31st December/1st January

Urahara had been everywhere in their new home, from the basement, the storage room, their bedrooms, and even to the rooftop, where Yoruichi would usually be at nights. This night appeared to be unusual. It should be, considering the day the next day was. But Yoruichi wasn't there, and for now he had no idea where to look.

So Urahara sat down, spinning his newly-bought hat (Yoruichi had said that together with the sandals, it completed his image of idiocy) with one finger, and tried to think like a cat with Yoruichi's mind. Almost instantly, he put the hat back on and snapped his fingers together.

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Normally, no cat had ever set its paws on the top of Karakura's highest building. No cat had ever managed to climb a 10-storey building, and only to sit on the edge, staringinto the sky for hours. This black cat could, however. And so could the weirdly dressed blonde man dangling from the tip of his cane, its hilt hooked around the railing. He was extremely calm with his daring actions, and his concern seemed to be how to keep his hat on his head all of the time. The cat paid him no attention. The people around them didn't either, they were directing their attention to the fireworks show that was in preparation.

"Why, Yoruichi-san, what are you doing here?" He finally asked, still dangling on the same spot. "And as a cat?"

The cat didn't answer, nor did she change her expression. Urahara sighed, and finally pulled himself up. He settled on sitting beside Yoruichi. From here, he studied her with great interest.

"Does the princess miss her home?" He said teasingly. He knew she did, because even he did. Yoruichi had always denied it in a fashion that it was worth the whacks he'd had later on to ask her times and times.

This time, the cat only sighed and looked down instead of retorting. Urahara sweatdropped. Perhaps he really had been talking to a stray cat...A stray cat that could grin widely in a sudden, it seems. He even yelped when that happened.

"Ha! Never thought you'd fall for that! So you finally decided to seek me out? Here I thought the birthday boy was still enjoying his first birthday on mortal world."

Urahara slapped his forehead. Indeed he was fooled, for a second there he thought she was sulking. "Well, Yoruichi-san, the thirty-first of December is never as important as the first of January!"

"Yes it is, Kisuke, It's the end of the year."

"Might be, but it's the beginning of the year they celebrate with fireworks!"

Yoruichi rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, they celebrate the second those two days merge anyways."

"Not really. It's the first second of that new year that they celebrate."

"Oh, cut the crap."

They resumed sitting and watching the commotion down on the road, where people were marching for New Year's events. Urahara nearly forgot he was sitting with someone when the voice said, "If you must know, I do miss it."

Urahara turned his head so fast he cricked his neck. Did Yoruichi just admit that she missed her old life without any understatement, or worse, whacks?

"Really, you should have known that. I miss nearly everything of it...nearly. At least here I won't have to worry about your new inventions."

Urahara made a mental note to tell her about the very-heavily-sealed package in their storeroom later. Yoruichi must have developed some kind of telepathy, for she shot, "You haven't created anything weird, have you?"

"Oh, look, it's starting!"

And indeed, the people gathering were already counting down to one, following the ticking clock tower.

3...2...1...

At the same time as they shouted 'zero', the fireworks set off, coloring the black sky.

"Happy birthday, Yoruichi-san!" With that, Urahara slapped Yoruichi down from her position, falling freely from some heights. Yoruichi cried in surprise, before remembering that she could stop in mid-air. So she did, and turning her head upwards to glare at Urahara. She would really enjoy chasing him around Karakura.

Later on, Yoruichi would find out that chasing him all day, along with the watch she got the night when they had to crawl back to their home, was meant to be her birthday present.