It was in medieval times, feudal era in japan, and everyone was living happily under the emperor. Now, the emperor had a single daughter. Her hair was a bright citrus orange, and her eyes were like sweet honey. She wore a blue kimono that went down to the floor. She never liked being a princess. Whenever she feels uncertain or troubled, she climbs up on the roof and stares at the night sky. Her hair fluttered in the slight breeze. She sighed. A man appeared next to her and set his hand on her shoulder.

"Ichigo, this is not the time to sulk, get back to bed."

"Yeah, yeah... hey, Renji?"

"Yes?"

"Why am I here?"

"Well, because your father thought you came of age to find a suitor, had practically everyone in Sereitei come, and they are all going to try to court you."

"Yeah, but why?"

"Didn't I just tell you? It's your duty as the princess of Sereitei..."

"Why me? I don't like being here! Everyone tells me what I'm supposed to do, and how I should act! I want to be myself, not some prize!"

"Well, I can tell you one thing..."

"What?"

"Aizen's going to be there, and everyone expects you to choose him, but I personally don't like him."

"I wouldn't pick him if it was the last thing I did!"

"Good to hear that, but seriously, you're sixteen now, it's time to find a suitor."

"Maybe I don't want to..."

"You sort of have no choice..."

"I'm not going to do it! Not now, not ever!" Ichigo jumped off the roof and landed perfectly on her feet before running back to her room and locking the door. "stupid pineapple..." Ichigo sighed before grabbing her cloak, cutting the edge of her kimono to her knees, and climbing out the window. "This will show them... I am not a prize to be won..." Ichigo bounded out, through the forests, hoping never to return again.

***

"Lord Yamamoto! Ichigo has disappeared!" an attendant burst into the emperor's room.

"Nani?! Go find her!"

"Hai!" The attendant scurried off and told the army. "The princess is missing! Orders from above say to search everywhere!"

"Let's go men!" The captain said and they all rode off to find their missing princess.

***

Ichigo walked the town outside, taking in all the sights, dodging horses and carriages. She wandered the streets, watching how the people traded goods, advertized their goods, and went on their way. She paused when she saw a little boy try to steal an apple. She stopped and grabbed an apple and handed it out to him. "Here..." the boy took the apple and Ichigo set out a few yen to compensate for the apple. She loved to help people, especially the poorer ones. She couldn't help but overhear what seemed to be a fight.

"Stupid demon! Don't come back here again!" A shop owner said.

"I have just as much right to be here as ya do!" Someone yelled back, and the voice seemed to draw Ichigo closer.

"Dumb Demon! Get the hell out of my sight!"

"Hey! I ain't a demon! My money is just as good as everyone else's!" Ichigo finally got through the crowd to see someone with pure-white hair that spiked out in every direction. His eyes were golden, and there was black where the white should be. He was lean, yet she could tell he was muscular. His skin was deathly pale and could be translucent if it got any whiter. He was scowling and arguing with the shopkeeper. Suddenly, the shopkeeper kneed the teen in his gut, making him sink down to his knees.

"I am not doing business with a demon!" he yelled.

"Then will you do business with me?" Ichigo spoke up and stepped forward.

"I have no problem with you, so yes."

"Hand me whatever he was going to buy." The shopkeeper nodded and handed Ichigo a basket of food, all of which she paid for. "You shouldn't judge people by appearances..." Ichigo mumbled. The crowd backed away and resumed their business. Ichigo set the basket down near the teen and helped him stand. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah... common occurrence with me..." He scratched the back of his head. "And you are?"

"Ichigo," Ichigo picked up the basket and offered it to him. "You?"

"Shirosaki, but people prefer ta call me either demon or Shiro." Shiro didn't take the basket.

"Shiro... sounds nice..." Shiro glared at Ichigo.

"Why did ya help me?"

"Because, just because you look different, doesn't mean you're a bad person..."

"But still..."

"Just shut-up and take the basket..." Shiro complied and muttered a thanks.

"I hope to see ya around more, berry-chan!" Shiro ran off and Ichigo stood there.

"Me too... me too..." Ichigo muttered to herself. It was starting to get dark, and Ichigo tried to find shelter, settling for a broken-down building. She lowered her hood and sighed. "Shiro... I think you just stole my heart..."

***

"I'm back!" Shiro called out and three kids ran up to him.

"Shiro-Nii! Glad to see you back!" a blondish-haired, brown-eyed girl hugged Shiro.

"Hiya, Yuzu..." Shiro patted her head.

"What took you so long? It's nearly dusk..." a raven-haired, brown-eyed girl leaned at the doorway.

"eh... shaddup Karin..." A boy stumbled in from the other room, his cool, gray eyes devoid of life, and staring at nothing, unable to focus. His untamed black hair spiked out much like Shiro's.

"Hi Shiro."

"Hello Kaien, how's the eyes?"

"Still can't see anything, but I'm starting to adjust. Can barely make out where people and structures are."

"Good ta hear." Shiro set the basket down on the half-broken table and pulled out a loaf of bread. He broke it into four pieces and handed the three kids a piece before grabbing one for himself.

"Anything happen in town?" Karin asked.

"The shop owner refused to let me buy the things..."

"WHAT?! YOU DIDN'T STEAL THIS, RIGHT?" Yuzu yelled.

"Calm down! Someone else stood up for me." Shiro explained.

"Who?" Kaien asked.

"Her name was Ichigo, and from what I could tell, she was sweet and kind, but I barely got a good look at her face... she kept it covered by a hood..."

"Wow... sorta like an angel..." Yuzu chimed.

"Possibly. The only time I got a look at her face was when she helped me stand up. She had the warmest, brown eyes..."

"Sounds like you have a crush..." Karin teased.

"What? NO!" Shiro yelled and the three laughed. "Finish up then go to sleep..."

"M'kay." The three said in unison and finished their portion of bread and went to their broken beds. Shiro covered all three of them with a blanket.

"Will things get better?" Yuzu asked.

"Possibly... I'm not going to lie, but it's probably not going to happen..." Shiro said.

"I just hope those guards don't find us and beat you again..." Karin yawned.

"If they do, I've gotten stronger."

"I would love to feel grass between my toes again, and the wind in my hair, but this place is too run down..." Kaien said.

"Yeah... after Aizen drops down dead, then maybe things will get better..." Shiro said with a tinge of hate in his voice.

"Maybe you will be the one to marry the princess... then you will be Emperor instead of Aizen..." Yuzu muttered.

"Yeah, like that's going to happen..."

"It might... you never know..." Yuzu said before falling to sleep.

"Yeah... what's a princess going to see in a street-rat like me?" Shiro said, stroking Yuzu's hair. "It's never going to happen..." Shiro sighed and went to his own perch near the cracked wall. He leaned against the frame and looked out to the sight. His mind traveled back to that girl from before in the market place. He then fell asleep.

***

"Any news?" Yamamoto asked.

"None, no-one has spotted her..." A man with brown, curly hair and Brown eyes bowed. He stood back up and set his helmet down. "I will not stop until we find her!"

"Thank you Kyoraku." Kyoraku nodded and left, then Aizen came in.

"Any news on my bride?"

"None... she's completely disappeared..."

"Nothing to fear... I'm sure my men will find her."

"Good." Yamamoto got up and left for his bed. Aizen smirked and went back to his mansion. He snapped his fingers and two people came out of nowhere.

"Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, I want you to find Princess Ichigo and bring her back alive. If I'm going to rule Sereitei, then I have to have the princess as my wife."

"Hai, Aizen-Sama." Ulquiorra nodded and left.

"Whatever..." Grimmjow scoffed and followed. Aizen smirked and looked at the palace.

"Soon, all of Sereitei will be in my hand..." Aizen started laughing when a man leaned against the entryway.

"My, my, looks li' ya are havin' fun." Gin smirked. "Everythin' goin' ta plan?"

"Not in the least, but the reward for finding Ichigo has been raised to her hand in marriage. He is so desperate right now..."

"An unexpected twist in ya favor, I see..."

"Gin, make sure our... competition... knows that Ichigo is mine..."

"Go rough 'em up?"

"Precisely." Gin smirked at this and bowed.

"As you wish, Aizen-Sama..." He then got up and left without another word.