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: 8-20-02.

Table of Contents:

Lapis Lazuli Chapter 9 • Premonition —— 3

Verdigris Chapter 1 • Downfall ————— 47

Verdigris Chapter 2 • New World ———— 99

Verdigris Chapter 3 • Hurricane ————- 152

Outline:

Civilization has collapsed at the end of the 20th century, and for several hundred years, people have been suffering from the oppression of this country's ruling tyrants. Even though Byakko village has been destroyed by the Red King, Sarasa - at the time of her older brother's death - decides to fight back. Sarasa and the Red King • Shuri, are enemies, but they met without knowing each other's identities, and fell in love.

The Blue King • Asagi hid his true identity, joined Sarasa's group, and is secretly plotting against her.

Sarasa's group is in Kumano, where the Emperor's party has gathered, to confront Shuri's trusted man • Kazan, and rescue her mother • Chigusa. As a result, many of her comrades are wounded. Sarasa's eyes are also injured...?!

Character Introduction:

Sarasa    A 15-year-old girl. She fights in place of her dead brother, Tatara. Actually, she is the "Child of Destiny."

Red King    His name is Shuri. As the Emperor's youngest son, he controls the Chûgoku, Shikoku, and Kyûshû areas. He's exceptionally clever and strong, and wary of his older brothers...

Sakaki:

"With a red flag."

"And a body on fire."

"I charge up the hills of Adashino."

Sakaki:

That was General Kazan's death poem.

Sakaki:

He meant to go on serving the Red King...

...even in the afterlife...

Shuri:

He's dead.

How can the dead serve me?

Sakaki:

Uh...

Shuri:

FOOL!!

Shuri:

He's dead!

What can he do for me now?!!

Shuri:

{sfx: haa haa}

He didn't...

...understand my feelings at all.

Ashô:

Now what...?

We got the General, isn't that what Your Highness wanted?

Shuri:

Shut up!!

(Shuri swings his sword at Ashô and cuts him in the arm.)

Ashô:

Ah.

Ashô:

Ou-ou-ouch!

Advisor 1:

Lord Ashô.

Advisor 2:

Lord Ashô.

Advisor 1:

How tyrannical.

We can't even talk now.

Advisor 1:

Frankly, I didn't agree with this whole engagement.

Advisor 2:

Burning as holy a place as Kumano...

...especially when the Emperor is present.

Sakaki:

The Red King has his reasons.

It's our duty to follow him in good faith.

Ashô:

Well well well. If it isn't Sakaki. Who are you to lecture us?

You'd do anything to please the King.

Sakaki:

Sire, you've done something...that can't be undone.

Sakaki:

You've lost...

...the most powerful, reliable, and loyal man you had.

Ashô:

Humph.

Ashô:

That pesky general is finally out of the way.

From now on, it'll be Ashô's time.

Shuri:

Sakaki.

Sakaki:

Yes Sir.

Shuri:

Do not stop the attack.

Tatara is our target now.

Voices:

Escape!

Voices:

Take refuge at the Shrine!

Chigusa:

General Kazan.

You were my son's enemy.

Chigusa:

But, the person you fought against...

...was actually my daughter.

Kakujî:

Chigusa?!

Chigusa:

Kakujî?!

Kakujî:

Thank God!

Are you alright?

Kakujî:

Hurry and come with me.

Kakujî:

That's...

Kakujî:

...General Kazan...

Chigusa:

Have you and Nagi...

...been taking care of my child?

Kakujî:

Yes!

Kakujî:

She started out alone,

...but has since been blessed with many friends.

Kakujî:

She really is...

...the Child of Destiny, Chigusa!

Chigusa:

That child needs to keep growing.

Chigusa:

As a mother, I would only hinder her growth.

Kakujî:

...Chigusa?!

Chigusa:

Please continue to take care of her...

...for me.

Kakujî:

Chigusa?!

Let's go back together.

Chigusa:

I...

...can't face her right now.

Kakujî:

I don't know what you mean.

Come see her for just a little bit.

Chigusa:

If I see her, and hold her in my arms,

...she may choose to abandon her responsibilities.

Chigusa:

I don't want to be a foolish mother.

Chigusa:

Please tell her this.

Chigusa:

Tell her that...

Chigusa:

...her mother hasn't abandoned her, that she must be strong.

That I'll always be watching over her.

Chigusa:

Surely...

...someday,

...she'll be able to create a world where a parent and child can live in peace,

...together.

Chigusa:

Sarasa. Sarasa.

Chigusa:

I never told you.

Chigusa:

The day you were born,

...Nagi prophecised you to be the Child of Destiny.

Chigusa:

We all swore to protect you.

Chigusa:

You may think that your father treated you cruelly.

But he was simply doing his best to protect you.

Chigusa:

Your father loved you dearly.

So did your brother and I. We all loved you.

Sarasa:

So my mother...

Kakujî:

... I'm sorry.

I couldn't stop her.

Sarasa:

And she killed General Kazan...?

Kakujî:

Ah...so it seems.

Sarasa:

I see.

Sarasa:

Thank you, Kakujî.

Sarasa:

It must have been hard for you...

Hayato:

But... Tatara, you sure your mother's going to be okay?

Sarasa:

As long as she's not being held captive, I'm not worried.

Sarasa:

Finally, I can put these matters behind me.

Sarasa:

Hijiri,

...how many men does the Red Army have?

Hijiri:

Ah? Um..mm..about two to three thousand.

Sarasa:

Kakujî, tell all of our able men to help extinguish the fires and evacuate the villagers.

Sarasa:

Do not mess with the Red Army, nor cause more war fires to spread.

Kakujî:

Oye, that was tough.

Kakujî:

If she had started crying, I wouldn't know what to do.

Nagi:

She's blaming herself.

Nagi:

People got hurt...

...because of her personal problems.

Nagi:

That's why she blames herself.

Asagi:

Tatara, want to lie down for a bit?

Asagi:

Want some water?

Asagi:

Kazan's dead.

Just as I planned.

Asagi:

Looks like the Red King has one of his wings clipped.

No, more like both of his wings are clipped.

Asagi:

But the surprise...came from Tatara.

Asagi:

If she hadn't charged in like that,

...those two would be dead.

Asagi:

She gave me quite a good scare.

I'm impressed, Tatara.

Asagi:

How silly...

Tengu member:

Hijiri, the attack is approaching.

The fire will be here soon.

Hijiri:

Even if you say so,

...there's nothing I can do.

How can we evacuate all the injured?

Hijiri:

Whoa.

Tengu member:

What should we do, Hijiri?!

Hijiri:

Na-chan.

Hijiri:

What are you doing over there?!

Hijiri:

What is it?

Stop acting so strange.

Hijiri:

I need all the help I can get, and here you are, slacking off!

Nachi:

...

Hijiri:

What?

Hijiri:

Are you hurt?

Nachi:

No.

Nachi:

I...

I can spear fish and hunt whales.

Nachi:

But this is the first time...

...I've slaughtered men.

Hijiri:

I see. That's only natural.

Nachi:

Natural?!

Hijiri:

In the past,

...you didn't need to kill.

Hijiri:

We were fortunate enough to have lived in peace.

Hijiri:

But...

...those times are changing.

Hijiri:

Nachi, let's go.

Nachi:

Where?

Hijiri:

The Shrine!

Sarasa:

Hijiri & Nachi...

...went to the Shrine?!

Sarasa:

I'm going too!

I have to talk to the Head Priest...

Asagi:

Tatara...

Asagi:

She's hot...

Sarasa:

I'm alright.

Take me there.

(Asagi is riding a horse, with the blind Sarasa sitting behind him.)

Asagi:

Sheesh, she sure loves to stick her nose into everything.

Asagi:

You know, you shouldn't even go out in your condition.

Asagi:

I'll get in trouble for this...

(Asagi notices that Sarasa is crying.)

Asagi:

A child without a mother, can still grow up.

Asagi:

What am I saying?

Sarasa:

Asagi, where's your mother...?

Asagi:

Long dead.

Sarasa:

Nobody...

...has relatives anymore.

Sarasa:

In the past, people could live to old age.

Sarasa:

If only it's still like that now.

Sarasa:

Wouldn't it be great...

...if it's still like that...

White King:

I hope the hunter...

...hasn't become the hunted, Asagi.

Asagi:

Humph.

Asagi:

This is the girl Shuri likes.

The girl that Shuri likes.

Asagi:

My back...

...is hot.

Kumano Motomiya Shrine

Nachi:

Dad!

Nachi:

Where are you?!

Head Priest: (Nachi's Father)

Not those two devils.

Hijiri's Father:

Long time no see, Hijiri.

Hijiri:

Father...

You're here too?

Hijiri:

Listen, we need to talk.

Hijiri:

Why haven't you sent out the Shrine army (of monk warriors)?

Are you going to let the Red King do as he please?!

Head Priest:

The Red King was just here, to tip us off in person.

He told us not to interfere in his private affairs.

Nachi:

That's only an excuse!

His real purpose is to burn down Kumano!

Hijiri's Father:

The Emperor didn't say anything about this.

Nachi:

Don't tell me you guys are scared of the Red Army!

Head Priest:

Nachi, stop spouting nonsense!

Hijiri:

...Father.

This is the request of a lifetime.

I beg you.

Hijiri:

Please send out the warriors.

Nachi:

Hijiri?!

Hijiri's Father:

Oh.

What's going on?

To make you bow to me?

Hijiri's Father:

You didn't listen to your mother and I.

You were stubbon and wanted to live on your own.

You said it was the best thing for yourself!

Hijiri:

I don't want to talk about that.

If I bow down to you, will you give your consent?

Hijiri's Father:

Oh.

Didn't you say you will no longer rely upon me?

Hijiri:

I used to think that,

...because I was stubborn and proud.

Hijiri:

I know now that I was wrong.

Hijiri:

I said those foolish things, because I wanted to save face,

...because I wanted to get stronger.

Shrine servant:

Head Priest, someone called Tatara is here to see you.

Shrine servant:

I told him you're in the middle of a meeting, but...

Hijiri & Nachi:

Tatara!

Nachi's Father:

Tatara...?

Hijiri's Father:

Who...?

Sarasa:

I know this is all my fault.

Sarasa:

But I have to make one last request.

Sarasa:

If you're willing to stop the attack and save Kumano,

...me and my men will go back down the mountain and return to our ship.

Sarasa:

You can tell the Red King that you have driven out Tatara.

Sarasa:

However, I have some wounded comrades...

...who are too weak to leave with us.

Sarasa:

So...

...I want to shelter them in here.

Sarasa:

If it's not too much trouble...

...would you please take them?

Sarasa:

I beg you.

Please.

Nachi:

Tatara.

Nachi:

You're hurt yourself.

Go get some rest!

Hijiri's Father:

Hijiri.

Hijiri's Father:

Did you bow your head...

...for this?

Hijiri's Father:

Hijiri.

Nachi:

Dad! Hijiri's already bowing his head.

Do you want me to sever our relations too?!

Hijiri:

Dumbass.

Nachi's Father:

Nachi, stop threatening your own father.

Nachi:

How can you say that? Don't you understand?

Nachi:

They're going to burn this place!

They're going to burn down Kumano!

Head Priest:

The answer is no.

Head Priest:

We simply cannot oppose the Royal Family.

Nachi:

Dad!

Head Priest:

But if the Red King goes so far as to attack this Shrine...

...I'll be forced to make an exception.

Nachi & Hijiri:

Okay.

We gotcha!

Hijiri:

Thank you Father.

Hijiri:

Let's go Na-chan.

Nachi:

Alright!

Nachi's Father:

They sure are energetic.

Hijiri's Father:

Reminds me of us in the good old days.

Nachi:

Hi-chan, let's burn this place.

Hijiri:

Burn. Burn.

Nachi:

Bow. Bow.

Hijiri:

Let it burn a bit more.

Nachi & Hijiri:

Ready.

Hijiri:

Fire!

Nachi:

Alright!

(Nachi and Hijiri shoot several fire arrows at the Shrine.)

Voices:

What was that?!

Voices:

Fire arrows!

Voices:

Hurry and put the fire out!

Man:

Head Priest!

Man:

It's the Red King!

Man:

His attack has reached the Shrine!

Head Priest:

...Really? We can't have that.

Hijiri's Father:

One must protect oneself...isn't that right?

Hijiri's Father:

Let's show them...

...the force of Kumano.

(An impressive number of monk warriors storm out of the Shrine.)

Nachi:

We had this many warriors on reserve?

Hijiri:

Tatara, don't worry about it.

Go get some rest.

Hijiri:

My father is the head of the Negoro Clan in Saika.

The local yakuza.

(The Yakuza is the Japanese mafia.)

Hijiri:

With one order,

...he can have the entire mountain surrounded by warriors.

Voices:

Protect Kumano!

Kick the Red King back to the desert!

Red Soldier:

It's over!

Secure retreat!

Sakaki:

So this is Kumano's mighty force.

It truly is "God's land."

Shuri:

That's why I can't leave it alone.

Shuri:

I'll burn it down, someday.

(Shuri is retreating on horse, and sees Asagi sitting on a tree nearby.)

Asagi:

It must be so tiring to retreat in the rain.

Shuri:

...I'll be damned.

Shuri:

Shouldn't you... be with Tatara?

Asagi:

I just have a little something...

...I wanted to tell you, dear lil' brother.

Asagi:

I've been thinking...

...that it might be fun...

...for me to take away your most precious thing.

Shuri:

Oh?

Shuri:

And what is my most precious thing?

Pray tell.

Asagi:

A cute little girl.

Asagi:

She will be mine.

Asagi:

She's just a country girl.

Not even my type.

Asagi:

But even though she's not my type...

Asagi:

It'll be great.

Shuri:

Wait.

Shuri:

Asagi.

Shuri:

Sarasa.

Kanto - City of Seiran

Man:

Ageha!

Man:

AH-GE-HA!

Man:

Hi.

Man:

Found ya.

Ageha:

Tarô-chan.

I knew it's about time you showed up.

Woman:

Hey, Madame, who's that man talking to Ageha over there?

Madame Butterfly:

That would be Ageha's friend, from one of Kyoto's publications.

Woman:

Eh? A journalist!

Tarô:

The times, they are a'changing,

...faster than I expected.

Tarô:

In Kumano,

...even the Emperor's presence couldn't stop the Red King.

Tarô:

I never thought...

...the Royal Family's weakness would be exposed this way.

Tarô:

Nobody has yet to realize...

...that the monarchy is already a thing of the past.

Tarô:

We're entering the Age of Civil Wars:

Tarô:

In the Northeast, the Kazuno sect - wielding the Sword of Genbu -

has exhausted the Black King with many years of uprisings;

Tarô:

Kanto - following Raizô of Seiryû's coup d'état -

has become a provisional independent country;

Tarô:

Due to recent events,

...even Kumano is distancing itself from the Royal Family and flexing its independence;

Tarô:

The Red King has been an unpredictable and uncontrollable force from the very beginning;

Tarô:

And Tatara's army continues to grow in Suzaku of Sakura Island.

Tarô:

Ultimately, there'll be a huge power struggle...

...between Tatara and the Red King.

Tarô:

Tatara's actions will decide...

...the course of the future.

Tarô:

The one who holds the key is you, Ageha.

Ageha:

I think it's you.

Tarô:

No, I've been an observer my whole life.

All I want is to record the war for posterity sake.

Tarô:

But you're different.

Tarô:

When will you step onto the stage?

Ageha:

Well.

For now, I'm thinking of visiting Tatara in Kumano.

Tarô:

What for?

Tarô:

Listen, you should go to the City of Suou.

Ageha:

The Red King's city?

Tarô:

I sense a strong smell of smoke coming from it.

If worst comes to worst, even the Red King may get burned.

Tarô:

Very soon...

...something will befall the West.

Tarô:

Ah. Another thing, I want to interview Tatara.

See if you can arrange something.

Ciao.

Ageha:

The desert of Suou, huh?

My skin'll get all chapped again.

Shuri:

Sakaki, I need you to find someone.

Sakaki:

Eh?

Shuri:

A 15-year-old girl named Sarasa.

Shuri:

I think...she should still be in Seiran.

Sakaki:

Just her name...?

What else do you...

Shuri:

I don't know anything else!

Shuri:

Sarasa... Sarasa.

Don't get caught.

Don't get caught by that guy...!