Chapter 3

Dark blue eyes narrowed as the man approached them, he was dressed in black pants, a matching black shirt under a green jacket with purple fur around the collar. It was certainly something to look at, yet it was the steam punk like plague mask that covered the lower half of his face that really made her eyebrows arch.

The trembling child behind her poked her head out, her light red eyes widening as they landed on the figure before them. "Kai!" The small girl moved from behind her to run towards the man, her thin arms wrapping around his legs as she hid her face in them.

His face was impassive as he settled a glove covered hand on Eri's head, tussling her hair in an affectionate way. His golden eyes narrowed on her in suspicion, he only looked away from her when Eri pulled back to glance up at him, a light sheen of tears in her red eyes.

He frowned, glad Eri couldn't see it under his mask, she was after all a sensitive child. "Why did you run away from Hojo?" He narrowed his eyes as he watched her shudder at the mere mention of her appointed caretaker.

Eri pulled away from her father figure, her gaze not meeting his. She knew if she told the truth then Hojo would make her pay. He had literally beat it into her that should she say one bad word about him to Kai that he would make her regret it. She fidgeted under Kai's intense gaze, her fingers playing with the hem of her oversized dress.

Kagome shifted her on her feet, wondering if she should still involve herself with the child and her apparent father. She had been ready to defend the small girl from whomever had made her shiver in fear from just her name falling from their lips. Yet it was plain to see it was not the man before her that instilled such fear in the young girl.

It was more than likely this 'Hojo' that her father had mentioned, but was it really any of her business? No, the small girl was reunited with her father and would be in capable hands. She didn't have time to just stand around while they talked... Mind made up she cleared her throat a bit to gain their attention. "Ah, well I'm glad you found your father sweetheart." Her voice was light as the child smiled at her, "I should get going, it was nice to meet you. Next time you run away though you might want to at least put on some shoes." She grinned as Eri flushed but nodded.

Kai observed their interaction, it was playful and warm. Eri was normally withdrawn, quiet and solemn. Yet here she was laughing and smiling at this stranger, a stranger who was ready to defend Eri from him despite only knowing her for a few minutes. Hojo had reported her missing not even twenty minutes ago and he was quick to not only start a search for her but join it himself.

She was the old boss's granddaughter and even though the old man was retired he still had a long list of enemies who would not feel bad taking their pound of flesh from her. He, as the new boss, also had his own enemies who would relish in making his adopted daughter pay for his actions. It was why he had made sure her caretaker was a member of their yakuza, if he couldn't trust his own to look after and care for her, who could he trust?

It would seem he had made a mistake, for Eri to run away from Hojo without even putting on shoes...he must have done or said something that truly terrified her. He would be getting to the bottom of this once they returned home. For now, he would gather his child and thank her would be protector.

"Eri, what do you say when someone helps you?" His voice was even as he spoke yet it didn't bother her. She smiled as she turned to the woman who had been so willing to help her and bowed cutely, her white locks dusting the ground with the action. "Ah, thank you Ms..." She trailed off realizing she hadn't even learned her name.

Kagome smiled, tucking some stray raven hairs behind her ear, winking at Eri as she peeked up at her from her bowing position. She returned the bow, properly and fluidly. She had been raised on a shrine and despite her parents' disdain for her very existence they had made sure that she was raised to properly attend to those that came to their shrine. She knew all the old ways and traditions, which served to endear her to those that visited the shrine.

"Higurashi Kagome. It's a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was light and polite, her bow still held as she waited for the child to introduce herself. "Ah, Chisaki Eri and this is my father Chisaki Kai!" Eri quickly righted herself, stumbling a bit at the head rush that came from her jerking up too quickly.

Kagome fluidly rose from her bow, once again tucking her wayward locks behind her ear. "Well, it's nice to meet you both but I must be going now. Please don't make running away from your problems a habit. It's best to face them head on no matter how scared you are. It's also okay for you to reach out to those close to you and ask for help." Advice given, not in a better than thou way but from personal experience, she gave the small child one last smile and tossed her father one, tilting her head as if asking for his permission to leave.

Kai was impressed, and that was not an easy thing to do. Not only had she been ready to defend his child but she was also trying to impart a life lesson onto her in a way that was not haughty nor self-righteous. Add in the fact that she introduced herself properly and then looked to him to be excused before just walking away...color him impressed. He made a mental note to look into her once he had more spare time. For now, he merely nodded his head at her, deciding to offer her something very few had ever been offered.

"Thank you for your help. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to reach out to the Shie Hassaikai." He watched, waiting for her to either recoil or gasp at the name of the Yakuza group. She merely nodded her head, her gaze and face not at all changing from a warm open smile.

She knew the name drop was not by accident, he was no doubt trying to test her, to see if she would judge him and his child for having ties to the Yakuza family. She wasn't fazed, her shrine welcomed people from all walks of life. Hero, villain, yakuza, no matter how they identified they were welcome to seek solace at the shrine so long as she was the resident miko.

"I'll keep that in mind, have a great day." With a slight inclination of her head, she turned on her heel, ready to head home and finish her paperwork as well as fill out some applications.

Eri frowned as she watched Kagome walk away, settling in her father's hold as he picked her up, taking with her the warmth of her smile and voice. She liked her a lot, despite only knowing her for a little bit. She was what she assumed a mother would be, not that she knew. Her own mother had left her with her grandpa after she had been born, much more interested in traveling with her boyfriend than raising a child.

Grandpa and her father did their best to take care of her, yet she was often left with Hojo so that her father could attend to the clan duties. Hojo had been nice at first but he quickly got annoyed by her chattering and clumsy ways. It had only gotten worse as the months went by; it was why she had fled. She had accidentally spilled something on Hojo's new jacket and he looked like he wanted to kill her.

So, she had run out of the room and out of the complex, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible. She knew if she hid long enough, he would calm down, it was just getting away from him and staying away from him that was the problem.

She knew without a doubt once they got back home, she would be put in his care once again and that thought alone struck fear into her. She didn't want to be left in his care... to his mercy. Thinking back on Kagome's words she decided to finally tell her father what was really going on, that she wasn't really as accidental prone as Hojo made her out to be. She knew he was strong enough to protect her from whatever revenge Hojo would try to inflict on her.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself as she looked at her father's face, the parts of it not hidden by his mask, and opened her mouth to let it all out. "Papa..."