hissed from the pleasure surging through him. Nemu continued to work her tits over Lelouch, gradually increasing in speed.

"N-Nemu." Lelouch grunted only for Nemu to remove her mouth and for Lelouch to erupt in the soft embrace of her breasts. Nemu licked all of the phallic juice off of her mammary glands and then stood up and reached underneath her skirt. Lelouch became hard again in anticipation for what was about to happen as Nemu dropped her panties down to her ankles and then stepped out of them. She then turned around and pulled up her skirt, revealing her bare behind to Lelouch. She licked her lips, enticing him to come forward and take her.

Lelouch took her offering and plunged his throbbing manhood deep inside Nemu. Nemu let out a loud, pleasured moan as Lelouch entered her. The anti-heroic vice-captain got his bearings straight and began thrusting in and out of Nemu, enjoying the sounds of ecstasy she was expelling. Lelouch ran his hands up along Nemu's back and then grabbed her soft breasts that swayed back and forth as he rammed himself inside her. He fingered her nipples with his index finger, causing them to harden and for Nemu's moaning to increase in intensity.

Lelouch knew all about sex and sexual encounters. Knowledge and information was hi forte. This was his first time having the chance to use such knowledge in this particular field though. Lelouch continued to thrust until he withdrew from Nemu, pivoted himself and landed on the chair set up by the night table. He beckoned Nemu towards him.

Nemu came over to Lelouch and sat on top of his cock, facing into him. Lelouch drove his tongue in random sized arcs around Nemu's nipple at irregular intervals all the while thrusting into his partner. "L-Lelouch-sama." Nemu gasped. She was really starting to feel it as the man she loved thrust his extra sword into her love hole.

Lelouch drew his tongue back and moved Nemu's right breast around in a circle. As if Nemu didn't have enough of a desire to follow Lelouch to the ends of the Earth, now he was driving her crazy and satisfying her carnal desires for him. Nemu of course, was doing the same for Lelouch. He desired the artificial Soul Reaper in her entirety and he was currently fulfilling that desire.

Nemu got off Lelouch and lay down on the bed, waiting for him. Lelouch got on top of her and plowed into her, looming over her looking down upon her flushed, aroused face and her hot body. His hands were on her forearms as Nemu fondled her own breast. Lelouch leaned closed so that he was mere inches from Nemu's ear. "Tell me that you belong to me, Nemu." It was a fantasy of Lelouch's to feel as if his partner was a possession of his, a possession he would possess possessively.

"I…" Nemu was in such a high state of pleasure she could barely breathe let alone speak. "I…I belong to Lelouch-sama."

"Yes you do." Lelouch told her with a grin. Of course he already knew Nemu was his. She would do anything he asked. She was like a pet to him. Lelouch laughed internally about a joke he had made when he was teaching Nemu about the world. He had said that if someone attached a chain to Nemu's collar she'd play the perfect part of a sex slave. Eien Tamashi of course was very disapproving of the implication. And now here Nemu was, practically the object of his sexual desires and Lelouch knew that it would continue to be that way. He withdrew from Nemu and turned her over on her side and entered her from behind. Lelouch wrapped his right arm around underneath Nemu's bust and firmly squeezed her left breast. Nemu moaned as the pleasure coursed through her. Lelouch then used his left hand to rub Nemu's clitoris.

Nemu could feel herself reaching her limit. "L-Lelouch-sama…I…I can't…hold…it…" Lelouch knew that he himself was reaching his limit too. He pinched Nemu's nipple causing her to gasp loudly. Any more actions like that and she'd lose it for sure.

"Nemu, I'm going to release…" Lelouch got out.

"I want it. I want it…inside me." Nemu pleaded.

"Nemu." Lelouch grunted as he picked up speed.

It was too much. Nemu lost control. "Lelouch-sama!" Nemu came in an intense orgasm. Her fluid dripped down Lelouch's member and onto the sheets. The feeling of Nemu's juices tingling his manhood caused Lelouch to release everything he had inside of Nemu. Lelouch withdrew from Nemu and just held her body to him. Nemu turned over and snuggled into his warm, welcoming embrace.

As Nemu lay in his arms, very content, Lelouch began seeing their relationship in a different light. They were not brother and sister, but they weren't like master and servant either. As he lay there with Nemu in his arms, Lelouch realized just how much he cared about Nemu. He could tell by Nemu's breathing that she had fallen asleep from the intensity of their actions.

He knew that this was Nemu's first time having any Soul Reaper inside of her, but Lelouch knew that Nemu's virginity had been stolen long ago. Lelouch remembered the day he found out about the traumatic event, long ago.

12 years ago

It was a normal day like any other. Nemu had come to Lelouch's laboratory again to assist him in what he was doing. Ever since he had geassed Mayuri into submission, Nemu had become so devoted to Lelouch that she competed with Susanna as to who was the most devoted to the Assistant Department Head.

Lelouch began to yawn as he began running out of energy to continue his work. He had been up for 88 hours now trying to get these blasted wristbands done for his organization to be.

Nemu massaged his shoulders slightly. "Do you want to rest, Lelouch-sama?" she asked.

"I," Lelouch yawned, "Have to get this done."

Nemu let her arms hang loosely over Lelouch's shoulders. "You're not going to save anyone if you're tired, Lelouch-sama. Please get some rest." Nemu requested.

"Okay," Lelouch submitted, "For you, Nemu."

He stretched and lay down on the full-sized bed he had moved into his laboratory. When she was certain he was asleep, Nemu lay down next to Lelouch and fell asleep as she clutched her arms around him. Being around him was so calming to her. Nemu soon fell asleep with her arms wrapped around Lelouch from behind.

Lelouch woke up first and carefully got up so as not to disturb Nemu. He gently laid a blanket over her. Since Nemu was turned towards the wall he didn't see the distressed look on her face when her unconscious mind took note of an absence of a friendly presence.

Nemu's dream had been tolerable thanks to Lelouch, but as he got back to his desk, it started to go straight into nightmare territory. It was a pained moan, similar to Nemu's torturous howl that Lelouch had heard about a year ago, that alerted the 3rd seat to the girl he somewhat viewed as a younger sister. He rushed over to her and shook her awake. Nemu clung to Lelouch like a Koala bear to a tree as tears dripped down her face.

"Shhh, shhh, Nemu. It's okay. I'm here. It's okay." Lelouch reassured her over and over.

After Nemu calmed down Lelouch asked what had happened.

"I was…reliving a horrible nightmare…a real nightmare."

Lelouch realized Nemu must've relived part of something Mayuri had done to her. He just held her close. "Tell me about it, talking can make you feel better." He told her.

"You…you cleansed me of everything Mayuri-sama had done to me that evening and…other times." Nemu almost swallowed the last two words, but Lelouch heard them.

"What did he do to you?" Lelouch wanted to know. Nemu just cried. "It's okay. He can't hurt you anymore, I made sure of that. I'll always take care of you, you know that."

"I…I know." Nemu sniffed. "I…about a month before you came back to the division…Mayuri-sama brought me to the cages where he keeps all the captive hollows. He…he tied me down. And…and he opened one." Nemu began to tremble, not wanting to remember what happened. Lelouch's brain automatically was filling in the missing pieces. Between the hollow embryo he had removed and Nemu's trauma at recalling what had happened it was easy to see where things were headed.

Your own daughter. Mayuri…how could you? Lelouch snarled. He let go of his anger quickly though. Mayuri had been dealt with.

"From this moment forth you shall never harm Nemu again!"

"Nemu, I'm sorry. I should've been here to protect you." Lelouch told her. "You should've said something to me. I would do anything to protect you. I care about you, Nemu."

"It makes me very happy to hear you say that Lelouch-sama."

Present Day

"Lelouch-sama." Lelouch opened his eyes. He was only now realizing that his little flashback had occurred with him unconscious. Nemu was already redressed and prepared to leave. The door was open, the barrier had disabled on its own when Lelouch had fallen asleep. "I'm…returning to work. It was…very pleasurable to have been with you."

Lelouch smiled at Nemu and then got up and stood in front of her before giving her a hug. He held her tightly. There was something he had to tell her. "Daisuke, Nemu."

Nemu could barely believe her ears. She thought that what had occurred was just sex, which wouldn't have bothered her in the least. She was devoted to Lelouch in a way that she would give up her position as vice-captain and put on a skimpy dress and collar and chain and become the object of Lelouch's fantasies if that was what it took to make him happy.

That's all she wanted: she wanted Lelouch to be happy. Nemu remembered how broken up Lelouch had been after Homura Yuna had died and she remembered how nothing she seemed to do could fully cheer him up. He had told her that just having her nearby was enough, but Nemu was uncertain if that was true.

However, now she knew it was true. She made him happy. He liked her. He cared about her. He wanted to be with her.

Nemu wrapped her arms around Lelouch and smiled. "Daisuke mo, Lelouch-sama." Nemu was also very fond of Lelouch in her own right. Lelouch liked her. Her own happiness, happiness she never thought she could achieve, was being found. Nemu wanted Lelouch to be happy and she would do anything to make him happy, but for her to be happy she just wanted to be at Lelouch's side, by Lelouch's side. Of course, now it had become that as long as she was happy and as long as she was with Lelouch, he was happy. And that made Nemu very happy.

Nemu and Lelouch exchanged a goodbye kiss and then Nemu went back to her division. Lelouch watched her walk away and then lay back down in his bed. His hormonal crisis had been dealt with.

5 years later

Hitsugaya Toshiro was deemed the new child prodigy and graduated the Shino academy in just three short years. Lelouch, not having had a teaching position at the time did not have the opportunity to teach him. Still, unwilling to take any chances he dropped the hint to his captain to give Hitsugaya a 10th seat position. 10th seat was considered the cutoff point for Soul Reapers that did not know their Zanpakuto's names, with a few exceptions of course. Zaraki Kenpachi was one of those few exceptions. Hitsugaya had a very minimal understanding of his Shikai. It was usable, but still largely uncontrolled.

Aizen, using Momo as leverage, dropped the incentive to join his squad as a 9th seat in hopes that he could shape Hitsugaya as he had similarly shaped Talbumosuke. He was not aiming to take the short Soul Reaper under his wing, but instead attempting to become a benefactor for Hitsugaya, making his inevitable betrayal even more impactful than it already would be.

Aizen had no trust in anyone, even Talbumosuke, Gin and Tosen. He was prepared to deal with each of them should they become a threat. Gin's Achilles heel, as Aizen recalled, was Rangiku. Tosen, though loyal, was a wild card. Should he choose to turn against Aizen, Kyoka Suigetsu was not an option, but Aizen had other systems in place to deal with Tosen. As for Talbumosuke, he was merely a backup on the off chance Aizen actually failed. He was a blind devotee. He was not captain level so a betrayal would be a foolish move on his part.

However, Talbumosuke's devotion to Aizen's cause was not like Momo's devotion. Aizen had Momo under the sleeve of his haori. Where he stood, she was right under his arm. He learned from his mistakes with Hisana. When he tried to control her she fought back. Aizen let Momo have the space she desired, and just dropped hints and suggestions, making Momo self-conscious of her decisions. Doing so had Momo in the palm of his hand.

Or rather this was what Aizen believed. In reality, thanks to Lelouch's guidance, Momo was just outside Aizen's grasp. Her closeness towards Aizen was beneficial for Lelouch. Most of what he told Momo instantly made its way back to the Phantoms, relevant or not. Aizen, of course, never really told Momo anything of dire secrecy. She was to believe in his good nature. However, knowing Aizen's position was always a plus for Lelouch.

Momo still had yet to actually witness Aizen's dark side. The only thing besides Lelouch's word that she had to go on was that tape recording. However, Momo's naiveté had dropped tremendously since her initial induction into the Shino Academy and later the Gotei 13. Lelouch had shown her many things for what they are. Her experience as Fantomu Baioretto opened Momo's eyes to many truths and let her see the world through newly cleansed lenses. In fact many of the phantoms were now seeing that Lelouch had been right all along about the corruption in the Soul Society. Everyone knew it existed. No one knew it was as bad as they were discovering.

Momo most of all was the one experiencing the most growth from the situation. She became a sponge and soaked up all the information and teachings Lelouch could offer her. She became like another him. On the surface Momo was a polite, up-beat and friendly individual, much friendlier that Lelouch's surface self. Momo was almost always a joy. Lelouch could still be a prick even on the surface with some of the dark humor he was so fond of. In the dark however, one could see that Momo was much more devious than she let on. While Lelouch was far more cynical and underhanded, Momo still employed some rather dark tactics.

At Lelouch's behest, Momo had dyed her hair platinum blonde, like Shisato, put on a leather outfit and done a strip show at a bar in South Rukongai objective was for Momo to get in contact with a person of interest, which Lelouch would later corner and Geass for information…and potentially kill.

True, Lelouch could've used Rangiku or Shisato and the job would've gone just as smoothly, but ironically Momo volunteered for the job and showed a darkness and self-independency the likes of which that even Lelouch was shocked Momo could possess. Hitsugaya Toshiro wouldn't have though, Momo acted in a similar fashion on her monthly days.

Lelouch watched from the shadows during this excursion and watched when Momo managed to smooth talk her way into getting the necessary information before grabbing a nearby carving knife and stabbing the guy in the back of the head. Momo nearly used an evil laugh of her own, but Lelouch witnessed the satanic smile on her face that she unconsciously tried to hide with her hand.

Lelouch had confronted Momo about this. He had meant for Momo to become independent, but he had not counted on Momo turning into less cynical, female version of him. It wasn't a complaint to tell her to stop, but he was just concerned. Originally Momo had been sick to her stomach whenever such tactics were even suggested. Her uniform helmet had been tearstained when she helped to kill all the guards and combat able workers of the Atrumier family.

2 years ago

With the phantoms dismissed, Lelouch approached Momo to talk about her tactics earlier that evening. "Momo, about the mission."

"Oh, should I have just knocked our target unconscious?" Momo asked innocently.

"No," Lelouch shook his head with a smile, "It's just…I'm concerned, when we first started this operation you were the most innocent one on the team, but you've lately started to embrace a darkness I didn't even think existed inside you. There's nothing wrong with that, but…"

Momo smiled. "It's all thanks to you sensei. I've learned a lot because of you. The world is full of corruption and we have to put a stop to it. Isn't that right?"

"Yes that's right, but I just wanted to know why you changed." Lelouch told her.

Momo's face became expressionless. "At first I wasn't sure. I was…very loath of such cruelty, but I know now that not everyone will play by the rules. I've learned that we have to fight on their level. We must use every tactic we can to win."

"Win? Rules? You say that like this is some form of game." Lelouch stated.

"Of course it's a game. Life is a game, but you just don't get unlimited continues and enemies don't respawn." Lelouch was becoming both amazed and pleased with Momo's change in personality.

He laughed. "Yes that's it exactly. Life is a game and there are rules, rewards and an end. There are those who would break the rules and in turn others must break the rules in order to stop the rule breakers. The more rules you break to accomplish such a feat the more dangerous the game becomes, but an expert of such a game can avoid being caught for the longest time, perhaps an eternity."

"Are you an expert sensei?" Momo asked enticingly.

"I was once so good at the game that I could've been considered the master of it." He grew solemn. "However, sometimes things happen and you have to give up on winning."

"But you won't lose this time right. We'll win right?" Momo get pent up.

Lelouch pat her head. "Of course we will."

Hinamori Momo, apprentice to Lamperouge Lelouch. Eien Tamashi joked.

Oh very funny.

Present day

In response to embracing her bad girl side, while she still maintained her friendly surface personality, Momo let her hair hang around her shoulders. Repeating washing of her hair had gotten rid of the blonde dye from that one mission and thanks to her loss of naiveté her combat tenacity and reflexes had increased.

This was not lost on Aizen and it only made the man concerned. Momo's excursion two years ago had been during some time off and Aizen couldn't help, but feel as if an outside force, beyond him, was making subtle changes to Momo. Still, despite the changes, he was still mostly unconcerned. Momo was his loyal and willing subordinate. Momo had yet to see anything truly dark regarding Aizen. She wanted to believe her sensei, but she had to see Aizen's darkness with her own eyes. Lelouch had told her Aizen was just like them, but Momo wanted to see it. It made her very confused at times. Still, she stuck to Lelouch. She had gone too far down the path of darkness. There was no turning back to the light.

Hitsugaya Toshiro, very knowing of Momo's slight changes, but otherwise largely oblivious to her newly born darkness, was dead set on locating the source of Momo's change. He liked that she was becoming self-sufficient and independent, but it put him on edge. He was afraid that Momo would wind up biting off more than she could chew. He knew only two men that Momo regarded with such high esteem: Captain Aizen Sosuke and Vice-Captain Lamperouge Lelouch. Based on what he knew about both individuals, he figured that the latter had to be the source of Momo's slight changes.

Lelouch was pleased with Hitsugaya's choice, not yet aware of the young man's ulterior motives. True, he did know Hitsugaya and Momo knew each other. However, he was largely unaware of the protective instinct Hitsugaya showed for Momo.

Hitsugaya had been with the 10th Division for two years now and had risen to 9th seat since then. Like Momo, Lelouch, and the rest of the phantoms, Hitsugaya was part of the game club community. Lelouch had orchestrated a chess tournament that day to which the winner would play him in an exhibition round. Lelouch had played Aizen in chess many times over the years. Many games ended in stalemate, but the win-loss record had Lelouch over Aizen by four games. There were several games Lelouch had lost, some he had even forfeited when he saw the direction the game was heading in. Of course, the ability to foresee his own defeat just made Aizen edgy in and of itself.

Still Aizen was absent from the club today so Lelouch was eager to see who he would wind up facing. The quarter-finals consisted of: Kuchiki Byakuya VS Kurosaki Isshin, Kuchiki Hisana VS Shiba Kaien, Hitsugaya Toshiro VS Kurotsuchi Nemu, and Ichimaru Gin VS Lusca Stefan.

Lelouch watched over each game and the people playing them.

"Why the hell do you orchestrate these tournaments, for your simple amusement?" Kukaku asked. The woman was not a big chess player. She had lost in the first round and in all of Lelouch's other tournaments made as far as round 3 only once. Chess was Lelouch's favorite game, he made that quite obvious. Other tournaments had been orchestrated as well like Shogi, Go, Chinese Checkers, and Risk, but Lelouch favored chess above all others. He was still a master at the other games, just not nearly undefeatable, especially when it came to Risk. There were several times Lelouch would curse his rotten luck as he would throw pairs or triplets of ones.

"It's a game club Kukaku. It's supposed to be fun." Lelouch chuckled. The important part of this tournament was that this was the first tournament that Hitsugaya was partaking in. There had been other chess tournaments since Hitsugaya's membership in game club, but he had either wasn't there those days or declined to compete and merely watched. Lelouch gauged the tactical ability and several personality traits of the players simply by how they played a game of chess. It didn't matter if they won or loss, it was the strategies they used that mattered to Lelouch most of all as well as their reactions when their strategies backfired.

For example, from watching Byakuya play Lelouch was able to see the man's cold demeanor reflected in the game. Nothing ever bothered him. A backfired plan resulted in nothing more than a mere blink of acknowledgement. However, Lelouch had observed how Byakuya's had would freeze for half a moment whenever he made a move involving his queen. Very rarely did Byakuya pull a Queen's Sacrifice. Lelouch could count on his fingers how many times that had happened and on one hand how many times the queen was not rescued. It was as if the chess board was an extension of Byakuya's own allies.

In that case his queen is obviously Hisana. It doesn't matter if he loses so long as he doesn't lose her. Lelouch had thought to himself.

The quarter-finals soon ended with Byakuya, Kaien, Gin and Hitsugaya advancing. Lelouch was impressed by Hitsugaya's skill to beat Nemu. She was learned the game at the same rate Lelouch did so many years ago. Her ability was far inferior and she had long since capped her capacity, but she was very good at the game.

Lelouch knew that Gin and Byakuya were two of the toughest chess players he knew. In fact they were on the list of his top ten favorite opponents along with, in no particular order, Aizen, Yamamoto, Shunsui, Urahara, Nemu, Unohana and Lelouch felt that Hitsugaya might soon knock Stefan off the list depending on how things went in the future. All the people he loved to play against were a challenge. Playing them was a thrill for Lelouch, the kind of thrill he never got casually crushing Britannian nobles.

Not to anyone's surprise, Byakuya beat Kaien. Byakuya hadn't even been forced to make a queen's sacrifice and caught Kaien using a piece had captured when Kaien checked Byakuya. It shocked everyone though when Hitsugaya won. Many people wound up paying sums of money to Kukaku.

"If there's one thing I love it's a dark horse." Kukaku snickered.

Lelouch rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smile on his face. She may not be that great at the game herself, but she sure knows a profit when she sees one.

The finals brought the game to Byakuya and Hitsugaya. The child prodigy would be playing against the genius noble. About halfway through the game, Aizen entered the building and sat down to observe.

"So what do you think the odds are?" Kukaku nudged Lelouch.

"Not entirely sure actually." Lelouch said slowly. He was still trying to figure out Hitsugaya's ability. The odds definitely seemed to be in Hitsugaya's favor, but Lelouch was trying to identify how Hitsugaya became so adept at the game. Let's see what I can piece together. Hitsugaya Toshiro always declined to the other tournaments, but he watched several games intently and in casual games he never challenged any of my ten favorite opponents. Hmm. Lelouch finally got an idea. I see now. He observes experts, gathers his own skill by playing non-experts and largely has made it seem like he's not a very strong player. Thereby he creates an unconscious desire for more sympathetic opponents to go easy on him. He gauges the difficulty curve as the tournament wears on and from there he is set to be ready for the big leagues when it counts. Lelouch chuckled to himself. It seems someone has a deep desire to notice his skill. This, I'm sure, has everything to do with Hinamori Momo.

Lelouch continued to watch the game, which was almost over by the time he snapped out of his thoughts. Hitsugaya ended the game with more than half the pieces still on the board, shocking the entire room. Byakuya and Hitsugaya exchanged words of good sportsmanship and then Lelouch sat down to face Hitsugaya.

"You know if you wanted my attention you could've just come by my office." Lelouch joked.

"I thought you'd find it more impressive if I won my way through your favorite game Lamperouge-fukutaicho." Hitsugaya replied.

"Do you really think you can beat me? You haven't been playing all that long." Lelouch replied.

"Maybe so, but let's not forget who the prodigy is here." Hitsugaya retorted.

"Well all right then," Lelouch smirked, "Let's play chess." The game began and Lelouch immediately began analyzing the game every second and turn. Hitsugaya could barely stay in line with Lelouch's computer equivalent brain. It wasn't long before Lelouch had ultimately taken complete control of the board and subsequently won the match. Still, Hitsugaya had made it interesting.

After the tournament the club continued casually for another half an hour and then Kukaku kicked everyone out. Upon returning to the division, Hitsugaya requested if he could speak with Lelouch privately. Lelouch agreed.

"So, what's this all about?" Lelouch asked Hitsugaya. "Good game by the way."

Hitsugaya looked at Lelouch sternly. "Fukutaicho, I've known Momo for a long time, but she's…changed a lot recently."

"Yeah her change in hairstyle going on two years now is rather interesting." Lelouch said, pretending to know nothing.

"That's not what I'm talking about." Hitsugaya responded. Lelouch folded his arms and let the Soul Reaper speak. "Momo looks up to you, a lot. I don't know if you realize just how much. I know what people say about you, that you have a darker side to yourself, despite your friendly demeanor. I want to know if any of that has rubbed off on Momo."

"I don't think it has, she's still her normal, cheerful self as always." Lelouch smiled.

Hitsugaya wasn't buying it. "Fukutaicho…what do you know about the Fantomu no Jasutisu?"

Taking a new approach? Clever, but not clever enough. Lelouch thought. "Should I know more than what others know?"

"I'm probably the only one who would think so. Momo…the Momo I know would never see someone like Zero as an idol or a hero. Everyone knows what the phantoms did to the Atrumiers. Something like that would never sit well with her…not unless someone else made her think or believe otherwise."

"And you think that someone is me? What a wild imagination you have." Lelouch joked.

"There are only two people that Momo reveres so highly above all else: Aizen-taicho and you. Aizen's openly opposed to Zero. It's only process of elimination to know who the spotlight shines down on after that." Hitsugaya's tone still reflected the proper respect for his Vice-Captain, but his feelings towards Momo were what made that respect the only thing keeping him from becoming hostile.

"It's true. I do find Zero's actions admirable. The Fantomu no Jasutisu is doing what the Gotei should be doing, but can't." Lelouch responded. "Where do you stand?"

"I too agree with Zero's actions, but that's not subject at hand no is it?" Hitsugaya stated. "Momo is Aizen-taicho's Vice-captain, but her views on Zero are different. For someone as devoted to Aizen as she is that is a contradiction I just scratch off as a longtime friend of hers. I will ask again, have you done anything to Momo?"

"What do you want me to say? Do you expect me to confess to some form of wrongdoing and manipulation? I am not guilty of anything more than being a teacher and a friend. If that drove Hinamori Momo to decide to take up a few of my traits and views, how is that my fault?" Lelouch asked.

Hitsugaya merely stared. "I see." He left the room.

As he watched him go, Lelouch figured he knew what was about to happen. He opened up his computer terminal and sent e-mails to select members of the phantoms using the message 'committee meeting in 20 minutes'. This translated to: 'go to the hideout and wait for me there.'

Lelouch had enlisted the aid of phantoms Blue, Red, White, Pink, Black and, most importantly, Violet. Everyone arrived and assembled. Everyone knew that Lelouch didn't always ask all the phantoms to come to assembly. Lelouch only took

"So, what's the situation this time Lelouch?" Shisato, the last one to arrive, asked as she walked towards the area where everyone was.

"There's an individual with a person of interest he wants us to investigate." Lelouch answered.

There was more to his statement, but Renji took advantage of his pause. "So it's just another routine investigation mission?"

"Not exactly." Lelouch increased volume slightly. "The person of interest they are looking to investigate is me."

"Huh?" Isshin scratched the side of his head.

Lelouch sighed. "Our client to be is looking to use Zero to investigate Lamperouge Lelouch."

"Wait, so we haven't been contracted yet?" Rangiku asked. "Then why the meeting?"

"Because I know our client and so do most of you here. He is, Hitsugaya Toshiro."

"Shiro-chan?" Momo gasped.

"Wait, what does Toshiro have against you? More importantly, why the secrecy? I can clear you out. I'm the captain of the both of you." Isshin stated.

"Because Hitsugaya Toshiro is approving of Zero, so we can make him one of us." Lelouch responded.

"So it's our job to help you pull that off then." Rukia stated.

"Exactly." Lelouch smirked.

"So what's the plan then?" Rangiku asked.

"Well to start, if I'm going to get Hitsugaya Toshiro on our side I need to design a new wristband, which will take me a week or two. Taicho, to keep Hitsugaya Toshiro from growing more suspicious of me I want you to send him to the world of the living, specifically Karakura Town. He's still considered a greenhorn so he'll need some experience there. I will go and escort him back to the Soul Society and also pay a quick visit to Urahara Kisuke so that I can get the wristband finalized. When I bring him back phantoms blue, red, and white will surround us in an attempt to apprehend me."

"Wait, you're going to deliberately make yourself out to be a target of the phantoms?" Momo asked.

"It's a risky move, but it'll pay off in the end. Let me finish." Lelouch requested. Momo went silent.

"Now, I'll fight back with my Shikai. Since you and Renji both have the upper hand in Hakuda it'll be easy for you to have me cornered. Everyone knows I'm no good in a straight up fight. Rukia, your job will be tactical direction. If you don't think you can handle it alone, get your sister to help. Once I'm apprehended you'll bring me here where I'll stay for a few hours while you all 'interrogate' me. Come nightfall I will appear before Hitsugaya Toshiro as Zero and escort him to our hideout where I will reveal what we have done with me." Lelouch stated.

"Lelouch he'll go ballistic. He might just attack you." Rangiku stated.

"Very true, if it were just I who revealed my identity then things would be a problem, but we hold the key to bringing Hitsugaya Toshiro to the phantoms." He pointed at Momo. "Fantomu Baioretto."

Momo gasped.

"I remember what you said about how Hitsugaya Toshiro found your phantom to be his favorite. I told you not to worry about it. Well here's our opportunity to fix that problem." Lelouch stated.

"It's a risk Lelouch." Shisato folded her arms. "There's no guarantee that Hitsugaya will remain quiet after we apprehend you if this goes down in a remote location. If we do it in a crowd word will spread quickly. The phantoms are going to be painted in a bad light by the Gotei for this."

"Then let us be painted in a bad light." Lelouch responded. "The phantoms have never been about publicity. We have support from the civilians and the Gotei tolerates our presence while trying to catch us and bring us in to shackle us. We are about justice. We always have been about justice."

"Sensei is right." Momo said. "The phantoms can take some censure and disapproval. Our mission is what is important."

"But what about you yourself?" Isshin asks. "Being captured by the phantoms and all."

"The Gotei 13 won't take the word of criminals seriously. If anything it will be the phantoms seen in the wrong light. I'm counting on you and Rangiku to keep me in the clear from inquiring minds." Lelouch stated.

"You can count on us, Lelouch." Rangiku saluted.

"Then it's settled. Fantomu no Jasutisu, move out!" Lelouch declared. Everyone, save Lelouch, took off.

"So, what, we're not good enough to be incorporated into your master plan?" Yoruichi asked, coming up from behind Lelouch. She and Soifon were using the underground base as a safe house.

"True, both of you are Hakuda experts, but if a vice-captain is easily overpowered by the phantoms, it will make the Gotei think that all the phantoms have that capacity. Rogue swordsman helping out the citizens of Rukongai and exposing corruption through the Soul Society is tolerable. Rogue swordsman helping out the citizens of Rukongai and exposing corruption through the Soul Society with captain class abilities is grounds for a motion wave against said warriors. If I sent you two out there the Gotei would double their efforts and we'd be in trouble for sure. Escaping Lusca-taicho and Otamachi-fukutaicho every now and then is dangerous and risky, but I don't think even you want to have Unohana-taicho coming at us full throttle." Lelouch explained. Yoruichi shuddered at the notion of invoking Unohana's wrath.

"Right, I'll be going then." Lelouch headed for the 12th Division to create a new wristband. It wouldn't be an issue; his significant other ran the front gate and there were plenty of guest labs. Lelouch walked right up to the front desk of the main building of the Department of Research and Development where Nemu was sitting, doing work on her computer.

She perked up the moment she noticed Lelouch's presence. "Ah, Lelouch-sama."

Lelouch smiled and went up alongside Nemu and kissed her on the cheek. "How are you, Nemu?" he asked her.

Nemu stood up and snuggled into Lelouch's embrace. "I'm fine…I am…happy to see you." She smiled, eyes closed, content that Lelouch was near.

Lelouch smiled and stroked Nemu's back. "I'm happy to see you too." He told her. "I need a spare lab room."

Nemu leaned up and gestured towards the spare labs. "Follow me. I will escort you to an unused laboratory."

"Thank you, and Nemu," Lelouch stated.

"Yes?" Nemu asked only for Lelouch to kiss her and walk past her.

"Nothing." Lelouch said with a sly smile.

Do you really think this is wise? Eien Tamashi asked.

Nemu stays at work. She's an honorary phantom. I don't have to worry about her like I would anyone else. Lelouch stated.

Pardon me, but isn't this exactly the kind of situation that ended up with Nunnally being kidnapped? Eien Tamashi pointed out.

What happened with Nunnally was the result of my team not watching what there were doing as well as poor communication in the form of Ohgi not telling me he was hiding an amnesic Viletta Nu. Besides, Nemu is strong and able bodied she can take care of herself. Lelouch stated.

I'm just saying that given past experiences something bad is bound to happen. Eien Tamashi chimed.

It'll take more than a few turns of bad luck to stop me this time. Come what may I won't lose. Lelouch tightened his gaze.

Eien Tamashi rolled her eyes and sighed, realizing that she wasn't going to get through to Lelouch so she should probably save her breath. Whatever you say Lelouch, whatever you say.

To be continued…

(A/N: Lelouch and Nemu are now a couple, but as many fans are already speculating and Eien Tamashi just lampshaded things obviously cannot end well. Of course that's only to be expected. The more Lelouch acts the more Aizen grows suspicious and it will be only a matter of time before one makes another move on the other. The question is who will make the next one? Can Lelouch convince Hitsugaya to come over to the not bright side? How will having a rather internally renegade Momo affect events to come? How far are we from Ichigo? The answer to that last question is 25 years. For the answers to all others you will have to wait for the next chapter of Soul Chess)

NOTE: Anyone who cares about what would've happened if Lelouch had gone through some of the other pathing choices with Susanna, Rangiku or Isane, let me know and I will send you a mess of my first draft of the requested path.