Note: I am very sorry for my long absence, guys. A lot has been going on for me in terms of study and work, so I've had to neglect my hobby. But know that I've not forgotten! Every time I get a PM or review I read them and I know you've been waiting! I just hope you aren't too disappointed with this chapter as I wrote it today. I aim to have this story finished by the end of the month. I have other ideas I've been developing too; mostly M-rated one-shots to keep you reading while I come up with longer story ideas. Thank you guys so much for all the positive comments...! Please keep this couple going!

Chapter 8: Cold

Byakuya was experiencing the kind of anger that chilled the skin. His chest froze, needles of ice stabbing into his heart as he felt colder – less able to move. Life breathed back into him hearing Captain Unohana's quickening steps. By the time she came back, his unemotive demeanour had returned. She hadn't noticed he had been rummaging through Yoruichi's file; that he had stolen the pink slip. She wondered why he sat in her chair, but smiled anyway.

"Here is some more information," she said. Unohana's smile twitched ever so slightly. "Please, don't get too stuck in. I know it's all very interesting."

"Very interesting indeed," Byakuya replied. Unohana raised a brow as he accepted the leaflets and stood from the chair. "Excuse me." He flash-stepped away.

Byakuya felt wholly betrayed. Yoruichi had always let him down one way or another, but this crossed the line. She was playing with his heart – one that had already been broken in the past. He would not let her break it again. To think he was falling in love with this woman – the devil's very own advocate. 'She only cares about herself; never gives a second thought to the consequences of her actions. Everything we did...everything she said must've been another game that meant nothing. She always loved toying with me. I've been made to be a fool...the shame of it.' Byakuya stopped in his tracks, encircled by white walls and alone. He pressed his palms against his face, digging his nails into his skin. Despite fighting it, a warm tear escaped his duct, trickling along his cool cheek.

He quickly wiped his face hearing distant footsteps. 'No...Could Yoruichi really be that heartless? Could it be that that bumbling green-hat idiot seduced her? Was she ashamed for it? Is that why she didn't tell me?' This was one situation not even Byakuya Kuchiki could comprehend. He wasn't going to wait around to be told the truth. He needed to know who initiated it – if he could forgive her for the sake of the child.

'The child...'

Byakuya hadn't even considered yet that the child may not be his. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles whitened. 'Yoruichi must've gone to Urahara complaining about my neglect...he took advantage of her, knowing she was mine.'

"Bastard..." Byakuya hissed. 'This has to be the only explanation.' The image of Urahara's face in his mind made Byakuya's chest burst into flames, melting away any doubts he had about Yoruichi.

'I will finish him. I will do what Central 46 failed to do a long time ago.'

Yoruichi emerged from the grey water. The sky was as dark as coal and the wind howled, but the pond water and trees were still. She looked down at her reflection – she was naked. Her eyes widened as water droplets ascended into the air like rain. She looked up.

"What the..."

She was upside down, in the sky. Suddenly, it was bright as day and she could see Urahara's shop from above. Jinta and Ururu were playing in the back while Tessai and Kisuke watched, drinking tea.

"Again! Again!" a child laughed, running out from within the trees. She could not see its face.

The child pointed at her. "Mother!"

"...S-!" Yoruichi fell through the air, plummeting towards the shop. She braced herself, but instead landed into a pair of strong arms. Byakuya was holding her, surrounded by burning wood. His skin was cold. He mouthed something, but she couldn't understand.

"What is it?" she asked, anxious. He opened his mouth again, but the sound of a screeching child deafened her. Byakuya disappeared and she was alone.

"What the hell is going on?" The sky darkened once again and the sound of a beating drum startled her. It seemed to be coming closer and closer, but she couldn't tell from where.

It then began to snow heavily. Yoruichi couldn't move. She became encased in ice, filling her nose, ears and mouth - frozen. She breathed in-

Yoruichi shot up covered in cold sweat; she had never had a night terror before. She jumped at the sound of the beating drum, but realised it was just the door. The banging was almost urgent; aggressive.

"I'm coming," she groaned, sitting up. She reached for Urahara's robe and quickly wrapped up. 'Who could this be at this time of the night? It's so cold.' It was around 02:00 in the human world. Yoruichi headed towards the front of the shop, trying not to wake Kisuke.

The floor rumbled at the banging. She opened the door.

"Yoruichi?"

"Byakuya?" She had no idea why he was here at this time. "What are you doing?" He glared at her, almost with disgust. Yoruichi winced as he stormed past her. "I asked you a question!"

Byakuya kicked opened the door leading to Urahara's living room, where he was sleeping. Yoruichi hurried after him. Urahara rolled onto his back on a mat, yawning.

Byakuya flashed-stepped atop of him, grabbing him by the neck.

"Kisuke..." he hissed, icily. "You bastard..." Yoruichi clamped her hands over her mouth seeing the once calm and collected Byakuya Kuchiki lunge his fist across Urahara's chin. Yoruichi had not seen him use his bare hands in conflict since he was a child. Taken aback, Urahara tried to push Byakuya away. Byakuya hit him again, each strike more merciless then the last.

"Byakuya, stop! Don't hurt him!" Yoruichi cried. Byakuya held his bloodied fist in the air.

"Do not tell me to do anything," he spat. "Did you think I would remain blind to your affair with this fool?" In that moment, Urahara punched Byakuya off of him. Urahara dusted himself off, standing.

"Sorry about that, Byakuya. I don't usually hit my customers," he said. "If it's a battle training ground you're looking for, this is the wrong place." Byakuya stood up, wiping the blood off of his cheek.

"You have no shame." Byakuya stepped closer to him.

"No, not much! I'm not a sucker, though. Don't think I'll let you get away with that move you pulled."

"I certainly hope not." The men launched at each other, brawling in the middle of the shop like teenage boys. Yoruichi ran in, pushing them apart.

"Stop this! Byakuya this isn't like you! Please, think this through-"

"Think this through?" Byakuya pushed Yoruichi away with no regard for the child she was carrying. "Did you 'think it through' when you spread your legs for him?" He reached into his inner pocket, revealing the crumpled pink sheet. He threw it at her feet. "I know what you did. I know you lied to me."

Perplexed, Urahara scratched his head.

"It seems you guys have something to sort out, and Byakuya just needed a punching bag. I'm just gonna head into the other roo-"

"Do not run away. You knew Yoruichi was mine when you decided to seduce her. You know this could very well be your child and you continue to play the fool? You're not fooling me." Urahara's playful smile dropped.

"What do you mean?" Urahara stared at Yoruichi.

"Take that look off of your face!" Byakuya growled, ramming Kisuke into the wall by his chest. Kisuke resisted.

"I honestly don't know what this is about, Byakuya!" He struggled, holding back his attacker. "Yoruichi is having your child...she's 13 weeks along...the two of you have only been together for 3 months. You're having an arranged marriage, right?" Byakuya released Kisuke. "I would never touch a woman already taken – Yoruichi knows that."

"She's 18 weeks," Byakuya corrected, closing his clouded eyes. He opened them to face her. "Though it was never declared, Yoruichi and I have been involved since my birthday celebration, 5 months ago." Yoruichi stood stubborn, reluctant to accept the situation as water gathered at her eyes.

"This is all just a misunderstanding..." she said. She could handle Byakuya's scorn – it wasn't like it was the first time he looked at her that way – but she couldn't take Kisuke's look. He was disappointed – hurt. She stepped towards him, touching his shoulder.

"Kisuke, I-"

"Is Byakuya telling the truth?" he asked, slowly sliding her hand off of his shoulder. She started crying. "Well, is he?"

"Tears of a crocodile," murmured Byakuya. He didn't want to believe Yoruichi was behind this. It would have been easier if Urahara had knowingly seduced her; if she was apologetic for betraying him. "All you have to offer me is your tears." Byakuya's cold demeanour had returned. "I do not forgive those who lie and do not face the consequences. You betrayed me, but what's worse is that you betrayed a loyal friend. I had once said you were a disgrace to your name on a whim, but this just proves it. I made an error in what I saw in you." Byakuya turned away. "Yoruichi Shihouin, you represent everything I despise in people. You are destructive; selfish...you do not even have anything to say for yourself."

"But I do! If you could only listen to what I have to say-"

"I will not hear another word. You have opened every cage within me...turned me into this wild, undisciplined being without sense." He turned to stare her in the eyes. "Look at what I have become for you...because of you!" He bellowed. He charged over towards her, clasping her arms.

"Bya..."

"What have you done for me?!"

Yoruichi trembled. It only just crossed her mind that Byakuya could really hurt her now; and that she deserved it.

"I...I loved you," she whispered. "That's all I did." Byakuya's heart almost stopped hearing those words.

"No...you said it yourself. You hate me and I hate you. This is what happens when two such people court. I told you I would support the child. If it is mine, I will stand by my word. If not, I wish you the best of luck. Goodbye, Yoruichi." Byakuya flash-stepped to the door. "Apologies for my misjudgement, Kisuke."

"But Byakuya-" before she could say anything, he was gone. Yoruichi wiped her flushed face. "Kisuke, you understand why I said those things, don't you? Please forgive me..."

"This is too much for me to take in, Yoruichi."

"I can come and stay with you again – it could be like it used to-"

"We don't know enough information yet to make any decisions. Perhaps you should go home? I need some time to take this all in..."

"But Ki-"

"Please, Yoruichi...you've done enough. Just go home."