"She mad at me?" Soi didn't look up as Kukaku walked in.
"No. She's just mad at me."
"Why you?"
"That's just how she is."
"I see."
There was a long silence as Kukaku came over and sat beside Soi.
"Kukaku, why do we live life if life is so hard?"
"I can't answer that."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't have the answer. I don't think anyone does."
Soi hummed thoughtfully and placed her head on Kukaku's shoulder. A blush made its way across Kukaku's face.
"I kinda like it here." Soi said quietly.
"That's good."
"Is it?"
"Yes. I'm glad you like it here."
Soi chuckled. "Is Yoruichi okay other than being upset?"
"I guess."
Soi looked up, Kukaku turned and looked at her. Soi's eyes narrowed when they saw red.
"What is that?"
"What?"
"On your face."
"What are you talking about?"
Soi sucked her teeth and took Kukaku's chin in her hand, she turned her head.
"…Yoruichi did that to you?"
"It's a strong possibility." Kukaku mumbled.
Soi stared at the large red mark. She didn't think Yoruichi had it in her to do such a thing.
"I'm sorry." Soi whispered.
"It's not your fault."
"Yes it is."
"No."
"Yes."
"Stop it."
"…"
Soi leaned forward and pressed her lips gently on the sore spot. Kukaku choked back a sob. Nobody had ever been so nice or cared to much. "Why are you so kind?"
"Because I can be, and I choose to be. Plus I guess I care to much."
"Thank you."
"No need for that."
They sat in silence for several minutes. Kukaku broke it.
"Soi?"
"Hum?"
"Who would you choose?"
"Huh?"
"Out of the three of us…who would you choose?"
"Well…Kurumi is just a friend, though I know she thinks of me as more."
"And Yoruichi and I?"
"I…don't know. I'm not really sure how I feel on anything right now."
"I see."
Another long silence.
"Soi?"
"Yeah?"
"What do I look like to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"When you look at me what do you see?"
"I see many things."
"Do I look…I mean…"
"What?"
"Am I ugly to you?"
Soi chuckled. "Definitely not."
"That's good."
"Do I look ugly to you?"
"No. You never have."
"Not even when I was Sao?"
"Nope. You were a cutie, and you're even cuter now."
Soi blushed deep red. "You're not like you used to be."
"I'm not?"
"No. You're more open and caring."
"Only with you."
Soi smiled and pressed her forehead gently against Kukaku's, who smiled and blushed.
"Thank you for caring. You're the only one who listens."
Soi's smile widened. Kukaku nudged her just under the ribs. Soi laughed and took her hand.
A soft patter sounded above them. It kept going. Soi looked out the window behind Kukaku and herself.
The sky was dark and it was raining softly.
Soi released Kukaku's hand and crawled to the window, she opened it quietly. "It's been a while since its rained huh?"
Kukaku moved beside her. "Yeah it has."
They sat there laughing and staring out the window and pointed trying to see if they could guess whatever the object was.
They missed the stranger standing on the roof drenched in rain water.
BLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACH
'I love walking in the rain, because nobody can tell I'm crying.'
- N/A