Why Wait {Ko}

[Asher LeBeau]

It had been a long day and was an even longer night. Asher had taught several full classes and now sat in her classroom, still grading. She’d taken off her boots and jacket, leaving her in pants and a white shirt, sheer enough that her tattoos showed through in vague patterns when she moved, her hands moving quickly over the stack of papers as she entered them in her grade book. She put in long hours often so she could get everything done and still raise her son.

Yawning, she paused momentarily as she looked at her coffee mug, empty. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked back over the papers, seeing as she was mostly done for the night and chewed her lip, looking at the remaining stack. Pen moving, she finished them quickly with a renewed dose of energy before shutting her grade book with a snap. Opening the drawer, she lay it inside neatly before closing and locking the drawer.

Rising out of the chair in a smooth motion, she went about straightening the room, putting desks in order and cleaning the board behind her before grabbing her things and heading out of the room, intent on going back to her room to lay down for a bit. It was evening and most everyone was in the mess hall, so the halls were blissfully quiet at this time, letting her mind wander as it was prone to do when she had a few spare moments to herself.

Her thoughts flashed over the previous days, enrolling Nico in kindergarten…well not quite, but close enough, the people she’d spoken with, and her little ‘adventure’. She’d woken up sufficiently embarrassed and booked it silently out of the room without looking back and had been…avoiding?...a certain male ever since. The whole thing had come out of left field but she’d been sober enough to know what she was doing…having sex with Kohaku.

The thought caused her to stop and lean against the wall, tilting her head forward as she thought, hair sliding down to hide her face and closed amethyst eyes. She was definitely a bit nervous, especially since she’d altogether stopped sleeping around and a few months after seeing Ian again, she’d slept with others. It was just a mess for her, especially with Nico now in the picture. Maybe she should find Ko and apologize to him for that whole night? Especially when she knew he wasn’t prone to sleeping around with people.

That was what made her feel bad as well, sleeping with someone who didn’t sleep around and hadn’t ever been as much of a whore as she had been. Asher sighed and pushed her hand through her hair, straightening up with renewed determination as she turned to head down the hall, intent on doing something else tonight instead of her normal routine.

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

Another long day, the hours fell away so easily with his classes. A few months ago he took on teaching a second class, he had already been planning to set Mink up in school, so the man figured he would have lots of time to spare without his small son around. His thoughts however didn’t seem to think all the way through the past few months. Certainly not lately, he had been doing things way out of line and out of character for himself. The drinking, the chain-smoking, and his rather risky nights that seemed to have popped up occasionally; he could not keep this up, the man knew this and had been thinking of a way to fix himself up as of lately. The last few weeks had been just that, fixing all his mistakes to keep his life back on the right line. Mink was enrolled in to the village school, he finally took up his dear cousin’s offer to join him in the school and with caring for Mink, and he was back in school again. When his wife passed, he dropped from his college classes and swiftly left his home with his son. He regretted that now of course, so the man didn’t waste any more time before finishing what he started.

Of course this left many long nights. Spending the days teaching and the evenings with his son, it only left night time for the man to do the new school he had gotten himself in to. It was over the internet, something that he wasn’t very fond of, but the professors he worked with were kind enough. They spoke several times over the phone, they were understanding to his situation and gave him a bit more leeway then the man felt he needed. Either way, he was happy to be getting this settled again, that was until recently. That dreaded phone call he got from his nervous ‘sister’, the details of the report that made him shiver. It was horrible knowing someone you cared for was in ICU, to know they were lingering between being able to be in your arms again, and a cold grave. Perhaps that is what drove him to take up his colleges offer to drink that night, or perhaps it was the stress from everything lately. Kohaku wasn’t a man to give in so easily to the stressful times, but lately it was almost impossible not to. Everything seemed to be going to hell.

Of course making his rather ‘sinful’ mistake didn’t help matters either, but he tried not to think about it. He wasn’t shocked when the woman was gone when he awoke, perhaps it was better that way, not awkward tension between them. He had not seen the woman since, and shamefully he had to admit she was the last thing in his thoughts. The only one in his thoughts was another woman, though not one he had any relationship with, but more a relation to. That call killed him, to hear his sweet little ‘sister’s’ voice choked with sobs as she explained the woman he met as a child with his best friend and again as a man, was gone. He almost dropped the damn phone during that conversation, and he didn’t even remember walking before he found himself clinging to one of the only people here he trusted enough to call a ‘close friend’ and show his vulnerable side. That wasn’t to say Kohaku was a hard ass, not in any way, but he certainly kept a thick wall between him and others.

That wasn’t even something he wanted to have in his thoughts lately. He pushed himself into his work, and now his school work, trying to do his best and keep his usual manner up. He was over the news, it wasn’t something he could change so he simply accepted it and forced his life on. It fact nothing even close to that situation was in his head, it was utterly blank at the moment. Ko had let his class out early, and set to working on his classes when he ended up taking a sudden nap at his desk. Sadly this wasn’t rare for him, to sleep in his office during that day and stay up the entire night to repeat the something the next day. Bad routine, but it was his none the less.

Giving a weak yawn, the male lifted his glasses a bit to rub at his eyes with the hell of his hand. He had no bag with him, he wasn’t an organized teacher like that, so at least he didn’t have anything fuss over till he got home and could merely fall on to his couch; and get used pillow by his tiny, strange pup. The thought almost made the man smile, but his attention was taken away by the sight of another in the hall, something he wasn’t really use to at this time of night, until he saw whom they there. The man wasn’t sure whether to merely pass the woman, no doubt she was heading back to her room as well, or to be polite and greet her. Only giving an inner sigh, too blank minded at the moment to make decisions, he let a hand rub at the sore place on his neck from the way he slept and the other give a weak wave before finding its way back to the pocket of his jeans. The woman could choose to act on the greeting or ignore it; he wasn’t going to force either. He didn’t put much thought into crossing her path, or how awkward it should have been. Perhaps this was one of those times when his blunt, naïve nature came in handy, or perhaps was the issues.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! 967
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! IT SUCKS FORGIVE ME Dx

[Asher LeBeau]

Asher turned slightly, enough to catch the hesitant wave Ko gave to her. She smiled politely, standing up straight as she pushed her hair back out of her face, biting briefly on her lower lip a she nodded. “Ko…” she murmured, voice soft with the accent trailing delicately over her words. “Long time no see.”

She paused, almost pulling her thoughts back in line before she looked him over, tilting her head to the side and shoving her hands into her pants pockets before she spoke again, teasing the tongue ring against her lip in a nervous gesture. “How have you been faring?”

The words were sincere and she truly meant them as she considered Ko a true friend, something she hadn’t had in a long time. Asher had devoted her life to her son and had pretty much cut off all unnecessary human contact. So now with Nico enrolled in school, she had more free time and was trying to branch out, learn to rekindle human relationships with others.

Shifting slightly on her feet, she regarded the older male with a pensive stare from amethyst eyes as she lifted one hand to toy with a strand of hair, feeling rather nervous.

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

The woman's response almost surprised him, but Kohaku didn't show it. Instead he gave a light nod in agreement. "..Days pass quickly here" If only students could say the same. It seemed to only teachers that the days passed quicker then one would have wished. Too bad they couldn't say 'time flies when you are having fun' cause he severally doubted their work could be viewed as fun

Attempting to give a weak smile, he lightly nodded to the woman's words and glanced away from her only a moment before back to hold the gaze that rested on him. "I am well enough. I pray you are better?" His words were soft, as always. It was rather obvious the expression on her face, the nervousness that rests in her eyes.

Kohaku debated a moment, stepping towards the woman with rather concerned eyes. It was odd to see this woman nervous, and not her usually brass front. He softly asked if she was alright?, worried that perhaps something was bothering the woman. He too thought of her as a friend, and it was disheartening to see someone with such a strong way about them, looking this nervous.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! *enter number here*
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! IT SUCKS FORGIVE ME Dx

[Asher LeBeau]

Asher blinked a few times before nodding and sending him a reassuring smile. “I am well enough, just getting used to having Nico enrolled in school and actually being around humans again,” she said, her voice amused. She leaned back against the wall, tamping down the nervousness in her frame as she looked up at Ko, giving him a reassuring smile.

“But thank you for your concern…How is your family doing?” she asked, alluding to their conversation a few days ago. Violet eyes showed genuine compassion and concern for him as well as a sincere concern for the other person in the hospital, even though she’d never met them. That was something Asher could never tamp down, a genuine concern for everyone around her despite never meeting them.

She was a sweet person deep down, and it often led people to wonder how she had become such a whore in her earlier years when she was such a caring person for the rest of the world. Unfortunately Asher had learned long ago that most people didn’t care and she had hardened herself to it and started only caring for people that she became close with or even trusted.

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

Family, last word the man wished to hear, but he didn't show his current disgust for the word. He avoided the question for the moment, merely focusing instead on the woman's mention towards her son. He was starting school as well? The man eased at the subject, giving the lightest nod. It was odd, hearing of children that weren't sporting handcuffs.

"Is he? He will be with Mink.. and Charles" He frowns lightly at the name. "Apparently another staff child" Kohaku falls silent again, shifting the grey jacket in his arms. His thoughts drifted back to the man's question, and he knew he couldn't avoid it. Just giving a sigh, he softly shrugs his shoulders.

"Mink is doing wonderful. He is very happy lately.." He pauses and looks to the woman, giving a weak smile. "thank you for the concern" He hesitates, eyes looking away from her. "They passed away." It was all he could say, no details or such, he wasn't that lose. Kohaku was always like that is seemed. Working around questions to give information, but never enough. He knew for a fact no one at this school knew another personal about him. Ko was good at keeping personal information down. He had no real reason to though, that was the worst part of it.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! *enter number here*
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! IT SUCKS FORGIVE ME Dx

[Asher LeBeau]

Asher widened her eyes slightly before dropping the violet gaze to stare at the floor. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear before nodding, chewing her bottom lip before speaking. “..I am sorry to hear that, Kohaku. I…I am here if you need to talk to someone,” she said softly, the Hawaiian accent trailing over the words.

As a woman and a mother, her instinct was to hold and comfort and tell them everything would be okay, but she also knew that Ko was too old to believe the normal words, so she respected the man’s space. Shifting on her feet, she finally dared to look up at the man before forcing a comforting smile over her lips as she watched him.

Sensing the wish for a change in subject, she smiled lightly at the mention of the children. “Yes, he will be happy to have someone there that he knows. It will be good, to finally get him out of here and with other children, granted he is with older children because of where he is in the school system.”

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

The man silently watched the girl for a moment, struggling with how to react. He had two things mauling in his mind, which always were. His wants and his needs that is. He wanted so badly to hug the woman, the sight of that look on her face was enough to tear his will. This needs challenged him though, his need to keep up his mask of indifference, of being unaffected by such soft emotions. Kohaku could never explain why he had this certain mask, why he tried so hard to keep it up. Mostly, the only reason he could grasp, was because he didn’t want to let people in again. Every time he let them close, it came back and hit him hard. He was paranoid almost, whish in his eyes was nothing but weak. Kohaku hated weak things.

“ Thank you for the offer. You are very kind “ He spoke softly, his eyes only barely on the girl and forcing himself to keep from turning way, in fear that the confusion would show in his eyes. Working here for the past four years, it was strange having a co-worker who was actually kind. In fact, it was strange having a co-worker he actually spoke with. Really it was only Ro that he tended to exchange words with in the past. Still, in a way, he knew the woman’s words were a default response to the situation really. Either way, they were nice to hear.

Hearing the woman speak of children, kohaku found himself frowning, watching her silently. This child was only twenty four. She was already a single mother. It was moments like this that made Kohaku angry. Of course they were the same age, both single parents, but Kohaku was different. He had his cousin here, and aid whenever he needed it. Did Asher have that? Who was helping her? Without much thought, Ko stepped towards the girl and gave almost a light smile, laying a soft hand on her head as he often did to his students, when praising them. “You are a tough girl Asher.. “ With those words, his hand fell around her shoulders to softly hug the girl, without much meaning. He wasn’t really sure why, but he did it. Instead of fussing over the regret he would feel later, hating showing this softness, he merely sighs. “I should be the one offering you a shoulder. I know you will do fine.. but if you ever need help with things for Nico, I would be happy to assist you. No matter what it is, you can hold me to my words. “ He falls silent, closing his eyes. Kohaku didn’t know what would happen now. Either she would accept it, or get angry at him. Either way, he was glad he said it. Asher had been kind to him, he wanted to return it to her, and this was the only way he knew how. Though at the moment, he was silently hoping he didn’t over step some boundary. It didn’t matter what happened between then those nights ago, he still thought of her as a friend, and he still wanted to help her.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! *enter number here*
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! IT SUCKS FORGIVE ME Dx

[Asher LeBeau]

Asher smiled faintly at the contact before shaking her head, amused at his actions. The words were nice to hear and she hadn’t been speaking to Ian lately. Actually the gypsy had been hard to find, and she hadn’t gone looking for him either. She’d buried herself in work lately and had really only spoken to a few co-workers in passing. Ko was really the only other person she’d grown close to as a friend and hadn’t shied away from when they started talking.

Although after their lapse in judgment, she’d expected the man to never speak to her again. Running into him had been a stroke of luck, whether bad or good had yet to be determined. Shifting violet eyes to look up at the man-idly in the back of her mind she noted just how tall he was compared to her-she smiled faintly at him.

“Thank you for the offer, Ko,” she murmured, words soft and truthful. She paused for a moment before reaching up and patting his arm, pausing before she kissed his cheek gently, almost in a maternal way. “It means a lot coming from you,” she continued, implying that it was known he didn’t offer things often to others, much less speak about his personal life with them.

Raising a hand, she brushed her hair out of her face, letting it trail over her shoulders and down her back, reaching her hips in a wavy mass, reflecting her heritage. Her lips curled up in a smile, a real smile, before she returned the soft hug. “You are more kind than you make it seem, Ko,” she teased gently. “Perhaps you should smile more.”

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

The woman’s words made him ease a bit, thankful he was not being scolded. He tried to not venture on to the grounds of the woman’s past, nor her relationship with that Ian fellow – a name he would rather not think about. He caught the soft hint among the words, but didn’t respond to them in either expression or his own words. Kohaku knew he didn’t speak about his personal life, in fact with a doubt there wasn’t a single person in the school that knew anything about him before the age of twenty, when he got hired here.

The only one was Craig, but the man was family and had known him very long. He kept a tight bottle about himself and about his life. He couldn’t help it, it made him feel safer really. As for not being open towards others in either a form of kindness or trust, the man couldn’t really say why. Until recently, the man simply kept relationships limited to his son and the few students who he had grown an attachment to. Lately however, he had been taking chances; he had been getting to know the staff he worked so hard to avoid the last four years.

Four years, it had really been that long since he turned up at Ridgestone, with an empty heart and a baby boy in tow. If the man ever took the chance to look back, he really had changed. He spoke now, more than he had before, and he was willing to let people close. Close meaning he spoke to them and let them know the so very blunt facts that were not worth hiding that is. A man of secrets, he had been that way as a child and it seemed the trait was bound to him forever.

Kohaku found his eyes on the woman’s hand for a moment, silently watching her actions before it fell down to her body, his eyes then once more meeting hers. They widen a bit at the hug though, rather surprised when the woman returned his actions. He was happy though, just making sure to keep it from showing. Of course the words that followed after this were a slight pinch at him. Smiling. He only gave tiny smiles to his son, to keep him smiling; otherwise he didn’t feel a need for it. Like laughing. He could not remember the last time he had laughed; it was no doubt more than four years ago.

Still, he didn’t let his mind focus on these thoughts and instead gave her a soft shake of his head, an arm loosely around her shoulders. Kind? That wasn’t a word he heard often. “Am I..? Strange” It was almost a pondering thought, how cold did he seem? He didn’t want the answer, because his hope was that it was bluntly obvious he was a rather detached fellow when it came to things like kindness and emotions. The shameful thing was moments like this though, when he couldn’t contain his natural instincts to aid those he favored. Giving a soft sigh, he only gave another soft shake with his head. “tsk..smiling is not a trait of mine dear.. Besides, then people would think me to be soft..~” He spokes the words lightly, a teasing tone of his own this time. Even he had a sense of humor, and thankfully not always a snarky one.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! *enter number here*
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! fail =w=

[Asher LeBeau]

Ash smiled gently, looking up at the taller male before shaking her head, amused at his words and antics. Ko was always a different one and he liked to keep to himself quite a bit. It had taken some time for the tiny Hawaiian to get anything more than a polite hello, but they had bonded over being single parents…although she technically could go to Ian at any time and have him step up to take care of Nico.

She halted her thoughts right there before she went any farther and instead refocused on the man in front of her. She gave him a happy smile, amused and let it show in her amethyst eyes, making them sparkle like the jewel they resembled. Most people thought her eyes were a deep blue until she was possessed with a strong emotion and the violet showed through, such as now.

Running a hand through her hair, she shoved the tendrils back behind her ear as she shrugged and smiled before leaning against the wall, shoving her hands in her pockets. “So long as you keep your son happy, then it’s all good,” she said with a slight laugh. “He is rather adorable.”

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

Kohaku found himself staring at the smaller girl, his attention captivated by her. Those eyes were indeed quite beautiful, something he had noticed before of course. He was only human, he did nice the pleasant factors on other people, he just merely kept silent and never spoke of this fact. One of the things he did notice was how beautiful her gaze was. It was breath taking when she stared for too long, such as the current moment. Take a light breath, the man didn’t turn his gaze away out of curtsy, but was forced when she flashed that smile. Lightly fussing with his jacket for a short moment, a merely sigh escaped the male before his gaze was on her once more.

“ I hope he is happy. I never really know..” The truthful words made him want to winch but he instead focused on the woman he watched her lean against the wall. Kohaku himself kept his arms crossed over his chest for a few moment, merely softly shaking his head. “He enjoys the students here.. he likes when they visit my apartment” He spoke the words easily, not very thinking on how this would seem strange to the other. He wasn’t shy to let people into his home, in fact having a student or two sleep over in his apartment when they were having issues. He wasn’t kind to the staff, it was so obvious, but the students Kohaku had a rather obvious soft spot for.

As the silence set in, Kohaku found his thoughts wandering a moment. He was pleased the air wasn’t heavily awkward though he knew it lingered. He almost wanted to apologize to the woman, for the nights previous actions but he didn’t wish to break the hold on the subject. He had to though, his proper habits told him to always be honest with a lady. So, he gave a sigh and spoke to her once more. “Asher.. for the other night.” He hesitated a moment before merely giving what was almost a ghost of a smile, softly whispering ‘désolé’ as he gently pecked the woman’s cheek. Hopefully it would settle the hidden situation. After all, she was a friend he didn’t plan to lose.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! *enter number here*
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! fail =w=

[Asher LeBeau]

Asher smiled faintly at Ko’s words, shaking her head briefly, almost ready to scold him gently about being nicer to his son before he spoke again. She bit the inside of her bottom lip as he spoke, knowing that he probably felt more awkward than she did. The ghost of a kiss and a whisper made her nod. For once she was grateful she spoke multiple languages and understood what the Frenchman was saying.

Lifting her gaze once more, she shook her head, her own accent trailing over her words. “It is alright, Kohaku. I should be apologizing for letting you get drunk when I said I wouldn’t,” she murmured with a self-depreciating smile. “That was my fault.”

Ash dropped her gaze again, staring at a point just beyond his shoulder, at the wall before changing the subject back to Mink, a safer area. “Perhaps then you should take a day to find out what makes him happy, let him be in control,” she said, nodding once. “Then you’ll know the difference between a happy Mink and a content Mink.”

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[Kohaku R. LeBara]

• •
SOMETIMES I FIND IT HARD
• to believe there's someone else who could be •
JUST AS MESSED UP AS ME

The man couldn’t help the weak sigh, softly shaking his head. “No.. you were trying to help me- which you did. You kept me from worrying myself sick” Which wasn’t far from the truth. When it came to those girls, the sisters he knew since he younger years, he did indeed tend to worry too much. It would not be the first time he worried of them so much, he neglected his own care to fuss over them. That was simply family he supposed. None the less, he couldn’t say he regretted their little deed, cause well he didn’t, as shameful as it was to admit such. He wasn’t about to admit that to anyone but himself of course.

The woman seemed nervous almost, it was rather strange. Merely looking at her for a bit, he gave a weak shrug with his shoulders. He was merely glad their current relationship—friends—was not harmed by this. So he really didn’t fuss over what had happened. It was over, and this was now. The thing that was bothering him though was the look the woman carried. Of course, always one to be curious and worried, he asked gently. “What are you dwelling on Asher? You seem to be in such deep thought..”

Her next words shocked him, not really sure what to say. Spend the day with mink? What an odd offer. He and Mink use to of course spend much time together, but a bit less so since the little one started school. He never neglected his boy though. The moment Mink came home with Craig, the man always put a pause on his work to play with his boy. He didn’t want to ever let Mink that his father didn’t love him—he was Kohaku’s world. In the same note though, he was also Kohaku’s biggest reminder of the past. Sometimes when Mink would smile at him with those eyes it felt like a rope around his heart that kept pulling tighter. His eyes and his laugh, they were all like his mother’s and there were no words to describe the pain. That didn’t mean that he was going to ever tell him this though. He always gave mink small smiles, even when it hurt the most. He swore to raise the little one in a good home, a proper environment.

His eyes stayed on Asher for a moment, simply watching her and holding in his urge to lightly smirk, but instead kept up the usual calm demeanor. “..He likes animals.. dogs mostly. Baking too.. he is always asking me to do such with him..” He lets his gaze fall a bit away from her, though a contently pleased look on his face. “I shall of course if him a day, just for him..but I only mean I fuss. I never really know if he’s happy or just smiling because he can..” That was a trait he really wished he didn’t get from his mother, those false smiles, he wanted all of the child’s smiles to be real, to be very real.

TAGGED ! Asher
WORDS ! *enter number here*
OUTFIT ! =w=; that looks horrible but whatever
LYRICS ! sometimes by skillet
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! fail =w=

[Asher LeBeau]

Ash smiled at his comments of his son, nodding and running a hand through her hair as she listened to him and his questions. Shaking her head, she let out a soft laugh, tilting her head back up to regard Kohaku with an interested gaze. “Life, Nico, the normal,” she said. “Well, probably about the thousand page essay I’m writing on the comparison between ancient religions and modern day religious practices,” she said, feeling a slight flush rise to her face.

Shrugging slightly, she seemed almost embarrassed about what she had just sad, but that was Ash. Whenever she was feeling stressed, she turned to writing immensely long essays on the most random and difficult topics she could think of at the time. Giving a slightly shy smile she looked back towards Ko, nodding.

Letting her eyes meet his for a moment, she regarded him steadily before humming slightly as she listened to him, laughing a bit when he talked about Mink liking dogs. The mental image she had was quite amusing, and she was more than happy to let her imagination run, although that occasionally got her into trouble. “Then, why not get him a dog? Something he can take care of and who will be with him while you teach?” she asked, voice innocent.

Shaking her head slightly, she stepped forward and touched Ko’s arm gently, an amused but patient smile on her face. “That’s not what I mean. Tell him the day is for him, do it spur of the moment, and let him decide what to do, where to go, and so on. Let him be in charge completely. Trust me, you’ll feel much more relaxed,” she said, lightly patting his arm. “And I have no doubt in my mind that he knows you love him completely.”

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