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Flurries of snow descended from the heavens, coating the world in their simple whiteness. People bundled up in their warmest coats and scarves and hurried along the dark streets, each on their own separate journey to get home, wherever that might be. Kaname rubbed his hands together through the thick fabric of his pockets, pulling the sides of his jacket as if he was hugging himself.
As he walked he hummed the tune of whatever new song they were having him memorize. Part of his job as HiMERU was to listen to what others told him unquestionably and not step out of line. Ha. It was all well and good they weren’t seeing him now. Sticking out his tongue like a child he watched stray snowflakes drift down and melt from the body heat. Take that meanie producers and Onii-chan. Your oh-so-perfect idol is acting like a spoiled kid.
When he finally reached the agreed upon meeting place the dying dusk had transformed to full darkness, under a dark moonless sky and only stray streetlights to guide him. The point of their rendezvous would be a park many ReiMei students frequented over the years. It was simple with a couple paths for walking, a fountain, and an expansive grassy field. It was nowhere to be seen as he rounded the corner. Everything was covered by a pure unblemished blanket of snow.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the bleak landscape, a dark silhouette against the white, like black ink bleeding onto brand new paper. It smiled. Face like marble and eyes closed, like the statues of gods of old, free from any imperfection; divine beings looking down on the world in holy benevolence.
Kaname approached it, trying to hide the skip in his step and urgency of his breathing, thoughts running through his head in a blink of an eye. By the time he caught up he was breathing harshly, bent down and hugging his knees in an attempt to recover. Weird, he didn’t think he had run. They stood awkwardly under the lamppost, dim light hitting them and illuminating surrounding sheets of snow. Tatsumi stood a few inches about Kaname, enough that he had to raise his eyes to look up to Tatsumi - as if in prayer.
“I’ve always been fond of snow, even as a child,” he said and his breath rose into the cold air like white smoke. His hair framed his face gently, light from the lamppost casting long shadows down and onto his eyes. Only by straining your vision could you tell the details of his complexion, the bright red flush on his cheeks, the curve of his lips. Tatsumi has the same serene look on his face as always, but he seemed less the proclaimed angel and more a beautiful mirage conjured up by the imagination and stark white landscape. If Kaname looked closer he could count each eyelash that fluttered in the cold wind, imprinting perfect facial features into his brain like it’s the last time he’ll see them.
“Why? It’s cold and gets everywhere. There’s no use to it besides making everyone’s lives miserable,” as soon as Kaname opened his mouth the green haired man turned his head, before he could think. Light reflected in the depths of his eyes like a flame, it’s light offering phantom warmth to any who looked into it. Kaname shivered.
“But isn’t it the reason we’re here right now?”
Tatsumi laughed, “It was pretty cruel bringing you here, wasn’t it?”
They lapsed into silence again as snow fell and melted in Tatsumi’s hair. They were supposed to discuss what they would do from now on, their new unit, how to break the news to the hostile population of ReiMei. All the words died in Kaname’s throat as he looked at Tatsumi, his new partner as they stood shivering in the freezing cold. It was alright really. Kaname didn’t mind dying if people sang praises of him after death, worshiped him like a legend and accepted him. He once thought Tatsumi was the same with all the actions of a martyr but he was sorely mistaken. Tatsumi wasn’t of this world, wasn’t interested in any of the earthly delights that so tempted humans; his mission was a divine one, to bring all creatures below the light of the sun to salvation. What a pity that God had died years ago.
“HiMERU-san….what is it that we’re doing?”
“Wha-“
“Uniting the special and non-special students. Will they really be happy this way? I failed in bringing them together before, now they despise me, I am hopeful that with your help we can still help, so they can be happier? But if God doesn’t allow it- perhaps I was going against His will the whole time.
“Wouldn’t it be funny? If I was the one sinning this whole time. Ever since childhood I have devoted myself to Him, what irony that I have gone against my own faith”.
Tatsumi shouted suddenly as their bodies collided, mass against mass, toppling to the ground like a wooden block tower. Kaname could feel the adrenaline thrumming through his veins, breath coming out in short puffs as he laid on top of Tatsumi. His savior stared up at him, cheeks red from the cold and embarrassment, elbow awkwardly jammed into a shoulder and face in the other’s neck. Kaname’s fingers itched to wrap around the column of that throat.
“I told you it will be fine,” he huffed. “We’re together now right? We don’t need God, or CosPro, just ourselves. Whoever disagrees can go to hell.”
Tatsumi laughed, “That’s a little harsh isn’t it?” and he couldn’t help but smirk. “God is harsh. He is cruel and yet people still love him. How am I any different?”
The green-haired started laughing even harder, gasping for air until it was barely audible as his chest shook from the laughter. Kaname joined, giggling hysterically until their ears rang and there was nothing in the world but the two of them, this moment, and the steadily falling snow.
…
Kaname didn’t dream much. But when he did every doctor on call was made aware of it. The warning signs were always there: slightly elevated heart beat, increased movement, nonsensical muttering reported by visiting nurses. Quiet. Screams would echo through the hallway, signaling every doctor in the wing of what was happening. Thrashing violently it looked almost like a panic attack except his eyes were screwed shut. Barely audible fragments of words as his lungs constricted and he seemed to choke on them. If you were sitting by the side of the bed you might be able to hear the cut off Tatsumi and God please help me, I repent, I repent. Only after being restrained and given a hefty dose of sedative did the patient seem to calm down. Staff would sigh and write down the episode in the records. No one ever asked questions, what’s wrong with him, how did he get here, who is he?
Everyone just shut their eyes and moved on.