Notes:

• My Japanese is very poor. So take my translations with a grain of salt. There are a few parts I did not know how to translate, so I guessed at the meaning. Those parts are marked with an (*). Just keep in mind these are far from 100% correct or perfect. If you see a translation mistake, please let me know.

• The following should be read with manga in hand. These are only the dialogue. There are no mentions of scene changes, and very little description of action. So you may be confused if you don't have the manga in front of you.

• If you don't have the manga, I've written a summary of this chapter. So check that out.

Key:

text outside of word bubble

Last Revised: 3-11-02.

Motomiya Shrine

Nachi:

Look at that,

soldiers everywhere.

Nachi:

Better not rouse any attention.

Nachi:

You guys wait here for a bit.

Nachi:

Oye!

Hijiri!

Hi-chan!

Hijiri:

Na-chan!

What have you been up to?!

Hijiri:

Officials are looking all over for you!

Nachi:

Well, you better come here.

Hijiri:

I heard you guided Tatara through the mountains...

Sarasa:

I'm Tatara.

Hijiri:

This girl?!

Nachi:

Dumbass!

Are you blind?!

Hijiri:

You're nearsighted.

Nachi:

Who's nearsighted?

Nachi:

Girls are supposed to have

big boobies.

Nachi:

Bouncy.

Hijiri:

Ignore this idiot.

Hijiri:

This way.

Hijiri:

Here is our headquarter.

Outsiders don't frequent the place, so rest easy.

Hijiri:

We're a local youth organization,

or should I say Guards to the Shrine?

Anyway, the Tengu Hall only has some 30 members.

Hijiri:

I'm the leader, Hijiri.

Nachi:

And I'm the associate leader, Nachi.

Sarasa:

Tengu Hall?

Nachi:

It's got a red face and a looong nose.

Hijiri:

That's a tengu.

Just shut up.

Hijiri:

You see, a historic place like this...

Hijiri

has ancient customs and superstitions.

To oblige the Emperor,

the older generation keep preserving these traditions.

Hijiri:

The younger folks put up with them,

but we'd rather not.

Nachi:

We do business too,

such as money-lending and timber work.

Asagi:

In other words, a delinquent gang.

Punks huh?

Sarasa:

Asagi!

Hijiri:

Yep.

That's the Tengu Hall.

Nachi:

It's a lame name.

He picked it.

Hijiri:

Who'd want to call themselves the "Whales"?

Nachi:

What's wrong with the "Whales"?

Nachi & Hijiri:

Dumbass! Dumbass!

Hijiri:

Well now.

Hijiri:

There's no one in Japan who hasn't heard of the name Tatara.

Sarasa:

I really like...

self-confident people...

who are full of life.

Sarasa:

Having confidence in onself...

means doing things one truly believes in.

Sarasa:

I feel like...I can trust them.

Sarasa:

Let me tell you...

why I'm here.

Hijiri:

I see.

So you came to rescue your mother...

Hijiri:

Hmm.

Nachi:

Come on!

He looks so weak.

Let's help him.*

Hijiri:

Hmm.

Nachi:

Hey!

Stop thinking!

Hijiri:

Well...

Is that all?

Tatara:

Eh.

Hijiri:

Just to rescue your loved one, is that all?

Hijiri:

Is that all you're fighting for?

Sarasa:

Of course not!

I want to defeat General Kazan,

to weaken the Red King's power.

Sarasa:

And one day, I will definitely...

bring down the Red King.

Hijiri:

That's it?

Hijiri:

After your little personal vendetta is over,

would that be the end?

Sarasa:

No!

Sarasa:

After that...

Hijiri:

After that?

Sarasa:

I'm going to overthrow the Emperor,

and establish a brand new country!

Sarasa:

Ah...

Hijiri:

Good.

I understand.

Hijiri:

We'll be happy to help.

Nachi:

Hi-chan, you're so difficult—

Hijiri:

Of course.

Hijiri:

If we're going to risk our lives, we need to know what we're fighting for.

Tengu member 1:

Right!

Tengu member 2:

That's our leader.

Tengu member 3:

We've got no objections.

Sarasa:

The color in everyone's eyes

has changed.

Sarasa:

Our

goal.

{sfx: thump}

Hijiri:

Na-chan, get the map.

Nachi:

Okay.

Hijiri:

This is all top secret.

Map:

(from right to left)

Shrine

Emperor

Black

White

Red

Nachi:

After worshipping, the Emperor's party will stay overnight at the Motomiya Shrine.

At this inn.

Nachi:

The Red Army will stay at this place over here.

Hayato:

They're so far from the others.

Far from the Shrine too.

Kakujî:

That's good for us.

Nachi:

Red is associated with blood.

Nachi:

Blood is considered impure and vile, that's why they're apart from the others.

Hijiri:

The Red Army has some 500-600 men.

And you have... 7 people?

Hijiri:

Do you intend to attack so many people? What weapons do you have?

Sarasa:

I have more comrades back at my ship.

There are 100 men or so.

Hijiri:

Someone should go get them then.

Hijiri:

Better write them a letter.

Sarasa:

Umm... Is there a way here that can be traversed by horse.

Nagi...

Hijiri:

Yes.

The main road.

Hijiri:

It'll be fine if they pretend to be workers.

Nowadays, the road is packed with workers.

Hayato & Shôta:

The suffering you put us through.

Tengu member:

Alright! I'll be back tomorrow night.

Sarasa:

Thank you!

Sarasa:

I'll feel more secure when Nagi gets here.

Sarasa:

We should find some way to surround the temple.

And attack while they're asleep.

Better send some scouts to check things out.

Asagi:

Are you there, Ranmaru?

Shadow figure:

Yes.

Asagi:

Go.

Hijiri:

Alright!

Let's drink up today!

Others:

Baths first!

Woman:

Hi-chan!

Is that no good son of mine in here?

Nachi:

Ma!

Woman:

Nachi!

You went down the mountain to play fisherman again, didn't you?!

Woman:

You have to start following in your father's footsteps as the Head Shrine Priest.

Woman:

You haven't done a bit of studying!

Nachi:

Heh—

Have mercy—

Ma—

Voices:

WAHAHAH...

Sarasa:

Mother...

Nachi Waterfall—Hirô Temple

Sign:

Emperor's procession

Kazan:

We're finally here—

Kazan:

It's just a short walk from here to Motomiya, Kumano.

Kazan:

You're probably tired from all the trekking.

Chigusa:

It's a lot better than being locked up.

Chacha:

Zaki.

Kazan:

It's pleasant...

to travel.

Kazan:

Now that you're here,

the Red King won't be able to find you.

Just go blend into the village somewhere...

Chigusa:

Escape!

Chacha:

Zaki!

The General just left her.

Zaki:

Wait, Chacha.

Chigusa:

Will this man...

be killed by the Red King...

for saving me?

Chigusa:

Then,

will that...

be my revenge...?

Chigusa:

Why...

does he have to be a "good person?"

Chigusa:

Any man...

who can kill my son with that cruel sword...

cannot be a "good person!"

Chigusa:

It would be easier for me to hate him...

if he was simply a cold-blooded demon...!

Chigusa:

I can't leave you yet.

Chigusa:

Not until I have witnessed your last moment.

Kazan:

Then,

we'll probably be together for 2-3 more days.

Kazan:

There's supposed to be some fountain of youth to drink from.

Want to go?

Zaki:

She could have escaped...

Chacha:

Zaki!

Chacha:

Zaki...

Chacha:

I can't tell him.

Chacha:

I can't tell...

Tatara.

Zaki:

Chacha...

Are you crying?

Chacha:

Tatara...

this would be...

so hard for you.

Chacha:

Zaki...

Zaki:

Uh?

Chacha:

No matter what,

I'm going to protect that child.

Chacha:

Tatara...

Tengu member:

The road'll get easier from here on out,

so keep it up—

Traveling group:

Aye, this is our first time on a mountain road.

It's so hot—

Tengu member:

Heave-ho...

(While the Tengu member is leading Nagi and Tatara's followers to Kumano, Asagi's henchman Ranmaru discreetly kills him without the others noticing.)

Hayato:

Tatara— Let's go to a hotspring!

The Yunomine hotspring!

Sarasa:

Ah, sorry. Kakujî and I just got back from it.

Hayato:

Already?!

I wanted us to go together!

Kakujî:

Tatara has a birthmark on his butt,

so he doesn't want anyone to see it.

Dah ha ha ha ha

Sarasa:

Kakujî!

Hayato:

Nachi, where's Miki?

Nachi:

She's a shrine maiden, so she went to the Shrine.

Nachi:

From Miki's mouth...

comes the divine message of God.

Sarasa:

Everyone is joking around...

because they can't bear feeling uneasy...

Hijiri:

Tatara, come here.

Hijiri:

Something's not right.

Hijiri:

Your friends still haven't arrived yet.

Hijiri:

And the guide I sent to look for them...

can't be found either.

Sarasa:

Nagi...!

Sarasa:

What could this mean?

Hijiri:

I don't know.

They shouldn't be lost.

An accident perhaps?

Hijiri:

If they don't get here by the time the Emperor's party arrives,

...our whole plan will be useless.

We simply don't have enough man-power.

Man:

Oye.

Where are we?

Man:

Where did the guide go?

Man:

Should we light a beacon?

No, the Emperor's soldiers might spot us!

Man:

Nagi-sama, what should we do?

Nachi:

Hi-chan!

It's the Emperor's procession!

Hijiri:

They're here!

Bystander:

Oh, he comes on a palanquin.

Bystander:

Well, you can't expect for him to get here by foot.

Bystander:

When someone dies in your family,

aren't you supposed to avoid worships?

So what's he doing here?

Bystander:

I heard he wanted to pray for his concubine...

to have a safe childbirth.

Bystander:

They cause so much ruckus for the village.

Bystander:

What a selfish Emperor.

Bystander:

Ah, enough enough.

Hayato:

What a giant procession!

There must be more than a thousand people.

Hayato:

Ah, at the very back!

It's the Red Army!

Hayato:

There!

See!

It's General Kazan.

Sarasa:

I can't...

see my mother.

Voice:

Don't worry.

She's there.

Voices:

Chacha!

Chacha:

Yah.

Voices:

Welcome back!

Nachi:

Whoa, huge boobies!

Hijiri:

Shut up.

Sarasa:

Thanks for your hard work.

Chacha:

Mmm.

How's everyone?

Sarasa:

Ah...

You didn't see them on your way here?!

Chacha:

Eh?

Voice:

I guess we'll have to give up...

Hijiri:

To have 50 people fight against 10 times that many.

It's just too reckless.

Sarasa:

I won't get another chance like this...

in a thousand years...

Nachi:

I— know!

Why don't we poison their dinner?

Hijiri:

Stupid!

What if Tatara's mother eats it?!

Asagi:

Then what about some sleeping draught?

Asagi:

I...

Asagi:

brought some sleeping draught.

Sarasa:

Asagi...

Nachi:

Hey, you're not so useless afterall!

Asagi:

You're filthy.

Asagi:

I don't have much left, so its effect may be slow.

Asagi:

But just as well, so they'll be less suspicious.

Man:

Go get some chickens for us to try it out.

Sorry, Mr. Chicken.

Sarasa:

Asagi...

Thank you.

Asagi:

...

My pleasure.

Sign:

Kitchen

Voice:

The Red Army will head back to their hotel after worship.

Chacha:

Don't worry.

It went off without a hitch.

Servant:

General, dinner is ready.

Kazan:

Mm.

Kazan:

Who's there?!

Kazan:

A tossed message...?

(The message was thrown in by Asagi, warning Kazan of an attack by Tatara.)

Voice:

Oh—

They're finally eating.

Don't they sound rowdy.*

{sfx: rah rah whoop whoop}

Voice:

You sure they won't know they're being drugged.

Chacha:

Don't worry. They'll eat like idiots.

Sarasa:

Chacha, thanks for the trouble.

Hijiri:

When it gets quiet later tonight,

Tatara's team will enter from the front gate,

and Nachi's team will enter from the back door.

Hijiri:

My team will stand by right here.

Hijiri:

Before the battle begins,

everyone should take a leaf from this tree.

Hijiri:

This is the Nagi tree.

It's a protection charm.

I like this superstition.

Sarasa:

The Nagi tree?!

Hijiri:

Long ago in Shingû, there was a giant thousand-year-old tree.

People considered it a holy tree.

Hijiri:

This tree is sort of like that one.

Hijiri:

Nagi sounds the same as the word for "calm,"

that's why this tree has been used to protect ocean voyages since long ago.

Hijiri:

It's common for Kumano visitors to take a piece of the tree...

as a local talisman.

Sarasa:

Nagi... Nagi...

Hijiri:

Since ancient times,

during great periods of unrest,

Kumano has always been a powerful player behind the scenes.

Hijiri:

Tatara, I'm willing to help you...

because Nachi has given me his approval.

Hijiri:

He really liked what you did in the mountains.

Nachi:

Miki will wait here, okay.

Miki:

Okay.

Hijiri:

Don't die.

If you can pull this off,

Hijiri:

upon my word,

Kumano will be your ally.

Sarasa:

Alright...!

Kakujî:

Tatara, concentrate on fighting Kazan.

Kakujî:

Leave your mother's rescue to me.

Sarasa:

Kakujî... Everybody...

Sarasa:

Let's go!

Voice:

Sure is quiet.

Voice:

Looks good.

Hayato:

This'll be a piece of cake.

Sarasa:

Shhh. Hayato.

Shouta:

The General's room...

should be the innermost one.

{thump thump thump...}

{thump thump thump...}

Sarasa:

He's here.

Sarasa:

General Kazan.

Sarasa:

My brother's...

enemy...!

Voice:

Fu-fu-fu... (evil chuckle)

Fu-fu...

Voice:

You finally came, Tatara.

Voice:

Long time no see.

Voice:

I received an anonymous letter...

telling us our dinner was drugged.

Voice:

Everyone...

only pretended to eat.

Ha ha ha ha ha

Kazan:

You'll make a good souvenir.

Ha ha ha

Kazan:

I'm going to offer your head to the Red King.

I stake my life on it!

Ha ha ha

Chigusa:

{sfx: Ha ha ha ha}

Tatara...?!

Chigusa:

{sfx: Ha ha ha}

Tatara!

Chigusa:

Tatara!

Chigusa:

Tatara!

Get away from here!!

Tengu member:

Hijiri, it's awfully noisy inside.

Hijiri:

Something's not right.

Miki:

Hijiri...

Hijiri:

What is it Miki?

Can't sleep?

Miki:

He's coming...

Riding upon a white horse.

A vile man.

Tengu member:

Horse?

Where?

Tengu member:

Is this a divine message?

Hijiri:

White horse...

Hijiri:

Long ago, the people here called waves "white horses"...

Hijiri:

Something's coming from the sea?!

Miki:

A man,

Miki:

as vile as red blood, is coming!

Voice:

We've entered Kumano Bay, Red King.

Shuri:

Good! Kazan is our target!

Shuri:

I'll get him even if I have to burn down the mountains of Kumano.

Chigusa:

Tatara! Tatara! Tatara!

Chigusa:

Sarasa!!

Sarasa:

Mother!!