Never Enough
Chapter 2
A/N: As mentioned at the previous chapter, the following chapters would all be from the 3rd party's view.
It didn't take long for Yoruichi to enter the barricades of the 2nd Division, as she wasn't called the Flash Master for nothing. Barging straight in, Yoruichi dashed straight to the Captain's office, without even so much as a knock on the door.
Soi Fon looked up, and spared the ex-Captain a look, before looking back down again, resuming whatever she was doing, as if she had not seen anyone.
"Yes, Yoruichi-sama? It is rude not to knock the door before entering. I would have thought that a Noble like you would have known better," she said stoically.
Even though Soi Fon had still kept with her calling of Yoruchi with the 'sama' suffix, the tone which she used was of no difference to a stranger, and Yoruichi flinched at the coldness of her voice, and her choice of words.
"Hey, where have you been for the past one week?" Yoruichi asked nervously.
"Am I supposed to report it to you? I believed the necessary report has been done to the Sou-Taicho," Soi Fon replied, still in the same monotone voice.
"No, sorry, I didn't mean that, it's just that I thought-"
"I am back to do some packing. I'll be heading to the Real World for a mission tomorrow, Yoruichi-sama," Soi Fon interrupted, and she looked up, straight into Yoruichi's eyes.
She'd be gone tomorrow? That means that there would be some time left for them to talk.
"Soi Fon, why is it that you have been avoiding me?" Yoruichi started her questioning, while fixing her gaze on the petite Captain, hoping that she'd find some answer from her expression, yet no such luck.
"You must be thinking too much, Yoruichi-sama. I merely had some personal matters to be attended to. Whatever that you have to say to me, you're more than welcome to voice them out, right now," Soi Fon offered, though continuing to pack her simple baggage for her mission the next day.
Yoruichi looked down at her feet uneasily. Sure, she had lots of things to tell Soi Fon, but she did not know how to voice them out, especially when the tone of the Secret Corps Commander totally contradicted of what she had said.
"Uhm, Soi Fon. Are you feeling alright?" Yoruichi mentally kicked herself for asking something so vague.
Soi Fon froze at that question. Was she alright? Why shouldn't she be? Was she here simply to mock her?
"I don't feel sick, neither have I suffered any injuries. So why should I not be feeling alright? I am fine," Soi Fon replied, along with her well known scowl.
Yoruichi decided that she'd do the talking another day, for she was at a total lost for words, and it was obvious that they won't be going anywhere with such meaningless conversation. Bidding a quiet farewell, she left the 2nd Division quietly.
The next day, Soi Fon left before the sun rose, and definitely before a certain dark skinned woman wakes up.
Around 4 hours later...
Soul Society was in an uproar. The message of a Captain perishing had been let out a few hours after Soi Fon left. All of Shinigami in Seireitei gasped in disbelief, including the Captains themselves. A Captain being taken down by Hollows? Impossible! Especially the Commander of the Stealth Force, that was beyond logic!
Shihouin Yoruichi had just entered the 2nd Division's boundary in hopes of finding Soi Fon, when she heard the message.
'This is an urgent message. About 5 minutes ago, we had received a report regarding Captain Soi Fon doing the patrol in the Real World. I deeply regret to announce that the 2nd Division Captain, as well as the Secret Corps Commander, Soi Fon, had been defeated by a Hollow in the Real World. The location is unknown, but the reports have been confirmed that Captain Soi Fon is no longer with us.'
There was no mistake to it. It was the Captain Commander's voice. Therefore it could not be a joke. Yoruichi was stunned, as she stood there motionlessly. She could feel the presence of Urahara, and she chose to ignore it, and walked slowly into her lover's room.
She was hoping that it was just her own imagination that the death of Soi Fon had been announced. Yet, she sensed no presence of Soi Fon. Opening the door, she saw no one in the room.
Yoruichi could not believe it.
Soi Fon was gone.
"Sir, I have a request," Soi Fon stated gravely.
"And what would it be? Elaborate," Yamamoto commanded.
"I would like, to apply for a long leave, if you are to strip off my position, I have no objections. Please forgive me for having such unreasonable request, but I really doubt that I would be able to concentrate on doing well my duties," Soi Fon requested boldly.
After considering for a short while, Yamamoto made on a decision. He knew that she was right, if he forced her to stay, things would get ugly. That seemed to be the best decision, he realized.
"Very well, I grant your request. I do believe that you'd prefer to keep your whereabouts as a secret?" Yamamoto stated knowingly.
"H-Hai, sir! If it is possible, I'd like to keep the actual reason of my leaving to be a secret…"
"You may go back to your Division. You will be send out for a mission in the Real World tomorrow, and during the process of it, you would be defeated and killed, do you understand?"
Mentally going through what the Captain Commander has just said, Soi Fon bowed down low, "Thank you very much. I appreciate very much, sir. Please excuse me."
"If you decide to return back to Gotei 13, your position would still be available. Do take care," Yamamoto uttered. He rarely showed care for his underlings, causing Soi Fon to raise her eyebrows.
"Yes, sir. I'd definitely be back. Thank you very much," Soi Fon replied, confidently.
He had told the ex 2nd Division Captain the current location of Soi Fon in hopes of having Yoruichi to convince her. But looking at her with the baggage in her hands, he knew that the purple-haired goddess had failed.
"Here, return only when you wish to," Yamamoto showed Soi Fon the portal to the Real World.
Soi Fon nodded and bowed down low in appreciation before stepping into the crack, towards the journey of looking for peacefulness.
Stepping out of the portal, Soi Fon looked around at the small town that the Captain Commander had chosen for her. It was a small and peaceful town, by the looks of it. It seemed like Yamamoto had really been thoughtful. This was just what Soi Fon needed. Walking towards a random direction, she figured that she would have to find a place for her to stay, and more importantly, for her to train.
Soi Fon had been walking around the town for almost 2 hours. However, she could not decide on where to go. Everyone in this small town could see spirits, thus there was no need for her to get into a Gigai.
Feeling slightly hungry and tired of roaming about, she stopped by a ramen restaurant, briefly browsing through the menu before entering. It was a well furnished, clean and neat shophouse. The shop was relatively crowded, for it was lunch time.
"Good afternoon! Table for how many?" a cheerful waiter chirped at Soi Fon.
Feeling slightly taken aback for the liveliness of the waitress, she answered awkwardly, "For one…"
"Sure! Please head to this way!" the waitress signaled for Soi Fon to follow her.
Walking to the 3rd table from the door, the waitress ushered Soi Fon to the seat. "Here you are. Please, may I take your order?"
"Just some plain soup ramen will do," Soi Fon answered.
"Sure! Your food would be served shortly," the waitress turned around, and was about to walk off before being stopped.
"Hold on. Does this restaurant happen to be hiring? I am looking for a job," Soi Fon stated vaguely, for she deemed that working at a ramen restaurant seemed to be a good choice for her.
"I… I'm not too sure. But I'll check with the shop owner, so please do hold on for awhile," the waitress walked away before Soi Fon could reply.
After about 10 minutes, the waitress returned carrying a bowl of ramen, and a slightly older looking woman with her.
"Here you go, miss. Please enjoy your meal," the waitress placed a bowl of steaming hot ramen on the table, before bowing politely to leave.
"I heard from Yune that you are looking for a job in this restaurant?" the older looking woman questioned.
Soi Fon raised a brow at that. Who was this woman?
"My apologies, I've forgotten to do a self-introduction. I am Kingi by the way, Yamamoto Kingi, and I am the owner of this ramen shop."
Yamamoto? Isn't that..?
"True enough. I am looking for a job. By the way… Are you related to Yamamoto Genryuusai in any way?" Soi Fon asked, curious as to why this woman and the Captain Commander shared the same first name.
"Oh, are you a new comer? But that's not possible… No one can be allowed in here without… Wait a minute, are you Soi Fon? T-The Shinigami Captain?!" Kingi exclaimed.
Narrowing her eyes, Soi Fon replied, "An ex-Captain."
The moment she let the words slip from her mouth, Kingi shrieked with excitement, "Taicho! Everyone, come here, quick! A Shinigami Captain, Captain!"
It wasn't long before almost the whole population of the small town gathered in the shop and bowed down low before Soi Fon, as if worshipping her. Soi Fon frowned. She was not expecting to be treated this way. If this is how the town folks behave, there was hardly any difference to be here and to be in Soul Society.
"I am no longer a Captain. Do not treat me as one. I am not here to be worshipped," Soi Fon spoke harshly.
Everyone gasped in fear as they heard her words. In their excitement of an appearance of a Shinigami Captain, they had totally forgotten about the orders of the Captain Commander. Within a few seconds, they scattered, and not a single soul remained in the shop, apart from the workers and the owner of the ramen shop themselves.
Kingi walked warily to Soi Fon, before gathering all her courage to speak to the fuming ex-Captain.
"S-Soi Fon-sama-"
She was immediately met by a glare that would promise her instant death. Breaking out in cold sweat, she knew that she would not be spared if she continued.
"M-My apologies, Soi Fon-san! W-Would you still like to have a job? There is a vacancy available for the serving crew," Kingi corrected, the fear evident in her eyes.
"Very well, I will take on the job," Soi Fon replied.
"H-Hai! It includes lodging as well. Please follow me, I will show you to your room, Soi Fon-san."
Following behind the shop owner, Soi Fon asked, "You have failed to answer me. What is your relationship to Sir Yamamoto?"
"Oh, Genryuusai-sama was our savior! He saved us from the hateful Aizen. We were all the test specimens for that vicious man. Genryuusai-sama rescued us from the Hueco Mundo. And when he found us, he did not kill us. In fact, he set up a small town that was isolated from the other living souls, whether human or not. So, to show our gratitude to our savior, we decided to take on his name," Kingi explained.
That piece of news was very strange for Soi Fon. She had never heard of it before. But again, she understood. If the news of Aizen's lab rats being found got released, is was certain that they would not be spared. Thus, his choice seemed wise. Perhaps he was more compassionate than he looked.
"Here, Soi Fon-san. You may take a rest for the time being. If you are fine with it, work would be starting from tomorrow onwards. I will call you when dinner is served. Please do not hesitate to look for me or any of the workers shall you need help," Kingi stated.
Soi Fon nodded, and took out Suzumebachi from her robes and saw the other woman's eyes widened slightly.
"Is there any open space suitable for training?" Soi Fon asked.
Still looking at the Zapakutou with obvious fear, Kingi replied, "Y-Yes, the outskirts of this town are all deserted land, no one would be among those forests. It is safe for you to… to t-train."
Soi Fon nodded in reply again while the shop owner made her leave.
Wondering how her life might be at this small town, she flashed out of the window with Suzumebachi, and proceeded out of the town, looking for a suitable spot to train.
It had been hours since the announcement had been made. Yet, Yoruichi was still crouching down low on the floor in Soi Fon's room. She couldn't, she simply just couldn't accept the death of her beloved.
Standing up, she walked towards the futon, as if the girl was still sleeping in, and she would frighten her, just like always. But it would never happen again, she realized. Soi Fon would never appear before her anymore. She hated herself greatly for not making things clear before Soi Fon went for her mission in the Real World.
Yoruichi kneeled down, to touch the futon, only to be blocked by a barrier. Wait, that was a kido barrier?
Widening her eyes in surprise, Yoruichi broke through the spell with little effort, for it was a low leveled one, and flip the blanket open, her heartbeat increasing with anticipation. Something white caught her eye. In a blink of an eye, she had already ripped off the envelope and was already unfolding the letter in it.
Reading the contents of the letter, Yoruichi did not know how she should feel.