The sun burned down mercilessly from the sky. Sota had been wondering all this time whether he should dare to look up. The thought that his Haruki might be waiting for him up there made the omega chuckle. And now, since the bad weather had not shown itself for quite some time, they could surely take a romantic walk along the beach. How much he longed to cuddle with him again at night in bed – but instead of a bed, the beach or any meadow would do just as well!
Sota had given in to his impatience. He had looked for Haruki. But he was not there. Neither on that day nor on any other. And with every time he sought his alpha, his sorrow grew. Did Haruki no longer care for him? Had he found another? Was the force that separated them truly so mighty that he had given up? Was he not good enough?
Eventually, after Sota had wept for days, one of his fishlike servants came to him. "Your Holiness, if you wish, I can look for your human friend." At first, Sota waved him off, as he always did when they addressed him. But then the words made him look up. He sniffled and wiped his nose with the sleeve of his kimono. "Really? Can you do that?" he asked softly, and the fish nodded. "Of course. We can take any form you desire. And if it is your wish that we search for your friend, then that is what we shall do." Sota nodded. "Find out how he fares… and why he does not return. Please… I would do anything for him to forgive me." That he himself had done nothing wrong was no longer a matter of importance. In this moment, he only longed for Haruki's presence. The fish nodded and disappeared.
But his return also took a very long time. By now, Sota had been pacing nervously for hours, yet all of it was in vain.
Just as he was about to ask another servant for help, he noticed a black-and-white cat diving into the sea. In its mouth it carried a small, glowing white orb. Surprised by the sight of a cat surely about to drown, he watched it closely, only to widen his eyes when the cat transformed into a fish that laid the orb at Sota's feet. "Your Holiness, I have brought you your friend." Sota looked down at the orb, tilting his head. "What do you mean?"
The fish swam a few small circles, as though it needed to grow accustomed to this body again, before hovering in place before Sota. "Your friend." It paused, and Sota crouched down. "The other gods seem to have slain him. But I was able to preserve all that he is: his soul." Sota reached out his hand and touched the white orb with his fingertip. A flood of tears streamed down his cheeks. This was Haruki. He could feel him. All at once, he sensed the pain the alpha had endured before they ever met, and the anguish their separation had caused. "Haruki…" Sota whimpered softly. For him, it was yet another death he had to suffer himself.
Years passed in which Sota lay curled up in his bed with the orb, wasting away more and more. The storms and foul weather that plagued mankind were dreadful, yet the other gods seemed content to endure this state. And in time, with Sota's weariness, the weather calmed. Whenever he was awake, he gazed only at the orb or spoke to it. He told Haruki of himself, apologized over and over that he had died because of him, confessed how much he loved him, and swore that he would find a way to bring him back.
Yes! There had to be a way! He was a god! A truth he still found unreal, but it was undeniable – and he was an important one at that! Would the others react so strongly if he were not?
But how was he to do it? "Fish!" Sota leapt from his bed in one swift motion, clutching Haruki's soul tightly in one hand. One of his servants swam up to him, seeming delighted that their master had reappeared. "Yes, Your Holiness?" More fish gathered around, and Sota took a deep breath. Somehow, he still felt as though he were the one who should obey these beings, and not the other way around. "I want Haruki to become a god as well. How do I make that happen?" The fish swam in small circles before Sota, as if pondering. Yet before Sota could doubt that it was possible, it stopped. "I am not certain it is so simple. But in the realm of the gods, there exists a sacred spring. If you place his soul into it, he may indeed become one. But the other gods will not be pleased… Are you certain you desire this? You know that calls for your union have long been raised. If you choose a former human, it could stir great unrest…" Sota blinked in surprise, then quickly shook his head. "I do not care! I love Haruki. I will do whatever is necessary to have him by my side."
The fish clearly did not think this wise. Yet the fact that Sota would be happy compelled all of his servants. "As you wish, Your Holiness. Your happiness is ours as well. We shall prepare your journey."