Disclaimer: I don't own BLEACH

Chapter 2

Sui-Feng's car was flying. She was never so careless, so reckless on the road until now. But she didn't care. Right now, she has to get away.

She let a hand leave the wheel and wiped the tears that were dampening her flushed cheeks. She promised not to cry again especially for that woman but here she was crying like the little girl that she was more than 5 years ago.

She thought that she was tough enough, strong enough not to but that was what she let herself believe until she saw Yoruichi again. She was starting all over.

It was like riding a never ending merry-go-round, revolving about a fixed circle again and again. If she won't see the woman for the next fifty years then maybe she will be fine, she decided. Perhaps it was stupid, but for now she will settle for something that worked before. The illusion of oblivion. Yes, it worked but she won't heal, the pain won't fade. Her heart can't.. won't forgive.

She wiped the last remaining tears. Time to be the tough, unyielding Sui-Feng once more.

The streets were dark now, she noted. Sui-Feng glanced at her rearview mirror checking if it was safe to turn when she noticed a black sedan tailing behind her car. Sui-Feng cursed, she got so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't paid much attention to it at first. She was driving for a few hours now and she keeps seeing the same car every time she looked. How could she be so careless?

The bastard was underestimating her if he thought he can keep up with her this time.

They'll have a joyride around the city.

She took sharp turns then speeding more each time, attempting to lose her pursuer. She flicked her lights to a cop patrolling for speeders and he gets the message, letting her pass. Thank God she was quite famous among the cops around the area. Within the law enforcements, there must be some camaraderie.

The sedan was nowhere in sight when she checked her rearview mirror again. She sighed as she took her last turn for her apartment but still a little perturbed that she had been followed and by whom?

She grimaced as a disturbing thought occurred to her. It can't be a pawn of that woman. No, no, no. It's fine now. She managed to evade the bastard so it's not a problem anymore right?

Even if she wouldn't ask for it in any way, she'll be more relieved if it was work related. She works for a Private Security Company and threats are common to someone like her; it was like a part of the regular order of things, although she hardly receives or experienced any.

She parked her car, grabbed her carryall at the passenger seat and strode to her apartment and decided to settle for a much needed rest and maybe sulk for the next few days.

Unbeknownst to her, a black sedan was parked across the road long before she arrived; the man inside the car was watching her get inside a building which he guessed was her home.

Omaeda thanked all the gods in heaven when he saw the yellow car again. The girl seemed to notice he was following her and lost her eventually. He was tailing her around the small part of the city for an hour or so. The girl was not just a hell of a good driver but it seems that the cops let her off the hook for speeding. Just what was the girl around here?

He didn't know what the girl was to his boss to cause him this much trouble but one thing is for sure, the girl is dangerous.

Slowing down was his last and only option and she was nowhere in sight the next minute. He parked across a row of apartment buildings to think of the consequences of his incompetency when a familiar yellow car caught his eyes a few meters ahead entering a parking lot. He smirked; he's a lucky guy regardless.

His meaty palms wiped the sweat that formed across his enormous forehead as he took a deep audible breath. The cops were maybe on the girl's side but luck was on his, he mused.

Time to do what he was supposed to do. His boss will be pleased with him.

Yoruichi's office door swung open, revealing a tall and lean, a little lanky man wearing a green shirt and pants. He has gray eyes and library-pale skin. A striped green and white bucket hat was put over his blond hair which was roughly unkempt. He was Yoruichi's best friend, Urahara Kisuke.

'Yoruichi-saaaan.' He greeted in a singsong.

'Ugh..Kisuke when will be the day you'll ever learn to knock.' She said, still not looking up from what she was doing. It's as if she was so much absorbed in her work she can't do something else at the same time.

'Uh..where's Yoruichi-san?' He was brought to a dead stop, not used to seeing Yoruichi working her ass off.

Kisuke was a laid-back man, always in a jovial mood to the point of eccentricity but seeing Yoruichi now he almost liked to change it. Almost.

'What do you want Kisuke?' Yoruichi mumbled.

He walked to the side of the room slumping down to the comfortable leather couch while giving the woman a calculating look. She seemed tired and restless. He worried her sometimes.

'To check on you. One must know what his friend dearest is doing.' He said. 'Uh, you looked possessed by the way.'

'Oh thanks.'

Suddenly, he noticed an envelope sitting on the coffee table.

'What is this Yoruichi-san?' Urahara Kisuke cheekily muttered as he picked up the mysterious looking envelope. The flap was open and some portions of the papers inside were peeking out.

She looked at him and leaned on her seat. She stretched to ease her muscles of the discomfort from slouching over her desk all day.

'Ah that's just..some papers.' She said, hesitating to tell her friend, hoping that he would not pry so much. Kisuke can be a jerk sometimes and she was not in any mood for his sarcastic comments.

'Oh these are not just some papers.' He mumbled, looking at the contents of the envelope. He looked surprised for a moment. 'These are some kind of a.. PI's report. You finally saw her then?'

'She stayed here for two nights.'

'And?' Kisuke inquired, a little disturbed that her friend was keeping the facts to herself which she don't do before.

'She was checking out when I knew.' She said as she drags a hand through her mussed hair. Her voice suggests a small amount of exasperation. 'If I didn't arrive the time I did, I could have missed her.'

He raised a brow. 'So..you two did talk?'

'Yeah, kind of.' She looked away, not liking to give details.

He tilts his stripped bucket hat forward to cover his eyes. 'It didn't go well, I presume.'

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. 'What did you expect?'

'So what do you plan to do with this information?'

For Sui-Feng, the meeting with Yoruichi was a like frightening thought, a kind of nightmare that was left forgotten, unknown. But it took few days to gather the energy to go back to work and she misses it. She loved her job as a captain and was satisfied. She works for the company as the Captain of the Special Operations for almost five years now. She started as a recruit and excelled in almost everything but she worked hard and sweated like everyone else. At a young age she had her own office and position that for others, took them a lifetime to achieve and accomplish.

The Gotei 13 as they call it was composed of various squads; each squad was lead by a captain and all the captains report to the Captain-Commander. They provide security services to public and private clients. They prevent, control and protect. They enforce law-and-order.

When she entered her office earlier that morning, she was surprised that her desk was not cluttered with paper works. You wouldn't think that her buxom, ginger head assistant can be relied on to but she can be serious if the captain warrants it.

'Rangiku, I want these be delivered to the squad four this afternoon.' She said handling a small stack of papers to Rangiku. 'Captain Unohana wanted to see the list of our new recruits. I'll train them starting tomorrow so they might frequent the infirmary for a while.'

Rangiku could picture what the infirmary would be like and she winced, she feels sorry for them. 'Okeydoke captain.'

'And Rangiku, did the escort service for the president went well? I haven't received the report yet.'

Her assistant gave her an odd look. 'Uh..It's in your desk drawer. I thought you've read it already so I filed it. Captain, are you okay? You're different today.'

Sui-Feng stopped rummaging her drawer; she looked up and glared at her assistant. She was always a source of annoyance to her.

'You sick or something? Just what really happened to you on your trip at Karakura?'

Sui-Feng gave her a dry look and retorted back. 'And what happened to you? You are nosier than usual.'

'If I were you, I'll extend my vacation. Maybe a couple or more days off.'

'So you'll have more days to slack off?'

'Hey, I don't slack off!' Rangiku tutted. 'Maybe you're all right after all, you're your mean self again.'

'Did the squad perform the daily drills while I was out?' She said instead, dismissing her assistant's unwanted comments.

With a shrug, Rangiku surrendered. 'Yup. By the way, Captain-Commander wanted you in his office by 1100 today.'

After a knock, Sui-Feng walked in the office of Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Anyone would be surprised that it was a typical room for doing business and work related activities, nothing extravagant, nothing unnecessary.

'Captain Commander you called for me?'

'Captain Sui-Feng, yes. I have a matter to discuss with you. Take a seat.' He indicated a seat. She complied and looked at the frail, old man. He has red eyes which were partially closed most of the time. There were scars above his bald head which she guessed he got from his long service to the company. There were ridiculously long eyebrows and a very long, white beard on his wrinkled face.

She respected the old man and was deeply loyal and dedicated to him. They were so much alike on beliefs and opinions about following the laws and regulations. She believed it takes teamwork to pull off a job without any problems or complications.

'How was the situation in Karakura? He referred to her brief business trip in the small town which turned into an unwanted reunion between her and Yoruichi.

'All is well Captain-Commander, I managed to put things to order.' Mostly, she thought.

'Good. I would not be able to think otherwise when it was you who do the job.'

'Thank you.' Her usually stoic face was hinted of polite expression of gratitude. She was pleased to know that the old man has full awareness of her efficiency.

The old man nodded.

'You are here for another assignment; a client wanted a bodyguard captain.' The old man got down to business.

'I can assure you we have enough in my squad.' She said confidently.

'This one was specific.' He trailed off. 'She asked for you to be her bodyguard.'

'I thought Captains don't…'

'But we also don't disappoint. Whatever was asked from us, we give. We provide as long as it is reasonable.'

She nodded in agreement. He was right.

'Who was… asking for me?' She asked, suddenly feeling nervous.

Please don't let it be her.

'Shihoin Yoruichi.'

She was utterly stunned that her heart momentarily left her chest. 'S-shihoin Yoruichi.'

No. This is not happening. How can that woman be so cruel? She was far from being reasonable!

'The Shihoin family has been a longtime client of the company. We provided services for them countless of time long before you can even walk. It is essential as it is obvious for someone like them to need our service captain. It's a price to pay for being rich and famous.'

'Captain-Commander Yamamoto, I..' She looked down her lap and tried to keep her hands from shaking.

'Is there a problem?'

Yes there is a problem! How can you expect me to safeguard the woman when I myself wanted to kill her! She wanted to blurt out but she simply couldn't. 'No Captain-Commander it's just that I have a squad to lead and train. What about my duties?' She reasoned.

'In the period of seven days you'll have two to do your duties here, the rest you'll be spending with your charge. A substitute would take your place as the Shihoin's bodyguard while you are away.' He looked at her expectedly. Waiting.

This is not happening.

She tried to think of a way out. But her thoughts were clouded with terror and desperation.

If only she could turn back the clock. If only she never went to that town, this wouldn't happen. Or would it?

Shihoin Yoruichi was known to get what she wants. But what does she wants?

'I..I accept.' She had to say those words. It was expected from her.

'Very well. You start as soon as possible. The details of your assignment are here.' An envelope landed on top of the desk.

Why? What will happen now?

A/N: I hope this chapter was better than the crappy chapter 1. Reviews are welcome.