What Goes Around

Somewhere in a corner in Seiretei, a man crouched low against the wall. His eyes were closed in concentration until he suddenly smiled, as though the moment he had been waiting for had come.

"Do it, Rizu."

He snickered as his compatriot, fluttering some distance away, carried out his work invisibly. Well done, my man. I have never seen a finer aim with a bitto dart – will you get praise from your commander for this? Or should I say well done, Rizu? Yes yes, I know it was your work and not really his. How quick you were and how good your aim was. Oh they've got us… leave him, he's of no use anymore, but don't forget to take what you can of his soul. Oh there's a second one for you – yes, get him to swing that little sword, perhaps a punch! Ah! Yes! That's the way to go, Rizu. So many of them… oh what fun! Mabashi, you are brilliant. Those Shinigami fools will never know what hit them. And you will play them, once against the other, until they all bow down to you. You run the show.

So many more to play with… what shall I do with you now, Rizu? Oh here we have a whole company of Shinigami. Let's fight! Ooh they have someone powerful with them… and it seems they have cottoned on to your presence, my little doll. They aren't fighting to kill. What, you don't like the big man with the doggy face? I won't like him too then. They may not be fighting to kill but we are – up, up with those swords, Rizu, and down down down they come! That redhaired man with the tattoos is annoying isn't here? Don't fret my dear, this group may be out but we have more to come… so many more to play with… you and I are strong here in this place. There are more of us then them. We have many hiding places here, and I promise you we won't leave until we have razed these buildings to the ground… Wait… what's this reiatsu I sense…

He whipped around and saw a small-built woman stripping off her white haori and yellow sash. She leant against one of the pillars, her right arm clutching her left shoulder where a wound was evident. He stepped out of his hiding place nonchalantly. "Ah, I came to see whose reiatsu this was… you are captain-class aren't you?" He grinned, evidently pleased with his find. "And you've got Bitto's poison running through you, haven't you?" Another snicker escaped.

Soifon looked squarely at Mabashi. "Was that your doing?"

"My… well don't you know what happens? The bitto harvests your soul when it hits you. It then injects a poison and your living soul will begin to rot. Then the fun begins!"

What the… Soifon was shocked at the Bount's revelation of what the Bitto's poison was doing to her, but she refused to let her fear show, and she looked Mabashi in the eye instead. He shrugged carelessly. "Looking at me like that isn't going to change anything." The poison hit Soifon in a wave, causing her to crumple to the floor. I… I have to kill him… kill this puppetmaster and end this and save the others…

With a shout of determination, Soifon propelled herself upwards and was fighting Mabashi with hakuda. They were evenly matched and after a few rounds, Soifon found herself crouched in a defensive position on the ground, panting from the exertion of the fight. Too slow, Soifon! Too weak! The poison… I cannot fight as well in this state…

Mabashi's mocking laughter rang out. "Ah your standard is just as I expected! But you know, the more you move, the faster the poison will spread."

No time left, thought Soifon, I must end this quickly. In which case…

In a flash, she was behind Mabashi in the classic assassination position – one arm holding him in place, the other wielding her zanpakuto to his neck. "Jinteki Shakusetsu, Suzumebachi." A dangerous buzz sounded in Mabashi's ears, and his eyes widened in fear. Two strikes now… I… Soifon could not complete her move and crumpled to the floor in pain. Mabashi took the opportunity to flee. Soifon gritted her teeth to overcome the burning sensation coursing through her body and hit him while he was unguarded. The effort was extremely severe but when she fell back on the ground, she saw the homonka appearing across his torso.

"You bitch!" Mabashi's eyes narrowed from the throbbing pain at his sternum where Suzumebachi had pierced him. "A homonka eh? I know a second strike will kill me but too bad for you, time's up! You're about to die… and I think I'll go watch you die from a safe distance. Haha! Have a nice death, fool!"

"Why you…" but he was no longer there. Soifon's breathing grew shallower and her vision blurred. Her heart began pounding in her ears, drowning out her senses.

My… my troops… I… can't see… the pain… what shall I do? To think that I am so weak… I…

What shall I do, Yoruichi-sama?

Flashes of her childhood, her training came to mind. Seeing Yoruichi for the first time. Entering the keigun. Her training. That night in the sakura grove. Keigun… the training… Yoruichi-sama…

With her remaining strength, she flexed her right hand, and the pointed blade of Suzumebachi beckoned. I… I see now…

A sharp cry rang out as Soifon pierced herself with Suzumebachi. An indescribable pain filled her, as she had never been on the receiving end of her own zanpakuto before.

Soifon's last thoughts before blacking out were of the homonka that scarred the sakura trees and Yoruichi's face and body… I am sorry…