Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It's property of Kubo Tite.

Author's Note: Yo! A double update from me? On the same week? It's more likely than you think. lol. Yeah, we're back with another chapter for this story. If you don't know already, I recently added another one-shot in my one-shot collection "If Not in This Life", so check it out if you haven't. As for today's chapter, it's another short one, but will answer some of your questions... and probably add more. Who knows. I think, that I might be able to publish another chapter next week (fingers crossed), maybe even a second one the following week. I've got vacations from my MFA, but after I go back, I don't think I'll be able to publish anything until I finish my thesis. Basically, I'll spent months writing, just not fanfics. Whenever I can come back, I will. As I said, it's almost finished, I just need to write the climax and the resolution. Good news, is these chapters are still very far-removed from all of that. Maybe I'll add even more conflict.

Thank you, again, for all of your support! I love reading your reviews, or just seeing someone new has followed and put this story in their favorites, makes my day. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

See you guys soon!

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Guest: Thank you very much! Glad you liked it!

Chapter 4: The Wheels of Destiny

Orihime was a very nice and chatty person, as Shirayuki came to realize. After bringing her to the room she had been in before, Orihime left and came back with a nightgown, bandages and ointment. She helped her out of her torn dress and started dressing her wounds. Thankfully all scratches were merely superficial. As she helped her, Orihime never stopped talking. She talked about the materials of her dress. About how Shirayuki's hair had gotten stuck on a bush. About her scratches and other things. It amused the princess. She had never met someone who spoke so freely to her. Not even Renji could talk to her like that after first meeting each other.

"Can I ask you something?" Shirayuki said once Orihime had stopped talking.

"Sure." The other woman smiled at her sweetly.

"How do you exactly help Kuro? Forgive me, but you don't look much like a fighter." She finally asked. She had been wondering about it since they met.

Orihime laughed. "That's because I'm not." She said. "I'm a healer. I prepare medicines and sell them to the people at the town nearby. But I also help them in their activities. Whenever one of them gets injured, I cure them." Her smile fell. "They've been injuring themselves a lot recently. Kuro specially."

"You seem like you're close to Kuro." Shirayuki remarked, after noticing how the woman started frowning.

"We are close!" Orihime exclaimed, smile back on her face. "He helped me long ago, after my brother died and I didn't have a home. He took me to Tatsuki and her family. Thanks to him I met Tatsuki, and Chad and, eventually, Uryu."

"Uryu?" Shirayuki asked, puzzled.

She giggled. "Ah, well, you know him as Ishida. He prefers to be called by his last name. But I call him Uryu." She said, blushing slightly.

"So you've known Kuro for a long time?" Shirayuki wondered.

"Yes. Long before the curse." Orihime said, smiling sadly.

"How did he look like?" She asked. "Before the markings and the black hair."

The woman's face acquired a wistful look. "Tan skin, as if it had been kissed by the sun. Strong jaw. Chiseled chin. Hair the color of a sunset. Deep brown eyes." Orihime then realized she had been rambling by the way Shirayuki was staring at her. She flushed and then chuckled. "He was a really handsome man. Strong too. But now… I'm afraid he's lost himself." She said, her smile turning sad. "He lost his home. His family. He even lost his name."

"His name? Is it not Kuro?" Shirayuki asked her.

Orihime shook her head. "You're not the only one who wants to protect their identity." She declared. "That's why he changed it to Kuro. So no one from our kingdom could track him down. As far as they know, he is dead."

"They also think I'm dead." She replied.

Orihime put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll get your kingdom back, don't worry." Shirayuki nodded wordlessly. "In the meantime, get some rest. Tomorrow we'll talk some more."

The princess looked around. "Should I sleep with you and Tatsuki? Or move to another room?"

"Oh, Tatsuki and I don't share a room." She answered. "She bunks with Chad, because she claims he's the only one that doesn't snore. They sleep on the room to the left. Keigo and Mizuiro share the room in front of Tatsuki's. Yoruichi sleeps wherever she wants. Kuro normally sleeps by himself. And Uryu and I sleep in the master bedroom at the far end of the corridor."

Shirayuki blushed at the implications of her words. She turned to Orihime quizzically, and then noticed something shining in her left hand. A ring. "Oh."

The woman giggled. "You can stay in this room. There are more blankets in the closet if you're cold." She said, opening the closet doors.

"Thank you."

"Have a nice night, Shirayuki." Orihime bid her goodbye. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask us."

"Again thank you."

"It's no problem, really."

"Good night."

With one last smile, Orihime left and Shirayuki collapsed on the bed. It was warm and comfortable. Better than sleeping on hay in a cell. She covered herself and then blew out the candle Orihime had left her. Closing her eyes, she managed to smile. Today had been a good day after all. She was still alive and away from Aizen. And she had been lucky enough to meet someone who could help her defeat the evil king and take her kingdom back. Her thoughts then strayed to Kuro. She felt awful for what had happened to him, but she couldn't help but be intrigued by him. Just who was him?

With Kuro still in her mind, she fell asleep.

Outside, Orihime noticed Kuro, who was just walking up the stairs. She smiled at him.

"I gave her your room, hope you don't mind."

The man shook his head. "It's fine. I can always sleep on the couch."

"Or you can always share the room with her." She said playfully.

Kuro got flustered. "Of course not! I can't do that! She's a princess!"

Orihime giggled, clearly amused by his outburst. "You know, you two aren't different at all. If you give her a chance, she might surprise you."

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

"Nothing. Just looking out for you." She said, mysteriously.

"Whatever you say."

"Just promise me something." She said, before going to her room.

"What's that?" Kuro asked.

"Don't close off yourself to getting to know her better. She's different from others. She won't judge you." Orihime said earnestly.

"I don't think she's the one." He replied, voice turning sad.

"I know you've gotten your hopes up before in the last year." She told him. "But don't lose faith."

Kuro sighed heavily. "I thought I'd found her before." He retorted. "But it was never her."

"I─"

"Go on." He said, motioning to the corridor. "Your husband awaits you."

Orihime frowned. "I won't insist anymore. But at least be her friend. She needs one right now." And with that, she left him alone to his thoughts.

Kuro looked at the room he knew Shirayuki was sleeping at. "A friend, huh?" He whispered. That he could do. He wouldn't lose anything by just befriending the princess. Still, when he lay down on the couch, preparing to rest, he couldn't stop the spark of hope which ignited inside his chest.

Aizen smiled as he walked the deep end corridors of the castle.

"You are in a good mood today, my lord." Gin remarked as they walked together.

"Indeed." The king answered. How could he not be happy with the news he had received earlier that day. He smirked. Today was the day.

Along Tousen and two guards, they walked to his secret room. Opening the door, he couldn't help but smile when he saw the magic mirror inside. Things were going just as he had planned so many years ago. He approached the magical object and stood in front of it.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, don't tell me lies, tell me all." He spoke the enchanted words once more.

The white face from before appeared and looked at him. "I am Barragan, the magic mirror, tell me what you wish to know." Barragan repeated. Noticing it was Aizen again, he narrowed his eyes. "What is it you wish to know now, king of many, king of none?"

Aizen frowned at his words. He would have to ask him later what they meant. "I have dealt with that which stood in the way of my plans. Now I've come to ask what I've been looking for: the woman who shall be my queen and mother of my heirs."

"Say the question. You know the words." Barragan declared.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" Aizen asked solemnly.

The mirror closed his eyes and started speaking. "Hair as black as ebony, lips as red as blood, skin as white as snow. It is the girl whom they call Shirayuki the one you are looking for. She still breathes and her heart still beats. Escaping from death, deep in the woods, she has found the one who can destroy your plans. Beware, because the wheels of destiny are turning. Heed my words, King Aizen, or you will lose it all. If their hearts touch, she will free him, and he will melt her heart. But if Shirayuki dies, nothing will be able to stop you. For as long as she breathes, you will never know rest." With that Barragan finished his speech, and the mirror turned black.

Aizen did not say anything else. He exited the room, Gin and Tousen in tow. He walked to his chamber, leaving the door wide open. When his men walked in, they closed the door for him, and approached him.

"My lord?" It was Tousen who walked towards him. "Are you alright?"

The mad king did not answer. He walked to his desk and flung everything that was on top of it. In his rage, he stomped over manuscripts, books, and ink. Then, he punched a mirror, his hand bleeding from the glass shards. He ignored the shouts from Gin and Tousen. Instead, he noticed a book which he had previously stepped on. He carefully picked it up and opened it. Then, he smirked. "I've got it."

Gin raised an eyebrow. "Got what, my lord?"

"Gin, Tousen. Prepare everything for a ball." He said, ignoring Gin.

"A ball?" Tousen asked.

"Yes. A ball, for all the people in this kingdom! Invite the nobles, the bakers, the farmers! Even invite our own servants! Let this be a great feast!" He exclaimed, gesturing wildly.

"It will be done, my lord." Tousen said, not thinking of asking further.

"Make the preparations immediately." Aizen ordered him. Tousen exited the room, and left the two men alone.

"I gather you know how to take care of the dear princess?"

"Indeed, Gin, indeed."

Aizen smiled. Although the princess had been nothing but a pest, he knew how to take care of her. She was too predictable to be able to fool him.

"Do you want me to punish Abarai?" He asked again.

"Don't even bother. He must be far away from the castle by now." Aizen replied, reading the book intently.

He had other things to take care of. He would heed the mirror's words to the letter. Luckily, he knew how to make sure the princess would never be a problem again, and he would get rid of her little friend to boot. It was just so perfect.

A/N: That Orihime bit from last chapter was a red herring. IchiHime? In my own fanfic? Not on my watch. Hope you liked that I included IshiHime. Can't help it. That was my first Bleach ship and that ending did them both wrong.

As for Aizen and the ball, I hope you see where this is going, lol.

And Kuro is deep in denial, but what else is new.