[A/N:] I....dunno...I don't own Bleach?

.:Thought:.

.:Regular speech:.

.:Zanpakuto:.

Chapter 10 .:In Love and Outdone:.

Si was napping in her mother's lap as the woman sat staring out the window.

'...Soi-chan...'

'Is she all you think about when you don't think of Si?'

'Yes.'

'Aye...'

'My Soi-chan didn't save me...she didn't come and get me to keep me from making a huge mistake. My Soi-chan didn't save me...'

'But if you hadn't come here you wouldn't have her.'

Yoruichi looked at her month old child in her lap. 'That's true...but I still miss my Soi-chan.'

'So you own her?'

'Not like that.'

'Then how is it?'

'Like...I don't know. Like friends own friends.'

'Or how lovers own lovers?'

'Soi-chan and I aren't lovers.'

'But you want to be.'

'No I don't!'

'Don't lie to me. I'm part of who you are remember? I see behind this wall you've put up.'

'I...'

'Love Soi.'

'No I don't!'

'Yes you do. As more than a friend.'

'No!'

'Why are you fighting it?'

'Because...'

'Because why? She worshipped you and you left her. You mean to tell me you didn't like her that way even a little?'

'Of course I did!'

'Then what's the problem?'

'Because she hates me! And on top of that wirship isn't love! What if she doesn't feel the same! What if she wants to kill me?'

'...Go back.'

'It's not that easy.'

'Yes it is. You left this place easy enough all that time ago.'

'...Mm...'

'You're making things harder than they have to be. Just go!'

Yoruichi looked down at Si who was still sleeping. She brushed her fingers through Si's violet hair, that was getting thicker.

Si sneezed and woke up. "Oo?" She looked around.

Yoruichi smiled down at her and tickled Si's feet.

Si laughed and kicked her feet. Yoruichi chuckled and picked the child up.

She left her room exactly like it was and headed to the room below the shop.

Opening the gate was easy, her hell butterfly appeared and she walked though. Si looking around curiously.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Soi was sleeping. Or trying to.

It seemed like an oddly quiet night, and almost anything sounded scary.

She'd never admit it to anyone but Zhuo and Suzumebachi...but she was deathly terrified of the dark.

So when her door snapped open she shot up. "What do you want!!?" She screamed. God she hated the dark!

She didn't hear what she expected. What she heard was a small child starting to whine then cry.

The lights flicked on and it became harder to breath for her.

Yoruichi stood in the doorway. With her crying child in her arms.

"...This is a dream...I fell alseep and I'm dreaming..." Soi mumbled and fell back on her bed, pulling the blankets over her head.

But the baby kept crying and the lights stayed on.

And there was a pressure on the edge of the bed.

"Soi-chan..." Yoruichi rasped. It had been years since she'd spoken. So it felt odd to be using it after so long. But a promise was a promise.

"...Okay...this isn't a dream..." Soi pulled the covers down. "...How'd you get here and why are you here?"

Si was still whining. Soi sat up and stared at the small one. Yoruichi pseed the child to her. "Hold her please. I'll be right back."

"Uh..." Soi took the child awkwardly and stared at her. Si stopped crying and stared at the woman with curious eyes. "You're not going to dump her on me and run off are you?" It was a cold comment.

"No." Yoruichi came back in with a bottle and a glass of water. "Give her this."

Soi took the bottle. "What's her name?"

"Si."

"That's Chinese."

"I know."

"Why a Chinese name?"

"Because it meant smart...and it sounds like you're name." Youruichi took a drink of water. Her throat felt better.

Soi looked down at the small child and held the bottle to her. Si grabbed for it and ate happily.

Yoruichi chuckled. "She has an appetite like me."

"...Her eyes look like mine."

"So I noticed."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure."

"Who's the father?"

"I'm not sure."

"Why'd you come back?"

"Because I missed you."

"Yeah right."

"I did."

"If that was true you'd have come back a long time ago."

"Everything happens for a reason."

"Maybe...maybe not."

Zhuo yawned silently and stretched. She prowled over and inspected Si. The baby let go of the bottle. Human and animal stared at eachother.

"Ahhh!" Si held out a hand and Zhuo sniffed it curiously.

"If I hadn't stayed...she wouldn't be here...everything happens for a reason."

Soi sighed as she stared at the small child. "...She's beautiful."

"Yeah...she is."

"She has your wild violet hair."

Yoruichi chuckled.

"You grew yours out...long hair looks good on you."

Yoruichi ran a hand through her hair. "Thank you."

Soi could swear she saw a faint blush.

Si squealed and waved her arms. Soi looked back down at her, the baby stared at her with curious eyes...she poked her tongue out and Soi couldn't help but smile.

"Still hungry?"

"I told you...she eats like me."

Soi took the bottle and held it to Si, the baby grabbed at it. "Will that mean she's healthy or just chubby?"

"I'm hoping healthy."

Soi smiled. "You can sleep here if you like."

"Thank you."

"What about her? Where does she sleep?"

"With me."

"How old is she?"

" A month and a few days."

"...Why does your voice sound like that?"

"Like what?"

"All rough."

"Maybe because I haven't spoken a word in over forty years."

"Why haven't you?"

"I promised I wouldn't speak until I came back to Soul Society."

"I see."

There was a short silence.

"I'm sorry!" Yoruichi blurted out.

Soi looked surprised. "For?"

"For leaving! I'm sorry! I didn't do it because I hated you or because of my family or anything like that!" Yoruichi rushed.

"Then why?"

"Because I was stupid! I made the promise without a second thought and plus he's done so much for me I felt I had to re-pay him! I'm sorry!"

"Stop shouting you're making her upset." Soi commented on Si's face.

"...Sorry...I still have a lot to learn."

"Seems like it."

Yoruichi gave her an amaused, surprised look. "You can do better?"

"I can try." Soi smirked.

Si yawned.

Yoruichi set down her empty glass and took Si. "Time for sleep."

Soi took Zhuo into her lap and let Yoruichi and Si get comfortable.

Yoruichi noted the black cat. "Who's that?"

"Zhuo."

"She your pet?"

"She's my companion. Not a pet."

"I see. You know I can change into a cat too."

"Really?"

"Mm hm. A black one."

"You'll have to show me sometime."

"I could show you tomorrow."

"...Yoruichi?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you jealous of Zhuo?"

"What? No!"

Soi smirked. "I bet you are. Kinda seems like you wanna show her up." She scratched Zhuo's ears. The cat purred. "She's very smart you know. Aren't you?" Zhuo mewled.

"She's not smarter than me." Yoruichi was a little jealous of the animal.

Zhuo looked at her and mewled.

Yoruichi narrowed her eyes. Being able to turn into a cat had advantages. She knew exactly what that little vermin had just said. "Am not."

Zhuo mewled again and her eyes widened a little. Yoruichi growled...that stupid cat was asking her for a fight. "Shut up."

Soi laughed. "Knock it off." She hugged Zhuo tight and the cat purred.

Yoruichi frowned and lay downbeside Si who was already dozing.

Soi chuckled and lay down. Zhuo crawled off her stomach and curled up next to Si.

'What a ride...'

'Quite. You still have a lot of things you should ask.'

Soi hummed and closed her eyes.

[A/N:] Sorry for any errors

In love and Outdone is a song title by Letters & Lights. It's a little sad but a great song.