A/N: Yes, I know. I know I have an ongoing story of FMA and that I've been completing my Naruto one for a year. But really, I think this idea might be interesting. Besides, it's high time for a Bleach fanfic. So please enjoy the first chapter. The idea came to me in summer last year but I haven't plucked up the courage to upload it (I know I'll suck at updates). Anyhow, I may find some time to get on with the story if you encourage me to ;)

Chapter One: Your guardian angel

In the middle of the night, tap, tap, softly on the windowsill.

"Aaah!" A loud feminine scream.

"What are you afraid of? I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Who are you?! A ghost?!"

"No…kind of. But…hey, don't run away! Stay, please!"

"What do you want with me?!"

"Don't get frightened…"

"Don't come close!"

…

"…have you calmed down?"

"…a bit."

"See? I'm not scary. Come here."

"No."

"Come, please."

"…who are you?"

"There. Me? I'm Rukia. Nice to meet you."

"H…hi."

"Can I get down from the windowsill?"

"Oh…yeah…yes. Co…come inside."

"No need to be so apprehensive. I mean no harm to you. Really."

"Really…?"

"Yeah, really." Smile.

I just need your help.

An orange-haired guy paced through the castle corridors, heading to the king's chamber. He had a dark shirt, mahogany brown pants, ebony high boots and a dark beige travel cloak. The peacock feather on his hat was swinging rapidly as he walked, concording with the moves of his sword hanged over his shoulder.

He stopped in front of the two-winged door and having been announced by a chamberlain, he entered the audience chamber. The king raised his eyes to look at him.

"Ah, Kurosaki Ichigo. Please, come in."

"Your Highness," the peacock feather swept the floor when its owner bowed low.

"Please, come closer."

Rap, rap, the high boots on the marble floor.

"I have a favor to ask of you, Kurosaki-kun."

"Anything you wish, Your Highness."

"This is about my daughter. She…she needs protection."

"Is Orihime-sama in danger?" the orange-haired man seemed troubled.

"We don't know that for sure, but everything suggests that, indeed, yes."

"What is the matter, Your Highness?"

"My daughter…Orihime…seems to see strange things lately."

"Strange things? What do you mean, Your Highness?"

The king sighed heavily and clasped his hands. "She claims to have seen ghosts."

"Ghosts?" Kurosaki was shocked. "How is that possible, Your Highness?"

"Apparently she's gifted, just like you."

"Has she received any harm from the phantoms she has seen, You Highness?"

"Not yet. However, it is of greatest importance that she is protected. We don't know when the…the things she sees become dangerous and attack her. Thus, Kurosaki-kun, I need you to guard her and provide her safety from now on."

Ichigo dropped his gaze to the floor and bowed his head slightly. "As you wish, Your Highness. I shall fulfill my duty as Orihime-sama's guardian as of now."

The king's eyes softened. "I trust you, Kurosaki-kun, just like I trusted your father."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I assure you that you won't be disappointed."

"Also, I would like you to investigate the case. Is seems unusual to me that my daughter only now began showing signs of spiritual awareness. She's almost seventeen, and for all those former years there has occurred nothing to suggest such abilities of hers."

"Of course, Your Highness."

"There has already been a special department formed for that purpose only. Please consult the head of it, Ishida Uryuu, for further information."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I shall follow your words."

Just as Ichigo was to leave the chamber, the king added:

"I'm counting on you, Kurosaki-kun. Please help my daughter return to normal life."

Once more the feather brushed the marble. "I shall do my best, Your Highness."

When he finally left, the king sighed and sank into his throne. He felt guilty.

"I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun, for ladening you with this job," he whispered to himself. "Memorializing your father and mother, I truly wish there were anyone other to do this. Tough luck is that you're just the best and only one…"

Ichigo knocked on the door. Having heard "enter," he obeyed.

The room was dark, as it had no windows applied. The light provided by the light bulbs didn't seem to suffice for the daylight. The semi-darkness made it hard to see anything until his eyes accustomed to it.

A man dressed in a white apron approached him and bowed his head lightly.

"Kurosaki-san. Welcome."

"Ishida-san. The king adviced me to come to you."

"I know. I hear you are now taking care of the princess' well-being. You probably want to know more about the strange phenomenon troubling her, am I right?"

"How much do you know?" Ichigo slowly followed him to a rectangular board with some notes attached to it. He took a closer look and realized those were dates with some descriptions.

"All the cases of Orihime-sama seeing ghosts," he muttered under his breath. "Impressive, Ishida-san."

"Thank you. We need to monitor the princess all times. Every incident gets cataloged, then it gets place on this board. For any reference, please use this one."

"Of course. What else?"

Ishida glanced at him attentively. "Kurosaki-san, do you know about the alternative world?"

Ichigo eyed him and answered seriously: "I do."

"About everything?"

"I believe I know enough. Otherwise the king wouldn't entrust me with this job."

"Of course. But do you know about different dimensions and portals leading from one to another? About moving between the worlds and the attraction the ghosts feel towards a gifted person?"

"Yes, I do."

Ishida gazed at him and slowly nodded. "I see. There's no need for me to introduce you to the matter then. That'll save us some time."

He then led Ichigo to a strangely looking machine. It was shaped like a ring standing on its jewel. The hoop glowed oddly in white and blue.

"What is this?"

"It's a machine designated to investigate the other world and neighbouring dimensions. We believe it is possible to change the portal so that it would direct the ghosts to different destination than Orihime-sama's place."

"Does it work already?"

"Unfortunately not. To make it work is a complex process and we're still in the middle of it. But don't worry, Kurosaki-san, it should be ready soon."

"Do you want me to cooperate with you anyhow?" Ichigo looked at him with a blank expression.

"No, I see no need to do so," Ishida adjusted his glasses. "We're on our way to succeed. Your task is solely to protect the princess while we are still working."

"I've been told to investigate the case as well."

"There is nothing to investigate. The princess is gifted and attracts ghosts. We just need to get rid of them."

"What about such a late display of her abilities? What about ghosts that have never appeared here before?"

"Kurosaki-san," Ishida sighed impatiently. "This happens."

"What do you mean 'this happens'?"

"There have always been cases of seeing ghosts for the first time even among old people. There is nothing out of ordinary. Just do your job and make sure Orihime-sama doesn't get hurt."

With this he left Ichigo. Kurosaki pursed his lips.

Knock, knock.

Orihime jumped on her bed, surprised by the sound. She calmed herself down and straightened her dress.

"It's me, Kurosaki Ichigo," she heard from the outside.

"Oh!" she quickly tucked a stray hair behind her ear, unaware of doing so. "Please enter!"

Ichigo opened the door, but did not move over the threshold. "Do I not disturb you, Orihime-sama?"

"No!" she shook her head energetically. "Of course not, please come in, Kurosaki-san."

He did so and placed himself on the bed, but not too close to the princess. "I came to announce to you that from now on I will be your guardian."

She dropped her gaze and started fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. "Yes, my father told me about that."

"Is something wrong, Orihime-sama? Are you uncomfortable with it? Do you want me to quit?"

"No, obviously not, Kurosaki-san! I just…it will cause you much trouble," she gazed into his eyes. "I don't want to make you be my babysitter. You certainly have other duties, and being my guardian would chain you to my chamber for all day."

Ichigo sighed. "Is that what you are worrying about, princess?"

She seemed to get smaller suddenly. "Um…well…you probably think I'm stupid…"

"No, of course not," he assured her sincerely. "That's just like you, Orihime-sama."

The princess looked up at him and saw his smile. They both laughed quietly.

"If you don't want me around, just say it," he teased.

"That's not it!"

"I know, I know. You haven't changed a bit since you were little, Orihime-sama."

"Are you saying I'm still a child?" she pretended to be offended.

"No," he looked at the ceiling, whistling under his breath.

"Hey!"

She observed him for a while. "Kurosaki-san… I'm glad my father chose you. If I am to have a guardian, you're the only one I can accept contentedly."

"I'm glad to hear that. That's what I came here for," he smiled once more. "Now would you excuse me, I need to pay one more visit."

"Yes, of course," she nodded as she stood up.

"See you tommorow, Orihime-sama. Try not to get attacked over the night."

"Kurosaki-san!"

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry." He looked at her over his shoulder. "If you are in danger tonight, you know I'll come."

"I know," she smiled softly. "Thank you."

"After all, this is what I get my money for."

"Hey!"

He flashed her a smile once more and finally left. Orihime stared at the door and sighed. Her sad gaze dropped to the ground.

"Well," she said in a tone supposed to be cheerful, "at least I get some time to spend with him." She looked through the window. "So, maybe…"

The cemetery was quiet and peaceful. Ichigo slalomed between the graves until he reached a beautiful gray gravestone. There were two photographs attached to it: a raven-haired man and a pretty woman with chestnut brown hair. The sun was already setting, so the photos were shining in its last rays. Ichigo kneeled on one knee and bowed his head, holding his peacock feathered hat in his hand.

"Mom, dad."

Under the photos there were names: Kurosaki Isshin and Kurosaki Masaki. Died tragically.

"The king assigned me a new task. I am to protect Orihime-sama from the ghosts that she has begun to see. In your place, father, I shall guard the king's daughter. Please watch over the two of us."

He looked at their faces, embedded in the gravestone.

"I'll do my best, dad. You taught me how to fight ghosts, so now I can fulfill my duty to serve the king. His Highness praised me by saying that I'm the best one for the job. It's all thanks to you, dad. I won't disappoint you. You will be proud of me, you'll see."

His features then became stern as he added quietly:

"And maybe I'll finally be able to discover the truth."

A/N: As they say, R&R please!