Eternity ((Kamukoma Short Story))

Part Five [A Chance]

"Every passing minute, hundreds die!"
"We need the sun, we have to abandon this planet, there are billions of others with suns!"
"And leave the mortals here to rot? They need us too!"
"Screw it, we can make more mortals, we've done it once before!"

Among the bickering, Komaeda clenched his fists before taking Izuru's hand and stepping into the festival grounds.
While he was at first ignored, the presence of the two of them caught the attention of more gods and goddesses around them.
"Is that a death god? Something smells off with him," A voice hushed.

For a moment, Komaeda felt relieved knowing their sharing of powers worked and masked his deathly presence enough to even confuse fellow deities.
As he looked around, he noticed Akane's glare and offered her a smile, which she returned by storming over with such speed, he nearly turned around to run, but the fire goddess stopped before the two of them, looking between their faces before she focused on Komaeda,
"My fire gods have been attempting to warm the planet as much as possible, your sun gods have yet to return. If you left the Hollowed Underground, you have good news, right? The mortal souls, they will be saved?"

"No," Izuru bowed her head to her politely. "I cannot raise the dead and force them to suffer reliving their agony again. We have attempted to save as many living souls as we could, but it will not be long-lasting, we have returned to speak to Mother Nature."
"I see," Akane raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "I've never seen a death god before but you're pretty young. I'll take your word for it though, as long as it's not just Komaeda trying to get out of his task."
She turned to the sky, obviously biting back her words.

It was because she recognized him, right? The death god that was born at the same time as the sun god, that was why everyone was worried about Komaeda going to the Hollowed Underground in the first place, because he could've met Izuru.
But now that he was here, they would pretend he was just another death god and act like Nagito didn't have a clue.
He didn't mind whatever they did, he still knew the truth.

"Well I hope you know what you're doing, the last time we faced Mother Nature's rage, it punished us all."
He couldn't help notice Akane's worried tremble in her hands, but she kept her brave face.
It was almost rehearsed, the perfect moment, as the dark clouds parted and the sun gods descended from the heavens, their sunny glow now dimmed as the Earth grew colder.
Byakuya landed elegantly, his face instantly flashing anger at Komaeda,
"When you were told to go to the Hollowed Underground and save the mortal souls, you somehow heard 'Bring us back a death god?' Why is he here?"

Nagito opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. His fear getting the better of him as his thoughts derailed and crashed, burning to the ground in a fiery blaze.
He likely looked like a fish just then until Izuru released his hand and stepped forward, passing Akane to kneel before Byakuya and bow his head.
Why did he look so beautiful at that moment? Nagito's heart drummed at the death god's perfection, like a gentle shadow.
"I must apologize for the inconvenience," His voice stern and confident. "It is impossible to yield mortal souls to their mutilated bodies. But I have devised a plan that will save us all if you are willing to give me the opportunity."

"Trust a death god?" Byakuya huffed, "The first time I've seen one in centuries and I'm being asked to entrust everyone's lives to one, this is madness."
"Do we have any other option?" Akane suddenly piped up with a smile, "Not like things can get even worse! He's not just any death god, after all, you sense it, don't you?"
Byakuya's eyes flicked to Akane, then to Izuru, and back to Akane.

"I do. I'm not so young that I haven't experienced the touch of Father Time," The blond scoffed and turned his head away, hiding his face from everyone. "That's the only reason I'm going to put our fate in your hands right now, make no mistake. We awoke Mother Nature by sheer luck, so..."
A sudden chilling breeze nipped the air, urging Komaeda to brush his hair out of his face.
The snow picked up, carrying into the air and for a moment, the planet grew ever darker.
Even the stars seemed dim as thick, black clouds were quickly coating the sky.