Kichirou smiled fondly as he observed his lover with a sense of amusement, after observing the Hanyou for so long he'd become inept at recognising traits in her. Telltale signs that revealed her true feelings without her realising. They had become some of his favourite things about her, his heart fluttering as he watched her. Thinking about how lucky he was to have her in his life. "Your ears twitch when you're happy" he teased, it seemed for a Inu-Daiyokai Hanyou, she had many canine characteristics as expected. When she was excited or happy, her ears would twitch excitedly non stop, if she had a tail it would be wagging behind her. When she was scared, her ears would become flat or sharp, nearly pinned to her head as she emitted a low growl of intimidation. When she was sad they would droop and become droopy, floppy almost. It was easy to tell how she was feeling just by reading her emotions or observing her ears. InuYuki blushed, cupping her ears abruptly as if they betrayed her emotions, terrified of what she was thinking of right now. A sense of shame and embarrassment washing over her, she'd always been teased about them ever since she was young. They were the biggest symbol of her Hanyou nature, proof of the DaiYokai dog genes in her blood. She had heard never ending torment for them her whole life, by rogue demons and even her older brother. Throwing insults at her, endless hurtful words that pierced her heart, over time she had learned to block them out into white noise, but they still hurt. She couldn't help it, it was part of her demon heritage, it made her feel closer to her father. Sometimes she wondered if it was better for her to look like a monster. Her father had loved her mother dearly, so why was she shamed for having his blood so much? She knew Kichirou would never say anything so cruel, yet she was still shy about it.

Kichirou laughed, perhaps he should have worded that better, though her bashfulness was endearing to observe. He knew InuYuki was sensitive about her appearance due to harassment from her childhood. It hurt to know his lover had been so tormented as a child that a seed of hatred in her identity had formed. He wished she could see how beautiful she was in his eyes, the wonderful woman he saw her as. He loved her demon half as much as he did her human, he loved all of her. "You needn't hide it, I find it endearing, you simply express yourself differently than humans" he reassured her. She wasn't a human, but she wasn't a demon either, she was both, the way she expressed herself would never truly fit into either world.

InuYuki softened, removing her hands shyly, the soothing tone of his voice, the gentle encouragement in his gaze. He never pressed her into anything she wasn't comfortable with. He always sensed her discomfort and worry, doing whatever he could to ease her sadness and shame. Though he was the first person to not tease her about her ears "You... don't mind them" she asked, remembering all the ways her brother used to shame her.

"Filthy half breed"

"You dare claim to be one of us, with that weakling human blood"

"It is merely for the sake of our father that I allow you to live"

Kichirou blinked in confusion, they were part of who she was, part of her identity. The same way he was born a human, she was born of a human mother and demon father. After getting to know her, the tragic life she had lived and loneliness she had endured. Why would he be bothered by a part of her he had come to know and love. He wasn't afraid of her demon side, he didn't see her as a monster. She was a radiant, powerful, passionate and loyal soldier. She wore her heart on her sleeve and protected the weak. The demon side of her was what made her who she was and he never wanted that to change. "Should I?" he questioned, he thought they were cute, whenever he saw them he felt a fluttering in his chest and an urge to touch them. He enjoyed watching how her ears would react to her emotions but also what she heard around her.

InuYuki didn't know how to respond to that, finding herself speechless as she contemplated his words in her mind. She couldn't bring herself to feel angry, nor could she fully express joy at his acceptance, she was conflicted with both. Being ashamed was merely an automatic response, having been mistreated and hated her whole life. She shifted, hugging herself, reflecting upon her past that led to her feeling this way, her only brother despised her, making it clear he never wanted anything to do with her. Demons hated her, seeing her as a traitor to demon kind, a weakling who carried human blood in her. Humans were scared of her, believing she would lose control and turn on them. She would never be accepted by anyone, it was her fate, all Hanyou knew this, she was used to being hated, seen as a weakling and an eyesore. She just learned to assume the worst, as hard as that was to admit aloud.

Kichirou reached out to ruffle her head tenderly, stroking her hair, he knew her response came from experience and trauma. She'd never been loved by anyone, so she didn't know how to react when she found an accepting place and a healthy relationship. Caressing her ears as he did so, enjoying their softness, so white and silvery, making sure he didn't hurt her. They were so delicate, so sharp and yet so soft, he knew they were her sensitive part but he enjoyed watching her reaction. Though from her hesitation he got the feeling someone had pulled and yanked on her ears in a cruel way leading to her becoming scared of being tormented again. InuYuki blushed, but she enjoyed the feeling of his hands, he didn't yank, or pull or hurt her, he was gentle, making sure he didn't harm her. However, she found herself nuzzling against his hand, silently encouraging him to continue. When was the last time someone showed her this kind of kindness? Not since she was a little girl. "Soft..." Kichirou mumbles. InuYuki reflected silently, memories of her childhood coming back to her, of happier times before the reality of life came crashing down and she was made an orphan. How when she was small, she would sit on her mothers lap, where she was safe and loved. Her mother would softly play with her ears and tickle her, showering her in soft words of love and affirmation, the same gentle hands. It was so nostalgic, she'd forgotten how it felt, to be doted on, loved and appreciated by someone.

Kichirou smiled, humming to himself "Good puppy" he cooed, seeing her melt underneath his fingers was a sight he would happily get used to. InuYuki was a sweet person underneath her walls, she was just cautious about opening up to others. She'd had her trust broken from a young age, neglected by her only family and learning to raise herself. She didn't want to trust someone so easily, in case she was heartbroken all over again. She craved the love and acceptance she never had as a child, which he would happily give her.