Days 24 to 28: The New Normal
Soi Fon snapped awake suddenly, as if called by a starters' gun that only she could hear. The veteran warrior's mind felt an odd disquiet, knowing that something very important had caused her to lose consciousness, but not yet knowing exactly what. She sat up and began an assessment of the situation.
Okay, I'm in my bed, in my quarters, and I'm… fully dressed in my haori?
"Finally awake, Soi Fon?"
"Yeah," Soi Fon said. She looked to her side. "Ah! Y-Yoruichi-sama!" There kneeling next to her futon was her Yoruichi-sama, fully clothed in her orange silk shirt and modified Onmitsukido uniform. Soi Fon blushed fiercely as it all came flooding back.
"You fainted," Yoruichi said, anticipating her question and smiling at her mischievously.
"I… fainted?" Soi Fon asked, blushing all the more fiercely (if that were indeed possible).
"Yeah, I must've given you quite a shock," Yoruichi said, placing an arm comfortingly around Soi's shoulders. "You dropped like a stone when I…" Yoruichi trailed off.
"When you told me you love me," Soi Fon said. Her tone was neutral and she was looking forward. The silence was deafening, with neither woman willing to say anything more for a moment.
But after all she had gone through; Soi Fon would no longer cower in her own indecision. "This is stupid," she said. Yoruichi tensed momentarily, fear leaping in her chest. "If we both love each other, we shouldn't be wasting any time being awkward."
"So you do love me?" Yoruichi asked, her momentary tension vanishing like smoke in the wind.
"As far as I know what love is," Soi Fon replied.
"Now who's the one being awkward?" Yoruichi teased.
"Why did you bring me back here?" Soi Fon asked.
"The Cleaner came soon after you fainted," Yoruichi replied. "This is the direction it chased us in."
"What time is it?" Soi continued in an analytical line of questioning.
"Just after sunrise," Yoruichi said, "it's the 24th day since Kisuke was sealed away."
Soi Fon suddenly stiffened. "How, how did you…?"
"Don't worry about it," Yoruichi said. "I thought it was sweet that you made the deal. Even in the midst of the Winter War, you were thinking about me. And now you know that Kisuke was no competition. No-one ever was."
Soi Fon and Yoruichi smiled at one another, then Yoruichi yawned broadly. "Man I'm tired."
"It is a little early for you to be up," Soi Fon said.
"A little late, you mean," Yoruichi said. "I haven't gone to bed since you passed out." An odd expression came over her face. "I didn't want to wake you. I was worried… about what you would say when you got up. I thought you wouldn't forgive me for what I've done…" she sniffled suddenly, her voice creaking a little.
"Enough," Soi Fon said sternly, though she was smiling. "You shouldn't feel guilty. I already said, we're not going to be spending any time being awkward. Besides, this was all my fault, and you never gave me a chance to apologize."
"Let's just say we're both to blame," Yoruichi said. "We can be equals."
"But now… Yoruichi-sama…" Soi Fon mumbled.
"Yes?" Yoruichi said. Her eyelids were drooping and she was badly in need of sleep.
"Where do we go from here?"
"Here?" Yoruichi asked, as if contemplating the meaning of the word. "Counting today, you've got five days left, Soi-chan." She smiled. "Weren't you going to make me your girlfriend?"
"But I thought…"
"Well, yes, but the Precipice World is no place to confess to a girl," Yoruichi said, her smile growing yet more teasing, but then drew back to sincerity. "I know if I make you try, I'll see something really special." She yawned broadly again. "But first I need some shut-eye."
"You remember where the guest quarters are, right?" Soi Fon asked.
"Yeah, but I'll be comfy right here," Yoruichi said. In a puff of smoke, the black cat was back, and Yoruichi curled up and soon was fast asleep.
~~0000~~
Soi Fon went about her morning as Yoruichi slept, pondering this new turn of events.
We can be equals. She knew that was ultimately what she had been looking for, for a romantic relationship could not function if the partners were not at least nominally on equal footing, but it was a strange idea. Being equal with Yoruichi-sama. Her goal was no longer to surpass Yoruichi, but to join her, to be one with the woman who had been so out of reach all her life, and this was what she now looked forward to.
It should have been a terrifying prospect, but strangely Soi Fon did not seem to mind. Meeting Yoruichi-sama there in the Precipice World and hearing her say those words had been cathartic, liberating, and the weight of a lifetime's worth of anxiety seemed to be draining out of Soi Fon, leaving her feeling strangely empty.
She knew she should still be anxious, of course. First she would have to face the consequences for running off yesterday afternoon, leaving a recently-recovered Omaeda to run the squad for half a day unaided, however minor those consequences might be. Secondly, Yoruichi expected something romantic out of her now, something that she had a scant five days to plan, at least half of which she could expect to lose to her current Captain-duties.
Granted, she was still in the original span of time she had accounted for: her original plans had been built with a leave of absence covering the whole four weeks in mind, but Omaeda's incapacitation and the subsequent events had disrupted the flow of routine for Squad Two and the Onmitsukido, such that even with Omaeda back, they would be in need of her leadership.
So it was that Soi Fon seemed to be caught between her two obligations, between her Captaincy and her Yoruichi-sama, but she was not worried. Now she knew, Yoruichi was here for her, here with her, and not someone she would need to keep under control or worry about. At the same time, however, she wanted to rise to Yoruichi's expectations and give her as spectacular a courtship as she could in the five days she was given. There was no fear of failure, merely an honest, healthy, and unselfish desire to please her Yoruichi-sama.
But the purity of her desire did not change the fact that she did not have any ideas. The disaster of the Female Souls' Festival was fresh in her mind, and although Soi Fon was now certain that such a disaster could not be repeated in its entirety. Their newfound mutual honesty would guarantee that the perfect storm of tension and anxiety that had surrounded that incident could no longer form, but at the same time Soi Fon knew in her heart that any activity like the festival just wouldn't be right at this juncture. That left her with few options, of course, because she herself had plotted for the Female Souls' Festival to be the setting for the ultimate date between her and Yoruichi, one that had encompassed many of the activities that couples normally engaged in. Maybe any of those activities would serve as another good date, but it would not be unique. Special. That was the word Yoruichi had used, and Soi Fon felt that she would know a special date when she thought of it.
Soi Fon; the meticulous planner, the tenacious strategist, had her work cut out for her.
~~0000~~
Yoruichi woke to find Soi Fon missing, her scent nowhere near, save in the latent smell that permeated her quarters. For a time the black cat contented itself in twitching its little nose, drinking in the scent that would now be with her always. Yoruichi extended her senses, however, searching further than her nose could track, but her Little Bee's reiatsu was also not to be found in the immediate vicinity. All Yoruichi could sense was the background noise of all the powerful reiatsu that dwelt around Seireitei. She was curious and, after transforming back to a human and finding some clothes for herself, began to wander around.
She soon found her answer in a note left on Soi Fon's desk in her office.
Yoruichi-sama,
I apologize, but I will be engaged in providing nighttime exercises for the first squad of the Onmitsukido. Please feel free to go out or do whatever you wish.
-Soi Fon
Yoruichi was vexed by the contents of the note. Not by the first sentence, that one had cured her earlier curiosity about Soi Fon's location, but the second one, which was a sharp turn for Soi Fon. She frowned, once again worried for her Little Bee. Knowing she was out doing exercises with one of the Onmitsukido groups narrowed down the list of possible locations considerably, however, so Yoruichi sped off to resolve this new issue.
She found her after making a broad circuit of the Rukon district. Soi Fon seemed to still prefer the Zone Three training ground, despite the fact that many of the trees that provided such good cover there had been cut down by Zaraki. Yoruichi shuddered internally at the thought, Zaraki's shenanigans had launched the incident that brought them here and had very nearly scuttled their relationship. That was where Soi Fon was stronger than her, she supposed. Soi would not let a little thing like hurt feelings change her view of objective reality, and despite the fact that this specific training ground was now tinged with bad memories for her, she continued to use it for how ideal it was for stealth-ops training. Granted, it was now less-than-ideal, but the rough terrain Zaraki had created in felling trees for fun made up for the lack of cover in some places.
It was sunset, and the west-falling sun cast many shadows among the trees, but the cat-eyed Yoruichi was able to perceive everything clearly. It was not like the last time she had intruded upon Soi Fon in the midst of her Captain's duties in a number of ways. First, Soi Fon was not standing authoritatively before well-ordered ranks of soldiers, but was rather among them, distinguishable at a distance only by her white haori amongst the persistent Onmitsukido black. She looked different among her soldiers, still authoritative, but less distant (both literally and figuratively). She seemed more at ease than she had before, though her expression was inscrutable as she went about. She seemed to be organizing the first squad of the Onmitsukido into smaller squads still, preparing for some sort of team exercise. Omaeda was there as well, the large man less distinct in color, though with a somewhat fuller figure than anyone else present.
Yoruichi was not sure how to approach from here. Her one concern prompted her to act, but at the same time she did not want to repeat her previous error of intruding upon Soi Fon's duties. The old Yoruichi would merely have barged in, taking advantage of the fact that she knew Soi Fon would never ignore her. But she wished to act with more tact this time, though she still could not resist her innate urge to make an entrance.
With the distinctive flicker of shunpo, Yoruichi appeared immediately in front of Soi Fon as she was walking in between the two teams she had organized from among her troops.
"Yoruichi!" Soi Fon exclaimed. Yoruichi was pleased by her response, both for the surprised expression on her Little Bee that she would never grow tired of, and for the fact that she seemed to have finally dropped that damned honorific.
"Yo, Soi Fon," Yoruichi said, smiling. "Sorry, but, do you have a sec?"
"Sure…" Soi Fon said hesitantly. "Omaeda!" she snapped.
"Yes, Captain!" Omaeda said, turning his attention towards both groups of Onmitsukido operatives. Despite how much she put him down, Soi Fon seemed to have trained him into a fairly competent administrator in his own right. The two women shunpoed off into the forest, out of earshot of the others.
"What do you want?" Soi Fon asked. Her tone sounded friendly.
"What do you mean by this?" Yoruichi returned her question with a question, then presented her with the note.
"What do you mean?" Soi Fon said, continuing the chain of questions.
"I remember how awkward it made things between us when I went out with Kukaku that one night," Yoruichi said. "If you don't want me to be going out, why are you letting me?"
"Is there a point in here?" Soi Fon asked.
"What I mean is, I don't want you to be just letting me do whatever I want, if that's not what you want." Damn, Yoruichi thought, who would have thought I would ever say something like that? "I'm not going to be selfish like that anymore."
"I have my duties," Soi Fon replied. "But as you once said, you were never that thrilled by leadership. I don't want to bore you, so I did not wish to impose. Are we really having this conversation?"
Yoruichi was taken aback by Soi Fon's brusque, honest reply. Her Little Bee had not been this businesslike around her in a very long time. Yes, Yoruichi was taken aback, but in a good way. "Mostly it was the paperwork and administrative junk that I hated," she said, smiling. "But this, this looks like fun. You could have at least asked me to come with."
"I did not wish to wake you," Soi Fon said, smiling in return. "But your help would be appreciated. We could finally have even teams," she said, her smile growing competitive and predatory.
"Then bring it on," Yoruichi said, a haughty smile growing on her face as well.
They suddenly returned to where the troops were gathered. "Good news, everyone," Soi Fon said. "Lady Yoruichi Shihoin is joining us for this exercise, so we shall finally be able to do this with evenly-matched squads." She approached her Lieutenant. "Omaeda, you're out."
Omaeda did not respond, but something that sounded like relief could be heard, and he quickly scampered off.
"All right, Lady Yoruichi goes with B-team. I'll join with A-team as planned." Yoruichi ran over to the other group, an eager smile on her face. As the sun completed setting, falling behind the western horizon, Soi Fon cast her arm downward. "Start!"
~~0000~~
The game started off fast. With 100 Shinigami in the Onmitsukido first squad all told, a solid 30 of them were eliminated within the first four minutes. The goal of the game was similar to most team exercises: eliminate the competition. This was achieved either by immobilizing them or knocking them out. Flashy tactics were forbidden, however, as well as the use of blades or projectiles, to minimize potential casualties. The worse that could result from these exercises was a few broken bones, and the Onmitsukido was disciplined enough that its members would not disobey their directives. The troops all bore compact lengths of rope and strong handcuffs to make the immobilization option more viable.
Soi Fon's team led a high-speed offensive in those first minutes, taking 12 foes in the sudden assault, but in under a minute Yoruichi's team had reacted and began a carefully-organized (but still very rapid) retreat away from the perimeter Soi Fon's team had established. Yoruichi succeeded in baiting many of her Little Bee's troops well into her perimeter, surrounding them and taking another 18 troops out.
And so they danced, Soi Fon playing aggressively and trying to keep Yoruichi from having any time to develop a truly effective strategy. Soi Fon knew Yoruichi played very intelligently on the fly, so she knew she had to be faster still. For a time, she forgot all her concerns, all her little plans and schemes, putting the whole of her mental energy into foiling Yoruichi.
It was not like the last time they had competed, when so much emotional tension had existed between them. Now Soi Fon was free to really compete with Yoruichi, to play and have fun with her in a way that was truly liberating. This showed that her mental energy was not entirely occupied, and somewhere between all the neurons that were firing for the sole purpose of outwitting Yoruichi, a germ of an idea sprouted unrelated to the current engagement.
Yoruichi was enjoying herself just as thoroughly. She knew Soi Fon was playing to win and to win quickly, so Yoruichi adapted her tactics, wanting to prolong the game and wanting to tease Soi Fon in the midst of the competition. Thus Yoruichi played very conservatively, directing her Onmitsukido operatives to run and avoid capture in lieu of actively pursuing their foes. Yoruichi was also having an inordinate amount of fun competing with Soi Fon. Soi had always been fun to play with in this manner, her Little Bee being the one person who seemed to really have completely absorbed Yoruichi's philosophies in strategy and tactics, the one person who could give her mind a workout as well as her body. When she fought others it was crude and violent, but in engaging Soi Fon, it felt more like an intricate dance. This was just the kind of fun she had been seeking when Soi Fon had sealed Kisuke away.
The game ground on. The initiative belonged to Soi Fon, mostly because the defensive tactics she had chosen to employ were ill-suited for the clash of two groups with equal training. If all her troops had held her level of experience, they would perhaps have been able to frustrate the troops on offense and wear them down more effectively, but as it was Soi Fon's side seemed to be too well-coordinated for all that. That being said, the tally was close, but slowly Yoruichi's group was worn down, until the Goddess of Flash stood alone.
Yoruichi zipped around, faster than the eye could see and faster than most others could even hope to track. Her team was decimated, but it seemed as though Soi Fon had only two working with her. Her golden eyes fixed upon her first target, and, swift and catlike, she struck; a precision chop to the back of the neck felling the black-clad Onmitsukido operative, who fell to the forest floor soundlessly. Reaching down, Yoruichi withdrew the length of rope from the felled operative's belt, then zipped over to the second, fainter reiatsu signature. She had just managed to knock him over and bind his arms when she heard another noise behind her.
"Stand down," came a voice, cold and arrogant and Yoruichi's favorite voice in all the world. Yoruichi felt warm breath on the back of her neck, sending pleasant shivers down her spine. "I've got you."
"Oh really?" Yoruichi replied, an ear-to-ear grin splitting her face. Yoruichi turned and caught Soi Fon's hand, flipping her Little Bee right over her hip in one of the most basic jujitsu moves, and once again the two women found themselves in a grappling contest. They rolled all over the forest floor in the darkness, kicking up dead leaves and bracken. Their contest was fierce, with neither woman able to gain a distinct advantage, until one little break in the action…
Soi Fon ended up on top of Yoruichi, all too aware of how she pressed into something soft and warm beneath her. This stopped her dead in her tracks as Yoruichi grinned up at her mortified expression. "Tie game?" Yoruichi proposed up at the fiercely blushing woman.
"Tie," Soi Fon conceded. The two helped one another up, with the two sweaty, disheveled women ending up in a loose embrace.
"Good game, Soi Fon," Yoruichi said, her voice soft and sweet.
"Yes," Soi Fon said, "this was a good exercise."
~~0000~~
After sorting out the casualties, Yoruichi and Soi Fon returned to the Soi's quarters. It was now well after dark, and the women were quite filthy from their engagement. "Ugh," Yoruichi groaned, casting herself down on the only chair in Soi's spartanly-furnished apartment, "I need a bath. You in?"
That delightful redness began to spread over Soi Fon's cheeks, "you go ahead, Yoruichi-sama," she said, a slight tremble in her voice.
"Come on," Yoruichi chided, "what are you, straight?"
Soi Fon stared at her.
"That joke would have killed in the World of the Living," Yoruichi added. "But come on, you're pretty filthy too. Take a bath with me," there was an undertone in her voice that prevented Soi Fon from refusing.
"O…okay…" she breathed.
Yoruichi led the way, remembering Soi Fon's quarters well, since they had once been hers. Quicker than Soi Fon could track, she stripped out of her damaged Onmitsukido uniform and covered herself in a towel, then stepped through the door into the steamy abyss. Soi Fon followed more slowly. Today had been such an emotional rollercoaster, and this was not the first time that her heart had throbbed in her chest. Emotions made you weak. That had been one of her life's most enduring maxims, or at least it had been until now. The strong emotions she had felt throughout this day were different than the anxiety that had dogged her for so long, emotions both more potent and yet more empowering.
She might have feared her beating heart. She might have feared the feelings that would spring up in her upon seeing Yoruichi's naked body immersed in the steaming water, but her resolved had hardened and she was now determined to take Yoruichi, in spite of the feelings that she had once feared. And if she could grow to accommodate these emotions, she would grow stronger still, with her Yoruichi-sama at her side. With this in mind, Soi Fon resolutely stripped down, grabbed a towel, and headed in after her.
What she found was anticlimactic. Yoruichi had already immersed herself in the water, so that there was really nothing to see aside from the Princess' head and shoulders. With resolution, Soi Fon cast off her towel and stepped into the water.
"Not bad," Yoruichi said, "not bad at all."
Soi Fon was grateful for the hot water, which reddened her skin to hide her blush.
"I mean, when did you install this kickass onsen?" Yoruichi continued. "It's not like you to splurge on, well, anything."
Soi Fon breathed an inaudible sigh of relief, so that's what she was referring to. "It's my one indulgence," she said. "And it seemed easy enough to accomplish after I requested heated floors be installed across the entire complex."
"Well, it's amazing," Yoruichi said. "I could totally take over Squad Two again if I knew I could live in a place like this." She laughed.
"Not if you're unable to beat me in a simple training exercise," Soi Fon replied.
"Maybe I just didn't have the right incentive," Yoruichi fired back. "If I had known something like this was one the line, then you would have seen something." Both women fondly smiled at one another through the steam.
They bathed silently for a time after that, simply enjoying the feeling of the warm water. This is nice, Soi Fon thought to herself. There was nothing to be afraid of, no reason to fear bathing with Yoruichi. There was nothing to fear about life with Yoruichi at all, just a nice, normal existence; getting assistance with her Captain's duties when she desired it, spending private time together; a nice normal life. She had yet to address the growing physical attraction she felt towards the naked woman bathing on the other side of the onsen, but that would be a part of this new normal life as well. Soi Fon had never really explored her sexual desires before, but she instinctively knew that there would be nothing to fear on that front either.
As she bathed, contemplating her acceptance of what a life with her Yoruichi-sama would entail, an idea that had come to her earlier came back to the fore. Now this is special.
"So what's the sneaky smile for, Soi Fon?" Yoruichi asked.
"Oh, nothing," Soi Fon replied.
~~0000~~
The following days settled into harmonious rhythm, much as they had before. Soi Fon accomplished most of her more mundane Captain's duties for the day while Yoruichi slept in, then the two of them worked together on late-day exercises for Squad Two and the Onmitsukido, and finally spent their evenings quietly, in happy private time. It was dull, but it was fun, the soothing medication of routine being supplemented by the joy of budding love.
And though Yoruichi found herself enjoying those days, her joy was incomplete. The new routine was fun, of course, but she found herself disappointed. Yoruichi had not lied when she said she was looking forward to something truly special, and that was the one thing that seemed to be lacking over the next couple of days: no special, just normal.
Well, bathing with her Little Bee wasn't normal, but it might as well be. She had been unable to catch more than a few glimpses of Soi Fon's toned, naked body, but it was enough to excite her. While Soi had seen her naked a few times over the years, the reverse was far less true, and Soi Fon had developed beautifully since the last time Yoruichi had been able to take a peek. But Yoruichi was not going to advance on Soi Fon in that way, at least not until she got the proper of confession of love that she wanted to hear. So in the meantime she would have to content herself with sneaking a peek, and worrying about the spectacular confession that she knew had to be forthcoming.
Days 25, 26, and 27 passed in this way, with Yoruichi enjoying every moment of her new life with her Little Bee, despite her worry that grew as the clock ticked forward inevitably to the point when Kisuke would be released. This is not to say that Kisuke's release would have any impact on the progression of their relationship (except that she would have to comb the Urahara Shop for hidden cameras any time Soi Fon came to stay over), but the end of the 28th day should, as Soi Fon had originally planned, coincide with the two of them becoming bonded as girlfriends. Perhaps Soi Fon had simply given up, taking the current open atmosphere and free association between the two of them as victory enough, and would make no grand show of her love for Yoruichi.
No. There was no chance of that.
But despite the fact that Yoruichi knew that Soi Fon could not have given up at this venture, she was worried. If it were any other issue, she would have given voice to it, now knowing full well that honesty was the only policy when it came to her relationship with Soi Fon, but above all Yoruichi had hoped to be surprised in this case. So she waited, even though it was now the last day before Kisuke would come back.
Day 28 passed quickly for the Goddess of Flash. In spite of her slight anxiety, she still slept in through a good chunk of the day, waking up a little after noon. After dressing and getting a meal, she went out to greet Soi Fon.
She met her in one of the training courtyards for Squad Two, walking among pairs of Shinigami that were squaring off with their zanpakuto drawn, critiquing their stances. Yoruichi zipped up to her, waiting for Soi Fon to finish addressing one pair of Shinigami before she spoke.
"Hey, Soi Fon," Yoruichi said.
"Finally up, huh?" Soi Fon said.
"Otherwise I wouldn't be here to talk to you," Yoruichi said, having gotten used to Soi Fon's brusque wit. "So what's the plan for today?" she asked, innocent and cautious.
"Nothing special," Soi Fon replied. "Have to get my Squad to GET THEIR SWORD TECHNIQUE UP TO PAR!" she said, roaring the last part so that the whole congregation could hear. "Did you have something in mind?" she added.
"N-no…" Yoruichi said, trying to veil her disappointment with only mixed success.
"Do you want to help out here?" Soi Fon offered, catching something.
"With zanpakuto?" Yoruichi asked. "No thanks."
"Very well," Soi Fon said, and she returned to her work.
Yoruichi left, beginning to mull her disappointment. Again the possibility that Soi Fon simply was not going to do anything special, that she was content with the gains she had made so far, emerged at the forefront of her thoughts. Now, at least, it bore some stronger consideration.
Yoruichi decided that she didn't want to think about it. Not because she was in denial, but because she knew that over-thinking this sort of thing would lead her back into the same trap that she had fallen into before, and jeopardize her relationship with her Little Bee. But if she wasn't going to think about it, she needed something to do. She quickly developed an idea, something else that she had enjoyed back in the old days aside from teasing Soi Fon, teasing of another sort…
~~0000~~
"And what exactly are you doing here?"
"I just stopped by for a little visit, Bya-kun."
"I would beg you not to call me that."
"And where will begging get you, Bya-kun?"
"Hmm," Byakuya Kuchiki grunted. "You need some sort of hobby aside from tormenting me." Byakuya was seated on the back porch of his headquarters on the Squad Six barracks, a fresh pot of tea to one side, with a cup of the green tea in his hands as he sat regally on his porch.
"I have plenty," Yoruichi said, smiling. "But that doesn't make this any less fun."
"I have noticed you in the Soul Society a lot of late," Byakuya said. "Tea?" he offered, his duties as a host extending even to this bothersome trespasser. Yoruichi nodded, and he poured a cup. "Not that I particularly care about why you're here," he continued, "but does it have something to do with Captain Soi Fon's peculiar outburst at the last Captain's Meeting?"
"Soi Fon had an outburst?" Yoruichi asked.
"Yes, normally she is quite good at concealing her emotions, which made me mark the event as a peculiarity."
"What was she mad about?" Yoruichi asked, suddenly concerned.
"She reacted poorly to the proposal to restore some of the Visoreds to their Captaincies," Byakuya said. "But from the content of her outburst, I imagine that was not what she was angry about."
Yoruichi frowned, her guilt resurfacing. She smiled again, however, knowing that that was all in the past. "Hey, Bya-kun, can you keep a secret?"
"I doubt I'll care about your "secret," Byakuya sighed, taking a sip of tea. "So proceed."
"I'm here waiting for Soi Fon to tell me she loves me," Yoruichi said.
She had not expected a reaction, and she did not get one, though Byakuya at least replied. "That is supposed to be a secret?"
"Just how obvious has this been?" Yoruichi asked incredulously.
"Obvious enough, but why are you waiting for Captain Soi Fon over here in my headquarters?"
"She knows I love her," Yoruichi began. "And I'm certain she loves me, but I wanted a real confession. Something with some real emotional content," she said. "But today's the last day for Soi Fon to do it, and she hasn't made any sign that she's trying."
"And you are taking that lack of a sign at face value?" Byakuya said. He seemed to be suppressing a smile, and it almost, almost, sounded like he wanted to chuckle. "Awfully naïve for the Goddess of Flash."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Yoruichi returned.
"As I said, Soi Fon is usually quite good at concealing her emotions."
"Duh," Yoruichi said.
"So why would you think she's not plotting anything behind that perpetual mask of hers?"
"Good point," Yoruichi said, taking a swig of tea. "You're a real expert on love, Bya-kun," she said, slapping his back.
"I am nothing of the sort," Byakuya said, but he said it to no-one, as Yoruichi had already shunpoed off.
~~0000~~
Despite the reassurance from Byakuya, Yoruichi remained somewhat worried. She was presented with good cause to worry when she returned to Squad Two. By now it was mid-afternoon, but Soi's quarters were empty. Another note was to be found upon Soi Fon's desk, however.
Yoruichi-sama,
Pressing concern. Not a huge problem, don't worry.
Be back by 2200 hrs.
-Soi Fon
2200 hours. 10:00 at night on the last day. It really bothered Yoruichi, despite Byakuya's reassurances, despite the assurances of her own heart which she knew to be true, the fact that her Little Bee would never give up, it was a bad sign. It also posed Yoruichi with an additional problem of what to do with her time, but in her growing anxiety, she knew of only one way to clear the next six hours or so.
~~0000~~
The black cat slept, curled up neatly on the desk of the Captain of Squad Two. It was curled into a rather compact form, so as not to disturb any of the contents of the desk out of respect for the person who worked there. It was only slightly submerged below the barrier of consciousness, the quintessential cat-nap, and it did not take much to raise the cat back up to awareness. The cat's nose twitched, catching a compelling odor, one that made its mouth water (though that was not a physiological response in felines):
Fish.
Rainbow trout, to be specific, if the cat's nose were any judge of the scent of frying fish. The scent was not close, but not too far away either. The cat's eyes snapped open, and then in a puff of smoke Yoruichi emerged. With some good foresight, she had thought to take her clothes off before transforming this time, so that she was readily equipped to dress herself once again before emerging from Soi Fon's quarters. For the source of the scent was not there. She stepped outside, across to the guest quarters for Squad Two, currently set aside for her. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she stepped through the darkness that now hung across Seireitei.
She stepped into the guest quarters, the smell now quite potent even to her lesser human nose. Out from the anteroom she stepped towards the kitchen/dining area the quarters were apportioned with. She slid open the shoji and stopped dead in her tracks.
There, working by candle-light and the blue flame from the natural gas range was her Little Bee, dutifully tending a wok filled with rainbow trout and just a bit of soy sauce. It was from the wok that the scent came, pungent and glorious, now quite literally setting Yoruichi's mouth watering. But the sight and the smell inspired more in Yoruichi than mere hunger and the promise of a good meal.
"A bit late for dinner, isn't it?" Yoruichi asked, keeping it cool in spite of what was promised.
"For me, perhaps," Soi Fon replied, "I actually have to get up in the morning. Please, sit down," she offered. Two cushions had been laid on opposite ends of a low table adorned with another candle. Steaming rice bowls sat on either side. "I'll be done shortly," Soi Fon added.
"You can cook?" Yoruichi asked. That was a skill she was unaware of.
"I picked it up soon after I became a Captain," Soi Fon replied. "It's much more convenient than having to wait for the division's cooks. I wanted to set my own, more efficient schedule."
"Of course," Yoruichi said, laughing gently. "But how come I've never seen this?"
"I figured it would be… special," Soi Fon said, something odd in her eyes as she glanced straight at Yoruichi's golden orbs, it seemed almost sneaky, like a child that has a secret they are aching to reveal.
And then it all fell together in Yoruichi's mind. Special. This little display, this small, home-cooked meal by candlelight was Soi Fon's special gesture to her, what she had asked for. Without having to ask, Yoruichi thought that she could take a stab at the logic behind Soi Fon's decision. What could her Little Bee show her, what could she give her, that was really special? Yoruichi was a woman from the highest of stations, born and raised in the lap of the most opulent luxury, a woman faster than any other, who had seen all the sights that could be offered by the Soul Society or the World of the Living, a woman who had, for the sake of justice, freely given up more material goods than most people would ever attain. There was nothing Soi Fon could give her; nothing aside from she herself: her love, her companionship, her skills, her service. Furthermore, Yoruichi saw the brilliance of Soi Fon's conduct. She hadn't been teasing her all week, she had been showing her how enjoyable a normal life with the Captain of Squad Two could be. Yoruichi had fallen for her plan spectacularly.
Yoruichi could have cried, or smiled. She settled on the latter, and a warm smile that spread across her features began to form. Soi Fon finished the trout, placing portions upon both of their plates, and the charming smell wafted up from their plates and into Yoruichi's nose. Then Soi Fon brought out the final touch; two glasses of cool, creamy milk.
"Itadakimasu," both women said, and then began eating. The meal proceeded normally, though Yoruichi had a grin consistently plastered on her face. In between bites of the trout, helpings of rice, and sips of milk (all of which were delicious), they made light conversation, about what Yoruichi had done that day, or Soi Fon's progress in training her squad. They finished the meal, and Soi Fon collected Yoruichi's plate, then turned back towards the kitchen sink.
"Hey, Yoruichi-sama," Soi Fon said, turning her head back towards her.
"Yeah?" Yoruichi asked.
In a flash Soi Fon was kneeling there next to her, with her arms around her, moving fast enough even to surprise the Goddess of Flash. "I love you," she said.
"Now that's how you do it," Yoruichi said, smiling broadly. "Good job, Little Bee."
And they kissed right there in the candle-lit room, tongues intertwining as they took in the taste of each other.
"Pwah!" Yoruichi exclaimed, disengaging from the kiss. "Fishy breath."
"I love it," Soi Fon said shortly.
"Me too," Yoruichi replied, and they resumed kissing.
They fell down to the tatami-mat floor, kissing each other deeply and squirming in their mutual embrace. They made out slowly, passionately, but both women seemed to have an understanding that it was not to proceed any further than this, at least not on this night. They would have always and forever to explore one another's bodies, but tonight was about something more pure. It was merely about being together, right then and there.
Neither woman knew how long they spent just kissing, but eventually they stopped and simply began cuddling, facing one another quietly as they lay on the floor. Soi Fon rolled over to get comfortable, now facing away from her Yoruichi-sama as the other woman's arms lay draped around her.
Soi Fon lay there and allowed her mind to wander. She had done it: day 28 was over and her Yoruichi-sama was now just that: hers and hers alone. All was not over, however, for having Yoruichi as her girlfriend now presented many problems. She thought of what would happen as their relationship inevitable became publicly known; of how her squad would react. The Captain Commander, Central 46, and the Shihoin Clan all might have big problems with this. She thought that her own family might protest as well, or they might be overjoyed that their family was being more solidly bonded to the Shihoin Clan than they ever could have hoped. Then there were more mundane issues; when it came time to inevitably start cohabitating, who would move in with who? Could Yoruichi really live here with her? And when, when would they go further than they had gone on this night? When would she take Yoruichi's body, when would they have sex? Some of these problems they would have to address very soon, while others lay further down the line, but Soi Fon knew she could overcome them. She could overcome any problem that might confront her at this point, because she would face it with the woman who lay beside her.
She felt the measured, gentle breathing on the back of her neck that indicated Yoruichi had likely gone to sleep and, blissfully happy, she closed her eyes as well
~~0000~~
Dawn broke over Karakura Town, but another light competed with it. Out of that point of light, floating over one of the city streets, Kisuke Urahara fell, hitting the street hard. It was well before his normal wake-up time, and so he lay there on the street like a dead man.
Unit 23, please respond.
23 here.
We have reports of somebody dressed up in Edo-era clothes passed out on Minami-cho. Please apprehend.
Roger that. Another one for the drunk tank.
It seemed that Kisuke Urahara would be detained a bit longer than anyone had planned.
The End.
Author's Note: Hmm, this chapter seemed a little weaker than some of the others, probably because the big emotional climax was at the end of the previous one and the very beginning of this one, but I still think I pulled it together well enough. No lemon in this one, though I may upload a lemony YoruSoi fic I uploaded elsewhere.
More extensive critiques will be appreciated at this juncture, so click that review button and fire it up!
