Chapter Text
Toshirou looked at himself in the big ornamented mirror feeling helpless. He wasn’t even sure he could recognize himself in it. It almost seemed like he was looking at an entirely different person in the reflection.
Staring back at him was someone who looked far more regal than the son of a concubine should. The junihitoe he was wearing was made of fine silk that he was sure he would never be able to afford even if he worked for his family’s business the rest of his sorry existence. The red lipstick looked strikingly bright against his pale skin. Long hair carefully styled with a gold kanzashi that shinied more than his future. The makeup that was carefully done by the best stylist in the empire and the woman-styled elegant junihitoe were really another punch in the gut. Really? What was with the bastard’s obsession with mistaking him for a woman?
Maybe he should start at the beginning.
It all started with his birth. He had the misfortune of being born into the Hijikata family. Anyone would kill to be part of such a prestigious family. Owners of a big chunk of the Empire’s territory and the ones responsible for all the crops available in the country, they were one of the richest noble families in the country after the Shogun’s. The Hijikata family prided themselves on being the Shogun’s oldest and strongest allies (though Toshirou thought that was bullshit) and they served him faithfully, producing a long line of skilled knights like his older brother, Tamegoro.
However, everyone should know that at least 90% of royalty are assholes. His father was no different. Not satisfied with his high profile wife, he had multiple concubines to fool around with, Toshirou’s mother being one of the unfortunate ones. His mother had both feared and admired his father, but after finding out she was pregnant with him she planned to run away with him. His father found out and stopped her, prohibiting her from running away and forcing her to stay at his state despite the mistreatment she had to endure from everyone. She died not long after his fourth birthday when no one wanted to take care of her illness and Toshirou was too young to understand why she was getting weaker. Why his father even wanted to keep Toshirou and his mother close to himself he was not sure, but his father never even considered getting rid of the son he had with a random concubine.
His father’s real wife, however, was very displeased with this and made sure to make Toshirou’s life a living hell. Tamegoro, his oldest brother, was the only one who actually treated him kindly even after father died. Tamegoro was part of the royal guard and he taught Toshirou everything he knows. It was one of those days seeing his brother training with a sword on one of his rare days off when the news came.
Toshirou was barely 13 when it happened. There was a coup and the Hitotsubashi family dethroned the Shogun Tokugawa, killing him, to get into power. The prince and princess, the rightful heirs to the throne, disappeared after the attack. No one was sure if they died or not, but with how young both were at the time, no one hoped they had made it alive.
The Hijikata family quickly pledged allegiance to the new Shogun. This was mostly to keep their status and safety under the new regimen. His brother Tamegoro, while reluctant, knew he could not do much with how powerful the Hitotsubashi were.
A few years later, the Shogun died of an illness and his son, Nobunobu, came into power. He was, to put it simple, a complete asshole. The Empire has suffered greatly in the couple of years he has been the new Shogun since he turned out to be terrible at ruling a country. He was also a complete tyrant, sentencing several people to death for petty stuff. It was no wonder a whole group of people formed to get rid of him named Jouis, rebels who reject Nobunobu and the Hitotsubashi lineage as the new Shogun and want to change the government of the nation. Toshirou sometimes found himself agreeing with them, especially after personally meeting the asshole Shogun.
However, Tamegoro was still tasked to guard that asshole.
A month ago, Nobunobu came to the Hijikata main residence to view some important matters and they were suddenly attacked. They were just bandits, not actual Jouis since they had butcher knives instead of the usual swords the rebellious samurais use. They aimed at Nobunobu first, but Tamegoro got in the way in order to protect the Shogun, losing his own eyesight in the process. Seeing this happen to his dear brother filled Toshirou with rage who had until then stayed in the background of the group making himself as unnoticeable as he could like her stepmother always asked him to. Before he could even think, he had taken his brother’s sword and killed all three bandits in one swift movement of his sword. His stepmother was horrified as was the rest of his family with the exception of his agonizing brother and Nobunobu himself.
This is when everything went to hell.
Nobunobu was, for some reason, very impressed with him and his skills. That, in itself, was quite a surprise, to have impressed the tyrant Shogun sure was a feat. But that was not all.
Toshirou wished that was all.
Nobunobu became infatuated with Toshirou then. He sent a look of desire at Toshirou that made him shiver in disgust. He then sidestepped an agonizing Tamegoro to reach him, taking one of his hands into his, much to Toshirou’s further disgust.
“That was the most elegant technique I have seen in a while from someone other than me.” Nobunobu said with a grin. Toshirou hoped his disgust was not so clear in his face as the Shogun’s face came too close to his. “May I know the name of this beauty?” Now Toshirou actually sneered at the nickname.
“Hijikata Toshirou.” He said plainly.
“Toshirou? That’s a boyish name.” Nobunobu said, confused. His grip on his hand loosened slightly, but not enough for Toshirou to pull it away.
“That’s because I’m a man.” Toshirou said, hoping he would go away so he could tend to his brother.
His words only made the Shogun look more confused and for a moment Toshirou wondered if he was just as illiterate as the Jouis claimed him to be. “A man…” Nobunobu whispered before he shook his head. “No, it doesn’t matter.” Toshirou looked at him puzzled. “I like both, anyway.” Toshirou was not sure what he was mumbling about, but something was giving him a bad feeling so he tried to pull his hand away, but Nobunobu tightened his grip. Toshirou glared at him as Nobunobu checked him out from feet to head. “Yes! I have decided!” He exclaimed, grinning. The exclamation gained the attention of the rest of his family that remained. Some of his brothers and his sisters-in-law had taken Tamegoro to be treated, but his stepmother and step-uncle stayed.
“Your Highness.” His stepmother said, kneeling. “I’m sorry about what happened. I’m glad nothing happened to you, My Lord.”
“Yeah, sure.” Nobunobu said, still staring at Toshirou with a grin.
“Is there anything we could do for you, Your Highness?” She asked.
“As a matter of fact, there is.” Nobunobu said, looking at her. “I have decided to make Hijikata Toshirou my new queen.” He declared.
“What?!” Toshirou exclaimed as his stepmother and uncle gasped.
“Wh- the- the boy? That boy?” She asked, shocked.
Nobunobu nodded. “Yes, it’s decided. He will be my queen.” He declared.
“B-but, what about heirs, Your Highness?” She asked.
“That doesn’t matter.” Nobunobu shrugged. “I was already planning on finding a beautiful wife and then getting a couple of concubines to further satisfy me. The concubines will have the job of giving me an heir while Toshirou here can be the pretty wife by my side.” He said and Toshirou felt like throwing up.
“Wh-what?” Stepmother mumbled, shocked.
“The wedding will be in two months. That should give Toshirou-chan enough time to learn everything necessary to become my wife.” Nobunobu said. “I’m sure this union will be beneficial for both of our families.” He smirked at her and her eyes widened.
She nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. “Yes, as you wish, Your Highness.”
Toshirou felt his insides twist with dread.
Before he could fully process this, Nobunobu left after making stepmother promise him she would send Toshirou as soon as possible to start his training as the next queen.
That night, as Tamegoro rested, now completely blind, his Stepmopther came to talk to him and warned him to not make a fool of himself and go along with everything. She even threatened to disinherit Tamegoro now that he was blind and useless for her if Toshirou didn’t do as asked. Toshirou accepted reluctantly for Tamegoro.
Tamegoro was not really happy with the news, but Toshirou tried to convince him it was his choice. But his brother knew him too well, but in the state he was, there wasn’t much he could do. He still sent a letter to a friend of his so he could take care of Toshirou in the palace in his stead.
When he arrived at the palace he was not received by Nobunobu and instead the head of the royal guard, Sasaki Isaburo, greeted him and informed him of all his new tasks and lessons that he will have to master in the next two months. After overwhelming him with all he was now responsible for, he left him with Kondo Isao, his brother’s friend and the Commander of the police force known as the Shinsengumi.
The Shinsengumi is a police force tasked with the protection of the citizens of the Empire. Sasaki was the head of the Mimawarigumi, also known as the royal gurad. They protected only the ‘elite’ so only the royal and nobles and the occasional rich person. They consisted of men with royal/noble blood while the Shinsengumi were common people who swore to protect the citizens and the country. Toshirou liked the Shinsengumi more even if his brother had been part of the royal guard.
So, for a month Toshirou worked on his lessons, read book after book and talked with noble after noble in order to prepare himself as the new queen. Kondo was really a gasp of fresh air. He treated him kindly unlike the servants that treated him with coldness or the nobles that treated him with contempt. Luckily, he has seen Nobunobu very few times since his arrival to the palace.
Kondo had a young apprentice, Sougo, who was only 10 years old. The kid was a little shit, but Toshirou rapidly grew fond of him and saw him as a little brother. Both of them and a couple of other Shinsengumi officers made his stay at the palace bearable.
The first month ended too soon and Toshirou found himself getting ready for his engagement party before he could even prepare himself mentally to get married to an asshole.
That’s where he was now, staring helplessly at his reflection, a person that was definitely not himself and preparing himself to get married to a man he hated. But he was doing this for his brother and he will do anything for him, even marry an asshole.
Before he could even decide if running away was a good idea, a maid called him to the ballroom where the party was. Tonight he will be presented as the Shogun’s fiancé and soon to be wife. They will marry in another month.
Toshirou felt too hot inside all the layers of his junihitoe as he walked into the ballroom. Even if he wanted to escape, this stupid outfit would make it impossible to run far. He was too uncomfortable, not used to wearing women's clothes, much less ones as fancy and heavy as this one. It felt so heavy and hot and every step he was reminded of how tight the obi was wrapped around him.
He arrived at the ballroom where everyone was already waiting for him. The nobles looked at him with mild contempt. No one was really in favor of this union since they all considered Toshirou to be too common to be the next queen and also because he was a man. But no one said anything, not wanting to go against Nobunobu’s tyrannical wishes.
Nobunobu noticed him and grinned widely, checking him out with lust and sending shivers of disgust down Toshirou’s spine. Nobunobu’s eyes filled with desire, making his insides twist with even more disgust and he tried really hard to not throw up in front of everyone.
“My queen!” Nobunobu said as he stood in front of him. “So beautiful and elegant, just as I expected. With you by my side, I will be the envy of every man.” Both looked around. While most nobles still looked at him with contempt like they have been doing since he arrived here, some were in fact looking at him with poorly hidden desire which didn’t help making Toshirou feel better but it certainly pleased Nobunobu. “The most beautiful in the land as my queen. Aren’t you happy, Toshirou?” He asked.
Toshirou tried not to grimace. “Yes, Your Highness.” He mumbled.
“Come, I have to present you as my soon to be queen.” Nobunobu said, putting an arm around Toshirou’s waist.
Toshirou was unable to hide the grimace in his face quickly enough and Sasaki noticed. The royal guard sent him a threatening look. Sasaki knew Toshirou was being forced into this, but still drilled into him to remain quiet like his stepmother had. He threatened to ruin the Hijikata family and his brother along with them if he didn’t comply with the Shogun’s wishes.
Toshirou remained quiet as he let Nobunobu lead him to the throne. They were barely a few steps from the throne when there was a loud crash not far from them. A royal guard fell unconscious with a loud bang in the suddenly too silent room. For a second, everyone remained frozen by the suddenness of it, but then several guards moved to protect everyone in the room from the Jouis that were coming out of nowhere to attack them.
The room soon filled with the frightened screams of the servants and nobles and the metallic sound of swords hitting swords. Jouis came from everywhere and Toshirou could not see a safe path out of here with how filled with enemies the ballroom was.
Nobunobu was shouting orders besides him, his sword still sheathed at his hip as his guards fought for him.
From the corner of his eyes, Toshirou saw a white and silver flash move towards them. His instincts acted before he could think. He took Nobunobu’s unused sword, unsheating it and using it to block the sword that was aiming at Nobunobu’s neck. Why did he save the man he hated so much he was not sure. His body just moved on its own.
Nobunobu screamed, startled by the sudden attack and fell back, getting out of the way and letting his fiancé protect him. Toshirou held the sword high with some difficulty, the Joui’s sword threatening to come closer to Toshirou’s neck. Toshirou was using all his strength to protect himself, but from the unperturbed look of the Joui’s maroon eyes, he was not much of a threat for the rebel.
This Joui, like the rest in the ballroom, had his face covered only allowing Toshirou to gaze into his eyes that seemed to bore holes into his soul.
“What do I have here?” The Joui asked with contempt. “I wasn’t aware that princesses trained to be samurais.” He said mockingly.
Toshirou frowned. “I’m not a princess.” He mumbled, struggling to keep the Joui’s sword away from his neck.
“You!” Nobunobu’s shout almost distracted Toshirou, but he didn’t let his grip on the sword loosen. “Get away from my queen!”
Toshirou could almost see the smirk on the Joui’s face at this new revelation. “Queen?” He asked, sounding awfully pleased.
Before Toshirou could retort or anything else could happen, the door burst open, more guards arrived and for a moment Toshirou was relieved to see Kondo among them. He was saved.
The Joui clicked his tongue, annoyed. “I guess it will be plan B.” He mumbled.
Before Toshirou could even wonder what plan B was, the Joui pushed him away, sending the sword in Toshirou’s hands flying and almost impaling Nobunobu who moved out of the way just in time, hiding behind the throne. In shock, Toshirou could do nothing before he felt the handle of the Joui’s sword hit the back of his head and everything went black.