No matter how many times you cut him down,
you can't escape
the karma you took upon yourself back then.
So long as you defy the heavens,
you're fated to keep killing that man.
Just who...
Who the hell is that?!
Someone who's both Shoyo and not at the same time.
One thing's for sure.
You're not the one who killed Shoyo.
It was him!
Watch the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc in a bright room and at a safe distance from your TV!!
There are enemies over here, too!
We have nowhere to run!
Damn it!
Damn it all!
Judging from this situation,
even if we do find the men who were left behind,
we won't be able to escape!
Then why'd you come with me when you're so hurt?
Probably the same reason as you.
Actually, I suppose everyone still fighting here is the same.
People prattle on about ideals, convictions, and whatnot when in a safe place,
but only when we're on the verge of death do we first realize
that we simply wish to live beside the ones we trust
and die by their sides.
That's all we, as humans, really care about.
All this while, you've worked hard for my sake.
Starting tomorrow, you're the vice commander of the Mimawarigumi,
Imai Nobume.
What's with that weird name?
A police officer can't go by an ominous name like "Mukuro," meaning "corpse."
What's in a name?
Or is there a point in giving me a name so easy to stumble on?
Have you decided on a name for the baby yet?
Not really.
I just came up with it right now.
This way! Hurry!
What's keeping the chief and the others?
This is bad. The Mimawarigumi are dropping like flies.
At this rate, we'll go down, too.
Shin-chan...
Everyone...
What is the meaning of this?
Relax.
I did it not to help you,
but because I wanted your help.
What are you talking about?
I didn't get away in time.
I've got a bunch of snails as companions, you see.
The white ones, especially. All they do is whine.
Don't tell me
you're lagging behind here because you picked up wounded enemy soldiers.
There are no allies or enemies when it comes to people who can't fight anymore.
Are you implying I don't have any fight left in me?
Your men risked their lives by coming here to save you.
Are you going to waste all their efforts just for the sake of
dead or enemy soldiers?
That's not it.
If I abandoned them so I could survive,
the man named Kondo Isao would die.
They risked their lives for my sake.
So I must respond in kind.
I have to risk my life to protect the "Kondo Isao" they believe in.
A leader's crown doesn't rest on his head.
It rests on the ideals of all his men!
Those eyes.
Swayed by those very eyes, I tried to act like a true samurai
and ended up being neither a samurai nor a father anymore.
Sasaki Isaburo died a long time ago.
A dead man has nothing to protect, nor any self to uphold.
Then where were you trying to go?
After losing everything you had and seeking to destroy everything else,
where were you so desperately dragging yourself to?
There was a sliver...
There was something even you had left to protect, right?
How are you still not getting it, Sasaki?
Right now, you have the eyes of a samurai...
Maybe even those of a father.
You're—
Don't say any more.
There's no way I could admit
that the girl who killed my wife and child,
the girl I kept by my side so I could exact revenge,
was the only name left in my address book.
I intended to delete all my contacts.
But right at the very end,
I will come pick both you and Nobume
I just couldn't bring myself to delete that name.
Nobume
It wasn't a name meant to be given on a whim, apparently.
And even if I tried to email her now, I don't think it would reach her.
Nah.
Your email has long since been delivered.
Just as you tried to protect them,
they must be fighting to protect you, too.
So don't give up.
If we can just make it through here...
If we can just hang on,
I'm sure we'll be able to see them again!
Shinsengumi Chief Kondo Isao.
Mimawari Commander Sasaki Isaburo.
No doubt about it.
Well done.
This is the end.
The banners you lot were holding aloft are now gone.
It's over.
It's not over yet!
Don't you dare end it yourself!
No matter whose corpse you have to walk over,
there are some things that must be protected.
Give Toshi and the others a message for me.
Tell them that Edo still needs them.
Look forward!
Grip your swords!
Fight, Shinsengumi!
There's no time!
Whether they're dressed in black or white, don't let anyone else die!
We are the police force that has protected Edo all this while!
Show them just how strong we can be!
Why are they...
Kondo-san, you were right.
It seems my email had indeed been delivered.
Help the Shinsengumi and escape this island with them.
So it was you, Sasaki.
Did your police blood start boiling in your final moments?
What could you possibly save with your filthy hands?
Isaburo!
So we won't change after all.
We can't change...
Neither you guys nor me.
I struggled with all my might,
but I ended up making the same mistake again.
Yes. Yet again, I ended up
staking it all on those eyes.
The eyes of a samurai.
I realized that I'd forgotten something,
so I did the crawl stroke back from the River Styx.
I told you, didn't I?
That I wouldn't leave you guys behind anymore, even if we're going to hell.
Good grief.
You came back to life just to drag us down with you?
Then we can't hand you over to anyone, be it Enma or Buddha.
Let's go, Shinsengumi!
Not to heaven or hell.
Let's go back to our Edo alive!
Yeah!
Kondo-san.
It'll be impossible to make it past all these assassins alive.
What choice do we have but to die, then?
My men told me
that they found something strange lying in your prison cells.
Take that pill.
It'll let you die without having to wait for your execution.
That said, it'll only be a suspended animation of sorts.
If you still have it, take it now.
Though I don't know if that wound will be enough to trick them.
Sasaki, you...
Why?
Why'd you protect Kondo-san by acting like you'd killed him?
Protecting him was never my intention.
It wasn't back then, either.
I simply didn't want to lose to you people.
But I had no idea how to beat you.
However,
I finally managed to figure it out, at the very end.
It may have only been for a moment,
but I got to play the man who defeated the Shinsengumi chief, Kondo Isao.
I couldn't be happier.
Hurry!
We won't last much longer!
Kondo-san!
Damn it!
Isaburo, wake up.
You can't die here. I won't accept it.
I promised that I'd be the one
to kill you!
So I won't die yet,
nor let you die.
I forgot about that ancient promise a long time ago.
If you let its rusted chains tie you down,
you'll die, too.
Why should you care about what happens to the person who killed your family?
But is the killer really here at all?
I found something rather odd back then.
Bloodstains leading away from the scene.
You weren't the only one who attacked my wife, were you?
The attendants were all killed,
which means that blood was shed by an attacker.
Who could've hurt the assassins so badly?
It could only have been the bastard child of death itself.
I'd always been aware of the possibility
that you didn't kill my wife and child, but actually tried to protect them.
And despite being aware of it, I called you my enemy
and used you to further my vengeance.
I'm not worth risking your life to protect.
And there's no reason for you to let yourself be used anymore.
Isaburo...
I am your enemy.
Let's just go with that.
I'm just like you.
You wanted someone to stay by your side, even if it was an enemy.
I wanted to stay by someone's side, even if they called me their enemy.
You didn't want to be alone.
I didn't want you to be alone.
Isn't just that enough for us to stay beside each other?
So please stand up.
Don't stop walking.
We've lost everything again,
but this isn't like back then.
The name you gave me will never disappear.
Imai Nobume will never leave your side!
No matter how many times we experience loss,
as long as we don't turn a blind eye ourselves...
We are not alone.
This is it!
If we don't take off, the ship will—
Not yet!
Just you try taking off!
I'll clip your wings!
Hurry!
How about the name "Tomoko," meaning "Affable Girl"? I don't have many friends, so I'd like to name her that in hopes that she is blessed with lots of them.
Then how about the name "Kyoko" (Cooperative Girl)? I'm not the cooperative sort, so I'd like to name her that in hopes that she can work together with others to achieve her goals.
How about "Yuko," meaning "Gentle Girl"? In hopes that she'd grow up to be a kind girl who cares about others.
Then let's go with "Ganko," meaning "Strong-Willed Girl." She'll grow up to be like you, someone with a strong will, who won't give in to anyone.
Why don't you come up with something, then? Whatever. Let's just go with "Vag***."
Take off!
There are so many meanings I want in a name, I can't decide.
I'm too elite for my own good.
The name doesn't matter, I suppose...
So long as she lives strong.
As for the rest, I'll just believe in her.
After all, she's an elite's child.
Nobume, "Girl of Faith"
I'd better send an email.
Isaburo!
I'm glad I believed in you.
You have lots of friends,
get along with everyone,
and are both gentle and firm...
Nobume-san.
My email was finally delivered.
Isaburo!
Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Eight
Nobume
Preview
Thank you for giving me such a wonderful name, Isaburo.
Her police came back, didn't they?
We're off.
Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Nine
Farewell Shinsengumi
When black and white mix together,
where will it lead them?
Next time, the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc
reaches its conclusion!!!