Disclaimer:
Y'all know I don't own Bleach. Duh.
Author's Note:
As promised, this is the last chapter for The Cat Chases the Bee. I'm really proud of this chapter, and that's a rare thing for me to say. I hope all of you enjoying reading the conclusion as much as I enjoyed writing it. Also, I wrote this at about three or four in the morning, so I'm sorry if there are contingency issues and whatnot. I'll look it over a bit more thoroughly later.
The Cat Chases the Bee
-Epilogue-
I won't let them see you like this ... I promise.
Holding true to her word, Yoruichi uses her shunpo to transport the two of them as far out of the Seireitei as she can manage. And thus did the sakura blossoms fall all around them, clouding them in darkness, as Soi Fon's inhuman wails pierce Yoruichi's sensitive ears. As much as she's tempted to cover her ears, she can't help but stare at Soi Fon as she writhes sporadically. This place would be private enough for them, she knew ... The sekki-sekki in the sakura blossoms was enough to conceal any spurts of reiatsu, while not hindering her abilities, and the distance away from Seireitei was considerable; they wouldn't be interrupted. Yoruichi's caught off-guard by the transmutation Soi Fon undergoes; from her eyes and mouth spew an alabaster liquid, swirling in a repetitious manner until they coat her face in a jagged mask of the same hue. It is just as Yoruichi had expected.
A realization she hadn't wanted to realize.
"Hehehe..."
The sound of Soi Fon's laugh creates an involuntary shiver in Yoruichi's spine as she watches the girl rise from her weakened position; she seems to feel no pain from the injuries she'd incurred in Hueco Mundo. Her mask doesn't cover much of her face, just the eyes, which resemble the eyes of any typical insect. From these descend two points, which pass her chin slightly, to create fangs of sorts. She stands wordless, though her chest heaves considerably; the transmogrification had taken most of her energy, it seemed. The bulbous eyes protruding from the mask glow eerily, a deep crimson hue. Yoruichi was face-to-face with her old comrade ... Having become the very thing all Shinigami sought to destroy. A hollow. And she couldn't move ... Her limbs were so heavy.
Move!
"What's'amatter, Yoruichi," Soi Fon grins, buzzing as she speaks, noting that Yoruichi hasn't moved an inch, aside from her balled fists, "...can't hurt your Little Bee? Pretty soon you're not gonna' have a choice."
"You're not Soi Fon ... I will kill you. And you'll regret ever having done this to her."
"You seem to think we're two separate people."
"What!?"
"...I was only born seconds ago, and already, I can tell I'm smarter than you. Listen, because I'm not repeating myself", as if to dispel any sort of interruption, she holds up a finger, the wild grin on her lips only widening, "I am Soi Fon, and she is me. Separation is impossible ... The same is with the heart beating in your chest. With me dies Soi Fon ... With Soi Fon, I die. We are one in the same."
Regardless of what she did, Soi Fon was never going to be the same. This ... Thing was inside of her, infesting her, and spreading like a cancer. The damage was done and it could not be undone.
"Do you now feel hopelessness crashing down on you, Yoruichi? You still can't move-"
Though, this is enough to fuel the Goddess of Flash's rage, the taunting words from the Vizard driving her on. Sparks of electricity radiate from the flapping fabric on her shoulders until they rip away completely, to leave her wearing the black leotard she'd been wearing underneath. 'Soi Fon' has taken a few steps back, preparing for a blast, and Yoruichi dashes forward.
Forgive me ... Soi Fon.
"The arrogance," Soi Fon seethes through a furious buzz, clasping her hands tightly over Yoruichi's, easily able to suppress the woman's attempted shunko ... No, this was child's play, compared to what she was planning.
"Cero."
Despite having used her shunpo in a skillful dodge, Yoruichi is still partially hit by the potent red beam, the momentum from a mere portion of Soi Fon's Cero having enough power to send her through a tree, snapping its bark and toppling it. Approaching her pray, 'Soi Fon' presses her foot down on the woman's chest, turning her head to spit ... No, she was coughing. Profuse amounts of blood came from the girl's mouth, and then a worried glance, even despite the buzzing.
"Y-Yoruichi-sama ... Did ... Did I do this?"
Yoruichi couldn't answer her comrade ... Soi Fon sounded too beat up from the ordeal, physically and emotionally. The fact that she'd been stung by the Little Bee didn't mean much in comparison to Soi Fon's feelings. She refuses to answer, shaking her head. Soi Fon, meanwhile, lifts her foot from her mentor's ribcage.
"Don't blame yourself ... We'll figure this out, So-"
"Kill me."
Yoruichi turns her head, shutting her eyes tightly. She wasn't hearing this ... Most of all ... She wasn't considering this.
Was she?
"Yoruichi!"
The piercing tone of her friend of decades upon decades is different ... And, the worst part is, it scares Yoruichi. Because this wasn't her Inner Hollow talking. This was really her, and she was pissed.
"Kill me before she returns and takes over my body ... I-I ... Don't want to hurt you anymore ... Yoruichi-sama," by now, the Captain's eyes are welling with tears, and she collapses into the vast bosom that is Yoruichi, bawling into her chest, angry wails expelling into her, "she'll kill you."
Yoruichi can't help but smile, stroking the Shinigami's raven-colored head. Craning her neck slightly, she manages to glance at the sunset in the distance, behind her, thus her vision is impaired and upside-down ... Not to mention blurry, from her own tears. Her tears are for different reason, though, contemplating, even as her mind is already set up. Grasping at her Little Bee's face, she lifts it so their eyes meld for a very brief moment. Despite the bug eyes staring back at her, she can't help but find her endearing. A sharp pang resonates in her breast, the homonka spreading over her left breast, causing a gasp louder than Yoruichi had anticipated. Had she really made that sound?
She'd felt pain before, but this would be the last time she felt such a sensation. It was a relief, in a way.
Okay, so that was really, really hard to write. I'm not used to writing angst or tragedy, so I hope I did an okay job at either/or. I would really, really like some
feedback on this. I'm sorry it had to come to an end so abruptly, but I couldn't take the suspense any longer.
xD
Please, read and review! Please, please, please!