Bleach: Saving Rukia: 3
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Ichigo + Rukia, One Shot, One Shot Series, Saving Rukia
Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one
Saving Rukia Arc
By Eugena
Three:
Return of Loyalty
Ukitake pov
The spiritual pressure of a captain approaches, but I know it not. He has his sights set on Byakuya. There is no wavering in him. He stands a sentinel to protect Rukia, the unseated member of my squad. Yet, something is familiar. He begins to fight, but I cannot shake this feeling. I have lived to see many die—and now I see one return.
Kaien Shiba. The one before me is nearly his duplicate. He who died at Rukia’s hands will now reborn causes her to die. Must it be a never-ending cycle? Is there no end for them?
In both times, it is Rukia who suffers. She who loved another woman’s husband was doomed to live past his demise. Now she is doomed to die before they can be united. Is this Kaien already taken? Has his wife returned as well?
Yet Byakuya warns that this man before me is not the same. He is not the man who once swore loyalty to me. Yet, this man has pledged his life to Rukia, and that is enough.
Bleach: Saving Rukia: 2
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Ichigo + Rukia, One Shot, One Shot Series, Saving Rukia
Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one
Saving Rukia Arc
By Eugena
Two:
Reunited, Briefly
Ichigo pov
At first I check on the young soul reaper. He has a good heart and strong will but he is weak in strength. Perhaps I check on him first, because I cannot yet face you. You lied to your own family to save my life. Again, you save me. Yet how do you take me now? Will you really not forgive me, as you have promised? An ache begins in my soul, for without you I am lost. Yet if you live and you leave me, am I just as lost?
Yet your eyes reassure me. Though you say otherwise, you are truly happy. Then what Hanataro has told me is correct. How happy my memory has made you. Now, if you allow, take my life and find your happiness.
Bleach: Saving Rukia: 1
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Ichigo + Rukia, One Shot, One Shot Series, Saving Rukia
Bleach © Kubo Tite
Saving Rukia Arc
By Eugena
Rated: T
Bleach S2 (Eps 41-42) one shot fic series.
One:
Saving Rukia
Rukia pov
Somehow, she knew she would let go. Let go of Kaien and her role in his death. Someday, she would free her heart.
So, she watched her big brother try to kill the man who looked so much like him. He summoned the cherry blossoms of his sword, his final and undeniable killing move. Her former captain looked on, in pain to see the man looking like the lieutenant he lost.
No. No, thought Rukia. Why should anyone else die for me?
Was fate really that different this time?
“What is it, Rukia?” Ichigo’s voice in her mind.
“Rukia?” Kaien.
She knelt before her memory of Kaien. Forgive me, forgive me, she begged.
Whether or not Ichigo proved to be the reincarnation of Kaien, Rukia felt something for Ichigo for him alone.
Maybe she gave Ichigo her power because he looked so much like him. Maybe she thought it was her repentance.
In the end, she could only give into one feeling, for the one man who stood to protect her. Kaien died, and with him, her feelings for him.
Goodbye, Kaien.
Bleach: Late: 02 (M)
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Late, Gin + Rangiku, Toshiro + Rangiku
Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one
Late
A Bleach Fanfiction By Eugena
Chapter Two: Thinking of You
Rage burned in Toshiro’s heart. He tried not to remember the many times that Gin Ichimaru had visited the Tenth Squad. “Was it then?” he would ask himself each time he thought of a visit. “Did they ever . . . ?” he didn’t want to fill in the blank. Never wanted to ask, “Did they ever have sex in my barracks?” The thought of it alone sickened him. He never really liked Ichimaru and not at all after he became a traitor.
He tried never to think of Matsumoto’s personal life. He’d always suspected she’d end up with Zaraki or Madarame after becoming drunk in one of their many drink-a-thons. Well, perhaps not Zaraki. He could hold his liquor. Even though he was a ruthless fighter, Hitsugaya could never imagine him taking advantage of a not-so-sober Matsumoto.
But Ichimaru didn’t need her drunk. No, he was sure of it. Of her own free will, she had always chosen him. And he remembered . . .
oOo
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO – SQUAD ELEVEN BARRACKS
Zaraki took Matsumoto on. Granted, with his spiritual power severely restricted. As a “thank you” for looking after Yachiru many times, he had decided that whenever he got bored, he would spar with her. Who knows, maybe Zaraki would learn the name of his zanpakto, or Matsumoto would achieve bankai. Anyone would have to in order to stand up to a full powered Zaraki. Hitsugaya watched, as he had many times before. Weary that Zaraki might accidentally increase his power and harm Hitsugaya’s favorite (and only) fukutaicho.
This time, Momo Hinamori stood beside Hitsugaya, watching the match. “Matsumoto-san sure is improving, Lil’ Shiro,” she said.
“Don’t call me that,” he warned. “It’s Hitsugaya Taicho.”
“Yes, sir,” she complied, bored. “Aren’t you impressed with her improvement, Taicho?”
“I’d expect only the best from her—and you,” he added.
“Still,” Hinamori said a bit sadly, “she’s lucky to get the attention of a taicho.”
“Oh?” he asked, thinking she meant Zaraki, “I suppose you want me to spar with you too?”
“No, no,” she said. “I mean it’s not that I wouldn’t—I mean that’s not what I meant.” Hitsugaya would not be able to understand. Yes, Matsumoto had Zaraki’s attention, but there was one other taicho who gave her the type of attention she could only dream of from her own taicho.
“Well, well, what are we up to, kids?” Speak of a devil, it was Ichimaru. He walked up to Hitsugaya and Hinamori, his eyes in their usual slit. He made Hinamori’s skin crawl. She wanted the type of attention he gave, but certainly not from him. What did Matsumoto see in him?
“I see that this is where you’ve been hiding my Rangiku, Captain. I’ve been looking for her.”
“She’s in plain sight,” Hitsugaya countered quickly. “You should watch her.” He hated saying that last bit. Yes, he wanted to show her off and boast of her prowess, but he’d rather Ichimaru left.
“Thank you for inviting me, taicho,” he said and turned his attention to Matsumoto.
He enjoyed watching her, almost seeing each of her movements before she made them. Yes, she was predictable. Well, perhaps not. It was just that he knew her so well, so intimately. She fought with Zaraki for a long time, expertly countering several of his blows and dodging the others. Finally, she had reached her limit, growing more tired and Zaraki nearly struck her.
Ichimaru had leapt down and picked her up before the blow landed. Granted, Squad Four could have healed her, but as long as he was watching his Rangiku, not a scratch would come to her.
“Impressive, Rangiku,” he said as he held her in his arms.
“Captain . . . .” she stammered, tired from the fight, not noticing that Hitsugaya had been only a little behind Ichimaru in the same rescue attempt.
He lowered his mouth closer toward her ear. “I’ve missed you.”
He put her down hesitantly, reluctant to let go of her. “If I made you my fukutaicho, we could spend more time together.”
Hitsugaya became furious. He wasn’t sure what to say, but he did not want to remain silent. Zaraki interrupted his thoughts.
“You alright, Rangiku?” Zaraki called from far behind them.
“Yes, Zaraki Taicho,” she answered. “It was a good fight.”
“Anytime, but you shouldn’t push yourself too far.” Zaraki had sheathed his zanpakto and walked over towards them. Yachiru was not far behind.
“That was a great fight, Kenny,” she said. “You’ve really gotten better, Rangi,” she said to Rangiku.
“Thanks,” she said to both of them.
“Matsumoto, are you free this evening?” Ichimaru asked.
“Yes, Ichimaru Tai—”
“Then I will see you this evening,” he said interrupting her. As he walked past her, he allowed his hand to brush against hers.
By this time, Hinamori had already joined the group. At hearing Ichimaru’s words, Hinamori` blushed, her mind wandering to the implied promise behind his words.
“Matsumoto,” interrupted Hitsugaya in a firm voice, “I believe we have several things to go over.”
Her nervous smile fell from her lips. “Yes, Captain.” She turned again to Zaraki and the others. “Thank you again, Kenpachi,” she said, not used to referring to him by his first name, “Yachiru. I’ll see you later, Momo.”
Bleach: Late: 01 (M)
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Late, Gin + Rangiku, Toshiro + Rangiku
Bleach © Kubo Tite
Late
A Bleach Fanfiction By Eugena
Rated: M
After Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tosen defect from Soul Society, Hitsugaya must pick up the pieces of Matsumoto. Toshiro/Rangiku, Gin/Rangiku.
Chapter One: A Final Birthday Present
Rangiku Matsumoto begins another day at her sink. Sick. Her best friend, who once gave her a day to celebrate her birth had walked away yet again. In the pit of her stomach, she could not quell the loneliness that swelled up.
Rangiku retched again.
“Rangiku?” her taicho called through to her.
She felt so sick she wanted to cry. Her grief overwhelmed her.
She wiped her mouth and opened the door. She tried to give Toshiro a warm greeting, but nothing came from her lips.
“Rangiku.” His voice again. He had never seen her like this before. He held his arm out to support her. “Come, let’s go see Unohana Taicho.”
She tried to speak, tried to do anything but think of Gin. Yet to no avail, all of her moments with him came back to her. She turned away from Toshiro, not wishing him to see her cry.
His arm caught her waist. “Rangiku, if you can’t trust me, who can you trust?”
She allowed him to take her weight, the closest thing she could do to speak. He smiled at her, and the genuineness of it broke her heart. She would never see Gin smile again.
Gin never smiled like that. No matter where their relationship went, Gin would have never been like that. Gin . . . .
Her mind dwelled on the past as Toshiro picked her up and whisked her away towards the Squad Four barracks.
oOo
By the time Toshiro arrived, Rangiku had lost consciousness. On his way there, Yachiru had seen them and had followed them. “What’s the matter with Rangi?” Yachiru asked.
“I don’t know,” Toshiro answered as Unohana Taicho came over to them. “She’s been very sick.”
“Don’t worry. Hanna will get her better.”
Toshiro carried her over to an empty bed, worrying over her pale face.
Unohana placed a hand on Rangiku’s forehead. “So many strange things have begun to happen since Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tosen betrayed us.”
“Ichimaru betrayed her most of all,” Toshiro said.
oOo
Yachiru had left Squad Four to return to Kenpachi and inform him of Rangiku. “Rangi” as Yachiru called her often spent free time with the reapers of Squad Eleven.
oOo
Toshiro withdrew to a place within himself to talk to Hyorinmaru.
“Are you prepared for the truth, Toshiro?” Hyorinmaru asked him.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “Do you know something about this?”
Hyorinmaru’s icy breath washed over him. “If you were older, you would make the same guesses I would. Yet I do not need to guess. I sense it already. What is your loyalty to her? How far will it go?”
“She is my fukutaicho, and I am her taicho. I will not stand by and let her be hurt.”
“You are too late to stop it all, but perhaps you can quell her pain for the future.”
oOo
Unohana Taicho woke Toshiro from his state. “Hitsugaya Taicho, I have discovered what troubles her.”
His eyes widened. “Is there a cure?”
“It depends, captain. This is difficult. I must talk to you alone.” She signaled to the members of her squad in the room. The members and her lieutenant left the three in privacy.
“Normally, this is something she would tell you herself, but I must since she is not awake. She is pregnant, Hitsugaya.” She allowed the news to sink in. Toshiro felt sick. Although he was not completely surprised, he still did not want to believe it. Hyorinmaru was right. Had he been older, more mature, he might have asked her about this before involving another.
“She is most likely sick from stress, and this could be good news. But I will not pretend not to know the father.”
“What do you mean?” he demanded, sick at the unspoken thought between them.
“I will leave it up to you as to whether you or I should tell her.”
“Thank you,” he said and stood up quickly. “Please let me know when she wakes.”
oOo
He did not wait for her reply. Instead, he rushed back to his office, the whole time trying to drown out Unohana’s words. He would not accept such an explanation. He would not acknowledge the name of the man she did not speak of.
I swear it, I will kill you.
Bleach: Cross: AU: Within Your Heart: 02
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Cross Alternative Universe, Bleach Cross AU Within Your Heart, Sosuke + Shirahime, Toshiro + Momo
Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one
Opening Theme: Believe Own Way by AAA
Ending Theme: TBD
Bleach: Cross
AU: Within Your Heart
By Eugena
Chapter Two: Death, Rebirth, Retribution, Part One
THE WANDERING SPIRIT WORLD – SHIRAHIME’S POV
It’s not easy being dead. I mean really dead. How many past lives have I had? But this last one was by far the best. And it had to be: that one was it.
I imagined Kurotsuchi either crying or threatening to rip Hinamori apart. The first one was not too much him, but then again, I was the only person he’d ever fell in love with. Gods only know what he’d do.
Where was I anyway? I couldn’t see my body, but I stretched what I thought was my arm out. “Last Revival.” Nothing happened. Neither of my zanpaku-to appeared. I could not hear my past life self, Yukihime.
“Shinnou! Shinnou!” I called to the dragon spirit that inhabited my second zanpaku-to.
“Shinnouhi,” the voice could turn blood to ice. That was not Shinnou.
I turned to an all too familiar face. It was Sosuke’s Aizen’s face, but it phased in and out.
“Kyoka Suigetsu.”
oOo
KARAKURA TOWN
It took only moments for Hinamori to realize what happened. She had died, but Taicho sacrificed herself for her. Momo had lived in Shirahime’s place. But why?
Shirahime’s memories came to her in a flood to answer her question. Only recently, when the long lost Kudo twins and Suzunami had been found, had anyone remembered Shirahime’s most recent past life. She had been born into the Royal Family again. This time called simply Yukihime. She had run away only to hide out as a shinigami of the Soul Society. Few knew where she had really come from. Only Yamamoto, Urahara, and Siegen and Konoka Suzunami. Seigen Suzunami had been the Taicho of Squad Ten. He had no fukutaicho, but Yukihime became his. She later married him and took his last name, as she had none of her own.
Yet the next memories hurt Momo the most. Aizen, then Fukutaicho of Squad Five, was in love with Yukhime. He didn’t try to hide it, but he made sure Suzunami didn’t know. Probably Kyoka Suigetsu’s doing.
During the battle with Arturo, Yukihime had saved the Kudo twins at the cost of her own life. She died nearly instantly. Despite that, Aizen had tried to give her his own reiatsu by plunging Kyoka Suigetsu into her chest. But it was for nothing.
Her body disappeared along with Suzunami and the Kudo twins. Aizen used Kyoka Suigetsu to make everyone forget Yukihime. No one would know his weakness.
His weakness. If she died again, he would be heartbroken. That had been her plan.
“Aizen,” Hinamori spoke finally. “Now you know my grief. You know what it means to lose the one you love. I was a fool for ever loving you, Aizen. Taicho taught me a better life, but you took her away.”
The other shinigami seemed stunned. Shirahime’s leaking reiatsu held them in place. Gin seemed unaffected, but he was at a loss of what to do.
“Where is Shirahime?” he demanded.
At this moment, Ichigo took advantage of Aizen’s distraction and sliced him with Getsuga Tenshou. The attack stung Aizen and he turned on Ichigo. He didn’t care before about killing Ichigo, but since losing Shirahime, he would not hold back.
Hitsugaya stirred in Soi Fon’s grasp. He could hear Hyorinmaru screaming at him. He didn’t want to wake up. He just wanted to die. He felt Shirahime punching him across the face. “Wake up, Shiro!” she yelled at him.
Why was she so angry?
“Hitsugaya,” he could hear Hyorinmaru clearly now, “Shinnouhi is dead.”
Rage and grief engulfed him. He jerked awake in Soi Fon’s grasp. He turned to look at the battle. Shirahime’s powerful reiatsu was leaking from Hinamori. He had killed Hinamori, but now she stood there alive. But her eyes were blue, like Shirahime’s eyes. Could it be possible that now Shirahime lived within Momo?
Momo could hardly control Shirahime’s reiatsu. It raged out of control. It seemed angry about something. Momo’s own anger had become a catalyst for Shirahime’s anger from all of her past lives to surface.
Bleach: Cross: AU: Within Your Heart: 01
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Cross Alternative Universe, Bleach Cross AU Within Your Heart, Sosuke + Shirahime, Toshiro + Momo
Bleach © Tite Kubo. Bleach: Cross original characters and elements, including the “past life backstory” © Eugena.
A/N: I just read the new manga chapter (392) and I thought I should come up with a fix for it. I wrote it mostly in Hinamori’s point of view, and I may continue the story.
Seigen Suzunami is from Bleach: The 3rd Phantom DS game. I’m working on an adaptation of this.
This is part of my “Bleach: Cross” universe, but it is AU to the original story.
Brief Bleach: Cross Overview: Shinnouhi (Imperial Princess of the Royal Family) Shirahime Thorne is the new Fifth Division Taicho. She is Yachiru’s biological mother. Daichi Takeya is the third seat of Squad Five and her adopted son. Shirahime and Daichi are immune to Kyoka Suigetsu’s influence. Shirahime’s zanpaku-tos are Yukihime and Shinnou. Ichigo is now the fourth seat in Squad Five.
I originally had this take place in Hueco Mundo as I didn’t realize it was in Karakura. Thanks to Samantha for pointing this out and to Yemi Hikari for pointing it out in a review.
Opening Theme: Believe Own Way by AAA
Ending Theme: TBD
Within Your Heart
A Bleach: Cross AU Story for Manga Chapter 392
By Eugena
Rated: T
Chapter One: The Hidden Shikai
KARAKURA TOWN
She felt the earth stop spinning beneath her. That slow, usually unnoticeable rhythm ended and what was left of her life began to fade away. She had always imagined her last thoughts would be of her new taicho that she loved. She had been the woman to show her how to pick up the pieces after Aizen and to spread her own wings.
“Shiro-chan why?”
Momo had learned a lot about love. She had first fallen in love with Aizen who did nothing but use her. She found a new taicho who protected her “because you’re my fukutaicho, even if I’m not your taicho.” She loved the taicho who had been good to her. She thought she fell in love with the taicho’s adopted son who was the third seat.
But at the end of her life, she loved Hitsugaya, Thorne Taicho’s “Shiro Taicho.”
She could hear Tobiume’s voice calling out to her. No matter how much she strained, she couldn’t hear her zanpaku-to’s words.
She thought of Shiro. Why?
Wings flapped in the distance. Dragon wings.
“First Revival.”
The world faded from her. Had she really been so deceived? Why?
oOo
Yukihime’s ice barrier surrounded Hinamori’s body, preventing her fall. Shirahime Thorne Taicho dove swiftly towards Hinamori. With Shinnou in bankai mode, the outstretched dragon wings quickly soaked up the reiatsu from the fallen shinigami and arrancar. She gave no thought to Gin’s tricks in delaying her, knowing full well he was close behind her. Gin could celebrate a small victory: only she, Ichigo, and her son Daichi were immune to Kyoka Suigetsu, and she had arrived too late to save Hinamori from it.
“Raika.” She commanded Yukihime’s second shikai. Flames shot from Thorne’s fingertips towards Gin. She held on tighter to Yukihime, feeling uneasy as Shinnou began to take in some of Gin’s reiatsu.
Hitsugaya screamed. His bankai form began to break as he fell.
“Ichigo, take Gin!” she yelled to him. She flew towards Hitsugaya and caught him in her arms. She struck him across the face.
“You’re all open,” Aizen taunted.
“Stay on Gin!” she yelled to Ichigo, not wanting him to avert his attention. Though she had not once looked at him, she knew he would want to go in for the kill now.
It wasn’t quite time for Aizen.
She could hear Kail, Ichigo’s Hollow in her mind. “What are you doing?” he was enraged, wondering what strange scheme she had thought of now.
“Keep Ichigo focused and on Gin,” she warned. She didn’t have time to explain.
She struck Hitsugaya again, this time drawing blood. He still did not look at her. Damn it.
She flash stepped to Soi Fon, expecting Aizen to strike at any moment. Pushing Hitsugaya in her arms, she said, “Take the shinigami and leave. Kill Gin if you can, but leave right now. You’re in no shape for Kyoka Suigetsu.”
She didn’t wait for Soi Fon to object. She knew the taichos had enough to worry about with Aizen striking them. For once Aizen seemed to ignore her, overconfident in his abilities, focusing various strikes and kidos against his enemies.
None of that mattered to her. She saw now only her fukutaicho encased in ice.
oOo
HINAMORI’S INNER BATTLEFIELD – FIELD OF BURNING TREES
Hinamori could no longer see herself. She could hear her thoughts, but she could not see her body. She kept walking towards Tobiume’s reiatsu.
Two hands on either side of her face stopped her. “Hinamori,” the voice commanded. Her body began to form again. She could see where Hyorinmaru pierced her chest. “Hinamori.”
Did she know that voice? It seemed familiar.
Taicho.
Yukihime. She felt Yukihime’s reiatsu surround her.
She remembered the last thing Taicho asked of her: “Promise me you’ll remember me.”
“I’ll remember you forever,” Hinamori whispered out into the burning forest.
Tobiume faded into view in front of her. She was weakened by her master’s injury. Tobiume heard Thorne Taicho’s voice: “Tobiume, take care of her.”
oOo
KARAKURA TOWN
Thorne Taicho stretched her hands out to the ice barrier. Hinamori’s life had already ebbed away, kept intact only within the barrier. She spoke to Yukhime: “Yukihime, will you do this?”
Yukihime responded in Thorne’s own voice: “I have always been you. What you have wanted, I have wanted.”
“And Shinnou?” Thorne asked of her other zanpaku-to.
“Shinnou can survive without us. Shinnouhi, what will you command?”
She gave one last thought to Yachiru, safe somewhere with Kenpachi, and to Daichi, injured but still alive.
“Promise you’ll remember me,” Thorne said as tears gleamed in her eyes. Without turning, she said in an even voice, “Aizen, I’ve finally realized how to destroy you.” In a past life with Seigen Suzunami, Aizen had given her Kyoka Suigetsu’s power in a futile attempt to save her. He had loved her, and now she would make sure he would kill her once and for all.
Hitsugaya lost his heart killing Hinamori. If Aizen still had a heart, he would lose it when Thorne died.
“Final Revival.”
The reiatsu drained from her body. Shinnou’s wings folded and they faded back into their sealed zanpaku-to form. The zanpaku-to plummeted toward the earth.
Shirahime had left her human form behind at Urahara’s. Soon they would know what she had done.
Aizen looked toward her. Only now had he realized what she was doing. He had ignored her up until now, having left her to Gin. He remembered when he had been Shinji’s fukutaicho. He remembered Yukihime Suzunami. He remembered when she died. He began rushing towards her.
“Now Ichigo!” she shouted. “Go for Aizen!”
Pouring the last of her reiatsu into the barrier, her shinigami body faded. As the barrier broke, Hinamori’s eyes opened and the Shirahime’s blue reiatsu shone from them.
With a snap, Kyoka Suigetsu’s mirror Aizen broke and its pieces scattered in the dust.
Bleach: Cross: Desolate: 02
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Cross, Bleach Cross Desolate, Crown Prince Ichigo + Shirayukihime, Ichigo + Rukia, Kail + Shirahime, Toshiro + Momo, Toshiro + Rangiku, Toshiro + Shirahime
Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one
Opening Theme: 3 Heartful by AAA
Ending Theme: Believe Own Way by AAA
Bleach: Cross
Desolate
By Eugena
Chapter Two: Sisters in Spirit Force
SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD FIVE BARRACKS – THORNE TAICHO’S QUARTERS
“Gah!”
Shirahime Thorne felt her entire body break. She no longer felt her soul self, just her body racked with pain. Her hand outstretched for Shinnou, but it was no longer in reach. Only Yukihime remained. Forcing her fingers to stretch, she grasped the blade and allowed it to slice her fingers. Not that the feeling of bleeding could compare to the pain she already felt. She had to leave a message for Momo and the others. A warning, with whatever strength she had left.
“Shirayukihime Shinnouhi, give me strength.”
She felt tears unbidden fall from her eyes. “Shinnouhi, you’ve finally been freed. Will you die now?”
“Shinnouhi!”
oOo
ICHIGO’S INNER BATTLEFIELD (THE SIDEWAYS BUILDING) (FLASHBACK)
“Shirahime!” Kail screamed. “Shirahime!” He turned to Sam, his eyes filled with hatred. “Is that what you wanted to know? Shirahime. Your name was Shirahime.”
Sam knelt before him, her wrists shackled together in front of her. The cloth of her dress ripped to shreds. Lesser reapers would have wept. But she kept all of it inside. She let rage and fury replace her desire for vengeance.
She breathed in and out several times, steadying her voice. “Who am I to you? Simply her rebirth?”
Kail fell to his knees before her. Conflicted emotions played across his face. “No,” he said, almost inaudible. “No, I am Kail Zangetsu, not Kail Shiroyuki the Prince. I am no prince, but you will always be my one.”
He touched her tentatively with his fingertips and kissed her forehead. He looked her in the eyes.
“Do you want to know why you can’t separate your human self and your spirit self? Why you can’t use a gigai? Because you are the Princess of the Heavens. Because your own zanpaku-to is what remains of your past life.”
“My own zanpaku-to?”
“Yes.” He touched the shackles on her wrists. “You are still chained to your past life, the Shinnouhi.” He kissed her full on the lips. “You created me, Shirahime Sam Thorne no Tenjou.” He kissed her again.
oOo
SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD ELEVEN BARRACKS
Toshiro Hitsugaya and Ichigo Kurosaki combined their strength against Kenpachi Zaraki. He had not yet removed his eyepatch, but soon he would decide they were formidable enough. Lately, Kenny had pushed himself beyond his normal limits. Normally he would have already removed his eyepatch, but he wanted to get stronger. He wanted more than anything to protect Yachiru, Sam, and Rangiku. Part of him wanted to protect Ichigo and Toshiro, too, since they, too, would look after the women he loved.
Yachiru was his daughter with Sam. Even though Sam now adopted her past life’s familiar name of Shirahime, he still thought of her as Sam, much like she thought of him as Kenny and not Kenpachi. Yachiru had first called Sam “mom,” and never let go of it. In his past life, he was going to marry Sam. He had fallen in love with her again. Yet he could not deny his growing feelings for Rangiku.
While he loved Sam, he had dreams of her ending up with Toshiro. Strange to have dreams of it, but he had lately begun to believe in the Element God Hyorinmaru. If she would be happy with Toshiro, he would let her go. For he already knew she loved him. Toshiro had grown a lot for her. He had matured at a rate that surprised Kenny and the others starting after her first “death” after a battle with Aizen. Perhaps Kenny was only choosing Rangiku as a second choice, but as soon as they defeated Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tosen, he and the others would face their own emotions. He could ignore them for now, but when the battle was won, he had an inner battle to face. And perhaps finally he could harness his bankai.
With the help of Sam’s reiatsu, both Kenny and Yachiru had once achieved their shikai forms, but they had not done so easily while Sam was gone. Kenny pledge to be able to perform shikai on his own.
Toshiro released his second shikai, the ice prison. While this held Kenny, Ichigo released his shikai.
Something went wrong.
Without fully releasing the shikai, Ichigo fell forward, motionless as stone.
“Kurosaki!” yelled Toshiro.
Rangiku, Yachiru, and Rukia, who had been watching the battle rushed toward Ichigo. Yachiru beat Rukia to Ichigo.
“Kail,” he muttered. “Kail.”
Rukia’s zanpaku-to began to glow in a white light. “No. No!” she shouted.
oOo
RUKIA’S INNER BATTLEFIELD – FIELD OF SNOW
Rukia fell forward onto the snow, stopping her fall with her hands. Her breathing became heavier and she could hear the sound of her breaths filling the space of her inner battlefield.
“No!” she screamed. “I won’t allow it.”
She looked up into the frozen form of Shirayukihime. She knelt. “This won’t happen again!” Shirayukihime did not answer, could not answer. She unsheathed her zanpaku-to and threw it on the ground. “I won’t take your power!”
She screamed. “Stop this, Shinnouhi. Stop giving us your power! Fight! Fight, Thorne Taicho, fight!”
A vision of Thorne Taicho appeared behind her. “You know I’m dying.”
“It’s not true.”
“How can you deny it? You of all people should know. You were the first to receive my power. I am giving my power to you. You can defeat the enemies that remain.”
“Last time, you returned to the human world. But now I see the Shinnouhi. This time, this time, Thorne Taicho, you won’t return. I can’t take your power. You have to fight.”
“Are you happy, Rukia? You’ve been reunited with the one you love.”
“No!” she turned from Shirayukihime to Thorne. “How can you say that when you’re about to take away someone I love? I love you! Ichigo loves you!”
Thorne leaned down her and placed her hand on her face. “Rukia, you’ve grown so much. I’m so proud of you. As long as you’re happy, I can finally let go and be free.” Thorne walked toward Shirayukihime, seeming more distant and less real with each step.
Rukia fell after her, grabbing her leg. “My lady! I love you with all my heart. I’ve loved you since our life long ago. I pledged myself to protect you, and you always treated me as an equal. Your happiness is as important as my own.”
“Little sister,” Thorne said with fading tears in her eyes, “do not let go of the life that lies before you. Be happy, Rukia.”
“No!” Rukia screamed. “No!” She crawled after her. “What about Ichigo? Yachiru? Kenpachi? Toshiro?“
oOo
SHIRO’S INNER BATTLEFIELD – FIELD OF ICE
Toshiro’s inner battlefield was unusually quiet. He could not even feel the presence of Hyorinmaru. He stood in a field of ice alone.
“Kail,” he repeated Ichigo’s words. “Kail.”
He knew what it meant. Like it or not, Ichigo would always be closer to Sam than him. She seemed closest to Kail, and since he was Ichigo’s hollow, Ichigo would know his feelings.
“Hyorinmaru!” he called. Perhaps this Hyorinmaru was not the one he needed. He knelt down and as if beginning a prayer, called out again, “Element God Hyorinmaru.”
A large ice dragon flew into view before him. Although it did not move its mouth, it spoke.
“You finally find me, Hitsugaya Toshiro.”
“Your princess is in danger.”
“She is no one’s princess. Even you must know that by now.”
Toshiro lowered his eyes. “She can only belong to herself.”
“She does not have long for this life. I will reunite her with Zangetsu.”
oOo
ICHIGO’S INNER BATTLEFIELD (THE SIDEWAYS BUILDING)
Ichigo stood with Zangetsu in its bankai form. His breathing slowed, and he tried to control his senses. He could feel and hear Kail, but Kail did not appear before him.
“Kail. Kail!”
“He can no longer hear you,” Zangetsu said. “He will soon pass completely beyond even my hearing.”
“What’s happen to him, old man Zangetsu? I know it has something to do with Shirahime.”
“She’s dying.” Zangetsu took off his sunglasses and held them out. He let go of them and watched as the fell away over the building’s roof. “The past repeats itself again.”
“No. Because this time, I choose her.”
Bleach: Cross: Desolate: 01
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Cross, Bleach Cross Desolate, Crown Prince Ichigo + Shirayukihime, Ichigo + Rukia, Kail + Shirahime, Toshiro + Momo, Toshiro + Rangiku, Toshiro + Shirahime
Bleach © Kubo Tite. Bleach: Cross original characters and elements, including the “past life backstory” © Eugena.
When the Soul Reapers of Cross face Aizen for the final time, will they be prepared to lose the ones they love?
Pairings: Kail/Shirahime, Toshiro/Shirahime, Crown Prince Ichigo/Shirayukihime, Ichigo/Rukia, Toshiro x Rangiku friendship, Toshiro x Momo friendship
Opening Theme: Heartful by AAA
Ending Theme: Believe Own Way by AAA
Bleach: Cross
Desolate
By Eugena
Rated: T
Chapter One: Prelude of a Past Released
SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD FIVE BARRACKS – THORNE TAICHO’S QUARTERS
Thorne Taicho sat in silence, drinking the tea that Hinamori had prepared for her. She had asked her fukutaicho to come back in shortly to check on her. Her human body had been wearing down as of late, and any minute, she expected to be knocked out asleep on the floor, just like times long ago when she had first joined squad ten. Today she had wanted time to gather her thoughts, for many worries lately haunted her.
As of late, she had turned her attention to Rangiku Matsumoto and Gin Ichimaru. Surely, either Aizen, Ichimaru, or Tosen could be defeated in their next battle, but how would the outcome affect those who remained? With Tosen defeated, Thorne Taicho could predict little difference. With Ichimaru defeated, Matsumoto would be safe from his now obsessive advances. Yes, if Thorne could afford to be selfish, that was the path she would choose. Although she was human, she was also the fifth division taicho—meaning that a greater responsibility was upon her shoulders. No, if only one could be defeated in their next battle, it had to be Aizen—no choice or hesitation between the others.
How could she defeat Aizen? Even with all the other soul reapers working together, he had increasingly gained power. She died once long ago to slow down his attainment of godhood, an act that won her the posthumous award of captain of the same squad he had once led. Still, Hinamori harbored hurt feelings over him. Guilt that she loved him, but love in some form nonetheless. Thorne had to keep Hinamori from becoming involved. There would be no time for hesitation—something she knew would come from her. She would not mean it, but Hinamori might kill them all.
Thorne Taicho was running out of time for herself. She trained with both her squad and many other captains with both of her zanpaku-tos – Shinnou, a copy of the White Kail Zangetsu and Yukihime no Tenjou. Shinnou was the more normal of the two, closer to having its own zanpaku-to spirit. On the surface it appeared just like Kail’s—Hollow Ichigo’s—zanpaku-to. Yet its spirit was that of a white dragon with blue eyes the color of Shirahime’s. Thorne had some while ago abandoned her human name, Sam Hawthorne, kept part of her last name as her new last name and took the familiar form of her past life’s name as her own. Her name of royal title still remained to this day as Shirayukihime no Tenjou. To separate room for herself from among her past life, she called the spirit of her past life by the royal title and referred to the zanpaku-to only as Yukihime or Yukihime no Tenjou. She only called it by royal title in bankai form, where she could use the command Kouten. But that command drained much from her, especially when she used it with Shinnou—Kouten no Shinnou (“Prince of Royal Blood’s Revolution of the Heavens”). Usually, she preferred shikai commands. Yukihime, like Sode no Shiroyuki, had more than one shikai form and command. The release command for Yukihime was “revive,” fitting as she was always getting the power from the spirit of her past life. As for Shinnou, he, too, had more than one shikai form and command. She released him with “prepare,” short for “prepare for battle.” Although generally, Shinnou’s shikai form did not change much and looked the same as its sealed form, she usually called on the shikai which allowed the zanpaku-to’s spirit to appear. A dragon for a protector was very useful and Shinnou allowed her to attack others during training without tiring her human body.
Of all of Thorne’s squad members, Hinamori seemed not to improve. Granted, she had gained consciousness on her own, finally without using Thorne or Shirahime’s power. Still, it was her forbidden love for Aizen which crippled her.
Like Thorne could complain. She wasn’t exactly and expert in the love department. Long ago, as Shirahime, she had been forcibly engaged to the Crown Prince of Heaven, Ichigo. An act alone which gave her the title as Princess of the Heavens. Though now she still drew on her power as Shirahime, she was more than willing to trade it in for freedom from her cycle of suffering.
Even now she remembered playing with Benehime, her younger sister who had been originally pledged to marry the Crown Prince. Her father, Kisuke, had been a childhood fighting companion of the Emperor of Heaven. The Emperor promised that his heir would marry one of Kisuke and Yoruichi’s daughters. Tragedy took the life of Benehime, leaving more tragedy to follow. Even though the crown prince had become fond of Shirahime, he gave his heart to Rukia, the captain of the guards in charge of Shirahime’s safety. Thorne remembered overhearing the Crown Prince arguing with his twin brother. Yet the Emperor had sworn an oath: the heir would be her husband. She had been so surprised then that Prince Kail did not try to kill Crown Prince Ichigo. All the while, they did not see her growing love for their sword master Zangetsu.
“Zangetsu,” she murmured, her heart still entranced by him. Yet she was Shirahime no longer, even though she now used the same name. She could not love the men she had loved in the past. She had even grown distant to Kenny Zaraki, who had once been her fiancé in the living world. Strangely enough, that left only Shiro, the incarnation of the element god she had sworn herself to. Shiro, who had been Hinamori’s childhood friend. Thorne had tried to force on him love for Hinamori, just to selfishly get him to let her go. Her plan failed. He continued to love her. He loved her more than Hinamori and more than Matsumoto, no matter how hard she tried to deny it.
She looked up to the heavens and laughed. She stretched out her hand on the floor and formed Shinnou. “Kail,” she asked, “will you let me go now?”
She closed her eyes and remembered the many times she had danced with him. Finally in this life, she had learned to love the younger prince. “Kail, I think I can finally move on. Even if it is the last thing I do, and I don’t have much time. If for one moment I can still be happy, will you still love me?” She looked up again into the heavens. “Maybe Shirayukihime can remain with you and,” she said, thinking of her estranged human name, “Sam with Shiro.”
It was enough, and she found the closure she needed. For a final time, she would dance with Ichigo and ask him as the Crown Prince to let her go.
As she began to envision her freedom and the chains of the past life breaking before her, she felt a sting at her neck. She felt her blood began to burn. A poison arrow had struck her without warning. She felt her life begin to leave her and her chain of fate beginning to dissolve.
oOo
A/N: I have a lot of the Cross series planned out. Near the end of Sam’s time as squad ten third seat, she discovers her name in the past life, Shirahime, and that she was the daughter of Kisuke and Yoruichi in the past life. This of course brings her close to Soi Fon, who is dedicated to Yoruichi. Soi Fon is one of the few in Soul Society who refers to Sam as Thorne-Shihoin Taicho.
The King of Soul Society was called the Emperor of Heaven in the past life.
Bleach: Cross: Soul of Shirahime: 02 (M)
04 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bleach Tags: Bleach Cross, Bleach Cross Soul of Shirahime, Gin + Rangiku, Mayuri + Shirahime, Shiroyuki + Shirahime
Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one
Opening Theme: Rewrite by Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Ending Theme: Kyouka Suigetsu (Aizen Character Song)
A/N: Warning Dark!Mayuri emerges (worse than his usual)
Bleach: Cross
Soul of Shirahime
By Eugena
Chapter Two: Descent into Madness
THE PAST LIFE MIRAGE – ROYAL PALACE
Mayuri didn’t remember this place. He had never been here before. Though he could not see the place at first, slowly the plush chairs and benches of the Royal Palace faded into view. He looked down the hallway at servants rushing back and forth. He heard Zangetsu’s voice off in a distance, though he did not know him: “Please, my prince, you must calm down.”
“Calm down?” Mayuri recognized this voice. It was Kail, Ichigo’s Hollow and reincarnation of his twin brother.
“You can’t know for sure,” Zangetsu continued.
“He left her!” he shouted. “He left my princess for that guard!” Kail’s shouting became louder and lounder.
“Please, my lady,” said Senna beside him, “why won’t you lie down?” Senna’s gaze held him. “You need rest.”
He doubled over in pain, grabbing his chest. He felt like a sword had pierced it.
“My lady!” Senna cried. “Prince Kail, Zangetsu, help us!”
oOo
HUECO MUNDO
Blood dripped down Mayuri’s face and into his mouth. He tasted the salt and iron of it, licking it as a dog would lick its wounds. His hands gripped the Yukihime and Shinnou zanpaku-tos. He felt the heaviness on his left shoulder and looked to see Shirahime’s broken body draped over it.
He licked the blood more. Ichimaru looked better dead, tasted better. “Shinnouhi,” his droned in a thick voice, “we’re going home.”
Too bad Ichimaru hadn’t felt his death, that he was already unconscious when Mayuri ripped him apart.
“Shirahime,” his voice burned in a mix of grief and desire. “All will be forgiven. You’ll forgive me for failing you.”
oOo
SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD TWELVE BARRACKS (FLASHBACK)
Some of the lower seats in his squad had managed to capture the new Fourth Seat of Squad Eleven. He looked amused at the young woman in the shinigami robes behind him. Her snow white hair covered her face, and blood dripped down the sides of her mouth.
“Zaraki’s new toy,” he said it mostly to himself.
“Damn you,” she said in a language he didn’t know.
“Do you know that aside from the fukutaicho, there hasn’t been a single new woman to join Squad Eleven since Zaraki became taicho? And now, there’s you.”
“Damn psycho.”
“Interesting.” He looked aside to Nemu. “Hold her down.”
“Hai, Mayuri-sama,” Nemu said.
“You do everything he asks?” the captive woman said in a deeper voice, almost masculine. Although her hands were bound tightly behind her back against the chair, she did not struggle.
A faint reiatsu began to surround her. At first, it was white with a tinge of blue. It quickly turned black and red.
“Does he have his way with you?” she taunted in a man’s voice.
Nemu reached down to her. She looked up at her, and her eyes glowed yellow. The reiatsu aura exploded and knocked Nemu and Mayuri against the wall.
oOo
HUECO MUNDO
Mayuri licked the blood off of the arrancar’s zanpaku-to. What an easy kill. He hadn’t bothered to ask for its name.
“He looked at you wrong,” he said to Shirahime’s body.
oOo
SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD TWELVE BARRACKS – KUROTSUCHI TAICHO’S QUARTERS (FLASHBACK)
“It’s true?” she asked, the near accusation hanging between them.
Mayuri looked at Shirahime but said nothing.
“You’re nothing but a monster,” she said. “You let them burn for the sake of your experiment!” She waved her arm in the air as if throwing a knife. “You sicken me.”
“My squad exists for my experiments.” What was wrong with him that he couldn’t say that to her?
This was not the first time she had brought up the incident where he first met Ishida and Inoue.
oOo
HUECO MUNDO
Shirahime seemed heavier to him. He pushed forward, barely conscious of his nakedness and injuries. He thought of Shirahime. He remembered so many moments with her, most of them conflict.
oOo
SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD TWELVE BARRACKS (FLASHBACK)
The black and red reiatsu blasted Mayuri and Nemu against the wall. “This will be interesting,” he said as he freed himself from the wall.
The shinigami stood to her feet, the Shiro Zangetsu in her hands. She laughed manically. Raising the sword, she sliced it down: “Tensa no Shinnou!” A white fire shot from the sword towards him and he barely had time to get out of its way.
“Impressive,” he said again. “And who are you?”
“I am Shirahime’s protector.”
oOo
HUECO MUNDO
Protector.
“I will protect you,” he said, knocking down another arrancar. He raised Shinnou and plunged it into the fallen arrancar.
He would need his own zanpaku-to.
