It was a hint if she'd ever heard one. Tsume tensed, her smile going knife-edged. It was a hint, and she didn't want it. "Sometimes, there's too much hurt that goes along with those secrets." She took the wrap Kiba handed her, containing sauce and about three water chestnuts--he'd put the rest of the meat in his own flatbread--and picked at the corner with her nails. Her eyes dropped, glaring at her food, unable to hold Ryouma's gaze, to see the smile that said trust me and know it was a lie.

"Are we still talking about my dad?" Hana asked, confusion and suspicion mingling.

"No, cubling," Tsume reassured her, with a sharp look at Ryouma to keep his mouth shut. "We're talking about when you should and shouldn't tell people things."

"Hisa-sensei says you should tell people things if those things hurt you." Hana parroted the words, picking the contents of her wrap out of her puppy's fur.

"That's good advice. But sometimes there are things that would only hurt other people, and those you should keep to yourself." She wasn't sure her own secrets counted. She didn't want to find out. She did know that nothing good would come of telling anyone. Her mission with Genma and Raidou had only solidified that certainty.

"We have an extra flatbread, Ma," Kiba announced, flopping it around in the air. He blinked at them, eyes flickering from one adult to the other. "You guys smell funny," he announced at last.

Tsume resisted the urge to sniff her own arm, and hoped Kiba didn't come up with descriptions.

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