Shinya

The fire cackled in the hearth, keeping the room warm and cosy. A gnarled branch knocked against the closed window, its blackness contrasting with the snowy white background. Shinya took a glance at the grandfather clock at the end of his bedroom before returning back to the pages of his book. It was almost supper time.

" Young Master?" a female voice called through the thick varnished oak door.

He placed his book on his lap. "I won’t be going down tonight."

He was not hungry.

The sound of the servant padding down the long hallway on the plush carpeting soon faded. Shinya sighed. He stared at the cover of his book for a second.

Maybe he’ll ask Margaret to bring him a bowl of soup after all.

Die and Kyo

The sky was darkening. The wind blew his red hair into his face as he pushed the empty cart up the slope. A cigarette hung from the corner of Die’s lips. The thin tattered jacket he had didn’t keep him very warm but it was better than nothing and it had cost him a week’s wages.

Kyo had a bundle of stuff slung over his shoulder, walking in front of Die.

" You think we’d survive this winter?" His lips were cracked and between his teeth was an unlit cigarette. He chewed on the end slightly.

" With both of us jobless now?" Die snorted.

Kyo scratched his cheek. "His face when you landed that punch…" Kyo sniggered.

" It was worth it ne?" Both of them laughed and walked into the winter’s night.

Kaoru

He hated the season; it made the metal colder than it was. Kaoru kicked the man’s ribs and the pathetic man whimpered in pain and fear. He pointed the pistol straight on his head.

" Who?" His voice had become cold too; he didn’t know since when but he had forgotten what it was like to be warm.

The man’s mouth opened and uttered a short name.

It was sufficient.

The gunshot echoed against the grubby walls of the deserted alley. Slipping it under his coat, he walked out, his expression matching the greyness of the sky and the cold in the air.

Toshiya

Winter had arrived again. It was cold, as usual; a man stood on the street opposite the park, rubbing his gloved palms together for heat, his cheeks tinged with pink from the frostbite. He was tall, with long ink-black hair let down to fall on his back, young. Toshiya bit his lips and waved at a passing taxi. But it didn’t stop; Toshiya cursed and dug his hands into his pocket.

The long mink coat hugged his body. Dressed in a short dress, his legs were freezing.

‘The customer likes short red dresses…’

Once again, Toshiya felt his hatred towards himself grow.