A/N: Darker this time. Rated K+ for some violence.

Seven Deadly Sins: Greed

"Rebel"

By Nessie

The sky of Soul Society is fiery red with the impending fall of night, and there is a warm, heady scent in the air. Yoruichi wonders if it is from her…from her will to draw blood, should it be necessary. An aura, thick and ready, surrounds her. It must be a combination of her strength and Urahara's as they stand together in front of the massive gate to the living world. They face what they once considered to be their home, while their backs are aimed at Kisuke's destination…the land of mortals.

Yoruichi isn't sure how she feels about this. 'Exile' is a word that has never meant much to her. After all, she is the black sheep in her family, and she has been slowly exiling herself for years. Maybe this is the final trick to complete the process. In that case, she is comfortable.

Ukitake is the one to catch first sight of them by the gate. The hunt has been going on for nearly an hour, ever since that amateur researcher Mayuri found the records of Urahara's latest invention: the gigai that is going to have them driven out of Soul Society. Ukitake's expression is somewhat sad, and the petite girl that stands with him is wide-eyed and a little tense.

The Shihouin princess feels her mouth curve upward in a smile filled with ironic amusement. "Is that her?" she asked the tall captain of the 12th Division that stands beside her.

"Yes," Urahara replied, a singular excitement heightening his tone somewhat. "That's her. Clever, aren't I?"

More Shinigami appear, and Yoruichi realizes that it is time to prepare. She raises her hands, her greatest weapons, and takes a stance. She is a leader, just like him, and she has the ability to protect. More importantly, she has the motive to protect. It is true that she does not completely understand what Urahara's goals are, but somehow…that never mattered to her.

"Don't." His voice, combined with the warm hand he sets on her shoulder has her turning to him in a flurry of purple hair and amber eyes. Urahara is smiling, and it is the same smile he always wears; lazy, anything but concerned. "Don't fight them, Yoruichi."

Her eyes widen to discs of gold, and she shoots a bitter glance at the ranks of Shinigami watching them from a fair distance away. Ukitake…Byakuya…even Shunsui…all of them could be commendable adversaries, and she goes up on tiptoe, arching her spine like a cat that has been threatened. "Kisuke, if I don't…"

"I'm going to open the gate." She looks at him, and his eyes are filled with something she does not know the name of. She wishes she knew what was going on in his head. His smile widens as he speaks. "You can still save yourself. Betray me now, and you will still have your House and your rank and your position in this spineless Society of ours."

Yoruichi is shocked, not by the notion, but by the fact that he is actually taking time to still consider her through all of this. She had not expected it from him.

"You'll even still have me," he promises her softly, and his hand comes up to stroke a line from her temple to her chin.

There is a pause as they reach into each other's gazes and understand one another. It is a dense connection that contains a thousand meanings meant for no one but them. And then she smirks up at him, and steps in front of him. She is now a shield between him and all of their enemies, people they once called friends. "They can demote me. They can even throw me out, Kisuke. I will eventually come to you," she tells him. He splays his fingers over her back, the touch simultaneously comforting and encouraging.

There is a note of challenge in his voice. "Then here we go."

A blast of power surges behind her as the gate opens, and several Shinigami spring forward. Byakuya is first, but he is no match for her Flash Steps and hand-to-hand combat. It will only take a few moments for Kisuke to get through, she thinks. Yoruichi smiles as she delivers the finishing blow to the Kuchiki brat, and he is flung backward beneath the force of her skill.

"You all decided to cast him out," she taunts loudly, "so why not to the living world?"

She grins as the fury rises, and before anyone can get past her, the door is shut and sealed. Urahara is gone.

Yoruichi knows she is only greedy. It is avarice that makes her defend him…she wants him so badly and that is why she saves him, defying what she believes in.

Yet it suits her. It suits her perfectly.

The End