Summary: They never really saw their brother anymore because of school, but when they did Yuzu would take full advantage.

Characters: Ichigo, Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin Kurosaki. Grimmjow Jagerjaquez, too many other mentions to name because WOW I'm a dork.

Theme: Four-in-one. Can you guess which four themes? I'll still do the full one hundred, however!

Mood: Romantic, cute, fluffy, stupidly cute that it'll rot your teeth.

Pairings: GrimmIchi

"Once upon a time..." The stage was set, let the story begin, and young imaginations flow.

There once lived a handsome prince in a prosperous kingdom. He was young, headstrong, and brash, but everyone loved him due to his caring nature.

He would break up squabbles in town, help take care of young children when their mothers were busy and fathers away, and even took care of his own younger sisters, the princesses of their kingdom while their father did the things a king need to do.

Their mother had passed long ago, but the Queen was always forever watching over them in spirit.

But one day, while playing with the children of their kingdom, he was captured by an evil wizard! The wizard was sentenced to banishment from the kingdom for his pratice of dark magic and wanted revenge for it.

So he kidnapped the prince, binding him with enchanted rope to prevent him from escaping and brought the young man to a tall tower. The brash prince was locked inside the only room, forever trapped with no way out other than the small window that showed his home off in the distance.

Everyday that bright haired prince struggled to find a way out, trying the door several times and failing, making a rope out of his bedsheets only to find it gone when he looked away for more than a few minutes.

He had survived in the wild before, yes, but he had also learned not to take his lavish lifestyle at home with his family for granted.

The wizard did bring news of search parties every day, how those groups, lead by the king and raven haired princess -of the next kingdom over- failed to find that hide-out due to the spells and enchanments placed around it for protection. The prince was saddened by this and once that foul man left, sat in the window and watched the world pass.

The season of the Changing Leaves came and went, to be replaced by the season of Frost. The search parties had stopped due to the weather and the Prince was slowly losing hope as he watched that line of sky leading to his home for anyone.

The Season of Flowers came as well, so did the Cropping Season and still, no one came. Two and a half years went, the prince was devoid of hope and the thought of being saved.

The Cropping Season came again, the prince sitting in the opened window when he saw him. A man, about as tall as his father came into view, looking weary and lost.

Hair as blue as the sea adorned his head and he had matching eyes of the same color. That man stole his breath away and the Prince watched as he looked up, blue eyes wide in shock and surprise at the sight of the missing prince. He looked nothing like the young child in the pictures at the palace and his hair was much longer than it use to be.

The prince was confused as to how the man could see the tower and him, quick to ask that question. "My father was a wizard for the king's court and accidentily aimed a spell at me, my eyes changing to see through enchanments. Your Highness, you need to return home. War will break loose if you don't."

Then the prince explained how he had been kidnapped and locked away in that tower for two and a half years. How the dark wizard kept him there with nothing to do other than plan failed escape attempts. With no one for company but his thoughts and the birds that flew by.

"Then on my honor, I will be the one to rescue you from the dark wizard." The knight said, blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

"Thank you, brave knight. I promise, that once I'm free, you'll be rewarded."

"I need no reward, Kind Prince other than your word that you'll be safe after you are rescued."

The prince broke character. "Trust me. I'm so sick of being locked up in here that I'd rather sing a couple show tunes with the animals right now."

"Shut the fuck up. We both know you're a shitty singer." The knight had broke character as well.

"Language!"

"Ichi-nii!" Yuzu whined, tugging on his shirt. "You're ruining the story!"

"Shit, sorry." He mumbled, Grimmjow kissing his cheek. Yuzu had asked them to read her story book to her because Isshin was away at a medical conference and the boys were baby sitting Ichigo's sisters.

The Kurosaki girls never got to see their brother anymore because of college. So Yuzu was going to take full advantage of her brother being home, even if she was in high school and too old for bedtime stories.

"Language." Karin chimed, setting aside her own book in favor of watching her brother and his boyfriend fumble their story. "Nice touch on the gender role reversal, though."

Grimmjow smirked. "My idea. Why the fuck does the princess have to be a princess and the hero a prince? Why can't the knight fall in love with a prince?"

"Because that's not how that happens in stories, Grimmjow." Ichigo chided him, Grimmjow yanking the book out of his boyfriend's hands.

"Fuck that noise. Anyway, the knight and the trapped prince agreed that he was a shitty singer but it was cute when he tried anyway, so they sat there and just talked."

By the time dark came, the young knight promised once again to try and find a way to help the wayward prince. He promised to return the next day as well, to keep the prince from being bored again.

And the months came and went, the knight struggling to find a way to break the enchantments surrounding the tower. Look, the knight wasn't a big book learning like some other people but what can you do when you gotta save someone?

"Yo, I think I got a plan." Was the first thing he said when he broke through the tree line to the tower. "I gotta go on some kinda quest though to find an enchanted blade or something."

"You sure about that plan? What if you get hurt?" The prince asked, concern filling his voice and tears coming to his eyes.

"I liked Ichi-nii's version better." Yuzu pouted, Ichigo taking the book back from Grimmjow with a smirk.

"Anyway..."

The knight and prince once again talked into the late night. The knight left the prince alone, unaware of the dark wizard's third-in-command watching.

"I could be returning home soon..." The prince whispered, staring at his reflection in the mirror. "I could see my family again..."

The hope the young man felt was so strong, that the enchantment on the ropes weakened a little. Hopefully, the knight would return with the enchanted blade soon. The prince went to bed with the knight on his mind, love having sprouted between them in the past months.

"So why's the knight gotta get the blade?" Karin asked, having crawled into Yuzu's bed to sit with them.

"It's a special blade that will break any enchantment, no matter how strong." Ichigo explained.

"But if hope's weakening the enchantment on the rope, why does the knight need the blade?"

"To battle the evil wizard, all right?! We were gettin' to that, runt!" Grimmjow snapped, Ichigo smacking him in the chest for the way he spoke.

"The rope enchantment is one thing. Hope and love breaks that down easily. The tower enchantment requires the blade to break, Karin." She only snorted at her brother's explanation but took it.

"Someone better die." She drawled, Yuzu gasping and smacking her sister in the arm.

"Karin!"

"What? You know you wanna see the evil wizard get his butt kicked!"

"All right! Settle down, rug munchers and pay attention!" Grimmjow was growing annoyed with the interruptions.

Ichigo only shook his head before returning to the page he left off on.

Back in the kingdom of Kurakara. ("Real creative there, Ichi-nii." "Karin, shush!")

Back in the kingdom of Kurakara, the knight made his way to the castle on horse back. It was a race against time now. "I need to see the King! Quickly, I have news!"

The king granted the audience. "What brings you to the kingdom of Kurakara, Panther Knight?"

The blue haired knight kneeled and spoke. "I have found the lost prince, my lord. And have found a way to save him from the Dark Wizard."

The king rose from his throne, the princesses watching as their father brought the knight to stand and hugged him tightly. "... Thank you..."

The king pulled away from the knight, wiping his tears away. "I had feared he was gone. But your words are proof enough for me to begin a new search. You may take whom ever you wish on your journey to find the blade. You have full access to Kurakara's army and armory for battle. But be cautious of the Dark Wizard for his power is great. I will have the Council of Wizards come prepare for the wizard's capture."

The knight agreed, gathering a select few of the prince's friends for his quest. The princess from the next kingdom came, as did the court's healer. An archer that the prince was friend's with and another knight that the prince knew since he was a young lad.

They were a rag-tag bunch of people, but they were warriors at heart and ready to aid the knight in his journey to rescue the prince.

The journey lasted several weeks, the group struggling against the Dark Wizard's magical constructs and deadly monsters until, finally they had reached the resting place of the magical blade.

"Be cautious. The Dark Wizard must be here, planning and waiting." The knight said, the group lingering behind him at the hidden cove.

Then, as the knight stepped into the cove, a sigil on the ground flared up under his feet. His eyes went wide and he looked to the prince's friends, who all raced to help him.

But it was too late. The knight was knocked off his feet and into the water. It seeped into his armor and under clothing, dragging him down into the depths. He could hear the prince's friends screaming above, trying to break through a layer of ice that formed over the water. They wouldn't be able to.

The ice had been enchanted to continually grow as it was hit. He saw the enchantment and accepted that he couldn't be saved. He had failed the king, the rag-tag group he scrounged together, and most of all he had failed the prince."

"NO!" Yuzu cried out, hugging Karin tight to her. "No! The knight can't fail, not now! He's so close!"

"Yuzu, relax. The heroes are gonna win." Karin was trying to soothe her sister but it wasn't working. Yuzu was already crying over the death of the knight.

"Yuzu, hey. Hey, you know the hero always wins, remember?" Ichigo said, hugging her as well and rubbing her back to ease her sobbing. He picked up the story book and returned to reading, Yuzu sniffling under his arm as she snuggled against her brother's chest.

But under the water, there was a flash of light. And something hit the knight's hand as he reached the bottom. He gripped it tightly, wondering what it could have been. He couldn't see, however due to the dark. There was another flash, bright blue this time.

The knight blinked, the blade in his hand glowing blue for that was what he held. It was beautiful. And he had found it.

In order to obtain Zangetsu, you must state your desire. A voice said. The knight realized it was in his head and that it came from the sword in his hand.

Even though he was under water, he spoke his desire anyway. "To rescue the lost prince! He deserves his freedom and the Wizard must die for the wrongs he has caused!"

The blade glowed again, this time black and red. It hummed with energy before the ice above began to crack. The prince's friends scattered, all watching as the knight shot out of the water like a fireball. And in his hands was the enchanted blade.

The knight gasped and panted on the bank of the lake, trying to regain his lost breath as the prince's friends dragged him away to prevent him from going back under.

"The blade..." He gasped, holding up an all black blade. It was much smaller than when he had first grabbed it. "We need to leave, quickly."

"You're in no state to go anywhere, I'm afraid." The Dark Wizard had appeared, his lackeys with him.

The prince's friends armed themselves with their own weapons, the healer casting a shield spell to protect them from the dark magic in the air.

The Dark Wizard chuckled, eyes scanning each of the faces before settling on the blue haired knight. "Well... It seems Kaname was right. The knight of the Hollow Sphere has come to rescue the dear prince..."

"Leave this place!" The archer shouted, nocking an arrow into the bow string. His aim was true when he fired, but the arrow vanished before their eyes.

The Princess stood tall and proud, her attack leaving the blade in a white wave that blocked them from the enemy. "We must leave, now!"

And they ran, mounting their horses quickly and riding out of the cove. The knight sat with the blade humming in his hands as the Dark Wizard and his fellows attacked from behind.

The knight raised the blade and a crescent of black and red left, damaging the Wizard and his allies. It slowed the enemy down immensely. The group managed their escape, headed for the kingdom of Kurakara.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"They've returned!" Guards surrounded the group as they entered the castle, the several weeks journey long and hard.

The healer explained the situation, the king bringing his advisor along with the group of young adults. "We leave now. There is no time to wait."

The knight hadn't told anybody, but he had been injured by one of the Wizard's attacks. He collapsed, the healer watching him as he fell over and quickly going to work on fixing him. He couldn't move his left arm, even as the healer worked her magic over the wound.

Every one stood there in silence. They couldn't help the knight that had helped them nor save the prince with him in this state. The knight forced himself to his feet, limp arm hanging at his side as he moved.

"I am the only one able to see through the enchantment and wield the blade. I must go save the prince, my king."

"My lord, you can't!" The healer cried, the king's advisor stopping her.

"My lady, please rest. We will need your aid to heal the wounded. The Panther knight will not let leave the prince alone. Not any longer." The Panther knight left on horse back, the prince's friends going anyway.

This time, there were more of them. The princess's adopted brother and captain of guard came, the allies of the Panther knight; the Queen, her advisor, and sisters of the kingdom of Hollow Sphere came along as well. Together, they would aid the prince of Kurakara and rescue him from his fate.

The Panther knight lead them to the tower, enchantments stronger now. The Wizard had fortified the building with more. "There are more."

In the tower, the prince had finally freed himself from the rope. He cut his lengthened hair with a knife he had found and went to the window.

"You returned!" He cried, studying the group that came to save him. The only one who could truly see him was the Panther knight, however.

"Indeed, we have. Stay away from the window, my prince and brace yourself." The knight raised the blade in his right hand and slashed, black and red slashes attacking the enchanted tower.

"Enough!" The dark wizard had found them. "The prince will remain here and you all shall leave this place. I will not have what is rightfully mine taken away!"

The knight snarled in anger at the Dark Wizard, blue eyes set in a glare. "You are out matched and out numbered! Leave this place and never return, Wizard!"

The Wizard didn't say anything in return, he just snapped his fingers and summoned forth monsters once again to do battle for him. An arrow pierced one, sending it to the grave.

"Knight, we shall fight his monsters! Focus on the prince and the Wizard!" The archer shouted, shooting another creature in the face.

And so a great battle raged in that enchanted wood, monsters killed and heroes injured. The Panther knight attacked the Wizard, snarling. "You have no right!"

The wizard let out a dark chuckle. "I have every right. The queen did not enjoy my work and studies on how to use the forest monsters to our advantage. She said she wanted to protect with love. I killed her for no reason other than her ownweakness."

The prince heard that, falling to his knees. He screamed and when he did, a surge of magic came from the tower. It startled every one in the woods, animals scattering and birds flying away. The tower crumbled under the pressure, the knight watching the remaining enchantments break.

With his guard down, the wizard took advantage and stabbed the knight in his back. Blue eyes went wide and the knight fell to the ground. He tried to stop the bleeding wound in his belly, but couldn't.

"No..." The healer whispered, tears coming to her eyes. She raced to the knight and began her magic. No one moved, even as rubble shifted and the prince came out. He was cloaked in magic of black, red and, blue. The orange haired youth went to the fallen knight and took the enchanted blade.

"Enough." Magic flared around him, black and blue in color now. And he disappeared. The next time anybody saw him, it was behind the wizard. The wizard's allies fell to the ground, dead.

And the wizard spun on the spot, trying to dodge the blade. He failed, metal piercing him in his heart. "Your control over the kingdoms has ended. Your experiments will be no more. Your allies are dead. You are no more. Farewell."

Removing the blade, the prince returned to normal, power dying as he fainted.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Celebrations lasted for several days after that. People were over joyed that the Dark Wizard had finally been defeated.

The prince awoke first. There, around him were his friends and family, every one happy to see him. He struggled to sit up, body still weakened from the magic. "Where...?"

His father hugged him tight, crying into orange hair. "Home. After so long... You're home, my son."

The young princesses had grown older as had their father. Every one in the court had aged while he was away and it was a drastic difference from when he had been kid-napped.

"What about the knight?" The prince needed to see the hero, needed to see the young man that had saved him from despair and loneliness.

No one spoke. Did they tell him? The prince's dark haired sister spoke. "He is still not awake."

The young healer spoke next. "The wizard attacked him with a cursed blade that not even my spell can break. I was able to heal the damage done, but unable to break the curse."

As soon as the prince heard that, he forced himself out of bed against the wishes of his family and friends. "I must see him."

And so, with the help of his family, the prince was brought to the chamber the knight was in. He collapsed heavily on the bed, brushing blue hair out of closed eyes. It seemed to have grown since he wielded the enchanted blade. "You have my thanks, brave knight. For saving the kingdoms, for saving my life. For protecting my family."

The prince leaned over and gave the knight a gentle kiss to his closed lips. He rose, trying to hide his tears from his family. He had to be strong for them, after all.

As he reached the door, the prince looked back and watched a hand raise off the bed, covering bright blue eyes. His heart stopped and he raced back over, nearly tripping over the weaved rug in the middle of the floor. The knight gave the prince a half-grin. "My prince."

The young man threw himself on the knight and held him close. "I thought we would have to lay you to rest next to Mother!"

"Not this time. It seems true love's kiss was the only thing needed to break the final curse." The archer said, adjusting his glasses to sit better.

The prince only laughed as he kissed his new love. "Thank you for saving me."

The knight chuckled. "Thank you for believing in me, my prince."

The celebrations extended another week once the knight and prince were awakened. And the king made an announcement to the citizens on the last day. "The prince has returned, alive and well! Panther Knight of the kingdom Hollow Sphere, what do you wish as a reward for rescuing the prince from the Dark Wizard?"

The knight looked to the prince, then the king. "I only ask for the prince's hand, my lord. Nothing more. Love has bloomed and sprouted like the crops we share among our kingdoms. That is the only thing I ask of you, my lord."

Ichigo looked to Grimmjow. He had taken the book back when the battle had begun, reading the story in the same way Ichigo had. "Wait, what?"

Yuzu gasped, hands covering her mouth as Karin howled in joy. "No way! Holy shit, Ichi-nii! This is brilliant!" No one chastised her for her language.

Yuzu hugged her brother, tears in her eyes. "Ichi-nii!"

Karin punched Grimmjow in the arm. "Get it out, you moron!" Grimmjow fumbled in the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a wedding band.

"So, does the prince accept the proposal? Or does he leave his knight high and dry?" Grimmjow was trying to fight down a blush as Ichigo's face turned bright red. The next time Grimmjow looked at his hand, the ring was gone and Ichigo was putting it on.

"The prince happily accepts the knight's proposal." He kissed Grimmjow, Yuzu and Karin screaming happily and bouncing on the bed. No one heard the front door open, only Isshin chuckling from the door. He entered and set a hand on his son's hair, Ichigo gaping at him. When the hell had his dad returned?!

"And the king allowed the union between the prince and knight, knowing that he too once felt the same way about the Queen. After all, happiness only comes once a life time. Why let it escape when you can enjoy it together?"

"Dad!" Yuzu nearly tackled Isshin to the floor, hugging him tightly.

"Goat Chin! What're you doing here?" Karin asked, wondering why he was there and not at the conference.

"It ended earlier than we thought. Ryūken drove me home."

"Ichi-nii's getting married!" The twins shouted, grabbing Ichigo's hand and showing him the ring. Isshin chuckled, nodding.

"I know, I know. I've been here since the end of the battle between the heroes and wizard."

Ichigo just stared at the ring, to stunned for words. He didn't think Grimmjow would propose to him while baby-sitting his sisters!

"Oi." He looked at Grimmjow then they went falling to the floor as Ichigo tackled and kissed him.

Yuzu left the bed, saying something about making hot chocolate for them to celebrate and Karin followed to help, complaining about the gross couple on their floor.

Isshin left as well, happy for his son. Masaki would have been happy, too now that Ichigo found his own happiness.

"And with the king's blessing, the knight and prince wed the following cropping season. The kingdom was overjoyed that their young lord had found true love in the most unexpected of places. The kingdoms of Kurakara and Hollow Sphere were joined with the union, stronger than ever before. And they all lived happily ever after." Grimmjow said, smirking as Ichigo helped him stand.

Grimmjow pulled his own wedding band out, putting it on. He and Ichigo left the twin's room, hand in hand to join their family at the table for hot chocolate.

A/N: So it's been a while. Umm... I didn't expect it to take a the twist it did but it did and I'm really happy with it. I can't write fairy tales for shit, so thanks for reading! Twelve pages later and here we are! Is the fic 'Sereitei Monogatari' still a thing? I probably have to check, because this was actually somewhat inspired by that. Also, Ichigo totally fucking spoils Yuzu. Cause Yuzu, yeah?