La Misma Noche
Soifon stared at the scaled-down model of Karakura Town with fascination. Most of the buildings were foreign to her as she had rarely ventured into the real world, but the Urahara Shop was one of the few spots she could recognize. Someone – whether Nemu, Mayuri or Urahara himself – had created a smiling miniature of the shopkeeper standing in front of the shop, hat on head and fan in hand. "This is amazing, Nemu!" praised Yoruichi, and Nemu blushed, proud of her work as well.
"I also had Matusumoto fukutaicho bring back some toy models of ninjas from the real world," said Nemu, as she produced a large plastic box from a cupboard. "I thought that Soifon taichou and Yoruichi-dono could use these as you plan the security strategies for the Onmitsukido. Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to Mayuri-sama." Soifon nodded and took the box from Nemu. She opened the box and found miniature ninjas clad in black, just like the keigun. Within a few minutes, she had grouped the figurines into units and was mentally drawing up patrol circuits as well as guard stations.
Perhaps two units here, two units there… how long would it take for the keigun to cover one spirit-mile? We had best be on guard in case hollows somehow make their way into the Rukongai. I'll need an outpost to liaise with the Onmitsukido within Seireitei. I should ask Ukitake about setting up a communications channel within Karakura Town when the swap has been made…
She laid out the troop units on the scale model and stepped back to survey her handiwork. "What do you think, Yoruichi-sama? Would this configuration work?" Yoruichi stepped over and examined the layout. She adjusted some groupings – "This area of town is more populated than that area, so we'll need more regular patrols here…the kids won't be in school so we have no need to patrol that area…" – and frowned. Something was still missing. "I know!" she exclaimed, whipping out a small figurine of a black cat, which she perched on the rooftop of the Urahara shop. Yoruichi looked at Soifon and grinned in satisfaction.
Soifon looked at the Urahara shop, with its black cat guard and grinning shopkeeper, and her heart clenched at the disproportionate weight that could fall on them if she and the Gotei 13 captains should fail. 'Yo… Yoruichi-sama… you will be careful won't you? If they should come to Karakura Town…"
Yoruichi dropped her grin, and looked intently at Soifon instead. "They won't make it here, because the Gotei 13 will stop them. I will be careful, but I know I won't need to worry too much. I know you will be in the real world protecting me, Soifon."
The golden eyes bore down on Soifon and the echoes of a hundred years past resounded.
Yes, it's a promise…