Bleach: Starting as a Vasto Lorde

Chapter 299: You Bet

In a dark, almost pitch-black cave, Yoruichi was huddled in a corner, finding comfort in the robe of Kazuya’s Shihakushō. Across from her, Soi Fon leaned against the rough cave wall, staring at the ceiling absentmindedly. Nobody would expect the place these two shared to be deadly silent, yet somehow it was. The recent events had their minds completely distracted.

Soi Fon let loose a small smile that she herself didn’t notice.

‘He drove them away.’

The victory hadn'l’t surprised her – she’d learned to expect such things from him, her assigned partner. What had truly shocked her was the centaur-like Arrancar’s devastating attack, the lance that had nearly obliterated Ulquiorra. The destructive power of the lance awed her even now. It was comparable or greater than her Bankai’s missiles.

“Well, well, well… About time you warmed up to Kazuya,” said her ever-so cynical Zanpakutō Spirit Suzumebachi in quite a friendly tone. “Why the sudden interest in explosives? Still bitter about losing a fight your Bankai could've won?”

Soi Fon’s eyes flashed with fury. ‘I lost because Ulquiorra had multiple trump cards up his sleeve,’ she shot back at her Zanpakutō Spirit. ‘And your ability failed to kill him.’

“Think of my poison like a fish swimming through Reishi,” Suzumebachi calmly explained. “If the water is too dense, the fish will suffocate like my poison. As Kazuya warned you, Stupid Fon – Ulquiorra was out of your league. Way, way out of your league.”

Soi Fon’s teeth clenched, unable to argue. Speed, power, Reiatsu – Ulquiorra’s release form had completely outclassed her in every aspect.

“I will give you credit for moving past your Yoruichi worship and fighting seriously in this battle…” Suzumebachi let out a sigh. “Now if only you’d work on that atrocious fashion sense and find yourself a decent man, I’d be the happiest Zanpakutō Spirit in the world.”

‘Shut up,’ Soi Fon snapped. ‘I don’t need a man. Never have. Never will.’

Moreover, she had no time for any romance outside of her duties and responsibilities to the Soul Society.

“Pathetic excuses from an insecure little brat.”

‘What did you just call me?!’

“Your Bankai was your only shot at victory, but your pride got in the way again. Stupid.”

‘It’s my code of honor, dumbass. My Bankai goes against everything an assassin should be.’

Besides, Ulquiorra wouldn’t be stupid enough to stand still in the face of her bankai attack.

“Hehe… Ahahahaha.” Suzumebachi’s cheerful laughter echoed in the chambers of her mind. “You point fingers when you know damn well the reason for Bankai manifesting as a missile launcher, you hot-headed, stubborn, sexually frustrated, borderline gay brat!”

The harsh words left Soi Fon momentarily speechless. Suzumebachi had insulted Soi Fon before but never degraded her to this level. Suzumebachi was in a brutal mood today.

‘What do you hope to achieve from ripping into me like this?’

“It’s natural for a Zanpakutō Spirit to see their wielder grow, become stronger and worthy,” Suzumebachi said with a sigh like she was a mother frustrated with rebellious daughter. “Your sexual frustration is half the reason for your stagnation. How could you focus on anything with that always sour and frustrated mindset?”

Suzumebachi dug deep into Soi Fon’s biggest insecurity — her lack of growth in the last decade.

‘You’re just saying it to get me together with a guy. The truth is much more simple. I’ve hit a wall. I’ll need time for a breakthrough.’

She had broken her limits before. The battle with Ulquiorra had made her realize her lacking aspects, giving her another chance to surpass her current strength. All she needed was a few decades of brutal training.

“Face the facts, brat. Kazuya has pushed you to improve from the day he spanked your ass in front of hundreds. He is breaking the walls around your heart, brick by brick.”

Soi Fon turned away, her cheeks burning at the memory. The weakling student she had picked from the crown had utterly humiliated her in her expertise. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least.

“You said you don’t have time for a relationship, right? Be Kazuya’s part-time lover. His mistress. He is the only man who can push to greater heights. He is strong, fast, sensible, caring, and insanely attractive… I’d tell you he was out of your league if I wasn’t on your side.”

Soi Fon sat in stunned silence as her Zanpakutō Spirit praised Kazuya while simultaneously insulting her. It was a fact that he had cheered for her despite the fact she jumped into the fight to make him eat his words. He had saved her from certain death, even going as far as jumping into a disadvantageous battle to protect her and Yoruichi.

With all these merits behind him, all her previous grievances with him had faded. Right now, she quite appreciated him and the energy he brought out of Yoruichi.

‘This is all too crazy.’ Soi Fon shook her head vigorously, nearly getting dizzy from the motion. ‘He is a sadist scoundrel. He’ll make my life hell.’

“How could you say that after seeing how he treats Rukia and Momo with your own eyes? Why don’t we bet on that?”

‘I don’t gamble.’

She had been falling too much for these challenges lately. It’d be one thing had she won them all. But no. She had lost every single one. Her losing streak had begun to worry her about her match with Yoruichi. Honestly, she wished to postpone this battle indefinitely until her misfortunes came to an end.

Suzumebachi chuckled. “Remember that favor you owe me? I’m calling it now. You must take this bet.”

‘Remind why I owe you again.’

“To not abandon your sorry ass high and dry like Rangiku’s Zanpakutō Spirit. I had the chance to break free, but I chose to stay.”

Soi Fon’s eyes widened. She had read reports about the invasion, which also detailed Rangiku’s sudden inability to use her Shikai. ‘If it wasn’t natural, who was responsible?’

“Some creepy guy. He tried to whisper sweet promises in my ears. He didn’t know I was already used to Kazuya’s voice. Ahhh, his voice is holy. If you become his girlfriend, I’d make him sing me a song everyday.”

Soi Fon made a mental note to investigate further later. ‘Fine, let’s bet. If Kazuya bullies me or mocks me in any way, you lose that favor.’

“And if I win, you’ll ask him out on a date.”

‘I know him better than you do. He is a jerk who likes to tease women. As if he could get rid of his urges to make fun of me after my loss.’

“We’ll see soon.”

Breaking from her internal dialogue, Soi Fon glanced at her former mentor. “Yoruichi-sama, Kazuya is taking his sweet time. Is he having trouble deciphering your trails?”

“Didn’t leave one,” Yoruichi casually replied while dusting the sand off of her tail. “He doesn’t need any.”

“Is he omniscient?”

“No.”

“Then how will he find us through this Reiatsu-blocking kidō?!” Soi Fon almost lost her calm at Yoruichi’s careless reply.

Yoruichi reached up and patted the dust from her cat ears. “Don’t worry. He’ll feel out my heartbeat. Silly guy is too infatuated with me.”

“...”