Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own any Bleach, they're strictly owned by Tite Kubo!

DeAmonQuEen: This is totally not based on the real story of Bleach, but still, please enjoy.

(o.o)

"The Ice Prince"

Chapter1

He stared at the city from the palace balcony, his long dark hair danced with the wind. The city was more crowded and livelier than usual. Apparently the people were celebrating a festival of the sorts. It was obvious that fun brewed around it. He wanted to go, but he didn't.

Such an event would open the closed wounds of his heart.

He sighed. "When was the last time I've been to the city?" he asked himself.

Ah, yes it was a very long time ago back when he was still a prince, back before he became the emperor, back when he was still with that man, who taught him many things; like how to laugh, to have fun, and to live life. He had been like a brother to him, a friend and, though only a few knew, his lover. This man changed his life and how he viewed it.

And it all started on a day that was similar to this one. A day when another festival was celebrated, but during that time he never found amusement to such events a he was now. A fact that he had letter regretted, but eventually felt grateful for, because it had been his aloofness to the fun things in life that had brought that man in to his.

Seven years ago...

It was the morning of spring and the entire kingdom was very busy. The streets were flooded with people. The women were cooking delicious foods, while the men and merchants were preparing their stands. Children's excited laughter could be heard while they ran around. It was perfect image that a festival was about to take place.

But in the middle of all this preparation, danger also brewed. Unknown to all, evil masked men blended within the crowd. These were men with dark plans and a dark motive for joining this festivity.

"Is everything ready for tonight?" the leader of this group asked.

"Yes sir. Everything is according to plan."

"Good, the emperor would not know what hit him."

"And the prince? What will we do to him once we've killed the emperor?"

"I am sure our employer will find ways to dispose of him," the man said then laughed at the thought.

Meanwhile at the imperial palace, the emperor was taking his fittings when an angry prince burst into the door.

"Grandfather! I cannot take her any longer!" the young prince exclaimed as he entered, "She is the devil in women's clothing!"

"Byaku-shi, do not be like that I was merely playing with you," the beautiful woman with purple hair and golden eyes who entered after the prince explained.

"Don't you dare say that, you demon cat!"

"Byakuya!" the emperor called, "I can understand your hot temper, but I will not tolerate you, badmouthing our guest from our neighboring kingdom."

The prince became silent, he had just showed an undesirable behavior towards his grandfather. And so he apologized to him and, though it hurt his pride to do so, as well as to the beauty beside him.

"Yuroichi-dono, I humbly ask that you forgive my grandson's actions," his grandfather said following his grandson's apology and bowed his head to show his sincerity.

"Nah, 'was my fault Ginrei. I thought I could loosen him up with a little prank, but it seem he was too much of a stiff to understand a joke," she laughed as she explained.

Byakuya tried really hard to stop himself from strangling the other royal. Because her little prank had not been as little as she had implied.

If you call stealing his clothes while he bathe and making him run after in his quarters naked with a maid with him little, then you would be a demon in the prince's standards as well.

He sometimes wish that just once his grandfather would at least once witness the evil things princess Yuroichi did to him then it would probably be enough to ban her from their kingdom.

"Byakuya, have you prepared for this evening's celebration?" the emperor asked him.

"I am afraid I will not be joining you this evening, grandfather," the prince said curtly

"Why? Are you busy?"

"No. I simply believe that I can do more with my time than to join such frivolities."

The emperor gave a concerned look, then spoke, "Byakuya, tonight is the spring festival everyone will be there. I'll be there, and even your sister. That's why I think that the crowed prince should also be in attendance and have fun with everyone."

"Forgive me, but I don't find such an audacious events to be entertaining. I'd prefer to be in my room, reading and enjoying my tea."

The emperor wanted to say more but the prince had already dismissed himself.

"What am I going to do with him?" A heavy sigh escaped the emperor's lips. He turned to the princess, who remained with him in the room and continued. "He is always like this! Secluding himself from the world. It makes me worry about him. He will be emperor soon, and when that day comes he will became an unhappy one, like his father,"

A sharp pain entered the older man's heart at the memory of the loss of his only son, before shaking it away to try and deal with the problem at hand.

"He needs someone to teach him to socialize, have fun, and enjoy his youth. I really thought you would be able to do that, but it seems that he sees you as a nuisance than a source of entertainment."

"You make me sound like his caretaker or something," the princess said.

"I don't mean anything like that—" the emperor tried to explain.

But the princess cut him off.

"Though, I understand what you mean," she said, "Byaku-shi needs someone. And if you'll allow it, perhaps I can find someone of such, I know a lot of brothel with real-"

"Yuroichi-dono, I told you I do not approve of such things." it was the emperor's turn to cut off the princess' words.

"I was merely suggesting. But you've got no other option, it's either that or we'll have the ice prince be the winter emperor,"

"At least try to find someone that is not a prostitute or a high paying escort."

"Where in the entire Seiretei will we find someone like that? We already tried to get other royalties and nobilities to talk to him and none of them were able to get him to loosen up. Heck, I did everything I could think of but that boy has a stick too far gone in his behind that it will take a miracle to pull out! In fact, I think it will take a god to break Kuchiki Byakuya's ice cold heart.." the princess ended her rant. She turned to face the emperor who had a contemplating look on his face.

"A god you say? Hmm," she heard him say.

"Ginrei?" she called, a bit curious at what the older man had on his mind.

"Excuse me, Yuroichi-dono, but could you leave?" he suddenly asked her.

"What?!" she exclaimed, looking a bit offended at the sudden dismissal.

"I believe you should enjoy your remaining time of visiting here and leave this situation to me."

Yuroichi wanted to argue, but opted not to. She was confused at the emperor's sudden change of behavior. But saw no way reason to refute his dismissal of her. And so she followed his request and left the room.

Immediately after the princess made her exit, Ginrei dismissed his servants and was left all alone in his chambers. A smile grace his lips as a plan formed within his head.

"I wonder why I had never thought about him sooner?" he said to himself, "If there was anyone who'd be able to change Byakuya I am sure he'd be that someone."

The emperor was partly grateful of Princess Yuroichi for giving him the idea. Now all he had to do was put the pieces of puzzle together and see the picture it would create.

(o.o)

DeAmonQuEen: Yahoo! I had finished my first chapter. I know that all you Abarai Renji fans are wondering where he is don't worry he'll be there on the next chapter, so keep reading. And reviews are appreciated!