Hey guys, it's been a while. Sorry for the 2 monthish delay; things have been crazy, what with school starting back up and all. I promise that I'll finish this story though. Anywhore, here's the new chapter of Put to the Test! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"You're too slow, Sui Feng," Yoruichi teases playfully, flash stepping half heartedly through the trees as the smaller woman struggles to keep up. "You'll never catch anyone like that."
"I'm sorry, Lady Yoruichi," Sui Feng says. As she watches her idol, however, she starts seeing her form flicker between the dark skinned female's and a large, white man's. The man has brown hair, and as he turns around to look at Sui Feng she can see his taunting green eyes.
"She's right. You couldn't even catch little old me," Hatsuyo provokes. It works, and Sui Feng starts chasing after him faster and harder. He just speeds up, however, and she can't manage to gain any ground on him. Eventually, he disappears from her sight behind a thick trunk, leaving her to stand in the woods.
"You've failed again, Captain Sui Feng." The deep, booming voice of Head Captain Yamamoto causes her shoulders to slump slightly, acknowledging the fact that what he's saying is true. "This is unacceptable."
"I apologize, Head Captain," Sui Feng says formally, kneeling down to show subordinance. Yoruichi and Yamamoto's admonishment weighs heavily on her. After all, it is her fault that the intruders got away. However, she simply accepts her scolding and vows to never let it happen again. However, one last voice throws her off completely.
"I'm sorry, Sui Feng."
That voice. That voice that's always so nonchalant in the face of danger, and yet so serious in the most rdiculous situations. That voice that never listens and never gives up. That voice that is so filled with pity right now, Sui Feng can't bear it.
"No!" she cries, turning to looks angrily at Ichigo Kurosaki, Substitute Soul Reaper. "Don't you feel sorry for me!"
"If I had only been there..." Ichigo trails off, guilt on his face as bruises start appearing along Sui Feng's entire body, blood dripping from her nose and edging the corner of her mouth.
"I don't need you!" Sui Feng protests. "I can take that bastard down all by myself! You can't have to swoop in and beat the bad guys like always!" She can't accept that Ichigo is better than her. She's worked too hard for her position, and he's just a substitute.
"I could have protected you," Ichigo finishes, as though Sui Feng hadn't spoken at all. This time, though, his voice echos throughout the captain's mind, shock spread across her face. 'Protect me?'
Then, the world goes black, Ichigo's solemn face being the last thing she sees before she wakes up in her hospital bed in Squad 4. She looks around for Ichigo and quickly spots his unconscious form in a chair along the wall. She remarks that she can only feel his spiritual pressure if she concentrates on it.
However, as she concentrates on it, she feels guilt within it. The same guilt that the Ichigo in her dream expressed. She shakes her head and gets up out of bed, wincing slightly at the dull pain that still resides in her body. She walks over sleeping substitute and puts her face next to his, just inches apart.
"Just what do you think you're doing in here, Kurosaki?" she says in her usually dangerous tone. However, there's a bit of playfulness in it, and the corner of her mouth curls ever so slightly into a grin.
"Wh-wha! Sui Feng, you're up! I was just, uh, ah, I was waiting for you to wake up... so that... I could tell you that... there's been a captain's meeting! Yeah, that's it!" Ichigo says lamely, squirming under the powerful woman's analyzing stare.
"And why couldn't you have let a note?" Her voice is ever so slightly teasing, but Ichigo doesn't quite notice.
"W-well, I thought that it'd be better to hear it in person!"
"And why not have my lieutenant inform me of the proceedings?"
"Because... because he wasn't there! He doesn't have the full story of what happened, so he can't be that accurate!"
"That's wrong," Sui Feng says. "The reason he isn't here is because he knows better than to be slacking off just because his captain is in the hospital. You want to know what I think?" Her voice turns a little mischievious at the end, her heart beating at a million miles an hour. 'Am I really doing this now?'
"Uh..."
"I think you were just wanting to watch me while I sleep, like some lech," Sui Feng full out teases, turning away so that the blush on her face can't be seen. 'Lady Yoruichi seems to have the right idea. This IS kinda fun...'
"...What?" Ichigo says blankly, unable to accept what just happened. 'Was she... teasing me?' "Sui Feng... are you ok?"
"Of course I am, don't be stupid," Sui Feng replies calmly, walking back to her bed. "Now leave."
"What? Why?" he asks.
"When a superior gives you an order, you follow it."
"I was just asking a question, you don't have to pull rank. You sound like Byakuya."
Somehow, hearing Ichigo compare her to a guy, especially one that he doesn't particularly like, doesn't sit well with her. "I'm changing into my shihakusho," she explains.
"O-oh! W-well, why didn't you say so? I guess I'll just be off then," Ichigo says quickly before leaving. 'Stay calm, stay calm, whatever you do, do NOT get a-'
"Ichigo, what is that?" Rukia asks, snapping Ichigo out of his daze. His mind had started to wander a bit towards what was currently happening In Sui Feng's hospital room, and as he glances down to where Rukia's pointing and sees the steadily grown bulge in he crotch, he quickly hunches over and crosses his arms over his growing "excitement."
"N-nothing! It must've been a fold in the fabric!" Ichigo says, doubled over.
"Are you ok?" Rukia asks.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine, just got a little stomach ache is all."
"We're in the fourth squad, you know. Should I call someone over?"
"No, that's alright, I'll be just fine."
"If you say so. Anyway, there's a captain's meeting in 10 minutes. Is Captain Sui Feng awake?"
"Yeah, she's changing into her uniform now." That doesn't help Ichigo's situation at all.
"Well, when she's ready, bring her along." Rukia turns to leave, but stops. "How long are you going to stay like that?"
"As long as it takes."
"For what? Your erection to go away?" Rukia asks innocently before flash stepping away with a giggle.
"Wha-? Why you little!" Ichigo shakes a fist at where she was standing. 'Damn that Rukia!'
"Kurosaki," Sui Feng's voice catches Ichigo's attention. She's back in her normal uniform, her sleeveless captain's haori tied by the yellow sash in the middle.
"Hey, there's a Captains' Meeting. You alright to go?" Ichigo asks, unsure if she's feeling up to it.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Sui Feng asks somewhat dangerously.
"No reason! Let's get going then, shall we?" Ichigo says, allowing Sui Feng to walk towards him. The make their way from Squad 4 to Squad 1 together.
"Hey, Sui Feng?" Ichigo speaks up on the way.
"What is it, Kurosaki?" Sui Feng responds.
"That," Ichigo answers.
"What?" Sui Feng asks, confused.
"You keep calling me by my last name. I'd prefer it if you'd call me Ichigo, if you don't mind," the substitute explains to the captain, who contemplates the request.
"Fine. I'll call you Ichigo from now on," Sui Feng states.
For some reason, hearing Sui Feng call him by his given name sounds really damn good to Ichigo. He'd love to make her say it again... 'NO! What the hell, brain!?'
"Ichigo," the small captain grabs Ichigo's attention. "We're here."
"Oh, right," Ichigo replies, shaking his head to clear the rest of the clutter in it. The two enter the meeting hall where the rest of the captains are waiting. Yoruichi is standing in Sui Feng's place and takes a large stride backwards, allowing her to assume the Captain of Squad 2 position once more. Ichigo goes back to the spot he's been using thus far, across from Captain Ukitake.
"This Captains' Meeting is now in session," Head Captain Yamamoto announces. "What is the state of the Sokyoku?"
"The Sokyoku has been fully restored," Shinji Hirako announces. It's been two days since the last fight with the intruders and the execution blade has been having non stop work done on it since.
"This is good news indeed. And the progress of the seal on the Kusari Konbata?" Yamamoto addresses Yoruichi.
"It's been released. We can began tpractice with it immediately. I'm assuming you'll be the one to wield it," Yoruichi says.
"The Sokyoku will be wielded by whomever can use it the most effectively," Yamamoto states, causing a few murmurs. Kenpachi Zaraki, who had recovered enough to attend the meeting, smiles knowingly. Hitsugaya looks at him doubtfully, unsure about what Kenpachi's smiling about.
"Captain Sui Feng," Yamamoto begins the next topic. "Are you fit for combat?"
"Yes sir," Sui Feng replies immediately.
"That's a load of bull and you know it!" Ichigo bursts out. "You can barely move without hurting yourself!"
"Watch your tongue!" Sui Feng snaps. "I'm fine! If you want, I could prove it to you right now!"
The whole room goes silent. Sure, it's not beneath Sui Feng to threaten subordinants, but she's rarely ever been this easily agitated by anyone, let alone in public.
"Silence!" the Head Captain bellows. "Enough of this bickering! I'll not have a captain and a substitute fighting amongst themselves! Ichigo Kurosaki, do you dare to question Captain Sui Feng's ability to assess her physical capabilities?"
"Well, hell yeah I do!" Ichigo retorts.
"Easy there, Ichigo," Shunsui says. "I'm sure there's a way to settle this matter without so much yelling."
"I say we listen to Sui Feng's idea," Shinji suggests. "If she wants to spar Ichigo to prove her recovery, why not let her?"
"Very well," Yamamoto says after a short pause. "Ichigo Kurosaki, if you believe Captain Sui Feng to be incapable of prolonged combat with the enemy, then restrain her yourself."
Ichigo hesitates, as does Sui Feng. However, as soon as he sees the small captain's eyes wash the uncertainty from them and replace it with deadly determination, he accepts the situation. He musters up all of his speed and precision and flash steps across the room, faster than some of the slower people can completely follow, and jabs Sui Feng in the gut, knocking the wind from her entire body and causing her to double over.
As she's about to fall over, he picks her up. "Sorry, Sui Feng," he says. "I'll take her back to her hospital room." He flash steps out of the hall, then starts walking normally.
"Damn... you... Ichigo," Sui Feng gasps out as the air starts returning to her lungs.
"I told you, you aren't ready," Ichigo says.
"Why do you care, anyway?" Sui Feng asks, studying Ichigo's face for an answer.
"What the hell do you mean, why?" Ichigo replies. "Of course I care about you, Sui Feng. You're my..." Ichigo trails off, wanting to say something but not sure if it's appropriate for the situation or why he even wants to say it in the first place.
"Your what?" Sui Feng inquires, her voice strangely hopeful.
"My... friend," Ichigo covers, still unsure of his own actions.
"Oh," Sui Feng says, sounding disappointed. The rest of the walk was silent and awkward all the way to the hospital. Ichigo set Sui Feng on her feet at the entrance and followed her to make sure that she went to her room, then left to go back to the meeting.
When he arrived, however, the meeting was over. They hadn't had much else to talk about, so the candidates were chosen for who would attempt to wield the Sokyoku and the meeting was adjourned. As Ichigo arrives, Captain Hirako calls out to him. "Hey, Ichigo, over here."
Ichigo walks over to where Shinji, Urahara and Yoruichi are standing. "What's up?" he asks.
"Ichigo, we've all decided on a plan," Yoruichi says. "We need to go over it with you, but first I have to ask you something."
"What is it, Yoruichi?" Ichigo asks, unaware of the mischievious smile creeping up on Urahara's face behind his fan.
"When are you going to make your move?" Yoruichi asks, intentionally vague.
"What are you talk about? You're the one telling me the plan, remember?" Ichigo asks, confused.
"That's not what I meant, Ichigo. When are you going to make a move on Sui Feng?" Yoruichi iterates, almost laughing aloud as Ichigo's face goes from confused to embarrassed to pissed in under five seconds.
"What the heck are you talking about!?" Ichigo says in defensive anger. "I wouldn't do something like that with her! Besides, she's injured!"
"That woman can take a lot more... punishment than you think," Yoruichi says, her voice dripping with innuendo.
"Whatever," Ichigo says, looking away and crossing his arms, trying not to think about anything to do with Sui Feng and punishment excluding her job. "Are you going to tell me the plan or not?"