Tactics - Volume 4 Chapter 9 By Kinoshita Sakura and Higashiyama Kazuko Translation by Sanada of Hana-mi.net 3 Kantarou: Pay homage to the Buddha and begone! Kantarou: Leave or be punished and purified! Kantarou: Destroy, oh One of Great Wrath! Kantarou: All evil spirits leave this place place and return to your nature! Kantarou: May the four evil spirits become enlightened in the three ways! (Note: Um... I think he's referring to the three universal truths of Buddhism... maybe... ^^;;) Kantarou: All evil spirits must follow the teachings of Buddha! Kantarou: All without exception! 4 Text: Chapter 9 5 No text 6 Text: Kinoshita Sakura and Higashiyama Kazuko present: The tactics Drama CD postrecording report! Black bubble: Special re-recording session Bear: Kinoshita Sakura Rabbit: Higashiyama Kazuko Note: Since I'm no good at drawing faces, you get my doodles~*heart* (I assume that's a note from Higashiyama Kazuko, the author~) Text: At the studio... Rabbit: Such feeling... Bear: It's great... Text: We couldn't have been happier to stand and watch. Text: In the role of Kan-chan, Miyata Kouki-san kept up the tension from the start! Kantarou/Miyata: Nice to meet you! Text: Waii! You're so cute!! Text: And in the role of Youko, Kawakami Tomoko-san. Youko/Kawakami: You're pretty stupid for a god!! Text: Cute, but scary! Text: And as Haruka, Sakurai Tadahiro-san. Haruka/Sakurai: "A maiden's heart is pure and..." Haruka/Sakurai: I did *not* say that... Text: Haruka! It's Haruka!! 7 SFX: POOF Kantarou: Come on, you need to go back to where you belong... Youko: Kan-chan!! 8 Youko: Any luck exorcising this place? Kantarou: Yeah - how about you and Haruka? Youko: Well, I saw two more while I was cleaning the lobby, and who knows how many are in the dining room... Kantarou: Ahhh... there's no end to this... Haruka: Hey, Kantarou. Kantarou: Huh? What is it,Haruka? 9 Haruka: You're not planning to withhold the pay we deserve for all this manual labor, are you? Youko: WHAT?! Kantarou: T...that's crazy! But I can't send these youkai back to the spirit world and stop the strange phenomena in this mansion with just the power of my mind, so... Kantarou: Back to work! Back to work!! SFX: HAHAHA Haruka: Typical... 10 Sakurazawa: Is that so...? Well, lately... Sakurazawa: My employees have been reporting strange sights and sounds... Kantarou: Yes, Sakurazawa-shachou... I just have to find where these youkai keep coming from. (Note: "shachou" = title for a company president) Kantarou: If I can find the source and close it up, then the paranormal phenomena ought to stop... Kantarou: Very well, shachou! Don't worry about a thing! Kantarou: Just give me a few days! After all, I, Ichinomiya Kantarou, am a master of rare youkai, so... Haruka: *sneeze* Haruka: Ah! Kantarou: You can't do that, Haruka! You have to knock before entering a woman's room! Sakurazawa: Thank you for coming, Haruka-san. Haruka: She asked for me, so I came. 11 Kantarou: Wow, so many newspapers!! Kantarou: Sakurazawa-shachou, do you realy read them all?! Sakurazawa: Of course - I have to, if I want to run a company in this male-dominated society. Kantarou: Oh, Sakurazawa-shachou, I heard you were in the textile business, right? Kantarou: A woman who really takes control of the world! How cool~! Kantarou: Ahh... as long as they keep the smugglers under control~ Sakurazawa: The opium traders, you mean? Yes, there are many of them these days... Sakurazawa: It's probably smugglers trafficking opium from China... but even my company is under investigation. How annoying... Haruka: Opium? Kantarou: It's a sort of narcotic drug. 12 Kantarou: The drug is made from two certain types of poppy flower. Kantarou: It relieves pain and is a sedative, so it's used as a tranquliser. Haruka: But why would people sell or smuggle something like that? Haruka: I thought medicine was supposed to be a good thing... Kantarou: They started burning it. The smoke from opium produces an intense feeling of intoxication. Kantarou: I've heard that it relieves feelings of illness, too. Kantarou: But it can also be a poison... When a person stops taking the opium, their body may feel weak and debilitated, and their mind impaired... they may even die. 13 Kantarou: It's a medicine that can turn a person into a cripple. Kantarou: It's prohibited to use or to sell it. Haruka: But why would anybody use something weird like that? I don't get it... Haruka: ? Kantarou: You know humans are weak to temptation... Sakurazawa: Oh, it looks like Shoukiku is giving a public performance in Asakusa tomorrow. Kantarou: WHAT?! Kantarou: Shoukiku as in Ayanokouji Shoukiku?! The famous gidayuu performer?! (Note: Gidayuu is a type of dramatic song performance that was popular in Japan before they invented anime.) Sakurazawa: Huh? Ichinomiya-san, are you a fan? Kantarou: I am her NUMBER ONE FAN! Kantarou: They say she's a young girl who recites poetry to music... she's really popular right now, you know! Kantarou: I want to see her so much... but I'm broke... SFX: *sigh* 14 Sakurazawa: Then, will you go with me to the performance? Sakurazawa: Shoukiku and I are old friends! Kantaou: N... no way!! Kantarou: What should I do...? What should I wear? Should I bring flowers? SFX: Kyaaa... Haruka: How should I know? Youko: Shachou-sama~ I've brought the tea! Kantarou: Oh, thank you, Youko-chan! I was getting a little th... Youko: Here you go, Haruka-chan! Kan-chan and I have work to do, so I'm leaving this up to you! Kantarou: Huh?! Kantarou: What?! SFX: *door slam* Kantarou: Youko-chan, wait, what's this...? Youko: What are you talking about, Kan-chan?! 15 Youko: He's got to marry her for the money!! Youko: Sakurazawa-shachou is rich! And she's single! Youko: This is his chance to seduce her! And then she'll be like "Where do we go from here...?" And then we've got her!! Kantarou: Yay, Youko-chan! You're the Cupid of Love!! Youko: Okay, now Haruka-chan is working hard, so we've got to get back to work! Kantarou: Of course! His "daddy" is wokring hard too! SFX: *skipping* SFX: *pour* SFX: *sneeze* 16 Sakurazawa: So you and Ichinomiya-san and Youko-san all live together? Haruka: ...... Sakurazawa: Haruka-san? Sakurazawa: Ah... is that right? Haruka: *sniffle* Sakurazawa: So which of you is Youko-chan's lover? Sakurazawa: Is something wrong? Haruka: No... You really want to know...? Haruka: Youko is... a friend. That's all I feel. Haruka: What's it to you? 17 SFX: *creak* Sakurazawa: ...Why, you ask...? Sakurazawa: What if I told you... Sakurazawa: That I had an interest in you? 18 Youko: All is silent to the south, the anger and joy of the gods burns... (Note: This is gibberish, I know.) Youko: They will know no rest, only sadness, and shiver in the darkness! Youko: Kan-chan, it's not moving at all! Kantarou: Hmmm, weird... Kantarou: The heihaku ought to tremble if there's a vengeful spirit in the area. Kantarou: And if it's the ghost of someone who died, it should move up and down. Kantarou: Spirits and ghosts can both attract youkai, so the heihaku ought to detect something... Kantarou: I feel like I'm being pulled into the underworld... Youko: AH! KAN-CHAN!! Youko: IT'S MOVING! It's going up and down!! Kantarou: Ah! What did I tell you, it was a ghost after all... 19 SFX: Nyaaa Youko: KYAA!!! Kantarou: WAH!! Kantarou: There's no end!! Youko: Why doesn't she just get a new house?! Youko: This is a huge mansion... I guess she doesn't want to get rid of it. Youko: More to clean, though. Youko: I guess we'll work on that side tomorrow... 20 Youko: !? Youko: Huh? That guy gives me a weird feeling... Kantarou: Hey, you up there! Kantarou: The moon is pretty tonight, isn't it? Kantarou: Want to go inside and have a drink while we look at the moon? 21 Kantarou: So, Haruka, have you ever been in love with a human? Haruka: That was... sudden. Kantarou: Hmmm? Kantarou: There's something you're not telling me... so I thought I'd try to guess. Haruka: ...That's more your kind of thing... Kantarou: Huh? Haruka: Never mind... Haruka: Tengu and humans don't belong together. Haruka: Their interests and lifespans don't match. Haruka: That's why I have no desire to become deeply involved with humans. 22 Kantarou: Hmm... hmm... Haruka: What kind of reply is that? Haruka: I have a question for you. Kantarou: Oh, that's new. Haruka: Why have you grown so attached to me? Haruka: You must have realised by now that I'm not the same oni-kui tengu you've read about in your books. Haruka: I am... Haruka: Not what I was... 23 Kantarou: It's not that I don't know. Kantarou: It's that the past doesn't change the present. Kantarou: Haruka, you and I are friends. Kantarou: I just want to get along with you, you know. Kantarou: Right? Haruka: I'm going out. Kantarou: Are you angry? Haruka: No. 24 Haruka: I think... Haruka: I may be too soft when it comes to you... 25 Kantarou: Haruka... you've always been my "hope"... SFX: *sneeze* 26 Sakurazawa: Ah, Haruka-san, do you have a cold? Haruka: ...No... Haruka: It's just the air in this room that bothers me... Sakurazawa: I wonder if it's my perfume? Sakurazawa: Ah! SFX: *crash* Sakurazawa: Oh no... do forgive me. Haruka: It's no big deal. I'll call Youko to take care of it. Sakurazawa: Haruka-san... Sakurazawa: Could you dry it? 27 Sakurazawa: No? Sakurazawa: Is it that excessive pride of yours? Haruka: ...... Kantarou: Shachou~! Shouldn't we leave soon? It's Shoukiku-san's... Kantarou: ! Kantarou: Haruka's angry? I wonder what got into him? Sakurazawa: Oh, I just spilled a little tea. Sakurazawa: But Ichinomiya-san, I'm afraid I must apologise to you... 28 Sakurazawa: I'm terribly busy today... Sakurazawa: I just can't go to Shoukiku's performance. SFX: *shock* Kantarou: Ah... I see... I guess it can't be helped. Kantarou: I still have a spirit rebellion to quell, so it's okay... Kantarou: It's... okay... Sakurazawa: Ah, Ichinomiya-san... there's more... Sakurazawa: Would you mind going alone? Sakurazawa: There's something I'd like to give to Shoukiku... and I'd like you to go in my place... Kantarou: I'LL GO!! YES, I'LL GO!! Kantarou: Does this mean I get to meet Shoukiku-san!? Kantarou: Wah, lucky... I'm so excited I'm shaking... Sakurazawa: But aren't you worried? Youko-san and Haruka-san could leave you. 29 Kantarou: No, Kantarou: I trust them. Sakurazawa: ...I see. Sakurazawa: Trust...? Kantarou: Ah! But about the youkai job! Kantarou: The ones I send out just keep coming back, so I'm starting to get to be friends with them. I'm going to try talking to them. Sakurazawa: Friends...? Kantarou: Yeah! Shall I explain it again? Kantarou: As I see it, it's my special skill. I'm good at making friends with youkai! 30 Kantarou: Wow, what a beautiful place! Kantarou: Getting to come in backstage is like the experience of a lifetime! Kantarou: Now, let's see, which one if Shoukiku's dressing room? Oh, it's this one! Kantarou: This is tense... Kantarou: Calm down... deep breaths... Kantarou: Breathe... SFX: *huff, huff* 31 Kantarou: A soldier? Shoukiku: Who's there? If you have business here, please come in. Kantarou: Ah... excuse me, I'm here to deliver something from Sakurazawa-shachou. SFX: *heartbeat* Kantarou: Excuse m... Kantarou: !? 32 Youko: Kan-chan was delivering something, wasn't he? I'm kind of worried... I bet he pawned it... Haruka: What's wrong, Youko? Did you want to go too? Youko: Me? Of course not! Sakurazawa: Oh, did you? I'm sorry, I only had one ticket. Youko: No way, Haruka-chan, I don't follow every new fad like Kan-chan. Haruka: I know, I found a photogpah of her in his desk drawer... Sakurazawa: ...Wonderful. You three are... Sakurazawa: So trusting... Haruka: Huh? Youko: What? That was sudden. Sakurazawa: You haven't even noticed my plan... Sakurazawa: So... Sakurazawa: I'll have to show you... 33 Haruka: What the...? SFX: *thud* Haruka: !? Youko: ...My body's all numb... Sakurazawa: Would you like me to hurt this girl? Sakurazawa: Or would you rather listen to me this time? 34 Kantarou: My scar... SFX: *sharp pain* Kantarou: The scar on my chest aches... Kantarou: So Shoukiku is an oni!! 35 Shoukiku: Thank you... Shoukiku: For delivering this. Kantarou: Stay calm... and get out of here as fast as you can... yes, as fast as you can... Shoukiku: Please wait. Kantarou: No, I've got to go... Shoukiku: This is the kimono you brought me. Shoukiku: Does it suit me? Kantarou: Poppies...? Shoukiku: Yes. 36 Shoukiku: This flower is said to ensnare youkai... Shoukiku: And what is its effect on you? 37 Youko: Haruka-chan!! Sakurazawa: What do you think, Haruka-san? Sakurazawa: You've never had this before, I'm sure... Sakurazawa: How do you like the taste of opium? 38 Haruka: ...I've got to save her... Let go of Youko! Sakurazawa: Oh? I suppose the opium smoke hasn't worked to quiet that mouth of yours. Sakurazawa: Does opium not work on your kind? Haruka: I said... Haruka: TO let go of Youko!! Assistant: Shachou! Sakurazawa: How about this, Haruka-san? 39 Sakurazawa: If you resist, I'll cut the girl? Youko: You coward!! SFX: *slam* Haruka: ...Do whatever you want with me! Sakurazawa: Me? Sakurazawa: Oh, this things I want... Sakurazawa: I want to see your body writhe... 40 Kantarou: That's it! Kantarou: Sakurazawa-shachou's shipments are really opium... But... Kantarou: There's no one guarding the opium... weird... Kantarou: I managed to slip past Shoukiku and come back... aren't those two friends? Kantarou: I wonder if it was that oni Shoukiku who called all those youkai to the mansion... Kantarou: That's why the heihaku didn't move... it wasn't a ghost... 41 Kantarou: I've got to go... Kantarou: I've got to get back to the main building... Kantarou: AH!! Kantarou: What... Kantarou: WAHH!! 42 Youko: You have to stop! Otherwise... Youko: Haruka-chan is going to die!! SFX: *shock* Assistant: 250 milligrams of heroin!? But Shachou, that's way past a fatal dose!! Sakurazawa: It's alright. Haruka: Ah!! SFX: *whoosh* Sakurazawa: That's a fatal dose for a human, isn't it? Then it won't be a problem. 43 Sakurazawa: Because he... Sakurazawa: Is not a human. Youko: Kan-chan... Youko: Kan-chan, hurry up and save Haruka-chan... Sakurazawa: ...It's no use. Youko: He'll come! He's going to come!! Sakurazawa: I've already set an unimaginably powerful monster in the entrance hall... I wonder how the "Master of Rare Youkai" will fare against that... 44 Haruka: Why... Haruka: Why are you doing this? Sakurazawa: Why? Sakurazawa: You want to know why? Sakurazawa: It's because *she* wants you... Sakurazawa: Why you, I have no idea. SFX: *grind* Sakurazawa: When you're unsightly and useless... 45 Sakurazawa: Why won't she love me? Why doesn't she want me? Sakurazawa: Why you?! Sakurazawa: So you see... Sakurazawa: I wouldn't mind if you died... Sakurazawa: !! 46 SFX: *crash* Haruka: Ah... 47 Sakurazawa: A youkai? Sakurazawa: In here? But how!? Kantarou: I already told you, Sakurazawa-shachou... 48 Kantarou: I'm really good... Kantarou: At making friends with youkai. Haruka: Kantarou... you're late... 49 Assistant: Monster!! Assistant: WAH!! SFX: *slap* Kantarou: To those who follow the heretical doctrines, the demons, the evil gods, the venomous animals, the poisinous dragons, the biting insects, and all of their kind: SFX: *murmer* Kantarou: With these words and this staff, I command you to prostrate yourselves and follow the path of righteousness, to immediately demonstrate your devotion to the path of Buddha. Kantarou: Everyone... Kantarou: I'm sorry... 50 Kantarou: Please lend me your strength!! 51 SFX: *generic sound for dramatic effect* 52 Assistant: Waah!! Assistant: Kyaa!! Kantarou: Youko-chan! Youko: Haruka-chan! Haruka-chan is... Sakurazawa: Shit... SFX: *exploding noises* Sakurazawa: Aiiee!! SFX: *whosh* Kantarou: Sakurazawa-shachou... 53 Kantarou: Why... Kantarou: Why did you do this to them...? Kantarou: I won't forg... Sakurazawa: Kyaa!! Kantarou: You do not want to make me any angrier. Do you understand? Sakurazawa: ...! SFX: *surprise* 54 Kantarou: Hey!! 55 Haruka: ...! Haruka: It hurts... Youko: Kan-chan, what are you doing?! Kantarou: I'm taking him home. Kantarou: He's got to sleep off the drug. Haruka: Ah... Kantarou: ... 56 Haruka: KA-CHOO!! Haruka: Ahhhh!!! Haruka: I'm COLD!! Haruka: My head hurts... my throat hurts... everything hurts... SFX: *shiver* Haruka: I feel like shit!! 57 Youko: Heavy drugs don't kill you but a little cold has you like this? Youko: Fascinating!! Youko: Hey, Kan-chan! Haruka: .... Youko: But I'm glad... Youko: I knew Kan-chan would come and save us... Youko: But wow, Sakurazawa-shachou's company was really the front for an opium smuggling ring... Haruka: I started sneezing every time I was in her room... it must have been the smell of the opium... Kantarou: It was a trap from the start... 58 Kantarou: I guess we got used... Sakurazawa: Ibaraki-sama... please forgive me... Sakurazawa: I hate that man, that Ichinomiya Kantarou... Next time, I swear I'll... Ibaraki/Shoukiku: You look tired, Sakurazawa. Ibaraki: I think you should take a holiday. SFX: *shift* Sakurazawa: What? 59 Raikou: Sakurazawa Hirako, ringleader of an opium cartel... Raikou: We'll deal with you right away... Sakurazawa: Ringleader!? Sakurazawa: I was under orders from Ibaraki-sama!! Ibaraki: Ah, my dear solider, you could always say you did it under the influence of opium... Raikou: That's true. We can't rely on any of the information she provided now... Ibaraki: But you're mine, pretty one... 60 Ibaraki: Pretty little human... Ibaraki: And so useless... Ibaraki: I hope you enjoy your eternal vacation... Ibaraki: Sakurazawa... SFX: *swish* Raikou: You really are an awful woman... 61 Raikou: Was it really your intention just to let them escape this time like a lizard with its tail cut off? Ibaraki: Don't you like to take your time enjoying something sweet? Raikou: Just a trick to get closer to him, then... Raikou: But won't that just make him more wary in the future? Ibaraki: Oh? Ibaraki: But isn't that the way you like it? 62 Ibaraki: We will kill any who oppose us. 63 Ibaraki: It will be absolutely delightful... Ibaraki: And then... 64 Ibaraki: We'll sacrifice the oni-kui tengu...