Chapter One: You're not dreaming

Disclaimer: Bleach and LadyHawke and other related entities are owned, (TM) and © by Tite Kubo and Paramount respectively.

They had been riding for hours, taking looping paths and unused roads to make sure the King's men were not following them. Their path now led down a forest trail. A little farther along Ichigo could see a small hut with smoke rising from the chimney.

"Hmm smoke means people. So there must be someone home…are you sure you don't want ride on fair lady? There's still plenty of light left." Ichigo chattered he did not want to stay so far from civilization.

"Stop your chattering, we will stop here for the night…" she ordered and directed a scowl at the young man riding behind her. The hawk resting on her outstretched arm nipped at her hand…almost like a reprimand for being mean to the boy.

"…" he made a face at the woman. He just couldn't figure her out.

They finally rode into the clearing of the farm. There a small cottage of mud and sticks as well as other earthly items were put together to have the little hovel stand. Shovels and hoes were along its walls. There was a barn to the right that housed the feed and maybe the pigs; a fire was in the middle of the farm with meat roasting on a spit. A man was tending to those items. A thin dirty woman dressed in mud colored rags dashed passed Suì-Fēng's horse shouting out to the man. The glimpse Ichigo got of her suggested that she was constantly beaten for she had a limp as she moved passed them.

"Nnoitra! Nnoitra!" She shouted as she limped around the fire and ducked behind the tall man, who frowned at the woman. He back handed her, and demanded she be quiet and get his ax. Without another word she retrieved the ax and handed it to the man. A scared look passed over her face when his hand briefly touched her own when he took the cutting tool away from her.

"Good evening Sir…my lady." Suì-Fēng began; she tried to ignore the flinch of the woman. She could tell with just one look the poor girl was the man's punching bag. It didn't help that Ichigo seemed to have caught on as well and was glaring at the one eyed man. "My…comrade-in-arms and I are looking for lodging tonight. We had hope that you would be kind enough to offer a small room?"

Nnoitra scowled up at the finely dressed warrior and shook his head. He wouldn't allow such a deviant into his home. It would give his stupid woman ideas.

"Of course we'd pay for anything you could offer us." Suì-Fēng tried another tactic, one she knew would work on many…their greed. Ichigo caught on and brought out his coin purse , the one those kind guards had so willingly placed out in the open for him, and shook it a bit to let the jingle of coins sound out.

"We are not without compassion for those in misery" He said and tucked the purse back under his tunic once he was sure the man had heard the sound of coins. He could see that the man now had only one thing in mind, and that was his need for copper and gold.

"You may take the barn…but be gone by the morning, now give me my coin." The man growled up at them. Suì-Fēng noticed a dangerous glint in his eye, and knew she would have to be cautious tonight.

"Thank you" Suì-Fēng said as she turned her steed towards the barn. Ichigo looked back at the couple and felt a twinge as he saw the man smack the woman across the face again and point to the small hut.

Suì-Fēng knelt before the black saddle bag, taken off her horse and placed on the hay covered floor of the stall she was in, a forlorn look upon her stern face. She opened the bag and reached in and pulled out a black helmet with gold face guard. It wasn't the helmet that brought on such nostalgia, it was what was inside of it. From within it she pulled out a cream colored dress made from soft cotton. She set the helmet down and held the dress in her hands. As she held it she wondered when she would be able to hold her love in her arms again. Tears built in her eyes as she brought the dress to her body and hugged it close. The scent of her lover lingered over it and washed over her. Before her sorrow could grow and the flood gates keeping her tears at bay could be released Ichigo's voice came through. She wiped at a lone tear and stood up. She then folded the dress and placed it over the saddle bag and walked over towards the young man.

"My lady, my lady are you here." Ichigo called out. Suì-Fēng came out from the stall door farthest from the entrance. Her armor was removed leaving her in only a loose black tunic and trousers. "I've finished the tasks you've asked of me. If there is nothing else I think I'll turn in for the night." Ichigo finished lamely rubbing at the back of his neck.

"You can take care of my horse." Suì-Fēng said as she pointed over to her black steed. Ichigo looked to the beast and sighed.

"Yes ma'am." He said.

"Also when you finish with that make sure to sleep with one eye open…and don't disturb me- I'm liable to take off your head before I know it's you." Ichigo just nodded. He walked over to the stallion. Ichigo took the reins and tugged on them. The horse didn't move. He pulled harder and still the monster of a beast did not budge. Suì-Fēng just looked on in amusement.

"Come on girl…come on, stubborn one isn't she. What's her name?" Ichigo asked after failing in getting her to move.

"His name is Suzumebachi." Suì-Fēng said with a grin waiting for the inevitable question. Ichigo looked at her deadpan.

"His name…Suzumebachi? Why would you name him that?" Ichigo asked with a frown. Suì-Fēng let out a grunt and walked over to her horse.

"I was going to name him Goliath…but the fool tossed me into a hornet's nest when he first was brought to me." She blushed as she remembered that day. She hadn't just been trying to break in the fiery beast, no one had been able to tame him, Suì-Fēng had also been trying to impress a certain beauty as well. Things didn't exactly go as planned, but the beauty had come to visit her in the infirmary the day after.

"Anyway enough with story time…Suzumebachi go with the boy he didn't mean to hurt you're feelings." Suì-Fēng said and patted the stallion's rump. The horse gave a snort and began to walk, Ichigo following behind.

"I hurt your feeling? At least I didn't name you Suzumebachi." Ichigo mumbled under his breath. Suzumebachi turned his head and nipped at the boy.

"Ow hey…fine I'm sorry. Jeeze you're just like your master." He growled as they walked into the forest. Suì-Fēng looked out at the setting sun then the sadness returning. She turned away from the door and looked to the hawk that was perched on one of the stable doors.

"One day."

"Comrade-in-arms! 'Slave' is more like it! Tend to the fire walk the horse, get wood! Look at me now Lord! I was better off in those damn dungeons." Ichigo growled to himself as he gathered pieces of firewood. "My cell-mate was insane and a murderer, but he respected me!" Ichigo began to slow "She's a strange one… Suì-Fēng, why save my life?" He asked himself perplexed, "She wants something from me. I can see it in her eyes. Well whatever it is I won't do it! I'm still young you know. I've got prospects!" He tossed the sticks to the ground and started to march off, "I'm off to find my golden future, Captain so goodbye and good…" He stopped and tensed as he heard several twigs snap.

He looked around himself, but could not see anything, there were too many trees and the sun was down. If he was being watched his stalker had the advantage of tree cover. He just hoped it wasn't some wild beast… or ax welding murderer.

"Hello?" He asked slowly, he then thought of the notion of scaring off his stalker with false brevity and the threat of weapons. "Who do you think is out there? You should draw your sword, Sado. Ah, Ishada you brought your bow, good. We'll all go back to the barn now. All right?"

"All right" He said while lowering his voice

"All right" This time he took on a more arrogant tone. The snapping twigs continued.

"Take no prisoners Sado. I'm going for some help!" Ichigo shouted and took off at an impressive speed when the footsteps sounded closer. He made a mad dash for the barn. He reached the farm in no time, but tripped down the small hill and rolled down to the ground. Ignoring the tiny tendrils of pain shooting down his back Ichigo stood up. He looked around and saw nothing around, which calmed him just a bit. His heart rate started to slow and with a deep breath he began walking back to the barn. He passed a tree on his way to their shelter. Warning bells signaled and he jumped out of the ax's way just in time. He let out a shout of fright and ran in the opposite direction of the crazy farmer. Ichigo noticed a flash of black run passed him. Then he heard the farmer scream from behind him. Ichigo looked over his shoulder and tripped over a wooden stake driven into the ground. He rolled over and watched in horror as a giant wolf attacked the one eyed man. He stumbled to his feet and ran for the barn.

"Captain, ma'am, Captain! Ma'am! ma'am! Wolf! Wolf! Big wolf! Captain!" He shouted as he banged on the stall he had seen her in last. He opened the door to find it empty. "Ma'am! Shit…wolf!" He turned in circles and saw the double shot crossbow by the saddle bag. He grabbed it and a quiver of bolts and made a dash for the front. In his nervousness he dropped the quiver, the bolts spilling out. He curse but squatted and grabbed one then jumped back up, stuck it in his mouth and tried to cock the crossbow. His fear caused him to falter a few times, but finally Ichigo got the crossbow cocked and loaded. He took aim and prepared to fire. A cloaked figure stopped him by placing their hand over the crossbow and lowering it. Ichigo turned to the culprit. The hooded figure lifted their head and made a shushing sound. Ichigo stood dumbfounded, because there before him stood the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had bright golden eyes…those of an angel, fair dark skin which he was sure was soft to the touch and violet tresses that cascaded over her shoulders with a few falling over her eyes.

She turned from him when the growling and screaming stopped and started to walk away out into the open…where the wolf was. That last thought snapped Ichigo out of his revere. He ran after her to stop her from wandering into harm's way.

"Don't go out there, don't go out there! There's a wolf! A big wolf, the biggest wolf you've ever seen…an-and a dead man!" Ichigo said to her before she raised her hand silencing him with the words she spoke next.

"I know." She said gently before walking out the door. Ichigo watched her leave with a helpless expression. He tried one last time to get her to come back.

"Miss please come back its dangerous!" The woman ignored his pleas and continued to walk to the edge of the farm near the thick foliage of the forest. Ichigo slumped into the barn door.

"Maybe I'm dreaming. But my eyes are open, which means, maybe I'm awake, dreaming I'm asleep. Or more likely I'm asleep, dreaming I'm awake wondering if I'm dreaming…yeah that makes more sense…doesn't it?" Ichigo asked himself.

"You are dreaming." The woman's voice floated through the air. Ichigo tensed with a gasp. His eyes widened and he ran back into the barn up the ladder and onto the haystacks kept there. He watched through one of the barn's gaps as the large wolf walked out of the darkened trees to the woman with and affectionate huff. The animal walked alongside her as she made her way into the woods like a domesticated dog. Ichigo's mouth hung open. He had no idea how to explain any of this to himself. He fell to the floor and looked up at the ramshackle roof.

"I have not seen what I've just seen. I don't believe what I believe. Lord, if these are magical or unexplainable matters, then I beg you please don't make me apart of them." Ichigo's head fell back into the pile of hay he was in. He was so tired.

They traveled through the dreary forest for the better part of the day. Suì-Fēng and her hawk up front while Ichigo led the horse in back of them. The short woman looked up through the canopy of leaves and sighed. It looked like the heavens would stay hidden behind thick clouds today. She looked over her shoulder to the young man and noticed he was panting. She took a bit of pity on him and stopped.

"We'll stop for a bit." She said while walking over to a tree. "Not a great day for traveling." She then sat down against it. She drew her cloak around herself and leaned her head back.

Ichigo pulled on Suzumebachi's reins.

"Come on gir- uh boy…come on Suzumebachi. Don't be difficult right now it's too cold out here for that…" Ichigo tied the reins around one of the tree's trunks. He then followed his companion's example and lowered himself to the ground. "I could do with rest myself after last night." Ichigo grumbled to himself. "That wolf would have killed me, it was horrible. He tore out the farmer's throat you know…there was more…" Ichigo drew his own flimsy cloak around his shoulders. "There was a woman, skin like fine silk and golden eyes…almost like a bird's sharp and alert. Her voice…dulcet tones…she sounded like an angel."

Suì-Fēng eyes opened with interest.

"She spoke to you? What did she say?" She asked chocking back the lump that had formed in her throat.

"I asked her if I was dreaming, and she said I was." Ichigo began. Suì-Fēng lowered her head with a small smile and looked to the hawk perched on her left arm. Ichigo didn't see it and assumed she thought him mad. "I'm not insane, you've got to believe me when I tell you these things!" Ichigo spoke up indigent. Suì-Fēng quickly looked up and gave him a disarming smile.

"I do believe you… I believe in dreams." She said softly. Ichigo turned his head away and rubbed at Suzumebachi's flanks.

"I see." He mumbled.

"…This lady…did she perhaps have a name?" Suì-Fēng asked.

"Not that she mentioned…why?" Ichigo asked with a raised brow. Suì-Fēng chuckled and looked to the hawk again.

"Well maybe she would wonder into my dreams. I could call her by name and pretend we've met before… I've waited so long for such a lady." She looked up from the hawk and offered Ichigo one last smile. "Now get some sleep. We won't be here long." She pulled her hood over her eyes and let out a sigh as she rested her head on the trunk of the tree.

Ichigo stared at her for a moment, his hand absentmindedly scratching Suzumebachi's leg.

"I must be out of my mind…out of my mind." He mumbled as he removed his hand from the horse and huddled in on himself.

"Open the gates the Knight Captain approaches." A voice cried out from the castle wall. The draw bridge was lowered and a white horse sprinted by. Gin did not slow as he forced his steed on up the stone streets of the castle. The horse shoes clopping throughout the hollowed arches and passed the sentries. He continued to twist and turn up the stone pathway until he finally reached the open court yard. Gin pulled his horse to a stop and jumped down from its back. A young squire ran up and took the horse's reins and led the panting animal away. Gin walked down one of the many paths that would lead to his lord's inner sanctum…the garden.

Aizen sat under an umbrella sipping his tea and watching one of his many servants perform a dance in his honor. She circled and dipped and swayed to the lute playing gently in the background. The music and the dancer stopped at Gin's presence.

"Have you found our criminal Gin?" Aizen asked after taking a sip of his tea. His cold eyes looked away from the dancer and landed on his disheveled subject. Gin hid his nervousness behind his trademark smile and spoke in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.

"He is not in my custody at the moment Your Grace." He said, and snapped to attention when Aizen rounded on him.

"Then why do you invade my garden unwashed? Did you think he would be with me?" Aizen retorted the anger shining behind a cool façade. Gin looked away and lowered his head in shame.

"It would seem that Suì-Fēng has returned my Lord." Gin noticed the twitch of his master's brow.

"Come walk with me." Aizen said in false calm as he turned to walk away from potential eavesdroppers. Gin followed, albeit hesitantly, after the other man. They walked in silence until they reached Aizen's study. The guard stationed outside saluted them and shut the door after both men were inside.

"The criminal, Ichigo, travels with her. My men are searching the woods as we speak." Gin began to speak once he was sure they were alone.

"And what of the hawk?" Aizen questioned while taking a seat at his desk. Gin looked at his Lord confused.

"My Lord?" Gin asked his brows drawn together in confusion. Aizen rested his chin on his hand as he leaned his elbow on the armrest.

"There must be a hawk Gin…a spirited hawk. This hawk is not to be harmed understood?" A smile formed over Aizen's lips. "You see the day she dies, is the day a new Knight Captain will preside over your execution." Gin frowned and nodded his head. That was no idle threat. Aizen looked down at the papers neatly placed before him and sighed, and spoke of something else.

"These are difficult times we live in Gin. The famine that has hit our lands prevents the people paying tribute to the Kingdom. I raise the taxes to make up for that and they tell me there is nothing left to give. Can you imagine such a thing…but last night I received a message from the heavens. The cause to all our troubles begins and ends with the devil's advocate…Suì-Fēng. Go deal with this Satan worshiper and kill her. Then all will be right again." Aizen waved a hand to signal he was finished with Gin. The Knight Captain bowed his head and left the room.

Yes once Suì-Fēng was out of the way there would be only that fool of a scholar to deal with. Then this kingdom and the beauty who was its rightful heir would be his. A young scribe walked in after the captain was gone with a stack of papers in hand. He placed them on Aizen's desk and bowed. He stood ready to leave the room when Aizen spoke up.

"Bring me Yammy."

"Y-yes milord it shall be done." The young lad bowed again and ran off to fulfill his master's wishes.

Well there you have it another chapter out…like I said this was just written because my muse wont focus on anything else right now…I hope you all enjoy…sigh.

P.S Aizen makes such a wonderful villain don't you agree…I swear he always pops up, even when I had intended to have the villain of the story be an O.C. as you can see that vile man does not like to be ignored.

-K