"I thought you had to work tonight," Souten said, tightening the scarf around her neck.

"I do. I am, technically," Shippou replied, handing her a briefcase before grabbing a large blanket out of the trunk.

"Then why did you force me to come with you?" she groused, her breath coming in visible clouds in the cold air.

"You'll see," he said evasively, leading her up the hill. Souten stuffed her free hand into her pocket, trying to keep as warm as possible as she followed him. It hadn't snowed yet, but it was cold enough that if the sky decided to cloud over, they'd be covered in a layer of fluffy whiteness in no time.

Souten hated winter. The sudden drop in temperature caused her powers to fluctuate, static shocks snapping anytime she touched something. Shippou never complained, but it was embarrassing, nonetheless.

"I still don't know why you dragged me out here. Especially if you're—" Heat rose to her cheeks as he grinned over his shoulder, mischief dancing in his eyes. She also hated it when he did that, smiling at her like she was the most important thing in the world to him.

Especially since she wanted to be.

Keeping further complaints to herself, she watched as he lay down the blanket, eventually taking the briefcase from her and setting up his personal telescope. "There's going to be a meteor shower tonight," he said, patting the spot beside him when she didn't immediately sit down.

"So?" she said, leaving a little space between them.

"So," he said, pointing to the telescope, "I thought you might like to see them up close." Souten flushed, having to scoot closer to look through the eyepiece.

"You brought me all the way out here for that?" She gazed up into the inky blackness, gasping when the first streak of light shot across the sky.

Shippou shifted closer, adjusting the focus. "Well, no. Not the whole reason."

"Would you stop being so secretive and just—" Her words died on her tongue as he held up a cupcake with teal icing, a single candle flicking in the night air.

"Happy Birthday, Souten." The icing was lopsided, the cake itself equally so. She blushed when she realized it was homemade, electricity tickling her ears when he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"Is this going to be a yearly thing?" she whispered, trying to change the subject.

"Does that mean I get to celebrate your birthday with you next year, too?" he asked, eyes gleaming.

Souten cursed under her breath. "That was sneaky."

"I am a kitsune."

"You're something, all right."

"So are you."

"Stop that," she hissed, her face a permanent shade of red.

"But teasing you is so fun."

Souten grabbed the cupcake and then shoved him away. "Don't push your luck."

"But I'm so good at it!" he chuckled, not bothering to sit back up.

"Meaning you don't need to practice!" she griped, looking back through the telescope. She managed not to jump when he snuck his hand into hers, intertwining their fingers as the sky lit up, meteors streaking across the darkened horizon like angry bees.

It would take a few years before she admitted it, but it was the best birthday she'd ever had.