Dislaimer: I don't own Bleach.
"It's a beautiful day out, even if it is a little cold."
Shunsui Kyoraku stretched a little where he lay in the grass. It was cold and the ground was hard, but no one would hear him complain because, today, he was not alone.
Nanao Ise let out a contented sigh. "I have always loved the cold," she said. "Everything is so peaceful and still."
"The world goes to sleep in the winter," Shunsui said. He grinned at his lieutenant. "It also happens to be the perfect time for cuddling."
Nanao rolled her eyes. "Do you ever stop?" Her tone would seem serious to any casual observer, but Shunsui knew her better than that.
He rolled onto his side, propping his head up with his elbow. "I can be serious sometimes, my lovely Nanao-chan."
She looked at him skeptically with those mysterious eyes that made his heart dance. "Give me one example."
Shunsui leaned forward. "I was always serious when I told you how beautiful you are."
"You like me because you think I'm beautiful."
He leaned forward a little more, their faces inches apart. "I think you're beautiful because I love you."
Nanao's expression soften, simultaneously melting Shunsui. Why did he not do this sooner? Why had he wasted so much time he could have been spending with her?
"Nanao?" he practically whispered, a silent plea in his voice.
She smiled at him. "I know," she murmured. "I know." Her eyes when up to the sky and her smile widened. "Look, Shunsui."
Giant snowflakes fell from the dense clouds. It was not long before everything had a thin coating of snow that glimmered even in the shadows. But Shunsui was more interesting in the way the white flakes looked against Nanao's black hair, the way her eyes glittered with joy.
"I love you, Nanao," he said.
She looked at him, sadness having replaced the joy on her face. "I always loved you."
Footsteps approached them, followed by a voice. "Shunsui?" Juushiro Ukitake called softly to his friend.
Shunsui stood, not bothering to brush the snow from his clothes. His captain's haori was already white, so what did it matter?
He saw the look his friend was giving him, so he said as nonchalantly as he could manage, "Give it a few hours and we'll have a least a foot of snow."
Juushiro ignored the comment. "You know she wouldn't want you to sit out here until you get sick."
Shunsui smiled weakly. "I'll be right behind you."
The white-haired man nodded and started back inside. Shunsui stood there for another moment before whispering, "Well, I don't want to make my lovely Nanao-chan worry. But I'll be back." The snow swirled around him, freezing every part of him until he couldn't feel anything, except his eyes and his chest, which burned.
"I'm so sorry," he murmured as he finally turned away.
He turned around once to see once more before it was too dark to see the little hilltop, decorated only with snow, a cherry blossom tree, and a single grave.
AN: I was supposed to be working on my long Komamura story, but this distracted me. I was inspired by the cold. I was also feeling terrible that I lost track of time and have not written in two weeks. Be easy on me; it is a busy time of year, with exams, and shopping, and decorating, and minor mental breakdowns, and other fun activities which signal the arrival of the holidays. :)