Author's Note

Dear loyal readers,

I started writing this story with the canon established by the manga and anime in mind. I wanted to understand what drove Soifon's reaction to Yoruichi when they meet again in the Soul Society Arc.

I finished that around Chapter 22, but I felt a strong need to address how Soifon would deal with forgiveness after a hundred years of hate and vengeance. I explored this over the Bount and Arrancar Arcs, but that soon led me to the issue of the fake Karakura Town.

Then, I wanted to understand why Soifon, as shinigami, would fear death. I wanted to know why Yoruichi was not in the picture during this Arc. I had so many other questions I wanted answered.

Those of you who read the manga and watch the anime will know that I have caught up to where Tite Kubo's pen left off. Yes, I have yet to cover Soifon's fight with Barragan. But I would like to see how the whole Winter War resolves before I write that segment.

If you, dear readers, are keen, I will continue as Kubo continues, developing themes from Soifon's perspective even as he fleshes out what happens in the Bleach Universe, the Winter War and beyond, depending on where his pen takes him! That will take some time though, as I need to see more of the story before I can work out where Soifon is in the picture and how she might respond. So I will beg of your patience – my updates will no longer be as frequent as they have been.

Nevertheless, I would like to share my own speculations as to how this all might end. The next three chapters will tie in with what I have written about Soifon and the Bleach universe in my earlier chapters – but these will be my speculations, and I will attempt to make them as consistent and plausible as possible. These are not canon, but I had fun thinking about the ending.

I know some of you out there have patiently plodded through all 53, now 57 chapters of my story. You have great patience and perserverance and I respect that. I especially want to thank PhoenixChase, Arkueid, Siyentista, Bishimimou and other reviewers for their many kind words. A shout out as well to those who have added me as a favourite author or this story as a favourite story. It is my privilege and I am thankful for the encouragement for this first fic!

I hope you will enjoy the last three chapters. Keep reading and writing!