Piercing (Muddled Clarity)
Tenteikura. This is 4th Squad Vice-Captain Isane Kotetsu speaking. Everything I am about to say is all true…
Soifon looked up and listened intently, knowing that Yoruichi would be hearing the message as the ryoka had been included in the transmission.
Treason… Aizen… but this means… this surely means that Yoruichi-sama and Urahara are exonerated. They have not betrayed Soul Society! It was Aizen all along…
She clenched her fists in anger, recalling the cold look that Aizen had given her when she was hauled to the Captain Commander' office. He framed Urahara and caused Yoruichi-sama to be disgraced… He did not despise me for my association with Yoruichi-sama. He despised me for being a fool, a pawn in his game, along with all the other captains and vice-captains.
She turned to Yoruichi who nodded. They had much to say to each other, but it would have to wait until they had dealt with the threat.
They headed towards Sokyoku, and Soifon fell slightly behind Yoruichi in pace, not because she could not keep up, but by force of habit. They paused on a cliff overlooking the Sokyoku, surveying their best course of action.
"Byakuya!" muttered Yoruichi, seeing Gin's zanpakuto embedded in his side, cradling Rukia protectively. Soifon was shocked at his bloodstained haori. Kuchiki taichou. You did not fight against her execution then but you are giving up your life to protect her now…She shook her head. "Yoruichi-sama, perhaps one on the left and the other on the right…"
Yoruichi nodded, understanding perfectly what Soifon meant. Within three steps, both women were next to Aizen, Yoruichi in position to attack him from the right, and Soifon with her zanpakuto at his neck.
"You are completely surrounded, Aizen. Give up."
"Oh… what a nostalgic face." Aizen remained inordinately calm, even smiling ever so slightly. "How have you been these hundred years?"
"Enough with the talk. Can't you sense you are surrounded?"
"Ah… I am sorry to disappoint you… but it is time." Yoruichi's eyes narrowed, wondering what he meant. "Soifon! Back!" The younger woman somersaulted away unquestioningly.
They retreated just in time as the heavens were torn open by a horde of Gillians. A negacion beam flared downwards, extracting Aizen, Gin and Tosen to safety.
The Sokyoku then became a blur of activity. The medical officers of the 4th Squad had arrived, tending to everyone's wounds. The ryoka… new faces, blood… the Kuchiki clan, one pale-faced and worried, the other bleeding… Yoruichi greeting Yamamoto… I don't understand.
Overwhelmed at the compression of a hundred years of pain into that short space of the past half an hour, which she could barely process, Soifon's thoughts and emotions flooded her heart and mind. No more… no more…
She wanted to run away, but forced herself to stay. There was work to be done. She needed to see that her injured subordinates were tended to. Security had to be reviewed in light of the murder of the Central 46 Chambers. She would need to reassign some members of the Onmitsukido to the Patrol Corps to help secure Seiretei, in case Aizen and his minions returned.
She returned to her own room late at night after dismissing her guards. She stretched, her muscles stiff from the day's exertions. I'll have to get a new haori. She pulled one out from her cupboard.
"Soifon." She recognized the voice that had emerged from the shadows, but refused to turn around.
"What do you want." Soifon thought back to her outburst this afternoon, ashamed that she could still be so affected after all these years. She stared at the corner of her wardrobe and tugged at the haori absentmindedly.
"Why don't you tell me what you want?"
"I have no idea. Why don't you tell me. You always know what I should do." Her words were mockingly bitter. "I will tell you what I do not want. I do not want to be captain. Take this." She flung the robe at Yoruichi. "I did not ask to be captain. I did not ask to be in charge of the Onmitsukido or the keigun. I did not ask to be saddled with your responsibilities or pick up your pieces, Yoruichi-sama."
Yoruichi flinched, but steeled herself. "I will not take this haori, Soifon."
"Oh yes, how could I have forgotten. It is too restrictive for you."
Yoruichi ignored the sarcasm "I did not mean it that way. You have earned it. You have proved yourself to be strong and capable and worthy of these titles." She paused to take a deep breath. "You think that I abandoned my duties and responsibilities, don't you?"
As well as your promises and your friends, Yoruichi-sama. Or rather, you abandoned me. You showed concern for Urahara and abandoned me. I… I do not know what to say.
"Will you believe me if I said that I was actually carrying out my duties? Will you believe me if I said that were there any other way, I would have chosen differently?"
I want to believe you but I do not know how to anymore. Help me believe you.
"Will you believe me if I said that I did return to say goodbye?"
Soifon's mind flashed back to the black cat, perched on Yoruichi's seat that fateful night. Softly and haltingly, she muttered "That… that I believe."