A/N: Many thanks to St. Kitsune for reviewing and providing inspiration for this chapter! :D
Disclaimer: I own the stain-remover…does that count??
"Hmmmm…I hate stereotypes."
With this flat statement, Suzumebachi then flares her tiny wings, as though just daring the correspondent to object.
Soifon does not, incidentally. Instead she regards her zanpakuto gravely before nodding stiffly in agreement. "Yes, I can see why that would be. They can be very irritating at times."
"Hmmmm, that would be an understatement."
Soifon looks on nonchalantly as Suzumebachi takes to the air, apparently intent on working off the restlessness that comes with sitting around in one spot for too long. About half a minute, to be exact. But that was beside the point. One with a small body and energy to spare is always intent on using it, as the theory goes. And Suzumebachi was by all means small enough.
She was a wasp, if the previous statement still did not justify her cause enough.
The said individual performed a small cartwheel in the air before alighting instead on a nearby dandelion, almost fussily examining the contents of the bright flower even as she continued to speak, her voice loud and clear despite her obvious stature. Soifon had supposed this might have something to do with the fact that Suzumebachi was a part of herself - otherwise, conversation would have been near impossible.
"Hmmmm, stereotypes, the nuisances of the world, I'd say. Don't have the brains or imagination to delve in beyond the looks of someone, if what I've seen of them can tell anything. And the blasted people are everywhere, it seems! The great big warrior with the axe thinks the small woman with a tiny stinger for her blade will not stand a chance against his all-powerful might! The little child thinks that the even littler bee with the cute stripes and pretty wings could not possibly hurt him!" As though to emphasize her statement, Suzumebachi waves a couple of her antennae in the air while her front legs busy themselves with collecting whatever treasures to be found in the dandelion. "Hmmmm, it's an outrage! A scandal! An insult to me, an insult to you!"
The sight would have almost been comical for anyone else, but Soifon remains stoic in face, only nodding again.
"You're quite right about that. And we seem to encounter such buffoons almost every day."
"Hmmmm, you've struck the sore where it hurts all right, just like always, sister. I swear, those stereotypical individuals will be the end of both worlds one day, and…"
Soifon lets Suzumebachi continue on her little tirade without complaint, knowing that it would be foolish to try and stop her anyway. Instead she lets her mind drift on to other things, while her gaze roams her inner world, taking it all in, this strange sanctuary that's hers and Suzumebachi's alone.
She hadn't come here for a long time, not like this, with no other purpose but to just…talk. To revel in a company that did not judge, that did not ask prying questions or throw her sympathetic looks. All those times in the past, when Yoruichi had still been there, when Soifon had never been in need of any other friendly company…back then, she had only ever come to this place twice, once to find Suzumebachi's name, and another to assert the full ability of her zanpakuto. If anything, this was the first time she had ever come here to just communicate with her diminutive extension.
Her inner world was a strange place, by all means. Later on it would remind her vaguely of those canyons in the Western Americas that Hanataro Yamada liked to go on about, returning from his trips to the living world and sharing his tales with anyone who would listen, even if that someone cast you icy glares and small frowns. Then again, there were strange rock formations here, lone epitomes of sandy pillars and curving tunnels and unexpected caverns that dominated the landscape, rendering no area completely flat. However, unlike Hanataro's avid descriptions from those western 'movies', (whatever those might be), Suzumebachi's world was far from a dry desert or wasteland. No, grass dominated all here, short, tough grass colored a dark green, carpeting the ground and creeping up the sides of the rock formations as high as they would. And dotting the grass were splashes of bright yellow, everywhere one turned - the bright yellow of dandelions, as far as the eye could venture. And because of this, the air was always thick with the flowers' puffy white seeds, which floated and swirled about like stars in a night sky, like fireflies in a forest.
Strange was a rather dull word to describe this place, but that had been all Soifon could tag it as for the moment.
The same might have went with the outward appearance of Suzumebachi, but Soifon preferred not to think that way. If she had learned anything from herself, she could say that one wasp was an extremely formidable opponent in the physical world as it was.
"Hmmmm, sister? Sister, you are not listening to me, are you?"
And with that Soifon's mind abruptly returns to the present. She glances around briefly to find the source of Suzumebachi's voice, as the wasp is no longer attending to the previous flower, only to feel something ticklish on her own head. Raising a hand automatically, she is stopped by Suzumebachi yet again.
"Hmmmm, I wouldn't put a hand up there if I were you! I won't hesitate to harm you if you plan on crushing me to death."
Soifon immediately lets her hand fall back down to her side and resumes her stride through her inner world, having stopped briefly when Suzumebachi had been attending to the dandelion.
"Ah…perhaps it would be better if you didn't sit…right there…Suzumebachi."
"Hmmmm, don't be ridiculous. I'm tired! Everyone needs some rest occasionally. That dandelion put up a mean fight, I'll have you know. Rest besides, your nice head was the nearest stable place, so there! I don't see why you're objecting, anyway. You came here for my company, no?"
"I - well -"
"Hmmmm, you can't fool me, Soifon, I know you like a book, I do. About time that you got around to talking to me anyway. I've been waiting for quite some while."
"Is that so?"
"Hmmmm, of course, you twit! What else is a zanpakuto spirit to do, hm? Hold conversations with dandelions?"
Rather struck by this revelation, Soifon decides not to respond and instead concentrates on placing one foot in front of the other, pausing and sidestepping a towering column of stone in the process. Suzumebachi, on the other hand, doesn't seem ready to let the thread of talk fall so easily.
"Hmmmm, rest besides, I still think we ought to do something about those stereotypers. If you're ever going to be Captain of the 2nd Division, Soifon…if you're ever going to go about surpassing that Yoruichi Shihouin…you need to crush those first impressions quick as you can if you're going to get any respect at all around here."
This is successful in catching Soifon's attention.
"You think that might be the case?"
"Hmmmm, could very well be, sister. I'll be blunt here - you're a small girl. And I'm a small bug. However, if we combine our powers, I think we'll be able to garner a nice reputation in no time. How about that?"
Soifon pauses, before allowing the smallest of smiles to pass across her features. No one is here to see it, anyway.
"I think I like the way you think, Suzumebachi."
"Hmmmm, only to be expected, really. I do rather pride myself on my wits, and you're certainly no dull blade yourself, Soifon. Together, let us rid the world of these annoying stereotypes!"
By the time Soifon shakes herself from her meditation, it is almost midday. Completely ignoring the call of lunch, however, she instead makes a beeline for the training grounds, one hand on the hilt of her zanpakuto.
The glint in her eyes is enough to send those nearby retreating for safety.
A/N: And there you have it.
As I'm not very familiar with Soifon, I hope she wasn't too OOC or anything, and I hope I did all right with the characterization of Suzumebachi. Pointers, suggestions, criticism…I'll take anything! :D
Seeing as I've somehow forgotten to do this in the previous chapter…many thanks to Arguealot, hu3long2, and, again, St. Kitsune, for your supportive reviews. I really appreciate you guys' feedback! :)