karikitdemonrp

[karikitdemonrp]

Shinso is still chasing after Core. "You're still not relaxing! Stop running! Stop Stop Stop! Freeze means stop!"

Core spun around and flipped Shinso off. "FUCK OFF FIRST KISS STEALER!" He spun back in the direction he was prior and kept running away quickly. "At LEAST have the decency to mean it and not kiss me under mind control, prick! But then again, you're on the side of villains..."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari rubbed the back of her head. "I won't. But it's still pretty cool though. I bet you're jealous I'm a part of a wolf pack and you're not!" Kari was quick to match the half demon's teasing tone with a slight smirk. Not mean in anyway, just a playful tease. After a moment she hummed softly. "But don't get too jealous Cuz I'll let you be apart of my own pack or whatever it's called!" Kari giggled with a sense of glee, starting to accept that Kagome, Inuyasha and Shippo weren't going anywhere. That she could trust them all, and she did. Sure she still had a bit of trouble, but this was progress. She chirped softly and let out a sigh, releasing some of the weight on her shoulders. Not all of it but a noticeable amount.

The child listened to Inuyasha and hummed, nodding a bit. "Life's weird... Stuff that should be simple is actually hard and stuff that is hard are insanely hard and it's just a big mess." Kari crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks a bit, slightly pouting. "It's super confusing and I don't like it. But I'll still try my best at least so there's that."

Kari looked at Koga with slightly red cheeks. "Uh, I'm really not that---" She paused for a moment. "I mean thank you." She muttered, almost saying she wasn't that sharp but managing to stop herself. Progress was progress after all, however small.

Kagome sighed and watched Inuyasha and Koga bicker. Though she was happy Kari wasn't fully consumed by the weight of what just happened. "Koga, Inuyasha, play nice. At least for now, please." Kagome sighed then moved to hand Kari over to Inuyasha carefully, being sure not to jostle the child around too much. "I need to write down everything that just happened before I forget it. Please hold Kari, she's still very dizzy from overstimulation and can't really stand right on her own. I don't care if it's either one of you, I just need to write this down quickly." The teenager huffed then went and pulled out a small pocket book she had in the first aid kit.

It was mainly to keep track of inventory for said first aid kit but given the situation Kagome thought it would be best to use up a page or two for this. While writing Kagome began to walk towards Akimitsu's hut, not fully focused on writing and instead multitasking on leading the way and writing.

"Shippo," Kari chirped. "You can get off if you want. I'm gonna close my eyes." Kari muttered.

"Ya sure? I don't want you to get sick again." Shippo asked, clearly worried.

"I'll be fine if I close my eyes. I promise." The child informed with a kind smile then closed her eyes while taking Shippo off so he could safely go back into his normal form. The fox didn't go too far and light up the way since the sun had completely set by now. "Inuyasha." Kari muttered while curling up to nuzzle into his chest a bit, trying to hide her face. Her body trembled ever so slightly. "What you said earlier... You promise I'm not an abomination?" Her voice was soft so only Inuyasha could hear and anyone really close by. "It feels so weird... My whole life I thought... I thought I was human just weird... But now I know and it kinda hurts... I mean it doesn't JUST hurt but it still hurts." Kari weakly clung to the half demon. "I don't really get it... I'm sad... Scared and weirdly happy all at once. Everything looks brighter almost, I ran so fast I made myself sick, a-and I almost died because of a tree demon..."

Then something clicked. "Will... Will I always be a target because of these rumors? Are there others like me that could tech me? Who were my parents and why did they have me? What else can I do? Why was I left behind and never knew my parents?" Kari sniffled, tears forming in her eyes and falling down her face, though she tried to hide it a bit. "... I think those pain killers are setting in at least a bit... My head doesn't hurt that much but my mind is going crazy." Kari couldn't tried her best to calm her mind, but all these questions were bugging her and she knew she should wait, but at the same time waiting was only serving to make her more anxious. It was a vicious loop she was in right now.

"Will I... Will we be okay?" Kari's voice shivered a bit, slightly cracking as she tried to hold back tears. The child's thoughts went back to that moment. Kagome trapped in a barrier, unable to do anything. Shippo pinned down to the ground by roots. Inuyasha entangled by a mass of roots and vines, bleeding to feed Ayame. And herself, nearly being pound to a bloody pulp. If it weren't for Koga, they'd all probably be dead. No, if it weren't for her own barrier stubbornly staying up then Kagome could have managed to free the others sooner. No, thinking like that wouldn't help, it would only make things worse.

Yet those thoughts lingered. If Koga hadn't arrived, if Kari had better control over her barrier... Inuyasha wouldn't have gotten hurt, Shippo wouldn't have gotten pinned to the ground like that... Everything would have been different... The thoughts hurt a lot, but Kari refused to voice them... She wasn't sure how.

Inuyasha snorted, his ears twitching as he shot a side glance at Koga, then down at Kari, who was clearly still riding the wave of everything that had happened. He crouched just slightly to her level, the edge of a fang poking out as he smirked.

“Tch. Member of a wolf pack, huh? Don’t let it go to your head, runt.” But his tone wasn’t mean—more of a familiar tease, one Kari might start recognizing as his version of affection. “Still… You protected Kagome without even thinking about it. That’s more than a lotta people would do. So, you’ve got my respect.”

He paused, his gaze softening just a bit at her next words—I have this power… I wanna help people… protect, fight, be kind. That kind of clarity from a kid who’d just had her whole life torn apart? It struck something in him. Something old and still healing.

“You’re not wrong,” he muttered, standing tall again. “It should be that simple. Maybe it ain’t always, but what you said… it’s a good place to start.”

Koga crossed his arms and gave a short nod of agreement, glancing at Kagome before looking down at Kari again.

“You’re sharp, kid. Sharp and honest.” His tail twitched behind him. “If more people were like you, maybe I wouldn’t have to run all over the damn country chasing down demons and cleaning up after weaklings.” His smirk returned as he flicked one of his fingers toward Inuyasha with mock annoyance. “Unlike some people.”

Inuyasha growled. “You wanna go right now, mangy mutt?”

Koga chuckled. “Nah. Your arms are still stiff, half-breed. Wouldn’t be a fair fight.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core felt his heart rate speed up slightly. "W-well, I guess we make eachother crazy." He chirped, tail swaying under the water. "You drive me crazy by simply existing as well." He purred, moving to kiss Kohaku's cheek with a gentle affection.

"Your scent. Your taste. That mischievous grin when you get any idea. The way you tease me, but never cross any boundaries. The way you are attentive when I've had a rough day." The kitsune let out a soft sigh, a distant gaze crossing his eyes as a soft grin curled on his lips.

"Your laugh, your genuine smile. The way you get so protective one moment but yet you can be so gentle the next. You drive me nuts in all the right ways so much." Core purred softly, his arms gently tightening around the demon slayer in a firm but not rough grip, filled with a genuine passion. "I love you so much. Every last inch of you." With that Core moved to give Kohaku a gentle, lingering kiss on the lips,l, a soft purr rumbling the fox's chest and rippling the water slightly.

=K

Kohaku bit his bottom lip, trying to hold back a smug grin—but failed entirely. A low chuckle escaped him as he turned in the fox’s arms just enough to face him more directly, his eyes bright with amusement and warmth.

“Oh, Core,” he said in a playful whisper, letting his fingers trail lightly down the fox’s chest. “You have no idea what you do to me just by existing.”

He leaned in close, brushing his lips just barely over the kitsune’s jaw as he murmured, “That little tail flick you do when you’re excited? Drives me crazy. The way your ears twitch when you’re trying not to blush?” Kohaku chuckled, pressing a kiss just beneath Core’s ear. “Hot.”

[karikitdemonrp]

(Crack) Shinso tries to snag Core's foot with his capture scarf. "Yeah! I did, but I made you forget, so it doesn't count!"

The scarf misses Core's foot but just barely. "Yes it does! It still counts!" Core huffs sadly. "I wanted to share my first kiss with someone o cared about and who cared about me too, not with someone controlling me. It feels all gross!"

[karikitdemonrp]

(Crack) Shinso blinks and runs after Core. "This is the opposite of relaxing, you idiot!"

Core puffed out his cheeks. "I WILL NOT RELAX!" He called out. "YOU TOOK MY FIRST KISS YOU MORON! HOW DARE YOU!"

[karikitdemonrp]

Core nearly responded, but he could feel a shift in Shinso's mind. Core knew that Shinso activated his quirk. He wasn't falling for it, not this time. Maybe that was why Shinso was like this, lack of trust due to his quirk. Though, Core couldn't risk things right now. His little cousin was on the line. Aside from feeling Shinso's quirk activate, Core could sense a weird understanding, putting together Shinso figured what Core learned. This was getting risky, he stayed too long.

After a brief moment of silence Core stood up and began to walk away, having decided to take a crack at figuring Shinso out another time, if he ever got that chance. Core's symbols still shining until he was a ways away. He was casual at first, trying not to alarm Shinso, but in the next moment he bolted as fast as he could. Core knew Shinso was smart and would probably put together Core was running, though he would not admit to where.

Core quickly took out a self-folding snowboard of sorts he got as a tool when he got his hero costume and used his quirk on it aftdr it unfolded. He hopped on it and started flying away to keep out of Shinso's sights and out of earshot of the teen.

He didn't want to give up on maybe helping Shinso, but he had priorities right now. It was kind of foolish he even stayed this long anyway.

Shinso felt it—the subtle shift in the flow of Core’s probing. The change in tempo. The way the dig moved from search to understanding. It was clever, really. Controlled. Someone else might’ve flinched. But Shinso?

He smiled. Just a little.

A twitch at the corner of his mouth as he let out a soft breath through his nose. Then, he blinked slowly—intentionally—and locked eyes with Core, calm as a cloudless night.

And then, smooth and quiet, he triggered his own Quirk.

“Relax.”

His voice didn’t rise. It didn’t sharpen. It didn’t even change tone. It just shifted. Tilted. Threaded with that unseen weight, his quirk wrapping around the word like velvet around a blade.

He saw it take hold—if it took. That was always the fun part. Not just watching someone fall, but watching how they reacted as they did. The fight. The flicker. The choice to yield or resist.

But his expression never changed. He stayed where he was, completely at ease, legs crossed, leaning back in the chair like none of this mattered in the slightest.

Inside, though?

He knew what Core had found.

The kiss.

The memory Core wasn’t supposed to have.

And he’d expected the outrage, or disgust. Maybe even a strike across the table. But instead… Core had kept going. Had kept looking. That made this even more interesting.

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core listened to Kohaku confess that he still felt self conscious. It was a bit startling to the fox, Kohaku hid it so well. "It never occurred to me you still feel self conscious." He murmured softly, nuzzling into Kohaku lovingly. "But now that I know, I'm glad you want me to keep looking. It makes me feel a bit better in a way." He sighed in thought. "Because, whenever I see you like that, I never wanna take my eyes off you. So, I guess you got what you wanted." The kitsune chuckled, looking Kohaku in the eyes with a gentle passion.

Core purred softly at the kiss. "I'll try. But it'll take time." He gave a low hum then leaned down, wanting to start kissing Kohaku's shoulder only to pause and sit back up to look the demon slayer in the eyes.

"Wait, wait, wait. When I don't realize it? What do you mean by that?" He asked, clearly a bit taken aback. "Are you saying I've been doing stuff that's hot in your eyes without fully realizing it?!" Core asked, baffled that he couldn't fully recall these events off the top of his head. Then again, he was relaxing with the love of his life. "What exactly do I do that's so hot in your eyes?"

=K

Kohaku let out a soft laugh as he felt Core settle in behind him, the warmth of the fox’s body pressing gently against his back, arms wrapped securely around him. He leaned his head just slightly, allowing their cheeks to touch as his hand came up to rest over Core’s.

“You think I don’t feel self-conscious?” he murmured, voice low and teasing. “Trust me, I do… I’ve just gotten very good at pretending I don’t.”

He tilted his head back enough to catch Core’s gaze, his amber eyes warm with affection, but still glinting with playful mischief. “Truth is, knowing you’re watching me—loving me—makes it easier. Makes me want to keep your eyes on me as long as I can.”

His hand slid over Core’s arm slowly, thumb tracing small circles. “I’ve never had someone look at me the way you do. Like I’m not broken or dangerous… just someone worth holding.”

Kohaku twisted just slightly in the water, just enough to press a gentle kiss to the corner of Core’s lips. “So don’t get in your head too much. You’re stunning, and if I had it my way, I’d keep you like this—right here, every night.”

He chuckled softly and leaned back again with a contented sigh. “Besides… you’re way hotter when you don’t realize it. It’s unfair, really.”

[karikitdemonrp]

The child gave a tiny gasp. "I'm a member of a wolf pack, that's pretty cool!" She giggled softly, trying not to be too loud. "Wait, all because I protected Kagome? Why wouldn't I do that? She's been super nice to me and helped me out." The child was a bit taken aback at the insinuation she wouldn't protect someone she liked.

"I have this power a-and I guess more, so I wanna help people with it as much as I can." Kari huffed then leaned back a bit, stretching out her arms. "It's kinda a no brainer to me. Protect those who need it, fight people who wanna hurt others, make sure to be kind. Simple."

The way Kari put it was indeed simple. However, Kagome knew life wasn't always so cut and dry, but she didn't say so out loud. Kari had been through enough already so saying something like that wouldn't help. Kagome just gave a small grin and nodded, giving Kari's head a gentle pat.

"Yea, pretty simple." She hummed softly and Kari just giggled with a slight bitterness lacing her tone. There was a lot still on the child's mind, clearly, but she was trying to process it all as best as she could. Her whole life not only flashed in the blink of an eye, but it crumbled moments before she nearly died. It was a big shock to her system. But there was something there, a slight warmth in her chest. She felt a faint comfort, knowing she had people she could count on to help her. It was nice.

Kari perked up slightly and listened to Koga talk about the jewel shards in his legs and hummed softly in thought. "I saw those shards before in a bottle Kagome carries around. Then again in that tree." She muttered and Kagome nodded. "Now that I look, I can see them."

Kagome widened her eyes slightly at that. Koga's jewel shards were embedded in his body so only those who could sense the shikon jewel shards, like herself, could see them like this. "You sure?"

"Yeh, positive." Kari chirped. "I mean, I couldn't see the one in the tree until after I ran really fast, but after that I could." She informed, kind of confirming Kagome's suspicions. The teen didn't suspect Kari could see jewel shards, just suspected that Kari's new ability had in one way or another brought changes to Kari's body, this time Kari's sight. If this happened every time Kari unlocked a new ability, Kagome wasn't sure but it seemed to be a sort of pattern.

Kari looked up and into Koga's eyes when he leaned in with that reassuring tone. She gave a hum and nodded. "Yeh. People and rumors like that can be a bad mix. B-but thank you for the compliment." She chirped softly with a slight blush, still getting used to compliments. That and this was someone she just met so she was nervous but also glad she at least made a decent first impression.

"Well," Kagome sighed. "It's nice to have someone else who can sense jewel shards. Makes looking a bit easier." The teen chuckled then looked at Inuyasha. "If you want, I could have Koga hold her. But it's up to you. I kinda need my hands to write some stuff down while we head back." She informed and Kari looked up, wanting to ask about it, but deciding to let it be for now. Kagome walked up to stand between Inuyasha and Koga, waiting for Inuyasha's reply first before heading off.

Koga crossed his arms with a casual air, giving Kari a fanged smirk and a slight shrug.

“Yeah, nice to meet you, kid,” he replied, his tone softening just a bit—though he still kept up that usual cocky confidence. “Guess I’ll hang around until dog breath gets healed up from those vines.”

He shot a glance at Inuyasha, his smirk turning a bit smug. “Can’t have you slowing everyone down, mutt. Someone’s gotta keep watch and make sure no more trees try to eat the runt.”

Then he looked down at Kari again, raising a brow at her questions. “You catch on fast, huh? Yeah, you’re under my protection now. That means any demon who tries something stupid is gonna have to answer to me—and that does make you part of my pack, more or less.” He gave a nod as if it were a simple matter. “You helped protect Kagome. That counts for a lot in my book.”

“As for how I moved so fast?” Koga gave a toothy grin. “These are called jewel shards, squirt.” He tapped the shards embedded in his legs. “Make me faster than anything else out there. And trust me, I’ve got a stomach of steel. Takes more than a few dizzying spins to make me sick.”

He leaned slightly closer, voice dropping just enough to feel reassuring. “Don’t worry about what that demon said. People get all worked up over rumors and lies when they’re scared or greedy. But you? You held your ground. You’ve got guts, kid.”

With that, he stepped back and looked toward Kagome. “Yeah, this place stinks of old rot and bad memories. Let’s get moving.”

Koga then gave Inuyasha a side glance and smirked again, “You good to carry her, or you want me to do it since you’re still smelling like burnt weeds?”

[karikitdemonrp]

Core kept digging with a sort of practiced ease through Shinso's mind, ignoring those wretched tunes with out so much as a twitch. To Core, this was child's play compared to what Maica put him through for those three years.

"I see, mind telling me more?" He hummed simply at Shinso's words, not believing it one bit but playing along for now. He had to play his cards right, eventually finding out Shinso's quirk and what it did. With that knowledge Core dug deeper eventually finding how he and Shinso were connected. He found the moment where they first met, before Core was able to go out on supervised missions with another hero as a part of his probation and redemption. He saw how Shinso brainwashed Core then left him alone. The kiss the two shared, against Core's will but still.

The news was startling but Core kept a straight face, not showing any interest physically in what he found. No, with information like this, he couldn't risk Shinso figuring out he knew. Core already got the feeling Shinso was aware of Core's digging. But Core had a slight upper hand, Core knew Shinso didn't know what Core knew, just that Core was digging around. Eventually, Core decided to dig to try and understand Shinso.

If anything he wanted to figure out why Shinso was like this, why he was doing this, who he was working for and so on. Above all, Core wanted to see if Shinso wanted to get a fresh start, like how he did in a sense. He could feel Shinso's quirk could be useful for hero work, but it all depended on the teen in how he used it.

Shinso caught the way Core’s tone shifted ever so slightly—too steady, too neutral. That alone told him more than Core probably meant to reveal.

He smiled, slow and composed, eyes narrowing faintly with amusement. “Well,” he said with the casual air of someone entirely too calm for the tension floating between them, “I’m just a hero student trying to make my way. Nothing bad at all, dear sir.”

His tone was mocking, but only just. Just enough to slide in under Core’s skin, not to provoke—just to tease. Like a cat batting at a thread it knew would tangle if pulled too hard.

And all the while, the songs in his head continued.

“Ponytail girl does kung-fu kicks~ Saves the day with sticks and tricks~ Caaaat café hero hides his face, Running from his haunted—place~!”

One of his own mental creations. Off-key. Obnoxious. Deliberately looped and layered, the lyrics changing each time they started again.

He let the static grow thicker—heavier. If Core was going to dig, he’d have to work for every inch.

And yet…

Shinsou could feel it. The way Core was maneuvering through the mess. Methodical. Calm. Experienced.

Not flinching. Not backing off.

Interesting.

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Kohaku's words about the other ways Core could have undressed the demon slayer made him shiver a bit, mind wandering just a bit for a brief moment. "I mean... There are plenty of ways I could have undressed you, my love... But I wanted to show you my affection like this." He muttered, face a deep red with how flustered he was.

Then the kitsune's ears twitched slightly at Kohaku's command.

“Your turn, pretty fox. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

Core's tail flicked a bit and he relaxed a bit, a small grin growing on his lips. "Anything for you, my warrior." He purred lovingly, moving to take his clothes off and give Kohaku a bit of a show. Even though he was a bit nervous about his movements, once he joined Kohaku, everything felt right. The fox sighed and moved to hold Kohaku from behind, resting his head on the demon slayer's shoulder with an affectionate sigh. "How do you do that without feeling so self conscious? Every time I try to do that, I get in my own head about stuff." He muttered, referring to how Kohaku could so easily strip in such an enticing way with so much confidence.

=K

Kohaku let out a low chuckle as Core pulled him in, his hands resting lightly on the fox’s shoulders as he was slowly undressed. The trail of kisses sent soft tingles across his skin, and for a moment, the demon slayer allowed himself to just bask in the affection. The tension in his muscles began to melt away, but the fire in his eyes only grew.

“Mmm… stop?” he echoed, voice rich and smooth like warmed honey. “I don’t remember saying anything about stopping.”

He tilted his head down, letting his lips brush against the shell of Core’s ear as his hands slid around the fox’s waist. “In fact,” he whispered, “if you don’t keep going, I might just get distracted thinking about all the other ways you could’ve undressed me.”

With a playful hum, Kohaku leaned back just enough to meet Core’s gaze—flushed, yet hungry with that same spark that always danced in his eyes when he was toying with the kitsune.

“Come join me in the bath,” he said as he turned, letting his hand trail across Core’s chest in passing. He stepped into the water slowly, with an exaggerated sigh of pleasure, letting the warm steam swirl around his toned frame. Once seated, he rested an arm on the tub’s edge and looked over his shoulder with a devilish smirk.

“Your turn, pretty fox. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari looked down slightly when Inuyasha spoke first. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry." She muttered softly. "I'll try and wait next time." The child let out a soft sigh then watched Inuyasha and Koga bicker, picking up that the two probably weren't the most friendly towards each other most of the time. She flinched a bit, moving to cover her ears when the two got a bit too loud, the throbbing in her head worsening slightly with the loud noise but it faded when the two quieted down.

Kagome tried her best to comfort Kari by holding her a bit more secure and glared at the two pointedly. "Easy you two." She said with a firm tone. "Remember, Kari's still got a bit of a migraine so anything too loud could cause problems." She informed, glancing down at Kari once the two stopped bickering. "Those pain killers should kick in soon. If not I'll give you another one but I can't give you too many at once." She informed the child, only for Kari to nod in understanding while her body relaxed.

"It's my fault that tree got me." She muttered softly. "I over shot while running to Kagome, if I didn't then I could've easily protected us both." She informed and Kagome shook her head.

"You just unlocked that ability so you don't know how to control it right." She informed, moving to try and smooth Kari's hair down gently to calm the child a bit. "It wasn't the smartest thing you could've done, but if it weren't for you I'd be dead. Your quick thinking saved my life. You should be proud of that." The teen grinned and Kari just sighed, not entirely sure how to respond. Then she heard Koga's praise followed quickly by Inuyasha's own words. Kari gave a slight grin, it was faint but it was clear Kari appreciated the kind words from them both.

She thought for a moment and sighed. "So... What she said was true then?" Kari asked and Kagome hesitantly nodded.

"Yea... You... You're not human." The teenaged informed and Kari grew quiet for a moment, processing.

"I... See." Kari gulped. "And what she said... about me giving her immortality and endless strength or whatever..."

"Those are just rumors. In all honesty we don't know it what she said is fully true."

Kari tensed a bit. "So I was almost killed... Because of a stupid RUMOR?! Ah." Kari hissed a bit after raising her voice, accidentally agitating her migraine. "That's one of the dumbest things I've heard."

Kagome sighed softly and gave a nod. "Yea, it's pretty dumb. Why don't we start heading back. We can answer any more questions once you're settled and comfortable. Hopefully by then that medicine will have kicked in too and you won't be in so much pain." She hummed softly then looked at Koga. "Thank you again, Koga, for protecting Kari." The teenager smiled kindly.

"Thank you Koga." Kari chirped softly in unison with Shippo. Then Kari thought of something.

"Wait, during the fight you said I'm under your protection now, yeh? Does that mean I'm kinda like an honorary part of your pack or something? I mean, you are a wolf demon so I'd guess you had one. Also how did you move so fast and not get sick?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Kari, think too much and you'll hurt your head even more. Like I said, we should head back before you ask more questions. Get you all settled and cozy. Besides. I'd rather not stay here for long. This place gives me the creeps." She said with a soft sigh and a slight shiver. "You wanna be held by Inuyasha?" She asked, knowing that it might calm Kari down a bit more and maybe provide a bit of relief for the child. Kagome had noticed Kari was holding back a bit emotionally. Even though her eyes were hidden, the way Kari's muscles felt were so tense and a bit shaky. Either the child was super drained or just holding back tears or some mix of the two.

Kari looked up at Kagome then at Inuyasha. "Is it okay?" She asked the half demon, noticing how hurt he looked. "If it's okay I'd really like to." She chirped, hesitantly holding her arms out to him, not trying to be pushy but she wanted to be held by him and just relax. Kari's arms shivered a bit, her voice cracking ever so slightly when she said she wanted to be held by Inuyasha. But if Inuyasha was too tired or too hurt or just didn't want to, she'd understand and wouldn't push.

Inuyasha crossed his arms as Kari was carried over, still eyeing the now-dead tree with lingering tension. He grunted when Kagome handed him the first aid supplies earlier, letting her patch him up without complaint—but his golden eyes were locked on the little girl even while being treated.

Now, seeing Kari resting in Kagome’s arms with her eyes hidden behind Shippo's makeshift sunglasses, Inuyasha finally spoke, his voice softer than usual, though still with that gruff edge.

“Tch… You scared the hell outta me, runt.” He looked away briefly, ears flicking. “Next time, don’t go running into danger like that. I don’t care how brave you think you are. We’re a team, got it?” His amber eyes flicked back to her with a pointed look. “You wait for us. Especially me.”

Koga, who’d been quietly watching as Shippo and Kagome took care of Kari, crossed his arms and scoffed lightly. “Feh. Maybe if somebody was faster to act, the kid wouldn’t have had to jump in at all.”

That earned him a sharp glare from Inuyasha. “What was that, flea bag?!”

Koga rolled his eyes. “Don’t bark at me, mutt. I’m not the one who let the tree almost eat her!” Still, there was no bite behind his words—his own concern had been evident earlier, when he shielded Kari without hesitation. He looked over at her now, and his voice lowered with unexpected gentleness. “Pleased to meet you kid, you did good, Kari. You held out longer than most warriors I know. Especially the mutt.”

Inuyasha’s eyes softened a bit at that. “Keh. You’re tough, I’ll give you that. You’ve been through a lot, kid…” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing toward Kagome before meeting Kari’s shaded eyes. “You ain’t an abomination. I don’t care what that damn tree said.”

Koga nodded, serious now. “Agreed. You’re not some freak.” His tail twitched slightly as he leaned over and sniffed her. “Even if your blood’s… different.”

[karikitdemonrp]

------

Core's ears flicked a bit, a hint of red visible at the tips. Kohaku's mischievous grin, that teasing tone, it drove the fox mad every time. Core wanted to tackle the demon slayer right now with love and affection and maybe a bit of mischief of his own, but he held back. "Patience my love." He murmured while getting the bath ready. It didn't take long and Core eventually approached Kohaku, moving to carefully pull the demon slayer in.

"Alright, now let's get to work with these clothes." He hummed softly, moving to undress the demon slayer with a gentle touch. The fox purred softly, tail swaying as he leaned in and began to kiss Kohaku's skin as it became visible to the kitsune. There wasn't much rhyme or reason to where he kissed Kohaku, just random little pecks and smooches here and there, maybe a slight nibble but nothing too rough. Core did trail down slowly as Kohaku's clothes came off, eyes eventually flicking up to see how the demon slayer rected.

"Are you enjoying this? I can stop if you want. Or we could continue in the bath perhaps?" He asked, still flustered but trying to gently get Kohaku flustered too, even just a tiny bit.

=K

Kohaku walked ahead with a slow, confident sway to his hips, the smile on his lips bordering wicked as he glanced back at Core with a glint of mischief. The leather of his outfit creaked softly as he moved, and with a single flick of his fingers, he loosened the top knot holding his upper robes together. The fabric parted just enough to tease—revealing a lean stretch of chest and the faint curve of muscle beneath.

“Waiting,” he said smoothly, voice like silk laced with heat. His amber eyes locked onto Core’s flustered expression, and his grin widened, clearly savoring the effect.

The demon slayer reached the doorway of the bath house and leaned a shoulder against it, letting the rest of the robe slip just a little more. “I mean, I did fight off a demon and get stabbed saving your adorable tail, didn’t I? Not to mention fighting something worse, human kids…” he teased, feigning innocence. “I think I’ve earned a little help tonight.”

He turned and stepped inside, slow and graceful, the smooth sound of his sandals slipping off echoing behind him. As he moved toward the bath, his voice floated back, rich with playful challenge.

“Better hurry before I figure out how these buckles work on my own, Fox.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Core didn't flinch at the static, he had actually gotten used to it over time. He was able to navigate it with some ease. "I guess I'm still training." He hummed softly after picking up that Shinso figured out Core was digging through his thoughts, or it seemed to be Shinso figured it out anyway. Core's hum was slightly in tune with that lullaby but not by much or for long. "But, I know enough to get by with what I've got and I like to think I'm improving." He muttered softly, still digging through Shinso's thoughts with ease, not faltering in the slightest. The past three years under constant mind control from his own mother, gathering intel or whatever for her gave him an advantage in this arena.

Then, he found something else, not reacting but he now knew Shinso knew of Kari which left a pit in the teen's stomach, but again he held firm. "I mean, we just met and I'm not getting a good feeling about you and I doubt you'd give me the information I'd ask for." Core informed with a shrug, still searching through Shinso's mind. Not long later Core found something else, something tying Shinso to UA, then another one that tied Shinso to the league of villains. Adding ontop of the fact that Core just found out this guy knew Kari, it made Core's skin crawl, but he kept his reaction suppressed. He kept his face neutral, mimicking Shinso's stance and gaze as to not give it away. Core's symbols stayed on, even though Core got some good intel that could get Shinso in trouble, he needed proof and there were still some things he needed to find.

He knew Shinso didn't know what he found out, keeping that information close to his chest, but there was a lot to go through so finding the answers he wanted would probably take Core a while. But he was stubborn, so he kept looking.

"Tell me, why are you here. Why me?" Core eventually asked, wanting to keep up conversation so Shinso stayed occupied. "I mean, I know the coffee here is good, but there are other free tables. You could have easily went to another one to charge your phone. Yet you came to me." Core didn't fully care about what Shinso had to say at this, already feeling like it would be a lie. He was almost at the information he wanted anyway, just a bit more. A part of him wanted to figure Shinso out, sure. Finding the purple haired male somewhat attractive, but there were more complicated emotions at play here too. Emotions Core didn't fully understand yet.

Shinso tilted his head slightly when Core’s eyes narrowed, and that soft, pulsing glow sparked behind them. He didn’t move. He didn’t blink. But something subtle in the air shifted—like the way it feels right before a storm breaks.

Then, he smiled.

Not wide, not warm—just the faintest twitch of his lips. Quiet and sharp. A knowing smile.

His gaze sharpened, like a needle threading its way straight through Core’s thoughts, though not by force. Just… awareness.

“…Looking for something?” he asked coolly, tone like velvet over steel.

Then, just beneath the surface—music.

A lazy tune began to hum in the back of his mind, looping softly. Something irritatingly catchy. A children’s lullaby. A song from a cereal commercial. Then a mix of both—fragmented, overlapping, nothing with consistent emotional weight to latch onto. Like static wearing a smile.

He watched Core’s expression closely, unfazed. “You know, for someone so suspicious, you’re not very subtle,” he added, tapping the side of his head once, casual as ever. “Not that I mind. I’d probably do the same if our places were reversed.”

Another sip of coffee. Another lullaby hummed under his breath in rhythm with the chaotic noise in his head.

[karikitdemonrp]

------

The fox hummed softly, nodding at Kohaku's decision. "Very well. I'll go start up a warm bath." He purred, about to leave only to pause upon hearing Kohaku's teasing voice. A shiver slid down Core's spine and the kitsune shivered slightly. He thought for a moment, letting a slight silence linger in the air for a brief moment.

"You're such a tease." Core said with a flushed face, tail wagging rapidly. "I-I'll--" The mental image of Kohaku being undressed by his own hands continued to dance in Core's mind, causing the fox to stammer. "I'll help you, if you wish. But lets head to out bath house first and get ready in there." The fox purred softly.

"And if you want, I can hold you while the bath fills up after helping you." His voice was still laced with embarrassment, but he was still trying to get back at Kohaku just a bit for what the demon slayer did.

=K

Kohaku chuckled under his breath, gaze softening with every word Core said. He could feel the warmth in his chest blooming stronger, fueled by the simple kindness that Core never seemed to run out of—especially on the days Kohaku didn’t realize how much he needed it. The smell of the fresh buns, the mention of tea, the thought of a warm bath—all of it wove together with the way Core looked at him, so full of quiet devotion.

“I’ll just wash up first,” Kohaku replied gently, brushing a few stray strands of hair behind his ear as he stood. “Then we can have the tea and sweet buns after. It’ll taste even better once the dirt’s off and my body stops aching.”

He turned toward Core with a small, sly grin, stepping back until he felt the distinct touch of a warm hand against the firm leather covering his backside. His voice dropped slightly, playful but unmistakably teasing as he pressed back a bit more. “Help me undress?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder with an impish glint in his eye. “I forget how.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari wheezed, body instinctively tensing as the roots tried to grab her, but when Koga protected her, Kari relaxed. "Th-thank you... I'm sorry I couldn't do more." She muttered, still gaining feeling back in her legs. She wanted to say more, but right now they were all in the middle of a fight for their lives so she kept her mouth shut.

Kari perked up a bit when she heard Inuyasha call to her in that concerned and frustrated tone. "Sorry! I didn't mean to push myself." She called back, her body eventually gaining feeling back in her legs, but she was still all around weak. Kari took a breath to steady herself a bit, slowly calming her trembling body. The child watched as Inuyasha attacked the tree with the Wind Scar, remembering that move from a while back. She felt a bit at ease seeing it, probably because it protected her before.

Ayame tried to protect against the attack, but she was severely wounded, however the tree itself was mostly fine aside from the roots protecting the jewel shard. Ayame's fake, humanoid-looking body was tattered. No blood spilled however. Only the inside of tree roots showed where Tessaiga's Wind Scar had slashed her. Eventually roots shot up and surrounded the fake body of Ayame and mended the wounds, which was a good opening for Kagome to strike.

The priestess took it, quickly loading another arrow and charging it with a lot of spiritual energy. She let the arrow loose at the jewel shard, getting a direct hit. "Don't worry boys. I think I got it." She called, watching as the arrow purified the jewel and killed Ayame with how much spiritual energy she put into it. The tree began to wither and the fake body began to crumble and fall apart with Ayame screaming in anger, cursing out the group then looking at Kari.

The priestess opened up the first aid kit and looked through it, taking out some headache medication and gave it to Shippo with a small bottle of water. "Give this to Kari when she's calmed down. Make sure she has two pills, that new headache she's complaining about might be making her sick but I'm not sure. I'll look more into it later. Also please clean and bandage her arms, those puncture wounds look deep." Shippo nodded and took over watching over Kari while Kagome grabbed some bandages and some hydrogen peroxide and went to Inuyasha to clean and bandage his wounds while gesturing for Koga to join, wanting to be sure the wolf demon was okay too.

"You won't get far, you abomination. I'll see you all in hell!" Before finally crumbling into a dust. Kari shivered, her symbols still shimmering brightly for a moment until she calmed down and went dark.

Kagome frowned, seeing Kari so upset. Though it wasn't surprising given everything. After getting the jewel shard from the tree Kagome went over to check on Kari. "Kari, are y--" Before Kagome could finish her sentence Kari rushed a bit away and threw up, her nausea finally getting to her once her body relaxed. The priestess sighed softly and went over to rub Kari's back to help sooth the child, trying her best however she could to help Kari calm down. "It's okay. Everything's gonna be fine. We're safe now. Shippo, please grab the first aid kit and bring it here." She called and Shippo did just that. She then turned to Koga and smiled nervously. "Thank you for coming to help." She said, still rubbing Kari's back as Shippo gave Kagome the first aid kit.

"This might sting a bit, Inuyasha but hold still. I wanna be sure the wound is clean." She muttered, pouring a bit of hydrogen peroxide onto Inuyasha's wounds then drying and bandaging them. "There." She smiled then looked over Koga. "You don't look hurt. Guess Kari's barrier held up just long enough to keep you safe." She sighed in slight relief then looked to Kari who had swallowed some pain killers and was calming down, drinking some water to get the taste of vomit out of her mouth while Shippo bandaged her wounds. "I guess the cat's outta the bag now." She muttered sadly, seeing the expression in Kari's eyes. The child looked so lost, tired, and defeated. "I was hoping to break the news to her gently but here we are." The teenager pinched the bridge of her nose.

"And that stupid tree just..." Kagome growled in slight anger, not only that Ayame told Kari what she was, but that Ayame called Kari an abomination twice during their battle. "Well, Ayame's dead now but she did her damage." The priestess muttered, gaze still lingering on Kari who was talking to Shippo. The fox nodded at Kari's words and transformed into a pair of sunglasses after Kari explained what they were to him. Kari then put them over her eyes and sighed, saying something, probably a thank you. Kagome slowly pieced a few things together and went over to Kari for a moment.

"You two behave. I'm gonna bring Kari over." She ordered then went over to the child. "Kari, how are you feeling?"

"Better... Head still hurts but I think I'm done throwing up." The child muttered softly. "Shippo's helping me a bit with my headache with his transformation."

"I think you have a migraine. I'll explain later but I'm sure you have a lot of questions and I don't blame you." Kagome moved to pat Kari's head gently and Kari simply nodded, holding her arms up, clearly wanting to be picked up. Kagome chuckled softly, picking the child up carefully and carrying her over to Inuyasha and Koga, holding the child with great care. "I can't guarantee we can answer them all. But Inuyasha, Shippo, and myself will answer what we can. Well, mostly Inuyasha and myself." Kari nodded while Shippo huffed, slightly annoyed but he was mostly focused on keeping his transformation up to help Kari until the pain killers kicked in. Eventually Kagome was back with Koga and Inuyasha. "Here she is, the lady of the hour." The teenager smiled softly, trying to keep the mood light. Kari adjusted a bit to lean on Kagome's chest to listen to the teenager's heart beat and rest a bit, but she was still very much awake and aware.

Koga barely had time to process Kari’s full name before she squirmed to get out of his arms, only to faceplant. His blue eyes widened a bit in alarm before he quickly knelt beside her. “Whoa, hey! Careful, kid—you’re still shaky.” He reached out to steady her, but then—

That voice.

“Mangy wolf?” Koga’s expression darkened, teeth gritting as he heard Ayame screech from above.

The roots came crashing down, but Koga instinctively shielded Kari before the barrier snapped up. “Heh… not bad, little one,” he said, clearly impressed as the golden dome held fast around them. He eyed the glowing jewel within the tree, then glanced toward Inuyasha. “Oi, dog-breath! You just gonna lie there or what?!”

The second he was cut free, Inuyasha ripped the last of the roots off him and snarled, golden eyes blazing. “About damn time!” He caught Shippo before the little fox could tumble from the last vine, giving him a quick pat on the head before bolting toward the tree.

He skidded to a stop near Kagome, his gaze flicking between the glowing section of bark and Kari’s collapsed form.

“Tch… Damn it, Kari!” he barked as he saw her fall to her knees, voice tight with both frustration and concern. “You weren’t supposed to push yourself this far!”

He turned to Ayame with a snarl, claws already glowing. “You’ve got a lotta nerve messin’ with us! Wind Scar!” With a roar, he slammed Tessaiga down, golden arcs of power spiraling toward the base of the tree, aiming to rip through the twisted mass of roots guarding the jewel shard. At the same time, Koga burst from the shattered remains of Kari’s broken barrier, snarling as he whipped around her and tore through incoming roots with his claws.

“Hands off her, hag!” Koga shouted, spinning into a flurry of kicks and slashes. He stomped down hard on one root trying to grab Kari and growled, “Back off! She’s under my protection now!”

He looked to Kari, eyes narrowing in concern as she trembled. He crouched beside her, more gentle this time, one hand bracing her shoulder. “You did good. Now let us take it from here.”

He looked over to Inuyasha as the wind scar made impact.

“Let’s finish this, mutt-face!”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core sighed softly, letting more and more of his rage go. His tail went from rapid flicking to a slight sway. "you always know how to calm me down. Thank you." He muttered, though there was still a slight anger deep down, it was quelled for now. "It really angers me that the villagers would whisper behind our backs and send their kids after us, even after we basically saved them from a demon. But they only see a kitsune and immediately think the worst I guess." The fox let out a sad sigh. "But you're right, that's on them. We've given them nothing to make them think badly about us. Yet they jump to conclusions. It's not on us."

Core gave a kind smile. "Thank you for protecting us. I'll do the same when I can. I don't want you getting hurt too bad." He chirped, glancing at the cut on the demon slayer's cheek and moving to wipe the slight trail of blood from the tiny wound. "I hate seeing you even a little hurt. Even though I know you can handle yourself, it still hurts me when I see you hurt." The fox hummed in thought. "But I guess that's how we both know I care so deeply for you." Core chuckled softly, trying to force his thoughts on other things.

The kitsune moved to kiss Kohaku's forehead. "I'll go get a bath ready after I take the sweet buns out of the oven. Do you want to have tea in the bath or do you want to bathe then come back for tea and snacks? I tried something new with the sweet buns, making some of them bite sized so they're perfect for tea time snacks, though I also made some regular size, some filled with a random sweet filling some not. I had a lot of fun with experimenting this time." Core chuckled softly, tail wagging in glee as he stood up to get the sweet buns out of the oven so they didn't burn and set them aside to cool.

"I even made three different teas, lychee, peach, and orange. I was gonna try mixing them to test flavors and which went best with which of if they tasted batter by themselves." Core walked back with a slight grin, looking at Kohaku with a hum. "I can take a tray with us if you wanna just relax in the tub with tea and snacks or we can have it later, so I'm set for whatever you choose. I'll put everything you bought away later. You deserve some relaxation, you look kinda sore. And I don't blame you, my love." The fox gave a gentle smile, his expression endlessly soft like a love sick puppy, or well fox, as he awaited Kohaku's answer.

=K

Kohaku shook his head gently again, a tired but fond look settling in his eyes as he listened to Core. He could feel the storm in his fox's heart—every flick of that tail was a crack of thunder held back by willpower alone.

“I’m fine, really,” he repeated, voice steady but warm. “They just had a few surprises, that’s all. A little mud, a lucky rock. It’s not the worst I’ve been through.”

He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Core’s forehead, lingering there for a moment as he added, “Humans fear what they don’t understand. Always have. Always will. But some of them learn… and the ones who don’t?” He pulled back with a tired shrug. “That’s on them.”

His thumb grazed along Core’s jaw as he looked him in the eye. “It was only kids today because their parents were too cowardly to show up themselves. They’ve been whispering things again, probably thought they’d test me by sending the little ones out. Maybe they thought I wouldn’t say anything back.” His lips quirked up in a dry smirk. “They were wrong.”

At Core’s offer, he chuckled softly. “You always know how to bring me back down to earth. A bath does sound nice. Lavender, warm water… and you in the room with me, even if you’re just reading or humming or threatening my shampoo. That’d help more than anything.”

He touched his nose gently to Core’s. “Thank you for caring. You never have to be sorry for that. I’ll protect us both, even if I come home muddy sometimes.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari tensed when she felt someone suddenly grab her. It was quick, the root around her being slashed to pieces and her being grabbed all happening in the matter of moments. She curled up instinctively to avoid getting hurt, yet there were a few punctures on her arms from smaller roots digging into her while she was trapped. She hadn't noticed from the rush of adrenalin she was still feeling plus all that news she heard from that tree.

When she heard Inuyasha call out a name, Kari snapped to and looked up at the unfamiliar face. She stayed quiet for a moment, her mind racing and still hurting like hell. "Uh, th-thank you for saving me." Her voice was quiet, not sure if she could trust this person.

"Kari," Kagome called in relief from the barrier around her. "That's Koga! You can trust him! He's a friend of mine. Koga, that girl you're holding is--" The teen was about to introduce the child, but Kari immediately introduced herself, cutting Kagome off.

"My name's Kari Kana Lee Himura and-- Oh, wait, I left Tsuki in my bag." Kari introduced herself, still wary but at least she trusted Koga a bit. "If Kagome trusts you then I trust you too." She muttered and looked around, squinting her eyes. Eventually, the child noticed something glowing in the tree's trunk. It was a sort of pink-ish glow. She moved to get out of Koga's hold, but her legs still felt a little numb so she fell on her face with a whimper. "Ah, stupid legs." She grumbled then something clicked. She was about to ask Koga about how he moved so fast only to notice a large root looming over head.

"HOW DARE YOU STEAL MY TICKET TO IMMORTALITY YOU MANGY WOLF!" Ayame hissed. Kari widened her eyes and brought up a barrier around herself and Koga, in turn lowering the one around Kagome. The priestess took this opportunity and shot at the tree trunk a few times with spiritual arrows. While they were blocked Kagome went to free Shippo with a pocket knife she had on hand. Once free Shippo took the pocket knife and ran to Inuyasha and started cutting the roots that held him while Kagome continued to bombard the tree demon with arrows. Kari kept the barrier up, though she was struggling. She was tired and still a bit nauseous from everything that had happened.

As she held the barrier up Kari began to whisper to herself softly. "Stay standing. Stay awake. Stay alive. Stay stay standing. Stay awake. Stay alive." Like a little mantra to keep herself focused. Eventually she rose to her feet, legs still trembling from how numb they were, but she was slowly getting feeling back, as roots kept attacking the barrier from all sides, trying to make it break. Roots tried to come in from the ground but the barrier was also under them so Kari and Koga were fully protected.

Eventually Shippo managed to get Inuyasha free and sighed in relief. Kagome noticed and pointed to the tree, specifically at a lower part of the tree where some roots had oddly coiled to protect a certain spot. "The jewel is near the base of the tree, being protected by those roots." She informed, jumping out of the way of an attack. When Kagome said this Kari yelped out, the barrier she made breaking from a mixture of an onslaught of attacks and her being so drained and overwhelmed. The child fell to her hands and knees, trembling and panting heavily. She pushed herself a bit too much. Sure she had been in fights before but this was different. Ayame smirked, now making a group of roots rush to try and grab Kari again, hoping this time to keep the child under wraps.

“Tch—DAMMIT!!”

The roots wrapped around Inuyasha’s body like a nest of snakes, some thick as logs, others like cords of iron. One had coiled around his neck, squeezing tight—too tight—and then digging in. He could feel it—smell it—his blood, slow and hot, trickling down his skin as the tree fed from him. He snarled, eyes flashing red for a split second before fading. No—he had to stay focused. Kari, Kagome—he couldn’t let this thing win.

“Y-you think some oversized weed’s gonna stop me?” he growled, tugging with brute force even as the root crushed tighter, threatening to choke him.

He tried to swing Tessaiga, but the sword was pinned. His claws strained, his fangs grit, but he couldn’t move.

Then—

FWOOOSH!!!

A gust of wind blasted through the clearing. The roots whipped in confusion. The tree hissed in irritation.

And just like that, Kari was gone from the root’s grasp.

“I got you, kid.” A cocky, familiar voice echoed through the woods, and Inuyasha’s golden eyes shot open wide.

“K-Koga?!” he spat out, voice raspy from the pressure on his throat.

Sure enough, there stood the wolf demon prince in all his smug, blue-eyed glory, holding Kari in his arms like she weighed nothing. His wild black hair danced in the breeze, and that damn confident grin was plastered on his face like always.

“You’re late, flea bag,” Inuyasha growled, his voice rough but laced with relief.

Koga barely glanced his way, snorting. “Yeah, yeah. You're welcome.”