Hey, I'm still here surprisingly. Chapter Two. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Bleach. Word to Kharaki Takan. You, Kharaki, will know why by the end of this chapter if you remember your review last chapter.

Chapter 2: Empty Once More

"Royal Guard?"

"Yes, the zero division. You've been requested."

"Heh..." said Naruto as he sat before Genryusai, the captain commander of all the shinigami.

The scarred and old face of the bald captain commander looked at Naruto consider what he just said with closed eyes. Genryusai could see Naruto mulling over such a thing and he couldn't blame him. It wasn't just a promotion. Naruto's afterlife would change forever were he to accept.

"You're immensely powerful Naruto-fukataicho. You know this. It's why you were considered before becoming a captain." thought Genryusai watching Naruto turn his violet eyes to him.

"I don't have to answer this right away do I?" questioned Naruto getting a nod from the man before him. "Cool, didn't think I had to. Is this why you came to find me after not caring what I did when I first declined?"

"Perceptive too." thought the captain commander with a nod. "The Central 46 needed to replace a disgraced and discharged member and they've always known you existed. They asked for you personally those years ago. So I got you."

"Pfft, don't make it seem like it was that easy. Plus, Yoruichi-chan got me. Not you"

"By my command. And while we're on Yoruichi-taicho, I believe she also got you to be late too." spoke the old Shinigami getting an exaggerated gasp from Naruto.

"I'm appalled," replied Naruto coolly after his very animated gasp. He'd already been verbally reprimanded for being late. He'd thought they were past this. "Never knew you were one to be stuck in the past pops. Plus, Taicho was the one who got me up and reminded me I had to come here."

"I'm sure she did."

"She...actually did. You should have a little more faith in your captains soutaicho."

"I do. It's just hard these days." said Yamamoto as he peered his eyes outside his office window.

Naruto frowned because he knew exactly what the old man was talking about. Well more accurately, who the old man was talking about. Urahara Kisuke, once captain of the 12th division. Naruto shook his head as none of what happened with that man made sense to him but it really didn't matter. The verdict had already been given and the captain and the other guilty parties were getting what was coming to them for their actions.

"It still feels off but..." thought Naruto briefly before stopping. He'd already thought long and hard about this and with no other facts to go off of, Naruto figured things were as they should be. Which was why he stood before turning to leave. "Don't let the actions of one skew your opinions of others. That's not fair to those who've never let you down," said Naruto before shrugging. "Not like you needed to know that. If that's all you had?"

"It is, you're dismissed."

Naruto nodded before stepping out of the office. Hands in his pockets, Naruto took to walking aimlessly. His mind was once again occupied by the events that'd occurred. Before he could recant those events though, he was tackled hard to the ground.

Normally, he'd be mad at such a thing. Mainly because he wasn't paying attention and got blindsided. But looking at the beautiful face of the culprit, that anger vanished immediately.

"Hi Rangiku-chan," said Naruto getting a glare from the woman atop him.

"Don't hi me Naruto," spoke Rangiku as she stared down at the man beneath her. "You don't get to just 'hi' me..."

Naruto smiled at the clearly agitated woman atop him as he took a moment to glance at her appearance. And she still looked as amazing as when he was first introduced to her. Even in the Shinigami uniform she was wearing. Probably due to the large amounts of cleavage she showed whilst wearing hers.

Like any red-blooded soul, Naruto gave an appraising look at the woman's bosom before returning to her clearly angered face. Naruto just gave a smile before proceeding to find out why she was angry with him.

"Alright, so what's the-"

"-You're leaving and didn't even tell me?! I had to find out through the rumor mill!"

"Wait... say what now?"

"The Royal Guard, you accepted the position," said Rangiku as her glare softened to turn into a pout. "How could you just leave like that? We just met and-"

"-I didn't accept the position." cut off Naruto before the woman could really get going about something that hadn't happened. Where did she get that information from? Naruto, himself, just found out not two minutes ago. "Who told you I accepted the position?"

"Oh, that's just what everyone figured when we knew you'd been recommended. No one has turned down that promotion that I know of," informed Rangiku noticeably chipper now that she knew Naruto wasn't going to leave. Which he hadn't actually said because he never said he declined. Just that he hadn't accepted so-"Wait, you didn't say you said no."

"Because I didn't. I'm thinking it over. I have a week to decide." said Naruto watching the woman's mood shift back to sad. The look was seriously waning on Naruto because he'd always been a sucker for girls. Especially ones as beautiful as the one he was looking at. "She's way too pretty to pout. It's almost irresistible. If she asked me to I'd cut my arm off with a spoon. And she prob knows that..."

"So you are leaving..." said Rangiku with a sniffle that was practically a haymaker to Naruto's conscience. He was ready to march back to Yamamoto and decline right now until the woman's mood shifted again to one of determination as she clapped her hands. "Well, it's settled then. I'm going to find a reason to make you stay!"

"I can think of two." thought Naruto resisting the urge to say that aloud and eye the woman's chest once more. "She reminds me of Tsunade-ba. But ba-chan is family so no. Maybe Terumi Mei. Yeah..."

"Right then! By the end of the week, I'll have the solution to keep you from going," said Rangiku rising to a stand before waving to Naruto. "Until then Naruto-kun!"

Naruto laid on the ground for a moment longer until he felt ready to rise into a sit. Looking around, Naruto could see numerous male Shinigami around eyeing him. Eyes that held much envy because of who just flattened him and proceeded to sit atop him for a good few minutes.

"Yes, let me feel your jealousy. I eat it up." thought Naruto eyeing them all back with a smirk. "I'd been drowning in it if I told you all what I did to Yoruichi an hour ago. I won't but just know..."

Oh, they did know without being told. All of them could feel that Naruto had something more awesome to share by way of his deepened smirk and grew insanely more jealous. And then simultaneously, all the men, including Naruto, stopped with their nonverbal pissing contest as Naruto looked forward and saw his captain walking up to him with an eyebrow raised.

"There you are. We have things to do," said Yoruichi as she helped Naruto to his feet and watched him dust off. "Why were you just laying there?"

"Oh you know..." said Naruto vaguely without even answering. Because Yoruichi actually didn't know but couldn't delve into it further because they had things to do. Mainly due to Naruto reminding her of such things. "Things to do. Shall we?"

"We shall," said Yoruichi completely disregarding the fact Naruto weaved pass her question.

Yoruichi led Naruto away as the blonde turned back to all the men earlier and continued with his smirk. The jealousy he could feel exponentiated and he was loving it. He could even hear grumbles about newbie Shinigami stealing all the women and felt even more victorious. No greater feeling than being the alpha male to one's contemporaries. At least for Naruto at that moment.

(That Night)

"You know you don't have to carry me right? I could have walked," informed Yoruichi despite being nestled comfortably on Naruto's back piggyback style.

"Of course you can. I, however, am a gentleman taicho," replied Naruto back as he walked the two of them through the second division barracks. The division the two of them ran. "I wouldn't be comfortable with you stumbling home. You were drinking earlier and in good conscience, I couldn't allow you to go home alone. Who knows what is out here?"

"We do. It's our division. And I had one drink."

"All it takes."

"Of milk."

"Not just any milk taicho, warm milk. Which has been proven to make those who drink it sleepy," informed Naruto getting an eye roll. Yoruichi's eye roll preceded a yawn that she frowned at when Naruto smirked. "My point exactly. Thus, this is justified."

"Mhmm. You're only doing this because you want some after mission nookie, huh?" questioned Yoruichi getting Naruto to gasp and stop before turning his head to her. Yoruichi didn't care one bit about his 'shocked' reaction to her words. "Say you don't."

"I'd say I'm offended," said Naruto restarting his walk as he spoke. "Try to do a nice thing for my captain and apparently I have to have a hidden agenda. Pfft. I'm above such things Yoruichi-chan."

"Mhmm." hummed Yoruichi bringing her mouth close to Naruto's ear and whispering softly. "I was hoping you'd say yes. Because I was really hoping to..." Naruto's violet eyes widened at that as he turned his head to Yoruichi so fast it looked like his neck snapped. He frowned though as he could see a Cheshire grin forming on his captain's face. "I knew it."

"Hmmph..." grumbled Naruto at being had. But what male wouldn't in that scenario. Shihoin Yoruichi was a damn goddess, literally and figuratively. "I shouldn't be penalized for being a man."

"Too bad. You are. And you will." said Yoruichi with a smile as she placed her cheek next to Naruto's giddy at getting him. "What's our score. Yoruichi 192, Naruto 190?"

"191. Don't tell me you already forgot about during the mission."

"Wait, you mean..." started Yoruichi picking her head up to remember. Figuring out what he meant, Yoruichi looked down to see Naruto smirking. "You can't seriously be counting that."

"Oh, I am."

"I shouldn't be penalized for being a woman."

"Too bad. You are. And you will. 192, 191 Pretty Lady. And I'll be getting my point back soon," said Naruto getting a frown out of Yoruichi before she smiled. Naruto smiled too before stopping abruptly. "Right then, we're here."

"No, we're not. We aren't even close," said Yoruichi knowing where they were. They still had another five, ten at Naruto's slowed pace, minutes till they reached her home. That was until Naruto flash stepped several times and they were promptly in her bedroom. "Hmm, your shunpo is getting faster."

"It's always been faster Taicho. I just like to let you think I'm that much slower than you," said Naruto looking at his captain expectantly. Seeing her confused stare back, Naruto motioned with his head down. "We're here. You can get down anytime."

"Oh..." noticed Yoruichi as she did just that. She'd been enjoying that. He had been too she thought so why'd he hurry- "Oh you aren't slick..."

"Yes, I am. Goodnight taicho," said Naruto with a knowing smirk. Turning, Naruto walked himself clean out of Yoruichi's room. He didn't get far before a delicate hand grabbed him. "192-192."

"Yeah Yeah...get in here."

Naruto just smiled as he was whisked back into the room with the pretty woman as the door slammed shut.

(Even later that night)

Laid in the bed of his captain, Naruto slept blissfully underneath the covers. That was until an alarm sounded out that woke him. Violet eyes slowly opened and when he looked around, Naruto found himself to be alone. A sinking feeling fell upon him as he got up slowly from the bed. An earlier conversation played through his head as he wondered where his bed mate had disappeared to.

Soutaicho asked you to join the Royal Guard?

Mhmm, that's what the meeting was about.

Naruto got dressed in a pair of pants and a shirt as he stepped outside with his sword to find out what the alarm was for. He could see numerous Shinigami sprinting to their formations as Naruto vanished in a shunpo to his post. Only thing was, Yoruichi wasn't at hers. Which caused that sinking feeling to deepen further.

That's such a big promotion. You think you'll leave?

I haven't given it much thought really. Do you want me to?

Violet eyes looking aimlessly into the distance, Naruto stood quietly as the cool wind breezed past him. Having arrived ahead of him, Soifon turned to see her lieutenant looking at apparently nothing.

"Fukataicho, where's Yoruichi-sama?" questioned Soifon getting Naruto to look at her.

No, I don't want you to. I'd probably never see you again.

Aww, you like me a little bit huh?

"I don't know...but I can probably find out," said Naruto releasing his Shikai. Soifon's hair blew back at that release but she didn't falter otherwise. She'd grown accustomed to the absurd amount of power that Naruto possessed. "While I search, what have you heard Soifon-chan?"

"That Yoruichi-sama broke Urahara-taicho out of confinement...but...but that can't be. Right?" questioned Soifon hopeful as Naruto closed his eyes to focus.

I...do. I like you a lot. And I don't want you to go.

You...do? And you're admitting it? Well, I guess that settles it then.

Naruto expanded his greatly enhanced senses in his Shikai as he found Yoruichi immediately. And based on what Soifon just said, that rumor seemed true as Urahara was indeed with her. Roughly a dozen others were too but only Yoruichi mattered to Naruto at the moment.

"I found her. She's quite a distance away though. Even Shunpo would take quite some time from where we are."

"Shouldn't we still go get her? I don't think she'd ever do these things but if she's not here..." said Soifon lowly before shaking her head. "I don't want to think about it."

"I don't either," agreed Naruto looking in the direction he could feel Yoruichi in. "I'd rather know."

Wait, you're not going to go? Naruto-kun I don't want me to be-

Why not? You're worth it Yoruichi-chan

"Tenpenchii," said Naruto releasing his Bankai as Soifon quickly put up a guard. She'd have been blown away by the potent release like the numerous 2nd division shinigami around her if she hadn't braced for it. A black void opened in front of Naruto that he stepped cleanly into before vanishing. "Yomotsu Hirasaka (Underworld Slope Hill)"

Stepping out the back of his void placed Naruto ten feet from Yoruichi. She was dressed in an orange shirt and black pants with a beige neck warmer slid up to hide the lower half of her face. She stood before a portal and turned to notice Naruto looking dead at her. Her golden eyes widened at his seemingly instant arrival there but she should have known. Especially with what that'd just finished saying to one another.

I'm worth it?

More than anyone has been in 2,000 plus years. I won't leave you.

Naruto watched Yoruichi for several long seconds before she suddenly appeared before him in a shunpo. She pulled down her neck warmer, stood on her tippy toes, and planted a sweet and loving kiss on the man's lips. She held the kiss for an eternity before ending it and backing away. Yoruichi shook her head no before disappearing through the portal herself. Her presence gone entirely once the portal destabilized and vanished.

Naruto simply stood by himself as he eventually quelled his Bankai. Numerous Shinigami arrived at the scene moments later as Naruto simply turned and walked away. Some wanted to get his attention but could feel now wasn't the time.

Promise?

I promise.

(101 years later - 2001 A.D.)

"That feeling...it's back again. The emptiness." thought Naruto with dim, violet eyes as he looked out the window of the home he stood in. "A century even and yet I still feel this way..."

His life span as a soul made one hundred years feel like a year in retrospect. Which was probably why he felt such a way. All of his years searching for a reason to exist and the moment he did, it was all taken away from him in one swift night. The Hollowification Incident they'd dubbed it.

Urahara Kisuke, Tsukabishi Tessai, the Visored, and Shihōin Yoruichi. The first two being responsible for the Hollowification of the third party and the fourth helping all of them escape before their punishments could be given. For some reason, Naruto was left out and didn't find out what'd happened until it was basically too late. The lack of reasoning, proper goodbye, or anything left him feeling hollow, no pun intended, once it really sunk in.

Naruto's growing apathy was palpable from that day forward as nothing seemed to brighten his eyes again. But he had a duty. As the lieutenant of the 2nd division, Naruto was its substitute captain until a replacement could be found. Yamamoto gave him the nod to become its actual captain because the man surely needed to restock his units. The incident taking a many of his officers in the process.

Naruto knew he was powerful enough and had plenty of influence to lead the division in the aftermath. Everyone knew he'd been selected to join the Royal Guard, which he declined eventually, but it was still prestigious enough to give him ample credence to a captain's position.

Even still, he didn't have the heart to do so. Which was why he declined that promotion too and when Soifon was deemed worthy enough to lead, Naruto merely left. Not even when no one was watching. He literally just walked out the front gate.

He heard whispers of his needing to be in the Maggots Nest for abandoning his post so soon when he told the Gotei 13 of his decision. Naruto scoffed at such an idea. Like he was ever going to stay in a detention center and Yamamoto knew it. Which was why the captain commander simply allowed the former ninja to leave.

Naruto didn't wander far before finding out what he wanted to do for the rest of his second life. That thing being nothing. Naruto was going to do nothing. Simply waste away his afterlife now that he felt there was no reason to keep existing if those reasons for existing decided to leave him when he found them.

According to Naruto, there was no better way to waste away one's life than to be inebriated at all times! Yes, lucidity was an escape that Naruto was more than welcoming to these days. And there was no better drinking partner, that he knew, than-

"Hmm, you're up early" came the voice of the person he was thinking of.

Shiba Kukaku, a rather beautiful woman with green eyes and long, messy black hair covered in bandages. She was wearing a white skirt and a provocative red robe that exposed her ample bosom. Most noticeable though was her missing right arm as she walked in with bags in her only hand.

"I'm more than willing to help you know. Even if I was still asleep." said Naruto walking over to the woman to alleviate the bags from her. Seems she went grocery shopping as Naruto set the bags on the counter. "I'd have woken up."

"Right, I'm not that helpless but thank you," said Kukaku watching Naruto to make sure he was putting the groceries in the correct place. She then wanted to know why her houseguest/roommate was awake "So, what's got you up so early?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"It's...a little after noon there Whiskers." said Kukaku after checking the time. She ignored Naruto's deadpan stare at the nickname as she continued. "You usually only wake up when the sun goes down and then fall asleep before it rises. So, what has the foxy vampire up?"

Naruto continued staring at Kukaku as the girl didn't seem to mind one bit. Stare all he wanted, she was going to keep calling him Whiskers or something pertaining to a fox. He had honest whiskers for the Soul King's sake.

Whiskers that Kukaku found extremely adorable. She just wanted to touch them at least once. Sadly, Naruto never allowed her to. Even when he was in an alcohol-induced coma he'd stave off all her advances. It was infuriating but she'd get him some day. Oh, yes, she would.

"...They're not whiskers. They're scars. And to answer your question, I haven't been able to sleep since yesterday." said Naruto returning to putting the groceries up from his stare that didn't bother Kukaku anyway. "This feeling has been bugging me since yesterday and I don't know what it is." continued Naruto setting aside an apple as he finished up. Grabbing a knife and the apple, Naruto turned to see attentive green eyes from the beautiful woman. "Feels like something big is about to happen. But I don't know if it's a good big or a bad big. That's what's agitating about it."

Kukaku watched Naruto walk out of the kitchen as he began to slice off a piece of the apple and eat it. Kukaku nodded at what he said before deciding to offer her own words. That was until she saw something out of the corner of her eye that froze her. Especially considering Naruto looked dead at the thing she spotted. A simple black cat that was escorted into the home.

The cat froze spotting Naruto as it saw him looking intently at it. Kukaku eyed Naruto warily as she saw him walk over to the cat and squat down. The two men who apparently walked this random cat in were silenced by Kukaku before they could say anything.

"Hey, little buddy. Can you feel it too?" questioned Naruto looking at the golden-eyed feline. The eyes were weirdly familiar as the cat simply stared at him. Naruto looked at his apple before slicing off a piece. "Want a bite?"

The cat continued looking at Naruto before conceding and merely nibbling on the bit of apple. Naruto smiled thinking nature still bended to his will before scratching behind the cat's ear. Turning to Kukaku, Naruto saw the girl frozen stiff.

"You alright over there?"

"...Huh? Oh yeah, it's just...uhhh...I feel like making ramen tonight." said Kukaku getting Naruto's eyes to widen.

"Ramen!"

"Hmm, Yes, Ramen. But I didn't pick up any ingredients."

"No Ramen..."

"Nope, no Ramen. But, if you go and get the ingredients I'll make it for dinner tonight."

"Ramen!" shouted Naruto before then eyeing Kukaku suspiciously. She detested Ramen and went out of her way to make sure Naruto never ate it. So, why all of a sudden did she want to make Ramen? "...why?"

"Because I feel you deserve a treat. You've been doom and gloom and I want to cheer you up!" said Kukaku smoothly still getting a squinted eyed look from Naruto.

Naruto continued petting the cat beside him, mildly ignoring the pleased sounds coming from it, as he stared down Kukaku. Naruto looked at the woman's hung calendar for a brief moment, noting the date was the 2nd of August, and realized it was nowhere near his birthday. Or any special occasion for that matter. Was she trying to get rid of him?

Too bad for Naruto, he'd have stuck around to find out if Ramen wasn't such a powerful distraction. Which it was, for him at least, as Naruto sprung to his feet and promptly vanished off to the store to get the ingredients for his favorite food. Kukaku let out a breath when she saw him leave before turning to the cat Naruto had been petting.

"Shihōin Yoruichi, it's been a long time," said Kukaku before looking past the cat to see a group of kids all laid out. "Who's the kids you brought that Naruto just trampled over?"

"Hi, Kukaku. I need a favor." spoke the cat getting a smile to appear on Kukaku's face.

"Of course you do. Is it complicated?" questioned Kukaku getting the transformed Yoruichi to nod. Kukaku's smile widened as she nodded her head. "Good, I don't get out of bed for less than. Tell me about it. And also why you didn't reveal yourself to him."

Yoruichi let out a sigh before getting down to business.

(Later that night)

Faces sat, varying from disgust to interest, as they watched Naruto practically inhale a large cake mixing bowl full of ramen. The blonde tilted the enormous bowl up before loudly gulping down the soupy broth that remained.

"Has he even taken a breath?" asked a boy with dark hair and glasses.

"I don't think so. That's his fourth bowl too." spoke a dark-skinned boy with shaggy brown hair.

"That has to be some kind of record." commented a rather pretty girl with orange hair and a simply delightful demeanor.

Naruto sat the finished bowl down before licking his lips. Smacking said lips several times audibly, Naruto nodded his head before looking at the three people who spoke. All three being humans that he'd been acquainted with upon his return.

"Ishida Uryuu, Sado Yasutora, and Inoue Orihime." thought Naruto looking at each teen before looking to a corner to see an orange haired boy kind of brooding in it. "And Kurosaki Ichigo. And they're all here to go and save their friend, Kuchiki Rukia. Such a gallant tale that'll be if they don't die." continued Naruto in his head before nodding. "My answer is no."

"No?"

"Yes, no. I won't be helping you," said Naruto getting Ichigo to raise an eyebrow.

"We didn't ask you to help us. Kukaku was the one that told you why we were here. We don't even know you."

"Orihime was about to. But you're right, you didn't ask and plus, you all wouldn't need me anyway," said Naruto getting them to all look at each other confusedly. They really hadn't asked for his help, even though Orihime really was about to, and didn't care who he was since he hadn't done anything for them. He was rather rude with how he spoke though. "If you need me, don't come to find me. Because I don't want to help."

"...We still didn't ask you," commented Ichigo as Naruto gave him a pointed look.

"Yeah, remember that you didn't kid."

And with that, Naruto stood before grabbing a bottle of sake and exiting the room. The four humans all rose an eyebrow at Naruto's randomness before turning to Kukaku. The woman simply shook her head at his actions.

"Sorry, he's normally better than that. Or well, was," informed Kukaku getting really only interest from Orihime at that.

"What happened? He seems so bitter to be so young."

"Oh, he's not young. He's actually well over 2,000 years old. And when I first met him, he was much more tolerable. He had a reason to exist." said Kukaku looking in the direction Naruto walked off to. "About one hundred years ago, that reason left him and he hasn't been the same. It's a shame really, you'd have really enjoyed his help. He'd have been about the best help you could ever have."

"Still didn't ask for it. And I probably won't." commented Ichigo getting Kukaku to roll her eyes.

"Trust me brat, that guy could probably save your friend by himself."

"Him? He's a drunk that's been bitter for 100 years. What can he do?" questioned Uryuu readjusting his glasses. "I can't even sense any reiatsu coming from him."

"Yeah, that's because he's...you know what, it doesn't matter." started Kukaku before standing and looking at all of them. "Show me you all can turn your Reiryoku into cannonballs. I want no accidents tomorrow."

The humans all nodded and followed the one-armed woman to show her they could. Ichigo having a tougher time than his friends. Having watched the entirety of the scene, Yoruichi in her cat form made her way to follow Naruto the moment the kids all headed outside. She eventually found him in his room laying down in bed.

Yoruichi was silent as she could be but Naruto turned his eyes to her the moment she walked in. Yoruichi stopped but continued when she saw Naruto gesture to his bed. Hopping up, Yoruichi curled up next to the shirtless Naruto as he petted her gently.

"You think I should help those out of their league kids?" questioned Naruto looking to the cat who merely looked back. Naruto nodded his head before laying back down. "Yeah, they'll be alright without me. If not, who cares anyway? I sure as hell don't anymore."

"Oh, Naruto-kun..." thought Yoruichi watching Naruto slowly nod off. She transformed back into her human form as she curled up next to him. "I care. And apparently, I cared even when I first met you..."

The world seemed to distort for Yoruichi as she found herself still laying next to Naruto but in an entirely different scene. She was looking up at him the same way and he was sleeping just as soundly. The only thing was, Yoruichi now had fair skin and blonde hair tied into a ponytail.

"I am the reincarnation of your first love..." thought Yoruichi as the world distorted once more and returned to how it originally was. "I'm going to tell you what happened, I promise. Just give me some more time to figure out how to say it.."

And that's a chapter. Hope you enjoyed. I'll back eventually. Ciao

-Hamp