270"Ebony & Gold"
A Bleach story
By: CrimsonGaze
A/N: Well, this is my first bleach fic ever.. Be nice and be kind enough to leave a review if you found this story worth your time.
"Speech"
Thoughts/Memories
Emphasis
Chapter 001
"Clash of the hearts! Master vs Pupil!"
"Did you think that someone like me could not fight against you all out?"
"...!"
"I said not to be cocky!"
"Hmm.. You changed." the purple haired beauty sighed unintentionally out loud as she looked at her former pupil at the other end of the table.
"What was that Shihouin-san?" the white haired captain sitting next to her asked.
"Ie.. it's nothing." she shook her head as to clear her thoughts. "Anyway.. I think my presence is no longer necessary."
"Yes, I don't know why you were invited to this meeting in the first place!" the crazy science captain said loudly and crossed his arms. "You're no captain!"
"But a former captain.. And she seems that she bares us no ill will." Unohana defended, ever the reconciler. "She's been allowed to stay for a while at least."
"Well then, excuse me." Yoruichi smirked in her traditional way and made her way out of the room. "She didn't say a word.. nothing."
"Yo."
"Oh.. Ichigo, doing well?"
"Much better already! That squad 4 can do miracles!" he smiled openly adjusting the sword he held on his shoulder.
"Good to hear."
Ichigo was unnerved, she wasn't in her usual cheery demeanor. "What's going on?"
"It's.. nothing. Don't worry yourself over it." Yoruichi smiled.
Just then, the captains were done with their aftermath meeting and the door of the large room slid open. Ichigo and Yoruichi stood watching them go, the boy couldn't help but to feel a bit overwhelmed but the powerful aura emitting from each of them. Some he knew by name, some only by appearance, but he could tell that they each had a very powerful reiatsu and wouldn't want to cross swords with them again, especially with Kuchiki Byakuya. It had been a miracle that the battle ended the way it did. Protecting Rukia gave him the strength.
When they were all gone, Yoruichi had disappeared also. "Damn, where did she go now?"
"There you are!" Ishida came running towards him, Chad and Inoue in tow.
"Oh, guys!" he waved at them. "What's up?"
"Kurosaki-kun, let's go see Kuchiki-san!" the red head smiled.
"Sure thing, I was going there anyway."
It took a while of wandering about when they were finally able to locate Rukia. She sat on her mattress, a small, tomboyish girl with blond hair sitting next to her. They were caught up in their conversation and didn't notice the new visitors until Ichigo greeted them.
"Oh.. hey." Rukia nodded. "This is Kotetsu Kiyone, she's in my squad."
"Domo." she smiled and nodded politely but then winced as the injuries on her chest protested the movement.
"Are you injured?" Ishida asked.
"Yeah.. from my brief encounter with captain Soifon.." she said sheepishly, scratching the back of her head.
"You fought with her?!" Rukia was shocked, she hadn't noticed her comrade's injury.
"Well.. I wouldn't really say that.. You see, I really didn't have chance to do.. anything.. before I was on the ground.. in pain.."
"Who- who's this Soi- Soi.. Soi-what's her name?" Ichigo said dumbly making sweat drops appear around the room.
"Captain Soifon." Rukia started.
"She's strong.." Kiyone said, still shaking from remembering as the captains foot made contact with her chin. "She didn't even have to draw her Zanpakutou.."
"What?" Ichigo almost laughed. "She beat you without a sword.. You must be pretty wea-!"
Rukia smacked him atop his head. "Baka, she could beat you easily without drawing her sword! She's captain level!" And a master a hand to hand combat..
"I won you're brother, he's a captain!"
"That was luck!"
"No it wasn't"
"Yes it was!"
"Wasn't!"
"Was!"
"You two.." everyone else sighed.
"Achoo!"
"Bless you captain, you know, you might be getting a cold." the 2nd squad vice-captain, Oomaeda, stated in between his munching.
"I'm fine." the petite woman answered.
"Hmm.. then it means that someone is speaking of you behind your back."
Be it neither one, the captain didn't like it. The two were again working late, being assigned to investigate each and every detail on the Aizen case. This was how it was, the 2nd squad rarely got any free time, the captain, you could practically say that never. Soifon sighed and rubbed her temples. This was something the captain never did, so Oomaeda didn't really know how to react. The look that his captain gave him was more than enough to convince him to not ask about it.
"Oomaeda."
"Hai!" was his instant response.
"You can have the rest of the night off. There isn't much left to process so you are no longer required here."
"Um.." he hesitated.
The captain only needed to lift her ebony gaze from her papers to make the vice-captain regret hesitating. "Hai." he said firmly, bowed and left.
"That was nice of you." the figure standing behind the small woman said warmly.
"What do you want?" not surprised by the least of her fellow officers appearance.
"Just checking up on you.."
"Not necessary."
"Don't be like that." Retsu said kindly and sat down next to her college. "You were very quiet at todays meeting."
"What are you implying?" Soifon didn't like this at all. The other captain wasn't her friend, not really, they got along but only when need be, and tonight there was no need for it.
Unohana sighed. The 2nd squad captain could be so cruel at times. "Seeing someone must have upset you.."
"She has no such power over me."
"She?" Unohana said playfully. "Who do you mean?"
"What?!" Soifon stood up angrily, she didn't like being toyed around.
"I'm merely pointing out that no matter how you try convincing yourself otherwise, your former senpai still holds some edge in you." the other captain stood up. "I never mentioned her, I said someone.. Yet you automatically thought I was implying her." she smiled. "Seems to me that she is indeed disturbing your thoughts."
"Tsh.. What do you know!" the raven haired girl said bitterly.
"Me? I know absolutely nothing." she said in such honesty that it made alarms ring in the back of Soifon's head. "But still.."
"Hmm?"
"You really went that far with those two.." the older woman sighed, shaking her head.
"Two? What do you mean?"
"My second's sister and her squad member.. In the execution site. Isane was quite furious.."
"And?" the word so simple, yet held so much bitterness and the tone so cold.
"I just thought she had been something of a friend to you.."
"Are you trying to make me feel bad? If you are, you're failing miserably at it." Soifon stated. She felt no remorse over what happened and if her former senpai had not intervened, she would have killed the young shinigami. Justice must be served and she was a traitor in everyone's eyes at that moment.
"So cold.. When did you become like this?" the kind woman shook her head in defeat and left.
Soifon sighed. As much as she wanted to deny it, she was tense and on edge, she needed to cool down. So, she did what she did every time she had the time.. she dropped her work and left her office.
The gang from the real world was having fun, relaxing and talking of things with no real importance. Rukia was enjoying herself as well and even Kiyone had stayed to get to know the heroes who had saved the day. The bright blue sky had darkened into night outside and the degree of people fussing about had decreased.
"Come to think of it.. Where's Yoruichi-san?" Ichigo scratched the back of his head.
"I haven't seen her all day.." Inoue said sadly, instantly worrying.
"Was she that darker woman who held Aizen with captain Soifon?" Kiyone asked.
"Eh?" the blond boy's face dropped. "That- tha- that tiny woman was captain Soifon?"
"Don't let that cloud your judgment." the woman leaning on the door frame stated.
"Yoruichi-san!" he smiled and then a quick flash passed before his eyes.
"Yoruichi-sama, thank you so very much!" the tomboyish girl suddenly bowed before her.
"What?" Yoruichi was taken aback as was everyone else in the room.
Almost crying, Kiyone took the older womans hands between her palms. "You saved my life, I don't know how to ever thank you!"
"Oh, relax.. I was waiting to go at it with her!" she grinned.
"What are you talking about?" Ishida asked, adjusting his glasses.
"She saved me from captain Soifon, she was about to kill me and then you-" the young shinigami looked Yoruichi in the eyes. "You saved me, it happened so quickly.."
"Don't mention it!" the purple haired woman smiled warmly and patted the shorter one's head.
"You must be really strong!" Kiyone's eyes now glittered with admiration. "You held you're ground against captain Soifon!"
"Of course!" the goddess of flash grinned. "I know every trick she has up on her sleeve.. or at least, I used to know.." the latter part was said quietly, almost mumbling to herself.
"Oh.." Kiyone didn't know what to say next, the older woman's demeanor suddenly changed from cheery to grim.
"Anyway.. I just came to see if all this paid effort. Glad to see it did!" Yoruichi regained her composure and smiled warmly, looking at Rukia.
"Thank you for your help!" she bowed. "I know I wouldn't be here if it was not for you!"
"Oh just drop it!" she dismissed it with a wave of a hand. "Anyway, there's somewhere I need to be.. See you later!" And in a blink of an eye, she had vanished.
"I know every trick she has up on her sleeve..?" Ichigo recalled. "Is there some sorta history between Yoruichi and Soifon..?" he said quietly, all looking at him questionably now.
The night was nice and cool, the occasional breeze made the sakura tree's leaves dance beautifully under the bright light emitting from the round, full-moon. A lonely, pink leave tried to sore to the sky with the wind but the dominating force of the earth was calling it to fall to the ground. Before it made it's way down, a small glimpse of light flashed through it and a second after that, the leave was cut neatly in half from the middle and the two sides dropped down.
Soifon sheeted her Zanpakutou and gazed at the moon. Just like back then..
"This brings back memories." a voice behind her said.
The raven haired woman instantly jumped to a ready pose.
"What, you wanna go at it again?"
Soifon still couldn't see the one who dared to intrude her privacy but she knew who was out there. She relaxed and let go of the handle of her sword. Of course she would come here.. she sighed. "Why not? Maybe this time we'll get a conclusion." she smirked.
Then the figure appeared behind her. "I thought the conclusion was quite clear." Yoruichi grinned widely, her voice echoing with pride.
"Oh.. But I'm still standing here."
Yoruichi scowled. "So you prefer a fight to the death?"
Soifon turned around and now fully faced her former mentor. "Isn't that the surest conclusion you can get?" she said seriously.
"I don't want to fight you.. Soifon." the tan woman said sadly, looking at the ground.
The way Yoruichi said her name made Soifon scowl angrily. It made her blood boil in more ways than one.. The tone was so gentle, so soft, it almost made her want to puke. But it also made her outer shell crack slightly. She couldn't deny that it felt good to hear her say it.
Yoruichi, seeing the inner struggle going inside her former pupils mind, dared to take step closer so that she was now on a hands reach away from her.
"Stay back!" Soifon yelled and with a swift horizontal move of her arm she was able to get Yoruichi to back off. "Don't come any closer!" she could feel herself giving into the pain, the hurt.. but also to the joy she felt from seeing her Yoruichi-sama. Dammit! She fought with everything she had not to let it show on the outside. I already broke down in front of her once.. That won't happen again!
"Soifon.." the purple haired beauty sighed, she could almost feel the struggle going on inside the other woman. "I know I hurt you-"
"Shut up!"
"No! You shut up and listen!"
Soifon was taken aback at the sudden outburst of her former senpai. Too shocked to say anything she just stared et her.
"Do you remember? This place.." she said quietly, looking at a single sakura tree.
"This is where I have always come to practice.."
"You mean this is were you always came to beat yourself down whenever you felt like you had failed somehow.." Yoruichi smiled gently and closed in on Soifon.
She smiled. She couldn't deny it, her senpai knew her better than anyone. "Yes.."
"I used to come and watch you.." the noble woman admitted, unashamed.
The news didn't come as a shock to the former pupil, she just got a confirmation to a fact she had been suspecting the whole time she came here.
"I remember you trained so hard.." Yoruichi smiled. "All in order to protect me.."
"A bit different now." Soifon stated harshly. "For the last century I have been doing the exact opposite."
Practicing in order to kill me.. Yoruichi sighed. "Do you really harbor so much hatred towards me."
"No. Not any more."
The words shone like stars of possible forgiveness in Yoruichi's heart. She smiled warmly and took a step forward.
"But don't misunderstand me." Soifon cut her off and turned her back at her. "I feel nothing for you anymore. You no longer hold you grip of me, I am free of you."
At first Yoruichi was shocked but the coldness of her tone but then, she started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Soifon scowled.
"Then you won't be angry.." Soon Yoruichi had Soifon pinned in a tight grip. The skillful master of flash held her former pupil from behind her, Soifon's left arm pressed against her own side and the right arm, which had been just barely quick enough to react was held by the wrist in it's upwards angle. "..if I do this?" all this happened so quickly that even the other captain's would have had trouble keeping up with Yoruichi's movements.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Soifon said angrily "Let go of me!" she struggled to get free but it was in vain, her senpai had her grip of her again, and a tight grip at that.
"I want you to listen to me.." Yoruichi said gently. "I am sorry for the way I left.."
"Enough!" The pupil still struggled but couldn't slip away.
"I know what I did was wrong.. But I couldn't take you with me. I wanted to but.. I just couldn't ask that of you.. I.. I.. I wasn't strong enough to do that back then.." Yoruichi almost cried as she was taken over by emotions long hidden. "But I'm stronger now.. I know what I want, I have always known I guess.. I want you, Soifon." she was finally able to admit it.
"Enough.." Soifon pleaded. She was shaking, fighting to keep the tears from coming, struggling not to fall apart again. She couldn't take this, not anymore.. How could she ever trust her again, she betrayed her, her own senpai who she admired so much.. "Please.. That's enough."
"No it isn't!" Yoruichi argued. "I don't know how to ever repay you for what you have gone through.. But I promise you this, I will give it everything I have, I won't let you down anymore!"
"Please.." Soifon pleaded again, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
Yoruichi knew she had no right to do this to her former pupil, to but her through this again.. But she was selfish, she needed to be, this was something she needed. She had always regretted not taking Soifon with her, she needed to make amends, needed to settle this. She couldn't go on another day not knowing what it would be like holding the small woman in her arms. Yoruichi held Soifon even tighter to her but the dominating grip had vanished and was replaced with a hold that spoke more than any words could ever say.
Soifon felt her senpai slowly giving up, the hold now very weak and made it possible for her to get away anytime she wanted to but she no longer wanted it. She wanted to be held like this, she wanted to feel the dark woman next to her. For the first time since her senpai had left, Soifon felt complete. She turned around in Yoruichi's arms and returned to hug her to her fullest, her pale, slim arms settling on the older womans waist.
Yoruichi's hold tightened, her arms around Soifon's neck. She pressed her head in to the curve where Soifon's neck met her shoulder and inhaled her intoxicating scent. Soifon leaned her head on Yoruichi's chest feeling her heartbeat and breathing slowly calming and settling down on their normal rhythm. They stayed like this for a moment until Soifon felt Yoruichi grinning against her skin. She lifted her head and looked deeply into Soifon's dark gray eyes. "I hope you won't be angry.." Yoruichi grinned, her eyes dancing with their normal mischief. "..for this either." she whispered hoarsely and leaned in for the kiss.
-Chapter 001 END-
A/N: There you have it! The first chapter to the story. And on a further note, in case you didn't notice, this story starts just after Aizen was defeated and revolves highly around Yoruichi and Soifon (my favorite couple!). Review please!
