Warnings: this and that. I am setting up a Colonel so sorry if there are those who are offended.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.
Ichigo had been out in his swampy outpost for a mouth and during that time he had come to realize something. That his tedious patrols through Karakura Town was a holiday compare to what he was currently going through. A week after arriving the soldiers of Sereitiei didn't waste any time in attacking them. At first it was small pin pricks meant to test their defense now however they were getting bolder never attacking the same spot nor the same time frame. Though so far the only thing injured was the young knights pride which Ichigo felt was better than anybody losing a body part or their life.
However, something had change since their last attack and Ichigo wasn't the only one to notice. For once the teen was grateful for fighting in a large group. During one such attack Ichigo was swarm on by another group of skilled Shinigami that reminded him of the stealth force. Their intent was clear as they left him no room to maneuver like he wanted to and had tried to herd him away from the safety of his unit. It Keith and another knight hadn't notice him missing Ichigo figure he would have been somewhat worst for wear in a sense.
Since then Ichigo has found himself in the company of at least one other person every time he was near the border or on patrol. Keith being the main person though there were others in his unit were just as bad and Ichigo wondered when the change happen. When he at first joined this unit everyone but Keith was nervous around him and kept their distance. When Keith enter the picture some did start to drift his way but only when the blond was nearby. So Ichigo couldn't for the life of him figure out when they actually started to talk to him and became comfortable near him.
"Well it could have been when you decided to risk your life, again, to save each one when they found themselves about to get sliced in half," Keith explained one day.
"Tch, it's not like I did something no one else could do," the teen grumbled.
"Ah but that's exactly what ya did," Keith smiled. "Ichigo to them you're some high and mighty Prince who they weren't too keen on having but once you showed that you're just a normal person they relaxed then add to the fact that you been breaking the stereotypical vision of what a Prince is since then, well they can't help but gravitate to you."
"What about Shiro or Kaien? They're not exactly the Princely version either?" Ichigo pointed out but Keith only huffed.
"But our comrades don't know about your brothers just you and truth be told they were proud that you been entrusted to them…in a way it's like they see this as a way to prove themselves to their peers," Keith said.
"I don't need a bunch of babysitters; they'll get themselves killed if they keep watching me and not each other."
"It's not that Ichigo," Keith ruffled the irritated orangette who scowled and batted the hand away. "They can see that you know what you're doing and they're trying to figure out where they fit in so they can work with you better. Your more experience than the rest of us so we're the ones trying to keep up with you."
"Still," Ichigo mutter he could see that his unit was starting to feel like close nit just like he felt with his friends or the his Vizards.
"Look why don't you give them a chance; spar with them without holding back or you could loosen up a bit and talk to someone other than me," Keith reasoned.
Ichigo scratched his head before sighing he could see Keith's point but making small talk wasn't one of his strong points. "Fine," he says in defeat; "But I will not go full force, I don't won't to hurt anyone that's not an enemy."
"that's fair I guess," the blond conceded before smirking which made Ichigo quiet nervous. "No time like now to start yea, so let's go volunteer for cooking duty!"
"W-what Keith! OI! Stop dragging me idiot!" Ichigo yelled half heartily tugging back his arm. He found that while the total opposite of Chad; Keith was just as reliable and just as tough to kill. Where Chad was quiet Keith was loud and showed more emotion where Chad hardly did. But both were kind hearted and very strong when it came to physical strength. It sorts of brought back lots of memories of the giant and Ichigo could help the small smile they bring.
"Oh come on man don't be shy," the man teases. "You can't hide those great cooking skills forever."
"Whose cooking have you been eating; I have no cooking skills besides that basics," Ichigo said.
"That's better than mine and everyone else's here!" the blond shouts throwing open the door to the kitchens startling the staff inside. "Here I bring you extra help and don't let him fool ya he can cook like a master!"
"Shut up idiot," Ichigo says as he elbows Keith in the stomach.
Keith laughs it off but he fakes the injury turning away from the annoyed teen. What Ichigo hadn't seen but Keith did was shadows that were too close to the barracks. Keith had pulled the teen inside for a more defensive position instead of being out in the open far from help. It was just luck that most of the unit was in the mess hall that night. The surprise attacks no longer was a surprise when the approaching Shinigami found themselves being on the wrong side of an attack. By morning only two of the Kuro Knights had been injured while the Shinigami were scattered about dead. The two wounded ones were taken by arrows it had been too dark to see where they had been fired from but Ichigo felt that the archer was familiar. Just the feel off the arrows was familiar and Ichigo didn't like it.
Their Colonel had not been happy that an enemy had been able to get close without them knowing and had added more patrols. No one like that as it stretched them too thin leaving them open for more attacks. Ichigo slipped into a habit of his and ignored half of the orders given to him; he instead had whoever was with him at the time divide themselves by two's and patrol smaller sections at a time instead of a whole larger one as one big group like their O.C. wanted.
The smaller groups were able to cover more ground and still be able to keep in contact with each other. With this they could conserve energy for when the Shinigami decided to attack them. So far, it seemed to be working but soon Ichigo's tactic reached the Colonels ears and found himself in the man's tent trying unsuccessfully to intimidate the orange hair Prince.
"I don't see what I did wrong; we followed your orders." Ichigo said calmly.
"Yet I heard that you gave orders for smaller groups when your orders were for the six of you to patrol one area."
"We did; we each took a section before moving on. We weren't that far from each other," Ichigo argues.
"I see, so you just thought that overriding my orders to suit your needs was the best way to go about it?" the Colonel said. "I know your highness that your use to being the one in charged but here I'm in charge and you must follow my orders. Failure to do so will result in me dealing out punishment to you and to those who followed you. I believe Anderson is one of your cohorts it would be a shame it something would to happen to him."
Ichigo froze, it was one thing to go after him but to go after Keith who actually did nothing wrong. Ichigo bit down on his tongue to keep from saying anything to give the Colonel more ammo to use against him. he was sure that the King would listen to him but Ichigo didn't want to bother the man with something that could be resolved at a later date.
"If you have a problem with me that leave the others out of it." Ichigo said.
"Follow my orders then there won't be a problem young Prince," the Colonel leaned in close to the orangettes ear. "Since you like to protect everyone you can have the patrol leading threw the swamp and since your strong you can do it alone. Do that and your little friends won't have to worry about being tried as traitors for your sudden death."
Ichigo snarled, "You think that the King and my brothers will believe that?"
The Colonel smiled, "but are they really your brothers? and...grief has such devastating effects on people. Makes them do such reckless things."
"bastard," the orangette growls.
"You're dismiss your highness," the Colonel mocked.
Ichigo didn't bother to salute as he left bursting through the tent flaps an angry scowl on his face, his eyes a hard cold gold. If one where to look closely they would take notice of the clawed hands or the killer arura that surrounded the angry teen. Keith saw Ichigo leave he tent and in fact had heard everything. He wasn't happy that the teen was being forced to go alone during a time that he had a large target on his back. The blond gritted his teeth it wasn't like he could report this his brother.
"this is a fine mess," he mutters to himself.
"What should we do Keith; the Colonel is setting our Prince up to fail we can't let him be taken or killed." One soldier said.
"I know but getting away to help him is going to be near impossible now that the Colonel or any who are loyal to him will be barring us from going out at the same time." Keith said.
"So how are we to fool them then?" another asks.
Keith had to think it over and knew what they were doing was close to insubordination and could see them all jailed if they were lucky. Keith could understand the Colonels irritation on Ichigo supplanting his orders but to go so far as to threaten others to get the teen to do what he wanted; that Keith had a problem with. And sending the teen out to a known area for Shinigami ambushes was something Keith couldn't understand it was like the officer was purposely giving the enemy a chance to capture the teen without the unit's interference.
Keith made his decision, "I'll keep an eye on Ichigo the rest of you keep an eye on the Colonel. I want to know if he does something abnormal. Something isn't right here."
"And what if he finds out about you helping Ichigo?"
"I'll deal with that if and when that happens but if it does then one of you will have to take my place. Hopefully that doesn't happen." Keith smiles, "If we have too we'll take turns going with Ichigo into the swamp, but only those who know the area should go, until he knows it as well as we do."
"Shouldn't we inform our superiors about this?"
"We don't have the proof and in a war we can just be throwing accusations everywhere just because we don't like how our O.C. is treating our Prince." Keith said shaking his head.
"alright you have Ichigo's back and we'll have yours," one said enthusiastically.
A round of agreement from those present had Keith smiling and wishing that Ichigo could see how many wanted to help him. Keith was going to make sure that the teen saw how important he was to others.
"Great now get back to work while I go find his royal madness," Keith said.
They dispersed each going their own separate ways Keith goes to find Ichigo who was sparring with a invisible enemy. Keith stayed back watching the fierceness that Ichigo shows that he had only seen once.
'this is going to be an interesting conversation.' Keith winches at the oncoming argument. He goes ready to fight glad that this time it's with words and not swords he doesn't believe that he would make it out alive if Ichigo went all out.
oOooOooOooOooOooOo
Ichigo was pissed he didn't see what he did wrong. His idea got the job done and it narrowed the opening that the Shinigami could have used to attack them. Not only that his commanding officer threaten his comrades going so far as to say that his new friend's necks were already in a noose if he argued further.
The tree he had been throwing his anger at splinter and cracked into tiny chunks before being destroyed. Ichigo had been using his hands rather than Zangetsu so it took longer to get to the point of destruction of his surroundings. If it wasn't for the blood on his hands no one would have guess that he been punching trees bare handed.
"that son of a-," the teen growled. "his attitude is worst then Byakuya's was when we first met."
Another tree falls as Ichigo felt his instant regeneration kick in fixing his torn up hands. He stood there panting his anger not yet gone. He was thinking of going in to his inner world and sparring with Shiro. knowing that the zanpakuto could handle him at his full strength the only downside was the wounds he would sustain would appear on the outside of his body and heaven help him if any of his friends found him like that. He doubted that they would let him out of their sights unless they were under attack.
"So what did these trees do to earn them your wrath?" a voice behind him had Ichigo looking up and around only turning his head. Standing just off to the side of one of the down trees was Keith with arms cross but no accusation or anything coloring his look. "Ya know I don't mind hearing ya rant and rave if something gets ya this upset."
"It's nothing Keith just a small disagreement."
"okay I 'm calling bullshit on that," the blond says walking over to Ichigo. "A small disagreement would make you angry but I sincerely doubt it would've gotten you this mad."
Ichigo wouldn't meet the others eyes and started to walk off but to the orangettes frustration Keith followed.
"Come on Ichigo talk to me."
"go away Keith it has nothing to do with you," Ichigo said.
Ichigo was trying to distance himself for the one who was he friend in thinking that it would protect him or any other that came into contact with him. He didn't want to relive losing all his friends again. But it was just his luck that he collected the most stubbornness people he called friends and Keith was properly the worst in that category.
"Like hell!" Keith yelled and roughly grabs Ichigo's arm that had a fist fly his way.
The two tussle and roll on the ground Keith refusing to let go and Ichigo trying to force him to let him go. The orangette wasn't getting any help from Zangetsu; the two spirits were letting their master deal with his problems in his own way and was allowing Keith to interfere with that. Though Shiro Zangetsu wanted to fight while Ichigo was so riled up.
So when the two tired themselves out did Keith finally let the other go but not before he sat up and stared Ichigo down. The teen returns it with a glare.
"I will not let you go it alone Ichigo," Keith started to say and relaxed with a smile. "whether you want my help or not. About now everyone knows what went on in that tent and we came to an agreement." He waited a bit to level out his breathing. "They'll cover our tracks while some of us come with you on these suicide patrols."
Ichigo was at first stun but he quickly recovered. "Are you crazy? This isn't something to play with Keith you could get hurt; what about Aunt Jay or your brothers?"
"What about them; heck Ichigo they would properly kill me if they think I let you go into that swamp alone. Forget the Shinigami there are other things in that place that you have to worry about. There's swamp sharks, poisonous lizards and bugs, then there are the giant beasts that would love to eat you if ya give em a chance."
"All things I can handle," the teen said dismissively.
"Ah I don't think so, no offense Ichigo but you know jack shit about that death trap. You said so yourself that you can't use half of your power without side effects so that is a big hell no." the big man crossed his arms definitely boding no further argument.
Ichigo however wasn't going to let it drop and the two continued for hours arguing over the same thing going around in circles. Keith stood strong against the teen who was using everything at his disposal at turning the man away but all failed and Keith knew it.
"So I'll see you later then. Oh and Ichigo don't think of trying to go off without me," Keith grin when the teen jerked seeing he guessed right about what the teen was thinking of doing. "I know that swamp better then you and can easily find you so you're not about to get rid of me that easy."
Keith left laughing and Ichigo grumbled in his head both Zangetsu enjoyed the show and had to add their own thoughts.
"You just can't help but attract suborn people King."
"But Keith has a point it would be unwise to go out alone when there are those who wish you harm."
"Please we could take them on and kick their asses. King could take over this shack in the boondocks if he wanted."
"While that is true it is not wise to cause trouble with one's commanding officer.
"Oh come on that jack ass is asking for us to kick his ass."
Shiro's comment had Ichigo thinking. "Your right," he says getting the two spirits attention. "That was what he was trying to do. He was wanting me to attack him; but why?"
"Something to look into and be wary of when you are by yourself with him Ichigo."
"Tch, so what your saying is that we have to be all submissive and shit."
"No, he saying that we have to be careful not to fall into that man's trap," Ichigo said as he started to leave in the same direction that Keith left and knowing that the man hadn't had gone far and was waiting for him up ahead. "We're going to have to tread carefully and I guess the smart thing to do is never be alone in the same building as him but that's easier said than done."
The two spirits agreed and Ichigo returned his attention to his surroundings. He knew from experience that just because he was still in camp didn't mean he was safe from attack; he now had to worry about people from his own side coming after him plus the Sereitiei's men.
'why does everything have to be so complicated,' he sighed.
oOooOooOooOooOooOo
The following weeks were not the easiest for Ichigo as his new patrol route became one of the worst experience of his life. Not counting any he had as a substitute Shinigami. The when the others of his unit felt that he could make in the swamp without them most days, though they still insisted that they accompany every now and then, that didn't mean that the orangette still found himself cover in muck with questionable debris. If it wasn't the wildlife that tried to eat him, it was the almost constant ambushes that had the teen thankful to Yoruichi and dragon Toshiro for forcing him to get his dodging down to an art form. But as the weeks wore on and with hardly any time to rest, he was lucky to get an hour or a short catnap, Ichigo's human body was wearing out and it was starting to show in his fighting.
Ichigo cursed himself as he fell above him a smirking Shinigami was about to deliver a near fatal blow. Everything looked to be in slow motion as Ichigo brought up his sword to block it. He winched when the two weapons collided. The teen was fighting to keep both blades from biting into his shoulder as the soldier above him added more weight. The teen grit his teeth as he called on his hollow power to boost his waning strength and was able to throw the Shinigami off him. Ichigo, not wanting to drag the fight out ended it quickly killing the group that had attempted to overpower him.
Ichigo stood there trying to catch his breath allowing himself a small break before finishing his patrol. He was tired and hungry and not for the first time cursed his human body and its limits. He began to wonder if he should've taken Keith's offer for reinforcements for the day so he could get some much needed sleep.
"Can't do nothing about it now," he says to himself as he pushes off the stump he was sitting on. "I'll sleep when I get back."
For the next few hours he patrolled before heading back to camp. He was walking slower and unsteady and it worried the two zanpakuto to the point that Shiro had to take over before the teen ended up in the swamp water.
"Fuck King ya know what happens when ya use our power for long periods of time on top of being sleep deprived." Shiro growled as he made his way over to the check point.
The zanpakuto stomped past the surprised guards who were to frozen to stop him as he let out half his power. Everything was running from the possess teen; everything but Keith who looked surprised but unlike everyone else didn't run.
"Hey dumbass take care of King; he needs sleep and food so don't let him do any more stupid shit," Shiro snarled before giving Ichigo back his body which would have fallen if Keith hadn't unfrozen and caught him.
He stares at the snoring orangette stun and judging by the silence of the camp he wasn't the only one. "What the hell just happen?" he asks but the only one who could answer him was fast asleep in his arms. Signing Keith gave orders to those loyal to Ichigo that if the Colonel needed them to come and get him at his tent before he carried the teen back to his tent. Keith wasn't about to leave Ichigo unattended while in a vulnerable state.
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Chapter End.
Thank you for reading.