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

Chapter 04 written 11/02/2022

Bleach: Cross
Red Gemini
by Eugena

Rated M

Chapter Four: A Past Princess

天国的白雪公主

SOUL SOCIETY - FIFTH DIVISION - STORAGE ROOM - OVER 100 YEARS AGO

(THIRD PHANTOM PAST)

"Getting pretty bold, aren't you," Sosuke Aizen, fukutaicho of the fifth division, stood in the doorway of the storage room, smiling at its one and only inhabitant.

The woman looked to him, her smile the only thing lighting up her skinny plain frame. The plan black shinigami robes hung over her too thin body.

A thin layer of ice blanketed much of the room. Her eyes glowed blue as she looked at her handiwork.

The lowest ranking shinigami in the division looked away from him.

"Hime, please," Sosuke said to her. "You can practice here. He won't find out."

"But you know," she said. "And I'm not supposed to -."

"Since when is it right someone demands another to pretend they are powerless?"

"Suzunami Taicho has always been kind to me. I owe him. I - I love him."

"He doesn't deserve you."

"No, he can do better than me."

"You misunderstand," he said. He closed the door and walked closer to her. "You can do so much better than him."

The ice in the room faded.

"I'm a nobody," she said. "He's a nobleman. I can only hope to be worthy of him. Even once."

Sosuke stood behind her and placed his hands on her arms, correcting her fighting stance.

"There," he said, his lips close to her ear. "Now, let it go. Wouldn't your dragon like some time outside the blade?"

"People would notice," she objected.

"Trust me," he said.

He expanded his spiritual presence, cloaking her own.

"Soar Kosetsu."

The room chilled and a large snow-white dragon sat at her feet. He pushed his nose against her hand.

"Kosetsu is happy," she said. Tears formed in her eyes. "I don't see him very much. I wish I could fly with him."

"What's stopping you?"

"Seigen - Suzunami Taicho wouldn't approve. I musn't."

"You shouldn't let him tell you - ."

"Yukihime!" Seigen called her from outside.

"Sorry, Kosetsu," Yukihime said. "Time to go back."

Kosetsu returned to her zanpakuto.

"Hime - ." Sosuke objected.

She went to the door and opened it. "In here, taicho."

Seigen Suzunami, taicho of the fifth division, narrowed his eyes at her when he saw his fukutaicho standing behind her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Seeing if I needed to inventory," she answered. "And I was meditating."

"Daydreaming again?" he asked.

"No, sir. I just thought it would be good to commune with my zanpakuto."

"You have no need to."

"But taicho, wouldn't you like it if I could at least be something other than the last member of the division? So that I might not embarrass you so?"

"If you were anything other than the last, I'd be accused of playing favorites."

"I understand, sir. Please forgive me for overstepping my place."

Seigen looked to Sosuke. "Are you putting these stupid ideas in her head? Just what were you doing there alone with her?"

"I was just checking the room, taicho. I saw she was here."

"That's all?" he asked, his disbelief dripping in his tone.

"I thought she could use a little improvement. I was just helping her out."

"You're my fukutaicho, Aizen. Tongues would wag if you paid special attention to our lowest ranking member."

"You mean tongues would wag if I spent any time around your wife," he countered. "You seem to have forgotten she was. If I had a wife, I wouldn't hide her away like I was ashamed of her."

"That's enough, Aizen. Yukihime, you disappoint me. I've told you time and time again to stop wasting Aizen fukutaicho's valuable time. What did you do now? Play the pity card?"

"No, sir," she said. "I think Aizen fukutaicho pities me so much because I bring you so much shame. Please punish me for my inadequacies, sir. I'll go home early and prepare dinner for your children. Fujimaru has asked me for his favorite cake. May I make it? He's done well in his studies, surely it would be alright? I promise to come back here tomorrow for a double shift. I can reorganize your records, too, if you want."

"Must you always use the children against me?"

"Taicho, that's not what I meant to do."

"Go home, Yukihime, and I expect things to be spotless when I get there. Do a good job, and I won't mind you making him the cake."

"Thank you, sir. I know he'll appreciate it."

"I assume you want to ask for something for Matsuri as well? Go on."

"She'd like to go shopping this weekend. To go with me. Would you mind?"

"My sister can take her shopping. You have several shifts to make up."

"Yes, sir. I'm sure she'll be happy to know she can go shopping with her aunt this weekend. Thank you, taicho. I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute," Sosuke objected.

She turned to him.

"Say to him that you are going home to prepare dinner for 'our' children."

"What?" she asked.

"Say it."

"I did, didn't I?"

"You said 'your' children. Say 'our' children. They are your children, too, Yukihime."

"Stay out of this!" Seigen snapped.

"No, taicho. This is ridiculous. They are your children. As in your children together. Not just yours, taicho."

"My family is none of your business," Seigen said.

"How many times have the children been here and been called your children alone, taicho? How many people know they are Yukihime's children, too?"

"Aizen fukutaicho," Yukihime interrupted. "Please. I appreciate your kindness. It's for the best they are just his children. When he gets remarried, they can be his new wife's children."

Seigen backhanded her.

"Don't ever say that again. Go home now, Yukihime."

Sosuke drew his blade. "I've had enough of this, Seigen."

天国的白雪公主

HUECO MUNDO - AIZEN'S ROOM - THE PRESENT

The beautiful young man carefully stroked the other man's hair as he slept, his sleep troubled with memories.

The young man shone with an inner brightness, his lips pressing together in a smile.

"Hime, hime," the young man breathed in her name.

The young man turned to the other. He knelt on the bed to the man's back.

"Master, my master. I need our princess. Please. Let us go see her."

The man stirred at the voice. His brown eyes opened, and he stared into the emerald eyes of the second man.

"Kyoka Suigetsu," the man said as he woke, "why are you interrupting my dreams?"

"Because you dream of her, master. Please, share. I must see our princess. Come, master, become the king and claim her at last."

"It will take time," the man, Sosuke Aizen, answered.

"Then let us bring her here, master. Bring her and the boy. He needs your guidance."

"She'll never agree."

"Then take him, master. She'll follow. Come now, master. We watched her die once. We watched her die again. Let us take her away so we won't watch her die anymore. Let us bring her and he who is ours here."

Aizen smirked at him. "How will you greet her, Kyoka Suigetsu?"

"I will worship her, master. I will provide for the boy. I shall show them both how to be strong."

"Your illusions will not work on them."

"I know, master, but my strength is no illusion."

天国的白雪公主

ADDITIONAL CAST NOTES
BLEACH: ACROSS THE DIMENSIONS:
The Fifth Division in the Red Arc:
Red Gemini

Third Phantom Past & Present

Bleach: Cross Backgrounds - May differ from Bleach canon.

THIRD PHANTOM PAST

Over 100 years ago. Set during the past setting of the Third Phantom DS game.

Yukihime "Hime" Suzunami: The incarnation of Shirayukihime Shinnouhi prior to Shirahime Thorne. Lowest ranking member of the fifth division. Wife of Seigen Suzunami. Unacknowledged mother of their children, Matsuri and Fujimaru Kudo. Zanpakuto: Kosetsu Ryu.

Aizen, Sosuke: In the Third Phantom past era, he was fukutaicho under Seigen Suzunami. Zanpakuto: Kyoka Suigetsu.

Kudo, Fujimaru: Adopted son of Seigen Suzunami. Younger twin brother of Matsuri.

Kudo, Matsuri: Adopted daughter of Seigen Suzunami. Older twin sister of Fujimaru.

Suzunami, Seigen: Fifth division taicho. Head of the Suzunami noble family (which does not exist in present day). Husband of Yukihime Suzunami. Father of Matsuri and Fujimaru Kudo.

THE PRESENT

Aizen, Sosuke: Former fifth division taicho who betrayed Soul Society. Determined to become the next Soul King. Zanpakuto: Kyoka Suigetsu.

Kyoka Suigetsu: Sosuke Aizen's zanpakuto. Ability: perfect hypnosis. Those have not experienced its release cannot fall under its spell. Shirahime Thorne, Daichi Thorne Takeya, and Raiko Thorne Takeya are immune to its power.

SPOILER REGARDING RAIKO

Kyoka Suigetsu only mentions Shirahime and Daichi because at this time, they do not know about Raiko.

谢谢你们的阅读。