All characters belong to Shonen Jump and creator Nobuhiro Watsuki. I am not making any money off of this. This fic takes place after Welcoming Party. Any characters you don't recognize most likely belong to me.
Also, I am doing everything I can to not make it like Twisted Paradise by Firefury or any other afterlife fics.
Time Of The Afterlife
Part One
Judgment of the Twelve Masters
By Maria Cline
Many times during his life, Himura Shinta a.k.a Himura Kenshin a.k.a Hitokiri Battousai had wondered what the afterlife would be. Sometimes, he imagined that he would be appearing before a huge deity and be sentenced to an eternity in Hell. Other times in his more optimistic moments, he imagined that he would be granted mercy and be allowed in Heaven.
Not once, did Shinta imagine anything like he was experiencing right now.
"I really appreciate you helping clean up." Okita said as he and Shinta were collecting trash and disposing of it in the handy forever empty trash can.
"That is okay, it is our welcome to the dead party any way." Shinta said as he smiled at him. It was still weird for him to talk with those who had been dead for years. Half of the party's attendants had tried to kill him and yet they are acting like more or less friends. Tomoe, who was much happier than he had ever seen her alive, and Jineh, who was surprisingly sane, act like rivals. Kaoru's parents had more or less forgiven him for leaving their precious daughter alone. Okina and Kaoru were the only ones who were acting more or less in character.
"Ah, still the responsible type." Okita nodded as he helped cleared away the last of the trash.
"Yes."
"That's the last of the food." Kaoru said as she cleaned the tables. "Are you two done yet?"
"Just about, Kaoru-koshi." Shinta called out. He brushed his hands. After regaining his mentality, he and Kaoru learned to mentally alter their spiritual bodies to any time before they died. They are both now the way they were back when they first met. Shinta had removed the cross scar off of his cheek since he had healed but can put it back on any time he wished.
Suddenly, there a bell rang out of nowhere.
"Oro?" Shinta oroed as he looked around. "Bells?"
"Oh my." Okita wiped his hands and came up to a door that appeared. He opened the door to see a tall man with bright white wings and a black business suit. "Yes?"
The man looked at a paper in his hands and asked, "Are you Himura Shinta a.k.a Himura Kenshin a.k.a Himura Battousai the Fourteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style?"
"No, let me go and get him." Okita called out, "Himura-san! An archangel is here to see you!"
"Archangel?" Kaoru asked as she and Shinta came up to the door.
The archangel looked at Shinta and said, "Are you Himura Shinta a.k.a Himura Kenshin a.k.a Himura Battousai the Fourteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style?"
"That is me." Shinta said as he shook at the sight. He never saw a man with such imposing features and he had seen plenty.
"You are being summoned." The man said as he handed Shinta a paper.
Shinta's heart froze in his chest. He must be summoned to be judged on the sins he committed when he was alive. "By Kami?"
"No. By the Hiko Seijirio Membership of Ultra Impressive Swordsmen." The Archangel bowed. "You are to meet them in Purgatory. Thank you." He vanished in a bright flash of light.
"Oro?" Shinta and Kaoru looked at the paper. "Hiko Seijirio Membership? What do they want with me?"
"I don't know." Kaoru stared at it. "Do you think those previous masters are anything like your master?"
Shinta and Kaoru quickly imagined being surrounded by twelve Hiko look-a-likes laughing and drinking sake. "I hope now. One was hard enough to deal with." Shinta muttered as he sweatdropped. He looked at the only one who seems to have any idea on what to do. "Okita-san, how do we go to Purgatory?"
"It's easy to travel in the afterlife. You just go ahead and think yourself to where you want to go. Focus on going to Purgatory; it's a matter of focus." Okita instructed and then handed the afterlife brochures to the two. "Remember to check these out and feel free to ask questions."
"Thank you, Okita-san." Kaoru said as she and Shinta bowed to the young man. "Come on, Shinta, let's go and meet those Hikos." The woman grabbed Shinta's hand, determined not to let her husband go through any form of trials alone.
"Right." Shinta tightened his grip on his wife's hand while smiling. The two focused and they vanished.
*****
Purgatory it was the strange area between Heaven, Hell, and Earth. It was the place where Saints and Sinners wander if they failed to make it to either Heaven or Hell. Kaoru and Kenshin knew about the place but what they saw surprised them.
They were standing in front of a huge building that was larger than a hundred dojos combined. Over them was a huge sign that read 'Purgatory'. They looked at each other and went through the glass doors. Inside was like nothing they had ever seen before. There were stalls everywhere with restaurants, stores, and even entertainers. Life-challenged people were walking around wearing strange outfits of many cultures.
A man in a business suit came up and said, "Welcome to Purgatory. I see that you are new members of the afterlife. Are you Sinners or Saints?"
"Oro?" Shinta looked at him confused.
"You are new." The man held up a scanner and waved it at the two. "Ah ha. Himura Shinta... you are a Sinner and Himura Kamiya Kaoru is a Saint."
"Does that make a difference?" Shinta asked nervously.
"Well, it doesn't bar you but Mr. Himura, you are required to endure some form of suffering while you are here." The man said as he looked at the list.
"Suffering? Like what? We just died of a horrible debilitating disease!" Kaoru screamed.
"I know and calculating the rate of remorse of Shinta with the sliding rule of punishment. You are required to put on this outfit and wear it during your stay in Purgatory." The man handed Shinta a package.
Shinta looked at the package and went into the changing rooms. Kaoru stood just outside waiting for her husband. She waited for what felt like forever. "Shinta? Are you okay?" She asked as she knocked on the door.
"I am not coming out." Shinta said stubbornly.
"Oh come on. It can't be that bad."
"I will not see the previous successors of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style dressed like this."
Kaoru sighed. "Just come out. You're acting like a child."
"...You promise not to laugh, Kaoru-dono?"
"He's using the dono suffix, it must be bad." Kaoru muttered to herself. "Yes, I promise."
Shinta came out of the dressing room and Kaoru clamped both hands over her mouth to keep her promise. Shinta was dressed in a lovely light pink kimono with a purple obi around his waist. His hair was done up in a traditional old fashioned way. He was even wearing lipstick and rouge. "I think this is punishment enough." Shinta said as he strode out trying to look dignified.
"At least you look lovely." Kaoru said as she tried not to laugh again. She took Shinta's arm and led him down the vast corridors. They looked around stunned at the vast signs in different languages that transform into Japanese so they could understand it. "This Purgatory isn't that bad. I was expecting something a little more... depressing."
"I agree. Let's find out where we are supposed to go." Shinta and Kaoru went on through the hallways looking at the signs.
"Yoo hoo!" A familiar looking man waved as he ran up. He was tall with brown hair and wearing a business suit. "Hi, surprised you're here already, Kaoru!" The man gushed and then looked at Shinta. "Is this Battousai? My, you look better in a dress than I ever do! I'm sorry I didn't make it to the party. That bitch, Yumi, intercepted the invitation." He giggled.
Shinta whispered to Kaoru, "Do you know this guy?"
"I thought you do." She whispered back.
"You don't recognize me?" The man pouted. "It's me! Kamatari of the Juppon Gata!"
Shinta and Kaoru face faulted at the revelation. Kamatari was a deadly fighter who fought Kaoru in Kyoto and loved to dress like a woman. Now, Kamatari with his hair cut shorter and in a suit, he looked cute. "You're in a suit." Kaoru pointed out.
"I know. It's part of my punishment in Purgatory." Kamatari sighed, "I have to dress up like an actual man because of my sins. It's a real bummer too." She glared at Shinta. "And you're prettier than me!"
"I hate it as much as you do, Kamatari-san." Shinta said as he fidgeted.
Kaoru giggled at the sight of the two very unhappy men. "Kamatari, do you know where the Hiko Seijirio Membership of Ultra Impressive Swordsmen are at? Shinta and I have an appointment with them."
The man nodded. "Oh yeah. They are so strong and manly. They always meet at the Hiko Sake Emporium; it's down there by the Matt Murdock Law Firm and the Chi Panties Store."
"Thanks." Shinta bowed and then looked at Kamatari reluctantly, "Forgive me, but how did you die?"
"Train wreck in America. Nothing serious. Like I always say if you got to go out, go out with a bang."
"Right." Kaoru nodded as she pulled Shinta away. "Let's go, Shinta."
The two walked off in a hurry. "I wonder how long it will be until we're like that?" Shinta wondered as he and Kaoru went down the hallway.
"I don't know and I don't want to find out."
They passed the various businesses and stalls until they saw a huge booth in the middle of the hallway with a giant sign in neon lights that read Hiko's Sake Emporium (10% off for all samurai). They entered the double doors and saw twelve tall imposing figures sitting at a round table. They all had long black hair and capes with swords at their sides. All of them were dressed in various styles of samurai armor. There were eleven powerful looking men and one equally powerful looking woman.
"Oro." Shinta muttered as his eyes bulged.
One of the men stood up and bowed. "I am Seijirio Hiko the First Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style. You can call me Number One." He came up to Kaoru. "Ah, you must be the Fourteenth Master. Heh, you are a little scrawny but I can see that fiery temper anywhere. You have been breaking my precious rules."
Out of nowhere, Kaoru got out her bokken and whacked the man on the head. "You idiot! I'm Kamiya Kaoru the Second Master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style! He's the one you want to talk to!" Kaoru boomed as she pointed toward Shinta who was blushing brightly.
Number One looked at Shinta and then at Kaoru again. "That is the last master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style?"
"Yes." Shinta said as he came up. "I am."
"At little short isn't he or is that she?" The Seventh Master asked the Sixth Master.
"With these guys, it's hard to tell." The Sixth Master answered.
"I don't believe this." The Second Master said, "He's so cute, much prettier than you, my Lovely Apprentice." He said as he looked at the only female samurai.
"Oh shut up, Shishou." The Third Master scoffed.
"Get that outfit off, in here the rules of Purgatory don't apply. Besides, I cannot deal with your punishment with you looking like a geisha doll." The First Master said as he glared at Shinta.
"Of course." Shinta marched off into the changing room and slammed the door.
"You must forgive my mistake, you have a stronger aura than the Fourteenth Master and you were carrying around a sword." The First Master said as he took Kaoru's hands and bowed.
"That's okay but I thought you might know what Shinta looked like." Kaoru blushed as she pulled away.
"Not really. We spend most of our time in Heaven and Hell fighting and keeping the peace. That is the fate of most Hiten Mitsurigi Masters except for your husband, we don't know about him." The Fifth Master said.
"Oh come on, I know that all of you must have killed when you were alive." Kaoru exclaimed in Shinta's defense.
"That is true, we all had killed in the past. In fact, except for the First and Fourteenth Masters, we had killed our masters." The Sixth Master said, "But we kill only when necessary and to defend others. Not because some politician told him to."
"He was a teenager! He didn't know any better!"
"That was no excuse!" The Hikos proclaimed at once.
"They are right, Kaoru-dono. I had no excuse for my sins." Kenshin said as he came in. His clothes were transformed into a dark blue gi and white hakamas. His hair was tied in a topknot on top of his head with his reverse-blade sword at his side. At his side was his reverse-blade word.
Kenshin said as he held her. "I need to be like this for them. I owe them that much."
"Of course." Kaoru hugged him and stood to the side.
"At least you show some respect to us. Yes, the swordsman aura is much clearer now." The Twelfth Master said as he steeple his fingers, "Yet, you are humble, not like my Arrogant Apprentice."
"Let's get this meeting started. I, Seijirio Hiko the Founder and Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryuu Style, hereby charged you, Himura Kenshin, the Fourteenth Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryuu Style, of breaking every rule known in the Hiten Mitsurigi Book!" The samurai proclaimed as he got out a pair of stone tablets.
Kenshin and Kaoru's jaws dropped at the size of the tables. "Did I really break every rule?" Kenshin asked.
"Every single rule that I established had been broken." The man said as he held out the tablets. "You killed for others with no moral reason. You tainted the Hiten Mitsurigi Honor. You left your master before you completed your training. You refused to wear the cape. You did not adopt the Seijirio Hiko name." The man paused as he looked hurt. "And what was wrong with my name?" Before Kenshin could answer the man started again. "You failed to kill your master when learning the succession move. You died before your master did. That caused some serious paperwork conflicts and finally..." He paused for greater effect, "You look too girly."
Kenshin facefaulted. "But... what about her?" He asked as he pointed to the female samurai.
"I am stronger and taller than many men I know. I can pass myself off as a man if I wish." The female Hiten Mitsurigi Master replied as she glared at Kenshin.
"Do you have anything to say in your defense?" The First Master asked.
"None, I am deeply sorry for what I had done. I owed my master my life and I had failed him. However, I believed that the Hiten Mitsurigi Style is no longer necessary. Guns are popular everywhere, the killing sword is the thing of the pass. The style has no place in the living world now. The Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style and other non-lethal kendo styles are the way now." Kenshin spoke clearly and with great confidence. Kaoru had to smile at the sincerity in her husband's voice. He seemed so content and free of guilt. Was it death that caused it or the travels he had done? She was just happy to see her husband like that.
There was silence as the twelve masters sat in contemplation. "You are correct." The First Master said as he stood up. "The world had changed since the time we had lived. Humanity is destined to evolve at such a pace that they can develop technology that can destroy entire cities in a mere hundred years. You were proof at how the Hiten Mitsurigi Style had changed. However, we still must try to find judgment of your actions. After all, you did break every single rule in the tablets." The First Master looked around the table. "Now, we must discuss the proper course of action. Fourteenth Master and Kaoru-dono, can you please step into the lounge?"
"Very well." Kenshin and Kaoru stood up, bowed, and went to the next room. As soon as she closed the door, Kaoru growled.
"Oooh... They are just as arrogant as your master!" The woman exclaimed, "I thought that he was just born arrogant but now I know it's a Hiten Mitsurigi Master trait!"
Kenshin looked at her clearly hurt by her comment.
"Oh, I don't mean you. I swear, you were a little too sensitive at times." Kaoru chided as she sat on a couch. "I guess I can understand why they would be a little mad at you for breaking every rule in the Hiten Mitsurigi Book but what can they do to you?"
"I do not know." Kenshin shrugged as he sat down beside her.
"Funny, while I was dying, a part of me was afraid that you might be sent to Hell because you were an assassin. I had no idea that the judgment we had to fear would be from your past masters." Kaoru looked down, "So, what do I call you now? Shinta or Kenshin?"
"Shinta is my name, Kaoru. I am just being a swordsman because that is how those masters know me as such. I will always be 'Shinta' no matter what role I play." Kenshin said as he put his hand to his chest.
"Good because I don't want to end up forgetting what to call my own husband." Kaoru sighed in relief, "I wonder how the others are handling our deaths? Megumi had been working constantly keeping me alive, Tsubame was worried as well, and poor Yahiko and Kenji."
"Kenji!" Kenshin exclaimed, "He was angry with me, I still had to talk to him." He put his hand onto his head. "He will never forgive me now."
Kaoru got out her bokken and whacked her husband on the head. "Shinta! Don't talk like that! We're dead not gone! It's not too late for you and Kenji. After this, we can go down to Earth and contact him."
"Of course, we are ghosts now. You always make things better." Kenshin smiled as he rubbed his head.
"Of course I do." She took his hand. "I am your wife after all."
Kenshin's heart pounded as he realized that this was the first time that they were completely alone. They had been apart for too long and had been too busy. He came up to her and held her. Kaoru gasped as she grabbed on and then leaned forward for a kiss.
"*ahem*" The two looked up to see The Twelfth Master smirking slightly. "We had made out decision. Do you need to get ready?"
"We're fine." Kaoru blushed as she and Kenshin got up.
The two went into the room where the other Hikos were sitting. "Did you keep yourselves busy?" The First Master asked as he and the others were chuckling.
"Yes." Kenshin replied as he and Kaoru sat before them.
"Okay, after much deliberation, we decided that you had made mistakes and that you were punished enough in life, I mean that debilitating disease is something none of us would want to endure." The First Master said, "However, we still need to think of some form of punishment for you. We decided to leave it up to the Thirteenth Master for your punishment. Since he has not died yet, we shall wait until he dies so we can continue your punishment. Until then, you are free to come in any time you wish." The man looked at the other Hikos who nodded in agreement.
Kenshin gulped at the thought of his own master being in charge of his punishment. He and Kaoru bowed. "I accept these terms and I promise you that I will maintain the dignity of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style." Kenshin said respectfully.
"You will have to put on that kimono to get out of here." The Third Master said as she sipped her sake.
Kenshin sweatdropped. "Oh yes." He left the room and returned fully decked out in his lovely kimono. "Thank you and I hope to see you some time." He bowed and quickly left to leave the twelve masters behind.
To Be Continued...
Also, I am doing everything I can to not make it like Twisted Paradise by Firefury or any other afterlife fics.
Time Of The Afterlife
Part One
Judgment of the Twelve Masters
By Maria Cline
Many times during his life, Himura Shinta a.k.a Himura Kenshin a.k.a Hitokiri Battousai had wondered what the afterlife would be. Sometimes, he imagined that he would be appearing before a huge deity and be sentenced to an eternity in Hell. Other times in his more optimistic moments, he imagined that he would be granted mercy and be allowed in Heaven.
Not once, did Shinta imagine anything like he was experiencing right now.
"I really appreciate you helping clean up." Okita said as he and Shinta were collecting trash and disposing of it in the handy forever empty trash can.
"That is okay, it is our welcome to the dead party any way." Shinta said as he smiled at him. It was still weird for him to talk with those who had been dead for years. Half of the party's attendants had tried to kill him and yet they are acting like more or less friends. Tomoe, who was much happier than he had ever seen her alive, and Jineh, who was surprisingly sane, act like rivals. Kaoru's parents had more or less forgiven him for leaving their precious daughter alone. Okina and Kaoru were the only ones who were acting more or less in character.
"Ah, still the responsible type." Okita nodded as he helped cleared away the last of the trash.
"Yes."
"That's the last of the food." Kaoru said as she cleaned the tables. "Are you two done yet?"
"Just about, Kaoru-koshi." Shinta called out. He brushed his hands. After regaining his mentality, he and Kaoru learned to mentally alter their spiritual bodies to any time before they died. They are both now the way they were back when they first met. Shinta had removed the cross scar off of his cheek since he had healed but can put it back on any time he wished.
Suddenly, there a bell rang out of nowhere.
"Oro?" Shinta oroed as he looked around. "Bells?"
"Oh my." Okita wiped his hands and came up to a door that appeared. He opened the door to see a tall man with bright white wings and a black business suit. "Yes?"
The man looked at a paper in his hands and asked, "Are you Himura Shinta a.k.a Himura Kenshin a.k.a Himura Battousai the Fourteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style?"
"No, let me go and get him." Okita called out, "Himura-san! An archangel is here to see you!"
"Archangel?" Kaoru asked as she and Shinta came up to the door.
The archangel looked at Shinta and said, "Are you Himura Shinta a.k.a Himura Kenshin a.k.a Himura Battousai the Fourteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style?"
"That is me." Shinta said as he shook at the sight. He never saw a man with such imposing features and he had seen plenty.
"You are being summoned." The man said as he handed Shinta a paper.
Shinta's heart froze in his chest. He must be summoned to be judged on the sins he committed when he was alive. "By Kami?"
"No. By the Hiko Seijirio Membership of Ultra Impressive Swordsmen." The Archangel bowed. "You are to meet them in Purgatory. Thank you." He vanished in a bright flash of light.
"Oro?" Shinta and Kaoru looked at the paper. "Hiko Seijirio Membership? What do they want with me?"
"I don't know." Kaoru stared at it. "Do you think those previous masters are anything like your master?"
Shinta and Kaoru quickly imagined being surrounded by twelve Hiko look-a-likes laughing and drinking sake. "I hope now. One was hard enough to deal with." Shinta muttered as he sweatdropped. He looked at the only one who seems to have any idea on what to do. "Okita-san, how do we go to Purgatory?"
"It's easy to travel in the afterlife. You just go ahead and think yourself to where you want to go. Focus on going to Purgatory; it's a matter of focus." Okita instructed and then handed the afterlife brochures to the two. "Remember to check these out and feel free to ask questions."
"Thank you, Okita-san." Kaoru said as she and Shinta bowed to the young man. "Come on, Shinta, let's go and meet those Hikos." The woman grabbed Shinta's hand, determined not to let her husband go through any form of trials alone.
"Right." Shinta tightened his grip on his wife's hand while smiling. The two focused and they vanished.
*****
Purgatory it was the strange area between Heaven, Hell, and Earth. It was the place where Saints and Sinners wander if they failed to make it to either Heaven or Hell. Kaoru and Kenshin knew about the place but what they saw surprised them.
They were standing in front of a huge building that was larger than a hundred dojos combined. Over them was a huge sign that read 'Purgatory'. They looked at each other and went through the glass doors. Inside was like nothing they had ever seen before. There were stalls everywhere with restaurants, stores, and even entertainers. Life-challenged people were walking around wearing strange outfits of many cultures.
A man in a business suit came up and said, "Welcome to Purgatory. I see that you are new members of the afterlife. Are you Sinners or Saints?"
"Oro?" Shinta looked at him confused.
"You are new." The man held up a scanner and waved it at the two. "Ah ha. Himura Shinta... you are a Sinner and Himura Kamiya Kaoru is a Saint."
"Does that make a difference?" Shinta asked nervously.
"Well, it doesn't bar you but Mr. Himura, you are required to endure some form of suffering while you are here." The man said as he looked at the list.
"Suffering? Like what? We just died of a horrible debilitating disease!" Kaoru screamed.
"I know and calculating the rate of remorse of Shinta with the sliding rule of punishment. You are required to put on this outfit and wear it during your stay in Purgatory." The man handed Shinta a package.
Shinta looked at the package and went into the changing rooms. Kaoru stood just outside waiting for her husband. She waited for what felt like forever. "Shinta? Are you okay?" She asked as she knocked on the door.
"I am not coming out." Shinta said stubbornly.
"Oh come on. It can't be that bad."
"I will not see the previous successors of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style dressed like this."
Kaoru sighed. "Just come out. You're acting like a child."
"...You promise not to laugh, Kaoru-dono?"
"He's using the dono suffix, it must be bad." Kaoru muttered to herself. "Yes, I promise."
Shinta came out of the dressing room and Kaoru clamped both hands over her mouth to keep her promise. Shinta was dressed in a lovely light pink kimono with a purple obi around his waist. His hair was done up in a traditional old fashioned way. He was even wearing lipstick and rouge. "I think this is punishment enough." Shinta said as he strode out trying to look dignified.
"At least you look lovely." Kaoru said as she tried not to laugh again. She took Shinta's arm and led him down the vast corridors. They looked around stunned at the vast signs in different languages that transform into Japanese so they could understand it. "This Purgatory isn't that bad. I was expecting something a little more... depressing."
"I agree. Let's find out where we are supposed to go." Shinta and Kaoru went on through the hallways looking at the signs.
"Yoo hoo!" A familiar looking man waved as he ran up. He was tall with brown hair and wearing a business suit. "Hi, surprised you're here already, Kaoru!" The man gushed and then looked at Shinta. "Is this Battousai? My, you look better in a dress than I ever do! I'm sorry I didn't make it to the party. That bitch, Yumi, intercepted the invitation." He giggled.
Shinta whispered to Kaoru, "Do you know this guy?"
"I thought you do." She whispered back.
"You don't recognize me?" The man pouted. "It's me! Kamatari of the Juppon Gata!"
Shinta and Kaoru face faulted at the revelation. Kamatari was a deadly fighter who fought Kaoru in Kyoto and loved to dress like a woman. Now, Kamatari with his hair cut shorter and in a suit, he looked cute. "You're in a suit." Kaoru pointed out.
"I know. It's part of my punishment in Purgatory." Kamatari sighed, "I have to dress up like an actual man because of my sins. It's a real bummer too." She glared at Shinta. "And you're prettier than me!"
"I hate it as much as you do, Kamatari-san." Shinta said as he fidgeted.
Kaoru giggled at the sight of the two very unhappy men. "Kamatari, do you know where the Hiko Seijirio Membership of Ultra Impressive Swordsmen are at? Shinta and I have an appointment with them."
The man nodded. "Oh yeah. They are so strong and manly. They always meet at the Hiko Sake Emporium; it's down there by the Matt Murdock Law Firm and the Chi Panties Store."
"Thanks." Shinta bowed and then looked at Kamatari reluctantly, "Forgive me, but how did you die?"
"Train wreck in America. Nothing serious. Like I always say if you got to go out, go out with a bang."
"Right." Kaoru nodded as she pulled Shinta away. "Let's go, Shinta."
The two walked off in a hurry. "I wonder how long it will be until we're like that?" Shinta wondered as he and Kaoru went down the hallway.
"I don't know and I don't want to find out."
They passed the various businesses and stalls until they saw a huge booth in the middle of the hallway with a giant sign in neon lights that read Hiko's Sake Emporium (10% off for all samurai). They entered the double doors and saw twelve tall imposing figures sitting at a round table. They all had long black hair and capes with swords at their sides. All of them were dressed in various styles of samurai armor. There were eleven powerful looking men and one equally powerful looking woman.
"Oro." Shinta muttered as his eyes bulged.
One of the men stood up and bowed. "I am Seijirio Hiko the First Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style. You can call me Number One." He came up to Kaoru. "Ah, you must be the Fourteenth Master. Heh, you are a little scrawny but I can see that fiery temper anywhere. You have been breaking my precious rules."
Out of nowhere, Kaoru got out her bokken and whacked the man on the head. "You idiot! I'm Kamiya Kaoru the Second Master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style! He's the one you want to talk to!" Kaoru boomed as she pointed toward Shinta who was blushing brightly.
Number One looked at Shinta and then at Kaoru again. "That is the last master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style?"
"Yes." Shinta said as he came up. "I am."
"At little short isn't he or is that she?" The Seventh Master asked the Sixth Master.
"With these guys, it's hard to tell." The Sixth Master answered.
"I don't believe this." The Second Master said, "He's so cute, much prettier than you, my Lovely Apprentice." He said as he looked at the only female samurai.
"Oh shut up, Shishou." The Third Master scoffed.
"Get that outfit off, in here the rules of Purgatory don't apply. Besides, I cannot deal with your punishment with you looking like a geisha doll." The First Master said as he glared at Shinta.
"Of course." Shinta marched off into the changing room and slammed the door.
"You must forgive my mistake, you have a stronger aura than the Fourteenth Master and you were carrying around a sword." The First Master said as he took Kaoru's hands and bowed.
"That's okay but I thought you might know what Shinta looked like." Kaoru blushed as she pulled away.
"Not really. We spend most of our time in Heaven and Hell fighting and keeping the peace. That is the fate of most Hiten Mitsurigi Masters except for your husband, we don't know about him." The Fifth Master said.
"Oh come on, I know that all of you must have killed when you were alive." Kaoru exclaimed in Shinta's defense.
"That is true, we all had killed in the past. In fact, except for the First and Fourteenth Masters, we had killed our masters." The Sixth Master said, "But we kill only when necessary and to defend others. Not because some politician told him to."
"He was a teenager! He didn't know any better!"
"That was no excuse!" The Hikos proclaimed at once.
"They are right, Kaoru-dono. I had no excuse for my sins." Kenshin said as he came in. His clothes were transformed into a dark blue gi and white hakamas. His hair was tied in a topknot on top of his head with his reverse-blade sword at his side. At his side was his reverse-blade word.
Kenshin said as he held her. "I need to be like this for them. I owe them that much."
"Of course." Kaoru hugged him and stood to the side.
"At least you show some respect to us. Yes, the swordsman aura is much clearer now." The Twelfth Master said as he steeple his fingers, "Yet, you are humble, not like my Arrogant Apprentice."
"Let's get this meeting started. I, Seijirio Hiko the Founder and Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryuu Style, hereby charged you, Himura Kenshin, the Fourteenth Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryuu Style, of breaking every rule known in the Hiten Mitsurigi Book!" The samurai proclaimed as he got out a pair of stone tablets.
Kenshin and Kaoru's jaws dropped at the size of the tables. "Did I really break every rule?" Kenshin asked.
"Every single rule that I established had been broken." The man said as he held out the tablets. "You killed for others with no moral reason. You tainted the Hiten Mitsurigi Honor. You left your master before you completed your training. You refused to wear the cape. You did not adopt the Seijirio Hiko name." The man paused as he looked hurt. "And what was wrong with my name?" Before Kenshin could answer the man started again. "You failed to kill your master when learning the succession move. You died before your master did. That caused some serious paperwork conflicts and finally..." He paused for greater effect, "You look too girly."
Kenshin facefaulted. "But... what about her?" He asked as he pointed to the female samurai.
"I am stronger and taller than many men I know. I can pass myself off as a man if I wish." The female Hiten Mitsurigi Master replied as she glared at Kenshin.
"Do you have anything to say in your defense?" The First Master asked.
"None, I am deeply sorry for what I had done. I owed my master my life and I had failed him. However, I believed that the Hiten Mitsurigi Style is no longer necessary. Guns are popular everywhere, the killing sword is the thing of the pass. The style has no place in the living world now. The Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style and other non-lethal kendo styles are the way now." Kenshin spoke clearly and with great confidence. Kaoru had to smile at the sincerity in her husband's voice. He seemed so content and free of guilt. Was it death that caused it or the travels he had done? She was just happy to see her husband like that.
There was silence as the twelve masters sat in contemplation. "You are correct." The First Master said as he stood up. "The world had changed since the time we had lived. Humanity is destined to evolve at such a pace that they can develop technology that can destroy entire cities in a mere hundred years. You were proof at how the Hiten Mitsurigi Style had changed. However, we still must try to find judgment of your actions. After all, you did break every single rule in the tablets." The First Master looked around the table. "Now, we must discuss the proper course of action. Fourteenth Master and Kaoru-dono, can you please step into the lounge?"
"Very well." Kenshin and Kaoru stood up, bowed, and went to the next room. As soon as she closed the door, Kaoru growled.
"Oooh... They are just as arrogant as your master!" The woman exclaimed, "I thought that he was just born arrogant but now I know it's a Hiten Mitsurigi Master trait!"
Kenshin looked at her clearly hurt by her comment.
"Oh, I don't mean you. I swear, you were a little too sensitive at times." Kaoru chided as she sat on a couch. "I guess I can understand why they would be a little mad at you for breaking every rule in the Hiten Mitsurigi Book but what can they do to you?"
"I do not know." Kenshin shrugged as he sat down beside her.
"Funny, while I was dying, a part of me was afraid that you might be sent to Hell because you were an assassin. I had no idea that the judgment we had to fear would be from your past masters." Kaoru looked down, "So, what do I call you now? Shinta or Kenshin?"
"Shinta is my name, Kaoru. I am just being a swordsman because that is how those masters know me as such. I will always be 'Shinta' no matter what role I play." Kenshin said as he put his hand to his chest.
"Good because I don't want to end up forgetting what to call my own husband." Kaoru sighed in relief, "I wonder how the others are handling our deaths? Megumi had been working constantly keeping me alive, Tsubame was worried as well, and poor Yahiko and Kenji."
"Kenji!" Kenshin exclaimed, "He was angry with me, I still had to talk to him." He put his hand onto his head. "He will never forgive me now."
Kaoru got out her bokken and whacked her husband on the head. "Shinta! Don't talk like that! We're dead not gone! It's not too late for you and Kenji. After this, we can go down to Earth and contact him."
"Of course, we are ghosts now. You always make things better." Kenshin smiled as he rubbed his head.
"Of course I do." She took his hand. "I am your wife after all."
Kenshin's heart pounded as he realized that this was the first time that they were completely alone. They had been apart for too long and had been too busy. He came up to her and held her. Kaoru gasped as she grabbed on and then leaned forward for a kiss.
"*ahem*" The two looked up to see The Twelfth Master smirking slightly. "We had made out decision. Do you need to get ready?"
"We're fine." Kaoru blushed as she and Kenshin got up.
The two went into the room where the other Hikos were sitting. "Did you keep yourselves busy?" The First Master asked as he and the others were chuckling.
"Yes." Kenshin replied as he and Kaoru sat before them.
"Okay, after much deliberation, we decided that you had made mistakes and that you were punished enough in life, I mean that debilitating disease is something none of us would want to endure." The First Master said, "However, we still need to think of some form of punishment for you. We decided to leave it up to the Thirteenth Master for your punishment. Since he has not died yet, we shall wait until he dies so we can continue your punishment. Until then, you are free to come in any time you wish." The man looked at the other Hikos who nodded in agreement.
Kenshin gulped at the thought of his own master being in charge of his punishment. He and Kaoru bowed. "I accept these terms and I promise you that I will maintain the dignity of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style." Kenshin said respectfully.
"You will have to put on that kimono to get out of here." The Third Master said as she sipped her sake.
Kenshin sweatdropped. "Oh yes." He left the room and returned fully decked out in his lovely kimono. "Thank you and I hope to see you some time." He bowed and quickly left to leave the twelve masters behind.
To Be Continued...