canvas in the night sky [47C]

The air was frozen, a single breath creating its own miniature storm as the cloud dances and twists in the breeze before disappearing all together. The crunch of snow beneath heavy boots echoed in the silent area, determined brown eyes nearly covered under layer upon layer of cloth.

Akane almost looked like a snowman at this point, ice crystals forming on her bare eyelashes and frost spreading on her outermost layer. Five shirts, six sweat-pants, three heavy coats, two water-proof snow pants, eight hats holding down a pair of extra-fluffy ear muffs, and at least four pairs of gloves made for an extra padded woman who waddled as best she could up a rather steep hill.

"Akane, where are we going?"

Said veteran didn't answer, focused solely on not falling and being buried under the four feet of fresh snow. The sudden blizzard came out of nowhere, practically devastating Shibuya, but the Japanese people did not let the weather stop their New Year celebration.

"Aka... Do you need help?"

Akane shook her head, barely able to move as she worked her ass off to plow her way to the top of the hill. There was nothing that was going to stop her.

She had been looking forward to this moment for weeks. Months, even. A little bit of snow wasn't going to ruin this night for her. Frostbite would be worth it, at this point. The Liollmon's tail swished with honest worry, crimson eyes staring at his human with a confused gleam hidden in their bloody depths.

The sun had long since set by the time Akane had reached the summit, the woman letting out a relieved sigh before reaching behind her and tugging the modified lawn chair off her back, the feet attached to tennis rackets so it would stay on the surface of the snow. Akane took a deep breath.

"New Years is an important holiday for us humans."

Kemo sat next to her silently, his tail instinctively wrapping around one of her ankles. He preferred to be connected to her at all times.

"We aren't perfect creatures. Humans make constant mistakes. We fail over and over and over again, and we never seem to learn our lesson. History tends to repeat itself after awhile, wars are waged and people die. Someone wins, someone loses, and peace reigns for a bit. Then the wars start anew, with worse and worse weapons of mass destruction. More and more lives are lost. The peace lasts less and less."

Akane closes her eyes and sighs, heavy and deep as she settles further into her chair. Kemo follows her suit, laying down and getting comfortable as he looks towards his human, eyes curious and voice silent. He didn't want to interrupt her lecture. They were too important to him to pass up.

"When I was a kid, I hated New Years. It was a reminder that I had went through yet another year of hell, and was about to go through yet another. My parents were shit, alcoholics and druggies who would rather be drunk and high than work and care for anything at all, let alone me."

There was a huff of bitter laughter, and the cloud spread out above Akane's lips as it dissipated, revealing the shining stars above. Kemo closed his eyes, listening to Akane's steady, calm voice.

"The first time I ever truly celebrated New Years was the year I met Freddy. Being the stalker I was, I looked up his address and challenged him to a fight on December 31st, 11:30 at night. I wanted his first moment of the year to be of me beating his ass."

There was a more genuine, if not sadder, laugh.

"He whooped me in less than five minutes. He had always the better fighter, and he proved it yet again that night. So instead of his first moments being of him licking his wounds, they were mine. Laying there, on the lawn of his home, watching the stars as time continued to tick on and on."

Kemo cracked an eye open as he heard Akane's voice hitch for a split second, wondering if her nose was tinged red solely because of the cold.

"We exchanged resolutions that night. Most people make it some stupid declaration. They want to lose weight or be better people or donate more to some charity or whatever. Freddy told me that he wanted to get all A's. Make his parents proud. Do right by his family and help others who needed it."

She paused. Kemo raised his head from his paws, looking at his human more directly.

"What was yours?" He prodded gently.

"I wanted a friend. A month later, and he was my first."

Kemo gracefully ignored the drops of water that escaped the corners of Akane's eyes, of how they froze to her cheeks.

They were silent for the next few minutes, taking in the sight of the night and the stars that glittered and shone. They weren't speaking, but it spoke volumes as they relaxed simply in each other's company.

"Yes, humans aren't perfect. But... we do try. No matter our faults, no matter our failings, we humans do not stop until we defeat any adversary and emerge victorious. We change. New Years Day is a holiday about turning ones life from something ugly and grotesque-"

A flare flew from a distance, up from the ground as it raced towards the heavens and

The sky became a canvas. Fireworks erupted, bathing the darkness in brilliant colors and reflecting a warmth onto the cold, white snow. Explosions of emotion and radiance that brought life into the world once again.

"Into something beautiful."

Kemo's gaze was wide as they stared up at the bright lights, blood red eyes barely contained the wonder that the fireworks brought. Their depths were swimming with the colors that blazed through the night sky, pools of blues and greens and whites that mingled with the ruby. The air booming with the echoed splendor of the New Year's Celebration.

"I see."

And he did.

---

MPC Name: Wither the Weather (Blizzard)
MPC Number: 47C
Reward Requested: Bits, please