Hunted
Calm Before The Storm

Kukaku was pleased to see that the restaurant was living up to its popular reputation as more and more people occupied the previously empty tables and booths, making enough noise to compensate for the remaining empty ones. Kukaku was also positive any conversations taking place could not be overheard by anyone and felt confident that included her own now that they were done playing catch up.

"So Nanao, Shunsui" Kukaku paused to take a sip from her drink while Nanao adjusted her glasses and Shunsui focused on the conversation for the first time since they arrived. "I'm going to have to ask that you limit your time around Yoruichi as much as possible." If either of them were surprised by this statement, they didn't show it at all, Nanao simply sat back in her chair and Shunsui smirked at how the real purpose of the meal had been revealed.

"You have nothing to worry about…Officer." Nanao responded coolly. "We have our own conditions to uphold after all."

"Urgh… rules and regulations." Kukaku muttered in exasperation and sank lower into the chair.

"Work load getting to you?" Shunsui smiled sympathetically.

"No it's gotten me nowhere and that's the problem." Kukaku allowed some of her exhaustion over the matter to show as she continued to speak. "We tried something a few months ago…it was meant to bring us answers, instead we got nothing…and that's all I can say on the subject. It's only because you're linked to this that I was able to say that much." Kukaku added on to make sure they understood not to go sharing that information with anyone.

"It's been what, maybe nine, ten years now? Maybe it's all over." Nanao suggested hopefully.

"The higher-ups must think so too otherwise we all wouldn't be here. That or they're hoping that gathering us all in one spot will draw him out." Shunsui added as on as an afterthought.

"Either way I'm looking forward to when we can finally sit everyone down together and have a meal without it involving paperwork." Kukaku daydreamed happily.

"How about a holiday, things are quiet enough; you sound like you could do with one." Shunsui suggested.

"I can't and even if I could I wouldn't, Yoruichi needs me here." Kukaku noticed the expectant look from Shunsui for her to continue only she hesitated, unsure of what to say since it wasn't really her place to share details about Yoruichi's relationship with Soifon.

"Come now, you can't stop there." Shunsui complained, "I mean it sounds like we're finally getting to the good part."

"Shunsui!" Nanao scolded him for prying into things.

"What? This is the first chance we've had to hear about the others in a long time and by the sound of things it will be the only chance we get for a while." Shunsui defended. His honest answer caught Nanao by surprise that she could do nothing but agree with him.

"I've missed you guys," Kukaku smiled at how the relationship between them hadn't changed a bit. "I'll let Yoruichi know you were asking about her."

"So how is she?" Shunsui prompted once more.

"…It's hard to tell," Kukaku answered truthfully, knowing full well that right now Yoruichi was no doubt going back and forth over what and how to tell Soifon, rethinking it through countless times and driving herself insane in the process. "You guys remember Ren right?" Kukaku watched Shunsui's and Nanao's expressions darken the moment they heard that name again.

"Unfortunately yes," Nanao answered begrudgingly though her eyes soon widened in shock. "She hasn't come back, has she?!"

"No, no, nothing like that." Kukaku quickly reassured them both. "I only mentioned her because this is the first time Yoruichi has tried dating anyone since then and she's worried about revealing her identity as it were."

"I don't blame her there." Shunsui muttered under his breath.

"Hmm…yes and it doesn't help that Soifon is a hard person to read." Nanao agreed, her mind trying to calculate how the situation could possibly play out as was Shunsui. Kukaku however, was wondering when they found out that Yoruichi and Soifon were dating since they hadn't told anyone outside of herself or Kisuke that they were a couple.

"How did you guys find out about them?" Kukaku questioned them, utterly confused, Yoruichi even told her that she only said hello to Nanao and nothing else.

"It's the only plausible conclusion that we could come to that explains Yoruichi and Soifon spending so much time together." Nanao shrugged off their reasoning as if it could be the only possible answer anyway.

"We haven't had it officially confirmed…until now that is." Shunsui grinned back at Kukaku.

"Alright, you got me there." Kukaku holds her hands up in mock defeat. "…Do you really have no idea how Soifon will react?" she asked them hopefully.

"Nope sorry, Soifon has kept to herself ever since she started working at Balance Industries. The only thing I can say for certain is that she has thrown her entire life into that company and nothing else…there are a lot of rumours about her though." Shunsui recalled some of the more crazy theories that circulated the office concerning Soifon. "They range from her being a runaway child to her being on the run from the law. I personally enjoy the version where she won this company in a game of cards one night."

"Hell if she's that lucky I'm glad I might get the chance to know her then." Kukaku chuckled.

"How much of the truth does Soifon know, as in has Yoruichi used a fake past?" Nanao interjected after thoroughly thinking it through to make sure she was right before getting Kukaku's hopes up.

"No Yoruichi has stuck to the truth as close as possible without actually telling her the truth." Kukaku explained, remembering that fact very well as both Kisuke and herself were against her doing so.

"That will rule out the shock of being lied to which should in theory, make things easier for Soifon to absorb." Nanao continued. "Plus this may ease your mind slightly, this is the first time we've seen or heard of Soifon taking interest in anyone outside of office hours. She may accept Yoruichi."

"I can only hope so." Kukaku replied hopefully and finished the remainder of her drink.

Yoruichi examined her appearance in the bathroom mirror, she could see the sweat on her brow and the frown etched across her face in pain from the operation on the bullet wound. Yoruichi lifted up her top to reveal the bandage around her waist then gently pressed the palm of her hand onto her right side, hoping that her own body heat would somehow soothe the area.

It was four days after the incident in the park and on the previous days, Yoruichi had been able to cope very well with the recovery process from the surgery, she could move around her flat for a good while without needing to rest but she had spent the whole night working out how she should approach Soifon that Yoruichi had gotten no sleep and eventually crashed out of exhaustion at nine o'clock in the morning. This interfered with the structured routine Yoruichi was meant to follow when taking her medication that when she finally woke up in the evening, she found it impossible to move at all and it took all of her will power to make it into the bathroom where she kept the prescriptions.

Yoruichi splashed cold water onto her face and enjoyed how its refreshing effects cooled her down while she waited for the medicine to kick in and it also washed away the last remnants of sleep from her system. It did not however wash away her fears and uncertainty of telling everything to Soifon. Yoruichi had made the decision to tell Soifon on Friday night, it was now Sunday and she had only spoken to Soifon once since she left her flat that morning and it was Soifon who had called her. Yoruichi was yet to pick up her phone with the intention of calling Soifon and Yoruichi also knew this had to change, the sooner she told Soifon, the sooner she could move past it and hopefully with Soifon still by her side.

Yoruichi limped out of the small, plain bathroom and headed for her mobile phone when someone knocked on her apartment door. Confused as to who exactly would be knocking at her door after nine o'clock at night, Yoruichi decided to ask who it was first before she opened the door just to be extra careful in her weakened state.

"It's me." Replied Kukaku's familiar voice, Yoruichi relaxed instantly and let her in, glad to have the extra company.

"What's that?" Yoruichi indicated to the shopping bag Kukaku had brought with her.

"It's that electric blanket you asked for." Kukaku explained and dropped the bag on top of the kitchen counters while noticing how bad Yoruichi looked, it was obvious she hadn't gotten any sleep in a while and Yoruichi had to limp over to the sofa as she muttered a quick thank you for the blanket. "Bad day?"

"No I just forgot to take my tablets earlier," Yoruichi collapsed gratefully onto her sofa. "I'm waiting for these ones to kick in. With a bit of luck that'll be any minute now." Yoruichi hoped to herself.

"What made you forget to take them?" Kukaku withheld her usual reprimanding statements since she had a good idea what the main reason was.

"I couldn't sleep last night." Yoruichi shrugged dismissively.

"Get it over with and tell her Yoruichi, it's the unknown that's doing you in, tell her and it's done with."

"I know." Yoruichi eyed her phone wearily and moved to pick it up. Kukaku watched Yoruichi hesitate and she felt a moment's regret at what she had done only her official side stamped it out soon enough, it had to be done and as Yoruichi's friend she was helping her through it as well by being here for her.

"I saw Shunsui and Nanao earlier." Kukaku hoped that taking a less direct path would prove more successful.

"Oh?" Yoruichi perked up, clearly eager for the distraction.

"They think you're overreacting." Kukaku deadpanned, believing this herself.

"Oh…" Yoruichi slumped back into the sofa, looking at anything but the phone right beside her. Kukaku rolled her eyes and left the kitchen area to join Yoruichi by the sofa and picked up the phone. Yoruichi looked up at Kukaku curiously as she held out the device to her.

"They also believe Soifon will tell you the same thing." Kukaku smiled and offered the phone reassuringly. Yoruichi took it with a forced half-smile; she didn't want the object in her hand at all because it gave away how much she was currently shaking. She did want to tell Soifon everything but the problem Yoruichi encountered was that the past fought back and that's exactly what was happening now. Her mind was being invaded by the past in the form of memories, memories Yoruichi would prefer to never think about again let alone relive how real they felt but now they were replaying in her head the second she woke up and they persisted to invade her dreams whenever Yoruichi was lucky enough to catch a few hours of sleep. Her mind and body were so worn out now that she could no longer distract herself from them anymore that she was currently remembering how quickly things turned to hell the last time she told someone about her past and it's all she could see taking place the second Soifon knew everything.

Any and all resolve Kukaku had used to tell herself this had to be done left her as soon as she noticed Yoruichi trembling and how her tired golden eyes had glazed over with unshed tears. Kukaku moved as if she was on autopilot from the need to help Yoruichi in any way possible. Kukaku removed the phone from Yoruichi's hand and knelt down in front of her friend in one motion so that she could gently wipe away the tears rolling down the side of Yoruichi's face. The contact startled Yoruichi out of the darkness she had been trapped in alone to see Kukaku's warm, caring and compassionate eyes fixed upon her.

"Come here," Kukaku spoke softly as she guided Yoruichi into a protective embrace that Yoruichi was all too grateful for as she struggled to stop herself from sobbing into Kukaku's shoulder. "I didn't realise you were having flashbacks again," Kukaku whispered apologetically as she held Yoruichi's trembling form in her arms. "How long have they been going on for?"

"Past few days." Yoruichi admitted, her voice was shaken and tears fell down her cheeks despite her doing her best to stop herself from crying.

"You should have said something." Kukaku tightened her hold on Yoruichi, ashamed that she hadn't noticed sooner and that she had assumed it was only to do with Soifon as to why Yoruichi had become so distant and worn out.

"I didn't want to bother you or Kisuke." Yoruichi sobbed as she did her best to dry her face on the crock of her arm.

"The only thing that bothers me is when you don't come to us for help you daft cat." Kukaku scolded her but was happy to see Yoruichi smile briefly at the use of her old nickname and made a mental note to use it more often if it made Yoruichi smile when she was upset since it is almost unnatural for Yoruichi to be anything but the happy, carefree person that she was. "Want me to stay here tonight?" Kukaku asked out of politeness more than anything since she didn't plan on leaving Yoruichi alone now.

"If you like." Yoruichi smiled in relief this time even though her voice was still sounded croaky and Yoruichi tightened her hold on Kukaku, glad to have her as a best friend. Both of them were startled by the sharp tapping of someone's knuckles knocking on the apartment door that they stared at it, confused as to who would be dropping by at such a late hour. "Did you invite Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked since it was rare for her to get visitors on the spur of moment.

"Oh god…" Realisation dawned on Kukaku's face as she recalled what plans she had set into motion earlier on in the day. "It's Soifon."

"What?" Yoruichi anxiously wiped any remaining tears from her face though knew it was still obvious she had been crying.

"I'm so sorry; I wanted to help you tell her. I didn't realise you were having flashbacks…I'm sorry, I invited her here." Kukaku tried to explain and apologise at the same time and realised she was most likely just confusing Yoruichi more so she took a deep breath to calm herself down. "My superior doesn't like the fact that Soifon has been left as an unknown for this long. I was told that if you don't tell her soon they would do so for you and I really didn't see Soifon taking the news so well if she found out from a bunch of lawyers." Kukaku watched Yoruichi nod in agreement to that and their attention was pulled to the door as Soifon knocked again. "Anyway, I bought you some extra time by saying you were doing it over the weekend and I called Soifon and asked her to meet us here. I was going to help you through it but that's before I knew how bad you really were." Kukaku explained hastily, "I'll send her away if you like; I can say that you're ill or something and we can wait for another time."

"Err…" Yoruichi tried to think rationally but the temptation to have the safety of Soifon being fully hers and not having to deal with any of this right now was very hard to resist that she found herself nodding to Kukaku before she was even aware of it. Kukaku nodded back understandingly and stood up which broke her protective hold on Yoruichi so that she could prepare herself to face Soifon when Yoruichi's hand snapped onto her wrist and held her in place. "Let her in- the door's open…" Yoruichi mumbled as fast as she could get the words out before she changed her mind again.

"I'm here for you ok." Kukaku took Yoruichi's hand in her own and squeezed it reassuringly, "The door's open Soifon. You can come on in." Kukaku called out towards the door. Yoruichi waited with baited breath for the door to open and it felt like she would be able to hear the sound of a pin drop in the moment of silence that it took for the door handle to slowly rotate open and for Yoruichi to see Soifon, still in one of her suits that she wore to work every day standing in her doorway.

Soifon knew something was wrong when she noticed how close Kukaku was standing to Yoruichi and that Yoruichi was holding on Kukaku as well. If that hadn't been enough to tell her that something had happened, Yoruichi's tense posture and her red puffy eyes told Soifon that she had been crying. Unsure of how to proceed and aware that both Yoruichi and Kukaku were looking at her, Soifon remained in the doorway, quite prepared to leave if requested though she'd much prefer to stay and see if there was anything she could do to help Yoruichi even if she had no idea how to do so.

"What's wrong?" Soifon tried to read Yoruichi's expression but Yoruichi refused to meet her gaze.

"Yoruichi has been meaning to tell you something for a while now and she would like to tell you now." Kukaku glanced down at Yoruichi to check that she was certain she really wanted to do this right now and received a brisk nod from Yoruichi in agreement.

Apprehension surged through Soifon and tightened her stomach muscles, her mind flowing with endless possibilities at what could be the cause of this reaction in Yoruichi if it was related to her past and it was clearly more than just "I had a few fans go a little nuts…" as Yoruichi had summed up in her own words previously. Soifon studied Yoruichi's tear stained face again and instead of wanting to know more now that she finally had the chance, Soifon found herself wanting to spare Yoruichi all of this and tell her she didn't care if it would help Yoruichi feel better. Compelled to settle the knot which had formed in her stomach, Soifon took a few tentative steps towards Yoruichi but her nerves got the better of her before she could bring herself to hug Yoruichi and Soifon mentally scolded herself for not being able to follow through with her attempt as she battled with her own emotional scarring from her past. This did however; grant Soifon a moment of empathy for Yoruichi as she was clearly going through this same battle right now only it seemed that Yoruichi was making more progress than herself if she was going to tell her.

"Are you sure you want to do this now?" Soifon spoke up since she wasn't able to demonstrate her concern.

"If I don't do it now, you'll just get a bunch of lawyers doing it for me in a couple of days anyway." Yoruichi answered bitterly at that thought and she finally made eye contact with Soifon since she had entered the room and Yoruichi could see the mixed emotions in Soi's silver eyes over the whole situation they had found themselves in.

"Lawyers? Why would there be Lawyers?" Soifon looked between Kukaku and Yoruichi in puzzlement. "Mind I suppose I'll find out soon enough." She muttered under her breath shortly after asking the question and before Yoruichi or Kukaku could work out a simple enough answer.

"Pretty much." Kukaku nodded along in agreement.

"Are you…staying?" Soifon directed to Kukaku, unable to think of any other way to word it, not that she didn't like Kukaku, it was more a case of Soifon not feeling like she could open herself up to Yoruichi in the way most likely needed right now with someone else watching their every move.

"Err…I could wait outside for a bit." Kukaku suggested, quite willing to do so if need be though now the conversation between them had reached an end as neither one of them could think of anything else to say now that a decision had been mutually agreed upon which let the uncomfortable silence stretch ever onwards. Kukaku clapped her hands firmly together and pointed at the door seeing as how neither Yoruichi nor Soifon seemed prepared to make the first move, "I'll be outside then." She confirmed and as Kukaku past a very nervous looking Soifon, she patted her reassuringly on the shoulder, "Oh by the way," Kukaku glanced back them, "I'm right outside if you need me." Just in case, Kukaku added on mentally, knowing full well that they knew she was still there if they needed anything.

Both Yoruichi and Soifon appeared frozen in time as Kukaku surveyed the room one last time before she stepped outside and shut the door on them, hoping against hope that Shunsui and Nanao had been right about Soifon and that everything would go alright inside the apartment. Feeling very nervous herself for her friends, Kukaku hunted around in her jacket pockets searching for her packet of cigarettes and her lighter.

"Huh…" Kukaku realised something as she found what she was after and pulled a cigarette free from the packet. I thought of Soifon as a friend… Kukaku studied the worn down engraving of the dragon wrapped around the lighter carefully, she ran her thumb across the faded scales as she remembered Yoruichi giving it to her the day they became friends. "Great…now I'm thinking about the past." She muttered with a sad smile.

A/N: Please forgive me for the massive delay!
I'd love to say the next update will be soon but there's no telling anymore atm, deadlines are approaching fast for uni work.
I hope this was worth the insanely long wait and again, my apologies for the delay.