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.

On the mountainside, streams of lights from the townspeoples' torches can be seen even back at the Lord's mansion. "Saya" and "Yuma" watch the events.

{sound f/x don: dramatic effect}

{sound f/x gogo: threatening atmosphere}

"Yuma": It looks like it's started, hasn't it...

"Saya": I wonder if he'll really be caught. Because he's a "Shinigami," right? He's being treated like a criminal just because the color of his eyes isn't quite human... Poor thing...

"Yuma": ——It's because humans are weak, huh. If you don't get rid of the "origin" of fear, you can't feel safe.

"Saya": Speaking about it, I haven't seen the alchemist lately. (Perhaps he was fired, that would be it.) (?)

"Yuma": (Speaking about it, don't just say stuff like that.) I don't know anything about that.

"Saya" and "Yuma" begin walking away down one of the mansion's long halls.

"Yuma": More than that, look! We'd better hurry because Junior has to have his herb tea before he goes to bed!!

"Saya": ...That's true. We'd better hurry and go.

{sound f/x gooo: menacing sound}

Meanwhile, in the alchemist's lab....

Alchemist: Sailor's Liebe, My Shiip~~~~~~ [Liebe is German for love... That is all.]

{sound f/x kacha: click of metal on metal}

Alchemist: Antique Spinning Spinning Bicycle~~~~~

{sound f/x poto: trickling in thick drops}

Alchemist: Ah~~h The Road of Learning Won't Come Now~~~~~ For The Executive Future~~~~

{sound f/x suru: slow movement}

Alchemist: It Was Reeecooomeeend That I Became A Sparroow~~~~~~ Chun chun~ Chun chun chun~ Chu———n~

Alchemist hits the switch.

{sound f/x kachi: click of hitting the switch}

His experiment explodes.

{sound f/x bon: magical explosion with smoke f/x sound}

{sound f/x doka: explosion}

"003": [flying away] (Ack)

Alchemist looks at the resulting vial merrily.

{sound f/x para: debris falling down}

Alchemist: All right! It's complete...!!

{sound f/x gooo: threatening atmosphere}

Alchemist: I crystallized the collected essence of the science of alchemy!

{sound f/x boku: bubbling noise from the potion}

{sound f/x shuu: fog from the potion}

Alchemist: THE ULTIMATE LOVE POTION~~~!! Because I was doing various odd jobs, I fell behind with my great research.

{sound f/x butsu: Alchemist grumbling}

Alchemist: And then that glasses guy forced me to do other work... (Ah, 003, fetch me that ribbon.)

003: (Here you go.)

Alchemist ties the ribbon around a pretty vial.

Alchemist: And wrap it prettily...

{sound f/x kyu: tying the bow}

(It seems like last time, he was doing different work.)

Alchemist: Um! It's so cute~! Let's go now, 003. (~)

003: (Ay, sir.)

Alchemist and 003 leave the lab and walk into the hall. Shortly after, they meet up with a very casually dressed Junior. His hair is down and he's looking out a hall window.

Alchemist: ?

{sound f/x pata: 003 flapping his wings}

Alchemist: What is it, boy. You still up?

Junior: Ah... It's you...

Alchemist: [peering out the window] Whatcha looking at?

Junior: —— The mountain hunting. The plague came to town. They're going to burn the Shinigami.

Alchemist: How silly... Boy, you don't believe in superstition, do you? Your character's like that of an alchemist.

Junior: Actually, I only really want to ask that traveler a question. I want to know if it's greatly untrue that he can turn lead into gold.

Alchemsit: [sweatdropping] Ah, right... By the way, you know where that frightening guy is? I did something I promised... (Hmmmm...)

Junior whirls around and stares at Alchemist in shock.

Junior: !? No way... You completed the medicine...!?

Alchemist goes into happy SD genkiness.

{sound f/x pinpon: bingo~!}

Alchemist: THAS RIGHT! With this, the Lord Master will get his young bride.

003: (And who's happy~ happy~ happy!!)

(Very happy.)

Alchemist: I was just cheerily caught up in researching!

{sound f/x hoku: Alchemist being pleased with himself.}

Junior: Please, sell that medicine to me!!

Alchemsit looks at the distressed young master in confusion.

Alchemist: Huh? (It's kinda early for the boy to be using this... He's only 18.)

Junior: (NOT THAT~) I'M OPPOSED TO THIS MARRIAGE~!!

Junior forces the words out as Alchemist watches him.

Junior: Father's always alone... I know he's lonely... but... I don't want Father to forget... about Mother...

Alchemist: It looks like some complicated circumstances. But ya know, boy—— This is a written contract. I can't just break it. (Sorry 'bout that.)

Junior looks very depressed. Alchemist quickly rushes to make amends. Those puppy eyes will getcha every time...

Junior: ......

003: (He's sad?)

{sound f/x wata: Alchemist flapping around}

Alchemist: (Ah~~~~) Don't look like that—— You're making me depressed, too.

Alchemist puts the vial in Junior's hands.

Alchemist: I'll give you this good thing in exchange.

{sound f/x pon: Alchemist handing the vial over}

Alchemist: With this, cheer up.

Junior: [shocked] Huh...? But just before...

Alchemist: [brightly] Don't worry about it. I'm a friend to beauties and children~.

Elsewhere...

Ruka: ...... This is bad, isn't it.

Ruka and Tsuzuki cross a moat into some castle ruins.

Tsuzuki: And of all things, both of us have zero sense of direction...

Ruka: I wonder which way to my house——— (I don't know~~~)

([pointing to Ruka and Tsuzuki on the bridge] Here.)

Tsuzuki: ——...

Ruka: [genki] Well, if we keep walking we'll reach my house! (It's all right!) (Because the earth is round.)

Tsuzuki: [SD crying] ...... That's right, huh...

{sound f/x gatsu: Ruka making a determined fist}

(Even inside of the book, Tsuzuki has no sense of direction.)

Below them on the mountainside, dozens of sparkling lights illuminate the ground.

Tsuzuki: Huh... What's that. Is it fire from the town?

Ruka: Huh? Something's strange with that. They're approaching here...

Light suddenly bursts on Tsuzuki's face.

Voice: I found him! That guy~!!

{sound f/x ka: bright light}

Tsuzuki: !!

Ruka: Wh...what...!?

Butler steps out of the light.

{sound f/x ko: Butler's hollow footstep}

Butler: You were found surprisingly fast. This time were you planning to possess that girl? Mr. "Shinigami."

Back in the real world, Tatsumi and Hisoka read the book in the Count's study.

{sound f/x para: pages flipping}

{sound f/x baa: magic from the book}

Hisoka: This story is moving in a dangerous direction... (And rapidly.)

Tatsumi: Is there no way to stop this thing from writing, Count?

Count: (Ummm...) This book writes the story according to its own will. It can't be easily stopped.

The Count breaks into SD happiness.

Count: But if would be so much fun to torture Tsuzuki until he gasped in pain......~ [chuckling merrily]

Hisoka: ——— Sadist...

Tatsumi: PERVERT~.

Hisoka: (Ah) The falsely accused Tsuzuki ran away from Ruka. Is that all right? He has no sense of direction...

Count: He'll be fine somehow. At the crucial moment, the Caretaker will come save him.

Tatsumi: ——... Speaking of that... Why am I some evil charactered villain, Sir Count...?

{sound f/x hiku: shaking with anger}

{sound f/x go: threatening menace}

Count: Huh? It suits you. Because you've got the "face of a villain."

{sound f/x garadon: loud clattering}

Tatsumi: WHAAT DID YOOU SAAY~!!!

Hisoka: (Ah~~~ Ta~Tatsumi-san, calm down~)

Back in the book, Tsuzuki runs tearfully through the forest.

{sound f/x hyooo: cold wind}

{sound f/x za: soft rustling from the trees}

Tsuzuki: Why... Ha...~ (Haa...~) Why is this happening...

Voice: It's your fault!!

Tsuzuki: My heart...painful...~...

Voice: You killed everyone~!!!

Tsuzuki collapses to his knees.

Tsuzuki: ......... No matter how different the world is... I'm still—— Nothing but a Shinigami...

Through the bushes, Tsuzuki hears some rustling.

Voice: Ow~...! Stop, let me go~!!

{sound f/x gasa: rustling through the bushes}

On the other side of some hedges, Butler tugs Ruka by her shawl.

Tsuzuki: Ruka...!?

Ruka: You're so mean! Why are you doing something like that!!!

{sound f/x gan: Tsuzuki's horrible revelation}

Tsuzuki: (I planned to run away but really just came back!!?)

(Idiot.)

Ruka: Mr. Angel isn't a criminal! The illness was just a coincidence!!

Butler: That bastard's a Shinigami. Someday he'll destroy this town.

Ruka: You're wrong! You just can't forgive him for ruining your plan to make me the Lord's wife!! It's not just this prejudice!! Do you want to please the Lord so much? Do you... do you hate me!? Why do you torment me!!?

Tsuzuki: Ruka...

Both Butler and Tsuzuki watch the sobbing Ruka.

Butler: ...... Even you, no matter how much I wanted you to understand, you didn't. Because no matter how much I wanted you to know... my true feelings.

Ruka: ——...

Butler: You didn't know... I nearly killed myself to win the Lord's favor—— I took over that house... Do you know why?

{sound f/x zaa: quiet rustling of wind through the trees}

Butler strokes a shocked Ruka's face gently before embracing her.

Butler: —— Because I wanted... I wanted you alone to be happy...

Ruka and Tsuzuki stare at Butler. It's hard to tell who's further in shock.

Ruka: .........

The Caretaker lands on Tsuzuki's back and starts talking to him.

Caretaker: It looks like that's Mr. Tatsumi's real feelings.

Tsuzuki: [craning his head over his shoulder] Ah, the Caretaker. (When did you come here?)

Caretaker: The "Butler" is a character made from Mr. Tatsumi's base personality. In other words, it's his other self. Therefore, the "Butler's" words are Mr. Tatsumi's words...

(There's a very small gap between you and your other self.)

Caretaker: The "Butler's" feelings—— are Mr. Tatsumi's feelings...

Tsuzuki: Other self...

Caretaker: And what he can't say to anyone—— Tucked away in the depths of his heart are his true feelings...

Tsuzuki: Tatsumi...

Tsuzuki starts thinking about Tatsumi's words.

Tatsumi: "If somehow you're, more than anyone else, happy then..."

Tsuzuki is so caught up in remembrance, he doesn't notice when Butler suddenly snaps his head around.

{sound f/x pachi: sharp snapping sound}

Ruka: [sweatdropping] (Ah) MR. ANGEL~

{sound f/x hii: Tsuzuki shrieking}

Tsuzuki: Dammit...!! The twig...

(Blockhead.)

Butler: Lookie lookie...

{sound f/x gasa: Butler's stealthy movement}

Butler: I supposed you came back here just to be killed...

Ruka: Run away!! This man has a gun!!

Butler: It's a good gun. Right here...

Butler reaches into his jacket.

{sound f/x su: Butler slowly reaching into his jacket}

Butler: Alchemist gave me the ability to cause bloodshed... At the beginning my intention was to arrest and punish you but... I'm through with those tedious methods.

Butler draws his gun on Tsuzuki.

Butler: I'll quickly take it with my hand now——

{sound f/x kachi: cocking the gun}

Butler: Die.

Tatsumi: Wh...~

{sound f/x don: gunshot}

Butler opens fire, shooting Tsuzuki through the heart.

{sound f/x don}

{sound f/x don}

Hisoka and Ruka watch the events from their different locations in shock.

Ruka: MR. ANGEEL———~~!!!

{sound f/x zaa: silence}

Ruka: No...! Stop!!

{sound f/x don}

Ruka: STOOP——~~

{sound f/x don}

{sound f/x zaa: silence}

Some of the other townspeople come running up to the pair with their torches. Ruka kneels on the ground, watching Tsuzuki's body in shock and horror.

Townsperson: Sir Butler!

Townsperson: Those gunshots right now...

Butler: This guy came back and attacked, so I shot him out of necessity.

Townsperson: Should we carry away the body?

Butler: Leave it here. It'll be fine if the beasts eat it. Confine this girl in the usual room. I'll be waiting until the Alchemist prepares the medicine.

Townsperson: Yes, sir!!

Back in the real world, Tatsumi, Hisoka, and the Count are taking Tsuzuki's shooting in stride.

Count: I give up... I didn't think Tsuzuki would be attacked.

Hisoka: From this point, how will the story progress?

Count: I don't know either... This is a disappointment, huh.

Tatsumi: ...... Think... There has to be something... There has to be a way to get him back from the book world.

The door opens slowly.

{sound f/x gi: the door creaking open}

Tatsumi: Something——...!!

Watari pokes his head into the room.

Watari: What's the deal, guys~~

{sound f/x ha: Hisoka gasping}

Watari: Why're you in this place?

([pointing to Watari] He heard from Watson-san and came.)

Watari: I was searching all over here and there... (Really~) (I went home and came back and no one told me where they were~)

Hisoka: Ah! Watari-san. (I completely forgot.)

Tatsumi suddenly lights up.

Tatsumi: WATARI-SAN~!!

{sound f/x biku: Watari being surprised}

Watari: (AH) Wh...What's up, Tatsumi~!! (I left and came right back~~)

Tatsumi: ...Right... ———That's right... You have this hand......! You can rescue Tsuzuki-san from the book!!!

Watari: [utterly confused] ...... Huh?

Shortly after, Tatsumi-tachi have managed to catch Watari up to the situation.

Watari: —— I see... In the world inside of the book, huh... Really, that guy gets himself into all sorts of trouble~ (Man~)

003: (Sounds like fun~)

Tatsumi: What do you think? Can you bring him back?

Watari: [buried in the book] I don't know, but I'll give it a shot.

{sound f/x pata: 003 flapping around}

Watari: (Speaking of that, who made this book...) Tatsumi. Paper and pencil.

Tatsumi: Here.

Hisoka: [rather confused] Paper and pencil? How's he going to rescue Tsuzuki with that...?

Inside of the book, the story continues to unfold...

———Three months later...

{sound f/x para: book pages turning}

Because of the violet-eyed Shinigami, the town was contaminated and looked to pledge to a fresh god. It was a revival. This pledge was namely exchanging oaths in a ceremony for our Lord God...

Townsperson: The preparations for the bride have been put in order. Really, my, she makes a pretty bride...

{sound f/x shuu: fabric rustling}

Townsperson: It will truly be a wonderful wedding ceremony.

In a beautiful room in the cathedral, Ruka sits before tables of flowers in a wedding dress. Her eyes are completely clouded over.

Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12

Manga belongs to Matsushita Youko, Hana to Yume, and Hakusensha, taken from the Yami no Matsuei, Volume 5 manga, ISBN4-592-17405-4. 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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