5-8.4 One With the Flame

11: The Final Battle, Kagutsuchi (1)

Mirja: So then, Asakura Mihono. How are we meant to defeat Kagutsuchi?
Mihono: Well that's easy!
Mihono: It's easy... Uh, Kanayamahime?
Kanayamahime: For that, we would... Ah!?
Mihono: What's wrong?
Kanayamahime: Kagutsuchi is watching us here.
Hiyori: You know where Kagutsuchi is?
Kanayamahime: I do.
Mirja: So long as we have Kanayamahime navigating for us, we should be able to reach it then.
Mihono: Take us there, Kanayamahime!

Kanayamahime: Kagutsuchi lies beyond here.
Mihono: Eh? Where is it? I can't see... Huh?
Mihono: Wait, where'd everybody go!?
Hiyori: Looks like we lost them coming here...
Hiyori: (Or... it's possible that she was trying to split us up from the start...)
Kanayamahime: Should we return to the world, Mihono?
Mihono: If we go back...
Hiyori: (Guess I'm overthinking it.)
Kanami: Hiyori-chan?
Hiyori: It's nothing; forget it.
Hiyori: Mihono, there's no need for us to go back. Either way, we should be able to fight it with the 5 of us here.
Hiyori: Isn't that right?
Kanayamahime: It is.
Mihono: So we won't be fighting with everybody...
Akira: Feeling scared?
Mihono: ...I'm a little bit scared.
Mihono: I'd feel better if everybody else was here too... I'm not sure if we can win if it's just us...
Kanami: We should be fine!
Mihono: Kanami...
Kanami: We're all pretty strong. If it's us 5... We'll beat it for sure!
Mihono: ...Yeah, we'll beat Kagutsuchi together.
Mihono: Let's go! Where there's a will, there's a way!



12: The Final Battle, Kagutsuchi (2)

Mihono: Where is this...?
Mihono: Is that my home that's burning...!?
Kanami: Calm down, Mihono-chan! Kagutsuchi's just making it look that way!
Kanami: More importantly... Look at that!
Mihono: That's, Kagutsuchi...!
Akira: It's freakin' huge...
Hiyori: Losing your nerve?
Akira: Other way around! Haha! This's the best!
Akira: Just the kind of fight that comes once in a lifetime!
Akira: ORRRAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Hiyori: Hey! She's off on her own... Kanami! I'm going to back her up!
Kanami: Okay!
Kanami: Mihono-chan! Let's go in too!
Mihono: Alright! Kanayamahime!
Kanayamahime: ......
Mihono: ...Kanayamahime?
Kanayamahime: Please move away from me.
Mihono: Huh?
Kanami: Kagutsuchi's trying to get Kanayamahime!
Kanayamahime: Kagutsuchi seems to be trying to consume me and complete its strength.
Mihono: I'm not letting it!
Mihono: You're staying with me, not with Kagutsuchi!
Kanayamahime: Mihono... Thank you.
Kanami: You'll be fine if you're with Mihono-chan, Kanayamahime.
Mihono: Yeah! I'm not letting Kagutsuchi or anybody have you!

Akira: [pant... pant... pant...]
Mihono: YAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!
Kanami: We'll help, Mihono-chan! Hiyori-chan!
Hiyori: You don't even have to ask!
Kanami: ...It's attacking! Be on guard...
Akira: UAAAAAAAAAAGHHH!
Hiyori: ...Gh, everyone alright?
Kanami: Yeah! I can keep on fighting!
Mihono: I think I can manage too! But, Akira-san!?
Akira: You don't gotta worry about me!
Akira: [pant... pant... pant...]
Akira: ...You've gotten tough, Mihono. Compared to that... Ggh...
Akira: (I can't go on much more...)
Akira: (Ever since fighting the special defense team, I've been leaning nonstop on this suit...)
Akira: But hey, there'd be no point coming this far if I just up and backed off now!
Akira: MIHONO!!
Mihono: Y-Yeah!?
Akira: I'm gonna keep the pressure on that big thing! So you'd better hurry up and exorcise the hell out of it!
Akira: ORRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!
Akira: Gagh...!
Like that'll, do, ANYTHIIIIIIIIIIINNGG!!
Hiyori: Idiot! You're at your limit, aren't you!?
Akira: You don't get to tell me where my limit's at!
Akira: This's the only way... I know how to fight!
Akira: Just push up and put yourself on the line!
Hiyori: You can't just tough your way through everything!
Hiyori: What's with her... Is she trying to get herself killed!?
Mihono: (Akira-san...)
Mihono: We have to finish this right here.
Kanami: Mihono-chan?
Mihono: The five of us are just barely fighting it off.
Mihono: If we lose Akira-san, I don't think we can win this.
Mihono: So, we're going to finish this right now!
Hiyori: I'm all for it, but... how are we going to do that?
Mihono: You and Kanami will help Akira-san and make an opening.
Mihono: And then... Kanayamahime and me will beat Kagutsuchi.
Hiyori: ...Can you do it?
Mihono: Don't worry about it.
Mihono: Right, Kanayamahime?
Kanayamahime: We can.
Kanami: ...Alright.
Kanami: Let's go, Hiyori-chan.
Hiyori: Fine then, I'll be with you.
Kanami: Sure!
Kanami/Hiyori: HAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!
Mihono: Kanayamahime...
Mihono: We'll give it one last flash with everything we've got!



13: The Final Battle, Kagutsuchi (3)

Mihono: Just a little more and we'll have our chance!
Akira: Kagutsuchi's started screaming back too!
Akira: GAAAAAAAAGHHH!
Hiyori: It's putting up a last ditch effort!?
Akira: BASTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRDD!!
Akira: ...But, I see it!
Kanami: Mihono-chan! Now it's your turn!!
Mihono: Kanayamahime!
Kanayamahime: Yes, Mihono!
Mihono/Kanayamahime: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!



14: The End of a Long Night (1)

Mihono: Did we win...?
Mihono: Kanayamahime...!?
Kanami: Her body's fading...
Kanayamahime: Please leave here at once.
Kanayamahime: This space will soon be gone.
Mihono: Then... you're coming with us too!
Kanayamahime: There is no need.
Kanayamahime: It's begun to collapse.
Kanayamahime: Please go quickly now.
Hiyori: ...! Let's go!
Akira: ...
Kanayamahime: Will you not leave?
Akira: You saved me. I'm never gonna forget it.
Kanayamahime: ......
Akira: What's that look for!!
Kanayamahime: It's somewhat... unexpected.
Akira: ...Bye then.
Kanayamahime: Yes.
Kanami: I wish we could've been friends, Kanayamahime.
Kanayamahime: Friends...?
Kanami: Yeah, like with Mihono-chan.
Kanayamahime: ...Thank you.
Mihono: Kanayamahime...
Kanayamahime: Please go with them, Mihono.
Mihono: ......I don't think I can after all.
Mihono: You have to come with me, Kanayamahime!
Kanayamahime: But, I am...
Mihono: Still!
Mihono: Even still, you want to be together with me, don't you!?
Mihono: That's what you wanted, wasn't it?
Mihono: So then, let's be together!
Kanayamahime: ...Thank you very much, Mihono.
Kanayamahime: These last moments... I will be with you.
Kanami: ......
Kanami: Let's get going, Mihono-chan.
Mihono: Yeah.

Kofuki: It's morning already. How long's she gonna take!?
Kiyoka: Hono-chan...
Chie: Let's have faith in her. I'm sure that... Mihono-chan and the others will be fine.
Mirja: Asakura Mihono...
Yui: ...Huh? Just now, I heard a voice...?
Ellen: Everyone, shhhh!
Everyone: ......
Mihono: We're back, everybody!



15: The End of a Long Night (2)

Akira: ......And that's how it went. We smacked the hell out of Kagutsuchi.
Makoto: You fought well, Akira-chan.
Makoto: So then, Kanayamahime disappeared?
Akira: Nah, about that, she's not totally gone somehow.
Akira: Mihono's happy about it at least...
Makoto: ...
Makoto: The Atago... no, the long time the Asakura spent with Kanayamahime may have transformed her.
Akira: What do you mean?
Makoto: Perhaps Kagutsuchi in the netherworld and Kanayamahime in our world were on the brink of becoming separate entities.
Makoto: What about Kanayamahime now?
Akira: Well, she's sleeping inside of Mihono.
Akira: Doesn't seem like Mihono can use Kanayamahime's powers anymore either, so it's like it all went back to normal.
Makoto: ...I suppose that's the optimal outcome for us.
Akira: Yeah. So long as we have Mihono and Kanayamahime, we've got a lot better chances of finding a cure.
Makoto: Though... For the time being, things will likely be very busy with Asakura-san.
Akira: Guess she won't be coming around here for a while.
Akira: ...What about Yuuki?
Makoto: It seems she's in Origami Akane-sama's custody.
Akira: ...You cool with that? They're gonna take data on tamayori.
Makoto: I don't mind. It would be nice if there were a different approach from the one we've taken.
Akira: Yeah. Well, so long as Yuuki's safe, I don't mind either.
Akira: ...I'm beat. I'll leave the noro with you, so take care of the rest for me.
Makoto: I will.
Makoto: Goodnight... Akira-chan. I hope you sleep soundly.
Akira: I'll probably be sleeping in late tomorrow, but don't wake me up, Makocchan.
Makoto: Fufu. Okay, I won't.

Makoto: ...Now then, while Akira-chan rests, I'll do some maintenance... and I'll set aside the data from the battle with Kagutsuchi.
Makoto: ...?
Makoto: I thought I heard something just now...
Makoto: Ugh... What's that...
???: ......
Makoto: Ugh... Ah...
Makoto: The noro...!? It shouldn't be active! Why is...
???: ...............
Makoto: Ah... Aa...
Makoto: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Makoto?: ...
Makoto?: Hitakami Makoto... This should... do fine...
Makoto?: Kanayamahime... sleeping within Asakura Mihono...
Makoto?: ...I will have you back...



Other: Missing Power

Mihono: Mmmm.
Kanami: What's wrong, Mihono-chan?
Mihono: Ah-- Kanami.
Mihono: See, for some reason, I can't use Kanayamahime's power anymore.
Kanami: Huh?
Mihono: Is it cause she's sleeping again?
Mihono: NNGG-!!!!
Mihono: See?
Kanami: I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to see, but... that sounds bad.
Mihono: Hmm... It's not really that bad, I think.
Kanami: Even though you can't use her powers?
Mihono: Yeah.
Mihono: Cause it's not like Kanayamahime's totally gone, so, well, I'm just back to my old self.
Mihono: But, that means the gap between you and me just got wider again...
Kanami: ......Don't worry about that.
Kanami: I know you'll get stronger again, Mihono-chan.
Mihono: Yeah maybe.
Mihono: Where there's a will there's a way! I'll keep at it some more-!