It would take anyone else much longer for their eyes to adjust to the dark, but hers are used to it. She is usually out at this time of night, but never on official Second Division business. Nonetheless, she is on her way to the campus of the Ninth Division; on her way to her appointment. An appointment she makes 2-3 times a week. An appointment she never misses, would never dream of missing.

Her shunpo guides her around the back gates of the Ninth Division entrance; she never goes through the front. Too many witnesses and too many questions. Neither one of them needs that kind of attention. Not while they are still doing this. Not while they are still meeting in secret. Neither one of them wants everyone to know of their relationship. What business is it of theirs anyway?

She reaches the dark garden that borders the Ninth Division campus and a dense, quiet forest. She flows from shunpo to a meandering walk, strolling past the blossoming flowers and nearly still water of the undisturbed pond. She follows the trail that remains lightly trodden by her unassuming footsteps, twisting through the vegetation, planted there earlier in the year, just as the snow began to melt from the winter season. She finally reaches the end of the path at the wooden porch where her host sits, awaiting her arrival. She stops at the foot of the short staircase that leads to the porch, her feet hidden by the lunar shadows that the steps cast. She doesn't speak but she smiles; she knows he is aware of her presence.

He smiles too, but remains sitting cross-legged on the porch. His long dreadlocks were free from their usual daytime bindings and were sitting across his shoulders, some locks falling in front and some behind. His hands lay rested on his knees, palms up, and he inhaled deeply to speak. "You're here."

"I am," she replied, not moving. She was glad he couldn't see her expression. She didn't need him knowing how much she looks forward to seeing him; how much he made her smile. There was no doubt in her mind that he knew...but could be prove it?

"Are you going to sit down?"

She climbs one step. "It's Tuesday. We rarely meet out here on Tuesdays."

"I like a change of pace. Besides, it's nice out here."

Another stop. "What if someone sees us?"

"Then let them see. I don't want to miss out on a beautiful night like this because someone might see us just sitting here. It's not like they've seen us do the other things we do."

The last step. She takes a seat next to him, legs stretched out in front of her. She puts her hands on her knees, palms down. "Kaname, how did we even get here?"

He shrugged, his head still facing forward, though he knew she was beside him now. "I don't know. But does it really matter? You're here now, with me. How we got here isn't important anymore."

She laughs to herself. He was right. All those years of her cutting her eyes at him during the Captain's meetings, assuming he didn't notice, staring at him with so many questions but without a word to ask them with, the day he finally came up to her and spoke. The first night they spent together, the only time she ever heard someone say they loved her. Their journey had been a long one, and she couldn't imagine where her life would be if she hadn't taken that journey.

She raised a hand from her knee, and palm still facing down, she placed her open hand on top of his. Immediately their fingers interlaced as if it were as natural as breathing. Maybe it was, and maybe this is the most natural-feeling secret in the world, but it was theirs. A simple evening on a porch facing a beautiful garden, a quiet meeting for quiet lovers.