An Eternal Curse perhaps?

[KIYOMI]

Sakura's sharp and cruel voice sent chills down Kiyomi's spine even though she wasn't the target this time.

She quite literally got flashbacks about what had happened back in the Russian manor, and honestly, Kiyomi would give up her life to never go back to interact with that version of Sakura.

Granted it had been a chance at love and had been softer back then, but it was no different from this moment and it got Kiyomi wondering what in the hall had happened between the mother and daughter for them to be staring at each other like that.

Instinctively, Kiyomi stepped back, careful not to be the reason for Erasthai's ire and Sakura felt it. She felt the moment that her Erasthai pulled back and steered clear of her like she was scared of being a target.

But it wasn't just Sakura who had noticed it.

Otaru, the high guards, and even Izanami noticed it too.

"Fuck," Sakura sighed, running a hand through her wet hair as she tried to think of a way to explain to the good doctor that today was truly not about her being shipped off to wherever.

But then perhaps she just had to show it, so defeatedly, Sakura stepped towards Kiyomi, kissed her temple, and stepped over to where the irrational Izanami was situated.

"You keep forgetting your place, Izanami. You keep forgetting that the only reason you're alive is because I trust my petal's skills and still somehow hope she kills you for the shit you put her through.

"You should be careful, Izanami. Really careful because the sun might never shine on your face again, that much can be arranged in this instant," Sakura warned, her tone chilly as she stared coldly at her, the woman who had nothing on her.

For a moment it was like they were back in the times when the mother and daughter were at odds, fighting for control in a world that knew nothing of a proper balance.

It was the hardest thing that Sakura had ever done and right now, she wouldn't let her Erasthai be mauled by her mother just because the bastard was being impatient instead of staying in line if she wanted to get healed.

"Your Highness, we need to leave so the doctor can attend to the patient," Otaru dared to voice.

Sakura growled at him, making Kiyomi rush to close the door.

She was not ready to answer any questions from Zeydan about what she had done with the patient to earn that many sounds.

Besides it would be really hard to explain to the humans that there were real beasts in human form running around the hospital without so much as a care that this was the one place that catered for people with real health needs.

"I suppose theta is one for all of us," Otaru sighed when Kiyomi came back and took her seat behind the table.

She was scared of how shit could go from here. Sakura was clearly not stable enough to be in the same room as her, but then again, Sakura was the only person Kiyomi trusted to keep her safe in this room.

It was difficult to explain a lot of things, but damn was it hard thinking with the pheromones that Sakura was releasing.

"I'm sorry, Petal," Sakura apologized as she sat on the patient bed in the room, ignorant of how hospitals have worked. That in itself got Kiyomi snickering and Sakura smiling in relief for a brief moment. Perhaps this was progress for them all, right?

"You're wetting the bed, Saki," Kiyomi pointed out delicately like she was worried that the woman would flip. But then she saw the way Sakura was looking at her and even better, the Kimura-Watanabe tag on her scrubs and Kiyomi let out a sigh of relief.

It wouldn't be too hard to figure out how to deal with Sakura because clearly the woman was down for whatever Kiyomi wanted from her and that was all the hope Kiyomi needed to continue her assessment, or rather, begin with Izanami, the bleeding woman.

"Can I sit beside you? I promise to stay silent and invisible," Sakura said, making Otaru snicker this time. The woman was a goner for the rogue Lycan and even the high guards could see it.

Hell, Izanami wasn't sure what she was seeing at the moment.

However, she knew better than to say anything, because she knew her daughter would have her head on a platter and her entire existence wiped from everyone's memory if she so much as looked at the good doctor the wrong way.

The formerly powerful woman had been reduced to whatever the fuck this was and boy was it the most humiliated Izanami Watanabe had ever been. But whose fault was that?

"Only if you're dry," Kiyomi sighed defeatedly.

"That can be arranged," Sakura said excitedly before she cast a spell that had everyone in the room change from the rain-hit pieces of shit, to actual patients in actual hospital rooms.

Perhaps they never got to be scolded in the waiting rooms because they looked like they could laugh at the humans and feed on them before dinner. But here with Kiyomi, it was like the tides had changed and the good doctor's word was law.

"Behind me," Kiyomi commanded when Sakura squeezed herself on Kiyomi's lap, pushing the table towards Izanami who was already in so much pain.

It was saddening to watch, and it felt like this was divine punishment.

But to Sakura, this was heaven.

She had finally gotten the chance to come to be with her Erasthai, even if it was because of her doomed mother. She appreciated that moment and she would do whatever the good doctor wanted if that got her into Kiki's good graces.

Because maybe, just maybe, if she was a good girl she would get her reward later, right?

"As you wish, kitten," Sakura said, not even fighting the good doctor.

It was the calmest canyon head ever seen her, even as she took her seat behind Kiyomi, while her hands were snaked around the good doctor's waist, and her head rested gently month Kiki's neck, breathing her scent in like it was the only thing that stood between Sakura and her mother's doom.

Kiyomi wanted to complain and tell her that it was inappropriate, but the pleading look on Otaru's face had her changing her mind. Besides, it couldn't be all bad from here on out, yeah?

"What happened?" Kiyomi said to Izanami who was glaring at her.

"You keep that attitude up and she won't touch you, but I will make you watch as she touches me and gives me a reprieve," Sakura warned.

Kiyomi choked on air.

She wasn't sure what had happened back In Doiwa, but whatever it was, had gotten Sakura into this hostile person that Kiyomi almost didn't recognize. But wasn't it easier that this time she wasn't the crazy woman's target, no?

Then again, with Sakura, Kiyomi was slowly learning that she cared about nothing and no one, save for the lavender-scented rogue Lycan who had her heart and owned her in every way. Poor Kiyomi had a lot to deal with.

"If you're going to growl at my patient, I'll kick you out," Kiyomi warned.

Sakura instantly shut up, but not before whispering against Kiyomi's scent glands, "I'm soaked."