A/N: Oh god, this is so embarrassing. I was clearing my computer of my old files and I saw the previous chapters of You Never Knew. It's been almost two years since I last updated and ahhhhh! Gomen. I'm gonna aim to get this finished by the time I graduate from college, which is in three and a half months. So hopefully by end June, the story will be completed and you all will forget about me abandoning this for 22 months. It sounds so bad when put that way D:

You'll be glad to know that I thought the rest of the story through and I've figured out a way to connect everything to the end, which I have been dying to write. I thought of the ending when I was writing the third chapter, somewhere around there. So enjoy and hopefully, I'll have time to get another chapter up before my Easter holidays.


Chapter 9: Caught

Reacting instinctively, Yoruichi pulled away from Kisuke and jammed her fist against his chin, sending him flying away from her and right towards the witness. Kisuke sat up, rubbing his chin gingerly as Yoruichi shot him an apologetic look before shifting her attention t the person behind him.

For a split second, Kisuke wondered who it was.

Yamamoto Taichou? No. He'd probably blast them with Ryūjin Jakka before they could draw two breaths. He wasn't a big fan of Captains getting overly friendly with one another. Not to mention he'd sense the old man's reiatsu a mile away. Okay, maybe not, since he was significantly distracted.

Soi Fon? That little apprentice Kidou Corp girl who idolized Yoruichi would probably have stood frozen at the doorway or ran away after letting out a small squeak. Either way, Yoruichi wouldn't still be staring behind him if she was still there.

Kuchiki Byakuya? Definitely not. Yells of 'Demon cat!' or some other self-righteous proclamation would have been heard by now.

Perhaps it was time he stopped contemplating. Kisuke turned around and who he saw was not who he expected.

Shiba Kuukaku.

She glared down at him, with a expression that gave nothing away. Silently, she walked over t Yoruichi's overturned table, rearranged it and sat behind it. In her trademark posture of sitting cross legged, chin in hand, arm on leg, she looked at the two. They were looking at her with such apprehension.

Finally, she broke the silence.

'So this is what's been keeping the two of you from visiting me.'

--

'Well, I suppose we were lucky it was only Kuukaku-san,' said Kisuke as he adjusted his hat to his preferred position, tilted just enough t cast shadows over his eyes the way he liked it. 'Her latest invention was interesting, yes?' he continued absent-mindedly, thinking about Kuukaku's recently completed project she had turned up to show them.

Yoruichi scoffed, crossing her arms as they crossed the courtyard of her estate. She wasn't particularly angry for making her lose control like that. Random risks like that kept life interesting, it gave her a thrill to know she was defying her clan elders who were already not entirely pleased with her leading the clan, being the first female leader. Not to mention that they kept urging her to marry another noble and produce an heir. To them, Kisuke wouldn't be suitable simply because he wasn't a noble. They barely even approved of their relationship when they were friends growing up.

That aside, she was annoyed after having endured an hour of Kuukaku's relentless jibes that she had finally been 'made into a domestic woman'. Despite knowing that her friend was just having a laugh, Yoruichi was miffed.

She was turning soft. But as she turned to look at Kisuke, she felt her resentment ebb away. It was amazing, really, how he calmed her, how he made her see the bigger picture. Perhaps it wasn't so bad if a few more people knew about them. They'd find out sooner or later. She doubted even the two of them could keep this a secret for the next hundred years.

Yoruichi smiled to herself as that thought passed through her mind. There she was, getting ahead of herself. Somehow, a warm fuzzy feeling filled her when she thought about their future together.

They stopped at the arch leading to the main courtyard of the Secret Corps. Kisuke leaned against the pillar and tilted his hat forwards to cover his eyes, giving her the impression that he had gone to sleep standing up.

Mimicking him, she leaned against the other pillar, deep in thought. It could be possible that they were being too cautious. Scratch that. Perhaps she was being too careful. After all, it was her idea to keep mum, uncharacteristically so. She supposed she enjoyed the exclusiveness of the idea of their relationship taking a new turn. It was time to throw caution to the wind.

'Kisuke.'

He peered out from under his hat, raising an eyebrow as she reached up to grab his hat.

'No no no, Yoruichi-san. The hat stays on the head,' Kisuke reasoned, fending off Yoruichi with one hand, jamming his hat onto his head with the other. He never saw it coming when Yoruichi grabbed his neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss.

Before he had a chance to react, Yoruichi was gone, ten feet above him, standing on the top of the arch and twirling his hat with her fingers, grinning roguishly at him. In a flash, she was gone.

Kisuke rubbed the back of his neck and half smiled. Women. He'd never understand them and their peculiar ways. With a shrug, he stretched lazily and walked towards the Shinigami Research Institute. He should really get a move on his latest project.

He would get his hat back later.

--

Yoruichi took Soi Fon out to the forest for some Hollow banishing, a test of how much the young assassin had learned since entering Yoruichi's personal guard. Zanpakuto in hand, Yoruichi cast a swift glance to the girl running by her side and smiled. Her brow was furrowed, hands gripping her sword in a way that gave her blows strength and flexibility.

At the appearance of a Hollow, Soi Fon leapt into the air, slicing it through the middle before somersaulting back to the ground, already searching for her next victim. Yoruichi took a step back and gave the girl her space, watching her. She was improving.

Suddenly, a Hollow, more grotesque than the others so far grabbed Soi Fon, pinning her arms to her sides. She dropped her zanpakuto, struggling helplessly against the iron grip of the monster before her.

Just as swiftly as she had been imprisoned, Soi Fon felt the Hollow's grip loosen and saw its arm disintegrate. Looking up, her eyes filled with admiration. Yoruichi had flashstepped with such blinding speed, driving her zanpakuto into the centre of the Hollow's mask, vanquishing it.

Soi Fon lay on the ground in awe as her idol turned around and walked back towards Soul Society. 'Let's go back.'

She had barely taken two steps when she heard Soi Fon call out to her.

'My apologies, your Excellency Madam Commander.' Soi Fon had completely forgotten Yoruichi's request to be less formal with her. 'It should have been me protecting you. But because of my weakness, you…'

'Ha!'

Soi Fon raised her head and was greeted by the sight of Yoruichi throwing back her head in laughter.

'Is that the problem? Don't worry about it. It is the Commander's responsibility to protect her subordinates.'

'But-'

'When I say it's alright, it's alright.'

Soi Fon bit her lip and focused guiltily at rock in front of her, ignoring the burning of her cheeks. It was so embarrassing, yet thrilling, to have Yoruichi-sama save her.

'Oy.'

The girl looked up. Yoruichi had stretched her hand out for hers. Hesitating for a second, Soi Fon put her hand in Yoruichi's and stood up.

'Hai,' Yoruichi signed, looking at the moon as the breeze caught the trees, sending leaves flying gracefully in all directions under the silver moonlight. 'It seems like such a waste to return to Soul Society on such a beautiful night. Let's go for a walk.'

In an instant, Yoruichi disappeared from Soi Fon's side and materialized on the branch of a trees, legs crossed, left hand on hip and right against the tree. 'Coming little bee?'

With a smile, Soi Fon flashed stepped to her Commander's side and followed her into the depths of the forest, relishing in chance to spend time with the most important person in her life.

--

It was late when Yoruichi returned to her quarters. She walked over to her desk and scrunched her nose at the pile of paperwork that found it's way onto her desk while she had been out. There went her plan of sleeping in.

The reflection of her bright orange vest in the mirror caught her attention and she squatted beside her desk to measure the height of the papers. Silently, she straightened up and walked towards it. Turning around to get a back view, she smiled to herself. The vest pleased her immensely. Not to mention it added some colour to the monotonous black and white of Shinigami robes.

Studying her reflection, she wondered how she would look if she let her hair grow. Not once in her hundred years had she let it grow beyond her shoulders. It was just too troublesome. Not to mention she had no reason or purpose for its increased length. Her days were spent in the courtyard training members of her Secret Corp or babysitting Little Byakuya. Either way, she spent her days in combat.

Her forefinger curled a stray strand of hair, imagining it long and flowy, cascading down her back. She wondered if Kisuke would like it. Wrinkling her nose, she could just see him playing with it to just to annoy her or distract her from something else of greater significance.

He'd stand beside her, as he always did, making her feel so much smaller than him as his height cast a shadow over her. His arm would be around her shoulders, long finger curling her hair and tickling her. Yoruichi could almost imagine the tingling sensation –

'Madam Commander!'

Yoruichi was snapped out of her reverie as a Secret Corp member, head to toe in black, slid the door to her quarters open. Swiftly crossing her arms and appearing stoic, she let out a 'Hng' to acknowledge his presence. She was not at all pleased at being interrupted.

'Madam Commander, it's Urahara Taichou.'

Her heart plummeted. The way he said it gave her the chills. It was almost as if something horrible had befallen Kisuke. Keeping her emotions in check and from showing her face, she crossed her arms, fingernails biting into them and leaving marks.

'Urahara Taichou has been arrested.'


A/N: How was it? Let me know what you think, whether I've strayed off the various personalities and lost touch with Bleach. I've given up on the anime but I'm faithful to the manga. Hope you all enjoyed it.