Just a few last days to wrap things up. Thank you again to everyone for reading! I hope you have enjoyed this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
Spring - Season of Rebirth
Spring 1 (New Years Festival)
On the first day of the new year, Kross woke up in Raguna's arms. It felt like a good omen.
For a little while he stayed as still as possible, resting his head against Raguna's chest to listen to his heartbeat. If he could spend another year living quietly here with Raguna at his side, that was all he would ask of fate.
When Raguna stirred and pulled himself out of sleep, the first thing he did was touch a kiss to the top of Kross's head and tell him good morning.
"I feel really lucky, because you're the first thing I get to see in the morning, Kross. It's a good way to start the year, right?"
Kross nodded and shifted up to more easily hug Raguna back. For a moment he was happy just to cuddle, trading soft kisses and feeling Raguna smile every time. Then Raguna rolled over to get out of bed and Kross instinctively tightened his grip.
Before he could let go Raguna had started laughing and rolled back into him.
"Sorry," Kross whispered hoarsely.
Raguna kissed the tip of his nose. "I think it's okay to stay here with you a little longer."
For a little while they forgot about time. Raguna stroked fingers through Kross's hair and let Kross touch soft kisses to his face, his neck, his arms, anywhere he could reach without pulling away from that touch.
When they finally did get out of bed, Kross had a calm, quiet space in his mind.
Raguna had picked up an extra new mochi for him without him realizing. Kross found himself led to the public square to take part in the New Years Festival for the first time.
When he took his turn with the hammer, Raguna's hands covered his.
"You don't have to hit it too hard, okay?" There was a teasing glint in his eye, suggesting he knew Kross would have put his full strength into it without the reminder.
They smashed the new mochi together. Kross would have been more alarmed at how satisfying it was if he didn't have Raguna laughing next to him.
"Who will you give them to?" Raguna asked as they started on the path back towards the south district.
"Stella," Kross answered automatically. It seemed fitting to give one to Erik as well. And Lara, who he hoped would stay another year. And Tabatha, since he had been glad not to see her depart at the end of summer. It might also be appropriate to give Mist something in belated acknowledgment of her safe return. (It was not, he told himself, a marriage token to Raguna's self-proclaimed family. Food might be traditional but if he ever went down that path he wanted something that would last past all of their lifetimes.)
Kross found himself with the surprising problem that there might be more people whom he wished to see in the next year than he had mochi in his hands for.
Raguna seemed to be working on the same problem. "I'm going to make more."
"Wait," Kross called before Raguna could head back to his kitchen. He picked out one of the mochi for Raguna. "Happy birthday."
Raguna's arms were too full to accept it at that moment, and mochi was not the best food for hand feeding, but they made do. Raguna beamed and kissed his fingers and Kross felt his heart melt faster than the last patches of snow.
"Thank you for remembering."
Kross knew he was being teased. Raguna had only picked his birthday yesterday. Then Raguna kissed him and Kross decided he was too happy to care.
"I can't wait to spend another year with you."
Spring 2
The last chill of winter had been cleared away by stiff spring breezes. With his fields cleared and planted, Kross took a moment to simply enjoy the spring sunlight.
He recognized the enthusiastic patter of approaching footfalls, and a smile had crept onto his face even before he turned to watch Raguna hurrying towards him.
"Kross! Happy birthday!" Raguna stopped a few paces in front of him, grinning cheerfully with his hands behind his back.
Pulling Raguna to him and clasping him close, Kross let out a deep sigh.
"Don't you want your present?"
"I don't need. . ." Kross sighed, unsure how to express that all he wanted was Raguna's company. He finally murmured, "Thank you."
Raguna laughed and wiggled in his arms, and Kross could hear him slipping whatever it was into his bag. The next moment he threw his arms around Kross in return.
"Happy birthday," Raguna repeated, relaxing into his embrace.
The day he was born no longer held meaning for Kross, but today he thought he could celebrate a rebirth. This was the day he had begun his life in Trampoli, and now the anniversary of the day Raguna had come into his life.
It was the start of another year. Kross felt at peace thinking of the rise and fall of the seasons and the familiar changes they would bring. This was where he belonged. Here he could build and farm with his own two hands in the place he had made home, alongside the people he loved.
Kross didn't know exactly how it had happened, but he found himself looking forward to the future.
