Asuma paused mid-step, free hand catching the nearest tree to steady himself. A hasty stride brought Natsumi to his side, her pretty face carved into worried lines. Unbroken fingers skated over his arm, hesitating somewhere between touching and catching hold.

Smiling, Asuma ducked down and pressed a surprise kiss to the side of her face, just next to her ear. Her skin was icy; his words were slurred. "If I remember right, you just gave me CPR. I think I kissed you."

Natsumi's cheek flamed red. Asuma laughed softly in her ear, sick and dizzy but entirely pleased with himself--entirely pleased with her--and lifted his hand from his side to tease a tangled strand of hair back from her fine-boned face. Natsumi twitched away, shying from his touch like a wild mare, but just for a second, she might have leaned in...

Whichever it was, at least she didn't look quite so worried, now. Asuma let go of his tree, and resolved to keep it that way; Natsumi had her own pains to worry about, without stacking his issues on top.

And it was just fun to tease her, even now.

He caught his balance in a world that insisted on skidding sideways, and kept going. "So are we talking about a proper kiss? Because I'm not sure it'll be worth it for anything less. Unless you want to make it one kiss for every mile. That might be worth it..."