Mizuki POV)
Two days after his death, we are gathered. At his funeral. He doesn't have any relatives left who can carry his photo. But that wasn't a problem.
Mary is holding is his photo. We are all here. The ones who knew Akatsuki are all here. When the news came, I broke down. I started crying like a baby. My mother calmed me down.
When I went to the hospital with my parents, I can hear the wails. It was Mary. She was wailing in pain and grief. Because he left us.
That Selena girl is there as well. Standing a little away from Mary. I go near Akatsuki. His face isn't contorted. His lips were pointing upwards.
He was smiling. Did he die having a good dream? Looking at his face, I felt relieved. He left in peace. That's what I thought.
It took a while for Mary to calm down. And completing the preparations took another day.
Now we are here. In the community center, where his funeral is being held. There are many people. Most of them are our classmates.
The girls are all here. Even from the other classes. Did he know all of them? And with their family.
Mary hasn't talked to anyone since then. She has become completely lifeless. Like her soul has left her body.
Her mother is holding her. I am sitting with my parents at the front row. I can see his coffin.
He is there. In that coffin lies Akatsuki. But he isn't alive anymore. His wounds are still there. They are bandaged.
I take a look around again. The boys from our class, are somehow happy.
Is it that? The guard is gone, now we can do whatever we want. How twisted!!! But the girls are genuinely grieving.
"Let us offer him a moment of silence."
The priest says and we all become silent. I really wanted to talk to him. I wanted to become like how we were. But in the end, you left ahead of us. Without giving me a chance. Isn't that unfair?
When I go over to that side, I will complain a whole lot. We have given him our last respects.
I have complained a lot but I really wish that he would wake up.
When I opened my eyes and looked at the coffin, something happened. I can see the coffin moving. Is it my imagination? The priest noticed it as well and he went to take a look.
*Thud* The priest fell backwards. What happened? Why did he fall? He looks pale and is trying to run away. The audience is abuzz. Everyone is talking about what may have happened. But no one is actually going over there and looking.
Then I saw a hand. A hand grabbed the side of the coffin and it slowly pulled up the body. Akatsuki is now sitting.
What?? How can he be sitting? Everyone is stunned. Some even ran away. The ones who ran away were our classmate boys.
They ran away as soon as he sat up.
He slowly turned his head towards us and he shook his head.
"Mizuki, be careful about what you wish for. It might come true."
He said in his usual voice. His voice had no intonation. But I can tell that he is the same Akatsuki.
"I wished for you to come back."
I tell him. I was the only one who calmly talked to him. Others are too frightened to go near him.
"Man, that was some nice trip."
He is now stretching his body.
"My body is all hard and cold. This rigor mortis stuff hits hard. Anyway, I am back from the dead."
His comedic tone came back. Normally you wouldn't notice but he always had a bit if a comedic side to him. So he is back from the dead.
"A…Akatsuki…is that really you?"
Mary who was in a trance has finally came around. So she is asking him.
"Of course. Do you wanna marry me now?"
"Who would? Idiot!!"
Mary ran towards him and hugged him. She must be relieved to see him back.
"I know. Sorry to have worried you. But let me stand first."
Mary let go of him and he tried to stand. Only to stumble upon his own feet
Mary caught him.
"This really sucks. My body is damaged and I just came back from the dead. Soon, she will come chasing me." (Akatsuki)
"Who will?" (Mary)
"The ruler of the underworld, Izanami. I was having a banquet at her place when I heard some really powerful words. So I came back. Besides, I didn't have any intention of dying. I just stayed there because I saw my mom." (Akatsuki)
Akatsuki is talking about something that goes over my head. Mary is looking confused as well.
"I know you don't understand it. But let's get out of here." (Akatsuki)
He grabs Mary and tries to get down from the altar. He is still fumbling but Mary supported him.
"Mizuki, let's go. Also, where is Selena?" (Akatsuki)
Why is he asking for that girl?
"I don't know. She was just there right now."
I vaguely answer it. But when I look at the seat where Selena was sitting, it was empty. She was nowhere to be found.
"Maybe she left earlier. Or she is getting ready." (Akatsuki)
"Ready? For what?" (Mary)
"I will tell you on the way. Don't think that I am back for good? I am here temporarily. I will leave soon."
"What??"
I hadn't noticed but when I heard him say that, I kinda shouted. Mary is the same way.
"This really isn't the best place. Let's change places." (Akatsuki)
Akatsuki then turns to the people who are still around.
"I am sorry folks but I won't die just yet. After all of this is done, I am dead for good. You can have my funeral then. For today, just go home." (Akatsuki)
He grabbed both of our hands and started running. We ran behind him but soon we reached a place. It was his house.
"How did we get here?" (Mary)
"A running jump. I jumped from there to here. Coming back from the dead has its privileges." (Akatsuki)
But what was more bizarre was that his house was restored. But it collapsed during the explosion. The debris were removed so it should still be a destroyed house.
"Oohh….that Selena. She even fixed the house. Was it necessary?" (Akatsuki)
I didn't understand his meaning. Neither did Mary. We both just stare at him dumbfounded.
"Now let's go." (Akatsuki)
He opens the door and enters the house. I have visited his house many times now. It is the same as ever. He walks through the hallway to the living room.
"Yo Selena. I thought you were here."
He raises his hands like greeting someone and said that.
I go to his side and see Selena sitting on the sofa. But the air around her is different. She feels like a completely different person.
"I bid you welcome, oh young man. You have done well in returning from the dead. Only a chosen few can do that. And you have done so splendidly." (Selena)
"No need for the flattery. And also, leave Selena's body." (Akatsuki)
"I can not do that. She is my priestess. She has to offer her body to me when I descend. But how did you know?" (Selena)
"It was pretty easy. I knew from the moment I saw you. You are the goddess of the moon, Selene. And Selena is your descendant who is also your priestess." (Akatsuki)
"Correct. To be precise, she is not my descendant but she has the same qualities. How did you know? That gods do exist." (Selene)
"Look at me. Who am I?" (Akatsuki)
"A remnant of the failed Akatsuki project. You are supposed to be disposed off. But here you are, still alive. No…you just came back from the dead." (Selene)
"Yeah. My fate isn't inscribed in the world. So I am really cut off from the cycle of reincarnation." (Akatsuki)
What is he talking about? I don't understand any of it. A failed project? A god?
"I think our guests are getting confused." (Selene)
"I see. Girls, take a seat. Why are you two standing over there?" (Akatsuki)
I and Mary were standing at the door. But he told us to take a seat.
"First, I am not a normal human." (Akatsuki)
"What are you saying?" (Mary)
"Yeah. I was a subject of the secret project. Codename Akatsuki. But the project failed and I was supposed to be disposed off. But I was saved by someone. And then I got taken in by my parents." (Akatsuki)
"I am asking, why are you lying?" (Mary)
"You are in denial. But ask your parents. Gramps knows how I came to be." (Akatsuki)
I don't know what he is talking about.
"Mizuki, what are your parents? What do they do?" (Akatsuki)
He asks me. But why is he asking me? He knows what do they do.
"They are scientists."
I give him the right answer.
"Right but also wrong. Your parents were government hired secret officials. They were involved in the Akatsuki project. Meaning, they were directly responsible for my creation." (Akatsuki)
Ehh…my parents were responsible for him.
"And I am not saying birth. Because I was created through special processes. My body parts were created separately and then assembled. But how did an artificial body gain a soul?" (Akatsuki)
"A mistake on our part. One soul was lost from the count. And we never really searched. So I think that formless soul took shelter in your body which was empty at that time." (Selene)
"Correct. And that's why I am here. To rectify the mistakes." (Akatsuki)
"How are you planning on rectifying a divine mistake?" (Selene)
"You see, I was offered to be transported to another world." (Akatsuki)
"Then you plan on going there." (Selene)
"Kinda skeptical!! That goddess sounded fake. She will throw me away the moment I say yes." (Akatsuki)