Katsutoshi had to suppress the urge to grin further as Tsukiko made little attempt to hide her irritation and dislike of him. While he was not the kind of being that sought to intentionally get under others' skin for his own amusement, it seemed his personality tended to put him in such situations anyways. So it seemed to be with Tsukiko. She would need to mature enough to not let such things faze her, or else she was going to be a handful.<br/><br/>Even as she reached out to speak to him again, she had a scrunched up face, like she had smelled something unpleasant. The tone of her thoughts mirrored the look on her face as she warned him about lying to them, and then she did something unexpected. She seemed to be opening up slightly to him, bringing up the obvious difference between the two, then cut off shortly after. Once she pulled away, his mind began to ponder her words. While her warning was of little concern to him, her brief moment of openness had piqued his curiosity. She seemed troubled by something, likely something to do with her powers and the darkness that dwelt within her. He would have to use this moment to his advantage it seemed.<br/><br/>He set these thoughts aside for the moment as Hikaru turned her attention to him once more. She had seemed amused by her sister's evident dislike for him, and smiled happily at Tsukiko's agreement to his proposal. Once Tsukiko had said her piece, Hikaru spoke in her melodious voice once again, if only to ask permission to touch him. He nodded and listened to what she had to say, her gentle tone rippling through his consciousness. Her eagerness to learn the human tongue was even greater than he had expected, and he could see the excitement glistening in her eyes. Even as they were cut short by the need to move on from the clearing they now stood in, he found himself amused by her pure desire for speech.<br/><br/>He smiled a little broader, though it was not as mocking as it had been. "I cannot claim to be a great teacher of such things, but I will teach you what I can." he replied, giving a slight bow. "And yes, I agree that we must be on our way." He stood up straight, Hikaru's hand slipping from his face. "Now then, let us be off ladies." With that, he began to walk back onto the road, waiting for the two to join him.<br/><br/>His grin spread widely for a moment before returning to normal. It had proved easier than he thought to ingratiate himself with them. Hikaru was already trusting, and her desire to speak in the human language already created a connection between the two of them. As for Tsukiko, by taking that brief moment to speak only to him, she had created a connection between them. She had revealed her hidden worries, however indirectly, which might put him in a mentor role for her. In time she might begin to confide in him, tying him ever closer to her as well. It seemed their fates were now intertwined, and only the future would reveal just what that would mean.