Author's Note: I am aware of many things that have happened cannon in this story- but this takes place before a lot of those things happen. I'm choosing to use some of things things such as characters new looks, and some of the characters endings will be of use. Some things will be ignored however.

I've also received a lot of want for a finish to Mayuri's story. Mayuri will get his finish- I know exactly what is going to happen- His and Nozomi's story was the very first thing to come to me- and the most easily fleshed out. I am just not doing his story just yet- because his ending could give way to other characters you haven't met just yet. So just hang in there with me :)

Soifon Part 1

Soifon had never felt such rage in her life. She had fought hard to control her own destiny. Risen above so much, and fought to be worthy of her title and respect. Now however, it felt like it had had been some fake facade that was ripped away. Bare walls seemed to surround her, and no exit in sight. She was being forced to marry. Worse, they refused to even take into account her own wishes. She wanted Yoruichi. She wanted to prove worthy of her love.

There was mandates though. She had to have biological children. She had to have natural children. Which no matter what, meant she would have to marry a man. Perhaps she could find someone who would allow such? No- she would marry someone who knew she was doing this. The man would know he was nothing more than prized stallion to give her heirs. Then they would be done. She would divorce him, and devote her time fully to Yoruichi and their family. She could make this work in her favor, she was sure.

She flash stepped her way back to the Squad Two barracks and into her own private office. She grabbed some papers and her ink and brush. Quickly, she began to make notes. Jotting down things she needed to accomplish quickly. But first- she needed to get word out. She wanted to meet available and marriageable men. A party? That would work. She could gather them all in one place- meet them in private one at a time? It seemed like too many men- but maybe she could make it available to the other female Captains and lieutenants? That could work.

She began making notes to all the females she could think of, and sent them out. Next she began to pen ideas for the party. The ladies for sure would want to get involved- which was good. She was hopeless at this sort of thing. With a few ideas jotted down and crossed out, she decided to wait for the other females to respond. She was truly, hopelessly, horrible at this sort of thing.

Rangiku was the first to answer her back. While she knew the lieutenant wasn't thrilled with the idea of marriage any more than she was- the woman did love a good party and free booze.

Captain Unohana answered next- saying she would be delighted to attend, but wasn't certain she would be hunting as much as just there to make sure everything went smoothly for the much younger women.
Rukia answered next. She wasn't looking for her a husband, but she would happily attend the planning of, and maybe even the party itself.

One by one, the women answered.

On the morrow, they would meet and begin to plan this little party. Fully expecting it to be a large affair, Soifon cringed at the idea of having to ask her lieutenant for assistance. Then again, with his family name attached to it along with her Captain's title, maybe they would get some serious biters.

"Do we have a location in mind?" Rangiku asked as the women all set around the table. Before all of them set papers, brushes, and ink so all may jot down any notes as they seem fit. "I guess it depends on how big we want this event to be, huh?"

"Do we want to keep numbers manageable?" Nanao asked, pushing up her glasses. "And if so, how would we even begin to do it?"

"I don't want people just showing up for free food and alcohol." Soifon told them. "I want them to realize this is for very serious inquiries only. A way for us women to meet some of the men who are willing to step into the roll of...husband. Maybe if they have to submit something ahead of time?"

"We could always require something be sent ahead of time for serious inquiries, and for security reasons." Unohana offered, before sipping on her tea. "We are already seeing a influx of people coming into the Seireti hoping to catch the eyes of the Captains and lieutenants."

"Perhaps some of us can ask people within our ranks to volunteer to keep an eye on things? No one would want to protect us more than our own squad mates." Rukia suggested.

"It's safe to assume that some within our own ranks might want to attend in hopes of gaining our attention." Isane muttered. "Do we allow that to happen?"

"Maybe we should cap it that no one below fourth seat?" Nanao dipped her brush into the ink. "That way we don't have entire squads looking to attend?"

"As Captains and Lieutenants- I would think that we wouldn't want weak people." Nemu pointed out.

"How are we going to get word out?" Rangiku asked now. "And how do you put on a flier: Hey, we want you to try and win us. Must be Fourth seat or higher, or have money to make it up. Serious offers only!"

"I would suggest something a bit more polite." Captain Unohana smiled against her glass. "Perhaps within our own ranks we could spread word of mouth? It could be easy enough to say that if they are within our ranks that they have to be that seat or higher simply for being able to deal with our spiritual pressures. To those outside of the Gotei Thirteen- we can put up fliers with some simple rules to be followed. Submitting of a 'resume' of sorts. For the security reasons of course- and proof of ability to hold their own- rather in battle or in matters of finance."

"Would it be to much to suggest that Captain Unohana should be in charge of the flowery words?" Ranguki joked.

"If that's what is needed of me, I can certainly do so." Captain Unohana answered. "I am happy to assist our ladies hopefully find their happily ever afters."

"We all know I am better with paper side of things. So maybe I can sort out any of the... resumes that come in? Weed out the obvious no's, and bring the others for the rest of us to go through?" Nanao said, pushing up her glasses.

"I can help get caterers together once we have the budget set?" Rukia piped up. "My brother's last name, well mine too, but that can get us some awesome stuff."

"Perhaps I can help with set up and theme and such?" Isane offered.

"We all know that when it comes to alcohol, I'm your girl." Rangiku said with a wink. "With our monthly bar crawls we enjoy doing, we are sure to get some awesome credits built up. And when they hear the occasion, they'll bring their best forward to win their chance at being the suppliers for the get together."

"Music?" Soifon intoned now, looking over the few notes she had scribbled on her paper. "We don't want anything too loud. But something people could dance too if they wanted."

Most of the girls were silence before Rukia piped again. "I can ask Byakuya."

The women nodded and planning continued on in such a fashion. In two months, they'd have the get together, so there was a lot of work to be done.

Yuu headed toward his father's office, rubbing at his sore neck. He was nursing a hangover that was sure to make this meeting more fucking enjoyable than it would already be. And knowing his mother would also be in attendance would just be the cherry on top of the shit Sunday, pun intended, he was having.

He past a few of the servants, their eyes wide as they spotted him. Hands went up, as if it would hide the fact they were whispering about him as he strolled by.

He hated this place.

He blew a loose strand out of his face. He preferred it tightly braided away from his face, but the servant who had delivered his father's summons made it clear that he was expected immediately. He next scratched at his chin, grimacing at the feel of the days worth of whiskers he felt. Now he knew his father was going to really love seeing him. Hair a mess, unshaven, and wearing the same kimono he had worse yesterday. Fuck it, he really didn't care.

He reached his father's office door, the same servant sent to fetch him barely hid the curl of his lip. Distaste. Just another thing he was used to.

Yuu ignored the servant and went in, unannounced.

His father looked up, his annoyance turning to barely contained fury, while his trophy wife mother gave him a dismissing glance.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked, plopping down in the chair barely set inside the door, just to further aggravate his parents.

"I see you couldn't even bother to make yourself decent." His father sneered at him.

"And I can see by mom's expression that you didn't bother to bathe off whatever perfume the woman you slept with last night wore." Yuu shot back.

His mother face couldn't have look more started if he had jumped out of the shadows and screamed: BOO!

He let his lips curl into a little satisfied smile as his father shifted uncomfortable and his mother took a step further away from the man's desk.

"You've caused us enough shame as of recent." His father snapped once he found his footing again. "So it's time to ensure you are no longer a problem."

Yuu didn't raise to the bait his father was trying to obviously dangle in front of him. Instead he looked bored and glanced around the boring interior that was the office. Light colored floors. Light colored walls. Dark colored furniture his father preferred. His mother preferred the walls light. As if she could convince herself this entire building wasn't sucking the life and soul out of everyone who walked its halls. He looked back at his father and raised a single sleek black brow.

"There's a gathering soon. The female Captain's and Lieutenants will be hosting a get together. Single men are to come and make an impression. You will go, and you will try your damnedest to get the attention of one of them!" His father told him, lacing his fingers together and leaning forward on his desk. "If you fail to preform to our standards, you will find yourself thrown from our home."

"And here I thought I was your precious heir?" Yuu said in mock outrage.

It was then he noticed his mother was more uncomfortable and walked more away from the desk, as if she made to leave. His father made a noise in his throat that made her stop. Yuu watched the expressions that ran over his mother's face before she schooled it blankly again.

"You impregnated one of your mistresses." Yuu murmured, his mother's face giving way again to let him know it was the truth. "And you are going to make that child your heir."

"I will mold that child properly. The way you were not." His father said, his smile overly satisfied.

Yuu stood then, holding his hand out to his mother. The woman came forward and let her son lead her from the room.

Yuu shut the door behind them and led his mother down endless hallways until they found their way to her personal room.

"It's fitting." His mother told him, her face a blank mask. "I stole these rooms from his last wife by becoming pregnant with you. Now someone steals them from me. Karma's work at its finest."

"Do you have somewhere you can go?" Yuu asked, really unsure what to do or say. The whispers he had heard all his life suggested that his father's last wife died mysteriously, and now he surmised that same fate would befall his own mother. She wasn't a good mother. But he was never really sure if she was a bad mother, or not allowed to be a mother. His father preferred to have his trophy always at his side.

"I have no family, no true friends, and no wealth to my name. All I have your father controls." She said now, looking at him. "Death comes for us all Yuu. I gambled to get something nicer in my life, knowing that failure would mean my death might come sooner. The die have been cast, and someone else has rolled better than I."

"Can I..." Yuu began, but stopped. Sure, he had money. His father always gave him coin instead of affection. For every victory he had his father could use to boast, coin had been handed over. He did well in school, learned to be a master at schooling his expression to play at their games, to navigate the blood soaked maps that made up the higher class society. He had even taken some extra lessons on the side. Convincing his father to pay for them had been easy enough. He wanted to be the best, after all.

"We don't know though." His mother mused. "I won't be disposed of until the child is born. If it is a girl, I may very well survive this. If he isn't given a male heir, his plans will be thrown into chaos. It's the reason your father is trying to marry you off to someone well. You may still well be his heir."

"Is there something I should know about?" Yuu asked now, sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs his mother seemed to enjoy.

"He is ill." His mother turned her green eyes to him. "Doctors can't figure it out. But his life will be up sooner than later. His is playing a game of chess against time."

In that moment, Yuu wished he had gotten his mother's eye color too. He got his looks, hair color, everything from his mother. Save the eyes. His carried his father's own cruel calculating icy blue.

He also knew what exactly was killing his father. Poison, placed in his favorite alcohol. He would know; he placed it there himself. A slow killer. And he suspected his mother might very well be aware of his sins.

Some of his victories weren't meant for his father to ever know about.

Soifon felt annoyed as she glanced through all the 'approved' papers Nanao had brought in for final vetting. There was hundreds.

"My, my!" Rangiku cried, holding up a piece of paper. "We got a big player in the house!"

"Oh?" Rukia asked, taking the paper. Her eyes flew open wide. "Yuu Wakahisa!?"

"Who is that?" Soifon asked, curious peaked enough to hold her hand out for the paper. Once it was placed in her hands, she read over it. The man had went through the Shinigami Academy and come out in the top ten. However, instead of joining the ranks of the squads, he had seemed to put his time into learning his families business. Which wasn't surprising if he was an only child.

"His family is rich. Not so much as the Kuchiki's, but enough to take note." Rukia explained.

"And the guy is hot!" Rangiku gushed. "He frequents the bars. He can dance! And rumor has it that he is a one night stand you will never forget!"

Soifon felt her lips curl in disgust as she put the paper aside. "Not someone I would be interested."

"If anyone needed a good lay, its you." Rangiku said, snatching the paper back up. "That man is going to be quite the catch for anyone!"

"But you just said that he gets around!" Isane blurted. "Wouldn't you worry about him... I don't know. Cheating on you?"

"Who cares when you have money like that!" Rangiku pouted. She snatched up Nanao's approval stamp and slammed it down onto the paper. "You will see what I mean when he gets here!"

"Rangiku!" Nanao snapped, grabbing back her stamp. "You can't just approve every guy you want to be there! Otherwise, we might as well just attend the bar crawls!"

Soifon placed her ink brush down and put a finger against her temple, rubbing slow circles. Maybe inviting all of the women's associate had been a bad idea. At this rate, her bad dream was becoming a very real nightmare.

"What are you going to wear Captain Soifon?"

Soifon snapped her attention to Isane who was handing her another resume to look at. Soifon took it and barely glanced at the words on the sheet. "I was planning on just wearing my Captain uniform. Dressing up isn't really my thing and any future husband of mine should know very well that I have no plans on quitting my role as Captain to play mother or wife full time."

"Surely you can find a compromise?" Captain Unohana asked her with a pleasant smile. "Perhaps a beautiful short kimono with some type of pants? Just something a little better than the Captain's uniform. You can still come across a warrior and a woman."

Soifon passed the paper off without truly looking at it. "I will take it under advisement."

"Rangiku! Give that back! You better not approve that or I swear I will break into your home and ruin every bit of makeup you own!" Nanao snarled, reaching for a sheet of paper Rangiku had in her hands, and the approval stamp in another.

"I will take my chances!" Rangiku sang happily before she slapped the approved stamp on it. She then handed the paper over to Captain Unohana who added it to her approval pile with a smile that dared Nanao to try and remove it.

Soifon found herself leaning forward just enough to catch the name: Shunsui Kyoraku.

Yuu was rather impressed by the little get together the female Captain and Lieutenants had managed to put together so quickly. Large tables practically sagging with food sat in the middle left of the room. Directly beside it, taking up the majority of the room was tables arranged in a square with all types of alcohol and a small staff serving as bartenders. Behind that was a small dance floor with a band against the far back wall playing soft, but pleasant music. No one was really dancing, waiting to see who made the first move.

Large round tables sat more toward the front of the space, allowing places to sit and eat. Around the edges of the entire area were chairs, lounges, and benches for people to sit. Only broken up by doors that either marked restrooms or offices where the Captain's and Lieutenants could take a man for a one on one meeting if they so chose. So far, those rooms hadn't been used.

Yuu took another sip of the wine he had taken from the bar. He would have much preferred sake, but he needed something he didn't enjoy so he didn't over indulge. If word got back to his father he had gotten drunk, he would never hear the end of it. So he stood in the corner, partially encased by shadows and kept his eyes peeled. Not all of the women had made their appearances, but those who had were constantly surrounded by men trying to gain their favor.

"Yuu Wakahisa." A sultry voice greeted.

Without giving a side glance, Yuu smirked into his wine glass. "Rangiku Matsumoto."

"You stood me up. Broke my heart you know." She pouted, coming to stand directly in front of him.

Yuu stared more thru her than at her. He liked Rangiku, truly, but she would never be anything he would consider marriage material. If he was truthful, he would be more likely to marry a man before he'd give Rangiku a chance. "Yes, well. Kind of ruins the mood when some fox face asshole comes up to you and threatens to kill you if you even try. I prefer my life over a lay. No matter how good it could have been. Also ruined my appetite. I don't like jilted lovers hounding me."

Rangiku's coyness left in a hurry as she looked at him with a mix of anger and disgust. She opened her mouth to say something when another woman approached quickly. She stood more primly, glasses perched on her nose and her hair styled up and held in place with a clip. "Do not cause a scene." The woman hissed.

"Good talking to you Rangiku." Yuu said with a small salute with his wine glass. He removed himself from the shadowed corner to find another spot to watch. He sat his wine glass down on the next open surface and found his self another spot. Men moved out of his way, feeling his barely contained anger. He hated these type of affairs. While he knew the women were technically the 'meat on display', he could never get rid of the oily feeling of selling himself. As he sat up in another shadowed spot, his eyes found themselves on another target. Not a woman, but a man who gave off a different sort of danger.

The man stood against a wall, between two chairs that no one dared to sit in. Short silver spiked hair stood in contrast to olive skin, riddled with a few scars. Deep blue eyes focused on a target of their own. Large muscled roped a frame that was well over six feet in height.

Yuu cocked his head slightly and followed the man's gaze to a tall woman with her own paler grey silver hair. She wore a blue and purple kimono that complimented her color well.

Yuu could feel a gaze on him now, and he found the large man now staring him down. With a bit of a sarcastic wave of his hands, Yuu conceded the tall woman to the man. He really wasn't interested in someone that required him to look up.

"I don't think we've officially met."

Yuu cursed silently and turned his gaze to the cool eyes of one Captain Shunsui Kyoraku. "Officially, no. I believe our families have had some dealings though. My name is Yuu Wakahisa. You, of course, need no introduction. What brings the esteemed Captain Kyoraku to this little gathering. Beautiful as I hear your kimono choices are, you aren't my type."

Shunsui Kyoraku's smile was pleasant, though his eyes were as cold as a steel of a dagger. "I just seen that whatever you said to Rangiku made my Lieutenant feel she needed to get involved. I would hope you wouldn't say anything untoward to any of the lovely ladies here tonight."

"No, of course not. I will just follow by our usual patterns. Get drunk and take one or several home with me." Yuu smirked back. "Which makes me wonder why you might be here Captain? This is certainly not your usual scene; anymore than it is mine."

"I have to marry as well." Shunsui responded, his eyes shadowed.

"So there's someone here you have your eye on, eh?" Yuu goaded. "To the victor go the spoils, as they say. I think I might try and go to your Lieutenant, was it? I always like the prim types. They're normally the wild cats. Good night Shunsui Kyoraku."

Shunsui's arm shot out and stopped him from leaving. "You leave my Nanao alone." While his face was an image of serenity to most, his eyes were as cold as glaciers and the feel of his spiritual energy turned completely deadly.

"My, my." Yuu tsked. "I didn't realize the pair of you were so involved."

"Nanao deserves better than you." The Captain hissed through his smiling mouth. Those eyes turned even colder. "I would kill anyone who would hurt her."

"Is there a problem Captain Kyoraku?" A stern voice interrupted.

Yuu turned, finding a woman about a foot shorter than him. Her face was frames by shorter hair, while two long braids wrapped in clothe fell down her back. Two heavy golden rings finishing them off. Her eyes were a cold grey, and her mouth was set into such a serious expression that Yuu wanted to scoff.

"Just talking to my...friend here." Shunsui said, dropping his arm. His easy nature coming back naturally to him as he talked to the shorter woman. "You look lovely tonight Captain Soifon."

Interesting. Yuu thought as he brought his gaze back to the woman. She doesn't seem any more pleased to be in this situation than I am, yet she is the main host of this party.

"Then please introduce us." Captain Soifon ordered, "If you're such good friends."

"Captain Soifon, this is Yuu Wakahisa." Kyoraku said, stepping a little more out of the way. "He has come here in search of a wife, it seems."

"Ah. Lieutenant Motsomoto seemed very excited when your papers crossed our desks." Captain Soifon said, turning her full attention on him.
Yuu watched in amusement as Kyoraku took the chance to make a mad escape toward Nanao. "Glad I can stir a ladies heart."

"She said you're a playboy." Captain Soifon said, tone flat.
"Ouch." Yuu smirked. Hand over his heart in a wounded fashion. "How ever will I recover from such cruel remarks about my person."

"You're mocking me." Her displeasure was evident, and Yuu found himself curiously wondering what would happen if he provoked her more.
"You sound as if that doesn't happen very often." He murmured instead. "Perhaps it should happen more. You seem very serious for someone looking to tie herself into marital bliss."

Her grey eyes got colder, and she looked him over. "You don't want to be here either."
"And yet, here I am." Yuu gave her a slight mocking bow. "Have I won you over yet?"

The Captain's eyes gazed over the room, seemingly dismissing everyone she set her eyes upon. "Perhaps we should have a private meeting. We have such rooms set up in case we want a more private conversation with a potential candidate."

Yuu inclined his head in agreement, and followed the smaller woman. He was mostly amused to see she still wore her Captain's uniform, even now. She obviously didn't care much for the thought of marriage, or what anyone thought of her. And this was mostly agreeable to him. Perhaps even play into his wants for the future.

Soifon walked stiffly to the private room, feeling the tightly coiled spiritual energy follow her. Yuu was certainly a odd man. For as much as Rangiku had cooed over him, he seemed cold and aloof. His spiritual energy was notable, for someone who had forsaken becoming a Shinigami. It laid against his skin, tightly coiled, and giving an air of danger that she wasn't quite sure he knew he had. His eyes were guarded with secrets even she wasn't quite sure she needed to know either.

Families like the Wakahisa's didn't always come by their fortunes in fair ways.

She opened the door to her own private room set aside for the night. She motioned for him to go ahead of her, not wanting her back to him once the door shut.

He held her cool gaze with his for a moment before he conceded and walked into the room. He found a small table with some loose sheets of paper as well as a brush and pot of ink. Two cushioned chairs set beside the table, a light cream color. Lights lined the wall, glowing warmly, but not overly bright. A certain mood to be set it seemed.
"What chair would you prefer Captain Soifon." Yuu asked, turning to face her as she closed the door.
Without a verbal answer, the woman set in the chair closer to the papers and ink. Yuu took the empty chair, turning it so it faced her more.

"I want to be frank." Soifon told him, her eyes ever as guarded. "I don't want to get married. I have no choice however. I will loose my position I have clawed my way too. I have worked too hard to let it go now."

"What a coincidence. I have no want to get married too. But I run into a problem of my own." Yuu joked, but wishing he now had the sake he had been wanting. "If I don't find myself a wife at this party, I will be disinherited, immediately. Even if I do marry, I may be disinherited anyways. My father has another child on the way. If it is born male..."

"I have to get pregnant." Soifon said now. She looked uncomfortable for a moment, but quickly hid it behind her cool mask of indifference again. "Two children I have to produce of this union, and then you and I could go our separate ways."

Father would most certainly be dead by then. If I remain his heir, I will have a fortune and a place to return too. Yuu thought. He let his gaze become appreciative as he slid it over Soifon's body. He could tell it made her uncomfortable, but gave no real care. They were just going to have to learn to tolerate one another. As he returned his gaze to her face, he was surprised to find a blush overtaking her face, and her eyes screwed tightly shut. Her hands were clenched on her lap too, he was willing to bet. She acted as if she hadn't ever been looked at in such a way before.

"You're a virgin." He intoned, surprised.

He watched her eyes fly open, anger and shock fighting for dominance in that gaze. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came forward for a few moment. "I... I had wanted someone to be my first." She settled on honesty, and it surprised him.

"Someone?" Yuu murmured. "But that's not going to happen, is it."

"She isn't around much." Soifon said now, her cheeks still flushed, but her eyes slowly going back to their guarded state.

"She? My, my." Yuu murmured, leaning back into his chair. He rested his elbow on the armrest of the chair and settled his head into his palm. "Naughty little kitty aren't you?"
Something in his words caused her to flush again. "Do not mock me!"

"I would never do that." Yuu murmured, a little more serious. "Finding someone you can love is an amazing thing. I grew up in a world of masks and false words and pretenses. I could only dream at what love could feel like. I would never despair anyone for feeling it."

"I want to be with her, but this is forcing me to do otherwise." Soifon continued after a few moments of silence. "I will not allow anything to come between us."

"Let's make a little deal between us, then, yes?" Yuu said, back to his aloof nature. "I am still having fun myself. I am not all that old, and settling down is something I never really thought out for myself. So say we marry, I still want freedom to do as I wish. Believe me when I say I can be discreet and no one would know any wiser. I bring no shame upon you or the married and united front we will put on in front of people. In return, I turn that same blind eye to you and your lover. We will do our duty and ensure that you are pregnant in a timely manner. Once those two children have been born, I leave without a fuss."

"It sounds agreeable." Soifon said curtly. "Should I write up a contract?"
"Papers are messy and can be found. If you are willing to agree your word is your bond, I will do the same." Yuu told her, ever the bored look on his face he used with his father.

"I agree then."

Yuu was annoyed at the pounding on his door the next morning. Before he could even fully sit up, his father burst into his room. The old man looked half spooked, half enraged.
"Captain Soifon just showed up at our door! Why didn't you inform anyone she was coming!?" The old man snarled.

Yuu rubbed a tired hand over his face. "Because I got home just mere hours ago? Because she said we would meet today and I thought I would be able to at least get a little sleep before she showed? Because you would be mad if I woke you up at four in the morning to pass the message along? Take your pick."

"Get up! She refuses to even negotiate without you present!" His father snarled now.
Yuu swung his feet out of bed and walked to his closet, uncaring if his father balked at his nudity. He grabbed a simple kimono and put it on. It was a deep gray with simple geometrical patterns at the bottom hem and sleeves.
Next he walked to the mirror and rubbed the remaining sleep out of his eyes and ran his hands threw his hair. His father stood impatiently by the door, a ball of angry and nervous energy. Yuu decided he wasn't in the mood to antagonize his father further, and simply combed his hands through his long dark locks and left his hair loose.

"Presentable enough? Or do you wish me to put more effort into it?" Yuu asked now, turning to his father. "You seem to believe we are very short on time."

His father huffed, racking a disproving stare over him before muttering, "It will have to do."

Yuu followed the agonizing slow pace of his father, eyes slowly and clinically taking in everything that notated that the poison was doing its job. At this rate, he might very well be dead before his new bastard child was born. Then it would matter not if the child was male or not. Maybe a slight increase in dose would help.

They at long last reached his father office, where Captain Soifon set in the chair across from his father's desk, looking incredibly bored. She however, stood when the pair entered the room.
"Captain Soifon." Yuu greeted with a smile he hoped didn't seem to fake.

She nodded her head, the barest tilting of her lips revealing a smile before she settled back into her stern expression.

"Now! May I offer you a drink? I have an excellent brandy I always keep in stock." His father said, settling behind his desk. The man motioned toward the crystalline bottle holding the dark liquid.

Yuu found himself suddenly very afraid. As a skilled assassin, Soifon would more than likely know the drink was poisoned. If she did discover it was poison, she might say so. Then his so long and carefully crafted death for his father would be done with.

"I would prefer tea, if we are to be negotiating. I prefer a clear head." Soifon said instead.

"We have an excellent jasmine tea." Yuu jumped into say. "My mother favors it greatly."
"That would be lovely." Soifon agreed.
"I will take tea as well." Yuu murmured as the servant turned to leave. He was actually quite pleased when the servant hesitated and his father jumped in and demanded the tea with two cups.

Another servant moved to his father's private alcohol and poured the man a generous serving of the brandy.

A few moments went by, with his father trying, and failing to make small talk with Captain Soifon as they awaited the servant to bring back their tea.
Once the tray had been settled in front of them, and Yuu was on his best manners and poured their guest a cup. Only then did the talks really begin.
Soifon inhaled the aroma of the tea before taking a small sip. "You were right Yuu, this is most excellent."

"My mother has some good tastes in things." Yuu joked, enjoying how his father flinched at the barely concealed, if at all, barb. "We keep many types of tea in the house, but this one has become her favorite. She used to have tea tastings with her friends. But hardly sees them anymore." Not since dad took a mistress and was too afraid of whispers leaving the mansion about it. Was left unsaid.

"If I am to marry into this family, perhaps your mother and I could partake in these tea tastings together. How else will I learn about my husbands childhood? Or at least the parts he doesn't wish me to know." Her smile was devious, but Yuu could see the sweat beginning to form at his father's barely there hair line.

"So you have decided to marry my son?" His father jumped in, quick to get the topic onto something he had more control over. "He is quite the eligible bachelor. I have had many of my friends try and broker contracts for his marriage to their daughters."
"And one contract to marry a son." Yuu added, smirking as his father turned his furious eyes at him. "I was quite flattered." Too bad Yuu ensured that most of those people didn't want to marry him. He let his reputation do most of the talking for him. The rest was done with honeyed words tinged with so much poison that even an idiot would know they were being mocked.

"Your son caught my attention quickly at our little get together. He navigated his way well around the elite, with words alone. I cannot even begin to tell you how many men were asked to leave because they wanted to come to blows. You son, however, had a way of leaving bleeding wounds with a few words and expressions. I find that quite attractive. As an assassin, when you have to be seen, the best wounds are done without blades or poisons." Soifon said, sitting down her tea cup.

Yuu took a sip from his to hide his smirk. Oh, his father would not enjoy hearing he was his normal cuddly self at such a party with so many high stakes players. However, he had accomplished what his father wanted, right? A captain- one of the two only female captains, sit across from his father. He couldn't land a better catch.

"He has always...had a way with words." His father uttered, seemingly astonished anyone would care for his thinly veiled insults.

"I'm not good with crowds. So its a talent I find myself easily drawn too." Soifon continued. "And your son commands attention where ever he is at in a room. At the same time, I watched his disappear by simply standing alone, in the most smallest of shadows. I can only imagine what he could do in an actual battle. I see that his Academy scores were some of the best."

"Yes! I only accept the best!" His father boasted, as if he had any real hand in his education or rankings.

"So do I." Soifon agreed, though there was an edge to her voice now. It seemed she didn't agree much with the older man's words either. "So let's get down to discussion with this marriage contract. I come from a rather minor family- so I am afraid if you want any monetary gain from this marriage, it will not come to you."

Yuu watched his father wave a beefy but lazy hand around while he drained his brandy and held his glass up for another. "We have plenty of wealth. What I want is for my son to have a marriage and an heir before I depart this world. I will happily provide a dowry to ensure you live comfortably if you are smart with the money."

"I was under the impression that Yuu was your heir." Soifon said with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, of course." His father said, taking another long sip of his drink once the refilled glass was returned to him. "But you never know, I could have another child."

Yuu couldn't stop his hands from clenching tightly in his lap. While his father couldn't see it, he knew well that Soifon did.

"Anyways. I will send him off to you with five million. Is that reasonable?" His father continued.

"It is very generous." Soifon said carefully, now seeing a slightly different picture, it seemed.

"Only the best for my son and his bride." His father's smile was oily as it had ever been.

"Your father is a lot different then I was expecting." Soifon told him as they walked toward the Squad Two barracks. Yuu had insisted on escorting her back, not eager to have to put up with his father when she left.

"Yes, well thankfully I got my looks from my mother." Yuu smirked.

"Are you aware he seems to be suffering from poison of some sort?" Soifon asked now, her grey eyes cold and calculating.

"Naturally." Yuu said now, "I put it in his drink." The last part was said only loud enough for her to barely hear. "The world of the elite plays by different rules. Emotions should always be the last thing you think of. It's how you can be the best, be on top, and gain more fortunes. Money makes the world go round, don't you know?"

"And that plays into your actions how?" Soifon asked now.

"Do you know how many siblings I have?" Yuu asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"You're an only child. Your father's previous wife died from what is believed to be complications from birth. The child didn't survive the birth." Soifon answered automatically.

"Sixteen." Yuu said now. "I have had fifteen sisters, all having tragically not survived their births. And one still born brother. All of those children were to my father's mistresses. No one would believe the word of a servant girl if she came forward to claim her child had been slain. Then again, you have to be alive to claim such a thing. I assure you my actions I am taking now have and never will be, as evil as anything my father has done."

"You can bring this forward." Soifon said now, enraged at the thought of innocent children being slaughtered before they barely drew breath.

"I am now working toward saving a single life." Yuu whispered. "Maybe three if I am lucky. If my father's current mistress births a son, my mother will die. If my father dies before the child is born, then my mother lives, the serving girl lives, and the girl she might birth will live. If a son is born, I will no longer be his heir, but that child suffers the same hell I have ever suffered. Maybe far worse because my father will not be around to give directions. Instead he will leave his directions in the hand of sycophant followers of his will. There, the child might make it to adulthood, but probably only to sign over all of his inherited wealth to these people. If there is any left by then."

"Do you have a time limit?" Soifon asked now.

"As long as it is before the birth. I might need to up the dose of poison, but too much more and it might become detectable." Yuu answered honestly.

"I might have something for you."

The wedding had been a more private affair. Captain Soifon had insisted it that way, uncomfortable with the idea of the grand wedding his father would have wanted. Instead, it was left to family, and a few friends Soifon invited to fill her side.

Everything was done with poise and smiles, even Soifon playing the part of being an excited and tentative new bride. The sense of false security and victory laid out before his father on a golden platter.

Now, as he stood in the shadows of his father's room holding the poisoned needle between two fingers, he end was truly in sight.

His father lay snoring, a blanket barely covering his grotesque and obese body, and his poor mistress on the other side, barely any blanket left to cover her shivering and pregnant form. Yuu got the idea that the girl may not have so much as seduced his father, as been forced to his bed. She was young, barely an adult herself. And her eyes were filled with a broken innocence and fear that had made Yuu all the angrier.

He silently moved out of the shadows and stood over his father. He was covered in black head to toe. Only the smallest sliver of skin showed around his eyes, and even then he had put a dark grease paint over them to hide that.

He laid his hand hovering just above his father's mouth, ready to silence the man if he awoke at the pin prick.

With the hand the held the needle, he carefully pulled the blankets away from his father's body, revealing his groin area. The most perfect place to stick the needle. Once his target zone was revealed, he poised the needle and shoved it in deeply.

At once his father came awake, but Yuu was ready, covering his mouth and nose in a strong grip. He jerked the needle out and let it fall to the floor for the moment. Now with his other hand free, he made sure his father couldn't scream or draw too deep a breath.

His father thrashed about, and Yuu cursed when the mistress came awake. But the girl did no more than hide herself in the corner, trying to protect her growing stomach, and shield her nudity.

Seconds passed, and his father's thrashes begin to lessen as the poison took root.

By the end of the minute, his father was dead. Seeming to have died peacefully in his sleep.

Yuu took the chance to place the blankets over his father as they had been, and bend down to pick up the needle.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He told the mistress in a low tone, disguising his voice.

"Is he dead?" The frightened girl asked.

"Yes."

The girl nodded and stood slowly, still trying to shield her nudity. "What do I need to do? Should I run? Do you know where I could go?"

"No, stay here. Go back to sleep if you can. Awake in the morning and discover your master dead. Then do what any horrified woman would do in that situation." Yuu answered.

The girl was trembling like a leaf, but she crawled back into the bed, and after a moments hesitation, yanked enough blankets over to actually cover herself. "It will be the best sleep I've gotten in months."

Yuu didn't bother to stick around, within one blink and the next of the girls eyes, he was gone.

Soifon waited up for her new husband to return to her rooms. For appearance sake, they would be sharing her room for the night. However, the future going forward, he had his own room set up. They had also agreed that until she was able to see Yoruichi in a months or so time in the living world, they would not be physically intimate. Her first time with anyone, would be Yoruichi.

Yuu appeared in the room, stripping the dark clothing off as he headed straight for her bathroom.
"Did the poison do everything you hoped it would?" Soifon asked as he paused in the doorway to the bathroom. "Its something I tend to use in assassinations were kindness is needed."
"My father didn't deserve kindness." Yuu muttered darkly. "However I couldn't risk anyone discovering that he was murdered and didn't die of natural causes. As it stands, I will not get much sleep tonight. I will need to be back at my father's estate early enough to ensure my mom cannot dispose of the maid he impregnated. The girl has suffered needlessly enough without being thrown out, or killed at my mother's command."

"You will take over your father's duties though, correct?" Soifon asked. "Just demand she be allowed to stay as the mother of your sibling?"

"My father was cold and ruthless. My mother is just as much so when it comes to getting what she wants or correcting whatever imagined slight she perceives as effecting her person. That girl would not be safe."

"Then find somewhere safe." Soifon answered simply.
Yuu snorted and muttered, "So she's coming to live with us?"

"If that is what you think is needed, we can find something for her to do here." Soifon answered with a shrug. "While you handle things tomorrow, I can have a room prepared here."

Yuu strolled into his father's home, as if he was doing a visit.

When he walked thru, he was surprised to see everyone gathered together, seemingly mourning.

"Where's my mother!?" Yuu asked, as if he were afraid something had happened to her.

The servants looked at him and shock before looking between each other, no one saying anything. Especially his father's own personal servant, who looked at him as if he had walked in smelling of a pig pin.

"Answer my question!" Yuu snarled now.

"Your mother is in her sitting room, Master Yuu." A female servant, one of his mother's, replied. "I am afraid it is your father. He passed last night in his sleep."

"I see." Yuu murmured, furrowing his brow, hoping he played the part of someone in a sort of shock. "Where is his mistress?"

"I have her locked in a room." His father's personal servant said now, with a barely contained snarl. "I won't risk a cleverly disguised murder go unpunished if she had something to do with it."

"I don't believe that is your call." Yuu said simply, enjoying the mans rage. "She carries my sibling, and I will see her taken care of. You however, are fired. Get out."

"You do not have the power to do that!" The delighted sneer on the man's face made Yuu want to punch him.

"You will find that he can." His mother finally made her appearance. With her was his father's solicitor in which his will would have been with him. "Yuu is his only living heir. Everything goes to him. So my son's word is law now."

"As I said," Yuu said with a satisfied smirk. "Get the fuck out of my house."

The older man looked around, as if he expected someone to come to his defense. When no one did, he simply turned and walked out the door.

Yuu turned to a few other servants. "Get my father's mistress ready for travel. Pack her belongings. She will be coming with me when I leave."

"Yuu." His mother motioned toward his father's office. "Maybe we should discuss some things first."

He let his mother lead the way into the office with the solicitor. Once they were in the room and settled.

"We cannot let that woman risk trying to come for your fortunes once she births her bastard. We should stop the bleeding before it begins." His mother began, once she was settled in one of the visitor's chairs. Yuu himself sat in his father's desk.

"She will be given a position and a stipend within our home that has nothing to do with being my father's mistress. She will hopefully give me the only sibling I will ever have." Yuu said simply. "Rather my sibling is male or female, they will not do without. If it is a male, I will set some holdings aside, or start some new business ventures so when he is of age, he will be able to support himself. If it is a female, she will have a dowry and do as she wishes. Hell, if she wishes businesses for herself, I will set that up too."

"It would bring shame upon this house!" His mother exploded. "You cannot expect me to sit by while this bastard child would run around my home!"

The door to the office opened and the mistress was standing there, looking unsure of herself.

"What do you want?" His mother snarled.

"I was told I'm leaving with Master Yuu?" the girl replied softly.

It was only when his mother's mouse slackened that it occurred to Yuu that his mother had never seen his father's mistress. With a wave of his hand, he asked the girl to enter the room with then.

"What truly brings shame to this house, is knowing my father used his position to force a girl, barely more than a child herself, into his bed. Now she is pregnant, carrying his child." Yuu said, his words hard.

"I... I didn't know she was so young." His mother murmured, looking to the solicitor who began to school his features again, getting over his shock. "I thought it was another woman looking to improve her position in the world."

"As it stands, I will be taking... I don't believe I ever was told your name." Yuu said, turning his attention to the girl. She had barely walked into the room, giving herself just enough space to shut the door behind her. He motioned her toward the chair against the wall behind him. A place safely away from his mother. Barely a young woman or not, he didn't want to risk his mother trying to hurt her.

"It's Rin." the girl replied, coming to sit in the chair.

"Rin will be coming to live with my wife and I for the time being." Yuu said, bringing his attention back to his mother. "I don't want to risk any harm coming to her, if anyone finds out she is carrying my father's child."

"Yes, perhaps that is best." His mother murmured, looking toward the solicitor again.
"Now, before anything else is discuss. . ." Yuu murmured, trailing off. "We will see to my father's funeral first and foremost. Once that is done, we can discuss anything else involving seeing to my mother's well being or pay for the servants."
"My well being?" His mother asked. "I am staying here, surely."
"I think not." Yuu answered standing. "I will give you one of the vacation homes of your choosing. Or perhaps one of our other homes within the city we never use. But you are free of this place."

He then picked up his father's ledger. Within it was contained everything of value and every bit of money his family name carried. A useful item if someone wanted to remove some things without someone noticing.

"We will meet the day after my father's funeral. No sooner. I will not entertain talks either. I was just married and came to see my family. Now this has happened. It has thrown my plans to the side with my wife as it is. Now good day." Yuu knew his smile was cold, with a hint of bitterness he threw in for flavor. A son who cared truly not for his father, and more that he caused him strife even in death.
His mother didn't seem to like the dismissal but rose to leave none the less.