Part 1 – Spare Time

Soi Fong walked lazily around the outskirts of Karakura town, wondering what she should do. She had been sent with a couple of other shinigami to destroy a hollow that and been causing some problems in the real world, but as a captain it had taken her but a few minutes before the hollow was disappearing into the air.

This gave her an extra 45 minutes before she was due back in the soul society. The rest of the group had gone to search for other hollows or souls they could send to the soul society, but Soi wasn't in the mood for more work. She hadn't seen Yoruichi in over 3 weeks and she was debating whether or not go and visit her. The only problem was that she knew that bastard Kisuke would be there; she really didn't want to have to put up with him today.

Looking over the river that ran through the town she felt a small presence to her left. Noting that it wasn't harmful she turned her head slightly so she could see who was there. The soul was of a child - about 13 years in age by the looks of it. A teenage boy.

Normally she would ignore it or send it on to the soul society, but he was looking at her with a strange expression. It was odd; he looked playful, kind of cheeky and excited while wondering about something at the same time. She was automatically drawn to the boy. Silently, Soi took a cautious step towards the boy, all the while looking him straight in the eyes, daring him to do anything. But he just stood there quietly, letting her look at him. A few minutes past when the soul suddenly sighed dramatically, making Soi jump slightly.

"Jeez! Are you actually gonna say something?" Soi raised an eyebrow at the question directed at her.

She frowned. "Why? Do you want me to?"

"Well, you're the first person I've met who can see me so… yeah. Kinda." He grinned then, a playful glint in his eyes. They were tinted gold, staring directly at her. Soi's breath hitched slightly for some unknown reason before she realised she was staring at the boy. She looked away.

"Well, boy, it's my duty to send you to the soul society. Get ready." She drew her zanpakutou and held it aloft. She was just about to bring it down when the boy jumped out of her reach.

"Awwwwww, spoil-sport! Come on shorty, have some fun first." He rubbed the back of his head and winked at the captain.

Soi sighed, this boy was so familiar that it made her nervous to get too close. Wanting to get rid of this troublesome feeling she leapt over to the unsuspecting soul and grabbed his arm to stop him from running again.

His eyes widened. "Whoa. You're fast." He grinned with a cat like expression on his face. "And you're touching me."

Soi felt a blush appear on her cheeks at the way he said that. It sounded suggestive, cheeky, and a little husky. "Shut it." She quickly brought the zanpakutou down onto his head.

"Hah. You got me then." He looked at his rapidly disappearing features. "Hey, I'll see you 'round?"

"Probably not." He laughed at Soi's sharp remark before he completely disappeared.

Soi was lost for words. What should normally have taken her a couple of seconds had taken her - she looked at the sky briefly to judge the time - about 15 minutes. Annoyed, she grumbled to herself and sheathed her sword. She now only had half an hour. Damn boy! She thought, as she began to walk to the one place she wanted to go.

It took 5 minutes to walk from the river to the little shop where Yoruichi stayed. She wanted to see Yoruichi, but deciding that there was no point, she settled for sitting atop the wall that rimmed the small area. She could see shadows moving around inside the shop, but only one caught her attention. Shifting her position slightly, Soi leaned to the right, getting a better view of the faint shadow. It was the only one sat down in the shop, leaning against what looked like a box. Soi wasn't in her gigai, so the heat of summer was a lot to take in her soul reaper uniform and captains cloak. Obviously Yoruichi felt the same; she saw the figure stretch and peel of what Soi assumed was a jumper before leaving the room.

Soi tried to lean further to see where she had gone, but only succeeded in almost falling of the wall. Sighing, she jumped off the ledge and walked over to the little shop, leaning against one of the more solid walls.

She was just getting comfy when she heard a voice just to her right. Talking a step closer she leaned her head against the brickwork and listened to the sound.

"…times like these when I think of you and I wonder if you ever think of me." Soi gawped. She was singing! Yoruichi was actually singing! She pressed closer and tried to take in the next part of the song. "… Everything's so wrong, and I don't belong, livin' in your precious memories… sigh" Yoruichi had stopped singing and was silent for a while. Not trusting herself to move, Soi stood stock still, concentrating on the slightest of sounds coming from the room. She heard movement, a buzzing, and then a window next to her open a crack.

Covering her mouth, Soi tried to flatten herself against the wall, fearing that Yoruichi would look out and see her there. The buzzing was getting closer. Then she saw what was making the noise. A small bee flew out of the window, circling a few times, and then landing on the window sill. Yoruichi sighed again, this time with much more sorrow in the sound. Soi remembered Yoruichi doing this back before she was her bodyguard - sitting by herself and sighing in her depression. Soi was immediately worried about her former captain. Frowning she dared to turn slightly so she could she Yoruichi without being obviously noticed. The tanned woman was as beautiful as ever, wearing a black tank top and tight jeans. She was looking at the bee, leaning on her hands and lazily following its movements. Slowly, Yoruichi reached a hand out of the window and edged it closer to the bee, getting as close as she could without touching it or scaring it off. It flew out of her reach, cautiously flying around the outstretched hand. Yoruichi frowned lightly.

"Humph. Just like my little bee," Soi took a sharp intake of breath; she's talking about me… "She never lets me get too close either. Always so close, but never quite…close enough."

Soi was breathing fast, too fast. She needed to slow it down or else Yoruichi would hear her. But she was so confused. What is she talking about? Never close enough? How close does she want me to be? Does she want me to be here? In the real world? Or is it something else?

Yoruichi groaned quietly, and put a hand to her head. Hot. Damn, she thought, I feel like crap. She felt drowsy, confused and generally hot. Soi was knocked out of her trance when she heard the woman panting. She looked over at her and saw her leaning on the window heavily, far too heavily. Yoruichi's cheeks were flushed deep red, and there was a sheen to her skin that looked like sweat.

"nngg…Soi…bee…" She was struggling to keep her eyes open. Her vision was unfocused and moving in an odd pattern. "Not now… this can't…happen again…ngg." Soi realised what was happening just before the tanned woman collapsed. "YORUICHI-SAMA!" She leapt to the window, reaching in and grabbing her so she didn't hit her head when she fell. Leaning in further, Soi hooked her arm around Yoruichi's back and slowly let her fall to the floor.

Just as she was clambering in through the window, Kisuke burst through the door, stopping in his tracks as he saw the scene in front of him. Soi desperately pushing herself through the window and dropping to the floor, and Yoruichi sprawled out by the window, sweating and panting. "What the…"

"SHUT UP AND HELP ME YOU IMBICILE!" Soi had lifted Yoruichi slightly from the floor and was dragging her over to the futon, laying her down in a better position. Kisuke sprang into action. Running to Soi's side he helped to reposition her, moving the hair from her face and feeling her forehead. "Shit! She's burning up big style!"

"Go get a damp towel!" Soi was getting flustered, not sure what to do. She waited as Kisuke ran out the door. How had it come on so fast? She was fine a minute ago? She was SINGING for god's sake! Soi put her own hand to Yoruichi's head, the intense heat of the burning skin making her pull her hand back - this was no normal fever.

"Got it!" Kisuke ran to Yoruichi and placed a damp, cool towel over her forehead. Ururu came in after him with a small bowl of cold water, the liquid sploshing over the sides as she hurried to get to Kisuke's side. Only a few minutes had passed when Yoruichi stirred slightly.

"Urrgg…"

"Yoruichi-sama!" Soi leaned over her, her face full of panic and fear.

Yoruichi groaned, lifting her arms and pulling at her clothes. "get them… off…"

Soi grabbed her hand, confused. "What, no Yoruichi –" But she was cut off by Yoruichi's moan.

"Cat… I need…" What? Soi thought, Oh! Shit! She wants to transform!

"KISUKE! GET OUT!"

"What? Why?"

"JUST GET OUT!" Soi yelled. Before he was even out of the room Yoruichi had started desperately pulling at her clothes again. Soi looked down and blushed furiously. Swallowing her fear she leant over Yoruichi and used a trembling hand to grab the hem of her tank top. Lifting the woman up she yanked it over her head, throwing it to the other side of the room.

"Hurry…" Yoruichi's voice was hushed, but there was an edge to it that Soi had never heard before. She's scared.

Soi swiftly undid the button on Yoruichi's jeans, leaving them for her to pull off while Soi nervously reached up to her chest. Crawling around her she used both hands to undo the clasp that was keeping her bra on, letting it fall to the floor. Within seconds she saw Yoruichi twist on the futon, trying to take off her pants. Groaning, she gave up, leaving them on while she disappeared into a puff of smoke. Soi fell backwards, throwing her hands behind her to break the fall. As the smoke cleared she focused her eyes on the small black cat lying on the futon, twitching slightly. "Y-Yoruichi-sama?" Soi asked cautiously, hoping she was ok. The cat stopped moving, looking Soi in the eyes, trying to hide its discomfort. Yoruichi twitched once more, letting out a soft wail (which was strange as it was rare to see Yoruichi admit to pain or discomfort), then sighed.

"I'm fine, relax Soi Fong." She looked around at the heap of clothes scattered around the room, stopping at the half ripped pair of pants that she was almost sat on. "Hmmph, I made a bit of a mess. Soi, can you get me something to wear, I'm changing back."

"Ummm, sure?" Soi stared at Yoruichi, not moving her gaze even as she stood up and walked to the drawer, pulling out a red nightshirt and shorts. When she turned around Yoruichi was human again, sitting cross legged on the futon and yanking what was left of her pants from under her. Soi quickly looked at the floor, forcing herself to stay in control as she felt the familiar feeling of heat creeping up to her face. She tossed the clothes to Yoruichi, who caught them gratefully, shifting so she could pull them on without having to stand.

"Ahhh, that's better! YO KISUKE! YOU CAN COME IN NOW!"

Kisuke burst through then door, scowling at Yoruichi and giving Soi a confused look. "What the –". He looked at Yoruichi flopped on the bed, and back to Soi. "How is she suddenly ok now?"

Soi threw her hands in the air. "Ask her! I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on!" They both looked to Yoruichi, who was playing with a dangling thread on the night shirt. Kisuke coughed, catching her attention.

"Huh, oh! Well, transforming into a cat burns off the fever." She grinned. "I'm fine now."

Soi and Kisuke just stood there, looking at the woman is if she where an alien.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Soi shouted. "You just collapsed!"

"And I wouldn't have known if Soi hadn't yelled." Kisuke said. Yoruichi stopped moving. "What's wrong?"

"You were there?" Yoruichi looked at Soi.

Shit, now she's going to know I was spying on her. "Umm, yeah, I saw you collapse."

"When…?"

"Wha -?"

"When did you get there?" Yoruichi had a hard look in her eyes, defensive.

"Umm, I saw… the bee." She looked at the floor, not wanting to see how angry Yoruichi was.

"Urahara," Yoruichi said, not bothering to look at the confused man. "I'd like you to leave." When he didn't move she shot him a look of death. "Now." Kisuke didn't hesitate again, leaving without another word.

Once the door was shut behind him Yoruichi looked back to Soi. The two simply stared at each other for a number of seconds before Yoruichi stood up and walked over to her.

"What did you hear?" Her voice was quiet, but its tone betrayed the angry thoughts behind it. Soi stayed quiet, not trusting herself to look at Yoruichi, instead settling her eyes on a place just over her shoulder. Yoruichi took a step closer, leaving only inches between them. "Soi. Tell me what you heard, exactly."

"I- I didn't hear anything." Soi tried to step away but found it impossible to move.

"Soi Fong!" Yoruichi grabbed Soi's face, forcing her to look directly into her eyes. "DON'T lie to me!" Her teeth were gritted, making the words sound cold, cruel even. Soi whimpered, she was scared and confused by Yoruichi's actions, but her touch was making the young girl go crazy. Yoruichi was so close to her, so close she could feel the heat radiating from her dark skin.

"I-I'm sorry… I heard… most… of it."

"Go on." She released the pressure on Soi face, letting her gaze wander as she tried to force words from her mouth.

"You were singing… and then… the bee. You talked to the bee. You said about it being l-like m-me."

"And then?"

"Y-you started mumbling things." Soi thought. What had she said? My name, I think she said my name. And something else… `not now`? or something. Oh! She said `can't happen again`. "You said my name… and then something like `not now`, and `can't happen again`?" Yoruichi was silent, looking at Soi but not really seeing her. Her mind was somewhere else.

"Umm, Yoruichi-sama? What did you mean? Where you talking about the fever? Has this happened before?" Yoruichi froze.

"No."

"But then wh-"

"NO!" Yoruichi grabbed Soi's arms and pushed her against the drawer behind her. Soi flinched when she felt the draw handles dig into her back. Yoruichi was standing even closer than before, her breath was ragged and heavy – she was angry, really angry. "If I say `no`, then I mean `no`. You don't question it. Now you need to keep your mouth shut about what you heard today. If you don't then you'll regret it, you hear me?" Soi nodded once, tears forming in her eyes. "Good. Now get out. You're not supposed to be here." Yoruichi let her go, walking over to the futon and sitting on it, her back facing Soi.

Soi didn't hesitate as she threw open the door and flash stepped out of the shop, ignoring Kisuke's attempt to stop her.