Hello guys! How's the start of the year so far? x

CHAPTER 5: A NEW PURPOSE

"What's for breakfast?" Yoruichi delicately made her way around the new kitchen they shared. Holding a hand protectively over her enlarged belly, she pulled a chair back and sat down the small dining set which they used when guests weren't around.

"Good morning," Soi-Fon smiled over her shoulder, preparing two cups of steaming tea. "Stir-fried bean sprouts."

"Ick. Vegetables."

The 2nd Division Captain raised an eyebrow. "How are you going to get the little one to eat well if even you wouldn't, Yoruichi-sama?"

"You aren't a mother yet, little bee, don't use that tone on me." Yoruichi teased, tugging on the sleeve of Soi-Fon's yukata as she passed by. Soi-Fon, picking up the hint, bent down for a quick good morning kiss. "There. Morning's much better now." The Goddess of Flash smiled.

Soi-Fon sat down beside her wife, blushing at the comment despite their eight months of marriage. That's right, eight full months. Soi-Fon begin thinking to herself. Meaning nine months of preganancy. Yoruichi was due anytime now. She looked down at her meal, suddenly overwhelmed by the daunting challenge of motherhood. Neither of them had planned for this to happen, but they accepted the news with open arms regardless. They had each other, and that was both important and enough. She realized just how much her life had changed within less than a year - ever since Unohana's diagnosis of Yoruichi's pregnancy. She had officially come out to her colleagues, her family, the upper nobility of Soul Society - practically everyone. They fought and worked for their right to be with one another; Yoruichi fighting equally as hard as Soi-Fon did, and this warmed her otherwise hardened heart. She looked around the kitchen of their new home; it was smaller than either the Fon or Shihoin's estate, but it was cozy enough for a family. The Shihoin-Fon household was a lot smaller than any noble estate, actually, but that was because it wasn't. It was just a house, near their work, for the purpose of having this family in a convenient and private area. While both women were fully entitled to living in either one of the Estates, the house far away gave them something of a break from the daily characters inhabiting their respective familial homes. The house was two stories high, and was actually quite large for a single-family home. Yoruichi and Soi-Fon had split the construction, although Soi-Fon offered to shoulder the expenses in full. Yoruichi shook her head and said 'no', this was a life they were sharing together, and burdens - financial or otherwise - weren't to be carried alone. The two-story home was nestled at a patch of land for sale near the 5th Division; it was at the center of the 2nd and 8th. It had a master's bedroom with its own large bath and balcony, a room prepared for the baby, another spare room adjacent to it, a number of bathrooms, an office with two bureaus could be found downstairs and a small quarters for house servants. The living room lead into the dining room through an arch, which led into the kitchen through a set of swinging doors. It was warm, overall, although it was a bit stuffier than the manor Yoruichi had grown up in. Soi-Fon had no problem with simplicity, infact most of the house's adornments were for Yoruichi's sake.

To many in Soul Society, the marriage between the most powerful woman in Seretei and her predecessor was a match made in the stars. Who wouldn't think so? A century-old love story, brave and fearless roles played in too many conflicts and wars, captaincy and power over two of the Thirteen Court Guards and not to mention a social circle which consisted of Soul Society's top 1%. Their nobility was another plus, almost looked over due to their individual accomplishments. But any marriage, no matter how stellar and high-profile, was subjected to the storms and droughts of married life. Finance was one of this - and the Shihoin-Fon marriage was no exception.

Yoruichi was loaded. It was an undeniable fact that the regent head of a Great House would have more cash than she knew what to do with; but that was the thing - she could spend her money as regent head. But as the wife in a marriage? That was another thing entirely. When Yoruichi had abdicated her title as Head of the Shihoin Family, she had also given up her right to use the family treasury to her whims and wishes. By marrying Soi-Fon, who was the current Head of the Fon Clan, she had married into the Fon family, instead of Soi-Fon marrying into the Shihoin family like everyone excepted. She was, technically, a Fon now. However, the dictates of nobility insist that a Shihoin not shed her name upon marriage - unless into a fellow great house, such as the Kuchiki - and Soi-Fon didn't really want her to. Yoruichi didn't mind changing it, but if Soi-Fon thought it was okay for her to keep 'Shihoin Yoruichi' then it did make sense if she just kept it to keep things simple. The children of their marriage, however, will be 'Fon'. This is mandated by the rule that children of a marriage between two nobles who have a dispute on which surname to use will adopt the name of the family they are closer in line to lead - in this case, the Fon Family due to Soi-Fon being its current head.

When the construction of the house had begun, the awkward talk of money rolled in. It had never really been an issue for either one of them, but Yoruichi wanted to be careful. She worried about losing control of the Shihoin treasury, worried that Soi-Fon would be burdened with a bigger financial responsibility than she had ever had to carry herself, and in general, worried because she's never had to worry about money before in her life. However, after a few awkward - but necessary - discussions, it was established that Yoruichi's income as a captain was actually (and expectedly) quite a large amount. She just thought it was meager due to the greatness of her family's money. And Soi-Fon? Well, having the income of both a captain and the Onmitsukido Commander in Chief, she had a lot of dough rolling in. Added to that was living a simple, ascetic life for over a century. It had given her one hell of a savings account. Which probably explained why she could buy out a house on a whim.

Recovering from her thoughts, Soi-Fon set her chopsticks aside and motioned to pick Yoruichi's bowl for cleaning. To her surprise, the dark-skinned woman held her hand up and shook her head.

"I'm pregnant, Soi. Not disabled." She smirked.

She gave her a flat look. "You can't wash dishes if it saved your life."

"I can wash like, a spoon!" Yoruichi quipped a bit indignantly.

"Yoruichi-sama."

"Mm?"

Soi-Fon couldn't help a small smile, "We used chopsticks for breakfast."

"So I can just soap em up and we're good!"

"I do appreciate that you try," Soi-Fon started carefully, noticing a patter in Yoruichi's behavior. "- but really, it's okay. I know it isn't you to do stuff like this."

Yoruichi pursed her lips as Soi-Fon picked up their discared cutlery. They had servants for this, but Soi-Fon was never the type to let other people do the work she could. Which is why Yoruichi wanted to help around the house a bit more. After all the growth their relationship had gone through, Soi-Fon still acts like a servant sometimes. Although her doting had become less servile and more affectionate, it irked Yoruichi that the '-sama' still followed, or that Soi-Fon still tried to clean up after Yoruichi's every foot step. She wanted to help - do a bit of chores, wash some dishes, cook every now and then. But was it her fault that she was just so bad at it all?

"I just want to be more like someone you're married to."

The got a look out of the younger woman. "I'm not sure I follow?"

"Like how my mother was to father. Or Xiaoli-obaa-sama. They're just so good at this maternal thing."

Soi-Fon nodded, urging her on.

"And I can't even wash a dish for shit," Yoruichi said with a hint of a sad smile. "I just don't want to feel like you're still waiting on my every whim, after all this time, you know?"

The raven-haired woman lifted an eyerbow. "You know you don't really fit into the whole 'typical housewife' image, as much as you try."

"I'm not saying I want to be one - " Yoruichi immediately interrupted, waving her hands to emphasize her point. "I just feel like I'm doing a bad job of being married to you. I can't even cook you dinner. It's not that it's a required skill, or any of that stereotypical housewife stuff - I just feel like I should be able to do something for you. But you won't let me even wash a dish. At first I was thinking it was cause of the pregnancy, but really, a dish?"

Soi-Fon blinked. She thought Yoruichi would actually like not having to do any of the meager tasks around the house. "I-I'm sorry, Yoruichi-sa-"

"Soi-Fon, we're married." Yoruichi had said in a surprisingly irked tone. "I am your wife. You can call me just 'Yoruichi' and tell me to do the dishes. And get mad at me more often." She huffed. "That stuff is okay; we're equals now." She said a bit softer.

Initially, Yoruichi couldn't make out the expression on Soi-Fon's face. But expert practice on decoding the Ice Queen's mask hinted her to a few thigs: relief, a bit of confusion, the slow dawning of a realization and, well, a whole lot of love. So Yoruichi did what was at the top of her mind: she kissed her. Nice and slow, passionate and warm. She kissed her like they were under the cherry blossom trees of that Market District restaurant, falling in love again for the first time. She kissed her with her hand on a pale cheek and her heart on her sleeve. When she pulled back, seeing that Soi-Fon was adorably blushing, she knew their little 'spat' had turned out okay. "By the way, stop giving me quick good morning kisses."

"Hm?" Soi-Fon scowled, but blushed still.

"The day could start off so much better with something like that." She gave a cat-like grin.

"Y-Yes. Of course." A flushed Soi-Fon recovered, unable to stop a small smile. "But since you've made your point quite clear," she continued. "Here."

She dropped the unwashed dishes infront of Yoruichi.

"Then just put them over to the drying bin by the right," Soi-Fon moved up to steal a kiss before quickly turning away to the hide the satisfied grin on her face. In a flash, she was out of the kitchen and on her way to their room to get dressed.

Yoruichi's eyebrows rose. She did not.

Despite the pleasant morning, Soi-Fon found herself utterly frustrated the moment she walked in the 2nd Division head office. She had immediately stormed out, calling for her men to form rigid lines of ten in the courtyard to begin training routines under the harsh, stinging sun. The men grumbled amongst themselves, debating on whether the captain's foul mood was because her wife made her buy ice cream at two in the morning again (that story spread like wildfire) or was due to something which started with an 'O' and ended with a '-maeda'.

When they saw their lumbering vice-captain limp out from the office with a butterfly marking on his cheek, they figured it was the latter.

"So, Omaeda," Soi-Fon's authority blanketed over the area. "What was it that you were going to tell these men?"

"Y-You d-don-"

"OMAEDA." Soi-Fon snapped. "We're going to have to work on your presence in front of our men."

"S-Sorry, taichou!" He uprighted himself, standing in good posture. "Never fall asleep and drool on official reports to be sent to the Captain-Commander's office!"

"Good." She turned a scowl towards her men. "This applies to all of you. Not matter how petty the work assigned."

"Hai!" Came the clipped, collected response of her men.

She started walking down the stairs and combing along the rows and rows of seasoned Onmtisukido operatives, inspecting for the slightest quiver or misstep. To the normal eye, there was virtually no ocurrence of error in the group - but the captain could see everything. A foot lunging an inch too far, a back arched too tense, a punch thrown off by just a centimeter. She could see them, all the little miniscule measurements which could in fact mean life or death. But only if they were up against someone like her. As much as the 2nd Division Captain pushed herself and her men to perfection, she knew that too much bending would only break the stick, and so she allowed for these misgivings, knowing full well that she'd slowly correct them in the trainings to come.

She made a mental note to revise the training regimen.

The peace that had settled over Soul Society was a welcome break, but Soi-Fon found herself a bit restless at work. The dull routine of paperwork, training and reports left the small captain impatient, and even Soi-Fon, for all of her dedication and discipline, fell victim to boredom. She stopped her pacing, not missing a beat as she spun around and extended her leg in a sloppy (by her standards) kick. The operative she aimed for quickly raised his hand in a block - it held, but it was shaky.

"Good." She nodded, and the operative nodded back, quite surprised to receive a compliment from the stringent captain.

Soi-Fon stopped her inspection, satisfied with the results, and made her way back up the staircase which lead to the 2nd Division main office. Something was setting her off, picking at her neck. She couldn't pinpoint it, but it felt wrong at the very moment. It was as if she was anticipating for something to blow up any moment now.

"Taicho!" A messenger appeared to her right, and somehow, that moment became now.

"Report." She scowled at the severity in his voice.

"Kotetsu-fukutaicho arrived at the premises to deliver a messa-" The man was unable to finish his sentence when Kiyone herself appeared behind him, having wrestled her way through the guards of the 2nd Division barracks.

"Speak." Soi-Fon held out a hand to keep the surprised messenger from detaining her new visitor. A knot twisted in her stomach, she had a feeling what was coming next.

The young vice-captain panted, a panicked looked on her face. "I-I got her as soon as I could," She took another deep breath, doubling over. "Taicho! She-the baby! She was rushed to the Fourth Division and-"

Soi-Fon was gone in a flash.

"Ugh." Yoruichi bit her lip at the discomfort of being carried on a stretcher. Sweat was beading around her forehead, and her hands were cold and clammy. Too many people, too much panic, and the lights were too bright.

"Just a bit more, Shihoin-taichou." Hanataro Yamada, 4th Seat of the 4th Division, lead the group to retrieve Yoruichi from the 8th Division as soon as Kiyone had sent word. "Bring her in here!" He commanded.

She was brought into what looked like a delivery room, and Unohana was already waiting. She had foregone her Haori and replaced it with a thin, white robe which was closed at the back. Several other shinigami in similar attire were in the room, and they bustled around the captain in labor, carefully removing her haori and preparing her for delivery.

"I trust that you will stay calm, Yoruichi-san?" Unohana said in a calming voice as Isane came in, muttering something Yoruichi couldn't hear to the maternal captain. It was all too much, too quickly. "Now, hold your breath."

The 8th Division captain did as she was instructed, then felt a needle puncture her right shoulder. She turned her head to the right, seeing blue, glowing liquid pumped into her. She threw a questioning look towards Unohana.

"A concentration of reiatsu. You're about to lose a lot of it in childbirth, but that supplement should keep you from being fatally drained."

The double doors crashed open, but Unohana seemed unfazed by the commotion, expertly placing her hands on top of Yoruichi's belly and applying a small amount of pressure.

"Is this okay?"

"Y-Yes." Yoruichi could now see from the corner of her eye that the door was opened by a frantic Soi-Fon, who was currently being pacified by a few 4th Division members.

"Alright." Unohana started pushing harder. "This?"

"Ouch!" Yoruichi yelped. "Not so much."

"I'm going to need you to push on my count of three, Yoruichi-san. Are you ready?"

"Is anyone ever ready for this?" She said through gritted teeth.

"One."

Yoruichi held her breath.

"Two."

She felt a hand intertwine with hers. Much to her relief, she looked up to see a worried, pale figure standing to her left and whispering reassurances. Soi-Fon was here. It was going to be okay.

"Three."

And she pushed. She felt Unohana apply even more pressure on her belly, and she pushed one more time. She lost track of how long they must have gone through the ordeal, but she just kept pushing whenever she was told to. Before she knew it, she was completely drained and felt like passing out. But right before she could, she heard it. The weak cry of a child.

The first cry of her baby.

"It's a girl." Unohana smiled at her softly, and she carried a pink, crying bundle towards Yoruichi. She had all but forgotten her pain and exhaustion - this little girl, her daughter, was all that really mattered right now.

"She's so beautiful." She whispered to herself, noting how the baby had pale skin - just like Soi-Fon. She reached out as the baby was gently put into her arms, and she couldn't believe the overwhelming weight of love that had pressed down on her. She was a mother. The baby's eyes were closed, and she wondered with bemusement: would they be gold or silver?

Speaking of silver eyes, she turned to her wife and smiled. "Hello, Soi. Glad you make it."

Soi-Fon looked at her, momentarily tearing her gaze away from their new daughter, and simply smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too." Yoruichi grinned weakly, raising the child in her arms slightly. "Isn't she beautiful?"

The Goddess of Flash watched as her wife regarded their baby, and she was utterly entraced by the sight. Was this how it felt like to watch someone fall in love in seconds? She had never seen such adoration pour out of Soi-Fon's iron eyes, except perhaps when directed towards her.

"She is." Soi-Fon was smiling absentmindedly, tears shimmering at her eyes.

Yoruichi vaguely realized she was tearing up herself. She didn't mind.

"What do we call her?"

"Not Shunko."

Yoruichi managed to roll her eyes. "Yes, I know, we've talked about that."

"Mai."

"Mm. That means brightness, doesn't it?" Yoruichi observed the child as she slowly stopped crying, closing her small fists around anything she could hold on to. Her heart all but melted when she held onto her finger. Yes, she did brightness into her life. "I like it."

"Fon Mai." Soi-Fon repeated, as if reassuring herself that this moment did exist.

"We have a baby girl." Yoruichi grinned. "Try not to be too strict, little bee."

"No promises."

Soi-Fon scooted in closer to her wife and child, thinking that just for this very moment, everything was right in her world. A realization struck her, hard as lightning, and she knew her life was going to change forever. This very moment was a turning point, and motherhood had never felt more real than it did now. Their work, their home, even the people around them were sure to be affected by the little blessing that had arrived to them this day, and Soi-Fon was thankful for it all. She no longer fought for duty, or honor, or service to the Gotei 13. She had a new purpose, a new life. She was no longer alone, bitter and hateful. She was a wife, and now she was a mother too.

They were a family now.

A warm welcome to baby Mai! I wonder how our lovely ladies would fare as parents? Disastrous? Fun? Everything in between?

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I think I'm going to be able to adopt a more stable update schedule, and I hope to hear from you all! x