Chapter 361 - Returning.
Two Days Later.
In Coldland.
''They are still here…'' Azura said with hate as she and Ichiro entered the New Neighborhood.
The first thing they saw was the crowd of reporters surrounding an empty and dark mansion.
Azura and Ichiro left Glazeland yesterday and had to walk because the roads were still packed with snow.
They didn't hurry and moved at a leisure pace. When night came, they spent their night in a nearby cave they found, but even though the weather was cold, Ichiro found an excellent method to stay warm during his time alone.
After the sun rose, they continued their journey and arrived at Coldland a few hours later.
They went straight to the New Neighborhood, and when they saw the sight, they were enraged.
The reporters were drinking a cup of coffee and laughing with each other while Alena was alone in the mansion, mourning the loss of Abyss, while the laughter rang in her ears.
Azura took a step forwards and planned to chase the reporters away but was stopped by Ichiro.
She turned her head and looked with a questioning face.
Ichiro shook his head, ''That would give them another scoop, daughter of deceased Abyss goes rampage.''
Azura bit her lip and hatefully glared at the reporters, but then she felt Ichiro's warm hand.
''Let's go.'' He said and started walking towards the reporters while his hand was locked with Azura's.
Soon, the reporters heard the footsteps, and most of them didn't care, but a few took glances, and soon their eyes widened in shock.
''Look!'' One of the reporters shouted and pointed in their direction.
Like mechanical dolls, everyone turned their heads at the same time and saw two figures approaching.
Ichiro and Azura didn't even manage to reach the gates before being surrounded by reporters whose eyes were bloodshot after seeing Ichiro, who had been missing for unknown reasons.
''Ichiro, where have you been?!'' One of the reporters asked with a shout and almost pushed the microphone at Ichiro's mouth.
*Slap*
Ichiro slapped the microphone away, breaking it into hundreds of small pieces.
''Ah!'' The reporter cried out and screamed anxiously, ''Hurry, give me another one!'' He soon got another microphone and continued asking questions.
But, he wasn't the only one who was asking questions.
Dozens of reporters were, all of their voices overlapped with others.
''Where have you been?!''
''Do you know what happened to Abyss?!''
''Were you responsible for his death?!''
''You weren't in Coldland when Abyss died, and you mysteriously reappeared after his death. Can you tell us your reason for your sudden disappearance?''
''Are you going to break the engagement with miss Azura after Abyss died?!''
''What is your opinion of his death?!''
Ichiro pushed the reporters to the side, who happened to stand in their way, and step by step, they reached the metal gates.
He pushed the gates open and allowed Azura to enter before he entered and closed the gates shut.
The crowd of reporters tried to open the gates but to no avail.
''Answer one of the questions!'' A reporter, whose face was pressed at the metal gates screamed.
Ichiro looked at Azura, whose face was pale like she had ran a marathon.
He motioned for her to enter the mansion.
Azura shakily nodded and entered the mansion; the first thing she did was to go find her mother.
''Fine, one question,'' Ichiro said coldly and looked straight at the reporter.
The reporter was wearing glasses with a trim mustache and a slick haircut.
He looked thrilled after managing to be the one who could ask a question, while other reporters had no other choice but to grit their teeth and move the microphones closer to get Ichiro's answer to the tape.
''Do you know what happened to Abyss!'' He asked and pushed the microphone through the metal bars until it was right in front of Ichiro.
Everyone waited for his answer patiently.
Ichiro looked at the over dozen microphones in front of him with the same chilly look.
''Well…'' Once Ichiro opened his mouth, every reporter tensed up and was ready for a scoop.
''How the fuck should I know?'' After hearing his words, every reporter almost dropped their microphones.
''S-Stop lying!'' The reporter who asked the question screamed, ''So, you are saying that both of you weren't in Coldland because of some kind of scary coincidence?! And, no one seemed to know your whereabouts, is that right?!''
''That's right.'' Ichiro nodded, ''That was actually two questions, so to make this fair, can I ask a question as well?''
The reporter gritted his teeth and didn't believe any word the young man said.
''Can you guys leave?'' Ichiro asked his own questions, and most of the reporters looked stunned before a few started giggling and chuckling.
''Not before we get the truth!'' The reporter screamed.
''You don't deserve the truth.'' Ichiro said and took a step back, ''You can stay here, I don't care, but at night, the weather will drop down to -30 Celcius, so good luck.'' He left behind a stunned group of reporters, who were already feeling cold, but if Ichiro's words were true.
They will have a painful night ahead.
Ichiro entered the mansion and heard distinct sounds of talking coming from the upstairs.
He took off his jacket and shoes before rushing to the upstairs.
After reaching the second floor, he saw the light coming from underneath one of the doors, while others were dark.
The door was slightly ajar, and the sound of talking came from there.
Ichiro slowly pushed the door open and entered a room where Azura and Alena were seen sitting on the floor.
There was a small altar in front of them, with candles and a picture of Abyss in the middle.
Azura and Alena slowly turned their heads and saw Ichiro entering.
''You are back…'' Alena said with a weak smile. It was the first smile she had had since the news of Abyss' death.
''I am back…'' Ichiro replied and sat next to Alena, who was now sitting in the center.
''Can you tell me… What happened?'' Alena asked with a fatigued look.
Ichiro nodded and started telling everything that happened, except left a few details out.