Good News (for Man)
The long darkness cast by Sal Mavet entered the room before his presence was known. He appeared suddenly at the hospital room door then knocking quickly as he glided toward his patient. Looking the old man up and down and then deep in the eyes, he bowed ever slightly before grimly speaking, "Mr. Ningen, your time in this life is very short." The young granddaughter at his bedside sobbed and grabbed her mother's hand and the mother gasped loudly begging through tears, "Doctor, is there nothing that can be done."
Reaching across the bed and over the aged Koshi Ningen, Mavet put his hand on Kokai's shoulder to comfort her. He spoke softly- almost inaudibly, "I can only help him on his way." She cried now too.
Koshi raised a withered hand between them angrily demanding, "Leave us alone." Yet, he was looking at his daughter and granddaughter in such a way that it was clear he was talking to them. "Get out. Now!" He screamed aloud pointing at the door. So Kokai hurriedly left taking Keppaku along with her, closing the door behind them. It was the last old Ningen would ever be with them.
"I remember you." Ningen looked up at Mavet. Smiling a little he responded, "From where?" Ningen grimaced, "You were there when my wife died." Mavet smiled wider, "Yes, Koshi that's right I remember your Koishi very well."
Ningen sat up a bit and pointed a long boney finger back at the figure before him, "You were there when my father died." Mavet chuckled at the old man, "When was that Koshi?" Laying back Ningen scratched his bald head, "When I was six, during the war when he was poisoned with radiation from the American bombs." Now Mavet laughed aloud, "Koshi, you're nearly 70..." - "Yet you were there!" the dying man said as a matter of fact. Mavet's smile faded only slightly.
For a moment seemingly like a window into eternity neither spoke. Finally, taking his final few breaths and closing his eyes slightly he said, "Where were you when my mother died?" Knowing the end was near and wanting to avoid difficulties, Mavet said, "Your Daifu suffered painfully to his death Koshi, not like you." The old man opened his eyes wide proclaiming, "I knew it! Why did he have to go so soon! It left my mother broken."
Mavet smiled that grim smile again, "You are all broken from your birth, from the moment your Botai brought you into this world you would die Koshi." Ningen sat up again. "So where were you when she died Shinigami." Stiffening up as if surprised Mavet pursed his lips, "She was not mine to claim, she belonged to Jotai Tentei." This made Ningen smile as he gasped, "Well then, let's not waste any more time. Get it over with then."
"Koshi, I'm only here to see you on your way." Mavet assured the man, "Your time cannot be slowed or sped up, but this life for you is soon to end."
Ningen squinted slightly at Mavet, "You know you're not as scary as most think." Mavet frowned, "I'm nothing to be feared." He paused and leaned in slightly toward the man's ear, "What comes after..." He turned looking out and stretching forth a reddish hand pointing his sharpened nails toward eternity and began chuckling a fearful laugh as if to comfort even himself.
The man coughed and sputtered with frustration, "I don't believe in all of that." Shaking his head and flailing his arms,"My mother tried to scare me with stories of the flames in Tenbatsu and Akuma's torments among the Daten-shi. She would tell me I could avoid it by trusting in..." Mavet hissed, turning and holding his dark claw over the man's mouth as if to prevent the words. "That's why I'm here Koshi and not... him."
Only when he removed it slowly did Ningen realize there was one even death feared. He wondered if his Mother's stories of Kamidesu Kyusheishu, God become man, could be true. Botai spent hours telling young Koshi stories of the miracle birth brought by the Seirei upon a young girl, the god-man on earth doing miracles among his creation, and finally being killed by those he came to save through crucifixion. Botai said they killed him for claiming his true nature as one with Jotai Tentei. She told him how Kamidesu's body was placed in a grave by his followers, but on the third day it was gone and he appeared alive to many of them even ascending into a glorious place with Jotai Tentei. Botai told her son he only needed to believe in the Kyusheishu, to trust him and he would deliver Koshi from death and Tenbatsu into Jotai Tentei's great presence for all eternity.
She had always said it was never to late, not until... "Death comes," Mavet whispered. With that Ningen released his last breath and a great blue field of energy came forth from his body. Mavet glowed growing younger by many years. "Goodbye Koshi. I shall be with you in Tenbatsu soon enough."
The door opened and a nurse of noticeable age walked in staring angrily at Mavet who said plainly, "Mr. Ningen is no longer here Nurse Memitim." She glared at him and seem to moan, "I had hoped to assist you." As he left looking back at the shell of the man in the bed he said, "This one was personal." He smiled at her assuringly, "There will be many, many more."
