Chapter 401 - Heart and Soul.
''There!'' Azura finished writing her paper with a giggle. She tiptoed and put the paper on one of the branches.
The paper said [Baby]
She giggled and looked at Ichiro, who was pale like he had seen a ghost.
''Hmph.'' Azura pouted and crossed her arms with displeasure, ''One day…''
''Haha…'' Ichiro wiped his sweat and put his own paper next to Azura's paper.
[General]
''Hmm, what is that supposed to mean?'' Azura raised an eyebrow.
''I hope I will reach Martial General next year,'' Ichiro said with a slight praying posture.
''You stupid!'' Azura shouted with disbelief, ''That was supposed to be something about you and me!''
''Well…'' Ichiro innocently smiled and tried to save the situation, ''I wish you were there when I reached it…?''
Azura's face was a complete poker face with no emotion in her eyes.
''Ahem.'' Ichiro coughed and ripped the paper in half, ''I-I will write a new one.''
''Yes, you do that,'' Azura said with a voice that was colder than pits of hell.
Ichiro quickly wrote another one and put it back on the branch.
[Heart And Soul]
''There.'' Ichiro smugly smiled and saw how Azura once again smiled.
''That's better.'' Azura grabbed his hand and entered the Church.
Leaving shocked couples behind.
''That was… Kurogami Ichiro, wasn't he?''
''He is… Back!''
''Oh my gosh…''
''Who was with him? She was very pretty.''
*SLAP*
''Oww, why did you hit me for?!''
''You looked at other women when I am here?!''
''Well… *Ahem, no?''
*Slap*
Inside the Church.
Azura and Ichiro soon found where his parents and others were sitting.
They were sitting in the middle row of the right side, and in front of them and in behind was a crowd of people that were patiently waiting for the praying ceremony to start.
Once they walked past the rows of chairs, many noticed them but, at first, didn't take much of a notion of them.
But then, the couples that were around the Christmas Tree appeared inside the Church and started whispering with their family members and friends.
It didn't take long for many shocking screams to appear at the back of the Church.
Many frowned and looked at them, wondering what the hell was happening.
Azura sat down next to Ayako while Ichiro sat next to her.
Soon, a Priest with the usual Priest attire that was in color grayish-black appeared.
He stopped in the middle of the platform, from where he could see everyone.
He could see most of the people in the Church taking sneaky glances in one certain direction, which also attracted his attention.
Once he saw the black-haired youth, his mind almost exploded.
He could feel weird energy surrounding the youth.
The energy was a mix of light and dark energy, but for some reason, the dark energy was trying to corrupt the youth, but the light energy fought back and managed to defend itself.
It was something the Priest had never seen before.
''Oh my…'' His words echoed in the Church, attracting everyone's attention.
''I just had… Vision.'' The Priest said and crossed his hands, ''From God!''
The ones who believed in God widened their eyes in shock, while the others who didn't and were dragged by their families to the Church raised their eyebrows, and a few even chuckled.
Azumi widened his eyes in surprise and put her hands as a praying gesture.
Ichiro frowned and was in a dilemma of not believing in Gods, but after the things he saw, there was a feeling that there was a higher power in control of the world.
The Priest soon continued, ''Someone here has been in touch with the afterlife…''
Ichiro widened his eyes in surprise.
''He had to battle with Death… Losing means death… Winning means he can live to see another day…''
Everyone in the Church listened closely, even though most of them didn't understand what he meant.
''He didn't win… But he also didn't lose.'' The Priest opened his eyes and looked straight at Ichiro's gray eyes, ''That was the first battle… Many will be ahead… Winning… Losing… Will be decided in Dawn of Divinity.''
Ichiro and everyone else were completely confused.
The Priest shook his head and regained his senses, ''Ahem… Excuse me, let's pray, shall we?''
Most of the people inside the Church went into praying gestures, but not Ichiro, who was still thinking about the words he heard.
''That was quite strange, wasn't it?'' Azura leaned closer and whispered with her lips touching his earlobe.
''Indeed.'' Ichiro crossed his hands, and while others prayed aloud, he stayed silent.
Five minutes later, the Christmas Church was finished.
Everyone stood up and started walking towards the exit.
After they left the Church, the Priest still didn't leave and kept glancing at the black-haired youth's back.
The thick layer of dark energy clogged his nose and was forced to cover his nose.
''How can he stay rational with so much afterlife energy is trying to corrupt him… He died… Everyone would go crazy from dying once, but he seems fine… Completely fine…''
Outside the Church.
While walking past the crowd of people, many kept whispering and pointing at Ichiro while he was talking with Azura.
They soon separated from their family members and continued walking with only two of them towards the Kurogami Family's house.
Ichiro's family, Quinthold Family and Alena left behind to mingle with other people from their neighborhood.
They had a lot of questions about the sudden appearance of Ichiro.
It was fine for them to stay behind to answer questions; at least Azura and Ichiro had enough peace to walk calmly back to the house.
Once they reached the yard, Ichiro glanced behind him and saw a few curtains being open from nearby buildings, and a flash of cameras was coming straight towards him.
''Hmm, what was that?'' Azura turned around and was sure that she heard the sound of the camera.
''Nothing.'' Ichiro sighed and opened the door.
They entered the building and took off their heavy winter clothing.
In the living room, a much smaller version of the Christmas Tree was on the corner of the room, with presents around the small tree.
Azura looked outside the building and thought that it might take quite some time before they would return.
A shy smile appeared on her face, but also a firm look, ''Ichiro, do you know what?''
''Hmm?'' Ichiro turned his gaze away from the tree and saw Azura grabbing his hand before dragging him upstairs.
He still looked surprised but then saw small heart symbols on Azura's pupils, and he instantly knew what she wanted.
''Time to fulfill my wish.'' She grinned.
Ichiro paled and shook his head, ''Nope. Remember Heart and Soul.''
''HEART AND SOUL.'' His screams reached no one's ears, and his room's door was slammed shut.