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.

The Snow Queen's country, we can assume. A large castle stands in the middle of a moat.

Voice: Wo——w , it's huge... this is an ice castle, huh...

The Shikanka employees (Tsuzuki, Hisoka, Watari, Tatsumi, Saya, and Yuma) follow the Snow Queen's retainers. They look around the castle as they walk down the hall.

Yan: The castle was made from domestic natural crystal and permanent ice ridges.

{sound f/x hyoko: Yan's popping up suddenly}

Tsuzuki: Wow——...

Yan: As we finished it with endlessly transparent raw materials, there's almost no trembling to the human eye. However in the castle there is perfect heating, so please feel free to relax and make yourselves at home.

Tatsumi and Hisoka simply stare at the modern heating unit.

{sound f/x buo: the heater blowing}

Tatsumi: ...... (I see. This is the southern country's climate.)

Hisoka: (Is this okay? To get the ice castle so warm?)

Katze: Oh, we have not introduced ourselves yet, have we? I—— I serve as the Queen's steward. I am Katze. And then here is the Royal Doctor Yan-sensei.

Sebastian: I am the musician Sebastian.

Yan: We are the spirits of dead and mistreated animals killed by humans. Suffering... We wandered lost until the Queen taught us words—— She presented us with this place to live and promised to protect us...

Tsuzuki: (Heh~~) What a remarkable person, huh.

Yan: [chuckling softly] That's our Queen that we're proud of.

Katze: All of the creatures who live in this country love the Queen from the bottom of their hearts. Especially when you consider that in a world where our Queen doesn't exist... Because of that, we all started searching to find our Queen as soon as possible. We would like to have that peace of mind. Our "lives" are... And so we will certainly pay you your reward...

Tatsumi grabs Katze's hands...paws?

Tatsumi: With all of our hearts, we sympathize with you.

{sound f/x go: threatening atmosphere}

Tatsumi: Please leave everything to us!!

(Where are you looking at, Tatsumi-san... [sweatdrop])

Watari: [SD in the background] (Tatsumi... [sweatdrop])

Tsuzuki suddenly hears little noises.

Tsuzuki: Hm?

At his feet, little chubby squirrels worry themselves.

{sound f/x peko: grovel}

Tsuzuki picks up one of the ultra kawaii squirrels.

Tsuzuki: (... let's see...)

Tsuzuki smiles as the squirrels start happily climbing all over him.

Tsuzuki: (Ah—, that tickles) It's okay. We'll definitely find your queen.

Hisoka watches the display a bit worriedly.

Hisoka: ... (He's promising too much again.)

Voice: And? At about what time did your Queen's disappearance occur?

Voice: According to the maid's testimony, the Queen was confirmed to be here at 9 o'clock last night... This morning, however, her presence...

Hisoka: [pondering] And there's no reason for her disappearance either...

Watari: Maybe she got involved in something...

Tsuzuki suddenly clutches his stomach. His eyes go wide.

{sound f/x bikun: surprise}

Tsuzuki: AH...~!!

Watari-tachi leap forward to help Tsuzuki.

Watari: What is it!? What happened, Tsuzuki~!?

Tsuzuki: (~a...)

Yan: Tsuzuki-sama?

Tsuzuki clutches himself.

Tsuzuki: —...

{sound f/x kudo~: pain}

Tsuzuki: ...my...~ MY TUMMY'S GROWLING...~

Everyone facefaults.

Tsuzuki: (I only ate or drank that stuff!!)

{sound f/x kuru kiyu: reel needless anxiety}

([pointing to a set of feet] Watari.)

Tatsumi: [wiping his glasses calmly] (You're good atation>Saya: No waay! Tatsumi-san~!! (Meany~!)

Yuma: We want to go with Hisoka-kun tooo——~!!

Tatsumi: Stop being so spoiled. (You two.)

Tsuzuki: To the west is the location of Mashuuko, right...

Yan: The master over there has a bad relationship with the Queen...

Hisoka: (Hurry up, let's go.)

The girls cry loudly and wave as Hisoka leaves with Tsuzuki-tachi.

Yuma: (Hisoka-ku—n, hurry up and come back, oka~~y!)

Saya: (Well be waiting for you, Darling!)

Hisoka: [twitching] ~~~~~ (I don't want to come back...)

Katze: Well then, shall we go? Please watch your step.

The night is clear and silent. The group walks silently through the snow-covered woods when Hisoka comes to a halt.

{sound f/x zaa: the sound of silence ^_^}

{sound f/x za za: the breeze rustling leaves}

Hisoka: ———...

Tsuzuki: [turning around] What is it, Hisoka? Do your feet hurt?

Hisoka: ...... I don't like the dark. I can't see anything.

Tsuzuki: [looking to the sky] That's right... today's a new moon so it'll be pitch black.

Hisoka folds in on himself.

Hisoka: Only bad things come in the dark...Maybe I start to forget where I am. It makes me uneasy. (...~...) ——— Scared......

Hisoka suddenly opens his eyes to find a gloved hand under his face. When he looks up, Tsuzuki is smiling at him.

Tsuzuki: [smile sweetly] Hold on. I have good night vision.

Hisoka: (...)

([referring to sensei's shot of Hisoka] ...strange face.)

Hisoka stares blankly at Tsuzuki for a while, before he suddenly explodes.

Hisoka: (HEY) What the hell, you bastard, don't treat me like a child!!! (Really, you're the one who's a kid!)

Tsuzuki: What, what—! You said you didn't like the dark so I——

Katze: Ah, you can see it.

Below them, a pristine lake opens up, surrounded by snow-covered hills.

{sound f/x za: white noise}

Katze: It's Kamuisshu's lake Mashuuko——— If we don't find anything here, let's try going to Kussharoko next.

Tsuzuki: Right.

Hisoka narrows his eyes in recognition before closing them. Power swirls around him.

{sound f/x za: psychic breeze, er, Hisoka's powers}

Katze: What is Kurosaki-sama doing?

Tsuzuki: (Ah—) He's tracing the Queen's consciousness. He has empathetic powers.

{sound f/x gasa: rustle, stealthy movement}

There's a slight rustling in the bushes, before the glint of movement catches Tsuzuki's eye.

Katze: (Ah, I see.)

{sound f/x ki: glint}

Tsuzuki: (Ah-) Look out...!

{sound f/x do: big impact}

Tsuzuki leaps in front of a shocked Hisoka and catches an arrow in the chest. Everyone gathers around Tsuzuki who's kneeling on the ground. Good thing he's already dead.

Hisoka: Tsuzuki~!?

Katze: Tsuzuki-sama~~!!?

Cloaked archers pop out from behind the bushes.

{sound f/x za!: strong movement, archers popping up}

Archer: Don't move!! [drawing arrow] If you move we'll shoot!!!

Tsuzuki yanks the arrow out of his chest and looks around.

Tsuzuki: ——... We're surrounded!!

{sound f/x zuu: Tsuzuki popping the arrow out of his chest}

{sound f/x saku: step}

An old man steps through the snow. He's tall, stately, and very old. He's also remarkably, um, rustic looking, with long hanging robes, shaggy beard and hair covering his face almost entirely, and a veil-like "crown" of moss and grass. He's like a cross between Father Time and Swamp Thing.

Master: What do we have here... Enma's "Dogs"?

Tsuzuki and Hisoka stare at the old man in shock.

Tsuzuki & Hisoka: This is...the master of Mashuuko——!!?

Master: Be gone, Shinigami. This is not a place for you to come to. Be good boys and leave here quietly...otherwise a rain of arrows will fall on you.

Tsuzuki: Uh...um, Mr. Master sir, do you know anything about the Snow Queen?

Master: Queen...? Hmph... I don't know anything. That outsider woman, we don't know a thing about her.

Tsuzuki looks a bit put out.

Tsuzuki: ——... Hold on...

The master of Mashuuko turns. There's a rustling surrounding him.

Master: I don't think I have any sort of way with words.

{sound f/x zawazawa: rustling, building of power}

Master: ——... You people... I said be gone but...

{sound f/x meki: quick progress}

There's a sudden movement before a large dragon turns on the group and begins attacking.

Master: Do you not understand———~~!!!

{sound f/x do: big impact}

Katze: AHHHH——————!!!!

(The master's real form is a dragon.)

Katze and Cait Sith flee in frantic SD from the attacks. They stand their ground for the smaller attacks and simply attempt to shield themselves.

{sound f/x gooo: the master's attacks}

Katze: [shriek]

{sound f/x baki: smaller impacts}

Cait Sith: This has become awful nyaa—! [sweatdrop]

Master: Disappear!! You filty rats!

{sound f/x guwaa: the dragon's roar}

Hisoka: Aah...~

Hisoka and Tsuzuki leap to dodge the dragon's attacks. Tsuzuki finally slides to a stop and begins gathering energy.

Tsuzuki: ——...!!

{sound f/x za!: Tsuzuki screeching to a stop}

Tsuzuki: Y...ou

{sound f/x muka: feeling sick, nauseated}

Tsuzuki: STUBBORN JERK~!!! If you've got a dragon over there, I've got a counter-dragon right over here!!

{sound f/x ga: impact}

Katze sweatdrops and panics in SD form.

Katze: (Wai...Tsuzuki-sama~ [shriek] Is that such a good thing to do...)

{sound f/x hyo: wind blowing}

Tsuzuki: I offer my humble wishes, my Twelve Divine Protecting Gods——

{sound f/x paripari: crackle of energy}

Tsuzuki: Blue water, blue light, with your freezing breath, defeat the chosen enemy!!

(Hey, that isn't an enemy, not an enemy...)

Tsuzuki: Grant this and present yourself before me!!

{sound f/x za!: strong movement}

Tsuzuki: Come, Souryuu~!!! [One of the four gods, Souryuu is the blue dragon of the frozen north. Sometimes also known as Seiryuu, for those who recognize that one more.]

{sound f/x don: BIG impact}

{sound f/x do: big impact}

The Blue Dragon appears in a swirl of snow and power and dramatic speed lines.

Master: (So...) Souryuu!!? Impossible... Why can a human do something like this? In the gods, he's equal to the head of all dragons...

(A three-clawed dragon doesn't rank as high. [Souryuu has 5.])

As Tsuzuki backs away from the fight his foot hits something...

{sound f/x ga: impact}

{sound f/x tsuru: slide}

{sound f/x gochi: comical collision}

...And he proceeds to trip backwards over a snowman head, somehow bending backwards far enough to hit his head at the same time. Tsuzuki falls to the ground and clutches his head.

Tsuzuki: (OWW~~~~!!!)

Katze: [inspecting the snowman head] (Ah~) What's a snowman doing in a place like this...

Souryuu: [watching] ...... [sweatdrop]

Katze looks closer at the snowman. The snow has become cleared to one side from Tsuzuki's trip. Inside, a beautiful woman is passed out.

Katze: Ahh~!! This is...the Queen~!!?

Hisoka & Tsuzuki: [looking up in shock]

Tsuzuki: Huuuh~!!?

Katze frets over the SD dazed Queen as the others sweatdrop around them.

Katze: How did you get into an accident in a place like this again!! (And in a snowman nonetheless~) My Queen!! Pull yourself together——!!

Master: ———This is ridiculous!! [twitching] I'm going back home!! (Really.)

(The first one to cut out was Souryuu-san.)

Back at the Ice Castle, the Queen is seated on her thrown answering everyone's concerns.

Queen: ...please, please. I have just encountered a most horrible thing.

Tatsumi: What in the world happened?

Voice: Right.

Queen: It is a quite shameful story but... Last night over in the corner of the veranda, I found a box of sweets.

The girls suddenly look very nervous and embarrassed.

Yuma & Saya: Sweets!!?

{sound f/x biku: surprise}

Queen: They were frozen together solid and looked quite old. Someone must have forgotten them in a corner of my room, and the maid had placed it outside and forgotten about it.

Katze: [horrified] My Queen!! Don't I always tell you not to eat food you find lying around...!!! (You're not a child...)

Queen: [thoughtful] ———I don't remember you saying that to me. Late at night I slipped out of the castle.

The Queen turns SD and looks like a little kid who's done something wrong.

Queen: It was my intention to quickly pig out and then come back... The moon hadn't come out either and it was dark. Before I knew it I had lost my way on the Master's land. I'm in the middle of my diet. I had decided to control myself but against better judgement... (Still there's so much further to go...)

Katze: Unbelievable...She planned to eat it all herself.

Voice: But, why did you faint in a place like that?

Voice: Right.

Voice: (She didn't eat it.)

Queen: Actually cold things are my favorite things to eat, so I ate the frozen sweets. They were disgusting, just disgusting. I didn't think that such disgusting things could exist in the entire world.

The girls immediately look horrified.

Saya & Yuma: AHH~ We knew it~~~~!!!

(It looks like they know that Tsuzuki's cooking is usually classified as horrible!. (Of course, they don't understand it themselves.))

Queen: With those absolutely disgusting things, my energy left me. I just swooned right there.

Yan and Katze begin ranting furiously as the girls stare in disbelief in the background.

Yan & Katze: (What the...) Who in the world would with such things... I cannot forgive that! (I'd like to see the face of the person who made them right here...) (Really!) (Unforgivable!)

Yuma: I'm sorry! Tsuzuki-chan!!

Tsuzuki: Um...~

Saya: The truth is, those sweets...

The girls bow for forgiveness in front of a furiously blushing Tsuzuki.

Saya: ——...

Tsuzuki: ...... [sweatdrop] (um...) Huh~?

This case has been settled, but——...

Katze: Although we believe that the cause of this disturbance was from you, you will be given a reward of NOTHING. (Sudden, wasn't it.)

Tatsumi: WHAAT~!!? (No way...)

Tatsumi, shaking angrily, turns to a panicked Tsuzuki.

Tatsumi: ......

{sound f/x furu: Tatsumi shaking with anger}

Tsuzuki: (uh...) Um... Sorry Tatsumi... (about that...)

Tatsumi slowly takes off his glasses and starts talking in scary Sanjiyan font.

Tatsumi: ———Tsuzuki-san...~ A man like youuuu~~~~~~

{sound f/x giro: glare}

{sound f/x su: Tatsumi slowly taking off his glasses.}

(Snap.)

Tatsumi proceeds to soundly be the crap out of Tsuzuki.

Tatsumi: (Today, today you will not be forgiven—~!!)

{sound f/x garadon: giant clattering}

Tsuzuki: (AHHHHH~~~~)

(That day in Hokkaido, there was a great outbreak of local snow.)

Truly with money, it became a yen-less trip. [This is a pun. The travel is described without having en, which could mean it not having fate, or not having Japanese yen.]

The Chief at about that time.

Konoe: ("In the valleey~ of a wavve~ the flowerrs~ of liffe~ the twoo~ strand togetherr and bloomm~~")

(Still singing.)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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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