Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. sniff


"You were nothing short of magnificent," she says. "I had never seen you fight before that day."

"You say that as if you were surprised." He looks at her, the questions already buzzing in his mind.

"I was." She tilts her head in the way he remembers she did when she was being devious.

"You didn't say so then."

"Why would I? I wasn't about to sabotage my own plan with something so trivial," she said, winking.

"So you admit there was a plan."

"And it wasn't even Kisuke's." She arches an eyebrow at him, almost daring him to question her further.

But he doesn't need to. "Kisuke wouldn't have approved."

"I knew that," she says, almost sadly. "But you weren't the only one taken by surprise when it started. By the time I stopped to think about what I was doing, it was already too late."

Special training day at the Academy always followed specific guidelines worked out by the Gotei and Central 46. No students who had not completed their third year could participate. The location was always in the living world, usually an open space with a special ban set about its parameters to keep out any humans. There had only been a few times in several centuries the students had not managed to bring down a hollow; the training space was usually picked specifically because there had been greater than normal activity in the area. The meaning of the lesson was to hone the senses for the hunt, and to sharpen the skills for what happened after the find.

At least three captains and their vice captains were to observe and intervene if it was warranted. This was how the real talent was identified early. Usually the instructors at the Academy would point out those of specific interest, but the captains were allowed to speak privately at a later date with any they wished to admit to their squads early. This year there was only one such standout, a young man of "extraordinary" talent named Shiba Kaien.

Ukitake knew this because he had been told. Twice. Once by Kisuke, who had spoken of Shiba in glowing terms when talk one day had turned to the special training session. "I don't say it only because I am his sempai," he said. "I like Kaien. He's got a way about him."

Juushirou almost snorted into his sake. "I suppose he's got that mischief, too, if he's a friend of yours."

"He does. But the worst of it went to his sister. She managed to get herself kicked out of the academy within two years. She wasn't really suited for the shinigami lifestyle anyway; too much of a hothead. But Kaien is serious about what he wants. He told me the day I met him he was going to be a captain one day, and I don't doubt it."

Juushirou smiled and nodded at him, still a little wary. Any friend of Kisuke was likely to be troublesome. Proof of this was Urahara's best friend, whom Ukitake did not see again until the fourth night after he'd met her. Unlike Kisuke, however, she did not bother to wait to be invited.

He had asked after her, of course. But to invite her to his home, considering her sex and her position, would have been a little bit more complicated than having Kisuke or Kyouraku over for sake and pleasant conversation. Aside from that, she seemed engrossed in her work, so much so that once Kisuke actually lamented her absence.

If Urahara had known where Yoruichi had been, he probably wouldn't have been so easy about it. Even now, settled on the watchtower between Kisuke and the other captain, Aizen Sousuke, Juushirou had to breathe deep to keep from chuckling to himself, even though what had happened shook him to the core. Traveler, who had refused to be left behind, lay purring in his lap. Of course that cat could care less.

Because that cat had decided to become his familiar. And that cat had shared a secret with him.

He had woke in the night. He was a light sleeper. He groped in the dark for Traveler, but remembered that yesterday he'd left. But there was something not right. He knew he'd heard a thud. So what was it? Rising from his mat, he scanned the room for a candle. Then he heard it again, and as it grew louder it changed, from a low hum to garbled words to a steady stream of curses. "Only three days! Oh, hell," the voice seethed, "why now?" The verbiage only got worse (and louder) from there, so loud that he was able to discern where the terrible language was coming from. His frustration overtook him. Muttering a demon spell that emitted light from his hands, he turned the corner that led from his chamber to the hallway.

And nearly knocked down the commander of the Keigun Brigade. As she swayed in the blue half-light, her expression must have matched his, if even for a moment: Shock, and then a flash of horror. And then, impossibly, a growing amusement.

She was completely naked.

The clash of instincts—One said "Look!" Another said "Look away!" And yet another said, "What is she doing here?"—was too much for him. When he caught his breath he coughed. Hard. He blinked and swallowed, but knew it was too late. He glanced up from the crimson hand and found her, still naked, her face etched deep with concern. And then his light winked out. He could feel her reaching for him.

He jerked away. This was complete insanity. She was the one who should be embarrassed, not him. He didn't dare think of how long it had been since he'd been in the presence of a woman in a state of undress. Long enough, but not quite. This wasn't how he'd pictured his next time would be—

He felt the surge of wind. She was gone—but then she was back, with a handkerchief, taking his hand and gently wiping. For all her care, she held his hand tightly. He could not pull away. He settled for cruelty. "Don't you have other concerns?" He could regret the words later.

"Forget the damn clothes," she hissed, finishing up on his hand and leading him back to his chamber. She harried him to his bed, and pushed him back on it. If Shunsui only knew. . . He closed his eyes as he felt her draw his blanket up to his waist. Then he noticed the warmth of her hand on his chest. In the moonlight he could see her face, a mask of concentration. The warmth was sinking deep, not healing, not yet. Exploring. Probing in the way a surgeon would.

"Where did you learn this?" Juushirou managed to sputter.

She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I can't completely heal you. I can only make you more comfortable." There was a tinge of regret in her voice.

Minutes, maybe hours passed. His reality blurred and shifted, and the only warm spot in the universe had her hands on him. "Don't tell Kisuke," he heard her say. "I'll explain everything in the morning."

She did have a lot to answer for. But all of this seemed trivial. She was Yoruichi, elemental, incapable of capricious deceit. She was also beautiful. "I believe you," he murmured before the world went dark again.

He awoke the next morning to the steady purr of Traveler, who lay still and slept deeply, her head nestled into his neck. And he breathed in air as if he'd just surfaced from the deepest pit in the ocean. And did not cough at all. As he sat up the cat did not move. He stared down at her. Then he did the unthinkable. He stroked the smooth black fur, half smiling. And didn't chastise himself when he briefly imagined it was skin and not fur that he was touching. His chest still felt warm where her hand had been.

Even now, wedged between Kisuke and Sousuke who were watching in growing alarm as a phalanx of younger students seemed to be cornered by a hollow. When Aizen moved to go to their aid, Ukitake stopped him. Traveler woke and slid out of his lap, then watched along with the two younger captains as Juushirou leapt down and took care of the hollow himself. In front of the amazed students, he took the beast down with one capable stroke of his soul-cutter, which was not even in shikai. When it was over with, he turned and smiled at the students. One stepped forward. "Captain, that was amazing! Especially your hair." Behind him the rest tittered nervously.

Juushirou smiled. "Shiba Kaien, I presume," he said.

Shiba Kaien almost blushed.

"Shihouin-san told me all about you," Ukitake said. He looked up at the watchtower, where Kisuke was grinning like an idiot and Traveler, settled on her haunches, was gazing down at him. Even from that distance, he could see the smile in her eyes.