Title: White Mystery

Rating: K

Summary: A Bleach AU with a shinsengumi twist. Hints of ByakuyaxHisana


The dull ringing in Hisana's head was gradually beginning to intensify as the seconds drummed on. She was unsure as to the cause of such a raucous but she knew, by some means, that if she didn't open her eyes any time soon the meaningless ringing would perpetuate and she would never escape the vicious thing.

Without further ado, the young woman gave a long groan and weakly fluttered open her eyes as she attempted to ease the ringing that had previously seemed never ending. She blinked for a bit as her eyes adjusted to the surprising brilliance of her surroundings and she unconsciously mumbled as she began to stir between the cool warmth of the sheets that enveloped her.

"Oh you're awake!"

There was a soft squeak that came from some indeterminable direction and Hisana weakly struggled to prop herself up so that she might have been able to view the person who had addressed her. Her attempt was greeted with failure however because all she had managed to do was raise her finger a few inches off the futon.

"No no, please keep still. You've only just awoken. You need your strength."

The voice now seemed to flow from above and Hisana fluttered her eyelids once more as her vision slowly began to come into focus. She could see the dark outline of hair framing the heart shaped face of a middle aged woman and the warm smile of welcome painting small lips. Hisana blinked to sharpen her vision one more time and finally stared in surprise at the woman kindly smiling down at her.

"Wh-where am I?" she groggily managed to murmur.

"You're in a safe place."

Hisana uncertainly looked at the woman, a frown of bewilderment wrinkling her brows. "A-a safe place?" she confusedly repeated.

"Yes….."

Hisana nodded her comprehension and closed her eyes once more as the woman began to adjust the sheets of the futon above her.

"How long have I been sleeping?"

"I'm afraid you've been out for almost the entire day. It's almost sunset."

Hisana started at this. She immediately sat up in alarm, her silken tresses falling onto her shoulders as her sudden movement jerked the sheets from over her. "It's that late?"

The middle aged woman raised her brows in surprise upon Hisana's reaction and peacefully settled down once again. "You seemed troubled by that fact child."

"I-I….I've never made it a habit to sleep so….late….my-my father always-"

It was just as she had muttered those words however that the horde of memories from the evening past came crashing down into her consciousness. It was as though someone had set the play button on in her mind and she could shield the recollections no more.

"What's wrong?" the woman worriedly asked.

Hisana looked at the woman and took a deep, perplexed breath. "My father….I-I…." she faltered for a moment, the reality of what she was about to say too grave to accept. "He's…he's….."

"Maybe….maybe you shouldn't speak about it so soon….."

Hisana narrowed her brows in momentary confusion at the woman's words.

"You just woke up…." The woman smiled an understanding smile as she spoke "Perhaps you should think through your thoughts whilst I prepare a meal for you and then you may unburden yourself to me."

Hisana looked at the woman in surprise at those words and after few seconds nodded her acquiescence. The woman's advice seemed wise. "You're right…." She murmured as she crossed her hands upon her lap. "Maybe…. I- maybe I should give myself time to come to terms with my memories."

She watched thereafter as the woman bowed and quietly left the room.

The fact that she had seen her father die and the fact that she was unsure of how she had ended up where she now lay was all too much to logically process. She sought through the foggy memories, the shock too much to even comprehend. Had her father really been stabbed? Had she really been helping him at their clinic only twenty four hours ago? Had all of this really happened? It was unfair; it was almost illogical. Irrelevant political ideologies had been the cause for her father's death. If she could recall correctly the man who had attempted to take her father's life had uttered something along the lines of 'those who support the bakufu would never realise Japan's future….'

But her father had been a retainer so many years ago for the shogun…Why would a strange ronin charge into their home and take her father's life for mere ideal? It was all so illogical. But then none of that mattered any more. Men with families had been assassinated due to the political instability that seemed to be overshadowing the peaceful era that once reigned over the island nation.

But why her father?

Unknowingly, a heated moisture suddenly began to stroke her cheeks in long salty tracks. Hisana cupped her face in surprise at the unanticipated tears and closed her eyes as more of her silent anguish began to reign forth. She had not expected the tears to come so suddenly but there seemed there was nothing more she could do…

She finally covered her face with her palms and silently sobbed away the realisation of her loss onto her sheets. The feeling of loneliness was overwhelming and she had never imagined that such a burden as that would have been hers to bear….she had never anticipated something like that for herself….never. But there was nothing more she could do….it had all happened already.

oooOOOooo

Hisana had fallen asleep again; it seemed her body was still physically exhausted from the previous night's attempt to escape. Whether she was also mentally fatigued was something that bothered her. Her dreams had been filled with unruly screams and shrieks of torture; her father's last command still echoing in her mind. But she had not expected that she would have fallen into slumber after the middle aged woman had left, but perhaps her mind and body had still been completely worn out. She had awoken only fifteen minutes ago to find a tray with a decent meal of soup and vegetables awaiting her. The low growls of hunger had betrayed her pangs of hunger and she elegantly raised the chopsticks between her digits as she humbly drank the soup that had been prepared for her.

"You must be terribly hungry…."

Hisana gasped in surprise at the sudden address and dropped her chopsticks in alarm as she openly stared at the stranger regally poised before her.

"Y-yes…." She slowly responded as the man slid the shoji door fully aside and took seiza just beyond the threshold.

"Excuse me for being so rude, I'm just a bit astonished….."

Hisana raised her brows in surprise at this, her silent reaction prodding the man to continue with a slight smile.

"I've never seen a woman eat so….quickly before…."

Hisana felt her cheeks heat at this and she blushingly lowered her head at the soft chuckle that came next. She never realised that her hunger had gotten the better of her mannerisms.

"Forgive me, forgive me. I'm embarrassing you." The stranger offered a polite smile before continuing, "I intended no dishonour; you are a guest here, so please allow me to introduce myself."

Hisana stole a quick glance at the stranger before her.

"Aizen Souske…..commander of the shinsengumi."

"Sh-shinsengumi?" the young woman's attention immediately became fixated and she stared at her visitor in open wonder. "Am I… am I at the shinsengumi's headquarters in Mibu then?"

The handsome stranger smiled at this and nodded his answer. "I'm afraid you are…." There seemed to be a hint of sincere apology hanging from his voice and Hisana uncertainly narrowed her brows at this observation.

"You sound apologetic…." She confusedly murmured.

"Aaaahhh yes….well you see I fancy myself in thinking that this is no place for a young woman such as yourself. But you are presently in no condition to make it on your own."

Hisana blinked in surprise at this address and lowered her head in thought for a few seconds. Strange indeed it was that the commander of the shinsengumi would come to personally greet her. There had to be some ulterior motive beneath his visit.

"But you're not here to see me because of my condition are you?" she uncertainly queried after a hesitant silence.

The bespectacled commander widened his eyes at her unexpected question and sighed a lone sigh after a moment.

Hearing his sigh, Hisana apologetically started, "I-I intended no offence sir…but-"

"No you're right…" he wearily interjected after a few seconds of silence. "But your condition is of concern, naturally. I do hope you shall be in full health soon."

"So then, if I may be so bold as to enquire, why are you here Aizen-san?"

The man adjusted his glasses upon the bridge of his nose and smiled a slight smile. "You were attacked by a loyalist last night… my men confirmed the death of Ganjiro Harada immediately after reporting in."

A small exclamation of surprise escaped Hisana's lips and she pressed her fingers against her mouth in final realisation. "Then that man….that man did kill my father because he was a former retainer of the shogun's."

It was Aizen's turn to air surprise. "A former retainer? What was your father's name?"

"B-Bekku Umeko…."

"Umeko…? Umeko was your father?"

"Yes. You knew him?"

"I did, but only briefly. Pray, what is your name?"

"Hisana…Bekko Hisana."

The commander closed his eyes in apparent contemplation and tiredly sighed once more before beginning to stroke his chin. He seemed bothered by some unknown fact and Hisana frowned at the sight. She worriedly eyed the older man, troubled by the knowledge that the incident with her father had seemed to cause a stir amongst the shinsengumi.

"Are-are you alright Aizen-san?"

The man exhaled and smiled a small smile at Hisana before finally raising himself to his feet. "It is nothing you should concern yourself with Bekku-dono. Presently you should concentrate on ensuring your health is returned in full."

"Y-yes…thank you."

He fell into a polite bow then which caused Hisana to blink in surprise. "I sympathise with you upon your father's death. He was without a doubt one of the greater warriors of our time."

Hisana stared in amazement at this address and slowly lowered her eyes as she politely smiled at the kind words offered. "Thank you, once again."

With the soft scraping of the sliding door, Hisana was once again left alone with a whirlwind of thoughts alight in her mind.

oooOOOooo

As much as Hisana was unwilling to stay on at the Shinsengumi headquarters, she had little choice in the matter. She had nowhere else to call home in Kyoto presently and the only other place she probably would have been allowed to temporarily seek shelter was at one of her father's old friends in Matsudira. But it would be quite audacious of her to impose so suddenly and without even writing a letter to at least alert them of her impending visit.

She reluctantly settled then, for the present time, in her current abode and meekly accepted the chores that the middle aged woman (whose name she had learnt was Yuki) offered to her. It was only fair she supposed that she engage in the work because Yuki had been kind enough to nurse her whilst she had been weak. If anything, Hisana hoped that her help to the woman would have acted as repayment for the kindness she had been shown.

There had previously been only three women who worked in the kitchens and Hisana unofficially became the fourth. She unintentionally submerged herself into her tasks, unconsciously becoming engrossed in whatever chore she had been charged with. It always worked as a remedy to clear her mind of the ever lingering grief of loosing what had once been the world to her. But this was her new 'home' now even if it were temporary and there was nothing more she could do to change that; and she shouldn't have been discontent in any case; she had been provided with lodgings, meals and companionship. It was better than living out in the streets.

The other residents were quite cheery in their demeanour. Hisana would often times hear them loudly chattering and she suspected that alcohol was a free flowing thing around here when celebrations were inevitable. Seldom were the times however when Hisana met some of the men from the squadron and even if she were to chance upon an encounter with one of them, she would humbly lower herself until they passed by. The cries of the men during sparring practice and the like were the only other times that Hisana would hear them, but regardless, the headquarters was a peaceful place and she made sure to enjoy the peace whilst it existed.

Tonight was no different as she found herself idyllically seated outside the door of her humble room which she shared with one of the younger girls who also worked in the kitchen. She had been unable to fall into slumber and had decided to cool herself with the faint brushes of the night wind that seemed to paint the chill. Echoes of drunken laughter that was brought with the wind alerted her to some quiet party amongst some of the men and Hisana peacefully sighed as she scanned her present surroundings. The sky was clear and the moon not more than a faint sliver of silver hanging amidst the stars. If anything, it was a perfect night for reconnaissance—all with so little light and all. She stopped her thoughts quite suddenly then and frowned when she realised the extent of her thinking. Perhaps she had been listening to the tales of her co-workers all too much. They had related tales of strange nights when the rooftops creaked with silent footsteps and the grasses shivered with the slight crunch of swift running. "Ninjas from the Choushu clan sometimes come to spy." One of the girls had said. "It's always safe then to stay indoors, especially upon nights when the moon's brilliance is dim."

Hisana sighed at the thought and refocused her attention once more upon the low hanging moon. "Too whimsical…" she finally murmured beneath her breath. She rose to her feet then and brushed away the stray strands of hair that had fallen into her eyes. She adjusted the obi around her sleeping yukata and quietly began to make her way towards the well so as to quench her parched throat. She knew that she shouldn't have taken her co-worker's advice for granted but it seemed so…fantastical…

She smiled at the thought before adjusting her robe once more and finally stepping down some steps and into the open space where the well was housed. Just as she was about to reach for the ladle however, she stilled in her tracks.

The unexpected trickle of water alerted her to another's presence then and she gasped in alarm when she beheld the semi clothed form of a man standing just before the well's edge. She had interrupted someone's cleansing.

Her slight exclamation had been her downfall however and before she could react, she found herself helplessly caught within the steely, almost piercing gaze of a gentleman whom she had never before beheld.

His eyes were scathingly assessing and she knew he was internally attempting to ascertain whether she was harmless or not. His brows narrowed as he scrutinised.

Hisana blinkingly stared at him in wonder, her hand pressed against her rapidly thumping heart and the other limply hanging at her side. The stranger before her seemed to exude an air of authority and she nervously backed away when he took one step forward. He seemed particularly….menacing…

The slight wind that seemed to be colouring the night however, elegantly lifted his long, dark tresses and gently strummed their thickness through invisible fingers before fanning his frame and elegantly falling onto and over his shoulders and down over his chest. Framed by his long dark hair and slightly bathed in the frail moon light, he seemed almost regal and Hisana momentarily saw a glimpse of a man who was perhaps quite cultured. Her heart unexpectedly skipped a beat.

"I-I….water….I just came for water…" she barely managed to whisper. She fell into a bow then and nervously beseeched, "Forgive me for intruding sir, I-"

"Enough." He quietly commanded as he silenced her. His voice had been surprisingly deep and the young woman stole a quick glance at him from beneath her lashes. She had gulped at his initial address and she slowly raised herself as she uncertainly twiddled her fingers. She watched then, rather unsure, as he shrugged back his arms into his kimono's sleeves and as he neatly adjusted the obi before brushing his thick hair from over his shoulders and down onto his back. His features were impassive as he silently replaced the bucket in its original position, his steps mere whispers upon the grass. Hisana stared on, unconsciously captivated as his movements were carried out with an odd amount of grace. She had never seen such a tall man move with so much elegance.

"I am finished," he quietly spoke. Hisana almost jumped at the address. "You may proceed."

The young woman unwittingly fell into a bow again and meekly acknowledged him. Before he disappeared altogether however, he paused for a moment and turned around to address her. "Am I wrong in assuming you are Umeko's daughter?"

Hisana's eyes widened at this. "N-no, not at all."

He eyed her features one more time beneath the pale moon light and closed his eyes before turning around on his feet.

"I see…"

With that he silently left and Hisana was left in the wake of uncertainty as she eyed his retreating back.

oooOOOooo

Kuchiki Byakuya, quietly made his way through the confusing corridors of the shinsengumi headquarters, his features almost rigid as he made no effort to allow a glimpse of his emotions to peek through. He paused then, just as he approached a shoji door before silently sliding it aside and entering.

"Byakuya!"

He closed his eyes in acknowledgement to the bespectacled commander who had addressed him before taking seiza and folding his arms within the sleeves of his haori.

"Where did you disappear to?" another red headed one enquired before puffing on a tobacco pipe and slowly exhaling.

"I went to the well." was Byakuya's brief reply.

"Oh? Had you gotten tired of our merry making Byakuya?" a rather inebriated gentleman in a straw hat and overly pink haori asked.

"Come, come Shunsui," a long, white haired one cheerily interjected. "Byakuya is not often fond of drinking."

The black haired vice commander of the shinsegumi inaudibly sighed and opened his eyes as he examined his comrades before him.

"I met Umeko's daughter just now." He quietly diverted.

"Oh?" Azien asked. "Where?"

"At the well. Was she the one Abarai and the other men reported?"

Aizen stroked his chin as he watched his subordinate. "Yes, she was actually."

"I was unaware of the fact that she was still here."

"I asked Yuki to give her occupation in the kitchens."

Byakuya closed his eyes in thought before speaking. "You're afraid that they will attack her again, Aizen?"

The commander sighed before also inhaling a long draught of tobacco. "Umeko was a good man, I would not like to dishonour his memory by leaving his daughter to die."

"Are you speaking of Bekko Umeko's daughter?" The white haired gentleman queried.

"Yeah Ukitake-san" the red headed one, Abarai Renji replied. He grinned at Ukitake and exhaled a wispy cloud of tobacco. "Me and some men from my unit found her and finished off her attacker just before he had a chance to waste her."

"Oh? How is it that I have not heard about this?" Shunsui thoughtfully murmured as he stroked his chin.

"I didn't want it to be widely known…" Aizen apologetically replied as he adjusted his glasses.

Byakuya sat in thoughtful silence as his companions spoke before finally unfolding his arms and addressing Aizen. "But she cannot stay here permanently."

Aizen raised his eyes in surprise. "Why can't she?"

"There are already enough people beneath these roofs, we cannot afford another."

"But the Aizu clan has not ceased their funding and besides where will she go Byakuya?"

"And don't we often have new recruits?" another voice placidly added. "We fund them all the same don't we?"

Byakuya's eyes narrowed and his lips thinned. "Those men are recruited for a sound purpose. She is a woman and an unnecessary woman at that."

Aizen sighed and rested his palm against his forehead in muted frustration. "You are no doubt the hard hearted vice commander you're well reputed as being Byakuya; heard hearted and stubborn. She is a young woman and her father, my previous associate has been killed. Where else will she seek shelter?"

Kuchiki Byakuya emotionlessly returned the commander's cool gaze before lowering his head and derisively sighing.

He did not fancy the idea of another woman staying at the shinsengumi headquarters. Women were not worth all that trouble.

This was a man's world, after all.

oooOOOooo

(Some days later)

"Hisana-kun!"

Yuki exasperatedly wiped away a film of sweat from above her brows before raising herself and tiredly massaging her back. "Hisana, are you there?"

Hisana busily came bustling through the door an apologetic smile gracing her lips and a tray dangerously tipped upon her fingers. "Yuki-san?" she breathlessly enquired, "Is everything alright?"

The older woman chuckled as she focused her attention towards a steaming mug of green tea perched upon the counter. "I need you to carry this to the vice commander's room."

Hisana stiffened upon hearing that and blinked in surprise at her superior. "But what about Tetsu-chan?"

Yuki frowned and scratched her head in slight agitation as she replied, "Unfortunately, Kuchiki-san's page has been down with the virus these days past."

Hisana's eyes widened in surprise. "I hope he'll be better soon."

"Ahhh, yes I hope so too, but for now there's no one else to carry Kuchiki's tea and I would have done the job myself but I'm also quite preoccupied this morning."

Hisana smiled and rested the mug upon her tray. "I'll take care of it, don't worry."

"But take heed, you've never met the vice commander before and he can be a pain in the ass when he's ready!"

Hisana waved her hand as she retreated from the kitchen so as to indicate the fact that she had heard her friend's warning. "I'll keep that in mind!"

True she had never met the famous vice commander before, but she'd heard stories of him and his repute for being quite a serious minded bloke. She had to admit she had been somewhat intimidated when she'd heard the code of the shinsengumi as written per his orders; he seemed to take his job a little too seriously.

It was then the image of the man she met those few nights ago flashed through her mind and she thoughtfully paused as she considered the possibility. That man had been somewhat intimidating as well…..but then she supposed all members of the shinsengumi were to some extent, quite intimidating.

She sighed in defeat just as she reached the vice commander's door and humbly kneeled before the threshold before placing a sound rap on the door. Well her curiosity would be satiated now.

The curt reply indicated her permission to enter so she quietly slid the door open and delayed no further as she bowed before the vice commander.

"Your tea sir, I'm afraid Tensunouske-chan isn't well this morning."

"Oh?"

She looked up then and felt her blood run hot cold simultaneously. Her eyes widened and hear heart stopped in her chest, if only for a moment. She hadn't been wrong in her assumption. She felt her mouth automatically open in sheer disbelief.

"Y-you…" she barely whispered as she tried to suppress her shock….not that she was doing a very good job however.

The handsome man quirked an eyebrow at that, his features somewhat expressionless except for that one change. He seemed slightly irritated by her presence though and the tight line made by his lips was perhaps the only other indication of what he was thinking.

Hisana blanched at his frank look and immediately looked down, her person slightly irritated by such a callous, silent response. "I'm sorry…" she quietly muttered beneath her breath as she fell into a low bow once more. She slid the tray with the mug forward and with her head still bowed removed herself from the room. "I intended no insolence sir."

The man disinterestedly examined her form then, his eyes scanning her subservient disposition before quietly speaking. "Where is Yuki?"

Hisana raised herself in surprise at the question before remembering her position in the scheme of things and hastily replying. "She-she was preoccupied this morning. I was sent in her place."

The vice commander had returned his attention to the paper work he had before him, the slight scratch of his brush against the paper, the only sound audible within the room.

"I see…"

Hisana watched his lowered head then, the thick silken web of hair he had previously left open now tied together behind his head. He seemed older….more mature without the hair fanning his back like it had that night. When Hisana realised where her train of thoughts were leading her too however, she mentally shook herself and cleared her throat.

"I-I'll be taking my leave now sir." She hastily mumbled.

"Wait." He abruptly commanded. Hisana stiffened in her tracks, her cheeks a pinch red as her eyes curiously surveyed the commander's form. "Tell Yuki to send someone to clean out dojo this evening. We have sparring practice in the morning."

Hisana blinked in momentary surprise before shortly responding with a faint yes and taking her leave.

As soon as she sure she was out of sight and hearing however, she heaved a huge sigh and quietly murmured, "Yuki was right, he can be a pain in the butt…."

oooOOOooo

A/N: Forgive me for any errors grammatical and otherwise thru out this story.