Title: Revenge is a dish best served cold

Rating: G

Pairing / Characters: Kuchiki Rukia, Shihouin Yoruichi

Word Count: 525 words

Warnings: Alternate plot, alternate characters. Need I say more?

Summary: Rukia and Yoruichi plot against Sereitei

A/N: This originally started out as a oneshot, but it seems like more than that, and its all thanks to TKFeyes. (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) He gave me several very good ideas and well, this is going to be a lot longer than I expected…

I walked through the quiet, rain soaked streets until sunrise, battling to come to terms with my realisation.

I was alone.

Truly alone.

I was also angry. Not only had a shinigami stripped me of my powers, without doubt destroying my life, but another shinigami had taken from me the only person who would have made my situation bearable.

Ichigo was gone. An innocent life even deprived of the chance to live in Soul Society, and the reason? The so called laws of Sereitei that made it possible for those in positions of power to exploit the poor, the lonely, the weak.

I clenched my fists. I had to do something, anything to break the cycle.

When I eventually came out of my reverie, I was standing outside Urahara Shoten. The place was deserted. For a moment, I wondered what had happened to Tessai, to Jinta, to Ururu, but the thought faded as quickly as it came. I was here on business. Aside from myself, I knew of one other who might be able to assist me – Yoruichi.

She too, had been affected by Soul Society's injustices; first and foremost, being stripped of her title and rank, second, forbidden to re-enter Sereitei, and lastly, witnessing the death of her lover simply because he had had the gall to create something outside of Sereitei's laws.

I sensed it would not take much to persuade her to help me.

Yoruichi sat very still, catlike, as I explained what I wanted. Once I had concluded, I waited, the silence between us heavy.

'Are you certain?' Yoruichi asked at last. 'This could be the end of everything, you know.'

'I know,' I said honestly. 'But I've come to the conclusion that we have to do this. I have to do this. I lost everything to them, everything. My home, my family, my friends, my power… how many others will die for a cause that no longer means anything?'

Again, silence.

Yoruichi got to her feet and paced restlessly, evidently coming to a decision of her own. She came to a halt in the centre of the room, a troubled expression on her face. 'Kisuke would never approve of this.'

'He isn't here,' I pointed out tartly.

Yoruichi flinched. 'Very well,' she said eventually. 'I have heard… rumours. Nothing that I could confirm, even if I still had my rank, but rumours nevertheless.'

I raised an eyebrow. 'Of what?'

Yoruichi sat back down, and told me what she had heard. When she finished, I nodded thoughtfully.

'It will be difficult to find him, Yoruichi. I cannot enter Soul Society and you are forbidden to.'

This time, it was Yoruichi who raised an eyebrow. Rukia, are you forgetting who I have spent the last century of my life with? Kisuke and I were not only lovers. He taught me everything I know, including-'

'The ability to create Senkai gates,' I completed, feeling a smile cross my lips.

'We had better get started. Time is already running short, and as you know full well, revenge is a dish best served cold.'

The sound of my laughter, cold and cynical, filled the air.