AN: Well, nearly sixty chapters and three years later, this massive, monster of a fic is complete. I hope you all had as much fun reading it as I did writing it, ups and downs, and hiatus and all. It was a blast! And once again, "Distant Ballad" isn't mine, it's from the anime "Ninja Scroll." - TN

Start off with Jack lying in the hovercraft on the makeshift bunk, his face reflected on the window as he watches the landscape pass by.

Hoshi wo michibikanai ka(The stars do not show)

More shots of Jack as he's carried into the compound, and also as he lays on an operating table, his injuries being taken care of by Extor and some of the others.

Yowaru wa hajimatta akari(Light has begun to weaken)

Later shots of Jack in a hospital room, sitting on the edge of the bed with the Star of the Elements in hand, one arm in a sling. The Star seems to have lost its light, matching the look of sadness upon his face.

Nanimo iranai kimi ga(Nothing is as necessary as you)

Zoom in on the Star hanging from its silvery chain from Jack's hand, spinning slowly on the backdrop of the dark shadows of the instruments in the darkened room. Over that backdrop in the background, with the Star in the foreground, we see Chimitsu's smiling, happy face as he thinks of her, missing her terribly.

Waratte soba ni ireba ii(Laughing at my side and if you listen good)

A distant shot of Jack still on his hospital bed, head bowed with the Star dangling from his hand, tears trickling down his cheeks.

Tooi natsu kutai de(The distant summer wants to come in)

Shots of Jack, fully healed now, and no longer in a hospital room, slowly dressing in a new kimono, tucking his katana into his obi, the Star around his neck.

Aruita hamabe suwari(And sit on the beach it used to walk)

Shot of Jack saying goodbye to Extor, the Canines, Woolies, and everyone who was left at the end of the war

Okizari ni shita yasashisa go(Having left for giving kindness)

Shots of Jack walking away from the compound into the city, a train ticket in his hand.

Hiroi atsui yo(It's spacious and deep)

Shots of Jack boarding the train and sitting down staring out the window, a crowd of people, including some children dressed as him, crowding the platform for a glimpse of him. He looks away, but they don't see the sad, sorrowful look on his face as the train begins to pull away.

Daremo ga tooku de barado(Everyone is in the distant ballad)

Shots of Jack sitting in his seat on the train at night, unable to sleep, watching the landscape pass by. You can see some cities and villages in the distance, all in various stages of renovation. Statues of Aku are either lying toppled on their sides or burning.

Kyou mo kitteiru(And listening today)

A little bit later, Jack's half asleep, and we see another face reflected on the glass of the window, of Josie Clench. She's dressed more modernly and is less heavily made-up, but it's still her. Jack's eyes open and he sits up straighter, watching her carefully as she sits across from him.

Samayou kokoro wo dakiyoseru(So that the wandering heart embraces)

More shots of the two of them, reflected in the glass, talking about something as night slowly turns into dawn. They seem to be having a pleasant conversation, neither one seeming willing to fight again.

Kaze no you ni(The wind)

More time passes, the train has stopped at a station in another city. Jack and Josie both stand outside the station on the sidewalk, saying their goodbyes. Josie picks up her suitcases and disappears into the crowd. Jack watches her go before heading off as well, going the opposite way.

Hitori dake mitsume(Only one person stares at)

Fade from that into Jack standing outside Duncan's castle, gazing up at it, but does not head inside. Instead, he turns, heading towards a grassy meadow nearby.

Muzukashii samashiteiru(The difficult awakening)

We see Jack's approach up the hill from over the tops of makeshift grave markers, coming to a stop before the graves of the Scotsman's clan.

Jidai ga kawatteku you ni(The next era is changing so that)

He pauses there for a moment, bowing his head, lips moving, obviously murmuring a prayer before moving on towards one particular grave.

Kokoro wa kawananai(The heart is not carried away by a current)

He stops at the grave that seems to stand out from the others and the camera pans down from his face to the gravestone, its text unreadable except for the names "Duncan" and "Deidre". Again, his lips move, intoning a prayer or otherwise saying his goodbyes, tears streaking his cheeks.

Daremo ga tooku de barado(Everyone is in the distant ballad)

His goodbyes and prayers said, he turns and leaves the makeshift graveyard, heading back down the grassy hillside.

Kyou mo kitteiru(And listening today)

Scene shifts so that you see Jack approaching, the castle and graveyard growing more and more distant in the background.

Samayou kokoro wo dakiyoseru(So that the wandering heart embraces)

He pauses in his walking and gazes up at the dusky sky, tears silently trickling down his cheeks. Shift to the sky and a ghostly image of Chimitsu and her sisters all together, all smiling and happy, Jack down off to the lower right corner, gazing up, obviously thinking of them.

Kaze no you ni(The wind)

The image fades and he looks back down, eyes closing as a few more tears trickle down his cheeks. Then he simply...walks off.