Chapter 10

The antidote worked its way through Yoruichi's body. As it moved it took the poisons out and healed her damaged organs.

When the process was done Yoruichi slowly eased awake. She became aware of a weight lying across her body. Her eyes struggled to adjust after being out of for so long. Gradually they focused and shot open once she realized what-or rather who-was resting on her. It was Soi Fon! Immediately she shot up and grabbed a hold of the woman.

"Soi?" she screamed. She could barely process the damage given to Soi. What had happened? The last thing she could remember was waiting in her bedroom for Soi to be done with her healing. Someone had come to the door. That must have been the person who hurt her little bee.

As she cradled her, her eyes scanned the floor. A couple feet away lay a vial. Beyond that were the sprawled bodies of Kisuke, Ururu, Jinta, and Tessai. Did the mysterious person do this to them too?

Yoruichi couldn't take it all in. Aizen must be responsible for all of this. She and Kisuke had discussed their involvement in the war and knew it was only a matter of time before they themselves would be dragged in. But she didn't want it to be like this. So many people she loved had gotten hurt. And it was all because one power hungry man didn't want to fight them face to face. He was a coward of the worst variety. She buried her head in Soi's raven hair and wept.

An idea hit her like a bullet train. She suffered no more effects from the sickness before. It was poisoning, her years in the Onmitsukido had taught her that much.

Soi must have used the vial to heal her. It made perfect sense that the person who had poisoned them would have an antidote. All Onmitsukido members were taught so in order to counteract the poison in case they came into contact with it themselves. She needed to treat the others.

Being careful to lay Soi comfortably down, Yoruichi rose to retrieve the vial. It was about halfway full. There would be plenty enough to treat the remaining four. She went to Kisuke first and uncorked the vial. With great care she poured a couple drops into his open mouth.

After a few moments he coughed and sat up. "What's up?" he asked casually as if this whole incident was just a dream. Yoruichi laughed. Leave it to Kisuke. "Soi got the antidote," she said holding up the vial.

"How is she?" he questioned. Yoruichi's face crumpled and she fell against his shoulder sobbing. "She's bad," she managed to choke out. "She fought someone." Kisuke looked shocked. "In her condition? How worse are her injuries?"

With a shaking finger Yoruichi pointed to Soi lying almost peacefully on the ground. Kisuke rose and went to check on her. He turned to Yoruichi. "I'll remove the glass and fix her up. Could you get me my trauma kit? It's in the corner over there."

Yoruichi nodded and scurried off the find the corner. It had been long enough that she had forgotten how large Kisuke's basement truly was. She finally reached the corner he had specified and searched for a cabinet. It was well disguised by the sky patterned paint job but a small crack gave it away. She opened the door and took the bulky kit from inside and brought it back to Kisuke. He thanked her and unfastened the strap holding the bag shut.

"Can you go and heal the rest?" Kisuke asked. Yoruichi didn't hesitate to grab the vial from his outstretched hands. She went over to the children and Tessai and gave each of them a few drops from the vial.

They awoke and began to cough. "Make sure they stay downstairs," Kisuke called. "There's probably still poisonous gas." She nodded and started to go over to him when a tug on her jacket stopped her. It was Ururu.

"Yoruichi-san," the girl asked in a timid voice. "Will Soi Fon-taicho be okay?" Yoruichi wasn't sure how to answer. She had no honest idea if Soi would be okay. But she couldn't tell a small child that. She also would feel bad about lying. So she gave it her best shot.

"Kisuke and Tessai will do their very best." With a pat on the head she went over to join the two men.

They were busy at work removing the glass shards from her skin and were concentrating hard. Yoruichi crouched down by Soi's head and stroked her hair. "You can do it little bee," she whispered. "Your strong enough to take 3 battles. You can take this."

Kisuke continued his work and frowned. He had never seen his best friend get so emotional before. When she had first told him she was dating Soi Fon he was furious. He had always hoped she would wake up and realize that he was head over heels in love with her. 100 years had seemed more than enough. He hadn't thought she would go and start dating her former subordinate. But he had dismissed it as something that wouldn't last for more than a few weeks.

However, this more than proved to him this wasn't just a casual thing. This was head over heels love.

"Yoruichi," he said stopping his work. "Why don't you go over with the children and rest a bit?" She shook her head stubbornly.

"No. I'm staying right here with Soi."

Kisuke could only smile. He knew better than to argue with her. So they continued in silence, the three of them working to save the taicho's life.

End Chapter 10

Next chapter will be the last. I've had so much fun writing this and I hope you've enjoyed it too. After thinking it over I've decided my next story will be "The Fan Club"