You Are Not Alone (The Night)
"Is there anything else you need of us, Shaolin-sama?"
"No. You may retire, Steward. Thank you for your help."
Finally alone, Soifon, took a deep breathe. She had been home for only a week and already, paperwork and estate matters had consumed her. Instead of the daily shunpo and hakuda practices and guard detail, her days were filled with documents to sign and people to meet. There were servants who had been appointed in her absence and who were seeing their lord for the first time. She flexed her right hand, which had cramped in unfamiliar places from the wielding of the brush and not the sword. She contemplated some zanpakuto practice, but realized that the resultant reiatsu release could destroy the dojo.
But most of all, Soifon felt strangely uncomfortable. There was something missing, and she knew what it was. She had grown accustomed to serving, not being served. She had become one who received orders instead of one who gave them. She was the one prostrating on the floor asking after the needs of her commander, and yet now her steward was the one asking after her needs!
She missed her time with Yoruichi. The training, the missions, the talks. Sure, Soifon never spoke much, but she loved to hear Yoruichi share her mind. She loved to agree with her. I have spent every day the past two years in her presence. It feels strangely silent and devoid of laughter now…
As a child, her servants and estate officers had been closer to her, humouring her. They treated her gently when her life changed so quickly with the death of her brothers and grandmother. But they had grown apart in the nine years. She had blossomed from childhood to adulthood in a world far removed from theirs. They did not know how she had grown stronger or obtained the scars that showed her worthy of the mantle of her brothers and father and the Fon family… they only knew that she had, achieved these. All they had were abstract pieces of knowledge.
I am a stranger in my own home. They know of me, but they do not know me. Yoruichi-sama… you know how I have become the person I am today. You were a big part of that process. Soifon felt deeply alone, away from the one friend who knew her well, or indeed knew anything about her at all.
She was startled from her thoughts by something moving at her feet. Soifon looked down, surprised to see a cat with fur as black as the night, mewling at her feet. "Here, kitty," she whispered, "Now where did you come from? Are you going to accompany me tonight?"
Soifon bent down gently to pat the cat, surprised that it did not run away. She picked it up and looked at it and smiled. The cat stared back at her unblinkingly. Silly cat. You look at me just like how Yoruichi-sama does. Soifon shook her head and laughed at her foolish fancy. She cuddled the cat and put it down. "You better go home. Someone out there is missing you, you know? They might be out looking for you! Shoo, kitty."
She made to chase the cat away, but it curled up on the floor and ignored her. Soifon shrugged and sat in bed, reciting the same words she recited every night. "I, Soifon, will give my blood and soul to safeguard the wellbeing of Yo- hey, hey! What're you doing?" The cat had suddenly jumped into her lap and snuggled there. "You're not going away, are you?"
The cat's eyes were shut already in a fierce and determined sleep. Slightly incredulous, Soifon poked at it but it did not respond. "I guess you can be my friend for tonight, kitty." She stroked the black fur on the cat's head and after awhile, she fell asleep as well.