Katsuko made a strangled sound that stopped short of being a laugh, scrubbing a hand through her hair. “We talked without drawing steel on each other. It’s an improvement.”

“Knew I was an upgrade,” Ryouma murmured. After a moment, leaves crunched gently underfoot as he stepped up behind her and leaned down, wrapping long arms around her in a gentle embrace. He rested his chin on her shoulder, warm and comforting. “You’re gonna be okay,” he said at last, voice quiet.

Katsuko closed her eyes and leaned back against him, feeling some of the tension she was carrying dissipate. “I’m always okay,” she said. “I don’t care if I have to go it alone. I’ll be okay.”

He gave her a little shake. "Who says you're goin' it alone? I came back as more'n a ghost."

“Hush,” Katsuko said, reaching up to tug on his nose. “You’re ruining my dramatic moment. There was wind blowing through my hair and everything.”

"Yeah, you looked real emo. Another couple minutes watchin' you and I mighta shed a few tears myself." The pressure of Ryouma’s chin on her shoulder disappeared as he straightened, freeing one arm to ruffle her hair. The other he kept draped over her collarbones, anchoring her in the present.

“What can I say?” Katsuko grinned. “I’m an amazing actress. Missed my calling when I went into the murder business instead.”

"And I shoulda been a rockstar."

“We would have taken the entertainment industry by storm,” Katsuko said, and curled a hand around his wrist. After a second, she added, “Still, I like where I am now. Wouldn’t change anything. Even the bad parts.”

Ryouma snorted a little. "Really? I'd change plenty, if somebody was runnin' around handin' out redos. Guess it's a good thing they're not on offer. Save alternate history for the movies, an' just go on finding happiness with what we've got."

Katsuko smiled. “I’ve got you, right?” she said. “You and Kakashi. You guys need looking after.”

He scruffed her hair again. "Says the girl who's mooched seven meals off me without givin' more'n bruises in return. C'mon, I'm still hungry. You owe me pie."

“I’ll buy you pie if you give me a piggyback to the bakery,” Katsuko said, slumping against him. “I’m tired.”

Ryouma dropped his arm from around her collarbones and grabbed her by the waist, swinging her up over his shoulder, head-downward like a sack of rice. Katsuko squawked in surprise, then broke into indignant laughter as he turned them around and started walking toward the man road.

“Tousaki!” she said, pummeling his back. “Tousaki, you big oaf, let me down!”

"Oaf, huh?" He bounced her on his shoulder. "So much for gratitude. All I get are insults. An' fists in the kidneys."

Katsuko cackled and poked him in the ribs. “Oaf. Lint-licker. Goat-toucher. I could go on.”

"I could drop you on your head,” Ryouma said. “Might improve things."

“I always land on my feet,” Katsuko said. “Like a cat. Except when I don’t. Makoto always said--” She stopped, cleared her throat, and fell silent. After a moment, she said, “I should introduce you guys sometime. He’d like you.”

"Sure,” Ryouma said, easily. "Most people like me. The ones who don't write me off as a thug, anyway." After a pause, he added, "He's your little brother, right? I'd like to meet him."

“Yeah,” Katsuko said. “That’d be awesome.” She tapped fingers idly against his spine for a moment. “Ryouma? Thanks. For today.”

The edge of a smile crept into his voice. "Anytime."

Katsuko exhaled, an answering smile flitting across her face, and finally let herself relax.