Don't own Bleach

Yoruichi had taken Utsumi back to the underground training grounds under Sokyoku Hill to tend to his wounds. The battle with Tousen had taken its toll. The use of Tousen's Bankai had taken him by surprise. He may have handled it, but he had still suffered serious wounds. Before she could go see Sui Feng she had to heal Utsumi as much as she could. She knew that, while like this, he'd be easy pickings for any Shinigami. Yoruichi looked down at Utsumi with bandages wrapped around his torso and the top of his arms. She was satisfied with her work and grabbed his hand and waited for him to wake up.

Utsumi peeled his eyes open and, just as he thought, Yoruichi had taken him to the hidden area under Sokyoku Hill. He knew he had to heal but he thought he could do it on the move. Yoruichi has a plan and he's itching to get it started. He groans as he sat up. He found Yoruichi clasping his hand. "Are you okay?" He asked

Yoruichi looked at him, he's asking me if everything is okay? she thought. "I'm fine. You are going to be fine." she began, "I didn't know Tousen had Bankai. I think we should assume that Ichimaru and Aizen have Bankai as well. I'm proud of you for taking on Tousen's Bankai with only your Shikai. Why didn't you use Banai?" she asked.

Utsumi smiled. He remembered his time training with it back in Urahara's basement fondly. The sheer power of what it can do is scary. He doesn't want to use it. He will if he has to, but he doesn't want to. "I didn't use it because it wouldn't have changed anything." he said not revealing that it could have killed him.

Yoruichi frowned, "'Wouldn't have changed anything', what does that mean?" she asked.

The injured man sighed, "I won. I won without using my Bankai. The only thing using my Bankai would have done was endanger everyone there and I couldn't allow that." he said looking away.

Yoruichi squeezed his hand, "I know you couldn't." she agreed, "Now, Sui Feng isn't the friendliest of people. She'll probably attack you. What you got to do is bring her back here." she explained.

Utsumi nodded, "How do you suppose I bring her back here? Club her over the head and sling her over my shoulder?" he said jokingly.

The purple haired woman smiled, "If you could get close enough to club her over the head without her seeing you then you could. I was going to do this myself while you rest here and heal up." she explained

Utsumi looked skeptical at first while thinking it through, "Okay but be careful." he said. Yoruichi nodded and kissed him.

Before turning to leave she looked at him, "I won't be long." she said transforming into a cat.

Yoruichi made her way to the Squad 2 barracks. Her mind was racing with the possible reaction she's going to get. She knew it was sudden, the way she left. It wasn't ideal but she couldn't let her best friends be punished for something they didn't do. Surely Sui Feng could understand that she though to herself hopefully. She liked Sui Feng, she was uptight it was funny. The laughs she had when she was teasing her about Kisuke. It was regrettable that she had to leave her behind but the decision forced her hand and there was no choice. She hopped from building to building in cat form, I miss Utsumi's shoulder she mused.

Utsumi thought he would speak to Siegi no Torento while Yoruichi was off finding her old friend. In truth he was taking his mind off of the fact that she was alone out there, in cat form. He sat down on the floor, closed his eyes and tried to communicate with his Zanpakuto. He always preferred going to see her instead of dragging her out. She was temperamental so he didn't to disturb her by forcing her to come out of her comfort zone just to see him.

He walks along the beach to find his usual spot. He sat down and waited for her as usual. She was on her way out of the water when he noticed her. She was serene, calm, as if nothing had happened here. He was fighting a Shinigami using Bankai and she looked like she was well rested. She came out and sat next to him. The silence was comfortable. There wasn't any tension, the ocean was calm. "Yoruichi's got a plan, if things go our way, we should be close to finishing this." he said confidently.

The Spirit nodded and looked at the ocean, "You've done all I've asked. No matter what happens, you made me proud. We are close Kaito, close to the end, I can feel it." she said plainly. She looked at Kaito who smiled a little, "She makes you happy." Seeing the look of confusion on his face, "The cat lady. She's the one that calmed my ocean."

Utsumi looked away, "Yeah, I guess she does. But you know that you've played a big part in all of this." He said, she looked at him tilting her head in confusion, "I couldn't have done it if you hadn't believed in me." He said.

The Spirit's mouth twitched, "It's easy to believe in someone if they have faith in you." She said before getting up and heading to the ocean without another word. Utsumi may have been mistaken but he thought he saw a tear escape her eye.

Utsumi smiled as she disappeared in the ocean before writing in the sand Thank you and left the beach with a parting glance to the ocean, her ocean.

Yoruichi sat outside the Squad 2 looking for any sign of her old friend. Her short frame or her busy body walk. Anything that makes her stand out from the mass of bodies that are loitering down by the entrance to the barracks. It was then that she noticed it. Her little friend walking as impatiently as she ever did, however it was then that she lost sight as she shunpoed away. Yoruichi, in cat form, was quick but not as quick as Sui Feng. Back to square one she thought. She heard a voice from behind her, "I never thought I'd see you again, but to my surprise, someone told me there was a cat sat on a roof outside and I had to see it for myself."

She got better she mused as she turned and said, "Well, I had to save Kisuke so you have time to confess your feelings for him." she said jokingly to test the waters.

Sui Feng scowled, "That lazy, no good, son of bitch, he took you away from me. It's his fault that you had to leave!" she yelled.

The cat shook its head, "No, I chose this Sui Feng, if you want a full explanation come to Sokyoku Hill with me and I'll explain what happened and why I had to leave." she promised.

Sui Feng looked doubtful for a moment before nodding, "I'll come with you." She looked at the cat for a moment, "Did you need to climb on my back?" She asked.

Yoruichi thought for a moment. She was used to riding around on Utsumi's shoulder, but she could do this, "If you don't mind." She climbed on and Sui Feng shunpoed off towards Sokyoku Hill.