A/N: I can't help it. All babies love kitties. That's a fact. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, and especially my beta (you know why).

R&R please!

Innocence vs. Ignorance

Babies were selfish, evil little people. They constantly wailed and demanded attention, and there was certainly nothing cute nor innocent about Rukia's fat little tear bag. Of course Soi Fong was angry— the brat had her Yoruichi-sama trapped in the stifling death embrace of two chubby arms!

Yoruichi, the poor feline, didn't seem to mind except for the fact that the air was being squeezed out of her lungs, and that those perfectly spherical green eyes were bulging and ready to pop out of her skull. The baby's mother seemed occupied in an important conversation with another Vice Captain, which left Soi Fong with only one option: save Yoruichi-sama at all costs!

Soi Fong pried, she pulled, she cursed; the baby just wouldn't let go. It was a long, noisy battle that involved a great deal of wailing, cursing, and painful howls. Had someone walked by they would have laughed at the sight of a Special Forces captain wrestling with a screaming orange haired infant, and the victimized cat that was caught in the middle. "Bad…baby! No!"

Finally, Soi Fong managed to free Yoruichi-sama who hopped away, gasping and bristling with annoyance. The child sobbed, reaching after Yoruichi.

Soi Fong lifted him in the air so that she could look directly into those wet blue eyes. "Let's get one thing straight, kid," she said harshly. "Yoruichi-sama is not a house cat. She is to be respected in the highest esteem at all times. Do you understand?"

The baby sniffed back a glob of snot. His chin trembled. He glanced at Yoruichi as she stalked away with a throbbing, bent up tail. The he hung his head and cried some more.

Something inside of Soi Fong softened. Maybe it was because Yoruichi was safe and out of harm's way, or perhaps it was because of some twisted womanly instinct. But quite possibly it was because Soi Fong understood exactly how the baby felt. The exalted Yoruichi-sama was to be admired and loved from a distance. She was untouchable and that in itself was enough to dampen the spirit.

Little Kurosaki had much to learn.

Soi Fong sighed, rolled her eyes, and lowered the baby. To think that she had something in common with such a selfish, loving, and somewhat cute little monster.