AN: And I realize it's been a month or so. Yes there's reason to be mad at me. Point is: I will not abandon anything and I still like you all.

On a side note, I can't really see Yoruichi and Soi having a relationship without a crap load of humor. Just seems like something they would find themselves cursed with. Oh, and "--" indicates a scene change.


Chapter 7, Blood Loss

A girl stood quietly in the laundry room, writing elaborate mental notes to distract her ears from the tumbling of the dryer. Unfortunately her train of thought had been cut short by a figure appearing in the doorway.

"Nanao..." Despite the lack of clothing, Soi's eyes never left her friend's.

"I know." Both girls stood erect facing one another in a comfortable silence. "Soi have you noticed anything different about yourself lately?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're changing."

"I'm the same person."

"Oh really? Then explain to me why you're in here trying to stop my imagination from going off on wild tangents."

"You have no imagination."

"The old Soi wouldn't care what I think."

"Even if I did change, it certainly wouldn't be Yoruichi who did it."

"Honestly. Yoruichi's the only one who can do it. For years I've been trying, but finally gave up, then one day some stranger comes along and you're actually… fun to be around."

"I haven't been before?"

"Soi you've fallen for her."

"I have not."

"You're lying to me."

"I'm asexual."

"Tell it to your hormones; I'm sure they've been in overdrive."

"Tch."

"Mine would be." A short buzzer went off and Nanao turned, opening the dryer to slip on her shirt. "You know how hard I work until I get what I want Soi, and right now I want answers. Personally I don't believe we've ever been best friends, and I don't expect you to tell me what's going on, but I think we're close enough that you would tell me if you were in danger." Nanao nodded in response to Soi's silence, walking past her and leaving the room. The shorter girl followed her out, waiting at the main entrance for her friend to gather all of her belongings. As the right door opened, both girls jumped slightly, not expecting a scruffy man to be on the other side.

"Shunsui, why are you here?"

"Well I just stopped by because I managed to finish the recording and got a bit excited by the results. I wanted to give you and Yoruichi a copy rather than wait till later."

"Come in, I'll get her in a second."

"Thanks." His broad shoulders caused his body to turn slightly as he squeezed past Soi, alerting him to another woman with her. "I don't believe we've been introduced, I'm Shunsui." Nanao looked up from his extended hand to glare at him and closed her eyes, pushing up on the bridge of her glasses.

"Nanao Ise." Rejecting his hand, she walked outside, stopping and turning slightly to face Soi. "I'll give you a call later, and if you don't answer I'll make sure to stop by before tomorrow afternoon." With the door shut, Soi turned around sighing and looked up at a bearded face.

"Maybe I'm off my game, in one day I've been turned down by three women."

"Yoruichi's oblivious, I'm gay, and Nanao has a stick up her ass. I wouldn't worry about it."

"You don't seem like the type to cheer someone up."

"You caught me on a good day." Soi was leaving the room to fetch Yoruichi when Shunsui's voice started up again.

"So maybe you'll put in a good word for me?"

"You want me to set you up with Nanao?"

"Why not?" Why not indeed.

"You probably missed what I said earlier, she has a stick up her ass."

"All the more reason for us to get to know each other." The raven-haired woman stood perfectly still. That last sentence just didn't make sense. Wouldn't that be a reason not to date someone?

"I'll consider it."

--

"How can you be sleeping again!" Soi walked over to the bed and threw a pillow at the still figure.

"Soi." Yoruichi appeared to be mumbling in her sleep. "Tired… again later… sleep."

"You're dreaming about sleeping?"

"Not a machine… have fun after I… rest."

"Wake up!" The smaller woman grabbed Yoruichi by the ankle and dragged her off the bed, successfully awakening her. Unfortunately she didn't stop and despite the protests tugged her into the living room where the older girl cursed until catching sight of Shunsui.

"Yoruichi! You know I don't think I've ever seen you with a hair out of place, didn't you just wake up?"

"Well yeah I… so what's up?" He held up a circular disk and tossed it to her with a smile. "You finished it already?"

"This is one of the best songs I've ever heard. There would be no justice in putting it off till next week, so I got busy." Yoruichi ran over and gave him an appreciative hug, Soi's glare going unnoticed.

"You don't mind if I listen to it later do you?"

"No, not at all, actually I have to get going. I'm sending it to Ukitake for finalization and publication, so I'll give you a call later."

"Alright, thanks so much Shunsui."

"No problem, have a nice day." Soi turned to Yoruichi once the producer had gone.

"You don't want to listen to it now?"

"There's no rush. In a few days it'll be on the radio all over the country and then played a few hundred times until everyone's sick of it. You know how these things go."

"But still."

"If you're really curious I might let you listen."

"I'm not going to beg to hear it."

"I would never suggest such a thing."

"I'm not sleeping with you either."

"What makes you think that I… oh right." Soi rolled her eyes and checked the time on her phone.

"Any more plans for today?"

"Nope."

"Celebrities are usually busier than this."

"I'm not your stereotypical celebrity."

"Right."

"Let's make plans."

"Like?"

"Shopping!"

"Oh no, there's no way I'm…"

--

"Going shopping. I can't believe you dragged me here."

"Don't act like you're not having fun."

"I'm not."

"That's only because you always had a limit. What if you could buy anything you wanted? Suddenly shopping becomes a bit more exciting doesn't it?"

"Do you really have so much money that you would let me rack up thousands of dollars in debt?"

Yoruichi paused outside a large clothing store in the mall blinking a few times for good measure. "Yes." Then grabbed Soi's arm and dragged her in, collecting an armful of clothes as they made their way to the dressing rooms in back. "Try these on."

"What? No."

"Pleaseeeeee?"

"No."

"You need new clothes anyway."

"What's wrong with the ones I have now?"

"They're not girly enough."

"I'll have you know, they're very girl."

"Soi you're wearing sweats."

"Your point?"

"Don't make me go in with you."

Soi stopped, thinking this through carefully and finally admitted defeat with a sigh. "One dress." Yoruichi grinned from ear to ear as her junior stepped behind the flowing red curtain. "And if I catch you peaking only one of us will make it back home."

"Harsh, I'll be good." The goddess strolled over to the nearest chair and slid down on her back as slender hand reached up and pushed her fedora comfortably over the dark aviators resting on her nose. "Oi, Soi you changed yet?"

"Yes."

"Well come out so I can see."

"For some reason I feel like I'm only here to model for you."

"Now why would I tease my self like that?"

"Because it's all you think about."

"You wish, get out here."

"I'm already out." Yoruichi pushed up on the brim of her hat with a raised thumb and peered out from underneath.

"My god…" The siren stood up, removing her dark shades and stumbled over to the shorter girl, resting a hand on her hip. The white dress material felt like pure silk against her palm which drifted up Soi's side and down to the small of her back. Long fingers tickled the revealed flesh and sent goose bumps up the young girl's spine.

"Y-Yoruichi."

"Excuse me ladies. Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if you were in need of assistance." Yoruichi turned around with her grin back in place and looked out across the store.

"Yes, as a matter of fact we are. I'll need about twenty more outfits as attractive as that one if you could. Size 0."

"Right away." The clerk who had interrupted them set off on a mission as Yoruichi walked back over and sat down replacing her glasses. Soi just huffed and stormed back to the dressing room refusing to face that infuriating woman again.

"I know you're blushing." Yoruichi yelled through the curtain from her chair.

"Shut up."

"Aw, you should be nicer to me, or I'll make you walk home in that dress."

"I don't think you could afford another nose bleed."

"My nose isn't… son of a bitch." Yoruichi wiped her lip off with a smile.


Pip 7