I still don't own Bleach. Tite Kubo still does.

Okay, so this was just an idea rolling around in my head. I was gonna wait until I finished my other story, Can't Fight This Feeling, but that's going to be a little while from now. So, now I'm going to be writing two stories at once. Yay! Lol. Well, on with the story! And this story is AU, by the way.

Chapter 1- The Curse

Long ago, when the land was ruled by kings and queens, the town of Karakura was the center of the nation. It was where the royal palace was located; where the royal family and their subjects lived. The kingdom of Seireitei was rejoicing, for it had just come out of a long war called the Winter War. It had left the nation scarred, both physically and emotionally. But when the king declared the war officially over, the nation started to rebuild and prosper. It was during this time of prosperity that the king and queen were forcing their young daughter, Masaki, to get married.

'We're just doing what's best for you,' the king said. 'You're our only child, Masaki, and someday you're going to rule over all of Seireitei. Your mother and I aren't always going to be here, and we want to make sure you're taken care of.'

'Yes, that's right, dear,' the queen said. 'I do sympathize with you, but you're almost 21, and time is of the essence. It really is for the best.'

So, many princes from the neighboring kingdoms visited the Seireitei palace in Karakura, all to get the chance to court the beautiful princess. See, when one heard stories about the nation of Karakura, the tales of the beautiful princess went right along with it. Her hair was a light orange that fell down her back in waves. Her eyes were a dark brown, but they shined like stars when she was happy. She had a beautiful body that guys went crazy for.

Well, three months had passed since the day her parents told her that she had to get married before she turned twenty one. Since she had not decided who she wanted to marry, her parents had decided for her. His name was Gin Ichimaru, and he was from a group of noble families in a neighboring territory. He was rumored to be the second –in-command to Sosuke Aizen, the leader of the Soul Society, a rebel group that fought against Seireitei in the Winter War. Aizen was cruel and ruthless, and Seireitei had had many casualties because of him alone. Even though he was killed during the Winter War, many still believe him to be alive. Well, of course Gin and his family deny all ties to Aizen, and all ties to the Soul Society. Masaki's parents believed them, and the wedding date was set for three months away, on her 21st birthday. Of course, what her parents didn't know was that she was in love with a hero from the war, Isshin Kurosaki. He had visited the palace many times after the war was over, as he was made a member of the royal court. One day, they had met while passing in the hall, and it was like love at first sight. But their love had to remain a secret because of her engagement to Gin Ichimaru.

Before anyone knew it, three more months had passed, and it was Masaki's birthday, and the night of her wedding. While her servants were getting her ready, she was crying. She loved Isshin with all her heart, and he loved her just as much. After she was in her dress and she was ready, everyone made their way to the ballroom, where the ceremony was taking place. Her father, the king, walked her up the aisle, and the minister began the ceremony.

Masaki began to cry so much that when the minister asked if she took Gin for her lawfully wedded husband, she could only whimper and nod her head. She couldn't believe this was really happen. Surely it was just a dream? But before the minister could declare them man and wife, Isshin stood up, and said:

'Masaki, I know that I had to keep our love a secret, but I can't anymore. I think of you every day and every night, and how I dreamed that we could be together. You mean everything to me; there is nothing I wouldn't do to ensure your happiness. I know that you don't love him, nor have you ever loved him. Please say you'll marry me instead of him.'

As soon as he said that, Masaki ran down the aisle to where Isshin was, threw her arms around him, and kissed him with as much passion as she could possess. He kissed her back with as much force, completely forgetting the world around them. Gin stood still with silent rage, revenge the only thing coursing through his brain. He then stormed out of the room, and headed out of the palace toward the home where Aizen was temporarily staying and working to rebuild the Soul Society.

Since Isshin had declared his love for Masaki during the ceremony, her parents led him out of the hall to talk to him. Masaki was scared of what her parents would say; she thought that he would be banished from Seireitei for ruining the wedding. After about five minutes, Isshin came in along with her parents.

'I have come to a decision,' the king announced. 'Ordinarily, if someone dared to interrupt something so imperative to the future of the kingdom he would be banished immediately if he did so for the wrong reasons. But this is another matter. This man has openly admitted his love for my daughter, and after speaking with him, my wife and I fully believe him. If my daughter wishes to marry him, we will allow it.'

Both Isshin and Masaki were overjoyed. The ceremony was started again, with Isshin standing in the front waiting for her this time. When the minister asked if anyone had any objections, no one said no. They were pronounced man and wife, then they kissed passionately and smiled at one another when they broke apart for air. The audience rejoiced, and so did the rest of the kingdom. Everything went smoothly.

About a year after Isshin and Masaki got married, she gave birth to their first child, a son named Ichigo. He had bright orange hair and amber eyes. The new parents decided to throw a party to celebrate his birth, and the entire kingdom was invited. It was to be held in the palace courtyard on the night of their 1 year anniversary.

The night of the party saw the kingdom of Seireitei in high spirits. The citizens had two things to celebrate: the prince and princess's new son, and the royal couple's first year of marriage. Even the veterans from the Winter War were drinking and having a good time. That is, until they came. They were the leaders of the Soul Society, Sosuke Aizen and Kaname Tosen, and Gin Ichimaru was with them. Everyone was shocked to see them, but Aizen was the most shocking to see out of them all. Everyone thought that he had been killed before the war ended. Needless to say, the party stopped at their arrival.

'Well, you don't have to stop the party on our account,' Aizen said while walking toward the royal family.

'What are you doing here?' the king demanded. 'You are not welcome here.'

'We are here to get revenge, of course,' Gin said with a smile. 'Revenge for what you did to me, Masaki,' he said while looking at her.

'What do you mean? I didn't do anything to you,' she said.

'You didn't do anything to me? What do you call me finding out that you were seeing him behind my back? What do you call being left at the altar on the day of your wedding? What do you call finding out that my fiancée never really loved me?' Gin said angrily.

'Okay, I admit it. I should have told you what was going on between Isshin and me, and you shouldn't have found out the way you did. For that, I really am sorry, and someday I hope you will forgive me, Gin,' Masaki said with sincerity. She was looking at him with sad, regretful eyes until Ichigo stirred in her arms. She looked down at her son and smiled at him. Gin and the others took notice of her actions, and he turned toward Aizen and whispered something in his ear. Aizen nodded and smiled at Gin in a cruel way.

'You're not sorry yet, but you will be,' Aizen said while looking at Isshin, Masaki, and their son. 'What you did to my best friend was unforgivable, and you will suffer for it, but what I'm going to do won't directly affect you, but the next royal.'

'The next royal?' the king, queen, Isshin, and Masaki all said at once.

'Yes, the next royal. You will soon know what I mean,' Aizen said while raising up his hands. The crowd started to step back, and everyone looked frightened. The royal family was starting to become afraid, because they knew that Aizen performed dark magic. He had cursed Seireitei many times during the war. They were small but powerful curses, and somehow the kingdom was victorious against the Soul Society.

But then Tosen and Gin raised their hands up as well. Once all of their hands were up, their bodies started to glow a light blue. After a few moments, the glow spread out in front of them to envelope Masaki as well. Then, the three began to chant as one:

'The king and queen of Seireitei had made a choice,

A decision in which the princess had no voice.

By the time she turned twenty-one she must find a life mate,

It mattered not what she thought for it was to be her fate.

The palace then saw visits from many suitors,

She rejected them so her parents chose for her.

They were to be married on her birthday,

But in the ceremony there was a delay.

It turned out a war hero had loved her all along,

It was to each other they wanted to belong.

The other man left the palace lividly mad,

But he would return for revenge was yet to be had.

The punishment will not be on them but given to the next royal,

This is a curse that which no one can foil.

The next child born to you will be a daughter,

As soon as she is born her voice will be taken from her.

If she wishes for her voice to return and to speak,

She must fall in love and kill us before her 21st birthday peaks.

To just fall in love with another is not enough,

Getting the other to admit his feelings is what will be tough.

If by the appointed time from the curse she is not released,

Then both she and her twin sister by the end of that night will be deceased.'

Once their voices had ceased, the blue glow surrounding Masaki and the others lifted into the air in waves, and slowly disappeared. The royal family, along with the citizens of Seireitei, became enraged at the curse laid upon the future children of the prince and princess, and started to attack Aizen, Gin, and Tosen. Before anyone could get close enough for a sword to land a strike, the members of Soul Society disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

'Oh no. What have I done?' Masaki said as she began to cry.

'Don't worry, everything will be alright,' Isshin said while putting his arms around her and their son. 'It will all work itself out in time, you'll see.'

She hoped with all she had that what he said would be true.

Hey guys! As the opening note said, this was just an idea I had in my head. And yes, I did mean for the first chapter of this story to sound like something out of a fairytale storybook. Lol. This story will get a lot better, trust me. Lol Well, tell me what you think. I'll read and consider all reviews and ideas. :)

Until next time,

sirensong