Chapter Twenty-Nine: You’re Not Doing This Alone:
-Ju-Oh-Cho-
Hotaru and Mike
appeared at the front desk. She rang the bell.
“Are you sure
about this?” Mike asked.
“This is the
only way,” the loli demon said. “You need closure.” She rang the bell again.
“Coming,” a
woman’s voice said. Hotaru hit Mike in the back to straighten him up. The
receptionist walked up to the desk.
“Good morning,”
Hotaru said with a smile.
“Can I help
you?” the receptionist asked. The loli demon patted Mike on the shoulder.
“He would you to
see a soul to say goodbye,” she said.
“I can’t do
that,” the receptionist said. Hotaru pouted at her.
“Just really
quick, she said. “Please?” The other woman narrowed her eyes.
“Are you
Hotaru?” she asked. The loli demon tilted her head.
“How do you know
me?” she asked. The receptionist shook her head, panicked.
“Oh no!” she
said. “No, no, no!”
“What?” Hotaru
asked. “What did I do?” She studied her face.
“Are you okay?”
she asked. The receptionist started to back away.
“Come on,”
Hotaru said. “I won’t bite. Just talk to me.” The receptionist slowly started to
calm down.
“Your power is
scary,” she said. Hotaru pretended to look hurt.
“Aw,” she said.
“Why?” The other woman didn’t answer.
“Come on,”
Hotaru said. “We just want to say goodbye to someone. Really quick.”
“Okay…” the
receptionist said. “What is the name?”
“Laura,” Hotaru
said.
“Last name?” she
asked. The loli demon turned to Mike.
“What was her
last name?” she asked. Mike rubbed his forehead.
“I don’t know,”
he said. “I can’t remember.”
“Race?” the
receptionist asked.
“American,” Mike
said. The lady behind the desk started typing. Hotaru held Mike’s hand. The
receptionist paused.
“Hm…” she said.
“Let’s try something else. Hold out your hand.” He hesitated at first.
“Go on,” Hotaru
whispered. Mike sighed as he held out his hand. The receptionist grabbed wrist.
He let out a gasp as the light took over his body.
--------
Mike opened his
eyes in the white clouds. He looked around.
“Hello?” he
asked.
“Mike? Mike is
that you?” a soft voice asked. The demon froze with chills down his spine.
Don’t tell me…
He slowly turned
around. A woman wearing a white dress stood inches away from him. She had her
frizzy red hair up in a ponytail. Mike stood blinking.
“Laura? No way…”
he said. His knees grew weak.
“Is that really
you?” he asked.
“Yes,” Laura
said in a calm tone. Tears filled his eyes.
“Laura… I’m
sorry,” he said. “I didn’t… That wasn’t me.”
“I know,” she
said.
“Huh?” Mike
asked. Laura walked up and put her arms around him.
“I forgive you,”
she said. He opened his mouth, but she put her finger to his lips.
“I forgive you,”
Laura said again. Mike closed his mouth. He started to smile.
“How have you
been?” I asked.
“Good,” Laura
said. “I lived a good life. I was married and had a daughter. I was a grandma
too.” Her words soothed him just like old times.
“I was doing
good too,” Mike said. “I have a new girlfriend. Well…
had.”
“Treat her
well,” Laura said.
“But…” he said.
She smiled and shook her head.
“She will be
back,” Laura insisted. “Be good to her. Promise me that.” Mike’s heart felt so
much lighter now.
“Understood,” he
said. “Can you do more thing for me?”
“What would that
be?” Laura asked.
“Could you kiss
me goodbye?” he asked. He didn’t have to ask. She kissed him on lips. Mike
melted into the kiss as she faded away.
---------
When Mike came
back, his heart felt so much lighter. Hotaru gave him a calm smile.
“Better?” she
asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“Okay,” Hotaru
said. She turned to the receptionist.
“Thank you for
your time,” Hotaru said. The other woman gave her an odd look.
“You’re welcome… I guess,” she said. The demons bowed and teleported out of the today.