I walked quietly into Akisame's workroom where he sat at a low table, carving into a piece of wood. I could tell that he knew I was there, but he didn't acknowledge me. I walked over and sat next to him, looking up at him.
"I'm sorry," I said. His hands paused.
"For what?" he asked.
"Whatever I did to piss you off," I said. He sighed and set his work aside, turning to face me.
"You didn't piss me off," he said. "You just caught me off guard."
"With what?" I asked.
"Kissing me," he said.
"I told you I was going to do it," I pointed out.
"I thought you were joking," he said.
"I wasn't," I said. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I guess it's just being American."
He smiled and reached out, brushing the hair from my face. His hands smelled like wood and metal.
"I suppose," he mused. "In Japan, we don't kiss people so easily."
"I guess I never thought about it," I said. "My grandparents, aunts, uncles and sister were always kissing me. I kissed my friends all the time and they never seemed bothered by it."
"It's just…difficult," Akisame said, turning his face from me.
"How so?" I asked. "Am I ugly?"
"What?! No!" he cried, turning back to me. "No, far from it. I guess that is what makes it difficult. It's not every day a beautiful woman kisses me."
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't think you would mind." He smiled and reached out, pulling me into his lap and hugging me.
"I value your friendship," he said. "I just don't want anything destroying that. When you kissed me like that…"
"I'm sorry," I said again. "I just don't think anything of touching you, hugging you, being affectionate."
"I know," he replied, resting his chin on my shoulder. "But I'm still a man and you're a lovely young woman." I blushed, but giggled, curling up against his chest.
"I'll try to be better," I said. "Just tell me if I make you uncomfortable. Don't hide in your workroom to pout."
"As you wish," he sighed.