Epilogue
Heaven
“To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:18
Attack.”
Aimi did just that, her movements lithe, balanced, light as a dancer’s, doing as Hikari bid.
Sam waited calmly, trying not to grin, knowing that Aimi had really taken the previous night’s lesson to heart. Hikari had read from his favorite textbook on swordplay - Miyamoto Musashi’s, Book of Five Rings. The passage had been about the environment and how to use it to your advantage. Aimi, with her usual academic brilliance, had memorized every last word.
She stood with the descending sun behind her, knowing full well the effect it had on Sam. A normal opponent would’ve been at a disadvantage, their vision impaired by the light in their eyes. With Sam, it was compounded, his eyes much more sensitive to daylight. He squinted, keeping his eyes downcast, using his peripherals to track her movements.
Behind and to Sam’s right was the training rack. Aimi came in from his left, trying to force him that way. Sam almost laughed. It was a textbook maneuver, straight out of Musashi. When the fight comes, always endeavor to chase the enemy around to your left side. Chase him towards awkward places, and try to keep him with his back to awkward places.
She knew that Sam would have to watch his footing as he backed away, conscious of the obstacle behind him. He thought of a few tactics to counter her. Musashi’s tactics. Foremost amongst them was to dash in quickly, attacking before she could, taking her by surprise. Ken no Sen. But he knew she would anticipate this, having committed every scrap of Musashi wisdom to memory.
Instead, he did what Hikari had been drilling into him recently. To think laterally. To do the unexpected.
He took this to heart, doing a backwards somersault over the rack, landing lightly, poised for her attack. She didn’t disappoint, jumping over the rack, her spear stretched outwards to stab at his heart, committed to Ken no Sen herself.
It was a rash move and, in Sam’s mind, the wrong one. Aimi took all the wisdom from her books too literally. For all her intelligence, she sometimes lacked flexibility and the ability to think outside the box, obeying the lessons to the letter like it was carved in stone. He supposed that Hikari hadn’t worked with her like he had with him, knowing that she wouldn’t need to adapt as much as he.
With a lesser opponent, her attack probably would have succeeded. With Sam, despite her obvious skill and speed, it was almost too easy. Moving so swiftly he doubted she saw the danger, he brought his left shinai across the shaft of her spear, sliding the weapon down to his right side. His right shinai came in over the top, lightly tapping her on the top of the head.
The fight, in his opinion was over. Aimi had lost. He stepped backwards and lowered his weapons. Unfortunately for him, Aimi had other ideas. Unexpectedly, she darted forwards, straight into his arms. Before he could react with anything other than astonishment, she planted a long, wet kiss on his lips.
He didn’t know what to do. All thoughts of tactics or strategy went out of his head along with any other coherent thought. The kiss was, after all, pretty good. He suspected that both he and Aimi were both getting better. At kissing that is. They’d certainly been practicing a lot lately.
It wasn’t until he started returning the kiss that he felt it pressing up against his ribs. Reluctantly, with something that felt like despair, he broke off the kiss and looked down. Clutched in Aimi’s tiny hand was a knife.
He raised his chin, catching Aimi’s stare. She looked serious for a moment, intense, and then she suddenly broke into a huge grin and started laughing, hugging him and giving him another kiss.
“I hope you’ve learnt something from this, Sam,” said Hikari. Sam glanced over at his master. He could tell that Hikari was using every ounce of his self-control to remain outwardly calm and not break into laughter.
“And what’s that?” he demanded, failing in his efforts to control his blush.
“Never underestimate your opponent,” replied Hikari.
“And never trust a woman,” grinned Aimi.
This time Sam couldn’t resist her, his heart brimming with happiness. He gathered Aimi into his arms and pressed his lips against hers, forestalling the smile that was in danger of breaking out on his face.
“Stop it, Samael.” The familiar voice suddenly intruded into his thoughts. He broke off his kiss, snapping his neck around, trying to identify the source. When it wasn’t immediately repeated, he shrugged, trying to connect with Aimi’s mouth again. But this time, something was wrong. He felt it. The edges around Aimi were becoming blurred, but he wouldn’t allow this to stop him kissing his beloved.
Just as their lips met again, the voice came back. Annoyingly persistent.
“This isn’t helping, Samael. We need to get out of here. Now. Snap out of it.”
Sam broke off his kiss again. He shook his head, trying to shake the irritating voice out. It didn’t work.
“This isn’t real, Samael. This is your projection of a happier time. Long ago. You need to come back to the present.”
He looked at Aimi again. Now, she appeared far less substantial, almost ghost-like. He tried to touch her but his hand passed through her harmlessly. Around him, the rocky terrain and the red brush-smattered soil of Utah was fading out fast. Hikari had disappeared, as had the weapons rack. Desperately, he tried to cling to it, cling to the happy memory – because that’s what it was. A memory. He knew it wasn’t real, wasn’t happening now, but a part of him didn’t care. He wanted it to continue, didn’t want it to end ever. It was a beautiful memory, one of the happiest of his life.
And then he knew where he was.
Heaven.
The Utah landscape disappeared altogether, replaced by a white, translucent mist. Out of it, a winged figure appeared. White feathery wings, burnished silver armor, long sword. It was, of course an angel. How could it not be, here in Heaven?
Sam didn’t panic as realization crashed in upon him. He was in Heaven. Samyaza must have brought him here, must have rescued him as he plummeted from the Chrysler building, lifted him up. Saved him. But where was the Watcher now? And what was this angel doing?
As the angel approached, Sam’s hands, without conscious thought, crept towards the hilts of his swords. The being stopped a sword’s span away from him. It was a male, and something about it looked familiar.
“Hi,” said Sam, completely at a loss for anything better to say.
The angel spoke. “It’s me, you idiot,” said the voice Sam had heard earlier. “Samyaza.”
“But, you’re …”
“Yes,” said Samyaza impatiently. “It’s called a disguise. You’ve got one too, by the way.”
Sam looked down at his body. It had occurred to him that something was different. It’s just that he hadn’t managed to put his finger on exactly what it was. Sure enough, he too was decked out like Samyaza in silver armor. He craned his neck and caught a glimpse of wings. Despite everything, a part of him thought that was pretty cool. He reached over his back, intent on playing with them but was stopped short by the edge in Samyaza’s voice.
“My injuries?” he asked. They were gone. Healed, like they’d never been.
“I took care of them,” replied Samyaza curtly. “We’ve no time for this. This disguise won’t fool other angels for very long. And, if I was you, I’d pray that we don’t encounter any archangels. They’d see through it straight away.” The irony of what he’d just said suddenly appeared to occur to Samyaza. He smiled crookedly. Even in his disguise, it was a smile that would have melted any human woman’s heart.
Sam returned it, feeling almost upbeat. Not only was he alive and whole, but he was in Heaven. A place that he’d thought he never be able to see. “How did I get here?” he asked.
“I brought you, of course. I told you I could travel just as easi
ly to Heaven as I can to Hell. I’ve been watching you, waiting for an opportune time. When you fell out of the building, I interpreted that as a fairly opportune time.”
Sam smiled ruefully. “Thanks. So, what do we do now?”
“Visualize Aimi. You should see a glowing trail that will lead you to her. Only you can see it, though.”
Sam did as he was bid, picturing Aimi in front of him. Her long, dark hair, shimmering in the sunlight of Hikari’s garden. Her perfect skin. Her smile that lit up his heart. As he imagined her, a line appeared before him, arrowing off into the mist.
“Got it,” he said.
Samyaza – or the angel that was Samyaza – nodded. “Lead on.”
Sam started walking, Samyaza at his side, the mist parting compliantly as they drifted along.
As they moved, Sam looked around curiously. This was - and equally wasn’t - what he’d expected in Heaven.
“Where is everyone?” he asked.
“What did you expect? Roads lined with mansions? People going about their daily business? No. Heaven is much more than that. It’s a place where you can re-shape your reality into whatever you like. It’s a place where you can live out eternity in complete contentment and happiness, simply by imagining whatever you like. Everyone else - like you were you - is caught up in their own private interpretation of what they consider Heaven. The mist around you is like an operating system on a computer. It’s the foundation upon which everything else is built upon.”
Sam thought about asking the Watcher how he knew about computers and then dismissed it as unimportant. “So where is Aimi now? Hikari? Is my mother here?”
Samyaza shook his head. “Aimi and Hikari are here. But understand - Heaven is vast – essentially limitless. Think about how many countless billions reside here. While space isn’t an issue, you cannot have private Heavens stacked up upon each other. They still inhabit a certain amount of room.”
“And my mother?” Suddenly, he felt a little breathless.
Samyaza said nothing for a moment as if pondering or even searching. Finally, he shook his head again. “If she is here, I cannot detect her.”
Sam nodded sadly, somehow suspecting no less. He hadn’t really expected to find her here. Despite her goodness, he doubted whether her truck with demons would be forgiven that easily. It was a crushing blow but one that he’d almost come to terms with. He resolved to find her though, no matter what - even if it involved another trip to the deepest pits of Hell, even if he had to defeat all the demons of Hell.“How long will it take to find Aimi?”
“I do not know,” confessed Samyaza. “You may as well ask me how many demons are in Hell. Time will tell but we must make haste. As I mentioned earlier, this disguise will not last.”
They travelled in silence for a while. After a time, Sam began to feel distinctly unwell. Pain started gnawing first at his outer limbs and then slowly progressing into the rest of his body. It was a heavy, aching pain, almost like tooth ache but in his whole body. He almost recognized it. It was like a sluggish version of the searing pain he got from touching a bible or entering hallowed ground.
Samyaza must have seen the pain on his face. “What is wrong?”
When Sam told him, Samyaza pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I was afraid of this but thought that because you were only half demon – a Cambion - Heaven would not affect you so. This changes things. We have even less time than I thought. The pain will only get worse. Soon, it will become too difficult to bear. We must hurry.”
They picked up the pace. Pain continued to build in Sam’s body but stoically, he tried to ignore it. It felt like his arms and legs were being dipped in acid.
They must have walked for what seemed like hours, the mist all about them, following the trail that only Sam could see. Suddenly, it was gone – not only the trail but the mist too. It was replaced by a scene that Sam immediately recognized. Hikari’s garden.
It was summer. The strawberry and tomato plants were ripe with fruit. A dazzling variety of plants created an explosion of color all around – color that he hadn’t seen in his ash-covered grey world for years. Just the sight of it brought a surge of hope and fond memories to Sam. This was where he’d spent some of the happiest moments of his youth. Then the smell of the garden hit him, the rich bouquet almost overwhelming to his dulled senses.
In a sheltered area off one of the paths that weaved through the garden stood Hikari. Sam’s first impulse was to run over and hug the man but he didn’t want to interrupt his master. Hikari was clearly busy, practicing his craft of bonseki, sprinkling colored sand and pebbles onto the surface of black lacquered trays.
Before he could move, he heard his name shouted and then suddenly Aimi was there, hugging him, kissing him, crying.
“Sam! What are you doing here? I can’t believe you’re here! Did the angels let you in? Of course they did! No-one deserves to be here as much as you do.”
Reluctantly, Sam pushed her away. “Aimi, listen to me. I wasn’t allowed in here. Samyaza brought me. Brought me so I could rescue you. Take you away from here. So we can be together.”
Aimi looked confused for a moment, her eyes darting from Sam to the Watcher. “You came to rescue me? Oh, Sam. From what? Do I look like I need rescuing? It’s beautiful here – exactly what I’d always imagined. Why don’t you stay?”
“Because he can’t, daughter. You of all people should understand that.” Unnoticed, Hikari was somehow standing next to Aimi. Sam hadn’t seen him move.
“Sensei,” said Sam, hugging the small man that had made such a huge impact in his life. Hikari returned the hug, squeezing Sam harder than such a diminutive figure should.
“You should go, Sam. Take Aimi with you. Keep her safe but go now. You shouldn’t be here.”
Sam nodded grimly. “I know, Sensei. But I had to come for her. And for you, if you’d like.”
Hikari shook his head sadly. “I belong here, Sam. As does Aimi, though her soul is conflicted by her desire to be with you. Until her soul is at peace, I believe the right thing would be for her to go with you.”
“If you can’t stay, then of course I will come with you,” said Aimi. “It’s not right for the angels to keep us apart like they have. You of all people don’t deserve it.”
“You know what it’s like down there, though?” said Sam. “Are you prepared for that?”
Aimi smiled at him. “Not really, but if we’re together, I’m sure we can manage. Right, Samyaza?”
Sam looked over at the Watcher. He was frowning. “What do we look like to you, Aimi?” he asked.
Aimi looked confused. “Like Sam and Samyaza, of course.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” said Samyaza. “My glamor has worn off. Anyone can see us for what we really are now. We need to leave, right now!” Sam heard the urgency behind the words. And the fear. Samyaza was afraid.
Almost on cue, Hikari’s garden disappeared like a curtain had been parted. Sam was alone in the mist save for a solitary Angelic figure.
“What are you doing here?” demanded the figure in a voice ringing with power.
“Who?” said Sam, feigning ignorance, trying to buy some thinking time, conscious that his escape route in the form of Samyaza was no-where to be seen.
The figure stepped forward, revealing a handsome male angel. Every part of him seemed to ooze authority. Sam had no illusions that he was now in the presence of an archangel.
“Do not play games with me, demon spawn. You do not belong here and you know it. The Grigori you were with has already been banished but you have piqued my curiosity. Gabriel has told me much about you.”
“I’m sorry,” said Sam, “but who are you?”
“I am the Archangel, Michael.”
“I don’t wish to appear rude, but can I speak to Gabriel? I need to see her.”
Michael shook his head. “We are not at your beck and call. Regardless, Gabriel is not available.”
Sam inclined his head respectfully, awar
e that he was now in Michael’s domain and as such, had to play by his rules. It was a pity he couldn’t see Gabriel but surely one Archangel was the same as any other?
He winced as the pain suddenly returned. Or maybe he’d just been distracted by his reunion with Aimi and Hikari? It washed over him much more strongly than before. It seemed that Heaven was still punishing him. “I will be happy to leave. Just allow me what I came for. Aimi.”
Michael’s expression didn’t change but the mist, as if sensing the tension, began to whirl more excitedly about the two of them. “You do not make demands here, Demon. This is our realm. Not yours. Aimi belongs here with us.”
Sam shook his head, trying not to reveal the pain and discomfort he was in. “I regretfully disagree, Michael. Aimi and I belong together. Surely it’s in your power to grant me this one wish after all I’ve given up for you?”
Michael laughed. “After all you’ve given up?” he echoed scornfully. “What? You expect a reward? Where is your sense of self-sacrifice? Only the worthy receive such rewards. Do you really count yourself amongst them?”
Sam couldn’t believe this. How could an angel – no, not just an angel, an archangel – be so unreasonable? He wasn’t asking for much. Hadn’t he suffered enough already? Didn’t he deserve just a little bit of comfort; to have the woman he loved by his side?
“I’ve helped where I could. Done what I was able to do. I hoped it would be enough,” said Sam, humbly, desperate to control his temper.
“The Demon in you is coming to the fore,” said Michael. “Who else would demand that the person they loved be subjected to the Hell that awaits them on Earth? To tear them from this place of peace and love?”
“Aimi wants to come with me,” said Sam through gritted teeth. “It’s her choice.”
“No,” said Michael, shaking his head. “It’s not her choice. It’s mine.”
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