Once again, thanks very much for those who like and reviewed my story. It truly does warm my heart. Special thanks to go-getter-girl22, NinjaBunnyOverlord, vicky73, and soulflower70 for being new reviewers. All of you are so awesome! This chapter's for you guys!

Yuki ~ snow

Enjoy!


Chapter 3: Let it Snow!

Rukia sighed, lying on her back and closing her eyes. She'd been lying down on her futon, still wide-awake, for goodness-knows-how-long. She couldn't sleep, thoughts jumbled up in her mind keeping her up. What to give Byakuya, how to ask him what he wanted, what to wear to the party, what it meant when he called her "his little seppen"…She paused. Opening her eyes, she gazed up at the ceiling, a small smile starting to form on her lips.

He called her his little seppen. And, he smiled when he said it. Just the thought of it made her cheeks flush.

What did it mean? She pondered, curious and confused. Rolling on her side, she groaned. It couldn't have mean anything, could it? Of course not. He was her nii-sama. A pain in her chest gave her pause. Yes, that's all he is.

What time was it? She wasn't even sure, but it was still dark out. Sitting up, she sighed. Deciding that since she wasn't getting any sleep soon, she might as well take a walk out on the garden to clear her mind. Not bothering to put a robe over herself, she walked out her room dressed in her white tank top and pajama bottoms with chappy faces on it. She brought a few sleepwear with her from the real world a few years back. They made her feel less restricted in her sleep.

Silently, she tiptoed along the wooden floors, careful not to make a sound as she made her way to the garden. She stopped on her tracks when she saw a faint silhouette beneath the sakura tree.

"Nii-sama," she whispered to herself. Rukia knew that she should turn around and walk back to her room, but the image of him had her rooted on the spot.

He was sitting down beneath the sakura, back against the tree and posture relaxed. He was dressed in a gray yukata with a blanket over his shoulders and his kenseikan was gone, making his jet-black hair fall loosely over his shoulders and shine under the light of the moon. He was gazing up at the moon, lost in thought and a smile threatening to form on his lips. The moon's light hit his face with just the right amount to enhance his features. It highlighted his skin ever so lovingly, making Rukia's hand tingle with the desire to caress said face.

He's beautiful, she thought with a soft fluttering in her heart.

The moment seemed so intimate that Rukia felt like an intruder. But these were moments that she hardly ever saw and couldn't bring herself to leave. His reiatsu was soothing.

"It's late, Rukia," came his deep familiar voice, causing her to jump in surprise. "You should be asleep. You have work tomorrow."

She blushed. How long had he known that she'd been there?

Without bother to look at her, he added, "but you may keep me company if you'd like."

Slowly making her way towards him, Rukia could feel the thundering of her heartbeat against her ears. Each step she took made them seem louder than they truly were. When she was a mere foot away form him, he turned his face to look at her and immediately the heat rushed to her face and neck.

His gaze traveled from her face and down, then back again. He raised an eyebrow.

"I brought them back from the real world a few years ago," she muttered. "They're more comfortable to sleep in."

He nodded, turning away from her and looking back up at the moon once again.

Exhaling a breath she didn't know she was holding, she sat next to him. Pulling her knees closer to her body, she hugged them and closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth from his body radiating to her. The smell of him tickled her nose.

Sakura, she smiled.

Opening her eyes, she was met with a pair of gray orbs staring at her, causing her cheeks to burn.

Stop blushing so much, you idiot! She berated herself.

"Um…nii-sama?" she squeaked out.

"Yes?"

"What are you doing up? You have work tomorrow too."

Looking away, he replied, "I couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts. It was overwhelming."

"What were you thinking about?" When he looked at her once again, she quickly added, "you don't have to tell me, of course. I was just worried since it's keeping you up and it might be troubling you. I just wanted to let you know that, you know, you can talk to me anytime because I'm always here for you…but only if you wanted to."

She was rambling again. She could hear the little voice in her head telling her to shut up, but her mouth wasn't listening. She blushed.

He smirked. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Rukia."

"You're welcome," she mumbled.

Rukia no baka, she mentally scolded herself. It's like you have verbal diarrhea. Control yourself woman!

Another few minutes of silence passed between them. It was comforting, she had to admit, not awkward or suffocating as it used to be. Subjects didn't need to be discussed, words need not be said, but she wanted to hear his voice. She needed to hear his voice.

She opened her mouth to say something but she paused when she felt a cool dampness land on the tip of her nose. Putting a hand out, she waited until she felt the same dampness on her palm. She held it close to her face.

Yuki? She thought, confused. How strange.

Slowly, more started to fall, causing her to shiver. She rubbed her arms with her hands to warm them up. She was about to mentally reprimand herself for not wearing a robe when an arm wrapped around her shoulder and pulled her close. Looking to meet his gaze, she blushed.

"I'll not have you shivering and getting sick," he told her when she looked up at him questioningly, pulling her into his embrace and wrapping the blanket around them.

Smiling, she nodded. Rukia snuggled herself further into his arms, deeply inhaling the sweet scent of Kuchiki Byakuya. She felt him pull her closer.

Let me pretend, she thought, wrapping her arms around his waist. If only for a moment.

Snow slowly started to fall around them but she didn't seem to notice. It was getting colder, but neither seemed to mind it. She wanted to stay longer, wrapped in his arms, feel his warmth enveloping her. She wanted to stay with him longer, to smell his scent and to hear the rhythmic beating of his heart against her ear for a moment more.

"Nii-sama?" she spoke in a soft whisper, after a while. She felt more so than heard his hum in response. "If you could have anything in the world for Christmas, what would you want?"

She felt him chuckle against her. "Why would I want anything else when I have my world here in my arms."

She stiffened, blushing. Slowly moving her face away from him, she met his gaze. There was a softness in his expression that made her heart beat faster.

"Nii-sa—" she started to say but he silenced her with his lips. Rukia's eyes widened in surprise. She shouldn't like this. She shouldn't want this. But she did, more than she should have. And, the moment she felt his hand moving up to face, she let herself fall.

Closing her eyes, Rukia wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. The warmth of his lips sent heat rushing throughout her body like wildfire. His hand traveling down from her face to her neck and further down her arms left chills in their wake. She felt his tongue teasing her lips to open, enticing hers to come out and play. Opening her mouth to him, she was immediately assaulted by his passion. He tasted of green tea and honey. It drove her mad with desire.

This man made of flesh, blood, and bones held her heart in his hands so effortlessly. He held everything she was, everything she is, and everything she was to become. And, he didn't even know it. When he pulled away, she felt her lips follow him. She had to will herself to stop. Already she was lightheaded from the intensity of his lips. She could only imagine if they were to…she blushed.

Leaning her cheek against his chest, Rukia listened to his racing heartbeat. She smiled, blushing.

So, it's not just me, she mused.

"Nii-sa—" she began to say once again but he cut her off.

"Rukia," he began, voice so deep yet so gentle that it lulled her senses. With a finger under her chin, he lifted her face up until her violet eyes met his piercing gray orbs. "I would really like it if you called me by my name…without any honorifics, my little seppen."

The gentleness in his words made her cheeks flush a deeper shade of red. "Bya…Byakuya," she said shyly.

His lips formed a smile. Moving his face closer to her, he breathed against her lips, "Rukia."

Eyelids slowly drooping, she smiled. "Byakuya."

"Rukia…"

"Byakuya…"

"Rukia…"

"Rukia-sama!"

Rukia's eyes shot open as she bolted up from her bed. Sitting up, she looked around. She was in her room. Looking out from her window, she sighed. Daylight greeted her and it wasn't snowing. Fingers traveled up to her lips.

"Rukia-sama!" came the feminine voice again. This time, accompanied by a soft knocking on her door. "Byakuya-sama is waiting for you for breakfast."

"H—Hai, Akiko-san," Rukia replied. "T—Tell him I'll be right out."

"Hai, Rukia-sama."

She heard footsteps moving away from her door. Getting up somewhat heavily, she started to dress. As she went to grab her Sode no Shirayuki from her table, Rukia stared out at her window. The early morning sun, which used to make her smile as she greeted the new day, now made her heart ache. Her fingers went up to her lips again, tracing it slowly. It then trailed down her chest where her heart lay underneath. It hurt.

It had all been a dream, she thought with a frown as she walked out of her room, sliding her door closed behind her.


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