DISCLAIMER: I do not own BLEACH or any of its characters
A story rated M for LEMON means Lemon Explicit Lemon.You've Been Warned!
Prologue
He hadn't caught her. She's too fast. Too fast. His shunpo surpassed everyone else his age and most everyone else in the Seireitei, except hers. She was the Goddess of Flash. It was all so effortless for her, and she was laughing at him. His hair was around his shoulders again. She had tormented him non-stop the last two weeks, more so than ever over the years that he had known her. He was still living at the Kuchiki manor, not yet old enough to go the the Spiritual Arts Academy. He would argue that 12 was quite old enough for someone of his caliber. Besides, what did she do in the Onimitsukido, if she had time to bother him? She'd say she made the time to play tag with him and he should be grateful. Deep down he was.
She was his guilty pleasure. He heard how others talked of her wild and unconventional ways, but she was a perfect solider, a decorated captain, that couldn't be denied. Plus she was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen, though he would never, ever admit that to her.
He loved to visit the Shihouin mansion under the guise of practicing kidou with Tsukabishi, Tessai when really every chance he got he'd watch her, out of the corner of his eye, when she was napping, reading and talking or when she was training in the courtyard. And when fate was smiling on him, he would sneak upstairs and watch while she bathed. He was mesmerized by her. Her beautiful brown skin. The full round breasts she loved to hit him with. Her long dark purple hair that looked like silk flowing down her back when it was wet. He had to stop his peeping, when on a couple of occasions Urahara, Kisuke caught him, and joined him in watching her. He was torn with the feeling of running away and wanting to attack Urahara for spying on his Yoruichi. She was his woman, though she didn't know it yet.
He was catching his breath. He knew she was watching him, right now. He'd show her, one day, he'd catch her and she'd fall at his feet because he had taken her crown as the god of flash and she'd beg for him to love her.
"You'll see," he called out, continuing their conversation, of how difficult Yoruichi thought it would be for him to find a wife later in life with his bad temper."When I fall in love, it'll be the most magnificent love ever. One they write books and poems about. And for the woman I choose, my affection, my love will be vast and absolute!"
"Well, I hope she has a strong perseverance." Yoruichi said, appearing beside Byakuya, hitting him in the head with her breasts. "Because your ego is vast and absolute, as well, Bya-ku-ya-bo." She kissed him on the cheek. His skin got hot and flushed. "Tag. You're still it." And she was gone, the faint trail of red from his hair ribbon still in the air for an instant as she left.
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Chapter 1
How does he forget my birthday? Mine, the day after his. Yoruichi thought. His life was filled with his all consuming experiments and theories lately. He was happier than ever, its no wonder he forgot, but still. Heading through the Seireitei towards the Shihouin mansion, she had the next week off; her squad had run back to back missions and the operations were successful. They all deserved time off. She wasn't going to spend hers in the barracks. It was all she could do to tell Soi Fon to take time to herself. I'm going to the Shihouin mansion, my family is Onimitsukido, Soi Fon. That's the safest place I can be.
She arrived at the gates of the mansion. The guards were surprised and pleased to see her.
"Lady Shihouin," She nodded. She had given up ages ago trying to get them to stop being so formal. It was surprising and comforting to be back at the mansion. The place she had once thought of as a prison, and tried to sneak out of time and time again. The beauty of the mansion, the secrets, the power of the Shihouin clan, she really was a reflection of all this. The staff was about its daily duties, happily surprised to see the princess back among them. Wasting no time in taking her haori and setting about making her tea.
"Your father will be so happy to know you're here." Miyuki said, as she walked away carrying her things.
Otou-san. He had been poisoned during a mission, the mission she lost her mother to. It was a horrible poison that had robbed him of everything, his sight, his movement, and his youth. She had found out at age 6, that her privileged, yet restricted life was to become more so since as the only child of Shihouin she was now the head of the clan.
Many of her family members didn't want to be led by a female. And she didn't want to lead. She always wanted to be in the fray, apart of the fight, but not the restrictive responsibilities as leader. She became very rebellious after that, sneaking out of the mansion. Heading to the Rukongai. That's where she had met...
Ironically. Its her evading being caught sneaking in and out of the mansion for all those years that turned many people into her supporters as head of house.
"If she can do this now." They said "Then think how much better she'll be as she grows up." It was all said and done now. No way out.
She hesitated at the shoji door, to her father's room. She loved him but hated seeing him like he was now. She always wanted to keep that image of him. Smiling brightly at her, carrying her on his shoulders. He had big bright golden eyes likes her's, bright blonde hair and his dark brown skin. He was always laughing and spending time with her, praising her and her abilities.
Uneasy, she slid the door open. He was there, as he always was, on his futon, covered to his neck. His blonde hair stark white, his full features sunken, aged far too soon.
"Ahh, Koneko-chan," He said brightly, his voice was the only thing left in tact. "I was wondering if you were ever going to come in."
"Otou-san." She entered, she smiled sheepishly, he was still the best.
"I'm glad you're here."
"I am too." She grabbed his hand, it was frail, weak. Not at all like the spirit that was trapped inside. She kissed him gently on the cheek.
"You've been away too long."
"I'm sorry."
"No, its good. It means you're busy at work. You coming home means you're doing it well." She felt him smiling.
He was a perceptive man. He had had to be as the head of Onimitsukido for over 700 years, so he knew when his daughter was uncomfortable, which was most of the time when she saw him in his current state. So he waited patiently for her to adjust, and just listened. Her being beside him was what was most important.
After a while she opened up. Telling him all she could about past missions or current ones. He was aware that certain things would be omitted due to the nature of their business. She'd tell him the funny things she'd seen or heard. He'd laugh, heartily, relaying some horrible lame joke he'd remembered from his youth. She'd laugh thinking how utterly goofy he truly was inside. They talked for hours, until one of his attendants begged her to leave, so he could eat and rest.
"I'll be here the whole week Otou-san," she said finally leaving. "So I'll come back to talk to you tomorrow after I send Hideaki here to the market out in Rukongai District west 36." She stuck her tongue out at the insistent attendant, as her father laughed and Hideaki scowled, leaving her father's room.
She was a little kid again, running through the halls of the mansion; he was always right behind her. He could match her flash step now but back then she was miles ahead of him. She stopped, letting herself drink in the memories. Then shook them off, so much and yet nothing seemed to have changed.
She went back to her room. Miyuki was quick as ever, the room was open and fresh with clean linens as if she hadn't been away. She went to her balcony and looked out over the grounds. It had been a long day and before she could finish her thought...
"I'm drawing you a bath Yoruichi-sama. It'll be ready in just a few moments."
"Miyuki, you are amazing as always. Thank you."
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Byakuya followed his grandfather and now captain, up the walk into the Shihouin mansion. He wasn't that rash, hot headed boy anymore, he was a man. Lt. of Squad 6 and next head of the Kuchiki clan. He had to hold his composure, for the pride and dignity of his family. He remembered the door being shut in his face by Yoruichi whenever they were playing tag. Her flash step, so fast she was inside and upstairs before the door closed. He couldn't help but smile.
"Brings back memories, ah Byakuya?" His grandfather, always aware of everything, said.
"I don't know what you're speaking of, Taicho," he said, resuming his composure.
"This is a personal call, Byakuya. Right now I'm your grandfather." The maid let them in the home and they went into the study to see master Shihouin's attendant Hideaki.
"He'll be just a moment, Kuchiki-dono." The maid said. "May I get you some tea?"
"Yes, please."
"May I get you anything Lt. Kuchiki," she said addressing Byakuya.
"No, thank you." Byakuya said, walking around the study.
Byakuya knew this home almost as well as his own and began to wander down the familiar corridors. Remembering different incidents, from his not so long ago youth. I wonder if that woman is here. He thought. Of course not.
He had gone all over the mansion's first floor, still waiting for Hideaki to come and speak to them. His memory began taking him down familiar halls hoping to see things he had seen before, now that he was better equipped to deal with them. Moving to the second floor of personal suites and room, Byakuya was transported back to his youth, and his quiet missions to spy on her when she was at her most vulnerable. He looked cautiously behind him, like he had done so many times before. No one was following him or watching and he took a familiar route that took him to Yoruichi's wing. It'll hurt nothing to take a look at old surroundings, he reasoned with himself. He reached the familiar flap that he used to peak through to watch Yoruichi bathe. He had been quiet and undetectable even then and had enjoyed many a evening watching her. He was 12 again, moving the flap and looking through. He took a deep breath, hardly believing he was allowing himself to do this again. His heart pounded wildly as his eyes widened.
"Still watching from behind the wall, Byakuya-bo?" Yoruichi said, as she was exiting the bath. He was looking at her, fully naked glory, body shimmering with water. His body responded immediately. STILL! She said STILL, had she known all that time? He thought. "Or are your hands full?" He had taken more than a moment before he removed his eye from the old hole. His face red. He disappeared from the corridor.
Some 20 minutes after catching Byakuya, Yoruichi arrived downstairs, refreshed and in a bright blue kimono cut for a man, but very form fitting and attractive on her. Hideaki was speaking with Genrei and Byakuya was standing behind him with his head down.
"Ah, Yoruichi-sama, I'm glad you're here. Kuchiki-dono came to invite a person from the Shihouin clan to participate with the Kuchiki clan in the week's Noble house involvement in the Hananbi festival. You're father thought it would be good if you represented Shihouin."
"And who'll be representing Kuchiki?' She asked not taking her eyes off Byakuya,who was avoiding her gaze.
"My grandson, of course." Byakuya looked at Genrei. "That's why I gave you this week off, Byakuya." He said smiling.
"Then I'll be happy to go." Yoruichi grinned , her hands behind her head.
"Good, the first event is tomorrow, Byakuya will be over to pick you up, before hand."
"I can hardly wait. Ah, Byakuya, I like flowers." She said, smiling to Byakuya as he breezed past her. Her hand grazed his as he passed, he felt a shudder of excitement but he didn't let it show. "Kuchinashi are beautiful." Byakuya stopped for a moment. Kuchinashi meant, secret love. He blushed again and stormed out of the mansion. Genrei took his leave apologizing for his grandson's behavior.
Yoruichi smiled and relaxed on the pillows on the floor. This may be a fun week.
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to be continued