karikitdemonrp

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core watched as Kohaku took charge of the situation. Even though he was suffering from the intense smell, the kitsune felt his heart skip a beat or two. Seeing Kohaku so protective was kind of hot in a way. But Core would never admit it in public. "Th--anks." He managed to say softly while holding back gagging sounds. He was managing to get a handle on it but it was still a lot for his senses. "I--I just can't stand this smell. And I---" The kitsune gagged a bit but managed to get a handle on it a bit quicker. "I really can't stand this smell..." He muttered, taking a moment to try and relax a bit so he didn't hurt himself from gagging so much.

"You were.... r-really amazing Kohaku, thanks for s--- standin' up for me like that." He wheezed, leaning on Kohaku a bitto get his bearings. The smell was making him a bit disoriented. "Once I get this smell off of me then we can continue our date." He gave a smile. "This could also turn into us bathing together too if you'd like, but I don't know if you'd wanna wash off in the same water, it might smell like durian." He chuckled softly. "I appreciate the offer, my love. I'd love to be scrubbed down by you. Though, if you have and unsavory thoughts then that's on you..." He chirped with a flicking tail. However, after he spoke the kitsune gagged a bit, kind of ruining the mood. Then something came to mind.

Core sighed softly. "We... we didn't get everything off our list either." He muttered sadly, but he knew he couldn't really go on like this. He'd only get more and more disoriented as long as the scent lingered. Not only that but other people would smell it too and get upset, and he already had a bad reputation simply because he was a kitsune. "If it's not too late then would it be okay if we come back to get the rest?" He asked, clearly struggling to keep himself from making those awful noises.

When Kohaku mentioned he'd be all to Core the kitsune's cheeks grew warm, but he didn't back down. He took a moment then spoke. "As if I'd pass up the chance to do one of the things I love most, pampering you. Another thing I like to do is you, but I'm sure you know that already." His voice was soft, but equally flirtatious. He gulped, trying to hold back his gag reflex, the smell of durian invading his senses like a foreign army trying to take over a village. "But seriously, my love, at this rate I might pass out from sensory overload. Durians smell AWFUL!" He muttered, covering his nose in hopes of stopping the horrid smell, but it still somehow lingered.

=K

Kohaku’s eyes narrowed the instant that second durian hit the ground with a wet splorch near Core’s leg. The laughter from the kids rang in his ears like a bad bell, and in that moment, the flirty smirk that usually danced across the demon slayer’s lips vanished.

He moved with calm, dangerous precision—his thigh bumping against Core’s trembling hand with purpose, almost like a reminder: I’m here. I’ve got you.

He stepped forward, placing himself half in front of the kitsune even as Core bravely tried to shield him. “Hey,” Kohaku said coolly, voice dropping into that low, sharp tone that could cut through even demon howls. “What’s the matter? Village get so boring that you decided to pick a fight with someone who’s literally saved your sorry hides?”

The kids shifted, some of them losing their smiles.

“Cute. Real cute. Using fruit to mess with someone who’s stronger, faster, and has more self-control than any of you ever will. You think it’s funny because he’s kind, right? Because he holds back?” Kohaku’s hand tensed at his side, just near the hilt of his blade—but not grabbing it. Not yet. “Let me tell you something.” He took a step forward, dragging the weight of his presence behind him like a stormcloud. His golden eyes gleamed with warning fire.

“You throw one more thing, and next time it won’t be Core you’ll have to worry about. It’ll be me.” Kohaku’s voice dropped to a whisper, smooth and deadly. “And I don’t miss.”

There was a tense silence—until one of the braver kids muttered something like “whatever,” and they ran off, trailing behind one another like frightened mice fleeing the snap of a trap.

Kohaku waited until they were gone before turning, the weight in his shoulders melting back into something softer. He reached up and cupped Core’s cheek carefully, avoiding the worst of the lingering smell as best he could.

“Hey…” he murmured gently, using his thumb to brush just under Core’s eye. “We’ll go home. You’ve done more than enough today. You were amazing—way more patient than I would've been.” He leaned close, nose brushing lightly against the kitsune’s. “Let’s get you cleaned up, okay? I’ll draw you a bath, scrub you down myself if I have to. I’ll even sneak in some of your favorite soaps.”

Kohaku gently tugged at his hand, leading Core away from the lingering stench with a soft sigh. “And after the smell’s gone… we’re gonna finish that date properly. Snacks, cuddles, and me all to yourself. Maybe even a little bit of that ‘gentle danger’ you promised me.”

He smirked, tilting his head just enough to wink at Core with a flare of flirtation.

“You’re not getting out of spoiling me just because some bratty kids threw fruit, love.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari leaned into Denki's touch a bit with a content sigh and gave a slight snort. "Yeh, they do sound like hero names. But those were their real names. I think they mentioned a lot of hero names when we were growing up, but I kept callin' them storm twins every so often... But, it sounded more like stohwm tins or something cuz I was still learning how to speak." The child gave a small blush.

"Each time I called them that they'd just freeze. Or so my oldest brother said. It was funny. But yeh, the three of us got into good trouble a bit so I know what you mean." She giggled softly, relaxing. "Yeh... You all, Papa, even Shinso too I guess. He's been helpful too." She chirped softly, just relaxing in the moment. "And if there's any trouble you guys have, I'll try to help if I can. I know it's probably a lot but I wanna help. I'd feel awful if something happened to my new family when I could do something to help. I... I don't wanna live through that pain again." She muttered softly but didn't linger in the negative feeling for long.

Her attention shifted when she heard the door opened, smiling widely when she saw Shinso enter with a tray of food. "Food! Thank you Shinso, you're the best!" She giggled, sitting up properly and moving to take the tray of food. She was humming a happy tune as she began to scarf down her sandwich, clearly happy as crumbs dotted her cheeks more and more after each bite. "Tanksh Shinso!" She said with a full mouth, cheeks slightly puffed out like a chipmunk.

Once she finished her sandwich she sipped on the juice box a bit and gave a heavy sigh. "That was really good. Seriously, thanks. I was super hungry." She informed then went to grab one of the gummies and pop it in her mouth. They were super sweet but Kari loved them, she grabbed a few more and put them in her mouth with a happy chirp. But before she finished them she paused, remembering Shinso said these were Denki's favorite. So, she offered the young blond some gummies, even offering some to Shinso.

Once she finished the tray of food, Kari stretched out and gave a yawn. "... Wake me up... When Papa's back." She chirped, moving to put the tray on one of the near by side tables and curl up, using Denki as a pillow. "I wanna...." Kari yawned again. "Give Papa a big hug... When he gets here." She chirped, barely awake but slowly passing out.

Denki Kaminari smiled gently as Kari talked, his heart heavy but warmed by her openness. He tilted his head a little when she mentioned her brothers, listening intently and giving a soft, encouraging hum.

“Boom and Beats, huh? Man, those sound like hero names already,” he chuckled lightly. “They sound awesome. I bet we would’ve totally gotten into trouble together—good trouble. Y’know, the kind with explosions and bad karaoke.” He gave her a warm, side-hug squeeze. “And when you’re ready to tell me the rest, I’ll be here. No pressure, okay? Just whenever you feel safe.”

He let her nuzzle in again, brushing a few fingers gently through her hair to help soothe her. “We’re your second fam now. You’re stuck with us,” he added with a little grin. “Even Mineta. Sorry about that.”

Just then, the door clicked open again and in walked Shinso, carrying a tray like it was sacred treasure. His tired eyes looked up as he approached, and his voice came quiet but steady. “Still awake? Good. Figured you’d want this hot,” he said, setting the tray gently on the table near her.

There was a box of apple juice with a little bendy straw, a ham and cheese sandwich still warm, and—tucked in the corner—a small cup of gummies.

“Told the staff you were recovering from a mission,” Shinso added, crouching beside her level. “They gave me extras. You earned them.” He gave her a brief smirk before his expression softened. “Eat first, then pass out. You’ll feel a lot better.”

Denki gave him a thumbs up. “Ayy, my man came through!”

[karikitdemonrp]

The child rolled her eyes. "Fair. You're always tired." She sighed. "I wish you'd take better care of yourself Dawa." She muttered moving to sit next to her father figure and lean on him. "I mean, being an adult is a lot... Being a hero is a lot... Wouldn't it be logical to make sure you're at your best to do a good job so you don't make a stupid mistake?" She asked, now looking up at Aizawa. She knew that he did a lot of his actions based off of logic, hopefully this could get him to start thinking that way.

"I mean... A machine doesn't run right unless it's maintained well and all... And our bodies are our machines and all, so..." The child paused for a moment. "Why not get some sleep? At least a little?" She hoped this line of thinking worked.

Kari looked over at Aizawa and giggled. She gave a tiny chirp, sounding similar to but not exactly like a fox. She gave a snort. "You tired, Dawa?" She asked, setting down her drawing book and crayons.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari looked over at Aizawa and giggled. She gave a tiny chirp, sounding similar to but not exactly like a fox. She gave a snort. "You tired, Dawa?" She asked, setting down her drawing book and crayons.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari listened to Denki, feeling a warmth in her chest. A sort of hope growing. She giggled softly at the boop to her nose and gave a nod. "Yeh... Guess I'm not alone... I've got my family, old and new, and my friends here and then some." She informed softly and snorted.

"You'd have liked my twin brothers, Boom and Beats. They had a similar quirk to yours, and a similar personality too. Well, kinda similar personality and their quirk had electricity elements to it but also wind and sound. I think it was a quirk made from mixing other quirks or something. Anyway, I really think that if they were here you three would've gotten along really well." She chirped softly and let out a sigh.

Her gaze held a bitter sweet shimmer for a moment as she stared off in a random direction. "I still miss them a lot... I know I haven't told you about what happened and I've gone through a lot today already so I'd rather not explain it all right now..." Kari took a deep breath, letting out any weight that tightened her chest as she exhaled, and looked back up at Denki. That shimmer in her eyes now a bit more hopeful

"But I'll tell you like I did with Papa, Tamaki, and Kirishima when I'm okay. I want you to know too. I want everyone in 1A to know eventually. You've all kinda become like a second family to me in a way since you'd be interning at different hero agencies while I'd stay there." Kari gave a giggle at some fond memories then yawned, stretching her arms and legs out a bit only to flinch slightly in pain since her limbs were still sore. But she didn't cause damage, thankfully, just upset her sore muscles.

The child nuzzled into Denki a bit after that stretch and shrugged. "I'm not picky honestly. I was on the street for a while and had to eat anything to survive so I think my taste buds are used to bad tasting stuff." She replied. "I just hope he comes back soon cuz I'm gettin' tired... I wanna eat before I pass out." She muttered, yawning again. "But... If I do pass out please wake me up when he gets back cuz I need the food." She muttered, curling up a bit more to get comfortable but fighting to stay awake. "And if I fall asleep after eating then wake me up when Papa gets here... I... I wanna give him a big hug too... And just see that he's okay as soon as possible." The child pleaded, still trying to fight off sleep.

Denki leaned into the moment, resting his cheek gently against Kari’s head as she spoke. His voice stayed warm and soft, just above a whisper.

“Yeah… I get that,” he murmured. “It’s not fair. You didn’t ask to be born into all this chaos, and you definitely didn’t ask to carry the weight of everyone else’s mistakes. But even with all that, you’re still here. Still trying to do good. That says a lot about who you are, Kari.”

He paused, letting her words sink in. His grin returned when she poked his cheek, and he gently booped her back on the nose with a chuckle.

“And hey,” Denki added, his tone lifting a bit, “I think it’s actually kinda amazing that you carry all of us with you like that. I mean, yeah—it’s a lot. But it also means you're never really alone. You’ve got a whole crew in that quirk of yours.” He gave a wink. “Plus, my electricity? That’s pretty dope if you ask me.”

Denki’s gaze softened again as he glanced at the feather she clutched and the look on her face. “He’s Hawks.” he said firmly but gently. “He’s smart, he’s fast, and he’s got a reason to come back safe—you.”

He tightened his arm around her protectively. “We’ll get you home soon. You’ll both be safe. And until then, I’m not going anywhere, alright? I got you.” Then, with a small grin, he added, “Now let’s just hope Shinso doesn’t come back with some gross flavored juice, ‘cause I’m not letting you suffer through that.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari slowed to a stop when heard Inuyasha, eventually looking up into the tree. She gave a slight grin, hugging the drawing of the half demon a bit closer. "I was lookin' for you." She chirped with a huff, clearly holding back excitement and nervousness. She wanted Inuyasha to like the drawing but at the same time she was worried he would hate it, after all it wasn't really that good in her opinion. Yet here she was, watching Inuyasha hop out of a tree and landing in front of her to ask about it. She noticed the way the moon made his hair shimmer, kind of like how Kagome explained. She took a moment, feeling a weird peace of sorts. If Inuyasha's hair looked like that, and Kagome said that Kari's and Inuyasha's hair reminded her of the same thing... Maybe Kari's hair was just as beautiful, just as majestic. It helped her in someway that she didn't know she needed.

The child blinked and shook off her slightly dazed expression and began to speak. "Well, uh, you see... I was drawin' useful herbs and such cuz I didn't wanna forget them." Kari began, clearly nervous as her eyes trailed off so she wouldn't see Inuyasha's expression. "B-but Kagome said that she had books of herbs from our time and that there were probably scrolls or something around that I could learn from too, so it'd be a waste of paper and all. But before I stopped Kagome suggested I draw something or someone that makes me happy or feel safe and... W-well..." Kari shuffled her feet a bit, swallowing hard. "I drew you and got super excited about it but now I'm just really nervous s-so here, have a look b-but don't get mad or anything if it's bad! I tried my best, okay!" Kari shoved the drawing into Inuyasha's hands quickly with her eyes shut tight then turning her back to him just incase Inuyasha's expression showed disappointment or hatred or something.

It was a simple drawing, not very detailed and clearly needing work. It was mainly a slightly more detailed stick figure with Inuyasha's clothes, hair, ears, and his sword. The eyes were golden dots and he looked to be angry but had a smirk. Kari tried her best, shown by how she had crossed out a few failed attempts on the same page but scribbled them out. There were four failed attempts before the finished product.

Inuyasha had been outside not far from the house, perched up in a tree just on the edge of the village. His ears twitched, picking up on Kari's light footsteps before she even came into view. The moonlight cast silvery shadows down through the branches, glinting softly off his hair as he rested one arm across his raised knee, looking relaxed but alert.

He opened one eye when he heard her coming closer and called out casually, “Oi. You runnin’ from somethin’, or just excited?” There was no edge in his voice—just the faintest trace of amusement.

He jumped down easily from the branch, landing with a light thud in front of her. His eyes glanced down at the paper clutched in her hands. “What’s that?” He folded his arms loosely, raising an eyebrow. “Well? You gonna show me or just stand there huggin’ it like it's made of gold?”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core had been having a good time, enjoying the moment with his significant other. He loved having moments like this with Kohaku, just being there. The peace, the affection, the genuine warmth they both had for eachother.

But then came the sound, then the smell. That smell, it stung Core's sensitive nose instantly. It caused the kitsune to gag out of instinct since it was so sudden. "Wh--" Core gagged again, moving to cover his nose but that didn't help much. Geez the smell was so bad he could taste it!

Then the laughing from those kids. Core looked at them. He was disappointed, hurt, and tired of this treatment. Not everyone in the village acted this way sure but there were a noticeable number who would bad mouth the fox for living there, and others who would do something like this. When the children threw the other drain towards Kohaku's feet, Core moved to get infront in case they threw a bit too hard and it accidentally caused harm. He didn't want Kohakh caught up in all this, the demon slayer was already hurt from literally saving this village from a demon attack a while ago.

Thankfully the durian didn't cause and damage and just splattered on Core's feet, causing the smell to linger. Core swallowed hard. "You kids..." He gagged again. "You kids should know--" A deep breath, trying to hold back from gagging. "Th-that we are the reason you still have a home." Core was struggling, glaring at the kids for a moment. Not in hatred, more in that disappointment and a bit of anger.

"We're mind--ing our business... Mind yours or the n---next demon... that comes---" Core gagged again. "To threaten you and your home, we won't deal with." He sounded pissed, but it was just him struggling to not throw up. "K-kohaku... ca---n we just go home? Please?" He wheezed to the demon slayer, the grip on Kohaku's hand trembling from a mixture of the emotions and situation. "I... I wanna get this smell off me." The kitsune wretched again, almost throwing up but thankfully he didn't. "... we can come back later maybe..." He chirped softly, clearly upset that these kids ruined their outing, it was clear that Core was sad if not full on pouting.

As Core led the way, basking in the warmth of Kohaku’s affection and the comfort of his hand in his, the pleasant moment was abruptly shattered by a sharp splack! followed by an unmistakable, foul stench.

Kohaku gasped and gagged instantly, reeling back with a dramatic stumble as a ripe, spiky durian fruit splattered just inches from his feet. As bad as it was for him, it would be worse for Core’s sensitive nose as the pungent, deathly sweet smell of the fruit filled the air.

And then came the laughter.

A gang of scrappy kids nearby had clearly decided they’d found their new favorite game: “Torment the Kitsune.” One of them held another durian, while the rest cackled, calling out:

“What’s wrong, Foxy? You don’t like a little fruit perfume?” “Aw, is the fancy nose too good for our market specials?” “Hey, bet you can sniff this one coming from a mile away!” another jeered, lobbing another durian straight at Core’s feet.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari watched Shinso walk off, smiling and waving with a grin. She then moved to lay down her head on Denki's shoulder and sighed softly. "I know I'm not my quirk or who I'm related too..." She informed. "But it still hurts a lot. It's scary too. For the rest of my life I'll probably be a target in someway, I'll probably always be running." She informed with a sniffle, moving to grip her scarf with her right hand and also Hawks' feather, just doing so unconsciously.

"I never got the chance to learn from my mom about this quirk since... I... I don't wanna get into it. But I never knew what her life was like when she was younger, never knew if the same went for her, since she passed that quirk down to me." She gave a soft hum. "But there's a weird comfort with having this quirk. I have something to remember my family by. I have all their quirks, s a part of them is with me."

Kari looked up and poked Denki's cheek with a faltering grin. "Even have yours too. And Shima's er I mean Kirishima's, Shinso's his actually helped me escape when I was kidnapped, then I have Maki's..T-tamaki, I mean Tamaki, and Papa's and a lot of others too. A lot of people important to me are kinda always with me. It's scary but also kinda nice... I just really hate how it came to be like this, ya know?" The child sighed softly, a distant gaze in her eyes as she nuzzled into Denki a bit out of habit, wanting all the comfort she could get.

"I... I hope Papa's okay. I wanna go home and just cuddle. I'm really worried about him." She muttered softly, tightening her grip on her scarf and subsequently Hawks' feather that was hidden in it.

Denki Kaminari offered Kari a warm, reassuring grin as he gently adjusted his arm to support her more comfortably. His tone stayed light, but laced with gentle concern.

"Hey, you don’t need to apologize, Kari," Denki said softly. "You’re allowed to feel everything you’re feeling. After everything that just happened? You’re actually doing amazing. Seriously." He gave her a small, reassuring nudge with his shoulder. "And trust me, you are not your Quirk. Or your bloodline. You're Kari. And you're already way stronger than that guy ever was—because you care. That’s what makes all the difference."

His voice lowered a bit more as he added with a soft chuckle, “Also, if you do end up eating all the gummies, I’ll just challenge you to a gummy-eating contest later. No hard feelings.”

Shinso Hitoshi, meanwhile, gave her a small, almost shy nod, slipping his hands into his pockets with an easy air of concern on the surface. “I got you,” he said simply, his eyes soft but unreadable just beneath the calm exterior. “Apple juice and a ham and cheese sandwich. If they don’t have it, I’ll get something close. No junk, I promise. Just enough to help you recharge.”

He turned to head toward the vending machines in the break room with a casual air—perfectly composed, effortlessly kind.

But behind his eyes… something else flickered.

Something calculated.

He’d seen it. The way she broke. The power she was afraid of. That vulnerability… that potential.

She really doesn’t know how valuable she is.

He masked the thought under a faint smile as he glanced back.

“Just hang tight. I’ll be back in a sec, okay?”

He walked off at a calm pace, every movement perfectly normal, perfectly composed… perfectly harmless.

And inside?

He was already planning.

Just a little longer. A little more trust. A few more gentle moments.

She wouldn’t even see it coming. No one would.

[karikitdemonrp]

Shippo listened to Inuyasha, a bit shocked by the half demon's demeanor. Must've been some talk. "I wasn't super sure about it so I talked about it with Kagome while you were with Kari and she gave me the basics about it. At least enough for me to understand a bit more." He sighed.

"I'm glad she's doing better. She looked a bit happier too." Shippo said with a thoughtful expression. "If she is part kitsune maybe I could help her at least a little bit if she has any fox magic or related abilities... Kagome said that she felt Kari's control on her abilities wasn't very good. Makes sense, she's never used them before and just learned about them." The fox hummed in thought. "I dunno what she can do, but I'll still help where I can. If I were in her situation I'd want someone to help me, at least a little." He informed with a wagging tail.

When Inuyasha brought up pranking the bullies, Shippo let out a grumbling noise, clearly upset. "Those kids did a number on Kari, I'm not sure if you saw but when those bullies were crowding her like that she looked so scared. I don't blame her." He growled softly at the memory. "So I'll definitely be pulling out some nasty pranks on those kids as pay back for sure! They'll regret what they did by the time I'm done!" Shippo puffed out his cheeks a bit in anger, tail fluffing out violently.

When Inuyasha smacked Shippo's head slightly, the fox gave a surprised chirp. Not out of pain, just shock since he had gotten lost in thought. Hearing Inuyasha say that they were all part of Kari's pack and that they looked after eachother caught Shippo off guard a bit. He fully agreed that they were all a part of the same pack and that they looked after one another, but this was Inuyasha saying it. This wasn't normally what the half demon would say. Regardless, Shippo gave a confident nod. "Yea, we look after eachother!" He said with a proud grin.

-----

The day turned into night with not much else happening. Kari had her hair washed, now with a hint of strawberries and vanilla thanks to Kagome's shampoo and conditioner, and Shippo was out setting up his pranks for those bullies. Some had already happened given loud screams and crying from a few of the bullies, but there were a few more to go.

Currently Kagome was setting up a large futon in the spare room and Kari was drawing with some spare drawing supplies Kagome brought for Shippo from the modern era.

The child let out a huff, scribbling in some herbs she saw that she didn't want to forget about due to how helpful they were. Kagome noticed this and slightly frowned. "Kari, you can draw something other than helpful herbs ya know, right?"

"I know," Kari chirped softly. "I don't wanna forget them tho."

"There are scrolls already with that information. I'm sure we can find you something somewhere if you want. I have a few books from our time too with some herb information too so you should try to have fun with it."

Kari looked up at Kagomw, a bit puzzled. Have fun? With this? The child looked back down at the paper and hummed in thought as Kagome went to sit next to her. "What... Should I draw?" Kari asked softly, pencil hovering over the paper.

"Well... Why not draw something or someone who makes you happy? Or at least makes you feel safe." The child blinked, taking a moment. Then she moved to have a clean piece of paper and slowly began to draw again.

Then her pencil moved faster, Kagome watched for a bit with a chuckle once she realized who Kari was drawing. Eventually Kari moved to begin coloring in her drawing and smiled at it. It was a simple drawing of Inuyasha. Not super detailed but it was clearly him. After a moment, something clicked. "Inuyasha and I have pretty similar hair colors... Huh?" Kari muttered, glancing at the dulled white crayon she used.

Kagome nodded. "Yea, you never noticed?"

"I did but... I dunno, it just didn't sink in until now." She muttered and Kagome's gaze softened.

"Yea, his hair kinda reminds me of fresh snow. Yours does too. Its so pretty and it shimmers in the sun in a way that just... I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's very beautiful." Kagome informed, Kari staring at the teen with wide eyes. "What’s with the--- Oh!" Kari rushed into give Kagome a brief hug, body shivering a bit. The priestess was a bit caught off guard but slowly relaxed and gently pat Kari's head, having already been told about what the bullies said.

The two stayed like that for a moment until Kari moved to stand up and clear her throat. "I--Im gonna go show Inuyasha my drawing." She muttered, drawing clutched in her hands as she rushed out to go look for the half demon.

Inuyasha gave a slight glance toward Kari as she rattled off her guesses about his family—she was quiet and thoughtful, not pushy, which he appreciated more than he let on. He grunted in vague confirmation. “Yeah. My mom was human. Sesshomaru’s mom wasn’t. So yeah, he’s a full demon—acts like it too.” His tone didn’t sound angry, more like he’d just accepted it a long time ago. “And… yeah. You stay near me if you ever meet him. He might not like it, but tough.”

Then she called herself not a turnip, and he let out a snort. “Yeah, yeah, fine. Not a turnip. Maybe a sweet potato. All stubby and covered in dirt.” He smirked, looking amused as she tried to think of what vegetable she was.

When they spotted Kagome and Shippo, Inuyasha’s ears twitched at the sound of Shippo’s fussing. He watched quietly as Kari explained herself, and though Kagome’s reaction was soft, he could tell she was concerned. Inuyasha didn’t step in, but the way Kari held his sleeve didn’t go unnoticed by him or Kagome. He said nothing as the girls went off, just watching for a moment with a slight tilt to his ears, until Shippo hopped onto his shoulder.

At Shippo’s words, Inuyasha’s expression darkened slightly. His jaw tensed and his hand clenched into a fist for a split second before he let out a rough exhale through his nose. “Tch. Figures they’d go for her hair. Buncha cowards.”

He looked toward the direction Kari had gone. “Doesn’t matter what they said—she held her own.” There was something proud in his voice, even if it was subtle. “But I’ll remember those brats’ faces.”

When Shippo dropped the real news, Inuyasha’s gaze snapped back to him, and his brows rose just a little. “Hmph.” He crossed his arms. “So you figured it out too, huh? I figured you might’ve, eventually.” He didn’t sound angry—if anything, there was a strange kind of relief behind his voice. “I ain’t tellin’ her yet. She’s got enough on her plate without tossing some big revelation into it. But… yeah, you’re right.”

He looked thoughtful for a second, then added, “Her aura’s different from any one thing. She ain’t just one piece. But if anyone’d pick up on the fox in her, it’d be you.” His ear twitched. “She doesn’t know what she is yet. But she’s strong. Stronger than she thinks.”

Inuyasha finally looked back down at Shippo when the kitsune asked if she was doing better. He gave a quiet grunt, but this time it wasn’t dismissive—it was more like agreement. “Yeah… she is. Slowly. She talked to me today. Really talked. That ain’t easy, not for someone like her.” He scratched the back of his head, looking slightly awkward for a second. “Said I made her feel less alone. So… yeah. She’s doin’ better.”

Then, with a huff, he gave Shippo a soft smack on the head—not hard, more like an affectionate bop. “And don’t beat yourself up. You’re part of her pack now. We all are. That means just being there’s already more than enough.”

His voice lowered just a little, more serious. “We protect our own. That’s all there is to it.”

Then he gave a slight grin. “But if you do wanna prank those bullies later… I’m not stoppin’ you.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari listened to Denki and looked up at him, feeling a slight weight be taken off her chest. It felt nice to hear those words. She was still hurting, still processing a lot, but having that encouragement and those soothing words from Denki helped a bit. "It... Still hurts..." She muttered, moving to look down at her hands. "I mean... Because he exists I'm here. And not only that my quirk... It's really similar to his, it's so powerful, so scary..." The child's breathing began to speed up in tandem with her heart rate at this point, slowly but it soon became noticeable that she was starting to hyperventilate as she continued to talk about all these what ifs.

"What if that made him like that? What if it happens to me? Sure I'm okay now, but what about in a year? Two? Ten? What if something happens and I take his place as the next villain, just like him? I know it's hard to say, but the thought still scares me. I don't wanna be like that but... What if I just... End up being just as bad if not worse than him?"

Kari began to mentally spiral a bit as a panic attack started to set in, taking over as she tuned out the world around her, only really hearing her heart beat as she just went into a sort of autopilot, words spilling from her mouth like a waterfall. "What if I cause so many people pain because of my quirk that I become a villain in the process without really knowing how it happened, that line blurring and I just jump over the deep end? What if I try to be a really good hero to make up for what he did but go overboard and eventually become a villain through obsession? What if I--" Then Shinso spoke, not mean or harsh, more so matter of fact. It was direct, like an arrow of sorts. Precise in its delivery. It caused Kari to snap back from her ever darkening thoughts.

She looked at Shinso for a moment, breath shaky and eyes brimming with tears. She searched his gaze for a moment then took a breath and gulped, moving to lean into Denki again, curling up with a heavy sigh. Letting a brief silence linger as she processed with the other teen said. "I... If there's apple juice then I'd like some please. It's one of my favorites. And maybe a sandwich. If they have ham and cheese I'd really like that but if not then I'm not picky. I'm kinda curious about the gummies but I don't wanna risk upsetting Denki. Kinda hungry from using my quirk for so long." She gave a faint, shivering smile. "Thank you, Shinso." She chirped softly, slowly calming down and taking a deep breath. "And thank you too Denki... Sorry you had to see me like that... Talking about... that kinda makes me panic... It's just a lot to really take in..." She muttered, continuing to just lean on Denki to rest and try to relax.

Denki sat beside her on the little bench in the med station, his arm wrapped securely around her as she leaned on him. He didn’t rush her, didn’t pressure her. He just let her sit there, feeling safe, letting the silence say what words couldn’t.

When she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper, Denki listened with his whole heart. Every word hit him like a punch—how small and heavy it all sounded coming from her. And then the truth, that painful, aching truth she’d been carrying alone.

He tightened his arm gently around her and leaned in just a little, his voice soft but steady.

“Hey… Kari,” he murmured, glancing down at her, “you don’t ever need to say sorry to me. Not for this. Not for being scared, or hurt, or even related to someone like him.”

He touched her shoulder gently, giving it a light squeeze for comfort. “You’re not him, okay? I don’t care who you’re related to. You’re you. You’re brave, and strong, and way kinder than anyone who’s ever been connected to All for One. You’re not him, and you’ll never be him.”

Denki smiled a little, just for her. “You know what I see when I look at you? I see a kid who fought back even when she was scared. I see someone who protected herself the best she could. And I see someone who still has so much love in her heart she’s worried about me, even when she’s the one hurting.”

He tilted his head, trying to meet her eyes. “That’s what matters, Kari. You matter. And I’m really glad you trusted me enough to tell me.”

Shinso stood a few feet away, arms loosely crossed, his usually neutral expression softer than usual as he listened in. There was a pause before he added, trying to offer something small and grounding, “You need anything? I can get you some juice, maybe a sandwich or something? I saw a vending machine earlier. I bet there’s apple juice in there… or orange, if that’s your thing.”

His lips twitched with a faint smirk, trying to lighten the weight in the room just a little. “Could even grab you some of those weird star-shaped gummies Denki likes if you’re feeling brave.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

The kitsune hummed softly in thought. "I know you're stronger to not let a little flirting get you down." He chuckled softly. "That arsenal is only for you, but I'm sure you know that." He informed with a grin, enjoying that gentle squeeze Kohaku gave him.

Core sighed softly when Kohaku talked about his wound. "I... I know but apart of me still thinks I could be... That I should be doing more to help you to avoid opening it up again or something. While it isn't the worse wound you've had, it's still pretty bad. I just don't want it to back track and get worse when it's gotten so much better." He informed, tail swaying slowly only to chirp a bit when Kohaku kissed the kitsune's knuckles so affectionately. "But... When you're feeling better I'll indulge you a bit with that gentle danger you so nicely asked for." He gave a soft, flirty chuckle while that blush grew a bit to now makin the tips of his pointed ears a slight crimson.

Core glanced at Kohaku and leaned in, mainly so only the demon slayer could hear. "I've been saying for a while just how much I want to get you back for all this teasing. And I mean it every time. I worry I might make it hard for you to walk afterwards for a few days. But a part of me thinks you want that." The kitsune chuckled then moved to lead the way after a moment of listening Kohaku, watching the demon slayer's expression and the blush grow across Kohaku's face to his ears. It made Core's heart jump a bit.

"... I'll let that blood-hound comment slide this time my love." He chuckled, a soft purr rumbling his chest slightly. "Only because I'm looking forward to what you have planned." He hummed, leading the way with his nose slightly in the air. "Knowing you, I'm sure I'll love whatever you have planned." The kitsune's voice was laced with nothing short of pure, genuine affection. His tail swayed in pure bliss, just happy to be with his lover, holding Kohaku's hand as he led the way to the stall while also keeping a look out for the rest of what they needed from their list.

=K

Kohaku’s grin practically melted into a look of pure affection when Core slid his fingers into his. He gave the hand a gentle squeeze as he looked over his shoulder at his lover with all the warmth of a man who’d just been handed a piece of paradise.

“Dangerous in the best way,” he clarified with a wink, eyes sparkling. “You’ve got a whole arsenal, you know that? Tail flicks, purring, whispering into my ear like that—if I had a weak heart, fox, I’d be long gone by now.”

He turned slightly to glance at Core’s expression again, just long enough to admire that soft blush and mischievous smile. That mix of flustered sweetness and confident teasing was deadly—and Kohaku was living for it.

When Core mentioned his wound, the demon slayer's grin faltered just a little, replaced with something more tender. “I know you worry,” he said quietly. “And I love you for it. But you’ve already helped it heal more than you realize. Just having you near me does that.” He gently brought Core’s knuckles up and pressed a soft kiss against them, just before his voice dropped again into something flirtatious: “Still, I wouldn’t mind some of that gentle fox danger once I’m fully recovered.”

His smile widened at the idea, already picturing just how much Core might get him back after weeks of relentless teasing. The very thought had his ears turning just a little pink. When Core perked up with that little chirp and mentioned the fish and noodles, Kohaku beamed.

“Mmm, lead the way, scent hound. You’ve got the nose of a bloodhound and the purr of a tiger. It’s kind of incredible how adorable and hot you are at the same time. Seriously—how’d I get this lucky?”

Kohaku continued speaking, after a brief pause. “But let’s keep it moving, fox. The faster we finish this shopping list…” His eyes slid toward Core with a playful spark. “…the sooner I can start planning your reward for that little whisper stunt earlier.”

His fingers gave Core’s a playful squeeze. “Fair warning—I plan to be so sweet you’ll be begging for mercy.”

And just like that, he motioned toward the stall Core pointed out, keeping close, hand in hand, and heart completely wrapped around his kitsune.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari listened to the half demon, eyes sparkling about what he told her about his family. She stayed quiet and respectful, not forcing any information out of him. "Sesshomaru's your half brother, he's strong and looks like your dad. So you have different moms then... Was your mom human? Then that makes your dad a demon and your brother either full demon or half demon but with a different mother." Kari muttered mostly to herself.

"But by the way you explain him he's probably full demon." Kari looked up, ignoring the people passing by. "If I get the chance to meet him I'll stay by you though for a while to gauge the situation. You probably know your brother best so I'll just stay near by." The child giggled a bit only to give a gasp. "I'm not a turnip! ... I'm more of a..." Kari muttered to herself for a moment. "I dunno what root veggie I'd be but I know I'm not a turnip that's for sure!" She snorted a bit, only to spot Kagome near by, talking with Shippo who was on her shoulder since her arms were full of supplies. Shippo looked worried while Kagome was clearly trying to calm him down.

When Kagome spotted the two, her heart relaxed and a kind smile spread across her face at the sight of Kari holding Inuyasha's sleeve. However, that smile didn't last very long when she noticed Kari's hair.

"Kari, what happened, your hair's caked in mud." She called while approaching. Shippo frowned, putting things together again.

"Was it--" Shippo asked softly and Kari cut him off before he could finish.

"Yeh. But I'm okay now." Kari chirped then looked at Kagome. "Do you have any shampoo I could borrow? Inuyasha said you have some and I just wanted to ask to use a bit. I... Got carried away." Kari gave a slight grin and Kagome sighed.

Shippo hopped off of Kagome and landed on Inuyasha's shoulder while Kagome responded to the child. "I do, why don't I go help you bathe a bit. You did a number on your hair. After that we can organize supplies." The young priestess said and led Kari away. Shippo sighed and looked at Inuyasha, hopping off of his shoulder.

"Kagome told me to tell you this since she thought you should know too. The bullies that picked on Kari kept calling her a freak. They were calling her stuff like toenail head cuz of her hair and pulling really hard on it and laughing. Kagome said you both saw everything but didn't hear what was said, aside from Kari yelling." Shippo huffed. "Those jerks, pickin' on Kari like that just cuz of how she looked, it's not right! I just wish I could've done something more." The kitsune growled a bit in frustration then sighed, looking back up at Inuyasha.

"Oh... And, uh, I know what Kari is... Kinda hard to hide it when that barrier happened. Kagome said not to tell Kari so I'm keepin' it quiet! But she said you knew so now you know I know so you don't have to hide stuff from me and I can help out a bit too! She kinda reminded me of other kitsune. Her aura at least. It wasn't exactly the same but... It was familiar enough for me to make the connection. I'm not sure how else to explain it." The kitsune boy sighed softly in thought. "Is she doing better at least?" He asked softly, hoping his friend was going to be okay.

Inuyasha looked down at Kari when she puffed up and stuck her tongue out at him, and even though he rolled his eyes dramatically, he didn’t bother hiding the tiny smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Feh. That’s what everyone says right before they do somethin’ dumb,” he muttered, voice full of teasing, “but fine, Miss Unbreakable, just don’t go pulling your tailbone or whatever.”

When she gasped about him having a brother, Inuyasha tensed slightly—but it faded fast. He sighed, crossing his arms behind his head as they walked. “Yeah, I’ve got a brother. Half-brother, actually,” he clarified, glancing at her. “Name’s Sesshomaru.”

There was a pause, long enough that it almost seemed like he might not say more. But then he added with a faint snort, “He’s tall. Real tall. Always actin’ like he’s better than everyone else, too. Cold. Kinda scary sometimes—but strong. Real strong.”

He glanced down at Kari again, noticing that spark of curiosity in her eyes. “We don’t really look alike much. He looks more like our dad, I guess. Got a fluffy thing on his shoulder, armor, and this stare like he’s judging the whole world." Inuyasha grunted. "He’s complicated. Wouldn’t say he’s a bad guy, but… let’s just say, if you do meet him, stay behind me first.”

When Kari grabbed onto his sleeve, he didn’t shake her off. Instead, he just glanced at it, then let it be, not saying anything. That little act of trust didn’t go unnoticed.

He gave a low chuckle at her comment about being “too dirty.” “Good. I don’t feel like carrying a mud monster back to the hut. Kagome’d make me clean it up and you.” He rolled his eyes. “Tch. Like it’s my fault you dove into the ground like a turnip.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

Core watched Kohaku's reaction, enjoying the sight a little. Now he understood a little how Kohaku felt in this position.

"Menace? That's quite the name, my love." He chuckled with a slightly teasing tone, tail swaying just a bit. "No, I didn't learn it from a school or something like that. In all honesty I learned it from you. You do it to me from time to time." He chuckled softly. "You like it? I'm guessing you do, given how you keep touching your ear."

At those touches Core shivered a bit, his purring becoming a bit deeper for a moment, almost needy in their tone. When Kohaku backed off, Core took a moment to calm himself before moving to stay a bit closer. He listened to Kohaku's words, smirking at the way he backpedaled to specify he meant food and it was a totally innocent and wholesome statement. He didn't say anything, just looked at Kohaku with a smirk. The kitsune knew a bit better than to fully believe that since Kohaku was always teasing the kitsune about the same thing, the demon slayer's mind tended to go anywhere if the chance to tease Core opened.

"Dangerous? I suppose I can be a bit rough but I wouldn't say dangerous. You seem to like it." He hummed, his purring still audible the whole time. "But I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't worry. I mean, you still have that wound and all. It's healing up well and I don't wanna make it worse, ya know?" He muttered, eyes trailing down to Kohaku's wound. When Kohaku whispered those words, Core felt his heart flutter. "I love you so much. More than words can describe, my warrior." He informed, just as soft, just as sweet. Core followed, staying close and eventually moving to gently grab his lover's hand. Entangling their fingers together in a loving grip, not too firm to hurt or be uncomfortable, but firm enough so that Kohaku knew Core was right there.

Core eventually moved to sniff the air and chirped. "I smell the dried fish over there." He said, pointing his other hand to a stall with a grind. "And I think I smell rice and noodles down there too."

=K

Kohaku stopped walking. Just—halted—as if something in his wiring had short-circuited. The whisper? The kiss to his ear? The voice Core used?

Yeah. That one hit hard.

He turned his head slowly, eyes gleaming with something between admiration and utter disbelief—like someone just told him the sweet, bashful kitsune he loved had suddenly turned into his personal weakness.

“You… you little menace.” His voice was low, but not angry—far from it. It was husky, rough with affection and just a touch of flustered restraint. His fingers reached up to lightly touch the ear Core had kissed, his smirk twitching back to life with a vengeance.

“Now that was a hell of a button press.” He took a step back toward Core, leaning in close enough that their noses nearly brushed. “Where’d you learn that move, huh? Secret fox school of seduction?”

Then Kohaku chuckled, the sound rich and teasing but definitely a bit rattled. His hand grazed over Core’s waist for just a second—grounding himself, maybe—before he turned and continued walking, not trusting himself to stay too close for long.

“Sweet buns and a kiss?” he echoed over his shoulder, grinning. “Fox, if you keep talking like that, you’re getting more than one of each.” Then he paused as if reconsidering his own words, adding with a playful scoff, “I mean food, obviously. Totally innocent. Wholesome.”

He coughed dramatically, then muttered—"You’d hate to hurt me, huh?”—in a breathy, almost dazed tone, rubbing his ear again with a growing grin. “Dangerous little thing, aren’t you?”

And then, quieter, just for Core. “I really, really love you, you know that?” Despite his flirty confidence, that part came out soft. Honest. Undeniably tender.

And with that, Kohaku kept walking, but he let his fingers trail back just far enough to entwine with Core’s if the kitsune reached out.

[karikitdemonrp]

The child stayed close to Inuyasha and listened. When the half demon said she would pull something copying him like that, she shook her head. "Am not!" She huffed, sticking her tongue out for a moment then giggling. "I won't hurt myself easily." She said while then listened to Inuyasha talk about Jakken and how he is always following around Inuyasha's brother but is super loyal.

Kari hummed in thought about the information about Jakken only to give a tiny gasp. "You have a brother?" She asked in awe, her eyes wide and sparkling slightly. "What’s he like? I wanna meet him one day!" Kari hummed softly in thought. "Do you look a lot a like or no? I've never had a sibling before so I'm curious about it." Kari hummed in thought only to listen to Inuyasha as he spoke again, validating her words and making sure she knew there was no rush about talking about those things. It helped her feel good about the situation.

Kari blinked then snorted and giggled again as Inuyasha explained how he'd ask Kagome to wash the child off in the shower if she became a walking dirt clod. "Well, yea. That's fair." She giggled, moving to grab onto the sleeve of Inuyasha's haori for a bit. "But I'm not and I only need my hair washed. I'll be sure not to become a walking dirt clod though. I don't mind getting dirty but that'd be too dirty." She muttered, seeing the village. She hadn't traveled too far away so it wasn't much of a walk to get back. But now she had a sense of relief given what just happened. Talking it through with Inuyasha and letting it all out helped her more than she realized.

Inuyasha glanced back at Kari as she mimicked his stretch, raising an eyebrow but letting the smallest smirk tug at his lips again. “Tch. You’re gonna pull something tryin’ to copy me like that,” he teased, clearly more amused than annoyed. But when she giggled again, he didn’t say anything—he just quietly listened, watching her shake bits of dried mud out of her hair.

When she asked about Jaken, he rolled his eyes. “Jaken is this little toad demon that follows my brother around like a lost puppy. Kinda green, kinda gross. Always whining about something. And yeah—he looks like a mud goblin most of the time, so count yourself lucky you haven’t met him yet.”

Then, softer, he glanced away for a moment before adding, “…Not all bad though. He’s loyal. Dumb loyal, but I guess that counts for somethin’.”

As they walked a little farther, hearing Kari mutter through her thoughts and then repeat what he’d said with her own twist, Inuyasha gave her a side glance. Her little confident huff and grin actually made him chuckle. It wasn’t big or loud, just a quiet sound under his breath—but it was genuine.

“Exactly,” he said simply. “Your heart’s still catchin’ up. No rush. And when it’s ready, we’ll still be here.”

When she said that even as a walking dirt clod she’d still have him and the others, Inuyasha gave a small grunt that almost sounded like a laugh. “Feh. You turn into a dirt clod, I’ll just have Kagome hose you down with that weird shower stick thing she’s got at her place.”

[karikitdemonrp]

-----

When Core saw Kohaku's reaction, it made the kitsune so proud. He got his lover at least a little flustered. It meant he was learning Kohaku's buttons, which could be good. A bit of playful flirting and banter wasn't a bad thing. Now Core could properly get Kohaku back and join in the fun.

Core gave a grin. "Ah, but you know we kitsune are very crafty. We learn, we fail, we learn more, wash rinse and repeat until we get the desired out come. And I'm learning a lot right now." The kitsune gave a small chuckle, tail swaying a bit in glee. "It was just a matter of time until I learned what buttons made you squirm. I mean, it's only fair since you know mine so well and all. But I'll admit, I had a bit of a challenge since you tend to get me distracted with how bold you are with your teasing." He purred softly. When Kohaku brushed his hand along Core's tail, the kitsune let out a muffled chirp, his purring getting a bit louder but he tried to keep it down.

Then came that comment, causing Core's face to gain a dust of crimson. "You're only making my point with how bold you are... But I wouldn't change a thing." He muttered, watching Kohaku take the lead. Core composed himself a bit more, taking a breath.

Core sighed with an affectionate gaze then moved to catch up, trailing behind Kohaku. A small glint soon shimmered in the kitsune's eyes, a bit mischievousness as a thought popped into his head.

Leaning forward, in a sweet tone Core opened his mouth and whispered into Kohaku's ear; "Well, if you'd like to be distracted tonight, then I'll distract you well. But I'd much rather take care of you first before that. I'd hate to hurt you." He gave the demon slayer a small kiss on the ear before straightening to stand correctly and follow behind once again. Core was sure that the message was heard by Kohaku and Kohaku alone since it was only meant for him after all.

When he heard Kohaku say Core could get first pick at the sweet buns, Core's eyes sparkled in pure joy, tail moving so fast it had become a blur. "Really?! Sweet buns AND a kiss?!" He asked excitedly only to pause for a beat and clear his throat, calming himself down a bit. "Ah, I-- Uh, thank you." He stammered, trying to calm down but his loud purring and the rapid waging of his tail betrayed him.

=K

Kohaku froze for just a beat when Core leaned in, his breath ghosting against his ear with those soft, velvety words that curled like smoke through the demon slayer’s chest. His teasing grin faltered ever so slightly—just for a second—his breath catching in a way that only Core would notice.

“Tch… don’t think I didn’t catch what you just did,” Kohaku muttered, voice suddenly rougher, the flirt still there, but now tinged with a flustered warmth. He turned his face slightly, just enough to hide the faint pink creeping up his cheeks. “You’re learning too fast.”

Still, he was grinning as he caught up to Core, slipping in beside him with that familiar confidence, shoulder brushing the kitsune’s again in casual affection.

“And you really think purring and tail-wagging is a problem?” Kohaku scoffed softly, smirking as his fingers slipped to lazily brush Core’s swaying tail. “Nah, it’s cute. Makes me want to spoil you more… or maybe keep teasing you until that tail starts thumping against the ground.” He let out a low, flirtatious hum. “I wonder what else I can make wag.”

Kohaku chuckled as he stepped ahead, throwing a wink over his shoulder. “But fine. Let’s get that list handled before I get too distracted. Not that I mind being distracted by you, fox.”

Then, almost too casually, he added under his breath, “That whisper thing you did… you’re definitely earning first pick at the sweet buns stall now. And possibly a kiss that’s not for dried fish.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari pokes at the mun, Kitsu. "You should do some reactions to dash stuff."

"But it feels weird. But I wanna do that too cuz it looks fun... But I have other stuff to focus on." Kitsu grumbles slightly, just laying on the ground in a ball.

Kari sighs and looks around. "Well, yea. Not really helping that there isn't much for you to react to as me or the others. But you try." Kari goes and sit next to Kitsu and pats their head. "Things are tough but you'll be fine."

"Heh... Thanks."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari nuzzled into Denki and relaxed a bit, still on edge clearly but calming down. "Tha-ank you." She chirped, just wanting to be in a safer place again, not wanting to feel hurt anymore. She just closed her eyes, trying to ignore everything and just focus on Denki trying his best to sooth her. "I wanna see Papa." She whimpered in a soft, frail voice while Denki walked on, sniffling while feeling herself get more and more tired.

Once at Wash's agency and in the med station Kari's wounds were cleaned and patched up. She stayed quiet the whole time aside from a few hisses in pain and whimpers. Thankfully her wounds weren't very deep, but it Maica had kept that hold on her they could have been are worse. Eventually Kari went to sit with Denki and lean on him. Her gaze was distant and tired as she just leaned on the young hero to be, wanting as much comfort as possible. After a moment, Kari opened her mouth and let out a tiny, frail whimper.

"I... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She managed to say. "I put you in danger... I should have told you all... That I'm a target... That I'm..." Kari paused, moving to hug herself. "But it still hurts a lot... I still can't really believe it... That I'm related to someone like him... Like All for One..." The child felt a pain in her chest as she finished speaking, curling up. "I hate admitting it... it makes me feel sick and it hurts so much to say."

Denki held her a little tighter when she said she wanted to go home, his heart cracking with every little hiccup and stammered word. He hated seeing her like this—hurt, scared, blaming herself when none of it was her fault.

“Yeah, yeah, of course, Kari-bug,” he said softly, brushing her hair back from her face with one hand while keeping the other arm secure under her legs. “Let’s get you to Wash’s agency first, okay? They’ve got a med station there—we’ll you patched up right, and I’ll stay with you the whole time.”

He looked up at Shinso, eyes steady. “Thanks for showing up, man. I could really use the backup.”

Shinso gave a quiet nod. “I’ll walk with you both, make sure no one gets near. I’ve got your back.”

Denki exhaled, just a little less tense with that reassurance. “Appreciate it. She’s been through hell today…”

He started walking, adjusting his grip to keep Kari as comfortable as possible. “You hear that, Kari?” he said softly, trying to keep her calm. “We’re gonna get you cleaned up. Shinso and I’ll keep watch, and then we’re getting you somewhere it’s warm and safe. You don’t have to be afraid anymore—we got you, alright?”