A Lovely Winter Contest: A Winter Surprise
Title: A Winter Surprise
Rating: T
Contains: Fluff, romance, mentions of death, slight innuendo
Prompts: Listed at the end of the fic to avoid spoilers
Shunsui hated winter. For years he sought the sun for pleasure, but as the years turned, he found himself craving that light for other reasons entirely. Life, he reflected, was full of its own twists and turns. His life in the Gotei 13 had been long, rich even. But now the shadows stretched their long fingers, dodging his steps in the long corridors.
The irony of his life in Seireitei did not escape him either. The Soul Society was an organization that protected life, yet dealt exclusively in death. As a Captain, he had often wondered, if he were to make a comparison, if the lives he had taken would outweigh the lives he had saved.
Shunsui straightened, rolling his head on his shoulders, but the stiffness still lingered. He felt older, centuries older; older than he actually was. He smiled mirthlessly. Turning off the light, he made his way out into the empty streets allowing the shadows to swallow him up.
Overhead the sky stretched out, a deep dark blanket, broken only here and there by small pinpoints of light. Nights in Seireitei always felt peaceful to him, but now as he walked the slow route home, all he saw were memories. And, he wondered how many ghosts looked out at him from the shadows.
The promotion to Captain Commander had been a shock to most people, but if he was honest, he had seen it coming for years. He was too astute, had lived too long, to not have seen the end result. But there was light still, he reflected, despite the shadows. And, that was a boon perhaps, because after shadow, the light always felt brighter.
The house stood ahead, a beacon in a stormy sea. A gentle light emanating from the inner rooms and Shunsui allowed himself a small smile. Nanao was waiting for him.
He glanced back once half expecting to see the street behind him filled with ghosts, but it was only him and the cold wind rustling through the trees in the garden.
Opening the door, he let the light spill out into the darkness behind him while he slipped off his sandals. It was coming from the large main room.
Shunsui’s face registered surprise.
A warm glow filled the room, and a low table had been moved from the normal eating area to the center of the main room so that it looked out the windows into the moonlit garden beyond. Dishes covered the table, and a variety of warm smells greeted his nose. He grinned in amusement. Before their marriage, cooking had not been one of Nanao’s most developed skills. But his Nanao-chan was nothing if not an avid student.
Noise in the kitchen gained his attention and he sauntered towards it.
“Nanao-chan has been busy.”
She looked up abruptly, not having heard his entrance, her lips parted slightly in surprise before softening into a rare smile.
“So have you, apparently.” She crossed the room and rose on her toes to kiss him.
When their lips touched, Shunsui felt his heart skip and he felt suddenly lighter than he had in months. His lips lifted in a light smile that belied the dark intensity in his eyes and his hands came to rest on her hips, drawing her to him.
“Pressing matters of paperwork. It was an emergency.”
She snorted, and he looked down to see her glaring at him with one raised eyebrow. “Don’t lie. However that might have worked on Captain Yamamoto, it will not work on me.” Twisting herself out of his grasp, she marched back into the kitchen.
“But I was, Nanao-chan.” His footsteps followed her into the kitchen.
“It was only pressing because I told you if you didn’t finish it, you would be sleeping in the office until you got it done,” she said primly, arranging some little tarts in a dish.
“That constitutes an emergency.”
Laughing softly, she shook her head at his antics before moving towards the table. “I’ve made dinner. Are you hungry?”
“Always.” The warm undertone in his voice made her shiver.
She sat gracefully on the cushions, smiling when he joined her and reached for the sake jar. Some things never changed.
“Observant Nanao-chan. When did you get this?” He tapped the fat jug lightly with his finger. Only one private maker in Seireitei made this particular sake, his favourite, and he was fairly sure that he hadn’t introduced them.
“I’m not without connections of my own,” she said, primly. “Though,” she added after a moment’s pause. “I don’t know why I indulge your habit. It is most irresponsible, both as a wife and as a Vice Captain.”
“I’m not that bad, Nanao-chan.”
She sniffed.
“Alright, then tell me one time when my recreational drinking has affected my judgement.”
Nanao’s eyebrow arched higher.
“I said recreational.”
“Alright. How about the time in the Academy when you attempted to woo Captain Unohana.” Lifting a bowl she began arranging noodles on their plates.
His eyes narrowed. “How do you know about that?”
“I know many things,” she grinned triumphantly, moving on to the vegetables. “But Captain Ukitake told me about it on one of our picnics shortly after I became Vice Captain. He also informed me that you were most assuredly drunk.”
Absently he lifted some noodles on his chopsticks as he continued watching her. His eyes narrowed but held an amused gleam in their depths as he watched her take a bite of noodles.
“I don’t recall that.” He said at length, the food on his chopsticks forgotten.
“That’s probably because you were drinking and thus asleep.” She stuck out her napkin to catch the noodles before they landed in his lap.
“Perhaps Nanao-chan just likes to indulge me.” He took another bite of noodles, enjoying the rich flavour. Nanao really was a fantastic cook.
“Obviously.” She set about rearranging some new dishes with precise and economical movements. Even here, in such a normal setting after centuries of working together, Shunsui still found himself mesmerised by her.
Nanao quirked an eye up at him, cheeks pinking at the intensity of his attention.
“You’ve chosen some very interesting foods, Nanao-chan,” he commented, easily changing the subject and peering into the dishes in turn. Nanao had a very refined palate, Shunsui had discovered early in their courtship, much to his delight. There were not many things that she refused to try. He paused over one of the dishes.
“Pickles, Nanao-chan?” He raised an amused eyebrow.
“They are very nutritious,” she defended, colour rising in her cheeks under his amused stare, clearly torn between whether or not to be annoyed or amused by his interest.
“Did you get these from Kisuke-kun?” He lifted one of the large dills out of the bowl.
“He said I might enjoy them.” She fidgeted a little. “Though, he did fail to mention they would be so large.”
He chuckled.
“But my Nanao-chan is also a woman of habit, both in her habits and her tastes.”
Violet eyes snapped back to his, full of pride and defiance. He could almost hear her cursing the ridiculous shopkeeper and his helpful advice.
When she arched an obstinate eyebrow he continued, his voice filled with relish at the game.
“The pickles are refined.” She met his twinkling eyes defensively.
An amused hum was the only answer she received.
“They are.” They weren’t and she knew it. It was written all over her face.
“Deviation from habit can only mean one thing.” He paused dramatically. “Nanao-chan is hiding from something.”
“I am not.” But her face flushed. His deductions were sound.
Teasing Nanao had been one of his favourite pastimes for years. It brought levity to his life. She brought colour, light in his otherwise shadowed world. It was not something she truly appreciated, he mused. Perhaps she never would truly understand what it meant to stand where he stood. A good part of him hoped that she would never know.
“Do you remember the first time you made dinner for me, Nanao-chan?” Her head came up sharply, blinking in surprise at the shift in topic and his lack of preamble.
“Yes.” It was not a topic they discussed often, and he could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the lingering question as to why he would bring it up now.
He chuckled softly, a low rumble deep within him. Outside, snowflakes drifted lightly past the window, and he allowed himself a moment before turning his eyes back to meet hers. “I never properly thanked you for that.”
She poured sake, a small smile gracing her lips. “You didn’t need to-,” but she stopped abruptly as his hand covered hers.
“But I do.”
She shook her head, “Captain Yamamoto meant a lot to you, to many people. I don’t think anyone was prepared to lose him that day.” Her eyes searched his face. “Besides,” she continued after a moment. “That doesn’t really count, since I burned the dinner anyway.”
“It was the thought that counted,” his eyes were dancing at the memory. “It was one of my most memorable evenings with you.”
“Only you could say something like that and have it sound romantic,” she groused. “But I knew you needed me.”
His eyes were dark and intense on hers. “You bring so much to my world, Nanao-chan. More than you realise, I think.”
Looking down in surprise, he felt something cool and square pushed into his palm.
“Nanao-chan?”
“A little surprise,” her cheeks pinked slightly, but she held his gaze.
Intrigued, he let go of her hand, pulling at the ribbon wound around the delicately wrapped box. Lifting the lid, his fingers met something pale green and soft with a single pink cherry blossom, matching the one on his haori. He pulled out a little green onesie with the words “Daddy and Me” stitched around the blossom in small pink letters.
Slowly things fell into place. “Nanao-chan?” he managed.
Her laughter filled the room, light and airy, like sunshine stepping into a midnight world and suddenly she found herself in his lap.
“Lovely, lovely Nanao-chan.” He murmured in her ear.
“Do you like your surprise?” She leaned against him, allowing his arm to tuck her in close.
“I love it.” Joy was radiating through him, but words failed him as he pulled her close for a kiss. They sat together, watching the snow fall out in the garden, content to simply be.
“There’s just one problem,” he murmured at length.
She looked up, eyes wide.
“It’s not pink, Nanao-chan,” he pouted but his eyes were warm.
“Our son will not wear pink.”
“Pink is a very manly colour.”
“Absolutely not.”
“But, lovely Nanao-chan, I want our son to have every opportunity of expressing his unique personality.” He met her glare with amused eyes, picking up one of the pickles, making a face. “I still can’t believe you like these.”
“I’m pregnant.” She said smugly, snatching the pickle and taking a bite as though that answered everything.
“Yes, my lovely Nanao-chan will become even more radiant.”
“I will become fat, appallingly bossy and hormonal. If that’s what you define as radiant, then yes,” she retorted, dryly.
“No,” he chuckled, but his voice was warm. “Nanao-chan is always the most beautiful flower, my most radiant sunshine.” He felt the exasperated huff before he heard it. “And besides,” he smirked. “A pregnant Nanao-chan is very sexy.”
She snorted. “You’re delusional.”
“No, sweetheart. Just in love.”
Prompts: New Life, Late Snow, Cherry Blossoms, Garden
This is my first time writing a real oneshot completely from Shunsui’s perspective, and I have to say, I’ve enjoyed it immensely. Apparently Shunsui can charm even when he’s not here in person? XD; A huge thank you to r_dahlia and kyliwolf for having this contest and for keeping up this community. It's always so much fun to be here :D Thanks so much for reading!