#grimelius

Makishima stepped off the train platform at the Hakone station and took a deep breath as he tried to force himself to relax. There was nothing strange about spending time with a friend over the winter break and since he was going to spend New Years with his family, that meant that the most convenient time to go visit just so happened to be Christmas. One of the more romantic holidays, spent with Toudou Jinpachi and the rest of his family.

Makishima figured it would either be a complete wreck or extremely entertaining and he was hoping for the latter. The real issue that worried Makishima was between him and Toudou. After all they were… what exactly? Makishima sighed and hitched his bag up and headed towards the exit, following the stream of busy people.

Neither he nor Toudou had actually talked about what was happening between them. They were now far beyond friends but neither had said that word and it was looming over both of them, creeping into the silent spaces whenever Toudou or Makishima couldn’t find something to say.

It had almost been enough to make Makishima decline the invitation when Toudou had called him up a few weeks earlier and told him that winter break was a perfect time to come down and spend time relaxing at an onsen and no one in their right mind would pass up a free stay at a spectacular historical inn and wasn’t Maki-chan lucky that he could go for free and so on and so on.

But he did want to go, nerves aside and well, if he was being practical, the two of them really should talk. And he wanted to do it in person, not over the phone and-

“Maki-chan!”

Makishima almost jumped out of his shoes. He looked around surprised since he’d expected to be tackled but where was Toudou? The exit was full of people rushing in every direction and Makishima didn’t see Toudou anywhere.

“Over here! Quick!”

Makishima swiveled to follow the voice and finally saw it, a small white pickup truck and looking out from the drivers’ side; two nearly identical people were waving at him enthusiastically. Jinpachi and his older sister Nana. It was unnerving how similar they looked even though they were siblings, though Nana didn’t share her brother’s obsession for headbands.

“Toss your stuff in the back and hop in” Nana called out and Makishima obeyed before cramming himself in next to them and they took off down the road.

“How was the train down?” Toudou asked.

“Quiet. Nothing really happened,” Makishima replied. “Which is how I like it.”

“Well prepare yourself for chaos because we’ve got a Christmas on a weekend this year so the inn is extra busy. Not that you need to worry about that, but I have to work a little,” Toudou admitted.

“Heh, I don’t mind helping out if you need me too. As long as it’s not guest relations,” Makishima offered.

Both Jinpachi and Nana laughed at the suggestion. “Don’t worry, Makishima-san. We’ll save that for the fifth time you come to visit,” Nana teased him and Makishima grinned a little. Next to him, Toudou slipped his hand into his and squeezed.

Between the two over-talkative siblings, it was almost impossible for Makishima to get much of a word in but he didn’t really mind. Hakone was as beautiful as ever and Jinpachi and Nana took the opportunity to point out every interesting or historical thing they drove through town. It didn’t take long for them to reach the inn and as soon as they got up to Toudou’s room, he pulled Makishima’s bag away and slipped into his arms, and kissed him. Makishima wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him closer until they broke apart and Toudou nestled in closer, resting his head against his shoulder.

“Finally some privacy. I missed you! I don’t get to see you enough now that the season is over,” Toudou complained.

“Mmmm. The season hasn’t been over that long,” Makishima replied but he would be lying if he said that he didn’t miss seeing Toudou constantly at races. Finding the time and energy to get to Hakone or Chiba was always easier said than done.

“Long enough, plus you were supposed to come down sooner than this,” Toudou replied as he stepped back. “Let’s get you settled in for now” and he grabbed Makishima’s bag and set it out of the way by his bed. “I’ll grab a futon and bedding for you later.

“Thanks.” Makishima looked around at Toudou’s room. It looked like Toudou had put a little tree on his desk but otherwise it was as Makishima remembered, a small bed against the wall, a mirror next to his closet, dresser drawers, a desk and a ridiculous amount of biking and mountain posters. It was small and cozy, so different from Makishima’s own large and fancy house.

“Maki-chan, are you listening?”

“Hmm?” Makishima turned his attention back to Toudou who looked a little annoyed.

“I was saying texts and phone calls aren’t the same and that we need to work harder if we want to see each other during the off season,” Toudou pointed out.

“Oh, yeah. Okay,” Makishima agreed.

“Well, make yourself at home,” Toudou offered. “Are you hungry? Do you want a drink or anything?”

Makishima shook his head and sat down on the bed and Toudou regarded him carefully before sitting next to him on the bed.

“Are you okay with spending Christmas with us?”

Makishima thought about it. “It’s fine. We usually just have cake and junk food and stuff. My sister likes to decorate a little but that’s about it. Sometimes our parents get us presents. It’s not a big thing for us,” Makishima explained. “I just don’t want to get in the way.”

“Don’t worry,” Toudou reassured him, “You’re a guest. And my parents only put their own children to work so you’re safe.”

“You don’t want me scaring away your guests?” Makishima teased him.

“There is proper way to treat guests at Toudou-Ann and if you want to work with them, you’ll have to go through training, Toudou said primly. “We have a high reputation to maintain. Now it’s my turn. Did you get me a Christmas present?”

Makishima was surprised by the sudden topic change but he nodded yes.

Toudou looked absolutely delighted and Makishima said quickly, “It’s nothing too fancy or anything. Just so you know.”

“I’ll love anything you give me Maki-chan,” Toudou promised him. “I got you one too.”

“I hope you like neon,” and he smiled a little when Toudou rolled his eyes and elbowed him in the ribs.

“You ju-st got here, don’t make me kick you out so soon.”

Makishima laughed and let his head fall onto Toudou’s shoulder and he felt his chest swell when Toudou leaned his head against his and wrapped an arm around his waist.

 ———-

Makishima spent the remainder of the day visiting with Toudou’s family, getting introduced to some of the staff, helping out around the inn and hoping they would get to into the baths that evening. Toudou insisted that Makishima could sit and relax while he finished up his chores but Makishima liked having something to do and after all he was there to spend time with Toudou even if that meant folding his own weight in pillowcases.

“Usually we’re not this busy at Christmas time but as soon as it’s a weekend, everyone decides to turn it into a trip,” Toudou complained, glaring at the vast piles of folded sheets and bedding all over the huge laundry room. Makishima kept folding what felt like endless piles of pillowcases, the static in the air making his hair frizz up.

“It should be quiet for New Year’s right? You guys aren’t as busy then?” Makishima asked, pushing his hair behind his ears for what felt like the thousandth time.

“Well we technically shut down for the 1st through the 3rd so we’re not busy, we’re just closed. Some places stay open but for us, it’s one of the only times we close during the year. Maybe we’ll get snow this New Year? he wondered.

“Do you get snow for Christmas?” Makishima asked.

“I think it’s happened once or twice in my life before but not usually,” Toudou replied thoughtfully.  “We usually get snow further into winter.”

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“Hmmm, well you can sleep in if you want; I have to help with breakfast prep. Then we can go into town and or do whatever we want, Toudou suggested. “We can hang out here if you want. Maybe go hiking? I’m sure we’ll need to go to the store for some reason. We’re doing presents for sure though!”

The next day, Christmas day turned out almost exactly as Toudou had predicted. Makishima woke up to busy inn, staff members busy at work and members of the Toudou family scattered all over the premises. Makishima took the time to eat, read and then soak in the baths, enjoying himself but also trying not to add more work to the already busy family.

Finally in the late afternoon, Toudou and Makishima managed to sneak off to Toudou’s room to exchange gifts.

“Me first! I want to open mine first, the suspense is killing me. After what you said, I need to know the color!” Toudou demanded impatiently.

Makishima laughed but went and pulled a vividly wrapped present from his bag and tossed it to Toudou. “Merry Christmas Jinpachi. I uh, I hope it fits?” he said hopefully. “We’re the same height so…”

Toudou didn’t bother with finesse; he tore into the present scattering paper everywhere and yanked the box open as quickly as he could.

“Oh my god, look at this!” Toudou gushed and held up the shirt so he could see it better. 

Makishima had bought Toudou a long sleeved shirt with different traditional Japanese patterns crisscrossing each other. The fabric was light grey and the patterns were printed in dark red, orange and black.

“I love it! I would never have bought this myself but I love it! It’s a weird mix of traditional and crazy.”

“That’s what I was going for, said Makishima, happy that Toudou liked his gift. “It’s traditional but also not.”

Toudou’s gift on the other hand was very practical; a book about long distance cyclying, with a special section focusing on the Tour de France. Makishima had never read this one so he was very happy with his gift.

“I got you one more thing to celebrate Christmas with but you have to wear it today okay? Otherwise it doesn’t make sense,” Toudou added, dragging Makishima’s attention away from his new book.

“Okay?” Makishima said hesitantly. He acknowledged that Toudou’s typical fashion sense was all right, but not his holiday one which could be a little more ahem exuberant than usual. And Makishima knew exuberant for crying out loud.

“Close your eyes,” Toudou ordered and Makishima sighed but obeyed.

“Aaaand open! Tadah!” Toudou crowed. “Christmas lights for your hair!”

Makishima grimaced as he looked at the headband in Toudou’s hands. It was white with a little present on it but dangling from the side was what looked like 30 white lights on a copper wire. Apparently the present was a battery pack that let you turn on the lights. At least they weren’t shaped like Christmas tree lights. Makishima shuddered, that would be even worse.

“You do know that you’re like the 10th person who’s told me to decorate my hair like a Christmas tree right? And that I’ve said no to every person who suggested it?” said Makishima, a little annoyed. 

“Let me French braid your hair! Please?” Toudou pleaded. “It’ll be awesome. And not like a tree at all.”

“Why do you know how to braid anyways?” Makishima asked.

“My sister.”

And that was the only explanation that Makishima needed, but he kept protesting.

“I’m going to look ridiculous. My hair is barely long enough to braid anyways.”

“Excuse you! This summer your hair was just a little further than your shoulders and now it’s way past that. It’s going to be by your waist by the summer interhigh if you don’t cut it soon. You’re the hairiest guy I know!”

Makishima glared at Toudou who shrugged and added sheepishly, “You know what I mean. It’ll be beautiful.”

“Nothing can make me beautiful, let alone a weird braid,” Makishima thought dryly but it was Christmas and only Toudou would see him and he’d already taken it out of the packaging so…

“Fine,” he agreed. “You can braid my hair but don’t even think of hanging ornaments off me. Or anything like that.”

“I hadn’t even thought of that; that’s a wonderful idea Maki-chan,” Toudou said cheerfully.

Makishima groaned but sat down on the floor in front of the bed so Toudou could scoot behind him and still reach his hair. It didn’t take long for him to relax under the feeling of Toudou’s hands as he brushed his hair out and then began to braid, carefully weaving the lights into the long strands until Makishima’s hair was tied into an elegant braid, with the copper wire making his hair look even more iridescent than usual. Toudou tied the braid off with a hair tie and sat back so he could admire his work. Makishima reached up and tried to feel his hair but Toudou swatted his hands away.

“Hold still! Let me turn on the lights then you can look, okay?”

“Hurry up then,” Makishima complained and he twisted and turned around trying to see his back.

Toudou clicked the switch on the headband and Makishima tried to crane his neck to see but it didn’t matter. He couldn’t see but he heard Toudou gasp and he reached out to grab his shoulders to pull him around.

“You look amazing. It’s gorgeous! Here, go look in the mirror.”

Makishima went over to the full-length mirror that hung next to the door and tried to get a better look as Toudou hounded his steps.

Well it was certainly… something. His braided hair did look attractive and the lights scattered throughout it made him think of a Christmas tree but it also made him look almost ethereal, like a forest creature. Well, as ethereal as one could look wearing grey plaid lounge pants and a white t-shirt that said ‘Climb High!’ in neon blue letters. It wasn’t the worse thing that he’d done with his hair, Makishima decided.

“Pictures! Come back over here so I can get some shots.” Toudou waved him back over to the bed with his phone in his hand. Makishima knew better than to protest and he went where Toudou directed him and obeyed as Toudou pushed him into different poses and took pictures from every angle possible.

“I’m tempted to put you in some of my clothes but I don’t think that would really capture you. Besides, you look beautiful like this.”

“What?” Makishima said incredulously. “I’m in lounge pants and an oversized t-shirt. There’s nothing beautiful about me.”

“I disagree,” Toudou said. “I think you look beautiful. And I know plenty about beauty since I’m at the top of the scale. Why? You don’t believe me?”

Makishima shrugged him off. “I believe what you say, not what you see. That’s all.”

Toudou sighed and set his phone down. “Fine, let me show you then.”

“What are you talking about?” Makishima mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

“Let me show you,” he repeated and he went over to the door to turn off the lights, plunging the room into darkness except for Makshima’s hair. The tiny lights illuminated everything and yet nothing. Toudou came back to sit next to him and he reached out to cup Makishima’s face with his hand. Makishima had barely a moment see his face and all the tiny lights reflecting in his eyes when Toudou kissed him, gently at first but putting some pressure behind it until Makishima began to kiss him back. Then Toudou reached out and wrapped his arm around Makishima’s waist but unlike every other time, he slipped it under his t-shirt and across the small of Makishima’s back, running his hand down his side.

Makishima felt his brain short circuit as he suddenly realized what Toudou meant by ‘show you’ and his stomach clenched from nerves. He froze up, not sure if he wanted Toudou to keep going or if he wanted to push him away. Fortunately, Toudou noticed his reaction immediately and pulled back.

“Don’t worry. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I promise. You set the pace,” Toudou reassured him gently.

“I want- I’m not sure what- do whatever you like I guess…” Makishima mumbled, his tongue thick in his mouth, making it even harder to speak than usual. Ever since they’d started getting closer, he’d thought about them doing things, very specific things but it had always been hypothetical, not really something that he ever expected to happen and now he was sittin in the dark, on Jinpachi’s bed with his hands under his clothes and his hair providing otherworldly light it as moved and unraveled around them both.

This was not how he expected to be spending his Christmas but he was not complaining either.

“Do you know what you’re doing at all?” Makishima asked, half shy, half embarrassed by his own lack of experience.

“Not really,” Toudou admitted cheerfully. “I just like touching you. It’s nice.”

Makishima blushed so hard it felt like his entire chest on up was on fire. He didn’t know how to react. A small part of him wanted to curl up and pull away but a far larger part of him desperately wanted Jinpachi to touch him more, to cover his entire body with his hands and mouth and the heat of his body.

It was terrifying. And wonderful.

So Makishima decided to be bold. He scooted backwards until he had a enough space so that he could lie down on his side and Toudou moved with him, lying next to him so they were pressed together or as closely as they could be as they awkwardly jostled each other trying to figure out how they could fit their bodies together but not accidentally elbow one of them in the face or gut. They almost cracked heads at one point and Toudou had to get off Makishima’s hair so it wasn’t crushed underneath them.

But then they were together, face to face, chest to chest, their legs intertwining and hands carefully reaching out to touch, trace and creep under clothing. Toudou kept kissing Makishima on his lips, his face, his neck, his hair and it made it hard for him to him to focus on anything. He was certain that he had a hand wrapped around Toudou’s back, clutching at his shirt but where was his other one? Maybe he could pull Toudou even closer? The sudden need to get even closer consumed Makishima. He ground his hips against Toudou and he heard the groan slip from his mouth and there had to be some other position that would let them get closer and-

All the warning they had was a loud bam against the closed door but it was enough. Toudou flung himself so far away from Makishima that he fell over the side of the bed with a loud crash. Makishima managed to push himself into a sitting position and pull his shirt back down as Hana swung the door open, stopped in apparent confusion then flicked the lights back on.

“Come on you two! It’s snowing and it’s is starting to stick. We need you two to help sweep it up before it gets really bad. Also salt. Everyone else is already outside! ”

Then she noticed her brother laying on the floor, clutching his head and swearing loudly.

“What are you two doing up here?” she demanded, looking suspiciously between them.

“We were exchanging gifts before you decided to interrupt!” Toudou snapped at his sister. Makishima tried to avoid Hana’s gaze, certain that his bright red face would give both of them away. What if she figured it out? This was not how Makishima wanted anyone to find out about their relationship.

“Well, wrap it up! And stop spreading your ridiculous headbands around. The poor guy looks like a walking Christmas tree. ”

“My headbands are not ridiculous. You’ve told us what’s up now go away!” Toudou yelled. 

“Both of you get downstairs then!” she snapped back. “You look very cute Makishima, but don’t let my brother corrupt you too much” and she winked.

“I’ll try not to,” Makishima muttered under his breath.

“Let’s get shoveling then its dinnertime and cake,” and she headed back out the door leaving them both to fully recover from the shock.

Toudou sighed and hauled himself to his feet. “I know what I want for Christmas this year, a lock for my door,” he grumbled and slammed his door shut.

“I’m surprised you don’t have one already,” Makishima said weakly flopping back onto the bed and trying to calm his racing heart. He was so relieved that they hadn’t been caught that he didn’t care in the slightest that the mood had been completely ruined.

“Our house is really old and I’m at the dorms most of the time now. But I think it’s time to ask for one.” Toudou turned and offered a hand to Makishima. “Shall we? Before the rest of my family comes in?”

Makishima reached out and Toudou pulled him to his feet but kept holding his hand.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move that fast outside of a race,” Makishima teased him lightly.

Toudou snorted. “Careful. I’ve got ornaments somewhere. We can still deck you out for Christmas.”

“How about we switch?” Makishima suggested instead.

“Hmmm?”

“Later tonight, you can wear this ridiculous hairband and I’ll kiss you.”

Toudou’s entire face lit up and he pulled Makishima in for a hug. “Well I do tend to look better in headbands than you, so I guess that’s fine with me. You have to take some picture though. Oh! And I can try on my new shirt for a few and…”

Makishima grabbed Toudou and yanked him in for a kiss to shut him up. “We can figure it out later,” Makishima promised. Okay? Before you sister drags us out?”

“Okay,” Toudou agreed happily. “Let’s go. Merry Christmas Maki-chan.”

Makishima pulled his blankets over his face and tried to go back to sleep. It was too early to be up even for him but he could feel the change in the air even as he tried to hide away from it. It should have been dark and dim, but instead the tidy little room was bathed in light grey as white crept around the shutters in all the windows and through the tiny cracks in his bedroom door.

There was nothing for it; he had to check to see if he was right. Makishima dragged himself out of his cozy bed and to the nearest window so he could throw it open and yes, as he suspected, everything was covered in snow, the ground, the trees, his house, as far as the eye could see. The ancient mountain that he lived on was thoroughly buried in snow and more was still falling. To be honest, Makishima quite liked the quiet and privacy that the snow brought. All the creatures from the largest demons to the tiniest mice fled or took shelter. It was beautiful and cold and gave him a spectacular excuse to not leave his home.

However, there was one little problem that worried him enough to make him consider about going outside. There was already enough snow that it would easily reach the top of his boots and it was still coming down hard. Spiders like himself could tuck themselves away and enjoy the winter but other creatures weren’t so lucky. All the mountain gods and spirits would be affected and normally Makishima wouldn’t care but there was one specific god, one very loud and obnoxious god that he had to worry about no matter how inconvenient it was to him.

He looked at the sky again, unsure if he wanted to wait and see if the snow stopped or risk that it would get higher and make it more difficult for Makishima to reach his final destination. He was very nimble and had little trouble climbing the mountains even in the snow but that didn’t mean he wanted to trek out into a storm.

In the end, he waited until afternoon and regretted it. He had to leave right now and even then, he wouldn’t make it till the next day since he would need to take shelter at night. There would be no help for him in this snow. Kinjou had already left the mountain with the other kappas, needing fresh streams and ponds that didn’t freeze. Tadokoro had gone into his den to hibernate for the entire winter, that lazy bear.

Spiders were cold blooded so as long as he kept from freezing, he could withstand the cold quite well. But that didn’t mean he was irresponsible. Makishima still put on his warmest kimono and covered it with a jacket before he slung a traveling bag over his shoulder and took his umbrella and stepped out into the snow.

All the normal paths were buried and it confirmed what Makishima thought. The gods would be freezing and with no humans able to travel and leave offerings at the shrines, hungry and going into hibernation to avoid harm to themselves. And the mountain, or any place really without gods to maintain and care for them became unbearable for everyone, humans and creatures alike. 

It took the entire rest of the day and next morning for Makishima to finally reach his destination. High on the mountain was a small clearing amongst the ancient cedar trees and in it, a small brown shrine. He walked under the plain torii gate and into the clearing towards the shrine. There were no footprints in the snow and as Makishima looked closer, he could see that there were no offerings at the entrance.

Makishima stepped carefully around the offering area and up the three stone stairs to sit on the edge off the raised porch so he could pull off his boots and leave them outside. Then he turned and carefully slid the wooden door open so he could see into the small inner room.

“Toudou?” he called into the darkness, hoping to see the god up and moving but as his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he saw a huge mound built up on the right side of the room. He tiptoed over to take a closer look and realized it was Toudou sleeping in his futon covered with not only his blankets but every kimono that he owned as well.

Makishima set his belongings aside and sat down so he could nudge Toudou awake and when he didn’t respond, he began to shake him gently, calling his name the entire time. Finally to Makishima’s relief, Toudou opened his eyes and he glared at whatever had awoken him, but he didn’t speak or try to move.

“Toudou? It’s me. You need to wake up now,” said Makishima, hoping that there wasn’t anything seriously wrong with him.

“Maki-chan?” Toudou answered weakly. “What are you doing here? It’s winter. Leave me to sleep some more.”

“You and I both know you can’t sleep the entire winter away. ”

“I can certainly try,” he grumbled under his breath and Makishima had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. All it took to wreck Toudou’s cultured persona was a bit of snow and it was a little ridiculous if not worrying.

“If you sleep all winter then the mountain will be left unguarded and untended. You have to get up, even if it’s only for a little while every day to use your power. You were the one who told me this, years ago,” Makishima reminded him.

Toudou sighed deeply and nodded against his pillow. “It is true. Even if I don’t like it.”

“We can’t choose our natures, Makishima replied wryly. “Another quote from you, my dear.”

“Stop using my words against me when I’m so tired. It’s not fair,” Toudou whined piteously and Makishima had to stop himself from laughing. It was unfair to laugh at someone who was sick he decided and he scooted closer to the mound of clothes and reached under the pile so he could hold Toudou’s hand.

“You’re cold! You shouldn’t have gone outside, you will make yourself sick,” Toudou said squeezing his hand but Makishima shrugged off his concern.

“Spiders are cold-blooded, and I’m a better climber than most as you well know. It needs to be much worse than this for me to be affected. Unlike a certain god.

“Ah, so you were worried about me?” Toudou asked him happily.

“I was worried about what would happen to the mountain if its’ protection disappeared because you decided to sleep for the next two months,” Makishima half lied and it was clear from the grin on Toudou’s face that he didn’t completely believe him and Makishima decided to change to subject. “Where is Manami? Is he around for you ask for help?”

Toudou shrugged and shook his head. “That ridiculous tengu has probably blown all the way to the Middle Country with the way the wind has been. I’m sure we’ll see him back in the spring but who knows? He does what he wants, that bothersome featherhead. Everyone else has left for warmer parts. You seem to be one on the only people who stays during the winter. Besides me of course.”

“It certainly feels like that sometimes,” Makishima muttered under his breath. He didn’t really mind it though, it only made it better when the world awoke in the spring and everyone returned home. And it meant that he could be alone with Toudou with no distractions but he didn’t mention that part.

Toudou murmured a reply from the bed and Makishima saw that he was falling asleep again.

“Alright it’s time,” and he nudged him in the side again. “If only once today, you must get up and tend to the mountain. Then I’ll let you sleep more,” Makishima promised.

“And what about tomorrow? Are you going to poke me awake again?” Toudou sulked a little.

“That’s the plan,” Makishima answered and he could see the surprise show on Toudou’s face.

“You are going to stay with me? For the winter?” Toudou asked beaming and he even tried to sit up.

“I will stay for a while,” Makishima replied and he reached out to help Toudou sit up. “At least until this snow stops falling and melts some. And I can be certain that you won’t go into hibernation dooming everyone to freeze in their beds.”

“The mountain and I are tied together and winter is the hardest time. If the mountain sleeps, I sleep. If the mountain thrives, then I thrive. And vice-versa,” Toudou explained and he pushed his hair out of his face so he could see better in the dim light. “Fine, let’s get this over with.”

Toudou kicked aside his blankets and dragged himself from the bed and Makishima saw to his surprise that Toudou had also wrapped himself up in a few of his summer yukatas.

“Are you really that cold? We’ve had colder weather than this before and you were alright.”

But Toudou didn’t reply and shuffled over the to the door and out to sit down on the porch. He looked around, taking in the new snowy view of his shrine before turning his gaze to the sky, watching the snow fall. Makishima followed after and sat next to him and Toudou immediately cuddled up to him and for a while, there was no sound or movement but the wind and snow, turning the world into an unending curtain of white. Everything was muted and cold and Makishima would have enjoyed every second of it except that it was causing pain for the one he loved most.

“It’s in my bones this time. We’re going to have a very long winter…” Toudou trailed off unhappily and he pulled his yukatas tighter around him and Makishima wrapped an arm around his bulky form to pull him closer and tuck him under his chin.

“It is beautiful though,” Toudou said softly.

“It is,” Makishima agreed.

“And a gigantic pain in my side.”

Makishima chuckled. “That too.”

Toudou sighed and moved to the very edge of the shrine. “Alright, let’s get this over. Maki-chan, please make sure I don’t fall off the porch.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Maki-chan!”

“I promise! I won’t drop you.”

“Thank you.”

Toudou braced himself with his left hand and reached out with his right to place it on the snow and under his touch the snow began to boil away, turning into steam as Toudou leaned further and further down and finally placed his palm against the bare earth. Makishima had grabbed the back of his clothes so he didn’t fall face first into the snow and from that angle he could see Toudou’s hand glowing bright blue. The weather around them didn’t appear to be affected but Makishima thought for an instant that he felt something flicker. But the feeling was gone as soon as it appeared.

“That’s enough,” Toudou called and Makishima hauled him back over the edge onto the porch.

Toudou nodded at the ground satisfied. “I’ll repeat that again tomorrow but for now, I want to go back to sleep,” and Makishima agreed. He helped him up and led him back to his futon and Makishima settled himself next Toudou so he could tuck him in. Then he leaned over to kiss him.

“Can’t believe it took that long for you to kiss me,” Toudou pouted a little, and he reached out up pull Makishima into a deeper kiss.

“I was too busy making sure you weren’t dead,” said Makishima, reaching out to gently flick Toudou on the check before pushing his bangs off his face and running his fingers through his hair.

Toudou grinned at him. “You’d know if I was dead. I’d become a hungry ghost and haunt you.”

“Spectacular. So I’m stuck with you for the rest of your life then?”

“Absolutely. And yours too,” Toudou added.

Makishima looked around for his bag and once he found it, he pulled his loom out and began to assemble the pieces as Toudou watched. He’d had the idea earlier when he saw what Toudou was wearing and since he was staying for a while, now was the perfect opportunity.

“Get some sleep now. I’ll keep an eye on you and get some work done,” Makishima said.

“I’m not going to wake up and find cobwebs everywhere am I?” Toudou asked sounding a little worried.

“I can’t promise anything,” Makishima replied affectionately. “You’ll have to wait and trust my work. Now go to sleep.”