Music used in this chapter (the link to the songs can be found in my profile):
1/ Bokura no Let-it-be (Our Let-it-be) _ Itou Kashitarou
Chapter 6:
I lose myself as I search for an answer
And a Happy End is far, far away
But I tell myself that surely, I'll reach it soon
I've got to struggle and believe in myself!
*Play music: Bokura no Let-it-be _ Itou Kashitarou*
00:03:11
"I... am dying, right?" It was more like a statement than a question as he frowned. He wasn't exactly the type of person who was good at words and this wass the second time he had a conversation with a person who was prepare to go to the afterlife. Most of the time, it was when after people breathed their last breath.
Or more precisely, their souls.
"... I... can't give you more time..." he gave her a solemn nod as Asia, who now was leaning against the cross, just nodded her head in acceptance. If what she had endured in the past was really true then many people would considered five minutes he could give her was injusticed and not fair.
But then again, Death cared not of the status, wealth or karma. Death only did what needed to be done. Fair or not, it was just all about the matter of perspective.
And in Death's eyes, five minutes were all he was allowed to give her because it was all she deserved
00:02:32
"I'm sorry" he continued with regret in his tone
"It's okay, Yodaka-san." a comforting smile plastered on her face as she gazed at him with a look of endearment. To be able to smile even when standing in front of the final end, it was a trait all human beings but only a few of them could do it. "It's not your fault that you can't save me..."
Perhaps not, but then again it was still partially his fault since if he had come only a minute earlier, her life could still be saved.
"Yodaka-san... thank you..." what Asia said next nearly caught him by surprise, though he didn't show it "... thank you... for being friend with someone... like me..."
Her breath became more and more shallow as he solemnly gave her a sad nod of acknowledgement.
He could hear the rain started falling outside. Was the sky crying for the girl? Or was the sky sympathizing with her tragic fate?
00:02:13
"... Yodaka-san... Can you... hug me?... I feel... a little cold..." even though she was severely weakened, she was still able to look very embarrassed as he quietly crouched down before he awkwardly wrapped his arms around the blond nun's her slim waist. The girl slightly stiffed the moment her back touched his chest before her body relaxed and rested her head against the crook of his neck, taking all the comfort he could give her in the her last moments.
00:01:37
"Thank you... Yodaka-san... You're my first friend... And you are so kind... You're too kind... for someone like me..." Asia nuzzled her head against his neck, her face flushed a bright shade of crimson as she closed her eyes with a peaceful expression. If this wasn't her final minute, what he was seeing now would have been one of the most heart-warming things he had ever seen.
The clock continued to count down as her life kept wasting away by every second. Nothing could stop death. Not even him.
The sounded of thunder boomed outside as if laughing at him, at the 'mercy' he could only give to someone.
00:00:47
"... Yodaka-san... If I am born again... as a new person..." a hopeful yet worried look filled her eyes as she gazed at him, her lips slightly quivered "... will you be... my friend again?"
"... I will... " and he truly meant it. She had proven herself to him and that was enough. "Promise?" Asia raised her pinky finger
"Promise." He entwined her finger with his own. A promise that he would keep as long as whoever judged her sould decided that she would be reborn
The smile on her face was radiant, as if she had just finally found her most precious treasures.
00:00:9
"God... thank you..." Asia drawled out a weak prayer "... for letting... me... meet... Yodaka...-san... one last time..."
Even now, her faith in the dead Bible God was still strong. The tears now were rolling anew on her cheeks.
00:00:00
And with a final breath, her body went limped as Asia Argento peacefully passed away.
Gently liked an autumn wind.
And he could feel the water of the heavy rain started leaking in the church as some droplets were rolling on his cheeks and his vision became slightly blurry.
*End music*
Dark. Empty. Cold.
Asia found herself surrounded by blackness and the void as the only thing protected her from the chilling cold around her was the warm feeling of Yodaka's hug lingered on her skin.
So this was the afterlife? Was this her end?
"It depends on your choice." A cold raspy voice reached her ear
"Huh?" Asia turned around to find the source of the voice but found none
Suddenly, the coldness increased tenfold making her shiver. The sound of chains clanking sent a chill to her spine. The heavy stench of decay nearly made her gag as a floating humanoid figure covered in black tattered coat with chains being dragged on the ground appeared in front of her. The seer existence of the being was enough to force her on her knees, her shouldered shook uncontrollable.
"Tell me, do you fear Death?"
Too terrified by the being, Asia could only nod silently.
"Good. Very honest. That's a good start." Despite its cold raspy voice, Asia could feel the being was being amused by her response. For what reason, she didn't know. Gathering all of her courage, she asked timidly
"W-who are you, sir?A-and what is this place?"
"A polite one, aren't you?" the being landed on the ground as the chains wrapping around its torso "I am Death, the one governed the dead, the ultimate end or the new beginning. As for this place, this place is my living room, a rift between consciousness and unconsciousness."
"Y-you're Death" said Asia with a small amount of stuttering "So you are going to judge me?"
"That's the job of deities concerning death or in your case, Archangel Michael. It's his job to judge whether you will go to the afterlife, be reborn or to be damned."
"S-so what is Lord Michael's judgement, Death-san?"
"He haven't given any judgement on your soul. Though I can't say the same when you were alive." Said Death cryptically as Asia looked confused "If you want to know why, then you shall have to find the answer yourself"
"But I am already dead..." said Asia sadly. The warm feeling of Yodaka's hug was slowly disappearing as a tear rolled on her cheek.
"Yes, and that led to the reason why you're here instead of meeting Michael." This quickly gained her attention "I want give you a choice or an offer, depend on how you want to view."
"A choice?" Asia looked puzzled. With a wave of his hand, a purple door appeared in crimson flame, making her jumped back despite her kneeling position
"If you want to choose to be judged by Michael, step through this door. It will lead you straight to him, though your fate will entirely depend on his judgement."
"And what is my other choice, Death-san?" Asia took a look at the purple door nervously before she turned back to Death
"The other choice is to become my Agent." This caught Asia by surprise "An Agent of Mercy."
"Agent... of... Mercy? Umm... but Death-san, what does that mean?"
"Basically, you will be revived to work for me and deliver my mercy to a few humans that truly deserve it." Asia nodded her head in understanding, though she didn't prepare for what Death spoke next "Kashitarou Yodaka, your friend, is my very first Agent of Mercy. You will be the second if you accept my offer."
"Yodaka-san is an Agent of Mercy?!" Asia's eyes widened by Death's revelation "Death-san! So that means Yodaka-san was..."
"Dead and revived? No, he is still physically alive when I offered him the job."
"But... why me, Death-san?"
"Why not?"
"I mean..." said Asia as she tried to not sound offended "... probably there are people deserve this job more than me..."
"In my eyes, you're deserved more than them. I need someone can understand the hardship my first Agent had gone through and look after him, making sure that he won't be broken."
"And more importantly," as Asia was thinking about what Death meant about her friend's hardship and 'broken', Death continued "You're the perfect candidate for the type of 'mercy' I want to deliver."
Type of 'mercy'? The more Asia thought about if, the more she became confused.
"So what's your choice, Asia Argento? The judgement? Or become my Agent?"
Asia looked torn. This was the first time she had to choose something for her own future and the feeling... it was so overwhelming.
And she felt scared.
"Death-san, if I become an Agent of Mercy... will Yodaka-san think any less of me?"
A cold yet amused chuckle.
"Maybe yes. Maybe no. The posibilities of the outcome is endless." What Death saided frightened her even more "But if this helps, I want you to remember the promise between you and him."
The promise... between her and him...
[... Yodaka-san... If I am born again... as a new person... will you be... my friend again?]
[... I will.]
[Promise?]
[Promise.]
"Thank you for your kindness, Death-san." Asia gave the being in front of her a bow of gratitude and nodding her head "I accept your offer."
"Very good. My welcome gift shall meet you outside this realm and Yodaka shall teach you about your new power. And now, off you go"
The long cold raspy chuckle of Death was the last thing she heard before a small hourglass appeared in front of Asia before everything around her became white.
(Line break)
Opening her eyes, the first thing greeted Asia's eyes was the unfamiliar ceiling instead of the ceiling of the place held the ceremony as she felt her body was engufted by a comfortable warmth and an endearing smell. Sitting up from her position, she found herself was in an old yet clean futon in a small room. The only furniture in the room was an old wooden chabudai (1) with some zabuton (2), a desk located near the window, a bookshelf filled with a lot of books next to a small shrine which had a photo of a woman with dark brown hair, a small closet near where she sat.
Looking at her hands, Asia couldn't help but ponder. So now she was an Agent of Mercy? So now she was brought back to life? Where is this place
"HMMPP! HMMPP! HMMPP! HMMPP!"
The moment Asia turned her head toward the source of the strange noise, the blond girl nearly jumped back in fright. In the corner behind her , Raynare was binded tightly in a rather scandalous way, her mouth was covered by a piece of duct tape as the black hair fallen angel was hanged onto the ceiling by a rope. As Asia slowly approached the struggling fallen angel, she noticed something that she hadn't seen before: a thin golden necklace with an hourglass-liked emblem on Raynare's neck.
Just what in the name of God, thought Asia as she shakily touched the duct tape covering Raynare's mouth...
At a payphone not really far from their, a young man with a tired look fished out an odd coin, inserted it into the payphone before pressing the numbers.
*RING!**RING!**RING!*
"Hello, who is on the other side?"
"Amaterasu-sama, it's..." but before the young man could finish, his right ear was nearly deafened by a happy... squeal
"Yodaka-kun! It's rare to see you call directly to me like this time? Do you have any problem? Or did the devils cause any trouble for you?"
"While there are things I need to report to you, that's not the main reason, Amaterasu-sama. The main reason for this call is I just want to ask for your help concerning another person."
"Oh, and who is this person?"
"A new friend of mine, Asia Argento. She was a nun back taken in be a bunch of fallen angels and exiled exorcist then but now, she is my co-worker."
"Co-worker?"
"She is now the second Agent of Mercy, Amaterasu-sama."
(Chapter end)
(1) Chabudai: a short-legged table used in traditional Japanese homes
(2) Zabuton: a Japanese cushion for sitting
Author's note: Phew, another chapter done and conclude the first arc. Please read and review! Your opinions will be very appreciate since it will help me improve my story.