It's warm here. Her head resting on his shoulder, like a safe place to land. And when Kiki lifts her head to peek over at him and see more than just his shoulder and hair, she can see just how close they are sitting, just how comfortable it surprisingly is.

Hisame's so warm and so close and so familiar now. It's strange how time has shifted and changed the two of them as well. And yet, she's grateful for it. So grateful to be with him and at his side.

Touch has become familiar, almost soothing. And just being near him is wonderful too. Like a sweet place to stay where the walls can slowly begin to come down and lives can shift just a little bit closer.

Love felt almost unexpected here, as she tucked her head back against his shoulder, and considered this. She'd made the choice to love him, to pay close attention to what he wants or needs and meet him there, to listen to him, to lay down her arms around him, and let him see her for who she is. To work to see him for who he is. She chose love, just the affection and the warmth of it, she wasn't quite expecting.

Kiki should know how this works she feels, because love works like this. To love is to will the good of the other, and somehow, she's found Hisame loves her too.

"Thank you." Kiki whispers, letting the words break the silence; it is here after all that she's feeling gratitude almost to the point of overwhelming. He chose to help her pick up the pieces of her broken heart after Mitsuhide's rejection, not even demanding anything in return, and she fell for him.

He got back way more than he expected, but he also had loved her through all of this.

"For what?" He shifted to the side, so that he could face her. And Kiki can finally see the confusion as it's written across his face.

"For loving me. For everything." At first, it felt almost like too much, almost nonsensical, but it is true.

Hisame smiled, a little bit of amusement written across it and twinkling in his eyes. "Of course, I love you." The warmth crept into his voice at the you, and Kiki ended up smiling back at him.

"Of course, I love you too." And while the words might almost seem parroted back at him, she means them with great depth. Of course she loves him, someone who loves her so much.