Disclaimer: I do not own bleach or it's respective characters. All O.C.s were created by yours truly.

— POV change

_forward or backward in time

"Speech"

'Thought'

Mechanical speech

"Hollowfied/other speech"

'Hollowfied/other thought'

Fractured Tales,

Book one

The Chronos Protocol

Chapter 1: Innocence

Unmei no sekai, 1 year B.T.E.

Lord Jikan stood before a large and ancient looking book, which rested on a pedestal in the center of an otherwise empty room. A quill pen danced slowly across the page writing in the book of its own accord. He stared at a plaque on the pedestal and read aloud. "The Grimoirum Temporum, one of many mystical tomes which records all of history. It is said that any who dare, could change their fate simply by rewriting the pages of their life; but only a fool would seek to change time." Lord Jikan smirked as he read the plaque again."Well then it's a good thing I am not a fool."

"Are you sure this is a good idea my lord?"

"Relax Tama, we're not changing anything. We're simply…" he paused searching for the right word "updating, that's all." He picked up the book, and carried it out of the room and into the larger room beyond.

A large area had been cleared on the far wall and Jikan placed the book on the floor by that wall. Taking up the feather pen he turned to Tama. "Everything ready?"

"The barriers up and everything's been braced and secured as well as it can be."

"Okay then. Let's do this!" Turning back to the book, he set the pen to paper, and began to write.

220 years B.T.E. :

Ko laughed as he ran through the halls of the palace, still dressed in his hakama from his morning Kendo lessons. Kendo was the only subject he really looked forward to in his daily lessons, so now that those were done, he was done; whether his lessons were or not. His bodyguard and butler Hokori, dressed in hakama himself, with his long blue hair tied back in a ponytail, gave chase behind him

"Stop your highness!" Called Hokori. Ko just turned his head and laughed wildly watching Hokori struggle to keep pace with him as he ran

"you'll have to be faster than that if you wanna catch me slowpoke." He goaded. Putting on an extra burst of speed, he began zipping around corners, looking to put some space between them so he could find someplace to hide. He turned another corner only to run smack into someone.

Ko bounced back and landed on his butt, holding the top of his forehead where he had hit it. He squinted and hissed from the pain

"Jeez watch it, will you? That hurt!" A female voice in front of him said. Ko looked up to see a young green eyed woman wearing a white kimono and a floor length purple Haori embroidered with flowery pattens, that trailed behind her a bit. Her long pink hair trailed down her back and ended at her mid thigh where it was tied with a blue ribbon.

"Ah, sorry Ikari-chan. I didn't see you there." He apologized

"Yeah" she admonished, eyes closed and rubbing her own forehead "That's what happens when you don't watch where you're go…" she trailed off as she opened her eyes, and finally saw who had hit her. Ikari turned red as a strawberry as her expression melted to one of panic. "AHH! M-Master Ko, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize it was you." She stammered as she scrambled to help him up

Ko dusted himself off before replying "It's fine Ikari-chan , I'm the one who ran into you so stop apologizing. And stop calling me master, it sounds weird"

"But you're my lords son, and my future hu… hus…" she took a deep breath and clenched her fists in front of her face

"HUSBAND! There I said it!" She looked as if that one word had taken all her energy. "What else should I call you?"

Ko grimaced at the mention of the whole husband thing. They had both, in truth, lived for several human lifetimes; but if they were human, she would be about fifteen and he fourteen. The thought of being married at his age just didn't appeal to him. "Yeah that may be true" he said " but that day is still a long ways off. Besides that, your my friend. Just call me Ko."

Still blushing she simply nodded "Right…Master Ko" eliciting a sigh and a face palm from the aforementioned master.

From the distance they heard a loud and drawn out scream "YOUNG MASTER!" accompanied by hurried footsteps growing louder by the moment.

'Crap' Ko thought 'I let him catch up' he looked around frantically for somewhere to hide as the footsteps drew closer. Coming up empty, Ko looked at Ikari, and said "sorry" before running behind her and diving under her Haori.

"M-Master Ko! What are you doing!?" She nearly shrieked, her face now the color of a beet, due to his new proximity to her butt.

"Calm down Ikari, I just need a place to hide. Just play it cool till he leaves." He whispered

'Play it cool he says, I can practically feel his breath on me through my kimono. I swear if I actually could I'd freak out right now.' She thought to herself. Even though she was still freaking out on the inside she managed to school her features just before Hokori came barreling around the corner, and only had a light blush.

"YOUNG MASTER!" Hokori screamed as he rounded the corner, almost running into Ikari. Using skills born from a past life as a feudal Shinobi, he flipped over her mid run and land ten feet behind her in a crouch. He looked up at her then. "My apologies Lady Ikari, I didn't see you there, I was in a rush." he stared at her for a moment "Are you alright my lady? You look a bit flushed."

"Oh, me?HAHAHAHAHA. I'm fine, just a bit under the weather, why do you ask?" She said a bit stiffly "What are you rushing for anyways Hokori? Don't tell me, you lost my prince again?" She accused.

Hokori frowned at that. "A momentary lapse my lady I assure you. I shall soon find him you'll see…speaking of which, you didn't happen to see him run by here, did you?"

"Ah yes. He went that way." Ikari said smiling and pointing to a wall.

Hokori was starting to feel a bit concerned "…thank you my lady. Perhaps you should go lie down after all…do you need me to call your aide?" He asked reaching toward his earpiece.

"Ah no I'll be fine. The walk will do me good. Don't worry about me." Ko's arm grazed her thigh "AHHH-AHAHAHAHA." Ikari covered her mouth, as she scream-laughed, to hide her blush.

"…Very well my lady, I hope you feel better soon. I must go find the young master." Hokori excused himself, took off down the hallway and rounded the corner.

Ikari listened a few moments until she heard his footsteps fade, then let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. 'well that was the most nerve racking thing ever' she thought.

Ko released his own breath and tried to stand but tripped on Ikari's Haori. He reached out to catch himself.

Ikari felt Ko's hands on her butt through her kimono and froze with eyes wide, mouth tight. Her face turned beet red once more and she let out an ear piercing scream. "AAIIIYAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" She whipped around and heard an audible smack as her hand reacted on instinct.

From the distance behind him Hokori heard Ikari give an ear piercing shriek that could put a banshee to shame. "Lady Ikari" he exclaimed 'Shit, I knew I should have called her aide. I have to go check on her quick, the prince playing hooky will have to wait.' He thought to himself "Hold on my lady" he said aloud to himself. "Help is on the way!" Running back the way he came.

Ko once more found himself on his butt this morning; he stared at Ikari with a stunned look on his face, as he covered the red handprint on his cheek with his own hand. He had never seen her look so angry. "You, you slapped me." He finally managed; not an accusation but a simple statement of fact. Not that he would really blame her, even if it was an accident, he had just grabbed her butt.

Ikari who appeared breathless seemed to come back to herself at his words. Her look of anger then gave way to one of panic, and she seemed to forget for the moment that he had just groped her butt; now feeling absolutely mortified. She had slapped Ko. "I-I'm so sorry Master Ko, are you all right?" She stammered as she scrambled to help him up once again.

Ko's reply was cut short as Hokori came barreling around the corner he had just left from minutes ago. "Lady Ikari, are you alright?" He exclaimed and then froze as he saw Ko "Master Ko? How did you…" he trailed off as he noticed the red mark and blanched "Master Ko! Who has laid hand on you? Point me to them and they shall pay!" He struck a dramatic pose

"Calm down Hokori, Ikari just slapped me that's all." Ko started only then realizing he just ratted Ikari out. "B-but it wasn't her fault. She only slapped me on instinct when I-" he trailed off and Ikari blushed heavily obviously remembering the events from a few moments prior.

"When you what your highness?" Hokori queried while eyeing Ikari suspiciously

Ko glanced at Ikari, then waved Hokori over.

Curious Hokori bent down and turned his head so Ko could whisper it to him. His eyes widened and a sly smirk appeared on his face, before he covered it his hand. "Oh ho! So young master, you're at that age already hmmmm? Hohohohoho."

"Cut it out Hokori, it was an accident, geez!" Ko said forming his own blush to match Ikari's

Meanwhile Ikari, who had overheard Hokori's comment, fidgeted as confusing thoughts began running through her mind. 'He's at THAT age? Does that mean he did it on purpose? Does that mean he'll try and do it again? Does he want to touch my butt? …Do I want him to touch my butt? Oh kami-sama I bet he's been staring at my butt too! This is so embarrassing!' her face was the color of strawberry's again.

"Hahaha, not to worry young master it's perfectly natural, it's just a part of becoming a man!" Hokori stated his nostrils flaring

"…yeah if it's becoming a perverted old man like you I'll pass" Ko stated as he sweat-dropped.

"Ahh but you are young. You don't yet know. That's what lessons are for. Come your highness." Hokori said reaching for Ko.

Ko jumped out of Hokori's reach. "Yeah sorry, but I'm still not going to lessons today; especially if they're ones you think I need."

Hokori frowned at that, and made another grab for Ko. "Come now your highness, your father the king wishes you to attend these. It's best to come along now."

"Like I said earlier" Ko began as he danced out the way once more "you'll have to be faster than that" and with those words he took off once more; a grin plastered on his face.

Smirking, Hokori assumed a running stance. "Very well then, I guess it's time I got serious" He shot forward after Ko, running much faster than before.

Smirking, Ko looked back expecting to Hokori far behind, only to find him close at his heels. He grimaced and began zipping back and forth trying to trip him up, and thus give himself a lead. After several minutes of this with no success, he started to worry.

Seeing Ko falter, Hokori thought he would soon succeed in catching him. 'A good thing too' he thought 'I can't take much more of this'

'He might actually catch me at this rate, I've got to think of something fast' Ko thought and then remembered Ikari. he yelled to her pleadingly. "Ikari-Chan!" Seeing her look up with eyes seemingly glazed over, he pointed behind him. "A little help please?!"

This snapped her out of her reverie and back to her surroundings. Nodding, she began drawing glowing symbols in the air. "KAGAMI! DABURU! IKU!" She yelled and thrust her hands out towards Ko in a diamond shape and emitting a beam of light headed straight for Ko.

The beam of light hit Ko as he was coming up on a hallway that branched in three directions. His body glowed for a moment before splitting into three identical Ko's running side by side. They all grinned and said in unison "thanks Ikari Chan. I owe you one." They all turned, and blew raspberries at Hokori; then each turned and took off down a separate hallway, laughing as they ran.

Hokori stopped when he reached the branch, and bent over with his hands on his knees. He was breathing hard and his face was dripping with sweat. He looked down each hall in exasperation, before turning to glare at Ikari. "Why did you do that my lady? I am to tend to my prince at all times. What will you do if something happens to him because I am not near?"

"First off" she said placing her hand on her hip and adopting a haughtier tone now that Ko was gone. "Because Lord Ko asked it of me. Who am I to deny my prince AND future husband?" She giggled, hiding her mouth behind her sleeve. "And besides" she continued "you look as if you could use the exercise. Been eating too many sweets again Buta-Kun?" She teased while eyeing his lightly protruding gut.

She had recently learned of his childhood nickname; which irritated him to no end, as she used every chance she could to get under his skin. He ground his teeth "I am not a piggy! Why do you insist on calling me that my lady? You know how I-" he paused to glare daggers at her "… you're distracting me so he can get away, aren't you?"

Ikari's face broke into a Cheshire grin. "Took you long enough."

Hokori held his head in his hands and roared his frustration to the ceiling. "AHHHHHHH!" He took off, leaving a trail of smoke in his wake. "Well finish this later my lady!" He exclaimed before turning the corner and disappearing to chase after one of the three Ko's.

Ikari coughed and waved the smoke away from her face. "Geez, that guy really needs to calm down. If he stays riled up like that, he might not realize he's chasing the wrong one for hours." She giggles at the thought of his face when he realized he'd been duped again. 'It's not my fault he's so slow though' she thought to herself 'We're in the kings palace surrounded by 1000 of the kings best' she smirked 'well 999 plus Hokori. What could possibly go wrong?'

—

A/N: Hey guys, I'm really excited to bring this story to you at last, as it's been floating around in my head for a while now. This story is actually going to be the first in a multi story work, set in the bleach universe, and will heavily feature some OC's of my own creation.

Also I am currently looking for a beta to help clean up any grammatical, and or flow issues. If you or anyone you know might be interested, please feel free to pm me.

Please do rate and review, as I always value feedback and opportunities to improve; and be sure favorite and follow my story if you like it so your always up to date when a new chapter goes up. That said, thanks for reading and I'll see you guys in the next chapter. Read on y'all!