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 eight written 3/14/2022
Bleach: Cross
Fifth Division in the Red II:
Princess Division
by Eugena
Rated M
Chapter Eight: An Elder Answers a Question
天国的白雪公主
SOUL SOCIETY - FIRST DIVISION
Yukihime wondered how in all of the worlds her successor ever put up with the man known as Byakuya Kuchiki.
She'd been briefed by Lin and Jiang on the real state of the noble families, including the real heads that lived in the royal realm. Though Lin and Jiang did not tell her, she knew exactly what most of the heads did with whatever incarnation of hers they got their blood-stained hands on.
It was the only reason Yukihime would put up with this supposed head of the Kuchiki clan. By a default vote, she preferred him over the real head from the royal realm.
"Well, this has been interesting and all," she began, "and there are more ground rules to lay, but first, let's get these "facts-of-life" talks out of the way and see who is interested. Then we can meet again and discuss."
"Are you in charge?" Sasakibe asked.
"Yes, I am. I'm glad I could answer your question and clear that up for you."
"That's not what I meant."
"That is what you said."
"Shihoin!" Yamamoto screamed.
"What do you want, young annoyance?" she asked.
"Young?" he challenged.
"Yes. Young. As in - well someone want to help this pathetic one out? How old am I?"
"Thousands upon thousands of years older than him," Jushiro answered.
"Like Shinnouhi said," Jiang began, "young. And my sister and I are also much older than you. So, yeah, young again."
"How dare -!" Yamamoto exclaimed.
"Wow," Lin began sarcastically, "is the mortal whining? Oh, dear, do we gods care?"
"Uh, no," Jiang said.
"Why would we gods give a - care?" Yukihime said, switching the word at last minute. "Anyways, fun and all, but I have work to get back to. You know, keeping my father-in-law's forces very far away from my children."
"Must you call him your father-in-law?" both Kenpachi and Toshiro asked.
"Well, officially," she answered. "Such is the red tape, as you would call it."
"Well, Toshiro," Jushiro began, "now that you look right, you could challenge for that father-in-law position."
"What?" he asked.
"If she marries you, he won't be her father-in-law anymore," Jushiro answered.
Lin and Jiang looked at each other. Now was not the time to correct for every detail.
"Anyways, I'd like to visit my little Hikari before I see my other children," Yukihime said. I don't want her to feel left out like I'm giving all my attention to the others."
"Since when do you call her Hikari?" Toshiro asked.
"Since I wanted to annoy this one here." She patted her hand against Ichigo's cheek. He tried to lean into it and enjoy, but she rolled her eyes and drew back her hand.
"Hikari and I can -," Ichigo began.
"Stay far apart from each other," Yukihime filled in. "She's my child, Prince, and your brother's child. Not yours. And she'll always also be -," she turned to Kenpachi, "his child as well."
"She's my child!" Prince Ichigo exclaimed.
"You're dreaming!" Yukihime shot back.
"I distinctly remember getting you pregnant."
"You mean to say you distinctly remember how many times you were with Rukia! No? Oh, yes, that's right. Rukia was forgettable, wasn't she? What was the idiot hoping for? You'd leave your legal wife for her? Oh, but I see now, you wouldn't be leaving me, you'd be killing me, is that right?"
"That's not what happened."
"Stop deluding yourself!" Yukihime snapped. "Hey, Rukia's reincarnation is here, maybe you should just ask her if she gets lonely at nights."
"That is my sister you're talking about -," Byakuya tried to interject.
"Why would I want her when I have you?" Ichigo asked.
"You weren't listening then," Yukihime said. "There's a contest about to start. And I am the prize - and my sister. You want your precious Shinnouhi back, do you? Then you'll have to compete for both of us. I'm not leaving my sister out. If I can get a new husband, so can she."
"Oh, good, she said "new" husband," Shunsui said. "That leaves Ichigo out."
"Really?" Ichigo challenged him. "We'll see about that. I heard she hates you."
"Oh, I wouldn't quite go that far," Shunsui said. "Besides, she seemed to enjoy -."
"Must we talk about that?" Toshiro interrupted.
"But don't you want some pointers?" Jushiro asked.
"I want to pretend she hasn't slept with most of you."
"You are really taking that out of context, Hitsugaya," Sasakibe said.
"Oh, yeah?" Toshiro asked.
"And what's wrong with that?" Momo asked. "She can sleep with whomever she wants."
"See?" Sasakibe asked him. "Out of context."
Toshiro huffed.
"What's wrong with him?" Momo asked Jiang.
"He's just jealous," Jiang said.
"Been a boy so long that he missed out," Lin said.
"That's right," Yukihime agreed. "Why would I ever give someone who looks like a boy the same chance as a man who looks it? Let's get something straight. I like men. Well, I should say adults. I really do prefer men, but Senna dear has been in love with me for ages."
"So, no women then?" Toshiro asked. "None of the women compete?" He was hopeful.
"I didn't say that. I love Senna, really, I do. So why wouldn't I let whoever is an adult compete?"
Momo smiled so hard she thought she was going to break her own face. She knew she had a chance with taicho. Now her new taicho - the one pretending to be Shirahime and who had the final word on it - said it as well.
谢谢你们的阅读。