12/24 :: Christmas Eve :: Dragons of Heaven
-----Darkness Approaching (200-word drabble)
Dinner couldn't possibly be festive. But still they ate together, and groped for comfort in the silence. Six days left. Four at the table. Four missing comrades.
Yuzuriha hunched down, fighting back tears. It felt so awful, missing Sorata, Karen, and Subaru, but she was so achingly glad to have Kusanagi next to her—how could she even mourn them properly…
Arashi glanced at the younger girl, noted the tears welling up, and guessed Yuzuriha's thoughts. But truly, she was to blame, driving Sorata to his death…
Aoki wondered if Karen had celebrated Christmas. Perhaps she would've sweet-talked the Chairman into getting a tree, given them all presents, teased and smiled and bolstered them up against the coming darkness… Suddenly, the two dark heads bent over their plates came starkly into focus for him. Leaning across the table, he grasped their still hands and watched their faces turn towards him in surprise.
"Don't," he murmured softly, "Remember, for… the sake of Karen-san, Sorata-san, and Subaru-san… we will keep fighting… we will not invite the darkness in."
He watched as Yuzuriha's and Arashi's faces cleared, nodded as Kusanagi placed his hand over Aoki's and Yuzuriha's linked ones. Together, they responded, "Yes."