By the time the aircraft arrives at Kasai‑dojo, Hanna and Danny have recovered full use of their limbs, and Hanna has refluffed her crushed tail. On landing, the quartet is greeted by Hideyoshi Takenaka.
"I'm glad to see you both back safely," the bat greets, addressing Hanna and Danny.
"Brevon's fucked off, by the way," Hanna replies, cutting straight to the point. "And he's taken his handful of robots with him."
"That… saves the need for a debrief, at least," Hideyoshi accepts. "Did you have any trouble?"
"We were trapped in a box for four hours, unable to move," Hanna informs.
"I have the photo to prove it," Sally adds. "It was quite intimate."
"Is there no way I can get you to delete that photo?" Hanna asks.
"Not before Maria sees it," Sally answers.
Hanna sighs in defeat. "I'm never gonna be able to forget that, am I?"
"You'll see the funny side one day," Rob assures.
"Don't count on it," Hanna dismisses.
"You saw the funny side of being turned completely white," Rob reminds.
"Hmm… good point," Hanna accepts. "Are you volunteering to be locked in a crate for four hours with Sally?"
"You must be hungry," Rob guesses, changing the subject. "Let's grab lunch: you'll feel better after."
After lunch, where they are joined by Xander Lykos and Chika Ueno, the group returns to the airfield, where an aircraft is waiting to take them home.
"My friends, it has been an honour to work with you," Hideyoshi begins. "Without your help, Yamakasai would have fallen, and Tsubaki Moto and Kaede Himura would have gotten away with their conspiracy. The whole Republic would have been thrown into chaos the likes of which it hasn't seen since the Dark Times less than a century ago. While it is true that the region has been rocked hard by this war, its speedy resolution means that we will be able to unite and form a stronger Republic than before. Of course, the war hasn't been without consequence. The western half of Yamakasai has seen significant damage, but that pales in comparison with the devastation levelled on Mizutani."
Xander holds Chika close to him as she weeps silently for her home city and her lost dojo. "I think we can skip that bit for now," Xander suggests.
Hideyoshi notices Chika's distress at being reminded of what she's lost. "Of course, my apologies."
"I'll be OK," Chika assures quietly. "I may not have my home or my dojo, but I still have my health and my wolfie. And for that, I am grateful."
"Aww, so cute!" Maria smiles, causing both Xander and Chika to blush. "What?" the lynx asks, realising everyone is looking at her. "Tell me that's not really cute."
"Chika makes an excellent point," Hideyoshi continues. "She has lost more than any of us, yet she draws strength from what really matters."
"I think I'm gonna hurl," Hanna mutters, earning a stern look from Rob.
"Noted," Hideyoshi continues, unperturbed. "For political reasons, it is not possible for Yamakasai or Mizutani to bestow you with honours: it would be improper to award career criminals and mercenary assassins in that manner. However, the same limitations do not apply to the dojos of the Jade Alliance. Therefore, it is my great honour to appoint you all as honorary members of Kasai‑dojo."
"And it's my great honour to appoint you likewise to Mizu‑dojo," Chika adds. "Once it's rebuilt, of course."
Hanna, Rob, Maria, Danny, and Sally bow in deferential respect. "We are honoured by your… erm… honours," Rob thanks. "Sorry, that came out less complimentary than I expected."
"Don't worry about it," Hideyoshi assures. "Your intent was clear."
"What's happening with that notebook we stole from Kaede?" Hanna asks.
"Copies are being sent to all the senators, and Senator Kita has the original locked safely away as evidence," Hideyoshi informs. "By itself, it's not enough to secure a conviction, but it'll still prove vital in building a case."
"That sounds like all the loose ends are being tied up," Danny observes.
"Indeed," Hideyoshi confirms. "And now it is time we say goodbye to you all."
"Not all," Xander informs. "I'm staying with Chika."
Everyone looks at Xander in surprise.
"I know what you're thinking," Xander continues. "But my place is beside the woman I love."
"I understand: I can't imagine not having Hanna by my side," Rob explains, putting his arm around his wife.
"And even though we're just starting out, I feel the same about Sal," Danny adds, taking Sally's hand in his own.
"Isn't it meant to be the girls who get all mushy?" Hanna teases, earning a stifled chuckle from Sally. "In all seriousness, we wish you two all the best," she continues to Xander and Chika. "This is going to sound really weird coming from me, but there really is nothing like resting in the arms of your true love," she smiles contentedly, wrapping her tail lovingly around Rob.
"Jade Creek won't be the same without you, you big dumbo," Maria teases, trying unsuccessfully to hide her sadness.
"I'm sure I'll be visiting regularly," Xander assures. "After all, I may be living with Chika, but I'm still officially the Red Scarves' envoy to the Jade Alliance."
"There'll always be a room for you both," Danny assures.
"But… But if you stay here, then… then we won't be the Five Scarves anymore," Maria sniffs, holding back her tears.
"Like I said, I'll be a regular visitor," Xander reminds. "Besides, this isn't the end of the Five Scarves: it's just changing its line‑up."
"I don't follow," Maria replies, confused.
"Woah, hold up a minute!" Sally interrupts, realising Xander means she's in effect taking his place. "I only joined the Scarves this morning! I'm not even past training!"
"You also stole the Elemental Crystals and Inhibitor Headbands, broke me and Maria out of the Shang Tu Royal Dungeon, and convinced the Magister's royal advisor and most trusted general to lie to him," Danny reminds. "In one day, your criminal record went from spotless to one of the most impressive in the whole guild."
"That's not something to be proud of," Sally thinks aloud.
"Good," Danny compliments.
"Now I'm more confused than Maria was," Sally sighs.
"I think we all are," Hanna assures.
"What I mean is, you've proven to all of us you're every bit committed to your work as we are, and that you understand that doing the right thing sometimes means doing the wrong thing," Danny explains. "Basically, you're one of us."
"As career changes go, it's quite drastic," Sally comments. "But you know what? If I could go back and choose again, no matter how many times, I'd make the same decision every single time."
"Hmm," Maria sighs sadly.
"What's the matter?" Hanna asks.
"Nothing," Maria assures. "It's just… well, you have a husband, and Blondie and the big dumbo have girlfriends, and I don't have anyone, and I don't want to be a lonely kitty."
"You won't be lonely," Sally assures. "There'll still be three of us in Jade Creek."
"I know," Maria replies. "It's not that I'm sad about."
Hanna crouches beside Maria and wraps her tail around the lynx in comfort. "You'll find someone one day, I guarantee it," she assures. "Now stop being a silly kitty."
"OK," Maria agrees, a small smile returning. "Your new tail is really fluffy," she adds.
"Obviously," Hanna smiles, returning to Rob's side and wrapping her tail around him again.
"Part of me thinks we should really all stay and help rebuild," Rob opines.
"The sentiment is respected, but I'm afraid that cannot be allowed to happen, for the reasons I explained earlier," Hideyoshi informs.
"Plus, we can't stay too long anyway," Rob adds. "We'd only arranged leave for our honeymoon: these extra six days won't be seen kindly by the Leaders."
"Shit!" Hanna exclaims. "I completely forgot about that!"
"It'll be fine," Danny assures. "Leader Metharom is already aware of what's going on, at least in part. Once we get back, we'll all have to go through a full debrief, but after that, we should be free to resume our normal lives."
"Since when do we lead normal lives?" Maria asks cheekily, back to her usual cheery self.
"You know what I mean," Danny replies.
"That's a‑ Shit!" Hanna exclaims again. "I've not contacted my parents once since getting here! They'll be worried sick!"
"We'll visit them tomorrow," Rob assures. "I'm sure they'll want to hear the whole story."
"Mother's going to go mental when she finds out I lost my tail and was paralysed," Hanna informs.
"And she'll be glad to see you made a full recovery," Rob assures. "And on that note, we really should be heading home."
"Otsukaresama deshita," Hideyoshi and Chika bow.
"Zài liánxì," Hanna, Rob, Maria, Danny, and Sally reply, bowing in return.
Hideyoshi, Chika, and Xander watch as the new Five Scarves board the aircraft.
"You didn't have to stay," Chika informs Xander once the aircraft has taken off and set course for the Origin Kingdoms.
"I know," Xander assures.
"I'm glad you are though."
"Me too."