Never Enough

A/N: This chapter is Yoruichi's point of view (POV). However, the following chapters would be of the 3rd party view. I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter 1

The fight against you was already history.

I did not your question. Yes, I chose not to answer. I was afraid. I was afraid of how you might react.

The last time I saw you was about a week ago. You seemed to disappear completely. Your reiatsu could not be traced at all, not matter how hard I tried.

Why are you hiding?

Well, wait, no. I do actually know the answer. You are just avoiding me.

There was really no other choice. How could I actually leave Kisuke to be framed? I knew that he was innocent. He was a childhood friend, after all. There was simply no other way out, if I did not help him, he would have been sentenced to death, along with Tessai and the other Captains and Vice-Captains then. And they were all innocent.

You asked me why I didn't bring you along with me. Those people coming after us then were all of Captain class, along with the Captain Commander. Kisuke and I hardly made it through, let alone you. Looking at it now, you have become a Captain, with many other Shinigami serving under you. If I had brought you along, things for you might not be the way it is right now.

I saw a couple old friends, as well as many new faces.

Everyone has changed.

I saw Shunsui flirting with his Vice-Captain, a scene so very familiar. Well, only that the Vice-Captain has been replaced by Ise Nanao, and from what I could remember, she was the youngest recruit in the 8th Division. With the pair of glasses, and the books in her arms, she could make a good imitation of Rose.

Kuchiki Byakuya, now a fully grown up man managing the whole of the Kuchiki house as well as the 6th Division, was no longer the Little Byakuya I could tease around anymore. True, I might still beat him in Shunpo, but if we were to spar, there is a great chance that I would lose to him.

Still, those changes were of no match against you.

You had changed so much. Your character, your attitude, every single little thing about you had changed. I had heard so much of you while in the Real World. I hardly believed those rumors. I would never believe that the shy, quiet and humble little girl had turned into a strict, cold and cruel Captain. A Captain that was very much feared by all the Death Gods.

It was until I saw it by myself. I saw your expression when you placed your feet firmly on the 13th Division 3rd seat's chest, with no chance of escaping allowed.

Those steel gray orbs of yours reflected cold hatred. I saw them very clearly when you realized that it was me who interrupted the fight.

Was it because that I had broken the law once that caused you to be so law abiding, with no room for negotiation at all?

I would like to apologize. But where are you? I had been to the 2nd Division for the past few days, but your Lieutenant told me that you had taken the whole week off. It has had been a week. But you are still nowhere in sight.

Now that the Winter War is over, I felt that it was time to settle everything with you. However, you seemed to be avoiding me.

I continued to stroll around, aimlessly. Looking up, I saw the pink sakura petals floating about, together with the wind.

This was the place where I found you training with your Zapakutou after the mission at the Real World dispatching a bunch of Hollows. You were captured by one of the white-faced beast. It wasn't your fault, for it appeared from nowhere. Yet you blamed yourself repeatedly. When I saw you looking distracted during dinner and excusing yourself much earlier than usual, I could not help but to feel worry. I followed you, while masking my reiatsu, of course, for I was sure that you would get away if you sensed me. And then, there you were, blaming yourself repeatedly while training non-stop. That was a nostalgic memory, really. It happened so long ago, yet it seemed like only yesterday when that little incident occurred. Because it's about you, and I would never forget about them.

Right! Why didn't I think of looking for you here? Shunpo-ing right into the forest, I looked around in hopes of finding you.

Excitement quickly turned into disappointment.

There wasn't a single soul in sight.

Walking away dejectedly, I decided to end the search for today, as it was already getting late. And if you really wanted to hide away from me, it would not be a simple task at all to find you.

Maybe I should pay a visit to Sou-Taicho. I did not get the chance to thank him for allowing us to stay here for a while to meet up with our old friends, before returning to the Real World.

I proceeded to the majestic looking 1st Division, and knocked on the Division's door.

"Enter," the low and deep voice of the Captain Commander boomed. I fought against a shudder as I walked in; he was still as mighty and strong as ever.

"Sou-Taicho," I bowed in respect as I addressed him.

"Shihouin Yoruichi. Is anything the matter?" he questioned. True, my visiting seemed out of place, seeing that it has almost been a week after the War.

"I apologize for not visiting earlier. But I would like to thank you, Sou-Taicho, for clearing out our Exile, and allowing us to remain in Soul Society temporarily," I attempted.

He remained silent, and I felt myself getting overpowered by fear, which I am desperately trying to cover up. After all, I am not too sure if he would change his mind suddenly shall I displease him. Shall he chase us out of Seireitei this moment, it would be about a million times harder to look for you.

"Very well. Has your attempts on looking for the 2nd Division Captain successful?" he finally spoke, after a seemingly long period of silence.

What? He actually knew? Does that also mean that he is aware of where she is?

"Soi Fon-Taicho has applied leave for a week. The leave ends today. She had reported back to me shortly before your arrival. If I am not mistaken, she should be at her Division currently," Captain Commander notified me, to which my heart skipped a beat.

She is back?

Hardly able to contain my excitement, I looked up at him eagerly.

"My apologies again. May I request to be excused? I have something to be sorted out with Soi Fon-taicho," I requested, already feeling impatient.

I was given a slight nod by the Sou-Taicho, and I immediately Shunpo-ed out of the Division at an alarming speed without another word. I need to see her right now, without any further delays.

My normally cool and carefree demeanor seemed to have vanished over this whole week. I could no longer mask my feelings about you. In fact, I even searched for you openly, asking any passing Shinigami if they had seen you anywhere.

That is how desperate I currently am now.