Basara Volume 4. ver1.1
by Tamura Yumi
ISBN#4-09-133624-8
Please do not alter this document.
Translated by Janet Losey

() indicate lines not spoken
[] indicate lines in handwriting
** indicate flashbacks
{} indicate translator notes

Inside front cover:
In the midst of the Sakura Island eruption, Sarasa and Hayato draw near to Shidou to rescue the captive Ageha. However, they are caught in a trap, and are cornered by Shidou's subordinates. During Sarasa and Shidou's decsisive battle, Sakura Island rises from the sea! Bessatsu Shoujo Comics' popular serial Jipang legend, volume 4!!

P.2
Table of Contents

Sprout Green Chapter 7 - Signal - 3
Green Chapter 1 - Heroes - 42
Green Chapter 2 - On the Road - 146


Summary

Civilization is destroyed at the end of the 20th century, and some hundreds of years after the people are suffering oppression in a kingdom ruled by despots. Byakko Village is attacked by the army of the regional authority, the Red King, and the village chief's son, Tatara, is killed. At that time, his twin sister Sarasa determines to take his appearance and fight.

However, the Red King and Sarasa, who met at a hot spring, are falling in love without knowing each other's true identity.

The decisive battle between Sarasa et al., who has finally reached the land of her grandfather's dying wish, Sakura Island, and Shidou's Army, begins. Meanwhile, Shuri confronts his brother the Blue King, who has his sights on his capitol.

Character Introduction

Sarasa  
A 15 year-old girl. Fights in the place of her bother Tatara who was killed. In truth, she is the "Child of Destiny".

Shuri
The Red King Last son of the Emperor. He is charged with Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu provinces. His name is Shuri. 

Shidou 
The Red King's right hand who pursues Tatara. He is engaged in a decisive battle with Tatara.

P.3
Sarasa: (To Shuri--- I received your letter. Right now Sakura Island is erupting before my eyes. Bits of flickering red can be seen, and thunder can be heard. Boulders, stones and ash are falling.)

Sprout Green Chapter 7 - Signal

P.4
Sarasa: Can you fly through the ash? Will you be okay?

Parrot: [Be okay!]

Sarasa: (It's like I'm seeing the beginning of the world.) [Be careful.]

Sarasa: (Someday, I think I'll plant these seeds you got from your best friend in the ground of Sakura Island. ---Sarasa)

Zaki: Tatara, we haven't been making good time with the broken masts, but it looks like we'll be able to shelter in the open sea.

Sarasa: Okay, that's a relief. Good work.

P.5
Zaki: A mask? That's good. It's better that the enemy doesn't know your...

Sarasa: Oh... no. It's just because of the ash falling.

Hayato: ......He wasn't thinking of anything especially deep after all.

Zaki: He's a slippery one.

Zaki: (He is a mysterious boy. Even though the Suzaku villagers all believed Sakura Island's eruption was a bad omen and were afraid...)

Sarasa: You doing okay--?

Villager: Yeah!

Tamura-sensei: [Probably imported wood.]

Villager: The deck is punched full of holes, but we'll manage.

P.6
Sarasa: *I feel like Sakura Island is supporting us.*

Zaki: (At those few words, they all took heart.)

Villager: Al-right, row! One, two! One, two!

Sarasa: I'll help with something.

Villager: Yeah! Carry this.

Zaki: (Although I should be an outsider,)

Villager: [Dahahahaha] That's no good!

Villager: [Hahahaha] Tatara-san, you go take a break.

Zaki: (I am already fully accepted by the Suzaku villagers.)

P.7
Zaki: (The one who now controls the Suzaku ship is Tatara.)

Zaki: (He is a mysterious boy. So he knows how to ally himself with adversity...? That is his talent.)

Hayato: Tatara, I'll switch with you, so go eat. I'll get this ship straightened out!

Sarasa: Hayato's even smaller than me... [This is unfair, God!]

Sarasa: (Even a girl can get strong if she works out, right?)

Zaki: Tatara. That's enough, eat a little and take a break. [What're you doing?]

P.8
Sarasa: Zaki-san, we need to look for Chacha and set up some rooms-

Zaki: She's fine. She knows the coastline well, and there plenty of spots that we usually use and places to hide ships. At any rate, she'll contact us. [She sent up a signal flare earlier.]

Zaki: Foremost is how the Red Army will come in again. They must've taken considerable damage back there. They're probably withdrawing.

Sarasa: (Withdrawal?! I won't let them. This time I will strike them. I will destroy them completely.)

Sarasa: (...destroy...?)

P.9
Sarasa: (When did start thinking about things this way?)

Zaki: Tatara. A ship is coming.

Villagers: Who are you?! Don't come any closer!

Matsushiro: I-I'm not a suspicious person. I want to ask for Tatara-sama's help.

P.10
Matsushiro: I'm called Matsushiro, phew- I came from Chiran Village.

Villagers: Chiran? There was a village there? If I remember, that's the place with all the old ruins.

Matsushiro: It's a small village that's not on the maps.  This morning the Red Army advanced there. They stole what little water and food we had. The people are upset and are starting to riot. P... please save us. At... at this rate, who knows what will happen to the women and children?

Zaki: He's not carrying anything suspicious, but this may be a trap, Tatara.

Matsushiro: They had a prisoner who seemed to be Tatara-sama's ally. I saw the soldiers bring him.

Sarasa: Ally?

P.11
Matsushiro: He was a man in blue clothes with an eye patch over one eye...

Sarasa: (Ageha?! Ageha is being held prisoner by Shidou's army?! It's because he helped us.)

Zaki?: Tatara! Stop!

P.12
Zaki: Tatara. This is dangerous. There's something fishy here. If this is a trap from Shidou's army, it will be hard to recover him. [And I don't think Ageha would just let himself be captured.]

Sarasa: Zaki-san... If it was me, I don't think I could give up an eye for a girl I don't know. I promised him that when he is in trouble, I would come to help him.

Sarasa: I leave Chacha and Kaku-jii to you, Zaki-san. I'm worried since the elderly people and Yato and Shinbashi are with them.

Zaki: Then at least call someone to...

Sarasa: With too many people I'll stand out. I'll be fine, I'm only going for reconnaissance.

Zaki: But...

P.13
Sarasa: [chuckle] Zaki-san, you're such a worrier. You're not as scary as you look, and you're so kind.

[Bonk]

Zaki: Then at least go take something from the armory.

Sarasa: Yes.

Sarasa: Hayato.

Hayato: Are you trying to leave your No. 1 follower behind?

P.14
Hayato: I've got a stake in Shidou-chan too. I'm gonna chop him up and throw him in a stewpot and use him for soup stock! [I'll make tonkatsu ramen out of him!]
{It’s quite insulting to call your enemy -chan.}

Sarasa: No you won't- it's just reconnaissance.

Sarasa: Matsushiro-san, please guide us.

Matsushiro: Y, yes. Thank you so much.

Hayato: Alright! Let's go!

Matsushiro: P...please help us.

P.15
Tsukishiro?: Shidou-sama.

Shidou: Has everyone had a meal? Let the horses eat their fill too.

Tsukishiro: Yes sir... but- the troops' morale is dropping considerably. They all sense something sinister.

Tsutzuki: I don't want to say this but-- retreating and organizing the equipment is-

Shidou: Tsukishiro. Matsuragi. Tsutzuki.

3 Officers: Yes.

Shidou: Come, sit. I think I have made a mistake.

Tsutzuki: Yes... In what?

P.16
Shidou: This is not a situation where we're waging war against an organized division. We are only up against a handful of bandits. A single ant can be stepped on by a herd of elephants and survive. We should have fought a guerilla war.

Tsukishiro: Yes...certainly. But is there a suitable place in this easily observed desert?

Shidou: There is.

Shidou: I have already arranged it, here.

Tsukishiro: Oh, this place is-

Tsutzuki: I see.

P.17
Ageha: You're just like the Red King. You're very lively when employing bad wisdom.

Shidou: Ageha. You are going to help me.

Shidou: Tatara seems to be a passionate character, and considering his movement patterns until now, you'll make decent bait. You'll be coming with me.

P.18
Tsukishiro: Shidou-sama!

Tsutzuki: U...ungh-

Ageha: Do you never feel doubt, Shidou? About who, between you and Tatara, is suited for the flow of history?

P.19
Ageha: About who is chosen, and who is destined to be destroyed?

Shidou: The chosen is the Red King, and no other.

Tsutzuki?: Shidou-sama! Is it alright to kill him?

Shidou: No need, I'm fine. As for him, I don't mind his cursing at me. He's just spoiled.

Ageha: Hmph. Do as you like. Words won't get through to you. --An untroubled, self-assured bastard like you.

Shidou: I'm glad we reached an agreement. Well then, let's go.

P.20
Tsutzuki: Why does Shidou-sama keep that dangerous guy so close at hand?

Tsukishiro: You youngsters wouldn't know, but-- that man was Shidou-sama's father's slave. One of those so called chigo-san.
{Chigo=a small child or young page. In this case, a euphemism for a child used as a sex object.}

Tsutzuki: [Oh!] Now that you mention it, he has a pretty face.

Tsukishiro: Shidou-sama pities him, perhaps because they are the same age. He’s gone to a lot of trouble over him.

Tsutzuki: Then he should be grateful. He has no reason to hate him.

Tsukishiro: Well, now, we will never understand the feelings of slaves.

P.21
Hayato: Ow-- are we there yet, mister? [We've come this far and it's still sooty.]

Matsushiro: Yeah, a little further.

Sarasa: (I wish Yato were here.)

Sarasa: Someone's here.

Matsushiro: They're the statues. I don't know what the ruins are but there are a lot of them around here.

Sarasa: (Ominous...)

Matsushiro: Here, you can see it! The village is on the far side.

P.22
Matsushiro: They seem to be ruins of a castle built in the chaos era. It's much like Tsumaru Castle that was once in Kagoshima City further in the north. It's said that in the old war era, this area was the base of the special forces.

P.23
Matsushiro: The last remaining group to resist the Red King barricaded themselves in there several years ago. But they were routed.

P.24
Sarasa: (What is this? Danger. A signal? Danger. Danger. Why is my heart pounding?)

Hayato: It's awfully quiet. Where's the Red Army?

Matsushiro: This place is the back side from the village. The other side is mountainous.

Matsushiro: That must be the ruins of the castle tower. It wasn't part of the original at Tsumaru Castle, though.

P.25
Sarasa: Ageha?! It's Ageha!

Hayato: Mister! How do we get over there... Hu ...huh?

P.26
Hayato: Mister? That Matsushiro guy is gone!

Sarasa, Hayato: Uwa!

P.27
Villager: Zaki-san, your friends' boats have come.

Zaki: Chacha!

Chacha: Zaki! Finding the boats slowed us down. We're all safe.

Zaki: Chacha.

Chacha: [A,ha,ha,ha!] Where's Tatara?

Zaki: He has headed to Chiran. I've been waiting to tell you.

Kaku-jii: What did you say? Gone to save Ageha with Hayato?! [Th...this's bad.]

Kakujii: I'm going after him.

Chacha: I'm going too.

P.28
Kaku-jii?: Sakura Island has begun to rise.

Hayato: [Haa, haa, haa] It's a trap after all.

Sarasa: (It was a trap.)

Sarasa: Where's the way out?

Hayato: I dunno! I dunno which way we're going anymore!

Sarasa: Wah!

Hayato: [Haa haa] We're just going to get tried out like this.

Sarasa: They're firing from somewhere without showing themselves.

Hayato: Tatara!

P.29
Hayato: It's Shidou! Shidou is here- in that tower!

Tsukishiro: To catch him so easily... Shidou-sama. No matter how I look at him, I only see a child.

Shidou: The Red King subdued Kyushu at 15. Don't make light of him, Tsukishiro. He's the one who attacked Fuujin.

Tsukishiro: Yessir.

Tsutzuki: Shidou-sama.

Shidou: Tsutzuki.

Tsutzuki: Please let me go first.

P.30
Tsutzuki: Tatara! We have you cornered.

P.31
Tsutzuki: Lord Shimatzu who originally built this castle seems to have been very vigilant about invasion by outside enemies. He set up a variety of traps here and there for that purpose, and the castle reflects that. I suspect that the stonemasons who built the castle were all murdered so they wouldn't let out it's secrets.

Tsutzuki: Shidou's Army 1st division, Tsutzuki of Saga.

Tsutzuki: Prepare yourself, Tatara!

P.32
Hayato: Tatara, Watch oooout!

P.33
Sarasa: Zaki-san's advice has come in handy!

Tsutzuki: [Uaaa-!]

Tsukishiro: Tsutzuki!

Matsuragi: I will go.

Tsukishiro: Matsuragi, it's up to you.

Hayato: You did it! You broke the wall.

Sarasa: Hayato... Can you cut that rope with an arrow?

P.34
Ageha: I feel like the "Hanged Man" tarot card.

Tamura-sensei: [Crows ->]

Ageha: You'll have to wait, I'm not a corpse yet. [Though I look like one.]

Ageha: The meaning of the card is sacrifice and trials... devotion and ...thankless love... huh?

Hayato: Eei! Reach!

P.35
Hayato: Crap, I missed.

Sarasa: Hurry... Hayato!

Hayato: It's no good, I can't hit it. It's too far, Tatara!

Sarasa: Wah!

Hayato: Tatara!

Sarasa: I'm fine. Hurry!

Hayato: O, Okaa-chan, Okaa-chan...

P.36
Hayato: Give me strength!

P.37
Hayato: I...I did it.

Sarasa: Hayato!! That was amazing! You're a genius! [Like Robin Hood!]

Ageha: Those little idiots, are they trying to break my skull?

Karegou: [What a relief]

Sarasa: Let's get out of here Hayato.

Hayato: What about him?

Sarasa: He’s the sort that can make it on their own.

Sarasa: [!]

P.38
Hayato: Tatara!

Tsukishiro: Matsuragi caught him!

Soldier: Shidou-sama! A message from the capitol of Suou.

Shidou: What?

Soldier: That is...

Shidou: Get on with it.

Soldier: The "Kurenai" was sunk.

P.39
Soldier: Someone sunk a foreign merchant ship. The battle was at 1 o'clock. To stop it, the Red King sunk the "Kurenai" himself as apology. 

Soldier: Since now they have come to the bargaining table, it is believed that they didn't set this up.

Shidou: (Shuri... Shuri, to not be at you side at a time like this...!)

P.40
Shidou: (All because of Tatara!)

Ageha: (Shidou, do you not feel doubt? Are you truly unaware?)

Ageha: (Was the Tokugawa Shougunate, was the Great Japanese Empire, was Hitler, was Hussein, truly unaware?)

Ageha: (Don't you hear the red signal ringing for you and Tatara?)

P.41
Ageha: (Don't you recognize the signal of the new era that Sakura Island is announcing...?!)

P.42-43
Green Chapter 1 - Heroes

P.44
Shidou: (Tatara. This time it will be your last.

P.45
Kaku-jii: Chacha, I see it! The ruins of Chiran. Tatara is in there!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mini Tam-Tam Time 1

Shinbashi: Lovely--

Since I'm using Kyushu as a setting, I received lots of letters from people in Kyushu.
One picture postcard of Sakura Island said, "I was surprised to hear the name of the place where I live mentioned!". It was from Nejime. How are you doing?
A person from Chiran also wrote, "How mean that Chiran is nothing but ruins without a town!
And "Come to Saga too, ne?". I received so many! Thank you very much! I always enjoy reading them! Everyone please be sure to tell me the legends and famous places of your area!
---------------------------------------------------------------------

P.46
Sarasa: Urg-

Sarasa: (I can't move.)

Matsuragi: Tatara, they'll bite into you if you struggle. Thus you can't use any weapons you have with you.

Hayato: Tatara! Tatara-!

Sarasa: Hayato...

Shidou: Matsuragi! Keep him restrained like that. There's something I want to ask him.

Matsuragi: ...no, Shidou-sama. Give this sort a chance and they'll survive.

P.47
Matsuragi: (I must kill him while I have the chance...!)

Matsuragi: Prepare yourself!!

P.48
Kaku-jii: Owah-!

Kaku-jii?: It's...it's an earthquake. And a big one!

Soldiers: U... Uwaa-! It's collapsing!

P.49
Tsukishiro: Shi...Shidou-sama! Shidou-sama---! Is this because of the Sakura Island eruption-?!

Shidou: Gua-!

Shidou: (Impossible... From this distance I can see the rising flames.)

P.50
Kaku-jii: I- I've never been in an earthquake this big! I can't stand up!

Chacha: Oh no, the ruins are collapsing!

Kaku-jii: Ah, Yato! Wait!

Kaku-jii: Oh no! The bridge is falling!

Kaku-jii: He made it... [Whew] Let's search for a route in too.

Chacha: Tatara...

Kaku-jii?: (Tatara, please be safe.)

P.51
Nagi: *Before nature, humans are tiny creatures. Learn that nature is all one unopposable, undefiable body.*

Sarasa: Nagi, Nagi...! But what should I do now?!

Sarasa: [Gyaaa!] [Uaaa!]

P.52
Shidou: Urg... Tsu...Tsukishiro, anyone... are you there?

Shidou: Urg-! My leg...

Ageha: Hold on.

Shidou: Than...ks. Ageha...!

P.53
Ageha: In easily collapsed ruins at a time like this-- you must be losing you edge too.

Shidou: That's enough. Where's Tatara...?! Was he...

Shidou: ...... Buried...?

Shidou: Ugh...

Ageha: Slow down, you're pretty beat up.

Shidou: Why [Haa, haa] haven't you escaped, Ageha?

Ageha: Because I want to witness your death.

P.54
Shidou: You must truly hate me.

Ageha: I despise you. Sit, I'll patch you up.

Ageha: Sorry about the blue cloth. [I can't coordinate since red suits you.]

Shidou: We've switched places, huh. Though when we were children you didn't endure open wounds.

Ageha: Yeah, inflicted by your dad. [That perverted old man]

Shidou: *How are your wounds, No. 31? Eat this and cheer up.*

Ageha: (Slave Number 31...)

Ageha: You were... a kind master. I thought I wanted to stay and work with you my whole life.

Shidou: Come... we have to help the survivors.

Ageha: How about taking off your armor? I'm sure it's heavy.

Shidou: It gets heavier by the minute.

P.55
Ageha: That is the weight of the blood of the people.

Shidou: That's heavy?! Armor feels it's heaviest when the battle is over.

Ageha: Stubborn as always. [Type A?] 
{Blood type. Type A's are characteristically stubborn.}

Shidou: Leave me alone. [Type A.]

Tsukishiro: Uugh...

Shidou: Tsukishiro! Are you alright?

P.56
Sarasa: Hayato... Hayato, where are you? Hayato! Answer me! Hayato!

Shidou: (Why is he still alive...?! Even though my men are dying slowly-- Why?!)

P.57
Shidou: Ageha. Don't interfere. Or I will kill you too.

Ageha: I won't. I can't move that well either.

Shidou: I'll help you once I've dealt with Tatara. Stay here.

Ageha: Shidou. You'll die.

Shidou: When did you become a prophet? I won't die. Because someone is waiting for me.

P.58
Sarasa: Hayato! No! Where are you!

Sarasa: (Shidou!)

P.59
Sarasa: (?! It's gone! I dropped the Byakko Sword?! Where?)

Shidou: (If I don't defeat him, he will certainly threaten the Red King someday!)

P.60
Sarasa: Waugh-!

Shidou: (I must defeat him somehow. I must defeat him here.)

P.61
Sarasa: (I can't move me left leg. It hurts- It hurts!)

Sarasa: (He'll kill me. He's going to kill me! No!)

Sarasa: (Not until I defeat the Red King, not until I rescue our many friend taken to Kyoto, I don't want to die in a place like this!)

P.63
Shidou: [Haa, haa, haa, haa]

Sarasa: [Haa, haa, haa]

Senju: *Take these pearls as a charm, Shidou-sama... I will tie a yellow ribbon to a tree branch and pray for your saftey.*

P.64
Shidou: [Ka----!]

Hayato: Guh... Un...

Hayato: (Where's Shidou...?! Tatara...!)

P.65
Hayato: Guh-!... O-Ooouch...

Hayato: (My bow...!)

Shidou: Tatara, this is the final blow.

Sarasa: [Haa, haa, haa]

Sarasa: (I want stronger legs, more powerful arms...)

P.66
Sarasa: (If I was a man-- If I was Onii-chan--)

Sarasa: [Haa, haa, haa]

Shidou: [Haa, haa]

Sarasa: [Haa, haa]

P.67
Shidou: [AAAAAAH!]

Noble: Say, Senju still hasn't returned from Suou, has she?

Noble: I wonder if she didn't cross the desert out of worry for Shidou-sama. That's love, ne?

P.68
New Girl: A ribbon in a place like that... maybe it's laundry out to dry.

Noble: What is it miss? This way.

New girl: I wonder if it's Senju-sama's ribbon.

Noble: Don't! Senju-sama tried that ribbon as a charm for Shidou-sama's safety...

New Girl: Ah...!

P.69
Shidou: (This is... I gave this to Shuri...)

Shidou: *What happened to those olive seeds I gave you?*

Shuri: *I gave them to someone.*

Shidou: *A cute girl?*

Shuri: *Yeah, but she turned me down.*

Sarasa: *This? Someone gave it to me.*

P.70
Shidou: Sara... sa... huh..?

P.71
Shidou: (The revolutionary Tatara is a small girl such as this...?)

Shidou: (Shuri doesn't...)

Shidou: Know...

Shidou: (The revenge for her parents is the Red King, Shuri?! Without either knowing who the other is, they are falling in love...!)

P.72
Villager: Another big wave coming! Hold on to something-!

Villager: It's like all of Kyushu will sink! [Is Tatara alright?]

Villager: How long will the eruption go on-?

Villager: Ah... Look at that!

Villager: It's rising from the sea.

Villager: That is...

Villager: That's... The village!

Villager: It's Suzaku Village!

Villager: The village's ruins still... remain!

P.73
Shidou: (Shuri, I still must defeat her. This is... This is Tatara!)

Villager: Ah...!

Villager: Look at- Look at that!

Villager: No way...

Villager: It will rise up with the village!

Villager: That is... Oooh, that is--

P.74-75
Villagers: (The Treasure Sword of Suzaku!!)

P.76
Villager: The age... The age will change.

Villager: (It is changing. Seeking new characters for a new country.)

Hayato: Tatara... [Haa, haa, haa, haa]

Hayato: Urg- Gi- gi- gi- gii

P.77
Shidou: (This is Tatara.)

Hayato: Shidoooooou!

P.82
Hayato: I... did it.

Hayato: (O... Okaa-chan!)

P.83
Shidou: (Tatara. Why do you interfere with the country I will build with Shuri?)

P.84
Shidou: (Why did you have to appear in the world? Why?)

Shidou: (I must let Shuri know. Must let him know... That Tatara is... Tatara...is--)

P.85
Shidou: (Shuri! Shuriiiiiii!)

P.86
Shidou: (What are you doing? Stand up.)

Shidou: (Why... is my armor... so heavy...)

Shidou: (I have to go home. I must go home...)

P.87
Senju: *Shidou-sama, Shidou-sama...*

Shidou: (I will come home, Senju. Come...home...)

P.88-89
Shidou: (I wish she could be told of my death gently, but...)

P.90
Sarasa: [Haa, haa]

Hayato: Tatara! [I can't move!] Another big quake is coming! We need to get out of here! Everything's gonna collapse!

Sarasa: (Yato!)

P.91
Kaku-jii: This's bad, it's another big one!

Zaki: It's going to collapse!

Kaku-jii: If this bridge collapses, we won't be able to get in easily anymore. Hold it up!

Chacha: Tatara, come out. Hurry, we're over here.

Tamura-sensei: [Signal flare ->]

Kaku-jii: Tatara!

P.92-93
Chacha: Tatara! Tatara!

Kaku-jii: Uoooh!

P.94
Hayato: I got Shidou! I got him!

Kaku-jii: Is that so, is that so. You've both got horrible injuries. Let's hurry and carry you out.

Sarasa: Kaku-jii... I lost the Byakko Sword somewhere--

Kaku-jii: We'll look for it later. Right now you need your wounds treated.

Zaki: There's someone here. On top of the rubble.

Kaku-jii: That's... blue...

Sarasa: Ageha...?

P.95
Ageha: (You were a kind master to the slave's children. You pitied us and cared for us like pets, the lowest of the low, until the last.)

Ageha: (Did you think I was happy? Did you think I was happy, Shidou...?!)

Ageha: (I wanted to be equal. You didn't understand.)

P.96
Ageha: (You didn't understand. And now... you never will...)

Narration: Ebi Plateau  3rd Fortress

P.97
Senju: Shi... dou-sama...?

Tsukishiro: When I regained consciousness in the rubble, Shidou-sama was trading blows with Tatara, and had him pinned down. When he was about to deal the final blow, for some reason Shidou-sama hesitated for a second.

Tsukishiro: And then, the arrow...

Shuri: He hesitated?!

P.98
Shuri: Then he was a fool!

Senju: Your Majesty!

Tsukishiro: I... I have no excuse. That one so lowly as I survived...

Officials: Hi- Hiii!

P.99
Shuri: [Haa, haa, haa]

Senju: Shidou-sama, please open your eyes. Did I not ask you not to become a hero?

Senju: Open your eyes...

Senju: (Please open your eyes!)

P.100
Chacha: Tatara, how are your wounds?

Sarasa: In good enough shape to manage walking.

Hayato: I'm bedridden for another week still. [It hurts-!]

Chacha: A good doctor just arrived.

Nagi: Good day, Tatara.

Sarasa: Nagi!! Nagi! Nagi! Nagi! Nagi! Nagi!

Nagi: This is embarrassing, Tatara.

Kaku-jii: Probably stopped off to get grass at the roadside.

Nagi: I'm glad to see you well too, Kaku-jii.

P.101
Chacha: Sakura Island's eruption has settled down, but it's still too recent to go in, so we haven't gone to get the Suzaku Sword.

Chacha: We all said, ‘Let's help rebuild the village‘, and they let us join in. [Since we were villagers too, once.]

Villager: [Hello.]

Chacha: Haha, do you understand how it feels for us, who've lived our whole lives on the deck of a ship, to have a village? [A little embarrassed.]

Chacha: The Suzaku Mothership got beat up, and we're disassembling a little of it.

Zaki: [Hey.]

Pirate: [How're you doing, Tatara-san?]

Chacha: We're building a few simple buildings working together with the Suzaku Villagers.

Chacha: There haven't been volcanic eruptions or earthquakes in this country for a long time. But if it goes back to being an earthquake country, we can't build stone houses anymore, can we?

Chacha: Look, hot springs and seeps have come up!

Sarasa: (We've... made a village.)

Chacha: Let's make a village that can hold out even if the Red King attacks!

Sarasa: (Byakko Village and Suzaku Village have become one...)

P.102
Sarasa: (I've made this many allies pursuing the Treasure Sword of Suzaku. Ojii-chan, you were right about going after the four swords.)

Sarasa: (Rashou of Suzaku... your dream is coming true.)

Kaku-jii: Tatara! Could you come over here? A lot of people have gathered. People heard the rumors, and have come from all over the country seeking help.

Crowd: [Tatara-sama-! Tatara-!]

Kaku-jii: Many are from Kanto, and say they barely escaped here with their lives. The conditions are horrible all over the country, I see.
{Kanto=east Japan. The coastal plain where Mt. Fuji and Tokyo are located. (Though Tokyo no longer exists in Basara.)}

Nagi: Tatara, will you listen to them?

Crowd: That must be Tatara-sama.

Crowd: Wow...

Crowd: Tatara-sama!

Crowd: He is still so young.

P.103
Senju: Tatara, prepare yourself!

Sarasa: Wa-!

Villager: What are you doing?!

Villager: Hold her back!

Kaku-jii: Tatara, over here.

P.104
Zaki?: Who are you? Why are you after Tatara?

Senju: I am the wife of Shidou of the Red Army, Senju. Of Shidou-sama, whom you killed!

Sarasa: (Shidou's... wife...?!)

Senju: How dare you... How dare you kill Shidou-sama...

Senju: Ogre! Beast! Shidou-sama's murderer! Fight me fairly! I will kill you with my own hands!

P.105
Senju: I will kill you-!

Sarasa: ...which of us is the ogre? Look at what the Red Army as done to us! How many do you think they've killed?!

Senju: Be silent! Shidou-sama was- Shidou-sama was simply exterminating a ruffian!

Sarasa: Shut up!

Kaku-jii: Tatara! [Calm down]

Nagi: Too much agitation will harm your unborn child.

P.106
Senju: ...... Eh?

Nagi: You are pregnant.

Nagi: Don't you feel it? You are the mother, after all.

Senju: (Shidou-sama's...)

Senju: Ohh...!

Senju: (From our one night...)

P.107
Sarasa: Please go home. This isn't a place for someone like you.

Villager: Come with me. I'll guide you to the outside of the village.

Senju: Tatara, remember this! Someday I will certainly kill you!

Senju: (Certainly!)

Nagi: Tatara, should we let her go like that?

Sarasa: ...what?

Nagi: Her unborn child is Shidou's child. It will probably be brought up with it's mother's grudge, and target you for revenge.

Nagi: Should we let her go like that?

P.108
Sarasa: ...Nagi... ...are you telling me to kill her?

Nagi: If it were the Red King, he would not leave her alive.

Sarasa: Nagi! I am not the Red King!

Nagi: You are the same. Further... if you are not the same, you will not win against him.

P.109
Sarasa: You're wrong! No! Nagi, why are you saying these things?

Nagi: Should we let her go like this?

Sarasa: Nagi!

Sarasa: How can you say these thing with such a calm face?

Nagi: Hm? Why indeed? But it was you who attacked Shidou's army.

Sarasa: Nagi, why?!

Sarasa: Always, always, when the village was attacked, or when Ojii-chan died, you didn't shed a single tear or pale a single shade! If you saw a bad future, why didn't you tell me?!

Kaku-jii: Stop it Tatata, won't you?

Sarasa: Nagi!

Nagi: Still a spoiled child, I see. Shidou won't be able to rest peacefully at this rate.

Kaku-jii: Nagi-sama- I don't think Nagi-sama's eyes can shed tears even when he wants to cry.

P.110
Sarasa: Unh... ...ah... Fu... Fueee...
{Substituting the many sounds that crying Japanese kids have at their disposal with "Waaaah!" just didn't seem right. So here they come verbatim. Curse English and it's lack of sound effect variety.}

Sarasa: ueen-- een! uaaa!

Kaku-jii: Tatara! Calm down!

Sarasa: uaaan!

Sarasa: [aaan ueee-n]

Sarasa: (You've done horrible things, Sarasa...!)

Sarasa: (When did I start hurting people without caring?)

P.111
Sarasa: (Shidou has a wife and a child too. She looked like a princess, even though she was covered in dust and there were cuts all over her feet.)

Sarasa: (The dead Red Soldiers have family too...)

Sarasa: (Not ogres-- Not ogres, rather...)

Sarasa: (Those whose loved ones have been killed hate the killers. Like we do...)

Sarasa: (We're different! I'm not the Red King.)

Sarasa: (No, we are the same.)

P.112
Sarasa: (Then what can I do? What can I do...)

Sarasa: [uaaan aaaan]

Sarasa: Unh, eh- eh- eh-

Sarasa: (I ran across the desert once before.)

Sarasa: (Then, I was suffering because my existence wasn't being recognized very much. But now, it's too much.)

P.113
Sarasa: (It's too much.)

P.114
Sarasa: *Ma-kun! Ma-kun, let's race!*

Makoto: *Sarasa! Sarasa, wait up-!*

Makoto: *Ah, it's Tatara-sama.*

Sarasa: *Tatara-sama!*

Makoto: *Ne, Tatara-sama, you're going to make a rich, peaceful country full of green, right?*

Sarasa: *I'm gonna help you, so do your best!*

Makoto: *Bonk that Red King over the head please, ne? And the bigger king too.* [Bonk bonk]

P.115
Sarasa: Do you think I can do that...?

Makoto: *I do! Because you're Tatara-sama.*

Makoto: *Right?*

Sarasa: *Right!*

Sarasa's Mother: *Sarasa! Ma-kun! You mustn't bother Tatara.*

Sarasa: *Yea--h, Okaa-san.*

Makoto: [Aunty]

Sarasa's Mother: *Tatara, keep trying. Always look straight at your reflection in the mirror, so that you do not turn away in shame and become dishonest.*

P.116
Sarasa: Okaa-san, I've hurt people...! I've hurt so many people!

Sarasa's Mother: *Then you must try much, much harder. Enough that the people you hurt will accept you.*

Sarasa's Mother: *Go forth, and live beautifully, magnificently.*

P.117
Child: [E--n, e--n, e--n, e--n]

Sarasa: (A child...?! And not an illusion.)

Child: [e--n]

Sarasa: Wh... what's wrong?

Child: The red people passed though and then the sea blew up! Poppa and Momma and everyone are gone...

Sarasa: (They were caught up in the eruption and the Red Army...)

Sarasa: Are you hungry?

Child: My throat's all dried up.

Sarasa: Will you come with me, then?

Sarasa: (When I think I can accomplish something, does that become a conceit? But, I want to be happy and build a nation where everyone can live in peace and feel secure. )

Sarasa: (Someday...)

P.118
Sarasa: Nagi.. I'm sorry.

Nagi: Never mind that. Go to bed. And change the bandage on your foot.

Kaku-jii: It must've been a shock to be disobeyed for the first time.

Nagi: Not at all...

Nagi: She had to know that she is by no means a messenger of Justice. 

Nagi: And fight on, regardless. It is a courtesy when opposing someone on the path to defeat.

Kaku-jii: ...so many hardships...

Nagi: [Ha, ha] Hardships and unhappiness are different things.

Nagi: Continuing like this, she will gradually establish her own thoughts and views.

Tamura-sensei: [Making medicine.]

Kaku-jii: But I knew it; the weaning is lonely for us both.

Nagi: Hahaha.

P.119
Sarasa: Hayato?

Sarasa: You have to get some sleep. Your wounds are terrible...

Hayato: Tataraa...

P.120
Hayato: I had been thinking, 'it serves him right', but... I don't understand. Was it wrong to kill Shidou...?!

Sarasa: Hayato... You heard about Shidou's wife and child...?

Hayato: Even though I lost my dad when I was a kid, I didn't mean to put someone through losing their dad before they were born, but...!

Hayato: Tatara, tell me! Have I done something bad?! Have I become the bad guy?!

P.121
Sarasa: Hayato...

Sarasa: I don't know. I don't know something like that. But... thanks to you, I'm alive right now.

Sarasa: You saved my life.

Hayato: Tatara...

Sarasa: So... Thank you.

P.122
Hayato: St- stop that! Stop it, Tatara-- Don't bow to me!

Hayato: I'd do anything, if it's for Tatara.

Sarasa: Hayato...

Hayato: I'd do anything. I'll make the best of it. Heh heh!

Hayato: My life's in your hands. Good night...

Sarasa: Yeah... Good night...

P.123
Sarasa: (I want to see Shuri...don't I.) [I bet he's in Beppu.]

Sarasa: Let's go to bed, Shinbashi. 

Shinbashi: [It's a nap for me.]

[Flap flap flap flap flap]

Sarasa: U- Uwa-!

Sarasa: (Shuri's bird.)

Sarasa: You've been searching for me all along, haven't you? I'm sorry.

Letter: [I want to see you.]

P.124
Letter: (--I'm in Ebino for work and I go to the Hayashida Hot Spring Spa every night. I'll be here until the 23rd, so come if you can.)

Tamura-sensei: [Map.]

Sarasa: Tonight's the 23rd. [Will I make it?]

Sign: [Hayashida Hot Spring]

Sarasa: Where in the Hayashida Spa, though? [It's huge.] Oh, well.

Sarasa: (My heart's pounding. Why is it beating so fast?) [It's not such a big deal.]

Sarasa: I wonder what Shuri's work is. I guess I'll soak the wound on my foot. Will you get in too, Yato?

Sarasa: If Shuri doesn't get here soon, I'll fall asleep.

P.125
Shuri: You're here!

Sarasa: Shuri?

Shuri: I didn't think you'd really come.

Sarasa: What?! You called me out here!

Sarasa: What's wrong?

Shuri: With what?

Sarasa: You're so quiet.

Shuri: Oh, sorry. You wanted me to attack you, then?

Sarasa: [Gya--!] I never said that!!

P.126
Sarasa: Shuri...? What's wrong?

Shuri: Nothing.

Sarasa: Are you crying?

Shuri: I'm not crying, you fool!

Sarasa: Then what's wrong?

Shuri: Stop that. It's nothing, but I just want to stay like this for a while.

Sarasa: Shuri, do you have anyone near you that you can talk to?

Shuri: No.

Shuri: (Not anymore.)

P.127
Shuri: (I'm the one who's a fool. If only I had killed Tatara properly...)

Shuri: (Why did you hesitate, Shidou? What were you thinking? What did you want to tell me?)

Shuri: (I won't forgive this. Tatara, I won't forgive this...!)

P.128
Shuri: You're being so gentle. [Unusual.]

Sarasa: You seem like you're about to cry.

Shuri: I said I'm not crying.

Shuri: I wonder why I wanted to see you? Why is it that I feel like I know you from a long time ago?

Sarasa: I get that feeling too, sometimes. We may have met in the past somewhere, ne?

P.129
Sarasa: (We may have met somewhere long, long ago, ne?)

Shuri: Was your relatives' place comfortable?

Sarasa: Ah... yeah. [That's what we're talking about now?]

Sarasa: There was some damage from Sakura Island. [Don't touch me.]

Shuri: I see... I expect some people would be worried about their houses.

Shuri: Hey, do you want to go to Kanto with me?

Sarasa: Kanto?! What for?

Shuri: Well... work.

Sarasa: Like what?

Shuri: Traveling Salesman. [I guess.]

Sarasa: Of what?

Shuri: All sorts of things. And traveling alone is boring.

P.130
Sarasa: No good, I can't. ...I can't go.

Sarasa: (Because I'm...)

Sarasa: First of all, it would be dangerous, just the two of us traveling together.

Shuri: Why?

Sarasa: 'Cause you're such a LECH.

Shuri: The nation wouldn't prosper if the men weren't lecherous. [It's logical.]

Sarasa: How about you make it prosper alone? [Let's go home, Yato.]

Shuri: Ah, wait, wait! You just finally got here, so get in the bath. [Clean you up a bit more.]

Sarasa: Gya--! You idiot--!

Shuri: [Ahahahaha! It's better if you get undressed.]

P.131
Kaku-jii: Tatara, are you awake? Come on!

Sarasa: [Mm...] I'm sleepy, Kaku-jii...

Sarasa: (I just got back...)

Kaku-jii: You have a guest, Tatara.

Iron Mask: I am an emissary from the Blue King of Kanto. I have left my weapons behind. I request an audience.

P.132
Sarasa: (The Blue King?! The Emperor's second son! The Red King's big brother...?!)

Kaku-jii: How about taking off that showy armor? That outfit must be hot in the desert.

Iron Mask: It is. I feel like beef being cooked on a griddle.

Sarasa: ...... [You could take it off.]

Iron Mask: But don't worry about it.

Iron Mask: I'm going to go straight to the point. I came to inform you that our Blue King wishes to form an alliance with the Tatara Army.

P.133
Chacha: Alliance...?! Why does the Blue king--

Iron Mask: Recently the Red King has been tangling with the foreigners without permission, and the duty of compensating them falls entirely upon the Emperor. Now it seems he has barricaded himself inside his capitol, Suou, and has crossed us in battle.

Iron Mask: What do you say? Strike at the Red King with us.

Zaki: I see. I wondered why the Red King hadn't pursued us. So that's the reason...

Iron Mask: My soldiers are not accustomed to the desert. I want to borrow your power, Tatara-dono.
{Dono=Sir. It's a bit obscure, a military sort of term.}

Iron Mask: I was told that you must come to the capitol of Kanto, "Seiran", once. The Blue King wishes to speak with you personally.

Sarasa: ...The Red King and the Blue King are brothers, correct?

Iron Mask: Indeed, though from different mothers.

P.134
Sarasa: Even if it's against the hated Red King, I have no intention of lending a hand to one who would kill his own brother!

Sarasa: Please go home! I do not want to become the Blue King's lackey.

Iron Mask: There's no help for it, then. I was told you bring you no matter what, so...

Iron Mask: This is an artist's representation of an item found in the rubble of Chiran that I had drawn. It seems you recognize it.

Sarasa: (The Byakko Sword!)

P.135
Iron Mask: The sword has already been taken to Kanto by our people. If you want it returned, come to the Capitol of Seiran.

Iron Mask: Oh, yes. The Blue King knows the location of the Treasure Sword of Seiryuu, which is part of the set.

Sarasa: Wh...at?

Sarasa: (The 3rd of the 4 swords... The Seiryuu Sword...?!)

Kaku-jii?: W- Wai--t!

P.136
Sarasa: (The Byakko Sword and the Seiryuu Sword. The Blue King...)

Sarasa: (I must go to Kanto...!)

Kaku-jii: Wai--t!

Sarasa: Kaku-jii, you don't have to follow him.

Kaku-jii: Tatara...

Sarasa: Iron Mask, I will visit Kanto. However, the ship repairs will take 10 days. Once that is done, I will go.

Iron Mask: Agreed.

Kaku-jii: Tatara...

Sarasa: (I will go.)

Iron Mask: Then, until we meet again, Tatara-dono.

Sarasa: (To Kanto!)

P.137
Capitol of Suou ---Red Palace---

Soldier: Red King! Where is His Highness?

Soldier: The Blue Army, under order of the Emperor, is slowly drawing closer. They say to surrender the capitol as recompense for the war with the foreigners.

Kazan: Never! [Goddamn!] We have no choice but to hold the fort and fight!

Ashou: That is exactly what we should never do: pit ourselves against the Emperor.

Kazan: What will that cowardly attitude get us?!

Ashou: I'm not interested in destroying myself in a show of brute force.

Shuri: Silence, Kazan, Ashou, Sakaki!

Kazan: Ah, Your Highness!

Ashou: What in the would do you intend to...

Kazan: ...then... Your... High...

Sakaki: Your Highness?!

Ashou: That costume is...

P.138
Shuri: I will be entering the priesthood for a while.

Kazan: Yessir... WHAT?!

Kazan: What kind of joke is this, at a time like this?!

Shuri: Why would I joke at a time like this?

Kazan: But--

Shuri: Now, listen. What I say from here on is for he ears of you 3 only. Tell no one else.

Shuri: There are two obstacles to my governing the nation.

Kazan: Yes... Two... Tatara and...

P.139
Shuri: Tatara and my family.

Shuri: I don't want a war with the Blue Army. Nor do I want to be captured. I will go to Kanto and remove the obstacle.

Ashou: Remove...

Shuri: Listen! Hide the fact that I am gone for 20 days! During that time, fight the Blue Army with all your might! In the desert! Don't let a single soldier enter the city!

Shuri: This city will not burn again!

P.140
Shuri: (This city, which Shidou loved...)

Shuri: Hide all of this until I return.

Kazan: Y... Your Majesty--!

Ashou: This is a serious responsibility, General Kazan.

Shuri: (Shidou, I wish you could've come. But there's nothing I can do. Give me your insight while I'm there.) [Damn fool.]

Shuri: (I am going out to kill the Blue King!)

P.141
Kaku-jii?: Tatara, what do you intend to do, telling Iron Mask those things?

Chacha: The ship repairs won't take that long. [About a week.]

Sarasa: Yeah, but-- Telling him that, he'll think I won't move for ten days. So, during that time I will quietly enter Kanto alone.

Chacha: Alone?! That's not funny. We'll fix the ship properly and send everyone out to Kanto!

Sarasa: Everyone has their own work to do. Build our village carefully. That should be our work now.

Chacha: We can worry about that later.

Sarasa: Mm-mm. I don't want us to be wanderers forever. I want a place to use as a base. [While the Red King can't move.]

P.142
Sarasa: Please make a big show of launching the ship in 10 days. Make them think I'm riding it, then we'll meet to pick me up.

Sarasa: Hayato too, heal your wounds, and when you have the Suzaku Sword, come after me.

Hayato: Yeah!

Sarasa: Until you arrive, I'll be checking out the Blue King's territory. Chacha, I'll be waiting for you.

Chacha: Okay! Got it! None of us can stop you, ne?

Hayato?: This is the Tatara Army's point of departure!

Sarasa: I will return.

P.143
Ageha: Take care when you go.

Sarasa: Ageha! Where have you been?

Ageha: Think of Kanto as 100 years behind this area. It's a horrible place.

Kagerou: [Worried.]

Sarasa: Yes.

Shinbashi: [What?!]

Sarasa: Nagi... [I'm going.]

Nagi: [chuckle] Yes.

Villager?: He's gone.

Kaku-jii: Gone, huh...?

Kaku-jii: Well then, shall we be off too, Hisha?

Hisha: Yes.

Nagi: [Chuckle] What, you think it's too early to send him out alone, is that it?

Kaku-jii: Lately he's so obstinate he won't listen to anything you say. I'm going to follow him secretly.

Letter: My ship leaves from Beppu port in 3 days. Come there if you're coming with me!

P.144
Sarasa: (For sneaking into Kanto to investigate and taking back the sword, it's better for me to be a girl!)

Shuri: Hi! I thought you'd come!

Shuri: Because actually, you can't go on without me anymore.

Sarasa: Shuri?!

Sarasa: Gyahahahaha! What's with your head?!

Shuri: [Cute?] Hahaha, Suits me, doesn't it?

Shuri: (If I'm with Sarasa,)

Sarasa: (If I'm with Shuri,)

Sarasa, Shuri: (It'll be camouflage.)

P.145
Nagi: (Tatara, go with care. Today is always the first day of your life from here on-----)

Shuri: A-lright, let's go!

Shuri: (To Kanto!)

P.146-147
Green Chapter 2 - On the Road

P.148
Narration: Fair weather.

P.149
Narration: The fixed course ferry passenger ship, "Akane"; running a loop from Beppu to Ise.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mini Tam-Tam Time 2

I thought this would probably happen, but...
Just as I feared,
LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE ANGRY ABOUT SHURI THE MONK. Eee---k!

It will grow back, so please wait patiently, ne?
They say that lecherous guys' hair grows fast, after all...

Shuri: [I don't worry about little things like this.]
<- Forgive him, it's just the way he is. (Not that I particularly like monks...)
Tamu
---------------------------------------------------------------------

P.150
Narration: Stopover ports are Muroto in Shikoku and Shio-no-misaki on the Kii Peninsula.

Shuri: A good wind. We should arrive on schedule.

Narration: It is commonly known as the Ise pilgrimage ship.

Tamura-sensei: [The Blue King's territory]

Map: Nagoya, Ise, Kyoto

Shuri: Ise has been called the land of the gods since ancient times, and it isn't the Emperor's territory, but an independent land. [For now.]

Shuri: In other words, should a war break out, Ise alone will be the neutral zone.

Sarasa: Hmm, I wonder if they're all going to Ise to pray.

Shuri: The Kanto ships also come to Ise. If you're going east, you change ships there.

Sarasa: Shuri, you know a lot about this.

Shuri: I guess.

P.151
Sign: [Guest Room]

Hisha: Kaku-jii.

Kaku-jii: Oh, Hisha. What's he up to?

Hisha: Yes... He is dressed as a girl...

Kaku-jii: Ah, I see. Anything else?

Hisha: ...... And he is with a monk.

Kaku-jii: [What the...?!] A monk?!

Shuri: Sarasa! Sarasa! Over here!

Sign: [Cafeteria Self Service]

Shuri: This ship's food is great!

Signs: Soba, Tenpura, Steak

Shuri: Here's some nikuman! They're the best.
{nikuman=steamed meat bun. Doesn't nikuman sound better than meat bun?}

P.152
Sarasa: Nikuman...? [?]

Shuri: ......you've never heard of nikuman?

Sarasa: Nope.

Shuri: You've never had any?

Sarasa: Nope.

Shuri: Then what about tenpura?! Or fried oyster? Or tonkatsu? Or sukiyaki?! Or fuguchiri?! How about curry? Or steak?

Tamura-sensei: [Rice isn't available in the west, so people don't cook with it. When they do get it, it's expensive.]

Sarasa: [What are those?]

Shuri: What do you usually eat, then?!

Sarasa: Well-- wheat bread and potatoes and... a few vegetables and a little meat... [The smoked kind.]

Sarasa: [Is... is it that weird? You don't have to yell...]

Shuri: I understand now! The reason you're so poorly developed is because of your diet!

P.153
Shuri: If you don't grow at least this much, you won't be comfortable to sleep on.

Sarasa: Comfortable to sleep on-- will you shut...

Shuri: Eat!

Shinbashi: [Give me some]

Sarasa: It's delicious.

Shinbashi: [Delicious]

Shuri: Isn't it? Alright, eat that, and this too.

Tamura-sensei: [This ship is Shuri's favorite because he had it built.]

Sarasa: Shuri, hold on! [What kind of extravagant...]

Shuri: What? Hey! And that big lobster, too!

Sarasa: I won't eat anything that's more than I can pay for. [Borrowed money from the others]

Shuri: It's natural for men to spend money on women. Don't let it bother you.

P.154
Shuri: At any rate, you can pay me back with your body.

Sarasa: [You worldly monk!]

Shuri: [Hahahaha!]

Hisha: See?

Kaku-jii: It's true. There's a monk. [What're they jumping around for?]

Sarasa: (Even though I didn't come to have a fun cruise with Shuri, even though I don't know what awaits us in Kanto...)

Sarasa: (I've kind of been thinking, 'How nice to be a girl'.)

P.155
Conductor?: Shio-no-misaki-- Shio-no-misaki-- Departing parties please hurry--

Sarasa: We've reached Shio-no-misaki, huh...

Sarasa: Shuri, can't you sleep?

P.156
Sarasa: What's that? A charm?

Shuri: A lock of... someone's hair.

Sarasa: ...... Did that person... die?

Shuri: Mm-hm.

Sarasa: A family member?

Shuri: ...... Like that. Even though he's dead, he's with me.

Shuri: Because we understood each other's feelings, he's still close by, watching me.

Sarasa: Even though he's dead...? He's still nearby...?

Shuri: He is. Your family surely is too.

Shuri: (O Moon...)

P.157
Sarasa: Do think so? It'd be nice if they were...

Shuri: (Moon of the West, stay unsetting, for I want to go on talking to you,)

Shuri: (Always.)

Conductor?: Departure--

P.158
Slave: S... save me! Please save me!

Slave: Someone save m... Uwa!

Asagi: Runaway slaves never learn, do they?

P.159
Slave: Uwaaah! Save me-! Noooo! I don't want to enter the ra--ce!

Soldier: Silence.

Sarasa: (Race...?)

Passenger: It's the Blue King's Royal Guard.

Passenger: I feel so sorry for him......

Asagi: People of the west, please excuse this disturbance.

Shuri: That's the Blue King's Royal Guard "Gunjou" that I hear of in rumors?
{Gunjou=Group Blue.}

Passenger: That's right, bou-san. They're called anything from a group of descendants of Kouga ninja to a unit of blood-sucking monsters.
{Bou-san=generic name for a man of the cloth.}

P.160
Passenger: And among them, that captain, though young, is called the Blue King's right hand and is said to be particularly sharp.

Sarasa: Handsome, wasn't he? [Very pale.]

Shuri: [Hm?!] More than me?

Sarasa: You're just a monk.

Shuri: [Oh my god--]

Sarasa: (There was a brand on the slave's back. The same one that Ageha and Shuri have on their backs...)

Sarasa: (Shuri too...  If he was found out, we'd be in trouble...)

Sarasa: (Kanto, where slavery endures... What sort of place is it?)

P.161
Sarasa: (I have to get back the Byakko Sword.)

Narration: Ise

Shuri: A--ah... Well, let's go.

Soldier: Walk!

Sarasa: Shuri...? Aren't we taking a ship to Kan...

Shuri: No, we'll take the land route.

Shuri: You probably don't know this but Kanto and the west are butting heads. As soon as we arrived in the east they'd arrest us on spy charges.

P.162
Shuri: Well then, lets earn our traveling expenses as we go.

Sign: [Famous Western Maple Manjuu Kibidango}
{Manjuu=steamed yeast bun with filling. Kibidango=Millet dupmlings.}

Child: Momma, manjuu!

Parent: Goodness. One, please.

Sarasa: Shuri, your family sells manjuu?

Shuri: I just like manjuu. [Here you go, thanks. Gotta carry on the tradition.]

Tamura-sensei: [Should be something other than food.]

P.163
Sarasa: Are you going to Kanto to sell manjuu? [Your big luggage was manjuu, then?]

Shuri: It's a dream of mine to go out and sell food.

Sarasa: Dressed as a monk?

Shuri: This is simply a young man leaving home. An expression of my desire to be independent.

Sarasa: (The grass grows thick, and trees I've never seen before are everywhere.)

P.164
Sarasa: Ah, it's a river. A river!

Shuri: Let's draw some water.

Sarasa: Uwa! It's cold!

Sarasa: Wo---w!

Sarasa: (So green!)

Sarasa: Amazing. Amazing!

Sarasa: I'm burning up, for some reason.

Shuri: That's the humidity. People from the west can get wiped out from this humidity at first.

Sarasa: (But everything's so green!)

P.165
Sarasa: Even though it's night, it's hot.

Shuri: Shall we rest a bit? The horses look tired too.

Sarasa: I'll get some water.

Shuri: Once we cross the Suzuka Mountains, we'll enter the Blue King's territory. It'll be my first time in the region too. Well, we'll have to be on guard.

P.166
Shuri: I wonder if there's a hot spring around here. [I'm all sticky.]

Sarasa: If there is, probably a lot of people stop there.

Shuri: We should watch out for populated places.

Sarasa: (...ah...)

Sarasa: (Ah...I see. Why didn't I realize?)

Sarasa: (He always came to hot springs with no signs of life because he didn't want the symbol on his back to be seen. ...is that it...?)

Sarasa: Shuri... Can I ask you something?

Shuri: Hm?

Sarasa: Shuri... the mark on your back...

P.167
Shuri: You want to know about me...?

Sarasa: ...... Yeah.

Shuri: Wanting to know about me means you're a little interested in me, doesn't it?

Sarasa: ...A-A little. [Bothersome guy.]

Shuri: ...... I am...

P.168
Child: [Ah---n, ah---n, ah---n]

Sarasa: A child?

Sarasa: Wh- What are you doing?! Stop!

P.169
Shuri: Sarasa!

Peasant: You can't come near, traps are spread all around.

Shuri: This is the boundary of the Blue Territory.

Sarasa: How could you do such a thing to such a small child?!

Peasant: This is our son. There is no way we could leave him behind.

P.170
Peasant: We will follow him soon enough.

Sarasa: (Double suicide...!)

Sarasa: W-Wait! Stop!

Peasant: You folks are from the west. People from the west don't understand our suffering.

Peasant: The Blue King is coming to Nagoya and will hold a festival and a race. The food given to entertain him during his visit belongs to us - the peasants of this land. What more can we give, when we lack enough for daily life because of heavy taxes?

P.171
Sarasa: Then, then you should fight! You should pool your strength and fight! To just give up and commit suicide is--

Peasant: Fight...? How could we? With a sword-hunt order, they will confiscate our bladed tools, not to mention anything else that looks like it could become a weapon, even ploughs and hoes.

Peasant: How can we plough the fields that way?

Peasant: All the village discussed this matter. That a priest has come may serve to guide us.

Peasant: Look around you-- we are the last.

P.174
Peasant: Please offer up a sutra for us-- even one.

Sarasa: Don't do this! If you need food, we have a little. And manjuu. So--

Shuri: Sarasa! Even if we divide up the food now, do you think it will save them?

Sarasa: Today I gave some of the food to stray cats so I could hold them...

Shuri: You are--

Sarasa: What was I doing?

Sarasa: But you can't do this! You can't!

P.175
Sarasa: You can't die! Never, no matter where, no matter what happens, you can't di---e!

Sarasa: [Aaaaah!]

Shuri: Sarasa--

Sarasa: Let me go! I have to get them down! All of them!

Shuri: Sarasa!

P.176
Shuri: This is their dieing protest to the Blue King. We should leave them as they are. 

Shuri: Though something like this probably doesn't cause him any pain.

Shuri: If you want to help them, you have to beat things into shape from the top down.

Sarasa: Shuri...

Sarasa: (Even though this place has so much green, and so much water... The trees aren't there so you can hang yourself, and still...)

P.177
Sarasa: (This isn't the desert, so why can't people live here? This place is colder than the desert night...!)

Shuri: Sarasa...

P.178
Shuri: (What a pack of fools. If anyone in my country were to do something like this, I'd kill the whole family of the administrator.)

Soldier: Captain, they're here too. They weigh the branches down like fruits, don't they?

Soldier: The Blue King is enjoying the festival in Nagoya, and they go and do this shameful thing.

Asagi: Drag them all down. Their heads, I mean. Line them up on a display rack.

Sarasa: (The Captain of the Guard!)

P.179
Shuri: It'll be bad if we're caught. Let's go.

Sarasa: Wah!

Soldiers: Who's there?

Shuri: Shit! Sarasa, get behind me!

P.180
Sarasa: (Shuri... He's strong...!)

Asagi?: Strong, aren't you? You don't seem to be any ordinary monk.

Asagi: I will take you on.

P.182
Soldiers: The brand! He's a runaway slave!

Sarasa: (Shuri...)

Asagi: I see. So that's it.

P.183
Shuri: Unh--

Shuri: It's an anesthetic. This is bad. Sarasa... head upwind...

Asagi: Is the girl a slave too? Strip her and check.

Sarasa: St...

Shuri: Don't touch her! She has nothing to do with this!

Asagi: You presume to challenge me with a slave's social standing?

P.184
Asagi: Take them to Nagoya.

Narration: Nagoya---

P.185
Hisha: Quite a splendid festival. It must be for a good harvest or something.

Kaku-jii: Tatara may come here. [Saw the flyers and came.]

Tamura-sensei: [They lost Tatara on the way.]

Kaku-jii: I heard the Blue King's coming here, though I expect he'll only stop by.

Kaku-jii?: It seems the Blue King is behind those curtains.

P.186
Blue King: Count, did you meet with Tatara?

Iron Mask: Yes.

Blue King: Is he as beautiful as rumor has it?

Iron Mask: Yes... he wore a mask, but he could be mistaken for a girl.

Blue King: Hm, hm, hm. I want to add him to my collection.

Blue King: Oh, yes, are the preparations for the race finished?

Iron Mask: Yes. Strong young men have entered again this year. That, and a number of runaway slaves have been added.

Blue King: Good, good. Don't cut corners on this festival's greatest spectacle.

Blue King: Last year not a single one survived. How many will die this year? [Ho, ho, ho] I will enjoy it, I will enjoy it.

P.187
Announcer: Come on! The greatest race in history is about to begin! 20 brave men will aim for the finish line. To the champion goes honor and an enormous monetary prize.

Sarasa: (Race...?)

Announcer: After this, the participants faces will be displayed in the paddock. Look closely and bet on the one who looks like the winner!

Hisha: A race, he said?

Kaku-jii: [Hmm...] Should I place a bet?

Kaku-jii: But it's a strange festival, isn't it, Hisha?

Hisha: The only ones enjoying themselves are royalty, nobles and sightseeing guests. The peasants are all wearing dark faces... [It's easy to tell from their clothes.]

P.188
Sarbo: H--m, my arms are roaring. I'll be taking the victory.

Sign: [Race Contestant Waiting Room]

Matsumushi: Hah! Physical strength alone isn't gonna help you.

Sarbo: What? I won the chariot races back home!

Matsumushi: [Hahahaha] Country boy!

Racer: [Hahaha] Settle it on the race course!

Racer: Every year there's no winner, the prize money gets that much bigger.

Racer: [Hahahaha] It must be hundreds of millions by now. You'd be set for life!

Slave: You people don't know anything.

P.189
Sarbo: Heh, the slaves are chattering. It's just a race to Suzuka and back.

Slave: You think it's that easy? This race is designed so there's no winner.

Sarasa: Y...you are the one who was caught by the Royal Guard on the ship to Ise... [He's twitching.]

Slave: I tried to run, but they brought me back.

Slave: It's better to have your head cut off than be put in this race.

Announcer: Come on, everyone go to the paddock. Bring your number cards! The guests will guess the victor and bet on him.

Racers: Yeah!

Shuri: Ugh...

Sarasa: Shuri... Are you okay?

Slave: They may be laughing now, but no one will save us.

P.190
Slave: No one will return alive. This race is a man-hunting game for murder.

Announcer?: Come on, slaves! the race is starting!

<BASARA>4 - End

P.191
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Since this volume is packed full of pages, there is no omake. I'm sorry!
And here I was going to do side story...
----and on that note, look forward to the next volume, 5!!

Recently, I released story called Tam's Anything Capsule 6 "Tell it to Madonna" (Madonna ni Tsugu).
Be sure to check it out.
Also, please check out the rest in Betsucomi Deluxe Comics Karin!
Any readers with spare time, write me a letter!
Address to:

101-10 Higashikyoutou Sendaidazu Hitotsuhashi 2-3-1
Shogakukan 
Betsucomi Shoujo Comic Henshuubu
Tamura Yumi

--- That's still it.
Until next time! TAMU

(Did you see the "Run Tomoe!" (Tomoe ga Yuku!) video? Let me know what you thought!)
(I'm thinking about writing another novel. Please take a look if it comes out!)
(At the time this book comes out, I'll be up in Hokkaido skiing. ....I hope. Provided the manuscript goes up without incedent...... To,ho,ho.)
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Back Cover:
Introduction to the Work
In the midst of the Sakura Island eruption, Sarasa and Hayato draw near to Shidou to rescue the captive Ageha. However, Sarasa is caught in a trap, and is cornered by Shidou's subordinates...!