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Winter could be a tender season for some people.
While it was certainly one for celebrations, holidays and joy as well as a time for peace it can also be a time of quiet and a time to mourn. Especially when loved ones are lost during the holidays. Sometimes they just amplify the fact that there's someone missing from gatherings, a hole in the nostalgia as people attempted to recreate it without them. It helped when there were others who were suffering the same loss, family that shared in the pain.
Not everyone had that unfortunately.
The Christmas lights shimmer off the old run down car's windows as it drove through the snowy roads around the festivals that filled the main roads. The music was loud enough to almost shake the car as people were heard laughing and cheering. From the corner of the driver's eye he could almost see the people between the alleyways of the buildings.
It was such a bright contrast to the dim streetlights that light his path.
The man driving from those who were walking this quiet street could see, he had dark hair and wore an oversized hoody. While the car was old and could very well be on it's last legs, it held firm to get it's owner to where he needed to be on this normally joyous day.
The further down he drove the quieter it was getting. Soon the loud music faded and he no longer saw those lights between the alleyways while snow began to fall around the car. When he came to a light he looked off to the side a moment; down the street where shops were closing for the night and people were seen quietly leaving...
..."Hakuji, here. Have some takoyaki!"
He turned slowly and blinked to have one of those delicious balls held up to his face. He tilted his head with wide eyes before his eyes soften a bit and he chuckled down at the young woman. She looked so...so happy right now with her pretty flowery eyes and her long hair tied back with that snowflake hairpin. It held snug and as she smiles at him he can feel his heart melting.
"Hmm.." he leaned down to take a bite, "...Huh. Not bad," he smiled back at her now, "You always do have an eye for food don't you, princess."
Her cheeks now turn a dark pink as she smiled, "W-well I wouldn't say that...ehehehe..." she tucked some hair behind her ear, "I just thought you'd like them...Tou-san even suggested we share a snack."
"Snnrrrk..." he chuckled softly before he reached his gloved hand to hold her mitten covered one, "Well for once, Keizo-sensei was right...but now I want to buy you something sweet to eat...come on let's get some mochi and we can sit for a bit...We can even split it if you want..." he nodded towards the shop he was speaking of; where some candles are lit along the windows. They created a nice ambience within...
"Oh...you don't have to do that Hakuji..."
He leans down to kiss her forehead, smiling at her blush, "I want to share with you, Koyuki."
She stares a moment before she smiles and laughs...
...Hakuji closed his eyes a moment before the light changed color and he drives forwards calmly. One more stop before he arrived where he needed to be for tonight as the snow began to grow silently heavier. He could see the snowflakes growing in size outside as his car created a temporary path behind him. As he comes to the next stoplight he looks up to see a nest up there, where an oriental turtle dove resided.
The poor thing looked to be shivering and alone up there...
..."You know, these birds tend to have eggs in the summer time, Hakuji," the man standing with him was looking up at the nest that rested on the lamp post, "Though I'm surprised one had nested there to begin with. They normally go to the trees..."
He looked up from where he stood beside the man. He had Koyuki leaning on his shoulder barely awake after such a long walk home. They just needed to wait to cross and then they would be back home. However he can't help but look up at the nest as well and tilt his head at the two doves there. It was...a rather cute sight seeing the two huddled together.
"Huh..." he tilted his head before he has his hair being ruffled by the man he considered father. "Gah! Sensei!"
"Sorry it's just...the doves remind me of you and Koyuki!"
He raised a brow at his teacher, his father figure, his future father in law. While he could appreciate the sentiment he couldn't help but find it particularly corny. He sighed as he pushed his hair back but he smiled a bit.
"Now then, lets get home and pray there's no black out. Good thing I bought these candles before the storm arrived!"
He sighed before shaking his head with a smile and gently helps Koyuki walk home with a hum...
...He hoped that it wasn't the same dove up there...
He felt his heart aching in his chest as he made the last drive down to the end of the street where the snow was thicker. Not many people drove down this way so it wouldn't surprise him if the snow plows didn't come through here yet. Either way he pulled up slowly up to an abandoned lot between the closed mochi shop and an old apartment complex that couldn't be fixed up.
Ever since that fire this part of the neighborhood was considered condemned. Especially with how much it would cost to fix it up.
A slow sigh left Hakuji as he reached to the passenger seat and picked up the box beside him before stepping outside. The snow had lightened now, giving muffled crunches under his feet as he moved forwards and his eyes settled where the entrance into the destroyed dojo once stood.
He could barely remember how it looked after so long as he opened the box and went to kneel on what was left of the porch there. Slowly he pulled out an old picture and very gently he placed candles around it; ones with snowflakes carved into them that he had bought during the new year last year. He pulled out his lighter as he adjusted his hoody and sweatpants to carefully flick it on.
The wicks are carefully lit as he lit the candles around the photo of all three of them together; Him, his arm around a happy Koyuki and Keizo laughing in the photo as he made a peace sign. A firework had gone off behind them in the photo.
Hakuji slowly smiled sadly as he feels his eyes starting to sting, "...It's...that time of year again...heh...I hope you two aren't sad up there without me...even though I'm...probably not doing so hot down here myself...I...I miss you two a lot.." he sniffed a bit, "I um...I didn't go to the winter fair this year even though I...I know I said I would...heh..." he felt the tears started to drip down his cold face, "...but...well...I guess I wasn't feeling it...so...I hope...I hope you can forgive me this year...'
The candles flicker softly from a soft winter breeze.
He sniffed as he wiped at his eyes and then put his hands together to give a silent prayer even as he tried to smile.
As the soft flames of the lit candles illuminate his face, his tears became bigger as a soft sob broke through.
"...Merry Christmas..."