Chapter 3

Soifon awoke with a groan, slamming her hand on the snooze button on her alarm clock that flashed 5:03 a.m. in big blue analog letters and looked around at the empty only bedroom apartment, bare with only a dresser, a desk, a clock and a radio. She stripped down and walked out into the club hallway. She reached the bathroom and tore the door open before her eyes widened in surprise. Stepping out from the shower was her boss, as naked as the day she was born. Yoruichi blinked and smiled in greeting.

"Hey there Soi, you're looking good."

Soifon let out a near scream as her arms scrambled to cover her most private areas and she shut her eyes to keep from seeing more than she already had, though the older woman's body seemed to be burned into the back of her eyelids. An amused giggle sounded in her ears as she heard the woman pass by, she finally forced her eyes open and dared to look back just in time to see the purple-haired beauty wink at her and slip into her own bedroom apartment. Soifon felt her pale skin light up before she shut the bathroom door. She took an indefinitely cold shower to try and shock the vision of her naked boss out of her mind...

It didn't work.

She let her forehead hit the shower wall and groaned in annoyance. She finished her shower and stepped out quickly, running into her room to not be seen. She sighed in the safety of her room and got into her school uniform and grabbed her bag before walking downstairs and nearly gagging on the terrible smell coming from the kitchen behind the bar. Soifon ran into the small stocked kitchen and stared at Yoruichi stumbling and coughing from smoke stemming from the stove. Soifon grabbed the nearby fire-extinguisher and sprayed it at whatever was causing the stove-top smoke.

Yoruichi grinned sheepishly at the shorter girl, "Whoops."

Soifon leveled a glare at her muttering a curse under her breath before ordering Yoruichi out of the kitchen, "I will be in charge of cooking. You will sit at the table and try not to set anything on fire."

Yoruichi pouted, "But I want to learn."

Soifon stared the elder woman in the eyes and found sincerity along with curiousity. She sighed and let her shoulders drop from tight tension to a slightly relaxed state.

"Well come on boss, I'll show you some basics."

She turned and walked into the kitchen, but no steps were heard behind her. She blinked and turned to find Yoruichi pouting childishly with her arms crossed over her chest.

"What?"

"Don't call me boss, call me Yoruichi."

Soifon scoffed, "You're my boss and that's much too informal."

Yoruichi frowned for a moment, but her cat-like grin returned just as quickly as it had disappeared.

"You know Soifon," Yoruichi started, her tone overly innocent, "What was very informal was how you walked in on me this morning. I'll forgive you if you just don't call me boss."

Soifon sputtered in shock, surprise, and embarrassment and Yoruichi just smiled, "Now let's cook breakfast!"

Soifon found that she could say nothing else, so she walked into the kitchen, shoulders drooped in defeat and annoyance before starting to cook a simple breakfast. An egg, sunny side up for the both of them. Yoruichi was like a satellite around the younger woman and found that those hands that could so easily manipulate records to her very whim, were as skillful in cracking eggs. As soon as the two eggs were on Soifon ordered Yoruichi to watch them as she put some bread in the toaster.

Soon enough the two were seated at the bar, eating a nice breakfast of toast, eggs and some orange juice. Yoruichi happily downed the food while Soifon took it slow, savoring each bite before finishing. She stretched slightly and walked over to her table. She gingerly put on two blank records and began to scratch out a tune. Yoruichi listened quietly from her seat, an empty plate in front of her. She gathered the plates as Soifon continued on, scratching an almost haunting tune from the records, Yoruichi found herself subconsciously swaying to the beat as she left the plates in the sink. Then the familiar hollow sound of blank records filled the empty club and Soifon turned off the turntable. She blinked in surprise and blushed as Yoruichi seemed to be staring at her so intently.

"What?" Soifon nearly yelled in nervousness and annoyance.

Yoruichi just grinned mysteriously and grabbed her bag, "Nothing."

She began to walk out the front door before Soifon caught her shoulder.

"Are you crazy?!" Soifon exclaimed, pulling the older woman away from the door and dragging to the back of the club.

Yoruichi broke away, "Why can't I go out the front door?"

Soifon blew out a puff of annoyed air, "Because paparazzi will be watching. You walk out that door and suddenly DJ raging hornet has a serious girlfriend. Or worse."

Yoruichi couldn't contain her laughter, "Why would that be bad?"

Soifon shot her a dirty look, "Because then they post them at all doors. Even the back one and I really don't feel like being immersed in celebrity life. Then I would belong to the people, and that would be my death sentence."

Yoruichi didn't say anything that time but only smiled strangely at Soifon's explanation, "I understand how you feel, not wanting to belong to anyone."

Soifon blinked, and a small smile flitted across her lips, "You've got to love that freedom."

Yoruichi nodded and the two locked eyes for a split second. Yoruichi felt butterflies dive-bombing each other as she stared into Soifon's stormy gray pools. Soifon felt as if her skin would light on fire at the blush she was fighting back, the shorter girl whirled around and walked out the back door.

"Come on Yoruichi. Or we'll be late to school," Soifon's called to the older woman in an emotionless, monotone voice.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes and ran up to meet Soifon, "Come on I'll race you to school."

"No."

"Aww, come on Soi, it'll be fun!"

"No."

"..."

"..."

Yoruichi pouted as she walked on by before thinking of a devious little plot. She sighed overdramatically and pet Soifon's head to get the younger woman's attention.

"Well, of course, a person such as yourself would never demean herself by having frivolous fun."

Soifon's eye twitched in anger, "Excuse me?"

Yoruichi blinked and spoke in an sweetly innocent voice, "a person such as yourself would never demean herself by having frivolous fun."

Soifon bit back a growl, and grabbed Yoruichi's arm as she passed by, "You're on."

Yoruichi grinned deviously and nodded. The two girls set themselves in the starting position upon the edge of the curb.

"Ready?"

"Nm."

A few seconds later Yoruichi shouted to begin the competition and the two were off like rockets. Soifon and Yoruichi weaved through the crowded Tokyo sidewalks, and slowly Soifon began to grin. She hadn't competed against anyone in a long while, especially in running. She had hit her stride and was experiencing her runners high. She felt as is she could go on forever. Soifon looked to her side and saw Yoruichi grinning so big it threatened to split her face in two. And for a second Soifon let herself laugh...

As she smacked right into the person she least wanted to see at the moment.

"Ugh, what th' hell re ya doin' you stupid brat?!" Gin roared as Soifon stumbled, but still stood up right.

Soifon groaned, this morning just took a turn for the worst.