That pause was enough not only for Fay to notice the delay in Kurogane's response, but it was also enough for Mokona to make a clean escape. Still, that didn't stop her from yelping as she bounced back into the house. "WAH, Kurogane is GRUMPY this evening~!"
Had Fay not witnessed the unintentional hesitance in Kurogane's movement or realised now what the shifting of Kurogane's robe signified, he'd half expected the ninja to chase after her, no doubt traipsing all the swept up leaves and other garden debris back into the house.
With a backwards glance to make sure Mokona hasn't changed her mind about returning, Fay walked around the bench, removing the vase from his arm as he did so. Its placed on the bench between them as he sat down.
So...are they going to pretend that didn't happen? Probably. If Kurogane had his way.
"Does it hurt?" Kurogane hadn't winced, but then Kurogane had a superhuman tolerance for pain, so that meant nothing. Still, Fay needed to ask. Needed to know if ... if he had caused this. "You can tell me, you know." Scratching that last bitter thought from memory, Fay looked across at his friend with what he hoped was a kind smile. There was no need for Kurogane to protect his feelings of guilt, not anymore. There were to be no more eggshells - hmm, not that Kurogane hadn't stomped all over them before. If Fay could help, then he would. He owed Kurogane that much (and so much more.)