Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite.

Author's Notes: Thank you so much for the lovely reviews! I was honestly unsure of whether people would enjoy this concept but it seems people are enjoying it. So thanks again for all the reviews! Just a few things before I continue with the story that I was asked in a few reviews:

* The reason why I chose the Highlands rather than Ancient Japan is because I know relatively more about the Highlands than I do Ancient Japan. Not to mention, the Highlanders have been a pet favourite of mine since forever. XD Also, I dabbled a little into this particular time period with Five Lifetimes, One Love, a one-shot that I wrote with my sister, so it's a real thrill to be exploring it in full with this story.

* Ichigo's current age is somewhere in his late twenties. Originally, I had wanted to make him a bit older than that but I wanted to stay consistent with the timeskip in the manga so I went for the number 17. And with the decimation of his clan at a young age (as per the summary), he would have been 10-12years old during the time in which the prologue was set.

I hope that has made everything clearer! Sorry about not being completely clear. And also wanted to give a huge belated thank you to Elmo (Amorphic on LJ). I forgot to mention it in the last chapter, but she was a huge help with getting the whole first chapter written. Don't mind any spelling errors or grammatical mistakes you may find, this is largely unbeta'd, and neither do I think its particularly well written. Here's to hoping you all enjoy it all the same. D:

ETA: This fic is largely influenced by my favourite writer, Julie Garwood.

Current Word Count: 7,197.

Chapter Two

"Fate is not satisfied with inflicting one calamity." – Pubilius Syrus.

"You will marry me."

Orihime took a hasty step back, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. She shook her head. Ichigo frowned. "Explain this hesitation of yours."

"I hardly know you, mi'lord. Surely you can see how preposterous this all is."

Ichigo shrugged. "'Tis a fact that many have wed under similar circumstances."

Orihime paused, grudgingly conceded his point. "Though I do not know why it is so important for us to wed, mi'lord. Can you not simply lead me to my father without having to wed me?"

Ichigo merely shrugged, and Orihime concluded that he couldn't. "The talk is what will bring him out."

Orihime frowned, "the talk?"

Ichigo shook his head. "Do you want to see your father or not?"

Orihime bit her lip as she thought over her situation. Good Lord this was such a mess, and none of it made the least bit of sense. What could he have meant by talk? She dwelled on that thought for a moment before her eyes widened. Perhaps her father was worried about her reputation? She was traveling with a contingent of men without a female companion; if society caught wind of it, there would be no way to prevent the tongues from wagging. Her heart softened as she realized how thoughtful and protective of her her father was. She supposed that marrying this man was a small thing to ask if it meant her having family again.

When she didn't answer him immediately, Ichigo thought she was beginning to have misgivings about the prospect of marriage to him. He scowled at the thought, folding his arms. He wasn't a monster, for goodness sake, and he did intend of showing her some consideration by not being at home often. He was determined to stay silent until her mind was made up. He was therefore surprised when he heard his own gruff voice say, "I won't hurt you, if that is your concern."

Her eyes widened at his words, and he mentally kicked himself. What did he care if this little bit of a woman was having misgivings about marrying him? He was after her father, nothing else.

A small smile graced Orihime's lips as his words sunk in. This man who stood scowling at her, who seemed to be a ruthless leader that never smiled or laughed, had a soft side. The sense of rightness that she had felt earlier struck her again and it was that more than anything else he could have said or done that won her over. She gave a quick prayer before surprising him by taking his hand in hers. "I will have you."

She hoped to God that she was making the right decision.

She was sure she'd made the wrong decision.

Ichigo pushed them hard as they rode through the thick forests of the Highlands. She was sure that he wasn't human. They hadn't stopped for any water or food, and her stomach was grumbling so loudly that she was surprised no one had heard it. The beautiful scenes of the highlands flew past as they rode through the land, and Orihime wished she would have gotten a chance to explore the scenery, but they continued on.

They had stopped momentarily at the Buchanan holding where Father Maclaurin had been visiting, administering the last rights to the old laird. They hadn't dismounted from their horses, the two lairds speaking with each other and Orihime was astonished that the Buchanan laird had not offered to show them any hospitality during their visit. She supposed that manners weren't as important here as they were in England. Especially considering the curious stares that she received from the current laird and his followers.

It was enough to make her feel unsettled and she was rather glad not to have to speak to any of them. She turned to quietly ask Shinji what it was they were looking at and caught the grins on all the men's faces. She had wanted to ask them what was so funny, but they hadn't spared her a glance. Clasping her hands together, Orihime turned back to the crowd and pasted a serene expression on her face. She wasn't about to show any signs of weakness with these people staring at her so intently.

Ichigo rejoined the group, a grim smile of satisfaction on his face as he mounted his horse. Orihime had thought the expression odd considering the circumstances, but pushed it from her mind when they set out again.

Several hours had passed already, and Orihime's backside was feeling quite sore from the pounding it was getting. She wasn't quite used to being in the saddle for extended periods of time and was hoping for a respite, but they continued on up the steep hills with no sign of slowing down. She turned to speak to Shinji but noticed how they constantly looked about the area. She didn't want to bother any of the men since they seemed preoccupied with seeing to her protection though she dearly wished for someone to talk to so as to take her mind off of the pain.

Orihime tried offering her pain up to the heavens as her old maid had taught her. She wasn't sure exactly how this was supposed to lessen the pain, but Elspeth had been most insistent in her teaching. It still hurt; that much was certain.

She thought of her father and wondered what she should say to him when they first meet. She smiled as she imagined the two of them crying with joy together, and the happy thought was enough to keep her mind occupied for a while.

Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, Ichigo called the party to a stop. The day had waned, the soft glowing light of the evening quickly fading as night prepared to fall. They had stopped at a small clearing in the forest; the men quickly dismounting, going about setting up camp and tending to the horses. Orihime shifted slightly in the saddle, pain radiating up her legs at the movement. She grimaced and tried to think of a way she could get off her horse carefully. She was on the verge of sliding ungracefully down the side of the saddle when warm hands closed over her hips to lift her off of her saddle and place her on the ground.

She blushed at the contact and Ichigo thought she was too damn pretty for her own good. His gaze focused on her mouth and he found himself wondering what she would do if he kissed her again. He hastily stepped back then, a fierce scowl covering his face. She was proving to be a complete and utter distraction.

Orihime wondered why he was scowling at her and thought perhaps he was a bit sore from the long journey ride as well. Undeterred by his seemingly bad mood, she smiled up at him, thanking him for his assistance before asking him where they were.

"We are close Kisuke's land. We should reach his holding tomorrow for the wedding."

"Who is Kisuke?"

"My brother."

Orihime's eyes widened. "Brother?"

Ichigo shrugged, "He took me in when I was younger. I've thought of him as an older brother since then."

"Took you in?"

Ichigo's expression hardened, and he turned to tend to her horse. "It was a long time ago." The tone of his voice indicated that he didn't want to speak any more on the subject.

She was silent as she watched his back, her mind whirling with questions she wanted to ask him. She nodded instead and moved to grab her satchel with the precious few things she managed to grab from home before a fight broke out. Burning pain shot up through her legs, and Orihime was hard-pressed not to make a noise in reaction. She took deep breaths and took small, slow steps while asking if there was somewhere she could refresh herself.

Ichigo pointed north, telling her to walk a little way beyond the line of trees until she found the stream. She thanked him again and headed in that direction, the stiffness in her muscles beginning to ease with her slow movements.

Orihime gave out a long, low groan once she was alone by the stream. She placed her satchel on the bank, pulling out a drying cloth and her rose-scented soap that Elspeth had remembered to pack. She waded into the frigid water, wasting no time in scrubbing herself clean as her teeth chattered with the cold. The thought of one of the men stumbling upon her naked had her moving hastily through her bath, drying off quickly before putting her chemise on. She draped the wet cloth over a tree branch to dry over night, yawning as a sweet tiredness came over her, the overly exhausting day finally taking its toll on her. She sat by the bank, leaning back against a tree, and promised herself that she would only rest for a few minutes before getting up to put her gown on and heading back to join Ichigo and the other men.

She was dead to the world a mere second later.

Ichigo ate silently as his men joked with each other around the campfire. They had set up for the night, their horses watered and fed, the men having already decided who would take the first shifts of keeping watch. Bread, bits of cheese and apples were produced as the men began to eat their simple meals and despite himself, Ichigo couldn't help but worry about his future wife.

Where was she?

"Perhaps you should go check on her." Shinji suggested, his voice breaking into his thoughts.

Ichigo scowled at the fire and continued to brood in silence. His men grinned a moment later as he stood up and stomped off in the direction of the stream, muttering under his breath about inconsiderate women.

He found her by the stream asleep and sighed with exasperation. He muttered again under his breath as he knelt down beside her, intending to lift her into his arms. He paused as he noticed what she was wearing, a helpless groan bursting from his throat. Drawn to her unwittingly, he leaned back on his haunches and simply gazed at her, shafts of moonlight illuminating her flawless skin, her hair spilled over her smooth shoulders to drape over her chest. He swallowed an oath as he noticed that the night chill hardening her nipples, pushing them against her thin chemise, leaving nothing to the imagination.

He swallowed at the enticing display, and his clenched his jaw as his palms itched to touch her, to stroke her awake. He clasped her by the shoulders instead and shook her awake.

She frowned in her sleep before shifting towards him, sighing as his heat surrounded her. He shook her again; her eyelids fluttered open before her hazy gaze focused on him. She gave him a slow smile, a soft sigh escaping her lips. He could tell that she was still half-asleep, but the sensuous smile he gave her was more than he could take. He lowered his head, taking her lips as he had thought of doing all day, and it was slow and tender. She sighed with pleasure, shifting closer, wrapping her arms around his neck as she returned the kiss, her tongue stroking against his lazily.

He groaned at her actions and deepened the kiss, fuelling the burn in his gut for her. He pulled back, wanting to see her face in the light, wanting to see her passion and was astonished to find that she had simply gone back to sleep, a smile on her face as she continued to snuggle against him.

He laughed at the sight, and cooled his ardor. There would be plenty of time for more later once they were married, he reasoned with himself. He contented himself with holding her, his fingers gently stroking her soft skin and wondered how she could trust him so easily enough to fall asleep with him present? How could she leave herself completely vulnerable to him while her guard was down? It both confused and delighted him, this trait of hers. In a world where deceit was common and trust never earned, it was refreshing to see someone who didn't play any of those games.

He held her that night, using his plaid to cover them both as his mind tried to sought through the conflicting emotions that filled him. Ichigo scowled then as he shook his head, freeing himself of those troubling thoughts. Warriors did not concern themselves with matters of the heart.

He gave into sleep then with her soft body pressed against him, her sweet scent filling him.

Orihime couldn't help the blush that covered her face the following morning.

She'd awoken to a state of indecency, plastered against Ichigo, her chemise having ridden up to mid-thigh during the night. What was equally mortifying was the warm hand that he'd had on her bottom, anchoring her to him. She had stretched against him, loving the feel of his hard body beneath hers before realization struck her. She let out a loud scream.

Ichigo awoke instantly, his sword drawn against the unknown assailant. Seconds later, Ichigo's men came crashing through the woods, surrounding them, their swords drawn as they searched for the source of danger. It took everyone a moment to process the scene. Orihime cried out in embarrassment as she moved closer against Ichigo, her hands moving to cover her state of undress from his men.

The men dared not laugh, as they knew their mistress had tender feelings and didn't want to offend her. They all stared away into the distance, sheathing their swords. Ichigo's fierce growl was enough to have them disappearing again, though not before he caught the grins of each and every single one of them. Shinji in particular had even winked at him. Ichigo made a note to put his second-in-command on water duties for a week, see if he found anything amusing about being reduced to fetching water from the river for the cook.

Ichigo sheathed his sword as well and stared at the woman before him who was pre-occupied with trying to simultaneously cover herself with her hands as well as slide off of him. He growled again, told her to stop squirming against him and placed his hands on her hips, physically lifting her off of him before she inadvertently rubbed herself against him again. He didn't think he would be able to resist temptation a second time.

She'd gotten dressed quickly after that and knelt at the stream to wash her face. Ichigo squatted down next to her following suit, and they both shared the drying cloth she'd used the night before. She caught him staring at her and blushed, her fingers fidgeting with the cloth. "I'm sorry about this morning."

Ichigo shook his head, his expression unreadable. Orihime bit her lip as a charged silence fell between them. He placed a finger beneath her chin, lifting her face up to look at him. "In future, you will not cause me to needlessly worry about you," he instructed.

She was speechless, her eyes searching his. "You were worried about me?" she asked breathlessly.

He scowled, releasing his hold on her. "Come, we have wasted enough time here."

He turned and strode back to the campsite, Orihime hurrying behind her, a silly smile on her face. He was human after all.

She'd definitely made the right decision.

Two hours later, they were crossing over the drawbridge into Urahara's holding.

The procession moved through the crowds of people who had gathered to see who the visitors were, reaching the courtyard where Orihime spotted a couple standing on the steps of the keep. The man was fair in colouring and just as big as Ichigo, the exotic-looking woman quite beautiful, both with smiles on their faces as they watched them.

Dismounting from their horses, Orihime stood with Ichigo's men as he strode towards the couple, pounding the man on the back before kissing the woman on the cheek in greeting. They spoke for a few seconds before the man motioned towards her. Ichigo turned and gestured for her to come forward. She pinched her cheeks and hurried over to Ichigo's side, giving a curtsy to her hosts.

She liked the couple on sight. Their gazes were warm as they greeted her, and the affection that they had for Ichigo quite obvious to her in the way that they spoke with him, warming her heart. She couldn't help but smile.

The blond man addressed her. "So you are Lady Inoue."

"Yes, mi'lord."

"Call me Kisuke. We're about to be family after all."

Orihime nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with happiness. Kisuke turned and gestured to the woman at his side. "This is my lady wife, Yoruichi."

The woman smiled as she took Orihime's hands in hers. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Orihime." The women chatted with each other as Kisuke gave Ichigo a sly grin.

"I heard you stopped at the Buchanan holding?"

Ichigo nodded, causing him to give a soft laugh. "It's going to be the talk of all the Highlands come the end of this week."

The women turned at the sound of Kisuke's laughter, catching the last of his words. Orihime looked at both men confusedly, trying to make sense of the conversation. What exactly was going to be the talk of all the Highlands?

Ichigo changed the subject. "Is the priest ready?"

Kisuke nodded. "Standing at the altar as we speak."

Yoruichi glanced at Orihime. "Would it not be better if you waited until later this afternoon, Ichigo?"

He shook his head before taking Orihime by the hand, moving through the courtyard towards a building Orihime took to be the chapel. She ran to keep up with his long strides, and she had to tug at his hand to get him to slow down. He slowed down and she leaned into his side and whispered, "Are we going to inspect the church before the wedding?"

Ichigo shook his head. "Nay, lass."

Orihime frowned. "Then what are we doing?"

"We're going to get married right now."