A/N: Konnichiwa minna! Laptop is still gone for repairs but I was able to borrow an iPad. The good news is that the semester is over and I will be done with my finals soon. So more writing time! Yay!

Thanks so much for all the reviews, faves and follows!

Shree - Thank you! I'm very happy to know that you like it!

To the dear Guest-san - So glad you liked it! Thank you!

In response to a question by the lovely jubulicious, which I realize might be a common query - Yes, Orihime may seem too innocent for twenty-two but she has spent the whole of her very sheltered life in the palace, under the loving care of other women and elders who probably mollycoddled her, which means that all of that was added to her natural innocence. Also, for once in an AU fic of this kind, I really wanted them to be the same age! :)

Disclaimer: Do you know the weight of a grain of sand? It's the same as the chances of me owning Bleach. *sob*

Enjoy!


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Chapter - 6

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The orange-haired Prince grunted as he hoisted himself over the edge of the balcony. He knew that this was reckless and dangerous but as usual, Aizen's pathetic intimidation tactics didn't have any effect on him. The cool night air gently caressed what little was exposed of his face as he slowly walked over to where his wife lay asleep. Now just because he'd witnessed this magnificent view before did not mean that he didn't stop to appreciate it.

Long, burnt-orange hair swirled around her, marking a striking contrast against the soft backdrop of the white bed coverings. Her legs were tangled in the sheets that twisted around her curvaceous frame and her hands were neatly folded beneath her face. Dark, sooty eyelashes fanned the slumbering princess's cheeks as she drew in quiet breaths through full, cherry-red lips. The slivers of moonlight that streaked through the curtain-framed window cast an ethereal glow on her and her creamy skin shone under it. She looked like an apsara who would wake any second to grace him with an enticing smile before she disappeared with a tinkling laugh.

Something in him inexplicably itched to touch her, making him want to gently brush his fingertips along her smooth, fair skin. Unbidden images swarmed into his mind and he began to chastise himself for his less than polite imagined happenings when her lips parted on a sigh, drawing him out of his reverie. Ichigo hastily cleared his throat in an attempt to rid his wandering mind of certain lingering thoughts before he called out to her in a hoarse whisper.

'Orihime.'

Contrary to the vivid fantasies that had unnecessarily sprung up in his mind, the apsara slept on.

'Orihime.' He tried again, a little louder this time.

He jerked back in fleeting surprise as she bolted upright out of bed. The next second, she let out a startled squeak as her foot caught in the sheets and she pitched forward towards the floor. Expecting to crash hard and painfully, she screwed her eyes shut and prepared to meet her fate.

Only instead of that, she fell onto something hard and warm. Her hands came up to balance herself against the solid surface as she blinked up. Deep brown eyes stared at her as she realized that his arms were about her waist, holding her up against him and her own palms were flat against the planes of his chest, which was barely covered by a sleeveless black cotton shirt. Her heart thudded faster as she felt the heat of his skin through her thin, ankle-length light pink cotton nightdress.

'Are you alright?' he asked in a low, gravelly tone that made her shiver and swallow to relieve her suddenly dry mouth.

'Y-yes. Thank you.'

The conversation was complete but neither of them moved. Color rushed to her cheeks as his arms reflexively tightened around her and she drew in a quiet gasp. Orihime couldn't look away from his intense gaze and so she stood, captivated.

'Oho.' A voice said.

His reaction was instantaneous. In a matter of seconds, he'd flung the startled girl back onto the bed and drawn out his sleek, black sword as he positioned himself in front of her. Two figures moved in the shadows on the other side of the room and he tensed as they walked up to stand in the light.

'I never would've guessed.' an annoyingly smug voice belonging to what he was beginning to discover was an equally annoying strawberry-blonde woman tittered, her pale blue sparkling in amusement.

Her companion didn't share her sentiments, judging by the way she had narrowed her dark eyes that matched her hair.

Behind him, the blushing princess stood up.

'Rangiku! Tatsuki! What are you doing here?'

'We came to see you!' The blonde grinned and even Tatsuki cracked a smile.

'Of course, we didn't think that you would have company.' The dark-haired warrior teased and laughed as her friend's face turned even more red.

'And now that you know she does?' Ichigo asked as he re-sheathed his sword.

Rangiku gave him what could only be a sinister smile as she said, 'You get to complete the 'meet the family' part of the marriage, Your Highness.'

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The women led him through a confusing maze of darkened, impossible-to-find passageways (which explained how they had managed to come to the princess's room undetected) to a small room somewhere up in a far, deserted tower. There was only one door, through which the small group of four had entered. The room itself was circular and had two huge windows at opposite points that were shaped according to the traditional architecture. Thin, white curtains that framed these windows billowed in the cool night air. The floor was that of a sitting room, with a plush cream-colored carpet covering it and cushions and back rests in varying light shades of gold and orange lined the walls. The two former ladies-in-waiting gestured for him to sit and he obliged, although he couldn't help but think that this was more of an interrogation than a social conversation.

'Well then, on to business.' The voluptuous strawberry-blonde announced, omitting his title as he'd allowed informality.

An orange eyebrow quirked up questioningly.

'We're going to decide if you're a suitable husband for Orihime.'

'. . . But we're already married.' he said slowly, confused by her words.

'So?' This time it was the dark-haired woman who answered, 'if you think we'd give her up just like that, you're sadly mistaken.'

His brown eyes didn't miss the way her fingers inched towards the sword at her waist.

'Duly noted.' He said dryly.

'Um, is this really necessary?' A quiet voice spoke up and they looked at the princess.

'Of course!' Rangiku said and turned to start the questioni- er, conversation, leaving no room for the embarrassed girl to say anything.

'Now the, what are your qualifications?' The blonde began and he tried to maintain a smooth expression to mask his incredulity. He wasn't overly proud of his title or anything; it was the absurdity of the question that shocked him since the it was certain that they all knew who he was.

'She means other than you being the Crown Prince.' Tatsuki clarified.

'Oh. I'm Second-in-Command of the Royal Army. I'm trained in all forms of combat and capable of executing investigations in absolute secrecy.' He recited. Not to brag, but that was an impressive list of accomplishments.

'So you're an assassin and a spy.' Rangiku sniffed disapprovingly. 'That makes me less inclined than ever to let you have our Hime.'

'What?!' The poor orange-haired man sputtered.

'We'll, think about it,' Tatsuki said, 'We want her to be safe. I don't think I can catch a wink at night knowing you could murder her in her sleep.'

'It means that I am capable of protecting her! And I would never do that!'

'We don't even know you, so you'll have to do better than that if you want us to approve.' The female warrior said.

What he really wanted to do was fling both the annoying women out the window but for the sake of his new bride, who was bright red and huddled in a corner out of embarrassment, he persevered, even as his usual scowl deepened.

'Fine.' Ichigo managed through gritted teeth, 'Is there anything else you want to know or was that it?'

'Oh, lots!' said Rangiku enthusiastically, 'We're just getting started!'

He almost groaned aloud at the amused looks on the faces of the abashed princess's friends.

It was going to be a long night.

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A/N: Phew! Finally this chapter's done! It took me way longer than it should have because of the laptop issue. Anyway, I hope you liked it! Lemme know your thoughts! Please review!