章 2: Chapter 2: Lelouch the Chess Champ
(A/N: Ugh, my fingers hurt after playing Marvel Vs Capcom 3 so much. I got it as a result of getting good grades. Well anyway, here we go).
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Code Geass
Lelouch's pov
The next morning I decided I'd devote most of the day learning about this new power I developed. The power I had to sense spiritual pressure.
When I got up there was a note hanging on the wall. It was addressed to me and it was from Gin, although it was more of a threat than a whereabouts note. It read: Dear Lelouch, I appreciate ya helpin Ran-chan, but if I see you two getting cuddly again there will be consequences. –Gin. I sighed and just pocketed the note.
I went outside. I still had a lot of unanswered questions for myself, like my wardrobe change and how…rustic the Soul Society was. I figured with all the advanced technology and dead soldiers of Britannia, even some of my own Black Knights there would be some form of scientific advancement, but everything was all woodsy and relatively peaceful. I wondered if perhaps there was some reasonable explanation for all of this, but I decided there was no point in worrying about it. My past was behind me. If I saw any familiar faces I would pretend like I didn't know them. It would be hard enough leaving Rangiku and Gin when the Soul Reaper patrol came through. Rangiku seemed like she needed some form of moral support, and Gin needed a role model of some sort. Unfortunately that's not the kind of person I could be for them.
I sat down on the ground and meditated using the position Buddhist Monks would take. I let out slowed, controlled breath and focused my mind. There was a flash of color. My eyes were still closed, but I seemed to be able to see another world entirely with them closed. I could see what I guessed were souls with spiritual energy. They looked like little blue and white fireballs. The closest one was within a few decameters of me. That was obviously Rangiku. As I continued to focus I could sense other spiritually empowered entities throughout the market place. They were relatively weak. In fact most of them were weaker than Rangiku.
I focused on two spiritual pressures: one randomly weak one and Rangiku's. I noticed that there were several differences between the two souls besides just distance from me and size. If I honed in on Rangiku her soul would flash a bright reddish pink. It was impossible for me to identify the other soul. It was too weak and too far away. I opened my eyes and I lost sight of the "soul world". I decided I'd try a little experiment. If I could concentrate and hone in on Rangiku then maybe I could use her as a homing beacon of sorts. I went inside the house. Rangiku was still asleep. I got out a piece of paper and wrote: Went out to test an experiment, don't leave the house. Thanks, Lelouch. It was imperative that Rangiku stayed put. I was going to go out into the Soul Society and get myself incredibly lost. Then I would follow Rangiku's spiritual pressure back to the house to see if it was possible to identify and hone in on a particular soul.
I walked slowly and tried to avoid going off the pathways. Eventually I found myself in the center of town. I stood still and concentrated. The world of souls opened to me again. I concentrated and searched for that Reddish Pink aura I had identified with Rangiku earlier. After a few minutes I noticed it. It was faint, but I located the reddish pink soul I had associated with being Rangiku's. I turned my body in the direction I detected the soul and opened my eyes. I was facing towards the left end of the markets. I proceeded in that direction, passing by the townsfolk and making my way back towards where I detected Rangiku's soul.
When I got back to the forest I focused and tried to detect Rangiku again. I located the same reddish pink soul at 45 degrees to my left. I opened my eyes and went in that direction, passing by trees and eventually came to a clearing. I looked off in the distance and just barely made out Rangiku and Gin's house. I took a good look around the area and committed it to photographic memory. I then focused on Rangiku's soul and, with my eyes closed, walked all the way back to the house. I side stepped the lake. I made sure not to lose my footing when I passed over that dip in the plateau and made sure to take into account the fallen tree trunk that lay at the base of the house's grounds. I put my hand out, eyes still closed and touched the front of the house. I believed myself to be equidistant from the front window and the door. I opened my eyes and I was right.
I smirked, Piece of cake.
I heard footsteps and Rangiku came outside the house. "Oh Lelouch you're back," she held up my message. "I got your note. I didn't leave the house, like a good girl," she curtsied.
I smiled at her, "That's right you did. Thank you Rangiku," I bent down and pat her head. Kids her age needed a morale boost like that when they do the right thing and call attention to it, so I've read. "So how long have you been up for?" I asked Rangiku as I walked inside.
"Not long," she answered. I opened one of the crates and took out an apple. "You didn't see Gin on your walk did you?" she asked.
I shook my head and went outside to the nearby pond and washed off the apple. I bit into it. After I swallowed I said, "Say Rangiku, what do you know about Soul Reapers?"
"Not much other than what I told you yesterday," Rangiku answered. "Was there something specific you wanted to know?" she asked.
"You said the Gotei was a military organization," I said tossing the apple up and down in my hand, "Do new recruits undergo training?"
"Sorry, I don't know much about Soul Reapers. Gin knows more than I do. You can ask him when he comes home," Rangiku told me.
"All right then," I said catching the apple and taking out another huge bite. I set the apple to float in the pond andI tossed my jacket aside and put myself in a push-up position on the flat ground.
"What are you doing?" Rangiku asked me.
"Exercise," I responded, holding my position. "Until I learn more information about the qualifications to become a Soul Reaper I'm going to treat it like regular military training and to do that I'll need to get in shape. My stamina and physical abilities are limited. If it wasn't for the fact that I was taking that walk at entirely my own pace I would've been exhausted by the time I reached the front door."
"Can I watch?" Rangiku asked me.
"If you want to," I said. Rangiku sat down on the ground and watched me. I still hadn't moved from my idle position. Come on, it's only push-ups, I stared at the ground. I can do this. I pushed down low to the ground and with tremendous effort pushed up. Every muscle in my body was screaming in agony. Exercise and physical ability was totally not my forte, but I wasn't going to quit. If Suzaku could become a hardened soldier so could I…granted Suzaku was already an Exercise nut from the first time I met him, but…this is something I had to do. I did another push up. It was destructive on my body. I pushed back down on the ground and just collapsed, panting. These things were exhausting.
I chuckled to myself. If C.C could see me now she'd probably think I'm incredibly pathetic. She'd call me a fool for trying and that I'm acting out of character. Somehow…just thinking of that immortal witch's response to my actions drove me to keep going. I pushed up with vigor. It hurt, but as I'd heard Suzaku tell me before "no pain, no gain". I pushed down and pushed back up again. I repeated this process until I had done ten of these exhausting things, including the first two I did. I collapsed on the ground, panting louder than before.
"Ha, ha, ya look like a dog with heat stroke Lamperouge-san," I heard Gin's voice.
"Oh, hello Gin," I looked at him with an antagonistic smile as I lifted my head so that my chin rested on the ground.
"Tryin ta get in shape to become a Soul Reaper eh?" Gin asked me.
"Ain't that obvious?" I asked.
Gin's constant smile widened, "Well I don't know what yer doin, but ya ain't never gonna be a Soul Reaper doin dat?"
"Then what do you suggest?" I asked him with a serious look.
"Well from what I know Soul Reaper folk focus on a few areas of combat, plus intellectual stuff. The fightin is broken up inta speed, hand-to-hand, magic spells or Kido as dey call it and practice with yer cool sword ya get called yer Zanpakuto," Gin answered.
I rolled over onto my back and looked at Gin upside down, "Zanpakuto?"
"It's a special weapon dat Soul Reapers get dat you can communicate with. It becomes yer weapon and it's a part of you. Before you even think about becommin a Soul Reaper ya got to have da spiritual pressure to manifest a Zanpakuto."
"So they're empathetic weapons of a sort?" I asked inquisitively.
"I guess you could think of dem like dat. I really don't know much about dem since I ain't a Soul Reaper myself, but I keep an ear low to de ground is all," Gin answered. He then walked out of my vision range. I turned my head and he handed something to Rangiku.
"Oooh, pretty," she said. Gin had handed her a bright silver stone.
I finally found the strength to sit up and did so. "Say Lamperouge-san how bout another game a chess?"
"Huh? Sure, but why?" I asked him.
"Da buzz round the market place is dat dere's another chess tourney comin up. You are goin ta compete aren't ya?" Gin asked me.
"Of course I will," I said rising to my feet and wiping the dirt off my hands. I walked over to where I had thrown my coat and put it back on.
Gin and I sat in front of the chessboard. I was black, he was white. Playing against Gin was a challenge. He was rather good at the game, better than Clovis anyway, but he wasn't nearly as skilled as Schneizel.
I took one of his pawns with my knight. He responded by taking it with his bishop. I then moved my rook that had been behind my just taken knight only a turn before to the opposite end of the board. "Check."
Gin took my rook with his rook. I then took that rook with my queen which had been behind the just taken rook. "Checkmate."
Although Gin could move his king out of the row my queen was in the only spot it could move put it in moving distance of one of my bishops.
"Wow you're good Lelouch!" Rangiku clapped.
"Another round," Gin said, the smile having faded from his face. Gin and I played a couple more games until the sun was at its peak in the sky. He lost every one of them. After the last one he stood up and stretched. "Hah, I just can't beat ya Lamperouge-san." His smile was back in full swing. "What's say we head for de marketplace? That tournament I mentioned earlier is today after all."
"All right," I said and got up. As I walked alongside Gin and Rangiku I decided to try and identify Gin's soul in case the time ever came that I needed to track him down. As I concentrated though, I felt tension on my coat tail. Rangiku was grabbing onto it. She was panting. And this is why I need to be a Soul Reaper.
"Ran-chan you ok?" Gin asked her.
"I-I'm fine i-it's Lelouch-kun's spiritual pressure again," she gasped.
"Sorry," I said. I then noticed Gin wasn't having any trouble. "How come you're not panting?" I asked.
"I got enough spiritual pressure dat I'm not affected by yours," he smiled. I decided not to try and hone in on Gin's spiritual pressure for the moment. It seemed my concentration caused me to expel my own spiritual pressure which affected Rangiku. I decided that the next time she and I were left alone that I would help her get used to my spiritual pressure so that we wouldn't have incidents like this. If I could practice controlling the energy I expelled then I could be ahead of the rest of the curve when I became a Soul Reaper.
Rangiku had me give her a piggyback ride the rest of the way to the market square. It wasn't any worse than when I used to carry Nunnally around when she couldn't walk. I was sweating by the time Gin, Rangiku and I reached the market square, but I'd have to get used to feelings like that. I removed my jacket and tied it around my waist to reduce the heat circulating through my body. Gin waved me over to the booth where people were signing up for the tournament. The man behind the counter was tan with a beard and was wearing green rags with a bandana tied around his head. "Ah Ichimaru-san I see you are here to compete again. And hmm…I haven't seen you around before," he looked at me.
"He's new," Gin said.
"Well we're always eager to receive new challengers. Name please," the man requested.
"Lamperouge Lelouch," I had taken notice of the culture around here in my brief time here. It was extensively eastern in style and both Gin and Rangiku used honorifics to refer to me so I figured giving my last name first was the intelligent decision.
My train of thought was broken when Gin pulled on my pant leg and said, "Off to the right about 60 degrees, near the opposite markets."
I looked where he asked me and saw a group of Shinigami. They were talking with some citizens. I didn't even need to close my eyes to feel the blinding power coming from the one in the center. He had brown hair and glasses. "Is that the guy who beat you?" I asked Gin.
"Yeah that's him," Gin dropped his accent. "If I can't beat him, you have to ok?"
"I'll try," I said, "I may not be the best soldier material, but I can damn well be a formidable chess opponent."
The group of Shinigami walked towards and I sidestepped to let the brown haired man sign his name. the companion on his left was a man with shoulder length black hair and the companion on his right a short, fat guy with a bald head, but a arms that look like they could pull tires right off a car. His eyes, nose and mouth looked rather small on his big head.
The man who beat Gin turned to look at me. "I don't believe I've seen you around these parts," he said to me, adjusting his glasses.
"This is my second day in Soul Society," I responded.
"That's some interesting attire you're wearing," he said with a small smile.
"Is that how you introduce yourself to someone," I folded my arms, "by mocking their apparel?"
"I wasn't mocking. It's just…very unique. What's your name?" the man asked.
"Normally it's polite to give your name first," I responded.
"Ah too true," the man stated politely, "I am Aizen Sosuke. And you are?"
"Lamperouge Lelouch," I responded.
"Pleased to meet you Lamperouge-san," Aizen extended his hand to me. "If you're good I look forward to possibly playing against you."
"Same to you," I said shaking his hand, "I heard you beat my friend here last time and I beat him so I'm wondering just how much of a challenge you're going to be."
"I beat a lot of opponents last time, who are you referring to?" Aizen said to me as our hands released.
"Behind you," I pointed to Gin.
Aizen turned around. "Ah yes, you, the young prodigy," Aizen seemed to recognize Gin. "You put up quite the fight last time."
"Dis ain't gonna be a repeat performance a last year Aizen-fukutaicho. This year," Gin held his thumb upside down, "Yer goin down, either by me or by Lampergoue-san."
"We'll see about that," Aizen said and walked away.
Fukutaicho. That's the Japanese honorific for vice-captain. Why did Gin…? I looked at Aizen as he walked away and took notice of an armband on his left upper arm. I see, so he's a member of high authority in the Gotei. Maybe if I beat him, he could be my ticket into the Soul Reapers. It's worth a shot.
The tournament was a 64-entrant tier-elimination. Aizen, Gin and I were placed far away from each other on the board, but Aizen and Gin would face off against each other first. If I got all the way to the finals I would play winner.
My first match in the tournament was against a guy who was clearly an amateur. The match was over in less than three minutes. After he was beaten I held up my hand snapped my fingers and said "Next."
My second and third opponents didn't fare much better against me. They lasted a bit longer, but I had them at checkmate somewhere in between 5 and 7 minutes.
My fourth match provided me with a bit of challenge and then we were at the Semi-finals. I had finished warming up by this point and after a 10 minute game I was done. I then went to where Aizen and Gin were playing, since I knew I would play winner. I watched the board carefully. The rules specifically stated no outside help or suffer disqualification, but there was nothing to help. After two turns and careful analysis of the match from the point I started my observation I already could see how the rest of the game was going to go.
Aizen would move his queen and Check Gin's King. Gin would take out his queen with his pawn to which Aizen would move his knight to check Gin's King again to which Gin would take Aizen's Knight with his King. Aizen would move his last remaining pawn and take back his queen. Gin would check Aizen's King with his rook. Aizen would take the rook with his bishop, putting it at an exact spot to check Gin's King and ultimately cause checkmate by Gin's Queen, Rook and Bishop.
I watched things unfold precisely as I predicted them. If Aizen was this easy to read the match wouldn't be too hard. It would be challenging, but I'd still win.
I sat down at the chess table. "So, you and me, just as desired," I said cracking my knuckles and resetting the board. "How did your previous matches go?"
"With the exception of Gin they were all just amateurs. How about you?" Aizen asked.
"No one's really been able to hold my attention all that well. Now shall we play?"
I was black so Aizen went first. I moved the pawn in front of my king on my first turn and moved my king on the second.
"Interesting choice, Lamperouge-san," Aizen told me.
"I'll tell you what I tell everyone else. If the King does not move into battle his men won't follow," I told him.
"An interesting philosophy, but philosophy does not win chess," he returned.
"Are we taunting each other or are we playing a game?" I asked.
The match continued as I carefully calculated every move I made and tried to read anything I could off of Aizen. The only reason I knew how he would beat Gin was because I knew how Gin played and his moves were exactly what I would've done. Aizen was on my level. His tactics were different than mine, but he was definitely a skilled chess master. Still I played against someone who could quite literally read my mind. Compared to that, this was child's play.
I moved my pawn in front of Aizen's Rook at the end of the board. He took it and I placed my bishop behind it. Aizen saw my queen ready to take his rook if he decided to take my bishop and instead moved the knight next to my bishop.
I moved one of my knights to take one of Aizen's pawns, which he then took with an adjacent pawn. I backed up into the pawn with my queen and nabbed it. Aizen stared at me momentarily before moving his king one space to my left.
I took a good look at the board and smirked. "Say Aizen, what's say we raise the stakes on this game?"
"What are you betting?" he asked.
"If I win I want you to take me with you back to wherever it is the Soul Reapers reside and have me enrolled in training," I declared.
"I thought you might ask me at some point," Aizen foled one hand over his other. "You knew I'd turn down your request if you asked plainly out of the blue so you're judgment of my character as a man of my word led you to gamble such a proposition on the outcome of the game. Very well Lelouch Lamperouge I accept your terms. However, what do I get if I win?"
"What do you want?" I asked. "I'm not a man without honor either Aizen."
"Very well then," Aizen said, "If I win…" he glanced around I followed his eyes. They landed upon Rangiku. "You came here with that girl did you not?"
"What do you want with Rangiku?" I asked.
"If I win I would like you and her to meet me in the nearby forest. I'm working on an experiment and you two are just the souls I need to further it," Aizen stated.
"How is that an equal proposition? Surely you can find specimens anywhere. What makes us so special?" I asked.
"Experimentation on Rukongai citizens gets a little iffy with the red tape I get saddled with. You and that child are high quality specimens for my research. I would like to gain your consent if I win this match," Aizen answered.
A hand was suddenly placed on my shoulder and Gin whispered into my ear, "Lamperouge-san, if ya accept this and lose, I'll castrate ya in yer sleep. Just a fair warning."
"I don't plan to lose so don't worry about it," I said with a dark expression, staring straight at Aizen. The stakes have risen the game is set. I'm going to win.
"I believe it was your turn before this interesting conversation started," Aizen reminded me.
"I'm aware," I said with a friendly tone. At the same time I was discussing things with Aizen I had been given time to carefully analyze the board. I had properly recognized the situation I was in and acted accordingly. I moved my king one square to my right. Aizen checked it. I took his bishop with my knight, knowing that he would take it with his queen and put my king back in check. I blocked with my other bishop. Aizen moved his queen away from my king. I then moved my queen up so that it was in line with his king and my bishop at the end of the board. "Check"
Aizen put his queen in front of his king. I moved my rook so that it was in line with my queen and Aizen's queen and king. This would be the point of the game that I would understand Aizen's true nature as I have with many other players. Aizen had two options right now. He could move his king to either side of my queen and rook, prolonging the game, but allowing me to claim his queen. He could take my queen with his queen which I would take my rook, put his king in check, forcing him to move it now only to bring my other rook across the board and check him again to which Aizen's options would soon be limited and I would win. Or he could do nothing about the situation and move one of his last remaining pawns. No matter what Aizen did the match was mine.
He responded by committing to double queen sacrifice. I took his queen with my rook. He moved I checked. He moved his king forward and to my right. I brought my rook in line with my pawn next to Aizen's King and then Aizen moved his king above my pawn. I brought my other rook to be in line with Aizen's King. Aizen moved his king to the other side of my pawn. I moved my pawn and took back my queen. "Checkmate."
Aizen had no moves. He couldn't take my queen that option was made impossible by my rook. His only other option that would've been open to him was blocked by my bishop that had been sitting in the corner for several turns. Aizen looked at the board then back at me, and then back at the board and then back at me. He sighed, put his finger on his king and tipped it over.
"The winner of the Chess tournament is Lamperouge Lelouch!" the host announced.
I was given a trophy and a medal and Aizen got a plaque similar to the one Gin had shown me yesterday. After all the applause and congratulations…rather after I was finally allowed to be alone, Aizen approached me. "That was a marvelous game you played Lamperouge-san," Aizen said to me. "That's the first time I've ever lost at chess. Well played."
"Thank you, now about our deal."
"I haven't forgotten and I am a man of my word Lamperouge-san. You may accompany my squadron and I back to the Seireitai," Aizen told me.
"Thank you," I bowed low. I was in the presence of a high ranking military officer so I felt the need to show respect.
"Lelouch-kuuuuun!" Rangiku ran up to me. "Lelouch-kun are you really leaving?" Rangiku asked me.
I nodded, "My place is with the Soul Reapers."
"No! Stay one more night! Please!" Rangiku pleaded.
I bent down and pat her head, "Sorry, but destiny calls and I'm not asking it to leave a message." I took the medal off my neck and gave Rangiku the trophy. "Here," I told her, "I have no use for trinkets and gimmicks sell this at a pawn shop so you and Gin don't have to eat fruit washed in a nearby pond." Rangiku set the trophy down. "Th-then I'm going to train."
"Train?" I questioned.
Rangiku nodded. "I'm going to grow big and strong and I'll show up at the academy to join you someday." Rangiku seemed all fired up.
I smiled at her, "You do that. Who knows maybe we'll run into each other again." I untied my jacket from around my waist and put it on. I pulled on the front to fit it better. "Aizen, let's go."
He, his followers, and I walked off into the sunset. Our destination: the Soul Reaper academy.
To be continued…
(A/N: Lelouch beats Aizen at chess and is making his way towards the Seireitai. Lelouch and Aizen are friendly for now, but will this good standing with each other last? And what of Rangiku and Gin? Will they be all right now that Lelouch has decided to move on from them? Only time will tell. And you can easily find out how Lelouch's adventure will continue in the next chapter of Soul Chess!)
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