'I hate check-ups!'

Soi was obviously walking to the fourth division.

She had become a captain sixteen years previously.

Unohana made her nervous.

Still.

Soi saw that she acted nice…but she knew the woman could be cold.

Retsu was waiting for her when she got there.

Soi found that to be very odd.

"I wasn't sure you would show up. I was about to go find you." She smiled kindly at the young captain.

Soi felt out of place. The way she looked at her was odd.

Retsu stepped aside and motioned Soi inside.

God she hated check-ups.

She didn't know why she felt so weird around the healer.

Soi knew for a fact she had been coming to this woman for regular checks and physicals since she was a child. Maybe that was why it was odd.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Soi sat in a plain white room with a simple hospital robe on.

Retsu walked in with something in her hands.

Soi wasn't paying enough attention to care. She just wanted to get this over with.

"You need a shot." The woman said suddenly.

Soi snapped her head around. "What!?"

She hated shots with a passion.

Retsu looked up from what she was doing without raising her head. "You need a shot." She repeated.

Soi shook her head furiously. "No. I don't want one!"

"To bad. You need one."

She prepped the needle and walked up to the girl.

Soi made to bolt off the bed but Retsu snatched up the back of her robe and pulled her back.

She grabbed Soi's arm and easily pressed the needle into the skin.

"OUCH!!" Retsu hadn't done it exactly nice.

"I apologize if I hurt you." She threw the needle away.

Soi scoffed. "Yeah right."

Unohana gave her an amused look.

"That was all that was needed. You can get dressed and go about your business."

"You could have been a little gentle." Soi whispered.

Unohana walked back up to her with a small bandage.

She smiled as she took the girls arm and kissed the 'wound' before placing the bandage over it.

The woman chuckled when she saw Soi's face turn bright red. "Feel better?"

Soi hopped off the medical bed.

"You know lady you are some piece of…actually it does." She looked at her arm.

Retsu's smile widened.

Soi snarled and got her clothes.

She got dressed in silence. It was very awkward because the older woman was in the room the whole time.

"Mm…Soi Fong?" Retsu asked suddenly.

"What is it?" Soi was very upset about that shot.

"Would you mind joining me for some tea if you have nothing else to do? Or is that to far out of your way?"

"…..I don't mind." Why not try and be nice for once, right?

"Excellent. Follow me."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Are you having trouble adjusting to Yoruichi-san being gone?" Retsu asked as she poured two cups of fresh tea.

"I don't see how that's your business."

"Forgive my bluntness."

"Its no big deal." Soi watched the sky darken slowly.

"It seems that way." The older woman took her own cup.

"I'm sure it does." Soi took hers. She wouldn't admit that she loved sweets. So she took it the way it was.

It was bitter…but good none the less.

"You don't have to act so cold all the time Soi." Unohana said after a moment of silence had passed.

"Again I don't see how your concerned on that front."

"Please Soi…I see right through you."

"That's because there's nothing to see on the inside."

"There's plenty to see on the inside. You used to be such a nice girl."

"Times change…and so do people along the way."

"That is very true."

"That's why I said it."

Retsu chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Soi asked after she swallowed more hot tea. She wasn't a sipper.

"You can't fool me Soi. I've known you since you were a child."

"That's what makes this so weird!" Soi put her tea down and stood.

"Hmm?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" She must have caught on.

"You must really think I'm stupid."

"I don't."

"You think I don't see you always staring at me?"

"I could be looking at Yamamoto."

"Yeah. During a meeting I may believe that. But you do it even when we aren't."

"Maybe I'm worried about your health."

"My health is just fine. You've been saying so since I first started coming for check-ups and physicals."

Retsu placed her own tea down as well. "Mm-hmm. And what do you think that is then?"

"If I knew why would I ask?" Soi was getting seriously pissed off.

"True."

"So what is it?"

The healer looked up at her. "I'm not sure."

"What do you mean your not sure?"

"Exactly what I said. I'm not sure."

"So you stare at me for no reason? You clear your whole schedule for one check-up?"

"Only yours." The other captain stood as well.

"But why?" Soi was getting desperate for an answer. She felt out of place and odd.

She hated that.

"Hmm…let's just say I've taken a liking to you."

"UGH! Your not answering my question!"

Unohana tilted her head to the side. "What is it?"

"WHY!? I asked you why you never answered! Why are you interested in me?"

Retsu shrugged. "I just am. I don't need a reason."

"Yes you do. You know what? Just leave me alone!" Soi started to walk away.

"You used to tell me everything." Unohana called.

"That was when I was a child and didn't realize that secrets are meant to be kept." Soi answered.

"You still are."

Soi whipped around and walked back up to her. "What?"

"Your still a child."

"No…no I'm not."

"To me you are."

"That's just to you. I'm not a child. Children are out there." She pointed behind her.

"I'm a captain. Only smart well trained children become captains, and the second we do…we aren't children any more. You need to see that."

"Maybe your right."

"I know I am."

"Maybe that's the reason."

Soi heaved a sigh. "What?"

"That your not a child anymore. Maybe that's the reason I've taken interest."

"What is there to be interested in?"

"You've turned out to be a smart, brave, strong, beautiful woman Soi. Maybe that's it."

Soi just stood there. She was tired all of the sudden. "What do you want from me?"

"Just you." She walked forward.

Soi felt dizzy and light headed now. "What do you mean?"

"You didn't need a shot."

Soi's vision started to blur.

The young captain dropped.

"You'll be fine." Retsu's voice said in her ear just before she blanked out.