[And then, like that sharpness had never been there at all, Kaoru's smile grows a little sunnier and he laughs in a light and gentle way.]

I do feel in much safer hands now! Though I'll continue to hope that you won't need to extend a hand in the end, either way. It would be better for both of us that way, I believe. It seems your friend isn't terribly fond of me...

[WHO KNOWS WHY goodness, what a vast and unsolvable mystery.]