That night as they returned home, the two shared a meal and drank the bottles of wine they had bought at the drugstore earlier. 

As the two conversed, Noa couldn't help but bring up a certain topic she had been avoiding talking about. With the liquid courage she now had, she wanted to know what Shijin thought about his occupation. 

"Why are you asking?" 

"I'm curious. I've experienced death myself when I almost died during the accident that ended up killing my family and since then, I've always been afraid of it. I know it's irrational and that I should outgrow this fear, but I can't seem to shake off the negative thoughts I have." She admitted.

Shijin took another sip of his drink before answering. The look on his face was now somber as he looked off into the distance. 

"...It's natural for humans to fear death, especially when they cherish life. When you understand the value of living, it's clear why the thought of dying can be so... daunting. The fear of pain, the prospect of losing someone you love—these are understandable. Only those who don't  truly value life can face death without trepidation. They might not feel remorse when taking a life because they don't appreciate the essence of living. They take others for granted, acting without regard for the fragility of life.

Most people don't grasp how precious their lives are because they have only a limited time on this earth. Yet, there are rare souls who understand the gift of life and accept that death is an integral part of it. We can't control when or how we die, but that doesn't mean death should be feared.

Death is something to anticipate, not dread. Whether you envision it as eternal rest or a transition to another existence, it shouldn't be seen as something sorrowful or harsh...Death is natural, inevitable, and essential. No matter how much you might wish to ignore it, it remains an undeniable part of life." He looked at Noa, a cold yet forlorn expression painted his pale face.

"You can't have one without the other…" He whispered.  

Noa took a deep breath, her fingers still absentmindedly tracing the contours of the ring. The weight of Shijin's words settled over her, mingling with her own turbulent thoughts. 

"...Maybe I've been so afraid because I've been holding on too tightly, trying to shield myself from the inevitable," she said quietly. "I never really understood that death and life are intertwined. I thought I could keep my fear at bay by pretending it didn't exist, but now I see that's just me running away."

She looked up, meeting Shijin's gaze with newfound resolve. "I've been running from this fear for so long, and I realize now that it's only made me more afraid. Accepting death isn't about giving up; it's about embracing the full spectrum of my existence. Weirdly enough, your words make me feel dumb for even being scared in the first place…I guess fear really does hold us back."

Noa's voice grew firmer, a calm acceptance threading through her words. "So, I think... I think I'm ready to face it. To understand that death is not something to be feared but acknowledged as part of life's journey. I think that if I learn to accept you, I'll be able to come to terms with things. After all, if death is part of life, then perhaps accepting you is part of accepting my own fears."

She offered a small, but sincere smile. "Thank you for helping me see that. I know it won't be easy, but I think I'm finally ready to face it, and to accept everything that comes with it."

Shijin could feel his insides squeezing as Noa gazed at him. He could feel the sincerity in her words and for the first time in centuries, he could feel his heart beat. He didn't know what this feeling was, but he didn't want to ignore it this time. 

Perhaps this human could finally renew the flames that had started to die out within me, he thought. 

For the first time since they had met, he had a genuine smile on his face. Noa's heart fluttered at the sight of Shijin's smile, a rare and breathtaking change that seemed to light up the darkness around him. It was as if, in that moment, the gravity of his melancholic presence had been uplifted to something warm and pure. It was both disconcerting yet beautiful at the same time.

"Glad you feel that way." He managed to say after some time.

As the two sat there, a new sense of connection blossomed between them, a bond forged through vulnerability and acceptance. The weight of their fears had transformed into a shared strength, binding their souls in a way neither had anticipated.

For the next few days, Shijin and Noa got along quite well, deciding they would do their best to foster a good relationship between the two during Shijin's stay on earth. They spent a lot of time getting to know each other, and Noa slowly started to become accustomed to being around the god of death all the while Baku was frantically searching for his master. 

"Ugh, I've always hated coming here, I don't know why Master comes to earth so often." He grumbled as he pushed through the crowd of people. 

Baku was currently in his human form and despite having concealed his presence, he was still getting stares everywhere he went. 

Though his beauty didn't compare to his master Shijin, Baku was a divine being who had an appearance that transcended human norms. 

His smooth skin looked brighter under the streetlights and his white hair shimmered beautifully making the people who passed him do a double take. 

"Who is that beautiful boy over there? Is he a celebrity? But I don't recognize him." 

"He's so pretty, is his hair color natural?" 

"No way, how can someone so young have hair that white. It has to be fake." 

Baku's irritation grew stronger and he couldn't help but yell at the onlookers. "My hair is real, now stop staring, you pesky humans!" He yelled in frustration.

Nevermind walking, I'll be better off using shadow steps to find him!

Baku concentrated hard in order to better sense Shijin's connection and got a faint trace of him. 

I must be close!

The signals he was receiving indicated that he was nearby. Baku ended up leaving the shadow plane and was back to walking on the streets. He had landed in a residential area that was devoid of any life. Looking around, he could sense Shijin in one of the apartment complexes around him. 

Walking into the building, Baku reached the third floor and found the door where he could feel the powerful aura of his master. He hesitated a little bit as he wondered what business Shijin would have in a place like this. 

As far as he knew, Shijin didn't have a residence on earth. Whenever he would make his trips, he would be gone for a few hours and come back right away. He had never spent more than a day in the human realm. 

Suddenly Baku was nervous. He hoped that Shijin wouldn't get angry at him for disturbing him but he didn't have a choice. The god of death needed to return before the head noticed his absence. 

So he resolutely knocked on the door and a few seconds later the door opened. Instead of being met with his master, Baku was now face to face with a curly headed human. 

"Who are you?" Baku snarled.