Simplicity

Summary: Grog was a simple man, rage, kill, drink, have fun with his buddies. So as he sits around the tavern with an ale in hand after a battle he is confused when a young man storms up to him calling him...father?! Trailing after him was a face he didn't think he would ever see again! A one Kagome Tashio...mother of his child?

The lively chatter of the tavern softened to whispers as a cloaked young man strode inside, his presence both intriguing and foreboding. He was tall for his age, with a muscular build and an aura that seemed older than his sixteen years. Beneath his hood, stormy blue eyes stared daggers toward one particular figure across the tavern.

Grog Strongjaw had just taken a hefty bite of his roasted meat when he noticed the young man glaring his way. As he chewed, his eyes narrowed in challenge, sensing the unmistakable weight of killing intent. His instinctual reaction was to tense, sizing up the figure before him.

"I know you?" Grog's voice was a deep rumble as he regarded the young warrior with curiosity and caution.

The young man's sneer deepened, the black tattoos lining his cheeks accentuating his expression. "You should, father."

A hush fell over the tavern as the revelation sank in, broken only by a sharp voice cutting through the tension. "Goddamn it, Koji! I told you not to run off!"

A small, cloaked figure emerged from the shadows near the front door, her presence commanding in its quiet strength. Her bright blue eyes held an exasperated spark as she fixed them on the young man. She moved with purpose, and the authority in her voice left little room for argument.

"Ah, sorry, Mother." The young man, Koji, bowed his head at her chastisement, his bravado momentarily subdued.

Kagome of the Tashio clan—renowned across the Western lands for their ancient power—stepped forward. She and Grog exchanged a long look, unspoken memories flashing between them. She was a warrior, tempered by battle and as fierce as she was wise. Her journey with Grog had started in the heat of a brutal campaign, a whirlwind romance forged on the battlefield. They had been unstoppable together, a duo capable of toppling even the gods. Yet, as swiftly as it had begun, it ended. The war won, their forces disbanded, and they each went their own way.

Kagome had left with more than she had bargained for. She poured herself into raising Koji, never once wavering in her devotion to her son. Though she had searched for Grog once, only to be told he had been "culled from the herd," she never looked back. Koji was her world, and she trained him to be as strong and resilient as any warrior of the Tashio lineage.

But her son had inherited more than just her strength. Like his uncles Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, he was a volatile mix of icy aloofness and fierce temper. So when rumors of Vox Machina's heroics reached the West, Koji seized the chance to find the father he believed dead. He wanted answers, retribution, and perhaps to fill a void he had never dared acknowledge. Kagome followed him, her heart heavy, knowing the toll this reunion might take on him.

Now, here they stood, a reunited family amid old friends and new companions, all uncertain of what would come next.

Grog looked from Kagome to Koji, piecing together the boy's glare and his words. "So… this here's my kid?"

Kagome nodded, her gaze softening as she looked at Koji, then back to Grog. "Yes, and he's wanted to meet you for a long time."

Silence stretched between them, charged and uncertain. Koji stepped forward, fists clenched. "I don't want apologies or excuses. Just… know that you left us."

The words hit Grog like a punch. He swallowed, glancing at Kagome, then back to his son. His voice softened, a rare gentleness in his usual boisterous tone. "I… didn't know you were out there, kid."

Koji's glare faltered just a bit, but his shoulders stayed stiff. Kagome stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her son's shoulder. "We've come a long way, Koji. Give him a chance."

The tension finally softened as Grog's massive hand clapped down on Koji's shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance. "Well, you're here now, so how 'bout we start fresh?"

The boy stood tall, meeting Grog's eyes. After a moment, he gave a reluctant nod.

The room filled with a collective sigh of relief as drinks were raised, laughter returning to the room. Amid the warmth of family and found comrades, the three of them—Grog, Kagome, and Koji—began a new chapter, one built on the strength of their shared past and the promise of a future forged together.

Kage AN: Yes, I LOVE me my big cuddly bar bar! I personally LOVE playing as a barbarian! And yup, had to revive my fan baby Koji.

Yuki AN: Hope you enjoy!