A/N: Thank you to whitealmond and HiTsuHiNa for reviewing. I glad that you liked it. Also thank you to gamma2015 for adding this story to your favorites. Here is the Epilogue. I don't know if it is the kind of epilogue you were waiting for, but it's the only one I could think of. Plus it's the reveals quite a bit about the sequel called 'Scarlet Encounters', which is set prior to 'Identity'. I'll explain a bit more at the end to not spoil it.
HiTsuHiNa: I do have another HitsuHina fic in my list but the plot is not complete yet to publish it.
Epilogue
"Haaah…. I really want to scream. I can't believe that organizing a wedding could be so tiring! And I have my duties as the new minister! I can't believe he dumped it all on me! Hey say something Rangiku!"
The one who complained was a young lady aged twenty-one. Though about to be announced Crown Princess, the appearance of the original Crown Heir had shaken things up and she had stayed princess instead. Thus crowned heir to the throne again, the Prince also decided to take the Princess as his wife.
"Give your old partner a little breather girl. Dealing with all those orders is tiring for me as well", replied a young woman who was in her twenties as well though older than her conversation partner.
She was a woman with a well-endowed body. Her rose coloured gown accentuated her curvaceous figure. Her wavy blonde hair that would reach her chest was pinned up at the back with a net. A gold necklace without an adornment was tucked between her cleavage. Blue irises peeked through the heavy eye lids at the girl opposite. Dressed in a simple white gown – not the wedding one – and arms leaned against the table, Princess Momo was not listening to her friend at all.
"I know that he has all his duties to catch up on and relearn all that stuff, but would it kill him to at least check up on me?!"
"Sweetie you are being hysterical again."
"Mother…"
An elderly Lady entered the chamber in which the two girls were resting.
"Good afternoon Duchess Tobiume", Rangiku curtsied in greeting.
"Rangiku dear, please don't refer to me as duchess. The title feels so stiff. Also, I'm sorry that my daughter is bothering you", Lady Tobiume had a troubled face as she apologized.
"Not at all, Lady Tobiume. I am familiar with the wedding procedures myself, so I feel rather happy to help out an old friend", Rangiku shook her head and smiled.
"Your wedding was months ago and I wonder if you really did as well as you are claiming. I really wasn't expecting to meet you there at that time. After what happened, I thought I would never see you again, just like Shiro… It was such a coincidence", Momo laughed heartily, "To think that you actually got married afterwards!"
Rangiku pouted and fumbled on the ring on her left hand.
"You don't have any right to say that!"
Momo smirked and waggled her finger in front of her friend with a triumphant smile.
"Our stories may seem similar but they are not!"
"So you say! Isn't the part where we both marry our childhood friends from whom we were separated the same?! Plus we met them both when we became pirates!"
"Now girls, this is no time to get agitated about the past", Lady Tobiume gently scolded.
The two young women sulked a little but nodded. Lady Tobiume smiled in satisfaction.
"Hey Momo", Rangiku called out, "Have you done it already?"
"Done what?"
Rangiku raised her eyebrow in annoyance. Realization dawned on Momo, knowing the personality of her former partner. She was almost shocked to oblivion when she finally understood the question.
"Of course not! It is against the law!"
A flustered Momo waved her hands wildly in front of her with a flushed face. A smirk crept upon Rangiku's lips.
"So you're a virgin, huh?"
"Why are you talking like you are looking down on me?!"
"Do you know what newlyweds do on the first night of the wedding?"
"Of course I do! They consummate the marriage."
"Do you know what that means?"
"O-of course I do!"
"Oh really?"
"I will not say that vulgar word!"
"You know, I get the feeling your darling Toshiro won't make a move on you at all. You have to take the initiative girl!"
Lady Tobiume silently giggled as she watched the two girls in front of her bicker around. However she felt it was time to stop them.
"Momo dear", she interrupted the conversation, "Actually I am here to deliver a message from Toshiro –"
"Really?!", Momo cut off her mother, Rangiku's conversation immediately forgotten.
"Yes dear. He says that he has managed to get some time off this afternoon and asks if you would have some time."
"Yes! Tell him yes Mother!", Momo excitedly answered without hesitation.
"Then it's time we get back to work Momo", Rangiku sighed.
"Let's go Rangiku!"
"She's not listening anymore", Rangiku mumbled and bid Lady Tobiume goodbye.
#####
"I'm sorry for not coming to see you", Toshiro voiced guiltily.
The couple was taking a stroll through the back garden of the castle. Flowers bloomed in various forms and the scent floated through the air.
"I-I understand that you have much to do! I have my own duties as well. Ever since Minister Kyoraku decided to make me his successor, I've had to learn various things additionally", Momo replied in a flustered tone.
She remembered complaining about the same thing to Rangiku and now that she was openly apologized to, she regretted saying those things.
"What's wrong? Your face is red."
"It's nothing! Nothing I say!", Momo replied in a pitch slightly higher than intended.
"Really?"
"Yes."
[Somehow I can't get used to him showing his feelings so openly to me. His concerned face was so cute!]
Momo shook her thoughts out of her head.
[It's not the time to be thinking these things.]
"For some reason I feel unusually excited", Toshiro scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Huh?", Momo didn't get what her fiancé meant.
"Our wedding I mean. I get excited every time I think about it. I feel very happy."
Toshiro stopped walking and Momo halted as well. He turned and faced the girl and rested his hands upon her shoulders.
"Thank you", he said, "Thank you for finding me."
Momo was visibly confused.
"I never got to say it but thank you for all you have done."
A smile spread on Momo's face as happiness burst inside her. With a sudden impulse she hugged the young man in front of her and gently led her lips to his. A sweet kiss ensued in a garden full of blooming flowers – like a scene out of a fairy tale.
#####
Big bells rang as the day of the wedding arrived. Inside the capital's largest church stood a young couple facing each other in front of an old priest.
Toshiro took the ring from the soft cushion and placed it in front of his about-to-be wife. As he slowly slipped the ring onto her finger, he vowed:
"I, Toshiro Hitsugaya Hyorinmaru, take you, Momo Hinamori Tobiume, to be wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
With the last word, the ring was perfectly fitted upon the bride's. It was now Momo's turn to do the same.
"I, Momo Hinamori Tobiume, take you, Toshiro Hitsugaya Hyorinmaru, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
"You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings. What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen."
The priest solemnly declared but smiled as he said the next words.
"You may now kiss your bride."
Loud cheers filled the hall as the couple's lips met while entranced in their own world.
"The Cap'ns finally done it now!", Yuzu had tears in her eyes as she happily exclaimed.
"You sound like a mother sending off 'er son Yuzu", Yoruichi beside her laughed.
"You're so mean~", Yuzu pouted.
"Don't be so mean to our chef Yoruichi – or else your portions might shrink", Kisuke teased.
Yoruichi clicked her tongue in annoyance but her festive mood immediately returned. The whole pirate crew had been invited for the wedding. It was something they definitely couldn't miss out.
"Too bad we'll be enemies soon", Shuhei sighed from behind them.
"Hm?", Shinji who stood beside him prodded.
"We are pirates after all. Even if we ain't as extreme as most. Our actions are unlawful. It ain't gonna be easy to meet each other then."
"Won't the Cap'n be King? He can change the law can't he?"
"Don't be such a dumbass Shinji! As if he could change the constitution just like that!", Hiyori hollered as she stepped on his food.
Shinji's screamed drowned in the music played as the newlyweds exited. Flowers petals were strewn about in front of their path. Happy laughter echoed from the walls.
#####
"Hah… It's finally over", Momo said relieved as she flopped down on the large bed.
"Yes, it's over", Toshiro agreed and sat down beside her.
He loosened took off his tie before lying down as well. His hand travelled to Momo's and their fingers intertwined.
"We're finally Husband and Wife now, aren't we?", Momo whispered to herself.
"Yeah", Toshiro beside her answered as he heard her.
A brief silence descended. It was a comfortable one where one enjoyed the presence of one another. Momo's thoughts drifted around from topic to topic as a certain memory resurfaced.
[He will definitely do something. I mean, he's a man, isn't he? He's got to have urges… I guess? Or am I not good enough after all? Is he holding back because of me…?]
Momo felt increasingly more bothered as time passed. Deciding to confront it, she rolled over to face Toshiro.
"Toshiro…"
"Hmm?"
The young man turned his head to Momo.
"Say… tonight… we will be consummating the marriage, right?"
"?!"
Toshiro almost choked on his spit.
"W-why are you asking me that?!", he frantically replied and his eyes widened.
In fright Momo began to nervously fidget and her eyes wandered all around the place.
"I mean– because– you see, Rangiku said that you might not do anything…", she trailed off, not knowing how to explain her situation.
"You pirate friend is putting nonsensical ideas into your mind again, I see", Toshiro sighed.
"Rangiku's not a pirate anymore! She is a duchess already!", Momo objected.
"Because she married that guy", Toshiro waived the argument off.
"Who has a history similar to yours, yes."
"We are not the same!", Toshiro protested, "He did it willingly. I did not!"
"I get it, I get it", Momo gave up.
[This is totally ruining the mood…]
Momo pursed her lips together. Toshiro brushed his hand through her hair. His hand wandered down to her cheek.
"Sorry for getting worked up", he mumbled and pulled her closer.
He gave her a gentle peck on her forehead.
"It's fine", Momo murmured as she snuggled up into his chest.
Her eyes grew droopy. As Toshiro watched her, he felt that she seemed unusually adorable today as she glanced up at him from below. His heart pounded and a light blush settled on his cheeks.
"Let me rest for a bit Shiro", Momo mumbed.
Toshiro replied 'sure' without much thought and watched the girl in his arms close her eyes. He watched her chest heaved up and down into a slow rhythm as her breathing stabilized. Before he realized it, Momo was asleep.
"Momo? Hey Momo", Toshiro softly called out to her.
He received no response. He chuckled to himself at his on mistake.
"Now who was the one talking about consummating the marriage again?", he raised an eyebrow at while saying that.
Nevertheless he happily smiled while enjoying the warmth from Momo's body as he held her more tightly to him. His eyes closed shut and his breathing calmed. A peaceful sleep enveloped him.
A/N: Now the end of this particular story has arrived. However, like I mentioned in the beginning, this story has a sequel called 'Scarlet Encounters'. It will involve Momo's newly introduced friend. It's like a prequel to this story and will also include Momo's days as a pirate before she met Toshiro - though the main character will be Rangiku. The timeline will run parallel to Identity after a certain point.
I hope that you enjoyed this story. Feel free to give your thoughts on this. Until the next time.