-6 years ago-

"Don't sneak up on people like that!" she shouted furiously.

She placed her hands firmly against her hips while stepping heavily towards me. When she was within reach, she slightly leaned forward, giving me a stern glare as she did. I believe her intentions were to intimidate but I responded by staring down at her with my unchanging expression.

Eventually, she gave in and stood back upright. "I guess I can forgive you for now" she said with a sigh as she bent over to pick up her fallen umbrella. Then she turned away and crouched into her former position.

Curious, I stepped forward and looked over her. "Isn't it pretty? I've never seen anything like it!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide in admiration. I examined the object more closely. It glistened more so than the snow that encircled it and had 6 distinct petals. It was pale blue in colour and the shape resembled a snowflake.

"I'm not very good at taking care of plants..." she said, suddenly saddened."But, I can't just leave it here all by itself." I observed our surroundings more thoroughly; it was an odd location in contrast. It grew behind a recreational area that must have been vacant for years, in the midst of nowhere.

I removed the cover off of an empty jar and carefully placed it over, sheltering it. "It's perfect!" she said, turning to face me. "Thank you!" Afterwards, she stood up and reached for something in her pocket. "It's that time already?..." she said with disappointment. She looked down at her mobile awhile longer before putting it away.

With her free hand, she gently wiped off the snow that fell onto her dress. Then she looked at me with this… smile. "So, how about meeting here again tomorrow?" she asked, a buoyant expression on her face.

Without comprehension, I slowly nodded once. "Promise?" she pressed, giving me this penetrating look. I nodded again, more willingly this time.

"You have to prove it" she said, testing me. She brought her hand towards me and exposed her smallest finger as she folded the rest into her palm. I looked upon her hand that was placed between us. I stared, not knowing what to make of it before looking at her once more. She sighed and reached for the hand opposing hers. She shaped it into the same form before forcing our smallest fingers together. "There, you promised" she said contently. She moved our hands together in a vertical motion, then releasing. 'What a childish gesture…' I thought.

As she cleared the snow that clung to me, she quietly laughed. Then she dropped her umbrella and… held me securely. She slowly took a step back and looked into my eyes one last time. "See you soon" she said in farewell.

With her umbrella, she turned and ran in the opposite direction. I saw the last of her auburn waves before she disappeared into the snowfall.

I was left alone with the flower.

-First day of University-

"Ulquiorra! Hey, I'm talking to you!" he shouted through the bustling crowds. I furrowed my eyebrows in frustration.

Kurosaki Ichigo was not a person of high priority but I had to admit, he was one of the few that made the last of my senior years tolerable. "Damn it, you bastard!" he said as he paced himself beside me.

"What do you wish to infuriate me with this time?" I kept my eyes closed to lessen the commotion.

"You haven't changed since high school, you know that?" he criticized.

"Is that a resolution I should pursue?"

"It's time to man-up and stop being a jack ass all the time!"

"I am satisfied with who I am" I said, giving him a provoked stare. "Perhaps you should deem an alteration."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" he bellowed, deafening me.

"I thought that was you, Ichigo" she said from behind. She made her way towards us and took hold of his hand.

It still astounds me how a woman such as Kuchiki Rukia, who is a relatively attractive being, could be present with an imbecile such as Kurosaki. "Where the hell have you been?" he asked, irritated.

"I was looking for you too" Kuchiki answered. Then she had a jesting expression. "Were you worried?"

"Who said I was worried?" Kurosaki pressed, looking away from her.

"Then what's with the foolish look on your face?" she questioned with a shrewd grin.

"I-it's nothing! Stop with these damn assumptions already!" Kurosaki glowered.

Kuchiki had an outburst of laughter. "Overprotective, aren't we?"

Much to her surprise, he pulled her towards him and brought his face briefly upon hers. "Hell with it…" he said and met her lips once more. I sighed and walked away to avoid any more unnecessary discomfort.

"Excuse me! Pardon me! …Oh, I'm sorry!"

I heard these anxious cries coming from the approaching crowd but I gave it little notice. Until, I saw something glisten.

"S-sorry!"

…Resembling a snowflake.

* I was already late for the Culinary Club's first meeting and with all these people crowding the hallways, didn't make my situation any better. "Excuse me! Pardon me!" I bumped into someone else. "Oh, I'm sorry!"'Gosh, I'm going to be so late!'I thought. I ran into another person, more roughly this time. "S-sorry!"

I was finally able to push my way through the crowd. 'Freedom!'…But as clumsy as ever, I had to trip the moment I was out. Just as I thought I was about to fall flat on my face, I felt a pair of strong arms grab hold of me.

As my head rested against their chest, I could hear the steady beating of their heart. "I'm so sorry! I-I tripped and thanks for catching me!"

Then I looked up into a pair of emerald green eyes and… I felt my breath taken away. As I quickly memorized his features, he had black hair that briefly passed his chin in length and perfect, ghostly-pale skin. I also noticed he had a dark upper lip which was partially parted, allowing me to feel the coolness of his breath. But what made him truly extraordinary was the tattoo stained beneath his stunning, green eyes. A teal-coloured tear streamed down each of his cheeks in a thin line… making him appear as if he was weeping. "Be cautious of your surroundings, woman" he said solemnly, breaking my trance.

I swiftly backed away from his hold and straightened myself. "I-I'm sorry…" As I looked to the ground, I could feel the blush on my cheeks worsen.

Suddenly, his hand reached past my face, taking my breath again. It was so close that I could feel the warmth emit off of his skin. I felt him gently tug at one of my hairpins. I slowly looked up and… he was mesmerizing. As if he noticed me watching, his green eyes met mine again and I couldn't help but feel powerless. He glided his hand from my hairpin, catching my hair afterwards. He slowly brought the few strands towards him as it was slipping through his fingers.

Casually, he placed his hands into his pockets and gazed at me a little longer before walking by. As he passed, I couldn't help but turn after him. He continued to walk away and for a moment, he looked back. Then he disappeared into the crowd.

As I placed a hand over my pounding heart, the other touched my hairpin with his presence still lingering. *

I carefully elevated the glass jar and wiped it with an unsoiled cloth. I watched it intently as it took a breath of the wind.

"So, how about meeting here again tomorrow?"

I continued to gaze.

"Promise?"

I stood there a moment longer before covering it once more.

"See you soon."