Snow…
Akito glanced outside at the new snow, falling from the heavens. So calm and so serene, the world around her was at the moment; so different from the storm raging in her heart, clashing with the apparent calmness of her exterior.
She could, she could easily scream and cry right now; easily scream and throw a fit, but that would waste her strength and make poor Hatori worry, wouldn't it?
She smiled a bit as a small white bird landed on her hand. It wanted food. The smile was not a smile full of warmth like that of Shigure's or of the Honda girl. It was a cold, bitter smile, with perhaps a hint of amusement if you looked hard.
The dark, angry, red storm rushing about inside her and the cold, pale snow falling slowly and her still, pale form sitting placidly on the floor of her room.
The bird, finding that this human did not intend to give it food, flew out of the window to gather it from some other source.
And Akito smiled as the snow stopped, just, perhaps, too early, covering the garden in a silver shine that would melt before noon.