Disclaimer: -rolls eyes- Do I have to say this again? Well you know that I don't own the characters, I'm borrowing to later give them back.
Rating: 'PG'
Genre: General/Drama
Character(s): Unohana Retsu and Fong Soi.
Pairing(s): Byakuya+Retsu and Jyuushiro+Soi, mention of ByakuyaxHisana.
Warning (s):
-Slight spoilers of Yoruichi
-Occ'ness.
-Sadness, well at least my friend cried at some point.
Dedication: To my friend Miko Aya (her nickname) she requested for this and the pairing JyuushiroxSoi yet again, so my friend here it is.
Summary: (Two parts drabble) Soi and Retsu had a small talk about how things have changed and their possible love lives (Girls pov)…
Part One:
"From Woman to Woman"
The sunlight beams barely made their way inside the heavy roof of deep green leaves in the huge forest, which was a bit of a relief due to the strength the solar disk had that summer and being in the shadowed and rather fresh forest was a great relief for the shinigamis and the future shinigamis. The over heated sunlight had caused everyone to seek refuge on fresh shadowed spaces, even the classes had been canceled that day and the only ones in activity were the few shinigamis that were called to exterminate some hollows, so the free ones and the trainees were free to do as they pleased.
And that was what Fong Soi was doing, not being the type of woman to slack off and merely be happy with the free time, the captain of the second division had decided to use that undefined free time to practice a bit in her Shupko and what a better place than the forest. In an invisible blur Soi made her way through the forest, even though she was getting fairly accurate and fast she still needed to practice more still and was still far from the level Shihouin Yoruichi used to have.
Feeling a bit breathless due to training non-stop for at least six hours already Soi decided to stop in the branch of the next tree she saw, mutely the short captain of the second division sited down on the tree branch and stared up at the clear blue sky, is not that she hated summer but it wasn't her favorite station she hated how hot could it get, moving her hand up she cleaned the sweat that was in her frown and looked down.
A small and discrete smile came to the rather pretty face of Soi when she saw Unohana Retsu walking towards the very same tree she was using to rest, the gentle and demure captain of the fourth division had became her closest friend since Retsu became a division captain a bit after Jyuushiro. Both women had also got along with Yoruichi, after all being the only females captains meant something and they had quickly started a friendship, of course maintaining the obvious responsibilities and the friendship asides so it wouldn't interfere with their work.
Both women had a different meaning for Soi, first Yoruichi had been her role model and the person she admired, the example she wanted to follow to be a perfect captain, it had been like that since she met her when she was a small girl and she wished to be like her then the first division captain had became one of her closest friends. Retsu on the other hand also was her role model, a secretive role model, because Soi admired the elegance and gentleness that seemed to be just plain natural on her, she also admired how Retsu could read people and always have a smile on her face when someone insulted her division, at contrary of Yoruichi that had been her role model to the perfect captain and warrior, Retsu was her example to be a gentle, kind yet strong woman. In other words Soi admired the best qualities of each of her friends and wished to adopt them.
Soi raised an eyebrow when she finally seemed to notice that Retsu was wearing a light black summer yucata, she had a middle sized bento box in her left hand and a small bottle of what obviously was a liquid container in her right one, that was rather odd was she planning on meeting with someone, sure Soi knew how close she was to Jyuushiro and Shunsui yet she had been sure that they were in their respective headquarters then what she was doing there, was she meeting with someone else? Retsu stopped under her tree and looked up at her, the strange hued violet eyes of her friend fell on her.
"I supposed that you might be hungry" Retsu said rather softly and smiled "Since you haven't eaten since this morning I decided to bring something and maybe have lunch together"
"Hai, that will be great" In a blink Soi was besides Retsu and allowed a smile to come to her face as well "How did you know I was here?"
"I asked and then I followed your spiritual energy" Retsu moved to sit neatly under the tree that gave a really cozy shadow and was secluded enough so they could talk in peace "I was told you have been here almost all day"
"Yes, I decided to use this short free time for something useful" The shorter woman moved to sit besides her friend and sighed "How about you? What have you been doing?"
"Nothing much" The fourth division captain placed the bento box in front of them and the bottle besides it, a small sigh escaped her lips "The only problem I had was with the eleventh division again, some members of that division started to pick on some of my own, so I have decided to take the members of my division that were uncharged with the maintenance away from their headquarters for awhile"
"That's good that will show them to at least behave properly"Soi crossed her arms in front of her chest and frowned"Is not like if I have something against Kenpachi but the ego of his subordinates is to big and they dare to believe that only because of their captain they are the greatest division of all, he should teach them to respect your division cause after all you heal them when they sometimes stupidly fight with a hollow higher from their level"
"I know, I don't have nothing against Kenpachi-sama after all he was able to become a captain even though he didn't had Shi Kai and Ban Kai, so I don't doubt his abilities yet I also think he should teach some manners and modesty to their subordinates" Retsu wasn't the type of woman to talk bad about another captain even though they may deserve it "You think I should wait for them to apologize?"
Soi lightly smiled, it had been a long time since Retsu asked for her opinion in such a topic "I think you should, even thought I doubt they will do it willingly"
"You know what, let's forget about that" The fourth division captain said rather softly and stretched a bit "Well let's eat, ne?"
"Alright, let's eat" Soi moved forward and opened the bento box, the scent of the food was delicious as always and she separated the two sections of the box "Did you made this, Retsu?"
"Of course" Retsu handed her a pair of chopsticks and smiled "Since I didn't had nothing to do and it had been a long time since we last had a sort of picnic well I decided to do this"
"I believe you're right" Soi looked down at the delicious looking food, which was other thing that she wished to have from Retsu: Her amazing cooking skills, "What did you brought to drink?"
Amazingly Retsu also handed her a small cup "Only our favorite tea, since we don't like sake"
"Okay, thanks for the food" Trying to keep her modals Soi took a bit of the food with her chopsticks and proceeded to eat it "Kami, Retsu this tastes great like always"
"Thank you, Soi" The fourth division captain thanked rather happily.
Both women decided to merely eat enjoying the fresh temperature, the shadow and the song of the birds, they were lucky that place was bit secluded and no one will come to disturb them, Retsu had been right when she told Soi that it had been quite awhile since they had spend time alone as mere friends, so you could say this was a gold chance that shouldn't be wasted.
After they had finished their lunch, Soi waited a few minutes before she decided to show Retsu her seemed improvement in her Shupko, the violet eyed woman didn't seemed to mind and so allowed her to do as she wished. Indeed that was a good chance after all while he showed Retsu her improvement Soi could also practice at the same time, while she showed her advances, trying to stay close to the place Retsu was, she momentarily lost concentration and couldn't avoid a stick, a bit angrily she stopped and ended right in front of Retsu.
"You have improved a lot Soi, I don't think I could ever have such a Shupko" Retsu lightly smiled and placed her hand against Soi cheek to heal the small scratch she had there "Yet you need to maintain your concentration"
"I know, I simply spaced out for awhile" Soi looked down and sighed "I think I can improve more yet"
"Of course you can and if it helps you I'm quite proud of you for the major improvement you had since the last time I saw you" Retsu praised in an attempt to cheer her friend up and it seemed to work cause she looked up at her "You, Yamato-sama and Kuchiki-sama, are the fastest in Soul Society"
Soi sadly smiled at her "Yes, I suppose we are. But if Yoruichi was still here nor Kuchiki or me will stand a chance against her"
"Do you really think so?" Retsu asked
"Of course I do, nor Kuchiki or me were able to caught Yoruichi when we played" Soi simply stated and slumped her shoulders "Even though it was a game it was also training"
"I'm still saddened about Yoruichi's departure as well, she was the one that told me that I could be a shinigami and she was also a close friend" A sad smile also appeared on her face "Without those words I wouldn't be here, but maybe you're more saddened than me, Soi"
"Retsu, do you think Yoruichi is still alive?" Soi asked with a tinge of sorrow
The fourth captain looked at Soi a bit surprised, since Yoruichi left fifty eight years ago they had never spoken about that possibility "I really don't know Soi" She finally answered and looked up at the leaves "Yet I hope and trust that she's not and that we will see her again"
"I hope the same" Soi gazed at her friend for a few moments and then remembered what she had wanted to ask her for awhile now "May I ask you something Retsu?"
"But of course you can, Soi" Retsu lowered her face and looked at her
"You know there had been these rumors surrounding Kuchiki and you, almost everyone in Soul Society is talking about that" Soi said an bit softly and noticed the confused look Retsu was giving her "According to some people a shinigami saw you awhile ago, talking rather comfortably and growing close to each other more than needed, people is starting to think that something is going on between you and they even say that now that Hisana died you can bribe him and became the next Kuchiki lady"
"And I suppose you want to know about my real relation with him?" Retsu finished for her, she knew Soi will never believe that she will do something like that but she had indeed noticed that they had started to talk more "Look there's nothing going on between us, we merely speak because we share a same pain after all we both lost the centre of our universe and we need someone to talk to, is not my goal to have him marry me"
"I supposed so, you're not the type of woman of taking advance of someone like that" Soi strongly stated and silently promised to find who had started those rumors "Also I don't think that is your goal to marry with someone of the royal families"
"At least not after the fiasco I had when I was nine, but if my heart leads me to that I'm no one to oppose to my heart desires" Retsu leaned against the tree trunk and lightly smiled "Talking about heart desires, have you spoken with Jyuushiro already?"
"No, I haven't" The second captain answered rather quickly.
Retsu couldn't help but smile as she saw the rather light blush on Soi cheeks and that was indeed a hard thing to manage even to her, yet Retsu knew she had hit a soft spot in Soi. It wasn't a secret to Retsu that Soi was in love with the captain of the thirteen division, in a way it had been Retsu's fault because she had introduced them to each other. Jyuushiro charisma, his polite attitude and his concern for the well being of others had immediately drawn Soi, it was the first time she saw a man act that way and it had enchanted her.
When Soi had confessed to Retsu that she felt something for him, she had been indeed surprised yet didn't blamed her after all Jyuushiro was fair popular amidst the female population, heck even her had felt a small something for him yet that evolved into a real close friendship and that was all, instead she had decided to help Soi with him yet she couldn't do much if Soi didn't spoke with him.
"How am I supposed to help you if you don't speak with him?" Retsu asked curiously
"You know that I have tried to speak with him, but every time he's close to me I black out and I merely walk past him" Soi answered in a real desperate and kind helplessly tone "I can't believe I'm such a coward in this matters of the heart"
"Do not worry, almost all the women are and mostly we like him to give the first step" Retsu's hands moved to lightly play with the tip of her braid "If it helps you I can tell you what he thinks of you?"
"Has he spoken to you of me?" The second captain asked surprised and felt a bit nervous when her friend actually nodded "What did he said of me?"
"Well he told me really good things about you, he thinks you're a great woman and very brave, he admires you're strength and wishes to grow with your skills, he also thinks you're a great and strong willed captain" Retsu lightly smiled when she noticed the expression on Soi's face "He also believes that you're quite beautiful, he also thinks is very feminine that you're still shy and that you shouldn't be shy around him, that you can speak with him when you wish to and that you don't need to walk away. He also said that he will be very happy if you spoke with him because he likes you"
"Did he really say that?" Soi locked her eyes with Retsu eyes and knew she wasn't lying, another blush came to her cheeks, as rough as her personality was she was still a woman in the end, with the same secret dreams a woman had "He likes me"
"Hai, that's why you should talk with him" Retsu looked down at the floor "Maybe you can invite him to the 'Kineki' night and watch the fireworks together"
Soi leaned against the tree trunk as well "Do you think he will accept?"
"Of course, he will accept" Retsu assured "We can go in group and then we can tactically leave you alone"
"Alright then, I'll invite him" Soi finally declared and looked at Retsu "But who shall be going with us?"
Retsu pondered on that for awhile "Well Shunsui is obvious that he will come and he will drag Nanao-san with him, Kaien, I believe that Aizen will come as well and then maybe Kuchiki-sama and his sister"
"I see, a well sized group" Soi's coal eyes gazed at Retsu carefully "I wonder Retsu, are starting to feel something for Kuchiki?"
The gentle raven haired woman was taken by surprise with that question; Retsu never thought someone will actually ask her that, well at least not that soon, her violet eyes concentrated on the grass blades as she considered that question. Well Byakuya had a lot of good treats, he was a smart man, considered, well mannered and he talked almost freely with her, even though he showed a cold and dark expression of seemingly not bothering to care about others yet she knew that deep inside he did cared but he wasn't that free to show so.
Retsu understood why he kept that mask; that mask of coldness was to merely protect himself and his feelings, maybe he was afraid to show his care for others and that person will be cruelly taken away from him like Hisana had, also that was another factor Byakuya still loved Hisana with a passion that she could not dare to imagine and she didn't had any right to earn that kind of place on his heart, she was no one to molest the tight grip Hisana still had in his heart, she was merely someone he talked to that fully understood him.
Yet even amidst her wishes, Retsu's heart had started to feel something for him, it wasn't love but she knew that maybe it will turn into that eventually after all how couldn't she came to love someone as Byakuya? That love will indeed be a selfish desire from her part and will taint the love he still had for Hisana, she wasn't that type of woman and also didn't wanted to be a replacement.
"I'm not sure yet" Retsu bitterly smiled and looked up at her friend "But even if I did it wouldn't mean anything"
"What do you mean with that?" Soi dared to ask.
"Kuchiki-sama still loves Hisana, he loves her with a passion I cannot quite imagine and he will never stop loving her, that was proved when he adopted Rukia, after all she looks like her" Retsu let a rather pathetic sigh escape her lips "Even if I came to love him and he accepted me, my heart wouldn't be able to stand being compared to her all the time and I wouldn't stand hearing him say 'Hisana was this and she did this', if we were to wed and have children it will pain me to maybe hear him say 'How will be if this child was mine and Hisana's?', no if that's what awaits me by loving him I prefer not to"
Soi instantly felt a surge of pity for her friend yet she knew it was truth; Byakuya might compare each woman in his life to her and wish for Hisana to be in their places, also that explained why he had adopted a poor ryoka into his family and as his sister "Retsu, what if you indeed fell in love with him? After all you cannot fight with your heart"
"If I indeed came to love him then I'll keep that to myself and never let him know about it, after all I'll prefer that as to live a life of comparison with the life he could had with her" A hint of sorrow marred her voice and she gazed up "After all I don't think I'll have much of a chance with him"
"Perhaps" Soi moved away from the trunk "But wouldn't that keep you from building your life?"
"Ie, if I was presented with the chance to marry a good man that loves me even though he's not noble, I'll wed him" Retsu answered.
"I can't never cease to admire you" Soi commented more to herself than to Retsu, that was now looking at her in confusion "If I couldn't marry with the man I truly love I would prefer to stay unmarried"
"Not all the women think alike" Retsu smiled and also moved away from the trunk "Well how about if we return; you have trained enough for one day"
"You're right" Soi took the now empty bento box and smiled "After all something tells me, tomorrow will be the same"
Retsu took the tea container and looked up "I believe the same"
Without any more words they left that place, Soi knew that Retsu was now down about their conversation and she didn't wanted to be alone nor Soi wanted to leave her by herself. It was ironic that Soi, that was the total opposite to the gentle and elegant feminine air Retsu had, was going to have a brighter future in her love life, Soi could only hope that fate bestowed the same on her and if Byakuya to be the man for her, Soi could only hope for him to truly love Retsu and maybe if he didn't forget about Hisana, to love Retsu as whom she truly was.
Retsu's voice snapped Soi out of her reverie and after assuring her that everything was okay, they kept their way towards the headquarters of the second division and maybe there had a more happy talk.
Owari.
Well my third drabble, now I have started to like the JyuushiroxSoi thing, (yet still open for the JyuushiroxNemu thing if I'm asked to do so) anyway thanks to the people that had kindly reviewed this.
Wait for my next drabble that will be the continuation of this one.
Please review and no flames accepted only constructive criticism.
See you next time and don't forget to always have a smile on your face because you don't know who shall fell in love with it.
