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I'm only human. Please feel free to point out any errors.

Feedback is both welcome and wanted.

This chapter marks roughly the half-way point of this story and the end of the re-write of the first version. I would like to thank all of you who have stuck with me since the beginning of the first version. I hope I made it worth your time.

Since everything after this will be brand new, I cannot give you any kind of estimate as to when updates will occur. I will do my best to make sure they don't take too long, but I can't make any promises.

I didn't expect Chapter 8 to be so well received. If anything, I expected something of a backlash.


When Unohana returned from her meeting with Yamamoto, it was dark and Soifon was already sleeping in a hospital bed. Isane was sitting in a chair near the end of her bed, drifting off into sleep and waking herself back up.

"Go find someone who is on call tonight and go get some rest." Unohana placed a reassuring hand the tired woman's shoulder. "I'll wait here with Soifon-taicho in the mean time."

'Yes, Taicho." Isane answered sleepily. Unohana moved the chair to the side of the bed. Sitting down, she sighed deeply.

"What are we going to do with you?" She whispered. There was no reply.

Soifon awoke to the familiar sight of the ceiling of the Fourth Division infirmary. At first, she was confused, but the pain in her right arm quickly reminded her of her situation. She sat up and stretched, relived to find that her limbs weren't shackled to the bed like last time.

"You're awake?" The young man sitting in the chair at the side of her bed stood up. There were bags under his eyes. "Let me go get you some breakfast." Soifon almost protested, but she knew that she was in no position to make demands.

The boy returned a few minutes later with a tray of food. In one corner, there was a cup of pills; one yellow, one white, and one purple.

"What are these?" Soifon asked the boy. She knew that the yellow pill was an appetite stimulant, but the other two were new to her.

"That one is a painkiller." He pointed to the white pill. "And that one is an anti-depressant." He pointed to the purple.

"This isn't the same one as I was taking before." She swallowed the other two, but left the purple.

"These pills were given to me by Unohana-taicho." He shrugged. Convinced, she swallowed the medication and began to eat the food. "Unohana-taicho asks that you meet her in the counseling room once you've finished you meal." She nodded. To her annoyance, rather than leaving, he took a seat next to her.


Soifon was glad that there were no clocks in the counseling room. The room was so quite that the ticking would have drove her insane. The shuffling of Unohana's papers and the scratch of her pen were bad enough.

"Your blood work came back last night." Unohana broke the tense silence. "You stopped taking you medication some time ago. Why?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

'Because I was unable to…respond…to Yoruichi." Soifon was unable to look at Unohana. To her surprise, the motherly woman did not scold her. She simply sighed.

"I must confess that I feel partially responsible for all this." Unohana spoke with sincerity.

"How?" Soifon wasn't one to place undue blame.

"I wasn't exactly forthcoming with you treatment." Unohana put her clipboard down so that there were no barriers between them. "In my rush to get you treated, I neglect to inform you of everything I should have. In all honesty, I did not think a decrease in your sex drive would be an issue. If anything, I thought you would welcome it."

"If you would have asked me, I would have agreed." Soifon tried to reassure her. "I just hadn't anticipated getting involved with Yoruichi."

"Anyway," Unohana pick her board back up. "I've begun you on a new prescription. This one should not have any sexual side-effects." She scratched some words onto her paper pad. "However, the dosage is smaller, so you will have to take it three times a day instead of two." Soifon opened her mouth to speak, but the door to the room was thrown open.

"You can't go in there!" Isane could be heard shouting. In the doorway stood Sasakibe, Yamamoto's Lieutenant and aide.

"What is the meaning of all this?" Unohana slightly agitated.

"Yamamoto-sotaicho wishes to see Soifon-taicho immediately." She spoke in short, harsh syllables.

"I'm sorry, Sasakibe-fukutaicho," Unohana never lost her calm demeanor, "but we are in the middle of a therapy session."

"I am sorry, Taoicho," his inflection made it impossible to tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic, "But this is not a request, this is an order."


Sasakibe led the two women to the entrance of Yamamoto's office. It was nestled in a corner of the large conference room that the Captains and Lieutenants meet in.

"Please wait here, Unohana-taicho." He opened the door to the office, but blocked her entrance. Reluctantly, Unohana complied as Soifon entered.

One always felt vulnerable when standing in front of Yamamoto. That Soifon actually was vulnerable this time didn't calm her nerves any. There were several moments of silence before the old man spoke.

"War," his gruff voice echoed in the large room, "is never an easy thing to experience, even for a career soldier." He stood up from his seat. "Everyone reacts to its horrors differently, some more viscerally than others."

"The Gotie 13 is still severely wounded, and we cannot afford weakness, especially on out upper echelons." He stood in front of her, but at a distance.

"In light of recent events, I see it fit to relive you of your Captaincy of the Second Division and the Onmitsukido." Soifon's eyes went wide as hear heart skipped several beats. Her breaths became short and haggard.

"I am sorry." The phrase sounded awkward coming from the man. "Your service to this organization was exemplary. However, it has become clear that it has taken more of a toll on you than either of us imagined." Soifon wanted to scream, to cry, to react, but she was still in shock. All that she felt was a dagger being plunged into her heart and twisted.

"You have the rest of today and tomorrow to gather your belongings and vacate you quarters." Yamamoto concluded very business-like. "You are dismissed." Swallowing back the tears that threatened to spill, Soifon left the Yamamoto's quarters as quickly as she could.

Despite having not heard what had just taken place, the look of contrition on Soifon's face gave her a good impression as to what happened. Shoving her way past Sasakibe she entered as soon as Soifon left.

"Sotaicho!" Unohana shouted at the elderly man just has reclaimed his seat.

"What is it, Retsu?" He asked.

"What did you say to her?" Unohana couldn't remember having ever raised her voice at anyone, let alone Yamamoto.

"I informed her that her service, while commendable, was no longer needed of her." He answered calmly. He would not have tolerated such impudence from any of the "younger" Captains, but Unohana was an old friend.

"She's in a very unstable place right now emotionally." Unohana pleaded. "As her Doctor, I feel as if I should have some say in this matter."

"Your duty is to provide medical assistance to members of the Gotie 13 and its affiliates." He met her gaze with equal ferocity. "Soifon no longer falls into either of those categories and is, therefore, no longer your patient." Unable to formulate a counter-argument, Unohana stormed out of the room in a fury.


Inside her quarters, Soifon sat behind her desk. On it sat stacks of forms that required signing and reviewing. In a rage, she shoved them all off the desk. They fluttered about the room before they settled on the ground. Her head impacted the wood table as tears of sadness, anger, and regret flowed freely.


Hanataro eyed the pristine floor of the ward he just cleaned with pride. Unlike the other members of his Division, he has become so used to remedial tasks that he came to enjoy them. Shouldering his mop and picking up the bucket full of cleaner, he began to make is way towards the next ward when the sound of a door being thrown open behind him caught his attention. The sight that greeted him chilled his bones.

It was Unohana, but she was very, very angry. He had seen her angry before, but her had never seen her express the emotion in her face and demeanor. His heart began to race as she made her way towards him.

"Hanataro." The normally soothing voice was short and harsh.

"Y…y…y…yes, Taicho." He dropped the bucket and mop and stood at attention.

"Go to Urahara Shoten in the World of the Living and bring me Yoruichi Shihoin as quickly as your legs will carry you." She didn't realize it, but her fists were clenched.

"Yes ma'am!" Hanataro took her words to heart and ran off as quickly as he could.


I liked things better when we were criminals, Yoruichi though as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. Everything was so much more quite. Once her pupils readjust themselves, her gaze fell onto the young man from the Fourth Division that stood in front of her.

"Uhh…Yoruichi Shihoin?" He asked. He knew he was in the right place, but the disheveled appearance and skimpy attire of the woman in front of him was hardly befitting the head of one of the Four Noble Houses, even one in exile.

"Yeah?" She asked impatiently.

"Unohana-taicho requests your presence immediately." Hanataro did his best to sound commanding.

"What's happened?" The annoyance in Yoruichi's countenance instantly disappeared.

"I don't know, but it seems like an emergency." Just thinking about how Unohana looked gave him the chills.

"Emergency?" She asked. He nodded. "Wait right here." Within a minute, Yoruichi returned dressed in her usual black jump suit and orange jacket and her hair in a pony tail.

"Let's get going. If Unohana says it's an emergency, than it can't wait." Yoruichi flowed Hanataro to the Senkaimon he used.


Yoruichi entered the Fourth Division's infirmary to find the area shockingly calm. Very few hospital beds were occupied and the ones that were cradled patients in stable condition. Confused, Yoruichi began to wander the halls until she ran into Unohana. The expression on her face almost made Yoruichi's heart stop.

"Yoruichi-san." She walked up to her and placed a small, transparent, plastic bag with five purple pills in it in her hand. "Take these and find Soifon as soon as possible." She led Yoruichi to the door as she spoke.

"What's going on?" The worry that the calm infirmary had dispelled quickly returned.

"There is no time to explain." It was almost for Soifon's next dose and there was no telling what Soifon would do to herself or anyone else without her medication.

Thoroughly disturbed by Unohana, Yoruichi shunpoed to the Second Division Barracks and Soifon's quarters. She knocked, but there was no answer. Sliding the door opened, she was greeted by the sight of Soifon's usually immaculate room as a complete wreck. Papers were strewn about the place as well as articles of clothing and other personal objects. The whole place smelled of disinfectant.

Her heart rate picked up as she walked in slowly and quietly. She was about to call out for Soifon when the woman's head shot out from the doorway to her bedroom.

"Y..Yoruichi?" Her voice was hoarse and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She was the last and first person Soifon wanted to see right now.

"Soi, what's going on?" Before she got an answer, she continued. "Unohana sent for me and gave me these pills to give to you." She held out the pills and Soifon slowly approached her and took them. Mechanically, she got herself a glass of water and swallowed the capsule.

"What happened to you arm?" Yoruichi hadn't been able to see it until she came out of the doorway.

"I…uh…" Soifon stammered.

It's all over, she lamented. She's going to find out I'm crazy and leave me.

"I cut myself." She finished sadly.

"Did you have some kind of accident?" Yoruichi knew that no one was immune to happenings of chance.

"No, I…did it on purpose." Soifon couldn't look at Yoruichi.

"Why would you do something like that?" Yoruichi was confused and a little scared.

"Because I stopped taking my anti-depressants." Soifon could feel tears threatening again.

"Why were you on anti-depressant Soi?" Yoruichi just wanted to know what was going on.

"Because I tried to kill myself!" Despite how constricted her throat was, the words came out clear.

"You…what?" Yoruichi was at a loss for words. A strange mixture of fear, anger, and sadness welled up inside her. "Soi…" Yoruichi finally settled on anger. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?" She felt betrayed.

"Because…" Soifon chocked back a sob. "Because I liked the way you treated me." Yoruichi's anger subsided. "When people know, they treat you differently. Most avoid you when possible. They're afraid they might say something to set you off. Worse still are the people that treat you with insincere kindness. They hope that being nice, no matter how they really feel, will somehow make everything better." Yoruichi stood in silence, listening. "Even the people that don't do that treat you differently. It's just little things. They might leave you the last bit of food even though they really wanted it or they might not assert their opinion if it's different." She looked Yoruichi in the eyes. "You treated me like I was normal."

"Soi…" Yoruichi didn't know what to say.

Soifon's legs gave out as she began to sob uncontrollably. Before she hit the ground, Yoruichi caught her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Soifon clung to her tightly as she led her over to the sofa. They sat there, Soifon emptying her emotions onto Yoruichi's shoulder. Once she was able, Soifon told her everything; about her past struggles with anorexia and self-affliction, her attempted suicide, why she stopped taking her medication, and the loss of her position. Yoruichi's only responses were soft words of reassurance.

Despite how strong she was acting outwardly, Yoruichi was genuinely scared. To find out that someone who you always considered a strong a collected person was actually very fragile and damaged was a shacking experience.

When Yoruichi had been reunited with Soifon after her exile, she still thought of her as someone she needed to look out for and protect. As time progressed and they worked together, that feeling slowly dissipated and she began to view Soifon as her equal. Now, holding the sobbing woman in her arms, that need to protect came rushing back. But how do you protect someone from themselves?

Once Soifon calmed down some, Yoruichi made them a light meal. They ate and Soifon took her medication in plain view of Yoruichi.

"I guess we'll start packing up tomorrow." Yoruichi looked around the room.

"I guess," Soifon said sadly. "I'm going to bed." It was already well past dark.

"Alright," Yoruichi smiled weakly. Before she walked off, she pulled Soifon close to her and gave her a gentle kiss. "We'll get through this, okay?" Yoruichi said soothingly as she stroked Soifon's hair. Unable to speak, Soifon simply nodded and went to her bed. Yoruichi settled on the sofa.

"We'll", Soifon thought as she drifted off onto an exhausted sleep. She said "we'll"…


In the morning, the two women bathed and dressed without incident. Yoruichi recognized that this was no time for teasing. They ate a light breakfast and began to pack. They sifted through her closet, picking out several uniforms to take with them. Yoruichi stumbled upon the cheongsam that Soifon's had worn on their first official date.

"This really is an amazing dress." Yoruichi remarked idly.

"It was my grandmother's." Soifon said as she placed some items onto a duffle bag. "Fon heirlooms skip a generation…" Her voice trailed off. Yoruichi popped her head out of the closet at the sound of crying.

"Where am I going to go?" Soifon asked desperately as Yoruichi came over. "I can't go back home, not after…" She stilled remembered how proud her father looked when she became Captain.

"It alright," Yoruichi rubbed Soifon's back soothingly. "You can stay with me."

"I can't ask that of you!" Soifon squeaked.

"You didn't ask, I offered." Yoruichi smiled.

"Still, I don't want to be a burden to you." She was cut off as Yoruichi pulled her into a crushing embrace.

"You will never be a burden to me, Soi" Yoruichi whispered into her ear. Breaking the hug, they went back to packing. All told, the only had two duffle bags, on filled with clothes and the otter with personal items, and Soifon's camera bags.

Solemnly, they made their way to the door. They stopped when they noticed a note had peen slide under it. Yoruichi read it.

"Unohana wants to see us before we leave." Yoruichi informed.


The Fourth Division infirmary looked much like it did the day before. The woman in charge, however, did not. She had finally regained her calm outward composer, despite how she felt internally.

"Would you please wait here, Soifon-san?" Unohana motioned to a chair. "I need to speak to Yoruichi-san for a moment." Soifon obliged as Unohana led Yoruichi to her office.

"No doubt you have been informed of the situation that we are currently facing." Unohana said as she took her seat.

"Yes, I have." Yoruichi didn't know what else to say.

"I know it's a lot to ask of you, but it would be most beneficial to Soifon if she stayed with you." Unohana's gaze pierced Yoruichi.

"That's already been arranged." Yoruichi was rewarded with a gentle smile.

"That's good to hear." Unohana produced a pad of paper from her desk and began to write on it furiously. "Yamamoto may have given up on Soifon, but I have not. The help I can offer will be limited, but I will send one of my subordinates to Urahara Shoten with Soifon's medications." She tore off the paper and handed it to Yoruichi. "I will also send someone to tend to her arm." Yoruichi was amazed. Even though the paper had been written blisteringly fast, every letter was crisp and clear.

"What's this?" Yoruichi asked, pointing to the paper.

"Basic information you need to know." Unohana's voice became professional. "Things such as how to administer the medication and the like." Yoruichi nodded.

"This is not something to be taken on lightly." Unohana made eye contact with Yoruichi.

"I want to help her." Yoruichi answered without hesitation.

"That's what I wanted to hear." Unohana stood up and showed Yoruichi the door.

"I guess this is goodbye." Soifon said to the matronly woman.

"Yes." She agreed. "This whole situation is very unfortunate." Unohana concluded sadly. She explained to her the arrangements that would be made for her medication and waved them one final farewell after giving Soifon a bag filled with a bottle of appetite stimulants and anti-depressants.


Yoruichi and Soifon stood outside the Senkaimon to the Human Realm. Soifon turned around; taking one last look at the place she had called "home" for so long.

"Are you ready?" Yoruichi asked.

"Yeah, let's go." Weighted down by baggage and with Suzumebachi strapped almost defiantly to her back, Soifon stepped into the wasteland between worlds with Yoruichi close behind her.