"When a newborn child dies, my dear, do you think a loving God would really send them to Hell? No. The child has yet to sin. All the child wanted to do was to live and to breathe, but such an opportunity was stolen from them because of our fallen world. Your children are safe now. Safe in the loving arms of one who will look after them." a man spoke softly to his wife, trying to comfort her weeks later after their twins were stillborn.

"Then..." the woman turned to her husband, tears running down her cheeks in anger and distress. "What happens if your children die in Heaven? Do the go to Hell, or are they sent back here to our lonely planet?"

The husband's mouth hung open in confusion. There was no way he could answer her.

Did people die in Heaven? Could angels become fallen and be sent to Hell? Was there a way their children could come back to earth in another life...?

Not a human soul could answer these questions...

~~~~ Heaven ~~~~

"What can I help you with today, my dear Shekinah?" Choromatsu questioned, standing up from his throne. He lifted up part of his chiton, so he wouldn't slip and make a fool of himself. Straightening his pure gold laurel wreath, the god gazed softly at one of his beloved angels, who had just entered his presence.

Shekinah, the angel of unity, bowed down at the feet of her God. Her thick, golden curls tumbling over her shoulders as she relaxed her gigantic, white feathered wings.

"Rise," Choromatsu spoke kindly, but with a sense of authority. "Please, tell me what you have come to me about."

"Newborn twins arrived in the Endless City today. I've come to ask you if they are allowed to stay. They were not born of a sin, I already looked into that, my Lord," Shekinah replied, her dark blue eyes glowing with determination. "Haniel is with them in her home right now...you know how she adores all the children we are blessed with. Sin or no sin, she's already in love with them."

Choromatsu smiled, with his eyes closed, resembling crescent moons. He retreated back to his throne, leaning back into the massive chair as he finally released his chiton.

"I trust you will take care of them," the God replied as he pointed his scepter at Shekinah. "Tell Haniel that you are to both raise the children. When they become of age, we will see if they are worthy of becoming angels or not. Until then, nurture them, just as you would your own child. I sense that these two will play a key role in our future..."

"Understood," Shekinah replied, her voice full of respect for her God. "Thank you, my Lord."

And at that, she lifted her heavy wings and flew away.

Ten years later....

"Karamatsu! Osomatsu!" Haniel called out to her two foster children. "Please! Stop making such a racket!"

Karamatsu and Osomatsu, who had been rolling around in the dirt, playing with one another, immediately stopped. Or at least, Karamatsu did. He was always one for obeying the rules.

"Please, come inside and help me straighten up the house. Choromatsu is coming to visit you two today!" Haniel exclaimed, a pure smile on her face as she ushered the twins inside.

"What can I do to help you, mother?" Karamatsu asked. Just by calling the old angel 'mother' made Haniel love him even more.

"Oh, you're just too sweet!" Haniel chuckled as she hugged the boy tightly. "You can help me dust off some of our furniture in the sitting area. I imagine Choromatsu will most likely be in there anyways."

While Haniel wasn't looking, Osomatsu snuck back outside and began to run.

Kicking up dirt, he had no idea where he was even running. Heaven always seemed endless, but it really wasn't.

"Help! Help!" a sickly voice cried out, coming from a random cave Osomatsu had failed to notice his entire life.

Looking around in all directions, the boy checked to make sure nobody was watching him, then rushed towards the cave.

"What's wrong?" Osomatsu asked, his voice filled with worry.

"I've been stuck in here for years...I've been trapped...and all alone," the voice wheezed. "Won't you help an old pal out and just reach your hand down the biiiiiiiig hole to your left?"

Without thinking, Osomatsu reached his hand down the dark hole. Suddenly, the light coming from the entrance of the cave disappeared.

The young boy was surrounded in darkness.

"Osomatsu," that same voice hissed. "You've felt left out, haven't you? Karamatsu is getting in your way, isn't he?"

"No! I love my brother to death!" Osomatsu replied, taken aback. "Karamatsu has never done any wrong to me!"

"When was the last time you felt loved by someone other than your brother?" the voice asked dryly. "If you follow me, I'll take you to a world where everyone will love you."

Osomatsu shook his head no. "I'm not supposed to leave this place. This is my home."

"But have you ever felt at home in heaven?" the voice hissed one final time as it released Osomatsu, sending him back to reality.

Crawling out of the cave, the boy shook his head in confusion. He didn't understand what he was feeling at the moment, but it certainly wasn't of his master Choromatsu. It felt dark.

Grabbing his white, angelic robe, Osomatsu inhaled deeply, beginning to walk back to his home.

"This is home," Osomatsu thought to himself. "Nothing is supposed to bother me here...right...?"