The next morning, Osamu awoke once again to the sound of rain, in bed with Yoko...and the Shoku Twins. Omagatoki sat on his stomach with her yukata open and her raven hair a frizzy mess. She stared at Osamu as he woke up, as if he were some sort of colorful, wonderful insect.

(Yeah, the last thing I'd ever, EVER expect is to wake up with a half-naked little girl on my stomach. I want to pledge to the authorities and to our readers that I would never commit a crime as grave as depriving a little girl of her innocence! Even if she is over a thousand years old!)

"Omagatoki...when did you get here?" Osamu asked.

Omagatoki placed her hand on her stomach. "Osamu...It's ready..."

(What? What?!)

"Omagatoki, what do you mean it's ready?! What did we...no way...don't tell me we...no! No! This isn't happening! I'm gonna go to jail!"

Akatsuki came up from behind and also sat on Osamu's stomach. She had let her hair down so she could lie in bed properly, even though there was no real need for any sleep. With both of them wearing their hair down, the two looked identical. The only differences were that Akatsuki's hair was longer and had a bit of a curl to it. Not to mention their eyes. Omagatoki had one orange and one purple eye. Akatsuki had one gold and one red eye.

"What are you talking about? She means that breakfast is ready." Akatsuki said.

(Breakfast? Oh...that's right...)

"You really need to provide context in your sentences, Omagatoki. Doesn't your sister ever teach you that?" Osamu asked.

"I'm sorry!" Omagatoki apologized. "But what exactly did you think I meant?"

Osamu smiled. "Forget it. Do you mind getting off my stomach? It's about time I ate something."

"Yes sir!" Omagatoki cheered.

Osamu got up and helped tie Omagatoki's yukata back up. In times like these, he appreciated the presence of the Shoku Twins even more. Their opposite personalities and behaviors were almost sinfully adorable. Sometimes, it made Osamu wonder if this was what it was like to have two daughters.

"Hey, guys..." Osamu muttered, kneeling before the twins.

"Yeah?" Omagatoki asked.

"I just...wanted to tell you I love you both. I really mean that."

Osamu's mane of jet black hair obscured one of his eyes, but it could not hide glistening tears welling in the other. He lowered his head, hoping to hide is pained expression. It was futile. The twins knew him well enough to know when he was hurting on the inside. Omagatoki looked to the bed they had just gotten out of, reminding herself that the house was missing one person.

Akatsuki gently patted Osamu's head. "You're a good person, Osamu. Please, do not lose heart. All that is fated to happen shall happen."

"Even a tragedies are part of life, Big Brother." Omagatoki consoled. "As long as she's still alive, there's nothing to mourn, and nothing to fear. I'm sure she's realizing that too."

Osamu nodded, finding comfort and wisdom in their words. He raised his head and took a deep breath. "There's nothing to mourn and nothing to fear. You're right. Thank you, you guys."

Omagatoki smiled as Akatsuki blushed, both of them throwing their arms around Osamu in hug.

"All right, let's go see what's cooking downstairs, yeah?" Osamu asked with a more jovial tone.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Omagatoki sang.

The three went downstairs where Izanami cooked up some fried salmon, mandarin slices, rice cakes, and sweet brioche with melted butter, sea salt, vinegar, and a bit of olive oil. Izanami, keeping up with her promise to Isabella, wore a bright smile on her face, contrasting with they greyscale weather outside.

"Hello and good morning! Are you hungry?" Izanami asked.

"Good morning!" Osamu saluted. "Damn right I am. It smells good in here."

"Osamu, don't curse around the kids!" Izanami scolded.

"Oops, sorry..."

Akatsuki and Omagatoki put their hands together, performing their required maintenance of time and space.

"It's okay." they both said in unison.

(Creepy...they're just like those twins from The Shining when they hold hands...)

"Hey, you're already dressed? Are you going somewhere?" Osamu asked.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and visit Izzy in the hospital." Izanami answered. "Figured she could use the company, you know?"

"Yeah. You're right." Osamu nodded.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Speaking of which, is Yoko awake? If she sleeps any longer she won't be able to eat breakfast before work." Izanami said.

"Yeah, I'll wake her up. Yoko! Get up already!" Osamu shouted.

"By 'wake her up', I thought you were going to actually go up there and gently wake her!" Izanami groaned. "Gentlemen don't yell at a woman to wake up, Osamu!"

"Is there some sort of male version of Yamato-nadeshiko I'm not aware of?" Osamu complained.

"No, but I'll make one if I have to!" Izanami sassed.

Yoko staggered down the stairs half-asleep in her pink nightgown. "Osamu, was that you yelling at me just now?"

"Yep! Good morning!" Osamu sang with no regrets.

"I'll forgive you for now. I'm too tired to be mad. Good morning everyone." Yoko saluted.

"Good morning, Yoko." the shoku twins sang together.

"...I swear it's like The Shining when you guys do that..." Yoko muttered.

(That's what I said!)

"Izanami, are you going somewhere?" Yoko asked.

Izanami smiled. "Yep, I'm gonna go visit Isabella. Hurry and eat, you have to go to work soon!"

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks for cooking." Yoko said.

"Looks like it's gonna be you and me in the house, you two." Osamu said, looking at the twins.

Their duty done, the Shoku twins released their hands, regaining their independent minds.

"Let's make snacks and watch movies!" Omagatoki cheered.

"Although we do not really require food, I too would like to eat something either sweet or savory." Akatsuki said.

"All right, everything is cooked! Help yourselves, guys! I'm gonna get going now." Izanami said.

"Thank you for your hard work, Izanami." Yoko said with a wave goodbye.

"Bye bye!" cheered the Shoku twins.

Izanami teleported away to the hospital, leaving everyone with a good, warm meal. She appeared at the hospital entrance in her black jeans and thick, white Christmas sweater. Though it would still be a few months until Christmas, her sweaters were the warmest tops she owned, perfect for the moody, October weather. Izanami went inside at checked herself in with the front desk like everybody else, even though simply teleporting to Izzy's room directly would've been an easy task.

She couldn't help but marvel at how squeaky clean the hospital was. Not a single scratch blemished the white walls, and the teal, vinyl flooring reflected the overhead lights back into her eyes. The television affixed to the ceiling above the front desk showed a news report of a minor earthquake that rattled Shinjuku, which no one waiting in the lobby seemed to take an interest in.

After checking in, she marched right over to Isabella's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Isabella answered from the other end.

Izanami walked in, waved, and smiled. The rain drops on Isabella's bedside window distorted the view of the tranquil cityscape outside. The sidewalks were practically covered in opened umbrellas while cars trailed along like snails on the rain soaked roads.

"Hey there! Good morning!" Izanami sang, focusing all her attention on Isabella.

"Good morning, Izanami!" Isabella responded.

The two hugged and kissed each others cheeks. Izanami sat down at Isabella's bedside, her pale hands resting on her lap.

"How are they doing?" Isabella asked.

"Much better! They're both back to being themselves. Suddenly having you hospitalized was such a big shock to us."

"Yeah, I really didn't want to come back here. I'd love to eat breakfast with you guys again, but I guess I won't be able to do that. Even if I wanted to, my stomach isn't letting me eat much."

That much was apparent just by looking at Isabella. Her cheekbones had become slightly more pronounced since the last time she saw Izanami.

"I'm sorry..." Izanami lamented.

"Don't worry about it! It's not your fault. So, have you been keeping your promise?"

"I'm helping out and keeping my spirits up whenever I can. I wouldn't let you down after promising you something."

Isabella smiled. "Good..."

Isabella handed Izanami a sealed envelope. Written on it as her signature, as well as few doodles of hearts and smiley faces.

"What's this?" Izanami asked.

"I figured I should write this while I could still hold a pen properly." Isabella said with a downcast gaze. "Izanami, this is my death letter. I took a lot of time to think about it, write it, and write it over again. I think I wasted twelve sheets of paper trying to write the right words down. I've already given one to some of my men. The one I gave them is for my parents. When my body is shipped home, it'll come home with the letter. This one is for you guys. Don't open it until after, okay? In fact, don't show anyone until I'm gone. You have to promise me, okay?"

Izanami reluctantly took the letter, understanding how an envelope enclosing a few sheets of paper could still feel so heavy. "I understand. Until the time comes, it'll be my closest secret."

Isabella smiled. "Thanks, Izanami. You're a true friend. Say... I know you're not supposed to tell people exactly when they're going to die, but would it be all right to tell me what time of day I'll die? Like, is it night, or morning, or..."

"It will be in the morning. As soon as the sun rises. You'll fall asleep in the dusk, and you'll be gone by dawn." Izanami answered, her head hung low.

"Wow...that's actually pretty cool!" Isabella giggled.

"Izzy!" Izanami gasped.

Isabella laughed as Izanami nudged her shoulder. "Well, until that time comes, just keep forging forward! Never stop!"

Isabella reached for the USMC helmet resting on her bedside table. She proudly put it on and gave Izanami a thumbs-up. "You and me, buddy! Until the end!"

Izanami smiled and laughed as the clouds began to part, and the sun began to shine on the rain-soaked city. "Yeah, until the end!"

(I'm sorry. At this point, my story is disappointing you, isn't it? There wasn't any grand adventure, no final battle, no super strong villain like Bishamon, no cheating death. For those days, our house was missing one person. Not only that, but everyone just did their best to live their lives. Yoko worked every weekday, Izanami cooked, cleaned, and made sure we didn't stay cooped up in the house, the Shoku Twins were there to try and compensate for the missing company, and I...well, no matter what I was doing, it always felt like I was waiting. You'd think I'd be trying to turn back the clock, right? To try and fight the swing of the pendulum. No, not anymore. I've already learned how time can flow so fast, so mercilessly that it seems unfair. Each day is a day that we can't get back. And so, I take you forward into December, the last month of Isabella's life. It was on December 1st that I got the call, late at night...)

Osamu's phone vibrated in his hands as Yoko, Izanami, and the Shoku Twins slept beside him. He held it up to see who could be calling at such an odd hour. Surprisingly, it was Aika.

"Hello?" Osamu whispered.

"Hey Osamu." Aika answered. "Rei and I are at the bowling alley. Meet us down here now."

"You can't just call people in the middle of the night and—"

Rei screamed into the phone. "Now, dick face!"

And with that, Rei hung up the phone.

(Again...)

Part of him wanted to just fall back asleep to spite Rei, but he knew that if those two had assembled at the bowling alley at such a god forsaken hour, they had something important to discuss. He reluctantly peeled himself away from the bed and quietly threw on some sweatpants, a black hoodie, and his silver peace sign necklace.

"Let's go see what they want."

(December started with a cold walk through our familiar neighborhood, and with time slipping through the fingers of our time-consuming, daily lives. But, I knew one thing, even back then. Aika and Rei wouldn't call unless they had a good idea.)