Snowflake Kisses:

Anthology of Yumi/Ulrich. oo2: Her life was filled with lost dreams, and frayed little stems of blooming flowers. He was a chivalrous rebel with a hope for glory and love, but even beautiful fairytales shatter.

Life wasn't about living to the best you could be to surpass those that pushed you down. Life wasn't about finding Mr. or Ms. Right and starting a family. Life wasn't about trying to be the nicest or cruelest person known to man. Life was that cliche analogy of living to the fullest, and protecting the people that you cared about the most. In life, we dream silly little dreams of hope and passion - of daring romances, and intense battles for affection.

She just wanted to bloom, become something beautiful. She wanted someone to protect someone to care about. He wanted to protect those that were hurt, he wanted to make sure that no one had to go through life's "rough patches" and suffer. He wanted someone to protect someone to love and cherish. Fate happened to bring these two broken-hearted and suffering people together and showed them, that even in your roughest time, if you have hope and believe - something beautiful will occur. Never lose faith in something you care deeply about.

~x~

The Most Important Things Are Hard To See:

~x~

The sole of her right thumb and index finger gently held a thin haired paintbrush in it's grasp, the tip wetted slightly and dabbed with a soft orange-red gel. She ran the paintbrush over the cobblestones she was sitting on top of, pictures of beautiful white flowers - the inner rims a light lavender - and orange codfish coming into life. Beside her, on her right, was a beautiful lake that, if you followed it, would lead you towards the city of Tokyo. Behind the lake were long, thick yellow-green stems of bamboo sticks, very tall and stretching out a few feet, light green trees intermixing and reaching for the light blue sky. A tiny light brown bridge where she was perched beside led to her small temple where she lived and studied (breathed) the correct ways towards etiquette. Soft plush green grass bloomed near the tiny cobblestones she was sitting on, reminding her of the fresh morning and sweet-smelling mid-morning air.

Puffy white clouds lingered above, casting light rays of sun on her, basking her in the warm glaze. She sighed softly, her small form of the age of nineteen stretching out before her, her bare left leg laying on the stones and feeling the warmth it produced. Her right leg was propped up in the form of a triangle, her bare feet feeling the tiny strands of grass that peeked through the cracks of the stones. Her small, pretty, black sundress - plain and simple - drew the sun in its fabric. Her long black strands were pulled back into a tight bun, strands hanging down beside her cheeks. She had placed a light yellow flower behind her left ear and smiled zealously. Black bangs swished across her forehead, running into her ebony eyes as she blinked at her artwork.

She sighed offhandedly, the goldfish bowl filled with clear water, swirling with specks of light green, sparkled with the speckles of light. Her voice came out a strange whisper, her eyes darting towards the small temple on her right, knowing they'd soon come and collect her to start the chores she had been burdened to do for years. Her mother owed a grand amount of debt, and she wasn't allowed to see her until her mother paid off what she had started.

"I wish...that someday, someone will take me away from here so that I can find mother and protect her." She knew it was a silly dream, but who was to stop her? She'd dream all her life and she wasn't ever going to stop until she had reason to. She wanted her life to change so desperately, she wanted her mother so desperately. She wanted...freedom. Her fingertip rose to gently cradle the yellow flower in her palm and tears rose to her eyes at the broken stem. It was so small and frayed - resembling how she felt in such a great way that she couldn't help but cry.

~x~

~x~

~x~

His callused hands, torn from so much fighting and pain, gripped the handle of his sword as he slid it from the sheath. Poised over the deeply slashed and seeping straw dummy, he began to attack it with rapid strokes. He perspired as his breath quickened from the effort he put into his strokes, his brown bangs colliding with his eyebrows and momentarily clouding his chocolate brown eyes. He wasn't going to give up just because his stubborn sensei persisted he should, that he should take a break every once in a while or he'd suffer when he needed his skills the most. Tch, that was a broken warrior talking - not one who's heart and soul was solely believing in one's self. He believed he was going to become the best warrior Tokyo had ever seen. He was part of a Faction that fought to protect the rights of the citizens, not the government. Of course, it was illegal and he'd seen many comrades fall, but it was worth the adrenaline to fight for his beliefs.

He loved the look of awe in the people's eyes as he killed those that tried to hurt them, as he battled the government of Tokyo for it was unsafe. It was also unkind. A grunt slipped past his chapped lips, as his sword clattered against the hard-wooded floors of the dojo, their headquarters, and he winced at the pain he felt in his hands. They burned with an unreal reminder of what he had gotten himself into. Ever since his family died by the hands of a government official in front of his own eyes, inside his house, he knew he wasn't going to be the same ever again. Blood seeped down his wrists, his arms, as the blisters began to ooze pus. He leaned his head back against the wall, his shaggy brown hair running his bangs into his eyes as he closed them.

He wondered everyday in fact, if anyone ever felt as lost and deserted as he felt. If they ever wanted to protect something so bad that they'd do reckless things as he was doing. He wet his lips and stiffened at the sound of approaching footsteps that he had known so familiarly. His sensei and his best friend Odd. He had known Odd for years, and they joined the Faction together to fight for what they believed in. Odd has his own share of hardships, and when they met, friendship had bounded immediately. They were like brothers...but Odd was worried about him, and he knew that he was going to be in trouble when they both arrived.

Staggering to his feet, he slid his sword back into it's sheath that hung on his right side, near his belt, and he ran out the other door that led him far away from the world, he escaped. He did the thing he had been doing for years from his own troubles, and those of the Faction - running. He knew of a small temple farther into the woods that sheltered those that were injured and stumbled upon the temple. Of course, it was full of women but he ignored that - he was indeed looking for a girl that he could protect and love, but what use was it to think of that now? He was seventeen, and young, he had much to learn about love especially since he was most likely a wanted criminal.

~x~

~x~

~x~

Her eyes narrowed in deep thought as she heard the rustling of the grass, the wind picked up speed - shattering the soft tranquility it spewed before. Her fingertips dropped the paintbrush and her eyes widened horrifically as the sound of the soft clatter reached her ears. Standing in front her was a (pretty...) boy who looked young, his brown bangs running into his eyes, shaggy brown hair, beautiful brown eyes. His hands were bleeding, the blood running down his arms and trickling droplets on the grass. She knew who he was, even before she spoke.

"Come with me," She whispered gathering her paintbrush and slipping it into the bowl before she gathered it into her arms, and led him over the wooden bridge. She loved walking past the bamboo stalks, they reminded her of a hidden green wonderland. Her ebony eyes glanced back at the Faction warrior, her lips tugging into a scowl as he glared at her.

"Have a problem, Foreigner?" Her tone came out bitter, and sharp, and she found herself quite astounded. She had never felt that much hatred towards one person before, sure, she was all for the cause they fought for, but they were reckless and vulgar. She surveyed him, slightly smaller than her but clearly lean and packed with muscle. His sword swung at his side, and he sized her up. She felt somewhat self-conscious in her black sundress that reached her knees. She always knew she had a wide forehead, and was too pale. He didn't comment, just snorted, so she took the opportunity to hurry her steps into the temple.

Cries of astonishment reached her ears as many young nurses in training rushed to his aide, love-filled eyes burning into his form. Girls were so melodramatic and desperate, she surmised. They all wanted to get into the Faction's pants, because they believed the men looked all smoky and ravishing as they fought. She found herself snorting in anger, and humiliation for what these girls displayed - girls weren't supposed to act like that. She had to admit, he did look sexy, but she would never, ever find herself with him. Even if he was the way for her to gain her freedom. Her eyes sparked with recognition - he was a way for her to gain freedom.

~x~

~x~

~x~

A few weeks had passed, and he was almost healed to the extent that he could go back to the dojo, but quite honestly he was scared to what his sensei would do. He knew that he had to return, but what if he never did? Would they come look for him, or would they leave him to die at the hands of the government? His eyes flickered towards the pocket door that slid open, and revealed the feisty pale Japanese girl he had met when he first arrived. She always gave him the cold shoulder, and he found himself intrigued by her. But, recently, she had been talking to him and they grew an odd friendship. He believed she was beautiful, but while watching her, he always saw her eyes filled with longing and hope. She had a passion to leave, and he knew he could provide that for her.

Her fingertips messed with the sleek sleeves of her charcoal kimono, displayed with dark purple butterflies and ghostly white flowers. She looked heavenly and he swallowed the discomfort in his tone as he stared at her, waiting for her to speak her requests. His hands were situated behind his head, his elbows sticking out as he laid on the slightly big bed he had been provided. His legs were pressed against the wall, his bare-feet feeling the cold surface of the white paint.

"Hello Ulrich, I brought you some dinner." Her voice was slightly soft, but filled with an urgency, slightly rough. He nodded in consent for her to approach, and she placed the tray on his nightstand. An odd expression caught her face as she stared at him, his fingers were bandaged but she could see stains of red. She exhaled a sigh, and motioned for him to sit up. He did as she requested, and her soft fingers un-bandaged his hands. Her touch was light, so gentle. She stared at his hands, touching them carefully as she examined the wounds that had re-opened.

"Have you been ignoring my orders? I told you, do not start using your sword because your wounds would open up again. Look what you did, Ulrich," She chastised him, albeit strictly but fair. "What am I going to do with you?" He took a moment to gaze at her, her creamy pale skin, the way she tucked her black strands behind her ear. The way her lips were so plump and a light pink, her breath escaping in small releases. He had never met a woman as beautiful as she.

Suddenly, without him even comprehending, his hand rose to push her hair away from her face. His eyes closed, his dark lashes kissing his cheekbones as he leaned forward and his moist lips met hers. She was shocked, he could feel it in her posture as he pulled her onto the bed and forced her down. She didn't struggle though, which he found odd.

"I won't hurt you Yumi." He whispered her name against her cheek, and a breathtaking smile formed on her lips. Her fingertips traced the skin of his cheeks, his lips, his chin.

"It took you long enough to give in to me." He rolled his eyes at the gleam in her eyes and he leaned back down to capture her lips. The rhythm of their kissing increased, it became something hungry and powerful. They were giving into emotions they wanted to have for a long time: Love. His hands wrapped around her waist, and one of them lifted her thigh up so that it wrapped around him slightly. His mouth pressed harder against hers, and she fought the urge to moan.

Their bodies wrapped together, as the clothes they had been wearing slid off and touched the floor. Yumi couldn't tell when the passion started and when it ended, when his body started and hers ended. She fell prey to his touch, and it hurt like hell when they finally reached the point of her climax. When it seemed like it was over, she was sweating, and her body was sore but the experience was nothing like she had ever felt before.

"Yumi...will you stay with me?" He murmured against her neck, his tongue slowly licking where he had abused it before. She hissed in protest at his tongue, but calmed down when his fingers stroked her hair, running through the strands. Her eyes closed momentarily, her body exhausted, and she dozed off.

"Mhm...as long as...you save my mother."

"Of course, you saved me."

~x~

~x~

~x~

A few years (three to be exact) had passed since they'd had sex, had fallen in love, had run from the lives the clearly wanted to change. Yumi had rescued her mother, and raised enough money to pay off the debt the Temple was holding over them. Ulrich had reconciled with his sensei, letting him know how he really felt about how the dojo should change, they shouldn't mercilessly kill people, it was unjust. His sensei was reconsidering everything, and Ulrich was currently helping the community of Tokyo live a better life. Ulrich and Yumi fought day by day their increasing love, and finally gave into temptation and married.

Yumi was waiting for the results of her pregnancy test, considering Ulrich was an animal in bed. Her mother kept cheerfully shouting around the house "I'm having a grandkid!" To which Yumi didn't try to bash down, she wanted a child of her own.

Life seemed to be all right, even though they knew they'd had other problems to face when they came. Yet, they fell in love and their lives were changing. For the better.


Hmm.

Don't know how I feel about this one.

Hope it was enjoyable, I think it's eh.

I know this fic is rated M, but I'm not one for writing full out lemons, sorry - I'll only go as far as what I wrote above, maybe.