Chapter Seventeen: Negotiation:

February 13th, 2011.

7:00 p.m.

Tsuzuki knew he had to talk to his girls. To him, the Mother was first. He walked up to his apartment. To his surprise, Tsuzuki found the Mother waiting for him outside.

“Airi-chan?” he asked. “What are you doing out here?” The kitsune showed him Anna’s phone.

“Okay…” he said. “So what is it?”

“I know what you are going to say,” Airi said. “Tou can’t change my mind.”

“I know,” Tsuzuki said. “I want to help you.”

“Oh?”

“Can we go inside and talk?”

Airi eye him sharply. “Okay…” Tsuzuki followed his wife into their apartment.

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Airi sat on the couch. “Now why do you want to help me kill my children?”

Tsuzuki stood before her. “I don’t want Anna-chan to have blood on her hands.”

“But she already has blood on her hands.”

“That wasn’t her fault.”

“She wished it to be so.”

“But she didn’t expect that to happen.”

“Does it matter? She wished her aunt dead and she got it. She has blood on her hands already.”

“Still, I want her to be happy.”

“What if this revenge quest makes her happy? Do you really what makes her happy? Whose happiness are you really concerned about—hers or yours?”

“Both.”

Airi all but laughed. “Men. You project your happiness on us. What if we don’t want the same thing you do?”

“She’s married and has a daughter.”

“So?”

“Shouldn’t she be happy with her family?”

“Is that what she really wants?”

“Yes. I can see it in her eyes. She looks so happy around Kirika-chan.”

“After practically forced her to play mommy to some orphan brat because of her blood.”

“That’s not the point. Don’t you want Anna-chan to live a normal, happy life?”

“She can’t live a normal, happy life with her family around.”

“Then let me be the one to help you put an end to the clan. Anna-chan doesn’t need to be dragged into more murders!”

Airi snorted. “You?”

“Yes.” Tsuzuki slowly nodded. “I just want Anna-chan to be happy.”

“That shit again?”

“Please?” The shinigami looked like a harmless little puppy. Airi rolled her eyes.

“Fine, whatever,” she muttered. Tsuzuki did his best to contain himself.

“Thank you,” he said. The Mother pressed her hand to her forehead.

“You’re an idiot,” she said. However, her husband had no time to celebrate. He walked over to the couch and sat down next to Airi. He turned her face to his.

“What are you doing?” she asked. Tsuzuki leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Airi sat there. She didn’t push him off. She didn’t give in either. Tsuzuki slowly pulled away.

“That’s proof of my word,” he said. The shinigami pressed his forehead against hers.

“Good night, Airi-chan,” he whispered. The Mother gritted her teeth as Tsuzuki walked down to their room.