Genre- Humor/romance perhaps even drama

Ratings- T for future chapters

Pairings- Nanao and Soi - I know, crazy

Disclaimer- I do not own Bleach, if I did, man oh man would Soi and Nanao be getting more action, and not necessarily with each other. I'm a huge YoruSoi and ShuNao shipper

Enjoy and please leave a review

Soi Fong dropped her sword wearily on the ground, finally giving in to her body's demand for rest. Sinking down onto the soft grass and leaning against the nearby sakura tree the 2nd division Captain allowed the cool night air to evaporate the sweat on her body, almost chilling her in her black Onmitsu Kidou uniform. The moon illuminated the grove she currently sat in, her only means of light in an otherwise dark forest-like area. She was far from Seiretei, far enough that no one would be able to detect her rietsu without directly looking for her and moving closer, but she didn't think that was a possibility at this time; it was nearly midnight.

Knowing that war and conflict with Aizen and his Arrancar was imminent and forthcoming the ninja Captain devoted all of her time, spare or otherwise, into training her division, her Corps, and herself, leaving little to no time for paltry things such as rest and sustenance. Where her normal rigorous self-training would have ended at 10 pm, she had extended it until, well, until she could handle no more, so perhaps well past the current time. Time was something she believed she had little of, and did her best to accomplish the goal of yet another bankai technique as soon as possible - Suzemabachi willing.

Disliking the activity of lazing, not that she could really call her current activity of resting "lazing", Soi bargained with herself that she would rest for no more than an extra minute, then continue training. But her plan, and desperately needed rest, was interrupted by a thickening rietsu in the air. It was heavy, it was powerful, and it was close. Soi judged it to be around Captain class; if this was an Arrancar, or even Gin and Tousen themselves, Soi knew there was a difficult time ahead of her, half collapsed as she was.

Nevertheless the proud woman flash-stepped towards the rietsu while cloaking her own to avoid detection, and even at the rate she was traveling, the congregation of rietsu vanished before she could arrive there. Cursing mentally Soi refused to blame it on her near exhaustive state, simply her inability, but soon she stopped in her tracks, feeling the rietsu emerge once again. It hadn't vanished, simply gotten less powerful. It was cloaked, but Soi was rather adept at sensing even the best cloaked rietsu's. She was after all, the Commander of the Secret Mobile Corps. Following the rietsu, more carefully this time Soi found herself in a clearing much like the one she was training in herself, and no Arrancar or Espada lurked there, but Nanao Ise, fukotaicho of the 8th division.

When Soi felt a vague familiarity in the reitsu her mind instantly jumped to Gin and Tousen, Shinigami who's rietsu she could somewhat identify, but in reality it was the slightly mysterious Nanao Ise. Nanao almost always was cloaking her rietsu, not enough to hide per say, but enough to hide the signature, explaining why Soi could find her, just not recognize her.

Settling herself onto a tree Soi curiously watched the Lieutenant, whom she thought was naught but a paper pusher, release the full extent of her power, and silently, Soi was impressed. It was powerful for a Vice-Captain, and if Soi didn't know better, good enough to be mistaken for a Captain. In Nanao's hand was her zanpakuto, which Soi observed as an interesting mix of a stiletto and a sai, long, thin and easily concealable. Unfortunately the Captain had not arrived in time to view exactly where Nanao drew the weapon from, but quite a few educated guesses were confirmed and tossed out by what little she did see.

Soi felt the air thicken again as Nanao called up her rietsu, her uniform starting to flail in the wind tunnel created, and a few strands of dark hair wriggling its way to freedom from its usual harsh bun. With a phrase to quiet to hear, the air suddenly exploded in a kind of light, channeling from Nanao's zanpakuto. The sensation was exactly what Soi had experienced before, leading her to the conclusion that Nanao was trying for bankai, and had simply failed at her first attempt.

But after a second Soi realized this attempt and sensation was not exactly the same, this time the power was less, but more more…compact…more controlled in a sense. Soi started a bit, luckily staying silent, as flames seemed to burst from Nanao's sword into a pillar where her zanpakuto pointed at the ground. The pillar of fire built up then suddenly died down, Soi raised a brow as the fire calmed and took the shape of a female lion, sleek with grace, and not burning with untoward rage, simply strong, and Soi had to odd urge to say passionate.

It seemed perhaps Nanao Ise had managed to achieve bankai. Or perhaps Soi had thought to soon, Nanao as well.

"You have not the knowledge to seek me," the lion purred, a steel backing to her words as she moved her graceful head towards the somewhat stunned fukotaicho.

"I don't understand what more I have to learn!" Nanao said, frustration leaking into her voice, almost through every pore. It seemed as if this was not the first talk Nanao had with her zanpakuto. The large feline impaled Nanao with it's fiery gaze, and Soi could have sworn even glanced at her for a moment.

"You have not all the knowledge that you can have from those around you, why seek more information from me when you have not sought all from around you?" the lion asked cryptically, "you think to make up your lack of knowledge in one subject with another, instead of understanding, and learning up to your limit in all things." Nanao opened her mouth, obviously intent on responded, but started swaying on her feet. Soi, could instantly see the woman was at her limit, her rietsu almost completely used. The flames comprising the lion wavered, like a mirage, and with a quiet dignity the animal faded into the air.

Soi flash-stepped to Nanao's side within moments, seeing the woman falling backwards, and caught her, their height making the maneuver slightly difficult for the smaller Soi Fong.