AN:

Hey, guys. I think it's been 13 days since the last update and, yes, I'm ashamed of myself, too.

I'm extremely sorry, but I had tons of National History Day (if you know what that is) work, and my group didn't even advance into county. So poops.

But from now on, my fanfiction will take at least a week to update.

I've been getting a lot more reviews lately, too, and I'm appreciating it so much. I'm glad I don't have to blackmail you guys or give you virtu-...nah, I'll still give you virtual brownies.

I guess, read and review.

Oh, and the fun disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER: I wish I owned Bleach. Then I could own Gin Ichimaru and have him all to myself...hehehehe.


MICE
Chapter 8

Yoruichi watched in horror as their Zanpakutos glowed bright white and transformed.

"Kisuke! Gin! Stop it! This is pointless!"

"Yoruichi, I'm defending you from your kidnapper." said Urahara as he deflected one of Shinso's attacks.

Urahara then whipped out his fan and held it up to his face.

"Isn't that so courageous of me?"

"Don't lose focus!" teased Gin, as his Shinso lengthened in a blink of an eye, only to be deflected once again by Benehime's blood mist shield.

"I was talking! You're not supposed to play dirty in a duel." said Urahara as he pocketed his fan.

"Criminals like you wouldn't play fair in the first place."

Urahara frowned, "If only so..."

Shinso shot through the air, grazing Urahara's cheek. As the blood slid down his face, Gin grinned.

"Let's play." said Gin as he twirled a shortened Shinso in his hand.

Urahara lunged forward with his sword, swinging it at Gin's neck, only to be stopped by Shinso. As Urahara jumped away, Gin lunged his sword at him, missing Urahara's waist by a millimeter. Gin smiled, and his sword shot forward in a beam of light, which Urahara was able to dodge just in time.

"Kisuke!" shouted Yoruichi.

Suddenly, a hand was on Urahara's back. Gin's eyes slowly widened from their usual slits, exposing the brilliant blue irises that hid behind.

"That's very dirty...especially for you, Ulquiorra." said Gin, as he watched the dark green wisps of spirit energy gather in the small of Urahara's back.

"Cero." whispered Ulquiorra, as the fireball launched from his hand and through Urahara's chest.

However, Gin's smile was interrupted by a sudden pop and Urahara was reduced to rubbery strips that lay strewn on the ground.

Ulquiorra lifted his head and opened his eyes to meet Gin's, "Portable gigai. Now where's the woman?"

Gin's smile faded, noticing that Yoruichi was not in the room anymore.

"Urahara..." muttered Gin as he walked to the window, where he saw Urahara fleeing the castle walls with Yoruichi in tow.

5:31 AM

"Kisuke! Let go!"

"Why?" said Urahara as he peered over his shoulder to check for followers.

"We have to go back!"

"Of course not! They'll catch us!"

"Let go!"

"I can't!"

"Just let me!"

"No!"

"Kisuke..." said Yoruichi as she yanked her hand away from him.

"I-I'm not supposed to go...yet."

"What do you mean?" he said.

"I...belong here instead." murmured Yoruichi, as she turned to look at Las Noches, where a purple-haired, white-clad Soul Reaper was rushing toward them.

"Here in Las Noches? With the Arrancars? With Aizen?" said Urahara, in a worried tone.

"No..."

"Then why?"

Urahara's eyes widened with disbelief as he looked at Yoruichi's troubled face. Urahara closed his eyes and murmured under his breath.

"With who?"

Yoruichi paused and looked down into the sand.

"With Gin. With Gin Ichimaru."

Urahara turned his head away toward his left, not daring to look Yoruichi in the eye.

Yoruichi wrapped her arms around Urahara and pulled him in for a hug.

"Goodbye, Kisuke." said Yoruichi, with a faint smile on her lips, "See ya later."

"Yoruichi!"

Urahara reached for her arm, but only grabbed the dark air of the night, for Yoruichi had disappeared.

5:36 AM

Yoruichi used flash step to appear before the running Gin, who swept her in his arms and, together, tumbled into the sand.

"Yoruichi...you're back." whispered Gin with a sigh of relief, as he braided his fingers in her dark, violet hair.

"Gin..."

Suddenly, Yoruichi heard the metal shink of a sword slide through flesh and saw only Gin's icy eyes fly open and dull.

5:37 AM