The girl perked, shifting in place uncertainly. Although the details of why she had so many doubts about her capacity for love were probably too much to mention, there was no reason not to indulge the rest of the question, right? Truthfully, she needed the chance to explore the idea.

Struggling a moment with where to start, she temporarily neglected to drink her tea.

"I guess... I'm grateful to them, more than anything. In my own worlds, I was almost always alone. There were people who were important to me, ones I tried my best to protect in any way I could, but they... it was always from a distance. I couldn't get close, no matter how much I wanted to. And that meant that to them, I wasn't..."

Important? Real? Remembered? That was one of the more unpleasant parts of her history, and Naminé made an effort to shake it off; that wasn't what Iroh had asked about, not technically. The blonde took a sip of her tea to clear the thought, brow scrunched slightly, and started again.

"Here, things are different. I can walk freely - I can go and visit them any time I want to. And I suppose - a part of me was always afraid that even if I could get close, they wouldn't want me there anyway. But it's not like that, not at all. Everyone's been so kind and welcoming, and they treat me well. They protect me, just like I've always wanted to protect them. How could I-- not cherish that? Being here has made me the happiest I've ever been, and most of it's because of the people around me."