Chapter7 Of Memories and Warmth
Soi's eyes practically scanned the place and to her slight surprise, no one was in the tent but she guessed it should have been expected since the race was about to start. Yoruichi was slumped on a chair and seemed to be shivering slightly. No wonder she wanted to come inside. Soi contemplated for a moment.
After a moment of hesitation, Soi slipped off her warm jacket and advanced towards Yoruichi with a determined expression.
'Brrr… Why is it so cold all of a sudden?' Yoruichi thought with irritation, 'Oh yeah, we're at the base of a mountain-like-cliff and the winds are heavier here. Why the hell did they choose to race at a place like this?' Still brooding, she didn't realize Soi was in front of her with her jacket stretched out in hand for her to take until the woman spoke.
"Yoruichi," she said, her voice still stern as always, causing her to look up in surprise, "Take it." Soi nodded at her jacket, still held out for taking.
The stripper blinked and looked back at her incredulously when her mind wrapped around what Soi was talking about. "I can't take that; it's your jacket, Soi Fong! Besides," she continued with wide eyes, "you're gonna get cold--"
Soi Fong's eyes narrowed and her hand dropped the jacket on Yoruichi's lap, the woman sitting surprised. "Just put it on," Soi told her irritably as she turned around with her arms crossed. "As you can see, I'm wearing two layers of clothes so I can still stay warm. You, on the other hand, are wearing a plain t-shirt that in no doubt can't keep you warm in the slightest out here." Her eyes glanced back to see Yoruichi wearing a nervous look on her face. Was she embarrassed at such an offer from her? Soi Fong smirked. Amused, she told her, "Just put it on, Yoruichi." A pause and the she added, "You're cold so you shouldn't argue, you know." After a few moments, Soi Fong was satisfied when she heard the slip of a jacket and zipping.
"Arigatou, Soi Fong," Yoruichi muttered quietly as she put on the still-warm jacket, grateful for the warmth it gave her. She hugged herself for a bit and the scent of Soi Fong wafted around her and she unconsciously took in a deep breath, somehow enjoying the new aroma it gave off. It smelt of Soi Fong.
Soi Fong's eyes flickered with surprise at the Japanese word but waved it away with a slight irritable roll of the eyes. "No problem," she muttered back, a small bit of joy leaping in her spirit but she pushed it away as well. Those feelings of happiness that came out of nowhere were still confusing for the Chinese woman and what was more, it only happened when Yoruichi was around her, particularly when they were alone.
"Ne, Soi Fong, let's go out and watch the race!"
Thrown out of her thoughts, she blinked in surprise as she turned to see an excited Yoruichi up on her feet. Said woman grabbed her arm and gently tugged, pouting slightly as she said, "C'mon Soi Fong, we came for the race, didn't we?" She grinned as she waited for Soi to answer.
Soi was too bewildered to at the moment because she could've sworn that the woman was too cold to do anything at all, but she guessed a cozy jacket can do wonders when someone's absolutely freezing. "Uh…a-alright," she replied, feeling confused, uncertain, and maybe even afraid of the stripper right now. She wondered how she could get so energized so fast.
"All right, let's go!" Yoruichi laughed as she tugged on Soi's sleeve to follow, her hands wrapped around Soi Fong's right arm almost affectionately, but secure as if she didn't want Soi to leave her alone. "Uh… Wait, which way again..?" she asked sheepishly as they left the tent and paused outside, the chilly air giving them a break for now.
Soi sighed. She never knew how Yoruichi could act so much like a child when at times she was so… Well, Soi Fong has yet to find a word to describe the stripper so she just answered the woman's question. "The race is over there," she sighed tiredly as she pointed with her freehand (yes, Yoruichi still had her right arm in her hold).
Yoruichi's face brightened with a wide smile. "Great, now let's see if Tatsuki is winning!" Soi Fong could recognize the excitement in her voice again and placed her mouth in a small grimace to shut the groan that wanted to come out. Again, she wonders how she will be able to live with this woman when her mixed up feelings (and Yoruichi's split personality) kept getting into disorder and usually, more confusing to understand.
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The two were at the race in time to see it finish and call out the three winners. A hunk named Ichigo Kurosaki won first place, followed up by a man from the streets named Renji Abarai, and finally, Tatsuki Arisawa. The three winners were known to all of them since they would usually hangout sometimes.
When Yoruichi and Soi Fong entered Kuukaku's area of the grounds, Ichigo was already bragging in Renji's face while Renji was catching up on the taunt. Tatsuki was in the middle with an exasperated expression. This was the routine they would always do, if it weren't for them to tease Tatsuki into getting better and knock one of them out of their place or else she would be stuck third champion forever.
Kuukaku chuckled as she watched the racer finally burst and scare the shit out of the two guys as she had a wrench come out of nowhere and evilly grin while offering to give them a "checkup".
"Seems like things haven't changed." The rough woman glanced and saw Soi out of the corner of her eyes, also amused at the scene. Yoruichi was seen observing the three with interest, as if making notes in her mind about getting advice from Tatsuki on how to scare the men shitless since she was doing it so easily.
Kuukaku grinned proudly. "Yep, and it'll stay that way till Tatsuki here can finally win against one of them. I'm still teaching her some engineering, though. It could help her customize her hot rod." Kuukaku liked to call her cars hot rods or dragsters but she admitted to Soi Fong that she's been trying to find a different word for it 'cause hot rod and dragster doesn't sound so cool anymore.
Soi nodded. "You did pretty good with her, Kuukaku."
At this, the woman smirked. "Oh? And when are you gonna come back and play, hm? As I recall--"
"You haven't been racing either, if I remember correctly." Soi gave a dangerous smile and there was a fire in her eyes that had been gone for too long, an energy that flowed through Soi before came back full force but she was determined to keep it under control.
Kuukaku chuckled, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Heh, using my words against me. Pretty smart, Soi Fong." She smirked again while Soi scowled slightly. "Though I'm sure that your job at that restaurant's much more fun compared to these wild races, eh? Otherwise, why would you be working there instead of running with us?" Kuukaku's eyes searched hers as she waited patiently for her answer but she knew that she won't be getting one. Soi probably didn't know why either. But maybe she did.
Flashback, about two years before
Soi was lying on her back, looking at the stars as she shifted around. The car wasn't all that comfortable to sleep on.
"Now, what are you doing out here? You came to watch?"
Soi Fong didn't bother glancing. "Hello to you too, Kuukaku." She heard a chuckle and the car moved a bit as the woman came to sit next to her. Again, Soi didn't bother pushing her off her car since Kuukaku wasn't one to budge till she got what she wanted.
"What do you think about the new girl, eh? Think she'll get good enough to match the others?" The woman looked out to the car still racing in the old tracks as it sped fast nearby.
Soi closed her eyes and tried to relax on the car again. It was futile. She sighed once more and answered lazily, "Yeah, the kid has potential."
Another chuckle as Kuukaku grinned. "Hey, you're starting to sound a bit like me, Soi Fong. I'm rubbing off of you after all."
Soi scowled and she knew Kuukaku expected that to be her response. "Say what you want, Kuukaku, and believe what you want. It doesn't matter." She looked away heatedly, almost ashamed at what she said; she knew she surprised the woman now.
"Now you're acting all bitchy. I swear you change moods more than a pregnant lady." This was meant to be a joke but Soi Fong stayed silent, intent on not saying anything before she blurted something inexcusable out. Kuukaku paused before talking again.
"You know, you can tell me."
Soi blinked, rather confused at the turn of subject. "Huh? What do you mean?" she asked curiously and turned her head back to face the woman. She didn't understand what Kuukaku meant.
The master engineer grinned and replied, "You know, anything. We've known each other for a longtime now and we've stuck together since then. I think it's safe to say that we're friends." Her grin widened and her roguish features came into view. "Well, Soi? You've been avoiding your races as much as you can. Mind telling me why? You used to be so eager to show your strength and that you're the best. You don't even race with me and the others anymore." Her voice went a bit sad near the end and her eyes showed it too but her face held the same determined and demanding look. She wanted to know and Soi would be forced to give an answer.
Soi Fong looked away guiltily, the new racer, Tatsuki Arisawa, still practicing her turns on the tracks as she thought of her answer. When did her hunger for racing become dim? And why didn't she feel the same now? She hesitated as she tried to answer, "I… I don't, really know, Kuukaku…" She struggled to find words and she knew Kuukaku was listening to her them intently.
"I feel like, I'm missing something… Something that should've been with me but I can't think of what…" Words started to flow out her mouth as she tried to grasp why she was like this now. "Remember when I told you that I ran away from an orphanage?" Soi Fong's voice was empty with no emotion as she saw Kuukaku pause before nodding and she continued after taking a deep breath.
"I hated that place. My family died with me barely remembering them and… Well, I guess you can say that I was…harsh to those who approached me and the people that worked at the orphanage were very wary of me." Her silver eyes became downcast. "A few years later, I got tired of how I lived and ran away. No one would miss me so there were no goodbyes." Then something in her mind flashed, golden orbs and a somewhat goofy smile. Her eyebrows knitted together as she pondered why that image came into her mind, but it was gone like a breeze of the wind.
"And then, probably a year later, I met you and your family." The two smiled softly at the memory when a twelve year old Soi tried to steal from them. It was the only time Soi had gotten caught since her size and litheness gave her an advantage but Kuukaku had captured her and then the two had proceeded to argue over each other's voices till the Shiba family had decided to let Soi in as some kind of little sister for Kuukaku to play with. It had been a disaster till Kaien Shiba introduced them to racing.
Kuukaku chuckled lightly. "Why are you bringing this up?" she asked, "Surely it doesn't have anything to do with this?" She looked at the 19 year old Soi, puzzled.
Soi Fong only looked up to the stars. "Somehow, I know there's someone or something missing from my life. I don't know what but there is." There was a small, fearful pause before Soi finally spoke her wish, "I want to find them." At this, she turned to face Kuukaku, but the woman had turned away instantly after a few moments of realization.
Seconds later, she spoke, "Find? Who, what? There isn't anything to find…" If Soi knew better, the woman's voice was starting to tremble but Kuukaku's body showed no signs of crying. She finally took a deep, shuddering breath. She knew what Soi was saying. Soi wanted to retire and search until she found this missing puzzle that kept poking at her which would mean their time together would be cut short. For the last 7 years she had with Soi, the memories were all fond and memorable. She sighed and leaned into the car, lying beside Soi now as she asked, "When are you leaving? Do you have a house? A job?"
Soi Fong was relieved when Kuukaku didn't yell but she sensed the worry coming from her friend's voice. "Yeah, I have it all covered." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper with writing on it. She nudged for Kuukaku to take it. "Here, my address and number. My cell and e-mail is there, too."
Kuukaku took it, mesmerized it, and clenched it tightly in her fist. She was lucky that she could memorize things so quickly, it was one of the things she prided on. She sighed. "You didn't give me an answer for my first question," she pointed out, dreading yet wanting to hear the day Soi will leave.
Soi Fong didn't say anything at first but then Kuukaku heard a mumble. "What?" she asked, blinking and scooted closer to hear.
"Tomorrow afternoon," Soi whispered, repeating what she had said and she looked at Kuukaku straight in the eyes, green clashing with silver, "That's when I start my new job."
Flashback ends
When Soi didn't say anything, Kuukaku shrugged and looked away, asking, "Have you found what you were looking for?" Kuukaku reached for her pipe, lighting it up as she waited for an answer, if she would get one. She glanced towards Soi as she took a puff.
Soi's mind flashed with those golden orbs and that goofy smile once more. That was the second or third time it's happened in her life. She was definitely looking for someone. Maybe even someone she had met in the orphanage but the thought was likely impossible, but probable. Though of course, she had no friends at the orphanage, so why…?
"Hey, sorry for interrupting but can we go home?" The two woman blink and turn to see Yoruichi grinning helplessly. "We've been here long enough, right?" She seemed to plead to go home and have a goodnight's sleep but it was only evening, though it seemed it would be a good idea to get home before dark.
Soi thought for a minute before nodding. "Is Tatsuki giving us a ride?" The goddess nodded her head vigorously in reply. Soi Fong sighed and glanced at Kuukaku who had a slightly disappointed expression but it melted away the instant she saw Soi looking at her.
"What?" she asked gruffly, "We might as well go home since there's nothing for us to do here." She took another puff before turning to leave, waving goodbye. "See ya, Soi Fong."
Soi watched her leave and was abruptly pulled from place by the arm once again by the stripper. "God, I can't wait for something warm to drink!" she groaned, "Soi, do you have any hot cocoa at your house?" Soi blinked (she's been doing that a lot lately) and a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Yeah, how about I make some when we get home? I'm sure we can both use it." Yoruichi nodded happily as they approached Tatsuki's car, the racer yawning and yelling at them to hurry the hell up.
"With marshmallows!" the stripper suggested as they got in, Tatsuki already pulling off onto the road before they even closed the door. "Yeah," Soi said, her mind wandering to somewhere far off, "Marshmallows it is."
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You guys like it? Sucky ending yes, but… Shrugs XD