A Christmas shot. I know, it's currently the middle of summer, and perhaps I am being biased due to living in the very holiday-obsessed United States. But hey, what's a series of one-shots without a little holiday happiness thrown in?
So, if it bothers you, than you can skip this chapter and save it for the cold weather.
Song belongs to Blizten Trapper. I had to convince myself to leave poor Florence alone for a little while. The song is called Girl In a Coat. If you don't know Blitzen Trapper, they're pretty great, if you like folksy/indie music.
Enjoy!
Cause winter is where she abides all the while
And hillsides are covered in snow
The summertime sister sends letters to me
She speaks with a voice that I know
He remembers their first Christmas together.
Nearly three years ago, and even then, it was more of a frivolous past time to try and get their minds off of the violence and the death they've seen. A somewhat successful attempt to remember what it was like to walk the streets in the snow and take joy in the way it crunched beneath their feet.
Then, Rukia was totally oblivious to the strange custom of buying gifts just because the holiday recommended it. 'Not many people here really celebrate Christmas.' Ichigo told her in a convincing tone. 'That doesn't mean it isn't around.'
In his usual gruff way, he introduced Rukia to the tradition, claiming that if he didn't, Orihime would, and he didn't want her view of the holiday to be that merciless. Then, in his other usual way, he ground his teeth when the spirit of the streets caught Rukia by the arm and she ended up dragging him on endless excursions to know more about the holiday.
He should have guessed it earlier, but she was loved the bright lights and the cheesy carols. His head started to ache from the hours of festive music she insisted on playing.
If that were all to it, he would have proclaimed, three years ago, that he would not be celebrating Christmas any long.
But on that morning, she was so excited, and he couldn't help but feel caught up in her ecstasy. For a moment, he could imagine what life for her would be like if she were at her home then. Certainly Byakuya would never participate in the fun. He would tolerate it, if it were for Rukia, but he wouldn't join in.
And Christmas was no fun alone.
She shoved a small box into his hands, before he was even fully awake. He looked at it blearily, trying to decide whether or not it was a trick.
Snorting at his derision, she said, "It's not big, but I guess I'm sort of grateful for letting me stay here."
When he looked back at her, she refused to meet his gaze, and he did his best to avoid his surprise, hiding it beneath a grunt. That was the closest she had ever really come to thanking him. He didn't suppose it was something to happen often.
She wasn't lying when she said it was small. It was a pair of gloves that he recognized as being similar to the ones she used to carry around to knock him out of his human form. He raised an eyebrow at her, and she smiled.
"Just in case neither of us is around." She said, motioning to indicate the still sleeping Kon. Ichigo shrugged, and pulled them over his fingers.
They were a perfect fit.
He hadn't gotten her a gift, and he was too proud to feel bad about it, just as she was too proud to care. It was their first Christmas, before they had come to learn and know each other as they do now.
Ever since then, he always made sure to have a present, even if there was no guarantee she would be there to celebrate. He inevitably saw her eventually, and she would have something for him.
Nothing big, was the silent agreement. A Chappy plushy for her, and a hat for him. She claimed that he was too boring, and therefore she never knew what to get him. He scoffed, and replied that not everyone could have an unhealthy obsession with bunnies.
He felt the bruise from that one for a few weeks.
The moments were as short-lived and small as the presents, but that isn't why he continued their tradition.
Voices float over him as he enters the small shop, suddenly warm and crowded compared to the cold streets. He shrugs off his jacket and slings it over his shoulder, amber eyes perusing the shelves while they blink away the glazed expression of a man deep in thought.
It was true that Christmas wasn't a holiday frequently and excitedly celebrated in Japan. Only so many people were actually Christian, but it didn't matter. Shelves were still stocked with knick-knacks, toys, and decorations. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of peppermint and pine.
Honestly, the holidays drove Ichigo a little bit crazy. He was never a huge fan of giant, mobbing crowds aiming for the best deal and the inevitably whining children. It was only the sheer need for a gift he couldn't make that drew him out in public.
In a stoic haze that warded off even the most finicky of grandmothers, he strew up and down each aisle, searching fruitlessly for his prize.
Perhaps he was being aboriginal, going with the same theme almost any year. Still, it was the easiest thing to get her, and he wasn't exactly rolling in cash. So when he happened upon the collection of Chappy, he halted.
The only other person there was another man, who shot him an understanding look. "Looks like there's two of us forced to shop for our girlfriends, right?" He chuckled amiably.
Trying to force down the inevitable 'I don't have a girlfriend' and blush that would follow, he merely shrugged, and tried his best to smile back. He couldn't help it. The store was too crowded, and he was too tired to explain to a stranger his complex relationship with the Soul Reaper he wasn't dating.
After a few moments, he selected a small charm meant to be attached to the cell phone. It was tiny, but Rukia had broken hers recently, and had been in near tears over the poor bunny's lost life.
The coolness of the air is a welcome change when he resurfaces from the store. The streets are busy, and his feet crunch against the ground as he walks. Today is pleasant, but the last snowstorm was two days ago, and it left a thick powder to rest on the edges of rooftops and streets.
He heads back to where they separated, near the park, and frowns to see that she's no longer there. Realizing she probably grew bored and wandered off, he snorts, and searches for her spiritual pressure.
It takes him a minute, but he finally finds it, due east. With no small amount of annoyance, he turns to follow the pulse. The sun is beginning to set, and the final rays of sunshine catch the edges of ice crystals and turns them into blinding jewels that glimmer as he walks past. Within every home he passes are voices thick with joy (and perhaps alcohol). Very few are decorated, but the ones that are gleam.
She's standing on a hill when he finally spots her, sunken to her mid-calves in the snow, although the cold doesn't seem to bother her. That's unsurprising, considering she's well-known for the snow zanpakuto she wields.
Rukia turns as he approaches, flashing him a quick smile. It's sheer luck that she's managed to convince her betters to allow her to stay over the holidays. Ukitake, really, was the driving force, especially when he heard about the Christmas traditions. He's using it as an excuse to dump more candy on Captain Hitsugaya.
"Look." Rukia says as Ichigo joins her. "What's that?"
He turns to follow her gaze, and recognizes that she's pointing to a lit up nativity scene. He snorts, not having seen one of those in a long time. It's the scene of the manger, with Joseph and Mary and the three Kings leaning over the baby Jesus.
He explains this to her, but she doesn't exactly understand. He can tell from the confused wrinkle in her nose. She asks, "Why is that so important?"
It takes him a moment to remember that Rukia never had any history of the living world, and definitely has no knowledge of any religion. Why should she, when she herself passes souls onto Seretei?
"It's the birth of Christ." He explains, doing his best to recall the words of his history textbook. "People believed Christ was the son of God, and he was born in order to preach, and eventually died for people's sins."
Rukia blanches at this, and he glances down at her. "Died?" She blinks up at him. "Why?"
He quirks an eyebrow, smirking back at her. "I just told you. To die for people's sins, so they could start new." Turning back to the set, he surveys it closely. "That's all I really know. I'm no priest."
Although she doesn't know what that exactly is, she presses on anyways. "Is that one of those religion things that they were teaching in school?"
While Rukia's time in school had been brief, and she had abandoned a good amount of classes in order to slay hollows, she had absorbed an astonishing amount of information in that time. Ichigo found that she was a pretty good study buddy when she wasn't completely lost.
He nods back, shooting her an amused glance. "You mean you've celebrated Christmas for this long, and not really known what you were celebrating?"
His taunting tone doesn't escape her, and she turns a mean violet glare on him. "So? It's not like you bother to get all the details before jumping into situations." Despite the glare, her tone is teasing. In an irritating, mocking sort of way.
"Besides," she sighs, turning back to the nativity set, "there's not much point in us subscribing to religion, right?"
The irony isn't lost on him, and he nods in return. He had never really been one to delve into religion when he was younger – the heritage of his parents assured that – so accepting that God didn't exist in the way most people believed wasn't that hard.
A silence falls between them as they muse, but Rukia breaks it first. "Still, I do wonder what happens to Soul Reaper's souls when we die."
Her tone is quiet, and almost delicate. Ichigo glances back at her, surprised at the look of pale intent there. Sometimes, he forgets how close to death they've come before.
There's no real answer he can give her, so he stays silent. But he places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. It's warm and protective, despite the cold of the air around them. She inhales deeply, tasting the biting edge of ice on her tongue.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees her raise her hand to touch the skin on her neck, as if trying to remember a sensation from long ago. She then glances at him, and smiles slightly. "Even if our souls may disappear, our hearts are left with the people we love, though. Right?"
She looks at him almost hopefully. He isn't one to sugar coat anything, usually. He's fully intent to just say that he doesn't really have a clue.
But then the lights go on around them, and he realizes how dark it is. In front of them, the nativity set now glows with artificial light that loans it a genuine, if strange, warmth. Perhaps it's the feel of the holidays, or maybe it's the way she watches him with that hopeful look, but he nods at her.
"Right."
For some reason, the answer feels true.
She smiles one of her rare smiles – one that isn't forced or surprised or teasing. Just gentle and sweet and full of a promise that makes his heart beat faster. Almost without thinking about it, he twines their hands together.
"Let's go." He says, ignoring her blink of surprise. "We should head back."
Almost imperceptibly, she nods, and curls her fingers around his.
I've been caught, I've been shot,
I've been buried alive
But that's nothing compared to the look in her eye
To my lonely, lovely girl in a coat.
Weird religion thing thrown in there. I know Bleach doesn't deal with it often, because it revolves in a universe where organized religion is wrong. Still, I think it'd be interesting for the Soul Reapers to learn about it.
Sorry if it's out of character, again. I really haven't read/watched Bleach in a while, and I'm doing my best to recall their personalities.
Until next time!
