DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach.

AN: Well let's see I said in the last chapter, like six months ago, that I'd have this chapter up by that weekend well yeah...sorry! :( I'm a bad bad person. Anyways I doubt anyone will even remember the earlier chapters but its a quick re-read so don't worry. On to the last chapter! Enjoy...hopefully!

Reclining back onto one of the trees in the forest Soi tilted her head back against the bark, eyes closed and let out a sigh. It had been a long day and she was happy for the chance to relax.

Soul Society had been thrust into utter chaos with the appearance of the ryokas and the scene at the Sokyoku. Soi had been assigned to investigate the security breech. She and Omeada were to gather information about how the ryoka were able to infiltrate Soul Society and all the events that transpired before Aizen's betrayal at Sokyoku Hill. This meant talking to witnesses and Soi growled in remembrance of the day's events. Her patience had been tested more than once today. From having to speak with the aggravating inhabitants of the Soul Society to Omeada forever stuffing his fat face and spewing crumbs every time he opened his mouth it took every ounce of Soi's restraint not the kill the glutton where he stood. And with Yoruichi's name repeatedly being brought up in testimonials Soi was constantly being reminded of the cocoa-skinned goddess she wished to forget.

So here she came to the one place that brought her peace and sat under the moonlight to let its tranquility wash over her troubled mind hoping to get lulled into a peaceful slumber.

But her peace was to be short lived.

"Soi..."

A soft voice brought her out of her relaxed state and said girl simply dropped her head forward and let out an exasperated sigh. She knew in an instant who it was and she didn't have the physical nor emotional strength to deal with this right now. All she wanted to do was relax.

"Just go away," Soi replied not looking up to acknowledge the person.

"Soi please," the voice pleaded.

"Please?" Hardened steel gray eyes opened to meet liquid gold, Yoruichi was sitting directly in front of her. 'How was she able to get this close without me even noticing? I must be tired. Still, this is unacceptable I am a captain of the 13 court guard squads.' Soi was beginning to feel her anger rise. 'Just another thing to hold over me huh Yoruichi-sama.' "Please what Yoruichi?"

"Soi I..." Yoruichi's gaze fell from Soi's piercing stare and landed on the fidgeting fingers resting in her lap. "I'm sorry."

Yoruichi's eyes jumped back up in surprise when she heard Soi laugh but it wasn't the pleasant laugh that was such a rare treat from the girl. No, this laugh was bitter and cynical.

"Sorry? Oh, Yoruichi how I have longed to hear you apologize. Everything is ok now! Everything can go back to exactly the way it was before!"

Yoruichi was taken aback at the sarcasm dripping from Soi's words and the sneer present on the girl's face. The memory of Soi's actions; the hatred in her voice and eyes during their battle came hauntingly back to Yoruichi. "S-soi...?"

"No!" Soi stood abruptly. "I don't want to hear it. This conversation is over." With that she turned to leave but was stopped when slender tanned fingers wrapped around her wrist.

Fire was burning in the girls eyes as she glared down at the offending appendage. "Let go."

"No Soi, not until you listen." Yoruichi hauled herself up to her feet and met Soi's gaze.

Soi's eyes narrowed into slits. "Yoruichi. LET. GO." Her tone was dangerous and anyone in their right mind wouldn't have hesitated to do as instructed for fear of suffering the consequences.

"No."

In a flash Soi's free hand shot up to deliver a powerful left hook to the older woman's jaw. Unfortunately for Soi, Yoruichi was always just a little bit faster and now both hands were caught in the Shihouin's grasp as Soi struggled to get free.

Yoruichi's grip however held true and when Soi finally ceased her struggles realizing she was overpowered in her weary state Soi became exceedingly aware of the close proximity she shared with the ex-princess. She inwardly cursed the blush slowly working its way onto her porcelain features at the feel of Yoruichi's body gently pressing into her own.

Soi turned her head to try and hide the tint of pink she knew adorned her cheeks and tiredly repeated her request. "Yoruichi, please let go."

Yoruichi frowned slightly. "Okay Soi but only if you promise to stay and hear me out."

At her tentative nod Yoruichi released her hold on Soi's hands and watched as she flopped back down onto the grass arms crossed at her chest. Soi reminded her of a sulking child who had been put into time out but she still couldn't help but find Soi's pout incredibly adorable. The thought tweaked her lips into a small smile before she let out a heavy sigh as she too sat regaining her spot across from the petite captain.

Soi on the other hand let out a soft sigh, thankful to be released from the elder's grasp. This made it easier to ignore all the warmth that flooded her body at the unintentional contact and helped her push the tantalizing thoughts that formed in her mind into a dark corner to hopefully never be seen or heard from again.

If only it were that simple.

One could say Soi's whole life revolved around Yoruichi and they wouldn't be wrong. From when she was just a child Soi was groomed to be her bodyguard, sworn to protect her with her very life. A duty she unquestioningly fulfilled for years while she unwittingly became drawn to the carefree woman. Then when Yoruichi disappeared without a word Soi carved out a new life fighting to become Captain of Squad 2, Yoruichi's squad. She pushed herself, all the while determined to become stronger than her predecessor with the hopes of one day being able to defeat the woman. Yes, you could say Soi's life revolved around Yoruichi, the woman forever in her thoughts.

Now ask yourself a question, what happens when you are denied your most precious commodity? You are thrown into withdrawal.

Something Soi fed with hatred and determination the first time around until she couldn't feel its symptoms anymore. But with something so potent, so enthralling as Soi's feelings towards Yoruichi were, one can never truly forget the taste or feel of it. And being this close to Yoruichi, her vice, her weakness after all these years Soi was reminded once more that withdrawal is a bitch.

"Soi?"

At the sound of her name Soi was brought out of her reverie and her eyes flickered over to meet concerned amber ones before darting away again.

"Soi I know I hurt you and I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention. I would never purposefully hurt you."

Soi did nothing in regards to Yoruichi's statement; she simply continued to stare out into the darkness.

Yoruichi pressed on her voice solemn and reflective. "Seeing you like that yesterday...the way you looked at me. Those tears, Soi I never wanna see you cry again. I couldn't handle it, it broke my heart," sadness marred Yoruichi's pretty face. "Then when I saw you with Isane I thought I'd lost you. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like someone was ripping my heart out."

Soi's eyes momentarily widened before her stoic mask was reset. 'Isane? Yoruichi was there?' Soi felt a slight pang grip her chest at Yoruichi's pained words but didn't dare let it show. Instead a smirk lifted the corner of her lips. "Glad to see I could return the favor after all these years Yoruichi."

Her head bowed, "Soi, do you really hate me so?"

Even with all her posturing, in her heart Soi knew she didn't. Knew she could only carry love for this woman but she had been hurt and her stubborn mind was getting in the way of her stubborn heart.

"If you would only give me a chance I know I can make it up to you. Make everything right again." Yoruichi was all but on her knees begging and Soi could feel her resolve start to crumble, she knew she had to get out of there.

"Are we done? I've listened." Soi stood and turned her back to Yoruichi her calm voice successfully masking her inner turmoil. "I will leave you with this farewell, it's more than what you left me with. Goodbye, Yoruichi."

In an uncharacteristic out pour of emotion the goddess collapsed into a fit of sobs and another brick came crumbling down from Soi's feebly constructed wall of resistance. The captain used the tattered remnants of her will to fight the instinct to run and comfort the girl, the notion of protecting her from harm so ingrained into her being even now.

"I-I did...I just couldn't...d-didn't dare wake you. I w-wouldn't have been a-able to go if I did."

'Wake me?' Soi continued her unsteady trek away from the heart-wrenching sight. 'Wake me? She came?'

"S-soi please...I..." sobs continued to wrack Yoruichi's body. "I love you."

The shuffling of feet could no longer be heard the only sounds coming from the leaves as the wind bid they dance upon the trees and the occasional hiccup from the heap upon the forest floor.

Yoruichi's final words may had only been a broken whisper but they resonated within Soi Fong's chest as if they had been shouted for the entire Seireitei to hear. And just like that the wall that Soi built around her heart came tumbling down.

She had lost...again. Only this time it didn't feel so much like a loss.

In an instant the cocoa-skinned goddess was wrapped in strong pale arms and a fresh set of tears slid down Yoruichi's cheeks as Soi soothingly caressed the broken woman's back. Yoruichi desperately returned the embrace clutching onto Soi and burying her face in the crook of the girl's neck. After a few moments when Yoruichi's tears had ceased and Soi could no longer feel the pitter-patter of salt water against her skin she gently raised the older woman's gaze level with her own. Examining the flushed cheeks, runny nose and puffy bloodshot eyes that she was met with, Soi still thought this woman was every bit as deserving of her title than ever. She was a goddess in every way, shape and form and nothing could ever sway Soi's heart into thinking otherwise not her damned pride nor her stubborn mind. She was hopeless.

"How do you do this to me?" With a gentle shake of her head Soi voiced her inner thoughts.

Yoruichi's grip on the back of Soi's haori unconsciously tightened as a wave of panic engulfed her. "Soi, please don't leave."

A small almost sad smile lifted Soi's lips as she cupped the side of Yoruichi's face her thumb wiping away the shimmering paths her tears left behind. "I'm not."

"Soi?" Yoruichi cradled Soi's hand in her own and locked eyes with the petite captain. "I really do love you."

A soft sigh escaped Soi's lips as her heart beat stumbled. "And even though I've tried to deny it for so long Yoruichi, I love you too."

It only took a second for Soi's words to register and eradicate all the fear and insecurities Yoruichi held in her heart. Those three words having as much of an impact on her as hers did on Soi and slowly a smile, a real genuine smile stretched across the goddess' lips. "Really?"

There was so much hope in Yoruichi's voice that Soi couldn't help but to smile in return as a light blush stained her cheeks. "Hai."

Tan arms flew around her neck and squeezed, effectively cutting off her much needed supply of oxygen while her face was pressed against the side of Yoruichi's as the girl held her. "Soi, I love you so much," the goddess whispered, her lips brushing the shell of Soi's cream-colored ear.

The heat radiating off the poor girl's face was jumping exponentially by the second. "I-I know."

"But do you know how much?"

Soi froze. She knew that tone and when her captor pulled back displaying a wily grin Soi knew she was in trouble. The true Yoruichi with all her teasing and playfulness had returned. "N...n-no."

The raven-haired girl watched as the cheeky grin grew into a full blown smirk and audibly gulped.

"Then by all means let me show you."

With a yelp Soi was pushed back onto the grass her cheeks now a deep crimson as she stared at the body hovering above her. "Y-yo-yoruichi-sama!? What...?"

Any further protestations were stopped when soft smooth lips met her own. The next time Yoruichi's name would come out of her mouth it would be as a desperate plea followed by a satisfied moan.

AN: Well whatcha think? I don't know if I really like the ending but I figure its okay. To tell you the truth I just wasn't really feeling this last chapter for the longest but for some reason last week I got the urge to write it so I went with it. Hope its alright I've actually been trying to improve my writing lately, let me know yeah?