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."