"A choice? But I thought-"
"It's true that this is the farthest anyone's ever come before they were able to return to the Earth. Your twin was only half as far before she was given the choice due to Tenshi's efforts. You are literally on the edge of Heaven and Earth, Neko, and so despite Tenshi and Jasper's combined power, I will not send you back if you are ready to move beyond this world. At this point it is a very difficult decision to make, and I'm sure you feel the pull from both directions. But the choice is ultimately yours. And you must make it before the two on Earth run out of energy."
Neko did feel longing for both sides. She was so close to Heaven, and her consciousness longed to be there, and yet, she still wished to be alive with Tenshi and Mi-chan.
But her main concern was for Tenshi. She didn't want Tenshi to lose her faith if Neko left her again. She had fretted about it as she died, but the slight nag was there fighting its way through the peace as well.
The guide must have had access to her concerns though. "Tenshi will not lose her faith. That you were willing to give your life for her was enough to find it again. She knows you will always love her, and that you will be together again someday."
"Will it be long?" Neko asked.
"For you it will seem like hardly anytime at all before you are joined by her and by your twin. It may be longer for them, but know that they will survive."
Neko considered both of the metaphorical paths she had. The option of Heaven seemed so inviting, and she was that close to choosing it. Her guide made it sound like there wasn't any reason that she needed to choose Earth, especially if she was going to feel like Mi-chan and Tenshi were going to join her soon. Why wouldn't she want to choose Heaven?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko had been asleep for a couple of hours now. Mi-chan was applying a cool wet washcloth to Neko's forehead that Ami had brought her, when Neko had another violent spasm. It was the first one she had had in several hours, and it took Mi-chan by surprise. She dropped the washcloth and tried to hold her sister still.
When it was over, Neko opened her eyes.
"Hey, there," Mi-chan said. "How are you doing?" She was trying to sound casual, but she naturally feared the worst.
Neko was shivering. She ignored Mi-chan's question as she asked weakly, "Did Mom and Dad find out anything yet?"
"Mom took some scans, but they're still working on it. She thinks that it might only target Senshi because of the symbol thing. Plus that way, Amethyst wouldn't have to worry about it infecting her." Mi-chan tried to smile at her as if that was helpful news or something.
"Tenshi didn't come, right?" Neko begged her sister. Mi-chan nodded, sorry that it was true, but glad to allay some of Neko's fears.
Neko still seemed preoccupied though. "Ne, Mi-chan?" she asked pitifully. "Do you remember what happened when you were going to die? Were you heading for the afterlife?"
"Yeah, I was. But you guys saved me before I got there."
"I don't remember," Neko admitted. "But I had a dream about it, and I think I might have been really close. And I think� I think I chose Tenshi over Heaven. I think, even though I wouldn't ever know she wasn't there, and it would only seem like a second before she joined me, I think I went back to make sure she was okay. To make sure she didn't get hurt again." She shivered and pulled the blanket over her more tightly.
Mi-chan tried to smile through her concern. "You should tell Tenshi-kun this, not me."
Neko's voice began to shake. "If I die," she said timidly, "what if they don't let me in? What if our forefathers or the kami are offended that I rejected them for Tenshi? They might not let me join them. I might be stuck between worlds forever. And you and Tenshi will go on, but I'll be alone." Her eyes began to fill with regretful tears.
"Neko-chan, listen to me! You are not going to die. I know you're sick, and you hurt, and Mom and Dad haven't found the cause, demo read my lips: You. Are. Not. Going. To. Die!"
"Everyone dies," Neko whispered.
"Someday, far in the future, long after you've been married for years and have several children and grandchildren and so do I, you can die. And they will love to have you in Heaven, because you will be, like, their model citizen. And if they're complete idiots and don't take you, then do you really think I'm going to go somewhere that didn't accept my sis? No, I'll stay with you even in death. But we're not going to think about this now, 'cuz you're not going to die anytime soon. Okay?"
"Okay," Neko surrendered. "I'm really cold. Did my fever go down?"
Mi-chan felt her forehead. She actually believed that it might have gone up. She didn't know what to answer, but she didn't have to. Neko had read her mind and expression.
"Would you tell her?" Mi-chan just looked at her. "Tenshi - would you tell her what I just told you? And that I love her? And I'm sorry. I really�," Neko paused to fight back a sob, "I really did want to marry her."
"And you will," Mi-chan promised her. "You've got to stop talking like this. You're going to live. How many times do I have to tell you this?!"
Neko cried out as another wave of pain ran through her. Her hand squeezed Mi-chan's even tighter than before, and Mi-chan had to admit that it seemed that Neko just continued to get worse.
"Neko-chan! Neko-chan, stay with me!"
"I'm still here," Neko's strained voice responded. "Mi-chan, please� it hurts� please."
For years Mi-chan had been Neko's protector. The one who could make sure she was always okay. Even more recently with Tenshi being able to heal Neko, she still usually looked to Mi-chan as the one she could always count on to save her. But when there was nothing that Mi-chan could do for her, Mi-chan was at a total loss. All her strength, both inner and outer, couldn't save Neko. But she knew it wouldn't keep Neko from looking to her.
