Chapter 1

Rukia stormed around her room annoyed. She had been inside for days now all because her father wanted her to act and learn to be ladylike for Prince Aizen. A man she was to wed and would be coming for her in a few days. She knew of him and wanted nothing to do with him. She didn't need to be wed to rule! She was a warrior in her own right! Her father and mother, king Byakuya and Queen Hisana, had locked her in her room because they tired of her complaining and constant objections. Rukia walked out to her balcony, looked out, and sighed. She was getting out of there for a while. She needed out of this room before she went nuts from boredom. She would find a way to prove she could rule without marrying. Prove she could defend the kingdom in an emergency. She grabbed her sword and tied it around her waist. Grabbing her shawl and a rope she had hid under her bed she headed for the balcony. Tying the rope to the banister she crawled over and slid down the rope. She would sneak into the stable and get a horse .Go to her favorite place that she only knew. It was deep in the woods and hard to find. She could have peace and quiet.

Gin watched the castle doors and had men spread around the castle woods entrance. Their plan was to wait for the princess Rukia to come along in a carriage and highjack the carriage. She hadn't gone out for days and he was wondering if Prince Aizen knew what he was talking about. Gin watched from the wood line as the doors to the castle opened and waited to see who was coming out. There had been many coming and going but none that were royalty. It was probably another servant going to pick something up. Nonetheless Gin signaled his men to be on the lookout as the hooded figure on a horse rode out.

The figure was riding fast and in a hurry. Gin wondered what the rush was and his curiosity was piqued. He watched as the person rode across the road to an opening in the woods and down a path. Gin cursed and got on his horse to follow.

"Get on your horses you idiots! We have to see who that is!"

Gin's men climbed on their horses and he sent some down the path the figure took. Some went with him. They would meet in the middle. Gin took across the path in front of him and through the woods. He could hear the hoofs of the horses nearby and signaled his men to look out for any signs ahead. Gin stopped as the woods got denser and dismounted.

"Get off your horses. We have to go on foot from here."

His men moaned and he simply didn't wait. He walked ahead without them. Gin walked through the brush and used his sword to hack through. He saw the woods went downhill and then uphill and looked around for any signs of hoof prints. Seeing none he walked into the woods father and tripped. He rolled down the hill and cursed. Getting up he looked around.

Rukia heard the hooves of horses behind her and turned around to look. If her father and mother sent guards after her she would flip. Rukia's heart began to rise as she saw they weren't guards but bandits. Spurring her horse to go faster she stormed down the path. Up ahead she saw the path bend into 2 other paths.

"I can lose them on the twisty path."

Rukia took the path to the left and looked for the hidden path brush pile. Rukia looked behind her and saw she still had them on her tail. Pulling out her sword she got ready to fight. Rukia approached the brush pile and jumped it onto the other pathway. She looked over shocked to see a horse tied to a tree before the jump. Who else was here? Was it another bandit? She shook her head she didn't have time to worry about it. She was so close to the river path. She knew if she could make it she could lose them. Cursing and looking back she saw she had confused all but one of them. Looking around for another way to go she stopped abruptly as she saw a man on a horse holding a bow. Rukia looked at him and studied him while thinking her options out.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help you."

Rukia held her sword tightly ready to block an arrow or attack and looked around suspicious. He drew his bow back and she tensed ready to bolt. The arrow flew by her head and past her as if in slow motion. She heard the sound of someone getting hit and falling off their horse.

She looked back to see her follower dead on the ground. Turning to look at the stranger she tensed as she heard more horses coming and saw men ride up behind him.

"Ichigo, they are scouring the woods for her. We can't go back that way."

Rukia would find her own way back home. She didn't need anyone's help.

"Thank you for your help. I will be fine on my own from here."

Riding away she didn't pay attention to whether they followed her or not.