Chapter 7

There where very few in the 2nd squad who liked Omaeda. He was huge, lazy, where always bossing people around and only got the fuku - taicho badge because he bought himself to the position.

That being said, even the most cold hearted in the 2nd squad had to feel a little sorry for Omaeda as they heard their taicho bellow his name in anger, only this time her tone held a little bit of a snarl that was definitively not human.

"OMAEDA YOU BIG FAT PIECE OF SCUM, GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE NOW BEFORE I HUNT YOU DOWN MYSELF."

Omaeda where at her side at once, panting a bit of having to run so fast.

"H-h-h-hai taicho" he finally got out, trying very hard not to stare at neither Soi Fon's tail that swished back and forth in irritation, or at her face that looked like it had a black furry mask placed on it.

Soi got a firm grip on his shihakusho and dragged him down so that he where on his knees at her eye level. The look in her eyes scared the shit out of him and he gulped as she opened her mouth, sharp teeth showing clearly.

"I will ask you a few questions and you will answer them truthfully is that clear?"

"Hai" Omaeda nodded, to afraid to do anything else than to comply.

"Whose idea was it to put up a betting ring just because I'm currently changing into a Panther?"

Omaeda blinked. "Panther?"

"Hai Omaeda, Panther, as in a big carnivore who has no trouble eating your behind if you don't answer my questions, now spill it."

Omaeda gulped and pointed right behind Soi Fon where a girl whit a standard stealth force uniform, whit a small golden curl falling right between her blue slanted eyes where silently trying to run off and away.

"It was 3rd seat Fuji ma'am."

Soi turned her head, not letting go of Omaeda, her eyes squinting so hard together that everybody near the poor girl who where the 3rd seat walked away from her to not let their taicho think that they where accomplices. Fuji had stopped moving, and gulped before turning to face the cold glare that where her taicho.

"I'm dead aren't I?" She asked very low.

"Sorry, you are not that lucky."

"Well in that case I can just as well do something really bad and deserve what I'm getting" Fuji said taking a deep breath. "SHE'S TRANSFORMING INTO A BIG CAT, SOMEONE OWE ME 10,000,000 YEN."

Soi Fon's face was so livid that half the squad ran away from her sight just in case she where going to explode.

"My office Fuji, now, I will be there momentarily."

Her voice was so low and so full of venom that all Fuji could do was to nod shortly and run off in the direction of Soi Fon's office. Soi turned to Omaeda again.

"Next question, I heard about a rumor of one of the bets. One that said that I'd hide myself from the public by the next month."

Omaeda gulped recognizing the words he himself had uttered. Soi smiled in pure spite. "Who where betting that Omaeda?"

Omaeda gulped, she'd probably know already. "M-m-me taicho."

Soi Fon smiled again, looking a bit hungry. 'Maybe for my flesh' Omaeda thought in panic.

"Now Omaeda last question, who is going to get dragged out of bed at 5 in the morning every day for the next year, and get in shape and being forced into a fat free diet?"

Omaeda gulped but didn't protest at the idea. "I'm guessing me taicho?"

"So glad that we understand each other Omaeda, now run along and enjoy your rice cakes, it'll be a while before you will be able to eat them again."

And whit that she let Omaeda go, but not whit out delivering him a second black eye. "That was for staring at my fur" Soi said as she turned and headed for her office, where she where to deal whit the girl known as her 3rd seat.

Fuji sat still on her knees outside Soi's door, meditating to calm her nerves. She heard her taicho's small and light footsteps but kept her eyes locked on the spot right in front of her, not daring to move, she had angered her taicho enough. Soon enough Soi had walked up next to her, totally ignored her and walked inside her office. It went a few agonizing seconds before Soi Fon taicho called her name.

"GET IN HERE FUJI."

Fuji sighed but rose and quickly entered the office. Soi's office was mostly barren, whit a desk in the middle back right by a window that faced west, letting in the evening glow. There was a bookshelf at the left side of the room containing books from the human world whit martial arts, torture methods, the art of war by some Chinese guy and a book called War and Peace by some Russian guy.

In the way back there stood a bunch of those black metal drawers that contained files on all criminals of soul society that the 2nd squad was responsible for. Fujii sat down in the chair right in front of Soi's desk, where her taicho sat finishing off some paperwork.

A bad omen in and for itself, as the taicho only did the paperwork when she was so pissed she needed to do something so utterly boring that she'd force herself to be calm.

"Well, well Fuji, what do you have to say for yourself?" Soi Fon asked not looking up from her paperwork, scowling down on the paper.

"Err" was all that Fuji got out from her lips before Soi raised her eyes locking eyes whit the girl in front of her making the girl look away and turn quiet.

"If you don't mind me asking" Soi said, her voice dripping whit sarcasm, "why did you bet that I where going to turn into a cat?"

"Well a lot of things really" Fuji said shrugging. "You are nimble, flexible… and of course given the relationship you have whit former taicho Shi…" Fuji stopped talked as she suddenly had the cold steel of Suzumebachi closed in on her throat.

"I shouldn't finish that sentence should I?" She asked as sweat rolled down inside the black stealth force uniform.

Soi where still scowling hard and calmed herself down enough to get out a simple order. "Take of the bandana and mouth cloth, now."

Fuji did as fast as she dared, Suzumebachi still close to her throat. Soi looked over her 3rd seat. The bandana and mouth cloth where supposed to hide the shinigami's features, so that everyone looked like equals. In a fight, if one was in danger, no one would see who that someone where, and would not rush recklessly out to save a potential friend.

With her face now uncovered Fuji was a pretty good looking girl. Fair skin whit long curly blond hair and slanted blue eyes. Well Soi thought to herself, that pretty face was soon going to get a new accessory.

She smiled evilly and spoke again.

"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi."

Fuji tried to look brave. There where no tears on her face, not a slight quiver in her lips, but Soi Fon where an expert within interrogations and torture, and Fujii's eyes told that the girl was terrified. To bad for her that Soi Fon did not know the meaning of the word mercy. "Tell me Fuji, do you know the power of Suzumebachi?"

Fuji nodded. Who in the 2nd squad didn't know about it? Soi Fon taicho had a habit of threatening them whit Suzumebachi if they didn't do as she told them to, but very few pissed her off enough to make her actually release the Zanpakuto.

"Now here is a message to you Fuji" Soi Fon said her tone so hard Fuji almost forgot to breathe. "You made this stupid betting ring and even though I know I can't stop all betting I will not allow this to continue whit my blessing, so I'm going to scare the other in the squad a bit. This transformation is going to take at least 6 months, that being said, you are not going to do anymore betting for the remaining time I am in this situation, and I am going to make sure of that."

Before Fuji could blink Soi had struck Fuji right between the eyes. The homonka was big enough to cover her entire face.

"If I catch you betting again before I am fully human again and I let that homonka mark disappear, you will get hit again Fuji, am I making myself clear?"

"Hai taicho."

"Then go away before I lose my temper."

And whit that Fuji ran off, not daring to look back as Soi re sheathed her sword, silently continuing her paperwork.