5 years later.

"Got time?" Kukaku asked. Yoruichi had been busy expanding the cafe, as she was able to had her loan approve to buy the other store beside it.

Yoruichi shifted her focus from one paper to another. "What is it?"

"Remember that bitch who hit me hard?"

Yoruichi sat up. "Rangiku?"

"Yeah, that one. She's here. She wants to see you. I'm in no mood to strangle her, so I figured to just go straight to you"

Yoruichi breathed in nervously. It's been 5 long years since she saw Rangiku. 5 years since...Soi left, Yoruichi sadly thought.

She immediately stood up and ran towards the store front. Rangiku looked every inch like the gorgeous grown up woman she imagined her to be. Every man who passed by seemed to agree with Yoruichi. Rangiku on the other hand looked annoyed at the attention she was getting. She leaned against her car, put on her glasses and lit a cigarette.

"Rangiku", Yoruichi called out.

"Hey", Rangiku replied, suddenly looking sheepish. She had thought of how she behaved, and seemed so apologetic. "It's been awhile", she said.

"Yeah", Yoruichi replied with a grin. "Wanna come in?"

Rangiku smiled and nodded. "You're expanding?"

"Yeah..."

"You certainly have good management skills...Soi will be thrilled to know about this", Rangiku said nonchalantly, removing her glasses.

Yoruichi stopped walking and forced a smile. "How has she been?", she asked with a steady voice, trying hard not to give her away, though her heart skipped a at the remotest possibility of Soi still holding an interest in her.

"Doing great", Rangiku said coyly, not wanting to give out too much information.

Yoruichi nodded. "Anything to drink or eat?"

"No, thank you", Rangiku said with a smile. "I just dropped by to give you this...it's an invitation...our casino's celebrating its 25th anniversary...don't kill me for just handing it out...i mean the event is tonight...but I only got my hands on it today", she grinned.

"Oh..." Yoruichi held the card and stared at it quizzically.

Rangiku chuckled and drew nearer to Yoruichi. "I'd understand if you don't want to go but" She whispered, "someone will be terribly disappointed"

"S-Soi will be there?"

Rangiku smiled slyly but didn't offer any answer, instead she said "call me if you plan to go, i'll have someone pick you up from here. Dress is casual by order of management, so don't worry about fancy schmancy attire". She walked out of the cafe and winking at Yoruichi before driving away.

---

"Where have you been?" Soi Fon berated Rangiku.

"Pffft. I was getting tired by all this hullabaloo. I wanted to get out there and feel young again."

Soi Fon chuckled derisively. "You're 23, and you already feel old"

"Considering what we have gone through, I say we're just about ready for retirement", Rangiku responded while whirling herself around an office chair.

"I can't believe you gave up your position in your family's company...to work for my father here. That's just twisted"

"He turned out to be a nice boss. And I have always been interested in consumer goods. I'm so lucky someone suggested to promote Omaeda to the head office, so I got the job. I prefer beer over plastic chips"

"Just let me know if he tries his slave-driver routine on you", Soi Fon chuckled.

Rangiku giggled. She waved at Renji and Rukia. "How's the newly-wed?"

Renji beamed. Rukia kissed and hugged Soi Fon and Rangiku. "Oh you know, adjustments here and there, but considering we've known each other all our lives, it's not really that difficult"

"Sorry I couldn't make it" apologized Soi Fon.

"Oh, shush", Renji scoffed. "don't worry about that. What's important is that you're here. God Soi! Lookit you!" Renji hugged Soi Fon and carried her up. "Still light as ever"

"ha-ha. Rukia, can you please explain what made you say yes to this chimp?", Soi Fon teased.

Rukia raised her eyebrows at Soi Fon and smirked. "I'm a lazy ass and he was conveniently there"

"Oi!" Renji protested then whispered at Soi Fon. "Truth be told she rushed things. You know, too many girls vying for my attention"

Soi Fon rolled her eyes. These two are a match made in heaven. "Where's Kira?"

"Hanging out with...hold your breath", said Rangiku. "Momo"

Soi Fon gasped. "Wow...I didn't see that coming...no wait...let me correct myself. They fit together". They all laughed at the allusion of the new couple's apparent commonality.

"I hope they wallow in grief, sadly ever after", Rangiku chuckled. "Speaking of grief, where is my constant source of it?"

"Shuhei's having a love affair with the slot machines", Renji confided.

"Oooh, that boy", she said. "I'll be back"

Rangik darted down to where Shuhei was. In the middle of her rushing over, she received a call through her cellphone. "Matsumoto"

"Hey...uhm...is it too late to...uh.."

Rangiku smiled. "It's never too late, Yoruichi"

---

"You arrived just in time. Ceremonies are about to start", Shuhei told Yoruichi. "Come with me, Rangiku instructed me to bring you to a certain spot"

Yoruichi was placed near the center in front of the make-shift stage in the casino hall. "Stay here, Rangiku will be with you in a short while", Shuhei said.

Yoruichi nodded then shifted her attention on the crowd. She saw Renji and Rukia, Kira with a girl she has forgotten her name. Momo...that's it. Yoruichi recalled. She smirked a bit. Kira seems to have a thing for short girls.

"Ladies and gentlemen" A man came out of the stage. "Thank you for being part of this wonderful occasion"

"Hey. Glad you could make it", Rangiku whispered and held on to Yoruichi's shoulder.

"At this point, we would like to call on the President and CEO of Matsumoto Corporation, Misteeeeer, but what else, Matsumoto!"

The crowd laughed and applauded. Yoruichi saw that the place was packed as ever. But where was Soi Fon?

Rangiku's father grinned and joined in the applause. "Thank you. It's a beautiful night and it's a pleasure to spend it with you" He paused after people applauded once more. "25 years and counting. Wow. But I won't bore you with a long speech on how good it feels for our company to have gone this far. At the end of the day, we suck your wallets dry, and we thank you for it"

Everyone laughed except Rangiku who groaned exaggeratedly.

"However, I will not pass the opportunity to inform you, that Matsumoto Casino...has fought hard against the giants of American Casino corporations in a certain place... and we have fought well"

Another round of applause followed.

Rangiku squeezed Yoruichi's shoulder and smiled.

"And we owe all of this, to one person, who has turned our shabby casino resort in Macau, into what it is right now--the number one Casino tourist attraction in the greater China region in a little over 4 years! Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you, the General Manager of Matsumoto Corporation in Macau, Ms. Soi Fon!"

People cheered and shouted amidst the thunderous applause. A screen with live feed to and from Macau came up. Yoruichi held her breath as Soi Fon emerged from the backstage, shyly bowing at the people in front of her.

Soi Fon took the mic and cleared her throat before she began. "I have been asked, much to my apprehension, to speak about my so-called achievements tonight. I have also been teased by several people..." She paused to look at Renji who gave a thumbs up. "... to quote Sun Tzu's Art of War as the embodiment of that achievement. I simply refuse because it's too darn obvious" People laughed while Soi Fon smirked. "People who have predicted that I will take over my father's company, will know how I hate the obvious"

Yoruichi stared at Soi Fon and listened to her attentively.

"Icarus was given wings, and flew too high, dangerously close to the sun...that in the end, it was that flight that became the death of him. My achievements...actually don't mean anything without the work of all the people in this company."

People seemed to have loved that so much that it took a while for the applause to die down.

"And if I am deemed too humble for my own good...it is only because I refuse to fly too high...only to melt in my own illusions of grandeur. You...have helped me become what I am today. From the cleaning crew to the top management, especially the people in Macau...I share the limelight with you"

Yoruichi smiled and looked on at Soi Fon who bowed and immediately left the stage in the midst of the deafening cheer. Rangiku tugged Yoruichi's arm. "I..uhm.." she looked down, hesitating to move.

Rangiku gave her a reassuring smile.

Yoruichi smiled nervously and nodded, allowing Rangiku to guide the way.

Rangiku knocked. "Soi? You in there?", she asked, glancing at Yoruichi who remained silent behind the door.

"Yes, Rangiku"

"Wait here", she whispered at Yoruichi, who nodded in agreement.

"It's your night, what are you doing up here?'

"You can see the whole of Seritei from up here", Soi replied sullenly.

"I heard...she had turned the cafe into a very viable establishment"

Soi Fon smiled proudly. "That was expected of her"

"Why don't you visit her?"

Soi Fon's face fell into seriousness. "It's best that we don't see each other"

"How come? It's been years...You have refused to open your heart to anyone else..What good is your life Soi if....I'm sure time has--"

"Time doesn't erase certain things", Soi Fon interjected. "I've had enough heartaches for a lifetime"

Yoruichi felt her throat swell. She knew she was on the verge of tears. Why is Rangiku making me to listen to this?

Rangiku laughed, then glanced at the door. "But you haven't had enough love to last a lifetime"

Soi Fon forced a smiled and stared at the window. Rangiku stepped away. "Wait here, I think I left something in the other room"

Rangiku closed the door and faced Yoruichi. She smiled sadly and dragged Yoruichi a few feet away from the door and whispered, "Icarus flew too high, Soi Fon has stopped trying to get her feet off the ground...you were her wings, Yoruichi...make her fly again", she pleaded and walked away.

Yoruichi stared at the door in front of her and opened it with trembling hands. "Found what you were looking for?" Soi Fon asked while she stared down from the window, all the while thinking it was Rangiku who entered.

"Yes", Yoruichi answered.

Soi Fon looked up, and gazed at her coldly. "Yoruichi"

Yoruichi studied what was in front of her. Soi Fon looked exactly how she was the first day Yoruichi met her; her face expressionless, her eyes unreadable. She had however, looked older, or rather, more weary.

"Rangiku..." Soi Fon smiled a bit and shook her head.

Yoruichi nodded, she understood this was a set up. "She...made it seem like you knew I'd be here...and that...you wanted me to go here...I'm sorry". She started to walk away.

Soi Fon remained silent and turned her head away, back to the view of Seritei.

Yoruichi stopped herself and headed back to Soi Fon. "You're letting me walk away again?"

"What good will it do if I ask you to stay?"

"What good has it done to us when you allowed me to walk out on you?"

"You became your own woman.", Soi Fon said, turning her back from Yoruichi and sat on her chair behind a desk, picking up some files.

Yoruichi followed her. She rested her hands on Soi Fon's desk "At the expense of? What has become of you?"

Soi Fon stared at her blankly. "It's none of your concern"

"Why shouldn't it be my concern?"

Soi Fon closed her eyes and breathed in. "Assuming that it is your concern. What will you do, Yoruichi?" Soi Fon stood up and stepped forward. "Can you possibly say you can accept me for who I am? I am my father's daughter. And that can't be changed"

Yoruichi took a step back.

"I thought so", Soi Fon said curtly, walking back towards her desk.

"Rangiku told me the whole truth...so did my father", Yoruichi blurted out in desperation. "I know what really happened, Soi...I...understand now"

Soi Fon pretended to read a file. "That's good, I suppose. I am only sorry I had to lie to you"

"I understand that what you did was to protect me"

Soi Fon froze. "That wasn't my intention. I was selfish and didn't want you to know--"

"You could've saved yourself, you could've just let me direct my anger at my father. You didn't put up a goddamn fight when I expected you to. Why would you do that?"

Soi Fon stood up. "Because I deserved it"

Yoruichi moved closer. "And you're still punishing yourself for something that isn't your fault"

"I've moved on, Yoruichi. You should too". She made a dismissive gesture and began walking away. Yoruichi caught her wrist, but immediately let go when Soi Fon winced at the contact. Yoruichi cried. "You can't bear being near me"

"That was my line", Soi replied flatly.

Yoruichi covered her face and sobbed. "What happened to us, Soi?" She moved closer and hit Soi Fon's chest with her fist gently. "Why did you leave?"

Soi Fon remained still and stared at the floor. Yoruichi continued to pound Soi Fon's chest. "I loved you...and I know in my heart you also--"

"Stop this", Soi Fon sternly said, catching Yoruichi's wrist. "Stop..." Soi Fon struggled to get a grip of Yoruichi's wrists. "Yoruichi stop...please...stop". She finally was able to take control and hugged Yoruichi, as she fell on her knees and cried, "Why...didn't you fight...for me to stay?"

Soi Fon didn't answer the questions thrown at her, instead, she gripped Yoruichi in her arms and whispered, "Stop crying...it's breaking my heart"

Yoruichi cried even more and held on to Soi Fon tight. "Out of all the times...you have been a... selfish bitch...you chose to be selfless over that.... I hate you", she said in between sobs.

Soi Fon smiled. "I know you do..."

Yoruichi gained composure. "Tell me why..."

"I don't know exactly what Rangiku told you...but yeah..I didn't want you to know... that part about your mom...I know how hard it is to find out that your mother...has left you...by choice...About running away...I ran away because...because I can...and...and I thought I should"

Yoruichi looked up and gazed at Soi Fon's eyes, begging for more answers. Soi Fon shook her head slowly. "I have no excuse...I left because I..."

She hesitantly reached for Yoruichi's hair and brushed it. "I figured you'd make me leave...and I was right..I didn't think what I've done was forgiveable...or you'd ever accept me for what happened to our parents...I thought you'd move on easily...you deserved to move on easily...and I knew I couldn't...It killed me to think I would watch you from afar...leaving me behind...forgetting..." She gently wiped the tears off Yoruichi's face.

Yoruichi sat up and slapped Soi Fon's shoulder, causing her to fall flat on her bum. "Owww! What was that for???"

"For being stupid, for obeying when I told you to leave..." She hit Soi again.

"Oww!"

"For leaving no trace behind..for 5..."

"Hey, that really hurts!"

"Fucking...long...years!"

"Ouch! Passive-aggressive much???"

"And for actually thinking I'd move on just like that...I loved you...I goddamn still love you... I died when you left" Yoruichi exhaled, a terrible weight was lifted of her chest. "I'm sure you had your fun with those Macanese girls, while I was consumed by sorrow", she frowned.

"Where did that come from?" Soi Fon had a bemused expression on her face. "There was never a day that passed by...that I didn't think of you". Yoruichi didn't answer but a small smile escaped her. They remained silent for some time, both staring at the floor, their minds blank.

Soi Fon glanced at the clock and held Yoruichi's hand. "Come...I have something to show you"

Yoruichi saw the smile on Soi Fon's face and gathered her strength to stand up. "Where are we going?", she said in between sniffs.

Soi Fon didn't answer, and just held Yoruichi's hand all the way to the elevator. They reached the observatory that was encased in transparent glass. Yoruichi marveled at the sky that seemed to have enveloped her and Soi Fon. "It's about to begin", Soi Fon muttered.

Yoruichi turned around to where Soi Fon's voice came. She placed her palm on the glass, and turned around. "Come here, Yoruichi"

She stood beside Soi Fon in time to see the first batch of fireworks. Soi Fon smiled, she inhaled, and, uttered slowly and clearly "I love you".

"Finally...I've heard you say it" Yoruichi searched for Soi Fon's hand and held it. "I walked away the first time, didn't I?"

Soi Fon smirked but her face fell afterwards. "I don't know though...if...we should...", Soi Fon muttered sadly.

Yoruichi squeezed her hand. "We'll just have to try..."

"What if it doesn't work? So many things to rebuild...", Soi Fon asked.

"We'll keep trying until it breaks us", Yoruichi said confidently. "I don't want to give you up again...we'll work...we'll do our best...we'll have to accept everything that has happened..and move on together"

"It won't be easy..."

"It was never meant to be...But we have time in our hands...We do have a lot to work on..."

"Where do we begin?"

"I'm not pretending I know how to...It's...it's going to be a long journey..it has been, Soi...think about it...think about the countless starts and stops we've had...yet...we find ourselves together right now...still feeling the same way for each other despite...that has to mean something..."

"But..."

Yoruichi feigned frustration and smirked, realizing what it would take for her to convince Soi Fon. "You know...I used to like this girl...come to think of it...she sort of looks like you..."

Soi Fon broke into a laughter. It has been a while since she laughed spontaneously.

Yoruichi held her chin and drew their lips closer. "But she was the type that never hesitated to take the plunge with me...she gave everything she had...she risked it all..."

Soi Fon arched her brows. "Are you calling me a coward?"

Yoruichi smirked. "Are you?"

---

Yoruichi watched Soi Fon attentively as they entered a shrine, imitating everything her girlfriend did from removing her shoes to kowtowing in front of an altar. Soi Fon suppressed a laughter at Yoruichi's awkward movements, of which she received a glare. Soi Fon handed out 3 sticks of incense to Yoruichi and whispered, "place this in front of my mom's photo".

"Oh..okay", she replied and crawled near the photo. Upon returning to Soi Fon, she whispered back, "She's not going to pull my feet for being your girlfriend, is she?"

"Shhh", Soi Fon hushed as she closed her eyes and bowed her head until it almost reached the floor. Yoruichi bowed down as well, not removing her attention on Soi Fon. She noticed Soi Fon whispering, what she has assumed to be some form of prayer. It didn't escape Yoruichi as well that Soi Fon smiled a peaceful one, something that she had only seen today.

Soi Fon sat up, and so did Yoruichi. They did this for about five times. Yoruichi groaned when Soi Fon bowed down again, until she noticed Soi Fon chuckling.

"You...You're making fun of me", Yoruichi whispered. Soi Fon couldn't control her laughter anymore and rolled off the floor. "That's not funny", Yoruichi complained, standing up and crossing her arms.

"Sorry...sorry..." Soi Fon muttered. "I couldn't...resist it", she said in between fits of laughter. "I'm sorry mom!"

"You aren't even apologizing to me!", Yoruichi exclaimed. "Ooooh, come on, stand up". Yoruichi reached for Soi Fon's arm but instead caught her braids. "Hey..is it shorter than before?"

Soi Fon glanced at it. "Oh, yeah. I had it all cut off before I left 5 years ago"

Yoruichi raised her eyebrows but said nothing.

Yoruichi and Soi Fon left the shrine quietly. Soi Fon finally broke the silence. "The length of my hair signified the years since my mother died...this new one...meant the years you were away from me. I'll just maintain the length from now on... Just a constant reminder of what I lost...and what I have work on in order to regain"

Yoruichi smirked. "You can be really sentimental at times"

"But also cool. Admit it. I mean, come on. Who'd think of styling her hair this way? And for a higher purpose, huh?"

---

"I have a question", Yoruichi asked as she ran her hand through the ancient wall.

"Shoot"

"Why do you call yourself the people of Han when it's the Qin dynasty that started the whole shebang of Chinese history?"

"Just because", Soi Fon smirked.

"It can't be just because!", Yoruichi protested. She frowned and started thinking. " I mean, you're called China because of Qin right?.

Soi Fon laughed. "Okay fine. Just because most things started there, doesn't mean we like that part of our history...there were...better years. Better answer?"

"Hmm...okay"

"What you're stepping on?", she pointed to the ground.

"Yeah?"

"Lots of dead people"

"Ugh. Okay, I get it", Yoruichi squirmed. "Uhm, I know this is a lame question, but how long is this?"

"Very long", chuckled Soi Fon.

Yoruichi slapped her forehead. "Just my luck to have a well informed tourist guide"

Soi Fon let go of Yoruichi's hand and walked backwards, facing Yoruichi. "Look, all I know is this. It was started in...mmm...I guess around 200 B.C?

Yoruichi laughed. "You guess?"

"Yeah! And they just kept building and rebuilding every time it became weak or a part of it collapsed, until it became what it is today...I mean well...they completed it by the time of the Ming? Or was it the Qing? No...Definitely the Ming. I still get confused with all these names, but anyway...the point is..."

Yoruichi jogged towards her and hugged her tight, causing their bodies to collide on the wall. Yoruichi kissed Soi Fon deeply then whispered in Soi Fon's ear "Point is...they never gave up.".

---

A/N: And so it ends, with I think a humble deference to Soi Fon's Chinese ancestry. Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, advised and encouraged. I've got miles to go before I sleep. Not bad though for a first timer?

Oh and hmm, why untouchable? Bite me, it's from Girls Aloud. I liked the part "without any meaning, we're just skin and bone, like beautiful robots dancing alone", and well the story just came about from that line.