Disclaimers, etc.: see chapter one

Opening Theme: Diamond by Alan

Ending Theme: With You by AAA

Bleach: Cross

Shiro Shattered

By Eugena

Chapter Two: The Sealed Yukihime

SHIRO'S INNER BATTLEFIELD – FIELD OF ICE

Shirahime Thorne awoke on a plane of ice, staring into the cold, unforgiving eyes of Hyorinmaru. The ice dragon roared at her.

"Maru," she said in greeting, clutching her chest as she rose up. She could see the reflection of Shiro in Maru's eyes. Both zanpaku-to and master accused her.

"The only way," she brushed off the accusation. "Aizen is still pissed at me for taking his place."

Maru roared.

"Enough," she deflected. "I'm sure the real Element God Hyorinmaru will complain later."

Maru left his dragon form and appeared in his human form—still retaining his tail.

Shirahime stared into his cold eyes. "A point?" she asked.

"No," said Maru, running his hand through her hair.

Suddenly her body felt on fire, as if only then did she feel the puncture through her chest. Then she heard Shiro's words: "Last revival."

Stricken with fear, she looked into Maru's eyes. Maru reached out to her, but she faded away.

oOo

SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD FOUR BARRACKS

Shirahime felt warm blood pooling inside of her mouth. She turned her head aside to cough and through poor vision watched her own blood flow onto the sheets.

"Lung puncture," said a member of the fourth squad.

"But how?" questioned Shiro.

"She was still in human form," answered Unohana as she walked closer to Shirahime. "Hitsugaya Taicho," she said to Shiro, "please excuse us. We must prep for surgery immediately."

Shirahime could feel Shiro's uneasiness, though she could no longer see him or anyone else. What had they said? I was in human form? Perhaps at another time it would have made sense to her, but now she could only see Maru's eyes. In her mind, she reached out for him, but touched nothing.

oOo

SOUL SOCIETY – OUTSIDE SQUAD FOUR BARRACKS

Momo Hinamori ran into Shiro's arms, tears streaming down her face. "Taicho! My taicho!" Her cries became more frantic and her breathing more frantic.

Shiro could not see her. His shock blinded him. He could only hear Unohana's voice. "It's my fault," he mumbled. "How much time had it been? How long was I standing there?" Only now could he recall the members of Squad Four prying him off of Shirahime. He had stood there for a long time impaling her with Yukihime.

Surely it did not take so long to revive a soul?

Time had seemed to stop for him. From the moment he struck her with her own zanpaku-to, he had known no more until he heard "Lung puncture," until he had dropped Yukihime. Only when he was free of Yukihime did Toshiro Hitsugaya exist again. For while he held Yukihime in its last revival, he saw through Shirahime's eyes—he looked at Hyorinmaru, whom Shirahime often called Maru. He remembered calling him Maru.

"Hitsugaya Taicho!" Momo cried out.

The fact she called him captain and not Shiro jolted him into reality.

He looked across to Rangiku Matsumoto, oddly aware at how watery she appeared. He felt his tears drop from his face.

"Taicho!" Matusmoto yelled at him, trying to shake him.

He dropped slowly to the floor.

"Shirahime," he muttered. "Shirahime." He looked to his own hands. Could he see her blood or was he imagining it?

oOo

SOUL SOCIETY – SQUAD ONE BARRACKS – CHAMBER FOR TAICHOS' MEETING

The taichos of the Gotei 13 stood on either side of Yamamoto Sou Taicho—save for Hitsugaya Taicho and Thorne Shirahime Taicho.

Rangiku Matsumoto knelt across from Yamamoto, just as she once did when her taicho had been thought a traitor.

"Hitsugaya Taicho cannot attend the meeting, sir. I apologize for him."

"I am aware of his state," said Yamamoto.

Yamamoto examined the captains present. Zaraki veiled a deep anger. Kurotsuchi seemed uncharacteristically attentive. "Thorne-Shihoin Shirayukihime Taicho is a member of the Royal Family. She is the next wife of the Crown Prince. As Shinigami, it is our duty to protect the members of the Royal Family. Therefore, from this day forward, the Princess will not return as a shinigami or a taicho."

"Sou Taicho," asked Unohana, "are you sure this is what she would want?"

"If she dies," he answered. "Crown Prince Shiroyuki will have our heads. So, I am sending her back to Yourichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara."

"Sou Taicho," Zaraki said, "I don't think that would make the Crown Prince content."

"Those are my orders," Yamamoto said. "Soi Fon, you will send your third seat with her."

"Yes, sir," said Soi Fon.

"What about Yachiru Kusajishi?" asked Zaraki. "She won't be happy you plan to do this with her mother."

"Kusajishi Fukutaicho is not yet an official member of the Royal Family. She is still a shinigami under my command. You are all dismissed."

Each taicho and Rangiku left the room, but Zaraki remained behind. "Yachiru will complain to Shiroyuki." He left, not waiting for Yamamoto's reply.

oOo

SOUL SOCIETY – OUTSIDE SQUAD ONE BARRACKS

Zaraki found Matsumoto waiting around, staring off into the distance.

"How is he?" Zaraki asked.

"He won't forgive himself. He won't eat."

"It's not his fault. He did save her life." Then he looked down, as if seeing himself in his past life. "I never thought I would meet someone who loved her more than I did."

"Do you think Yachiru will change things?" she asked.

"She's already talked to Shiroyuki. He knows what happened. The King won't allow anyone to leave. Shiroyuki wants to destroy Aizen but the King won't allow it. Shiroyuki is his only heir."

"So he won't stand up to his own father?"

"No. Not until Yachiru gets recognized as a member of the Royal Family."

She turned to him, looking at him in the eye, "And you're okay with this? If Yachiru becomes an official princess, you may never see her again."

"I wouldn't say that. I'd just have to work very hard to get into Squad Zero—you would, too." He smiled at her.

Matsumoto didn't want to confront her own feelings at the moment. Her taicho was unstable and the woman he loved could be dying. No, she did not feel like she could be selfish.

"I don't want to leave you," she said, "but I can't leave my taicho."

"I don't know how it will be for Hitsugaya. In a way, he will lose the one he loves either way. I doubt he would want to go into Squad Zero after she marries Shiroyuki."

"Yes he would. I don't think he could ever live without her again, even if it means someone else will be married to her."

Zaraki gathered her into his arms. "Just promise me you don't have any plans to marry Ichimaru. I doubt I can be as noble as Hitsugaya."