This is a plot bunny that invaded my mind so much that I couldn’t write anything else until I began to write it down. It is set in a fantasy world (AU, of course), and will mostly involve well… pirates! It is not based on Pirates of the Caribbean though. This is totally different. Also please notice that this story is rated M/NC-17 for violence and sensuality. Don’t expect a full smut, as I don’t think I’ll ever be able to write one :p The main pairing is IchiRuki. Please also note that this world is more tough and rough than the original Bleach one, so expect the characters to be a bit more roughs and toughs too.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, and I am still French! If you notice really weird phrases, don’t hesitate to tell me, and I’ll change them.

She gazed at the sea, her eyes soon wandering on the boats that were there. Only a few today, she thought. She was only a ten years old child when she came here, and she wondered how it would feel to be on a ship again. She could still remember the excitation that she felt, back then, with the hope that maybe, just maybe, they’d encounter pirates and have a huge battle against them.

Dream it was back then, and dream it still was. There was not such fearful encounter, nor any excitation. She’d been sick. For days, before she could even drink some soup without vomit everything in the few minutes that followed. Would I still be sick, if I went on a ship now? Maybe, but she’d never know. All her life seemed planned-out by her brother, which kind of irritated her, but what could she do? Nothing, it was his entire right.

The sky had orange tones, and a quick glance to her chiming clock indicated that it was already dinner time. She sighed. From what she gathered from the conversation with her brother, there were several guests, and she couldn’t say that it pleased her. Just as the thought crossed her mind, someone knocked lightly at her door.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Miss, dinner is ready, and the guests will soon arrive,” said respectfully the maid who appeared as the door opened.

“I am coming,” she replied. She touched the white gold ring encrusted with a butterfly shape-formed ruby that she always wore on her right hand. Wish me luck, Hisana.

She walked through the hallways, not giving a damn about the paintings or other art objects that were here and there. They reminded her too much that the façade was the only thing that was important in the Kuchiki family. Once at the top of the large marble stairs, she looked down in the stateroom. Two men were standing, discussing quietly. Her brother had his black hair attached with a black ribbon, and his starkness was showing more than ever. The conversation seems quite serious. What’s happening?

“Oh my, you are really beautiful, Lady Rukia,” smiled the other man.

He was taller than her brother, and had a pair of glasses. His beam was very warm, as was his voice.

“Commander Aizen, what a pleasure to see you here,” she automatically replied with a smirk on her lips. “How is our fleet going?” she asked while taking carefully the steps.

“Well, we’re still chasing those pirates you know,” he said, looking more serious. “The Shinsou is still hunting God knows where, and there has been rumours about a new pirate crew that looks very strong. So we must be careful. However, you are safe, since you’re protected behind the city walls.”

“Oh, but I’m sure you’ll catch them soon,” she stated.

He didn’t have the time to reply that a domestic announced another guest. “I hope I am not late, Lord Kuchiki,” said the boy who just entered. Her eyes went wide. Renji? What is he doing here? He was visibly trying his best to speak formally and even dressed properly, but even so his tattoos above his eyebrows were showing off –not that his red hair was particularly better for that matter.

She raised a questioning eyebrow, but her brother spoke before she could ask anything. “Ah, Rukia, you may not know, but Abarai Renji has gained a knighthood title, and is now the captain of his own ship in our fleet. It has been decided today, and that is why he is here tonight.”

“Oh, I see,” she replied. “Congratulations,” she added, bowing a bit. “You must have worked a lot to obtain such great honour at a so young age.” And me, what did I do during that time?

“Nothing worth your praise, really,” he replied, flushing a little.

He could still remember why he had decided to ‘work’ so much. It was all because of her. The first time he saw her, he didn’t understand that she was a little lady who snuck out of her house without any permission. In fact, it took him one month, and a man looking out desperately for her to realize this. Her voice calling out for Sir Kaien with a light giggle, and how she then explained that nobody noticed until now. Kaien was a well-known figure in town, as his bravery and his weapon skills made him very loved –not to mention that his family was still a noble one, even if it lost his éclat. But after that, Rukia –no, Lady Kuchiki– never snuck out again. He sometimes saw her from afar, but he knew his place. He was a commoner, and unless he could prove that he deserved a title and more, he’d never get the chance to talk with her again.

So this wasn’t the time to screw up. He could barely look at her; he was afraid that he’d never tear his eyes away from her if he did. She was, in his eyes, absolutely perfect; petite with such large violet eyes, a slender body, and an aura that captivated him. Yet he knew that she could still beat the crap out of him during the short time when she played with him. However, so many years already passed…

“Are there more guests?” Rukia asked her brother.

“No. We can sit down,” he replied, indicating the table with an ample movement of his arm.

She faced her brother, with Renji at her right and the commander at her left.

“So, knight Abarai, are you going to chase those terrible pirates? I heard they were getting more and more fearless, and attacked some small ports now,” she said while a domestic was serving the wine.

“Indeed, they are, and I hope that I’ll be able to catch them, and hang them in front of the citizen, so that they know they don’t have anything to dread anymore, because we are here to protect them,” he replied carefully.

He really doesn’t seem to be at ease, she thought, quite amused. “Well, that’s very brave,” she commented.

“We need more men like you,” approved Aizen. “A lot fear the Shinsou and its terrible captain.”

“Really?” she inquired, quite surprised. “Is he so terrible?”

“Only a few came back, and they all say that he is powerful and very creepy. No one knows what’s in his mind,” explained her brother. “All that we know from him is that he’s called Ichimaru Gin.”

“And right now, we are trying to figure where he is going to strike,” continued Aizen.

“That looks awfully dangerous,” she said. And exciting.

“Yes it is. But, as I said earlier, you don’t need to worry. You are safe here, my lady,” replied the commander.

However, as he said that, the bells began to peal and they all looked at each other, as if they were frozen.

“What’s happening?” she asked, her heart beating fast in her chest.

“It may be an alert, or it may be something else,” replied Renji, with a weird gaze.

Is he actually hoping that it is an attack?

“We can’t know for sure,” admitted Aizen, “but if anything happens, Miss Hinamori has the orders to come and fetch me. She was on duty tonight, and surveyed the incoming ships.”

Her brother was about to speak when the door opened, and a girl, just a bit older than herself came in, breathless.

“Commander! It’s the Shinsou!” she cried.

In a blink of the eye, they were all up. “Are you sure?” asked Aizen.

“Certain. When I saw the ship incoming, I asked a guard to ring the bells, and I took my horse to come here faster. We need to hurry, the fog is up, and there are really near the town now. They should attack soon,” she replied on a military tone.

“I’m going,” stated Renji. “Lord Kuchiki, lady Rukia, it was a pleasure to meet you,” he added, literally running outside the room.

“I will go and fight too. All the fighters will be needed,” said her brother.

“Then, can I come too?” she hopelessly pleaded.

“I’m afraid not, Rukia. Go in your room, lock the door, and do not open to anyone,” he ordered.

She gritted her teeth. Why is it always like this? I can help too!

“Your brother is right, young lady,” approved Aizen. “You have to be careful, those men are nasty. We shall go,” he added, exiting the room, closely followed by Hinamori.

Her brother looked at her one last time. “Do as I asked you to, please, Rukia. You know your sister wouldn’t approve to see you on a battlefield.”

She sighed heavily. “Yes brother. I am going to my room.”

Accepting her boring fate, she went upstairs, and locked her door as her brother asked her. As if someone could actually come here to kidnap me, she thought, quite tired. She opened the windows, and stepped in her balcony. The entire town was recovered by a thick murk, but her house, being at the highest point of the town, wasn’t invaded yet. She only had to turn her head to the left to watch the sea. But tonight, that didn’t interest her. She tried to guess what was going on, but all she could hear was the sound of the men yelling to take the arms.

She bit her lips. Yes, let me take the arms! Or at least use my magic! She was so angry that she didn’t notice the shadow hiding just at her left. In a swift motion, it moved, and was already seizing her, a large hand on her mouth when she realized her mistake.

“Don’t move, don’t shout,” whispered a male voice in her ear.

His grip was very strong, and she couldn’t retaliate; but she tried to move nonetheless, and her eyes met brown ones. However, it didn’t last, as his eyes were roaming over her body. He soon spotted her ring, and took it out. “Sorry,” he added, “I can’t let you bring your focus.”

Her eyes went wide. He thinks my ring is my focus? And why is he apologizing? He brought her in, and put it in one of the drawers of her vanity. “Your dress won’t help, but I guess I don’t have the choice,” he said. He still had a hand over her mouth, and dragged her around as if she was a small twig. Now that they were in her room, she could vaguely see his face. What struck her the most was his bright orange hair. And the constant scowl on his face. He took something out of his pocket, and soon she felt a tissue covering her mouth. Muzzled! “Sorry, I don’t have any other way.” Again, saying sorry?

Then, without further notice, he took her back outside, and began to climb down the rope that she failed to notice first. Why am I letting him kidnap me? She tried to struggle, but he groaned. “Do you really want to fall over that cliff?” he asked dangerously. She gulped. He continued, and, switched ropes four times before she could perceive a boat down there. They are crazy! His strength was something though, as he was using only one arm, the other carefully wrapped around her waist.

Before she could even think about it, they landed on the deck. He released her, and bowed in front of her. “Welcome on the Zangetsu, Lady Kuchiki Rukia!”

She gasped, while the boat began to move quietly, straying from the land and the town she grew in for the six past years.

He was running down the streets, approaching the port. Around him, people were either hiding or taking whatever they could as weapons. But most of them hid, he noticed. The fog was creepy and thick, nearly supernatural, and he briefly wondered if it was the effect of some magic. Then the screams began.

Sounds of metal against metal, pistols guns, and even skin ripped. It was as if his senses were sharpened by the excitation. And then, the odour. Blood, but also fire and gunpowder. He caught up with the first fights, and cut off a pirate’s arm without faltering. The blood spurted from his wound, and when he realized, he shouted and held his stump with his remaining hand. He barely noticed the mask that was covering his face; all he knew was that all the Shinsou crew except his captain wore masks. At least, he thought, they are easier to target in battles like this.

“You’ll never learn, will you?” Renji hissed, turning away from him and looking for his next prey. The night was going to be a long one, he could feel it.

Much later, when his arm felt a bit heavier than usual, after a lot of fights, he saw Kuchiki Byakuya, who was finishing off his opponent. There was no hint of fatigue, and his movements were as swift as ever. Hinamori and Aizen were also there.

“That’s strange,” said the girl. “No one saw Ichimaru, and he is said to always come out during the battles. What’s happening?”

“I have no idea,” admitted Aizen, looking surprised too. “He should be there, that’s his boat here.” He lent him a spyglass, and Renji could then vaguely see a three-mast ship, which had the letters Shinsou painted near the figurehead. Nothing else could actually differentiate it from another ship, except this name. Such simplicity, and yet, it brings such fear in the people’s hearts, he thought whilst giving back the spyglass to the commander.

“And we didn’t see the most fearsome of his crew too,” noticed Kuchiki.

“Are you suggesting that this attack was only a cover for something else, Lord Kuchiki?” asked carefully Aizen.

“That is exactly what I am saying, Commander.”

“Then, shouldn’t we split up and try to find what was that all about?” inquired Renji.

“Indeed,” nodded Kuchiki.

“Be careful, Miss Hinamori,” said Aizen to his officer. “It could be very dangerous alone.”

“I’ll be alright,” she stated on a confident tone.

Kuchiki Byakuya was not a man who could feel easily disturbed. He often had a poker face, and barely shown any emotion. However, since he began to fight this night, he couldn’t get over that bad feeling he had. The fact that none of the famous men was out kept bugging him. As far as he could see while running down the street, they weren’t out. But then, why did they attack us? Worrying, he decided to check how it was at home. Everything was quiet. A little bit too quiet. However, it wasn’t long until he found the dead bodies of his domestics and maids. They had been taken care as if the opponent didn’t mind them, but killed them just for his own enjoyment. Rukia, he thought while running to her room. The door was destroyed, and the room was empty. “Rukia?” he nonetheless asked, checking the room. All the furniture was upside down, and his sister was nowhere in sight. He frowned, and quickly left his house. He needed to talk to Aizen, as well as the Governor.

Ulquiorra didn’t like what he had to report to his captain. He knew that Ichimaru Gin wouldn’t like what he had to say.

“What are we going to say to the Captain?” inquired the enormous man behind him.

“The truth,” he simply replied.

The craft was coming closer to the ship, and soon they went aboard.

“You took your time,” noted the silver-head captain. “And where is the butterfly?”

“She was already gone when we reached her house,” he said.

His captain made one of his weirdest faces, one of those he couldn’t decipher. “So annoying.”

They had taken the gag off, and led her to her new 'room'. There was a bed, an armchair and a table. Not too comfy, but it could be worse. She didn’t see the rest of the crew yet, except on guy with black hair and glasses. She wasn’t alone though. The nutcase that took her aboard was still with her. She still didn’t know how she should take him.

“Let us introduce properly,” he said while sitting comfortably on the armchair. “My name is Kurosaki Ichigo, and I’m the captain of the Zangetsu.”

“I can’t believe they let a hothead like you in charge of a ship,” she retorted nastily.

“How charming,” he grinned.

“May I know why I am here? I don’t think my brother will accept to pay any ransom for me. He’d rather chase you until the Gates of Hell, and make you suffer the worst death.”

“Well, that’s good, because I don’t want a ransom. You’ll learn soon enough why you’re here, don’t worry about that,” he stated calmly.

I don’t understand… what the hell does he want? She glared at him, which only made him smirk more. He got up, and rummaged in a cupboard located in the wall. “There, put this on,” he said, throwing at her a shirt with long sleeves.

“What? I don’t want to!” she protested.

“Wearing such a dress can be dangerous on a ship. Just imagine that you’d fall in the sea… I’m not going to look out for you,” he explained patiently.

“I don’t care,” she steadily replied. “I am not going to put this shirt on.”

He gritted his teeth. “How annoying can you get?” he asked, towering her.

Surprised, she backed a bit, but before she could even think, he took out a knife he had in a sheath, and ripped her dress and her corset in one precise motion. It was a wonder that the sharp blade didn’t cut her fair skin, and the gown fell down. A tinkling was heard, as the bracelet she always hid in her corset fell on the floor.

She screamed and covered her body like she could with her arms, as an unwelcoming heat spread all over her face. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Put the shirt on, and give me a freakin’ break, would you?” he ordered her, scrutinizing the floor before picking up her bracelet.

She quickly put on the shirt, since no other option was left, and buttoned it hastily, fumbling a bit. “Give me that back!” she cried.

“I can’t do that,” he replied. “I thought that your ring was your focus, but visibly, I was mistaken.”

She bit her lips. She had tried to not even think about it, because as long as she had her focus, she could still use her spells. But without it, she really felt powerless.

Someone knock on the door. Uryuu, I bet, he thought, trying to not stare too much at the girl in front of him. The shirt was so big for her that it went nearly until her knees.

“Yeah, come in,” he said.

Uryuu came in, as he predicted. “I heard a scream,” he coldly stated. “You didn’t do anything, Ichigo?”

“As if,” he retorted, annoyed.

However, his friend frowned, as he saw the gown on the floor. “You did it,” he sighed. “The dress is ruined.”

“Take it and do whatever you want with it,” he replied. “I can’t care less.”

“I will make something for you,” Uryuu promised to the dumbfounded girl who was following the discussion.

“Ah… yes, sure,” she timidly replied.

“Do not worry about the captain. He yells a lot, but rarely bites,” he added, smirking.

“Get out!” he cried, trying to keep his cool.

“Goodnight, my lady,” continued the so-called friend without paying attention to him a bit, right before leaving.

“I am leaving too,” he said. “Rest well, we shall talk again tomorrow.”

To his great amusement, she once again glared at him. He then exited the room, taking the precious bracelet with him, and locked her in. Once in his cabin, he took the time to examine it. It was white gold, with three butterflies-shaped rubies engraved in it. Beautiful, and probably powerful too, he thought. No wonder her family was nicknamed the Butterfly family. He put it back in his pocket. But what a stubborn girl… The thought of the dress incident came back in his mind, and he shook his head, trying to get it out of his mind. That had to be one of the most embarrassing thing he’d ever done. Sighing, he quickly took off his jacket and his boots, before collapsing in his bed.

Midnight was already way past behind him when he got home. Of course, Momo was waiting for him in his little bureau, as he expected. She looked up at him when he entered.

“So, what happened exactly?” she asked anxiously.

“It looks like Ichimaru kidnapped Lord Kuchiki’s sister. He is very angry, and he wants to personally chase the pirate to find his sister,” he explained. “The Governor asked him not to, so for the moment, he is waiting further orders.”

“Sir Yamamoto is right, it could be nasty if Lord Kuchiki was blinded by his craving for vengeance,” she agreed.

“Oh, well. We shall see how all of this turns,” he replied, sitting in his armchair. “Is there anything else?” he asked.

“I filled the reports of the attack,” she informed him. “Otherwise, it’s all,” she added, blushing slightly.

So easy to see through, he thought. “Then, you should go sleeping,” he said, smiling warmly. “I feel a bit tired myself; the day has been a long one, not to mention the night of course.”

She nodded. “Yes. Goodnight, Commander!”

“Goodnight Momo,” he kindly replied.

A/N: any thought? I liked this one. Also note that I didn’t abandon Normality. I will come back to my favourite fluff story XD but I’m not sure how this story will be perceived, because it’s far away from my usual writing style.