Author's Notes: This story is set after the Bountou arc, and to my convenience approaching the Christmas holidays. To the readers, I'm sorry to have posted this fic after Christmas, but on a lighter note, expect a few more of these snippets to see how our friends will spend the holidays in Seiretei! Have fun and enjoy, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Chapter One: Snow Wars

Outside the fourth division's quarters, snowflakes gently fell from the evening sky as the last quarter moon bathed the snow-covered grounds a soft blue hue. Ishida walked towards one of the windows to witness Seiretei during its December evenings and wondered how things were going in their world and all at once missing sitting in front of the Christmas tree and the fireplace with his family.

"Ishida-san, I'm sorry to be keeping you this long from going back home, but Unohana-taichou advised to keep all of you here for the meantime so that you can recover well." Came Hanatarou's shy voice from behind.

"I understand, we're grateful for your help." Ishida turned to the healer before glancing at Sado's bunk for reaffirmation of what has been said. Apparently, the occupant was nowhere to be found, except for the turtle doll Nova that Sado always kept for company. "Have you seen Sado-kun?"

Nova nodded. "He went out a while ago."

Outside in the freezing cold, Sado gave a momentary glance at the window where Ishida had been dwelling before continuing his trek across the grounds. With Christmas just a few days away and the prospect of going home before then slowly fading as they are yet to recover from the Bountou fiasco, Sado could feel Ishida's longing as he recalled spending his early Christmas evenings with his grandfather in Mexico. Though there had been no snow and no fireplaces, they had a Christmas tree put up back then, and though there were no snow angels to do they had midnight feasts of bread and butter with coffee. They had to make do with what they had back then, but what was important was that they had each other.

They might not have their families as of the moment, but they still had their friends. All he had to do was to make do with what they had. With a smile on his face, Sado found a way to bring Christmas in Seiretei.

Small, round prints found their way towards Sado as Nova ignored the cold gust of wind that blew the flaps of his doll costume. When he saw what the man was currently doing, he proceeded to help without asking no questions, piling as much snow as he could in his little green arms and deposited it to the heap that was Sado's work.

It was during their task that Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto of the tenth squad chose to appear; they spotted the gentle giant and his turtle doll in the middle of the fourth division's grounds. "You shouldn't be outside in this weather. What you're doing can't be good for your injury." Matsumoto reprimanded lightly.

"It's good for the heart." Sado replied shortly, having meant it in more ways than one. "I didn't have anything else to do inside and I thought a short walk could do me good."

"I think you've been out too long." Hitsugaya said, observing the snow spheres on top of each other. "What's that?"

"Snowman."

"Snowman? Wait, I think I've seen these things in your world." Matsumoto leaned closer to note that the snowman had two smooth water stones for eyes and a bunch of small rougher ones for the mouth which curved to a smile. "It's missing a nose."

"I don't have anything for a nose."

Matsumoto looked down at the stuff toy that was Nova and picked him up, ignoring the doll's cheeks blushing bright pink. "We could use Nova-kun's head."

"I-iya." Nova stammered, hiding his face inside his clothes.

"Matsumoto-san, I don't think Nova would want that." Sado-kun replied with a straight face, though his eyes shone with amusement upon noticing the slight dust of pink under the doll's beady eyes.

With the doll still in hand, Matsumoto ran towards a tree and broke something from its branches. When Matsumoto came back, she poked the snowman's face with a twig. Then she took off her peach scarf and draped it over the snowman's neck. "I'd give anything for a hat right now to complete the look but I'm afraid it's all we have."

Sado smiled faintly as the shinigami took the phrase right off his mind. Christmas didn't have to be spent in front of giant christmas tree full of presents underneath. To him and his grandfather, there is Christmas in bread and butter and coffee. To him and Matsumoto and perhaps Hitsugaya, there is Christmas underneath a gentle shower of snowflakes in front of a snowman with no hat.

As Sado and Nova taught the two shinigamis how to make another snowman, Ishida stepped out into the grounds slightly shivering under the blanket he had draped around him. He smiled at Hitsugaya and Matsumoto who had managed to get themselves into a small snowball fight in front of a half-done snow woman.

"Unohana-san told me to get you inside." Ishida adjusted his glasses, trying not to notice the ongoing ruckus that was Matsumoto and Hitsugaya, armed with a dozen of snowballs each. "What were you doing?"

"Trying to remember what Christmas was like." Sado shrugged. "Then again we didn't have snow in Mexico."

Ishida didn't know what to say; he'd ask how he had spent his Christmas but then Sado had lived alone ever since he left for Japan. Like Inoue-san, Sado had been celebrating holidays and birthdays on his own, which made him think how lucky he still was considering he had a family to go back to after everything that has happened.

Nova spared a glance at his human companion and the Quincy, sensing their depressed reiatsus in contrast to the sudden bursts of irritation and wild amusement from the two shinigamis currently chasing each other across the grounds. "I will not tolerate this, Matsumoto, however neither will I give in to your childish games." Hitsugaya stood his ground and crossed his arms, sulking and glaring at his dancing and gloating vice-captain.

"You're the child Hitsugaya-taichou, live like it." Matsumoto laughed, throwing a snowball and hitting her captain squarely on the chest.

"Precisely, I'm the child and you should start acting like the lady that you're supposed to be and quit acting like an obnoxious little g-...MATSUMOTO!"

Nova sweatdropped as he tried to avoid the stampede that was the tenth division captain who apparently had bits of snow on his face and his mouth. Nova warped himself out of harm's way only to find himself beside the scheming vice captain, eagerly scooping more of the white stuff in her hands. "Quick, more snowballs!"

Ishida's glasses glinted under the moonlight, gratefully covering the smirk that was threatening to erase the slight frown on his face. "I sent Nova to fetch you."

"Sou ka," Sado answered, recalling that his little green friend had not mentioned anything about getting inside, in fact, he had not said anything at all. Instead, he set to work to help Sado in his small mission, to bring happiness back to life with a simple snowman. It seemed that Nova saw the purpose within that little task, and understood how it felt to be alone. A grateful smile touched Sado's lips as his eyes searched for his little friend. Apparently it seems that Nova has found himself caught in the heat of the war, and his obedience has cost him terribly as he caught up with Matsumoto and reached up to her with a small pile of snow in his arms.

"Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya screamed as he brandished his zanpaktou while he ran aimlessly toward his giggling vice-captain who fortunately had a useful mod soul in her command. A frustrated growl escaped Hitsugaya's lips as Nova and Matsumoto yet again disappeared into the void that the turtle doll had created.

"Now!" Matsumoto screamed gleefully as she reappeared with Nova by the trees. Matsumoto's voice froze Hitsugaya in his tracks, as a pile of snowballs warped themselves above the poor captain's head.

"NOVA!!!"

Ishida looked in the same direction and let out a small laugh. It was the first time he had laughed since the Bountou incident, and it felt good.

When the Quincy's eyes rested upon him, Sado replied, "Let's have Christmas here."

Ishida nodded and smiled at his friend gratefully.

Up Next! Chapter Two: Grinch vs The Candyman!