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When Kiki accidentally handed Zen the document she was working on instead of the one he needed, he looked at her curiously. “You don’t usually mix up papers, Kiki. Something on your mind?”
“I’m alright, just didn’t sleep well last night.”
"Did you stay up all night thinking of someone?" Zen teased.
Well, she couldn't exactly deny it. Last night, as soon as she closed her eyes, she saw his face. It was infuriating.
Zen caught on from her silence right away. The downside of knowing each other inside-out, although she definitely had a much easier time reading Zen than the other way round.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, Hisame seemed to be having a rough time of it as well. He went to Mitsuhide of all people for advice. It was rather amusing, actually.”
“Lord Hisame went to Mitsuhide for advice?” Kiki repeated, incredulous. Now that wasn’t a sentence she thought she would ever get to hear. “Advice on what?”
“Advice on you, Kiki. What else?”
She was still processing that one when Mitsuhide walked in with some more paperwork.
"I thought you promised not to say anything?" Mitsuhide said disapprovingly.
"I did. But then I realized Kiki is my best friend, not him." Zen sniffed. "In any case, I'm doing him a favor."
"...What advice did you give Lord Hisame, Mitsuhide?" Kiki asked.
"That dense, inexperienced idiot didn't give any advice.” Zen answered instead. “I stepped in. This is kind of my area of expertise, you know." He preened, puffing his chest up a little.
Kiki pretended to look thoughtful. "I seem to recall Shirayuki not being able to look you in the eye for three days straight when you first kissed her. That's one kind of expertise, for sure."
Mitsuhide cracked up. "Thank you, Kiki."
"Kiki! That's a low blow. That was my first kiss, you know. And I was under duress." He had turned red like a tomato. His complexion really made it show. "Hmph, this is what I get for trying to be helpful."
Kiki chuckled.
Zen’s actual advice, however, was quite sound. He did know Kiki well, after all. He told Hisame to take it slow, to let things go their natural course. Kiki was a cautious person, and rushing things wouldn’t help.
Hisame was doing fine, really. He didn’t need advice. But the fact that he had consulted her two closest friends about her… it made her feel things.
Now, if only she had the courage to do the same, but she had her pride. Let her friends believe she had it all together. What advice could Zen and Mitsuhide possibly give her that she didn’t know already? If Shirayuki were here, maybe they could have had a little heart-to-heart.
Which meant, figuring out how to approach her fiancé next time they spoke was her problem alone.
By the time she met Hisame for evening tea, she had it somewhat figured out (maybe).
She could be imagining it, but Hisame seemed more hesitant today. They spoke normally, but there was something in the air that wasn’t there before. They were both tottering on the edge of something.
The evening passed by quickly. In no time at all, Kiki was seeing Hisame off at the Wirant Castle grounds in what seemed like a repeat of yesterday.
"Well, then Lady Kiki. I'll take my leave." A small smile played on his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was definitely more reserved today, wistful even.
And Kiki knew that it wouldn't sit right with her if she let him leave like this.
Among her fellow knights, Kiki was known for her bravery in combat. She didn't think it was so much bravery as it was being willing to (cautiously) step forward even when she didn't fully grasp what was ahead of her.
She didn't fear the unknown. And more importantly, she never left any regrets. She tried to live her best life. Always.
It was these thoughts she had in mind as she took her next step.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Lord Hisame? Like you did last night."
It took him a moment to catch her meaning, but when she stepped forward to hug him, it became abundantly clear.
"I wasn't sure you liked it last time, so I didn't want to assume." His voice was soft, his hands at her waist.
"I was caught off guard last night." She pulled away slightly to see his face. "It takes some getting used to before I can know whether I like it."
"Heh, does that mean that if you keep seeing me around, you'll start liking me too?" He said it lightly, but he was looking at her directly, his eyes sincere.
She was momentarily stunned, not because of his words, but because of the softness of his gaze.
"Hmm, I wonder. We've known each other for over a decade. So I suppose that would take only another decade at most." She smiled mischievously. "Well, we'll be married, so you'll have plenty of time to figure that out."
She thought he would laugh, maybe give her that lopsided grin of his that she had grown to love. Instead, he looked at her like she was the best thing to ever happen to him.
Before she processed what she was doing, she had cupped his cheek and pressed her lips to his. It was quick, over before she had a chance to savor it.
It turned out that she didn't have to. Because next thing she knew, Hisame was gently kissing her back, his fingers in her hair. It lasted a lot longer this time.
When they paused for breath, Hisame held her, looking down at her through his bangs. She was in awe of how the same Hisame who she had known all these years could wear such a tender expression, and the fact that it was an expression meant for her eyes only. She wondered how long he had done that before she actually started to notice.
"Is this what you meant by closing the gap between us, Lord Hisame?" She couldn't resist teasing him a little. He could take it.
"...I should have known Sir Mitsuhide wouldn't keep the matter to himself." Hisame said with an exaggerated sigh.
"Oh? Are you sure you weren't counting on it? But if you must know, it wasn't him who revealed your secret."
"It was his Highness? Now that's not something I expected."
"He was trying to help you, truly."
"Well, I suppose I'm glad that I don't have to thank Sir Mitsuhide for this. Really, I would rather die."
"Says the person who went to Mitsuhide willingly for life advice. I don't think you have the grounds to make that statement anymore."
"...You, Sir Mitsuhide, and His Highness will continue to remind me of this till the end of my days, won’t you?"
"Probably." She giggled.
"Fine. It was worth it, for this outcome." The smile he gave her then made her heart do a funny flip.
It was yet another sleepless night because she kept replaying the events of that evening in her head. But at least this time there were no unresolved feelings and words unsaid.
She was happy.