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2010-10-25, 10:59 | Link #64 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Here's Kizumonogatari chapter 10.
Spoiler for Kizumonogatari chapter 10:
"......In other words, you are saying that every time she eats one of the stolen limbs, the body of that child grows?"
Hanekawa -- showed her understanding like that. It is April 1st, immediately after the sunset -- Kissshot is still sleeping. The vampire has days and nights being reversed -- even if for me it was the same, it was awkward to drag honor student Hanekawa out at very late night hours, so I endured and rose early. A barrier is placed in the ruins of this cram school. So said Oshino. I was told it doesn't just conceal the existence of Kissshot and me, it even makes difficult for ordinary persons without a guide to reach here. For this reason I made an arrangement with Hanekawa so that she comes nearby, and after the sun sinks I directly go to meet her. Hanekawa has come at the time promised and at the place designated. With her usual uniform. "Yo" Hanekawa greeted me with a raised hand. It was an outgoing behavior that doesn't make me feel the awkwardness. This moderately informal interpersonal distance puts me at ease. "Did you bring me the thing I requested?" "Sure. As you see" "Good. Thank you. Well then, this way" And then -- I guided Hanekawa to the ruin of the cram school. Private property, no trespassing. We pass through the fence where this sign is affixed (even the fence that surrounds the ruins of the cram school, appropriately for a ruin, is full of holes here and there), and we enter inside the building. Oshino was out negotiating, and Kissshot was sleeping. I have talked to Kissshot about bringing Hanekawa, but she didn't seem particularly interested. Because it might be a complicated conversation, we should have spoken in another classroom, but Hanekawa wanted to see what Kissshot looked like. Therefore, for talking to Hanekawa, I chose the same room on the second floor where I am usually passing time. On a corner Kissshot was indulging in indolence, this was the setting. It goes without saying that because planks are nailed on the windows of this room, even starlight doesn't enter. Having vampire eyes I don't have any problems, but Hanekawa has a normal eyesight, so I prepared a flashlight -- well, everything has been prepared only by Hanekawa though. And then I, after some gossip (after all since Spring Break I haven't come in contact with newspapers or television), I talked with Hanekawa until the morning of today -- Hanekawa was listening attentively, looking very interested. Honor student. Her curiosity towards the unknown may be beyond average. I told her everything I could tell her. I didn't want to hide her anything. Despite today was April 1st, I didn't want to tell her lies. And then, when I finished talking about the 'growth' of Kissshot's body -- Hanekawa "......In other words, you are saying that every time she eats one of the stolen limbs, the body of that child grows?" said this. "Although it is weird calling a vampire that lived 500 years 'that child' -- this is what happened, right?" Humph. A moderate comprehension. Exactly, I nodded. "The right leg...... from the knee, she grew about two years ahead......, right, once the remaining limbs gets collected, maybe she can perfectly go back to her original looks...... of a 27 years old, I think" "Hmmm --" "Well, talking like Freeza-sama, with the left leg and both arms, she is saving two transformations for later" "Ah, that's easy to understand" While talking, Hanekawa was watching Kissshot, who was sleeping wheezing over the prefabricated bed Oshino built. Though a vampire, with a quick glance she didn't look like anything other than a lovely 12 years old girl. The image of me and her being together inside an abandoned building could be really perceived with a tinge of criminality. I only pray Hanekawa don't view it this way. "Well then, it's my fault -- maybe" "Eh? What?" "That Araragi-kun met a vampire" "............" Why do you think so? Although I said I told everything I could tell, without wanting to hide anything, even I am not that much of an idiot, I thought I completely omitted the passages about Hanekawa's panties and the ero-books? However this agitation was completely missing the mark. "Don't they say speak of the devil and he shall appear? That proverb is relatively valid for ghost stories. Speak of it and -- the Kaii will approach from the other side" "Hmmm. However, I didn't--" Ah. That. That day I -- heard it from Hanekawa. We spoke about a vampire. At night, I went out alone and-- "--No, it would be ridiculous. If that was the case Hanekawa, a vampire should have appeared even to you, who mentioned it to me" "It's not like it had to. The likelihood did nothing but increase. ......Besides, even in front me, for appearing he has appeared, right?" "Hm?" "Araragi-kun" Ah. That's right. I am a vampire. I see -- midway on the route to go face Dramaturgie, the reason why in that place and time I unexpectedly met with Hanekawa, possibly, may have been because the chances of that have been raised. There is an appropriate reason for meeting Kaiis. The reason why I met a vampire-- "One can also think it this way. Thinking that rumors precede Kaii's very existence -- Thinking that because the rumor is made, the Kaii arises. It's along the lines of the so-called folklore" "Because they exist the rumor comes out, because the rumor comes out they exist -- huh. It looks like the question about whether you like the egg or the chicken meat" "Hmm? I personally like eggs" The joke wasn't understood. Unexploded ordnance. "......You know everything" "I don't know everything, I just know what I know" "I see" Nodding. I return the conversation to the main thread. "Leaving aside rumors and so on, Hanekawa -- yesterday you were looking for a vampire of your own will" And because of that -- I was mad. Today, of course, she is not doing such thing though. "For what purpose were you doing that? A higher being -- was it? Did you want to do small talk or something--" "Well, it's not like I was seriously searching for it. I would be asking for the moon. In some way, I don’t know how to say it -- have you ever felt a desire for a change in your life?" "A change......" In my case, more than a change in my life, it was my ecology which changed. As I thought, it's unbearable. Though -- she is an honor student. Even Hanekawa, class reps of class reps, on occasions don’t know how to say something, I was a little surprised. No -- since she is human, that thing is natural. Because even for me who became a vampire the troubles didn't end. In fact, the troubles have rather multiplied. "It is escape from reality, in the end" "I want to go back to reality" "You can go back, I am sure" So told me Hanekawa. They were words that didn't have any guarantee behind, but -- they were words that made me happy. "However, although I said I want to be of assistance -- if it comes to such a monstrous story, it doesn't look like there is much I can do" "It's not true" I say. I point with a finger -- the luggage Hanekawa brought -- which has been placed in a big backpack. "They may be change of clothes and what else, but I thank you for bringing me daily necessities" "Please, it's fine. At least this" Hanekawa blushed. "That aside, how about quickly changing clothes? Your clothes are worn out" "Uhm" "When I was picked up by you in such a state I was obviously surprised. Er, can't you borrow some clothes from the man called Oshino?" "He has only aloha shirts......" "An aloha is ok" "If it's LOHAS sure it's ok" {Lifestiles Of Health And Sustainability. Market segment made of ecologically conscious consumers} I tried to line up words that were just similar. Incidentally I don't know the meaning of LOHAS. However, that aside, there is obviously a limit to how much I can move with these clothes. It would be nice if I could use the matter creation power like Kissshot, but there is no way I can do such thing. "I see -- errr" Though. Obviously, I have a certain unwillingness to change clothes in front of a girl...... if I change clothes I must undress even the lower body. "But we are not in such a hurry...... I'd say" Ah. Now I realized. Without reflecting about it, yesterday night I asked to Hanekawa "Bring me a change of clothes"...... a change of clothes in this case is not only shirts and trousers, aren't underpants included too? "............" Err...... Errrrr......? "W-Well -- anyway, I think I can change at least the upper body" While I pretend to be calm, I stretch a hand inside the backpack Hanekawa brought me. Hm, it's packed splendidly...... Well, she didn't put in only clothes...... so I open the zipper, and they have been packed above the change of clothes. That is, the underpants were topmost. "An M size fits you?" "Y-Yeah......" "I don't know whether you use as underpants briefs or trunks, so I prepared both" "............" It was an unnecessary concern. No...... I'm sorry. It's my fault. My head doesn't really function too well. It's Hanekawa who had to buy for my sake briefs and trunks, she surely must have felt embarrassed...... "Hm? What's wrong? Won't you change clothes?" "I will......" I say, and I take out a plain shirt folded below the pants. No matter how I look at it, it's brand new. Notwithstanding that, without putting it in a bag, I see that she also cut the tag, and it seems that Hanekawa, after the purchase, washed it once, and after putting it in the dryer brought it to me. You didn't need to go that far...... Are you taking pity on me, I thought. For the time being I decided to take off the clothes of the upper body which were worn out, and I went through the arms in the sleeves of the plain shirts. I do it and, "Please wait" Hanekawa said. With that voice she halted my movements, but, oh no, now I am half naked...... "I was right -- I thought it yesterday too. Araragi-kun, your physique is changing a little" "Hm?" Now that you mention it. Just a little -- more muscular? No, it's not just a little -- I've got a small six-pack. "I was right" Hanekawa repeated. "Yesterday when I noticed you from behind I was unsure you were really Araragi-kun -- the attachment of your muscles was different. I have the impression they are becoming slender, or to better say tenser" "............" What kind of person are you to be able to recognize from behind a young male student you almost didn't get in touch with. That's what bothers me. "Mumble mumble" Suddenly, it appears Kissshot has opened her eyes. Incidentally, when she 'grew' even the attire and the hairdo were remodeled -- with the 10 years old looks she had a fluffy dress with a bobbed hair, but now that she is 12, the dress had a little more adult-like design, and the hair became long. "Becoming a vampire changeth thy figure, because the regeneration power tryeth to keep the flesh in the most healthy conditions" "Eh?" "Zzz" Asleep. Saying just that, she once again fell asleep. Is she awake, is she sleeping...... However, didn't she inadvertently tell a wonderful thing? Well -- it may be. Undoubtedly, after becoming a vampire, even the nails don't grow -- I can neglect entering in a bath. I can't find it out in just one week, but certainly even the hair shouldn't have grown. And there was also that. I am meaning -- the moderate muscles of my body build. And this means that if I go further I should be able to become, like Dramaturgie, strong-muscled, and I should also be able to shape-shift a part of my body into weapons-- "......She fell asleep" "Well, when she woke up she didn't look very well" "That's -- her 500 years" "It's a self-allegation, though" "......However, I feel like I don't believe my eyes" After saying so Hanekawa added "Please excuse me", and started touching my upper body. She slowly strokes the abs, and after that near the chest. Strokes. Strokes. ......Crap, I am a little aroused. It's like I am subjected to a tasteless prank. "......Judging from touch, you are identical to a human. However, somehow, you seem more elastic" "............" It was simply intellectual curiosity. Well, it may have been that. "......Identical to a human, you say. Hanekawa, did you touch the body of other men?" "Eh? Oh no, I didn't, of all things" Flustered, she took away the hand from my body -- although late, she was a bit embarrassed. "That's right. I blurted out a conjecture. Not good. ......Would you quickly put on your shirt?" "O-Okay" I dressed. It may have been the M size, but it felt a little large -- but well, there is no problem in it being large. Also I like its plainness. "Hm. It looks good" "Ah. Thanks -- or rather, I'm sorry. When all this ends, I'll immediately pay you the money" "It's fine. I have my New Year's money I've saved up since I was a child" "Don't use such things!" I can pay back the money, but I can't pay back memories! She is a bottomless girl...... If I carelessly ask a favor something unlooked-for will happen. "There are two parkas, they are packed below. Ah, for trousers are jeans ok?" "Yeah. The preference goes to ease of movement" "I judged waist size and cuff tucks with eye measurement, so if they seem tight or short tell me. I'll go buy new ones" "............" Even if they are a little tight, even if they are a little short, I will endure. I thought. Even if I can't try them on here, I thought that for now I'll check the rest, and I rummage the bottom of the backpack. And. There I found a bag. That was -- the large size paper bag of a bookstore. It appears there are ten books inside. "......?" I tried taking it out, and "Ah, that's a present" Hanekawa said. "Yesterday you bought a book of Aikido, right -- you left it in front of the school gate. Based on our conversation from earlier, it was to fight that big man, right?" "Well -- kind of" She referred to that Dramaturgie as 'big man'. Unexpectedly she has some nerve. "In the end, I felt the baseball textbook I bought together was more useful" "Ah. The book you were reading when I met you" "Does it matter?" Yes, nodded Hanekawa. "Well, having the caution of making preparations towards a fierce battle is a correct approach I think -- I just thought that you were having a misunderstanding" "Well, I know -- you say it's just haphazard?" It's because yesterday she was watching. My clumsy battle style. The resigned to luck, I'll entrust everything to you battle style. "Certainly, if by reading a manual one immediately mastered something, nobody would have problems" "Ah, no, no, I wasn't meaning that" Said Hanekawa. "Aikido and baseball are things that humans do, right?" "......? Well, certainly to Dramaturgie a locking technique was meaningless -- No, since his recovery power was not that great, if that time I broke the arm, there might have been some effect" "Hm. Talk about brutality. However, it's not even that. I was not talking about being on the receiving end, but about what one can achieve. I am talking about what you could do" "Eh?" "Aikido is a technique of humans -- baseball too is a sport of humans. At the present time certainly you are gifted with a strength superior to that of humans, and even if you use aikido or baseball, I think that on the contrary it would restrain in vain your strength" "A--Aaah" Right. At present -- a baseball ball was too light for me. A shot it was so-so -- a roller finally felt adequate. Because all parameters were simultaneously increased, it was inevitably hard to become well aware of it, but for the present me, the techniques of humans -- may on the contrary become a hindrance. "Therefore what you should read now, my thought, are these" Saying that, Hanekawa opened the paper bag I took out from the backpack, and exposed the contents to me. They were manga. Moreover, all Gakuen Inoue Batoru. Boys in school uniform on the front covers. "............!" "I tried searching, but I couldn't find vampire high schoolers as main characters, so I tried choosing stories where the main characters are boys who use ESP" "Y-you tried choosing......" "Perhaps, in this way" She opened a page. A main character-looking boy was running on the wall. "The present you should be able of a movement that disregarded laws of physics" "Haa......" I was involuntarily taken aback -- no. Isn't this idea unexpectedly not so bad? On the contrary -- it is fairly good. You didn't lose the common sense from when you were a human -- said Dramaturgie. His words suggested he, like me, was a former human. And in the actual fight, as foretold, because I was thinking inside the box of that common sense, I got into an unnecessary pinch. Since I could even backflip -- I should be able to run on walls. "Ah...... well thought" "I tried going on reading, it was fairly interesting" "Hummm......" It was a manga I didn't know, but certainly it seemed interesting. "The books I personally recommend are romances, but thinking about the purpose, the ones more immediate should be manga. Because by memorizing with a picture is easier to leave something in memory" "I agree" "Well, please let me give them as a reference. Also, I think you better still go choose them to your liking" "......Thank you" However...... when we talked last night, I didn't tell to Hanekawa that I had yet to face Episode and Guillotincutter later, and yet these quality preparations...... As I thought, she is no ordinary person. "Here. This is a book card for those occasions" "The preparations are too good" "Hmm? Was cash better?" "Cash sucks!" What the heck am I saying! Anyway......, I am grateful for receiving so much concern from Hanekawa. Book card included. Well, I really don't have any money. I spent too much on books. "You are a big help, Hanekawa. I will absolutely repay you" "No. What I can do is just this" "Just this -- is more than enough" To tell the truth -- it's reassuring. If she turned the other way, I would have really been helpless. I can't call Oshino a friend -- and Kissshot was the source of the circumstances, moreover a vampire. I've never thought that just being able to chat with another person would soothe me this much. No -- she is not another person, she is a friend. "Truly -- thank you" "No way, in times of trouble we have equal standing. If there is something else you want me to do, Araragi-kun, feel free to say anything. This was the best I could do now though" "Yeah. I'll rely on you" "That's right. Now let's clean this room" It is in total disorder, Hanekawa said. Well, this is an abandoned building, you know. The instant I said it, Hanekawa has already started moving -- hey, wait a minute, I won't force you to do this much. "Don't bother, it was like this from the start" "That's even more the reason why you mustn't leave it untidy. Any place that you can tidy up, you must always tidy it up -- Hmm? What is this?" Hanekawa picked up something from a corner of the room. For a moment I didn't understand what the heck it was that. However it became immediately clear. That was similarly a large bookshop bag -- however it's not the one Hanekawa brought, and neither the one I bought yesterday, in which there were the aikido, baseball, classical music books. However it was a bag I recognize. And then I realize. Yes. That was the bag with the two ero-books, which I should have thrown away the first day of the Spring Break. "Mumble mumble" In background Kissshot was talking in her sleep. "I forgot to say thee. The bag thou wert carrying which looked important fell on the roadside, so when we came here, I took care picking it up for thee" "Y-You there!" "Zzz" Fallen asleep. Ooh...... Hanekawa was staring at the contents of the bag. A female high-schooler was staring at an ero-book of female high-schoolers...... "Let's see, you met a vampire returning from a bookstore -- wasn't it? At March the 25th? The night of the day you crossed path with me?" "............!" Amazing! What a phenomenal intuition! H-Hey wait, aren't you by any chance making my most unwished-for misunderstanding!? "Ehhehhe" Hanekawa raised her face, and looked at me with a grin that covered her face. The flashlight was illuminating her from below, and that made her looked like a Kaii. And then she takes out a book from the bag, and opens it at a certain page. In that page, dreadfully, an exceedingly ridiculous scheme, namely 'Special feature: class reps with glasses' was unfolded. Hanekawa with a very soft -- purring voice said. "Hey. What is this?" |
2010-11-06, 04:33 | Link #68 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
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New chapter!
Spoiler for Kizumonogatari chapter 11:
Episode.
He carries on his shoulder with one hand a gigantic cross, three times his height, the cube of his weight, a guy with a white uniform and sanpaku eyes. {eyes with visible white between the iris and the lower eyelid} He is -- a vampire hunter, I hear. He hunts vampires aiming at monetary rewards, you could say he is a hit man. And then -- furthermore in addition at the same time. He is -- a half vampire. Hunter and half. According to the angle he could look as nothing but a youngster, but on the contrary he is a specialist of vampire exorcism who stole from Kissshot her left leg -- this is Episode. "............You are late" Three days since then -- April 4th. The line-up of ill-omened numbers subtly makes me uneasy, but even if I fuss over such a thing that I have no control over, I still can't do anything about it. I try to check the time on my wristwatch, and I notice I forgot to put on my wristwatch -- then I think I'll check it on my cellphone, and I forgot even my cellphone. Disconcerting. As I thought, I am not calm. Well, whatever -- because when it comes to it, the person I want to get in touch with, Oshino Meme, a vagrant-like person, doesn't own a cellphone or a PHS. {Personal Handyphone System} But then, as said by the person himself, it seems he is an idiot with electronics. Well, the cellphone is a tool that seems rather barely related to spirits and Kaiis. That aside, the night of April 4th. Once again I went to the school field of Naoetsu private high school at night. Naturally -- the second battle. To fight with the second specialist at vampire exorcism, Episode. In these three days, I considered many things -- however, I ultimately settled on going unarmed, similarly to the fight with Dramaturgie. "It is better not to carry weapons" I followed the opinion of Hanekawa. "Well, a normal weapon might not withstand your present superhuman strength as a vampire, and even assuming you prepared a weapon that could withstood it, if you were walking around carrying it and a policeman questioned you, what would you do?" "............" Now, she really had a point. "Well, if you say so, I think those vampire exorcists should receive questioning from authorities for sure" "Those people are professionals, aren't they? Won't they know ways to avert at least that?" "Uhm" Thinking about it, Dramaturgie was able to turn the body into fog. I guess he is thinking outside those people's boxes. It follows that I'm unarmed -- I feel like I'm not capitalizing on the lessons acquired from my blunder of having challenged empty-handed Dramaturgie's two wavy blades the previous time, but Hanekawa, I own her one, taught me a few things she could observe from that fight, even if she was just watching from behind the building. Essentially, she found my faults. Making the best of that experience -- I will fight. As usual, Kissshot's advice was hardly of use -- below I'll recall the scene of when I received Kissshot's advice. "Vampire hunter and half vampire -- well, I too know at least that of vampire terminology, however Kissshot, can't I receive information that is a little more detailed?" The 12 years old looking Kissshot, however, replied this to my question, "I forgot" She said. She forgot...... As always throwing out her chest with a proud attitude -- because passing from a 10 years old to a 12 years old she was experiencing the so-called age of secondary sexual characteristics, the puffing of the chest in itself indeed happened, however certainly it was not because of proud words. "Hm -- My memory is dropping. Ah, did I tell thee before?" "Those are amusing words......" "Uhm. Wait a minute" Saying that, Kissshot put her right hand beside the face in a handchop, and without taking aim she thrusted those four fingernails in her own temple. The tiny right hand sank in the head of the blonde girl up to the wrist. The blood gushed out like crazy, evaporated and vanished. "H-H-Hey......!" "Wait a minute. I will remember at once" Like that, Kisshot crudely stirred up her own cranium, that is the squashy cerebral insides. From the wound not only blood, but also a liquid which was probably spinal fluid spilled out whistling. ".........!" Nonononononononono. This is totally unsuitable for an anime. The fingers got entangled even in the ocular muscles or something, because the right eye was exhibiting a novel movement that could only make you think it has been possessed by the devil. S-She is literally searching her mind. What a mnemonic technique. "Uhm" At last Kissshot extracted the deep red stained hand. She was smiling, refreshed. "I remembered" "......What?" I interrupted, while seeing that even the blood that stained the hair was still evaporating. "What did you remember?" "As also clear from the fact that Dramaturgie tried to make thee a comrade, he was not hunting vampire because he hated them, but Episode is different. He hath an antipathy towards vampires" "Antipathy? How come -- Isn't he 50% vampire? Well, since he is a hunter, I'm sure he at least is not an ally but --" "Well, about the half vampires -- since the samples are scarce to begin with, I cannot draw a conclusion -- but in most cases, they hate vampires" "Why?" "Well, simply put, because a half vampire is an entity not accepted by the vampire world. On the other hand, it is not like the human world could accept him either. Hence -- he hateth his vampire blood" "Shouldn't he hate humans as well, then?" "He may not like them, however what’s the point for thou to hate people who are weaker than thyself?" Kissshot said a blunt thing. "Though a half, his strength cannot be compared to that of an average human. Above all Episode seemeth to bear a strong hatred towards vampires. I do not know in which way he was raised -- well, he must have been raised in a way that is better to be left unknown. Therefore do not think he will simply give up. Unlike Dramaturgie, he is acting out of personal feelings rather than work" "Sigh--" So he is not as committed to professionalism as Dramaturgie, huh. "Half vampires, in exchange for an immortality even weaker than that of a vampire -- are characterized by almost not bearing the weak points of a vampire. They can even walk under the sun -- and they can even cast a shadow" "Eeh...... they can cast a shadow?" "In other words -- talking about the converse, in exchange for having the advantages halved, they are stripped of almost all the weak points" "Aah......" I see. It depends but -- not having weak points makes one a little formidable. "What can I do to win?" "Uhm? Well, how about doing as usual?" "............" Thanks for your overconfidence in me. That said -- the night of the appointed day has come. During these three days, I was absorbed with manga reading. Looking from an external point of view, well I was idling, or if not that I was feeling like doing nothing, but I couldn't help it -- you could say I covered almost all the manga of the Gakuen Inou Batoru genre published in major magazines. It's a mystery, but if you read driven by necessity, no matter how much interesting is the manga, the hand that turns over the pages becomes slow...... including today, every day since then Hanekawa has come to the cramming school immediately after the sunset to deliver me manga, so I couldn't say it was already enough. I have received even a book card, but in the end it was better for me not to go out that much. So said Oshino. The night of April 1st, exactly immediately after Hanekawa went home, Oshino went back -- it happened then. I even thought I could almost introduce Hanekawa, but since it appeared Oshino chose expressly the time Hanekawa went home to return, I presumed I wasn't suppose to interfere. "I talk from a neutral standpoint, but that's a nice idea. That class rep-chan is sharp" After Oshino said that, "However, I believe I have to speak against you going out saved for the day of the showdowns" he continued. "Because there is the possibility that they are aiming for that time" "Well, but -- this should be covered by your negotiations" "The key of a negotiation is not giving the opponent any chance, you know. I don't think they will meddle with you, but you may not find it fun to be followed" "Even if I am followed, this place won't be discovered, right?" It's a barrier that only the residents, me, Kissshot, and also the men who affixed it himself, Oshino can enter – I believe he told me this was the effectiveness of the barrier. "Well, I am confident about the barrier. However, I'd like to thwart the minimum possibilities." "The possibilities --" "Class rep-chan will come tomorrow too, right? If you wish to increase the variety of the manga you read, try asking her in that occasion. Ah, I think that since there is a barrier, even if she comes here twice or thrice, she will get lost though -- I have no choice but to include her" "B-But" "Obviously, since I can't help you, if you say class rep-chan is out, you will have to rely on your other friends" There isn't any other friend. I have no choice but to rely on Hanekawa. "Ah, if you've finished reading lend it to me too" And with that single irritating word, Oshino left. He came back and then immediately went out...... But when does he sleep? I have often seen him lying down, but come to think of it I've never seen him sleeping -- is he working so hard on the negotiations? If so, then maybe I could at least lend him manga. And Hanekawa is really a nice person, the next day -- that is to say April 2nd, when she came back to the ruins of the cramming school I made the request, and with an immediate reply she took upon herself the role of "person in charge of purchases", and from then until today, that is to say April 4th, for three consecutive days she went buying her recommended manga and my requested manga. She is too nice. Today I went out after three days and "Good Luck" she cheered me with words of encouragement. They were simple words, but they filled my heart. "Really...... if I return a human, I wonder what can I do to thank her" However. At that time -- I was off the mark. About the strength of the girl called Hanekawa Tsubasa. And I had yet to grasp -- the amount of danger involved by now. "I think that guy actually went back home --" While I murmured something terribly idyllic if looking back from future developments -- at last, Episode appeared. He appeared on the Naoetsu private high school's sport field. In the guise of fog -- he appeared. "............" Vampire hunter. Half vampire. He doesn't have the weak points of a vampire. However -- even if weakened by half, the abilities of a vampire remained. A guy with a thin lines image -- and sanpaku eyes. White uniform. He looks very young -- but the gigantic cross carried on a shoulder with one hand is refuting this impression. With a faint smile like in that day -- he gave me a sharp glare. Episode. The guy who stolen Kissshot's left leg. "That's hilarious" He suddenly said. Not even a word of apology for coming late. "Really, it makes me laugh -- chief Dramaturgie was reverse exorcised by a brat like you, of all things. Talk about slacking off -- I really hate vampires' guts, including those of fellow vampire exorcists, and yet I still respected chief Dramaturgie, him alone --" "........." He was full of hostility and spite. On top of that, he was looking down on me. Well, if he hates vampires and humans, a former human like me who has just become a vampire must be his most hated type. "Well? What should I do with you, brat?" "......What you should do, you say" "This is a fight -- in what should I fight you? I'm cool even with something not violent -- I feel like I will never lose to the likes of you" "I'm sorry" I say. "Apart from being Kissshot's subordinate, I'm just a normal person -- among other things I was even a dunce. I can only go with vampire hunters and vampires. Besides, I don't think I can beat you in anything but rock paper scissors" "Aw, man. That's -- hilarious" I'm seriously laughing my head off, said Episode. "You are unexpectedly a chicken. I've hunted some former human vampires, but -- they all got carried away more. Like they felt they had become all-powerful. Just because they obtained an ability akin to a mosquito, they put on the airs of world leaders. That's hilarious" "............" I don't know how much he strives for 'local lingo', but for this guy with a dangerous cross on the shoulder repeating 'that's hilarious' over and over can't help but feel so out of place...... {Episode speaks like an alpha male, but the expression translated with "that's hilarious" is only used by young girls} I don't know what the person himself thinks about it, though. "Well, I teach reality to those guys though. But it seems you don't need it -- It spares me the work. Therefore, today is special service" Episode says, closing one eye. That may have been a wink. "I'll kill you in such a way your side effect won’t play out" "......I've already heard those words before" "It's my catchphrase. That's hilarious, right? When you'll imitate me, set it up properly" Saying this -- Episode offered the hand from the side that didn't carry the cross. A handshake? A handshake before a fight? The guy is surprisingly polite...... while thinking that, I tried to grasp that hand, however in that instant Episode quickly moved it -- -- and formed with it the scissors. "Yeah, I win" "............" "You can't defeat me in rock paper scissors either -- therefore I'll beat you even with vampire hunters and vampires" "Oshino is the type that I’m not good with." I said. "But you -- you are the type that I hate." "Oh man, if you say this for people like me, you can't fight Guillotinecutter -- not even I can come close to his nastiness. Well, since tonight you will lose against me, luckily you won't ever have to fight him though" "You are very self-confident" "You can say it" However, he said. "I agree that man, Oshino Meme, is a twisted bastard. Man, that's hilarious. Because he put up this farce -- be it with a former human vampire or a genuine vampire, I've never done such fair and square battle" "Let me hear the terms" "Yeah. If I win you'll tell me Heartunderblade's whereabouts -- in the fat chance you defeat me I'll return the left leg of that girl. This kind of thing?" "Yeah -- exactly" "By the way, do you understand the meaning of these terms?" Continued Episode with a grinning face while I nodded. "It's forbidden to fight to kill -- in this battle. In order to get Heartunderblade's whereabouts from you, I can't kill you, if you want to get back from me the left leg of that girl, you can't kill me either. The action seems rough, yet it draws a line from being a deathmatch. It's a peaceful thing --" "............" A game. Oshino defined it in that manner. It is not a deathmatch, but a game. "And -- it's like you say. Dramaturgie, Guillotinecutter, me too, we are all professional -- you don't have any odds of victory unless you do things this way. He chose the method that gave you some chance" For -- real? This is the balance thing? That glib man -- did he think this far, and set up this kind of fight? His neutral -- negotiation service. 2 million yen -- he asked. "Well, obviously, if I just knew Kissshot Acerolaorion Heartunderblade's whereabouts, you and that woman, together -- guess what, I'd kill you in such a way your side effect won’t play out, you know?" Episode laughs. "Just so you know, don't think I'll go easy on you. I hate bullying the weak -- but I love bullying villains" "Am I a villain?" "You must be. You are a monster after all" "......Even you" Even you are the same. I couldn't say that. He is -- just half. "Eh? Even you -- what? If there's something you want to say, spit it out" "No, it's nothing...... there is nothing I want to say. Let's begin" "Yeah, let's finish this" The introduction was over. Contrary to the time I fought Dramaturgie, it was me the one who attacked first -- in fact, I was thinking only about making the first move. In fact, I don't have any fighting experience. If I turn defensive, I'll start shaking in no time, and I won't understand anymore what's going on before my eyes -- I should at least launch myself into offense. With a movement I saw on a manga, I rushed in and unleashed a punch I placed all my body weight on -- however, that punch cut the air. Or to better say -- it cut the fog. In an instant, Episode changed his body into fog -- it is impossible to hit the fog. I was drawn in by the arm on which I place my body weight on in a weird pose, and I staggered forward. This is bad, the counterattack will come -- and I put myself on guard, however, having turned into fog, even the other person was likewise unable to attack. Episode, turned to fog together with the huge cross, "Sorry, but in raw strength I'm no match for you, the Kaii Killer's subordinate -- I don't plan to fight you in close combat" He said, while in form of fog -- he restored his body in a place quite distant from me. Even the cross is reconstituted. The cross too became fog -- is it a part of his body, like with Dramaturgie? No, I am mistaken...... if I had to say it, he handles it in the same way as the clothes. The same as Dramaturgie and Kissshot's clothes. It must be that. "......What are you planning to do from that far away?" "I'll do this!" Said Episode -- And he threw that gigantic cross towards me. Offhandedly -- Unlike what I did when I faced Dramaturgie before, he didn't have a pitching stance or anything, he threw it using just raw power. "W......whoa" It was completely unexpected. Don't tell me he throws that gigantic cross, three times his height tall -- well, if we go there I too was going to throw a roller, but -- a vampire hunter that throws crosses!? This guy is not pious at all! I had thought it was a weapon, but -- I was adamant he was just going to use it like a broadaxe --! "......Kuh!" At the last moment -- I dodged it. I dodged, and I mentally cursed. Am I stupid, will I ever learn -- I don't have any need to dodge the opponent's attack! After all, with the regenerative power that comes from being Kissshot's subordinate, I'll be healed in the blink of an eye -- I thought I had to make the best of that advantage! That may be the common sense from when I was a human, but I unintentionally dodged by reflex. It was because I could see it with vampire eyes -- however. However, this time it was a blessing. The cross I thought I dodged, as a matter of fact just barely grazed my right shoulder -- and that right shoulder, the following instant, burst into flames. It flared up. It -- evaporated. Exactly like the time I basked under the sunlight -- "T-The cross--!" I mean -- isn't it a weak point of all vampires? Even I knew at least that! Episode was carrying it like it was overly, overly ordinary, furthermore its extreme conspicuity was on the contrary a blind spot -- that is, he was so completely unperturbed by me noticing it that I left it out of my consideration. I see. As a half vampire Episode doesn't have the weak points of the vampire -- in other words, he is unfazed by crosses. The cross. A gigantic cross. And that weapon, it looked like there was nothing to it but if I touched it directly, it seems that the effect comes out. That terrific effect. The evaporated skin -- in addition, doesn't regenerate. Well, it's not like it doesn't regenerate -- although the regeneration is abnormally slow. Even if it's the recovery power of the subordinate of Kissshot -- it doesn't catch up. Then this is bad -- more than with the sun. One just touches it directly and it has an instant effect. And just for a scratch -- I am in this state. What would have happened if I took the blow directly!? "Eh......?" While I was worrying over my wound, once again Episode turned into fog -- and in the form of fog he switched place. I was convinced he would have come here to attack me, however, as previously stated, Episode didn't get close. Speaking of where he went, it was the spot he threw the gigantic cross at a moment ago. Having grazed my shoulder tip, it pierced the sport field with a 10 meter long tip up to half its length. Episode restored his flesh nearby -- and then he uprooted the buried cross. "Come to think of it, when you fought with chief Dramaturgie, you threw things from far away -- nice idea. I too, when I fight with Dramaturgie look-alikes, use the same trick -- like this!" So saying -- he threw the cross a second time. Aimed at me. This time I avoid it perfectly -- however, while it might be true I dodged it, I couldn't relax. It took me a while to understand what kind of battle plan Episode decided for me, but now I got all the details. In the previous battle with Dramaturgie. Hanekawa observed basically two faults. The first one -- "If your opponent did the same what would you do?" Was this. "With the physical strength of that big man, if he threw back your shot or roller, what would you have done?" And then -- the second one. "The scary thing with attacks from long range, more than anything else, is running out of ammunitions. Because you throw your weapon -- even if the cage was full of balls, I think it was a poor move throwing them without thinking" What Episode was doing now against a vampire like me was admirably free from those two faults. First, the throwing of that cross. No matter how much I try, I can't throw back that cross -- in what way can I throw a cross I can't even touch? The moment I touch it, the part that touched it evaporates. Furthermore, there is no worry of running out of ammunitions. He turns into fog -- and he can go taking back the tossed cross by himself. "......Half vampire --" He is unfazed with touching crosses. He can turn his body into fog. He is making the best use of his own advantages -- heck, he is using even the weak points! "That's hilarious" As supporting my conjecture -- once again he restored his body nearby the cross stuck into the ground. And then with all his strength he pulled it out. "I'll slowly shave you to death like this -- I beg you, at least take care of not getting your heart hit. It's not like I can kill yy--ouu !" While speaking -- a surprise throw. I can dodge it -- this maybe is because, as he said, I top him in terms of power. Even the arm strength of a half vampire can bring forth plenty of speed, and yet it is not something that can surpass the eyesight and explosive power of me as a full vampire. Although -- as it is, certainly, he will shave me to death. I don't have any card to play -- in the Gakuen Inou Batoru books I've read in these three days, there wasn't this kind of development! I turn around. As I thought, the cross was stuck into the ground. That was -- exactly like a grave marker. The cross stuck into the sport field --! And then nearby there, his shape arose. "You can give up -- although in any case tomorrow I'll kill you. You can think I have a one track mind, you can think I'm stuck in a rut, I don't care, I'll kill you with the same technique I'm using now -- because vampires are helpless against crosses" "............" He is -- a professional. Although he acts from personal motives, he too is a pro. I look at the shoulder wound received in the beginning. It still hasn’t completely regenerated -- I keep feeling a violent pain. I have no plan. At any rate, unless it was a short conclusive battle, there were no ways for the experience-less me to win against an experienced opponent -- although, against his careful set up -- I can do nothing. Thus I'm in a desperate situation. Even if I run to the physical storehouse, with the opponent being fog there is no meaning to throw shots or rollers -- what kind of counterattack should I do against an opponent who won't be hit by physical blows? Due to the panic the body completely stiffened, if I'm like this I won't avoid Episode's next attack, I came up with this somehow strangely calm conclusion. It happened then. "A -- Araragi-kun!" That yell -- reached my ears. An auditory hallucination this loud is impossible -- looking at the direction from where the voice came, who was the person there...... oh well, if that much was said it's already clear from the voice, it was Hanekawa Tsubasa. She came out from behind the building. Like in that day, she was -- hiding there? How absurd -- Hanekawa was supposed to be back at home, and yet -- "You can't give up yet! Your opponent is fog, therefore --" Like ignoring my confusion, Hanekawa shaped both hands as a megaphone by the mouth, and she kept yelling toward me. "A fog, therefore -- in other words --" "......That's hilarious" He said. Episode, without any hesitation, threw that gigantic cross prepared against me -- toward Hanekawa. Eh? What? Why did he do that -- "Ha...... Hanekawaaaaa!" The reflexes of Hanekawa are by no means poor, I hear. She is a honor student. Even her PE grades in themselves are outstanding -- although after all this is within the common sense of humans. She cannot be compared to vampires, of course. And neither to half vampires. With her eyesight and explosive power, dodging that cross is unattainable -- she could slip out at most half a step from that place, that was all. An arm of the cross -- dug through her flank. Naturally, not being a vampire, even if she was touched by the cross she wouldn't ignite nor evaporate, but even so there is no mistaking that gigantic cross was a thick mass of silver. Her tender flank. Offered no resistance at all. "..................!" I mustered all my running speed, and rushed over to Hanekawa's spot. For my senses it took only a moment -- as a matter of fact, before Hanekawa fell backward on the ground, I managed to catch her. However. In the end it was already -- too late. The uniform of Hanekawa got torn, her skin got torn, her muscles got torn, her ribs got torn, her internal organs got torn. A bright red blood poured out without end -- it didn't stop. The wound is too big, stopping the blood is out of the question. Of course -- the pieces of meat scattered around, or the blood gushed forth, didn't evaporate. They soaked the sport field as they were. Without hurry. The red -- the red was sinking. "Ha...... Hanekawa, Hanekawa, Hanekawa, Hanekawa!" "......Ehhehhe" Hanekawa. She laughed like she felt shy. In these circumstances. Like she felt embarrassed her internal organs have been seen. She acted shy. "Araragi-kun, you are loud" "............!" "Y-Your cellphone" The complexion of Hanekawa was steadily worsening. And even then she didn't let down her smiling face. She didn't let down her smiling face and continued. "You forgot your cellphone. I've come -- to bring it to you" "I-I don't care about the cellphone!" I cried. Although even Hanekawa understands that -- cellphones and so on, for Hanekawa are nothing more than a pretext. I'm sure Hanekawa was simply worried. Without going back home -- she came here. And then, not being able to stand watching -- she came out. There's no way she didn't understand how great the danger was! "Get a grip on yourself...... your opponent is fog" Though the ground was steadily being dyed red -- nevertheless the tone of Hanekawa was firm. "The fog is, in other words, just water" "......? ......Ha-Hanekawa?" "Araragi-kun" With a firm tone of voice -- she slowly closes her eyes. "What was your record at the running long jump?" I felt her weight. Like taking those words as a cue, suddenly the body of Hanekawa got heavy. Though the blood is pouring out so much -- just by losing consciousness, humans become so heavy. Then. What happens if they lose their life. "Ha -- Hilarious. How long are you gonna make me wait?" I looked. Episode had already picked up the cross which went through Hanekawa -- he was facing in this direction, and he was ready. "If you keep standing there, the body of that girl will get injured more" "Y-You" "For your information, you’re the one who broke the pact first -- Kaii Killer's subordinate. It should have been a one-on-one. Well, since I also meddled with an outsider, I'll say we're even" "Hanekawa -- is an ordinary human" She can't be counted in. What in the world could Hanekawa have done? "Against an ordinary human, you--!" And yet. Even humans -- are your enemies? Not only the ones you hate -- are enemies? Not only vampires, even humans --! Even if that's the case, you still shouldn't drag Hanekawa into this -- when she lost consciousness, with a firm tone of voice to the last moment, she gave me an advice, whose meaning unfortunately I didn't understand at a-- "............!" Fog? Water? Running long jump? Ah -- no. No, I've understood. I see...... it's 'advantage of terrain'. I withdraw the previous statement, Hanekawa could be truly counted in. With this, I can win! "Ooooooooooooo!" Yelling with all my strength -- I started running. I lay down gently the body of Hanekawa on the sport field, and I put into practice, without further elaboration, a tactic I conceived from her hint. The current position of Episode and 'that place' was in a straight line -- above that line, I stop my feet. And then, exactly at the same time, Episode throws at me the gigantic cross. That was perfect -- no, not yet. If I don't dodge that cross I won't satisfy the requirements! I don't jump, I crouch on the spot -- when the gigantic cross passes over my head, it takes away a tuft of hair. And then the cross gets stuck into 'that place'. "What what -- you should be angry yet in the end you just escape! Ha! You are lame through and through -- That's hilarious!" Episode immediately turn his body into fog, and chases after the cross. However I too wasn't going to stay in that place aimlessly -- from that crouched over stance, knees in a spring, I jump up at once! With that shock, the sport field -- was not just dented, it was cracked. I will have to make it level again afterwards. However, now I couldn't care less about such thing -- It was the first time keeping a posture in mid-air, but it was quite difficult. Vampire jumping power. Vertically I jumped perhaps 20 meters. And then, forward -- 20 meters. Precisely as I aimed to. I land in 'that place'. 'That place' -- like the PE storehouse, having attended this school for two years, and having received PE lessons, there's no way I don't know 'that place'. That is -- installed at one end of the sport field, the sand pit. I landed there. Running long jump. Though without the approach run. I don't need it. And yet this was surely a running long jump. The landing happened right beside the cross who was stuck deep into the sand pit -- the arrival at the sand pit of Episode turned into fog, was once again simultaneous. "Ha -- That's hilarious! A great power, however there is no way such imprecise kick can hit me as a fog!" Still turned into fog Episode laughs. It wasn't the case to laugh, though. "Fog is nothing but water" I say. "If I were to spread around the sand here, what would happen?" Running long jump -- when you land, you merrily scatter sand around. Though that would have happened even with a normal running long jump -- this is a vampire running long jump. The sand stored in the sand pit got all dispersed -- it is an intense landing. In addition, because of the cross Episode threw just before, the sand of the sand pit was stirred and dispersed -- my landing there was the final blow. As expected. Episode -- displayed his figure. In the same way for example Hanekawa's blood has permeated the soil of the sport field -- Episode didn't have the intention, it was simply a physical phenomenon. He showed his figure. "Wh......Wh......!" ".........Ooo!" With the chance of Episode being disoriented, I throw myself upon his slender body -- while the sand which flied up fell from the sky, I pushed down Episode on the spot with all my body weight. Being mounted over, Episode still struggles and resists -- but I held him down against his will with brute force. I hold him down with brute force, I wring his neck. Episode can't turn his body into fog for a while. If so -- with my strength, I win. I. I. I. I. I. "..................!" I’ll kill him! There is a me that from somewhere, from a place that is not here, is observing a me in whom the inside of the head is becoming completely empty. Completely empty. The fact I was transformed into a vampire, my opponent being a half vampire, Kissshot's left leg, everything -- has disappeared from inside my head. There are only. There are only the internal organs of Hanekawa. Inside a completely empty head, I cling to them -- therefore. Therefore I, he, Just him –- I have to kill-- "Enough" Tap. In that moment -- a light hand was laid on my shoulder. "If you go further -- you will lose your humanity" "............!" Without taking off my hands from Episode's neck, I look over my shoulder -- the person there was a man with an aloha shirt, Oshino Meme. While sand was raining down. He was standing there like it was natural. "A--Ah" Even that time with Dramaturgie -- he was watching from somewhere, he said. Therefore he was certainly doing it this time too. I had completely forgotten this -- however, if that's the case! "Y-You! Couldn’t you have stopped Hanekawa!" "Don't yell it. You are so energetic, did something good happen?" Even in a situation like that -- Oshino broke in a frivolous laugh. He was displaying a rather annoying smiling face. "However even if you are energetic, I'm sorry but you are in the middle of a match. Look, he fainted" "Eh --" After being told I notice it. Episode was showing the white of his eyes. I took off my hands confused, I distinctly left the mark of my fingers on the base of his neck. "E...... Eh?" What was I trying to do now? Was I -- trying to kill him? Him, a half vampire...... half human? However -- however, Hanekawa. Hanekawa. "Hanekawa!" "Ah, I saw her" "How could you watch -- why didn't you stop her!" "Not covered by the fee. I am contracted only for negotiations with the three specialists of vampire exorcism -- more than that costs extra. I have no concern with an ordinary person" Two million -- The compensation fee. The balance. "Then say it from the beginning! If you'd told me so--" "You could have paid her part of fee, another two million yen, you say?" "Two million? I would have paid you even three million yen!" "Woah, that's grand" "This is not the time to joke, Oshino!" "It's not a joke, it's bargaining, Araragi-kun. And with three million yen, negotiations are completed" Said Oshino unfazed. "I'll give you a hint, then. Use your head a little, Araragi-kun -- what do you use your immortal body for?" "Er --" "Well, it's like you say, just because a single human took part in the strife between a vampire and a half vampire, there's no reason to kill. That's overdoing -- therefore for that additional charge I will tell you one good thing. This is a case where you don't wring any neck -- try remembering" "Remember, you say......" What? There wasn't even time to think about this question. Like Kisshot showed me before -- I formed a handchop, and I plunged it into my temple. I don't care that you can't turn this into an anime! With all my strength -- I fiddle with my brain. I savor the revolting touch of blood, spinal fluid and brain until I'm sick and tired of it -- and then. "............!" I immediately remembered. A special characteristic of vampires -- I immediately knew what to do. On the spot, with the hand still plunged inside the brain -- I left behind Oshino and Episode, and with all my strength I ran up to the body of Hanekawa lying down. Five minutes. If the oxygen doesn't go to the brain for five minutes, the brain ceases activity -- speaking on the converse if I make it in time, even if the heart has stopped, she should be safe. Safe. Not even three minutes has passed yet. I extract the handchop from my temple -- and I drop the blood stuck on that hand into the hollowed flank of Hanekawa, into that excessively big wound. I heard it from Kissshot. In the blood of vampires there is a healing effect -- and then in this case, this blood is the blood of me, the subordinate of Kissshot, the Iron-Blooded, Hot-Blooded, Cold-Blooded Vampire. Obviously, since my vampire blood evaporates from the point that bleeds, I created wounds on my body, one after another, it was necessary to keep the blood pouring -- I did it. And before my eyes -- it was visible. The wound of Hanekawa was healing. The internal organs were regenerated, the bones were regenerated, the muscles were regenerated, the skin was regenerated -- and in the end, without leaving not even one scar -- she was restored. More than regeneration -- it seemed like regression. I try touching her gently. I try stroking Hanekawa's flank. Pale and gently sloping, that part seemed even thin for her years -- very tender, it looked so glassy that if you pushed it would have collapsed, but still it was certainly real. "......A-aaa" In one breath. Emotions stifled to death escape out. In the blink of an eye, the chest is filled. "Ha--Hanekawa!" I hugged her belly passionately. Though if I squeezed her with the strength of a vampire and broke her thin body, I would be back to square one. "......Araragi-kun" Says suddenly Hanekawa who seems to have recovered consciousness. No -- it seems her consciousness returned a little while back. "Why are you rubbing your cheek on my stomach like it is so precious for you?" "Er" "In addition, is my ripped uniform by any chance your deed?" It may happen that people are unable to recollect what happened just before losing consciousness. It seems that somehow this is also the case for Hanekawa. Let aside your uniform, even your organs were ripped, you know. "Please, Hanekawa" I said to her, without changing posture, with my face buried in her flank. I want to make sure she is alive. "Let me stay like this just a little longer" |
2010-11-06, 04:54 | Link #69 |
さっく♥ゆうきゃん♥ほそやん
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: in the land down under...
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Thank you m(_ _ )m But geez...if that's what they meant by "this can't be made into an anime"...yeah, I don't particularly want to see particular parts of that animated!
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How Suetsugu Yuki drew the cover for Chihayafuru volume 34 Interview translations etc You must free yourself from that illusion, from the illusion that a story must have a beginning and an end. "No, you are not entitled to your opinion... You are only entitled to what you can argue for.” - Patrick Stokes |
2010-11-07, 05:02 | Link #72 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
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I guess the problem, rather than disturbing the audience, is not be blocked by censorship, which still exists for TV series. I too think Shaft can handle it though. Probably they'll use real life hands and pieces of dolls or something. And probably the broadcast will have just a black panel with a kanji
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2010-11-22, 05:43 | Link #73 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Spoiler for Kizumonogatari chapter 12:
I guess it was because of the difference in volume between the left leg from the joint and the right leg from the knee down. The transformation of Kissshot who ate her own left leg was dramatic. I was surprised by her growth from the 10 years old looks to the 12 years old looks -- but this time, even if I knew from the beginning her body would have changed, I was still even more surprised.
After she got back her left leg, Kissshot in a single blow grew up to match my age appearance. 17 years old. She may have even became taller than me. Obviously, in the interval between 10 years and 17 years, even humans undergo the bigger change in appearance, from 'the period of the secondary sexual characteristics' on to 'the growth period' -- to add a concrete example, the size of her bust became astounding. If she were to swagger throwing out her chest like she did until now, it would become something terrific. Even her looks became more adult-like, and at the same time even the design of her dress changed into something more chic. The hair grew further, and was collected in a ponytail. An impressive result. Though no matter how she looks, Kissshot is 500 years old from the beginning. "Hmph" Kisshot was satisfied. It seemed so even when I got back her right leg, but somehow Kissshot has this feeling of satisfaction each time, and because she doesn't try to hide her happiness, even I, who practically acted like her 'arms and legs', am happy to see that. Because it is worth doing it. "I feel the conditions of my body have greatly improved -- thou could say I almost recovered my immortality" "I see. ......Then could you be the one in charge of the next battle?" "Nay, unfortunately it seemeth I still cannot use my vampire skills. It just mean that it is harder for me to die than before. Maybe I could fight Dramaturgie, but with my current status I would not even defeat Episode" Kissshot, however, said with a prudent tone of voice. "Not to mention if the opponent was Guillotinecutter" ".................." You say the same -- I thought. Since then. First of all, I sent back home Hanekawa, whose wound recovered -- I deemed best for her to go home while Oshino was watching Episode. As a matter of fact, somehow it was like Oshino didn't want to meet with Hanekawa (since the first day, Oshino and Hanekawa thanks to miraculous timing never achieved a meeting -- since it would have been impossible for Hanekawa to elude him, it must have been Oshino the one who avoided her) or so I thought -- Hanekawa though seemed to have perceive it, and she consented to go back home. See you again tomorrow, she said. And she went home. After that Episode regain consciousness, and he, Oshino and me took care of the sport field which was visibly a mess. We filled up the holes in the sport field gouged by the gigantic cross with manual labor, and we restored the sand pit to its previous conditions, in addition Hanekawa's pieces of meat scattered around (naturally, no matter how much one waits, they won't evaporate) were disposed of (we had a somewhat lively discussion, but we gathered them up and buried them in a flower bed, 'the tomb of Pii-chan' reads the sign we put. The one who had that idea was the specialist Oshino Meme. I felt putting as a gravemarker a cross made with tree branches was overdoing it even if it was a black joke), well, I can't say things were as before, but the cleaning up good enough to fool people was done. Oshino and Episode -- left me behind after that, they went together, leaving for somewhere. "I lost" Episode said, while leaving. "Damn, that's hilarious -- I've become senile. I was beaten by an amateur the likes of you--" "............" "Don't glare at me like that -- I apologize for that missy. I too got more heated up than necessary. Besides -- speaking frankly, for me fighting the subordinate of the Kaii Killer was a devil of a job. I couldn't afford to overlook not even an ordinary person taking part -- well in the end I still lost, so this won't make me look better. However, don't think you can face Guillotinecutter with that one shot technique. I might be very crazy -- but his craziness is on a whole different level" Episode in the end, as agreed -- actually, the match lost its meaning since Hanekawa barged in, Episode attacked the barging Hanekawa, and I tried to kill Episode, so you can't say it was genuinely as agreed, however -- he returned Kissshot's left leg. At April 5th early dawn, like a few days ago, Oshino came back bringing in a travelling bag which contained Kissshot's left leg. Kissshot ate it at once. She was already craving to eat it. She transformed into a 17 years old. "Guillotinecutter--" A man with a hedgehog looking hairdo resembling a catholic priest. He was the only one -- without a weapon. "--What kind of person is he? Both you and Episode seem to be terribly wary of him" "Thus I will explain on him" "Your explanations are somehow vague. There are too many things I understand only afterwards. Give me a more decent briefing. My ears are all open" The sun of April 5th was already rising. As long as we stay in this room on the second floor of the cramming school ruins, we don't have to worry about sunlight, but I still want to ask the story from Kissshot before she goes to sleep. In fact, I'm sleepy too. By the way, Oshino left the travelling bag and went out again. He went out for the last negotiation -- despite being such a glib bastard, he was comparatively a hard worker. Well, I pay him money. He must do his part of work. However, I really wonder when he sleeps...... "Thou asked me this, yet even if I explained it from minus to plus, it would not have much practical meaning" "It's not like it's really meaningless. ......Also, in that phrase, it's not 'minus' but '1', and it's not 'plus' but '10'" It's from 1 to 10. {Japanese for "from A to Z". In kanji "1" looks like "-" and "10" looks like "+"} I say. "Guillotinecutter...... can we agree he is a 'human'?" "Yea. He is not a vampire like Dramaturgie, and not a half vampire like Episode either. He is a completely genuine, ordinary human" "He doesn't seem an ordinary human, though" He doesn't seem genuine either. He doesn't seem a man to whom those words would match. "Hm. Well, indeed" Kissshot says. "He is...... a cleric" "Hah. Don't tell me he belongs to the special forces of Christianity" "Close but far from it" Kissshot shakes her head to my jest. ......When I faced her as a 10 years old or a 12 years old, naturally I didn't feel anything, however if it really comes to be of the same age, somehow she makes me nervous. Kissshot was as pretty as a doll. ......Somehow she looks like a foreign model. Or possibly -- a medieval aristocrat seen in a movie. Maybe it's just the dress that gives me this impression. "I wonder how I can express it with the words of this country...... well, a literal translation will be enough" "Literal translation?" "Guillotincutter is an archbishop of a certain historyless new religion" "A--Archbishop?" He is a big-shot. An archbishop that young -- since he is human, he must have an age in accordance with the appearance, right? "That religion hath not a name -- It is an organization not even I know well. However, there is something I must make clear -- according to the doctrine of that religion, the existence of Kaii is not acknowledged" "Oh......" A historyless new religion, huh. However Kissshot has been living since 500 years ago, so frankly speaking one shouldn't trust her sense of time. She might call a new religion even one already existing from before the war. I wonder what is Guillotinecutter's ordinal number as an archbishop. No way he is a first generation. "Guillotinecutter is personally enforcing the duties of that religion of eliminating the Kaiis who should not exist. Well, in other words Guillotinecutter, while being an archbishop, is also simultaneously serving as the commander of what thou call special forces" "I see" "He is the shadow commander of the black team serving under the umbra fourth group of the dark special duty forces" "A translation too literal" Translate it more smoothly. This is so clichéd. "However...... in the end he is just a human, right? No matter what tricks he uses, he is no match for a vampire, right?" "He is a 'human' who is neither a vampire nor a half vampire, and who is contracted for his specialty, vampire exorcism. This is something thou must be careful about -- both of my arms were actually stolen by that guy, is not so?" "Sure" Dramaturgie, the right leg. Episode, the left leg. Guillotinecutter, the left and right arms -- Simply put, twice the parts. "Although that time I was careless. Also my physical conditions were somewhat bad" Kissshot made a subtle excuse. Well, I won't retort. "If we take Dramaturgie is hunting vampires for work, and Episode for personal feelings, Guillotinecutter is hunting vampire for beliefs. I speak for myself, but faith is troublesome" Work. Personal feelings. Beliefs. Well – beliefs certainly may be more troublesome than personal feelings. "Hey, what should I do?" "Be victorious. I will leave it to you" "............" She may be the legendary vampire or something, but bulldozing your way through no matter what is going too far, I thought. However Kissshot, having said just that much, laid on the bunk and fell asleep as she was. Uhmmm. Because she looks like a girl of the same age, and she also is fairly pretty, if I'm incautiously exposed to her sleeping figure, it becomes hard for me to do anything. I even feel like she is tempting me. I even feel like not doing anything would be rude. I even feel too much self-conscious about that. It was an endless delusional spiral. "......Whatever" It is time (early morning), I'll try to sleep too. Anyway, there isn't much meaning in deciding a tactic, I understood it well with the recent Episode case -- a flimsy battle plan will just confuse me when it fails. I have to be flexible in my fights. Although this too is asking me for too much. Even today, after the sunset, Hanekawa will come here -- I have something to say to her. Until then I'll rest and I'll make myself ready. Well, the vampire body is 'always preserving conditions healthy', so even without any sleeping I am always ready, but if I had to say it this is taking care of my spirit. Today is already April 5th. Spring Break, if you notice, is already ending. I really wonder if I would safely be able to return a human before the new school term -- if the new term started, obviously a playful reason like self-searching won't be accepted -- while thinking that I fell asleep. Thought it seems vampires usually sleep in coffins -- like Kissshot and Oshino, I sleep on a bed made with desks. And then, when I awoke, it was already evening. I didn't dream. Somehow it seems vampires don't dream. Thinking about it well, I calculated that after I became a vampire I have been sleeping 12 hours a day, but since it's hard to be active while the sun is out, I can't help it. Sleep brings up a child well. Kissshot is still sleeping -- it's not like she is really brought up by sleeping, however this state of affairs where the moment I wake up there’s a blonde beauty sleeping next to me, in a sense it was more bewildering than when Kissshot looked like a young girl. It seemed Hanekawa -- had yet to come. Even Oshino is not back yet. Since he understood Hanekawa was coming, if he was really avoiding on purpose a meeting with Hanekawa, for the time being he won't come back. This is not a rehearsal, but I waited Hanekawa while rereading the Gakuen Inou Batoru manga returned after Oshino briefly finished reading them. I had finished five volumes when Hanekawa turned up. I got lost, she said. As usual -- as Oshino once said, that was the barrier's effect. It's a really troublesome barrier -- well on the other hand, you can say that as a hideout while Kissshot Acerolaorion Heartunderblade was regaining her power it was really the best. Covered by the fee. Actually, the barrier was something that Oshino did by himself. The balance -- he said. "Good morning, Araragi-kun" Putting aside the flashlight, Hanekawa sat on a chair. She is wearing the school uniform. Since her blouse and her school sweater were torn by the attack of Episode last night, I secretly hoped today I could have been able to see Hanekawa in her plain clothes, but somehow it seems my hope was betrayed. "Betrayer" "Hmm? What? What is it? Am I betraying Araragi-kun?" "No, I was talking to myself" Or rather, it was a selfish talk. So she has spare uniforms, huh. I hear girl uniforms can be damaged easily after all. "Hanekawa, how is the stomach wound?" "Even if you say wound -- there is no wound left" "Really. I wonder, let me have a look at it" "What ‘I wonder'?" She got angry. I said it quite seriously though. However, I confirmed it thoroughly yesterday night, also Hanekawa herself says she is fine, so perhaps it's all right. She was treated with vampire blood. I worried afterwards that if I do that, there could be the risk that Hanekawa turns into a vampire, but when asked the specialist Oshino, it seems there is nothing to fear. Turning into a vampire and immortality appear to be somehow different systems -- or rather, there isn't much connection between them. Neither ability has the other as a byproduct, they are completely separate. "If it can heal the injuries of others, then the vampire is not so evil, I think -- well, to begin with, if I didn't turn into a vampire, you wouldn't have got that big wound though" "You're right" Ahaha, laughs Hanekawa. After that, she glances towards Kissshot who kept lying around over the lined-up desks, "Ah, it's really true, she grew up -- Heartunderblade-san" She said. "Wow, she has become quite the beauty. Her features remained...... but with this she almost looks like a different person" "Even a girl thinks so?" "Everybody would think so...... though the hairdo became a ponytail, even when she sleeps she doesn't untie it" Hmmm, hums Hanekawa. It seems she thought of something. Well, if you think about it a female may be more sensitive to female features. Hanekawa after this spent some time thinking, however in the end she didn't say nothing, she returned the glance from Kissshot to me, and from inside the bag she was carrying, "Here, Araragi-kun. Coca-Cola. I bought it for you" She took out the beverage she had bought from an automatic vending machine in that area, and she offered it to my stretched hand. I take it. "Ah -- thank you" "Incidentally, my share is a Diet Coke" "Huh" "Since your muscles grow spontaneously, no matter how many calories you consume now, you shouldn't become fat, I guess? Then as a girl I am envious" "I don't know. Well, if I had to say it then I feel like I don't have any appetite. Like I am unconcerned with eating" Even Kissshot doesn't eat much. I guess it feels like instead of eating because you are hungry, eating because they are delicious luxury groceries. "The food of vampires is blood, isn't it?" "Ah, yes it is" "By the way, do you have something like an impulse to suck blood?" "Hm? No -- on that subject, I don't" Although I'm a vampire. It seems Kissshot now doesn't have the ability to suck blood, said Oshino -- I wonder if I'm like that too? I never thought about it. "......Do you know the difference between the taste of Coca-Cola and that of Diet Coke, Hanekawa?" "I know it" "I don't know it well" "Uhmm. ......I have reflected on this thing" "Hm?" "A new product development. One beverage company successfully produced a Diet Cola whose taste was perfectly identical to Coca-Cola" "Oh" "It's just that the color was blue hawaii" "That's not Coca-Cola!" I ended up laughing. It was a little funny. And then -- I laugh for a while, and I took a breath. Class rep of class reps. Honor student. Excellent grades. Only such expressions came out before speaking about Hanekawa Tsubasa, I thought she was a narrow-minded, inflexible person -- I thought she was a self-important class rep, and yet if you try talking with her, she is not like that at all. The conversation is enjoyable, and she is always thinking about her companions. And yet yesterday she had to go through that. She hasn't even blamed me yet. After April started, she has been meeting with me everyday -- perhaps, if Hanekawa didn't do so, I wonder if my heart would have given in. The anxiety about whether I can turn back into a human. The anxiety of having to fight vampire exorcism specialists -- if I lower my guard a little, my insecurities will assail me. For Kissshot, a vampire who basically brags about being the strongest, it may be a feeling difficult to understand, and Oshino to begin with doesn't care about that -- however Hanekawa dissolved my anxiety. It's not something regarding last night only. How much I am helped by Hanekawa. Saved by her. I believed I knew it, until that stupid accident happened last night -- it was like I couldn't sense how much she has done for me. Therefore. I must talk with Hanekawa. I have something to tell her. "Hanekawa" "Hm?" "It's better if you don't come here anymore" "......Hmm" Hanekawa, with a smiling face -- got up from the chair, and came near me. "Well, I thought you would have told me so" "Please, don't get hurt -- it's different from the other times. Even the other times of course I didn't want to drag you in...... honestly, I went too far when I didn't restrain my feelings. I regret those outbursts of anger. But now it's different" "......In which way it's different?" "Yesterday, when the cross of Episode hollowed your flank......, I lost control of myself. I thought the blood in the head stopped...... like dead" "Me?" "Me" Though I have an immortal body -- I thought I died. It hurt like it was my own wound. "Have I talked about the strength of a human?" "............" "Your wound hurt me like it was my own. No -- it hurt more than if it was done to me. Hanekawa, I" I said. Since last night I have been thinking many ways to say it, however in the end I could only speak straightforwardly. "I don't think I want to turn back into a human even at the cost of belittling you" "......Belittling me" Hanekawa says with some perplexity. "I won't let you do that to me, though" "However, are you thinking about what you are doing? This is the precious period of Spring Break, and you are wasting it for the sake of someone like me -- on top of that you were on the verge of death. Are you thinking about what you are doing?" "At......at all?" As if being told this was rather unexpected, Hanekawa shook her head fluttering. "I lost my memory and I don't remember it well, but the fact I was on the verge of death was my fault, right? If I had to say it, you didn't have to save me" "You are not reflecting upon it in that manner" I understand Hanekawa is saying this seriously. I understand she doesn't want me to be concerned. It's not hypocrisy. She is really a good person. However – it is because she is that strong. For this reason, she is in danger. "I don't know" "............" "If I were in the same situation, I'm not sure I could save you. For example if we switched place, I wouldn't have the confidence to pull off something like that. In front of that dangerous guy, I wouldn't have the confidence to expose a body that is not even immortal -- but you normally do it" I tried to choose my words, but -- it was in vain. I can't choose them. There was only one word to describe Hanekawa. "You are scary" "......Scary, you say" "Frankly, you draw me away" I say, looking downward. "Don't get hurt. It's not my intention, but I can't really understand why you do so much for me. I'm just a classmate you got acquainted with recently, I don't understand how you could become so devoted to me -- you are like a saint" A saint. Or the mother of one. "But your self-sacrifice would be too tough for me. I don't even have the capacity to bear it all. It's not a matter of getting healed or not getting healed -- if I think about you getting yourself injured for my sake...... my body won't move. That is what I’m scared of, I can't fight Guillotinecutter like this" "This isn't self-sacrifice" Hereupon, Hanekawa -- said with a tone of voice a little angry. "This is not self-sacrifice" "Then what is it?" "It's self-satisfaction" Hanekawa says with a quiet tone. "Araragi-kun. You are misunderstanding me -- I'm not such a good person, and I am not strong either. I am just doing what I want to do...... I think that perhaps there isn't a person that thinks only about herself as much as me" "............" "If you knew the real me, Araragi-kun, you will surely be disappointed" It troubles me you have such a false impression of me. Hanekawa laughs. "I am deceitful, and unyielding. Enough to repel you, at least" "......You are bluffing" "It's not a bluff, it's all true. Even with you, I am just doing things because I want to do them. Therefore there is nothing you should worry about" "Hanekawa......" "However" Hanekawa clapped her hands in front of her chest. And like that, with hands still joined, "If my presence makes difficult for you to move, then it would be a prime case of getting my priorities wrong" She said. "You have already enough Gakuen Inou Batoru manga, it's time for me to retire from my purchase duty. Even if you read some more, it will just go over your head. Indeed, it doesn't seem there anything I can do anymore" "No, there is something you could do" I said, gazing firmly at Hanekawa's face. I said, gazing steadily at her. "Wait" "............" "In the new term, in that school. Wait for me" That's tough, I think. I do understand how much agony and anxiety is involved in waiting a person who could never come back. After this, I will fight the most dangerous vampire extermination specialist among the three, the one who everyone is wary of, and even assuming I will clear the stage, I don't really know if I will be able to turn back into a human -- despite this, I want you to wait for me. "I will look forward from the bottom of my heart to still be able to talk with you" "......Oh" I don't know why, but Hanekawa here moved back one step. Her eyes seemed somehow happy. "Pipipi, pipipi, pipipi" "Hm? What's that sound?" "The sound of heartbeats" "Eh? A girl’s heartbeats have that sound effect?" It's also a sound that resembles an alarm clock! "That was close, I was about to fall in love" "You could have dug -- things like a hot spring or oil?" {slightly homophone verbs} That's grand. She must be rich. "You always use that trick to hit on a girl" "Hm? Oh no. I'm not following you, and to begin with I have almost never talked to girls" "You talk like a womanizer. And yet you bought that ecchi book" "Ugh......!" No, that's because I am a boy. I couldn't help it. "My goodness" Saying so. Hanekawa tried to stretch herself to the limits, after that her facial expression became resoluted, and in that state she inserted her hands inside the hem of the pleated skirt of her uniform. I thought she would once again flip up her skirt for me, but, no matter what, Hanekawa didn't do such thing devoid of logical connection. Instead she took off her panties. She lowered her pink panties with a lace surrounding the edge, and while taking care that the rubber band part didn't come in contact with the bottom of the shoes, she pull it out from both legs. There is no need to say I was frozen. It was a supreme absence of logical connection. "Er...... Here" While her face obviously was turning red form the embarrassment, Hanekawa presented that underwear squished into a tiny ball to me. "To speak like in the scene just before the climax in Gakuen Inou Batoru" Hanekawa says it bashfully in her state. "I will lend them to you. You'll return them to me when we'll meet in the new term" "......Wait a minute. In the first manga you bought me there was certainly that scene, but if I remember well in that occasion the item used was a necklace the heroin wore" "I don't wear any necklace" Hanekawa says, fidgeting pinning down her skirt. "Araragi-kun, you like panties, don't you?" "............!" I won't deny it! I won't deny it!? Since denying that affects the identity of Araragi Koyomi, I absolutely can’t deny it!? Araragi Koyomi won't say no! Hey, wait a second! "E-Errr" "Ah, if you don’t want them" "No, I'm not saying I don't want them. This is not a matter of wanting them or not wanting them. Uh-huh. Let me see, you were saying I can return them when we meet in the new term?" While I felt slightly surprised that female underwear becomes so small when you take it off, at my wit's end, I took that cloth. A gentle warmth fills my palm. "......Sorry. I won't give them back" "E-Eh?" "In fact, I will never give them back. They will be inherited by my descendants as an heirloom of the Araragi family" "Please quit it!" "These panties parted with your body for good" "I don't believe this!" "I won't give the panties back, but in exchange" I say. I strike a mighty pose. "I will absolutely repay my debt. When you need it, even if I won't be able to do anything, I will absolutely be there -- repaying my debt with you from today will be my purpose in life" "Listen up, return the panties" No matter how cool were my words, they had no effect. Hmmmm. Words are powerless. Hanekawa says. "After this I must go back home commando, moreover with this low security skirt...... Araragi-kun, compared to this, defeating the man called Guillotinecutter is not so difficult, is it?" "You are right" No matter how hard is the battle -- If I think about that I am outstripped. Surely it's no different from an easy victory. "Well then, good luck" "Good luck" Let's meet in the new term. Smiling, we knocked our fists. The new term after the end of the Spring Break. I will look forward to meeting Hanekawa. I will look forward to be in the same class. I. I have renewed my resolution to return a human. While the memory of that farewell of Hanekawa was still lingering, about three hours after she went home, with Kissshot at last going to open her eyes, Oshino came back to the ruins of the cram school -- unusually for him, he had a grave facial expression. "I'm sorry, I messed up" And then with a voice suited to that facial expression, Oshino said. "Class rep-chan has been kidnapped" Last edited by Shikijin; 2010-11-22 at 05:57. |
2010-12-08, 17:31 | Link #75 |
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Shikijin, Ch 12
Thank you so, so much, Shikijin, for doing these translations! I truly appreciate the sheer amount of time and hard work this must have taken.
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Ookami Kasumi
Author of Questionable books. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LJ: http://ookami-kasumi.livejournal.com/ DA: http://ookamikasumi.deviantart.com/ Last edited by OokamiKasumi; 2010-12-08 at 19:22. |
2010-12-14, 09:16 | Link #76 |
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Alright, time for a new chapter. Did it take me longer than usual? I am sorry, I was playing SRWL
There are people on 4chan who say that the translation is almost finished. In fact, the 13th chapter ends at page 227. The last chapter ends at page 355. There is still way to go. In the case you didn't guess it, the penultimate chapters are longer than normal because there's the climax, while the last one is shorter because it just needs to wrap things up. Even the other books are like this. Btw, I hope I got the baseball terminology right, somebody tell me if I've made an error. Spoiler for Kizumonogatari chapter 13:
Guillotinecutter.
A man with a hedgehog looking hairdo resembling a catholic priest. He has slit eyes that make him appear calm. A human. A human -- that repudiates the existence of Kaii. A human -- that erases the existence of Kaii. He doesn't carry weapons. A specialist of vampire exorcism based on faith. Kissshot called him the archbishop of a 'new religion', and the shadow commander of the black team serving under the umbra fourth group of the dark special duty forces. Half-vampire Episode described him as nasty, even Kissshot said to be on guard against him, a cleric. That -- was Guillotinecutter, who stole from Kissshot both arms. "Oh, did you ran here -- much appreciated. However, not being able to turn your body into fog is a sign you are still new at this." Guillotinecutter said. With an overly polite tone -- narrowing his eyes. "............!" I was at loss with words. I didn't have a word to reply with. We are at -- the sport field of Naoetsu private high school. At the same place where at the end of the last month I fought Dramaturgie, and last night I battled Episode -- Guillotinecutter was waiting for me. He was embracing in one arm the body of Hanekawa Tsubasa. That hand that didn't carry a weapon -- Was tightly grasping Hanekawa's neck. "A-Araragi-kun--" Hanekawa -- at present was safe. She wasn't injured, and she wasn't made unconscious. Of course. Because she -- is an hostage against me. If she wasn't safe it would be meaningless. At present. "I-I am sorry, Araragi-kun -- I" "Please don't chatter as you like" Suddenly, he put strength into the fingers wrapped around the neck. Guillotinecutter forced Hanekawa to be silent. Cough, from the inside of her throat a breath leaked out. "H-Hey -- don't!" I considered bad to carelessly provoke, but naturally I couldn't stand quiet -- I shouted. "Yes?" With an extremely calm tone-- Guillotinecutter says affably. "Is something wrong, Monster-san?" "She...... she is a girl" "I dislike discriminating on sex" "But -- she is an ordinary person" "Precisely. If she wasn't she wouldn't be a hostage" "Don" I. I don't know anymore how in the world I should talk. "Don't do something cruel" "Cruel? Do you mean like this?" With the fingers still entrenched in her nape, Guillotinecutter tried to raise Hanekawa's body. That looked the very same as hanging her by the neck. "U......Uugh!" Hanekawa -- groaned in pain. As a reaction Guillotinecutter, "You are annoying" He lowered the arm, and let her feet touch the ground. Still, Hanekawa wasn't allowed even to cough -- I can't even imagine what action Guillotinecutter will take in response even for just a physiological reaction. I just -- went limp. "Y......You" I have no intention of taking them lightly. I certainly have no intention of taking the words of Episode and Kissshot lightly -- however, as usual, I had understood nothing. Guillotinecutter. Possibly when I heard 'human' I might have felt partly relieved. I may have relaxed. At least, he doesn't have superhuman strength or immortality like vampires or half vampires -- I thought that meant the degree of difficulty was lowered. However it was far from it. This guy took an hostage without hesitation -- and in addition, he has challenged me to a duel. "Well, this is entirely my fault" Oshino. Going back at the ruin of the cram school, when Kissshot was on the verge of waking up -- and after he informed me that Hanekawa had been kidnapped, he said that looking really apologetic. This was not the place for frivolous talk. "It was fine up until yesterday, yesterday night I even included class rep-chan in the contract. And yet, I was outguessed. The issue of Episode throwing a cross at class rep-chan could still be said part of a battle act. And even then, normally a human that lives in this world, including a person in my situation, wouldn't want to involve an ordinary person--" "Therefore -- you avoided Hanekawa?" "I didn't mean to avoid her, but certainly I never wanted to face her. I thought that she shouldn't exchange words with me -- well, I too don't want to involve deliberately an ordinary person, not limited to class rep-chan. I won't try to hinder it, but I won't try to prompt it either -- that's my standpoint. However, Guillotinecutter" Like he had no hesitation, said Oshino. "He didn't flinch at all -- the result of my actions was a complete failure. I completely misread the talents and the caliber of the other party" "......But why Hanekawa -- he shouldn't know this place, right?" "He has been watching. Probably -- the fight with Episode. Or maybe even the fight with Dramaturgie -- in order to avoid that, I conducted negations with the three separately -- however, I was outsmarted" Like Hanekawa watching from behind the building. Like Oshino watching from somewhere. Guillotinecutter too -- has been watching. "Even if you are followed the barrier is still effective, but it's not like class rep-chan was living here -- if you search her you will find her" "............" She had left behind the barrier. She must have been found on the way back. Or could have he been waiting for her in front of her home? "......What should I do?" I asked Oshino. "What the hell should I do?" Strangely -- I didn't have words to blame Oshino. What should I do now was more important. There was nothing but that in my head. "The terms are the same -- Araragi-kun and Guillotinecutter will fight one-on-one, if Araragi-kun wins Guillotinecutter will return the arms of Heartunderblade. If Guillotinecutter wins, Araragi-kun will tell him Heartunderblade's whereabouts" "......And what about Hanekawa?" "He is not counting her in. Perhaps, he is thinking of her as a tool -- no, as a weapon" "A weapon--" Like the long swords of Dramaturgie. Like the cross of Episode. Guillotincutter as a weapon will use -- Hanekawa. Guillotincutter was armed with Hanekawa. "Th-The place and time" "Designated by him. The place is the usual, the sport field of Naoetsu private high school -- the fact he designated that it's a proof he has been watching the fights so far -- and then the time is the night of April 5th" "Eh?" "In other words tonight" It was a designation that sounded very hasty -- but thinking from the point of view of Guillotinecutter, from his nauseating point of view, I cannot but understand. Hanekawa is an ordinary person. In addition she is not a dunce like me, she is an honor student -- even I would be worried about going out at night, if she doesn't return home one night, surely the parents will contact the police. Guillotinecutter wants to settle things before that happens. It is a rotten way of doing things, but still, he is certainly a professional. He will put an end on things before causing an uproar -- however, it's not like this guarantees the safety of Hanekawa afterwards though. On the contrary, I don't even think he has the intention to let it end quietly for Hanekawa who knows the situation. Nevertheless -- that issue of hating 'early uproar', for me, should have been certainly something to take advantage of. "Exactly" Oshino said. "That's the spirit, Araragi-kun" "Oshino--" "......No matter how much I gloss it over, this was my fault. I will give you another little hint for this time. A plan for rescuing class rep-chan. If you can manage that -- surely, you can win Guillotinecutter" "......Hostage notwithstanding?" "Yeah" He nods. "First of all -- forget everything about the main character of the Gakuen Inou Batoru manga" Oshino continued. "And then, give up being a human" There wasn't much time left. There wasn't even spare time for worrying. Therefore, after Oshino made that preamble, I had no choice but to follow the strategy he taught me -- the risk of polishing up in advance a tactic for the time of the fight. In other words, becoming agitated and confused if it fails -- despite that, this time I have to accept that risk. Even if it's already the third fight. I capitalized nothing out of experience. "Since Dramaturgie-san and Episode-kun unfortunately went back to their home town -- it is really bothersome for me to be your opponent alone. If I don't use even one hostage, I won't counterbalance you, will I?" Guillotinecutter say this without flinching. With the thin slit eyes, he smiles amused. "Both honest to a fault, Dramaturgie-san has already returned the right leg of Heartunderblade-san, and Episode-kun has already returned her left leg -- is this what they call chivalrous spirit? How quaint" "............" "In other words, Heartunderblade-san has recovered accordingly. Former human boy. Heartunderblade's subordinate-kun. If I face you directly, it is impossible for me to harm you" In any case I am not immortal -- he said. He complacently says with nonchalance. "W-What are you going to do to Hanekawa?" "I won't do anything at all. If you won't do anything at all" Guillotinecutter immediately replied. "If you want me to do something to this girl, I will do it though -- it is so nice that for a new former human a hostage is normally applicable. With a genuine vampire opponent that won't do -- or maybe if the hostage were to be a subordinate the story would be different I guess? Would you be the hostage to use for Heartunderblade?" "......You're kidding me" "I am deadly serious" Nimbly. Like he was using Hanekawa's body as a shield, Guillotinecutter thrusted it at me. Like -- it was a tool. Like -- an actual tool. "I don't possess superhuman strength like you fellows, but I am still well built. If it is just one girl -- I can kill her easily" "Guh......" It is clear he is built. It is very clear from the fact he's been handling Hanekawa with a single arm for a while -- however, what this man forged is not body but his force of will. He is too strong mentally. In this situation -- he won't show a gap. "Incidentally, I won't kill her in a way that will give her time of resuscitate, like it happened with Episode-kun -- I will crush her brain with a single blow. If I destroy a complex organ like the brain of a human, even with the blood of the subordinate of Heartunderblade-san a perfect recovery is impossible, don't you think?" "......Do you still call yourself a human?" "Oh no. I am God" Guillotinecutter. With one hand in front of the chest, so declared. "It follows that you fellows who oppose me should not exist. I swear by God, that is to say by me -- I won't allow you to exist" "............" "Though if you became my ally, like Dramaturgie-san and Episode-kun -- maybe it would be worth to let you live? "......I refuse" I answered by reflex. Just receiving that invitation in itself got me goosebumps. God, my foot. You are -- quite the monster. Oshino Meme, probably is looking from somewhere at our current state of affairs like he did until now -- however, no matter what, he can't interfere. It's a one-on-one fight -- that's the result of his negotiations. He can't but shut his eyes on the hostage. There could have been the possibility of Kissshot coming out for me, but it is out of the question having Kissshot getting killed by Guillotinecutter at this point -- Kissshot has still some way to go before recovering completely. Also, even assuming Kissshot would win, in that case she won't be able get back her arms -- damned if you do, damned if you don't. Then. I -- had to give maximum priority to Hanekawa's life. "I see" Without looking particularly disappointed, Guillotinecutter nodded. "Frankly, I thought there was no way a new one like you could defeat Dramaturgie-san and Episode-kun, you know -- those two are unexpectedly pathetic" "Look who's talking...... you didn't come out in the beginning because you were using those two to test me, right? So that when your turn came, you had chosen a valid tactic--" Oshino carried out the negotiations with the three separately, but the one who decided the turns of Dramaturgie, Episode and Guillotinecutter was the opposite team. Dramaturgie was the leadoff man, Episode said his batting position didn't matter to him. And then Guillotinecutter -- aspired to be the last hitter. "It is not like I thought so deeply. It is just that Episode-kun left the turn order to me, who was his superior, and to Dramaturgie-san......, Dramaturgie-san was the first player in order to get the reward. Ah, no...... now that I mention it, Dramaturgie tried to make you a comrade, right? Then he must have thought you could have been defeated by me or Episode-kun beforehand. Well, of course, it is not like I didn't think like you say, but even if either one would have exorcised Heartunderblade-san, in the end, my church would have gotten the credit" "......You wanted to have it easy" The one giving the reward was you, I bet. Then what's your purpose? If the purpose of Dramaturgie was a reward or an invitation, for Episode surely the reward was secondary to personal feelings -- therefore he didn't fuss over the turn order -- hereupon, the purpose of Guillotinecutter? There was no need to ask. It was his beliefs. "Well, for me it's fine. I am not a person who shuns hard work -- in order to improve this world, I won't spare myself any toil" The idle talk lasted too much, Guillotinecutter said. Indeed he was talkative. He may be a talkative man by nature -- a loose tongue is good, I could say it's a sign he is being negligent. There are two ways to defeat an opponent who has the upper hand. Either win by letting him be negligent, or win by making him tense. No matter how much I think, this time it could only be the former. I defeated both Dramaturgie and Episode doing this. And then-- Guillotinecutter, now, is being negligent. Even if he doesn't have a gap, he is being negligent. There is a chance of winning. However in order to do that-- In order to do that, I must throw away my humanity. "Hanekawa" I ignored the words of Guillotinecutter, and I called out to Hanekawa, who was held by that arm. "It's all right" Hanekawa can't reply. Because she is being strangled. She can just -- watch me. I continue. "I will definitively save you" "......What a bother" Guillotinecutter says with a calm tone of voice. "I won't be as forbearing as humoring you with this high school friend play. God, that is to say me, says this -- it's time to begin" "Begin...... huh" I say, facing Guillotinecutter. "What can I do? As long as you keep Hanekawa as a hostage, I can do nothing. Besides, I don't have the intention of doing anything. I will completely submit to your orders -- in these circumstances, a fight is not feasible" "God, that is to say me, says this -- the instant the fight begins, you should raise both hands and say 'I give up'. In other words, the fight will be settled the instant it begins" "I understand" I nod without hesitation. I shouldn't even have a reason to hesitate. "Therefore now let Hanekawa go" "That would be so convenient for you -- there is no way I will do it. The release of the hostage will be after the fight ends. Do I look like a fool who gives away his weapon in the middle of a fight?" That too -- is the word of God? Don't kid me. Hanekawa is a weapon? She -- is different. She is different from you -- or me. You are not a person who can touch her! "Araragi-kun!" At that moment, Hanekawa -- cried while being strangled. While her neck seemed to break at any time. While she was threatened to have her brain destroyed. Nevertheless she cried. "Don't care about me!" "It's not like I can do that--" I shouted back. And then that -- became the signal of the beginning of the fight. Of course, Guillotinecutter doesn't move -- he doesn't do anything. He just opens faintly the thin slit eyes -- and just laughs a lot towards me. He just makes a loud laugh. Without wanting to hear that laughter -- I kept shouting. "I told you I didn't want to turn back into a human even at the cost of belittling you--" And then I-- "But if I can't meet you anymore, there wouldn't be any meaning in turning back into a human!" I didn't even have to raise my hands. The instant it began, the fight was settled. It is as Guillotinecutter says. "......Eh?" It's just -- that I win. I thrusted away Guillotinecutter's body with all my strength -- at the same time, I also managed to plunder Hanekawa's body from him. It was simple. It was extremely simple......, and convenient. "Y-You -- what the heck" Guillotinecutter groaned. "Don't tell me -- this is the power of vampires" "Wrong. It's the power of friendship" However -- the distance between me and that guy was a little more than 10 meters. Guillotinecutter didn't allow me to get closer than that -- nevertheless, even if I threw a shot or a roller, I didn't have the confidence I wouldn't hit the hostage Hanekawa used as a shield. Therefore -- without moving. While I wasn't moving, I shortened that distance. I shape-shifted my body. "......There is no Gakuen Inou Batoru main character like this" There's no way he exists. He would be the villain instead. Like Dramaturgie shape-shifted his arms into wavy blades -- I shape-shifted my arms into plants, and I extended them forward as much as possible. I considered many things, but in the end I couldn't conceive the image of 'extending the body' in a short time, so I switched to the image of replacing the body with plants. Plants are my specialty. Because I was thinking every day I want to become a plant. Obviously I never thought I want to become a monster -- undoubtedly it turned out like in the image. I thought that even if we are both vampires, it would be impossible for me to do what Dramaturgie does -- however Oshino refuted that. "You can run on walls, you can jump 20 meters" Then, he said. "You should at least be able to shape-shift your body -- it's the same theory. Crabs dig a hole imitating a carapace, you have no need to fixate on the shape of the human body. It should be a trick completely unexpected by Guillotinecutter who thinks you are new -- therefore picture a form that isn't that of a human, and change the shape of your body" That's impossible for me, I replied. But Oshino said this. "Then are you able to abandon class rep-chan?" ..................... You are an annoying guy. My arms which grew not like long swords but rather like large trees, just like millenary trees of a solitary island, they split off while they grew, moreover each of those branches followed my intentions, and I was able to make them bend as I wanted. To thrust away the chest of Guillotinecutter. To arrest the arm of Guillotinecutter. I was even able to get back Hanekawa. Somewhat I could also call it an over the top image. Certainly this -- is not like a human anymore. I threw away my humanity. In the end, I thought I couldn't imitate Dramaturgie because I still didn't throw away my humanity – rather than because I wasn't losing the common sense of when I was a human. For the me who wishes to turn back into a human, it is something I must not be able to do, I thought. I couldn't imagine myself except as a human. However that prejudice -- after all was only a prejudice. Because I am already a monster. Like that, I slapped Guillotinecutter onto the sport field, I constricted him -- I shut him up. I don't know if it was the word of God, but I didn't want to hear anything the guy could spew, so I bound his mouth with ivy -- and I made him faint. Obviously I won't kill, I'm going easy. I must get back Kissshot's arms -- besides, if I could do such monstrous thing it was thanks to you. Thanks to you. I thought I might be ok with not turning back into a human. "......Huff" I restore the arms. They instantly turned back. Whether I picture them or something, they are the arms I looked at for 17 years...... all I had to do was remember them. Because I was inadvertently struck with the rash idea that if that didn't work, the worst case, I would have had to cut off my arms, hereupon I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart. While I was at it, I had pulled Hanekawa toward me. "Hanekawa -- are you ok?" Embracing Hanekawa, I look at her neck -- the mark of his fingers remained pitifully visible, but there was no internal bleeding. If that's the case, the mark should vanish immediately. It also appears that nothing else has been done to her. I'm glad...... I'm really glad. That currently makes me happy more than anything. "Ah -- ah, err, Araragi-kun" Hanekawa, with a jerk, pushed my chest away with her hands. I don't know what she was trying to do, but somehow it seems she wants to get away from me. "Le-let me go" "Ah...... ok" I unwraps my arms, and Hanekawa moves farther away from me. When there was a bit of distance. "Err... Ha-Hanekawa" "T-Thank you, Araragi-kun" Hanekawa says with a small voice, looking away from me. "B-But, um -- don't get closer. D-Don't come here. Don't touch me, I mean" "......Eh?" Don't tell me -- she was afraid of me? Because she was dragged into this? Because she was nearly killed? Or because the shape-shifting of my arms -- startled her? The me who threw away humanity – is scary? Such -- but, I, although. "Oh no, it's not that" Hanekawa fidgeting. While fixing the cuff of her messed skirt, she said. "Right now I am not wearing any panties" |
2010-12-14, 12:59 | Link #78 |
Professional Hikkikomori
Join Date: Feb 2009
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"Episode said his batting position didn't matter to him."
I'm pretty sure Episode never said anything about batting. I think that part should be "It doesn't matter what batting position Episode was." I mean their entire conversation was in their battle right, it wouldn't make sense. |
2010-12-14, 13:49 | Link #79 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
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2010-12-14, 14:55 | Link #80 | |
Professional Hikkikomori
Join Date: Feb 2009
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