For the rest of the trip back to the village, nothing else was said between them. The only words were the ones no doubt whirling within their minds, for the both of them. Kuronotsurugi still couldn't believe that she'd actually asked those words, and what was more, he actually answered...what was this going to turn in to? She had looked relieved, from the expression he'd seen on her face when he told her to come to the Uchiha compound...and she said she'd be there. But would she really? If she did...what would he say? He doubted that in the time that they'd take to rest up he'd have a proper answer...however the answer to that would come to him when the time itself came as well. So, he allows those thoughts to calm, pushing them to the back of his mind where he could worry about them later.<br/><br/>It was still night time by the time the huge front gates of Konohagakure came in to view, closed for the night time, but it would only be a few more hours before the sun rose on the horizon, marking a new day. A slight sinking feeling forms in his gut, a questionable sensation that he couldn't just shake off. He wondered if Hikari was still thinking about what had been spoken about earlier, something about her seemed lighter, more hopeful. Had his words really effected her that much? Did the words effect her as much as it had done to him? Did she feel as if she were regretting this parting as much as he felt, but would never admit?<br/><br/>Slowing their pace and dropping to the ground about fifty meters or so away from the gates, Kuronotsurugi takes a deep breath, before stopping once more in his tracks. He knew the ninja who were on guard at the gate had seen them approaching, as the sound of creaking wood filled the air, signalling that the gates were being opened. The reason he'd dropped so early from the trees was...because he didn't want anyone to see. See this expression on his face. To see him like...this.<br/><br/>Holding a hand to signal for Hikari to stop, he turns to look at her, and for a moment was silent. This sort of thing was so new to him, he wasn't sure what to say or do. But he felt a tingling inside him that wanted to try. Why he was letting that urge take control of him was unknown to him, but that didn't matter anymore...or at least, that's what he thought right then and there. How wrong he would be later on down the road, and a lot sooner than one would expect too.<br/><br/>Looking at Hikari face and taking a deep breath, he gulps quietly. "Um, so, good mission...And uh..." He slightly reaches out to her, as if to offer her hand, but then on second thought it drops to his side once more. He looks anywhere but at Hikari at this point, that same faint pink on his cheeks as he rubs the back of his neck lightly. "I'll go check in with the Hokage...you...you can go on home." He turns slowly, his back to her and he walks forward towards the gate. Then he freezes to look back over his shoulder, raising his hand in a wave good-bye, and small smile on his lips, his eyes twinkling gently. "...See ya around...and thanks." With that he disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving nothing behind except for a pair of footprints and dust from where he'd disappeared.<br/><br/>Doing exactly as he says, he arrives at the Hokage's mansion, which even at this hour was still open. He knew that Tsunade wouldn't be awake, but Shizune would be, and she was just as good as to let know that the two of them were back from their mission. He'd go in to the debriefing with the Hokage once it was day time. For now, checking in would have to suffice. Quietly he drifted through the empty hallways, treading the familiar path to the office in which Shinobi received and reported in on missions. Opening the door with one hand, Shizune indeed was there, filing through papers, and she looks up when hearing the door open. "Ah, Kuronotsurugi, you're back. I take it that the mission went successfully?" He nods, now silent as a stone, just like before. "Alright, well, I'll let Lady Tsunade know once she's awake, and then you can be debriefed. For now you can just go home and rest." Nodding once again, Kuronotsurugi turns around and heads back out the door, and the building itself, now heading towards home. For now, what was called home. It didn't take him all that long to get there, and once in his room he takes everything off, leaving just his pants and falls down on to his bed, on his back, and in an instant was asleep. That had been a mission he'd not been expecting in the least.