It is familiar as it is uncommon. Izana does not typically give himself occasions to lay down his guard and leave him vulnerable. Though the hot spring's steam swirls around him steadily, and the warmth eases into his bones like a long forgotten melody.
It is lonely here. But as the king, he's always had to be cautious with his heart. And somehow it doesn't feel definitively lonely.
There's that hope and that reality that one day very soon, he won't be alone as king, but will have a queen with him. Haki.
It's a strange thought but a soothing one too as time eases by slowly. Of course, he can't let others realize the depths of his feelings.
Nor can he let his guard down around others. But with Haki, away from everyone else, his feelings can be gently unwrapped and savored.
It will just mean carefully guarded walls and well devised moments of those walls crumbling down.
But his heart lifts in the barest of hopes just the same.