A/N: Sorry for the delay. Hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Disclaimer: This story may be unexpectedly popular, but that does not change the fact that I do not own Bleach.
Soi Fon smiled as she walked down the street. It had been another night through which she had not been tormented by dreams. She had been allowed a peaceful sleep. For the first time in what seemed like forever she felt refreshed and invigorated rather than weary or feverish. She was prepared for whatever the evening would hold.
A serene expression stayed on her face as she questioned just that. This would be her sixth date scheduled by Retsu Unohana, but it was the first she was actually looking forward to. This would be her first time out with another woman. Despite having always told herself that she didn't fall in love with Lady Yoruichi because she was a woman but rather because she was Lady Yoruichi, after five disastrous or pointless dates with men she was beginning to think maybe in truth, she had really always just been a lesbian after all. Then again maybe those five had just been piss-poor examples of men in the first place.
Regardless of her sexuality, a subject that honestly didn't interest Soi Fon very much, the idea of going on a date with another woman was surprisingly exciting. As she deliberately paced down the street she ruminated on who might be waiting at that intersection today.
Unohana would obviously still be keeping Soi Fon's consideration of rank in mind, so she doubted she'd get anyone lower than lieutenant in rank. She didn't mind this though; of all the female lieutenants there wasn't a bad pick. They all had their definite draws, still Soi Fon couldn't help but be preoccupied with the thought of which would be waiting for her.
Nanao Ise of the Eighth Division was as serious and driven as Soi Fon herself was; she had an elegant beauty and a strong mind and had always been interesting to talk with. Rangiku Matsumoto of the Tenth Division was a different story, she was lazy and incorrigible, but stronger than she seemed; of course the real draw of that woman was in her flawless curves. Part of Soi Fon hoped this time her date would actually be Nemu Kurotsuchi. With the "date" of two days past still fresh in her mind, the idea of doing her part to free that sad girl from that vile man's tyranny was definitely appealing to her.
Of course, the more Soi Fon thought about it, the more only one possibility made sense. She remembered Retsu's words, "The one I have in mind has usually listened to me in the past," and became certain of the fact that her date for the evening would be Isane Kotetsu, lieutenant of the fourth Division. Retsu's loyal second would be the Second Division Captain's date for the evening.
Soi Fon far from hated this idea. Isane was beautiful, dedicated, sharp, and sweet. All in all, she was probably the best all around pick of all four available female lieutenants. Knowing it would be Isane just made Soi Fon's smile fuller as she picked up the pace of her walk.
However, when the intersection came into view and there was no tranquil, alluring white-haired girl standing there, Soi Fon's feet came to an abrupt stop as she was overcome with shock. The shock wasn't due to her being wrong, no if Nanao, Nemu, or Rangiku had been thee instead of Isane she'd have moved ahead normally, and not even have thought twice about it. No, Soi Fon was shocked, because, standing there was someone she had never even considered.
Retsu Unohana smiled benignly as she stared forward placidly at Soi Fon. The mortified expression not leaving her face, the younger Captain approached the woman cautiously.
"So, umm... Where's my date?" Soi Fon asked in a low tone as she looked around, trying to spy if Isane maybe was waiting in some dark corner to be introduced.
"That's a silly question, Captain Soi Fon, she's right in front of you," Retsu said softly; for some reason Soi Fon felt like her heart had stopped.
"B-but c-captain Unohana, you can't be my date..." Soi Fon was blushing for some reason. Something about the whole situation just felt weird to her.
"I can't? And here I thought I was the only one who could..." the other Captain responded with a slightly downcast expression, as if she were questioning the other.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Captain Soi Fon is only dating other Captains but wants another woman, and I just happen to be the only other female Captain," Retsu wore a smile as she spoke, but it was slightly more devious than the typical one. The younger captain felt herself become somewhat scared.
"But you misunderstood, I never said it just had to be Captains, I'd be fine with dating one of the lieutenants... or something..." Soi Fon insisted, shaking her head back and forth.
"Oh? But that wouldn't work. Captain Soi Fon needs someone she can devote herself to, someone she can look up to and adore. It'll never work if it's someone who is lower ranked and doesn't have her full respect," Retsu spoke in a very tranquil, methodical fashion. Soi Fon found it hard not to accept her words.
"You really think so?" she asked, a nervous smile on her lips.
"That's my diagnosis," Retsu replied lucidly.
Soi Fon shook her head again. This was just odd. Retsu Unohana was supposed to be the caring figure that helped her find the path to new love, she wasn't supposed to be a potential love herself. She was supposed to somehow always be there to make things better when the date went poorly, not be the date herself. This was all too strange.
"B-but I can't date you..." Soi Fon said with zero conviction, unsure of just about everything.
"You showed little hesitation following Captain Kyoraku and Captain Komamura out, but I'm unacceptable?" Retsu gave a sad, puzzled frown.
"No, that's not it," Soi Fon said at once, not wanting to see the look of hurt on the other woman's face. She didn't know why this whole situation intimidated her so much. "It's just that I..." she struggled to come up with any reason for her behavior, "I-I've never known Captain Unohana to be interested in romance."
"Do you think my heart is somehow different from everyone else, that it contains no desire for intimate love?" Retsu sighed languidly. The accompanying look in her eyes made Soi Fon shiver in fear.
"N-no that's not it at all," Soi Fon said nervously, shaking her head yet again. " I just... As long as I've known you, Captain Unohana... I've never seen you romantically involved with anyone or even expressing any interest in anyone."
"I suppose you are observant, Captain Soi Fon, I am seldom made the target of romantic yearnings, and I seldom have time to establish my own, but that doesn't mean I have no interest in the subject," the healer said in a somewhat melancholic voice.
These words made Soi Fon's mind race again. Could Retsu really be the same as her? Could her long life have been plagued by insufferable loneliness as well? It made a deal of sense; here was a woman who was easily more intimidating than Captain Komamura, Captain Kurotsuchi, and Captain Zaraki put together. Who would ever see someone like that as a potential love? The more she thought about it the more Soi Fon realized, she was really being a jerk.
"I apologize, Captain Unohana. What I said was out of hand. I would be both happy and grateful in accepting your offer for a date," Soi Fon said, becoming all of a sudden stern, serious and dutiful. Retsu giggled softly.
"Cute..." Retsu said softly before laughing politely a second time. Soi Fon's face quickly contorted from serious, to mortified embarrassment in a matter of seconds.
"All right... ummm... let's just go..." Soi Fon said between her teeth, her cheeks completely red.
"If that is your wish," Retsu said softly before beginning to walk down the street. Soi Fon stayed close.
The younger Captain tried her best to regain her cool as they walked. She wanted to clear her mind and just take this as openly as any of the other encounters. For some reason she found herself failing. Retsu made her nervous, anxious, and any number of other things none of the others had. It was as if it was a completely different experience.
"So... um... Where are we going, Captain Unohana?" Soi Fon asked, finding she was more at ease when things weren't silent.
"Oh? Nowhere..." Retsu said in a delicate voice as her eyes met those of the girl next to her.
Soi Fon found herself entranced, unable to look away from the woman's gentle blue eyes. She literally forced words out to break the awkwardness, "What do you mean nowhere? Where are you taking me?"
Retsu gave another one of her light laughs before answering the questions in a warm voice, "I'm not taking you anywhere, Captain Soi Fon. I thought we would just take a long walk and enjoy the beauty of Seireitei." The woman's lips then formed an inviting smile as she asked, "Is that fine with you?"
"O-of course! That sounds wonderful," Soi Fon couldn't believe the words that escaped her mouth. Not only were they delivered rushed, nervous, weak and exceedingly feminine in tone, but they were also an outright lie. A long evening walk with Retsu Unohana wasn't "fine" with her; just the thought of it was unnerving as all hell.
"That's nice," Retsu said with another smile.
Things went silent again, and again Soi Fon felt apprehensive. She began to ask herself what was wrong with this for the millionth time. Retsu Unohana just made her feel so weak and malleable, like some sort of rubbery clay to be molded by the woman's able hands. Whenever Retsu told Soi Fon something about herself it was always something even she didn't realize. It was hard to be at ease around a person like her.
But that night was a date, not a clinical diagnosis. It was supposed to be as much about Soi Fon and her problems as it was about Retsu and hers. She decided she'd just have to stay on top of things; she'd force the conversation to be about Retsu rather than herself. Then she'd have nothing to be worried about.
"So, Captain Unohana, I was wondering if..." Soi Fon started, she found all decent questions eluding her.
"You know, Captain Soi Fon, that doesn't quite sound right," Retsu said with her own thought-absorbed expression as the other contemplate what to ask.
"What are you saying?" Soi Fon's brow furrowed with perplexity.
"I mean, if we are to be each others dates, don't you think it sounds somewhat odd to address me so formally, Captain Soi Fon?" Soi Fon remained baffled. Why was she bringing this up now? Was this woman purposely trying to throw her off and mess with her? Was there some sort of devious game behind that compassionate smile?
"I suppose... you're right..." Soi Fon said, shooting the other a wary glare.
"Good, in that case, for the rest for the evening try calling me 'Retsu'," Captain Unohana suggested with a smile. Soi Fon could feel her heart stop at the thought of doing something so unthinkable as addressing the daunting Captain of the fourth Division on familiar terms. If this was indeed a game, she was sure to lose.
"I-I, could never think of referring to you in such a way..." Soi Fon said blushing, memories flashing through her mind. For once she couldn't "see" Lady Yoruichi, but only hear her words as she asked the same thing of her long ago.
"No? Then perhaps you wouldn't mind calling me 'Lady Retsu' instead," Retsu said as serenely as ever. Soi Fon let out an audible gasp.
"'Retsu' it is!" Soi Fon blurted out like an idiot, nervously blushing.
"Okay. And I shall call you, 'Soi Fon'." Retsu said placidly.
"Y-you will?" Soi Fon gave an exceedingly uneasy snicker. In the entirety of her life in Seireitei, she had neither seen nor heard of anyone else seeing Retsu Unohana address anyone without some sort of title attached to their name.
"Of course, Soi Fon, familiarity will make it much easier for us to form a truly intimate relationship," Retsu said, again with a pleasant look in her eyes; again Soi Fon's jaw dropped.
"What are you talking about, Captain Unohana? Intimate relationship, I thought this was just a trial date like all the others," Soi Fon replied with immediacy, obviously taken aback.
"Soi Fon?" was all the elegant woman said as she shot Soi Fon a questioning stare.
Soi Fon stared back at her blindly for a moment wondering why the woman wasn't answering. Eventually her "mistake" hit her. "I-I mean Retsu."
Retsu smiled at the sound of her name on the others lips, "That's better."
Soi Fon immediately blushed. She found the question infinitely harder to ask this time, "What did you mean by us forming an intimate relationship? Isn't it too early for that sort of talk, R-Retsu?"
"Perhaps, but you should really hope it turns out well, Soi Fon. At this point, I'm really the only option that could work for you." Soi Fon had to wonder how such soft-spoken words could cause her body to quake uncontrollably.
"Because there aren't any other female captains, right?" Soi Fon said, trying to rationalize the words so she didn't have to think about them.
"Correct. Currently I am your only hope for happiness."
Soi Fon didn't have a clue what to say to this. She didn't say anything. She just continued to walk forward, staring out as the setting sun reflected off the walls lining the Seireitei streets. She felt so vulnerable. She might have, at that moment, felt even more weak and helpless than Lady Yoruichi had made her feel so many years previously.
She shook her head furiously trying to make those thoughts scatter. The previous night she had decided that she would try to be strong and get over the past, but the thought of someone other than lady Yoruichi making her feel this way scared her.
She didn't know what to do. She looked at the woman next to her. Retsu wore a calm, almost carefree look on her beautiful face. Soi Fon had to wonder how this other could be so strong. How she could show no fear or apprehension at taking as big a step in her life as initiating a romance. She decided she'd attempt her strategy of putting the conversation on the other once more.
"Have you ever been in love before, Retsu?" Soi Fon asked in a deliberate voice as she looked up at the tranquil sky.
"I've had a long life, Soi Fon, and I haven't always commanded the respect I do now. There have of course been moments of happiness along the way, though they seldom lasted long," Retsu spoke somewhat somberly, closing her eyes and taking a reflective expression.
"I can't understand how anyone could ever break your heart, Retsu," Soi Fon said in a gradual fashion.
"It's an unreasonable thing to expect two individuals to stay in each other's hearts forever, especially when love is not the only thing that defines us in this world," the healer replied as softly as ever. Soi Fon knew that even though the focus on Retsu this was still at leas partly abut her.
"I know. But just because it's inevitable, doesn't mean it's painless..." she sighed morosely in response.
"Of course not. If there were no pain when a bond broke then it would not be a powerful bond in the first place."
Soi Fon didn't respond to these word immediately. She just stared at the beautiful woman in front of her, slowly realizing what sort of solution she could be. After a peaceful moment, she spoke in a crisp voice, the words clearly meant,
"I loved Lady Yoruichi with all my heart. That's over now. It's past the time I stop dwelling on it and move on. The pain from one broken bond should not suspend my happiness forever."
"Words like that prove your strength, Soi Fon," the other replied. Like everything Retsu told her, Soi Fon believed it.
"What about you, Retsu? Are you ready to move on as well?" the younger Captain asked, an earnest look in her eyes.
"I've never had someone quite as special to me as Captain Shihoin was to you," Retsu replied evenly.
"That's not what I'm asking," Soi fon shook her head softly.
"You wonder if I'm ready to form a bond that strong with another?" Retsu read her date's concerns perfectly.
"Yeah..."
"Love is not a foreign emotion to me, Soi Fon. In fact it is the very emotion that drives me, defines me. Even if my job, my status, my rank, and any number of other things have gotten in the way of others receiving my love in an intimate fashion, that doesn't mean that there is no love for me to give in such a fashion," Retsu's voice sounded so pure that it left Soi Fon feeling warm.
"But why me, Retsu? Why are you interested in loving me? Is it just out of convenience since we're both Captains?" Soi Fon posed more questions to the woman, a vulnerable expression on her face.
"I would hope it's not just that, Soi Fon." Retsu gave a soft laugh and a smile, "The truth is, for the longest time, you've fascinated me."
"I have?" Soi Fon was taken aback by this claim.
"It started one-hundred years ago, after Captain Shihoin broke your heart and you ended up in my care for the first time. It touched me to see someone so pure and devotional. I have been watching you ever since then," Retsu explained. Soi Fon looked at her skeptically.
"That's sort of difficult to believe. You mean to say you've been in love with me for one-hundred years?" Soi Fon said in a low growled voice.
"Of course not. I've just been watching you that long. Through all your descent into despair, loneliness and anger, I never once thought of the beautiful solution of filling the gaping hole in your heart myself. Not until you ended up in my care a second time, that is," Captain Unohana divulged gently. Soi Fon smiled.
"You really think it'll work?" Soi Fon blushed as she stared at the other woman, their eyes meeting as they continued to walk.
"We're an interesting dichotomy, you and I, Soi Fon. I am a woman with nothing but love to give, and you are a woman who can't survive without love. In that, I believe we complete each other." Soi Fon was beyond simply vulnerable at these words. She felt downright fragile, as if any more powerful words would simply break her into a thousand tiny pieces.
"I hope I can be what you want me to. I hope I can be what you see in me. I hope I'm not as weak as I feel," Soi Fon shook nervously once more. Everything about this was so difficult for her.
"Your insecurity is understandable, Soi Fon. Taking steps like this is difficult for anyone no matter how strong they may be. Once you stop seeing me as someone to look up to with respect and instead as someone to love and embrace, the anxiety, the confusion, it will all pass," Retsu said softly.
"But how do I get to that level? I don't want to feel so scared and pathetic anymore," Soi Fon all but demanded.
"Would you really like to know that?" Retsu stopped walking and stood in place as she asked this question. This jarring change and the words still lingering in the sunset painted air made Soi Fon shiver fearfully as she too came to a stop.
"Y-yes... yes I would, Retsu," she spoke with building confidence as she looked directly at the other woman.
Retsu approached Soi Fon at a painfully slow pace. Every second the gap between them grew smaller Soi Fon became more tense. When the woman's arms wrapped around her and she was blanketed in warmth, Soi Fon questioned if she really wanted this. When she looked up into her enveloping blue eyes she knew that she did. When she felt Retsu's lips gently rub against hers she wondered how she could have ever wanted anything else.
The kiss was fairly brief but to Soi Fon it seemed to encapsulate a lifetime. Their eye contact never broke as their mouths joined lightly. In those moments it was as if all Soi Fon's worries were cast aside. It was as if she could finally move forward. Her arms wrapped around the woman as she kept their lips locked together tightly. Soon Soi Fon understood that, for the second time in her life, she had fallen in love.
"Did that make you feel better about everything, Soi Fon?" Retsu asked as their lips finally parted. Their eyes didn't.
"Yeah..." Soi Fon sighed out longingly as she reveled in the warmth of her beautiful partner's embrace. She didn't want it to ever end.
"I'm happy to hear it," Retsu smilingly said, still holding the other tightly "Now will you be wanting another date tomorrow?"
"I don't want tonight to end..." Soi Fon murmured languidly.
"Oh my?! I had no idea you were so eager to escalate things, Soi Fon," Retsu said showing the closest thing to surprise the other had ever seen grace her countenance. She lowered the embrace as if flustered.
"W-what? What are you talking about? What did I say?" Soi Fon frantically questioned, alarmed at the sudden shift in mood.
"Well, it's fairly late now, and you said you want to continue. There's only really one thing lovers tend to do this late into a date," Retsu said in as soft and tender a voice as always.
"What's that?" Soi Fon asked, not following the other's lead.
"Please don't make me explain things like that to you, Soi Fon, it's too embarrassing," Retsu said; for the first time in the eyes of the other her cheeks took on a red tint. Soi Fon quickly understood what her partner was talking about.
"Oh n-no! We don't have to do that sort of thing yet! That can definitely wait," Soi Fon assured, shaking her head and blushing profusely.
"Hmm? I'm not so sure now. I was thinking we would wait on that sort of thing, but now that you've brought it up, it does seem a good idea for us to take the final step in consummating our relationship," Retsu smiled that deceptively devious smile again as she spoke in a deliberate tone, "it will strengthen our bond and get rid of that last bit of nervousness for us both."
"You sure?" Soi Fon asked, a disquieted look in her eyes.
"I think it would be for the best," Retsu said in an affectionate tone. Soi Fon couldn't argue.
"All right. Let's go," She said with a smile to the elegant beauty. Apprehension was slowly becoming displaced by excitement.
"As you wish." With that the Retsu began to walk once more down the streets of Seireitei. Soi Fon walked beside her, allowing their hands to entangle as she stared up at the night sky and the beautiful full moon suspended within it.
A/N: End chapter 4. Again I seem to be putting the sex in the final chapter. It's worked really well that way in the last two stories so I thought i'd do it again. It saves me from short pointless conclusion chapters. Anyway, despite being uneventful as hell, I rather like this chapter. I have to question my logic in doing it this way and making the whole chapter one big long Soi X Unohana conversation and not including some cheap gimmick to cut back on how much dialog I had to come up with. Believe me, I considered throwing in another pointless Marechiyo scene, some sort of meeting, or even a third dream sequence, but in the end I decided chapter 4 should just be about the two girls. Next chapter you'll get the Captain X Captain love scene. Anyways, please review and tell me what you thought.
As I couldn't write for several days last week due to family visiting for the holiday, my poll got a considerable amount of extra vote collecting time. An astonishing 53 of you voted in my poll to see which of the more "mainstream" Bleach Yuri pairs were most popular. To absolutely no one in the world's surprise the winning pairing was Yoruichi X Soi Fon with 30 votes or 56 percent. I actually figured it'd be a higher percentage, but go figure. I was actually kind of surprised with ow closely the secondary mainstay of Bleach Yuri, Tatsuki X Orihime followed it, achieving 26 votes or 49 percent. Rukia X Orihime got third with 17 votes and Unohana X Isane found fourth with 15. Chizuru X Orihime was last with only 8 votes, being beaten by a fantasy pairing (Rangiku X Orihime) and loli-incest (Karin X Yuzu).
Now we arrive on an interesting topic, the current poll, the poll as to what my next story will be. Roughly a month ago I had a poll asking my readers if they had any interest in seeing fanfiction by me for a number of other series besides Bleach. I found there was a fair amount of interest in me doing so for some series, namely Soul Calibur, My-HiME, Fire Emblem, and Death Note. I decided then that I would branch out and maybe write some of this stuff at some point. Right now, I'm at a point where I'm not sure if it's time for me to do so yet. I'm really still into Bleach; it's not like when I was writing for Naruto where I stayed longer than I should have because I was afraid of alienating my fans. It's hard for me to make the call on my own, so I decided to do something different. For the first time, I'm running a mixed poll, that includes not only pairing options from Bleach but form other series as well (though not all the series I previously mentioned, jut the one's I currently have ideas for). But that's not all; all the options on the poll are strong ideas in my head, and I'm going to provide you with brief potential summaries of all of them, that way you can make a more informed decision.
So, here you have the six options:
A: Bleach. Pairing: Rangiku Matsumoto X Nanao Ise. Genre: Romance/humor. Summary: Rangiku and Nanao, both fed up with their captains, volunteer to lead an expedition to the human world. In the course of it all, they both realize they can't survive without hat conflicting personality in their lives, but that maybe it can be found in someone other than the one waiting for them back home.
B: Bleach. Pairing: Momo Hinamori X Nemu Kurotsuchi. Genre: Romance/hurt/comfort. Summary: Still afflicted after Aizen's betrayal, Momo has taken on a defeatist view of life. One day she happens upon a girl sadder than she is, and in supporting her her faith is slowly restored.
C: Bleach. Pairing: Rukia Kuchiki X Orihime Inoue. Genre: Romance/light humor (i.e. occasional Orihimeness). Summary: A despondent Orihime sees Rukia as both one of her closest friends, and deepest rivals. Contrarily, Rukia, after some awkward encounters, is beginning to see Orihime in a completely different light.
D: Soul Calibur. Pairing: Cassandra Alexandra X Sophitia Alexandra. (yes this would be an incest story) Genre: Romance/adventure. Summary: Sophitia, in her search for the cursed blade, instead happens upon her sister in the captivity of one of their foes. After freeing Cassandra, she does her best to continue her quest while supporting the shaken girl, in the process rediscovering and testing their sisterly bond in ways she wouldn't have imagined.
E: Soul Calibur. Pairing: Tira X Talim. Genre: Romance/adventure. Summary: The deranged, sadistic Tira is defeated soundly one day and left for dead. A naive young girl from the southeast happens upon her bloodied body and for some reason saves her life. As this girl and Tira cross paths multiple times, the girl tries desperately to change the other's warped outlook.
F: Death Note. Pairing: Misa Amane X Rem (human transformation). Genre: Humor/Romance. Summary: Boredom leads to a certain question, which leads to a certain quest, which leads to a certain big change for Rem. The eventual resulting changes to Misa Amane's love life and the fate of the world are the real story though.
