[It isn't easy to detect the brave face that she's putting on, but Kaoru already has ample experience with masks and masking things even now. It's difficult to see her in this situation, but he knows that it's even more difficult to be in this situation. Once the door is closed, if there isn't any lantern left behind, there's nothing but darkness, stale air, and the oppressive feeling of being constricted and compacted smaller and smaller even though the space isn't as minute as it could be.

So he pauses for a second, and then smiles.]

You've gone to even greater lengths for me, so it's only right to return the favor. [He's massively in debt already. The kindness that she's shown him... He's fairly certain he'll never be able to pay it back.

He does what he can in small steps instead, hoping that they'll be enough.]

I'll be back in a few hours, then. Please take care not to let the lantern burn out... [And then Kaoru fishes into the space between his own obi and kimono, pulling out several more lengths of wicks. It's not something that he was supposed to bring along, but he couldn't stand the idea of someone being sealed up in this old darkness. He'll leave those on the floor next to the lantern and then head toward the door that leads back to the outside of the knoll. He gives her one last glance before stepping out to shut it behind himself.

He's also disobeying orders by not actually locking her in that other room, but like hell he'd do that, either.]