"WHAT?!" Mei and Yuzu exclaimed
"I know tha-"
"I-if you two are mates..." Mei said
"D-doesn't that make us..." Yuzu said. The two girls paused before looking at each other then back at the adults
"Stepsisters? Uh...sorta of yes but no. Let me explain first..." Ume said
"Please explain" Yuzu said
"Well...I was born as a peasant and a weakling. My family...had to find ways to survive this world. We got no help from anyone around the village so I did what I had to do and steal a few things. We lived normally for a couple of years. We moved a couple of times around town until one day...the village began to panic since it was under attack. I didn't understand what was going on nor did my parents but we were prisoners for the Nishihara Kingdom. I ended up getting separated from my mother for no reason. I didn't know what they would do to be so I was scared at first..." Ume said as she looked down
Flashback
"Mom! Dad! Wh-what will they do to me?!" Ume exclaimed as she whimpered
"Don't worry Ume! Everything will be okay!" Her mother said
"We will get out of this! We promise to find you!" Her father said. Ume trembled and soon the cage started to move along with the other cages. She looked confused at first and flinched as she shifted to her dog form. Ume rested on the cage and got taken inside the castle
"Bring in the young prisoners" The guard said as he held the door open. Ume took a small peek and saw all the guards standing in one row while a man with dark black eyes sat in the throne and beside him sat a young girl around Ume's age
"Take them out" The man said coldly. The guards nodded and started to open the cages. Ume's ears perked up and she was still in her dog form. The young boys and girls stepped out of their cages while Ume only trembled inside her cage
"Hey! Step out!" The guard ordered and Ume snarled at the guard. He only raised his weapon and ended up stabbing her side. Ume yelped in pain but thanks to her powers she was able to heal herself
"Huh?" The guard asked and Ume tackled him before jumping off of him then ran away heading towards the exit
'This is my chance! I'm going to be free! I'll find them! Once I do we'll-'
Ume's thoughts were interrupted as she saw a pair of glowing lavender eyes
"Where do you think you're going puppy?" A soft voice was heard and Ume got attacked before getting pinned down. She whimpered and trembled as she looked at the young princess above her. Ume shifted back to normal and pinned her ears back
"Let me go!" Ume growled but Alyssa only smiled warmly as she kept a tight grip
"Hey father. Is it alright if I keep this prisoner as my servant?" Alyssa asked
"Do whatever you want" The King said and Alyssa smiled
"Eh?" Ume asked
'Her servant!?'
After a couple of minutes, Ume was in the princess's room. Alone with her in the room. Ume was trembling a bit while Alyssa was picking out her clothes
"Here. Wear this" Alyssa said
"...where are my parents?" Ume asked
"Forget them. Let's get to know one another" Alyssa said as she smiled
"...why?" Ume asked and Alyssa cupped her cheek leaning in closely
"Because...I like you" Alyssa said
End Of Flashback
"Alyssa and I became partners even though I kept pushing her away. She annoyed me every single time and kept...confessing to me non stop. Anyways...we were quite happy together. I knew she was going to get a finance soon since she was a princess and all but...she reassured me that we would be together. But...that's when things took a turn and...I was sent out to murder...well...your father. The Nishihara and Aihara were already working together that time so...they wanted to destroy the future heir to the throne. Of course it wasn't going to be easy since Yongi is quite a tough fighter. I ended up failing my mission and was taken in as a prisoner. It was hard for me to fit in since everyone hated me and looked at me as a traitor...but Yongi actually helped me a lot" Ume said and reached out to hold his hand
"We became quite close that we...ended up getting together. I ended up forgetting about Alyssa since I decided to stay on the Okogi clan. In return...Alyssa murdered my parents and told me that it wasn't over. I knew she would end up hurting me again...but I never thought she would go after you at that time" Ume said
"So...she went after me that time because she wanted revenge?" Yuzu asked
"I guess so...but she ended up...going after your grandmother instead..." Ume said. Yuzu noticed Mei's expression as she started to tremble because of the topic
...is it...okay to bring it up?
"...but Yuzu...you know she never meant to kill you or well...she regrets it" Ume said as she looked down
"H-huh? Wait...wh-what?" Yuzu asked
"Alyssa....actually saved you. Or well...she so what saved you..." Ume said as she met up with Yuzu's eyes. Yuzu's eyes widened and stood up from her seat
"Save me!? What the hell do you mean?!" Yuzu exclaimed as she slammed her hands on the table
"Yuzu...it's the truth" Yongi said as he looked down
"H-huh? What...do you mean? She killed her! She killed grandma! She tried to kill me too!" Yuzu exclaimed
"Your memories...from that time. Must've been a blur..." Ume said and held out the necklace
"Wh-what are you doing?" Yuzu asked
"Keep your eyes on the necklace...it'll only take a second and see what truly happened back then" Ume said before the necklace glowed. Yuzu only trembled before she looked at the necklace and it glowed brighter. Suddenly a big flash appeared and Yuzu only shut her eyes and opened them again. She gasped and looked around
Wait...this place is...
"Grandma! Grandma! Why!?" The girl cried. Yuzu's attention was caught by the young black haired girl who was crying and coughing blood. Yuzu's eyes widened for a moment and trembled
"Hey! Wait! Grandma!" Yuzu exclaimed but of course no one could hear since it was a memory
"You were never meant to be born. You could've at least been gifted with the power but you were born worthless. I told Yongi never to hook up with that traitor. I still don't get what he saw in her or why he kept her alive. He should've killed her at that moment! Maybe give me a grandchild who is actually able to fight back!" The old woman said and attacked the young girl. Yuzu only watched in horror as she saw how her grandmother beat the young girl until a black aura appeared behind them. Yuzu saw the black haired woman with lavender eyes attack her grandmother and soon slaughtered her. Alyssa stared at the little girl coughing blood and gritted her teeth before grabbing her
"Y-you...you're the reason she left! Damnit! Damnit! Dam-" Alyssa paused as Yuzu coughed and cried in pain. Something sparked inside her and gritted her teeth before grabbing the old woman's body and tore it apart taking away her heart
"You can't even protect yourself huh? You're quite weak and pathetic...I don't get why Mei likes you...grr..." Alyssa growled and grabbed Yuzu's mouth forcing it open before shoving it inside
"MMMPH!" Yuzu cried
"Swallow damnit! Don't you want to live!?" Alyssa exclaimed and Yuzu gulped the heart. She coughed and cried since she was confused
"...haah...I don't want Mei to hate me for this but...if she truly is your future soulmate. Then I'll just curse you...and see if it is true" Alyssa mumbled as her eyes glowed before grabbing the girl
"Wh-what the hell...is this?" Yuzu asked as she trembled and felt a soft warmth from behind
"Yuzu...wake up" She heard a whisper. Yuzu only closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. She opened them again and found herself back in the room
"H-huh? Wait...I'm back?" Yuzu asked as she trembled
"You saw...?" Ume asked
"Wh-why...why did she try to kill me?! What did I do?!" Yuzu exclaimed
"Yuzu, I understand how yo-"
"Did you knew about this?! Have you been keeping this from me?! Just how long?! For how long did you plan to stay silent?!" Yuzu exclaimed
"Yuzu...calm down" Mei said as she held her arm and Yuzu only gritted her teeth pinning her ears down
"...we ended up finding you unconscious. You were barely breathing so we rushed back to the emergency room. Liana's mother...ended up checking your body and heart since your wound was located in that area. We were also confused on your werewolf soul since you were born like your mother. After some research for a couple of days...they found out that it was your grandmother's soul inside your body. Her powers ended up developing within you and it helped you get these other powers...including...that mind control power you have" Yongi said
"...is it true...that she murdered...the innocent? I've spoken with the demon...and she told me. How grandmother was a terrible person because she used her power...to kill them" Yuzu said. Yongi's ears pinned down and trembled
"I'm still...not sure. I did know about my mother's...intentions about ruling over other lands but father ended up stopping her. He didn't want to cause too much trouble since the Aihara were already enough trouble for him so...I never heard another word about that plan of hers" Yongi said as he sighed
"...sh-she...did she...hate me that much?" Yuzu asked as she clenched her fists tightly
"...it was never your fault Yuzu. I'm the one to be blamed for this" Ume said
"Ume...this has not-"
"Yongi...you know very well if I had left...I would've probably been able to stop Alyssa from murdering my parents. Or...at least talk with Alyssa and find another solution instead of attacking your Kingdom. I just wished...I was stronger...back then" Ume said as her expression soften
"Pardon me...but...is it alright...if I asked a question?" Mei asked as she raised her hand
"...your mother...right?" Ume asked
"...yes. About that...incident...how did you manage...to take it?" Mei asked
"Well...I was born with a power...other than healing. I'm able to save souls from vanishing it and store it...inside this necklace my mother gave me. I think she knew I had this power... unfortunately...I can only take in one soul at a time. I can keep them inside for an eternity until the day I die I suppose...so...during that accident. I found her and...well...I just couldn't help it. I had to do something...and so...I took her with me and kept her along my side" Ume said as she held the necklace
"Is it possible...to bring her back?" Mei asked anxiously. Ume looked at her and held the necklace
"Yes...and...I'll be honest. I took her body...and preserved it" Ume said
"EH?!" Everyone exclaimed including Yongi. Ume sighed as she trembled
Shit...I forgot he didn't know about this

After the serious conversation, Yuzu and Mei were in their room having different emotions. Mei felt a bit happy knowing that there might be a way to see her mother again. On the other hand, Yuzu felt a rage emotion inside her but also an aching feeling inside her chest. She pinned her ears down and clenched her fists tightly before releasing steam from her palms
"Yuzu..." Mei spoke softly catching her attention. Yuzu jumped and looked at her
"Ah...h-hey" Yuzu said and soon the heat began to cool off. Mei looked at her and cupped her cheek before leaning in connecting their lips. Yuzu's ears perked up and kissed her back softly. Their kiss lasted for about a minute before pulling away and place their foreheads against each other's. They opened their eyes and blushed deeply staring into each other's eyes
"Yuzu...I know a lot has happened today but...I'm still here for you. I'll always stay by your side. I won't ever leave you...I'm here for you. I promise to always be with you..." Mei whispered as she held her hand and intertwined their fingers together. Yuzu blushed deeply as her heart skipped a beat and hugged Mei
"Mei...I love you so much" Yuzu said as she smiled a little. Mei blushed deeply and wrapped her arms around her. She gasped as Yuzu laid down on the bed with herself above her
"I-I love you too..." Mei said and cuddled her chest. Yuzu stroked her hair softly and smiled a little
Forget about the past... it's all over now...besides...I have my family, friends, and...Mei. Everything will be okay…