What is that? A plot? YES!
There's a section in the beginning that is taken from Camus' novel I and Thou. It was just so beautiful I couldn't help myself.
As always, I hope you like it. This chapter was surprisingly easy to write. Hopefully, the remaining chapters will follow with the same sense of simplicity.
Soi Fon stood in front of the entrance to the living world. Surrounded by her top fighters she was vastly dwarfed by the large men. At first glance she appeared out of place, standing amidst the towering warriors, but upon closer inspection it became obvious that it was they that shrunk in her presence as she waited with a sense of reserved confidence. The stern frown seemingly attached to her face was completed by the sharp gleam in her grey eyes, best described as steely and powerful. She stood calmly, watching the gates slowly open. The guards stepped back, pushed by respect and influenced by awe in the presence of the slender captain, a strange and rare occurrence. The gate stood as a rigid pillar engulfed in a flood of light, splashes of green traversed by the gentleness of the blue silver ground.
"Go" She whispered clear- but soft, and in a flash the group vanished, leaving no evidence of their previous presence, save the rustle of the wind behind them.
....:::The Previous Morning:::....
Soi Fon crossed her arms and stared blankly at the faces of the captains surrounding her. She waited for the daily meeting to end, and slowly noted each person. The third, fifth, and ninth divisions were left empty and desolate, painful reminders of the betrayal that Seireitei had experienced. Aizen's disloyalty had sliced deep into the shinigami's spirits. Though hundreds of years old, no length of time could cause the captains to age as much as the treachery had.
"Soi Fon taichou," the captain commander's words cut through Soi Fon's previous thoughts.
"Hai," she responded, equally as clipped.
"You are to travel to Karakura town, and work with the Onmitsukidō in preparation for the winter wars. Stratigically integrate them so as to best assist with the transfer of the town. We do not need any civilians to interfere."
"Hai," she repeated, acknowledging the request.
"As you all know, preparations are being made for the protection of Karakura town, and the battle against the traitor, Aizen Sosuke. And thus," Yamamoto murmured softly, grabbing the captain's attention, "we have released the banishment previously held on Urahara Kisuke."
With a flick of his wrist, Urahara pushed past the doors into the chamber, lazily grinning, and oblivious to the hushed whispered in the room.
"Hi," he smiled, brushing his hair with his right hand in embarrassment.
"Kisuke?" Yoruichi blinked, staring at Soi Fon in surprise.
"Yes," Soi responded, "he's here to assess an appropriate place for Karakura town."
"Mmm…" the dark princess mumbled. Standing she turned from Soi Fon and headed out, "be back later."
She left in such a hurry that she didn't catch the stormy mixture of pain and confusion in the younger woman's eyes, watching as she noted the chase emotions reflected in Yoruichi's hurried movements, or the half finished comment falling from full lips, "...I'm assigned to leave tomorrow," Soi stated to the empty room.
--
"Kisuke," Yoruichi stood in his doorway, watching as he tinkered with several different objects.
"Yoruichi," he smiled in return, bowing his head under his striped hat.
"We need to talk," she gnawed at her lower lip, unsure of what to say.
"Whatever for?" Urahara stared at the dark woman in mock surprise.
"Stop that."
"What?"
"That. That thing you do with the mocking and the faking," she motioned with her hands, sitting down next to him, their backs to the window, facing the complex contraptions that the sandy haired man had brought with him. He chuckled in response, swiftly moving his fingers over a small metal box in his left hand.
"Are we okay?"
The question came out strained. Surprised, Urahara found himself looking at the dark beauty beside him. There was a strange mixture of emotions surfacing in Yoruichi's bright eyes. He watched confusion, distress, and hurt pour from her. Caught in her wave of emotions Kisuke felt the metal container fall from his hands, but made no move to stop its plummet to the ground. It wasn't until his contraption broke apart that Urahara could tear his gaze from Yoruichi's.
"Yeah. We're okay."
Urahara smiled and glanced up, watching the overflowing emotions slowly recede from the figure beside him. Silently, they exchanged more through smiles and glances than words ever could. Comforted by each other's presence, a warm grin lit up the Shihouin's dark face as she tilted her head, leaning against Urahara's shoulder.
"You're such a dork, Kisuke."
"What else is new?"
"You dropped your metal thingy."
"It's not a thingy."
"What else could it be?"
"Well… I'm not quite sure."
"You don't even know what it does?"
"I'll have you know that I was in the process of figuring that out."
"…" She crinkled his nose in distaste, "whatever." Yoruichi grinned, turning her head towards Urahara, masking her smile in his shoulder.
"But now I'll never fix it!" he sighed in exasperation before grinning and tilting his head against Yoruichi's.
Laughing softly, Yoruichi slid to her knees, gently scooping up the metal scraps and dumping them into Urahara's lap.
"Same old Kisuke," she warmly retorted.
"Same old Yoruichi," he affectionately murmured.
Soi Fon gripped her doorframe and watched the empty space where Yoruichi had stood. Something felt wrong. Confused and lonely from the Shihouin's sudden disappearance, Soi tried to shake the feeling, opting for a leisurely walk instead. She wandered through the second division's massive courtyard, staying close to the colossal walls, tracing a slender finger along the elegant and elaborate designs. Created by the Shihouin family, the second division was intricate and majestic; quite unlike Soi's personal tastes.
Lost in an array of thoughts, the petite captain found herself aimlessly wandering through the twelfth division in an attempt to reach the small courtyard she constantly frequented with Kenpachi. Running a hand through short hair, Soi Fon suddenly paused, stopped by the echoing sound of Yoruichi's voice.
Yoruichi… Soi mouthed her name, turning towards the sound of her voice. What am I doing? Soi Fon halted in front of the lab assigned to Urahara Kisuke. Torn between finding the dark woman and leaving, a deep chuckle from Urahara pulled Soi towards the room. As she stared through the glass she found her heart jump up into her throat. Backs against the window, Yoruichi sat next to Urahara calmly leaning her head against his shoulder as he leaned towards her. Awkwardness filled Soi, pushing her to close her eyes from the privately intimate moment. Forcing herself to swallow, Soi tried to shake the feeling arguing that Yoruichi was simply an affectionate person. Affectionate in her intimacy. She unconsciously thought, furthering her distress.
Stop. Breathe. Soi ordered herself.
About to pull herself away from her invasion of privacy, Soi felt her breath hitch as Yoruichi huskily laughed and slid beneath the window sill, her head bobbing up and down in front of Urahara's lap.
No. Soi panicked.
No, we were happy. We are happy!
She wouldn't. She wouldn't cheat.
Soi stared at the pair through the window. Watching Urahara's face light up, Soi felt her heart shatter.
She would.
With the last thought of defeat cascading through Soi Fon retreated, drowning in the pain that ripped through her heart.
Yoruichi didn't come back that night.
....:::Presently:::....
Rigid and cold, Soi Fon blankly watched the gate open before her.
"Go" She whispered clear- but soft, and in a flash the group vanished, leaving no evidence of their previous presence, save the rustle of the wind behind them.
Huzzah! New chapter! Please read and review, I live off of reviews. Feed me! (heart!)
'sides, the more response I receive (don't be afraid to tell me how much my writing sucks if you feel that way!) the more I grow as a writer, and the more pieces I crank out.
And as always, much love.