The Fragility of Snow

A Shaman King One-Shot by Amelia Silver

Shaman King by Takei Hiroyuki

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Hesitantly and most certainly feeling unlike herself, she let a delicate breath of escape her slightly parted lips. The descending snow disappeared in the wake of her breath. Yes, she admitted to herself, now allowing her eyebrow to raise, the glittering flakes were beautiful under the dim glow of the night.

Her hand lay out in front of her tiny frame, fingers partly curled, the drops of fragile crystals melting as they neared her palm. She shook the water from her hand as she lay it out again to bring the demise of a new batch of unaware snow. The wind blew, and although she was clothed in a sleeping kimono, it didn't dare touch her. Cold creates and perpetuates cold, it was as simple a matter as that.

A crystal hung for dear life on her index finger, she examined it with her all too scrutinizing gaze, verifying that it held its own shape; none like the others, not before, not now, and not ever.

The snow continued to fall at its own lazy pace, accumulating on the grass and creating a frigid wonderland. She huffed out a world weary breath, destroying another set of snowflakes, but only in an ineffective attempt of covering the silence. Yes, she thought. Nature was trying to toy with her.

She instantly broke her wonderment.

She knew the snow would be gone in the morning.

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~Amelia Silver 2003