Disclaimer: Bleach isn't mine, but it sure is fun to write like it is.
Author's note: Just wanted to remind people that I usually update with multiple chapters at a time. Make sure you're not skipping any chapters!
The Art of Transformation
by siyentista
Chapter 10: The Dream
Yoruichi woke up breathlessly, the last image of her dream lingering in her head. Dark fingers upon light skin. Soi Fong's bare back, tensing then relaxing.
Wide-eyed, Yoruichi steepled her hands shakily as if trying to recreate the feel of skin on skin.
Yoruichi knew that it wasn't so much a dream as a memory that seemed to be haunting her in her sleep. It was the memory of that awkward moment that on her first day at the captain's quarters with Soi Fong.
***
"I really need to take a bath," Soi Fong remarked to herself when they arrived at her quarters from the Fourth Division.
"One bath coming right up," Yoruichi responded.
"Oh, I didn't mean… "
"Oh, come on, Soi, that's why I'm here, right?" Yoruichi said matter-of-factly.
"I… guess?"
"Stay here." Yoruichi ordered.
Soi Fong glared at Yoruichi. "As if I have a choice," the invalid mumbled.
Yoruichi cackled all the way to the bathroom.
When the bath was ready, Yoruichi lifted Soi Fong and effortlessly helped her into the water. Yoruichi let her keep white robe from the Fourth to help her stay comfortable and placed some towels by the tub.
"You sure you can do this with one arm?" Yoruichi asked before she left.
"I'm sure I'll manage," Soi Fong rolled her eyes even a blush grew on her cheeks.
An hour after Soi Fong had begun bathing, Yoruichi yelled through the door "Oi, you okay in there?" She was getting a little worried by how long it was taking and she thought she had heard a frustrated cry. "I know you're injured and all so it should take a little longer, but this is getting ridi… cu…. lous… ," Yoruichi trailed off.
She had opened the door to the bathroom to finally check on Soi Fong and was met with a drenched woman in soaked robes glaring at the bandages swimming and tangling around her. Yoruichi got the word right. It was ridiculous.
Soi Fong had indeed managed to remove the bandages on her torso and leg—the only ones that remained from the original batch that covered her entire body. She had also managed to unbraid and wash her hair, as well as clean herself.
The trickiest part about taking the bath was, of course, putting all of those back, and the woman was too proud and stubborn to get help from Yoruichi. Obviously, all her attempts at wrapping new bandages around herself and keeping them dry had failed fantastically.
Yoruichi started laughing hysterically, all the while trying to scold the woman for her stubbornness and pride. Soi Fong was so frustrated that she couldn't even muster up the embarrassment to blush. She simply crossed her arms and scowled at the water petulantly while Yoruichi laughed even harder.
"Hahaha… haha…ha… haha… " Yoruichi breathed in deeply. "Alright, I'm done," she declared as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She shook her head. "Ah, Soi, whatever am I going to do with you?" she asked, laughter still evident in her voice.
Yoruichi helped Soi Fong to the edge of the tub and handed her the towels and left so she could dry herself. When she came back, Soi Fong had a towel on her lap and another clutched to her chest, ready for bandaging.
"I don't know why you're so shy, Soi. I wouldn't have a problem with it."
"Of course, you wouldn't," she retorted sourly. Indeed, Yoruichi was notorious for flaunting her body.
Soi Fong pouted but she did turn to make her bare back more accessible to Yoruichi.
Yoruichi took a fresh roll of bandages and began wrapping it around Soi Fong's torso, her fingers holding the end lightly against Soi Fong's warm side and her other hand snaking around Soi Fong beneath the towel.
Yoruichi could see the trained muscles of Soi Fong's back tense underneath her slightly bruised porcelain skin. Yoruichi stopped. She gently put her hand on the space where Soi Fong's shoulder met her neck. It felt pleasant against her hand.
"Relax, Soi. It's just me."
Soi Fong closed her eyes, took a deep breath and slowly forced her muscles to relax.
***
The next day, Inoue had restored Soi Fong's arm, and for the rest of the week, the stubborn woman had insisted on bandaging herself. Unfortunately, that one time was all it took to get the images branded into Yoruichi's memory.
Now that she had had time to herself, she realized with a start why Soi Fong had felt so warm against her fingers. It was because the blood had retreated from her limbs and into her chest and ears where it pounded much too loudly. Her limbs had been left cold and wobbly like jelly.
Yoruichi didn't understand it. Since her return to Soul Society, she had seen Soi Fong in her backless Onmitsukidou uniform multiple times. The sight had never invoked the same reaction.
Then again, all those times, the skin of Soi Fong's back was never so close and never, ever under her fingertips…
A chill ran down her spine.
"Oh, gods… ," Yoruichi whispered, breaking the screaming silence.