Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Daydreams Come True ❯ Yoruichi Shihoin ( Chapter 13 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.

 

Yoruichi Shihoin

 

The journey to Soul Society had been worse than she could possibly have anticipated. Why did the cleaner have to come through just at that time? The kid wearing the cape had nearly got them killed. What was with the cape? Did Quincy's always wear capes, or was he trying to make a statement? Chad had been invaluable at that time, keeping his head and doing what was necessary. Yoruichi was glad that he was a member of this ill-assorted group.

 

Orihime had disregarded all her warnings and also nearly killed them. Did any of them actually listen to her? Chad seemed the most sensible of all of them. Ichigo was being irritating in the time honoured Ichigo manner, but even he seemed distracted. Yoruichi had a feeling that he would cause more trouble then the rest of them. Thank the stars she did not have to train him.

 

She'd scolded Orihime, only to have Ichigo come to the girl's defence. He might be irritated with Orihime, but he was protective of her at the same time. To make the situation worse Ichigo seemed ready to ignore all her warnings. He seemed to give into any impulse that crossed his mind without examining the matter logically, or thinking about the consequences. He was just like his father. Impulses could kill. She remembered her comments to Urahara about Isshin's reaction if anything happened to his son. She had to keep the fool safe and alive as long as possible.

 

She'd told Urahara she didn't want to work with kids. How he managed to convince her otherwise was something she expected, but did not accept. She thought she knew all his tricks, all his subtle pressures, but too often he managed to place her in a position she had originally rejected. Not only had she trained them, but now she was in the Seireitei leading them. Again she wondered if he'd used some drug or potion on her to skew her judgement. It was probable he just knew when to ask. He might know her strengths and admire them, but he also knew her weak points, and how to exploit them.

 

The kid with the cape, Uryu, that was his name, was obviously trying to impress Orihime and Orihime was oblivious to anyone but Ichigo. A teenage love triangle, or if you included Rukia it was more of a square.

 

What the hell was she thinking? Squares? Triangles? Next she'd start looking for cubes or pyramids. Her mind was going. The increase in spirit particles must be affecting her judgement, or she was trying not to focus on the chances of success.

 

Ichigo was ignoring Orihime, most of the time. He seemed slightly irritated by her constant attention, probably because he was worrying about Rukia. Orihime was polite to Uryu but ignored his attentions. At least Chad didn't appear to be carrying any emotional baggage. That was one less lovesick teen to worry about. She had enough to consider. If only Urahara had developed something to suppress the hormonal impulses, present in her four companions, or synthesised a drug that could make them examine their actions with logic, instead of giving into erratic impulses; this rescue mission might stand some slim chance of success.

 

She was still no wiser as to why Urahara had put together this rescue mission. It seemed a little extreme to send five people to Soul Society to rescue his best customer. When she'd returned to the shop each night after training Chad and Orihime, she'd been tired. So tired that she forgot to ask why the rescue mission was so important. The one night she had asked, Urahara had immediately begun making love to her in an extremely inventive fashion that distracted her from her question. She shivered slightly when she remembered how it had felt. She must get him distract her like that more often. Any attempts to ask the question later that night led to more sex. While she had enjoyed the sex, it was obvious he was trying to divert her attention.

 

The last week he had been very elusive and had asked her to undertake a number of tasks that were best suited to her cat form. It seemed coincidental that these tasks kept her absent day and night. She had realised that this was another method to prevent those unwanted questions. Last night, before she left, had been consumed with the usual exhausting sex they indulged in just as they were parted. She still bore some of the bruises and bites he'd inflicted at the height of passion. Luckily, they didn't show while she was in cat form. While she longed for it, she hated the sex they shared before parting. Too often it was about something that neither of them acknowledged: the fear that this might be the last time they would be together.

 

She'd left the Seireitei with Urahara so they could be together, but they spent most of the time apart. It made no sense, but she knew it was the way it had to be. She accepted it, but resented the necessity.

 

Sometimes he annoyed her so much. If she didn't love the man, she'd have destroyed him long ago. Love was the problem. Love was always the problem between them. A world without love would be much less complicated. Ignoring her own experience, she had the example of how love could affect your mind to your detriment, right in front of her. If only she could split theses kids up somehow, so they might concentrate on the trial in front of them, instead of being prey to all the feelings they were obviously experiencing.

 

Yoruichi was only mildly surprised that Ichigo had defeated Jidanbo. Urahara had given her regular updates on his progress and she knew he had grown much stronger. The level of his development had surprised Urahara, who had been at pains not to provide any praise to Ichigo. Praise seemed to affect Ichigo badly, either embarrassing him so he didn't try hard enough, or he became too complacent and didn't try hard enough. Insults seemed to bring out the best in him and make him try hard to disprove whatever the other person had said. That was the key to Ichigo, insult and he tried harder. It was possible that if she insulted him about giving into impulses, he might start thinking before he acted. The chances were not good. She knew she was clutching at straws, but they were all she had.

 

There was no way to disguise her shock at the sudden appearance of Gin Ichimaru. Why had he arrived? Why had he been content only to push Ichigo back behind the gate? He should have killed Ichigo quickly, and then arrested those left alive. Something about this did not feel right. She was still experiencing those goose bumps which made her feel on edge while in cat form. Since the encounter with Gin they were more like goose mounds than goose bumps. Fortunately her cat form could hide a multitude of emotions as the face did not display the feelings that were so easy to read on a human face. She remembered when Gin had been assistant captain to Captain Aizen. Now he was Captain in his own right. His abilities had grown since she knew him. He hadn't appeared to be trying hard against Ichigo. It proved what she already knew: to face any of the Captains was a bad idea. All the kids would need to increase their abilities.

 

She wasn't sure about the Quincy, as she had not seen his abilities, but she was certain that he was not yet at Captain level. It took years to gain those abilities and these kids had only been training for weeks. All of them, except the Quincy, had only recently achieved their powers. Truthfully she didn't rate the Quincy as being capable of defeating a captain. A bow was a limited weapon. A zanpaku-to was more than a simple blade and she didn't believe that there would be much competition between them. The zanpaku-to would win each time.

 

Once again she mentally cursed Urahara for sending her on this doomed mission. There must be a reason, something that would affect both the human world and Soul Society for him to have conceived and implemented this desperate plan. For all his assurances, she had felt his despair. It did not bode well.

 

Last night as they made love for the final time before her departure, there was a new element. The endearments had flowed thick and fast, but every time she had tried to look into his eyes he had looked away. She had caught the glimpses of fear and misery when he thought his gaze on her was unobserved. The only time she had seen that expression before, was when he had been concocting the plan to leave the Seireitei and had feared that she would stay behind. Even then, the fear had been less and the misery not so profound.

 

For a moment, she'd thought she'd heard Urahara murmur “Forgive me,” as she turned into cat form, but the words had been so faint that she was not sure he had spoken. He had given her that smile she knew so well. The smile that he used to hide his feelings, conceal his emotions. That smile, which would seem to most others, the smile of a man full of self confidence, with nothing really on his mind. Seeing him smile like that, made her worried about the ideas he was trying to conceal. She remembered the night he said that he hid nothing from her. He was lying, as he had lied to her before. He tried to protect her, and she tried to protect him, in return. They pretended that they were honest with each other because honesty was something to be prized. In truth secrecy bound them tighter than honesty ever could. His secrets intrigued her. Her secrets, he could not even begin to guess. He must never guess the depths of her love. That would give him too much power.

 

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She didn't want to think of Urahara. She wanted to be with him, but right now, she did not trust him. It would be nice to love and trust the same person, but it would not be sensible if you loved Kisuke Urahara.

 

Ichigo had been unusually tense and strange since they arrived in the Seireitei, especially after he faced Ichimaru. He had always been prone to over-react but now he seemed intent on proving he was the equal or better of anyone they met. Was he scared that he wasn't strong enough to save Rukia? Knowing little about the boy she could not be sure. Though he tried to conceal the fact, when he wasn't acting like a hormonal moron, he seemed concerned with protecting his friends. Sometimes she caught him brooding, his nutmeg coloured eyes appearing to turn inward as he pondered some idea.

 

He rarely mentioned Rukia's name, but when he did he would gain a new resolve until it faded. Then he became almost despondent. Goading and insulting him seemed the only way to make him respond. Why were male shinigami so complicated?

 

The girl was no help. The way she fussed and praised Ichigo made Yoruichi feel slightly nauseous. When ever Yoruichi glanced in her direction, she was gazing at Ichigo, or trying not to gaze at Ichigo. The crush bordered on obsession. Could he be so oblivious to ignore what was so freely and frequently offered? What did Orihime see in Ichigo?

 

Yoruichi resigned herself to spending the night in Rukongai which meant a delay in her plans, but it was necessary. That fool, Ichigo managed to find another fight. It appeared as if that kid could attract fights as pollen attracted bees. It was yet another waste of time and energy, which could be used for a better purpose. The guy he was fighting seemed pretty strange, but then strange was normal in Rukongai. Ichigo lost focus after that fight. He seemed to forget about Rukia. Maybe it was his hormones, maybe it was just typical male stupidity; she didn't know, or care. Or maybe it was the near defeat after being so easily dismissed by Ichimaru. Ichigo's confidence was unstable. As soon as she reminded him about Rukia, his face creased into a frown. It appeared he was going to say something but he didn't. Eventually he came to his senses and decided to accompany them.

 

They had to get into the Seireitei and they were now on the way to the one person who could help them. It had been a while since she'd visited her friend and she hoped that there would be no further problems, but she knew travelling with this group meant that trouble would find them.

 

They arrived at Kukaku Shiba's house. After all the introductions and foolery were completed, and the kids were sleeping, she managed to talk to Kukaku.

 

“So, what's the real story? This all seems pretty random. A Quincy, an illegal shinigami and two kids with weird powers who want to get into the Seireitei. What's the real story, Yoruichi?” Kukaku was sitting in her usual position with her pipe in her hands which she was taking pleasure in lighting.

 

“Urahara wants his best customer rescued.”

 

Kukaku looked at Yoruichi for a few moments. “And?” she asked impatiently.

 

“And what? The illegal shinigami, Ichigo, wants to rescue her. He'll say it's because he owes her, but he's in love with Rukia. The girl, Orihime, is in love with Ichigo. The Quincy, Uryu is in love with Orihime. And thankfully, Chad is in love with no one, at least I hope not, because that would just be too complicated. Chad is a friend of Ichigo's. Preserve me from teenage passion.” Yoruichi stretched and shivered, the shiver travelling from her tail to her head.

 

“No, your adult passion managed to get you into enough trouble,” Kukaku observed, leaning back, relaxed, and drawing on her pipe.

 

They were silent for a few minutes.

 

“Can you tell me the real reason?” Kukaku asked, intently. The pipe dangled from her fingers as she posed the question.

 

“I don't know the real reason,” Yoruichi burst out in frustration. “Urahara won't tell me the real reason. I ask, and he distracts me, usually with sex. If I press the point he acts the fool, more than normal, or sends me off on some wild cat chase. I know something's wrong. I think he might even have asked me to forgive him, but I can't be sure. Whatever it is, I know it's bad. Why did I ever fall in love with that man?”

 

“Damn, Yoruichi. You said the “l” word. You're slipping,” Kukaku, teased smiling.

 

“It's not funny,” Yoruichi hissed. “If this fails, you may have to move again.”

 

“I'm always moving. At least you didn't use that tired chestnut of putting me in danger. I know that if I help you, I won't be popular with the Seireitei, but why should that bother me now? I never was popular there, except when Kaien was alive and not even then. They tolerated my existence. They still do.”

 

“You know I can't offer you anything in return,” Yoruichi said.

 

“We've been friends long enough and done enough favours to each other to not worry about that,” Kukaku said waving her whole arm dismissively. “Just come back alive.”

 

“I'll try. I can't promise anything. Who knows if any of us will survive? I have a bad feeling about this Kukaku. Gin Ichimaru was at the gate. He only pushed Ichigo out; he didn't try to kill him, didn't try to arrest us. I know another shinigami was near by, I almost thought I recognised the reiatsu. Why did Ichimaru leave the boy alive? That's not like him.”

 

Kukaku leaned forward, her face close to Yoruichi's head. “Did Ichimaru try to kill him?” she asked quietly, her eyes glowing with interest.

 

Yoruichi shook her head. “If he'd tried, I think Ichigo would be dead. My tail has been twitching and I keep thinking that I'm forgetting something important. It is so infuriating. I feel like arching and spitting. Maybe I've been in cat form too long.”

 

“You mean the kids don't know who you are?” An incredulous expression crossed Kukaku's face. She seemed to have trouble accepting this new piece of information.

 

“The kids don't know who Urahara is. Ichigo doesn't know his father was once a captain of the Gotei 13. They certainly don't know who I am. They think I'm a talking cat. It didn't seem important to tell them. They've had enough to try to understand already. I'm sure that Isshin has his reasons for not telling his son the truth,” Yoruichi explained.

 

Kukaku leant back again and lit her pipe again. She drew the smoke into her mouth and expelled it in a thoughtful manner. “Isshin often kept things to himself. He might act the fool, but he's trying to hide who he really is, possibly even from himself. Not unlike someone else we know. You'll be seen. Your entry into the Seireitei will not go unnoticed.”

 

“Tell me something I didn't know. Oh, sorry. I shouldn't take my frustrations out on you. The longer I'm here, the more I realise that this is a foolish venture. This will not work. None of them have the skills to defeat 13 captains, not to mention the other shinigami. And Rukia will be heavily guarded. I can expect no help once we're inside. I must have been in a completely insane state to agree to this.”

 

“So when did he ask you,” Kukaku asked, her mouth curving into a knowing smile, as the smoke curled out of her mouth.

 

“After we'd made love, of course. His explanation seemed so reasonable at the time. He'd been kissing me and,” Yoruichi broke off.

 

“And what?” Kukaku asked quickly. She was leaning closer, her mouth slightly open.

 

“Get your vicarious pleasures elsewhere! He knows just how to manipulate me,” Yoruichi said, pleased that her friend could not see her blushes. That memory was particularly erotic.

 

“I'm sure he does,” Kukaku smirked.

 

“Enough. Just help me concentrate on the problem. Should I be realistic and go home? Forget this whole thing?”

 

“What about the kids? Will they go home, too?” Kukaku asked seriously.

 

Yoruichi thought for a moment and then sighed, shaking her head. “No. Ichigo is obsessed with saving Rukia. I think that his feelings may be more than simple teenage passion. Orihime is obsessed with Ichigo, so she will follow him anywhere, even if she knows that it's hopeless. The Quincy? Not sure about him. I think he's trying to prove something and he's also trying to impress Orihime. As for Chad, he's probably too interested to want to go home. I have to stay, if only to try to keep then alive and fulfil this damn fool mission. Urahara owes me for this. When I get back….”

 

“When you get back, he'll apologise, so convincingly that you will believe he is sincere and then you will forgive him. Then you'll end up having great sex with him,” Kukaku interrupted.

 

“Not this time. This time it's not some silly game. I think this is more serious than when we planned to leave the Seireitei,” Yoruichi assured her friend.

 

There was silence as they both tried to dismiss the fears that those words raised. Those had been dangerous days. Urahara and Yoruichi had often met at Kukaku's place. It was here that their plans were made and their escape began. Those days may have been full of intrigue and fear, but that was nothing compared to the fear that Yoruichi currently suffered.

 

“You lie to yourself so well,” Kukaku said.

 

“I know. And I even believe my own lies sometimes,” Yoruichi admitted, reluctantly.

 

“I told you that a sex toy would be less trouble than Urahara. I even offered to buy you a selection,” Kukaku reminded her.

 

“Gee, thanks. Wasn't that after I became involved with Urahara, when it was all too late?” Yoruichi stretched and a paw scratched her ear as she yawned, showing her sharp white teeth and small pink tongue.

 

“Yes.”

 

“It wouldn't have solved the underlying problem. I was bored. So bored, being the captain of the elite 2nd Division. Bored of the expectations of being a member of a noble house. He may cause me problems, but at least Urahara has made my life more interesting. You can't kiss a sex toy,” Yoruichi said soberly.

 

Her friend looked at her and burst out laughing. “You can't kiss a sex toy? Why would you want to?”

 

“I wanted to see if you'd lost your sense of humour,” Yoruichi said.

 

“I've always wondered how you can give me the impression that you're grinning widely when you're in cat form,” Kukaku observed.

 

“It's a special talent. So, tomorrow?”

 

“It has to be tomorrow. I don't know if any of them is ready, but giving them more time will just make you worry. It won't be easy. You'll have to remain calm while they panic around you.”

 

“I'm looking forward to that,” Yoruichi said dryly. “Trapped in a bubble of spirit energy with those five kids. Remind me why I'm doing this.”

 

“I have no idea,” Kukaku said

 

“At this moment neither do I. I should sleep. Where are the kids sleeping?”

 

“I think you'd better keep an eye on that orange one. He's in the main room. He just fell asleep and we couldn't wake him. When he sleeps, he sleeps hard. After this is over why don't you visit? Spend a few days,” Kukaku offered.

 

“Providing I survive, of course. See you in the morning.”

 

Yoruichi wandered into the main room. Ichigo was sprawled in the middle of the floor, groaning and thrashing around as he slept. Briefly, Yoruichi wondered what he was dreaming about. Ichigo's face was flushed, he was perspiring. He was breathing heavily. She thought she detected the tell tale signs of male arousal. Intrigued, Yoruichi wandered closer. What the hell was he dreaming about?

 

“Rukia, oh, Rukia. I'll be with you soon,” Ichigo moaned. His hand reached out and grabbed Yoruichi's tail, pulling it hard.

 

Yoruichi wailed at the pain and tried to tug her tail from his grasp. Ichigo grasped her tail tighter.

 

“I love you, Rukia,” Ichigo said in strangled groan, his grip tightening even more.

 

By this time Yoruichi didn't care what Ichigo was dreaming about. It didn't matter. The pain mattered. She just wanted her tail removed from his hands. The kid had some grip. She wailed even louder, hoping her wails would wake Ichigo, or at least startle him into letting go.

 

Yoruichi's wailing had wakened the other kids. Rushing into the room, they looked at Ichigo and then at Yoruichi. Chad looked concerned and quickly acted. He grabbed Ichigo's arm and tried to make him release his grip. Uryu shook Ichigo, trying to wake him, while Orihime spoke.

 

“Ichigo, you really should let go of Mr Yoruichi's tail. He doesn't like it being pulled. Please Ichigo. I think you're hurting him,” she said ineffectively.

 

Yoruichi began hissing and spitting intermixed with the wailing. Couldn't the girl help more than that?

 

Kukaku arrived, alerted by the noise and stood in the doorway, grinning. Eventually Chad and Uryu managed to break Ichigo's grip on the tail and Yoruichi fled from the room, yowling.

 

“Great. Lost my dignity and almost lost my tail. I'm never going near that kid when he's sleeping. I don't know if my tail will ever be the same again,” Yoruichi thought sourly. “Damn it. This mission just keeps getting better.”

 

 

Author's note:

I know I twisted the plotline a little about how Yoruichi's tail acquired those interesting kinks. Usually, I try to stick pretty close to the manga, but I was remembering after Ichigo wakes up he asks Ganju what he was dreaming about.

 

Just a reminder. I try to write each chapter from the featured character's viewpoint. This may mean that their perception of another character may be very different from yours, or even mine.

 

It's difficult for Ichigo and Rukia to be together at present, except in dreams, but there may be a few more dreams. It depends on how the story flows.

 

Who will the next featured character be? To me, it is blatantly obvious. There can be only one choice. That's right. The next featured character will be: CHAD. Just teasing. It will, of course be Nemu. Or maybe Zangetsu? That might be fun. On second thoughts, why not a chapter devoted to Isshin?

 

Please review. It might make me update faster.