Title: Sugar Kisses

Pairing: Hitsugaya Toshiro and Matsumoto Rangiku

Warnings: English isn't my first language and there's probably lots of typos and grammar errors. A few kisses, perhaps more if I feel like making it that way. No higher rating that T though.

Source of Inspiration: Green Christmas panties from CUBUS with a candy cane and mistletoe as a print. Plus some glitter and stuff. And "Sugar Kisses" over it.

A/N: Well hello to you! Here's another HitsuMatsu story of mine. It's a bit late though since my internet decided that yes let's disconnect and make things hard for our abusive user. So yeah, just so you know. Anyway I have to explain one thing before you read on.

I will update this fic on specific days. This first chapter was supposed to be up the 9th of November since that was when it first snowed here (where I am). I'll explain in each chapter what meaning the update has so no worries.

Now, you can move on! Thanks for reading!

Sugar Kisses

09/11- 07

First Snow

o-oOo-o

It had started out like any other morning these past few months; brisk winds, puffs of breaths – a dry, refreshing smell of chilly autumn. The beauty was gone – the leaves long lost from the trees and darkened to a dead brown or lifeless yellow as they covered the ground like a second skin – yet something new lurked around the corner. A change. I hadn't sensed it when I first stepped out of my room, clad in my uniform with additional clothing to lessen the harsh bite of cold breezes, and it took me yet another few hours before I realized.

I had been by my desk for precisely three hours, forty-six minutes and seventeen seconds when my lieutenant decided to show up. I never notice that I keep such a close eye on the time passing when she's not where she's supposed to be, until it's too late. I had scowled at her, and myself, as she'd tossed her long hair from her shoulders to let it rest on her back. A lot of work had been done in her absence, but not the usual amount that I can pull off when she is around. It's not like she does anything but doodle or read the same word, sentence, paragraph or even the whole report twice before moving on. But – and this sounds strange even in my most private thoughts – her easy-go-lucky smile and jolly, uplifting laugh changes the atmosphere from silent, crisp and work-like to a noisy, chaotic and at times extremely annoying one. Try as I may, I cannot figure out why I get more work done in such an environment. It doesn't make sense, not at all. But when it's about Matsumoto Rangiku, does it ever?

After she had entered the office this (late) morning she brought in a chilly wind that stirred the hems of her robes and the tips of her hair, making the sudden drop in temperature clash horribly with the warmth she seemed to radiate. I still hadn't noticed, but I remember briefly wondering where it all came from; her carefree mood.

"Captain! You're here early, it's only 10.30!" she'd exclaimed while walking over to my desk, unwrapping the furry mass that had been covering her throat. Raising a brow, I stared into her seemingly icy eyes; preparing for the usual morning banter.

"It's one hour before lunch break, Matsumoto. You call that early?" My comment had been drawled, sarcasm had been added and it had been perfect except for the slight smile that had been tugging at my lips ever since she'd slid past my desk to stand beside me.

"Yes! It is way too early for you; young people need sleep so that they can grow and become big and strong!" Somehow, her comebacks have never failed to make a vein pop.

"I don't think I need that much sleep, Matsumoto; you're the living proof that it's unhealthy. I feel no need to hurry my growth, if it will end up giving me too much of what I want," I'd shot back, throwing a meaningful glance at her chest before looking up to meet her sparkling eyes.

I am sometimes surprised by how much my lieutenant has affected me. Her endless crude jokes, suggestive comments and immodest flirting robbed me of certain restraints and I soon found myself quite immune to the stunts she pulled to make me uncomfortable. I even played along, like I had done this morning.

"You could never get enough of me Captain, so don't worry yourself! There are many things you've yet to discover; I'm not done surprising you!" I admit I had blushed, if only a little, as she'd leaned down to place her head close to mine; arm resting on the back of my chair for support.

"Matsumoto—" I had begun, but she'd cut me off by offering tea. Gladly, I had accepted and we ended the morning banter with a moment of silence as she'd made and served the hot liquid.

Minutes had passed, swiftly, and before Matsumoto had been able to finish her first page in the folder I had given her to organize and label it was time for lunch. We had dressed and stepped out to get our food – Matsumoto making small-talk as always. And then I had finally felt it.

The scent had been in the air, the feeling snuck up in my core, and I had known.

Winter was here.

I hadn't commented, and had kept walking beside my lieutenant to enjoy that moment. I love winter, mostly because of the snow and cold, but also because it's so beautiful. And my Zanpaktou is less pissy when it's not blazing hot. This summer had been hell, to put it lightly.

"Oh! Look Captain! It's snowing!" Matsumoto had gasped, gazing up into the sky with the eyes of a young girl rather than the grown woman she is. Trust me, it happens now and again, but each time it leaves a lingering feeling inside. It's hard to imagine her as a child; that she really has been in the same position as me – living a life after death, affected by hunger. I don't know why it's like that. Maybe her history doesn't go well with the person she is today. Maybe I don't want to know what shaped her, what drove her. From a distance, I will never be able to tell. Even with the strange kind of friendship we have, forged together with a bond of loyalty between soldier and officer, I cannot let us share anything but the present. Because does dwelling on the past do any good? I've never believed that it does.

"Snow!"

Her laughter could be heard as she'd danced her way over the empty yard, chanting the word over and over again in a tune I recognized. She usually hums it when she's happy, or content, and it's soothing music in the background as I work.

"Snow! It's winter! Aren't you happy Captain? It'll be December soon! Your birthday and Christmas is coming up!"

I've never figured out what excites her so about birthdays. Christmas, I can understand to a certain degree, but birthdays? They hold little significance to me, I see no use in them, but she's a stubborn woman and she'd be damned to leave me alone about it. Even while knowing this, she always manages to surprise me.

This year probably wouldn't be an exception.

o-oOo-o

A/N: Yes, I know it was very short. Sorry. I'm very tired right now and again stuck in a depression concerning my writing. So yeah. I hope the next update will give you more.

Review?