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 Five Written On or Before 8/28/2022.

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

Rated M

Chapter Five: Show the Truth

天国的白雪公主

Shirahime sighed. Not this person.

Ichigo Kurosaki looked around in confusion. His opponent was not here. Then he turned to her.

"Hello, boy," she greeted.

"Stop calling me that."

"You are a boy, Ichigo."

"I am your husband."

"You can't become him right now, Kurosaki. I'm muting his hold on you now. I didn't want to come here. I didn't want to see you. But since I'm here, I will give you advice."

"Advice?"

"This is a different life for you. Not everyone gets that chance. Don't squander it. Choose someone or choose no one. But you don't get to choose me."

"You are the person I love."

"Not in this life. Not in any life. If you - if he - had loved me enough to even respect me, Hikari and I would not have died like we did. You chose Rukia then; you might as well choose her again. It's okay this time. You owe Yachiru and me nothing in this life - except maybe to leave us alone."

He reached out to her.

She pulled away.

"But a word of advice."

"More advice?"

"Orihime is more obsessive over you than Toshiro is over me. Obsession is not a good thing. No matter what it may be or who it may be for. Where her powers come from will only destroy you."

"Where they come from?"

"Time is short, Ichigo. I won't tell you the whole truth. I want to protect you. Yet there is one thing you must remember. No matter what."

"Tell me, Shira."

She smiled at the nickname.

"I know you will not understand what I say now but remember. What the shinigami have planned for the Soul King, don't go along with it. Most do not know enough of the truth of it to make a good decision. Though many do not care and follow blindly. I am the only one who knows the truth of it who would advise you wisely. No matter who tells you to do what, do not agree unless it is something I have said."

"What is so bad about their plan?"

"If you knew even a small bit, they would kill you. But then again, death could be nice. They have something else they might wish to do entirely. In a way, even Aizen is better than these shinigami."

"That's not possible."

"I have lived countless lives. Trust me. Goodbye, Ichigo. Make good choices this time."

天国的白雪公主

Pushing herself more, she fell to the ground amidst a few fallen Eleventh Division shinigami. They would perhaps recover. There was one who needed her most. Recently promoted sixth seat Shinjiro Kita twitched his fingers toward his zanpakuto. She reached out and covered his hand. A few moments after she would leave, he would need that hand to work.

Shinjiro felt his bones on fire as those in his hand knit back together. He willed his eyes to open.

"Hime-sama?"

He wanted to believe he was hallucinating, but he saw her glowing eyes, her hair shining.

He tightened his fingers around her hand, not wanting to let her go.

He blinked, and she was gone.

天国的白雪公主

She could feel his spiritual power even before she had fully appeared. Kenpachi Zaraki, looking just as he did when he was human stood before her. He caressed her face, taking her human form.

"You've lost a lot of power," he said. "What have you done to yourself?"

"Bought time," she said.

"Not for yourself."

"For all of you."

"Why couldn't you let me protect you?"

"And give truth to the rumor I never deserved to be in your division? That there was only one reason. Even that man I refuse to call my father - ."

He cut her off with a kiss. It was full of passion and desperation.

She pulled back.

"It was my nice way of saying it's something only I can do," she said.

He kissed her again, his hands moving over her.

"To hell with anyone else," he said.

She laughed. "Yumi said the same thing. Said the three of us and Yachiru should ditch everyone."

"I'll agree with that. Let's go."

"And leave your life as the glorious Kenpachi?"

"I don't need that. I have you and Yachiru."

Tears fell from her eyes. "It's gone too far for that."

She looked away. "You know I had many other children besides Yachiru. She's the only one left. She's also the only one the royal family would have left alone since she's my firstborn.

"Aizen isn't even the beginning of the danger."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a secret the shinigami who know would kill to silence."

"And you think I'm too afraid, is that it?"

"Not at all. The only thing you fear is losing Yachiru or me. But what you fear the most is to lose both of us. So, this is my way of making sure you only lose one of us.

"I will show you the truth. As much as I want to spend a long time with you, it's better for you to see this. I know you will protect Yachiru. I love you, Kenny."

天国的白雪公主

Kenpachi felt an intense fire burn him as they faded out and into a new place. He felt the air ripple next to him and saw Jushiro Ukitake.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"He can help you," she explained. "Trust me, you may need an ally for this truth. Now, quiet. I will now show you both the real Soul King."

谢谢你们的阅读。