Final Section: Between Light and Dark

Are you sure about this?

I am, Sister. This is the only option I have left.

But giving up your name? Do you understand what that means?

You may as well no longer exist.

Names are both the words we use to protect ourselves, and the light we use to express ourselves.

If you give up yours, there may even come a time when you are no longer able to remain human!

I've made up my mind, Sister.

I may not possess power beyond human ken like you do, but I want to help you all the same.

And if I'm going to do that as an ordinary person...

...my only choice is to give up my name, my body, even my very humanity, and offer my soul to the heavens.

...You're not going to change your mind, are you?

No, I'm not.

...This is a tremendous sacrifice you're making. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay it.

You're going to devolve into something inhuman, and you won't even be able to tell others your name.

I'm going to rob you of your name, your form...everything you have...

...all so I can continue to watch over Yamataikoku as its priestess of light.

Hahaha, rob me? Don't be ridiculous.

You and I are siblings, remember?

And siblings...

...are supposed to help one another.

Ghh... Graaah!?

Does this mean...I'm going to die...?

No! I refuse to accept this!

You and your people are all going to pay for relegating me to the bottom of the dung heap!

O Eternal...O mirrors...epitomizing...the stars.

Guides of the stars who rule the sun, the moon, and the heavens...

Banish darkness from the world, and restore light to its true splendor! Eternal Mirrors of the Stars!

Arghhh... What is this...?

What is thiiis!?

Kukochihiko, king of inhuman creatures...

I know I wasn't able to save you, or your people...

But if nothing else, I hope this light will guide you all to your final resting place, where you can be at peace...

Ahhh... Light...? Did you say...light?

Go on. It's okay. Return to the light.

Light... Ahh... So this is...

...light...

？！

...

Thank you, everyone.

On behalf of the people of Yamataikoku, I offer my sincerest thanks.

Senpai! Everything around us is falling apart!

Now what do we do!? I don't wanna kick the bucket after finally coming this far!

Keep it down, Okada. Everything will be fine.

Isn't that right, Queen Himiko?

Yes. All the people who were caught in everlasting darkness have been returned to the light as well.

Now, let us go home...

...to Yamataikoku.

Rrraaah... Aaah...

We did it, Master! The Inugami has vanished!

？！

Yeesh. That was a hell of an opponent you made me fight first thing after being resurrected.

I don't think anyone else would've been able to pull it off.

That was amazing, Sister!

That's exactly why you're the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, the only rightful ruler of this world!

Hmph. Don't get carried away.

Wait. That mask comes off!?

That just leaves these two.

What kind of bad joke is this? What the hell's going on here!?

This is the worst show I've ever seen in my life!

Who the hell are you people!?

Ha, look at you freaking out. Some dignified commander you turned out to be.

Shut up, you damn dog of a man-slayer! Don't you talk to me like that! I've got more love for our country in my little finger than you've got in your whole damn body!

CommanderNo. Serizawa.

It's over. We lost.

What was that, Yamanami? Say that again! I dare you!

This isn't the way to save Japan. I see that now.

Kondou may have been wrong, but I'm afraid so were we.

No... It's not even that it was a mistake.

We were simply not willing to help each other the way they did.

Yamanami...

That's what you took away from this? The importance of helping one another?

This is exactly the problem with you idiots! You were just a bunch of country bumpkin samurai playing at being friends!

It's no wonder the Shinsengumi turned out to be such a joke!

...You're right. That's why the Shinsengumi came to an end.

It was my lack of courage that ended us.

I should have confronted Kondou back then, instead of running away.

I should have asked him what he hoped to achieve by having us kill our own comrades!

Dammit, Yamanami! Why don't you get it!?

By letting people be as evil as they like, letting them destroy everything holding us back...

...we would have been able to establish a new government that would have devoted itself to serving people from all walks of life!

That's the sort of Shinsengumi I wanted to leadA group of patriots with undying love for their country!

A simpering idealist like Kondou could never have hoped to save Japan!

Why can't you see that!?

None of that matters now, Serizawa.

I should have stopped them from killing you back then. I'm sorry I didn't.

I see... All right, I understand.

Serizawa...

Helping one another, huh? You know, that actually doesn't sound half bad.

So I'm gonna have you do just that!

Your blood is gonna help me out a whole lot, Yamanami!

Ghh...!

Serizawa, you bastard!

It's okay, Hijikata...

I thought I had faith in Kondou, but I couldn't completely commit to him.

Then, I came to believe that if I'd placed my faith in Serizawa instead, things with the Shinsengumi might have turned out differently.

But I couldn't bring myself to commit to him, either.

Yes, that's right. I was never "Yamanami the Kind."

I'm just "Yamanami the Coward."

Now go on! Drink this blood! If it's not enough, I'll gladly give you mine, too!

I'll pay whatever price I have to!

All I care about is winning!

Curse you...! Curse all of Yamataikoku!

Now feel our wraththe wrath of the inhuman inhabitants of Kunakoku!

Wh-what is that!?

Now I see. So that's who you were helping...

That's right! I...

I am the king of Kunakoku and its inhuman inhabitants...

I am the ruler of those who met their end at the hands of Yamataikoku...!

I am Kukochihiko!

Oh wow, that thing is crazy powerful!

Kukochihiko was once a curse-wielding sorcerer in service to Kunakoku...

...until the day he killed Kunakoku's king, declared himself its new ruler, and tried to claim Yamataikoku as well.

Wahahahaha! Incredible! This power welling up from the bowels of the earth is greater than I'd ever dreamed!

First I will eat this one... Then all of you... Then Yamataikoku... And on and on until I have consumed everything!

Wait! If you do that

I'll be gobbled up too? Who cares!? Eat up! Eat it all up!

Wahahahahaha!

My eternal darkness will swallow all of you!

Futuro!

Master...!

？！

This is the cave of eternal darkness we inhuman inhabitants of Kunakoku call home.

No words can be heard here, and no light can survive.

Indeed, those who are trapped in this cave cannot even touch one another.

We have lived in this subterranean cave since the Age of Gods, surviving solely on people's anger and animosity.

In this eternal darkness, none of the Heroic Spirits you brought with you have any hope of protecting you.

？！

Give it up. No one but me can hear your voice here.

I will consume each of the Heroic Spirits you brought with you...

...and then I shall conclude my meal by feasting on your ultimate despair.

...?

What is that?

Is that...light?

Light, in this cave of eternal darkness!? It can't be!

？！

I've been waiting for you, Child of the Future.

I'm so glad to finally meet you.

？！

Yes. My mirrors act as the stars themselves, and can show me sights from beyond eternity.

They show me people's lives, the positions of the stars, the far-distant future... And then connect and bring them all together.

Before I died, I foresaw that Yamataikoku would be in peril one day...

And I have been waiting here for a way to save it ever since.

Himiko? Did you say Himiko!?

Th-that's not possible! I cursed you to death myself!

True. After leading Yamataikoku for many years, I lost my strength and was swallowed up by your Dark Blight.

It was there that I saw my appointed successor, Iyo...

...was destined to one day meet the same fate.

So I used my mirrors to call someone from the distant future who could save this land, and I've been waiting here for him to arrive ever since.

Then, you've been waiting in my eternal darkness, biding your time, while I thought I had killed you?

Impossible!

How could you bear to wait here all alone for someone who you couldn't be sure would ever even arrive!?

Ah, but you see, I wasn't alone.

My nameless, formless little brother has been here keeping me company all this time.

I-impossible... You mean to tell me you learned you would become a Heroic Spirit back when you were still alive...

...came here to lie low in your human form...and summoned your own Heroic Spirit from the Throne of Heroes far in the distant future!?

That's not possible! You couldn't...

It's not possible! It's not! It's not! It's not!

Now, it is time to pass my power on to my other self...

And become one with my Heroic Spirit from the Throne of Heroes in the far future!

Futurooo! Where are you, Futurooo!?

...Huh? Who're you?

Wait. Are you ME!?

Yes, I am. Thank you for coming, my distant self.

I have been waiting for you for a long time.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down. I know I have a brother, but I'm pretty sure I never had a sister who looks just like me!

...

I must say, even I'm surprised I managed to become a Heroic Spirit.

Now, go on. Take my hand.

O-okay...

There you go. Now is the time for Himikoqueen of Yamataikoku, priestess of light, and arbiter of the worldto cast her light for all to see.

...

...Aha, I see. I get it now.

This moment right here...

...is what I was summoned for!

Master! Thank goodness! It got so dark I couldn't see anything!

Whoa! What the...!? Where'd you all come from?

S-Sister! Where were you!? Don't leave me like that!

Stop that, Nobukatsu! Get off of me!

Ugh, you might look pretty different now, but you haven't changed a bit!

Of course not, Sister! I'm still your little brother, after all!

Why the heeeeeell is it so damn dark in here!?

...Huh? Where'd you all come from!?

Hey. What's going on here?

Welcome, retainers of the Child of the Future. I have been waiting for your arrival.

I am Himiko, queen of Yamataikoku.

Whoa, what happened to her? She wasn't wearing all that a second ago.

It's not just her outfit. The light she's radiating is giving off incredible amounts of magical energy...

？！

Light!? Impossible!

No light should be capable of piercing this eternal darkness!

It's not possible! It's not possible!

We are the inhuman creatures of darkness! No light has ever reached this place!

No light should ever reach us!

You're wrong, Kukochihiko. Light has always been able to reach you as well.

You've only been closing your eyes to it.

Indeed, light has always shone down on everything in this world equally.

Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!

I am Kukochihiko! The king of those who reside in eternal darkness!

All I desire is to plunge everything into darkness!

That goes for you and your light too, Himiko!

...Child of the Future.

Kukochihiko there may no longer be able to listen to reason, but I hope you will do your best to convince him anyway.

？！

Let us begin!

Serizawa... This time I'll put you down for good.

Keh! Now that I can see what's going on, this punk won't be any trouble at all!

You know, I think that Himiko lady's light is even working on me a little!

That's my sister for you! And that's why she's the Demon King!

I'm ready, Master! Here goes nothing!

This is...the enemy base...

Senpai! We made it back safe and sound!

？！

The air of calamity has cleared away, and light is shining down upon Yamataikoku once again.

I believe those Ominous Gods have all returned to the light as well.

Ominous gods? What are you talking about?

Oh man, you should've seen them, Sister.

Imagine being surrounded by giant versions of those haniwa that look like you, and you'll have some idea of what it was like.

Huh. Giant versions of haniwa that look like me, hmm.

Wait, hang on. How could haniwa possibly look like me!?

Oh, they did. The resemblance was uncanny, really.

Now, come with me, everyone. Your friends and the villagers are awaiting our return.

Man, even I'm pretty exhausted. Hey, Queen, I don't suppose you got some top-shelf booze on hand somewhere?

Of course, Okada. I'd be happy to reward you with the most special sacred wine that has been kept as a treasure in my shrine's cellar.

Oho, special sacred wine, huh. Now you're talking my lang

Hey! What'd I say about calling me by my family name!?

Aww, but it rolls off the tongue so nicely.

...

？！

You go on ahead, Fujimaru.

I'll catch up once I've taken care of something.

Great, another long face...

I wonder what Hijikata is up to...

Come on, Nobukatsu, let's go.

Huh? O-oh, yes, Sister.

You too, Okada.

Hey! Don't grab me by the scruff of my neck! What do you think I am? Some kinda dog!?

...

...I see. I understand.

Futuro, we should let them take it from here...

？！

Yeah... See you later.

...

Get out here, Serizawa. I know you're there.

Th-this isn't over. I'm not about to die yet.

You're one stubborn bastard, I'll give you that.

But then, that's what makes you Serizawa Kamo.

...There. I've always hated those eyes of yours.

Ever since we first met, there's been something about your eyes that's pissed me off.

Likewise. Seeing your face always makes me want to throw up.

But no more. Once I've gouged your eyes out of your head, I'll never have to look at them again!

If that's how you want to do this, fine by me.

I might've lost the war, but I can still beat you on your own.

You're a dead man, Hijikata!

He's not on his own.

Souji!?

Sorry I'm late, Mr. Hijikata.

Don't be. You got here sooner than I expected. ...You guys all done then?

If by "done" you mean "she beat the living shit out of me," then yeah, you could say that.

Damn, Okita, you're way stronger now than you used to be. What happened to you?

You find someone special or something?

Maybe, maybe not.

As for you, Mr. Saito, I'm still impressed by how resilient both you and your swordplay are.

I don't think anyone else has taken that many strikes from my sword and managed to walk away intact.

Well, I am the best in the Shinsengumi when it comes to looking out for my own skin, after all.

Hmph. No way you'd ever end up dead, Saito.

No way in hell.

Thanks, Hijikata.

Anyway, that just leaves him, doesn't it?

...I had a feeling it might come down to this.

Hmph, feels like I'm living that night all over again.

The night you all ganged up on me to murder me!

...If you're waiting for an apology, don't bother. We're only here to kill you again.

Ha, is that so!? If you fools think you can take me, you're welcome to try!

Okita! Saito! It's up to the Shinsengumi to finish this!

Okita Souji, Captain of the Shinsengumi's First Unit, ready for battle!

Saito Hajime, Captain of the Shinsengumi's Third Unit, likewise!

...Let's go, Shinsengumi!

Follow my lead, Mr. Saito!

This will settle things once and for all!

You say that as if just anyone can keep up with your crazy technique!

But fine, I'll do it!

Without form, my sword is intangible. As it flows, it embodies all possibilities...

You're mine! Mumyou Sandanzuki!

That is why my sword has no equal!

I am! The Shin! Sen! Gumiiiiii!!!

Graaagh!

Did we get him!?

We'd better have! He can't possibly have survived that!

Serizawa!

...You goddamn pieces of shit.

Did you really think that would be enough to get rid of me? Serizawa Kamo!?

You're wrong, Serizawa. It's over!

...!

Mr. Yamanami!

Yamanami... You're still alive?

I got a bit of my Spirit Origin back when Kukochihiko separated from you.

But don't worry. I'm still practically dead.

So you mean to drag me down to hell along with you!?

...I'm sorry about this, Hijikata. Okita.

You too, Saito. I'm sorry for getting you all caught up in this.

...

...

Hey! Let go of me, dammit! What is this stuff!?

You and I are never returning to the light.

Not after everything we did to this land, and its people.

This is what we deserve.

But don't worry, Serizawa. At least I'll be there with you.

Dammit! What's this black stuff oozing up from beneath us!?

It's... No way... This darkness is gonna swallow me up!?

Mr. Yamanami! Give me your hand!

It's okay, Okita. It's okay.

Goodbye, everyone.

If you ever see Kondou again...

...please tell him I'm sorry.

Yamanami...

...

Oh no you don't, Yamanami!

I'm not so far gone as to have you drag me down to hell!

Ghh!

You can still move!? You really are a goddamn monster, aren't you!?

...It's not that.

That's right. You idiots stay on that side. This here's my side.

You can all keep pretending to be man-slaying heroes, even now that you're Servants.

Weaklings like you belong with a coward like Kondou.

I don't need you dragging me down.

Serizawa...

Cut that out, Yamanami. Remember, Serizawa Kamo's an arrogant, irredeemable villain, and a patriot who loved the hell out of his country.

He's nothing like you backwater samurai who don't know the first thing about what's best for a nation.

The Shinsengumi are patriots. They were meant to save Japan, even if they had to destroy it first.

And you lot never had what it took to do that.

Your Shinsengumi could never accomplish anything, no matter how hard you tried.

And that's not the kind of Shinsengumi I need.

So if that's how it's gonna be, you're all welcome to it.

Mr. SerizawaNo... Kamo...

Bahahahahaha!

That's right!

I'm Serizawa Kamo!

The only true patriot in all the land!

It's over...

Mr. Hijikata! Mr. Yamanami is

Good grief. I can't seem to do anything right, can I?

Not even Serizawa wanted me around.

You know, Yamanami...

You really suck at staying alive.

Hahaha... You don't mince words, do you, Saito?

Though that's not to say you're wrong.

Yamanami... I'm the one who made you spill your guts.

Kondou kept trying to stop me right to the end.

So if you want to blame anyone for your death, blame me.

Hahaha. I guess you and I are both awkward at this kind of thing, Hijikata.

Don't worry. It's okay.

Back then, me, you guys, the whole Shinsengumi...

...we all lived fast, giving everything we could.

I don't have any regrets. I never did.

But, if I hadn't caught you, then...

I'm sorry to make you witness my death not once but twice, Okita...

...but I'm glad you were there with me, both then and now.

I'm glad it was you, Okita.

Well, looks like this is it...

Bye, Yamanami.

Sheesh. You really were a nice guy, right to the end.

...

...Goodbye, Mr. Yamanami.

Goodbye, everyone.

...Take care of the Shinsengumi for me.