.

Sparks

Meteor by The Bird And The Bee

Earlier that afternoon, the sun was on its way down and Isane and Rukia sat next to each other on a bench in front of a café sipping warm autumnal beverages. They were winding down from a long day of walking around together, looking at shops, buying things, and just plain enjoying each other's company.

And Rukia was nervous. She was nervous because in one of her bags sat another bag in which there was a pair of earrings she bought for Isane.

It took a lot for Rukia to buy these earrings. Upon seeing them in a jewelry shop they visited earlier she knew they'd look gorgeous on Isane. Immediately an internal battle in Rukia set off over whether to buy them for her or not.

'Is it too forward? Will she think I'm trying to buy her love? No, no, friends can buy each other jewelry. But I don't want her to be my friend though, I want her to be my… No, no! Rukia stop! You can't. What would Byakuya say? What would Soul Society think? She probably doesn't like me anyway. But they'd look so good on her ears. Oh, those ears. God if I could touch them. Dammit. I'm a mess…'

The conflict in her mind went on like this for a while until she made a compromise with herself. She decided that she would get the earrings and simply suppress her infatuation until it was no more. It made no sense. But that is how she convinced herself.

And now as she sat beside Isane whose face looked equally as happy and peaceful as hers looked troubled and uncomfortable, she wondered if now was the right time to gift the earrings.

'It would be pretty romantic to give it to her right now, with the soft wind, and the leaves.' she thought before catching herself again. Then she glanced over at Isane's who seemed pleasantly lost in nothing and thought 'fuck it'.

"Isane." she called.

"Hmm." Isane said, cheeks filled with cocoa, then swallowed. "What?"

"I got you something," Rukia said as she retrieved the bag then presented it to Isane.

"Wow thanks Rukia!" she said as she put her cup down and grabbed the plain white plastic bag.

"What is it!?" she asked as she excitedly felt the small box through the plastic bag.

"Open it." Rukia said smiling and enjoying Isane's almost giddy excitement.

Isane pulled out a small black box. "Jewelry?" she asked as she opened it carefully.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed as the contents met her eyes. "They're so pretty!" she said as she pulled a delicate looking pair of red earrings out. Each earring had four square crystals that became progressively smaller as they went down. They sparkled in the light much like Isane's eyes did as she gazed upon them.

"What are they?" she asked Rukia.

"They're made of Goldstone: copper crystals suspended in glass. Apparently monks in Italy invented it. Anyway the crystals are bound by silver wire and yeah, I just thought they'd look good on you." Rukia said completely casually.

Isane gave Rukia a big hug rocking her back and forth in sheer gratitude and Rukia melted inside.

She then took her own earrings off and put on the new ones and asked "How do I look?"

"Beautiful." Rukia responded in a tone that gave away her true emotions. But Isane didn't notice, she just smiled and giggled in happy appreciation.

"Do you wear earrings?" she asked as she reached out to push the hair covering Rukia's ears back. Her touch was gentle, the skin of her fingertips soft.

"No I don't." Rukia responded almost trembling.

"Wow. Your ears aren't even pierced!" Isane exclaimed as she ran her thumb across the earlobe.

"Yeah I never got around to it, and my hair covers my ears anyway." She said.

"You should pierce them. I think a blue earring would complement your eyes, maybe even a purple pair." Isane suggested.

"I guess I might." she responded as Isane finished her inspections and removed her hand from Rukia's ear. The removal brought relief to Rukia. That level of contact made her so tense, but part of her missed it and wanted more of Isane's touch.

"Wow Rukia, today's been amazing." Isane said.

"Yes." Rukia agreed. "We've been out so long it's starting to get dark."

"I know. I should probably get back now. Unohana Taicho is probably worried. Let's hang out again next weekend?" she suggested.

"That would be nice."

"Ok then. I'll see ya Sunday." Isane said as she and Rukia got up. "Maybe we'll pierce your ears next week." She suggested.

Rukia laughed and said "Ok. Maybe."

"Sweet." Isane said then pulled Rukia into a tight hug once again and held her there for a moment. Rukia with her barely five foot self was completely cocooned in Isane's arms. Isane after all was a full foot and four inches taller. Rukia had grown used to hugs from Isane but his hug was tighter, this hug was special. Its tightness forced Rukia's head between Isane's boobs and squished them under the pressure of her head. She liked it, finding it quite comfortable. The warmth of Isane's body up against hers felt so nice too and she just wanted to keep holding on.

"Ohh you're awesome Rukia." Isane said.

"Thanks. You're awesome too." Rukia said with her voice muffled.

Then they let each other go, Isane grabbed her bags and her cocoa, and set off, while Rukia remained behind sitting and thinking for a bit.

She was happy that she had made Isane happy. She definitely enjoyed the day she just shared with her. But the entire experience only increased her desire to be closer to Isane. She wanted to feel the closeness of that hug again. She wanted to feel the warmth of her love. And all she could think of was how she didn't and couldn't have her. Usually unbothered by the cold, the queen of ice felt cold and alone as she meandered back to the Thirteenth Division in the breeze of the cool evening air.

Isane on the other hand walked home hurriedly. She had lost track of time and stayed out later than usual. Unohana probably wouldn't be mad about it, it was Sunday after all, but she did clearly say that she would return before sundown and even though she and Unohana had nothing planned Isane liked to remain punctual and true to her word.

She arrived at the Fourth and approached the building she and Unohana lived in. They were neighbors, respective living areas situated right next to each other and separated only by a wall. Unohana's space was bigger by virtue of her superior rank but they shared a porch and yard in which Unohana kept a small garden of flowers and herbs.

The lights were off in Unohana's quarters which was odd. She usually stayed up later than this. So Isane made her way to the only other place her captain would be and found her in the backyard seated upon the bench before the flowers. She sat motionless, statuesque, and without turning her head said "Good evening Isane."

Isane froze in her tracks. She understood how her captain knew she was there, she simply recognized her rieatsu but still, it caught her by surprise. It always did.

"Hello Taicho." She said in response as she resumed her approach.

She stood before her captain now with bags still in hand then said "I'm sorry I came back late Taicho." with a small apologetic bow.

"Isane, today is your day off. You could have stayed out all night if you wanted to and it would have been fine." Unohana said sweetly. "You went shopping with Rukia I see. Did you have fun?"

"Yes. We didn't buy much, we mostly walked around and talked and then we went to that café you recommended and Rukia gave me these earrings." She said as she gestured towards the dangling pendants.

"Oh! Come sit so I can see them." Unohana said with what for her was a great display of excitement.

Isane put the bags down and sat beside her captain. And Unohana reached out to touch the earrings. Unohana rarely touched Isane, in fact she almost never did, but when she did the sensation was intoxicating. Isane felt honored to be touched by her captain and fell mesmerized by it. It was unlike the touch of any other human being. Each movement precise, purposeful, and featherlike in its gentleness, yet sharp and direct like the swing of a sword. The action sending her into a whirlwind.

As such Isane could barely breathe as Unohana caressingly and slowly slid four fingers, warmed by her beverage, behind Isane's earlobe to lift the earring slightly and tilt it toward her eyes. Then she ran her thumb from where the earring attached down the entire length of the well made ornament, feeling it for a moment before withdrawing her hand. Her touch was gentle, the skin of her fingertips soft.

This contact lasted but a moment but it felt like an eternity of silence. Isane looking at her captain's placid face, Unohana looking at the earring and her lieutenant's ear.

Visual inspections finished, Unohana's eyes snapped back towards Isane's. The motion so sudden it slightly startled Isane. But she immediately calmed as she saw something. Something about the way Unohana looked at her changed for a moment. Something enthralling and comforting manifested itself in Unohana's eyes, sparkling in the dark as she simply said "Very pretty, Isane." Then looked away and leaned back against the bench.

Isane sat back, finally relieved of Unohana's quiet and gentle assault on her senses. That level of contact, closeness and attention made her so tense. But part of her missed it and wanted more of Unohana's touch.

"That was very nice of Rukia don't you think?" Unohana said after swallowing another sip of her tea.

"Yes. She's such an amazing friend, I wish I got to know her sooner."

Unohana nodded and said hmm.

"So how was your day captain?" Isane asked, reciprocating in the small talk.

"Oh it was good. I tidied up, and read a little."

"No gardening?" Isane asked knowing that Unohana usually tended to her garden on Sunday afternoons.

"No, I was summoned for an emergency surgery. Someone from the Eleventh accidentally had their throat slit pretty deep when some wild sparring got out of hand."

Isane chuckled, and then cleared her throat in that awkward manner people will do to try and hide their laughter. "That sounds like a fairly simple surgery." She said.

Unohana smirked. She was amused that Isane found humor in the situation, and was pleased that Isane saw the need for seriousness and respect for the man.

"It was simple." Unohana confirmed. "He lost most of his blood volume though, had no pulse, and his rieatsu was fading fast. "Flickering like a candle flame." they said. And since neither you, nor I, nor Lemura were on shift they panicked and called me in. He is stable now and should recover pretty quickly. I got back about an hour ago and I've been sitting here since looking up at the sky since. Isn't it pretty?"

"Yes." Isane said, always impressed when her captain talked about their work.

Then they fell silent again. The cold wind of the night blew upon their skin. Unohana finished her cup of tea, and put it down, satisfied and not wishing to pour herself more. She clasped her hands between her legs and let out a long heavy breath.

"It's cold," Isane said. "Shouldn't we go inside?"

"There is high chance there will be a meteor tonight. I wish to see it." Unohana responded.

"Oh, wow! What a great way to end the day!" Isane exclaimed. "I should tell Rukia."

And Unohana's jealousy returned. Isane's words made her feel like she would rather share this moment with Rukia than with her.

Isane summoned a hell butterfly and sent it off to Rukia informing her of the upcoming astronomical event.

"I'm so cold but I don't want to go inside to get a blanket and miss it." Isane said with an excited smile to her captain. "Are you cold Taicho?"

"Yes."

"Oh then I'll go find us blankets." Isane said getting up to go.

"Oh don't trouble yourself." Unohana said as she gestured Isane to sit back down. "I'll go." She said before flash stepping into her quarters, grabbing a blanket, and returning faster than Isane could say a word.

"Taicho!"

"You looked like you intended to walk and retrieve a blanket. I figured this would be faster."

"I didn't even see you move." Isane said, awestruck at the woman who was standing before here with one folded blanket in hand.

Unohana smiled her beautiful smile and sat back down.

She unfolded the blanket as Isane looked on wondering why she only brought one.

Then without warning she scooted right up next to Isane and wrapped the blanket around the both of them before curling up into a ball and snuggling up against her lieutenant.

This was the most intimate contact Isane had ever had with her captain. While the touch of the ear before was mesmerizing, this contact was bizarre.

See, Isane usually felt small, next to her captain. Not in a negative sense, like feeling weak or inferior, but in the sense that Unohana had such a commanding presence. Unohana was always in control of the situation she was in. She never showed worry or fear but rather calm knowing determination and self-certainty.

But the way she had just positioned herself beside Isane displayed vulnerability, something Isane had never seen from her captain. Furthermore, the fact that Unohana, the woman she turned to for strength and guidance when she was weak, when she was vulnerable, was turning to her for comfort and protection added to the strangeness of this arrangement even if she only sought protection from the cold.

The contact caught her way off guard but it was also arousing in a way and she briefly thought of how nice it would be to pull Unohana onto her lap, wrap her arms around her body, and kiss her softly on the neck. She trembled at the thought and put it out of her mind lest she get too excited. But she wanted that nonetheless. She wanted Unohana to be closer to her. She wanted to feel more of her captain. And indeed Unohana wanted the same thing.

"You're so warm Taicho." Isane said softly.

"So are you." Unohana responded in kind.

Then, motivated by desire yet regulated by restraint, Isane boldly wrapped an arm around her captain's shoulder and pulled the blanket tighter around them.

"Are you comfortable Taicho?" she asked, speaking with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Very." Unohana responded then rested her head against Isane.

Isane's heart melted. And they sat like this until the meteor flew across the sky and graced their eyes with its beauty.

. . .