Chapter 12:
(Yoruichi's POV)
I had made my way to Kuchiki manor. I guess one can say that the two younger residents were my friends… only when I did not annoy the daylights out of Heather. Byakuya-bo has always been way too uptight for any form of amends to be made. Plus I love to watch the pair squirm, it was far too much fun. Even more so now that Heather was starting to get bold and play along with me, it's a shame that she doesn't get embarrassed over my comments anymore. Then again, there was always Byakuya-bo to rile up despite Heather's 'big bully' comments.
I climbed up to the rooftops and masked my spirit energy as best as I could and found the two in the garden where the younger of the two usually trained. Heather was stretched out in the grass, arms cradling the back of her head, just taking in the rays of the sun. Byakuya-bo was sitting right next to her, pulling out the miniature blades of the immaculately trimmed lawn. He kept looking at her nervously as if contemplating what to say to her. I laid flat against the rooftop and watched them; waiting for the opportune moment to pounce. If Heather knew about this she would call me 'a creeper', but what could I say other than 'Curiosity killed the cat'? "So what do you think you want to do once you stop training with Captain Ōtoribashi?" he questioned out of the blue.
Heather looked at him lazily and shrugged, "Well, I don't want to freeload off of you guys so I'll just go to whatever division would want to take me." She closed her eyes and took in a cleansing breath, "Maybe find a good guy, settle down and then who knows." Byakuya-bo's face, for some reason, looked somewhat sad when she said that she was thinking on leaving and darkened when she mentioned starting a relationship. "Kids?" the boy's face perked in interest. I could have slipped off of the roof. Dirty little Byakuya-bo, he wanted her all to himself. Heather seemed oblivious to the jealous brain-picking he was doing and took a few moments of deep contemplation. "Not immediately, but a couple sound nice. Why?" He looked startled at the retaliated question but covered, "Just curious, you know how many would be too many. What do you think?" "It depends on a couple's level of patience. Why? What's your number?" "Six at most." Byakuya answered simply Heather sat up and stared at him with an eyebrow raised and her jaw dropped, positioned at a funny angle, making the most hilarious expression. "You hate being an only child, don't you?" she asked. He looked back at her as if wondering what the matter was and shrugged.
I couldn't take it anymore I could have died from holding in my laughter, so I decided to make my move. I flash stepped behind the young Kuchiki and teased, "Aw, don't worry Byakuya-bo, you'll always have me." I saw his shoulders tense up, just barely able to imagine his annoyed expression before he grabbed the bokken that was lying next to him and swung. His reckless actions almost caused him to hit the object of his desire. "Hey! Easy, Byakuya!" Heather barely dodged the tip of the wooden sword. The little guy had the decency to hang his head lightly and apologize, "Sorry, I got ahead of myself." "I'll say! You almost hit your girlfriend." I teased, grinning madly. I knew perfectly well that he would get mad at the accusation. "You stay out of this, were-cat!" he threatened. "Temper," Heather warned the young man in a low tone, no danger was present in her voice, more like she was trying to console him. There was no way in Hell I was gonna let that happen. I dashed past him and plucked his hair tie. "Huh. If I were Heather, I'd be worried about my future if a mere girl was able to steal a head band so easily off her future husband's head!" I joked laughing hysterically. Heather looked downright confused and the future clan leader looked as if he were just about ready to spit tacks. "You think that you can get away with something like this?!" the black haired teen fumed. How could I refuse teasing him, honestly?
"It looks like I can and will." I boasted and then flash-stepped away. Byakuya-bo must have been really mad this time for he was tailing me without even bothering on making his usual blind threats. I decided to throw him off by back tracking to where we started. I had made my way through the nearby woods, sprinting through trees and dodging branches. I dashed in and out of the buildings of the Squad Six barracks and I even ran through the many corridor-like streets where I usually lost him, but still he gained. I guess I pushed the wrong button to mess with this time. I really had to concentrate now. I increased my speed to the limit for quite a while, eventually winding back up at Kuchiki Manor just as planned. I leapt over the wall we started from and then I felt it: Byakuya-bo's fingers encircled the collar of my captain's coat, nails scratching at the nape of my neck. He caught me?! How was that even possible?! He never caught me before! Never! Was this chance? No, I gave it my all, so how come he wasn't miles behind me?! Did Heather have that much of an influence on him?
I looked over to where the newcomer soul was standing, she look as surprised as I felt. I had never seen that kind of look on her. What have we— I done to make her look so startled? Was it the thing I said about being this hot-headed kid's wife? No, Heather had learned how to blow my teasing and ramblings off shortly after meeting me. Was it his temper that spooked her? It couldn't be that, he's blown up several times before and she seemed to have the patience of a saint when it came to him, at least in front of me. Was it the fact that he caught me? It was the only thing that made sense. I felt my blood run cold; that had to be it! How could this little thing make that big of a deal? I looked to Byakuya whom looked smug and snatched the headband out of my hand. "No girl will steal from me ever again. My clan will rest easy knowing that their leader, husband and father can catch the previously proclaimed 'God of Flash'." Byakuya boasted, his chest was puffed out and his shoulder's broadened. He was the breathing example of pride.
I felt a pang in my chest; I knew he was just kicking at my own pride now that his foot can finally reach it. I shrugged it off and prayed that my expression looked bored, "Jeeze, Byakuya-bo; it's just a hair band. If I knew that you would get that touchy I would have just let you keep it." I glanced around and sighed and looked to the boy whom stood up a little straighter as if trying to challenge me. "It's been fun, but I got stuff to do. Be a good little boy." I teased, patting his head only to have my hand pushed away. "Can I talk to you later, Heather?" I called to the younger woman behind Byakuya. "Yeah, you know where I live." Heather replied and I flash stepped away.