The touch of an angel

The dead want Akihito

Akihito saw himself walking alone at a kind of forest. He observed everything that surrounded him. There were cherry trees. The blossoms were very beautiful and he thought that he would enjoy taking photos of the trees. Cherry blossoms were the flowers that he liked the most.

-Wow, these cherry trees are really amazing. I enjoy seeing the petals falling down.

He walked a little more and got surprised when he saw a temple. Immediately, he recognized the abandoned temple he used to go with Takato and Kou when they were children. They liked to explore the temple because they believed there were youkais* there. Naturally, they had never seen any demon or spirit there, but they had had many funny moments together.

Akihito climbed the temple stairs, wondering if there was something there. He asked himself if he was having an out-of-body experience. Akane, his sister, had told him once that, during the sleep, the soul could leave the body and walk without destination or in the spiritual world. The boy had never taken her sister's beliefs seriously. But now he was thinking that it was possible that he had left his body and was visiting the same temple he had visited with Takato and Ko so many times.

While he was climbing the stairs, he heard:

-Akihito, have you come back to us?

The boy turned around and tried to know who could be calling him but he saw nobody.

-It is dark here. That is why I can't see you. Who are you?

The voice answered him:

-Akihito, you have been among the dead. You have died once. You died of a brain tumor, you shouldn't have returned to life. Your death wasn't a mistake. Come back to us, Akihito. We want you. You belong to us.

Akihito began to feel a strange fear and the voice continued:

-You don't need to be afraid, Akihito. Just come back to us. That woman shouldn't have allowed you to return from the dead. We want you. Accept the fact that you must come back to us.

Akihito kneeled and asked the voice:

-Leave me alone. I don't want to die. I have too many things to do. And Asami will provide me the treatment.

-That man can't play God, Akihito. He can't decide your destiny. You are going to die and return to us. Your tumor is rare and aggressive. We are waiting for you.

-No. Said Akihito.

Suddenly, the place became illuminated and Akihito got terrified. The place was full of people. There were grown up, teenagers and children surrounding him and they all said:

-Come back to us, Akihito. You belong to the dead now. You shouldn't have returned to life.

Akihito kneeled, feeling a Strong fear. All the people that surround him started to lend their hands, saying:

-You were training to be an angel of death. You must return to us, Akihito. Don't be afraid. Death is just a part of life. Everybody is destined to die. Come back to us.

Akihito started to feel a Strong headache and he clutched his head and closed his eyes.

-No! Screamed Akihito.

-Akihito...

Akihito opened his eyes and saw that Asami was laying down by his side. The yakuza seemed to be very worried.

-Akihito, what happened?

The boy spoke about the nightmare and Asami hugged him, saying:

-Have no fear, Akihito. I have found you now and I won't let you go. Today, you are going to have your tests and we'll know what is wrong with you. Then, we'll know what kind of treatment you'll need.