Disclaimers, etc.: see chapter one
Opening Theme: Jue Ai by Faye
Ending Theme: TBA

Chapter 05 written 11/03/2022

Bleach: Cross
Red Gemini
by Eugena

Rated M

Chapter Five: Snow Princess

天国的白雪公主

SOUL SOCIETY - FIFTH DIVISION

The massive Black Coffin crushed the fairy. It screamed, the sound of it echoing in Orihime's ears.

Those near the woman were speechless. Finally, Kisuke said, "Well, I guess there's no question on how aijou learned that one. Not anymore."

The woman opened her eyes. The piercing blue eyes of a god shone briefly before returning to a more normal state.

The last fairy rushed for her.

"I'm not going to let you touch my children," she hissed. Then her eyes widened. "Abomination! Now you die!"

"Destroy all abominations, Kosetsu!"

A massive snow-white dragon formed in front of Raiko. Kosetsu was no longer the cute little dragon child of a little while ago. He roared and caught the last fairy in this mouth. Blood dripped down its mouth as he chewed it.

Orihime screamed again. Third Revival knocked her unconscious, but she could still scream in her dreams.

The woman looked down to Raiko. She patted her hair.

"Matsuri, what have they done to you?" the woman asked. "Don't worry, mama will fix it, even if your father will be angry. I'll protect you, my little girl."

Retsu Unohana's blood ran cold at the name. Jushiro Ukitake looked to her then to the woman.

Kenpachi caught the exchange. "What exactly does that name mean to you all?"

Then a memory came back to him. That conversation with Unohana that forever ended all love he had for her.

"Matsuri," he repeated. "The same Matsuri?"

The woman looked to him. "You know my daughter?" she asked. "What's wrong with her? Who has done this to her?" Then she looked away. "I'm sorry. Please excuse me. I misspoke. Matsuri is not my daughter. She's Lord Seigen's daughter. I just look after her so much I sometimes think of her that way. It's wrong of me."

Looking on, Momo watched the woman carefully. She knew that posture. She knew that apology. Looking at this woman was like looking at herself talking about Aizen.

"Lord Seigen?" Kenpachi repeated. "Who the hell is that?"

Momo thought to get the woman away. In her inner world, she concentrated hard, Yukihime no Tenjou, taicho's zanpakuto, forming in her hands. She looked to the physical manifestation of her zanpakuto.

"Take this, Tobiume."

"No. No, I can't!" she exclaimed.

"Please, you have to. Taicho needs us. Taicho's children need us. And we have to keep this far away from others. Please."

Tobiume finally nodded and knelt, her hands out ready to receive the zanpakuto.

Momo placed the zanpakuto in her hands.

In the physical world, Yukihime no Tenjou faded from view.

Momo ran to the woman. "It's okay, taicho," she said. "Everything will be fine now." She touched her arms, trying to feel some comfort that this woman was here now, and trying to block out the scene of the black-haired woman fading away. "It's alright, taicho."

"Taicho?" the woman looked at her, confused.

She looked down to see Momo's fukutaicho badge. She recognized the number.

"Oh," she said. "Suki finally got a promotion. I always knew he would."

"Suki?" Momo repeated.

"Oh, forgive me. How rude of me. I mean to say Aizen Fukutaicho. I bet he's leading his own division now, right? I knew he would."

"Aizen?" Momo repeated, dread setting in.

"Aizen," Urahara repeated. "How could she have been here, and I didn't know?"

"She was here," Yoruichi repeated. "Why don't I remember?"

"Sister was here." It seemed unimaginable to Soi Fon.

"So, which one is he in charge of?" the woman asked. "Oh, yes, who were you calling taicho, miss? Which one are you looking for?"

"Thorne Taicho."

"I don't know that one. Which division are you looking for?"

"Fifth."

"Thorne? I don't know. But, oh, I see. Sorry, you have the wrong Suzunami. You're looking for Lord Seigen. You must be new. I see. I'm the other Suzunami. But I'm a nobody. I'm last. I usually don't tell people this, but I'll say it since you must be my new fukutaicho. I'm very honored. I'm so honored that Lord Seigen is my husband. But please don't spread that around. I must not give out the impression of favoritism. As you can see, Lord Seigen - Suzunami Taicho - is very fair. I'm last. He doesn't give me special treatment."

"Last?" Momo asked.

"Did you say husband?" Zaraki asked. "You're kidding, right?"

The woman looked at him. "Oh, oh, please excuse me." She tried to kneel, but the bindings held her. She looked at the girl again. "Matsuri? Matsuri, it's okay. I must have done something stupid. I promise to make it better."

Though Unohana would have rather not, she came over to help the woman undo the bindings between her and Raiko.

The woman looked up at her, hopeful. Then she looked away in shame. "Unohana Taicho. I'm so sorry. I must have done something stupid. Please help Matsuri, I promise to take whatever punishment you want later. Please help Matsuri," she begged.

The others looking on looked to each other, each hoping for a shred of understanding.

Jushiro just stared.

Mayuri caught how that single name meant something very bad to them. They may not know this woman, but they knew this child.

"Why would I punish you?" Unohana asked as she finished undoing the bindings.

The woman knelt before her.

A collective gasp went through the onlookers. Thorne never knelt before anyone. And ask Kenpachi or Yumi: never. Shinjiro was right on that one. *

Yukiko Abe, the vice alpha of the fifth division walked over. "Please, stand up," she said in Mandarin.

The woman looked at her, confused.

"As I thought," Yukiko said.

"What?" Momo asked.

"Excuse my rudeness," Yukiko said to the woman, "please stand up now."

The woman rose slowly.

"She didn't understand what she said," Unohana said. "Did you?" she asked the woman.

"I'm sorry, have I humiliated Lord Seigen again? Please punish me, Unohana Taicho. So that Lord Seigen - Suzunami Taicho - won't be so humiliated."

"Why is mom afraid of this Seigen?" Yachiru asked Kenny. Then she called to her. "Okay, mom. Come back now. You can look normal again now."

"I don't have a good feeling about this," Kenpachi admitted. "But someone is going to die."

Prince Ichigo walked over to the woman. "Shira, please. Whoever this Seigen is, I will kill him for you. Be relieved. I'm here now. And we will go home."

"Shira?" she repeated. "Shira? No, that's not me. Please, please don't harm Seigen. He's all I have. And the children."

"Okay," Kisuke said, "who wants to kill this Seigen person with me?" he asked.

"Me," Mayuri said.

"Me, too, jii-chan" Nemu said.

"Wow. That would mean Kurotsuchi is -," Rangiku said.

"Enough on that," Uryu said, "let's find this Seigen person and get some answers!"

"A good idea," Chad said.

"Yeah," Hanataro agreed.

"Finding answers is something we're very good at, right, Soi Fon?" Yoruichi asked.

"Absolutely," she answered. "And I will definitely enjoy taking my time."

Finally clear of Yukihime no Tenjou's shikai barriers, Rukia got up and walked over to the woman. "Hime-sama, I know a lot has happened. But please don't worry. We are here to help you and your children."

"Hime-sama?" the woman repeated. "You know me? You know my name? And you would want to consider me a friend?"

"Of course, we're friends," Rukia said.

"Really? I've only had one friend before. He always called me Hime."

"I really don't like the sound of this," Uryu said.

"And who is this friend of yours?" Rukia asked.

"Suki - uh, Aizen Taicho. Though he must have been too busy to tell me which division he was promoted to. I'm so happy for him. I bet he's on his way to getting married and having a family at last."

Kisuke pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please tell me this is a nightmare. She just said she was friends with him."

* Only Memories Remain [MA Only]

谢谢你们的阅读。