Beautiful Sky

Hands
Theme #1: Cold hands

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Tohru hummed pleasantly beside him as they walked. She carried a bag of groceries in her hand while Kyou carried the other. He'd wanted to carry both for her, but she'd politely refused and insisted that it was important that they work together. Tohru had a habit of looking too deeply into things, but he let her carry the lighter of the two bags regardless.

It was snowing now, and, in hindsight, Kyou wished he'd grabbed some mittens. Tohru was all decked out for the weather, wearing the pink scarf she loved, her hat, and gloves. She looked like she'd walked straight out of a winter catalogue, and the lasting effect was quite charming.

He, on the other hand, only had on a scratchy scarf and a jacket. He, personally, hated wearing scarves, as he hated wearing anything around his neck, but he'd worn it to pacify Tohru. She'd been worried it would start snowing and he wouldn't be warm enough. Her first prediction was correct, at least. Snow was dusting the ground around them and the large flakes danced in the winter wind.

"I hope the others are home," Tohru said conversationally. "I'd hate for them to be caught out in the cold without proper clothing."

"Yeah," Kyou said distantly, not particularly caring about his two housemates. "I'm sure the rat's just fine."

Tohru laughed, having grown far too used to Kyou's disapproval of Yuki to say anything in his defense. Instead, she picked up her pace and glanced back over her shoulder, watching the way her shoes left small imprints in the small layer of snow.

A car horn sounded and Tohru yelped in surprise as Kyou shot out and grabbed her hand, tugging her back from the street corner. The car continued on, leaning on its horn, and ignoring the two teenagers on the street corner.

"Geez," Kyou said in surprise, tugging Tohru back away from the curb. "How much of an air-head can you be?"

Tohru laughed, smiling cheerfully at Kyou.

"Stop that," Kyou ordered, growing frustrated. "You have to look where you're going. Give me a damn heart attack, why don't ya?"

Tohru laughed again and her soft blue eyes stared only at Kyou. "Sorry, Kyou-Kun," she said apologetically, "I was just looking at the snow. It's lovely isn't it?"

The light on the other end of the crosswalk turned green, signaling they could walk. Opting not to answer, Kyou tugged her along; wary of the cars around them and wishing that Tohru had a bit more common sense in that air head of hers. They continued walking, Kyou pulling her along. He wouldn't let go.

"Kyou-Kun, your hands are so cold!" Tohru said suddenly, looking up at Kyou in alarm. She looked worried for a moment before presenting her hands to him. "Would you like my mittens?"

"No," Kyou said, frowning thoughtfully as he stuffed his free hand into the pocket of his jacket and kept hanging onto Tohru's other hand. "I don't need them."

"But it's bad to be cold," Tohru said firmly, and looked quite determined to make him wrap up for the winter. Snow fell around them softly, dusting the tops of trees and the path home.

Kyou gave her a tiny smile and continued walking, saying nothing. Tohru must have gotten the message because her hold on his hand only tightened, determined to warm up his hands as best she could. They walked together, leaving footsteps in the snow as they moved.

"I'm not cold," Kyou said suddenly. His hands may have felt cold to Tohru, but he didn't feel the least bit chilly. "I'm fine, really."

Tohru sighed and smiled benignly at Kyou, quickening her pace to walk beside him instead of behind him. She tightened her hold on his hand again, as if determined never to let go. He chuckled lightly and inhaled the strange scent of winter that filtered around them.

"You have large hands," Tohru said suddenly.

Kyou gave her a withered look. "Huh?"

"Your hands," Tohru said again, "they're large."

"Maybe yours are the small ones," Kyou shot back, looking bemused.

Tohru seemed to consider this in all seriousness. Her eyebrows slanted downwards as she tilted her head, regarding their conjoined hands thoughtfully. He rolled his eyes. Tohru was adorable. He paused at another crosswalk and tugged on Tohru when she looked like she would continue walking. Cards whizzed by.

"Your fingers are pink, are you sure you're not cold?" Tohru asked again.

"If I said no, would that keep you from worrying?" Kyou asked instead of answering. Tohru frowned attentively and shook her head. "I didn't think so. No, I'm fine."

"But…" Tohru began.

"Stop it," Kyou commanded in an affectionate tone. "I'm okay. I promise."

Tohru still looked unsure but focused her attentions on several cars passing by. Eventually, the light changed and the two continued across the street, heading back towards their home in the woods. They soon approached the side street that would lead to the house and the snow was piling up by that point.

"We can make a snow man later," Tohru bubbled.

"Huh," Kyou said, only half-listening.

"I wonder if this snow is good for packing," Tohru said, more to herself than to Kyou. "Sometimes it's so powdery you can't do much with it but look at it, you know?"

"Huh," Kyou said again.

Tohru either didn't hear Kyou's disinterest or chose to ignore it, because she continued talking about the snow all the way home and clutching Kyou's hand tightly in order to give him some of his warmth.

Kyou felt warm just standing next to her.