I lost my head again
Would you cry for me?
At four in the morning, before the sun shared its gleam with the Seireitei, Soi Fon woke and began her daily routine. She tended to her hygiene, then dressed and tidied her room. After a balanced breakfast and stretches, she made a quick commute from the officer's housing district to the Squad Two training grounds. She always arrived at least ten minutes before 5:00.
She led the other seated officers and Soul Reapers in stretching once they joined her at the top of the hour. Although they didn't do everything to her liking - a regular occurrence - she disciplined them with much more lenience than usual. After they wrapped up at 7:00, Soi Fon gave them their orders and notified them she would be on leave from 7:30 until the end of the day. Her subordinates expressed their shock at her declaration. In fairness, she understood their reaction. She only used five days of leave in her multiple decades at captain rank.
Soi Fon dismissed the members of Squad Two to their duties, then withdrew to her quarters to finish as much paperwork as possible before her time ran out. She sped through her work, wrote instructions for her officers in her absence, yet she left herself with plenty of time before her departure. While she sat at a chair pushed into her desk, she tapped her foot as seconds crawled away. She passed the time with a daydream, then left her quarters and crossed her fingers, hoping her lieutenant kept things status quo.
She wasted no time in traveling to her next destination: the Seireitei's most famous restaurant. Soi Fon entered before business hours and placed a delivery order for 10:30. With Yoruichi's help, she identified and ordered multiple quantities of Trunks' favorite foods: sushi, nigiri, shrimp tempura udon, yakitori, and various flavors of mochi. For two people, the order proved excessive, but when Yoruichi informed her that Trunks held an enormous appetite after training, she figured it'd be better to buy more than less.
With food preparations taken care of, she Flash Stepped to a sheer cliff on Sokyoku Hill. She arrived at the cliff's edge and stood before a small, dark cave, where Yoruichi greeted her.
"You're here early," she said. "Still feeling anxious, huh?"
"I barely slept on time last night," Soi Fon said. "I couldn't even sit still at my desk."
"In an hour, you can put all of those nerves to rest." Yoruichi turned and walked into the darkness. "Come on, I'll show you around while we have time."
Soi Fon accompanied her in, and after a few minutes, artificial light glistened in the distance. The path they traveled came to a halt. They stood at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the spacious area known as the Study Chamber.
"It looks just like the one in Kisuke's basement," Soi Fon said. "I guess if it isn't broken, why fix it?"
"There are a few differences that make this place special." Yoruichi pointed down to her right. "Over there, you have a hot spring. It has rejuvenating properties that can heal your wounds and restore your spiritual pressure."
Soi Fon stood in awe and wondered if she could have Omaeda fund the construction of a Study Chamber underneath her barracks.
"Right below us is a changing room," Yoruichi said. "There's also a mattress that you can use for… bonding."
Soi Fon snapped back. "There will be no 'bonding' happening today!"
"You should give it a thought. The sooner you break past the intimacy barrier, the sooner you'll be comfortable around him. How about you start small and sit in the hot springs together?"
"You call that small? I won't even consider that until we come to a mutual understanding."
"I'm sure you two will work something out. Now if you'll excuse me…" Yoruichi yawned and faced the exit of the cave. "I'm gonna get a nap in before he shows up. You know where to find me."
"Wait, Lady Yoruichi!" When Yoruichi stepped forward to leave, she stopped and turned to Soi Fon's call. "Thank you for your help. I couldn't do any of this without you."
"That's what friends are for. Speaking of which, can you please stop calling me 'Lady'? It makes me feel old." She strolled into the darkness. "This is all in your hands now. Just remember what it told you yesterday: relax and have fun."
After her friend left the Study Chamber, Soi Fon glanced at the landscape and drew a deep breath. A single bound pushed her high into the air and landed her atop a plateau erected in the center of the room. She faced the entrance, sat down with crossed legs, and rested her hands on her lap. Her impatience made the solitude unbearable.
To distract her, she allowed her imagination to roam. She envisioned how her sparring session would unfold. Yoruichi gave her insight into his abilities, but she needed to see them for herself. She might learn something from him, and vice versa. Either way, Soi Fon was eager to see the spark in his eyes return.
After they concluded their training, they could take turns using the hot spring. While Trunks bathed, she planned to slip away and pick up the food delivered to her office. She would lay all the food on a blanket at the tip of Sokyoku Hill and surprise him. Ignoring that they would sit behind an execution site, Soi Fon considered the view of the Seireitei to be perfect. Once they finished eating and conversing, they would embark on a tour through the Seireitei. It would allow for her to pick his brain. If they were compatible, they could decide on a schedule to see each other. Between her duties as a captain and Trunks' college studies, it'd be tough to manage.
Though distance and time management were both glaring issues, a smile slipped onto Soi Fon's face. In a rare instance, she allowed her pessimism to relent. The endless possibilities of what they could do together filled her with glee. Even the physical interactions that Yoruichi mentioned seemed less outlandish than they did before.
Soi Fon shook her head and wiped the smile off of her face. Dreams may lead to disappointment if she carried on without caution. She closed her eyes and sighed. Several hurdles needed to be cleared before she fantasized about the future. Soi Fon meditated and focused on the hurdle that would arrive in an hour.
After Trunks' encounter in the forest, he remained perched on the tree branch for another hour before he met with his friends. While their conversation centered on Ichigo's bet, Goten did his best to encourage Trunks.
"My dad proposed to my mom after they fought in the World Tournament, and my brother trained Videl before they started dating," he said. "It'll be fine, as long as you stay optimistic."
Hanging on to optimism proved harder said than done. Once the trio departed to their separate resting places, Trunks couldn't shut his eyes or even lay down. He paced his room, then settled on the roof, where he gazed up at a crescent moon.
The voice in his head didn't keep him awake, but the fear of its return lingered. If it appeared in full effect while he sparred with Soi Fon, he would find himself in serious trouble. He could lose his focus again, act out of line, or, worst of all, hurt her.
Or maybe it wouldn't return. Even if he did everything he could, she might not like him. It may stem from his looks, their difference in personality, differing outlooks on life, or a simple lack of chemistry. Though those possibilities felt much better than the chaotic alternatives, they would still leave a scar on his spirit.
Trunks continued these conversations with himself until much after the sun rose. He hopped down from the roof and re-entered the shop to see Jinta and Ururu preparing to leave for school.
Jinta threw his backpack over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Trunks' entry. "What the hell? What are you doing outside so early?"
"Couldn't sleep, so I went to get some fresh air," Trunks said.
"Okay, weirdo. Hey, can we get some practice in later? Gotta make sure I'm sharp for spring training next week."
"Uh… I'm not sure. I might not be here when you get back."
"What?! You're leaving already?"
"No, not yet. I just have something to do today."
"Hmph, you got a date or something?"
"Come on, Jinta," Ururu said as she walked toward the door. "We're gonna be late."
Jinta stuck his hands in his pockets and followed behind her. "Whenever you're done making out, I'll be here practicing my swing."
The two left Trunks standing alone in the main area. The clock on the wall told him he only had an hour before he needed to be at the Squad Two barracks. Inferring that Soi Fon cared little for tardiness, he jumped into the bathroom and showered. Once he entered his room, he deliberated on his choice of clothing. He settled on a black pair of sweatpants and a white tank top with the Capsule Corporation logo in the center.
Before he left, Trunks crouched down over his suitcase and picked up the gold pocket watch Soi Fon gave him for his birthday. He considered it his most prized possession. Surely, she wouldn't have given him such a nice present if she didn't care about him. From what Ichigo told him the night before, her response to Trunks' near-death experience gave him more insight into how she felt. Though he carried sentiments of fear, a ray of hope glistened on the situation. Despite all the differences between them, he would make it work as long as she'd be willing to do the same.
He placed the watch back into his bag, grabbed his yellow boots, and left his room. The clock now read 8:45. Perfect. He left the shop, and after slipping his boots on, he traveled through the Senkaimon.
Once Trunks flew into the Seireitei, he figured it would be best to arrive at the barracks early to make a good impression. This sounded like a good plan until he realized he didn't know Squad Two's location. What concerned him more was that he couldn't detect Soi Fon at all. He considered consulting Goten for directions.
However, he sensed another familiar signal. Once he identified it belonged to Yoruichi, he hurried to her location. Of all people, she would know where Soi Fon was.
He landed in front of a large gate, where a black cat slept in front. He didn't want to wake the cat, but he had no choice. Trunks kneeled and stroked the back of her head.
"Hey, Yoruichi," he whispered. "Wake up."
She yawned and opened her yellow eyes. "Oh, it's just you." Yoruichi stretched on all fours. "Do you have the time?"
"I don't, but I'd venture to say it's 8:50-ish."
"Good, you're early. Now, let's get going."
Trunks stood up. "Get going? Where's Soi Fon?"
"Sorry, I forgot to mention that. There's been a venue change. Because this is a secret location, I'm going to request that you abstain from flight. Follow me closely."
Yoruichi Flash Stepped away and prompted Trunks to sprint after her. After a few moments of traversing, they arrived at the cave's entrance.
"Follow the path and you'll find her inside," she said.
Once Trunks detected her presence, a heavy sensation built in his chest. "Okay… thanks."
"Try not to be so nervous. It won't do you any good." The cat disappeared, and Trunks walked into the cave.
It was easier said than done, but Trunks had to face reality and show the best version of himself. He stumbled through the dark until he arrived inside of the Study Chamber. His mouth fell open as he noted it looked just like Kisuke's basement. However, his heart skipped once he laid eyes on Soi Fon. She seated herself on a rock formation about fifty meters away from him. He took a breath and called out to her.
"Hey." His voice echoed through the area. "I'm here."
Soi Fon opened her eyes and stood. "Good." She hopped down onto the ground and motioned for him to follow. "Come down so we can start."
Trunks leaped from the cliff and landed a few meters away from her. "Did Kisuke build this?"
Soi Fon nodded. "I guess digging up spaces is a hobby for him. He made this one with an extra amenity, though." She turned his attention to his right. "There's a hot spring over there. It heals your injuries, too, which makes it perfect for post-training use."
"What else can you say? The guy's a genius."
"A genius in one light and an idiot in another. Anyway, are you ready?"
Trunks fixed his eyes back on Soi Fon, who already stepped back into her fighting stance. Her posture and hand placement left no openings. This bout wouldn't be like his ones with Ichigo. Instead, he would face an individual with refined skills.
He widened his legs and raised his hands. "Ladies first."
She grinned, then closed the distance between them to throw a kick at his head. Trunks blocked, but braced against a spin kick from her other leg. His toes slid back into the dirt. Soi Fon appeared behind with a fist launched to the back of the head. Trunks spun around as her fist grazed his cheek, but found himself on the receiving end of her offensive.
Each of her strikes contained control and purpose. Every quick jab and feint set up another precise attack. Compared to Goten, he never fought against someone with this level of technique. Her moves flowed with elegance; he admired all aspects of her display.
She kicked his leg from underneath him, which led him to fall backward on his hands and somersault away. The distance Trunks created between them gave him the space to regain his focus. His arms ached from guarding against her strikes, especially her kicks.
"Now that we're warmed up, I suggest you transform," she said. "If you don't…" She cut the distance before he reacted. "You'll have a hard time keeping up."
Her knuckles smashed into his jaw. He crashed through several boulders, then tumbled to the ground. Trunks made it to his hands and knees and wiped a droplet of blood from his lip.
Soi Fon had power, a vast amount more than she led him to believe. But how could he retaliate? He wouldn't dare to imagine doing anything violent to her. He couldn't compartmentalize like her; his father would lecture him for not being able to do so.
Show her.
While Soi Fon approached, Trunks gritted his teeth and rose. It couldn't have picked a worse time to make a re-entry.
Get out of my head!
Show her your true power.
"Shut up!" he said through clenched teeth. He balled his fists up. His hair changed color and stood straight as he burst into a golden glow.
"This is your Super Saiyan form," Soi Fon said. "How interesting. Do you plan on showing me more?"
"What? More?"
"I know you're far stronger than this. Holding back to this extent won't get us anywhere. Prove me wrong if you can."
Trunks charged toward her and launched a half-hearted fist toward her stomach. She caught his hand and pulled him in, landing attacks on his body faster than she had thrown them before. He stopped one of her kicks and jumped back, then powered up to Super Saiyan 2. He hoped to close the power gap between them.
Soi Fon bolted toward him and continued her assault. Her attacks hurt less than before, but her continuous increases in speed became an issue.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she forced him to dodge her punches. "Use your power. Draw your Zanpakuto. Do something!"
When Trunks did not respond to her requests, she drew her blade from her waist and slashed upward. He sidestepped her Zanpakuto and leaped into the air. As she chased him down with her sword at her hip, Trunks snatched out Zangetsu and clashed with her. She pulled back to thrust, but he forced her away with a quick energy push.
Soi Fon stopped herself, then stood straight in the air with a frown. "This is becoming frustrating."
"What am I doing wrong?" he asked. "We're sparring just like you wanted."
"You know that's not true. I'm sparring with you and you refuse to retaliate, even when you know you're outmatched. What is it? Are you afraid?"
"Of course not. I was just testing your strength." Trunks raised Zangetsu and grasped his shoulder. "But since you asked for more, I'll oblige. Ban-kai!"
His energy erupted, creating a dust cloud that circled him. The dust gave way to reveal his black robe and sleek blade.
Soi Fon's annoyed expression remained. "I don't appreciate you revealing your Bankai for show."
"This isn't for show. You're pretty quick; this will help me keep up with you."
"So you increased your speed just to stay on the defensive?"
"Just watch. You'll have a lot more attacks thrown at you than you did before."
"Then prove it. Use Tensa Zangetsu and come at me."
"Huh? What do you-"
"I said come at me, now!"
Trunks tightened his grip and rushed forward. He pulled his sword overhead, then yelled as he swung it downward.
His eyes widened; he stopped his blade right before it brushed her hair. Soi Fon didn't flinch, let alone move. She stared into his eyes and saw through his bluff.
Trunks folded over in pain when a fist forced itself into his midsection. Soi Fon grabbed him by the shirt and flung him to the ground. He crashed to the dirt below, and as he stumbled upward, she touched down in front of him.
Disappointing…
Trunks ignored it as Soi Fon brought her Zanpakuto close to her body. "You're forcing my hand. I thought Hakuda combat would suffice, but it seems you need a bigger push to regain your spirit." With her sword parallel to the ground, she glided her fingers across her steel. "Sting all Enemies to Death, Suzumebachi."
Her Zanpakuto glowed, then took the form of a gauntlet that fastened around her hand and middle finger. Trunks stayed on guard, but her chilling stare placed him on edge. He cursed himself for not asking Yoruichi to inform him about her Shikai.
Before he formed a method to determine her ability, she closed the distance and slashed at him in every direction. Trunks guarded against her Zanpakuto until she kicked him in the chest. Trunks lifted his hand and fired an energy blast toward the ground, creating a smokescreen for him to gain separation. Soi Fon swiped her hand through the dust and walked through.
"You've got a little something on your shoulder," she said with a smirk.
"Huh?" Nothing appeared on his right shoulder, but once he turned to his left, he gasped at the butterfly-shaped marking. Two more turned up on his right forearm and right thigh.
"I'll do you a favor and explain what happens next. Suzumebachi just stamped you with Homonka on your body. If I hit you again in any of those three spots, my ability, Nigeki Kessatsu, will activate. In a matter of seconds, fatal poison will spread throughout your body."
Trunks' eyes shot open. Their sparring session and date had developed into a deathmatch. Did she intend to kill him?
"That leaves you with three options," she said. "You either draw out your full power and negate my second strike, do your best to dodge, or… I'm sure you know what I'll say. I won't ask you what your decision is, but you should consider something before it's too late."
She dashed toward him and attacked once more, leaving Trunks to fend off her Zanpakuto. He tried to escape, but she remained hot on his tail. The struggle between them turned into a battle of speed as they zipped across the battlefield.
Without hesitation, he dismissed her proposal to fight at full strength. Unleashing his full power would only create more problems. Pseudo Blue would counter her second strike, but she would expect him to fight her afterward at that level. Even in his initial bout with Ichigo, Trunks feared that a single uncontrolled punch in that form could be deadly.
With a voice in his mind that distracted him at random intervals, the chance of losing control skyrocketed. To avoid that risk, he resigned to avoiding Suzumebachi or succumbing to her poison. His decision came at the cost of her Homonka, marking several more places along his body.
Fight back…
No, but what if I-
Kill her!
"No!" Trunks ducked underneath a swipe to his face and flew upward. As she approached, he fired a stream of energy blasts toward her. Though they kept her at bay, she needed to only deflect a single attack while the rest passed beside her.
"Are you even trying to hit me?!" With her wrists touching, she thrust her hands out. "Hado #73, Soren Sokatsui!"
A stream of blue energy shot from her palms and forced Trunks to counter with a Galick Gun. The ensuing explosion allowed Trunks to return to the ground and continue to strategize.
Soi Fon followed his lead, but crossed her arms once she landed. "If your plan is to piss me off, you're executing it to perfection."
Trunks couldn't tell her his true intentions. He assumed he already looked weak. Any expression of his feelings would only make things worse. A bluff seemed like the only alternative to improve the situation.
"Saying that you're deadly in close quarters is an understatement," he said. "If I try to avoid you, then you have Kido at your disposal for long-range attacks. But if I match your Kido with my energy blasts, I can keep that two-hit kill ability at a distance."
"What's your point?"
"It makes me curious. If your Shikai is that effective, then what does your Bankai do? Does it change your two-hit strike to one hit, or does it give you a stronger long-range weapon? Either way, I think it's time you stop hiding it."
"My Bankai, huh? It's not very reflective of a member of the Stealth Force, and I don't think it'll be useful for our purposes, anyway."
"Come on, it can't be worse than your Shikai. Besides, I showed you my Bankai, so it's only fair that you show yours."
Her eyes narrowed on him. "You don't know what you're asking for."
"You're only making it more intriguing. Try me."
She gripped the arms of her captain's coat, then sighed. Her hands fell to her side as yellow spiritual pressure escaped from her body. "I rarely like to show this. Less than a handful have laid eyes on it. But since you're just dying to see, I'll make an exception. Just remember, I warned you."
Trunks tensed when her power rose above his own. There was no turning back.
"Ban-kai."
A pillar of energy surged from her body and destroyed the ground underneath. Trunks braced himself as high-speed winds blew into his face. Once the energy faded, Soi Fon hiked up from the crater. Once she came to the edge, Trunks' mouth fell open at her new weapon. A golden missile launcher that stood twice her size encased her right arm.
"Jakuho Raikoben," she said. "What do you think?"
"That's… a huge rocket." His fingers twitched outside his control.
"It's obnoxiously huge. As you can see, both of your assumptions were correct." Soi Fon stuck her head behind a face shield in front of her shoulder and locked onto his energy. "I hope you're prepared."
Though he was no longer worried about her poison, Trunks came to regret his request for her Bankai. At his current power level, a direct hit from her missile would blow him to pieces.
Small fins extended along the missile's body before it fired toward him. The ground underneath her feet cracked from its launch.
Without hesitation, Trunks darted into the air to escape. The missile continued to pursue with a minimal separation between them. Any evasive maneuver he took failed to slow its course in the least bit. Even his blasts bounced off its body. He couldn't keep the chase up forever, so he switched to another plan.
Trunks changed his direction toward Soi Fon. He hoped she would call it off to avoid hitting them both. However, she didn't seem startled by this at all. Did she have immunity to her attack, or did she see through his idea? Regardless, she stood still when Trunks and the rocket raced by her.
The missile encroached on him. Trunks had no other option than to face it. He arrived above the hot spring, spun around, and attacked it with energy from his Bankai.
"Getsuga, Tensho!" The black and red slash flung at Jakuho Raikoben, but the rocket met it head-on and continued to push toward its target. Trunks clenched his jaw and released more power, but his efforts couldn't stop it from breaking through.
"Shit!" An orange ball of fire erupted in the air. It expanded and released gusts strong enough to destroy rock formations across the chamber. The wind uprooted Soi Fon and caused her to tumble back several meters.
From the smoke cloud, Trunks' body tumbled down and smacked into the water below. With tattered clothes and his hair returned to its lavender color, he sank to the bottom, wounded and unconscious.
When his hold on his sword loosened, black energy spiraled around his arm. His fingers snapped back and clutched the grip of Tensa Zangetsu.
I told you to show her…
But you wouldn't listen.
You're supposed to be a Saiyan…
But look at you now.
You're trying to get us killed.
I won't let that happen.
If you're too weak to fight…
Then I'll step in.
Soi Fon stood, exhausted from her attack. Trunks' energy signal dwindled, and after a minute, he didn't surface from the hot spring.
Though she withheld enough power to avoid killing him, the results her Bankai yielded proved to be more than she had expected. Had she stayed with her Shikai, she could've disabled Nigeki Kessatsu if need be. The fear of death was supposed to push him out of misery, but that line of thinking might have held flaws. Maybe the idea of fighting to reawaken his confidence was flawed.
Shit! Don't tell me he's drowning. Soi Fon withdrew Jakuho Raikoben and sheathed her sword as she sprinted toward the hot spring.
She made it to the edge of the spring and leaned forward to find him, but a crushing sensation overwhelmed her. Indescribable bloodlust sent her body into shivers. The water bubbled, then burst with black and red energy, causing the ground to quake.
Soi Fon steadied herself, but the force of the energy buckled her knees. Inside the mist of the emptied spring, Trunks stood with his back turned, transformed into his Pseudo Blue form. A black aura mixed with electricity spread from the crater, then retracted to envelop his body.
The energy Soi Fon sensed from Trunks before felt nothing like the terror-inducing one that stood before her. Goosebumps rose all over her body as the pressure he exuded wrapped around her like a noose.
"Trunks?" she asked. "What's going on?"
He answered with a giggle that developed in into psychotic laughter, but gained control of himself.
"This is what you wanted, right?" he said. "You asked, and now I've delivered."
"I made a mistake. Let's stop this session and move on. I planned on having us do other things besides spar."
"After I went through all this trouble to reveal myself, you're backing out? That's no fun… I have a better idea." He lifted his fist to the air and uncurled each finger one by one.
Soi Fon couldn't stop her hands from shaking. She stood at the mercy of a man that could mutilate her in the blink of an eye.
With his palm to the sky, a small energy ball surrounded by black rings formed. "You can do whatever you'd like. I don't care, but only after I'm done first."
"Wait, Trunks! Stop-"
His maniacal laughter howled once more. The energy ball swelled and shined across the battlefield. She shut her eyes and shielded her face as the entire Study Chamber vanished in a blinding flash of light.
A/N: Well… that happened. I may be excited about these moments, but it doesn't make them easier to write or read.
Wanted to clear up something real quick. It's never said in the canon that Soi Fon is immune to her Bankai. Just thought I'd add it in there.
I was about ten minutes away from titling this "Burden in My Hand" by Soundgarden, but it would make it all too obvious. As soon as I quoted "I shot my love today", it's a dead giveaway. Update: 4/22/2022... Look at me, now I changed it. Gotta love indecision :p
This chapter was planned out to be longer, but I think 10,000-word chapters are a bit excessive. I'm trying to get back to the 4k to 5k range, so this chapter is split into two parts. I'm currently in the process of editing the second part, and that one will be coming out NEXT WEEK (YAAAAAYYYYY). I hope this gives me more time to start writing chapter 30. I wish I could promise more steady updates, but I wouldn't want to disappoint any of you.
As you can probably tell, the next chapter is gonna be rough. It proved to be harder to write than this one, but I hope you find the emotion in these chapters that aren't as action-packed. We're gonna be headed into the fallout, and I'll tell you all now, it's not pretty.
As always, thanks for reading. If you guys wanna lemme know what you think, the reviews are always there and I'm open to your criticism. I hope you all have a fantastic day :)
Spotify playlist: openDOTspotifyDOTcom/playlist/7jLkwQRW4O5rraQ2jxctzZ (replace dots with periods)
(first one is called Silver Haired Boy on Youtube, it's from the HxH soundtrack.)