I've gotta say, I feel pretty stupid. I've read several books on Japanese history, most of which very detailed and specific. After acquiring all that knowledge, I managed to make one very foolish error: Tokyo was named Edo until the 19th century. I will thank sanriochica333 for bringing the error to my attention, and I have edited Chapter 1 by changing Tokyo to Edo.

TITLE: Love Knows No Bounds

TIME PERIOD: 1600s

MAIN PARING: IchigoxRukia (naturally)

LOCATION: Japan

MAIN CHARACTERS: Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Byakuya, assorted others.

I've decided to start a 'questions corner' of sorts by setting aside a section of each chapter for questions that I have been asked by my loyal readers. I really have nothing more to say on that, so I guess I should start answering some questions.

Q: Who is Rukia engaged to marry? -andraq

A: The person Rukia is engaged to marry will be revealed in this chapter. (I'll give ya a hint: It's someone I really want to kill off, and just might have to in this story.)

Q: What's bankai? -PrincessAngel101

A: In Bleach, each shinigami's zanpakuto has three forms: Basic, which is like Renji or Byakuya's katana, the first form. Shikai, which is the initial release, like Renji's "Howl Zabimaru". Then Banki is the third and final form is Bankai, the final release of a zanpakuto. An example is "Tensa Zangetsu", or when Ichigo's sword turns into a katana with a black blade.

Any other questions, and I'll be happy to answer 'em!


October 30, 1611

Ichigo carefully examined his blade, letting the edge reflect brightly from the sun's rays. He squinted as the reflecting light met his brown eyes, and he held the katana outwards, testing its weight. What would have seemed heavy to most was relatively light for the orange haired man, and he skillfully sung the blade, careful not to hit the wall closest to him. With just as much precision, he pulled the blade out of its swing and tucked it into its sheath, the empty room resounding with metal sliding against metal.

Loosening the top of his black kimono, Ichigo let his arm rest lazily on the sheath of his blade and exited the small house, stepping onto the busy street. Osaka was an exceptionally large city, not too big, but large all the same. It was an seaport city, built around the 6th century A.D. as Naniwa. The name of the city had been changed relatively recently, around 1580, to Osaka. In the some one thousand odd years that Osaka had been a recognized city in Japan, it's population had grown excessively.

Walking briskly down the dirt street, Ichigo wiped his sweaty brown, cursing the stifling heat. The walk from his house to Fujikawa palace wasn't far at all, but with the sweltering heat, the heavy humidity, and the dust being kicked up from passing wagons and men on horseback, the trek would feel much longer. Ichigo coughed roughly into his closed fist as a group of soldiers, all ridding horses, cantered past him, sending dust in all directions.

Ichigo paused, watching the band of horsemen ride down the busy street. He watched with a curious glare as a group of infantry, maybe around twenty or twenty five men, followed closely behind the cavalry. "Outta the way, boy!" Ichigo was roughly pushed off the side of the road by one of the soldiers, and he stumbled slightly. Wrapping a hand around the handle of his katana, he snarled menacingly, but fought the urge to draw his weapon. Spitting venomously, he stalked down the road, ignoring the dust that stung his eyes.

His flaring temper began to dissipate as he reached the city's borders, and Fujikawa palace became clearly visible past the tall buildings of the Japanese seaport. The faintest of smiles graced Ichig's lips as he stepped past the city's walls and into the lush, green grass of Japan's countryside. Looking to the east, he could see the bustling docks, small, almost microscopic figures loading and unloading cargo from the marvelous ships.

The sun shone brightly, but Ichigo disregarded it, enjoying the beauty and serenity of the land outside Osaka, something he could rarely do. With a sigh, he rapped sharply on the large, wooden door to the palace's garden. When questioned on his identity and purpose, he yelled powerfully, "Kurosaki Ichigo. I am to escort Kuchiki Rukia to Edo, and I'll have to get in so I can get her."

"Ah, Ichigo," A snarl worked its way out of Ichigo's lips as he recognized the voice to be Renji's. "You're half an hour late, ya know."

"Open up, Abarai." Ichigo warned dangerously, banging his foot sharply against the door.

"My, my. Impatient, aren't we?" Before Ichigo could respond, the doors opened. Renji stood, a cocky grin plastered on his face, in the middle of the entryway, his flamboyant red and blue kimono ruffling in the breeze. "And here is the mighty Kurosaki Ichigo, preparing for his perilous journey across three hundred-"

"Not. Another. Word." Ichigo's threat elicited a loud, hearty fit of laughter from his comrade.

Sighing and shaking his head, Ichigo sauntered through the doorway, looking around the vibrant garden. "Well, I'm ready to go. Where's the girl?"

Chuckling, Renji gestured to a pathway leading through he garden. "It'd do you good to learn her name; she doesn't take kindly to people calling her 'girl'." He led Ichigo down the path, still smiling widely. "Your tardiness has caused us a bit of panic. I'd almost thought you'd left without Rukia."

"I'm not that excited." Ichigo stuffed his hands into his pockets, wheeling his neck around to relieve its muscles of their strain.

Renji laughed again, only quieter. "Remember, Ichigo, it was you who took the offer."

"That may very well be," Ichigo let his voice quietly trail off. "You certainly have given me many warnings about Rukia. I'm beginning to think that she's more rebellious than most."

"Your observation is an understatement," Renji examined the pommel of his sword. "She isn't one to take any crap; I've experienced hat first hand." He rubbed a faint bruise on the side of his head. "But she'll behave, none the less. After all, her life is resting squarely on your shoulders."

"Was that supposed to make me break out in a sweat?" Ichigo callously inquired, peering around the garden.

"Not at all. Just making sure you know the responsibility I have entrusted you with." Renji turned down a curve in the path and approached the palace. He briskly walked up the short set of stairs and knocked on the door next to them. "Rukia! Kurosaki's here." He pressed his ear to the door and then stepped back, taking a casual stance next to Ichigo.

The door slid open, and the girl Ichigo took to be Rukia walked out. She was shorter than him, the difference in their heights very distinct. She had black hair that reached down to her shoulders, and large, shining violet eyes. She was dressed in a white kimono and traditional sandals. She approached the two men and bowed formally, speaking quietly, "I am honored, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo looked her over with a hard gaze, his fierce, brown eyes studding her petite figure. Sighing, he turned to Renji. "Well, she doesn't look like much, but-" A pained howl escaped his lips as his hands instinctively moved to protect his throbbing groin. Renji raucous laughter rose above Ichigo's torrent of vivid obscenities. "Damnit, woman! What the hell is wrong with you! I'm the man who's gonna be guardin' you from bloodthirsty killers, and you kick me below the belt!"

Smirking evilly, he bent down so that she was eye level with Ichigo. "Well, oh-great-protector, if you plan on making it through three hundred miles of Japanese countryside, then you had better be more prepared than that." Standing, she turned to Renji and clamly stated, "I'll gather my things and will meet you at the stables."

Ichigo, who was still nursing his wound, gasped and sputtered in disbelief. "Th-that…little…" He snarled the last word out. "Demon."

Renji's laughter eventually subsided, and he helped Ichigo pick himself up off the ground. "I wasn't exaggerating when I said she didn't take any crap."

"No shit." Ichigo grumbled. "Damn, that midget sure packs one hell of a kick."

"You'll learn to live with it." Renji guided Ichigo down the remainder of the pathway. "I've had to deal with it for some twenty years now. And counting."

"You two've known each other for that long?"

"Yup." Renji nodded in confirmation. His face scrunched up slightly as they approached the stables, the rancid odder of horse manure thickly coating the air.

"Why do we need a packhorse, anyways?" Ichigo grumbled irritably, leaning against a fence. "Can't we carry this stuff on our own?"

Renji chuckled lightheartedly, looking out across the green, rolling hills. "You've gotta lot to learn about the ways of nobles. Don't get me wrong; Rukia's not spoiled in any way, she's just obligated to do things that way. She wouldn't mind carrying her own pack, it's just that everyone'd be gettin' quite a bit of grief from Byakuya about it."

Ichigo and Renji proceeded into the stables, and the red haired man grabbed the reigns of a black horse, it's back topped with supplies and provisions for the journey. Renji tossed the reigns at Ichigo, who caught them and yanked the horse forward. The animal nickered and slowly walked forward, it's hooves heavily clopping against the dirt. Staring at the horse, Ichigo pointed a finger at it and turned his head towards Renji. "What kind of- DAMMIT!"

Renji snickered as Ichigo pulled his finger out of the animal's mouth, cursing loudly. "Well, Ichigo, seems you've met your match twice in one day. Once from a girl," Renji smirked and folded his arms smugly over his chest. "And again by a horse."

"Shut up!" Ichigo yelled, nursing his finger.

"Well, I'm ready." Rukia approached the stables, a small pack of clothes in her hands. She ignored the death glare that Ichigo sent in her direction, and tossed the bundle of clothes onto the horse's back.

"Well," Renji clasped his hands behind his back and let his weight rest on one leg. "I won't keep you two waiting. You should make good time if you leave now and don't stop 'till sunset."

"Please, keep us as long as you want." Ichigo flatly stated, peering at Rukia. "'Cause I just can't wait to go." He smirked triumphantly as Rukia scowled at him. With an agitated air about him, Ichigo tugged on the horse's reigns and began walking stalking away, towards the forest. Turning, he shouted back, "C'mon, Rukia! I'm not waiting forever!"

Ichigo shook his head and continued on his way as Rukia caught up with him. The walk through the valley didn't take too long; only about twenty minutes. Ichigo felt a small twang of relief as they entered the shade, the nearly suffocating heat giving way to the dark, cool recesses of the woods. Almost as soon as the coolness enveloped him, a sharp, burning sensation stretch from his left shoulder to his right hip. Groaning, he dropped to one knee, gripping the stinging flesh.

Startled, Rukia kneeled down beside him. "Ichigo, what is it?" She gasped, shocked when she saw a ghastly scar on the back of his shoulder. It was jagged and abnormally wide, wider than any normal blade.

Coughing, Ichigo pulled himself up and rubbed his shoulder, his eyes closed in pain. "It's nothing, I'm fine."

"But that scar-"

"I said," Ichigo's voice was serious, cutting off Rukia's words. "I'm fine. Now let's get moving, we're behind as it is." He slightly stumbled forward, lightheaded, then continued with his steady pace. "So," Ichigo never took his eyes off the pathway, his voice remaining flat. "This man you're marrying, what's his name?"

Rukia seemed somewhat surprised by the other's question, and looked up briefly at Ichigo's face. He looked down at her, his gaze harsh. She looked down before answering, breaking the eye contact with him. "His name is Aizen Sosuke."

A strange flash of emotion shot across Ichigo's face, a mix of anger and hatred, threatening to burst out of his lean frame. As soon as it appeared, the blend of emotions drained away, leaving the original scowling expression. "Hm." He seemed to growl, the sound of acknowledgement low and coarse, like a wolf's feral snarl. Ichigo's face twisted in a displeased grimace. "And what's he like?"

Rukia looked away again, out past the thin lining of trees to their right, into the lush valley, and out to the thin stretch of blue that was the ocean. "Well," She fumbled around awkwardly with her words, avoiding eye contact with Ichigo. "I…I've never met him before."

His emotionless face betrayed his surprise. Ichigo yanked harshly on the reigns of the hose when is paused, and it snorted in, what seemed like, disapproval. "So your brother's forcing you to marry a man you've never met before?"

Feeling slightly ashamed, Rukia dared to glance at Ichigo's hard face. "Y-yes."

Ichigo's lip twitched in a sneer of disgust as he scoffed lightly. Yanking harshly on the reigns once again, he pick up the pace to a faster walk, leaving Rukia puzzled by his sudden coarse behavior. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason." Ichigo's flat reply was sharp and unforgiving. Anger coated his voice thickly, and it seemed as if he made no attempt to hide it. "I really don't care."

Rukia's brow furrowed in confusion, slightly angered by Ichigo's scornful tone. She grabbed his arm and kept him still, not faltering under his frigid glare. "What's wrong?"

He roughly yanked his arm from her grip and continued forward. "Nothing." A false smile replaced Ichigo's scowl, and his voice was thick with hatred. "That'd be just like your brother, giving someone's life to a worthless bastard like Aizen."

"What's wrong with you?" Rukia challenged. "You've acted so different since I told you who I am arranged to marry. You're the one who wanted to know, and now you're acting like a spoiled fool. Why are you acting like this?"

Ichigo stopped and turned, his eyes fierce, his voice unforgiving. "Because, Aizen," His voice transformed into a snarl. "Is the man that killed my family."


Ohh, cliffy! Poor Ichigo, his family was killed! But how and when did it happen? And where did he get that strange scar? You'll just have to wait and see!

Review if ya want, but I won't make ya.

Until next time,

BANKAI!