2008 A.D
Yoruichi felt panic the moment she opened her eyes. It is almost instantaneous, and natural, for her to feel Soi Fon's reiatsu. That is why, she knew right away that her former bodyguard was no longer in the room. Despite her grogginess, Yoruichi moved out of the bed as fast as she could and walked briskly towards the door. She immediately heard clanging of metals. "Soi Fon", Yoruichi breathed, and ran outside, only to find out the source of the sounds came from the kitchen.
"Yoruichi-sama", Soi Fon noted as she carelessly placed the pots and pans on the sink. "I woke up without so much as a conscious soul in sight. I made breakfast. I hope you would find this passable", she shyly said, while placing a plate full of bacon and pancake in front of Yoruichi.
"You're more than passable", Yoruichi mumbled dreamily at the sight of food and Soi Fon serving her, wearing an apron.
"E-excuse me?"
Yoruichi stuffed her mouth with pancakes as to deter her from talking, hoping Soi Fon would just let it go. Thankfully, Soi Fon was wise enough not to dare repeat the question.
Yoruichi breathed deep to gain control of herself. She hasn't been, and is still not, being herself. She is well-aware of that, and is now constantly a source of her frustration. If only...
"Yoruichi-sama"
The Goddess of Flash was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to realize Soi Fon was now sitting in front of her, holding a coffee cup, and fingers fidgeting. "What is it, Soi Fon?", she asked.
"You are probably disappointed that I took Fusu in...", Soi Fon began.
What I am is jealous, Yoruichi answered in her mind.
"And you have the right to be"
No, I don't...
"I am well aware that this is a huge risk..."
I might just lose you to him.
"but rest assured that he is not what he is claiming to be, I will take full responsibility, and make sure that you are safe. I won't allow anything to happen to you"
You have grown so much.
"My loyalties belong to the Gotei, and to you. Not to any emperor"
Don't go there, Soi...please...Don't talk about-.
"I am your soldier, and I will always be"
Yoruichi winced, and sighed. "No"
Soi Fon frowned at what she heard. "No?"
Yoruichi sighed. "No, you're not my soldier...not anymore...it hasn't been for a long time"
The lithe Captain's expression became unreadable once more, and remained silent for a minute. "Your absence did not effectively mean the breaking of order between the Fon's and the Shihoin's, Yoruichi-sama. I do not wish to change that, despite the apparent legality of it given my current position. The Fon's, for centuries, have served the Noble House of Shihoin. I feel no resentment"
"You don't understand, Soi Fon. Im the one resenting this arrangement". Yoruichi rested her face on her hand after, and shook her head. She was losing control. When was the last time she lost control of her emotions? Never.
"I see", Soi Fon responded meekly. Her eyes shifted from her former captain to her coffee cup, and sat in silence nervously.
"Is that all you can say?", Yoruichi asked in an annoyed state. "You aren't even bothered as to why I am resenting this?"
"If I ask, will you answer?"
Yoruichi once more felt a sting in her chest. "You don't resent the arrangement between our families, alright. You resent me. But you feel you have no choice. I get it, Soi. Thank you for the breakfast", she said hurriedly, before standing up.
Much to Yoruichi's dismay, Soi Fon did not flinch, and instead remained still. The Captain of the 2nd squad already expected that reaction. It has been common, these days.
In the midst of her anger, the purple-haired royalty, had failed to notice that she, in fact, had not even asnwered Soi Fon's question, in effect, confirming what Soi Fon was implying. She never answers Soi Fon's questions, not the important ones. And is she really right in saying Soi Fon resented her?
Yoruichi began pacing back and forth, attempting to answer her own questions, without much success. She buried her heels on the ground, and screamed, "What in the world is going on with you, Shihoin Yoruichi?"
"I think...you know the answer...you're just refusing to say it out loud", Kisuke interrupted, with his usual habit of covering his face with a fan.
"I'm not in the mood for your cryptic lines, Kisuke"
"Oh, am I being cryptic? I actually thought what I'm saying is pretty straightforward"
Yoruichi turned away, and averted Kisuke's stare. "What can I do?"
"Admit to yourself, and accept it first. And then be honest to her. You can't expect her to understand you by throwing tantrums, Yoruichi."
"I'm not...yeah...", Yoruichi said in defeat. "I just...I don't know what is it I'm feeling anymore. She's changed a lot, Kisuke...I don't know if she is the Soi Fon i've known"
"Was there ever?"
"What?"
"Was there ever a time you knew her"
Yoruichi frowned, aggravated about the truth behind Kisuke's words. "And now that I want friendship from her..."
"Friendship?", Kisuke guffawed. "I had no idea we were talking about friendship"
"Then what the heck are you talking about?"
Kisuke chuckled, and covered his face once more before he began to walk inside the shop. "This is exactly what I meant by...admitting it to yourself first"
Soi Fon nervously stood in front of the room where Fusu slept, and gently knocked on the door. "Fusu? Are you awake now?"
"If you're looking for your gentleman caller, he's outside, using those poor helpless fruit trees as targets", Kisuke said.
Soi Fon glared at Kisuke in response. She walked past him, but paused before leaving the shop. "First, he is not my gentleman caller. Second, no one uses that term anymore"
It was hard to miss the sight of fruits and leaves falling off the trees in a synchronized manner. The one causing it however, was difficult to pinpoint. Fusu was fast, perhaps close to Soi Fon's speed when she uses Shunko; his arrows even faster. This however, was not enough for Yoruichi to be almost hit several times, if speed is the only factor involved. Yoruichi-sama's senses should be more than enough to avoid any injury caused by his arrows. But last night...I wonder why?
Soi Fon walked serenely towards the trees. For some reason, she knew that Fusu would not make a mistake and accidentally hit her. She stopped, and picked up one arrow that stuck firmly on the ground. Could this arrow be hiding something? Something that could hinder Yoruichi-sama's reactions?
"Xiao Soi"
Soi Fon had to breathe in the moment Fusu spoke. There was something warm about his voice, yet it brings chills down her spine. "Fusu, have you eaten yet? Or are these fruits your breakfast?"
Fusu chuckled and picked one that fell beside him. "I was not thinking of that, but as always...you manage to enlighten me", he said, before biting into the fruit. "You are not here for pleasantries though, that much I can tell"
Soi Fon nodded, then surprisingly smiled a bit. "I have a lot of questions to ask, and I am hoping you will answer them all. But I have to leave for some errands right now."
"I will still be here upon your return, Xiao Soi. We've been apart far too long..." Fusu softly spoke. He took several steps closer to Soi Fon, and smiled. "I would be a fool to let you out of my sight again"
Unexpectedly, Soi Fon's cheeks began to feel burning sensations. "Erm, okay, then", she said, while she nervously stepped back, and eventually ran.
"Smooth. Real smooth", Kisuke said, which almost made Yoruichi jump out of her skin. "I was referring to his ability to make Soi Fon blush like that, of course. Not about you spying on them"
"Shut up, Kisuke. I am keeping an eye on him. That's all. I don't trust him"
"You don't trust him with Soi Fon"
"She may be in danger"
"Of course. What else could be the reason?", Kisuke asked in a mocking tone. "After all, Soi Fon is such a weakling, that she does not have the capacity to take care of herself"
"Tch", Yoruichi said. "I don't trust him"
"You've said that already"
"Yes, well, I'm going to say it again. I don't trust him. Do you?"
"Hard to say. But I will have to trust Soi Fon's instincts. She may or may not have figured things out yet, but we can be sure, she doesn't make decisions based on whim"
219 B.C
Soi Fon always felt anxiety whenever the Emperor called on to her for afternoon tea, mostly because of her veneration for him. Lately though, it is primarily caused by dread that comes from the series of assassination orders that involved individuals Soi Fon considered to be "exempted", that is, women and children. Not to the Emperor it seemed. For him, no one is that benign not to be considered a threat, of which he euphemistically called "preemptive strike".
Soi Fon sighed heavily before entering the room and kowtowed.
"Ah General Fon, on time as usual. On the dot", the emperor said in an uncharacteristically cheerful manner, though this seemed to have unnerved Soi Fon further. "Please, have a seat"
"Thank you, your highness"
After a few sips in silence, the emperor once again spoke. "General, you've been working very, very hard. No leader could succeed without a great general, and you are the greatest"
Soi Fon felt a faint blush that crept on her cheeks. "I am but a soldier in your army, your highness...my victories are all for your empire"
The Emperor nodded, as if Soi Fon had just affirmed his expectations. "With you beside me, I am assured of success...however...I am getting...old..."
"Your highness!", Soi Fon exclaimed against this seeming blasphemous statement. But you are immortal...physical deterioration is not...
"Now, now, General. One cannot deny the wrinkles on my skin that are showing up slowly. But that is not why I asked you here. Issues on my vanity will be dealt with by my alchemists", the emperor dissuasively stated. "I have ignored far too long a certain reality...that there is a dire need for succession"
Soi Fon held her tongue from further outbursts, and instead concentrated on studying the intricate pattern on her tea cup. "Succession...but who is righteous enough between your two-"
"Fusu...is my eldest..and by custom...should be my natural successor...however...Huhai seems to show more...skills"
Soi Fon shifted her position uncomfortably. She was bewildered as to why the Emperor is discussing this with her.
"I would need you to go to X'ian, to the summer palace. My sons will be returning from their training, and will rest there. General Fon, I am relieving you of your duties in the meantime, to keep my sons company"
"Your...highness?"
"For a very specific reason, of course. You must report to me...recommend...who you think should be the rightful successor"
"I understand, Your highness" Deep down, however, Soi Fon's heart was screaming. I'm reduced to being a bao mu? A nanny? Soi Fon sighed subtly and stood up. "Please excuse me then, your highness, as I will need to prepare myself for the travel"
Soi Fon was almost near the door, when the Emperor once more spoke. "I trust your instincts, General. I hope your wisdom will not be clouded by certain...biases towards Fusu"
Soi Fon thanked her lucky stars that she was already turned against the emperor, or else, the crimson hue on her face would have been too obvious not to notice.
Soi Fon arrived at Xian almost midnight, but the festive mood lifted the darkness that surrounded the area. A heavy sigh escaped Soi Fon as soon as she caught sight of young men and women in their opulent behavior. "This, is the future of the kingdom?", she asked herself flatly. The announcement of her arrival however, brought an exaggerated silence brought about by fear.
"General Fon" A chorus of greetings echoed through the halls, as everyone kowtowed to her. She glanced at everyone, but continued to walk without as much as an acknowledgment to any person in the palace. "Who ordered this waste of the empire's resources?", she asked coldly.
"I...I did, Soi Fon", a soft, but steady voice answered a few meters away from her.
Soi Fon stopped, and smirked, but did not turn around to speak to the person ""Fusu. Then we must talk...please order your...guests", she spat, "to leave and find their way home"
Soi Fon continued to walk until she arrived at the army barracks, where she settled in to stay. Though there was always a designated room for her within the palaces, Soi Fon never felt comfortable staying in decadent quarters. She was trained to war, and "roughing it" was part of her training.
With her eyes transfixed on the full moon, she muttered gently, "When you are going to lie in order to save your brother's head, Fusu, try to make it more convincing", There was no need to turn around so she would know who just went in. She had always felt Fusu's presence-a bond that had been existing since they were children.
Fusu gave an embarrassed smile. There is no lie so convincing when I am dealing with you, Xiao Soi"
"You are the older brother, and yet you allow Huhai to just run around like a wild monkey"
"You and I, both know that I don't have the capacity to impose authority on him"
"You have authority over him, Fusu"
Fusu sighed and slowly sat down next to Soi Fon. "Is this the reason why you are here? My father sent you to measure us? There is no need, I do not desire the position."
"I know very well, Fusu, that you would rather spend your time with your books", Soi Fon said, with a gentle smile that seemed to be reserved just for the man beside her. "Have you mastered the Analects of K'ung Fu Tzu already?"
"I have mastered all there is to master...but none of what my father thinks is important. I have heard...that he has banned most of the classics in the imperial schools recently. The Keju will no longer look at the mastery of the dialects. What will become of our civil servants?"
"Well, perhaps, if you worry so much about the empire's bureaucratic affairs, then you should get involved", Soi Fon said with an impish smirk.
"I see that playing devil's advocate is still your favorite past time as far as I am concerned", Fusu whispered, as he leaned closer to Soi Fon.
"Fusu...", Soi Fon mumbled, and then stood up to gain a comfortable distance. "How many times should I tell you that-"
"It's inappropriate because I'm the emperor's son, and you are his soldier. Yes, I've heard that a thousand times", Fusu said before he stood up and gazed at Soi Fon sadly. "I would give up, this whole empire...if that means breaking these chains that bind you to our God's will"
Soi Fon turned away, and attempted to be stern. "I must rest now, Fusu"
Fusu nodded in response. But before he closed the door behind him, he paused for a few seconds, and suddenly turned around. With a steely determination in his eyes, he smiled and said, "No...I must take back what I said...To break those chains...I must be God."
A/N Alright, I apologize for the uber delayed update. I somehow lost steam. This isn't the best I know I could offer, but I have to start somewhere to get my mojo back.
You can start throwing tomatoes at me now. Have a good day :D