"Mm. I only wish there were more I could do. The Gods of this world are honest enough and do what they can, that much is obvious, but I still wish prayers were more readily answered. I want you to have everything you lost. Once, I might have been able to do that for you, but I am diminished. It troubles me. You deserve more," the onmyoji murmured, turning his head slightly and opening one eye to fix on Kaoru.

"I am not unhappy. I do not want to appear ungrateful. It is not for me that I want more; only you," he replied, turning their hands over and smiling faintly, thrilled by the simple touches and marveling over how he hardly felt a desire to recoil for the sake of appearances.