Previously, on Xena...
You saw Akemi.
Xena, you must save Higuchi from destruction.
- Who was that demon ? - The Lord of the Dark Land.
He's preparing an army to wage war on Higuchi,
and slaughter the populace.
At least 3 armies are gathering.
Only another ghost
can trap a spirit as mighty as Yodoshi.
I just wanted you to know everything I know.
Let's go. We got a battle to win.
It's too quiet out here.
Gabrielle, what would you do ?
Listen not just to the sounds,
but to what's behind the sounds.
Always remember, I love you.
All right.
Now you asked for it.
- If I only had 30 seconds to live-- - We're going to be together.
- You brought out the best in me. - Gabriee-e-e-e-elle !
this is how I'd want to live them. Looking into your eyes.
You came to me in my dreams,
and I thought it was reality.
Now you come to me in reality.
It feels like it's a dream.
Either way, I'm filled with joy.
The ghost killer.
- What's he doing ? - His job.
Speeding wandering souls on their way,
before they can be devoured by Yodoshi.
Perhaps he sees Xena.
Xena is alive ! Do you understand ?
She is alive.
I want to write a verse to express how I feel,
but there's no poetry of sufficient beauty.
Akemi...
I've been in the underworld before, but it never felt like this.
What's goin' on ?
Our bodies ?
They're an illusion projected by Yodoshi.
While we are under his power,
we must obey his will.
Funny, you're just the way I remember you.
I am at your service, Lord Yodoshi.
You most certainly are.
An eternity of playing the whore to service my appetite for souls.
Xena, I was so worried that you wouldn't show Yodoshi respect.
He's very dangerous.
It wasn't respect I was showing him.
I'm going to destroy Yodoshi.
It will be very dangerous.
You know you are being watched.
She'll try to follow me.
Let her.
Xena.
Gabrielle.
- What are you doing here ? - I was so worried about you.
I found your chakram. There's so much blood.
I'm all right.
What's with the robes ?
Gabrielle, I'm going to kill the Lord of the Dark Land.
You'll need this.
I can't take that.
It's difficult to explain.
You're dead.
How could you let yourself be killed ?
I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I couldn't tell you.
You'd have tried to stop me, and then we'd both be dead.
Is that supposed to make me feel better ?
We've overcome death before.
We will find a way to bring me back.
But only by becoming a spirit can I kill Yodoshi
and free those souls that I condemned to torment.
Don't you see that ?
You're my whole life, Xena.
I won't lose you.
You won't lose me.
Harukata, don't you come near her.
Put down your weapons, Gabrielle.
He's working with me.
The anklet !
With this, we can bring Yodoshi to us when we're ready.
This is my soul mate.
She's a poet like you, Akemi.
I have one question.
Would you risk your life
for the return of hers ?
Without hesitation.
There is a way, Gabrielle.
You must take her body, burn it,
then sprinkle the ashes into the Fountain of Strength on Mount Fuji.
You must find the fountain
before the second sunset after death.
That's tomorrow.
Harukata will say the incantations necessary
to give the sacred Katana power against malicious spirits.
Gabrielle...
This is Akemi.
- It is an honor to meet you at last. - And you, Akemi.
Gabrielle can't help with our work in the tea house.
She knows what she must do. And she should leave soon.
Thank you.
Wait.
I would like to give you something
to protect you on your journey.
Good luck, old friend.
I am getting your body back, Xena,
no matter where they have hidden it.
Before sunset tomorrow, we will meet again,
on the side of Mount Fujisan.
See you there.
Give me her head !
I've been expecting you.
Your friend was a fine opponent.
She provided me with one of the greatest trophies
an honorable samurai could ever claim.
You call yourself honorable ? You outnumbered her a thousand to one.
You're not a samurai. You're a fraud.
You couldn't have killed Xena unless she wanted you to.
I think it's you with a death wish !
I accept the challenge.
Listen not just to the sounds,
but to what's behind the sounds.
It was the greatest honor of my life
to send Xena to an early grave.
If I cannot do the same to you,
then I ask you to grant me a noble defeat.
Please, remove my head in one stroke.
Good.
Where is Miyuki ?
Where is he ?
Du-u-u-u-uck !
We finally meet, ghost killer !
Akemi !
Are you all right ?
I can't let you die.
If I only had 30 seconds to live,
this is how I'd want to live them.
Looking into your eyes.
Even in death, Gabrielle,
I will never leave you.
You will return to me, my friend.
Harukata, what went wrong ?
He's drinking
from the Fountain of Strength on Mount Fuji.
If you drink from the fountain,
and use the sword I blessed,
it will be the final destruction for any spirit.
Xena, you must finish a job,
and release us all.
I will not rest till it is done.
I will not allow you to find the Fountain,
and revive your friend.
No-o-o-o-o ! No-o-o-o ! No !
Come on. Come on !
Xena.
What ?
My own daughter ?
Xena, what happened ?
Told you I'd see you here.
The Fountain of Strength.
Get water.
Fountain...
...water.
Gabrielle.
Gabrielle, I need the sacred Katana to finish the job.
Thank you.
The sun is setting, Xena.
I have to find your ashes.
Gabrielle...
Come on !
Gab--
Enough of this !
You are about to join the 40,000 souls you condemned, Xena.
And the first thing I'll do is take the head off your little friend with the tatoo.
You won't live that long.
I deserve the dignity of a warrior.
Dignity, huh ?
Like you showed my friend ?
Xena.
- Akemi. - You've redeemed me.
You've redeemed them !
You've redeemed yourself !
Go in peace, Akemi.
We'll meet again,
one day.
No, Gabrielle.
Xena.
No.
Xena, the sun is setting. I have to bring you back to life.
No.
Not if it means condemning the souls of the 40,000
who burned at Higuchi.
The souls are free ?
They're free from Yodoshi's grasp.
Akemi didn't wanna tell me this in case I wouldn't come back to help,
but for those souls to be released into a state of grace,
they must be avenged.
I must stay dead.
But if I bring you back to life--
Those souls will be lost forever.
Xena--
That is not right.
I don't care.
You're all that matters to me.
Don't you know how much I wanna let you do this ?
But if there is a reason for our travels together,
it's because I had to learn from you,
enough to know the final, the good, the right thing to do.
I can't come back.
I can't.
I love you, Xena.
How am I supposed to go on without you ?
I'll always be with you, Gabrielle.
Always.
Xena...
A life of journeying has brought you to the farthest lands,
to the very edges of the Earth.
And to the place where I'll always remain.
Your heart.
So, where to, now ?
I think we should go south, to the land of the Pharaohs.
I hear they need a girl with a chakram.
Where you go,
I'm at your side.
I knew you'd say that.