Bleach - Winter Fragrance, Chapter 1
Since the last two entries were stories that may have a possible future, I decided to post this story, which has no future. I was in a Hitsugaya obsession when I wrote this, but even so, it doesn't really explain the theme I had going on here. Perhaps it is nothing more than a guilty pleasure?
In any case, I don't really want to post this on fanfiction.net or any other more public forums. It can just safely collect dust in this corner of the Web.
Title: Winter Fragrance
Fandom: Bleach
Summary: To avenge the death of a childhood friend, Toushirou dresses up like a woman and enters Aizen's court as a servant. But when he tries to assassinate Aizen, who should he meet but...?
Characters: Hitsugaya Toushiro, Hinamori Momo, Matsumoto Rangiku, Neliel Tu Oderschvank, Ichimaru Gin, Aizen Sousuke, Shihouin Yoruichi, Urahara Kisuke, Kurosaki Isshin, Kurosaki Karin
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Warnings: Cross dressing, gender bending, Alternate Universe
Chapter 1
He had been waiting for this moment.
He curtseied respectfully as he entered the chamber, the tray balanced perfectly on his slender arms. When he received permission to enter, he walked in with practiced grace, the silk hem of his clothes ghosting against the polished floor.
He had been waiting for this moment for years.
The chamber was long, and he quickened his steps to bring the food to the king before it got too cold. Rangiku would scold him otherwise. He approached the dais where the king sat, placing the tray gently in front of the king, head lowered, as was appropriate.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
He gave another curtsey, unseen by the king as the king turned towards his dinner. It was now, or never.
The knife slid out from his robes with a flash, and before the king could even realize what was happening, he brought it down on the king's head.
Only to be blocked with a clang of steel against steel.
He had failed.
--o--
The fields were on the bare side that year, the harvest unable to do well under the strange weather. Money had been a bit tight, especially since trade was slow due to the impending war. But while such pressures had reduced many smaller villages to nothing, Junrinan had scraped through, the villagers tough and their spirits tougher.
Toushirou had been working in the fields when the message came. Although there were few crops to harvest, what crops existed could not be ignored. Momo may have been in the capital, earning money both for herself and him, but that didn't mean he was going to sit back and be lazy. He had his own pride, and pride dictated that if nothing else, he had to at least know how to support himself.
The message that arrived had made a tenant of his pride become a tenant of his survival.
He wasn't quite sure how long he had sat out there, numb to the world, but he did know that by the time he had entered his house, it had already been nightfall. The sickle that he had been using had disappeared somewhere between the field and his house, but he couldn't even bring his mind to care.
Momo was gone.
It was absurd. How could she be gone? It had been a few years since she had decided that working in the capital would be more beneficial to them both than continuing to work here, but...gone? Why? It didn't make sense. She was nothing. She was just a servant. Why would a servant die in the king's own palace? They had not been invaded. Her letters had indicated no illness. So why?
He had heard whispers from the enemy kingdom that accused their king of being debauched. He had never before believed in those rumors himself, but now...
He could feel his nails breaking the skin of his palms as he clenched his fists. Aizen. He would pay. Toushirou would make sure of it.
--o--
He pushed against the offending blade with strength born of desperation. He had to kill the king. He would never be able to look Momo in the eye if he didn't. He rushed towards the king, dodging the guards that rushed at him, only to be stopped once more by that annoying blade. He looked furiously at the one who had interrupted him, as the king quickly moved away from him, the guards mobilizing in a ring.
His eyes widened in surprise, and suddenly the strength with which he clutched the dagger began to wane. It was impossible. It couldn't be true.
He backed away, the dagger becoming loose in his grasp. She didn't press her advantage, instead mirroring his look of incredulity.
The blade slipped from his hands and fell to the floor with a clatter.
--o--
Momo dreamed of the days when things had been simpler. She would work alongside Toushirou as they cleared the fields, Toushirou singing softly to the beat of the swinging blade. He had had such a nice singing voice, and she wished she could hear him sing once more.
It had partially been the reason why she wanted to go to the capital. She didn't want to see him work until old age overtook him. She didn't want to see his beautiful singing voice destroyed by the poisonous fumes of the earth. She wanted a better life for him. For them both.
So she had told Toushirou one day that she was going to apply for work in the palace. They were always looking for new girls to fill the servants' position, and she was young, strong, and healthy. An ideal candidate. She had known that Toushirou had been reluctant to let her go, but since she had indicated that doing so would make her happy, and all he ever wanted was for her to be happy, he had relented.
So many years had passed, and little by little, she had forgotten her original purpose for being here. She had forgotten how much she loved her little Shiro. Oh, she remained the dutiful sister, writing letters to tell him how she was doing, despite knowing that he couldn't read them. He was smart. She knew he would be able to find someone to read them to him. But the letters had begun to lack their usual warmth. Instead of being something enjoyable, they had become a chore.
When her king asked her to spy on the enemy country, she had agreed almost immediately. She hadn't spared a thought for Toushirou, and probably wouldn't have had Captain Gin not reminded her that her family would be suspicious if she were to stop sending her letters, or if the letters came from a different location.
So she had asked the captain to create a fake notice of death and give it to Toushirou. With her dead, she no longer had an obligation to him.
She had gone to Seireitei and spied for her beloved king. And when she returned, she was awarded with his smile of pride. Things would have been perfect had someone not tried to assassinate the king that night.
--o--
She rushed to the king's side, blocking the blade from the traitorous servant that King Sousuke had not seen. She gritted her teeth in anger, attempting to push the mere slight of a girl away, but the servant was surprisingly strong for her small stature. She had evaded Momo's blade, and headed towards the king once more, showing surprising dexterity as she dodged the numerous guards that tried to kill her.
But Momo hadn't been trained with the king's elite guards all these years for nothing.
She intercepted her blow once more, and this time, the traitorous servant girl had the audacity to glare at her.
Momo had almost dropped her blade in surprise when familiar sea-green eyes had stared back at her. It had only been good luck that saved her when the girl had backed off, looking just as surprised as she was.
Only it wasn't a girl, was it?
"Shiro-chan?" she said, barely a whisper. His mouth was slightly ajar in shock, a look she had never seen on Toushirou. Then again, she had never seen him with long hair tied low on the back, the hair silky with years of care, nor had she ever seen him wearing the traditional woman's robe.
The dagger dropped with a clang.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the guards advance on Toushirou, but the king held them back with a wave of his hand.
"Shiro-chan, is it really you?"
He nodded mutely, too shocked and confused to think properly. She could feel tears well in her eyes. Of course he would be confused. All these years he thought she was dead, and here she was, standing before him. But she didn't understand. She didn't understand why he was here, with a dagger, trying to assassinate their beloved king.
His eyes turned from her to the king, confusion written all over his face. And then she understood.
Toushirou had always been too straightforward. If she had "died" under the king's service, of course he would assume that the king had something to do with it. He would never have thought otherwise. He didn't understand how the world worked. So all these years, while she worked for her king, he had been seeking revenge, preparing for this day when he would finally be able to rest her soul in peace.
"Oh, Shiro-chan..." She enveloped him in her hug. She could feel him trembling beneath her, hands clutching her robes tightly as he began to shake with suppressed sobs. It was her fault. It was her fault that her little Shiro had suffered, just because in a moment of weakness, she had made a selfish decision to pursue her own wishes instead of taking care of her little brother. It would be her fault if he were executed for his treason.
She felt a presence behind her, and without turning to look, she knew who it was.
"Take your sibling to your chambers. I will make sure that no harm befalls because of this incident." Her king smiled kindly at her, and she nodded, guiding Toushirou out of the room. One hand was clutched tightly in her robes even as they ascended the stairs to reach the floor her room was in.
When they finally reached her room, she really looked at Toushirou for the first time in years. He hadn't grown all that much taller, just enough so that he was no longer at her chest, but almost reaching her shoulders. His face was wet with tears that he was busy trying to scrub away. Momo smiled a little. Toushirou had always been a little prideful. She was just glad that he hadn't realized he should hate her yet.
"Shiro-chan, what are you doing here?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer. He gave her one of his looks, one that she had almost forgotten. He too knew that he didn't need to say anything for her to know his reasons for being there.
"You shouldn't have done that," she scolded. "How can you even think of assassinating King Sousuke? You didn't even have proof that he did anything to me." He looked angry at her comment, his mouth pressing into a thin line. "Just be glad that His Majesty was gracious enough to spare your life on my behalf. Honestly, you can be such a child." His mouth opened in fury, but no words came out.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked, arms on her hips. He gave her a look of frustration, but remained silent. She began to grow a little angry at his reticence. "Oh, that's really mature. Do you think giving me the silent treatment will let you off the hook?" He glared at her, opening his mouth to shout something at her, only no sound came forth. Momo felt the anger drain away, only to be replaced by worry. "Shiro-chan?"
He gave her a silent snarl to show he was listening. She frowned, standing closer to him, and looking him over for any injury. "What's wrong?"
He stamped his foot in frustration, mouthing words she didn't understand at him.
"Shiro-chan, what happened?" she asked, horror beginning to fill her mind. He only clenched his fists in frustration when he realized she couldn't read his lips, nor the gestures he was making. "Here," Momo said, reaching for a piece of paper and a brush on her desk. "Write it down." He gave her a chilling glare before she remembered that he didn't know how to write. She wringed her hands. What was she supposed to do now?
"I know! Miss Rangiku!" she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door. "If you've been a servant for all these years, you must have been in Miss Rangiku's care. She has to be able to communicate with you!" Toushirou nodded, relieved that she had thought of a way to communicate, and the two siblings rushed towards the lower parts of the castle to find the Mistress of the Servants.
--o--
Gin stood in her chamber, looking not amused. He had his arms crossed, and his usually grinning face was replaced with a frown.
"Care to explain how a boy was able to get past your scrutiny?" Rangiku ignored the dangerous tone and just shrugged.
"I don't know about any boys. All of the people under my command are girls."
"Don't bullshit me, Ran," Gin said, the usual snarking tone absent. He was really mad. Rangiku sighed.
"I don't know. I ran the usual checks, and this kid you're talking about really is a girl."
"That's...impossible," Gin said, looking just a bit confused. "I'm pretty sure Hinamori Momo's only family is a brother in the countryside."
"Well, maybe you need to check your sources again," Rangiku suggested teasingly. Gin didn't appreciate her humor. Rangiku gave a long suffering sigh.
"I don't know how accurate your information is, but you know that we girls take baths together regularly, and I think someone would have noticed and said something by now if she was less than a girl," Rangiku said. Gin sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I guess I'll just have to go and ask the source."
"No need for that," Rangiku smirked, recognizing a soft pattering of feet she had long come to associate with the smallest servant. "She's here."
Hinamori Momo and her sibling appeared before them, both a little out of breath. Gin had to admit, if he didn't know Momo's sibling was a boy, he would have mistaken him easily for a girl.
"Miss Rangiku," Momo gasped, "I need your help." Rangiku smiled winningly, ruffling her brother's hair with the ease of long years of familiarity. Momo was a little envious of it.
"No problem. But first of all," Rangiku gave a pointed look at Toushirou, who huffed, but dutifully raised his hands before him. She gave a light slap on each wrist. "That's for breaking the rules."
"Attempting to assassinate the king warrants only two slaps on the wrists?" Gin asked incredulously. Rangiku laughed at him.
"My place, my rules." She turned towards Momo. "So, how may I help you?"
"I..." Now that she was here, standing before Rangiku and the Captain of the Guard, Gin, she felt a little bit foolish and very ashamed. What could she say that wouldn't make her appear as a heartless sister? Although duty to one's country did overshadow duty to one's family, it still made her feel dirty. Toushirou began gesturing with his hand.
"Hm... You want to learn how to communicate with Fuyuka?" Rangiku asked. Momo looked slightly puzzled. "No problem. I'll get Isane to teach you tomorrow. But Fuyuka and I need a little talk tonight, and you're probably tired from all that running around, so why don't you go to bed and you'll see her tomorrow?" Before Momo could fully register who Fuyuka was, she was shooed out of the room.
"I'm going to have to take her--him under custody," Gin said. Rangiku rolled her eyes at him.
"Sou-chan said it was all right, right? So get your knickers out of a twist and bug me tomorrow," Rangiku said, shoving him out the door. Gin was going to protest, but fell silent at Rangiku's glare. He nodded, and left. Rangiku closed the door, and turned around to look at Fuyuka.
"You and I are going to have a long chat."
Chapter 2
In any case, I don't really want to post this on fanfiction.net or any other more public forums. It can just safely collect dust in this corner of the Web.
Title: Winter Fragrance
Fandom: Bleach
Summary: To avenge the death of a childhood friend, Toushirou dresses up like a woman and enters Aizen's court as a servant. But when he tries to assassinate Aizen, who should he meet but...?
Characters: Hitsugaya Toushiro, Hinamori Momo, Matsumoto Rangiku, Neliel Tu Oderschvank, Ichimaru Gin, Aizen Sousuke, Shihouin Yoruichi, Urahara Kisuke, Kurosaki Isshin, Kurosaki Karin
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Warnings: Cross dressing, gender bending, Alternate Universe
Chapter 1
He had been waiting for this moment.
He curtseied respectfully as he entered the chamber, the tray balanced perfectly on his slender arms. When he received permission to enter, he walked in with practiced grace, the silk hem of his clothes ghosting against the polished floor.
He had been waiting for this moment for years.
The chamber was long, and he quickened his steps to bring the food to the king before it got too cold. Rangiku would scold him otherwise. He approached the dais where the king sat, placing the tray gently in front of the king, head lowered, as was appropriate.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
He gave another curtsey, unseen by the king as the king turned towards his dinner. It was now, or never.
The knife slid out from his robes with a flash, and before the king could even realize what was happening, he brought it down on the king's head.
Only to be blocked with a clang of steel against steel.
He had failed.
--o--
The fields were on the bare side that year, the harvest unable to do well under the strange weather. Money had been a bit tight, especially since trade was slow due to the impending war. But while such pressures had reduced many smaller villages to nothing, Junrinan had scraped through, the villagers tough and their spirits tougher.
Toushirou had been working in the fields when the message came. Although there were few crops to harvest, what crops existed could not be ignored. Momo may have been in the capital, earning money both for herself and him, but that didn't mean he was going to sit back and be lazy. He had his own pride, and pride dictated that if nothing else, he had to at least know how to support himself.
The message that arrived had made a tenant of his pride become a tenant of his survival.
He wasn't quite sure how long he had sat out there, numb to the world, but he did know that by the time he had entered his house, it had already been nightfall. The sickle that he had been using had disappeared somewhere between the field and his house, but he couldn't even bring his mind to care.
Momo was gone.
It was absurd. How could she be gone? It had been a few years since she had decided that working in the capital would be more beneficial to them both than continuing to work here, but...gone? Why? It didn't make sense. She was nothing. She was just a servant. Why would a servant die in the king's own palace? They had not been invaded. Her letters had indicated no illness. So why?
He had heard whispers from the enemy kingdom that accused their king of being debauched. He had never before believed in those rumors himself, but now...
He could feel his nails breaking the skin of his palms as he clenched his fists. Aizen. He would pay. Toushirou would make sure of it.
--o--
He pushed against the offending blade with strength born of desperation. He had to kill the king. He would never be able to look Momo in the eye if he didn't. He rushed towards the king, dodging the guards that rushed at him, only to be stopped once more by that annoying blade. He looked furiously at the one who had interrupted him, as the king quickly moved away from him, the guards mobilizing in a ring.
His eyes widened in surprise, and suddenly the strength with which he clutched the dagger began to wane. It was impossible. It couldn't be true.
He backed away, the dagger becoming loose in his grasp. She didn't press her advantage, instead mirroring his look of incredulity.
The blade slipped from his hands and fell to the floor with a clatter.
--o--
Momo dreamed of the days when things had been simpler. She would work alongside Toushirou as they cleared the fields, Toushirou singing softly to the beat of the swinging blade. He had had such a nice singing voice, and she wished she could hear him sing once more.
It had partially been the reason why she wanted to go to the capital. She didn't want to see him work until old age overtook him. She didn't want to see his beautiful singing voice destroyed by the poisonous fumes of the earth. She wanted a better life for him. For them both.
So she had told Toushirou one day that she was going to apply for work in the palace. They were always looking for new girls to fill the servants' position, and she was young, strong, and healthy. An ideal candidate. She had known that Toushirou had been reluctant to let her go, but since she had indicated that doing so would make her happy, and all he ever wanted was for her to be happy, he had relented.
So many years had passed, and little by little, she had forgotten her original purpose for being here. She had forgotten how much she loved her little Shiro. Oh, she remained the dutiful sister, writing letters to tell him how she was doing, despite knowing that he couldn't read them. He was smart. She knew he would be able to find someone to read them to him. But the letters had begun to lack their usual warmth. Instead of being something enjoyable, they had become a chore.
When her king asked her to spy on the enemy country, she had agreed almost immediately. She hadn't spared a thought for Toushirou, and probably wouldn't have had Captain Gin not reminded her that her family would be suspicious if she were to stop sending her letters, or if the letters came from a different location.
So she had asked the captain to create a fake notice of death and give it to Toushirou. With her dead, she no longer had an obligation to him.
She had gone to Seireitei and spied for her beloved king. And when she returned, she was awarded with his smile of pride. Things would have been perfect had someone not tried to assassinate the king that night.
--o--
She rushed to the king's side, blocking the blade from the traitorous servant that King Sousuke had not seen. She gritted her teeth in anger, attempting to push the mere slight of a girl away, but the servant was surprisingly strong for her small stature. She had evaded Momo's blade, and headed towards the king once more, showing surprising dexterity as she dodged the numerous guards that tried to kill her.
But Momo hadn't been trained with the king's elite guards all these years for nothing.
She intercepted her blow once more, and this time, the traitorous servant girl had the audacity to glare at her.
Momo had almost dropped her blade in surprise when familiar sea-green eyes had stared back at her. It had only been good luck that saved her when the girl had backed off, looking just as surprised as she was.
Only it wasn't a girl, was it?
"Shiro-chan?" she said, barely a whisper. His mouth was slightly ajar in shock, a look she had never seen on Toushirou. Then again, she had never seen him with long hair tied low on the back, the hair silky with years of care, nor had she ever seen him wearing the traditional woman's robe.
The dagger dropped with a clang.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the guards advance on Toushirou, but the king held them back with a wave of his hand.
"Shiro-chan, is it really you?"
He nodded mutely, too shocked and confused to think properly. She could feel tears well in her eyes. Of course he would be confused. All these years he thought she was dead, and here she was, standing before him. But she didn't understand. She didn't understand why he was here, with a dagger, trying to assassinate their beloved king.
His eyes turned from her to the king, confusion written all over his face. And then she understood.
Toushirou had always been too straightforward. If she had "died" under the king's service, of course he would assume that the king had something to do with it. He would never have thought otherwise. He didn't understand how the world worked. So all these years, while she worked for her king, he had been seeking revenge, preparing for this day when he would finally be able to rest her soul in peace.
"Oh, Shiro-chan..." She enveloped him in her hug. She could feel him trembling beneath her, hands clutching her robes tightly as he began to shake with suppressed sobs. It was her fault. It was her fault that her little Shiro had suffered, just because in a moment of weakness, she had made a selfish decision to pursue her own wishes instead of taking care of her little brother. It would be her fault if he were executed for his treason.
She felt a presence behind her, and without turning to look, she knew who it was.
"Take your sibling to your chambers. I will make sure that no harm befalls because of this incident." Her king smiled kindly at her, and she nodded, guiding Toushirou out of the room. One hand was clutched tightly in her robes even as they ascended the stairs to reach the floor her room was in.
When they finally reached her room, she really looked at Toushirou for the first time in years. He hadn't grown all that much taller, just enough so that he was no longer at her chest, but almost reaching her shoulders. His face was wet with tears that he was busy trying to scrub away. Momo smiled a little. Toushirou had always been a little prideful. She was just glad that he hadn't realized he should hate her yet.
"Shiro-chan, what are you doing here?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer. He gave her one of his looks, one that she had almost forgotten. He too knew that he didn't need to say anything for her to know his reasons for being there.
"You shouldn't have done that," she scolded. "How can you even think of assassinating King Sousuke? You didn't even have proof that he did anything to me." He looked angry at her comment, his mouth pressing into a thin line. "Just be glad that His Majesty was gracious enough to spare your life on my behalf. Honestly, you can be such a child." His mouth opened in fury, but no words came out.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked, arms on her hips. He gave her a look of frustration, but remained silent. She began to grow a little angry at his reticence. "Oh, that's really mature. Do you think giving me the silent treatment will let you off the hook?" He glared at her, opening his mouth to shout something at her, only no sound came forth. Momo felt the anger drain away, only to be replaced by worry. "Shiro-chan?"
He gave her a silent snarl to show he was listening. She frowned, standing closer to him, and looking him over for any injury. "What's wrong?"
He stamped his foot in frustration, mouthing words she didn't understand at him.
"Shiro-chan, what happened?" she asked, horror beginning to fill her mind. He only clenched his fists in frustration when he realized she couldn't read his lips, nor the gestures he was making. "Here," Momo said, reaching for a piece of paper and a brush on her desk. "Write it down." He gave her a chilling glare before she remembered that he didn't know how to write. She wringed her hands. What was she supposed to do now?
"I know! Miss Rangiku!" she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door. "If you've been a servant for all these years, you must have been in Miss Rangiku's care. She has to be able to communicate with you!" Toushirou nodded, relieved that she had thought of a way to communicate, and the two siblings rushed towards the lower parts of the castle to find the Mistress of the Servants.
--o--
Gin stood in her chamber, looking not amused. He had his arms crossed, and his usually grinning face was replaced with a frown.
"Care to explain how a boy was able to get past your scrutiny?" Rangiku ignored the dangerous tone and just shrugged.
"I don't know about any boys. All of the people under my command are girls."
"Don't bullshit me, Ran," Gin said, the usual snarking tone absent. He was really mad. Rangiku sighed.
"I don't know. I ran the usual checks, and this kid you're talking about really is a girl."
"That's...impossible," Gin said, looking just a bit confused. "I'm pretty sure Hinamori Momo's only family is a brother in the countryside."
"Well, maybe you need to check your sources again," Rangiku suggested teasingly. Gin didn't appreciate her humor. Rangiku gave a long suffering sigh.
"I don't know how accurate your information is, but you know that we girls take baths together regularly, and I think someone would have noticed and said something by now if she was less than a girl," Rangiku said. Gin sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I guess I'll just have to go and ask the source."
"No need for that," Rangiku smirked, recognizing a soft pattering of feet she had long come to associate with the smallest servant. "She's here."
Hinamori Momo and her sibling appeared before them, both a little out of breath. Gin had to admit, if he didn't know Momo's sibling was a boy, he would have mistaken him easily for a girl.
"Miss Rangiku," Momo gasped, "I need your help." Rangiku smiled winningly, ruffling her brother's hair with the ease of long years of familiarity. Momo was a little envious of it.
"No problem. But first of all," Rangiku gave a pointed look at Toushirou, who huffed, but dutifully raised his hands before him. She gave a light slap on each wrist. "That's for breaking the rules."
"Attempting to assassinate the king warrants only two slaps on the wrists?" Gin asked incredulously. Rangiku laughed at him.
"My place, my rules." She turned towards Momo. "So, how may I help you?"
"I..." Now that she was here, standing before Rangiku and the Captain of the Guard, Gin, she felt a little bit foolish and very ashamed. What could she say that wouldn't make her appear as a heartless sister? Although duty to one's country did overshadow duty to one's family, it still made her feel dirty. Toushirou began gesturing with his hand.
"Hm... You want to learn how to communicate with Fuyuka?" Rangiku asked. Momo looked slightly puzzled. "No problem. I'll get Isane to teach you tomorrow. But Fuyuka and I need a little talk tonight, and you're probably tired from all that running around, so why don't you go to bed and you'll see her tomorrow?" Before Momo could fully register who Fuyuka was, she was shooed out of the room.
"I'm going to have to take her--him under custody," Gin said. Rangiku rolled her eyes at him.
"Sou-chan said it was all right, right? So get your knickers out of a twist and bug me tomorrow," Rangiku said, shoving him out the door. Gin was going to protest, but fell silent at Rangiku's glare. He nodded, and left. Rangiku closed the door, and turned around to look at Fuyuka.
"You and I are going to have a long chat."
Chapter 2