Title: Warm blood, cold steel

Rating: G

Pairing / Characters: Shihouin Yoruichi, Aizen, Yamamoto, Kuchiki Rukia and Ichimaru Gin

Word Count: 636 words

Warnings: AU!!!!!

Summary: Rukia and Yoruichi enter Sereitei, evil abounds

A/N: I almost hate myself. Almost… this is getting harder and harder as my characters become more OOC.

By sunrise, our senkai gate was active.

Neither Yoruichi nor I had spoken since she had begun preparations to leave for Sereitei, but words were unnecessary. We both knew that our actions would have far reaching consequences.

'Never bite the hand that feeds you,' I murmured.

'Pardon?' Yoruichi glanced up, and I shook my head. 'An idle thought, Yoruichi. Its nothing.'

'Cold feet, Rukia?'

'No.' I found myself sighing. 'I'm just tired – but we don't have time to waste. Is the gate ready?'

Yoruichi nodded. 'He'll be waiting for us in Rukongai- he'll sneak us into Sereitei.'

A sudden thought occurred to me. 'What about Kuukaku? If she discovers our presence, we'll lose the element of surprise.'

Yoruichi's expression hardened. 'If she gets in my way, I'll kill her.'

I was more than satisfied with her answer, and I got to my feet. 'Well, let's move on.'

Our return to Sereitei was made without fanfare. When we arrived in Rukongai, he was waiting, as Yoruichi had informed me, the sunlight glinting off his glasses.

'Rukia-san, Yoruichi,' he greeted us. 'I must say, I was surprised when you contacted me, Yoruichi.'

'Aizen.' Yoruichi's tone was without inflection.

Aizen bowed in her direction. 'Follow me.'

I glanced at Yoruichi and nodded tersely, aware of Ichimaru Gin at my back.

'I should be furious with the both of you,' Aizen told us. 'Your message has forced me to play my cards earlier than I had expected. Still, I suppose it doesn't matter now, does it, Rukia-chan?'

I merely looked at him, and he laughed, a cold, humourless sound. 'Come on. We don't have all day.'

I spent the remainder of the day pacing my quarters restlessly. I had decided that my plan would be best carried out at sunset, when the shinigami least expected it. I was impatient. I wanted to get moving.

Eventually, Aizen returned. 'Are you ready?'

'Absolutely.'

Yoruichi glanced up at me. 'Do you need me to come with you?'

I shook my head. 'No. I don't want to risk us both being caught. If I am found, you know what to do?'

'Oh, I know. I'll be waiting, Rukia.'

I raised my hand dismissively and walked out into the twilight.

Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's quarters were as opulent as I expected. The walls were decorated in rich purple silks, the bed in the centre of the room ornately carved. The carpet under my feet was thick, soft, and I bent to rub my hand against it, for a moment wondering where he had gotten it.

I was procrastinating. Stepping further into the room, I could just make out the shape of the old man in the shadows, and I grasped the hilt of the zanpakutou Aizen had given me more firmly. I took a deep breath, remembering my training. I clambered onto the bed, and straddled
Yamamoto's sleeping form. At the unexpected movement he awoke, and blinked up at me.

'Kuchiki Rukia?'

'I am a Kuchiki no more,' I told him, and lifted the blade above my head. Yamamoto's eyes widened in sudden horror but it was too late. I plunged the zanpakutou into his chest with all my strength, twisting the blade viciously. Yamamoto gasped for air, and I jerked the blade out, only to repeat my actions. Warm blood splattered my arms and hands and clothes, but I remained where I was, listening to his breath rattling wetly in his throat.

When he had stopped moving, I dragged him out of bed and out of his quarters and into the central court. I left him in the centre of the paving, spread out in a pool of his own blood, and with the zanpakutou sticking out of his throat.

Smiling to myself I walked away, the rusty tang of blood hanging in the air.