As the sun began to set, the bold and pastel colors of orange and pink filled the sky, peeking through the fluffy, gray clouds of the evening. A soft breeze filled the air, ruffling the priest's hair as he knelt down at the fence outside of his church.

With his hands folded together, Karamatsu bowed his head, praying with sorrow, longing for things to be different.

"Lord, if it is Your will, please change Ichimatsu's aunt's circumstances. She needs Your healing touch more than anything right now. Please, I beg of You, heal her broken heart and her broken body. Protect her from all the harm that awaits her and her loved ones. But if this is not Your will, may You give her soul wings, so that she may be amidst in Your wonderful presence. Lord, You are good to us all....so please, if it is Your plan for Ichimatsu's guardian to part ways with him, please give me the right words to comfort the poor child's soul. Thank You for all You have blessed us with. Thank You. So please, listen to my desperate pleads, mend back my own brokenness, and take notice of the tears, which I shed daily. Please do not let my suffering be in vain. I know I sinned against You long ago...please forgive me...forgive me..." Karamatsu prayed, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Thank You for loving us..."

"You're never around for me," Todomatsu's bitter voice arose, breaking Karamatsu's holy silence. "I hate you so much. I really wish you would just die. You thought you were doing good by 'adopting' me, but really, all you've ever done was ignore me. 'Father Karamatsu' is such a joke of a name. You're nothing like a father at all. You're a terrible person. I really hope I see you rot down to the core someday."

"My child..." Karamatsu turned to face the angered teen. Tears still flowing from the corners of his eyes, dripping down from his chin into the grass. "I have always been here for you...You just never seemed to want for me to speak with you. I'm so sorry if you didn't feel that way. I'm sorry if I ever hurt you..."

"That's funny," Todomatsu snapped, unamused or touched, "because you're apologizing a little too late now. I'm done with you. You're no father to me. You're scum. Again, I hope you rot."

Karamatsu inhaled steadily, an attempt to remain calm in his current situation.

Todomatsu jerked around and began to stomp away, shouting out curses after speaking his final words, "I'm leaving this smelly village for good!"

Karamatsu reached out his hand, his mouth hanging open as he watched the teen abandon his home. But in that moment, a sweet, unknown scent overcame his senses. It was a familiar feeling, but so distant at the same time. Such a scent seemed to scrape to the core of his memories, teasing his heartstrings. The longer the priest stood, attempting to remember, the more he realized he had forgotten.

Images of a familiar, beloved friend flickered through Karamatsu's mind as his heart began to pound within his chest.

"TODOMATSU, COME BACK!" Karamatsu wailed out, beginning to sob, tugging at the material of the clothing, which covered his heart.

"Remember me in the next life, alright?" a breathy voice hissed icily into the priest's ear. The obvious male figure wrapped their arms tightly around Karamatsu, beginning to cackle softly.

The priest went from sobbing to as stiff as a board, turning as pale as a ghost.

"You were cast out from the Eternal Kingdom because you're a failure," the figure chuckled. "Karamatsu. It's been so long."

The figure drummed his fingers up Karamatsu's body, slowly wrapping his hands around the priest's throat, gradually tightening his grip on it. Involuntarily, the priest began to gag, wanting to speak, though his vocal chords were being squeezed off. Blood erupted from his mouth as he choked and coughed desperately for air.

"Every inch of you belongs to me, Karamatsu. That's what you get for forgetting about me, life after life, despite our promise," the figure hissed. "You screwup."

"N-No..." Karamatsu wheezed, kicking his legs around as he struggled to break free.

"I should have known you were always the type of person to forget their own brother. I waited for you, life after life. But all you ever did was reject me. Believe it or not, we've met hundreds of times, but you never remember. Even if I reminded you, all you do is forget," the figure spat. "No wonder my subject hates your guts. You truly have deserved this petty sadness you carry about with you. It's no burden to you. You want to be sad."

The figure loosened his grip on Karamatsu and took a few steps back. The priest staggered forward, gasping for air as a thin stream of blood dripped from the corners of his mouth.

"Os-Os-Osomatsu...." Karamatsu choked out, craning his neck around to face his brother. And at that moment, a light blue ribbon broke free from the fence, flowing in between the two lost brothers.

"It's too late now," Osomatsu pulled his suit jacket off, throwing it over his shoulder. "It's taken you too long to remember, and even now, I know you don't. You just want me to leave, and all I ever wanted...was for you to continue loving me unconditionally into the next life."