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Snow lay on the ground of the Seireitei, chills in the air as soul reapers stepped excitedly through it. This time of year was always exciting, as the human holiday of Christmas approached. Many of the squads didn’t really celebrate it, but some more than others - Yachiru had forced Kenpachi into decorating the barracks, a sad, dead tree sitting in the quarters. Shunsui and Ukitake had both decorated their own, colourful and bright amongst many others. Kaida had woken before the cocks had crowed, early in the morning and brushed her loving husband's hair out of her face, eliciting a groan as she brushed her hand down his bare shoulder, leaving trails of goosebumps down his arm with the very tips of her fingers. Smiling at the beautiful man in the bed next to her, she leaned over to give him a kiss, a tiny flickering of his lips at the corner the only sign of his affection. Despite being an early riser himself, this was too early even for the almighty Lord Kuchiki himself.
Kaida stepped out into the gardens to watch the early snowfall, trickling down between the winter pansies. Byakuya had put careful thought into his gardens, especially since he had found out that Kaida enjoyed sitting in all seasons; to make sure there was always something flowering whenever she was sitting. Onto her plan now. She had pre-prepared her bag of goodies ready to go, now time to strike before anybody had a chance to wake.
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Shunsui creaked an eye open, the quarters of the Head Captain allowing some light to stream in through the windows. Snow breezed in with the cold chills and he shivered, sitting up and running his fingers through his hair, feeling the ratty knots and tugs amongst his fingers. His eyepatch was the first thing on in the morning, to cover the missing eye. From there, he rested his head in his hands briefly, heavy with the burdens of the whole court guard squads. Tapping across his chest of drawers, searching for his prize pins, his hand brushed something that wasn’t there last night.
A bottle of prized ‘Dragon Flame Sake’ and a small card with a happy, smiling snowman beside it lay there now.
Plucking the small card, his still-blurry sleepy vision skimmed the words, missing most of them.
Head Commander Shunsui Kyoraku,
May this ease the nights of hard work in front of piles of paperwork. May the burdens on your shoulders be light this day and all my love to you. There’s always a spot in the gardens for your napping away from Nanao - I’ve made sure of it.
Your favourite, KI
Beneath his own, there was another note, for Nanao, with a large ticket stating ONE DAY FREE FROM DOING SHUNSUI'S WORK.
His finger brushed the lipstick kiss in the corner, a smile curving his lips as he raised himself from the bed and stretched. What a woman she was.
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Sui-Feng was not a close friend of Kaida, but a friend nonetheless. The small Captain received a beautiful pair of earrings of resin bees. Smiling at the small gift, she had to laugh. The squad 6 captain's lover was a slight woman, abuzz with fire and energy - the opposite of Byakuya really, she was an emotional disaster and wore her heart on her sleeve. They do say opposites attract, but this was a wild difference between the two.
In her head she pictured them, side by side, Kaida standing chest height to Byakuya, with her equally dark hair but mischievous yellow and green eyes glittering up at him. Sui-Feng looked at Lady Yoruichi with much the same reverence, but that was a matter for another day. Rising from her bed and pushing her new earrings through, she looked at them in the mirror for a moment before starting her day.
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It took Rose some time before his eyes fell upon his gift, sitting there in the office of his squad's quarters, in a large, well-padded box next to a much smaller parcel marked for Izuru. Without any shadow of a doubt, he knew it was the Little Dragons' work. She had entered the Soul Society, a noble amongst them, and worked her way through the academy in almost record time, inserting herself into Captain Kuchiki's squad with ease.
She had become the heart and soul of the inner circle of captains and lieutenants, bringing even the great Byakuya Kuchiki to his knees before her. Rose had never considered courting her, too much energy and excitement with her around, but he appreciated her friendship quietly all the more. Izuru was much the same, though he spent more time with her than Rose.
Lifting the lid from the box, he expected something simple, perhaps new socks or another basic gift. Instead, his jaw dropped as he removed the packing fluff from the top of the box, to reveal a sealed portrait inside. Mounted on pegs within the frame were guitar plectrums, each one signed by a legend… How… Where had she come by such a wonderful piece? No matter, it was something she had put a great deal of thought (and likely cost) into, and it was truly fantastic. Wiping away his overjoyed smile, Rose moved to put it somewhere safe until he was able to hang it in the pride of place in his office, just as Izuru came through the door. The captain gestured towards the spare small box on the table as he whisked away the frame in his hands, away from prying eyes.
Izuru was more cautious with his gift, lifting and inspecting it before he pulled the intricate gold ribbon. Inside was a note, in her handwriting, full of curls and flicks, cursively beautiful.
Raise your head, my friend,
You are worth your weight in gold,
Never change yourself
A haiku, just for him. Kaida had lost the meaning of the haiku, meant to depict a scene vividly in such a short amount of words - but nonetheless, she had tried, and brought a little twist to the edge of his lips. A kind friend indeed to go out of her way like that, and he wondered tentatively what to get her in return as he lifted the ‘Little Book of Haiku’ out from underneath where her note rested. The smile would stay with him for the rest of the day.
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Isane had been awake for some time already when she had heard the quiet steps fluttering through the halls of the Squad 4 barracks. It wouldn’t be the first time they had caught someone sneaking around, but it couldn’t be anything awful or the guards would have stopped them at the door. There was a flash of a long, woollen grey cloak and the figure was gone, leaving nothing but a small box in their wake. How strange. Isane picked it up, noting the delightful snowy paper covering it, and a silver ribbon tied on top. She didn’t really celebrate the human holidays, since it was just another day for Squad 4, full of the dead and dying, of injured and those needing persistent treatment.
Inside the small box was something woven, with threads of rainbow colours and feathers dangling. A dreamcatcher. Now, who could possibly have known about her nightmares that haunted her throughout the night, and have got her a gift to combat them? No idea, she would have to ask the guards when it came to it.
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Shinji awoke to a new record player, with a collection of his favourites there, stacked by the side of it. A little note simply read “for the one you missed.” Who could that have been? Kensei perhaps? He knew that Shinji's old phonogram - that he loved so dearly - had been broken and lost, although there wasn’t a chance in hell that Kensei would have been the one to replace it. Lisa or Love would be more likely to tease him about it, and Mashiro likely wouldn’t be the one.
Running a hand across the wonderfully bright red piece of equipment, he flipped one of the records up, some easy music, and slipped the vinyl onto the deck. Smiling that toothy grin, he listened as the needle rode the record and played the tracks - whoever had thought of this was an angel in soul reaper clothing.
As the intro riff to Layla began to play, he couldn’t help but choke a laugh. Here’s to Kaida - the angel in soul reaper clothing.
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Byakuya made his rounds through the Seireitei upon waking, watching with carefully schooled features as he went. The snow gave his usually silent footsteps a small crunch as he went, and the chill settled deep within him. It was true perhaps that since Kaida had come into his life - somewhat explosively turning his world upside down - he had warmed a little, but he was still outwardly the same cold expression. Though today seemed different. Many of the other captains approached him, with smiles on their faces and asked him to pass on their thanks to his notoriously festive other half.
Kensei and Lisa were some of the first, the visored male's hard features staying firm as his new combat boots glinted in the low-risen sun, whilst Lisa winked at him and wafted a manga at him, with a scantily clad character on the front of it. If Byakuya had not been used to her attempts to bring a blush to his pale cheeks, he likely would have felt the blood rush, but there was only one woman who could do that, and it was the one who had found them for the visored. Shuhei stood next to them, visible beetroot in colour. He didn’t show his gift, but Byakuya had his suspicions.
Next to approach him were Toshiro and Rangiku. Byakuya respected the younger Captain a great deal in comparison to many, he held himself well and conducted himself appropriately for his position. The 10th division's lieutenant on the other hand left an impression. Loud, boorish and scantily clad, she left a bad taste in his mouth. Toshiro thanked him quietly as he popped another Amanatto sweet in his mouth and Rangiku flourished her shopping vouchers in front of him like a fan.
Lastly was the group from squad 11. Captain Zaraki grinned at him. The two had historically never gotten along, but Byakuya was civil for Kaida's sake. She had taken to the brute like a duck to water and taunted him at every opportunity. It was the only time he had seen his beautiful Light throw herself into battle with all the fury of the dragon for which she was named. It had been such an insightful fight to see her truly let loose on an opponent - as well as stirring his desires so thoroughly that he had shifted somewhat uncomfortably until eventually, the savage Captain had called it before he killed her. She had ridden him still covered in blood and sweat, and Byakuya himself had to admit she had a feral attractiveness to her at the time. They never spoke of it again.
“Little bird gave me a ticket for one free fight to the death,” Kenpachis grinned wider again, “well, almost to the death. Tell her I’ll take her up on it soon. It’s always my favourite time, she even lands hits sometimes.” Waving himself off, the other captain stormed off, Yachiru perched on his shoulder waving behind them.
Ikkaku did not have a smile on his face - the first today to have a sour look instead. The lieutenant was somewhat overruled by the 5th seat as Yumichika burst forward, babbling about how beautiful his new feathers were, and Byakuya tilted his head as he studied the feathers glued to the man’s eyelashes. Peacock feathers. His peacock feathers presumably- an excellent gift as long as she hadn’t plucked them from the bird itself. It was then revealed that Kaidas's gift to Ikkaku had been a long blonde wig, similar to Shinjis locks. No wonder he was so unimpressed.
A few more approached him as he went about his duties for the day, all sending their regards. It flustered him ever so slightly, as his Lady had been gone long before he woke up, and had not returned before he left for his duties. Dreadfully, he had missed her this morning, having grown used to waking far too warm with her small body wrapped around him ever so tightly, legs tangled with his and hands buried in his silken hair. She would creak one of those luminous eyes at him, give him a sleepy smile that quickened his heart and would plant a sloppy kiss on him. Despite being a nobleman with his blood - and having been raised with the manners he had - it would always bring a smile and huff of laughter to his lips as she did. Never would he have thought that he would have fallen for another woman so starkly different from Hisana, so different from himself.
Kaida was a mischievous creature, full of energy and a zest for life that wasn’t often found. In public she was like a curious child - always had to be helping others, getting involved with the work around the Seireitei and Rukon district. In private she was… Needy. That was the best word for her. She desired his attention almost consistently, and would often sit at his feet whilst he worked on reports, read a book or sketched on her pad. It was truthfully sweet, and he enjoyed the little sighs as she leaned against his leg, or nuzzled into his hip in the same way that he lovingly ran his slender fingers through her midnight hair.
He stepped into the entranceway of his estate, noting the bare patch in the garden where Toshiro had thanked him for the watermelon seeds that had been planted for him. The servants welcomed him home, proclaiming that his Lady had returned to their quarters sometime after he had left for his duties and she had not come out since, despite being called for food at lunchtime. Unusual, very unusual of her. She would never decline food when offered. Bare-footed, he stepped through the halls and towards their chambers, listening for any sign that she might be home. Colourful art decorated the walls, courtesy of her fine sketches and some oil pastels he had given her as a courting gift. It seemed so long ago now.
The door slid open, and he entered the room, turning to shut it behind him as he felt petals around his feet. Hundreds - no, thousands - of cherry blossom petals scattered across the floor, leading to their massive plush bed, with candles lit and glowing throughout the room. Eyes darkening, his steely gaze flickered over her. True beauty was there, strewn across their bed, wearing netted stockings, with bright lingerie the colour of the blossoms. A more perfect image he could not imagine… if she was awake that was. Unfortunately for him, Kaida was flat out, stretched across the comfort of the blankets in her own little nest. Her plump dark lips parted slightly, soft snoring coming from between them. Removing his uniform, he curled up next to her, removing a small box with his name on it from her grasp and scrutinising it closely. Unwinding the ribbon the box fell open, revealing a small glass cube, with a single Sakura petal set within, a light underneath catching it and fragmenting pink light throughout. Feeling the corner of his lips pull up, he laid a kiss on the back of her head.
From the moment he had pulled her into the protective circle and sent Senbonzakura whipping out around them, she had been absolutely enthralled with it, desperate to find a way to capture it in her art that was true to form. Seems she had finally managed.
Later, when she awoke, he would worship her body in a manner befitting his lady, but for now, he relaxed, the tension from the day draining away with each deep breath of her citrus scent and the sound of her sleeping breaths. No other woman could still his heart so with her thoughtfulness and kindness and as he began to feel himself grow heavy and comfortable, he thanked the Soul King for his Light, his lady, his little dragon.