It was like any other December at the monastery. The month started out chilly with snow that fell from grey skies, and children ran through the streets, the excited shouts of children could be heard on every corner. With each passing day it became colder and Shirou had to start dressing the boys warmer. It was a lazy Friday afternoon; Rin and Yukio were playing outside as usual, just chasing each other around and playing games. Shirou watched from the front porch of the church and a smile graced up his face. Snow had been falling throughout the day but it was then that heavy flakes started their descent upon the earth in swirls. The two boys stopped what they were doing and looked to the sky, the flakes landed thickly upon their hair and lashes.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy! Look daddy! Look at the snow!" His blue eyes shined brightly as he tried to catch the snow with his tongue and his hands. Yukio was jumping up and down, his glasses fogged up from his laughter. Shirou couldn't help but chuckle at their enthusiasm.
"I see, I see!" He wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck before stepping off the porch and into the snow. Both Rin and Yukio rushed over to him to so they could pull him further out into the courtyard.
"Father, help us make a snow men," Yukio asked with a smile. The snow was already piling up around them and the two little ones were using their entire bodies to roll the snowballs into place. When they struggled to get the second lump of snow on top of the first the twins banded together to create a ramp to roll it upward. Once the third snow ball was rolled out Shirou placed it upon the top.
"Now we have to decorate it eh?" He took off the grey scarf and gently wrapped it around the snow man's neck. They gathered an assortment of stones and sticks that would make up its face and arms. After a good hour of packing snow together to create a fort around the snowman the cold had suck into their fingers and toes so they retreated inside their home. Off came the gloves, scarves, boots, and jackets as little feet pounded into the warmth of the kitchen. Shirou quickly gathered their garments and threw them on low heat in the dryer so that they would be ready for their next adventure outside. Shirou entered the kitchen to find Rin and Yukio huddled near the stove. He bustled about the kitchen as he gathered up the supplies for hot cocoa. While the water heated on the stove he grabbed a towel and rubbed down both boys.
"Oi you know what all this snow means, boys?" Shirou asked. When they looked up at him in confusion he continued with a grin. "It means it's time to start putting up the Christmas tree and decorations. And right before Christmas it'll be your eleventh birthday." His grin grew larger as both Rin and Yukios' smiles and eyes grew large with excitement. They both clapped their hands and cheered in excitement. Shirou went back to the stove where he readied the hot chocolate.
"You're growing up to be big boys! Pretty soon ya gonna be old like me!" he declared with a loud snort of laughter. Rin and Yukio shouted in protest as Shirou finished making the hot chocolate and then poured it into three different mugs.
"But no worries that won't for a long while but be careful there ya gotta blow on it a little before you drink it cause it's hot," he gently scolded Rin who was about to attempt to chug the entire mug.
After everything was said and done Shirou shooed the little ones off to get ready for bed and he sat down in a chair near the heater to let more warmth seep into his skin. He relaxed into his chair.
"They're growing up fast." Shirou gave a small jump as he turned around to see none other than Mephisto Pheles. He was dressed in his usual, or should he say unusual, clothes. He stood in the doorway, his top hat off with that one curl of hair sticking up. Shirou chuckled.
"And it seems you're getting older if I was able to catch you off guard. Where are those exorcist reflexes of yours Fujimoto?" he teased.
"I would think I wouldn't need to put up my guard in my own home, especially since most demons can't even get in here," he scoffed lightheartedly. "And yes they are. It's almost been eleven years already since that day…" A moment of silence passed before Shirou turned to face Mephisto completely.
"And what is it you're doin here? It isn't for a mission is it? This close to Christmas?" He furrowed his brow as he keenly looked at the demon for any sign that something was amiss. The demon gave a small smile.
"Is there something wrong with visiting old friends?" he queried. Mephisto did have to admit to himself that it had been a really time since he had seen Shirou though that's not something he'd openly admit to the priest. "It seems we both have been busy; you with the children and myself with the school." Shirou gave a snort.
"You sound like an old man remembering his days of youth before he was forced to become an adult." The priest crossed his arms across his chest and shook his head as he sighed impishly.
"You're to speak about acting like an old man. You with your glasses and greying hair? Can you even keep up with those little ones of yours? "The purple haired demon stuck out his tongue before he went over and grabbed Shirou cheeks. "I mean come on, look at all these wrinkles in your face you must be pushing seventy at least." The school principle smiled widely as he saw the exorcist's face form a look of annoyance.
"Seventy my ass. At least I look like I eat actual food, does your diet consist of just candy and other junk food still? You look like a scarecrow that hasn't slept in decades," he retaliated. Mephisto let out a bellowing laugh that reverberated through the room.
"You know I only jest. Plus paperwork gets real boring real fast and the higher ups are constantly pestering me about it. It is nice to just get away." Mephisto flopped himself down into the other chair, his long legs rested between Shirous, that ridiculous cape hung loose across the back of the chair.
"Yeah, yeah whatever you say." Shirou gave his friend a good look over and noticed the same thin body, ageless face, the preposterous clothing he insisted on wearing. How the hell did he ever become friends with such a weirdo and a demon at that?
"You know, things could go back to the way they used to be, before we found Rin and Yukio up in those mountains… just the two of us like it used to be," Mephisto whispered softly. Shirou tensed in his chair.
"Mephisto, you know that it won't work. We both have responsibilities and we just can't. I don't think it would work… that's why it didn't work the first time." He turned away from him, not wanting to look at his old friends face in fear of seeing the hurt there. The clock on the wall ticked away, its arms showing that it was almost eleven. It was then that he felt the soft embrace of arms around him from behind his chair.
"It was still nice seeing your Shirou. It really has been a long, long time. But it is getting late and you're an old fart that needs his sleep." Shirou gave a sharp jab with his elbow into Mephistos side. He walked back around to in front of Shirou and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He smiled that clownish smile of his as he took his leave. He sat there in shock for a few moments thinking about what had happened within the span of an hour or so. By the time he got up from his chair the clock was almost to midnight and his muscles were sore from not moving for so long.