(^.^ Oh yeah! I'm on an update streak this week! But not for much longer. )

Chapter 10: The Prince

Yuki peered at her dressed up figure in the mirror. The way she was all dolled up she looked nothing like her original self. The dress was made grudgingly by the women of Karakura village. She sighed, looking at her face heavily caked in makeup. Today was the day that she would wed Sosuke Aizen. The mere thought of it made her feel sick. She wanted to cry, but then the makeup that he so persistently insisted she wear would run and smear. Then she would have to reapply it.

Miserably she walked over to the open window in her room and kneeled against the sill. The gentle late spring breeze eased in and caressed her face. She was thinking a great deal about the hollow again. She was never going to be able to see him again. That also made her want to cry. She loved him so much, even if he was a monster. She would have been so much happier if she could marry him instead of jerkface Aizen.

"Yuki, are you ready?" Iyo asked coming in. he seemed sad for her as well.

She peered back at him solemnly, only nodding. She had already explained to him why she had come back to the village to marry Aizen. He fully understood why she wasn't running away anymore. A dear friend of hers' life was at stake if she didn't. Sighing, he held his arm out to her.

"We better head out then," he muttered.

She nodded once more and joined his side. He was going to walk her down the aisle.

As they walked the music played and everyone stared. Even the women couldn't help but to gawk at her beauty now. She hated this, but it had to be done. She parted with her brother and took her place next to the overly happy man.

As the priest began to speak, she shut her eyes. She couldn't stand to look at anyone or anything. She was in utter despair. She wished she could just man up and accept her fate. She was marrying a jerk she hated, but for a good cause. Still, she found she could not open her eyes. Just a small part of her wished she could get out of this mess she thrust herself into. If only there was a way out.

The priest was on his way to the vows when there was a sudden interruption. A somewhat familiar voice bellowed through the darkness Yuki was trying to envelope herself in.

"Wait!" he called in a noble way. He sounded so far away.

She opened her eyes and peered out in the distance. Out of the woods, a man on a gleaming white stallion rode toward them. He had short orange hair and incredibly noble clothes. Once he reached the crowd he leapt off his horse, face serious. He peered longingly at the bride and groom not far from where he stood.

In a fit of rage, Aizen pushed Yuki behind him and growled at the dignified intruder. "Who the hell are you?!"

The man frowned but answered his question, "I am Prince Ichigo Kurosaki."

The crowd began to buzz. The Kurosaki family had gone missing many years ago. There had been no trace of them or the castle for a long time now. It was hard to believe that there was any member of the family still alive.

"Why have you come here?" Aizen hissed.

"I'm here for her," the prince said, acknowledging Yuki.

"Why? You don't even know her!" he announced, pissed.

Ichigo went silent when he said that. He looked rather depressed now.

Yuki watched the man of nobility standing not very far away from her. There was something so familiar about him. It was like she knew him. She began to step out toward him, but of course Aizen stopped her.

"Don't you even think about it!" he spat.

She looked at him disheartened. She was just curious. Why couldn't she go see the stranger? Aizen didn't hold on long though. It seemed that someone pulled him away from her. It was another man she didn't recognize. He was dressed nicely; not like a noble; with a sword tied around his waist. He had cyan blue hair and eyes.

"Hey!" Prince Ichigo hollered at the new intruder. "I told you not to come! I said I can come get her myself!"

"Master, I don't think you could have. Not with this jackass here," the blue haired man called. Instantly Yuki recognized his voice.

"Grimmjow?! H…how did you become human?" She gawked.

"I aint got nothing to say," he announced, backing off a bit. "Go ask him." He referred to the prince standing there now looking dejected.

By now she had a good feeling on who that orange haired prince was. She slowly strode to him. She stopped about a foot away, merely looking into his eyes. Cautiously, she raised her hand to lightly touch his face. She could tell it was him. It had to be. She was trying to keep the tears from flowing again.

"You're him…aren't you," she said softly. "The hollow."

Prince Ichigo smiled radiantly before joyously wrapping his arms around her. He tenderly kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you so much for believing in me. You broke my curse," he said lovingly.

"I did?" she asked, cluelessly. She glanced up at him the best she could. Their embrace was causing more of a buzz throughout the crowd. Both the men and women were absolutely jealous.

"You're the only one who could have," he smiled, not caring about the angry villagers.

She laughed a little in disbelief. She managed to break the hollow's curse after all. She was so pleased that he was okay now.

"Yuki," he said seriously, looking her straight in the eye. "I know you have a prior engagement," he peeked back at Aizen for a brief moment. "But would you like to come back with me to the castle. We could um…get married?"

She giggled a little bit. Out of all the suitors she'd ever had that was the funniest proposal to her. Of course it was also her favorite. She actually loved this man.

"Of course I'll marry you," she said.

"Even though you know what I'm like?" he asked, still utterly serious.

"Of course," she said sympathetically. "I love you."

Prince Ichigo smiled at her answer. He was satisfied. Quickly he scooped her up in his arms and carried her over to his beautiful white horse. They mounted it and as he began to leave he cued Grimmjow to let Aizen go.

They rode back to the castle, which had changed significantly while she was gone. It was now gorgeously white and everything was new and fresh. All the workers of the fortress were waiting for her arrival. As they rode by some of them talked to her.

"I can't wait to make your wedding dinner!" a woman with orange brown hair called to them in Orihime's voice.

A man with glasses and black hair said in Uryu's voice, "I should have your wedding dress finished by tomorrow. It will be so much better than that gaudy thing."

She was so glad to see that everyone was okay and not plushys.

They stopped at the marble steps where two girls were waiting for them. One had black hair and appeared to have a lot of spunk while the other had short brown hair and appeared very gentle.

"Thank you for freeing everyone from the curse," the brown haired twin said. She nudged her sister to tell them the same.

"Oh yeah, thanks," the second girl mumbled, apparently not good with those certain things.

She nodded. Now grateful to them instead of her. She was so happy for everyone. ~

Yuki could hardly believe she was marrying a prince. They were already up at the alter and saying their "I do's". The staff had been so kind as to even bring her brother. This was the best day of her life.

Ichigo kissed her passionately on the lips. It was their first kiss to the rest of their lives together and she couldn't be happier. And to think if she had never stayed with him all that time despite what a cruel monster he used to be she would have never fallen in love. Her life would have remained dull and she would have never married. Now she could spend the rest of her life with her beloved hollow. A happily ever after.

The End

(Thank you all so much for reading. I hope you liked reading it as much as I liked writing it. And thank you so so much for reading all the way through to the end. *Hugs* Ah! It feels good to be finished though. ^.^ Bye! I hope you liked it!)