Yayyy this story's starting to get some more attention! 300, count em, 300 hits in one day! (Those of you who've erad Behind a Camera chp. 4 would know that that also received 300, making it 600 hits!) ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR NOT REVIEWING NOW!! MUHAHAHA!

Chapter 10! (Whoo! In the double digits!)

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The rest of the semester passed almost like a dream. I cherished every moment I spent with Toshiro, every second being permanently branded into my memory, for I found that the mere thought of forgetting even a minute of my time with him to be painful.

Toshiro, as it turned out, was really quite a romantic. He left roses in my locker, sometimes with short, sweet notes attached, kissed me between each class in the halls; despite whoever was looking (He once even bravely gave me a peck on the lips in front of Leiko. I paid with a narrow escape from death in the rugby unit in Gym, but the look on her face at the time was worth it.) and took me to movies and carnivals or whatever activity was available every weekend. He'd hold my hand or comfort me if something scared me, he'd let me lean on whatever part of him served as a soft pillow when we watched rented movies at each other's house or did homework together on the floor or couch, he'd let me play with his enticing, soft white hair when we cuddled, and he treated me better than any girl has ever been treated in the history of mankind. Even Rangiku, who'd started going out with Gin, said she was a little jealous. Rukia and Renji had also started going out, but they shared more of an abusive, loving sort of relationship which they both enjoyed.

One day in late December, right before Christmas break was about to start, I decided to have some fun with Toshiro after school. When we left the school's entrance I giggled and tied a handkerchief around his eyes. He laughed and attempted to take it off, but I slapped his groping fingers away and took his hand in mine.

"Follow me." I giggled.

His trust in me was absolute. He never wavered as we made our way through the treacherous streets, counting on me to tell him when there was a curb or object in his way. Soon, we entered the forest that led to my beloved peach grove, and we slowly followed the path, hand in hand, until we found ourselves in the middle of the small opening between the peach trees.

He breathed in deeply and smiled when he recognized the fresh, clean scent of the peach forest. I reached up on my tippy toes and undid the handkerchief that obscured his vision, but instead of merely pulling back, I wrapped my arms around his neck when the blind was off and leaned in and kissed him, rocking side to side as we half-danced, half stood as we kissed.

Suddenly, Toshiro grinned against my lips and curled his hands around my waist and picked me up easily, twirling me around as we mock danced. I laughed, hanging on to his neck tightly as he made me feel like I was flying. He set me down gently and stepped back. I was confused right until he bowed deeply, his voice echoing laughter as he asked, "Care to dance, milady?"

I laughed and curtsied to him, accepting his outstretched hand. He set his big, warm right hand against my waist and took my other hand as I set my own right on his shoulder, and we swept into the first step of the dance. I grinned, exhilaration lighting up my heart, my soul.

I smiled. "All that's missing is the music."

Toshiro seemed to think intently for a second, and then his expression brightened as he released my left hand and dug into his pocket, extracting an iPod Nano. He grinned as he inserted a small white headphone into each of our ears and pressed 'play', taking my hand again. The song 'So Close' by Jon McLaughlin sounded in my ears, and I smiled and leaned against his chest as we continued our dance, in our own little world with our own song, connected by the thin white wire that sounded the beautiful melody and beat as we followed along with our feet.

I listened to his heart and the song as he rested his cheek against the top of my head, and we listened and softly whispered along to McLaughlin's voice as we slowly danced back and forth around the small opening in the trees.

You're in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two
So close together
And when I'm with you
So close to feeling alive

A life goes by
Romantic dreams will stop
So I bid mine goodbye and never knew
So close was waiting, waiting here with you
And now forever I know
All that I wanted to hold you
So close

So close to reaching that famous happy end
Almost believing this was not pretend
And now you're beside me and look how far we've come
So far we are so close

How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?
We're so close
To reaching that famous happy end
And almost believing this was not pretend
Let's go on dreaming for we know we are
So close
So close
And still so far

[**AN: I highly advise listening to this song, it's my favorite:] Also I thought it fit well with 'music for only two', though I can't say the same for the rest of the song. Oh well! Nice song wtvr.**]

The song ended, and we both sighed as it did. We just stood there for a minute in our embrace, until Toshiro broke the stillness by creeping his hands upward from my waist until they ended up at back of my neck. He gently turned my head so that I faced him and he grinned, bending down to kiss me. I returned the smile and tilted my head up to oblige, and when our lips met I felt every muscle and bone in my body melt. He laughed against my lips as he took my weight, slowly lowering us down until finally he was laying down in the clearing's soft, over-grown grass with me on top. When we broke the kiss, I lay my head against his muscled, well-toned chest, listening to his heart as he lazily stroked my hair and back, his hand a constant motion as it traveled up and down, up and down.

We just lay there, listening to each other's breathing and heartbeats, for what seemed like an eternity. At some point, one of us shifted in a way that made the iPod come to life again, softly and quietly playing the song 'All I Ask of You' from Phantom of the Opera into our ears. Toshiro smiled as the song swelled. I looked up into his brilliant, teal eyes and saw that he really did love this song.

Slowly, Toshiro raised his unoccupied hand and located the small machine and lowered the volume somewhat. I raised my head and gave him a questioning look. He smiled down at me.

"Wanted to make sure you could hear me."

I still remained confused.

He grinned at my lack of understanding. "I was just thinking."

I smiled. "Yeah?"

"Would you like to get everyone together this Christmas and go on a skiing trip? I was thinking that it might be fun, especially if you were there…"

I grinned broadly. "That's an awesome idea, Toshiro. It'd be nice to get away with just everyone at school."

He kissed my forehead. "I thought you'd like it."

Just then, an icy gust of wind blew in from out of nowhere, sending shivers up my spine. I snuggled up into Toshiro's chest for warmth. However, the cold message sent from nature had made him smile widely. I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

"You really like winter, don't you?"

He continued to gaze upward, looking through the trees into the darkening sky, where a few stars had twinkled into existence. He smiled as he studied the heavens.

"Actually, I really love winter. I've always felt this…attraction to the beauty of ice and snow, and I've always loved the cold. Don't ask me why, but it's just this feeling I've had my entire life."

I laughed. "Your taste in weather matches your hair, Shiro-chan."

He laughed and kissed my hair. "I guess it does, doesn't it?" He looked down at me, his turquoise eyes sparkling.

"It really does. I'm looking forward to spending a winter with you, Shiro-chan." I kissed his neck, traveling along his collar bone and then his jaw line as I said this.

He hummed in pleasure and looked back up at the starry sky. "So am I, Momo. So am I."

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Ski Trip! Yayyyyy. More fluff for fluffy masochists, yeah yeah I know you guys love me. And as it is now becoming my customary signature: REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Best listen to the bold, my friend.

BY THE WAY: Here's a link to the song if you wanna listen ;P : .com/watch?v=FH8WAoRL1xo

.com/people/moKG-x/music/OQTtW4sh/jon_mclaughlin_so_close/