He hadn't expected the relief to be crippling, but there he was, slumping forward helplessly until he'd gone to his knees in the gravel and taken the boy with him. He promised himself he wouldn't be overwrought with emotion - it happened anyways. Perfectly cared-for nails gripped the fabric of Kaoru's clothing, clinging as pale palms trembled and the onmyoji shook. The other priests nearby cried out in alarm, afraid their young companion was genuinely ill, but rushing forward only proved the usually calm and collected man was overcome with uncharacteristic joy. He managed to keep himself from weeping openly, but there was no way to keep silent tears from falling. so few times in his long years had he felt such pain - at least now it was a good pain.

"Seiichi-sama! Seichii-sama, are you alright?" the other priests asked, wondering if Kaoru were some long lost relative. A brother? A son, perhaps? They could only assume and assist accordingly. Someone hurried over with a bottle of water, only to step back, startled, when the man laughed aloud and shook his head, giving Kaoru another crushing squeeze.

"I'm alright! I'm perfect!" he laughed helplessly, squeezing the boy again and again, unable to be sure he was real otherwise, afraid of letting go, though he was loathe to admit it. Eventually he had to, peeling himself away and smoothing his robes hurriedly, allowing himself to be helped up while he scrubbed at his face.