Domo! Hello everyone. Sorry for the long wait but with it being the end of the semester most of my time has been dedicated to my studies. 4.0 woot! I only have 2 weeks left so you can expect the chapters to pick up. This is longer than my other chapters to make up for the long wait. The story is about to take an interesting turn of events! And now with out further ado! On with the show!

Only Ever Yours

Chapter 4

It didn't take long for the Shihouin Princess to get back into the swing of things. The Eighth division had been well structures thanks to its previous Captain. It didn't surprise Yoruichi knowing how dedicated Nanao was to keep things in working condition without much room for error. However, Nanao couldn't take all the credit. When someone saw the prior Captain of the eighth they saw the laziest man in all of Sereitei but no one knew the true genius the man possessed. The problem was he had no motivation, something that she could understand. Where was the fun in signing paper work and barking out orders? It did give her a chance to be closer to Sui and for that she was thankful.

As Yoruichi walked the halls of her new squad her lieutenant brought her up to date with the current events. Apparently there was a problem with the construction of the barracks. Someone had neglected to report a leak in the roof of the 3rd building which coincidentally was joined with the 4th building, now both buildings were uninhabitable due to the water damage. As they arrived at her office Yoruichi a seat at her desk waiting for the lieutenant to finish. The man was rather uptight and long-winded. At least he looked like he could hold his own.

"That concludes the report Shihouin-dono." Akamastu Hiro snapped a salute to his captain. When he first heard that the infamous Shihouin Yoruichi was to become the Captain of the Eighth Division he was astonished. He had heard the news when she had been banished years ago so to see her back in the realm of captains he knew she was a fierce woman.

"Captain is fine Hiro. Tell me, how is this division in speed? You see I feel it is always important to be able to out move your opponent. Not only logically, but physically, don't you agree?" Yoruichi said regarding her second in command.

"Yes Captain. The squad will have to display of their speed to satisfy your curiosity however, if I must I feel the hand to hand could really use some work." Hiro said slowly as if he was weighing his words right as they left him.

Yoruichi smiled, " Very good Hiro-san you're already looking to be a compatible right hand!"

"Um...right hand captain?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Real world term that rubbed off on me." Yoruichi waved him off. "Let me know when you find a contractor to rebuild barracks 3 and 4. Until then alert the squad that they all have to figure out how to stay in 1 and 2 or find other shelter. That is all for now."

Hiro bowed and left Yoruichi to her dreaded paperwork. The princess got a small stack done before she got annoyed with the silence. Setting her pen down she began to think about the last week. She had finally settled herself completely in Sereitei, resumed her lessons for taking over the clan and dedicated herself to her new squad. It was nice to be back. She had missed her father deeply when she left so it was nice to make up for lost time by taking walks in the garden with him or having a meal. The normalcy with him was something she had needed. He always made her feel like everything was going to be alright.

Yoruichi was taken out of her thoughts by a knock on the door. "Come in." The shoji door slid open and a messenger from the second division came in and kneeled in front of her desk. " Naito reporting ma'am." he clipped out.

"Report."

" Captain Sui-Feng insist on ignoring your summons and deliveries. I have been sent to deliver this message only. "I will meet you on the next full moon at the festival." That is all."

This disappointed Yoruichi. She waved for the messenger to leave and once again fell into deep thought. She still hadn't seen Sui-Feng since her father had given them the news. Even thought the younger woman's things had been moved into her wing, or next door to her room, she hadn't been successful in seeing Sui. She had tried sneaking to her office, it was like she was never there. She had tried to catch her at lunch, she always 'just missed her.' She had even gone as far as trying to catch the girl in the bath but she was never there. Games were fun but this was no longer fun to Yoruichi. She wanted to talk to her bee about what was going on. This wasn't easy for her so the first thing she wanted was Sui_Feng around to tell her that it would be okay.

Picking up the pen, Yoruichi resumed her paperwork. There was only so much time that could be wasted worrying when there was still work to be done. She'd have to figure out what to do about Sui-Feng later.

A shadow moved along the walled in the Shihouin Estate. The slinking figure whisked itself through the corridors only pausing in the dark when a servant passed by. It was in the southern wing in search of something. As it went from room to room checking each closet, dresser, and chest it hissed time it found nothing. Finally it came to Yoruichi's room and checked the chest at the foot of her bed. Another hiss. Then the closet.

"Ksss! Where is it? It should be here! " The shadow spat. The smoky edges of its body licked at the surroundings like fire. Inhaling deeply through its eyes snapped to the vanity.

Drifting closer to his target, inky wisps of fingers extended over it, slipping its smoky like digits through each crack and crevice. Again its search had come up with nothing and it growled angrily, until...someting caught his eye. A brush threaded with dark purple hair. Now the shadow began slow purr in curiosity as it grabbed the brush to further investigate. It smelled and looked at the hair before it smiled a sickening smile. It melted into the ground still holding wisps of hair it had pulled from the bristles as it dissappered from Yoruichi's room.

Elsewhere, Sui-Feng was a wreck. Things had become so much more difficult since Yoruichi's reinstatement. It gave the woman access to Sui-Feng's every waking movement. It didn't help that while she was still the captain of the second division some of her soldiers were helping Yoruichi keep track of her on the sly. It didn't take long for her to identify them. At first she was going to deal punishment for their betrayal but changed her mind after she found out why they had 'defected'. At first she didn't believe them. Apparently Yoruichi had used her seat against them. That was out of character for the woman but not exactly a low blow. Yoruichi was known for getting what she wanted, and she wanted Sui. The woman had decided the best way to perform her job protecting Yoruichi and stay away from her was to follow the woman from afar. That way she would always know where Yoruichi was.

It had bothered her to ignore the first few summons from her princess. Thoughts from their previous encounter always stopped her. She couldn't afford for that to happen again. She wouldn't be able to protect Yoruichi and her attachment might cloud her judgement. Besides, after she was married there would be nothing they could do. She was not going to shame Yoruichi nor would she allow the princess to shame herself out of rashness.

She was currently watching Yoruichi from the building next to her office. It was dango shop but the owner was nice enough to let her use the room when Yoruichi was working. The old man was also kind enough to allow her subordinates to deliver their messages to her. Even if she wasn't able to stay in her division she still got her duties as a captain done. She could watch Yoruichi and do her paperwork so long as the purple haired woman stayed in her office.

Looking at Yoruichi made her feel bad for not explaining to the woman why she stayed away. Surely Yoruichi would figure out that their relationship was bordering on inappropriate. Rules were in place for a reason and fraternization was always a sticky situation for captains. Many would think that since both women were captains the rule didn't apply. However, with their history many people would begin to wonder what their original relationship was before Yoruichi left. It didn't help that Sui was only about 14 in human years at the time and Yoruichi 19. That would be scandalous in the eyes of the Gotei 13.

No Sui-Feng had to keep the distance for both their sake. The only reason she had told the princess that she would meet her at the festival was because all captains were required to attend. Sui-Feng had tried to talk to Shunsui reasoning that since she had to protect Yoruichi 24/7 she should really tail the woman instead of attending for all to see. The commander simply laughed and told her, "You too should just kiss and make up, lover spats shouldn't last this long."

Sui-Feng turned sniffed indignantly at his suggestion. "With all due respect commander, my relationship with the Shihouin Princess is strictly business." She said emphasizing the word business.

Shunsui just laughed. "You don't think everyone sees how she looks at you? When she was being voted into her position she only looked to you for approval. Besides everyone knows you're avoiding her. She asked all of us if we've seen you. I am curious though. How is it that the student has surpassed the master? How is it she can't find you?"

Sui-Feng smirked. " She can't find me because she's looking."

Shunsui nodded showing that he understood. " Well let me give you a word of wisdom when it comes to women. Though they seem strong put up a good front, their hearts are still fragile."

Sui-Feng didn't understand what he meant. Yoruichi was far from fragile. She could be cold and calculating when she wanted to be and mischievous and playful the next but, never fragile. She didn't wear her heart on her sleeve and almost never let on to what she was thinking. That was the Yoruichi she knew.

Sui-Feng was broken out of her thoughts as a hell butterfly passed in front of her. Holding out her index finger so it could land she listened to the message.

A captains meeting. Just her luck. Shunsui better have a real emergency or she was going to be furious about having to give Yoruichi the chance to corner her.

When Sui-Feng arrived she noted that Yoruichi still hadn't entered. She had followed her here. Maybe she had gone to drop off some paperwork. Taking her place on the line she waited for the remaining Captains to arrive. Yoruichi arrived last which made Sui-Feng frown. Where had she gone to?

Her question was answered by the puzzled look Yoruichi gave her. She had been already on the hunt to corner her prey. At least she still didn't know how Sui-Feng was avoiding her and hopefully she wouldn't until after the wedding.

Yoruichi took her place just as Shunsui walked out and took his seat.

"This meeting has been called to day to make all captains aware of the new threat in the districts. There have been reports of shadow like figures devouring human and beast alike. In the past week 3 small villages have been reduced to nothing but ghost towns. The Gotei 13 is being placed on a level 2 alert."

The captains looked at each other. They hadn't been on an alert level that high ever not even with Aizen. He had only been categorized as a level 3 threat.

"Commander, what exactly is it that we're up against that warrants a level 2?" Byakuya asked. The only time he had ever heard of a threat that level was when his father was but a baby. His grandfather called it one of the darkest times of Soul Society.

"At the moment we aren't sure that is why I am having the second squad take care of recon until one of these creatures can be positively identified. We have no witnesses that are alive. Our only report came from a man found dying at the edge of one of the villages. His description wasn't the best so we need eyes on our -Feng taicho, is there anything you need before you depart with your squad?" Shunsui asked training his eye on the woman.

"No Commander. I will leave right away." She said turning to leave the hall.

"Commander permission to accompany Sui-Feng taicho for the recon mission." Yoruichi said right before Sui-Feng was out of the chamber.

"Absolutely not!" Sui-Feng growled before the Commander could answer. "You will stay here. I did not ask for your assistance."

"Ahem." Shunsui cleared his throat. " While it is true that Sui-Feng that you didn't ask her for assistance she asked me for permission. Do I need to remind you that during a level 2 threat captains must be paired up for missions. I was going to send Abarai-taicho but since we have a volunteer...she will accompany you." Shunsui said the last part with finality. Sui-Feng was no fool to argue with her commander so she simply nodded and left. The edges of her cloak snapped behind her as she walked.

When she was gone Shunsui turned to Yoruichi, "Remember this is a mission. Settle your problems after, not before."

Yoruichi nodded and shunpoed to catch up with her bee.

It was weird at first taken orders from her ex subordinate. It was almost like watching another person. Sure she knew that Sui-Feng was cold and calculating all the time but this was different. Yoruichi could see why the second division supported their captain. She gave them the feeling that they were invincible. The determination and fearlessness of her face reflected in the eyes of her soldiers. Yoruichi made it her goal to make the eighth rival the second division. That was the only way to better the Gotei 13. Set the standard high and surpass it.

Sui-Feng broke up the squads placing Yoruichi in charge of the 4th squad. Each squad would scout their designated perimeters and see if they could find any leads to their enemy.

The town was eerie. It was just like the commander said. It was as if the entire town had just decided leave without taking any belongings. Fires that were boiling water had either extinguished from lack of kindle while other burned down the sad huts were barely toys lay still in the street and full clothing lines snapped and flapped in the wind. There wasn't a soul in sight. Sui-Feng was about to call it quits when squad 5 reported they had found bloody foot prints. Heading in that direction she made sure not to take notice of Yoruichi who had arrived the same time as her.

"Report" Sui-Feng ordered

"Sir! We found an enormous amount of bloody foot prints heading south. When we pursued we found that they go straight into a pit of quicksand." The soldier reported smartly.

"Show me." Sui- Feng said.

Yoruichi was beginning to feel uneasy. Her caretaker growing up had told her stories of shadows that track blood and disappear into the ground. Maybe it was just coincidence. She followed the lead soldier making sure to keep an eye on her surroundings. When they arrived at the pit the hair on the back of her neck was standing up. Something about this area made her nauseous. The trees were gnarled and black as if they had withered while burning. Everything was dead and there was no living thing in sight.

There was no sound either.

Yoruichi didn't have a chance to shout her warning when the quicksand burst to reveal the disgusting visage of what could only be described as some type op humanoid creature. It surfaced for only a second before it disappeared back into the pit taking a soldier with it. After that all hell broke loose. The ground quaked and the creatures began sliding out of every crack. Some of them looked to be half human half lizard while other looked like deformed wolves, and others had hollow like appearances but were far from it. The screeching they made was akin to that a ravenous bird when it stumbles onto easy prey.

They wore sadistic smiles as bloody drool pooled out between the cracks in their black teeth. Soifon was the first to act.

"Sting all enemies to death Suzumebachi." With out further wait she leapt at the creatures with Yoruichi right behind her. The men followed suit fighting like they were possessed. They knew they were surrounded and had to punch a hole to escape. The group began to fight their way back to the path that led to the village. The surrounding trees made it hard to move quickly and efficiently because the roots seem to raise themselves and trip the men. It didn't help that the shadowed figures were using them to their advantage and trapping the men to devour them. Of the 48 men that came with Sui-Feng less than half remained. and they were still a far cry from the road.

The sounds of the men crying out as their limbs were bitten of was gut wrenching. Some who only had their legs bitten off were trying to use their arms to crawl away. They only made it so far before a creature came through the ground to grab them and drag the down into the earth. It gave the allusion that they were being dragged to hell, or, was it an allusion?

Sui-Feng looked around to find Yoruichi. When she found her she noticed that the majority of the creatures were trying to surrounding her as if she was what they were after. Yoruichi was too fast for them but numbers would be a problem soon if they didn't get out of here. Sui-Feng activated her shunko and blasted the creatures at Yoruichi's unprotected back away.

Yoruichi had felt like this was going to be the end. She could only handle so many creatures at once. With the men around her falling like rain she knew she had to get away as soon as possible. Whenever she tried to move most of the creatures would come after her. She could have cried with joy as Sui-Feng came to help.

"Yoruichi we have to use shunko at the same time and shunpo out of here. There's way too many!" Sui-Feng shouted above the noise. Yoruichi nodded showing that she understood and the 19 men that were left took position to guard the backs of their captains.

Gathering their reiastu they simultaneously blasted the horde of demons out of the way and shunpoed faster than they ever had out of the area. When they were far enough away Sui-Feng looked around at what was left of her and Yoruichi's men. Only 7 remained. They had lost 41 men to those monsters and she still wasn't sure what they were up against. It was time to head back and report this to the Commander. Whatever this was it hadn't just popped up over night. Sui-Feng wanted answers.

After they arrived back in the gates, Sui-Feng debriefed the men and gave them the week off. God knows they would need it and probably more after what they had witnessed today. As she and Yoruichi traveled to the Commander's office, Sui-Feng noticed that Yoruichi was extremely distracted, so much so that she was falling behind.

"Yoruichi-sama, are you tired?" Sui-Feng asked breaking her out of her thoughts.

"No just trying to figure out what the hell those things were." She answered falling back into step with the younger woman.

When they arrived at the 1st division Sui-Feng and Yoruichi were surprised to see Satoshi having, what seemed to be a furious argument with the Captain Commander.

"Why would you send them both out there? How could you? If this is what we think it is you just gave that demon what he wanted? That's my daughter you insensitive bast-"

"Father!" Yoruichi called out. What had him so worked up? She was a captain it was her job to go after danger.

Satoshi ran to his daughter and checked her over making sure the blood she was wearing was not her own. "You aren't injured?" He asked her. When she shook her head he swept her into a bone crushing hug. " Thank God!"

"Father what's wrong why are you so angry with Commander Kyoraku? He was only doing his job." Yoruichi asked after he had released her.

"No he was proving a theory and used you as the bait!" He said vehemently still worked up over the fact that the man had almost delivered his daughter to the enemy.

"I volunteered!" Yoruichi exclaimed placing her hand on her father's still strong shoulders.

"You were expected to. It's not hard to guess that you would volunteer yourself to go if Sui-Feng was being sent. I heard she told you to stay but you 'esteemed leader' let you go anyway." Satoshi explained. He was pacing from anger now.

Sui-Feng had stayed quiet opting to observe what was occurring. Both men knew more about the predicament in the districts than they were telling and she wanted answers. Walking past Yoruichi and Satoshi she leaned over the commanders desk and looked him in the eye. "What the hell is going on and why were we the bait and my men the sacrifice?" She asked icily.

"I needed to know if these were the same creatures we've dealt with before." Kyoraku answered calmly.

"What are they?"

"Before I can answer I must know something. Did they go after Yoruichi?" Kyoraku asked eyeing her for a reaction. He got what he desired as Sui looked at Yoruichi in question.

"They are demons of the worst kind. They are quite literally the living dead from hell. There was a creature a long time ago that could enslave anyone living or spirit if he was able devour them. After he eats someone he spits them back up and that's what those creatures are. They are neither living nor dead and the worst part is that they shape shift." Shunsui explained wearily since he had now confirmed their enemy. "The last time we dealt with something like this was almost 2,200 years ago. We lost so many including your family from what I hear."

"Kyoraku! That's enough!" Satoshi snapped. "Just because you're commander now doesn't make your invincible if you commit treason."

This made both Sui-Feng and Yoruichi's eyebrows shoot past their hairline. What the hell was going on?

"Listen I know the both of you have questions but we can't answer them at the moment. Sui-Feng take Yoruichi to her quarters and don't leave her side." Satoshi said it almost pleadingly. "I know you have been watching her from a far but you hiding from her will only make her go looking for trouble."

"Hai, Shihouin-dono." Sui-Feng looked at Yoruichi and hated what she saw. She had never seen her mentor look so lost. There was nothing either of them could do about it at the moment. Yoruichi hadn't even heard what her father had said so Sui-Feng grabbed her hand and led her home.

"So now that you know what we're dealing with what are you going to do commander?" Satoshi said the last part sarcastically still miffed that the man had purposely sent his daughter into a death trap.

"Well for one, I'm going to have a drink." Kyoraku answered, "Want some?"

"How can you drink at a time like this?" Satoshi cried.

"The question is how can you not?" Kyoraku answered before placing a cup in front of the Shihouin patriarch and filling it with sake. After he filled his own he quickly drained it before filling it again.

Satoshi eyed the cup in front of him before sitting down and swallowing it down. Clearing his throat he looked Kyoraku. "Now what?"

"Tomorrow I'll have to inform the Guard of our little problem. That means that you'll probably lose a valuable asset or gain one. Depends on how you look at it." Kyoraku explained while examining the contents of the sake bottle before promptly draining it.

"Slow down or you'll drink yourself to death." Satoshi chided him.

"Uncle I don't know what has you so calm but since I don't know I'm drinking. I'm off for the rest of the night so I'll do as I damn well please. Besides rumor has you were the one that was downing sake like a fish the last time this happened." Kyoraku smirked as the old man frowned at him.

"Stop calling me uncle boy. I knew you would be just like your father. Well hopefully like him that inebriated mind of yours has a plan." Getting up Satoshi made his way for the door.

"Oh by the way, don't you think its time you told them?" Kyoraku watched as the Satoshi shoulders slumped. The old man was starting to show his age.

"Eventually, but for now their lives are complicated enough." And with that Satoshi left Kyoraku alone.

The Commander didn't understand it. Everything was going fine and right before it was to be smooth sailing for the ages this mess pops up. Lord only knew what kind of war they would be facing when that woman becomes with child. On that note Kyoraku drained another bottle. Damn Old man Yamamoto for giving him this job.