Bleach: Cross 13: Fifth Division in the Red II: Princess Division

by Eugena

The spoof returns. For my readers who want to skip ahead to the contest. After the events of Red Gemini, Momo resumes her dating show preparations. As the undecided divisions join in, a second princess joins in the contest. Surely, this means that the fifth division's money troubles should be solved twice as fast, right? Contains MAJOR SPOILERS for planned events in Red Gemini

5. Scientist and Princess

Disclaimers, etc.: see chapter one
Opening Theme: Next Stage by AAA
Ending Theme: Party It Up (Live from AAA Tour 2013 Eighth Wonder) by AAA

Chapter 05 written 11/07/2022

Bleach: Cross
Fifth Division in the Red II:
Princess Division
by Eugena

Rated M

Chapter Five: Scientist and Princess

天国的白雪公主

SOUL SOCIETY - FOURTH DIVISION - SHIRAHIME THORNE'S ROOM

The question caught Kurotsuchi off-guard, though he could feel his body's willingness to keep going.

"I - I - that is -," he tried to explain.

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi," she said seriously, "is that little vermin still living and breathing? Hasn't she given up her dreams of assaulting - and worse - Byakuya Kuchiki? How'd she manage to drug you instead?"

"She wanted to make you jealous."

He had no idea why he said that. Oh, no, had she really?

"Considering you were - inexperienced - I do hope she didn't manage to assault you after all. I mean even with lots of experience, I'd hope not, but especially not that.

"I hope she hasn't been with you like this. I'll kill that trash myself. No, I take that back. I'm supposed to let Ichigo do it. It's how it must be since she forced that on Byakuya and me before."

She rolled him off her.

"I won't take this the wrong way. It's not your fault. And I won't take advantage of you. I won't - do that - to you."

"You won't be taking advantage."

"You'd say anything drugged up like that. Considering how often you experiment on yourself, I'm concerned this worked on you."

"The truth is, I'm not drugged."

"It's okay, really."

"No, I'm serious, Hanako didn't drug me."

"Just today? Or before?" She asked. "So, you haven't -. I mean, it's none of my business."

"I've never been interested. I never saw the point. Then I met you. And I know it means something to you. And if it will make you stay -."

"That's a really bad reason for -."

"It won't be if it gives you another child. You'll want to stay then. You won't do these reckless things that nearly kill you."

"I saved my children. I hardly call that reckless." Then she smiled, and he could see her mind lost in thoughts far away. "And I have all of them now. Today I can die and be free. I will have no regrets. Not anymore. Oh, I should stay to kill the king. Yes, I'll do that. So Yukihime can finally get a life she deserves."

"What about your life?"

"Now that they're all back, all that is left is to kill the king."

He couldn't tell her the truth then. No, he couldn't bear watching her fall to pieces. Perhaps if he went ahead then she'd be happy again. Then she would stay. Even if Yukihime was here, if she had another child, she would stay. Even when she knew the truth.

Shirahime laughed. "Yukihime's going to have all these men competing for her. What a wonderful sight that's going to be. Are you joining in? You could marry a princess. And not just any princess, the -."

"You're the princess. You're the Shinnouhi."

"I'm not. I'm just a human, staying here for a short time. But still, it's good to see that everyone will be alright. I've always wanted Yukihime to be happy. She deserves so much better after Seigen . . . ." Her words trailed off, and she sat up. She tried very hard not to let her tears fall.

"There's something I really do want from you," she said.

He sat up beside her and took her hand. "What is it?"

"I suspect Sosuke Aizen's already done it. For that I'll love the man. Well, I supposed I can love him for that other reason we don't talk about as well. I guess in a very messed up way, he'll have my gratitude. But it's possible Aizen failed or somehow didn't have the chance to do it."

"What?"

"Aizen was in the fifth division in Yukihime's lifetime. I remember he saw a lot of what Seigen did. No matter how much he is our enemy now, back then he was -. I have a feeling that even if he tried, somehow even Sosuke Aizen failed."

"At what?"

"Killing, beating, destroying Seigen Suzunami. Yukihime wouldn't be able to do it. He's hurt her enough. She couldn't do it. But you," she turned to Mayuri, "I know you have no ethics and no problem doing whatever the hell you want. In fact, the only people better than you at torture and such would be me and many others from over there. So, as the best one in the mortal place, I beg you to destroy Seigen Suzunami. Others might do it, but if they fail or refuse, please do it. Unless somehow his pathetic life being spared can somehow bring back my children or something more important like that."

"I promise. I promise to make him pay. I promise to never let anyone hurt you again."

"That last one is a promise you won't be able to keep."

"Watch me."

He leaned in and kissed her. For a rare moment in his lifetime, he let go of his ambition to prove himself better than Kisuke Urahara. Though he knew it was a long-shot and never likely, he claimed a new ambition. He wanted nothing more than to live the rest of his life with her, the only person he had ever cared for, ever loved. In this one moment, he allowed himself to believe it would be possible.

谢谢你们的阅读。