Disclaimers, etc.: see chapter one
Opening Theme: No Way Back (AAA Dome Tour 15th Anniversary - thanx AAA lot - Live) by AAA
Ending Theme: Party It Up - City Summer Party Remix - by AAA

Chapter 09 written 10/27/2022

Bleach: Cross
Princess on Vacation
by Eugena

Rated M

Chapter Nine: With or Without

天国的白雪公主

KARAKURA TOWN - CLOTHING STORE

"Alright then," Shirahime said, "Let's get back to shopping. I still need a bathing suit."

"Must you?" Retsu asked.

"Yes, well I did offer Byakuya to go without, but that was to a private pool."

"What did you say?" Kisuke asked.

"Did you offer to go without a bathing suit around Byakuya, aijou?" Yoruichi asked. "Has he actually gotten you pregnant this time?"

"Technically I offered," she admitted. "Then he blew up the pool."

"What an idiot!" Yumi exclaimed. "Here, my princess, let's just go to the beach and you and I can go without a suit. And we can take a very -."

"No thanks," Shinjiro complained.

"Well then, Jiro, my bathing suit?" Lafiel asked him.

"No, no, no," Kisuke said. "A sensible one-piece. With everything hiding is much better."

"I agree," Yoruichi said.

"But I like that black one Unohana Taicho picked out," Lafiel complained.

"That was not a bathing suit, my dear," Yoruichi said.

"So? I like it anyway."

"Yoruichi, when we only had one daughter, it was so much harder than we remembered!" Kisuke complained. "And now we got two!"

"Perhaps it was because Yoruichi had that one daughter and Ururu, and you had none for quite some time," Shirahime suggested.

"Are you still angry?" Kisuke asked.

"Yes," Sierra volunteered.

"I promise to do better," Kisuke vowed.

"Okay then," Shirahime said. "How about everyone else show me yours first?"

"All you had to do is ask, hime-sama," Yumi said.

"Mind out of the gutter, please," Shirahime said.

"But how are you going to give little Raiko a new brother or sister if my mind is -."

"Father Mayuri-sama has tested to be very fertile," Nemu interjected. "Gutter is not required."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Kisuke asked. "How do you mean, tested? Do you mean to say the two of them -."

"Hey, Lafiel, want to get pregnant next?" Shirahime asked. "I have so many kids right now, I'm sure you'd love to -."

"But jiejie, you are always so happy with your kids!" Lafiel insisted.

"And imagine if they were yours!"

"What?" Yoruichi gasped. "No, no, at least get married first!"

"Marriage is overrated," Shirahime said. "Take it from me. I get forcibly married all the time."

"Well, of course, anyone should understand that with you, sister," Soi Fon said. "But Sister Lafiel can -."

"Willingly marry someone who actually loves her and is not trying to abuse her or his family abuse her," Shirahime finished. "Yes, marriage works for other people.

"Okay, everyone, show me your suits!"

Nanao blushed and held up a hot pink bikini. "I don't know," she admitted. "I've never been out to the beach like this before. I really don't know if I could -."

Shirahime stepped up to her and held it closer to Nanao's body.

"Oh, of course, you could!" Shirahime encouraged. "Go for it!"

Rangiku huffed across the way. "Not like you have something to fill it out anyway."

"Well, what she does have," Shirahime said, "at least we know is real." Shirahime winked at Nanao.

Nanao blushed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rangiku asked.

"Oh, shut up," Sierra said.

The others got back to browsing.

Yoruichi got very focused in picking out bathing suits for her daughters.

"Seriously, mom," Shirahime said. "Pick for yourself first."

"But clearly you need help, aijou. Have you seen what Retsu Unohana's trying to get you to wear?"

"Yeah. I was, in fact, there. Remember? Okay, you get a bathing suit for yourself, and I will hold the next family dinner at dad's."

"You called me dad!" Kisuke exclaimed.

"Don't get used to it," Lafiel warned.

"Yes, Yoruichi, let's get your bathing suit while I decide on our next family dinner! It's at my place!" Kisuke exclaimed.

Tessai held up matching swim trunks in black for him and Jinta.

"Classic choice," Shirahime commented. "Solid colors are good."

"Girls are stupid," Jinta said.

"Well, I guess you should be relieved I'm a god," Shirahime said with a smile.

"I'm - I'm sorry kami-sama."

"Aww, that wasn't too hard, was it? Now, behave for your father today."

"Yes, kami-sama."

"Oh! Just what I wanted!" Yoruichi exclaimed.

Shirahime turned to see her mom holding up an orange and yellow bikini.

"Lady Yoruichi is so awesome!" Soi Fon said to herself.

Yoruichi snatched another bathing suit.

"Soi Fon! I've found something perfect for you!"

"Really?" Soi Fon asked.

Yoruichi held out a one-piece bathing suit in pink.

"Isn't that from the bargain rack?" Lafiel said as she saw the slashed price tag.

"It's a design school reject, mom," Shirahime said. "Look, the glitter is in all the wrong places. Oh, I get it. This is a 'post maternity' suit. Oh, wow. Why didn't you tell me I gained a lot of weight after having all the kids?" Shirahime wailed. "You just mean I should wear that. Just hoping Soi Fon would wear it, too, so I wouldn't notice."

"Kisuke!" Yoruichi shouted. "Quick, Unohana, is my little aijou going to have another baby? She's emotional already!"

"Yay! Mom's really going to have another baby now!"

"Now, now," Retsu said, patting Shirahime's hand. "You don't look fat at all. This is just her way of keeping you really covered up. But you can still wear that little black -."

"In your dreams!" Kisuke declared.

"I prefer reality," Retsu said.

"Me, too," Yumi said.

"Perhaps tonight you could -," Retsu suggested.

"For both of us?" Yumi hoped.

"Will the two of you stop trying to sleep with my daughter!" Kisuke yelled.

"But jii-chan," Yachiru said, "mom used to sleep with Yumi and Kenny all the time."

"Oh," Isane said, looking directly at Rangiku, "she said they used to do it all the time."

"Okay, okay," Shirahime interrupted. "Maybe I will hold a kissing contest or something later. Maybe I'll even spend the night with whoever I like most at the end of the day."

That got everyone's attention.

"You should come home for a nice family dinner, aijou," Kisuke said. "No spending the night with anyone else. No adult ideas."

"Why don't you spend some quality time with Yoruichi while the rest of us spend it with your daughter?" Retsu suggested. "I might even share."

"Well, let's not spend all day here," Shirahime interrupted, "we got to actually go to the beach! I'll pick my sisters' suits." She pointed to the yellow bikini Soi Fon held. "Wear that one!"

"What a great idea!" Soi Fon agreed.

"Still, Soi Fon has the body to pull the other one off, too," Isane said. "So hard to find something for girls built like me," she muttered to herself.

"Hey, sis! Look what I found for you!" Kiyone held a bathing suit to her. Isane was not sure what held that suit together. It had nearly nothing in front. It was only slightly more covered that the black lacy outfit Unohana showed to Shirahime.

"I couldn't possibly wear -," she objected. "But, maybe you could, princess?"

Isane was not going to wear that. But she'd love it if Shirahime did. Then maybe they could spend the night alone together.

"That's lovely," Retsu said. "It would look great on either one of you."

"Sold!" Lafiel said. "That one for Isane, another one in black for sister, and one in yellow for me!"

"No way!" Kisuke objected.

"Yes way!" Lafiel exclaimed.

"What a wonderful idea," Retsu said, already imagining taking said black bathing suit off. "I think I'll get this one for me." She held out white bathing suit with blue leaf patterns.

"This is such a great opportunity to loosen up a bit," Retsu said.

"Oh, and have both of my daughters pregnant?" Kisuke asked.

"Well, why not? Then again, Urahara, you should at least be relieved I can't get them pregnant."

"Father Mayuri-sama could change that," Nemu suggested.

谢谢你们的阅读。