Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Ten Days Later….
Squad 13

Ichigo was about to go stir crazy with worry. There'd been no word about Yuzu from Squad Zero and he had half a mind to ask Kisuke to go find him a way into the King's Palace or to force the Head-Captain to send him there.

He sat down on the bed in the room Ukitake had loaned him. He didn't want to go back to his cabin out of fear something would happen without him knowing, but the waiting was testing his patience to its very limit. He laid back on the bed and sighed, closing his eyes. "Yuzu…please be safe…" he prayed. He didn't want any of this for his little sister. He thought about everything he went through as a Soul Reaper and grit his teeth. "Dammit! This is all my fault!"

"How long are you gonna sulk in bed?"

The depressed Ichigo looked up to see Rukia standing in the doorway. "Rukia…."

"It's your fault, it's Kisuke's fault, it's Soi-Fon's fault, it's your dad's fault. It doesn't matter!" Rukia scolded as she sat down on the bed next to Ichigo. "No matter how it happened, it happened and couldn't have happened any other way. Ichigo, I know you're worried but shouldn't you have faith in your little sister?" she asked, concerned for her friend and lover.

"I do," Ichigo said as he sat up, holding Rukia close. He was glad he had her now that he was at his wits end. "But you know Yuzu just as well as me. She's kind, sweet and innocent. I don't want this kind of life for her."

Laying her head on Ichigo's shoulder, Rukia rubbed his back soothingly to calm him down. "It'll be alright, Ichigo. She'll be alright. Do you wanna know how I know?"

"Why?"

"Because she's heading back here today."

Ichigo stared at Rukia in shock. "TODAY?! Why didn't you tell me?"

Rukia shrugged and continued to hug Ichigo. "From what my brother said, it'll take her awhile to reach the Soul Society from the way she's returning. Also…" she kissed his cheek. "You look cute when you're flustered."

Brown eyes narrowed at the girl. "You're evil, you know that?"

"And you love me all the more for it…."

The Previous Day….
Squad Zero

"Yuzu!" Osho called out. He and the other members of Squad Zero were assembled in the entrance to the palace. "It's time to send you home. Are you ready?"

The little girl came running up to them with Senshumaru, dressed in her special clothing. She wore a stylish cap and a long cloak over her top, on her back was a bag full of cloth and recipes that Kirio and Senshumaru had given her. Gripping her zanpakuto, Yuzu nodded, eager to see her brother again. "Ready!"

"You be good, Zu-Yu!" Oh-Etsu said, patting her head. "You tell the captains we said hello!"

"Yuzu," Kirio, back to her obese size now after bulking up, handed her a small leather sack. "These have riceballs in them. Eat them if you get hungry on the trip back."

"Thank you," Yuzu said, accepting the gift. "But…aren't we using that pillar thingy?"

"No," Osho said, nodding to Senshumaru. "We cannot use the Tenchuren very often, so you'll have to go back to the Soul Society on foot. If you use your fastest Flashstep, you'll be there within two days."

Nodding, Yuzu walked to the edge of the platform as Senshumaru summoned the stairs, the pathway back to the Soul Society, to her captain and to her brother. Turning back to the members of Squad Zero, she ran back to them and gave each other them a warm hug. "Thank you!" she said to each one as she hugged them. After hugging Osho, she darted to the edge of the platform, swallowed the lump in her throat and jumped. "Bye Mr. Hyosube! Thanks for everything!" she called back before speeding down the stairs like a shooting star.

Scratching his beard, Osho smiled as his little student scampered off. To say his name and not have any repercussions…. "Yuzu, you are special indeed…" he softly said as he watched her disappear….

Back to the present….
Sokyoku Hill

Ichigo and Rukia ran across the bridge, meeting the assembled captains and lieutenants. "Wait, why are you guys all here?" he asked, out of fear that the first thing the Head-Captain would do was try to arrest her. He saw Captain Soi-Fon standing away from the group, staring up at the sky with hopeful eyes. He saw a small bag in her hand and wondered what was inside.

Kyoraku walked over to the two. "Well, it's not every day we see someone return from the King's Palace. Also," he leaned down and whispered into Ichigo's ear quietly, "A lot of us were interested in what sort of person your sister is to get on Captain Soi-Fon's good side." When Soi-Fon, hearing the man with her sharp hearing, turned and glared, Kyoraku cleared his throat and stood up straight.

"Captain Kyoraku," Rukia addressed. "Exactly how is Yuzu returning to the Soul Society?" She looked around at the barren wasteland that was the Sokyoku Hill. "How do you know she'll show up at this spot?"

"Well, our old friend Osho told us that this was the most likely spot that she would be when she returned. As for how she'll come back," he turned to Ichigo and smiled. "All I know is that she'll be making a bit of an entrance."

Soi-Fon, who kept her eyes looking up, gasped when she saw something coming towards them. "She's here!"

It was then that the group felt Yuzu's spiritual pressure. It wasn't exactly captain level, but it was still considerable enough to make them all look up in shock. Ichigo, looking up, widened his eyes when he saw a speck in the sky getting bigger. "Wait, is that-"

A large explosion erupted in the sky as the speck came into contact with the Shakonmaku barrier that surrounded the Seireitei. "Yuzu!" Soi-Fon called out, afraid that the girl had been vaporized by the barrier. But her dread turned to relief when she saw something speeding towards them.

"Yu…" Ichigo gasped when he saw his sister barreling straight toward him.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Yuzu screamed as she cometed right into Ichigo since she was unable to slow down, brother cushioning sister's impact. The two skidded a ways away from the crowd before they came to a stop. The group looked back up to see a large hole in the barrier, slowly closing up. "Owie!" Yuzu groaned as she sat up. Looking down, she saw who she'd landed on and gasped in happiness. "ICHIGO!" she yelled as she hugged his neck. "It's really you! I've missed you so much!" she said, on the verge of tears. She'd finally found her brother.

"Yuzu…" Ichigo groaned as he sat up, hugging his little sister. "Thank goodness. I've been worried sick…." The Soul Reapers watched as the two Kurosakis reunited in a touching scene. "How did you get here?" Ichigo finally asked after a minute. "And…" he looked Yuzu up and down as they got up. "What are you wearing?"

"Oh, these?" She gestured to her cloak, hat and new accessories. "Mr. Hyosube gave me these. He called it an Ǒken and said it would allow me to pass through the King's Palace back into the Soul Society unscathed."

Ichigo's jaw dropped. 'Aizen tried to kill us all and wipe out Karakura Town to make an Ǒken and my sister is wearing one like it's the latest fashion statement!'

The two were interrupted when Toshiro Hitsugaya walked over to them. "Yuzu, how exactly did you wind up in the Soul Society, if I may ask?"

Yuzu blinked. "Hey, aren't you that boy that Karin plays soccer with? The one she has a crush on?" Yuzu asked, making Toshiro gulp and blush in embarrassment.

"Captain…" Rangiku teased and smiled deviously, "What exactly were you up to when you were in the World of the Living?"

"Yes, Shiro," Momo asked, crossing her arms and scowling. "Tell us…."

"That's not important right now!" Toshiro barked. "And Momo, it's Captain Hitsugaya!" Turning back to Yuzu, he frowned. "Now then, if you'd please answer the question? We've all been wondering how exactly you came to be here."

Yuzu looked at the ground ashamed before turning to her brother. "Well…I saw Ichigo go through the portal in Urahara Shop's basement and I…wanted to know where he kept going all the time so I followed him and I ended up here as a result…."

Ichigo's response was another huge hug. "I'm sorry, Yuzu," he said as he hugged her. "This is all my fault. I should have known somebody was following me."

"It's okay. It's actually been kind of neat, learning how to be a Soul Reaper." She looked around at the individual faces of the captains and frowned. "Um…where's Captain Soi-Fon?"

A voice sneaked behind her. "Didn't I teach you to watch your back, Rookie?"

Whirling around, Yuzu's face lit up when she saw the woman who'd trained her first and foremost, Soi-Fon, standing behind her. "Captain!" she cried as she gave her a big hug. Soi-Fon blushed in embarrassment when she saw the looks on the other captains and vowed to castrate Kyoraku when this was over. Patting her head, Soi-Fon felt that gnawing inside her gut die quietly inside her. "It's good to see you, Yuzu." She reached out and felt the girl's spirit energy. "You've become much stronger than the last time I saw you."

Pulling away, Yuzu smiled happily at her teacher. "Yes, but if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have made it this far." She looked down worryingly when she saw the hardened look in the captain's eye. "I'm sorry. I should've told you that I wasn't who I said I was. I…I was scared and I didn't know where I was and-"

Soi-Fon interrupted her by putting a hand on her shoulder. "Yuzu, relax. If anything, I'm the one who should apologize. I should've realized that you weren't one of my recruits." Soi-Fon's memories flashed back to her training with Yuzu and the image of Yuzu on the ground, eye blackened, ribs cracked and covered in bruises. Her heart burned with shame at what she'd done. "I'm sorry for hurting you." She reached into her bag and pulled out Yuzu's school uniform, which she had mended. "Here. This is yours."

Smiling, Yuzu hugged Soi-Fon again, making the captains and lieutenants go "Awwwww…" at the touching scene when Soi-Fon hugged her back. "It's alright, Captain. You toughened me up, just like you said you would…."

The Head-Captain stepped out of the crowd towards the three. "Yuzu Kurosaki, I demand that you hand over your Ǒken to make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands." Yuzu, seeing the stern look in his eyes, gulped and removed her cap and cloak, handing them over to Yamamoto's lieutenant. "We will overlook your crimes this one time. Tomorrow, you will head back to the World of the Living where you belong."

Nodding and happy that her ordeal was almost over, Yuzu bowed in thanks. "Okay." She turned to Ichigo and Soi-Fon. "Um…since this is my last night, Captain-"

"Rookie, you're not one of my squad members," Soi-Fon gently admonished. "You can call me by my name."

Smiling with happiness, Yuzu nodded. "Okay. Um…Soi-Fon? Can I ask something since this is my last night here?"

"What is it?"

"Can I be the one who cooks for the squad tonight?"

Later that evening….
Squad Two grounds

Everyone dug in as Yuzu set the food out onto tables, using the recipes and techniques that Kirio taught her. The captains and lieutenants, interested in meeting this sweet, kind girl, were all gathered and began to eat the food she cooked. Soi-Fon put a cooked riceball in her mouth and ate it. As she swallowed it, her mind almost exploded from the flavor. 'This is by far the best thing I've ever eaten in my life….'

Yuzu sat down at the table with her brother, Soi-Fon and Rukia and watched them eat her cooking. "Well, what do you think?" she asked, hoping she didn't screw up badly.

From a far table came Rangiku's voice. "Captain, please, PLEASE let her stay! This is the best cooking I've ever tasted!"

"What she said," Renji said as he ate his plate. "Dammit, Ichigo! Why didn't you tell us your sister could cook like this? We'd have made her into a Soul Reaper instead of you!"

Ichigo deadpanned but knew his friend was praising his sister. He took a bite of a special cake she'd made for him and his could feel his taste buds go crazy. "Yuzu…you learned this?" he asked. "This is delicious!"

"Teehee!" Yuzu giggled. "Ms. Hikifune showed me how to do some of her best cooking. She couldn't teach me everything, 'cause I would have to get fat like she does to make the best food. But it was still loads of fun learning!" Both Ichigo and Soi-Fon were glad that Kirio didn't teach her to best stuff. They didn't think they could handle an obese Yuzu…. Turning to Soi-Fon, Yuzu's heart thumped in anticipation. "Um…Soi-Fon? How is it?"

Finishing her riceball, Soi-Fon looked at her protégé. "I was going to make you my Twentieth-Seated officer. If I'd known you could cook like this, I'd have made you our Squad's chef. Everything our cook makes is bland and tastes like crap!" Yuzu's heart leapt with happiness before realizing that she'd forgotten all about her appointed seat.

Soi-Fon saw the downtrodden look in her eyes and guessed at what was on her mind. "Don't worry, Rookie. Like I told you, I'm not mad. In fact…" Soi-Fon stood up and smiled mirthlessly at the girl. "I'm interested in how much you've toughened up over your stay with Squad Zero. Since you leave tomorrow, I think you should have one last nightly spar."

As Yuzu stood up and grabbed her zanpakuto, Ichigo's eyes widened in alarm and he glared in protest. "Soi-Fon, NO!" he shouted. "She's been through enough! Let her have some peace and quiet for one nig-"

"It's okay, Ichigo," Yuzu said, hugging her brother. "I want to show Soi-Fon that I'm not her little Rookie anymore."

The captains and lieutenants all turned around in their seats and watched as the two girls stepped into a sparring ring. Yuzu removed her nice scarf, tossing it to Ichigo and drew her zanpakuto. Soi-Fon cocked her head when she saw her steady stance. "Before this, you were trembling." She smiled when she saw the determined look in her eyes. "In that case…" she drew her sword and charged, locking blades with Yuzu. "I won't have to hold back."

Ichigo held his breath as his sister's sword clashed with Soi-Fon's. He drew his zanpakuto, ready to intervene if Soi-Fon took this too far. But what he'd underestimated what his sister's muscle memory. After a week of nightly sparring, Yuzu was familiar with Soi-Fon's fighting style and her training with Osho had honed her reflexes to the point where she could react much faster than before. Rukia noted that she wasn't exactly at Ichigo-level of proficient, or even Renji, but she smiled when she saw Yuzu fight back.

Yuzu's attacks were sharp and quick, the girl sliding left and right in order to avoid Soi-Fon's strikes. She ducked a horizontal strike and slid across the ground, aiming to take Soi-Fon's legs off. Jumping to avoid it, Soi-Fon backflipped away from Yuzu and landed ten feet away, keeping her guard up. Yuzu didn't attempt to charge her, she knew better than that and kept a low stance. "Excellent form, Yuzu," Soi-Fon praised. "Now I'm wishing you were one of my Squad members. You'd make a better lieutenant than Omaeda."

"Hey!" Omaeda shouted out, hurt by his captain's words. "That's not fair, she got super special training!"

"Please, she was able to handle a week of nonstop training with me." She turned her head and looked at her lieutenant with scorn. "You barely last a half hour when we spar." She turned her head to see Yuzu's sword coming at her head. Flashstepping away, Soi-Fon smirked at the gutsy move. "Surprise attack? I did teach you something."

Yuzu giggled in appreciation. "Thanks, Soi-Fon!"

Holding her sword, Soi-Fon scowled. "Don't get complacent! I may have taught you the Flashstep, but I didn't teach you everything there is to know about it!" Yuzu's eyes widened as she saw Soi-Fon become two…then six…then twelve…then twenty.

And they were all surrounding her.

"Yuzu!" Ichigo shouted as the speed clones charged his sister. "No!" He moved to step into the ring but was blocked by Byakuya. "Byakuya! Move!"

"Let them continue," Byakuya advised, turning his head to address the boy. "Look at your sister's eyes. Do they look like the eyes of someone who is about to be defeated?" Ichigo turned and saw the determined look in Yuzu's eyes and saw her mouth moving.

Putting her hands on the ground, Yuzu finished her chant as the speed clones closed in around her. Just as the various blades, only one of which was real, came down on Yuzu's head, a prism of blue energy imprisoned her. Soi-Fon's sword slammed into it before she was forced to back away as spikes shot out of it, threatening to impale her. "Kidô, eh?" Soi-Fon was impressed. "And a barrier that is both offense and defense as well? Not bad, Rookie. Not bad at all." As the prism disintegrated around her, Soi-Fon held her sword out horizontally and ran her hand across it. "I'll will do you some credit and take you a little more seriously. You of all people should know by now about the full capabilities of my zanpakuto…." All of the assembled Soul Reapers gasped as Soi-Fon released her Shikai.

"Sting all enemies to death: Suzumebachi!"

Yuzu gulped when she saw her sword transform into the wicked stinger she'd painfully gotten to know during her training. Holding a hand out, Yuzu muttered another chant. "Hadô #33: So-" Her spell was interrupted when Soi-Fon Flashstepped behind her and stabbed her in the shoulder. Ichigo's heart came to a near stop when he saw a Homonka mark form on her shoulder. "You should've learned that Kidô spells leave you wide open for an attack!" Soi-Fon admonished.

"Captain Soi-Fon!" Ukitake shouted. "This is going too far!"

"No!"

The captains turned to see Yuzu shaking her head. "It's alright. She won't be getting that second strike in," she said with adamant determination.

"Oh?" Soi-Fon looked at her protégé amused. "You seem rather confident, Rookie," she held up her stinger and flicked the few drops of Yuzu's blood from it. "Why the sudden change in attitude? Didn't I teach you not to be overconfident? The only reason I didn't get a second strike in during your training was because I was never aiming at the same spot twice."

"I know," Yuzu nodded, holding her sword up. "But now, I can finally show you the power of my zanpakuto!" Ichigo and Rukia gasped at the notion and the captains looked on with intrigue. "Cross the sky: Hikarugetsu!" The zanpakuto blinded everyone with brilliant silver light, revealing the saber's true form. "This is my zanpakuto: Hikarugetsu."

"Getsu…" Soi-Fon smiled as she removed her Haori and sash, revealing her commander's outfit beneath. "Like brother, like sister, I suppose."

Yumichika looked at Ichigo with an amused face. "Are we SURE she's Ichigo's sister? That beautiful blade is certainly much more splendid than that grotesque hunk of metal he carries…."

"Shut up, Yumichika…."

Yuzu's Hikarugetsu glowed silvery-blue as she held it over her head. "Getsuga…Tensho!" A blast of energy erupted from the tip of the sword as she swung it. Soi-Fon was forced to dash away as the attack destroyed the tree standing behind her. Flashstepping to Yuzu's front, Soi-Fon blocked her next strike with her gauntlet, pushing her back.

"You should know that I've seen that move enough times, Yuzu, from watching your brother. That move won't work." She heard Yuzu muttering something and gasped when she saw a finger pointed at her.

"Byakurai!"

Soi-Fon grimaced as the attack grazed her shoulder. "Dammit!" Looking back at Yuzu she smirked. "Luring me in with a familiar attack. I take it back. I'm REALLY wishing I could replace you with Omaeda." The hapless Omaeda hit his head on the table as he cried….

Putting both hands on her zanpakuto, Yuzu grinned, happy to have earned Soi-Fon's admiration. She stabbed with her saber and a blue spear of energy shot out of it, making Soi-Fon dodge again. "Getsuga…." Ichigo stood there stunned as Yuzu brought her sword down, creating a line of blue energy before sideswiping, creating a cross-shaped technique. "Jujisho!" Again, Soi-Fon was forced to dodge the attack, watching as it devastated the ground beneath her. Looking back, she saw Yuzu gone and looked upward toward the sky, seeing Yuzu above her. "Getsuga…Rasensho!" This time a spiral wave shot out of the saber as she flicked her wrist.

Ichigo and the others watched as Soi-Fon was engulfed by the attack. "What the hell?!" Ichigo gasped when he saw his sister's techniques. "She can do all that?! How come?"

"Come to think of it," Byakuya mused. "All you can do is one singular technique. Quite shameful, considering all your experience as a Soul Reaper compared to hers."

"Hey, that's not fair! I can do loads of other stuff!"

Rukia looked at Ichigo amused. "Really? Like what?"

"Um…" Ichigo racked his brain but try as he might, he had to admit that the only technique he knew was Getsuga Tensho. "Dammit…."

Yuzu landed on the ground and kept her guard up. That last technique was still new to Yuzu so it didn't have that much power packed behind it. "Soi-Fon?"

The woman appeared from the cloud of dust, scuffed but unharmed. "Not bad, Rookie. But that one hardly stung. Is that really all your sword can do?" she teased.

Smiling, Yuzu pointed Hikarugetsu at her. "Nope! It's got one more special ability!" The blade glowed with silver light, obscuring its form. When it faded, the woman was surprised to see that the blade had morphed into a silver bow, with Yuzu drawing its string. "It's not just a blade. It's a bow!"

Suddenly Soi-Fon was under attack from a barrage of arrows. As Yuzu pulled back, her blue spirit energy manifested into a silver arrow before she released it. "A weapon that can go from close-range to long-range. That's actually quite impressive." But she was undeterred. "I'm proud of you, Yuzu…" she said, looking at her student with affection. "I think I understand why I like you so much…" she muttered, almost inaudibly. "Your chipper attitude, your versatility, your unbridled determination. It's almost like Lady Yoruichi's come back to me…."

"Huh?" Yuzu asked, confused. She hardly heard any of that and she wondered why Soi-Fon was looking at her so happily. "What did you say, Soi-Fon?"

"It's nothing, Yuzu. I suppose I can't call you Rookie anymore. You're not the scared little girl I found outside that shed anymore. But as strong as you are…" her spirit energy pulsed white as she activated her strongest ability, barring Bankai, "My pride as a captain won't allow myself to lose."

"Shunko!"

Ichigo gulped when Soi-Fon became wrapped in her ultimate technique. "Yuzu…."

Soi-Fon was surprised when Yuzu sealed her zanpakuto and sheathed it. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Holding out her hands, Yuzu concentrated as hard as she could. She'd seen her Shunko once before during her training and she'd asked Osho to tell her the essentials. Soi-Fon was shocked beyond all belief as the back of Yuzu's outfit was blasted off, revealing the white outfit she'd made with Senshumaru's cloth, mimicking Soi-Fon's outfit. Lightning crackled off her back as she stood there in her Shunko form.

Renji raised an eyebrow as he stood next to his captain. "Is it just me…or is Ichigo's sister a badass compared to him?"

"Shut up, Renji…" Ichigo sweatdropped.

"You learned Shunko?" Soi-Fon asked, stunned as her student walked toward her. "When? How could Osho and the others have taught you that? Only myself and Lady Yoruichi know the technique."

Yuzu blushed as she recalled her training, remembering how she'd been mortified when she'd been left topless when she'd first tried the technique under Osho's supervision. "Well…Mr. Hyosube told me how to do the technique and said since I had some proficiency with Kidô I had the ability to learn it." She readied her stance. "Here I come!" Ichigo held his breath once more as Yuzu charged her mentor. "Haaaaaaaah!" Soi-Fon stood there patiently before holding up a hand. Yuzu's fist slammed into it and in a sudden whirl of wind, her Shunko lightning dissipated. "Huh?" She realized that her Shunko had ended. "What just happened?"

"It appears Osho didn't teach you everything about Kidô. I negated your Shunko with one of my own by spinning it in the opposite direction. In short: My Shunko canceled out yours."

"Wow…" Yuzu panted, feeling dizzy. "You're…amazing…." Soi-Fon caught Yuzu as she collapsed, sealing her sword before sheathing it. Picking her up, she carried her back to the others. Captain Unohana rushed over to them along with Ichigo and Rukia.

"She's not hurt," she told them as Unohana went to work. "The exertion from her Shunko wore her out. Osho should've told her she's not ready for that level of technique…."

"Soi-Fon…." The group looked to see Yuzu, still awake if only barely, her eyes fluttering open. "Actually…um…he did tell me…I just…wanted to make you…proud…." That was all she said before falling asleep. "Zzzzzzz…."

Smirking, Soi-Fon ran a hand across Yuzu's cheek, caressing it. "I am proud, Yuzu…." Ichigo saw the look in Soi-Fon's eyes and smiled, glad that things between the two were okay. "Ichigo, may I ask something?" Soi-Fon asked, her gaze turning to the boy.

"What is it?"

Later that night….

Yuzu sat up, feeling exhausted. "Where am I?" she muttered as she rubbed her eyes.

"You're back in your room at Squad Two."

The girl gasped as Soi-Fon came into view, the captain sitting on the edge of the bed. "Captain!"

"Didn't I tell you not to call me that? You're not one of my squad members," she gently admonished. "Still, that Shunko may have been infantile but it was impressive to say the least. You've changed from that little girl I found that day…" she said, remembering when she'd found her.

Yuzu looked at the bedsheets, ashamed at her deception. "I'm sorry…I should've told you earlier. I was just…so scared…."

Moving closer, Soi-Fon shook her head. "No, I'm the one who should apologize. I should have realized that you were the Ryoka. I would've been able to alert your brother and send you home where you belonged. Instead, I threw you at a hollow and beat you black and blue for a week. You endured something that you should never have gone through. The thing I want to know is…why?" She looked at Yuzu confused. "You could've told me at any point that you were an imposter during your training in order to make it end. So why didn't you?" she asked out of curiosity.

Yuzu was silent for a moment before answering, looking up at Soi-Fon with eyes full of emotion. "I…wanted to. It hurt really bad when you hit me or stabbed me with Suzumebachi. But…part of me wanted to know more about being a Soul Reaper. And I…" she blushed as she looked away. "I was in awe of you. You were so tough, so strong and so brave. Part of me wanted to be just like you."

Chuckling, Soi-Fon hugged her, running a hand through her hair softly. "You are brave and strong. Nobody less could've earned my respect the way you did. And you were even able to put up a good fight tonight. When I saw you perform Shunko…I was so proud of you…." She hugged her even tighter as Yuzu wrapped her arms around her. "I…know I should never become friends with a subordinate but…I was worried for you when I'd found out you had wound up in the Royal Realm."

"I was scared," Yuzu said as she hugged the woman. She'd wondered if this was what it was like to have a big sister. It felt nice. It made her feel warm inside. "That whole time I was there, whenever I was tired and didn't want to keep training. I thought of you and it helped me keep going. And it's like you said. I'm not one of your Squad members so…we can be friends."

Soi-Fon looked at Yuzu for a very long time, the two locking eyes. Soi-Fon had long since abandoned the notion of friendship when Yoruichi had abandoned her and she didn't really treat her like a friend, more like a goddess. This was a first. Perhaps it was time for her to loosen up a little. "I'd like that…."

Hugging her again, Yuzu could feel the exhaustion creep up on her again. "Um…Soi-Fon? Can you stay with me tonight?" she asked with a blushing face.

Chuckling, Soi-Fon hugged her back and scooted over, pulling her close and pulled the blanket over them. "Get some rest, Yuzu. You've earned it."

"Thanks…Soi-Fon…." Yuzu whispered as she fell back asleep, her head pressed against Soi-Fon's chest. The small woman looked down at her new friend and smiled before falling asleep shortly afterwards….

To be continued….