Fog

[Kazuya Hikari]

(OOC: Rina first, then open)

Theme Song: Fog

Kazuya walked down the deserted and ruined streets of what used to be the downtown core, his pet cat Kuro having taken off in the morning like he always did, and went off on his own devices. Dressed in his usual karate jacket and loose pants, his katana on his back, cradled in his left arm was his year old daughter, Kaori, sucking on her pacifier while fast asleep.

A thick layer of fog covering the ground early in the morning, the foot guards Kazuya wore could be heard making dull metallic clicks with each stride he took. His scouter worn on the left side of his head, he already had it powered up, and was scanning the area carefully, not in fear of being attacked, but to see if there was anyone around that might think he would attack.

[Rina Vade]

Despite the fact that she was supposed to be at the resturaunt right now, Rina had decided to take off and explore a part of Long Beach that she hadn't been to. The ruins were interesting and the imprints of what people had left behind - their hopes and dreams, memories, emotions - flooded her mind. She managed not to become overwhelmed by all of it. She glanced over shoulder.

Mila was going to have her head.

But Rina didn't care. She didn't feel like being "apart of the family" right now. She was too restless. As she continued walking, she noticed a figure coming the opposite way. Slowing her pace only slightly, she tilted her head curiously and waited for them to notice her. She'd rather not shout.

There was a child in his arms.

[Kazuya Hikari]

Continuing to make his way down the center of the ruined and destroyed streets of the downtown core, his scouter would begin beeping as he detected a power level coming from a presence somewhere down the street, in the opposite direction. His brows furrowing slightly, the power level was nothing worth worrying for him, but comparing his own power level to it, he utterly overshadowed the power level. With the fog completely enshrouding both of them from each other... until he came within viewing distance that is, only then, would he be able to make out the girl's facial features.

"Who're you? Most people don't take to walking out on the streets these days."

[Rina Vade]

With her mental shield keeping relatively most of her psychic abilities in check, Kauya's scanner wouldn't pick up on the latent power hidden within her. Not even Rina herself knew what she might be capable of one day.

At his words, she replied, "I'm not most people." keeping her voice level. She gave a small smile as she glanced at the boy sleeping in his arms. "Hi, I'm Rin. You are?"

OOC- Crappy x.x I know. Sorry.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"I figured that much out."

Kazuya answered dryly, noticing the girl glance over at him and concluding she was looking not at him, but at his daughter fast asleep in his left arm.

"Kazuya, and this is my daughter, Kaori. Nice to meet you, Rin."

Considering he was carrying his daughter around, he couldn't really be constituted a threat. Though if he was attacked, not by Rina obviously, but by everybody else, he sure as hell would not hold back, especially where his daughter was concerned.

[Rina Vade]

Rina finally looked at Kazuya. "Same here," she smiled. She looked at his son, Kazuki and said, "He's beautiful. Where's his mother?"

It was an innocent and curious question, one asked on impulse. Still, she didn't know Kazuya. It wasn't a question one just asked out of the blue like that. Rina realized this and her eyes widened. "Sorry, none of my business!" she said quickly, shaking her head. There she went shooting off her mouth again before she thought.

[Kazuya Hikari]

At Rin's innocent and curious question, Kazuya's eyes would drop, a small sad smile appearing on his face, as he looked away slightly sad.

"It's alright. Her mother... is no longer around."

Kazuya was not mad by the personal question, as it was pretty understandable. Obviously he was the father, but the mother was nowhere in sight, so naturally, it begged the question as to where was she.

"Aside from Dr. Layla Clavering, whom was her guardian, I'm the only parent Kaori has left now..."

[Rina Vade]

"Oh, I'm sorry." Rina said. She hooked her hands together behind her back and then gave him a soft smile. "Well, you seem to be doing a wonderful job on your own. He looks happy."

If the sleepy smile on the little one's face wasn't obvious, then the act that he was sleeping peacefully in a strange place in his father's arms sure was.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"Do not worry about it. She may be gone, but she no longer has to suffer, and for that, I am grateful. She does look happy, but I know she misses her mother."

And boy, did Kazuya knew. Many a night, Kaori woke up in the middle of the night, bawling her eyes out, because she missed Emily, but she stopped crying the moment Kazuya cradled her in his arms. As a result, Kazuya made sure Kaori was always with him at night, to comfort him.

"What brings you to these ruined streets of Long Beach, Rin?"

[Rina Vade]

Rina nodded at his words. That was to be expected. It was a good thing he had his father. Gesturing for them to continue walking, she replied to his question, "Sort of exploring." she didn't find anything wrong with telling him about her abilities. "I can sense what's left behind; the memories and emotions of those who lived on and walked these streets are embedded in the ruins."

As she spoke, she lifted a hand and made a sweeping motion at what was left of this part of the city.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"An empath of sorts, interesting..."

If she could sense the emotions and memories of those that walked and lived on these streets once upon a time, chances were, she'd encounter a memory involving Kazuya. He may not have lived on these streets now ruins, but he had walked down this street in the past. Feeling movement in his arm, he'd glance down and see Kaori shifting slightly in his sleep as he and Rina continued walking.

"Da... dah..."

Kaori would mumble in her sleep, the pacifier in her mouth dropping out, before curling up closer to Kazuya even more, sucking away contently on her pacifier that Kazuya popped back into her mouth.

[Rina Vade]

"Eh, it's nothing." she shrugged. "Not much help in a fight."

When Kauki began to stir and snuggle closer into his father's arms, Rina gushed, "Awww, what a cutie." and smiled brightly. She had always liked kids. Nill was a good example. The little eight year old adored her and Rina loved her right back.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"That isn't 'nothing'. To be able to sense the emotions and memories of what has been left behind... I think that is an amazing ability."

Hearing Rina gush about how cute Kaori was, made Kazuya smile slightly, though it was about time for Kaori to wake up. Gently nudging his daughter, Kaori would roll over, getting a bit more sleep, before finally waking up, blinking sleepily up at her daddy, not noticing the dark-haired girl walking beside them.

"Look who's finally awake."

[Rina Vade]

When Kazuya said that he thought her ability was amazing, Rina blushed, surprised. That was a first. No one had said that before. "Why, thank you." she mumbled.

Then, Kazuki was awake and blinking up at his father. She smiled.

OOC- OMG, my muse was good and now it's sooo bad! Grrr!

[Kazuya Hikari]

Bowing his head slightly to Rina in response, he would then turn his attention to his half-asleep daughter, the fog that had been covering the ground early this morning finally dissipated. Kaori sucking away on her pacifier, she would finally notice the dark-haired girl walking beside her daddy, and would immediately latch onto her daddy's karate jacket and bury her face in it.

"Sorry, she's really shy when she meets people for the first time or she doesn't know someone. [Kaori, it's alright, this is Rin, she's a friend of daddy's.]"

Kaori peeking out from behind Kazuya's karate jacket, she'd look up at Rina shyly but with a sense of curiosity as well.

["R... Rin...?"]

(OOC: Words in square brackets are Japanese.)