27 True Youkais II

"W-What...? If you didn't get big how could you possibly devour twenty kappas?!" 

"About that..." Anna drifted. 

"It was an incredible power... she'd just open her mouth and the next second, their bodies would disappear. I saw it with my eyes" I explained.

"They all just looked like big candies to me so I ate them all!" 

An-chan, don't say something so hideous in such a cute manner. 

"..."

"It must be some sort of mutation, dear".

"But should we take her to Nurarihyon-sama to investigate further?"

"But if we do and she ends up being an asset-"

"We can trust him-"

"We can't!".

Those two started having a private row at each other, Sanae looked a bit apprehended, I could tell she wanted to take Anna with Yasaka as she trusted Yasaka more than this Nurarihyon, but she didn't even dare to suggest that.

"After I met with Yasaka I managed to befriend her, Sanae-san. If this is an issue I can request Yasaka to take a look at An-chan if you're okay with it".

The snow lady bit her lips and eventually nodded, hopefully, time would be enough to heal these severed ties.

We continued chatting until Anna and Yuki cleared out all the dishes in the room, I wondered how he felt about losing an eating contest against his ten-year-old daughter. They had a family moment and pulled me along, promising Anna that they would explain to her everything related to being a Youkai and that she didn't need to be afraid because she had a lot of people taking care of her, people who loved her. 

When she said that, she was looking at me... she's not wrong, although I can't say the same about them, me and my mom like Anna quite a bit, we wouldn't allow anything to happen to her. 

The mother took her daughter to bed and it was finally time for me to head home. 

"I'll walk you back, Ray-kun".

"You don't need to-"

"I want to".

"Okay..."

So he wants to talk in private huh?

...

"I heard a bit about the incident after making some calls to some acquaintances. Ray-kun... what exactly are you, if you don't mind me asking? If you don't wish to answer that is okay, but I consider you a part of my family and would like to know everything about the boy that Anna has chosen".

"Don't you think it is too early to assert that she chose me?"

"I don't see a dimension or parallel universe in which you don't marry my daughter, Ray-kun".

"..." I didn't think he was that confident. 

"I don't know how or when, but I know this is going to happen".

"Do Shinchu have the ability to see the future?"

"Not at all. It is just a fact... no one treats my daughter as well as you do, I have seen you for the past three years. At that time I thought you were very mature for your age but didn't think too much about it, upbringing can make miracles... but now".

"..."

"Now I know for certain you were indeed hiding something".

"I can't reveal to you who I am or what I am without endangering you. Just know that I'm a demigod that just happens to be living in this neighbourhood and I don't have bad intentions with Anna". 

"If you had bad intentions I would have already massacred you".

"You're so friendly~ anyway, we have reached, have a good night, Yuki-san".

"Ray-kun".

"Hmn?"

"Please take care of my daughter now and in the future... I leave her in your hands".

I didn't know if this man was taking a huge load out of his shoulders, or carrying another one. 

"What if I told you that in reality, my age is way greater than hers, would you still say that? Would you still think I'm good for her?" I felt the need to open up.

"I would think... even if that's the case you will be honest with her and wait until she's ready. You have protected her until now, you will protect her then... that's all I care about as her father. Now that she has awakened as a Shinchu... perhaps one even stronger than me, her path is to be together with someone strong".

"..."

"You see, I'm a pathetic man. I'm weak... when I decided to be with Sanae we both knew that we could be hunted, every time I leave to feed myself I know I may not come back to my family... I'm a Shinchu".

"..."

"As such a pathetic man as I am *sob* I could do nothing when they came to my doorstep and threatened to kill my daughter and wife, I could only do whatever they said, even if they took back their words in the end. I'm not strong enough to protect my family, Ray-kun... that's why I'm shamelessly placing her in your capable hands" He fell on his knee and requested me like a proper Japanese man who has found a chance. 

A chance to secure his daughter's happiness and security all in one person, even if he wasn't a hundred per cent certain that I was trustworthy. Perhaps he thinks me and my mom could leave at any moment after this incident.

What a man, it takes balls to do this. 

I helped him up and shook his hand, a gentleman promise.

"I would have done that even if you didn't ask me, Yuki-san. I love that girl, I'm just too much of a coward to admit it now, maybe later once I grow a pair... I will".

I waved my hand back at him and got into my house.

'Sorry Yuki-san... I love Anna, but I'm more afraid of the FBI'.