Chapter 42 Our Duty
Once upon a time, there was a land far, far away that was covered with myriad stars. These glistening heavenly objects were, at that time, the inexplicable treasures of children's dreams. When the meteors fell from the sky, they lighted up the eyes of many, many pure souls. By making their deepest wishes upon seeing such magnificent power of nature, those innocent boys and girls planted something irreplaceable in their precious memories – hope.
Once upon a time, there was an immaculate girl. Living with her caring brother, she enjoyed every moment of contentment and sadness in her adolescence. Seeing the miraculous night stars with her beloved brother, she came to believe that she can bring her most cherished wishes into reality when she looked upon the meteors. Yet, fate was rather harsh toward the girl with such a youthful age. When the world changed its course in its most unreasonable way possible, she was chosen to become a contractor. BK-201 was her calling, and Bai was her title. With her normal life behind her, and her emotions oppressed, she was taken by the Syndicate. Working tirelessly to survive in such a malevolent world, she began to realize that her beloved brother was giving up every bit of his humanity to protect her in the shadows, which gradually broke her heart. Choosing to do everything she could in return, she perished in the physical world, and selflessly became the guardian angel for her brother by living within his heart. Her name is Xing.
Once upon a time, there was an unblemished boy. Living with his father and his twin sister, he cherished every bit of happiness in his childhood. Under the glimmering night stars of Siberia, he searched desperately for that special meteor – the one that could fulfill the curiosity and liveliness of his young mind. He found it, but it came with a price too high for a boy of such young age. Losing the ability to see with his right eye was just a small obstacle, but becoming a contractor… that was something perhaps too cruel for a boy of early teens. Oppressing his emotions deep down in his heart, he learned to understand his role in the world and its prophecy, and his duty as the Izanagi. To protect his family, he abandoned his childhood, worked tirelessly to create a new world for the likes of him, sacrificed himself in his sister's arms, and disappeared in people's memories. His name is Shion Pavlichenko.
Time is such an irony.
The world does not seem to grant them the peaceful rest they deserve, as both and currently living within a realm made of dreams.
Nonetheless, if a door is closed, then there will always exists an open window.
Under a sky full of bright stars, a young man dressed in complete black is currently sitting wordlessly on the small hill of green. In his steady arms lies a young girl that looks so much like himself. Her eyes are closed, her breathing is uniformed, and her lips are curving viewably upward. Time seems to fade out of existence at such a peaceful image, as the girl appears to finally find her internal comfort in his gentle arms.
"You have made your decision."
Walking step by step, a young boy in his middle teens approaches the duo with his pockets. There is a dash of contentment in his left eye, and an observable smile stays on his cheeks.
"…"
The Black Reaper is not answering.
However, he intentionally looks down at his sleeping sister, and closes his eyes at the scene.
"You do know that the chance of success for this method is so much smaller than destroying the host directly, right?"
Turning his head toward the Russian boy, the Black Reaper decides to convey everything he needs to say with a show of his tenacious eyes.
"I see."
Pausing at the glance, the small boy takes a deep breath, and calling upon the gate-like structure once again.
With the ground breaking apart, the view of the mystical spheres comes directly into Hei's line of sight once again.
Black, gold, silver, crimson, and coral.
"If that is the case, then I would need all of them."
"Two are prepared, are they not?"
The monotone does not sound like a question, but Hei is definitely making a defined conclusion with his analytical mind again.
"You are correct."
Sighing lightly, Shion carefully places his hand on top of the crimson sphere, and the sphere seems to be synchronized with the power of the Izanagi upon receiving the young boy's touch.
"The black one is Xing. I believe you have already discovered this."
"…"
"Then you should leave. We still have some time, but it isn't much."
Moving away from the Black Reaper, the young boy looks into the borderless night sky, and proceeds to open up another gate in the middle of the realm of dreams.
"I will provide my help in the physical world with my body host, as I have already convinced him of our duty. You will meet him again when the correct time comes."
"Where should I find the others?"
"I don't know. Intuition, perhaps."
"…"
Looking at the sleeping girl in his arms one last time, the Black Reaper carefully places her onto the soft grass field on which he was sitting, and nods softly at the young boy before walking straight toward his physical world again.
…
When the last piece of shadow for the Black Reaper disappears in the eyes of Shion and Xing, the red-haired boy seems to cover himself in deep thoughts once again.
"And I thought they did not create him to possibly obtain humanity again… Was that normal?"
"Yeah, my brother was always an idiot."
…
"Hei, the Boss wants to talk."
Waking up from his dream, the Black Reaper purposefully turns his head to the entrance of his laboratory, and discovers the familiar pair of shining crimson eyes.
"…"
Sitting up from his resting place, the masked man walks slowly to the young assassin, and stops at a few meters in front of her, ostensibly thinking about something important, earning Akame to tilt her head to her left side.
As the moonlight shines through the window of the confined room, the black-haired girl carefully observes the mask of the young man – something about him seems different.
She blinks.
…
"Come."
Gradually, Hei stretches out his left hand.