Hey guys! Been a while. Well, this chapter took some time. Hope you would like it. Thanks to my beta, mbravesgirl7. She helped me a lot, in putting this chapter together.

CHAPTER 3

Ichigo made haste to the castle with Rukia cradled in his arms. Shifting the reigns in his hands, he quickly placed two fingers to the pulse at the crook of her neck. Fear flooded him. Rukia's pulse steadily got lower while her breaths became shallower.

'No... No... She can't die on me. She saved my life at the cost of her own, I am going to save hers at any cost.' Ichigo thought as he urged his horse forward.

As swift as the wind, his horse reached shortly at the castle. Ichigo's heartbeat pounded in his chest as he looked down to check on Rukia. Her skin was paler than before, and he could barely feel her breathing. Ignoring the guards at the gate, Ichigo traveled swiftly through the busy castle until he came to the castle's keep.

With one swift move, Ichigo got down from his horse, holding the tiny general in a bridal style and ran towards infirmary. In the healing room, a relatively young woman in her late twenties was tending to the injured. Concentration was etched on her face. Ichigo concluded her to be the head medical practitioner. Without any delay, he made his way towards her.

Hearing the hasty footsteps, Isane Kotetsu turned around to see their injured general in the arms of an orange haired stranger. Without asking, Isane promptly took Rukia of the stranger's grasp and headed towards another room within the infirmary.

Ichigo followed the grey-haired healer until he was stopped by a male healer. The man explained that Ichigo wasn't allowed in the room with Rukia. The doctors and patients were the only ones allowed in the room because anyone else's presence there could be a distraction to the doctors and prevent them from carrying out their work.

Therefore, the words of protest quickly died on Ichigo's lips. He didn't want to get in the doctor's way. If the absence of his presence Rukia the best chance at survival, then he would do as he was asked.

All he could do was wait and pray to whatever god was listening. 'Please let her be okay,' he thought as he glanced out the castle window. Ichigo could do nothing but think about the petite general who was being attended to.

don't you dare die ...Rukia. ..

After a while of solace, a voice brought Ichigo out of his melancholy thoughts, "Prince Kurosaki."

Ichigo turned around and bowed, 'Lord Kyoraku."

"Now, now, Ichigo. Is that the way you address your ex-sensei?" Shunsui remarked dryly. He wanted to see his former student smile.

Ichigo chuckled weakly. There was nothing that he could offer Shunsui for his mind was still preoccupied with thoughts of the petite general. Instantly, Shunsui understoood Ichigo's stance. He had been in a similar state when something happened to his beloved Nanao.

Ah! To be young again. ...

The two men stood there in silence as they patiently waited to hear Rukia's fate.

XxxXXXxxx

Hours passed while the two royals were inside, the war was finally concluded. Injured soldiers from Ise and Karakura Kingdoms were piling into the infirmary. Even some generals popped in to check on Rukia once word reached them about her condition.

But none of this was distraction enough for Ichigo. His thoughts remained trouble while Shunsui stood by the prince's side answering questions and deflecting soldiers from speaking to the troubled prince. Hours had passed, yet, there still wasn't word about the petite general.

Quiet footsteps drew the two men's attention. Isane approached and bowed to her king, then she turned to stare at the stranger beside him. The wild, orange mane seemed familiar, but the symbol on the man's armor confirmed her theory. It was foolish of her not to recognize the Crown Prince of Karakura, but all she thought about was saving Rukia when she saw her in his arms.

Taking note of Isane quiet disposition, Ichigo braced himself for the worst.

"Lord Kyoraku, Lord Kurosaki, I'm afraid I do not have good news. General Inuzuri was shot with poisoned arrow. Generally, an antidote would have cured her, but this strange poison is defecting any given antidote. Fortunately for now, the combination of the antidotes has slowed down the spread of poison through her body, but the cure for this poison is out of my knowledge." Isane looked down at her hands, clearly ashamed of her incompetence to save the young, able general.

For a minute, a deadly silence enclosed the infirmary.

"How much time do we have?" Ichigo asked, his face void of emotion and his tone edgy. Shunsui put a hand on the prince, trying to offer him some support.

Isane looked down, clearly shaken by the young prince's cold demeanor.

"I said, how much time is left for the poison to devour her?" Ichigo asked her in the same edgy voice.

"F-five days... my lord," she replied trembling.

"Lord Kyoraku, I would like to take General Inuzuri to Karakura. I think would be able to heal her. General Inuzuri saved my life, and I want to return the favor." Ichigo gave Shunsui a pointed look, leaving no room for the king to argue.

"If it means saving her life, I have no right to object, Prince Kurosaki. You may take her. After all, Retsu Unohana is the best." Shunsui replied. He owed a lot to Rukia, so he wanted to give her the best possible chance of survival.

"Very well, inform this development to her family." With his final words, Ichigo moved towards exit. Grimmjow waited for the prince's command to make arrangements for their travels.

Before Ichigo got to the exit, Shuniu's voice stopped him in his tracks. "She's an orphan and has no family. Please, take care of her, Lord Kurosaki, and bring her back."

"Yes." Ichigo replied in a firm voice as he passed through the exit with Grimmjow in tow.

The two men made their way to gather supplies. The sooner they left, the sooner Rukia could be cured.

Grimmjow looked over at his prince. The blue haired general needed their leader to understand the fruitlessness of their upcoming journey. The little general wouldn't survive their trip.

"Ichigo, you know even with your speed, we can't reach Karakura. It is impossible. Why are you taking responsibility for the girl?" Grimmjow asked as Ichigo stuffed supplies in his bag. Thinking that Ichigo didn't understand the gravity of the situation, Grimmjow delivered the brutal truth. "She will not survive the journey. It's pointless."

Ichigo resisted the urge to stab his second in command.

Frustrated, Grimmjow antagonized Ichigo. "What? Now I get the silent treatment? What the hell is wrong with you? Are you out of your mind? What did that little minx do to you? Oh, I know, you -'

Ichigo growled at Grimmjow dangerously, daring him to finish the sentence. Grimmjow took a step back, pulling his teeth, snarling.

"She saved my life, Grimmjow, and I wanted to save hers. Is it wrong?" Ichigo whispered, trying to hide the desperateness in his voice, which didn't go unnoticed by his commander.

Grimmjow sighed. The blue haired man reigned his temper in. 'No, it's not wrong Ichigo, but you have to realize that you can't reach to Karakura in the allotted time. She will die. I'm asking you as your friend… your commander… to just think this through. I know you can't handle the guilt of her death, even if it wouldn't be your fault. I am just trying to save you. She may survive a little more if you let her stay here."

"I won't give up. I will save her," Ichigo said forcefully.

Any resistance Grimmjow was about to offer, stopped right in his throat as he caught Ichigo's glaze. The eyes of his prince, his highness, held no room for friendly chat or anything of that sort. No room for any alternative decision. The decision has been made, and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez knew that Ichigo Kurosaki will move heaven and earth to save Rukia Inuzuri.

XxxXXXxxx

Three days of constant travelling without proper rest was taking toll on Ichigo. Rukia was cuddled into his chest, tightly secured to withstand the speed. Her heart beat was faint, and her skin was paler than its usual healthy porcelain, causing him worry to no end.

No matter how fast they traveled, they covered only three fourth of the distance. Rukia was unconscious through the whole journey. It was only her faint heartbeat and her irrational breathing told them that she was still fighting, her body was trying to fend off whatever poison that was injected to her.

"Don't give up Rukia..." Ichigo whispered.

XxxXXXxxx

Darkness surrounded her. Pulling her into never ending abyss. Rukia stopped the struggling, finally giving into it as a feeling of lightheadedness overwhelmed her body, enveloping her completely.

Where am I?

Did I not make it alive?

Am I dead?

Several thoughts plagued her mind.

So, this is it...

Goodbye life ...

As she sank deep and deep into the darkness, a faint voice drew her attention. "Rukia, don't give up.."

XxxXXXxxx

Ichigo looked at his hands. They were bruised from holding the horse reins too much, but it was worth it as he approached the outskirts of his kingdom.

"At last!" He whispered quietly. Relief flooded his entire body as he dashed madly towards the capital of Karakura with the petite general in his arms. He smiled at her prone form relievedly, bringing her close to his chest,whispering into her ear, "Rukia, don't give up, we are here."

Streets of Agartha were lined with masses of people on either side of walk to welcome their prince. The towns people were excited at the arrival of their crown prince, but to their shock, he silently hovered over masses. This gave them the opportunity to see that their prince bruised was carrying a bundle, no a tiny human in his arms, as he madly dashed towards the palace.

The keep's gates opened upon recognizing the prince.

Wasting no time, Ichigo climbed down from his horse swiftly carrying Rukia in his arms.

A bespectacled man made his way towards the prince, frowning at his appearance. "Kurosaki, wha-"

"No time, Ishida, call for Unohana." Ichigo glanced down and saw Rukia was barely breathing. "CALL FOR HER URGENTLY." He exclaimed in mild panic.

Ignoring his prince's command, Uryuu asked, "Ichigo, who is this person?"

"I SAID CALL UNOHANA NOW! I AM ORDERING YOU AS THE CROWN PRINCE OF KARAKURA, URYUU ISHIDA!" Ichigo growled, stunning the bespectacled man.

Uryuu made no sound as he carried out Ichigo's orders.

XxxXXXxxx

"High priestess, have you investigated his future, or was it still not decided? Have you gained any visions regarding my son?" Isshin asked the head priestess, Rangiku Matsumotou, as she sat unmoving in front of her deity.

Only silence greeted the king, so he waited for her to complete her prayers impatiently.

After a few minutes, which seemed like hours to Isshin, Rangiku rose from her kneeling position. She looked at Isshin, her eyes void, meaning she was foreseeing the future. After what felt like eternity, she snapped out of her daze, her baby blue eyes meeting the King's anxious eyes.

'The sun finally met with his moon. They are the star crossed lovers,meant to be with each other,but cannot be." Sadness clouded Rangiku's eyes before she continued, "My king,his world has no meaning without her."

Isshin stood there in shock as he digested the priestess' words. His son had found his meaning… his one special person in life, but fate was playing a cruel joke on him. He hoped his son was strong enough to survive the coming storm even at the priestess' forbearing words.

"Thank you…" Isshin whispered to Rangiku as she kneeled once again to worship her deity.

XxxXXXxxx

Phew! Chapter 3 completed. To be honest, I am not completely satisfied with my work, but my beta helped me with it. I wanted to take this story somewhat slowly. So bear with me. It will take some time for ichiruki. This story is all about star-crossed lovers, with twisted fate. Hope you would like it. Please do from readers are always my motivation to continue writing.

Love,

Amethyst hazel.