Boushin cradled his head in his arms, slouching over the bed. He hadn't bothered to move much in the past several hours, but Chiriko was still beating him in stillness.

Is it these kinds of battles that make you a Suzaku warrior, Chiriko? he asked him inside his head. You never wanted to talk about this with me.

He was admittedly hopeful for a response, but unsurprised when one didn't come. With a sigh, he sat back up in the chair to watch attentively.

"I'm sure he'd be pleased to know you stayed with him."

Boushin heard a voice next to his ear, and turned to see Hotohori's figure there in ghostly form. "Father," he addressed him, as if this were a completely normal occurrence.

"I've come to claim my sword back," he replied. "I lent it to Chiriko to rescue little Juan, but I didn't expect him to hold onto it for so long."

"He used your sword?"

"His paper wasn't sharp enough alone," he smiled, and Boushin couldn't be certain if he was joking. "The monster is no more now. He doesn't need it any longer." Hotohori floated above the bed, and laying a hand over Chiriko's heart, he motioned for Boushin to do the same. As they slowly drew their hands upward, a sword began to appear underneath, emanating a dazzling red light which illuminated the entire house.

"What is that?" Kaika sounded clearly astonished.

Yui gave him an odd look. "Are you that unfamiliar with Kutou styles of clothing?"

"No, look!" he showed her his arm. "There's writing!"

"Suboshi!" she grabbed it to get a better look. Her eyes scanned the markings, trying to make sense of it. "Is he crazy?" she asked aloud, and then pulled Kaika's sleeve down on his other arm.

"What are you doing?"

"Hold still!" she shushed him, and traced with her finger: What will end?

They waited a moment, and Kaika felt an itch on the back of his left hand. He turned it over and they read.

This world.

"He really has gone mad!"

"This is what's mad!" Kaika shouted and held up his arms. "What is going on here?"

"Tetsuya!" she stood and shouted to the air.

Yes, my sweet?

She broke into an embarrassed smile. "Not right now, would you?"

What's going on?

"Can you tell me what's going on with Suboshi?"

No, the book has only been following Miaka and the Suzaku warriors. It looks like this was still her story to begin with.

"Then I'm just an extra. So be it," she rolled her eyes. "Can you tell me anything about the end of this world?"

Well, flipping to the end of the book doesn't really help much. Why? What's going on?

"Suboshi is raving about it."

Then you're with Suboshi?

"No! But I'm with Amiboshi."

Oh, close enough then. Let me see what I can find. I still have all my ancient mythology research books here from the club at the university.

"Yes, do that."

See? I told you they'd be useful someday.

Kaika stared with uncertainly, thinking that she was quite possibly the one going mad if anyone was.

The light caught everyone else's attention. Miaka was the first to peer in from the window, and gasped when she recognized the form above the bed. She breathed his name, then dashed in as fast as her feet would take her. "Hotohori!"

Juan, Tasuki and Chichiri weren't far behind her. The light was hard to look at even as it was receding, but the sword in Boushin's hands and the ghost nearby were unmistakable. "Hotohori, it really is you!" Miaka broke into a wide smile.

"It is," he flashed her a grin.

"Where have you been all this time?" she begged him. "I've missed you so much…"

Houki also peered in from the bedroom, and was able to see the ghost right away. She tried to call out, but found herself fainting, with flustered Juan barely able to catch her before she hit the floor. Boushin was quick to ignore his father and rush to her side and Juan's relief.

"Yeah, you just left us!" chimed in Tasuki. "You've left such a hole behind in everyone!"

"I never left," he looked annoyed. "You're the ones who gave up hope and were unable to see me."

"Then, you were here?" Chichiri asked, trying to wrap his brain around it. "This entire time, in this kind of manifestation?"

"It's strange to hear you so surprised by it, Chichiri. You were usually the one causing surprises," he laughed. "It's a relief that you're finally aware of my presence. Merely watching for all these years had been terribly irritating. There were so many times when I wanted to tell you all that you were taking things the wrong way."

"I don't understand, Hotohori."

"There was never any need to seal Suzaku away within your own hearts," he approached eye level with Miaka, then looked to his fellow warriors. "Now that he's gained more of his strength I can appear to you of my own will. I hope you won't find my rejoining you now too strange."

"No! No, you're welcome," Miaka wiped away a happy tear. "But why did you stay? You could have started a new life."

"The things that were most important to me were still here in this life. I wanted to meet my son," he said with a glance over to Boushin, "and I couldn't bear to leave without knowing my loved ones were cared for. Even had I moved on, some things would not disappear. Isn't that right, Juan?"

All glances turned to the boy, who blushed at his name and said nothing. Hotohori extended a hand to invite him over, which he reluctantly obeyed. Juan stood before him, completely unsure of himself. The ghost squatted to look up into his face, with a glance that was both sympathetic and expectant. "Would you like to help Chiriko?"

He nodded. "I do, but I can't…"

"You're the only one who can. Chiriko outlasted the monster, but he was only a little stronger. He's weak, but you can revive him."

"I don't know how."

Chichiri entered the bedroom then returned with a small, carefully wrapped parcel, which he handed to Juan. "This belongs to you. I was taking care of it."

Curiously, he unwrapped it, finding a jar of water. He looked back at Chichiri, then back at Hotohori with confused glances.

"It's very special water. Maybe you should give Chiriko a drink of it," he suggested.

Juan, unsure of what else to do, carefully cradled Chiriko's head to pour some of the water in his mouth and hoped beyond anything that he ever knew that somehow, this would help him. As if responding to that wish, the hand he held the water in began to glow. Before he could even let out a gasp, Chiriko winced. Opening his eyes slightly, he peered groggily at Juan, whispering, "Mitsu… kake?"

Everyone who had crowded around cheered with relief. Juan tensed as it felt strangely familiar; the sight and sounds melted with scenes he couldn't recall experiencing.

Boushin, still sitting in the doorway with his mother, couldn't see clearly what was going on. "He's alive?"

"Yeah!" Tasuki flashed a fanged smile back to them, then turned back to Chiriko to welcome him back to the world of the animated. "You nearly had us there, you—hey!" he shouted, seeing as Chiriko already closed his eyes again—sleeping. "Already checked out again?"

"He's probably exhausted, you know? But he'll be alright now!"

"I'm so glad…!" Miaka choked back tears of joy. Overwhelmed and taking a few steps backward from the scene, she sighed happily. It was good to hear Hotohori's voice again. It was as if her recently shaken heart was being quieted. She leaned against the wall and listened as they piped down, only to notice Mayo's voice—and another.

"There you are!"

"Where have you been?"

"Excuse me? You're the one who took off while I was busy."

"What took you so long to find me? Days? Seriously?"

"You talk like being dead gives me supernatural powers."

"You already have supernatural powers."

"You're as sharp as ever."

"Nuriko?" Miaka stepped over Boushin and Houki to push into the room, where she saw a second ghost. Their gleeful reunion was immediate, though in her excitement Miaka quickly affirmed there was no physical form to embrace.

With everyone gathered back together, Chichiri had to ask, "Why is it that we're able to see you?"

"We were endowed with spiritual forms," explained Hotohori. "But without your willingness to see us, they were no use."

"What? Who says we wouldn't'a wanted t' see you guys!"

"I did see Nuriko!" insisted Miaka. "It was when we were attaining the first Shinzaho."

"Aw, I'm glad," he grinned to her. "And why wouldn't you see me after that?"

"Ah… well, I don't…."

"You were distracted, I know," he shrugged. "And then once Suzaku was sealed, it was even harder to manifest a form that would get your attention."

"But we all know by now that the situation has changed."

"It's good to see you again."

"But," the priestess frowned. "Where's Tamahome?"

Hotohori and Nuriko fell quiet. "All I can tell you is that he's not here right now, but we have seen him."

"I thought for sure he would have… he would have been right here…"

Chichiri rubbed her shoulder sympathetically. "I'm sure he would have been here, too. Maybe he had somewhere he needed to be, you know?"