Years passed in a flash. After the news that Rashomon had been closed spread throughout Japan, some initially didn't believe it.
After all, that information came from youkai... but...
As the Oni decreased, people were pleasantly surprised to find that each Oni slain was one less, their source seemed severed.
Finally realizing the youkai spoke the truth, the shogunate rarely made a correct decision: harmony between humans and youkai.
Another day, at the mountain stream where Rashomon stood, the girl named Chiyo arrived.
With her came Hijikata Toshizo, Sanosuke Harada, Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, and others… all members of the Shinsengumi.
Most were also children Ryuya had taken in.
"Ryu-nii."
By now, the children from back then had grown up. They established the Shinsengumi, cooperating with both youkai and the shogunate to save the land once ravaged by suffering.
On a specific day each year, they came here to check on the gate.
Would Rashomon open again? Would he return?
No one knew.
Raising their swords in unison, both Shinsengumi's members and youkai paid their utmost respect at this moment.
Staring intently at the pitch-black gate as if it were his tombstone.
After a long while, everyone stepped back, giving space to Chiyo, the girl who cherished Ryuya the most.
"Ryu-nii, you know, you promised to return in two months back then. But we didn't get you back… instead, we got a bunch of strange youkai."
Bringing wine and food, Chiyo spoke to herself.
"At first, everyone couldn't stand each other, especially Toshizo and the Tengu. They fought almost daily."
"But everyone knew we needed to do something. So we formed the Shinsengumi, aiming to prevent children in this world from suffering like we did."
"After all, you're gone. What if lonely children appear again, right?"
As if facing Ryuya himself rather than the terrifying Rashomon, just quietly looking at the great gate, Chiyo smiled happily.
She smiled until tears fell to the ground.
"Why? Why? Just why?"
"You promised to return. You promised we'd meet again. You promised to let me tell you a secret. Why couldn't you come back to hear me?"
Her finally shattered heart burst forth now. Having always waited for Ryuya, always hoped for the man's return, Chiyo's health was poor, likely due to childhood ailments tormenting her. Her constitution was weak.
Conversely, she possessed unparalleled talent, regarded as a genius swordsman within the entire Shinsengumi.
"Ryu-nii, when will you return? I still want to sing, dance, and drink with you..."
Her gradually fading voice scattered with the ethereal breeze, disappearing at the mountain stream's end. Finally collapsing powerlessly, Chiyo saw the youkai returning for her.
"Time to go back, Souji-san."
Looking at Okita Souji with complex expressions, the youkai and Shinsengumi's members all knew the young lady's feelings.
But Ryuya couldn't return. What could they do under such circumstances?
Yes, Chiyo was Souji, Souji was Chiyo. The girl named Chiyo's true identity was Okita Souji. This was the secret she wanted to tell Ryuya.
After Ryuya entered Rashomon, day after day, year after year, she trained her martial skills, slaying all remaining Oni in the human world.
Hailed as the light of the new era, Souji's desire was simple: after exterminating the Oni, could she see her brother again?
Hearing the youkai's call, Souji, as if having lost her soul, knew today was another year ending without result.
Turning silently, leaving, after a few steps, she suddenly felt it… the trembling earth, the familiar fluctuation.
Looking back, she saw Rashomon, which had been the same for over a decade, beginning to shake. The long-closed gate was finally opening again.
And behind the gate, the figure that appeared was...
…
In the scene called Hell, Ryuya saw boundless darkness.
Countless Oni roared, dark death energy constantly emanated. Although Ryuya was the Lord of Britain with The Eternal Nation activated, facing endless Oni, he could only slay them one sword stroke after another.
"Hah... so cold."
Day after day, year after year, with each sword swing, Ryuya's whole being seemed to become an unfeeling killing machine.
The cold sensation penetrated his bones, like coiling snakes.
The pain clung to his entire body, like tigers tearing everything apart.
Every breath of air contained miasma and malice. His lips were parched, his limbs stiff.
But Ryuya's hand still swung the blade. No, the blade he carried in had long since shattered. The hilt remaining was less a weapon and more his will.
Ryuya fought using his willpower!
His appearance was eroded, his body altered. By rights, over the long time, he should have been assimilated into an Oni. But Ryuya still refused to give up.
He remembered his promises. He remembered the time he owed as a lover.
He promised to see you all again, to say 'I love you'.
He promised to return, sing with you, and hear little Chiyo's secret.
Like falling into the confusion of Hell, Ryuya's memories grew hazy. He even forgot where he was, what he should do.
He could only rely on instinct to swing his sword again, cutting down Oni after Oni.
The Oni grew afraid.
Yes, these low-level Oni, devoid of intelligence, acting only on instinct, now defied the commands of higher Oni. They had fought this strange man for ten years, and the number of Oni slain by his hand was in the millions.
Blood and black fluids churned the hell inside Rashomon upside down. Looking at the man still standing firm, they was scared.
His once snow-white robes were dyed black. Dragging blood and flesh along the way, Ryuya advanced.
He didn't have strong feelings about the Bakumatsu Era, as the commoners here weren't Britain.
But he liked the youkai of the mountains and wilds. He liked that cute fox youkai. He liked the Yuki-onna who shaded him from the sun. He liked the Tengu who said, 'If you tell me to catch a dog, I definitely won't chase a chicken.'
Haha, even though the Tengu itself had canine blood.
He also liked those children, the ones calling him brother, running around him.
So he had to return. Eliminate all the Oni.
Purge all filth!