Soi Fon was sitting at her desk working out the budget for this month occasionally wiping her nose. Her mind kept going over to the conversation she, Lady Yoruichi, and na- Keiko had a few days ago after she had felt the girl flare her reiatsu. That day had so many things happening at once it took a long time for her to sort everything else out.

That day she had

- goaded a toddler into flaring her reiatsu.

Rumors be damned, that was the story and she was sticking with it.

- angered her lady wolf by washing off the markings.

She drew them back on as close as she could get them.

- Flooded the bathroom.

She blamed that one on Nake- Keiko.

- been entrusted the biggest secret since she walked in on Komamura in a dress.

She could never look at that captain in the same way ever again, even after she learned the circumstances that led to it.

- Discovered that there was more to Lady Wolf then she thought.

Soi Fon already knew that, but she under estimated how much more to the wolf there was. She hoped some good chicken dumplings would make up for the bathing farce.

- Learned that little girls were the bane of Seireitei.

She wondered if Omaeda was the one who taught Keiko to embarrass other people.

It made her uneasy that Lady Yoruichi had put her life at risk to tell her but at the same time, she was elated. The esteemed Lady Yoruichi had entrusted her with her own life. Her own life of all things. It also made her uneasy that she had a direct link to the faction responsible for those incidents. The girl didn't look like she was paying attention when they were discussing it.

~After Amaterasu ran away~

"Soi Fon, Can you find us a private place to dry off? I have somethings I need to explain and if any of it gets out to the gotei thirteen, a great number of people will die." Then she turned to the little girl. "Keiko, I know you have things you want to say. Once we find someplace private you can talk ok?"

Both of them nodded and began wiping up the water while Yoruichi shifted back into cat form. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife and train Ichigo with it.

Keiko kept on opening and closing her mouth as if to say something but deciding against it.

Eventually the three of them went to Soi Fon's room where she shut and locked the door. Keiko had retreated to the corner where she sat down and stared at them.

Yoruichi Shifted back into her human form and sighed and began. "Ok first things first. Soi Fon. The girl you have been taking care of, her name is Keiko. She does not have a family name but in public she goes by Nakenashi." Then she turned to Keiko "Keiko, This is Shaolin Fon. Her code name is Soi Fon but since she hasn't actively protested what you've been calling her, you keep doing that."

Keiko remained quiet. She wasn't sure what she was feeling at the moment. She was a little nervous about a stranger knowing their names. She talked like kitty and Yori -ne though. But it could also be a monster in disguise. She stared back at them with a slight frown and narrowed eyes.

Yoruichi huffed in amusement seeing her charge mimic her student's expression. "Hah! You've been spending too much time with Soi Fon. Her face has rubbed off on you." Then she sighed the girl didn't pout the way she normally did. She knew both of them rather well, they were both deeply suspicious people and both of them had some trust issues. Her student knew her well enough that she could accept the current situation and trust her.

Keiko on the other hand had only known her cat form with the knowledge that she could become human. She probably should have shown her her second form sooner but it had never really been a good time for it. Yoruichi thought for a few moments before she put her hand to her hair and directed some reishi towards a spot on her head. "You can trust me." On her head wings began to form. Delicate gold appearing from nothing and growing into a sharp angular pair of insect wings with faint colors filling the inside of it denoting the rank and specialty.

Keiko relaxed somewhat when she saw the wings and pointed to her own head. She wasn't old enough for the tattoo yet. but the gesture was to be mirrored if someone showed you their wings. She still found it strange how Yori -ne was still a student. She was a grown up and grown ups were supposed to be teachers, not students! She turned her attention to a spot in her corner and stopped listening to the conversation happening in the room.

-rrip-

Soi Fon watched the process with out even hiding her interest. She had seen those wings before. "Lady Yoruichi? They had always been on stamps and crates. She always assumed they were stylized hell butterfly wings, the sign of shinigami and nobility. "What did you just do?"

"Soi Fon. This is the mark of the Hachidori other wise knows as the Shadow force. This is not the same as the Stealth force but its most valuable ally." Yoruichi took her hand off her head and let the wings disappear. "Only the commander of the onmitsukido is allowed the knowledge of their existence. You'll be hearing about Aizen soon and it would help tremendously with the situation if you were in the loop." She looked at Keiko who was still quiet and continues in a more serious manner. "The connection saved my life countless times before I left Seireitei. Especially on the more dangerous missions. Like with the Hizashi conspiracy. I called for backup and one of them came to me and dragged me away from the danger zone and disappeared before anyone else could show up."

-rrrip-

Soi Fon's eyes widened. That was an extremely dangerous conspiracy she had to study as she was training. It involved some sort of gaseous poison which would induce a combination of madness, rage, and terror in its victims. The casualties in the Onmitsukido were astronomical, one of them being an extremely talented Fon. "If I should like to meet one of the Hachidori? How would I do that?" She was eager to meet the people that her esteemed Yoruichi had attributed her survival.

"The wings act as a means of communication, kind of like the standard phones and hell butterflies only much faster. I don't have access to the details but it has something to do with the invisible ink tattoo." Replied Yoruichi as she tapped on her skull. "The thing is, this faction isn't under Central 46 jurisdiction. The old geezers are scared shitless of them since they have no way of controlling them or ensuring loyalty." She quickly stopped to tell Keiko not to repeat the word 'shitless' in polite company. "If any information regarding us is leaked out two things will happen. The first is that Central 46 will have Yamamoto flush them out and crush them under some trumped up treason charge." She lowered her voice so that Keiko would not hear." I don't think they'll be successful. I was around for the last fox hunt and the only thing that happened was mass hysteria and a lot of innocent people getting executed. None of them were actually from the Shadow force."

Soi Fon nodded slowly as she understood the gravity of the secret. "What would be the other thing then?"

-Rrrrrip-

"Keiko and I would die for telling you. Anyone else who isn't intentionally in on this will also die from a 'mysterious disease.' The tattoo that allows us to communicate is directly connected to the brain. It's how they can communicate with out speaking. It also means that any major leaks will be destroyed" Yoruichi became quiet again as she allowed the information to sink in. She suspected that there would be a confrontation between Soi Fon and Shizuma soon enough regarding the mark. She hadn't intended to make the anti-leak policy sound as draconian as it came out.

She wasn't bound as a slave, hell, she wasn't even obligated to do anything for the Hachidori. She just couldn't casually discuss the members or refer to the faction by name in public. "Soi Fon."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi?" Soi Fon's eyes were narrowed. The thought of her mentor being threatened infuriated her.

"It's not as bad as it sounds. Really. You don't need to worry about me."

Soi Fon blushed slightly. "I er... meant Nake- Keiko." Surprisingly, it wasn't entirely a lie. She had begun to grow fond of the girl, just a little. Incessant crying and mild agoraphobia aside, she respected anybody who could escape Yachiru.

"Right." Came the response " Soi Fon, I trust you to keep the secret. Do you want the mark?"

"Of course."

"You don't really have to get one if you don't want to."

"Anything for your life Lady Yoruichi"

"Keiko and I won't die if you don't get the tag. Only if you spill the beans."

"Nonetheless you have my answer."

-RRrrrrrriiiiiip-

"Alright" Yoruichi smiled warmly at her old student then turned to the corner where ripping sounds were coming from. "Hey Keiko. Do you have anything to say? You've been awfully quiet."

"Nope." Chirped Keiko as she pulled off another strip of wallpaper. Yori -ne and Captain -sis wouldn't know what she was feeling. She didn't know the words to explain that vague feeling of unease which meant that they wouldn't understand. She still wasn't sure what to think so she wouldn't think about it. Kitty had the tag, but what if she wasn't Yori -ne. Or worse, what if it was Yori -ne and she didn't believe her.

"Keiko" Began Yoruichi as if she had done this before. Keiko was not the most articulate person regarding her feelings especially when she was wound up like this. Unlike Soi Fon, the little girl assumed a very blank demeanor and pretended nothing was wrong when she was truly unsettled. She had learned from experience that it was better to ask multiple questions and get figure out what was wrong. The repressed emotions tended to surface in a more violent and explosive fashion otherwise. "Are you scared?"

"No."

"Are you nervous?"

"No... A little"

"Are you nervous about Shaolin knowing?"

"No... Maybe.. A little."

"I trust her. She's very sweet and loyal. Even if she tries not to show it. Do you trust me?" Asked the cat woman.

"..." Keiko looked at Yoruich blankly for a few moments before going back to peeling wallpaper. "I don't know."

-Rrrrrip-

"Are you upset?"

The toddler said nothing but she started to sniffle.

"Are you upset with us?"

Keiko sniffled harder and pulled off another strip.

"Are you upset about what happened with Amaterasu?"

Keiko nodded and started to cry. "I didn't draw on her. Honest."

Soi Fon opened her mouth to protest but Yoruichi silenced her with a glance. "Keiko. Listen. Shaolin only started seeing Ammy's stripes today."

"Wait. Let me understand something. Lady Wolf actually has pink markings on her face?"

"No!" Protested Keiko "Red"

Now it was Yoruichi's turn to be surprised. "Really? It's always been maroon for me."

"Then why are they pink now and why haven't I seen them before?!" Demanded Soi Fon

Keiko glared and slowly took a deep breath. What ever she had been about to shout was stopped by Yoruichi when she got between them again. "The marks are only seen by certain people. I think its the ones that notice the most things but I'm not sure. She has an alternate form that only those with the most spiritual pressure can see. At least, I think."

"Oh."

Keiko huffed and crossed her arms. "I didn't draw on Ama -ne" She repeated.

Yoruichi stepped away from the two of them and looked at her old student with the same expression Amaterasu wore when she and Soi Fon confronted each other.

Soi Fon shifted uncomfortably. She wasn't very good with apologies, especially to those below her rank. However, Yoruichi would be disappointed if she didn't say something. "Keiko. Erm... My apologies for agitating you."

Keiko nodded in response, still sulking over the whole incident and not quite willing to let it go but she could feel her self relaxing already, like a watch being allowed to return to its natural rhythm.

"Hey squirt. How about I get a present for the next time we meet?" Suggested Yoruichi. She grinned when she saw Keiko brighten. "After you say something to Soi Fon"

"I think you're in love with Yori -ne" She chirped. While she still seemed upset there was a devilish twinkle in her eye.

Soi Fon sputtered and turned bright red.

"Keiko!" nudged Yoruichi. She knew the girl had just found a bomb and she didn't want that to be brought up right this minute.

"Heeheehee Apology accepted Captain -sis" She giggled. Delighted to know that she could incite such a reaction.

"Captain -sis? You're all red and your eyes are soggy" Asked Keiko. "Are you sick?"

"It's that time again." She muttered shaking away the thoughts. She was not sick. The commander of the stealth force did not get sick. "Go about your business Nakenashi."

"Oh." She became quiet for a few moments before speaking again. "Should I get tampons and chocolate?"

"W-W-WHAT!?" Stuttered Soi Fon. Her face turned bright red once more."Why- How?- "

"Shii- Mama says that too. She always asks Enjii -nii for those things" Shrugged the girl. Then she scowled as she continued. "I don't know what it means though. They always tell me I'm too young."

"Wha-? No. Thats not what I mean." Soi Fon shook her head. "Once every two hundred years a group of people... Your people." She hesitated, wondering if this was a good idea. " pranks... All of Soul Society."

Keiko, being who she was, promptly started giggling. In fact she wouldn't stop until Soi Fon called Amaterasu into the room and sent them off to harass her officers.

She had to note that the agility and situational awareness of her officers had improved a great deal once the wolf and child duo had begun to 'attack' them via strategically placed traps and pranks. It wasn't a proper method of training but she couldn't dismiss the effectiveness.

-BOOM-

The property damage and excessive fur was a concern though. It had become increasingly difficult for the stealth force to look professional between the pranks and the wolf hair clinging to every surface and article of clothing. Some of the more delicate members had also begun to get sick or develop allergies.

She rubbed her head where she got tagged yesterday. It was a rather unpleasant experience and she definitely had nightmares from hearing the needle inject something into her head. It sounded like someone crushing a lobster inside her head. Repulsive sound aside, she quickly discovered the benefits when she tried to use it. Namely, access to information that would other wise be difficult or embarrassing to acquire. Like toy sales.

The plushies she wanted would be going on sale at the end of the week. So there was that to look forward to. Perhaps she should invest in another vacuum or air cleaner while she was out.

Author's note- Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a good holiday.

I had some trouble writing this chapter. I wanted clear up why Soi Fon kept Keiko around since Keiko has yet to really pull her own weight story wise. I mean, sure, she's cute and all but given the nature of Soi Fon's work she would have easily passed her off to someone else to care for right? Yes and no.

Keiko is an indirect connection to the Hachidori. She's been trained in a manner of different ways but she isn't quite good yet. One thing that she is very good at doing is hiding and sneaking, meaning that she can more or less get away from people she isn't comfortable with.

It's the beginning of things that Soi Fon would value in an adult and professional so she's hoping to train her some more. Not needing to teach basic weapons care and proper throwing form is a plus too.

Next chapter, Ammy gets passed off to the third division. Does anybody know what a wolf would be doing there?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.