Chapter 19: Epilogue
Kenshin emerges from the keep as it begins shaking. With out the magic of Atarashiikami, the building can't hold itself together.
He walks over to the carriage, first noticing that Yahiko was injured, then that two of the Akuma Ryoshi were laying to the side, or what was left of them. His heart jumps with joy as he watches Kaoru moving about, fighting with Sanosuke, then sinks as he watches Tengoku gathering the remains of Shudoshi, scattered about.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yells, seeing him the moment he enters the courtyard. Running to him, she wraps her arms around his neck tight enough to cut off his air.
"Oro." Kenshin turns, returning Kaoru's hug, enjoying the feel of her against him. They stood that way for several seconds, until Tengoku cleared his throat.
"Where are Taiyoryu and Yoake?" he asks, worry running across his face.
Before Kenshin can answer, Taiyoryu walks out, carrying the shredded remains of his daughter. He pauses as he sees the remains of Tejina-shi and Shudoshi, then walks over and lays his daughter with them.
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The trip back to the cave was a long one, filled with long stints of silence, broken only briefly as Yahiko fought against Megumi's bandaging. The remains of the Akuma Ryoshi are strapped to the top of the carriage, while Kenshin rides up front with Meiyomi, so that Yahiko and Taiyoryu, who were both sorely injured, could have their injuries attended too.
The keep collapsed before they were a mile away, leaving little more than a pile of rubble and dust that may never settle. By the time they reach the cave, Yahiko's energy is returning, but the cloud of the creatures death at his hands still haunts his face.
Tengoku has barely spoken since the battle, Taiyoryu hasn't spoken at all. It's obvious that Taiyoryu holds Tengoku responsible for what happened to his daughter. Will he ever forgive his friend? Kaoru can't help but wonder. Taiyoryu remains silent, distant, even as he prepares the spells to take them home.
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Preparations finished, litters for the remains made, Taiyoryu begins the casting of the spell. After an hour of chanting, a bright blue portal opens before the gathered heroes.
As he watches Tengoku steps towards the portal that will take them home, he hears a familiar voice.
"Are you going, too?"
Taiyoryu turns to see Meiyomi standing there. "Unless I have a reason to stay." he says softly.
Slowly, gently, he reaches his right hand towards her face. Just before he touches her cheek, Meiyomi flinches away slightly, fear crossing her eyes. Sighing resignedly, Taiyoryu takes up the remaining litter, with Yoake's remains, and steps through the portal. The bright blue ovoid shape melts back into the ground quickly, barring any from following.
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"Maa, maa, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin says as the carriage works its way back to Tokyo. "He's not much different than I was. He just hasn't found what he needs to break through."
Kaoru looks at Kenshin, having a hard time believing that he was ever like Taiyoryu. "Kenshin-san." she says softly. "What was it that finally broke you out of... what ever he's going through?"
The rurouni hesitates for a moment, looking around the cabin of the wagon, at Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Megumi, before answering. "You." he says softly enough that Kaoru, right next to him, couldn't be sure he'd actually said anything.
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The trip back to Tokyo seems the longest trip that Meiyomi Agaru has taken. Everywhere she would look, she saw the ghosts of the Akuma Ryoshi and Taiyoryu. The bitter tears of regret sting her face and eyes as the cold winter wind rushes hard against her exposed face.
Kenshin emerges from the keep as it begins shaking. With out the magic of Atarashiikami, the building can't hold itself together.
He walks over to the carriage, first noticing that Yahiko was injured, then that two of the Akuma Ryoshi were laying to the side, or what was left of them. His heart jumps with joy as he watches Kaoru moving about, fighting with Sanosuke, then sinks as he watches Tengoku gathering the remains of Shudoshi, scattered about.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yells, seeing him the moment he enters the courtyard. Running to him, she wraps her arms around his neck tight enough to cut off his air.
"Oro." Kenshin turns, returning Kaoru's hug, enjoying the feel of her against him. They stood that way for several seconds, until Tengoku cleared his throat.
"Where are Taiyoryu and Yoake?" he asks, worry running across his face.
Before Kenshin can answer, Taiyoryu walks out, carrying the shredded remains of his daughter. He pauses as he sees the remains of Tejina-shi and Shudoshi, then walks over and lays his daughter with them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The trip back to the cave was a long one, filled with long stints of silence, broken only briefly as Yahiko fought against Megumi's bandaging. The remains of the Akuma Ryoshi are strapped to the top of the carriage, while Kenshin rides up front with Meiyomi, so that Yahiko and Taiyoryu, who were both sorely injured, could have their injuries attended too.
The keep collapsed before they were a mile away, leaving little more than a pile of rubble and dust that may never settle. By the time they reach the cave, Yahiko's energy is returning, but the cloud of the creatures death at his hands still haunts his face.
Tengoku has barely spoken since the battle, Taiyoryu hasn't spoken at all. It's obvious that Taiyoryu holds Tengoku responsible for what happened to his daughter. Will he ever forgive his friend? Kaoru can't help but wonder. Taiyoryu remains silent, distant, even as he prepares the spells to take them home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preparations finished, litters for the remains made, Taiyoryu begins the casting of the spell. After an hour of chanting, a bright blue portal opens before the gathered heroes.
As he watches Tengoku steps towards the portal that will take them home, he hears a familiar voice.
"Are you going, too?"
Taiyoryu turns to see Meiyomi standing there. "Unless I have a reason to stay." he says softly.
Slowly, gently, he reaches his right hand towards her face. Just before he touches her cheek, Meiyomi flinches away slightly, fear crossing her eyes. Sighing resignedly, Taiyoryu takes up the remaining litter, with Yoake's remains, and steps through the portal. The bright blue ovoid shape melts back into the ground quickly, barring any from following.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Maa, maa, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin says as the carriage works its way back to Tokyo. "He's not much different than I was. He just hasn't found what he needs to break through."
Kaoru looks at Kenshin, having a hard time believing that he was ever like Taiyoryu. "Kenshin-san." she says softly. "What was it that finally broke you out of... what ever he's going through?"
The rurouni hesitates for a moment, looking around the cabin of the wagon, at Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Megumi, before answering. "You." he says softly enough that Kaoru, right next to him, couldn't be sure he'd actually said anything.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The trip back to Tokyo seems the longest trip that Meiyomi Agaru has taken. Everywhere she would look, she saw the ghosts of the Akuma Ryoshi and Taiyoryu. The bitter tears of regret sting her face and eyes as the cold winter wind rushes hard against her exposed face.