[There's a little hum in response to that, not really of agreement or denial - just a noncommittal noise. Kaoru walks the fence when it comes to topics that could potentially reveal too much, and this is certainly one of those.

But the question earn Elliot a quizzical look, and by now most of the edge from earlier has gone away again. His hands come to rest near the bottom of his cup.]

What do I believe in? [The question is echoed back, and then a momentary but thoughtful silence follows.]

I don't have any particular beliefs for the afterlife itself, if that's what you mean. Of course, it's prudent to honor one's ancestors, but I don't have much time to spare on pondering the what-ifs beyond that. [A small, quirking, wry smile.] We're on the brink of war, after all. It's troublesome enough to think of what lies exactly before us.

[Which isn't entirely a lie, for once. He really doesn't have much time to solidify his beliefs. Even if Elliot was talking about beliefs in a more general sense - good and bad, right and wrong, the way of the world - Kaoru's answer would remain pretty much unchanged. His scope of vision is very narrow.]