"Ha! Terribly rude of you to say. I maintain a certain level of mystery regardless of stories told. Tch. To suggest otherwise is insulting," he grumbled, reaching up and pinching Kaoru's cheek.

"Hmpf. Maybe. I have done my best to be more accessible, to make a home and allow myself to be close to people I care about without fear of recrimination. So far it has proved easier than expected. Difficult, in some ways, definitely exhausting at times, but certainly more rewarding," he drawled the last, turning his head to press a kiss at the corner of Kaoru's mouth, lips curving into a sly smile.

"Building is at least proving more fun and less messy than expected."