“Bye, Kishi, thank you!” Hanae called out to the dragonkin, almost about to turn her head to look over her shoulder, but she stayed still until Hiei had finished the area he was cleaning. When she did look over her shoulder, Kishi was long gone, but that was fine, and her dark gaze focused solely on Hiei once more. “Five years,” she echoed out. That’s right, five years ago she had cut her own. A hand reached up as if to slide through Hiei’s hair and see if it felt as soft as it looked glossy, but Hanae refrained from reaching out. Her fingers didn’t shake, staying as still as she was — almost unnatural for a clumsy girl.

But she always had the utmost control with her hands than her feet. She only felt sure of herself when she allowed her hands to work. Hanae couldn’t say it was a fact, but she was sure she had hands better than a surgeon's; plants could wither from an accidental cut just as much as humans did.

Hiei left shortly after he gave his answer, and Hanae nodded her head. She watched the stern man leave the room and was about to stand up when two small cats approached her. Hanae grinned in cheerful surprise and bent over, picking up the small black cat to set on her dainty lap.

“My, my,” she cooed softly, petting the cat in ways all cats demanded to be petted. She used her short fingernails to glide through the short fur on its forehead, reaching back behind its ears and scratching all the way down to its chin. Her smile grew as the cat rubbed its cheek against her fingers, its whiskers twitching. “Yes, yes, as you wish,” Hanae said seriously. It was only natural to do as the cat wanted.

When Hiei entered, Hanae would look up — still petting the cat, of course — and beam at him.

“Look, doesn’t this cat look like you? If only it had a serious face, then I’d say it would be a perfect match.”
 
Water rippled and bounced within the bucket beneath the metal mouth of the pump, and Hiei looked down as the displaced liquid, clear save for the bit of blood that still billowed and turned, heavier than all the fresh stream captured there within the wooden structure that contained it, and saw himself distorted there upon the bouncing ripples.

Water still flowed from the pump. Spilled over the bucket's edge as he gripped the stone lip of the basin. The look in her eyes as her hand reached out. That delicate hand he had held. She had almost... His hand raised up, hovered about those strands she had almost taken into her grasp. The flash of her bite. The pull of his hair. No no. She was just a flower girl. Clumsy. Bad with numbers. He hurt her business today, and he would help her get it back on track. His hand touched those long locks, gingerly. Ran his own fingers through them.

A comfort. So familiar, yet so far gone.

The water stopped flowing. Hiei saw himself in the small pool of water once it had filled, saw how tenderly he had been combing his hair. Felt his whole face grow hot. His brows scrunched, and he huffed, upset. He let his hand sift free of his hair and let it fall back down to the stone of the basin.

Glowering at the bucket, he grabbed the wooden thing and spilled it over. The slosh of water, violent, near spilled over the basin's walls.

He emerged from the wash room and saw Hanae with the small black cat in her lap, fingers at work pleasing the little master. His brows scrunched, his eyes cold, he walked toward a corner of the room to put the bucket away. She called out to him, and gave a big smile as she pet the black cat.

Stunned. He stopped, and looked at her, and the tiny creature in her lap. It looked so happy, guiding its little head into each of her careful strokes. There was a softness in his eyes. If only for a moment. A warm want.

Hiei caught himself, eyes sharp again. "I don't see it," he admitted coldly, and walked by Hanae, careful not to scare the cat as he let the bucket down by the medicine cabinets. Bent low in his squat, his back to her and the creature, he peered over his shoulder, and spied on her short trimmed hair. On her dainty ear and the curve of her neck. "Why do you think it looks like me?" he asked. Curious and cautious as an alley cat.

From the shop's door, a small brass bell chimed bright its greeting. Footsteps sounded against the floor, announcing bodies that filled in to the room.

Blue eyes hard like arrowheads, snapped to see the new arrivals, and all of Hiei's body grew taught with ready tension.
 
Hanae chuckled at Hiei’s words, it would have been a bigger shock if he had agreed. And the best part was, Hanae knew exactly why the cat reminded her so much of Hiei. Cats were different than dogs, especially with how choosy they tended to be. Sometimes petting was acceptable and sometimes it was not, and from what she had witnessed so far with Hiei is that while there were times when he had been gentle with, there were plenty of times he was harsh with her.

Like a cat who couldn’t decided whether they wanted to be outside or inside.

“There’s something about his eyes,” Hanae began, fully intent on teasing Hiei and drawing out the similarities as much as possible. Her mouth opened, a few words coming out before the bell stopped her. She turned her head to the clamoring footsteps, and the cat that had once been so peaceful and loving in her lap became spooked.

“Ow,” Hanae softly exclaimed, watching the cat search for a hiding space, it’s black tail puffed out. It was low to the ground, it’s ears pulled back close against it’s head. She looked at her hand, the one that had helped in holding the cat steady on her lap, seeing the pink scratches from it’s sharp claws. Hanae stood up from the stool then, turning around to look at who had came to the vet so late in the day. It must have been an emergency.
 
1741659073101.webp"Well," a dry thin voice cut in from the door. "If it isn't Blue District's little enforcer," a moon skinned man with proud black horns, curling up from the side of his head in two menacing points, stepped through with a long legged swagger, a black handled sword with blood red accents hung lazily at his waist. "And a new face?" The horned man smiled smoothly as he walked right up to Hanae, and bent low, his face inches from hers as he smiled wide. "Hello, little flower, did mean old Hiei get you mixed up into one of his schemes?" he said sweetly. Some excitement seemed to spark in his eye. "Love the hair," he said, hand just about ready to run through her cropped strands.

Hiei rose, his eyes narrow and sharp, his hands balled into tight fists at his side. "Shinobu," the name came like a curse from his lips. "State your business," there was a hard edge to his tone.

"My my, Hiei," Shinobu feigned hurt, and laughed as he straightened back up to meet Hiei's eyes. "Just, delivering a missive," he slipped his hand into his coat, and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. A wax seal with a Red Koi swirled about its circular stamp. "For you, oh so angry one," he handed Hiei the slip, Hiei snatched it up, and Shinobu's whole face seemed to spread with a smile like melted butter. "Hiei, when are you going to come work with your mother, hmm?"

A snarl cracked across Hiei's lips, and his whole body trembled.

"Shinobu," Kishi called out, appearing at a door frame. "You usually tell me when you are going to drop by,"

The horned man tittered, and walked past Hiei and Hanae, his fingers twiddling a playful goodbye to the young lady as he glided past her. "Wasn't here to visit you, big man, unfortunate as that is,"

"Well, come on back," Kishi invited him with a welcoming hand, "Got some fine plum wine I'm sure you would love," the dragon-kin looked to Hiei and Hanae, and motioned them to go.

"Oh, I do love a good plum wine,"

"I know, you drank me dry last time,"

The voices grew quieter. "Did I really, my, how rude of me,"

Hiei looked at the paper in his hand, not opening it before he tucked it away. "Are you hungry?" he asked Hanae, flatly as he looked at the door. Voice cool again, only feint hints of the anger that boiled there in a moment before. "I know a good noodle shop we can go to, unless," he looked to Hanae. "Less you would rather get going, I can walk you home,"
 
Hanae didn’t dare speak. She wasn’t sure words could come out even if she tried to. Or rather, she was afraid that if she did speak, the wrong words would come out. The young woman watched Shinobu, not even flinching away from him as he went to touch her hair. Some people didn’t deserve to be handsome; even Hanae could tell his looks were deceiving. The accents of red on his sword, the bits and pieces woven throughout his attire. Hanae recognized these features immediately; everyone in Sonshan did. After all, children were taught early how to spot a gang member.

But there was one thing that frightened Hanae the most. She didn’t know how it could be possible, but whoever Shinobu was, he knew her name. The way he had said ‘little flower’ caused the translucent hairs on the back of her neck to rise, for her mouth to go dry. Perhaps that was the real reason, after all, that Hanae was still and silent. She hadn’t even realized she had been holding her breath until Kishi stepped inside the room. Her heart swelled as if Kishi were her savior, when in reality, well, in fact, what exactly?

“Huh?” Hanae slowly turned toward Hiei. The nickname that Shinobu had called him popped into her head. She almost spoke it aloud: Blue District’s enforcer. She remembered Hiei’s face, and if she thought he had looked mean before, she was sorely mistaken. Only a beast could twist and contort their face in such a fearsome way — and Hanae had to admit that this furious face of Hiei’s had made Shinobu’s presence far more serene. Despite that, her stomach had fallen into a bottomless abyss, so while she should have been hungry, she felt far from it. She looked down at her hands, seeing her trembling fingers. Oh, that’s right, Hanae thought, somewhat detached, this is what fear feels like. I had forgotten; how foolish of me.

“Actually,” when Hanae brought her dark eyes back to Hiei, she had a smile on her face. “Would you be willing to get my flower cart with me? I want to head home. I…” she trailed off, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m quite particular, you see. I make the best cold noodles in Sonshan. My grandmother taught me how. Family secret. I’ll make you a bowl tonight. It’s only fair.” Hanae looked back to the door where Kishi and Shinobu had gone and then back to Hiei. “Let’s go.” She said, waving Hiei along, her fingers still trembling.
 
Her cart. "Of course," he said without hesitation. That was the heart of their entire meeting. Seeing her there, before her cart. Red and beautiful. Familiar, yet all so different. Hiei blinked. Had he heard incorrectly, "Grandmas... noodles?" she bid he follow, so he followed in her wake, behind he line of her trace as she wove through the bustle of the evening crowd.

Paper lanterns hung above, crossed the street in rope-string arcs that held the round luminous shapes of blood, bittersweet, and ocher. Glows soft and warm as the people on the ground moved about with the rush that came with the hours after sundown.

With the coming of twilight came the changing of stalls. Those things of the day, grocers, cabbage carts, rice sellers, fish mongers. They were gone by the cover of night. The carameled smell of sweet potatoes roasting over open flames filled the air, as did the sound of sizzling meats tossed onto the griddle.

People moved all around. Chat. Held hands. Laughed. Brought each other close. Hiei looked to Hanae's hands. How steady they had been. Absently, he rubbed the inside pads of his fingers with his thumb. Felt the pressure and the trace of touch bleeding there.

Hiei made sure to tail close behind Hanae, moving carefully as she slipped and flowed at a steady and sure pace. "Hanae," he called, mulling over the words he chose next. "Are you sure you want to invite me into your home?" Even after all she heard Shinobu say.
 
Hanae’s feet carried her to her cart, wondering why it was so easy to move right now. She hadn’t realized that with Hiei prowling behind her, people were making way to avoid him rather than her. Regardless, it was nice not to be nudged, pushed, or knocked around like a paper boat flowing down a river. Hanae stopped and turned around when Hiei called her name, speaking her name like no one had yet to do. That was when she realized people moved not to get too close to Hiei.

Had she missed something from before? Was she really that dense? Was she going to continue being this reckless? There was little she could do now, she supposed. She would need to keep moving forward.

“I don’t think I’d be much safer in a noodle shop,” Hanae said softly. “After all, what other friend of yours may pay a visit? At least in my home, we can have some privacy.” She turned to face Hiei, looking up at him. She looked far braver than she felt with that gentle look of hers. She held out her hand to Hiei, “Walk beside me, Hiei, before someone thinks you’re stalking me.”

Hanae wouldn’t turn away until Hiei took her hand, and when he did, she would tug him to her side, slipping her arm into the crook of his elbow. Soon enough, they would leave the bustling streets, returning to the square where Hanae had set up her little mobile shop. Only then would she pull her arm from this dangerous man, go to her cart, and begin pushing it back to her home.

“I don’t live far.” She informed Hiei, glancing over at him. “Do you like spicy food?”
 

He blinked, not expecting such a plain and simple response. "I suppose you are right," he grumbled, thinking of the rogues gallery of associates and acquaintances that were part of his personal history. "But-" she spoke of privacy. Privacy. His face flushed, cherry blossom, to rose, and he was glad he was lagging behind her.

Till she turned to look at him. His eyes widened, head jerked back and he looked away with a gruff pout. But she just offered more. Not a request. An offer and a reason. He faced her, saw her hand, open and smooth and still. Unwavering. He was struck. Not for the first time today.

He took her hand. He walked beside her. Was surprised again when she pulled him close and their bodies bumped. Arms wrapped together. Like a bow. The thought made him smirk. Smile. It was nice. To leave the hustle of the Red Tower's floor ring. The fire glow of so many lamps slowly bleeding into a cool midnight. He could hear crickets chirping, and the gentle flutter of moths dancing about the glow of those little lamps whose fires did burn.

The cart came into site. Her flowers, mostly gone. Heads hung low, some blooms closed with the warmth of the sun gone for the da. Hanae slipped away and he stood back and watched a moment as she fell into her task.

"I am partial to it," he replied, stepping forward, he picked up one golden narcissus, its proud trumpet, a little bent. He tucked it into the folds of his overcoat, and helped her push the cart. "Are your grandmother's noodles spicy?"
 
“Very spicy,” Hanae said with an impish grin, looking over at Hiei quite mischievously. “I’ve never had anything spicier. Even mine don’t compare to the way she would make them. But there’s still that intention to burn your tongue and throat while sweating profusely.” Hanae said, pushing her cart alongside Hiei. There was a moment of silence between them and Hanae debated asking him another question. There were plenty of things that she could ask.

“My grandma used to take bird peppers and eat them raw with her meals.” Hanae continued, instead, wanting to keep talking about pleasant things. As she spoke, her eyes and mouth would smile together, her gaze sparkling like the stars above them. “I tried to copy her one time, and my lips blistered up. For three days my lips were chapped and red as if I hadn’t drank water for a whole month! And oh, my tongue, it was so swollen.” She laughed at the memory and shook her head.

“Every now and then, I try to eat a bird pepper raw like my grandma did. I take the teeniest, tiniest bite. I can hardly chew it. It makes me cry every single time, no matter what I try to do afterwards.” She finished with a giggle. Their steady pace brought them to Hanae’s home soon enough. It was dark, as it should have been, seeing as Hanae was only arriving home now.

Despite the home not being grand, it was a bit more secluded, with a decent plot of land surrounding it. A strong wooden fence marked what land belonged to Hanae. Of course, it was easy to see what did belong to Hanae. Every inch of that wooden wall was covered in blooming vines and the house itself was also covered in green foliage and vines as well. At every meter or so, a large jasmine bush could be found, the smell of the small white flowers intense and intoxicating.

Hanae opened the gate, it was unlocked as usual. She pushed the cart through, and inside the gate the gardens came to life, even under the silver moonlight. Hanae knew every inch of her room, even down to the loose pebble. Pushing her cart next to the green house, she walked past a multitude of little gardens. Some were strictly for vegetables or tea, but many of them were for plants of all sorts. She motioned for Hiei to follow her inside.

The smell of the garden still permeated inside her home, and as she opened the door, the moon revealed a simple hallway. Before shutting the door completely, Hanae lit a small candle on a alcove near the door. With the small light illuminating the small hallway, she shut the door and then led Hiei to her kitchen.

Despite inviting a stranger, and a dangerous stranger at that, into her home, there was a eerie calm about Hanae. Perhaps there was that undeniable comfort one got in their own home. Maybe it was something else. Regardless, entering the much larger kitchen, Hanae began to light everything that there was to light. The open-fireplace in the center, and other little candles and lanterns. Soon enough, the room was brightly lit with controlled flame, the wood that was once cold seemingly warming up rather quickly under the orange light.

“Make yourself comfortable, Hiei, sit down.” Hanae offered. “Do you want a glass of black sesame milk? Or tea? Water?”
 
"Very spicy," Hiei parroted, surprise feigned on his voice, sweetly curious in the tease of it. He fell quiet and listened as they walked. The roll of the wooden cart wheel, a gentle click clack against the stones of the road and the mix of cricket song and lamp-fly wings.

Silence between them. Thick. A mix of warm and cold. A swirl that could take to either current. When Hanae spoke, he smiled, soft, stealing a look at her eyes as they sparkled brilliant, mirrors that took all the light of the world around them and made it shine all the brighter and more beautiful. Her smile, a thing that melted him with its warmth, his insides a flutter and stir. He laughed, a single and small sound, but a laugh.

Should've known better, he was ready to say. But he wanted to keep hearing her tell her stories. His mind pictured her, a small child taking a bight out of the bright pepper, so shaped like a long hooked beak. The red swell that inflamed the face. He smirked as she laughed, and nod as she shared her dedication. Her little tribulation.

"You have heart, Hanae," he found himself saying as he looked down at the plants her cart still carried. Labors all, however small. Things she cared for and made ready. He realized how cheesy that had sounded. How old fashioned. Heart? Who in the hells talked about heart?!

Maybe she didn't hear him.

Frightfully, he glanced at her through the corner of his eye. His face a stiff mask. Good. She was still walking. Still smiling. She probably had not heard it.

He had smelled the house before he saw it. It was a smell that pulled his mind out of their shared moment. His eyes wide as scenes from the past poured through the darkness of his mind. White flowers. A smell that lingered in the back of the nose, sweet as honey, bright as ripe berries, a smell that smoothed its way into you. Filled the whole body before it bit into you. He smelled iron too. Saw the red spill as the cobalt plumes sprouted from pierced flesh.

The feeling of the bow-string pulled tight against his fingers. The gleam of the arrowhead just beneath the sight of his eye.

It froze him, and he stood statue still as Hanae opened the gate and invited him in.

Stunned, he took in a deep breath, and followed her in. Each corner he turned unearthed another scene. He had been here before. Meetings. Conversations over tea. Always in the back. Watching. Both men always smiled. Both knew they were but dogs that served their masters. But Old Hirawa was a demon. It didn't matter if family and old age had dulled his horns. The way they all sat around. Swords at their hips. Handles well in reach.

Ayaka had looked ready. Looked like she knew exactly what type of tea they would all be having.

Sankan, fox that he was, never flinched when the steel came drawn.

“Make yourself comfortable, Hiei, sit down.” Hanae's voice came across the room. He had just been standing there, and the room was lit by fire's warm glow.

Lost between daze and a dream, Hiei managed to take a seat. His heart pounding in his throat. He gulped, and looked down at his hands, fingers splayed wide and open. They trembled.

"Do you want a glass of black sesame milk? Or tea? Water?”

He. He needed to go. "Water is," no. "Hanae, I-" he needed to go. Needed to make sure. Did old Hirawa have a second daughter? No. No, there was no second daughter. He just... remembered the smell of jasmines. "I just remembered something," he said flatly. "I was supposed to meet up with some of my associates," he felt the message slipped under his robe. Felt the guilt eat away at his chest. Pang with each beat of his twisted heart. "I can meet you tomorrow at your cart?"
 
Hanae’s petite head came up from where she had been looking for the pitcher of water. Her eyes were wide with surprise, but something else flashed through them briefly.

Despite all of Hiei’s inward thoughts and bundle of emotions, his face was unflappable. And Hanae, despite the empathy that had been nurtured in her, could only read so much. There was a twinge of doubt that prodded at her stomach, making her wonder why Hiei needed to leave so suddenly. What was it that caused it?

His jumble of words, she deduced quickly. Despite not knowing Hiei well, he was a man of few words, but every time he spoke, he spoke with a clear conciseness. Ironically, it reminded her of her father. Perhaps that was why a bit of her felt comfortable around him, despite knowing he partook in dangerous affairs. Or maybe it was because deeper inside her, she was moving out of instinct.

Despite how she looked, Hanae supposed she could be called a survivor of sorts. Better than being called a victim.

“Associates?” Hanae asked, standing up straight and giving Hiei a curious look. She made her way towards the man, standing at her full height with her back incredibly straight. Without asking for permission, and despite knowing how scandalous such a action was, she took his hand and smiled up at him. Her fingers caressed the soft skin at his wrist, but her thumb was firm in gripping Hiei’s hand to hers.

“Of course.” She agreed to his question, but she continued further. “It’s rude of me to expect so much of your time when we’re strangers, isn’t it? Forgive me, Hiei. I took advantage of your kindness today.” The smile was still there as she spoke, but her inquisitive eyes continued to stare straight into Hiei’s, as if she could see through his shadowy eyes. At this moment, she couldn’t, but she persisted on. “You’re so nice to me. I wonder… is it because you like me? Or something else?” Her thumb pressed into his hand, the curve of her nail jabbing into his skin.
 
Hiei looked unto Hanae, his eyes clear and his breath steady as she walked towards him. Elegant with each measured stride.

Why did he think this would be so easy?

She had invited him in. She had invited him in.

Her hand reached out and grabbed his, and he kept his eyes fixed upon hers as all swirled inside him. Steady. Steady. He kept his breathing steady. His heart picked up a beat, but, it was nothing.

Focus on her. Focus on her words. Her actions.

How her thumb swirled around the skin beneath his wrist. How it tickled and tingled and caused his skin to turn to goose flesh in excitement. She never broke her gaze. This... was a test.

Is it because you like me? Or something else.

Her nail pressed down. Bit into skin and veins.

He gulped. "I would be lying if I said I didn't like you, Hanae," he replied, face hot.

Gods, how he felt the beat of his heart. Faster, yes, but steady. Excited. He felt his face turn red. Felt the warmth of closeness between them spread across his body.

It was not a lie. He needed to know the truth. All of it. Was this old Hirawa's house?

He couldn't tell now. Did she know who he was? And who was she?

No. Think less. Act.

He slipped his hand free of her grip, gently took her fingers into his own grasp as he took a short step back. He bent down, and dared place a kiss upon the back of her knuckles.

If this was a game. He wouldn't lose.
 
Hanae waited for his pulse to speak all of Hiei's lies and truths to her. And as she expected, as much as to her own selfish delight, his pulse did quicken. Immediately after she touched him, she felt that pounding within his veins increase. Deep and steady, rolling underneath her thumb like a strong ocean wave.

A trick she had learned from her sister, who had learned it from her mother, and her mother had learned it from her own mother. A secret passed down within generations upon generations of women, each one had looked like a delicate rose, blooming boldly with a delight scent, always seeming to be just that: a flower. But roses had thorns and those who loved roses should always be prepared to bleed from the thorns.

Despite this assurance, making Hanae rather bold and giving her a sense of authority to continue looking deep into Hiei’s dark eyes, she was not prepared for what would happen next. She was not prepared for her own heart to betray her as Hiei spoke without a jumbled mess. It was a answer and not a answer all at once, seemingly direct but not giving her a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’ Not that she wanted to know about that.

She was searching for something far more important. But Hiei continued to surprise her as he bent down before her.

Now she was taller than him. The entire time, Hanae had been much, much smaller than Hiei. And here he was, kneeling down and kissing the back of her hand! Hanae’s porcelain skin immediately turned beet red, her own heart beating faster and faster. Where Hiei had been a smooth, slow rolling wave of the ocean, Hanae’s heart was much like the flutter of a hummingbird’s wings.

Hanae wanted to look away and pull her hand to her chest, to maybe mumble something naive and innocent. However, she knew what had to be done, even if she couldn’t understand how she was supposed to do such a thing with a straight face. With a bright red face and a trembling hand, Hanae cleared her throat.

“Your associates are waiting.” Was all she could said lest her voice waver further.
 
He rose from his knee, still holding Hanae's hand, his eyes tried to find hers once more, but she had turned away.

He smirked.

Some foolish sense of pride welling up in his chest. He would tell himself that he won. That whatever had transpired between them, he had come out on top. And yet...

His hand still held on to hers, even as she dismissed him. Reminded him of his own excuse.

"Would you rather I stay?" the words fell out of his mouth, and to hear them in his own ear, well. If he didn't want to know the answer so badly, maybe he would have worn a look of surprise. Yet there he stood, His hand still holding hers, feeling how it trembled. That same hand that had been so steady before.

In the storm of emotion that this night had brought, Hiei felt as if they stood in its very eye, and his gaze was fixed upon her.
 
Hanae’s stomach was in knots, her heartbeat erratic. Hiei stood up and she couldn’t quite look in his eyes, instead, she kept her gaze lowered. She wasn’t sure what the make of his words, of his actions— why wouldn’t he let go of her hand? It was strange, back at the clinic she had been so cheeky, and yet now all of her bravado was gone. She had instead reverted back into that shy and timid girl of her past.

No, Hanae thought firmly, pulling herself out of that anxious sea. She must, she needed to do this, now more than ever! Hanae took a deep breath, and looked at their hands, interlocked. Neither of them seen keen in letting the other go, and so Hanae brought her gaze to Hiei’s.

Her hand was warm. She always felt cold, and her hands and fingers tended to display that inward chill more than any other part of her. She wondered if Hiei felt the chill, or if his hand was so warm that he hardly noticed her icy touch. Hanae stepped forward, a large step that ate up any sort of space between the two of them.

This was dangerous, so incredibly dangerous. Her heart beat faster, Hanae never knew her heart could raise such a racket as it did now.

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t want you to stay.” Was that the truth? Or a lie disguised as a truth? Hanae reached her free hand outward, placing it onto Hiei’s chest. Where had he hidden that slip of paper? “Your heart is so steady, unlike mine. Can you feel my heartbeat, Hiei? Are you the cause of this?” And to prove her point, she moved their intertwined hands up, moving her hand just so as to place his palm onto her delicate chest, right above her breast.

She had to keep him there, just a moment more. Hanae needed that paper, to confirm her suspicions.
 
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