Raindrops

Slowly, a lone figure ambled along the sidewalk. Rain cascaded down around him, thick nearly to the point of being sheets, but utterly unheeded by the man. A simple black trench coat keeping his clothing from becoming soaked, he continued on his way, leisurely strolling, as though there weren't a torrential downpour going on around him. Having long since left his starting point, a long braid of hair hung down his back, soaked through and unusually limp as a result.

Pausing at a street corner, the man tilted his head back, violet eyes gazing up at the cloud releasing the water, rain splashing on the lenses of his sunglasses. Smiling weakly, the man returned his attention to the streets nearby, before carelessly crossing one of them, continuing on his merry way.

The streets and sidewalks were nothing short of deserted. There wasn't much wind, but the rain was enough to drench anything less than plastic or leather in less than five minutes. So it was that the sidewalk was about level with the river the roads had become. Soon, the entire area would be flooded, though most of the residents had already taken to looking for high ground.

The walking figure was unconcerned. He didn't live in the area, anyway. He had only stopped by for a quick visit, and was back on his way again. Time for the next stop on his list. He shifted his gaze slowly over his surroundings as he continued on, letting the rain, the cold, leak into his bones, let the peaceful, constant patter of the rain comfort him, numb the pain. Under cover of rain, the man allowed himself the rare luxury of crying. It would be a while before he reached his destination, anyway.

For hours, he walked on in the rain, only mildly surprised that the storm seemed to follow him. It was fitting, really, and complimented his mood perfectly. He'd walked several miles, well outside the town he'd been in, and came to an abrupt halt in front of a black iron gate, swung inwards and open. He'd been walking along the matching fence for some time, and only then turned to look at what the fence surrounded. Countless slabs of stone rose from the earth in neat little rows.

Standing outside the graveyard for a long moment, the man drew in a deep breath, before stepping in. Absently, he shoved his gloved hands into his pockets, walking down the familiar path, counting the rows of headstones as he passed them, violet eyes flickering left, flickering right, purpled lips mouthing the names of the deceased. It was like poetry to him, a conjuration of the spirits they represented.

Finally, he turned down a row, strode purposefully towards a set of eleven stones set apart from the rest. He paused, and read those stones aloud.

"Heero Yuy, Triton Winner, Quatre Winner, Chang Wufei, Relena Yuy, Anne Une, Sally Po, Lucrezia Merquise, Zechs Merquise, Treize Khushrenada, Mariemaia Khushrenada." He smiled sadly at the stones. Approaching Wufei's, he knelt in the soft, vibrantly green grass, pulling a hand from his pocket, running gloved fingers over the gravestone.

"Why didn't you listen to me, 'Fei?" He sighed weakly. "I warned you. I warned all of you. I am Shinigami. You knew I'd never lie. Now you're all buried deep under the earth, all because I touched you." Shaking his head firmly, he frowned at the headstone. Tugging off his glove, he brushed his bare fingers over the grass, watched it turn brown, curl up, and die. "I told you."

"Because I didn't know you meant it literally." The likeness of Wufei had appeared, perched comfortably atop his gravestone. "It's my own fault, I suppose, for not realizing it was the blunt truth."

Shrugging carelessly, Wufei smiled. "Even if I had known, I would not have cared. What time we had together was well worth the price I paid."

"We did. So tell me, love, why have you come to visit me this time?" Wufei leaned forward, genuinely interested.

"It's been exactly three years today." He frowned at the Asian, fingering the ring on his left hand ring finger.

"It has." Wufei smiled again. "And you still refuse to remove the ring." A light chuckle. "It would not upset me if you moved on."

"I know, but I can't move on, 'Fei." Duo smiled. "I promised you forever, and I meant it. I've promised it to you for thirty-nine thousand, one hundred fifty-two lifetimes, and I'm not about to break it while I'm aware of the promise."

"I know." Nodding softly, Wufei reached out, brushed his fingers over Duo's cheek. "We're all waiting for you on this side. We've been watching the strings of fate closely."

Smiling at the touch, Duo wasn't surprised when he actually felt it. "I'll be over in under an hour." He nodded, pressed his own fingers to his forehead, closing his eyes. "Exposure to the elements and hypothermia, this time."

Duo grinned. "And you die from fights an awful lot more." He stuck his tongue out in a childish gesture.

Smiling, Duo moved over, propping himself up against the gravestone, pulling his glove back on. He sang softly, even as he felt the cold making his limbs heavy, joints stiffen up. "Rain, rain, don't go away, come again every day." He smirked, singing it softly, over and over.

He loved the rain. Loved that it sent the living into hiding, rejuvenated the planet, soothed his mind with the steady plop of drops, a veritable symphony of nature.

Listening to the sound of the rainfall, he barely noticed his body shutting down, spirit becoming loose, before finally slipping free of his body, just as the storm broke.

Free from the encumbering body, Shinigami flew free on the wind, upwards towards heaven, leaving a vibrant rainbow in his wake.

He loved the raindrops, but he loved rainbows even more. They were his silent promise that life would renew itself, time and again. It was the tiny solace he had when he was reaping souls. One day, he knew, he would be free of that job, passing it on to another soul, and would take back to the life cycle normally. He yearned for the day when he would be able to hold his soul mate without ensuring Wufei's death would come soon after.