Ichimatsu opened his eyes, awakening from a short nap he had taken. Yawning, he couldn't recall what had even happened, but he didn't care. All he knew was that he felt absolutely great at that moment.

Looking to his side, he noticed that Jyushimatsu had gone.

"Where did he go...?" Ichimatsu thought, feeling like someone had thrown a rock at his stomach. "I was supposed to watch him, wasn't I....or was it the other way around..?"

Suddenly, Karamatsu came running back, a limp, yellow figure in his arms.

Abruptly, Ichimatsu stood up, his mouth open in shock, his legs trembling.

"Payment!" Karamatsu spat, stopping in front of Ichimatsu, gently resting Jyushimatsu on the bench. "I...I can't believe he..."

"No..." Ichimatsu thought, throwing himself to his knees, hugging his brother tightly from the bench. "this wasn't supposed to happen. No...I wanted Jyushimatsu to be happy! I never wanted him to suffer because of me! I...I don't know how to even feel right now..."

Karamatsu gently kissed the top of Ichimatsu's head, hugging him from behind.

"Surely the god will help an innocent child," Karamatsu said, stumbling over his words just a little bit.

Ichimatsu nodded his head slowly, but he felt completely empty inside, or to say simply, emotionless.

Six days later...

Ichimatsu sat in the back seat of the van, Jyushimatsu's head resting on his lap. Luckily, the small boy was sleeping most of the time, meaning he wasn't in as much pain as he would be.

"Shshsh..." Ichimatsu soothed, rubbing the little boy from his head, all the way down his back. He remembered how good it felt to know his brothers were there for him.

"We're almost there," Karamatsu said grimly, having not said much the past few days. Nobody had really spoken, both too upset, knowing what Jyushimatsu had done. "I hope he'll be healed..." he added silently to himself.

Those past six days, neither Ichimatsu nor Karamatsu had spotted Todomajo. They honestly didn't expect him to show up either. Enough damage had been done.

"What will the god do..." Ichimatsu mumbled, looking down on Jyushimatsu. "I know Jyushimatsu was touched by a god...that's why his body was getting lighter and lighter...but now it's normal again...I hope we're not too late..."

The sun had begun to set, just as Ichimatsu felt his life was. Everything was just fading away now. And soon, there would be nothing but darkness again.

"I don't want that..." Ichimatsu accidentally said out loud, obviously having meant to keep those few words to himself.

Quickly, Ichimatsu looked down on Jyushimatsu again, pretending to be preoccupied.

"What do you not want?" Karamatsu asked, taking a turn as he drove up the narrow path on the snow covered mountain.

"I..." Ichimatsu mumbled. "It's nothing..."

Karamatsu let out a sigh, then suddenly stooped driving, the van not moving anymore. It was as if an invisible wall was holding them back.

"We're here," Karamatsu said softly.

Ichimatsu didn't bother to awaken his little brother as he wrapped several coats and blankets around the little boy to keep him warm.

Exiting the van, Karamatsu and Ichimatsu huddled close together. Karamatsu wrapped his arm around Ichimatsu's side, pulling him even closer to him.

"It's snowing..." Ichimatsu mumbled, drawing Jyushimatsu closer to his chest. "But it really isn't that cold...you'd think it would be...at the top of this mountain..."

Suddenly, a loud, godly voice called out to them from afar.

"Karamatsu," the god said, walking out from behind a huge rock, holding a brass staff, twisted to look like a tree root. "come here."

Karamatsu obeyed, walking a bit faster. Ichimatsu struggled to keep up, so Karamatsu took his hand, pulling him a little bit.

The god, dressed in nothing but a white robe, something similar to what a Greek god would have worn, had a blank expression, his crown of leaves barely staying on his head.

"Give me the boy," the god said, pointing to Jyushimatsu with his staff.

Immediately, Ichimatsu stumbled foreword, handing over Jyushimatsu.

"My name is Chorokami," the god said, looking down emotionlessly at the child in his arms. "I hope you rest well, Jyushimatsu."

"What do you mean..." Karamatsu began walking forwards a little.

"Stand back!" Chorokami ordered, pointing his staff at Karamatsu. "I'm doing what must be done. So, if you don't mind, please stand away six feet, Karamatsu."

"Y-Yes..." Karamatsu said, his feet sinking down into the snow on the too of the mountain as he stepped back.

"Now..." Chorokami said, his dark green eyes growing cloudy as he stared at the sleeping child. "be free..."

Placing the child down in the snow, Chorokami waved his staff over the little boy, a bright light appearing from beneath him, swallowing him up.

Karamatsu didn't say a word, a single tear escaping his eye as he stood frozen in place.

"Now, Ichimatsu," Chorokami said, smiling a little. "I'm sure you've wanted this for a long time too, haven't you?"

Ichimatsu nodded his head sadly, then looked back at Karamatsu.

"Thank you for taking care of us, Karamatsu," Ichimatsu said softly, his voice not an angry mumble for once. In fact, he seriously sounded grateful. "Thank you for being the brother I always wanted."

Chorokami then waved his staff around Ichimatsu, allowing another bright light to swallow him up as he waved goodbye, a bittersweet smile on his face.

Karamatsu fell down in the snow, sobbing grossly.

"Why?!" he yelled out hoarsely. "Why...?"

Chorokami approached Karamatsu and rested his hands on the man's shoulders.

"You've been strong, but it's time you go back. Start living your life. Their deaths happened years ago. It's time to stop believing this illusion," Chorokami said gently, waving his staff over Karamatsu, sending him to sleep as he was teleported back home.