1 Takehiko and the Gods

Takeda Takehiko was kneeling in front of a maiden's statue. "Sefie-sama, Hades-sama, Inari-sama, Yubis-sama, Yama-sama." He was solemnly praying about his brother's safety. He was wondering how his brother was all this time.

Five years ago, he was brought to this world by Inari, the Goddess of Foxes. He clearly remembered how his brother was sobbing at his hospital bed. He was diagnosed to have an advanced stage of liver cancer and he was given 1-3 months to live. He had stopped attending his senior year at the university for treatment. He still remembers how his brother smiles at him, encouraging him with his treatment. He would bring him manga every day when he visits the hospital. After all, they are the only ones that were left. Their parents died when they were young and ever since his brother was taking care of him. His brother was also his father and best friend. They worked odd jobs aside from school to live by. They were frugal but happy supporting each other. When his brother was promoted to a manager, he offered to buy him his favorite manga. He no longer had to borrow with his classmates. It went on for a few more years.

Everything stopped when he got admitted to the hospital. He thought he had a simple stomachache but when the doctor explained, he saw how his brother was devastated. They were partners in crime. Now he has only a few weeks to live, three months the most. He knew his brother would not give up. He was his brother's support, and his brother is his support. They only have each other as family. Takehiko wanted his niisan to be proud. He tried to fight over this illness. It dried up the savings that they have but a few weeks in treatment, his health was worse than before. He saw that his older brother clearly did not want him to let go. He knows he is putting a brave face and often takes his work at the hospital to spend time with him.

Last few days of his earthly life he was very frail, eating and sleeping was a struggle. His brother was there supporting him, but it brings him much more pain that he will leave him earlier. They promised that he would be there when he gets married and he will be the best man but now, like their parents, he had to leave his poor brother alone in the world. "Niisan, if I were to live again, I'll wish every day for you to be my brother again." He smiled but it broke his brother's heart. Those were his last words when everything went black, he could hear his brother was crying, it broke his heart, he betrayed his brother by dying but he was helpless as everything went silent.

When he woke up, he was in front of a beautiful Japanese mansion in the middle of nowhere. A lot of foxes roaming around but as if they don't see him. Then a woman with fox tails appeared before him. She was wearing a beautiful light pink kimono with elaborate sakura patterns. She looked elegant and sophisticated. Strangely, those fox ears seemed to add an ethereal

"Oh, you are here!" She exclaimed she was smiling. Her tails were playfully swishing from left to right.

"Did I die?" Takehiko asked in confusion. He had read some of the manga his brother had, typically he had read most of the protagonists died and greeted by gods or summoned without warning to another world. But it seems the former is quite applicable unless this woman wants to send him directly to the underworld.

His brother loved reborn, reincarnation and transmigration stories to another world, he would definitely love to be in one.

"Yes." The woman said it while maintaining a smile.

"Ah. I see." Takehiko replied but gloomily smiled back. He still remembers the pain he brought to his brother a while ago.

"Fufufu… He seemed easier than the usual." A man in black Chinese official robe appeared. He has a beard and sharp eyes which makes his face terrifying. His aura was intimidating like he was looking into someone's soul.

"King Yan!" The woman courtly bowed. She exuded an elegant and noble greeting despite the malevolent aura around the man.

"Lady Inari." The man bowed courtly back. He was quite intimidating to look at but Takehiko did not sense animosity from the man.

"Would you like to go inside?" Lady Inari smiled as a gracious hostess.

"Hohoho. It's impolite to refuse such grace my lady" King Yan politely grinned. "I heard that Brother Hades is inside."

"He would love to see you. Don't worry I will keep her wife busy so you two can catch up! Let's go." Inari was jovially inviting King Yan similar to very close friends.

Takehiko was observing them and rack his brains at the same time, Inari and foxes, she must be the Goddess Inari. If his name was King Yan, he must be Yama, the God of Hell. He broke out in a cold sweat. If they are talking about Hades which is also a God of the Underworld in Greek Mythology. These thoughts made Takehiko's legs go soft. He fell into the white pavement and prostate before them.

"Inari-sama! Yama-sama! I am very sorry I did not know." Takehiko was shivering in fright.

"Hohoho. Don't be scared young man." King Yan smiled. While his smile was terrifying his words were very sincere. "Let's follow Lady Inari so that you'll know why we called you here."

Takehiko followed them to a tearoom and saw a black-haired middle-aged man in suit sitting beside an equally ethereal woman in a bohemian outfit and wearing a crown of flowers. The man is handsome, his black hair complemented with his fair skin and a well-trimmed black beard. Judging from his frame, his built was similar to Greeks who joined the early Olympics but his look on a suit looked noble and dignified. The young woman was an equal beauty, her fair skin and plump lips provides an aura of spring, her deep red hair was neatly tied and flowers on her crown seemed to be very alive.

"Senior Brother Hades!!! You look dashing!!!" King Yan's terrifying aura dissipated. He was like looking to an idol. "Sis-in-law Persephone is also very beautiful!"

"Hello King Yan!! It's been a while! I go by the name Sefie now" The one called Persephone spoke. Her smile was like a cool sun shining brightly over spring.

If Takehiko remembered correctly, Persephone was the only wife of Hades in Greek mythology. Among all the gods in olympus he was the only one that had one consort. He never knew he would meet these gods in this life, well except for the fact that he is dead. He could not brag about it. Probably his literature professors would be over the moon with this and would be surprised how modern these gods are.

"Lady Inari, is this Takehiko?" Lady Sefie asked. Her charm was off the charts like a pure flower in bloom.

"Yes Sefie-chan." Lady Inari nodded. The four gods then sat like he was on a panel interview. "Before we begin, do you have any questions?"

"How is my brother?" Takehiko knew he died, he accepted it. No way to battle an advanced stage of cancer like that. He looked pitiful in his patient gown, but he knew his brother was more pitiful, they only had each other as family, and he left him just like that. He only wished that his brother had a wife to care for him but with his studies and how they lived for the past 20 years being orphaned, they were just getting by. His brother must be very devastated.