Ei looked at Chiyo in disbelief and could not help asking, "Chiyo, is this true?"
Seeing that Yucheng had already revealed her secret, Chiyo could not help reproaching him. "Yucheng, why did you have to expose this? Couldn't you just let me leave like this? That way, Ei wouldn't be too saddened by the departure of a friend who once betrayed her.
"I was already a rebellious Oni whose mind was corrupted by monsters five hundred years ago, who raised her blade against the Shogun. My reputation was ruined after my death, so one more stain wouldn't matter. As a remnant soul, surely I ought to give way to those still living."
At those words, Ei pulled Chiyo into her arms. Looking at her body, now covered in cracks, Ei finally realized that there were far more cracks than there had been at the beginning, yet she had been completely unaware. At that thought, a feeling stirred in her heart for Chiyo, and she felt even more ashamed of having resented her earlier.
Seeing the guilt and anguish on Ei's face, Chiyo smiled faintly and comforted her instead. "Ei, you have Yucheng to lean on now. You no longer need my company, so I can rest easy. I wanted to keep this from you and then quietly leave, but it seems that won't work now.
"Ei, living like this is truly exhausting. Please understand and let me find release sooner. Being able to fade away in your arms is already the greatest reward I could ask for."
Ei had always thought her tears had run dry five hundred years ago, after what had happened to Makoto, Kitsune Saiguu, and Chiyo. In truth, however, faced with such a scene, even someone as strong as Ei could no longer hold back. Tears