It was cold out. Shion supposed it was always cold here by christmas, but he couldn't bring himself to go back inside.

There was a christmas party, going on inside his mother's bakery with all their friends. He supposed he should be happy, and in a way he was. He was happy they were there. Happy they were all having a good time. Happy No.6 was becoming peaceful, finally, after three years.

Three years.

And in another way, Shion knew he couldn't be happy. Not fully happy. Because he would always be thinking of him.

Where was he now? Was he outside in this bitter cold, staring up at the same dark sky?

There were no stars, no moon. The clouds were too thick to pierce them, and it was probably about to start snowing at moment. Shion worried.

Are you close enough, that this storm will touch you too? Shion wondered, staring up at the impassible sky. Are you cold? Are you safe? Are you thinking of me?

Shion sighed.

It had been getting worse lately; during this time of year when nobody wanted to be alone. When the gray winter sky reminded him, so much, of his eyes.

"Shion?" His mother called from inside and Shion flinched at the sound of her voice. "Shion, we're opening presents, are you coming?"

Shion counted to three, he took a deep breath. He smiled.

"Coming!" Shion called, his voice warm and cheerful like always. Like it used to be.

Shion turned back to look at the sky one last time.

"I miss you, Nezumi." He whispered, so no one could hear. "I miss you more than anything. I hope you are happy, where ever you are. I hope that I will see you again soon. Merry Christmas."

With those words Shion turned around, heading back inside with a smile schooled onto his features.

Just behind his shoulder, white flurries slipped by in the corner of his eyes.

It had begun to snow.

It had started to snow.

Nezumi looked up into the white flurries, holding out his hand to catch them on his palm and watching them melt. He smiled. The snow reminded him of Shion. Pure and White.

He was almost there.

It had been a snap decision, coming back. Nezumi wasn't sure about making such a big deal out of it, on christmas no less, especially after so many years.

Maybe Shion wouldn't want to see him, maybe he would be ruining the holiday for him, destroying Shion's world again. This thought had almost made Nezumi turn back a few times, but he held firm.

It doesn't matter, he thought. I want to see him. It's been long enough. I just want to see him.

Nezumi kept walking forward.

He didn't know where to go, besides the bakery. He wasn't sure Shion's mom worked there still, or if anyone would be there this late at night, but he had to try. He had to.

Nezumi turned the corner on what he remembered as being the right street, and it took him only a few moments to find the bakery. When he did, what he saw stunned him.

They were all there; standing across the street, Nezumi could see inside through a large front window. He could see everyone gathered, holding brightly wrapped packages. Passing them around with smiles on there faces.

Nezumi swallowed.

It was a ridiculous thought, but the first thing that occurred to him was…

I didn't bring a present.

In the next second, Nezumi's eyes zeroed in on Shion.

He sucked in a breath.

He looked the same. He looked so different. Nezumi couldn't decide. He it was good to see that his hair was still white, and there was still a pink stripe visible on his cheek.

At the same time, there was something in his face. Something sharper, something more defined. He was older. After three years of course he was. He looked much more like a man, now. And he looked so happy.

Nezumi felt paralyzed. He couldn't move towards him. He couldn't move at all. The thought of stepping inside that building and having everyone see him, it made his throat go dry.

What would they say? What do they think of him? Do they hate him, after all this time? Or worse, have they forgotten him… moved on from him.

He didn't know.

Nezumi closed his eyes, clenching his fists.

He gave one last look at Shion's face, and sighed.

"I can't do it, Shion." He murmured. "I'm sorry. But I'll wait for you, where you can't see me. And maybe… if it's just you." Nezumi's eyes tightened and he moved into the shadows between two buildings, where no one would see him. "I'll wait for you."

"Call me when you get home, so I know you're safe." Shion's mother called to him as he pushed his way out the door. He was leaving a little early, using work as an excuse. He felt bad, but he needed this. Just needed to be alone.

"I will," He called back, waving over his shoulder. "Merry Christmas everyone." He let the door fall shut behind him.

It was still snowing, bright white flakes against the black sky, replacing the stars. Shion smiled. It was beautiful. He tipped his face up to it, letting the snow graze his cheeks. It smelled cold; like tin and smoke. He let out a cloud of breath and blew into his hands. He had better start walking.

It wasn't far to Shion's house. He kept himself close enough that he wouldn't offend his mother when he asked to move out. Yet, far enough away that he felt satisfied, he was on his own. He'd needed that. He'd gotten used to it with Nezumi, and now, even without him, the desire to be independent burned in his veins.

Something Nezumi had rubbed off on him, he guessed.

When Shion finally arrived at the door of his building, it was the first time he felt like someone might be watching him.

He turned around, scanning the street up and down for movement but saw none. Only the quiet, and the falling of snow. Shion sighed.

He unlocked the door and went inside.

Shion kicked off his boots and dropped his coat on the floor so that he wouldn't get water all over the house. Then he headed for the kitchen. He needed some tea, something to warm him.

He hoped it would help.

Shion put the pot on the stove and clicked it on, watching the flame.

The apartment was quiet. It had been a long time since the mice had died. Shion had thought about getting a pet a few times, but he had never done it. He worked too much to take care of another living thing, and he didn't want to cut back. What was the point in this, if he wasn't making a difference?

Still… he missed the feeling of anticipation. Of someone who noticed when he got in and and when he left. Someone who was aware of him.

He'd always been that person before. For Nezumi. That had been nice too. Being the anticipator. There was something hopeful about it, something exciting. He missed that, like he missed a lot of things.

He missed even that.

Shion was still lost in his thoughts when he heard the soft sound of something… dragging?— Coming from the living room. Shion's heart broke into a sprint.

He tired to be quiet as he moved, as if worried about waking a beast. He walked on the balls of his feet, easing open a drawer and slipping a knife into his hand. He gripped it tightly as he tip toed his way out of the kitchen.

He was almost tempted to call out, like people do in horror movies. Instead he crept around the corner, and peeked carefully passed the wall into the other room.

It was empty.

That was Shion's initial reaction, and he almost immediately relaxed. That is until he noticed the cause of the noise he'd heard a moment ago.

The window on the wall was open.

He hadn't opened it, though he usually left it unlocked. It was irrational, but a habit he just couldn't break. It was a symbol of hope.

Shion's heart started beating faster. He slowly walked forward into the room and stared at the open window a moment longer before he cast his gaze around the room.

Nothing.

"Well, Well…."

Shion stiffed so fast he nearly dropped his knife. He couldn't bring himself to turn around.

"It looks like you've learned something since I've been gone. You're not quite as trusting as before. You've learned how to defend yourself."

Shion's heart was deafening in his ears. He knew that voice, cool and smooth like silk. He knew that voice. He half thought he'd never hear it again.

Shion swallowed, so hard his throat hurt like when you swallowed too much water all at once.

He turned around.

He had hands in his pockets and his cool, steel eyes trained on Shion, looking him up and down. The first thing Shion noticed about him was that he'd cut his hair. The second was that he was completely covered in snow. It had melted, and was dripping on to the carpet like fresh rain. A smile.

"Merry Christmas, Shion." he said, his eyes softening. "It's good to see you."

There was the sound of Shion's knife clattering to the ground.

Shion's voice shook as he spoke.

"Nezumi?"