'Thanks Gaia~Good to see you and Tomo back on your feet,' Okami welcomed them. Tora flew next to Tomo and gave him a hi five which the green cat returned with enthusiasm.
The orb of light shot into Okami and her eyes widened, she still felt fatigued but all the aches and scratches were gone.
'You guys were incredible!' roared the announcer at Okami, Sniff and Dante. 'I'm gonna tell the world of your awesomeness!'
'I think thats fine,' Tora answered seing her ds blush and fidget under the unwanted attention.
'What was that light just now?' Gaia asked Okami.
'I think that is the the power of the heavens magic,' Okami replied.
'See Michael you're not alone, I know this guy truly loves you,' Okami smiled, forgiveness etched in her features, and jerked her head toward Gerhart.
'You may be right,' Michael said saidly, looking down at the ground. 'I already feel unworthy of this magic - I let power corrupt me dreadfully in just a matter of minutes...' He turned away and walked towards Gerhart.
Okami turned to her fellow nakama and then she turned her head towards the stars above, 'Thank you everyone, you saved us, guess I still need more training before I can find Ari-chan!'
'Wait, what exactly is going on?' Sniff asked, bewildered, as it began to dawn on him that he may have been unconscious for most important parts of the proceedings. 'Everyone's here, and that's that Michael guy, right?'
'I think Okami and Dante can probably explain everything to us all on the ride home,' Willard said as he helped him to his feet.
'I feel awesome,' Dante responded to Athena's question. Somehow all his pain was relieved but his magic power was still depleted. Besides that, he felt like he was surrounded by the most impenetrable shield in the world. Nobody could beat them.
'Master Junsei, may I have a word back at the guild?' Dante asked.
'Of course!' Junsei said, smiling warmly.
Turning towards Angelina, Dante smiled at her. 'So did you consider my offer of coming back to the guild?'
'Gaia, Tomo and I talked about it,' she said, looking sheepish. 'And well, we decided...'
'We're gonna go travelliiiiing!' said Tomo, landing on the girl's head. 'Gaia, Angelina-chan and me!'
'That's right,' Gaia agreed, smiling. 'We'll forge our own path together. Who knows where it'll lead us - maybe back to you guys, or maybe to some other Guild!'
'Kureda-san, you wanna join us?' Tomo asked the tall man.
'Well actually,' the man replied, jerking a thumb over at the film crew who were nervously poking their heads out from behind a nearby wall. 'These guys have offered me my own show. "Exotic Exploration with Kureda" it's gonna be called, or something like that.'
'And I'm quitting lacrimavision!' yelled the announcer. 'I'm gonna become a journalist and report on huge news stories like this one!' He began thrusting business cards into people's hands. They read: "Morris Brooker, Lacrimavision Announcer Extraordinairre!!" On some of them he had already scribbled out "Lacrimavision" in ink and written in "Journalist".
Over on the bow, Michael was kneeling over Gerhart, who was now lying face up, but still too tired to move much. 'Gerhart...' Michael said, tears in his eye. 'I killed him... I killed father! Please forgive me!'
Gerhart looked at him kindly. 'Michael, it is I that should ask for your forgiveness. Had I tried to stop Doppel sooner, it may not have come to this. Had I found courage earlier, all of this might have been avoided.'
'You were always there for me. In fact, in many ways you brought me up more than my father did... And you risked your life for me... Of course I forgive you!' The boy was unable to bite back the tears any longer and they began to flow freely down his cheeks.
'Hush, child,' the butler said comfortingly. 'Do not blame yourself.' The two stayed like that for a few minutes, Gerhart consoling the young man. Junsei looked on, a little way a way, in silence.
At last, Michael got to his feet and turned from Gerhart. Junsei approached him and spoke kindly to him. 'You know, there are none but us present who know of what happened here. When the authorities get here, we need not - .'
'No,' interrupted Michael. 'Please tell them all that happened here. The world should know of my sins.'
'Very well, if you're sure,' the older man agreed.
'I am. But I shall not be taken to prison.' Some of the defiance had returned to his voice. 'I shall atone for my actions in my own way.' Wind began whipping up around him, tornadoes gathering around his arms and legs, lifting him off the ground. 'Farewell Gaia, Tomo, Angelina, Kureda! Farewell, Gerhart! Farewell, Wild Hunt Mages! We shall meet again, I feel sure!' With that he gained height and flew off out to sea, into the night sky.
'Should we go after him?' asked Willard, wlaking over to Junsei as they watched him go.
'Do as your conscience dictates, my dear Willard,' the Master replied.