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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 23, 2013 13:15:15 GMT -8
"Of course..."
Gently prying Kaori's hands on his Karate jacket loose, shifting slightly in her sleep, Kazuya would hold her out to Mitsuki to take. Kaori truly was precious, more than any jewel in the world to him. She was his living reminder of Emily, a shining light of innocence in the darkness of the apocalypse. She and Dr. Clavering had been the only mother figures Kaori ever knew, more so the eccentric doctor when Emily had steadily grown weaker and weaker, and eventually killed.
The moment Mitsuki took Kaori, she would immediately latch onto her, it appeared his baby daughter had inherited his trait of latching onto anything nearby while sleeping. His hands resting behind him as he leaned back, continuing to sit cross-legged, he'd look up at the sky momentarily, before looking over at Mitsuki, his pupil-less right eye visible to her as he smiled slightly at Kaori curled up against her.
"... You're quite attached to Kaori, even though you cannot shower her with the attention and unconditional love of a mother... Mitsuki."
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 24, 2013 0:33:34 GMT -8
It was not that she was incapable of loving a child unconditionally (though, unconditional love in itself was a difficult thing to carry out, in action), but it was because Kaori was not Mitsuki's real daughter, and Mitsuki was not Kaori's real mother. All she was..was a 'substitute'.
"I am."
She would admit that she had formed attachments to Kaori by spending time with her.
"Should I take her to her room?"
...or she could just sleep in Mitsuki's arms until she woke up, which was fine with her.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 24, 2013 1:13:18 GMT -8
Kazuya understood the reasoning, and as attached to Mitsuki as Kaori was, she knew that Mitsuki would never be her real mother, and could never replace her memories of Emily. Still though, blood may only be skin deep, but bonds lasted forever. And it was hard not to grow fond of such a sweet and cheerful toddler.
"... It is up to you. She usually has her nap in my room, but if you wish, you may."
Regardless of Mitsuki's choice, Kazuya would get up and head to the bathroom, to go take a shower, coming out a few minutes later in just a towel, taking his Karate uniform to the laundry room, before heading to his room to put on some clean clothes. He'd then return, sitting back down beside Mitsuki once again.
"... I know you primarily came to see and play with Kaori, but is there another reason you came here, despite still having no item to grant you safe passage in and out?"
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 24, 2013 20:34:35 GMT -8
Mitsuki would stay put, sitting cross legged, her thin fingers tenderly brushing some of Kaori's hair out of her eyes. She looked so much like a mix of Emily and Kazuya. A smile crossed her face as she remembered her own daughter, and how she so closely resembled herself and Andrew. Her bright, almond shaped violet eyes that were always sharp to notice detail, soft dark brown tresses that fell right up on her shoulders... Her heart clenched, and a small sigh would escape her.
Upon Kazuya's approach, she would at him...and blink...before turning back to his daughter. Heh. She hadn't been bothered by anyone...maybe it's because they saw her with David travelling around, or her with Kazuya when he first took her to the tower.
"Kaori...has been a source of comfort since my arrival in California," she replied, an honest answer.
A pause. Hesitation?
"I once had a daughter," she spoke quietly before falling silent.
OOC Edit: Color.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 24, 2013 21:28:30 GMT -8
"... She was killed when Barker rained destruction down on the world..."
It wasn't a question. Mitsuki was a strong young woman. Even though in the past, she had beaten Kazuya, but could not beat him now, he had no doubt in his mind Mitsuki was very capable of defending her daughter if she was still alive. And the past tense told Kazuya what he needed to know without even asking.
"... Kaori reminds you of your daughter, of what could've been had she survived. The same could be said of my daughter. You remind her of Emily, of the mother she could've had had she not been killed. Kaori... Has gradually gotten over the loss of her mother... Which is probably why she tries so hard to comfort you, even if she is not aware of it."
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 24, 2013 21:42:10 GMT -8
His bluntness.
She would have winced if she wasn't so already used to the exterior that covered emotions. Yes- Kaori reminded her of her own daughter, but not what could have been. Sierre, or Kari, was five when she passed- Kaori...was almost two. But the girl did have similar characteristics to Sierre when she was her age, and these reminders helped her to keep her own daughter in memory. Not replacing, but remembering.
She...was not sure she wanted to 'get over' the loss of her daughter.
Was this...survivor's guilt?
She remained silent at Kazuya's speculation.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 24, 2013 22:37:13 GMT -8
Kazuya wasn't being blunt with his words to be harsh to Mitsuki, he was being blunt because that's how he was. He had always been emotionally distant, living in a world where he cared, but didn't show emotions, which allowed him take whatever came his way. Since Kaori came into his life though, he had begun to show emotions because as a parent, he'd be a very poor father if he did not shower unconditional love and proper care to his own daughter.
While he was wrong about why Kaori was such a comfort to Mitsuki, as he did not know the entire story, he would not pry, and would simply give Mitsuki a small smile of comfort, while Kaori counted to sleep soundly in Mitsuki's arms, curling up closer to her as if she knew to comfort her even more.
"... I have no right to ask anything about your daughter, or your past, and I will not pry. But I will say this Mitsuki: I will do what I can to help, no matter what."
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 25, 2013 11:31:35 GMT -8
"... I have no right to ask anything about your daughter,
or your past, and I will not pry. But I will say this Mitsuki:
I will do what I can to help, no matter what." She realized, now more than ever, the difference between a Californian and a person from Chicago (Chicagoan?). It was not only his bluntness that 'bothered' her, but his words coupled with the bluntness that struck a nerve. She found it odd that he would say such pretty things about not having the right to ask her about her daughter and her past, but seemed to have the liberty of commenting on it. If anything, she would have preferred it the other way around: ask away, and keep everything else to yourself. But then...she was probably not one to talk. Mitsuki could get pretty blunt if she wanted to. Like Kazuya, it was in her nature to be direct and succinct...but after having a daughter, she toned herself down. She was more sociable- or at least, she could be when she wanted to, or was needed to. His willingness to help, however, was admirable, but she wondered how much help this man could be if she didn't even know herself what she needed help with. Though... She was touched- his friendly intentions and supportive words were reassuring to an extent. She held Kaori a little closer. If what Mitsuki was dealing with really was survivor's guilt...then Kaori really might be one of the key components to a remedy. "When's the last time you got into contact with Dr. Clavering?" Her voice was quiet; soft...as to not wake up the sleeping child. |
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 25, 2013 12:00:41 GMT -8
"... Last year, on November 7. It was the day I traveled to London, England, to take custody of Kaori."
Reaching out, Kazuya would gently brush a few stray strands of hair away from Kaori's face, as she would shift slightly in her sleep, little hands latching onto Kazuya's hand and gently holding onto him, like a teddy bear.
"... I contact with her every so often, but lately I have not, as to conserve the life of my still functioning electronics."
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 25, 2013 12:38:28 GMT -8
"...what's it like in England?"
Nono, not asking about sight-seeing. She was asking about Barker's hold in London. She was interested because she just wanted to know...what Barker's strength was outside the US.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 25, 2013 13:09:03 GMT -8
"... It was not as badly destroyed as Long Beach was. A majority of the buildings were left intact, and most of the citizens keep to themselves. But Barker does have some form of power over there, one large task force. The citizens do not fight back as we have here. It is much the same in Tokyo, Japan, though unlike in England, underground syndicates have formed... My father is the commander of the most powerful syndicate there."
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 25, 2013 13:16:07 GMT -8
Her eyes flickered in interest.
Japan?
"...do you think I can meet with your father?"
Yes, she realized he was all the way in Japan. But Mitsuki had plans to travel there in the future, in search of her own family that was on the island.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 25, 2013 13:47:18 GMT -8
"... Of course. It will not be hard to find him, he is currently the CEO of Hikari Industries. But if you wish to speak to him as the syndicate commander, he will not be so easy to find. The entrances are well-hidden and well-guarded, because of Barker's task force in Tokyo. If you wish, I can lead you to one of the entrances, but after that, I will leave you to complete your business with him."
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Post by Mitsuki Park on Mar 25, 2013 15:25:40 GMT -8
She thought for a moment.
"...won't you be needed here?"
Travelling to Japan and back would take time. His offer was not something she could refuse right away, but was it okay from to merely come and go as he pleased...?
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Mar 25, 2013 16:42:22 GMT -8
"... If it is only for a few days, I will not be needed. The Flame Battalion will be staying here, and the Captain is in charge of the men in the Sky Force while I would be gone, and they know their training drills. Besides, I am not an apprentice to any of the Elder Dragons yet. You could search forever Mitsuki, but you would not find any of the entrances. And I doubt Barker's task force would take kindly to the searching. It is your choice however, let me know if you have made a decision."
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