To all those who reviewed the first chapter, thank you so much for the warm response! I was a bit nervous since it is a pretty crack plot to go around. xD I hope you enjoy further down.
To ihavenohead - you username cracks me up haha! Thanks for reviewing, and I really did think of having Soi-Fon be the one to get pregnant. But I was more interested in what Yoruichi would put Soi-Fon through with her 'pregnant lady fits'. xD
To FongShihouin & Krazyfanfiction1 - So glad to see you guys review again! Thanks for the support, I write these chapters for u. :3
CHAPTER 2: OF PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Soi-Fon, Captain of the 2nd Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido was known to be a strong, dignified woman. She proceeded with confidence in all things and swiftly spoke her mind, no matter who it was she was talking to. For these reasons, the Captaincy of the Gotei 13, with the exception of Unohana and Yoruichi, couldn't quite understand the soft dusting of pink that settled on her cheeks as she stood to face them.
"Heh. She's blushing, Shiro." Yoruichi whispered over to the little captain to her side.
"You know if she hears us, we're dead."
"I'm probably safe. Dunno about you though."
The captains were lined up as usual with Kyoraku at the far end, center, but this time Soi-Fon was standing in perfect posture at the opposite end.
"Soi-chan!" Kyoraku grinned. "You look lively today. So what bothers you to have us all called in?"
"I have an... announcement to make." The dark-haired captain's expression was passive, professional, and unreadable. Except for the blush.
A look of concern was evident on the present captains. The 2nd Division wasn't known to harbor good news, and whenever Soi-Fon had a report to announce it was almost always a disaster or a breach of security. If not the previous two, it could be an intelligence discovery which was sure to lead to the next apolocalyptic threat to Soul Society.
"If your men ran into a giant, rhino-type hollow carcass near the outskirts of Rukongai, that's under the 12th Division and we have full permissions from the Central 46."
Soi-Fon narrowed her eyes. "Right. But I'm afraid the nature of my summons is a more personal one." She cleared her throat. "As much as I would like to keep details outside of work to myself, those involved," She spared a glanced to the 8th Division Captain, "insisted that a formal announcement to our colleagues is necessary. After much deliberation, I have also come to the conclusion that there will be changes which may affect our working schedule and availability, and as such it would be prudent for us to address with you the situation before it gets out of hand."
"What, did you get knocked up or something?" Zaraki barked with a laugh. "Never seen you this tight wound."
"Well..."
"Oh, god, you are?" Kensei's jaw almost dropped, looking back and forth from Yoruichi to Soi-Fon. "But you and Yoru- she doesn't even have a-"
"Not her." Yoruichi said with a smirk. "I'm pregnant." She relished the sweet pause of disbelief before the sudden storm among captains.
Soi-Fon sighed. Yoruichi had suggested that they formally tell the captains, but forced Soi-Fon (through methods which may or may not have been seduction) into being the one to drop the bomb. Which Yoruichi dropped anyway.
"Then why is she the one standing there if you're the one with the news to drop?" Mayuri complained.
"Whose is it?" Komamura looked pleasantly surprised.
"So was Soi-Fon going to announce her plans to annihilate us by means of her bankai due to your infidelity? My, I must write a song!" Rose brought out his guitar.
"Nope!" Yoruichi grinned. "Everyone, quiet! Let Soi-Fon cover you in on the rest."
All heads turned expectantly to the small captain who was very much cross with Yoruichi right now. She just never does anything according to plan, does she? "It's, well... our baby. I got her pregnant."
"I can't even." Shinji's eyes started to glaze over. "Lesbian sex intense enough to get someone pregnant? Wow. Damn."
"What kind of a dumb shit expression is 'I can't even'?" Zaraki quipped.
"It's a human world thing." Kensei shook his head.
"But what is it that you can't?"
"Let's not get into that debate."
"Hmph." Hitsugaya face-plamed himself. "How is it that you guys completely forget the unnatural occerence of a pregnancy between two women to fight over an expression."
"I knew it, Soi-Fon taichou!" Ukitake was beaming. "I knew you had a loving, motherly heart in you somewhere!"
Soi-Fon rolled her eyes at the ruckus, finding herself unable to argue with a man like Ukitake. "Well?" She shifted her gaze to Kyoraku, who was grinning like an idiot much to her disdain.
"I dunno," He shrugged. "Nothing like this had ever happened before. There was never any ruling against a relationship between captains, much less children. And the only things that are keeping you two ladies from getting hitched are social norms and stuck up noble traditions."
"They are traditions for good reason." Byakuya frowned.
"Meh." Yoruichi made a face. "I agree with the Commander. Super stuck-up."
"So... nothing?" Soi-Fon almost looked puzzle.
"Well what did you want us to do? Condemn you to exile?" Kyoraku tilted his hat back.
"Touchy subject." Shinji yawned.
"Right. Heh. Sorry. But anyway, thanks for letting us know! As Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, I congratulate you both."
"Well, thanks." Soi-Fon said weakly as Yoruichi nodded towards her. 'Everything's going to be fine.'
"Althought we are interested in knowing the details as to how this came to be." Mayuri drawled with a predatory smile.
"Are we going to talk about Science?" Shinji made a face. "Please warn me so I can tune out."
"I'd really rather not right now." Soi-Fon said flatly.
Soi-Fon expected the meeting to be over and done with by the time the announcement was made, but unfortunately questions and even more questions were bound to hound the couple. Shinji a had a lot to say, naturally, and Unohana had spared them the explanation of how the pregnancy came to be. Thankfully, the lecture had drained out the interest of all but one captain, and the rest had come to the couple with both well wishes and crude questions. Yoruichi grinned as Soi-Fon turned red as a tomato when asked about their sex life, and she almost lost it at the face Soi-Fon made when Zaraki offered Yachiru to be the baby's play-date. Ukitake look downcast that he had no sweets or baby toys to give them at the moment (god knows what he keeps in those deep pockets) but promised that he'd be prepared the next time they met - for better or for worse. Mayuri had offered 'tutelage' and 'education', and naturally both mothers adamantly refused. Kensei and Komamura offered to teach the child fighting, but seeing as its mothers were both Commanders-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido, they didn't really see the point of needing trainers. So Komamura offered 'puppy-back-rides' instead. It was agreed that Unohana, expectedly, would be the presiding physician to attend to the baby's delivery and healthcare, and Ukitake and Kyoraku wanted to be called 'Uncle'.
After the third time someone asked if they used 'double sided martial aids' in the conception, she called it quits and barged out the Hall of Command.
"That was exhausting." Soi-Fon slumped on a nearby wall. "I can't believe we put ourselves through that."
"Better now than later." Yoruichi smirked, leaning down to give her a quick kiss. "You did a good job."
"You fed me to the sharks, Yoruichi-sama." Soi-Fon said, mildly annoyed. "And watched as they devoured me."
"What's this?" Yoruichi teased. "My little bee is angry with me?"
"N-no!" Soi-Fon blushed, stuttering. "It's just you- you know.."
"Aw, you cutie!" Soi-Fon found herself crushed into Yoruichi's bosom in a bear hug. "You get me pregnant and still stutter!"
The 2nd and 8th Divisions were livelier than usual. By now, the sudden pregnancy of Kyoraku's successor with the current Onmitsukido Commander-in-Chief's baby was the talk of the town, much to Soi-Fon's discomfiture. It had a month been since the official announcement to the Gotei 13's Captaincy, and information on the power-couple's baby ranged from wild rumors to official statements released by the Seretei Communication. Yoruichi loved every minute of it.
The couple had eased back into normalcy. Yoruichi didn't need to be relieved of her duties, Shinigami pregnancy was a matter of reiatsu more than it was a matter of physical well being - and Yoruichi had more than enough of that to support both herself and a growing life. She would most likely need to take a leave of absence by the last month of her pregnancy, but she'd cross that bridge when she gets there.
"Do I look fat?"
"Yoruichi-sama." Soi-Fon sighed, looking up from her paperwork. "It's been a month. We've been told you'll start showing after sixteen weeks. This is the third time you've asked since you sat on the couch."
"I can't help it, baby bumps get weird." Yoruchi patted her belly, "I can't believe there's a little Soi-Fon in here." She grinned.
Soi-Fon couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth twitch upwards a little. As unexpected as the whole affair was, she was sure of one thing: that baby was going to be well-loved. Not raised to be an assassin, not 'pedigreed' and trained in the pompous and snobbish customs of the nobility. Simply loved.
"Or a little Yoru-" Soi-Fon blinked. "What are you eating?"
"Rice crackers?"
"We talked about this, Yoruichi-sama." Soi-Fon crossed her arms.
"...but I'm not human preggers. I don't think it matters what I eat."
"Regardless, risks shouldn't be taken." Soi-Fon got up to her desk and set her papers aside. "Come, it's lunch time."
"I know, that's why I've been waiting on your couch, dear. To eat. But god forbid I take you away from your paperwork." Yoruichi teased.
"S-sorry to keep you waiting, Yoruichi-sama." Soi-Fon flushed as she made her way to her lover.
"It was a joke." Yoruichi playfully ticked her forehead before kissing it. "So, can I pick today? I want some katsu or karaage."
"No deep-fried."
Yoruichi gave an exasperated sigh. "It has begun."
Soi-Fon only gave her an apologetic look as she took Yoruichi's hand and led her towards the 2nd Division Captain's Quarters. "We'll eat at my quarters, I'll prepare you something."
Yoruichi smirked. "Eat lunch or..."
"Yoruchi-sama!"
"That blush never gets old." Yoruichi grinned. "But seriously, even Unohana said you gotta loosen up on the whole 'expecting' thing."
But then again this was Soi-Fon, she was about as tightly wound as a catapult spring.
Travel time gets pretty quick with two masters of shunpo, and in (literally) a flash, they found themselves entering Soi-Fon's spartan quarters.
"Yoruichi-sama,"
"Hm?" Yoruichi looked over the shorter woman as she went into the kitchen to prepare a meal. The change in her demeanor was evident.
"Have you, well... told your family?"
"Ah." Yoruichi gave a bitter laugh. "I doubt it's anything they don't know."
"But, still. This is a matter of political interest," Soi-Fon sounded burdened, and Yoruichi fully understood why. "I... just want to get some obstacles out of the way."
"You're gonna tell yours too?"
"I'm simply concerned for your titles and stature." Soi-Fon avoided the question. "The Shihoin elders can get very unpredictable."
"Nah," Yoruichi huffed. "The elders are about as predictable as the sunrise. I'm still the head of Shihoin House, I can do what I want."
"With much backlash."
"I never cared about that, you know."
"Don't you think it's time you did, though? Just for... for the baby." Soi-Fon said seriously.
Yoruichi paused, a soft look on her face. That's right, she remembered. My responsibility extends to someone else now. She didn't want her child to grow up disowned or banished, despite how little she liked the Shihoin court.
"I guess it was about time I stopped running." She sighed. "But let's be spontaneous! You free after lunch?"
"What?!"
"I really wish you gave more thought and preparation into this, Yoruichi-sama." Soi-Fon stood, stiff as a rod as they strolled past a pair of Shihoin Guards and into the expansive estate.
"I don't think there's a 'right time' for this kinda thing, Soi..." Yoruichi held her head high and smiled at the servants. Shihoin Yoruichi was as famous with their servants as she was infamous with their elders. She was kind and forgiving to them, and she was always something of a paradox. She was a helping hand as she never liked the feeling of helplessness, at the same time she was hopelessly spoiled, and her shenanigans often made bigger messes than she could clean up after. So naturally, the servants did. But still, they held a great deal of affection for the 22nd Head of the Shihoin Clan, Guardian of the Imperial Soldier Garments. To them, she was the one with the biggest heart by far.
And sometimes, that big heart got her into all sorts of trouble, like rescuing Urahara Kisuke, helping certain Ryoka and falling for a girl who was dead-set on killing her.
"Yoruichi-hime*, Fon-dono." A higher-ranked servant pounded his chest in salute and bowed, deeply. "It is an honor to attend to you. How may I be of service?"
"You sound ridiculous, Juro-san." Yoruchi grinned, playfully punching the middle-aged man in the shoulder. He was dressed in a formal kimono and had black, but greying, braided hair. He had a neatly trimmed beard and thick, bushy brows with green eyes whose wrinkles were starting to show. Soi-Fon titled her head at the exchange, noting that the man looked vaguely familiar. She was also caught off-guard by his manner of addressing her, using her title as a noble instead of her military one. "You don't remember Juro-san, Soi?"
"Ah." Soi-Fon nodded as her memory cleared, cursing her forgetfulness. "Of course, Yoruichi-sama's chaperone while growing up."
This man stood watch over Yoruichi's formative years, her father wouldn't allow anyone else to guard the precious princess. Soi-Fon recalled meeting him on a number of occassions, and she remembered Yoruichi being warmer to this man than she ever was with anyone else in her household, save perhaps for her brother and father. If Soi-Fon was the second person to attempt to instill discipline into the free-spirited Yoruichi, Kagayoshi Juro would be the first.
"He wasn't like other servants," Yoruichi had told Soi-Fon sometime in the past. "He actually scolds me when I do something stupid. He actually tells me off when I'm out of line. It's so refreshing, to have someone with enough backbone to talk back to 'The Princess of the Shihoin House'." She had said, air quoting the title.
"An honor to see you again, Head of the esteemed Fon clan. Your service humbles me, and it warms my heart to see you two side-by-side once again." He paused, regarding her. "You've grown into quite the intimidating woman. I can still clearly recall your rather timid, teenage self."
"I bet your heart'll melt even more at the news that she got me pregnant." Yourichi grinned mischievously.
"Yoruichi-sama!" Soi-Fon immediately flushed red. "Y-you didn't have to say it like that."
Juro shared Soi-Fon's dilemma, as he immediately started flushing at his neck and ears. Shaking his head to recover from the initial shock, he stuttered. "Well, I can't say I expected that b-but now that it's happened I guess I'm glad it's Fon-dono..."
"Who'd think this little bumble bee could pack such a sting, eh?" Yoruichi winked.
"I just can't imagine how-"
"Don't." Soi-Fon held her hands up with a sigh. "You don't wanna know."
"I shall take your word for it," He smiled. "But in all seriousness, how can I be of service?"
"Call for a meeting with the elders, I'm about announce that I got knocked up."
Juro raised an eyebrow. "I do hope for a more favorable choice of words when you're in there, Yoru-hime."
"Aw, I feel like I'm seven again!"
"Very well, though. I'll send some servants to the elders. I trust you can find your way to the main hall?"
"I got this. Thanks, Juro-san." Yoruichi patted his shoulder. "It's good to see you again."
"It is good to see you too, Yoruichi-hime." He bowed with a smile before turning to leave.
The purple-haired woman looked back at the retreating figure. "Wow. I missed that old man, maybe I should have visited more often."
"You didn't come by often?"
"Nah. I always ran the house from the 8th Division office ever since I got reinstated and restored to my titles. I dunno, I guess it makes me feel like I'm making the decisions instead of those elders always breathing down my neck."
Soi-Fon nodded, she could sympathize. It was hard to juggle military command and heading a noble house. Although her clan was much less influential and expansive compared to the Shihoin and Kuchiki clans, the additional burden of the Onmitsukido leveled, if not surpassed, the responsibility she had to carry compared to Byakuya and Yoruichi. Which reminded her; she was about to become a mother. Things were going to get rougher.
Yoruichi gave a low whistle as they entered the Shihoin Estate's main hall. "I almost forgot what this place looks like. I kinda still hate it."
Soi-Fon entered, face passive. But she wondered, only on the inside, at the marvelous room. Its ceiling was higher than the Gote 13's Hall of Command where captains hold their meetings, and it housed two speaking platforms, one lower at the center of the circular room, and another at the back, slightly elevated where the Head of the Shihoin House would speak. The chairs were elevated and circled around the room against the wall, and the Shihoin elders were already seated in their places. The higher platform was empty, as it was Yoruichi's rightful position.
"You may take your post, Captain of the 8th Division, 22nd and Current Head of the Shihoin House, the Tenshiheisoben, Shihoin Yoruichi-hime - daughter of Yoshihito."
"Always so damn formal," Yoruichi muttered under her breath. "Thanks! But, I think for today's event, father should step up over there cause have I got something to tell you guys."
Murmurs began to bubble throughout the room, and disapproval shadowed the faces of the elder members of the council. Shihoin Yoshihito, of greying purple hair and strikingly familiar golden eyes and brown skin, stepped onto the higher speaking platform. "Although I have a feeling I know what you're going to say, you should go on head, child."
The 8th Division Captain frowned. Still he calls me a child. "First things first - hello, father. It's good to see you." It was true - it's always good to see family, no matter how complicated. "Where is Yushiro?"
"Nee-sama!" A young teen, who almost looked exactly like Yoruichi except for that fact that he was a boy, popped up from behind Yoshihito. He had a goofy smile on and was comically waving both of his hands down at her. The eldest Yoruichi rolled his eyes - he was always a silly little thing.
"Hello, Yuushi-bo! Let's talk some more after all this, alright?" Yoruichi waved back with a wink.
"What, exactly, is 'all this' about?" Yoruichi's father speaked up once more, and Yoruichi returned to seriousness.
"This is Fon Shaolin," She gestured towards the petite woman beside her. "Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido, Captain of the 2nd Division and on numerous occassions General of various assaults on the war against Aizen and the Quincy."
"We are aware of who she is, and of her prowress in military command. The daughter of Fon who usurped your titles and seems have achieved more with them than you ever did."
Soi-Fon set her jaw and glanced over to Yoruichi, who didn't seem this slightest bit bothered.
"Great! That'll spare me the hassle of long introductions. Well, to cut the story short," She paused, looking at every pair of eyes in the room with challenge, golden ones. "I'm with child. With her child."
"So it is true!" An elder aunt burst out. "How could you bring this shame to us?!"
"Two women?" A close-minded cousin rolled his eyes. "How did they even manage to- nevermind, we were better off when you were gone."
"Fon? The servant clan? I knew it was only a matter of time until our bloodlines intermixed."
"I, for one, don't really mind." Yoruichi's father said - much to her surprise. "I appreciate that you didn't just run off and have this baby. For once, you're facing us and owning up to it. Perhaps Fon Shaolin's sense of duty is rubbing off, and that I can appreciate."
Yoruichi watched him with a frown, wordless and perplexed.
"There are no formal rules against two women having a relationship. And there are in fact traditions that encourage fraternizing with those who are of noble blood as well, and no matter how you look at it, the Fon clan is a noble clan. So they're safe by that book, too."
Yoruichi felt herself relax, but also couldn't believe this was happening. Her father was as Shihoin as Shihoins get - traiditional, kind of snobbish and proud of their name.
"But there are matters you can't run away from anymore, Yoruichi. You have a responsibility to bear an heir to this lineage. This child is a mistake. Unexpected. It cannot be acknowledged in this court, and neither can Fon Shaolin."
Yoruichi frowned, and looked over at Soi-Fon. "I'm your daughter, you can't just reject my chi-"
"Regardless!" Her father's voice boomed, reprimanding. All the other voices quieted down. "You will no longer shun this responsibility. You cannot!"
"I can!" She shot back, anger getting the better of her. "I am the head of the Shihoin House, father, may I remind you. And I came to this court, in good will and honesty, to inform you of my decision, to make you a part of this when I could have just run off and live my life happy. But I'm not. I'm here, I'm facing you and you will listen to what I have to say."
Yoshihito stood, tense but silent. A slight trace of - respect - seemed to grace his features. "We... will see what compromise we can arrive to."
"Better." Yoruichi set her jaw.
"But there is protocol to follow, as all heads of this House have followed before. You are to preserve our lineage through marriage with another noble, to produce heirs who have the full right and nobility to be called Guardians of the Imperial Soldier Garme-"
"Then I abdicate."
There was another uproar, both from the entire court and from Soi-Fon.
"Yoruichi-sama," She said urgently. "There is no need for you to give up your stature just fo-"
"I love you." Yoruichi looked at her with such fierce, loving eyes. "And I will do what I want to be with you."
"Abdicate?" Yoshihito looked taken aback. "But why? Why would-"
"I will rule as regent Head of the Shihoin Clan until Yushiro comes of age. I give him my birthright, my title, my inheritance. He's a good boy," Yoruichi looked at the shocked boy who sat behind and the side of her father. "I know he'll be great. He can marry a pretty noble girl, have pretty noble kids who'll be legitimate Shihoins. We won't need to marry me off to some rich snob who'll adopt our family name and rule in my place."
Her father visibly calmed down, and the rest of the room began chattering amongst themselves. It was actually a really good idea. They just couldn't believe Yoruichi would give up that kind of power. "I... see. Are you sure?"
"Honestly?" Yoruichi looked bored. "I wish I thought of this way earlier."
For the first time that afternoon, Soi-Fon saw Yoruichi's father smile. And he looked exactly like her. But the smile didn't last long before his face fell once agian. "Yoruichi..."
"Hm?"
"You know I love you, you are my daughter. To this point, I've stretched how much I could bend the rules to accomodate you. With you disappearing for a century, having a relationship with Fon-dono, allowing you to pass your birthright to Yushiro on a whim." He sighed. "But there is a limit to how much I can spoil you. This child cannot be accomodated by this court, for the simple reason that an illegitimate child is frowned upon by our customs. As nobles of Soul Society, we exist as an example to hold at high standards. This will soil the Shihoin house, and it will fall like the Shiba." Yoshihito shook his head. "It... simply cannot be."
Yoruichi bit her lip. She couldn't think of anyway out of this one. "Well, we could-"
"Your problem is the child's illegitimacy?" Soi-Fon spoke up for the first time.
"Unfornately." To his credit, Yoshihito looked genuinely concerned.
What everyone didn't expect, however, was for Soi-Fon to sharply turn towards Yoruichi, set her jaw and swallow so hard they could all hear her.
"Shihoin Yoruichi," She began. "It would be the greatest honor of my life to stand before you, your family, your brother and your father and ask for something I may not deserve to have."
Yoruichi, for the first time in a very long time, felt herself blush. Ohmygod, is she going to-
"And in this honorable court, under the roof of your most esteemed family, I ask, a humble servant, a student," Soi-Fon's voice began to quake. "a friend, a loving partner, a body guard, an enemy once before,"
Yoruichi was, at this point tearing up. And so was Yushiro.
"...a colleague," She bit back a smile as she knelt down. "...a little bee."
"Soi..." Yoruichi whispered, feeling her heart swell.
"I ask, as someone who has been so many things to you in your life... Will you be my wife?" Soi-Fon pulled out ring, which wasn't even in a box - it was simply hidden in the pocket of her haori. "I swear, I had something different in mind when I planned this." Soi-Fon blushed uncontrollably, and she looked too adorable for Yoruichi's own good.
Planned? Yoruichi's breath hitched. She... she was planning to propose?
Yoruichi felt herself tear up. "Of course." Those were probably the softest words the outspoken girl had muttered. "I-I can't imagine anyone else for me."
Soi-Fon had no words, so she settled with standing up and an embrace.
"Does this settle the problem, father?" Yoruichi said, teary-eyed but smirking once again.
"Wow. This is one for the books. Definitely," Yoshihito looked on, slightly envious that he never had a shot at love like his daughter did. But he was happy for the first time in a while. It's hard not to be moved by something so beautiful happening right before you. "I think that fixes it."
Yoruichi had tuned out, however, and took the petite bundle of a captain into her arms once again. "I love you so much, my little bee."
"I love you. But I can't breathe."
"Oh!" Yoruichi grinned sheepishly, and let Soi-Fon go. The small captain took her hand she felt something cold slide up her finger. It was the ring. A simple, beautiful silver band with a diamond on it. Nothing fancy, nothing flashy but it served its purpose - exactly like Soi-Fon.
"We're getting ma-pfft! What was that?" Yoruichi scowled as a soft, pleasant smelling but foul-tasting thing fell into her mouth.
"I think that's a... petal?"
"Yushiro."
"Yes, father?"
"Are you throwing down rose petals at Shaolin and Yoruichi?"
"Engagements are so beautiful!"
"A-are you crying?! Where did you even get those!"
WEW this one was a handful to write, but it's done! I hope I don't disappoint, and I hope it isn't too long! I really wanted to up the ante of my writing, make something with more content than the previous story. I like to think that I've improved, but please leave a review!