Chapter 7: Lelouch's First Mission

(A/N: Hi folks. Everyone's favorite author Alex, known to you folks as draconichero, has more important things to do than draft the authors notes so I'm taking charge. What? Don't know who I am? It's me! The crimson comedian, the merc with the mouth. Hello? Am I coming through? What? What do you mean this isn't a live broadcast and they're only reading what I'm saying as I say it? No you listen to me I…

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Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass

Lelouch's pov

It had been about a year since I had joined the 10th Division. Right now it was the middle of the afternoon and I was lying face down on my bed, drained of energy. Akari-taicho had had me scrambling around like a little errand boy all day and on top of that I had complaints from the Soul Reapers I was in charge of and I had a large stack of paperwork this morning.

I remember an incident a couple months back where we had a desertion attempt. The man was under my jurisdiction and taicho gave me a serious tongue lashing. The manual says I'm not responsible for the men I'm in command of so why the hell did she nag me like that?

I turned over and stared up at the ceiling. I thought about what I was doing here and wondered if I was really making a difference. I read both while I was at the academy, and in my division that Soul Reapers were often assigned missions to the world of the living and/or the Rukongai, but so far all I'd done was be the captain's gopher. I sat up and groaned. If I get one more load of paperwork today I think I'm going to get a migraine.

There was suddenly a knock at the door. "Knock, knock."

The voice and spiritual pressure belonged to Isshin-senpai. "Come in." I told him.

He opened it and leaned on the door. "Why's it so dark in here?" he asked.

"I prefer the darkness when I'm not working. It helps me relax and concentrate on my thoughts." I responded.

"Right, very normal." He said sardonically. "Anyway the captain wanted me to give you this." He held out a single sheet of paper. I walked over to him and took it and read it over. It was an assignment to the World of the Living. It was dictated that I would be the one going on this mission. However the location was not someplace I recognized. "Valengaara?" I questioned.

"Ah yeah, I suppose you'd be confused." Isshin-senpai scratched his head. "The Soul Society encompases the entire world not just the Earth, but most of our refugees tend to come from there since the humans there are so short lived, rather violent, and more self-conflicted than humans and species of other worlds. Valengaara is a small, quiet town on the world Ekisban. Your job…"

"I'm reading the mission statement." I said. My job was to go to this Valengaara and investigate an old abandoned two story house that, from the description, sounded like your typical haunted mansion type place. The unseated officer on patrol, one of Captain Hoshima's men, chased a hollow there, only to come back to us half-sane and covered in blood. He's currently undergoing treatment. Rather than sending one of his own men Captain Hoshima enlisted the help of our squad. The carbon copy of the letter addressed to Akari-taicho was evidence that he chose our division because the seated officers are a close-knit group. I finished reading and put the mission statement on my desk in order to sign off on it. I'd finally get a chance to do something and reconnaissance was my forte more so than fighting.

"Since this'll be your first mission to the world of the living," Isshin-senpai said as I wrote my signature, "Yolanda and I are going to be escorting you."

"Aren't escorts for a mission usually one person?" I asked.

"Well…you're a 20th seat and well…we're concerned about you…and…"

Isshin Senpai was lying through his teeth. I changed my tone to reflect my ire. "I don't enjoy being lied to Isshin-senpai, especially from someone who prides himself in being my comrade."

He groaned and ran his hand through his hair. "Agh, you hit where it hurts." He looked at me plainly. "All right I'll be straight with you. The captain's worried what might be lurking in that old abandoned mansion so she asked me to go along with you and Yolanda, originally she was going to be your only escort on your first mission."

"I see." I responded.

"So what's say we go check this place out huh?" he asked.

"All right then. Get Bermuta-senpai and meet me at the Senkaimon." I said.

"Hey since when were you in charge?" Isshin asked.

"I'm well aware I'm overstepping rank boundaries, but seeing how this is my mission I hold a little more authority in the matter. Also you're better with Shunpo and therefore can cover more ground so it would make sense if you went and got Bermuta-senpai rather than me." I told Isshin-senpai.

"Geez you know how to put up a solid statement. Arguing with that logic will just give me a headache." Isshin-senpai turned around to leave my room. "Oh and Lelouch."

"Yeah?"

"I know the captain's been kind of hard on you since you got here and I wanted to let you know that that's a good thing." Isshin-senpai told me.

"How so?" I asked.

"She expects great things from you, said so herself on more than one occasion. She wouldn't lecture you if she didn't care, she'd let you flounder on your own if that were the case." Isshin-senpai told me.

"So she's tough on me because she wants me to realize my potential?" I asked as I rose to my feet and walked over towards the door.

"Well that's one way of putting it." Isshin-senpai said.

"What way would you put it?" I asked.

"I think she might like y-yeow!"

I stepped on his foot as I walked by.

"You did that on purpose!" he shouted as he hopped up and down on one leg. I said nothing in reply.

Valengaara

The senkaimon opened and Isshin-senpai, Bermuta-senpai and I stepped out onto the ground. The place we were at seemed like we were in the middle of a bog. The moon was shining brightly. The dirt was purple. There was bramble and thorn bushes everywhere and the pond water smelled really funky.

"I thought you said we were going to a small town?" I asked, confused by the surroundings.

"We have to be careful with opening Senkaimons right in the middle of villages and such. Most of our operations are built upon being discreet, even to those that are alive with spiritual power." Bermuta-senpai said.

"Wait? Living beings can have spiritual power?" I asked.

"Of course. Why else do you think hollows would attack the living world? It's a double edged sword being a soul and having spiritual power. You can interact with hollows and such, but the same can be said for them. For us we have the power to fight. To the defenseless, well you may as well try to keep the sun from rising." Isshin-senpai explained.

I looked up at the crescent moon. "Why is it nighttime? When we left it was the middle of the afternoon."

"Different worlds have different temporal flows. Time passes in the Soul Society differently than it does on other worlds. As far as we know right now. Earth is the only planet with a 1 to 1 ratio of living world year versus soul society year." Isshin-senpai stated. "It would be really helpful if the Gotei ever got a department based purely on research, and maybe for technological advances. The Gotei is rather behind in the times when I look at some of the worlds I've been to."

"Focus." Bermuta-senpai snapped her fingers and pulled out a map and handed it to me. "This map will show you an outlook of the operation zone. I've marked the location of the mansion on it."

"Wait so I'm going alone?" I asked.

"This is essentially your mission." Isshin-senpai stated. "We're here to help you and be your guide, but unless you really need us the captain wants to see if you can possibly handle this on your own. She said so herself. She has faith in you Lelouch."

"I thought you said she was worried about what was in that mansion." I scowled.

"Did I say that? Er…I…that is…"

"Did you both get access to this mission just so you could have a fling?" I asked, ticked off.

"H-how could you suggest such a thing?" Isshin-senpai asked. His defensive behavior was a perfect indication that I was right.

"Look Lelouch we'll help you if you need us, but it's like Isshin-san said, this is your mission. We're here to advise and assist and help you if you get into trouble." Bermuta-senpai said.

"So in other words you're here to babysit me." I folded my arms.

"That is…not inaccurate." Bermuta-senpai said.

"Wonderful." I sighed. I could force them to assist me by using Geass if I wanted to, but I don't want to. Let them be lazy. "I'll signal you two a hell butterfly if I need help." I told them.

"You know how to use Hell Butterflies?" Bermuta-senpai asked.

"No, I'm going to run screaming 'mom' at the top of my lungs if I run into trouble." I said sarcastically. I then said seriously, "I learned how to use them after the desertion incident. Vera-senpai was supposed to teach me three months ago, but by that time I had already mastered them. All I had to do was show her my progress."

"But how did you get a partner. The whole point of learning Hell Butterflies with a superior is to be taught it by someone that knows you're doing it right." Bermuta-senpai stated.

"I used my authority over one of the remaining one hundred eleven officers under my jurisdiction to get him to cooperate. When I showed Vera-senpai my progress she didn't signal that anything was wrong. She nodded to everything I did." I said.

"Vera still doesn't talk to anyone?" Isshin-senpai asked.

"What do you mean still?" I asked.

"Vera's been in our squad for forty-five years. She's never said a single word." Isshin-senpai said.

"Any chance she's just mute?" I asked.

"Akari-taicho caught her talking to herself once. She does speak, but she won't speak to anyone else." Isshin-senpai said.

"Has the 4th Division examined her?" I asked.

"Every squad member has to have a medical examination every year." Isshin-senpai.

"I know that and mine's next month. Not what I meant." I said. "Has she ever been thoroughly examined, psychologically examined or something?"

"The Gotei 13 doesn't have any therapists. Well we used to, but then we had to make budget cuts and there weren't enough people taking advantage of the service." Isshin-senpai stated.

Maybe I'll try to get closer to Vera-senpai. He who has no voice has plenty to say. I sure hope that's true…wait why do I care anyway? I'm a loner…then again if I could get her to talk I'd have my direct superior at my back. I could be looking forward to a promotion if I worked hard enough. It's not a bad idea actually…no I'm done manipulating people…but it's not manipulation if I don't coerce her into doing anything…I suppose talking to her couldn't hurt and I have to get used to her anyway. She is my direct superior after all.

When I became aware of my surroundings I noticed that Isshin and Bermuta-senpai had already taken off. I sighed and unrolled Bermuta-senpai's map to take a look at it. I've never had trouble reading maps, even my own hand drawn ones, so this was rather easy to figure out and within twenty minutes I was standing in front of my destination. I rolled up the map and pocketed it before stepping up to the front porch.

I pushed the door open with my hand on my scabbard. I wanted to be prepared for a close encounter. As I pushed open the door it creaked like something out of a horror movie and, similar to one, the lights were either off or broken. There were cob webs around the switch. I blew them away and flipped it. I confirmed that the lights were broken. I walked further into the main entrance.

"This place is deserted." I said aloud. "Of course I guess I should expect that given the details of the mission."

My speech gave way to my presence as a voice called out. "Well, well, well, so another Soul Reaper comes to play." From beneath the ground rose a hollow. It had blue skin and a head shaped like a cross between a bull and a goat. Its mouth was open and it had human shaped teeth. It also had four arms. It had a patch of brown fur near its chest. Its hollow hole was also located there.

"That's it. Just you?" I asked.

"You're mighty confident for a Soul Reaper. You should be careful you don't wind up like the one who narrowly escaped my devouring of him." The hollow chortled.

I tugged on my vest. "Check your eyesight. This vest shows that I am highly skilled in the art of Kido. And from the feel of your spiritual pressure I won't even need my Zanpakuto." I taunted.

"Insolent whelp!" It charged at me.

"Hado 33 Sokatsui!" I fired the blue electrified blast straight at the hollow and sent it careening into the staircase. It got back up. I missed the head, but I did quite the amount of damage. However, like a lot of hollows could, it regenerated. I need to work on my aim under pressure it seems. I told myself.

The hollow got back up and flung itself at me again.

"You know even animals know not to stick their noses where it hurts." I said, conjuring up a more powerful Kido. "Hado 63 Raikoho!" I blasted the hollow away, this time destroying it entirely. I began to pant. I really need to work on my stamina.

I decided I'd take a look around the mansion, maybe see if I could find anything of interest in this place, or maybe there was more than one hollow haunting this house.

The house was really old and decrepit. There were crack floor boards, dust everywhere, and so many cobwebs I stopped counting how many there were out of boredom. As I walked down a dark hallway, I saw candlelight illuminating something halfway down.

Lit candles? Does someone still live here? I questioned. I heard a creaking door from behind and whipped around. "Hands where I can see them!" I shouted, only to remember that I was a Soul Reaper and therefore invisible to normal people, but to my surprise the door opened and a plus appeared from behind it. It was a small boy, no older than seven from the looks of it, wearing a red shirt and short jeans. Well, not only did I get some experience fighting hollows, I also get to perform my first konso. Not bad. I put on a friendly expression. "Sorry if I scared you." I told him. "I'm new to being a Soul Reaper." I walked towards him and he backed away. "Hey, it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." I'll perform a Konso on you though. I recalled that some pluses were resistant to go to the Soul Society and required special needs and a friendly approach or they would turn hostile, possibly into hollows.

"What's…your name?" the plus asked me.

"Lamperouge Lelouch." I said to him. He laughed. "What's so funny?" I asked.

"You have a funny name." he chortled. I scowled and gave an unamused look.

"Look any last requests kid or am I performing a Konso?" I asked.

He stopped laughing and then stared at the floor. "I've been here for seven years." He said. "Lots of people in black outfits like you come here, but they always get eaten by the scary thing that plays hide and seek with me."

"If you're talking about the hollow I already took care of him." I said.

"I know what hollows are." He said. "There's another thing that lives here. It's…what killed my family and me. I kept telling my parents when I was five that a monster lived in our house, but they wouldn't believe me."

So there is something else here after all. I'd best contact Isshin and Bermuta-senpai. I focused my energy to create a hell butterfly and sent it off to go after my superiors.

"Do you know where the scary thing is?" I asked the plus.

"It's in my room. It lives in my closet." He said.

"Take me to it. If I destroy it, will you allow me to send you to the Soul Society?" I asked. He nodded.

I followed him to his room. On a normal occasion I'd perform a Konso and be done with this, but I couldn't let a so called 'monster' get away with killing a family and small child. My conscience wouldn't allow it. I followed the child to where there was a pair of bloodied corpses and a closed door. The corpses were of the parents.

"Why is only your spirit here?" I asked the boy.

"Because Mommy and Daddy never believed me about the monster." He answered. "I never really got a good look at it and it keeps trying to get to me, even now that I'm no longer alive, so I want to see it and I want to make it pay."

"All right. I'll try my best." I said. I unsheathed my Zanpakuto and hacked the door in half. I put my sword away. I was much better at Kido than at swordplay and against the unknown it would be better if I was reading to go up against anything. The inside of the room looked like a child's bedroom from something out of the medieval period. It was dark in the room and the light switch was, again, broken. Inside the room the closet was closed.

I closed my eyes and focused my mind. I could sense two spiritual presences, besides myself: the child and whatever creature was in his room. And it was inside the closet.

I opened fire. "Hado 32 Okasen!" I shot for the yellow fire flash to both attack and brighten up the room. There was a hissing sound as a creature lunged at me through my attack and I used Shunpo to move a short distance to dodge. I had dodged in the opposite direction the child had. The creature went after the child and I got a good look at it. I had seen such a thing described in mythology. It was a shade. Shades were dark spirits from the realm of dreams. The fact that they could co-exist with hollows wasn't hard to understand. Shades were live spirits, or rather described to be as such. This world I'm on is rather peculiar. "Hado 31. Shakkaho!" I fired the spell at the shade and it stumbled before snapping its head over its shoulder to face me. "You face me you abomination of nature!" I declared. Kido is only effective on dead creatures, demons, and structures. Against something live I may as well be firing spit wads. I put my hand on my sword. Guess we do this the old fashioned way. The creature shambled towards me. It was slow, like really slow. I rushed forward as fast as I could sprint and drew my sword as I ran. I stopped as I drew near the shade and swung. My attack had little to no effect. I managed to make a small nick in the creature. I jumped back to prevent it from swiping at me. We were both spiritual entities, the only things that differed between us was that I was dead and that thing was alive…mostly anyway. I stared it down, wondering what I would do to take it down. My sword was rather ineffective and shades were notoriously known for being able to possess other spirits. If I got to close it was goodbye self-awareness.

As I pondered what to do a bright blue blast of energy ripped through the center of the hallway, consuming the shade in the process. Whatever it was, it completely split the house in half. I ran forward to the edge of the now split path and looked in the direction the attack had come from to see Isshin and Bermuta-senpai walking in.

"I think you overdid it there Isshin-san." Bermuta-senpai told Isshin-senpai, who had his sword drawn.

"Hey, all I saw was a butt ugly freak of nature. My first instinct was to kill it and kill it quickly." He said as he put away his Zanpakuto. "Lelouch! Are you here?"

I made myself known by jumping down onto the grass. "Perfect timing. I would've been screwed if you hadn't taken that Shade out."

"A shade? A living malevolent spirit from the dream realm?" Bermuta-senpai asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, Ekisban seems to be filled with surprises."

"Wonderful. So are we done here?" Isshin asked.

"Just about. I just need to locate a plus that was here earlier and perform a Konso, then we can go."

"Well don't take too long. This isn't an overnight mission." Isshin-senpai told me. I acknowledged his order and took off to get the plus.

4 years later

My first mission wound up a success. Akari-taicho was rather proud of me. Since then I've been on a few more missions, some of which were out to Rukongai.

I still haven't made any headway with my Zanpakuto. All I get are memories of my past followed by that god awful nightmare within a few days so I've ceased trying in the past two years. I'm not in any rush really.

I was currently coming back from a mission out to Rukongai. Targus, Aloman, Rickard and Vera-senpai were with me. We had been asked by Akari-taicho to take out a band of hollows that had been destroying village after village. The second division had been called in to track the creatures, but not to engage. We were called upon to perform that task.

"Man did you see Lelouch out there?" Targus-senpai was raving. "That hollow was all like 'rargh!' But you were all 'Hado 33 Sokatsui!' and then it was all 'aieee!' but you were all 'Bakudo 63 and Hado 11 super combo!'"

I sighed. "Who gave Targus-senpai sugar?" I asked.

"No one, I brought some cookies with me." He said, pulling out a bag of them. "Want one?"

"NO…thank you." I responded.

"Ah well, your loss." He grabbed a cookie out of the bag and munched on it.

"Akari-taicho wil be happy we got rid of that band of hollows." Aloman-senpai said.

"Akari-taicho always loves good news." I told her with a kind tone. Vera-senpai nodded.

After my mission I tried to get Vera-senpai to talk on several occasions, but I wound up giving up in frustration. However, I have come to understand her a little better. She doesn't need to say anything for me to get what the message she wants to convey. She communicates in her own way and I've grown to be able to understand it somewhat. The other squad members think I'm crazy, but I think I've gotten a good foothold on what she's all about. If only she'd say something I could learn more.

As my group got back to the gate Magmiro-senpai, Bermuta-senpai, Isshin-senpai and Homura-fukutaicho were waiting for us there.

"Ah Fukutaicho, what are you doing here?" Aloman-senpai asked.

"The Gotei just received word of a rather large hollow force mobilizing along the borders of South and West Rukongai 54. Since our squad already had a team out in the field, Akari-taicho wanted to send out a few more to take care of it. She sent me to lead. The force is big, but it's nothing to force her out onto the field so I'm in charge. Got it?" Homura-fukutaicho asked.

"Yes ma'am." I said.

"You got it Fukutaicho." Aloman-senpai winked.

Vera-senpai nodded in understanding.

"Right then," Homura-fukutaicho moved to the back of my group, which turned into the front of our joined group. "Let's move out troops!"

To be continued…

(A/N: …And yeah so it's me Deadpool and…what do you mean the chapter is over? Where's Alex? I have a bullet with his name on it! What? We're recording? Tell me these things! Anyway where was I? So yeah, chapter's over and I, Deadpool, will be writing the author's notes from now on. Alex said I'm on a chapter trial basis, but I know you good people will tell him that you don't want me not to write these things. Because if you don't tell him you liked it I'll be sure to infect your computer with a virus. And since blondie isn't here to stop me I can finally tell you guys a spoiler I've been waiting to share. You see, about Akari-taicho she ||||||||||||||| so yeah, bet that throws you for a loop huh? Anyway I guess Alex will get a new chapter out when he feels like it. Me? I'm hungry. Where's my chimichangas?)