Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Bleach, and I don't think anybody would want me to.
Soi Fon was a busy woman. That was the consequence of being a captain in the Gotei 13, though unlike many of her colleagues, up to and including her new commander, she took all of her duties seriously. Yes, even through the endless stream of documents and meetings, and despite her own aversion to the tedium, it was something Yoruichi found endearing about her little bee.
Now though, it was the reason she was pouting.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Urahara grinned and poured out a second cup of tea for himself.
Yoruichi just sighed.
"Come on," Urahara took a sip. "You're going to hurt my feelings, Yoruichi, if you keep ignoring me. I even brought out Tessai's finest for today."
Yoruichi glared at her best friend.
"There we go," Kisuke cooed. "Let me guess then… Ah, it must be about your little bee, hm?"
Yoruichi huffed and finally lifted her cup of tea to her mouth. "Maybe."
"Hmm," Kisuke scratched his chin. He'd probably have to shave soon. It didn't fit his image to have a full beard. He knew it was a mistake to implement accurate hair growth into his gigai, but he had wanted to try it out anyway. "What's the matter? Did you two get into a little lovers' spat?" It wouldn't have surprised him either. The two were certainly the most prideful people he knew. Well, with one major exception, but Aizen was probably enjoying his holiday just fine in his own company anyway.
"It's not that," Yoruichi groaned and blew on her cup. Even after waiting for so long, it was still too hot for her. Sometimes, she hated being part cat. It made her too sensitive. "She's just busy."
"Ah, paperwork, yes," Kisuke nodded sagely. "One of the many benefits to being unemployed. We don't have to deal with that anymore. Oh," he paused. "But I guess she's never been one to shirk her duties."
"Yeah," Yoruichi sulked.
"Well then, it can't take her too long. Just wait a couple of days and she'll be free." Kisuke's advice didn't seem to have the intended effect however. "What?" He set his tea cup down.
"You know what." Yoruichi tried sipping the tea again, grimacing from the heat.
"Hm? Oh!" Kisuke smacked his fist into his other palm. "The holidays." He grinned. "Ah, to be young again. Isn't it so romantic to share Christmas and New Year's Eve with your lover?"
If looks could kill…
"Relax, relax!" Kisuke laughed and waved Yoruichi's glare away. "C'mon, you're Yoruichi Shihouin. Do you really think little Ms. Fon is not going to pay attention to you? Just ask her out already!"
Soi Fon stared in disbelief at the pile in front of her. "You're joking," she breathed.
"Unfortunately, I am not, Captain Fon. I would greatly appreciate your cooperation in dealing with these things professionally." Byakuya Kuchiki shook his head and stepped back out of potential cutting range from his colleague's zanpakuto. Not that he was afraid of the woman. Goodness, who would believe something like that? He had trained under the royal guard! There was no way he was scared of a small Chinese woman who could stab him twice and kill him just like that or summon a nuke on top of both of them. Of course not. And of course, she had no reason to do either of those things. They were friends after all. Or at least the closest thing he could call to friendship. Respect was more like it. Yes, he respected the second division's captain. And her immense capacity to act violently.
As if to prove him right, said woman rocketed to her feet, chair clattering behind her. Byakuya Kuchiki had to remind himself not to flinch. "You can't do this! This is your paperwork!" Soi Fon slammed her palm onto the stack of forms.
"I'm merely asking you for a favor, Captain Fon. You know that winter holidays are coming up, and I wish to spend the majority of it hosting my sister and brother-in-law." Byakuya Kuchiki didn't beg. No, he was much more refined than that, but given that the end of year festivities always generated an onerous amount of bookkeeping and the fact that the second division captain had always been on top of both her and her lieutenant's work, there was no one more suitable to taking up the extra administrative burden than the head of the stealth corp.
Said officer stiffened and redirected her anger towards the stack of papers. "You mean this is Abarai's portion too?!" Soi Fon started rifling through the pile, still careful not to throw the papers away as she passed them. She didn't want to have to help pick them up after all this nonsense. "Are you insane? I already have to deal with Omaeda's forms, what made you think I wanted to double my workload?!"
Kuchiki coughed, clearing his throat. "As I said, Captain Fon, I would deeply appreciate your cooperation-"
"Is this because they just got married?" Soi Fon rounded on Byakuya. "For crying out loud, Kuchiki, they are adults! You don't need to watch over them like they're going to cut their heads off!"
"All the same-"
"I have my own holiday plans, Byakuya!" Soi Fon fumed. That was the whole reason she had locked herself in her office for the past few days. Her sense of duty would never allow her to relax knowing there were unresolved matters waiting on her, so she had been trying to clean out her inbox.
"I'm sorry, but the Captain-Commander and I have already-" Byakuya cut himself off.
"You what," Soi Fon hissed.
"Wedecidedthatyouwouldbethebestpersonforoverseeingthenewyear'sfestivitiesinmystead," Byakuya rushed.
Soi Fon swore. "Since when did that drunk get so serious about paperwork?!"
Byakuya kept his mouth shut this time.
"Get out of my office." Soi Fon seethed. Those scheming little cowards… She had already had her turn organizing the winter festivities four years ago! But if Kyouraku had ordered it, there was no way to refuse… The damn drunk probably only cared because it was about hosting the end of year party.
"Again, I'm so sorry-"
"GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!"
Soi Fon was in a bad mood. That much Yoruichi could tell just by walking up to the second division barracks from the senkaimon. The place was deserted, not just empty in the way that her successor liked to run the division with its heavy integration into the stealth force, but a straight up ghost town. That meant one of two things: either Soi Fon had ordered an immediate evacuation or everyone else had decided to evacuate for their own safety. Given the spiritual pressure bearing down on the barracks, Yoruichi figured it was the latter, so it was with some trepidation that she knocked on Soi Fon's door.
Immediately, the spiritual pressure around her sharpened. Yoruichi winced and pushed back with her own reiatsu. "Uh, Soi?"
Then, as oppressively and all encompassing as it had been, the Soi Fon's reiatsu reeled itself in, leaving Yoruichi winded and light headed. She leaned on the door frame for a second to catch her breath then gently slid the door open.
"My apologies, Lady Yoruichi. I know it's no excuse, but I've been having a rough day…" Yoruichi couldn't even see Soi Fon over the mountains of paperwork that crowded her desk.
"What the…" Yoruichi's voice trailed as she wound her way through the loose forms covering the floor, ostensibly thrown there in a rare fit of rage. "Soi Fon, what happened?" She finally made it behind the desk. Practically collapsed on top of it was a very tiny, tired captain.
"My so-called allies happened," Soi Fon grumbled. Slowly, she picked herself off of her desk and rolled her head over to look at Yoruichi. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you though." She wrapped her arms around Yoruichi's neck and pulled her in so gradually it was almost luxurious, except for the waves of exhaustion that were rolling over her. "Mh, I needed that," Soi Fon breathed as she pulled away from their kiss.
"God," Yoruichi snorted. She couldn't help herself. "You look terrible." Of course, Yoruichi still thought her little bee was the most beautiful woman in the world, but she wasn't about to ignore reality just because she was a romantic. The woman was clearly dehydrated, and black bags sagged around her eyes.
"Tell me something I don't know," Soi Fon chuckled and pulled her girlfriend in for another kiss. "God, I wish I didn't have to do these."
"You don't." Yoruichi cast a glance back at the forms scattered around her desk. "Your lieutenant doesn't."
"Can't," Soi Fon muttered and slouched back into her chair. "Commander's orders. The buck stops with me unfortunately."
"That bastard?" Yoruichi scowled, hugging Soi Fon closer to her. "To hell with him."
Soi Fon giggled. "I wish I could. Being exiled sounds really good right about now."
Yoruichi quirked an eyebrow and grinned. "Well, why not?" She whispered into Soi Fon's ear. "I certainly wouldn't mind having you back in my life full time again."
"Winter festival," Soi Fon groaned. "It's not just about Kyouraku, I have to organize it for everyone." She leaned into Yoruichi's neck. "Sorry, babe."
"Hmph," Yoruichi pouted. "At least take a break?"
"That sounds nice…" Soi Fon murmured. "But… the sooner I get done with these, the sooner I get off work, and the sooner we can enjoy new years," she sighed.
"Workaholic," Yoruichi kissed Soi Fon's cheek and pulled back. "How long's that going to take you?"
"Too long," Soi Fon grinned in spite of herself. "But I wouldn't mind having you to keep me company."
"Hm? Really?" Yoruichi waltzed behind Soi Fon's chair and draped herself over Soi Fon's shoulders. "Not worried I'll be too distracting?" she whispered in the captain's ear. Her hands trailed down, brushing Soi Fon's abdomen.
Soi Fon shivered. "On second thought…"
Yoruichi chuckled. "Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily." She settled her chin into the crook of Soi Fon's neck. "Besides, I'm not leaving you here to collapse over some dusty forms." Soi Fon's reply caught in her throat as Yoruichi bit the edge of her ear. "Not when we've got better things to do."
"I-if you're going to be crawling all over me, a-at least change into your cat form!" Soi Fon stuttered. "I'm serious! I have to get these done!"
"Oh?" Yoruichi giggled. "I had no idea you wanted me to get naked so quickly."
"You've got fur, haven't you?!" Soi Fon squeaked and shoved Yoruichi's face away.
"Alright, alright." Yoruichi picked herself up off of her girlfriend and shifted, slowly padding her way onto Soi Fon's lap. "That better, princess?"
Soi Fon blushed and ran her hand over Yoruichi's back. "Thank you."
"You can thank me by giving yourself a real vacation after all this nonsense." Yoruichi rolled over, pawing Soi Fon's fingers.
"I'll have Kuchiki take my portion after new years," Soi Fon grumbled. "Serves him right."
"Hah? You let her stop you, just like that?" Kuukaku gave Yoruichi another once over. "Man, she really has changed you."
Yoruichi shrugged and placed her cup out for another refill before digging back into her ramen. "I didn't feel like pushing her when she was that tired already."
"Hm," Kuukaku gave the cat woman another appraisal. "You sure you didn't just feel guilty after that whole hundred year departure thing?"
"Maybe," Yoruichi admitted. "But I made her promise to take me through the festival. She owes me that at least."
"Still the spoiled brat I see." Kuukaku raised her eyebrow and her glass.
"That's rich coming from you," Yoruichi grinned.
"Bitch, I live in a rundown house outside the Seireitei. I think I can spare a few snide remarks."
"And I'm slumming in the living world, bitch," Yoruichi elbowed the other woman and laughed. "So, what are your plans for the holiday?"
Kuukaku nearly spit out her sake. "Huh? She didn't tell you?" She stared at the other disgraced noble. "Oh, I get it." Kuukaku smirked. "You'll just have to wait like everyone else."
"Oh really."
"Really." Kuukaku nodded. "I promise on your future wife's head that it'll be good."
"Now, what have you been planning behind my back?" Yoruichi chuckled in Soi Fon's ear.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Soi Fon grinned and nuzzled Yoruichi's cheek with her own. The two of them were currently parked on a sofa halfway across the living world and enjoying Christmas Eve by the fire. Soi Fon made a mental note to have a bottle of fine sake delivered to Urahara with a handwritten thank you note. They still didn't quite see eye-to-eye, but the man had been nothing but supportive of her relationship with Yoruichi. "Please, take her. She's been whining about you ever since we left the first time, and she nearly trashed my place when she found out you lost your arm while I was prepping her leg armor for the fight with Aizen."
"My, my. When did my straight-laced bee get so mischievous?" Yoruichi hugged Soi Fon closer. "What else have you been hiding from me, little bee?"
Soi Fon giggled. "Who knows? Maybe I had to kill someone to get Christmas off." She shook her head. "Or maybe I've got a special Christmas present for you."
"Hmm." Yoruichi smirked. "I think I've got a pretty beautiful present in my arms right now."
"Not going to question a potential murder?"
Yoruichi shrugged. "If it means I get to spend Christmas Eve with you, who cares?"
Soi Fon smiled. "Then I'm glad I didn't because now I know you would have."
"What can I say? I'm a princess." Yoruichi shrugged. Of course she wouldn't have gone on a rampage through the second division if Soi Fon had to work tonight. Maybe. Probably. At least now that she knew how protective the Chinese woman was of her squad. Nobody would have guessed that based on how she trained them or treated her lieutenant.
"Yes, but you're my princess." Soi Fon cupped Yoruichi's cheek and kissed her.
Yoruichi blushed. And of course, that protectiveness extended to her too. Soi Fon wasn't part of her personal guard anymore. Yoruichi didn't even have a personal guard anymore, not that she had ever needed them, but it was nice to know Soi Fon was still so committed.
"So… I've been thinking about the time we didn't get to spend in my office that day…" Soi Fon's voice trailed down Yoruichi's neck, until she came to a rest on top of the Shihouin heir's chest.
Yoruichi gulped. She could flirt with Soi Fon all she wanted, but damn, if her protege wasn't a fast study. Her heart already felt like it was ready to punch a hole through her ribcage.
"And it would be such a waste not to indulge a little when I've got tomorrow off…" Soi Fon grinned. "How about it?"
Yoruichi couldn't have nodded faster.
"You look pleased with yourself," Kisuke noted as the senkaimon closed behind Soi Fon, leaving the two of them standing alone outside Urahara Shoten. "I take it something good happened?"
Yoruichi hummed her reply.
"That good, huh? I guess it's true what they say about waiting. You must have been really pent up." Kisuke winced as his best friend punched his arm. "What? Just stating the obvious," he grinned. "Besides, after all that, I'm sure you're looking to one up her."
"You make it sound like it's a competition."
Kisuke whistled and opened the door back inside. "Everything's a competition with you, Yoruichi, especially when it comes to Soi Fon."
Yoruichi slipped in and shut the door behind her. "Is that so? I think I've mellowed out quite a bit actually."
"Well, only the best for your little bee, right?" Kisuke chuckled. "Hey, don't worry. You've got New Years. I'm sure you've got something tucked away in the family manor that'll wow her."
Yoruichi sighed. "I think she'll be too busy running the festival to pay much attention." She tucked a stray bang behind her ear. "Besides, even if we meet up, she'll probably be losing her head until the fireworks."
"Oh, Yoruichi, master of stealth and grandeur," Kisuke mocked. "I think it's high time you learned the humbler art of distraction."
"Sho!" Soi Fon blasted another path through the snow, clearing the way to her office. It was times like these that she wished she had a more useful zanpakuto ability.
"Well, sorry," Suzumebachi hissed in her mind.
Soi Fon rolled her eyes and cast another Sho to make some more room around the door. "It's not like I don't appreciate you, I just don't think poison or a nuke are going to help me clear all this snow." Yamamoto's or even Hitsugaya's zan would have been much more useful at the moment.
"I gave you the tools you asked for! I don't know what else you could want," her zanpakuto grumbled. "You'll just have to manage like you do in the rest of your life."
"Thanks," Soi Fon grumbled back as she opened the door to her office. Of course, her zanpakuto wasn't wrong. She'd have to make do like a normal person with everything that wasn't combat, and that included the mountains of paperwork still lying on her desk. "Yay…"
Soi Fon wondered which piles of white stuff were more infuriating, the forms or the snow.
Yuushiro Shihouin was not expecting his older sister to turn up a few days before the New Year. For one, she rarely came home as it was, and for another, New Year's was just about the busiest time for the noble families. It was impossible to think that someone like his sister wanted to get even minorly tangled in all the bureaucracy right now. "Sis?"
"Hey, kid." Yoruichi flashed her signature grin and patted her brother on the head. "How've you been?"
"Uh…" Yuushiro trailed behind his sister as she waltzed past him. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm thinking about picking up a few things Kisuke reminded me of," Yoruichi called back. "Have they gone through my rooms since the last time I've been here?" She turned the corner, not bothering to check if her brother was still following her.
"I think so?" Yuushiro paused to search through his head. "Hey, wait up!" By the time he caught up with her, she was already half-buried in one of her closets. "What are you even looking for?"
"Clothes," Yoruichi replied, holding up a dress to herself and turning so Yuushiro could see. "What do you think?"
"Uh, it's nice?"
"Then I can do better." Yoruichi went back to rummaging through the closet.
"May I ask why you're suddenly so into clothes? You never seemed to care about that sort of thing before." Yuushiro started picking up some of Yoruichi's discarded options and putting them back on their hangers. In fact, he had always assumed that his sister only put up with the ceremonial dresses because she had too. Before she had been exiled, he had almost always seen her in her stealth corp uniform or with her white haori on. Of course even then, everyone was always preening over how beautiful his sister was, something that still made Yuushiro roll his eyes, but fashion had never been at the top of her priorities.
"I want to look good for someone, obviously," Yoruichi stuck her head out of the closet and gave her brother the "duh" face. "Don't tell me you haven't done the same. I hear about you plenty from Kisuke. What's this about a certain young man you've been entertaining since fall?"
Yuushiro pouted. "Eika has nothing to do with this!"
"Uh huh, and have you told him how you used to go around the districts acting all cute to attract escorts?"
"Th-that's neither here nor there!" The younger Shihouin crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Besides, it's not like you're any better, sis! I bet this date you're going on is just some rich, noble hot shot you're taking for a fling. If you were really serious about him, you wouldn't be worrying about whether or not you were all dolled up!"
"Wrong and wrong." Yoruichi stepped out with a new dress and held it up against her body. "What do you think?" It was a deep purple kimono, embroidered with lilac butterflies. "Anyway, she is about as far from actual nobility as you can get, and I'll have you know I'm serious about her."
"And who would that be?" Yuushiro stuck his nose in the air. "I hope you're not settling for some lower class woman just because you've gotten used to the living world! My sister deserves better than that."
"I'm settling for someone who's been giving you gift money since you could flash step, bro," Yoruichi flashed a smile at her brother's stunned face. "And I hope you're a lot more polite with her in the room than when you're talking about her to me."
"W-wha?" Yuushiro stumbled. "You can't be serious! Auntie Soi Fon!-"
"You better get ready to call her 'big sis Soi Fon' from now on," Yoruichi teased.
"That's not possible!" Yuushiro stamped his feet. "I can't believe she's willing to forgive you just like that! Do you know what kind of state she was in after you left!"
Yoruichi froze, then she walked right up to her brother and flicked his forehead. "Of course I do, twerp. It's almost been a decade since I got my exile lifted, you think I'd waste all that time not trying to make it up to her?"
"Ah!" Yuushiro covered his forehead. "Hey!"
Yoruichi shrugged. "Just wanted to make that clear."
"Crystal," Yuushiro huffed.
"Good, now tell me how this one looks."
"Great, Chiaki. Get those straight to the eighth aisle, they'll need the reserves soon. Terasu, what the hell are you doing with those medaka?!" Soi Fon's head snapped around to see her seventh seat fumbling with a large tub of water and fish. Everything was complete chaos, which really was about par for the course considering the New Year's festival was the largest event in Soul Society every year, but that didn't make her any less stressed. At least Captains Kotetsu and Kuchiki (the nice one) were managing a few of the other sections of the fair, the latter probably out of a sense of misplaced guilt.
The older brother on the other hand was nowhere to be seen. Soi Fon was sure he was around somewhere, but she didn't have the mental bandwidth to scout him out. She wasn't sure if she would just lose it either if she caught him.
"Preston, report on the batter supply for the takoyaki stands! Zhao, how are the preparations for the auction?" The Chinese captain flash stepped between each of her subordinates, quickly scanning with clipboards and dashing to the next reporter. "And where the hell is Omaeda?!"
"Here, Captain!" The fat man appeared behind Soi Fon.
"Have you confirmed the stage decorations?" Soi Fon didn't miss a beat, already banging open a full cash box and emptying it onto a counter's desk.
"Yes!"
Soi Fon nodded. "Good, go check on the food stalls and do quality inspection."
"Captain?" Her lieutenant seemed dumbfounded.
"Happy New Year," Soi Fon grinned. "And one sample per stall, you hear me?" She grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and yanked.
"Aye, aye!" Omaeda hastily freed himself and sped off.
Soi Fon sighed and flash stepped back to one of the information stands they had set up for directions. There were about forty minutes until the charity auction, then as soon as that ended, the fireworks show would start. She needed to get to the Shiba's staging and double check if they needed anything before-
"Someone looks busy." Soi Fon's breath caught as someone slipped their hand around her wrist. "How about a quick break?"
Soi Fon sighed. "Yorui-" She stopped.
"Like what you see?" Yoruichi smirked and tugged on Soi Fon's arm, spinning her around fully to grasp her waist.
Soi Fon blushed. "I-I…" It wouldn't have taken much for Yoruichi to leave her speechless. Half the time she thought about them, it amazed her that her goddess had chosen to come back in the first place, but tonight, Yoruichi had gone all out. For her, Soi Fon realized, flushing even more.
"What's that?" Yoruichi's grin widened. "Cat got your tongue?"
Soi Fon chuckled. "Dork," and leaned in to kiss her.
"Worth it," Yoruichi stuck out her tongue afterwards, looking self-satisfied.
"Where did you even get these?" Soi Fon took a step back to take in Yoruichi's appearance again. Her girlfriend was dressed in a silk kimono dyed royal blue. Golden thread ran throughout the dress, dancing in floral patterns. Soi Fon could spot at least a dozen peonies and chrysanthemums. Meanwhile, the former Shihouin head's hair was done up in a bun, loosely secured by the golden ornament peeking out from behind her ears.
Yoruichi shrugged, at odds with the regal look of the dress. Power suited her, but authority and ceremony not so much. "I pulled in a favor." She traced her fingers around her lover's lips, pleased with the lingering hue of her own lipstick on Soi Fon's mouth. "Yuushiro helped put all this on." Including her makeup. It had been years since she had thought of anything as frivolous as cosmetics, but she was willing to go to any length tonight to get Soi Fon's attention away from the festival for her own good.
Soi Fon blinked. "Yuushiro? You went back home?"
"Only the best for my little bee," Yoruichi chuckled. "So, got a little time to spare with me?"
Soi Fon bit her lip. "I'd love to…"
"But?"
Soi Fon turned and gestured helplessly to their surroundings. "It's a madhouse here. I've got to keep an eye on things until the auction at least."
"Mm," Yoruichi kept her smile. "I think you need to stop worrying so much, bee." She squeezed the captain's side, causing Soi Fon to squirm and focus back on her. Yoruichi let out a dark chuckle. It was a little cruel, but it amused her to no end that Soi Fon of all people was ticklish. "Besides, it would be such a shame to not enjoy the New Year when you've spent so much time working on it already."
Soi Fon scowled. "That's dirty, using my own words against me."
"And what's the first rule of combat with the Onmitsukido?" Yoruichi raised her eyebrow smirking. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to play fair, especially when there's a prize I really want."
"Have you no pride?"
"Not when it comes to you…" Yoruichi whispered. It was only half-bitter this time. The ways she had mistreated Soi Fon were something she could never take comfort in having done, but the woman herself was nothing short of everything Yoruichi valued, loyal, strong, and deeply caring despite her own misgivings, and the fact that she had played even a twisted role in helping Soi Fon become the woman she was today, was Yoruichi's greatest achievement. She was trying to focus on that second half more. "So?"
Soi Fon glanced back at the festival. "And here I was hoping that I could catch you for the fireworks instead." She turned back and wrapped her arms around Yoruichi's neck. "You know, you are a terrible influence."
"A terrible influence," Soi Fon repeated as she paid for Yoruichi's yakitori skewers. She couldn't believe that she was the one paying for everything, though maybe she should have seen it coming. Living in the mortal world as a cat wasn't going to earn her a decent income in the Soul Society.
"Thank you," Yoruichi cooed and bit into one, sliding the meat off the stick and flicking it into her mouth.
"Yeah, yeah," Soi Fon smiled faintly, "Happy New Year. I hope you didn't drag me out here just so you wouldn't go hungry."
Yoruichi sidled up next to Soi Fon and interlaced their fingers. "You know they're for you too." She lifted the skewer for Soi Fon.
"This is demeaning."
"I think it's cute," Yoruichi grinned.
"Jerk," Soi Fon screwed up her face and pulled the rest of the grilled chicken off with her teeth. "You can hand me the skewer next time, babe."
"Aww," Yoruichi planted a kiss on Soi Fon's cheek. "But I like being able to feed my girlfriend." She passed the second skewer over and nuzzled Soi Fon.
"I can feed myself," Soi Fon blushed, squeezing the cat woman's hand. "Besides, people are staring." She glanced around the rest of the food stalls. It wasn't like she was trying to hide her relationship from the rest of the Soul Society, but it wasn't like it needed to be everybody's business.
"They're just jealous that I've got the most beautiful woman on my arm."
"I don't think they're looking at that…" Soi Fon grumbled.
"Hm? Why not? I can't keep my eyes off of you."
"Yoruichi!"
The Shihouin princess laughed. "Alright, alright. How about somewhere more private then?" She finished off the last skewer and threw the remaining stick into a nearby trash can. "It's almost time for the fireworks anyway."
Soi Fon's head snapped to attention. "Already?"
"Yeah," Yoruichi giggled. "What do you mean already? Didn't you plan this whole thing?"
"No, I mean, uh," Soi Fon stumbled. "Ugh, come on. There's somewhere I want to show you before then!"
Yoruichi felt a sharp tug on her arm as Soi Fon started flash stepping slowly, making sure she got her own footing under her before she properly accelerated. "Hey," she grinned. "Who do you think you're worrying about? You didn't think these clothes would slow me down would you?" She kicked up her feet and launched past her protege. "Come on, you're going to have to try harder if you want to lead me around."
Soi Fon grinned. Game on, she seemed to say as she matched her former mentor's every step.
The pair of them raced through the night, winter air scalding as the darkness flew before them. Yoruichi turned around to smirked at Soi Fon, only for the Chinese woman to rocket past her with an equally smug smirk painted across her face.
They were alive, and no one else could match the way they danced in the air. Small shoves and nudges so gentle that only the most agile and precise experts could make them teasing instead of devastating attacks.
Yoruichi laughed as they chased each other far from the fair grounds and light. The stars blurred and suddenly, Soi Fon scooped her up in her arms. "Look who's getting handsy now," Yoruichi grinned into the hold.
"You're moving too much," Soi Fon chuckled. "And I want to get there before the fireworks start."
Yoruichi cupped her cheek and kissed it. "Then lead on, my brave knight."
Soi Fon rolled her eyes and flash stepped at full speed, neatly landing on the side of a hill, well outside the bounds of the Seireitei. "Here we are." She gently set Yoruichi back on her feet and grinned.
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Okay, now I'm really curious what you've got planned." Despite the hill having a clear view of the night sky, Yoruichi couldn't find a single thing that was particularly noteworthy about their landing spot.
"Don't worry," Soi Fon grinned. "Just be patient for a little bit."
"Well, I hope I don't have to wait too long. It's going to be a little cold if we stay out here all night," she chuckled and loosened her kimono. It had already gotten a little disheveled on their race over, and now that they were out of the food stalls and crowds, the evening had cooled down significantly. If Yoruichi was going to have to wait in the cold, she'd at least have her own fun teasing her girlfriend.
Soi Fon quickly averted her eyes.
"Hm? Not interested?" Yoruichi purred and crossed her arms around Soi Fon's stomach from behind.
"Lady Yoruichi, please!" The captain tightened.
"Oh, using titles? And I thought I was the cold one," Yoruichi's voice dripped silken into Soi Fon's ear. "You know there's nobody around except us, little bee."
"Yoruichi!" Soi Fon stammered and carefully slipped out of her lover's grasp.
"You're no fun," Yoruichi pouted.
"I-if you're cold, you can have my jacket." Soi Fon slid her haori off her shoulders and wrapped it around Yoruichi's before sitting down in the grass.
"Thanks, but it's not that warm." Yoruichi laughed and sat down next to her girlfriend. "I think you'd do a much better job." Even in the dark, Yoruichi could see Soi Fon's face turn bright red. Hell, it was practically glowing.
"Well, if you insist." Soi Fon cleared her throat and stretched her arm out, inviting Yoruichi to snuggle in closer. She was already cold herself too. She had forgotten about things like the winter frost outside of the festival grounds, and the cat woman was warm. Soi Fon wondered whether Yoruichi was even cold as she laid her head on the other woman's chest and Yoruichi rewrapped her haori over her. "I guess this is nice," she muttered. It was a nostalgic feeling being outside under the stars with her former commander again.
"See?" Yoruichi laughed. "So what did you want to show me up here? Because it's going to have to really be something to beat out the view I currently have." She knelt down and pecked Soi Fon on the cheek.
Soi Fon smirked. "You can wait and see."
"And what do you mean-"
Yoruichi cut herself off as the first firework exploded across the night sky. It blossomed into an array of rainbow streams, each arcing gently down to the ground before a second wave of explosives rocked the surrounding, golden sparks bursting out before reversing direction and flowing into a gleaming dragon.
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes as the dragon snaked through the air. Riding on top of it, just barely visible from this angle was a tiny black cat waving towards their exact location. It leapt off the dragon, with the rest of the beast's scales suddenly dissolving and reforming into their own animals, chicks, bunnies, dogs, even snakes. All of the newly formed critters scattered across the soul society under the brilliance of a thousand more fireworks exploding above them, but the cat headed straight for them.
"Oh, you sick son of a bitch," Yoruichi grinned as the cat danced around their spot on the hill. "Kuukaku Shiba, you sly dog."
"Kuchiki thought personalized fireworks would be a nice touch for the new year. I bet it was his sister's idea though." Soi Fon grinned and hugged Yoruichi closer. "It was a hell of a lot of paperwork too, I'll tell you. I had to do research on everybody who ordered one and then design them with Kuukaku. I thought I'd sneak a special one in for you." The cat lightly pawed at the couple's haori covering. Yoruichi gasped as it crawled over her back, a warm fuzziness that amazingly didn't leave a single burn on the white coat. "What do you think?"
Yoruichi giggled and pulled Soi Fon back into the biggest hug she could manage. "I love it. What did you get Byakuya boy then?"
"Oh, I'm sure word will get around to you eventually," Soi Fon chuckled.
"I am a bad influence, aren't I?" Yoruichi laughed. "You little devil."
"Happy New Year, Yoruichi." Soi Fon crunched forward and kissed Yoruichi on the lips.
A/N: It's finally done! I wanted to get another Christmas/New Year's fic out this year, but I just could not come up with a story like "Snow." Instead, I wound up pounding my head on a desk and scooping out all the fluffy scenes I could manage. Ow.
Honestly, I don't think I'll do another holiday fic. I'm pretty burned out from having to make a hard deadline, and I think that's one of the reasons our account initially fell apart. We kept trying to hold ourselves to monthly uploads (not that we ever managed) and it just didn't work, so I'm going to be a little kinder to myself about these sorts of things from now on.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this fic at least. It's a lot longer than I expected it to be, but it's really just a collection of cute interactions I thought might go together. There's no real rhyme or reason for them existing, I just wanted to write a competent Soi Fon again and explore a little of what an established romantic relationship between Yoruichi and Soi Fon would look like. I think we always focus on the confession or abandonment or angst of YoruSoi (and I am very guilty of that), but the domestic life after those charged moments is still really important too! There's something incredibly attractive about the two of them just enjoying each other's company without all that baggage, though I tried to bring it up here and there in Yoruichi's PoV because it's still something that would inevitably linger in their relationship.
Ahem, anyway… Merry Christmas, everyone! And a Happy New Year! If you enjoyed the fic, as rambly and patchwork as it is, please leave me a comment! I love reading them, and they'd be a wonderful Christmas gift if you're wondering what to get me heheheh.