Disclaimers, etc.: see chapter one
Opening Theme: Sheep (Alan Walker Relift) by Lay (Yixing Zhang) (feat. Alan Walker)
Ending Theme: Black White (AB) by Z. Tao

Chapter three written 12/01/2022

Bleach: Cross
Another Shinigami Part 2
The Reincarnation
by Eugena

Rated M Version

Chapter Three: Ancient Promises

天国的白雪公主

THE ROYAL REALM - THE TEMPLE OF THE ELEMENT GOD HYORINMARU

Crown Prince Shiroyuki, son and heir of the current Soul King, dipped his hands in the basin of water before running them through his snow-white hair. In his first life, his hair color alone was the only thing to physically distinguish him from his older twin brother, Ichigo, who was crown prince at that time.

Throughout his lifetimes, he tried to again reconnect with Shirayukihime, the one he called Shirahime, and his brother called Shira. In the first life, his brother also called her his wife.

Ichigo never deserved her.

Ichigo didn't even afford her respect due a friend, let alone a wife.

Shiroyuki knelt before a crumbled statue. He wanted to replace it, but with the current situation of his father the king, such a feat would have to wait.

"If you can hear me," he said, "please don't take her from me again."

He looked to the memorial tablets. The largest one bore the characters of her name. Then the twenty-four surrounding it each held a name of a child.

"How much crueler can life be to us?"

He shot to his feet as her heard footsteps pound closer to him.

Senna, fukutaicho of the Shinnouhi Royal Guard nearly doubled over by the time she caught sight of him. He rushed to her, catching her before she fell over.

His own guard rushed behind her.

"You're slow," he said to his guard.

"Senna Taicho has always been faster," his third division leader admitted.

"Your Highness, Your Highness -." Senna gasped for air. "Your Highness, she's here."

天国的白雪公主

SHIRAHIME'S INNER WORLD

"Ichigo, snap out of it!" Shirahime hissed. "He'll be here soon. Please."

Crown Prince Ichigo stared at her.

"My prince, your life is over. If you do not leave, then your current incarnation's life will be as well. Go."

"You're coming with me, my love."

"Since when have you ever loved me?" she screamed. "You do not know this me, but I can assure you, you never loved her."

"I promise -."

"Your promises mean nothing. The promises of any royal mean nothing, especially yours."

She placed her hand on his chest and channeled a burning blue fire into him.

天国的白雪公主

THE ROYAL REALM - RUKIA'S ROOM - SHIRAYUKIHIME'S LIFETIME

Crown Prince Ichigo woke beside Rukia. He ran his hand through her hair and kissed her while she slept. He lay back down beside her.

"It's a good morning, my princess," he whispered. "I wish all mornings could be like this one."

Rukia stirred and woke. "My prince, you are still here?" she asked.

"Of course, I'm still here. Stop being so formal."

"Are you still asleep?" she asked. "You called me princess. I see, you didn't mean to stay over last night."

"What are you getting at?" he asked. "I meant it. And of course, you are my princess."

"You have a wife that is a princess, my lord."

"I don't care anything for her. I can't wait to be rid of her."

Rukia sat up.

"My prince, you shouldn't say something like that. She's been - kind - to you. She's been a good wife. A faithful wife to you."

"So?" he challenged. "I'm sure I can arrange it that she was not so faithful."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm the next emperor. I can do whatever I want and say the facts are whatever I want."

天国的白雪公主

KARAKURA TOWN - THE PRESENT

The present incarnation of the crown prince, Ichigo Kurosaki, curled up in a ball while he ignored the sounds of battle around him. He supposed his friends were there fighting a hollow, but he only had eyes and ears for memories of long ago.

"How sad today is, my poor, lonely wife has passed away," he heard himself say.

"Stop it," Ichigo hissed.

"Just get some poison, they'll think she was just weak." He heard that voice again. "Don't worry, my darling, perhaps I'll be kind and make sure she gets a grand burial. Then I will say I am weighed down with grief and will never marry again. I'll still have you won't I?"

"Stop!" Ichigo yelled.

"Right, my precious Rukia?"

Ichigo stood. He could not accept what he heard.

No, no, his wife was just here, wasn't she?

天国的白雪公主

THE ROYAL REALM - CITY OUTSIDE OF THE PALACE - SHORTLY BEFORE SHIRAYUKIHIME'S BIRTH

The dark-skinned woman rubbed her round belly yet again. She smiled, her mind filled with everything she wanted to do with her child, everything she wanted to experience with her child.

Though she could not know for sure, she felt she would have a girl. She wondered if the girl would take after the light skin and blond hair of her father or if she would have her darker skin and deep purple hair. She hoped her daughter would share at least something with her father. She wanted her husband to see something, to be comforted that this was his child.

Of course, there was no reason to think otherwise. However, he seemed distant lately, and she wondered if that was what he was thinking. Or perhaps he had sought company with another. They certainly hadn't been together much after she found out she was pregnant.

No, she shouldn't think that. He was just nervous in his own way. This child would change everything, at least for them.

Looking back, someone might have told her that this child would change everything for everyone.

天国的白雪公主

ADDITIONAL CAST NOTES
BLEACH: ACROSS THE DIMENSIONS:
Another Shinigami Part 2:
The Reincarnation

Bleach: Cross Backgrounds - May differ from Bleach canon.

The first cast list is included in chapter one.

THE PRESENT

The Royal Family: The royal family is the ruling family of all souls. The members generally remain in the royal realm. The shinigami of Soul Society must answer to them, but usually only receive the royal family's orders through zero division. Current known members are the Soul King, the current head of the royal family; Crown Prince Shiroyuki, his son and the next king; and Shirayukihime Shinnouhi, the Imperial Princess who belongs to the royal family and who has been reincarnated many times. Her current incarnation is the human American, Samantha "Sam" Hawthorne. [Shirayukihime belongs to the royal family, literally. As in she is a thing, a property of theirs.]

Senna: Taicho of the Shinnouhi Royal Guard. She is either the same Senna of Shirayukihime's lifetime who was her loyal servant (see White Princess Rebirth), or her reincarnation.

Shiroyuki (Crown Prince): The reincarnation of Prince Kail who is the son of the current Soul King. Throughout his lifetimes, he has been married to various incarnations of Shirayukihime. Both Shiroyuki and Kail (Hollow Ichigo) are reincarnations of Prince Kail. It is currently unknown how two incarnations exist at the same time. They do not know about each other.

Zero Division:

Zero division members reside in the royal realm and are in charge with protecting and carring out orders from the royal family. There are several subdivisions, including the Crown Prince Shiroyuki's Guard and the Shinnouhi Royal Guard.

Crown Prince Shiroyuki's Guard: Personal guards of Crown Prince Shiroyuki. They are loyal to him, and by extension, Shirayukihime Shinnouhi.

Shinnouhi Royal Guard: Shirayukihime Shinnouhi's personal guards. They are considered guard members in name only as it has been a long time since an incarnation of Shirayukihime Shinnouhi appeared.

THE PAST - SHIRAYUKIHIME'S LIFETIME

Senna: Shirayukihime's loyal servant (see White Princess Rebirth). In the present, she is the taicho of the Shinnouhi Royal Guard. It is currently unknown if this is the same Senna or if it is a reincarnation.

谢谢你们的阅读。