Part 4~ The Dog from Heaven
Salsa met a boy who thought that he was his dog. Little did the boy knows where his real dog had went...

Other than red carrots, there was another thing Salsa hated -- taking baths. So when Taketo wanted to give him one, he leapt off the window and escaped.

He decided to go back only when Taketo forget about it. That's when he met the little boy, Atsushi. The boy grabbed onto Salsa thinking that he was his dog-- Rikki. Helpless against the little boy's tears, Salsa had to follow Atsushi home.

When Atsushi reached home and showed 'Rikki'' to his grandparents, it was obvious to Salsa that they were both shocked to see him. Atsushi said that god must have heard his prayers, now that Rikki's back, his parents would soon be back too. Once again, Salsa noticed the tension between the two grandparents. The boy went to washed his hand for lunch, and Salsa listened to the two grandparents' conversation, noting that they both have good smell -- really care about the boy.

Actually, the real Rikki was died, and so was both Atsushi's parents. They died in a car crash half a year ago. Everyone was dead, except Atsushi who was just unconscious. He was sleeping when the accident happened, so didn't realized what had happened. So his grandparents lied to him that his parents and Rikki had went to a very far place for work. And Atsushi believed them.

Salsa didn't enjoy his visit there as the boy decided to feed 'Rikki' his favourite food everyday -- red carrots.

On the other hand, Taketo was still waiting for Salsa to come back for his bath (it was already 3 am in the morning).

The next day, Atsushi brought 'Rikki' to school and his classmates were terrified when they saw the dog. Accidentally, one of them exclaimed that Rikki and his parents should be dead because of the car crash. Not believing it, Atsushi punched the boy and ran off back home where he caught his grandparents with a broken watch. He recognized it as the watch his father used to wear. There was blood on the watch. Shocked, the boy ran out of the house. Salsa followed in pursuit.

Somewhere, the boy stopped and cried. He didn't want to believe that his parents were died and tried to convince himself that since Rikki was here, his parent would soon come back. Salsa decided to impose as Rikki to make him feel better. It was then, Taketo (searching for Salsa) appeared. Salsa dreaded that Taketo would call his name, then the boy would know that he was not Rikki...

Taketo turned around and saw Salsa, he raised his hand and wanted to called out his name... but when he looked into Salsa's eyes, he lowers his hand, and walked pass him as a stranger.

It was then Salsa began to talk. Atsushi was surprised that he could talk and Salsa explained that all the dogs from heaven could talk. He then told he boy that he (Rikki) and his parents are now in heaven. They were died, but they were worried about him, which was why they sent 'Rikki' down to tell him.

"Both father and mother are dead... you are afraid of this fact, aren't you? Be strong, help them look after grandpa and grandma. We'll always live in your heart... as long as you aren't sad... You must be strong. This is a man to man's deal, ok?" Salsa then disappeared. "I'll be angry if you become weak again."

Atsushi's grandparents then found him. They were sorry that they didn't dare to tell him the truth in fear that he will... also Rikki had died protecting him. He had covered the boy by using his body as a cushion for the impact. They didn't want Atsushi to be sad. The boy looked at his grandparents telling them that it was okay, and he that he would keep his promise to Rikki.
Meanwhile, Salsa saw Taketo waiting for him behind a wall nearby. When he asked why Taketo didn't call him just now, Taketo answered that his expression told him not to. Salsa was grateful .He knew that the boy would be fine. The boy had lost his most important parents but he will meet another person who would also be important to him... just as Salsa had lost his ex-owner and met someone like Taketo...
Credit : Tokisen < tokimaru@optusnet.com.au > for the translated terms, names and sentences taken from her WildHalf translation at Wild Half: Pet Detective
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