Genji Meeting

Very well then, if I may...

Under our leader, Lady Raikou's authority, there are a number of matters we would like to verify.

If there are any objections, speak now.

I shall take your silence as assent.

At present, there remain three Casters summoned from other worlds for the purposes of the Imperial Holy Grail War.

One is Lady Medea Lily, Servant to Lord Watanabe-no-Tsuna.

That's right.

One is Lady Nursery Rhyme, Servant to our leader, Lady Minamoto-no-Raikou herself.

...

(Oh hey, she's back to her old self.)

(Not exactly. If anything, I would say this is a new look for her, and the one we saw earlier is her old one.)

(Oh, okay.)

(That does make sense when you think about it.)

(More accurately, I am told she is a Heroic Spirit who does not possess a defined appearance at all.)

(The little girl with the poofy dress is but one of the forms she acquired after becoming a Heroic Spirit.)

(Oh... Uh, okay.)

(Man, this Heroic Spirit business is even more complicated than I thought.)

？！

Ahem. We can hear you and your companions, Lord Kintoki. Kindly hold your tongues.

Do not forget that under normal circumstances, you would all have lost your heads for such rudeness.

？！

Hehe, sorry 'bout that. Guess even whispers carry when no one else is talkin'!

Behave yourself now, Kintoki. Mother doesn't want to have to cut off your head.

'Kaaay.

Come now, I know you can do better than that.

Uh, yes, Mother!

？！

Teeheeheehee.

So you're still getting in trouble, huh, Kintoki! I thought you'd be more grown-up by now.

Then again, maybe you want to be a child your whole life? Well, Kintarou?

Hm?

N-nnn. Nnnn...

Teehee!

(Oh, right. We need to whisper, don't we?)

(Anyway, is that true? Is Kintoki really dependable?)

(I suppose he did save my life, but still...)

(Oh yes. He is very dependable.)

(Even Lord Kotarou has always said there is no one he trusts to help more than Lord Kintoki.)

？！

？！

(Oh, I see. I'm glad you have so many good friends, Kintoki.)

I'm proud of you, Kintoki!

Th-thanks.

Uh, is it just me, or is she actin' like she's my big sister?

A miracle, huh.

Caster, did you not tell me that a Heroic Spirit losing their Spirit Core was fatal?

I did, Lord Tsuna. And normally, it would be.

...Which is why what happened with Nursery Rhyme was a miracle.

Hmm.

Hmm, how can I explain this...

For example, stories where the dead return to life, like the tale of Orpheus, have been told the world over for ages.

So when two Heroic Spirits born from very similar legends, regardless of how their legends became so similar, encounter one another...

More broadly speaking, when two Mystics with similar or identical roots encounter one another...

It's entirely possible that some sort of reaction may result.

I see. I suppose I can understand that.

However, that is not quite what happened here.

Nursery Rhyme is a collection of Western stories, and the legend of Kintarou is only a single story.

What's more, their stories have nothing in common, or at least, nothing readily apparent.

So I simply cannot see how the two of them meeting could lead to Nursery Rhyme's Spirit Core repairing itself, at least with the knowledge I possess.

And so, Lord Tsuna, the only word I have left to describe what occurred is

"Miracle."

...Yes. That's right.

？！

？！

(If I may, Master, I have heard the story of Kintarou was originally created during the Edo period.)

(As such, it is little wonder he would not be familiar with it now.)

(Of course, as a Heroic Spirit, Lord Kintoki is fully aware of his other iteration, Kintarou.)

(Lord Kotarou even mentioned how Lord Kintoki had some...opinions on whether or not Momotarou ever truly existed.)

(U-um, let me see. What was it he said again...?)

(Oh no. I'm sorry, Master. It seems my memory retention is not functioning properly, so I'm unable to play back that memory for you...)

(If nothing else, I did used to tell Lord Kotarou the story of the boy of Mt. Ashigara.)

(At least...I think I did...)

(A-at any rate, I believe that, whenever Lord Kotarou speaks of Kintarou of Mt. Ashigara...)

(...he chooses his words carefully, out of respect for both you and the Heroic Spirit incarnation of Lord Kintoki.)

(...I'm sorry I can't be more specific.)

(I wish I wasn't so defective...)

(I suppose it just goes to show what it means to be a Heroic Spirit, to be the embodiment of myth and legend...)

？！

(Thank you, Master. That is very kind of you.)

(Thank you, Master. I will strive to do better in the future...)

？！

Ahem!

May I remind you that we still have further matters to discuss! Are you all quite finished now!?

...Thank you. Now, as I was saying...

Lady Medea Lily. Lady Nursery Rhyme.

And Lord Fujimaru, Servant to Lord Sakata Kintoki, another of Lady Raikou's Four Heavenly Kings.

My understanding is that these are the names of the three Casters who still remain in the Imperial Holy Grail War.

Is that correct?

？！

Haha, looks like I wasn't the only one who was confused about that!

But yeah, Fujimaru is right. He's not a Caster from another world.

He and Danzo are both visitors from the time beyond tomorrow's tomorrow.

And what proof can you offer of that claim?

Huh?

True, this Fujimaru person would seem not to be a Caster from a foreign land.

But we still need to verify whether he truly is who he says he is, and whether his claims are true.

That's enough!

It is not for us to determine the truth of Lord Fujimaru's claims, namely, that the Imperial Holy Grail War is actually an evil villain's plot.

No, that is a matter solely for our leader to decide!

Now then, what say you, Lady Raikou?

Ordinarily, yes, such a decision would be entirely mine to make.

However, the ramifications of this decision may affect not only Lord Michinaga, but the entire of the palace.

Indeed, if what we have heard is true, then all of Japan may be at stake!

Which is why I have decided to hold a Genji Council beginning at noon today!

Very well then...

I hereby call this council to order. I trust everyone is ready to begin?

Of course.

You know it!

？！

Good. Then let's get started.

Our visitor claims that the Imperial Holy Grail War is in actuality a villain's plot.

If this is true, then the consequences could be as dire as they are far-reaching.

We, the Genji, leaders of the warrior class and those Lord Michinaga has charged with keeping the city of Kyo safe, cannot afford to ignore this potential threat.

Were we to do so, and this wicked plot succeeded, the shame would follow our clan for the rest of its days.

Even our territory in Settsu would likely not escape unscathed.

However, having said that...

...we still lack any conclusive evidence to prove the veracity of these claims.

I myself owe Lord Fujimaru a great debt for saving my dear Nursery Rhyme's life, and so I would like to believe that what he says is true.

But wishing does not make it so. We require proof.

I do hope you can understand that, Lord Fujimaru.

？！

Seems to me that if there's any room for doubt on somethin' this big, we should at least halt the deathmatches until we can get to the bottom of it, no?

You make a good point, Kintoki. What do you think, Tsuna?

No less a figure than the Minister of the Left personally commanded us to take part in this ritual.

Absent a different order from him, we should continue as planned.

That is what I think.

Indeed. You make a good point as well.

...

...As you all know, we Genji pride ourselves on being the strongest warriors in all of Japan.

You also know how we settle disagreements when words alone will not suffice.

And so...

...you will resolve your differences with your blades.

？！

You mean, you want both parties to demonstrate their convictions in combat!?

Indeed. What more fitting way could there be for two proud members of the Genji clan?

Each side will argue their stance with every strike of their blade, and defend their position in the same manner.

It may not be quite the same as under my predecessors, but this is still the way of the Genji Council.

...Master.

？！

Yes. That she is.

？！

Yeah, don't bother, Fujimaru. This is just what we need.

All I gotta do is win, and they'll listen to whatever we say.

Yeah, it won't be easy goin' up against Brother Tsuna, but we can't turn down a chance like this.

I already decided I was gonna trust you, and once I make up my mind, I don't change it for anything!

Anyway...

Since I'm down a Caster, would you mind helpin' me out, Fujimaru!?

Otherwise, I don't think I can muster anything more than a tie, at best.

？！

Thanks, Fujimaru. No... Boss!

I know you're trustin' me with your life, and everythin' else you set out to do here, and I won't let you down!

I promise.

Okay, let's settle this once and for all...Brother!

...Yes. Let's.

Kintoki. Tsuna. Do either of you have any objections?

None!

Sakata Kintoki of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Yeah!

Watanabe-no-Tsuna of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Yes, Lady Raikou.

Go forth, and let your blades speak for your minds here and now, in the presence of the divine Hachiman!

Come, Caster. It's time.

Yes, Lord Tsuna.

You who possess power. You who thirst, yearn, and struggle to make your wishes reality.

If your desires are true, then join battle and kill as you must.

For the only way forward to realizing your wishes is to use the power you possess to make your way through me!

Here we go!

This is the bloodstained battlefield of Limbo, where the losing Heroic Spirit's soul shall be consumed upon defeat! The Imperial Deathmatch Stage!

My True Name is Medea Lily. This is where my love and ideals shall halt you in your tracks.

Hear me, O frightful gods, and laugh! Hear me, O glittering sun, and shine!

Now come, and show me the extent of your power! Show me what you will do to make your wish reality!

？！

I know. You can never have too many allies.

I won't take the Caster's head! We're tryin' to stop the Imperial Holy Grail War from goin' ahead, so it wouldn't make sense if I did!

No way I'm gonna play into that evil bastard's hands!

Do you truly think you can defeat us while you're still holding back, Kintoki?

We'll see! Personally, I'm plannin' on givin' this everything I've got!

First, I'm gonna make you kneel in defeat!

After that...whatever happens, happens.

If you truly think you can defeat us, then go ahead and try, idiot brother!

I just said I was gonna! Go on, Brother! Time for you to see my resolve and what I'm really capable of!

...Let's do this!

Hraaaaaaaaah!!!

Graaaaaaaaah!!!

Kintokiii!

Bring it!

GOOOOOOLDEN!!!

...How foolish. I should have known better than to challenge you to a contest of brute strength.

How could I have misjudged the moment to go in for the kill...?

See, Brother? I told you I'd make you kneel.

Lord Tsuna!

Stay back!

Stay back, Caster. You must never stand in front of me.

...Brother.

...I...

I swore an oath, Caster Medea.

An oath that I would never again lose anyone who needed my protection!

？！

It's okay, Lord Tsuna! It's okay.

Please, don't worry about me. This life I've been given is a fleeting one; it was never meant to last.

I am not my living self anymore. I'm just an empty shadow cast upon the world.

More importantly...

...I'm not the one whose memory you still hold so tightly in you heart...

Lord Tsuna.

So, please. There is no point in you throwing your life away for me.

Surely...

...you already know that better than anyone.

... ...

Brother.

I don't know what's going on with you, but it looks like your Caster does.

So, what now? You've already got one knee on the ground.

I'll leave it up to you. Do we head back or keep goin'? What do you say, Brother?

Will you hear my once-in-a-lifetime request out, or do you want to keep fighting?

...

...Foreign Caster.

No... Princess from a far-off land, who met such a tragic end.

There are precious few indeed who could match your intellect and beauty.

And yet, even as I strive to keep you safe... I find myself thinking of her.

I thought that, maybe...

...with the power of the Holy Grail...

...there may be hope for her to regain the life she lost...

I don't know much about this kind of thing...

...but to me...

...that sure sounds like tragic love.

I don't know. I think a few elements are missing for it that to be what you'd call it.

There's much I don't understand about feelings.

And besides...by the time I realized how I felt, it was much too late.

With nowhere for them to go, whatever remnants of feelings I still had left died then and there.

All that remains in their place now is a wretched, hollow emptiness.

Maybe I'm still unsure of what to do, even now.

？！

Tsuna.

You don't have to say anything, Lady Raikou. I understand.

Then again...

It may be that Kintoki's lightning opened my eyes to the curse the Holy Grail laid upon me.

The dead can never come back to life. Nor should they.

The laws of nature are inviolable, regardless of how much one may wish otherwise. As it should be.

I understand that, Leader. I do.

I was just...dreaming.

Dreaming of having another chance to protect her, and to see her smile once again.

I thought the Imperial Holy Grail War might make that dream come true...

... ...

But, the fact remains that dreams are only dreams. Not reality.

You win, Kintoki. I concede my defeat.

That's enough. We have a winner.

Typically, the Genji Council would continue until one warrior had taken the other's head. Today, I choose to end it here.

The winner is Sakata Kintoki!

As such, I shall tell the Minister of the Left that the Genji clan suspects the Imperial Holy Grail war is an evil plot!

This concludes the Genji Council!

All riiight!!!

Did ya hear that, Fujimaru and Danzo!? We did it!

？！

Agreed! This is wonderful news! Our first blow against Limbo!

Hell yeah. And against Michinaga, too!

You both fought wonderfully, and I am thrilled not to have lost either of you.

I am also very happy to see that you kept your Caster safe right to the very end.

Indeed, in this new age, warriors should be capable of more than simply killing their opponents.

And I would like nothing more than for my Four Heavenly Kings to be able to defend those who cannot fight for themselves.

While I may not be able to ask that of all the Genji, I hope you two will allow me this small indulgence.

Hehe. Ahh, what a truly wonderful outcome...

Thank you, Lady Raikou.

I'd like to thank you too, Raikou and Kintoki. Thank you for not killing Medea.

Well, Brother, you snap out of it now?

My lightning can be a hell of a wake-up call, can't it?

...Indeed. I truly feel as though I have awakened from a dream.

There is more to it than that, but for now, I thank you as well.

However, that being said...

While it may have been a short-lived dream, it was not such a bad one.

There was something nice about fighting with all of my might for a wish of my very own.

Huh, is that so?

By the way, you there. The man in the strange outfit. That was a magnificent show of support.

You took care of the many skeletal soldiers my Caster conjured quite handily.

I thought that Kintoki would be ill-equipped to fend them all off on his own...

...but the shadows you controlled fought brilliantly, just as they did the last time we clashed.

Well done.

？！

... ...

...You said you come from the world beyond tomorrow, yes? Over a thousand years in the future?

I see you have both a kind face and gentle eyes.

So it would seem that the world a thousand years from now is a peaceful one.

So I must ask:

Why do you fight? Why have you traveled so far back in time?

？！

I see. Not a moment's hesitation.

So this is why Kintoki has allied himself with you. You truly have the spirit of a great warrior!

...Hmm.

So Kaidoumaru actually managed to convince the Genji after all. Interesting.

And here I thought I had set him an impossible task! How amusing!

While I can't say I'm pleased to see the Imperial Holy Grail War interrupted, this is quite delightful in its own right.

Indeed, now that he's shown he's both willing and able to take things this far, I'm happy to postpone that pleasure another day.

I'll consider what to do next once Seimei has returned from wherever he's gone off to.

I trust you were listening, Douman?

... ...

While a messenger from the Minamoto house will no doubt arrive in due time, for the moment, I am officially calling the Imperial Holy Grail War off.

Make the necessary arrangements at once. Quickly now.

...Douman.

Mmm...

Mm, mmm, mmmnnn.

Mmmmmmhehehehahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaaa!

...?

What are you laughing about, Douman?

Curses! Curses!

I had the Genji all set to kill each other only for the Chaldeans to foil my plans yet again!

I suppose I should have expected as much. The Chaldeans have deep bonds with many of Genji's warriors, after all!

And the same holds true for the Casters my Holy Grail summoned here.

Although, I suppose Lord Urabe's Caster was an exception.

His was a truly fierce and practical Heroic Spirit perfect for a Holy Grail War.

But alas, that team is already out of the running! Mmmmmm, it seems even I failed to account for every possibility, hehehe!

But, what's done is done. No sense crying over spilt blood.

No indeed!

What are you saying, Douman? Have you gone mad?

No. You are not Douman at all, are you?

Then you must be this Limbo villain Kaidoumaru and his companion spoke of.

Then, they really were telling the truth...

Indeed!

Ahh, but that is not quite correct. I am, of course, the poor, pitiful Ashiya Douman of this time...

But I went mad the moment I met Limbo! I screamed, I wailed, and I was ultimately driven insane before we merged into a single form!

...How foolish.

Guards! Guards!

What is it, Minister!?

We have a traitor among us. Douman has gone mad right here in the Imperial Palace!

As I suspected, you could never hope to take Seimei's place! Your only choice now is to offer up your head in apology.

Prepare yourself, Douman! This is the end for you!

We are the Onmyou Bureau's twelve best onmyouji...

And we have prepared a spell that will kill you, as commanded by the Minister of the Left!

Oh? I see.

So you actually took Kintoki's exhortations seriously enough to prepare contingencies, hm? Impressive.

Well now.

Farewell, Douman! We will tell Lord Seimei what became of you!

Mmm...

Pointless, useless, pathetic!

Six roots purification, wicked deeds laid bare...

Let your crimes be punished!

...!

I don't believe it... You killed every one of those onmyouji with but a single curse.

No... You are not only Ashiya Douman anymore. You are Limbo, the great villain Kaidoumaru warned me about!

Hehe, I never dreamed anyone alive was clever enough to put one over on me. I should have been more careful.

I have battled countless curses and evil spirits over the course of my life, and you've managed to make a fool of me with hardly any effort.

Mmm?

Now then, where was I... Ohhh, yes, that's right. I was telling you what happened to Ashiya Douman.

The moment they met, Limbo whispered something in Douman's ear.

Just a brief warning:

"You will never surpass Seimei at anything if you continue as you have been."

...

That was all it took for Douman's pitiful spirit to break into a thousand pieces...

And now, he and I are one and the same! So you see, I am both Douman, and not Douman!

Indeed, I am many things.

I am the Caster of Limbo, the one who came up with the idea for the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters.

I am Limbo the Alter Ego, great Disciple of the Foreign God.

I am the seventh and most powerful Caster in the Imperial Holy Grail War.

And...

I am one of the Hasshoujinthe eight onmyoudou general gods who seek to establish the Naraka Mandala.

I am...Ouban Ashiya Douman.

Mmm, mmmmmm... Mmmmmmhehehehehehehahahahaha.

MmmnnnHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

So now you see, everyone, you have much to celebrate.

My Imperial Holy Grail War is over now, and with only four Heroic Spirit souls sacrificed.

This simply will not do.

As things are now, my heart's desire will never be realized.

Oh yes, people of human history, your exploits have been magnificent indeed.

They have astonished me, Limbo, née Douman, countless times.

Your feelings... Your struggles...

They have all far surpassed any plan I could have concocted.

Hehe.

But enough falsehoods.

Lord Michinaga, Minister of the Left, I do hope you will enjoy watching these proceedings unfold.

You will have the singular honor of watching me carry out the greatest feat in all of human history!

The unprecedented realization of Naraka Mandala!

Mmm... MmmmmmHEHEHEHEHEHEhehehehehe.

Haha, haha, hahahahahahahahahahaha. HahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

What...is that...?

A-and why...can't I look...away from it...?

It's so terrifying, I feel like looking at it will drive me mad, and yet...

I can't...look...awa

Guh!?

Oh, I do beg your pardon.

Huh? I-I, uh... W-wait... Aren't you...!?

You were standing in the middle of the road, gaping at something, and I accidentally bumped into you. My apologies.

At any rate...

...I thought I recognized you. You used to be one of Lady Teishi's ladies-in-waiting.

I'm surprised to see you still wearing such an elaborate outfit, considering how long it's been since you served at the palace. Still miss the good old days?

Wh-what's it to you? I happen to like wearing heavy clothes like this! It's addictive!

Well, that's all well and good, but more importantly...

I'd try to get out of here if I were you.

That...thing over there is a good bit more than we can handle.

Mmmmmm...

Mmm, how lovely. So this is how it feels to look down from on high!

Not bad. Not bad at all! Mmmhahahahahahahahaha!

Behold! This is my Pseudo-Tree of Emptiness! My Naraka Mandala! Beautiful, isn't it!?

Now then, only a little longer...

Come forth! Come forth!

My subordinates! My sacrifices!

My corpses who have made their way here over the dead body of my beloved sorcerer.

I will embed every one of the general gods' karmas using the seven Command Spells granted to me as the overseer of this Holy Grail War, and...

...Now, hear me, wandering souls of the eight gods!

Hear me, Hasshoujin!

And assemble!