Hello it's Sakura478 with another Bleach story. This was originally going to be a Kakasaku story but I thought that Ichiruki just fit better. I hope you enjoy:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Ichiruki would have happened 300 episodes ago.

Chapter One

Ichigo cursed as an arrow lodged itself in his armor. He yanked it out and kept running ignoring the cries around him. He was almost to the fort, a few more feet and the mission would be over.

Ichigo ran his sword through one of the guards and ran into the fort quickly dealing with the much weaker soldiers. He nearly laughed at their inadequacy. He cut them down easily and ran towards the top floor where five men stood pressed against the wall apparently terrified. Good this would make his job a lot easier.

"Wh-who are you", one of the men stammered his voice shaking as he looked at Ichigo's sword which was covered in the blood of his men. Ichigo just smirked at the men before sticking his sword into their beautifully engraved table.

"I'm Ichigo Kurasaki, I'm here for a certain scroll that was recently stolen from the archives. You wouldn't happen to know where it is would you", he asked his voice innocent despite the fact he was covered in foreign blood.

"W-we don't know wh-what you're talking about", another man said. Ichigo didn't have to be a part of the interrogation unit to know he was lying.

"Oh really. Well I guess I'll just have to remind you where it is neh", Ichigo cocked his head pulling his sword from the table. The men cowered in fear at his large sword and his smirk still present. One of the men actually whimpered and if not for his nearly two decades of training Ichigo would have howled with laughter.

"O-ok we'll give it to you just please don't hurt us", one of the men cried as he pulled a scroll from his tunic. Ichigo snatched it from his hand and was pleased to see it was the correct one.

"Thank-you you just made my whole job so much easier", Ichigo chuckled. A few curses were yelled down the hall and Ichigo was pleased that his soldiers had caught up so quickly.

"Are y-you going to leave us alone", one of the men asked hopefully. Ichigo just gave him a toothy smile.

"Why of course, after all I have to report to my superiors but don't worry you'll get to have some bonding time with the interrogation unit. I hear they got new chains on the walls. Now you won't have to worry about rust or dried blood", Ichigo said his voice cheery. The men looked ready to cry when Ichigo's men barged in.

"Captain we're he- geez what did you do to them they look ready to bawl their eyes out", one of Ichigo's men, Ganju, asked.

"Nothing just told them that Kurotsuchi updated the dungeon equipment. Want to make sure the traitors are comfortable", Ichigo said sarcastically glaring at the men. They just whimpered and Ichigo's co-captain Uryu walked over and started tying them together so they could take them away.

"You know you're going to get in trouble when we get back right", Uryu asked Ichigo as he tied the men together and handed them to Chad who was the strongest in the group. Ichigo just rolled his eyes at the smaller man.

"Whatever I got the job done right", Ichigo said waving the other mans concern off. Uryu sighed before turning to Ichigo.

"You may have gotten it done but you also did it recklessly. This was supposed to be a stealth mission not an invasion. Everyone and their mother is going to know about this by lunch tomorrow. Yamamoto is going to be pissed", Uryu told him as Chad led the prisoners from the room. The four men laughed and they nodded at the the men they passed as everyone tied up the remaining enemy guards.

"Eh he usually is but I always just get off with 'Kurosaki you're not using your abilities to your full potential. I'm disappointed in you'. It's actually getting kind of old", Ichigo said bored as the loaded the five men onto a cart. They closed the cart up and Chad sat on the ledge.

"Don't say things like that, one of these days they're going to punish you and there's nothing you're going to be able to do about it", Uryu said as he climbed onto his horse.

"Tch, you worry too much. It'll be fine", Ichigo assured him but Uryu just shook his head.

"I wish I could share your confidence", Uryu stated as Ichigo climbed onto his own horse.

"Hn Uryu you better watch yourself or I might start to think you actually care about my well being", Ichigo teased and Uryu rolled his eyes.

"You may be a moron but you're a very capable captain. I'd much rather have you then Kenpachi", Uryu said shuddering. Ichigo laughed and tapped his horse sending it off towards the Guard station. His men followed and Ichigo smiled lightly as the night hair hit his face. Another victory on a beautiful night, nothing could ruin his day.

"Ichigo Kurosaki, captain of squad five. Age: 21, number of years in service:8 you are hereby charged with reckless leadership and direct disobedience to orders given to you by your superiors. Do you have anything to say for yourself", old man Yamamoto asked him as he glared at the younger man. Ichigo just looked at him in shock and Uryu's 'I told you so' stare was burning a hole through his head.

"Uh yeah I do are you serious", Ichigo asked looking at the other captains in disbelief. He saw Hitsugaya shoot him a pitying stare while Kenpachi grinned at the other captain.

"Yes I'm afraid I am serious. You were told to keep this mission as quiet as possible but instead you charged in there recklessly causing many of your men to be injured. If you hadn't obtained the scroll your punishment would be much more severe but as it is you'll just be out on probation-

"What?! Probation no way are you out of your mind", Ichigo yelled causing the other captains to look at him in shock. Unohana was shaking her head at the young boy and Hitsugaya was mouthing what looked suspiciously to be 'shut up'.

"No I am not but it appears you are since you have shown such disrespect to not only me but the rest of the captains present. As of now you are demoted to 6th rank knight and you are subject to 90 days of royal guard duty", Yamamoto commanded and Ichigo felt his heart drop to the floor. This could not be happening. He had not nly lost his position as captain but now he was stuck on babysitting duty. He couldn't even find any words to say and he barely noticed that Uryu and Chad had dragged them from the room up until they entered his, now Uryu's, office.

"Ichigo speak to me are you ok", Uryu asked passing him a canteen of what Ichigo hoped was sake because he really did not want to be sober right now.

"Please tell me this is a nightmare and I'm not stuck babysitting his highness for the next three months", Ichigo groaned as he thought of spending the next ninety days with the stoic Byakuya Kuchiki. That man made ice freeze when he entered a room. Yeah the guy didn't have the best social skills.

"Ok you're not spending the next three months with King Kuchiki...you're guarding his little sister Princess Rukia", Uryu said saying the last sentence so fast Ichigo barely caught it.

"Oh great so now I'm stuck babysitting some twelve year old. Just great", Ichigo muttered cursing Kami and every other divine being he knew the name of.

"Actually she just celebrated her seventeenth birthday but that's irrelevant. You have to take this seriously if anything goes wrong you might never get your position back and you might end up babysitting the princesses grandchildren if you mess this up. Or worse you'll be put on Squad four", the men all collectively flinched at the thought of that squad.

"Alright alright I get it. When do I start", Ichigo asked as he wondered how many sake bottles he could drain until that time.

"Now", Uryu told grabbing him by the collar and dragging him to the barracks.

"Ow geez what's your problem", Ichigo griped as they walked into the empty barracks. Most of Ichigo's men were out celebrating another victory which Ichigo was thankful for. No need to become an even bigger loser in their eyes.

"My problem is your not taking this as seriously as you should be", Uryu told him throwing various tunics and casual pants into a bag. Ichigo frowned at the lack of armor but he knew he'd be stuck wearing the standard guard uniform. Man he'd gotten to avoid this step when he was rising through the ranks.

He'd only been a regular soldier when his captain, Captain Aizen, betrayed the whole kingdom and tried to overthrow it, Ichigo had defeated him in battle but by then Sosuke had already tarnished the name of squad five and brutally murdered his wife who the rest of the squad had affectionately called Momo. She'd be really sweet and Ichigo remembered when they had heard the news of her death they had been devastated. Watching his brothers cry is what made Ichigo make the stupid move to challenge someone way out of his league. He'd won shockingly and his squad had demanded he be made their captain. He was grateful but now he felt like an even bigger disappointment. He was never going to live this down.

"You know they're not going to be disappointed in you. Most of them are just as reckless and hard headed as you, I'm probably going to find worms in my bedroll every night until you get back", Uryu said grimly. Ichigo laughed and clapped his old friend on the back.

"Thanks and I doubt it since I'm the one who put them in there in the academy, I think you should just worry about getting dirty looks. After all none of them are going to actually do anything to hurt a captain", Ichigo assured him and Uryu glared at him.

"Thanks for that, that really makes me feel better", Uryu stated sarcastically. He threw Ichigo's bag at him and the three teammates walked up towards the stables.

"You'll be a great captain Uryu, I have faith in you", Ichigo told him seriously as he swung his leg over the saddle. Uryu looked slightly shocked before he just adjusted his eye glasses.

"Well of course I will be I'm from the great Quincy clan, I can easily do just as good of a job as you Ichigo", Uryu snubbed and Ichigo just smirked.

"Of course you can. I'll see you soon, Uryu, Chad", Ichigo nodded to both men but before he could go Chad grabbed his arm.

"Be careful Ichigo", Chad mumbled looking at Ichigo's shoulder. The larger man rarely talked but Ichigo knew he cared about him and the rest of the squad greatly. He'd met Chad in the academy since they'd both been 'troublemakers'.

"Of course when am I not careful", Ichigo smirked as he tried not to show how upset he was about leaving them for the first time in years. The two men just nodded and Ichigo tore out of the stables and flew past the gate where a few of the remaining captains were standing. Hitsugaya nodded and Kenpachi grinned while his petite lieutenant waved at Ichigo.

"Bye Ichi! Good luck", she called out. Ichigo put a few fingers up in acknowledgement before turning onto the road that led to the palace. It was only a ten minute horse ride since the point of the guards was to serve the King. Ichigo had only been to the palace twice. For his graduation from the academy and when he was made captain. He tried to remember a princess but only a brief image of a petite child crossed his mind. The girl he remembered looked very young hard to believe she was only four years his junior.

Ichigo pulled up to the gate and a pair of guards ran out to greet him.

"State your name and purpose", one of them demanded. The two looked to be around Ichigo's age and despite the weapons that could easily be pointed at him he wasn't concerned.

"I am C-Ichigo Kurosaki, I'm here to protect the princess", Ichigo told them his eye twitching at the thought of the next ninety days. The two young knights gasped and Ichigo was pleased they recognized his name.

"Of course sorry for holding you up our apologies", they bowed and they ran off yelling for them to raise the gate. Ichigo tapped his horse and the two rode through the opening gate and Ichigo found himself impressed with the beauty the castle was offering. There were various flower bushes and fountains scattered across the lawn and several blooming Sakura trees released their blossoms giving the garden an almost dream quality. Ichigo remembered how dreary the castle had looked back when he was sixteen and he assumed that it was due to the princess that the garden looked so well.

"Well it will be easy to watch her if she's just planting flowers all day", he told himself as he gave his horse to an approaching stable boy. Ichigo walked into the castle and he was once again struck by its great size. It may have been a home for two but he knew hundreds of servants lived here along with various visiting nobles. Now he himself was going to be living here. It was certainly more glamorous then any other place he'd taken up residence in.

"Excuse me but do you by chance know where the princess is",Ichigo asked as a maid fluttered by him. She looked him up and down and Ichigo felt himself getting increasingly more uncomfortable with her stare.

"Of course she's right down the hall in the ballroom. But she won't give you what you want so after you talk to her ask for Ryo ok", she told him winking before flipping her black hair out of her eyes. Ichigo watched her go in disbelief before walking in the direction of the ballroom.

Kami what had that woman been thinking. All he wanted was to guard the princess geez people at this castle apparently thought a little too highly of their little princess. Like Ichigo would ever stoop that low.

"LEAVE ME ALONE YOU PEASANT", Ichigo didn't even have time to move before he was tackled to the ground a sword at his throat. Ichigo looked up at the small figure who was currently threatening him and he blinked a few times before finally finding words he deemed appropriate.

"Midget, would you mind getting the hell off of me", he asked glaring at the little girl who was still in his personal space. Before her hand came crashing down on his cheek he noticed the clan symbol on her sword.

He had met the princess and had insulted her all within a space of about 20 seconds. Squad Four was definitely going to get a new member.

Ok that's it for Chapter One. Updates will come on Fridays only but they should come about every other week so pretty quickly. I have another Ichiruki story out and several Naruto ones including one I just finished. I hope you enjoy this, I haven't posted a new story in forever. Please review.

-Sakura478