Warnings: ya know that same stuff. Nothing to major.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.

Ichigo once again found himself back at the arena the next day with his partner Keith. He hadn't gone home to the castle the night before choosing instead to camp out at the knight barracks with Keith. He wanted to get to know the one who would be watching his back and having Keith get to know though they could only make small guesses on how they would react to each other's fighting style once they were fighting together.

The teen figure this was another way for the Generals to test those who that were going to the front lines to see if they could fight and adapt to the ever changing field as well as how they fight with others that they haven't fought with before and give them a chance get use to them. Ichigo had no problem with that but he never had fought with those that he hadn't already known their style. So this was going to be a new experience for him and he was excited. All too soon he and Keith were called up and made their way to the field. Ichigo was temporary blinded by the sun coming out of the dark tunnel but he's vision cleared as the roar of the crowd filled his ears.

"Well here we go," he said.

"Yep, this is going to be fun," Keith beamed before sending a one finger salute to one of the Generals in the stands. "Oh, just letting my older brother know that I'm here," he said when Ichigo gave him a funny look.

"I thought those two were your brothers?"

"They are but I have brother who is a General. I am the youngest out of four," he said proudly.

Ichigo wanted to say more but the whistle blew and they soon engage Ricky and Damon both being stronger then the others that Ichigo had fought during the tournament. The two were trying to divide and conquer but Ichigo stuck close to Keith fighting back to back and switching opponents every now and then.

But it only work for a shot while and Ichigo soon found himself away from Keith and facing Damon. The older man had a mix match of red and blond in his hair cut very short that it was just a spikey as Ichigo's own locks. The orangette tried to get back to Keith who was starting to struggle but was being out maneuvered at each turn. Damon even got a hit on him a small cut on Ichigo's cheek that the teen had tried to avoided at the last second.

They stood their panting each out of breath from the dance they were performing but Ichigo knew that he needed to end it soon. Keith wasn't faring much better and looked worst off then Ichigo so against his better judgement the teen used a small burst of shunpo to get away from Damon before he knew that Ichigo was gone. The teen appeared next to Keith just as Ricky went for the finishing blow that Ichigo block at the last second.

"Man you have no idea how glad I am to see you," Keith said with a worn out smile.

"Well it seems you were having a little bit of trouble," Ichigo said.

Keith laughed before shakenly getting to his feet as Ichigo pushed Ricky off him. now that he was closer Ichigo could see that Keith had really taken a beating and while he could get away without worrying about small cuts Keith will have one that will scar on his face going from the hair line to the corner of his eye.

"Your brother didn't go easy on you huh?"

"Nah its fine. It wouldn't be fair if he had gone easy on me now would it," Keith said.

"I guess; can you continue or do you think you can help finish them off?" Ichigo asks.

"Yeah no problem," Keith smirked before charging Ricky then faking towards Damon catching them off guard of only a few seconds.

But it was enough for Ichigo to summon the shorter of his zanpakuto tie it with a long piece of fabric that was once a flag. When Ricky put his attention back on Ichigo he had to dodge as a sword came flying at his head.

"Shit!"

"Damn man that was awesome!" Keith shouted while fending off his brother.

His lack of attention gave Damon an opening that caused Keith to stumble back before he found his footing. He drops into a roll and danced around Ricky before ending back beside Ichigo. The sandy blond looked at the orangette sheepishly at his rookie mistake.

Ichigo just rolled his eyes at the other before bringing Zangetsu back up and pointed at Ricky. Their fight had taken everyone watching by storm and bets had been placed by the older knights and some of the commons. But to the ones in the arena they were tiring out and yet there was no end in sight until three arrows were shot at Ichigo only to be block by Keith and the twins. However, it seemed that a fourth was fired and headed for Ichigo's exposed back and it would've have killed him if he hadn't moved at the last second. The once cheering crowd was yelling and screaming and Isshin quickly had all exits closed off as Kaien and Shiro plus all the knights that were there started looking for the one who shot the arrows.

Ichigo was rubbing his shoulder after yanking the arrow out he stops once he saw that others were watching him especially the King and Kaien. He just gave them a little wave before heading over to the three brothers.

"Hey man you okay?" Ricky asks.

"Yeah not even a nick." Ichigo said with a scowl but his flinched didn't go unnoticed.

He would've have left it at that but Keith had grab his arm and drag him into the holding area away from prying eyes. he shoved the protesting teen onto a bench before ripping his shirt along the shoulder.

"Keith!"

"What are you doing?"

His brothers who had follow them shouted. Keith ignored them as he started grabbing the bandages and water.

"This idiot tried to play off his injury," he said once he seated himself by the scowling orangette. "You couldn't tell because his shirt is a dark color but I saw him get hit. Why didn't you dodge it completely?"

"Tch, if I did then someone else would have gotten hurt and I heal fast so it's no big deal," Ichigo said trying to pull his arm away but to no avail.

"No big deal he says. What do you think would have happen if you got hit somewhere other than your shoulder and then of course your looked even more exhausted then you did in the arena and don't give me any bullshit?" Keith said sternly.

"It's just a side effect," the orangette said glaring at his ruin clothing. He would have to go back to the castle to get a replacement. "It sometimes happens but I repeat it's not a big deal and no one would have known if you don't point it out to them."

Keith snorted before leaving tossing the bandage rolls to his dark hair brother. "Keep him in here until someone says its safe for him to come out he was clearly the target."

Damen nodded as he handed the rolls off to Ricky who had taken Keith's spot by the bench. He follows the other out the door.

"What will you be doing?"

"I decided that wherever Ichigo is placed I 'm going with him. someone needs to keep an eye on him so he doesn't so something totally stupid." Keith said determined. "I just need to find Maverick."

"Pot kettle little brother." Damon said smiling. "And Maverick would be with the King who I believe is still outside."

Keith nodded and left while Damon took a position in front of the door. The raven hair man sighed at the mess that this would likely make.

oOooOooOooOooOooOo

Isshin, his sons, and several guards glared down at the one who attempted to assassinate Ichigo. It was he first opponent that he defeated so easily and the young fool had dared to bared his sword at Shiro and Kaien when they were confronting him.

'such disappointment,' the King sighed. "I had hope it wouldn't be one of our own that I be sentencing to death."

The young upstart glared and growled struggling in his bonds. He was trying to spit at the royals until Grimmjow wrapped his mouth with burlap. Since he couldn't anything else the young man settles for glaring but he was soon dragged away to await his trail. Isshin may know the outcome but he still wanted to give the young man a fair chance.

"Well that was really unexpected," Shiro mutter before he left to go check up on Ichigo.

Kaien made to follow but was side track by Kuro's youngest general. Isshin wondered what they were talking about. He sneaked over grinning like a mad man. it wouldn't be the first time that Isshin had eavesdropped on his boys and always had fun teasing them when teenage secrets were exposed. However, Kaien is on to him and at the last second turns to the King with a grin.

"So old man thinking that there were some juicy secrets," Kaien smirk at Isshin sheepish grin.

"You caught me, ah! My oldest son has become so smart," the King says with a big goofy smile and was about to hug the raven only to be stop by a hand to his face.

Kaien sighed while the young general looked on. "Well since you're here I'll let you in on what General Maverick just told me," he said after a while. "It seems his youngest brother, Keith, has expressed interest in being on the same unit as Ichigo. His reason is that our little trouble magnet needs someone to look after him."

"Hmm well usually we wouldn't allow that and while I agree Ichigo does attract trouble I don't see why he needs a babysitter." Isshin said.

"If I may sire," Maverick joined in. "Keith mention that Ichigo allowed himself to be hit by that arrow because of the possibility of some of the audience being hurt. While a such actions are admirable it isn't something that should be encouraged. Or at least not encourage if the Prince is without the aid of a healer nearby. I think having someone who is able to keep an eye on him but still give him space may cut down the number of times he ends up in the healers bed and keeps everyone else from worrying."

Isshin had to think while Maverick did have a point he didn't want to show favoritism to his youngest son when there were others who had the same tendencies. It was a toss-up between what he wanted to do and what he needed to do.

"I will allow Keith to join whatever unit that Ichigo is on if he isn't signed in by another General. I rather Keith be Ichigo's friend not his bodyguard. That boy has plenty of them," he laughs.

"Dad in case you forgot, Shinji and Grimmjow were consider friends that made themselves out bodyguards. I think Keith and Ichigo will go the same way and if history is going to repeat then we can expect more to join Ichigo's band of merry men," Kaien snickers at the mental image he thought up.

Isshin soon joins him before turning to Maverick. "Alright tell your brother what I said I won't say anything against it."

Maverick saluted then left to find his brother. Kaien went his own way while Isshin went his. it would be hours before the Generals get together for the final selection which the King had no say in but he always was there to see just who was joining his military.

Back at the arena the crowd had left for their homes and some of the participants had follow to celebrate at the taverns. Ichigo wasn't interested in celebrating he wasn't looking forward to this new war either but he wouldn't run from it. He was just about head back to the castle to rest when he was pulled aside by Keith who was smiling ear to ear.

"Guess what," he said.

"What," Ichigo said with no enthusiasm.

"We're going to be teammates!"

"okay."

"Aw come on man show a little enthusiasm. Isn't better to be on a team with someone ya know then be on one filled with strangers. Besides this way I'll be there to watch you're back that way you can focus on helping little old ladies."

Ichigo gave Keith a look before shrugging off the man's arm. Keith pouted but he soon grinned and started to follow Ichigo who wasn't liking the others over affection. But he couldn't find it within him to tell the other to shove off a small part of him crave for another's friendship that wasn't family or someone who wasn't confined to the castle. He understood why Severn stayed there and Ichigo realized that he needed to spend more time with the guardian at some point. Toshiro while Ichigo found that he treated the dragon like a friend the other was still wary of anything human and that was fine for now.

"I guess," he finally said and had to grin at the beaming look that Keith gave.

"great well I have to get back or my Aunt will send out the calvary to fine me. Hey!" the man shouted before leaving. "Why don't you come with me."

"W-what?"

"Yeah let me introduce you to my family and you can join us for Aunt Jay's cooking. Its heaven." Keith said fondly.

Ichigo was going to decline if someone hadn't answered for him. "I think that is a good idea and mom would agree with me," Kaien said behind the two fighters making them jump.

"Kaien!"

"Your Highness!"

The raven smirked at the two and laughed that he was able to get the drop on them. He had been looking for Ichigo when he overheard Keiths excited voice and offer. While his mother wanted to see Ichigo, Kaien didn't think she would mind if he was out with a friend. In fact, he knows that she would be happy that the teen was making more friends.

"Ichigo go out and enjoy yourself," he said. "Just be back before too late."

"if it's alright he can stay the night," Keith piped up. "that way we can show up at the arena at the same time."

"Your not just offering that in case you're the type that tends to be late and need someone to be late with," Ichigo said.

"n-not a-all t-the t-time," Keith tried to defend himself once Ichigo caught onto him. "But the offer to eat with us is still up."

Ichigo acted like he was thinking on it then he nodded and was soon being dragged by Keith before anything else was said. He scowled at a laughing Kaien who waved at his departure. The orangette had come to believed that the raven had wanted this to happen and he considered on letting his hollow deal with the raven. But decided not too much to the zanpakuto's disappointments.

"Let go Keith I can walk on my own," Ichigo said when they were out of the castle walls.

Keith grinned sheepishly but he lets go and leads the teen to a small but very homey cottage on the outskirts of the village. The little house boasted a small herb garden and had it's own forest of pines in the back. Keith notice him looking and couldn't help but brag.

"My family are great gardeners and a lot of the nobility call on us to build them new gardens every now nad then. But with my folks gone and my brothers joining the army it's all left on my Aunt. I help when I can but once we are sent out she'll be alone." He said with a hint of sadness but perks up once the smell of food hits them. "But she's a tough one so she'll be fine."

Ichigo could relate to Keith he had felt the same when he had to leave his sisters when he was gone for long periods of time in the Soul Society or Hueco Mundo. So, in his mind he plans on watching out for Keith so his Aunt wouldn't have to worry so much but unknown to Ichigo Keith was thinking the exact thing. It wasn't a surprise to anyone that the two were so much alike yet very different.

"Hey Aunt Jay I'm home and I brought a guest!" Keith yelled and was rewarded with a flying rolling pin that he manages to dodge.

"Keith! You lout don't yell in front of royalty and for god sakes don't wait till the last minute to tell me that there is a guest showing up." A short long hair woman yelled back before gently smiling at Ichigo. 'welcome young Prince I hope that my idiot nephew hasn't been dragging you threw the muck."

"Ah no mam he hasn't, um sorry about just showing up."

"No worries dear now come in before you catch cold it's still a bit nippy out there," the woman says cheerfully but a sense that the teen didn't really have much choice.

"o-okay," Ichigo sensing danger immediately gets in the house and waits on Keith.

He watches the family and couldn't help but think of happy memories with his own family both old and new. The orangette was going to protect his new life from those who would ruin it; in his inner world both Zangetsu agreed. The cracks the had form before Ichigo's arrival to this world were now healing and the two spirits will not allow a repeat if they had any say in it.

oOooOooOooOooOooOo

It had been a week since the selection tournament and they had to wait a few days for the Generals to actually get everything settle. During that time Ichigo had been spending his time when not with Toshiro or Conrad with Keith and his family. It had become a habit of his that he hadn't even realized that it did. If that wasn't interesting enough Toshiro has been joining Ichigo when he goes to visit and soon Keith is joining him during training with both the dragon and Conrad. To others it appeared that the two had become fast friends and when Ichigo was at home Masaki and Isshin subtly encouraged the behavior, to a point.

When the results were posted true to Keith's prediction both him and Ichigo were in the same unit being led by new Colonel that was under General Mavericks command. Their unit was also one of the newer formed units and everyone, with the exception of Ichigo, had little to no battle experience. Ichigo had learned that Keith only knew so much from what his older brothers told him or had taught him but it still worried the teen that his unit didn't have any veterans. Even when he first went to rescue Rukia his group at least had Yoruichi despite being separated until the very end of the whole affair.

"I wouldn't worry too much Ichigo," Keith had said when the teen brought it up. "Maverick maybe the youngest but he's good figuring out stuff. Most likely we'll be training with the more experience units before being deployed out to some far off outpost."

"Regardless everyone will get as much combat training that can be squeezed in before being sent out. So go thinking that your group will be sent to some cushy outpost that everyone forgot. Each unit was made up with thought on who would fit and where they would do the best." Conrad added.

He had both teens going through drills before they would join their unit for more. Because of needed to spilt his time more between the three Ichigo had to cut back on his time with Conrad. The teacher had agreed saying that what he was teaching them they would be learning with their comrades. That didn't mean that Ichigo could skip out on his training with the dragon.

Toshiro had the teen dodging, weaving, and blocking that Ichigo began to wonder if the little dragon was enjoying it. Keith, who much to Ichigo's surprise also had some hidden traits, joined in with his fire balls. When the orangette had come down after one such lessen he was quick to go after the man but stop short when spotting a pair of curved ram horns on his head.

"What?" the blond asks when Ichigo made no sound nor movement. "Oh these, it's nothing really they're the only things different about me other than the fact that I can control how hard my skin is. You know about my fire ability." Here Keith sounding a little unhappy. "When I was little people that came from outside the country would automatically label me as evil. I…for most of my life I hid my horns and abilities out of fear it took my brothers and my Aunt to show me differently." Keith grinned, "I'm rather tame looking compared to others."

That brought up how Ichigo would be compared to others. He could be himself being more different out of certain groups but with his combine heritage that wasn't even heard of from where he was from was non-existent here.

"Well that just makes you more interesting," Keith said with a knowing grin.

"Listen to the loud mouth King, we're badass!" Shiro yelled. Old man Zangetsu silently nodded in agreement.

Ichigo dropped the matter and went back to dodging Keiths fireballs and Toshiro's ice. When it came to his unit things were tense. It seemed word had got out that he wasn't just a person that the royal family had taken a liking to but was in fact one of the Prince's. Needless to say Ichigo was having trouble connecting to his brother in arms; Keith budding friendship was helping but if the teen was alone the others were more hesitant approaching him. He had been joking told that the problem was his scowling face that made him look more dangerous.

Fighting in large groups wasn't something Ichigo was used to. Normally he was either with one other person or alone never was he with a group as large as the one he was in now. So connecting to the people that made it up was something that was new but Keith kept encouraging him to try.

But it would be something he have to do on the road to his new assignment. So he was spending his free time with his new family. Kaien and Shiro had given him advice and Severn had taken to staying closer to him. Masaki had made the times they shared in the garden longer with Isshin joining when he could. The day of his deployment he left the castle before the others woke. He knew from conversations that Shiro and Kaien would be leaving in the next few days.

Ichigo also knew of the location he was being sent too. An outpost near the center of the border with a swamp on one side and a dense forest on the other. He groaned, staying near a swamp during summer.

"great," the teen said. "Hopefully it's only the mosquitoes that I have to worry about."

He was met by Keith outside the barracks. The older teen smiled a tired smile before placing a hand to Ichigo's shoulder and leading him inside. Ichigo didn't ask if the other was alright and settle for the man's company in the coming months. Not realizing that the man was soon become something more than a friend.

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Chapter End.

Despite what the last sentence said this is not a romance. I meant in a brotherly feeling.