I think this is where I need to apologize the most. It's been over two months since the last update. So, without further ado...

Plllllllleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssseeee forgive me for taking so long! It wasn't intentional, I swear! So, so, SO sorry. Hope it's worth the wait!

A Pledge of Love
Requested By: mechagigan2004

Reader:
James
Male
Appears to be 18
Ear-length blonde hair, Green eyes, Medium-tan skin, Toned, slim frame, Stealth force shihakushō, 5'2"
N/A
Soul
Able to bend water and fire

Character:
Yoruichi Shihōin
Female
N/A
Purple hair in a ponytail, Golden eyes, Dark skin, Slender frame, Black. backless, sleeveless undershirt, Orange over-shirt with two white stripes on each shoulder, Large beige sash around waist, black stretch pants, Lightweight brown shoes, 5'1½"
Shihōin Clan
Soul
Shunpo and Hakuda master

Plot: I made this plot up. It takes place after the Soul Society Arc. Hope you enjoy it!
Relationship: James was under Yoruichi whilst she was Captain of Squad 2 and the leader of the Stealth Force.
Word Count: 2,457

James walked through the cherry blossoms. It had been a taxing day; scratch that. It had been a taxing few weeks. After everything that had happened, he needed to clear his head.

Around three weeks ago, Rukia Kuchiki had been recalled from the World of the Living. From what James understood, she had been sent on a mission from the Head Captain himself. In any case, she had been called home before her time was up. It turns out that everything had not been what it seemed.

Sōsuke Aizen, the now ex-Captain of Squad 5, had fooled everyone… and he had been at it a long time. He had wanted something Kisuke Urahara had hidden inside Rukia's gigai: the Hōgyoku. Evidently, it was a very powerful device, holding the power to transcend the limits of a Soul Reaper. The thought frightened James to his very core. In order to get the Hōgyoku, Rukia had to die. James bristled at the thought.

"To think… everyone had been tricked by that two-faced lying bastard. He even convinced Ichimaru and Tousen to join him!" A growl rumbled in James' throat. "He even tried to kill Lieutenant Hinamori!"

His fingers began to steam. The Stealth Force member quickly regained control of himself. He hadn't spent centuries honing his skills over water and fire to lose control over his emotions. Sighing, he kneeled where he stood. A slight breeze blew through the orchard, ruffling his blonde hair.

'Focus. Let your thoughts flow.' He steadily began to breathe in and out as his emerald green eyes reflexively closed. 'Let them flow. Don't hold onto just one.' Everything that had happened ran through his mind.

Rukia's imprisonment…

The escalation of her execution…

The ryoka coming to save her…

The battles waged in the Seireitei…

All the blood that was shed…

Yoruichi's return…

'Yoruichi.' James' eyes opened the slightest bit, emerald green glowing in the full moon's light. It was hard to not grab hold of her memory. No… for James… it was impossible.

He had known her ever since she was born. From the moment she came into the world of the Soul Society, he had sworn to protect her. Granted, he himself was a child then, but only in age. He had always had a more mature mind than his peers, becoming more serious as time went on.

As Yoruichi aged and grew stronger, so did he. He did his best to ensure she would never be in any danger. Yoruichi saw him as her most loyal bodyguard and best friend. He saw her as so much more. She was his lady, his commander, his captain…

And his secret love.

He couldn't help but fall in love with her as time went on. At first, he thought he watched her train as closely as he did to help her get better. He thought it was for the purpose of keeping her safe that he would watch her sleep. He thought he paid attention to her conversations so as to catch any slip up of a potential enemy.

And all of that was true… but it wasn't the whole truth.

He watched her train because he loved the way her body moved with the form. The way her eyes would harden in concentration, the way her amethyst hair would flow with the wind created by her movements. He watched her sleep because then and only then was her face peaceful. He would see so many emotions run over her face and through her eyes in a day, it was refreshing to see her at peace. To see her without a care in this world or the next. He listened so closely because he loved her voice.

He never told her how he felt. How could he? He was born in the Seireitei, true, but she was nobility. She was his superior in every way, except when it came to the realms of fire and water. It had been over a century since the last time he had laid eyes on his lady. Naturally he had been ecstatic to learn she had returned to the Soul Society. However, that joy soon turned into sorrow upon learning why she had returned… and why she had left in the first place.

James had always blamed himself, even more than Suì-Fēng. He had been with Yoruichi since her birth. He felt responsible for her, so to lose her under his watch was unforgivable. Everyone took blame, and everyone said that if she could give the entire Stealth Force the slip, then there had to be a good reason. It didn't stop James from feeling he had failed her.

"If I had just paid more attention… maybe I could have helped her."

"And you have." James leapt from his kneeling position. Pulling the water from the grass, he hardened it into stilettos, bringing his arm back to throw them. A chuckle sounded from the darkness… one all too familiar to him. The figure stepped from the shadows, golden eyes glinting in the moonlight.

"I see you still like prowling as an animal." He teased, letting the water return to the ground. The cat chuckled again, walking towards him. "Here." Taking off his shirt, he dropped it over her. Turning around, he waited till she tapped his shoulder before looking at her. Even though they were about the same height, his shirt reached to her knees, forming a dress of sorts.

"Is there a reason your shirt is so big? I feel like I'm drowning in it." James chuckled, tightening the belt around her waist.

"Well, maybe if you had been wearing your own clothes, I wouldn't have had to sacrifice half of mine." A huff passed her lips.

"You didn't answer the question James." The blonde had to suppress a shiver at his name being spoken by that voice.

"I've learned from past experience, Yoruichi." He looked her in the eyes. "Your favorite pastime was finding ways to surprise me by popping out naked." Yoruichi laughed softly. James joined in, his deep chuckles melding with her lighter ones. "What are you doing out here?"

"Could ask you the same thing."

"But you didn't." Yoruichi smiled fondly at him.

"You always were quick with the comebacks. That's something I always liked about you." James tilted his head. "I was looking for you, actually." He blinked rapidly in surprise.

"Why?" Yoruichi sighed, looking down. "Milady?"

"I wanted to apologize." James blinked again. Reaching out, he gently took her hands in his.

"Why?" he asked softly. Yoruichi shrugged.

"I left… without saying anything to you." She looked into his eyes as she spoke now. "I apologized to Suì-Fēng while we were fighting, but I didn't apologize to you yet." James' eyes softened slightly. Lifting a hand, he tucked her bangs behind her ear.

"You don't need to apologize, Milady. You were just doing what you felt to be right, as usual." Yoruichi snorted softly.

"Still…" Bending her head, she rested in on his sternum. Out of reflex, his arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her close. "I'm sorry James. It wasn't fair of me to just leave you like that." James sighed, resting his head on hers.

"You're right. It wasn't." Yoruichi stiffened, but he wasn't done. "But I never hated you for it."

"James…"

"I knew that if you couldn't trust even me with what you were about to do, then you couldn't trust anyone. I respected that." He swallowed, his arms tightening slightly. "That's why I didn't go after you. I knew… I knew you knew what you were doing."

Yoruichi wrapped her arms around his back, her fingers hooking onto his shoulders. She buried her face in his bare chest, relishing in his warmth. Since he had control over fire, he was warmer than most Souls. She remembered how, when they were kids, she would have him sleep with her whenever she was cold. They would hold each other just like they were now, keeping each other company until morning came. He would always be gone when she woke, but the futon was still warm, signaling it was never just a dream.

"Thinking about when we were kids?" Yoruichi jumped in surprise. James' chest rumbled under her cheek with his laughter.

"How did you know?"

"You were drawing circles with your left pointer finger and tapping with your right middle finger." Pulling back, Yoruichi stared into his amused emeralds. "You always did that when you were thinking."

"But how did you know I was thinking about us when we were kids?"

"The way I'm holding you right now." Yoruichi nodded. "That… and the way you pressed into me just now was a dead giveaway." Yoruichi could feel her cheeks heat up.

"I… I did not!" James snickered, rubbing his nose on hers. It always made her blush, and now was no exception.

"You're blushing."

"Am not!" she insisted.

"Oh really? Then what's this?" He poked her cheek. She swatted his hand away.

"My cheeks are just dark!"

"Not usually this dark." She huffed, forcefully turning her head away. Her hair smacked him in the face. "Um… Yoruichi?"

"What?"

"Could you get your hair out of my face?" Glancing out of the corner of her eye, Yoruichi had to bite her lip to keep from bursting out in laughter. Her hair was strewn all over his face, making it look like some sort of swamp monster with purple seaweed all over his face. James huffed, blowing a few strands up. They landed at obscure angles, looking like cat whiskers.

She couldn't stop herself.

Yoruichi burst out laughing, bending over best she could, considering she was still in James' embrace. Lifting a hand, he brushed her hair out of his face, scowling good-naturedly at her. She noticed, but just laughed harder. James' scowl deepened.

"You think that's funny, do you?" She could only nod. "I'll show you funny." Realizing what was coming, Yoruichi tried to break free.

"Too late!" James began tickling her sides. Yoruichi's laughter became squeals as he tackled her to the ground, preventing her from using Shunpo. For extra measure, he froze her legs to the ground.

"H-hey! N-no – HAHA! – No fair!" James cackled in victory.

"All is fair in love and war, Milady!" He moved one hand to her stomach while using the other to scratch behind her ear. Yoruichi's ability to transform into a cat had its advantages and its weaknesses. One of the latter was loving to have her ears scratched.

"James! Don't do that!"

"Why not?" His eyes glinted devilishly. "Isn't it a rule of battle to exploit your enemy's weakness?"

"I'll show you weakness." Before he could react, Yoruichi slammed her lips onto his. James' hands froze. His entire body did.

Yoruichi mentally smirked. She knew about James' feelings for her. She had for a long time. She had just never acted on it… because she didn't know how she felt about him.

It was true that they weren't of the same social status. However, that didn't really matter. After all, Byakuya had married someone who was far from nobility, and had had a wonderful marriage. While it lasted anyways.

In the century she had been away from the Soul Society, Yoruichi had had a lot of time on her hands to just think. Think about what she was going to do now… think about the people she left behind. James was always at the forefront of her mind in some form or another. She couldn't get him out of her head.

Which is how she figured out that she was in love with him… and had been for a very long time.

Of course, she couldn't just go back and tell him. She wasn't allowed in the Soul Society any more. It didn't stop her from falling deeper in love with him though. As they say, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder". And how true it was.

Yoruichi was snapped from her thoughts when fingers entwined in her hair. She realized that James was returning her kiss and she, subconsciously, had been continuing to kiss him. Now that she realized what was going on, she threw herself wholeheartedly into it, wrapping her arms fully around his neck. His free hand pressed into her hip, his thumb stroking the curve of her bone. She shivered, earning a throaty chuckle from the male.

When they parted, their eyes were half-lidded as they stared at each other. Both were panting for breath, their lips slightly swollen. Yoruichi searched James's eyes as he rested his weight on his elbow. His hand was still playing with her hair.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He whispered huskily.

"I think I do." James tilted his head slightly. Yoruichi wound a strand of his silky blonde hair around her finger. "I've wanted to do that for a while too."

"You… you have?" Yoruichi nodded, lifting her head to gently press her lips to his once more. He reciprocated, gently nipping her lip as they parted again. "Yoruichi, I…" James sighed slightly, pressing his forehead to hers. "I love you Yoruichi."

"I love you too James." Yoruichi nudged his nose with hers. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize." James laughed softly, sitting up. He pulled her up with him, setting her on her feet. She stood, but he remained kneeling. "James?"

"I pledge myself to you, Yoruichi Shihōin." Yoruichi's golden eyes widened. "My body is to protect you. My spirit is to serve you. My blade is for your use." James looked up, meeting her gaze.

"My heart is in your hands." Yoruichi couldn't suppress a grin. Kneeling down, she cupped his face in her hands.

"And mine is in yours." James smiled as well, turning his head to kiss her palm. Standing, he helped her up.

"It's getting late. We should probably head back." Yoruichi frowned.

"But I'm not allowed back." James smirked.

"Well, if you transform back into a cat, I could put you in my shirt and sneak you in. No one will notice. I'm usually the last one to go to bed." Yoruichi smirked. A cloud of mist surrounded her as she shrunk. James picked up his shirt, putting it back on. Yoruichi jumped up, climbing into his shirt as he tied it back together.

"Comfy?"

"Very." came the purred reply. James snickered, using Shunpo to arrive in his room. Yoruichi leapt out, landing on his futon curling up. By the time he was ready for bed, she had already transformed back into her human form and was fast asleep. Chuckling, James draped a blanket over her before curling up next to her.

"Goodnight, Milady. Sleep well."

Just a little reminder that requests are still closed. I'm not taking any more requests at the moment. Besides the fact that I'm behind on the ones I already have, school is an absolute b!tch right now, so I have no free time. In case you're wondering, I'm publishing this at 08:26 PST. I've been up since 5 so I could finish it.
Feel free to review and tell me what you think, but please no requests. I'll let you know when you guys can start requesting again. Thank you!