Warnings: this and that.

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

Ichigo stared at the cruelly drawn map. The markings on it showed that the King was going to be overrun if there wasn't anyone blocking the oncoming Sereitiei forces. The information was given to him from Rukia who was sent by the rebel's for what reason Ichigo didn't know, but the situation wasn't good. He thought of sending Rukia to the frontlines in hoping that her message would reach the King but that had been shot down when she told him that she had already tried that.

Ever since Kaien's and Shiro's abduction no one that wasn't part of the command staff or part of the army itself wasn't getting close to the King. That included the castle too. It was one of the reasons that Kaien and Shiro were now packing to head up there. though it left a bitter taste in Ichigo's mouth that he couldn't give them extra support.

Looking back at the map he was thinking on calling a meeting for all his officers wanting to get their opinions on the matter. Not much good that would do though, everyone in his unit was green as grass and what King Isshin needed was those who could back him up. While Ichigo knew that they could do it and it was the first thing that pop in his head he couldn't leave his current position without some group taking over for his.

If he could get that then he would march his unit of greenhorns to one area that only guarded by a small group of near retired soldiers. It was a small town near one of the big rivers running through that kingdom and it had one of the only bridges for miles and if the enemy took it then that left the main armies back easily open to attack. Once taken by either side it was also a place that was in the middle of easy and hard to defined. But Ichigo knew that if he even tried that his unit would take a heavy hit. It was something that he couldn't just go ahead and do and for once he wished for a more experience opinion.

"What can I do?" Ichigo tilted his chair back and listened to the noise of the camp.

Since he became use to his new life Ichigo hadn't been a rash as he used to be. Since having to take over a small military unit he had to be more than just one taking everything on. He could blame it on those who became family and new friends not to say anything about his old world and everyone there. it was just that even if he had more responsibility here those around him didn't let him take all on his shoulders alone. Which left him time to just listen and think and learn.

"Well, since ya asked I can give ya a few ideas or an ear. Whichever comes first," the teen opened one eye to look as the grinning blond that just entered his tent.

"that was a rhetorical question Keith," Ichigo said.

"Yeah, but the offer still stands." The tent went quiet Ichigo still staring at the map and Keith watching the young Prince. "piece of gold for yer thoughts."

"My thoughts aren't worth that much," Ichigo snorted but was grateful that his SIC hadn't left yet. "I have an idea but…I don't know how to do it."

Keith was curious, he kind of figure that the newest information that the little woman had brought them had disturb all three Princes. Add to the fact that both Kaien and Shiro lack their own SIC their squads were near lacking man power. His own unit wasn't up in the numbers either.

"Well," he said when Ichigo said nothing.

The teen jerked like he was brought out his thoughts before pointing to a spot of the map. "Here this bridge uh-

"Cambridge."

"Yeah Cambridge, well from what I can see that if the Shinigami manage to overtake that then they would have a foothold and be able to launch attacks to the main army. While also cutting all those on this side of it off to support and supplies."

"Alright, but that bridge isn't the only way to the main army, I mean we were able to create new routes-

"But in order for our supplies to even start at those new routes they need to cross the Crate. That river nearly cuts this part of the country into."

"Oh."

"un huh, so now you that if that one of the main bridges gets taken then what about the others further up and down," Ichigo looked back at Keith. "we need to secure at least one of those bridges."

"I can see that; is that way their Highnesses are fixing to head out?" Keith asks.

"yeah, even without Grimmjow and Shinji the Espada's and Vizards might had a chance of getting one of the northern bridges but with what Rukia told us they might have to fight before they can even get there." Ichigo sighed, "No, the only one so far that we know that hasn't fallen into enemy hands is the Cambridge and we are the only unit close enough to guard or at least give the soldiers there a hand."

"I hear a 'but' there."

"If we leave our position we will be leaving it wide open."

"Ah I see."

Ichigo wondered if the blond actually did but he wasn't going to comment on that. Instead he went back to thinking he was going to ask Zangetsu input but strangely that zanpakuto was quiet. He planned on going in to his inner world later to see what was going on.

"If we could find a way to keep our area guarded and still be able to get over to the village of-

"Macaw."

Ichigo glared at the smiling blond, "the village of Macaw then we would be in a position to keep those bastards off the army's back until the main unit is able to deal with the biggest threat."

"And if they don't?"

Ichigo stop himself before words could get out is his mouth and just stared in shock at Keith. The question caught him off guard that he didn't have an answer.

"Ya have to admit Ichigo that the possibility is there. what are you going to do if this we lose this war? We can't be holding that little village if the rest of the army scatters? Our soldiers have families too."

"I-I know that but" again he stopped he had no words the idea wasn't one he wanted to entertain.

"Ya can't just ignore that Ichigo. Look I am not saying that we will lose or anything but just pointing out that we aren't that biggest army compared to our enemies."

Ichigo sat there, head bowed he heard Keith sigh before the creaking of the chair next to him let the teen know that the bigger man was seating next to him. The orangette knew that the other was right he lived through that outcome once and that was enough for him.

"you know how some names have meaning to them?" he asked his question throwing the older man off.

"yeah, my elder brother's name has something like that." Keith wonder what he was getting at.

"in my native language my name can be translated into two meanings depending on the one doing the translating." Ichigo looked back at Keith brown eyes burning with determination, "It means one who protects or number one guardian."

Keith leaned back after sitting ram rod straight from the intensity of those brown eyes. "yeah, it suits you." He smiled, "I am guessing that this little lesson means that you have made up your mind?"

"Yeah it does," the teen says as he gets up. "I just hope that the trust I giving them won't blow back in my face."

Keith was confused, "Whose them?"

But Ichigo was already out of the tent, "Hey Ichigo whose them!" but Keiths question went unanswered as he watched the orangette headed to the other side of the camp where their guest was currently staying. "Huh, that's who."

The blond decided that instead of waiting on the Ichigo's orders he would get a jumpstart on them. so he sent runners to the healers and the mess staff with the orders to start packing up. Everyone else was told to keep the tents up till time to leave but to start getting ready to move out.

OOooOooOooOooOooOooOo

The village of Macaw wasn't anything like the image that came to Ichigo's mind. When he thought about it he figures that the village was just as colorful as the bird if was name after. Instead of the bright blues, reds, and yellows the village was gray with touches of brown. Though it wasn't the worst off of villages that Ichigo had visited it certainly couldn't boast being the best either. Even the bridge has seen better days and the teen wonder how had anything larger than a pony had been able to cross it without it collapsing.

They had arrived in record time when Ichigo had given the word that they would be breaking camp and moving. Many had sat in on the officers meeting that gave the reasons, the plans, and what to expect. Ichigo was expecting some to tell him that they couldn't go against the orders of their current position but to his surprise, not that he should have been surprise, every single one of his men was pack and waiting to depart before his order had left his mouth and before Rukia had sped off to her Captain.

Ichigo hoped that the Shinigami didn't notice that that section of border wasn't guarded until Rukia and her Captain had gotten there to replace them. it was a gamble for him and like he told Keith he hoped that it didn't come to bite him in the ass later.

As if reading his commanders mind Keith had marched up to the orangette's side and spoke low enough that only the teen could hear him. "Don't worry, believe it or not there were some civilian militia that seemed to be impressed by you and had offer to stay and watch the border in our absence until our replacements came. And before you say anything these boys know that back country better than us and can give as good as they get."

While the news was something that should have had the effect of the teens worried dimming it only left him feeling the full weight of his decision. It wasn't like he didn't already feel that weight but now there were lives that weren't even part of his unit. He wasn't sure how to feel so instead he pushed it to the back of his mind for later review and continue with focusing on what he needed to do.

"Keith I need to speak with the officer in charge and the leader of this town," he said to his SIC.

"Yes sir."

"Have the men rest here until I get back." Ichigo continued walking towards the town's main gates.

"Understood sir."

Keith shouted orders while Ichigo started towards the gates he felt the hulking presences of Keith a few steps behind him. he stood there waiting for someone to took note of his own presence and when none was made his temper flared. Ignoring Keith Ichigo took of reishi power fist and struck the gate making it rattle and shake. His actions not only caught his men's attention of those guarding the town.

The teen smirk when several helm heads peered over the wall to look down at him. "Halt who goes there!?"

Ichigo groan at the very cliché question and he could almost feel the quip that Zangetsu wanted to say but he ignores it and stood straight arms clasp behind him and angle his head to stare up at the guard glaring down at him. though Ichigo could care less about that man's glare.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki and I need to talk to you commanding officer and the leader of this village!"

"I have heard not of you boy, and the Captain of the guard has no time for the likes of you!" the guard shouted back with a sneer. "Be gone back to your momma boy and let the real men deal with-

"Why don't you shut up and listen you puff up wind bag!" the shout caused everyone from the unit to the guards on the wall to stare in silence. Ichigo looked behind him to see who had shouted because even if he wanted to say that it wasn't him…this time.

He did enjoy the gob smack look on the guards face though. "Listen sir, if you would get your commanding officer then we'll be able to move from in front of your gate."

When the guard didn't move Ichigo decided to take things into his own hands. Throwing off his cloak and tunic he unfurled his wings and before Keith could say anything jumped into the air. The guards on the wall jerked back in surprised but some were quick enough to bring their weapons up. Ichigo hover there, arms crossed and smirking.

They stared at each other and Ichigo could hear Keith ordering his men to file up. He was going to say something but someone else beat him to it.

"What are you addle brain idiots doing!" Ichigo looked up and over the guards and saw to his amusement one of the soldiers that he had sparred. "are you trying to kill one of the Princes?"

Ichigo watched as the wall guards surprise turn to shock as they lower their weapons. The soldier who yelled stomp up the ladder to the area where Ichigo was hovering. "You going to come down or make an old man get a krink in his neck."

The teen snorted, "Like you would say that you were an old man." He allowed himself to drift down to the rim of the walkway, "But we didn't come here to talk about your age."

"I gather that, mind telling me what your unit doing out this way and not at your post?" the soldier waved for Ichigo to follow him to his men he shouted, "Open those gates and get them youngens in!"

"Ay Sir!"

Ichigo and what he now saw was the commanding officer of the veteran's unit sat in an open room that the mayor of Macaw gave them. If the reason why he was there wasn't so urgent, he would have like to explore the place more.

"Now judging by the latest scuttlebutt, your brothers were kidnap and-

"But we got them back and they headed towards the King." Ichigo interrupted.

"Right, but now the news is that the SIC's of their units are also missing."

"They got captured."

"Ah, so-

"look," Ichigo said getting tired of waiting for them to get to the main point. "We received word that the Sereitiei was going to hit us where we are weakness and that would be the few bridges that covered both the South and North of us. Right now until Kaien and Shiro can get to the ones near them this one is the only one not under Shinigami control."

The old soldier crossed his arms and hummed. Ichigo waited for him to say something. "While this news is bad it was not much that couldn't be sent by courier."

"True but I know that the forces that are coming here would outnumber yours; look I am not here to take over but I only want to add to your defenses," he quickly added more when the old man open his mouth. "It's not like I left my post vulnerable, I left in good hands."

"Oh, well I hope that that trust is well earned." The old man leaned back into his chair. "Well since you're here and I have learned to trust my own gut I'll let you stay, but you and your unit have to follow orders no going off and being hero's." the soldier said sternly.

"That's fine, protecting this bridge so we can get supplies to those on this side of it and protecting the rest of the army's back is all that matters," Ichigo agreed.

"Alright why don't you go get your men settle and my second will show you were to set up you tents. I let you keep your healers with you and your mess staff. No need to separate people. Oh, I think it would be best of we integrate our boys a little bit at a time just so they can get use to everyone. That means you too."

"I understand."

The two stood and left with Ichigo following a respectable distance behind the C.O. when they came to the town square Ichigo saw that Keith and a few men were waiting for him. He quirks an eyebrow at the trio.

"Sir," Keith saluted. "We have already have camp set and are awaiting orders."

"Quite the men ya have there youngen," the old man said with humor.

"Yeah right." The teen said.

He went over to Keith and had them show him where they were at. He saluted the C.O. and after assuring Keith that everything was fine Ichigo left with the feeling that while him bring his unit here was good what was heading their way was going to be one rough time.

oOooOooOooOooOooOo

it was in the middle of that night that the first attack happened. The original unit that was standing guard took the brunt of the attack that consisted of flaming arrows. Luckily, the two units were about to change shifts and Ichigo's men were able to take up the defensive while the injured were taken down to safer areas. It was fortunate that his men had veterans to back them up so after the two joined injures lessen.

Compared to what Ichigo was use to and to what he had already dealt with from the shinigami the night attack was a small pin prick. The feeling that something big was heading their way was still with him when it was his turn to take the wall. It was a chance to get some more experience and maybe some sage advice.

When it was time to switch just as the moon reach the middle of the sky he was all for hitting his cot but just as he was heading towards his units camp the C.O. grab him and pulled him back towards his command tent.

"Before I let you get yer beauty rest I have something to show ya," the old man said.

"Can't it wait till after I get some food or better yet sleep."

"Then I guess that you don't want to read this letter-

"why didn't you say that to begin with old man!"

The area of town they were in went quiet and Ichigo could have sworn that he heard crickets. He also realized that he really shouldn't have shouted at his superior officer. He was only acting Captain before he came here.

"Uh.'

"No worries boy I'm too old to care about all those stuffy titles. Besides, you have your own way of showing respect." The old man said with amusement.

"Right, so what did my fat- I mean the King say?"

The old soldier paused looking at the teen, "Still having trouble calling him dad?"

"Well, it's just."

"Ah no worries lad, I wouldn't be surprise that you would be calling him that before long," he smiled. "Now what his Highness wrote was first he got your little messenger and he was thrill to see both Kaien and Shiro though he did say that next time please report that you're going to go be hero. He will be having words with you once this whole mess is settle, but he is glad that you are safe and are with a more experience unit."

Ichigo sighed he was a little worried that he may have done something that bad in the Kings eyes. He knew that he already overstepped his boundaries and that wasn't the way to get people to listen to you. Unlike those back in his original home no one here knew him that well to take his word serious.

"He says to learn not to step on other people's toes from now on and he wishes that if you feel that you must do another move to please inform the right people," the C.O. continued. "He really lets you get away with a lot you know. Don't do anything to jeopardize that trust lad."

"Never," Ichigo mutter. "is that all?"

"The rest is for me so yeah that's it; go get your sleep I have many plans for all you youngens in the morning."

"Joy."

The teen left the tent to the laughs of the C.O. he took his time getting back to his own tent. He was going to get in touch with Zangetsu before going to bed. It had been too long since he had heard a peep out of blades. But he wouldn't get that chance.

Just as Ichigo entered a deep sleep he was thrown out of his bed by an explosion that rattled the support poles of his tent. He scrambled up and out looking to were the explosion came from.

"Ichigo!" the teen whipped his head towards Keith who was running straight to him. "The Shinigami are trying to overrun us they took out one of the walls."

"How did they get so close," not waiting on the answer the two ran full tilt to the breach.

"It was an inside job, took four of our guys who noticed someone acting strange."

Ichigo growled not slowing down he snatch the nearest person not caring if they were civilian or not, "Get to the command tent and tell them what's happening and that we'll take the hole in the wall. I am sending a few men towards the other areas to boost the vets that need to switch out." he pushed the messenger in the right direction

"And just how are we going to keep a near full battalion of soldiers out of a giant hole with only a third of our troops?" Keith asked.

Ichigo smile that showed all his teeth and in not in friendly way. "Simple, we go full blast on them."

Keith saw that the men that came with them were all those who had really explosive powers, "Well then let's put on a show then."

Ichigo step through the hole knocking the first enemy he saw a few feet before letting them feel just how powerful he really was. He smirks as those that weren't behind him struggle to stand. He let up just enough so they could hear him.

"I'll give you a chance now if you leave you get to live if not then you fall to your fate." He kept his smile when none of the Shinigami left, "That's great I was hoping that this wouldn't be boring."

Behind him he felt Keith and the others transformed and he soon joined them letting out his large black wings. He mentally ran through everything that he had been taught and in the back of his head he felt both Zangetsu rise to the forefront of his mind their power merging with his.

"I say this now so you better listen; none of you will be getting past us and this town or bridge will fall to you."

It was then that Ichigo and his men charged the Shinigami. They met half way in a clash of metal and magic. Ichigo getting most of the attention as he slashed any that came near him. he didn't think about it but when he blocks a blow to his neck he realized that he should've.

Behind him grinning like a mad man was the one person that the teen rather not see on a battle in any world. Kenpachi Zaraki. "We meet again hope that you can give me a fun fight little Prince."

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Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.