Yo. I'm going to split this into two chaps because it's hard as hell to get what I want as Sui-Feng's history into one chapter...this one has 7,900 words and I didn't even notice till now _ Anywho hope you like it. BTW Jou Mou means grandmother in mandarin chinese so I find it funny that I got stuck using it as her name XD. I'm glad you like her. Satoshi/Kenta's personality is shown a lot more in this chapter so hopefully you all get to know him a bit more. Shout out to FongShihouin and MK Thrall and everyone who reviewed.

Only Ever Yours 7

[100 Years Ago] Pt.1

She had been standing stock still in the doorway for hours stuck between reality and disbelief. She had been told that Yoruichi had broken into Central 46th to rescue that traitorous bastard and left with him. Sui-Feng had gone everywhere looking for a sign or message from Yoruichi. There was nothing. The training grounds were desolate of her. The Shihouin Estate was cold from the lack of her warm laughter. There was no clues in either of their quarters. Sereitei was colorless without the purple tresses of her goddess. It was lifeless without her spirit. The worst part about it, she had left Sui-Feng behind.

The shock of searching the last place she could think for a clue she and finding it empty was beginning to work on Sui-Feng's sanity.

"How could you?" She whispered into the still air. Her panicked breaths the only sign of life in the room. Shihouin Yoruichi, her mentor, leader, and goddess was gone. The woman she had loyally devoted her life to had left her behind without a trace of a goodbye.

The day Urahara had disappeared Yoruichi had remained distracted the entire day as if she was trying to figure something out. Sui-Feng had questioned the woman twice to see if she was alright. Yoruichi always assured the girl that she was. The first time she believed her. The second time she didn't. Yoruichi had given her a guilty look when Sui-Feng called her on it.

"I'm fine Sui-Feng. I promise." Yoruichi had answered tucking a lock of Sui-Feng's hair behind the girls ear. The hand had lingered on her cheek and Yoruichi leaned in and placed their foreheads together and smiled faintly.

"I appreciate the concern little bee. I'll see you tomorrow."

"You liar...Yoruichi, you liar." She choked out and fell to her knees. The tears were like hot rivers running down her face. She crawled a short distance to the chair and curled up next to it placing her head on the seat. A barrage of tears assaulted the green leather. She cried harder than when she heard her mother died. She cried harder than when her father died. She never thought that she would ever cry as hard as when her grandfather died. At least Yoruichi had been there to comfort her at that time. She had laid her head in her goddess's lap as she lamented her grandfather. Soothing words had been whispered and promises spoken.

"I'll always be here to comfort you, Sui-Feng." The words echoed in her head.

"Where are you now?!" She yelled into thin air. A scream rang out her frustration and she flipped the chair over. Her fist beat into the wood flooring where the chair had once been. She didn't feel the pain, she didn't hear the ragged breaths she took, she didn't care as her angry tears mixed on the wood with the blood of her fist. The drumming staccato of her fist on the wood added to the taunting dispirited silence around her. She didn't stop until she couldn't lift her tiny fist anymore.

Sui-Feng was numb to the core. The feeling of her heart and soul breaking was gut wrenching. She lay down on the floor as if dead. She stared at the chair until the moon came up and then began to cry again. No temper tantrum was going to change the fact that Yoruichi wasn't coming back.


The bright sun light hitting her bleary eyelids caused her headache to flair up. The shoji door to the entrance of them room had been snapped to the side letting the outside light into the gloomy room. She had cried so heard that the pressure from her sinuses caused her to get a headache. The one hour of sleep had momentarily been a relief from crying and the pain of the headache. Now there was just pain from the blazing sun. Damn that shiny ball of gas.

Sui-Feng brought up a hand to shield her from the bright light. peering through fingers, she gasped as she saw what she thought was a silhouette of Yoruichi. Her heart began to thud in her chest in the hope that it was her. Her eyes adjusted to the light to reveal Shiba Kukaku.

On Kukaku's face was a grim look as she observed Sui-Feng's appearance. The girl looked like hell. Her face was red and splotchy, her hair looked like a rat's nest and it smelled like the girl was in dire need of a shower.

"I thought I'd find you here." Kukaku drawled. "You look like shit." Her matter of fact remark was met with silence. Sui-Feng didn't have the energy to respond. The quiet dragged on uncomfortably.

"Come on. Staying here won't do you any good." Kukaku walked over and helped a reluctant Sui-Feng to her feet. Before they left the chamber, Sui-Feng cast one last forlorn glance at the empty throne and followed Kukaku.


"Shihouin-dono, we have searched everywhere. There is no sign of your daughter. We have no leads to go on. It's like she disappeared." A very nervous guard reported to Shihouin Satoshi.

'Of course it's like she disappeared you dimwit. She's my daughter and I trained her too damn well.' He thought as he glared out the window at the setting sun. Yoruichi had been missing for two days now. She had left no sign of where she was or why she left. The details of the situation told him that Yoruichi had definitely broken into Central 46th during Urahara Kisuke's trial to free him and his accomplice. Was she in love with the boy that she would risk everything to save him? A nervous feeling creeped up his neck at the thought. He prayed he wasn't right.

Yoruichi's disappearance had left him with quite the mess. The entire family was in an uproar now that their heir had disappeared. The 2nd Division was black listed as the Gotei 13 made sure there were no loyal followers who knew anything. There would be no easy way to keep this under control but Satoshi would be damned if he let those old fodders tell him how to run his family.

"Shihouin-dono," A nervous servant girl bowed. "The elders are waiting for you."

Nodding, he turned and made his way to the meeting room. He did not wait for the herald to announce his arrival and ordered the servants to open the doors. He strode in with power, sending a challenging look at those already present. The elders scrambled to get to their feet to bow in reverence to his arrival. Satoshi didn't even wait to get to his place at the head of the table before addressing everyone present.

"I have a slight inclination as to why you all have called for this little chit-chat. However, let me warn you." His gaze was like molten lava at the moment. The elders looked nervously at the leader as he continued. "This is my daughter we are talking about and if you think that I will tolerate disrespect because she has been accused of a crime I will remove your head."

His threat was met with silence. Everyone knew not to push the Shihouin head when it came down to his daughter. So when he said he had no problem separating their heads from their necks, they believed him.

"Satoshi," A brave old man by the name of Batsuraku began. "We are well aware of our place but you have to remember, guilty or not your daughter is missing and our future as nobles is compromised. How do you intend to fix this?" The silence was thick as everyone waited with baited breath for a response. Batsuraku of course would be the one to ask the one question everyone really wanted the answer to. The old man was the head elder. He was the closest blood relative Satoshi had but, all the man cared about was power. His father and mother both being only children had only cousins. Satoshi looked around the room at the faces present. He loathed these power hungry fools.

"I find it interesting that not one of you is the least bit interested in investigating why my heir is missing and instead decide to condemn her. Such loyalty the elders show their current and future heads." He hissed. "I will take on the responsibilities that were once hers until she comes back."

"What makes you think she's coming back?" A foolish woman huffed with obvious cynicism. She realized her mistake the second Satoshi's gaze snapped to her. His pupils took on a dangerous catlike appearance and he gave a loud growl in her direction.

"Impudence! Remove yourself before I do!"

She scrambled to her feet in fear and all but ran from the room. The others present became very nervous. It was very unusual to see Satoshi this angry. However, the question posed was a legitimate one. No one had the courage to voice it, so the room stayed silent save for those brave enough to breath.

"Yoruichi will return." It was an answer delivered with finality. His voice mixing with feline rumble in his chest. " It may be a time before she does so. As I stated before, I will take over her responsibilities until she returns."

"So you will acquire the title of Gundanchou again?" Batsuraku asked with a disbelieving look. "You do realize that if something should happen to you on the battlefield this family will fall. Besides it has been years since you have tasted battle."

"Of course I am aware. I'm not an old man Batsuraku. I can lead the Onmitsukido." Satoshi snapped.

"Old or not, it's your skills as a leader that are in question." Batsuraku answered with spite.

"Is that a challenge?!" Satoshi roared. He stood up so quick the chair he had been sitting in fell to the floor with a clatter. He growled as he body began to shift. Muscle and sinew rearranged around bones as they snapped. The sound of fabric ripping was apparent but what was the most noticeable was the growing sound of an angry growl.

Batsuraku had a look of pure terror on his face. In front of him, standing on the table was a 9 foot long panther. It's fur shined in the light of the room and its sharp gold eyes stared menacingly at the shaking old man. It's paws were the bigger than dinner plates and the teeth being bared looked like they could rip through metal.

"Do not forget why I am the head of this family," The growling echo of his voice filled the room.

"Only your blood can wield the Tools and transform of all the Shihouin!." Batsuraku gasped out as if the answer was going to save him from the threat in front of him.

"That's right. Whether it be my choice or not by my blood I am made head of this family and am thus it's rightful head. Make no mistake, Yoruichi will return by the time I am too old to rule." Satoshi growled out.

"Y-Yes Gundanchou-kaka." Batsuraku stuttered out shrinking into his chair like a turtle.

"Do not forget your place." The panther lowered his head so that he and the old man were eye level. "I have no problem permanently removing you from it. I do not want to hear of any insolence. I will inform all of you of any changes." He raised his head to look around casting a warning glance everyone. "Until then this house takes vow of silence regarding my daughter. You are not worthy to speak her name." And with that Satoshi was gone.


The plate of food in front of her had long gone cold. The noodles had congealed and the the sushimi was starting turn color. Even the rice no longer looked appetizing. Kukaku gave a look of annoyance at Sui-Feng as the girl was oblivious to the food and stared of into space.

"Hey..." Kukaku huffed patiently. "...hey!" Kukaku called a little louder, her annoyance began to creep into her voice. With a grunt she closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled.

'Fuck it.' she thought. Sui-Feng was literally knocked out of her stupor by Kukaku's foot going up side her head. She gave an indignant yell and unleashed a death glare from hell at her attacker.

"Don't you fuckin' look at me like that. I fuckin' am I trying to keep you alive and feed your ass so don't you dare look at me like that. You think starvin' yourself and moping around here is gonna bring her back? Well it's not!" The words were out of Kukaku's mouth before she even realized what she said. The hurt and angry look on Sui-Feng's face told her that she was rubbing salt into the wound.

"I-..." Kukaku started but Sui-Feng was gone in a flash. "Well fuck."

Sui-Feng ran until she couldn't anymore. The lack of sleep and nutrition was taking its toll. She found herself in a field of tall grass that was unfamiliar to her.

'It probrably wasn't a good idea to flash step.' Was her only thought before she lost consciousness.


The scent of his daughter caught his attention suddenly giving him a purpose to his night time wandering.

'Could it be?' Satoshi thought as he raised his panther nose to get a better sample of the air. The ability to be able transform into a creature of stealth made it easier for him to track his prey at anytime of the day and at any location. Where others failed when a target masked their reiatsu he succeeded by his god given was the night of the new moon so the night was darker than usual. It was no problem for Satoshi since he was currently in his element. He had been following his daughter's scent for a while. The scent of jasmine combined with the unfamiliar scent of honeysuckle began to mix with the smell of salt.

'Is someone crying?' Satoshi thought as he continued to lope through the grass. His thoughts were confirmed as he observed a young girl a few yards away, on the ground crying her heart out. It was Shaolin Feng daughter of Shan Feng and currently Yoruichi's bodyguard. Of course the girl would smell like the person she surrounded herself with. Satoshi sighed as he took in the scene. He didn't know what to do. He sure as hell wasn't going to approach her at the moment. He would wait for her to go to sleep, then he would take her to her quarters. Maybe she had some answers for him, but he doubted it.

When Sui-Feng awoke the next morning she automatically noted that she was in her room and had her hand on something soft and warm. Snapping one eye open she observed the end of a black tail twitching as it led outside the shoji doors.

"Yoruichi-sama!" Sui-Feng cried hopefully as she tugged on the tail. Instead of getting Yoruichi's startled yelp, she got what sounded like an angry panthers cry.

"Ouch!" Satoshi pushed his panther nose into the crack of the shoji doors and pushed it open. "What was that for?" He cried as he looked at his tail making sure there was no permanent bend to it.

"Gomen ne, I thought you were Yoruichi-sama." Sui-Feng answered back quietly. Her head hung low as she stared a hole into the blanket on her lap.

"Yes, well I guess that makes us even. Last night I had hoped the scent I was following was actually hers. Imagine my surprise when I find you instead. What were you doing out there anyway?" Satoshi inquired taking a seat on his haunches.

"None of your business! Who are you anyway?" Sui-Feng demanded with hostility.

"The Guardian of the Tenshi Heisoban I protect them in times of need." Satoshi grunted. "Anyway, you must be young Shaolin. I've heard quite a bit about you, especially about your skill."

"It's Sui-Feng." She answered bitterly.

"Ah yes the 'broken bee" He nodded and swatted at an annoying fly with his tail.

"Well what are you going to do now? No one can find her and there are people struggling to fill the hole she left. I hope you don't plan on moping around here forever." His tone had a lilt of slight curiosity to it.

"What do you care what I do? I'm obviously useless, that's why she didn't take me!" Sui-Feng shouted willing the angry tears back the moment she felt them.

"I wouldn't believe that." He practically tsked. "I'll give you three days to get yourself together. After that meet me on training ground 11 at midnight. I have something I want to show you." He got to all fours and proceeded for the door.

"Wait!" She called out. "who are you?"

"A friend but you can call me Kenta." And with that he was gone.


The days passed and Sui-Feng began to feel more and more depressed. She had no desire to train or go anywhere near Division 2. She wouldn't eat or sleep if it hadn't been for Kukaku badgering her to do so. They had ended up physically fighting at first but because of her lack of energy she wasn't much of a match for the Shiba woman. She could still feel bruises from the beating she had received. Then there was Shiba Kaien, Kukaku's easy going brother. She couldn't stand Kaien's visits because he was always so damn cheery and optimistic. She wanted no part of anything he was doing. Unfortunately for her the man was so much like Yoruichi she could feel him getting under her skin more and more. Her attitude worsened and she became even more of recluse. Kukaku noticed but figured that the girl needed to figure things out on her own. No amount of beating and talking was gonna snap her out of her slump unless she wanted it for herself. Kaien however, didn't believe that.

The day she was supposed to meet Satoshi, Kaien took it upon himself to piss her off to the point of fighting. The had torn up Kukaku's guest room and shredded the shoji door to the backyard. Kaien flawlessly avoided Sui-Feng's angry fist as they sought out his head. His usually playful smile was gone as he observed Sui-Feng. Her movements were angry and gave away her strikes making them easy to dodge. He counted 9 times in the last 10 seconds that he could have countered her but chose not to. She wasn't fighting him, she was lashing out.

He ducked under a straight punch and began delivering sharp blows to her midsection knocking her onto her back. She gasped for air as she had the wind knocked out of her and didn't move.

"You know," Kaien began, "There should be no reason why I'm better at hakuda than you. You're frustrated I know, but instead of lashing out blindly in anger, you should throw your emotions into your fist. Make your opponent understand your feelings. I can tell that you're a person who's ill at ease and can only communicate on the battlefield. That's why I baited you to fight me. You can't keep this bottled up."

"Shut up! You don't know anything." Sui-Feng shouted as she jumped to her feet and aimed a jump round kick at his head. He rolled his eyes as he ducked low to the ground and grabbed her base leg making her fall to the ground once again.

"See? That was a mistake only an amateur would make. I'm not saying its not okay to be angry right now but you have to know how to focus it...serene state of mind Sui." He tapped his temple and began to walk away leaving her to think on his words.

She stayed there for a while looking up at the clouds in the sky. The white puffs floated gently on the current the wind provided simply existing. They had no purpose and no mission. They were free to float on as they wished. She envied the clouds. She wished that she could just float away from all her problems, get away from the reality she had been faced with. She scoffed at her weak thoughts. What would Yoruichi say if she knew what her protege was thinking? This brought a sad smile to her face. The dark woman would probably agree. She never had liked all the pomp and ceremony that came with their jobs and often sought to get away from it all. However, she never would allow Sui to run away from a problem and she set an example by still fulfilling her duties no matter how tiresome. She always had encouraged Sui-Feng to work through her problems and solve them first hand.

'No one can win your battles for you, only you can.' She had told her. Yoruichi was right as always. So was Kaien. She had been so upset by Yoruichi's disappearance that she had allowed her skills to become dull and her duties to go unfulfilled. If Yoruichi came back right now she would probably be disappointed that Sui-Feng hadn't continued in absence. Sui-Feng had no desire to work under anyone else and couldn't imagine herself trying to. She had to find Yoruichi and bring her back, wherever she was. The only way she could do that was with missions and she sure as hell wasn't going to get assigned to any if she continued to act like a child.

Sitting up with a look of determination on her face she got up to head inside the house. She would eat first and then she would train. She'd be damned if she let Shiba Kaien beat her in hakuda again.


Life was currently a contemptuous bitch. Everything that could possibly go wrong, was at the moment. The 2nd Division was in shambles because the Lieutenant was acting like he was going to be the next captain. Rumors of Satoshi being too old had been taken to heart besides, The Omaeda's were a family of idiots. Then Shihouin Batsuraku's show of defiance at the last meeting had caused many to try and quietly usurp Satoshi's authority. Satoshi gave a small growl at the thought. There were whispers that had been reported to him by his spies, that many felt Batsuraku should lead and that his son Keiyuun should be head of the Onmitsukido. Lastly, Central 46 had irrefutably exiled Yoruichi and sent out the order for her to be killed on site if she was ever sited, along with Urahara Kisuke. Things could probably get worse with time so Satoshi decided to lay low and devise a plan to shift things back into his favor. His thick panther tail moved slowly as if a snake. When the moment presented itself he would strike the rebellious members of the family without remorse. Until then he had to figure out what to do with Omaeda.

Omaeda Marenoshin was a pompous prat that had always suckled on a silver spoon. His fat body attested to his family's wealth to continuously feed the bottomless pit they called a leader and from what Satoshi heard, the man's son was no better. To Satoshi, Lieutenant Omaeda behaved nothing like a leader in the Stealth Force should. He was not humble, he didn't blend in, and he had absolutely no prowess.

'Too old indeed.' Satoshi huffed. 'It seems they've forgotten who their dealing with.' He thought as he watched the fat man fight soldier after soldier and beat them all with heavy blows. To the men fighting Omaeda, his movements may have been fast but to Satoshi the man movements were like honey on a cold day.

'It would give me great pleasure if I could go down there and...' Satoshi's thoughts trailed off. 'What am I thinking? I think I will kick his fat ass, I just can't bring any attention to Shihouin Satoshi. I need a lower nobles uniform to wear but...who to get one from? It looks like Kenta will be getting another face.' If anyone had been clothes enough to see Satoshi they would have seen a very formidable panther with a smile that made your blood run cold. The man had a plan.


Jou Mou sighed as she dug another hole into the dark soil. She had been toiling well into the afternoon in her garden. The small vendors that she usually had bought food from in the compound no longer sold suitable food. Things in the compound were failing slowly but surely. Sui-Feng was still too young to be Head of the Feng family but currently they had no choice. At this moment her cousins were far younger than Sui-Feng and didn't have nearly as much talent or battlefield experience as her. Her late husband had declared Sui-Feng as Head before he passed away. Before he had become ill, he had been teaching her how to lead and training her day in and day out to be a warrior worthy of protecting her charge. Most of all he had instilled a sense of honor within their granddaughter that had never left her. It was without a doubt that while Sui-Feng may have been young, she lived to bring honor to her family.

The woman was taken from her thoughts as she saw suspicious movement in the bushes to her right. Throwing the trowel in her hand like a kunai, she heard the satisfying thunk of it hitting the wood behind it along with a gasp. She slowly stood watching for any sign of movement.

"Jou Feng I thought you had retired! Any lower and I'd be dead!" Satoshi peeked his panther head out of the bushes.

"Shihouin Satoshi! Oh my lord my apologies." Jou Mou said bowing deeply as the panther came into full view.

"I'm just glad you didn't get me. Really, a trowel?" Satoshi gave her a glare.

"My Lord, it's not everyday I have a panther slinking around my bushes. I was only trying to scare whatever or whoever off." Jou mou smiled teasingly letting him know that she hadn't been aiming for a kill. This made him swallow uneasily.

"Right. Well I need your family's assistance again." Satoshi started out nervously. Jou Mou narrowed her eyes the Shihouin leader. Everytime she heard this one of her family members came back dead.

"Maybe I should have aimed lower." The old woman growled out leveling an icy glare at the panther. "You've taken all but one. Who am I to tell you that you can't have the other."

"Tch, someone's jumping to the point. Jou-san I need clothes. Preferably Shan's shozoko. I remember us being about the same size." Satoshi watched the woman's emotions change from anger to surprise.

"I'm sorry." She said after a moment on chastised silence. "You have to understand it's been hard for this old woman. Sui-Feng is all I have left. I'll get the shozoko right away."

She walked passed him to go inside but was stopped when she felt the panther's tail curl gently around her ankle. It was like an encouraging hand on the shoulder. No words had been spoken but the reassuring touch was enough. She continued on into the house leaving Satoshi outside a little longer. He looked around the yard and observed the familiar garden. He and Jou Mou's son Shan, had played in this yard many times as children. He always enjoyed coming to the Feng compound because he didn't have to worry about behaving like a prince. He could do as he pleased. At the Feng's he may have been recognized as a prince but he could act like the young boy he had been and that pleased him just fine.

He turned to walk inside the open door to wait for Jou Mou. The house was definitely worse for wear. He could hear Jou Mou creaking around upstairs. The windows though clean, were chipped and cracking. The wooden floor was knotted and gnarly, the paint on the walls was peeling and the list went on. Satoshi felt shamed for the way the head Feng family was currently living while he lived in a palace. If things went his way that would end soon.

The creaking stairs announced Jou Mou's arrival back downstairs as she held the shinobi shozoko specially given to the Feng. She bowed and placed the garments on the floor before going back upstairs to let the man change. Satoshi waited until the woman was all the way up the stairs before transforming. He hadn't transformed since Yoruichi was born and it took some getting used to. Flexing his now human hands, he gave himself a look over to see that everything was in place. Pleased with his appearance he hurriedly grabbed for the pants. He was about to finish putting both legs of the pants on when he heard Jou Mou making her way back down the stairs. He movements became panicky and he fell over.

"Oh hohohohoho! Oh my lord, I know I'm just gorgeous but please keep you pants on!" Jou Mou mocked playfully.

"You haven't changed old woman. Can I change in peace?" Satoshi huffed turning his back to her as he pulled his pants the rest of the way up.

"Puh-lease you forget who has guarded your family for generations. Yoruichi is just like you used to be. As soon as you were able to transform you couldn't wait to go around flashing people. God of Flash indeed. hmph." Jou Mou laughed as Satoshi finished dressing.

When he had finished with all the ties, he tucked his hair down his back. Snatching up his mask he arranged it so that only the slits of his eyes were showing. He gave a few experimental punches and kicks to test out its mobility. Just as he thought, he and Shan had been the same size.

"What are you going to do about those eyes?" Jou Mou asked moving to the small hearth in the living room.

"I'm not sure but I'm guessing you have something in mind." Satoshi waited as the old woman pulled a stone out of the wall and grabbed a rectangular tube.

"Put in those contacts, they're blue." Jou Mou tossed the tube over for Satoshi. "I'm not going to ask what you're up to now pussycat." Satoshi cut her a look at his old childhood nickname, "But I do have a request. Make sure that daughter of yours doesn't get my granddaughter killed and you don't let her take any foolish risk."

"Yoruichi is gone." Satoshi voiced.

"What do you mean? Did she run off to one of the districts?" Jou mou asked hurriedly.

"No...she's gone. We suspect to the real world but we're not sure." Satoshi sighed.

"I knew your kids were gonna give you hell. You trained her to well. She'll turn up when she wants to." Jou Mou nodded and headed for the back door. "Now before you showed up I was gardening. Bye-bye~ pussycat!" The old lady sing songed her way out the door before slamming it behind her. Shaking his head at the old woman's antics he shunpoed away from the compound to the 2nd Division barracks.


When he got there another man had just fallen to Omaeda. The man grunted and moved to get up. His efforts were stopped when Omaeda kicked him in the back. Spitting in the direction of the now unconscious man, Omaeda cast a beady eye at everyone else.

"Are you all gonna stand there and gawk or is there anyone that can defeat this brawny beautiful beast in front of you? I know you commoners wish that you could be as good looking and rich as I am. Now add another thing to your list. None of you will ever be stronger than me!" He barked his ego across the courts. Some cheered him on while others jeered.

"Brawny beautiful beast? Don't you mean; big, fat, incompetent bastard?" A deep baritone voice rang out through the noise. Everyone stopped yelling.

"Who said that?" Omaeda growled looking around for the culprit. "Whose the coward hiding within the crowd and throwing insults?"

"Is that the best you've got?" The voice laughed. "You're so full of yourself fatty! I see you were so impressed with your first chin that you added two more."

Snickers could be heard throughout the courtyard and Marenoshin was getting angrier by the second. "Come out you bastard!" He yelled.

"Keep your shirt on, it probably took you days to get your arms into it." Omaeda turned to where he heard the voice and the next thing he knew, he was face down in the dirt.

"Lesson number one, a soldier of the stealth force blends in and uses the surroundings to his advantage." Omaeda spat out the dirt and turned to find no one except for the crowd that surrounded him. He got up and pushed the circle of people wider so that he had more room to see a possible attack. This wouldn't help him as he was leveled onto his back from a punch to the face. The crowd was murmuring in fascination. No one had seen the hit land but obviously knew it had from the blood coming from the burly lieutenants nose.

"Damn yew!" Omaeda groused using a hand to try and staunch the blood flow. Satoshi stepped out of the crowd and beckoned him to 'bring it'. The heavy man was on his feet in seconds swinging at his attacker. However his oppponent moved like water. Every time he would think he was going to get the man, his opponent changed his movements.

"Lesson number two." Satoshi grunted out as he ducked under a punch to grab his opponents arm. "A strength can also be a weakness if too heavily relied on. If your opponents relies on a skill, find a way to use it against him." As he spoke he used Marenoshin's momentum to flip him over and slam him onto his back. The force of impact was so great the ground briefly trembled.

The dust hung in the air settled to reveal a warrior the Onmitsukido soldiers were unfamiliar with. He had just bested their lieutenant without breaking a sweat. Omaeda was on the ground groaning and clutching at his chest for air. He probably had a couple broken ribs.

"I'd give you a third lesson but it seems that I've tuckered out you daily capacity for learning. Instead I'll give you a rule that's off the books but known by all who are wise: Don't insult the family leader of the Tenshi Heisoban or else he'll send me." Satoshi growled out.

"Who-" Omaeda wheezed, "who the hell-...are you?" He gasped out finally. He was met with steely blue eyes that reminded him of ice.

"Guardian of the Tenshi Heisoban."


When night fell Sui-Feng was still training hard in the field she was supposed to meet Kenta. She had become frustrated with her hakuda as the powerful strikes didn't feel the same.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" Sui-Feng yelled into the night air.

"Well for one I'd say you've been around that foul mouthed Kukaku for too long."

Sui-Feng looked for the source of the voice to see a man clad in her family shozoko.

"Who are you and why are you wearing those?!" Sui-Feng pointed a demanding finger.

"Tsk tsk, young one. Don't you recognize me?" Kenta stepped into the light making Sui-Feng look at him even more suspiciously.

"No, I don't."

"Kenta...and yes, your hakuda definitely needs some work but that's why I'm here." He commented before making a show of stretching.

"Weren't you a- a-"

"Panther? Yes. However I find it easier to do some things with opposable thumbs, if you know what I mean." The only clue that he was smiling were the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Now if you don't mind, come at me little bee."

"Don't call me that." Sui-Feng growled.

"Oh? And what are you going to do about it?" Kenta taunted, his body at the ready for anything the girl could throw at him.

With a growl she leapt at Kenta sending jabs and hooks at his masked face. He nimbly dodged them and countered with his own, pleased as they were blocked.

"Good reaction time." He smirked and dropped to sweep the girls feet out from under her. Sui-Feng back flipped and attacked him again without missing a beat. A front kick missed Kenta's chest by inches and he knew it was time to get serious.

He returned the kicks with a few of his own knocking the girl off balance. As she recovered he shunpoed to the side that was off balance to kick her onto her back. Sui-Feng quickly rolled onto her hands and kicked at Kenta as he rushed in. She was caught off guard however when she realized that the image she saw was only an illusion.

"Looking for me?" was all she heard before she was kicked off her hands and onto her face. She quickly rolled over and was stopped as a fist stopped inches from her nose.

"Good. It's not skill that you lack...it's how you utilize it in battle." He offered the girl a hand to help her up only to have her knock away and stand on her own. Shrugging he continued, "When you fight its almost like Kenpachi but you're not nearly as strong so brute force doesn't suit you. Kenpachi is like a rock, only a rock as tough and hardheaded as him can beat him. However you must be like wind or water."

"What do you mean?" Sui-Feng questioned as she wiped the sweat from her brow. She was a bit irked from being compared to a brute like Kenpachi but she obviously had no room to complain seeing as she was just defeated by a total stranger.

"Rocks are tough and hard to break but the wind and water continuously chip away at it. Water and wind meld to their surroundings, a rock cannot. You flow around your opponent. When you've fought, has it ever felt like you're dancing with your opponent?" Kenta asked as he leaned against a nearby tree.

"Once..." Sui-Feng trailed off as she got a faraway look in her eyes. Kenta felt sorry for the girl but didn't let her lament long.

"I'm guessing it wasn't with a true opponent then. Why did you feel like you were dancing? Do you remember?" Placing his arms behind his head he leaned back to listen.

"It was against..."She stopped and took a deep breath. "My mentor. She always liked to play tag and somehow from there it went from a game to a small battle. It was almost as if our bodies were synchronized. Moving to music that only we could hear." The silence after she finished was palpable.

"Ahem." Kenta cleared his throat. "Are you sure it was fighting and not foreplay?" He chuckled as the girl turned beet red.

"That's absurd! Besides she's in love with that idiot Urahara." Sui-Feng snapped.

"What makes you so sure?"

"...I'm here aren't I?

Neither said anything. Kenta wasn't quite sure what to say and Sui just wanted to forget about it.

"Well, I have to ask...why are you training?" He leaned forward resting his arms on his knees.

"To bring her back." She whispered.

"And what if she doesn't want to?"

"I'll make her."

"Then I have only one last question. Are you prepared to do anything and everything possible to protect the Shihouin family even if Yoruichi is not here?"

The sounds of the cicadas chirping in the distance were the only sound heard.

"I am the blade of the Shihouin family, even if I have been forsaken by Yoruichi-sama I will still serve the family head if he finds me worthy."

"Well then we have a lot of work to do." Kenta jumped up light as a grasshopper.

"Training?" Sui-Feng blinked.

"Well yeah, you don't think you can bring her back as you are now do you?" Kenta raised an eyebrow in her direction. When didn't receive an answer he replied, "I thought so."

"How do I know that you can even train me for that?" Sui-Feng gave him a sardonic look.

"Because I trained her father."

Sui-Feng's look of shock told Kenta that he had convinced her.

"Meet me here every other night at the same time and we'll see if you can achieve your goal."


Months went by and Sui-Feng trained like a woman possessed. She woke up to eat and train. When Kukaku got sick of the way she smelled she would throw her in the bathroom and lock the door. Other than that she had only one focus; bringing Yoruichi back. Kenta taught her more than she thought possible. Her hakuda was getting better by leaps and bounds, her shunpo was increasing in speed and distance. She still couldn't keep up with Kenta which frustrated her to no end and made him smile.

"If you could catch me I wouldn't have anything else left to teach you." He would laugh and make her continue.

Kenta was a true shinobi in his own right. He taught Sui-Feng about every way to track a target, hide from a pursuer, and cover her tracks. She was becoming a true soldier of the Onmitsukido. With Yoruichi she had been chosen to be her bodyguard because she had been the best but, also showed the most potential. They had unlocked the girl's Shikai but had not begun to truly cultivate the skill she would need to wield it properly. Then there was the matter of the girl achieving Bankai. Since Yoruichi had left in the middle of her training Kenta would finish what she started. There were times where he would find himself thinking about her possibly being a captain in the near future but it was still too early for that.

He was quite pleased at the amount of effort she gave and noticed that she was practicing the techniques when he wasn't around. There was one thing that was beginning to bother him. The girl's aura was becoming dark and he didn't like that. It seemed that she was still harboring ill feelings about her situation and training wasn't going to be sufficient in calming her demons. She might need a professional to see what was going on in her mind.


The 1st Division was quiet, reflecting the dreary weather outside. It had been raining all day and showed no signs of letting up. Genryuusai Yamamoto sat at his desk reviewing the reports from his captains when his Lieutenant came in bearing news of Shihouin Satoshi requesting an audience. He had been expecting this for a while now since the noble's daughter had left Sereitei. Nodding his head in compliance he set the report he had been reading down and leaned back in his seat.

Satoshi came in and nodded his head in recognition to the Captain Commander. "Interesting day we're having, hm?"

"Yes, and I wager it will only become more so since you're here. I've been meaning to ask you about a curious report I received from the 2nd Division a few weeks ago. Something about a blue eyed demon brutally beating the Lieutenant into a coma. I'm sure some of the facts are exaggerated but do you happen to know anything?" Yamamoto answered peering at the Shihouin leader with one eye.

"Haha, yes that would be me. I had to take him down a notch or two." Satoshi replied a little embarrassed.

"Why not just do it like a normal person instead of parading around as some masked vigilante? It's not like it's not your division." Yamamoto sighed.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not going to be taking the captaincy position"

"What?" Yamamoto opened both eyes to stare at the man incredulously. "Then who is going to fill that position? Certainly not Omaeda since you tried to kill him."

"Of course not." Satoshi scoffed. "I have someone in mind but I would like more time to observe them. Until then I would like to borrow the services of one of your captains if I may."

"Name?" Yamamoto grunted

"Unohana Restu." Satoshi said slowly. "I need her to evaluate the candidate I have in mind but would like to keep this off the books."

"I have no idea what you're up to but I'll permit it, but on one condition. I need someone from the Onmistukido to do a covert mission for me. I need your best." The old man leveled a stare at the younger one. Satoshi knew who the man wanted but wasn't sure that it was a good idea at the moment.

"The 4th seat is quite capable of-"

"No I want the girl. She was Yoruichi's best and I want her for this." The staff butt hitting the ground letting Satoshi know that he couldn't sway the decision. Maybe it was time to see if the girl truly had what it took.

"Very well."