So here is another installment. I'm back in Boston, back to school tomorrow, so updates will slow down a lot, especially with 'Lilies'...chapter 10 is slowwwwly making its way into being. Anyways, here is my own take on the winter fireworks... :)

"You're like the winter, Gin."

I blinked when you spoke, not comprehending a word you said except my name, which is what drew me from my studies. "Hm?"

We sat in the library, it must have been two or three in the morning, up to our noses in books and notes. Final exams were coming up, due to start in a few days. Students were everywhere, some wrapped in blankets, some mumbling softly to themselves. Some were asleep, their heads down on the large, dusty tomes open in front of them. A large book of Kido lay open before me, and I was marking spells with my pen.

You'd been growing restless for sometime—we'd been there nearly the whole day—and had started to just leaf through books aimlessly, looking for interesting pictures or spells, or anything to keep you entertained.

You repeated yourself.

I raised an eyebrow, a slightly disappointed look on my face, just for you. "What, cold and harsh? That's not real nice, Ran-chan," I said, and you laughed softly.

Your laugh was musical, it bounced off objects in the most miraculous of manners, no matter how loud or soft it was, and it seemed to infect everyone around you.

I was addicted to it, just as I was to the rest of you.

You shook your head, "No…" You seemed to think about it a little bit more, then said:

"More pale and swift. You're cold when you want to be," you acknowledged, "but you're not always harsh. You're graceful, like falling snow… and lonely," you added, almost as an afterthought.

"I'm not all that lonely," I said with a rather feral grin at you.

No besides you has ever seen that grin.

You rolled your eyes, but there was a slight tinge to your cheeks. "You know what I mean."

I laughed lightly, shaking my head and returning to my book.

I couldn't help thinking though, if I was like the winter—what were you like?

There were many things I acquainted you with, things ranging from warmth to fiery-passion to deadly accuracy with a sword. You were many things to me as well.

You were the one who understood me, the only person who could truly read my face.

You knew my moods and emotions, my habits and pet peeves.

You were the bright light that kept me going, the beacon that brought me home.

You were wild as fire, beautiful and passionate.

You were strong, erotic, wild, carefree, intelligent…

And you were mine.

It took me some time before I finally decided what it was you were.

"So I'm like th' winter?" I asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over us.

You looked up and smiled slightly. "Yep."

"Then you're like a firework, Rangiku."

"Loud?" you grinned.

I shook my head. "Beautiful and bright, sometimes unexpected…and deadly."

You couldn't seem to think of anything to say to that, and you just smiled softly while I watched you. Apparently, you hadn't expected that, not from me. I told you that you were beautiful often, sometimes when we'd walk down the streets and the sun would catch in your golden hair, or when we were making love on my futon.

You always smiled and laughed softly at me whenever I told you that you were beautiful.

We packed up and left the library an hour later, both of us tired and exhausted. You crawled in bed with me, wrapping your arms around my chest and burying your face into my neck. I think that was the one time and place I was ever completely at ease, when I'd lay with you in my arms.

I began to drift off, my lids growing heavy, and I turned my neck, resting a cheek on the top of your head.

"You know what I like, Gin?" you said into the darkness.

"Mm?"

I could feel you smiling against my neck, and your voice came out a throaty whisper, your breath caressing my skin.

"Winter fireworks."

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-Luin