Bleach: Soi/Ukitake [Delicate]
A plot bunny from many years has languished in my brain and finally emerged.
Title: Delicate
Rating: PG for implications and a bit of swearing
Pairing: Soi, Ukitake, slight Soi/Ukitake
Disclaimer: I don’t own Bleach.
Spoilers: End of the Soul Society arc. No Spoilers.
Summary: Soi watches Ukitake.
The look on your face is delicate
~Damien Rice
Yoruichi-sama told her she could learn alot from that man with a wink, a nudge and a laugh before she disappeared again.
It made Soifon scowl. She didn't think so. The man was weak. How he had ever risen to the level of captain was beyond her comprehension.
That didn't explain why she was still watching him. She had been keeping him under surveillance for the past two weeks and she still had not changed her assessment of the man.
Weak. Soft. Too kind hearted. Too jovial. The man deserved to be captain of the 4th division, not of the 13th.
It was impossible not to notice that he was extremely well-liked by his entire division. She didn't know if this was a weakness or a strength. The Special Corps was different from the other divisions. She didn't need to be liked. She needed to be obeyed.
"Want some tea?" Ukitake Juushiro's cheery voice floated up the rafters to where she was sitting.
Soifon was shocked. He wasn't supposed to know she was there. This was humiliating. She is supposively the captain of the 2nd Division. Her stealth is unparalleled. How was she suppose to explain what she was doing on the ceiling of the 13th division, spying on their captain like some sort of Peeping Tom?
"How about about some umeboshi?" Juushiro's voice called out again. Wasn't this man sick? Why does he have such a robust voice then?
Soifon decided that she couldn't very well just pretend this wasn't happening. The thought did cross her mind but sneaking off like that would have been cowardly. She wasn't about to add another unsavory adjective to her list today. She had gotten caught. She could deal with that. Besides, the man was a captain after all. An unworthy captain in her estimation, but he was still a captain.
With a sigh, she did a back flip and landed gracefully on her knees in the hall. She bowed deeply and said as neutrally as possible, "My apologies for my behavior, Ukitake-taichou. I was merely observing your method of leadership."
"Ah, I see," Juushiro said.
The tone made Soifon want to grind her teeth. Other captains would have expressed alarm or at least a little nervousness to having the captain of the Secret Corps be observing them. This man just seemed to take it all in a stride. "I apologize for any interruptions I may have caused," Soifon added.
"Maa maa," Juushiro said with a smile and a wave of his hands. "No need to be so formal. We're both captains, aren't we? Tea?"
Soifon felt that she was bound to at least drink a cup of the man's damn tea. Juushiro poured her tea into a blue porcelain cup. Soifon stepped into the room and seated herself in front of the captain. She accepted the steaming cup as gracefully as she could, trying to keep her expression from seeming too sullen.
Privately, Juushiro was wondering why a pretty girl like Soifon scowled so much.
"Did you observe anything interesting?" Juushiro queried pleasantly.
Soifon looked into her cup, the clear amber liquid, and groped for words. How could she synthesize what she has seen in these past two weeks into a commentary that wouldn't be offensive? Yes, she has seen many things. Most of them uninteresting to her. Most of them incomprehensible. Most of them would not be things she would comment on... but rather scoff at. The 13th division was nothing like her own division. Grasping for something to say, she latched onto something she had known even before beginning her observations.
"Your lack of a vice-captain," Soifon said in an even tone. "It is obvious that your health taxes you."
She noted that while Ukitake-taichou's smile never faltered, it didn't seem to quite reach his eyes anymore. His demeanor turned almost sober and if she could feel anymore awkward she would have. She knew the story. Everybody did. However, the fact still remained that the lack of a vice-captain in the 13th division was unnusual. Of course she knew all the theories, because she did not gossip, and conjectures about the possible replacement. She had met with Shiba Kaien a few times before his untimely demise. As talented as he may have been and a member of a royal house, even if it had been disgraced, it didn't mean that he was irreplaceable, did it?
"I can see why that would seem interesting," Juushiro said conversationally. "But I'm assisted with both of my third chairs and I really wouldn't want to favor one over the other."
Soifon admired the man's composure and diplomatic answer. Every squad had suffered from intense rivalry for promotions. She could understand how promoting from within could be troublesome if there was not a stand-out or a natural leader of the pack. Perhaps that was the reason for his reluctance to appoint a vice-captain, he simply didn't want any competition that could possibly endanger his own position. Another look at the serene 13th vice captain made her conclusion seem to forced and conniving. Ukitake Juushiro didn't seem so calculating.
She observed him detachedly and he held her gaze, unafraid to be scrutinized, a bright smile even when his eyes remained watchful. Soifon wasn't dumb and knew what Yoruichi-sama had been implying when she planted that suggestion into her head. Anyone else could easily make the same parallels. Both having come from minor houses, both having risen to the level of captainship, both unfit to serve. Nobody had ever said it plainly to her face but no one, least of all her, knew that she was an usurper. Despite everything, she hadn't progressed beyond the shadow of her beloved mentor.
Soifon wondered how this man had dealt with the expectations and responsibilities of his family. Her family rode her hard, mercilessly and without feeling.
"I humbly apologize for taking up your time," she said curtly, setting her tea cup down with an economity of gesture that struck the other captain as almost draconian, and altogether almost 'unfeminine'.
"It wasn't an inconvenience Soifon," Juushiro said pleasantly, wondering about the glint in her eyes and what recollection may have caused it. "Feel free to stop in anytime."
Soifon walked out of the Thirteenth division headquarters without a look back.
***
When the Shinigami's Women Association asked for volunteers in taking Ukitake-taichou's photo for their calendar, Soifon volunteered without even thinking about it.
She wasn't the only one surprised by that decision.
Author's Notes: Why Soifon? I wonder how she is perceived by everyone else. Why Ukitake? I like him, he seems like a nice guy. Why together? The picture that was taken for the SWA was the inspiration point. To me they both have a number of parallels. Both come from minor houses and have this expectation placed upon of them. Both of them have excelled but I don't think Soifon sees it that way. And the Damien Rice qoute, I think both of them would view each other as 'delicate' for different reasons. ;)
This was intended as a one-shot. Comments and criticism welcome. If you want more, you better inspire the plot bunny with ideas. Literally.
Cross-posted in kurosaki_clinic
Title: Delicate
Rating: PG for implications and a bit of swearing
Pairing: Soi, Ukitake, slight Soi/Ukitake
Disclaimer: I don’t own Bleach.
Spoilers: End of the Soul Society arc. No Spoilers.
Summary: Soi watches Ukitake.
The look on your face is delicate
~Damien Rice
Yoruichi-sama told her she could learn alot from that man with a wink, a nudge and a laugh before she disappeared again.
It made Soifon scowl. She didn't think so. The man was weak. How he had ever risen to the level of captain was beyond her comprehension.
That didn't explain why she was still watching him. She had been keeping him under surveillance for the past two weeks and she still had not changed her assessment of the man.
Weak. Soft. Too kind hearted. Too jovial. The man deserved to be captain of the 4th division, not of the 13th.
It was impossible not to notice that he was extremely well-liked by his entire division. She didn't know if this was a weakness or a strength. The Special Corps was different from the other divisions. She didn't need to be liked. She needed to be obeyed.
"Want some tea?" Ukitake Juushiro's cheery voice floated up the rafters to where she was sitting.
Soifon was shocked. He wasn't supposed to know she was there. This was humiliating. She is supposively the captain of the 2nd Division. Her stealth is unparalleled. How was she suppose to explain what she was doing on the ceiling of the 13th division, spying on their captain like some sort of Peeping Tom?
"How about about some umeboshi?" Juushiro's voice called out again. Wasn't this man sick? Why does he have such a robust voice then?
Soifon decided that she couldn't very well just pretend this wasn't happening. The thought did cross her mind but sneaking off like that would have been cowardly. She wasn't about to add another unsavory adjective to her list today. She had gotten caught. She could deal with that. Besides, the man was a captain after all. An unworthy captain in her estimation, but he was still a captain.
With a sigh, she did a back flip and landed gracefully on her knees in the hall. She bowed deeply and said as neutrally as possible, "My apologies for my behavior, Ukitake-taichou. I was merely observing your method of leadership."
"Ah, I see," Juushiro said.
The tone made Soifon want to grind her teeth. Other captains would have expressed alarm or at least a little nervousness to having the captain of the Secret Corps be observing them. This man just seemed to take it all in a stride. "I apologize for any interruptions I may have caused," Soifon added.
"Maa maa," Juushiro said with a smile and a wave of his hands. "No need to be so formal. We're both captains, aren't we? Tea?"
Soifon felt that she was bound to at least drink a cup of the man's damn tea. Juushiro poured her tea into a blue porcelain cup. Soifon stepped into the room and seated herself in front of the captain. She accepted the steaming cup as gracefully as she could, trying to keep her expression from seeming too sullen.
Privately, Juushiro was wondering why a pretty girl like Soifon scowled so much.
"Did you observe anything interesting?" Juushiro queried pleasantly.
Soifon looked into her cup, the clear amber liquid, and groped for words. How could she synthesize what she has seen in these past two weeks into a commentary that wouldn't be offensive? Yes, she has seen many things. Most of them uninteresting to her. Most of them incomprehensible. Most of them would not be things she would comment on... but rather scoff at. The 13th division was nothing like her own division. Grasping for something to say, she latched onto something she had known even before beginning her observations.
"Your lack of a vice-captain," Soifon said in an even tone. "It is obvious that your health taxes you."
She noted that while Ukitake-taichou's smile never faltered, it didn't seem to quite reach his eyes anymore. His demeanor turned almost sober and if she could feel anymore awkward she would have. She knew the story. Everybody did. However, the fact still remained that the lack of a vice-captain in the 13th division was unnusual. Of course she knew all the theories, because she did not gossip, and conjectures about the possible replacement. She had met with Shiba Kaien a few times before his untimely demise. As talented as he may have been and a member of a royal house, even if it had been disgraced, it didn't mean that he was irreplaceable, did it?
"I can see why that would seem interesting," Juushiro said conversationally. "But I'm assisted with both of my third chairs and I really wouldn't want to favor one over the other."
Soifon admired the man's composure and diplomatic answer. Every squad had suffered from intense rivalry for promotions. She could understand how promoting from within could be troublesome if there was not a stand-out or a natural leader of the pack. Perhaps that was the reason for his reluctance to appoint a vice-captain, he simply didn't want any competition that could possibly endanger his own position. Another look at the serene 13th vice captain made her conclusion seem to forced and conniving. Ukitake Juushiro didn't seem so calculating.
She observed him detachedly and he held her gaze, unafraid to be scrutinized, a bright smile even when his eyes remained watchful. Soifon wasn't dumb and knew what Yoruichi-sama had been implying when she planted that suggestion into her head. Anyone else could easily make the same parallels. Both having come from minor houses, both having risen to the level of captainship, both unfit to serve. Nobody had ever said it plainly to her face but no one, least of all her, knew that she was an usurper. Despite everything, she hadn't progressed beyond the shadow of her beloved mentor.
Soifon wondered how this man had dealt with the expectations and responsibilities of his family. Her family rode her hard, mercilessly and without feeling.
"I humbly apologize for taking up your time," she said curtly, setting her tea cup down with an economity of gesture that struck the other captain as almost draconian, and altogether almost 'unfeminine'.
"It wasn't an inconvenience Soifon," Juushiro said pleasantly, wondering about the glint in her eyes and what recollection may have caused it. "Feel free to stop in anytime."
Soifon walked out of the Thirteenth division headquarters without a look back.
***
When the Shinigami's Women Association asked for volunteers in taking Ukitake-taichou's photo for their calendar, Soifon volunteered without even thinking about it.
She wasn't the only one surprised by that decision.
Author's Notes: Why Soifon? I wonder how she is perceived by everyone else. Why Ukitake? I like him, he seems like a nice guy. Why together? The picture that was taken for the SWA was the inspiration point. To me they both have a number of parallels. Both come from minor houses and have this expectation placed upon of them. Both of them have excelled but I don't think Soifon sees it that way. And the Damien Rice qoute, I think both of them would view each other as 'delicate' for different reasons. ;)
This was intended as a one-shot. Comments and criticism welcome. If you want more, you better inspire the plot bunny with ideas. Literally.
Cross-posted in kurosaki_clinic