A Growing Sin

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach

Hinamori plopped down on her bed in exhaustion. It had been a long eventful day and she was tired. First that interrogation, then Hitsugaya arriving to help her….

He had looked so handsome while doing it too, that annoying voice in his head whispered.

Blushing, Hinamori replied, No, he didn't!

Did too!

Did not!

Did too!

Did not!

Then how come you were blushing when he arrived? Can't deny that can you, Hinamori-chan?

Hinamori blushed harder at this fact. It was true. When Hitsugaya had arrived and she had seen how…. Kami, did she have to mention it? But she knew it could never be. She would always be the Princess of Heaven too him, and that was all.

Then why did he come to save you?

Then there was that mystery to ponder. Though Hinamori was grateful to Hitsugaya for saving her, he had no real reason to. Was it because she had saved him? For some reason, the thought that Hitsugaya had only saved her to repay a debt…. caused a slight clutching in her heart. She didn't want Hitsugaya to save her only for a debt. She wanted him to save her because….

"Hinamori, dinner," Hitsugaya said from the doorway, shocking said girl out of her thoughts.

"A-ah, it's dinner already?" Hinamori stammered, caught by surprise.

Hitsugaya just raised an eyebrow slightly. What the Hell- was Hinamori blind? The clock on the wall clearly stated it was seven-o-clock. Obviously it was dinner by now.

"Chang, alright? Some other nobles are coming over to dine and I don't want you…. Looking like that," Hitsugaya stated as he looked at Hinamori's tattered yukata. It was definitely not in the best state, with the hem of the skirt torn and the sleeves ripped away.

"Are? Why…" Hinamori trailed off when she realized what her clothing looked like for the first time. "Oh."

Hitsugaya just inwardly rolled his eyes. Hinamori really was blind. Though that did make her cute in a way…. Wait, what the Hell? Why did he keep thinking… weird thoughts about her? Something was wrong with him.

"Sayuri will be your maid. She'll give you the clothing to wear, got it?" Hitsugaya said before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Before Hinamori could say anything, the door slid open again. This time at the entrance was a young girl wearing a yellow yukata. Her black hair was held up in a tight bun and her eyes were downcast, so Hinamori couldn't really see them.

"Watashi Sayuri, Hinamori-sama. I am to be your maid from now on," she said in a soft gentle voice. She looked so demure, like a fragile doll.

Hinamori was still slightly shocked. Sayuri, sensing her silence, raise her face in worry and said, "Have I done something to trouble you, Hinamori-sama? If I did, I shall-

That snapped Hinamori back to reality. "I-iye! I was just a bit shocked at having a personal maid here. I never had one in Heaven you see; my parents did not believe in spoiling me so they never gave me one."

Relief flooded her face as she smiled for the first time. "I'm glad. Hitsugaya-sama must be fond of you to treat you so kindly. Perhaps he has taken a liking to you?"

Hinamori blushed cherry-red at this statement. Hitsugaya-kun? Like her? There was no way! An image of a serious faced spiky-haired kid saying "No way" came to mind and Hinamori couldn't but to giggle. But what about this afternoon? He was pretty… you know what I'm saying that annoyingly persistent voice in her head whispered.

Hinamori shook her head violently in an attempt to get rid of the voice. Concerned, Sayuri rushed up to Hinamori. "Are you okay, Hinamori-sama?" she asked worriedly.

"B-betsuni," Hinamori laughed, glad for Sayuri's interference. "Please, don't call me 'Hinamori-sama'. It sounds so formal. Just call me 'Hinamori'."

"B-but that would be being impolite…" Sayuri trailed off when she saw the smile on Hinamori's face. It was a trick she had learned from Sakura. When someone opposed you, you just smiled as sweetly as possible, long after they had finished the argument. That broke down their defenses faster than anything. This was the royal family's best technique for dealing with any objections to their decisions. Who could resist an innocent smile?

It certainly had its effect on Sayuri. Embarrassed, she lowered her head again, saying, "H-hai, Hinamori-sa- I mean, Hinamori."

Satisfied, Hinamori took Sayuri's hand and asked, "Then could I call you Sayuri-chan? Onegai?" With her big pleading puppy dog eyes, who could resist? Sayuri certainly couldn't.

"Of course, Hinamori," Sayuri said. It appeared her new mistress was more gullible than she had been told.

Hinamori brightened up. "Then, let's decide on an outfit to wear to dinner! Hitsugaya-kun told me you had the clothing so…."

Smiling, Sayuri lead her to a closet built into the wall. "Here are your choices," she said before opening the door. "I hope you find them satisfactory."

Hinamori could barely suppress the look of amazement on her face.

In the closet were two long rows of kimono after kimono, all of them beautiful and from how much detail they had, most likely hand-made, each and every one of them. They were all in silk, some the gauzy type you wore on a hot day or as an accessory, and some the heavy draping silk you wore on a cold winter's day. Each had a striking design with bright colors. On a shelf above them were the accessories for each kimono, all as beautiful as the kimono themselves.

Then, Hinamori's eye caught another kimono. It was a simple black one, exactly like the one Hitsugaya wore under his white haori that signified him as a captain. For some reason, it stood out to her more than any other kimono, despite its simplicity.

"Sayuri-chan, may I wear that one?" Hinamori requested, pointing at the black kimono. A bit shocked, Sayuri nonetheless complied, saying "Whatever you wish for, Hinamori."

Hitsugaya was getting irritated. Hinamori was late! What was taking her so long? The guests were about to arrive any minute and she still wasn't here.

"Sorry I'm late, Hitsugaya-kun!" Whipping around, Hitsugaya saw Hinamori running toward him from the hallway a bit flustered. Then, his eye widened slightly when he saw what she was wearing.

Instead of wearing the colorful and fancy kimonos that most guests at his house wore during visits, she was wearing the plain black kimono that was the uniform of every vampire in the military. Hitsugaya had guessed that Hinamori had simple tastes, judging from how unornamented her room had been, but not this simple.

Though it does suit her rather well, ne, Toushiro? There it was again. That voice that kept on bugging him and embarrassing him in front of people.

Shut up for the millionth time. I do not like her and that's it, Hitsugaya growled back though his heart knew better. To Hinamori, he motioned for her to follow him to the dining room where they would dine with several of Hell's most powerful lords.

Unbeknownst to the two, someone was hidden in the shadows.

"Hai. I understand…. She shall be… by tonight."