A/N: Happy New Year! It's been a while but I will finish this. Might take some time though because I know the ending but getting there is hard. I never envisioned this to be so long when I started it but here we are. (This is what happens when you write self-indulgent things then realize you should probably have a plot).

This chapter starts off with Yoruichi's POV where she wakes up the morning after the charity gala.

Amidst the sheer panic Yoruichi felt when she woke up that morning in a bed that wasn't hers, with a body pressed against hers and an arm around her waist, two thoughts came rushing to her:

'What the hell were you thinking?' and 'the broad chest and shoulders combination is deadly.'

She shifted to look at the man sleeping beside her; blonde hair unkempt, chest rising and falling as he snored softly. She studied his features closely, pausing to admire his eyelashes. They were startlingly long— perhaps even longer than hers— damn him. Her eyes wandered downwards to his slightly parted lips and she had to wet her own.

She held her breath as she reached a hand out to move a stray lock of hair that covered his eye. Then, slowly and carefully, she sneaked out of his embrace and reached for her phone on the nightstand to check the time.

There were several missed calls and messages from Kuukaku. Shit. She forgot that she was supposed to meet with her early that morning to visit Kaien's grave.

What was her game plan? She should meet up with her now but Tessai was off today. She could've called an Uber but she wanted to change clothes. She sighed quietly, mustering courage before she texted Kuukaku, asking her to get her a change of clothes, an ice pack, and to pick her up, promising to explain everything.

Kisuke was still asleep. She wondered if she should wake him and say goodbye but he looked so peaceful. Instead, she left him a note on his nightstand and collected her dress which he left for her on his chair. As she took one last look at him, her lips curved upwards into a wide smile.

Once she managed to hobble outside, she was met with a wide smirk from Kuukaku, who was leaning against her car.

"Well, this is definitely a walk of shame if I've ever seen one."

Yoruichi groaned. "Not quite." Nearly. Practically.

Kuukaku snorted. "C'mon, yer walking funny and that's his shirt, isn't it?"

Yoruichi felt her cheeks burn and looked downwards at the shirt she was wearing, feeling the soft fabric that had his scent on it. "It's a long story," she mumbled. "I'll explain to you on the way."

They drove to visit Kaien's grave, Kuukaku listening to her recount of yesterday's events in disbelief (where she chose to exclude the fact that she cried in his arms), while she changed in the car.

"Kaien's not gonna care if you visit him in another man's shirt, y'know. He'd be happy that you're finally getting laid with someone you're actually into."

"That's not why— and I told you we didn't— You know what, why do I even bother," Yoruichi said through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, yeah," Kuukaku said, waving her hand.

They bickered like that the entire ride, Kuukaku trying to get every last detail out of her while they also managed to shit-talk Aizen at the same time.

It was still a little difficult to visit him, even as the years went by. She held onto Kuukaku for support as they stood in front of his grave.

Kuukaku handed her a pipe and Yoruichi shook her head. "You know I quit."

"You say that everytime, shut up and take it."

Yoruichi sighed, taking the pipe and taking a long drag. "He smoked so much that it probably would've been the cause of his death if not…" Her voice drifted off, then she turned to look at Kuukaku and scowled. "And you're next if you keep going at the rate you're going at."

Kuukaku laughed. "You're not wrong." Then she put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll give you some time alone. I have a feeling you have some things to say to him."

Yoruichi nodded in return and sat down in front of Kaien's grave, knees bent.

"Hey, it's already been another year, huh? Not much has changed but… well." She took a deep breath. "There's someone. Someone that somehow got through the barriers I've kept up. Someone I can be myself with. Someone that… makes me happy. He doesn't know yet but I should probably tell him soon." She closed her eyes. "I'm scared though," she admitted. "I was always jealous of how easily you were able to express yourself." She chuckled. "I wonder if you'd even recognize me right now— so unsure of myself."

She sat there for a little longer, then whispered, "Bye for now."

When Yoruichi woke up the next morning, she couldn't remember much of the previous night. She and Kuukaku had drunk a lot. She did remember throwing a fit on Kuukaku's house and doing something embarrassing at her apartment lobby but she couldn't recall what. She groaned into her pillow.

God, please tell me he isn't still here. (He was.)

At least her ankle didn't hurt as much anymore.

Later, she tripped over the couch. Or maybe it was his foot? She had no idea. All she could focus on was the way he looked at her and how she wanted to kiss that stupid, teasing expression on his face off. So she did. (And then he brought her in for another kiss— deeper and hungrier— and she felt a little drunk on him.)

Then her phone rang and she picked up. Big mistake. She didn't miss that deflated puppy look in his eyes when she shot him down but if there was going to be anything between them, he needed to make a good impression on her father.

There was the dejected look in his eyes again after they left the dining room. She wanted to reassure him of whatever her father told him but Yuushiro came running at that moment. And then her father told her about the possibility of his scandal being leaked.

Interruption after interruption. She was losing her patience.

Even so, protecting him was the least she could do for him after all he'd done for her. So despite it being late at night, she went to find one of her media contacts. She was certain he would find him at a particular bar.

"Shūhei," she called out to the dark-haired man with tattoos and scars on his face that women went crazy for. Except for the 69 tattoo. He could probably do without that one.

Shūhei turned around in surprise. "Yoruichi? Looking beautiful as ever." He winked. "How's it going?"

"Hmm, not that great ever since I've heard some scandalous rumors about my boyfriend," she said, resting her head on her hand and giving him a flirtatious smile.

"I-is that so?" he stammered, scratching the back of his head.

"So, who told you about it?" She ordered him a nice bottle of sake.

"Thanks." He grinned, pouring her some before pouring his own. "Uh, I don't know, it was anonymous. I heard the evidence looked pretty incriminating."

"Do you think you can do something about it?" she asked, leaning forward. She watched his face turn pink and not from drinking. "I can get you an invite to that exclusive music festival where you can party at stay at one of our hotels for a week?"

"Really?" His face brightened up and he looked thoughtful. Honestly Yoruichi, the best I can do is postpone it for a day? Maybe two. I might lose my job, you know."

"You must know more. A name, perhaps? How does a date with that model you have posters of everywhere sound?"

His jaw dropped. "That sounds convincing but…"

"Hm, now that I think about it, I haven't done judo in a while. Fancy sparring with me?" She grinned scarily.

He gulped. "I-I'll see what I can find."

"By tomorrow."

"By tomorrow." As she walked away, he called out after her, "Wait, who told you about my posters?"

She laughed and ignored him. As she left the bar, her expression turned serious. Something was off. Whoever was behind this was powerful. Aizen shouldn't have enough power to influence the media like this— not even his father.

The next morning, she received a text from an anonymous number.

All it said was 'Tanaka Mareka'

Mareka? The first name sounded familiar but from where?

Before she left him, Kisuke told her that her father had looked into him. Obviously. Which meant he probably would have stumbled upon the scandal.

But why would he…? She had to check.

She looked through the employee list in her company. There was no one with that name. Then she looked into some private investigators that her family had access to.

She didn't find Tanaka Mareka, but she found Ōmaeda Mareka. Of course. She got divorced recently so she had her maiden name now. Before the divorce, she was known as Ōmaeda Mareka and the Ōmaeda family worked for hers.

Or should she say, her father.

She hurried to her estate and barged into her father's study.

He looked up from his computer screen with a frown. "What's the meaning of this?"

"Tanaka Mareka. Or maybe you'd prefer Ōmaeda Mareka. Does that ring a bell?"

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." Saburo's face was stoic and didn't betray any emotion.

"Really? I guess I'll have to go and ask her myself then."

Saburo sighed. "I warned you earlier. That you need to rid yourself of any distractions. Especially one like him. I didn't think you took me seriously, so I needed to make it clear."

"So you leaked his scandal which isn't even true? I can't believe you."

"It's about time you stopped playing this little game of yours."

"It's not a game. I don't get your problem with him. Because he's not as rich? As influential? He's still successful. And he's a good guy."

He ignored her questions. "You would find it in your best interest to disassociate yourself with him. Then I'll consider stopping it from leaking… perhaps by giving the media a story about your breakup instead?"

She closed her eyes for a moment before slowly opening them to face the stern, hard eyes of her father. She knew he wasn't bluffing. She almost laughed. How long had he been planning this? If it got out, no one would believe Kisuke. He would lose his job, all he's worked for— everything.

"You promise?" she said finally.

"I'm a man of my word."

Kisuke distracted himself with work but he was starting to feel impatient. He and Yoruichi couldn't catch a break. They still hadn't had a chance to talk properly. It didn't help that all he could think of was her and them on the couch whenever he closed his eyes.

She was occupied with her new position and finding out who leaked the scandal. The last time he heard from her, she told him she was able to hold off the media from publishing it in the news for a few days.

As he considered dropping by and talking to her anyways, someone knocked on his office door.

"Come in." He looked up, eyes widening when he saw who walked in. "Wha—"

Mei closed the door behind her, crossing her arms. "You ignored all my calls so you left me with no choice but to come here."

He ran a hand through his hair. "What is this about?"

"You wanted to know the reason. How about we go eat noodles like the old times and I'll tell you?"

"I don't think that's a good idea."

She frowned. "How come," she murmured, "how come you didn't contact me even once when I left you? You never bothered asking why."

"I thought it was obvious. I lost everything and you got tired of me."

She shook her head. "That wasn't it."

"Then?"

He saw the hesitation in her eyes before she spoke. "You made me feel alone," she said hoarsely. "You were brilliant and becoming so accomplished. We started working together from the beginning but I felt like I was getting left behind and all of your time was spent on your research."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought that I would be a distraction— that I would just get in your way. I felt insecure," she admitted. "Then he came into the picture and… I guess I just liked the attention he gave me."

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

She laughed bitterly. "I'm the one that cheated and you're sorry? Never change." She sighed. "I'm sorry too. I can't believe you secretly gave your hard work to Central 46. You and Sōsuke hate them."

It was his turn to sigh. "Yeah. I think I did it out of spite. I mean, he nearly got me expelled and he took you from me."

"Oh." Her surprised expression suddenly turned into relief. "You know, sometimes I wondered if you really loved me or if you just pitied me because I didn't have anyone else in my life. So I guess you did love me in a way."

"Of course I did."

"Aren't there unresolved feelings between us?"

"You said it yourself. 'I did love you.' I know why you left me now and that's enough for me. I'm sorry I made you feel that way but what we had is over. You can find someone better than me and him."

"I don't understand. Your relationship with her isn't even real."

That made him pause. "I guess Aizen figured that out too?"

She nodded, then scoffed. "Why is she letting you help her? "Don't tell me she doesn't know…"

"Know what?"

"That you played a part in causing the downfall of her dead fiance's family."

"...What? What do you mean?"

She shook her head in disbelief. "So you don't know. When you gave the Central 46 your tech, it allowed them to arrest that guy from the Gotei 13."

He felt the blood drain from his face.

"Why do you look so terrified? Sure you indirectly caused their downfall, but it's not like you killed the guy."

Technically, he indirectly did, since Kaien ran away with Yoruichi because of that.

What kind of twisted fate was this?

"Please leave my office," he managed to croak out. "I wish you all the best, Mei."

There was a slight frown on her face. "This isn't goodbye," she said before she left his office.

How was he going to tell Yoruichi? It would ruin everything. There would never be a possibility for them.

Not long after, there was another knock on his door. "Kisuke, it's me. I'm coming in."

And because fate hated his guts extra hard, of course, it was her.

Yoruichi went to visit Kisuke at his office to put an end to all this; to the mess she got him in. As she walked towards his office, a tall woman with short, dark green hair stepped out. She was sophisticated with an innocent feel to her. Yoruichi recognized her as the woman from the gala.

Was that his type?

The woman closed the door behind her and stepped towards her. "You must be Yoruichi."

"And you are?"

"Mei. But you already know that. Or not. Not sure how much he's shared considering your relationship's fake."

He told her? The hell, Kisuke.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about," she said.

Mei shrugged. "Deny it all you want. There's no way you two will work out anyways," she waved her hand dismissively and walked away.

To Yoruichi's annoyance, she couldn't actually deny it since the news of their breakup was going to be on the front page of some gossip magazine tomorrow.

She held in a deep sigh and waited a moment before she knocked on Kisuke's office door. "Kisuke, it's me. I'm coming in." She strolled in casually, wishing she had a camera to capture the dumbfounded look on his face. "You're going around blabbing about our ruse to everyone now, hm?"

"Yoruichi." He was still looking at her as if he couldn't believe she was there. "...Aizen found out somehow and told her, I suppose."

"She's connected to Aizen?"

He scratched his face. "Right, I didn't tell you. The one she left me for was…"

"Aizen," she finished for him in disbelief.

"Mhm."

"Well, now I hate him even more."

Kisuke laughed, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"What did you talk about?" she asked.

"Ah, just about the past… to clear up some things." He ran a hand through his hair. "So, what's so important that you came without notice?" He said it in a teasing tone, but it sounded forced and she could feel the tension in him. Not to mention, he was fidgeting and avoiding looking her in the eye.

She sat down in front of him and took a deep breath. Might as well cut to the chase. "Kisuke, it's about time we ended this, don't you think?"

She studied his expression: a mixture of surprise and confusion, but what made her feel a pang in her chest was the split second of relief she saw.

He stopped fidgeting with his pen. "All of a sudden?"

"It's been over a month. Almost two? But we agreed to say that we began our relationship months before." She shrugged in an effort to look nonchalant. "It's long enough that it won't look that bad if we've broken up by now and you won't look like a homewrecker."

"If that's what you want," he said as if choosing his words carefully.

Was this really it? Who was she kidding? She knew he didn't owe her anything. It was all fake, after all. But still, they've been through a lot and they practically made out on that couch and— well she wasn't one to get worked up over something like that, but…

Maybe it didn't really mean anything to him.

Maybe he was getting back with that ex that cheated on him. The one that was her complete opposite.

"Not sure how you're going to solve the problem of your father trying to get you to marry a rich snob though?" he added.

"I'll just tell him that I'm too busy with my new promotion to date. One thing he does approve of is work."

"And after being busy with work isn't a valid excuse anymore?" This time he met her eyes.

"I'll deal with that when the time comes."

It was silent before he spoke, "Okay, whatever you need."

"Okay." She bit her lip. "Also, I prevented the scandal from getting out, so don't worry about it."

He raised a brow as if to say: do I even want to know how? and she almost snorted.

If only he knew.

"…Thank you," he said. "Did you find out who leaked it?"

"No," she lied. "But it wasn't Aizen. Pretty sure."

He looked skeptical but didn't push it.

"Anyways, thank you for everything. I can't thank you enough. Truly." For cheering me up after a stressful day at work. For bringing me Greek takeout even though you hate it. For telling me the nerdiest and lamest jokes. For coming to that stupid gala with me. For holding me while I cried and soaked your nice tuxedo. For giving me your shirt which I should probably get rid of—

"Don't mention it."

She snapped out of her thoughts and got up from her chair. "I think I'm going to go," she said, heading to the door.

He followed after her and reached out as if to stop her, but stopped himself. "Take care of yourself, Yoruichi."

Her hand stilled on the doorknob and for a second, she considered punching him. In the face. With her mouth. But instead, she said, "you too," without looking at him, and left his office, sinking to her knees once she had walked a far enough distance.

She considered herself a wise and practical woman, yet, somehow, she had made the dumbest mistake someone could make when faking a relationship. Falling for said person they were in a fake relationship with.