Chapter 6- Wake Up! Yoruichi's Despair!
"Speech."
'Thoughts.'
"Past Speech."
"Echoing Speech."
'Echoing Thoughts.'
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
I am aware that I left you all with quite the stressful cliffhanger in the previous chapter, and so I took no delays in writing this one. I thank all who read and reviewed Chapters 5 and 4, and hope that I didn't strain you too much with those recent cliffhangers.
I won't overdo it with words, so enjoy the chapter and I will meet you once again at the bottom of this web page.
.
.
.
'Soi-Fon...'
.
.
.
Everything around her was blank, although she could feel the brutal squeezing lacerating her upper body into pieces, tearing everything inside her. However…she felt numb and warm, warmth which centered around her being from an outside source, the physical sensations of the breeze and the soft texture of the presumable futon she was resting in were no longer a far foresight.
She could feel herself breathing, her lungs wheezing as they were filled with oxygen, and amidst it all a horrible feeling of confusion flooded through her, a powerful surge of panic purging away the endless void she was centered at.
She could hear many sounds around her, far echoes of different rhythms, the most prominent one being the frantic, paced feet which ran across the cracked ground of Soukyoku Hill from various angles, increasing gradually as it quaked through her ears, approaching only to fade away into nothing but faint pulses, growing farther and farther away.
"Un-s s-en, t-n, el-en and thi-en oc-py you-lves w-h s-i-f-s h-li-g p-ed-es! Do-t d-re to m-ss up e-en f-r a se-nd!"
Her head throbbed heavily, as if a sledgehammer was repeatedly slammed against her temples, causing her to flinch and stir. Regardless, she could hear the faint, cut-off tone of Yasochika Iemura, the Fourth Division's 3rd Seated Officer, as he issued inaudible orders to every direction, channeling the sound of the footsteps vibrating through her ears, controlling it with ease.
"Un-ha-na t-chou! Pl-se up-te on So-fon's con-ti-n to th- un-ts a-d b-in tr-tm-nt!"
She felt the voices slowly becoming clearer and clearer, the surrounding melodies of her environment around her fading into the same line of hearing as well. For a few moments her body remained still, observant and detached, trying to comprehend on the current condition.
She remembered being cut down by Aizen before she even managed to notice, how the cold, rough ground of Soukyoku Hill felt against the side of her body, and the horrible pain following suit. Such sensations, however, dimmed out of her memory as she recalled losing consciousness on the spot, everything around her dispersing.
The last sound she heard was the distant echoes of her bee's voice.
And the thought of said echoes caused Yoruichi to jolt up brutally, golden, bagged eyes snapping wide open, shuddering off the massive wave of disorientation that burst through her senses at the sudden exhaustion. Her irises were nearly blinded by the blurred, lightened sight around her, yet she was able to feel the presence of three young Shinigami right next to her, attempting to treat the severe gash she had sustained after apprehending Aizen.
The radiating warmth of the orange skies seared down on her raging spirits, glittering through Soul Society's heavens with a soothing hue, painting the peaceful, white clouds dotting the vast horizon. It has been so long since she truly allowed herself to marvel at the sight, letting just the smallest traces of serenity and warmth to dance along her skin.
But the moment she did, Yoruichi could feel something inside her twisting, a horrid, mortifying stretch that caused her insides to snap.
She pushed herself over her own limits, trying to breathe, the pain which previously torn through her muscles now quelled into nothing more but stinging numbness. 'Soi-Fon…' She thought horrifically, bending forwards until the forces of gravity didn't let her go any further, causing her to remain in a sitting position.
She felt every inch of her body aching and screaming in reaction, having difficulty enduring her drastic movements.
Yet regardless of it, her will kept pushing forwards.
'Soi-Fon…Soi-Fon…Soi-Fon…'
"Y-Yoruichi-san!"
She snapped her golden irises to her left, locking her eyes with the frantic, blurred gaze of a female Shinigami, who was adorned the traditional Fourth Division's medical kit over her shoulders. The woman hesitatingly, yet swiftly sent her hands to grab Yoruichi's shoulders, but the latter instinctively slapped them away with blinding speed, emitting a groan of frustration from her throat, disregarding the squeal of surprise the woman made at her reaction.
The blanket covering her up to her midsection slid downwards ever so slowly, and Yoruichi managed to notice, even in her fatigued-driven state, that her upper body was stained with her own blood. It leaked down her fresh, barely closed wounds, which ruptured apart her sleeveless, backless top, soaked in its black, tight fabric as well.
"You mustn't move! You're in treatment, Yoruichi-san!" A male Shinigami protested frantically, interrupting her line of thoughts as he attempted to do exactly what his comrade wasn't able to accomplish and force Yoruichi back into her futon. He was met with a harsher fate, however, when the Flash Goddess gripped his hands viciously, causing him to wince in pain at her relentless clutch. Her whole being trembled, her body convulsing shrilly as she used the Shinigami's hands as involuntarily leverage to slide her buckling legs out from beneath the blanket of her comfortable futon and force herself into a clumsy, exhausted standing position.
Her golden eyes widened in excruciating agony, gripping her barely bandaged chest and choking out blood at the exertion. She looked around in every direction, and noticed many eyes were fixated upon her, despite how fuzzy and blurred everything was. Yet they were all merely shadows, in her numbed, heavy word.
In the midst of it all, one question kept her legs from failing her and causing her body to crumble down.
"S…Soi…Fon…"
She managed to utter her name pain, her eyes repeatedly scanning over the shocked inhabitants of Soukyoku Hill, looking for her student, for her beloved bee among the darkness. She could feel the traces of Soi-Fon's reiatsu embed to every nook and cranny throughout the battlefield, confusing her, disorienting and drugging her senses until she could no longer use them.
It felt so faint, pulsing weakly together with her heart in a low rhythm.
She took a step, not knowing where, feeling her own body lead her legs away and towards an unknown direction infront of her, no longer able to remain idle. Her legs kept buckling, shaking under the weight of her injured, exhausted body, her own step chiming through her weak mind. She took another one, her muscles trembling and swaying from side to side at the continuous struggle.
More steps followed as Yoruichi slowly forced her way forwards.
Everything around her darkened into a pitch-black void, her own mind warped in mental fatigue and physical pain, the cold air around her caressing her bare, knotted back and her shoulders, providing some sort of sick motivation for her to move on. Her squinted, bagged eyes once again scanned the area around her, and suddenly, right infront of her, Yoruichi's golden irises could spot a glowing, golden bee fade into view, dancing around her, shimmering a pacifying light over her pained body.
She buzzed so beautifully, in a serene, tranquil rhythm, so gracefully circling around her…that was the bee which was trapped in Soi-Fon's head for so many years, showering her with warmth and comfort whenever she heard its sound inside Soi-Fon's being…
That feeling, however, did not linger, as the bee started flying away slowly, taking her leave, growing farther and farther from Yoruichi's eyes. She swirled and buzzed more and more, her movements turning frantic and pained, matching the current state of the violet-haired Goddess' soul.
She found herself compelled to follow, as if her body obediently moved on its own accord, detached and unaffected by the rest of the world, by her commands, or by the distant calls of those around her. Her widened eyes were locked with the assuring, shimmering glitter in the darkness, now nothing but a faint spark of golden, ecstatic warmth.
Everything else was cold against her skin.
And upon taking one last step, the darkness dispersed from around her, as if fleeing from an unseen predator, revealing to Yoruichi's eyes the same Soukyoku Hill she had woken up in. Her narrowed sight was still blurred, yet she could still freeze in her place, could still gasp and drop her mouth in utter dread, horrified to her core, and could still put one hand on her heart, feeling it thumping wildly in her chest, clenching and bursting with each frantic beat, breaking apart.
For a moment, as tears stood in the corners of her eyes, consuming her emotions to grow gradually, Yoruichi really felt like everything around her was crumbling.
She was there, resting on her back, elegantly placed in her own futon which was devoid of any blanket, waiting. Around her were supposedly five, blurred figures of Shinigami, stricken with deep hysteria, shifting from place to place to bring in the necessary equipment, hiding the figure in the center from her eyes simultaneously. They called and commanded to each other as they moved in a shadowy onslaught, only revealing from second to second various bodyparts of the patient they were surrounding, all of them stained and wounded with blood.
Her bee's blood…
She could still make out the white, elegant color of a haori…a captain's haori, adorned by the only shadow that didn't move the slightest bit. It bore the outlines of Unohana Retsu, perched on her bee's side in a Seiza sitting position, looking down at her client.
She could see her expression, yet Yoruichi found herself not caring the slightest when she noticed the red stains soaked into the futon which softly supported Soi-Fon's body, more and more fading into view on the ground around her, in a radius too large to be even considered "severe".
"Soi…Fon…"
Yoruichi took another shaky step, yearning to look at her, to see with her own eyes, every fiber of her being denying the sight infront of her. Her bee was alright, she always managed to endure, to thrive, so capable, so powerful…so ambitious. She always trained so hard and honed her skills, was so committed to her, so devoted. She was always so innocent, she was so young compared to her peers, compared to the world around her…
A blooming flower in a field of withering ashes.
Something like this couldn't have possibly happened, not to her…anyone but her.
This wasn't really Soi-Fon, or maybe it was Soi-Fon, and she was just tired and momentarily wounded from a false engagement with Aizen. Maybe she was still unconscious…yes, and this was all just one, big, dreadful scheme to torment her for leaving her bee behind.
But when a two of the five Shinigami stood up frantically at her ragged voice, turning around to block Soi-Fon from sight as they ran towards her, she could hear their footsteps, could feel her body buckling and quaking, could feel her own soul exploding in her chest in a denied realization.
This wasn't a dream.
"S-Soi-Fon…Soi-Fon…"
Before she was about to start charging, even despite the fact that her body long since failed her and was collapsing to the ground, the two, blurred figures grabbed her by her underarms, allowing her to softly kneel on the rough, wrecked ground, her body unable to remain standing at the realization.
"Soi-Fon! !"
Their touch felt so real, yet it was icy to her skin, foreign, unwelcomed. They were just incomprehensible shadows for her, and she began struggling against them weakly, disregarding their pleas and protests, which just brushed through her ears as she continued.
She tried to stand, yet they held her in place, preventing any sort of movement, allowing her to finally dwell on Unohana's saddened, concerned expression, noticing how her eyes were sorrowful and despaired as they drifted down to Soi-Fon's figure.
She could see her eyes, and the emotions in them reflected only one thing. Yoruichi felt herself cut into two pieces, her fragile, fragmented mentality trembling, what was left of her sanity slowly fading away as the surfacing of the conclusion wrecked everything in its path.
And amidst it all…Yoruichi found her strength to do the only thing she knew.
"Soi-Fon! !"
To call for her.
"Please, stop! She's in-"
"SOI-FON! ! SOI-FON! ! SOI-FON! !"
All she could do was scream her name…
"SOI-FON! !"
"We can't possib-"
"No…let her…"
Unohana's voice dispersed the distortion reverberating into her soul…it was soft, unfazed, yet filled with so much more than just the standard, monotonous notes played by her vocal cords- agony, remorse…sorrow. It made Yoruichi feel like she was slowly freezing to death, as if her own essence was slowly pulling away from her, but she could not let such a thing take over as her captors released her from their grip, allowing her hands to drop at the ground. Her whole body bended forwards at the lack of support, her golden, widened irises transfixed at the sight infront of her, watching as the other Shinigami, who were previously blocking Soi-Fon from her sight, cleared a path for her, revealing what was hidden.
Yoruichi couldn't even find the strength needed to proceed.
"Yoruichi-san…"
She slumped into her knees further at Unohana's words, noting how her tone was so sorrowful and apologetic, so distanced, so unbefitting. That voice, when spoken from Unohana's mouth, could cause even the most composed Shinigami to lose themselves- she was a savior, an angel who preserved the life of many…but at the same time she could be the executioner, the one to deliver the devastating blow to the patient's relatives, the bringer of ill omen.
With those thoughts, Yoruichi's right arm drifted upwards, her convulsing, limp hand rising, covering her mouth with its palm. Her tears set themselves free, flowing down so suddenly, so urgently, unable to be restrained by her denial any longer.
She recalled those days, when Soi-Fon was still just a child…she recalled the content smile that beamed up on her gorgeous features every time she ruffled her raven, smooth hair, a smile she felt so obligated to protect until her last breath, the smile she was eventually forced to betray.
It etched into her mind as she tried to digest the picture infront of her, as she felt her mind shattering in denial, staring at the deep, bleeding laceration cut across Soi-Fon's body, reaching up to her left shoulder from her right hip, tearing apart everything across her thin, upper body.
The blood framing it into her skin was fresh, yet dried at the same time, silent, motionless, much like her, though it still oozed up small droplets of the same red substance, adding to the injuries in the Flash Goddess' crumbled heart.
Her Onmitsukido attire, which complimented her so well, which marked her uprising to become her perfect successor, her equal, was completely torn, revealing many more gashes and cuts across her midsection and her legs, each as brutal and ruthless as the other.
Each one of them excavated the abyssal hole in Yoruichi's being.
Her golden, broken eyes traveled upwards, seeing the fully-stained futon her bee was resting in, seeing how her right arm was no longer there, now nothing more than a bleeding, amputated shoulder. The cloth around it motioned that someone tried to bandage and treat the area with frantic, distressed urgency, but as they were overcome with despair…it looked like the healer had given up on his duty before completing the task.
Yoruichi could feel herself crawling…crawling forwards, her body stiff and numb, heavy and trembling, her golden, dreadful irises now locked with Soi-Fon's face in a gaze which remained unanswered.
Her bee's eyes were hidden from her, directed upwards as she lay there on her back, serene, gazing into the deep, orange-hued skies of the Seireitei, marveling at the beautiful sunset which she hadn't seen for so long.
Yes…the sun was also like that when Yoruichi had first accepted her into the personal guard, she must've remembered it as well…that is why she was so shocked, that is why she wasn't looking at her. She was just occupied with her memories, just like before they confronted Aizen, still unable to digest the fact that her mentor returned to her.
Yes…
No…
When Yoruichi got close enough to drift a shaking, weak hand and slowly brush away her bee's raven strands, which were obscuring her eyes, hiding them from her own, that lie was, too, purged into eternal agony.
Her bee didn't react to her touch, defiant, silent, still unmoving and refusing to answer so many questions flooding through her master's visage.
"Soi-Fon…you there?"
She managed to speak, her voice still weak, barely a whisper, knowing that her student's ears were always able to hear her in those close, warm moments they shared, that any question she asked her would be instantly answered, accompanied by her own name and its respectful suffix. Her pupils were shrinking, eyes slowly widening to full extent, tears rolling down from them endlessly as, just like so many others, this question remained unanswered as well.
Her words dispersed into the cold void around, only one answer lay with Soi-Fon's emptied, foreign eyes. She didn't even bother to look back at her master's hypertilating snarl, didn't even bother to notice her hand, which rapidly tried to shake her amputate shoulder awake, didn't bother to notice her existence.
Silent, motionless…stiff.
"Soi-Fon?"
Her tears dropped from her own chin downwards, softly brushing through the air before colliding with Soi-Fon's unconscious, frozen gaze…yes…unconscious. Yoruichi moved her hand from Soi-Fon's shoulder up to her cheek, feeling her smooth, warm skin, so soft against her fingers, so beautiful and captivating…
"Wake up…wake up Soi-Fon…"
Her voice was vibrating, sobbing and restrained, clinging to the last pieces of her sanity, clinging to the sight of her precious apprentice's face, clinging to her own heart and her own emotions. Nothing made sense anymore, not when her hand drifted up the side of Soi-Fon's face to brush through her hair so tenderly, not when her bee refused to answer her weeping voice, which was no longer a command but a plea.
She felt her heart snap.
"Come on…don't be so stubborn…you can't just…just…sleep like this. I missed you so much…you can't be like that…not after I came back. Please…please…Soi-Fon…"
Unohana looked away, her expression saddening as Yoruichi lowered her head further, bending forwards so Soi-Fon could hear her better. The unwavering captain of the Fourth Division found herself unable to remain impassive to that sight, and only glanced as the Flash Goddess cradled Soi-Fon's head closer to hers.
"I'm sorry…Yoruichi-san…"
Yoruichi froze in place, her sobs instantly choking throughout her throat, her body tensing up wildly at Unohana's words. She remained silent for a few moments, completely still and unmoving, unresponsive and unaware of her surroundings.
"No…"
She hugged Soi-Fon closer, burying her head in her neck like she did back then, waiting for her to respond, to hug back, to prove Unohana that her estimations are wrong, that it was indeed just a dream, that her experience in clinical and medical surgeries was, indeed, as sufficient as she had thought.
Soi-Fon didn't move, laying limp in Yoruichi's sobbing embrace.
"No…No…"
Yoruichi's voice, which came out as inaudible whispers, soon turned into bitter, devastated sobs, silently pushing through her lips as she closed her eyes shut. Her tears began dripping down, falling onto the floor as her sobs grew stronger every second, realizing Soi-Fon was still warm, yet equally motionless.
"No…Soi-Fon…Soi-Fon…"
Her sobs intensified, soon enough turning into bitter, sorrowful cries, growing louder and louder in pitch and volume until they echoed through the silent hill as agonized, powerful wails, brushing through the ears of its inhabitants, who were having difficulties focusing on their own tasks, distracted by the devastated sounds she made.
Rather far, yet close enough to hear Yoruichi's collapse, Byakuya rested still on his Futon, already bandaged up and exhausted from his fight with Ichigo, from the wound he had sustained by Gin, yet alive nonetheless. His saddened, elegant eyes gazed deeply into Rukia's face as she let go of his hand, which was clasped down gently by both of her slim, petite ones just a few seconds ago, allowing it to rest down next to him.
The both of them glanced silently at Yoruichi's back, the hesitation in their expressions nearly identical, seeing the vicious convulses and trembles searing through the ex-captain of the Onmitsukido, hearing the screams, the cries of sorrow which emitted from her mouth to tear up the silence of the Hill.
Rukia sat in a Seiza sitting position next to her brother, the tears which were embed to her eyes from hearing Byakuya's story, his hidden motives and intentions, and the high regard which he held her in, never ceased. However…they were converting into ones of sorrow and remorse, directed at the previous leader of the Onmitsukido.
"So…he was right…" She muttered silently under her breath, her tone firm yet trembling, recalling the vicious quarrel between Soi-Fon and the defector which occurred a few hours ago, recalling all he had said about Yoruichi's true motives and her connection with the cold, merciless captain of the Second Division.
She had also managed to get a glimpse of Soi-Fon back in her younger years, when she was still under Ukitake's commands, before she had departed to the human world. Back then all she could see was a capable, secluded woman who dedicated every fiber of her being into herself and her division. On those rare occasions when they casually bypassed each other in Seireitei's districts, not even a single word was spoken, as if she was just a shadow in the crowd, unseen.
When Kaien, Ukitake's late Lieutenant, spoke to her about the ill Captain's stories regarding various assemblies he had during his years of service, he barely mentioned Soi-Fon, if at all. Even Mayuri was more recognized among the Gotei Thirteen, and he had the tendency to use his own subordinates as combustible decoys, not to mention constantly abuse his own lieutenant.
But as she glanced down to meet with Byakuya's eyes, which were fixated on Yoruichi's body so deeply and silently, she realized that nothing was as simple as it seemed. "Nii-sama…" She muttered sadly, seeing the apparent emotions in her big brother's visage. It held such a saddened yet firm aura, much unlike hers, and as the young Kuchiki Shinigami processed Aizen's claims, her eyes reflected disappointment and mistrust. Even the few Shinigami currently occupied with healing and closing Byakuya's wounds were glancing towards the Shihoin Mistress ever so slightly.
Byakuya's expression could very well match Ichigo's, who was stationed not far from the Kuchiki Clan's head, surrounded by the oval, glowing barrier of Orihime's Soten Kisshun, as well as by his comrades, who were all trying their best to remain unwarned and unfazed, unlike him. The orange-haired Ryoka's eyes narrowed further in sorrow, feeling cold shivers running through his body as he glanced at Yoruichi's back, her wails only deepening the growing turmoil of emotions inside him.
He now knew Aizen was correct, and the way Yoruichi acted confirmed it in any possible way…but why wasn't he feeling the same emotions he predicted he would feel? Why could he not bring himself to hate or despise the one who had used him so recklessly?
'Yoruichi-san…'
And when Yoruichi bent backwards, her violet ponytail fluttering backwards together with her head, her dreadful, devastated eyes widened into a full extent as her broken snarl was revealed to his eyes...
And when her mouth opened to release a vicious, demolished scream which tore apart the ears and hearts of those surrounding her, loaded with such an incomprehensible amount of agony, overflowing with delirious despair and endless torment as it echoed through the orange-hued skies of Seireitei, fragmenting their peaceful hue with her vast, never-ending sorrow...
That was when he realized why.
"NO! ! ! SOI-FOOOOON! ! !"
It was dark…but light at the same time. A controversial dimension consisted of nothing but tranquility and numbness, stretching as far as one's mind could comprehend. Silence reigned over the vast voids around her as she lay in the middle of it- frozen, motionless.
She felt…serene, fulfilled, distant. The minor physical sensations around her were now nothing more than shadowed memories, clinging into the back of her consciousness. Her wounds didn't hurt so much as before…the stings replaced with incomprehensible throbs.
The turmoil- her emotions, was now a harmonized river of ripples, flowing peacefully around her, soothing down the traces of the pain left when she could once feel it. She could recall it all, and it passed before her eyes- her memories, both of her younger years with Yoruichi and a century of suffering, flashing through her awareness, disappearing as quickly and easily as they appeared.
Yet even then Soi-Fon found her silent heart unwearied, even when her mind was preoccupied with Yoruichi's figure, with her smile and her touch, with her warmth and her embrace, and the recent content she felt was now nothing more than a faint tingle of warm shivers.
For the first time in her entire life…Soi-Fon felt free…
There were no more lies and no more suffering, the torment she was forced to endure during Yoruichi's absence was finally a memory of the past, a distant throb in the back of her head. She managed to move on ahead, discarding those horrible emotions on her way, putting them in a pile together with what used to be herself.
Yet as she tried to descend further into the welcoming void, she could hear her sobs…her tears dropping ever so slowly into the darkened trenches around her, the sound of rippling water resonating through her ears every time they did, cutting off the process, forcing her to listen.
'Yoruichi…sama…'
She was crying, her Goddess was crying, yet for some reason it held no effect on her dormant soul, and Soi-Fon could feel no reaction coming out of her, none that she desired. There was peace…so solid and firm it could not waver to the sound of Yoruichi's sobs.
Yet she could hear them…her master was crying.
"NO! ! SOI-FON! ! ! SOI-FOOOON! ! SOI-FON! ! SOI! ! !"
She was screaming, wailing in agony, her voice shattered and devastated, yet for some reason it didn't fuel Soi-Fon's own emotions, a call which soothed through the void around her as a faint cry, many more soon following, louder and louder. However, there the warm, welcoming silence around her could not be broken by the sound of Yoruichi's cries.
Yet she could hear them…her master was screaming, shrieking at her.
'Yoruichi-sama…'
She could hear the ripples her tears were causing through the abyssal depths, sending small brushes of water to caress her numb, motionless being. Everything remained quiet aside from her voice- she felt so tranquil…so peaceful…so…liberated…
"WAKE UP! ! WAKE UP! ! !"
And yet she could hear them…her master was calling for her.
She had spent the last hundred years trying to resent and despise her Goddess, whom she had actually worshipped and loved with every fiber of her soul, for the desertion she never intended to commit. She attempted, in her blinded rage, to put an end to Yoruichi's life after all she went through to see her again…
She had lost herself in the darkness without Yoruichi's light, she willingly gave in to her shallow, pathetic hatred without actually seeking an answer…without actually asking herself why Yoruichi had left her behind, without thinking that she may have had her own motives, without thinking that she was Yoruichi-sama…her Yoruichi-sama.
This time…it would be different.
This time…she would think.
Why? Why did her master desire to wake her up from her calm slumber so greatly? Was she actually worth the tears her goddess was shedding on top of her right now, after all she had done? She was always so worthless and incompetent, so inadequate, did not match any skills and talents held by the other members of the Onmitsukido. She had barely managed to keep up with Yoruichi's daily routine schedule after the latter had departed from Soul Society, barely managed to fill in the void in the Gotei Thirteen which was left by her.
Yet despite how disgraceful she was…
Her thoughts were caught off when she heard Yoruichi wince and choke slightly, and suddenly the pure blue tears dripping down onto her face were replaced by deep, crimson blood. Yes…she recalled…Yoruichi was bleeding. Why was she letting herself bleed and remain medically unattended while she, herself, was completely unharmed? Why would she waste her attention on a petty, incompetent guard like her?
After all that has happened…was she really worthy of her concern?
There was no pain…no more sorrow…but what was this familiar throb in the back of her head?
"YOU PROMISED ME SOI-FON! !"
She could feel her body descending further and further into the deep trenches below, Yoruichi's agonized, devastated pleas shrilling through her ears. In the middle of it all, the pang grew stronger, and Soi-Fon could feel her eyesight brightening, her emotionless, dead expression saddening ever so slowly.
'I…promised?'
And that was when it all burst out, and Soi-Fon found herself pulled back in time, back into this day, the day when she was still happy and content, when it all reached its peak and became something more than love and worship….fulfillment.
"YOU PROMISED! ! !"
She remembered caressing Yoruichi's violet, smooth hair, which seemed so perfect and celestial, above her, out of her reach…it was silky and soft back then, her strands accepting her touch, melting into it...
She remembered her sleeping, dozing expression, her closed eyes so exhausted and fatigued from the burden of having to supervise over two facilities- the Second Division and the Onmitsukido. She had never come to realize that it was only around her that Yoruichi could truly let her violet, beautiful hair down…could truly allow herself to be the compassionate, vulnerable woman that she was…
"WAKE UP! ! !"
She remembered that back then her heart beat so wildly into her chest, overwhelmed by the amount of love she held for the woman on her lap. They say youngsters often confuse their emotions for something they are not, replacing hatred with mistrust, agony with sorrow, and affection with love…but back then she didn't care for those claims, they held no significance.
It was when she realized Yoruichi had actually become more than a Goddess for her…that she was always everything she lived for…that she had given her heart to the only one whose presence she ever desired…the only one who would truly wait for her at the end of the abyss…
Who would return her endless, undying love for her…
That was also when…
"I will…always be by your side to protect you. Always…"
"Yeah…it's a promise."
That was when…
'Yes…' Soi-Fon thought, feeling the pang at the back of her head pulsing slowly, sending blood to chorus through her empty veins, bringing back the warmth she had lost so long ago.
'I…promised…'
She closed her raven, blank eyes, which were devoid of any pupils, feeling her long forgotten heart warming up in her chest, quaking ever so slightly, spreading the warmth of Yoruichi's touch through her soul. Her master called her…because she had promised to stay, she had promised to protect her, back when everything was so perfect and whole…a promise that her Goddess still remembered for so long…a promise that finally resurfaced from the epitome of her warmth. She had already felt content and happy…but the emotions resurfacing from her resolution purged them completely, revealing the absurd in such baseless illusions…
She was now…truly happy…
'I promised.'
Yet it was a promise…
She jolted in sudden alarm, hearing Yoruichi's wails turning frantic and shaken as her touch ceased. She struggled, growing farther and farther away, grunting and wincing in deep pain, roaring and growling as if she was being forced into submission against her will. Soi-Fon had failed to identify the sounds she made, as she never heard such bestial noises leaving her Goddess' mouth.
"GET AWAY FROM ME! ! SOI-FON! !"
Yoruichi needed her…
"SHE'S JUST SLEEPING! ! LET GO OF ME! ! SOI-FON! ! WAKE UP! !"
She needed her…
'Wake…up…'
"SOI-FON! !"
'Wake up…'
Silence…her body was not responding to her commands, refusing to awaken from this captivating sleep, refusing to let this tranquility go just to return into a world filled with sorrow and despair…a world where she had failed Yoruichi, where she had lost her own path, where she had already broken a promise by giving up…
"WAKE UP! ! PLEASE! ! SOI-FON! ! !"
But she would might as well forsaken herself and become a hollow…before defying Yoruichi's command.
'Wake up.'
She would rather undergo another century of endless torment, tenfold the suffering…rather than breaking a promise that Yoruichi remembered even after one hundred years of separation…which shattered her just as much.
'Wake up!'
Her heart started pumping faster and faster in her chest, the warmth of Yoruichi's touch, which was previously just a small trace of heat, now a burning inferno around her, melting through the darkened ice surrounding everything, which were previously engulfing her soul in their chill, withering touch…
Everything around her was vaporized, boiling with could only be defined as the eternal pain following a brutal withdrawal and reinsertion one's soul.
"Please…Soi-Fon…please…just…please…"
That was a promise she intended to keep…
'WAKE UP! ! !'
She felt her body torn, pulled so fast everything around her was blurred into an unimaginable sensation of stiffness. The pain sore through the fabric of her skin, shattering apart every vein in her body as devastation and mind-wrecking agony seeped through every inch of her muscles. She felt herself squeezed and crushed by a massive force of physical strain, the incomprehensible, electrifying tearing that replaced the presence of her right arm…
She felt herself ascending upwards with blinding speed, her body torn and brutally skinned at the friction, a physical torture which cut her to pieces and stomped on the fragments of her body, wrecking her apart and destroyed her very essence…
But then…she stopped…in that very state, unable to even scream, to move…to breathe…
But among it all…she could feel them…
The traces of Yoruichi's touch…on her skin…
She heard Yoruichi roaring in fury, followed by a vicious sound of flesh being torn and bones being cracked, the Shinigami who were holding her captive in order to treat her opening wound falling away from her to collide with the ground of Soukyoku Hill.
"SOI-FON! !"
Her agonized scream was no longer an echo, her sobs and cries were no longer distant voices which held no meaning to her. She could hear her Goddess falling to her knees, her hands supporting her own weight against the rocky ground as she clumsily crawled her way back to the soft futon she was resting on, her shaking body struggling back into the same position it once was.
Soi-Fon could feel her being passionately embraced by her wobbling arms, her upper back raised once again and cradled ever so weakly, the same comforting, clutching hands clinging into her bleeding, dying form, clutching onto her with all the strength they had left.
Yoruichi buried Soi-Fon's head in hers, their foreheads crashing, her shut eyes burying themselves in her nose bridge, the tears her eyelids held back threatening to rip them apart in another violent outburst. She could feel Soi-Fon's face burning against hers, her warmth so nerve-numbing and comforting…yet it held no such influence on the Goddess, as her own bee still lay limp in her arms, defying her commands for the first time.
…the last time.
She recalled it…one of her most cherished memories…the memory of that day when she could no longer ignore the warm shivers chorusing through her every time she encountered Soi-Fon in the barracks and decided to pull this girl closer to her…
She recalled how her protégé dropped to her knees and bowed respectfully, a considerable distance away from her seat in her personal room, how she lowered her head down in admiration and awe, so young and humble…so submissive…so elegant.
"Soi-Fon reporting, Your Excellency Madam Commander…"
The utterly exaggerated, formal title stung through her ears, disappointing her, seeing that Soi-Fon was literally forcing herself to be professional and respectful, assuming her most stuffed façade, one she hadn't enjoyed seeing the slightest bit. She knew what holding a façade involved, bearing a few of them herself, and when she saw that the one infront of her was in possession of such a firm one, Yoruichi could no longer turn a blind eye.
As the twenty second head of the Shihoin noble family, the Captain of the Second Division, and head of the Onmitsukido, the duties and responsibilities required of Yoruichi were overstraining and burdening…she knew what it was like to be distressed and fatigued…but something about this girl infront of her always relieved and comforted, giving her the strength to wake up over and over again, even if the only contact they ever had was the occasional greeting within the territory of the Onmitsukido.
But this will soon be a thing of the past.
"Oh, you're here!" Yoruichi called happily, relaxing into her seat, satisfied and proud of her precious student's presence. She felt a smile slipping onto her facial features, which were usually so cold and serious in the presence of her underlings, a predictable phenomenon when her own body was washed over by the soothing, warm energies radiating from Soi-Fon's reaction to her voice. "Have they explained everything?"
"Hai," Soi-Fon prompted professionally, raising her head ever so slightly, masking her own happiness and content so well even Yoruichi couldn't help but stare in amazement. Her voice was firm, unwavering, monotonous…she was restraining herself so horribly. "I, Soi-Fon, will give my mind and body to protect Your Excellency-"
She couldn't see her like this.
"Don't be so formal." She interrupted sadly, leaning on her right elbow, which was perched on the arm bar of her cushioned, green seat, a sympathizing glint in her golden eyes. The way Soi-Fon jolted up from her tone, her own irises captivating the Goddess' gaze over the glowing, orange hue of the sunset. "Quit that 'Your Excellency'. You can address me more familiarly like…'Yoruichi-san' or something."
She had watched her closely…ever since their fateful encounter that night…when members of the Onmitsukido were becoming annoyed of Soi-Fon's amazing performances, which were setting up high standards for them, and decided to overwhelm her.
She had decided to intervene, completely annoyed that violence broke out within her own division after training hours…and as she had always done in her long, demonic reign, she had decided to torment and beat them into pulp, show them the results of their foolishness…but when she turned to hit the last combatant who was left standing…her kick was blocked.
It was the first time, in her entire life, that her kick was blocked.
She wasn't even holding back.
When her darkened eyes, which were filled with cold back then, first met her silvery, shocked ones, she could feel herself…waking up…
And she quickly lost herself in the silver orbs gazing at her so shockingly, which belonged to such a young, lovely girl. She was the youngest Onmitsukido members Yoruichi had ever seen in her long years of service, yet she managed to block her kick just by using her forelimbs…
This girl was something.
Many years afterwards, and she was becoming a remarkable, cunning member. She was already one of the strongest initiatives despite her young age, the brightest and most captivating subordinate Yoruichi ever met, and before she knew it the head of the Onmitsukido was occupying most of her free time observing the young, raven-haired assassin in secret…
A part of her yearned to have Soi-Fon by her side, and finally with her amazing achievements and strength, she could justify her desire to drag the little bee towards her.
Silver eyes widened completely at Yoruichi's words, Soi-Fon bending backwards and removing her fists from the wooden floor in utter shock, gawking at her commander. "I-I dare not think it!" She exclaimed in terror, a faint blush covering her cheeks, her features completely frantic. She looked adorable…so innocent and be young. "Speaking so to Your Excellency would-"
She felt her golden irises saddening at Soi-Fon's protest, a pang of disappointment in her heart at her surprised, panicking reaction. She could see Soi-Fon was left frozen, hesitant and remorseful, their eyes locked so deeply everything else felt distant.
"W-Well then, may I call you 'Yoruichi-sama'?"
Her own name, when leaving that girl's lips, was like a melody to her ears, so fluent and enthralling when paired with the unexpected suffix of 'sama'. Together, they created a formal title which was suitable enough to be used when referring to captains and high-ranking officers in cold conversations, but when spoken with that girl's tone…it felt so different, as if it wasn't the acknowledgement of authority or position, but rather an acceptance, an immense admiration and worship which was a myth even among her own personal guard, who all resorted to calling her 'Shihoin-taichou' by now.
Yoruichi never thought she would yearn to hear such a suffix attached to her name as badly as she did now.
When spoken by Soi-Fon…this suffix was perfect.
"Phew, you sure are a stuffed shirt! Well fine, call me what you like."
She found herself leaning forwards in reaction to the petite, raven-haired girl's impassive expression, grinning in delight. Despite the passion and admiration seething from her voice, Yoruichi could see Soi-Fon's expression was still as secluded and detached as before. She was even more eager to relieve this girl from the burden of her lies…
Perhaps…perhaps a compliment was in order? She had never complimented her subordinates before. Such a gesture from them would cause their ego and self-esteem to skyrocket until their performance degraded…but…by the way Soi-Fon spoke to her, she needed to approach the girl differently…she wanted to approach the girl differently, a desire surfaced within her as the picture of Soi-Fon's shocked eyes came back to her mind, and suddenly she yearned to see her expression being that of a smile…one of happiness.
"I called you here because I recognized your strength! What you call me doesn't matter."
She could see Soi-Fon frozen there, her mouth gaped and her eyes widened, a faint blush slowly spreading on her face at the sudden compliment. She was caught off-guard, utterly awestruck and surprised by her words, and the sight of her expression only forcing Yoruichi to speak further.
She was so close to cracking that hard nut.
"I'm expecting good things from you, Soi-Fon!"
And then she smiled…
When the girl infront of her bended backwards and smiled that dazzling, cheerful smile, her eyes beaming up with gratitude and happiness…everything else felt so insignificant. In that glint of the moment, Yoruichi had managed to forget them all…her duties, her weights, her responsibilities…her own importance disappeared into the back of her mind, her position no longer known to her senses- in that moment…with this girl…she was herself.
And thus she could feel, for the first time, an inaudible sensation of content creeping into her heart, accompanied by tingling warmth of fulfillment and happiness, her whole body fluttering in reaction to the blissful shivers spreading through it. She felt peaceful, her golden eyes captivated, imprisoned in Soi-Fon's irises, warping her mind and melting her soul until she could no longer form a coherent thought.
Her bee's eyes…her bee's smile…her bee's existence…
"H-Hai!"
That was the moment when they became her entire world…
Her consciousness was fading away, the excruciating agony tearing through her skin, the loss of blood causing her to go numb and heavy, yet she never let go of her bee and never ceased her broken sobs. "Please…" She wept silently, tightening her embrace around her protégé's petite silhouette, pulling her delicate features against her own, shaking. "Please…"
She lowered Soi-Fon's upper body ever so slightly, squinting her sobbing, tear-filled eyes, her body shrilly craving to see that smile again…to see those content, happy eyes again…but all she met was an empty, blank expression…blank irises, which used to shimmer in a silvery, captivating hue, gazing endlessly at her own…impassive…emotionless.
She closed her eyes as tight as she could, her snarl intensifying as she pressed Soi-Fon's face against hers again, unable to gaze at her any longer. Her sobs once again turned into wails, losing herself in the thoughts of her smiling, young expression, the one which etched itself into her heart as one of her most precious memories…
And is likely to remain a memory for all eternity.
"Wake up…wake up…wake up…wake up…"
And so she remained, whispering the said mantra over and over again with every last remain of hope, with every last remain of sanity she had, praying in her heart over to the unapparent presence the humans referred to as god to show her that this was just a dream, to snap her back into reality and see that Soi-Fon's current condition was just one of the same hallucinations which tormented her for a whole century.
When the miracle she begged for never happened, her cries became choked and disrupted, no longer aware of Unohana's sorrowful eyes, no longer aware Iemura's pained expression, no longer aware of herself. Her breath began to wane, her body unable to remain functioning any longer, and in that horrible moment of her last bits of consciousness she could feel a faint, sickening sound emerging from her stomach.
At first…it ruptured through her…but as it kept coming, her tears drenched out even further, noting how this gruesome friction of her insides was resembling a sound so familiar…with a tone so captivating…so nostalgic…
"Huh…What's that sound? Buzz buzz…
Buzz…buzz…
Buzz…
There it is!"
Time around her stood idle, succumbing into complete silence once again, disoriented and blurred, blank…
Yoruichi sat there, motionless, muted, her eyes closed shut, not daring to move, wishing that the inevitable darkness would already take away the last remains of her soul…but in the back of her mind that said darkness was purged away from her by a bright light, one unlike any other she had felt before.
She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes…she couldn't bring herself to move or speak…she couldn't respond even the slightest, rooted to the ground in complete, utter disbelief. Her collapsed, trembling body could feel a distant, foreign touch, a slight, quaking pressure applied onto her head.
It was weak, faint, barely noticeable, but it was enough to overwhelm Yoruichi's soul with reassuring heat, washing over her muscles, literally vaporizing her bloodstream apart. The feeling only intensified when she felt the hand on her hand move slowly, brushing so dimly through her violet locks, slender, thin fingers barely managing to ruffle and intertwine themselves in them.
"There's a little bee right here!"
That was when she finally managed recognized it, even in the verge of her collapse, in the increasing turmoil of her insanity against her desires, where she couldn't even make anything of reality itself, the Goddess of Flash, Yoruichi, could always make out one thing.
Her bee's touch…
And as her eyes fluttered open, snapping out when she realized Soi-Fon's face was no longer a blurred, fuzzed mixture of hues to her golden irises, a weak, ragged gasp escaped from the depths of her body. She lost herself that moment, in the exhausted, faint lakes of pure silver, bright pupils locked with her dilating, shrunk ones.
Soi-Fon's own eyes were squinted, barely able to recognize the sight of Yoruichi looking down on her from above, engulfed by the orange, pacifying hue of the sunset. The pain was sheer, unbearable, threatening to pull her into unconsciousness any moment, lashing out at her open wounds and severed arm, yet the sight of Yoruichi's expression, so heavily shocked, so terribly broken, and the warmth of her embrace fueled a small spark of happiness and relief inside her heart.
And then it surged through her weak heart, erupting into every direction, empowering the muscles of her body, empowering her resolve, empowering her hand to tighten its hold against Yoruichi's hair…empowering her blank, strained expression to mold into a fatigued, weak grin.
She felt her own lips move, but no voice came out of them, watching Yoruichi's eyes overflowing with even more tears as she attempted to exhale, watching how her dark-skinned body convulsed and nearly lost control as she tried to utter words. Yoruichi's blood, which leaked down her mouth from the exertion, from the lack of treatment to her own wound, dove onto her pale cheeks, dotting them with its darkened substance.
Her remaining hand still rested on Yoruichi's hair, limp, yet it clung onto her strands, clung onto her Goddess...
Clung onto the life that Yoruichi breathed into her dying body...with nothing more than words...
Never intending to let go.
"Yeah…it's a…promise…"
That was when Yoruichi couldn't take it any longer, snapping out in shattered screams and whimpers, squeezing Soi-Fon's face against her shoulder as hard as she could, her arms wrapped around her warm, breathing body. She could feel her breath tingling her skin, sending blissful tremors through her skin, her heartbeats pumping wildly against her own, which answered in a slower, solid pace…
Suddenly the world didn't seem so cold anymore…
She could feel Soi-Fon's hand brushing down from her hair to her upper back, her caress leaving behind a trail of heat, her petite body jerking ever so weakly in rhythm with her own quakes. Her bee began sobbing quietly, her voice muted against her smooth, caramel skin, against her embrace.
And when her hand reached Yoruichi's back, it clutched her exposed muscles in a desperate, weak hold, her fingers so soft yet so yearning, and Yoruichi knew one thing…
Her little bee was alive.
And everything else slowly dimmed out of her awareness, leaving the Goddess of Flash and her precious, exhausted student alone, allowing her to hear her own sobs and wails, allowing her to hear Soi-Fon's breaths, allowing her to cherish every single detail into an eternal memory. She held Soi-Fon's upper body as tight as she could with her remaining strength, neither softening nor releasing her grasp the slightest bit, afraid she will never be able to feel her again if she did.
Her own injury was all but forgotten now, blurred out into faint, repeated stings echoing across her upper body, numbed down by her emotions, by her breakdown, pushed away by her happiness and her relief from Soi-Fon's eyes.
And so she remained, with her injured bee in her embrace, sobbing into her raven, smooth hair as much as she could, trying to pour down the remnants of despair and agony which still reverberated inside her from the thought that Soi-Fon nearly left her forever, her wails were now cries of elation, of gratitude, unable to form any coherent gesture.
Everything around Yoruichi remained as it was, in an eternal stasis, the corresponding units of the Fourth Division gawking at the two Hakuda Masters in utter shock and disbelief, completely speechless by the sight.
Even the sun remained stapled up in Seireitei's skies, observing, watching over the Hill at the two Shinigami, giving them all the time in the world. The heated, warm skies stood by peacefully, happy, recalling the last moment they have shone as they did now, beaming up at Yoruichi's emotions, compassionate and sympathizing to her happiness.
Everything was…warm
"I would like units twelve and eleven to refrain from any current activity and prepare for stage five in Soi-Fon-taichou's treatment unconditionally…"
Unohana Retsu's voice suddenly cut down the silence caressing Yoruichi's ears, causing her to perk seconds before a sickening sound of flesh being impaled by a Zanpakuto's blade tore through her awareness.
She tensed, removing one of her golden irises from Soi-Fon's hair, only to horrify completely at the sight of Unohana's Zanpakuto embed into Soi-Fon's abdominal area, its blade lacerated deeply into her systems, drawing out a small amount of blood.
"Units one and two, resume Yoruichi-san's treatment up to the third stage or until transportation is available…"
Unohana's Zanpakuto began shimmering in a faint hue of green, radiating on Yoruichi's pupils as she felt Soi-Fon's body tense and cease its usual trembles, her protégé's muffled winces swallowed by her exposed, warm shoulder.
Before she knew it, Yoruichi felt her opened eyes narrow down into an intense, death glare, locking with Unohana's determined, apologetic expression. "What…have you done…" She muttered shakily, her voice hoarse and cold, murderous and confused, too fragmented and disoriented to realize what Unohana was doing. "What…have you-"
Before she managed to finish her sentence, Yoruichi's enraged eyes snapped in shock, seeing Unohana's palm a few inches away from her own face, still, motionless, shadowing over her eyes with her hand.
"Forgive me, Youruichi-san, but your wounds must be treated before they get too severe…"
Her voice was faint, flat, emotionless, yet bore a certain type of hostility towards the Goddess of Flash. In the small precipices between her words, Yoruichi's entire body surged back into complete focus and attention, everything aside from Unohana and Soi-Fon purged away into nothingness, her sharp eyesight completely clear, her body tensed and unwavering, her tears evaporated.
However, that was before Unohana's palm paralyzed her soul.
"Bakudo Number Thirty Seven…Inemuri."
And within a blink of an eye, all of that came crumbling down, her consciousness cracking and shattering inside her mind. She felt a powerful throb tearing her head apart, her pupils nearly exploding in her golden irises. Everything around her spun, becoming blurred and distanced…
Yet when Soi-Fon joined the list…that was when everything crossed the line.
Yoruichi felt another surge through her, golden lightning roaring apart her veins, steaming up her body with unimaginable force as she latched her hand with such speed that she failed to notice her actions. It grasped the surprised Unohana's wrist, the Fourth Division Captain's eyes widening in disbelief as Yoruichi's expression turned serious and infuriated, her pupils no longer dilating.
She seemed as if her body refused to lose consciousness.
"Amazing…I have never seen a Shinigami who could resist my Inemuri…your strength is remarkable as always, Yoruichi-san…but…"
Yoruichi felt her grasp tightening on Unohana's wrist, not intending to let go of it as her other arm kept supporting up an unconscious Soi-Fon's upper body. Unohana's words kept echoing through her ears, her awareness degraded ever so slowly until she was on the verge of fainting.
"Bakudo Numb- Fi-ty S-x…T-ma Ot-shi…"
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed slightly, everything around her numbing down into radiating, feeble warmth. Gravity was a memory of the past now, her body light and her mind blank as the Goddess of Flash began falling sideways to the ground, feeling herself drifting unwillingly into unconsciousness.
'S…Soi-Fon…'
Even when everything around her finally succumbed…she could still feel her hand squeezed between Soi-Fon's upper back and the soft Futon she was resting on…
Never letting go…even then.
The eternal night skies of Hueco Mundo stood silent, the endless, white sands stretching as far as the eye could see, dotted with several tree-shaped minerals prodding out from beneath the surface, where the forest of Menos Grande lay.
The landscape was unmoving, and in the distance, quite over the horizon, one could see the shadows of Las Noches, the massive fortress towering over the tainted realm with a reign of calmness, standing out in the bleached desert.
Everything was quiet, the silence spreading through the realm, not even a single sound evident in the unmoving dome of darkness above…that is…until a massive earthquake shook apart the areas around the gigantic castle, covering the desert with white clouds of sand.
Thus they stood, even inside the fortress itself, lowering the eyesight of anyone trapped inside into nothing but white blurs. Fortunately, for Gin Ichimaru, his eyes were closed on a daily routine and Tousen himself was completely blind, thus the two had no objection when engulfed in the vicious shockwave.
"My, my…" Gin chorused playfully, the disturbing, intimidating smirk embed to his face, his Captain's haori fluttered by the incoming winds of Reiatsu, which tore through the clouded throne room of Las Noches. Tousen, however, remained silent and professional, not even refraining from his impassionate stance, having discarded his own haori long ago. "Aizen-taichou's pissed like hell…"
The only answer he received from his sightless, dark-skinned comrade was a low groan and a nod, affirming his claim as the two returned their "gazes" to the clouds around the chamber, which still hovered about peacefully. "This place's a mess…" Gin continued cheerfully, turning around slightly before another gust wrecked through the area, brutally colliding with the two defectors. "Sure hope we don't need cleanup…"
His comments, as always, had gone unheard by his seemingly-deaf, dark-skinned colleague, who was still frozen in his place. As the continuous gusts quelled down once again, Gin allowed himself to redirect his squinted glance back to the same direction, intending to refer to the one hidden in the massive, white cloud. "Never knew Soi-Fon-taichou had it in her…" He joked slightly, trying to lighten up the vibe around the area as he did so. Tousen's unwavering gaze obviously told him that he had failed his task miserably.
But apparently his words didn't go unheard, and as the time passed some of the earth dust around the chambers dimmed out and dispersed, revealing the full size of the room to the eyes of the defectors. Most of it, by now, had become wreckage, the walls shattered and torn, stoned rubble scattered around, unable to withstand the continuous shockwaves.
The silence soon settled in once again, not a single word spoken as Gin and Tousen's superior faded into view next to his large, luxurious throne, standing beside it calmly, peacefully. His subordinates' eyes followed his every movement as he strolled slowly towards the front of his seat and claimed it slowly, relaxing back into the white throne, his arms perched on the arm-supporters.
"Yes…"
His voice was blank, serious, monotonous as always, its tone lacking the usual arrogance and smug chime it always radiated. His narrowed, firm eyes scanned around the throne room, his brown irises glancing from Gin to Tousen and onwards.
"It was…unpredictable."
"Reiatsu levels well-over nine grand, scratching the ten under pressure!" Gin whined sarcastically, throwing his hands up in a teasing, provoking grin, eager to get another emotional reaction out of Aizen's stern frown. "And this gold breeze thingy! Pfft…how long was she hiding this up her sleeve? That was scaaaa-aaaryyy."
"Advanced Captain-class Reiryoku, befitting performance, the second Shinigami to ever implement the mythical Shunko…all of that…without even being conscious…" Aizen muttered gravelly, leaning sideways and folding up his right forelimb so he can rest his cheek on his knuckle, observant and quite amazed. Even he couldn't hold the admiration glinting in his tone. "I had expected her to be powerful…but this was…a surprise."
"A surprise? I Almost had a heart attack when that kind freakin' reiatsu came outta her! Shouldn't have cracked the girl if you ask me…"
"It was not something I intended to pass on. That subject was a controversial matter ever since Soi-Fon-taichou had been reported missing ten years ago, for a week after the announcement." Aizen prompted blankly, his eyes burrowing into Gin's smirking eyelids, knowing of his intentions to provoke another outburst from him. "Kurotsuchi Mayuri kept bragging about his findings that Shihoin Yoruichi's defection changed nothing in her Reiryoku readings and Unohana Retsu reported no disorders in any medical procedures. The Gotei Thirteen buried the case at first when she claimed there was nothing unusual in Soi-Fon-taichou's Captaincy Evaluation Tests, so no further pressing was needed. When Soi-Fon-taichou reported back seven days afterwards, unharmed and stable, my plans to dispose of her was in ruins. All she had to do was resume her duties, to maintain the Second Division as the elite by herself, and no one in Central Forty Six or the Gotei Thirteen spared a second glance."
"Wait…what do you mean by herself?"
"I thought you were aware that Soi-Fon-taichou had dismissed the seated officers and assumed their jobs, weren't you, Gin?"
It was one of those rare moments when Gin's provoking smile disappeared from his face, his eyes squinting ever so slightly to look at Aizen in obscured awe.
"Do you recall Genryusai Yamamoto's praise to her regarding the sudden increase of enactment within the Second Division two months after she was appointed captain?"
"You…you shittin' me…"
"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
"Stop quoting human movies. It's pathetic."
"I fail you see the reference I made with my claim. Regardless, why do you find quotes from human movies pathetic?"
"Well, first of all there's the-"
A sigh from Tousen was all Gin needed to see he was straying away from the subject. His closed, deliberating eyes jolted up and he looked at his dark-skinned, blind colleague, noticing how he was still motionless and silent as always, as if he had never produced said sound...
Deciding to leave the sudden arguement to a later date, Gin discarded away his rebuttals to his superior and redirected his resufracing smirk back to him with a renowned vigor.
"If what you're saying's true…how comes Soi-Fon-taichou was never hospitalized?"
"The Gotei Thirteen saw no need to...or rather, Unohana Retsu never requested her presence."
"By 'never requested her presence'...you can't possibly mean-"
"I do. Not even the annual therapy reserved exclusively to the Second Division's Captain."
Aizen's smirk grew wider, instantly noticing a certain trace of disbelief in Gin's tone, a very uncommon gesture for those who knew the prodigy long enough. He saw his chance of provoking the baffled defector even further, seeing that he wasn't even aware of Soi-Fon's potential, but decided against it as they were growing too comfortable around each other.
"In the end, Soi-Fon-taichou hid the truth beneath a mask of lies, and if you haven't noticed that back then then it must mean that she successfully manipulated most of her peers, managing to blend in as a result." Aizen continued seriously, wanting to set things back on track. His expression was no longer amused or smug, but rather a disappointed, irritated frown. "I had kept a close eye on her throughout her service as she was a threat I could not ignore. It was a percaution I was obligated to conduct, seeing that her affiliation with Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke may have provided some indirect knowledge about the matter concerning the Hougyoku to the girl. Yet when it became apparent that she held no knowledge, or interest, about me, but was just busy licking her wounds from her mentor's desertion, I let it slide. Nevertheless, the thought that Shihoin Yoruichi would return to Soul Society and reunite with Soi-Fon-taichou, as much as it could be considered a cliche, was still a possibility. If such a thing would happen, and Soi-Fon-taichou would be freed from those lies, I will gain yet another dangerous enemy. As so, I took the liberty of relieving Soi-Fon-taichou's mask before our departure- the impacts would keep the Gotei Thirteen occupied for a longer period of time, and her withered mentality will prevent her from resuming her role as a captain in the far future, if at all."
Aizen finished his last sentence with a concluding, grave tone, after which he relaxed back into his throne and gazed at his allies, allowing his words to linger and sink into their minds, knowing that he must've revealed a lot of information which may change the ways they look upon various aspects of their lives. He, as well, never believed that Yoruichi's arrival will change the way he looked at Soi-Fon...he always considered her nothing more than a pesky, scowling flea, who tried to follow the shadow of the woman who abandoned her so recklessly, who tried to attain any purpose afterwards...
But now-
"…What a lovely story, Aizen-taichou."
Gin's heavy, careless sarcasm, even in the most serious situations, contributed much to the return of Aizen's growing smirk, snapping him back from his trail of thoughts as his eyes focused once again on his smirk. He remembered why he appointed him as his Lieutenant in the first place.
They had all but forgotten Tousen's presence in the throne room by now.
"I am flattered it caught your interest…"
There was a rather long silence once again after Aizen's remark, allowing the mastermind to sink back into his thoughts, yet his comprehension, like previously, didn't last long as his reply finally settled into the smirking Gin's perking ears.
"The girl's a monster."
Aizen chuckled inwardly at his subordinate's claim, which was, to him, nothing more than the truth.
"That would be putting it mildly."
"But thanks to you she won't need to hide it anymore. What would Soi-Fon-taichou do without ya, Aizen-taichou?"
"I was never above sympathy."
"You're such a kind person."
"I can be caring when I desire."
"We're still cleaning up your mess aren't we?"
"Your perception continues to amaze me, Gin."
"Should we clean your face too?"
Aizen perked up, his smug smirk instantly fading away into a disappointed frown, his frustrated eyes locked with Gin's pearlescent, playful irises. For a moment there he considered Gin's question an insult… until the realization hit him and his frown hardened further.
It was still there.
"No…" He muttered emotionlessly, stretching his left hand forwards and waving off both of his colleagues, signifying that he had grown weary of the conversation and their presence altogether. Tousen instantly turned around and began walking towards the exit with silent obedience, his steps echoing through the futuristic tiles. Gin, encouraged to mimic Tousen's movements, smirked even further, stepping out of the throne room as well, leaving Aizen alone, to himself, in the massive hall shortly afterwards.
The two knew he needed time to plan out his next move…
But as he did so, Aizen couldn't help but bring his left hand up to his face, smirking smugly as the tips of his fingers traced along his face ever so gently, matching the pattern of the fresh, black scar adorning his facial expression, embed to his skin, spreading from right between his eyebrows…
A Homonka.
He closed his eyes and relaxed deeper into his throne, folding his right arm towards him and putting his elbow on the arm-supporter of his seat so he could rest his cheek against his knuckle. He allowed the silence of Las Noches to isolate him from the rest of the realm as he once again trailed off into his thoughts, resuming his comprehension on his next move...
But even then...his arrogant, amused smirk remained etched on his face, only intensifying as time passed.
Emotions were indeed a powerful weapon…
And so we come to the conclusion of Chapter 6, which summarizes the Ryoka Invasion Arc and Aizen's Rebellion Arc, thus becoming a new beginning in Yoruichi's and Soi-Fon's lives as they deal with the aftermaths. Things will become a lot more peaceful starting "Chapter 7- The Morning After.", as peaceful as they can get for the two women in their current conditions.
I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Having thoughts about the turn of events in Soukyoku Hill? About the way Yoruichi's and Soi-Fon's bond is described in this story? Perhaps about the new tattoo Aizen got on his face from yours truly, the Second Division's captain?
Don't keep them to yourselves…that's what the REVIEW textbox was created for. I appreciate feedback and critism, and am doing my best to answer the reviews I get, so your voices will not go unheard.
I hope you'll tune in for Chapter 7, and I'll see you all once again when it happens.
Sincerely,
ForPain.