Section 12: Red and White Sinfonia

So, this is the power of the Holy Grail. I really am inhabiting my father's Spirit Origin.

That's right, Lord Ujizane. We have all faded into history, just like the Imagawa. Please, use this power to avenge us.

The Goryou Eji are at your disposal. Please use our lives as you see fit.

Why did you answer my summons? You two are far more intelligent and skilled in combat than a fool like me.

You want to know why? Hmm...

I suppose it all comes down to revenge. Yes, that's right. We want to take revenge on the Shinsengumi.

Revenge, huh.

Then this is my promise to you. Once I have cleared my father's name, I will give you a chance for revenge.

Do whatever you must to achieve it. I care not what happens to me.

Thank you, Lord Ujizane. Rest assured that I, Itou Kashitarou, will do everything in my power to make your wish come true.

We Goryou Eji were forsaken, doomed never to have a lord of our own. I swear we will repay you for accepting us as retainers.

...

Come then. Let us consign this history to oblivion, as it did to us.

Die!

...Just kidding. I can't do that.

It's over, Lord Ujizane.

Huh?

If myno our only path to victory lies in sacrificing our lord, that is no victory at all.

Your lord...

Isn't that right, Hattori?

You took the words right out of my mouth, Mr. Itou.

How foolish.

But I suppose a lord as foolish as me deserves fools for retainers.

...

Kashitarou. Takeo. You have both served me well.

Farewell, Master of Chaldea.

Farewell, my former rivals.

Victory is yours. Go, and walk the hallowed halls of history.

For it is the victorsthe strong who have the right to step into the future.

...

Wait for me, Father. I'll be there soon.

I only hope you still find this weakling worthy of scolding...

I see... So he considered his weakness a sin.

It's not only him. We've killed lots of people just like Ujizane ourselves.

Well, Hijikata, we've lost. Go ahead and do with us what you will. Is there another street corner you'd like to dump my corpse on this time?

Don't worry, Mr. Itou. I won't let that happen.

Itou. Hattori. I'm the one who had you killed.

If revenge is what you wanted, you could have just killed me and skipped all this nonsense.

Oh come now. Where's the fun in just killing you and being done with it?

Fun?

Revenge is supposed to help you feel better.

Oh, and please spare me the boring lecture about how revenge is ultimately empty and meaningless, Master of Chaldea.

That's right. All I care about is lifting my own spirits.

Huh. That was easier than I thought...which is actually kind of irritating in its own way.

？！

My revenge was going to be definitively refuting the Shinsengumi's methods.

Our methods?

That's right! I was going to achieve what you tried and failed to do!

We Goryou Eji only ever wanted to gather together to help our lord achieve his ideals. We would gladly fight and die for him.

And that's something not one of you Shinsengumi ever managed!

You gave your own commander over to the enemy! You scattered and ran away instead of rising to meet the challenge!

...We ran away, huh.

...

See? I feel so much better now.

Oh, don't worry, Okita. You're an exception, since you were already on death's door.

Never mind that.

Can't you see that kind of stuff's why nobody likes you?

Haha, what a surprisingly normal thing to say now, of all times. You really are terrifying, Okita.

Anyway, I don't need to see your faces anymore. It's time I was on my way.

Oh, yes. Hotaru...or is it Saika Magoichi now? Anyway, if you want to kill me, this is your last chance.

No thanks. I'm good.

Revenge is...ultimately empty and meaningless.

Ugh, so you're going there.

You really are cut from the same cloth as that other Saika. I'm amazed you were able to lead a group of hired killers like that.

Don't lump me in with him. I'm my own Magoichi.

Too bad. This could've all been over long ago if you'd just killed him like I told you to.

Anyway, I'm sorry for everything I asked of you too, Hattori. It couldn't have been easy, having your Spirit Origin tampered with so much.

Don't worry about me, Mr. Itou. I'm just glad I was able to stay with you till the end this time.

On behalf of all the Goryou Eji, I, Hattori Takeo, would be honored to stand by you till the end.

Thanks, Hattori. For everything.

Well, there you go. I may have lost, but I don't feel too bad about it. I guess you could say I lost the battle but won the war.

Go on. Get out of here. I don't want to see your face ever again.

What a coincidence. I feel the same about you.

Goodbye, Shinsengumi.

Please go on disgracing yourselves for the rest of history.

That's right...

The rest of history.

Nagakura. Okita. Saito. I'm glad we finally got to cross swords.

Me too. And hey, now you know once and for all who the strongest member of the Shinsengumi was.

Hahahaha, we'll have to settle that next tino, never mind. This is the last time we'll meet.

Yeah... Later, Hattori.

Mr. Itou didn't even let us get a word in before he left.

I'd say he earned that much, at least.

He just couldn't leave without one last irritating lecture, could he...

Well, that's all right. The Shinsengumi will keep going as far as it takes, just like we always have.

So, it's all over, huh.

I'm done, too. Go ahead. Do with me what you will.

What're you talking about?

Even if I was tricked into doing it, I still shot you. That's an unforgivable offense.

I need to face the consequences for that.

Oh, that? Please. As if some random chick's bullet could hurt me.

If you think that was enough to kill someone, you're not cut out to be a hired gun.

What are YOU talking about? You were badly wounded. I'd never seen you so close to death before.

Will you shut up!? This is exactly what I hate about you.

...

But that bullet you shot Ujizane with was different. It had the same spirit as the guy who almost killed me.

That...

...was a Saika Magoichi bullet.

I see... This may sound weird, but, thank you for fighting him.

It's nothing you need to thank me for. I just fought him man-to-man, that's all.

Okay. Guess I'll be on my way then.

Fujimaru, do you still have those tickets I gave you?

Good. Hang on to them.

That's right. It's not the Killer Sign anymore. It's the Saika Sign.

？！

If you ever need help, call on me. My Saika will always keep you safe.

Well, goodbye.

We ought to get going, too.

Yes, sir. First Unit, pulling out.

Third unit, likewise. What're you gonna do, Shinpachi?

Well, I'm pretty tired of watching movies in Otaru, so I guess I'll join you.

Yeah? Go for it.

Yeah. I'll join you...

...right to the very end.

Shinsengumi, pull out!

Hang on. What do we do about Nobbu? She never actually got out after she was absorbed at Okehazama, right?

I made it out, so I'm sure she'll be fine. Though, it is odd she isn't here.

Huh? Does this mean...she died at Okehazama?

This Singularity originated in Okehazama. Now that Ujizane's gone, Nobunaga ought to come back once it's back to normal.

Great. I can already see her shouting something like, "I'm back from Okehazama, baby!!!"

Come on, Senpai. We should be on our way, too.

Tch. I didn't get much action this time, but at least going up against the Imagawa was fun.

They were already gone back when I was still alive.

Master! I worked hard on this mission too, from messages to fighting and everything in between! I expect to be rewarded appropriately!

Later, Master of Chaldea.

I was summoned here to protect Kai, so I ought to be the one thanking you for helping me do that. So, thanks.

I should have known you'd see right through me, Master.

？！

...

...Phew.

...

All right, Kenshin. Thanks for waiting.

Are you sure that's the appearance you want to stick with?

That other version of me is supposed to be a symbol of the whole Takeda clan.

And that's not who I am right now. I only got there temporarily, and then only thanks to your Master's Command Spell.

Besides, this is something I've got to do as Harunobu, not Shingen.

I see. Then I'll go back to my old self, too.

You didn't have to match me.

If you lost, that'd be your excuse forever.

Or did you forget how you claimed you won Kawanakajima even though you obviously lost?

You said the same thing too, you know.

Did I? Well, all the more reason to settle this cleanly.

Yeah. At this point, I won't be satisfied until we find out once and for all which of us is stronger.

So it's been bothering you that much, has it?

No real man would let a loss to a woman stand.

That's a you thing. People don't think like that in Master's time anymore.

Who cares? My point is, I said I'm going to do this, so I will. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Right. You always were like that, weren't you?

But then, maybe that's why I always found you so distinctly human.

...Shall we?

Let's do it.

Swift as the wind... Silent as the forest...

Heavens... Earth... People...

Inescapable as flame... Immovable as the mountains!

Witness the justice within my blade! Biten's Eight Aspects...

Furinkazan!!!

Shiranui!!!