Warning: this and that.

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

Ichigo sat at a table glaring at the reports that were piled in front of him, all were not good news. After the attack that left them without almost any officers, Ichigo was given command though not by his choice. The only other officers were the doctor and his staff and three others who too injured to take over, one being unrecognizable. They would have to wait till he woke to find out who he was.

Over the following twenty-four hours Ichigo had learn that the attack had done more damage than at first believe. The shinigami had penetrated further then they thought and cut the communication lines and had destroyed the roads that were the supplies routes. So now his unit was cut off from the rest of the army and Ichigo had tried sending out couriers to reestablish communications, but all had come back with the same story. The communication outposts were burnt to the ground everyone, people and animal, were dead. The nearest unit was too far for a courier to ride without a fresh horse and Ichigo thought of using their birds to send the message for help but like most things that had gone wrong, the birds had been lost, either they were dead or they flew off in fright. The communication stones weren't working either; it was like they were being jammed.

For now, his couriers were pulling double duty by watching over the outposts until he could figure out a way to use them again or how far the jamming field for the stones reached. The supply lines might have to go the same way or Ichigo will have to make a new way to get supplies. All of it was making his head hurt.

"Damn it how does the Head Captain and the King deal with this," Ichigo went over report after report but the news kept getter worst until he just stops and walked out. "Reading isn't going to help me now."

Ichigo survey his now smaller unit trying to figure out his next move. He knew that he needed to get his supply lines back up and his communications, but he couldn't leave this area undefended. If he sent out groups to secure the lines, then he leaves those left open to any attacks but is he doesn't then who knows when the rest of the army would be aware of their situation. What also bothered him was that he couldn't leave with the groups to help, being in charge meant he had to stay here where he was needed.

"I hate feeling like this," he has all this power yet he couldn't do anything. Tactics wasn't he strong suit he was the one that goes in and fight not the one in back giving orders.

"Oh shut your whining King, you have that blondie and others to do that. Stop focusing on what you can't do and more on what you can." Ichigo was silent and he felt that he wasn't the only one. "What?" his hollow asks after a while.

"You said something smart," the teen still stunned could see the offended look Shiro was giving him.

"Fuck you King," the hollow says turning away then sat down in a huff.

"Though you're not wrong," Ichigo said trying to apologize to the zanpakuto. "I just hope they're not excepting much from me."

"I highly doubt that, they look to you because you give off an arura of strength. So when they found themselves adrift they looked to the one that they trust."

"When did that happen and how? I don't remember doing anything to earn their trust?" Ichigo wondered and it was a memory of one of his talks with Keith that gave him some idea. 'but still we haven't been together long enough for them to trust me that much.'

"You are sooo dense King," Shiro cut in soon after that thought. "Did you know the giant and the girl long enough for them to give you their trust or the four eyed jerk? Or the Vizards? No ya didn't; hell even that blond idiot gave you some high level of trust after a short time."

"Yeah well…that," Ichigo had nothing to say to that and his zanpakuto knew it. "alright alright I get it, it's just not something that sits well."

"you'll get used to it, you never notice it before because you were around the others longer and you had other things to worry about."

"Tch, not like nothing changed; ya just fall back into habit and do what ya think is best."

"I guess," Ichigo went down to find Keith and the others that he had put in charge. He needed to have ideas and the only way he could think of getting them is to have others start bouncing ideas.

But he knew one thing, they have to get those outposts back up and running. Even if the birds and stones were now useless Ichigo could find other ways to get word out. He just hopes that he doesn't get others killed doing it.

oOooOooOooOooOo

Turns out Ichigo wasn't the only one stumped on what to do. But he did get an idea out of the meeting with his officers. He was going to us his soldier's knowledge of the area to his advantage, but he did wonder why the late Colonel never did. He tossed the thought aside and went back his idea. He was going to have his soldiers that knew how to navigate the swamp and woods create a new supply route and communication line. Both were rather a huge undertaking but it was something that needed to be done and the good thing, they wouldn't have to do any type of construction.

It was also a big risk, by letting his men do this he was effectively leaving his own area open. But, much to Keith's and the others annoyance, Ichigo had come up with a way to counter that. It was just not a good idea on any fronts. Keith being to first to point that out.

"That's not one of the sanest ideas I have ever heard; you're practically leaving yourself open to get taken again." The big man sighed in irritation. He finally had the teen tell him almost everything so he knew that if Ichigo did this he would be worn out and slower than normal right after.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Ichigo scowled back his own temper being shorter than normal. "Didn't you say to trust the others?" throwing Keith's own words back at him.

The man sighed before reluctantly agreeing but he said very firmly that he was placing someone to be his temporary replacement until he got back. Ichigo just rolled his eyes but nodded. They spent the next few days gathering who they could to send out. The ended up with a five person groups, ten people total, one that was in charge of communications the other was going to create a new supply line that only Ichigo's group will know to navigate. He was going to keep the old one so if the shinigami were to attack it again they would go after the fake while his unit still got their supplies.

"It's now that I wish that I knew kido," he mused out loud. "A barrier would be great right about now."

"Well, you'll think of something." Keith patted him on the back as he went to his group. Ichigo watched as they faded into the woods on their way to the first outpost.

'it's going to be a little quiet now.'

"Don't jinx yourself King."

"I agree."

'whatever,' the orangette snorts before going back to his own group. He didn't have to shout out orders like he thought he would have to but he'll be damn if he lets them stick him behind a desk. "Alright, let's go check up on everybody," he says mostly to his zanpakuto.

The next few weeks were relevantly quiet and while that was something the made the teen suspicious he had to admit that it gave them time to put their defenses in place. He had come up with an idea that might give them a very slight edge. He had his two only remaining engineers with help from volunteers dig pot holes and small mounds, or in other words large speed bumps, placed randomly around their perimeter in a set pattern that only his men knew. He figures that not every shinigami was a racing high jumper.

"Now if only I can figure out who was causing us trouble around camp," the orangette glared at the remains of what was once one of their storage buildings. Luckily this one was an empty so nothing was missing destroyed when the building went up in smoke. However, it wasn't the first time an incident like this has happen.

At first it was small things that soon escalated to their current situation. Ichigo was the usual target of the majority of these incidents. He was in the old building when it started to filled with smoke and got out with only minor damage to his clothing. It was becoming something of an annoyance now and he wasn't the only one to think so, but those under his command were more concern about him though they didn't mother hen him like some others he wouldn't name.

Ichigo still wouldn't wear the heavy armor that he saw most other commanding officers wear, but he had been using both Zangetsu more frequently and when using said blade was able to create an unstable barrier around him. it repelled more often than not but the side effects of long term use were draining, it was something only the doc knew about.

"Speaking of," the teen changed direction from going to the mess tent to the healers. The tent was also targeted by whoever was toying with them though they have managed to come out none the worst thanks to the Captains quick actions.

Ichigo had taking to calling the head medic doc. for the man didn't like to be called by his name. Ichigo could see that while the good doctor was stern and could be strict the man was one of the best that the teen had seen. Plus, it helped that many of the medical staff present respected him even with his attitude. So, it wasn't a surprise when the teen found himself comparing the Doctor to Ryuken Ishida. They were very similar yet…

"Hold still you idiot!" shouting reached the teens ears before he came even close the healers tents. The teen sighed. He hadn't been all that surprised when he first heard the doc cursing up a storm to his former CO. it was the only thing that separated the man from Ishida's father. "Now listen you little pipsqueak, you're going to take your medicine and like it understand?"

Ichigo could hear the whimpered yes and felt more the saw the frighten soldier who had caught the doctors notice run for his life. The young man shuddered as those piercing gray eyes landed on him though he kept his scowl in placed the teen was ready to bolt. The man snorted before waving the young commander over.

"Must you scare my subordinates?" the teen asked.

"If they would do as their told then they wouldn't need to be scared."

"True but let's be frank; those medicines…taste awful," the orangette made a gagging sound. Again the doctor snorted before pointing to one of the beds giving Ichigo no time to argue.

"Hop up," the doc commanded and when Ichigo gave the man a look the doc rolled his eyes. "your heath is top priority unless we are in battle. And since you attract trouble like a dog does fleas then I need to check you over at least once a day before I am satisfied."

It was Ichigo's turn to rolled his eyes but he got up on the bed without argument. He only came to make sure that nothing was missing since the last time the healers were targeted. So while he was being checked over he asked that the staff so a quick inventory of their supplies. He was handed a long sheet of paper as soon as the words left his mouth. The teen smirked at the grumbling doc who pushed away from him.

"So far nothing of importance has been damage nor stolen but these little incidents are becoming very annoying," the man turned from Ichigo and set his sights on another soldier that wondered too closely to the tent. Ichigo watched as the poor man was dragged back into the tent and disappear further down in it.
the teen took that que to leave, with the long list of things that were missing he continued on his path. His next stop was to find his resource officer, the one who he placed in charge of collecting and managing the limited supplies they have. Ichigo had everyone looking out for the culprits but with the way the they attack them, especially him, he was considering it the be an inside job.

"I don't need this right now; why can't they wait till after the war to get their grudge act going?"

"Jeez King, quit whining," Shiro Zangetsu said. "Just kick their asses when you catch them and string um up for it."

"Well excuse me for whining on something that people whine about," Ichigo growled as he enters his own tent throwing the scrolls on the large table before going to the part of his tent that house living quarters. "This is frustrating."

The teen landed on his cot and soon found himself in his inner world. He quickly duck as Shiro Zangetsu swung at him but instead if shouting back Ichigo attack. They sparred for about two hours before calling it quits, not because they were tired but because Ichigo would have to rejoined the world of the living.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah, it's nice fighting without limitations," Ichigo laid down on the cool steel building with Shiro standing over him. they stayed like that before Shiro joined the teen. It wasn't until the Ichigo felt that someone was shaking him that he vanished and woke up to one of his officers that Keith had appoint to keep an eye on him. He was one of the braver ones that wouldn't flinch to some of the teens expressions. 'Avalon I think his name is.'

"Sir they struck again," Ichigo growled but the soldier was quick to add. "But the soldiers on duty tonight manage to catch one." The teen gave a feral grin before having the soldier lead the way.

They came upon a squirming figure that was on the ground tied up like a living present. Someone even stuff a sock in the man's mouth. The teen couldn't but think of the man looking like a dressed up turkey.

"Well so your one of the ones trying to off me and stealing my men's supplies," he was letting a little bit of Shiro come through and to add to the effect was having the hollow turn his warm brown irises to gold and double tone his voice. His men were used to it since he had reveal some of his powers to them the capture man wasn't. "Alright little man who is leading you?"

"I-I w-w-will n-not say anything," the man was afraid but stubborn and Ichigo had to give him props for not crying out but the teen wasn't having it with the mans will power.

"Not the right answer," the orangette got eye level and grinned. He was letting his power leak and watch in satisfaction as the man cower and all Ichigo was doing was staring at him.

It didn't take long for the man to crack, "Alright alright please no more!" he shouted panting, "He'll kill anybody that gets in his way and you have been a thorn in his side since you joined up. So don't think you will live long brat, our true leader will take over this little shit hole of a Kingdom and all your family and your soldiers will watch as he takes you head but," here he paused as Ichigo's anger rose. Gulping the man foolishly continue, "But I know that he has had an eye on the Queen, such a lovely figure and able to birth strong sons. I know he'll want to have a taste—

A loud echoing crack had everything living stilled. The source was Ichigo who had drove his fist into the ground very close to the man's head. Gone was Ichigo in his stead was the one who the warrior who fought against foes that would put many to same. Hard eyes glared down at the man and the soldiers wisely step back.

"You dare threaten my men and their families then dare to say that your coward of a leader will go after my mother?" Ichigo's feral grin turned to one borderline insane. "your leader couldn't stand up against her ladies in waiting who have no military training at all but he won't get that far to begin with." the teen stood up his power had risen with his anger but since his men were so use to him now they barely felt it. Thought Avalon was ready to take the teen back to the healers after this but no one needed to know that. "Take him to the post and tied him up may—

Ichigo didn't get to finish his orders as an arrow shot through the man's chest killing him instantly. The teen whipped his head in the direction that it came from searching for the one who shot it. He found nothing, whoever it was was good enough to leave no tracks. Growling he order the body to be disposed of and left, Avalon walking two steps behind him.

"Ya know that you don't have to walk behind me right?"

"Yes sir but I though why let them know that using your power leaves you fatigue."

"Ah, well let's go since I know that you'll herd me that way anyway," Ichigo said changing course.

"I wouldn't have too if you didn't do things that warrant it sir."

Before entering the healing tent Ichigo turned to his second. "he was once part of this unit right? Go through his records and see who he buddies with. I learned that those like him come in packs."

Avalon nodded before ushering the weary teen inside and promptly stepped out of the way when the doctor yanked the orangette over to the bed. the soldier ignored the yelp that his commanding officer made at the action. The man had seen what his cousin Keith had said when the other had told him to look after his new best friend. He didn't want to be the one who have to tell the man that the Prince was playing with fire.

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Chapter End.

Thanks for reading.