Konoko ran back to Rain, her arms full of flowers. "Look, Rain!" She grinned. They looked like tiny flakes of snow. "They're beautiful." He smiled. Konoko twirled around, scattering the blossoms everywhere. "Why did you plant them, Rain?" He cocked his head to the side. "Because the world needs beauty sometimes." A voice came from behind him. "You're so cheesy sometimes, Rain." He turned around and grinned wider. "And is that a bad thing, Freya?" She leaned on his head distractedly. "Well, It's better than when you go off on a tangent about your super body." He smiled to himself and moved suddenly so she would fall onto his lap. "Ack!" She did.

………………

That night he lay in the snow-flowers, staring up at the stars and smiling peacefully to himself. Big blue eyes leaned over him, looking upside-down. "Thank you, Rain."

"For what?" He asked innocently.

Freya smiled down at him. "For the flowers." She pulled her violin from behind her back and started a mid beat tempo, her dark brown gair waving wildly in the wind.

"Don't cry on a sleepless night

Don't fall down in the cold rain

Live, live

For years to come

Take me to the distant future

On your wings, my only angel

Don't cry on a sleepless night

Don't fall down in the cold rain

Live, live

For years to come

Because I will go anywhere

With you…."

………………..

Kiki mewled plaintively atop the small violin. Machika shooed her off quickly, glancing around. "Don't sit on that you cat… Bunny… thing!" The cat bunny thing cocked her head to the side in puzzlement, unsure of the reason she was being told off. Machika looked up as Rain approached. "Sorry, I got her off of it." Rain smiled slightly. "t doesn't matter." He put in under his arm and started off, a confused and vaguely happy Machika hurrying after him.

"It was hers, wasn't it, the woman in the ice?"

A strange woman I've never see stares down at me with cold eyes…

Rain's expression and stride didn't change, he said simply "……Yes."

I could have loved you….

But you didn't. And everyone I loved has been peeled away, slowly.

Machika stumbled, trying to keep up with his long legs. He turned and caught her, then held her close.

No matter how tightly I hold, everyone is taken away, while I am left to wander this earth.

… But I won't cry.

Machika looked up at him, confused.

"Let's go get drunk!"

She face faulted.

Don't cry on a sleepless night

Don't fall down in the cold, cold rain

Live, live

For years to come

Take me into the distant future….