Preparing for Homegoing (Return to the Hive)
"Now, Soifon, do you see why I recommended Corps Commander Urahara for the captaincy of the 12th Squad?" It had been a very busy week and Yoruichi finally had time to address her subordinate. Seven days ago, she had put forward Kisuke Urahara, the third seat of the Second Squad and Corps Commander of the Detention Unit, to take up the vacant position in the 12th Squad.
When Yoruichi had initially shared her thoughts, Soifon had protested, believing Kisuke to be a lazy man unworthy of the position. Yoruichi had ordered Soifon to accompany Kisuke to arrest some deserters, and she was sure that Kisuke's prowess in hakuda would have impressed Soifon. She trusted his abilities fully. He had passed the captaincy test with flying colours and Yoruichi had just cleared the paperwork finalizing his transfer. Soifon was in the room, accompanying her and waiting to be dismissed for the day.
Soifon nodded and kept her head bowed, ashamed that she had been so dismissive of Urahara's abilities. I was concerned for your honour, Yoruichi-sama. If he had failed, your name and that of the Shihoin family would have been tainted by association! I could not sit by and let that happen… I had promised…
Yoruichi yawned and stretched out languidly. "I know you were worried for me, Soifon. But trust me. I know Kisuke's a good and capable man. He was my subordinate after all. You are a good and capable woman too."
Soifon blushed at the praise. Woman. No longer a girl.
"There's something different about you today, Soifon. What is it? And I don't mean the fact that you're in awe of Kisuke and secretly in love with him" Soifon blushed even more furiously while her fingers absentmindedly twirled her hair.
She barely saw Yoruichi flash-step next to her. "Ah! You've cut your hair!" She teasingly pulled on Soifon's shorter locks, which looked rather similar to her own now.
"Y… yes, Yoruichi-sama. I will be returning to my estate tomorrow and I was getting ready. I have had that same haircut since I first joined the Onmitsukido as a child… and now that I am coming of age…" She prostrated before Yoruichi. "My deepest thanks, Yoruichi-sama. You have taught me so much these two years, and it has been my privilege to have served you and fought by your side."
Yoruichi laughed brightly. "Soifon, you speak as though you are leaving forever tonight! You are only going back for one month." She grinned bemusedly at her subordinate. "Still so serious after all these years… I haven't taught you much have I? Now get up." And she threw her head back and a merry peal of laughter rang out again.
Soifon remained prostrate, her eyes firmly fixed on the floor. "Please, I beg your leave to speak, Yoruichi-sama. My family has served yours for generations, and today I have the humble privilege of doing the same for you. But… but you have esteemed me more than I deserve. You have not only been my commander, but my mentor, senpai, teacher…" Friend. Sister. "Unworthy as I am, you have been so gracious and benevolent, even teaching me instead of dismissing me when I doubted your choice of Urahara Kisuke. I have never had the chance to tell you how thankful and grateful I am, that you would grant one such as me this hon…"
She was cut short by Yoruichi, who had bent down and picked her up. "Stand up, Soifon. You are the head of your family in your own right, and that is what you are going back to do tomorrow – establish your own capacity as an adult. Show them that you are older, better, wiser, stronger, and no longer a child."
She smiled. "Show them that you can stand on your own two feet and make the right decisions for yourself. I know you can."