Shiori checked over her list. One of the locations was sure to spark something with their newest foster child.

They'd been taking kids in for centuries now, but as the buildings grew taller, the children's trauma grew deeper, and the latest edition hadn't spoken a word since she'd come home with them over a month ago.

Little Hikari was a fish hanyou, though they still hadn't figured out which kind, and though she ate and slept like she should, there was a melancholy about her that she and Inuyasha just couldn't break through.

Sighing softly, she rechecked the list. She had four different aquariums on it and hoped Hikari would at least be able to pinpoint which species she was. Squaring her shoulders, she went in search of her mate, needing confirmation that her idea was a good one.

She found him in the bathroom scrubbing his hands, his fingers a deep shade of purple, and she gave him a questioning look. Inuyasha growled softly, then went in for another round, lathering up the soap. "My claws keep pokin' holes in the gloves, and now this shit won't come out."

"Do I want to know?" she asked.

Giving up, he dried his hands, then flashed her a grin. "I figured it out."

"Figured what out?" Every time he tried to surprise her with something, it had gone horribly wrong, and though she loved him for trying, she was already looking around for where the rest of whatever was on his hands had ended up.

"Hey, squirt! Come show Mama your new look!" Shiori blanched. He'd involved one of the children? However, any arguments were lost as Hikari pulled back the shower curtain, now sporting a full head of bright violet hair—and she was smiling.

She spun around, careful to stay inside the tub so the dye wouldn't get anywhere. "Now I look like Shi-san." Gasping, Shiori looked up at her mate, helpless to stop the tears from running down her face.

"She ain't from here," Inuyasha said, leaning against the sink. "Where she's from, they've all got bright-coloured hair. Kinda like scales, I guess. But the different climate bleached it, so we had to improvise."

Hikari spun around again, holding the now ruined towel around her shoulders with one hand, pointing at Inuyasha with the other. "Yashy, too!"

He snorted. "Nice try, squirt. You ain't comin' anywhere near me with that stuff in your hair." He turned the water on, purple speckles decorating the porcelain as he washed the extra dye off. Hikari bounced the entire time, sneaking peeks at Shiori as her hair was dried.

"Shi-san sad?" she asked, patting her knee.

Shiori shook her head. "No, honey. I'm wonderful. You look wonderful. Why don't we go to the aquarium today and show off your new hairdo?"

Hikari nodded, then looked at Inuyasha. "More purple?"

"Wear anything ya want." She smiled, smiled, and skipped back to her room.

Shiori didn't wait for her mate to dry off before launching herself at him, peppering his face with kisses. "I love you."

He grunted, then shrugged. "Sometimes ya just gotta get messy." He looked at the purple splotches on the towel that had been around Hikari's neck and winced. "I'll get a new one on the weekend."

Shiori shook her head. "Don't. It'll be a good memory." Smirking, he stole a kiss for himself, then pulled her toward Hikari's room, knowing the new addition would need their help to get dressed.