Tohru sighed in relief. They were in a secluded section of the park; she had his coat and clothes for when changed back. And now, she didn't need to do anything but think. Hatori-san didn't seem to like snow. He had looked so sad when it had started. She wondered if he had bad memories associated with snow… ah! Maybe she shouldn't have pointed it out. But he would have noticed anyway… It was no use thinking that she should have done better! The past is the past! She stood up with determination in her eyes. Behind her, from the bench, she heard a sound and turned around.
Then she let out a shriek and hurried to cover Hatori-san with his coat. It was hard to cover him thoroughly when she couldn't let herself look at him. When she thought the job was done, she sighed again, and sat down next to the bench. …It was selfish of her, wasn't it, to think that what she may have said didn't matter. Whatever hurt Hatori-san was in the past, and she… she lived in the past too.
She looked up at the snow. Snow was beautiful, but it was cold. And when the light shone off of it, it was bright, so bright it could blind. She remembered a story her mom had told her about gods that came when it snowed and granted wishes. They rang bells to give people hope.
Tohru closed her eyes and she fancied she could almost hear bells. And Hatori woke from a dream of the bright, dazzlingly cold past. In a moment she will notice that he is awake and the sound of their voices will ring out.
But for now, all is silent, except for their breathing and the
Sound
Of
Bells.