'What do you mean by you can't reach him?' Reiji couldn't control his voice. 'I'm sorry. I will have to excuse myself.' Reiji was with a patient but got out as soon he heard.
Mei scratched his cheek while saying, 'He last talked with me at the office and I got back to my dorm.'
Reiji thinking a while says, 'Follow his scent.'
Mei frowned, 'Scent? What are you talking about?'
'He has a mild scent on him. Probably like lavender or similar.' Reiji runs outside.
Mei became confused, 'Are you sure? I don't recognize that though?'
'You mean...you can't?' Reiji was surprised, 'It's ok! You probably haven't developed that. I will see where he is.'
Mei nodded, 'I'm with Noah so let me know where he is.'
'Where is your pet? Send him to dad. Maybe we will need him.' Reiji got down and talked with the receptionist, 'Go to him as me and don't let anyone know that I'm not here.'
'Yes, master!'The girl went up in Reiji's appearance.
Reiji inhales to feel Aki's scent and follows. Suddenly he can't feel anymore. His hazel eye pupil turns vertical. He then kept reading the traffic police, and people's minds and kept walking. As he can't smell Aki's scent anymore, he followed every stand-by audience, like shopkeepers, window shoppers, and homeless people. In one's mind, he finds Aki.
'You found him? Where is he?' Mei pretends again like he is talking through a phone while their conversation was linked in each other's minds.
Noah stopped the car, 'Where is he?! Is he ok?'
'Wait please! Re…' Mei hesitated while lying
Reiji was standing in front of the Sosei river, 'He has entered the Soul Desert.** '
He steps on the empty bridge. A portal opens. Through the portal, many orange fireflies tried to enter this dimension but couldn't enter. They were getting thrown back inside again.
'What?!!!' Mei's scream scared Noah.
Mei pretended to end the call, 'Aki is with Reiji. He lost his phone...so they are going to buy a new…and they will go home after that.' Mei couldn't breathe while he talked.
Noah frowned, 'Why would he go to Reiji?'
'Maybe I made him upset that's why he went there... they are boyfriends after all…' Mei tried to smile.
Noah sighed in relief and put his head on the steering wheel. Mei pats his back. Mei sends his Harpy breed eagle to where Rei was, 'Rei, You can't go in there alone. If one gets lost in there you know what happens and you always get lost in there.'
'The more reason I need to find him quickly.' Reiji starts looking.
'I've sent Ethel there. He will listen to my voice to help you get out.' Mei was watching through Ethel's vision.
'If It's late then, call mother. I can't risk his life.' Reiji said with a worried face.
'I had informed g'pa.' Mei assured Reiji.
Mei and Noah were going back home.
'Sensei! I should go and apologize to Aki senpai...right now.' Mei got out of the car immediately leaving Noah alone.
Reiji entered the portal and so did Mei's eagle. Mei can see him through his eagle's eye. Aki was walking somewhere, 'Rei! Senpai is walking towards the ruins of Ruan castle.'
'What!!' Reiji could not hear because of the soul's screaming.
Reiji tried to float himself up but none of his power would work here. Reiji saw the bird and tried to follow it. Aki was not conscious. His pupils were lifeless.
Reiji saw him and shout out his name, 'Aki! Aki!'
Reiji saw two white souls following Aki. One ahead, one behind, "Why do those purified souls come down here to follow him?"
'Aki! Wait!'Aki couldn't listen.
Reiji was frequently being interrupted by those souls which had been burning him as soon they touch. The distance increased.
'Aki stops right there or I will let these devour me! Then you won't be able to see me anymore.' Even though Reiji threatened, Aki kept going without stopping.
'Are you really going to leave me?' Hearing those words made something in Aki move.
He turned back to Reiji. Aki regained his consciousness but couldn't move his body, "A-Where am I? Am I again inside a dream?"
Aki saw a blurred figure just like in his dreams. His body automatically moved and went towards that person.
'Reiji' Aki called out but the words won't come out of his mouth, "why can't I speak!!"
'Are you lost, little star?'Reiji was astounded upon hearing those words from Aki.
Reiji couldn't move in shock, 'What...did you…just say?'
Aki could not understand why he was saying them. Suddenly he saw the boy from his nightmare. The five-year-old boy, "Reiji! Where did Reiji go?! wait...! Why this boy....looks like Reiji."
Aki saw the eye color. Same as Reiji. Same face, the Same expression, "Is this Reiji's former self? Impossible!"
Mei saw a person behind Reiji, "Who is that?"
Before he could warn Reiji, he lost his sight with a severe headache. Reiji was about to ask something but somebody from behind hit him on his head and he fell unconscious. The eagle too fell from the sky to the ground.
'Reiji 'This time Aki returned to himself.)
'Rei!Rei! Can you hear me?'Aki felt someone was behind. But before he could see someone touched him and he fell unconscious.
Aki woke up in his bed. He saw Reiji sleeping on the sofa. He doesn't remember how he got here but remembers the nightmare. It was night already. He saw the clock on the wall. Past nine on the clock.
'You woke up?'Reiji was sitting there holding his forehead as if he was in pain. He sits up.
'Ya! Did I pass out?'Reiji couldn't understand what he meant.
'I was with Mei then something happened to me…' Reiji reads his mind.
He was right. The last thing on his mind was Mei. Then he doesn't know what happened or how he opened the portal.
'Oh! Yes...You were short of breath so he brought you home.' Reiji said.
'Really?' Aki seemed lost in thought.
Reiji asks, 'Are you not feeling well?'
'I was having nightmares.' Aki looked at him.
Reiji seemed pale. In dimmed light, Reiji's eyes were glowing but looked different. Something felt off about Reiji. He wasn't coming near to check on Aki. Aki stepped down from his bed and went to him. Going closer he kneels down and holds on to the sofa's arm leaning close to Reiji. His green hazel eyes were dominant with golden red color just like Aki's. He didn't understand.
'What's with your eyes?!' When he touched his cheek Reiji's skin felt colder than usual, 'Why is your temperature is…'
Reiji smiled, 'I'm just out of my mana.'
Aki felt his heart getting tight, "This doesn't look like the case. But he is not lying either."
'It's alright. I'm gathering them. I will recover soon.' Reiji smiled.
'Where are you getting it from?' Aki asked.
'The sun mostly and surroundings.' Reiji answered.
Aki becomes panicked, 'But it's nighttime. The sun has set down.'
Reiji smiles and touches Aki's face, 'Silly! The sun never sets. We can always gather mana from it no matter when. Let's go to bed. You need to sleep.'
Aki was not convinced, 'But…'
'Shh…' Reiji put a finger on his lips, 'Whatever you want to ask…ask me Tomorrow.'
Reiji leans down and kisses him on the lips.
"His lips are cold too. Is he really alright?" Aki straightens himself from kneeling at the level of Reiji and responds to the kiss before Reiji moves away.
He holds Reiji's shoulder with one hand and the back of his head with the other. Reiji was surprised to see Aki do that as this is the first time he was willingly doing it. But smiled as they were sharing kisses.
"Now you kiss me this sweetly!!?" Reiji couldn't feel happier.
Aki looks at him and sees he was smiling. Then tried to pull him, 'Let's sleep in the bed.'
Reiji pulls Aki back, 'Are you teasing me Azusa Akio?'
Aki hasten out of him but composed himself, 'No, I just...I just want you to sleep in the bed. You don't look good so I wanted you to make you comfortable.'
'It's alright. I doubt I will be able to control myself if I sleep beside you.' Reiji smirks.
'It's ok if you can't.' Reiji was bemused by Aki's word.
He stood up and looked face to face, 'You are really teasing me, aren't you?!'
Aki couldn't understand so he got angry, 'Just sleep on the bed!! What's there to tease!!!'
'Ok! Let's sleep.'Reiji didn't want to make him angry.
He tucked Aki in and lay down beside him. Aki turned on his side to face Reiji.
'Wake me up if you need anything.'Aki said.
'Sure.' Reiji smiled.
"Why I am feeling so sleepy."Within a few seconds, Aki fell asleep.
Reiji sat up and touched Aki's face lightly. Then leaned over to kiss his head. He kept caressing Aki's soft hair. After a while, Reiji said, 'Come on in.'
He had cast a spell between him and Aki so that Aki doesn't wake up.
'I don't plan to witness your love life. It's…' Mei kept standing on the balcony, 'How are you feeling? You were lucky that your regeneration process had continued long enough. Unless you would have joined those fireflies.'
'You brat!!...just wait until I recover.' Reiji scolded.
'Huh! I was providing you with my mana till you gain consciousness.' Mei leaned on the railing.
'Who brought me here?'Reiji asked as he didn't remember.
'Who else! Grandpa did. He brought you both out. He is drained too but grandma is taking care of that. My g.pa is really strong.' Mei was proud.
Reiji then asked, 'Where is your bird?'
'Ethel? He is here.' The eagle responded to his name by making a sound. 'He fell unconscious suddenly. Don't worry. I guess he couldn't bear the heat.' He patted on his eagle which was much like a harpy breed but in black color with yellow eyes.
Reiji doubted, 'He did?'
"R-Something doesn't add up." Reiji thought to himself.
'Sensei was really worried so I lied to him saying Aki had lost his phone that's why you two went to buy another.' Mei scratched his hair.
'Make him forget about that.' Reiji felt irritated.
'Can't! Too much work. Senpai was out to go for an errand when I upset him. What's going on with senpai? Was he really that hurt because I said he doesn't care about Sensei in the same way that he does.' Mei was confused.
'You are really impossible sometimes. Don't you remember what he said to Noah...that if Noah didn't like me then Aki wouldn't date me. If he didn't care for Noah, Noah's decision wouldn't have mattered to him like that.' Mei remembered when Reiji reminded him that.
Mei smiled looking up in the sky, 'Maybe he doesn't like you that much yet.'
Reiji's expression saddened.
Aki changed his position. Reiji covered him properly and touched his cheek with a sad eye. He remembered how he kept walking away from him in the desert, 'Probably.'
'Don't be disheartened...I'm really ignorant sometimes you know that.' Mei regretted having to joke like that.
'I will fabricate Aki's memories.' Reiji said.
'Ok…But how did senpai get into that dimension?! He is clearly a normal human and he was going towards the ruins of Ruan Castle.' Mei asked with a curious expression.
'I'm not sure either. He has one entity attached to him. But it doesn't seem to be feeding off of him. Even if I think his past self was the lover of Ruan Siya, they weren't in any sort of deal unless she hid it.' Reiji sighs.
'What!!! Grandma's twin is involved here!?'Mei scratched her head, 'Uhhh! I can't keep up with all these. So you are guessing that his reincarnated soul is still linked with grandma Siya?'
Reiji shrugged his shoulder, 'If they have made any deal. It's possible.'
'Can't you cut it? That woman is very dangerous.' Mei seemed tired about it, 'She even killed her own elder brother. What if she claims him? If he is in that sort of deal with her he is bound to go to her even if he doesn't want to. Don't fall for him anymore if you have any doubt. Erase his memory.'
'Unfortunately, I can't.' Reiji seemed pained, 'I'm in love with him.'
'Don't lie. You still search for her in him.' Mei said.
'I don't anymore. I told him everything. He accepted me.' Reiji explained.
Mei saw Noah's car. Mei panicked, 'Rei! Noah is here.'
'Oh, God! I knew it. Still, I thought he would be convinced. He wouldn't rest until he sees him. Go to him as Aki!' Reiji became tensed.
'I can't! I'm still not of age don't you know! I cannot hold it much longer.' Mei was nervous.
Reiji noticed the door was getting unlocked, 'Shit.'
Reiji removed the spell from Aki. Reiji and Mei sat in the living room pretending they were talking. Noah entered and saw them. He was a bit surprised but greeted, 'Oh! Reiji-san, you..are still here!?'
As Noah did a greeting bow awkwardly, Reiji smiled and lowered his eyes by nodding, 'And you are here too?'
Mei smiled awkwardly, 'Yeah! I told you na I would apologize.'
Noah remembered.
Reiji offered, 'Why don't you sit down.?! And what's that?Dinner?'
Noah was shy, 'I thought…'
'Whoaaaaaa!!!'
Aki's scream gave so much fright to everyone that they went inside quickly. Aki was in a standing state closing his mouth in shock. Noah held on to his upper arms.
Reiji went in front of him touching his head then asked, 'What happened??? Are you ok!?'
Aki's eyes were puzzled, 'You!..you!...I thought you turned into an eagle.'
Reiji got baffled, 'Eagle?! what?'
Noah couldn't understand.
'You weren't in the bed, also not in the room…then I saw it.' Aki pointed toward the balcony to Ethel.
Reiji saw and closed his eyes in relief.
'Shit!' Mei scratched the back of the head.
Noah was also astonished to see an eagle as big as that on the balcony. He could not see Ginger. So he panicked, 'Where is Ginger?! Did it attack him!!?'
Ginger meowed from the back where he was sitting on the window seat. Noah was glad to see him safe.
'He won't attack Ginger. He is mine.' Noah and Aki were shocked to hear Mei.
'What?? They make a good pet.' Mei went to it and stroked its back.
Ethel expanded his wings like he was happy at the touch.
'I know!!. My nephew is a weirdo. But it's true. Ethel is a tamed bird so he doesn't hurt anyone unless anybody offends him or Mei.' Reiji explained.
'Ohh!' Reiji smiled as both Noah and Aki answered at the same time.
Aki noticed Noah this time, 'When did you come?'
Noah moved to the living room from the bedroom taking Aki, 'I came to check if you are ok or not. Mei said something to you and made you upset. Then your phone was unreachable so I thought.'
'My phone was unreachable?! But I didn't...oww' a sudden Headache made him in pain.
Reiji was planting thoughts into Aki.
"Why my head hurts!' He sat on the sofa holding his head.
Reiji and Mei followed. Reiji sat beside Aki while Noah sat on the single one. Mei stood behind Reiji and sat leaning on the edge of the sofa from the back.
Reiji took the chance to explain to Noah, His phone fell and broke. So we went to buy a new one. Then we came home.'
'Oh! Ok.' Noah understood.
Aki looked at Mei and asked, 'When did you come?'
Mei paused, 'Ah! I came here to apologize but you were sleeping. That being said I haven't apologized yet. I'm sorry, sorry to the both of you because of my behavior.'That made everyone silent.
Aki started to feel awkward. Noah did feel too.
Aki tried to change it, 'Don't say it like that. It's ok! It happens.'
Noah as well tried to get along, 'I have brought dinner. Why don't we eat!'
The room got busy as they started to arrange dinner. Aki took out more plates, and bowls, and Reiji stood behind.
'It's not eleven yet…but I feel like I slept for so long.'Aki said.
'Well, you were exhausted.'Reiji washes those plates.
Aki observed Reiji, 'How are you feeling? Your complexion looks good.'
'You were so cute thinking I turned into a bird!' Aki was embarrassed now that he hears Reiji say that.
'Oh, God! Please don't tease me now! I don't know what you can be or cannot be. I thought maybe it was some side effects your species have.' Aki said.
'No! We don't.' Reiji kept laughing.
'I'm really messed up with the nightmare already seeing you get hurt and fall unconscious.' A chill ran down Reiji's spine when Aki said that.
He stopped washing the plates, 'What are...you?'
'I saw someone hit you and you passed out. I couldn't do anything because I lost consciousness. What a bizarre dream!' Aki kept talking bout it.
"So I was right. Someone else was there too. That was not dad. Dad would never hurt me. Why would anyone hurt me in the first place!?" Reiji was thinking hard.
Aki took the bowls and plates to the dining table. They finished dinner and after a while, Noah and Mei left.
Ethel was following Mei. Noah was still uncomfortable with the bird.
'I'll go by myself.'
Mei escorted Noah to his car and went out. Mei was walking and Ethel was flying close. He saw it was landing on his hand frequently.
'Can't he fly properly?' Noah asked.
'He is not comfortable here in the city. He likes open areas. And today he is sick so can't fly properly.' Mei explained.
'Get inside. I will take you with me.' Noah said.
Mei was surprised, 'It's alright! I can't leave Ethel.'
'I'm not telling him to be left out. Take him with you. Sit in the back.' Noah orders Mei.
'Aren't you afraid of it?' Mei asked.
Noah was irate hearing that, 'I'm not, it's just a bit uncomfortable.'
Mei smiled but got in the car. Opened the window so that Ethel doesn't feel cooped up. Noah was looking at them from the rearview mirror, 'What breed he is? He seems a rare breed.'
Mei nodded, 'He is…I don't know which breed he exactly is.'
Noah continued, 'Oh! He is quite big for an eagle.'
'He will be bigger. He is still young.' Mei smiled.
'How old is he now?' Noah asked.
'Five...years.' Mei was confused about the answer.
Noah was shocked, 'He is 5 years but still, he is considered a young one? You don't know that for sure.'
"Well if you hear he is actually fifteen years old and is still a baby, you would have a heart attack." Mei smiled on the inside.
'What an unusual pet you have!' Mei smiled but didn't respond to Noah's comment.
He was tired too of sharing his mana with Ethel and Reiji and Aki. He fell asleep. Noah saw that. He looked just like Mei and his heart ached. When they arrived at school he woke up Mei. Mei got out and let Ethel fly. He went away.
'Where did he go?'Noah was worried)
Mei said, 'He stays at Rei. He will come when I call for him.'
'He is that much tamed??? wow!' Noah was amazed.
'He's not exactly tamed. When he hatched I was there so he kind of bonded with me.' Mei scratches his neck.
'I see. You are surprisingly kind-hearted. I thought all you could do was run around. But to see you nurturing a pet felt quite well. Good job!' Noah went up to his floor but Mei followed him.
Noah noticed, 'Go to your room.'
'I have something to do with you.' Mei came closer to him.
Noah couldn't understand, 'What!?'
Mei brought him inside, 'Take off your shirt.'
Noah covered his body with one hand in surprise, 'Why??? What…'
'Ah! Damn! I hurt you during the day. Your hand must have bruised. I brought you medicines for that.' Mei explained.
'Oh! But I don't have. Why would I bruise that easily?!'Noah took off his shirt.
Mei stepped back unconsciously, seeing how appealing he looks even though he was still wearing a t-shirt underneath. Noah's biceps showed. And he saw it really had bruised, 'Oh my! I really have bruised.'
Mei controlled himself and cleared his throat, 'See! I told you. You were so occupied with the tension that you didn't notice your condition.'
Mei put a cooling gel ointment on his Biceps.
Noah took the gel and applied it on the other hand, 'Thanks.' Mei didn't say anything just nodded, 'you should go now. It's already too late.'
'Ya! I should.'Mei leaves and Noah closes the door.
Mei feels confused with his own emotion, 'Damn! What is this feeling!'
Mei went to the roof and sat at the edge. He brought out a pocket watch from his pocket. It was antique. On the inside of it, there is a small broken ring without a stone. It was bent into a small size so that it fits inside the pocket watch. As Mei takes it out from the watch it turned into a wearable size in his palm. The design of the ring matches one ring on Mei's finger.
"What mystery do you hold, Aki senpai?! Why do you have this ring? God!! What have Rei gotten himself into!" Mei rubs his forehead.
Aki woke up again at the day breaking as he felt someone was watching him. Surprisingly even though he didn't have any nightmares yet he woke up sweating a lot. His eyes were hurting too. He saw Rei was next to him sleeping. His heart was beating irregularly. He got down and saw Ethel was on his balcony. He felt a bit uncomfortable but went to it and it greeted Aki like bowing.
'Are you hungry?' Aki went and brought back some meat. Gave it to him. Ethel got down from the railing and began to eat. Aki smiled and kept watching.
He crouched and observed Ethel.
'You're really beautiful.' Aki touched it without any hesitation and keep stroking his body.
After a while, he went to shower. Reiji opened his eyes and said, 'Mei?'
But Mei didn't respond. Rei saw Ethel was busy eating. He could hear Aki bathing. He could feel his mana had been restored.
"R-How long has it been since I was this drained? Almost 50 years? I guess I need to meet with dad." Reiji was about to leave but Aki got out of the shower.
He was surprised to see Reiji awake, 'Did I wake you up?'
Reiji stopped and stayed, 'No. You didn't.'
Aki's scent was much stronger now. Reiji was stunned by that. As soon Aki put on his t-shirt it died down. Aki doesn't directly use any cologne on his body but his clothes have a different smell.
"If it isn't from cologne then how does he scents like that" Reiji became curious.
'Don't wear this color.' Aki was surprised to hear Reiji.
'Do you not like..white?' Aki asked.
'It's just you will look more good in another color.'Reiji does but he doesn't know what else he should say.
'Ok...What color should...I wear then?'Aki smiled.
'Anything except white.'Aki could not understand the meaning)
Aki thought, "But half of my collection is white." Then asked, ' Would gray be better?'
Reiji smiled, 'Perfect.'
Aki went towards his closet. Reiji followed him as well.
'What are you doing?'Reiji was behind which surprised him.
Reiji's stare didn't leave Aki, 'Nothing. Just looking what you choose.'
'Ok.' Aki brought the t-shirt in gray. Took off the one he was wearing.
Reiji smelled the scent again, "I was right. It's not from the clothes. It's from his blood."
Aki was changing so he didn't notice Reiji was close behind him. He hugged Aki tight from the back. Aki got startled, 'What..what are you doing?'
'You smell so nice.' Aki was embarrassed to hear that.
Reiji touched his nape with his lips and kissed, 'You must stay careful. Mask your scent. Your natural scent is what most of us will target.'
Aki was shocked. He tried to turn around but Reiji didn't let him but keep holding him tight.
Aki asked, 'What do you mean?'
Reiji didn't answer. He kept kissing on Aki's skin. Aki felt something was wrong with Reiji. He can't unfold his embrace, 'Rei, let go!'
Reiji then holds Aki's cheek and took his lips close to his. Aki was surprised as Reiji began to kiss. Usually the kisses from Reiji are gentle but this wasn't the usual kiss. These kisses were much more aggressive. Reiji turned Aki fully toward him. Aki didn't want to respond but Reiji didn't stop. He lifts Aki while kissing him. Aki was surprised as Reiji lay him down on the bed. Aki tried to get up but Reiji stopped him by dragging him beneath his body. He bit lightly on his neck. Aki was furious as well was getting weak. But he doesn't want it yet.
Aki couldn't understand what's going on and what turned on Reiji this much. His heart was erratically beating. Suddenly Ethel flew inside and pulled back Reiji with clawing his shirt. Reiji fell on the ground and Ethel sits on the bed shielding Aki, it screamed loudly. Aki closed his ears.
The glasses inside his room all were shattered including light bulbs. Reiji came back to his sense and saw what he has done. Aki was panting hard while lying down closing his ears. Reiji got up from the ground and saw Aki and Ethel. Ethel was on guard. He passed Ethel calming him down then crawled over to Aki. He hold his face and saw Aki's eye were golden and vertically slit.
Reiji was petrified. Aki kept looking at Reiji. Slowly the eyes turned back to normal. Reiji's eyes softened. His heart was broken. He buried his head on Aki's neck. He lie down fully on Aki but didn't put his body weight on him.
'I'm sorry Aki, I'm so sorry.'Reiji was regretting so much.
Aki's heart normalised after a while. When Reiji was about to get up Aki didn't let him do that. He locked Reiji in his embrace.
'Aki…' Reiji was surprised.
'Don't!..Last time when you said sorry you disappeared for a long time. It felt lonely. Even though you said you loved me you left. It was one week later that I found you coincidentally in the hidden world. If that incident didn't happen you probably wouldn't have reached out to me again.' Reiji looked at Aki.
Aki's eyes were teary, 'It frightens me when you say sorry. I won't have any means to get a hold of you if you want to disappear.'
Aki holds Reiji's back clenching his fist. Reiji forgot his worries, doubts the second Aki said those words.
He turned them to side and moved a bit away from Aki, 'I...will never..make you wait. I told you before. I want us…'He put his forehead on Aki's chest and closes him by the waist, 'to be together…no matter what.'
"I won't give you to anyone else." Reiji mutters.
But Reiji didn't keep those promises. The next few days went really busy for Aki. Nora noticed that Aki wasn't well. He complexion was not looking good. But that didn't stop him from working. Aki was quite different than usual. He even scolded one of his employees which he never did before. He wasn't not even eating properly.
'Boss seems really upset. What made him like this?' The office area was in pin drop silent.
Nora was worried as well, 'I have no idea. He is usually very very tolerant.If he is this much irate something must have broken him very bad.'
'Scary! Boss never scolded me. If he does now I don't think I will be able to handle myself.' the girl was scared.
'Do your best.' Nora encouraged her.
Nora thought once before knocking then knocked and entered, 'Akkun!'
Aki looked at her while searching for something.
She said,'There was…;
'Do it the way you think. Don't come ask me every little thing. You are trained enough.' Aki said.
Nora asked, 'What are you looking for?'
'A pocket watch. I kept it here. But can't find it anywhere.' Aki seemed concerned.
Nora asked, 'Did you leave it at home?'
'I thought that but I couldn't find it there. Thats the only thing I have...from Mei. How can I lose it. First Reiji now...this...I'm gonna lose my mind again.' Aki muttered like he was not sane.
Nora couldn't understand what about Reiji, 'Akkun! Why don't you go out for a bit. Maybe when you are relaxed you can find it or remember where you kept it.'
Aki sighs, 'I can't relax. I have work to do.'
'Sure you do. Let's work then.' Nora got out.
She called Noah but he didn't receive. So she contacted Mei, Hi! Mei?! It's Nora.
Mei was surprised to get her call, 'Nora-san? How did you...how are you?'
Nora smiled, 'I'm ok, can you tell me what's matter with your dad?'
'Dad?Rei?Nothing, Everything is ok. He is just busy.' Mei said reluctantly.
'Well! Aki-kun is a bit messed up…no…to say, has totally gone insane. He is not eating properly, not leaving his office. The environment is worse around the office. Did they broke up by any chance?!' Nora asked.
Mei was dumbfounded, 'I'm…I'm not sure.You see Reiji...I will go meet with Senpai.'
'
'No!No! His mood is off right now. I will inform you when he feels alright then come and talk. He is busy searching for Mei's pocket watch.' Nora forbade him.
'Pocket watch?'Mei got interested.
Nora sighs, 'Well it was the last memento of Mei that he had lost. He is basically broken. I'm afraid if he can keep up.'
Aki got out from his room. Nora quickly said bye to Mei.
'You were right! I need some air.'Aki went to staff room and opened the door.
Everyone went silent)
Aki apologised, 'Guys! I'm sorry for being rude to you,..I'm messed up,..so...please bear with me..and…'
'Boss! We are not upset, we are more like...worried about you. So you can count on us.' Aki was really thankful to have such great teams.
'Thank you!' Aki left the room.
'He is an angel! I told you something is bothering him.' The gossip started again.
After getting out, Aki waited to think where he should go. Then he went to his father's company. He hesitated to enter.
Ishida saw that and said, 'Well!Well! Look who's here!'
Aki was hesitant, 'Ishida-san! I…'
'Why aren't you getting in! Let's go.You father had ordered different type of teas. Why don't you take one set?' Ishida said.
Aki remembered he took one for Joshua. He hasn't seen him for a long time after the accident. He feels uncomfortable to go to the station nowadays.
'Ya! I will.'He got on the lift.
Everyone was excited to see him.
One lady asked, 'Aki-kun! You are so handsome .I have a niece who has just graduated. Would you like me to arrange a meeting with you? You know you may really like her…'
Aki laughed with quite irritation. Ishida was shocked to see this side of Aki. He is always so polite and gentle. Aki was tired, and rubs his forehead and says, 'Hah…I have a lover and I think I will end up like my father this time. Loving only one person forever. Even if in the future we don't stay together. Please don't send your niece or daughter to me. And would you like to tell me why you keep bothering us brothers?! Ayush loves animals, that's why he is not suitable for inheritance yet you want to fix your marriage with him. But why!?ahhh!...I will be taking the stairs!' Aki saw he was feeling annoyed so before he says any more he got out.
'Did you really bug him that much that his switch flipped!!'Ishida was laughing so hard after Aki got off. Everyone was too.
She denied, 'I never…'
Ishida's expression changed, 'He's not someone who is inconsiderate to others. The fault lies in your greed and he can see through that.'
**A.Note
Soul desert is an invisible spiritual realm on earth in a different dimension, where the soul of every creature stays after death. The land under earth is a temporary hell till the Final Judgment Day. Souls that had sinned will suffer under the earth surface in its fire. When the soul have been purified enough they will promote to stay in the desert as dark orange particles. The more they lose the colour, the purest they become and will be forwarded towards sky to becomes stars in the 7th stage. 1st stage- under earth red, 2nd stage-promoted to earth surface orange, 3rd stage-after the yellow orange layer, 4th stage-light orange layer, 5th-the yellow layer,6th-pale yellow,7th-White(stars)
In the sky they will wait either years after years or only a day to get reincarnated depending on God's Will.
Those orange souls may seem pretty but they are all burning in the Fire of Purification. They are caged inside the Fire bubble. Those who are innocent, the fire cage will not harm them. Instead they will carry them upwards in the sky protecting from those evil souls. They will be safely released to their place. when it's time to reincarnate they will return to earth like shooting stars and enter in a new body. They will forget their past body and memories.
The reason why one's body need to be cremated, is because to cut the affinity for the old body. That can either be by earth or fire.
A soul's fate is also entangled with many surrounding souls, like the soul of his parents, grandparents, life partner, child etc. This cycle will continue till the Final day of judgment.
After that they will enter the eternal life in heaven or hell. There will be no more reincarnation. Those who enter here through a portal before time will lose the track of time or life.
For humans It's not possible to enter soul desert. As Jinn are spiritual beings they can enter but to fight with those suffering souls one will need to have a strong resolution as they will try to consume a living soul and they cannot use their power. Slowly their soul will be drained out of life force. When the last spiritual power will be drained the soul will leave the body