December
Soifon quickened her pace. Yoruichi had summoned her to the Shihoin Palace, something she had never done since she had been restored as the Princess of the Tenshiheisoban. Soifon reminded herself that she was still officially Yoruichi's personal guard; as such, she was honour-bound to answer the summons whenever they came. Yet, the truth was she was simply loathe to leave the Onmitsukido and the Second Squad in the hands of Omaeda.
She arrived before the throne room and knelt at the door. "Yoruichi-sama, I am here. What is yo-" The door suddenly burst open and Yoruichi strode out and grabbed Soifon by the hand. "You're here, Soifon! Quick, there is no time." She turned round looked at Soifon and frowned. "You're still wearing that awful haori and shozoku. What a good thing I am prepared." She snapped her fingers and two maidservants appeared. "Please help Shaolin-sama get dressed." Soifon looked at Yoruichi incredulously – no one addressed her as Shaolin outside of her family. Specifically, no one ever attached the honorific sama to her outside of her family. Least of all Yoruichi.
And no one helped the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido and Captain of the Second Squad get dressed. No one.
"Yoruichi-sama, please will you tell me what is going on?" Soifon looked pleadingly at Yoruichi, but all she could detect was a mischievous grin on her mentor's face. "Don't be such a worrywart, Soifon. Trust me. But please do this for me." She smiled pleasantly and Soifon knew she would not have the heart to turn her mentor down, no matter what she was up to. She bowed her head low in acquiescence and followed the maidservants to a private room.
She was dressed in a deep blue qipao with imprints of sakura blossoms. Though Soifon felt rather awkward to be in such finery and out of her work clothes, she nevertheless paused to admire the delicate embroidery on the dress. I wonder why Yoruichi-sama has gone to this expense… why has she asked me here?
"Shaolin-sama, Yoruichi-hime requests your presence in the Great Chamber please." The maid servants bowed low and bade Soifon follow them. They walked down rows of shuttered corridors and paused before two double doors inlaid with gold. "Please enter, Shaolin-sama."
She pushed opened the great doors and heard Yoruichi's voice faintly in the distance. "…special day… thank…"
"…long… heart to do this…"
"…whom I love like…"
"…would… announce to Soul Society…"
Soifon quickened her step, curious as to what Yoruichi was about to say. Is Yoruichi-sama getting married? Has she called me here to announce this? Why did she not tell me anything earlier? Who is she marrying? At this thought, her heart sank, for she knew full well that there was only one man within Soul Society who could be worthy of the house of Shihoin: Kuchiki Byakuya. At… at least she sounds happy…
She stood before the final set of doors took a deep breath to steel herself. She pushed them and found herself just behind Yoruichi's throne. The Princess of the Tenshiheisoban stopped her speech, ran behind and grabbed Soifon by the arm. "You are just in time, Soifon!" she whispered, grinning.
"And as I was saying, my lords and councilors, I am only too glad today to announce my intention to adopt Shaolin, of the Fon family, as my sister. You all know of the Fon family's loyal service to our house for the past eight generations, and she has served me just as faithfully in the ninth. I trust you have no issues." Soifon stood rooted to the spot as Yoruichi continued to hold her hand firmly in her grip. She wanted to protest, to run – no, I am not worthy. Anything but this! – but she could not move. She heard a rising swell of murmurs in the background as the displeasure of some of the Councilors of the Shihoin estate voiced their disapproval.
Yoruichi raised her hand and silenced the murmurs. The crowd settled for a while before a reedy voice was raised in protest. "Yoruichi-hime, this woman is of inferior stock!" Another rabble of protests sounded from the crowd and Soifon took a good hard look at the man, wishing she had Suzumebachi with her. Yoruichi kept her right hand raised while her left hand held on to Soifon tightly. "And what are you saying, Councilor Hiroshi? That only high nobility can be associated with the four royal families? Did not my grandfather pluck your father from obscurity in the Rukongai to serve him as Councilor? And who gave your family the right to determine my family's decisions?" She grinned at him. "Or shall I pass your position on to someone of worthier stock?" The rebellious Councilor took a step back, shocked at Yoruichi's response. He finally sat down and said no more.
"Well, my councilors and lords, who opposes this decision?" Yoruichi asked. Soifon saw several rebellious faces but no one dared put up their hands.
"And Steward Lin Chen of the Fon family, what say you?" Soifon whipped her heard to the right where she saw her loyal steward stand unsteadily on his feet, his body bent over. "The Fon family has always served the Shihoin family, Yoruichi-hime. It has been our privilege, and we dare not presume on your kindness. In my capacity as Steward, I do declare that the elders of the Fon family have no objection, if Shaolin-sama herself has no objections."
"And what say you, Soifon? Will you be my sister? You will keep your family name but be my sister in the eyes of Soul Society law." Yoruichi was no longer smiling now. Instead, she looked at Soifon with all seriousness, a look that Soifon had only seen twice before. Soifon fell to her knees and bowed her head. Following her, the entire Fon clan fell to their knees among the audience. "I… I am unworthy, Yoruichi-sama. I…"
"Pshaw! Worth is not self-determined in this case, my dear. I consider you worthy." Yoruichi said, gently lifting Soifon up by her arms.
"And have you a descendent of the Four Noble Houses to vouch for her worthiness?" Councilor Hiroshi's voice rose from the crowd, a desperate last attempt to thwart what he thought was obvious foolishness on the part of his liege. Several other rabble rousers clapped and cheered at his comment.
"She has." A deep, cool voice issued from another set of double doors, silencing the cheers. "Announcing the arrival of Lord Kuchiki," intoned the guards, who bowed before Byakuya. Leading an entourage of guards and elders from the Kuchiki estate, Byakuya swept into the hall regally, and the councilors and lords from the Shihoin estate bowed in respect, although they did not kneel.
Soifon gasped at the regalia surrounding Byakuya's arrival. She had known he was nobility, but he had never brought such pomp and circumstance to any of the Gotei 13's functions. This was the first time she had seen Byakuya in his capacity as the head of the Kuchiki Clan and not the Captain of the Sixth Squad.
Byakuya stood before the throne and faced Yoruichi and Soifon. He nodded, then turned around to face the councilors and lords assembled. "I, Kuchiki Byakuya, will vouchsafe Shaolin of the Fon clan worthy. I support Shihoin Yoruichi, Princess of the Tenshiheisoban and 22nd Head of the Shihoin House, in her decision." He turned once more and sat down in a seat that the servants had hastily drawn out for him.
"So what say you, Soifon?" asked Yoruichi, her golden eyes boring in on her protégé.
I was not expecting this, Yoruichi-sama. Why… why have you done this? Why, Byakuya… why would you do this?
Her heart hammered so fiercely she thought it would leap out of her chest. She bowed her head low, almost afraid to utter the words that threatened to spill from her lips.
"It… it is my privilege, Yoruichi-sama."
