A Wonderful Christmastime.
By Erik Howlett.
Disclaimer: Bleach is the creation of Tite Kubo and is licensed by VIZ Media. I do not claim any of the characters or elements of the manga or anime as my own, and am only writing this story as a leisurely past time and because I am a humble fan of this genre simply telling a story.
Hello once again, True Believers, and Merry Christmas one and all! I know, it's not quite Christmas just yet, but I thought I'd start off the season right with a rewritten version of my story "A Wonderful Christmastime," a series of 25-chapter-drabbles focusing on my favorite couple in the Bleach universe, Yoruichi Shihouin and Kisuke Urahara. I will be doing my best to upload a new chapter each day up until the day after Christmas, a sort of countdown to that most wonderful time of the year. Well, I hope you enjoy the story, True Believers, and Merry Christmas to you.
Please keep in mind that this fic is rated "M" for safety, due to cursing, suggestive themes, alcohol references, and maybe a litle lemon in some chapters, whilest the rest remain simple, cute, little drabbles.
December 1st; A Snowy Tradition.
Every family has a favorite tradition.
Be it stringing popcorn by hand before a fire, spending hours in line at the mall to sit on the lap of one of the thousands of Santa Clause doppelgangers, wrapping presents in secret away from the prying eyes of their intended recipient, trimming the tree, watching hours upon hours of Christmas specials with child-like wonder once more, retelling old Christmas stories, or taking a romantic ride through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh through the park, every family has something they do this time of year that they love the best. And while it was hard to call the little rag-tag bunch of misfits they looked after a family, Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin of Karakura Town had a tradition they loved more than anything in the world:
Watching the first snow of December fall.
Sure, it wasn't the most extravagant of traditions, and sure, it didn't include Tessai, Ururu, or Jinta at all, but it was still something they had done every Christmas since they'd arrived in the World of the Living, and they had no intention of making this year an exception to that rule.
So here they sat, huddled up all warm and toasty in the thick embrace of the hug, navy blue comforter on the back porch of Kisuke's little shop, snuggling close like the pair of lovebirds they were as they each enjoyed a piping hot cup of cocoa and watched the tiny flakes float daintily to the ground. Quiet as could be, they had done all they could to ensure that the others weren't stirred as they had prepared their beverages and slipped out the back-screen to engage in their secret, special tradition.
Normally, in weather like this, Yoruichi would've reverted to her cat-form when venturing outside Urahara Shoten, insisting that her own natural fur was far more protective against the elements than any mortal garb. But she made an exception for him this time, enjoying the rough, massaging feeling of his calloused hands against her naked skin as he held her close beneath the blanket, the spark of passion that passed between them in these moments, his scent as it flooded her senses with pleasure and ecstasy, the taste of his lips and the hint of chocolate on his tongue as they kissed beneath the snowfall. She couldn't even begin to wish for a setting as romantic as this even if she tried.
It was things like this that reminded her why she left the Seireitei with him. She had all she needed right here. So what if she had been a princess there, all she ever wanted was to be his princess, and nothing more. This was her Christmas wish, granted.
Kisuke enjoyed these moments too, for all of her reasons and some of his own. Having grown up in the Rukongai district, he didn't have the same experiences as she, and had learned to appreciate the little things in life far sooner than those in the Clans did.
He loved to watch the snow waft slowly to the ground, taking its sweet time and drifting without a care in the world, pushed about gently by the breeze. He loved the slight chill in the air, its intense cold waking him up in more ways than one, reminding him he was alive and spurring him wake for the day, to seize it with all he had in him. But the thing Kisuke loved most of all was being with the woman he loved more than anything in the both the Worlds combined. He loved the lavender scent that drifted tantalizingly across his nose from her perfume, the softness of her delicate milk-chocolate skin against his own, the silky smoothness of her hair against his neck and chest, the spark of life in her amber eyes as she gazed lovingly into his own.
Yes sir, he definitely had every right to think of himself as the luckiest man alive.
"Kisuke," Yoruichi said thoughtfully after breaking off their kiss to watch the snow fall once more, snuggling closer to his side beneath the blanket. The touch of her naked hips against his own caused as flame of desire to light in his loins, even as he saw a similar look in her eyes and a coy, "you-wanna?" smirk spread across her lips. Yep, she was a little tease alright.
"Yes, Yoru-chan?" inquired Kisuke in mock ignorance, his playful tone of voice causing her to giggle a bit, bubbles popping in and out of existence on the surface of her cocoa as he noticed that he himself had run out.
"What would you say to us getting some more 'cocoa time' before its time to open up shop and wake the kiddies up, hm?" proposed the Goddess of Flash with a suggestive waggle of her eyebrows that made him chuckle softly. Garbed only his pajama-bottoms, Kisuke carefully wrapped Yoruichi in the blanket (a gentleman to the end), and deftly slipped a well-muscled arm under the back of her knees, taking care to place the other behind her shoulders for support as he swiftly swept her off her feet, bridal-style.
"Now, that, my dear Yoru-chan," said the inventor with a smile as he carried his goddess across the threshold and continued on the path to the bedroom, playfully nuzzling his nose against her own and smiling wider when he saw her do the same in response, "sounds like a wonderful addition to our snowy tradition."
"I thought you might like that," admitted Yoruichi slyly, wrapping her arms around her paramour's neck possessively, breathing a soft, sensual kiss into his neck as they reached the bedroom. With the skill of a true master, Kisuke didn't even have to look back to close the door with his foot, thoughtfully shielding the children from the soon-to-be-mental-scarring sounds that would be made within.
Yes, things definitely were shaping up to be quite the wonderful Christmas, indeed.
Next time: December 2nd; A Family Affair.
Author's Note: Well, gang, it looks like our favorite couple are off to a good start this December. Now to see what else awaits them this Christmas season. All I can say for sure right now is that this will be quite the Christmas, so stay tuned! Please remember to read and review as well, since you're input is greatly appreciated, as is constructive criticism (though remember that flames get doused and trolls get crushed by bridges). Well, stay awesome, True Believers, and until next time, EXCELSIOR!