I'm a Bitch...

Dark Night: The Bird of Darkness Returns

"MIRG"

MIRG IS A POWERFUL NEGATIVE FORCE MEANT TO TURN ANATA CITY OR EVEN ALL OF JAPAN TO RUIN; AGENCY AUDIKY WAS WHAT WAS AGAINST IT...

The four employees walked the streets of Anata, darkness entering the sky quickly. Unlike any other time, Amioki was silent.

It was the norm for Life's words to only exist through his reactions to Amioki's comments, but now that she, for once, had nothing to say, he too was quiet.

The Harume's in the past were always happy, ready to cooperate, to join into Amioki and Life's bickering. Now, they're reticent, somewhat broken.

The lull was making the walk awkward. The two ended the silence with, "It's dark."

Shinizou and Life stopped walking and turned to face them.

"It is," said Life.

"Are you...scared?" asked Amioki.

The Harume's shook their heads.

"It was an observation," Shio cleared. "But also..."

"We had a question for you, Life," Pepo finished.

Life raised his eyebrow, anticipating the answer.

"You and Ami were discussing the fate of the agency earlier. Was Mirg of any concern to you?"

He thought a moment, focusing away from the twins.

"Not really. I'm not intimidated by forces that can spell 'grim' backwards."

"But without Audiky, Japan will fall into ruin, and who knows, the rest of the world could go along with it," Shinizou noted. "Everyone would die."

"...Everyone will die." Life looked at his feet, continuing to walk. "No matter how far back we press the day..."

Amioki, Shio and Pepo watched him walk off.

WOW, YOU'RE REALLY DEPRESSING...

The silence started back up again. The darkness grew unusually quick.

"Hey, Amioki, ever wonder what it's like to live in another world for all eternity?" Life whispered, still staring at his feet, almost in a gaze.

"Hm?"

Life's soft and steady words went to accelerate. Thoughts flooded his mind as rapidly as they escaped his lips.

"I mean...it's always disturbing to think about living in Heaven for all eternity, but not Hell, or here. I mean, in Heaven, it's supposed to be peaceful. No conflict. It makes you wonder what all they have up there. What God really has to offer. You know it's going to be good, but can we handle good for all eternity? Years and years to come with many ends to the world and new worlds to follow. Will there be an end to all worlds where all the remaining good people live in Heaven? If so, what's next? What'll happen? Is there ever a point where we'll get to come back? Is there a point where we'll do something other than be peaceful? I mean, even the good people in this world could only handle but so much quiet. If there's singing and dancing, how much will there be? Will you be forced to do it? Become weary of it? Get tired? Have a voice?"