h e a v e n ' s t e a r s

The rain was falling heavier now. All around him people were scurrying for shelter, even those who had umbrellas. Puddles of water grew in volume, overflowing into the gutters and joining the frothing gush beneath. A low rumble of thunder mingled with the city sounds of screeching tires, honking vehicles and the constant chatter of the denizens.

"How unlucky," he heard a young woman say. "It was so clear at the start of the evening."

"No use complaining about it," her companion rejoined. "Think of a way to get to Natsume-san's party without getting our costumes ruined!"

And then their voices vanished as a cab drove by, splashing water on the unfortunate pedestrians, him included. Several cursed, while still others grimaced in annoyance, fruitlessly shaking water out of their garments.

The light turned green. As one, the crowd surged across the slick street.

A kindly old lady approached him, eyes wide with concern. "Young man, would you like to share my umbrella? Drenched as you are, you'll fall ill!"

He smiled. "Thank you, Obasan," he said faintly, "but it's okay. Go on ahead."

Her worry deepened. "Be sure to take a warm bath when you get home," she advised, patting his damp arm. At his reassuring nod, she hurried over to the other side of the street. He watched, eyes strangely sad, as her multi-colored umbrella disappeared in the throng of people.

Blinking rainwater out of his eyes, he stepped up to the curb. An adolescent brushed past him, similarly soaked, calling out for his friends to wait. In his haste, the student slammed into a besuited woman, causing her to yelp. His hurried apology was dwarfed by her glare and admonishment.

Turning away, the young man continued along the sidewalk. He declined several more offers of shelter, and although he smiled as he did so, he was far from joyful. For inside, he was empty. Numb from his constant pain, his duty.

He paused as he reached the end of the street and gazed in the distance. Neon lights and flashing billboards shone through the curtain of rain, hazy against the night sky. For a moment the sight took him back to his past, where he'd once admired the city for what it was, a place he had never been to.

A place where he'd triumphed, failed, loved and lost.

A sigh escaped his lips as he bowed his head once more. Tears and rain - one could never tell one from the other.

A place which still fed his grief, even after so long.

He passed a roadside caf�, metal tables and chairs dripping wet, even though they were sheltered by a canvas canopy. He glanced into the eatery, looking past the warm lighting and cosy interior. Eyes narrowed slightly, he walked on.

He waited until he reached the bay, partly deserted due to the downpour. As his gaze fell to the ground, he saw that the raindrops were falling outside a circle around him.

"What's the use?" he murmured.

If the other was surprised, he didn't show it. Moving out from behind, he came to stand before the young man. "You'll get pneumonia if you continue to get battered by the rain, Subaru-kun."

The named one smiled, but it was a vacant reflex. "That would be none of your concern, wouldn't it?" Pivoting, he stepped out from the offered shelter and walked down slowly to the railings. The other followed, swinging the umbrella around to cover Subaru.

"Nine years," the other said then, "and you're still as foolish."

Subaru half-lidded his eyes. "At least I'm consistent," he whispered. He placed his hands on the railings, fingers curling lightly around the cold, finished metal.

"My, but how you've grown," came the soft, nonchalant reply. "Why did you crop your hair so? And haven't you been eating?"

"That, also, is none of your concern."

His adversary leaned closer and claimed one of his hands. At his slight touch, the mark began to glow softly. "Oh but it is," he answered, displaying the bluish, inverted star. His meaning was plain, intended to deepen Subaru's hurt.

The young man merely smiled, the same, blank, ethereal curve of lips. This pain, he had traversed before. "It doesn't matter what state I die in," Subaru replied dreamily, "the less it pleases you, the better."

The other didn't respond for a long moment. Finally he tightened his clasp on Subaru's hand and put his lips to Subaru's ear. "And what would you know about my pleasures?" he breathed.

Subaru turned. With his free hand, he gently stroked the other's face. He saw the subtle change in the other's expression upon the unexpected gesture. Leaning even closer, Subaru shut his eyes and lightly brushed their lips together; a sweep of feathers against skin. They shared a breath, the other inclining forward even as Subaru turned aside. "I know enough," he murmured, caressing the other's jaw, "to not fulfill them."

He drew back completely, disengaging his hand from the other's suddenly slack grip. Stepping backwards, he turned his back fully and strolled down the path, letting the rain retrace icy trails down his skin.