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After death, a reincarnation again isn't something he – or she – expected. The pact has already been made, and no one breaks a pact with God.
Aquamarine Hoshino… wasn't the best sibling, that much is a known fact. Even Hikaru kept on hammering it in that she should be nicer to Ruby.
…At first, she never understood. The fact that she had to listen to the one who destroyed everything she held dear, in their past life, wasn't a thing that's easy to come around to. Such is all the abnormalities in this live. Being 50% Elf? That was… weird, but alright. Being 25% Vampire and 25% Kitsune, though? Now that's fancy, and not the kind that she likes, not one bit.
At first, she thought that Vampires would still be confined to her own understanding of them from the past – weak to sunlight, cannot handle cross and cannot eat garlic – two of which she really loved.
But, then…
"…I mean, have you not gotten the memo? I took you out in the stroller as a kid, and you even telepathically conversed with me, Aqua. Are you really that happy to finally settle down from violence?" Ai asked.
"…Yes, Mom. I was too deluded from violence to the point that I couldn't see things straight."
The Vampire-Kitsune, Ai Hoshino, was… the same as she was before. Tsukuyomi lied to her.
…At least, that's what she thought.
"Although, she… never really existed. Even with the database of different realms from our friends, it seems she only existed in that reality, and nowhere else. Thus, her jurisdiction will not spread over."
…Frankly, it was confusingly reassuring. At least this way, she can "cheat" God… not that she had to exist in the first place.
"…Still, Aqua, I'll never forgive you."
"…"
"I'll never forgive you for putting Ruby in danger, even before and after death… Even using my name to endanger you and her. You think I'd be happy with my own child putting another one in danger, just to save someone who's not even our family? I like Kana, of course, but that doesn't mean I'll overlook this."
It was a sin that she needed to bear. It was not thoroughly thought out at all.
"Learn to accept that your idealistic end is unrealistic, and you'd still make Ruby go down in the history book as a murderer's daughter… AND a maniac's sister!"
"…Sorry."
"I'll never accept it. Save it to yourself as a reminder that… Now, you're stuck with me."
People who are in the limelight will always catch more flak… This is also true if another party's also a celebrity.
"…Oh well, it's not like that's gonna end our bloodline. You're still my kid, Aqua."
"…Ah?"
"Just… Don't do that again, please. Kana confessed this to me, years ago… She said she does not know how to look in your eye, not because of love or else… But, because you were just on a reckless path, just so she could be safe. Maybe it's love on your end, and maybe you don't love yourself enough… That's why she asked me if I can at least keep you out of harm's way…"
"…Until I can finally exact my revenge," Kana continued, appearing behind them both in their studio. "…Look, Aqua… You remember that day at the baseball park? Y'know, the day I socked your face, with complaints straight through my heart… I really love you, and I really hate you."
"…"
"Y'know that feeling? The feeling where you don't hate the other party as much, but you know you cannot go back to where you were with them? It stings."
Aqua stayed silent.
She cannot respond to anything like that, when it's never short of any truth.
"Y'know the day your funeral was held? Yeah, I slapped the shit at your face, to the point Miya-san also did the same. Tell me, how does it feel to betray your mother, twice?"
"…Ah, right. Miya-san also told me that she's still pissed about the whole thing. Although, she sympathized with you, Kana… At least that's what she told me."
"…Yeah, I get it."
"…I cannot do anything now, can't I? The only thing I can do… is shoulder the consequences of my actions, and make sure I never turn 'bad' again."
"…Let's not say bad, kiddo. Let's say… we won't let our group go back to that point, ever again."
With the overwhelming success that Hoshino Productions and Kamiki Productions are basking in, it's one of the safest ways that they wouldn't go back there. Ai worked very hard to ensure that everyone under her wings are protected.
"Though… It's unfair, really. It's unfair to me, Ai-san, Aqua."