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 Four: Many Against Twelve
天国的白雪公主
SOUL SOCIETY - TENTH DIVISION
Toshiro Hitsugaya removed the photo from underneath his haori. He stared at the woman, wondering with each moment if he would see her.
His zanpakuto spirit told him Zangetsu had been the one to save her that day. Rarely did one shinigami see the physical manifestation of another's zanpakuto spirit. He did that day. So did Matsumoto.
His thoughts turned to the woman. Hyorinmaru told him that he must save her. He said more importantly that no one else needed to know about her.
He told Matsumoto. She blabbed too much, but she was afraid to say much about this woman. S he said she felt Hyorinmaru threaten to freeze her if she betrayed that woman.
"Taicho," she asked, "who is this Hawthorne, really? Why would Hyorinmaru or any zanpakuto take an interest in a mere human? And why so far away? The spiritual center of the human world is Karakura Town in Japan right now. What would any hollow be doing in America?"
天国的白雪公主
SOUL SOCIETY - TWELFTH DIVISION - FLASHBACK
"This is interesting," Mayuri Kurotsuchi said. "Tracking device took you so far away to a foreign country."
Any country humans would call "of the west" was considered foreign to shinigami. Truth be told, only Japan was not foreign to them, though a few included China.
To be very technical, all human countries were foreign. Yet in the shinigami world, Japan, its culture, and history were assimilated into their society.
"The tracker was merely following a hollow outbreak, Kurotsuchi," Hitsugaya said. Neither he nor Matsumoto wanted to be there. Hell, no one in their right mind would want to be in the twelfth division. His only comfort was their small audience.
With Unohana there, he felt safer. Zaraki joined in, because Yachiru wanted to know what was going on. Ukitake showed up because his division was right next door, and no one trusted Kurotsuchi.
"And why would the hollows go to this America, these United States?" Mayuri asked.
"How should I know?" Hitsugaya asked.
"You say that like you think hollows have some sort of intelligence," Zaraki said to Kurotsuchi. "They are all an easy kill."
"They must have been drawn to something, someone, perhaps?" Kurotsuchi mused.
"Perhaps they just got there by accident. I'm sure it's happened before," Toshiro answered.
"You are quiet, Matsumoto," Kurotsuchi said to her. "Perhaps your taicho forgot something?"
"I just don't want to be here," she said. "Why must you continue to ask these questions? We have work to do."
"You, work?" Kenpachi asked. "Don't make me laugh."
"Yamamoto Sou Taicho wants to know my the two of you were in this foreign country," Kurotsuchi said. "Nothing out of the ordinary happened besides where you were? I cannot believe that."
"Well, start believing," Hitsugaya said.
"I should run some tests," Kurotsuchi insisted.
"I can do that. No need to bother you," Unohana said.
"Yes, good idea," Matsumoto said. "Taicho and I will come over right away."
"Seems fine to me," Zaraki said.
"No one asked you," Kurotsuchi said.
"You're a nut that does crazy shit to your own members, wack job," Zaraki said. "I think this little kid over here needs a bit of protecting from you."
"I still need answers," Kurotsuchi said.
"You have your answers," Kenpachi said. "Nobody knows why it happened. Maybe just a freak accident. Yeah, freak accident. I'm sure a freak like you can understand."
"Now, now Zaraki," Ukitake admonished, "no need to -."
"I would think the hollows found something they wanted there," Kurotsuchi interrupted. "Perhaps something to do with that fabled zero division, hmm? I've always wanted to know more about them."
"Zero division?" Hitsugaya repeated.
"Ooh, Kenny," Yachiru interrupted, "if the old grandpa runs the first division, then who runs the zero one? And if they are zero, are they even a division? What do you think, Kenny?"
"How the hell should I know?" Zaraki asked.
"I've heard there is a god - a king - of Soul Society," Kurotsuchi admitted. "Perhaps they just work for this god king."
Ukitake shot a glance to Unohana.
"Why, yes," Unohana admitted, "I believe it is something like that. But there is no need to believe that was the reason. It's more likely an accident. Zero division would have no reason to be in a foreign country. Surely, if they serve the king, why would they bother with something so trivial? It can't be impossible that the hollows just showed up there by accident. There are so many places in the human world. We can't just assume everything is in Karakura Town right now."
"That makes sense," Ukitake said.
"Maybe she should take your job," Zaraki said to Kurotsuchi. "Seems logical without jumping to unnecessary conclusions as an excuse to dissect a living person. Just say you want to split Hitsugaya here apart and don't make up some bullshit excuse to do it. Not that any of us will let you."
"Ooh, Kenny!" Yachiru exclaimed. "Maybe they should fight it out! It would be fun to watch! Then can you read me a bedtime story? How 'bout one with a princess this time!"
天国的白雪公主
SHIRAHIME'S INNER WORLD
Shirahime cradled a slumped-over Ichigo in her lap.
"That's it, Ichigo," Shirahime coaxed. "Wake up. Good boy. Wake up now."
Ichigo Kurosaki stirred in her lap. He seemed asleep now, finally shutting up about his plans to "make everything right."
Ichigo bolted awake.
"No, Ichigo, no. You must wake up. Now. You must go."
"You're here, Shira," he said as he looked up into her eyes.
"I'm just an illusion, Ichigo. I'm just a manifestation of your regret. I'm not real."
"You are real," he objected.
"Ichigo, listen to me. Really listen to me. There is someone very dangerous here who wants to not only kill you, but destroy you. I've made sure he won't kill you. But I can't guarantee he won't hurt you, hurt you really bad. Please, Ichigo, all I have given up, please make it worth it. Please have a good life. You are a child, Ichigo. You don't need to take on these burdens. Just go. That's what I want for you. Go live your life.
"Consider it my last request of you."
"What are you saying?" he asked.
"You're not an adult, so you don't have to, but most adults would usually grant a last request. And mine is so easy for you to do."
"I'm not going to let you die," he said.
"That's not up to you," she said. "Please, go."
"But I love you."
"No, you've only cared for Rukia. She's in this life of yours, too. So, go be with her. And be happy."
"No."
"You owe me, then. How about that? Honor my sacrifice. You want to be an adult? Honor the fact that I can never go home again. That I will never see my homeland. I will die in a foreign land. I will never go home.
"You, child, cannot comprehend what that means. I have nothing now, no one, I am no one. But now I don't even have my homeland, not anymore.
"So, Ichigo, wake up. Let me go.
"You are a child. I am an adult. It is my duty to save you. Not the other way around."
"You aren't no one. You are my wife! I'll take you from here!"
"How will you save me, when you cannot save yourself?"
谢谢你们的阅读。