Hanako stood at the patio doors, looking out on the cityscape as the snow started to fall on Fukuoka. She cradled a large mug in her hands, her bare feet contrasting against the dark walnut floors, as she waited for Keigo to get out of the shower.

Keigo had taken her back to his place, insisting that she stay with him until things blew over and it was safe for her to return home. Hanako was hesitant and didn't want to be a burden or imposition on him and even with his assurances that that wouldn't be the case, she was still unsure. It unnerved her, too, that because she was being targetted again she might lose everything else she had in the world. The slightest possibility of that happening was enough for Hanako to make sure that she brought the container of seeds she had been storing for spring- including the ones for the coffee plant her mother had cultivated- as well as the photo album that kept most of the pictures of her family that she had in her possession.

"Hanako?"

Hanako turned to find Keigo with a towel over his head, dressed in flannel pajama pants and a long-sleeved thermal shirt- his wings looking a bit limp from being wet still.

"You alright?"

Hanako nodded and tried to offer him a smile. "It's been a long day."

Keigo rubbed the towel over his hair as he came over to join her. "Tell me about it." He saw the snow beginning to coat his patio with a soft blanket of white. "Looks like it'll be snowing for a few days," he said, wanting to fill the silence.

"Maybe we'll get a blizzard and the Yakuza get so cold they go back home." Hanako joked, half-heartedly.

Keigo looked down at her, concerned by the tone she used. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, Keigo," Hanako said, turning away and making her way over to the kitchen to clean her now empty mug in the sink.

Keigo watched her for a few moments, seeing her shoulders slumping a bit and noticing that she was avoiding his gaze. "Hanako..."

Hanako busied herself with drying the mug, stopping only when Keigo came up to her and put his hand over hers.

"Come on, talk to me," Keigo took the mug and towel from her and set them aside before turning her around to face him. "What's on your mind?"

Hanako sighed, but she knew there would no use in trying to avoid it. "You know I'm not a helpless child, right?"

Keigo knew she was referring to earlier and his heart sank a bit. "Hanako, I'm sorry, I never intended on making you feel that way..."

"Then why?" Hanako looked up at him, searching his eyes as she stepped closer to him.

Keigo's eyes widened with surprise and his cheeks started burning, caught off guard by how close she stepped. "B-Because you're important to me and I don't want to risk losing you again. Especially now."

"Why 'especially now'?" Hanako asked, watching as his cheeks began to redden and he averted his gaze.

Keigo balked slightly, averting his gaze as he realized what he had just said and why. He ran his fingers through his hair and down to his neck, rubbing it for a moment while trying to figure out what he was going to say to her next.

"Keigo, why am I so important to you?" Hanako asked, pressing him for an answer. "Why do you always put me first? Why do you always try to protect me?"

Keigo couldn't find the right way to answer her questions, much to Hanako's disappointment.

"You can't keep me locked away in some gilded cage," Hanako said, her heart sinking when he refused to answer her. "Why am I even bothering...?" She turned away, a hand to her head as she sighed and shook her head.

Keigo didn't want to leave things bad and acted on impulse. He reached forward to grab her hand and stop her, pulling her towards him when she turned to protest and pressing his lips to hers- silencing her with a kiss. One hand cradled her cheek while the other slid to the small of her back to draw her in closer and he lingered as long as he dared.

When Keigo pulled back, Hanako looked up at him a bit dazed. She wasn't sure what to expect out of him, but a kiss certainly wasn't on the list in that moment.

Keigo searched her eyes, wondering if he screwed up. "Sorry, I-"

Hanako cut him off as she returned his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing against him.

Keigo was caught by surprise, but only for a moment then he immersed himself in the kiss- holding her close to him- and in that moment, nothing else mattered to either of them.