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.

{sound f/x gacha: click of Oriya picking up the phone}

Oriya: Yes. This is the Kokakurou. Hey Muraki. It's for you.

Oriya holds the phone out to Muraki, who eats his breakfast at a low table.

{sound f/x pori: Muraki's munching noises}

{sound f/x bohe: Muraki's long exhausted sigh}

Muraki: ...What is it Oriya. I'm in the middle of my meal. I just started my Ochazuke, so please tell them that. [Ochazuke is just taking rice and pouring green tea all over it basically. Actually pretty tasty; a good breakfasty dish.]

{sound f/x pari: Muraki's crunching eating noises}

Oriya: Ah, really? I wonder if that's okay to say that kind of stuff.

{sound f/x hiku: Oriya twitching in anger}

(Complacent smile.)

Oriya: (You, you're really awful, you bastard) But the call's from your long-awaited Ukyou-chan.

{sound f/x pori: Muraki eating}

Muraki pauses his meal and stares at Oriya.

Muraki: Ukyou...?

Back at Mariko's high school, girls gather in the library to discuss the "Tatsumi brothers."

Girl: There's the stable first son Seiichirou-san, then cute in his childlike ways, the next son Asato-san. There's the fun to talk to third son Yutaka-san, then the fourth son with his doll-like pretty face, Hisoka-kun.

Girl: Aah~~~... They're all too cool, I can't choose onee~~~!!!

Girl: Hisoka-kun's the closest to us in age but... The older three also have their older charms that I can't take~!!

Girl: If someone gets one of them, they'd get close to the others, too——.

Mariko starts to open the door.

{sound f/x gi: creak of the door}

Girl: Speaking of that, have you noticed? Mariko is always, without fail, with one of those four guys?

Girl: (No—~ No way—~ Sly~) How rude of her to monopolize the good men!

Girl: Right now, the third-year students are having a closed meeting about it.

Mariko: (...)

Girl: We'll teach her a lesson. That girl.

{sound f/x kyaha: the girls laughing manically}

Mariko closes the door shut again and panics outside of the library.

Mariko: Since those four brothers came... ——...

{sound f/x ki: squeak of the door}

Mariko: My life has been really messed up... Even if it's useless, I'm still uncomfortable with Maki's case. From morning until night, all day long, it's always on my mind and I just can't stand it...

Tsuzuki: Did you know?

{sound f/x kiin koon kaan: the school bell}

Tsuzuki: In the Meiji Era, right, it was an everyday thing for men traveling at night to be attacked. The next day, the newspaper would ban any articles from appearing~.

([pointing to the board] ...Aren't you not talking about Meiji, Sensei?)

Students: (Hee~~~~~h)

Mariko: Thanks to that, I'm constantly antagonized by the female students...

Thanks to the appearance of his eyes, the female students act this way.

Girl: Sensei, you know a lot about strange things. (You don't normally teach things like that...)

Mariko: And the other teachers look at me strangely...

Tsuzuki: (Ehehe~) Well, yeah. But that's because I was born right at that time......

{sound f/x shatsu: a book cutting through the air}

{sound f/x gon: a corner of said book whacking Tsuzuki on the forehead}

{sound f/x buba: Tsuzuki getting thrown backwords}

The students watch Tsuzuki in shock. Hisoka stands at his desk twitching.

Students: (Ohh~ Strike.)

{sound f/x pusha: Tsuzuki smouldering on the ground}

Hisoka: SENSEI.

{sound f/x baki boki: Hisoka cracking his knuckles}

Hisoka: (You, don't talk so much. ~~riight you idiot, shut up here.) Since it's a waste of time to talk like this, please hurry up and start class.

Tsuzuki: [whine] S...~ Sorry...

{sound f/x do: tension breaking in the classroom}

Students: (Ha-ha-ha-ha Sensei—) (Despite the fact that he's the older brother, he's getting hen-pecked—~~)

Mariko: What, you're all laughing so easily!! Aren't these guys Shinigami!? They're pretending to be normal humans. They're pretending to be normal teachers, they're always watching me... Eight eyes are observing me. They're saying, "When should we kill you..."———!!

In the library, Mariko walks along the shelves with books in both hands. A group of female students walk up to her.

Female student: Are you Ikaruga Mariko?

Mariko: (!!)

{sound f/x biku: Mariko jumping in surprise}

Female student: We'd like...... to have a little talk with you...

On the roof, Hisoka stretches and catnaps in the sun.

Tsuzuki: Hisoka! Hisoka~!

{sound f/x bata bata: Tsuzuki making a ruckus running around campus}

{sound f/x pachi: Hisoka's eyes snapping open}

Tsuzuki: Where did you go, Hisokaa———~!!!

Hisoka: ...Be quiet. What is it...

{sound f/x muko: Hisoka sitting up from his nap}

{sound f/x batan: the door to the roof flying open}

Tsuzuki: [panting gasping] Have you seen Mariko-chan?

Hisoka: Don't know... [yawn] Haven't Tatsumi-san or Watari-san seen her?

Voice: If you're talking about me, I'm here, Sensei———

Tsuzuki and Hisoka in mid stretch look over. Mariko stands before them, clothes torn and covered in dirt, her hair pulled out of place.

Tsuzuki: !? Ikaruga-san!? [gasp] You look——...

Mariko: ......Shinigami...~

{sound f/x gi: Mariko gritting her teeth in anger}

Mariko: Everything... everything...~ Your fault...~!!! That Maki died, too! And I saw it with my own eyes!! It's all because of you and that doctor~~!!

Tsuzuki: Ikaruga-sa...

{sound f/x ton: soft noise of Hisoka coming down from his sleeping perch}

Mariko: When I went to Maki's funeral—— Do you know what her mother said to me...? That kind woman scrunched up her pretty face and hit me!? She sad, "You killed Maki, didn't you"...!!! Suddenly, Maki was taken from right in front of me—— Though she was my precious best friend... ......... What did Maki do!? I can't forgive them!!!

Tsuzuki: Ikaruga-san... At any rate, your wounds———

Mariko: Don't touch me!! I wish you died instead of Maki!!! I absolutely hate you!! You plague~~!!!

Hisoka: (......) It wasn't anyone's fault that happened... Don't worry about it... Tsuzuki.

Mariko: You plague!! I absolutely hate you~!!!

Back in the classroom, Tsuzuki can't stop thinking about what Mariko said to him.

Tsuzuki: (......) I came here in order to protect her, but she's gotten hurt so quickly... Why is it that nothing but bad things come from everything I do...

{sound f/x chi: Tsuzuki cutting his finger on his book}

Tsuzuki: Ah......~ ———... I cut my hand...

{sound f/x pero pero: Tsuzuki licking his paper cut}

{sound f/x gata gata: chairs scraping against the floor}

All of the female students immediately stand up in concern for their teacher.

Female student: Ahhhh! How horrible, Sensei was injured~

Female student: Hurry and get it treated at the nurse's office~

Tsuzuki: N... no, I'm fine. It's really shallow...

Female student: No way!! Let's all go together!!! It'll be fine! We'll be there soon!!

Female students: (Right, right, right~)

Tsuzuki: Ah... Uh... I...~ I get it, so we'll have self-study.

{sound f/x bu: the students' disappointed groans}

Female students: (Eh, reallyy—? Are you all right without us coming aloong—?)

Hisoka: ......... Idiot....

Tsuzuki leaves his class to get treated at the nurse's office.

Tsuzuki: The truth is, it's already closed up, but if I don't pretend I got treatment, I'll never hear the end of it...

{sound f/x kon kon: knock knock}

Tsuzuki: Excuse mee. Could I have a band-aid?

{sound f/x garari: the sliding door rattling open}

Amongst glowing roses, Muraki merrily greets Tsuzuki.

Muraki: Yaa! Tsuzuki-san. What happened?

{sound f/x kira kira: Muraki's glittering aura}

{sound f/x baan: Tsuzuki crashing in shock}

Muraki immediately pounces on Tsuzuki.

Muraki: Ohh! You're feeling unwell, aren't you. (Well then!!) Let me take a look at you here and there and down there and——... (mumble mumble...)

{sound f/x zunzu: Muraki enthusiastically zipping for Tsuzuki}

(He's got guts, hm...)

{sound f/x gyaa: Tsuzuki screaming for dear life}

Tsuzuki: NO NO NO NO——O~!!! What're you doing here~!?

{sound f/x zuza: Tsuzuki quickly leaping away}

Muraki: (Ah, couldn't catch him.)

Tsuzuki: What happened at the university~!

Muraki: I'm taking care of things while the sensei here is gone for a little while... [chuckle] (I'm not here to kill anyone.)

(Key.)

{sound f/x kerori: Muraki smiling casually}

Muraki: By the way, Tsuzuki-san... are you free tonight?

Tsuzuki: Huh?

Muraki: I have Takigi Noh tickets... [Noh is a form of traditional Japanese theater. I believe that Takigi Noh refers to when you go see Noh outdoors at night with the stage lit by giant torches. It's the old fashioned way to see Noh, and as some would say, the only way.]

{sound f/x pira: the flutter of Muraki whipping tickets out of nowhere}

Muraki: [chuckle] Shall we go see it together?

Tsuzuki: WH~...!! WHY ME~~!!!

{sound f/x ka: Tsuzuki blushing horribly}

Muraki: No, really I had plans to go with another person. In any case, I didn't plan for this.

Muraki holds a dark rose to his lips and sinks into his own little world.

Muraki: (Hmph.) What a sinful woman, giving me the cold shoulder, Ukyou... [chuckling] (Even though this is common, as we can rarely meet...)

 (In his own world.)

{sound f/x kira kira: Muraki's glittering aura}

Tsuzuki: ———A woman huh. (Thank goodness... He keeps honest company for once...)

Back in the classroom, Tsuzuki's class waits for their teacher to return.

{sound f/x zawa: students talking and making noise}

Satomi: Let's~see... Is Ikaruga Mariko-san here? A call from your parents came in——

Mariko: Ah~... Right. (Huh?) ...Why is Professor Satomi here...?

{sound f/x gata: the chair sliding back as Mariko stands up}

Hisoka watches as the two leave the classroom.

Hisoka: ......... He's someone I don't know... Is he an associated teacher———...

{sound f/x fuwari: Hisoka's hair gently floating around his face}

{sound f/x dokun: pounding heartbeat}

{sound f/x gatan: Hisoka's chair flying back as he stands}

Female student: (Kya!! Hisoka-kun!?)

Hisoka: No way... The man right now...

Student: (Ah~) Hisoka-kun~~!!?

Hisoka sprints out of the classroom and down the hall.

{sound f/x da: Hisoka dashing away}

{sound f/x bata: Hisoka making noise as he runs down the hall}

Hisoka: All signs of them have disappeared...!! Dammit...~!!!

Back in the nurse's office, Muraki continues talking to Tsuzuki.

Muraki: I say this but you don't really have a choice, do you? Tsuzuki-san... If you decline, that poor little Mariko-san will die——.

Tsuzuki: Wh——... What did you say... She's, right now Hisoka's...

Hisoka: Tsuzuki~!!

{sound f/x ban: Tsuzuki whipping around as Hisoka runs up}

Hisoka: He did it...! Ikaruga's......

Tsuzuki: Wha...~ ——... ...I got it... I'll do as you say.

Hisoka: Tsuzuki~!?

Tsuzuki: So definitely don't lay a hand on her...!!

Muraki leeches onto Tsuzuki in agreement.

Muraki: I'll meekly do as you wish, Tsuzuki-san. (Come now and we'll go into the mysterious world.)

{sound f/x sawa: Muraki groping Tsuzuki}

{sound f/x hi: Tsuzuki shrieking}

Muraki: Let's promise.

{sound f/x zoku: Tsuzuki getting horrified chills}

([pointing to Tsuzuki] Muraki's stroking his thigh.)

Hisoka: Wait!! Take me with you, too~!

{sound f/x zoku: the remains to Tsuzuki's chills}

Tsuzuki: Hisoka...?

Muraki: (...... Shut up, brat.)

Hisoka: It's all my fault that this happened... Besides that, I can't let Tsuzuki be taken away by that guy——!!

That night, Tsuzuki and Muraki watch their Noh theater.

{sound f/x goo: threatening atmosphere}

{sound f/x ka pon: the noises from the Noh instruments} [If you know the instruments, then it's easy hear this. The "ka" noise is wood blocks being clapped together, the "pon" is a drum. They're often used to build drama into the plays, and are used throughout this scene. From now on I'm leaving them in, but not translating them.]

Tsuzuki: Is this... "Momijigari"...

Muraki: Exactly. It's the perfect performance for this season, isn't it... Tairano Koremochi received an imperial command—— [It's the perfect season because Momiji refers to fall's red leaves.]

{sound f/x ka}

Muraki: And at the Momiji no Utage, he destroyed the fifth of the demons who lead people astray. [Momiji no Utage is basically the Feast of the Fall Leaves.]

Tsuzuki: I don't care about your storytelling... As for the Noh, it's just an excuse to kidnap me, right?

{sound f/x KA}

Tsuzuki: Say it!!

{sound f/x iraira: Tsuzuki getting annoyed}

Tsuzuki: It's an excuse to drag me along with you!!

Muraki: Maybe you have no memory of it, but... Before you died, you were a patient at my grandfather's hospital.

Tsuzuki watches Muraki with growing shock.

Muraki: At that time, you were completely untreated It's not impossible that you don't know... and quite mad. Except for when you'd temporarily come back to your senses every once in a while—— You refused water and food and sleep... You just looked at something. With your eyes that couldn't see anything...

Tsuzuki: ...it's a lie... I don't believe that...~

Muraki: Your eyes' beautiful violet color... That's not a discovered color for human eyes.

Tsuzuki: !!

{sound f/x su: Muraki slowly pressing a finger to his lips}

Muraki: Really you have too many mysterious things about you...... I took over my grandfather's research and have studied the materials and data left behind about you—— I analyzed your preserved skin. And what do you think was in it...?

——A thing not in people.

Muraki: Inside of your body...

{sound f/x KA}

——A thing not possible in people.

{sound f/x gata: Tsuzuki's chair shaking as he trembles}

Grotesque demon blood......

Tsuzuki: .........

Muraki: Undoubtedly you had genetic information for something not human inside of you!!

{sound f/x PON}

A living thing... with the fate to perish.

{sound f/x KA}

[The masked Noh figure focused here is the demon slain by the hero of the play.]

{sound f/x bachi: sudden crackle of the fire}

On the sidelines, Hisoka whips around towards where Tsuzuki and Muraki are seated.

Hisoka: !! Tsuzuki~!?

———An eternal body———

Hisoka: —— That bastard...~ What did he do to Tsuzuki...!!

{sound f/x ba: Hisoka bursting forward}

Hisoka: Doubt and puzzlement. Bottomless madness.

———Unnatural eye color———

Muraki: You are not what we call "human"... If you are another living thing, every question can be easily solved. The truth is forced open.

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

Muraki: The mystery of your unwaning body and... the mystery of your vivid violet eyes...

Tsuzuki: ......

{sound f/x dokun}

Tsuzuki: No... I can't listen...

Muraki: Well, Tsuzuki-san... who in the world——

{sound f/x oo: evil wind blowing through}

Tsuzuki: The things that Muraki's saying, they're all lies!!

{sound f/x dokun}

Muraki: are you...?

Tsuzuki: It's nonsense!!!

———A grotesque thing———

Muraki: Tsuzuki-san...

Tsuzuki: I'm...

Muraki: Are you......

Tsuzuki: I'm———...~

Muraki: Truly "human"?

Tsuzuki: Who in the world...Am I......?

Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23

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.

Index | Main