Warriors' Dreams Are All That's Left

Well, hello there, Lord Minister of the Left. I'm glad to see you in good health.

The emperor was quite worried about you, you know.

He said he could only imagine how difficult it must have been for you...

...being alone with the villain responsible for taking over the palace during that demonic tree incident.

In fact, he even said that if the stress was too great for you, he would understand should you feel compelled to resign your position.

Ah, Lady Takako.

Heh. Yes, well, the important thing is that the emperor is safe and sound.

After all, any number of people could take my place, but none could take the emperor's.

Well, aren't you the sly dog.

No wonder you made it all the way to your current position, even with such fierce competition.

Haha. I suppose I must by sly indeed to earn such high praise from such a shrewd vixen.

Urk.

?

Are you all right, Lady Takako? Oh, um, I suppose it was rather rude of me to compare you to a fox, wasn't it?

N-no, not at all. Besides, I did call you a dog first.

Hahahaha. You have a truly singular wit, don't you, Lady Takako?

Heh, hehehehe. Well, I still can't hold a candle to you when it comes to telling jokes, Lord Minister.

Hahaha.

Hehehe.

Hahahahaha.

Hehehehehe!

I must say...

Between Abe-no-Seimei's disappearance and the Imperial Holy Grail War...

...there have been so many impossible things happening that I couldn't help taking a peek.

And you know, I'm glad I did.

This may have been a brief little dream, but it was quite fun while it lasted.

...I wonder what I'll see if I ever decide to show my true face.

Hm?

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Hehehehe.

So then, just when it looked like the sky was going even crazier, something chopped the whole demonic tree right in half!

Then the whole thing fell apart and turned into shiny light particles...

...and just like that, the black sun disappeared and the sky went back to normal.

Everyone saw it happen, so I'm sure it's all people are gonna be talking about for a good while.

... ...

...Hmm.

Personally, though...

...I still prefer the story about the steel monster stalking the roads at night.

Just kidding!

(Glug, glug, glug)

Ahhh.

Mmm, now that was some good wine.

Still, it feels kind of weird drinking during the day, especially here. Not that I'll be staying long.

Now that the demonic tree is gone, and that Ibuki-whoever dealt with...

...I can't stick around for too long, not now that our truce is over.

Still, since I'm here, I might as well enjoy all the Genji wine I can.

How about you? Care to join me?

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Oh, right. You're still too young to drink.

Anyway, what'd you say?

Me and Ibuki didn't get to talk much?

Fufufu, don't worry about that. We aren't siblings or anything. We wouldn't have had much to talk about.

Besides, she was just a haze to me, so I couldn't even see her all that well.

Still...

Maybe, if she'd been summoned a little differently...

...she might've just been a taller, nicer version of me, for all we know.

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Hey now, cut that out.

You were just thinking you might've preferred that, weren't you?

Hmph. Besides, I'm much prettier than she was. I don't have to twist your head off for you to see that, do I?

Hm?

Oh, don't look so frightened. I was only kidding.

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...Hm, you really aren't scared, are you? What an odd kid you are.

I wonder just what those eyes of yours have seen...

...and what sort of places you've been to.

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Mm, reeeally?

So this is just another stop on your journey, huh.

You kind of remind me of me in a way, but...

...Fufu, I think you've got me beat there.

So, what'd you think of Heian-kyo then?

It might not be around forever, but it's pretty prosperous as far as Japanese cities go.

Are you disillusioned with it now that you know it's got oni and strange trees and such?

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Hmm...

Is that because you got to take down that Limbo guy?

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...Hm?

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Hmmm?

Okay then, close your eyes. Go on. Close them, or I'll just pluck them out instead.

You were just so cute that I couldn't help wanting to give you a hug.

Oh, forget it. Too much trouble. Ibaraki, hold him down, would you?

Ibaraki.

...Huh? Where's Ibaraki?

I knew you would have to leave soon...

...So I've been trying to find the perfect souvenir with which to send you on your way...

...but it didn't even occur to me that you might not be able to bring material things back to the Throne of Heroes.

I'm sorry, Nursery Rhyme.

It's okay, Raikou. No, Monjumaru.

Just getting to meet you has made me happier than any souvenir...

...since even as a grown-up, you never forgot how it feels to be a child.

Most people move away from us as they get older...

...but the ones who remember are the ones who pass our stories on to the next generation of children.

... ...

Our meeting like this, and talking like this, will be recorded in the Throne as though it were a book of its own...

...even as the memories will vanish from my mind.

But that's okay, Raikou.

No matter what happens, you and I will always be friends. I promise.

No matter how far away you go, or how many lives you take, you and I will still be friends.

I know how you used to cry all the time back when you were little, in a country so very far from mine.

I know that you don't really want to hurt anyone...

And that you wish you could have been friends even with ghosts and oni.

...Goodbye, kindhearted Monjumaru.

...

...Goodbye, Nursery Rhyme. My dear friend.

You're certain you have no need of a reward?

You may not be able to take anything back to the Throne, but you could still enjoy some fine wine before you go.

... ...

Then tell me this, Caster. Why did you fight by my side?

Even once the Imperial Holy Grail War was called off...

...you still chose to stay with me.

Well...

That's because I'm a Servant. It's what summoned Heroic Spirits are meant to do.

I see. Then it seems Heroic Spirits are deeply beholden to fate.

Yes, you may be right. But even so...

I'm still proud that I was able to help you. I mean that.

I'm glad I could help stop that dreadful villain from destroying Heian-kyo, and I do hope it continues to thrive for another thousand years.

As a Heroic Spirit with a bloody past of my own, nothing would make me happier. Truly.

By the way, Lord Tsuna...

I know.

Someone I thought had returned to the mountain has been watching me for some time now.

Um, are you sure you don't want to do something about her?

I am.

Pay her no heed. Besides, I'm still exhausted from having just defended Kyo from a major threat.

As long as the oni means me no harm, I consider her little more than a stray animal.

Besides, we have this brief time to say our goodbyes. I'm not about to waste it fighting.

Lord Tsuna, may I ask you something?

Of course.

Remember that woman you told me about? The one you, um, looked up to so much?

O-oh, right. It's a little embarrassing having someone else bring her up...

...but it's all right, under the circumstances. Anyway, what about her?

Well, I was just wondering if she and Ibaraki-Douji had some sort of connection.

There's something about the way you look at her that seems as though you're grieving something precious you lost.

At least, that's the impression I got...

Nothing gets past you, hm?

I...

...I'm so sorry, Lord Tsuna. It looks like my time is up.

How unfortunate. But, such is life, I suppose.

Farewell, Caster. Take care of yourself.

Don't be silly, Lord Tsuna. I'm going back to the Throne.

Soon, this transient body will disappear, and my soul will return to the Throne, where I'll forget everything that

I know what I said.

True, the dead may never return to life. I know you are no more than an empty shadow of your former self.

But, even so...

You may encounter other empty shadows at some point, or end up taking part in another ritual akin to the Imperial Holy Grail War.

And if you do...

...I want you to follow your heart wherever it takes you, for I have no doubt it will not lead you astray.

Do that, and your own dreams will come true. I am sure of it.

Make sure you and Lord Jason take care of each other, Medea.

...We will!

So!

Since you helped us all out so much, Raikou gave me a bunch of kimono cloth, bags of rice, and other rare goodies to give to you as thanks.

I gave 'em to your maidservant when I got here, so you should be all set now. Thanks a ton for everythin', Kaoruko!

Oh no, not at all. I really didn't do anything special.

Still, I do appreciate the kind gesture. And to be perfectly honest, I'm thrilled to receive so much wonderful rice.

Please give Lady Raikou my thanks, and my best.

You bet!

Now, please, relax and make yourselves at home. You must be exhausted after that ordeal.

Besides, I remember Lord Babbage telling me that visitors from foreign lands and times are destined to leave Kyo eventually...

...so I'm sure you'll be departing soon as well.

Isn't that right, Lord Fujimaru?

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Y-you didn't, Master. According to my records, we never mentioned that to Lady Kaoruko!

Hehe. I'm sorry.

This may not mean much anymore, but...I eavesdropped on your entire conversation the first night you stayed here!

I also told Lord Babbage about everything you discussed afterwards.

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You're kidding! But then, that'd mean...

If you and Babbage wanted to take us out, it'd have been easy for you to attack us while we slept!

But you didn't do that.

Sure, you weren't exactly rarin' to fight in the Imperial Holy Grail War, but even so!

Damn, Kaoruko, you really were a great Master!

Indeed. I could not detect your presence at all! Perhaps you were using some sort of onmyouji stealth spell?

Whatever the case, I am most impressed, Lady Kaoruko.

Hehehe.

Lord Babbage would have been happy to hear that.

Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I really must get back to my writing now.

I'll leave the room open, and you are all welcome to stay and relax as long as you like.

Man, I've still got chills.

It just goes to show one truly cannot judge a book by its cover. I swear to be even more careful in the future.

Me too. I still can't quite believe it.

... ...

So hey, while we're here, I just wanna say somethin'.

Lord Kintoki?

Who the hell WAS my Caster during the Imperial Holy Grail War, anyway!?

It's not like I got any wish I want granted at this point, but I'd still like to know!

Well...

So I had a thought. In fact, even when I was cuttin' the Pseudo-Tree of Emptiness in half, I was thinkin'...

"Say, who was my Caster, anyway?"

Now I kinda wish I'd asked that Limbo bastard while I still had the chance.

'Specially since even Lord Seimei refused to give me a straight answer.

Indeed, Lord Kintoki. It does seem as though this will forever remain a mystery.

Even when Lord Abe-no-Seimei was telling us who the seventh Caster was earlier...

Oh, yes. Since that idiot disappeared before he could tell you this, I suppose it's up to me to do it.

I'm sure you're wondering who the seventh and final Caster in the Imperial Holy Grail War was.

And the answer is: Limbo himself.

What's that? He wasn't a Caster? Ah, yes, well, he was what you call an Extra class.

Incidentally, his Master was...

... ...

I know. You don't gotta say it.

It was me, right?

Man, if that ain't a sick joke. Talk about the worst possible partner I could've hoped for.

Ugh, makes me sick just thinkin' about it.

No, it was not you.

Huh?

Limbo's master was in fact the human Ashiya Douman originally from this time.

So you didn't have anything to do with him.

Huh!?

C'mon, Seimei, you've gotta be pullin' my leg here!

I mean, if that's true, that'd mean my Caster was...

...never summoned.

Yes, your curiosity is understandable.

We know for a fact that you had Command Spells on your hand, so you were certainly chosen to take part in the Imperial Holy Grail War.

Which means you must have been an eighth Master.

Perhaps Limbo arranged things that way with an eye toward making the Holy Grail War even more enjoyable for himself...

Alternatively, it may be the precise opposite:

A miracle which occurred to counteract the threat Limbo posed.

Personally, I prefer to subscribe to the latter interpretation, but that's just me.

... ...

...I think I get it...maybe...

And hey, at least it's way better than bein' told Limbo and I were s'posed to be partners in crime.

But man, you must be goin' senile, Seimei. If you're gonna fill us in, do it properly, dammit!

Now, now, Kintoki, you're being rude to Lord Seimei.

Hmph.

Hehe, look at you, Kintoki! You're pouting like a child!

W-well c'mon, it's not fair! I saw those marks on my hand clear as day, you know!?

So then, why didn't I get a Caster to go with 'em!?

I don't care if it was Limbo's doin' or a miracle or what! I can't stop thinkin' about it!

Where the hell did my partner go!?

Grrrrrr!

I know, but still!

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Anyway, Seimei might not've given it to me straight, but I kept thinkin' about it, and I realized somethin'.

You were my Caster all along, weren't ya?

Think about it. You came here from a foreign world, you cast spells, you fought by my side this whole time...

You're the only one it could've been. I mean, Danzo's an Assassin, so she's out, right?

It was you, Fujimaru.

You're my Boss, and my Servant.

Lord Kintoki... I'm afraid Master is one-hundred-percent human.

There is simply no way he could have been summoned as a Servant.

Hmm...

Is that how that works?

Well, that's okay, too!

You and me, Fujimaru...

We might not've been Master and Servant, but even so...

We were the most golden partners of all time! That much, I know for sure!

And I can live with that just fine!

...How's that sound to you, Boss?

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Aha! There we go!

Too bad the video feed's still not working, but at least we can talk to each other now. Hey, this is Chaldea. Do you read me?

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This is Danzo! I am happy to report that Master is alive and well!

We cut down the Pseudo-Tree of Emptiness that appeared by Suzaku Gate and defeated the one responsible for it! We also collected the Holy Grail that spawned this Singularity!

Suffice to say, our mission was a success!

Yup, we could tell as much from observing the situation here in the Command Room. Great work, you two!

It's too bad that Bounded Field covering all of Heian-kyo is also making it harder for us to maintain a connection...

...But since it's the cornerstone of their defenses, there's not much we can do about it.

Since we've finally managed to get through, I want to take the chance and bring you two back. Sound good?

Um

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So...

I guess this means you guys are leavin' now, huh?

Back to your own time, when the world's turned completely white?

I still haven't taken ya to see the market, and I was plannin' on throwin' a huge banquet tonight to celebrate our victory...

Not to mention a bunch of other stuff I had in mind now that things are safe again...

But I guess we just won't have time for it, huh.

Hey, c'mon, Boss! That's my line!

We only won 'cause you were here. If it hadn't been for you, I couldn't even have beaten Brother Tsuna!

So I oughta be thankin' you, Boss!

We definitely couldn't have done this without you!

...I don't know about that.

I don't think I'm cut out to be some great hero. I'm not tryin' to be one, either.

All I can do is keep carin' for everyone and hang in there the best I can!

So I'm just gonna keep goin' with that. But, y'know...

If followin' this path somehow leads to me bein' enough of a hero to qualify...

...then yeah, I'll definitely see you again someday, Boss!

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Adjusting margin of error for coordinate data. Matching data with Novum Chaldea's Command Room.

It's time, Master.

Also, Lord Kintoki, the truth is... Well, unfortunately we do not have enough time for me to explain exactly how it works, but...

Everything that happened herehow we met, fighting together, and what we ultimately achieved here in Heian-kyo...

Well, I'm afraid your Proper Human History selves will not remember any of it. That is simply how Rayshifting works.

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Oh. I see...

But, it's okay! I can tell from the looks on your faces that there's nothin' we can do about it.

So don't sweat it. The important thing is, we protected Kyono, Japan, China, and all the rest of the world!

It doesn't get much more golden than that.

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So what?

C'mon, quit mopin', will ya? Cheer up!

If this is where we gotta part ways, Boss, we oughta make it a real golden goodbye!

And you know, seein' how much I like this word, I'm sure I'll like it again the next time I happen to hear it.

So I guess if I'm gonna forget everythin' that happened here...

...you'll just have to remember it for me!

I'm countin' on ya!

That's the spirit!

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...You're still gonna keep fightin' after gettin' back, aren't ya? I can tell.

So I won't tell you to give it all you've got, 'cause I already know you will.

Instead...I'm just gonna say this.

You fight to protect your world...

...and I'll fight to protect mine!

What have I done? I scarcely recognize myself.

I'm free now, but I feel... I'm terrified. It's...have I been cursed?

Am I destined to end up as that horrible creature one day?

A twisted demon whose greatest pleasure comes from other people's suffering?

If that is what I am fated to become...

...then I don't want to see what lies beyond tomorrow.

All I can do now is to stop myself before

So you mean to commit suicide? Even after mastering the secrets of Taoism?

Don't bother, Ashiya Douman. There wouldn't be any point.

!

Lord Seimei... I didn't know you were back in Kyo.

No...you never actually left, did you? You knew this would happen all along, didn't you?

Then...why didn't you stop me before I made such terrible mistakes?

You have to ask why?

Because even I never expected the great Ashiya Douman to succumb to a mere fragment of his own shadow, you fool.

And while I'm at it, Douman...

Your greatest flaw is your fixation on individuals.

Lord Seimei...

Senpai!

Master!

Welcome home!

I'm so glad to see you back safe and sound. Oh, that reminds me. Would you mind holding still for just a moment?

There, medical diagnostic complete. Your vital signs all look good.

What a relief...

It's good to have you back, Senpai.

R-right.

Still, you can never be too careful. And besides, that was just a quick diagnostic, not a detailed one.

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You'll still need to have Nemo Nurse take a look at you just to make sure.

I checked and the exam room is open right now, so I hope you go see her right away.

Also, um...well...

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help to you this time...

I never imagined I would fail to Rayshift with you...

No, Lady Mash. If anyone here should apologize, it's me.

I should have known the Rayshift could be jammed, and I should have done everything I could to counteract it.

Limbo and I have a history of our own. This was my chance to finally fight back against him, and I blew it...

You are both being needlessly hard on yourselves. Go on, take a look.

As you can see, Master is alive and perfectly well!

What's more, he succeeded admirably at both cutting down the Tree of Emptiness and recovering the Singularity's Holy Grail.

The only one who deserves blame is Limbo. But I understand all too well how you both feel.

...Which is why we will simply have to make up for it on future missions!

Right!

Understood!

Hey guys! Welcome back. Looks like you already got your quick medical diagnostic out of the way.

So that just leaves congratulations on a job well done! Well that and a bit of gratitude, obviously!

The Singularity's already begun repairing itself, and we've confirmed there's no trace of the Pseudo-Tree of Emptiness whatsoever.

Proper Human History might still be a blank slate at this point, but you guys managed to prevent another Lostbelt from popping up.

So now, once we restore humanity and Proper Human History, we won't have to worry about a new world order based in the Heian period wrecking it all.

As far as I'm concerned, you both rocked this mission.

In fact, since you did twice as good as usual, I'm gonna reward you with a special head pat.

Great job, Fujimaru!

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For my part, I'm particularly thrilled that you managed to eliminate Limbo.

While it certainly never seemed as though the Foreign God's three Alter Egos were on the same page, so to speak...

...the fact remains that, now that Limbo is gone, the Foreign God has only two Disciples left at her disposal.

As I'm sure you can imagine, Goredolf was also tickled pink by the news of your success.

And while he's demanding you submit your report within two hours of your return, since we were unable to maintain contact for most of the mission...

...he's also fixing a meal to help you recover your strength even as we speak.

I assure you, there's no hurry. Your recuperation comes first.

Do not worry, Master. If you are concerned about the Foreign God's secrets Limbo alluded to in his final moments...

...I can assure you that they were simply more of Limbo's lies, and nothing would have been gained by listening to him.

True. We could not place much stock in anything Limbo had to say.

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All right, that's enough! Fujimaru, go see Nemo Nurse for your medical checkup, then don't think about anything besides resting for a while. Got it?

Mash, would you mind escorting him to the exam room?

N-not at all!

Fou, fooou!

Ah! Stop that, Fou! Senpai is exhausted right now, and needs to rest.

Fou?

That's right. You'll just have to wait.

Yeah? Then I guess I shouldn't keep him too long.

Hey there, Boss!

I just wanna ask ya one quick thing. What were me and the other Heian peeps like?

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Fooooooulden!