Really enjoyed writing this story so thanks to all those who've been reading :) Really appreciate you guys for the support!
Chapter 8: Finis?
With the rogue Soi Fon finally normal, Sereitei was once again at ease. However, there was the matter of her sentence for what she'd done. Her crimes of causing destruction to property and taking innocent lives could not go unpunished, especially since she had killed the head of a noble clan. The Central 46 had been discussing for a while what to do with her. In the meantime though, she was relieved of her duties but she was allowed to travel round Sereitei, albeit with a captain level guard escorting her at all times.
"I feel claustrophobic," muttered an irritated Soi Fon as she perked her lips and blew her fringe.
"You know you can't be alone," said Unohana.
"I know but still…I wish I had some time alone…."
"I'm sorry but some alone time is a luxury you can't afford at the moment…something I'm not sure you can ever enjoy again…"
"I'm not surprised…I….I don't think they'll be lenient to me….."
"Well…just make good use of your time…I'm sure you'll find out what to do when you're out."
"I guess…." said Soi Fon as she stopped in her tracks and stared at the ground. She felt under the weather and would shed a tear every now and then, knowing that her freedom, or whatever was left of it, was soon to be gone. Despite Unohana watching her, she could never really cheer her up. Although she was a medical expert, she was never really good at dealing with psychological pain.
Soi Fon didn't really have anyone to turn to. No family left, her beloved Yoruichi now dead, her vice-captain too, and with no close friends as well. She was lonely and just needed someone to be there for her, and although Unohana tried her best, it just wasn't doing any good. What made it worse, her division had totally shunned her for all that she did. A look of despise was written all over their faces each time Soi Fon had passed any of her ex-members by which utterly destroyed her psyche.
"Unohana…could you please follow me somewhere?"
"That depends on where exactly."
"Thunder-rock cliff….."
"Oh….why would you want to go there?"
"I have my reasons…."
"Well…alright then….." said Unohana as she thought of the possible reasons as to why Soi Fon would want to go there. A part of her had told her not to listen to Soi Fon's request, but then again she didn't have much of a reason not to. If Soi Fon attempted suicide again, Unohana would be there to stop her. Also, Yamamoto had ordered a limiter to be placed on Soi Fon so she couldn't unleash her full power if she ever was to try something unexpected again.
That night at Thunder-Rock cliff…..
Soi Fon reached the peak of the cliff, with Unohana following close behind her. Something had caught the attention of Unohana though. The younger woman stumbled step by step towards the edge of the cliff, prompting Unohana to stop her. Shunpoing forward and grabbing her hand, she tightened her grip on Soi Fon's wrist and pulled it with such force that the younger woman made a complete 360 degree turn.
"Soi Fon….please don't…."
"Umm…..I was just going to take a seat….."
"Don't lie to me."
"Umm….honestly what could I possibly do to myself? I'm not moving as fast as I previously could with that stupid limiter on me and you're here…..there's nothing I can possibly do….."
"I guess…go on but I'm watching you," said a stern looking Unohana.
"I'm not going anywhere," said Soi Fon as she shot a look of disdain towards Unohana.
As she approached the edge of the cliff, she took a seat and let her feet hang over the edge, letting them swing around like a little kid. Then, she lifted her chin up and gazed at the brilliant night sky and stared at the full moon, closing her eyes as if to make a wish. Then, she began to speak.
"Yoruichi sama…..it's…..it's…I'm not going to lie, it's been tough. I know that my freedom is going to be up soon so yeah…..I'm letting you know that I'll still follow what you told me, I'm not going to give up just yet…I…..I don't know what to do but please guide me….I just need someone here for me….Thanks Yoruichi sama…and as always….I love you…"
As she ended, Unohana had called Soi Fon.
"You…..you really do miss her huh?"
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"Every word that you said…..I heard it….."
"What?"
"Yeah…..you were speaking…..kind of loudly…..it was cute. I've never seen this side of you before."
"You better not tell anyone," said Soi Fon as she became frustrated at how she allowed herself to talk out loudly.
"Who am I going to tell?" said Unohana as she smiled. "Anyways, I've just been informed over my comms device…..Central 46 had decided your punishment….you're to head there immediately."
"Oh…..alright," said Soi Fon as she dusted herself off and stood up. "Did they say what it was going to be?"
"Nope."
"Alright…..well…..let's go then….."
Sereitei- Central 46
Approaching the hall, Soi Fon was escorted by guards into the place. Being blindfolded, she was unable to see anything or anyone, but she could still feel a thousand pair of eyes staring down upon her.
"Fon Shaolin." Said a stern sounding individual from a distance. All members of the Central 46 had their faces concealed and the only way Soi Fon could make them out was by getting a read of their reiatsus. "Do you have anything to say for what you've done?"
"No…..no I don't…I accept whatever punishment you guys hand out."
"Good, that saves us the trouble of giving an explanation for the punishment," said another voice in the distance.
"Quite right," said the first voice. "FON SHAOLIN, you are hereby permanently stripped of your titles as the leader of all commands that you currently head and are sentenced to 500 years in lockup, with no possibility of making captain ever again. You'll be barred from ever entering Sereitei as well. Any last words?"
Keeping silent, Soi Fon could only hang her head in shame.
"Good. Guards, take her away."
As that, two giant figures approached the disgraced former captain and dragged her away.
Seretei-Main Street
The existing captains had lined up on either side of the escorts that guarded Soi Fon towards the barracks where they held the worse criminals in Soul Society. She felt shameful as the captains stared down upon her, thinking of the gossip that must have been spreading amongst them. Trying as hard to ignore the small talk going on, she focused on having the 500 years ahead of her that she was going to spend in confinement. Alas, they finally reached the barracks. Still blindfolded, Soi Fon could feel that she was being led into a large metal chamber, with no opening whatsoever, except for a door that could only be opened from the outside.
"Fon Shaolin, we're going to place you in restraints….is that understood?"
"Yeah…..I can't wait…." said Soi Fon sarcastically.
As the guards placed the restraints on both her wrists and ankles, she could feel the coldness of the steel against her skin. The restraints were connected to a large chains that were bolted tightly onto the walls of the chamber, making it hard for Soi Fon to even fidget a little. Furthermore, a heavy metal collar was also placed around her neck, making it impossible for her to even turn her head slightly. As the guards finished placing the restraints on her, they left her alone and slammed the door shut, leaving Soi Fon to spend the next 500 years in solitude.
"500 years…that's a long while…" Soi Fon thought to herself.
"Soi Fon sama…I'll always be with you…"
"Suzumebachi? I can't believe you're still here…..after all I've done…"
"Well, I can't exactly abandon you right?"
"Yeah but…I thought you'd never want to speak to me again….."
"Nonsense….it's not as if you did all those things on purpose."
"I guess…I…..owe you an apology."
"Nah," said the little hornet as she started to blush a little. "Like I said, it wasn't your fault. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a loved one….."
"Yeah…"
"Anyways, I need to tell you something."
"Uh….sure," Soi Fon said as she was puzzled at what her zanpaktou spirit could have possibly wanted to tell her.
"I've developed a new posion."
"Oh…..and?"
"It should put you to sleep long enough for you to wake up after your sentence….it is a quick way to pass the time."
"What!?" Soi Fon said in shock.
"Yeah. If you want an escape route well, this is it. But I have to warn you though, I haven't tried it out yet so I'm afraid it may have a few unintended effects."
"I see," Soi Fon said as she sensed the hint of fear in Suzumebachi's words. She pondered and pondered. She knew that she had promised Yoruichi to continue on living but if she was poisoned by Suzumebachi, her life might end. Then again, if the poison didn't kill her, 500 years would have gone by without her even noticing. It was a tough choice to make. After weighing up her options, she struggled but ultimately, came to a decision.
"Alright, Suzumebachi, let's do it."
"You sure Soi Fon sama?"
"Yeah."
"But what if….."
"Don't worry, I'll make it. I don't intend on dying just yet," Soi Fon saud as she cut Suzumebachi off.
"But I'm afraid you might die," said Suzumebachi as she shed a tear and thought about the chances of her master surviving the poison in her weakened state. "I can't…no…..I won't do it….I don't want you to die…" said the hornet as her eyes became red trying to fight back a flood of tears.
"Aww…don't worry about it…You don't have faith in me?"
"I do…but….."
"Then what's to worry about?" I'm not going anywhere. I'll see you again you know?" Soi Fon said trying to sound confident for her zanpaktou despite she herself, doubting that she would survive.
"Alright…..if you say so…." Suzumebachi replied somewhat amzed at her master's optimism. "Well…..here I go…."
Flying over to Soi Fon's right arm, the little hornet approached her master slowly, but steadily. Taking aim, Suzumebachi placed the stinger in her. Soi Fon could feel the cold, slimy stinger of her zanpaktou spirit pierce her skin and sink deep into her flesh as the poison entered her body. Within a few seconds, the posion had spread throughout her entire body and with that, the shamed former captain of the 2nd division drifted off into a sound slumber.
500 years later….
"Hey, its time to release the prisoner."
"Yeah, can you imagine? A captain killing off so many innocents. Just the thought of the makes me you shiver, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
As the two guards approached the metal chamber that Soi Fon was in, they were cautious in opening said chamber in fear that Soi Fon would react rashly. Opening the door, they saw that Soi Fon was motionless. Slapping her and pouring water on her face, Soi Fon did not respond at all. Despite repeated attempts to try and revive her, their efforts were in vain.
"Looks like….she didn't make it…"
"Shame…..wasn't she still allowed to live anyway after being released."
"That's right. What a shame…..well…..no use talking about it now….."
"Guess you're right. Her body doesn't smell yet…..she must have passed not long ago…"
"Hmm, it seems so. Well, it doesn't matter. Let's just hurry up and remove the body. It gives me the creeps just by staying here."
"Yeah….I feel you."
As the guards removed the restraints on Soi Fon's body, they felt a gust of wind blow past them.
"Did you feel that?"
"Yeah….."
Just then, the door behind them slammed shut and they realized that Soi Fon was no longer in the room with them.
"What the…..where is she?"
"FON SHAOLIN! OPEN THIS DOOR AT ONCE!"
Laughing hysterically, Soi Fon ignored their pleas for help and made her way to the exits.
"Playing possum, gets them every time," said the former captain of the 2nd division as she let out a chuckle.
"Soi Fon sama! You made it!"
"And here you doubted me!"
"Well…..I'm sorry….."
Going over to her zanpaktou spirit, Soi Fon gave Suzumebachi a tight hug.
"Me too…..It must be hard making you worry like that….."
"Its….its alright…..Soi Fon sama….please….." Suzumebachi struggled for air as Soi Fon's grip on her suffocated Suzumebachi.
"Oh sorry…." Soi Fon saud as she let go of Suzumebachi.
"Soi Fon sama, don't you think you're being a bit too much locking them up in there?"
"What? Naaahhh. Besides, the alarm's already sounding. They're sending backup…..we'd better get out of here." Soi Fon smiled as she thought about the trouble she had just gotten herself into. Her playfulness had cost her, but well, it was fun for her and that was what mattered. She would deal with the consequences later.
"Yeah, let's go Soi Fon sama."
With that, the disgraced former captain and her zanpaktou spirit started their lives as exiled personnel of Sereitei. Though they had to be extra careful because of Soi Fon's escapade which would have sent shinigami scouts trying to find them for their actions were uncalled for and deemed dangerous, especially for a person who had just finished spending the last 500 years in lockup. Regardless, Soi Fon and Suzumebachi were full of optimism that so long as they had each other, they would be alright in the end. Where would they go? The real world? The unexplored parts of Soul Society perhaps? The answer didn't matter. Soi Fon was determined to follow her master's wishes and she did just that, living her life to the full and being happy for the remainder of time before she too, had to fall into an eternal sleep where she would finally be with Yoruichi once more.
"Yoruichi sama…"
That's the end of the story! I'm sorry if the ending seemed wrong to you guys but it's the best I could come up with. Well, make what you guys will of the ending. I wanted to leave it up to the reader's own impression of what happened to Soi Fon after her escape at the end. Once again, thanks to all those who've been reading. I really and truly appreciate you guys. Thanks! And please lemme know what you guys think! :)