Thanks for the whopping five reviews I received for my first chapter. To answer a question that was posed, my chapters always tend to start off shorter and gradually get longer. This story will be no different. If you have any advice for me to improve my writing skills please tell me! And even if you don't a general review would be much appreciated.
Chapter 2
"Break them up?"
"You can't be serious!"
"Are you crazy?"
Various questions were flung out from around the room. Both Reiko and Shizuka's attempts to quiet the group down were in vain. Suddenly an energetic young girl jumped up from the back of the room. She stood determinedly as she waiting for the chatter to cease. As it quieted down she cleared her throat.
"I for one think it's a great idea," she announced, pointing to her chest in emphasis. Various persons muttered in disagreement. "What, you don't agree with me?" the girl asked. She made her way to the center of the circle and stood next to Reiko.
"Let's take a quick survey. Who in here has a crush on Soi Fon-taicho?"
People around the room looked at each other. They certainly weren't expected the question to be asked. Even though it was the question Reiko had asked each one of them to find who was interested for her fan club.
One by one the squad members raised their hands. Soon everyone in the small room had their hands in the air, shyly, but in the air still.
Reiko noticed out of the corner of her eye that in the room full of women, the lone man had his hand up. She couldn't resist calling him out.
"You, Haruto!" she exclaimed pointing her finger at the shy young man. He pointed quizzically to his chest. "Me?" he asked nervously.
The leader nodded. "Why the hell would you be romantically interested in a person who is openly lesbian?" The room tittered with amusement.
Haruto gulped. "I-I like her for the same reasons that you like her. I don't think that her sexuality should come into this."
Reiko grinned. "You do realize you're an idiot, right? You'll never have a chance with her!" The two of them starred at each other for a few moments. You could have cut the tension with a knife. Suddenly the man laughed. Everyone was surprised by his sudden outburst, especially from someone who had been stuttering only a moment before.
"That made my day," Haruto declared. "And you? You think you have a chance with her? I came to this meeting because; yes I have a crush on her. But I don't have these, these delusions that I could be in a relationship with her. In case you have noticed, this is the first time she's been happy in years! Taicho isn't going to dump her happiness because one of her subordinates confesses she has feelings for her."
His rant was interrupted by a swift punch to face followed by a kick in the groin. Or rather, an attempted kick to the groin as it was disrupted by Shizuka flash stepping in between the two fighting.
"Shizuka!" Reiko shrieked. "Don't get involved with this. This is my fight!" The shy girl looked up at the other with her big eyes. "Don't fight," she said quietly. Reiko glared at her and then looked at Haruto.
"Fine," she spat. "I'll stop fighting. But only because of the cause." She turned on one heel and faced the remainder of the room. "My plan is simple; to break up Taicho and Yoruichi. But I cannot do this by myself. I need help."
The rest of the squad was quiet. The girl standing next to Reiko spoke up. "I'll help."
Reiko smiled slyly. "You're the girl that conducted the poll, correct?" She nodded. "And your name is?"
"Goto Hoshiyo."
"That was pretty good work you did back there with the survey. I could use your creativity." She patted Hoshiyo on the shoulder. "Anyone else?"
Two people stood. Everyone turned to look. It was Haruto and Shizuka.
"Alright Shizuka, you're in," Reiko said with a nod. She sat down. "As for Haruto..." His face grew red with anger. "You can't kick me out just because I'm not a woman!"
Reiko sighed. "You're right. Alright, using Hoshiyo's idea let's take a vote. Who here thinks we should not let Haruto be in the group?"
Only a few raised their hands. "Well, I think we know the answer here," Hoshiyo said. Reiko pouted.
"Fine then. Anyone else?" No one stood. "Alright, than you can promptly get out."
One by one people filed out of the room occasionally looking back. When they were all gone Reiko gathered her three subordinates around her and they huddled into a small circle.
"Alright," Reiko began. "Here's what we're going to do."
Soi had had a long day. It didn't deviate from her normal routine but for some strange reason she felt more drained than she usually did. It was a short walk from Squad 2's headquarters to her house; something that she was thankful for.
As she reached the front gates Soi noticed something strange. The usual guards that were stationed to guard at this time were nowhere in sight. In fact, she didn't see anyone in the courtyard at all. This wasn't a good sign.
She pulled Suzumebachi out from her belt and held it at the ready. Her guards were not hired but rather Onmitsukido members that were using the overtime as time to practice their stealth techniques. Despite how hard she trained them she hated to admit that they wouldn't be that hard to take down. She would have to be vigilant.
Out of the corner of her eye Soi saw something move. She quickly flash stepped to behind a nearby support beam a close distance away. "Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi," she whispered. The plain wakizashi turned into a brilliant gold stinger on her middle finger. She poised it ready and silently charged at the mysterious person.
Right before she made contact there was a scream. The person spun around and glared at her with glaring, golden eyes. "What the hell are you doing?" Yoruichi shrieked.
Soi lowered her weapon, embarrassed. How tired was she that she couldn't recognize the familiar Reiatsu of her girlfriend?
Yoruichi laughed. "You've improved. Your Reiatsu was completely hidden and I didn't even hear you approach." Soi blushed. "Doesn't change the fact that you scared the living crap out of me though."
"I-I'm sorry Yoruichi-sama."
"And you're using that horrible suffix again?"
"I'm sorry."
Yoruichi sighed exasperatedly. "Stop apologizing. I had no right to go sneaking around after dark anyways. It's my fault if anything."
Soi moved toward her and put her hand on the woman's shoulder. "Yoruichi…" she started. Her words were cut off by Yoruichi kissing her on the lips. For a moment all the stress of her difficult position was forgotten as she allowed herself to slip into her lover's arms.
They broke apart suddenly as Soi's cell phone began to ring. She looked apologetically at Yoruichi and flipped open the phone. She put it to her ear.
"Moshi-moshi."
Yoruichi could hear the faint sound of someone talking on the other end. She looked at Soi who seemed almost annoyed at the conversation. She abruptly hung up the phone.
"That was a few members of my squad," she said to Yoruichi.
"What did they want?"
Soi crossed her arms and heaved a sigh. "They want you to go out drinking with them." Sop much for her enjoyable evening at home.
End Chapter 2
