Day 10 - Sledding (Ukitake/Kyoraku/Starrk):
Starrk watched with mild amusement as Lilynette went whizzing past him on some brightly coloured piece of what the Quincy boy had called plastic.
When she was closely followed by Yachiru and then Ukitake, the wind whipping through his pale hair as he flew past his lips tilted into a small smile.
He felt the approach of someone and the smile disappeared, warm arms and a familiar reiatsu surrounded him, cosseted his apprehension until it faded back into a steady hum.
"Didn'tcha want to play in the snow love?"
Starrk leant back almost imperceptibly into Kyoraku's hold, letting his back brush his chest, the cloth of his uniform and the coarse curls bared at the V of his Gi. He knew Shunsui wouldn't bring up his reaction, it wasn't really his style – Starrk knew that the sake loving man would listen if he wished to speak.
It was his way after all.
Jyuushiro was the one more inclined to encourage his voice and in some cases it helped, in others…
In this case he was happy to not be pushed, encouraged or enticed into answering. It had taken him a lot to get past the idea that the whiteness that seemed to create such enjoyment amongst the people of Sereitei wasn't the cold, rolling sands of Hueco Mundo.
He was here under a degree of duress, and having Kyoraku at his back reassured him.
He felt cool fingers slip under his shirt, calloused palms rubbing lazy circles across his toned stomach as a sharp chin rested on his shoulder.
"It's alright to watch, to try and to just be here. I have to say I rather enjoy the children's antics – that includes Jyuu's."
Starrk chuckled softly at this last, knowing only too well that his lover was offering his own comfort, in his quirky way.
"He seems to be enjoying it as much as the girl's."
He felt Shunsui's head shift in a nod, the light brush of stubble against his own tickling slightly.
"He does and he is a joy to watch, ne?"
Starrk watched as the three went sailing past again, kicking up furrow's of snow in their wake.
"Yes."