A.N.: I'm back! This time, with a multi-chap YoruSoi that is basically a romantic comedy (not necesarily funny tough). I wanted to write it fully before posting it, but then I thought I was running the risk of not publishing it at all, so here you have it, the first chapter. Hope you enjoy and review!
Ah, yeah, I don't own Bleach.
Love in some steps
Chapter 1 - Sting, Suzumebachi
Life has always been hard for second division and onmitsukido shinigami, and it got even harder since Shihouin Yoruichi reassumed her position as head of the Tenshi Heisouban. The princess herself had nothing to do directly with it, but Soifon-taicho's men couldn't help but notice how much more strict (if that was even possible!) the tiny captain got in her presence. And not a few of them secretly wished she would one day run away again.
Soifon, though, didn't seem to notice the general (tired) disposition of her division, just like they didn't notice her generally happy humor those days. All they saw was the demanding impatience in her eyes, when, for her, life couldn't be getting any better. Her division was in the best shape it had ever been, she was improving faster in her own training, and, to top it all, Yoruichi-sama was back to the place she belonged to. So, when a certain buzzing started sounding in her ears at random times, she dismissed it at first without a second thought.
She was outside training her men in the cruel midday sun, when she suddenly noticed a presence aproaching fast from her left side. She barely had time to fall in a defensive stance when a kick was thrown aimed at her head; the few of her men who were actually able to see what happened later told the others how the captain dodged the first kick and blocked the second one before even comprehending what exactly was attacking her.
"Heh, very good, Soifon", said the teasing voice of none other than the Shihouin woman. "Good posture, and nice reflexes" she completed, looking the captain up and down and smiling.
"Yoruichi-sama!" Soifon almost squeaked, blushing slightly from the compliment and the focused stare with which her master was analising her.
"Tch, you were doing so well... but right now, I could have gotten over your defense in at least five different ways", Yoruichi said, getting serious. "Are you relaxing in my presence, Soifon? Does that mean we should spar more often?"
"Not at all, Yoruichi-sama! I mean, of course, I mean, we should train together, but...", she answered, quickly recomposing herself and trying to sound serious in front of her division.
"Come on, Soifon, I'm just joking. I have something important to talk to you about now, though, so why don't you give them a little time off?" the playful woman asked, falling into a relaxed position.
"Back to the barracks! You are dismissed!", the captain shouted, and the men vanished quickly from sight. "What do you want to talk to me about, Yoruichi-sama?"
"Why can't you just drop this formality already, Soifon-taicho?" - Soifon opened her mouth, but Yoruichi cut her - "Anyway, I came to ask you not to be so hard on your division as you have been lately. They might start to hate me for it."
"How could they ever hate you because of it??"
"Don't think I didn't notice you've been working harder to please me, Soifon. Its flattering and all, but there's only so much they can take..."
"Yoruichi-sama!" Soifon got a real blush this time, and it was getting worse since Yoruichi stopped talking and waited for her to continue "The training of the division has been going better than ever, and I'm really proud of their progress, and..."
"And I know you're not just trying to impress me, and I'm proud of you too, you know. But really, Soifon, you are getting close to their limit, and it's not good for them, or you."
"I understand Yoruichi-sama", Soifon said, bowing "I'll take this in consideration from now on."
"Hm. We'll see. Maybe we could spar sometime as well. See you later!" Yoruichi said before flash stepping away.
"See you, Yoruichi-sama" Soifon aswered quietly to no one. Now that she was alone, that irritating buzzing started all over again.
She started to walk back to her office, but stopped soon. She didn't see the point in avoiding it any further. She sat cross-legged under a tree, leant her head back into it and whispered, "All right, what is it that you want?"
"Oh, why not, what would you like to discuss with me, Suzumebachi-dono?"
"Please, if you have something to say, then say it. You have been giving me headaches lately."
"And you've been ignoring me, like always. You should listen to me, but your pride wouldn't allow it."
"I'm the one ignoring you? At least I can rely on my hakuda. What happened to that new bankai technique you were going to give me?"
"So, you don't know what's happening to me. Then I might as well show you."
In a second, Soifon saw herself in the middle of a strange place. The ground was dry, and many fissures ran across it. Many dead trees covered it; their trunks looked like they were burnt by the blazing sun above.
"Where... what happened to your world?!"
"This is your inner world as well, Soifon. For many years I've been living in a glacial place, that only got warmer when the ice was exchanged for a heavy rain. I almost can't remember, but once there was here a full cherry blossom field. Look at what has become of it now."
"But, right now I..."
"You've been stressed to your limit, and this damned tension that woman puts you in has been translated as this unforgiving sun that won't leave me alone even when you sleep. I can't take it anymore, Soifon, and I demand you do something about it!"
"This is ridiculous. My life is much better now that Yoruichi-sama is here with me once again, and if there's something wrong with your world, it must be your fault!"
"You are the one being ridiculous! I told you already, this is your inner world! I couldn't do something like this even if I wanted to, and if I did, I would at least have put in a beach and some hot surfists as well. Which leads me to my next point: you are going to start relaxing, like it or not, and you should begin by forgetting about that woman for one damned second! You will find a boyfriend this time, or you can forget all about bankai!"
"What?", and Soifon couldn't help but let out a little snort, "This makes absolutely no sense!"
"Okay, you win. Though I would have preferred it differently, you can get a girlfriend if you must."
"WHAT?? You are insane!!", now she sounded a little desperate, as Suzumebachi was starting to sound serious.
"First I'm ridiculous, now I'm insane! But you are the one holding all this sexual tension inside, and it's me it is killing! ME!", now Soifon was shocked beyond words. Sexual tension??
"I-i-it's not like that, and you should know it!"
"Right back at you, again. Look, I'll give you one last chance, and it is not because I like that woman, because I hate her, do you hear?", Soifon could only nod, not knowing where it was going, but too shocked to do anything else. "You will tell her. Tell her how you feel, it doesn't matter if she feels the same or not. Neither you nor I can live like this anymore. I'm serious. Now, let me enjoy this cloud your shock has provided me while it lasts."
Soifon woke up near the second division training grounds, leaning on a tree. She wished she didn't.