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: 10-21-02.

Sign:

Happy New Year

Narration:

In ancient Greece,

...the owl,

...is the Goddess of Wisdom and War - Athena's

...main protector bird.

Sarasa:

Shinbashi!

Sarasa:

He can't fly yet.

Ageha:

Tatara.

Tatara, calm down.

Sarasa:

To be left behind in such a place.

Sarasa:

I won't see him again.

He'll die.

Sarasa:

Shinbashi...

Sarasa:

He'll die...

Ageha:

Tatara, you should be more worried about yourself right now.

Sarasa:

No. Shinbashi.

Sarasa:

Shinbashi...

Ageha:

Tatara!

Ageha:

Can you trust my words?

Can you?

Ageha:

Owls are incredibly strong against cold weather.

They're wise and tough.

Ageha:

If he had gone on with us, he probably would have been taken away and killed.

He's lucky to have escaped.

...Let's think of it that way, okay?

Ageha:

That premature little thing was saved and raised by you.

Have more faith in his life.

Sarasa:

I'm going to save him.

I'm going to save him.

Sarasa:

So from now on, he will have to live bravely.

Even if it's cold, he'll have to find food.

Sarasa:

When the chance comes,

...we'll hurry and escape, Ageha.

Sarasa:

We cannot stay long in this kind of place.

Ageha:

That's right.

Ageha:

Hokkaidô.

In this place, owls...

...are the gods of the forest.

Ageha:

Is this your first time seeing snow, Tatara?

Sarasa:

...I don't know.

I hate these things.

Hokkaidô...

Asagi:

They've taken us to this god-forsaken place...

For what?

Do they want to make us into prisoners?

Ageha:

Will there be demons? Will there be snakes?

...Who cares?

As long as we don't starve to death.

Narration:

Hokkaidô.

At its northern end is...

...the Abashiri Prison!!

Man:

Cover the cage with cloth.

{goto goto goto... kata kata kata...}

Sarasa:

Why did they cover the cage with cloth?

Ageha:

Because prisoners may try to escape,

...so we're not allowed to see the way in.

{gi gi gi gi gi...}

Sarasa:

We're descending...?!

Underground...

Sarasa:

The prison...

...is underground...?!

{kata kata kata kata...}

{goto goto goto goto...}

Voice:

It's moving again...

Voice:

Come out, newcomers.

This is your final destination.

Man:

The Hokkai King's Abashiri Prision welcomes you.

Sarasa:

Ageha...

Ageha:

First move ensures victory.

Let's go!

Ageha:

It's hard to run with leg weights.

Sarasa:

Ageha... something's wrong.

No one's chasing us.

There're no guards either.

Ageha:

We'll go however far we can go.

Lucky there's only one road...

Voice:

...Ah.

Ageha:

The drawbridge is up.

We can't get across.

Sarasa:

Shinbashi...

Wait for me.

Just wait...

Asagi:

It's hot... What's this foul smell...?

Though it's better than being cold.

Ageha:

What's down there?

Smells like sulfur...

Asagi:

I can't see anything. It's all white.

Ageha:

Let's go find some other road.

Be careful not to fall in.

Sarasa:

uh... WHAH!

Ageha:

Tatara!

Man:

Should I drop you in?

Down below is a hotspring.

Man:

But,

...it's a boiling...

...hotspring.

Man:

Anyone who tries to escape...

...gets thrown inside.

Man:

Feels good, doesn't it?

Nobody dares to come up here.

Ageha:

.......

We'll do as you say.

Ageha:

Tatara, are you okay?

Man:

Since you guys are new, I'll go easy this time.

...Ah.

Just remember, I'm the head of this place.

Man:

The King of this Hokkai Country.

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Shuri...!

Ageha:

Tatara!

Don't!

Sarasa:

It can't be.

Man:

Trying to bind my arms? Not a bad move, but...*

Man:

Do not disobey me!

Ageha:

Tatara!

Man:

Wanna die?

Wanna die? Eh?!

I'll kill you then!

Ageha:

Stop.

Man:

You...

...dare give orders to the King?

Asagi:

Don't be absurd. Who are you really?

The head of this place should be the Japanese Emperor's little brother.

He must be past his 40s by now.

Sarasa:

The Emperor's...

...little brother...?!

Man:

What's with that attitude?

You're all impudent!

Man:

Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag.

I'm only the head warden.

Asagi:

The same...

...disgusting face...

He dare hit my face...

Sarasa:

Ouch—

Ageha:

You big silly.

Sarasa:

The Emperor's brother is the head of this prison...

...which means he's also the Red King and Blue King's...

...uncle...

...which means...

Sarasa:

This is...

...enemy territory!

Ageha:

Calling out Tatara's name...

...may not be a good idea...

Warden:

You guys are probably traitors to the royal family.

Everyone who gets sent here are those sorts.

Warden:

But prisoners here have no name.

The famous, the rich, and the punks are all the same.

You'll work everyday.

Warden:

You'll work in this pit...

...everyday...

...until the day you die!

Sarasa:

...Now that I have a better look, they're not a bit alike.

To actually mistake him for Shuri...

...is proof that my mind has gone soft.

I have to pull myself together!

Warden:

Now, go!

Ageha:

Are... there female prisoners here?

Warden:

Female?!

Ageha:

How would you treat female prisoners?

Warden:

The treatments are many.

We just don't get any.

Ageha:

Using the name Tatara...

...probably won't get her killed, but...

...for a girl...

...this is the worst kind of place.

Sarasa:

Ageha...?

Ageha:

Make yourself dirtier.

Ageha:

So it won't be so easy...

...for them to tell.

Man:

Sorry about before.

I'm the A block Overseer, Mizu no Shika.

Please change into your prisoner uniforms here.

Mizu no Shika:

Prisoners are called by numbers.

You are No.4. And you're No.16.

Ageha:

Such small numbers.

Mizu no Shika:

Prisoners die, so their numbers free up.

You're No.31.

Ageha:

No.31...

Such a nostalgic number.

Mizu no Shika:

Please hurry and change.

You can keep the underwear you have on.

Sarasa:

Ageha...

Ageha:

No physical examinations?

Mizu no Shika:

There's no need.

No matter what you have hidden on you, it'll be impossible to escape.

Ageha:

Then...

...that's good.

Ageha:

Tatara, pay attention.

Change quickly.

Sarasa:

Eh...

Ageha:

Attention everyone!

The very popular desert flower!

Kichô-neesan's...

...strip show begins—

Ageha:

Just for a little bit <3

Since I don't usually undress.

Mizu no Shika:

clap clap clap

Bravo!

He's tall.

{TA-DA!}

Asagi:

Ageha always has an Ageha solution.*

Mizu no Shika:

You guys are in the "March Cell."

Please, go down the ladder.

Asagi:

These clothes stink. Have they been washed?

Ageha:

You're cavilier about this, Asagi.

Asagi:

What're you talking about?

I can't stand this.

Asagi:

If I knew we'd end up in some place like this,

...I wouldn't have come with you guys.

Ageha:

Then why don't you go jump into that hotspring.

Asagi:

Ageha...?

Wha... A bit cranky, aren't you?

Ageha:

...I think...

...this is no laughing matter for you either.

Man:

Excuse me Overseer.

There's one more new guy.

Mizu no Shika:

OK.

So many today.

New Guy:

Ah, thank goodness.

New Guy

I'm alone so I was kinda scared.

Nice to meet you.

I'm No.50.

Mizu no Shika:

Newcomers have to wear cuffs and shackles for a week.

Please put up with it.

Now, please go down one by one.

Voice:

...A woman?

Voice:

A woman's smell.

Voice:

Can it be?

A woman's here.

Mizu no Shika:

You get up at 4am.

Don't waste your strengths by picking fights.

Now, take it easy.

Voice:

A woman. I can smell it.

What're you talking about? Isn't that just a kid?

It doesn't matter. As long as he's kind of pretty.

I can't hold it anymore.

Voice:

New kid, come here. Haa.

Hi hi hi hi

Asagi:

What?

Get away, you filth!

Sarasa:

Ageha...

Ageha:

With our hands and feet bound...

...can we take on so many people...?

Ageha:

If not,

...then this girl will be torn apart.

Man:

Got guts heh? How annoying.

Aren't you guys scared?

Man:

The one who tried to escape early on,

...and pulled a strip show,

...is you, right?

Ageha:

He may be a prisoner,

...but he gets his information fast.

Are you the boss?

Man:

How about giving us another show, brother?

Consider it a newcomer's service.

Ageha:

Can this man be reasoned with?

Is he in charge of everyone...?

Ageha:

It's a gamble.

My little brother is only a kid.

If you promise not to lay a finger on him,

Ageha:

...then I will...

...do whatever you want.

Sarasa:

Ageha...?!

Man:

You're a male prostitute?

Ageha:

Something like that.

I'm an ex-slave turned dancer.

Ageha:

If you promise me,

...then you can have fun with any part of me,

...be it the soles of my feet, my ass, or even my balls.

Man:

A promise, huh? You speak well.

So if we touch him, you won't put out.*

Man:

Well, this is the "rain after the drought."

I like your gallantry.

Man:

It's a deal.

You guys, don't do a thing!

Sarasa:

Ah... Ageha.

Ageha...

Ageha:

Close your eyes.

Cover your ears.

Ageha:

Don't fret.

My life is like this.

Ageha:

I'll definitely protect you.

So don't worry.

Asagi:

Ageha...

Ageha:

Asagi, don't leave Tatara's side.

Ageha:

I'm...

...happy to have come here...

...with Tatara.

Ageha:

Even though it has only been a little while,

...if I'm by her side,

...then I want to do something for her.

Asagi:

You should also...

...be more sincere...

...in protecting her.

Man:

Come here, No.31.

Ageha:

No.31...

Ageha:

Slave No.31...

Such a nostalgic number.

Sarasa:

Ageha...

Ageha...

Ageha:

Ever since I was small,

...my card has been "The Hanging Man."

Ageha:

The card's meaning is...

..."trial and sacrifice for an unrequited love."

...Sucks, doesn't it?

But...

Ageha:

...doing this for you...

...is worthwhile to me.

Ageha:

Since the moment I lost my left eye,

...our fates have been intertwined.

Sarasa:

Ageha!

Ageha...

Sarasa:

I can't stop it...

Can't stop it...

I can't save you...

Sarasa:

Ageha...

Ah...

Sarasa:

My body...

...can't move...

Sarasa:

Shuri...

Shuri...

Help.

Help.

Shuri:

Shuri.

Nakijin:

What's wrong?

Shikoku fish are yum <3

Shuri:

Nothing...

Shuri:

I thought...

...I heard Sarasa's voice...

...just now...