Warnings: oh this and that nothing much happening here….yet.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Bleach.
It's mid dawn the sky just now being painted with the blue hues of light when the sound of hooved feet echoes through the first gate that lead into the capital, the Crown Prince Kaien and his little brother Prince Shiro rode through followed by their honor guards and escorts. With the exception of the escorts the rest of the group were all banged and bruised from an earlier ambush. The Princes finery was covered in dust, spots of blood, and tears from close calls by their enemies' swords.
Kaien's group had suffer heavy losses and he had to fill his ranks with volunteer Vizards. Right now his second in command was Shinji, a flamboyant man with short blond hair cut in a bob and a piano tooth smile that seem more mocking then anything. The blond had made his mission to keep an eye on Kaien after the loss of his brother, and Kaien couldn't blame the man for that action. Two weeks after his brother was buried Kaien had got drunk and destroyed his room before impaling a wooden pillar with his trident in one of the ball rooms. Castle staff had stayed far away from the royal, more out of shock then fear, until Shinji had come in drag the drunk out to one of the training arena's and had beaten the living daylights out of him. After that it was another two days till Kaien had went to find the blond and make him an offer to be his second. Quietly chuckling at the memory and drawing a questionable look from the blond had Kaien snickering more, waving the other off Kaien looked over at his younger brother.
Prince Shiro was almost an exact look alike of Kaien but the fact that he was shorter and younger plus he was completely white were all moot points since he really didn't care. His Espada's hadn't suffer the heavy losses as Kaien's did but Shiro only had two Espada's left a fact that he hated because it meant that he would have to do more recruiting, and this time he couldn't pawn it off on Grimmjow like last time. His long white hair was shorten by a bandits sword so what was once two tails trailing down his back was now shoulder length locks left loose to fall over his shoulders and back. The now twenty year old was still his sarcastic self but much of his personality had been muted since his twin had died. Mugetsu was his calmer half that would pull him back from going overboard with anything and everything. Losing him had caused the younger Prince to almost lose himself, if not for Grimmjow taking the brunt of his anger Shiro might have been lost for good. That's not to say that Grimmjow could ever take the place of Mugetsu but he came a close second that Shiro depended heavily on him when it came to watching his back during patrols.
"Ah it's good to be home, no bugs, lovely ladies, no bandits wanting to take pieces of our hides, and the best thing great food." Kaien waved towards the large town the circled the castle careful not to jostle his injured arm.
"Ha, that's rich you seem to enjoyed the food at that inn brother and I might point out since when have lovely ladies caught your attention." Shiro teasingly shot back.
"Hmm, I love both genders and it doesn't hurt to be polite when eating another's cooking little brother." Kaien said smiling over his shoulder at his brother.
Shiro gives his own smirk back, he had missed his elder brother's smile. It has been too long since he seen a real one upon his brother's face. "Yeah well it ain't like I said anything about how bad that cooks pie was unlike somebody we know." Looking pointedly at the blue haired man beside Shiro.
"What? It tasted horrible." Grimmjow said not really caring about the subject.
"You're lucky that we were with the Princes, if not, we most likely would've ended up on our asses out in the streets." Shinji shouted from the far back of the column. "But I'll say that at least their booze was top notch." This earning several laughs from the surrounding men plus one woman.
Their laughter is stop when the closer they got to the castle the more they saw of guardsmen standing at attention at certain points throughout the city. The ranks formed around the two Princes, Grimmjow and Shinji taking point while Neliel and another Vizard had taken the rear. Kaien had his trident shorten for close quarter combat while Shiro had his hand on his white slim blade. They really don't expect trouble but one can never be too careful.
"Ya think everything's ok?" Shiro ask tensely barely keeping his voice above a whisper.
"Yeah, mostly its dad acting on what happen to us and is making sure it doesn't happen close to the city gates." Kaien reassure his brother.
The younger Prince nodded turning his full attention to his surroundings as his unstraps his sword and keeps his head on a swivel. They'll stay in this formation until they are in the castle courtyard.
oOooOooOo
Ichigo woke up to the sound of mummers and the usual clang of metal pans hitting each other, the first thoughts he thinks were of his family thinking that he was hearing Yuzu, but it's not the kitchen pots and pans he's hearing nor does he hear his other sister or his father. Considering that he wasn't woken up by the man's usual morning wakeup call had Ichigo tensing, thinking that he had been taken captive. It wasn't till Zangetsu softly reminds him that he was the only survivor that Ichigo half relaxes his body but at the reminder of how he ended up here had the teen depress.
Slowly pushing himself up into a sitting position and taking a few deep breaths through his nose, he scoots back against the headboard wondering how he could get someone's attention. He was getting hungry and really needed to use the bathroom.
"Um excuse me." He calls out low enough not to disturb any other patients near him, but hopefully loud enough for someone to hear. When no one answer he tries again but louder. "Hello?"
"Ah! Good morning." A voice to his right rang out, "It's good that your awake, my names Jason and I'll be helping you while you're here." His voice was loud that it sent Ichigo's ears ringing.
"Okay?" Ichigo says wary of the new cheerful person.
"So, you need anything? Food, clothes, bathroom, or do you want to go outside?" the healer ask never missing a beat as he started to help the young man out of bed.
"Bathroom then food." Ichigo answer before one option caught his attention, "I can go outside?"
"Yes, in fact, the King and Queen wanted to know when you awaken. So when you're done with everything else I'll be escorting you to have breakfast with them in the dining room." Jason said with too much cheerfulness so early in the morning.
"Uh great, um can I go to the bathroom now?"
"Sure just let me get the chair for you. This is just to help you till you are steadier on your feet."
Not really wanting the chair but accepting it as a necessary evil as he is lifted by his armpits then wheeled out of the noisy room. The sounds had started to give him a headache. After Ichigo went to the bathroom he washed his face leaving the cold cloth on his head a bit longer trying to keep the headache at bay. It's a few minutes later that the pain relents and Ichigo knocks on the door singling that he was done.
"Alright, now grab my shoulder and then I'll lead you to the dining hall."
Grabbing onto the man's shoulder Ichigo can sort of tell how built this guy is. 'It kind of reminds me of Ganjou, but considering that he's helping out with patients he has to have some muscle.' With slow steps Ichigo was able to keep up with the other and he only stumbled a few times when his foot caught something. It seemed to take forever but it was only a few minutes till Ichigo finds himself being pushed gently in a plush chair and the smell of eggs and bacon greet his nose. He can hear the plates, silverware, and what he guess his glass being put near him. He can also feel someone behind him but he figures it was just in case he knocks something over.
"Good Morning Ichigo. Did you sleep well?" a soft voice that he recognizes as the Queen asked
"Ah yes, your highness." He nervously answers
"Oh dear you don't have to put on airs here, you can call me Masaki if you wish." Her voice a twinkling chime in amusement.
"Okay." Well he was never one to go by titles.
"Good morning my lovely wife your beauty outsides the sun and puts the flowers to shame." The Kings voice rings out, not as loud as his own fathers but not low either.
"Oh stop you." Masaki chuckles swatting Isshin with her napkin.
"And you young Ichigo, has your night and morning been well?" Isshin ask looking at the bandage head belonging to Ichigo turn towards him.
"Yes sir." The teen unsurely answers.
"No need to be so formal my boy." Isshin says putting his hand on Ichigos head ruffling with enough force to move the teens head. "You can call me whatever you wish."
"Ah right." Ichigo said before moving his hand slowly around to find his silverware so he could start eating. His fork was placed in his hand as another hand guided his other to his glass, a quick sip tell him it was some sort of tart juice that tasted like a cross between orange and apple. Letting him get a good judge of how far it was to the edge and to his plate. With convenience he started to dig in going slowly first so as not to drop his food.
Having lost his sight Ichigo ears have become sharper that he was able to pick up the few conversations going on in the room. It was the one between the King and Queen that piques his interest, he was so engross that he missed that his name was being called.
"Sorry what?" he sheepishly ask. He can feel himself blushing at being caught not listening.
"It's alright dear, I was wondering if you would like to join me after breakfast in the garden?" Masaki smiled clearly still amused.
"That sound good actually. But is it alright for me to be-
"It will be fine, we'll even get you dress in some warmer clothes. Those you have on now aren't made for the cool weather."
"Okay then" Ichigo felt relieve that he wouldn't be in these thin pieces of cloth. The same hand that guided him earlier has tap his shoulder before moving his hand back as whooshes of air pass by him, the click and clang of dishes being moved let him know that breakfast is done. A few minutes later a slender hand that belongs to the Queen gently takes his helping up then leading him out of the room. He can hear her skirts whish and the echoing laughter of the King as he calls out.
"I'll be by later with the boys my dear." Isshin joyfully shouts out curious by Ichigo's slight ducking at the volume.
"Please do, I want to introduce Ichigo to Kaien and Shiro but also Kisuke and Aizen." Masaki says back
Ichigo twitches at the first two names but unconsciously flinches at the last name and it didn't go unnoticed by either of the royals nor the unseen blond who had been silently watching the orangette. When Masaki gently lead the other out of the room did Kisuke walked out of the shadows followed a second later by Aizen. Both give questioning looks at the King before Kisuke sighs.
"Well I guess it's a good thing I translated that book or your first meeting with the boy might have ended in a bloodbath." The blond smiles at his colleague who gives the man an eye roll.
oOooOooOo
Kisuke loved to tease his colleague, Aizen was a challenge even when he was a child to rile up and get any emotion out of. So when the kid, Ichigo, had reacted like someone slapped him with a hot iron when Aizen's name was mention Kisuke had wisely held the other back until the orange headed teen left the room. The teen's action did make Kisuke curious though.
"I'm guessing that that book has provided some insight to Ichigo's past Kisuke?" Isshin ask waving a water bearer over to refill his cup. "His actions to Kaien's and Shiro's names were hardly noticeable but when Masaki mention Aizen's, well it was unexpected."
Kisuke couldn't agree more, while Aizen was a good man his personality left much to be desired. The air around gave off a better then your vibe and for those that didn't know him would automatically assume that he was snobbish. However Aizen wasn't either of those to a certain degree, true he could be smug and drive a person up the wall but otherwise he was cool calm and collected in almost in any situation. He also had one of those appearances that if his hair was slick back without his glasses he could pass for a villain.
"Well now surprising really, remember I said that Aizen was a very bad boy in that universe so of course when Ichigo heard his name the first thing he does is flinch though I did expect him to try to kill you." The last part being directed at the brunette standing next to Kisuke.
Said man just sighs, "What does that book say Urahara?"
"Oh my going for that family name, did I hit a nerve hmmm?" the blond sings out waving his annoying fan. Then getting serious and taking a seat across from the King while Aizen took one next to him.
"Now from what I gather this is a recording from Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigos biological father, and he goes on about soul reapers, hallows, his son's involvement in the supernatural world, a past war, then a current war that was the cause of sending his son here. What I can see is that Ichigo was indeed a fighter not a soldier but a fighter that help out and this world also had a Sereitiei." This causes the other men to stiffen, "But according to this Isshin they had change when Ichigo broke into the place to rescue a friend and uncovering a few traitor while he was at it, hehheh apparently I had a hand in training him for that. The first time he met Bad Aizen he was nearly cut in two, not a great first impression, then during this war Ichigo help defeat Bad Aizen but went thru hell afterward." Seeing the questioning looks Kisuke smile grimly. "In order to defeat the other he had to use a very powerful technique it resulted in him losing his powers and he spent the next seventeen months feeling helpless. But with a happy ending in getting his powers back from the very same captains who we love to hate. Well not the same since we know that the captains here would never help anyone who wasn't a shinigami."
The information had the room in silence, the three men in deep thought.
"Do you think Ichigo will try to contact this Sereitiei?" Aizen ask, earning him a scowl from Isshin. But the Kings knows it's a valid question.
"Maybe but maybe not, once he sees for himself what this worlds shinigami are like he may stay clear, but he is a protector so who knows. He is an unknown variable." Kisuke answers honestly.
"What about his reaction to Kaien and Shiro?" Isshin asked
"Well the book only mention Kaien in passing and no mention of a Shiro."
"What does it say about Kaien?"
Another sigh comes from Kisuke. "It only says Kaien was a relative of Isshin who died sometime before that Isshin met his own wife." Internally wincing at the look on his Kings face.
"So that means that Ichigo only heard of Kaien by mouth but there is nothing about Shiro, so Ichigo has to have known him some other way." Aizen concluded.
"A thing to ask at a later time though." Isshin added
The mood is broken by the rush of steps as a courier runs up to the King whispering in his ear before being dismiss. Smiling Isshin gets up waving over one of the kitchen staff.
"Have a meal ready for the boys. They might be hungry."
"Yes sire." The servant bow before leaving.
"I take it the Princes are back?" Kisuke knowingly ask
"Yes and it might be best to have them bypass Ichigo for now, no need to barrow trouble." Isshin says his tone a mix of joy and serious. "But it might help that someone informs Masaki." Adding the last to Aizen who nods.
"Well then let's go greet the always in trouble boys." Kisuke teases.
oOooOooOo
Ichigo was enjoying the sunshine on his face, he wish he could enjoy it more if not for the pounding headache. It was more center behind his eyes then his head that Ichigo would love nothing more than to sleep. But having to go through all that pain earlier just getting new clothes has Ichigo staying.
'Who knew picking something to wear was a lot of trouble.' He thought, at least he got to keep his jeans that somehow survive his crash landing. From what the Queen had told him, his top was a tunic dyed in deep indigo that set off his hair beautifully, he can tell that the sleeves stops at his elbows and the neckline was more of a low V-neck. Not that he never paid that much attention to his clothes when he could see, Ichigo just went with what was comfortable.
Placing his head in his hand Ichigo let a quiet groan escape his lips. His head was getting worse and his zanpakuto wasn't helping, in fact their voices were getting hard to hear. If Ichigo wasn't being distracted he would be more concern.
"Are you alright Ichigo?" Masaki question, unlike her attendants she could see that the orangette was in pain.
"Just a headache nothing to worry about." Ichigo assured her before straightening back up. He had taken a seat on the ground adjacent to Masaki who was sitting in a plush velvet chair.
"If you are sure then." She said worryingly not liking one bit at the boys pale skin. Quietly waving over one of her attendants she had the woman go fetch a healer to look at the teen. As the woman left Aizen quietly walked up to the Queen bending down to whisper into her ear. She says a quiet thank you before the man left.
"Ichigo." She calls the teen, "My sons are back from their patrols would you mind if they come a join us later?"
Ichigo was confused, why was she asking his permission wasn't it her castle? Masaki must have read his thoughts because she giggle at his confuse face.
"I only ask because it wasn't sure if you felt up to meeting new people yet." She clarified
Making a oh face the teen shakes his head indicating that he would be find if she wanted to see her sons. The pain behind his eyes intensifies, but not wanting to have other people worry about him, Ichigo simply lies down on the soft grass listening to the people around him. He gets lost listening to sounds that he misses hearing the Queen leave or Jason, his attendant, come up and leave a tray of food near him. It's a few minutes that Ichigo feels a shadow cover him.
"Your food will get cold if you leave it alone for too long." Masaki smiles, her tone motherly.
Ichigo hadn't notice that he was hungry until his stomach gave a loud growl. Blushing at the noise, he gets up swaying a bit then heading over to the small table and chairs laden with little sandwiches and cups of tea, if his nose is correct.
"Please eat as much as you like." Masaki says.
Moving his hands slowly, getting an idea where everything is, Ichigo grabs the nearest sandwich. It's small and when he bit into it, it tasted like a cross between cucumber and cherry, an odd combination but not a bad taste. He is so engross in eating that when a servant rushes up behind him, he tenses which causes him to choke on his food. Coughing and hacking until Jason whacks him on the back, dislodging his food. Ichigo can practically feel the worry and concern radiate off of the Queen. Giving her what he hopes his is best smile, Ichigo manages a shaky reply.
"Sorry, just got startle a bit, I'm fine now." Giving one last cough, Ichigo leans back in his chair. The sun feels good on his skin as the cool air nips any expose skin.
The food and tea has his head feeling a little bit better, reducing his pounding sleep inducing ache to a dull roar that pulses every now and then. Heaving a long sigh, Ichigo feels his new shadow come up next to him, making as much noise as possible but still being quiet enough not disrupt anyone else.
"Her Majesty wishes to move to another garden so she may receive her sons." Not giving the orangette time to respond, Ichigo is pick up and lead away from where he was eating. Before going far, a slender hand takes his other arm.
"Jason, let me take Ichigo for now, it seems that you are needed back with the others." Feeling another hand on his back to help guide him, Ichigo allows himself to be steered out of the healers grasp.
"Of course, your Highness." Came Jason clip reply.
The two walk in silence as the attendants rush pass them. Ichigo lets his mind drift to wondering if the Queen looks anything like his mother and he begins to feel his chest tighten at another reminder of what he lost. However, when loud yells from his zanpakuto, telling him to quit making it rain, Ichigo tries to think of other things less depressing.
"So Ichigo, tell me about yourself now that we are alone." Masaki says as she leads him to a low bench near her favorite water fountain.
Ichigo's body tenses more, since he never relax from earlier, and he goes quiet for a bit. "…I had two little sisters, Yuzu and Karin, and a crazy father who ran his own clinic." The tension being to slip from Ichigo's frame.
"What of your mother?"
"She passed away years ago." More tension slips, causing his shoulders to slump.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, I too lost someone dear to me."
With that admission Ichigo lets go, "I failed." He yells, "I'm the big brother I was supposed to protect them and I couldn't. It was my fault that they died, when mom died I tried to keep them safe and I couldn't even do that." He stops, panting out harsh breaths. "I couldn't save them." He whispers.
Masaki saw the white knuckle grip the boy had on his pants, she saw the sadness the helplessness she saw this and many other things when Ichigo made this painful confession. But she knew more about the fallout of this as well, her sons had done the same thing so many years ago. Not hesitating, she grabs Ichigo causing him to yelp in surprise, and lock him tight in her arms.
"I may not be your mother, but I know that she would never blame you as I am sure your family doesn't blame you, so when are you going to stop blaming yourself for things that are out of your control?" she felt his body stiffen before it relaxes, taking most of his weight against her Masaki imparts her own brand of motherly wisdom, "War is never something that can be control no matter what leaders say, there will always be something going not according to plan. The only thing the survivors can do is morn the dead and move forward letting time heal wounds left I nits wake. And those wounds will scar and never be forgotten, just like you will never forget the love your family had for Ichigo. Though their passing has left scars on your heart, you know that they are still a source of strength. So morn them Ichigo then say your farewells and move on. They will be happy and you will be happy."
Ichigo listens quietly, the words sinking deeply into his mind. He knows that if Karin or Yuzu knew he was like this for long, they would be disappointed, well Yuzu would Karin would throw her soccer ball at him. Goat face, he wasn't sure on him but Ichigo won't let his sacrifice go to waste. In the back of his mind he could hear Zangetsu mummers of agreement as the rain stops to a slight drizzle.
"Ichigo, move forward do not hesitate."
"If ya don't I'll kick your ass."
Smiling now as a weight is lifted from his shoulders Ichigo gives the Queen his best smile before a rough, wary, and angry voice snaps both from the quiet.
"Who the hell are you?!"
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Chapter End