Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Dead Never Stay Dead ❯ Tomoe at the Heavenly Gates ( Chapter 3 )

Part Two- Tomoe at the Heavenly Gates

Disclaimer: {Insert disclaimer here.} I just don't feel like stating the obvious today.

"_" dialogue

'_' thoughts

After all that has been done

After all that has been said

It is fitting that I now lie dead

I'm gone from my family, my loved ones, and my friends

I'm taken from my love after she had seen my wrongful end

After all my suffering, grief, misery, and strife

Fate has decided to cut the strings that have given me life

But I have a never dying hope in the depths of my soul

A positive conviction that is keeping me sane and whole

Dear Beloved on a day not too far away

We'll meet up and then everything will turn out okay

Kenshin overslept. He knew he should be outside helping Yahiko with the chores or at least making breakfast for everyone. 'But right now all I want to do is enjoy the peaceful sounds of morning life flowing around me.' he thought quietly to himself.

Kenshin sighed and sat up. He didn't want to see an upset Kaoru-dono barging in here yelling and swinging her bokken around. He chuckled softly to himself. He could just envision the scene.

Something wasn't right. Kenshin looked around only to encounter a great expanse of clouds and sky. 'This couldn't be the Kamiya Dojo. This couldn't be Tokyo much less Japan. In fact I'm feeling a little doubtful that I'm still on Earth.' He shook his head trying to see if he was just dreaming it all. If this is a dream then it's a pleasant change from his usually dreaming about his dark past. But unfortunately this is all real. "If this isn't a dream and if I'm not in Tokyo, then where exactly am I?" Kenshin voiced out loud.

He saw something flying towards him in the distance. It was too big to be a bird so then what…? 'No it couldn't be.' he thought to himself. He rubbed his eyes thinking he was just seeing things. But the object was still steadily coming towards him. It was an…it was an…angel? The angel gently settled beside him on a nearby cloud. Getting a clear look at the ethereal figure beside him he couldn't help but gasp out loud. "Tomoe?" He spoke aloud more to himself than to his dead wife seated beside him.

She looked the same as ever and still as lovely. But she seemed to be glowing with heavenly goodness and warmth. She was wearing an off the shoulder kimono that was the color of sun bleached pearls. It was laced with thin gold thread forming the shapes of leaves and flowers. An off white lace completed the outfit acting as her obi. She looked angelic and very sophisticated.

Kenshin shook his head and shut his eyes in deep concentration. 'How could this be? Tomoe is dead. But if this isn't a dream and that is really Tomoe, then I must be…' Kenshin's eyes shot open, realization finally sinking in. 'Then I must be dead.' He looked questionably at Tomoe. She just smiled and nodded, knowing his question without him having to voice it.

His eyes suddenly widened as the temporarily forgotten memories came flooding back- his unavoidable fight with Shuura, him turning Battousai, his defeat, and Kaoru crying over his dying body. That last memory was the most painful one for him. He never wished to see Kaoru unhappy and it was even more hurting for him because he was the cause of her unhappiness.

Tomoe abruptly pulled him from his thoughts and memories. "So you must be Himura Kenshin." She stated matter of factly. She was talking to him as if he was a stranger and not her late husband that accidentally slayed her.

"Tomoe, don't you remember me?" He asked her wonderly.

She sadly shook her head. "No, I don't." She explained. "All angels have their memories erased in order to serve heaven better and to be happy and at peace."

"Tomoe I…" he spoke torturedly unable to finish his flow of thought. He just couldn't comprehend that she wasn't able to remember anything that happened to her, anything that happened to them. 'Well whatever happens I will not let them erase my memories good or bad, I value them too much.' The fact in itself that he was considered good enough to enter Heaven with his record surprised him. 'I guess Kami-sama is more forgiving than I thought.'

Tomoe interrupted Kenshin's musings once again by subtly clearing her throat. "You're death was highly unexpected so the great archangel himself wants to speak to you in person." She paused to look at Kenshin. He was dirtied and bloodstained and his clothing was all patched up but still in dire need of more mending.

Kenshin noticed his appearance as soon as Tomoe did. He smiled meekly at her falling back into his Rurouni mode. "I guess Sessha's in bit of a mess, de gazaro yo?"

She sniffed at him and answered dryly, "A bit of a miss doesn't even begin to describe the condition you are in." Kenshin's usual façade faltered a little. Tome sighed and went on in a softer tone. "Ah well, no matter. I brought you a clean batch of clothes to wear but unfortunately, you don't have time to freshen up." She tossed him his new clothes and turned her back at him. "As soon as you're done changing we can be on our way."

"So soon?" He couldn't help asking. He just got here and he's going to meet with the person no the angel or archangel to be more exact that will probably determine his fate in this matter. He couldn't help but feel a little flustered.

"No time like the present." Tomoe replied. "The Archangel doesn't like to be kept waiting you know."

Kenshin nodded in understanding and swiftly changed. The clothes fit him perfectly but hey, what should he expect? This is after all Heaven. The Gi was a beige color with silver and gold threads interwoven in it. It was accompanied with a matching Hakama that had patterns bordering on the hem. "I'm done." He called out to the angel.

She turned around and nodded in approval. "Now that's much better. We better be on our way because we're running late so come along. Now hold on to my waist and what ever you do don't let go." Once situated, Tomoe flew, yes flew him towards the archangel to have a little chat. Kenshin sighed and tried not to look down. 'If his death was unexpected then just maybe he wasn't meant to die and if that was true they might give him another chance at life, another chance at love.'

A/N

Well end of Chapter 2. Tell me how do you like it. Love it, hate it, don't really care about it, or what? I know it's a little short but it's my story so I can do what ever I want so there. Till next time and please don't forget to review. ^=^