And of course I post the first chapter the day before midterms… sorry about that…

Anyway, thank you for all of the reviews, favorites and follows and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter two

"Well, well, well; look what the fat cat threw up!"

"Hey Kukaku, long time; no see, eh?" the Shihoin called back, happily entering the main room of the Shiba home before plopping down at the table where the Shiba was seated. The brash woman was in her usual scanty clothing including the wrappings in her dark, unkempt hair and her gold kiseru balanced elegantly between the fingers of her left hand. She lounged with her right, prosthetic arm resting on her raised, bent knee while the other leg lay on its side on the wooden floor. A dark, wispy stream of smoke steadily rose from the bowl of the Japanese pipe.

"I guess you are considered blessed since you are alive and well for a whole other year," Yoruichi joked, a grin finding its way to her lips as she crossed her arms.

"Ha! The way I see it, the world is blessed cause I'm alive!" kukaku cackled before taking a draw from her kiseru. "So tell me, how've ya been, Yoruichi? How's that little bee of yours?"

Yoruichi sighed dreamily, "…Amazing! I'm telling you, I haven't been so content in decades."

"Well good for you. I'm just wonderin' if your being a pervert to that innocent girl, are ya?" Kukaku inquired with a teasing glint in her eyes.

The Shihoin feigned hurt, holding a clenched fist to her heart, "Wha! Me? I'm hurt and insulted that you would even think of me like that!" The two women burst into boisterous laughter before Kukaku called for somebody to get her a bottle of alcohol. Within seconds, a brutish looking man, Ganju, entered the room with two glasses and a jug of the sake that he knew his sister highly enjoyed. He placed them on the table before the two women and bolted out of the room, slightly fearful that he might earn an earful from the head Shiba if he stuck around for too long.

"But in all seriousness," Yoruichi began after pouring herself a cup, "I don't think I'm doing anything she's uncomfortable doing. We've only been dating for three months now so of course it's going to take some time for her to open up."

"Good cause otherwise there would be a problem."

"Aww how sweet! And here I thought you were a heartless alcoholic."

Kukaku downed an entire cup in one go before reaching for the bottle to refill her glass. "Hey, what can I say? A hundred years I've known that girl and I guess she grew on me."

"Wait, you knew her for a hundred years? I was under the impression that you two haven't met," Yoruichi said, slightly confused. Kukaku and Soi seemed like an unlikely pair when it came to friendship; with Kukaku's boisterous personality and the captain being stoic and proper.

"Well once upon a time, a certain noble queen made a really stupid mistake; causing an innocent girl to fall into the pits of despair. While in search of any hope that her mentor hadn't deserted her, she stumbled upon a drop-dead sexy and, might I add, intelligent fireworks expert. Alas, the young girl's world came crashing down as the rumors were true, the noble has disappeared with a disgusting slob but a somewhat odd friendship arose from the ashes of a burning heart. The end." After story time ended, Kukaku chugged down another cup of alcohol, relishing the feel of warmth traveling down her throat as she drank.

On the other hand, Yoruichi was genuinely surprised; she hadn't expected the Shiba to go all 'storyteller' on her, but she definitely didn't expect for her to bring up that sensitive topic.

"Oh…" the Shihoin mumbled, her mood quickly losing its light. Of course, she felt guilty for betraying her little bee's trust, but that was not even the half of it. When she returned to the Soul Society after Aizen's betrayal all those years ago, Yoruichi tried very hard to regain the captain's trust and friendship. However, she noticed the ominous changes that had taken place in her little bee. As she was going to confront Soi, Captain Unohana, the Mother of the Soul Society, demanded her audience immediately. There, Yoruichi got more information than she could bear. Not a single thought had ever crossed her mind that she had done so much… she was why Soifon is how she is. Realization struck her with a devastating blow; especially with the intensity that Unohana was describing the whole situation.

"Did you not realize what might have happened, Miss Shihoin? You probably didn't even give her a thought these past hundred years! Everyone in the Soul Society is fearful of her; they think she's a monster and it's your entire fault!"

Monster…

"Yeah 'oh'. Well, it doesn't matter; if you screw up with her…again, I'll be there to get the rebound," Kukaku stated, before humorously posing as if she had just shot the winning basket in a championship basketball game. Yoruichi couldn't help but to laugh at her outrageous friend; knowing that she was trying to make up for bring up a sensitive subject. Reaching across the table, Yoruichi swiftly but playfully pushed the Shiba onto her back before returning to her original seat, chuckling. Kukaku rolled around on the floor, clutching her sides.

"Well that's too bad Kukaku cause' she is mine," Yoruichi declared almost possessively as she crossed her arms over her chest. Kukaku cooled off after a few seconds and pushed herself up into a sitting position again.

"Heh, almost forgot that you have that 'territorial protectiveness'," she said, using her fingers to indicate air quotes, "That's what you called it right? Anyway, what's on your mind Yoru? You seem a bit off today; usually you would have punched me through a wall if I threatened to take your girlfriend," the dark-haired woman asked, pouring herself another glass of alcohol. Tipping the bottle vertically to get every last drop, Kukaku then lifted the bottle, looked into it, and saw vacancy.

"GANJU!"

"C-coming sis!" came the reply and in like a speeding bullet came the younger Shiba with a new bottle of sake in hand. Adding a bit more to her cup, Kukaku passed the new bottle over to Yoruichi.

"Well, today is Christmas Eve and I had this perfect evening planned out an-"

"You perv, trying to get her into bed with you huh?"

"That is absolutely not my intension!" Yoruichi stuttered, a slight blush dusting her cheeks, "I merely want to show her that I appreciate her and love her. Besides it'll be our first Christmas together so I want it to be memorable. Anyway, she tells me about an hour ago that she has some 'business' to attend to and apparently she won't be back til late tonight and she has to leave early tomorrow morning!" Yoruichi explained. She couldn't help but to groan in dismay.

"Harsh," the other woman replied, placing an arm on the table in front of her.

"Yeah, and the worst part is she won't tell me what she's doing," The Shihoin sighed, resting her head down on the table.

"Ah, you're worrying too much," Kukaku encouraged, giving her friend a playful strike on the head, "Maybe she's suprising ya with something?"

"I guess that's a possibility…" Yoruichi murmured, not trying to think too hard on it.

"Or she's cheating."

Yoruichi gawked as she sat straight up, "Kukaku!"

"What? It's probable," the Shiba argued. She picked up her kiseru to light it up once more.

"Wha.. ugh! No its not!"

"Oh come on… what happened to- ahem," Kukaku said before clearing her throat and placing the back of her hand against her forehead, " 'Lady Yoruichi is an unobtainable goddess for no one should be able contain her radiance. Humanity is undeserving of her presense as is anyone under her class, including you and I, Kukaku. However, we are priviledged,' " Kukaku reverbered, trying her hardest to try and sound like a serious Soifon. After her little recitingact, Kukaku broke out into cackles.

"She seriously said that…" Yoruichi asked. Of course anyone would have been flattered at such a poetic statement, but part of Yrouichi wished that sort of talk would cease. She was no goddess. She was no one to be idolized. She didn't derserve her little bee; not one hundred years ago and not now. That's one reason why the thought of Soi leaving her was a real fright for the Shihoin.

"Yeah and what if she still thinks she isn't good enough? Since she cares so much for your well being, she'll end your relationship so that you can be free once again or to make sure your noble status is still at its peak," Kukaku explained before taking a long draw from her pipe. Exhaling, wisps of smoke exit her mouth in a coregraphed manner. Raising an eyebrow, an idea struck the brash woman as she looked over at h er now depressed looking friend.

"Heh, poor you. For all you know, Soifon could be in my bedroom as we speak huh?" Kukaku laughed at her own joke but stopped short when a gust of wind hit her face. Looking over, she sees that Yoruichi was no longer in her seat or even in the room. However, Kukaku easily pinpointed the Shihoin's location when she heard crashes and thumps from above; her room presumably. The fireworks expert heaved a huge sigh before taking another swig of sake.

Five minutes later, Yoruichi reappeared into the room and took he place at the table.

"Well? Did you find her?" Kukaku asked smartly.

"Fortunetly no but I had to search thoroughly, just in case," Yoruichi replied sarcastically.

"You trashed my room didn't you?"

"Merry Christmas…"

Kukaku chuckled, shaking her cloth covered head, "Fine my bad, princess. Now, did you come to be in my good company or to get some advice?"

"Um neith-"

"Of course, the best thing to do is to wait til she gets back and ask her to be truthful, but where's the fun in that, eh? So, just track her down, follow her, and beat the crap outta the person who took her from ya," Kukaku explained , using her hands to map out the plan on the table.

"Kukaku, I'm pretty sure she's not cheating; that's definitely not in her character. Besides, a relationship is based on trust and I trust her with my life and vice versa… I hope…"

"Hey, better to be safe than sorry, right?" Kukaku shrugged.

She has a point, Yoruichi thought to herself. She can't help but feel curious as to what her little bee is up to. But then again, what if Soi was just doing her job or ding something for her?

Well, it wouldn't hurt to just observe her, right?

"Thanks Kukaku, I think I might just do that," Yoruichi declared before downing the remains of her drink and rising to her feet. With a wave, she flashsteps out of the Shiba home and into the Soul Society to beseech her little bee.

After a moment, a thought popped up into the Shiba's head. Quickly getting up and making her way to the front door, Kukaku threw open the door and hollered out to her old friend that she knew was already miles away, "Hey you damn cat! You didn't give me my real present! Where's my alcohol?!"

…

It took hours to track her down, but around two in the morning, Yoruichi finally pinpointed her little bee's where abouts. She spent the majority of her time walking aimlessly through a snow-covered forest; one that she was not familiar with. However, Yoruichi followed the very faint trail to a small secluded cottage in a small clearing in the middle of the dense woods. The forest was presumably in one of the districts but Yoruichi thought it was a very… strange place for a home. It was a relatively petite house that tried its very best to look cozy. Vines with elaborate and exotic looking flowers traveled up the entire south wall of the house. A small chimney had smoke coming steadily out of it, indicating that a fire must be keeping the inhabitants warm on this winter night.

Yoruichi didn't dare to inch any closer to the house for she chose to watch from a distance. She sensed Soifon's spiritual pressure emitting from the little cottage and she vowed to herself that she would not leave until she sees what happens when Soi leaves. Therefore, Yoruichi climbed up a nearby tree a hundred yards away from the cottage and waited.

About twenty minutes of waiting passed by before the front door opened. Yoruichi perked up as she witnessed Soifon exit the home with an older woman behind her. The young captain turned to the unknown woman and enveloped her in a hug before incoherent words were exchanged. Yoruichi watched her wave goodbye and then leave the premise with shunpo. The Shihoin's head was running through a million thoughts at the same time.

So its true?

No, what if it's just a friend?

She never mentioned someone like that who lives out here, though.

Does she have to tell you everything?

But she's mine…

Opting to shunpo back to Soifon's barracks before the captain gets back, Yoruichi got up and began to make her way back with a heavy heart.

…

Arriving at Soifon's barracks, Yoruichi quickly pulled off her shoes, jacket and scarf, leaving her in her black undershirt and pants. Going into the master bedroom, Yoruichi climbed into the bed and tucked herself in just as Soifon entered the home. Closing her eyes, the Shihoin listened as Soifon tinkered around in the other parts of the house before coming into the bedroom. The captain shuffled in, kicking off her shoes and shrugging off her haori. Yoruichi heard the closet doors open and then the click of the bathroom door closing. The sink ran for a minute before Soifon exited the bathroom and made her way over to the bed.

Yoruichi ensured that when she first laid herself down on the bed that her one arm was outstretched on top of the pillows and that she laid on her side. She knew that Soi would take this as an invitation and she was proven right as her little bee crawled into her arms and laid down. Soifon tucked her head into Yoruichi's neck and collarbone, allowing Yoruichi to act as if she was woken up. Yoruichi groans tiredly before nuzzling her lover's head and face with her own. She feels Soi grip the black fabric near her stomach, clutching it toward her own form like a comfort item. Purring in response, Yoruichi tightly wrapped her other arm around the captain's waist and pulling her as close as she could.

"I'm sorry I took so long… I know that you're mad about all of this," Soi mumbled sleepily into her lover's tan neck, causing the older woman to shiver at the action.

"I-it's fine. Yeah, I wanted to spend our first Christmas Eve and Christmas together but I know that duty calls sometimes. However, tomorrow, I want you to take me where you're going," Yoruichi stated, placing a swift kiss on the drowsy Soifon's forehead. The captain mumbled something incoherent before slipping into the grips of sleep.

Tucking her little bee's body into her own, Yoruichi tightened her hold on her waist. There was no way she was letting someone take away her Soifon. And tomorrow, on Christmas, she would show that.

And that's it for chapter 2. I apologise if there's some proof problems because for some odd reason, Microsoft Word decided to not spell or grammer check the second half of this sooo… yeah.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed and prepare for chapter 3!

-Huntress