#//wonder if Inu will be more like a big brother or father figure to Kari

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari tensed a bit when Inuyasha spoke, but she relaxed when she saw Shippo didn't really react. The young kitsune boy just looked at Inuyasha and gave a smile. "She is pretty crafty." Shippo complimented Kari, who began to blush slightly. She wasn't used to being praised.

"Ah, uh, thank you." She muttered shyly, shifting a bit to close her bag. "I don't think I'm that crafty but if you think so then I can't stop ya." Her gaze had shifted downwards in embarrassment, her cheeks growing red as she replayed the compliments in her mind. Kirara let out a tiny meow and moved to lick Kari's cheek, sensing the child was getting overwhelmed but not in a bad way.

Kari relaxes a bit and looked back up at the two, trying to think of something to say, her eyes landing on Inuyasha's ears. She blinked. "Um, mister..." Kari blinked, not knowing Inuyasha's name, that is until Shippo whispered to her.

"Inuyasha."

"Mister Inuyasha, is it okay if I touch your ears? They look very soft." Kari chirped softly only for Shippo to tense a bit.

"Uh, I don't think he'll let ya do that Kari. Inuyasha doesn't let many people touch his ears." The young fox informed with a nervous smile and Kari blinked, looking between Shippo and Inuyasha.

"Oh, ok. I didn't know it was a bad thing. I'm sorry." Kari sounded disappointed that she couldn't touch Inuyasha's ears but also disappointed that she was rude to someone who hadn't done anything bad to her. Sure she recalled Inuyasha wasn't exactly as kind as Kagome or Shippo but she understood why he acted that way. "I won't do it again." Kari said while looking around, trying to figure out what to do to pass the time. Shippo smiled and patted Kari on the head.

"It's okay, you didn't know. I don't think anyone will be too mad at you for that. Just don't do it again." Shippo chuckled then looked at Inuyasha. "Hey, why don't you show Kari something? Maybe your sword tessaiga? I could carry Kari outside so nothing breaks or gets damaged inhere." Shippo suggested with a grin.

"I can walk on my own!" Kari huffed, crossing her arms while Shippo glanced at the child with an unamused expression.

"Kari, your feet were really hurt and Kagome told me to make sure you don't walk so you don't make them worse." Kari pouted at Shippo's words swiftly standing up to prove the kitsune wrong, only to yelp and stagger from the sharp pain, to which Shippo transformed into Kagome and picked Kari up and set her back down. "I told you to stay down." Shippo spoke then transformed back to normal, Kari crossing her arms while her cheeks puffed out.

"Not fair." She whimpered under her breath, clearly not happy she couldn't walk.

Inuyasha’s ears flicked toward Kagome’s teasing as she left, muttering under his breath, “Guard dog, huh? Feh, whatever.” Still, he kept an eye on Kari and Shippo, noticing how quickly the two seemed to bond. It was a good thing—Shippo had a knack for making others feel at ease, something Inuyasha knew he himself wasn’t the best at.

When Kari pulled out her handmade plush toy, Inuyasha tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes softening for a moment. “Stubby, huh?” he murmured, barely audible. Watching her interact with Shippo and Kirara, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration for the kid. She was resourceful, even in the face of everything she’d been through.

He approached quietly, crouching down a short distance from her and the others. “You’re pretty crafty for a runt,” he said, his tone gruff but not unkind. He glanced at the plush toy in her bag. “Not bad for somethin’ you made on your own.”