Sparkle On

Aki looked forward to Mochi Moon every year. It represented a lot of things, to him. Firstly, his name sake even meant 'glittering full moon'. Secondly, it meant there was a new year with all new opportunities and good things to come. There was so much to look forward to if it meant that he could spend it with Pheros, his one and only. One of their favorite traditions, especially that of the easily excitable Pheros, was to light sparklers once the day had gone by. Pheros had waited oh so patiently all day before all but dragging Aki out of their burrow.

"Aki, let's go! I've been so bored all day- just waiting, please don't keep me waiting any longer, I think I'll die," the over-dramatic bun would pout at their partner til he gave in, it seems.

"Alright, alright, let me grab the sparklers and the lighter," Aki sighs with a shake of his head, but the small smile on his face was still discernible. And true to his word, Aki would go to rummage around their place for exactly that, meeting Pheros at the entrance to go outside together. There, they'd cozy up on their little bench in front of Aki's garden and enjoy the brisk evening before they set to their yearly tradition.

"Do you know the story behind Mochi Moon, my love?" Aki asks once they get settled.

"Of course I do. It's not as though you don't recount it every year for me to hear," Pheros teases. "Though I'd listen to you recount it every year if that's what you'd like." There's a shake of Aki's head. It's true, he loved telling the story of how Mochi Moon came about, but perhaps this year he would spare his other half and get straight to the fun part. He goes to hand two sparklers to Pheros and held two in his own hoof, with lighter in the other. He goes to light his own sparklers before setting the lighter down and lighting Pheros' with the spark from his own. Perhaps to someone from the outside, it didn't mean anything, but Aki had added his own meaning to such a simple act. He'd spend the rest of his life keeping the light of his life's spark going, even if his were to go out first. Pheros didn't need to know, but it meant a lot to him.

"Do you have any resolutions this year, love?" Pheros would ask while gently swaying his two sparklers, one in each hoove, admiring the gentle light they provided.

"Hm.. I might just have all the cliche resolutions, actually. Nothing all to interesting I fear," Aki shrugs, but continues anyway. "Good health with ourselves but also my patients, bountiful harvest in the garden, and perhaps a nice vacation.. oh, and perhaps this doesn't count as a 'new year' resolution, but I'd like to continue spend all our days together," he finishes with a nod before leaning in to give his partner a kiss on the cheek.

"I don't think that's cliche at all- I think those are very good resolutions, love," Pheros reassures, watching Aki's sparklers slowly dwindle as he thinks about what his own resolutions were. "I'd like to read books, drink coffee, and be by your side this new year!" A laughter erupts from Aki once he hears Pheros' resolutions- though it would be a genuine, heart-filled laughter.

"My love, you do all those things already. Are you saying you want to do them even more?" Aki smiles with a soft shake of his head as the sparklers in his hooves were slowly, slowly reaching the end of their light. Thankfully, he had lit Pheros' after, so he could at least admire his. There's a nod of Pheros' head, with that silly smile Aki loved so much.

"That's right. I don't think I could ask for much more. I've been given the best life there is already with you, I can't be greedy, can I?"

"If you won't be greedy, then I think I will," Aki jokes, but honestly, Pheros was right. There wasn't all too much for either of them to ask of the new year. To have each other, their little traditions- whether annually or daily, and the life they had was all they could ask for this new year. And even when the last of their new year sparklers had gone out, they'd still (and always) have each other.