Hunted
Staying Calm

Yoruichi begrudgingly allowed Soifon to tow her up the pathway to Kisuke's house, very aware that every step taken was counting down the last moments of any private time she would have with Soifon once they were inside for who knows how long. Yoruichi pulled Soifon by her hand backwards into herself and was rewarded with a blush taking over Soi's face at bumping into her.

"If I didn't have a cold right now I would so kiss you." Yoruichi whispered, captivated by Soifon's sparkling silver eyes.

"Since when did that ever stop you before?" Soifon sprang free from Yoruichi's hold on her at the stranger's voice interrupting them while Yoruichi turned with a sigh to see Kukaku grinning at them both from the now open doorway.

"Couldn't have waited till I was inside -" Yoruichi sneezed loudly. "Urgh…before you started picking on me, hmm?"

"Oh that's attractive." Kukaku teased Yoruichi further at the sight of her wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"Shut up." Yoruichi whined pathetically back at her.

"She has a point." Soifon agreed now that she been able to compose herself after being caught like she had been with Yoruichi and thankfully Yoruichi's ill state was making it a lot easier for the strange fluttering sensation in her stomach to calm down.

"Aren't you meant to be on my side?" Yoruichi eyed Soifon who just shrugged back at her innocently.

"See, anymore advances in your condition will just scare her off." Kukaku offered Soi her hand in a formal greeting, "I'm Kukaku by the way."

"Soifon," she shook Kukaku's hand gladly. "For the record, I don't scare easily."

"Clearly since you're willing to put up with that mess." Kukaku jerked her thumb towards Yoruichi with a devilish smile, clearly proud of herself for coming up with that.

"You know, I can hear you." Yoruichi sniffled and rubbed her already sore nose again.

"It's what you get for going out instead of resting." Kukaku told her smugly to which Soifon smirked and Yoruichi glared at her, "Alright, alright, I'll play nice. Come on inside." Kukaku gestured for them to follow her inside.

"Where's Kisuke hiding?" Yoruichi asked, eyeing the hallway as she entered for any signs of Kisuke waiting to pounce on them, "This is Kisuke's place, Kukaku's just visiting – Soi, you coming in?" Yoruichi glanced over her shoulder at Soifon still standing by the front door looking back towards her car.

"I was thinking I should probably leave, I don't want to put any extra strain on you when you should be resting."

"Nonsense!" Kukaku declared before Yoruichi could say anything to make her stay, "This is a great chance for us to get to know you and we have Kisuke to boss around, it's three and against one, we can take him on easily." Kukaku practically pulled Soifon inside and closed the door afterwards.

"I'm not one to turn away three lovely ladies such as yourselves, now who wants to go first?" Kisuke came out of the living room with his arms spread open as if expected one of them to hug him.

"And that's Kisuke." Yoruichi informed Soifon.

"I gathered." Soifon examined Kisuke with a raised eyebrow; it looked like he was wearing dark green pyjamas that were three sizes too big for him. "Hi, I'm -"

"Soifon, I know, I've heard a lot about you and the pleasure is all mine." Kisuke bowed his head to Soifon in greeting.

"Sheesh, calm down there, she's already been taken." Kukaku rolled her eyes at his behaviour and shoved him back into the main room and followed after him, leaving Yoruichi and Soifon in the hallway together.

"They're erm…lively." Soifon commented as she moved to stand beside Yoruichi.

"Yeah, they're easily excited but don't worry they'll calm down eventually." Yoruichi reassured her, "You know, you didn't have to stay, you could have gone if you wanted."

"No it's alright, besides I do have some free time to get to know them." Soifon explained as Yoruichi moved closer to her.

"And here I was hoping you wanted to get extra time with me." Yoruichi pouted.

"Oh right, I'd forgot you'd be here too." Soifon joked and Yoruichi nudged Soifon away from her playfully.

"I think your being around Kukaku has affected your sense of humour." Yoruichi observed.

"Oh come on now, it is great seeing you again." Soifon admitted, "I've been so stressed out at the office over this deal and the guy just won't budge. I normally would've just said to hell with it and sent him on his way by now but the all high mighty board members want this guy so -"

"Hey Soi. Breathe ok." Yoruichi chuckled. "You're here now, not at the office and you can relax some." Yoruichi pulled Soifon closer to her body for a gentle hug.

"My point was that this time out was needed." Soifon concluded matter-of-factly and felt rather pleased with herself for not stammering this time round at Yoruichi being so close to her.

"I know something else that is needed." Yoruichi murmured and she leaned in to kiss Soifon only she felt herself about to sneeze again and quickly withdrew from Soifon, "Urgh…sorry…" Yoruichi mumbled pathetically, her voice thick with cold.

"It's fine." Soifon smiled back sympathetically, "We may as well join them." She indicated towards the door was to the living room which Yoruichi agreed and led the way into the room where Kisuke and Kukaku were already sat with Kukaku quizzing him his greeting and why had shivery been forgotten about by the general male population. Her irritation over the subject increased when Kisuke pointed out that neither Yoruichi nor Soifon had to worry about chivalry when they sat down on the empty sofa together.

"That's not entirely true. It works both ways too. I'd have a thing or two to say if the woman acted like a jerk." Yoruichi retaliated.

"Wouldn't that mean the woman in question was just a jerk?" Kukaku questioned.

"Again, not true – they could be lovely but what if they always stuck you with the bill?" Yoruichi countered again.

"That's like saying manners and the personality are separate things – I was under the impression they made up your personality." Soifon interjected.

"Ah but you can make a change and decide to do chivalrous things where I'd say it's harder to change your personality." Kisuke stated as he stood up, "For example, I am about to go top up my coffee and ask if anyone else would like a cup as well. It doesn't change who I am, it's just a nice gesture. Would anyone like some?" he asked but all three of them declined as he left the room.

"That just means you're a nice person to start with and that you weren't doing anything different to your nature." Kukaku joined Soifon's point of view.

"Are all of your conversations like this?" Soifon quietly asked Yoruichi.

"Nah, like I said, they're trying to impress you." Yoruichi sniggered.

"Uh huh, just be on the lookout for when she tries to impress you Soifon. It's scary." Kukaku quipped back at her.

"Ever heard of the phrase 'if you can't say anything good then say nothing at all'?" Yoruichi asked to which Kukaku stuck her tongue out at her. "That's her true nature, right there. Forget all that intelligence crap from earlier." Yoruichi pointed to Kukaku and looked at Soi for confirmation but instead Soifon continued to observe their playful jabs at one another in silence and Kisuke made no attempt to stop them either when he returned. In fact he added fuel to fire with one off statements to keep them going and appeared to find it rather amusing, particularly since Yoruichi's voice was full of cold since they could tease her about that too.

"Please feel free to defend me anytime you know." Yoruichi prodded Soifon in the arm.

"That's quite alright, besides, this is better than the stuff they put on TV." Soifon stated, quite happy to keep sitting on the side-lines and enjoy the show, she could tell they were all very close friends from observing the way the acted around each other and could easily believe them being child hood friends as well.

"I've always said TV writers get their inspiration from real life situations, I'd say this would be one of those times." Kisuke laughed at them both.

"Yeah? Well I've always believed that some horror writer must have created you." Yoruichi shot back, broke out into a coughing fit though earned a small bonus in that she succeeded to make Soifon laugh.

"From what I've seen so far, I have to say that holds true for the lot of you." Soifon managed to say once she calmed down.

"The quick wit finally emerges." Kisuke nodded in approval of Soi's statement with a sly grin.

"And you just get a lot creepier." Yoruichi countered through a quick sniffle and she focused on the man for the first time since she had arrived. Yoruichi had planned to watch him like she had done with Sora but only this time, she had gotten too caught up in everything going and having fun to spend time worrying about what he could be plotting for once. Yoruichi caught his gaze with a quizzical look and was relieved when he acknowledged her with his rare, genuine smile that only those close to him could understand its true meaning. Yoruichi had built a strong, long lasting friendship between Kukaku and Kisuke throughout the years of knowing one another. From that friendship, she based a lot on their opinions and would hold their word above anyone else's when it came down to a matter of trust. So when Yoruichi saw him smiling like that, she knew that he was saying that everything was fine and that she had no need to worry.

Acting on her friend's queue that she could stay relaxed, Yoruichi shifted a little closer to Soifon and chuckled at how Kukaku was now picking on Kisuke as well. Yoruichi felt Soifon stiffen instantly and knew she had made a mistake in trying to snuggle up against her in front of the others, it was obviously a daunting thing for Soifon to show any kind of public display no matter how small so early on in their relationship that Yoruichi quickly backed off but not fast enough to stop Soi's calculating mind from working out how to leave.

"It's been very interesting meeting you both but I think I've imposed long enough on your hospitality." Soifon announced, effectively ending Kisuke and Kukaku's conversation as they focused on her instead.

"What, you haven't been here that long." Kukaku pointed out.

"I still haven't had lunch and there's a conference at five that I need to prepare for." Soifon explained as she stood up to leave.

"That's still hours away yet and he may not look like it but Kisuke's a great cook, I'm sure he could make you something." Yoruichi gave Kisuke a very pitiful look, willing him to agree so that Soifon would stay longer.

"Err of course," Kisuke smiled brightly and he sprang to his feet. "Come through to the kitchen and find something you feel like eating. No guest shall ever go hungry in my home. Follow me." Soifon sighed at the course of events but followed him anyway since any argument she could think of to leave would be knocked over by three others, it was easier for her to let them win this round.

Yoruichi stands up to follow them out the room and stumbles slightly as her vision blurred from the room spinning all around her. She managed to steady herself though remained still shortly after her vision returned to normal as she waited for the pounding in her skull to calm down.

"You ok there?" Kukaku observed from her spot on the sofa.

"Mm, head rush." Yoruichi waved it off nonchalantly and continued through to the kitchen. Kukaku watched her leave the room and looked around the now empty room till she was simply staring at the blank TV screen by herself.

"Well since everyone else is going." She muttered and she too, got up and went into the kitchen with everyone else to find Kisuke busy rummaging around his freezer, pulling all sorts of food items from it and making a lot of mess. He was talking so loudly about what he could make he hadn't heard Soifon say she'd have the fish he produced at the start that she turned the oven on and was already busy preparing it herself. Yoruichi was no help whatsoever since she was sat on top of a kitchen counter trying not to laugh at the man slowly vanishing inside his freezer to stop him. Kukaku provided the voice of reason for once and soon had Kisuke repacking his freezer and back on cooking duty with Soifon to prepare the salad for everyone, though Yoruichi declined from the meal.

"Not ready to eat yet." Yoruichi explained while rubbing her forehead gently, the dizziness she felt earlier had developed into a headache that was slowly getting worse and she was doing her best to ignore it.

"When you voluntarily turn down food, it's a clear sign something is wrong." Kisuke laughed.

"Ha ha." Yoruichi replied sarcastically while topping up her glass of water while the others were happily digging into their meal. Both Kisuke and Kukaku congratulated Soifon on her cooking of the lemon sol fish and Kisuke congratulated himself for making the salad. Clearly being the most hungry person out of the group, Soifon finished her meal first and was the first to notice Yoruichi holding her forehead by the sink, her eyes clenched shut as if she was in pain but before she could say anything, Yoruichi looked up at her with a quick smile, obviously putting up a brave front to whatever she was feeling.

"I'm going back into the TV room." Yoruichi explained, her voice giving away how tired she really felt.

"We'll be through in a bit." Kisuke waved as Yoruichi left them eating in the kitchen. Soifon watched her go, unsure if she should follow or not since she had not been asked directly but she did want to see how Yoruichi was doing.

Soifon looked at both Kisuke and Kukaku then downed her drink in one go, leaving them both to their banter in the kitchen while she went after Yoruichi, who was exactly where she said she'd be. Yoruichi was sat, leaning back against the sofa with her eyes shut, her lips parted slightly to breathe through since her nose was blocked up from the cold.

"How you doing over there?" Soifon asked as she approached Yoruichi.

"Mmm… tired that's all." Yoruichi murmured and inclined her head towards Soifon as she sat down on the sofa beside her though Yoruichi kept her eyes shut.

"You're burning up." Soifon mutters to herself after pressing her hand against Yoruichi's forehead, "You sure it's just a cold?"

"I'll be fine after I sleep..." Yoruichi mumbles while shifting closer to Soifon so that she could rest her head against Soi's shoulder.

"W-what are you doing?" Soifon stammered, completely caught off guard by the movement.

"Sleeping." Yoruichi whispered in answer as she made herself more comfortable against Soifon.

"Err…Okay…" Soifon blinked down at the now still Yoruichi and wondered if this was something she was meant to get used to if she was entering a relationship with her. She's seen the couples fall asleep on one another in lots of movies before but it was something entirely different to actually have it happen to herself. "Wouldn't you prefer to sleep in a bed?" Soi asked though was doing her best not to move since she didn't want to disturb Yoruichi.

"…I'll get in it if you do." Yoruichi replied softly with a playful smile.

"Yoruichi!" Soifon instantly pulled away from Yoruichi with a shriek, her face burning bright red at the suggestion. Yoruichi couldn't help but laugh at her reaction; she thought Soifon was just too adorable and innocent for her own good.

"Relax," Yoruichi pattered Soifon's shoulder for reassurance since her face was still glowing red. "I was kidding, relax." Yoruichi took her own advice and before Soifon could protest, made herself quite comfy against the smaller woman again, only this time she rested her head on Soi's lap so she could stretch out along the sofa.

"You're…strange." Soifon looked away from observing Yoruichi's shuffling around in her quest to get comfortable with a slight tinge of red to her cheeks from how she had been turned into a pillow.

"Look who's talking." Yoruichi closed her eyes again now that she had finally settled down. Soifon retaliated by saying at least she was smart enough to know it was impossible to run all the way down the stairs of a skyscraper, to which Yoruichi threatened to bite her for. This conversation continued with both of them unaware that they were being watched by two people talking in hushed tones from the doorway behind them.

"What do you make of her then?" Kisuke's eyes glinted ominously in the light.

"She's a stiff one, that's for sure." Kukaku folded her arms as she observed the new couple's conversation calming down. Kisuke nodded once in agreement to her comment.

"I dunno…she relaxes around her after a while." Kisuke pointed out.

"It's a strange dynamic." She commented making it sound like the relationship wouldn't last long.

"They look good together. Besides, I thought you liked her." He glanced at Kukaku to see her glaring at him, "I know, I know, you won't officially like her until it's done." Kisuke raised his hands in defeat before turning away from the doorway.

"You'll do it right?" Kukaku called after him, "The background check?"

"I ran it this morning, gonna go check the results now." Kisuke waved back to her in confirmation while he continued on his way down the corridor. "I'll let you know if I spot anything unusual." He added on quickly before Kukaku could tell him to do so.

Kukaku sighs and watches him vanish into one of the side rooms with a grim expression before she walked into the main living room. When she enters, she notices Soifon become aware of her presence and straighten up against the chair. Kukaku moves past them both on the sofa, taking in the sight of Yoruichi sleeping across Soi and nods once in acknowledgment to Soifon before hopping onto the spare sofa placed at a right angle to the first one.

"How she doing?" Kukaku asked, indicating to Yoruichi while picking the TV remote off the coffee table beside her.

"I think she may have caught the flu." Soifon did her best to act like having Yoruichi currently draped across her lap was not daunting in the slightest with Kukaku close by.

"Don't worry, she's been through worse than this, she'll be back to her usual cocky self in no time." Kukaku flipped through the channels, not really paying much to what was on them.

"What else has she been through?" Soifon couldn't resist taking the chance to learn anything more about Yoruichi's past.

"Enough for her to know that's she done messing around." Kukaku felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and was reading the text message from Kisuke in a matter of seconds. He had sent only one word to her, 'Clear.'

"That wasn't as subtle as I hoped it would be." Soifon laughed to herself wile Kukaku put her phone away with a relieved smile.

"Yeah, not so much." Kukaku grinned at her and could see Soifon getting lost in her thoughts. "Hey, I wouldn't worry about it ok; she'll tell you about when she's ready."

"Yeah I guess…" Soifon trailed off, her eyes drawn back to Yoruichi asleep on her lap. Kukaku could tell Soifon was still not thoroughly convinced.

"Look, you guys had a rough start that's all. I'm betting you haven't told her things yet, right?" Soifon nods once to this, not surprised that Yoruichi's friend knew about their terrible start and she tried to squash down the thought that perhaps, it was too badly damaged for them to really start over. "See, Yoruichi just knows what she's looking for." Kukaku settled back down into the sofa, content that she had gotten her point across.

"…I don't know what I'm looking for…" Soifon answers truthfully, feeling very confused over her feelings. Kukaku glances back at Soifon to see her looking rather downcast.

"Then I suggest you find that out." Kukaku focuses back on the TV set and scrunches her face up in repulsion at seeing some sort of beauty show being broadcast. "Please God tell me you vote for changing the channel as well." Kuakaku pleaded, the sound of which snapped Soifon out of her thoughts.

"It cannot be changed fast enough." Soifon eagerly agreed when she too saw what was on the current channel and decided that whatever she was doing with Yoruichi could be worked out at a later point when she could really try and fix a label to it all.

Kukaku happily obliged in changing the channel and they settled for watching some nature show together and Kisuke returned eventually, apologising for being called away by work for so long and although nothing much was said apart from offhand comments about the show, Soifon enjoyed their company and the relaxed atmosphere in the room now that they had indeed calmed down as Yoruichi had told her.

Soifon looked down at Yoruichi still fast asleep in her lap, Soi's gaze softened when she studied how sleep rendered the playful, devilish woman into a sleeping angel. Soifon felt her own cheeks flare with warmth up at this thought but it was true. Yoruichi looked so innocent, so peaceful yet graceful at the same time that Soifon actually felt bad about waking Yoruichi up. Soi had to now though since she had waited until the last possible moment before she had to leave for the conference. She had hoped that Yoruichi would have woken up on her own terms but clearly, the illness had completely worn her out that she remained in a deep sleep.

"Yoruichi," Soifon did her best to gentle shake her awake with no luck. "Yoruichi, I have to go now." Soifon tried again with no improvement.

"No luck?" Kukaku and Kisuke had turned their attention on Soifon trying with no success to wake Yoruichi up. Soifon shook her head after another attempt failed and Kisuke moved over towards Soifon.

"Here," Kisuke lifted Yoruichi off Soifon bridal style. "She's put on some pounds." He grunted. Soifon nearly protested at the sharp movement in case Yoruichi woke up but the dark skinned woman barely even stirred.

"More likely you're getting weaker." Kukaku rolled her eyes at him and she stood up to show Soifon to the door now that she was free.

"Touché." Kisuke chuckled as he carried Yoruichi out of the TV room and along the corridor with Kukaku and Soifon following close behind. Soi was busy wondering where Kisuke was taking Yoruichi as they approached the front door but then he turned and started the climb upstairs and she realised he was going to put her to bed. A familiar knot of jealously formed in the pit of her stomach, only Soifon didn't know if it was the fact someone else was being that close to Yoruichi or if it was because Yoruichi had someone there to care for her.

"You wait any longer, you will be late." Kukaku called out to Soifon just as Kisuke reached the top of the stairs and vanished from her sight around the corner. They exchanged customary thanks and goodbyes and Soifon felt the knot in her stomach tighten since she didn't get to say goodbye to Yoruichi.

"And tell Yoruichi that I –I…" Soi paused, uncertain of what she would say to Yoruichi. Kukaku looked at her expectantly. "Tell her I hope she gets better soon." She finished, only the strange tightness did not go away when Kukaku nodded in confirmation. "A-and that I'll call her when possible." Soifon tagged on quickly just before Kukaku closed the door. It wasn't much but saying that out loud eased her mind and body greatly and it felt like she could relax again.

That in itself was enough for her to ponder over throughout the conference, the remainder of the day and whenever she found her mind wandering during mundane office tasks. Kukaku's words accompanied this thought process as well. Yoruichi knows what she's looking after while she had mainly gone out that night since she had too much free time to consciously realise she preferred woman over men. Why didn't I just take up a hobby of some sort instead, Soifon sighed. We make a great pair, she's wanting something serious and here's me wanting to occupy free time. With that outlook, Soifon knew it would never last long with Yoruichi… unless…unless something changes. Maybe I'm not experimenting…maybe I do want something…more. Soifon remembered the pang of jealously and longing at seeing Kisuke carry Yoruichi upstairs and how she had never had that, not since she was a child. I've never been lonely before so why would I start now?

"Urrr-Ragh!" Soifon moaned loudly out of frustration and dropped her head forward onto her desk with a sharp bang and welcomed the stinging pain, hoping it would clear her thoughts for her. With her thoughts still buzzing around constantly, Soifon rolled her head to the side, not bothering to lift it off the desk at all. She was now staring at the side of the smart office phone beside her.

Although Soifon hadn't seen Yoruichi since the impromptu meal at Kisuke's house two weeks ago, they had talked to one another by phone a few times. Soifon called first a few days afterwards to see how Yoruichi was feeling and as Soi guessed, Yoruichi had caught the flu and was still in recovery so the phone call didn't last long. Next, Yoruichi called when she had fully recovered, only Soifon had been too busy to meet up but after some coaxing, put Yoruichi on speaker phone as Soi worked late into the night. It was another new experience for Soifon to talk to someone for extended hours without it being work related and at first; Yoruichi had done most of the talking with offhand comments from Soi in return. Then Yoruichi put on the sappiest, love struck, dreamy voice she could muster and declared her undying love to Soifon, compared her to the stars and more, how she would do anything to prove her love and how to her, Soifon glowed brighter than the sun.

Silence followed after Yoruichi stopped talking.

Soifon stared at the phone and could only blink at it while she absorbed what just happened.

"What the hell was that?" Soifon burst out laughing simultaneously with Yoruichi's outburst through the phone, clearly unable to keep a straight face any longer at how ridiculous it had sounded. It worked though, it was just what was needed to break Soifon out of her silent work mode and to get her talking, even if it did start with them both mocking the typical romantic clichés. Yoruichi performed this same stunt for their last call 3 days ago now as well; she had to convince Soifon to keep her on speaker phone so that Soi could keep working, and it took another fake, over the top declaration of love to get Soifon to open up again but it did result in another long conversation between them both. Even Soifon had to admit that having someone to talk to made the work more enjoyable, the time seemed to pass by more quickly and Soi did wonder if the delay between the calls was another strategy Yoruichi employed since they never seemed to run out of things to talk about and Yoruichi joked about how this could be a regular thing for them, or at least, Soifon thought she had joked about it.

Right now, Soifon was hoping Yoruichi hadn't joked about it because she really wanted to talk about all things on her mind but didn't know where or how to start. Picking up the phone would be a good start, she told herself since the last time she kept things to herself, it hadn't turned out well at all and Yoruichi had said she could approach her about anything, in fact she would prefer it if Soifon did talk to her.

Soifon focussed her attention back on the phone, mentally telling herself to simply reach out and pick it up when it started to ring. Not bothering to lift her head of the desk, Soifon picks up the phone haphazardly, already knowing that at this time in the evening, it could only be Yoruichi.

"Hi." Soi answers and immeditantly knows she didn't disguise her voice well enough.

"What's wrong?" Yoruichi's concerned voice comes through the phone, picking out the confusion in Soi's usually strong voice. The million dollar question, Soifon thought, feeling even more lost now that Yoruichi was waiting for her to answer. Soifon knew exactly what she wanted to say, she wanted to tell Yoruichi that she was freaking out only she didn't want to blurt it out like that, she wanted to find a more tactful approach.

"I'm freaking out." Soifon gets out before her mind can play catch up and stop the words forming, oh yes, very tactful, well done. She congratulates herself sarcastically.

"What? Why, did something happen?" Yoruichi presses her from over the phone while Soifon runs her free hand through her hair in exasperation, still unable to think of where to begin. "Let's meet up." Yoruichi's voice breaks the silence between them, obviously recognising this as something more important than a phone call could give justice to. Soifon glanced down at the barely touched work she had been sprawled across moments before and agreed to meet Yoruichi at the bridge in the park, situated in the city.

Yoruichi had been near the park when she called Soifon so was not surprised that she arrived at the bridge before Soifon. She had chosen the park on that basis and because as far as evenings go for around the end of autumn and the start of winter, it was a rather pleasant one. She also hoped that the outside scenery would help clear Soi's mind and by the sound of things, a break from that building was needed. Obviously a few other people scattered around the park were also trying to enjoy the last moments of sun the day had to offer, a couple walking off nearly out of eyesight, a man watching the ducks eat some bread across the bridge and Soifon coming into view across the green grass straight ahead of Yoruichi.

"Soi!" Yoruichi called out to her, waving as well to make sure was she seen and was glad she decided to wear her favourite orange jacket today so she knew Soifon would spot her easily. That's when she heard the unmistakable sound of a hammer clicking into place, signifying that a gun is ready to fire.

Yoruichi freezes mid wave at the sound, recognising it instantly and knew it came from directly behind her. She slowly turns her head around to the side, hoping the movement won't startle the gun holder so that she could get better look at the situation she was in.

"Don't move." The man retorts gruffly and shoves the point of the gun into her side; it takes a lot of Yoruichi's willpower to not recoil from the sharp jab just above her right hip bone. She doesn't recognise the voice at all and if she had been able to get a better look at the person welding the gun before it was pressed into her body, Yoruichi could have assessed if it was possible to take him down. Now though, she didn't want to risk it, more so since her eyes caught Soi's look of confusion cross her face. Soifon was still too far away to make out exactly what was going on between herself and the man standing behind her but it was enough for her to quicken her pace towards them both.

"Alright, I won't move." Yoruichi confirms with her hand still frozen in mid-air from waving at Soifon, determined to just cooperate and hope he leaves before Soifon gets any closer to the danger.

"Where's your money?" He grumbles, thrusting the gun into her side again and she really hopes this man can keep good control over his trigger finger now that the gun is ready to fire.

"My pocket." Yoruichi responded evenly while trying to shake her head at Soifon to make her stop advancing, she's well within range of the gun now, barely a stone's throw away from them on the bridge. Yoruichi locks her body in place as the man shoves his hand into her back pocket, revulsion fills her at how he almost keeps it there longer than necessary since it's the wrong pocket and therefore empty.

"It's in my front pocket." She tells him. The thought of his hand going into her front pocket was more than she could stand and she moved reflexively to reach for it herself.

A loud bang rings through the air.

"YORUICHI!" Soifon screams.

A/N: I hope that chapter was worth the long delay for which I'm sorry but least you know I haven't forgotton about this story :)
And as usual, I hope you enjoyed reading this update.