"I uh I guess I kind of panicked when I saw you gone," Taka bashfully admitted. "No, no chain or cage. If you want to leave you are free too."

Taka knelt and loosened his grip, allowing Tomoe to leave if he wanted. He found himself hoping that the boy wouldn't take him up on the offer and leave. It felt kind of good to hold a warm body close, Taka realized. Killer assassins aren't usually the type to get hugs from people.