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Kiri didn’t descend to the bottom of the cliff. A living tree was buried beneath the shrine along with the sleeping members of the Wood Clan. It might be the last living tree that existed.
“Hurry up and heal. Recover from your injuries, and then come back here once more,” Kiri said. She gave Akira a strong, determined look.
Akira held the badly injured Temari in her arms. She nodded firmly in an attempt to be reassuring.
Leaving Kiri behind, Touko and the others went down the cliff. Rurimatsuri used vines to carry them all down the cliff together. They had seen the sun rising from the top of the cliff, but the world below was still dim in the pre-dawn gloom.
Kunugi stood motionless at the side of the cliff. The living tree at his feet—the one that had been cut—lay withered and dead. Kunugi didn’t move—perhaps he couldn’t—but it was hard to believe that he was dead. To Touko, Kunugi was standing by the cliff as if he owned it and was protecting it. Insects crawled along his bark and living plants grew out of him. He seemed vital and alive to her senses.
When they reached the ground, Rurimatsuri retracted the vines she’d used to carry them all back into the ground. She stayed behind at the shrine and made no move to follow Touko or the others.
Kun buried the jar containing the special insects whose venom could neutralize the spontaneous combustion pathogen next to some fallen Spiders. No one tried to stop him. The insects would suffocate and die in the jar with no air and no food.
Touko and the others walked back to the city in the light of the morning sun. Hinako slipped off of Touko’s back and walked by herself, hand-in-hand with Touko. At this point, it was hard to tell who was supporting whom. Hinako still had a fever and her breath smelled strange and sick.
Hinako skipped a little as they walked. “Touko, I think I’m dreaming.” She spoke so softly that even a flying insect would have been louder.
Yeah. I can hardly see; it’s like being in a dream. I’m so tired, Touko thought. Had her parents been frail and weak like she was? Her feet stung and ached, she was hungry, and her arms were too heavy for her to move.
Hinako gave Touko a bouncy nod and kept walking.
Touko felt as if she and Hinako were sisters as they walked together.
“I’m tired. If I die first, my big brother will be troubled,” Hinako said, still in that soft voice.
He’ll be sad, Touko thought. You’ll get better. You must. You’ve already suffered enough. You mustn’t die.
The torrential rain inside the city had washed the streets clean. The sky was clear and cloudless today. The sun shone over the transformed landscape of the industrial area. The few intact buildings cast dark shadows onto the ground like the impressions of a language Touko didn’t understand.
Her neck aching, Touko turned her face to the vivid blue sky. She felt like it would be so easy to lose herself in that sky. She closed her eyes.
When Touko opened her eyes again, she was alone. Akira, Kun, Koushi, Hinako and the dogs were nowhere to be seen. She floated through space, looking down at the world from above. She was dreaming—dreaming like Hinako had said. If she concentrated, she could feel Hinako’s feverish hand in hers. Hinako was still leading her along on the other side of consciousness. Touko had to get back to her.
The Millennium Comet rose into Touko’s field of vision, her shimmering silver hair spreading out all around her. Her hair was like a cloud, thick and full with the possibility of rain.
Another girl stood next to the Millennium Comet, holding hands with her. She had black hair and wore red robes decorated with floral patterns. Aside from their hair color, she and the Millennium Comet could have been identical twins. Both she and the Millennium Comet gave Touko matching smiles.
“Princess Tayura,” Touko said.
The black-haired girl nodded. Hand-in-hand with her sister, she appeared truly at peace.
“I am the Millennium Comet,” Yururuho said. “A millennium from now, I may return to this planet once more. But the years are no longer measured as they once were, so I can make no promises.”
Touko saw the black moon floating in space behind the Millennium Comet and Princess Tayura. Sunlight gleamed around the edges of that moon. The warmth of the sun seeped into the soil, nourishing the trees and the crops in the fields, making the water in the rivers sparkle. The sun was a source of great power. Touko felt its light in her dream and trembled in awe.
The Millennium Comet and Princess Tayura turned away from Touko and flew away. The Millennium Comet’s hair streamed behind her like a silver tail.
Perhaps she would return in a thousand years. Or perhaps she would never return. She and Touko would never meet again.
The thought didn’t trouble Touko too much. It was good that the Millennium Comet was free.
“Touko?” Hinako asked.
Touko blinked, and the world came back to her. “Um, yes?” she asked.
Hinako was looking up at her expectantly.
Touko stumbled, and Hinako caught her to prevent her from falling.
Hinako needs rest, Touko thought, and a damp cloth on her forehead for the fever. How much longer do we have to walk?
Touko fixed her gaze on Akira’s back. Temari was still in Akira’s arms, but she’d stopped whining.
Dogs barked as Akira and the others passed through the industrial area. They started running, returning to places where they were needed with their tails held high.
The sun rose over the capital city.
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