Drabble 1:
Title: Snow
Words: 632
Authors: Mizu and The Rose Society
Two years, three months, sixteen days, eight hours, thirty-two minutes and forty seconds.
That was how long Rukia and Ichigo had been married for. It was a lovely afternoon ceremony on a warm mid-spring day. She'd looked every bit the blushing bride, thanks to Ishida's expert needlework.
Life after the war against Aizen and the Arrancar was pretty quiet. Every so often, Hollows came into the real world. Since Rukia and Ichigo were the shinigami assigned to Karakura-cho, they were dispatched to take care of the Hollow, but it was easy work, especially since both were beyond Captain level in their powers now.
Tonight was Rukia's turn to patrol alone, since Ichigo was studying for finals. He was a bit reticent to let her go alone, until a few (loving) kicks to the head convinced him that Rukia could handle things on her own.
She'd purified three hollows tonight already, and it hadn't even been out for more than two hours. Yet she still felt more energized than ever, smiling as another soul found its way to soul society. She couldn't even remember when the last time she'd actually enjoyed her job so much. The thought alone made her suspicious as to whether someone had put something into her tea this evening.
Wrapping her slender fingers around the hilt of her Zanpakuto, she pursed her lips as she scanned the area for more spirit energy fluctuations indicative of hollow activity. "Just us girls tonight, ne, Shirayuki?"
Just then, Rukia felt another Hollow enter her area. Instead of chasing some wayward soul, this Hollow immediately focused on Rukia and her powerful spiritual energy. "Kekeke...shinigami," the Hollow said while drooling with hunger. Rukia smirked and wrapped her fingers around the hilt. Finally, at least this Hollow was strong enough to warrant her at least calling on Shirayuki's shikai form. As she drew her sword, however, it was not the dazzingly beautiful white blade she expected. Instead, it was a regular sword. She frowned and would have pondered it more if the Hollow hadn't begun its attack.
After Rukia dispatched the last Hollow, she returned to the roof of the apartment complex she and Ichigo lived in. Keeping her senses honed on any danger, she drew her zanpakuto again and frowned even more at Shirayuki's absence. What was wrong?
"Getting tired tonight, Shirayuki?" Shirayuki did not respond, as usual. Rukia grimaced, expectant but still slightly annoyed at her Zanpakuto's indifference. "What happened tonight? We were doing so well," she sighed, placing Shirayuki on the ground in front of her as she sat herself cross-legged in front of it.
One minute, she was eyeing Shirayuki critically and in the next, she found herself in a field of snow. The horizon, dark and looming, was devoid of any celestial body. Slightly panicked, Rukia looked around quickly, surveying her environment. It looked the same in every direction.
"What did you expect? You're demanding more energy from me this evening than usual, and I don't know why," a feminine voice said icily from behind. "Last time I felt this weak was when you had that rock lodged in you," she said, deliberately making her irritation evident.
"Shira…yuki?" Rukia turned to face the woman with the cold voice. She wasn't surprised to see that her appearance was every bit as frosty as her voice. Long, black hair was partially pinned up by a bone-white gnarled hairstick. Loose ebony locks framed a sweetheart face the color of bleached ivory. Willowy limbs were adorned in a thin shift equally colorless as her skin, detailing every bony contour. She looked unhealthy.
Suddenly, Rukia felt Shirayuki's face painfully close to her own. Shirayuki's was breath frigid next to her skin as she whispered, "The one and only."
Rukia shivered. It began to snow.