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.

Muraki and Hisoka stare at each other on the Kyoto steps.

Muraki: (Hmph) Really, you have entirely... horrible timing, boy. You do....

{sound f/x zaa: wind blowing through}

Muraki: A nuisance... Step out of my way.

Hisoka: What's the meaning of this, Muraki!! What's with this body!!?

Muraki: Are you an idiot? My obligation to answer that sort of thing is...———nothing.

Hisoka: What did you say...~!

{sound f/x ki: Hisoka squealing}

Muraki: "Ki— ki—" you obnoxious rat. Are you still holding a grudge about Tsubaki-hime? [A woman Hisoka met in volume 3 with Muraki. Guess what happened to her...]

Hisoka: Tsubaki-hime...!?

{sound f/x biku: Hisoka being surprised}

Muraki: She became obsessed with trivial delusions of liking me or loving me—— [chuckling] She died like an idiot, that worthless toy... [As Muraki doesn't use a specific subject in this sentence, it's never actually specified if he's still talking about Tsubaki-hime or someone else... like Hisoka perhaps.]

Hisoka: Yo...~... YOU BASTARD...!!!

{sound f/x ka: Hisoka's eyes popping open in shock}

{sound f/x zaa: Hisoka striding forward}

Hisoka is snapped out of his near homicidal rampage by approaching voices.

Tsuzuki: Hisoka!! Are you all right~!!?

([pointing to Hisoka] Came back to himself)

Hisoka: Tsuzuki... [gasping]

A giant, hideous mask pops into Muraki and Hisoka's faces. They can only stare back in utter SD shock.

Watari: Are you all right!? Boy~!!!

{sound f/x don: big impact of the mask popping up}

{sound f/x pishi: crackle of lightening}

([pointing to the SD shocked Muraki] Muraki.)

([pointing to the SD horrified Hisoka] Hisoka.)

([also pointing to the SD shocked Muraki] Amazingly, he looks surprised.)

Hisoka: Wa... Watari-san... (this...)

Watari: [SD triumphant with kitty ears] (Tada—a~) This week's Surprising Shocking Mecha is "Mieru-kun Number 4"!! (Whatcha think!) I just enter the data of the person I'm looking for and it's a miracle!!! It perfectly navigates for me, surpassing all else~!

(Recommended to police throughout the nation!!)

Muraki: [holding Mieru-kun #4] What an awful hobby you have. (you)

Mieru-kun #4: (U-fu~!)

Muraki and Tsuzuki regard each other seriously on the stairs.

Muraki: It's been a long time——... Tsuzuki-san...

Tsuzuki: ......... Muraki...!!

Tsuzuki suddenly leaps into action.

Tsuzuki: You bastard...~

{sound f/x ba: Tsuzuki suddenly jumping forward}

Muraki: Oh...! The rest of that will take place in another location.

Tsuzuki: What!?

Muraki: As you have various questions for me, I shall take guide you to a place where we can talk leisurely. Because Kyoto's nights are—— quite cold...

Elsewhere in the Kyoto night, two girls are still at school. A young girl with short black hair waits on a second female student with long, light colored braids and small eyes.

A Private Senior High School Attached to Shion University [Getting into university is a lot harder in Japan than in the US; what this means is that if you graduate from this particular high school, you are pretty much automatically accepted into the university. In other words, the high school is prestigious and hard to get in to, and the students must be fairly extra-ordinary.]

Student: Sorry! I've made you wait~!!

{sound f/x pata: the student fluttering down the hall}

Girl: No, it's fine, it's fine.

Student: It takes a lot of time to put the books back on the shelves...

Girl: Every day Mariko has a rough time with the counter duty.

Ikaruga Mariko (17)

Mariko: Yeah... But I've always loved books, so everything's completely fine.

Girl: (I see.) If it's all right with you. (You're really some kind of book worm.) Hurry let's go home! It's really gotten dark.

Mariko: Mm.

Girl: By the way, are you definitely going to Shion U., too?

Mariko: Huh? Ah... That's my plan but...?

Girl: Well you know— We really worked hard to get into this elevator system school. They have to make it easy for us from now on!!

Mariko: Speaking of which, our university was on the news yesterday, wasn't it.

Girl: That's right, that's right! Right now, they're famous for their technique of cloning. I heard some strange rumors from my friends.

Mariko: Rumors?

Girl: Well maybe... I think it's false, but still. In a basement research lab, they're doing banned human DNA cloning experiments———!!!

{sound f/x ooo: wind howling through the campus}

Elsewhere on the college campus. An older male scientist pours over his lab. Long shadows paint the walls.

Scientist: No good... more... I need more samples...

{sound f/x butsu: the scientist muttering to himself}

Scientist: More...

Back at Oriya's lovely traditional whore house. Muraki takes Tsuzuki inside to "talk."

{sound f/x go: threatening atmosphere}

Servants: Welcome home, Sensei.

Muraki: I'm back. This Japanese restaurant is run by a friend from college. It's a place of old standing and has been fought over in Kyoto once or twice. But if this were normal, a commoner like you wouldn't be able to enter such high-class restaurant, would you... [chuckling] (... Sorry.)

Tsuzuki fumes.

Tsuzuki: (~~~~~~~~)

{sound f/x pishi: Tsuzuki snapping}

{sound f/x pururu: Tsuzuki shaking with anger}

Tsuzuki: ...bit by bit you're pissing me off, you bastard. (At any rate, do I look that poor to you?)

Elsewhere, Oriya smokes his pipe as Muraki comes in.

Oriya: Hey hey... What's that...

{sound f/x supa: Oriya puffing on his pipe}

Oriya: Wasn't he staying out all night tonight, too? Muraki.

Servant: Until we ceased talking, no one came in. A guest, that is.

Oriya: [sigh] ———man. He's old enough that he should be able to make up his mind. (He's an old man over thirty after all...)

([pointing to Oriya] He can't about other people.)

Servant: But still, he brought home another person. A pretty person, who won't lose to Sensei or fall behind him. [chuckling]

Servant: [chuckling] Truly... I didn't even think he was a man.

Oriya: WHAAT~!!?

Oriya suddenly goes into a rampage, drawing his sword and shouting at his servants. His flock of female servants sweatdrop and attempt to calm him down.

Oriya: THAT BASTARD~~~ AFTER ALL THIS HE BROUGHT HOME A MAN~!!!

{sound f/x bun: swish of Oriya waving his sword around}

{sound f/x rao: Oriya roaring}

Oriya: (That stupid bastard—~!!!!! This is a brothel! You buy women~! Women~~!!)

Servants: ([nervous laughter] now, now...)

Back with said bastard, Muraki and Tsuzuki stare at each other intensely. Muraki begins taking his glasses off in his closed room.

Muraki: Truly, that you came to my place...well... I'm pleased, Tsuzuki-san... That I can spend a night together with you in the ancient capital...

Tsuzuki: ......

Muraki: Tonight, we can meet and if you remember, we made a promise previously. I arranged for the roses but, well... [chuckling]

{sound f/x pisha: Muraki pushing the sliding door the rest of the way closed}

Tsuzuki slams his fist into the convenient nearby table.

{sound f/x don: the sound of Tsuzuki's fist hitting the table}

Tsuzuki: Whatever you want to do about that is fine with me!!

(Table)

Tsuzuki: The culprit in this case is you, isn't it!? Muraki!!

Muraki meets Tsuzuki's glare coldly.

Tsuzuki: The case's victims all had their hair taken away... Why did you cut off all of the murdered girls' hair!?

{sound f/x gi: Tsuzuki glaring at Muraki}

Tsuzuki: What in the world is your purpose behind all of this...~!!

Muraki calmly brushes off Tsuzuki's inquiries. Tsuzuki fumes internally.

{sound f/x shire: Muraki shrugging}

Muraki: I can't answer those questions.

(Sensei... your character's changed, hasn't it...)

Tsuzuki: ......No way.

{sound f/x gu: Tsuzuki gripping his hand into a fist}

Tsuzuki: You... you only did these things to lure me here...!!?

Muraki: [chuckle] That's right... The criminal for this series of crimes was me... Tsuzuki-san.

Muraki pulls back the bangs on the right side of his face, revealing his odd right eye.

Muraki: In order to draw you to me, I scattered the bait, smelling of blood... [chuckling]

Tsuzuki snaps and takes a giant swing at Muraki.

{sound f/x kaa: Tsuzuki snapping in horror}

Tsuzuki: ———!! You...~... You~ bastaaard~~~~~!!!

(He's shaking...)

{sound f/x bun: swish of Tsuzuki's missed punch}

Muraki calmly blocks Tsuzuki's punch...

{sound f/x sui: Muraki's smooth movement}

{sound f/x pashi: Muraki's hand blocking Tsuzuki's fist}

Muraki: Oh.

...then catches Tsuzuki's arm...

Tsuzuki: (!)

{sound f/x ku: Muraki grabbing Tsuzuki's arm}

(Tsuzuki's arm.)

...and takes Tsuzuki to the floor.

{sound f/x gishu: Tsuzuki's arm cracking}

{sound f/x do: Muraki driving Tsuzuki to the floor}

Tsuzuki: Ah...~!!

Muraki: You shouldn't do that, should you, Tsuzuki-san... You immediately resort to violence... [short sigh] I don't prefer things like that but———...

Tsuzuki: Dammit—~ Let me go~!!

(Where are you touching!? Muraki~)

Muraki proceeds to...[mumble] Tsuzuki where he's pinned him on the ground.

Muraki: As it is, bringing you into a hold like this... [chuckle]

{sound f/x suru: Muraki slowly nuzzling Tsuzuki's head}

Tsuzuki: Aah...~ St...~! Stop you idiot~~!! [surprised surprised]

Muraki: ([chuckle] Just joking~.) Oya? Tsuzuki-san.

{sound f/x nya: Muraki grinning}

Muraki: Your watch is on your right hand...? Is that because you're left handed? Or is it—— the scar on your wrist...?

Tsuzuki's world screeches to a halt. He can only lie under Muraki in shock.

{sound f/x dokun: Tsuzuki's giant heartbeat}

{sound f/x biku: Tsuzuki's surprise}

Oriya suddenly bursts into the room.

Oriya: EE———H!! Stop right there, Muraki~! (I'm exposing you!!)

{sound f/x pataan: Oriya flinging the door open}

Oriya: [roaring] This place is a high-class Japanese restaurant with traditions and formalities!!

{sound f/x ba: Oriya bursting forward in battle pose}

Muraki blinks blankly at his friend.

([pointing to the shocked, glasses-less pic of Muraki] Note: Muraki.)

{sound f/x gyo: Muraki's shock}

Muraki: Oriya!?

Muraki takes off with Oriya fast on his heels. Oriya's servants follow, attempting to calm their rather raging master.

Oriya: In the blacks of my eyes lies a shadow that will not forgive yo——u!!! (Oriya-san Ki—ck!!!)

Servants: (Young master!! Control yourself, control yourself~)

{sound f/x hi: the servants shrieking}

{sound f/x gyai: Oriya shrieking his curses loudly}

Muraki: (It it it it's a misunderstanding, Oriya~~)

Oriya: (Shut up, you beast~~)

{sound f/x yoro: Tsuzuki staggering}

Tsuzuki: [panting, gasping] S... Saved...

([pointing to Tsuzuki's cheek] Tatami burn.)

The next morning, Muraki sees Tsuzuki out the door.

Muraki: ——Tsuzuki-san... While I'm in Kyoto, I'll always be staying here. Whenever you're troubled, you're always welcome here.

Tsuzuki: .........

{sound f/x za: wind rustling through}

Tsuzuki: Definitely, I won't let you do what you want...~!!! Although you have your reasons, I won't forgive you... Muraki.

Muraki watches Tsuzuki walk away from the window in his empty room. He pulls an large envelope marked from the year 1925 from his jacket.

Muraki: Grandfather... Soon your patient———

{sound f/x su: Muraki slowly pulling the envelope out}

Muraki: will be returning. Soon...

Back at the high school, Mariko continues to work in the library.

Librarian: Ikaruga-san. Before you go home, I wonder if you could take this book to Professor Satomi.

Mariko: Huh~?

Librarian: I beg of you, I completely forgot about it. I still have to put the books in order... (So—rry~)

Mariko: Ah... of course. Professor Satomi, right?

Librarian: He's at the end of the third floor of the research building. If he's out, you can leave it in front of his door.

Mariko: I got it. I'll be leaving then.

Librarian: Thanks for coming——

Mariko wanders across the quiet night campus to the research building.

(The University and the High School share the same grounds.)

Mariko: Ah man... I wonder why school is so creepy at night.

{sound f/x ko ka: the click of Mariko's footsteps in the empty halls}

Mariko: I'll hurry up and hand this over then go home... !?

At the end of the hall, Muraki calmly waits in front of an office door.

Mariko: Uwaa...! What a beautiful man!! Fuwa——~~ What ama——zing white skin!! (He looks like a doll.) I wonder who he is. Maybe a teacher at this university...? His nearly transparent silver hair and matching silver eyes, he seems to emit a pale glow...... Just like... yes. An angel——...

Muraki suddenly looks up at the furiously blushing Mariko.

Muraki: Excuse me, miss. Do you know where Professor Satomi is...?

Mariko: Hyaa~!!! He's loooking at me~~!!!

{sound f/x doki: Mariko's heart beating fast}

Mariko: U...m, actually... I'm sorry. I'm a student from the connected high school next door... so...... No wa——y!!! His voice is cool, too~!

A slightly tired looking older scientist suddenly comes running down the hall.

{sound f/x batabata: the man's heavy running footsteps}

Scientist: Muraki-kun!!!

Muraki: Ahh... Professor.

Mariko: AH. (Damn, and we were doing good...)

Satomi: Sorry! Were you waiting!?

Muraki: No, I also just arrived.

Satomi: I see... Well, come in. It's a little small, though.

Mariko shyly holds the book up to Satomi.

Mariko: Um... Professor... This is the book you were looking for.

Satomi: (Hm?) Ahh... thank you for taking the trouble. It's late, so be careful going home.

Mariko: (Yes, sir.) [bowing] Excuse me.

{sound f/x batan: the door slamming shut}

Mariko continues to bow, sweatdropping, at the closed door.

Mariko: ......... Now that you mention it, Professor Satomi is the top person in the field of cloning research... That Muraki person... I wonder if he's an assistant? [gasping suddenly] No way, he's the result of the professor's dangerous research...

(Wild delusion~~~)

Mariko: (But he's got that strange white hair, and I've never seen silver eyes before, like a mutated albino or something~)

(If he was albino, then he'd have red eyes. (Probably.))

Mariko: ......... Stop that. (I need to get a grip...) You're just being stupid. (I've got this habit of getting wild delusions.) [long sigh]

In Professor Satomi's office, Satomi and Muraki begin talking.

Satomi: As always... you're so white. You're looking more and more like your mother, aren't you...? Those silver eyes... and hair———...

Muraki: ......... Please stop talking about that woman, Professor......

Satomi: Is that right... sorry. (Those eyes are creepy~~) And? What in the world would make you visit at this time? If it's about my usual research, I have no comment.

Muraki: The truth is... I wanted you to look at this.

{sound f/x suu: Muraki slowly passing Satomi a sheet}

Satomi: At this...? It looks like a fairly old photograph...

Muraki: I found the data that my grandfather left behind from the mountains.

Satomi: That's the first year of Showa! This is amazing.

Muraki: You probably know but... My family has always been doctors, and my grandfather even opened one wing of his mansion to the public as a hospital wing. But of course. Your grandfather passed down his name as a famous doctor. I have also admired that. Well then, my grandfather had many friends in the Japanese government and military at the time———— Did you know that he became entangled in the country's confidential affairs...?

Satomi: !? What did you say!!? The government's national secrets———!?

Muraki: The person shown in this photograph... He——... was placed into my grandfather's hospital as a mental patient. He didn't have any relatives and couldn't pay his medical expenses——— Grandfather didn't listen when those connected to the hospital told him to stop and took care of him for eight years. You're thinking why......? He, sensei. He didn't take water and food... even sleep for eight years!!

{sound f/x don: shocking impact of Muraki's words}

Muraki: And he continued to live!!!

Satomi: Wh~... What did you say!? There was something ridiculous like that~!!! If you don't drink or eat... not sleeping for eight years, that's absolutely impossible!! That information is mad~!!

Muraki: But he... he continued to live, Professor...... Just like a "punishment," in the gloomy hospital room, the threads grew throughout his body. Moreover, from when he was put into the hospital until he died at 26... his bodily functions didn't decline one bit.

Satomi: ~~~... You mean, he didn't grow old.........!!!

Muraki: What do you think, Professor? Don't you think he's a wonderful guinea pig!? If we can explain the origins of his life force... Your research and my lifelong dream——— will surely be granted...!!

Satomi: ......... B...but he probably isn't living any more, right?

Muraki: [chuckling] No... He lives.

Satomi: What?

Muraki: After many many years of searching, I finally stumbled across him.

Muraki holds up the picture and studies it carefully.

Muraki: In my childhood, I caught a glimpse of the figure inside of the picture...

In the picture, Tsuzuki lies in a hospital bed. His right eye is bandaged, and he helplessly stares into the distance.

Muraki: 72 years previously—— He killed himself one snowy night and nothing changed... In an instant, he stole my heart with his electric violet eyes——... With his beautiful figure......

Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20

Manga belongs to Matsushita Youko, Hana to Yume, and Hakusensha, taken from the Yami no Matsuei, Volume 7 manga, ISBN4-592-17407-0. 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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