[16] [Bleach] Brilliance II

[grassangel]

Title: Brilliance (II)

Theme: 16, 'drink up baby, look at the stars'
Series: Bleach
Characters/Pairing: Ryuuken and the temporarily named Ume because we don't know her name (his wife)
Rating: PG

Notes: This is meant to directly mirror the first part of Brilliance, which featured Isshin and Masaki. As such a lot of the imagery has been purposefully re-used. I've also decided to make Ume mirror Orihime in her flights of fancy and exuberance. Why? Because I felt like it. And because I think that father and son would be drawn to the same type of person.
I am aware that Ryuuken may seem a little bit out of character here. However, we have only seen him in Quincy related situations, never family related ones.

"Ryuu-kun! Come here!" Ryuuken was spun towards the window and its balcony, held in place by a pair of soft hands. "Look at the stars! Aren't they so bright tonight?" Her hands moved and arms wrapped around his neck, her chin perching on his shoulder so that they could both look at the scintillating sky.

"It's winter Ume, the stars are always brighter in cold air."

"Ryuuk-" Her protest was cut off as he twisted his head around and grazed her cheek with his lips.

"Ume." Cloudy blue eyes shone back at him, reprimanded for the moment but glinting crazily as soon as an idea formed behind them.

"Sake. We need sake for proper star viewing." Warm arms left their hold on his neck, the black hair of the woman he loved flying as she, practically bouncing, raced to fetch the proper refreshment.

Sighing, breath forming ghosty clouds in the winter air, he pulled up two chairs, a blanket on the seat of one of them, a table on the other side. Another heavy exhale and he sat down, hand settling to his trouser pocket and withdrawing the cardboard cartridge within, taking out a lighter and a ciggarette before replacing the box.

"Ryuuken!" A hand swiped at his as he tried to light the cigarette, lighter and the offending cylinder falling into his lap. "Bad habit!" Her face was twisted with disgust momentarily, eyes dark as he abandonded them before lighting up again as she handed him a porcelain cup filled with rice wine.

"This is almost as bad." He lifted the cup from her grip and gestured with it as she sat down in the chair beside him, shifting it closer before draping the blanket across her knees and halfway across his, eyes returning to their sparkle and shine. Moving the tray to her side, onto the table, she lifted her own cup in the gesture of a toast.

"To Masaki-chan's news!" The porcelain cup was vigourously lifted high in the air before balancing between her lips. "Ryuu-kun?"
The vibration carried across her own sake to his, ripples spreading as he sighed again, breath fogging out.

"It's nothing Ume, nothing." Ryuuken raised his own cup, turning to smile faintly at his wife before gulping the sake down. She smiled back at him, swallowing hers.

There was silence for a moment as both were quiet, stars twinkling and cold air whispering.

"It's because Masaki and Isshin are having a child before we are, isn't it?" Her blue eyes were dull, concerned, as she turned her head to his, shifted closer to him so their shoulders touched.
"I don't mind. Honestly I don't. I know that we'll have a lovely child, a wonderful boy who's everything we want him to be; smart and handsome, intelligent and brave. Just like his father is." She smiled at him, cracking the thin ice with it's warmth.

He smiled back, real warmth mirrored back as he finished the last of what was in his cup, drawing an arm around their joined shoulders. She leaned in, eyes incandescent as she slowly sipped her sake, black hair silky padding between them as they watched the stars glimmer and fade in the sharp winter air.

"The stars really are bright tonight," his voice is quiet, only falling into the space between them. "Shining and sparkling like nothing I've ever seen."

Frosted air passed between them, cups set to one side as they fell into each others arms, his hushed words moving between them.
"And he will be smart and handsome, intelligent and brave. He will be; and he'll sparkle." Lips grazed over others, whispered past a cheek, "He'll sparkle as brilliant as your eyes; the stars."