Bleach © Kubo Tite. Bleach: Cross original characters and elements, including the "past life backstory" © Eugena.

A/N: Set between Bleach: Cross: After Diamond Dust and Bleach: Cross: Soul of Shirahime. Aizen and Ichimaru attack the Fifth Squad, leaving Shirahime fatally injured. Shiro saves her, but leaves her possibly worse off. Yamamoto exiles Shirahime to the world of the living.

The last chapter, "Shiro Sunset," was once a separate story, but I have merged it into this one.

Pairings: Shiro/Shirahime, Kenpachi/Rangiku

Opening Theme: Diamond by Alan

Ending Theme: With You by AAA

Bleach: Cross

Shiro Shattered

By Eugena

Rated: T

Chapter One: Death and Rebirth

SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD TEN BARRACKS

Hitsugaya and Matsumoto grumbled as they went through the tedious paperwork. Suddenly, the ground rumbled beneath them. Hitsugaya looked ahead, feeling a certain spiritual pressure.

"Taicho?" Matsumoto asked.

"It's Thorne Taicho's bankai. Something's happening."

Hitsugaya flash stepped towards squad five. Matsumoto followed him.

On their way, they met up with Zaraki Taicho and Yachiru and Kurotsuchi Taicho and Nemu Kurotsuchi.

oOo

SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD FIVE BARRACKS

A black energy field enveloped the Fifth Division. The other taichos and fukutaichos try repeatedly to penetrate the field. Soi Fon Taicho stood ahead of the others, shouting orders to the Punishment Squad to try and breach the barrier.

Zaraki Taicho landed next to Soi Fon Taicho. "Stand back," he said He elevated his reiatsu and sliced the barrier with his zanpaku-to. His zanpaku-to passed through the barrier, but the barrier closed up around the slice as if quickly healing a wound.

"Taicho!" Hinamori's panicked voice rang out.

"It's Aizen's and Ichimaru's energy," said Kurotsuchi Taicho, looking down at a research and development device in his hand, "We have little chance of breaking that barrier."

"That's not good enough," Hitsugaya said. He unsheathed his zanpaku-to and changed it to its shikai form.

"Don't be foolish," the Sou Taicho warned. "You think we haven't tried that? If we attack too much, the barrier will collapse and the squad be destroyed."

"You're the one being foolish, Yamamoto," Thorne Taicho's voice carried out to them past the barrier. It was different, and certainly indicated that Thorne had entered bankai mode. Unlike any other shinigami, Thorne's zanpaku-to was of her own soul—a past life when she lived as the Snow Princess of the Heavens, Shirayukihime no Tenjou, called Shirahime. Though Thorne used to be a 5'7" human with naturally black hair, since becoming a shinigami, she maintained a form closer to Shirahime's—looking in her early twenties rather than thirty, blue eyes instead of green, and snow white hair. When she entered bankai, she grew to 5'9" and her voice was the same as her past life's.

"Take this opportunity to destroy Aizen. If you can't kill him, you'll at least kill Ichimaru. I will protect all that I can."

This time, Kusajishi Yachiru Fukutaicho, the reincarnation of Shirahime's daughter, turned her attention to Yamamoto. "I won't let you do it."

Yamamoto knelt down to her to look her in the eye. "Do you think I can, young princess? The Royal Family will hold us all responsible if something happens to her."

A shinigami unsheathed a zanpaku-to. All eyes turned to Second Squad Third Seat, Lafiel Urahara. She was created exactly as Nemu Kurotsuchi – mod soul and gigai. She looked exactly like Thorne Taicho.

"As Fifth Division Taicho," Lafiel said, "she cannot order the Sou Taicho to do anything. But as royalty, she can. Unless you want to drag Prince Shiroyuki here to counter her demands, I suggest you follow her orders."

There had always been a difficult balance. As a Taicho, Thorne was not the highest in command. Yet, as royalty, she received their loyalty without question. Many times, Yamamoto knew he could be upstaged by her status, so he tried to avoid conflict. This time, the conflict became inevitable.

Just as he was ready to give the order, Thorne's voice returned.

"Unohana Taicho, prepare to receive casualties. Everyone else, prepare a barrier."

"Damn it," thought Hitsugaya, "surely she wouldn't?"

"Bankai," he said, switching into his semi-dragon form.

"KOUTEN NO SHINNOU!"

Thorne's voice, blended as herself and Shirahime's rang out throughout the Sereitei. She had used the bankai of Shirayukihime no Tenjou and the White Zangetsu, Shinnou.

The entire barrier and area underneath it became engulfed with a blue fire. As the smoke cleared, Hitsugaya flew in first. The others followed him.

Hinamori Fukutaicho knelt by her taicho, tears in her eyes. Hitsugaya arrived and knelt down beside Thorne.

Tears falling from her face, Hinamori explained, "She could not protect us and herself at the same time. She wounded Aizen and Ichimaru very badly but they and a few others escaped. The rest of them are dead."

Hitsugaya looked around to see the mix of dead Arrancar and shielded shinigami. Daichi Takeya, third seat rushed beside his taicho and adopted mother. He touched her neck and felt her pulse. "She's still alive," he said.

"Hinamori," Hitsugaya said, "take care of your squad." He gathered Thorne into his arms. Takeya gave him the Thorne's two zanpaku-tos and Hitsugya took flight.

He could not decide who he despised more at the moment, Aizen and Ichimaru or Thorne for using the dual bankai.

oOo

SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD FOUR BARRACKS

After entering Squad Four, he laid Thorne down on an available bed and took out the two zanpaku-tos. He glared for a moment at the White Zangetsu, almost to accuse Kail, Ichigo's Hollow, for letting Thorne down. But Kail had long ago returned to Ichigo, leaving only the zanpaku-to. Kail had his own zanpaku-to, but Thorne copied it into the material world through her revival command shikai. Though most had called it the White Zangetsu or Shiro Zangetsu, Thorne gave the copy its own name, Shinnou.

At last he looked to Thorne's first zanpaku-to, Yukihime. It, like Shinnou, had returned to its sealed form. Thorne had called the zanpaku-to Yukihime instead of Shirayukihime because she did not like having to call it after her past life, even though that was the soul that empowered the zanpaku-to. Only in bankai form did she call it by her former official royal title, Shirayukihime no Tenjou. Only in bankai did she have to fully revive her soul.

He could not use her bankai, but surely Yukihime trusted him enough for a shikai?

"Give me room," he said to the various Squad Four members attending Thorne Taicho.

Before they moved, he reached out for Yukihime. "Revive."

The zanpaku-to glowed blue and white and the blade grew larger. "Last revival," he said and plunged the zanpaku-to into Thorne's chest.