( 𝖞𝖊𝖆𝖗 1790, 𝖆𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖑 4𝖙𝖍 )

It was a sunny day for her since it was her first week here in Japan, Seraphina walked through the streets of Dejima with her elegant but simple flowery blue skirt sweeping behind her. As a princess, she was supposed to wear something more flashy like how the rest of her older sisters wear back in Holland. But to her, wearing these "gaudy gowns" make her feel uncomfortable. And besides, she didn't want to be the center of attention if the people around knew her to be a princess from a foreign country.

Seraphina prefers to wear something that made her feel relax and free.

Ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of exploring new worlds and see things that are foreign to her rather than stay here in the palace listening to her tutor's boring lectures and her mother's "how to be a lady" teachings. Sometimes, she would just yawn or sleep while resting her head on the table much to the ladies' dismay.

Seraphina pretty much prefers to listen to her mother's distant cousin, Viscount Brennon Van Heiden - or rather- her Uncle Brennon, she listens to his stories on how he visited Japan as an explorer and a scientist. And this fascinates her completely.

So at the age of 8, her uncle taught her how to speak Japanese and Chinese much to her interest. But not just these Asian languages, she also learned geography, science, and a bit of politics as well from him.

Many of those around her, including the court and ladies-in-waiting, consider the youngest princess to be quite intelligent for her age. Most of the Princes, Dukes, Marquis, Counts, Viscounts, Barons, and Knights from different lands had come to visit this country, just to ask her hand in marriage when she just turned fifteen. This almost impresses her parents greatly, however the decision of hers on wanting to travel with her uncle to Japan rather than do her duties as a royal princess, made them feel both disappointed. And if that's how they feel towards the princess... well so be it, as this made no matter to her.

Once she reaches at a young adult age, she made a decision to go with her uncle and sail towards Japan to explore new things around her.

And yes, she already did.

Managing to sneak away from the trading post, Seraphina begins to run away towards the forest and made a small relaxing sigh before smelling mother nature's divine scent. Never had she felt such freedom... away from the royal teachings, away from being pampered too much, and away from the palace walls.

On her way there, Seraphina saw a field of pure pink flowers she has never before and it was absolutely beautiful in her own eyes. She ran towards it and begun to spin herself around with her hands wide open, enjoying its wonderful scent. Her skirt twirls perfectly surrounded by the flowers with its petals flying along with it.

'This place is heavenly.' She thought in content while enjoying one of mother nature's creation,

Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her from the distance looking almost awed at her presence.

❀ ·.·'¯'·.·❀

Deep within the woods where it was the height of spring, yet spring flowers were some of the quickest ones to fade. The crocuses that peeked through the snow shriveled up in days. The Shibazakura blessed him with their sweet scents for a mere week. The poppies would not last much longer.

There beneath the large tree nearby a field of flowers, a young man sat there silently while reading a worn-out book in his hands. A young man named Seidou Sousuke.

Just as the flowers were wilting, Sousuke too felt his time is passing by. He was only fifteen, yes—most would call that young. his mother would say he had his whole life ahead of him.

But Sousuke knew better that there was no guarantee of living. After all, he was the son of a prostitute that most people around him would mock and disgust. Mainly his father's family. They thought he would be better off dead than living amongst them as a parasite and an outcast.

Yet he honestly didn't care... at best, he kept on living to stay alive and well. And the reason it's because of his mother, only known through her courtesan name as Murasaki.

Before he was born, Sousuke's mother was sold by her parents into prostitution in the Yoshiwara district at the age of 8. Despite being a low-ranking courtesan, Murasaki was exceptionally talented in the arts, classics, calligraphy, tea ceremony, poetry, music, and games, all of which would be inherited by her son. And in spite of her wide range of abilities, Murasaki's humility and weakness as a result of her leukemia prevented her from ranking up within the yukaku, which is the pleasure quarters. Consequently, Murasaki was often ignored, and as a result, remained a virgin.

Until in turn of her unfortunate event, she was raped and impregnated by the crops merchant Seidou Masayoshi, who was in search of an "affordable and untainted pleasurable toy". Shortly after, she was bought by him to become one of his many concubines. And there, she gave birth to Masayoshi's youngest son, Seidou Sousuke, at the age of 19.

In spite of her extremely difficult labor, Murasaki happily risked her life to ensure his safe birth. In Sousuke, Murasaki saw not the man who stole her virginity, but the new life she would readily risk her life over and over for.

The envy and jealousness of her elegance and outstanding skills frequently led to her and her son's abuse at the hands of Masayoshi's other concubines and female relatives. Most of her days as a concubine would be spent confined to her depraved room in the Seidou estate.

Nevertheless, under his mother's kind guidance, Sousuke shared her talents and developed them extensively. He learned how to smile from her, knowing that she is the only person in his youthful life to give him such a genuine smile.

Intelligent and observant as he is, Sousuke understood himself and his mother's torture since the start of a very young age, choosing to remain silent in order to maintain the meager safety that they only had. Even with his servile clothing, messy hair, injuries, and malnutrition, the young Sousuke's innocence, and handsome appearance were godly.

On his 5th birthday, his mother gifted him a mirror encased in bright green jade, the first of her few objects of luxury she bought from her earnings after a performance in Yoshiwara. Initially unable to accept such a gift, Sousuke resolved to keep this mirror by his side throughout his entire life.

When he began to exhibit symptoms of sickness at the age of 8, the frequency of his fevers increased as his body's immune system continued to decline. Murasaki spent the following several months caring for Sousuke and begging for Masayoshi's family to have any doctor examine her child.

But it seems the family cruelly declined her request.

Lady Masayoshi, his grandmother on his father's side, condemned Murasaki for seeking favors beyond her position and confirmed her "daughter-in-law's" fears that Sousuke would be sold to a merchant in Kyoto as payment for the debts Masayoshi acquired during the Tenmei Famine. Ironically with the name of justice, Masayoshi failed to give his low-class concubine and her ill child any form of justice in their most moments of need.

So in order for her son to keep on living, she worked herself long and hard to earn money to have a doctor heal him but the enormous strain on her body as a result of overwork and poor health yet she manages to keep herself strong for her only child.

Weeks turn into months, and months turn into years until finally, his mother had earned enough to pay and found a doctor who generously helps her sickly son for an examination. Unfortunately, it was revealed that Sousuke had anaemia, a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal.

This saddens Murasaki, knowing that her child had a low Iron Deficiency. And so with her motherly instincts, she feeds him a lot of food and water then lets him rest every day as the doctor prescribed. Even though Sousuke has a weak condition, he manages to keep himself strong enough to help his mother as best as he can.

Now years went by and here he is, sitting under the tree and leaning behind while flipping another page of the book he was reading. He can also feel the soft wind flowing through his face as he relaxed at its coolness until he feels like it is time to go back to his mother and help her.

Closing the book as he was about to stand up and leave, Sousuke suddenly saw something from the distance though he honestly can't make out any of it. Once he took a few steps closer, he finally could see something more clearly. However, it was not something... it was someone.

A woman. A girl.

A young girl playing in the field of Shibazakura with her hands wide open and twirling herself around happily. Her soft wavy hair was loose. Long pink tresses flowed to her waist and somehow seemed to highlight the blue of her dress. From the way she was wearing, it seems that she was from Dejima, where all of the foreign people outside of Japan lived there. It was a simple dress that was quite fitted within her body and the skirt almost covered her foot yet she carried herself with grace than most of his father's concubines. In fact she is quite similar to his mother's as well. Her face was youthful and she seemed to have a few freckles. Her nose was little and when she smiled while dancing herself around the field, she had excellent teeth and such lovely periwinkle eyes.

Suddenly the girl turns to face him after twirling herself around, and her eyes meet his dark ones for a brief moment. At first, Sousuke did not want to alert the girl to his presence; he wanted to see her undisturbed yet he can't help but wanted her to notice him.

Who was this girl? He'd never seen her before, but she did seem a bit young, maybe a year younger. Possibly the visiting daughter of a Dutch captain. She couldn't have been here that long in Japan.

She was unguarded. She was innocent. She was beautiful. Very beautiful.

Sousuke had never indulged in the expected dalliances with women as he was always under the care of his mother. He was quite discouraged from personal attachments with most people except the only person he cared for. Besides, he had always been suspicious of the intentions of ladies. When he walked among them in his Servile clothing and messy hair as a child, the best he would achieve was a curious glance and then disinterest as to what he was doing there. Yet when he grew older and was quite handsome, he almost had every woman in the Seidou district fluttering their eyelashes at him. It made him paranoid and distrustful. And his experience with women was woefully slender as a result.

And yet this girl right in front of him stirred something within him. Curiousness.

His thoughts were cut off when a girl suddenly appeared a few feet away from him and gave the boy a long smile before greeting him. This almost caused him to blush a little, and this is very unlike him to do that.

"Konnichiwa." ( Hello there)

Sousuke's eyes slightly widened at this foreign girl speaking his mother tongue, he really didn't expect this to come from her. Nonetheless, he politely greeted her back in a soft tone.

"Aah." (Hi)

"Anata no onamae wa?" ( What is your name? )

Without hesitation, he replied calmly. "Sousuke... Seidou Sousuke."

Unexpectedly, he saw her doing an unusual bowing by carrying her skirt before bending her knees a little and spoke out.

"Hajimemashite, Sousuke-san. Namae wa Seraphina Laurentien desu." ( It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sousuke. My name is Seraphina Laurentien )

The way she greeted him with such a gesture made him eyed her almost intriguingly. He can assume that this is how the outsiders do when they greet each other when you're a woman.

"Dōyō ni." (Likewise) Sousuke cleared his throat before continuing to speak. "I must apologize that I somehow interfered your presence."

"Oh! Oh no, it's alright." She reassures him while waving her hands in front of him a little. "I'm honestly sure you were just passing by."

"Sort of... I was actually here sitting under the tree, reading a book."

"Really? Then what was the book about?"

Sousuke raised his eyebrow at her slight eagerness yet he politely replied. "The author, Matsuo Bashō's ambitious and dangerous journey on foot throughout his life."

"Oh, I see..." He watches Seraphina placing her hands behind her back and continued to utter a word. "Was the story good?"

He nodded before replying. "It was well-written."

Looking quite attentive, Sousuke sees her getting a bit closer almost a feet away as he just stood there sticking his foot into the ground.

"What is the title of the book?" She asked in a curious tone.

He looked down, staring at the book for a short moment before facing her again and replied. "Oku no Hosomichi."

Hearing her hummed, accepting his answer before the two started to feel a little awkward as the silence is starting to surround them for a moment. None of them spoke a word for they only hear the leaves of its tree branches being blown by the soft winds and birds chirping from above. Sousuke can see the girl fidgeting her right foot on the ground and shyly looking down from his presence while he on the other hand, just stood there staring at her every move almost as if he is examining her with interest that he honestly can't point it out. Usually, when it comes to women when they flirt at him, he would just give them a blank stare before ignoring it and walk away to do what he wants to do.

But when he met this woman... this foreign girl... it was quite different.

Not wanting to make this awkward even more if they just stand there in silence, he began to ask out of curiosity.

"Seraphina-san, when did you learn how to speak our language?"

Finally, he watched her small shyness fall away quickly as she squared her shoulders and looked up to meet his gaze head on.

"Eh? What did you say?" She asked him in a confusing tone.

"I said, when did you learn how to speak japanese?" He repeated with a tint of annoyance in his tone yet he remains calm in his posture.

"Oh, well my uncle taught me how to speak your language when I was eight. He used to travel here in Japan and live there for more than three years."

"I see... so what made you come to this place?" Asking her once more, curious as to why a Dutch woman such as herself who was far away from her home, would travel here. She suddenly moved towards the trunk of the tree where Sousuke sat as she settles down beside him, not caring if he stares at her boldness for being this close to him physically. Her violet eyes twinkle with a gentle smile on her face while looking at him for a short moment before answering his question as Sousuke waits for her to speak.

"Well, you see... when I was a child, I always dreamed of traveling and exploring new worlds and things. Mostly getting to know the world more rather than being kept in the palace walls with my parents' teaching on how to become a proper lady. When my uncle told stories about Japan and your civilization, I was quite fascinated. So all of my life, I yearned for myself to leave my home and go with my uncle to sail to your country. Even though my family disapproves of what I chose." She explained before looking away to watch the flowers calmly swaying from the wind. "I know it's quite odd for a girl such as myself would think these kinds of things..."

"No... I don't think it's quite odd for you to dream such things. You followed your own path to find what it is right for you. Don't let anyone decide on what they want for you. This dream you had, it is yours and yours alone." He reassures her, causing Seraphina to face him in astonishment at his words.

"Really? You think I should follow my dreams, instead of letting anyone do it for me."

He nodded silently without saying a word while watching the field of flowers dancing silently by the wind as the two became quiet for a short while until he hears her saying in a gentle tone.

"Thank you for your wonderful advice, Sousuke-san. It really helps."

Turning to face her, he can see her smile at his direction causing him to feel his cheeks turning a little rosy. 'What is it with the smile she's putting on that made me feel this way?' He asked himself, knowing that he had only met this girl today and she suddenly made his whole world almost upside down.

Sousuke didn't say a word as he stood up from the ground while firmly carrying the book on his side before turning around and walked away. He leaves Seraphina behind who looks up with a confused look on her face until she gets up as well.

"Will I ever see you again?" She called out to him.

He stopped himself from walking and just stood there, staying still for a while. Why does she want to see him? What made her seem to be interested in him? He's nothing more than just a son of a low-rank courtesan and his life was lower than a speck of dust. Yet, he can't help but wanted to get to know her more. And with this, he finally turns to face her and replied in a calm tone.

"Maybe." He then unexpectedly smiled at her, causing the girl to revealingly blush at his expression which is rare for him to do this to someone other than his mother. He saw her gave him a pleased smile in return.

"Then I will be waiting for you here in this spot."

Sousuke nodded as a response before he turned around and went back to his home. At first, he thought staying silent would stop her from wanting to have a company with him. Instead, it was the opposite. His gestures made her even more curious than before. And deep down, he somehow yearned to have companionship with someone as kind as Seraphina ever since he first met her.

Similarly as kind as his mother.

Once he arrived in his tiny but comfortable, gassho-style home almost nearby the Seidou estate, he saw his mother sitting on the floor sewing its clothing as she greeted him. "Sitting beneath the tree while reading again, my son?" She smiled while sewing her son's navy blue kimono. Even though she was quite a bit thin due to malnourishment, she was still quite beautiful. All of this happens because of her son's frail condition by letting him be fed with a lot of food and water to keep himself healthy enough. Sousuke also smile in return before walking his way towards her and sat beside her. "Yes, mother."

She contently hummed in response. "I remember when you were just a little boy, you begin to have an interest in reading the books I kept. You were so dedicated to reading all of them until the last book you are holding right now. Not to mention, you seem to have quite a talent for calligraphy and poetry as well." Saying this as she finished the first kimono before proceeding to sew the next one.

"It was all because of you, mother. You taught me everything you know. "

Giggling as she replied with a tease. "I suppose I did.

He softly chuckled after this when he looked in front to see the open view where the gentle blue sky was seen from above, a sign of a good spring and hopefully a good harvest. And there he can see the forest trees of it's branches swaying smoothly with the wind along the birds chirping happily at its sunny day.

"Sousuke, have you heard that the Dutch ship from the outside world has arrived a week ago?" His mother asked.

His thoughts of Seraphina suddenly appeared in his mind when he realized that meeting her at the forest was not misapprehended. Turning to face, he replied with a nod. "I assumed so."

"Then would you mind go to the village to buy? We're almost out of food."

Understanding her words, knowing that he and his mother were short of rations for the past week. She puts the clothing down and stood up before making her way towards the box on the end of the room where she hid a bag of money she saved from her part-time work. Turning around then approaches him as she places a few gold ryō in his palm.

"This will be good for a few weeks. Now I want you to be careful when you're there, alright?"

"I will, mother."

Sousuke stood up from the floor and took a hanakago basket before bidding his mother a send-off as he went out of the living quarters until...

"Well, well, well... if isn't my weakling little half-brother of mine."

Sighing in annoyance when he heard a familiar voice nearby, he turns to see his bastard brother of his.

"Hayato." Sousuke hissed.

Before Sousuke was born, Seidou Hayato, the first-born son of Masayoshi who was five years old when Murasaki first came into his father's estate, despise both the mother and son. And ever since they were children, Hayato started bullying Sousuke for calling him such cruel names and even physically abuse him along with his mother.

"Are you still here? I thought our grandmother insists on letting you and your whore of a mother leave our estate."

"What's it to you, anyway?" He furrowed his brows yet tries to remain calm.

"Eh, let's see... your mother, Murasaki was a low-class mistress and was very much weak to be a part of the harem our father has collected. Not to mention, you are pretty ill just like her. So yeah, it really concerns not just me but the whole Seidou clan."

His half brother's words stung him but Sousuke made an effort not to react to it. He had to do this... for his beloved mother.

"I wonder when will the time come if you both die from your illnesses." Hayato suddenly smirked.

Sousuke stayed silent for a short moment, not wanting to have this conversation with him as he turns around and leaves, ignoring his half-brother's mocking and cruel words calling out to him.

Once he was out of his hair and left the estate, he began to walk into the woods strolling towards the pathway until he stopped. Sousuke can't help but clench his fists, tightening the handle of the basket he was holding. The anger in his expression slowly increases when Hayato's words begin to invade his thoughts.

"What a weak-born bastard."

"Such a low-class mutt."

"Son of a prostitute."

"I wonder when will the time come if you both die from your illnesses."

Every one of these insulting words is starting to eat him away, urging to fight back and wanting to humiliate him all the same. However... he knew his mother taught him how to self-control, and stay silent, just for their safety. And so, he slowly cooled himself down while unclenching his fists and took a deep breath before proceeding to walk through the pathway of the forest.

Suddenly, an image of Seraphina came in his mind as Sousuke felt himself washing away his anger that he had never experience like this before. And he wanted to see her smile again...

Smiling beautifully like an angel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There you go, the chapter where human Aizen first met the love of his life ヾ('︶')ﾉ ♡

I was supposed update this a week ago but it seems the internet wifi won't let me ｡:ﾟ(;'∩';)ﾟ:｡ But I hope this satisfies you "hopeless romantic" readers.

Vote and comment, guys (＾∇＾)ﾉ♪!