'Why did it have to snow when I came back!?' A pale, light brown haired girl with green eyes ran through the snowy streets of Karakura town.
"Hoshiko?" A voice buzzed in the girl's ear.
"Yes?"
"Hurry back. Yoruichi is still out in the human world, you don't know where she is and we don't either."
"Soi…I can handle myself." Hoshiko huffed confidently.
"…Yeah, sure. Move faster…there's a door open for you a little further." There was obvious sarcasm in her voice.
"Nobody trusts me on my own! …Fine…I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Good." Soi's voice was pleasant now.
"Wapush!!" A whipping sound went off in her head.
'Shut up!' Hoshiko snapped impatiently.
Zuki-Chou and Suzumebachi stifled their laughter.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Hoshiko closed her eyes as she entered the Soul Society. "I wouldn't mind all this back and forth business if the lights weren't so bright." She scrubbed at her currently blind eyes.
"I'm sure it's worth it in the end."
Hoshiko lowered her hands. "Uh…Soi!" She grinned brightly.
Soi smiled at her. "So how was your trip?"
"Cold." Hoshiko shook her head rapidly and snow flew off.
Soi laughed and moved closer to the taller girl. "You should have brought some warmer clothes then."
Hoshiko watched curiously as Soi pulled on her camouflage jacket collar. "You did wear shorts and sneakers."
"I thought it would be warmer."
Soi rolled her eyes and pulled Hoshiko along after her. "Then you won't get any more visits."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"I don't mind no more visits to the human world." Hoshiko spoke as she removed her jacket.
"Why's that?"
"I like it here. Always nice weather!" Hoshiko hopped up onto their new bed and jumped up and dropped back down, and repeated the action again and again.
"Get down!" Soi snapped, looking up at the girl…she blushed deep crimson and pulled Hoshiko off the bed.
"Put a shirt on at least!" She shoved a camouflage shirt, with NO inscribed on the front, into the girls hands.
"Huh?" Hoshiko looked down…she was only in her bra. "Oh! Sorry." She pulled the shirt on and removed her shoes.
Soi slipped into her small black nighty and tied her hair into a small ponytail. "Ok…time for bed."
Hoshiko nodded furiously and shuffled back on the bed.
Soi walked up onto the bed and sat down next to the taller girl. Hoshiko pulled the covers over them and turned the lights out.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Hoshiko shot up in bed and looked wildly around. Soi was nowhere in sight.
'I know I heard something or someone in here!' She was ready to jump out of the bed.
"Mm…forget about it." Suzumebachi's masculine-feminine voice called from the edges of her hazy mind.
'B-but someone was in here.'
"You don't know that, and your fine. So get up and ready for training!"
Hoshiko sighed and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "No one was here. I just…imagined it." She stood and went to the bathroom.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Do you think it was Yoruichi?" Suzumebachi looked down at her companion.
"Hard to say…right now however, we need to find Soi first."
"Mm…I can't locate her. It's been that way for a few hours. I'm getting worried."
Zuki-Chou looked up at the tree Suzumebachi was nestled in. "Hoshiko will find her. I'm sure of it."
"With our help of course."
"Yes." Zuki-Chou smiled. "Of course."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Hoshiko stepped out of the bathroom twenty minutes later.
She wore a black shirt with black jeans and boots. A white bandana was tied loosely around her neck. A brown belt with several pockets lay lopsided o her waist.
"My favorite outfit!" Hoshiko pulled on a pair of black gloves and checked the marking on her sleeves.
The right sleeve had white stripes…the left had four white octagons.
"Stylish." Zuki-Chou chuckled softly.
"That's why I picked it." Hoshiko grabbed Zuki-Chou from a spare desk.
"Be careful with me!!" The Zanpakuto sounded quite panicked.
"I am." Hoshiko sealed the doors on her way out.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Soi's not here…but…she's always here on time." Hoshiko looked around carefully.
"Summon us out there!" Suzumebachi snapped.
"What? Why?"
"Hurry!"
"Uh…I-I don't know how."
"Never mind. It's gone now." Zuki-Chou pulled Suzumebachi back a few steps in the sakura grove. "Whatever it was."
Hoshiko looked down at Zuki-Chou in her hands. A surge of uselessness poured over her.
"Hoshiko." A deep voice called from behind her.
"What is it?" She turned to find Komamura walking toward her. "Something wrong?"
"Have you seen captain Soi Fong at all today?" He stopped a few feet from her.
"No. She was with me last night, and we have training right now. But…she's not here." Hoshiko glanced around again.
"Hmm…she was not at the meeting this morning either." Komamura looked thoughtful. "What could have happened?"
'Suzumebachi?'
"I have no idea where she is. Our connection is gone for some reason."
There was silence for a long moment.
Hoshiko was pulled from her thoughts when Zuki-Chou asked a good question. "What about Yoruichi?"
"Komamura!"
"Hmm, what is it?" He looked down at the girl.
"I need a gateway to the human world as soon as possible! I have an idea!"