Yukio wrapped himself in the teal cloak as he looked out of the bay window to watch the falling iced flakes. A pure white blanket lay untouched upon the ground. It wasn't something he went out and enjoyed on his own. He didn't feel it would be right. Snow always reminded him of his partner. The man who had been on duty in the Soul Society and wasn't due home for a couple of days.
"Yukio?" a familiar voice sounded behind him, making him jump.
"Toshi! You shouldn't be back yet," the blonde-haired man said, shocked.
"Well, I can go again if you're gonna complain about it." Toshiro teased as Yukio ran into a warm embrace.
"Don't you dare." Yukio's hold wasn't letting go anytime soon. His emerald eyes looking up at Toshiro's teal ones. "I'm not complaining. I was just shocked to see you, that's all."
When Toshiro laughed, Yukio's smile grew. It hadn't been that long ago since he last heard it, but it always felt like the first time. The melodious sound making his heart skip a beat.
"Toshi, why are you back this early. I thought you were away until Sunday?"
"I couldn't very well leave all this snow to you now, could I?" Toshiro replied. "I finished early. Matsumoto can take care of the rest."
"Don't you put too much faith in her? I mean, whenever I've seen her she's always been drinking or shopping."
"That's true enough, but I trust her. She knows when work takes priority. Besides, I wanted to come home early to surprise you."
Yukio watched as the smile grew on his partner's face. There was something about that smile that suggested something.
"How about we go for a walk? It's been a while since we had snow." Toshiro grinned, at the still cloaked Yukio who nodded.
Toshiro changed into his gigai and put on a loose jacket. He was significantly more used to the cold temperature than Yukio was.
…
As the two young men exited their manor, the wind began to pick up, dusting them with the freshly fallen snow. The scenery was beautiful. The snow 3 inches deep, covering the resilient flowers that were to bloom in the coming weeks. The sky painted the beautiful fiery colours of sunset. To the side of the manor lay a forest. Their very own forest that provided privacy from the main town. They walked, hand in hand, along the frozen path through the woods, admiring the sparkling of the ice crystals as the light hit them. Heaped snow falling off the branches almost landing atop Yukio's cap, but instead fell down the inside of his shirt sending a sudden chill down his spine.
"You alright, Yuki?" Toshiro asked, stifling his laughter. "Here."
He took off his jacket and wrapped it around his partner's shoulders.
"It's, cold," Yukio shivered. "Thank you, Toshi."
They carried on walking through the trees, smiling and laughing, before they came to the crystal-ice gazebo in the centre.
"It's been a long time since we were last here. I won't come here alone." Yukio mentioned.
"I know you won't, though I don't see why. This is OUR gazebo after all."
"Exactly," Yukio commented. "OUR gazebo. Why would I come alone?"
Toshiro took Yukio's other hand in his own before looking into emerald eyes. Slowly, he moved into a soft kiss which the younger man had gratefully accepted. When they separated, Toshiro saw the blush on Yukio's cheeks.
With a chuckle he said, "After all this time, you still turn pink at the slightest touch."
"Do not. I'm warm, that's all." He turned his face away, only to be caught by a hand on his chin.
Yukio's denial along with Toshiro's touch made his reaction more intense, deepening his blush.
"I love you, Toshi."
The two of them connected again with passion and lustful kisses. Holding their bodies closer. Toshiro's tongue danced across Yukio's lips, coaxing them open.
When they separated again, their breaths were laboured. Toshiro gazed into this partner's brilliant green eyes. Emerald in colour and the perfect contrast against the white snow that surrounded them.
"Yukio," Every time Toshiro said his name, his eyes lit up with wonder like the gemstones that shared their hue. "Marry me."
Shock evident in his face, the younger man stared at this lover. "What?"
"I love you, Yukio. I want to spend the rest of this life and the next with you. Marry me."
The perfect emerald eyes didn't blink. And for a moment, Yukio didn't say anything. He wasn't sure if he had heard correctly, despite the request coming twice. 'Did he… did he really just ask me to… marry him?'
As if to answer Yukio's unspoken question, Toshiro took out a silver wedding band and offered it to his companion.
"Will you?"
What could Yukio do but give the obvious answer. "Of course, I will, Toshi. I would love to marry you."
Toshiro found himself pulled into a tight embrace and the two tumbled to the ground, laughing. They had been friends for 12 years now, together for five of those, and yet they could still behave like they did all those years ago. As though they were still teenagers.
They played in the blanketed snow, building sculptures, throwing snowballs and making snow angels. They danced in the gazebo which had been turned into a makeshift ice rink. Nothing could make Yukio as happy as he was in this moment. This moment with his best friend. His lover. His fiancé.
They continued dancing under the stars until well past midnight, constantly in each other's arms. The full moon shining down on them like a spotlight from the azure sky. Their movements slowed as they came to an eventual stop.
Still with his arms linked around his partner's waist, Yukio looks up at him. A tone of suggestion taking form in his voice, he asked "Are you getting tired?"
Toshiro saw the gleam in the younger man's eyes. "I'm not tired, but I wouldn't say no to going back to the bedroom if you wanted."
With a wicked smile, Yukio knew what Toshiro meant. He took hold of the other man's hand and led him back through the frozen forest to the house where they discarded their jackets on the hooks and made their way to the bedroom.