Chapter 2
They found the lab easier than he'd thought they would, but with Yoruichi in her panther form it was really hard for the hollows nearby to suspect she didn't belong here without seeing her; having a soul reaper at her side just convinced them that she was having lunch. He admired her sleek black coat and her expressive golden eyes when she glanced back at him and he smiled when she lifted her upper lip in a silent snarl
"Stop ogling me, pervert," she jabbed and he lightly patted her hip
"You're beautiful, but I much prefer to flirt with your other form," he teased back and she rolled her eyes as she padded ahead and looked around at the empty test tubes, some of which still had blood samples in them he noted, but his real interest was the computer along the back wall. He wandered to it as Yoruichi changed back to her human form and started going through papers, and once he turned it on and cracked the security system he got a pair of headphones he'd brought with him and plugged them in. Yoruichi had swore in more ways than one that she wasn't going to lose it if she heard something she didn't like but Urahara refused to subject her to anymore than he had to; she'd been through enough. He went through several video files, mostly nameless humans since they hadn't survived the 'process' as Aizen put it, and when he reached a file tagged YS001 he opened it and his blood went cold when the camera opened up on a scene straight out of hell. In it a younger Yoruichi was strapped to a table and hooked up to several machines, and when Urahara heard the whine of an electric saw he had to put the video on mute to keep himself from throwing up.
Yoruichi was well aware that Urahara was upset, they'd taken a short break a little while ago and he was looking a bit green and refusing her attempts to start a conversation, and she finally crawled over to where he was sitting on the ground and laid her head in his lap. He startled as if he hadn't heard her approach and she looked up at him with a concerned frown when he reached a shaking hand to her face and cupped her cheek
"I don't think you should watch anymore," she told him and he shook his head though she could tell he wanted to agree
"I haven't even made it through your videos yet, let alone gone through the rest," Yoruichi frowned and ventured
"Videos, as in more than one?" he nodded and she noted his color turned a bit greener
"He didn't just rape you," he said and Yoruichi winced and turned her head away, evidently she'd repressed more than she'd realized
"I found a few more names that we'll have to report," she admitted and she felt Urahara's hand begin rubbing her arm, which helped a bit to soothe them both
"Do you think Ukitake and Renji will be able to change their forms fully after a few more years?" he asked, trying to focus on something besides Yoruichi's screams, and Yoruichi shrugged
"According to Aizen's notes I was the only female who survived, and after me he moved on to men because he assumed women weren't surviving because we were physically weaker," she grinned up at him but it was forced "Maybe I'm just special, and I kinda hope I am; I don't see Yamamoto letting jungle cats run around the seireitei even if one of them is Ukitake," Urahara lowered his mouth to hers and she closed her eyes, taking the comfort he offered and giving some in return before he pulled back to glance back at the computer screen which he'd purposefully turned off so she wouldn't see whatever he'd paused on "How much longer, do you think?" she asked and he shook his head and ran his thumb over her cheek
"Another several hours to get through yours, if I don't stop again; I just hope he didn't document everything this extensively or we could be here for a week or more," Yoruichi hesitated for a moment then ventured
"I could… sit in your lap while you watch, I know I can't take away the horror but maybe I can help if you feel that I'm there with you," Urahara frowned down at her
"I don't want you watching any of this," he said and she sat up
"I can wear a blindfold and snuggle up to your chest, I won't see anything, and I know you turned the volume off a while ago because you aren't wearing your headphones anymore," she leaned forward and nuzzled his cheek "Please, if you insist on putting yourself through this at least let me help where I can," he hesitated, clearly torn, and he sighed before insisting
"You can't see this stuff, Yoruichi, I mean it; you've repressed it for a good reason," he cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead before relenting "Thank you, I know that even being here is hard for you," she smiled up at him
"Wherever you are, we both know you need me," he gave her a sad smile
"More than you realize sometimes," he said and stood, and once he'd settled in the chair he pulled her sideways into his lap and cradled her close for a long while before he sighed softly and kissed her head then he wrapped her scarf carefully around her eyes. She snuggled close when he was done and he sighed again before he turned the computer back on and began where he'd left off.
Yoruichi stayed where she'd nuzzled for what must've been hours and every time she felt Urahara start to stiffen or shudder she'd nuzzle him, he held her a bit tighter in some parts and even kissed the top of her head when he needed to, and once even whispered her name in horror but she felt that in general his spirit energy and distress level had gone down with her held close. She wasn't sure which was worse, the fact that he was learning things she didn't remember or the fact that they both knew he could stomach it a lot better than she could, but in the end she decided it didn't matter. Just like he needed her, they both knew she needed him even more. His touch soothed her, calmed her even when she was in a rage, and now when she sensed that he was about to throw up she could only touch his chest and murmur
"Time for a break," and she heard the mouse click barely a second later, as if he'd been thinking the same thing
"The good news is so far you're right, there were no other women," he said and laid his cheek on the top of her head "However, what he did to Ukitake makes me wonder how he didn't go completely insane,"
"Kyoraku," she said simply and he sighed and nodded
"Well, we have a couple of names to give to Yamamoto when we go back but part of me can't help but wonder why they haven't changed yet; they're both fighting fools,"
"From what I've read, it seems that hueco mundo is the only really ideal place to get the change to take place; I was brought here, Ukitake was as well, and Renji came voluntarily after Aizen was captured so if they are kept away maybe they won't have to deal with any sort of changes," Urahara sighed
"Even if you're right, they will get stronger if they change and you know how they are when it comes to chances at getting stronger," Yoruichi sighed
"You're right, we're doomed to be the babysitters of two crazy guys," Urahara smirked, when she put it that way it was hard to be worried, but his smile faded and he asked
"Who will handle Zaraki though?" Yoruichi winced at the mere thought
"I would say Yachiru, but I can't see her dealing well with this," she hopped from his lap and held her hand out to him "I think it's time we go and consult with Yamamoto; now is a great time to take a break anyway,"
