At the Shiba manor, Kuukaku and Ganju were busily updating their library of notes about explosives. They were soon interrupted by a flash of light and a yelp. Recognizing the voice, they ran to the front yard.

"Might've known it was you," Ganju huffed. "Where're the others?"

"Ganju!" his sister barked. "How about we get inside first? It's freezing out here."

The visitors were all too happy to follow the Shiba siblings inside and sit down. Shiroganehiko brought out tea while everyone warmed up. "What brings you here?" Ganju blurted.

"We're on winter break," Ichigo explained. "So we thought we'd come up here to see how everyone's doing."

The Hollow popped out. "Especially the lovely lady!"

"Knock it off!" Ichigo sighed.

Orihime giggled with amusement. "You two are such good friends, Ichigo-kun," she smiled brightly.

Kuukaku perked up at this. "Ichigo-kun, huh?"

"Oh yeah," Ichigo answered nervously. "Orihime and I are engaged."

"That's great news," the Shiba siblings nodded in unison. "When's the wedding?"

"We're still deciding that," Orihime told them. "We thought maybe Lady Yume could give us some advice. She did Rukia-san's wedding."

The Hollow got a devious look on his face. "Which is why we need to stop the chitchat and get going. If we're going to see the lovely lady before dark..."

Ichigo bowed to his hosts. "Urahara-san couldn't get us to Rukongai #15 Northeast. Could you help us with that?"

Ganju and Kuukaku looked at each other knowingly. "It'll have to be tomorrow. We were doing some work when you guys got here," Ganju informed them.

"We appreciate it," Orihime agreed. "You don't mind if we stay the night here, do you?"

"It's all good," Kuukaku told her. "It's been quiet around here anyway."

Once Ichigo's group settled in for the night, the Shiba siblings made preparations for transport. Ganju shook his head. "Perfect timing, eh? I didn't want to sleep tonight anyway."

At the meeting hall, Yuiko and Katsuhiko excitedly hung lights and garlands along the door frames. "This is looking good, Katsuhiko-kun!" Yuiko gushed. "I wonder what Yume-san and Aunt Sachiko were talking about."

"I guess we'll find out," her new fiancé replied, putting away the extra decorations. "We're almost done for today. My dad said the paper goods should be at the post office today or tomorrow. Want to post the flyers and call it a day?"

"Sounds like a plan. But the tree looks weird."

"I don't think that'll be a problem for long."

Gratefully, Aunt Mitsuko's visitor made her way to the town square and stopped at the first merchant she saw.

"Afternoon, miss!" the greengrocer bellowed heartily. "What're you needing today?"

"Hi there," she replied, her relief evident. "I was actually looking for directions."

"Where to?"

"The postmaster mentioned a temple. If you could point me in the right direction..."

The greengrocer nodded jovially and pointed toward the Minamoto Temple. "It's that way. Surprised you don't know about it. The priest is famous."

"Thanks very much." She bowed. "I'll be going now."

"Wait up, miss. Don't you want something to eat? You're looking awful hungry there."

The woman smiled and dug in her hobo bag for her coin pouch. "Do you take these?" she wondered, showing him a handful of coins.

His eyes widened. "Yeah, that's quite a lot. How about you tell me what you want and I'll tell you how much it costs?"

She didn't know when she'd be able to shop again, so she carefully selected some seasonal fruit and a small bottle of milk. Thanking the greengrocer, she headed for the Minamoto Temple. Maybe this celebrity priest would be able to help her.

"Not know...Shinigami technique...let people talk...such long distance," Yume marveled as she poured herself some tea. "Glad...talk to...my Sousuke."

"I was wondering how things were going up there. Sousuke seems to be doing OK," her husband nodded. "We'll try to visit him once things settle down."

"Sei-kun...go back to academy soon?"

"Classes are back in session, so I'll have to go tomorrow." He kissed her playfully on the cheek. "So we have to get in our cuddling today."

"Sei-kun!" Yume laughed brightly. Purring softly, Ringo rubbed up against Yume's leg. Delighted, Yume reached down to pet her.

"How are the plans for the winter event going?"

"Talk to...Mrs. Yasuda...yesterday. Yuiko...Katsuhiko...help set up...meeting hall."

"You're going to clue me in soon, right?"

"Of course...tell Sei-kun...soon." She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her husband followed suit, pulling her to him and kissing her hair. "This count...as cuddle," Yume smiled lovingly. She bent down once more to pet Ringo, who purred contentedly before trotting back to her cat bed.

"How about we take a walk through the temple for ideas?" Seinousuke suggested. "I'm starting to go stir-crazy being in the house so much." Together they walked down the hall, noting the decorations. "Look here," he told her, pointing to some equipment in a storage closet "What do you think about using some candles at the winter event?"

"Like that."

As the couple continued to look through keepsakes, they heard a knock at the door. "That can't be Yuiko-kun," Seinousuke remarked curiously. "The temple's still closed."

"Sei-kun...need to check," Yume urged. "I go too."

The couple cautiously opened the door, where Aunt Mitsuko's visitor stood.

Morning came quickly for Ichigo and the others. Eagerly, the Hollow began badgering Ganju. "You ready yet? Huh?"

"Calm down already, white one," Kuukaku sniffed. "We haven't slept yet."

"No one's going anywhere until we're rested up, so find something to do," Ganju added.

After several hours of dozing and chat, everyone was ready to go. After an uneventful trip, the group arrived at the outskirts of Rukongai #15 Northeast in no time. "We're finally here," Orihime breathed, pulling her coat around her.

"Kuukaku-san got us pretty close," Ichigo agreed. "Let's get going."

"Look at that huge mound of snow," the Hollow purred, jabbing Ichigo with his elbow. "You'd love to have a snow fight with me, wouldn't you?" His eyes gleamed eerily.

"Not really."

"You're no fun at all, are you?"

"You two get along so well," Orihime chuckled. "It'll be nice to see Lady Yume."

"You do remember how to get there, right?" the Hollow smirked. "We wouldn't want to get lost here and miss seeing the lovely lady."

"You're impossible," Ichigo sighed. "Of course I know how to get there." Glaring at his partner, he irritably led the way to the Minamoto Temple.

The tired woman blinked several times as she studied the youthful-looking couple standing before her. These two looked more like apprentices than priests, but the visitor remained hopeful that they could help.

"Uh, can we help you?" the man finally asked.

"Sei-kun!" his companion cut in reproachfully. "Cold outside...let visitor in." She tilted her head and studied the guest curiously.

They guided their guest to the temple lobby and brought her some tea. "Now," the man repeated, "what can we do for you?"

The visitor's words tumbled out one after another as she clumsily explained that Chiaki and Aunt Mitsuko had sent her there. "If I could just talk to the priest... Is he here?"

The man began laughing uncontrollably. Finally, he grinned at his companion. "She's right here."

"My name...Yume," the priest smiled kindly. "I...first woman priest...of goddess Shinatobe." She put an arm around the man. "This...my husband. He...monk of god Yakushi."

"Yamada Seinousuke, at your service," her husband nodded. "Now how about telling us your name?"

The visitor took a deep breath. "I'm...Kurosaki. Kurosaki...Masaki. I hoped you could help me find a place to sleep tonight."

"Kurosaki?" The couple looked quizzically at each other before focusing on their guest once more. "It's getting dark out. You can spend the night here," Seinousuke told her, showing her to the west meditation room. "I'll bring your futon." Once Masaki was settled in for the night, the couple returned to the living quarters.

"Sei-kun?" Yume began, reluctantly changing into her nightgown.

"What is it, love?"

"You think...visitor...know Ichigo?" she wondered, climbing into bed. Ringo, now jostled from her nap on the bed, tilted her head and began meowing.

"Only one way to find out." He climbed into bed next to Yume and pulled the comforter up. With a chuckle, he set Ringo at the foot of the bed.

"We...let her sleep...tonight. Ask her...tomorrow." The loving couple soon fell asleep, with Ringo now curled up between them.

"How are the preparations coming along?" Aizen asked Hikifune. "We, too, must celebrate the official beginning of winter."

"The meeting hall's looking festive. They've never had a winter gathering before."

"I am glad to hear it. I, of course, shall be participating in my own way. Does Rukongai #15 have the necessary equipment?"

"I think I saw what you'd need," his old friend nodded. "But what do you mean, we're celebrating winter too?"

"It has been nearly ten years since Yhwach's defeat," Aizen explained. "For the most part, Soul Society has moved on from that devastation. Granted, there is still much to be done, but progress should be acknowledged and celebrated."

"I hadn't pegged you for the nostalgic type, Sousuke-kun."

Aizen sighed softly and raised an eyebrow. "There is much to be said for learning from the past, Hikifune. Now, you were about to apprise me of the tea situation?"

"It got dark fast," Yuiko remarked. "But we got the flyers put up. What do we do with the extras?"

"Let's go to the bookstore," Katsuhiko suggested. "We can leave the flyers in the entryway." He grinned conspiratorially at her. "We could also have some hot chocolate before we go home."

"Sounds good." Shivering, Yuiko pulled her coat closer around herself and followed him into the bookstore. "I don't even want to leave," she moaned, sitting in a comfortable chair. "It's warm in here."

"We'll stay for a while," her fiance agreed. "No point in going right back out."

During the usually short walk from the edge of Rukongai #15 Northeast to the town square, the snow began to fall harder, and the wind picked up unexpectedly. "Are we almost there?" the Hollow complained. "It's not getting any warmer out here."

"It's on the other side of town," Ichigo explained patiently. "We'll get there when we get there."

"Hmph!" With that, the Hollow retreated into Ichigo's psyche.

"Say, Ichigo-kun, I think I see lights at the bookstore," Orihime remarked, pointing to show him. "Maybe we could take a break in there. We've been out here a long time."

"Good idea." With that, the pair cautiously trudged toward the bookstore, hoping someone was actually there. After several minutes, they were at under the awning, laboring for breath but glad for some relief from the cold. Seeing movement, Ichigo stood at a window and began waving his arms trying to get someone's attention.

"Who in the world?" Yuiko wondered, slowly getting up to answer the door. Her eyes opened wide as she saw the visitors. "Orihime! Ichigo-kun!"

"Can we come in?" Ichigo interrupted, rubbing his hands together. "It's pretty cold outside."

"Of course! Get inside," Yuiko urged, showing her visitors to the easy chairs.

A curious Katsuhiko studied them curiously as he came with cups of hot chocolate for himself and Yuiko. "I remember you," he nodded to Orihime. "But why are you out in this weather at this hour?"

"It's a long story," Ichigo replied wearily.

"Our friends in Seireitei were able to get us to the edge of town," Orihime explained. "We were on our way to the Minamoto Temple when the snowstorm hit."

"Bad news," Katsuhiko sighed. "You won't be going to the temple tonight. It's almost midnight, and that snow's not letting up."

"So what are we supposed to do?" Ichigo wanted to know.

"We're spending the night here." Katsuhiko motioned to Yuiko. "We're not going back out in that. You could spend the night here too."

"That's a good idea," Yuiko agreed. "Not five-star accommodations, but there's hot water for coffee. Pick a chair to sleep in."

Once everyone was settled in, Katsuhiko turned off the lights and closed the shutters. Ichigo fell asleep almost instantly.