Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or the characters. duh

"Where are we going?" Soifon had many questions, this one just seemed to make it to her lips the fastest - and by 'fastest' meaning a good 60 seconds. They were far from the ridge by now.

"It's a secret," Yoruichi replied with a playful grin passed back to her lagging companion.

"You do know that I wasn't the only one sent for that?" Soifon said while implying the package with her head. "The other shinigami will be after us... after you."

Yoruichi laughed. "Do you honestly think they could catch up to us?"

The Chinese woman actually smiled a little bit "Of course they couldn't." They continued their lightning fast run, but Soifon was still undecided on what to do.

Yoruichi was finally explaining to Soifon. Urahara Kisuke had sent a message to Yamamoto that one of his inventions was missing and they had to find it before Aizen or someone of the sort found it. "...so, in conclusion it was all set up so I could... capture you... No, 'capture' isn't the correct word, but I think you know what I mean," the Goddess ended lamely.

"So if 'capture' isn't the right word, then what is?"

"Hmmm. Well, I was bent on bringing you back with me at all costs, call it what you will." Yoruichi smiled.

The Chinese woman thought for a minute. "Kidnap?"

"Nah, not really."

Soifon stopped running and stopped Yoruichi along with her, still connected by their hands. "And what if I chose to not go with you, Yoruichi-sama?"

It didn't take long for her mentor to playfully respond, "Then I guess it would be kidnapping." It may have been playful, but she was serious.

They both stood still, facing each other. Golden eyes searched the other woman, trying to decipher what she was thinking. The search was pointless because the steel gray eyes were blank and the body they belonged to was unmoving. Soifon looked very much like a statue.

There was a reason why the mentor couldn't detect what her protege was thinking, the younger didn't know what to think. She longed to be with the Goddess of Flash but not under these circumstances. This wasn't some fairy tale where her love was taking her away from the tyranny of some evil lord. There could be repercussions for running off, leaving her position as a captain of the Gotei 13 unattended. And who does Yoruichi-sama think she is for thinking that her "Little Bee" would comply so easily?.. okay, point proven. It was widely known that Soifon would do about anything for her master. But it still wasn't forgotten how much it hurt when the dark skinned beauty left for a hundred years. Her thoughts started to pile up and become uncontrolled. A confused look spread across her face.

"Why?" she paused, trying to formulate what was to be said next. "Why should I go with you, Yoruichi-sama?"

It was now time for confusion to spread across the dark face. This was one response that she was not expecting. She smiled once again.

"Because I want you to."

"That's not going to work this time," Soifon said sternly. Yoruichi's smile withered. That response usually worked with Soifon. "Why do you want me to?" She looked down at their hands which still happened to be holding each others. She let the dark hand go. It was almost forgotten that she was holding it. The captain was a bit confused as to why they were holding hands anyway. She started to get a bit embarrassed at the thought and a very light blush began to appear.

'Crap, crap, crap!' was all Yoruichi could think of at the moment. She wasn't one that was so in touch with her emotions and expressing them, especially when she was the one vulnerable. The truth was that she really missed her Little Bee. Though they had befriended each other once again after her return and their epic fight, they didn't spend much time together anymore. Yoruichi was either busy with Urahara and Kukaka or Soifon was busy with her duties as captain. Their time was limited and their friendship has suffered because of it. And if Yoruichi was really going to be honest with herself, she may have realized that she also wanted to see if their relationship could go beyond that of friendship.

The violet haired woman was having trouble listening to her own thoughts, she didn't want to express them to the woman before her. At least not all of them. Time finally unfroze and she took a deep breathe.

"I've missed you, Little Bee."

Yoruichi was a bit shocked at what she said, but didn't let it show. She decided to throw in some puppy dog eyes for good measure - part of them real, part of them fake. It was part of her defense mechanism.

"I'm glad to hear it! You were gone for a hundred years," came Soifon's bitter response. For the most part she had decided to move on from that whole ordeal, but it was still a pretty fresh wound. "We can just hang out like normal friends, you know?" Yoruichi started to unwrap the bundle that was in her right hand. It looked like a coping method she was using for being reprimanded by the taichou, her head bowed down. "You didn't have to kidnap me!" Soifon was starting to get mad, which the Goddess didn't like, especially since she seemed so receptive at first.

"Bend your knees," it was a command, and quite an unusual one coming from the tan beauty at such a time. A white cloth and string fell to the ground. Seeing the incomprehension on her comrade's face she decided to move forward even though Soifon hadn't done what she asked.

"...What..!" Soifon barely had time to get the word out of her mouth before she could speak no more. Her lips still slightly parted from making the "t" sound.

Yoruichi began to Shunpo once again, this time with a stiff Soifon in her arms.

"I take it you're confused, Little Bee," she said after looking at her captive's face while still running. "...and angry. Let me explain.

"I partially lied when I said the object was just bait to draw you out." Yoruichi waited for a response before remembering that one wouldn't be coming. Well, besides that of the death glare she was now getting from gray eyes. "It was used as bait, but it also has a purpose. It's one of Kisuke's new inventions. Doesn't even have a name yet. I don't really understand it, but it sends some sort of shock wave through your body... blah blah blah, neurotransmitters... blah blah, then it makes it so voluntary muscles freeze, practically leaving you paralyzed. The exact duration of this is unknown, but it should be relatively short. It's not exactly a paralyzation in the sense that it's just you that aren't able to move your muscles, still letting them be malleable to someone who may want to move you. Instead, your muscles are locked, keeping the respective muscles flexed, extended, or relaxed. It could be very detrimental if someone tried to force movement. All of your muscles are affected except for those on your face from the inferior part of the nose up. For some reason Kisuke thought it'd be a good idea to see some of the paralyzed person's emotions." The princess looked down at the pale face, she was still receiving an angry glare. "I'm still undecided on whether that was a good idea or not, but I see where it could have it's uses."

Even though this last statement wasn't exactly funny, Soifon's expression lightened up considerably. Yoruichi noticed this. This time she didn't only look at the gray eyes, but she also took notice of the slightly parted mouth. White teeth shined through the slight aperture.

"Awww, a smile!" Yoruichi laughed, knowing that no one in their right mind would call that facial expression such a thing. Pink lips still remained slightly parted, but pale nostrils flared and dark eyebrows lowered.

Golden eyes were still focused on the pink lips. This didn't go unnoticed by Soifon. She didn't have much to do other than pay attention to her surroundings. The captive audience of one felt a jerk and then an increased grip from the Goddess of Flash. The "Goddess" almost tripped and sent both of them flying. She had failed to notice a depression in the ground where her right foot landed, which caused her to falter. Being true to her nature and quick on her feet, she recovered, Soifon and all.

"Sorry about that, Little Bee," she said as her paced quickened once again.

"And sorry about the lie. I just really wanted you to come with me." A stoic expression was on the pale woman's face once again. She was trying to figure out what her transporter was thinking. But her view wasn't the greatest, as the runner was finally looking forward, and there was too much confusion etched into the tan face to read what was on her mind. Soifon was confused as Yoruichi started to take unnecessary turns. It wasn't like anyone was following them. But the woman was still steadily moving towards a general direction. One that didn't surprise Soifon.

Overall, Soifon was rather surprised by the turn of events. Not so much because of her kidnapping or Kisuke's new invention which rendered her mostly paralyzed, but because of the looks in Yoruichi-sama's eyes which she hadn't seen before. Besides being surprised, she was a bit relieved. She didn't have to make a choice between her mentor and the work that she loved, having the choice made for her made it much easier. Deep down she wanted to know what would happen if she went with Yoruichi, and now she'd be able to find out.

"It really would have helped if you bent your knees," a irritated tone worked it's way into her voice. She started to shift her arms a little bit. Her left arm was supporting Soifon's middle back and her right arm was against the back of her friend's upper thigh. Soifon was almost as stiff and straight as a board, making her unwieldy to hold. If she had bent her knees, even just a little bit, it would have helped the transporter's comfort significantly. It would have been even better if they were bent enough where her right arm could fit in the crook behind the captains knees. Then it could have been like holding a bride that had been recently married. Yoruichi blushed at the thought.

.

A/N:

I hope you guys liked this chapter. It's kind of a transitional one, I think... I'm still a bit lost in all my thoughts.

I think I need a beta reader and someone that knows Bleach well to answer some of the questions that I have. If you are willing, send me a message please!

And please review! Constructive criticism would be helpful (and if you feel like it, check out my profile for some of the things I'd like to be observed), though not necessary; any review is welcome :)

edit (5/30/10):
it hasn't been long since I posted this, but thought I should say that I'm watching the series now. It was very annoying to me that I didn't know how a lot of the stuff worked; I'm a perfectionist. Currently on epi 34. Trying to watch as much as I can as fast as I can, but I have school and stuff (damn class). I've already written part (or most) of chapters 3, 4, and 5, but will probably wait until I finish more of the anime until I post them. I definitely need a better feel of the characters, even though I could make them however I want.