Hey everyone, this is my first story for bleach and also my first story for fanfiction. So it will not be perfect.

Please no Flames, but Constructive criticism, advice and ideas are accepted, as it will help me write this story and improve it.

I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo does, I only own the OCs, plotline and Ideas(some have been inspired though)

Word count: 3,731 words in 6 and a bit pages.

Warning some course language, some sexual reference, and there is violence. Also there are some OCs but they only help the story work and the characters might be oocish but this an AU story.

Thank you to happygirl24, star133 and xwhitemoonx for reading and reviewing last chapter.

So here is chapter 3.

If you have any questions about the fic just ask.


Chapter 3: I'm so screwed


The clashing and thudding of items hitting the ground, followed by a string of curses echoed in the small and hidden clearing. Rukia twirled round to see Ichigo had dropped all the items he was carrying. He was crouched down low, nursing a bruised hand. She eyed him, worried that there was something horribly wrong with him and that she might catch it. Ichigo glanced at Rukia, and spoke hesitantly "Wh...What did you say?"

"I said I am Lady Kuchiki Rukia of the 6th Family." Rukia responded with reattained composure. She sensed something different about her saviour. He had changed the moment she spoke those words. He was not the arrogant, cocky, and dare she say it brave fighter who had saved her. He was unsure and meek, maybe reflecting the boy he really was or that he just realised he had screwed up in how he had treated her.

"Lady Kuchiki Rukia of the 6th Family." Ichigo muttered to himself. "Just great, I knew you were a noble... but I did not frigging realise you were that frigging high up." He sat down and put his head in his hands and didn't stir.

Rukia just stood there she was stunned. Five minutes ago he was acting cocky and arguing with her, now he just sat there like he'd made the biggest mistake of his life.

After a few minutes of an awkward silence, Ichigo stood up, and turned around to continue what he was doing. His sore hand seemingly forgotten. Rukia watched him stoop and pick up the items he had dropped, he then proceeded to set up camp.

It took Ichigo less than half an hour to finish setting the camp up and it was beginning to get chilly. Rukia whined to Ichigo about being cold and hungry, but he didn't answer, hell she even tried calling him Carrot Top and Dandelion but nothing, no reaction. He just stood up and walked away. Rukia huffed, her temper was worsening. It was cold and she was hungry and Ichigo still hadn't spoken a word. 'Come on, what could I have done to upset him to make him act like this?' She thought to herself. Oh and to top it all off she had no idea where the damn Strawberry was. "Hey Strawberry, calling him that might get a reaction out him." Rukia whispered cheerfully to herself.

She snapped back into attention when she heard a twig snap, she gazed in the direction of the sound, fear bubbling in her stomach. She sighed in relief when she saw it was Ichigo returning and carrying some kindling and branches. 'So that's where he went.' She mused to herself.

Ichigo gathered a few rocks and made a crude circle, in the centre he arranged the sticks and kindling neatly. 'He makes starting a fire look like an art-form. How much of a perfectionist can he be?' Rukia pondered to herself. Ichigo knelt over the fire and clashed two rocks together sending sparks over the fire. It didn't work, Rukia moaned and Ichigo scowled deeper in annoyance. He tried again and this time the fire caught. After several minutes of poking and prodding, the fire was burning brightly. Rukia watched Ichigo stand up and walk to a worn travel bag. He opened it and pulled out a couple of pots. He walked to the river and filled the largest pot with water, and set the pot over the fire. When the water began boiling he chucked in some meat, vegetables and added various spices. Rukia watched intrigued, she'd never seen food prepared and cooked before. It didn't take long before the food was ready. Ichigo retrieved a wooden ladle, and spooned some of the stew into two bowls and placed a spoon in each. He walked to Rukia and handed her the food and returned to his seat across the fire. They sat in silence.


Rukia's POV

I ate in silence and hated every second of it, the damn strawberry 'I really like that nickname,' still hasn't spoken a word to me since I told him who I was, despite my many attempts to get him to argue. I know I complained about him arguing with me, and about him being cocky and arrogant. But the point is he's ignoring me now and I hate being ignored. Anything was better than the damn silent treatment. I was getting frustrated and fast. I didn't understand it, I talk to the most annoying people at the court everyday and I could easily keep my calm, but around this damn boy I lost my temper easily, he just got under my skin.

"Okay enough is enough. Why won't you talk to me?" I couldn't take it, I needed to know, and if this was just an act to annoy me, so help him God, I was going to kill him.

But to my disappointment he said nothing he didn't even look up.

"For the Love of God, would say something, would you look at me?" I was angry, when I told someone to talk, they did, when I told someone to look at me, they did. I was so used to getting my way, but Ichigo, no, he just didn't listen. I huffed fuming at his silence.

End of Rukia's POV


Ichigo stood and sighed wearily to himself, how was he going to explain this to her. Damn it why'd she have to be a noble belonging to one of the great thirteen families, it just made things harder for him. Dealing with nobles was tricky enough, but helping out a noble of the thirteen families was just downright dangerous. Firstly they were worth a bit to ransom. Secondly they generally had huge bounties on their heads as other nobles could use them for political leverage. Lastly someone probably wanted them dead, especially a Kuchiki. Anyone familiar with the rogue world knew a Kuchiki was worth more than three other nobles who'd come from any other of the thirteen families. He'd screwed up, whoever got Nezumi's gang to go after her either forked out a load of gold or was very powerful or both. It was a hunch, but he trusted his instincts. Nezumi would be looking for her and so would others if he was right about it being a paid attack. Or if it wasn't they'd come after her anyway, to try get her for a ransom. Hmm...What to do? What to D...

WHACK

Ichigo lurched forward as something hard and slop covered hit the back of his head. He cursed and turned around scratching the back of his head to see Rukia posed with the ladle in her hand aimed and ready to hit him. She grinned and swung, he ducked.

"See what you get for ignoring me." Rukia whined.

Ichigo glared but it softened when he saw her shiver. "Oh crap! You're probably still wet." Ichigo got up, and took off his coat revealing a simple and loose white shirt underneath. Ichigo put the coat around her shoulders. Rukia just stood there dumbfounded for several seconds. She recovered quickly by thanking him. She still did not get him. He had way too many mood changes. More than the noble females did during that time of month. And they were moody normally!

Rukia yawned behind her hand, she was tired and it was late, but how many sleeping mats and blankets did Ichigo have, it was rather cold after all.

"Ichigo, how are we going to sleep tonight?" Rukia asked worriedly.

Ichigo glanced at Rukia reading her emotions through her eyes and replied. "Simple, you take the sleeping mat and blankets and I'll sleep against that tree." He pointed to a tree near the fire. It was large, and the trunk had a flat surface. Where Ichigo could rest against it in moderate comfort. Not that he'd be sleeping, he had far too many things on his mind.

"But.."

"No Buts. It's fine." Ichigo replied evenly.

"But won't you be cold?" Rukia asked in concern.

"I said no buts. Anyway I'm used to sleeping in the cold, I only stole the gear a couple of days ago anyway." He answered casually. BIG MISTAKE.

"WHAT! You stole it! How could you? Someone worked for that." Rukia screamed.

"No someone sat on their lazy ass all day." Ichigo answered defensively.

"What do you mean by that?" Rukia asked quickly and rather rudely. She was working herself into a state once again. She'd lost her calm around him, yet again.

"It means I stole it from a damn noble, WHO DID NOTHING TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE." Roared Ichigo, he was angry, no furious, who was she to question the life he had led, he stole yes, but only from those who could afford it. Hell he ended up giving most of it away to others who needed it more.

"Did nothing... To protect... The people. " She repeated sadly.

" Yes Rukia. Nobles don't care for the commoners, at least none that I have met."

Rukia whispered gently, "Well you have now." Ichigo glanced up, meeting her eyes and smiled ruefully. "Come on go to bed. You look tired."

Ichigo stood up and taking her by the shoulders gently, he guided Rukia to the sleeping mat and blankets. She snuggled in quickly, relishing the warmth.

"Ichigo?"

"Yes" he answered

"Good night" Rukia murmured.

"Yeah, Good night dwarf princess." He replied smugly.

"If I wasn't so tired I'd kick you for that." Rukia enlightened him in a sleepy tone.

"I know." He said unconcerned as he tried to find a restful position.

"Ichigo?" She asked again.

"What?" Ichigo growled, he'd finally gotten into a comfy position and he'd kill her if he had to move.

"Thank you, for saving me" She replied silkily, Ichigo just gawked at her. He was at a loss for words. She'd finally thanked him. Took her long enough. She really is a damn noble, they take their time with everything.

"Oh and by the way, I still hate you, you arrogant jerk." Rukia said completely ruining the moment. But Ichigo being Ichigo had to have the last word. "Feeling's mutual."


The Next Morning.

Rukia awoke to the sizzling of food over the fire, and the savoury aroma emanating from it. She blinked, it was early, earlier than she'd ever been up. Rukia wanted to sleep some more and she would have too; if Ichigo didn't nudge her awake.

"Breakfast is ready. Hurry up and eat before it gets cold."

Rukia groaned "Why are we up so early, don't you know the meaning of beauty sleep?" But she obliged quickly when Ichigo's scowl deepened, she did not want him to give her the silent treatment again. Ichigo gave her a bowl and sat. Rukia smirked and sat next to him, and whispered into his ear "Smells Good Strawberry."

Ichigo gaped, he didn't need to worry about the problems to do with helping her, he was going to end up killing her, himself.

Rukia saw his reaction and giggled "That's what you get when you call me a dwarf princess, plus it's what your name means anyway." Ichigo glared and growled fiercely, "My name does not mean Strawberry, it means he who protects."

"Sure it does." Rukia goaded, trying to get Ichigo to counter, but he didn't take the bait.

"Ichigo, why did we get up so early?" She asked annoyed at missing some sleep.

"Because, we're going to have to move soon, so we don't want to cross anymore bandits."

"Oh...Um... Ichigo, why were you sulking yesterday?" Rukia asked nervously, she was worried, did he hate her because she was a Kuchiki, if so why? And what would he do with her?

"I wasn't sulking, I was just mulling over things." He answered quietly, to Rukia he sounded anxious like he'd rather not talk about it. It confirmed her fears, but she needed answers, so she pursued.

"What were you mulling over?" She asked, hiding her nervousness behind a blank, unemotional face. She was thinking, thinking how she was going to escape, she couldn't fight him. He might have looked her age, but he could fight a whole lot better than her. So what to do? What to do?

Ichigo sighed, he might as well tell her, better to get it over and done with. "I was thinking how to deal with you." Rukia gasped and backed away from Ichigo.

She let her facade drop and began to ramble, "Pleasedon'tkillmeIdon'tknowwhyyouhatetheKuchikiFamilybut..."

Ichigo grabbed Rukia's wrists tenderly and spoke calmly "Rukia relax, I'm not going to hurt you. I don't know why you think I hate the Kuchiki Family but I don't. So relax." He had understood every word she had said, he didn't know how but he did but he did. When Ichigo saw that Rukia had calmed down, he let her wrists drop to her side.

"You're not going to kill me and you don't hate the Kuchiki family?" she questioned

"Nope"

"Then what did you mean when you said you were thinking on how to deal with me." She asked quickly regaining her composure.

Ichigo began pacing pondering how to explain the situation. He stopped pacing and faced Rukia looking at her straight in the eyes. He was thinking to himself still. 'Hmm, how do I tell her? May... Wow she has nice eyes. They are Violet, strange. Generally only marked ones have odd coloured eyes as a sign of what they are, but she's a noble, she can't be one. Can she? Wait What... God I'm in a very unstable situation, and I'm thinking about how pretty and extraordinary her eyes are. Come on Ichigo think straight.'

'But she is pretty. You could have some fun with her.' A sinister voice persuasively whispered inside his mind.

'Shut up you bastard.' Ichigo thought curtly, aiming it at the voice.


Rukia's POV

I was looking at Ichigo waiting for an answer. A couple of minutes ago Ichigo was pacing around anxiously, now he stood there staring off into the distance his scowl deepening further, he felt different. I didn't know how I felt it, let alone what I felt, but he felt darker, something like, like his aura had become threatening. It felt wrong, I was about to call out to him when it suddenly lightened. So I let him think for another few minutes, I was about to get up and shake him to get his attention but then Ichigo shook his head and sighed depressed.

He turned back to me, his brown eyes looked sad and pained but before I could be sure I saw it, the emotions were gone and his eyes became unreadable. It was strange, I didn't know why I cared but I did. I mean I just met him and I barely knew him, actually all I knew was his name but... He was hurting and I wanted to help but I didn't know how.

"Rukia"

I looked up, and saw that he seemed ready to tell me what I needed to know. He was tense and he kept fidgeting but despite it he seemed determined and ready.

"What I meant Rukia, was how I was going to deal with this situation without getting either of us killed, or hurt, or captured." He paused and I took it as chance to say something. "What situa..." he raised his right hand, signalling for me to stop. When he saw I'd tightened my lips to avoid from saying anything else, he continued. "The situation is the fact that you're a Kuchiki." I looked at him funnily, thinking he had lost his mind. Despite it he persisted, for some unknown reason it was difficult for him but it did not stop him. "You might not think it's a big deal but it is. Rukia I am a rogue, I steal to survive..."

I glared at him, making him cringe, he cringed further when I hissed lividly at him, "You bastard, that just causes problems for other people who can't make ends meet. How..."

Ichigo interrupted defensively "Would let me finish? Yeesh!" I huffed now even more infuriated at him for interrupting me again, Ichigo just rolled his eyes, annoying me further. "But I have rules to do with my thieving. Firstly I only steal what I need, Secondly I steal enough so I can give some of it away to others in need and Lastly I only still from those who can handle it. Generally high and mighty nobles or thriving merchants, who are all very generous people." He spoke seriously, right until the last sentence where he sounded highly sarcastic.

"You don't like nobles much, or rich people, do you?"

"Generally no I don't, but there are a few who have earned my respect." He replied sincerely

"You have a major problem with authority."

"What? No I don't." Ichigo responded heatedly.

"Ichigo you're a thief, of course you have a problem with authority. And it was a statement not a question." I countered in a sugary matter of fact voice.

Ichigo growled, "Anyway shall we continue on with the explanation, or do you not care anymore, tiny?"

I felt a vein pop, and I knew he knew that he got to me because he grinned. He grinned like a 6 foot idiot. And I wanted to hit him for it, but I restrained myself. "Yes of course. I would like that very much...Dandelion." I replied sweetly.

I saw him twitch and glower but he continued with the matter at hand. Must be serious then, I thought concerned. "Good. Because I'm a thief, I'm aware of certain things. Like the Price Lists..."

"Price Lists what are those?" I said interrupting him in return.

Ichigo sighed exasperated, "If you stop interrupting me, I'll be able to tell you. How about I explain and then you can ask questions." I leaned back and nodded not trusting myself to speak. His tone was layered with frustration but that wasn't why I leaned back. I felt it again, it was brief but it was there. I felt his aura or whatever turn dark, and it scared, no terrified me, but it was long gone now and I felt safe.

"Ok I understand, Rukia you can stop nodding now." I stopped quickly, I hadn't even realised that I was still nodding.

"Okay... The Price Lists are a mix of things. But basically it lists the price of people. The prices are put up by multiple parties, some are rogue factions, some are political factions within the Soul Society and then there are foreign factions from surrounding lands." I went to say something, along the lines of 'What does this have to do with me' but Ichigo glared at me so I kept my peace, he said he'd explain. He resumed speaking. "If you're thinking what this has to do you with you, here's the answer, it has everything to do with you." I looked at him gobsmacked, it was like he read my mind, wait maybe he heard me when I thought he was kind of handsome, No, stop I do not think Ichigo is not handsome. I smiled smugly. Oh wait that came out wrong, I do not think he is handsome, cute, hot or anyway good looking at all. That's right, I didn't say it wrong. Ichigo just watched me with a look on his face that clearly showed he thought I had lost my mind.

"Okay, you're definitely insane."

"..."

"I think I'll continue." I nodded, hiding my face so he would not see me blush. "Anyway... It has everything to do with you because of your status in life. All nobles are on it as they will fetch a fair ransom, and that ransom price is listed on the Price Lists. But prices differ depending on certain variables from status to looks to gender to how dangerous the mission is. But that's only one possible reason for being on it, another is bounties, where you have one of the parties place you on the list for some reason, but most of the time that reason remains unknown. They a set price and if it's worth the risk, someone will try do it. And you're Kuchiki, one of the thirteen families. Your family is up there near the top, firstly you're one of the most powerful families in the Soul Society. Secondly your family is in charge of the Law and Order and that's kicked a few buckets over with a lot of rogues. And lastly your family is being attacked by foreign forces and it's most likely they would want leverage and you're the easiest way to get it."

I felt myself go numb, I was in danger, and who ever wanted me, had the chance to get me. Oh God and I am in the company of a rogue. He did say they'd do it if it was worth the risk, and at the moment he had me where he wanted me, there was no risk for him.

"You're not going to help me are you? You just want the gold?" I questioned him, I knew the answer, but I dared to hope he really was going to help me, but I doubted it.

Ichigo did something that surprised me, he flicked my forehead, like Kaien did when he thought I was doing or saying something stupid or reckless. My hope grew with the familiarity.

He leaned down so he was at eye level with me, "Idiot how many times do I have to say this, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm trying to help you. Would you open your ears midget princess?" He said reassuringly and got a punch in the gut for his troubles. He feel forward onto his knees, doubling over, his forehead nearly touched the ground as he tried to regain his breath.

"Don't call me midget princess. But why don't you want the gold?" I asked, I was confused, it sounded like a lot of gold was at stake, so why didn't he want it.

"Because I'm not like that, I steal objects, things that can be replaced, not people's lives. Plus I'd be a dead man if I did, Alithra would kill me." Ichigo exclaimed.

End of Rukia's POV


Hoped you're stilling enjoying the story. Next Chapter I promise there will be more action.

Next chapter will be up within 3-7 days depending on how many reviews I get, and how fast I can write the 7th chapter. (just like the last two times)

Note: So far I've written up, 6 chapters (including this one) and planned 16 (but there will be more)

So please review and read the next chapter.