You Know You're Something Special [Kokoro/Rio]

Sun Jan 26, 2020 4:00 am

Kokoro

Well, given today had been a second failure in a row to go see Keiko, Kokoro was starting to become genuinely disheartened. While normally she would have been on her shift for Realm Enforcement at this time of day, the Captain Commander had told her not to come in if she "felt her mental health would be a risk to her safety on patrol." Kokoro felt like maybe that was an insult, but it probably wasn't supposed to be. She was probably just getting mad over nothing, but she was getting mad over a lot of stuff, because- UGH.

Kicking a rock into a tree with surprising force, enough to make a loud "thunk" sound, Kokoro sat down by the pond on the Shihoin estate that she had come to find rather familiar. She'd already been here a lot since Yugiri had left, and now she was just barely even able to help anyone. She hated it, she hated her whole job, and she just didn't know what she was supposed to do anymore. Staring into the water, Kokoro just watched the fish, unsure of what was left for her to do.

She needed help. She wasn't sure she could handle anything alone.

Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:36 am

You Know You're Something Special [Kokoro/Rio] Banner-Rio3

Rio Shihoin | Defender of the Family

Blood is thicker than water - such is the ancient proverb that Rio had always modeled her life after. Family always came first; there was no distinction in her views towards those that considered themselves family. With welcoming arms, she wanted all of her siblings and cousins and distant relatives to feel honored to be a Shihoin.

She had no qualms with guiding them towards a better path or protecting them from all forms of harm. It didn't matter who they were or where they came from - to her, as long as they truly supported what the family stood for, they would always have a seat at her table. it turned out, that Kokoro was no exception to the rule.
In fact, she was an embodiment of it. She had never let the fact that she was half Suika prevent her from showing how much this family mattered to her. She shouldered any weight given to her and always remained positive about everything.

If there was any time you would think something was wrong with her, she brushed it off. Her positivity had always been enough to even brighten the mood of the unfaltering shielder. She could relax around Kokoro and laugh about anything.

And yet, Rio caught a glimpse of Kokoro kicking a rock into a tree, with enough force that it caused it to make a loud sound. Had she not glimpsed through the window, the sound alone would've alerted her. Something was wrong. It was not common to see her act out of frustration. It was possible but something felt different.

Rio, utilizing shunpo, immediately flashed towards the pond where Kokoro sat. Staring into the water, it was if Rio could tell from her eyes that something was troubling her. Something that she didn't want to talk about, at least not to anyone who wouldn't understand.

She knew Kokoro might have an apprehension to express those feelings to her, but Rio was not going to let her suffer. She knelt down - wrapping her arms softly around Kokoro, she embraced the woman and spoke in a soft tone, the type of tone mothers would speak towards their children when they were enduring troubled times.

"Kokoro... if something is bothering you, I want to help you. Don't keep your emotions bottled up like mine. Whatever it is, Rio is here to protect you from all of it."

And she meant every word in that sentence as much as she did the heartfelt embrace.

END POST | Unfaltering Shielder

Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:49 am

Kokoro

To be honest, Kokoro was really caught off guard by the hug. She'd expected a quiet moment alone, but instead she felt the warm embrace of a cousin. It was...nice. Even if a small voice in the back of her mind made Kokoro wish it was Yugiri, she wasn't gonna complain at all. Rio was really nice, she always listened. And she gave really good hugs.

"I dunno what I'm supposed to do, Riocchi."

That was all Kokoro could say as she leaned back into Rio's arms. Tears threatened to come through, but she was not gonna ruin her makeup again! She wasn't gonna. She had her pride, even if there wasn't much of it left.

"I wanna see Yugiri, I wanna see Keiko. I wanna help, I just...why can't I help, Riocchi..? What am I doin' wrong!?"

There was genuine anger in her tone as she spat that last question, but it wasn't directed at Rio. It wasn't even really directed at herself. She was just...upset. Very, very upset.

Thu Jan 30, 2020 4:43 am

Rio Shihoin | Defender of the Family

It broke Rio's heart to see Kokoro in this state of mind. As one source of positivity, Rio could always find a moment of peace being in this woman's company. Whether they shared a drink, or even playfully gossiped about the happenings of the Shihoin estate - it was all meant to be fun. Kokoro was a beacon of that, which made Rio all the more stunned to see her break down. She tightened the hug, as Kokoro leaned into her arms and expressed all the bottled up emotions. She couldn't blame the woman.

Keiko - although she never met the woman personally - was injured badly due to Kintori's inability to control her emotion; considering it was a spar, she should've known to use enough force to end the fight, not injure her.

And Yugiri... Rio's eyes seemed to hold a faint frustration within them. The protector of the Shihoin had never felt as if her father had it in him to be so harsh towards his family. She found it hypocritical, considering all the things Chidori got away with in the past. Yugiri could be insufferable sometimes and she was never once to mince words... but to banish her? Rio would not stand for it. Ever.

"Kokoro-Chan... You've done nothing wrong. None of this is your fault. I feel bad for what happened to Keiko. Yugiri? Ha... don't even get me started on how upset I am with Papa. I am aware of what Yugiri did and how it compromised us... but I will not stand for what happened. She didn't deserve that."

She kept her held neatly within the embrace, as she spoke with determination in her tone.

"We'll find Yugiri and we'll bring her back. I don't give a damn about this family name if it means I can't share the few glimmers of happiness I have with you two."

There was so much she wanted to say to her, to truly let Kokoro know how much she could relate to all of this, how helpless she felt during her earliest years.

END POST | Unfaltering Shielder

Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:02 am

Kokoro

Kokoro, honestly, hadn't had anyone just...just show her this affection. The more Rio held her, the more she said, the closer she came to crying. She didn't wanna, not again!

...She did anyway. The fact that her makeup was getting ruined again just didn't even matter, she just wanted to let it all out.

"I just...yeah, you're right..."

She didn't have anything else she could really say to Rio right now, honestly. She had a whole lot of words she wanted to say, a lot of things she wanted to get out and thank Riocchi for. But for now, all she could do was cry.

Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:25 am

Rio Shihoin | Defender of the Family

Rio chuckled as Kokoro struggled to keep her tears from pouring down. Rio knew she was always ever particular of her makeup, and so the thought of ruining it with tears or someone throwing water at her was always on her mind. Rio didn't mind. She didn't even care if the makeup stained her own clothing. At this moment, all she wished was to console her sister and let her know things would be okay. She leaned back against the tree, keeping Kokoro held in her arms. If she wasn't an adult woman, Rio would've likely cradled the girl for what it was worth.

"You know, the position your in now... is one I use to experience myself. When I was younger and Chidori was wandering around and running away from her duties as a noble, I always felt like I was helpless, as if there was nothing I could do. My mother was always in poor health, my father was busy with his duties as head of the clan, and Chidori was never there the way I wanted her to be. So, I locked up my emotions and became the "Shihoin Aegis", the unfaltering shield of this family. I would carry the weight of the family on my shoulders. Even now, I still do that.. but people like you have made that job so much easier. "

END POST | Unfaltering Shielder

Fri Jan 31, 2020 12:06 am

Kokoro

Kokoro cried for a good long while, but thankfully, it wasn't as long a while as the first day after Yugiri had left. That'd just been a mess, a total disaster. No good at all, not for her or her makeup honestly.

"You're... You're real good at protectin' everyone. I guess I just...Iunno Riocchi. I wanna help. I wanna be the best I can, but like, it doesn't feel like I can help, it doesn't feel like what I wanna help with is what everyone else wants. It's not fair."

She wasn't crying now, but there was still a definite pout as far as her expression went. In most scenarios, it might have been cute, but it was honestly fairly genuine right now, even if it was a childish sort of expression.

Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:19 am

Rio Shihoin | Defender of the Family

Rio admired and lauded Kokoro's emotions even amid all of the tears and sullied makeup she had smeared across her shirt. She welcomed moments like these where her relatives could find solace in her and never feel afraid to face the word alone.

Rio was always fond of being that source of reprieve when the days were perilous and everything seemed hopeless. Rio ruffled Kokoro's hair in a playful motion before she decided to offer her advice.

"You know, Kokoro-chan... it isn't always easy when it comes to helping others, trust me. I've walked that road countless times and I wouldn't' change a thing. I suppose what I mean to say is - don't stress yourself out to the point where you end up in tears. So as long as I breathe, I will always help you. We can help others together. Never think for a second that the struggles you go through... are struggles you have to endure alone. I will always be here. Never forget that."

END POST | Unfaltering Shielder

Wed Feb 05, 2020 12:20 pm

Kokoro

Kokoro continued to simply sniffle quietly for a little while longer, not even remotely removing herself from Rio's embrace. She just needed this right now, needed support and understanding and just...help.

"Hey, Riocchi... If I do anything stupid, promise you'll stop me, okay? No matter what I say or what I do. I'm not... I'm not very smart. I don't always know what I'm doin', but I still just try anyway, 'cause I'd rather fail than not try at all. So if I do somethin' dumb when I'm tryin' to help, don't lemme. I'm countin' on you."

She didn't exactly speak with confidence, per se, but Kokoro held her cousin all the tighter as she made that request. She'd do everything that she could to help, everything she thought was right. And if she was wrong, that was okay. She had someone to catch her.

Wed Feb 05, 2020 5:42 pm

Rio Shihoin | Defender of the Family

"You can count on me Kokoro. If you slip up or some idea of yours doesn't go the way you wanted, I'll always be the shoulder you can lean on. When I was younger, I use to make my fair share of mistakes. To reiterate what I said before, we're not perfect or symbols of excellence. We might be nobles but we're just as prone to making a mistake as anyone else. You'll have me by your side when you make those mistakes. I'm not gonna let you face anything alone, remember that."

Rio smiled as Kokoro's embrace grew tighter. She had meant every word she said. If Kokoro needed anything, Rio would be there to soften the fall. She would not let her cousin suffer on her watch.

In fact, she was glad that Kokoro had come to her and expressed herself in this way. It was good to release some tears and frustration, even if it might make you feel embarrassed.

Rio continued to pat Kokoro's head as they remained under the tree by the pond. She would stay here as long as Kokoro desired. One of these days, Rio did want to talk to her cousin about girl talk but for now, she was absolutely fine with offering advice and helping cure her cousin's sadness.

END POST | Unfaltering Shielder

You Know You're Something Special [Kokoro/Rio]

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