• tab Small flakes out snow fell softly onto the gray pavement, the icy substance piling up slowly. Couples snuggled together as they walked through the brightly lit square, the extravagantly decorated Christmas tree standing in the middle of it all. Giggles could be heard as young girls squealed to their boyfriends about their wishes for the new year.
    tab Two figures stood away from all the romance, their hands linked together and their ears turning red from the cold. The taller one wore a dark green jacket with his jeans and a sloppily made scarf while the shorter one wore a pink parka and white yarn hat. The noises faded away as the two walked through the alleyways, their destination unknown.
    "...Ryou where will we go?" he sighed to the taller before leaning his head on his shoulder.
    "I don't know Yori... I honestly don't know." Snow piled up on their heads as walked through the cold, ignoring any suspicious stares directed at their intertwined hands.

    "Ryou how come we never met your girlfriend?"
    "She's very busy father."
    "She should be a proper girl. You will bring her here on Christmas."

    tab A couple passed by the two, the girl looking at them with a disgusted look on her face. The boyfriend grinned before shoving into Yori, a look of obviously fake concern on his face.
    "I'm sorry about that f**" he choked out before bursting into laughter with his girl giggling along with him. Time seemed to go in slow motion as Ryou launched himself at the man, managing to land a punch straight on his jawbone. The girl watched in horror while the man struggled to get away from the oncoming blows in vain.
    "Ryou stop it!" Tears appeared on his pale face, his thin arms grabbing Ryou's jacket. The scuffle stopped when he shoved the stranger away with a glare, his eyes softening as he turned to Yori.
    "Let's go" Yori managed to say through the soft sobs that couldn't seem to stop. They ran through the streets, constantly moving for what seemed to be eternity.

    "Do you think they'll like me Ryou?"
    "Of course they will."
    "What if they get angry? I-I don't want to be unsuitable for you! Maybe I shoul-"
    "Don't worry too much Yori"
    "What if they react differently from my parents?"
    "I said not to worry. I'm sure they'll understand." Yori could hear the uncertainty in this voice.

    tab The city lights faded in the distance, the only noise the sound of crunching snow beneath their feet.
    "I'm tired Ryou..." he sighed, his feet and hands turning slightly numb.
    "I'm tired too Yori..." The two stared at the snow covered field before them, the expanse seemingly endless.
    "Isn't it pretty Ryou? And in the spring there will probably be a big field of Flowers" Yori smiled before starting to run wildly around in the snow. A silver ring sparkled from the light on his left hand, the design simple but the words behind given with it endless. The same duplicate laid on the hand of the older, it's appearance the same.


    "W-who's this Ryou?"
    "This is Yori. My... lover." A crash was heard.
    "I WILL HAVE NONE OF THIS NONSENSE IN MY HOUSE."
    Sobs were the only response from mother at Ryou's desperate call for help.
    "LEAVE. YOU ARE NOT MY SON UNTIL YOU COME TO YOUR SENSES AND BRING A PROPER LADY HOME."
    The loud slam of the door seemed to shock the two parents.

    "If only we could stay here forever" Yori grinned as he snuggled closer to the welcoming warmth. The two laid serenely in the middle of the field, their hands refusing to separate.
    "Couldn't we?" Ryou whispered to the sky, his eyes straying to the petite boy beside him.
    "Is there any way?" Yori whispered back silently while watching the snowflakes fall. Their legs were starting to go numb.
    "I love you" the sound was almost impossible to hear but the younger boy smiled in response. Larger hands smoothed over the silver surface of the accessory, a tired but happy smile on the owner. The feel of their arms were leaving them.
    "Let's...stay here forever Ryou."
    "Sleeping beneath the sky together" numb hands clasped even tighter as they hugged in the freezing cold. The snow continued to fall unfailingly, the soft cold piling onto the two lovers. Their heartbeats thumped in rhythm with each other, and slowly came to a stop at the same time.

    "W-what's this Ryou?" a blushing voice stuttered.
    "For us. It means shows we'll always stay together"
    "I-it almost seemed like a proposal!" a light laugh was heard.
    "Then will you marry me Yori?" The soft sound of tears was followed by a bout of sniffles.
    "Of course"
    Smiles grew on both their faces as their eyes lit up softly with a look that could only come from falling in love.

    "Til Death Do We Part" could not account to the two because they never parted. Not when family threw them out in the cold. Not when Society continued to reject and torture them. And definitely not when they made the choice to leave together on a cold winter day.

    The End