karikitdemonrp

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari rubbed her eyes with a soft sniffle and took a breath. Hawks words and presences had helped her calm down. Sure the pain still lingered, but it didn't hurt as much. "I... I wanna keep going. No, I need to keep going." She chirped softly after a moment. "I can't just stop now. Not yet." She informed and turned back to look over more hero logs for her father.

Training logs showing his improvement, journals that dated before Kari's birth, interviews, news reports, and so on. Eventually Kari stopped on a journal entry dated a few weeks after Kari's birth.

"August 5, I brought Kari home for the first time. She's gained a bit of weight which is good. She's such an active little girl. Kitearo was immediately so protective despite how he acted before. I guess seeing how small she was and having processed what happened helped him a lot. Therapy has been a huge help for all of them. Shade us still sneaking top shelf books when I'm not looking, last time I saw her reading Moby Dick to Kari and immediately stepped in. We made an agreement that if she didn't read these to Kari then I'd allow her to read certain top shelf books with supervision. She's enjoying spending time with Kari, reading her books while she's is in Shade's lap. Boom and Beats always love to play with Kari, running around happily with toys and including Kati in their games. Flo shows Kari a ton of different plants, mainly flowers. Fino likes to have Kari ride on his back while in a random animal form. I feel like these kids will super close when they're older. Sure they'll get into arguments and maybe even fights, but thats life. I'm just happy it looks like things are gonna be alright. Still waiting for Boom and Beats to get their quirks, I'm not sure what they'll be since Mikomi's quirk is so different. She never explained why, but I have a rough understanding. Either way, I've made up my mind and I'll help with hero work in some other way, but I'll be retiring as a pro hero before Kari's first birthday. I can't risk it right now, there is too much at stake. I'll keep doing my best for them. - Lynx Himura."

Kari gave a soft smile then went to type in her mother's hero name and began looking through the hero logs there. Eventually she came across an interview, roughly around the same time as Lynx, though it was off by a few days.

"Hello, thank you for meeting with us, Angelic."

"Of course, I'm glad I could make it work. Been super busy and all." Mikomi laughed. Her eyes, while a different color, were roughly the same shape as Kari's. Though Kari's were a bit more pointed and Mikomi's slightly more rounded. But it was easy to see the resemblance.

"Yea, you've been very busy it seems. Your already the number six hero and you're still pretty young. Any insight as to why you're working do hard?"

"Ah, going for that question already. Fair enough. Well, it's kinda has to do with my quirk being so easy to... adapt to different situations so I can help out in many areas. So I'm able to be noticed more often and so on. That and I just like helping. It feels right to me. Don't get me wrong the money is nice too but I'm not wanting for anything. I'm actually only using what I need and saving the rest for future emergencies or plans."

"You planning on starting a family?"

"Maybe, maybe not. But I'll never let that information slip. I'm aiming high after all. If I have kids and I'm in the top three, their lives could be in danger so I'm keeping stuff like that close to my chest." Mikomi looked to the camera and smiled knowingly almost, in Kari's direction. Kari shivered a bit.

"Thats fair," the reporter hummed off camera and Mikomi looked back at the reported. "Now, about your quirk--"

"Sorry but I'm not divulging information about my quirk either." Mikomi was quick to interrupt. "I know it is different and rather weird but I'd like to keep that to myself as well."

"Ah, I see. Well, what about your relationship with Redone?"

"Oh, I--" Mikomi blushed a bit with a grin. "Well, it's a long story but after moving back from America, I had to go cuz of my mom's job, we reconnected in highschool and haven't really been apart since. He's really sweet and caring. We've been together for a while actually."

"Can we plan on a hero wedding anytime soon?"

"Ya know, I watched his interview last week and I tried asking him when he came by with the sweet buns. He just laughed and told me he'd propose when the time is right. I'm not sure when but I'm sure everyone will be made aware eventually." Mikomi chuckled softly. The interview went on, more questions, some dodged some answered. But all in all Kari got a good feel for Mikomi's personality. Kind but firm, not willing to take bullshit but not rude either. Stands her ground and proud of it.

Kari smiled and went on to find some missions, training logs, and a family tree. Kari widened her eyes. There she was with her siblings, her mother, her father, even her grandparents. There was Maica, Core, Core's father. Her whole family.

Looks like Lynx had two younger brothers one of which was deceased while the other was still alive but no where in Japan and no contact information listed and he looked to be estranged. Lynx's parents were listed too though his father passed away the same year as one if his brothers while Lynx's mother passed two years before Kari was born. Kari frowned, concluding an accident happened that took Lynx's father and brother. She shook it off and opened up a journal from her mother, taking a breath.

"I'm simply writing this so it is on record in case something happens to me and one of my children develops my quirk-" Kari perked up a bit. "I don't know if it'll come to that but dad said it's better safe than sorry. He probably knows something since we share a quirk and all. Thats besides the point. I plan on having this under heavy lock and key until I die or if one of my children requests it or whatever. I'm not the best with formal stuff but I'll try my best. Either way, I am Mikomi Himura. Mother to Kitearo Himura, wife to Lynx Himura. My quirk is called All of the Above. It is a highly adaptive quirk, able to integrate any other quirk upon seeing it, though it takes time. My DNA is very unstable for lack of a better way of putting it. My son's quirk is vastly different to mine. Well, it's going to be, he hasn't developed it yet but I already know. Sir Nighteye's quirk has been super helpful in calming the nerves of a new mother. For the most part at least, but I'm keeping that close to my chest for now."

Kari shivered a bit, having a feeling she knew what Mikomi was referring to but kept reading.

"As for the specifics of my quirk, I'm able to use a quirk I've copied with in a certain length of time after seeing it, depending on the type. A week or two for emmiter quirks, two to three weeks for transformation and accumulation quirks, and four weeks for mutation quirks. I don't just copy the quirk, but a snap shot of the person as well for lack of a better way of putting it. It can be refreshed if I see that person again but yea. Ugh this is more difficult to explain than I thought. Uh, the reason there is a snap shot is because I can call on it to help learn quirks more effectively, they take over my body and I learn through muscle memory. The quirks I have copied as well as the snap shots of the people will be passed on to which ever of my children inherits my quirk but those quirks will be locked until certain things are met, I'm not sure how that all works. Dad hasn't explained it and I haven't figured it out. It's weird to explain and better to show but I don't plan on dying so ill be able to show my kid when the time comes. Regardless, this is just a precaution and I don't plan on needing it. With that I'm closing this journal."

Kari blinked, moving to look through more journal entries. Some where around the time she was pregnant with her siblings. Then another caught Kari's eye.

"It's July 20th today. I'm feeling pretty weak from this pregnancy. Little Kari is really sapping me, but that's fine. I've had six kids before her so I'll be okay. But I'm not gonna lie this one has been rougher than all the others so I'm a bit worried. My due date isn't for another two month so it's fine."

"July 25th, something isn't right. I asked Lynx to take me to the hospital to have a check up. I might need emergency surgery. Kari might be born sooner than expected."

After that journal entry Kari found an obituary for her mother. "Number 3 hero dies for unspecified reasons." It lists the funeral date as well as other information.

Kari sighed softly, going over to Hawks and clinging to him, shaking and crying in weak sobs. She just needed a moment to process it all. "I... I know it's not my fault... but a part... A part if me still... still hurts." Kari hiccuped, nuzzling into Hawks' leg, just letting it all out. "I wanna know her. Who would she have been? What would be going on right now if she were alive? Why did she have to die cuz of me? It's not fair." The child cried, trying to hold back a bit but still needing to let out some emotions before continuing, if she even wanted to.

Hawks stood beside Kari the whole time, his usual laid-back expression softened into something quiet and pained. He didn’t say much while she clicked through the files—he didn’t need to. His hand gripped hers back just enough to remind her he was there, grounding her, steady and real in a space full of shadows from the past.

When Kari tried to lighten the mood at the end, Hawks crouched down a little to her level and gently brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. His expression didn’t shift into pity—it never did. Instead, it was the expression of someone who understood, who had lived through too many ghosts of his own.

“Two pounds, huh?” he murmured with a gentle smile. “And now look at you. Tough enough to face all this head-on, brave enough to want answers even when you knew they’d hurt. That kind of strength? That’s rare, Kari. That’s hero stuff.”

He let the words settle before continuing, his thumb brushing over her knuckles where their hands were still locked together.

“Your dad loved you. All of you. You can feel it in every word he wrote—even when things were falling apart, his thoughts were on keeping you safe. That’s not something a lot of kids get to grow up knowing. But you? You’ve got that. You’ve got him with you every time you use your quirk, every time you snort like he did.” Hawks grinned a little at that, trying to lift her spirit without pushing her too fast.

He then stood and offered his other hand to steady her.

“We can look for more when you’re ready—your mom’s records, maybe some old hero logs. But we don’t have to do it all today. There’s no rush. What matters is you have this now. It’s a part of you, but it doesn’t have to define you.”

He gave her hand a soft squeeze, his wings flexing slightly behind him.

“You wanna keep going? Or you want a break, maybe get something warm to drink, clear your head?” he asked gently, letting her take the lead again. “Whatever you choose, I’m here, little bird.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

The kitsune chuckled. "My love, I've been holding back. I've been getting worked up ever since you started teasing me after I came back with the tea. Maybe sooner but I'm not entirely sure." He informed softly. "You have a way of riling me up." He informed with a soft tone, staring at Kohaku with an affectionate gaze, tail flicking in anticipation.

"I can be, but I'm pretty sure you like it." The kitsune chuckled softly. "But this time I really wanna pamper you afterwards. More so than usual." Core nuzzled into Kohaku's chest lovingly, shivering in need while Kohaku's hand trailed down his back, letting out a needy whimper unintentionally when Kohaku's hand rested just above Core's tail. The fox's tail wagged when Kohaku whispered into his ear.

Core gave a small smile, purring slightly louder as he was pulled to the futon. "Heh, I guess you were looking forward to this all day, you seem more excited and worked up than me." He chirped, tail wagging in excitement. "But I'm not complaining." The kitsune chuckled softly, moving to get onto the futon with Kohaku. Core loomed over Kohaku, gently peppering kisses down the demon slayer's face and neck and further down to Kohaku's collar bone, continuing to purr the whole time while his tail went from a fast wag to a gently sway.

He was clearly enjoying the moment and wanting to savor it all. Every moment he spent with Kohaku was amazing, but moments like this Core tried to savor. Special moments, moments only they shared, moments that couldn't be replaced, all of them were fond memories.

=K

Kohaku’s lips curled into that unmistakable, slow smirk—the one he only wore when Core had completely, beautifully undone himself.

He brushed his fingers lightly along Core’s jaw, letting his thumb rest just beneath the kitsune’s lower lip, enjoying the way the other shivered in his hold. His voice came out low and warm, like smoldering embers under silk.

“Oh, now you’re worked up?” he teased gently, leaning in just enough that their noses brushed again, the barest hint of a kiss waiting between their breaths. “Could’ve fooled me with all that purring and sweet talk, my love.”

He gave Core’s lip the faintest tug with his thumb before chuckling softly—affectionate and amused, his amber gaze soft with desire and adoration.

“I don’t mind if you're misbehaving, especially if it means I get to be the only one you unravel for,” he murmured. “You say you’re going to pamper me, but I think you underestimate just how dangerous you are when you get like this.”

His hand trailed down Core’s back, feather-light, until it rested just above the kitsune’s tail. He leaned in close again, his lips grazing Core’s ear as he whispered:

“Come on then. Let’s see just how much mischief that tail of yours is really hiding tonight.”

And with one last look—hungry but still playful—Kohaku turned, gently tugging Core toward the futon, not rushing a single step.

The tea could wait. The fruit, too. This moment between them? This was everything.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari snorted slightly at Inuyasha's comment but kept running around, playing with Shippo without a care in the world. The is, until she began to feel uneasy the deeper the group got into the forest. The two slowed down, silently agreeing to put their game on hold for now. Sure, nothing was there but Kari had come to learn quickly not to take chances when she can't fully see her surroundings.

"S-so how long until we meet this Akimitsu guy?" Kari asked with a slight stammer, never removing her eyes from the shadows as she stayed close to Inuyasha. Shippo was trembling a bit as he hopped onto Kagome's shoulders.

"Y-yea. This forest is creepy! Even Kari's scared!"

"Am-- I AM NOT!" Kari snapped, clearly lying.

"I'm not b-buyin that! You're shakin like a leaf!" Shippo pointed to Kari's legs which were noticably trembling. "It-- It's okay to be scared of the dark ya know."

Kari huffed. "I'M NOTT SC-SCARED OF THE DARK!" Kari hissed, glaring at Shippo while her hair bristled. She wanted to go up to the fox and bop his head but she dared not leave Inuyasha's side as she took Tsuki out of her backpack to grip in one arm while the opposite hand went and gripped the sleeve of his haori as if her life depended on it. Her eyes were wide and fearful while her body stayed alert, constantly looking around and never lingering on one thing for too long.

"I'm not scared of the dark..." The child nuzzled into her rabbit plushie, slightly muffling her voice briefly before snapping back to attention to look at a noise, a branch being snapped by a bunny rabbit that hopped out of a bush then scurried away. "It... It's what's in the dark... dunno if something's gonna be harmless or not..." She muttered, voice low as she kept alert. Shippo blinked, noticing how Kari was so tense, alert, and scared, tiring herself out from worrying so much. He remembered what it was like, he had to be like that when he was alone too back when the thunder brothers killed his father. Always alert, every noise putting him on edge. Sure it wasn't for long since Kagome and Inuyasha picked him up not long after but he remembered the feeling.

Shippo thought for a moment then hopped off of Kagome's shoulders and went over to Kari. Silently he walked over to her, still clearly uneasy, and walked besides his friend, acting like a sort of barrier between the shadows of the forest and Kari while Inuyasha was on Kari's other side. "Then, maybe I can help." He muttered and held out his palm, a teal-green flame forming just over his palm so it could illuminate a few near by shadows. "It's not much, but it's something." The fox smiled kindly and Kari slowly relaxed.

She took a moment, letting out a soft breath to regain composure. Her muscles relaxing as things came into view a bit easier. "Thanks." She muttered and Shippo gave a wide smile, his fluffy tail wagging a bit.

"No problem. We're friends and friends are there for each other when they need it most." Shippo said and Kari felt a slight tug at her heart when Shippo mentioned that they were friends. A soft smile slowly formed on her face as she replied.

"Y-yea! Friends." She said, her smile a bit more genuine, sparkling almost but it was still clear she was guarded, but that those walls were starting to faulter a bit as the group continued trying their best to help her. A part of her still felt weird about everything, feeling that this wouldn't last or something bad would happen or even that she simply didn't deserve it. But right now those insecurities were a distant thought.

Kagome glanced over her shoulder to watch with a soft grin, letting out a content sigh as she continued to walk forward. She thought it was cute how Shippo's and Kari's relationship was forming. She glanced at Inuyasha, also glad with how his relationship with the child was forming too. All in all, she was just glad Kari was growing and being treated with kindness. It is probably a stark contrast to what Kari is used to, sure, but Kagome knew she needed this.

Kagome turned her gaze forward and called back. "We're almost there. Not much longer, I can see the clearing where Akimitsu lives." She informed which earned an audible and relieved sigh from Kari and Shippo who were both still nervous about the dense forest.

Inuyasha watched the chaos from behind slightly narrowed eyes, standing tall with arms crossed as the kids zipped by again. The corner of his mouth tugged in something between a smirk and a sigh as Kari skidded around in the dirt like her life depended on tagging Shippo.

“You two are lucky I’m not the one chasing you,” he muttered, stepping just enough to the side as Shippo nearly collided with him. “I’d have already caught you both and thrown you up into the treetops.”

Shippo didn’t even slow down, but his ears twitched back at the comment while Kari snorted with a breathy giggle as she tore past again.

“Watch it!” Inuyasha barked as the dust they kicked up brushed his hakama. “You tryin’ to start a dust storm?”

But even as he growled, his eyes followed them—more alert than his voice let on. Every turn they made, every time Kari glanced over her shoulder, Inuyasha noticed. She kept looking for them—him—like making sure the world hadn’t disappeared again behind her back.

And he was still there. Just like he promised.

When Kagome returned with her update and called the next destination, Inuyasha gave a short nod, his gaze shifting toward the trees. “Figures it’d be another demon gone bad. If it’s got a jewel shard, I’ll smell it soon as we’re close.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core gave a soft chuckle when he heard Kohaku's reaction, a soft affectionate sound as he relaxed in his lover's arms. The fox's purring only deepened into something more instinctual almost. A sound only Core would make when he was unraveling in the way only Kohaku could make him unravel. It was a side of the kitsune only Kohaku knew, and a part of Cire loved that the two shared these moments between them. Something only they had.

Core's nose twitched a bit when it met Kohaku's nose, but not out of anything bad. It was more so to enjoy the sensation if anything. "Well, you did want me to misbehave. And you talked me into it. I've also kinda been craving you as well, but I'm not always up to ask. Especially with all that happened I was sure you'd want to rest... yet you proved me wrong." Core chuckled, nuzzling his nose gently into Kohaku's for a brief moment.

"My beloved warrior, so strong. So amazing." He hummed softly, his green eyes looking into Kohaku's amber ones. "Yet I know what makes you squirm, only I know what makes you crumble and scream, and I know you enjoy it." The kitsune hummed softly, enjoying the moment. "I'd love to take my time with you on the futon. I need to pamper you properly after all. You did manage to save my senses from that awful durian." Core stifled a laugh and sighed lovingly, his gaze never leaving Kohaku's. His purr grew a bit louder at each affectionate touch Kohaku gave, only serving to work the kitsune up a bit more.

"I was sure the futon was clean and fluffed up a bit too so it was comfortable for us for tonight. Be it for relaxation or other activities. I knew after what happened we both needed a comfortable futon to lay on." Core's tail swayed slowly as he moved to stretch. "Why don't we go ahead and go get comfortable on our futon, my love? You saying you craved me has... gotten me a bit worked up." The kitsune cleared his throat with a nervous blush, knowing Kohaku would likely playfully tease the fox.

=K

Kohaku’s breath hitched at the warm graze of Core’s teeth, the way the fox’s voice dipped low, molten and unfiltered now. That soft, playful growl at his ear made the demon slayer’s pulse quicken in a way he didn’t bother hiding.

He chuckled softly, curling an arm around Core’s waist to pull him close, noses brushing again. “So you are going to misbehave, hm?” Kohaku teased, voice just as low now—like a shared secret only for them. “Good. I was starting to think I’d have to carry you to the futon myself.”

He pressed another kiss to the corner of Core’s mouth, then another along the curve of his jaw, and whispered against his skin, “Let’s take our time tonight. Tea, fruit… and maybe a certain fox I’ve been craving since this morning.”

[karikitdemonrp]

//*cracks fingers* alright here we go

Kari listened to Hawks while waiting in the lift, nodding in thought while waiting for the doors to open. She felt a strange sense of heaviness and excitement all at once. But she wanted this after all, might as well live with the choice.

Once the lift came to a stop and the doors opened, Kari stepped out behind Hawks and gave a tiny gasp. So much information, so much data. All stored here. She looked around, eventually moving to look at Hakws as he spoke;

"Alright, Kari. This terminal is set to search anything tagged to Re-Done, Angelic, or the registered bloodline. That includes quirk inheritance files and possible affiliations. We can look for mission reports, video files, training logs… maybe even journal entries, if they were ever uploaded."

The child gave a nod at that. "I'm not sure if bloodlines or anything will be recorded. My dad was pretty tight lipped about us and I heard mom was too. From what I remember it was for our protection." She muttered and looked down, having a better understanding as to why. Given her relation to All for One, it only made sense. But maybe there was something here that she didn't know about, maybe even information on extended family buried deep down, maybe there was something here to give her some kind of information. Anything could be helpful.

The child gulped then took a step forward with a heavy exhale. "L-lets start with dad first." She muttered, wanting to try and start easy. So, she typed in her father's hero name, Re-Done.

First thing to pop up was an interview, a really old one, probably from the start of his career if not a year after. Just from the opening image it was hard to say. Kari gulped and hit play.

"We're live with a new up and comer hero, the re-purpose hero Re-Done!"

Kari's father gave a wide grin and waved at the camera. "Happy to be here."He radiated fatherly energy even though he wasn't exactly a father yet in this interview, it made Kari feel a bit weird to see.

"So out of curiosity, you've been kind of slow to climb the charts yet you're so personable and you're really good at what you do.Any clue as to why?"

"Well," Lynx hummed softly. "I'm not exactly in it for the fame. So I don't really go out of my way to make myself known. That and honestly I'm more suited to help with search and rescue. Well, more the rescue than the search." He chuckled then held up his hands which had a slight orange tinge on the palms. At that Kari's symbols began to glow a bit as she activated her father's quirk, which she had stored for a bit. Her palms gained that same tinge.

"I'm not sure if you know but my quirk is called molecu-mold. I can mold things on a molecular level, perfect for restructuring fallen debris or trees or what have you to make them easier to move around. I'm not the best at combat but I can still get by and I am actively trying to better myself just in case. I think I'm at least above average." Lynx gained a slight blush while rubbing the back of his head. "I actually started off helping with the process that makes hero suits. Sure it was already a decent process but being able to restructure things the way I can helped a lot, but once the process got to where it is now there wasn't much use for me which is kinda why I was a side kick for so long, I couldn't make it work being a pro and helping with hero suits all the time."

At that information Kari widened her eyes a bit, she didn't know her own father helped make hero suits. But it made sense now that she thought about it. Maybe she would put it to use later.

"Rumor has it, Re-Done, that you've started dating the current number six hero, Angelic." Kari's head snapped up to watch at the information. She snorted in amusement when she saw her father's flustered expression.

"I--well, y-you see... we actually started dating a few years ago in high school."

"Oh?! Highschool sweet hearts?"

"Ah, don't say it like that! We've known eachother longer but well--"

"Are yousaying you were childhood friends?"

"No! N-not exactly! We-- I--- well!" Kari laughed a bit at how flustered her father got.

Kari rubbed her eyes a bit as tears welled up in them from the glee. "Good to know he didn't change much." She muttered softly as the video kept going.

"--- and then we met up again when she moved back after sometime in America. She was there for about two years but when she was accepted into UA is when we met up again. It was actually during the entrance trials when we saw each other again. She actually completely destroyed one of the robots while I helped a few of our peers out from some rubble."

"I'll bet you were terrified of being crushed."

"No, actually." Lynx was quick to respond. "I was more worried about my peers being crushed. But then Angelic swooped in and saved our hides. It was really something." Lynx's eyes gained a look of admiration as he stared off into the middle distance, recalling the memory. "I'm pretty lucky to have her by my side."

"You sound like a love sick puppy."

"If you had someone like her, you'd sound this way too!" Lynx laughed, even giving a slight snort that was similar to Kari's. The child blinked and held her nose when she heard her father snort. The interview went on with Lynx answering some questions here and there, none of which interested Kari until the last one.

"So, can we expect a hero wedding anytime soon?"

"That's kinda personal... And I'd like to keep it a surprise." He chuckled. "Angelic watches these ya know. Can't let her see what I'm planning." Lynx smirked then looked at the camera and waved. "Hi honey! See ya tonight, I'll bring sweet buns for dessert!"

With that the interview wrapped up and Kari began giggling. "He didn't change at all." Kari managed, even snorting a few times like her father. Once she calmed down Kari let out a soft hum in thought, rubbing her nose then going to look for other things from her father.

There were mission files, training logs, even a few diary entries here and there. What shocked Kari the most was a highlighted file.

"Bridge collapse kills twenty, injures ten." The heros involved in attempting to prevent this tragedy were listed, one of which being her father.

"We commend the actions the heroes involved took, if it weren't for their quick actions then the casualties would have been far higher. That said the tragedy can not be over looked. The Repurpose hero Re-Done was at the forefront in trying to save as many lives as possible and witnessed first hand what needed to change, therefore he will be keeping tabs on certain high risk structures as much as possible to help prevent future disasters."

Kari frowned a bit and gave a small sigh in thought. Next were the diaries. There were a few logged, mostly about Lynx's plans to propose to Mikomi, Kari's mother. But then they stopped for a bit, though there were a few entries dating after the births of her siblings, saying how happy he was and how he would do everything in his power to keep his kids safe even if it cost him his life. Kari winced at that but kept reading.

But then came Kari's birth. The child hesitated for a moment, knowing this would be a rough one. The child took a deep breath, moving to hold one of Hawks' hands for support as she opened the file.

"July 26th, yesterday was a rollercoaster. Mikomi gave birth to our youngest, a little girl. Mikomi named her Kari Kana Lee Himura. A long name but it suits her. She's a weak little thing, barely two pounds and fits in my hands almost like a new born puppy. I'm worried about her constantly but I'm also in mourning. Mikomi didn't make it, there were complications and she lost so much blood. I didn't get a chance to say good bye. It's hard but I need to stay strong for my kids. Kitearo hates her, blaming Kari for what happened. I tried to tell him it wasn't like that but he's still so young and I doon't blame him, he doesn't really understand it. I just hope it doesn't stick. Boom and Beats don't really understand the weight of the situation and are playing as if nothing happened.

Their questions about "when is mama coming home from the hospital?" hurt more than anything. I try to explain that she isn't coming back but they forget the next day. Shade, Flo, and Fino all know and understand to some extent and try their best to help around the house and to cheer me up but they're still kids so I don't expect much from them. They don't need to grow up so fast. I'm considering retiring as a pro hero and getting a different job, still helping people but not as a hero. I can't risk my kids future. If I die there will be noone to care for them. I don't want Maica gaining custody, even though we're on decent terms I don't trust her. And I don't have any relatives near by to help them. It hurts to make such a choice, I never thought I'd have to make it, yet here I am. Planning my wife's funeral and taking care of seven kids, one being a premature infant that's still in the hospital. I'm thankful I was able to get some help from some of my friends from other hero agencies. I'm about to head over to the hospital to check on Kari, if all is going well I'll be able to bring her home in a week. Flo and Fino have been touching up the nursery with Shade, Boom and Beats and whoever watches them while I'm away. Kitearo refuses to help in anything that has to do with Kari, which I understand. I'll try and write more, I need to get these emotions out. -Lynx Himura."

Kari was shivering a bit, tears welling up in her eyes as she just stared at the entry. Her grip on Hawks' hand grew slightly tighter over the course of her reading the journal entry. "... w-well... I ne-ever knew I was born s-so tiny." She chirped softly, trying to keep it light. She already knew this information, at least on the surface. But reading what her father wrote, knowing what he went through hurt. And she didn't have the luxury of giving him a hug, of giving him any comfort, of telling him she's sorry yet thankful for him. Lynx Himura was dead and she saw it, she knew it. She had gotten past it for the most part. Yet this still hurt a lot.

Hawks let out a soft laugh as he watched Kari bounce in place, her enthusiasm infectious. He reached out and gently flicked a strand of her newly tied ponytail before grabbing his jacket from the rack and offered his hand.

"Alright then. Let’s hit the skies, future legend."

Later, at the Hero Archive The two of them arrived at a discreet government building tucked between tall, glass-paneled offices. It didn’t look like much from the outside, just a quiet facility with clean steps and a polished steel door flanked by scanners and security cameras.

Hawks flashed his ID at the entrance and gave the receptionist a short nod. “Priority request—code redbird.” The woman behind the desk didn’t question it, simply nodded and directed them toward the elevators.

Inside the lift, Hawks looked down at Kari with a more thoughtful expression.

“The archives aren’t flashy or exciting,” he said, voice low and private. “But they hold the bones of every story that shaped our society. Some of it’s heroic… some of it’s hard to look at. But no matter what we find today, I’ll be right here, alright?”

The elevator gave a soft ding and the doors opened to reveal a large, sterile room with rows of locked cabinets, data terminals, and a quiet, humming energy in the air. The walls were lined with digital panels, each displaying categorized access points—names of retired, fallen, and current heroes, alongside quirk data and personal logs.

Hawks guided Kari toward a quiet terminal and tapped in a few access credentials. He glanced at her, serious for a moment.

"Alright, Kari. This terminal is set to search anything tagged to Re-Done, Angelic, or the registered bloodline. That includes quirk inheritance files and possible affiliations. We can look for mission reports, video files, training logs… maybe even journal entries, if they were ever uploaded."

He stepped aside, letting her take the lead now.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kagome glanced at the cute scene and gave a small smile while watching for a brief moment. She eventually went back to talking with the villagers to try and get as much information as possible. But there wasn't much left aside from where the demon lived, which was in that dense forest. The priestess sighed softly and thanked the villagers, only to pause and ask about Akimitsu. He lived in the same general direction, the forest that bordered the village but a ways away from the demon which was a bit of a relief.

"Alright," She called which caused Kari and Shippo to slow down to listen. "We have our next destination. First we go meet with Akimitsu, Lady Iori's friend and see if he can help us with this demon and ask if he has a place for us to stay for the night. Later we go confront this demon and see if it has a jewel shard." She informed with a grin, happy things were kind of working out.

Kari blinked and gave a nod. "Kay." She called only for Shippo to nod his head and side eye Kari then swiftly poked her arm.

"Got ya!" He snorted and Kari gasped in slight anger and shock.

"Now THAT was cheating Shippo!" Kari called after the kitsune as he ran off in the direction Kagome was leading, Kari trailing behind but never straying out of sight.

Kagome laughed. "I'm glad those two are getting along so well." She hummed, watching the two get slightly further away only for them to turn around and rush back in a loop. "Don't go too far please. We aren't sure what exactly is lurking in this forest." She said while they ran past her.

"Okay Kagome." Shippo chirped with a smile and confident nod, mostly focused on running away from Kari.

Kari, meanwhile, gave a grin. "We won't!" She giggled, slowly gaining on the kitsune and eventually pat his back. Swiftly she turned on her heel while skidding to slow herself. "Got ya Shippo!"

"GET BACK HERE!" The fox yipped and skid, nearly bumping into Inuyasha as he turned to start chasing Kari. "I barely felt that!"

"My whole palm touched your back you liar!" Kari snorted, looking over her shoulder to get a view of Shippo, Kagome, and Inuyasha for a brief moment and letting out a sigh in relief, happy they were all still there each time she looked.

Inuyasha stood his ground, eyes sharp and ears twitching as he listened to the villagers' whispers—especially the ones Kagome was focused on. The talk of a peaceful demon suddenly going berserk definitely rang a few alarm bells. He grunted low in his throat, glancing at Kagome when she leaned in.

“Hmph. Sounds like jewel trouble to me,” he muttered, eyes narrowing toward the forest path. “We’ll deal with it.” His fingers flexed near Tessaiga’s hilt again, the scent of the village thick in his nose, earthy with a bitter edge of fear.

But before he could sink deeper into thought, a blur of motion zipped past him—followed by another.

Kari dashed around his legs like a determined little whirlwind, her scarf trailing behind, laughter bubbling up from her chest. “Hey—!” Inuyasha started to bark, but he was cut off by Shippo’s yell.

“Don’t use Inuyasha as a barrier! That’s cheating!”

The half-demon didn’t move, just turned his head slightly to follow the chaos unfolding right at his feet. Kari leapt into the air with a move that made even Inuyasha blink—landing in a half-split just in time for Shippo to zoom underneath her.

“Tch… brats,” he muttered, but there was no bite in his voice. The corner of his mouth twitched up just barely.

He didn’t say anything else—just shifted his weight slightly, letting them play as long as they stayed close. And they were. Kari always made sure not to stray too far. Even when she was smiling, he could see the way she kept sneaking glances back at him, like she needed to know he was still there. Still watching.

He was.

“…Just don’t trip over me,” he said dryly, casting a sidelong glance at Shippo. “Or I’m tossing the both of you into the river.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core listened with soft whimpering and breahing, his eyes never leaving Kohaku's. The demon slayer's touch, gentle and caring, sent shivers down the kitsune's spine in all the right ways.

Slowly, Core felt his grip on control slip while Kohaku spoke his vow. Such passion, such warmth. It made Core feel loved and wanted. Kohaku's vow to not let even a drop of tea go to waste helped Core relax more, the validation helping even more so.

Then that kiss, oh that kiss had pushed Core over the edge, fully letting go. The fox's tail flicked a bit more, eventually going into a slight sway. "Kohaku...." Core whispered after their shared kiss, his arms moving around Kohaku to hold him close. He let out a breath, his purring now no longer restrained. "You know just what to say every time... If you really want me to misbehave then alright." The kistune managed with a chuckle, though his eyes showed just how needy he was, how much he wanted Kohaku right then and there. "Hearing you say that makes me feel more relaxed, thank you." He chirped softly moving to nuzzle the nape of Kohaku's neck, nipping the demon slayer's earlobe.

"Whenever you're ready, let's get atarted." His voice was low, almost like a growl, and laces with passion and admiration for the other.

=K

Kohaku’s gaze softened—not with pity, but with an aching fondness as he looked at the flushed, trembling fox curled beside him, holding so much tenderness and restraint in one tiny, lovely body. That purr, gradually growing louder, vibrated against his arm like a secret being whispered. And hearing his name in that whimpering, breathy way? It sent a heat through Kohaku that no summer sun could ever compete with.

He let the silence stretch for a moment, just long enough for his fingers to brush once more down Core’s arm, ending in a firm, reassuring squeeze to his hand.

“Hey,” he whispered, turning so they were face to face. His voice was soft again—warm, grounding, but no less dripping with that teasing lilt that had Core’s pulse skipping. “There’s nothing stupid about cherishing something you worked hard to create. I know how much love you poured into this tea… every slice of fruit, every little detail just for us.”

He leaned in, touching his forehead gently to Core’s, their noses brushing just faintly. “So I’ll make you a promise, fox,” Kohaku murmured. “No matter what happens next… I’ll make sure not a single drop is wasted. Even if I have to hold you in one arm and reheat the tea with the other.”

Then came the kiss—not greedy, but slow, deep, and affirming. The kind of kiss that says you’re safe to want, safe to ask, safe to need. Kohaku let it linger, tasting the sweetness of the lychee still on Core’s lips before pulling back just an inch, thumb brushing over the flushed skin of the fox’s cheek.

“So…” he smirked, voice now laced with a sultry purr, “now that I’ve said my vow—are you ready to stop holding back?”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari hummed softly in thought. "Just a regular pork katsudon please." She chirped then watched Aizawa with a wide smile only to nod.

"Right. I'll go check the cake." She chirped then trotted off and looked at the cake through the oven window and hummed. She grabbed a toothpick then an oven mit thwn finally a stepping stool and went back and places the stepping stool down to step on and opened the oven door. With the oven mit Kari pulled out the rack with the cake. Once it was out enough Kari stuck the tooth pick into the cake slightly then pulled it out and frowned. Carefully she pushed the rack with the cake back in and closed the oven up.

"It's not ready yet but it should take about ten more minutes I think." Kari called out while stepping off the stepping stool and throwing away the toothpick. She set up a timer to check the cake in ten minutes and smiled, going to get the things she planned to use as toppings set out so she didn't have to scurry around later after the cake had cooled. "Any requests on what you want on your cake, Dawa?" She called out loud enough for Aizaw to hear, having already grabbed some white chocolate and salted caramel drizzle.

Sure she grabbed it, but she hadn't fully picked what to use yet if if she would use both so best to grab both what she had in mind and put it away later if she needed to. Kari thought that was best anyway. She was also only getting things ready that weren't refrigerated, she had learned the hard way not to do that.

The child gave a wide grin, happy Aizawa liked his father's day gift. At the mention of dimner Kari gasped happily.

"Really?! My choice?" She chirped excitedly then went mostly silent, thinking hard for a moment. Her face scrunched, clearly putting a bit too much thought into what to pick for dinner. "Uh, how about we get some katsudon? Is that okay?" She asked, tilting her head slightly. "I'm not really picky but it sounds nice." She informed with a shy expression, clearly worried that her choice might not be a good one.

"If it's not okay then I'll try to think of something else."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kagome watched the two little ones chasing eachother with a small smile, happy that they were having fun. Though she didn't focus fully on them she still kept watch much like Inuyasha. Eventually she heard muttering of a once peaceful demon rampaging and causing problems on a fairly common travel rout into and out of the village.

Kagome kept listening to gather information. Eventually she went over with a kind smile and tried to ask questions about this demon. Turns out it was a plant demon of some kind that protected travelers from other demons and the travelers would give a gift of some kind in exchange as a thank you, though not all the time. But about two weeks ago this demon began lashing out, nearly killing a few travelers on a few occasions.

Kagome hummed in thought at this information. "Maybe the jewel has something to do with it." She muttered, just loud enough so Inuyasha could hear. "We should look into it. Couldn't hurt." She informed, looking up and at the half demon.

Eventually Kari caught Shippo with a happy chirp and rushed to run away from the kitsune with a happy squeal. The child swiftly rushed to circle Inuyasha, Shippo hot on her heels and running on all fours.

"Don't use Inuyasha as a barrier! Thats cheating!"

"No its not! It didn't stop you from running around those barrels!" Kari snorted, sticking her tongue out at the kitsune.

"THATS DIFFERENT AND YOU KNOW IT!" Shippo barked, speeding up only for Kari to skid to a stop and jump, parting her legs a bit in a sort of splits manuver while Shippo ran under her. Kari giggled and turned to run the other way while Shippo puffed out his cheeks and turned to run after Kari again.

Inuyasha stood near the edge of the group, arms crossed and eyes scanning the crowd with a quiet intensity. The townspeople’s stares didn’t faze him—he was used to it. The whispers, the glances, the subtle steps back… same old story. He let out a low “keh” under his breath.

His ears twitched at the sound of Shippo’s voice, followed by the sharp thump of small footsteps—Kari chasing after him. His golden eyes shifted toward them just slightly, enough to keep them in view but not enough to make it obvious he was watching. He didn’t say anything, just kept a quiet, steady eye on them while they played.

Kari’s laughter, even if soft and fleeting, pulled a barely-there smirk from the half-demon. It was rare to see her forget the weight she carried, even if only for a minute. Watching her dart after Shippo, hair bouncing and scarf fluttering, brought a bit of ease to the constant tension in his shoulders.

Still, his hand rested near Tessaiga’s hilt.

Any fool that thought they could take advantage of that moment of peace was gonna find themselves eating dirt before they could blink.

[karikitdemonrp]

The child gave a wide grin, happy Aizawa liked his father's day gift. At the mention of dimner Kari gasped happily.

"Really?! My choice?" She chirped excitedly then went mostly silent, thinking hard for a moment. Her face scrunched, clearly putting a bit too much thought into what to pick for dinner. "Uh, how about we get some katsudon? Is that okay?" She asked, tilting her head slightly. "I'm not really picky but it sounds nice." She informed with a shy expression, clearly worried that her choice might not be a good one.

"If it's not okay then I'll try to think of something else."

Kari/ @karikitdemonrp said: Kari chirped, trotting up with a big smile and held out a handmade card that said "Happy father's day Dawa. I love you a whole lot!" With a drawing of Aizawa sitting on the ground surrounded by cats and Kari holding a cake. It wasn't the best drawing, only slightly more detailed stick figures with clothes but it still had personality and it was clear she cared. Kari also had a gift card to a near by coffee place she was sure Aizawa would like a lot that she bought with some money she got one her own. "Happy Father's day, Dawa!" She called out with a big smile, hoping he enjoyed the gifts. "I was a bit late making coffee cake and I just put it in the oven, it'll be a bit until it's fully ready, but we can have a slice after dinner." She said with a small purr, watching Aizawa with wide eyes.

"Oh, thank you, looks like you put a lot of time and effort into this, I appreciate it." He gave a nod of thanks towards her and placed the card on the nearby table, though his head tilted at the mention of coffee cake, his favourite, though he wasn't too keen on the idea of her cooking unsupervised but they'd done enough so in the past to know she was more than capable by this point. "Speaking of dinner, would you like take out tonight? your choice."

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core felt his skin heat up at Kohaku's words, his blush deepening more and more. The kitsune's tail flicked at his lover's actions, the way Kohaku was so gentle and caring yet not to the point of being unnoticeable. It was a balance that only Kohaku could manage and it drove Core crazy in the best kind of way. Core swallowed hard at the teasing, trying to hold back just a bit more. "I..." Core managed in a soft tone. "I just don't want it to go to waste." He muttered, forehead still leaned on the demon slayer's shoulder. "If you can promise that it won't then... Then alright." After a moment Core relaxed just a bit and turned so Kohaku could see the kitsune's face.

Core looked needy but still trying to hold back. "Ko-ha-ku." He let out a soft whine, clearly wanting to fully let go but he was trying so hard to keep it together just a little longer. "Please," Core took a deep breath to try and pull himself together but danm it Kohaku knew just the right way to get Core riled up. "I---I wanna know before I fully let go that it won't go to waste." Core chirped softly, tail swaying slightly as he continued to hold back just a little longer. He did work hard on the tea, putting a lot of thought into it, and he did enjoy it a lot so it would be a shame if it went to waste.

"S-sorry if it's something stupid to request, I know not a lot of people would worry about it but I just, I dunno... I just really enjoyed it and all s-so letting it go to waste feels wrong..." Core muttered softly, glancing away so he wouldn't see Kohaku's reaction. "I'm not sure how else to explain it." He chirped, that purr still rumbling his chest only it was growing bit by bit.

=K

Kohaku's smirk only deepened as Core flustered and fumbled his way through an explanation, those delicate ears flushing red as cherries. The demon slayer’s heart warmed at the sight—his fox was adorable when caught off guard, and Kohaku had every intention of savoring it.

He let his thumb brush gently along Core’s knuckles, savoring the purr he could just barely feel vibrating through their joined hands. “Mmm, tea and fruit are wonderful,” Kohaku murmured, his voice dropping to that low, honeyed tone again, “but I think I prefer the sound of you getting all breathless like that. Makes it taste sweeter.”

As Core leaned in against his shoulder, Kohaku tilted his head slightly, letting his temple rest lightly against the top of the kitsune’s head. The warmth of Core’s breath across his neck sent a pleasant shiver down his spine, and that faint rumble of purring—so barely restrained—made his lips curl into something downright devilish.

“You’re trying so hard to behave…” Kohaku whispered with a teasing lilt, his fingers now gently tracing slow, lazy circles against the back of Core’s hand. “But I can feel you trembling, purring like you want me to give you a reason to forget about the tea.”

He leaned in, brushing his lips along the edge of Core’s ear, a barely-there kiss that sent a spark racing between them. “What if I promised to reheat the tea afterward?” he purred. “Would that give you permission to misbehave a little, kitsune?”

[karikitdemonrp]

The child watched for a moment, the half demon's words circling in her head while Inuyasha walked away. Kari trotted after before he got too far, keeping a firm grip on her few logs. She was clearly thinking really hard about what Inuyasha said, doing her best to not forget it. That she was already stronger than she thought. It was weird, she didn't see herself as strong, yet Inuyasha could see her potential so easily. She tried to understand, tried to see what he saw. But Kari couldn't and eventually just let it be as she caught up with the half demon.

-----

The days passed by with a few ambushes here and there while the group traveled. Thankfully they weren't very strong so the fights never lasted long and either Inuyasha or Kagome could handle them with ease.

After about a week traveling the group came upon a rather decently sized town bordered by dence forest. "Alright," Kagome hummed softly. "There should be someone here who knows about the shikon jewel, we should ask around or listen to what the people have to say. After that we need to head to the forest and meet Lady Iori's friend Akimitsu." The young priestess informed and Kari looked around.

"And how do we go about asking about the jewel?" Kari asked while tilting her head. Kagome hummed in thought and shrugged.

"Usually we just ask about anything out of the ordinary, once peaceful demons going crazy or objects coming to life, or whatever. The jewel is very influential and does some weird stuff, for lack of a better way to put it." The teen informed with a small smile. Kari nodded and went to walk off to get information but Kagome stopped her.

"We aren't splitting up, Kari. Sorry, but since this is tied to the shikon jewel I'd rather stay together than splitting into groups. And even then, you're not being left alone."

Kari puffed out her cheeks but sighed softly and gave a nod. "Fine." She muttered and went to stand next to Inuyasha and look around, keeping an eye on their surroundings. She watched as the towns people stared and whispered amongst themselves as the group entered the town. Watched as they kept their distance just a bit. It made the child feel a bit uneasy. Shippo noticed and huffed.

"Hey, Kari. Wanna play a bit? I have a few games in mind that we can play while staying close to the group." He informed, hopping off of Kagome's shoulder and next to Kari. "Tag! You're it!" He chuckled while poking Kari's arm, who's hair bristled slightly in surprise but she simply smirked and chased after the kitsune. The two stayed with in sight and never got too far, but now Kari was distracted from the town's stares and whispers for the most part, she even looked kinda happy to be playing.

Inuyasha watched her try to pick up the extra log, the corner of his mouth twitching at her stubborn effort. When she gave up and tried to play it off with a grin, he let out a small “keh” and shook his head with a grunt.

“You will be,” he said simply, scooping up the rest of the pile without a second thought. “It ain’t about bein’ strong right this second. It’s about keepin’ at it. You already don’t give up even when stuff’s hard. That’s strength too, y’know.”

He glanced at her sideways, his expression unreadable at first—but his eyes softened just a little.

“Tch. You’re already stronger than you think, kid.”

With that, he turned and started walking back toward camp, calling over his shoulder, “Let’s go. If Kagome finishes cooking before we get back, she’s gonna start complainin’ about us bein’ slow, and I ain’t about to hear that all night.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari took a moment to think, listening to Inuyasha's words, watching his expressions or lack there of, his movements. She did her best to take everything in. She wanted to learn and get better at whatever she could. Asking for help would be difficult for her, but if what Inuyasha said was true then maybe it would be fine.

"I," Kari took a breath and nodded. "I guess that makes sense. Still feels weird to ask for help, 'm not used to it and all but I'll try to get better." She muttered then looked at Inuyasha, opening her mouth to say something only to stop and close it again to think. After a few beats she opened her mouth again with a sharp inhale. "It-- It'll get better." She huffed out, trying her best to sound confident of the future.

Kari stood straight with a stretch and let out a tiny chirp. "We should head back with the fire wood and set up the fire. Kagome and Shippo should be done setting everything else up by now." Kari gave a nervous grin as she moved to pick up the few logs she could carry, though she tried to carry one more to see if she could. And technically she could but with a little bit of struggle so she put it back with Inuyasha's pill where it originally was.

"I tried but it's still a bit too heavy for me. Maybe one day I'll be as strong as you." She said with a faltering grin, clearly a bit upset but trying to keep moving forward.

Inuyasha blinked as he felt the small tug on his haori, eyes shifting down to glance at the kid. He didn’t move away—didn’t make a face, didn’t grumble. He just let her talk, arms still folded loosely as the wind brushed through the trees overhead.

“Keh,” he muttered quietly after a moment, not dismissive—just gruff as always.

“You talk too much,” he added, voice softer than usual. But he didn’t push her away when she leaned on him. Didn’t even shift.

Instead, his ears gave a faint flick.

“…But I guess you’re not completely wrong.”

He glanced off toward the woods, avoiding her eyes now. “You’re not selfish for wantin’ help. You’d be an idiot not to ask for it when things get heavy.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core felt his heart thump hard in his chest, tail flicking a few times, looking back up quickly but still holding his lover's hand with tender care despite his flustered reaction. "W-well I was focused on the tea and snacks so much that's why!" The fox stammered with a deepening blush. "I w-was enjoying the moment with you is all and--and I just didn't think about it." He paused for a moment, trying to calm his still racing heart. "But, then again, it's you." He gulped while that blush spread across his face and even to the tips of his ears.

A needy purr began to escape Core's throat, though he tried to suppress it. "You keep doing this, the tea will get cold." He whispered with heavy breath, not wanting to be too eager in Kohaku's advances given the situation but in all honesty he didn't really care either way. If anything, if felt right. The kitsune looked at his lover, moving to lean on Kohaku's shoulder, chin resting so his breath brushed past the demon slayer's skin.

"You really know how to get me worked up, my love." He whispered just loud enough to hear, all the while that suppressed purr now began to slightly rumble in Core's chest, just enough so Kohaku could feel the slight vibrations but it was clear Core was trying to hold back.

=K

Kohaku let out a low, sultry chuckle at the flustered mess Core had become, watching his fox squirm under the heat of a little well-placed flirtation. He absolutely adored how easy it was to unravel the usually sharp-tongued kitsune with just a few soft gestures and whispered words. It never failed to make his heart skip.

“Caught you off guard?” Kohaku murmured, his tone amused but warm. He tilted his head, amber eyes gleaming with fondness and a playful glint. “Now that’s a rare victory for me. I’m usually the one tripping over your charm.”

He gently turned his hand in Core’s hold, fingers curling to lace with his, letting that whisper of breath over his skin linger. “And as for the comeback, you just gave me one hell of a setup.”

Kohaku leaned in again, this time brushing his lips just above Core’s ear, voice like velvet and heat.

“If everything with me feels perfect…” he murmured, letting the moment linger, “then tonight should be unforgettable.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari listened with a small frown then took a step forward, adding her few bits of fire wood to the pile to the pile since she couldn't carry a lot of logs just yet. They were too heavy for her right now. She moved to gently grab his haori, not tugging on it but simply to let him know she was right there. She looked up at him, listening and doing her best not to interrupt him.

"Yeh," She muttered softly when he finished talking. "You're pretty much right... I'm pretty similar to how you were when you were younger. At least, from what you say." She chirped softly, looking down. "I mean, aside from me being human and all." She muttered, still unaware of her true heritage, thankfully having not put the pieces together. "But, similar enough. No wonder I kinda started getting clingy to you. You're super similar to me and I guess I could just tell." She muttered thoughtfully. "But, uh, n-now we have each other and--and uh... um it's better now cuz we aren't alone." Kari puffed out her cheeks a bit, really trying to help Inuyasha since he seemed a bit down. "It'll get better! I think... N-no it will!" She looked up with a hint of determination in her eyes, really wanting to help cheer up the half demon.

"Like you said, we have each other and Kagome and Shippo and even Sango and Miroku!" The child gulped, really trying to think of good things to say to Inuyasha to lighten the mood. "An-and since I'm similar to how you were when you were young you probably have a lot of knowledge that can help me in a way s-so there's that too. But now that I say that out loud it's kinda selfish. S-sorry." Kari leaned slightly on the half demon and let out a sigh. "I'm not the best at comforting, I'm sorry. You're better at it than me. But I'll still try."

Inuyasha’s ear twitched again at her question, but this time, he didn’t turn to face her right away. He was fiddling with a bundle of firewood, crouched low with his back toward Kari like he was really focused on stacking it just right—which, to be fair, he definitely wasn’t.

“Hmph.”

A noncommittal grunt was the first thing she got.

Then a pause.

Then another.

“…Tch. ‘What was I like,’ huh?” he muttered, low under his breath.

He stayed crouched, eyes narrowing slightly as he grabbed a stray twig and snapped it between his fingers. “Keh. Nothin’ worth goin’ on about. Just a scrappy little half-demon with a big mouth and no sense of self-preservation.”

He shifted his weight like he was about to stand, but didn’t—just leaned forward a bit more, hunched like the weight of the question was heavier than the firewood.

“Grew up alone,” he added gruffly, voice barely above a mutter. “Didn’t have a place where I really belonged. Humans didn’t want me. Demons didn’t either. Spent a lotta time gettin’ into fights I couldn’t win and pretendin’ I didn’t care.”

Another sharp snap of wood in his hand.

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core felt his lips curl up into a big smile, clearly happy Kohaku was enjoying the moment. "Honestly, I love treating you like this. I enjoy seeing you so relaxed. And I know you enjoy being pampered and pampering me. You said so yourself during our bath if I remember correctly." He gave a soft chuckle, watching as Kohaku took the fruit from the kitsune's grip. Feeling Kohaku's lips against his fingers made Core's heard skip a beat.

When the demon slayer agreed that the fruit was amazing, Core's tail wagged more. "Right? It's amazing!" He chirped, moving to grab another fruit with a happy shimmer in his eyes. He looked to Kohaku's pointed ears perking a bit when he heard the demon slayer ask his question, only to grow a bit flustered at how Kohaku continued. Core swallowed hard after chewing the lychee in his mouth and tried to think of a come back, but this caught him a bit off guard that it was a bit difficult to think of something for a moment. The nose nuzzle, the kiss, and the gentle brush he felt on his knuckles only making it harder for the fox to think.

He took a breath, trying to collect himself and better think of a come back. However, nothing came to mind. "I--uh--well I won't object to that." He stammered out, red faced and a bit excited given how his tail wagged into a near blur. "You really caught me off guard that time." He hummed softly. "Here I was, enjoying my lychee and my tea and you get all flirty, makes it hard to think of a come back." The fox huffed softly. "But, I'll admit, I'm looking forward to whatever you have thought up." He chuckled softly, moving to gently grab Kohaku's hand and kiss the back of it, looking up but not removing his lips from Kohaku's hand very much. Just leaving enough room so he could speak, his breath dancing across the demon slayer's skin.

"Anytime I'm doing something with you, or just you, feels perfect to me." The fox gave a small smirk, having just thought of that slight innuendo.

=K

Kohaku’s gaze flicked between Core’s blushing cheeks, wagging tail, and the expertly prepared fruit in his hand. A slow, amused smile pulled at his lips. “You know, if you keep looking at me like that and feeding me like royalty, I might forget I ever had to fight demons for a living,” he said, voice low and teasing.

He leaned in, lips brushing Core’s fingers as he took the lychee gently into his mouth, his eyes never leaving Core’s. He bit down slowly, savoring the sweet burst of juice, a small hum of approval escaping him as he chewed and swallowed. “Mmm… You weren’t kidding. These are amazing.” He licked a drop of juice off the corner of his mouth before smirking again. “But you know what’s sweeter?”

He leaned in just enough to nuzzle his nose against Core’s, voice dropping into a soft, honey-smooth whisper. “You. Without question.”

Then he kissed Core’s cheek, lingering just a second longer than usual, letting his thumb lightly brush against the fox’s knuckles as he held the fruit. “Thanks for spoiling me. I hope you know I’m going to repay the favor later—and not just with tea.”

[karikitdemonrp]

When Hawks took the hair tie Kari went to sit on the couch and relaxed. "Yeh, sometimes my hair just doesn't wanna work with me." She muttered while she waited for her Papa to approach. A small grin grew on her face as Hawks got to work on her hair, his touch gentle and oddly soothing. It felt nice to the girl, just letting him work on her hair with his fingers combing through her white locks to get out any tangles she didn't get out while brushing it.

The way he worked so quickly yet had such a delicate touch felt nice. Then Hawks spoke in that soft, reassuring tone. How what she was feeling was natural, that heaviness and not wanting to feel it at times. Hearing that it was okay to feel that, to want the weight to vanish even if it meant being crushed, yet still moving forward despite that want. It gave Kari a sense of peace, knowing it was okay to feel such things but not letting it control her. Knowing that what she was doing was good, hero stuff even, helped her keep a level head on the situation.

She let out a heavy breath and looked up with a gentle grin and nodded. "I didn't really think heroes would have to do that, but the more I think about it, that kinda makes sense." She looked down in thought for a moment. "If heroes have to do this all the time, and I'm already kinda used to it then I guess I'm ahead of the game. Though, kinda against my will in a way. But, it's working out." She chirped then stood up with a big smile. "And if I'm ahead of the game NOW, I can't wait to see what I'll be like as a hero. I know I'm gonna be the best but I'm excited for how good of a hero I'll be." She gave a wide, confident smile.

This child who was once just looking for her next meal, fighting to simply survive, not thinking of her future as something bright if at all, was now excited for her own future. Hoping, no, KNOWING it would be great one day and working towards it. Taking in those bad days as a small part of a bigger picture.

"I'm ready to go whenever you are, Papa." Kari said with a stretch then began to hop just a bit in place excitedly.

Hawks was leaning against the counter with a half-eaten protein bar in one hand and his phone in the other when Kari burst in. He’d been updating the clearance requests for the archive visit—but the moment he heard her footsteps and saw that bright look on her face, he tucked the phone away and smiled.

“Whoa—look at you, all cleaned up and sparkling.” He gave her a little whistle, then eyed the hair tie she held out, along with her shy expression.

“Having hair troubles, huh? Well, lucky for you, you’ve got the number one winged stylist in the house.” He crouched a little so she could sit on the couch or a stool comfortably, already reaching for the tie.

As he gently began gathering her hair into the familiar high ponytail she liked, his hands moved with practiced ease. His fingers were careful around the bandages, and even when her hair snagged a bit, he didn’t rush it. He worked quietly for a moment, then spoke with a softer tone:

“You know, it’s okay to feel heavy sometimes. What you said upstairs? About wanting to not think, not feel the weight? That’s real. And it’s alright.”

He tightened the ponytail with a gentle tug and gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

“What matters is that even on those days—you keep going. You’re strong, Kari. Not because you push past everything like it doesn’t matter, but because you let it matter and still move forward.” He smiled down at her as he brushed aside a loose strand of hair. “That’s real hero stuff, right there.”