Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Trigun: Welcome to Eden ❯ Wolfwood's Ode for Life ( Prologue )

[WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS!! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALL OF TRIGUN DO SO IMMEDIATELY & DO NOT READ THIS!!!! Now that that's out of the way… Sorry, people. I wasn't having any of it. One of my all time favorite animes is TRIGUN and you know what… I HATED THE FACT THAT WOLFWOOD DIED!! Okay, I knew it was bound to happen; the death shroud followed him throughout the entire anime. But I still balled my eyes out like I'd lost my best friend when he died. I HATED IT!! And the beautiful monologue at the end…and Millie crying… OH GOD IN HEAVEN I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT!! So I did what I do best!! I BROUGHT HIM BACK TO LIFE, DAMMIT!! Yes, it's possible. <vein pulses> DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!! IF I BROUGHT, SULIA, FOLKEN (when we saw his ghost to boot!!) AND OTHER DEAD ANIME CHARACTERS THAT I WILL NOT MENTION BECAUSE OF SPOILERS, BACK TO LIFE; THEN I CAN BRING BACK WOLFWOOD TOO!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! <laughs maniacally at all the doubting mustafas!!> So this is for all you Vash=Meryl/Wolfwood=Millie supporters out there and for those loyal Trigun fans that just completely died when Wolfwood did… This is my story to all of you. I am with you, and DAMMIT IT ALL, I WILL FIX IT!! \\//^_^.\\// LOVE & PEACE MINNA!!]

Trigun: New Lives, New Beginnings Welcome to Eden

Prologue: Wolfwood's Ode…for Life

A man clad in black, bleeding with every step he took, entered the white hall of the church, carrying the metallic cross-shaped weapon with him. Sunlight filled the church, making the holy place shimmer. The wooden benches glistened and whiteness flowed from every opening to the outside world. The man reached the altar, facing it with saddened eyes and used the cross he carried as a support; the sunlight from the window above him, casting a glow over where he stood.

"In spite of the profession I've chosen, I've never actually made a confession before. It's these times we live in. I did what it took to protect the children at any cost. That's how I always justified my actions." His breath grew shorter. "I took many peoples lives, all that time believing there was no other way…" He took in a deep ragged breath and his confession spilled out of his soul and into the holy place.

"My sins are so heavy. Too heavy. Too heavy to ever atone for." He gave a hoarse whimper as pain shot through his body. He no longer had the strength to stand, even with the cross for support.

He collapsed onto his knees before the altar of the church as darkness fogged over his eyes.

"And yet, somehow I feel happy…at peace with myself today. It really can be done. Once you stop to think about it, th-there are plenty of ways to save everyone! Why didn't I ever listen to him? Why didn't I see that before it was too late…?"

Dammit… He…was dying. His heart ached as he reached for a cigarette and put it to his lips. He lit it and inhaled.

"That tastes good."

A beautiful sweet memory formed before his hazy mind.

"You know cigarettes are bad for the baby, darling."

"I'm sorry, honey." The cigarette slid from his lips to the ground.

"If I am reincarnated, I'd like to live somewhere where life is easier. Somewhere with nothing but peaceful days. Somewhere with no stealing, no killing." He paused and smiled, his eyes lost in the dream. "Eden. In Eden, I can live happily with him…and the girls."

Cough. Groan. The pain brought him back to reality. Brought him away from self-pity and acceptance of his own death. His eyes hardened with determination…with an iron will to live.

"I'm not ready yet! There's still much more left to be done! I want to stay! With them! I don't want to die!" Groan. Harsh breathing. His eyes misted over. Images of the people he loves flow through his mind. His best friend, the blond needle-noggin. One of the girls, the spunky brunette… And the girl he loves. Her big shimmering aqua eyes smiled at him from the cross before him.

"I'm a man." Memories flash before his eyes. The first time he took a life, when he learned to shoot, receiving payments for his 'duties', every life he took.

"Was everything I did in my life a mistake?!" Tears slid from his furious eyes as he gazed up at the altar. At the god he had pledged to serve. "Would I be wrong now to ask for your forgiveness?"

"I did not want to die this way!" he shouted hoarsely up to the ceiling, letting the light from the window shine down on his face.

His hand suddenly loosened its grip on the cross and fell to the floor beside him in silence.

His eyes slowly drifted closed.

* * *

"Wolfwood? Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Wake up. Open your eyes!" A giggle. "Come on! Open them! Are you going to sleep all day? They're waiting for you, you know. Vash, Meryl… Millie. They're waiting for you, Nicholas."

Wolfwood slowly opened his eyes…wondering what the hell was going on. He'd…died, right? He'd felt his body give way and darkness had consumed him. Wasn't that what it was like when you died? A feeling of peace and that will to live battling in your soul… He'd wanted to live… He'd wanted to live so badly, to be with them… With Vash, with Meryl… With Millie… His Millie, his big-girl… They'd all taught him how to love again, how to live again… But why was he having these thoughts now? Wasn't he already…?

The bright light shone into his eyes. Too…bright… Hey…he thought ruefully for a moment. Is it possible I actually made it to Heaven…? This light…it's so warm…so comforting. I feel…alive…

"That's because you are alive, Wolfwood. Heaven isn't through this stairway of light. It's daylight…a daylight at the end of death's darkness."

"Who...?" he whispered hoarsely, his eyes slowing becoming adjusted to the light. He looked about, trying to find the source of the gentle voice.

A woman suddenly popped her head before him. Her eyes were a gentle golden brown hue, her hair long and dark…the style was a lot like Millie's… The sun shone behind her, casting her features into shadow, but her eyes still glowed. "Who are you…?"

Her smile was as brilliant as the sunshine that shimmered about her head like a halo. "Call me your guardian angel. It's not your time to die yet, Wolfwood. Sure I had to pull a few strings…Death is a hard woman to bargain with, but even she knew it wasn't your time yet. This was the least I could do for you, for your heart, for your strength and gentleness… And for Vash…"

"You…you know Vash…? I'm…alive?"

The woman nodded and gave him an outstretched hand. "Yes…you're very alive, Wolfwood. You did so much for Vash, you were his closest friend, the dearest to his heart. And at the same time, Vash was your salvation as well, right? Your will to live gave me the opportunity to give you back your life…and perhaps a little bit of Eden." Tears slid from her eyes and sparkled in the sunlight.

Wolfwood lifted his arms slowly, taking the offered hand. A powerful radiance filled his soul the moment his hand touched hers… He heard a song in his mind. The same song Vash would always sing. He heard the woman's sweet laughter echo in his heart and reverberates in his soul.

"Tell Vash I'll always watch over him. And Wolfwood… Remember to live fully. Have no more regrets, atone, and finally, be happy! The others are waiting for you… Go to them… And live…"

Wolfwood's eyes snapped open, and the spirit was gone. He was sitting upright in a coffin, in the same spot where…he had died… He stared down at his own hands and flexed them. I'm… alive… He remembered his own words. "There's still much more left to be done. I want to stay! With them! I don't want to die! …I did not want to die this way!" Perhaps…someone in Heaven was listening to his prayer…?

He lightly smiled and jumped out of the coffin, his body completely healed. There was no one in this village anymore. It had to have been Vash and the girls that had found the coffin and put him inside as a final farewell.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood lifted his head to the skylight and let the sunshine beam onto his face. He took a deep breath and couldn't prevent the tears from sliding from his eyes. My guardian angel, huh? I owe you one… The one thing I truly wanted at my death… And a forgiving god gave it to me… Thank you…

Thank you…