Characters: Kisuke, Yoruichi
Summary: His first impression of her up-close is different from what it is from far off.
Pairings: KisuYoru
Warnings/Spoilers: No spoilers
Timeline: pre-manga
Author's Note: I always wondered what their first meeting went like.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
"Hi."
Kisuke's first impression of the young Yoruichi up close is different than his first impression of her was from further off.
From afar, she is laden down in heavy silks and precious metals and jewels, walking slowly because her clothes and ornaments are so heavy that it's difficult to stay up right. Geta clatter against cobblestones and gold gleams off of a smooth silk veil of purple hair. Her gaze is distant and abstracted as befits the princess of a noble clan. She seems stiff and confined and imperious.
Up close, she's still imperious, but in a friendlier way, in a way closer to earth. Short tufts of purple hair stick out over her ears, not confined by gold or silver anymore. Gold eyes like cat's eyes gleam in interest, standing out starkly from smooth, dark skin. Yoruichi's clad today not in silk but in a thin white linen yukata. She's on her stomach on the low stone wall Kisuke's sitting with his back against, thin legs waving up in the air.
Kisuke smiles gently, and nods. "Hello, Yoruichi-sama."
She tilts her head, and frowns slightly at the honorific. "Could you not call me that?" Yoruichi asks pointedly. "Yoruichi-san will do."
He nods in acknowledgement. "Hello, Yoruichi-san, then." It's absolutely of no use to argue with her, he's well aware. Yoruichi could argue with a tree stump and win.
"You're one of the wards brought in, aren't you?" Her tone and gaze are both highly curious and she smiles, both sweet and mischievous, a flavor Kisuke will later know to be permanently affixed to Yoruichi's smiles.
"That's right."
"Well, it's nice to meet you." Usually, that's the part where someone talking will get up and leave, but to the contrary, Yoruichi stays where she is, bare legs still swinging up in the air.
Kisuke goes back to reading the book open on his lap, Yoruichi occasionally interjecting with some offhand, smiling comment. He isn't about to object to her presence. In fact, he wouldn't object even if he found it unpleasant.
Which he doesn't.
And honestly, he doesn't think he ever will find Yoruichi's presence unpleasant.
She's much more charming in person, though.