A/N 1: Hey there :) It's my first fiction in English and though I've learned this beautiful language for some years now, my spelling and punctuation is not perfect. But still I hope you enjoy it.

A/N 2: As you may have noticed, it's the second version of this story, with all the spelling and grammar checked. And so I'd like to thank my dear Beta once more for the amazing work she's doing for me :)

Caution 1: Not all the characters will appear from the beginning. Some have to be introduced later, even much later. So, don't get disappointed over that. I'll try to cover for everybody.

Caution 2: The story is inspired by the "Anastasia" movie. So don't be surprised if you notice any similarities :)

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Bleach. I just own some crappy books which I have to learn by heart in order to pass my exams. I also don't own any of the songs I'm going to quote. But that does not change the fact I love both.

Chapter One

Seiretei's now so gloomy
Seiretei's now so bleak
my poor guitar got frozen
singing like this all week
since the revolution
our lives have been so grave!
thank goodness for the gossip
that gets us through the day
hey!

have you heard?
there's a rumor in our Seiretei
have you heard?
what they're saying on the streets

although the king did not survive
one daughter may be still alive!
the king Kuchiki's daughter
but please do not repeat

its a rumor, a legend, a mystery,
something whispered in an alleyway
or through a crack.
it's a rumor that's part of our history

they say her royal grand-papa
will pay a royal sum
to someone who can bring the princess back!

have you heard?
there's a rumor…

'Stop singing that!' Isshin Kurosaki yelled at his beloved daughter, Yuzu.
'Why, dad?' she asked quite surprised.
All four of them were sitting in the kitchen of their quite big house after they finished the supper. Since Yuzu remembered, they had been eating all their meals in the kitchen, though they had a proper dining room. Probably because they father dismissed the last chambermaid a few years ago. And since the old cook left, just the four of them had been taking care of the whole household.
'We might have problem, if some idiot hears you and reports us to the authorities,' answered Isshin.
His three children sighed. He had always been like that. He was so afraid that any sign of them not supporting king Aizen will get to the wrong ears. It used to make him a coward in the eyes of his own son for many years. Till the day he was told the truth.
'Why are you so goddamned afraid of?' Ichigo exclaimed straight into his father face when he was fifteen and Isshin forbid him to attend the swordsmanship lessons that some of his classmates were attending in nearby town. 'They killed your beloved king and you lay here flat, doing nothing!'
'I never told you it all, because you were too young. But I guess it's time I told you the truth.'
Ichigo's eyes widened then and he listened to his father the way he never did before.
'I was then a nobleman, well, I still formally hold the title of Duke, but then I was really a Duke. I wanted to help people, so I became a doctor. I loved king Kuchiki, so I became his soldier and doctor. His friend. Almost his right hand. I met your mother and fell in love with her. So we get married. You were born, your sisters were born. In the meantime, when king's younger daughter was born, he offered me to marry her off to you.'
'You never told me that!' exclaimed Ichigo. 'Why the hell?'
'You were too young then. I sometimes wonder, if you even remember her?'
Ichigo didn't have to nod. He remembered too well. He remembered the day when his father took him to the palace. He had already known the palace, along with the king, the queen and all the guards, even the crown princess Hisana, much older than him and already married, and her husband, whom he had seen just once. That day, he was to be introduced to something new. Someone, who was supposed to become very important to him.
'You'll meet a pretty, little girl, of whom you'll have to take care since now,' his father told him.
And he met her. Beautiful, little girl, with dark eyes and black hair. She seemed to be so fragile.
'My name is Rukia,' she said, curtsying.
'I'm Kurosaki Ichigo,' he answered bowing to her.
Then his father would take him to the palace everyday and he would play with her. They raced among the corridors, rode on ponies, painted, played some children's games. Sometimes they'd spar using his wooden swords. Sometimes he would attend her afternoon tea for dolls. Whenever Hisana was in Seireitei, she would come and play with them. Ichigo liked the older princess, but still he preferred the younger one. She was like a sister to him. When he was six and his real sisters were born, she demanded to meet them and visited their home a few times. She forced him to promise, that he will always like her, despite the fact, that he had two real sisters. And he promised without hesitation.
And then, one day, he went with his family to visit his grandparents. He promised Rukia he'd be back soon and that he'd write her a letter. He was seven and already had the mysterious ability of putting different symbols on paper in not too straight rows, in which they made perfect sense. She was to start learning to write soon.
But he never started the letter. Just after they arrived to his grandparents' everything ended. In one night. His mom disappeared. They moved into this house that seemed so small to him back then, compared to their home in Seiretei and the Palace. . When he came to terms with the fact that his mom passed away and he'd never see her again he learned that he'd never see his princess again. Why – no one wanted to tell him. And as the time passed it all went dark, forgotten, turning into the shadows of the past. Past that no one would talk to him about.
Isshin continued his story.
'Then, one night, everything crumbled. I guess you remember that. We were at Masaki's parents home. The second night of our stay a messenger woke us up with news from my friend, captain Ukitake, that one of the king's officers, captain Aizen, had gathered some refugees and started a revolution. He killed everyone in the Palace, only some of the king's men were able to escape. He told us to run as well. Despite his advice I wanted to go to Seiretei to fight Aizen, but he was first to come. I was one of the closest people to the king and he wanted to make me surrender. What he did… It worked. Because of that I became who I am now.'
Now it was Isshin's turn to fall silent for a moment. Ichigo was staring at him, his breath taken away.
'He killed your mother. He threatened that unless I laid low, he'd kill you and your sisters. Right after Masaki's death it was too real to me. I didn't want to lose you too. I agreed. He took my sword, the source of my pride and weapon as the king's soldier, and took it with himself. He took all of our properties, leaving me just this little village and this house. And, ironically, left me with the title of Duke. I was broken then. If it hadn't been for the three of you, I would have jumped from a rooftop. And so we are here. I'm afraid of what you do, because I know there's still someone who keeps an eye on me and if I do something wrong in Aizen's opinion, you'll be the ones to suffer.'
And since that day, Ichigo had understood. He hadn't known that his mother was killed by Aizen's man. And so he decided that one day he'll go against the king. To revenge all the things they lost.
'But dad…' Yuzu started, forcing Ichigo to snap out of his thoughts. 'It's just a song…'
'I can sing you any adorable lullaby my daughter, but in exchange promise your dear father never to repeat this risky song!'
'Like we would like to hear you sing ever again…,' murmured Yuzu's twin, Karin.
'Oh, wayward daughter! How can you be so ruthless to your beloved father?'
Ichigo knew what was coming. He decided to leave as fast as he could.
'I'll be back by downfall,' he announced and stood up.
'My son, won't you join us for…'
He ignored his father. Sometimes he really wondered if that man could have ever been respected at royal court.

At the first sight someone would think that no one could differ from each other more than Ichigo and two of his best friends – Chad and Ishida. But if anyone got to know them, they would soon change their mind. Those three were extremely similar. Never talking too much, bottling all their problems up. But still, somehow helping each other out.
They were just walking through the fields, as they did every evening. Walking mostly in silence. Sometimes Ichigo or Ishida would talk about something. Chad was silent.
Each one's family owned a village in the neighborhood. They had been friends since school. They had attended together both primary and secondary school, the latter in the town of Karakura. There they had shared a room in one of the dorms. Unfortunately, further education was not a thing Chad and Ishida could afford. They were not poor, but since Aizen's reign started, only the richest could afford any kind of college. And, of course, the children of his henchmen. Ishida's family had been deprived of their fortune by the king's men, because they had been opposing the king. Any kind of king, be it Kuchiki or Aizen, or anyone else. They wanted full democracy. And that, which no previous king found harmful, had been punished by Aizen. And so, Ishida was put on the black list of the ones never to be let into any collage. Chad was from quite a wealthy family too, but the only school he wanted to attend was the military academy. But that would make him become Aizen's soldier someday and that was something neither he nor his grandfather would allow. Ichigo was able to go to the medical school, but this was not what he wanted. He shared Chad's dream.
'So, when are you leaving? Do you finally know that?' asked Ishida.
'Yeah. In a fortnight.'
This short exchange of words was typical for them. They continued their walk, but it wasn't long till Chad suddenly stopped.
'Look,' he said, pointing at something ahead of them.
What caught his attention where two soldiers, apparently the ones stationed in the little garrison in the nearby village. One of them was standing, holding a girl, who was desperately trying to escape from him. The other one was standing in front of them, hands on her breasts. It was more than obvious that they wanted to hurt her.
The three acted on instinct. They just bolted towards the two soldiers.
'Hey, you two! Live her alone!' shouted Ichigo.
The men must have noticed them. The one molesting the girl turned towards them, standing with his hands akimbo.
'Hey boys. If I were you, I'd rather just pass by. Do you understand?'
He was confident. He was a king's soldier with a sword, and they were just a bunch of unarmed kinds. He had no idea that they were considered the best fist fighters in their school. That even the local cutpurses were afraid of them.
One Ichigo's solid punch in the stomach and the proud one was laying on the ground. Chad attacked the second one, punching him right in the head. The shocked man let go of the girl, who tottered and definitely would have fallen if it hadn't been for Ishida who caught her. Miraculously, the soldier did not fall, he just swayed and tried to attack the tall boy. But it was useless. Chad not only blocked the punch, but even with one firm swing knocked him over.
'Are you okay?' Ishida asked the girl.
She nodded. When she lifted her face, they noticed wet marks on her cheeks. It was only now that they recognized her. She was Orihime Inoue. They all attended together the grammar school. It was then when her brother died. He broke his neck falling of a horse. Ichigo's father was unable to help him. Since then she had been living alone in a beautiful, little cottage on the outskirts of his village.
'We'd better get out of here before they come to,' proposed Ishida.
No one opposed. They got up, helping Orihime, who was not able to stand on her own. She gave her persecutors one final look and gasped.
'He's… he's bleeding!'
Ichigo looked in the direction of the man he punched. He was laying motionless on the ground. The sand next to his head was turning purple.
'Shit…'
In one jump he was next to the man. With a firm hand he checked the pulse in his neck. It was gone.
'He's dead…' he said, slowly standing up. His eyes were fixed on the horizon.
'Shit!' exclaimed Ishida. 'What did you do, you…' he started, but Chad gave him a sign to stop.
Ichigo was standing there. In the rays of the setting sun he seemed different. Like a ghost or a phantom not of this world. He was clenching his fist as hard as he could. I killed a man, I am a killer. It raced rapidly in his head, round and round. He could hear Orihime sobbing, not really sure if she should cry.
'Let's go,' said Chad suddenly.
Nobody answered. Nobody moved.
'Let's go,' the tall boy repeated.
'Yeah,' answered Ichigo, suddenly slapping out of his thoughts. That was the time neither for thoughts nor for remorse. This time would come later. Now they had to move. To move as far away from here as they could. To save their own heads. And so, he was the first one to move.

But they could not leave in an instant.
'Where are we going?' Ishida managed to ask as they were approaching the village. Short of breath, he was barely able to throw out the words which formed this question.
'To my home, my father will help us,' answered Ichigo. At least he hoped his old man would be willing to help them.
They were running all the time, Chad carrying Orihime, who was weeping buckets. It was still bright when they approached Ichigo's home. They entered through the garden and through the kitchen door. It was pure luck his father was sitting in the kitchen completely alone.
'What the hell…' he started, but did not finish.
He was a wiser man than he seemed to be. He poured each of them a glass of water. He found a handkerchief for Orihime, who was still not able to stop sobbing. And when Ichigo caught his breath enough to talk, he did not interrupt him a single time.
'I understand,' he said, having listened to their story. 'I knew one day it will come to this. It was a matter of time. You're just as I used to be in the old, good times,' and, strange as it seemed, he smiled. ' You know none of you can stay here much longer, don't you?'
They all nodded.
'You have to run. I advise you to take horses. You can take yours,' he told Ichigo, 'and this young lady may take that dun mare I bought for Karin. But, as much as I would like, I just cannot afford to give horses to you,' he told the other two boys.
'We'll get our own,' said Ishida.
'Good. Now listen to me. The three of you will go home. Take only a change of clothes and as much money as you can. I'll provide you with provisions. And weapons.'
'What?' asked shocked Ishida.
'And what do you think? That I'll let you leave unarmed, when you'll have certainly some soldiers on your tail? I may be old, not stupid. Come now.'
He stood up and left the kitchen. They followed him. Karin, who was climbing the stairs, looked at them with surprise.
'Ichigo? Dad? What's…'
'Later,' Isshin said it with a voice he never used on his children before. For the first time in her life, Karin backed off, not trying to start a fight with her father.
He took them to the basement.
'Aizen was stupid to leave me this exact manor,' he said with a small smile.
He just pushed a chandelier on the wall, and a fragment of wall moved, granting them a free passage to very tiny stairs.
'Keep your heads down,' said Ichigo in a firm voice.
For a moment Orihime became her usual self.
'Wow, Ichigo, you never told us about secret passages in your house back in the school…'
'I didn't know about them then,' he answered.
'Wow…'
At the end of the stairs there was a large room. Isshin quickly walked round it, putting fire to all the candlesticks inserted into the walls. Now they could admire the room in its full splendor.
It was a large, square room, with lines and circles painted on the floor. There was one big mirror on the wall, and one great, but silent fireplace. The room was quite high. Chad doubted he could touch the ceiling even if he jumped. And from the floor to the ceiling, the walls were decorated with weapons. Along the wall with the fireplace stood armors.
'Take whatever you like,' said Isshin. 'Except for those swords,' he pointed at the collection of beautiful swords next to the mirror.
'How come…?' asked shocked Ishida.
'I used to be a captain in one of the 13 Protective Squads of king Kuchiki. After the war I was robbed almost of everything, but fortunately no one noticed my little private armory. Please, be careful with whatever you choose, a lot of this is antique.'
'Will they work if they are that old?' Ishida was not quite sure.
'Hey, believe my old man,' smiled Ichigo. 'I practiced with a lot of this stuff.'
'You did…?'
'Ishida, I'll tell you later. Now hurry. We're running out of time.'
'Thank you, but I have my bow at home,' replied a bit offended Ishida, placing his glasses further on his nose.
Chad was already staring at the collection of different gloves, mostly with metal spikes and hooks. Orihime was standing still, unsure what to do.
'Leave your weapons at home,' said Isshin. 'If they think that you're unarmed you'll have an advantage. And you just can't have better bowstrings than the ones I've got here.'
'Um…' started Orihime.
'Is there a problem?' Isshin asked her.
'It's just… I'm not good with weapons at all…'
The man smiled.
'I'll find something for you here. A little bow and a dagger would be suitable, I guess.'
He had no problem picking for her not only a bow and a dagger, but also a quite beautiful quiver.
'The lightest we have,' he explained. He took another one and gave it to Ishida, who already found himself a proper bow. 'This one will fit you, I guess.'
The boy accepted the gift with a 'thank you'. Chad already chose a glove. Isshin fixed him also a crossbow and yet another quiver.
'You may need that,' he said. 'Now go. You shall meet in one hour by the milestone to Karakura. I've got a friend in that town, one that can help you.'
They were already leaving, when Chad turned around his shoulder.
'Thank you.'
Ishida only slightly nodded. And they hurried out.
'And what about you, my dear?' Isshin asked Orihime, who was standing still as if she didn't know what to do.
'Um… I just don't have anything appropriate at home to ride a horse in… and I just don't know…'
'We'll get you something. One of my friends in the old days used to leave all her hunting clothes here. I think they shall fit you well. And you put this useless sword in it's proper place,' he told Ichigo.
'But that's the sword I've practiced with…' his son started.
'Just put it away. And get yourself a crossbow. I have something different for you.'
'It's the best sword available here, you know,' Ichigo muttered, putting the weapon it its previous place.
'Not better than this, I guess…'
He turned around to see his father taking another sword from the wall, from among the swords he had told them not to touch.
'Wow,' exclaimed Orihime.
The sword was big. Very big. Almost as high as Ichigo was.
'How the hell am I supposed to wield this big crap?' he asked, frowning even more than he usually did.
'Son, believe in your father's competence! Take this beautifully forged piece of war art and accept it with an open heart!'
'No way. I'm taking MY sword,' he turned to take back the one he just put away.
'Son, this sword has been forged specially for you the moment I decided your future with the king! It was forged by the best blacksmith in this country! It was predestined to serve as the weapon for you to protect…'
'Okay, I get that,' Ichigo interrupted Isshin's tirade. But it was not because his father managed to convince him. He just didn't want Orihime, as much as any of his acquaintances, to know about his family history. It was the past. And the past was gone.
Isshin, clearly satisfied, just handed him the sword. The moment he touched the hilt Ichigo had to give his father his due. The sword was not heavy. He pulled the sword out of its sheath and swung around, using just one hand. Strange, while the weapon seemed to be a two-handed one.
'So, now we can get you some supplies and some clothes for this beautiful lady…'

They met exactly an hour later by the milestone. Orihime, automatically made responsible for all the food matters, made them divide supplies among themselves, for every horse to carry. It was not much, but should be enough for two or three days. They rode at a trot. They had to spare the horses, to ride as long as they could without a stop.
They were riding in silence for an hour. Just then did Orihime ask the question they needed to answer.
'What are we supposed to do from now on? Where are we heading?'
Silence fell again.
'I guess we'll go to my father's friend in Karakura,' finally said Ichigo. 'And then we'll decide what to do next.'
No one opposed him. They did not know what else there was to do. It was too soon. They rode during the rest of the night in complete silence.

A/N: And how it was? Please, tell me, if there is someone who wants me to continue :) See you in the next chapter.