Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.

Streetlight Shine

A/N: Post-Winter War.

She remembers how they'd go out at night, sometimes when a festival was in town. The moon would be dulled by the strings of paper lamps that hung in the streets, the wind drowned by the chatter of eager children. They would run through the burning night, the five of them, laughing.

It all seem quieter now. The world is as it was before the two of them met. When this quaint town had nothing to do with her heart. With their hearts.

Before she met him, when the white light would cast shadows through the parting clouds, leaving shapes on the rooftops and over the river, she would dance. A quiet, peaceful ritual of sorts, one that was all her own. Something of a ballet, perhaps, with her soaring past windows and onto the tops of cars as they passed by.

Now, there is no room for such a joyous thing. But she should be happy, what with both worlds at peace, and everyone safe and at ease. Nothing's wrong, or so she tries to tell herself.

If that's so, why does she arrange her duties in a fashion that allows her to frequent her favorite places? The shops further into town, the fairgrounds, the school rooftop. She even finds herself checking in on everyone from time to time. She knows they see her, but they say nothing. She knows why.

It's because of him, the wandering little boy with the ginger hair. That's what he's become after months of seclusion, of being cut off from a life of excitement. He clearly doesn't know what to make of it.

So, for tonight, she'll sit in the treetops, on the outside looking in through his window. That dark, tiny rooom of his seems to shrink around him as he sleeps, his back to her. If he knew she was there, would he open the window?

No. He'd take one look at her and say, "I'm fine."

With his smile gone, there is no shine in this city anymore. There is no "fine."