[ Her sacred tree, he says. It isn't in the literal sense, there's no kami associated with it to her knowledge (her family would know, right?), but it still feels different to her. Maybe Hibiki can interpret it like that, something sacred and special to her specifically, rather than in general.
That thought thankfully isn't given any room to grow, and as Kaito takes her arm, the blonde stills. Winces, not out of pain thanks to his healing, but... shame maybe? Or the unsettling knowledge that's been branded in every sense of the word, that she's somehow disfigured. Those thoughts circle in her head for the brief instant before he places a gentle kiss on her arm.
On her end is complete radio silence, but not because she's blocked the link between them. Frozen in that moment, her mind goes blank. If it weren't for him foolishly apologizing to her, she might have stayed that way. ]
...Kaito, you don't...
[ It usually takes a lot for her to get emotional, but hearing him blame himself for this before placing another kiss on her branded arm sets Hibiki over the edge. She takes a ragged breath, gripping the arm he has wrapped around her with her free hand as she bows her head. She's tired--so, so tired. Even before she died and showed up here, she's been holding so much in, and his guilt-ridden apology is what finally pushes her past her breaking point.
A single sob escapes her, filled with so much emotion. Anguish and anger directed at no single target, but at everything all at once. The fact that he feels like he has to apologize for any of what happened... ]
...This isn't your fault...
[ Please, don't say anything else, Kaito. She doesn't want to cry, not in front of him like this. ]
no-kill Nagano huh...
That thought thankfully isn't given any room to grow, and as Kaito takes her arm, the blonde stills. Winces, not out of pain thanks to his healing, but... shame maybe? Or the unsettling knowledge that's been branded in every sense of the word, that she's somehow disfigured. Those thoughts circle in her head for the brief instant before he places a gentle kiss on her arm.
On her end is complete radio silence, but not because she's blocked the link between them. Frozen in that moment, her mind goes blank. If it weren't for him foolishly apologizing to her, she might have stayed that way. ]
...Kaito, you don't...
[ It usually takes a lot for her to get emotional, but hearing him blame himself for this before placing another kiss on her branded arm sets Hibiki over the edge. She takes a ragged breath, gripping the arm he has wrapped around her with her free hand as she bows her head. She's tired--so, so tired. Even before she died and showed up here, she's been holding so much in, and his guilt-ridden apology is what finally pushes her past her breaking point.
A single sob escapes her, filled with so much emotion. Anguish and anger directed at no single target, but at everything all at once. The fact that he feels like he has to apologize for any of what happened... ]
...This isn't your fault...
[ Please, don't say anything else, Kaito. She doesn't want to cry, not in front of him like this. ]