Chapter 1.
"Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter.
Who would think that those branches would turn
green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~
"I'll give you a ride home if you want."
Nowaki glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 6am; he had been at the hospital for eleven hours. By all means this was a short shift, but Nowaki was exhausted all the same. Outside snow fell in sheets and the roads were glazed in ice. The mere thought of the cold sent a shiver up Nowaki's spine.
"Thank you."
Nowaki answered solemnly. It had been a long, dull night and he was anxious to get off from work and be home where it was warm. Hiro-san wouldn't be home at this hour, so Nowaki planned on making himself a how cup of tea and something warm to eat, then settling down into the bed they shared and sleeping until his mate returned home. It would be well worth the wait, and the rest was needed. Nowaki yawned and drew his cellular phone out from his pocket and quickly punched in a message:
'Co-worker going to give me a ride home. It's cold! I'll be asleep when you get home, so let yourself in. love you'
~Nowaki
Class was about to start and Hiro was a little upset. Nowaki knew not to text him during school hours. He picked up his phone quick and turned so that his students couldn't see him contradicting his own rules. The message was simple and pointless. Hiro knew it was cold outside and couldn't care less how Nowaki got home so long as he did it. It wasn't the kind of day that Hiro really cared about the finder details of life. There was snow on the ground and a blizzard on its way; Hiro wanted to get work done and over with. He hastily typed in his response in his cell phone and rushed to being class.
'Be safe'
~Hiro
Nowaki smiled and pocked his cell phone and followed his co-worker to their car. The quick answer and few words meant that Hiro-san was working hard and about to start class. Hiro-san was a very punctual teacher and was probably annoyed with Nowaki's message, but Nowaki never felt right without telling his lover where he was at all times.
"The snow is really coming down. At this rate, the trains might have to shut down."
Nowaki's co-worker said. He started the car and cranked up the heat. Nowaki shivered and rubbed his ungloved hands together.
"Yea. I hope we don't have too many emergencies at the hospital. It's my weekend off."
Nowaki smiled to himself. A weekend off meant two days snowed in with Hiro-san by his side. Hiro-san hated the cold and often became a little more needy than usual because of it.
"If it were my weekend I'd turn my cell phone off and pretend the battery is dead."
Nowaki's co-worker chuckled. Everyone at the hospital knew that Dr. Kazuma Nowaki was the most reliable resident on the pediatric ward. He always came when he was called no matter the day or time. People speculated that Kasuma-san was a single man living alone and that he had no family in the area. They didn't try to exploit his availability, but they did know that he was reliable.
"You're right. I think I'll actually take the weekend off this time. I need the rest."
Nowaki relaxed into the seat as the car swung from the hospital parking lot onto the icy cold road.
Hiro glanced out the window of the classroom. His concentration wasn't where it was supposed to be today and he found that he was irritated; something nagging him in the back of his mind. His hand fluttered occasionally towards the pocket that held his cell phone. He resisted pulling it out and texting Nowaki. He didn't know why he felt that there was something that he had forgotten to say or mention to Nowaki that now seemed extremely important. Hiro hated forgetting and was easily angered when he wasn't on task.
"Excuse me, sensei?"
Hiro snapped his neck back towards his class and scowled at the students. Usually he was angry because they were not paying attention; today it was all him.
"What!"
He yelled and despite of himself he picked up a paperback book and tossed it in the direction of his students. Demon Kamijo the students called him, for good reason too. His teaching skill was impeccable and his temper was notorious.
"Sir, the dean said that if the snow got too bad, class could be let out early."
One brave student stood up. Hiro glared over his glasses at the fool. The student winced and braced himself for a flying text book. Hiro frowned. His mind was too occupied and his hand was too fidgety; for once in Hiro's career he didn't feel like teaching. His mind was yelling for him to pick up his phone and dial Nowaki's phone number. He glanced back at the window. The snow was now falling in a white haze, blocking the morning sun in the sky. It was making Hiro uneasy the way the snow fell. He let his hand wander to his pocket and grip his phone.
"Leave then"
Hiro said plainly, not giving his students any more regard. Before he knew it, Hiro was alone in the classroom. He gripped his cell phone and pulled it out. He had been trying so hard to remember what he had to tell Nowaki. What was so important that he had to cancel class to relay the message so urgently? Hiro combed his mind as his hands absently swept over the keypad of his phone. Before he was aware of what he wrote, his index finger flew to the send button. He caught a glimpse of what he wrote and smiled. Maybe that was it. Satisfied Hiro pocketed his phone and gathered his materials. He would go home early today where Nowaki was waiting to warm his soul and ease his mind. The snow wasn't so bothersome when he had love to look forward to.
Nowaki laughed at his co-worker's joke as they drove through the streets. The snow had begun to fall harder, and yet the vehicle ceased to slow down. Nowaki was so caught up in conversation that he ignored the buzz of his cell phone after it initially rang ten minutes ago. The two men's laughing slowly subsided. And Nowaki pulled out his phone.
"Girlfriend got you on your toes?"
Nowaki's co-worker asked jokingly. Nowaki didn't answer; it was odd that Hiro texted in the middle of class time. He flipped up his phone and pushed the "read message button"
"Nowaki: I forgot to tell you this morning. I love you"
~Hiro
Nowaki's heart warned. He replied earnestly with:
"You don't have to say it Hiro. I know. I love you too"
~Nowaki.
Nowaki hit send and smiled warmly to himself. A car horn blared somewhere nearby. The high pitched sound of squealing tires filled the air. Nowaki saw the flash of car lights speed towards him. He only had time to breath out one word.
"Hiro-san!"
Hiro pulled his blanket over his head and sighed. The clock read 12:30pm. He had been home since 9:00am and there was still no sign of Nowaki. Maybe the hospital had detained him for another shift, or he went out drinking. Whatever it was, Nowaki could have at least had the decent to text him. The last text he had received read:
"You don't have to say it Hiro. I know. I love you too"
~Nowaki.
But that message was received at 6:45am. Hiro had tried for a while to message Nowaki, but he kept getting a "no signal" message in return. Hiro was a little more than irritated and cold. He wrapped himself in a blanket and turned on the television.
"The town is paralyzed in 11 inches of snow this afternoon. Thousands are stranded at train stations and the streets are frozen due to heavy rain fall from last night that has frozen with the drop in temperature."
Hiro rolled his eyes. he could see the weather from his window without the news caster telling him. Then it hit him: Nowaki was stranded somewhere.
"Oh great"
He said. If things couldn't get more miserable, he'd have to fend the cold without Nowaki for a while. Surely he would call before nightfall. Hiro leaned over and turned up the heater and turned down the television.
"A current traffic accident has deadly results!"
The news caster said. Hiro leaned against a stack of his books and let his eyes grow heavy and the world faded into darkness. Hiro fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.