Chapter 5: Lelouch and the Captains

(A/N: I'm going full throttle. No idea why, but I like it)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass

Lelouch's pov

I walked into the lounge. Hirako-taicho led me over to a side room. We had a brief wordless argument over who would go in first. He was the captain so it was courtesy that I let him in, but at the same time I was a guest. It took a rising of his spiritual pressure to get me to cooperate.

Inside the side room there was a large round table with several people sitting around it wearing Captain's haoris and a few without.

Going clockwise starting from my left there was a captain with dark skin and short purple hair. She had gold colored eyes and a rather large chest. There was a younger girl sitting next to her, a little farther away from the table, with short, flat raven black hair that came down only as far as her ear lobes. She was notably flat. The only reason I was able to tell she was a girl was because of the way her hair was styled. It would probably be more obvious once she opened her mouth…hopefully.

Well at least not all of women in this place have to have breasts as big as watermelons. With the exception of Rangiku, which was understandable because she looked like a child, practically every woman I had come across had rather large breasts, save this one. Not that it mattered in the slightest. It was just an observation.

To the right of the two women was a man wearing an umbrella hat with a mustache growing in. He was wearing a pink coat around his haori, which seemed odd, but I wasn't about to question a captain's sense of aesthetics. It would seem rude even if my intentions were harmless.

In between him and the other captain in the room was an empty cushion, which I assumed was Hirako-taicho's seat, and closest to my right was a woman with long, dark brown hair, the kind of hue seen on semi-sweet chocolate. Her hair came straight down behind her back. She was wearing make-up, some eye-shadow and red lipstick to be precise, much in contrast to the other two women here and her own chest much rivaled that of the other female captain's. Next to that woman, right behind her like the dark skinned captain's assistant was, was another woman. She was also slightly well-endowed. She dark green hair like that of pine needles. I took note of the split ends she had and that her hair was about half the length of the captain she was sitting next to. She was wearing the same kind of armband Aizen had been, so I could safely assume that she was a Vice Captain.

"Let me introduce you Lelouch," Hirako-taicho put his arm around the backs of my shoulders as he gestured to everyone else in the room. "This is Captain Shihoin Yoruichi of Squad 2," he gestured to the dark skinned captain.

"Hiya." Shihoin-taicho grinned showing her teeth.

My first impression: Between her enthusiastic greeting, bright smile, and folded I can make a pretty accurate guess that Shihoin-taicho to be woman that likes to enjoy herself, rather amiable, and very informal.

"Captain Kyoraku Shunsui of Squad 8." Hirako-taicho gestured to the pink-coated man.

"It's a pleasure." Kyoraku-taicho nodded and tugged on the brim of his umbrella hat slightly.

My first impression: taking into consideration on his rather calm greetings, the nonchalant way he had his haori draped over him, plus the alcohol on his breath I could smell from here, I can gauge that Kyoraku-taicho is very laid back, would rather party than work, but if push came to shove he's not to be trifled with in the least. There's an old saying about how sometimes the maddest cow can be the wisest of the heard. It seems very fitting in this case.

"And this fine woman here is Akari Mari, of Squad 10," he gestured to the brown haired woman.

"Greetings." she replied.

My first impression: based on her articulate greeting, her decision to wear make-up and her stern gaze, I can accurately estimate that Akari-taicho is a woman of high professionalism, shows no external fear and she's seen enough atrocities that her soul has been scarred many times over. Still I can also see that behind her first layer that she shows to newcomers into her life that she can be a rather pleasant person.

"Who are the others then?" I asked, curious.

"Well that lovely lady over there," he gestured to the green haired woman, "Is Homura Yuna, Akari-taicho's Vice Captain."

"Nice to meet you," she said looking over to me.

My first impression: Her quiet and shy demeanor shows that she doesn't like getting involved with others. The fact that she's here shows her dedication and loyalty to her captain. The lack of care in her physical appearance, in comparison to her captain's, shows that she is comfortable walking in her captain's shadow. Her accomplishments become her captain's and she prefers fading into the background. However, her attentive focus and rigid posture show that she is quite capable for her position.

"Ok so who's the other?" I asked Hirako-taicho.

"Don't know. She came here with Yoruichi. I don't know her name." He scratched his head.

Based on his informality with Shihoin-taicho, and also adding my own interactions with Hirako-taicho, I've come to identify him as a man who prefers not to be caught doing the mundane. He'd rather be in the middle of something exciting, unusual or interesting than standing around answering questions or being at today's entrance exam. Still the way he carries himself and how he handled Mindra earlier suggests he may have some anger issues or some pent up stress. The source of which is currently unknown to me. He also seems to prefer speaking casually with those of equal or lesser rank unless it's to introduce someone, which shows that his level of professionalism only extends into actually being in the middle of an assignment.

Shihoin-taicho gestured to the girl next to her. "Soifon, aren't you going to say hello to our guest?"

"Hello," the girl responded rather plainly.

"Is that your full name?" I asked curiously. "Just Soifon? No last name."

"Is there a problem with that recruit?" she asked me. With the way she bit down on the word 'recruit' made me seem like she demanded respect of those beneath her.

My first impression: considering she's not wearing a lieutenant's armband and the fact that Hirako-taicho didn't identify her as Shihoin-taicho's lieutenant I can only assume that she has some form of connection to her captain that extends outside the Gotei 13, possibly into nobility. The fact that she's here show's not only her loyalty to her captain like Homura-fukutaicho, but also whatever bond her and her captain must share.

"So, Soifon…senpai, what's your rank?" I asked.

"I'm not directly in line with the Second Division. I'm Shihoin-taicho's direct subordinate and lead bodyguard." She said proudly.

"Soifon there's no reason to bite off the poor kid's head." Shihoin-taicho said as she took a sip of whatever she was drinking. "Sorry about that Lelouch," she apologized on Soifon's behalf to me, "As you may or may not know I'm the head of the Shihoin Family so naturally the Onmitsukido follows into my squad. Soifon, as a member of the lesser noble family underneath the Shihoin family, the Fons, was assigned to the Onmitsukido in the unit that acts as my personal guard. Still she has the skill to be a seated officer and she's always been very adamant about being at my side."

"Of course, I'm adamant!" Soifon exasperated. What struck as peculiar was the red color accenting her cheeks. "No matter where you go, no matter what you do, someone has to keep an eye on you Yoruichi-sama. I…your family would fall from grace surely if something should befall you."

Shihoin-taicho laughed. "You worry too much Soifon, loosen up. Try to be a bit more like Kisuke. Life's too short to spend it all wound up."

"I will not act like your 3rd seat and I stand by my opinion that it was a mistake to give him such an important position. I only want what's best for you Yoruichi-sama." Soifon exclaimed.

It was easy to see Soifon's extreme devotion to her captain. One might call it obsessive even. Still I couldn't help, but wonder why she was blushing during most of her exclamations. I also heard mention of Kisuke, Shihoin-taicho's 3rd seat. He was probably Urahara Kisuke, the man Hirako-taicho mentioned before that has a rivalry with Aizen-fukutaicho in chess. From what I could gather it sounded like being 3rd seat in the second division was a bigger deal than being the 3rd seat of any other division. It also sounded like this Urahara Kisuke was just as laid back and amiable as Shihoin-taicho. Her bodyguard, Soifon, who I had only called senpai to keep her from chewing off my head since she was demanding respect, seemed to think both her captain and Urahara Kisuke were too laid back.

I started to formulate the possibility that both Shihoin-taicho and Urahara Kisuke might be the kinds of people who cracked jokes even when facing certain death. If they ever found a sword run through their shoulder they'd probably look at it and go 'oh look a flesh wound'.

"Anyway," Hirako-taicho said as he gave a forceful pat against the center of my back where my shoulders and neck met, "Take a seat stay a while Lelouch. I brought you here because of Mari and Yoruichi persistence. The least you can do is have a seat and have a drink or two." He walked over to where his empty cushion was and sat down.

"Take a seat right at the front Lelouch." Shihoin-taicho pat the part of the table equal arc length from her and Akari-taicho.

"Ah, thank you Shihoin-taicho." I took my seat.

"Hey, there's no need to be so informal. I don't mind if you call me by my given name." Shihoin-taicho smiled at me.

"But you're bodyguard…"

"Oh don't mind Soifon, she's just too insecure to address me so informally so she just refers to me as she does," Shihoin-taicho stated.

What she said set Soifon off as if the poor girl never had anyone tease her before. And oddly enough, once again, she was blushing. "I-I am not insecure! I…It would be very disrespectful for someone in my position to address your ladyship so informally. I cannot fathom why you allow others to refer to you as such in the first place."

"Oh Soifon, calm down." Shihoin-taicho reached out and pet Soifon's head. "Don't worry about me so much."

"I think it's nice for anyone to have someone as devoted to their superior as she is to you." I told Shihoin-taicho. She didn't realize how fortunate she was to have such a close-knit relationship with the head of her guard. When you have someone who would do anything for you, you could send them on a suicide mission in your stead and they wouldn't even bat an eyelash. Something told me though that Shihoin-taicho and Soifon's relationship ran deeper than simple professionalism though…or at least that Soifon either did or would like to think so.

"Yes well, I didn't pick her as head of my guard for her mannerisms. I picked her for her skill." Shihoin-taicho responded. "Anyway try it."

"Try what?" I asked.

"Call me by my given name of course. Like I said it's not a problem and you'll probably have to refer to me or ask me something more than once while you're here, plus it's all too likely we'll wind up seeing each other again. You have the mindset to be part of the second division you know. You'd be really good for reconnaissance and strategy. Of course whether or not I could give you a seated officer's position will depend on how you do in the academy. We would be lucky to have you in our squad wouldn't we Soifon?" she asked her bodyguard.

Soifon blushed again. "Y-yes, we'd be very fortunate to have you in our squad."

I tilted my head counterclockwise a bit and looked at Soifon peculiarly. I was starting to figure her out, but what was so strikingly odd was how her devotion to her captain went above and beyond what any normal bodyguard would have to the point where the terms "extreme devotion" and "obsession" would understate how much she was attached to her captain. There was only one logical conclusion, but did that mean that Soifon…and Shihoin-taicho…did she…were they…?

"Ah Lelouch your nose is bleeding, let me get you a handkerchief." Shihoin-taicho got up and walked over to the bookshelf in the room where she scoured through a small box and handed me a silk cloth. "Here." She gave it to me.

"Thank you…Yoruichi." I said and brought the handkerchief to my nose.

"See Soifon it's not so hard and I don't feel insulted in the slightest." Yoruichi said.

Hey, come to think of it, it's not all that awkward for me either. I realized.

I looked at Soifon who was avoiding her superior's gaze entirely now. I couldn't help, but smirk behind the silk cloth in my hands.

There's no doubt about it. I had a hard time stifling a chuckle building up. I wonder if Yoruichi has any idea. This is probably not the best time to bring up such things regardless. I decided to continue the topic of conversation where it was left off. "Yoruichi." I said. Wow this is easy. "What did you mean when you said I had the basic mind set to become a member of the second division?"

"We've all been sitting around here going through the folders of all the newcomers. As captains we make all the calls regarding who goes where and it's never a bad thing to go sifting through folders even though most of you won't be ready to be actual Gotei members for six years. Some people have enough training under their belts to graduate in four or five years." Yoruichi explained.

"If memory serves isn't the record currently two years and four months?" Kyoraku-taicho asked.

"Set by yours truly no less. You can't forget that part." Akari-taicho smiled.

Interested I switched the topic of conversation. "You graduated from the academy in only two years and four months?"

Akari-taicho nodded. "Although I was not of the child variety, I was quite the prodigy during my academy days. I looked mmm," she looked at Soifon, "probably about as young as Soifon."

"Oh yeah, I remember now. How could I forget? I was the captain that oversaw your entrance exam." Yoruichi smiled in reminiscence. "Ah, good times. Personally I always find the second event to be quite the entertainment as everyone starts falling down, bumping into each other or tripping over themselves." She looked directly at me. "No offense Lelouch."

"None taken." I told her. I knew my physical ability was horrible and if I were in her position I'd probably be enjoying myself to.

"Hey I brought Lelouch here so you guys could ask him questions, not the other way around." Hirako-taicho complained.

"Oh lighten up Shinji," Yoruichi told him, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's not every day a student gets to meet four captains at the same time, especially on such friendly terms."

"Isn't that sort of the point?" Shinji asked with a sigh.

"We have his written exam. What else could any of us possibly need to know about the kid except details?" Kyoraku-taicho asked.

"Speaking of details, what was Sosuke's reaction look like when you beat him?" Yoruichi asked. "Was it like this?" She dropped her mouth open, mimicking a look of complete and utter shock.

"No, no it was probably like this." Akari-taicho said and then pretended to mimic someone sputtering incoherently and completely dumbfounded of the situation in front of them. I remained silent and just watched Yoruichi and Akari-taicho go back and forth for a bit as they gave different kinds of interesting reactions as to what Aizen-fukutaicho did when I declared Checkmate.

"You know the whole incident is still perfectly captured in my mind like a portrait." I told both women when the back and forth constant guessing started to get boring.

"Why didn't you say so Lelouch? Go ahead." Yoruichi said to me.

"It's not all that exciting really," I said, "he just glanced between me and the board a couple of times and then nonchalantly tipped the king over. He wasn't very expressive, but I could tell he was really furious."

"And you baited him several turns ago into taking him with you if you won?" Akari-taicho asked me.

"I did indeed." I answered.

"What did Aizen want in exchange?" Yoruichi asked. "You know, in case you lost."

My mood became slightly sullen as I recalled what Aizen-fukutaicho had asked. My face had to look rather serious when I said, "He said he wanted to use a person I was living with and me in an experiment of his. He said something about he couldn't just take people against their will because it would require a bunch of red tape for him to get through. From the sound of it he wasn't getting many volunteers."

Yoruichi chuckled. "Eh maybe your Vice Captain should try to be a bit more friendly like Kisuke, maybe he'd get volunteers easier, eh Shinji?"

"Personally, I think the blame lies with Central Forty Six. Those politicians are too uptight for their own good." He answered.

"Cheers to that." Akari-taicho said holding up her cup.

"What's the Central Forty Six?" I asked. "It was only touched upon briefly in the unrestricted books I picked up out of the library."

"Ah, you'll learn about them in your history class." Yoruichi hand waved. "It'd be unprofessional for us to give you an edge. Given your brilliant mind, if we gave you just a fragment of information you'd unravel the rest of it all on your own. We can't have that. You don't want to become a liability do you?"

I know Yoruichi meant that as a joke given how she was, but hearing that still made me swallow due to how unnerving the implications were.

"Let's not scare the poor kid shall we?" Akari-taicho asked of Yoruichi. She then looked at me, "So Lelouch where do you see yourself in six years?"

To be honest I'd only given things a little bit of thought, but I had formulated a bit of an opinion of where I'd want to end up. "Well, from what I've read I think I'd be best suited for either Squads two, four, five or twelve. Personally speaking though, I'd also like to possibly wind up in divisions nine, thirteen or ten."

"Hey now, don't bite off more than you can chew there Lelouch," Hirako-taicho told me, "Thirteen maybe, but Mari and Kensei will have you in a coma by the end of the first week with the way your stamina runs."

"True enough, my curriculum's pretty strict Lelouch." Akari-taicho hummed as she held up her index finger.

"Hey it's nice the kid sets high standards for himself and that he's thought about things at all having been here less than a day." Yoruichi commented.

"I'm only saying that unless his stamina spikes to equate to at least half his brainpower Mari and Kensei will be his worst nightmare." Hirako-taicho shrugged. Akari-taicho punched him in the arm lightly. "Ow, hey! Cut that out! I get enough abuse from Kirio's little brat of a Vice Captain!"

"By Kirio, are you talking about Hikifune Kirio, the captain of squad 12?" I asked.

"Yeah," Hirako-taicho rubbed his arm, "And her lieutenant is a complete and utter brat. Her name is Sarugaki Hiyori. She's really short, about the size of a child, has blonde hair, with pigtails, and she's got a temper the same size as your brain."

"I…I see…" I said, taken slightly aback.

"I don't know why Kirio made her a Vice Captain," Hirako-taicho said with his eyes closed, "Sure she's got the brawn and skill set for it, but she's a complete utter bitch."

"I hear what you're saying," Akari-taicho was in agreement, "Kirio's one of the sweeter captains in the Gotei and unlike Unohana-senpai she doesn't have anything hiding behind her smile." Everyone else shuddered at this, including Yoruichi and Homura-fukutaicho. It was surprising given how fearless the former seemed to be and how subdued the latter was.

"What's this about Unohana? And do you mean Unohana Retsu? The captain of the fourth division?" I asked. If they did, it struck me as odd that the other captains referred to each other by given names, but treated Unohana Retsu with such respect.

Kyoraku-taicho was the one to respond, "Now that we can tell you. In fact not telling you would be hazardous to your health."

"I…don't like the sound of that." I said.

"You have every right to think like that," Kyoraku-taicho said, "Just don't say that in front of her. Senpai is the second longest running captain in the Gotei 13. The only person to run longer than her is Yama-jii himself. She's five years mine and Jushiro's senior as per the academy. And before you ask, yes I'm referring to Ukitake Jushiro, the captain of Squad 13. To get back to my original point, Senpai is the head of the medical division, Squad 4. She's very soft spoken and some may describe her as motherly. But there's a dark side to her, that none of us would dare to speak about in detail. Let's just say if she smiles and asks you to do something, or agree with her on a point, unless you want to lose an important appendage or organ it's in your best interest if you obey."

Hirako-taicho picked up the 'legend' as it were, "Let's just say if she's mad at you, a more preferable fate would be death by the Head Captain's Bankai."

I've hardly ever felt fear before, but hearing that was more unnerving than Yoruichi's earlier comfort. I turned towards said dark skinned captain for assistance. "Please tell me that's an over exaggeration."

"It's an over exaggeration." She said with a sly smile.

"You don't really mean that do you?" I asked.

"You said to please tell you that. You didn't ask if it was true or not." She answered.

So she likes to play word games, great. And on top of that, note to self if I ever see Unohana-taicho about be on my best behavior.

"Remember what happened to the previous Kenpachi when he tried to stand up to her?" Akari-taicho asked.

"Oof, don't remind me. That was a dark day for the Gotei." Hirako-taicho shuddered.

"Aren't the Kenpachis supposed to be elite warriors to come once a generation though?" I asked.

"They are and the last one, before Kiganjo, was such a hot head that he challenged Unohana-taicho to a duel, questioning her abilities in actual combat since the 4th Division focuses mostly on healing and acts as a support division, while 11th Division is the main combat unit." Hirako-taicho stated.

"What happened?" I asked. I was afraid of the answer. In fact I was pretty frightened of this woman already, she sounded three…no four thousand times worse than Cornelia ever was.

"Let's just say if it wasn't for the fact that Unohana-senpai's a woman she would've inherited the title of Kenpachi," Akari-taicho said.

"Why leave it at that?" Yoruichi asked. "It's a story worth sharing."

"I don't know Yoruichi, I'd like to be able to get some sleep tonight." Kyoraku-taicho laughed nervously.

"Ah c'mon I like telling it." Yoruichi put her hands on her hips and grinned.

"If I've said it once I've said it a million times. You and Kisuke are both crazy." Hirako-taicho told Yoruichi.

"Um…you…you can tell the story Yoruichi-sama." It was amusing how, despite the fact that Soifon was obviously quaking in fear, possibly having heard the story before, she was still supporting her captain's decisions. This only helped further my suspicions about her.

"Why don't we leave it up to Lelouch?" a voice asked. "He's the only one who hasn't heard it."

Most of us turned our heads in Akari-taicho's direction, but it wasn't her who spoke. I had almost forgotten her Vice-Captain was here.

Yoruichi laughed heartily again. "What's the matter Yuna? You're not normally this quiet."

"Oh you know how she gets when she's in unfamiliar company." Akari-taicho defended her.

"Hmm, Yuna I didn't know you were such a shy turtle," Kyoraku-taicho raised up his hat a bit, "You're usually the life of the party."

"Gomene," Homura-fukutaicho apologized. "I'm…only now getting used to our guest's presence."

Yoruichi laughed again. "It's ok Yuna."

"Yes it's ok." Soifon repeated.

"Soifon you don't have to be my echo." Yoruichi told her.

"Ah my apologies Yoruichi-sama." Soifon shied away.

"I…well Lelouch do you want to hear it?" Homura-fukutaicho asked me.

"The more we talk about it the more curious I'm getting." I said. I had a feeling I'd regret saying it though.

Kyoraku-taicho sighed. "Good luck getting to sleep tonight."

"Go ahead Yoruichi." Akari-taicho told her.

"Right. So as one of the lucky observers to the showdown, along with several others, none of which thankfully are in this room; I think only Kisuke and I ever can look back on the incident and not be scarred for life. Those of us who heard about the showdown gathered on Sokyoku Hill to watch the fight. The whole thing was so one-sided that if it wasn't for the fact that some of us were wetting ourselves in sheer terror of Unohana-taicho's abilities we would've been laughing at how utterly trounced the now Ex-juichibantai-taicho was getting. What was really scary though wasn't the fight, but the gruesome finish."

"Wait she killed him?" I was amazed.

"Oh no she left him alive, stitched his whole body back up herself after the fight. If you think her smile is scary, pray you never see her undo her hair and let it flow out behind her. I thought the then current Kenpachi was going to be lucky to keep his post before she did that, but after she did let her hair flow out like that I soon changed my mentality to thinking that he would be lucky to be alive. The poor man was practically useless after she was done with him."

"Didn't she get in trouble with the Central Forty Six?" I asked. It didn't matter to me what their role was. There was no way a power standing higher than the captains would allow the maiming of a captain by another captain like that.

"Oh they called her in and had a good chat with her, but she didn't get in trouble in the slightest. It's like we keep saying. She smiles, you obey. End of discussion." I didn't know what was scarier: Unohana-taicho's reputation, or the fact that Yoruichi wasn't bothered about all of this in the slightest.

"Let's…quit while we're ahead here Yoruichi." Kyoraku-taicho held up his hand. "Senpai has a scary habbit of popping up when we're talking about her."

"Maybe she automatically knows who's talking about her when she sneezes." I said. Yoruichi and Akari-taicho burst out laughing.

"I didn't know you had a sense of humor," Yoruichi cackled.

"Who does?" a calm voice called out. It sounded like it belonged to an woman many years Yoruichi and Akari-taicho's senior.

I looked at Hirako-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho's horror stricken faces and noticed how the whole room had gone silent. I had a feeling Unohana-taicho had to be right behind me.

I turned my head to see a woman with black hair, looped in front of her, going down the middle of her torso. She was wearing a captain's haori and she had gray blue eyes.

"I didn't know we had a student visiting us." The woman said.

"Ah, Unohana-taicho, he's…" Yoruichi picked up a folder lying on the table and handed it to her. "This is his folder." She handed the woman, who I now could confirm as Captain Unohana Retsu, a manila folder with my name written on one side of it.

"I surveyed today's entrance exam and when Mari here got a hold of our guest's folder she wanted to meet him. Yoruichi thought the same thing after she saw it. So they persuaded me to bring him here." Hirako-taicho stated.

Yoruichi seemed to get worried as she watched Unohana-taicho scan through my exam so slowly. "Ah look at question 37."

"Question thirty…" she flipped to the appropriate page and looked it over. "Ah…yes I can see why that would spark some interest. Still, bringing a student outside the academy grounds for something that can only be described as a social gathering is rather unusual."

"Please don't be mad senpai." Kyoraku-taicho was practically begging.

"Why would I be mad?" she asked. "All I said was that this was a highly unusual occurrence."

"Ah…right…ahaha." Kyoraku-taicho laughed nervously.

"Lamperouge-san." Unohana-taicho called to me formally.

Hearing myself referred to so informally was a little peculiar. Everyone I knew either called me by my name…or Zero. Then again I only ever was around family, friends, or the Black Knights. Then again even my teachers called me by my name.

"Um, if it's all right with you," I said getting up, turning around and bowing to Unohana-taicho, "I would prefer being referred to by my given name. There is no need for a captain of your caliber to waste honorifics with me."

"Honorifics are not a waste. It is a sign of respect or unfamiliarity." Unohana-taicho stated. "But if you prefer me to call me by your given name Lelouch than I shall do so. Now shall we go?"

"Go? Go where?" I asked.

"The other captains seemed to have lost track of time and it's almost curfew for students. It wouldn't look good on your record if you weren't escorted back." she told me.

"Unohana-senpai," Akari-taicho got to her feet, "I was the one who formally requested Lelouch's presence. It would only be fair for me to…"

Unohana cut Akari-taicho off, "I shall escort Lelouch back to his dorm, hai Mari-san?" She smiled at her and what Kyoraku and Hirako-taicho said about her smiling proved to be no exaggeration. She was smiling so sweetly, like an innocent school girl or a kind mother, and although her tone of voice suggested otherwise it was apparent that going against her authority could turn you into nothing, but a mere memory.

This was further evidenced by the fact that Akari-taicho sat down almost immediately and said, "H-hai…s-sumimasen."

Unohana-taicho looked at me, "Shall we go Lelouch?"

"H-hai, Unohana-taicho." I followed after her.

"Been nice knowing you Lelouch." Hirako-taicho said, which did not make me feel any better about the situation. What did though was when I heard him get punched in the arm, most likely by Akari-taicho, which meant he had only said that to make me feel like I was walking to the end of my afterlife.

"I can take you to the academy grounds, ok?" Unohana-taicho asked me.

"Hai, that's fine," I responded, "I can get to my dorm room on my own."

The walk between us was rather wordless. The stars and the moon were already shining in the sky.

Only when I could tell that we were almost to the point that the academy would be in sight was the silence broken by Unohana-taicho. "So how do you like the Seireitai Lelouch?" She asked me.

"I've only been here two days including today, but I do not dislike it. I don't know what you read out of my profile or if it's listed, but stamina isn't my strong suit, so I'm hoping I can improve that by being here." I told her.

"Yes it's written in your report in Hirako-taicho's handwriting that you were 'panting like a dog in summer time, so drained of energy you were like a defective mannequin'." She told me.

"That's not inaccurate." I sighed in shame.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of." She stated. "Hirako-taicho also wrote that it was admirable that you pushed yourself to keep going despite the fact that your spirit energy was almost completely drained after the half-way point. He said many students had quit, but you pushed yourself to at least remain in motion despite the fact that you couldn't run." She paused before adding, "That says a lot about you as a person Lelouch."

"What does it say exactly?" I asked.

"It shows that you have an iron will and fierce determination. Very few Soul Reapers start off with such a quality. A lot of newcomers are easily discouraged and impulsive. I did not get to read you entire profile, but what I read shows that you have remarkable potential Lelouch. If you overcome your limited stamina and build upon your assets you will make a fine addition to the Gotei. Who knows one day you might even become a captain should the opportunity present itself." Unohana-taicho told me.

"That's very high praise coming from a woman in your position, thank you." I told her.

"What do you mean by 'a woman in my position'?" she asked.

"Uh…" I have to make something up. There are 313 responses, most of which could end with me losing an organ or suffering severe bleeding…I got it! "You know…you're the second longest running captain in the Gotei. You must have high quality judgment to determine who would be an asset and who is simply wasting their time."

She smiled, but not with her eyes closed. "I suppose your right about that." After a few more steps she and I arrived at the academy gates. She opened the door for me. "If any of the administrators question you tell them you were with me." She told me.

"I'll be sure to do that." I smiled to her. Even if that weren't the case I might've said that. In fact everyone seems to be so afraid of her in this organization, not that I don't blame them, that that might make for a useful excuse every now and then.

"Good night Lelouch, may you succeed in reaching your goals." Unohana gave a shallow bow to me.

I bowed low to show my respect. "Thank you very much Unohana-taicho."

"There is no need to thank me," she said with a non-closed eye smile, "Now run along."

I nodded and headed back to my room. I arrived and looked at the clock on the wall. It was a little after 9pm. I took off my sandals and socks and slid by Zanpakuto under my bed, but within easy reach like I had the night before. It's not that I didn't think this place was safe, but in such a wide area anything could happen really. Not to mention the fact that although I had made my mark in amongst members of the Gotei it wasn't enough that they could come running to my aid on a moment's notice. I'm not oblivious to the fact that I look rather appetizing to anyone with an anger management issue or to someone with the same interests as a catholic priest so the safest place for my sword was under my bed within easy reach to fend off unwanted company. I didn't know enough about the Gotei to cast doubt on such possibilities and even then I would leave nothing to chance. There's at least one bad apple in every batch as the saying goes.

I pushed down on the mattress with my palm before pivoting my body and sitting down on the bed then I lay down on my side, facing away from the door and pulled up the blanket up to my shoulder, closed my eyes and went to sleep.

(A/N: And thus ends Lelouch's first experience with Gotei higher ups. I will say this for those of you still confused. In the Pendulum arc the 10th Division had no captain and Urahara was made 12th Division's captain. Right now the 10th Division has a captain and Hikifune is still in charge of the 12th Division. That should give you some hint as to how far back we are. But at any rate this isn't about the Gotei this is about Lelouch and with regards to Lelouch I ask you all: how do you think he'll fare at the academy? Will he become fighter? Or will his stamina still be shot when he graduates and he'll have to rely on intelligence, tactics and Kido? Whatever the case may be you'll just have to wait for the next exciting chapter of Soul Chess!)