A/N: When I use the word 'man', I'm using it in the context of gender and not (im) mortality.

To make the scenes clearer:

Followed by words in this font ---Past.

Followed by words mainly in this font---- Present.

Previously:

She had learnt to wear the mask of superficial deception that she despised.

Damn you, Kisuke. Damn you for this hotheaded student, along with your crackpot ideas and plans, especially your suggestions...

0o----------------------o0

Memories

"I'm bored. Between hills of paperwork, all-out training, life-threatening missions and listening to your inventive craziness, routine has become rather unappealing."

Re-sheathing his Benihime, the man with wind-blown hair straggling everywhere sighed.

"It's not as if you're wasting your time, since we do egg each other on. But seeing you want a challenge, hm..."

Dust swirled about uneven rock as her best friend pondered. Then inscrutable satisfaction gradually crept over his face, his particular expression making her rather uncomfortable.

"You've not used your speed in a while to tease that shinigami. Don't you like bringing the so-called 'stuffy and pompous' types down a few notches?"

Both knew she was unmatched in shyunpo inside Soul Society, with the possible exception of Genryuusai-shishou. The outcome of this proposed diversion was a dull certainty, but the prospect of doing so... the captain of the twelfth division and founder of the Research Institute of Technology threw in extra bait.

"It's not the destination that's always important; the journey counts too, remember?"

""I'll think about it. In the meantime, our combat practice has left me ravenous. You owe me dinner. Let's go!"

Laughing, the two shinigami turned and raced back towards Seirei-tei.

"Scatter-"

There was no time to think or feel, only to react. In the blink of an eye, Senbonzakura's power was prevented from further release with the temporary binding technique.

Leaping back and standing, positioning herself between her objective and the other two captains, she ignored wide-eyed disbelief and puzzled stares from both sides. Nothing mattered at this point, except for the youth whom Kisuke had pinned his hopes on. Eyes focused on the wide expanse of worn wood ahead, possible plans were made and discarded in an instant. There was only one way. She wouldn't fail with these... people as her opponents. Too bad her memories were just as sharp and pervasive, invading her train of thought with their annoying persistence.

I must be ready before our impetuous hero can act; remembering irrelevance does not help...

Nothing spectacular about his moves, maybe even a bit too... slow for a supposed elite warrior. No fun here. She'd have to find other ways to amuse herself-

"Stop spying, Shihouin-sempai."

Interesting. He'd found out fast and recognized her spiritual aura from this distance without even giving any previous indication. How had he done that? The only other prodigy who had been able to do so and was not yet a vice-captain, was Ichimaru Gin. Hers had been heavily subdued to the point that it was almost non-detectable. Looking down from the well-hidden branch more than fifteen feet off the ground, she had to ask.

"How did you know?"

Without hesitating, his answer was as smooth as gliding over ice.

"Very few shinigami have reached the stage whereby they can skilfully contain and conceal their cultivated energy. They become a lot more powerful when the full pressure is released. You are one of the rare few who can do so."

Good. That meant she might be entertained a while longer.

"Plus, your obvious slyness was a dead giveaway."

The stout branch nearly broke beneath her clenched fist. Shihouin Yoruichi did not like the way he behaved, or the dismissive attitude he was displaying. Crushing such arrogance would be a pleasure to savour. Leaping down from her observation spot, she smiled dangerously while walking towards the much taller man.

"Kuchiki-bo, I only stayed to watch because your movements were rather... sluggish. The standards for our officers have really declined. I was thinking of challenging you but after that observation, I leave you to your training. Good da-"

"State your challenge."

"I refuse to talk to the back of someone who's clearly lacking in decorum."

He turned around. Dark eyes held a disquieting glimmer before it vanished. Was that annoyance? His impassive face was as distant and pale as refined marble. If the arrogant man became any more inanimate, this household would not be lacking in granite for its pillars. Time to put him in his place. Slim brown fingers brandished a reddish stick the length of his thumb.

"My chalk... against your blade."

0o------------------------o0

List of Definitions by alphabetical order

Shishou: master

Seirei-tei: Court of Pure Souls

Senpai/Sempai: Term of respect given to an elder, mentor or a more senior person. Sempai is the verbal form; senpai is the written form.

Shyunpo: A demon art a shinigami uses that allows the user to 'warp' i.e. move extremely fast beyond the abilities for the normal eye to see. Also known as 'Instant or Flash (shyun-) step (-po).'