Note from the author: Greetings and thank you for choosing to read my little story! As a disclaimer, none of the characters are mine except Hikari. Any similarities between her and any other character or real person are coincidental. Another disclaimer, please do not interpret this as any suggestion on religion. The mythos of this story has been crafted by me from a mix of several different religions. I'm simply having fun. The culture though, I did do a great deal of research on. Even though this is fictional and very much a fantasy, I wanted it to feel as authentic as possible, so I did quite a bit of research on what things were like in Meiji Era Japan. I did take some artistic license though with the Oniwaban Group. They were an actual group of spies/body guards at Edo Castle and their main disguise was as gardeners in Edo's large gardens, although ninja's as we think of them were basically nonexistent by this time. My Oniwaban Group is modeled more off the Rurouni Kenshin anime than the manga, but I probably took some elements from the manga too. And of course, I probably wrote Beshimi much more dignified and adept than he's portrayed in the show. He's still a ninja after all, and happened to be up against the best samurai of the times, which would make anyone look bad X-D So without further ado, let's see what happens!
Eyes slowly fluttered open to inexplicable starlight. A feeling of having just plunged into water, only in reverse, as if having moved slightly…up, and through something. A membrane? An atmosphere?
As soon as he realized he was conscious he had the urge to sit up. He was still lying down, sprawled, in the position he'd died in…but the pain was gone. In fact, his body coursed with energy, tingling, electric. Not even at his peak had he ever felt so vital.
He subdued the instinctual urge to sit up, fearing that he might not like what he would see. Better to just get his bearings while watching the stars. If he sat up and found Hell, he'd rue leaving behind this bit of peace so quickly.
He observed that instead of the hard wood floor of Kanryu's grand hall, he now lay on soft grass. Taking a deep breath of fragrant air, he also realized that his nose, which had been broken, was perfectly fine now. Lifting a hand from the grass, he ran a finger down his nose from forehead to tip. Perfectly smooth. It was as if it hadn't been broken at all. This was certainly strange.
Anxiety mounting, he ventured to touch the places he'd been hit by the bullets of Kanryu's gun. His clothes were dry and soft, neither wet nor crusted with blood. No holes in them either. He slid a hand into his yukata. Though his body was slender, his hard muscle was unyielding, and whole. The weapons he always kept strapped to his body were still in place as well. This was somewhat comforting.
Dropping his arm back to the grass, he reflected. He had willingly died protecting his commander, completely at peace with that, and expecting nothing. A dark void after a long, sordid life was quite welcome.
He knew he'd want to ruminate more on his death, how it felt, how he'd faced it, but he imagined he'd have time enough for that now, now that he was staring down eternity. Although right now, he was just staring at stars.
If there was an afterlife, he had expected he would go to Hell. It was all any member of the Oniwabanshū could expect after a life of spying, killing, attempting to kill. But this was no kind of Hell he had ever imagined. No screaming or flames. Only the perfect night air, the soft grass, and the stars.
Hearing the muttering voices of his comrades, Beshimi decided it was finally time to sit up and see the truth of where they were. He felt relief beyond measure that the others were there too. He wasn't doomed to an eternity of isolation.
He sat up easily, still surprised that there appeared to be no effects left on his body from his death. The others appeared to be just as awestruck. Han'nya, Hyottoko, and Shikijō were all looking themselves over, discovering that there wasn't so much as a scratch on them, from any injury.
Most obvious, all of Shikijō's scars were gone. "You've got to be kiddin' me," he murmured, eyes wide, searching his body.
"My teeth!" exclaimed Hyottoko. "My real teeth! I've only had those flints for years!"
Beshimi thought Hyottoko certainly looked better with his real teeth, but he also noticed they all looked extremely well rested. No wrinkles or bags under their eyes. It was as if they were all at their prime. "I wonder…" he murmured.
He looked over to Han'nya, whose hands were poised over his mask. Beshimi watched with anticipation as Han'nya slowly pulled the grisly mask off and let it fall to the ground. Without opening his eyes Han'nya placed his hands to his face. He paused that way for a moment, then began to weep. When the hands wiped the tears away, it was from a chiseled, handsome face, no longer the horror Beshimi had come to know before.
Although the unpolluted starlight was quite illuminating, there were also several dai-dōrō nearby, shedding light. Having spent years in the gardens at Edo Castle, it was very clear to them that they were in a traditional garden. The portion of grass they woke up on was just big enough for them all. A path wound past to one side of them. A crystal stream wound past on the other. It was certainly beautiful, but it was unlike anyplace they had ever been before. Where could they possibly be?
"You guys," said Shikijō, "as crazy as this sounds, I think we're in Heaven!"
"How could that be?" Beshimi exclaimed. "We're Oniwabanshū! Spies, assassins! It doesn't make sense!"
"You'll find many things don't make sense here, at first anyway. It's nothing to be concerned about."
The four of them turned towards the origin of the voice which spoke. When Beshimi laid eyes on her, he was convinced they were in Heaven. She was quite obviously an angel. How could she be anything else? Standing only a few feet away from the group was a young woman, even shorter than himself, wearing a radiantly pure white kimono. Her hair was just as white. It was parted slightly off center and cascaded silkily to her waist. Careless bangs framed big, childlike grey-blue eyes. She had the sweetest little smile and the kindest face he had ever seen.
Hands clasped together in front of her, she gave a steep bow. Once straight again, she continued to speak.
"Hello, and welcome! I am Hikari, and this will be your Heaven for as long as you choose to stay." Her eyes sparkled as she smiled.
As many questions as her statement created, honor and respect dictated that they first rise in the presence of this Lady Angel and bow as well, which they all did at varying speeds. Beshimi jumped to his feet quite hurriedly, caught off guard by this beautiful creature, and eager to show respect. For all he knew too, she could have the power to cast them all into Hell if she so chose. He still suspected there may be some sort of mix-up, but he'd do his best to stay here as long as possible.
As they all stood at attention facing her, Han'nya no longer weeping, seeming distracted by the appearance of the Lady, she began to speak again.
"I am sure that you all have many questions, and I assure you that all will be revealed in good time. Of the utmost importance right now though, is that you relax and settle in. Leaving one plane and entering another can be traumatic, especially if the transition occurred violently. You will need some time to…decompress. So please, sit back down if you like, or feel free to walk about, whatever feels best to you right now. I will stay right here with you. I can answer simple questions if you like, or just be present to help you feel more safe and secure. In a while, I'll show you to the house, but it's best to be outside while you adjust, and in the company of others with whom you are familiar."
The four men looked at each other, then slowly sat back down in the grass, all still clearly bewildered. The Lady Hikari sat in the grass as well, legs folded under her, still smiling serenely at the group in front of her. Most pretty women would cower facing this fearsome group of men. It did not go unnoticed how she acted as if she were looking at any normal men. Was this a testament to her divine nature? Was it divine love? Or divine power? Beshimi didn't know much about angels, but he imagined they were likely very powerful. Was lack of fear what enabled her to smile at them all so kindly?
Shikijo spoke first again, which woke Beshimi from his thoughts to realize he'd been staring at Hikari. He quickly averted his gaze to the grass between them, trying to look liked he'd just been deep in thought.
"So we really are dead, huh?" Shikijo asked.
"As defined in the way you're used to, yes. You are dead to the place you came from." She paused. "But you'll come to find," she tilted her head to the side and slightly shrugged, "life goes on!"
Hyottoko spoke next. "So if we're dead and in Heaven, are you an angel?"
"An angel is probably the closest human definition of what I am, yes, just like Heaven is the best human description of this place." She paused, and looked up and off into nothing, sidetracked, "For not knowing about the planes beyond, men and women have been very enterprising in learning about them, I must admit. Many of your largely held beliefs are quite close to the facts." She focused on them again, "Oh, but I don't want to confuse you too much. All you need to know right now is that you are in a perfect place, and you are to rest and enjoy yourselves. My role here is to keep you comfortable and teach you what you must know. But like I've said before, I will not overwhelm you right now. You'll learn the nature of all things in time. We've got all the time in the world," she smiled.
Han'nya was only half listening, or so it seemed. It's hard to tell with ninjas, being trained to appear as though they aren't listening, when in fact, they are. He had stopped weeping but still touched his face intermittently, as if checking to see if it was still as it was when he awoke here.
Hikari looked at him and said, "I see you've noticed that your bodies are restored. Any injuries are gone. You are in your perfect forms." She suddenly perked up excitedly. "There are training grounds here! I suggest practicing on them some time. Performing martial arts will prove quite exhilarating I'm sure, since you'll never ache or get tired!"
She looked like she was going to go on with excited suggestions, but Han'nya interrupted her.
"My Lady," he said firmly, "we were not good men. You couldn't imagine the things we've done."
Beshimi thought to himself, "Shut up you fool! Why would you volunteer that information?"
Han'nya, always the stoic one, a real martyr.
Hikari only laughed. "Imagine? I KNOW! I know all that you've done. I've been watching you all for quite some time, which means I also know everything you've been through. Yes, you did evil, but none of that matters now. You'll learn better through love, not punishment. It'll all make sense, you'll see. Just relax now and put all these questions away for later. You've got eternity, haven't you?" She spread her arms, gesturing to their surroundings.
"This really is eternity then," Beshimi thought. They all fell quiet and seemed to think for a long time, sitting in the grass in the lamplight, with the stars twinkling above, and this beautiful Angel overseeing, almost glowing herself with the radiance of her white hair and kimono. It really was quite relaxing. None of them had relaxed in so long. A ninja is never off duty, never at ease. You must always be on guard, ready for whomever wants to kill you or your Master. It was truly a life of kill or be killed. "Wait a minute…Leader!?"
Beshimi spoke up to Hikari for the first time. "My Lady, can you tell us one thing? Our Leader…does he still live?" he asked gravely.
"Yes. Aoshi Shinomori lives, and he will be fine." Her smile faded slightly. "He mourns for you all of course, but he will be fine in time." Her sweet smile returned. "You may see him again one day, but not today."
That brought Beshimi relief, which was undoubtedly shared by his comrades. He had died believing they let their Leader down, but instead, they had somehow succeeded in protecting him.
As if reading his mind, Hikari spoke again.
"I'm sure you'll want to know all of the details of what happened after you…transitioned, and we'll certainly get to that. I can tell you anything you want to know, and I'm sure you can speak to each other and piece things together. For example, Shikijō," she looked at him, "you went first. Then Hyottoko." She looked at them each in turn. "Then Beshimi, and finally Han'nya. You can each ask the other what happened next. And I'll tell you what happened after that. But you're going to spend a long time here reviewing your lives as well as your deaths. Some of it may be difficult, but once you face each dark turn, you can remember it without pain, and I'll be here to help you."
She rose to her feet then and stood with her hands out.
"Come," she said, smiling. "I will take you to the house now, and on the way I can explain what daily life will be like here, and show you a few important places too!"
Once they were all standing, Hikari started towards the foot path. They all looked at each other before they began to follow, and seemed to silently agree that it was safe to go, or maybe that there wasn't much reason not to. They were dead now anyhow.