Editor's comments and actions are denoted by [brackets]. Sound effects are written {like this}. (Parenthesis) indicate side notes in the dialogue bubble or the mangaka's note. And finally, italics are thoughts.

Shinigami Main Offices. Konoe dramatically whips on his bandana and grabs a dart while Tsuzuki, Watari, and Tatsumi stand behind him.

{sound f/x gyuu: twist, tying the bandana}

{sound f/x gachi: grab a dart}

Konoe: Well then, let's go! Everyone!!

Everyone: ...Oh!!

Konoe: PUT ALL OF YOURSELF INTO THIS DART!!!

{sound f/x bun: swish}

Everyone: (Oh~)

Everyone sweatdrops in SD as Konoe heaves the dart.

Konoe: TOORYA~~!!!

{sound f/x bishi: SMACK!}

Everyone sweatdrops again as the dart hits the map, landing smack dab in the middle of Hokkaido (the northern most main Japanese island).

([on the map] Map of Japan)

{sound f/x hiyoyoyon: the dart rattling in the wall}

{sound f/x puran: floppy}

They all look at the map in shock.

Tsuzuki: It's Hokkaido... This is...

Konoe: It's Hokkaido, isn't it...

Watari: Hokkaido... Then maybe——~~!!?

Tatsumi: ...it is.

Watari and Tsuzuki burst into SD and start dancing in circles.

{sound f/x waa: loud cheering}

Tsuzuki: NO WAAY———~!! IT'S HOKKAIDO~~~~!!

Watari: Crabs! Scallops!! Akango marimo!!! [From what I can tell, it's some sort of cold, fresh water round moss.]

([pointing to the picture] Marimo.)

Tatsumi: This year's a great success, isn't it Chief?

Konoe: [taking off his bandana] Um!!!

Watari and Tsuzuki break into SD teary-eyed tributes to Hokkaido.

{sound f/x saa: running water}

Tsuzuki: Last year we faced survival on a deserted island...

{sound f/x zaa: rushing water}

Watari: The year before last we faced a mid-winter swimming tournament...

Tsuzuki: And now, this year...! HOKKAIDO!!!

In the background: UWA—I

Konoe: [guffawing loudly] Make the reservations immediately, Tatsumi!! Once a year you can cut loose!! Make it an expensive inn!!! An expensive inn!!!

In the background: BANZA—I

Tatsumi: [genki smile] Hai~

The World of the Dead—Built in Hades, the Judicial Organization Juuou-chou. In order to backup the Juuou-chou's operations, the Enma-chou Shoukanka position was established. For the 18 staff called Shinigami, the status is high but the pay is low. The Shoukanka's only unique big event is the staff trip. ["-chou" is an ending that refers to a department of the government. Juuou-chou literally means the "Department of the Ten Kings." The underworld divides Japan into 10 parts, each ruled by one king. The "capital" is Enma-chou, the part ruled by Enma himself. So the Shoukanka is headquartered in Enma-chou, but helps out operations in each of the 10 areas.]

Tsuzuki: [teary eyed with happiness] We did it, Hisoka!!

Tsuzuki Asato/Second Area

{sound f/x gara: clatter}

Tsuzuki: This year it's Hokkaido!!!

Tsuzuki burst in on Hisoka, who's busy reading a very large, very old looking book. Hisoka looks none too amused. Hisoka never looks none too amused.

Hisoka: What. You're all getting blown off to Hokkaido? Wow, making your way across Japan. (Congrats on your demotion part II.)

Tsuzuki: [sweatdrop] No. (You're mean.) Every once in a while the employees all divide up and go on a group trip. We can't just leave the place completely empty so we go 5-6 people at a time.

Hisoka: Hmm.

Tsuzuki: [SD celebration] Since it's free, this is one of my few chances to drink and eat all I want!!

{sound f/x gu: stomach growling}

Tsuzuki: I'll definitely get me some king crab, just you watch!! [hysterical laughter]

{sound f/x go~: menacing atmosphere}

Hisoka: (hai hai.)

Tsuzuki: Hey that reminds me, Hisoka, you still haven't met the people in charge of the Hokkaido area, huh?

Hisoka: Nope. (I remember being in Hokkaido, but...)

Tsuzuki: That's right, those two've been stuffed in the city offices for the past half year. (Can't fly in a snow storm.)

(Pretty rare employees with considerably few appearances.)

Tsuzuki: (Naw) If you meet them you'll definitely be surprised.

{sound f/x nya: Tsuzuki's cutesy kitty noises}

Hisoka: Are you saying what they look like and what's inside of them is even more different than you?

Tsuzuki: No, the truth is, those kids have some bad habits...

Voice: Ah—~!! It's Tsuzuki-chan!!!

Two exceedingly similar looking girls appear. They seems to be about 15ish. One is long-haired and rather polite, while the other is short haired, and super genki.

Saya: It's very nice to see you again, Tsuzuki-san.

Yuma: [waving brightly] (yahho~) Tsuzuki-chan, you been good—?

Tsuzuki: [super genki smile] Wah!! You two already came back!!

Hisoka: [SD in the background] [blink blink] ?

The two girls bounce around Tsuzuki amongst large hearts.

Yuma: This year we're in the same trip group as Tsuzuki-chan-tachi!

Hisoka: ...what the hell, these guys...

Tsuzuki: Really? Hey, that'll be tons of fun——~!

{sound f/x beta beta: glomping onto Tsuzuki}

Saya: (We also think as much~!)

([pointing to Hisoka] Isolation.)

Hisoka: It looks like they're awfully close to Tsuzuki, huh.

Yuma: Ala. That cute kid. I haven't seen his face before.

The two girls begin inspecting Hisoka. Hisoka simply gets this rather amusing "Don't touch me" look.

Saya: Tsuzuki-san. I heard that you have changed partners again, didn't you?

{sound f/x jiro: stare}

Yuma: [point] (Hey, hey) Are you maybe Tsusuki-chan's new partner?

Hisoka: [sweatdrop slightly] ...yeah, I am. (This discussion is years old.) (Your sources are too slow.)

The girls suddenly pounce on the poor unsuspecting Hisoka.

Yuma: KYA~! No wa—y! I heard the rumors but he really looks like a girl~! How cute——~~!!

Hisoka: [entirely in shock] ......

{sound f/x wa~: happy shrieking}

Saya: Maa! Would you take look at this white skin!! The delicate texture is so velvety~!

Yuma: His hair is so smooth~! It's like cat hair—~~!!

Hisoka jumps backwards and frees himself.

Hisoka: WH-WHAT THE HELL YOU PEOPLE!!! [snatch hand back]

{sound f/x ba: loud crash}

Yuma: (ala.)

Hisoka: Let me go! Just don't touch me!!

Tsuzuki steps in to happily sort out the mess.

Tsuzuki: [big smile] (As I was saying) These girls are the employees in charge of Area Nine (Hokkaido).

Saya: I'm Torii Saya.

Yuma: [wave bright] I'm Fukiya Yuma——~!

Tsuzuki: This is their one bad habit. When they have the chance, they glomp onto someone and fuss over them, whether they're a man or a woman.

Yuma: [looking very insulted] (what's that.) Hey, we just want to be buds!

Saya: That's right. I would also like to hurry and become close friends!

Tsuzuki: Well, as the newbie it's the rule that you'll definitely get your glomp attack baptism. [laughing]

{sound f/x pon: soft impact, Tsuzuki hitting Hisoka on the shoulder}

Hisoka: [horrified sweatdrops] ...Wh--!! (wait...tsuzuki~)

Tsuzuki: Good luck, Hisoka! (Fight!)

The girls glomp onto poor poor Hisoka.

Yuma: Ufu~ Hisoka-kun~ For the rest of the trip you'll always be with us, right~? (It'll be convenient.)

Hisoka: (Eh~? Eh~?)

Yuma: Should be do stuff like put make-up on him while he's asleep~?

{sound f/x gyuu: Yuma squeezing Hisoka to death}

Saya: Maa!!! That's just lovely, Yuma!!! Hisoka-san, you will certainly come to look just like a pink house~~!!

The girls begin excited plans for the trip as Tsuzuki smiles merrily.

Hisoka: (ah...) (ano...) (eh~?)

Tsuzuki: [laughing] So then, let's go to Hokkaido~!

Yuma: This'll be so much fun, won't it, Saya~?

Saya: Yes, this will surely be a good time, Yuma~!

Hisoka: [seething quietly] ......

{sound f/x daradara: Hisoka dripping sweat}

{sound f/x ozozozo: chills running through Hisoka}

Hisoka: they said... pink house...... (oi.)

Certainly, Hisoka could feel the danger to himself. ...But as that was the case, the party leaving Tokyo aimed for Hokkaido and set off on their journey.

Watari, Yuma, Konoe, Saya, Tsuzuki, and Hisoka stare blankly at their inn, breath freezing in the air.

(Suspicious looking members [sweatdrop])

The inn is, well it's frankly a super plush traditional Japanese inn (ryoukan).

Voice: Wooow~~~~~~ [sweatdrop]

Voice: It's huge————... [sweatdrop]

The group gathers in front of the inn. Watari and Tsuzuki hug each other in SD teary joy.

Yuma: Y-you were very daring, Tatsumi-san... (This is an absurdly high class inn, isn't it?)

Tatsumi: Although it was for an expensive inn, I made quite the effort to get it.

Watari: [teary eyed] It's like a dream......~

{sound f/x uttori: Watari & Tsuzuki, absorbed in their dream}

Hisoka: [side glare at Konoe] (...)

Konoe: [counting money in his wallet] ...... [sweatdrop]

{sound f/x hii, fuu, mii: wails of distress from Konoe with the money}

To say it was just first class...

The group walks through rows of bowing kimono clad help. All sweatdrop.

{sound f/x zura: everyone staggering in shock at the decadence}

Konoe: (T-thank you...)

There was good service, good decorating, and extraordinarily~~~good hostesses!!! (ehehe...)

A pretty hostess smiles to Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki smiles back as Hisoka drags him away.

Hostess: (Please enjoy your stay.)

Hisoka: (Hurry, c'mon idiot!) (Don't just throw your manners out.)

And then...

{sound f/x don: big dramatic impact}

CRAB.

Watari and Tsuzuki stare at the spread of crabs wide eyed before bursting into SD tears.

Watari: Aa—— I'm so happy it's scary~~~!

Tsuzuki: We can eat it, can't we? We can eat it, right~~~!!!

{sound f/x do: big impact}

Voice: (Stop, it's embarrassing!)

Voice: (Don't cry you idiots~!)

The group clinks glasses together.

Voice: Well then!! This year is another year over, cheers——~!!!

{sound f/x Kanpai!!: "Cheers!!"}

Everyone: Cheers—~~!!!

Everyone is dressed in yukata (traditional robes) and eating and drinking amongst many cheering "wai~"s.

Tsuzuki: [nuzzle crab] (aa~ crab...)

Watari: [nuzzle crab] (crab...king crab-chan...)

Yuma: HI~SO~KA~KUU—N!

{sound f/x giku: surprise}

Hisoka: [spilling his drink] !!

The girls leech onto Hisoka and start pouring him drinks.

Yuma: We'll pour your sake for you, okay—~! (There— drink it down, drink it down now.)

(They're nearing him again...)

Hisoka: [sweating horribly] Thank you...

{sound f/x dokudoku: Hisoka's heart pounding}

Saya: Hey, hey, Hisoka-san, that's a cute name, isn't it~?

Hisoka: Ah... [sweating profusely]

Saya: Your young face is also cute... I am quite envious——~~!!

Watari and Tsuzuki eat crab and watch the action.

Watari: (Oh——) They're playing with the Boy right away. (I pity him.)

{sound f/x gaji: Watari chomping on the crab}

Girls: (Kya~! Kya~!)

{sound f/x hi~: Hisoka shrieking while the girls squeeze him}

Tsuzuki: A little bit of that might fix his misanthropy, though. (But it looks like that's too much.)

{sound f/x hi~~}

One hour later—— after drinking and eating and making a fuss as much as they could by themselves is... Just like you'd expect, karaoke.

Tsuzuki: NUMBER ONE, TSUZUKIi———~! I'LL BE SINGING "MARIAN"!!

Tsuzuki belts away with the microphone.

1) Tsuzuki's "Marian." [A big if somewhat old hit from old-school Japanese rockers, the Alfee.]

Tsuzuki: "MARIAN, MARIAN, MARIAN, fun fun fu—n

[pointing to the line above] Adequately avoiding the place where there's supposed to be English.

Tsuzuki: "OH——, DRAWN IN—, GETTING OLD—"

(Alfee Fans, I'm sorry! [sweatdrop] (I love them, too!))

2) Watari no Eichan [Watari's impression of an Osakan singer, I'm guessing.]

Watari: "THERE, IF YOU LEAVE—, RIGHT THERE, THERE—"

Dark colored scarf-like objects fly across the panel.

(Why are red towels flying around?)

3) Tatsumi no Showa Dry Grass [Tatsumi's Enka, a traditional, warbly Japanese song.]

Tatsumi: "In~my~poverty~I gave up~"

(COMPELLING.)

Tatsumi: (Ah, this year, like a picture I drew, there were no good things. How long will it be before next year's budget is gone? Will Tsuzuki-san still be breaking things?)

(The voltage drops by 30.)

Everyone: (NO~, STOP~)

Tsuzuki: [crying loudly] (Tatsumi...)

Konoe: And now, last. Let's close it up with my "My Way"! ["My Way" is THE song for old men to sing at karaoke. I don't know why, either.]

Chief's got the mic!!!

Everyone "subtlely" sneaks out of the room the chief sings up a storm.

Tatsumi: (I've got some stuff to take care of...)

Hisoka: (I'm tired, think I'll head to my room...)

Tsuzuki & Watari: (We're heading to the baths...)

{sound f/x sosokusa: hasty retreat}

Konoe: (Yeay~!)

Watari and Tsuzuki walk down the hall together.

Tsuzuki: It's been a long time since we've seen a hot springs, huh—.

([pointing to Tsuzuki] Nicely toasted.)

Watari: [genkily] This is our once a year luxury. Let's take our time soaking~!

Tsuzuki: Hm?

Tsuzuki tiredly looks to one side.

{sound f/x bo: exhausted}

A high pitched shrieking disturbs Tatsumi.

Watari & Tsuzuki: AH———~! IT'S TATSUMI-SAN——~~!!

([pointing to Tatsumi] Mistook the noise for the hostesses.)

{sound f/x gyo: shock}

Tatsumi: !! (They found me.)

Watari and Tsuzuki run full steam for Tatsumi.

Watari & Tsuzuki: (COME INTO THE BATHS WITH US~!!)

{sound f/x do do do: running footsteps}

Tatsumi: (geh~ No, this one's for young people...)

Watari & Tsuzuki: (WAH—~~!)

Tatsumi: [further away] (excuse me— [sweatdrop])

Watari & Tsuzuki: [further away] (WAH—~~!)

The three men start getting ready to head into the hot springs.

Watari: [scoping out the joint] Wow——~ what a big huge bath———~!! (You could swim in it!)

Tsuzuki: (U—m...) [putting his stuff away] Huh, I think maybe I drank a little too much...

([pointing to Tatsumi] Forced to come along.)

Tatsumi: [practically twitching with frustration] Well of course if you were drinking down all of the inn's sake—! How much can you handle without feeling anything, and yet you're drunk!! (For heaven's sake.)

Tsuzuki is blushing heavily and looks fairly toasted.

Watari: What is it? You don't look so good, Tsuzuki...

Tsuzuki: Mm——...

{sound f/x hiku: Tsuzuki's hiccup}

Tsuzuki: I'm suddenly... feeling very hot——

{sound f/x toron: sound of magical transformation}

Tsuzuki, flushed and half drunk, proceeds to dramatically strip down.

{sound f/x nugi: fling off clothes}

Watari and Tatsumi watch in SD shock, before breaking down in hysterical panic.

{sound f/x zokuun: sudden shivers}

{sound f/x ha: gasp}

Watari: It's no good! No good, Yutaka!! Wake up—~!!!

{sound f/x hi: Watari's high pitched shriek}

Watari: Tsuzuki's a friend! That's it and none of the rest!! (Dangerous~)

Tatsumi: I...I staggered over a man... (My preferences are...) (And moreover Tsuzuki-san...)

([pointing to Tatsumi's last statement] Really a shock.)

Tsuzuki: [completely innocent] What're you two grumbling about? (Hurry up and let's get in—.)

The three men climb into the spring and relax together.

Watari: Ah——~ this is living—

Tsuzuki: Really, hot springs are the best aren't they. Paradise paradise.

{sound f/x pokapoka: the sound of warmth throughout your body}

The arrow points to little monkeys that are also in the hot springs, with little towels over their heads.

(Wild monkeys sometimes come in, too.) [Actually true. I was told to watch out for monkeys when I went to the hot springs.]

Tatsumi: [rubbing his forehead, glasses in one hand] Old men say things like that, Tsuzuki-san...

(Reading glasses.)

Watari: The Boy should have come in with us.

Tsuzuki: Hisoka looks like stuff like this is his weak point.

Tatsumi: It can't be helped. I've heard that kids these days don't even want to expose themselves to their friends. (They come to the baths in things that look like bathing suits.)

Watari: (What.) It's not like your relationship has improved any.

Tsuzuki: [sweatdrop] ............Leave me alone.

Flashback to events with Hisoka from Volume 3, as Tsuzuki does his monologue.

Tsuzuki: ——But... Before that, he treated me the same as always, but after then, he's talked even less than before... he's always brooding and absorbed in thought about something... as if looking at me has become painful... I can't talk about what to do if I can't talk to him for myself... Hisoka is——...

{sound f/x muun: Tsuzuki sulking}

Tsuzuki: Man, what a strange place for thinking about kids and stubbornness... This trip was supposed to be a little change of pace but...

{sound f/x muka: sick, nauseated}

Tsuzuki: ————And then there's Muraki...!! Next time I see that guy I'll a~~~~bsolutely beat the crap outta him!!!

(It's good to not repress things from the past.)

With Muraki...

{sound f/x kushan: sneeze}[In Japan, it's believed that if someone's thinking about you strongly, you'll sneeze.]

Nurse: Ah, is there a breeze, sensei?

(That's a promise.)

Back at the hot springs...

{sound f/x garagara: clatter}

{sound f/x pishan: splash}

Tsuzuki: [turning towards the noise] ?

Across the divide, the sounds of voices can be heard.

Yuma: Wa~ This is a wonderful space, isn't it? This bath... (Kya~)

Saya: Yuma! If you run like that, you will slip.

Yuma: (Kya~) It's okay, Saya!!

Tsuzuki: [point] Could that be... the women's bath next door?

Tatsumi: (Because there's a partition.) .........Sounds like it.

Watari: [clasp hands together] OO~! (Lucky!)

The three settle back to listen to the conversation coming in over the partition.

Yuma: No way! Saya, you! Have you gotten a little fat?

Saya: MA————~! I have done nothing of that sort!! Yuma, you also have gotten a tad plump.

Yuma: No way! That's just my chest getting bigger!!

Saya: Ala, you're right, the feeling here is different than before, isn't it.

Yuma: See—~?! I've gone through some real pains for that!! How's Saya doing?

Saya: (Kya~!) Wait a minute~! Where are you touching, Yuma~!!

The three men begin blushing.

Saya: [sweatdrop] Mo—~ but that's a really strange thing to touch right away!!

Yuma: It's okay because we're both women. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, right?

Saya: IT IS NOT THAT SORT OF PROBLEM~!!

{sound f/x kaa: heavy blushing}

The men stop listening as screams and laughter come over the wall.

Watari: [blushing slightly] ...Dangerous.

{sound f/x dokidoki: heartbeat}

Tsuzuki: [blushing horribly] Young girls have a lot of things to consider— this old man understands.

{sound f/x kaa: Tsuzuki blushing some more}

{sound f/x butsu: Tatsumi's muttered complaining}

Tatsumi: [sweatdrop slightly] ————... My goodness, girls these days...

([pointing to Tatsumi] A man who generally dislikes women.)

Tatsumi: Perhaps we should just get out.

The three men start getting out of the hot spring.

Tatsumi: It's been something like one hour already. (Clearly.) I've prolonged it for too long. (Also because I'm worried about the Chief... Perhaps he's still singing. [sweatdrop])

Watari: Really huh— Any more than this and I'll be too tired to do anything tomorrow.

{sound f/x zaba: big splash}

Tsuzuki: You said it...

Tsuzuki gets out of the bath and starts walking away when he hears a rustling in the bushes.

{sound f/x gasa: rustling}

Tsuzuki: (huh?)

Tsuzuki-tachi peer around the bushes and find... a fox-man, a rabbit-man, and a gator-man, all dressed in 17th Century French jackets (gator-man has a matching white powdered wig, fox-man has matching spectacles).

{sound f/x nosonoso: slowly}

Katze: This is most distressing, isn't it, Yan-sensei. Well then, what shall we do now...?

Yan: We've come as far as here, Sebastian.

Sebastian: (That is correct...)

Katze: No, no, bothered, bothered. Bothered, bothered. My, my...

The three notice their peeping tom.

Yan: Hm?

Tsuzuki: [shock white SD] ...... huh?

In another, private, semi-enclosed bath, Hisoka is soaking while resting his head on the side.

{sound f/x sarasara: murmuring}

{sound f/x zaa: quiet white noise}

Hisoka: (Ha—...) It feels good...

{sound f/x sarasara}

Hisoka: It's really better to slowly get into a bath by yourself... If I had got in with those guys...

Hisoka imagines the reactions of Watari and Tsuzuki in SD form.

(Words of the Old Men (imagined))

Watari: (Wa!) (Oh~! Boy, you're pretty grown up, too!)

([pointing to Watari] Especially this guy.)

Tsuzuki: (Wa!) (Kids these days, they develop pretty good, huh?)

(I don't think Hisoka's very grown up.)

{sound f/x piki: Hisoka's angry twitches}

Hisoka: ——and then they'd just make fun of me.

Hisoka returns to brooding while resting on the side of the bath.

Hisoka: Because I stopped at 16...As it is I won't become 20, I won't become an old man, just always a 16 year old body...Tsuzuki'll always treat me like a kid and I'll always bother him... I want to hurry and catch up to him ......... I wanted to hurry up and become an adult...

Hisoka pushes himself out of the bath.

Hisoka: ......stop that. No use thinking, it'll always be useless. (ah—~, I won't grow any more...)

{sound f/x za: running water}

Hisoka: It's because nothing much has happened lately...

Loud screams suddenly cut in.

Voice: KYA~~~!! HEeLP MEee~! [SHRIEK~!]

{sound f/x bassha: splash!}

Hisoka falls back into the bath and roughly pulls himself back out.

{sound f/x zuki: sharp pain}

([pointing to Hisoka] Hit his head.)

Hisoka: (~~~) I gotta quit this job...

Back on the other side of the hot springs, Fox-man and friends are grilling the Shinigami-boys.

Katze: [right in the guy's faces] Are you people perhaps... not people of this world?

The three men are back in the hot springs, looking very confused and more than a little intimidated. All are in full face-fault, with giant eyes and dropped jaws.

Tatsumi: ......right.

Yan: Katze-san, are they perhaps Enma's people?

Katze: Ooh! Now that you mention it, I can feel their energy, Yan-sensei!

Tsuzuki: (wh-) Why is the fox talking?

Watari: The rabbit's talking, too.

Tatsumi: (But still...) Why is an alligator at a hot springs? (And besides that, they're all huge!!)

Yuma suddenly pops up over the partitioning.

Yuma: Wha——t— has a bear shown up too—guys?

{sound f/x hyoi: popping up suddenly}

The guys splash in the water in a struggle to cover themselves.

{sound f/x ata, futa: Tatsumi desperately trying to cover himself}

Tsuzuki: (WA——~) DON'T PEEP INTO THE MEN'S BATH!

(...you guys hurry up and put some clothes on [sweatdrop])

Yuma wipes her eyes and finally notices the guests.

Yuma: Ala.

Voice: (Idiot~! Don't look~! I'm traumatized~!)

Yuma suddenly brightens and waves.

{sound f/x shuta: Yuma waving sharply}

Yuma: (No way——) Is that who I think it is? Katze-san, right~!!

Katze: [looking up] Oh, you are Yuma-sama!

On the girl's side of the hot springs, footsteps can be heard before Hisoka comes bursting in.

{sound f/x ka ka: light footsteps}

{sound f/x gara: rattle}

Hisoka: [worried] OI! Did something happen again...

([pointing to Hisoka] After all, he's got worried and came.)

Hisoka ends up face to face with the luckily already robed girls. But still...

Hisoka: (GEH~)

The girls immediately begin shrieking and surrounding Hisoka.

Yuma: AH—————~~!! IT'S HISOKA-KUUN———~~!!!

Saya: KYA——— YOU LOOK SIMPLY LOVELY IN YOUR ROBE AS WELL—~!

(He got dressed just a little earlier...)

{sound f/x hi: Hisoka's loud shriek}

The other men, having finally gotten dressed, talk to these strange new people. Over the partition, sounds of the glomping can still be heard.

Hisoka: (GYA——~ STOP THAT... LET GO~~~)

{sound f/x gya: shriek like kya}

Tsuzuki: [wide eyed] And? Who in the world are you?

([pointing to Tsuzuki-tachi] Staying out of it.)

{sound f/x shikushiku: the animal people sobbing}

Yan: We are the Snow Queen's retainers.

Watari: The Snow Queen~~~?

Tatsumi: Aah! So that would mean that you are citizens of Beatrice-sama's country? (That would explain why you can talk.)

Katze: Yes. Do you know about our queen? Beatrice-sama is the person who rules over this country's winter. We came from out homes and the Snow Queen opened the country with a mirror granted by Enma-sama. The Queen was entirely covered in secrets.

Saya: Citizens of the Queen's country are all animals, but can do things like talk.

Tsuzuki: Ohh—~. [thinking] He——~ I've been with Enma-chou for 70 years and this is the first time I've ever heard of this.

Watari: Me, too.

(Only the Kansai.)

{sound f/x ki: Tatsumi's loud squeal}

([pointing to Tatsumi] Looks like he snapped.)

Tatsumi: [fuming mad] ...How about maybe studying things that happen in other Areas every once in a while, you two...!!

Yuma: We made pretty good friends with the Queen. (Because we're all from Hokkaido.)

Katze: You two truly had a good friendship with the Queen... (That is to say a one sided one...)

Yuma: ([laughing] What'd you say, what's you say?)

Watari: So? What're you doing here?

Voice: It looks like you're looking for something.

Katze: [sweatdrop] The truth is...

Katze tries to hold back the tears.

Katze: The truth is...the Queen has disappeared! She has been missing since this morniing~~~~!

Everyone: EH~!? (O——I, OI)

Everyone breaks into shock as Katze dissolves into very unmanly tears.

Tsuzuki: [looking very kawaiily distressed] That's awful! I'll help out, too! Let's search together! (You've been searching until this hour, you poor things...)

Katze: [wild tears] What a kind-hearted person you are...

([pointing to a bottle in Katze's arms] Eyewash.)

Tatsumi: WAIT JUST A MINUTE!!!

Katze falls over in SD shock.

Tatsumi: There is no relation between the Queen's disappearance and Enma-chou, is there? It is not our duty to lend a hand.

(WORKING FOR FREE...I HATE IT)

Tsuzuki and Katze gasp in SD horror.

{sound f/x suku: Tsuzuki standing up in SD injustice}

Tsuzuki: [horrified] No way! Tatsumi~~!!

Katze: (b-...) But...!! While the Queen is gone, winter will be lost from this country!!

Tatsumi: That is acceptable. I hate winter.

Katze: You won't be able to eat boiled crabs or sea urchin and salmon roe rice bowl or ishikarinabe!! [The last is a miso with sake base soup, with tons of other stuff thrown in.]

Tatsumi: I have no attachment to the things that I eat.

{sound f/x kenkengougou: pandemonium and noise}

Katze and Tatsumi stand off.

Katze: [steaming] ...... (um~...)

Tatsumi: [stand]

{sound f/x kero: unaffected}

Sebastian & Yan: [SD sweatdropping in the background] ...

Katze: How much of a reward would you like?

{sound f/x koro: Tatsumi grasping his triumph}

Tatsumi: I would hope to ride in a large ship!!!

Hisoka: [unbelieving SD in the background] [sweatdrop] (......Tatsumi-san?)

Sebastian & Yan: [sweatdrop] (H——m...) That's Katze for you. If food and drink don't work, try money... Don't let go of the prize you're aiming for...What disgraceful tactics. (Disagreeable guy.)

Works for Tatsumi. Amidst giant lightening bolts and his completely SD work force, Tatsumi announces his triumph.

Tatsumi: SA——— Let us go rescue the Queen, everyone!! [laughing triumphantly]

Tsuzuki: [sweatdrop] ...aren't they poor over there...

{sound f/x go go go: menacing atmosphere}

Tsuzuki: [sweatdrop] Hey Tatsumi...

{sound f/x yoro: Hisoka staggering}

Hisoka: (Ah, now I can't believe in anyone...)

(Truth is, Tatsumi's a miser.)

Voice: [sweatdrop] (Tatsumi~)

{sound f/x hyooo: cold wind blows through}

As can be expected, this year's free trip comes to a close.

Part 2

Manga belongs to Matsushita Youko, Hana to Yume, and Hakusensha, taken from the Yami no Matsuei, Volume 4 manga, ISBN4-592-17404-6. Not like the story makes sense if you haven't read the manga anyway. Romanized and translated into English very badly by Mina-P, with desperately needed help, as always, by Mako-chan. Any comments or corrections can be mailed to Mina-P at Minako@senshigakuen.com.

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