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.

Key:

text outside of word bubble

Last Revised: 8-24-02.

Sarasa:

In Okinawa...

Shuri:

In such a place...

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Shuri:

Sarasa...

Shuri & Sarasa:

...isn't supposed to be here...!

Sarasa:

So bright...!

Nakijin:

Sarasa!

Watch out.

Nakijin:

Sarasa.

Hurry.

Escape.

Sarasa:

This voice.

Nakijin?!

Nakijin:

Yeah!

Go!

Sarasa:

I clearly heard...

...Shuri's voice.

But he's not supposed to be here...

Shuri:

Eeeh.

Move!

Let me through!

Crowd:

Run away—

The bulls are charging!

Sign:

Takoyaki

Shuri:

That was Sarasa's voice.

She was calling for me!

Shuri:

Where is she?!

(Sarasa sees a sign showing where Asato is sitting.)

Sarasa:

Right now,

...I must let the president know somehow.

Sign:

Presidential Special Seat

Sarasa:

The one behind this assassination attempt...

...is Unten Chiji!

Sarasa:

Wah!

Torinoko Brother 1:

You are one stubborn girl.

This game of tag is over.

(A few arrows flies toward Asato.)

Man:

Mr. President!

Asato:

What do those fools...

...wish to gain by killing me?

Yûna:

Oji-sama!

Get down.

Asato:

Yûna, don't be reckless!

Torinoko Brother 2:

That's right.

Better stand back, girl.

Yûna:

What was that?!

Torinoko Brother 2:

Waahhh?!

Nakijin:

Yûna!

Voice:

Guuugh—

Nakijin:

Sorry.

Go to sleep for a little while.

Nakijin:

Yûna!

Leave it to me!

Yûna:

Nakijin!

Torinoko Brother 2:

Guuu—

Torinoko Brother 1:

Why you.

Who would have thought one little girl...

...would ruin all our plans——

Torinoko Brother 1:

...!!

!!

(Shuri comes to the rescue and kills the Torinoko Brother.)

Shuri:

Are you alright?

Sarasa:

I...

...thought...

...my eyes...

...can finally...

...see...

Sarasa:

Is this...

...an illusion...?

Sarasa:

Are you...

...really...Shuri...?

Shuri:

What's wrong?

Sarasa:

Shuri... Shuri...

But... you have hair.

Shuri:

Want to touch it?

Come here.

Sarasa:

Shuri...

(Before they could embrace, the surviving Torinoko Brother falls down between them.)

Shuri:

You're interrupting!

Imbecile!

Torinoko Brother 2:

Urghh—

cough cough

Nakijin:

Oye!

Catch that guy!

Shuri:

What?!

Are you giving me orders?!

Nakijin:

Ahh—

It's you?!

Torinoko Brother 2:

Shit—

{sfx: wheeze wheeze}

So Big Brother failed?

Mob:

There's the guy who was after the president's life.

Where'd he come from?

Mob:

He spoiled our sacred festival.

We won't forgive him.

Mob:

Arrest him!

Torinoko Brother 2:

Ugh...

Ah...

Asato:

You and your conspirators must have misunderstood things.

I am not like the kings from your country.

Asato:

Even if you kill me,

...my countrymen will just elect a new president to replace me.

Torinoko Brother 2:

It doesn't matter,

...you're still going to die.

Voice:

Oye.

Bashô:

He bit his own tongue.

Asato:

Should I call him admirable, or just extremely foolish?

Asato:

How are the bulls?

Man:

We've finally got them under control.

Asato:

Anyone hurt?

Man:

Only a few light injuries.

Asato:

Everyone,

...listen up.

Asato:

Even though Japan has used such underhanded ways...

...to try and take over Okinawa,

...we must not be provoked.

Asato:

We must not get carried away and react impulsively!

Asato:

Let's think of a non-violent solution.

Crowd:

Let's leave it to our president.

Crowd:

We all...

...trust in you.

Crowd:

Please protect Okinawa.

We're cheering for you.

Crowd:

Mr. President.

Mr. President.

President Asato.

Sarasa:

What...

...a powerful man...

Sarasa:

The people trust and support the president they themselves elected.

Sarasa:

If I can say I love my own country...

...that would be so great.

Shuri:

....

Sarasa:

This president must not be killed.

Sarasa:

Mr. President.

Asato:

Oh hello, Miss.

Asato:

Are you hurt?

Sarasa:

No...

I need to talk to you.

Sarasa:

I don't want Nakijin to hear.

Sarasa:

Unten Chiji...

...planned this assassination attempt with Japan.

Unten:

Are you alright, Mr. President?

Sarasa:

Unten...!

Unten:

It's because of your lukewarm attitude...

...that these things happen.

Unten:

We must make our move.

Please allow me to prepare for battle.

Unten:

Oh,

...and don't waste your time listening...

...to the silly words of a Japanese girl.

Sarasa:

That is a serious declaration of war.

How can I expose him to everyone?

This is no longer a personal matter.

Nakijin:

Brother, can I help?

Unten:

Go stay with Mother.

Sarasa:

You're not going to arrest him?

Asato:

Right now...

...I'm just going to keep this in mind.

Asato:

Please don't tell anyone else about this.

Sarasa:

But...

Asato:

And try to forget about it.

I don't want this to be a burden for you.

Asato:

I appreciate your courage.

Now leave everything to me.

Asato:

It'd probably be safest...

...for you to stay with Doctor Bashô.

Sarasa:

Mr. President...

He is such a...

Sarasa:

...great man...

Sarasa:

Yes, I understand.

Asato:

I also thank you for saving my life.

We should have a chat someday.

Shuri:

You shouldn't wander around in public from now on.

Those assassins may not be the only ones.

Asato:

Perhaps.

Well, I'll be careful.

Ha ha ha...

Bashô:

What is this?

You took off the bandages yourself!

Bashô:

Well, I think you're going to be okay...

Sarasa:

I'm sorry.

Bashô

Your eyes will be sensitive to light for a bit longer.

Go easy on them.

Shuri:

Something's wrong with your eyes?

Sarasa:

Yeah.

That's why I came to see Doctor Bashô...

Shuri:

I didn't know you're a famous doctor, Gramps!

Eh— That's a surprise. Ha ha

Bashô:

Do you two know each other?

Shuri:

You could say that.

She's my fiancée.

Sarasa:

I...

I haven't agreed to such a thing.

Shuri:

Oye.

Why're you backing away?

Sarasa:

...

I am not.

Umm.

It's just that.

Sarasa:

I'm dirty all over...

Umm... from running nonstop.

Sarasa:

In the desert, I wouldn't care about these things.

But over here, everyone's dressed so nicely.

And I haven't taken a bath.

Sarasa:

So...

Shuri:

Stop worrying about those things.

Or I'll drag you to a bath!

(Shuri picks Sarasa up.)

Sarasa:

Wah

Shuri!

Shuri:

Oye.

Where's the hotspring?!

Bashô:

There are none.

Shuri:

None?!

Bashô:

Long ago, there used to be one around Nakadomari.

But now, none.

Shuri:

VEXED!

There are actually countries without hotsprings!

Bashô:

If we don't have one, we don't have one.

Shuri:

There's no other way.

How about the ocean?

Sarasa:

Wow!

Sarasa:

It's so beautiful!

It's like there's no water.

Why?!

I thought all the oceans are connected.

Why is this place so different from the others?!

Shuri:

You sure get excited over everything.

Shuri:

First.

Sarasa:

Pu

Sarasa:

Pupupu...

What're you doing—

Shuri:

They say the women on Okinawa use sea water to clean their bodies.

Sarasa:

I'm all wet.

Shuri:

There.

That's better.

Shuri:

I wanted to see you.

Shuri:

I wanted to see you...

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Shuri...

Shuri...

(Shuri gets a bit carried away and almost rips Sarasa's dress off.)

Sarasa:

No...

Noo.

Shuri:

Silly.

{sfx: plunk}

Shuri:

I see...

...you've got some chest now.

(Sometime later...)

Sarasa:

Even without a fire, it's not cold.

Shuri:

Yeah.

Shinbashi:

shake shake

Ha— I swam. I swam.

Sarasa:

The Sword of Byakko...

Sarasa:

Just as I thought, Shuri had it.

I'm glad...

Shuri:

Hey.

Lately,

...did some weird guy show up around you?

Sarasa:

Eh?!

Shuri:

Oh nothing.

If there wasn't, then that's good.

Shuri:

I guess that bastard Asagi didn't know where Sarasa was.

Shuri:

Because...

...you're mine.

Shuri:

But even though I say that, it's impossible for me to marry you right now.

I'm flat broke.

I don't have a cent to my name.

Sarasa:

Did your manjû (hot bun) shop go out of business?!

(Shuri told Sarasa he sells manjû back when they were in Kanto, circa manga volume 4.)

Shuri:

No more talks about the manjû shop!

Sarasa:

Wah-ha-ha-ha

Shuri:

What's so funny?

Sarasa:

But,

...that's...

...just like you, Shuri.

Ha ha ha

Shuri:

What's...

...just like me?!

Sarasa:

Well, that's your thing.

Always being reckless and unreasonable.

Sarasa:

You'd knock down some important person over the littlest thing.

Sarasa:

Didn't I tell you before?

If you hurt someone,

...you will get hurt in return someday.

Sarasa:

But, you don't look too disappointed.

Still energetic & horny.

Shuri:

Well, yeah.

Sarasa:

Shuri,

...you don't get discouraged, do you?

heh heh

Sarasa:

I think those who can be lively...

...even during the tough times...

...are so amazing.

Though I don't know too much about that.

Shuri:

Sarasa,

...can you do me a favor?

(Shuri takes his shirt off.)

Sarasa:

Wha—

What?!

{sfx: surprised}

Shuri:

Burn it.

Shuri:

Burn away...

...this brand...

...on my back.

Sarasa:

"Burn...it..."

But,

...won't you get burned?!

Shuri:

...umm...yeah.

Sarasa:

...

If Shinbashi gets burned, he'll become roast bird.

Shuri:

Please.

Sarasa:

I can't.

I can't do it.

Shuri:

Then,

...can you slice it off with the sword?

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Shuri:

This slave brand was...

...given to me by my father.

Sarasa:

What?!

Shuri:

I'm his least favorite son.

Shuri:

I want to overcome him someday.

In order to do so,

...I've been rebelling against him.

I live to oppose my father.

Shuri:

All this is because...

...of the brand...

...he gave me personally.

Shuri:

But,

...now I feel that...

Shuri:

...I must erase this mark.

So I can be reborn.

Shuri:

Please,

...I would like you to do this for me.

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Sarasa:

Ready?

Shuri:

Yeah.

Shuri:

I understand now.

Shuri:

The night I fled from Suou,

...my subordinates plotted together and betrayed me.

Men:

We love this city.

Shuri:

The people on the street...

...tried to help me.

Shuri:

Of course,

...I was touched.

Shuri:

But,

...I didn't accept their help.

Shuri:

I'm different from you.

I'm a King.

I'm Shuri, the Red King!

Shuri:

I was born to be King...!

Shuri:

That...

...was a title my father gave me.

Shuri:

The name of "Red King,"

...and the desert land,

...were all given to me by my father!

Shuri:

I didn't get anything...

...on my own.

Shuri:

What a joke I was.

To get so hung up...

...on those things.

Shuri:

When I'm born again,

...I'll be my own man.

Shuri:

I'll take the world...

...with my own hands!!

Shuri:

Even if I'm not a King.

Even if I'm not a king,

...I'll still become...

...a true and absolute ruler...

...for the world to see!!

Sarasa:

So hot...

So painful...

So painful...

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Shuri...

Sarasa:

Are you...

...crying...?

Shuri:

{sfx: pant pant pant}

Shuri:

Sarasa...

Shuri:

It must have been...

...tough for you.

Sarasa:

No.

I'm happy to do it.

Sarasa:

You want me by your side...

...at such a time.

It makes me so happy...

Musn't touch his back.

Shuri:

Sarasa...

Shinbashi:

Ouch—

Sarasa:

Ah... Now is not the time for these things.

You need to cool down with some water.

Water...water...

(Sarasa scoops up some sea water for Shuri.)

Shuri:

...What are you going to do with sea water?

Trying to kill me?

Sarasa:

...Ah...

Sarasa:

Let's hurry back to Dr. Bashô and get your back treated.

Shuri:

Ha ha ha

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Sarasa:

Shuri...

...is laughing.

Sarasa:

It must be difficult...

...to bear such a heavy burden on his back.

Sarasa:

The slave brand...

Sarasa:

I...

...know another person who has the same thing.

Sarasa:

Ageha...

...probably wants to burn it off his back too...*

Voice:

Ageha-sama.

Ageha:

No need for the "-sama" suffix,

...Princess Senju.

Senju:

Then... Ageha,

...where are we going?

Ageha:

I was just thinking about it. You know...

I can't take you back to your parents' place.

Senju:

No, of course not.

Ageha:

...You...

...never found out...

...how Shidô died, did you?

Senju:

Of course I did!

He was killed by Tatara!

Senju:

...That's why...

...this unborn child will...

...follow in his father's footsteps.*

Ageha:

You...

...should look upon this era with a wiser eye.

Taking a break

Ageha:

Why?

Because you're going to be a mother.

Ageha:

Don't you understand?

Ageha:

This country's future...

...does not depend on the Savior, nor the Kings,

...nor the heroes.

Ageha:

It depends...

...on the mothers.

Ageha:

Whether or not this child grows up to be an idiot...

...depends entirely upon you.

Senju:

You're...

...not a simple gypsy dancer, are you?

Ageha:

I...

...used to be a slave in Shidô's family.

Senju:

...Eh!!

Ageha:

My nomadic people were hunted down,

...and my parents were killed.

Ageha:

I was made into a slave after that.

Ageha:

That's why I hate the Royal Family.

I think they are a curse to this world.

Ageha:

I'm a man who lives to see this country's downfall.

Senju:

Th...

Then...

Ageha:

...If not for Shidô,

...I would be like that.

Ageha:

Shidô...

...was kind to a slave child like me.

Senju:

...Then...

Senju:

Then you must have really loved Shidô-sama.

Ageha:

No.

I only pitied him.

Senju:

No, that's not true.

If that's true, you wouldn't have rescued me back then.

Senju:

You must have really loved him.

Didn't you?

Ageha:

Hate...

...cannot last.

Ageha:

If you can breathe, and walk, and meet people.

If you can love someone.

Then hate will disappear.

Ageha:

Hate cannot last.

Nothing can be created from hate.

Ageha:

Tatara...

Do you understand that?

Ageha:

Can you see...

...the path you must take...?

Senju:

Then,

...whose side are you on right now?

Ageha:

I haven't decided.

Ageha:

I have not heard from you yet,

...Tatara.

Ageha:

What kind of country do you want to build?

How will you change it?

I'm still...

...waiting...

...to hear about these things from you.

Sarasa:

I really wish I can tell everyone...

...that such a country truly exists.

Sarasa:

Hey everyone,

...there's a country that doesn't have a tyrannical king.

It's ruled by an elected official.

And the people in this country all live together in peace...

Sarasa:

It'd be so great if Japan is like this.

Sarasa:

I...

...keep talking about overthrowing the Emperor.

Sarasa:

But what will I do after that? I have no idea.

Sarasa:

I don't know what's the right thing to do after that.

Sarasa:

But,

...I can use this place...

...as a model...

Sarasa:

...for our...

...new Japan...!

Bashô:

You burned off your brand—?!

Wah ha ha

Shuri:

Yeah.

Bashô:

Wah ha ha ha

But isn't this still burned skin, just like before?

Ha ha ha ha

Really now.

Sarasa:

Is the president all right?

Bashô:

Yeah,

...he's been busy with meeting after meeting.

Bashô:

He's thinking of ways to buy more time.

It must be hard.

{sfx: plop}

back

Sarasa:

Buy more time?

Bashô:

Things are heating up in Japan.

Bashô:

If a civil war flares up,

...even the Emperor wouldn't want to mess with Okinawa anymore.

Bashô:

That's what we're all waiting for...

Bashô:

Even though we have foreign support,

...we'll still be in trouble if war breaks out.

Yûna's clothes

Shuri:

Why don't you fight back?

You may not lose.

Bashô:

...

People like you wouldn't understand.

Yûna:

This country has a painful history.

During a great ancient war, this place became a gruesome battlefield.

Yûna:

Not only has this island suffered through hundreds of years' worth of natural disasters,

...but that war also claimed the lives of tens of thousands of islanders.

Most of them were women and children.

(Note: I think she's referring to the Battle of Okinawa during WWII, which killed 150,000+ islanders.)

Bashô:

We pass this story on from generation to generation.

It's the first story we tell our children.

Bashô:

That's why Okinawans...

...despise fighting.

Asato:

I refuse to turn this country into a battlefield.

I've already decided.

Shuri:

I won't...

...let my Suou get burned again.

(Note: This is a reference to manga volume 3 and 4.)

Sarasa:

But, as long as we have President Asato,

...I think Okinawa's going to be fine.

Sarasa:

Even the Torinoko brothers couldn't beat him.

Shuri:

Torinoko...?

Sarasa:

Those two assassins.

That's what they called themselves.

Shuri:

Come on, Gramps!

Bashô:

What?!

Sarasa:

Shuri?!

Shuri:

The Torinoko brothers...

...the Emperor's henchmen...

...are three people.

Shuri:

The most fearsome of the three...

...is the eldest brother,

...called Kinarigumi...!

Voice:

Waaah—

Mr. President—

Shuri:

Are we too late...?!

Bashô:

What happened?!

Man:

Ah, Dr. Bashô!

Thank God.

Man:

He was alone in the house.

Just him and his bodyguard.

Man:

Mr. President!

Yûna:

Oji-sama.

Bashô:

Oh...no.

Man:

Is he going to be okay?

Voice:

Be quiet.

Bashô:

I'm here now.

You're not going to die!

Bashô:

Mr. President,

...hang in there!

Men:

Damn the Japanese!

In this case, we have to go to war.

Men:

We must tell Unten.

We can't stay quiet anymore.

Asato:

No...

...war...

Shuri:

Leave everything to me,

...Mr. President.

Shuri:

I'll protect Okinawa.

Sarasa:

Shuri...!