Chapter 4: Lelouch's Examination

(A/N: Idk how, but inspiration has struck. Here we go)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass

Lelouch's pov

I woke up the next morning and refastened my Zanpakuto to my waist and headed out to the field marked on the academy map to take the entrance exam. I saw a lot other students there. I did a head count. Including myself there were 2130 students here to enter the academy. Judging from the sun's position in the sky and the time of year I figured it couldn't be later than 9am right now. I took notice of the several tables and chairs strewn about the field, but everyone was standing about. I didn't want to stand out so I stood in one place as well.

As I stood there, waiting for things to get started, someone called out to me, "Hi there!"

I turned to see a girl with long, thick dark blue hair and matching colored eyes waving in my direction. There was a white lotus flower in her hair and she had a bust in between the size of C.C's and Kallen's. I turned around, but there was no one behind me.

"No silly, I'm waving at you," she said. I turned back to face her and she smiled brightly. "Hiya!"

"H-hello to you," I responded.

She laughed. "I'm Mindra, Latviana Mindra. What's your name?"

"Lelouch, Lamperouge Lelouch," I answered. I added, "You're awfully chipper this early in the morning."

She laughed again. "It has been my childhood dream to become a Soul Reaper. I've lived in Rukongai for seventeen years now and finally I left my drunk mom and my abusive dad and walked all the way to the Seireitai on foot." She held up her arm and flexed. "I may not look it, but I'm really good at physical activities."

"Are you now?" I asked with a disbelieving smirk.

"So what's your story Lelouch-kun?" she asked.

"Not much of a story really," I said, "I've been here a grand total of three days, including today. Yesterday I just happened to meet one of the vice-captains, Aizen, who was in my district and I made a bet that if I could beat him at chess he would take me to the Seireitai to become a Soul Reaper."

"Get out!" Mindra was shocked, "You met the Lieutenant of 5th Division Aizen Sosuke? And not only that you beat him at chess? Oh what I wouldn't have given to have been there with you!"

"What's the big deal? What's so great about Aizen?" I asked. I wish I hadn't said that. Mindra started to go through a whole list. I stopped paying attention. I would form my own opinions of the man and besides that the ceremony was starting.

A man with long blonde hair, wearing a captain's haori walked up onto the platform in front of where everyone was gathered. "Good morning? What's hanging?" he spoke with an accent that reminded me of an old Japanese dialect. And he also had quite the overbite. "My name's Hirako Shinji. I'm Captain of the 5th Division. I've been asked to survey you all today and see in all new recruits. Before we begin I have a few words I want to say." Hirako-taicho cleared his throat and began to talk. "Becoming a Soul Reaper means starting over. Once you make the decision to become a Soul Reaper whatever life you had in the Rukongai is over and done with. If you're a noble, then prepare to have double the responsibilities you already have. Whether you live or die depends upon your actions and your superiors orders. Anyone who isn't entirely sure about their decision can vacate the premises now. My Vice-Captain, Aizen Sosuke, will be more than happy to escort you back to your home via caravan." Hirako-taicho took a pause for anyone who was intimidated by his words. I wasn't. Then again I had nothing to lose to begin with. A few did leave. I watched the crowd decrease in size by 24.

"Very well then," Hirako-taicho continued after Aizen-fukutaicho left, "I'd like to welcome all you potential recruits to the Gotei, but first there's the matter of the entrance exams. As you may have noticed we have tables and chairs littered about the field. Behind me on the platform here is a stack of exams. These exams will be the first things added into your records as students of the academy, provided you can finish them in allotted amount of time. We need people that can be diligent and reliable and so getting this exam done on time is a test of that. When you finish come up and hand it to me. If you don't finish the exam in the allotted time given you're axed." Hirako-taicho threw his thumb over his shoulder. "No questions asked it is simply 'so sorry, goodbye, see you again next year'." There was a heavy silence over the crowd. To break it, Hirako-taicho clapped his hands. "Alright, chop-chop let's move it people."

I took my seat at a table and was handed an exam as the administrators came around passing them out to everyone. When everyone had an exam Hirako-taicho spoke again. "Alright everyone, you have one hour to complete this exam. There is to be no talking, no looking at other people's exams and no suspicious activity. Anyway let the countdown for the hour begin starting…now!"

I took a look at the exam. The first thing I did was write my name at the top. Secondly, I took a look at how many questions there were. They were all open ended and there were 100 of them.

All right, no pressure Lelouch. You can do this. I told myself. Let's see here Question One…

40 minutes later

Done, I said to myself putting my writing utensil down. The test was more like a psychological profiling, plus a background check. Some questions even made me feel like I was filling out a survey for the Gotei itself. Regardless, I was finished. I pushed back in my chair, stood up and went to go hand my exam to Hirako-taicho. There was a short line leading up to the top of the platform. When I got to the front I handed Hirako-taicho my exam.

"Ok, let's have a look see here. Lamperog Lelohsh?"

"It's pronounced Lamperouge Lelouch," I correctly calmly.

"Oh man, I sympathize with your captain, and all of your future senseis kid," Hirako-taicho sighed. "Anyway let me take a look at the rest of this. Mmmhmm, mmhmm," He paused when he got to the 3rd page. "Are you serious?"

"Is there a problem?" I asked kindly.

"You beat Sosuke in a game of chess?" he asked me disbelievingly.

"Don't believe me? Ask him yourself when he comes back," I retorted.

"Nah, I know he went to the tournament the other day with a couple of my other officers. Didn't know he brought anyone back. Not that I particularly care," Hirako-taicho responded. He continued to look over my exam. "Alright Lelouch I think that'll do it." He said when he finished.

"Ok, so what now?" I asked.

Hirako-taicho pointed off the platform towards the side I didn't come up from. "Go the mess hall and get something to eat. We'll be testing everyone's spiritual stamina next so we need everyone to eat."

When he said that, I realized that I hadn't been hungry all morning…or yesterday for that matter.

"Surprised?" he asked. "You must not have been a soul for that long. Yeah it's pretty common knowledge to people who are around long enough so we don't write it down in the manuals and such. You see now that you're a soul you only need to eat to refuel your spirit energy. You never get hungry and you never get the bloated feeling of being full either… at least when you're not appeasing your hunger anyway. In any case get going you're holding up the line."

"Ah right, excuse me," I said and followed my instructions.

When I got into the mess hall that girl Mindra flagged me down. So as not be rude I got my food and sat down with her. "Ah you passed. I'm happy about that," she told me.

"How long have you been here?" I asked.

"Oh I finished my exam like really early," she said waving her fork around with a piece of meat on the end of it. "I was done in like twenty minutes."

"So next they test our stamina I heard," I said as I spooned some peas.

"Yeah, I wonder how they do that," Mindra twirled her fork in her plate and stared up at the ceiling.

"Well we might as well eat while we can. We only have a little less than twenty minutes before time is up for the other students," I said. Mindra agreed.

The Seiretai had really good food. Or rather it was better than what I had to eat back when I was with Rangiku and Gin.

I was indoors and there was no clock hung up on the wall somewhere so I couldn't try and determine how quickly time was passing. Eventually though Hirako-taicho entered the mess hall and made an announcement.

"Alright recruits finish eating and then head out entrance number two and go to the dirt field. However, I would like to speak to one person in particular. Where is Lamperouge Lelouch?"

I nearly choked. I didn't like standing out.

"Wow Lelouch-kun you…"

I didn't let Mindra finish and just got up from my seat and headed over to Hirako-taicho. My legs were shaking. I was wondering if I was about to be axed or something. As I neard Hirako-taicho he asked the rest of the students to clear out. When I finally got to him he held out his hand. "Put her there." He told me.

"Huh?" I was confused.

"What? Shake my hand," he told me.

"Uh sure," I said and shook it, "but…what…why?"

"I sent a hell butterfly to Sosuke about the chess match. It's the first time he's ever been beaten by anyone at anything," he let go of my hand and scratched his head. "Ok maybe that's not entirely true. There's this guy Urahara Kisuke who's the 3rd seat of the 2nd Division who has a pretty heated chess record with Aizen and those two go on and off with wins and losses." He stopped scratching his head and looked at me with a prideful smile, "But for someone who is not even a Soul Reaper yet to have the brainpower to defeat a lieutenant, you've gotta be some kind of prodigy or something."

"Please," I said humbly, "I'm just a low-level recruit with a big brain. I'm no prodigy."

"Well whatever, you're ok in my book for beating down my lieutenant, he can be such a pain sometimes." He slumped over, but quickly erected himself. "Er sorry, that was a bit unprofessional. This conversation stays between us got it?"

"Sure, no problem," I said with a kind look.

"Right, good on you Lelouch," Hirako-taicho pat my shoulder enthusiastically, "Anyway let's get out to the dirt field."

I nodded and followed him out to the field where the other recruits were gathered. Hirako-taicho took to the opposite end of the field and then leapt up on top of the wooden fence. He stood on the fence with perfect balance. No, I realized, taking a closer look, he's not standing on the fence he's standing on air, PURE AIR. Can all Soul Reapers do that? If so what type of art is that?

"Alright recruits," Hirako-taicho said, "We're going to test your stamina. I'm going to stand here and watch while you all run from one side of the field to the other. This exercise will be the same length as the last time. One hour. Before we begin, does anyone have any questions?"

I raised my hand. Physical activities were my Achilles heel. I had to be certain about something.

"Yes Lelouch?" Hirako-taicho called me by name.

"You didn't mention what we have to do to pass this part of the test," I said.

"You're right I didn't," he smirked. Something about the way said that made it sound like he didn't intend to tell us. "Right then anymore questions?" No one said anything. "Ok then, begin!"

A lot of recruits took off in sprints. I jogged. I was going to pace myself. I was not going to kill myself over this. With no objective given: no number of laps to be completed, no how long you had to last, no anything; I decided that I'd just do my best to keep myself from falling over flat on my face.

20 minutes later

The jogging was starting to take its toll on me. Students continued to rush by me in either direction, still going strong. I was starting to sweat and breath hard. I slowed my pace down to a speed walk. I know Hirako-taicho said to run, but I just couldn't keep at the pace I was. I hoped I wouldn't be noticed in the crowd of people. As I walked I looked at the other students. I saw some muscle bound guys flying past me. I saw Mindra pass me a couple of times. She was really fast, faster than some of the guys.

"Hi Lelouch-kun, bye Lelouch-kun!" she said to me once as she passed by me.

I justed let out an exasperated breath and kept in my strides.

20 minutes later

I was sweating so much now I was certain any minute now I was going to hit the ground and pass out. My body felt like my heart was beating in my brain. I was reminded of how Viletta Nu used to push me hard in Gym class when I was under the influence of my father's Geass. I saw a couple of students passed out on the ground. Some of them were the ones that had sprinted back and forth starting in the beginning. Mindra passed me a few more times, waving to me as she did. I rolled my eyes a couple of times. She was such a show off.

18 minutes later

I could barely move. I wasn't about to stop moving, but I couldn't run, I couldn't speed walk, hell I could barely keep my legs going, but I was determinate to keep moving. I refused to fall to the ground. I read once in an old military manual that quitters were considered dead. Everyone that was lying on the ground was going to get axed for sure. To take my mind off my body, I did a head count. There were 37 people lying down on the ground.

I never felt so relieved when Hirako-taicho bellowed, "All right everyone you can stop scrambling around!" I was so relieved that when I stopped moving I fell to the ground and felt pride in my accomplishment.

All that last minute exercise was good for something, I laughed to myself.

"All right, I'm going to come around to you all. If I tap you on the shoulder, you're out of here. My Vice-captain won't be back for a while so the administrators will be guiding you back to wherever you live," Hirako-taicho said.

I lay on the ground breathing. I don't care if what I did got me into the Gotei or not. To last a full hour felt like an accomplishment to me. In your face Suzaku, you exercise freak! I grinned and grinded my right hand into the dirt.

I felt Hirako-taicho's shadow pass over me a couple of times.

I was totally relaxed until I heard shouting. "What? Why did you just tap me on the shoulder?" It was Mindra.

"Why else? I don't think you're ready," Hirako-taicho told her.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? I was the best one out there!" Mindra argued.

"Look, I got a couple more rounds to make. We don't make appeal cases to exiles. Shoo. Get lost." I heard an angry scream from Mindra followed by the sound of something landing on the ground.

"Everything's spinning," I heard her groan.

"Let that serve an example to the rest of you. This is what happens to people who argue with captains and lose their temper," Hirako-taicho stated. I wished I wasn't so pathetic that I could get up from the ground and see what had occurred, but my body wouldn't respond at all.

I lay there, motionless, for a few more minutes before Hirako-taicho looked down at me. "Learning how to become a doormat Lelouch?"

I just groaned.

"Can you move your arm at least?" he asked.

"What for?" I groaned.

"You wanna get to the next event don't you? Or are you dropping out?" Hirako-taicho asked me.

"Ugh," I grunted. I forced myself to move my arm. I flopped it on the ground a few times before it got in contact with Hirako-taicho's hand. He helped me to my feet.

"Ooh, man you look pale. Guess it's a good thing you get to eat before the next test," Hirako-taicho told me.

I think I need a nap more than I need food, I thought to myself.

"All right everyone get to the mess hall and get something to eat," Hirako-taicho told everyone. He let go of my hand.

I took one step and practically hit the ground again. Hirako-taicho couldn't help, but laugh at the sorry state I was in. Ok, maybe I shouldn't have gloated.

"Man you are really drained," Hirako-taicho chuckled.

"Uh huh," I groaned.

"Want me to help you to a seat?" he asked.

"I'd appreciate it," I moaned.

"All right come here then," He hoisted me up by the neckline and let my feet drag as he walked. "I'm only doing this for ya cause I think you got a fighting chance. I could tell you were really killing yourself out there. Your spiritual pressure was practically gone by the forty minute mark. The fact that you didn't give up shows your determination and here at the Gotei we value people like that."

"Say as long as you're being nice to me," I said, "Mind telling me why that blue haired girl didn't make it? I mean she was really good."

Hirako-taicho sighed before answering, "The whole point of this exercise was for me to get a feel for everyone's spiritual pressure. As a captain I can keep track of multiple weak spiritual pressures. You've got a pretty fair amount for a newcomer, but yours burned out rather quickly. Of course with training that can easily change. That blue haired girl didn't have any. It doesn't take any spiritual pressure for a Zapakuto to be forcefully materialized. We just rip a part of your soul out and turn it into a sword. However, to become a full-fledged Soul Reaper and learn Soul Reaper arts you need to have some spiritual pressure. All of her running was pure physical prowess. No matter how good she is, we can't accept someone like that into the Gotei."

"What's going to happen to her?" I asked.

"Same as all the other rejects," Hirako-taicho answered. I got the feeling that he wasn't going to go into detail.

We reached the mess hall and he plopped me down in a seat. My body, all on its own, slumped forward and my head hit the table. "I'll get food for the both of us. Man, are you out of it."

After a few minutes of being in my seat, exhausted, Hirako-taicho brought me some food. He didn't sit with me. He went to mingle with the administrators. After a few more minutes I picked my head up and ate what he brought me.

I was finished eating and felt reenergized long before the next event was called. I was really hoping it wouldn't be another physical activity.

Hirako-taicho led us to a large, indoor dojo and had those of us that remained sitting up against the door. "Alright everyone let me start by saying congratulations on making it this far. For those of you who now remain we have determined that you do have what it takes to become a Soul Reaper." A bunch of people cheered. "I'm coming around with scraps of special parchment. Depending on the flow of your spiritual energy and level and control of your spiritual pressure, your curriculum level will be determined. If your parchment is red you're a rank one. Rank two is blue and Rank three, the highest rank, is green." Hirako-taicho began passing out the papers. "Don't worry if your paper stays white for a while. The process can take a few minutes for some." He handed me mine and I grasped it.

Nothing seemed to be happening at first, but then I started to see color bleed into the paper. It was so surreal watching the paper change color from my spirit energy. I've never believed in real magic. I always chalked such illusions up to parlor tricks. I knew the explanation behind what I was dealing with, but watching it happen was a sensation I cannot describe in words.

The color was dark, practically black. I was about to call Hirako-taicho over to see what this meant when he opened his mouth to make another announcement. "Oh I forgot to mention. If your paper doesn't turn any of the three colors I mentioned it means your spiritual power is too chaotic for us to teach you how to be a Soul Reaper."

I swallowed and looked at the paper. Change damn you, I looked at it. If I became a liability I had an awful feeling what awaited me. I'd be taken to a small dark room and I'd be eviscerated. My career would be over before it would even begin.

As I panicked I notice the color begin to change. It looked like a dark green, but it changed to navy and then lightened to a light, sky blue. The color changing process was long and slow and it was very unnerving. When Hirako-taicho came to get my scrap of paper he saw the blue color. "Rank two, I suppose that makes sense given your stamina issue." I watched three people led away after the whole ordeal. I sighed and was thankful that I was not with them.

"All right, those of you who remain follow me. We're going to the last part of the exam. Pass this and you'll be allowed to stay at the academy," Hirako-taicho told us. We were led back to the original field we were in when we started the exam. The tables and chairs had been cleared away. In their places there were blocks of stone set up all over the place.

"These blocks of stone are made up of quality stone. It's a special kind of rock only found in deposits around the Soul Society. They have a similar reishi composition to hollows therefore they will react to your Zanpakuto. However, your sword strikes must be precise and controlled. If the stone block does not dissolve into reishi, as a normal hollow would when it's defeated, then you fail and will be asked to leave. This is the test that very little people fail. I'm going to come around and put my hand on your head. When I do you are to get up," Hirako-taicho pointed to a small wooden, overturned orange colored crate, "go over to that crate in whatever manner you choose, select your target and attack it. There is no right or wrong way of doing this, but if you do not manage to dissolve your target in one successful attack, you fail. Before I start picking people though, any volunteers?"

No one volunteered.

"Alright then, let's get started."

I waited patiently for my turn, but at the same time took a careful look around at the potential students that went before me. I took notice that those that rushed to the orange crate made shallow cuts and didn't always succeed. I also took notice that anyone who cut through the center of the stone block succeeded in wiping it out.

I then felt a sudden pressure on my head. It was my turn. I got up and sauntered over to the orange crate. I looked around for a target and honed in on it. I examined it carefully and put my hand on my sword and drew it out. With all the speed I had I sprinted over to the block with my sword held in both hands high over my head. As I neared the stone I angled my strike ninety degrees and then hacked with a horizontal slash. I cut precisely through the center of the block and sliced in completely in half. It dissolved as the top came clean off. I gained my balance. Took a few deep breaths and then put my Zanpakuto away.

"Very good, return to your seat," Shinji told me. I did so without question.

Of the 2130 of us who arrived at the start only 1576 of us remained. Rox-sensei wasn't far off when she said that 80% wound up becoming academy students. All of us who remained were presented with a class roster sheet. Our studies would begin in three days. Until then we had time to do whatever we liked, we just couldn't leave the academy grounds without an escort. We were also given an allowance of 100 kan. Our allowance would be renewed at the beginning of every month. I went to the academy shop and bought some notebooks, writing utensils, and a strongbox. I was also given a few textbooks for my classes, free of charge.

What was left of my allowance, 58 kan, I put in my strong box. I also began going over my textbooks until it got dark out. I was about two chapters into the one on Kido and its uses when there was a knock on my door. It was Hirako-taicho. I couldn't understand what a captain was doing at a student's dormitory.

"Hey Lelouch, what's up?" he asked.

"Hirako-taicho, not to be rude, but don't you have duties you should be taking care of what with your lieutenant gone to bring the rejects to their homes?" I asked.

"What do you think I've been doing ever since I left?" Hirako-taicho looked to the side. "Anyway, I was going over the records of today's recruits with some of the other captains and yours just happen to catch Akari-taicho's eye. If you don't know who she is, she's the 10th Division captain."

"I know who Akari-taicho is," I stated, "What happened?"

"Well I mentioned I met you and you know…there was a lot of talking and well…I'll be blunt. You definitely lack the skills needed to graduate, but what can I say? You've certainly become a popular recruit amongst the captains. In fact, Shihoin-taicho asked if I could come find you. She and the other captains I was with actually want to meet you. It's an opportunity of a lifetime what do you say?"

Recognition? Just because of what's on my written exam? Something didn't sit right with me. "I can't be the only recruit that the captains find interesting. Why am I special? Pardon my disrespect."

"Hey it's cool," Hirako-taicho said, "And to be honest there are a bunch other recruits that have the captains eyes. We still have our eye out for this year's jack-of-all-trades prodigy." He began scratching the back of his neck, "but like I told you earlier, my Vice Captain has a reputation for having a brilliant mind. The fact that you beat him in chess is a feat we have not seen in the academy well…ever."

"So I'm getting recognized because of a unique backstory?" I questioned.

"There are other factors, but I'm not at liberty to speak about those," Hirako-taicho told me. "Like I said, you still have to go through the academy, but you've kind of made your mark already. Anyone who can knock my second down a peg or two is ok in my book. I wouldn't be down here if the other captains weren't interested. It wasn't my idea in the first place, like I said. It's not going to be a wild party or anything. We're just hanging around doing paperwork and going over files. Heck if Unohana-taicho decides to show up maybe you could get your medical examination two days early."

"Right…um…" I wasn't sure if I should accept. I thought about things in my head. It was a golden opportunity. I could leave my mark, put my foot in the door and in six years I'd have the doors open for me.

"You know if you do show up there's a likely chance you could get a seated officers position right out of the academy," Hirako-taicho always seemed to forget the most vital pieces of information on purpose and then add them moments later.

His statement was like music that never sang a sweeter melody to my ears. If I was going to be in the Gotei, I could really only make a difference by being high up. I would help protect the weak. People like Rangiku and Gin, and people like that girl Mindra who didn't have any spiritual pressure at all.

"Lead the way," I told Hirako-taicho.

"Great, the other captains are gonna love meeting you," Hirako-taicho walked out of the doorway and I shut the door and locked it before putting my room key in my pocket.

Yes, this is ok. I don't plan to manipulate anyone. I'll drop…suggestions, I'll be a social person. It's not sucking up to authority. They want to meet me. I rationalized the decision.

"Well here we are," Hirako-taicho said as we stood outside a lounge. He pushed open the door. "You coming in or are you going to stand outside until the sun goes completely down."

I took a deep breath, gathered my wits, and walked inside.

To be continued…

(A/N: Next time, Lelouch meets several captains in person. It's like Hollywood people: if you have connections your chances improve exponentially. The captains have to know who they can recruit eventually. I hope I'm making things believable. I'm really trying my best. If you want to know why I used Shinji to oversee the exam than any of the other not yet Visoreds or Yoruichi or one of the senior captains it's because I like Shinji and I felt he was best suited for the mood I wanted to have this chapter have. Anyway, see you next time)