So my mom was supposed to help me with the foundation knowledge for this chapter (the birth scene) but when I asked her she said... "I can't explain it" biggest facepalm ever. She's had 4 kids! =_=U so I kinda made things up from the small amount of knowledge I had. I hope that I did it justice!

Today was the day. Everyone's lives were changing, for the better or worse only time would tell but change was happening all the same.

Queen Retsu was in her chambers surrounded by physicians and nurses, the best in Sereitei. Whilst the King paced the corridor outside listening to her cries of pain. Isshin wanted to be inside, he really did but the physicians told him he would only get in the way.

"Queen Retsu! You must not push yet we are not ready!" A flustered nurse was flapping around her preparing goodness knows what. The queen was a very patient woman but she was in pain and beginning to get irritated. All they had to do was catch how hard was that?

What felt like an eternity of fighting her instincts to push, she was finally allowed. The queen almost felt sorry for the nurse that had chosen to hold her hand as she was pretty sure she was crushing it.

The urge to push came again and this time she followed her body's demands and pushed. The pain she was feeling was truly unbearable. It shot up her spine and across her womb. This baby was stretching her to her limits but it was over much faster than she expected as she soon heard her first born's cry. Queen Retsu only caught a glance of her son as the physicians took him away to check he was healthy. The flash of bright orange hair and flushed pink skin brought a smile to her face before the urge to push was bearing down on her once again.

Queen Retsu was unaware of how much time passed before the pain started to fade and her second son was born. The queen was exhausted but happy, she could finally hold her newborn sons. Queen Retsu's world began to turn black as unconsciousness ate at the edges of her mind, but even as her vision faded she saw the unmistakable look of panic on the physicians faces. Where was her younger son? Was he okay? The fight to stay awake was in vain as the queen passed into the realm of unconsciousness.

The King had had enough it had been silent in his chambers for some time now and he needed to know what was going on. What of his wife and sons? Where they okay? Just as he laid his hands on the door to push it open it swung open from the inside and a frightened looking nurse stood on the other side.

"Y-your majesty come quickly your youngest son he-"

The King didn't hear the rest of her sentence as he was already striding over to the worried looking physician holding a tiny bundle in his hands.

"What of my youngest son?" The King demanded impatiently.

The physician slowly turned towards him, pity and sorrow shining in his eyes as he held out the bundle. "Sir I-I've never seen anything like this...this baby...he's deformed...I'm so sorry..."

The King felt his heart tremble as he took the baby, wrapped up in a pale blue blanket, from the physician. King Isshin's eyes widened as he looked down at the baby boy who was intently staring up at him. The younger twin had snow white skin with a matching tuft of snow white hair, but what really frightened King Isshin were the child's all too observant oddly coloured eyes. He had gold irises on black

sclera, Isshin had never seen eyes like that before and it terrified him. This child was a demon and he couldn't bear to hold it a moment longer, he knew in his heart that he couldn't let his wife see him either. It would crush her. A plan formulated in his mind; this is the child he would give to the witch Rangiku. His debt would be paid and he would be rid of this demon child.

Without a word King Isshin turned from the room pausing only at the guard posted at the door to tell him to ready Engetsu. The guard nodded in response and set off at a quick pace down the hallway.

Isshin could barely take his eyes off the child as he walked. He was so... white... it freaked him out. He couldn't bond with this baby.

Before he realised it King Isshin was at the stables. Engetsu was already standing outside with a guard waiting for him. Tearing his eyes away from the observant baby, King Isshin awkwardly mounted his stallion before riding off into the night.

The King didn't get far, just far enough for the castle to be out of sight, when he came to a hooded figure in the middle of the road. Isshin pulled on Engetsu's reins and the stallion came to a halt.

Rangiku pushed back the hood of her black velvet cloak, a smile painted on her beautiful face.

"Did I not tell you I would come to you Dear King?"

Isshin fidgeted uncomfortably in his saddle but didn't attempt to answer her.

"Is that my payment?" The witch pointed to the tiny bundle in the Kings arms.

"Yes" The King handed the bundle to her and she accepted it happily, pure joy written on her face.

Rangiku looked down at the baby in her arms and her smile became maternal. King Isshin looked at her disgusted. How could she smile at that creature?

"He's beautiful. I shall name him Shiro." Rangiku gently stroked the newly named baby Shiro's cheek and he nuzzled into her touch.

The King snorted. "If that is all Witch I shall take my leave."

"No. That is all Dear King. Enjoy your son, as I shall enjoy mine"

King Isshin turned Engetsu and made his way back to the castle to do what he must. To break his wife's heart.

It was early morning when Queen Retsu awoke, as her eyes focused she noticed her husband sitting on the edge of bed holding their eldest son. A loving smile graced her lips as she gently shifted into a sitting position, catching her husband's attention in the process.

"Did you sleep well my love?" The King asked as he looked over at her, his face looked tired, worn and somehow older.

"I did darling" The Queen glanced around the room and back to her husband. This wasn't right where was their youngest son?

"Isshin..." The Queen began to speak but the King had already noticed the look of worry and panic in her eyes. "Our youngest..."

"He died shortly after birth. There was nothing to be done. I'm so sorry my love..."

The Queen just stared at her husband, tears spilling from her eyes. She couldn't form the words to express what she was feeling. Queen Retsu felt numb but it was so much more than that, the weight of her grief was crushing her. Grief for the baby boy she would never get to know, never get to love or watch grow into a man. The Queen could see her husband's lips moving but couldn't hear the words, her heartache overpowering all her other senses until... a cry broke through. Blinking a few times she looked down into her husband's arms and saw her other, beautiful son. He was crying. Wordlessly she held out her arms and Isshin placed the tearful baby into her warm embrace.

The baby boy's reaction was instant, he stopped crying and his big brown eyes focussed on his mother.

"Ichigo" The word was barely a whisper.

"Sorry?"

"I shall name him Ichigo. Ichigo Kurosaki." A single tear rolled down the Queen's cheek as she spoke, she would love Ichigo enough for him and his departed twin and he would want for nothing.

And so the two boys set off on their separate paths of destiny. Loved by two different mothers raised as a prince and a witch's son life couldn't be more different for the brothers bound by different fates, but the ties that bind them together would not be so easily broken. It would be many years before the pair would be reunited and when they were, lives would be ended, lives would be ruined, trust broken, and the kingdom of Sereitei would fall apart. 18 years from the day the boys were born. 18 years exactly.

I'm really enjoying writing this, I love the tender moments between the two new mothers and their sons, but just to clarify I absolutely adore Shiro so I disagree with the way Isshin treats him but I had to get him to willingly give baby Shiro away... next chapter will be snapshots into the boys upbringing possibly extended into two chapters depending on how I'm feeling. :P please review!