Jasmine

She had fallen to her knees and her fingers scraped the ground, compulsively, as she cried. Yoruichi watched her, pained, listened to the silent pleads in midst of her frantic sobbing and thought if there really was a truth Soi Fong would accept.

She thought of lying, deceiving her once more just to stop her tears from flowing.

Just to stop her from hurting.

She kneeled in front of her and placed her hand on her shoulder, the gesture displaying her apology a thousand times over. There was nothing else to be said. The smaller girl slid away from under her consoling touch and into her arms, burying her face into Yoruichi's neck and remaining there. She clung to her with her life, seeking relief for the anguish behind her face.

Yoruichi held her. The words were coming now, as they weren't needed anymore, so she told Soi Fong everything was all right, how she was sorry and that she never wanted to hurt her, told her thousand times over until the sobs died away and only soothing silence remained.

Even then she held her, buried her face into her dark hair, remembering how it had smelled exactly the same back then. Jasmine, wind and the ancient aroma of the incense burned in those dark halls she had treaded a hundred years past. The warm nights spent in secret amid silk and velvet; shivering at the touch of wind and skin against skin. Her body rocking gently against hers, sighs and moans bitten back, her curves so soft in the protective darkness embracing them. So many words to be said but none of them spoken aloud, bite marks on her lips tingling in the morning.

She had missed holding her. She had longed for the way she felt in her arms, the way her slender figure complimented her own body. The way she made her perfect.

Soi Fong slowly uncoiled herself, lifting her head to meet Yoruichi's eyes. Yoruichi ached to see her smile, but saw only cautious forgiveness: a fading flicker of hope in her dark eyes. What was gone, was gone, and could never be retrieved. Memories, trust and a longed-for smile one hundred years too late.

Forgiveness was a price Yoruichi could not afford.

She leaned closer and kissed the girl in her arms, gently, affectionately, telling her she would wait as long as it took. She would stay and wait, and remain by her side until she would smile again.

The faint scent of jasmine lingered on the verge of her awareness.