Rimuru: A Second Chance that Won't Be Wasted

Peace... and Perversion?

Shizue opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was speaking to Rimuru...in his human form? But now, she was no longer in bed. Instead, she found herself lying down on a translucent golden platform. Surrounding her in all directions was simply a bright golden space, with little particles dancing in the distance.

Following the platform, she soon found herself in a familiar setting. A small japanese-style wooden house. Green tiles on the roof, wooden squares as framing for the windows, and a woman wearing a purple yukata sitting on the front porch.

This Japanese woman had raven black hair, tied into a ponytail. Her dark blue eyes stared at Shizue, as her lips curved into a gentle smile.

Shizue felt her throat tighten, as her eyes widened in shock. Her body stiffened, as she held her breath, waiting, blinking to see if the image would disappear. It didn't. There she was, sitting right on the doorstep of their old home.

"M-Mother?" stuttered Shizue.

Her mother's smile grew wider, as she gestured for Shizue to come closer.

Shizue broke into a run, her strides getting larger and larger as she quickly closed the distance between her and her mother. Tears started to form within her eyes, before starting to stream down her face. Those tears eventually slid off her face, and were left freefalling behind her as she ran.

Reaching her mother, she immediately embraced her tightly, trembling all the while. She hid her face in her mother's bosom, just like when she was younger.

"Mother..." Shizue muttered. "You're really...you're here..."

Her mother nodded, embracing Shizue in return.

"Yes. And I have to tell you that I am so proud of you."

Shizue felt her breath hitch, as her eyes turned bloodshot thanks to all the tears. Of course, her mother couldn't see any of it, until Shizue lifted her head up to look her mother in the eyes.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes." replied her mother. "And your father would be very proud of you as well. You have done so much more than I could have ever expected."

Saying this, her mother cupped her hands around her cheeks, and kissed her on the forehead. At this point, Shizue was a mess, trembling and crying in her late mother's arms.

Shizue didn't realize how much she was trembling, but the gentle soothing voice of her mother was one that she hadn't heard for so long. She had missed this...so much

After a few minutes of crying, both were now sitting side by side on the porch of their old house, at least an image of it in this spiritual realm.

"Mother...I..."

"You feel guilty about what happened to you, and slightly guilty that you did not die yet to reunite with me, correct?"

Shizue looked at her mother in shock.

Her mother simply smiled. "I am your mother. You are my daughter. Of course I can understand you."

Shizue nodded.

"Do not worry about it." Her mother continued. "Find your purpose in this life, help those that you wish to help, and don't regret making these decisions. Look forward, and be happy. I am glad to see that you have found someone you wish to stay with, so don't look back and regret not coming with me. As your mother, how could I blame you? You still have your life to live, so live it."

Shizue did not know what to say, but she was grateful to her mother for everything that she had said in this brief reunion.

Suddenly, she felt sleepy, and she felt her mother's hand slowly guide her head towards her lap.