The Dressingroom Proper: The Christmas Date

[i_x_x]

The halls and wide areas of the non-world are still covered with a thick blanket of snow. Normally it would be cold, and the paths would be icy, but wherever the boy walks the ice melts; the odd power of the place touches neither him, nor the friend who walks in his company

Comments

[demifemme]

*Shura is rendered speechless by the beauties that Ryoji can make appear as she continues to walk at his side, one arm hooked around his, her other hand slightly raising the skirt of her gown.*

[i_x_x]

It's more than all right that she doesn't talk. For a minute he's silent himself in appreciation of the glowing colors that appear before them. Here and there, strings of lights blink into existence, minus the wire that would hold together christmas lights. Ryoji apparently doesn't recall the mechanics of the things as well as he recalls the way they looked.

"This reminds me of the night I realized who I was, back when Ryuji was allowing me to live. I can't remember crying more in my entire life."

[demifemme]

*Shura says nothing, just slipping her hand down to squeeze Ryoji's hand.*

[i_x_x]

He squeezes it back and continues. "I thought it meant I was never going to be able to be with all of the friends I had made. Him, Junpei, Shinji, Yukari, Akihiko, Mitsuru, even Koro-chan. I thought because I can never die I would lose them forever."

There's a long pause and then he hangs his head, "I realized suddenly... that's what everyone thinks. That's what they're all afraid of. And I understood what it meant to be alive, right there, alone, looking at all of these lights."

[demifemme]

*Shura nods slowly.* I... Ryoji... *... but she has nothing to say, so she just looks at him, a bit sadly.*

[i_x_x]

Looking absolutely devious, he steals a kiss from her cheek before she can turn away.

"I wasn't sad after that, Shura. I realized that we are all like these little tiny lights- fighting against the cold. A little different, but very much the same. Pretty by ourselves, but when we are all together..." In a blaze the entire area is aglow with thousands of tiny colored pinpricks.

"...beautiful."

[demifemme]

*Shura gasps noiselessly in surprise as the multitude of lights light up, looking around with her mouth slightly open. She even forgets that Ryoji just kissed her as her throat tightens.*

Beautiful... beautiful...

[i_x_x]

"Yes." He slows and lets her stop to look at them all, twinkling and causing the snow around them to sparkle like miniature gemstones.

[demifemme]

*She has no idea why she's so touched. Clearly, her latest experience as a human and the murder have made her soft... that's the only explanation she can think of for why she's so touched by this display, why her throat is so tight and her vision blurry.*

[i_x_x]

"Even so, beauty is hard to appreciate when you're in pain, isn't it."

He lets go of her hand for a moment, and the cold suddenly returns, only to dissipate when his touch returns to her shoulders.

[demifemme]

... yes... *Tears flow free of her eyes as she blinks, still contemplating the lights, shivering when Ryoji places his hands on her shoulders.*

[i_x_x]

"That all I am, Shura. An escape when pain becomes too much. When one can no longer see beauty in life, I come, and I take them all home."

[demifemme]

*Shura chuckles softly through the tears.* Are you trying to tell me to kill myself?

[i_x_x]

"Of course not, Shura. I'm trying to ask you not to kill me."

[demifemme]

*Shura turns to face him, taking his hands in hers.* Could I ever?

[i_x_x]

"The universe you wish to bring into existence... the very cycle you wish to stop..." He closes his eyes and for a moment lets the snow fall on his face.

"It's the cycle of death and rebirth. The End and the Conception are my reason for existing."