After leaving the shrine, Musashi descended the stone steps in front of its gate. Rows of cherry blossom trees lined both sides of the staircase as if they were once a welcoming garden for visitors to the shrine.
Step by step, Musashi made his way down the stairs, his body slightly weakened. He was exhausted; his entire soul and body urged him to rest, but he resisted the urge to stop just yet.
Then, a soft voice calling his name echoed faintly, a soothing sound. "Musashi… Musashi… Musashi?"
Musashi halted, glancing left and right to find the source of the voice.
He continued to listen, drawn to the voice, and moved toward a cherry blossom tree by the edge of a pond to the right of the shrine.
Underneath the tree, Musashi saw a woman standing, looking out over the pond with her back turned to him. She appeared serene, dressed in a white kimono, her hair flowing freely.
As Musashi drew closer, the woman in the white kimono turned to face him, smiling. Musashi stood frozen, unable to believe his eyes, as though time itself had stopped around them.
Musashi (in a trembling voice): "Aiko… is it you?"
Aiko: "Musashi… it's been so long, hasn't it?" she smiled gently.
Musashi moved closer, still unable to fully believe what was before him. His hand shook as he reached out to touch Aiko's face, but it felt as if he were touching a shadow. She looked real, yet there was a stillness suggesting this was a different kind of encounter.
Musashi (whispering): "After such a long journey, I've finally found you. But why does it feel like this isn't the beginning… but the end?"
Aiko gave him a warm, peaceful smile. Aiko: "Musashi… you came all this way to find me?"
Musashi: "I couldn't let you disappear, Aiko. I had to find you, no matter what." His voice was filled with emotion.
Aiko smiled gently. Aiko: "I know. But this path… it was mine, a choice I made."
Musashi stepped closer, trying to reach out to her again, but somehow, an invisible distance remained between them. Aiko smiled, her face calm and serene.
Musashi (his voice shaking): "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you have to leave like this?"
Aiko: "Because I didn't want you to be drawn into the darkness I chose. The world I left behind is filled with shadows, and I wanted you to remain free."
Musashi lowered his head, struggling to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. "I was willing to go through all of this with you, Aiko. We could have faced anything together."
Aiko shook her head gently. Aiko: "This isn't about us, Musashi. It's about a responsibility I had to bear alone. But you… you were the light that guided me, even in the darkness."
Aiko began to fade slowly, as if her body were just a shadow no longer able to stay in this world. She smiled softly.
Aiko: "Musashi… keep living. Carry my memory with you, and find the peace you deserve."
Musashi (desperately): "Aiko, don't go! I'm not ready to lose you again!"
Tears streamed down Musashi's face as he tried to chase her shadow, stumbling forward, but all he found was emptiness.
At that moment, Musashi felt a strange but comforting warmth, as if Aiko was leaving one last touch for him.
Aiko smiled one final time, her gaze filled with deep affection. Aiko: "We will never truly be apart, Musashi. You'll always carry a piece of me in your heart. Musashi… keep living. Raise your sword, prove that you're still the Musashi I knew. The undefeated Musashi."
With those final words, Aiko slowly faded, leaving behind a small light floating in the air. Musashi fell to his knees, feeling an overwhelming emptiness but also a faint peace.
*****
After a long while, Musashi slowly rose to his feet. He realized that his journey had come to an end. Although his heart was filled with loss, he knew that Aiko wanted him to continue his life in peace.
Musashi: "Aiko… you may have left this world, but your shadow will always be with me. I'll keep living, carrying this memory with every step."
Musashi looked up at the night sky, feeling that Aiko had now found her peace. With renewed resolve, Musashi descended the hill, ready to begin a new, meaningful life.