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.

In the book world, everyone who's anyone is gathered at the town's cathedral for the wedding between Ruka and the Lord.

Priest: All right, now—— We will now hold the wedding ceremony between the Lord and the Village Girl. Now then, before this couple exchanges vows with each other—— we must have God's blessing... Amen.

Crowd: Amen...

{sound f/x waa: crowd cheering}

The crowd cheers this strange strange wedding ceremony. Butler watches the whole thing solemnly.

Butler: It's been a long time... I have always been dreaming of this day... With this, you'll be happy. Never again——... will you cry in poverty or be hungry.

Ruka: Why do you do these things...!? Why do you torment me!!!

Butler: —— You're wrong...!! I have wished for your happiness over anyone else's. But as one of the masses, what could I do? I don't have money or status or prestige, I'm only a man. I think of you more than everyone else... ——but... Because I love you. The one who can make you happy isn't me... It's because I love you... This is the best. This is... Somehow, be happy——...

Junior slips from the crowd and approaches the happy couple.

{sound f/x sa: Junior stepping forward}

Junior: Father. Please accept this blessing from myself to your new bride.

Lord: You... Didn't you oppose to us...?

Junior: [holding out a goblet] This morning I saw Mother in a dream. She asked me to forgive you two...

In Junior's mind, he remembers the words that Alchemist said to him.

Alchemist: "This is the antidote that will counteract the aphrodisiac that I handed over to Butler."

Lord: Is that right... I'm so glad...!! I worried about you.

Alchemist: "If you mix it into alcohol and drink it, the medicine will wear off and she'll come to her senses.

Lord: Thank you so much for forgiving me.

Junior: Be serious. ...right. I won't hand Father over to anyone.

Junior holds up the goblet to Ruka.

Junior: Please drink, Step-mother... Because until you die, you're Mother's!!!

Ruka takes the goblet and drinks it as Junior watches. Meanwhile, Father Gushoushin continues the ceremony.

"Gushoushin": My Lord—— Before the exchange of rings, will you remove your mask and show your true face? Even for an instant, because this is a sacred wedding ceremony.

Lord: Oh, is that right? Well, if the priest says so... I suppose it can't be helped.

{sound f/x suu: the slow sound of the Lord removing his mask}

Lord: Well then——...

Voice: Hold this wedding——~!!!

Everyone stops what they're doing and looks around as a voice interrupts the ceremony.

Junior: !?

Butler: What~...!?

Voice: This wedding is cursed!! You arranged to use a medicine in this ceremony... God will certainly not forgive this!!

The wedding goers scream as all of the candles blow out at once.

{sound f/x fu: sound of the candles going out}

{sound f/x wa: sound of the wedding goers screaming}

Townsperson: Kyaaa!! Th~.. The fire~~!!

{sound f/x gashan: crash}

Butler: This voice... ......... Is it...!! Who are you~!! Show yourself!!!

{sound f/x bishi: whooshing sound}

{sound f/x baki: a stained glass window cracking}

{sound f/x mishi: the window creaking}

Tsuzuki suddenly bursts through the stained glass window of the cathedral on Byakko's back.

{sound f/x gasha: CRASH, Tsuzuki bursting through the window}

{sound f/x gara: clattering of glass from the ceiling falling to the ground}

{sound f/x gashan: pieces of glass crashing}

Townsperson: H~He's...!!

Townsperson: He's the Shinigami~!!!

Townsperson: He's alive!!!

Butler: Impossible! I killed you... I killed you with my own hand~!!

Tsuzuki: You mean when you used a human weapon against one who governs death!! I'm taking back the bride!!

(Private Converstion.)

Byakko: And yet when I came back, you were really in pain. (I always tell you, really... And you always take the time to change your clothes just for your big entrance———.)

{sound f/x boso: Byakko and Tsuzuki muttering}

Tsuzuki: Be quiet, Byakko-san~!! (Well the ones from before were full of blood.)

Watching Tsuzuki's entrance, Ruka's eyes slowly clear.

{sound f/x goo: threatening atmosphere}

Ruka: ——... Mr. Angel——~~!!!

Butler: !? [gasp]

Tsuzuki: Ruka!! I'm here to save you!!! Byakko!!

Byakko leaps into the crowd of wedding goers.

Townspeople: (Uwaa~) (Eeeek~!!)

{sound f/x goo: threatening menace}

{sound f/x kii: high pitched squeal}

(Byakko manipulates wind and atmosphere, and so by using air vibrations, he makes a supersonic boom.)

Townspeople: (Kyaa) (Aaaaaaaah) (Eeek~) (My~... My head's... splitting———~~!!!)

{sound f/x mishi: the cathedral creaking}

Back in the real world, Tatsumi and the Count sweatdrop over the book.

Count: Just like always, that kid's so excessive... (Ahhh)

Tatsumi: Even inside of the book, he announces himself like a demon of destruction. (The church will surely all crash down.)

Watari: ALL RIGHT!! I'M DONE~!!! WHATCHA THINK!!

Watari holds up a strange, horrible stick figure drawing that looks like it was done by perhaps a 4 year old. The picture says, "Got no money~~~" and "by Watari."

([pointing to the picture] Tsuzuki.)

{sound f/x baan: dramatic impact of Watari displaying his picture}

(At the height of pride.)

Watari: Didn't I do pretty good drawing with nothing to look at~!?

Tatsumi, the Count, and 003 look at the picture blankly.

([pointing to the back of the picture] Back.)

Tatsumi: That's Art level 2... (my, my...) [siigh]

Count: (No~~~~ My Tsuzukiiiii~)

{sound f/x guru: the Count's mind spinning round}

{sound f/x buchi: Watari snapping}

Watari: [twitching] The outfield can shut up!!

(I don't think we're talking about level 2 here...)

Hisoka: [staring at the picture] How is this going to return Tsuzuki here?

Watari: Hm? Aah, that's right, the boy still doesn't know. My power is taking something like a machine or something like a picture... I breathe a soul into some non-living, inorganic substance. In other words, I can make something materialize from inside the picture.

Hisoka: ......

Watari: Ah! It's okay!! When he materializes, it'll recall the real Tsuzuki. (Because the picture doesn't come out exactly.)

003: (He's really bad.)

Watari: Whenever you think it's the right time, give me a sign. I'll bring him back right away.

Tatsumi: I understand.

Watari: Okay, let's go!!

In the other book world, Butler continues to throw a fit at Tsuzuki's sudden arrival and Ruka's subsequent revival.

Butler: What in the world is this~!

Alchemist: [looking bored] (Uh~~~ He keeps talking~~~. Ah— mo— it'll be over in 30 pages.)

(...It's already half way through.)

Butler: Explain!! Alchemist!!!

Alchemist: (Ah— mo—) I didn't violate the promise, did I? Just like you told me, I made an aphrodisiac and handed it over to you—. So you've got no right to complain after that.

Butler: You... You didn't have to give an antidote to Junior... Bastard... have you no shame~?

Alchemist: Who's shameless here!? I wasn't about to let you have your way, using a potion to win a girl! That's not what a man does!! But I told you didn't I! For doing things like that, I HAAAATE YOU!!!

Butler and Alchemist stare at each other in SD conflict.

Butler: Then give me back your work fee.

{sound f/x bee: sound of Alchemist sticking his tongue out}

Alchemist: That's that, this's this. (I did my work just like you sa~id.)

Byakko: [sweatdropping] Is this a sense of justice? Is this a corrupt business? That's your opinion...

Butler: ——... Bastard...

{sound f/x gasha: grab}

Butler grabs a sword from a nearby table at the wedding and rushes Tsuzuki and Byakko.

Butler: You monster~!!

{sound f/x da: Butler leaping for his enemies}

Butler slashes Tsuzuki across the face. Blood drips onto the ground.

{sound f/x bishu: slash}

Tsuzuki: !!

{sound f/x bota: blood gushing}

{sound f/x pota: blood dripping slightly}

Butler stares at Tsuzuki in shock. His wound heals leaving behind very little blood.

Butler: !? [gasp]

Tsuzuki: [stroking his healed cheek] Do you understand? Things like that won't work on me. If you call off the ceremony and hand Ruka over, I'll leave immediately.

Butler: Shut up!! No one interferes with me!! If anyone breaks down my... her happiness, I'll kill them, no matter who they are~!!!

Tsuzuki: Is it happiness to be with a man who she doesn't love!?

Butler charges Tsuzuki again.

Butler: That's right!! At least her money troubles will end!!

{sound f/x bun: swish of Butler's sword}

Butler: And she'll never be bothered with the cost of her father's medicine! And she'll never be frozen by the cold in winter!! That's "happiness"~~!!!

This time, Butler strikes Tsuzuki hard, hitting him through the middle with the sword.

{sound f/x do: Butler running Tsuzuki through}

Butler: AHHHHH!!!

Tsuzuki: ......

{sound f/x pota: dripping blood}

Tsuzuki: You're wrong... Like that, no one's happy...

Butler: !!

Tsuzuki: Not me... not Ruka... ...... not you... I don't want only me to be happy... [gasp] I don't want someone to be sorrowful... I don't want everyone to be unhappy.

Tsuzuki looks Butler in the eyes.

Tsuzuki: I don't want to be apart from you... Tatsumi...

Butler stares at Tsuzuki in shock. In the real world, Tatsumi stares at the book sadly.

Tatsumi: ——... ——Tsuzuki-san...

Butler drops the sword onto the ground with a large clang before collapsing himself.

{sound f/x gashan: crash of the sword}

Butler: ——... Then what else should I do...? I'm... I'm...~

Ruka slowly approaches Butler on the ground.

Ruka: ...I'll help, too... We'll think about it together. Because the truth is, I've been thinking about it. What can we do so that everyone will be happy... I'm carefully choosing and checking my words—— Almost fearfully. We'll think about it...

Ruka kneels on the floor with Butler and wraps her arms around him.

Ruka: Because we'll think about it... Because I'll... I'll be careful... help you... So don't use any more lies... I could never say it... ——Never again... And it kept me from myself... and tell the truth... It was hard, wasn't it... I was painful wasn't it... I love you...

Ruka and Butler hold each other gently in the middle of the church. The Lord and Tsuzuki look at the couple. The Lord blows his nose in distress. Tsuzuki smiles at the two softly.

{sound f/x kusun: the Lord's sniffling}

Lord: (Ah~~ No way~~~~~~)

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

Tatsumi: The final section's finished! Now! Watari-san!!

Watari: [rolling his sleeve up] ALL RIGHT!! (Fight—! One shot—!!)

Watari sticks his arm into the picture of Tsuzuki.

{sound f/x ba: energy swirling from the picture}

In the book world, a swirling portal of energy forms behind Tsuzuki, who's slowly sucked in by his cheek.

Tsuzuki: Huh~!!?

{sound f/x bua: energy explosion}

Tsuzuki: Uaa... Ah! Ah!! (Ow owowowowo)

{sound f/x gyuuu: Tsuzuki being grabbed}

Tsuzuki: I...~ I'm getting pulled ii~~~~~~~in!!!

Ruka: Mr. Angel~!!

([pointing to Tsuzuki] Getting pulled in.)

Tsuzuki: AHH———~

Tsuzuki is completely pulled into the portal. It shuts behind him with a bang.

{sound f/x ban: the portal slamming shut}

{sound f/x bashi: energy whipping off of the shut door}

Ruka: (Mr. Angeeel)

Everyone looks at the empty spot of air in shock.

Alchemist: ...... He vanished...

Lord: ...... What in the world was that...? That traveler...

"Gushoushin": [gasping]

Ruka picks up a white feather from the ground.

Ruka: [smiling genkily] So it's like I said before. Thank you. That man is—— Thank you, Mr. Angel... God's messenger.

Back in the real world, Watari continues to reach elbow deep into the realm between time and space.

{sound f/x fuu: the whirling of the realm between time and space}

Watari: Oh~!

{sound f/x gasagoso: Watari rustling in the picture}

Watari: Got him, got him, got him~!! Here he comes~~~~~~~!! (HEEAVE HOO!!!)

Watari sudden pulls Tsuzuki (and Byakko, of course), out of the piece of paper.

Tsuzuki: (AAHHHHHH!!!) (Hold on, what? What's with this pose?)

Byakko: (Huuuuh)

{sound f/x supon: Tsuzuki & Byakko popping out}

Watari: Fished him———~~!! (Big one, too~)

Hisoka: [sweatdropping] Are you okay, Tsuzuki? (Byakko, too.)

Tsuzuki: [lying on the ground in a puddle] (I'm~... I'm fine)

Hisoka: (But that looked horrible.)

{sound f/x hero: Tsuzuki lying limply}

(Tired.)

Tsuzuki: Thank you, Watari, for getting me back here... [sweatdrop]

{sound f/x bun: Watari whirling the drawling around}

Watari: Mua-ha-ha! No problem!

Tsuzuki suddenly looks up from where he's crashed on the ground. Tatsumi's kneeling before him, looking at him very seriously.

Tsuzuki: Ah...

Tatsumi: [stare]

Tsuzuki: Um... We...ll... He's still mad at me~ I... I'm back...

{sound f/x ozu: Tsuzuki timidly adjusting his tie}

Tatsumi smiles back at Tsuzuki gently.

Tatsumi: Welcome home, Tsuzuki-san...

The Count suddenly plows into Tsuzuki from behind.

Count: Welcome back Tsuzukiii~~~~! My beloved came back to me~!

{sound f/x don: Count plowing into Tsuzuki}

(ATTACK~!!)

Tsuzuki: (GEEH~!!!)

Tatsumi: (...) Well, since it looks like we're just in the way, we'll take our leave now, Count.

{sound f/x bata: someone falling down}

Tsuzuki: AH~! TATSUMI~!!! Wait a second, Hisoka~!!

Count: (Tsuzuki~~~~ Come a little more over this way~~~~~~)

{sound f/x dosu: whacking noise}

Tsuzuki: LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU PERVERT~~!!!

Later at the Shoukanka main offices, Tsuzuki sleeps peacefully on his desk when Tatsumi barges in.

{sound f/x suu: sound of Tsuzuki softly sleeping}

Tatsumi: Tsuzuki-san, are you up?

{sound f/x gara: clattering of Tatsumi coming in}

{sound f/x gaba: gurgling of Tsuzuki just waking up}

Tsuzuki: [jumping upright] Huah~? Yes~

Tatsumi: [grinning cheerfully] Would you please come in for a quick visit?

Tsuzuki: ...Tatsumi?

In the Chief's office, Tsuzuki sits down in front of a table of delicious foods and tea.

Tatsumi: It's a present from Watari-san, but the expiration date is today.

Tsuzuki: Wa——~~! Nishio Yatsuhashi!! (I love them~~~~~!) [Yatsuhashi is some sort of cinnamon cookie. Nishio is the brand, or at least where they're from.]

Tatsumi: It appears that the Chief asked for them but, well—— The Chief, today he went to a meeting and won't be back. For that reason, please finish them all. (Because today, everyone's all out.)

Tsuzuki: All right! Itadakima~su! [Itadakimasu is something that you say before you start to eat. Really no translatable meaning...]

Tatsumi: Where is Kurosaki-kun?

Tsuzuki: [stuffing his face] The archives. The new place is open from today.

{sound f/x ugu: Tsuzuki's eating noises}

{sound f/x gokkun: Tsuzuki swallowing}

Tatsumi: (Um, um) Ah... Before, you'd broken it to pieces. That's right, have the repairs been finished...

{sound f/x shimijimi: Tatsumi nodding earnestly}

(Reference to "Demon's Trill.") [Tsuzuki smashed it in volume 2.]

Tsuzuki: Oh I did not break that. (It was me, but it wasn't me.)

Tsuzuki takes a big sip of his tea.

{sound f/x guu: Tsuzuki's gulping noise}

Tsuzuki: Ah. This aroma... [smiling] It's Tsujiri green tea... You remembered. It's my favorite.

("Tsujiri" a tea maker from Kyoto.)

Tatsumi: [smiling slightly at his cup] ——... It's because we've known each other for a long time... By the way, I heard the end of the Count's novel but—— You must tell me absolutely everything.

Tsuzuki: It gives me shivers to even mention it.

Tatsumi: [genkily] Wasn't it a shock to find yourself as a bride? [laughing] (But you managed up until the wedding ceremony, didn't you.)

Tsuzuki: [looking ill] (Ewwwww) Stop, I'm gonna get siick~~~~~ (I don't want to remember~)

{sound f/x dara: Tsuzuki's continuous sweating}

Tsuzuki: ——Well. The end was actually good. I'm glad everyone, everyone's... happy, huh...

Tatsumi lowers his eyes.

Tatsumi: Yes... That's right... If you're happy—— Now then, shall we go back to work? Surely, everyone's happy.

Tsuzuki: (Hu~~~~~h?) Won't just a little longer be okay~?

{sound f/x buu: Tsuzuki cutely pleading with Tatsumi}

Tatsumi: NO.

{sound f/x kippari: flatly}

At the Count's mansion, the Count fumes over a letter clutched in one glove.

The Count at that time.

Count: —— Tatsumi... (THAT BASTARD)

{sound f/x puru: the Count shaking with anger}

Count: He's claimed compensation for damages due to slander...

([pointing to the object in Watson's hands] Bank accounts passbook.)

Watson: (Furthermore, he automatically debited our account.)

(Because it's a debit account.)

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.

Index | Main