70 Centre of Attention I

'So that's what happened...'

Everything was perfect for the first week of their trip to Hokkaido, and then... Anna got hungry during the second week. Yuki went hunting something for her and she ate, but it wasn't enough... two days of hunt and a total of ten youkai was all it took for Anna to recompose herself, but just for one day. 

Yuki then decided that in order to control her hunger, Anna needed to train her mental fortitude and that was when they took her to Mount Yotei... the problem with his plan was that it was doomed to fail as Anna just wouldn't get past this addiction. If it wasn't my blood, she wouldn't calm down.

She attacked Yuki and ate one of his wings, they fought and if not for Hasshaku-sama, Anna would have eaten both Sanae and Yuki.

This story left me with a mixture of feelings, especially regarding this Hasshaku-sama who after 'defeating' Anna, gave her a bit of her blood for the girl to regain her sanity a bit. 

Nevertheless she still 'killed' Anna and was planning to keep her captive until Sanae and Yuki found them, so I can't tell this tall woman is blameless. 

"What do you expect of me? with such a cute and dangerous little girl, I wanted to keep this sweetheart for myself~" Hasshaku-sama said with Anna sitting on her lap. After having plenty of my blood... she was now having hers. 

This girl's appetite for blood is only surpassed by her appetite for snacks. 

...

We were all sitting in the main hall of a hotel in Sapporo that Yasaka booked for us, having our meal and discussing. I can agree that Anna's hunger has been certainly going out of hand but according to what they said, her strength has also increased ridiculously. 

"Even then I can't completely forgive you for this... the reason Anna could come back was partly thanks to me, I didn't even know I had blessed her that way. If I hadn't... Anna would be dead now".

"I forgive her, Ray-chan" It was Anna who interrupted me, she even stopped sucking Hasshaku-sama's wrist, sh*t... how much willpower did it take for you to stop?

"But Anna-"

"If she hadn't stopped me... I would have eaten Oka-san and Otou-san... I wouldn't have forgiven myself for that".

I know she wouldn't have and that's why I have mixed feelings. Is there really anyone to blame here? I don't think there is. 

"Anna-chan..." Even her parents couldn't look at Hasshaku-sama that way, they wouldn't have minded dying instead of Anna, but that wouldn't have ended her rampage, after them... who knows what her berserk self would have done? eating normal people?

"The Shinchu is a very troublesome Youkai to begin with, I am afraid this girl's fate is unknown and she will belong in the supernatural world from now on, thankfully for you two, she's Ray-sama's best friend so she should have a smooth sail into the supernatural community" Yasaka added.

"We just hoped she'd live a normal life for as long as necessary... we didn't hope for her to become a criminal or a fugitive in the community, such has always been the fate of us Shinchus, to be hated and hunted..." Yuki held his daughter's hand across the table but there wasn't worry in his gaze, instead, there was a lot of relief that everyone sitting at this table, cared about his daughter. 

"That is not going to happen. As you know, I am about to merge the West and East Yokai Faction... after I become the absolute authority of the supernatural scene in Japan, I wouldn't put Anna through such a predicament, even you two... now that this chapter of my life is over, I wanted to talk to you, Sanae".

Deep gulps were heard in the room as I stood up and pulled both Hasshaku-sama and Anna-chan. 

"Eh? But I want to hear!" Anna complained while Hasshaku-sama giggled, for some reason she was rubbing my palm. 

"Don't be naughty and let's go, don't you want to get some snacks with me and Kuu-chan?"

"Yay!"

"You're too easy to convince..."

**

**

Ray, Anna and Hasshaku-sama departed the room, leaving just Sanae, Yuki and Yasaka. The latter sat lazily on her chair as if thinking of what to do while the other two awaited their verdict. 

"Before you say a word, Yasaka-sama".

"..."

"I want you to know that regardless of what decision you make. I will love you and respect you forever. And the betrayal my family has done to you has weighed on my conscience ever since".

"..."

"If I didn't have my precious daughter, I wouldn't mind if you killed me... that would at least mind I repaid this debt somehow-"

"What are you talking about for a while now?" Yasaka mumbled with her ears fluttering in confusion. 

"Hmn... you see... aren't we going to be punished?" Yuki hugged his wife and asked with apprehension, they'd take whatever punishment she decided to impart. With the strength she displayed, it wasn't like they could do much to avoid it. 

"Punishment? It is me who wishes that Ray-sama would punish me".

"Pardon?"

"Forget it. I'm not going to give you two any punishment... instead, I will give you an offer... the offer is to work for me as my servants".

!!!

"Y-Yasaka-sama, are you for real!?" Sanae stood up abruptly, walked all the way to the other end of the table, knelt in front of Yasaka, took her palm within her own and asked in disbelief. 

"Yes, I'm being serious... I forgive you two for what you have done to me".

"..."

Tears rolled down, for her, it was like she was born anew. 'I forgive you' were the words she had longed to hear.

"Thank you... thank you!"

Sanae cried and kissed her lady's palm the ultimate act of servitude, as for Yasaka, she just smiled and rubbed the woman's hair. 

"I too have a daughter... I too would have done anything to protect her. I can blame you with my heart but not with my brain, Sanae. It wasn't your fault... the one that put us in this predicament is gone so let's enjoy that peace together. No more drama in our lives~"

"It will be as you said!~"

Yuki was satisfied with this outcome, he didn't even ask why he was being considered to be her servant too, reasons didn't matter... they owed her this much and with his daughter's future assured with Ray, he didn't have to worry. Their daughter and son-in-law were just the perfect pair. 

The Shinchu took a sip of tea and enjoyed this newfound peace that seemed to dawn on them after years of grievances. 

"Now, Sanae, Yuki... I hope you don't mind me and your daughter sharing the same boyfriend, right?~".

*PFT!* (Yuki)

"Come again?" (Sanae)