Me: A fluffy little chapter for Valentine's Day (sorry it's a day late). Held up purposely for this reason.

Arei: I'd say this happens roughly the same time as Karin and Toshiro's interactions.

As always, neither of us owns either HP or Bleach. Enjoy!

Chapter 20

A Quiet Moment...

Draco Malfoy was rich, well-bred, good mannered (when he wanted to be) and a skilled Seeker if he didn't say so himself (and he did, often, to the annoyance of many around him over the years up to and including his fellow Slytherins). It had taken Ichigo Kurosaki to knock him off his thoroughbred high-horse and Severus Snape, his favorite teacher and mentor, to grind the last of his inflated ego down to manageable levels.

He'd wanted to fight it every step of the way and but for one person he might well still be fighting the pressure of the older student and Professor.

Yuzu Kurosaki...

Small and delicate...

Chocolate-brown eyes...

A hidden, protective temper...

A Mistress of the confectionery arts...

Light brown hair that had a hint of red highlights in the right lighting...

He'd noticed her long before Ichigo had even hinted at the Kurosaki heritage but had been hesitant both because she had been sorted into Hufflepuff and because of the dressing down he and his Mother had received from the elder Kuchiki what seemed like a life-time ago.

Not an experience he wanted to repeat. Ever.

His Father had long taught him that he had to do what was best, and safest politically, for his family. Father's careful manipulations had kept him from jail during the first war with Voldemort but had failed to do so during the bastard's second attempt to rise to power.

It was Draco's duty to keep the family afloat now...

His Mother however, had long taught him poise and honor and, sentiment be damned, to 'follow his heart'. He'd never really understood that last, to him it had long been to make his parents proud of him but then he met her...

Always kind, always helping. A nurturing personality...

He cleared his throat and checked the mirror once more to make sure his tie was on straight. After that he opened the small velvet box that was currently the resting place of a small, simple gold chain necklace that had a small perfectly shaped cupcake charm. The base was gold and pale as a sunbeam, the 'frosting' was delicately shaped abalone pearl that came out a lovely blue tinted with just the finest hint of green, extremely fine and tiny cuts of emerald were the bits of frosting and a small ruby cherry topped it off.

Snapping the box shut and checking his tie once more, a giggle caused him to freeze for a moment before he relaxed. He'd forgotten he had company in the bathroom.

"Really, you're so cute..." came Moaning Myrtle's voice, "She'll love it you know. And if she doesn't well..."

The ghost leaned provocatively over his shoulder. "Would you be kind enough to drown yourself here in your grief? I'd be ever so happy to keep you company."

Draco had to fight back a small bit of bile at the thought - well thoughts - of Yuzu rejecting him as well as the idea of keeping Myrtle of all people company in death. Keeping his features smooth of his thoughts he flashed Myrtle what he hoped was a polite smile.

"My dear Myrtle, as much as your company fills my time with silvery light," he was being literal, not that the dead girl knew it. She'd think he was being poetic, "I am afraid that if I ever do die and leave a ghost behind that my soul would be drawn to the Malfoy Manor and thus be denied your illuminating company."

The ghost giggled and floated back shyly. She suddenly dove for the door and wrapped herself around the female form that just entered.

"Oh, Yuzu you lucky girl. He's a keeper," the ghost said in a faux-whisper.

Yuzu giggled softly in return and Draco felt his heart stop for a moment at the sight of her. She'd shown up for their 'un-official/official date' in a formal, yet beautifully designed, kimono. He recognized the symbol sewn into the sleeve of one arm and firmly set a mental note to thank Ishida for his skills with fabric.

He'd been very careful to make sure he followed the Japanese practice of Valentine's Day/White Day, especially when Yuzu had shyly passed him a finely made batch of chocolates, made herself without magic, that would put the finest wizarding chocolatier to shame.

He gave a nervous smile, pocketing the velvet box, before straightening and walking over to her side. As was proper, he gently took her hand in his and placed a chaste kiss, just a butterfly touch, on the knuckles of her hand. She gave a shy giggle as he gently placed that same hand into the crook of his elbow and led her to a transfigured part of the bathroom. With Ichigo's help, and permission, they'd isolated one of the corners of the bathroom and turned it into a small restaurant-style single table room. Anyone looking at it would take it to be another stall if they looked.

Myrtle moved to hover just above them, their chaperon for the night.

They both picked up their menus, Draco having carefully arranged a potential menu of French, British and Japanese cuisine, and made their orders aloud to the eagerly waiting House-elves in the kitchens. Draco decided to expand his horizons and went with an order of Japanese Coconut Shrimp with a Spicy Orange Sauce while Yuzu herself looked to be just as brave and went with a an order of Moules Marinieres.

Yuzu had to teach Draco how to use the chopsticks that came with his meal and in the end they ended up sharing their food.

Two more, smaller, menus popped up to give them a list of desserts but Draco gently held out a hand to stop Yuzu from reached for hers. He took that same hand and gently turned it over in order to place the small box into her hand. He started to open his mouth to give the speech he had rehearsed in his head time and again all day and found that all of it flew out the window.

"I... for you," was all he could manage to squeeze out of his constricting throat.

She smiled, sensing his nerves and squeezing his hand gently. She took the box in both hands and opened it. A soft gasp escaped her as she looked over the small charm and when she looked up at him she had a knowing, crafty look that made him proud. She'd recognized the meaning behind the cupcake charm.

She leaned forward then, a hand on his cheek to draw him forward into a gentle, chaste kiss.

He leaned into it... and it was everything...

The thrill of flying the broom for the first time...

The joy of catching his first officially charmed Snitch made for professional matches...

His Mother's smile when he made her proud...

Everything paled in comparison.

For one shining moment, in a transfigured portion of a girls bathroom that was never used, under the watchful eye of a ghost who had died by basilisk, under fear of death and danger if a mad man found out his true loyalties...

Everything was perfect.