Chapter 14: Lelouch Fully Awakens

(A/N: I have nothing to say)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass

Lelouch's pov

"Good morning students." I told my morning Kido class.

"Good morning Lamperouge-sensei." They chimed in unison.

It had been four months since I had that chat with Kuchiki-taicho and Yoruichi. The day after it Urahara-san had his captain's exam and passed and the day after that I moved into the 12th Division and stood by Urahara-san when he addressed the rest of the squad. Many of the lower ranked officers, over the first couple days, would ask me what I thought of Urahara-san since I had been with him before we both transferred here.

There was one person though who I could not stand and that was the Vice-Captain, Sarugaki Hiyori. I have to give it to Hirako-taicho. He really knows how to classify people. 'Brat' is the perfect word to describe Sarugaki-fukutaicho. She attacks Urahara-san on a regular basis. I don't know why he puts up with it. I've asked him why, stating that someone like Sarugaki-fukutaicho left unchecked only shows that he can't handle being a captain. His answer was that he was sure that Sarugaki-fukutaicho would adjust to his captaincy eventually. Both Hirako-taicho and I begged to differ.

Two weeks after the start of his captaincy Urahara-san revolutionized the 12th Division. He began what was now known as the Department of Research and Development. I became an active participant in the department. In one month I managed to get the Soul Society to develop technologies that I was already used to, like high profile networking databases and automatic coffee makers, not that I needed the latter. Urahara-san dubbed me a genius. Over the next two months I sent blueprints in my spare time to the department since my work as a teacher took up more time than my squad work.

One thing I'm still concerned about is the man Urahara-san got to be our third seat. Kurotsuchi Mayuri was in the Maggot's Nest after being deemed by Central Forty Six to be "a threat to himself and others". I know solitary confinement is supposed to change the criminal mind because the isolation gives them time to think, but I was more uneasy around Kurotsuchi then I was about Aizen.

The first day as a second year teacher was invigorating. Students weren't told who their teachers were, just where to show up and when. I think I made Hisana and Susanna's day when they knew I was their teacher. Susanna, Hisana and Byakuya were once again my top students in the advanced track on a league of their own from the others and after the first week I made a note of this to the rest of the class, putting the same procedure I had worked out last year.

A couple of the students thought I had observer bias so I got everyone up in a line that was complaining alongside Byakuya, Hisana and Susanna and had a little sport going. I put all the complaining students on one team and put Byakuya, Hisana and Susanna on another. The game was similar to the rules of dodge ball. The players on each team were allowed to use Hado 4, 8, 29, 31, 32 and 33 to hit their opponents. Dodging using Shunpo was grounds for disqualification. Blocking was allowed via Bakudo 39: Enkosen. If you were hit by your opponents attack you were considered out. If you blocked with Enkosen and it shattered, you were out. If you blocked with Enkosen and it remained stabilized your attacker was out. Byakuya, Hisana and Susanna wound up with a flawless victory. That was the last there ever was of students complaining about my teaching methods.

A couple of the administrators demanded to talk to me after that day in class. I thought I was in trouble for creating a situation that encouraged the endangerment of students, but in reality I was actually congratulated for my method of keeping control of the class. I wound up inventing a new trend: Kido Tag. Other teachers, including myself, now use it to test student abilities in certain blocking and attacking Kido. When Urahara-san heard word he sent me a letter to tell me that I was a natural born inventor.

Of course not everything these past four months has been good news. On my first day teaching the afternoon Kido class for beginners, Rangiku was happy to see me. My beginner class has the skill you would expect from the beginner class, but the problem was Rangiku not only unmotivated more times often than not, she was also turning into a miniature Milly with all the socializing she would do. I know it was only my job to teach and not to parent, but it was difficult to watch and hear about. Rangiku did her work and she did it well, but I would've appreciated it she would at least, for my sake, make the effort to at least be a little more active in her studies and during class as opposed to sitting and talking with a classmate of hers Ise Nanao.

After I addressed my students this morning I began handing back evaluation exams. As always, Byakuya, Hisana and Susanna had the highest marks in the class and the rest of the students had varying degrees between slightly above average and as close to below average without failing. After passing back the forms I called for everyone to follow me outback where we would be learning a high level Bakudo, one of my personal favorites: Bakudo 61 Rikujokoro. Today's objective was to cast the Bakudo and then follow up with a discarded chant level 20-30 Hado if possible. Out of my 28 students, excluding Byakuya, Hisana and Susanna, only 5 of my students managed to get to the second part of the assignment and only 13 were actually able to cast the Bakudo by the end of the day. I told those that didn't complete the classwork to complete it as homework and also assigned a homework sheet of a list of two-kido combination strikes like my Bakudo 63 and Hado 11 combo attack.

After my afternoon beginner's class I sat in my office, working out the blueprints for creating high tech lab equipment like automated robotic arm welders, drills and lasers, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." I said. I was surprised when Hisana walked in. More surprised than if Byakuya were to walk into the door. Hisana never complained about anything, ever. Susanna I wasn't surprised when she came bursting my office last year, having cracked. The first day I met her I thought there might've been something wrong with her.

Hisana was a different story. She was perpetually cheerful and never complained about anything. Byakuya had a couple of moments when some extra work I gave him, since he was my top student and I wanted to challenge him and the others, but Hisana always took what I gave her with a sense of honor and gratitude that even Byakuya, a noble, could learn from. I didn't know what to expect from Hisana. I could think of only about 131 reasons why she would need to see me. I rolled up my blueprint, put a rubber band around it and stored it in a bucket with the rest of my blank scrolls.

"What can I do for you Hisana?" I asked her.

"Sensei…this is going to sound kind of awkward, but I don't have anyone else to turn to and…" Hisana's discomfort and words eliminated 57 possibilities.

"Whatever's on you mind ask away." I told her.

"Sensei, have you ever had a girl like you before?" Hisana asked me.

And we're back up to 58 possibilities. I thought to myself. "I've had my fair share of women express their intimate interest in me."

'Fair share' meaning the entire female student body at Ashford Academy as well as plus the numerous women that like you here in the Soul Society. My Zanpakuto chimed.

I ignored her and just listen to Hisana. "Well, um…are there any you…reciprocated the feelings of?"

"Hisana do you have a crush on someone?" I asked her. She nodded. "Do you want to tell me?"

"I…I'm not sure. I mean…I've heard rumors you're really close to the person and…well I never trust rumors…but I…"

I laughed slightly. "It's ok Hisana, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but if I know this person it'll make things easier. Who do you like?"

"K…Ku…Ku…bleh." Hisana was having trouble saying who she liked, but only one person I knew had a surname or given name that started with 'Ku'.

"Kuchiki Byakuya?" I asked. Hisana blushed and nodded. I leaned back in my chair and relaxed. Least it's not me. Thank BRITANNIA it's not me.

What's the matter Lelouch? You're not into young girls?

Zip it! I told my Zanpakuto. "So what do you want to know, how to get him to like you? Afraid I can't help you there. I'm not cupid." I told Hisana.

"I…I know that." She got snappy. "Er, sorry that was rude of me." She apologized.

"It's fine," I told her, "This sort of thing makes people act funny. I've seen it. Still, not much I can help you with."

"B-but you know Byakuya best out of anyone outside his family right?" Hisana asked.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. I guess I know him just about as well as I know you minus the fact that I've been to the Kuchiki manor a few times." I said.

"I…I just want him to like me." Hisana said squirming in her seat.

"Well, that's some high hopes, but…you don't have to impress the guy with something." I said. "Let me ask this first: does he even know you exist?"

"Sensei we've worked together a bunch of times with all that extra work you give us." It was interesting to see how this conversation was bringing out an ill-tempered side of Hisana I didn't know existed.

"All right, all right, turn down the heat." I told Hisana. "I guess the best thing you can do is just be yourself. See how things go and work up the courage to tell him how you feel."

"But…"

"Trust me, if Byakuya is anything like me you'll have to be direct." I enforced.

"I…okay. I'll try." Hisana said. She got up off the chair and headed for the door. "Thanks sensei." She smiled at me.

"Any time Hisana." I told her. She shut the door and left. I was curious to see how things were going to play out from here so, since I didn't have any actual work to do, I tailed Hisana to see if she would do anything. I had been in the 12th Division for a while and I wanted to see if my stealth skills from 2nd Division had gotten rusty.

Is this really necessary Lelouch? My Zanpakuto asked me.

Well if as a result of this Byakuya comes to my office next and asks if Hisana likes him I want to be able to have a better grasp of the situation than I do already. I responded.

I thought you weren't cupid. My Zanpakuto mocked me.

Hey, whether it works out or he turns her down, in the end he'll have me to thank if he does come by. If he doesn't at least I can see what's going on between them, perhaps work it to my advantage in the long run. I responded.

Aren't nobles disallowed to marry outside nobility?

Who says he has to marry her? I asked. Nobles are allowed to take mistresses.

You know you're time would be more wisely spent working on those blueprints. My Zanpakuto nagged.

Says the woman who wants me to plan ahead. I returned.

Fine you know what, when you're behind in deadlines because you wanted to watch a relationship form rather than further yourself don't come crying to me. My Zanpakuto left me alone. To be perfectly honest I was really starting to hate how chatty she was. I heard that.

Good, maybe you'll change.

I followed Hisana as closely as I could and eventually she met up with Byakuya in the Kendo practice field. He was trying to pull off a really difficult technique I read about, but I myself was never able to do. The technique involved spinning around the opponent, striking at their flank and then placing both hands on the sword before performing two front flips at the target. So far Byakuya could only get one and he would lose the momentum he had built up to get the second one done properly.

Hisana approached him as he got up from off the ground, rubbing his sore head having failed the second front flip. "Are you ok Byakuya-dono?" she asked him.

"Do I look ok?" he snapped. Hisana put a hand to his forehead and used healing Kido. Something I didn't know she could do, but wasn't surprised she could nonetheless. Healing Kido isn't a requirement for graduating, but it is recommended to be learned somewhere between the second and third year.

"Better?" Hisana asked.

"Yeah, thanks Hisana-san." He said to her.

"Still stuck on that second front flip?" Hisana was practically teasing him.

"I'll get it eventually. If Gii-san and Otou-san can do it, then so can I!" he declared.

"You ever thought maybe it's because they're older than you are." Hisana joked. If there's one thing I know about Byakuya it's that he absolutely hated it when someone told him he had the inability to do something.

"I'd like to see you do better." He challenged Hisana.

"I bet you I can." She held out her hand. "Gimme." Byakuya tossed her the sword. Hisana pulled it off flawlessly.

"No fair, when could you do that?" Byakuya complained.

"What's not fair about it? You're better than me at Kido, why can't I be better than you at something?" Hisana asked him.

"I…because…I'm nobility." Byakuya excused.

"Oh, so the soon to be great Kuchiki Byakuya has to be the best at everything in order to feel secure is that it?" Despite the formality in the way they addressed each other they were using really informal speech.

"No!" Byakuya denied

They really are well connected with each other. I noted. I pushed off the wall and headed back to my office. From my observation it was obvious Hisana was closer to Byakuya then well…anyone. No one ever got close to the kid like she did. Everyone distanced themselves from him because he was Kuchiki Ginrei's grandson. It wasn't hard to figure out the rest. Hisana, like me, didn't see Byakuya as a noble, she saw him as just another person in her life. He was on her level and, if their academic grades were anything to go by, both of them were rather intelligent.

Could you be any sappier? My Zanpakuto asked.

Sappy? Me? When?

You were about to comment how you think Byakuya's lucky that he has a friend.

I was not. I told my Zanpakuto.

Lelouch who's the one able to read your heart and mind better than you are? My Zanpakuto asked. I was silent. That's what I thought. She gloated.

9 years later

The months and years went by until Byakuya, Hisana, Susanna and Rangiku all graduated from the Shino Academy. Byakuya became a 13th seat of the 13th Division. I congratulated him on reaching a higher rank than me right out of the academy. It wasn't hard to figure out why. Despite his lower Kido ability than mine Byakuya was much better at the other three Soul Reaper arts than I was. Also he knew his Zanpakuto's name, but he still was having issues with it.

Hisana also went to the 13th Division, becoming a 16th seat. She could've gotten higher with her skill level, not that I could've known, but I think she just wanted to follow Byakuya.

Susanna went to the 6th Division. She became a 19th seat.

Rangiku went to the 10th Division as an unseated member.

10th Division. I sighed when I had heard the news. I wonder how everyone is doing there. The squad had been without a captain or a Vice-Captain for years now. From what I had heard the top seated officers jointly shared responsibility and Ukitake-taicho, Kuchiki-taicho and Hirako-taicho switched off in having their squads keep the 10th informed. Still the squad was barely holding together. If things kept up like they were we'd soon be known at the Gotei 12.

Today though wasn't a day that I could dote on the past. For the past couple of months there had been reported sightings of missing souls in Rukongai. The bodies would evaporate and leave behind their clothes. I thought of 544 possible ways this could be occurring. Most of my theories had to do with Hoshima, Aizen, Hollows or a combination of the three in some way.

Urahara-san had issued an order to try and figure out a way to stop this phenomenon. He and I both came to the same conclusion of strengthening the reishi bonds within the soul so that they could be more closely held together. However, only Urahara-san had actually come up with a spark of inspiration from that conclusion. I wasn't much of an inventor outside what I knew about high definition technology. Something like this was beyond my comprehension a little.

Things were proceeding normally all the way up to the late afternoon when Sarugaki-fukutaicho started bitching at Kurotsuchi-senpai for ordering her around. "Fukutaicho, didn't the captain say he wanted to keep noise level to a minimum earlier?"

"How about I keep the amount of blood in your nose to a minimum after I drive my foot through it? How would you like that?" she shouted.

I show proper respect and all she does is complain. How this girl got to Vice-Captain Rank is beyond my intellectual capacity. I sighed.

Urahara-san did come out of his quarters and address Sarugaki-fukutaicho. He was showing off what appeared to be the most realistic human mannequin I've ever seen. "What is that on your back taicho a new type of gigai?"

"Yeah, you remember what I told you that Hirako-taicho told me this morning about how souls are disappearing from their bodies. I thought maybe if we put the soul into a human mold before it died then it might not vanish." Urahara-san responded.

I cupped my hand to my chin. "It sounds good, but what if this thing spreads through the body to quickly for a transfer. What then?"

"I haven't gotten that far yet. Scientific History in the making takes a while. You of all people should understand that right?" Urahara-san asked.

I nodded. "Well, given time I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"Could one of you please speak a language we all understand instead of techno babble?" Sarugaki-fukutaicho pitched a fit. "I'm tired of being left out of the conversation."

Urahara-san was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. It was one of Muguruma-taicho's men, requesting to speak with Urahara-san. I opened the door to the lab to let him in at Urahara-san's request and the man gave us his report. The next stage in the phenomenon had started: Soul Reapers had become victims.

Well there go 33 theories. I thought to myself.

"I'll send key personnel tonight to help out." Urahara-san told the 9th division officer. "For now I would like you to go back and help your captain." Murguruma-taicho's officer was pleased with Urahara-san's assistance and left.

Urahara-san's key personnel turned out to be Sarugaki-fukutaicho. As anyone could've expected, she got indignant. "Why the hell do I have to go?" she pointed to one of the other lab members, Akon. "Why can't you send someone lower in rank than me?"

"All you do is complain. You find everything disagreeable. Why don't you just quit being a Vice-Captain already?"

I bit my lip from hearing this, trying not to burst out laughing. Akon sort of was asking for it when Sarugaki-fukutaicho flipped out. "Why don't I just quit letting you live Akon you disrespectful little worm?" What made the situation all the more comical was that while Sarugaki-fukutaicho sent kick after kick at the poor kid she missed every shot. I couldn't help, but snicker. I tried to cover it up, but Sarugaki-fukutaicho heard me. "What the hell are you snickering at huh? You think this is funny?"

"Sorry Hiyori," Urahara-san spoke up, "but you're the only one I can entrust with a task as important as this one."

"You know if she doesn't want to do it, I'll volunteer." I said. "You can trust me can't you sir?"

Urahara-san smiled at me. "Thank you Lelouch, I appreciate the offer."

Sarugaki-fukutaicho got on my case for almost no reason at all. I tried to be a peacekeeper and she just didn't want to let it stay. "And just what is that supposed to mean? You don't think I can do it huh Lelouch?" she ranted. "I'll show you. I'll do this so good that it'll make your existence so insignificant that that vest you wear won't mean a damn thing."

"Well I wish you the best of luck." I smiled at her.

"God you people make me sick!" Sarugaki-fukutaicho slammed the door.

I waited a few seconds for her reiatsu disappear from the area entirely before exasperating, "Well amen, hallelujah and pizza, she's gone. Maybe now we can actually get some work done." I turned back to my work station.

"Nice crisis management skills Lelouch." Urahara-san complimented.

I looked back at Urahara-san. "Well if there's one thing I know about the fukutaicho after all these years it's that she has an ego three times the size of a blimp. She's a perpetual firecracker with an extremely short fuse. Agreeing with her and saying things to avoid conflict entirely are the best ways to go in my opinion."

"You know you're going to make a really good captain one of these days you know that?" Urahara-san smiled at me.

Captain. I thought. Images of that nightmare of mine flooded through my head. I started to wonder if perhaps my vision was a premonition of some sort. Originally I thought it would be impossible since I didn't even known Shikai and since Bankai took ten years by the time I became a captain Kallen would already be married with children. However, from research by some of our squad members it's entered into the realm of possibility. Time moves forward in the Soul Society at a fixed rate, but outside the Soul Society each world moves at its own pace. There was no data collection on Earth yet, and there probably wouldn't be for a while since our research teams were still in star clusters beginning with the letter 'F', but until then I kept wondering.

By the time I snapped out of my thoughts and became conscious of my surroundings, the next thing I heard was a loud racket of a wooden gong being hit with a mallet. Announcements came over the loudspeakers our squad had installed all throughout the division and set up in the 1st Division. The announcement was for all squad captains to meet at the squad 1 barracks. I looked out the window. Night had already fallen. I didn't realize I had been so wrapped up in my work and thoughts.

I waited patiently for Urahara-san to return from the meeting. I was the only one who seemed to be interested in what was going on. "What happened?" I asked him in earnest.

"If you want to know come into my office." He said. Whatever had happened he sounded depressed. I did as he requested and he spoke and I listened. "Muguruma-taicho and Kuna-fukutaicho's reiatsus have disappeared from their investigation spot. Hirako-taicho, Otoribashi-taicho, Aikawa-taicho, Yadomaru-fukutaicho and Ushoda Hachigen of the Kido Corps were sent to investigate."

9th division is down? Sending captains? And they even have the Kido corps involved. This situation has gotten really bad. "But wait, why do you sound so depressed?" I asked. When Urahara-san didn't responded I summarized my facts and put together a sound hypothesis. "Oh I see where this is going. You're worried about Sarugaki-fukutaicho. You wanted to go out there, but I'm sure someone stopped you. Yoruichi perhaps?" Urahara-san didn't say anything, but his silence told me I was right. Knowing Urahara-san though he wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Well, you're the captain so I have no right to order you around so I just want to leave you with some advice: don't do or not do anything you'll regret." I did get a reaction from him from this and he turned to look at me, intrigued. "I think I'll be pulling staying up late tonight. If you need me I'll be in the lab."

I knew Urahara-san wouldn't need me. Knowing him he'd leave with his reiatsu masked and make off to the Rukongai. I put a bug near his door and listened to it for sounds and slight movements. I also kept an eye on his reiatsu. The moment I felt it disappear I knew he was going to strike out into Rukongai. I wasn't going to follow him, but I know someone who would want to.

As fast as I could I made haste towards Division two. However, when I reached Yoruichi's den, only Soifon was there.

"Soifon?" I was confused.

"Lelouch? What are you doing here?" she asked me.

"I don't have time to explain where's Yoruichi?" I asked.

"She told me to come back to the squad and take messages. She's still at the Squad One barracks awaiting further orders. Did something happen?" she asked.

"No, but something will if I don't get a hold of her. Can you take me to her?" I requested.

Soifon nodded. "If this is about that idiot Urahara Kisuke, you bet I want Yoruichi-sama to hear about it."

"Good, let's go." I said.

1st Division

Soifon led me right to Yoruichi as fast as both our legs could carry us. My stamina had improved a great deal over these last nine years so it was enough that I could sprint from one division to another without getting tired. Four would be pushing it and halfway around the Seireitai would be out of the question without a break.

"Hmm, Lelouch? What are you doing here?" Yoruichi asked.

I was panting when I reached her. Just because I could run without collapsing didn't mean it there was no strain, especially since I had to push myself to keep up with Soifon's pace. "I…Urahara-san…Rukongai."

Yoruichi held up her hand, indicating I didn't need to say anymore. "I get it, Kisuke went after Hiyori right?" she asked. I nodded. "Ugh, that idiot! Did what I say mean nothing to him at the captain's meeting? Soifon!"

"Hai, Yoruichi-sama!" Soifon poised herself upright.

"Go with Lelouch back to the 12th Division. Both of you wait there for further instructions." Yoruichi told us.

"But Yoruichi-sama, if it's dangerous out there…"

"If it's dangerous out there, there are four other captains and two vice-captains out in the field. I will be fine. You and Lelouch however need to be prepared for unexpected developments. When you get there send a hell butterfly to tell the Head Captain that I'm going after Kisuke for being an idiot and that you two can act as a go between him and me if he has any further instruction for me. Got it?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am."

"Hai, Yoruichi-sama!"

12th Division

"I have a really bad feeling about this." I said to Soifon as we sat around the lab waiting for Yoruichi to come back with my captain. I was sitting at my desk in the lab and Soifon was wandering around the lab looking at all the stuff my division had been working on.

"Did Urahara Kisuke create all of this?" she asked.

"He's by no means an idiot, and he's not always hands on with everything we do, but most of my ideas only came to fruition because he was able to organize a team to get it to work. Don't pretend like you're not glad every division now has air conditioning, heat, automatic doors and heated floor tiles to some degree throughout the division." I said. Soifon was silent. "Forgive me for speaking rudely to a superior officer, but you never really did give the guy the benefit of the doubt. He may not have your level of professionalism, but he does a good job."

"Lelouch I—" Soifon's words were cut off by the lab shaking. The tremors were so fierce that both of fell to the floor. Our position could've been much more awkward, but it was kind of close for two people who were supposed to be friends. Both of us were flat on our stomachs, arms out in front of us. My right left hand wound up being placed right on top of her right hand and our same side cheeks wound up getting pushed together, causing us both to close the eye on that side of our faces shut. I got up first and dusted myself off.

"You ok?" I asked Soifon.

She got up. "I'm fine, just don't mention the position we were just in to anyone."

"Boy, aren't you two awfully familiar with each other?" the last person that needed to comment on the situation for Soifon's sake just did.

"Y-Yoruichi-sama! I…this isn't what it looks like!" Soifon shouted.

"How did you get here and how long have you been standing there?" I asked with a stern look on my face.

"That tremor you felt was Commander Tsukabishi teleporting us all in." Yoruichi stated.

"But teleportation Kido is forbidden by the Central Forty Six." I informed.

"We know, but the situation is dire. Listen closely…"

Yoruichi explained to us what had happened out in Rukongai. How she had caught up with Urahara-san and Commander Tsukabishi before all three of them wound up confronting Aizen and two others at the scene. One of the 'others' was Tosen Kaname, 5th seat of the 9th division.

"Tosen's a traitor?" I scowled.

"I think it's more likely that he's been an inside man for Aizen for the longest time." Yoruichi responded when I asked about this.

I was more surprised when I learned that Gin was with Aizen during this.

"Lelouch, relax, I know Gin was your student. Just calm down." Yoruichi stated. "You couldn't have known."

I laughed maniacally and covered my left eye as I brushed my hair back. I couldn't do anything else. "Oh no, it's fine. I understand." I probably looked insane to Yoruichi and Soifon, but I perfectly understood what Gin was up to. So that's your angle is it? I thought to myself. You did say you liked to swallow pray that looked interesting to you. So you're going to stab him right in the back while his guard's down hmm? Gin you are a fool. If you do that, you'll become just like him. Or perhaps…I never really knew you after all. A year and two days isn't really enough to get to know someone properly.

"Lelouch are you going to be ok?" Soifon asked me.

I composed myself on a dime and cleared my throat before speaking again. I had my arms folded behind my back as I spoke. "I'll be fine. Just answer me this Yoruichi, what is Urahara-san doing right now?"

Yoruichi went on to explain the rest of the situation and what Urahara was doing to solve it.

"You do realize Aizen's going to turn this back on us." I said.

"How can he?" Yoruichi asked.

"This is the man who is Urahara's rival in chess. Something tells me your interference is exactly what he wanted out there. Hirako-taicho and the others weren't victimized by accident. Aizen handpicked them by reading the situation as it developed." I responded.

"How can you be so sure of this?" Yoruichi asked.

"I know…because that is what I do if I were in Aizen's shoes." I stated.

"Lelouch, you're overly paranoid. I think you need to get some sleep." Yoruichi told me.

"Will you take something seriously for once?" I shouted. My outburst was responded with a slap to the face by Soifon.

"How dare you speak to Yoruichi-sama like that?" She scowled. I put a hand to where the stinging pain was coming from where Soifon hit me. "Do what she said and get some rest. Have faith in your captain that everything will turn out all right. Tomorrow we will go out to Central Forty Six and prove to them what Aizen had to do with this."

"Don't you get it? If we wait he'll act first. If—"

"If we act rashly and you're right we'll also be in hot water!" Yoruichi reprimanded. I had to concede to her point. "Look, you've been up for twenty hours straight according to Kisuke. You need to get some sleep Lelouch."

Grudgingly I turned my back and made to exit the lab. "Fine." I spat. I went to bed, angry.

I felt as if I had just fallen asleep when I felt someone shaking me awake. "Lelouch! Lelouch wake up!" I opened my eyes, the sun was already out.

"It's morning already." I groaned.

"Dammit Lelouch! Snap alert this instant!" the person yelling at me was Soifon and she sounded rather distraught. My vision stopped being hazy.

"Soifon what is it? Did Yoruichi ask you to wake me?" I said, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

"No. And that's because Yoruichi-sama, Commander Tsukabishi and Urahara Kisuke were just arrested by the Central Forty Six!" Soifon shouted.

Now I was alert and paying attention. "What happened?" I asked, scowling.

"Now that's the Lelouch I want to be talking to right now." Soifon commented. She cleared her throat and spoke professionally. "I don't know why they were taken away, but I have a good feeling you were right about what you said last night. I'm sorry. I had a gut feeling you were right…but I…I just couldn't argue with Yorichi-sama." Soifon was teetering on the edge of breaking down into hysterics.

"Getting hysterical isn't going to solve anything." I told Soifon. "If you came to wake me I'm sure you're expecting something more out of me than just giving me bad news."

"Lelouch…besides Yoruichi-sama you're the only person I can really trust to ask this out of all of the Soul Society and so…please…save Yoruichi-sama." Soifon was on the verge of tears. "If you don't I'll do it myself, but…I was hoping I could count on you."

"You don't have to start crying to get me to help you. My captain is in trouble too and Aizen set them up." I gave Soifon my hand. "We'll save them together. However, if we act, we won't be able to save their jobs. Actually even if we don't act all three of them are probably going to get stripped of their positions."

"Wh-what? Is it that bad?" Soifon started to panic.

"If you're going to panic, you won't be of any use! If you want me to help then get a hold of yourself!" I shouted. Soifon straightened up immediately. "That's better. Now, if my hunch is correct Aizen will have turned this hollowfication business back on Urahara. That being the case Urahara's punishment would be banishment. Yoruichi would be pinned as Urahara's accomplice and possibly be banished along with him. Tessai will just get a slap on the wrist for using forbidden Kido. A decade or less in prison level three would be sufficient if I understand the sentencing structure properly. The only question I have to ask is this. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Protecting Yoruichi-sama is my job. Where she goes, I go. She promised me…promised me that we would always be together." Soifon told me.

My hand still extended to Soifon I said. "Then let's go save them." She clasped hold of my hand and we shook hands. Now then, I thought as I looked around the room, if this is going to work I'm going to need quite a few things from the lab.

I spend a few minutes taking objects from the laboratory. My inventory included two reiatsu cloaking cloaks, a prototype vitality serum Kurotsuchi-senpai had been working on, my contact lens case, a hyperspace capsule with a field kit stuffed into it, and a prototype two-way radio helmet device I had begun to work on for both Soifon and me. I also grabbed a few smoke bombs. When Soifon and I were suited up and ready to go I then activated Bakudo 26: Kyokko on both of us. Our reiatsu was already cloaked thanks to our cloaks, but for my plan to work we had to be hidden from view.

"I feel ridiculous." Soifon said to me. "This getup is so drab."

"Hey, it served me well in life. In death it'll continue to do so. Now let's go."

Central 46

Soifon and I arrived right on schedule and she took out the guards, completely avoiding notice. I went on ahead and removed the invisibility I had shrouded myself in and flung open the meeting hall doors of the Central Forty Six. My figure was distorted by the light entering the dark room, but even then my disguise made it impossible to identify me.

"What are you doing in here? You can't come in here! Council is in session!"

"That's where you're wrong." I declared. "You believe that you all are justly punishing these criminals when in fact…"

"Guards arrest that man!"

So much for my speech. I grumbled. "You'll never take me. For I am the one, the only Zero! Master miracle worker!" I threw the smoke bombs and everyone began coughing.

My radio helmet, which would relay every last word I said to Soifon, in its prototype stage, was modeled after my own Zero helmet. Urahara's reiatsu cloaking made a perfect substitution for my cape. And despite the fact that I was well over a foot taller than Soifon, both of us looked exactly alike because our physiques were similar. Of course we'd never be caught. Soifon was too limber and I had taken the vitality serum Kurotsuchi-senpai had been working on. My muscles would be hyper stimulated allowing me to move in at speeds and bend in ways that even Suzaku would be jealous of. I had no idea of the side effects, but I was sure Unohana-taicho could diagnose any side effects I could contract. Of course the stimulation was temporary, but it would be enough.

"S-1! Now!" I signaled. Soifon came running up the corridor behind me, leapt over me and landed down the stairs near Yoruichi, Urahara-san and Commander Tsukabishi.

"Everything's going to be ok." She said to the three of them. I told her to pretend as if we didn't know Yoruichi and the others, not until we could ensure their safety. "My partner and I are here to get you out of here." Soifon broke the shackles on all three of the people we were rescuing and told them to get going. We went off as a group of five until Yoruichi, Urahara-san and Commander Tsukabishi took off using Shunpo. Soifon and I lingered in order to draw the attention on us. Soifon went west. I went east. I knew Soifon would be ok, as for me I had to keep running and see if I could either shake my pursuers off or isolate them, and me, from onlooking eyes and use Geass to get me out of the jam I was in.

Lelouch.

Oh great. What now? I asked.

I want to commend you on acting as you are, you have an enemy to fight and I have read your heart and mind. You have awoken to who you truly are. And for that I am offering to lend my power to you, to help your plan succeed.

It was going to succeed whether you helped me or not, but I could always use a failsafe. So then go ahead and tell me, what is your name? I asked her. She told me her name and how to activate her power. Got it. I said. I kept running only to find the drug beginning to wear off. Damn…so soon? I started to wonder if perhaps I didn't use the full dosage and thereby minimized the effects. It didn't matter now. I stopped running and the guards caught up with me. To prevent Soifon from hearing me I switched off my radio.

"Now then Zero, or whatever your name is, come quietly! It's obvious you've tired yourself out. Give yourself up and we'll promise to lighten your sentence." The guards said.

"There have been many who have tried to apprehend me. All of them have failed. You're just a number of the many men and women I have thwarted with my escape attempts." I said. My own helmet had come with a slot near the eye, just like my old one. I opened it to reveal my Geass. "All of you! I, Zero, command you! Obey me!"

My Geass afflicted the guards and they said in a monotone. "Yes master Zero."

"Now then. My first order: drop your weapons!" They obeyed. "Stand at attention!" The obeyed. I went for my Zanpakuto. "Now, watch as I release my sword. Rally and motivate! Eien Tamashi!" (Undying Soul) I drew it out and swung my Zanpakuto over my back, transforming it into an exact replica of my original Zero cape, which I quickly fastened to my shoulders and neck. I held out my hand towards my targets. "And now all of you will feel the sting of the power of Zero! Kokoro Hasai!" (Mind Crush) A telepathic wave was sent out from my hand and rang through the ears of my targets severely damaging their minds and since their willpower had been reduced to garbage by the power of my Geass their heads exploded. Finished with my actions I used Shunpo to a nearby location and contacted Soifon.

"Zero to S-1, come in S-1." I communicated.

"This is S-1, my pursuers have been shaken off and I'm waiting near our refugees for further orders. They are inside a special pavilion carved into the side of a mountain." Soifon responded.

"Wait for me there and I'll join you shortly." I told Soifon. "Remove your cloak and helmet and put it in a nearby bush. No witnesses allowed."

"I…got it." Soifon hung up on me.

I used the hyperspace capsule and switched it with the helmet and cloak I had on me with the field kit that was already inside it. I then set up the field kit to make it look like I had just come upon the dead bodies of the Central Forty Six guard members during my field study and sent a hell butterfly to the 4th Division. I then proceeded to head for Soifon's location where I then stuffed her gear into my capsule.

"Let's go pay a visit to those we rescued shall we?" I asked. Soifon nodded and agreed. Judging from the reiatsu Commander Tsukabishi had put up a triple layered barrier, but I wasn't about to let that stop me. I didn't know what I, a mere Kido practitioner, could do against the commander of the corps himself, but my attempts to break in would send one person out of the three to deal with Soifon and me.

I was right and Soifon had to stop Yoruichi from nearly crippling me with a roundhouse kick to the neck. "Soifon…Lelouch?" Yoruichi was completely confused. "What…how did you find us?"

"It's not too hard to keep tabs on people you just rescued." I said.

"Wait? Rescued? You two did that?" Yoruichi was stunned.

"Pretty impressive right?" I asked.

"Pretty stupid is more like it." Yoruichi was not happy. "Do you two have any idea the kind of trouble you put yourselves in?"

"I don't know about Soifon, but I've covered my tracks to make it impossible to trace things back to me." I stated.

"That's a might arrogant of you, you know." Yoruichi responded.

"Hey, you should be grateful I saved you from banishment without spiritual power. If it wasn't for Soifon and me…"

Yoruichi reached out and pat both mine and Soifon's head. "You're right…thank you." She smiled. "Both of you." She looked around and then waved us inside. "It isn't safe to discuss things out here. Follow me."

Yoruichi explained to Soifon and me what her plans were. She, Urahara-san, and Commander Tsukabishi were all going to hide out in the world of the living and one day they vowed that we'd all get back at Aizen.

"Yoruichi-sama are you sure? Lelouch and I can dig up evidence. We can prove you're innocent!" Soifon pleaded.

Yoruichi wiped away a tear from underneath Soifon's eye. "I'm sorry Little Bee, but this is how it has to be."

"Then…" Soifon tensed up and then shouted. "Then I'm going with you!"

"What? Soifon, you can't that's idiotic and stupid and…"

"And it's what you promised me. You told me…you said we would always be together. My job is protecting Yoruichi-sama not any other member of the Shihoin-clan. I will go anywhere with you. My home is not the Gotei or the family, but trees, grass and civilization around you." Soifon was about ready to cry.

Yoruichi gave Soifon a sympathetic smile and put her arms around her and held her to her. Soifon began to cry. "Shhhh." Yoruichi soothed her. "It's ok Little Bee, you can come with me. I will keep my promise to you." Yoruichi waited until Soifon calmed down before addressing me. "What about you Lelouch?" she asked. "Are you coming too?"

I shook my head. "No, my place is here. If I'm going to take down Aizen I'm going to do it where I can keep a close eye on him."

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. You sure are doing a fine job of pulling off that cliché." Urahara-san noted.

"Will we ever see each other again?" I asked.

"Aizen's going to have to reveal his true nature eventually." Yoruichi said. "And when he does you can be sure we will meet again."

"Lelouch." Urahara walked towards me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Good luck."

"Thanks taicho. I'm sure I'll need it." I said.

"You should probably get going." Commander Tsukabishi stated. "Things will look suspicious if you stay too long here."

"If you need help working up a story you can write that you and I were working together and I betrayed you and joined with Yoruichi-sama." Soifon told me.

"Well part of that is true." I said. She was, after all, joining up with her idol. I turned and headed to leave. "Give my regards to Hirako-taicho when he regains consciousness. Tell him that I'm not going to let Aizen go without receiving his just desserts."

"Will do." Urahara-san said. "See you around, Lelouch."

"Goodbye everyone, may you all stay safe." I said and left.

In the time that followed I managed to avoid pursuit entirely. I even managed to come out smelling like a rose. In my report I wrote what Soifon had told me. I wrote that we had noticed our fleeing captains escaping justice while I was on my field study and she betrayed me at the last possible moment. I also forged, using the computer to both type the assignment and cut and paste Urahara-san's signature onto the assignment sheet. I then traced it with a pen to make it look authentic. The record keepers would never know the difference. I also bargained with Kurotsuchi-senpai to allow me to clean out Urahara-san's office alone when Central 46 gave the order. The only thing he wanted in return was when I mentioned that I had borrowed one of his vitality serums as part of my field test and would give a report on how it functioned for me. He agreed to my deal and then I went to go to 4th Division to have myself looked at to see if there were any side effects to the serum that could be detected. As I sat in the waiting room I began to think about everything that had happened in the span of the last seven hours.

Aizen. I thought to myself. You may have defeated Urahara-san, but now you face an opponent who will trip you up at every turn, stop you at every juncture and counter your every move. You know face an opponent who can play by your rules and settings. From now on you face me.

To be continued…

(A/N: Wow Lelouch you just screwed history. Yes folks. Soifon is going with Yoruichi this time. I have gone and bent over canon and shoved a pineapple up its ass as Xerosonic would say. And yes now we all know what Lelouch's Zanpakuto's name is. I will say this however: Kokoro Hasai is not Lelouch's Zanpakuto's ONLY ability. He has several more that will be revealed in time. And to explain Kokoro Hasai in case you think it Godmods a bit: it is a mental attack. Lelouch literally crushes the minds of his target while using his brainpower as a catalyst. Lesser minds are destroyed while more powerful minds are stunned. Others can resist the attack entirely if their minds are truly resilient. *cough*Aizen*cough*. If their willpower is completely gone, like putting them under the influence of Geass, then their heads will literally explode. Anyway, to see what I am planning next for Lelouch you'll just have to wait for the next chapter of Soul Chess!)