Snowflakes are like people, individual when looked at closely, but the same when looked at from afar. Each tiny crystal is made up of nothing more than water, frozen, forced into some sort of order by the world. And each snowflake melts on contact, leaving nothing behind by a small wet drop that reminds one of a tear. Some more perfect than others, some larger than others, but all are consumed by fire. Or perhaps, 'touched by fire' is a better description, because fire alone does not consume, it needs air to burn and fuel to burn. Fire alone will not destroy; and behind fire there must be a will.

t.o.u.c.h. f.i.n.g.e.r.t.i.p.s.

The world is too noisy to be bothered with at times, too noisy to care for. Half lidded chocolate eyes surveyed all that he owned, because all that he saw...he owned. Wether he owned it through conquest, fear or adoration, he owned it. The fools who thought they were against him were merely setting the board for a new game, to which he owned all the pieces too. And only he knew all the rules.
"Do you see the sun?" a voice that reminded him of honey and steel whispered in his ear. a sort of laugh accompanied the question, the speaker was proud. Always so proud. The brown eyed one blinked, slowly turning to face the other.
"Yes," a simple answer.
"Someday, I will own it. I will hold the world in my hands," Golden eyes flashed with ambition. Hao blinked again, the world was noisy, but his Tao's voice was always strangely quieting. His Tao. Because Hao could see him, Tao was his.
"Aa..."

The ground shook with the passing of many men, the smell of death and forshadowing of battle drove it to shake even more. The rumbling of seige towers, ladders and armored carts was the only noise in the air. And to Hao it was silent, because only people were noisy. But something interrupted his silence, a harsh cough, and it didn't only smell like pure death, but blood. Hao disliked blood, for all that had been spilt, he favored fire over steel.
"...do you still see the sun?" There was less steel, less honey, and more blood in the question. A mocking smile slid across Tao's face, leaning over his horse's neck, breathes coming in shuddering gasps instead of smooth inhalations.
"I still see it," Hao replied, but it was still noisy. It was still tainted. Hao didn't like things that were wrong. Golden eyes shut for a moment, eclipsing dreams of the sun and the world.
"I'll hold the world in my hands...and the sun...It will be mine..."

The ground shook with the ghosts of memory and fire. With memory can sadness, and with fire, a will to dominate. A will to own all he saw...and the hold the world in his hands because the one who made the world quiet for him couldn't.

t.o.u.c.h. h.a.n.d. t.o. h.a.n.d.

Ren hated the snow, he hated how it was cold, wet, and slipped through your fingers. He also hated it because it reminded him that he was lonely. He hated holidays too, but this one was particularly bad, because he thought...maybe somebody cared this year. Most of all he hated being weak...because he was.
"Are you sure...?" Jun hovered by the door, halfway in and halfway out. The black and green scarf Ren had painstackingly picked out was wrapped securely around her neck. Worry tinged her cheerful look and her lips were pressed together.
"Aa, have fun," He reassured her, but she knew he was lying. She always knew.
"Ren..."
"Have fun, nee-san," he said again, more forcefully this time and adding the tiniest of smiles. This soothed her worries a little.
"I will," she promised, "Merry Christmas..." He nodded, not really acknowledging the holiday. He hated holidays, but mostly ones where people gave each other things. He did need their things, he didn't want their things. And why did they bother celebrating Christmas anyway? It was a stupid western holiday. After Jun had left he sat down in his chair, not pouting, but considering it. No one was around to see if he did.
"...do you see the sun...?" A soft voice of a snake that made his spine tingle, and carried no holiday cheer, invaded his private contemplation.
"Hao..." He hissed, narrowing his eyes.
"Come now...I just came to wish you happy holidays..." The youth appeared before Ren in his usual attire, a small red package held out in one hand. The Chinese boy glared at the offending gift.
"It was happier before you came," Hao frowned, his lips curving downward.

I made Hao mad, it was exhilarating, powerful...and sad because I didn't want to make him angry. Of all the people in the world, I wanted to hand him the world.

"Merry Christmas, Tao Ren," A ghostly kiss was placed on Ren's cheek, and the package set in his hands before Hao left. But even after he was gone, Ren couldn't remove those calm brown eyes from his mind. Like deep pools of water, almost stagnent, but holding such power. Or maybe he had already drown in them, and that is why he couldn't escape. With reluctance he unwrapped the gift, his only Christmas gift not from his sister. A plain white box with the words 'the sun' written on them that fit in the palm of his hand, was revealed. Inside was a tiny marble on a gold chain which glowed as if a small piece of the sun had been placed inside.
"...merry christmas...Hao..." he muttered, scuffing his foot on the floor to cover up his own voice. He didn't want to hear it, and it was as if he hadn't said it, stuffing the red wrapping paper into the waste basket and looping the chain around his neck. It felt as if it had always been.
"Ren! Ren!" An insistent knocking called him to the door, accompanied by a very familiar voice. When he opened the door he was greeted by four happy faces, a holiday hug from a certain green haired someone and more presents.
"Merry Christmas, Ren!"
"We would've gotten here sooner if Yoh didn't stop to watch the snow fall," Manta apologized.
"It was pretty!" Yoh argued in his defense.
"Yatta yatta...you're blocking the way, Ren!" Horohoro announced, trying (along with everyone else) to force his way through the small door while Ren was still in the doorway.
"Ah! Baka!"

Hao could hear them laugh. They were so noisy, even Yoh, his other half, could be noisy. But Ren also laughed, and the world was a little quieter... a little softer... Asakura Hao decided he could put off his plans for another day.
"Merry Christmas, Ren, Yoh," He also put the green haired boy in the back of his mind to deal with later. But for now...he was feeling rather...happy.

.
ick, my first SK fan fic. Badly done it is... but hey... I like Hao/Ren ;p.
I haven't actually seen all of SK, just 1-6, 8, 11,12, 23,25,27-29, 35, 57 and 59. So... yeah.
Can you guess my secondary couple? XD.