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BONUS OF HARUE AND KOKUSHIBO
Harue had been living with Kokushibo for quite a few months now, roughly six. By now her bedroom had become furnished with the belongings brought to her my her father figure, Kokushibo. A demon nearly five centuries old. However the age gap hadn’t bothered either, not the demon nor the eight year old Harue.
The bedroom of the great Sengoku era’d home which was designated to Harue consisted of a large but small variety of objects. Kokushibo had seen it fit for a growing child such as Harue to play as well as continue her studies. Knowing the child would remain isolated throughout her life here he was determined to make sure she was not lonely in her imagination, as he himself couldn’t always be with her. Although he feared the wrath of Kibutsuji coming back for Harue, however he had shown to back away from her. However that may have been due to Kokushibo hiding Harue away from his site. Most meetings took place at his business partners, unless they demanded to meet at Kokushibo’s. When that would happen Harue would he kept hidden in his bedroom, as Kibutsuji was familiar with the child’s bedroom.
Tap tap
The knocking came from the door of Harue’s bedroom. The child snuggled up in her blankets on her floor had books in her lap as well at her feet. The familiar sound caused a jump from the unsuspecting Harue, but she composed herself, ready to go up. But before she could manage to remove herself from her throne of warmth and comfort Kokushibo opened the door for her, his tall frame stepping foot into her bedroom. A warm smile greeted Harue as he began to face her while closing the bedroom door. The door creaked with much recent use but that bothered neither. If anything it would protect Harue during the day.
Kokushibo reached Harue and joined her on the floor. The black Hakama he always wore rustling as he sat down onto his knees to Harue’s right. Ever since the attack with Kibutsuji he had always sat on her right, protecting her weak side where her scar lie.
“Harue do you happen to remember that rocking horse you desired a few weeks ago?” He says with a slight smile as he looks to Harue.
“M-mhm” many nods come from the now eager child to his left.
Excitement filled her, she had had trouble pronouncing the correct word. However after eight guesses of the word she had meant he had finally guessed correctly. Her desire, but a simple rocking horse. Which she had accident pronounced ‘rocking hours’ as well as ‘rock rock hore’, which turned a concerned Kokushibo to her upon saying that, mishearing it as ‘whore’. He chucked at the thought of his now eight year old daughter saying such an ‘adult’ word, but he forgave the clueless Harue, who had hit him for laughing at her for seemingly no reason.
With the nodding Harue to his left he smiled as he rose from the floorboards of the bedroom. Unlike Harue who had carpeted her corner in blankets and luxury Kokushibo sat on the plain floorboards, not seeming to mind. But he was pleased enough to no longer be sitting on such ancient floorboards.
With a finger he gestures for the child to follow him out the room. Opening the door for the most precious little lady he stood to the side to let her pass. Her small legs carried her out the room in excitement, the floorboards creaking behind her as she run as fast as she was able to down the four steps. With a chuckle from her father she returned to him quite clueless but eager. Her body ready to spin into the direction he ordered. Holding his hand out to her she took it eagerly, almost pulling him down with her. Although the only reason he would fall would’ve been to satisfy her laughter as he’s brought down under her will. But seeing as how he was 6’4 that was unlikely to happen naturally. The eight year old almost pulled him in every direction as she excitedly explored the home. Each step seemed as if she would sprint into the direction he even as little as motioned at.
As she almost hit the doorframe he pulled her closer to him, however she still hit her left side of her head on the frame. Even though a loud ‘bonk’ could he heard she didn’t seem to mind, even as she faced him, hand in hand she continued her search. As she dragged Kokushibo along she found herself in the living room. A wooden rocking horse built for her size, or what he had suspected was her size. He had used the measurements of when she had first arrived at his doorstep. Of course she had grown, her ribs no longer on display, no longer that homeless girl.
Harue’s face lit up as she ran towards the rocking horse, dragging Kokushibo along as his firm grip on his hand was still there. Using the hand that she dragged him with he raised his hand so she left the floor. Taking her over to the horse he lowered her onto it, she was a strong girl but even he had his doubts wether she would be able to climb upon the horse herself. Squealing with delight as her feet left the rug she used her other hand to take hold of the horses hair. Her tight palm snatched at the Maine of the rocking horse to stabilise herself. Kokushibo lowered his arm as she sat her legs down upon it, getting into a riding position. The muscles on her mouth went upwards into a bright excited smile as soon as she sat upon it, eager with the feeling of being upon it.
Getting down on his knees once more he let Harue’s hand go and instead reached for the black leather reigns of the rocking horse. Taking them in hand he opened his daughters hand, placing the reigns gently into her grasp, ready to take on the cruel life she had. Such an innocent child, one too innocent, but that was fine, that was fine. He didn’t mind as long as he could give her the life she had been taken of, he couldn’t change her past she was oblivious of, but he would make sure she treasured the life she was given now. Perhaps spoiling this child wasn’t the best way, but he didn’t mind, anything to keep her happy, to give her the best life.
He stayed on his knees to her right once again, protecting her weak spots. He could hear the child squeal with delight as she began to ride the horse. Smiling warmly he continued to stay at her side, making sure she wouldn’t topple off, which he presumed was most likely. Perhaps he would need to steal some of the blankets she had used as a throne. Maybe that was a bit cruel, to take away her precious throne, but if she came crying back to him after she had fallen off her horse he would know that it wasn’t his fault. He would need to make a little throne for the horse instead so she would tumble onto the blankets instead. To sacrifice what she loved most would have to be a hard lesson taught to Harue. No matter how young she would have to learn.
But for now she wouldn’t tumble, she had her fathers arms ready to catch her in defeat, so she wouldn’t hurt herself in her fall.
Harue rode and rode, even if it wasn’t too exciting for anyone watching her Harue herself was thrilled at the simple concept of rocking back and forth. Her eager and thrilled smile would always fill Kokushibo’s bleak heart, emotions he didn’t know he still contained emerging. Oh how he loved Harue. Such innocence, such that he had lost long ago.
Kokushibo wasn’t surprised in the slightest as Harue eventually fell asleep on her new toy. Despite his six eyes he had failed to notice for at least ten minuets that Harue had fallen asleep on it. Stroking her hair slowly he was going to pick her up himself and cradle her as they walked to her bed together. If it wasn’t for the sleeping Harue resting her small head on the horses Maine he would of done so, but something in him just couldn’t part these two. Getting up silently he began to push the horse back to her room, taking great care when lifting the horse from the floor to climb the stairs. With one hand he opened her bedroom door and slowly placed the sleeping Harue upon the rocking horse down. Slowly picking up his sleeping daughter he cradled her in his arms, so small as his sleeves all but served as a blanket for her. Soon Harue was clinging onto his sleeves in her sleep, clawing at him as she tried to get closer to her. Kokushibo’s heart once again melted at this interaction. Slowly picking her many blankets from the floor with his right free hand he made a little nest for her, attempting to mimic how she had done so. Once pleased he pulled Harue closer to him, pulling her black shoulder length hair over her so she would be more comfortable.
Placed in her bed he slides the one blanket that seemed the less dirty and frayed, how he could of sworn he gave her perfect clean sheets, gosh what had this little bundle of joy done to them? Ah well, it wasn’t his fault, but he wouldn’t trouble his child anymore. As the light purple blanket fell upon her shoulders and to her body he felt satisfied. His child asleep and relaxed, a warm awakening surely.
Nowadays he felt as if the something missing with his life had been filled. That the presence of the child that had wandered into his life had filled that bleak heart of his. Although he could never be forgiven for the sins he had committed, he would love her still, something that he didn’t deserve. Slowly stroking her eyes shut and her hair over her eyes he felt deep down his heart glow. Yes, yes he would always protect this child, always.