Disclaimer: No, I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo does. I'd also like to take the time to say that it has been a long time since I've worked on a multi-chapter fic and I'm very unsure if I will be able to complete this project, so I hope you'll be patient with updates and the chance that this fic might never be finished.

"You still haven't made a contract yet?!"

Soi Fon put Kiyone in a headlock for that. "Shut up!"

"Ah… Let's settle down…" Isane tried to remove Soi Fon's arms from around the neck of her younger sister. "And Kiyone, you really shouldn't go around pointing out things like that."

"You too, Isane?" Soi Fon released the blonde and glared up at the older sister, hurt.

"N-no!" Isane immediately jumped back. "Er, there's plenty of mages who haven't contracted their third year! There's nothing unusual about it, Soi Fon!"

Soi Fon just sighed. "Yeah, I know. It is weird. You guys don't have to humor me."

Kiyone cracked her neck. "Wasn't trying to."

"You!"

This time Isane was quick enough to restrain her friend. "Soi Fon, please!"

"Augh!" Soi Fon stopped thrashing, her feet in the air as the taller girl lifted her. "Fine, I get it. I just didn't think it would be such a big deal." She waved at the air as if she could shoo the topic away. It wasn't like she was oblivious. There were very few third years left who hadn't declared their specialization yet, and even fewer who hadn't even contracted with a familiar. In fact, she could probably count on both hands the number of third years who hadn't contracted at Shin'o. It was a requirement, and one most fulfilled at the start of their second year, much less halfway through third. In fact, the only name she could pull off the top of her head who still hadn't contracted was Matsumoto, and while Soi Fon had nothing against the woman, she certainly didn't want to be compared to her academically.

"I think Kiyone's just worried that you won't make the declaration deadline. Usually it takes some time before you're able to figure out what your partner's specialty is, and once you declare, it's pretty difficult to swap out to something you realize you're better suited to." Isane tried to push the group through the halls.

"Nah, I'm just wondering why you haven't gone through with it yet. You're plenty skilled, Fon. It's just odd seeing you lagging behind in anything."

"Kiyone!"

Soi Fon glared at the blonde. "I'm not lagging behind on anything. I just haven't performed the ritual yet. I'll get to it when I'm good and ready!"

"Well, you better get to it soon. The end of the semester's in what? A month? Two?" Kiyone shrugged. "It'd be weird walking around without you, y'know." And that was it, declaring wasn't just an announcement of intent. If you didn't make the deadline, you were expelled. Obviously, if you couldn't even measure up to the basic requirements of a specialization by your third year, you were a lost cause. And unfortunately, contracting a familiar was a basic requirement for all of the specializations, as was having the nerve to commit yourself to a path.

"I will, I will! Geez," Soi Fon huffed. "You're as bad as Ikkaku!"

"Don't you dare compare me to that bastard!"

"Guys, please…"

Soi Fon traced the outline of a summoning circle on the page. Tonight. She'd do it tonight, and get it over with.

"Yo, Soi, what's up?"

The Chinese woman nearly jumped out of her skin. "Ichigo!"

"Ah, sorry. Lost in thought?" The orange-haired man sat down next to her.

"That's not like you, Soi Fon." Renji parked himself on her other side. "Usually you'd rip his head off."

"Not now, you two…" Soi Fon let her head sink into her hands. She really did not have the energy to deal with her adopted brothers at the moment. Especially since…

"Summoning?" Renji glanced down at her opened textbook. "Oy, you're not letting all those rumors get to you, are you?"

"Yeah, we even sent in those letters of support explaining things. There's no way they'd force you to-"

"Augh!" Soi Fon threw her hands down. "I never sent mine in!" She froze. She hadn't meant to say that.

"What?"

Ichigo took a step back, getting out of his seat to get a better look at Soi Fon as she covered her head. "You never filed your letter?"

Soi Fon blushed. "It's just- I-" Of course she hadn't! How in the world could she have gone through with asking for an exception? Even if it was granted, she'd never be able to live it down. A graduate stuck at the Asauchi level? It was ridiculous. She'd be a laughing stock. "I thought it would finally force me to go through with it. I can't keep running forever."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to force yourself!" Ichigo made a move towards the book.

"Oy, Ichigo." Renji laid a hand on his shoulder. "There's no point in trying. She's already made up her mind."

"Still…"

"Thanks guys," Soi Fon managed a smile. "But I've got this, alright?" She hoped she looked confident.

"Er, well…" Ichigo stumbled. "Alright. We'll see you at home."

"Yeah, see you then!" Renji patted Ichigo on the back.

Soi Fon glanced at their faces. "Don't look so worried. Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Yeah, yeah, I don't need you rubbing your grades in my face again," Renji rolled his eyes.

"It's not hard to with your scores, Renji," Ichigo muttered.

"Can it, Mr. Overachiever!"

"Sure you're not projecting, Mr. Double Dealing Contractor?" The two of them butted heads.

"Mr. Kurosaki. Mr. Abarai. Would you like to take this outside of the library?" Prof. Unohana appeared before the flame-haired men and smiled.

"I- uh…"

"Y-yeah… Right away, professor!"

Contracting is a simple affair. After all, most mages accomplish it by their second year, and a few determined (or stubborn) individuals come to Shin'o Academy already having contracted, ready to announce their specialization and dive straight into advanced studies. The process involves two concentric circles. One that serves as a summoning focus and the other as a binder until terms have been successfully negotiated. A certain degree of willpower and solemnity, and whatever payment agreed upon by both parties, is also necessary. Though, all of this is really a formality. Spirits who answer a summoner's call have essentially already signaled their interest in contracting, and spirits who don't require a mage to appear in the living world rarely bother with answering any summoner's invitation anyway.

Still, to secure the highest chances of success the summoner should reflect on themselves in order to call upon a similarly tempered spirit. Such partnerships often last longer too. It is often said that a familiar reflects its master's soul, or perhaps it's the reverse, and oftentimes, a contract formed between like-minds is more efficient and powerful than one forged through domination, even when both parties are egregiously strong. Whatever the case, as a partnership lengthens, the two tend to imprint on each other.

Failure is also relatively consequence-free, especially when it is supervised by a senior mage. The typical error students make is in their summoning circle. In most cases, a spirit will simply fail to appear because of a flaw in the summoning circle's design. In rare cases, the summoning circle functions but the binding circle does not. Usually when this happens, the summoner can just erase part of the summoning circle which will cause the summoned spirit to instantly discorporate. Spirits who do answer a summoner's invitation sometimes will not accept terms or payment, in which case, the summoner similarly erases the summoning circle and starts over, hopefully with a more compliant partner.

It is very rare that a summoning ever becomes dangerous.

But not unheard of.

Two bit off more they could chew and their summons destroyed their circle and then them.

Two made their contracts too binding and the backlash from their familiar leaving them left them brain dead.

One overestimated the compatibility of his contract and died six months later from spiritual dissonance.

Soi Fon forced her hand to stop shaking so she could complete the last sigil. Well, sixth time was the charm, right? She stood up and handed the chalk to her supervisor. "Thank you again, Prof. Ukitake." She bowed at the silver-haired man.

"Of course, Soi Fon. I'm glad you asked me to supervise, though you really don't have to-"

"I'll be fine, professor." Soi Fon exhaled. She knew she wasn't the only one who had to deal with the past. Ukitake had been there at her second brother's summoning. It had been a blood bath, and even the professor had never fully recovered. In fact, she felt guilty at having even asked Ukitake to lend her his classroom for the night. Out of all the teachers at the academy, she knew he wouldn't have the heart to refuse her.

Contracting was a private affair, but it was usually done during the day, in the sun. It was just, Soi Fon felt more comfortable in the dark, where people couldn't see her. It hadn't always been that way, but after her second brother, she had learned to hate the way people looked at her. Pity or disgust, as if she too would shatter or fail.

Ukitake smiled. "Of course." Her asking had also been atypical since she had never formally studied under the man like her brother had. You were supposed to ask someone who knew your mana patterns to oversee contracting. Someone unfamiliar might interrupt too early or fail to intervene when your levels went haywire. But he had attended to her siblings' contracts, and even if there was bad karma in it, she felt obligated to request his assistance. It had been so many years since they had failed, and Ukitake was one of the few links left to her original life. She had thrown away the other bonds, her vows of service to a family that had used her brothers as pawns, but the silver-haired professor had been nothing but kind to her as she had transitioned out of that chaos.

Soi Fon took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

Ukitake stood back. "Then feel free to start whenever you feel like. I'll be watching over you."

She nodded and sat back down, cross-legged this time. Even with her eyes closed, she could still make out the dim glow of the moon filtering into the classroom. She had opted out of the traditional candles. They made her feel like there was a time limit, that she had to finish everything before they were gone, and she didn't need anymore stressors.

Soi Fon wondered what kind of spirit would answer her call. Everything had been so wrapped up in getting every detail right that she hadn't paid any attention to the most important part. Unfortunately, the first thought that came into her mind was who would want her? Soi Fon knew she wasn't a picnic to be around. She was snappy and sullen most of the time, she drove her groupmates insane with her perfectionism, and even the people she hung out with were obnoxious punks (though she really did love Renji and Ichigo). Maybe it would be best if she didn't get a spirit like her, otherwise they'd just grate on each other. But then again, someone constantly upbeat and cheery would wear her down too.

In the end, all she wanted was for this to end. She didn't want to hear anymore whispers behind her back or feel their eyes watching her. It didn't matter if the spirit she summoned was strong or weak, though it would be nice if it had a bit of a specialization, just so she finally had a little push to go in any kind of direction. After all, she had met every other major requirement while putting off contracting. Getting into any specialization wouldn't be too difficult. But really, she just wanted this part of her life to be over…

"Soi Fon," Ukitake gently intoned.

"R-right!" Soi Fon nodded and closed her eyes. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she had forgotten to start chanting.

"Luna night and silver eye

"I bid thee watch

"And cast shadow from my path

"Like the breeze that steers our chartered course"

Soi Fon breathed, muscles relaxing. She had practiced this hundreds of times. This was her recitation.

"The sylph that dances on Fate's wind

"I bid thee watch

"And record my soul's passage

"Send my heart to the one who will answer"

The air in the room began to stir, tossing Soi Fon's bangs. Deep breaths, Soi Fon. You're almost there. She could feel the door opening.

"And scattered petals, raindrops

"I bid thee stay

"And witness the arrival of my other half

"So long as we should keep each other."

There was mist on her face, a light spray of water and the temperature dropped. She had done it. Now all she needed to do was adjust the focus of the circle and-

Soi Fon's mouth opened again, a fourth verse, unbidden.

Ukitake startled and made to grab Soi Fon.

"With lightning's roar and golden breeze

"Taste joy like nectar

"And freedom unbounded."

Soi Fon's eyes snapped open in a flash of yellow lightning.

Floating in the pale moonlight, opening its eyes, was a small girl, barely the size of a doll. It had its hair up in brown pigtails. Its right arm was clad in golden metal, fashioned like a lance or a wicked stinger. It was wearing a black and yellow dress, colors alternating in a twisting curve. Each of these pieces of information entered Soi Fon's head one by one in a broken mess.

It cocked its head and stared at her. "So, are you my new master?"

A/N: Aaaand cut! Wow, it's been a while since I've been able to say that. As I mentioned before in the disclaimer, I'm not exactly sure if I can pull off a longer form fic. I'm quite out of practice, and I wasn't even that good about finishing my work before, but lately, I've been reading a lot of longer fics and it's been making me want to try again. So, I hope you guys are along for the ride!

As for some world building notes, this is a kind of magical AU. Characters have been thrown into the generic category of "mages" with their zan being their familiar. The Gotei 13 got mixed up with captains being professors and students regardless of rank. Really, it's just a mess, but I had a lot of fun placing different characters in different relationships with Soi Fon. (I feel like Isane being Soi Fon's friend and Renji and Ichigo being her kind of "found family" is strangely common though?)

Regardless, this all started with me wondering how I could get the bond between shinigami and their zan to be more important. I mean, it's stressed multiple times throughout the manga that they're more than just tools, but we get to see so little of those relationships! Well, except for Ichigo, but y'know, that's main character privilege. Anyway, I was really curious how Soi Fon and Suzumebachi ever worked together because in the Zanpakuto Rebellion arc (Yes, I know it's filler) they really seemed like polar opposites. If anything, Suzumebachi felt a lot like Yoruichi, playful, flamboyant, and even trying to get Soi Fon to be her own person rather than cling to Yoruichi all the time.

Speaking of which, yes, this is going to be a YoruSoi fic. I don't think I can physically write anything else (I may have a problem). So where's Yoruichi? Initially, I was going to write a much longer first chapter, but this felt like the more natural ending. She'll show up later. As for what her current relationship to Soi Fon is… Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

If you want me to hurry it up already, a comment goes a long way! I always enjoy reading them and it's nice to be able to see people guess what's going to happen as they read through a fic. I hope you enjoyed reading so far, and I really hope I'll be able to tell the whole story I want to. Until then, I'll see you next time!