A/N: Another update :) I've got an updating bug by the looks of it xD Thank you again to WhispersInTheRain! Kari loves you :D

Eien no Shasai

(Edited Version)

Chapter 7;

Behind the Mask

Masukuno Haigoni

-x-

We all wear a mask, some are just more transparent than others.

-x-

"Ehh? Why do I have to share with Naruto!" Sakura demanded angrily. Kakashi sighed, Naruto had been happy enough, Sasuke and Kari both seemed a little moody, but mostly they had accepted their room arrangements. Sakura would calm down after a little tantrum.

"Well, off to bed! We have a long day of training tomorrow," Kakashi said airily shooing off his Genin so he could have some peace with his favourite book.

Seizing her chance, Kari raced into her designated room and flung herself on the futon clutching it tightly.

"Comfy..." she sighed blissfully. After sleeping on a cold hard floor, the softness of the old futon seemed heavenly to her achy joints. Sasuke always had the bed, it was her turn now, she was not giving it up.

"Oi, move," Sasuke grumbled using his foot to nudge her off the bedding and sitting himself down on it. Kari took a moment to stare in utter disbelief before reclaiming her space and nudging him off her futon. His eyes narrowed into a glare which she returned with full force, adamant she was keeping this bed. The Uchiha deliberated for a moment and then huffed. "I'm sleeping in the bed, you'll give up and get out first."

"Was that a challenge?" Kari grumbled. The Uchiha's eyes flashed and Kari took that as an affirmative. "You'll get out first, it bothers you more."

"Hn."

Kari turned her back on him.

"Aren't you changing into night clothes?" Sasuke said as he pulled a change of clothes out of his bag.

"Go change outside," Kari grumbled. Sasuke strutted out the room and Kari quickly grabbed her bag to search for her comfy sleeping clothes. "Ne?" she said surprised as she couldn't find them. "Wait. Oh..." she remembered taking them out so she could ram some extra things in her bag, but she couldn't remember putting them back in her bag. She quickly raced out the room to knock on Naruto and Sakura's door.

"Kari-chan?" Naruto said in surprise, already changed into his pyjamas. "What's up?"

"Can I borrow a shirt, I left my sleeping clothes in Konoha."

"Sure," Naruto chuckled, disappearing for a moment and returning with a shirt. "It's clean, I washed it before I left," he promised and Kari grinned. "Guess you didn't want one of Sasuke's smelly shirts?"

Kari rolled her eyes and Naruto sniggered.

"See you in the morning Naru-kun," she said. "Thanks for the shirt."

"What are you doing baka?" Sasuke asked giving her a puzzled look and glancing to the black cloth in her hand.

"Forgot sleeping clothes," she grumbled and walked into the bathroom to change and brush her teeth. Luckily enough, Naruto wasn't too far off her size and his shirt covered what it needed to. Kita padded after her and took her place next to Kari's side of the futon, curling up and falling asleep quickly. Kari felt awkward knowing Sasuke's back was inches from hers but shook the feeling off and focused on falling asleep instead. Surprisingly it was quite easy and she drifted off after a few minutes.

-x-

"Sasuke?" Kari mumbled as she hovered between sleep and waking. Something had woken her and she wanted to stay warm and fuzzy instead of getting up. Her eyes opened reluctantly. "Hmm?"

His face was tense as his eyes darted behind his lids, a sheen of sweat across his brow. His body was stiff and Kari wondered if he was having a bad dream. It was the fourth night and after training they were usually too tired to linger much before falling into a dreamless sleep.

"Sasuke?" she grunted but he didn't stir. He shuddered slightly and weighing her options she placed a hand on his shoulder to shake him. His eyes snapped open and before she could register what was happening she was on her back and Sasuke was over her, one had holding the wrist of the hand that had touched him and the other tight around her throat.

"Kari?" he murmured.

He panted, heart pounding furiously as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He was on a mission to the Wave country, he wasn't strangling an enemy, he'd been dreaming. As he tried to calm down he was aware of a tapping sensation on his chest. Kari stared up at him sleepily, waiting to be released. His hand loosened around her throat and he felt her sigh with relief.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"You woke me up," she replied. "You were getting worked up over a dream and then pounced on me."

"...Gomen," he apologised after a moment. She continued to stare at him and he became irked. "What?"

"As warm as you are, my rib fractures don't appreciate your weight." Sasuke returned to his side of the bed and looked up at the ceiling. "You don't strike me as someone who likes to talk about what's bothering them."

"That's correct," he replied, waiting for her to fall back to sleep. Her voice was slow and soft, a clear sign she was about to return to her dreams soon.

"Well, I'm here if you need me. We're team-mates after all," she said, shifting to curl slightly. She liked to sleep in the foetal position, but it was rather hard when your torso and leg were stiff and painful. "Y'know that right?"

"I suppose," he muttered, finding their idle waffle surprisingly calming. He had settled more after his nightmare, but wasn't about to let her know she was helpful.

"Sasu, you're a pain," she grunted and he felt her forehead slightly against his shoulder. "But your my team-mate, so I'll tolerate you."

"Don't call me Sasu, you baka," he scoffed, but she didn't reply. She had fallen asleep, forehead against his shoulder and with a hand holding his sleeve. "You're cold, get off."

She didn't listen and reluctantly he decided to allow her small touch. She hadn't questioned his nightmare or tried to coddle him and for that he was thankful. She'd still helped in her own way and surprisingly hadn't complained at him trying to strangle her. He felt no fear, not even shock or anxiety, then again she was so sleepy she probably didn't notice.

"Baka, you're odd," Sasuke sighed before he too sunk into sleep.

-x-

He allowed her to change in their room while he changed in the bathroom the next morning. He didn't let her sleep in, wanting training to start as soon as possible.

"Ack!" Kari complained when Sasuke took her hitai-ate from her and tied it around her neck.

"I left bruises, if the others see there'll be awkward questions," he states while she tried to adjust it. It felt like a collar but after peering underneath she could see the sickly green edge of bruising and decided he was right.

"Did you sleep okay the rest of the night?" she asked as she pulled on her gloves. After a moment she decided to leave her twin katana behind, they would hurt if she fell on them and she might damage them.

"Yeah," he grunted and she rolled her eyes at his monosyllabic answer.

-x-

Kari slashed at the bark as her foot slipped and felt herself begin to fall. Naruto managed to catch her before she hit the ground and she let out the breath she'd been holding.

"You're doing good Naruto!" Kari praised, seeing how he was now catching up with Sasuke.

"Thanks!" Naruto said proudly. "I'm still not as far as you yet, if your leg was okay you'd be at the top by now easy!"

"Maybe, but I think I'm going to do some Taijutsu training for a while," Kari said looking up at her scratched and battered tree. Kakashi had given her the option to go with Sakura and watch Tazuna, but she decided to stay with the boys and train. Kita had helpfully decided to keep Sakura company.

"Good idea, it looks a little swollen," Naruto agreed giving her leg an unhelpful prod. "I'm gonna go again, watch this!"

He focused Chakra into his feet, remembering Sakura's advice to relax. Feeling confident he went to climb the tree when-

"Oi Naruto."

His concentration was destroyed by Sasuke and Naruto tripped and face planted into the ground.

"What the hell is your problem? Can't you see I'm trying to focus?" Naruto screeched in frustration while Kari couldn't help but giggle at his fury and his ungraceful slip.

"Well... umm..." Sasuke mumbled. Kari raised an eyebrow. Whenever the Uchiha gifted them with his voice it was usually with something rude or stating something to show his knowledge. She'd never seen him awkward.

"What is it?" Naruto grumbled.

"Wha... What did Sakura tell you?" Sasuke blurted as an uncharacteristic blush appeared on his cheeks and he looked away avoiding eye contact. Kari and Naruto's eyes widened with shock and then they glanced at each other. Naruto's face broke into a smug grin.

"It's a secret!" Naruto cried gleefully.

Kari snorted and then erupted into hysterical giggles at Sasuke's mortifying embarrassment.

-x-

"...And I kicked that pervert in the face with a high powered kick, cha!" Sakura declared as Kari nodded at Sakura's victory. "That'll teach perverts to go for Konoha kunoichi, ne Kari-chan!"

"Hai, hai, but I think the perverts would be far more interested in you Sakura-chan," Kari said simply as she took another mouthful of rice.

"Wow, this is super fun! It's been a long time since we ate with so many people!" Tazuna said happily.

"More!" Naruto and Sasuke shouted raising their bowls into the air after inhaling their dinner at high speed. Sasuke, admittedly with more grace than Naruto. Their stomachs gurgled and they threw up their hastily eaten dinner on Tsunami's freshly clean floor.

"If you're going to be sick then stop eating!" Sakura screeched slamming her hands on the table.

"You shouldn't waste Tsunami-san's food," Kari agreed though felt positively queasy at the smell of stomach acid and half digested food.

"No. I must eat," Sasuke said as he wiped his mouth.

"Yeah, we have to no matter what because we have to become stronger," Naruto agreed.

"You can have mine then," Kari said weakly but Kakashi shot her a look.

"Eat your dinner Kari, you're a growing girl and need the energy to heal," Kakashi scolded and Kari reluctantly finished her food under her sensei's stern gaze.

-x-

"Hey, why do you have a torn picture on the wall?" Sakura asked. "Inari-kun was staring at this during dinner. It seems like someone purposely removed someone who was in the picture."

"It's my husband," Tsunami answered from the sink where Kari was helping her with the dishes. Kari had noticed the tension in the three family members at the mention of the picture.

"The man called the hero of the city," Tazuna said sadly. Inari promptly stood up and stormed out.

"Inari!" Tsunami cried. "Inari where are you going? Otousan! I've told you before not to mention that man in front of Inari!" she slammed the door as she raced after her son.

"What's wrong with Inari-kun?" Sakura asked confused as Kari sighed and turned off the tap.

"There seems to be some kind of explanation," Kakashi said calmly as Kari came to join them at the table.

"Inari used to have a father, though not related by blood. They were really close, like a real father and son, Inari used to laugh a lot back then... But Inari changed... Ever since that incident with his father," Tazuna said as tears flooded into his eyes. Kari felt her heart pull and her eyes sting at Tazuna's obvious grief. Noticing she was upset, Kakashi let her hold onto his arm which seemed to calm her down. "Ever since that day, the word courage has been stolen from the people of this island, including Inari. Ever since that day... Ever since that incident."

"What incident?" Kakashi prompted. "What happened to Inari-kun?"

"Before that, I have to tell you about the man that was called a hero in this city..." Tazuna said, taking his glasses off to rub the tears from his eyes.

"Hero?" Naruto repeated.

"It was about three years ago, that Inari met that man." Tazuna explained that Inari was bullied and an older boy took his dog and threw him into the water. Inari couldn't swim so he was scared but was pushed in by one of the older boys. Then the dog started to swim away. "And as you can see, then Pochi remembered he could doggy-paddle." Tazuna then went on to tell them how Inari had almost drowned but was saved by a man. He inspired Inari to try his best and gave him confidence, he told him to protect that which he loved. "His name was Kaiza, a fisherman who came here to follow his dreams. After that, Kaiza and Inari became inseparable. It may have been because Inari's real father died before he got to know him but he and Kaiza became very close like a real father and son. It was only a matter of time before Kaiza became a member of this family."

Kari and Naruto found themselves smiling at this and Kakashi vaguely realised that his arm was being cuddled to death.

"And Kaiza was also a man the city needed." Tazuna recalled how Kaiza had bravely risked his life for the city, swimming in a dangerous current to reach the dam before an area was flooded and the people were left to drown or become homeless. "And then, Kaiza was called a hero by the people of this city and Inari could not be prouder of his father. But then, Gatou came to this city."

"And then this incident happened?" Kakashi asked. "What exactly happened?"

"In front of everyone, Kaiza was put to death by Gatou!" Tazuna said grimly. Kari's breath left her lungs as though she had been struck. "From that day, Inari changed... As did Tsunami and the whole city." Her hands fell from Kakashi's arm as she looked down, trying to find sense in Kaiza's death. But she couldn't, it was just an act of horrifying cruelty. Naruto stood suddenly but fell straight over.

"What are you doing Naruto?" Sakura sighed as Kari went to help him.

"If you're thinking of training, take the day off. You've released to much Chakra, any-more and you could die," Kakashi said.

"I'm going to prove it," Naruto said confidently. "I'm going to prove that in this world, heroes do exist!"

-x-

He and Kari did train that night. They snuck out once everyone was asleep. They had repeated this for the last few nights, Naruto adamant to prove himself, Kari to keep him company. Eventually, the day and night wore them down and they fell asleep each night, snuggled up on the forest floor.

"Naruto and Kari-chan didn't come back again last night?" Tazuna asked.

"They've been out climbing trees and training since they heard your story," Sakura said with a yawn. "They have probably used too much Chakra and died by now."

"I hope they're alright, they're just children alone at night in the woods," Tsunami said worriedly. "And Kari-chan's such a pretty little thing." The woman of the house had become fond of the little kunoichi who always offered help at dinnertimes and greeted her when she saw her.

"Don't worry," Kakashi reassured. "They might not look it, but they're both true ninja."

"It wouldn't surprise me if they were both dead, the moron's. Kari's wounds are half healed at best, she'll probably get them infected," Sasuke said matter of factly. Admittedly, it had been a surprise to wake up and not find her there. It was a bit unnerving, having gotten used to her being around. Nonetheless, he had her little white follower keeping tabs on him so it still felt like she was there annoying him.

-x-

Kari's eyes shifted beneath their sleeping lids as a hand reached towards Naruto's throat. She slept soundly with her head on his chest, lulled by the strong thrum of his heartbeat. The hand halted as the attacker took in their sleeping faces. The girl looked so fragile and innocent and the boy so vulnerable. The boy recalled the girls hand reaching out to him a look of need in her eyes.

"You'll both get a cold sleeping in a place like this," he said gently. The girl woke first, bright eyes sleepily landing on him. She sat up quickly to stare into his eyes and he saw the thing he feared. Recognition. But before he could plan an attack she smiled seeming pleased to see him. The boy was coming around more groggily with a muffled "Kari-chaaaan." Looking around he caught sight of the other boy.

"Hmm? Who are you?" Naruto asked as he rubbed his eyes. The boy busied himself with gathering more herbs in a basket. "Ne, is this the plant you want?" Naruto asked reaching out for a similar looking one. "This plant is medicine?"

"Thanks for helping out," the boy said thankfully as Kari found another herb.

"You sure are working early Oneechan," Naruto commented.

"Naruto," Kari sighed. Though rather androgynous, she could still see the person in front of her was a boy.

"You too, what are you doing out here so early in the morning?" the boy replied.

"Training!" Naruto declared enthusiastically.

"Sleeping," Kari admitted more honestly.

"You... that head protector, could you be ninjas?"

"You noticed? Yeah we're awesome ninjas!" Naruto cried.

"Wow, you're incredible," the boy stated while Naruto laughed happily. "Why are you training?"

"To become stronger," Naruto replied, seeming to become more excited as the talk continued.

"Hmm? But you already look plenty strong."

"No, no, I want to become even stronger!" Naruto said earnestly.

"Why is that?"

"So I can become the best ninja in my village! I'm going to make everyone acknowledge my strength! And right now I also have to prove something to someone!" Naruto cried excitedly.

"Is that for someone else, or for yourself?" the boy asked and then he laughed at Naruto's clueless expression.

"What's so funny?" Naruto demanded.

"Do you have someone important to you?" the boy asked with a genuine look of warmth. Kari once again felt the magnetic pull to his aura and blushed. "When a person has something important to protect, that's when they truly become strong."

'Kaiza loved this city.'

'I won't let my comrades die.'

'Don't lay a hand on Iruka-sensei!'

"Oh! Yeah, I understand that very well," Naruto said happily and Kari smiled though felt a cold sense of emptiness in her chest. She wanted to protect her team-mates but she barely knew them. Naruto had opened his heart to accepting her friendship but she didn't know if she had someone she loved as much as these two boys clearly did. It was a... surprisingly horrible feeling.

"You will become strong," the boy said with a gentle smile but was caught off guard when Kari's hand caught his wrist as Naruto went to get one last herb.

"Meet me," Kari whispered. "Please."

"Meet you?" the boy asked. "...Okay, go into the woods, I'll find you."

Kari nodded and released her hold. The boy stood turning his back on them.

"Let's meet again," he called back to Naruto.

"Sure!" Naruto said happily.

"Oh. And..." the boy paused as he was leaving and turned back to smile at Naruto. "I'm a boy."

Naruto's shriek of disbelief followed Kari as she darted into the trees and she couldn't help but giggle at Naruto's confused shouting about how the boy was 'cuter than Sakura-chan!'

-x-

"I came as you requested."

Admittedly it was after at least a good half an hour of Kari wandering around and the boy was now basket-less and dressed a little more boyish. Even so, he still looked feminine.

Now he was here, Kari didn't know what to say. She felt silly and was aware he could easily kill her in an instant if he so wished. But she felt the need to see him again, at least before they were forced to fight to the death.

"So that's what you look like under your mask," Kari began sheepishly. "You sure had Naruto fooled, but I can see why."

"You thought I was a girl too? I thought you saw through that," the boy said with a soft smile. "I'm willing to prove I am a boy, if you still have doubts."

"Well, you are feminine, in a pretty way. Naruto just thought you were cute," Kari said, trying to ignore his last comment as her face heated up.

"And did you think I was cute?" The boy chuckled, quite pleased as she flushed an even darker red. "I suppose that's a yes? Girls don't usually see me as attractive, they just bicker jealously over my supposed prettiness."

"You can't really blame them," Kari said with a grin, the magnetism once again pulling her in.

"So why did you want to see me? You must have had a reason," the boy asked gently, but she could sense him raise his guard.

"Ano... what's your name?" Kari asked glancing up at him.

"Hmm? My name?" he repeated in confusion. "Haku."

"Haku?" Kari repeated and yet it fit him perfectly. She was sure it wasn't a lie.

"And you are Kari-chan," Haku said simply. "Did you really just want to talk idly?"

"Is there something wrong with that?" Kari said her eyes becoming downcast. She knew it was idiotic, but it was what she wanted in her heart. "We're going to kill each other be it in a matter of days or a matter of hours. When I first saw you I was inexplicably drawn to you. I want to know why. I know it's stupid, I know you could just knife me in a second right now but... but I want..."

"What do you want?" Haku asked.

"I want to know who you are!" Kari cried, her downcast eyes shooting up into his chocolate brown ones. "I don't care if it'll be harder to fight you if I know you! You're someone my age who in another life could have been my friend and... and I know if things weren't this way we could have got along! That's why I'm drawn to you, like I'm drawn to Naruto!"

"Kari-chan," his eyes too gentle as his voice softened with sadness. Kari felt her embarrassment rise again at her foolishness and she turned away.

"I'm sorry for bothering you... I'll keep my thoughts to myself," she murmured as her throat burned and her eyes stung with shame and disappointment. But before she could take so much as a step, her wrist was grasped and she was flung into his arms.

"Oh Kari-chan you're not silly and if you are we both are, I felt drawn to you too," he admitted trying to soothe her. "The spirit always sees more than the eyes, it's okay to feel that way, its okay..."

"B-b-but," Kari said as her voice trembled with tears, "I don't want to regret not knowing you, but if I do know you it'll hurt more if you die and... and... Oh I don't know what to do!"

"What do you want?" Haku whispered.

"To know you."

"Then that's what we'll do," Haku said kindly. "We'll be friends until the time to battle and then we'll fight until one of us is dead."

"No regrets."

"No regrets," he agreed.

-x-

"Kari-chan, where have you been!" Naruto whined, running down from his tree. Kari smiled as she appeared out the bushes.

"Training on my own," Kari said simply.

"Why didn't you train here?" Sasuke asked suspiciously. Kari had been gone two days, she hadn't come back for meals, to sleep, anything.

"I wanted to train on my own for a bit, besides its embarrassing if you two watch me when I'm no where near as good as you in Taijutsu," Kari said simply. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, still curious but let it slide when Kari raced up the tree to join them in their training. They finally called it a night many hours later when all three of them reached the top. Naruto was out of Chakra so Sasuke and Kari half carried him on the way back.

"Oh? You guys are finally back! And Kari-chan too! You guys look super dirty and worn out," Tazuna remarked.

"Heh, all of us made it to the top..." Naruto said hoarsely.

"All right, you three, starting tomorrow you will also guard Tazuna-san," Kakashi declared.

"Yosha!" Naruto cried in delight causing his supporters to join him on the ground when he fell over.

"Usuratonkachi," Sasuke grumbled.

"Oww..." Kari sighed.

-x-

"I'm also worn out from today's bridgework, at any rate the bridge is nearly complete," Tazuna said simply.

"Naruto-kun, Kari-chan, Otousan, don't overdo it okay?" Tsunami reminded. Naruto seemed content to follow her command as he started snoozing on the table. He was disturbed through when inari started to cry.

"What?" Naruto asked puzzled.

"Why do you guys bother to try so hard! No matter how hard you train, you're still no match for Gatou's men!" Inari shouted, slamming his hands on the table. "No matter what glorious claims you make or how hard you work, when facing the strong, the weak always get killed!"

"Whatever kid, I'm not like you," Naruto said, looking away.

"I'd hate to be like you! You know nothing about this country, yet you're being so nosy!" Inari cried as his voice grew louder and slightly higher. "What the hell do you know about me? I'm different from you! You're always clowning around and acting so cheerful, you don't know how hard life can be!"

Kari felt it. The snap of Naruto's temper as Inari crossed the line.

"So it's okay for you to pose as the star of tragedy and cry all day?" Naruto asked. "Just keep crying forever you idiot! You little sissy!"

"Naru," Kari murmured feeling the shaking waves of anger radiating off his body.

"Naruto you've said enough!" Sakura scolded as the boy stood. Kari grabbed the bottom f his jacket, worried that he was upset.

"C'mon Kari-chan."

It was permission to come with him and she took it rising out her seat and following him out the door, his hand curling tightly around hers as the nights wind hit their faces.

-x-

"Can I join you?" Kakashi asked, approaching Inari as he sat on the dock. Kita had followed curiously, Kari hadn't come back so she was looking for something to distract her while she waited for her return. Kakashi took a seat next to the little boy and Kita allowed him to pull her into his lap and stroke her snowy fur. Kari would want her to be a good girl. "Well, Naruto didn't mean any harm by what he said, sometimes he just doesn't use his head. Tazuna-san told us about your dad. Like you, Naruto grew up without a father. He never knew his father and until Kari appeared three weeks ago, he hadn't had a single friend. The truth is, he's had a rougher past than you."

"Huh?" Inari said surprised.

"But I've never once seen him cry or complain, he's always trying his best to get people to acknowledge him. To achieve his dream he'd risk his life at any time. He's probably sick and tired of crying. He really knows what it means to be strong, just like your father. Naruto may understand your feelings better than anyone else," Kakashi explained.

"What?" Inari asked as Kita squirmed. The boy was holding her too tight!

"He doesn't seem to be able to not be concerned about you," Kakashi replied with a smile. "Kari too, she's very compassionate so she worries about everyone."

"Kari-neechan, does she have parents?" Inari asked shyly.

"We don't know," Kakashi said with a sigh. "She woke up and had no memories, she cant recognise anyone. It must be a horrible experience to wake up so utterly lost and alone." Inari glanced up seeming upset. "She's brave and strong though," Kakashi reassured. "She tries her best in everything, I haven't seen her down yet, she just gets a little shy now and again." Kita squirmed free and sat beside them.

"Okaa," she stated and Kakashi gave her a pat.

"They're good kids, Inari. Give them a chance and you'll see."

-x-

"Naru..." Kari grumbled as she hauled the boy towards Tazuna's house at the crack of dawn. She had kindly piggybacked him since he fell asleep and his dead weight felt crushing on her tiny shoulders. Her lungs heaved in protest as her ribs stung unhelpfully. "Mou! You must have a really fat head or something..."

The house seemed to glow as she approached it and she sped up, wanting to put him down. As she quickened her pace though, her half healed leg decided not to keep up and she fell onto her face in frount of the door.

"Mouuuuu, itai, itai, itai..."

"Kari-chan," Kakashi said, opening the door and accidentally hitting her on the head. "Did you carry Naruto all the way back here?"

"No, the fairies did."

"You're in a splendid mood," Kakashi chuckled.

"You opened a door on my head!"

"Gomen," he chuckled, not seeming sorry at all. He kindly threw Naruto over his shoulder and picked Kari up who immediately fell asleep with her face pressed into his neck. Kakashi managed to wake Naruto up enough for the boy to change into his pyjamas and get into his futon. After a moment he decided to let Kari sleep, she was clinging onto him like a monkey and Sasuke was bound to be demonic if he didn't get enough beauty sleep.

With a sigh he settled himself down, trying to make sure Kari was comfortable in his lap and let his thoughts wander through the mission and wonder when the rematch would be. Kari would occasionally mumble something incomprehensible and shift, but seemed happy enough. He could make out 'doki doki' from the babble and chuckled.

How cute, Kari liked the sound of heartbeats.

-x-

Review please :)