Back home

A soft bright light shone in an abandoned temple, as a young man with rough black hair reaching his shoulders stepped through. The young man wore a simple silk robe, adorned with different textures and stones.

A bronze belt with inscribings placed around his waist, as a fiery symbol was placed on the fabric of his chest. Looking round, the young man could see the statue of different gods built by their worshippers, as a smile creepepef on his face.

'Am back home.' Kodak heaved a sigh of relief. He had been transported to an abandoned temple, a bit far from his hometown. He then walked outside the small temple, as his eyes befell the beautiful scenery in front.

"I've missed this." He said staring at the green grasslands and vegetations cultured over the ground, spread across the plain mountain hills. He could also see several streams of water, flowing through the valley as it supplied nutrient for the different fruits growing near them.

Kodak raised his head upwards, closing his eyes and taking in the soft gentle rays from the early morning sun. Kodak could feel his whole body at peace now, as he took in his environment. He could really smell the scent from the grass as they stood firm, the soft breeze gently blowing down on them.

'Well I better get going.' Kodak smiled after standing there for about five minutes.

"I should be home in time for breakfast." He chuckled, stretching his body a bit as he stomped the ground propelling his body with futuristic like speed. The little stones were chucked up in the air behind him, as he ran trailing a gust of wind behind.

Kodak was moving with such insane speed, that the tall trees waved violently in response. he looked down at a thin line of water flowing, and could see his face. Kodak was a handsome young man with a sophisticated behavior, and everyone in the village loved him for it.

He always sort the right thing, and never cheated anyone earning him names like peace keeper, steel justice, protector and so on. He was married to a beautiful wife named Leona, who was pregnant for him. It was hard for him to leave her behind sometimes, but she assured him she was fine and he also had the full support of the villagers.

'Am coming Leona.' Kodak could see the small bronze gates, to the entrance of his village. he then used his legs to push himself high in the air, landing at the front of the gates.

"W-what was that?" A villager guarding the gates on a watchtower said to the other his voice trembling.

"I-i don't know man." The other male gulped, holding his spear tightly. They couldn't see anything now, as everything happened so fast. Dust of sand covered the mysterious presence from their sight, but slowly the dust started settling and they could finally see the figure of a man.

"Am back everyone!" Kodak's voice rang in both their ears. The small explosion caused by Kodak's landing had garned the attention of the villagers, as they now gathered at the center of the village watching.

"K-kodak!" The first guard screamed on top of his lungs seeing Kodak, as tears of joy streamed down his eyes.

"W-what's happening?" A woman backing her two year old child frightenly said.

"I don't know something just crashed there." A young boy with dark hair said pointing, their faces immediately turned grim as they expected the worst outcome.

"Wait!" And old woman with a walking stick suddenly yelled stretching her ear forward. "D-did they just say Kodak?"

"Y-eah.. i think i hear it too." An average male with brown hair answered. There were small mumurs building up as they couldn't believe it, but seeing the guards leave their post to warmly hug this individual made them think otherwise.

"Phough! Phough.. c-can't breathe." Kodak choked, under the tight hold of this two guards. He could feel how long they had waited for him, and the amount of joy filled in their eyes. not wanting to ruin the moment, he also hugged them tightly.

"C-come there's a lot to show you." They then guided him into the village, as his view met with the rest of the villagers. There were screams of joy, sadness, pain, accompanied with heartfelt tears that flowed from everyone's eye as Kodak was welcomed back home.

"Kodak's back!"

"Yeah he's finally back after almost a year."

"Kodak! Kodak! Kodak!"

They all chanted, lifting Kodak up in the air as they all danced and celebrated. Kodak was filled with joy, as he had long felt this kind of feeling in his heart. He was never always around as a messanger, so he cherished the little times he could have with his people.

'I don't see her here.' Kodak thought looking round. The moment he came into the village, his eyes searched for his pregnant wife Leona. He'd thought she was among the crowd, but he could now see she was nowhere to be found.

"Thank you everyone." Kodak smiled getting off from the crowd. "It's a pleasure to see you all too.. I've missed you guys so much." They gave him a vigorous shout in response, as he continued on.

"I know most of you are expectant of the news on my journey with the gods." Kodak added more spice, as he could see the excitement and anticipation in their eyes. he couldn't help but think back, of how he was when he had just begun.

"I will tell you all but right now-" Kodak was interrupted from his speech, as a middle aged woman came running to him.

Stopping, she looked at him with happiness but her face immediately changed to that of worry.

"K-kodak.. you're wife! t-he baby~" the woman barely managed to speak under her deep pants, pointing to the local clinic. Kodak didn't waste a sec as he carried her up sprinting to the building, dropping her Kodak made his way into the little hut.

He could hear several people there both injured, pregnant, sick, and so on, as screams echoed in the air. Focusing his senses, he immediately found his wife's location at the end of the room by the left. he saw that his view was blocked by a blue curtain, placed on the walls.

'I hope am not too late.' Kodak shaky hands shifted the curtain to the side, there laying on the bed in pain was his beautiful wife Leona. The nurse he carried, then went to assist the middle aged woman taking care of Leona.

He could see leona wore a short white dress, as she layed on the bed her legs raised a bit.

"Push Leona! Push!" The middle aged woman yelled, holding her legs firmly as beads of sweat strolled down her face. Kodak knew they hadn't noticed him, as all their concentrations were placed on the delivery of the baby.

"A-ahh." Leona weakly pushed exhaling a large amount of air, she was in a lot of pain right now as her body was all tensed up.

"I-i can't." She cried softly, her body squirming around on the bed.

"Am here honey." Kodak softly said, holding his wife by the shoulders and planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"K-kodak~" Leona stuttered in shock. "I-it can't be." She said in denial until Kodak's face met with hers. she could see the warm expression on his face as he smiled at her, and everything else seemed to become peaceful in that spilt moment.

"How could you leave me!" Leona yelled, tears falling down her eyes as she hugged her husband tightly.

"A-am sorry dear~ but am here now." He gently whispered into her eyes, which gave her a sign of relief from her burdens.

"Fill me in on the details." Kodak said as the nurse hastingly nodded, filling him in.

"She's been in labour for three days now sir... she's lost a lot of blood and am afraid she won't make it any further unless she pushes now." Kodak just nodded as he looked to his wife. He could see how exhausted and weak she was, as her body had gotten a bit pale. He didn't think think she had any strength left in her anymore, until he felt a hand placed on his cheek.

"A-am not losing my husband and child now." Leona said her voice containing a bit of strength, as she slowly lifted her body a bit. Huffing in large amounts of air, her eyes shone like sapphire as she clutched the bed cover tightly.

"Ahhhh!" She screamed loudly her whole body vibrating, as she pushed with unknown power.

"Yes~ yes! That's it I see the baby's head." The nurse shouted excitedly as Leona pushed forth more. She could feel her legs trembling, with a cold sensation washing down her spine. She vowed in her heart she wasn't going to give up and die, at least not until she got the chance to see her baby and husband one last time.

"Ahhhhhh!" Leona screamed more louder than ever, her whole body irked as all the hairs on her body stood up. She involuntarily collapsed to the bed, as she could hear the cry of her newborn child. Her vision was hazy with her mind spinning, she couldn't feel most parts of her body anymore as she envisioned a bright light.

"Oh no! You're not dying on me." Kodak soft words pulled her from her trance, as he placed the green life elixir pill in her mouth. Her body shone the same dull green light, as she could feel strength gradually coming to her body with her vision clearing.

"M-my baby.." she stretched out her hands, as Kodak gently placed the newborn child stained with blood, and wrapped with a white cloth in her arms.

"Shoosh.. there there now love~ mummy and daddy's here." Leona gently comforted her baby in her arms, holding him tightly to her.

"Congratulations sir! your wife gave birth to a bouncing baby boy." The nurse gently applauded as Kodak just nodded. "I'll give you some time to yourselves so I'll be back in a while." She said walking out the door with a smile on her face.

"He looks just like you." Kodak gently muttered laying on the bed besides his wife, his fingers gently running through the baby's cheek.

"Don't be silly." Leona slightly chuckled. "He takes after both of us." She said planting a soft kiss on the baby's head, as the pain she felt subsided. Kodak then wrapped his arms round his wife with his child. He noticed the child mostly resembled her mother, as the baby's hair was ash in colour in contuary to Leona's blonde hair.

'Phuk! phuk.' The baby cooed softly, as Leona hummed a soft lullaby into his ears. everywhere seemed to have gotten quiet, as the three stayed in each other's embrace.

"What should we name him?" Kodak softly whispered, placing his index finger into the baby's tiny hand. He was surprised how much strength his little child had, as the baby gripped his finger tightly not letting go in the slightest.

"I-i don't know." Leona smiled, gazing at her child who cuddled himself in the white cloth on her arm. She couldn't help but think of how lucky she was, as all her burden came to an end. She now had her husband besides her along with her newborn child, as these were the only things that mattered to her in life.

"What about ash?" She softly muttered.

"Ash? As in Ashley?" Kodak frowned a bit a soft smile planted on his lips. "He's a boy you know?"

Leona then scorned at her gullible husband, who felt her cold gaze piercing through his bones.

"Am not an idiot~ I was thinking ash as in free." She said thinking of how free the ashes were, ashes felt no pain or anything as it just stayed peacefully by itself.

"I like it." Kodak smiled. "Ash it is then little one." The baby ash gently cooed slightly, as he fell into slumber.

"You were gone more longer than before." Leona gently said with a frown. She had been thinking Kodak would've returned in 3-4 months time, like he usually did when he embarked on trips with kira. But this feared her a lot, as he had overstayed longer than ever. all she could do was painfully count the days he'd been gone, with her unborn child.

"A-am sorry Leona something really important came up." Kodak said planting a kiss on her cheeks.

"You said that the last time." Leona sarcastically said.

"I-i know but it's really important this time."

"You also said that." Leona smiled weakly heaving a sad smile, Kodak could see worry planted on Leona's bitter expression which caused his heart to ache. He loved his wife and child dearly and didn't want them to suffer in anyway, but it seems he'd failed as he was doing so unknowningly.

"Hey~" Kodak gently raised Leona's face to his, as he could see a single tear flowing down her teary eyes. "You know am doing all these for us right?" Kodak slowly wiped the tear off her cheek.

"I-i know.. but i can't just stand it if something bad happens to you." Leona stuttered, unable to hide her feelings as more tears flowed down her eyes.

"Hey hey.." Kodak softly whispered, placing his wife to his chest as his hands caressed her shoulders gently.

"Nothing bad's gonna happen to me you just have to be strong for our baby." Kodak warmly planted a kiss to her head, his hand gently brushing her blonde hair.

"B-but what if-"

"No buts ok? I'll soon come home to be with both of you forever." Kodak warmly said, firmly holding his wife. He could feel her body shaking, as some droplets of tears flowed down her eyes. he then hummed to her, the same lullaby she hummed for their baby.

He didn't mutter a word as time flied with his wife in his arms. he could see that she had calmed down a bit, as her breathing had now returned normal.

"Promise me you won't die.. no matter what." Leona suddenly blurted out, tuging Kodak's body more.

"What?" Kodak softly said confused.

"J-ust promis me!" Leona raised her tone a bit.

"Ok ok.. I promise you I won't die no matter what." Kodak said, Leona then kissed him softly as she fell back to his arms her eyes slowing shutting down.

Kodak knew what she meant as he could see the fear in her eyes, he then sighed inwardly as he thought of the life he'd built here.

'Am not dying until I become a god.' Kodak vowed in his heart, there was no stopping him as his will was strong.