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With the appearance of karura-ou, Ka-ten Aguni hadn't a chance. Her boastful words were nothing against Yamato. She met her end quickly, but not quickly enough. With her last words, she confirmed Yasha's worst suspicion. Rasa was dead, killed by Koumoku-ten. Her only regret was that she would not live to witness a similiar end for Yasha. No one noticed the small figure hovering at the edge of the clearing. Aguni's words carried, and Sara, Rasa's wife, had heard every word.
Rasa's parting words to Yasha came back to him in a rush. "I'm no longer a Yasha, or even a god. Just an ordinary man, who can only protect the woman I love." Face with that woman, how inadequete the words of apology and sympathy seems. But Sara was made of stronger stuff than her appearance seems to indicate. She would not allow Ashura to blame himself, and she would not cry. It was a promise she made to her husband: If one day he did not return, she would not cry for him, because Rasa would only die for something he believed in. And there is no sorrow in a death like that.
She know that Rasa had always felt some guilt at leaving his brother with all the responsibilities of the clan's leadership. He had often spoke her about his beloved older brother, and that if he would ever meet him again, he would like to do all he can to remedie the past. Rasa had dies to keep his promise, she repeated, a charm to hold against the sorrow in everyone's heart.
Sara was determined that her husbands's effort will not be in vain. She gave Yasha her husbands horse, and urged him to leave immediately. Rasa died to protect them, she could do no less. But she refuse to leave with them. The cottage was a place her husband built for her. The house is her home, and the only place in the world for her. She waved Ashura off, once again reminding Ashura of his promise to her and to Rasa: Live, and live happily.
Not long after an army in black swarmed through the forest. Koumoku-ten has arrived, and he was determined to find the whereabout of the fugitives. But Sara found nothing to fear in the cruel contenance. In her hand was a dagger Rase gave her once for self-defense. Now she raised it and plunged it into her own heart. What was death, when she could not keep her second promise? For there was another promise she made to Rasa, same as the one Ashura made to her, that even if he dies, she will live, and live happily. Even then she knew it was a lie. How could she be happy in a world without him?
But a corps would serve Koumoku-ten's purpose just as well. At his dark invocation Sara's body rose and splintered under supernatural force. The last impressions of her life appeared in the blood. "That ways," he cried with triumph and gave chase.
Ashura's sorrow soon turned to anger. This time she was not going to run away and be the puppet of fate. Gigei, Sara, Rasa...They all dies because Ashura was weak, because she could only run away. But from now on Ashura is no going to run away. From now on she will stand her place, and face the challenge of fate.
Kendappa and Ten-oh, however, know nothing of the upheavals coming toward them. They had just arrived in a beautiful valley of sparkling falls and jeweled trees. Flowers laid a thick carpet on the ground, while a lake provided a watery mirror for the scenary.
Not so very far from the valley, Karura-ou told her story to Yasha and the others. The horrible death of her sister added to everyone's determination to defeat Taishakuten. Such a man could not be allowed to live. A blaze rose in their hearts, and now it surronded them. From Ashura's body Shurato rose up, and each and every member of the small group appeared in the crystal blade. Karura-oh, Yasha-oh, Ashura, Ryo-oh, and Sohma. Only one left, and the six stars will be complet.
This time, when Yasha again turned to Ashura and asked for his wish, Ryo-ou had no joking objections. Ashura now know what he wants: She will go to Zenmi-jou, to face Taishakuten, and to ask him why? Why all this death? Why all this war? He filled the world with misery? What is it that he is protecting? "To Zenmi-hou!" Ashura cried.
Inside Zenmi-hou was more death. Koumoku-ten's failures did not please Taishakuten. The soldiers and their families were reduced to a splatter of blood and limbs. Even Koumoku-ten began to harbor the first doubts about his position and Taishakuten.
In the fading light, the field of flowers was especially exquisite. Lulled by the magic of the scene, Ten-oh was moved to propose to Kendappa-oh. Luckily for her, the sound of horse hoofs intruded into the idolic landscape. The six star, riding to Zenmi-jou, appeared. For the first time in their lives Ashura and Ten-oh, who once shared the same womb, met. There is not time for conversation or greetings. Koumoku-ten's army has surronded the valley, and this time he is determined not to fail.
The flowers of the field is soon be to bathed in blood, Koumoku-ten warned Tenoh and Kendappa. But Ten-oh, prompted by some sense of justice and chivalry, hesistated. He did not want to pass by this meeting and let Ashura, his only brother, fall into the hand of Koumoku-ten. But one melting look from Kenddapa's eyes sent him running for his horse. She did not intend to let the opportunity to see Sohma pass her by. Now a fierce look came into her eyes when she met her friend, enough to tranform her face. Holding Sohma's hands in a tight grasp, she told her to kill each and every member of Koumoku-ten's army. No matter how many died, she reminded Sohma, Sohma must promise to live. And the answering gleam in Sohma's eyes must have given her the reassurance she wanted.
Ten-oh, returning to take Kendappa away, saw none of the cunning and shrewdness in her face. Think that the delicate musician must be scared, he took her away on his winged horse. Below was the small figure of Ashura, determination in every line of that slender body, ready to stand against fate. But the force that filled his body was not weak as she let lose a conflagration that quickly consumed a band of hapless soldiers.
But Ashura's battle is not yet to come. Yasha was the one who faced Koumoku-ten, determined to avenge his brother and Sara. Koumoku-ten's words to Yasha were designed to enrage. Rasa was a fool and a coward. He had begged for mercy after one wound, and died a coward's death. The there was that beautiful young woman, whose death was useless in concealing Yasha's whereabout.
Before such taunting words Yasha could not hold still. He launched into attack, exactly as Koumoku-ten intended him to do. His skills and strength should have been no match for one of the Shitenou. But Koumoku-ten, like all otheres, underestimated Yasha. In the first engagement Yasha fell back. But not for nothing was Yasha named Demon Lord. He would not die, not while his brother remain unavenged, and Ashura still needs him. He gathered his strength for his final strike. Before the tidal force, Koumoku-ten had not even the time to be complacent as he was caught in the path of Yamato and disintegrated.