Hello and welcome to my first fanfic – 10 years in the making. This is a story that I started and published when I was still in high school. Now almost a decade later I have decided to take it up again. I do not own the charters, bleach and nor am I Tite Kobo.

Chapter One - Homecoming

Ichigo had just got back from a month long trip to his grandmothers when his father requested his presence in his office. Walking down the corridor he gave an audible sigh, his father was a child and never had anything important to say.

"TAKE THAT!"

Ichigo sidestepped to avoid his father's roundhouse kick that came predictably sailing in his direction as he walked through his office door. The King collided with the wall with a rather loud bang, standing up with a grin far too wide for someone who just face-planted a wall. "Well done my son, you have evaded my attack!"

"Whatever old man" Ichigo mumbled as he slumped into one of the large, old leather armchairs.

"My son, Now that you are all grown up, I have decided that it is time for you to become a man." The king declared with triumph.

"What are you babbling on about now?" grumbled his son with disinterest.

"My dear, dear son, it is time you were married… and I have picked the perfect bride for you." He said with glee.

"W-W-What?" Ichigo was in a state of complete shock, he had only just turned twenty-one, and his father was already marring him off. "I c-c-can't, I won't."

"Why?" replied his father with a sulking face.

"Because… There is no way I am going to marry some stuck up, rich, spoilt little girl that just wants to be a princess!" and with that he got up and walked out of the office leaving his father sulking like a child but missing the mischievous grin that spread across his face as he watched his son stomp off.

Orihime walked up the marble steps and through the large, oak front door. She was glowing, her hair was shining in the sun and her smile was dazzling, but her heart… her heart was in despair. She had been abroad for almost six years now and today she was finally going home. Leaving the beautiful city of Venice would have been enough to dull the heart of any young lady, but this was different. Orihime had been the ward of Lord Aizen since the death of her family when she was four. He was a cruel man, with no love in his heart and with a smile so evil, it rivalled that of the devil himself. Now she was back in his charge with a fake smile blasted on her face, trying desperately to hide her fear. She heard the hushed voices of servants as she walked inside and down the hall toward one of the many sitting rooms, the one where he would be waiting.

"Orihime, welcome home, my dear." He did not turn around to welcome her.

"My Lord." She bowed gracefully at his back.

"I have good news, you are to be married to the heir of the Royal Kurosaki family, Crowned Prince Ichigo Kurosaki." He stated with indifference.

"W-W-What?" she was in a state of complete shock, she was not yet eighteen and he was already marring her off. "I c-c-can't get m-m-married, I won't."

At this, Aizen turned to look at her, she was different from how he remembered her; when he sent her abroad to further her education, she was just an eleven-year-old girl. What stood before him now was a beautiful young woman, she was thin but voluptuous, short but still clearly a fully-grown woman. Her face had thinned out giving her a more womanly appearance. She was truly the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, but she was worth a lot as an exchange and as he could not have her for himself, he would exchange her to help achieve his goals. He gave an inaudible sigh and took two quick steps towards her. She heard a loud slap before she felt a searing pain across her left cheek.

"You will do as you are told" and with that, he left her standing in the sitting room completely shocked. He always was a scary guardian but he had never laid a hand on her before, not once.

~ One week later ~

It had been a week since their brother had returned home from visiting their grandmother and he was still angry. Yuzu and Karin were eating breakfast while watching the King and Prince fight. All week their brother and father had been fighting on whether or not Ichigo would marry Lady Inoue. She was the ward of Sosuke Aizen, a very powerful and dangerous man, but the King was determined to have Lady Inoue as a daughter-in-law and Ichigo was determined to choose his own bride in his own time.

"JUST TELL ME WHY? Why are you so hung up on me marrying a complete stranger?" Ichigo yelled through the breakfast parlour.

All of a sudden, the king stopped his antics and turned towards his son. His face was no longer the face of a stubborn child but that of a wise man, it was the face of a king.

"The late Lady Inoue was your mothers' best friend. She died almost fourteen years ago. It was your mothers wish that Inoue be brought into the royal family and that when you both became of age you would be married. Somehow, her custody fell into the hands of Aizen who declined all offers for her to move in with us at the palace. Your mom would visit her at least once a week until she too passed away, three years after the death of her friend." Looking up into his son's eyes the king sighed before continuing, "It was her dying wish that you two be wed, so I have made the arrangements. The wedding will take place in three days time."

His son was at a loss of what to say; he knew he would not be able to say no, not after knowing that it had been his mothers dying wish.

"Dad, why did you never tell me this? Why have I not met this girl before?"

"Aizen never brought her to any social gatherings that you attended, he was very insistent that you two would not meet. But now, he has finally agreed to the marriage, so that is that, you will be married by the end of the week, Oh! And just you wait; I have planned the most romantic wedding journey for the two of you. Your first royal tour of Europe as a couple."

"Arrr… Fine", and with that, Ichigo stomped out of the room, again.

Orihime was sitting in her private sitting room while she read one of her French history books. Despite French being her fourth language, she had no trouble reading the difficult passages. It was a beautiful day and she had wanted to spend it in the gardens, even if all she did was read her history book out in the sun. Unfortunately, she had been locked in her chambers since she had refused the hand of the prince, not that he had really offered it. She had spent the time catching up on her Greek and French history as well as practising her calculus. Her reading was interrupted by the sound of her door opening; she looked over her shoulder to see her guardian entering the room with his first officer following close behind. Placing her book on the table she stood to greet her guests.

"My Lord, Sir Ulquiorra" She curtsied as she addressed the two gentlemen.

Ulquiorra bowed low and from the waist while Aizen simply gave a nod of his head before speaking.

"Have you accepted your fate, my dear?"

"M-m-my f-fate, but I do not love him, how can I marry someone that I do not love?" Unable to control her emotions her voice shook with the beginnings of her oncoming hysteria.

"My dear sunshine," Aizen began to walk toward her as he spoke. "I took you in, I put a roof over your head, I clothed you, feed you and this is how you repay me?"

Her eyes began to swell with tears as she tried to form a reply.

"I-I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to be disrespectful or ungrateful but I can't betray my heart like that, I will not marry someone that I don't love."

The smile never left his face as he gave a tired sigh and turned around so that Orihime could not see his face, "My dear, I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I feel that as your guardian it is my responsibility to ensure you do what is best for you. You must understand that it is my job to… convince you… to make the right choice. You don't mind do you?" He turned to face her once again at that last sentence.

Confused and scared, all Orihime could do was shake her head, after all, of course, all he would want was what was best for her. "Good, Ulquiorra also wishes to encourage you to make the right discussion, so for now, I will leave you in his care, Ulquiorra I trust you know what I expect."

"My Lord" The emotionless answer was sharp and respectful as the officer bowed to his departing lord.

Orihime once again curtsied, but as she raised her head, she felt a shape pain as the officers' fist collided with her stomach. She doubled over but before she had time to recover, she was pulled back up by her hair, only to be struck again. This continued until she heard the unfamiliar sound of her ribs snapping, which was the point when she lost consciousness.

Thank-you so much for reading. Please feel free to leave a review or PM me with any and all feedback, be it good or bad. I am currently looking for a beta for not only this story but a few others I am currently working on as well. If anyone would like to volunteer as tribute?