ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE

Wolfwood stood there in a formless landscape. He looked around and thought to himself, "This certainly isn't where I expected to end up. This place doesn't look like either Heaven or Hell. Or Purgatory even. You'd think after living my kind of life, I'd know for sure where I'd end up." He patted his pockets, looking for a cigarette and found none. "Just great! Now this place seems more like Hell."

"Well! There you are! I've be looking everywhere for you!" said the man cheerfully.

Wolfwood jumped, startled. "What are you doing here? Are you . . . "

"Dead? No. And neither are you."

"Don't kid around. I remember dying." said Wolfwood.

"No. You're not . . . quite dead yet But you are close." He held his thumb and forefinger apart, with a bare sliver of light showing between. "You're that close, though."

"Then what are you doing here? Were you sent here to take me the rest of the way?"

"I wasn't sent here for anything! At least I hope I wasn't sent. You can't tell in situations like this. No, I was following you guys and I found you laying in a church in front of the alter. I sensed you weren't dead yet. Though not from lack of trying, from all the blood I saw all over. You must be a real stubborn S.O.B to hang on as long as you have."

"I've been told that before. But are you doing here? And where are we?"

"Well, where we are is . . . between here and there. Or between life and death, if you want to put it that way. As to why I'm here, I can try to heal you and bring you back. If you want me to."

"What do you mean, 'If I want you to?'"

"Well, usually I can heal somebody no matter how severe their wounds are, but you are so close to death the only way I can bring you back is if you really want to and if you help me. I can't do it without your help."

"I'll have to think about it."

"Don't you have anything you want to go back for?"

" . . . . ."

"What about your orphanage? Who's going to take care of all those kids if you die?"

"Someone will help."

"But they won't care as much as you do. And what about Vash? He cares for you."

"He'll be better off with out me. All I ever did was cause him grief."

"I know he thinks differently. You are his first real friend he's ever had in his life. Well, If not for him, what about Milly? I know she loves you deeply. Won't you go back for her?"

Wolfwood thought about all the things the other man had said. He didn't know that he had touched so many lives and he didn't know if he could do things better if he want back, but he was willing to try.

"You got yourself a deal! I want to live! And I'm going to try to live my life better."

"Good! I thought you'd see the light. Let's go!"
"Wait! I need to know one thing. Why are you doing this? Is it for me or for them?"

"Does it really matter? The reason I'm doing this is because I know you're worth saving. Now can we go?"