Penultimate chapter. Here it goes!

My name is Mori. I am thirty years old.

The last thing I remember before I was knocked out was trying to hit a demon with a sacred arrow, and having it thrown back at me.

Ukyoumaru was probably possessed, by now. I opened my eyes with a start, and looked around.

I was in a hospital room. I knew I wasn't dead, then.

I sat up. No one was in here. But, they had been here. I saw my kimono on the night desk, with a note on it. I picked up the note.

'Good, you're awake.' It read. 'Hurry and get dressed. Ukyoumaru has something he wants to say to you.'

Bankotsu's note, no doubt. Only he would use such old kanji, and write the letter so casually.

I quickly changed out of the hospital gown, into my kimono, and went to the door.

I was hesitant to open it, wondering what I might find.

So, when I opened the door, and saw just Ukyoumaru, standing there, I was a bit scared that something had happened to the others.

He came to me, looking very sad. "What happened? Are they alright?" I asked.

"No, they're fine." Ukyoumaru said. "Hikarimi was worn out from fighting, and everyone had minor injuries from the attack, but, no one was seriously hurt."

"Ginko?" I said.

"She's going to be just fine." Ukyoumaru said. "Jijiue and Babaue were fine, too. Mikayla-anee goes to visit John, and always comes back crying. Chichiue is watching over Hikarimi. Mitsukai-oba-san is waiting on you."

Ukyoumaru hung his head. "This is my fault..." He said. "Everyone's hurt because of me..."

I shook my head, and hugged him.

"It's my fault." I said. "I kept Mitsukai's powers, without thinking that my children might receive them. I'm so sorry that I made you feel guilty for something I did."

I noticed his hair was cut short, like any modern era boy's hair.

"Your hair." I said.

He nodded. "Mitsukai-oba-san cut most of it, to get rid of my powers for me." Ukyoumaru said. "Mikayla-anee cut the rest, saying it looked better this way."

I pulled away from him to look at his face. He looked so different without his hair.

"Well, I suppose it'll grow back out in a few years." I said. "Anyway, you had something to tell me?"

He sighed. "Yes." Ukyoumaru said. "Hahaue...I...I want to live here."

I stared at him. "W-what?" I asked.

"I want to live here, with Gin-chan." Ukyoumaru said. "Mikayla-anee has already made arrangements for if you say yes. She even wants to help me get a 'career' in music or movies, whatever it was."

"But, Ukyoumaru, we live so far away, and we can't bring our students here?" I said.

"I know." Ukyoumaru said. "That's why I'm the only one staying. I want to start a life here, Hahaue."

I was hurt. He would be so far away from me if he stayed here. That would make it hard for me to come see him. But, he was ready to start a life here, and that made me feel proud.

I wasn't sure what to do, now. "You make it sound like it was an easy decision." I said.

"It wasn't, believe me." Ukyoumaru said. "But, Gin-chan doesn't want me to leave, and I really don't want to leave her after the trauma of finding out her father hates her. I love her, Hahaue. Don't get me wrong, I love you, and Chichiue, and everyone else at the school, and in the Shichinintai. But, all of you have each other. Whereas, Gin-chan only has her mother now."

I nodded slowly. He was more than ready, now.

I knew it was time to let him go. He needed this.

Tears came to my eyes. "If...anything should...go wrong..." I said, my broken voice throwing off my speech.

"I know." Ukyoumaru said. "Arigatou, Hahaue. I'll make you proud."

"Oh, Ukyoumaru, I'm already so very proud!" I said.

I held him, crying just a little.

"I'm going to miss you, though." I said. "Heck, I already miss you."

I hugged him tightly. "I'll miss you, too, Hahaue." Ukyoumaru said. "I'll miss everyone."

I slowly, and very reluctantly let go of him. "Very well." I said. "You may stay. Just a heads up, but, Mikayla is a bit of a girly-girl, and complains when something isn't the latest fashion, or isn't absolutely, perfectly neat, and clean. Ginko will tell you the same thing!"

He smiled, and laughed lightly. I was happy to have made him smile.

"Take me to the others, okay?" I asked.

Ukyoumaru led me to the waiting room, where I was greeted with a bunch of hugs, and smiles, and happy tears. Mikayla and Ginko were watching me. I looked at them, smiling sadly, and nodded. Ginko smiled brightly, jumping onto Ukyoumaru, and kissing him.

I sighed, and picked up Hikarimi. She had enormous, dark circles around her eyes.

I smiled. "Ukyoumaru tells me you fought for him?" I said.

She smiled lazily. "I sealed the demon, Mama!" Hikarimi said. "And I'm only a little tired!"

I hugged her. "That's my girl!" I said.

We all headed out of the village. "You're sure about this?" Bankotsu asked Ukyoumaru.

"Hai, Chichiue." Ukyoumaru said. "I've never been more sure of anything."

"Alright." Bankotsu said. "I hope you know what you're getting into."

I pulled out my old whistle, and blew it. Kazeji came.

Everyone said good bye, one at a time. Finally, at the end of it all, Hikarimi went to her brother.

"Aniki..." She said. "Please...come back with us?"

She broke down into tears. Ukyoumaru knelt down infront of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Hikarimi," Ukyoumaru said. "I can't. Gin-chan needs me."

"I need you, too!" Hikarimi said. "Without you, I can't learn to fight. I can't reach the top shelf in the library, or even win a sparring match without you there to help me!"

Hikarimi hugged him tightly, sobbing over his shoulder.

"Hikarimi," Ukyoumaru said. "You don't realise how much you really don't need me. You can do all those things without me, you just don't know it yet! And, with me out of the way, you're free to chase your dream!"

She pulled away to look at him. "C-can I?...Really?" Hikarimi asked.

Ukyoumaru nodded. "I'm not taking your spot light anymore." Ukyoumaru said. "You have our parents' full attention. They'll help you."

Hikarimi looked back at us. Bankotsu in particular. I began to wonder what her 'dream' was.

She looked back at her brother. "Aniki." Hikarimi said. "Take care of Ginko-san. She's a good girl."

Ukyoumaru nodded, and Hikarimi came back to us.

Papa, Hana, Mitsukai, Bankotsu, and Hikarimi got onto Kazeji.

I hesitated, just taking one last good look at my little boy.

Slowly but surely, I got onto Kazeji, and started up. I kept watching Ukyoumaru, until we were no longer in sight. Just as soon as I lost sight of him, I sighed, and looked ahead.

Papa took my hand, and squeezed it gently. I looked at him. He smiled, slightly.

He understood completely. I knew he did. I nodded, and sighed.

"It'll be okay." I said. "It's not like I'll never see him again! And, who knows? Maybe he'll make an excellent actor?"

Back in the Sengoku period, I dropped Papa, Hana, Mitsukai, and Hikarimi off at the school, and took Bankotsu back to the Shichinintai's hide-out.

"Wanna stay a while?" Bankotsu asked.

"Is that okay?" I asked.

"Baka, of course it's okay!" Bankotsu said. "Besides, you look like you need a little more time away from your class."

I lowered my head, and leaned against him.

"I'm so proud of him," I said. "I'm happy that Ukyoumaru has pretty much become a man. But, it still hurts so bad to leave him..."

Bankotsu put his arms around me. "I know." He said. "Don't think you're the only one hurting, here. I've just lost my only heir. The Shichinintai is done, just as soon as I retire."

I thought back on what Ukyoumaru had said to Hikarimi, for whatever reason.

"Maybe not..." I said. "Unless I'm completely wrong. We need to talk to Hikarimi once you have some free time."

"What're you talking about?" Bankotsu asked.

"You'll see!" I said.

Finally. It took a whole two days to write this, and find a decent ending! Hang on! There's a five-year time skip coming!