Chapter 1

It was the saddest night in the kingdom. Many of Karakura kingdom mourned the death of the Queen. Though none mourned as viciously as the royal family.

The King and the royal children dressed I the darkest of black clothing received the last of the condolences from the nobles. The Kings' eyes were marred red and dark circles hung beneath them. He nodded his head as a noble bowed deeply towards an image of the Queens likeness. He cast a gaze towards his eight-year-old twin daughters; Karin and Yuzu. Yuzu had herself thrown over her sisters' shoulder and shook with tears. Karin rubbed her sister's shoulders as her own tears fell from her eyes and into Yuzus' hair. She whispered something perhaps with the intention to soothe her but only strengthened her sobs.

The Kings eyes shifted to his son, Ichigo. The twelve-year-old boy stood beside his sisters with unseeing eyes. Where they wept loudly, he stood emptily as though the happenings around him had only just dawned upon him.

When a guard had sent a message that there was no one left to pay their respects. The King- no, Isshin swiftly raised his daughters into his arm where they soon wrapped their arms around his neck and bawled. They cried for their mother, they begged for him to make her come back. He swore to the heavens that if he could he would. He apologised until the words were a whisper.

"Come Ichigo." Isshin spoke softly. His son wordlessly took hold of a part of robe in his small hand to follow his father. Isshin took his children, guiding them through the corridors as servants garbed in black bowed deeply at the sight of them. By now Karin and Yuzu had spent all their strength and snored silently on his shoulders. Their royal carers offered to take the children from him to lay them to rest but were swiftly dismissed. His children had lost their mother, he would not abandon her gifts to him to the care of servants.

When he entered the girls' room, he gently laid Yuzu onto her large bed, he carefully pulled the covers over the child. He watched as she quickly assumed the foetal position and sniffled. He moved to the adjacent bed and laid Karin on it. With his hands empty, he brought the cover over his daughter and straightened them over her. He wiped the lingering tears from her eyes and stroked her head.

He returned to Yuzu and straightened the covers over her form. He placed a gentle kiss over her temple and silently bid his daughters better dreams than their waking nightmare. Isshin cursed himself when he felt a soft vibration at his side. He glanced down to see his sons' shaking hand. Isshin knelt to Ichigo's level and stared into the wide brown eyes that innocently stared back at him. Ichigo's eyes brimmed with tears. Isshin ran his hand over the young boys cheek and swallowed deeply nearly choking as he rubbed the sudden itch in his eyes.

He offered his son a sad smile before lifting the boy into his arms. He quietly walked out of the room and shut the door behind him. He gave a nod to the guards outside their door and they bowed.

Isshin continued the short path to Ichigo's room. The child who rested his head on his tear stained shoulder said nothing even as Isshin rubbed his back. When they came to his bedroom, Isshin shut the door behind him. He approached the bed and laid his son on it. Ichigo was not as eager as his sisters to fall asleep as she brought himself to upright position. Isshin removed the sword at his hip and rested it on the bed. He sat himself beside his son.

"Dad"

"Yes son?"

"It is my fault isn't it?" his son spoke with tears in his eyes. "I-m sorry I-If I behaved b-better, I-If I d-didn't make mom w-worry then she would still be h-here-"

Isshin's eyes widened as his son finally let a continuous stream of tears. "Ichigo…"

"M-mom wouldn't have t-to l-leave. Its my fault. It's my fault." Ichigo stuttered between tears, he rubbed against his eyes furiously. Isshin listened as his son chanted 'my fault' and 'I'm so sorry' between cries. How long had his son been blaming himself? How had he not seen the self-inflicted torture his young son was putting himself through?

He pulled his son into his chest and held him tightly. "Ichigo, it's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. You are the best thing to have ever happened to you mother. You are her precious son. My precious son." His voice betrayed him, shaky and a dull whisper but the words remained true. The child held him as equally tightly and sobbed into his chest. Isshin let Ichigo hold onto him for as long as he needed it and when he let go Ichigo laid himself down to be covered by his father.

Isshin ran a hand through his sons' bright hair and sighed. He took a deep breath and rose from the bed, taking his sword with him. He made to exit the room and slowly shut the door behind him. He waited to collect himself and rubbed at his aching eyes that begged for sleep. He exhaled deeply and took a step in the direction of his chambers when he heard a soft tap from his sons' room and then two very faint whispers.

He knew both voices and sighed the sigh of an exhausted parent. He raised his heavy feet and proceeded towards his chambers with the intention to write a letter to the Kuchiki residence.

When morning came, Isshin was hardly surprised to see his son rested in his bed with his hand wrapped tightly around the hand of another child with short and dark hair. His eyes softened at his son and the son of Byakuya Kuchiki as they innocently shared a bed. He approached the resting children and placed the covers which Ichigo had kicked away over them.

Isshin cast a gaze over Rukia Kuchiki. One day he would thank the young Kuchiki for his kindness and as selfish as it was, he only hoped that the young Kuchiki would continue to remain a companion to his son who would one day succeed him. As though he had heard his father's silent prayer, Ichigo held tighter onto the young Kuchiki's hand and furrowed his brows in his sleep.

-Seven Years Later-

Two wooden swords violently clanked against each other in swift blows. Loud shouts erupted as the two people continued to meet the others blows with equal strength and determination.

"This is unlike you Rukia! Getting slow on your feet!" Ichigo shouted as he swung. Rukia dodged the blow and spun around to strike him. Ichigo raised his sword to block the attack. They struggled for dominance over the other as they applied as much force against the other as they could. While Ichigo had much in brute strength, having grown a man twice the size of Rukia, Rukia had much in intelligence. She allowed Ichigo to overwhelm her with his weight and once she was certain, she spun away from him. Ichigo's eyes widened and he cursed as his face hit the ground.

Rukia laughed at the groan that followed. She raised the sword over her shoulder and sauntered to her childhood friend. He had begun to lift himself when Rukia placed her foot on his head and forced him back into the dirt.

"Hey!" Ichigo shouted.

"You look better this way!" Rukia laughed and eventually removed her foot. She offered Ichigo a hand to aid him to his feet. Ichigo took her smaller hand and accepted the aid to his feet. She groaned with the effort of lifting him. Ichigo straightened in front of her and stretched his limbs before wiping the small pebbles from his forehead.

"Cheap trick." He scowled. Rukia smiled up at him.

"All that matters is that it worked."

"It worked because you're so short." He replied and Rukia felt her lip twitch. She raised her leg to kick his side.

"Idiot! In a matter of time I'll dwarf even you!" She cried as Ichigo effortlessly blocked her foot with the back of his arm.

"Yeah sure you will," he rolled his eyes "About the same time as your facial hair comes"

Ichigo dodged the punch aimed for his chin.

By the time the messenger had found the pair, Ichigo had Rukia under his arm and was ruffling her hair with a broad grin on his face. Rukia released a colourful barrage of expletives directed towards him.

"M-My Prince?" The messenger stuttered. Ichigo paused and turned towards the servant. His hold on Rukia had not relented.

"Yes?" He answered and squeezed tighter around Rukia's neck when she began to claw at his skin.

"There is a message for you from the King…" the messenger was hesitant when he spoke and his eyes flowed to Rukia. Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"Speak freely. He is a friend." Ichigo raised his leg to hit Rukia's backside with his foot when she had begun to bite into his arm. "What is it."

The servant bowed "The King requested your presence at a gathering of the nobles this evening."

Ichigo's brows furrowed deeply and he dropped Rukia, who coughed at the sudden release. He stepped towards the messenger. "Gathering the nobles? For what purpose?"

"I do not know my Prince. I was simply tasked to inform you of the request." The messenger answered. There was an intense moment of silence before the servant dared to look at the Prince. "My Prince, if you do not have need for me-"

"Leave." Ichigo waved him away. He bowed low and made his exit. Rukia got to her feet and dusted her clothing. She stood beside Ichigo and took a moment to stare at him from the corner of her eyes.

"Worried?"

"My father never has me attend these things. Why so suddenly?" Ichigo folded his arms over his chest.

"Perhaps he thinks it's time you got to the swing of ruling. After all, you will be King someday." Rukia proposed and Ichigo's frown relaxed for a moment as he considered the prospect.

"Yeah… sure." He replied and his frown returned. Rukia placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed but Ichigo turned from her to pick up the wooden sword he had dropped. He reached for the other one and tossed it towards Rukia.

"Another round." He commanded and stuck his sword in her direction. Rukia cocked a brow and readied herself into position. Ichigo charged towards Rukia. This time he had newfound energy. Their swords crossed with even more vigour as Rukia met every blow.

Rukia raised her sword to slam downwards. Ichigo raised his sword to block her attack.

"Rukia." A low voice tore through the air.

Their swords hit with so much force that both swords snapped at the middle. Ichigo looked at the hilt of his broken sword before looking up at Rukia. Rukia's eyes were wide and focused on something else.

"Renji!" She spoke with an uncharacteristically wide smile. Ichigo turned to see a red-haired man with black tattoos standing tall with a wide grin. Ichigo's eyes flickered back to Rukia who had dropped her wooden sword and approached the man with more bounce in her step than he was used to. When Rukia was close enough he began to pat her head and laughed as she said something to him. Her smile softened and she didn't fight his touch. Ichigo felt the scowl forming on his face and coughed.

Both Rukia and the haired man turned to him.

"Ichigo this is Renji Abarai, my father's right hand. Renji, this is Prince Ichigo," Rukia offered as introduction as Ichigo approached them. Renji sized Ichigo up and scowled.

"I know who he is," he replied. Ichigo didn't like the way the man had said it and furrowed his brows.

"I'm the Prince," he reminded the red-haired man. "Now bow."

Renji laughed evilly, "Don't bet on it."

"Bastard." Ichigo spat between gritted teeth.

Rukia elbowed Ichigo in the abdomen and he doubled over. Renji turned to Rukia, the momentary amusement in his eyes vanished. "Rukia, your father wants you back at the manor. I brought the carriage along. We should be returning."

Rukia stiffened as she usually did at the thought of her father. She nodded and Renji turned to leave.

Rukia patted the bowed Ichigo once over, "Goodluck for tonight." She offered with a smile.

"Go to hell." He replied and rubbed his abdomen as he straightened. Rukia smiled before chasing after Renji.

Ichigo watched Rukia disappear before lifting his hand that still held the broken sword. He stared at it for a long moment before looking back to where Rukia had disappeared. He ran his free hand through his orange locks and sighed. He tightened his hand around the hilt of the sword.

So hey guys! Never thought I'd be back at it again. This story is somewhat of a re-upload/ rewrite. I had this story up once before, I didn't complete it and just deleted it. Rest assured I'm back at it again and this time I make it my intention to complete the story with probably longer chapters.

That said, Take Care and Keep Reading! (Also would definitely love some feedback since returning!).