Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

A/N: Another chapter up! I just don't know when the next update will be. Still I hope you still continue to support my story! And thank you for the reviews and favs that I received. They are much appreciated! I am looking forward to the Live Action Movie this coming July. The trailer looks good! Anyhow please read and enjoy!

Chapter 35: The Price of Victory

" You want to go to Karakura?" King Byakuya reiterated his sister's statement with his monotonic voice yet his eyes betrayed his stoic face as they reflected his concern over the matter. It's only been yesterday since their kingdom had been attacked by Aizen and now this. " But Rukia. You do understand that that place is where Kurosaki Masaki had lived." He looked like he wanted to add something else but stopped himself and opted into observing his sister's reaction.

The princess slightly squirmed under her brother's intense gaze. Nevertheless, it did not deter her from pushing through with her decision. " I completely understand the complexity of what I'm asking brother. I know that it's going to be difficult for us to ask Masaki-san's family such a favor after…after…" She couldn't continue. Instead, she swallowed hard and clenched her hands until her knuckles paled.

" I'm not concerned about that, sister. I'm concerned on how you'll be uncomfortable dealing with them…especially with that Kurosaki boy."

The mention of the name made Rukia inhale harshly as she had been reminded of the traumatized look of the boy with bright hair she had seen during that tragedy. Rukia had awaken a three days after the incident with no recollection of what happened. But she'd seen him—Ichigo—still in their kingdom. He'd refused to leave, camping in their gardens—in the spot where his mother had died. He cried day and night. She could hear him from her windows, confused as to why he had been crying non-stop. Then her nightmares began to haunt her every night. Piece by piece like a puzzle her memories of that day came back like a vivid dream. On the third night, she joined him, not speaking a word to him and cried with him until both of them collapsed. The day after that King Isshin was forced to have magic casted upon his son so he could bring him home, along with his dead wife's remains.

" It was not your fault." King Isshin had told her as they were readying to begin their journey home, a dry smile on his face. He had forced it out, she knew.

Tears began to fall one by one in Rukia's eyes as she looked down on her shaky hands. " A woman attacked us. There was ice everywhere. But…but…it was me, she said! I was the one who killed her!" She barked. " I was the o—" Her frantic cries halted when Isshin embraced him tightly.

" We saw what happened, Rukia-chan. Yuroichi's mirror showed us. My wife…you didn't kill her. She saved you." Then the king let go of the young princess. " My wife is a hero who gave you another chance to live because you deserve it. Now, be a good girl and grow to be a woman worthy of my wife's sacrifice." He patted her head. The Karakuran king then nodded at Byakuya before he turned his back from them and took their leave.

" This is the only way I can serve justice to what I've done."

" No one blamed you." Her brother reassured. " It was not your fault. We've witnessed what happened back then."

Rukia shook her head no. " I know what happened back then better than anyone else and I only have myself to blame." She almost choked. " That is why, I've made up my mind brother. I will my past." She declared with unwavering determination.

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They were fighting on equal grounds, much to Shirayuki's surprise. " You're doing pretty well." She commented but there was no trace of amusement on her face. Her breathing was now labored and she can feel her power draining by the moment. She had to end it. And soon. " Do you know?" She held her sword sideways as she let every last bit of energy into her blade. " That your power declines while you are brooding about your distant past?" Shirayuki then let out a battle cry before she run towards Rukia's direction. " I will kiss your beloved Ichigo goodbye for you once I regain control of your body. Ordinary weapons have no effect to me but that boy holds a nasty power that could defeat me if I give him an opening. I'll make sure to kill him after you."

" I will never let that happened!" Rukia fired back before she swung her sword in an upward motion, bracing herself for the impact that her opponent's power will make as she mustered all the power flowing through her veins outward her body.

Blinding white light exploded in their inner world. Shirayuki's blade broke into half when Rukia's sword deflected her attack. But the final blow had been dealt when an enormous spike of pillar ice came from Rukia's ground and ran through Shirayuki's body.

The Kuchiki princess' knees gave out as she breathed heavily from fatigue.

" Y-you." Shirayuki muttered in a weak voice. " This is the second time you did this to me!" She shouted as the ice that pierced her shattered and she fell lying on the ground. " This is not victory for you Kuchiki! You are my vessel now. You may have weakened me greatly but I will still live inside of you as long as you're breathing." She coughed out blood. " I told you didn't I? There is no turning back once you embrace my power. My power is my own. I am its master. I will regain my strength and take full control of your body while kill you inside of me!"

The white-haired woman's sinister laughter echoed as Rukia made full contact with reality. " Ichigo!" The orangette who snapped out of his daze the moment he heard her call. He made a defensive stance the moment she saw her approaching. " It's me! It's me! Rukia!"

" Are you really Rukia?" He asked warily, taking a step back.

" Yes. You stupid strawberry…" Her strides stopped midway and she gazed at him with a jaded expression. It was her turn to step back. " Y-you must have seen it now."

Ichigo didn't reply as he stared at her with an unreadable expression.

" I was the one who caused your mother's death, Ichigo." She watched as Ichigo flinched. " I am the girl that you hate the most."

" Shut up, midget!" Ichigo yelled that it was her turn to flinch in surprise. " Don't go around deciding what I should feel!"

Rukia heaved a deep sigh. " Stop being difficult, Ichigo!"

" You're the one being difficult here midget! I don't hate you and that's final!" He stared at her with fiery eyes. " I remembered everything before Shirayuki showed it to me!"

The princess' amethyst eyes widened as tears began to well on them. " T-then why have you come here?" Her voice croaked. She didn't realized when he had crossed the distance between them. The next thing she know, he was there in front of her and enveloped her in an embrace. His warmth radiating to her. Her heart pounded hard against her chest as tears began to fall one by one. " Why are you being like this, Ichigo?" She grabbed his clothing tightly. " Why are you making it so difficult for me?!"

" I'm glad you're alright midget. I didn't know what I'd do if you didn't return to your formal self." He tightened his embrace, almost crushing her. " I don't know what I'd do if I didn't see you again."

They remained that way for a moment before Ichigo felt Rukia stiffened momentarily. He had no choice but to let go of her and hold her at arms-length to inspect. " What's wrong, midget?" His perpetual scowl was nowhere to be found. Instead, his face held great worry and concern.

Rukia looked restless and anxious as she removed his hands from her and stepped back then hugged herself. " Ichigo, you have to kill me."

" What?!" The prince exclaimed incredulously and stared at her like she was insane.

" I said you have to kill me!" The Kuchiki princess repeated in a boisterous voice where her desperation can be heard. " You have to kill me before Shirayuki recovers and takes over again."

" No." He mumbled, shaking his head. A devastated look was etched on his face as his brown eyes stared at her intently. " That's preposterous!" He exclaimed again but with conviction. He held his black sword tightly in his hand, its edge pointing down the ground signifying surrender.

A wry smile ghosted her lips. " Ichigo..." The fatigue was evident on her pale face. She felt so drained of energy. She tried to concentrate and cancel Shirayuki's power by herself. Yet, when she looked around everything…everyone was still frozen. Why hadn't the ice melted yet? She had asked herself.

"We are now one, Kuchiki Rukia. You are me and I am you." She heard Shirayuki's triumphant voice inside her head. "As long as your heart remains beating…My powers…I will remain."

" Please, Ichigo!" She repeated.

" No!" The Kurosaki prince answered in defiance as he threw his sword on the ground. " Enough with this bull, midget!" He berated angrily. " Don't be stupid! There has to be another way around this! We'll find help! Somewhere! Someone! There's bound to be another way!" He bowed his head, refusing to look at her any longer as he clenched his hands tightly by his side, his jaws tensing, his teeth grinding.

" Ichigo…" She called out as she walked towards him, every step she made created an imprint of ice, killing anything that lived in it. " You've always wanted to avenge your mother's death. That's the only way for you to move on from your past. And that is something that I wish...for you to be freed from the past that caged you." Her voice was void of any emotion. She stooped down and picked his sword by the blade. Her hand bled but she felt nothing. " I was the reason why your mother died. It was my fault." She reminded him.

" Shut up, midget!" He looked up at her. " It wasn't your fault! Shirayuki was the reason why it happened, she's the real reason why my mothe—" Ichigo ended midsentence when he saw her bleeding hand still grasping the blade. " What are you doing, Rukia?!" He quickly held the handle of his sword. " Let go, midget!" He told her as his placed his free hand over her own to take hand carefully from the sword's blade.

" Sode no Shirayuki and I are now one." She told him, eyes looking deeply in his amber orbs. "I had promised myself two things Ichigo. One is to uphold my promise to you…to assist you in finding revenge for you mother. And now I'll fulfill the other one." Her eyes began to mellow, all her feelings visible in an instant. " I'm sorry Ichigo…for taking your light from you. For being the one who caused you grief and suffering." The princess' face lightened, as though a heavy load was taken off her shoulders. " Now I'll atone for my sins and save my people."

" Why are you—?" The prince stopped midway as her intention dawned into him.

But he realized her plan too late when Rukia didn't budge but instead placed her free hand over his hand one the blade. " To save everyone and to die by your blade is an honor. Thank you." With all her strength, Rukia pulled the sword towards her. Its sharp edge quickly pierced through her heart. The raven haired staggered as pain slowly consumed her.

" Rukia!" Ichigo yelled as he shakily let go of his sword and caught the falling princess before she hit the ground. " R-Rukia!" His voice panicked as he stared at the raven-haired princess, cupping her pale face. " Don't do this to me! Don't die, midget!"

The lady coughed out blood as she slowly felt intense pain coming to her. With what's left of her strength, she focused her gaze on the prince staring down at her. " D-don't be too loud, carrot-top. You're hurting my ears…" She managed to speak despite her ragged breathing.

" Save the chit-chat later midget! I'll go find some help. That wound can't kill an idiot like you." He declared as he fought to keep the helpless look from showing on his face as he attempted to slowly ease her down the ground.

" Don't!" Rukia breathed out with great difficulty as she grabbed his arm. " She's…she's still alive inside me Ichigo. T-there's no other way." Her eyelids began to droop. " J-just promise me that you'll… move on…from your sadness…and…and live…your life away from hatred and guilt, Ichigo….Promise me!" She coughed some more blood.

" Rukia!" The prince stared at her, petrified. " D-don't speak anymore!" He pleaded desperately.

" Promise me…please…"

He averted his gaze from her as he grasped her hand holding to him. " I promise." He told her as he held his breath.

" I feel tired, Ichigo. Let me rest in your arms for a while." She whispered as a smile appeared on her face. She closed her eyes, no longer able to resist the growing fatigue inside of her.

Feeling her life slipping away in his arms, Ichigo gasped as he turned to look at the woman lying on the ground in front of him. Peaceful. Lifeless. " RUKIA!" He bellowed in anguish as he pulled her limp body towards him in an embrace.

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The ice that covered the land shattered into shards and slowly ascended into the sky as dark clouds that covered the heavens disappeared without a trace. The radiating warmth and the lives that were frozen returned. The power casted upon by Shirayuki was dispelled!

" I-Ishida-kun!" Inoue Orihime gazed at her retainer. " You…we…we were frozen in ice! And we're back to normal now! Everyone…everything is back to normal!" She remarked with joy in her eyes.

The retainer simply nodded as he observed the totality of the castle. Everything had been frozen when they had set foot here yet now, it was as though nothing happened. Not even a speck of ice or snow to be seen anywhere.

Kuchiki Byakuya gazed up in the skies and roamed his eyes around his subject.

" It's Ichigo! I can feel the remnant of his powers." Declared Yoruichi as her cat form struggled to stand up. " He defeated Shirayuki!"

" Shihoin-sama, don't move too much. You're still injured!" Shiba picked up the wounded cat carefully.

Around them, the cheers of the people resounded. " The enemy is vanquished!" was their song of victory, air filled with joy and laughter as they hugged each other. ' The prince of Karakura triumphed!' They added.

The auburn head princess gasped. " The prince! He won! Kurosaki-kun defeated the enemy!" She was erratic as she immediately ran towards the castle entrance in search for the tower where she knew the prince went to face the last boss, to win the final battle and to claim victory.

Behind her duly followed the archer without saying anything. The spell may have been broken yet nothing was for certain until they meet with the Prince of Karakura who fought the battle. For all they knew, he could be dead as well.

The princess climbed the long, steep stairs leading towards the doors of the tower and pushed them opened. " Kurosaki-kun! You won!" Princess Inoue breathlessly exclaimed with excitement, a wide smile on her face. Her heart was racing. Her blush, not knowing whether it was from her effort in climbing the stairs or in anticipation for the prince, seemingly remained eternal on her cheeks. She stepped inside and scanned the room for the hero she sought. An image played in her mind. ' The prince stood tall and proud, his cape swinging majestically as a triumphant look was on his face.' A true hero before her eyes. But alas! She stopped when her eyes found what they were looking for.

The heroic image of Kurosaki Ichigo in her mind shattered into pieces as the prince's dejected back was what welcomed her. He stood there, in the center of the room portraying a battle ground, shoulders slumped down as he carefully picked up something…someone…from the ground. Then he turned around, face casted down the ground…eyes shadowed with his bangs.

" Kurosaki."

Ishida's stiff voice intruded the princess' senses. The retainer's presence barely registered to her as her whole attention was towards the prince who dragged his feet towards the door, carrying the lifeless form of Kuchiki Rukia, his sword still pierced on her heart. He didn't speak to them nor acknowledged their presence as he walked past them in silence.

" Why?" Inoue's strength left her knees as she fell on the ground and clenched the hem of her tattered dress as tear started to well in her grey eyes.

The celebratory cheer for the prince immediately shushed as the soldiers spotted Ichigo on the castle doors. They quickly gave way for the prince leading towards Zenbonsakura's king who watched the approaching figures, his face remained void of emotion but his eyes reflected the sorrow he bore.

Without uttering a word, Ichigo stopped in front of Kuchiki Byakuya and laid down the body of the dead princess. Then he knelt in front of her as he held her cold hand tightly in his warm ones.

Silence was deafening as the celebration of victory was immediately drowned into nothingness.

The sky began to darken once more as a strong gust of wind passed, howling as though mourning. Then came the rushing heavy rain, bombarding the earth with large droplets like tears falling down from the heavens.

As the ice that froze the earth shattered and sought their way to return to the heavens…along with them came the fragments of the hero's heart.

The prince was no hero.

There was no victory.

He didn't triumph.

Kurosaki Ichigo gained nothing but utter defeat.

- To God be the glory!-