Disclaimers, Etc.: See Chapter One.
Opening Theme: Jué Ài (訣愛) by Faye
Ending Theme: 最後一次 (One Last Time) by OSN

Chapter Two written on or before 8/28/2022.

Bleach: Cross
Key of Gods:
Bend or Break
By Eugena

Rated M

Chapter Two: You Know Me

天国的白雪公主

Shirahime reappeared before Sosuke Aizen, her lips cut and swollen. Her previous wounds returned to her.

"Oh, look," Gin Ichimaru taunted as he stared her down, "a little wounded dog has come to do battle. Let me handle this, Lord Aizen."

"You look strange for a shinigami. Not to mention you just appeared here," Sosuke remarked.

"Perhaps you should just assume I'm not a shinigami," she shot back.

"She's not worth your time," Gin said.

"Shut up," she said in Mandarin. Without trying, her words pushed Gin Ichimaru away.

Sosuke clenched his teeth against a gasp of surprise.

"You know me?" she asked in Mandarin.

"You play nice tricks little human. For clearly that's what you are looking like that."

Her hair flickered between her human dull black locks and glowing white.

"Apparently you have yet to master your zanpakuto," he mocked. "It takes practice to wield an illusion zanpakuto. And you should never make it obvious you have one."

"Like you do?"

Her refusal to answer him in Japanese begin to pick at his consciousness and his memories.

"I don't know you, shinigami. Though I guess my reputation proceeds me."

"You can't hide truth."

"As fun as this little exchange is, I have a pressing date with the king."

"Funny," she said in his language. "Of all the royals you'd want a date with, it's never been the king, has it?"

"Just who are you?"

"You know me."

This time it was a statement, not a question.

His fingers unfurled from the spirit rod in his pocket. Such a small little thing to form the bones of the key.

By this time, the eleventh division had come closer. Kenpachi Zaraki ran like the demon he was called. Ikkaku hung back so Kenpachi and Yumichika could charge ahead.

Without looking, Shirahime knew Yachiru was with Kenpachi. She understood the girl would have refused to be left behind.

Another lock broke and the black fled from her hair. The blue flame burned her skin again, this time it fading the tan color of her human skin. The blue ran down to the ends of her hair like lightning.

Aizen formed the name with his lips, for once in a very long time afraid to make a sound.

"You are not a god, Suki. It is foolishness you do now."

"Get back!" she called to the others in Japanese. "You can't fight him now."

"Like hell!" Zaraki yelled.

Jushiro Ukitake arrived as a third lock broke. Though it had been a long time, he recognized her, this self, as she looked so long ago. The fire turned her shinigami robes gold. He fell to his knees without hesitation.

Rukia and others from his division arrived to see him on his knees. But the shock of it was the replaced by the other sight before them.

Hovering in the air, the reincarnated Heaven's Princess had her right hand on her Yukihime's hilt on her back. Kosetsu Ryu remained at her side. Kosetsu the dragon stood beside her, his sharp teeth on display. She held her left hand with her palm out towards Aizen, a blue and white barrier shielded her from him. Deep blue lightning ran around Shirahime and Kosetsu as if projecting a spherical shield around them.

Another lock broke as Kyoraku and Yamamoto Sou Taicho arrived.

"You are not a god. Foolish mortal for calling yourself such."

The ground shook and most shinigami fell to their knees.

Yumichika tumbled to the ground, not able to stand in the midst of the intense spiritual power.

"No, no," Yumi begged. He tried to push himself onward.

Shirahime looked upward, hearing a crack the others did not.

"Kenpachi Zaraki," she said. "I am in your debt for looking after Hikari," she said, referring to Yachiru's name in her first life. "Yet a thing such as I cannot repay debts. I hope this current life of yours will bring you enough rewards. They are coming soon. Do not let them take her with them."

She looked down to them, and Zaraki and the others could see her glowing deep blue eyes.

"Shirahime wishes you to know that she loves you, Kenpachi. And you as well, Yumi. To my Hikari, we say we love you and we are glad we could see you one more time. But it is now time to go. Gods do not belong in this place."

Aizen tried to bind Shirahime with kido, but his spells would burn off before they touched her.

"What is the meaning of this?" Yamamoto shouted. He looked to Kyoraku. "Since when has a god been among us?"

Shirahime laughed. "Foolish old man. How many other times have you seen me?"

谢谢你们的阅读。