A/N: I have no excuse why this took so long, but at least it's finished. This part details Hirato's POV in Ch39 of the manga.
All was quiet within Circus' Second Ship except for the very faint hum of electricity running throughout the vessel. A pair of sharp tapping footsteps rhythmically broke the silence as the click clack of shoes echoed along the steel corridor. Hirato leisurely walked along in an unhurried pace as he searched for a particular crew member. Aside from spotting the occasional sheep here and there it seemed as if the ship was deserted with how empty the corridors seemed.
Taking a right turn he entered a new corridor where a system of tangled leaves and branches ran along the ceiling intertwining with the metal work of the ship. The sound of rustling leaves and faint voices caused him to look above where he spotted a stream of golden hair cascading down one of the ledges.
"Tsukumo?" He called out in question. There was a small gasp then her waifish face appeared through the foliage as she gracefully leapt down with Yukkin in her arms.
Hirato listened to her report with half an ear until he spied a piece of greenery peeking out the back of her head and impulsively reached out towards her, no doubt startling the poor girl. His arm gently yet firmly clutched her closer to him almost nearly chest to chest if it weren't for Yukkin involuntarily stuck between them. He felt her stiffen in his arms by this uncharacteristic show of skinship, but he didn't want to let her go, at least not yet.
He leaned close enough towards the shell of her ear that the soft glide of her hair brushed against his cheek. It gave him pause to relish the feel for a miniscule second, purposely lowering his voice to whisper into her ear.
Interesting, he observed as an array of gooseflesh prickled along her exposed skin and the tip of her ear tinged a faint pink. An imperceptible shudder passed through her, one of which he wouldn't have noticed if they hadn't been so close. The captain of the Second Ship knew for a fact that his actions were confusing to the young woman in his arms. Having spent a majority of her life within Circus, Tsukumo was inexperienced in the ways of any romantic relations as noticed by her unaffected attitude towards Jiki's flirtations. Alas, only time will help her better understand any romantic notions, however, in the meantime, Hirato would gladly manipulate any excuse to be this close to her.
He finally loosened his hold on her before dropping his arm altogether, but he couldn't resist running his fingers through the fine strands of gold, to feel their softness slip between his fingers even through the gloves like a sweet caress one last time before stepping away from her warm heat.
Schooling his features back into his regular poker face, Hirato reached inside his coat to hand a dazed Tsukumo a package to deliver to Gareki along with a set of instructions.
Hirato turned around and set off back into the direction he came from, listening to her rapidly retreating steps, a small smirk fixed upon his lips, One day, Tsukumo, you will understand. One day.