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The crisp air burned in the best of ways. It was rare for Inazuma to get so much snow and the white, pristine flakes were like shining stars that reflected off of the sun that was warring to melt the life out of them as they landed on the ground, falling around Kazuha as he laughed, pulling at his scarf while Heizou watched him almost slip on the sidewalk.
“Woah, careful.”
“Hahaha. I’m alright. It’s been a few years since I saw the snow this thick. With how the weather has been changing, I’m starting to think we’ll have a Christmas full of snow this year. Oh, look! There’s another festival! Heizou, can we go?”
A lot of the temples were holding festivities this time of year. Normally he’d love to go and have fun with the others, even more since he had the week off. His relief from the daily grind wasn’t voluntary though, and it didn’t feel good to tell Kazuha the truth behind his sudden good fortune.
He also didn’t want to erase that smile from such a kind and excited face. Maybe it would be okay.
“Sure, but it’s getting cold. Make sure to keep yourself warm. I can’t catch anything but you can and I don’t want you home with the flu for the holiday. It’s both not romantic and I don’t feel like spending our time together nursing you better, though I wouldn’t mind.”
“I would mind.” Kazuha raised his eyebrows. “And a little snow won’t harm me. I’m not that fragile. Come on.”
Getting pulled under the tori gates sent a flash of pain through his body. Heizou clenched his teeth and choked on the sound he made, ignoring the spiking headache that accompanied it. If not for Kazuha he wasn’t sure he’d still be moving forward.
The festivities were up a set of stairs and within a flock of onlookers, a good portion of them appearing foreign. Heizou was able to catch his breath once they stopped, forcing back the heavy feeling of the area that hung on his shoulders.
Vampires and holy places didn’t mix well. He’d found that out long before meeting Kazuha and had taken to avoiding them. Christmas and other holidays made such a thing impossible. The only place to find anyone celebrating was either at Buddhist temple or if there was some get together a company was holding.
“Heizou? Are you alright? You look distracted.”
“Do I?” It was hard to blink the daze out of his eyes. “I’m a bit tired. I needed this vacation. The Inspector has been stingy about handing me days off since I’ve been back. It’s fine. I don’t mind the work or the hours. It keeps my mind focused.”
“And I don’t?” Kazuha kissed him on the cheek. “I missed you too. I’m so glad that you’re back and that we can spend the holidays together. It feels like it’s been too long.”
It did. And it had been a long time. Last Christmas he’d spent with that bastard who had kidnapped him, though which day it had been he couldn’t have picked out. They were all nightmares.
Someone bumped into him and Heizou’s throat hurt as the sound he made got stuck in it. It hurt like fire on his leg, the sensation quickly gone. Coughing, he looked down at the kid who was holding a charm in their hand.
“Ah, sorry mister!”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a wave, trying to get the kid to move on. “It was an accident. You didn’t hurt me, just startled me a second there.”
The kid didn’t look like they believed him but they ran off, half frightened that they’d done something unforgivable by accidentally touching him.
“Heizou… what was that?”
“I was startled, didn’t you hear me?” It was easy to straighten up. The feeling was gone within seconds of the charm being removed. “I’m not used to these types of crowds, that’s all. It’s been a while since I haven’t had to attack someone who’s hit me. I’m happy I didn’t kill the poor kid. That would have been a very unhappy Christmas for all of us, wouldn’t it?”
“You didn’t look angry or murderous just now, you looked hurt.”
Heizou let out a heavy breath. It misted in the air. There was no point in trying to fool those observant eyes. They watched him far too long, knew him too well, and he loved Kazuha. Why lie? “The talismans at shrines sometimes have an effect on me. It’s fine though, really. It only hurt for a moment.”
“I… didn’t think about that. We’re at a temple… Are the talismans here something that hurts vampires? I-... we can go if–”
“We’re buying them now, are we?” It was Heizou’s turn to take his hand. “Don’t shove one around my neck and I’ll be just fine. Catching goldfish or buying a few gifts won’t curse or burn me.” Not unless the owner was selling something particularly ‘holy’, which came up now and then, but he wasn’t going to think about the rarity of those stalls. “We’re here to have fun.”
“Heizou?”
Shit.
Heizou stopped, the voice of his cousin more than enough to keep him from fleeing. She’d find him no matter where he went. She was always good at that. She’d found him in the city afterall when he’d slipped past his brother.
“I thought that was you.” Nana folded her arms like an angry mother, hiding her smaller chest and the details on the overly decorative kimono she was wearing for the celebration. It didn’t look like she was a shrine keeper here anymore, though he had heard that had been her last ‘job’. It was almost laughable that, of everyone in the family that went into law enforcement, Nana had enrolled into the most secretive department. Even he couldn’t be sure which branch she was really a part of. “You never returned my calls.”
“Which ones?” It didn’t really matter what they’d been about, he’d been fielding calls from his cousin for a few years now. She didn’t know how to leave him alone and stay out of his life. He’d left home for a reason and having someone just a year older than him keep tabs on him pissed him off as much as his brother doing it did. “You and Kousuke have to start minding your own business.”
“Hm? Has Kousuke called you too? It wouldn’t surprise me. You don’t pick up for either of us. Sometimes we just want to know you’re alive. Is that too much to ask, Heizou, just a call back to know you’re okay?”
“You’ve got me monitored.”
“I do not. I mean, I do to an extent but I don’t have your place under watch or have a guard following… Hey! Get back here!”
Heizou didn’t listen. He was already dragging Kazuha the other way. “Ignore her, please. She’s just a cousin of mine who doesn’t know how to keep to herself. She and my brother like to bother me now and then. I didn’t think we’d run into her here. I had heard she was working at one of the shrines in the neighborhood but I had thought she gave up that job a long time ago.” The only reason Nana had taken it was to make sure he didn’t get himself killed on the job. A little late for that, what with being a vampire for the last few years now.
Kazuha didn’t fight him and Nana didn’t follow. Both were a relief as the exhaustion of being on sacred grounds was starting to tax him. Temples were really the worst places he could wind up. Maybe he could take another hour of being here before it was obvious…
The soft press of lips on his exposed neck made Heizou moan quietly in his throat. As unexpected as it was, it was a pleasure.
Kazuha pressed against him, holding an arm around his waist. It was cold. Even bundled up, Kazuha was somehow colder. The man never made sense. The weather could get to both of them the same, he wasn’t inhuman enough not to be bothered by wind and snow. Whatever resilient nature he had as who he was, not as a vampire, was stronger than Kazuha’s.
“We’re in public.”
“I’m only kissing you. You’re sweating. Are you hot or cold?”
Hm. He didn’t feel either particularly strongly. Something did feel off though. It was hard to tell past the uncomfortable feeling around his body and the sick feeling he couldn’t throw off. It was likely fighting not to be ill. “I’m not sure. If I’m sweating I would guess I’m warm.”
“I thought you said vampires couldn’t get sick.” Kazuha reached up to his forehead, mussing his hair. The snow was already wetting it. Now it was standing funny as he brought his hand back. “You don’t feel feverish but you don’t look well either. Tell me what’s wrong?”
“I haven’t been back for more than a few months, I’m seeing a therapist, I’m on more medications than I can count on one hand, and you’re asking me what’s wrong?”
“Heizou, I’m being serious.”
“So am I.”
Kazuha sighed. “Fine, be like that. And you were the one who told me that I wasn’t allowed to get sick. What do vampires catch, vampire flu? I should ask Venti if you don’t want to tell me. I have his number in my phone…”
“Kazuha, stop.” He raised a hand. “It’s just this place. I’ll be fine when we leave.”
“I thought you said it was only the talismans…” Kazuha’s worried eyes went from him to the stalls around them, the people and decorations, and the temple as a whole. “Oh… I didn’t think about…”
“I’m not good in churches either, or any place that is covered in holy symbols and prayer. Temples are no different, as long as they have borders set up. For areas like these, they’re usually the gates. It’s not nearly as bad as wearing something or touching something engraved or holy in nature like you’ve seen. This is just– hm.” Heizou placed a hand under his chin, his vision not that great. Maybe the temple was a bit worse than what he’d compare it to, but Kazuha didn’t need to know the details and he didn’t have a better comparison. “Wearing shoes a size too small. It’s uncomfortable and it hurts, but I can do it.”
“You were able to wear that necklace before. I wanted to ask you about it but it looked like you were in a lot of pain and fighting it. Diluc wasn’t… kind.” Kazuha shouldn’t have to look ashamed as his eyes went to the floor. “And those memories aren’t pleasant.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. He made you place it on me, and I insisted. It didn’t bother me half as much as anything else that happened that day. I recovered.” Stretching to show the worst of his wounds were long gone, Heizou smirked. “Your little wind trick would have been nice back then. We could have cut him up into little pieces and never had to deal with him again.”
“Heizouuu… don’t say it like that. I don’t want to kill people.” That was enough to distract Kazuha, which was the intention. Those eyes were back on him and Heizou liked that a lot more, something in his chest easing as much as his whole body wanted to give up and collapse. When did he get so weak? “As bad as that man is, and as horrible as the things he did to you were… I’m not sure how easy it is for me to kill someone.”
“You don’t have to.” Lightly brushing one of the scars that were still far too obvious and would take more than a few years to fade, Heizou couldn’t turn to kiss Kazuha or he’d force him to let him go. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to force anything, and they were both starting to warm each other up. “You’ve protected me more than enough and you do a great job of making me feel better when I don’t think anything else could.”
“You? Admitting you don’t feel well?” Kazuha’s hand went to his forehead. His fingers were chilled from the cold. “Are you sure you’re not sick?” The happy, quiet laugher in his ear tickled. “I’m glad. It’s odd for me to be at a loss for words but speaking something to you I’d write on paper isn’t the same. I’m not really the type to just…” Kazuha sighed. “You’re the second person I loved, and I might say the first because I’m not sure I knew what love was before I met you.”
“Second?” They’d had a conversation about this before but it had been vague. He also didn’t know that Tomo was the only one that Kazuha had been attracted to.
As cute and wonderful and… everything as Kazuha was to him, there was something deeper to their relationship that he didn’t want to ever lose. If that was what ‘love’ was, it was a first for him. Dating had been something fickle and there had only been people who had wanted to go out with him, probably just to say they had, before they realized how dull he was.
“You’re not only with me because I’m a vampire now, are you Kazuha?” he asked teasingly.
“Hm? That came out of nowhere.” Kazuha shifted so they were still together and he was holding him, though facing each other now. “It has had its difficulties, and I don’t mind. Yes, I’m with you because you’re a vampire, you forgetful one.” Smirking, he leaned in, pressing their noses together. “If you weren’t, we never would have met. Thank you, for being exactly who you are, Heizou. I love you.”
That wasn’t at all how he had been asking, but with Kazuha’s innocence it made it all the more obvious that the man had no interest in what he could do as a vampire, let alone what it could gain him. Never once had Kazuha asked for anything, only gave.
“That wasn’t what I mean, stupid,” Heizou whispered back playfully as he leaned forward and pressed their lips together, breath fogging between them.
It didn’t matter, human or not. Neither of them were any different to the other, and though it was hard to see that on most days, now wasn’t so difficult. Winter made it easier. He felt more human, looked more human, and Kazuha was always good at making him forget for a while that he wasn’t.
“... Heizou?”
It was hard to stand and Heizou knew he was holding Kazuha back, pulling on him to keep himself up. “Sorry. I’m… tired.” It was more than tired. His head still ached and his body was sore as if he’d been in a fight – but the pain was a shallow one. It was more a weakness, and it was difficult to overcome. “I might need to leave.”
“Of course. Here.” Kazuha helped him, throwing an arm over his shoulder.
Moving, Heizou knew he should have spoken up sooner. Kazuha couldn’t hold his weight and he was falling unconscious. Doing so here would be a bad thing.
“... sorry.”
“For what? Heizou? Hey–”
…
…
Heizou had to cough as he woke, the air dusty and smelling too strongly of incense. Kazuha was at his side, holding his shoulder and helping him sit up.
“Are you feeling better?”
What? Huh? Was he? “Not much.” The tired, achy feeling was still there but at least he was awake. “What happened?”
“One of the other visitors helped me bring you to this room. That woman from earlier was here for a bit as well… I’m sorry. I couldn’t get her to leave and she was worried about you.”
Ah, Nana was still here then. He wouldn’t be able to field those calls from those two much longer if she just saw him passed out. “It’s fine. She’s family, not an enemy.”
“I didn’t think you were dramatic enough to have arch enemies or the like but I wouldn’t wholly put it past you.” Raising a hand to his lips, Kazuha smiled, letting out a little chuckle.
“Normal people don’t have arch enemies, and that didn’t sound like a joke.”
The new voice in the room had to be from the visitor. Heizou’s eyes went to her.
She was a stranger to him, long blond hair tied back and clothing thick enough to show she was likely from a colder area of the world. Most people in Inazuma didn’t have fur trimmed jackets let alone hoods. The snow this year made them practical but not anymore common.
“My name is Jean.” The woman nodded. “I’m from Mondstadt. It looked like you were wondering. It’s good to see you’re awake and well.”
“Nice to meet you.” Heizou bowed his head slightly. “Thank you for your help.”
“I did it more because I wasn’t sure if Kazuha needed my help and not you, though the obviousness of the situation was clear after a bit. I’m still confused which is why I stuck around. So, what’s a vampire doing at a temple? Hunting?”
Heizou stiffened. He was still wearing his contacts. How? And how did a traveler know about vampires? Looking her over closer, nothing about her blond hair or light blue eyes gave away anything vampiric.
“Heizou wasn’t doing anything wrong.” Kazuha started to get angry in his place, standing between them. “We were here to see the temple. I told you that.”
“Vampires don’t just walk into temples.”
Kazuha was confused, staring more at him than her.
“Kazuha wanted to see the place and I’ve been to a few temples before now. I wasn’t expecting to pass out so quickly. I’m not hunting. I don’t hurt people if I can help it and he knows what I am. Thank you, again, but we’re fine and if you’re going to cause trouble instead, that will change.”
“I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here to be sure you aren’t. You’re not the first human and vampire I’ve seen, though the first I’ve seen so close. You should get out of here. Either you’ll die or the people here will, and if the second happens, the first will be sure to follow.”
What a threat. She didn’t need to hold a weapon for Heizou to get the feeling she could back up those words too.
“We weren’t doing anything wrong and Heizou and I can take care of things if anything comes up. Thank you so much for your help, but we don’t need it any longer if you’re only going to threaten us.”
Heizou eyes widened. Hm. Kazuha was being a bit more forceful than normal. It was a rarity. The last time he saw him this angry, fear had gotten to him.
Still, Kazuha wasn’t alone.
“You heard him.” It was hard to stand but not as hard as it had been. Had something happened while he was sleeping? Heizou leaned on the side of the bed that appeared to be some sort of put together cot now that he could get a better look at his surroundings. They appeared to be in the back room of one of the temples. He could see the supplies on one of the shelves. “Don’t threaten the innocent.”
“Innocent? A vampire?” There was enough skepticism in her words to fill a dry well. Still, her tone didn’t change. “I find that hard to believe. While I have met both humans and vampires, I have never met one that was innocent of nothing.”
That… he couldn’t argue with her. He was far from innocent. In this case, he had done nothing wrong, but that was only this case. “I don’t plan on doing anything you would be displeased with while I'm here. Does that wording suit your tastes better, Ms. Jean?”
“It sounds less like a lie. I doubt I could fight you both if you wanted to put up a fight, and neither of you are trying to harm me. I will be keeping an eye on you, for my own peace of mind. You have to understand how this looks to me.”
As much as he hated it, there was the stigma of being a vampire that he’d never outrun. People like this woman had all the reasons under the sun and moon to follow and watch him. He was sure even the inspector was keeping a better eye on him these days, and she trusted him. This was a stranger and he an unknown to her.
“Kazuha, relax.” Heizou placed a hand on his shoulder, both because he could see Kazuha shaking and because he needed the balance. “I need to leave anyway. I don’t feel that well. Maybe we can go somewhere else? I know you wanted to look around here but I can’t really…”
“Oh. Ah. No.” Kazuha’s attitude changed in a heartbeat as he shifted, worried instead of angry and holding him by the elbow. “We can go anywhere you would like. There are other places besides temples and the like and Christmas can be celebrated without the charms and religion. I wasn’t thinking.”
Jean could have been invisible for all his boyfriend cared as Kazuha drew in and kissed him beneath one of his eyes. “It’s about the feeling of the season and the love behind it. We haven’t celebrated together and it’s been a few years for me. I’d love to spend it with you in whatever ways make you comfortable.”
“Hm.” Jean folded her arms before leaving the room. She didn’t say another word.
Heizou watched her go before he kissed Kazuha’s cheek back. “Thank you. Let’s go shopping. I want to buy you something to drink and maybe a snack, for both of us. I’m a bit dizzy.”
“What kind of snack?”
“The normal kind, Kazuha.”
“They’re both normal.”
Gods he loved this man.
…
Christmas was more of a day they celebrated in other nations, but Inazuma felt no less festive than it did every year to him. Maybe one day he would travel and see the sights that he only heard of online.
For now, he was enjoying Kazuha’s company, alone with him for once during a celebration.
“I’m half waiting for some danger to pop up and a group of people to walk in the door, staying here for the next week or two without paying any rent and eating everything in sight.”
“Not today.” Kazuha snuggled close to him, kissing his exposed throat. They both had warm drinks in front of them and some snacks that Shinobu had baked the day before. She’d brought them over as a present and, as part of the same gift, left and allowed them the day to themselves. “At least… I hope not.”
It felt wonderful to weave his hand into the soft white hair beside him and smell the scent of Kazuha’s natural odor. It wasn’t often that Kazuha masked it with more than deodorant, and even that was rare. He didn’t tend to smell badly. It was only when they were having long nights that he sweated. “I’ll fight away the demons this time. Don’t worry about it.”
“There won’t be demons. I won’t allow it.” Kazuha murmured the words more than he spoke, enjoying the light massage. “Merry Christmas, Heizou.”
“Merry Christmas, Kazuha.” Though he had wanted to spend the day curled up with him on the couch, it couldn’t last forever. He grabbed a small bag he had, the wrapping paper the only thing hiding the gift inside. “It’s not much. Hard to go shopping when you tag along with me most everywhere I go and I have no good hiding places around here. I hope you like it.”
Kazuha straightened up, leaving Heizou to wish he’d waited longer to give him the present. “Thank you… I’m sorry. My gift to you isn’t… great. I had some money from that last publication but I had spent most of it when I was trying to keep up a food supply here and I hadn’t wanted to ask Shinobu for everything.”
“I wasn’t home or working. We were both short on cash and there were bills to pay. The fact that nothing was shut off while I was gone is more than a gift. Thank you, Kazuha. For everything. I don’t think I’ve thanked you enough.”
“It’s your place. The least I could do is pay the bills on the utilities I was using. And Venti was here and helped a lot. You don’t need to thank me, really. I just… wish this was something better.” Kazuha got up and went to the kitchen, coming back with a small box. “Here…”
“Thank you.” Heizou wasn’t sure what it was. The box was too tiny to hold much more than an overly large playing card. He mussed with the wrapping before revealing a phone case, seeing that it was personalized with photographs of the both of them.
“I didn’t know you could order something like this…”
Kazuha nodded. “So… you don’t lose your phone again. I mean, if you don’t like it you don’t have to use it. It’s a little embarrassing now that I think about it–”
“No, I love it.” Finishing inside his pocket, Heizou removed his phone, switching out the case. His own was worn and had long needed replacing. The new one came with a small card holder as well, though he doubted he’d give up his wallet. “Thank you so much, Kazuha.” Leaning forward, he kissed him.
Kazuha's content smile was worth as much as the gift as he went inside the bag, pulling out the only thing Heizou had managed to find that he thought he might enjoy.
Chuckling, Kazuha stood before throwing the coat over his shoulders, more of around the house wear than anything to go outside in. It wasn’t as colorful as he would have liked to find, but the black design was chic and dotted with white cats in different positions of comfort as it swayed almost to Kazuha’s knees as he spun around in it.
“For when you get cold when writing. I’ve noticed you typing in the kitchen and it gets chilly. Do you like it?”
“I love it.” Kazuha clutched it to his chest. “Thank you, Heizou. It’s adorable and I’m sure I’ll make good use of it.”
As long as he was happy. Turning his phone, he looked at the pictures.
It hadn’t been that long but it felt like forever since he and Kazuha had been together. He didn’t want to give up this life or this feeling ever again. How he had gone so long and been without him… The torture had been bad, but the loneliness was just as horrible.
That wouldn’t need to happen again. They were together. They would be together forever. They loved each other and that was one thing Heizou would never doubt again.
“We have the rest of the day together,” Kazuha winked. “I don’t mind making dinner but maybe the idea of more clothes isn’t the best for tonight.”
That was one way to spend Christmas night. Heizou had no objections as he got up and embraced the man he never wanted to let go.
“Good plan.”