Warnings: fighting, missing body parts, and this and that. also after this I am taking a short break, just to recharged. promise to be back in two weeks.

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

Keith watch the orange hair teen sleep as he munched on some dried crackers. It had been two days since the teen collapsed due to exhaustion and under the orders of a high ranking medical staff Keith was to let the teen sleep until he woke then the teen was to report to the medical tent for further evaluation. But the Colonel had order Keith to ignore those orders and wake the orangette up right then and there saying that the Prince was not to be treated no differently than the rest. It was a Captain who was a doctor who may be lower in rank but had firmly told the officer that want part of his orders would be taken as special treatment when he would have order the same thing to a different person. He also added that when it came to the medical parts of a unit a doctor outranked everyone including a Kings.

It didn't go over well as the Colonel didn't like it when someone defied him. A line had been drawn then as several soldiers chose sides. Not an ideal situation for a military unit during a war and Keith doubted that Ichigo wanted it to happen with him being at the center. Keith really wished that he had proof of something anything just to get the officer off their back but he nor anyone that sided with him got nothing. He was brought out his thoughts by Ichigo mumbling in his sleep before turning over.

Keith snorted holding back a laugh at his friend. He couldn't get over the fact that the teen could look so different when he was sleeping. Keith also remember when the teen stumble into camp two days ago it was freighting to see as his friend stared him down with hard gold and black eyes. if they weren't bad then the voice that clearly wasn't Ichigo added to the effect and Keith wouldn't lie if asked if he was scared.

"You just love to throw things at people don't cha?" he says to the sleeping orangette.

Keith didn't except an answer as he went back to eating his dried cracker. When the teen woke up Keith was planning on asking him just what he saw two days ago and wasn't going to drop it till the teen told him. but first Ichigo needed to wake up and take over the unit that was close to imploding in on itself. He was sure that Ichigo could fix the crumbling unit.

It was near evening when Ichigo showed the first signs of waking and Keith was quick to send someone to go inform the doctor. The orangette twitched and grumbled before he stretched his body out as he started to sit up.

"Damn," he yawned. "I feel like shit."

"I don't doubt it; you were fast asleep when you came into camp. You practically scared the crap out of your fan group collapsing like that," Keith said from his position at the front of the tent.

Ichigo had the dignity to blush in embarrassment at that but it quickly morphs into a scowl. "Sorry."

"Nah don't worry about it as your comrades we should've pick up on that and kept you back so you could've gotten more rest before reaching this point." Keith side glance the teen before giving the entrance his full attention. "The bastard wanted to drive you into the ground, but one of the doctors step in and took control of you. I was placed here to make sure you got your beauty rest, again under doctors' orders, but that only last till you woke up and I hand you off to that doc for further evaluation."

Ichigo grumbled something before talking out loud, "I was just tired I'm fine now."

"Ah but ya see that other you threaten that I better keep you rested or he'll show us how frightening you can be," he said with a grin.

"H-he what...damn it Zangetsu," the teen seethed before going still.

Keith was curious he had seen Ichigo do that and look completely zoned out yet be aware of his surroundings. It had been temping to do something to the teen while he was in this state but Keith reframed since he didn't want to die just yet. Ichigo twitched again and opened his brown eyes staring apologetic at Keith.

"Sorry about them they can be over protective sometimes," the teen said.

"um okay I don't know who you're talking about but I really would like a full explanation later if ya don't mind," Keith says with a slightly confused but firm tone.

Ichigo was a little hesitant but reluctantly agreed. They sat in silence until a tray of food came and was planted in front of both. Ichigo drove in while Keith looked on very amused. Once they were done Keith took Ichigo to the doctors tent then left the teen and headed back to his own duties.

oOooOooOooOooOo

Ichigo was back on patrol a two days later being giving the all clear from the doc who wasn't as scary as Unohana but was like Jason back at the castle. He even asked Ichigo if it would become a habit of his to be in the healing tent more often than not before sighing and sending the orangette on his way. Ichigo was grateful that the man understood that he was a fast healer but hated that he was order by the doc. to shorten his patrols or share them so he could get some rest in between.

"I can't shorten them nor do I want anybody else dealing with that death trap," grumble Ichigo.

Ichigo took the order under consideration but had yet to tell others about it choosing instead to just take short breaks and carry more food and water. He wasn't surprise when he began to notice that his clothes that were beginning to disintegrate were patched up and left on his bed when he returned. Unlike the others in his unit Ichigo didn't wear the heavy armor that the knights wore he was one of the few who wore a short sleeve chainmail shirt under a thick leather vest. Thigh high boots that the straps cress cross around his legs allowing more freedom. On his wrist was something similar that strapped on at his middle finger that wrapped around the wrist half way to his elbow.

While his chainmail protected him the clothes covering it took the most damage. Ichigo didn't want anybody doing something that they didn't have to but when he confronted Keith the man was tight lipped and had a tendency to change the subject making the teen very suspicious. But he soon drops the matter seeing that no one he questioned would tell him it was frustrating.

So he was back in the swamp fighting off the flora and fauna but unlike all the other times he was here there were no Shinigami waiting which didn't rise any concern but going on two days of not seeing or hearing from them from any of the other patrols were sending red flags.

"An enemy doesn't just stop just like that without reason," Ichigo said. "They're up to something and I have bad feeling about it."

His zanpakuto agreed with him but since Ichigo couldn't predict the future he couldn't tell where the enemy will strike but he did know that it wasn't going to be like the little pin pricks that they have been giving them until now.

But his commanding officer didn't react and when such concerns were brought up by other soldiers he dismissed them saying that they were just being too paranoid. Ichigo however wasn't so sure and had begun to check up on the other patrols using what speed technique he could use. It did cause a little bit of energy drain but to him it was worth it. It was not however worth it when Keith caught him doing it and had all but dragged him to the mess tent and told him that if he insisted on continuing he better get enough food and sleep and then warned him that he better follow those rules because on misstep on his part would have him confine to the healing tent.

"Ya need to trust them a bit more Ichigo, some of them know what they're doing and you can't be everywhere," the blond had told him. "We are grateful that our Prince is concern about us that he would run himself into the ground but we rather you didn't do that."

Ichigo sighed, "Fine but you promise that you'll call for help if it gets too bad; right?"

"Yep, wouldn't want our resident mother hen to go bald," Keith teased.

"Not a mother hen," Ichigo mumbled into his food.

Keith laughed and was soon joined by the others in the tent Ichigo turned red. He raced through his food trying to get out quickly before he became more of a target. Being one of the youngest had its disadvantages and Ichigo wasn't used to being in that position. But he can't say that he wasn't enjoying it either.

The teen wonder back to camp after another boring patrol with only the bugs for company. With him getting his patrols done the Colonel had decided to add more to his list. Now Ichigo had to add digging latrines on top of his patrols; he hadn't escape the teasing because of his new assignment. He just hopes he didn't get sick from having trudge through the disgusting mess.

oOooOooOooOooOooOo

it was official, Ichigo hated his commanding officer, while at first he didn't like him that had changed when he had been spending weeks doing latrine duty. Half that time was spent fighting off a nasty stomach bug. It was so bad that the teen had sworn off food for a time until he was found out by one of his new friends who had dragged him to Keith who, with the help of the mess tent staff, forced him to eat.

Going on his solo patrols was a blessing since it got him away from the stench and his CO. During one of his patrols Ichigo had come upon a clear fresh water spring and that was what he had been using to cleansed himself of the filth. Even if the water was near freezing it was ten times better then what he had been wading through.

He had told no one of this discovery, it was like his own secret hideaway, and he was enjoying every minute of it. Stripped of his leather and mail Ichigo not caring that he underwear got wet slid right into the water letting its cold waters numb his aching body.

"This feels nice," he says to the air. "I have never been so glad for cold water."

"You may like it but I hate it, its fucking freezing in here King!"

"You're not the one doing manual labor hollow so you don't get to complain," Ichigo shot back.

"Who do you think keeps your ass from dying dip shit?"

"I would say myself but that be bragging."

"Tch smart ass."

"I learned from the best," Ichigo smirked as he ducks under water and staying under for a few second before coming back up for air. "Besides when I get back the bathing tents are already closed and its usually too dark to go the stream. This is just easier."

"Whatever," Shiro pouted. "I am sooo bored King, you haven't come to fight me in ages."

"I sparred with you two days ago," Ichigo rolled his eyes at his zanpakuto's childish behavior. "you can wait one more day."

"But I'm bored now."

sighing Ichigo got out of the water and letting the air dry him, he was going to ignore the sword and continue on with his route but he shushed Shiro as he caught a whiff of smoke. Usually it wouldn't have raised any alarms but Ichigo had a very bad feeling, he started to move back to camp; the smell becoming stronger the closer he got. He ran faster when he saw the smoke rising over the tree tops and the sounds of metal hitting metal following the cries of pain. Ichigo cursed when he saw the first bodies, he knew them had breakfast with them that morning and now they were lying on the ground with arrows sticking out of their necks.

His new friends, comrades, were under attack and he already lost two of them. Ichigo snarled and charged into the fray. He cut down the first shinigami he came across quickly; he didn't even stop before killing another. So angered and caught up that Ichigo hadn't noticed that he was using both Zangetsu nor did he see that he wasn't wearing neither mail or leather or his boots for that matter. It was a moot point at the moment.

When he got to the command tent all he found was a smoking crater and charred bodies surrounding it. He didn't have much time to think on what had happen when he saw Keith trying to defend the healers tent with only one arm, the other hanging uselessly at his side. He forced power to his legs propelling him over to the man and slashing down three soldiers in the process. Keith whip around and gave the teen a strained smile.

"Glad you could join us," he said.

"Well they say the guest of honor is fashionably late."

"Just don't make a habit of it, it might be seen as rude to our guest who decide to come unannounced."

Ichigo did smirk but he saw that others needed help as well but he couldn't be at each battle so with a burst of his hollow side infused reiatsu he blasted the area causing a small paused in the fighting, not long but just enough that he could be heard.

"Listen up I want everyone to form up and start pushing these bastards out!" he yelled. "All those who can fight defend the healers and those that can't. Keith take one side while I take the other and we'll flank them."

"Are you serious? Our lines are breached we should retreat while we can." One soldier said only to flinched at Ichigo's glare.

"If we break here then that leaves all the people on this side vulnerable including the other units." Ichigo shot off more power until it became visible. "Our families are back there our homes everything that we care for, we are the only thing right now stopping them from taking it all away. So are you just going to run and hide or are you going to protect what's important!"

Shouts from his comrades to his words filled the battle field and the invading shinigami looked frighten. Ichigo gave a predatory smile at them as he raced to the front lines and sent a small black getsua tenshou at the closest enemy. Its impact shook the ground causing panic but not to his comrades who took the moment to strike back. It was slow going but soon the tide was turned in their favor but then it changed when out of the dark a mountain of a man stepped out.

"You wimps can even handle some baby fighters," the spikey mountain with an eyepatch said with disgust. "Let me show you how it's done."

With a swing that could chop a person in half the man struck his blade, however it was met with one just as dangerous. Ichigo hid the fact that the hit numbed his arm but he ignored that and pushed the grinning man off.

"Finally someone who can stand at my level," the man laughs. "This is going the best night of my life!"

Ichigo said nothing, he didn't even show any indication that he recognized the voice and outline of the man to be Kenpachi Zaraki. They skipped right over that and went straight to fighting; their subordinates watched on all knowing that it would be suicidal to interfere. Ichigo wasn't having the same amount of trouble when he had face the Kenpachi of his world but that didn't mean that this one was any less trouble. The teen was able to land hits that bleed but the man in front of him was like a juggernaut with stone steel skin and the man's hits left the teen battered.

"I got to end this," Ichigo gritted his teeth.

"Aw don't do that this is just getting good," Kenpachi said as he lunges at the teen.

Ichigo blocks and sends the shorter Zangetsu to the man's chest. The strike going from the shoulder to the others hip, but it didn't slow Kenpachi down just made him grin the more insanely. The orangette jumps back to avoid a fatal blow to his stomach however it distracted him from the strike that came seconds after. The teen felt the hit and lightness that followed, he knew that he just lost the larger blade of Zangetsu along with the arm that was attached to it. It was thanks to his Quincy side that he wasn't bleeding to death.

"What that it you're going to be whining now how bor-

Kenpachi was cut off by Ichigo stabbing him threw the hollow of his throat, the two stared at each other before the giant moved. Ichigo using the man's chest jump clear as the man fell but he wasn't surprise to see him still alive and laughing.

"This fights over take your Captain and go!" Ichigo shouted.

Those still living didn't have to be told twice as they fled with a still laughing Kenpachi who just as he disappeared in to the trees shouted that he wanted a rematch. Ichigo however was being dragged back by his unit all very happy that they won and all in awe that Ichigo survived fighting one of the Captains of the Sereitiei. Ichigo started to shout orders as he went to find his other blade when Keith yanked him up.

"You idiot get to the healers before you bleed to death!"

His shout had those closest looking in horrified shock at the teens stump of an arm. Ichigo's attitude wasn't helping. But by then he was being pushed not only by Keith but all of his comrades.

"It's not that bad honestly; it's not even bleeding!" he tried to reason. "There are others who need the healer's attention more." He was ignored.

"Dumbass take better care of yourself!" Keith went on.

With no escape route Ichigo let himself be man handled by his comrades to the healers tent which was in better condition then the rest of the camp. The Captain in charge gave him one look and pointed to a spot near those that weren't that badly injured.

"He isn't bleeding and isn't dead so he can wait till someone gets to him," he had said. "Why don't you tell him what our new problem is before things get worst."

Ichigo looked on confused, he didn't things could get worst and he wonder what new problem. With the face Keith was giving him Ichigo figure that he wouldn't like the answer to that.

oOooOooOooOooOo

throwing his bed roll in his new tent that once belong to their missing Colonel, Ichigo sighed. Flexing his new arm, he grinned at the memory of the shocked looks that everyone gave him when he showed off his regeneration powers. But it turned to a frown when he remembers how he ended up as the new leader of his unit. Apparently the giant charred crater that he saw during the battle was what was left of the command tent.

All he could get out of any witnesses was that a huge bolt of lightning had struck the tent killing those inside. However, the body count from that wasn't adding up though he guesses it shouldn't if the lightning incinerated some of the remains.

The teen sighed again, he had no idea how to lead people. He was out of his element and he wished that the only other officer would take over but that couldn't happen right now. So he ordered everyone to take inventory of what was left, had some guard the perimeter, and had some couriers leave to send reports to the other units both to give warning and to tell them what the situation is.

"This is one giant mess that I got myself in," he went about cleaning his own place before armoring up and leaving. He was going to call a meeting to get a chain of command going. He knew enough to get that done at least. He just didn't see how this war would hit him so hard.

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Chapter End.

Thanks for reading.