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: 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.
