The lift
Part 1
"You're one hard person to track down." Yoruichi grinned as she saw the smaller woman visibly jump, clearly not expecting anyone to be around at this hour.
"Who are y-" Soifon stared in disbelief after she turned around to see Yoruichi standing there with a smug toothy grin plastered across her face. "How the bloody hell did you get here?" A million other questions passed through Soi's mind as soon as she had finished asking that one. "Scratch that, why are you even – Never mind I don't care, what I do care about is that you leave at once." Soifon whirled back around and stormed off down the barely lit, deserted office corridor. She tightened her grip on her briefcase as she heard footsteps following her. "I thought I told you to leave."
"I am." Yoruichi responded simply, making sure to remain a few steps behind the shorter woman. "And to answer your other questions I came through the door and I'm here to see you."
"I do not want to see you." Soifon was going to throw a few extra insults onto her statement but sighed in relief when she turned right and saw the lift that would save her from having to be around the woman any longer. Her relief soon vanished when she noticed the woman was still behind her as she waited for the lift to reach the right floor after pressing the button, a little harder than needed. Thankfully the doors opened before she turned around to snap at Yoruichi again, annoyed at how a part of her was happy to see the taller woman again. She quickly hurried into the lift and pushed the ground floor button, sighing with relief when doors started to close.
Just before the doors closed shut however, Yoruichi managed to slip through them just at the right moment so Soifon couldn't tell her to get out. Soifon scowled at Yoruichi who returned the look with an innocent smile, "You told me to leave and this is the way out so -"
"You could have taken the other one." Soifon cut her off impatiently.
"Ah but that would have taken longer for me to leave." Yoruichi grinned back. Soifon decided against saying anything, realising that the woman wanted to get a reaction out of her so she settled on glaring at the indicator above the doors that showed them which floor they were currently passing, silently cursing her office building for having so many levels.
"Soo...how've you been?" Yoruichi asked, wondering if all skyscraper type buildings played the same music in elevators to purposely piss off the passengers and was very pleased she didn't have to be stuck behind a desk with that music ready to greet her every day.
"Why do you want to see me?" Soifon asked after silently counting to 10 and only managed to reach 5.
"There is a misunderstanding between us; I would like to correct it." Yoruichi stated truthfully, deciding to not play too many games with Soi in case it just it pissed the shorter woman off even more.
"A misunderstanding." Soifon clenched her jaw as she repeated the word. Yoruichi gulped knowing she should have found a better way to word it. Before she could correct her mistake, the floor beneath them lurched to a stop with a shudder. Both women stumbled slightly from the jerk but managed to keep their balance as the lights flicked dangerously before turning back on. The main difference however was that they felt the lift no longer moving and a quick glance at the indicator showed them that the lift had stopped between floors 31 and 30.
Soifon pressed the ground floor button while Yoruichi watched in silence, it proved useless however as they remained stationary. Sighing in defeat Soifon pressed the emergency button and then continued to press the ground floor button when nothing visible happened.
"I don't think that's going to work." Yoruichi stated, bracing herself for whatever snappy remark Soifon would come up only to find herself being ignored by the short chinese woman this time round.
"I can't believe this." Soifon muttered under her breath, giving up her attack on the panel of buttons – Yoruichi in turn held her breath hoping that she didn't become the next target. There wasn't really a great list of hiding places unless she pressed herself into the corner behind said woman and prayed that she just didn't turn around. "Well this is just great...just fantastic." Soifon sighed, running her hand through her hair out of exasperation.
"Well I'm glad you think so." Yoruichi replied
"Shut up!" Soifon snapped impatiently whilst glaring at her with a look that could kill. Yoruichi smiled nervously back unsure of how to continue without having Soifon snap and resort to physical violence – there wasn't a lot of room and she didn't want to accidently hurt Soifon.
The music playing in the elevator was grating on Yoruichi's nerves, she had been sat silently for a long time with that dam tune playing on repeat while any glance in Soifon's direction told her the girl was fuming, no doubt finding a way to blame Yoruichi for the lift breaking down.
The music finished.
Yoruichi sighed in relief.
The music started to drone back up into life.
"That's it!" Yoruichi leapt to her feat, startling Soifon greatly as she ripped the panel underneath the buttons off to reveal a bunch of multicoloured wires. Yoruichi grabbed the bunch and pulled at them in hopes that one would be connected to the music, tearing the clump of wires out. Sparks shot out like fireworks. Soifon jumped to her feet with a yelp, moving away from the sudden sparks. Yoruichi however glared at the snapped wires poking out of the panel – the music was still playing.
"What the hell Yoruichi!" Soifon wacked the older woman on her shoulder.
"I couldn't take that dam music any longer!" Yoruichi yelled back, more at the sound speakers the music continued to pour out of than at Soi.
"Well clearly that didn't work – you probably just made our situation worse!"
"It was worth the shot if it meant shutting off that song!" Yoruichi told her as she sat back down where she had been.
"God, just stay there and don't touch anything else!" Soifon scolded as she sat back down. She saw Yoruichi about to speak and cut her off instantly, "And be quiet."
"Huh...101" Yoruichi mused out loud "what an odd number," she concluded after finally counting the rounded diamonds engraved into the ceiling tiles as decoration.
"You just can't stay quite can you?" Soifon snapped from the corner she had compacted herself into neatly.
"I'm sorry but there's not much to do around here but talk."
"Well I don't want to talk to you." Soifon stated
"Who else are you going to talk to? The walls?" Yoruichi turned to look at the wall she was leaning against, "Why hello there, I'm Yoruichi...hmm what was that? Yes I would have to agree, she is acting like a child!" Yoruichi glared back at Soifon after she had finished her mock conversation.
"I am not acting like a child!" Soifon shot back at her.
"Yes you are."
"I am not!"
"Says the woman who is sat pouting in the corner." Yoruichi pointed out, taking note of how Soifon was sat with her arms crossed with her head ducked down. Soifon refused to look at Yoruichi this time, preferring to glare daggers at the floor instead.
"This certainly is maturity at its best." Yoruichi muttered after a moment of silence between them where only the cheesy music could be heard playing.
"Oh you are one to talk!" Soifon growled. Yoruichi groaned, knowing where it was heading already. "You are hardly one to talk of maturity after taking advantage of me!"
"I did not take advantage of you!" She repeated for what felt like the thousandth time.
"I was drunk! You had no right to do-do that! My judgement was impaired!" Soifon stood up, furious at the way Yoruichi was trying to dismiss her behaviour.
"I was drunk too ok, I'm not trying to use that as an excuse but you came onto me just as strongly as I did you and you know full well you consented so don't even try accusing me of raping you!" Yoruichi sprang to her feet as well, not caring much for having Soifon towering over her while she was still sat on the floor.
"You used me as a one night stand!" Soifon countered, annoyed that the older woman did have a point or two over her in this argument.
"You didn't really give me a chance to prove otherwise. You attacked me and ran off while I still trying to wake up."
"You're telling me that you could have viewed us sitting happily having breakfast while reading the morning paper?" Soifon asked and smirked as Yoruichi struggled to find an answer before she threw up her hands in defeat.
"Alright so maybe it wouldn't have been all sunshine and daisies but I would like to think I could have at least got you leave without earning a black eye."
"So you would have just ditched me?" Soifon asked with a raised eyebrow, interested to see what the taller woman could come up with next to save her skin.
"Ugh! Stop twisting my words – I don't know what would have happened but I do know I enjoyed that night out because of you." Yoruichi finished, Soifon looking slightly startled by the truthful confession. "I know it's not the best way to start a relationship but I do mean it ok, I did enjoy that night with you." Yoruichi added in a calmer tone. Soifon remained silent, her emotionless mask falling into place as she started to think over what Yoruichi said. "Well?" Yoruichi asked, not hiding the hint of hopefulness in her voice.
"I need to think this over." Soifon finally told her and moved back to her corner of the lift. Yoruichi nodded as she too sat back down with a sigh as she noticed the music playing now that they were no longer shouting, I'm going to develop a nervous twitch anytime I hear this music after this.
After a few moments of not speaking to one another again Yoruichi broke the silence once more, wanting to know why Soifon was so mad at her when they had cleared up the 'little' misunderstanding.
"Why are you holding this against me so much? If you really didn't want it to happen you would have said no. We may have been drunk but we both knew what we were doing that night."
"It's not that." Soifon admitted with a sigh. Yoruichi looked at her, completed confused.
"What?"
"I am saying that really isn't what I'm angry about." Soifon explained without looking at Yoruichi once.
"That's what you've been accusing me of all this time so if it's not the problem, what is it?"
"I'd really prefer to not go into it." Soifon mumbled just loud enough for Yoruichi to hear her.
"No way, you're not backing out of this now, not after you tried saying I raped you." Yoruichi said with a teasing tone though determination flared in her eyes. Soifon gave a quick glance at the stubborn purple haired woman, knowing that she did have a point.
"T-Thawasmyfirstime." Soifon answered, faster than normal so as to jumble the words up on purpose as she felt her cheeks heat up from embarrassment. She glanced at Yoruichi who was watching her intently with a raised eyebrow. "Wanna try saying that again but slower this time?" the older woman asked.
"That night...it-it was my first time w-with someone." Soifon risked looking towards the older woman, half expecting to see her fighting back a laugh but instead saw understanding shinning back at her from Yoruichi's golden eyes. "I wanted it to be...I dunno...be special I guess." Soi mumbled sheepishly, knowing full well she was showing a side of herself she tried her best to keep hidden.
Yoruichi smiled warmly at this "I thought it was very special," and she couldn't help her smile growing wider when she saw Soifon's blush deepen as she too recalled their night together. "At least now I know why you hit me I guess," Yoruichi chuckled to herself, trying to lighten the mood a little as she recalled her wakeup call that morning. "You sure can pack a punch by the way. Have you done any training?"
"I have a black belt in Kung Fu and Judo." Soifon stated simply despite glowing with pride from her skill being complimented.
"That's awesome! – I have a black belt in Karate, Aikido and Judo. See, there's something we have in common." Yoruichi pointed out, reminding Soifon of her earlier proposal to try dating one another. Soifon just smiled back at her without saying anything and the music continued to play through the sound system.
"I'm sorry." Soifon broke the routine by speaking first this time round. Yoruichi blinked at her, confused as to why she was getting an apology. "I shouldn't have hit you, you didn't do anything wrong...I guess I freaked out, I'm not normally that impulsive."
"Ah don't worry about it; it was my idea to go back to my place anyway." Yoruichi shrugged the apology off with a dismissive wave. Soifon arched an eyebrow at hearing her say that.
"As I recall I'm the one who suggested we find someplace more private." Soifon countered when she caught the hidden undertone of pride in Yoruichi's voice.
"I know I made the first move." Yoruichi replied smugly, grinning when Soifon paused.
"I was the one who asked you for the dance in the first place." Soifon smirked triumphantly at having won the little debate and snickered as Yoruichi sat with her mouth opening and closing, unable to think of what to reply back with, knowing that Soifon had won. Finally she gave up.
"And I can't thank you enough for that." She admitted with a genuine smile spreading across her face. Soifon felt the light blush spread across her face as she melted into that smile. The comfortable silence that settled between them was ruined as they both noticed the music still playing through the speakers.
Yoruichi's left eye twitched. "What is taking them so long?" I didn't realise that fixing a broken lift would be such a big deal, I mean aren't they trained for this type of thing?" She spoke through a clenched jaw, doing her best to not lose her temper now that her chances with Soifon were beginning to improve.
"Well it is late; most people left hours ago. The place is on lock down for the night." Soifon pointed out, glancing at her watch to look at the time. They had been stuck in the lift for a good 30 minutes although she was beginning to like Yoruichi's presence more so than she had at first – it had taking a lot of will power to not beat the crap out of her and she was really glad she had managed to remain calm, she doubted Yoruichi would have admitted liking Soi and asked her for a date if she had been given a nose bleed.
"You're telling me there's no security guard or someone keeping an eye on things?" Yoruichi bit her lip anxiously, she had found no security when she broke into the place and she wasn't keen on the idea of spending the night stuck inside the tin can.
"There is someone but if he's doing his rounds then we're stuck waiting till he goes back to the control room." Soifon explained, making a mental note to hire an extra person for the night duty to avoid this from happening again.
"Great...It'll be our luck that he just left the room right before it stopped too." Yoruichi muttered, shifting to fully stretch out against the floor with her hands under her head to provide some comfort.
"What are you doing?" Soifon asked, raising an eyebrow at the other woman's behaviour.
"I'm getting comfy – we could be here a while." Yoruichi replied simply as she turned her head in Soifon's direction, noticing that she looked rather uncomfortable from having packed herself neatly into the corner and couldn't help but chuckle at her luck.