Having slipped away from the Crane event, he strolls along the path by the forest, the wind whipping around the trees. But as soon as the expected partner shows up, they could take some cover from it in the trees.

His heart was beating at a good clip, as he stares down the fact that this might be a terrible idea. But it was such an amazing idea.

She hadn't had time to change, so Kasumi threaded her way through the woods in her second-best kimono- although she'd removed the good sandals, trusting to the soles of her feet, toughened from running the ratlines so often. She carried the shoes in her left hand, and didn't move especially furtively.

Everyone notices when you try to sneak. Better to saunter until they lose interest.

This is the worst idea ever.
This is the best idea ever.
This is...

The sound of approaching footsteps causes Jiro's heart to jump into his throat, but he pushes the sensation down as he turns to face Kasumi. "Lovely evening for a walk Kasumi-chan," he says, smiling warmly but a definite hesitation present with their lack of supervision or prying eyes. He had wanted this right? But looking at the situation, at her...

"Join me?" he asks, his voice only cracking the smallest bit.

Butterflies, meet stomach.

She'd talked a good game. And she'd had some basic physical... experimentation in her time aboard the Yukikaze, but...

But somehow filthy promises and lurid intentions felt... wrong here.

Not because it was socially unacceptable, or because it might hurt his intended, or any of that, but...

But he... we... deserve better than charging headlong into some clumsy fumblings behind a tree.

"Jiro-kun... I'd like that very much."

He nods to her and waits for her to fall in step next to him before leading the way through the trees. There is a definite silence that lingers for a bit as hundreds of thoughts compete inside his mind for the opportunity to be the one that tells him what to do. In the end, one won out and as a result, he drifted slightly closer to her and peeked down to hook her index finger with his own. The most bashful handhold possible. Likely not the confident and forward move he believed it was. Especially given the fact that he had held hands in a more relaxed and full way with Natsuko, and even had a stronger hold on Kasumi's hand under the silks in the foreign shop. But it somehow felt different, just reaching out in a place where he wasn't hiding it behind walls or under cloth.

And still he couldn't form words at the moment.

She glanced over.

Smiled.

And then leaned her head on his shoulder.

Stolen moments were all they'd ever get, and she wasn't dumb enough to think he was the one true love of her life or anything, but...

But this is nice.

Her touch, somehow made him feel physically more calm, but mentally more anxious. "I..." he trails off.

He gathers his thoughts. "I talk. A lot. Somehow without saying anything, you've making it difficult for me to find words."

He slowly adjusts, taking her index and middle fingers with his. Little by little moving towards a full handhold.

She took his hand more fully.

"Y'don't need t'say anythin' if nothin' suggests itself."

He nods at that and continues, slowly meandering the forest.

Eventually words do come though. "You are amazing Kasumi-chan. I know it is more delicate than I want to admit. And we're likely to be far apart and rarely see each other. But I also find myself really wanting to grow this despite the difficulties it presents. Because you are worth it."

"Well. Again, I don' wanna hurt anyone, but... I can't regret any'a this."

"I know," he says. "It's more difficult than I thought. But that is how it goes, no? The cliff is more frightening from the edge?"

"Well, once y'go over th'edge, no more time t'worry."

She sighed- happily.

"An' if this is all we get, well... I'll take it."

Smiling as he walked, picking the next words deliberately.

"Each moment with you
a precious gift, celebrate
great fortune and luck."

He squeezed her hand gently.

She squeezed back.

"Hope y'don't 'spect any poetry back. I still haven't got th'hang of it."

"I don't expect it. But if you want to give it a go, you would find a smile, encouragement, and potentially some constructive criticism for improvement. And I would be glad to accept the shared feelings with happiness."

He smiles, his expression promising that out here, between them, it is safe to share however and whatever she wishes.

She took a breath.

And enunciated.

"Moonlight casts shadows
Lady Sun refuses to show
Glad to share with you."

"Very nice," he says with a smile. "The syllables are off in the second line, but otherwise it was functionally correct. But without taking the mechanics of the form into account I like the content. Even more so... I returned the sentiment."

He looks at her for a moment, bites his lower lip, and leans barely perceptibly. In her direction. For half a moment.

Why did you abort? You want to. Go ahead.

He struggles with the idea, then finally compromises with himself and lifts her hand, kissing the back of it.

She sighed.

Nestled closer, without any hint of the licentious things she'd gotten so fond of hinting at to him.

This has to be it for this sort of thing, and we know it. Oh, we might sneak a handhold again, hell, maybe more, but this kind of innocent flirtation's all over for us after this.

She brushed his face with the back of the hand he'd just kissed.

"Gonna be rough."

"It is. Wanting, but knowing that having comes with costs and problems," he smiles a bit sadly, his eyes meeting hers. There is a want in his expression and a hesitance in his body language.

"It's so much more difficult, facing the moment. But Kasumi-chan..."

She turned to face him more fully.

"Aye, Jiro-kun?"