Disclaimer: I don't own it, haven't stolen it (technically), and probably will never give it up.

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"Well, hel-lo," he said.

"Always a pleasure, Isshin," she said as she stepped inside.

"Ichigo! There's a girl here for you!" He yelled as she took off her shoes and headed for the living room.

"You say that like it's commonplace," she said. "I wasn't under the impression that one got much play."

"He is my son, you know. We attract the females." There went that smile again. Just like it was when they last saw each other and he was conceding his defeat in Kiskue's favor. It really wasn't that much of a loss to him; after all, Masaki wasn't too far off at that point, but sheesh, the way he had carried on. . .

"You're the only woman I ever loved!"

"This week."

"Actually, today. There was a chick at the laundromat last night. . ."

"And one in the waiting room last week and another at the bus stop last month . . ."

"Okay so what, were you spying on me?"

"Hey man, you need to be watching for cats more often."

"I can never win with you." He pretended to pout.

"You never try to. Why don't you just give up and get back to the womanizing? No, wait, you never stopped anyway. So why the act?"

"You two are the only people here who know me. If you hook up, where does it leave me?"

"Same place you were in Soul Society. Free to bang anything in a skirt."

And then he had smiled that smile, which meant something like, "And loving every minute of it." He never hit on her again after that. Of course, Masaki was right around the corner. And although they had never been formally introduced, Yoruichi knew well enough that this one would stick. Still, when she was bored she would wonder what if.

When Ichigo stumbed down the stairs, bleary and cranky, she could not help herself. "You know boy, I could've been your mama."