Author's Note: Beware Yuri material! If you don't like sexual situations between two women, then you should probably find something else to read.

This story is set post-Aizen war. No I'm not trying to predict anything as far as the real story goes, I just wanted to write something a bit different than the norm. Ya, I'm going to be making a good amount of this stuff up, so keep an open mind. Also, if you're not up to date on the current manga for Bleach, this may contain slight spoilers. Rated 'M' for later chapters.

Italics = thoughts

" " = speech

It has been one month since the hard earned victory over Aizen and his followers. Soul Society suffered many casualties, reconstruction of destroyed buildings still on-going, most that suffered injury were now fully recovered, only a few remained at Squad 4 for longer treatment. Everyone was doing their best to return to the normal, peaceful lives they all enjoyed.

It is now late-spring. The cooler days now giving way to the increasing heat of the approaching summer. This night however was shadowed and sullen. Full moon hidden by darkened clouds and thunderous lightning slowly rolled it's way through the heavens above. The downpour only deepening the grim atmosphere.

It is in this storm that one person in particular could find no rest. Lying on her side, head smothered beneath a pillow to try and muffle the sounds of the raging storm. Right hand clenching tightly at the fabric, pressing it tighter against her head. Silently growling in submission she roughly chucked the pillow across the room, it landing with a soft thud after first hitting the wall. Slit, steel-gray eyes peered angrily out the window, there looked to be no signs of the storm ending anytime soon. Lazily she rolled onto her back, right arm going to her forehead covering it as a headache felt like it was coming on. She groaned at the time that her clock shown, 2:00a.m.

Through her tossing and turning she had managed to shove the sheets covering her down to her legs, her upper body now feeling a slight chill. Impulse driving her to grab the sheets and pull them up with her left hand, only to come to the harsh remembrance of the fact she no longer has a left arm. Her fight with Barragan having left her handicapped with only a mere stub left behind.

"Tch," she clicked her tongue in frustration before harshly grabbing the sheets with her right hand and forcing them back over her body.

Sometimes she felt like crying about what had happened, but her pride wouldn't allow it, not once. Instead she abhorred herself for her own incompetence and weakness in the face of such an enemy. Being forced away from her work as Captain of Squad 2 and leader of the Onmitsukido until she was well enough to resume her duties, she was left with a lot of free time to think to herself, Too much time…Yoruichi-sama…

Her thoughts drifted to the dark skinned feline of a woman, a worried look crossing her face. Yoruichi hadn't made it through the war unscathed, Because of me… against her pride, she felt a few tears weld up within her eyes, her vision now blurring…

**Flashback**

Soi Fon had unleashed everything she had at that skeleton man, Barragan. Regardless, she lost miserably, her life was at his mercy and he would have none for her. As he readied his guillotine axe above her head, she felt no regrets, except for one, I only regret that I never got to tell Yoruichi-sama how much I feel for her… His axe came down, but nothing came. She opened her eyes to find none other than her goddess, who now gently held her in her arms as she shunpo'd the both of them far away. Only briefly taking note of the shield she knew to belong to Urahara's zanpakuto, Benihime, that stood strong against the axe covering the area she had once been laying upon.

"Yoruichi-sama! What are you doing?!" her voice sounded hoarse and broken, the battle clearly having taken it's toll on her.

"Saving someone very dear to me, isn't that obvious?" Yoruichi didn't miss a beat in her shunpos, her mind only focused on getting Soi Fon as far away from that man as possible. Instead of her usual smirking grin, she held a soft smile as she tried not to display the worry she felt over the younger woman in her arms.

Soi hadn't the energy to argue with her, so she opted to settle on a light blush and silence. It wasn't much longer before a seemingly safe place was found and Yoruichi set her down against a tree. Being a master in kido, Yoruichi administered some healing to ease the pain Soi was in, but even-so , healing wasn't her strongest point so it was only minimal help.

While she was tending to a half-unconscious Soi, she had failed to notice a stray Cero blast from the raging fight between Kyouraku and Stark, heading straight for them. It wasn't until it was too late to even shunpo away with Soi safely that she felt its approach. Immediately putting up shunko and taking a guarding stance in front of the other woman, she absorbed most of the blast, some of it was negated by her sheer reiatsu. However she couldn't block it all and was tossed back into a glass window a few feet away from Soi.

The loud sounds of cero against shunko and of shattering glass brought Soi back into some cognizance. Her eyes stared in horror at the bloodied body of Yoruichi that laid against the floor just inside the building she was blown into.

"Yoruichi-sama!" she screamed, forgetting her own wounds and weariness as she forced herself up and rushed to Yoruichi's side. She was still breathing, but unmoving. A large shard of glass lodged through the right side of her stomach. Soi was struggling to maintain her calm as she carefully removed the sharp object and applied with what little reiatsu she had left to some healing. She had only just barely managed to stop the massive bleeding before falling unconscious next to her.

Thankfully they had both been found by one of Squad 4's recovery team and received proper treatment…

**End Flashback**

Soi hadn't seen nor heard from Yoruichi since then, she didn't know how she was doing at all, and she felt completely ashamed for having placed the goddess in such a situation. A few tears eluded her and fell down her cheeks. Because of me, she almost lost her life… because I am weak. Her eyes starring at the remains of her left arm, and THIS isn't going to make me stronger. She laughed almost cynically at herself. An endless flow of tears streaking her face now. Why for someone like me, Yoruichi-sama? Why risk your life for someone as stupid and weak like me?

She had moved into a sitting position by now, her right arm wiping fiercely at the imposing tears that refused to stop. It wasn't until an hour later that her body decided it had had enough, now sleeping restlessly.

Outside the window, sitting silently upon the windowsill, just out of reach of the dreary rains, was Yoruichi in her cat form. She'd listened to the whole turmoil within the room, opting to remain silent and wait. Her face, even as a cat, held a deep sadness to it, for she wanted nothing more than to rush in and hold Soi Fon as she cried. But she knew, if she did that, Soi's ever present pride would have been shattered for being seen in such a state. A soft catty smile appeared on her face at the thought of Soi's pride, it was a part of the woman, something she would never wish to change. Soi Fon… you have far surpassed me.

Yoruichi had noticed it had been silent within the room for a while now and took a peek inside. Her heart shattered to pieces at the almost morbid expression that haunted Soi's sleeping face, hand clutching desperately at the sheets. She'd had enough and leapt down to the walkway beneath the window. Taking a deep breath as she approached the door, I'm not going to let you fall into depression like this Soi. Gently pushing the door open just enough to squeeze her small frame through, then deftly shutting it behind her.

The room was dark, only brightening with the flashes of lightning. The soft pads on Yoruichi's paws made no sounds as she approached the bed, unhesitant as she leapt up onto it and came within a few steps of Soi's face. Gently placing a paw upon the womans face which softened from the tormented expression it held minutes earlier. She smiled and curled her feline body against her chest.

A few minutes pass, Yoruichi slowly falling into sleep. The hand that had been nearly strangling the sheets now eased and gently cradled the furry feline closely against herself. The storm outside finally fading into the distance, leaving nothing but tranquil darkness and the smell of rain.

Ok so, this was just supposed to be a one-shot, but I'm ending this chapter here for three reasons!

1. I want to think on where it goes from here

2. I'm sleepy and going to be computer-less for a few days so I thought I'd post what I have so I could...

3. ...Hopefully get some input/criticism from others on the current story here and improve from there

This is my first time posting a fanfic, so I'd love any pointers. I hope there aren't too many mistakes. ^-^; So until next time! Take care~

-Ruby-chan