Where Is Everyone?

This morning, when Soifon walked out of her house, the coolness of the day came as a great relief. It had been so hot lately it was hard to go outside without risking getting heatstroke. Luckily, Soifon had been careful and stayed inside on most of the hot days, but that was getting boring. She had a division to run! You could only do so much from your house and office. Soifon had finished every piece of paperwork she had, cleaned her house and the office twice, and wrote a list of things she needed to do. But everything was done.

Soifon walked slowly through her division, feeling the cool breeze and noticing her surroundings. Since the temperature was so nice today, she decided to train. Soifon loved to train. She loved to get stronger. She dreamed in beating Yoruichi in a match someday. But that wouldn't happen if she didn't train. On the way to the training area, she saw no one. That was strange. Usually the members of her squad were running all over the place. Where could they be? She wondered, as she walked through the silent streets of the second division.

Yoruichi shunpos behind Soi Fon and puts her hands over Soi Fon's eyes. "Hey I think I can hear something around here somewhere. Buzz buzz, can you hear it Soi Fon?" Yourichi laughs playfully. She lets goo of Soi Fon and acts more serious. "Where is everyone at? This place shouldn't be so deserted. Although we did lose a lot of people, I wouldn't have thought it could this many. If you need any help at all you can count on me Soi Fon. I know your always trying to become strong enough to beat me, and that's a good goal. But right now there are more important things to consider. First where is everyone? Second if they aren't dead and we can't find them, what are they doing? Third I'm hungry lets get something to eat and do so training okay?"

Soifon almost jumped as Yoruichi appeared, startling her. "D-don't do that!" She spun around and faced Yoruichi. "I don't know where everyone is... even my leitenant has disappeared. Perhaps they are out training somewhere....? Soifon knew this was a weak guess, but she couldn't think of anywhere else they might be... execept... dead. Soifon gulped. Dead. She didn't want to think about that. Although she always acted could and heartless toward them, she cared about the members of her division. They were strong, fine shinigami and they had risked their lives to protect her several times. No. They must be training. But....

Soifon shook her head, trying to clear it. "Maybe they went looking for Arrancar? To kill them?" She sighed. "I don't know. But they have to come back soon. I need my division." She bowed. "Thanks for your help, Yoruichi-san. I'm hungry too; let's stop thinking about this for a while. Maybe if we forget about it they'll show up...." Soifon started walking toward the center of the Soul Society, which had an assortment of restaurants.

"We could try finding them using the technique to locate spirit ribbons? But that technique is fairly difficult to use. Still I doubt you'll have much problem with it, since they are your people I'll let you do it. Just focus on your vice-captain that should make it easier." Yoruichi knows Soi Fon cares about her people but hides it from them. She also knows how much Soi Fon misses her being around, but she has other things to do. "I'll tell you why I left Soul Society after we your people okay Soi Fon." Yoruichi smiles as they walk towards which ever restaurant she wants.

Soifon nodded. "I'll do it later. I'm sure he's fine... he's not one to get hurt easily." She chuckled, then turned serious again when Yoruichi spoke. "Alright," she said quietly, nodding. She couldn't wait. She asked herself every day why Yoruichi left. Was it something I did? Did she leave because of me?

"I'm sure they are likely fine, but we'll find out eventually. But aside from that how have you been doing lately?" Yoruichi knows the difficulties Soi Fon has opening up to those around her, she knows Soi FOn needs to talk to someone every so often to avoid being over stressed especially since her vice-captain can be such a pain. Yoruichi decides to play a prank on Soi Fon to see if she is listening. "Do you still have that crush on Kisuke Urahara Soi Fon?" Yoruichi smiles playfully at Soi Fon like she used to.

Soifon nodded. They better be.... "I've been doing alright," she told Yoruichi. "Except for when the Arrancar attacked everything's been great. The Arrancar destroyed half of the second division so it took a while to get everything cleaned up and re-made." She sighed. "I cant help but think they're going to attack again. I mean they just left.... It's not like Aizen to give up. She shook her head, frowning. "But when they attack again we'll be ready." If the rest of my division turns up, she added silently, staring in front of her. "Wh-what?! A crush on Urahara?!" Soifon gasped, coming out of her thoughts. "You know I never liked him!!"

"Kisuke is a good man, sure he tends to be lazy and relaxed but his heart is in the right place. I remember the time you followed him around for an entire day, you have to admit it would appear as if you were stalking him when looked at from certain points of view. You could cut him some slack anyway, besides it's sort of fun teasing you about that. I bet people tease you about Omeada though. At least you know I do in jest so you can learn to relax a bit though. Life is too short to take it too seriously you know. Besides in a way I left because of Kisuke, but there is more to it than just that. The main reason is Sosuke Aizen which is why Kisuke has been trying to figure out how to beat him. He even trained Ichigo Kurosaki partly for that reason. Although saving Rukia was part of it as well, Kisuke plans things out in advance and is very smart despite his apparent lack of effort." Yoruichi continues walking next to Soi Fon knowing she may need to talk and get some things out of her system before they eat.

Soifon just shook her head. It was true that Urahara was against Aizen, but that didn't make her like the man any more. "I don't want to talk about him," she muttered, walking faster.

Yoruichi sighs "Soi Fon do you remember when five captains and three vice-captains disappeared from the Gotei 13? If you think back on it those numbers didn't include me, Kisuke or Tessai. The fact of the matter is Aizen altered those missing captains and vice-captains than framed Kisuke so he would get in trouble for it. I couldn't let Kisuke be punished for something he didn't do. I broke into the central 46, took down several guards and helped Kisuke and Tessai escape after they were sentenced. That is why I left Soul Society. I left you behind because I didn't want to ruin your life, I thought making you look over your shoulder would have been disrespectful to you. In the end I may or may not have done the right thing. But you are stronger now, you have achieved a lot in a fairly short time. I am not worthy or you wasting your life as if you are my servant, I want you to be yourself. In many ways I wish I could be like you, to have been born normal. To have never been in a noble house, being born a noble doesn't make someone special. To be noble you have to do the right thing for the right reason. Ichigo was born from a family who isn't one of the noble families, yet he is more noble than most of those who were born in a house of nobility. I understand I hurt you by leaving you behind, but imagine how I would feel if I had brought you with me and you been killed? What would I do if the Gotei 13 had sent someone after us and they had killed you? You were and are still my best student, how could I expect you to follow me blindly to defend someone you dislike despite the fact you only know what you see? There is more to Kisuke than you know about. The point is, I did what I thought was best, but in hind sight I may have screwed up." Yoruichi stops and watches Soi Fon knowing she had just explained things to her earlier than she was going to.

Soifon looked at Yoruichi, listening intently. Finally she was getting the explaination she waited for for so long. No more sleepless nights laying in bed and wondering why, oh why Yoruichi left. When she was done, Soifon sighed. "I understand... you stood up for what you believed in. And you only wanted what was best for me."

Tears filled Soifon's eyes and she bowed. "Thank you, Yoruichi-san. I understand now."

"Sometimes we have to make hard decisions, I knew you would be safe, but Kisuke.... well if it had been you I would have done the same thing. I don't like abandoning friends when they are accused of doing things they didn't do. Kisuke respects you a lot Soi Fon. You don't know it but he thinks highly of you, he knows you are capable of great things as do I. I don't expect you to change your mind about him, I merely ask that you think about it. After all Kisuke is a better man than your vice-captain as far as showing you respect." Yoruichi hugs Soi Fon and smiles. "Would you like me to teach your vice-captain a lesson and leave him hanging upside in his underwear somewhere?"

"Yeah I am still hungry myself." Yoruichi smiles and starts walking than stops. She smacks herself lightly in the face "Damn it! Soi Fon there is no one here, the 2nd division is the steal force better know as the punishment force. Their job is to round up criminals or defend against invaders. The only logical reason no one would be here is because someone is attacking Soul Society. I mean think about it, for the entire 2nd division to be missing would require something very serious which includes the possibility of an invasion. The only questions now are if I am right, where is the invading force? Who is the invading force, and what are they trying to do?"

"Agreed however I suggest we don't split up like normal. IN this situation it would be better if we stay together to provide each other with back up. After all we're dealing with the unknown in our own back yard so to speak, we need to learn more before we make any serious moves against them. Although we also have to find out exactly what is going on if anything, maybe we check one of the other divisions and see what is going on there as our first move?"

Soifon listened to Yoruichi's reasoning, and then nodded. The former captain was right, as usual. "Yes, that's a good idea." She walked down the street and paused at the corner. The 5th Division was right next the the 2nd. "Why don't we check the 5th Division?" Soifon called, looking back at Yoruichi. "Then if we find someone we can ask them to help check the other divisions." The captain sighed. "I just wish we could see one person... this makes me uneasy."

Yoruichi heads out to the 5th division area with Soi Fon leading the way. She knows Soi Fon is more up to date on how things work than she is. After all standard practice is to change things slightly if someone goes awol or flat out betrays the Gotei 13. On the other hand it would make sense that the new central 46 would run things a bit different also. Even if things hadn't changed Soi Fon would be recognized as having more authority anyway and that is something Yoruichi is proud of.

Soifon hurried to the 5th division with Yoruichi behind her. She glanced around quickly, looking for any sign of enemies. None. Unfortunately, there was no sign of shinigami either. Soifon sighed and walked into the division, looking for signs of life. What was going on?! She walked over to the 5th Division office and knocked, hoping the Captain or Vice Captain would open the door. After a minute she turned away. No one was there. She glanced at Yoruichi, her eyes wide. "There's no one here," she whispered.

"That would suggest that my thoughts are likely correct how ever it may still be possible something else is going on. But t he odds of a surprise party this big are laughable really. Lets check out another division, odds are if anyone is attacking they would go for the place they think is the most dangerous or the most beneficial. The most dangerous would probably be the11th division, but the most beneficial would be the 12th division." Yoruichi thinks for awhile with her eyes closed "If I was an enemy I'd go after the biggest threat first, unless I was a bount. Than I'd go for the 12th division. Since we can't feel anyone who shouldn't belong here I would go with bounts, but I could be wrong. Not even I am perfect after all."

Soifon nodded slowly, knowing Yoruichi was right. The biggest threat would surely be the 11th division, with all the battle loving Shinigami. But it was true Soifon could feel no presence that would come with an Arrancar or Espada. The Bount were the logical answer. "Yes, the 12th Division is probably the place to go," she decided, walking quickly away from the 5th Division. If there was no sign of anyone there, she didn’t know what she would do. Nothing like this had happened before. All the shinigami except them couldn't simply disappear from the Soul Society. Could they?

"Lets proceed with caution Soi Fon, I don't like this at all. We have evidence of not one but two divisions completely deserted. The thought of a surprise party is even more a ridiculous theory than before. The twelfth division has lots of things I'm sure they don't want us to know about, so lets try being respectful to some extent. I admit even I may have trouble doing that though. It we're up against bounts than it's going to be dangerous. I don't have to fill you in since you already fought once. I'll leave you in charge since I'm technically a visitor here." Yoruichi lets Soi Fon take the lead again, Yoruichi is content with making suggestions and giving advice than trying to tell Soi Fon what to do. Yoruichi's confidence in Soi Fon is very high and she can think of no one better to lead her old division.