Tenth Cup: Farewell to Nirai Kanai

Rikyu!? You're still alive!?

You're not going anywhere, Lord Tsurumatsu! I have such fury...such untold hatred to visit upon you!

I will not stop until Kanpaku HideyoshiNo, until all the strong who devour the weak have heard the cries and lamentations of those they have mercilessly oppressed!

Ahh... Aaaaaah!

No way! She just absorbed Shusha's entire body...!

Sute!

Lord Tsurumatsu!

Well, Lady Chacha? Lord Ishida? I have His Imperial Majesty's son right here. If you want him back, come and take him.

Just like Lord Kanpaku took my girl from me!

Fujimaru, you still got some magical energy to spare? Hit me with all of it! I'll take her down!

Okita! Saito!

We know!

I'm going already!

You stay out of this!

Wha...!?

That's the same power as the Ancestral Beast...!

But, how!? We sent the Ancestral Beast away! How can its black blood still be here!?

Because this isn't the beast's black blood. It's hers.

I can't imagine how many souls she must have absorbed to give rise to such overwhelming malice!

My anger is the anger of all the nameless souls cursed to wander this land!

They do not throw in their lot with humankind, or even with me.

Theirs is the fury of those who spent all their lives being trampled under the boot of the strong!

Dammit! After that last fight, we're all so beat up, we can barely move!

Stop this, Rikyu! If you want to punish His Imperial Majesty for his crimes, then punish me and leave Sute out of this! He's done nothing wrong!

Lady Chacha is right! Lord Tsurumatsu died shortly after he was born! He's one of the very people you claim to be fighting for!

You're right. This world, which lets people like him be born and die for no reason at all, is the real problem here!

That is why I will return all to darkness; I will create a dark world in which the people can finally live their lives in peace and quiet!

I must make it a reality! I must!

Idiot! Who'd ever wanna live in a world like that!?

Ugh, I always knew you were mad, but you've really gone off the deep end now!

？！

If words are not enough to make you understand, then I will just have to use force!

Now, watch as I paint over the whole of this world...

...with my darkness!

？！

...

...

...

...Enjoy.

？！

This is Nirai Kanaithe land souls call home.

It is the end and the beginning of alla place where light and dark blend into one.

And it is from here that I will send you home.

Now, drink up. Drink, and I shall free you from your worldly suffering.

？！

There are those out there who will lay the weight of the world upon your shoulders and insist that you continue pushing ever onward until you finally die.

Such things are commonplace in the world we know; that world should not exist.

You deserve to be free from such a burden.

That is why I sought to create an Age of Darkness, to spare the weaklike youfurther oppression by the strong.

Now, go on. Drink my tea.

Once all returns to darkness, there will no longer be any grief or suffering. Your soul will finally be at rest, with all the peace and quiet it could ask for.

？！

？！

...!

Fun...you say?

Fun... Enjoyment... So, you prefer fun over safety...

Then are you saying my ideal is...not fun?

Hehe, hehehehe. No fun...

Is that...all?

Is that truly the only reason...

...you stand before me now?

Well, even if that is true, that is far from enough to quell my anger!

Please, Lord Rikyu. It's okay. You've done enough.

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What are you saying, Lady Komahime? It's not nearly enough. You were born innocent, and killed for no good reason.

And you are but one of countless forlorn souls who were so mercilessly slaughtered in an age of war.

Someone has to hold this world accountable when it never even gave them a chance to voice their anger.

If I must lay down my life, or kill the gods and the Buddha themselves, to see it done, then so be it.

Lord Rikyu, I bear this world no ill will.

Well, I suppose that's not entirely true... But that doesn't mean I hate everything about it.

I was sad at having to part with my mother and father...but even now, I still remember my home.

I remember the sounds of the wind and streams... The trees rustling on its beautiful hills and fields...

Yes, I did little more with my life than be born and die.

But still, for the brief time I lived in that beautiful world...

...I enjoyed myself immensely.

...You're saying your life, though it was ended all too soon, was...fun?

That's right. And the time I've spent here in this liminal space, sharing a body with you, has been great fun as well.

And you, the one who has been doing everything in his power to stop Lord Rikyu.

The one who met anger with compassion and kindness...

Thank you. Truly.

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...

How foolish of me.

To think it would take the scolding of a child to show someone of my advanced years the truth.

...Terrible. This tea is absolutely terrible.

How did I never notice just how terrible my own tea is before?

...

？！

You think my tea is...

...delicious?

Yes. You're right. All one needs to do with tea is drink and enjoy it.

The essence of tea is in making it, drinking it, and enjoying its flavor and aroma with company.

I knew that...but I still somehow managed to forget. Where did I go wrong?

...

You may have your body back, Lady Komahime. I'll return Lord Tsurumatsu as well.

...

You're going?

I am. If nothing else, I can still lead this land's lost souls into the lightthe land of Nirai Kanai.

I'm sorry for dragging you into my little fit of temper, Master of Chaldea.

I know no mere apology could ever be enough for Lady Chacha or Lord Ishida...

...but, even so, I would be grateful if you could convey to them just how sorry I am.

Yes. I'm sure I will.

I see. Then I have something to look forward to.

？！

All right, the time has come to bring this tea ceremony to a close.

...You know...

...I'm not sure I ever realized...

...just how much fun these chance encounters could be...

...

Lord Rikyu fought for me.

I think he was fighting for everyone like me, for all those who were too weak to advocate for themselves.

Bleh, enough of this gross black tea already! Oh, wait. It's gone now.

H-help! I'm drowning! I can't go out by drowning in a pool of tea!

Now I wish I'd brought my swimsuit!

Easy, Okita. Just calm down.

Huh? Is it all over already?

It would seem so.

I'm so sorry for all the trouble, everyone.

Gaah! Rikyu!? You're STILL alive!?

All right, that does it! This time, I'll crank up the flames so hot there won't even be a single drop of tea left!

Fujimaru! Hit me with a Command Spell!

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Oh. Okay.

That voice... Lady Komahime? Is that you?

Yes. I had Lord Rikyu return my body.

...

I'm so sorry about involving you in the Lord Hidetsugu incident. It's all my fault. I should have stopped His Imperial Majesty before things got out of hand.

I can never make up for what happened to you, but...I can at least offer you my own head in recompense.

No, Sakichi. It's my fault His Imperial Majesty ended up the way he did. You did nothing wrong.

I, Yodo, am responsible for all of the Toyotomi's sins.

B-both of you, please, stop. It's all right.

You've both been through more than enough already.

Please, forgive yourselves.

Seriously? Who is this girl? Some kind of angel?

Come on, Nobbu, knock it off.

What? You were all thinking it, right?

All right, Demon King, let's just stand over here for a while.

Dammit, that super hot guy voice of yours is really pissing me off!

Hehe...

Come on, Lord Osute. This way, please.

Ah...

I finally made it back, Mother.

Sute... Why did you want to return here?

My little brother's waiting for me.

Your...brother!?

Did you say your brother? Do you mean, Hideyori is

I've been hearing Hiroi's voice this whole time.

He's saying if we don't go on ahead, both you and Father will be so worried you won't be able to sleep.

I'm Hiroi's big brother.

If I don't go on ahead, he'll have to stay here crying all by himself.

So if I don't die properly, he won't be able to pass on peacefully.

You mean...you're doing this for your father and I...?

That's why I'm going. I'm not gonna cry. I'm a big brother.

And I'm your and Father's son, too!

Sute... All right. But at least let your mother have one last embrace...

But...I've been dead for a long time, so no one would ever want to touch my body anymore...

Don't be ridiculous. What parent wouldn't want to hold their child?

Mother... Mother!

Waaaaaah!

You've been such a good boy, Sute. I am so, so proud of you.

Mother... Father... Thank you for not forgetting about me.

Of course we didn't. We could never.

Come on, Sute.

That voice... Is that Hiroi? Hideyori?

Yes, Mother. And I'm going with him. So please...please watch over us.

With you here...

...I know we can go where we need to.

...Sute. Hiroi. I'm...I'm so sorry for everything I put you through.

I hope you can forgive me.

Mother, neither Brother nor I hold that against you.

You were always so kind to us, and you fought so hard for us.

So please, forgive yourself.

I'm so happy I had you and Father for parents.

Anyway...we'd better get going now.

Goodbye, Mother. Take care.

Sute... Hiroi...

Lord Hideyori... Lord Tsurumatsu...

Just what I'd expect from Hideyoshi's kids. Though I'd give more credit to the Oda side of the family. Impressive.

You have some really great kids, Chacha.

I do... Far too good for the likes of me.

Lady Chacha... I think I'm finally ready to face His Imperial Majesty with my head held high.

I'll tell him all about Lord Hideyori and Lord Tsurumatsu and how they set off on their own journey together.

Don't be ridiculous, Sakichi. You're forgetting someone.

Wh-what do you mean?

Oblivious as ever, I see.

I have three precious sons I want you to proudly tell His Imperial Majesty about, not two.

Hideyori... Tsurumatsu... And you, Sakichi.

Lady Chacha...!

...I understand.

When I next see His Imperial Majesty...

...I'll proudly tell him about all of your sons...myself included!

Thank you, my sons. I'm so proud of all of you.

Come on, Futuro! We've gotta get going, too!

Lady Himiko and I will show you the way!

Man, it always ends like this, doesn't it!?

Hey, Wielder! Can you hear me!?

Your wound should be all better by now, so wake up already!

Okita, Saito. It's time the Shinsengumi was on its way, too.

You got it, Boss.

I'll agree with Nobbu on this: I can't wait to drink something besides tea again.

？！

All right, everyone...let's go!

So you defeated the Ancestral Beast with a small lake's worth of tea? Wow!

Ahahahaha! How the heck does that even work? You can't defeat an enemy with tea!

Look, I still don't know how it worked, and I was there!

Some Great Tea Ceremony Battle this turned out to be! The whole thing was ridiculous!

I mean, defeating the final boss with tea? It's like something out of Rikyu's fever dream.

Well, Rikyu DID turn out to be the big bad this time, so of course everything had to come down to tea.

Ahahaha! I could watch your one-woman comedy show all day, Sister!

Never mind that now. Let's not forget who the real hero turned out to be.

Me, for being the first one to pick up on Yamanami's signal AND rescuing the hostage.

It's true, you were a huge help there, Okita. Thank you.

So you got all spooked just 'cause the enemy took a hostage? Some Shinsengumi commander you are.

Hey, we always knew Sannan was a big softie. That's one reason we made him our commander.

Right, Vice Commander?

Hmph, he can barely even hold his own in a sword fight.

That's why we made him a commander. He was useless at everything else.

Really? Then I guess I'll just have to prove I have what it takes, Vice Commander.

Hey, Lady Chacha! How's your wound doing?

Nagayoshi! Did you have to stab Chacha with ALL your might!? It was really hard, fighting while still healing, you know!

Sorry 'bout that! But hey, at least you got to see Lord Hideyori and Lord Tsurumatsu again thanks to me, right?

So it all worked out.

I swear, you Chaldean Servants are all such a pain! Huh? Where's Little Okita?

Sorry. I put Wielder's body through so much strain that she still hasn't been able to return.

I'm sure she'll wake up sooner or later though, so I'm hoping to let her rest until then.

Ugh, your voice is almost disgustingly cool now.

Wait, hang on. If Little Okita goes this whole break without doing any homework, she's going to have to rush to get it all done on the last day of summer vacation!

Oh well, if it comes to that, Chacha will just have to help her study!

Hm, we don't want her getting out of shape after too long of a break, so I'll have to arrange to spar with her when she wakes.

Okay. Just don't kill her.

Himiko, Himiko! What's this thing!?

(Yaaawn...) That...is a machine that makes tea when you press a button...

Oh wow, it does! This is amazing! It really feels like the home of Future!

Ooh, Himiko, Himiko! What's this?

(Sigh) You put money in that machine...

...and it gives you a capsule with a rubber figure inside...

I can't believe it. The queen of pep actually looks exhausted.

Apparently, Iyo spent a lot of time in a mysterious place doing customer support all by herself.

So now, she's having Himiko show her around and introduce her to the things she's never seen before.

Hey, Iyo? Think we can take a break and eat soon? I'm about to drop here.

Oh, I almost forgot. How far did you end up getting with Future?

Huh!? Wh-what are you talking about?

Don't you remember? You said you were going to Chaldea so you could date him.

Whaaaaaa...!?!?!?

I...I did not! I never said anything like that!

Really? Are you suuure?

Hehe, I see...

Then I guess I don't have to hold back on your account then.

Huh? What do you mean by tha

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Hehehe, oh, nothing you need to worry about!

Anyway, once again, from the top: I'm Iyo, the shrine maiden of ruin, and the second queen of Yamataikoku!

It's great to be here, Future!