A/N: A lot happens in this chapter, prepare yourself.

With Yoruichi in his arms and the memories of the gala still fresh in his head, Kisuke knew he wasn't going to get much sleep that night.

He didn't lie about getting some fresh air, but what he didn't expect was to bump into his ex outside.

"Kisuke?" The dark green-haired woman's eyes widened in surprise when she saw him.

"...Mei?"

"It's really you... you look different. Not in a bad way though," she said with a familiar smile that made him feel a lump in his throat.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "You're his plus one, I presume?"

She nodded slowly. "We're not like that though… never was. I missed you."

He sucked in a breath. "I'm not sure you have the right to."

A slight frown appeared on her features. "So what's going on? You and that rich brat, seriously?"

"She's not a brat, Mei. She's not what you think she is."

Her eyebrows knitted and a look of realization crossed her face. "You're in love with someone who's still heartbroken for her dead fiancé," she said bitterly.

She knew how to hurt him and her words stung. Probably because they weren't entirely wrong. It didn't help that he was constantly compared to Kaien by the media. He could never compare. He wasn't rich, as liked by others, and as influential.

"Let's not see each other again," he said coldly, heading back to the gala. His eyes immediately went to seek out Yoruichi and he winced when he saw that she was dancing with Aizen.

Not long after, Mei followed him inside and clung to him. "Kisuke, please."

"...Why did you do it, Mei?" he whispered hoarsely.

She sighed. "Come back outside, I'll tell you everything," she said and he followed her.

Before they made it outside, he heard someone yell out, "Someone got injured on the dance floor!"

"Who?" one of the guests asked.

"The Shihōin heiress," the man replied.

Hearing that, he quickly left her and rushed to Yoruichi.

"Kisuke!" Mei called out after him. "I'll contact you."

He didn't really want to see her again, but maybe he needed the closure.

A quiet sigh escaped his lips. Yoruichi's head rested on his chest and his arm rested on the small of her back. It was certainly a wonder how he ended up in this position. He had several chances to avoid it— avoid him holding her like this, in his bed— but he told himself that she just needed to be comforted.

She had let herself be vulnerable with him, after all, and so had he.

He carefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and chuckled when she made a sleepy snort. Luckily, she didn't wake up.

When the time comes, can I really let her go?

Eventually, he closed his eyes, figuring he should force himself to get some sleep, even if it was only for a bit.

When he woke up, Yoruichi wasn't next to him and he instantly regretted not staying awake. A part of him wondered if it was all a dream but the sheets smelled of her.

Another part of him was thankful he didn't wake up with her in his arms. He might've kissed her senseless and told her something he shouldn't.

There was a note for him on his bedside table:

Thanks for letting me stay over.

P.S. I'm keeping your shirt, it's pretty comfy. —Yoruichi

She was seriously driving him a little crazy.

Kisuke called her later that morning but she didn't answer. Figuring she was busy, he shrugged it off and called her again later in the day, but she still didn't pick up or text him back.

He was finishing off some emails in his office and thinking about dropping by her place when he got a call from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

A rough voice replied, "Yo Kisuke, it's Kuukaku. I'm with Yoruichi and she's wasted. Can ya pick her up?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "What happened?"

He could hear her sigh heavily. "It's Kaien's death anniversary today. I would bring her back but I drank as well and Tessai's off."

So that's why she left so early in the morning?

He arrived at Kuukaku's place and she nodded her head in Yoruichi's direction. Yoruichi was sprawled out on the couch, like how she tended to be in his office— albeit this time she was drunk.

When she saw him, she let out a drunk giggle. "Kisuke, that you?" she slurred.

Kisuke raised an eyebrow at that and looked to Kuukaku, who rolled her eyes in response. "She drank a lot— even more than usual, for some reason. She's a lightweight and a terrible drunk," she said, closing her eyes in annoyance.

He walked over and knelt in front of her. "Hey there."

"Haf a drink with me," Yoruichi mumbled and passed him a sake bottle, which he took and clinked against hers.

"To Kaien," he said, taking a few gulps and placing the bottle down on the table.

"To Kaien," she replied and started chugging down the bottle of sake to his dismay.

He took the bottle from her hands and she started to protest. "My my, I think you've drunk enough for today. Let's get you home, Yoruichi-san~"

"How many times do I hafta tell you to call me Yoruichi!" she whined and tried reaching for the bottle which he kept far away from her reach.

He couldn't help but laugh. It was a whole other side to her that he hadn't seen before. "Okay, okay, come on Yoruichi." He turned around with his back to her.

"I can walk," she grumbled and she got up, immediately wobbling and holding on to him for support.

"Are you sure?"

She sighed in resignation and reluctantly held on to his neck as he lifted her onto his back.

Before he left, Kuukaku stopped him at the door. "I'm glad ya agreed to her stupid plan. She needs someone like you by her side."

"Someone like me? I'm not sure if I'm that person… if I can replace Kaien for her." His voice was quiet but he doubted Yoruichi would have heard anyways. She had already dozed off.

"You don't need to be a replacement, dumbass. You're your own person."

He smiled at that.

By the time they arrived at her apartment building, Yoruichi was awake. She waved frantically at the receptionist and told her something along the lines of what a cute boyfriend she had before she planted a wet kiss on his cheek.

He laughed, imagining the horror on her face when she woke up the next morning and realized what she did.

After helping her wash up her face and tucking her into bed, she seemed to have sobered up a little.

"Kisuke," she hiccuped, "have you ever heard of the Gotei 13 scandal that happened a few years ago?

He was in the US when it happened but it was big news around the world. A prominent figure of the Gotei 13 was arrested for drug trafficking. He leaked some dirty secrets about the Gotei 13 and the influential families involved with the organization in exchange for a lighter sentence; some of which were pretty disturbing.

"I have. Some big families got involved in it, right?"

"One of them was the Shiba family," she said with a shaky breath.

"Oh."

"It didn't make sense… they weren't known to be shady. Nevertheless, their reputation was destroyed just like that and my father cancelled our betrothal when it happened. Kaien asked me to run away with him that day and then we got into that accident. If I didn't run off with him, he would still be alive."

"You wouldn't have known," he murmured.

She bit her lip. "It was so unlike me to do such a thing."

He shook his head and held onto her hand tightly. "You just followed your heart and there's nothing wrong with that. Love makes us do things we'd never think of doing."

She laughed bitterly. "Love made me a fool."

"Doesn't mean you shouldn't love again."

And there was that look in her eyes again— the one he couldn't quite decipher and made him stay up late at night thinking about what it meant.

"Stay with me," she said after a few seconds of silence, breaking him out of his thoughts.

While he desperately wanted to, she wasn't completely sober, and he didn't want to take advantage of that.

"I'll sleep on your couch," he offered, and she regarded him quietly before she nodded and closed her eyes. He placed a chaste kiss on her temple and went to sleep on her couch.

The next morning, he awoke to the smell of coffee and vanilla. He slowly got up and walked to the kitchen where Yoruichi was cooking something, humming to herself.

He smiled. "Good morning."

She jumped a bit and turned around, returning his smile with a bashful one of her own. "Morning."

"Got a hangover?"

"Nah, I don't get hangovers."

"Ah, must be compensation for being lightweight."

She gripped the pan tightly. "I hate you," she grumbled.

He grinned and peeked over her shoulder. "What are you making?"

"Pancakes, you should stay for breakfast."

"Didn't know you could cook," he teased, earning a headbutt from her. "Ow! What was that for?"

"You want food or not?" she growled.

He pouted, giving her his best puppy eyes, and she sighed.

"Go wash up, I should have a brand new toothbrush in the cabinet somewhere."

"Yes ma'am."

When he came back, she was done cooking and she handed him a plate with pancakes on it. He sat down on her couch and took a bite.

Gods, it was... absolutely terrible.

She sat down next to him and looked at him expectantly. "So?"

"It's not bad." Why was it salty?

Her expression was skeptical but she didn't push it.

He forced himself to eat all of it anyways. It was the first thing she made for him, after all.

"Hey," she broke the silence, "um... thanks for bringing me back last night."

"Think of it as payback for having to drag me back to our room after I got drunk at the afterparty," he said, and she grinned.

"I acted kind of weird, didn't I?"

"I didn't mind. It was pretty amusing, actually," he said, earning a glare from her.

He decided to change the topic. "How's your ankle doing? Let me see it."

She placed her foot on his thigh and he held his breath as he examined her ankle carefully. "Hm… it's still a bit swollen."

She shrugged. "I can already kind of walk on it."

He looked baffled and she chuckled. "It wasn't that bad. Plus, I got injured all the time when I did judo. I heal fast."

She said nothing for a few seconds and then her eyebrows furrowed. "Who was that woman you were with?"

She saw that? "...My ex."

"Why was she there?" she asked and he could sense a trace of uneasiness in her voice.

"What, jealous?" he joked and she just glowered at him and moved her foot off him.

What was that reaction? His heart lurched but he quickly swallowed it down.

She got up and reached for their empty plates on the table and he grabbed onto her arm to stop her. "I'll do it," he offered, "you cooked."

"Sure."

As she stepped back towards the couch, she tripped over his outstretched foot and he caught her, arms going around her waist as he fell back and she landed on top of him.

"You've been getting clumsier lately," he teased, a lopsided grin plastered on his face.

He was expecting a snide retort, but instead, she was silent.

He looked up to see her face mere inches apart from his and watched as her eyes trailed downwards to his lips, lingering longer than they should before they flickered back to meet his gaze.

"...Yoruichi?" His voice was low and a little hoarse in the back of his throat.

In the next moment, it was hard to say who initiated first.

Their lips met; one of his hands threaded through her hair and the other moved to her cheek so he could kiss her the way he wanted to kiss her for too long. He could feel her sink into the kiss as her hands gripped onto his shirt.

As they drew back, he pulled her closer against him and chased her lips again, kissing her with more fervency. She let out a muffled gasp before her arms went to loop around his neck and she kissed him back deep and hungry.

Then her phone rang.

To his disappointment, Yoruichi got off him and reached for her phone on the table. He felt her tense up when she saw who the caller was.

"What do you want?" she answered, sounding a little out of breath.

The voice on the other end sounded like an older man. He couldn't hear what he was saying but he thought he heard 'death anniversary' somewhere.

"I was with Kuukaku," she replied dryly.

"Like you ever cared," she said bitterly.

"You still don't believe...?" She let out an exasperated sigh. "He's with me right now, want to say hi?"

Who on earth was she talking to?

"...Tomorrow?" she asked incredulously. "Fine, I'll tell him. Bye."

After she hung up, she met his eyes, her own looking distraught. "My father wants us to have dinner together tomorrow. The three of us."

Oh crap.

"Your father…?"

Shihōin Saburo. Rumors claimed that he was a ruthless but brilliant businessman that wasn't afraid to use any means to get what he wanted. That's how he was able to take over the company despite being the youngest of three brothers and become one of the largest hotel and bar chains in the world.

"Yeah, he said he wants to get to know you better... but I doubt that's it. He's never asked to meet anyone I dated other than Kaien. I'm afraid you're going to have to free up your schedule today and tomorrow."

The thought of meeting her father was absolutely terrifying, yet all he could think about was what would have happened if they didn't get interrupted. Her cheeks were still a little flushed and her hair a little disheveled.

What just happened between them was way too real. There wasn't an audience and he wasn't comforting her either.

"Yoruichi, about earlier—"

"Not now." Her eyes softened when she saw his deflated look and she sighed. "You need to meet with Shinji today to get some etiquette lessons and advice. You have his number right?"

"Can't you teach me?"

She gave him a small smile. "My schedule is packed for the rest of today and tomorrow. Plus Shinji's been through everything you're about to go through, so he's the perfect guy for this."

She practically kicked him out. After the call with her father, she suddenly went all business on him.

He hoped he didn't mess up again.

When he called Shinji and told him he needed his help, he didn't seem surprised.

"Saw this one coming from a mile away," Shinji said to him when he showed up at his door. "I'm gonna tell it to ya straight. No matter how perfect ya appear or act, that old prick won't like ya. I only talked to him once briefly and I thought I was gonna shit myself afterwards."

"Thanks for the encouragement," Kisuke grumbled.

Shinji grinned. "Now, let's begin."

He went through a series of etiquette and rules that had his head buzzing; ranging from which fork was the salad fork to what kind of tie he should wear.

It was easy when they were at the wedding or at the gala. He could just observe Yoruichi and see what she did or she would just whisper what to do in his ear, but he couldn't do that with her father watching.

It was like he was studying for an exam last minute. That was nothing new for him, but this was different. He needed to get this right— he couldn't afford to mess up.

"Good luck," Momo said to him at the door.

Shinji wrapped an arm around her shoulder as Kisuke left. "He definitely needs it."

Tomorrow evening arrived and Tessai picked him up and drove them to the Shihōin estate where they were meeting her father for dinner.

"Hey you," Yoruichi greeted him with a smile. She looked him up and down and hummed in approval. "Looks like Shinji gave you some fashion advice as well."

"Aw come on," he protested, "I was pretty well-dressed at the gala, wasn't I?"

She chuckled and straightened his tie. "Yeah, you're getting better. Are you ready?"

"Can I ever be?" he retorted.

She snorted. "Fair enough, but you need to focus," she said sternly. "My father is the one of the scariest men I know and I've met all sorts of men."

"Great. Any last minute advice?"

"If he says anything that gets on your nerves, just ignore him. He tends to do that."

"Was Kaien able to impress him?" He had to ask.

She let out a tired sigh like she was expecting he might say ask that. "Sure, but he was born to impress… and it's not like he needed to with his background."

He turned away and he must have looked crestfallen because Yoruichi placed her hand under his chin and turned it to face her. "You'll be okay. What's not to like?" she said softly.

He offered her a small smile and his eyes trailed downwards to her lips but they had already arrived at the estate.

Shihōin Saburo didn't have Yoruichi's purple hair but he had her signature golden eyes. Yet they didn't give off the same life and passion she did. Instead, his eyes were hard and lifeless.

"Urahara Kisuke, is it?" His voice was deep and had a commanding authority to it.

Kisuke bowed as deeply as he could. "Yes, it's a pleasure, Shihōin-sama." He could feel Yoruichi's eyes watching him intently.

"Please sit," Saburo said. "How's your ankle doing?" he asked Yoruichi.

"Much better."

"It's not like you to get careless," Saburo said, placing his hands under his chin. "Your dancing skills were marveled even by professionals."

"What, are you going to reprimand me on my dancing skills now too?" Yoruichi said sharply.

Saburo let out a long, tired sigh. "That's not it." His eyes trailed to Kisuke. "What do your parents do?"

He could feel Yoruichi tense up beside him. Not the best opener for him.

"They both passed away. My mother worked several odd jobs and my father wasn't in my life."

"Self-made man then, impressive." Though it was supposed to be a compliment, Saburo's tone sounded almost sarcastic.

"Father."

Saburo ignored her. "So you're a professor at Tokyo University?"

"Yes Shihōin-sama."

"He's a genius," Yoruichi pitched in. "Got his PhD when he was 21."

"Yet he's just a professor," Saburo drawled. "What a waste of potential."

Yoruichi looked like she was about to lose her cool until he placed his hand on hers. "I rather like being a professor, actually," he replied coolly. "It's very rewarding."

"Someone with your capabilities could be much more."

"Well he would've been if it wasn't for Aizen," Yoruichi grumbled.

Saburo's eyes narrowed at that. "Your deal with him... is it final?"

"Actually, I was planning on cancelling it."

"What?"

"If you'd just let me explain—" Her phone rang, interrupting her. "Sorry," she muttered.

"It might be about your promotion, you should take it," Saburo said. "I'd like to talk to Urahara alone anyways."

A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes but she ultimately left them after giving Kisuke's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"What do you want with my daughter?" Saburo asked after she left. "Is it money? How much do I need to give you to leave her?" he said, eyes colder than ice.

Kisuke winced. "What? I don't— I don't want money."

"If it's not money, then..."

"I love her." It wasn't a lie.

"...I see. And does she?"

He wasn't prepared for that and honestly, he had no idea what she felt for him. Maybe he would have had a better idea if he hadn't interrupted them earlier.

The older man looked unimpressed. "I'll take your silence as she doesn't or you don't know. Then let me ask you this instead. Do you plan on marrying her?"

"Yes." There was no other correct way to answer it, really.

"You're not even sure if she loves you and you want to marry her… how foolish," Saburo said, and shook his head. "How well do you even know her? How can you be so sure that she won't abandon you like your father did to your mother?" His eyes looked almost amused. "She can be quite fickle. I know that very well as her father."

Kisuke felt his entire body go stiff. Of course he looked into him but still asked him about his parents anyways.

Calm down. He's doing that thing she talked about. Yet part of him was scared. Scared that the words could become very possible.

He knew it was trouble to continue with their fake relationship and that it was foolish to expect anything from her, but he still ended up falling for her— fast and hard.

Before he could muster a reply, Yoruichi came back at that moment, her eyes going straight to his. "It's decided, I'm getting promoted."

"I believe congratulations are in order," Saburo said, raising his glass.

"Thank you, father," Yoruichi said, clinking her glass against his.

Kisuke reached for her hand and managed to give her a radiant smile. "Congratulations, I knew you were ready."

She grinned, eyes gleaming. "Thanks," she said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek and holding onto his hand as she sat back down.

Saburo didn't even blink at the interaction. "When do you start?"

"Next week," she replied. "About that deal I mentioned earlier—"

"You can't cancel it. You just got promoted and canceling such a huge deal would be disastrous."

Yoruichi's lips twitched and settled into a frown. She knew her father was right. She looked to Kisuke and he brushed his thumb over her knuckles and nodded.

"You have a very important role now," her father continued. You need to get rid of any distractions." It sounded like a warning.

Her eyes darkened. "I know what I'm doing."

Saburo didn't press any further— he didn't need to. The rest of the meal wasn't anything special. It was mostly Yoruichi and her father talking about her promotion and her new responsibilities.

"Are you staying at the estate tonight?" Saburo asked.

"Not really feeling it."

"Yuushiro's here. He's on break."

Something changed in her eyes. "He is?" She sighed. "I suppose I'll see him at least."

"Are you okay?" he asked Yoruichi as they left the dining room.

Yoruichi dug her nails into her palm. "No. I don't want a deal with that slimy bastard. God, I really don't."

"I told you it's okay, really."

She sighed. "My father said something to you, didn't he?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you looked like someone told you your dog died."

Suddenly, a young boy came running towards them. "Onee-chan!" the boy exclaimed, jumping into Yoruichi's arms.

It was baffling, really. The boy was practically a spitting mirror image of a younger Yoruichi.

"Yuushiro, you've grown so much in the short time I haven't seen you," she said with a deadpan expression as she caught him.

"Really?" Yuushiro's eyes twinkled.

She rolled her eyes. "Course not, it hasn't been that long."

Yuushiro pouted and looked in Kisuke's direction, tilting his head. "Onee-chan, who is this?"

Yoruichi pursed her lips. "My boyfriend. His name is Kisuke."

Yuushiro pulled on his arm. "Onee-chan's boyfriend… want to read me a bedtime story?"

"He's busy—"

"Why not?" he replied, and Yoruichi gave him a look that could kill.

"...And then in a cloud of smoke, a magic carpet appeared and brought Aladdin and the princess back to the palace. For the rest of their lives, Aladdin and the princess lived happily ever after. The end!"

Yuushiro was fast asleep. His job here was done.

He glanced at Yoruichi and she looked like she was struggling to keep her eyes open. "Looks like he's not the only one that needs to go to sleep," he quipped. "Let's get you to bed."

"Mhm… shut up," she mumbled, but he could see her fighting back a smile. "I didn't know you wanted to go to my room that badly," she teased.

"T-that's not…" He could feel his cheeks burn.

She laughed. "I have to go see my father real quick to talk about my promotion. I'll be back in a few."

When she came back, she looked distressed. Her forehead was creased and there was a frown on her face. She pulled him into the hallway.

"Something the matter?"

"Your plagiarism scandal," she whispered. "Someone leaked it to the media. My father just told me just now."

His body felt cold. "What? Why?"

"With the timing, probably to get at me— at the Shihōin name— I don't know," she said with a sigh, pressing two fingers to her forehead. "I need to go take care of it. Maybe I can stop it from coming out somehow."

"Now? It's pretty late."

"It'll be too late if I wait till tomorrow."

He swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

"...I don't want to be your weakness."

"You're not," she said firmly. "You make me stronger," she said, her eyes blazing.

He felt a little breathless at that.

"I need you to go home and stay on the low. I'll contact you when I have something. Do you trust me?"

"Yeah," he said, meeting her eyes, "but will you be okay?"

Her lips curled up into a wry, confident smirk. "There's a reason they're promoting me to a director."

A/N: The plot is becoming more complicated, oops.

Hope you guys enjoyed :)