Thirty minutes passed since they began. The waters of the gourd cycled around the unconscious Kagutsuchi. Shinju knelt on the floor, her hands clasped in the 'Kai' kuji-in position in order to maintain the ritual. Orange strands of curly hair stuck to her forehead and cheeks as she worked up a sweat. The ritual was clearly taking a physical toll on Shinju as much as it waking an emotional one on Kagutsuchi.

"Hello, everyone." Lucrezia hollered as she entered the bowling alley.

"Fashionably late today." Shinju joked.

Lucrezia's eyes were drawn to the unconscious Kagutsuchi as she marched past Izanami and Osamu, taking a seat in front of the row of stained glass windows. "Forgive me, I had a few errands to handle. How's she doing?"

"Osamu. Water." Shinju said.

"Oh! Yeah, coming right up."

Osamu got a bottle of water from the backpack and gave Shinju a drink. She took almost a dozen massive gulps from the 1.5 liter bottle, drinking half of it in just a few seconds.

"Thank you." Shinju sighed. "It looks like she's doing well, Boss. If she can just keep this up, we'll blow through this without any problems."

"Is her life in any danger at this point?" Izanami asked.

Shinju shook her head. "No. We've made it this far, so her life is safe."

Izanami breathed a sigh of relief with her hand over her heart. "My poor baby. This must be so painful for her, but she's being incredibly strong."

"How much longer should this take?" Osamu asked.

"That depends entirely on her. If we're lucky, the next few minutes. If we're not, we could be here until sunrise." Lucrezia answered. "Anyway, how have you been, Izanami? I know this whole thing must be quite a scare for you."

Izanami took a seat next to Lucrezia. "Well, besides being held hostage in an orchestrated farce to fool the exorcists, I'm doing fine."

"I'm sorry about all of this." Lucrezia said. "I had to find a way to fool them so that we could take Kagutsuchi into custody ourselves, and then rid her of her curse before they knew what happened. This way, I can guarantee Kagu will be left alone. She'll finally have a normal life with her mother and her friends."

"You don't have any ill feelings towards her either?" Izanami questioned.

Lucrezia laughed. "You wound me, Izanami."

"Oh...I'm sorry." Izanami lamented. "I don't know why I even said that. You just reminded me of someone I knew.”

Lucrezia nodded. "Let bygones be bygones. I wanted to save her. Knowing she'll be safe and happy is all the repayment I need."

"Did Kagu do something to you in the past, too?" Osamu asked. "I know she and Gekko used to be enemies during the Warring States period."

"This girl has been an entire world of trouble." Lucrezia said. "Like I said, I'm over it. It's all in the past. All that matters now is curing her."

While everyone cheered her on in the bowling alley, Kagutsuchi herself was trapped in a dream state of the ritual's making. It was her job to confront her own feelings and accept her own loss. Kagutsuchi's subconscious presented itself as an endless ocean with but a single hillock poking out from its depths. She stood upon that hillock beneath the starry, twilight sky. A single sakura tree stood tall on the center of the hillock, its fragrant blossoming shedding from its branches and swaying gently into the ocean's embrace.

Satori sat on the other side of the tree, staring out into the endless expanse of water dazzled by starlight. They both knew the other was there. They sensed each other's presence, and yet, neither of them dared go around the tree and see the other.

"I'm finally getting cured." Kagutsuchi said. "When this is over, I'll finally be able to love someone without destroying them."

"Good. I'm glad, Kagu." Satori said.

"But still...my heart feels so uneasy. So, even if our time is short, can we just sit here and talk?”

"Sure thing. We don't have long though. This is the end for us, an endless oceanic abyss."

Kagutsuchi smiled. "All the more reason to waste our time away. Have you been resting well? Is death a comfortable place?"

"Well, the underworld is definitely not a classy establishment, I assure you." Satori chuckled. "I can't say it's the best, but I've already accepted the outcome. How about you? How is life?"

"You know? I think I'm finally starting to see the beauty of it all. This pain I feel in my heart...I want to cry, but I'm also glad it's there. I'm glad that all of this happened."

"Ah, so you see that pain has a purpose? Did Osamu teach you that?"

"Haha! Yeah! He did!" Kagutsuchi giggled. "Though, he kind of did it indirectly. I don't even think he realizes it!"

Satori laughed. "Yeah, that definitely sounds like him. I wish I could thank him properly for helping you out."

"We can both thank him. Just leave it up to me. I'll do it by living a good life. Though, since I'm a goddess, I don't know if we'll ever see each other again."

"No. I don't think so." Satori said, the realization killing the joy in his tone.

"Wow...so this is really...an eternal goodbye, huh?"

"I'm afraid so, Princess."

"Satori...I think everything we want to tell each other before it's time to go...is written in the stars that loom above us. So, until the morning comes...let's just watch them."

"Heaven's love letter. All right."

Kagutsuchi gently clasped her hands together as tears streamed down her cheeks. Once again, she motioned her lips and spoke a silent prayer. "No matter where you go...our sky will never change..."

Kagutsuchi and Satori both focused their eyes on the stars and moon above, accepting the quietude between them. To them, words were an obstacle for how much they wanted to express to each other. The feelings between them could only be represented by those glittering miracles in the sky, the dazzling works of the universe that we call stars.

"Thank you for everything, Satori. Thank you." Kagutsuchi wept as she covered her eyes with her arm. "Thank you so much. I will always cherish the time we had..."

Everything slowly faded into blinding, white nothingness. The ocean disappeared along with the stars, hillock, and sakura tree. Most of all, the anguish, sorrow, and hurt disappeared along with them. Kagutsuchi had lost her first love, and that was okay. It was okay to have lost someone, to have felt such great pain. After all, he had given her the chance to fill the void in her heart with joyful memories with her mother and newfound friends.

It was a beautiful, yet overwhelming realization, that love never truly leaves this world. The love Satori had for Kagutsuchi was still there, and it would find its way back to her through the new people that loved her, and the many new experiences she would have with them. Like how all rivers return to the sea, so too would all love find its way back to Kagutsuchi. There was no need to mourn what could not have been grasped, what flows within people and without them. All she needed to do was let go and let it flow.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Her feelings resolved, Kagutsuchi came to and opened her eyes, realizing she was still inside of the sphere of icy water. Shinju noticed her awakening and whistled to get Osamu's attention.

"That's it! Osamu! Open the gourd!" Shinju commanded.

Osamu did as he was told and allowed Shinju to direct the flow of the water back inside of the gourd. Kagutsuchi dropped to the ground, coughing as Izanami draped the brown towel over her shoulders to keep her warm. The gourd was sealed and Shinju took a deep breath of relief.

"Are...are we done? Did she make it through?" Osamu asked.

"Yeah, I think we made it through. The water used to wash her, however, is now cursed. I'll have to find a remote place for it to be emptied and evaporated. But besides that, it looks like she pulled through." Shinju explained.

"Kagutsuchi? Can you hear me?" Izanami asked.

Kagutsuchi looked very exhausted, but very happy. With Izanami's help, she was able to stand up and start drying herself off.

"I love you, Mom." Kagutsuchi whispered.

"I love you too, sweetheart." Izanami said, a satisfied smile on her face.

Shinju gasped, and then smiled.

"What is it?" Osamu questioned.

"Did you see that, Osamu? She said 'I love you' and no curse was transferred. She's cured." Lucrezia pointed out.

"Hey...you're right!" Osamu said.

Kagu even realized it herself. She took a few steps towards Lucrezia and looked her in the eyes. "Is that true? Was there nothing transferred to her?!"

"Not a trace. The ritual worked, Kagu. You're free to love again now." Lucrezia said.

Kagu's face scrunched up as she began to cry tears of joy and gratitude. She hugged Shinju tightly as she wept.

"Whoa! Hey, I'm not a very sensual person!" Shinju groaned.

"Thank you so much! Thank you!" Kagutsuchi cried. "You, and Osamu, and Lucrezia, and Mom! Thank you!"

Shinju couldn't help but hug her back. "No problem, Kagu. You're family, after all."

Osamu looked on with a smile. He noticed the colors and patterns from the stained glass were just faintly visible on the reflective, wooden floor. Though he couldn't see through the windows, he did notice it had gotten considerably brighter outside. He whipped his phone and checked the time, seeing that it was five in the morning.

"Well, it ended up taking a while, but we got it done. Let's get the bowling alley cleaned up and head home, shall we?" Osamu suggested.

"Agreed." Lucrezia said. "I'll help with the cleanup."

The bowling alley was cleaned up, the sheet thrown away, and the gourd handed back to Shinju. The group reconvened outside on the sidewalk, their arduous mission complete. Birdsong filled the sky as the sun's light crept over the eastern horizon. The soft, golden light of dawn was on its way.

"Well, I'll handle the gourd." Shinju yawned. "It's probably best if I keep it in my possession, huh? It may come in handy if we ever need to purify someone else."

"Yes, please do." Osamu said. "I can't thank you enough for this, Shinju. You've been a huge help since we met. You too, Lucrezia."

"I don't deserve your thanks, but I appreciate it anyway, Osamu." Lucrezia said.

"Well, you know me. Justice is the name of the game I love to play." Shinju tittered. "Kagu?"

"Uh! Yes?" Kagutsuchi mumbled.

"Find yourself a good man and have beautiful children, all right? Find someone who loves you and wants you to succeed. Or find a girl who fits that description if you swing that way." Shinju joked.

"No, I don't think she does, Shinju!" Osamu growled.

"Hey, hey, I just wanted to be considerate!" Shinju tittered.

Kagutuschi bowed. "Thank you, I'll do my best."

"Thank you, Shinju and Lucrezia!" Izanami sang. "You've grown up to be such fine exorcists and even better people."

Izanami hugged Shinju and patted her head, much to her annoyance. "And who knew you grew up to be such a cutie pie!? You don't look that different from Mizuhame herself! I could just eat you up!"

"Damn it, will you let go of me?!" Shinju hissed.

"Izanami, you're gushing again." Osamu sighed.

"I know, just let me gush a little longer! Come here, Lucrezia!" Izanami demanded.

"Me?!" Lucrezia recoiled.

"Yes, you!"

Izanami threw her arms around Lucrezia and brought her in for a warm hug. "You have so much on your shoulders, and you still found a way to free my daughter. You made this happen. I'll always remember what you did for me. I'm forever in your debt, Lucrezia."

Hearing those words of gratitude nearly brought Lucrezia to tears. She wiped her eyes and returned the hug, melting in Izanami's arms. "This doesn't cover even half of what I owe you, Izanami. I'm happy you have your daughter back."

Izanami backed off and straightened herself up. "If you need anything at all, just say the word. I'll be there for you."

"Same to you, my love." Lucrezia sang.

"We'll be leaving now. It's about time we got some sleep." Osamu interjected. "You guys are probably exhausted too, huh? Especially you, Shinju."

"Tell me about it." Shinju moped. "I'll definitely be sleeping all day today. Call me later, all right?"

"Of course. Thanks, you guys. Goodnight! I-I mean...Good morning!" Osamu sang.

"Good morning to you too! Ba-bye!" Shinju replied.

"Sleep well, you guys!" Lucrezia cheered.

And so, with everything done, Osamu, Izanami, and Kagutsuchi began their walk home through the quiet neighborhood, the light of dawn on their backs. Osamu noticed that Kagutsuchi was falling behind. She struggled to keep her eyes open and kept tripping over her own feet. The poor girl was just as exhausted as Shinju.

"Hey, are you tired?" Osamu asked.

Kagutsuchi yawned, a self-evident answer to the question. "Sorry. The ritual was so draining."

Osamu dropped to one knee and offered up his back. "Come on, I'll carry you."

She happily accepted, and managed to fall asleep on Osamu's back as they continued walking home.

"Thank you, Osamu. You risked your life to get that gourd, and now Kagu is free." Izanami whispered.

"Yeah, well, you know me. I'd risk my life for any of you."

"You know, this whole thing has really made me want to have more kids."

Osamu blushed. "Seriously?"

"Oh my gosh, you were just thinking about the sex, weren't you!" Izanami snickered.

"You know what? Damn right I was! I'm not even ashamed about it! You've got a rockin' body, Izanami! Sex with you is always fun!" Osamu declared.

Izanami covered her face and laughed as her face turned red. "Stop it, Osa!"

"Your lips are sweet like strawberries and your back is smooth as hell!" Osamu continued, jokingly.

"Not with Kagu around! She might hear!" Izanami giggled.

"And you're always willing to go for another round when we just finished round one! You have the libido of an adult film star, but you're super sweet!" Osamu said.

"Osamu!"

"Relax, she's sound asleep!"

Finally, the house was in sight. Tsukiakari and Yoko stood on the porch in their pajamas waiting for their safe return. When they spotted them down the street, the two knew the ritual was a success.

"There they are! Yoo-hoo! Welcome back!" Tsukiakari shouted.

Yoko ’s eyes swelled with tears.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Tsukiakari asked.

Yoko wiped her eyes dry. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just...I'm proud to be in love with him. Here he comes yet again, with tired eyes and an endearing smile. Here he comes, having saved yet another person. Every time this happens, I'm reminded why I love him so much. The lengths he'll go to make us all happy...is unlike anything I've ever seen in any other man before."

With his wavy lions mane and Male symbol necklace hanging around his neck, Osamu returned triumphant. Once Yoko and Tsukiakari saw that Kagutsuchi was sleeping, they immediately switched to whispers rather than jovial shouts.

Yoko quietly opened the front door, allowing everyone to tiptoe back inside. Tsukiakari led the way as Osamu carried the slumbering Kagutsuchi upstairs and into the bedroom. Yoko pulled back the sheets and made a space for the goddess, helping Osamu lay her in bed to rest.

(Recover from one journey, get exhausted from the next. Looks like we'll be staying here longer. Maybe this is fate, if there is such a thing. Maybe it's calling us back where we belong, telling us not to venture off too far. This house, where our family first started...a bunch of girls that once despised each other and grew to love and respect each other.)

Yoko closed the door, and the girls moved their conversation to the kitchen. Osamu watched from the top of the stairs as Yoko and Tsukiakari listened to Izanami as she recalled the ritual, and how she felt when Kagu made it through. They were laughing, smiling, gasping, and intrigued by the story.

(I used to want to run away from you all and have absolutely nothing to do with you. I would reject your advances and try to avert my eyes from you. It was you that wouldn't let me go. Symbolically, and even literally, you tied me up and kept us together. I couldn't be more happy that it all started like that. Yoko, Gekko, Izanami, our late and great Isabella, and even the Shoku Twins, Rei, Aika, Kagutsuchi, and our new friends Shinju and Lucrezia...I think of you all as irreplaceable family members. I'm glad to have been under this roof.)

After their conversation, the girls shut the blinds in the kitchen and ventured back upstairs. No one had slept all night. It was definitely time to get some sleep. Yoko remained with Osamu at the top of the stairs while Tsukiakari and Izanami shut the bedroom door and joined Kagutsuchi in bed.

"Hey." Yoko said.

"Hey." Osamu repeated.

(My name is Osamu Ashikaga)

"You did a good job today." Yoko complimented.

"Thanks. I appreciate it, love."

(I've lost count of the years I've been here.)

Yoko kissed Osamu, and then stood up, extending her hand to him to help him up.

(I've had my heart divided into eleven pieces, one for each of these flawed angels)

Osamu took her hand and the two tiptoed to bed together, shutting the bedroom door behind them. The day was just starting, but Osamu and his family sunk the home in quietude and darkness. They all worked hard and needed their much-deserved rest.

(If you read this, don't send any help. I'm perfectly happy where I am.)