( Thunder Mist Mountains, Thunder Sakura Gardens. )

Yakujin is currently lying down, under the Sakura trees at night, while Shiro is still asleep beside her as she brings him in.

*Yakujin's tail covers Shiro like a blanket.*

Shiro is still asleep, while Yakujin who guards him sees his deeply asleep face, the boy snores peacefully even after experiencing great pain with her.

" Look at you, how could you sleep well even after all of that...? " Yakujin says while remembering the wounds she saw on him during her time healing him, realizing that before she did it, the boy actually received many wounds beforehand.

" That must all the villagers work, isn't it? " Yakujin asks to the asleep Shiro.

" I believe the cut wounds in your body must've been their attempt to test how tasteful your blood is to the monsters' noses. " Yakujin says.

" I've seen it before, back in time when those like you were still so many in Easterion... "

" I've seen many people test the 'Sacrifice Lamb Blood's effect by gradually slicing the holder's very skin one-by-one... "

" But to think they would also do it to those who were discovered to have it at a young age... " Yakujin thinks about it, remembering the previous sacrifices given to her at that time, those who had the same blood as Shiro.

*Yakujin scratches the ground.*

Yakujin reflects on her ignorance over her sacrifices, despite her still thinking of them as their prey, but somehow, after meeting Shiro, there's a part within her that begins to care for those sacrificed to her.

"( If they were discovered younger like this boy... )"

"( Would the villagers offer them to me, without any second thought? )" Yakujin thinks, wondering what's inside the villagers' minds as they sacrifice the 'Special Blood (Sacrifice Lamb Blood) ' without any mercy or even pity after they discovered those who had it.

Thinking that, makes Yakujin wonder how the Sakurazaka villagers discovered those who had the 'Special Blood' in the first place, wondering how they found it, was it by magic? or by gradual inspection?

" Oh my, it... "

" I don't know what to think, now I began to wonder, how they even found them all out in the first place, for goodness sake!? "

" In each offering, they somehow managed to find the 'Special Bloods' who happen to possess the greatest scent and effect to increase my power. "

" Perhaps it is all thanks to the Head Shaman who happens to govern the Village as the village head? "

" I believe the Yamagami Clan is responsible for all of this if I remember. "

" *Sigh*, I better ask Akafushi more after this... " Yakujin says while hearing Shiro's snore going louder than before.

" It seems your sleep gets better when you're with me, aren't you? " Yakujin asks the sleeping Shiro as she lays down near him.

" Fufufu..., after thinking about it... "

" You must be some interesting child, aren't you...? "

" Dear, Shiro. " Yakujin says as she chuckles while seeing Shiro sleep as the two spend their time under the Sakura tree during the long night.