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 six written 12/17/2022

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

Rated M

Chapter Six: Sleeping, Literally

天国的白雪公主

SOUL SOCIETY - FIRST DIVISION

Yukihime burst out laughing and doubled over.

Toshiro gasped in terror as he looked down at Ichigo. Ichigo finally let him down.

"What - what have you done?" Toshiro asked.

Ichigo leaned in so only he could hear him. "Simply got rid of your stupid illusion, boy. I don't like the idea of anyone sleeping with my wife, but I certainly won't let someone who looks like you do it. So now, if my wife must be insulted again, at least this is one less insult."

"I don't know what you are talking about. You made me this way."

"Wrong. I removed your trick. Do you think a mere boy like you could have the thoughts you do about her? We who are gods see all. We know."

"You're not a god."

"I can fix that. I'm going to give my wife a chance with all you mortals. Not that I want to. She's pretty determined. In the end, I will prove to her that she should go back to me."

"Over my dead body."

"That can be arranged."

"You murdered her. You killed your own child."

"She died. I regret that. I didn't murder -."

"You planned to poison her. In the end, you still got what you wanted."

Ichigo shoved his hand against Toshiro's stomach. Toshiro flew back, a yellow fire burning him.

"Don't wish to hear the truth, prince?" Toshiro taunted. He looked to Kenpachi. "You know he planned to murder her before. So, let's all agree here and now that she'll never leave with this man."

"Smartest thing you've said all day," Lin said.

"What do you mean murder her?" Momo asked. "What are you planning to do with my taicho, you scum?"

"In order to stay with Rukia in his first life, the prince here planned to poison his wife," Jiang filled in. "In the alternative, he planned on framing her for -."

"That's enough!" Ichigo snapped.

"Don't like hearing the truth?" Jushiro asked him.

"You planned to murder me?" Yukihime asked.

The others looked to her. Toshiro studied her face.

"Ah, yes, Shinnouhi," Jiang answered quickly. "I know you haven't quite returned to yourself yet. It's a bad memory for you, and normally I'd be okay with you blocking it out, but I think right now you need to have the truth."

"This annoying brat is right for once," Soi Fon admitted, gesturing to Toshiro, "even if sister agrees to date you," she said to Ichigo, "I'll kill you before you make off with her."

"I agree," Shunsui said, "none of us here will let her leave with this man."

"I think she should leave with him," Yamamoto said.

"I think you forget who is in charge," Lin said.

"She is not the king," Yamamoto said.

"No, the king is a puppet," Jiang said. "He's a puppet ruled by that twisted priest and the real heads of the noble houses. And even if you don't care what those six have done to the king, know this, what they have done to Shinnouhi equates to a death sentence lifetimes upon lifetimes over."

"I am the head of the Kuchiki family," Byakuya objected.

"Quit being such a dumbass, Byakuya," Jushiro said. "How many times have you been told about this already? Oh, and before you arrogantly correct her, though we have four noble families in Soul Society, five still count in the royal realm."

"He's right," Kenpachi agreed.

"You just agree because you both sleep with her," Byakuya said.

"Oh, and I suppose you're pretty jealous about that," Jushiro said. "Considering the one and only time she slept with you was because you both got poisoned by those green recruits of the twelfth division."

"What do you mean you slept with her, Jushiro?" Yamamoto asked.

"Oh, nothing to worry about, Sou Taicho," Sasakibe filled in, "I am certain they meant that the whole pheromone poisoning happened with them as well."

"So, who else?" Byakuya asked. "I know she hates you," he said to Shunsui, "so I'm sure you haven't . . . ."

Byakuya paused as he watched Shunsui turn ever so slightly away from him.

"You, too?" Toshiro asked. "Just which taicho has she not slept with, other than me?"

"I don't think that's anyone's business," Soi Fon said, "but if she gets pregnant, I expect the person to take responsibility. Or I will kill you."

"Well, okay," Toshiro admitted, "we all know you're not included, since she's your sister. But that's it right? Just Zaraki here, Ukitake, and Kyoraku?"

"Just what business is this of yours?" Yukihime asked.

"What about me?" Byakuya asked.

"Oh, now you want to be acknowledged?" Soi Fon asked.

"You don't count," Toshiro said. "You're rude and cruel to her, and you insult her children. I think we can ignore you."

"How dare you!" Byakuya snapped.

"Um, taicho," Momo began, "if you need someone else to sleep with, you can sleep with me. Please don't feel so lonely you'll stay with Kuchiki Taicho. I promise to treat you much better. And I would never call your daughter a sword. I mean Kuchiki Taicho's asking to die for that one."

"You'd sleep with Momo and not me?" Toshiro whined.

"I think Momo's being literal on this one," Jushiro admitted.

"Ooh!" Momo exclaimed. "Is this what a wedding night is for? I volunteer! That sounds so important!"

"Yep, being literal alright," Shunsui admitted.

"Ah, yes," Yamamoto observed. "It seems that Ayasegawa slept with her a lot. No need to misinterpret that."

Shunsui broke out into a coughing fit.

Sajin kept a straight face.

Kuchiki narrowed his eyes at them all and filled in, "But he-."

"Yeah, he slept with her all the time," Kenpachi interrupted.

"But he-," Byakuya tried again.

"It's surely safer for her to never sleep by herself," Jushiro filled in.

"Well, that's settled then," Sasakibe concluded.

谢谢你们的阅读。