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Light snowflakes flurried through the air as you guided your hopelessly lost guest to the location of the Gotei 13 Christmas party. You knew it had been a mistake changing where this year’s party was held, even if it was to accommodate more invitees. The hulking man behind you already did not wan to go but now he’s stubbornly dragging his feet after having been lost for hours. Yachiru had even managed to find her way there all by herself and had been partaking in every cake, cookie, and sweet treat that passed in front of her sparkling eyes.
Rather than being out in the cold with this directionally challenged man you imagined the fire in the hearth and a delicious meal that warmed your belly. Lights twinkled all around the room as people chatted and laughed joyously gathered around a well decorated tree while soft music played in the background. But here you were instead, trudging through the snow.
Just up ahead you saw the familiar exterior decorated especially for the occasion with red and green. The glow of the festivities inside leaked out onto the street. You jostled a layer of snow off and picked up a more hurried pace.
You were welcomed once more by soul reapers, captains, lieutenants, and humans alike. Ushering in the final guest you made yourself comfortable and headed to the main room, Kenpachi following behind.
He didn’t even notice when it brushed the top of his head, but he saw the way you stopped and stared. You looked at him. Then above him to the hanging bundle of foliage wrapped neatly with a bow. Kenpachi swatted at the gathered leaves with the bright red berries, annoyed.
“what’s the deal with ya hanging this here?” He asked to the now quiet room of people.
They knew it from the moment they saw the two of you entering together that you’d likely pass under the mistletoe with the big guy in tow.
“I-it’s nothing. Just some decoration.” You said, attempting to move slowly from beside the large captain. Kenpachi idlily touched the leaves above his head, squeezing a couple between his fingers as he did so knocking a small red berry to the ground as a result. You froze in your tracks and swallowed hard, gawking at the fallen fruit.
Ikkaku let out a sharp wolf whistle. The sound caught Kenpachi’s attention and immediately you saw the question start to form in his head. You wished desperately that a strong glare could that bald bastard as he gave you a shit eating grin from across the room. Knowing that you look isn’t fatal you began to plot his death along with a lovely Christmas funeral and service.
“What’s that?” Kenpachi asked at the growing whispers and giggles from the guests.
“Come on Captain…” Rangiku slurred from her spot on the couch. Nothing could keep that woman from drinking. She showed up drunk and hasn’t stopped drinking since she got here. “It’s a tradition to pluck a berry from the mistletoe and kiss someone close to you.”
It felt like everyone, despite their considerable distance from the two of you already, tried to inch farther away.
“Huh…” his eyes moved down and fixed themselves on you. Your small frame tensed slightly under his gaze. He tsked, turning away from you. It seemed that he may have taken notice of your apprehension.
“Sounds like a lousy tradition…” He grumbled. He retrieved the berry from the floor and crushed it in his palm, already making his way to the table furnished solely with alcohol.
“But still a tradition.” You grab onto his flowing sleeve, a slight pink rising to your cheeks as you gently pull him back.
“Ya don’t have to kiss me if ya don’t want.”
“Actually… I’d like to Captain Zaraki.” The red on your face only deepened. Not entirely sure how to make this work, you reached up cupping the hard line of his jaw. Huge arms reach under you, pulling you up to him. It felt like being cradled against his large muscular chest. He holds you close enough to feel the rise and fall of it as he breathes.
The two of you are face to face, only inches away from each other. You held sill. Neither of you so much as twitched a muscle. However, as if you were being drawn in by him you moved forward to close the gap. Softly and tentatively you pressed your lips to his rough ones. It was a terribly long few seconds before he responded. Pushing lightly back against you, sloppily returning the gesture. His clumsiness was cute and endearing, yet at the same time you felt a simmering hunger behind it. It stayed like that for a while. You two sweetly lingering in that one kiss but soon a hand found itself at the base of your neck, holding you steady to deepen the exchange. If you could have let this carry on forever you would have but the stirring of your audience brought you out of it.
“There’s a free room in the back if you guys want to use it.” Shunsui chuckled taking a swig of his sake.
You shuddered at the openly vulgar suggestion. You and Captain Zaraki?!
You and Captain Zaraki…
Trying to sneak a glance up at the man you found his eyes still on you. And only you.
Nanao struck her Captain and started lecturing him on his rudeness. Kenpachi lowered you back to the ground. The guests resumed their conversations, chatter filling the room once more. The Captain decided to grab a drink and make his way over to his fellow 11th members. He waved you over to join them. Yumichika was attempting to ‘educate’ Ikkaku on the shifting current of fashion. Desperately trying to defend the Christmas sweater that he was wearing after Ikkaku called it ‘the ugliest thing he had ever seen’. Yumi was red in the face and on his 3rd glass of wine.
Your mind wandered back to that man’s strong chest and surprisingly tender kisses. Absentmindedly you touched your lips again, unaware of how many people in the room took note of the silent gesture. You smiled anyway and stole what wouldn’t be your last glance at Kenpachi.
You hardly spent a moment away from his side that night.