The Answer [Open to Ueitawa]

She looked at Tomoe and gave her a thumbs up, “Nice going. Good to see that you beat the end of the world.” What else could she say? She barely knew Tomoe, but she did see her in action. She seemed alright. Naomi rolled her eyes at the blonde, “And I thought I overanalyzed situations.” His overanalysis reminded her too much of her own to let it be. Normally, she would be doing the same thing as him, but this time the answer was simple, “They’ll all still met one another. They’re bonded for life. That means, even if the reason they met isn’t because of the end of the world, will will still have met.” She would give him a dorky smile, “So stop that snowball effect before it starts rolling too quickly down the hill.”

When Yata spoke up for the first time since they arrived in the room, she would look toward the door with sadness in her eyes, “I figured you’d say that, after seeing you with everyone. I mean, I have to say the same thing. There’s nothing waiting for me in that new world.” She’d look toward him and give a small, sad smile, “It’s too bad. I finally found you after all this time, and it sounds like we’re going to be split up again.” Wasn’t that a tragic way to end this entire thing, “At least I finally got to see you again and tell you what I’ve been waiting to…”

When he bowed to her, she would scoff, “Please don’t do that. You make it seem like we’ll never talk to each other again.” Before he could step through the door, she would take his hands and give him a surprise kiss. She slipped the gift she had tried to give him earlier to him and backed away with a smile, “Let’s do this right before we part ways. Happy Valentine’s day. This is something I made for you, hoping it would bring you back home.” She laughed under her breath. It wasn’t a happy laugh. She couldn’t muster one, “I guess if it brings you to your new home, that’s just as good.”

She let go of his hands and stretched her arms behind her head, “As nice as your new paradise world sounds, I think I’m going to have to head back to my own. I have a family and friends waiting for me back in my world.” She hadn't even said goodbye to her mother or her other friends before she left. How could she follow? The answer was that she couldn’t. She would look at Ree and cast her eyes downward, “Take care of him like you have been. Just please make sure he’s happy.” She would then look at the girl named Four, “And don’t you ever forget that he loves you dearly.” She would once again turn to Yata, “And stay in touch. That thing isn’t just some badly put together keychain. It may work if you just want to e-mail me to say hi.” Emphasis on the may. She had no idea if that power would work in the new world.

So, this was goodbye, “I don’t care what mistake you made. You learned from them and you grew. Trust me, no one is perfect.” She hated it, “And don’t you dare think I’ll forget all of this. If I did, it would be the same as never have found you again.” She really hated it, and her eyes began to well up. Before she could stop herself, her tears started overflowing, “Even if it ends like this, I want to remember that I found you and got to tell you how I felt. I want to remember that you went off with people that care about you. So I can’t forget. I won’t forget.” Her tears became noticeable sobs that she had to choke through in order to speak. There was nothing elegant about her crying, but there was nothing elegant about how she felt right now.

A year or so ago, she wouldn't have been content with his decision and probably would have dragged him back, even if it killed him. Now, she knew better. Now she knew that this decision was his and she couldn’t make it for him. If this was what he decided, she would learn to be happy with it. But, she wasn’t right now, “I love you, Yata.” They were the only words she could get out right now.

--Attempting to stop Yata, if only temporarily--

Jin thoughtfully let the smoke trail from the end of the burning cigarette. He knew what Ree said was right. He was the biggest coward of them all. She was right, it was much easier to disappear and die. That was why he even asked Tomoe to not let him come back. He never thought of himself as a great teacher either. That ship has already sailed long ago when Aburai attacked.


"I was a broken man to begin with. I'm a hypocrite. A charlatan and a coward. I originally came to the Tower to die. To pay off for my own mistakes," he slowly and deliberately replied back to her and Caestus, "My meaning in life was lost when I killed the one I cherished long ago and I killed even more so in the battlefield when I was younger and more foolish. I ran away from the pain for so long. I had guilt that ate away in me in each day, emptying what left I had inside of me. The life's mediocrity made me felt like I was going mad in each day... I couldn't even protect my own students to keep my promise to the one I lost."

Jin was visibly bitter about it at first. Then he slowly became more somber. He closed his eyes for a moment. The teacher looked back at his younger days again. Could he actually still be a teacher? He wasn't even sure anymore. The man felt something moist in his eyes, but he looked up to avoid looking at anyone as the cigarette continued to burn and tried to blink them away.

But someone like Ree thought he could continue being a teacher. And by all means, she was right on many important accounts no matter what Jin would say against it. Most importantly, what would Wendy think? He knew what she would think, and that knowledge hurt. A lot. As much as he wanted to resist, he just--

Jin sniffed and said to Ree, "...I will regret this. Very well. I'll give life another chance."

He deeply sighed at this, annoyed more than ever. But, some part of him was glad. He would have to see what this next life would give him. There was still conflict inside of him. Did he truly deserve this next life? Jin will likely find out soon enough. But somehow, he knew he was just going to bumble about like earlier. "By the by, I haven't caught your actual name, Third."

It was strange to keep calling her by her title. Even though he was likely to forget it, it would be nice to hear what she called herself at least once. The former teacher watched Ree try to make the Fifth King change his mind. He crossed his arms and then chimed in after her.

"She's right, boy. Don't waste this chance. It's time for you to finally go home and be a family man," he agreed with Ree and cracked a sardonic smile at Yatagarasu's direction and at his expense, "It's about time you learn to be more responsible and grow further. Otherwise, it would be an utter shame for your personal babysitter."

Jin even visibly glanced at Mikoto with the same shit-eating grin. No doubt it would unnerve this boy as well, but at this point, he didn't really care since he was a little bit angry at himself; as inane as his own decision was. But it fell upon seeing Yusugi and hearing what he had to say about Tomoe. He can sympathize with the boy's sentiments. But, he flicked him on his forehead just as he flicked Tomoe’s earlier.


"Don't bother. Or else you are bound to make the same mistakes as your father, doing so would not only bring your own demise, but also waste Kyokudou's sacrifices. The best you can do for her is to live a life worth living. It's what she fought for in the first place, especially for your sake. That much you can do for her if you're feeling as guilty as you are," Jin sternly chastised the green-headed "former-god" as he roughly ruffled his hair in a pat. He could honestly see a little bit of himself in him. And he really wasn’t in the mood to see more people like Yachiru and him pop up.

Then he glared back at Soki. The mad scientist that had helped create the chaos of the tower. Naito seemed as if he could keep her in line. He seemed reliable on that end, for now.

"Touch her, and I will personally reconstruct your face with my fist," he warned her calmly while showing his callused hand clenched into a rock-like fist. Jin had been holding back for quite  a while in the events in the Tower. There was a little part of him that was itching to smash his fist into someone's face.

Now, there was the last of the Kings, Gureen and Second King. While Jin hasn't seen what happened to Yachiru, he already can tell what had happened to him. Someone that was as empty as him, there was either continuing to rot away through life or die. There was no middle ground. And since he wasn’t here with Tomoe, it basically gave him the obvious answer. But it did bring concern on what would happen next. He stood near Tomoe, ready to have one last fight if Second King would finally lose herself.

”Let me ask you this, Second. Even after giving up his very humanity to strive to become a god, are you sure he’s still worthy of your affection and loyalty?”

Back when they were trying to get the Answer, Jin had said something about throwing away Humanity meant throwing away the meaningful relationships that validated their lives. As Yachiru did this, by default, he threw away Second King for his own selfish goals. With this logic in mind, would she still stick with him even if he was now rightfully deceased for all the pain and sins he caused and created? But he can sympathize with the Second King if she continued to pine after the deceased god-to-be.

For Philemon:

He snorted at Tomoe and refused to say anything more on it. There really was only one person he wanted to see again. Or really, just two. There was still Lorielle. She was someone who died too early and wasn't the one that deserved to die. It's funny, Tomoe seemed to remind him of her in several ways...

He pat her head for the first and last time while saying, "You've done well, Kyokudou."

Jin only returned a curt nod towards the Tsurinai. So as long as he could keep Soki from performing any more of her world-destroying shenanigans, there was no cause for conflict. There was nothing else to be said, and he let the boy and his sister leave.

"Perhaps. But I just find it unfair that you know mine and I don't know yours until the very end," he shrugged his shoulders at the former swordswoman, "Good luck in the next life, Ree."

With that said and done, he watched her make the last farewells before leaving for good. But he still had to watch out for the Second King. She was the only actual threat in the Velvet Room. Jin would only listen to what Laura had to say. And there was a lot he disagreed with from the words she chose. But he knew at this point that she wouldn't listen. Someone this tied to a 'corpse' like him was way too sure of herself for her own good. It was sad...

Jin's fists were ready to fly as her blade materialized once more. A final fight for this story to end. Yet, Gureen stopped her, allowing him to let his hands fall to his sides. The thought that these two would still find Yachiru saddened him even more. There were better people who deserved this kind of loyalty and Gureen wasn't the first person he saw on a battlefield who was this loyal to a master.

He nodded at Gureen and looked back at Laura, "Then I hope for your sake that you can actually guide Yachiru than be a follower next time around. If you truly love him, get him to follow a path that isn't destructive. Even if it means earning his displeasure."

Those were the only words he gave to her before watching them leave. There were a couple left, but none of them that he cared too much. Except for the alternate Lorielle. He really didn't have any words for her. She was the same, but not the same. Jin only bowed down his head in her direction. Whether she knew who he was or not, that was on her.

He gave one last wave to whoever was left that cared about him leaving.


With his final farewell, he also finally left the room to wherever his heart truly desired.

Naomi squealed internally when the little girl that was Yata’s sister took her hand. She was so cute that Naomi could barely stand it. She was going to be the most spoiled child in the world if Naomi had anything to say about it. Though, it was with that one action of hers that this sad goodbye seemed to change into a different kind of parting. Yata was going with her and Four was joining them? That made her smile, but it also made her worry. She didn’t want to split up his family. Though, he was not one that ever seemed unsure of himself.


She would wait for him to finish up his last minute business with Ree. A sword, huh? In the short time Naomi had known her, that seemed strangely appropriate. Though, she would chuckle at her final statement under her breath. If anyone even tried to hurt Claire or Yata, she would take care of them long before either of them even realized what was going on.


She would looked down at Claire and smile as Ree left, “You ready to see Yata’s homeworld?” The three of them were going back together. She wasn’t sure how they’d fill in the blanks of the confession, Claire’s arrival, or where the heck Yata had been over the last year, but she was sure they’d be able to deal with it. Claire and Yata would be a family, and that made her smile for the both of them. She would then look to Yata, “I guess we’d better get going.” She never once let go of Claire’s hand in this time. In fact, she’d motion for Yata to take the girl’s other hand. She didn’t know how long it would take until the memories faded, but she would be sure they were all together and they knew they were supposed to stay that way when they came out the other side.


She would give one last smile to both of them, “You ready?” When they both were, she’d gladly lead them towards the door. Azores, their home, was on the other side. She couldn’t wait until they were back. Before she stepped through, she would steady her grip on Claire’s hand. She had to make sure they all came out together.

--Heading back to Azores--

They had done it...they had won! Tomoe did it! It had been a long fight with lots of up and downs, but they had managed to find the answer. Kahn should not have been shocked by the news, but it was kinda hard not to be. A human overcoming a god, well it wasn't the first time today that it had occurred. The young man smiled as everyone celebrated, yet a few were clearly worried about the news that they would be without their memories and how the world could change to the point that they might not be friends.

"With friendship like ours...we'll find our way back to each other. Unless we simply don't want to be friends, but after everything that has happened thus far...I'd say that is pretty unlikely to occur." He said, to be honest he wasn't too worried about never finding his friends. Humans could overcome a god, and do so much more. Kahn had a tendency to follow his heart over his head, and he had a feeling that everything would work out just fine. The young man waved as people departed, giving them a nod of his respect, and laughed at a few of the final antics.

As Destiny hugged him, he patted her on the back, "Thanks, and the same goes for you. So don't worry, I'm sure we'll meet again, I have faith in all of us that we will somehow find our way back to one another." The young man said, he was very optimistic about their future to say the very least. The young man then went over to Hibiki.

"Sorry you had to go through that, I'll make it up to you...somehow in the next life. We all owe you a lot to say the very least." He said offering a firm handshake, and once it was either declined or rejected, he would move on. He was going to pay his debts to everyone who had fought, and everyone who was willing to give them all a chance, and even if he didn't see eye to eye with some of them. He looked to the others from the other worlds,

"Safe travels, I do hope you all are happy in your worlds." He said, making sure that those who had helped them from all these other worlds would be safe as well. Everyone had given something to ensure that they would be walking toward a new future, and Kahn wanted to make sure that they knew that their help was appreciated. However, he had a special message for his son, who he would give a gentle punch to his shoulder.

"I wish I had been able to spend more time with you now, so I could learn more about you, but I know that there is an entire future, where I'm going to be spending a lot of time with you. Anyways, I'll save you the speech about doing what's right and eating your vegetables." The young man said holding on to his son's necklace, which Destiny gave to him before leaving, "I'm not going to say goodbye because this isn't a goodbye. I'm going to see you later, your mother too. What I will say is this, no matter what you do or how you act. There is no way you will be able to seperate yourself from my love. I don't want you to ever forget that, alright?" he said before bringing his son into a big ol' bear hug and squeezing really tight. After the moment had passed, he smiled before going towards Tomoe.

"I just want to thank you for staying with us and fighting with us. I'll never forget you despite how hard the reality tries...you have done so much for us and the future...I hope that I'll be able to find you again so I can thank you again for everything you have done for us." He said before starting to turn away and approaching the new reality, he paused and looked back at Tomoe, "You know a lot of stories involve a hero who sacrifices themselves to ensure that the rest of us get a happy ending, but usually the hero doesn't get to know how it ends. They just have faith in all those that they're fighting for, you've been granted a very special chance of seeing how it is ending. Yet...I believe...that you'll get to see more than the ending. I think you'll be seeing the new beginning too." He said as he turned back and left the room. Kahn did not say goodbye, because he did not believe in those goodbyes...he actually prefered to say nothing. A friend once told him.