Winter's Bitter Gift

The day was cold, cold and cloudy. It was just right before the first fall of snow. Truly common weather for a plain December day like this. But then again, it wasn't really a common date at all, a least for shinigamis. The date, in fact marked a couple of important things and no one knew that more then Kisuke Urahara.

He looked up at the overlapping clouds from under his green and white stripped hat and took a small sip of his lukewarm tea. He was sitting quietly against the front porch walls of his shop, not very far from were the "Closed" sign hung. He had no will nor energy to run the store today.

As he sat there, he pondered on how the weather looked. He loved and hated it. For it was his favorite sort of weather…but it was her favorite too. "The weather's all for you, eh Yoruichi?" He remarked softly

For today was the anniversary of the victory of the Winter war, the destruction of the Hogyoku and Aizen's defeat but the event that overshadowed all the rest that happened, was when Kisuke lost his partner, his best friend and his lover.

He stroked the green blanket in his lap softly. It brought back so many memories about days like these: when it was just cold enough to drink tea and be close to the one you enjoyed most under a soft jade blanket.

The hole in Kisuke's heart felt so empty and prominent without her near him, but he couldn't just give up on everything. People still needed him, and of course if she were to ever see him broken and lifeless he knew she'd be extremely displeased in him. So here he stayed living day by day, hoping that the pain would start to numb.

But it didn't…it never did.

"Boss?" a soft voice asked behind him.

He slowly looked back, "Yes Mr. Tessai?"

The tall employee stood in the slightly opened door, with a grim expression on his face.

"It's about to snow, don't you think you should come inside?" he said gesturing at the melancholy sky.

"…No…I think I'll stay here for a while. Can you make sure Jinta and Ururu are comfy for today?" Kisuke replied turning back to the front yard of the shop.

"…Of course, call if you need anything." said the Kido master feeling the weight of his friend's sorrow as he shut the door behind him.

Kisuke closed his eyes and silently thanked his old friend for being so considerate to him when he needed it. Suddenly he felt a wet frozen spot on the tip of his nose and looked up to the sky in wonder.

The snow had finally been released from their cloudy prison, parachuting down to touch his face. He watched for what seemed like hours but was only just a few short minutes.

It greatly surprised him when his clear vision of the sky suddenly became disordered. He blinked and two warm trails of tears gently ran down his face joining together in the scruff of his chin.

"I love you always Yoruichi Shihoin." He whispered as more tears followed the first two.