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The lanterns had long since risen above the Enclave when Hien arrived to join Kiri.
“Ah, I regret missing the festival,” he said.
She smiled, overjoyed simply to see him.
“Oh nonsense, not the whole festival,” she reassured, “Just the raising of the lanterns. But look! They’re still hanging around. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
He smiled, gazing at the floating display.
“Indeed,” he said, “Both pleasing to look at, and beautiful in their meaning.”
He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes.
“It fills my heart with joy that my people have begun to heal enough to be able to continue our traditions.”
She looked up at them.
“They’re like stars,” she said, “Stars guiding people on the way home. But, I guess you’ve all found your home now, haven’t you?”
Hien turned to her, his eyes lingering elsewhere for a moment, then his gaze met back with hers.
“I certainly have,” he said.
Kiri felt a flutter in her heart as she looked at him, everything around her stopping, as it always did. She found herself blushing, unable to look him in the eye for a moment.
“I’m… glad to hear that,” she replied, nearly fumbling the words.
There was a pause, a quiet one full of nothing but the distant sounds of the festival behind them. Kiri felt like Hien wished to say something, but if he did, he must have forgotten it, or was taking his time, for his mouth fell open, moving subtly as if he had intended to speak.
"Is there… something on my face, Kiri?" he said, "Your eyes seem to be wandering over it."
She blushed.
"Oh! No," she said, "I'm just… looking at you, I guess."
Her face grew even redder, embarrassed at her words, but thankfully, Hien had merely laughed.
"I see," he said, "Right. Well. I had been meaning to ask you something, as it happens."
Kiri tried not to look too excited, but the truth was she could hardly stand not knowing what he might say next.
"Oh?"
“Well, yes. I was… curious to hear about… I mean, if you have the time–”
“Of course I do, Hien,” Kiri said, wishing the words hadn’t come out as fast as they did.
“Oh, well, excellent. See, I was hoping you’d tell me… a bit about your time on the First,” he said, “If it isn’t… too painful… from what I heard, it was not an easy place to be.”
Kiri sighed, smiling and giving a subtle shake of her head.
“It sure was not,” she said, “But it was… beautiful, in its own way. Not just the amazing landscapes and incredible creatures, or even the way history has formed and changed their world to be so different from ours… but I found so much beauty in the people, their ways of life, their determination to live. It was just so uplifting to see people under such dire circumstances not only surviving, but thriving. Really puts everything into perspective. You know what I mean?”
Hien nodded in agreement, though some past of him seemed unsatisfied, as if there were more questions yet unanswered.
“Oh, absolutely. The people of the First sound admirable, to be sure. But… what about you, Kiri?” Hien asked, “How have you been since your trials there?”
She blushed. Was he really asking her that? How sweet…
“Oh, I mean, I’m fine,” she said, “I mean, I’m all healed up, if that’s what you mean. No more Light poisoning or broken ribs, all that nonsense.”
Hien smiled, with a soft sigh.
“That is very good to hear, though I do worry what such horrors could do to an ordinary person,” he said, “You’re very resilient. Though… you know… you don’t always have to be– I mean, that is to say, erm–”
He gave a nervous laugh, clearing his throat.
"What I mean is, you know if you… have any thoughts or feelings about… anything at all… you can come talk to me about it, yes? I don’t mean to worry, but… I cannot help but… care for you."
Her smile widened into a grin, one she tried her best to hide, with very little success.
“Yes. I do know that, Hien.”
She swallowed before her next words, almost too afraid to say them.
“And I really appreciate it,” she said, “Really. Not… a lot of folks take the time to ask me how I feel. Not that I blame them, it’s a busy time, but… it’s still nice to hear. Thanks.”
His lashes fluttered as he seemed to lean closer, and she swallowed for the lack of space between them, ever shrinking.
“You are… most welcome.”
He smiled again, and she could not help but be drawn to him, approaching ever nearer, but her hands trembled, unsure if they should follow the rest of her or not, shrinking away with every ilm that disappeared between the two of them.
“Hien…”
“Yes, Kirishimi?”
She shivered at the way he used her name, unable to suppress a smile.
There was to be no answer to his question, merely her eyes, frantically switching her gaze between each one of his, dark and glassy like obsidian, beautiful and surrounded by lashes longer than any she had ever seen. Her hands froze, not daring to make a single move, but she would be lying if she told herself she did not long to reach for him.
Her heart raced, breathing hitching as she felt a heat climb her neck. Was this a bad idea? Should she stop him? Was there anything to even stop him from doing? She could have been reading this wrong–
“Kirishimi…”
The soft, lovely timbre voice silenced her doubts. No, there was no way she could stop him, even if she knew she should have. His hand slid up her arm, and she all but swooned.
“Hien…”
She felt her eyelids close of their own accord, and she prepared herself for whatever may now happen…
“Lord Hien! Lord Hien!”
They both immediately separated, the space between them back as it was. A group of children had run up to them, excited and happy and probably far too full of sugary treats.
“Lord Hien! You’re here!” they exclaimed, jumping up and down, “You’re here! Play with us!”
Hien laughed, and Kiri cleared her throat.
“Guess it was only a matter of time before the kiddos came and found you,” she said.
The children’s voices all became a chaotic flurry of begging and squealing and every kind of excitable, unintelligible kid-speak, until Hien calmed them down.
“Alright, alright!” he said, laughing, “What do you want to play?”
The children then all pleaded, almost in unison:
“Tag! Tag! Please Lord Hien! Please, can we play tag?”
Hien turned to Kiri with an apologetic look.
“Forgive me. Duty calls,” he said, “Perhaps, erm, later, we can…?”
Kiri smiled, waving him off.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll catch up later,” she reassured, “Go on! Go get ‘em.”
She turned to the children.
“Because I think Lord Hien should be 'it' first!” she shouted, enthusiastically.
The children all squealed in delight, bolting off in several directions.
“Haha, I’ll get you!” Hien playfully shouted, chasing off after them.
Kiri sighed, a shiver going down her spine as her body adjusted to the sudden removal of adrenaline.
“Close one,” she muttered to herself, blowing a hair from her face. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head.
“Very close one.”