Shijin and Noa had been sitting on the couch enjoying a cup of tea while watching some cartoons during that time. 

Noa was surprised to hear that since Shijin came to be, he had never once watched television. 

"Death, I thought you came down to earth often. How come you've never watched TV before?" She asked him. 

"I only come down to drink. What other reason would I have to stay?" He replied nonchalantly. 

Noa turned to face him, slightly intrigued. "What do you do for fun then?" 

Shijin narrowed his eyes at her, not at all fond of the fact that a human was prying into his business. But seeing the sparkle of curiosity and excitement in her eyes made his heart soften and he couldn't help but answer her question. 

"I don't do much," He admitted. 

"I'm always busy with work so I don't have a lot of down time. The only thing I do when I happen to have time off is drink." 

"I see." Noa didn't know why but she felt like his answer was coming from a place of loneliness and frustration. She had the sudden urge to comfort him and make him feel better. 

"Well it's good to keep busy with work, but it's important to have some balance. Since you're here now, I can show you the things I like to do during my time off!" She said excitedly. 

Shijin eyed her suspiciously. "I don't think that'll be necessary. From what I've seen so far, you don't do much." 

Noa glared at him. "Why do you always have to have an attitude, man. I'll have you know that not doing anything is also a form of rest. Lazing around is a luxury here in the human world." She huffed. 

"Did you just refer to a god as man?" 

Noa turned her back on him as she sulked in her own corner. 
Looking at her pout made Shijin feel uncomfortable. He felt a strange tug in his chest. 

"Haa. Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." 

"...It's fine. I've noticed that you have a sharp tongue and can be kinda blunt sometimes. If you're not intentionally insulting me then you don't have to apologize." She said as she gave him a playful smile. 

"I see." 

"Well we're doing one of my favorite pastimes right now. I like watching cartoons and anime since they make me forget about reality. I can escape into the magical world of these shows and just forget how sucky life can be. Plus they are entertaining too." 

"I noticed that humans have the tendency to do that. I think I get it now." 

Noa nodded her head as she immersed herself in the show. As she let out a heartfelt laugh when one of the characters acted idiotically, Shijin couldn't help but observe her. 

The way her head tilted back as she laughed, the corner of her eyes crinkled up, the way her whole face lit up and the beautiful cacophony that came out of her mouth indicating her genuine contentment to what she was watching. His eyes then traveled to her hair as it cascaded down her back, the curly tendrils framing her small face. She looked so happy and at ease that Shijin unconsciously let out a smile as he could feel his heart warm. 

Just as he was about to reach out and push away a curl that was by her eyes, the sound of the doorbell rang through his ears causing him to retract his hands. Noa stopped laughing and looked at Shijin, a frown on her face. 

"Did we order something?" She asked him. 

Shijin shook his head. "Weird, who could be ringing the doorbell so late at night?" 

She then stood up to answer the door and was met with a tall man with striking white hair and the clearest eyes she'd ever seen. 

He had a smile on his face but his smile soon crumbled when he saw her. "Who are you?" He snarled. 

Noa stepped back as she saw the ghastly look on the man's face. 

Shijin who had stayed back was in deep thought as he thought back to what had just happened. "What was I about to do?" He mumbled to himself when suddenly he felt a powerful energy emerging from the door. 

Shijin shot up as he raced to the door. He knew without having to be told who the energy came from. It was none other than Baku who stood there, glaring down at Noa who looked like she had seen a ghost. 

The god immediately stepped in front of Noa blocking her view from Baku. The man who saw the person he was looking for, immediately retracted his oppressive aura as he looked up at his master, his face filled with worry and relief. 

"Master! Where have you been, I've been looking for you everywhere." 

Noa who was now behind Shijin had time to recover and her ears perked when she heard the man refer to Shijin as master. She peeked her head curiously as she saw the man with a less terrifying expression. 

"Baku. How did you find me?" Shijin asked, his voice low and cold. 

Baku flinched when hearing his tone and bowed his head. " I apologize, master but I tracked your energy and it led me here." 

"...I am sure you are aware of the consequences that come with tracking me, yes?" He said his voice dropping even lower. 

"Again I apologize for overstepping my boundaries but the head was starting to grow suspicious with your recent inactivity. I did not want you to have to bear any more trouble so I came to personally get you." 

Shijin was silent before he let out a sigh. Of course he was aware that this was going to happen, but with the excitement down here it had slipped his mind. The head would have definitely sent someone to come and get him and it would have been much worse if that had been the case. 

It was good that Baku was the one to come get him and not the head's minions. 

"About that…I unfortunately will not be able to go back with you Baku." 

Baku's head shot up when he heard this. "What? Why not master?" 

Shijin then looked back at Noa who had been quietly observing the situation. Baku followed his line of sight and noticed the human still standing there. 

"Ah," He exclaimed. "I have been meaning to ask but who exactly is this human lord Shijin?" He asked. 

"Shijin?" Noa said, which caused him to flinch. 

Crap, I did not want her to know.

"She is the person I am living with at the moment." He said. 

"Living with?! I thought you disliked humans master? Why would you live with her? Is she the reason why you cannot come back?" 

Shijin looked back at Noa and put a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry Noa but I will be stepping out for a bit so please wait for me here." He said. 

"Wait—" But before she could finish her sentence, the two had disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. 

Noa stood there completely dumbfounded. It was the first time he had called her by her name. 

                                                                                 ................

Baku and Shijin were now standing in the shadow planes away from prying eyes. This was Shijin's own private domain where no other god, not even the head could interfere. The only person other than himself that had permission to enter was Baku. 

Shijin didn't trust most of the gods in the spiritual realm and had an even harder time trusting the other divine beings. Shijin hadn't been with Baku for long, but he could tell Baku was a kind and loyal person, someone he could trust. Baku had never once disappointed him and so he decided that he would put his full trust in his subordinate. He had never once thought of hiding anything from Baku before, but he was hesitating for the first time. 

Baku could see the worries in his master's eyes and felt a prick to his heart. 

What could be worrying master so much that he can't even tell me?

"Lord Shijin, I am Baku, your most trusted and loyal servant. Whatever it is that is plaguing you, trust that you can tell me. I am willing to do anything I can to help." Baku reassured him. 

Shijin's face that had hardened before now softened as he looked at Baku's unyielding face. 

Haa. What am I even doing, how could I even doubt him? 

"I'm sorry Baku, you're right. I am dealing with a … problem right now." 

Baku stood upright. "What problem is it master?" 

Shijin then recounted to Baku what had happened to him until now and the look on Baku's face after he was done made Shijin want to burst into laughter but he held it in given the situation. 

Baku looked like a fish as he opened and closed his mouth, his eyes wide with shock. 

"I-I see." He finally managed to say after he had recovered. 

"This is quite the predicament indeed. Having to wait until that human dies is…This normally wouldn't be a problem if it had occurred later but now…" 

Shijin frowned when hearing this. "What do you mean if it had occurred later?" 

Baku gave him a confused look but then exclaimed soon after. His master never concerned himself with the politics nor rules in the spiritual realm. If it didn't concern his domain, Shijin would never get involved so it was no surprise he wasn't aware of the protocols in the realm either. 

"Master, when the domain of a god needs to be transferred to other gods, the god of that domain needs to be present in order for the transfer to be successful. You are the master of theYomi so it won't listen to anyone but you. If you are not present during the transfer ceremony, the head will know that you've been missing." He explained. 

Shijin let out the longest sigh he's ever let out in his life. How could he not have known about this? For the first time in his life, he regretted his own ignorance. 

"He'll definitely find out and I won't hear the end of it…then again I can't go to the spiritual realm so he won't be able to chew me out right away." 

"...He could always come down himself." Baku noted. 

This comment earned a glare from Shijin. "A-Apologies." 

Shijin stood there with a miserable expression on his face. He looked so dejected, Baku wasn't sure if he was hallucinating but it looked like he had aged ten years. 

Seeing him look this way caused Baku great pain. If only there was something he could do to help him. That's when a lost memory came forth in his mind. 

"Ah! Master!" He yelled. 

"What is it?" Shijin asked, not even bothering to face him. 

"I believe there's another way to break the bond!" He said excitedly. 

Shijin turned around with a look of surprise on his face. As far as he was concerned, he had only heard of one method to break the bond and that was the death of the bearer of the ring. What other method could there be? 

Baku looked at him excitedly but soon that excitement turned to panic. 

"What is it Baku?" He asked curiously. 

"Ah, no it's nothing master. I must have remembered incorrectly. There is no other way." He said clearly lying through his teeth. 

Shijin looked at him suspiciously, slowly approaching him. "Baku, you just said there was another method and now you're saying there isn't? Why are you going back on your words?" 

Baku was now sweating profusely as he refused to look his master in the eye. "No you must've heard me wrong. Why would there be another way, haha." He laughed nervously. 

Shijin narrowed his eyes as he observed his subordinate. This was the first time Baku had ever lied to him. It was also the first time he had seen him act in this manner. Shijin now became concerned. What could this other method possibly be for him to act this way? 

It was clear Baku didn't want to tell him so Shijin had to use extreme means to get the answer out of him. 

Shijin turned from his human form to his godly form and approached Baku once again asking him for his answer. 

Baku trembled slightly as he faced his master but was resolute and refused to answer. Shijin couldn't help but sigh. He had no other choice but to use that. 

Shijin underwent another transformation, this time his godly form morphed into his shinigami form. He was much taller and larger, morbidly beautiful and terrifying. This was a form he rarely used since his godly form was enough to subdue anyone. He only reserved his shinigami form against strong opponents. The aura that exuded out of his body was so immense, Baku could no longer stand on his feet and went to his knees as the pressure kept him from getting up. 

"I did not want to have to use this form on you child but you left me no choice. Now answer me. What is the other method?" He ordered.

Baku who was still in shock after witnessing his master's true form could no longer resist. After a long struggle he finally managed to get the words out. "L-Love... Love is the other m-method."