The shadows are nothing but enemies,

people who seek to find me for what I have done.

I have betrayed my family and myself...

but I will never regret my decision.

I made the decision to flee and never return because of what I have seen,

don't ask any question's,

not a word or noise may pass your lips;

I shall not let you.

Once I believe its time to speak I shall..

for now I want to see what I have been sheltered from and feel that is so against the law.

Break the rules I have been forced to swallow and follow.

Betrayal is never easy to say or think about,

but I refuse to be a caged dove in this kingdom of crumbling stone...

So, let me live the life I have always been cursed to want...

Let me live...

Silence.

Breathes and pants filled the air.

I stared at him and he at me. The blacksmith never spoke or made a noise, from the sound of his heart in my ears he is definitely afraid. But the thoughts that zoomed through his mind were interesting.

" What the hell was that?! H-How could she- no! No! She's a princess not a witch!" he was arguing with himself which is new for me. Usually people in the kingdom knew what they wanted and what was going on, there wasn't any room for argument or fear. You just listened and followed the ordered, even if it got many killed or injured.

" I am no witch" I stood from the river side and brushed the dirt on my clothing.. or his clothing.

He became frustrated and frantic as he watched me walk towards him. " What was that then?!" he yelled in fear. I raised a brow and looked towards the river to see nothing but the shards of ice running down the stream.

" That was me getting up from the river and walking over here" I answered sarcastically. I couldn't tell him about my abilities just yet, it was too soon and I didn't know if I could trust him with such a secret.

His eyes went narrow as he looked over the river " Not that! I am talking about that thing you did with the water" he growled as he leaped to his feet.

I found myself nose to nose with the blacksmith glaring into my cool eyes. Neither flinched or blinked but held our ground " Why are you so curious?" I asked with a sharp tone and wicked smirk plastering my lips.

He gawked slightly but held eye contact " I want to know if traveling with you is a death sentence for me-"

" You are afraid my father will find us?" we're in the thick woods and there wasn't a trace of us on the trail. My father doesn't have the guards or ability to find us, so we are safe but needed to keep moving forward.

" No, I am in fear of being killed by you" I stepped back and felt a laughter come from my throat. He was afraid of me? What could I possibly do to such a big man?

" You...fear me? Are you telling folk tales?" I giggled while grabbing a tree for balance. My laughing soon died down when I felt my corset get caught on the bark. " Are you kidding?" I growled as while tugging on the string.

The blacksmith watched in amusement " Perhaps I should be more afraid of your corset" he commented, I glared and went back to trying to free myself.

" Perhaps" I groaned softly as I gave up.

He smiled softly and walked over with a blade in his hand. I watched him closely as my palms sparked to life just in case. His eyes looked to my hands, a smirk covered his lips when he noticed the sparkle covering my hands. " You are already to kill me " I snapped my glaze to his eyes; they held hurt and betrayal. " I can not trust you "

" How can I trust you?" I growled " You are the only one that knows my place. I slept in the same area as you, my weakest state, I have not weapons nor protection. You are bigger than me and can over power me in seconds; if anything I should fear you " he snickered to himself and backed away from my trapped body.

Was he trying to trick me? Make a fool of my thoughts? Is backing down his sign of retreat and effort? This man is something that I never encountered before; I didn't know how to handle him but there is a part of me that doesn't want to handle anything.

He dropped his blade and raised his hands in the air. " Looks as though, we can not trust each other. So, why should I help free yourself?" the devilish grin on his face made me think he was doing this for revenge; because I wasn't telling anything about my abilities or reason for fleeing my kingdom.

I leaned back on the tree and looked to the sky "Mother... help me. Give me a sign that is blacksmith isn't anything to worry for; just show me something... anything" I thought while the clouds soared through the sky.

The blew quickly blowing my hair around, when the sound of horses galloping towards us entered my ears I panicked. " Oh no " I whispered as tears rimmed my eyes.

I didn't want to go back to the kingdom or to marry. There was things that I need to do; it's too early for me to be caught by my father and his men. Worse, what if that is Renji and Aizen, venturing out to find me so they could follow through with their plans? I'm as good as dead.

" I may not trust you, but I do not wish you dead " I gasped when Ichigo whispered in my ear. Looking next to me I saw his handsome face close to mine, his amber eyes staring into mine while he sliced the ribbon of my corset off the tree.

When I felt my corset loosen I stared at the blacksmith with dough eyes. He saved.

The horses got closer causing me to panic and grab his blade. " What are you-" I scurried towards the road. I could see the two horses heading this way, both carrying a man.

" R-Rukia " Ichigo yelled but I sliced my hand letting the blood drip down my flesh.

" Princess! We found you!" one of the knights yelled. I looked at the silver armour, my father must've sent them to find me. Knowing the king he must have sent knights every way of the kingdom, or these two went the opposite way because they misheard orders. " The king shall be glad, the wedding can continue ".

As they got closer my blood froze to my skin while I rubbed the red sticky liquid over my palm. Ichigo went to grab me from the trail, so we could run far from the sence but stopped when he noticed the white glow cover my hands.

I glanced over to him with serious eyes causing him to stop and reconsider his decision. Looking to the two knights as they got closer, I shut my eyes and thought of the winter snow and how cold it was. The chills covered my hand when a bright light shot from my skin and snow danced in the air.

Partials swirled madly towards the two men causing them to scream and try to retreat, but it was too late. The ice of death covered them and their horses, freezing them on the stop.

A hiss sung from my lips as I looked down at my palm, the wound was deep and the ice healing it stung like bee's.

Ichigo scurried towards me and grabbed my injured hand, I fought back the pain shooting through my body and followed him. He tossed me onto Sode and leaped on Zangustu. " Guide us " he demanded.

Without uttering a word I tapped Sode's sides causing her to run quickly down the trail. The rope tied to Zangustu connected to Sode causing him to follow her regardless of his mind frame. It is a smart idea, this way if we needed a fast escape we could use the horses and not worry about whether Zangustu would follow.

I looked over to the blacksmith and noticed how his orange-locks blew with the horses speed; he was truly handsome in my eyes. Even handsome enough to fit as a King someday. Perhaps, he will be a king, depending on whom he was going to wedd. Was there a woman waiting for him back in his kingdom? Does he have someone on his mind that he would wish to marry?

All the those thoughts and questions made my heart sob. I didn't understand what was getting me so upset; there wasn't anything emotional between I and the man. I don't have feelings for him, or do I? I was never allowed to like someone because I was told that the only person I'm to love, like and wed was my suitor.

That was how my father taught me.

If there was a little emotional attachment to I and a boy, he would make sure I would never see them again. But my mother would sneak the little ones in without my father knowing. She would always tell me: " Your father believes love is not need. But... no matter the man nor his status, you will love and want nothing but him" .

Koursaki Ichigo, is this the man my mother would tell me about? The one I would love no matter the cost. Someone to help me overcome my fathers stubborn thoughts of royalty, and make a better future for my kingdom.

" You shall know him when you see him... the real him for the first time " my mother's voice whispered in my ear. I gasped sharply as a tear shimmered down my cheek. Even though my mother isn't with me, she will always be in my heart and her soul crushed with mine.

The sound of the horses hooves on the rocks quickened when I heard the crackle of the ice holding the knights. " Are they..." Ichigo trailed off with her eyes looking through the woods at the large ice.

I bowed my head for the two knights, never did I wish to kill two loyal members of my kingdom. But it had to be done. " Yes " I answered when the ice shattered into dust and blew with the breeze. My heart tightened when wind blew towards us; I could see the tiny fragments of ice. " I am sorry " I whispered to the knights.

Ichigo noticed the sorrow in my eyes but didn't mention anything. He stayed silent while I sobbed for the two knights whom trained to protect me. It was a devastation to kill two men whose duties were to protect me. I felt like I killed my family with my bare hands; how can I betray innocent people like that?

" She is nothing but a scared woman trying to survive... I cannot fear her " I stopped sobbing when I heard the blacksmith's thoughts in my mind. He's not afraid of me anymore? Why? I just killed two men without touching them. Most sane men would believe I am a monster, even though I feel like I am one.

There wasn't anything said, just the sound of the horses hooves on the path. I didn't want to ruin the peace and make him fear me once again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sakura Ai~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I slowed my horse down when we were far from the scene and glanced around us to see if there was anyone around. But I knew there wasn't because my senses didn't feel anyone in the chilling air.

" There is no one around, Rukia " Ichigo climbed off his horse and patted the large animal. " No need to be paranoid" he told me with a slight mockery in his tone.

I held my breath as I climbed off Sode and heard my heels click on the rocks. " We were nearly caught back there" I noted.

He stopped touching Zangustu and locked eyes with mine. " Correction, you were nearly caught. I am not on the run " his voice is firm and direct as he spoke to me.

I leaned the horse side me because my energy drained from the attack I did earlier. " Then, why did you run with me?" I asked with a pant. My vision began to blur from exhaustion making me shake my head, trying to keep myself awake.

" I... I..." he stuttered with his eyes on the ground. " For some reason I feel compelled to come to your aid " he admitted.

" It is because... there is something in your heart tell you so" Ichigo snapped his glaze onto me and noticed that I looked weak, frail even. " Men have been like that with me for years. My father says, its my eyes and purity but I know it is not. You see, mother used to tell me stories about a man whom knew of my spark. This spark was going to build a kingdom ruled by someone that was once a royal...but-"

He rushed to my side and grabbed my falling body as exhausted got the better of me. " Woah " he muttered while holding my sleeping form. " Rukia " his voice was filled with concern.

In the last seconds of consciousness I inhaled his scent and felt a dark cloud over my eyes.

I gasped awake and shot up like an arrow, only to meet Ichigo's face pressed against mine. He looked in my eyes and noticed the horror in them " I-Ichigo" his hand gripped my cheek while he held me close to him. What happened?

" I am glad you are alright " he whispered in my hair.

My head pressed against his chest making my heart-beat gallop and blush to paint my skin. I have never been so close to a man before, not even my father when he hugged me. Ichigo is so close to me and our skin seemed to touch somehow.

" Did I worry you?" I asked wondering what had happened. The only thing that I could remember was being tired and talking to the blacksmith, then my world went black from exhaustion.

He loosened his hold on me and I sat up. We were close but not touching as much. I looked at him with large eyes and noticed the panic on his face. " You fainted and I did not understand why " he stuttered " Then, you were covered in ice and I feared something was wrong ".

My eyes looked over the blacksmith who is filled with worry. " For someone whom can be so cold at times, he seemed pretty worried for your well-being just then" I looked into his eyes and noticed the worry that swirled in his brown orbs; it seemed out-of-place since there was usually anger, annoyance and frustration.

I leaned forwards slightly causing the man to lean back with an odd look in his eyes. " Y-Y-You were worried about my well-being " my voice cracked in a stutter. He looked away from me with a blush " Blacksmith ".

Ichigo sighed heavily " Indeed, I worried for you ".

A pounding in my chest began while I stared at Ichigo, surprised and touched. " Why? " I felt my throat coat with ice from my embarrassment.

He scurried away from me when he noticed the fear in my eyes. I had never been this embarrassed before, nor have my abilities acted like this. My hands touched my neck softly while my eyes looked down at the ground cautiously. I didn't wish to frighten him any more.

" I do not know ", Ichigo spoke.

I sighed as my throat went back to normal; it didn't seem as though it was embarrassment. I think it was fear or nervousness which caused such a reaction.

My eyes stayed on the ground while my heart slowly calmed. " Oh " I replied in disappointed. Why am I down for such non-sense? But then again... no man has ever worried for me. Perhaps the new experience gave me high hopes for no reason. " You should not worry for my health ", I told him while pulling my knee's to my chest.

I laid my head on my knee's and closed my eyes, allowing the darkening feeling in my stomach to bubble through my vision. " Ever since I was a child, I would have faint-spells, where I would collapse after-" I stopped myself from saying anything more.

It's too early, you fool! a shout frighten me in my mind.

A gasp brushed from my lips while I held my head. Pain shot from my wrist making my eyes look towards the pale flesh; there I noticed the thin shimmer of ice coating them . " Not this ", I groaned before stumbling to my feet.

" Where are you going? " he quickly followed while I quickly traveled by leaning against tree's. The pain my wrist burned and slowly flowed through my body.

" Ichigo... I... need you to not follow me " I hissed as the sound of ice cracking echoed in my ears.

" What are you attempting to do? Run from me-" he tried.

" No! Do not speak of such non-sense you fool! " I yelled in annoyance. " I do not run from people, unless there is a certain threat! ", my pride is bruised for the assumption of me being a coward. I'm a Kuchiki, we don't run unless there is no other option.

" What threat made you run from your kingdom then?!" he shouted back.

" That is known of your concern " I growled before walking deep into the woods. My skin began to burn with ice as I walked quickly, trying to avoid Ichigo. As my flesh chilled I could see my breath in the air before shivering.

The sound my teeth chattering together is I could hear; when a hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around I screamed.

Ichigo covered my mouth quickly and noticed the shimmer in my skin " You are freezing " he muttered under his breath. I pressed my lips together trying to stop my teeth from chattering, but he noticed.

His eyes looked over the woods while he ran his fingers through his orange locks, trying to figure out what he is to do. " God... I don't want to do this to a princess " I heard him growl in his thoughts. From the frustration in his mind I perked up, to what he is coming to conclusion with.

" What... are you going to do with me?" I shivered.

Ichigo raised a brow when he noticed that I read his mind, but shook it off quickly. " W-What are you doing?!" I shrieked when he pulled off his shirt and began working on his pants. " Ichigo! Stop this madness! This instant! " I demanded.

A blush covered my cheeks while my eyes wandered his muscular chest. I hadn't seen these many bumps since the knights were forced to do the garden in the summer.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment when his clothing dropped to the ground and all his body became the only thing in my eyes. " T-T-This is crime in royalty. I will be hung if they gain knowledge of this-" I fumbled with my speech.

" You are bound to see a man without clothing " he interrupted quickly before placing his hands on my chest. " You are to marry, remember, Princess ".

His cheeks rushed with blush when he felt my heart-beating quickly; never have I been this nervous or flustered in my existence. I bit my bottom lips while my eyes stayed on the soil underneath my heels, I caught glimpses of his clothing on the ground and felt as though my lungs were freezing with an icy fire.

When I heard the fabric of my shirt move, I stepped back only to stumble over a log and send me rolling through the forest. " Princess!" he shouted before running down the hill after my swirling body.

Rocks scrapped my skin make blood paint my pale skin, but the crackling of my flesh covering the marks was far too loud in my ears . My eyes looked at the blurring environment around me to see that everything my body had touched pricked with ice.

In the distance I could hear the blacksmith running through the leaves; my ears could hear everything. The way his muscles rippled while he ran, his feet pressing the soil into in graving his foot-prints, the breaths his took while running and his beating heart drumming as he slid through the woods like it is all familiar and natural to him.

I screamed when my back slapped against a tree causing my spine to throb and back to scratch from the bark. My hand shook while I went to touch my back, the pain is unbearable, when I touched the burning flesh I felt tears run down my cheeks. " Mother! It hurts!" I heard screamed in my ears from the past.

When my mother was a live these random freezing accidents would happen regularly. Maid would whisper about it and try to stay away from me. Mother would as well... they isolated themselves while I screamed in pain and had my flesh crack from the cold.

This will be over soon... thoughts would repeat in my mind. Everyone thought it was just my abilities advancing themselves and getting stronger back then; they weren't wrong.

By my mother's death, the random accidents would only come one-a-while and wouldn't last any longer than a day. Back in my mother's presence they last weeks one end, but while time trickled and the moons came and passed with their usual cycle, the freezing of my body came less and less.

It's been years since I had, had an addict but I haven't used my abilities much throughout the years. Today, I used the most power I have ever used. That explains the reason I fainted earlier in Ichigo's presence.

Standing from the tree I looked over the land, I could hear Ichigo heading towards me but I couldn't have him see this. It would be too much for the blacksmith, I didn't know if I could keep everything a secret if he saw this.

When I heard the sound of water near I began to head towards the flowing liquid.

The river flowed heavily while rocked broke the surface gently. I looked over my shoulder and noticed that the blacksmith was getting closer. Get in the water.. I heard in my ear from a cold voice.

I glanced over and saw nobody, but the voice sounded familiar to the one I heard sometimes.

Listening to the voice I stepped into the water making my skin freeze faster than before. I panted in pain while I walked deeper into the water until it reached my chin.

The rocks sitting on the bottom tickled my freezing feet as the water froze with my touch.

" Rukia!" I heard in the distance.

I held my breath as the cracking of my skin and the water began to become louder. My eyes closed while taking deep breaths allowing my abilities to do as they pleased.

The water grew frigid while I stood in place. Shattering glass entered my ears as a stringing pain waved through my flesh.

My eyes burned bright as I opened them to see the land had been covered in ice. I looked over my body to see it had frozen the river completely. In the reflection of the frozen water I could see myself; eyes lilac and hair white as snow, my lips had turned blue from the cold but it isn't bothering me now.

" Say it with me, Rukia..." a sweet voice whispered in my ear.

What is this voice talking about? I have not idea of what it wanted me to say. Who is this?

" Toketsu " I whispered with the voice in my ear.

The ice shattered as the word shimmered from my lips. I felt the heavy ice on my flesh melt away and the water flowing under my toes; looking around the woods I noticed everything was back to normal.

Red stuck to my body while I slugged through the water and headed towards the woods. On the shore I could see my heels scattered on the ground and a bright head of hair whipping in a fast speed.

I froze when I saw the blacksmith leaned over in a pant. " ... Ichigo?" I questioned.

He looked up to me and noticed my wet state, when he walked over and wrapped his arms around me, ignoring the river I am standing in. I held my breath as his sweet smell entered my nose and the warmth of his body caused my flesh to prick with heat.

" You are no longer cold " I heard him whispered into the wet shirt. I wrapped my arms around his body with comfort; the poor man thought he had lost me for some odd reason.

" I am sorry for worrying you such today ", I looked into his eyes sweetly while my arms touched his bare skin. " Twice... I have made you concerned for my well-being. It is quiet a bother to your h-"

" I am just grateful you are okay " he interrupted.

Blush painted my cheeks once again while I looked into the blacksmith eyes; they are bright and adventurous, breath-taking if I may add. She is special... I heard him think while he looked deep into my violet eyes.

" How am I special?" I asked.

" I never uttered such a thing ", he released me from his hold and began to walk back into the woods. I followed like a puppy and grabbed his hand making him stop.

" You strip of your clothing for my warmth, worry for me like no one had ever worried before. Not even my father worries for me as you do, Blacksmith. Now, you think in your mind that I am special is some way. Stop holding such puzzles in your mind and tell me, please, I beg of you to speak of your puzzled mind ", his body stiffened as I spoke. There is something in my heart pleading for him to tell me what it is going through his heart.

There isn't a thought that passed through my skull from the tradesman. I gripped his tighter, letting my finger feel all his callous'. " If you can not tell me your secrets, Rukia. I am not to tell you mine ".

I stopped, he kept walking away with his head high and shoulders brode. Never had someone chested up to me and made me feel equal... no one. For the new experience I held my chest loosen and everything seemed much thicker in the air, almost like my ego was trying to make me complused to react. Rejection... or equal ground.

The blacksmith stopped when he noticed my daze on his back, but my thoughts weren't with him nor his perfection. " You have never felt equality before ", he stated simply.

How'd he know I was thinking about that? Could he possible be someone like...me?

Shaking off the questions rambling in my mind I began to walk towards the man. When I could clearly see all his features I stopped and took in the sight of the fine sweat glittering on his chest, making his muscles more define.

My heart skipped a beat at the sight. Then I noticed the scar on his left breast, it looked deep and once life threading. I placed my hand on his arm making him tense. " Does my touch make you nervous?" I looked up from his flesh to meet his eyes. His cheeks coated with a fine blush while I dragged him into a deep search of my violet orbs.

Ichigo tore his eyes from mine and looked away to a far distant tree, that held no interest. " For someone whom does not give his emotions freely, you seem to be an open book when around me-... or is that for every woman in your life, Ichigo?" my fingers slid up his arm gently moving the hair growing in peace.

Thinking about all the muscle underneath my fingers my touch started to chill and hands began to shimmer; it didn't seem to affect him. " You are losing your composure " he told me as my hand ran down his chest and to the scar.

I leaned forward to examine the tissue and thick white flesh that stood out from the rest. " I have been locked under knights for all my years; now I am with a man whom I do not know nor he knows me. Perhaps the danger in the situation melts my composure a royal is taught to have, or... there was never any composure to begin with ", my tone is as delicate as a flower while I traced the scar gently.

" I have heard rumors that you, the princess of Kuchiki kingdom, is quiet rebellious ", the rumors he heard weren't lies nor tales. I'm a rebel, always have been. My mother used to tell me that I have her heart and spirit, but I have my fathers cold judgment at times. A mixture of two full-breed blood-line. Both came together with two people and made a mysterious heir whom is rebellious. Perhaps that was the plan all along from my mother's family. They were always mysterious when around my father's side, but with me they were more than wonderful dreams that I fond over. Kuchiki's and kingdom's, they used to laugh while they watched the noble scramble.

" When someone is placed in a place they were never meant to be, they begin to panic and run like chicken's Rukia. Sometimes, those people just need someone to guide them until they are ready for their faith... that is what I am to do with you, my daughter" my hand slipped from his chest as I heard my mother's voice.

She used to tell me these things when I was little; never did I understand nor think into her rambling. But now that I am older and in this position I understand. I was born to be the ruler of the kingdom, but there is something they wanted me to do. What may it be?

" A boy... someone you used to play with all the time. Love... you shall feel it in a single touch " my feet dragged me up the hill while Ichigo stared at my back.

I never really remembered playing with anyone when I was young. All those memories were scrambled and faded like sand. The only person I really remember is Renji, I used to play with him but when I touched him all I felt was pain and sorrow.

" Oh mother... what did you mean? " I whispered while a gust of wind blew my wet locks.

Petals danced around my face while I stared up to the sky. I had been told that when someone passes on they become a cloud; with that cloud they tell their story and everyday that passes on their loved ones and stare at their cloud and remember everything about them .

When my mother died, I used to watch the cloud for hours... but never did I see her story.

Tokestu: Frozen

凍結された時間 means Frozen Time