Hey I was able to whip this chapter out fast. Which means I can get to my other story early. Great right.
Warnings: this and that human sacrifice. Greedy village leaders and such.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.
In his short life Ichigo had face many opponents that were frightening. But only two people that he has met weren't evil villains. One was the fourth squad captain, Retsu Unohana, the woman scared the orangette when he ended up in her care. The other was standing in front of him now hands on her hips with a disapproving smile. Ichigo could remember his mother quite well but it was mostly smiles and sunshine. He certainly doesn't remember her looking at him like this.
"Mind telling me what you were doing young man," the Queen asks so sweetly. A dark arura surrounding her.
Ichigo shutter and was trying to find a way to hid into the sheets on his bed forgetting that he was very dirty and most likely was getting his bed dirty in the process. But he was having no success as the Queens eyes watched his every move.
"Uh, well" he says finally like a child caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
"Because it looks like you were out of bed without mine nor Johns say so and it looked like you were trying to train without someone nearby," she continued plucking out stray leaves and twigs. "Is that correct?"
Ichigo swearing that he was seeing a demon floating behind her hung his head in defeat. He just couldn't stand up to the woman. Seeing that she had made a point Masaki ran her fingers through the orange hair dislodging the rest of the debris he had collected.
"Now I know that after all that excitement that your bored and yes you are better off than Shiro and Grimmjow but until I say otherwise you are to stay put," scolded Masaki. "This is your punishment."
She places a kiss to his orange spikes then leaves with a hum. Ichigo stared slack jaw at her retreating back. She had just grounded him as if he was one of her sons. It was one of the things that he has been trying to avoid and he was failing. Groaning he picks himself up wondering over to one of the rooms huge floor to ceiling windows and stares out into the glaring snow.
"Great now what," he asks himself getting no reply from his swords. Sighing he resigns himself to his fate. He hated being stuck indoors for too long. He wanted to train.
"Man I don't think that mom ever grounded someone, on yeah now I remember Shiro's was always getting his ass spanked for doing crazy shit." Kaien's cheerful voice breaks Ichigo out of his moping. "Yo Ichigo how's life on the inside."
Ignoring the admitted joke, the orangette scowled at the First Prince.
"Aw don't be like that I come baring gifts and possibly a chance to break ya out of here."
Ichigo perked up before getting suspicious. "What's the catch," He asks.
"Aw come one bro I wouldn't do that," the raven pouted. Ichigo didn't buy it for a second.
"Yeah right," Ichigo said. "As if you can overrule your mother just like that without getting her to scared you into submission."
"She not that bad" though Kaien never had to face his mother's wrath like the others of his family had, he knew not to get caught. "Besides, it's not fair that you spend nearly a month with Shiro and I hadn't got the first chance too."
'is that what this is about? What's with this family?' Ichigo thought. Out loud, "It wasn't like that was plan you know and it wasn't all that great."
"So." Kaien said not really caring about the difference. "I still want you to come with.
"I guess if it means that I can get out of here." Ichigo said a bit reluctantly. "What were you planning?"
"I was thinking that you come with me on an investigation into one of southern villages." Kaien said as if he didn't just implied that he be taking Ichigo into something akin to the orangette's last adventure.
"Huh?"
"well ya see normally I have either Kisuke or Aizen, possibly Shiro if I was desperate, go with me but this time I want someone different." Kaien said matter of factly. "And it's nothing big just routine stuff. Plus, it'll let the populace see you and you get use to them."
"You do know that your mother will never agree to it, right?"
With that sentence Ichigo felt that he had verbally signed himself up for more trouble or at least in his opinion it was going to be trouble.
"Let me deal with that," Kaien said with a smile. "I have my ways."
Ichigo warily watch the First Prince skip out of his room. The sight freaked him out and he wonder if it was too late to reconsider.
"Get some rest baby bro you're going to need it for we leave at the end of the week." The raven yelled from the door.
"really?"
"Yep," then the raven was out the door.
However, one word got Ichigo's attention.
"Kaien!" he shouted but it was too late. "I'm not your brother." He whispers.
It seemed that everyone but him saw him part of the family but Ichigo was trying his hardest not to be. He had a foreboding feeling that he was losing that battle and the smug feeling from his two blades enforce that feeling. Sighing, he went back to his bed no longer caring that he was still cover in dirt and debris. He figures that he figures everything out later.
It was close to sunset when he was woken up by his self-proclaim personal healer.
"It's almost time for dinner young master," John said. "I figure that you might want to bath before going down to eat and I wanted to put some suave on your back before you get dress."
"Thanks, and didn't I say to call me Ichigo?"
"About ten times already. Now hurry young master before they come get you themselves." The healer said cheerfully.
Sighing the orangette got cleaned and before putting his shirt on sat back on his bed waiting for John to rub some all heal into two new scars on his back. According to the royals and the healers the scars were from his wings. The head healer even mentioned that the skin there might be thin incase Ichigo had to used them again. The thin layer would make it easier for the wings to come out thus the suave.
"All right Master Ichigo," John said taking the orangette out of his thoughts. "Your free to go."
A slap to his back and Ichigo was out of the room just as Shiro' loud voice reached his ears. Rolling his eyes Ichigo met the seething Prince half way before being dragged into the dinner room. Subconsciously he was glad that he was being shoved into this family and that was one thing that his zanpakuto was wanting. Ever so carefully maneuvering their wielder out of his ideal distance. After all they were there to protect their king, even from loneliness.
oOooOooOooOooOo
The resulting argument over Ichigo accompany Kaien was a loud but a short one. Isshin had every reason to keep the orangette hidden inside the castle none of which had to do with his intimating wife.
"It's a good idea and it'll keep him out of trouble if he is given something to do," Kaien said.
"That may be but you did even consider that he has an even bigger target painted on his back now after the shit storm Yamamoto caused." Isshin argued. "Not to mention that the village you're going to is that section of the Dragon's Teeth. We never send the inexperience there for a reason."
"But aren't the rest of the Espada at the Dragon's Teeth patrolling it?" Kisuke asks. He just happens to be in the throne room when Kaien came in.
"Only our section of it, but that's not the point. Its parts belonging to the southern countries plus the Empire on the other side that's currently in a civil war that has me worried. As well as our own problems." Isshin grab the bridge of his nose. "You're practically advertising a Prince to be kidnap. Again." He added.
"Come on Dad it's that same whenever me or Shrio go out and we do just fine. Besides, Ichigo needs to go out and have meet and greets with the populace. If you haven't notice the castle staff have already fallen in love with him it'd be rude to keep him to ourselves." Kaien said with a teasing tone. "And if you think about it him being so far away from prying eyes might get some time for you to think on how to deal with the shit storm the Sereitiei created."
"All joking aside Kaien," the King said seriously.
"Look," Kaien interrupted just a serious. "While I understand that you and mother have gotten attach to the point where you have been thinking of adopting Ichigo, I have no problem with that and neither does Shiro, it isn't fair that you treat him like fragile crystal glass when he isn't that fragile." He softens. "I know that it's part of your parental mentality but trust me and trust him."
Isshin sighed he knew that his first born had a point and form all the reports on the orangettes progress he knew that the teen would make it out of some situations almost unscathed. It was just an old fear that he thought had been long past buried was making a reappearance. Granted it's not as bad as when they lost Mugetsu but.
"Alright, but you're the one who has to convince you mother." Isshin smiled as his son's grimace. While he was more understanding his wife on other hand was going into mother mode. She had forbidden both boys from leaving their rooms and had placed a guard on Ichigo when the teen didn't listen. Smart men knew not to cross her the second time.
"Fine you old goat," Kaien mumble. "But I reserved the right to take a long as I want on the trip to and from the Northern Provence."
"Deal," the king said with a smile. "Just make sure that you send reports every now and then."
"Don't I always." Kaien teased
"Do you want that to be answered?"
Kaien through his head back and laugh before leaving to go find his mother. He thinks it might be better to get it out of the way. needless to say that talk was a battle in it of itself but Kaien manage to convince her to let Ichigo go with him.
By the end of the week Kaien and Ichigo plus an entourage was leaving the gate out of the town. Shiro could be heard in the background grumbling how he had to stay behind. Severn was forced to stay with him to keep the white Prince from following on Ichigo's orders. Neither liked that.
When they were a far enough distance from the town Kaien started informing Ichigo of the Northern Province.
"The main thing up there is the people and maybe a dragon or two." The raven said not brothering to looks at the orangette.
"Dragons!?" Ichigo unintendedly yelped much to the Princes amusement.
"Yep, but don't worry they tend to keep to themselves." Kaien said off handily. Hiding the snicker at Ichigo's reaction.
Ichigo's experience with dragons was only kept to Toshiro's zanpakuto. And it can't be called a good experience nor a bad one considering the circumstance that they met. But all the same he might be in awe of the ice dragon but he is just as glad that he didn't have to dealt with him on a regular basis. Thinking of the tiny captain lead to thinking more of what he no longer had.
"Don't worry," Kaien slapped Ichigo on the back breaking him out of his crumbling mood. "Now smile and wave to the people like a good little boy."
"Shut up," Ichigo said but with no heat to it.
oOooOooOooOooOooOo
When Kaien had told him that the only thing that Ichigo needed to worry about were the people and possibly dragons, he didn't say a thing about freak snowstorms.
'snowstorms, this thing has a mind of his own and is trying to eat us.' Ichigo thought. 'I bet that bastard thought to leave that out when he said we be coming up here.'
A sudden gust nearly knocks the orangette over and into the person behind him. to keep themselves from falling Ichigo's stabs the ground with the larger of his two blades.
'do worry he says, the major storms have already pass he says. If this isn't considering a major storm, then Kaien needs to get better idea of a fucking weather systems.'
'Oi King just shut up your drama already and pay attention!'
Growling at his zanpakuto Ichigo consecrated on Kaien's back. Back when the storm first felt Kaien had made everyone tied themselves to each other. The Prince made sure that Ichigo was behind him so he could use his zanpakuto to catch themselves from impersonating a snowball.
"The village of Onna should be nearby." Kaien shouted over the roaring snow to be heard.
A chill went down Ichigo's spine and it had nothing to do with the weather. He ignored it in favor of getting inside a building and thawing out then kicking Kaien in the ass forgetting to mention killer storms.
As they neared the village to Ichigo it felt like the winds grew fiercer to the point where the group could push no further. Kaien had shouted that they would have to make camp and wait out the storm. Ichigo was having none of that. With Shiro in agreement he let his wild spiritual energy rise with enough force to temporary push the storm away giving a clear view of the village gates.
He could see that Kaien was going to say something but Ichigo rudely pushed the Prince towards the waiting gates.
"No talking more moving," the orangette said.
"Fine but you will explain later," Kaien said half seriously.
"yeah sure."
"Ichigo."
"I said sure, let's get warm I'm freezing here."
"I highly doubt that." The raven mutter.
Once their group was safely inside the village the gates closed with a bang then the storm struck back harsher then it was before Ichigo grew impatient. But inside the gates there was no snow, wind, nor cold. It was like it was high summer back in Karakura Town. It was strange and judging from Kaien's expression Ichigo wasn't the only one to see it. Right now though he was just glad to be out of the killer storm.
"Be welcome weary travelers" a jovial voice boom in front of them.
A portly mid-forties blading man came up to the group. Around him were several older men and women with a few with swords near their hands. Ichigo still had the larger Zangetsu out and he shot Kaien a look saying in no way in hell is he recalling it.
Sighing Kaien put on his best charming smile, "Good-day sir. Quite the weather your having."
"Indeed it is though it would be better if the weather would cooperate," the portly man said. "but it is even more enjoyable when we get visitors this time of year if any at all. I' am Marron the leader of this village and these are my council."
"Kaien and this is my little brother Ichigo. You give a nice welcome Chieftain"
"yes, we are currently awaiting some special guest. Traders from the South who are bringing us some of their sweet fruits. You are lucky to have happen upon us when you have." The man smiled.
'wasn't they supposed to be expecting Kaien?' Ichigo thought to himself. he figures it would be best to keep quiet and allow Kaien to work his magic.
"Then I am glad that we were able to time it right," Kaien said not dropping his smile. "Now kind sir is there a place where we can stay? Me and my brother and men are tired."
"Ah yes we have the best Inn around. Why you can say that it's better than staying at the castle with the King and Queen." The Chieftain boasted. "My son will show you the way."
A young bovine looking man walk over to their group.
"This way," he said with almost no emotion.
Kaien and Ichigo shared a look before following. It was now that Ichigo wished that they hadn't left most of the men and horses back down in the last village. Right now they only had two fighters with them whose main role was support. One for Kaien and one for Ichigo. Granted Ichigo was an army all on his own the support was a condition from Masaki to allow him to come.
The chief was greatly exaggerating when comparing their Inn with the Castle. While not a rundown heap it wasn't the best of luxury. Ichigo had slept in better places in Rukongai.
'well at least the roof doesn't leak that's something.'
Ichigo was sharing a room with Kaien that had two twin beds that had seen better days but wasn't uncomfortable. Ichigo had suspected that the best rooms were reserved from those traders that the Chieftain had said was coming.
'tch, if they knew who Kaien was they might be singing a different tune.'
Though why Kaien didn't tell them had Ichigo curious. Deciding to ask Ichigo went down stairs to find the wayward Prince. Not surprised that the raven was outside. The orangette gave a second glance towards the shadows where their back-up was hidden before joining the Prince.
"It's strange that there isn't a drop of snow here while outside it's a blizzard." Ichigo said breaking the silence.
"Yeah." Kaien said but sounded off in his own world.
"Shiro has been running around in a pink tutu screaming how he loves dollies and cute things."
That earned him a snort from the raven but Ichigo could see the twitching of Kaien's mouth. From mouth twitching Kaien let out a laugh from the mental imagery.
"You know if he found out what you just said he'll get even." Kaien said after calming down his laughing fit.
"Yeah well it's a risk I am willing to take." The orangette said throwing his arms behind his head. "What's on you mind?"
"What have you notice when we first got here?" Kaien asks instead of answering.
"Besides the weather that was the total opposite of what you said it was?" a nod. "Well I thought that the village was expecting you but they didn't even seem to recognize you at all and you weren't hiding your face." Putting his chin in his hand, "But that could be the fact that the faces of the royal family isn't that well known this far North but…" Ichigo trailed off.
"It's the feeling of the whole area isn't?" Kaien filled in. "You felt it before that storm hit right."
"yeah, it was like it was alive. Full of anger." Ichigo at first thought he had imagined it but now he wasn't so sure. 'it almost felt familiar.'
"Your guess is as good as mind," Shiro said unhelpfully.
"Ichigo, don't go anywhere without someone with you and your sword doesn't count." Kaien said a scowl on his face. It was the first time Ichigo had even seem something like that on the normally cheerful Prince. That Ichigo had to do a double take.
For once Ichigo didn't argue and nodded in agreement. Kaien uncross his arms letting his tension melt he fixed his smile back in place before landing his hand hard on the orangette's head.
"Is this this little orange brat that doesn't listen to authority figures." He teases.
"Yeah well I can listen to my elders once and awhile."
"I am not that old!" sputter Kaien.
"Who said I was talking about you." Smirk Ichigo.
"You little brat,"
Kaien was about to drive his fist into Ichigo's head but a cheshire grin had the orangette backing away for the raven.
"Now Kaien whatever your thinking-ack!"
A snowball stopped Ichigo mid plea hitting him square in the face. Kaien was chuckling to himself. it took a minute for Ichigo to register what the raven had done.
"Did you just hit me with a snowball!?" he said. "Oh it's on idiot Prince."
Kaien sensing danger ran from the irritated orange head. By the time that the sun had set both men were drenched their shadows highly amused by their antics.
"We better get back inside and dried off before moms' instincts have her flying up here to get us a good thrashing."
Ichigo too out of breath to argue nodding and let Kaien help him up before following the raven inside the inn. It was things like this that he missed with his family but if he could still have fun then maybe he was almost recovered from their lost. Shaking his head out of such thoughts Ichigo decided not to dwell on it for now he had other things to worry about.
oOooOooOooOooOo
the next morning Ichigo woke up tired. He blamed it on a bad night's sleep and weird dreams. Though when waking with a worried Kaien standing over him he guesses it must have been a nightmare instead. Problem was he couldn't remember it. All he had was a bad feeling and it was making him irritable.
"Stupid dream," he mutters as he leaves the inn.
Not wanting to taint the morning Ichigo thought that a walk through the village might lighten his ever darkening mood. But today the air felt heavy almost unbearably so. It almost made him want to go back to the inn and hid in his room but he was too stubborn to do that.
"What's with this place?" he asks himself. "It feels like something is going to jump out at me."
Everywhere he went in the village Ichigo caught the villagers that he did see staring at him. normally he would just think that it was his orange hair that was drawing such attention but he took notice that they weren't looking at his head but his body and that sent shivers up his spine. Not a good sign in his opinion.
So instead of trying to rid himself of his mood Ichigo turned around back to the inn hoping to get away from the stares. It was strange that he hadn't seen his shadow since leaving the inn and he hope the guard was just taking a leak somewhere. Luckily Zangetsu ever present weight on his back made to journey back a little less creepy. The sudden need to get back to Kaien making him speed up.
"I have a bad feeling; we need to get out of this village now." He says to his blade which hummed ready to be used.
Using some of his reishi to increased his speed Ichigo made it to the Inn without incident. He could feel where Kaien was so heading straight there. The Prince was in the commons room with the other patrons. Ichigo took notice of the raven's demeanor quickly. Kaien had taken a more defensible position in one of the corners. It allowed two people to watch the entire room while having their backs guarded by the wall. It seems that Ichigo wasn't the only one feeling like he was being watched.
The orangettes quickly made his way over to the table keeping his head on a swivel but not making it obvious while doing it. He trusted Zangetsu to warn him if any try to stick a dagger in his back.
"How was you walk little bro?" Kaien asks somewhat cheerful.
"Fine be glad when we can get back on the road," replied Ichigo implying the need to leave.
"Ah yes but let's not be too hasty. It is a long journey and best not travel on an empty stomach."
In other words, don't make a scene we'll leave as soon as our food is ordered.
Ichigo glad that Kaien understood him and agreed sat down back facing the wall. He put Shiro Zangetsu within easy reach knowing that if needed the blade would appear in his hand. If on the off chance that he couldn't get to Zangetsu or it was hit out of his hand the zanpakuto wouldn't allow anyone else besides those it chooses to pick it back up.
Kaien had order some tea earlier and Ichigo was thirsty and seeing how Kaien hadn't drop dead he guess that the liquid was safe. He should have known better. Just as he took the first sip his sensing went haywire. He could hear Zangetsu shouting at him to the spit it out. he tried but his body already absorbed it and was having a violent reaction to whatever was in the drink.
His body would no longer listen to him as it seized going between hot and cold. He could just make out Kaien's frantic movements and worried expression. But it what was behind the raven that Ichigo tried to warn him about. He must have made some indication because in the next moment the raven was fighting off several shadows. however, no matter how good the raven was the Prince soon was drop to the ground his trident snatch from his hands.
Ichigo was still conscious enough to hear and recognize the village chief.
"Damn, who knew that these two had so much fight in them," he said. "It's good that they came along now we won't have to worry about explain missing merchants. At least no one will miss these two."
"Father the bodyguards have been dispose of," the son said.
"Good take these two to the cells and have Maria get the younger ready to be sacrificed. We can sell the older one to the Southerners later."
"Yes father, but why the younger boy?"
"Because he looks exotic enough to please those damn dragons and once that's done we can continue looking for their caves to get rid of them and get their gold." The chieftain rubs his hands together before taking Ichigo's face and turning it this way and that like a prize item. "I can see them adding this kid to their treasure chest and if he is still alive think of the money we'll get for him; his brother will also fetch a high price."
The son nodded as he hefted Kaien over his shoulder as another did the same for Ichigo. His father greedily watched the orangette. Many plans forming in his head on how to use the teen to his advantage. Even the thought of selling the orangette's unique sword looked promising however they quickly saw that anyone trying to touch it left with one hand short so it was left where it was until later. They could always melt it down to use as something else but he hopes to sell it to highest byers maybe even to one of the royals back at the Capital.
By then Ichigo was unconscious. The next time he woke was to being chained by the neck bowed with his hands tied behind him. he was in front of an alter with a huge dragon depicted on it. The orangette had seen enough movies to guess what was in store for him.
'like hell I am allowing them to sacrifice me.' He thought as he struggles pass the drug induce haze. He was stop when his head was yanked back painfully and a disgusting liquid force down his throat. It burned on its way down. His eyes were getting heavy his body going numb.
"Accept this sacrifice great dragon as thanks to your guidance." The fat man shouted.
With that threw daze eyes Ichigo watched the villagers that were there run in fear. He had a moment to think good riddance before a shadow covered him. His drugged body couldn't stand it anymore and Ichigo wondered why he was having trouble fighting the drugs off as he slowly subsumes to sleep.
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Chapter End
Thanks for reading.