It had been years since Maomao had done her own laundry, let alone other peoples. She only realized now how she missed the quiet work as she hung the robes of the courtesans out to dry. She paused as she finished her basket and looked out at the rear palace. She wondered how many of the girls here actually wanted to be here and how many had been sold against their will.
"Well, it's none of my business." Maomao said quietly to herself. She was here on a mission, after all.
She helped her chatting buddy, Xiaolan, find the right room for a basket. As she did, she heard the Wise Consort Lihua confronting Precious Consort Gyokuyou about how sick her child was.
"It won't be much longer now." Maomao muttered as she touched a small packet tucked into her servant robes.
She also had prepared two strips of cloth with a warning about the white face powder she had seen around the Rear Palace. It was strictly forbidden for her to interfere with the affairs of the palace, but she also had a directive to protect as many lives as she could. With conflicting directives, she would choose to protect.
"I just hope this doesn't cause me trouble." She sighed as she went to place the items.
Crossover*
As she had expected, Consort Lihua had ignored her advice about the powder. The young prince was dying. Maomao retreated to a quiet place where none would see her. She reached into her robes and took out the small packet, which appeared to be a candy wrapped in paper. She undid the packet and slipped the pill into her mouth. Her body feel to a kneeling position as she was freed from it's confines.
Maomao stepped out, free for the first time in months from the confines of her gigai. She rolled her shoulders and enjoyed the freedom only a soul could. She wore a black Shihakusho, the robes of a soul reaper, and sandals on her bare feet. She had chosen to not wear the socks the other Soul Reapers favored. Her hand eagerly stroked the hilt of her Zanpakuto.
"I've missed you, old friend." She said to her blade.
Maomao hated how women were treated in this period. Soul Society did not buy into the idea that males were superior to their female counterparts. All were equals in death. She was basically a slave and not permitted to carry a sword on pain of death. Not that humans could harm her in any realistic way.
She snapped herself out of her worries and ran in the direction of the Crystal Pavillion. Her Gigai got up and went about her duties, the artificial soul she had swallowed would cover her absence. She jumped, using the spiritual energy in the air to gain a foothold and was running across it in short order.
"All these months of waiting, you better make it worth my while." She growled as she headed for the room where the Prince would perish.
Crossover*
Jinshi sat with Lihua while the doctor was seeing to the Prince. The quack had forbidden anyone from enter the room at that time, even the mother. If the Emperor could have chosen to go in, had he desired. But he was tending to the distraught Lihua. There came a call from the direction of the room.
"I need water, can someone bring me some?"
Jinshi rose and looked over at their sovereign. "I'll go, sire."
The emperor nodded, the only indication that he had noticed Jinshi was there. As he walked away, he could have sworn he heard a faint 'thank you' come from his brother.
Jinshi took the jug of water into the room and waited to see if the doctor would require anything else.
"He's too weak." The doctor sighed. "The sickness has taken it's toll on the young prince."
The man had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. Jinshi knew he had tended to both the prince and princess for weeks now, trying to pull both through. At least the princess seemed receptive to the treatment now.
"You did all you could," Jinshi told him. "Even the Emperor has seen how dedicated you have been."
"Thank you, Master Jinshi. You're kind words give me peace." The doctor said. Clearly, he expected to be executed for this failure.
Then, a girl jumped in through the window. She was wearing a ull body robe of black with white along the middle. Her feet were bare in her sandals. A blue ribbon kept her green hair in a ponytail. Her blue eyes were focused on the bed where the Prince lay, slowly dying. Then he noticed the sword hanging from her hip.
It looked like a sword from the Island nation to the east, a blade no one in Li should be carrying.
"It's nearly time."
She said with remorse in her voice as she knelt beside the bed.
She looked like a young teenage, as she sat on her knees and kept a vigil over the baby. Her hands were placed on her knees, no where near the sword she wore. Jinshi was sure he had seen her somewhere before but he could not place her.
"Miss, you should not be here." He spoke to her, wondering why the doctor had not said anything.
The doctor looked over at him in confusion. "Master Jinshi, there is no woman here. It's just you, me, and the Prince."
Jinshi felt his eyes go wide and he looked at the girl, who looked real enough to him. She was looking up at him in puzzlement.
"How can you see me…" She asked but shook her head. "No, that's not important right now. You should leave before 'it' arrives."
"It's a crime, punishable by death, for someone to carry a weapon in the same room as the Crown Prince." Jinshi nodded to the baby.
"I'm afraid protocol won't matter much longer. The poison is too deep in his blood now."
Jinshi felt cold. The Precious consort had told him about the mysterious message she got, about the face whitening powder. How the Princess was recovering now they knew the cause. However, Lihua had chosen to ignore the warning, and now the prince was dying.
"Did you leave the message?" He asked her.
"I did, but only one listened. I had hoped both would be spared. But this way, the try culprit behind these murders will be stopped."
"Master Jinshi, you are scaring me." The doctor said, uncomfortably. "There is no one else by the bed."
"Doctor, perhaps you could step out for a moment?" Jinshi asked. "I appear to be lightheaded with grief. May I have a moment to pay my respects?"
The doctor nodded. "Of course, Master Jinshi. I'll fetch something to help clear your head while I'm at it."
He could not depart quickly enough.
"Good thinking." The girl knelt by the bed said. "But you should go too. That thing will only be after me and the child, but if it gets the chance, you would be a tempting target as well. Being able to see a Soul Reaper is a very rare talent. You must have a naturally high spiritual energy."
Jinshi recalled something he mother had told him, about the royal family having a close tie to spirits.
"What is happening here?"
"No time." The girl said as she rose. The Prince on the bed let out a final sigh before going still. "Back away, please."
She drew her sword as a mist entered the room and took shape by the door. The body was that of a beautiful woman in traditional garb with a ominous hole where the center of her chest should be. But had had a terrible mask on her face.
"So, there was a Hollow behind the deaths of the children." The girl said harshly.
"Very perceptive, Soul Reaper." The woman bowed. "My name is White Lead."
"A woman who died of the white powder." The girl guessed. "So, you whisper to other women to use it as well. You then consume the souls that die of the poison."
"Very good!" The woman like monster clapped. "Now, step aside so I may consume the child's soul!"
Jinshi noticed there were two princes now. A silver chain bound them together, but it was fraying badly. Then, it snapped.
Crossover*
The moment the chain of fate snapped, Maomao was already moving. The Hollow jumped for the freshly deceased soul. Maomao pulled the ribbon from her hair and tossed one end at the child. The magical ribbon, a gift from her Captain, wrapped around the babe's soul and pulled him from the bed into her arms.
"Here, sir." She handed the wrapped soul to the official. "Please hold him while I deal with her."
He took the baby in shaking hands. "How can I hold a ghost?"
She drew her blade, adjusting the length to not hamper her fighting in this small room. "How can you see both a Soul Reaper and a Hollow? Don't worry about it. Unless you want him to be consumed, keep him in your arms."
He nodded and fled the room as White Lead roared and jumped at Maomao. She was fast but Maomao was faster. She stepped way, her spiritual energy allowing her to move at speeds faster than the eye could see. As she landed, she lashed out with her blade, scoring a deep cut on the Hollow's side.
The woman roared as she turned and backhanded Maomao. She was sent flying and only just managed to catch a foothold in the air, preventing herself from slamming into the wall of the room.
"I understand you're bitter." Maomao told her as she avoided another wild charge. She grabbed White Lead and pushed the Hollow away from the wall. "But could you stop trying to deal as much property damage as possible?"
"Foolish Soul Reaper, I will dine on you!" The Hollow roared again.
"Let me guess." Maomao used her blade to deflect the knife handed jab that Lead threw at her. "You're Ladies in Waiting suggested the white face powder. You used it and earned the favor of the Emperor of your time?"
"That's correct." The Hollow swept her leg at Maomao's legs but the nimble Soul Reaper leapt over them. "I swore in my dying moments that I would have revenge in the next life. Then I became a Hollow."
Maomao nodded. "I understand. But you have not committed any crimes that cannot be washed clean. Let my blade cleanse you so you may go to your rest at last."
"I…" For a moment, Maomao wondered if she would accept. Then her eyes flashed, showing the instincts of the Hollow had won out. "I'm sorry. I can't stop."
However, that was the distraction that Maomao needed. She flash-stepped, her sword raised. She slashed down and through the mask of the Hollow.
Crossover*
There was a terrible scream from the room that he had shortly left. Jinshi wandered back in to find the monster gone. The Soul Reaper girl had some blood coming from the corner of her mouth but otherwise looked unharmed. He was shocked at just how pretty she looked with her hair down and flowing in the breeze.
"Sir, may I have my ribbon back?" She asked, holding out her hand.
"Oh, of course." He handed her the ghost of the Prince and the hair ribbon. "What will become of the Prince?"
"I will purify his soul using Shinso, a Soul Funeral, which will allow him to pass into Soul Society. Worry not, it's a peaceful place for souls like him."
She told him before placing the hilt of her sword to the babe's head. It left a glowing character there. Then a white light covered the body of the prince, and a small black butterfly flew off the spot.
"So, what happens now?" Jinshi asked her as she finished tying her hair back into it's normal style.
"I'll likely be recalled to the Soul Society. I was sent here due to my medical knowledge. It was deemed odd that so many children and courtesans were falling victim to the white face powder. A Hollow was suspected."
"I see. Well, thank you for helping us." Jinshi gave her a smile.
She nodded. "It is the duty of us Soul Reapers to defeat Hollows and guide souls to the next life. The dead should not disturb the living."
"Well, what about you? Aren't you dead?"
The girl looked up at him. "That is an excellent question. I was born in Soul Society. I never lived as a human. Does that make me alive or dead? It's not my plan to say. Good evening, sir."
"Jinshi," He offered. "You may call me Jinshi."
"My name is Maomao, third seat of Squad Four." She replied. "I hope we meet again, it's interesting to see a human that can see me back."
"I hope we meet again too, Third Seat." He smiled as Maomao jumped out the window and ran off on the breeze.
Crossover*
'That Night'
Maomao glared at the message that was just delivered by Hell Butterfly. "Oh, this is going to be so much trouble…"
Crossover*
Jinshi sat down, trying to figure out how he was going to explain to the Precious consort that the girl who saved her child was long gone from this world. Gaoshun came in, bowing.
"Sir, there is a request from a servant in the laundry to transfer to your personal service."
Jinshi looked up with surprise. "I guess I should go and meet her, at the least." He admitted. "Though Suiren will likely say no to another servant girl."
He stood and they walked over to the Rear Palace. Soon, he was sitting at the desk of the Matron of the Serving Women. A girl in the outfit of a laundry maid was shown in. She had blue eyes, green hair tied with a familiar hair ribbon, and a face of freckles.
"Can I help you?" He asked, in slight confusion.
The girl grinned and swallowed a small green pill. Then Maomao the Soul Reaper stepped out of the falling body.
"Good morning, Master Jinshi." She greeted.
"Maomao?" He asked. "What's with the human body?"
"That's just a gigai. I use it to blend in with humans when I'm in the world of the living." She explained. "I was here for some time investigating the deaths."
"I see. So you are wanting to enter my personal service?" He asked.
"My orders from Central are to observe you and see if you are worthy of inviting to join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads upon your death." She explained. "They are always looking for humans with high levels of spiritual power. I'll be your servant for awhile, if that is acceptable to you."
Jinshi could not deny how this Soul Reaper might be useful to him. Plus, he had missed seeing her face if he was being honest.
"Alright, we can do a trial run. My housekeeper is very strict."
Maomao scoffed. "Please, I spent twenty years on cleaning duty due to blowing up my Captain's office once. I think I can manage."
He frowned. "Just how old are you, miss?"
Maomao pouted and turned her face away from him. "How rude. You shouldn't ask a lady her age, Master Jinshi. You won't find a wife like that. Besides, try to be a little respectful to me in private. I am an officer of a Squad after all. If my underlings heard you speak to me in such a manner they would thrash you."
"I'm pretty important too, you know." Jinshi sighed. "Attacking me would be bad for anyone."
Maomao chuckled. "How do you plan to execute spirits?"
He blinked. "I had not considered that." He admitted. "I'll try to be a bit more respectful, Maomao."
She climbed back into the body she had left behind. "When I'm like this, please treat me like any servant."
Jinshi nodded, but he felt something flutter in his heart. He wondered if he would be able to give this powerful woman any orders at all.
A/N: Reading the light novels inspired this story. I wanted to name and use Maomao's sword as well, but I don't want to mess up the name of the spirit. If anyone is versed in the names of Zanpakuto, I was wanting the name to mean Poison Maiden if possible. If I do a future addition to this, I'll make sure to shout you out. Let me know if you want to see more of this Apothecary Diaries Soul Reaper! Maomao AU.