Soi Fon woke up. The sun had yet to rise, but she was already accustomed to the early hours of her strict training regime. She stretched and pondered her schedule.
6th hour: patrolling the headquarters. 7th hour: Shun-po. 8 th hour: briefing for the day. 9th hour: wake Yoruichi-sama. 10th hour: guard Yoruichi-
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when someone suddenly appeared behind her. Soifon turned around instinctively, only to see a grinning Yoruichi. "Well done, Soifon. You failed to hear me enter but you managed to intercept me before I tapped you on the shoulder. You are improving!"
Soifon quickly bowed. "Yoruichi-sama, why are you up at this hour? Is there something you need me to do? You should have summoned me and I would have gone to your quarters. I…" She was quickly silenced by Yoruichi, who put a finger to her lips.
"We are going hollow hunting. Now grab your zanpakuto and follow me."
Silently and swiftly, Commander and soldier melted into the night. Soifon's heart thumped in her chest, from the exertion of the punishingly fast pace Yoruichi was travelling at, and also from nervousness. I have never been on a mission with Yoruichi-sama, let alone have to protect Yoruichi-sama by myself! Will I be up to this?
She was glad of the break when Yoruichi suddenly came to a stop. The two of them blended with the shadows, testing the air. Hollows. Soifon could sense their reiatsu. Quick! To the left! Her trained senses screamed at her, as a hollow suddenly lunged at her from the side. Soifon nimbly somersaulted from its clumsy move and unsheathed her zanpakuto. She cleaved through the hollow's mask, hearing its dying cries fade away. Yoruichi-sama? Are you all right? She scanned around anxiously for her commander, only to see another much larger hollow standing before her. It made a swift grab for her, and Soifon eluded its first grasp, only to fall into its other hand.
Soifon flinched and tried to twist from its chokehold, but to no avail. The hollow's gaping maw opened for its next meal, but dissipated into nothingness when Yoruichi leapt out and cleaved it in half. Soifon fell limply on the floor, stunned.
Yoruichi assessed the scene and smiled. "All right, we're done. Let's pull out!" Shocked, Soifon fell back and prostrated herself. "My deepest apologies, Yoruichi-sama! I have failed! I should have protected you but I was too weak. I… I am sorry!"
Yoruichi looked at Soifon with a strange mix of love and compassion in her eyes. But all she let out was a short, dismissive laugh. "Ha! So it's about that. It's all right."
Soifon bowed even lower, touching her head to the ground, apologizing, her voice barely conveying the awful guilt and sense of failure she felt.
She felt a hand tilt up her face by the chin. "When I said it's all right, it's all right." And she found the golden eyes bearing into her vision once again.
"But… I… your Excellency…" Soifon had barely begun her sentence when she heard a small rumble of disapproval. "I mean… my deepest thanks, Yourichi-sama."
Yoruichi gave a broad smile, and they returned to the headquarters for a rest.
When the time came for the change of the guard, Soifon quickly ran to her old training ground at the sakura grove. She replayed the confrontation with the hollow in her mind relentlessly. Be prepared for anything. Speed. Precision. Her sensei's words echoed in her mind, as she revisited what she ought to have done. I, Soifon, will give my blood and soul to safeguard the wellbeing of Yoruichi-sama. Strike harder here. Move faster there. Somersault away. Cut him here. She gripped her zanpakuto in her hand, hefting it, turning around, striking, stabbing, cutting at the petals that drifted down.
Faster! Stronger! Her zanpakuto whirled through the night air, and her small body turned and twisted with rage and determination. How can you protect Yoruichi-sama like this? She had to protect you today! How will you ever be able carry out what you have promised and do what is expected of you? Are you worthy to be the head of the Fon family and to serve Yoruichi-sama?
A hand on her shoulder and a familiar reiatsu stopped Soifon in her tracks. "Swing your zanpakuto like this, Soifon." And a hand gripped hers around the hilt of her sword, guiding her in a gentle cutting arc. "Yes, across, and up! That's the way!" Soifon held her zanpakuto in the air, lost in a reverie.
She suddenly became aware of who had guided her, and fell on her knees once more, her head bowed in shame. She did not see the eyes of her Commander who looked on her with compassion. "Soifon, do not beat yourself up over what happened today."
"I… I should have protected Yoruichi-sama today. But I failed! I need to be stronger…" and her shoulders suddenly slumped. Her voice cracked slightly. "No… I am inadequate in everything…"
A gentle hand ruffled her hair, pulling her out of her self-recrimination. "That's enough, Soifon." She looked up to see Yoruichi looking tenderly at her. "Yoruichi-sama…"
Yoruichi held the tender gaze. "You… you remind me of me, Soifon. At times... you are like my younger sister… the one I wish I always had. I do not want you to hurt yourself over this incident any longer."
I am unworthy. Why should you be as such to me? Even my brothers have never been so tender to me. "Such words are wasted on one as me, Yoruichi-sama. I am un-"
She was interrupted by the Yoruichi, who promptly lay down with her head in her Soifon's lap.
"I said that's enough. It's a full moon tonight and the sakura trees are in bloom."
Stunned into a subdued happiness, Soifon continued to kneel, and commander and subordinate passed the time in silence, enjoying the gentle breeze that brought the petals wafting by.
Soifon paused to take in the moment. She shut her eyes, inhaling the cool night air and exhaling slowly. Around her, the sakura petals continued to shed and dance, swirling against the night sky and the brilliant purity of the full moon. The night and the grove of the past seven years had simply become the time and place in which she pushed herself to the point of exhaustion in training, and stumbled back to bed. What did the night look like, how did the trees bloom? She had forgotten.
The weight in her lap reminded her that she was here with her commander. She looked down, and saw that Yoruichi was asleep. Without the golden orbs boring into her consciousness, Soifon could look at her commander's face without fear or awkwardness for the first time. She could not help but notice that Yoruichi looked tired. Behind the broad grins and informality, and despite the evident power and strength she had, Yoruichi was somewhat worn from the pressures of running the Second Squad, the Onmitsukido and the Shihoin estate.
Soifon remembered the burning intensity she felt when she first saw the person she was to serve all her life. Those feelings flared up once more, but now a well-defined amalgamation of her familial obligations, the Fon family's honour, her personal respect, and deep-seated admiration for Yoruichi. Yoruichi-sama, I am not worthy to even serve you, but let me protect you and help you bear these burdens. I cannot do everything… but I will do anything I can to help you.
Soifon protectively brushed a hand through Yoruichi's hair. "I will protect you forever."
"Yes, it's a promise." Yoruichi's eyes were still shut, but her response was unmistakable.
