Disclaimers: Weiss : NOT MINE. (Don't you think that if I did I would not be writing a fanfic?)

Author bewailing miserable fate

A/N: Belated HAPPY NEW YEAR MINNA SAN!!!

O.o I still got readers… Yay! Thanks so much for the reviews everyone! They were nice New Year's gifts for me! Ureshii!!! 'Happy' datta! Here's a hug!

(Author suffering another sugar high… so please forgive the chirpiness! New Year's resolution no.1) Reduce sugar intake by 75!!!)

I got the idea of this fic from the song "Snow Crystal" from Saiyuki Reload. Especially when I heard the lines: "Snow is falling silence, I fall into heaven… I fall into darkness"

For some reason, I loved those lines…

Some quick notes again:

1) Ya Aya can be bastard but gotta love him! (reminds me of a certain monk actually) (chuckles!)

2) The second part was quite short, I seem to have the second chap complex, meaning my second chapter ends up being the shortest chap… hehehe… besides I still didn't know what to do with this fic then…

3) To lily: Kenken's cold coz… of any or all of the following: it's winter, the heater's got a problem, he's got holiday blues, his blankets are thin, he feels alone, and Aya's being a jerk. You may choose. (chuckle!)

4) The big question: Why is Aya/Ran being so mean to poor Kenken? Well… this chap might help us understand a bit… (or so I hope)

5) To Siberian-emerald: Aya's suffering scene huh? Well this chap is somewhat-but-not-quite it. More of a reflecting Aya…Let me see what I can come up with in the next chap…

6) I think this piece has been quite Ken-centric, don't you agree? So this one gets more of Aya-kun…

7) Ah… I could get quite cliché at times so please excuse that… though I'm gonna try not to be too sappy… or too fluffy O.o (gaahh! no morbid thoughts!)

8) And if I get quite or too ooc, please do tell… thanks…

PLEASE R&R! : )

So here it goes:

FROST by Kage Kurokawa

Part III Thawed for the Night

Bright city lights tempts a passerby to look at them. For some reason on this night they seemed brighter than ever. Perhaps it is because they glow amidst the background of a black, cloudy and starless night sky. Or maybe because tonight is New Year's Eve. But in the middle of the dazzling lights and seemingly cheerful atmosphere stands a man in a long dark gray coat, looking lost and forlorn despite that inscrutable expression painted upon his strikingly beautiful features. His hair, red like fire. Is it as warm as looks to be? Does it represent a passion hiding behind the man? A stranger would be made to wonder just by looking at him. On the contrary his skin, his face, the way he carries himself, he seems to be one with the snow that falls lightly on the ground around him. Pale. Cold. But enchanting nonetheless. Touch them and they turn to water on one's hands. One cannot seem to touch the snow as it is. It always turns into some thing else. Will he

melt when he is touched? But then he is not made of snow. He is a man.

Walking silently in the midst of a crowd, Aya promptly ignored the appreciative and curious looks that were directed his way. His ears were deaf to the sounds of happy chatter of the people around him. Families dining out for this occasion. Couple on dates. Friends on the night out. Singles looking for love before the clock strikes twelve. He is oblivious. Lost in his own memories. Haunted by his ghosts. As always.

His restless feet had somehow taken him in front of a bakeshop. He glanced at the window and was greeted by the sight of cakes, pastries, and sweets of various shapes and sizes. Images of long ago flashed before his eyes. Wonderful, warm, cherished. But with the passing of time, the memories that came with scene were more bitter than sweet.

xxx

"Otousan! Okaasan! Here! Let's go in here!"

"Aya! Matte! Don't run!"

A little girl of ten ran happily towards door of a popular bakeshop. Her hair in pigtails bouncing softly behind her. Her bright blue and yellow dress gracefully follow her every move, highlighting the sparkle in her playful blue eyes. She stopped and waved back to her family.

"Here! Hurry up! Mou, Onii-san you're too slow!" She stomped her feet impatiently and pretended to pout.

"Honestly Aya, you're like a boy." A young teen approached her. His violet eyes smiling as he softly ruffled the young girl's pigtails. "It's like having a little brother than a sister."

The girl stuck her tongue out at him in reply.

"Aya, what did I tell you about running on the streets?"

"Gomen, Otousan."

"You should act like a lady when you're in a dress Aya-chan."

"Hai, Okaasan."

"But she's a little boy in a dress Okaasan."

"Okaasan, make him stop teasing me!"

"Ran, stop teasing your sister."

"Aww… Okay."

"Let's get some cake, onegai?"

"Alright dear, but what would you like?"

"I want the chocolate, but strawberry looks nice. The cheesecake looks delicious but the mango…"

"You're gonna get sweet tooth eating lot's of sweets imouto. Not to mention…fat!" Laughed Ran.

"I will not get fat!"

"Will too!"

"Will not!"

"Not too mention you'll lose all your teeth!"

"Okaasan! Make him stop!"

"Ran!"

xxx

Ran. A distant memory. His name is Aya now.

Aya. Her name. His name. Their shared name now. She is his only link to the life that he had once. Happy times. Wonderful moments. And she's asleep. Just as he left her two years ago. Just as he left her last week. Just as he left her earlier this evening as he wished her a happy New Year.

And so here he was. In the middle of the city. Reveling in past memories. The events of the past few days making him cling more to the memories of the past. H must not forget. He cannot be distracted. He cannot forget his purpose. He must not forget his pain. Not for one moment. He vowed on his parent's grave. He will not waver.

He continued to wander down the city streets. Walking towards nowhere. His feet a bit weary but his spirit is still restless. He wasn't aware of his surroundings till he reached a familiar place. Several lights illuminating the space before him. It was empty. The lack of people made it seemingly bigger than it really is. He sat down a familiar bench. This is where blue-green eyes would haunt him again. But he was too tired to turn and walk back.

So Aya just sat there. Looking into empty space. The ground was lightly covered by snow, where it used to be green with grass. And for what seemed like hours, the redhead just sat there. And fell in a light kind of sleep dreaming about how in his eyes the snow gradually turns to red.

Blood.

His parents lying on the pool of their own blood. His mother looking up at him with empty eyes. His father, lifeless his face contorted in pain. In the dark kitchen. On his sister's sixteenth birthday.

Then the bomb. His legs. Unmoving behind the rubble. His sister. His baby sister, trying to get up. Looking up at him with pained eyes as the car hit her.

He will never forget his face. The man in the car. The bane of his existence. The reason why his hands are tainted. Why his sister's in that plane between life and death. The one who made him turn out to be who he is. Takatori. Reiji Takatori!

And with that final image violet eyes snapped open. And with a firm decision promised himself that this will be the year that he kills that bastard.

He looked around him as he recovered from his nightmare. He was still there. And now with his eyes opened a new figure haunts his waking dreams as he fervently tries to shake it away. Not now. He will not start the year by being weak. He will not start it by being distracted. Aya shook his head slightly and get up on his feet. He looked down on his watch. It read 11:07. Almost an hour till midnight. He's decided to go home and get some sleep. He's got the morning shift tomorrow. No point in greeting the New Year without the people you want to celebrate it with.

Again came a picture in his head that he promptly ignored.

Baka.

As he turned back, he saw a slightly staggering figure walking up to him.

Probably some drunk.

His eyes widened a fraction as the man's form entered his realm of vision.

Hidaka. Ken.

xxx

Ken looked up to meet violet orbs directed straight at him. Ken looked away and continued forward. Moving beside his redhead leader, he slumped on the bench that the other had previously occupied.

"Why are you here?" He asked. He didn't really know why he was asking. He just felt like it. He wasn't even expecting an answer. Not after everything that happened.

"This is a public park."

"Oh. Right. I forget." Soft laughter. Not really cheerful.

"Are you drunk?"

"Not drunk. Just tipsy."

"There's a difference?"

"Of course. Drunk is when you can't remember you're name, puke your brains out, talking incoherent words and fall dead on your feet. Tipsy is just--- hey! Why are you so talkative all of a sudden?"

Aya thought of leaving, but something's nagging him to change his mind. So on grounds he would not dare understand he sat beside the 'tipsy' soccer player.

"Just humor me, Hidaka."

"Weren't you just about to leave."

"…"

"So why aren't you leaving yet?"

"Do I detect bitterness?"

"Stop mocking me Aya. I'm too tired for your mind games. I'd like to begin my year without them."

Ken's eyes were cast downwards with his head bent and chocolate strands falling on his face. He could almost flinch as he felt his leader's hard scrutiny. He shivered a bit from the cold wind. And it was eerily silent for some time before he heard a rustle of cloth being removed and a white scarf was tied around his neck. Aya's scarf. He could swear that he saw Aya blushed a bit. Must be the alcohol. But he knew that was blushing himself. Awkward.

It rendered Ken speechless for a while before his thoughts went dark. Not again.

"Aya-"

"Shut up."

"Okay."

"…"

Minutes passed. The brown-haired soccer player broke the uncomfortable tension in the air.

"Youji invited me to spend the New Year with him on the bar. He said hooking up with lovely ladies is the best way to start the year."

"…"

"Of course when we got to the bar, we had a few drinks and he found his lady of the night. That inconsiderate bastard. He seemed to have forgotten about me after dumped a pretty little airhead on my lap and went his way."

Violet eyes narrow slightly. But their owner remained quiet.

"I'm so gonna kill him tomorrow. After I get over my hangover."

"…"

"You know, I have no idea where Omi had gone off to tonight… that kid…"

"Stop spouting nonsense Ken."

"And stop being such a prick Aya! If you want your silence then go somewhere else."

"And you say you're not drunk."

"I am not drunk! Tipsy. Tipsy means I can't control my damn mouth! Drunk means I trip on my feet and stay down. So just butt out and leave me to my mutterings!"

Aya let out an exasperated sigh. Why he was putting up with this 'tipsy', clumsy, babbling, idiotic teammate of his, he refused to find out.

Meanwhile Ken was struggling so hard not to lose his temper. He's physically cold. He's emotionally drained. He's mind half induced with alcohol. And Aya keeps messing with his brain. He gave up.

"That's it. I'm exhausted. I'm too tired to argue or pick a fight. I just want to start this year in peace okay." He looked at Aya with somber blue-green orbs. "If you want to stay and keep me company, fine. If you really hate me that much, just leave me alone for now. You can pick on me tomorrow."

The facade of the amethyst orbs cracked a little. He gazed at the starless sky. Not much of a view.

"Are you going to sit here till midnight?"

"Yes Aya. It's not like I've got anywhere else to go."

"A few minutes more."

"Aya… can I ask you a question?"

"…" Not this again, please.

"Do you feel cold?"

"???" It was unexpected.

Suddenly, the black canopy of the sky was bombarded with colors. Fireworks that obviously meant that one year has ended and another has begun.

The two men who sat at the bench in the empty park looked up to admire the view.

But Aya Fujimiya only got a good view for a few seconds as surprise etched on his still features when he felt hand grabbed onto the collar his coat. He felt warm, soft lips on his, giving a short almost chaste kiss. Before he found himself looking at a pair of sober blue green eyes.

A déjà vu if you will. Of something that happened in the darkened hall, and in the middle of the flower shop…

But this time, no punches were thrown.

No slap came.

In their place was a whisper. A plea.

"Maybe. Just maybe I am drunk. So can you just hit me tomorrow? Or maybe finally tell it to my face how much you hate me… or how much I disgust you? But for now… please… just let me pretend that I'm actually warm---"

And as the sky was brilliantly sparkling with colorful pyrotechnics, Aya leaned over and gave Ken a proper kiss for the New Year.

Tonight. Just for tonight, he would give in to the temptation that's been gnawing at him for days, weeks, months… whatever.

He might regret or there maybe hell to pay tomorrow but he doesn't care.

And in his mind he answered the brunette's earlier question.

Was he cold?

Yes.

He was frozen.

But the ice would be thawed, even for just one night.

End Chapter

A/N: Okay…how was it? did I bore you? Hope I didn't…

Oh my! It's almost too tempting to make this longer… about chapter per week till Valentines Day (meaning about 3-4 more)! (Hey, this could my first Valentines fic!) What do you guys think?

But then that would mean that I'm gonna have to torture poor Kenken and Rankun some more, and more evil cliffies! (YamiKage comes out of the shadows with a maniacal grin!)… I don't know…

So… Should I… or should I not? Should I end with the next chappie? Please do tell when you review to help me make up my mind.

Please read and review… suggestions, comments… the works…

Arigatoo!

A HAPPY 2005 TO YOU ALL!

JA NE! Mata Raishou!