Epilogue

The wind blew, playing with the hair of the two women lying side by side in a field of grass, happily enveloped in the moment… until.

BOOM!

A loud explosion sounded, causing the two women to shoot up and quickly survey their surroundings, where they caught sight of two people running from a gaudy house that was currently on fire.

The one farther back was a man, though many would call him a "boy" with the rear of his trousers aflame shouting after the woman who was running a head of him, both running quite faster than either of the two women that were enjoying the moment had ever seen.

"You two might wanna run!" Kuukaku shouted as she passed the tan beauty and her friend without looking back, causing the women to look over at the house.

"That house is full of explosives, isn't it?" The shorter one asked, dumbstruck for a moment.

"Y-yep!" The older woman said, standing quickly and pulling the younger woman up with her. "Let's get the hell outta here!" She said, and made to Shunpo away just as a secondary explosion sent debris sailing their way. The younger woman followed and soon the four of them were out of harms way.

"What the hell was that about, Kuukaku!?" the shorter woman asked, flinging her hands back in the direction of the burning wreckage.

"I miscalculated… It happens." She shrugged. "Why do you think I don't stay in one place for too long?" she mused, causing the purple haired woman to laugh.

"You are quite something else." She said, and grabbed the shoulder of the younger woman. "Hey, Soi, let's get going then, since there's not going to be a show tonight because Miss Captain here had to ruin things." She said, and began to walk away Soifon in tow.

"It wasn't my fault, ya damn bitch! It's that bastard. Ganju's fault!" the older dark haired woman shouted excuses as to why her home had blown up, but no more were heard as the two women quickly made their way away.

-----

"Well, that was a let down…" Yoruichi said setting down in the new spot they'd made their own.

"Ah, well." Soifon said, shrugging, setting next to her partner, and leaned against her tan shoulder.

"I know!"

"No."

"But why?"

"I don't wanna go."

"It's a nice place this time of year…"

"No."

Their short argument was brought abruptly to its knees as the young Captain of the thirteenth squad stumbled upon their location.

"Captain Kuchiki!" Yoruichi greeted with a smile as Soifon sat up from her comfortable position.

"Yoruichi-dono, Captain Soifon…" she greeted back with a bow before continuing. "I've come to extend an invitation to you. Urahara-san, as well as Ichigo and the others were wondering if you'd like to join us tonight." She said.

"Join you?" Soifon asked skeptical.

"Yes, there is a summer festival tonight in Karakura town, and there'll be fireworks and games, and food. It's really nice. This will be the second time I'm going… I think you'd enjoy it." She said, and bowed respectfully.

"Stop it Kuchiki, you don't have to bow to me like that." Soifon said, turning her head, slightly annoyed at the way the other girl was being so formal with her… more so than normal since she and Yoruichi had become partners.

"Rukia, we'll come, don't you worry. Thanks for inviting us!" Yoruichi said, and the younger girl bowed politely before making her way back to the Seireitei.

"Why'd you say we'd come?" Soifon asked furrowing her brow.

"Because you said you didn't wanna go." Yoruichi smiled, leaning playfully on the younger woman.

"That's because I didn't want to go." She said, crossing her arms with a huff.

"Aww, you'll have fun, trust me! Now let's get going so we'll be there on time!" She said standing and pulling the raven-haired woman up with her. Soifon sighed, and stood allowing herself to be pulled along to where ever she would be.

-----

It had been nearly five years since Yoruichi had come back into her life, and they'd been partners for the last three, after finally getting over some tough times.

Soifon was happy… happier than she'd ever been in her entire life, and knew that only her Yoruichi would be the one to ever make her feel like this.

The same could be said about the cat-like Shihouin. She was far more cheerful and happy every day that progressed.

One could say they were the perfect couple, given that they did argue about the most idiotic things at times, like where all the milk was, or who took all of the blankets the night before. Nothing more than silly spats like that.

Of course, in the end, Soifon was always, always, the one to say sorry, or bend to Yoruichi's will, even if she didn't want to. There had been more than one occasion where the two decided to do something incredibly idiotic together, and Kuukaku or Unohana were always the ones that had to save their "Sorry asses" (as Kuukaku liked to say)

So now was no different…

-----

"Why the hell did you do something like that?!" Soifon shouted to her playful lover as they ran away from angered vendors in their gigai's, far quicker than a normal human would, unless they were an Olympic runner.

"They were cheating!" Yoruichi said in her defense, ducking as something was thrown at her at an alarming accuracy.

"That's not supposed to give you grounds to do something like that to the guy!" Soifon said, dodging something else that was thrown in their direction.

They both made it rather quickly to a large opening away from the offending parties, and sat to catch their breath.

"You're crazy." Soifon said finally, leaning back on her hands, looking up at the sky that was a dull dark blue.

"You'd be lost without me." Yoruichi said, leaning on the shorter woman's shoulder, which was bare due to the sleeveless Haori she wore with some Hakama for the summer festival. Soifon didn't say she would, just because of pride, but she didn't say she wouldn't either, because she knew it was true.

She laid her head on top of her friend's and looked up, waiting for the fireworks.

"Yoruichi?" she asked quietly, closing her eyes in bliss for a moment.

"Hmm?" the older woman hummed quietly, lacing her fingers with the ones that were keeping the younger woman upright on their grassy patch.

"Thanks for dragging me here against my will…" Yoruichi chuckled, elated that her partner was having a good time, despite acting all angry.

"You're welcome. Now open your eyes or you'll miss the show." The tall tan beauty said, coaxing the younger woman cognizant.

The sky lit with beautiful fire flowers, none equal in magnificence comparable to those of the Shiba clan, but they were beautiful none the less.

They heard "oohs" and "ahhs" from further away where the actual festival was going on, but they were content to remain silent.

After the show was over Yoruichi sat up and looked over to the younger woman. She leaned forward and carefully captured the younger woman's pale lips with her own.

The two of them set for a moment and reveled in the wonderful moment they were engulfed in, until Yoruichi sat back and smiled.

To think that a few years ago the two were angry at each other for no reason. There were secrets and things that they kept quiet, but eventually all of it turned its self inside out and the two fell deeply in love, more so than they'd ever been with each other.

That was when Yoruichi brought Soifon into the Shihouin family, as her partner, and though she wasn't all that welcome at first she would soon become one of the most respected members of the Shihouin family.

"Would you like to get home? I had something important I wanted to talk to you about." Yoruichi asked standing and extending her hand.

"Sure, but what is this mystery question?" Soi asked taking the hand that was extended to her.

"You'll see…" Yoruichi replied with a cryptic smile and helped the younger woman up.

Soifon couldn't help but smile back, and feel slightly anxious at what may come.

"Yoruichi?" she said walking up next to the older woman and grasping her hand firmly. The tan woman looked over at Soifon with a cocked brow as if asking what she needed.

"I love you." She said and held the hand tighter for a moment longer before letting go, causing the older woman to smile brightly.

"Love you too." She said, as they both made it back, Soifon unaware of the big question that Yoruichi had in store for her was something that would change their lives forever.

-End Epilogue-