A/N: Sorry for the very long wait! My computer broke down for a very long time and I lose all my save data. T.T So I have to rewrite on a new computer from scratch. Plus it is the New Year for me, so school is starting and I have become busy again. I will try to write back all the ideas and plans that came up to me during the time my computer broke. Hope u enjoy this!
Anyways, have a great year!
~Chapter 2： In a world I do not belong…~
'Death… is such a terrible experience. But our lives will end sooner or later, and our graves will be prepared for lifeless bodies to be buried. Even so, there is no need to be afraid…. Someone who is important to you in your life will be there by your side once the deed is done'
~Izanagi's POV, '?Unknown place?'~
I was suddenly jolted awake from my recent slumber within the depths of my partner's heart. It is not usual for such things to happen. Yu Narukami will usually call my name before summoning me from my deep sleep. This is not normal… not even close.
I scanned my surroundings as I slowly stood up. Everything was covered by sliver – white fog that clouds my vision around me. The only things that I could see was my obviously black jacket when I looked down and my black and white spear. It was until I saw a dark figure at the corner of my eye.
It was humanoid shaped figure that was awfully similar built to mine. It had a bandanna around his head with long tendrils and it also the same body build as me. It was almost I saw Magastu-Izanagi again… but I had defeated him long ago. So, how is he still here? I immediately approached the figure and shouted at it, "Who goes there?"
It was then I heard a chanting as soft as a whisper.
Thou art I, Art I thou…
Thou hast brought you here to this place…
The place where you had your greatest moments, laughs, smiles… and tears
This is the sea of memories…
Thy shall predict where your present self stands and where the path of your future shall go…
The mysterious figure has disappeared, leaving me alone once again. The sliver-white fog begins to slowly disappear away from the area that they once were engulfing in. Bit by bit, colours of blue, red and yellow begin to appear in my view. In a blink of an eye, the colours replaced the dull white fog and I realized that the beautiful colours that filled my vision belonged to the many types of flowers in the area.
I scanned my surroundings again, dumbfounded by the sudden change in environment. Daisy, tulips, roses and many other flowers covered the infinitely large field around me. I was standing in the middle of a stone path, filled with inscriptions of love and happiness carved in the surface of the stone. In sky high above, there was a long wooden bridge decorated in bright colours of red, blue and green. The extreme end of each bridge was filled with clouds that act as a base.
T-That… that is… Ame-no-ukihashi. I thought. There was the bridge my former wife, Izanami and I created to link Heaven and earth. I studied the ancient bridge that indicated our relationship with each other at that time. I already saw cracks and scratches to show its age from where I was standing. My memories of the time I spent with her were flooding back to me.
…We are doing this together, right brother?
…Of course, Izanami. This shall show the bond we have found from each other.
I immediately turned away from it, because she is gone… she is longer together with me now. But as soon I looked in front of me, I saw the last thing that made remind the time we spend together. In the vast distance, there was a pillar of light. The light was so strong that I could miles from where I was standing.
That was when the strength of my legs began to wear off. My knees suddenly bend over and my upper half of my body fell towards to the ground. The spear in left hand, the one that was always by my side barely catches my fall as its sharp end dug deep into the ground. My right hand could barely hold up my weight, my head was staring into the ground that has the kanji '悲しい' on it.
…We are going to be together from now on, right? Not as brother and sister, but as lovers.
…Yes, you are correct. I shall stay beside you for all eternity as your husband, not as a brother anymore.
…I love you, Izanagi.
…and I love you too, Izanami.
For a moment, I was shocked to get into a position like this. But after clearing my head and thinking for a second, I realised something. That pillar…. was the symbol of our love for each other. The symbol that made us promise we should never ever leave each other, to comfort each other when we are down… and to promise we would be together for eternity.
It was then I cried. I cried because I failed to fulfil that promise. I cried because I was not there to solve and comfort her at the darkest moment. I cried because I could never see her again.
All because of him… I hate him… I hate him… I hate him from the deepest part of my heart!
That child… that wricked stupid evil child! HE KILLED HER…! HE IS THE CAUSE OF ALL OF THIS! HE KILLED HER…!
…He killed her…
He… he… but I…
…I killed her…
…I killed her too…
…I…I killed her too…
…It's all my fault… It's… also my all fault…
The brief anger that raged inside me subsided, replacing it with utter sadness. It was also my fault she turned into that monster… and I can never do anything about it. Even as time rewinds once again…
My mistakes will just repeat again…. Due to the fact that my fate will never change…
The fog begins to surround me once again… as my consciousness begins to fade away.
~Dojima's Residence, 7.00pm. ~
It has been a few days since the Yu Narukami fell sick to unknown sickness all of the sudden. He was having high fever and constantly groaning in pain as he lay down on a simple mattress with half his body under the futon. Even though the futon is not used to warm him up like that, Teddie - being the stupid bear he is - thinks it is great idea to put him under it anyways.
The IT team did not want to trouble their leader by moving him to another place, so they had no choice but to keep him under the futon, despite how stupid it is.
Three members of the IT team, Yosuke, Naoto and Kanji went to visit Yu after school. They stared helplessly at the poor sliver haired teen as he groaned in pain for every few minutes. "*sigh*Damn….I hate being helpless like this. What exactly happened that made him end up like this anyways?" Kanji asked Teddie as he sighed heavily.
Teddie sat beside the ill teen and replied, "I don't know… it has been nagging at me for some time now. Maybe sensei is bear-y tired?"
"Well… one thing is for sure. We have to postpone the ski trip until he recovers. It is no fun to go on without him." Yosuke said.
"I'm pretty sure he will recover soon. The medicine that I bought from the pharmacy should be able to combat his fever and such. Probably…" Naoto muttered. Even though she bought the correct type of medicine to help bring down Yu's fever, she could not but to worry about him. That… being as his girlfriend as such... the first thing you heard in the morning was your loved one being sick, who would not be worry for him?
Out of the sudden, the blonde bear patted his chest and exclaimed, "Don't worry everyone! I will take care of him! In fact, I sleep right beside him every night."
"Fat load of help that is…" Kanji said as he frowned.
That… is a disturbing thought. Think about it for a sec, when you sick. Who would you rather have beside you? A humanoid creature that came out of an empty mascot or your girlfriend who you love dearly?
Think about it… (Anyways back to main point…)
They spent the next hour quietly talking about the delayed ski trip and who would bring the schoolwork to him as they helpless stared at the sick teen laying painfully under the kotatsu. "On a second thought, isn't lying under the kotatsu when you are sick bad for you?" Yukiko asked.
"Hmm..? Lying under a kotatsu is best when you are having a cold, isn't it?" Teddie replied as he stared at her questioningly. "…It is the cold, not a cold." Naoto sighed as she replied. Teddie, being as clueless as a lost puppy, cocked his head to the side as he could not see the obvious difference between the two.
It was getting late at night. The Investigation team decided it was time to leave him to recover from his unknown illness, all except Naoto. As the others waved goodbye and leave, the detective sat numbly beside him as somewhere at the back of her mind, she refused to leave Yu's side. Her anxiety side of Naoto being to kick in as her mind ran wild on the possible factors that made her boyfriend sick.
…I-Is it a rare disease? W-Was it something that he ate…?
Or…?
…
The logical side of her began to point out how ridiculous she was sounding. She slowly took deep breaths in orderly to calm herself down.
It was then Teddie began to speak up. "Um… Nao-chan? Are you still worried about sensei?" the bear asked. She slowly looked up and gave a small nod, "It would seem that I am… very worried." The detective let a sad sigh as she continued, "I'm sorry, Teddie. I know I am intruding even though I know you are currently are taking care of him… but…" Naoto paused as the promise she made with the sliver haired teen play back in her mind.
'I will teach you how to ski… so we could ski together alone in the future…'
Refusing to see her sad and the fact he is currently very hungry right now, he stood up and said, "Welllll, I got to go Junes to buy some snacks… take care of him until I come back!" The bear gave her a quick wink before grabbing the keys and walking out of the apartment. At first, the sleuth did not know why he winked at her. But after a few seconds of thinking thoroughly, she blushed and pull her hat down to cover her face even though no one was in the house.
I am alone…in his house… with Senpai... She thought. She blushed even brighter at the thought of it. After a while of forcefully calming herself down, she turned to face her boyfriend's face, who is silently groaning in pain. She could hear him whispering out her name, calling out for her for help. Naoto reached out to grab his hand, which tightened in response. "It is strange… I normally won't do this but…" she muttered.
The sleuth cautiously looked around and watched the time on the clock. Naoto then carefully slipped into his futon and rested her head on his chest. As soon as she did that, his face slowly relaxed as signs of pain and suffering melted away. It was as if he knows she was there, right there by his side.
He needs me here now… and I want to help him…
Naoto took her cap and then wrapped her arms around his waist, before closing her eyes to rest. The watch that she made for the both of them softly beeped. The couple slept together side by side, as they both know that their love will overcome any obstacles. Even if it is just a simple illness, she wants to be there for him.
…Because he desperately needs that right now.
Distance reads: 1m
~Yu's POV, ?Uknown Place?~
I held on tight onto what seemed is the only source of heat and hope to me in order for me to get out this mysterious place; the watch that she made me. Whereas the only source of light guiding me was the white sliver ball of light hovering in front of me. It created a hidden protective barrier around me and the object, keeping me away from the usual, cold and harsh storm outside.
I watched the empty, ominous buildings and streets that I passed by. I searched for any streets or road signs of what this unknown place is and questioning myself how I even got into this position in the first place. It was at this time that my watch that I wore beeped softly, interrupting my thoughts and switched my focus to the task at hand; follow that mysterious orb.
Seconds passed…
Then minutes passed…
Finally, hours passed….
After what seemed hours and hours upon walking, the sliver ball of light stopped in front of an entrance of a huge ancient shrine. That was a wooden label at the top of the shrine's entrance. It reads "The Shrine of Memories". The snow storm around me begins to die down quickly as the ball of light fades away. I muttered a soft thanks to the object which guided and kept me safe.
After the storm died, I stood rooted in the ground completely speechless. The buildings and streets around me became visible instantly. I immediately recognized where I am standing… I am standing the place where I used to live with my parents… I am in a snowy version of the city Tokyo.
How…? How did I get here…? Why does this place look like my hometown?
I stood there looking around me, searching for all the usual places that I used to hang out alone or rarely with my parents. To my surprise, there were all there right in front of me. I slowly walked back and leaned my back against the frame of the shrine.
Why is this happening…?
It was then a feminine voice replied. "They sent you here, didn't they?" It was familiar voice. I turned around to found that the voice belonged to Marie, except she looked different than I last saw her. She was wearing a plain white robe with a hood over her head and covering part of her face, and… she looked taller than before.
"Marie? Why are you here? Who is the 'they' you are talking about?" I asked. She sighed and before saying, "You people seriously ask too many questions. I hate you for that." She took a step forward towards me and pulled back some of the hood back. "Take a look for yourself." The person I am looking now is not Marie anymore… she looked like… a completely different person.
She has a long silky black hair that ran down her back and her eyes were golden-yellow. She was a full grown adult with a completely different look than the Marie I knew. "I remembered… I finally remembered who I really am. After all this time, I found out that I am not like you guys at all. I am not human. I am a god…"
I stood there dumfounded, for the friend I once spend time with suddenly became a god. It was similar feeling finding out that Teddie is actually a shadow… but this was a hundred times more shocking than this.
She gave a small sad chuckle, "Somehow deep within my heart, I thought I would something else… something unlike a human… I guess I was right."
"M-Marie… I…" I did not what to say, this was unlike anything I experienced before. A dear friend of mine is a god…? Who would believe that…? 'Marie' then sighed sadly and looked away, "I… I came here to say thank you… for all you have done. The fun memories we have made; the attempt to help me recover my memories and being there for me when I was down…." I began to saw tear in the corner of her eyes.
"Thank you… especially you, for everything. I would not be here today without meeting you." 'Marie' gave me a soft and gentle smile, which quickly faded away as she turned her back away from me. "But… I must go. I do not belong in your world anymore, I have to serve the fate I was destined and made for…"
A white mist began to surround her as she began to fade away bit by bit. I tried to stop her as I reached out towards my friend. "Wait! Marie, I-!" I was interrupted as she looked over her shoulder and smile sadly at me.
"My name is not Marie anymore… My real name… is Izanami-No-Mikoto." After that sentence, she disappeared without a trace.
Tell my husband… I still love him… with all my heart.
I suddenly felt dizzy and drowsy at the same time. I tried to hold my forehead up as the pain increased in intensity. My legs began to feel weak as I stumble and then tripped to the ground. I fell with my hands a few centimetres away from the entrance of the shrine. My body felt numb again as my consciousness begins to fade away.
Thou hast seen you been through a long and treacherous journey…
Thou shall put you to sleep to rest….
Thou will see you once your well-earned rest has ended…
I blacked out… but I still heard small unrecognizable noises around me. It was then I heard a voice… a familiar but yet unfamiliar voice…
Rest Well… My grandson…
A/N: that is the end of this chapter. It was intended to be longer but that would go out of point and I can create more chapters for this one… I probably should change the summary. (Sorry, sweetknife55!) PLs do review and rate! Stay tuned for more and my comeback! Any errors do tell me and i will re edit it.