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: 8-22-02.

Ageha:

Tatara! You're in danger.

That child...

Ageha:

...is a fraud!

Sarasa:

Put down...

...the knife.

Sarasa:

You are...

..."Hi no Kitsune" right?

Sarasa:

{sfx: grab}

The finger marks...

...on Hayato's neck...

Sarasa:

...were made by an adult...

...as well as a child.

Hi no Kitsune:

Guh...

Sarasa:

Is it painful?

It was also painful for Hayato.

Hi no Kitsune:

Uh...

{sfx: ping}

Phff

Hi no Kitsune:

{sfx: aaaaaah}

Waaaah

Waaaah

Sarasa:

In spite of doing worse things than an adult,

...when push comes to shove, you go back to acting like a child.

Sarasa:

How cowardly.

Ageha:

Tatara!

You okay?

Ta...

Ageha:

Give him to me.

{sfx: eeh eeh}

Do you want to kill him?

Ageha:

Oh— Okay okay.

{sfx: hic hic}

What a little brat you are.

Ageha:

Now take this!

{sfx: slap slap}

Hi no Kitsune:

WAAAAH—

Ageha:

Does it hurt?

If you don't know pain,

...then you won't be able to understand other people's pain either.

Hi no Kitsune:

{sfx: clang}

{sfx: waaaah—}

Hmph.

Dammit.

Hi no Kitsune:

It's all your fault for being so useless.*

Karon:

Uh—

Shirasu:

Hey! Stop that you brat.

Hi no Kitsune:

Hmph

What?

Karon is my subordinate. I can treat him however I like.

Shirasu:

What's with this kid?

Ageha:

Tatara.

Ageha:

You don't look like your old self.

Are you okay?

{sfx: grab}

Sarasa:

Mm...!

Mm...

Sarasa:

Ageha...

Wh...

What...

Ageha:

Back to your senses now?

Ageha:

What do you want to do? Just say it.

You can ask for anything.*

Because you need to do something.*

Ageha:

What do you want to do?

Why do you want to do it?

Sarasa:

I want to cry.

Ageha:

You can't do that.

You can't ask for that.*

Sarasa:

I want to cry...

Hic

Eeh

Sarasa:

Eeeh...

Ageha:

You can't act like that cry baby.

Or else I'm gonna spank your butt.

Man:

Hey— Shirasu, those guys are at it again.

Shirasu:

I'm so lonely.

Oh, here it is.

Hi no Kitsune's map. Now we've got 2 pieces.

Nanao:

{sfx: step step}

There are no guards anywhere.

They probably don't need guards to watch the prisoners here.

Ageha:

...Ah. I see.

Now, let's hear what this guy has to say.

{sfx: bonk}

Nanao:

I came here...

...on Masunaga's orders.

Sarasa:

Masunaga...?!

Leader of Tôhoku's Kazuno...

The masked...

Ageha:

The ringleader who...

...sent us here?

Nanao:

Well, it's kind of a long story.

Kazuno is the center of Tôhoku,

...and it has 4 generals protecting 4 forts.

Map:

Tamon's Fort

Jikoku's Fort

Masunaga's Fort

Kazuno

Hirome's Fort

Nanao:

Masunaga is one of the four.

—— Among them,

Nanao:

...is a man who protects the north side, called Tamon.

He's been locked up in this prison.

Ageha:

How can one of the generals...

Nanao:

Well...

...he's kind of an eccentric guy.

Nanao:

He was fishing at sea, and got captured by the Black Army.

Ageha:

What a moron.

Nanao:

No, he's actually very skilled.

—Anyway

Nanao:

He owns the Sword of Genbu.

Sarasa:

.....

...eh?!

Nanao:

In other words...

...Masunaga has a request.

Nanao:

If you guys are willing to rescue Tamon from here,

then I will help you. Well?

Ageha:

So we're being used...

...and manipulated?

Sarasa:

If you had...

Sarasa:

If you had told us this from the start,

...we could have been better prepared...

Sarasa:

And Hayato wouldn't have suffered...

Nanao:

If you guys had kept your promise not to go outside and stayed for that 1 night,

...we would have explained everything.

Sarasa:

It was a test.

Then I am...

...to blame...

Ah...

But...!

Sarasa:

The opportunity to ally with Kazuno...

...was ruined by me...!

Ageha:

Don't get mad.

Testing an ally's potential is only natural.

Sarasa:

I know that.

I'm not mad...!

Sarasa:

I know...

The Sword of Genbu...

Sarasa:

The last...

...of the 4 Sacred Swords...

The one who has it is Tamon...

Sarasa:

If we can rescue this Tamon person,

...will we...

...be able to discuss the alliance once more?

Nanao:

Yes.

Masunaga has long contemplated...

...allying Tôhoku with Tatara's army.

Ageha:

He looked pretty unconcerned to me, that Masunaga guy.

Nanao:

He's not unconcerned.

He wants to believe in your abilities.

Nanao:

His desire for peace and a new Japan...

...is surely the same as yours.

Sarasa:

We haven't come here...

...for nothing.

Sarasa:

Hayato has protected "Tatara".

From now on, this protected "Tatara"...

Sarasa:

...will ally with Tôhoku...

...and gather the 4 Sacred Swords. Then...

Sarasa:

The Red King,

...the Black King,

...and the Japanese Emperor.

We'll definitely be strong enough to fight them...!

Ageha:

Shirasu, do you know Tamon?

Shirasu:

That guy?

Hey, Gramps.

Old Man:

Mmm.

Old Man:

He was too headstrong,

...so that fella's been sent to C Block.

Sarasa:

C Block...!

Sarasa:

Ageha, I'm going to look for Tamon.

You go find the garden that's used to make the drugs, and burn it.

Ageha:

I know. Just leave it to me.

And then?

Sarasa:

Then, we'll release all the prisoners.

And everyone will escape from this place.

Ageha:

How did I know that's what you're going to do?

Ageha:

Will you be okay?

Sarasa:

Yeah.

If I don't redeem my honor,

...Hayato will be mad at me.

Old Man:

I think C Block should be this way...

Man:

You gonna be okay, Gramps?

Shirasu:

Ageha, want me to go with you?

Ageha:

No, I'll be fine by myself.

You go with them to C Block, and get the third piece of map.

Sarasa:

Ageha, be careful.

Shirasu:

Hey honey,

...aren't you worried about not being with him?

Ageha:

Honey?

Ageha:

When he has that look on his face,

...I don't have to worry.

Sarasa:

Gramps.

Old Man:

I'm Iwatarô.

Call me Gan-san.

Sarasa:

...Gan-san.

I've been wondering.

That person who escaped 20 years ago.

How did he get out?

Sarasa:

Did he have the map?

Ga-san:

No.

I've never heard about this map business.

Ga-san:

Kaku-san simply said there was a blind spot,

...that it was deceiving.

That's all.

Sarasa:

...

......"Kaku-san"?

{sfx: hyuuu...} (cold wind)

Kakujî:

I never thought I would come back to this place again.

Even my mustache's frozen.

Kakujî:

Is that path...

...still usable now?

Sigh...

Kakujî:

I hope everyone's okay...

Mizu no Shika:

Alright. Alright.

{sfx: kii kii kii kiii...} (rope stretching)

Mizu no Shika:

50 seals and 1000 cases of fish.

Sea lions too.

Shellfish, crab, salt...etc...fur and meat...

Mizu no Shika:

This is our last shipment of food for the year.

Kaze no Fukurô:

Dismiss the carriers.

And block the drawbridge's entrance.

Mizu no Shika:

No more entering and exiting.

It'll be another long winter...

...before the ice drifts come.

Mizu no Shika:

Without these seafoods,

...living here would be beyond difficult.

{sfx: bump...}

Mizu no Shika:

...Did that seal move just now?

It's still alive?*

Kaze no Fukurô:

I hate winter.

My head feels heavy,

...and I get bad dreams.

Mizu no Shika:

Just soak in the hotspring and you'll feel better.*

Okay, this place is cold.

Let's go report to your father.

{sfx: slam} (door closes)

{sfx: pi}

{sfx: piiii—}

Nachi:

Buu-Haaah

Almost got caught—

Sorry, Mr. Seal.

Nachi:

But you know, hiding inside the foods was a really great idea.

Muratake is so smart.

Just like Na-chan.

Muratake:

Sh— Sh—

<— Only fur

Nachi:

There must be another exit.

sniff sniff

Nachi:

You smell like seal—

cough cough

This is my first time seeing a seal.

Muratake:

You should talk.

Nachi:

What? This looks like an ant's nest.

{sfx: stomp stomp stomp}

{sfx: step step}

I think we're underground.

Nachi:

{sfx: stomp stomp stomp}

{sfx: step step}

Hey, your footsteps are too loud.*

Muratake:

Nachi, can you walk a little more quietly?

Nachi:

It's even cold underground.

<— Didn't hear

Muratake:

It's colder above ground.

Nachi:

Eh—

{sfx: saa...} (running water)

There's a flowing river.

That's something to be happy about.

{sfx: saaa...} (running water)

{sfx: plop plop}

Nachi:

A drowned corpse...

...I think.

Hayato?!

Muratake:

Sh— Sh—

Nachi:

Hayato!

That's Hayato!

Eh— If he's dead, what should we do?

Muratake:

I'm going ahead.

Nachi:

What?

{sfx: grab}

Muratake:

He's not the person I'm looking for...

Nachi:

What?

Nachi:

Who saved you after you collapsed in the middle of a blizzard?

I don't work for free.

And who fed you bear meat?

Muratake:

Uh...

Muratake:

So are you a mercenary?

Nachi:

I'm just a whale hunter.

Nachi:

...still beating.

He's alive.

Muratake:

Having been stabbed by a knife,

...he seems to have lost little blood.

It's a shallow wound, and no vital organs were hit.

{wrap wrap}

Nachi:

Are you a doctor?

I've picked up a great guy.

Muratake:

I learned how to do first aid.

Muratake:

Now, I must go...

{grab}

Muratake:

....

I suppose it's okay if I stay and help.

Nachi:

What's this?

There's a weird smell...

Like garbage.

Burrrr

Muratake:

Places with no people tend to smell strange.

Voices:

Ah, here's a door.

It's locked.

I'll go open it, wait here.

Muratake:

{sfx: click click}

{sfx: pop}

Okay, let's go.

Nachi:

....

Nachi:

Do you want to join the Tengu Hall?

You can unlock our safe. Hi-chan's saved up a lot, but he's really stingy.

Muratake:

What's that...

Sh

Muratake:

There's a person.

Nachi:

What? Hellooo.

Muratake:

Nachi...!

Nachi:

Perfect. Now we can ask him for directions.

Man:

Who are you?

Nachi:

Who the hell are you?

Can you catch fish here?

Where's your face?

Muratake:

Dizzy...

Muratake:

You appear to be a prisoner, but...

...where are the guards?

Are there no people here?

Man:

C Block...

...doesn't have any other people.

Mizu no Shika:

{sfx: step step step}

Kaze no Fukurô!

{sfx: bam}

Mizu no Shika:

Tsuchi no Kuma just informed me that...

...the escapees who were sent to B Block...

...have escaped again.

Mizu no Shika:

We're lucky those guys...

...still haven't discovered that Tsuchi no Kuma is among the prisoners.

Mizu no Shika:

They're trying to rescue Tamon,

...so they're heading towards C Block.

Kaze no Fukurô:

Tamon?

Kaze no Fukurô:

Ah, that fellow living alone in C Block.

Hard to believe he can live in such a place.

Kaze no Fukurô:

Father!

I hate to cut our talk short, but...

...I have to go deal with this for a minute.

Okay.

Asagi:

{sfx: step step step}

Father...?

Asagi:

His father is the chief of this place.

{sfx: creak}

Asagi:

The Japanese Emperor's little brother.

My uncle.

Asagi:

But it's so cold in here.

I'm gonna try to have a little talk with him...

Asagi:

......

What's this....

{sfx: za za za za...} (rushing)

Mizu no Shika:

This is the chief's orders.

The escapees heading toward C Block...

...are to be captured immediately.

Ageha:

The situation has gotten dangerous.

How were...

...Tatara and them discovered?

Ageha:

That's right...

Nanao is not the assassin...

The fellow who attacked Tatara is still around...?!

{sfx: step step step...}

Shirasu:

{step step step}

Damn, they're after us.

How were we discovered?!

Hayato:

Tatara.

The guy called Tsuchi no Kuma is with you.

He's going to attack Tatara...

Sarasa:

Is Tsuchi no Kuma...

...nearby somewhere...?!

Kaze no Fukurô:

There you are.

Thanks for the hard work.

Sarasa:

Kaze no Fukurô...

Aah...

Shuri...

Sarasa:

They do look alike.

Sarasa:

How can they look so much alike...

Kaze no Fukurô:

What an energetic bunch you are.

Thanks to you guys, my father is furious!

Kaze no Fukurô:

No matter, just kill them all!

Man:

{sfx: da da da da...} (running)

Waah— Shirasu—

Shirasu:

Shit—

Sarasa:

This is the same thing all over again.

{sfx: woooo}

{sfx: donk}

Nachi:

Now—

The star of Kumano...

...Tengu Hall's Na-chan...

...is here!!

{sfx: uwah ha ha ha ha ha}

Sarasa:

Na...

...chi...

...?!

Sarasa:

Na...

Nachi?!

Nachi = Young Lord

(Note: Sarasa almost always calls Nachi "Wakadanna," meaning "Young Master/Lord." Since it sounds really awkward in English, I've decided to use Nachi instead.)

Nachi:

Heh heh heh.

Surprised?

Hayato's here too.

{sfx: uwah ha uwah ha}

Hayato:

Tatara...

Sarasa:

Ha... yato...?!

Hayato?!

Sarasa:

It can't be... Didn't you...

...fall into the spring?

Nanao:

Ah... Ah?!

Tamon...

Brother?!

Tamon:

Oh. Nanao?

Did you come to get me?

Sarasa:

You... you're Tamon?!

Eh?! You're Nanao's brother?!

Tamon:

Yeah.

Sarasa:

I'm Tatara.

I'm going to take you back to Masunaga's place.

Let's leave together!

Tamon:

Masunaga?

Oh. That's how it is.

Kaze no Fukurô:

Who's leaving?

No one is leaving this place.

Kaze no Fukurô:

No one...

...can leave.

Kaze no Fukurô:

As long as my father is in charge!*

Go!

Kill them all!

{sfx: waah waah}

{sfx: whooooooo...} (roar)

{sfx: doh doh doh...} (pounding)

{sfx: whooooooo...} (roar)

{sfx: doh doh doh...} (pounding)

Mizu no Shika:

Fukurô!

The prisoners have gotten out and they're rioting.

{sfx: doh doh doh doh...} (stompings)

{sfx: waaaaah}

Shirasu:

"Spring has come." Ageha...

...has released all the prisoners.

Ageha:

Get out.

Everyone get out.

{sfx: waah waah}

Kaze no Fukurô:

Damn. Guess there's no other way but to borrow from my father's power.

Then I'll see what you guys can do.*

Mizu no Shika:

Fukurô...!

Nachi:

Tatara, now's your chance.

Sarasa:

Nachi. Nachi, thanks.

How did you get in? Can we leave from there?

Nachi:

...Well, how should I say this?

Sorry.

I don't know the way back.

Sarasa:

I see. Then we still need to find the map...

Asagi:

Tatara, come here for a minute.

Asagi:

This way, this way.

Sarasa:

Asagi...

What...

Didn't you want to be with a wiser leader?

Asagi:

It's not like that.

{sfx: frivolous}

I only pretended to betray you guys in order to save everyone.

Sarasa:

...!

Can't close her gaping mouth.

Asagi:

Now, this way.

I'll show you something interesting.

Kaze no Fukurô:

Father!

Father, things are getting out of hand.

Kaze no Fukurô:

The prisoners are rioting.

What should I do?

Father:

Fool!

Can't you take care of this by yourself?

Kaze no Fukurô:

But,

...there's no way we can handle so many.

They're unmanagable.

Kaze no Fukurô:

Father, lend me your power.

Just say something,* Father!

Kaze no Fukurô:

Father!

Kaze no Fukurô:

It's them. They're the ones behind this.

You guys can't come in!

Kaze no Fukurô:

Father.

What should I do?

Father...!

Sarasa:

What are you saying,

...Kaze no Fukurô...

Sarasa:

Is that person your father...?

Then isn't your father...

...already...

Sarasa:

...dead?

{sfx: echo....}

Kaze no Fukurô:

Dead...?

What're you saying?

Isn't he right there?

Sarasa:

Fukurô...

Mizu no Shika:

In Abashiri,

...there are many lakes.

Mizu no Shika:

Ten years ago,

...these caves were tunneled in order to expand the country.

A cave apparently struck the bottom of a lake.

Mizu no Shika:

Cold water flowed in, and...

...soon, many things were frozen in ice.

Mizu no Shika:

Kaze no Fukurô's father, who was the chief,

...important vassals, my parents,

...practically all of this country's adults...

...died at that time.

Mizu no Shika:

I was 10.

Kaze no Fukurô was 8.

And Hi no Kitsune was barely born.

Mizu no Shika:

What do you think we should have done?

Mizu no Shika:

Trembling from the cold,

...with little food,

...only the vassals' children and prisoners were left.

Mizu no Shika:

We were just kids.

What should we have done?

Mizu no Shika:

What should we have done...?!

Sarasa:

Leave... get out of here...

Mizu no Shika:

Yes.

I thought so too.

But,

Mizu no Shika:

...after crying for many days,

...one morning, Fukurô laughed and said to me:

Kaze no Fukurô:

What's with Father?

He used to yell and complain all the time.*

Why doesn't he do that anymore?*

Mizu no Shika:

Your father is...

...dead.

What can I say...

...to make things okay?

Mizu no Shika:

We were born here,

...and we grew up here.

We were children who were forbidden to leave.

Mizu no Shika:

We have...

...no other place but here.

Mizu no Shika:

This place is the kingdom of orphans,

...a child's...

...playground.

Mizu no Shika:

Even though Fukurô can come and go as he pleases,

...he has never left this place*...

Asagi:

That's why you accepted my proposal...

Burr

Mizu no Shika:

Yes, but...

Mizu no Shika:

A broken playground...

...cannot return to the way it was.

{sfx: ku... ku...kuku... kuku...} (sobs)

Kaze no Fukurô:

Shika... stop...

That's... enough...

I under...stand.

Kaze no Fukurô:

I... under...stand...

Sarasa:

This is not Shuri.

Sarasa:

He's not Shuri, but...

Asagi:

Ta...

Sarasa:

This face.

Don't cry.

He looks like a child.

Don't cry.

Sarasa:

Don't cry.

Asagi:

I don't like this.

I don't like...

...this picture.

{sfx: crack... crack... crack...}

{sfx: crack... crack... crack...}

Shirasu:

What?

What's this noise?

The ice is cracking...

Mizu no Shika:

The temperature is rising.

Ageha:

Since I set fire to the flower garden,

...it's been burning steadily.*

This place finally feels warm.

Mizu no Shika:

...What?

If the ice in here melts, then...

Mizu no Shika:

It'll be the same as 10 years ago.

The lake water will flow in...

Voice:

Did I make it in time?

Kakujî:

Tatara.

Is everyone okay?

Nachi:

Ah, Kakujî?! Kakujî!

How'd you get here?!

Gan-san:

Kaku-san...

You're Kaku-san.

Kakujî:

Gan-san...?! Gan-san?

You're still alive?

Sarasa:

Kakujî...?! The Kaku-san who escaped from here long ago...

Kakujî:

We'll talk later. Let's get out first.

Mizu no Shika:

The drawbridge is blocked. There is no exit.

Kakujî:

Yeah right!

Sarasa:

Kakujî, don't we need the map?!

Kakujî:

This has nothing to do with the map.

Kakujî:

"Escape is impossible."

"The map is necessary."

"The spring is too hot."

All of these things were suggested to the prisoners, but they're lies.

Kakujî:

The way out...

...is through the spring.

Voices:

Food.

We want food.

Prisoners:

Any food left?

Food...

Guard:

Heh...

Guard:

Waaah

Gyaah

{sfx: chomp chomp}

Hi no Kitsune:

Karon, Karon.

What should we do?

They're going to eat us up.

Karon:

Uh...

{sfx: goooooo....} (fire roaring)

{sfx: pop pop}

Hi no Kitsune:

Ah, my garden is...

{sfx: ooo...} (fire roaring)

Sarasa:

Mizu no Shika, please order all prisoners...

...and guards to get outside.

Mizu no Shika:

It's snowing outside.

We'll die even if we get out.

Sarasa:

Each person should be free to choose...

...where to die,

...and whether to get out or not.

Sarasa:

Everyone's own life and death...

...should definitely...

...be decided by themselves.

Sarasa:

Come, Kaze no Fukurô.

You get up too.

{sfx: crack... crack}

Mizu no Shika:

You go ahead.

I'll come after I persuade him.

Sarasa:

{sfx: clap}

You want to die here with him, don't you?

I won't let you.

Ageha:

Tatara!

The garden's child is...

{sfx: goooo... goooo...} (fire roaring)

{sfx: za... za...} (fire crackling)

Sarasa:

Hi no Kitsune...

{sfx: pop pop}

{sfx: gooo} (fire roaring)

Hi no Kitsune:

Karon...

Hi no Kitsune:

Karon, what're you doing?

Come back.

Hi no Kitsune:

Karon!

Hi no Kitsune:

Karooon, why?

Don't leave me!

Hi no Kitsune:

Karooon

{sfx: gooo oo....} (fire roaring)

Mizu no Shika:

Karon...

...was the only adult who survived...

...the flood 10 years ago.

Mizu no Shika:

He has always...

...protected this child.

Sarasa:

Karon wanted...

...this child to live.

Sarasa:

You guys...

...can't die either.

Sarasa:

Let's go.

Sarasa:

Everyone...

Sarasa:

...was a victim,

...as well as an aggressor.

Who should I hate...

Mizu no Shika:

Prisoners and guards,

...please stop fighting and listen to me.

{sfx: waah waah}

Mizu no Shika:

Soon, this place will be flooded with water.

Outside is snowing.

Those who want to leave...

...should gather...

...at the front of the B Block waterfall.

Sarasa:

Who...

...should I hate...

{sfx: zaaaaa...} (rushing water)

Kakujî:

The water of the waterfall pours into the spring.

There's only one stream with low temperature.

Kakujî:

Follow the correct course.

The stream will branch off along the way, so don't make a mistake.

Sarasa:

Hayato was saved because he fell from here...

Nachi:

Eh~

It's really okay right?

I'm really reluctant—

Sarasa:

Who should I hate?

gulp...

I've decided.

Sarasa:

I've decided on who I should hate.

He's the one who chased those guys out here.

Okay.

{sfx: huff huff huff}

Sarasa:

He's also the one we're going to fight.

Let's go.

Sarasa:

The Japanese Emperor...!

Jump!

{sfx: doh doh doh doh...} (pounding water)