Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach just the Adaeze and Emeka.

A/N: New chapter I hope you like it. Thanks so much to everyone who has left a review, sent a PM, save this story as a fav, or added it to your alerts. It really does encourage me to continue :)

No matter how hard we try or how fast we run we cannot outrun our past.
It's always there, the good and the bad.

60 years have passed.

"Good day Capt. Kuchiki," said the silvered haired captain of the 3rd Division.

Byakuya's jaw tightened just from hearing Captain Gin Ichimaru's voice. "Captain Ichimaru, " responded Byakuya coldly as he tried to pass.

Gin would not let Byakuya get by that easily. Gin found great pleasure in annoying Byakuya with small talk. He found even greater pleasure in secretly harassing Rukia, Byakuya's adopted sister, under Byakuaya's disdainful but unknowing view but Rukia wasn't there today. She was in prison awaiting execution. This didn't matter to Gin, the master manipulator, he would use Rukia for his twisted pleasure even in her absence. "Captain Kuchiki again I would like to offer my apology regardin' the other day. I really was offerin' my help. I know this must be a tryin' time for you."

"Gin, the Kuchiki clan is not your concern," responded Byakuya in the same cold monotone voice.

"But of course, my concern is for you. I mean when Rukia dies, that'll make three. You certainly have bad luck wit women in your life, losing a wife, now a sister. "Unbelievable you even lost a hmm… " Gin scratched his head. "What was Yoruichi-san to you anyway?" Gin stopped and watched as a scowl consumed Byakuya's face. He knew he struck a nerve.

"I don't need your concern", his voice was still cold but no longer monotone. Byakuya pushed past Gin.

"You're the head of the Kuchiki clan and a captain, so don't worry Capt. Kuchiki I am sure they didn't die to get away from you."

Gin's last statement caused Byakuya the pause but he refused to turn around. He could feel Gin's maniacal grin burning at the back of his neck begging him to turn around. Byakuya knew if he turned around it would disastrous and would not break his captain's rules of conduct by fighting Gin. Byakuya had already almost crossed that with Kenpachi the tall muscular captain of the 11th Division. Ironically Gin had been the one to stop that fight. Byakuya knew Gin had laid a trap. Despite is cold expression somehow Gin knew Byakuya had been on edge since Byakuya was ordered to retrieve Rukia from the human world. Byakuya didn't know how Gin figured out that he was disturbed by the current situation, but Byakuya did know that if he turned around Gin would be a dead man and Byakuya would be in a cell next Rukia. It took every ounce of self-control Byakuya had not to turn around. He took another step forward away from Gin.

After taking that first step Byakuya's first thoughts were of Yoruichi. Byakuya remembered the last time he and Gin almost got into a serious altercation. Byakuya and Gin were young officers. Gin outranked Byakuya, which meant that even if Byakuya won he would still be reprimanded, but Byakuya didn't care. Gin had pushed Byakuya too far with his backhanded compliments and that damn smile. Just as Byakuya was to take his first step towards Gin Yoruichi showed up from out of nowhere grabbed him by his right arm and whispered," Lets go Byakuya." Those three words stopped him from making a big mistake. "Damn it", Byakuya whispered under his breath as he cursed Gin and himself for bringing up old memories of Yoruichi. Byakuya pushed her out of his mind again with each step he took towards him home.

The same cat that had crossed Byakuya's mind was doing her best to avoid crossing Byakuya's path. Yoruichi had traveled to the real world to warn Kisuke about Rukia. Now Yoruichi was leading a group of ryoka on a rescue mission into the Soul Society to rescue Rukia. The group got separated which in a way was a good thing for Yoruichi since she could do more investigating on her own and it gave her a chance to see her grandparents. Yoruichi sat and waited patiently in one of the secret rooms under the Shihoin estate for her grandparent's arrival. She knew they were worried about her and she wanted to reassure them that all was well and that everything would work out fine. As soon as Yoruichi's grandparents arrived her grandmother scooped up the small black feline and cradled Yoruichi. Her grandfather then gave Yoruichi a big kiss on her fury forehead. Both Adaeze and Emeka were overjoyed to see their granddaughter even it was only going to be for a short time.

"OK, that's enough Nin Nin and Pa Pa," protested Yoruichi as her grandparents continued to shower her with love. Adaeze finally put Yorucihi down after giving her one more nuzzle.

"We couldn't help ourselves baby girl after hearing about how the Gotei 13 is handling your little not-so-secret invasion", said Emeka as he sat down near his lovely wife. "But I knew it, I knew my baby girl would not be caught by those guys. So what are you going to do now Yoruichi?"

"We are going to continue on and rescue Rukia. It's what we came to do and from what I have learned about Ichigo nothing will stop him and the others are just as determined. These kids are more than willing to take on the entire Gotei 13. Hopefully, it won't come to that and we can rescue Rukia without any unnecessary conflict."

"Are you going to enlist the help of Byakuya? He is a captain now and Rukia is his sister. I am sure if you talk to him he'll help," Adaeze said. She watched for Yoruichi's response but it was blank. Yoruichi just sat there like a porcelain cat. She did move, her eyes' did not blink she just sat there.

"Nin Nin I have no intentions to see Byakuya. I am sure I am the last person Byakuya would want to see anyway. So there is no way I could convince him of anything. If he really wanted to save his sister he would've at least tried to stop the execution. Byakuya is not the same Nin Nin and neither am I," responded Yoruichi in a serious but respectful tone. "Don't worry the ryoka and I will rescue Rukia", she added in a more cheery voice.

"What do you need us to do?"

"Nin Nin, absolutely nothing. I told you that my future acts would be my responsibility, not yours or the clan's".

"Baby girl you are a part of us so no matter how much you try to distance yourself from the clan our feelings won't change. We are family first".

" Believe me I know that you and Nin Nin will always be there for me, Pa Pa and that you just want to help. Please understand Pa Pa and Nin Nin this is something I have to do on my own. I'd better go and see how the others are doing. Bye for now, " she said as she flash stepped away leaving her worried grandparents with just a little more optimism about the situation. Yoruichi hated to run off so quickly but she knew it was for the best. After Yoruichi made it out of the secret tunnels she sensed Ichigo fighting a very powerful opponent. She hurried to the location of the battle. She made it just in time to see the explosive final blow in which lead to the headstrong Ichigo and fight-happy Kenpachi being knocked unconscious. Yoruichi waited for Kenpachi's pink haired pintsized Lt. Yachiru Kusajishi, to carry the huge spiky haired captain away before carrying off Ichigo to her secret hideout, her cat-cave.

She I had hoped she could stay in her cat form throughout the entire rescue mission, but that was not the case. She did get a kick out of Ichigo's reaction when she transformed in front of him. She had no idea he was so innocent. "Unbelievable", she chuckled a little at the poor orange haired teen until he opened his stomach wound from being so from being so upset.

Then it happened Byakuya's spiritual pressure pushed through the walls of the cat-cave. Byakuya! Yoruichi's thoughts raced to him. She quickly pinpointed Byakuya's location and so did Ichigo. Before she knew it the heavily injured headstrong teen grabbed the flying device, channeled reiryoku into the wand producing a bat-shaped wing. "STOP ICHIGO," yelled Yoruichi but Ichigo ignored her words and flew out the cave and headed to Senzaikyuu to battle Byakuya.

"Damn it Ichigo! That brat is going to get himself killed. There is no way he can beat Byakuya". Yoruichi raced to the Senzaikyuu. She knew she had to stop Ichigo before Byakuya killed him. Damn it this was not supposed to happen now. Yoruichi was so high in the sky no one even noticed her. Then she saw Byakuya and the panicked look on the other's faces and she knew Byakuya was about to release Senbonzakura's shikai. She dropped a bandage and gently wrapped Senbonzakura. She stopped Senbonzakura's release and Byakuya. Yorucihi landed in front of Byakuya on one knee still holding on to the other end of the bandage. It's not the right time. It's too soon. There was a dead silence. Yoruichi knew Byakuya recognized her even with her back turned to him and her new long flowing ponytail. There was no way she could be that close to Byakuya and he not know it was her. She felt his stare. Yet, he did not move or say anything. No, maybe it's too late.

Byakuya was frozen from the shock of seeing her again, alive. It can't be, no she can't be, Yoruichi. He could not even utter her name. "You!"

Yoruichi rose to her feet and looked into Byakuya's eyes. There was something different about the way he looked at her. He wasn't angry which was something she expected. His eyes were empty void of emotion.

"Yo- Yo-Yoruichi," Byakuya stuttered her name. Say something, do something, move, anything don't just look at me. Yoruichi you're supposed to be dead. I buried you a long time ago. Why are you back? Byakuya's thoughts are broken when he heard Hanataro enquire about Yoruichi. Byakuya interjected and listed most of the title Yoruichi once held in a dead tone as he stared at her with lifeless eyes.

This isn't good, but I can't change anything now. I am not going to fight Byakuya but I've got to get Ichigo out of here before he does something foolish.

"Yoruichi-san please step aside so I can defeat him", respectfully requested Ichigo.

Too late, "You are a fool if you think you have any chance of beating him" said Yoruichi before she struck Ichigo releasing a power sedative directly into his stomach. The unconscious boy fell onto Yoruichi. She caught Ichigo and placed him across her shoulder.

Yoruichi took out the ryoka. Does that mean she came to help me? She came back for me. Byakuya's idea of Yoruichi coming there to help him was quickly squashed after he heard Ukitake say Yoruichi was there to save the ryoka. How could I be so foolish as to think she was here to help me? She is only here to make a fool of me. "I will not allow you to leave senpai."

Yoruichi stopped when she heard the word senpai. It was cold and biting, every ounce of respect usually associated with that term had been stomped out and replaced with malice. Yoruichi turned slightly and out the corner of her eye she saw it, the fire. There was a small glimmer of a flame in his eyes. So you're still alive in there, somewhere Byakuya-bo. "You've never been able to beat me at tag before Byakuya-bo. What makes you think you can do it now?" She smiled taunting him even more.

Byakuya-bo, how dare she call me that if she wants a challenge then I'll give her one. The game of tag began, it did not matter that Ukitake was there Byakuya could careless. Byakuya would not have even notice if Hanataro had run off with Rukia. He went after Yoruichi with full speed. His chasing after Yoruichi had nothing to do with Byakuya's responsibilities as a captain, it was all about catching Yoruichi, this game was personal. Byakuya almost got her too. He flayed his blade angrily at her like he had done so many times before with his wooden sword. In the past he'd always miss, but today he watched the dark beauty before him go down from a slash across the chest and body. It shocked him and it hurt him see her go down from his blade.

The shock quickly wore off as Yoruichi landed on his arm touching him and bringing him back to reality for a second then sending him back into a haze. Byakuya was actually relieved to see that she was not injured, but that feeling of relief bothered him.

Byakuya actually tried to cut her and this bothered Yoruichi, that he was willing to physically hurt her. Do you really hate me that much Byakuya? She did not let those feelings distract her. Yoruichi responded, "You didn't think you could catch me with a flash step that slow?"

Yoruichi's little jib at Byakuya fell on deaf ears. She was way to close and she was touching him, Byakuya was way too caught up in that moment to comprehend her statement. Byakuya did not hear anything Yoruichi said until she jumped off his arm onto the tower. Then Byakuya heard her say she'd make Ichigo stronger than him in three days. Next he heard her challenge him to follow her. She quickly flash stepped away leaving him once again. A part of him wanted to go after her and prove that he could catch and then he'd confront her, but another part of him wanted to do nothing more than to walk away back to his old life. He chose to walk away. I should've been able to take her down without remorse. She is a criminal and a traitor. Instead of being satisfied I was able take her down I felt sadness and then I felt relief that she was fine. I can't believe even after all this time apart of me still wants to chase after her. That part of me should've died with her.

A/N: I heart Gin :) OK, Byakuya and Yoruichi are all grown up now, so where do they go from here ;) As always please leave a comment, a review, or send a PM to let me know what you think.