As I opened my eyes, I found I had none. Not that I couldn't see, but there were no lids to open and no lids to shut. There was no urgency to blink, either, which was nice, all things considered.

Surrounding me there were motes of wispy, smoky light one might call souls or wisps.

Presumably just like me.

I'm dead, aren't I?

Knowing the stories of the shinigami, I knew it'd be an easy matter to escape, but, at the same time... it'd been over 20 years since I last saw my wife. And, if I go, well... maybe I might see her again.

And so, ignoring those that chose to loiter, I moved forward, finding myself before the redheaded, pigtailed shinigami herself.

Who was sleeping, of course, her scythe lazily hung over the side of her ferry.

It's not that I wasn't expecting it, as I'd heard the stories, but it didn't make it any less strange. What is the end of one's life to most, to her is simply a job. And, presumably, a pretty dull one at that.

Lacking legs of any walk of life, all I had to do to move was to want it.

And so I did move, as I wanted to wake her. Being what I figured was an impossibly cold blob, my options boiled down fairly quickly until my only choice amounted to my best friend's favorite prank.

And so she let out a shriek as I pressed against bare flesh. "Coldcoldcold!"

Once she had scampered away from me, I simply stared at her, as I had no mouth, so I could not speak.

Once the boat she laid within had stopped rocking and her nerves settled, she put on a big, friendly grin. "You really got me there, huh?" Surely knowing she'd get no answer, she continued, "Well, as you seem so ready, just hand over your coin and we'll be on the way."

I did not, as I had no hands.

"A newbie, huh? Well, that's fine." Her hand thrusted into me in the most pleasantly warm of ways, though she herself was wincing the whole way. Soon, however, she appeared to have her prize in tow. Letting out a whistle, she muttered, "Not every day I feel a heft like this..." Chuckling, she continued, "Well, suits me fine; I'll make it quick."

Grabbing up her scythe, she motioned me aboard.

Not knowing if I was or wasn't on, I carefully floated towards her, as looking down was a skill I likewise did not seem to possess, and I knew falling in was a fate best avoided, if the stories were to be believed.

And with that, she shoved off, using her scythe to trouble the ever still river. The ripples she cast did not last long, nor did the small boat's wake.

It was as if the water itself felt the same weight of this place that all who journey here do, as the small waves kicked up died soon after they began.

The horizon in the distance, between the deep sheen of water and dark shadow of sky was truly beautiful...