Tokyo Babylon :: Clamp
 VOLUME 3
:: translated by tenno yukie ::
:: volume 02 :: CALL A :: CALL B :: volume 04 ::
Annex

volume 3.1

text : s o m e o n e - i s - c a l l i n g - m e

(three girls talking on the phone, one in a telephone booth, one at home, and one at a pay phone...)

girl 1 (in the telephone booth) : I am one of the "chosen ones", not like "ordinary" people. but for now I go to school and live the life of the "ordinary" people. one day, my "special" powers will awaken.
girl 2 (at home) : the "destined" day shall come. the world will be destroyed when that day comes. all the "wars" that are starting now are only the "precognition".< the world will be destroyed, I have "predicted" that long ago. but we, the "chosen ones", will have the "special" power to save the world.
girl 3 (at pay phone) : we were "warriors" in our "previous life". we were fighting for the sake of the world even then. we are special, the ones chosen to save the world.
text : we shall wait, for the one who will bring us our "mission". waiting for someone to call us and say, "you are special".

(in short... three delusional freaks...)

Tokyo Babylon
VOL.3/CALL.A

(sunshine 60's aquarium, sei-chan is looking at... penguins)

seishirou (the usual ^_^) : sunshin penguins are always so cheerful. (i dunno if they understood him, subaru comes running)
subaru (bumped into people in a hurry) : ah, s... sorry, i'm sorry. (bows over politely)
seishirou (still talking to penguins) : how are you feeling, penguin-san? (...no response, he looks at his watch) I wonder what's the matter with subaru-kun... he promised to be here at two...... maybe it's not a good idea after all to meet in front of the sunshine aquarium for a date, penguin-san. (btw, he made up names for all of theme -_-;; and subaru arrives running... late) subaru-kun.
subaru (bows) : i'm sorry! the job took longer than it should......! i'm really sorry!
seishirou : no problem. don't worry about it because it's my fault for inviting you though knowing you have work to do.
subaru (upset) : but!
seishirou : I'm just glad that you came. (subaru blushes furiously... ^^ how cute) subaru-kun, have you had lunch already?
subaru (scratches head embarrassedly) : no, actually I've been working the entire time this morning, so I haven't......
seishirou : then you must be hungry. subaru : uh, yeah......well
seishirou : then let's go eat lunch first. the muffins of "afternoon tea" in the sunshine YOU block are delicious, and since we didn't get to eat them before. subaru-kun, you said you don't really come to ikebukuro (the district sunshine 60 is at) that often, right?
subaru : i'm sorry about last time! when I just left you waiting......
seishirou : it's ok, since I said to meet until my appointments in the afternoon, so I returned to the clinic after waiting for a little while and you didn't show up.
subaru : I am really sorry.
seishirou : was the job ok?
subaru : y... yes, I guess......
seishirou : then you have time today?
subaru (nod nod) : yes.
seishirou : then we can have a real date.
subaru (sweatdrops) : d, date......

(they get out of the elevator on one of the upper floors, there is a counter in view)

seishirou : it's a fortune telling corner, they are quite popular lately. do you like that stuff, subaru-kun?
subaru : no, fortune telling...... is forbidden to me......
seishirou : by the sumeragi family?
subaru : since I work in that field too, to have a "fortune teller" perform on me is...... (seishirou w/ a mysterious look, then suddenly grab subaru's hand) s... seishirou-san!
seishirou (turns into cute smile) : let's go get our affinity tested.
subaru : EHHHHHHHHH!?
seishirou (pats him on the back) : you're facing a computer, not a "fortune teller", so it's not like you are breaking a promise to the family.
subaru : b, but uh!
seishirou (to the woman at the stand) : test for affinity please.
woman (typical clerk smile) : ah yes, the other person's birth date please?
subaru (doesn't even get a chance to voice his protest ;_;) : EHHHHHHHHH
seishirou : subaru-kun, when's your birthday?
subaru : oh, february 19th, 1974.
woman : and where were you born?
subaru : t, tokyo.
seishirou : really?
subaru (a bit hesitantly) : y... yes
woman (inputting all this into the comp) : and you?
seishirou : who me? (a dark smile) april 1st, 1965, born in tokyo.
woman (typing) : just a moment, please. but it's great to have a high school lover.
seishirou : oh no, we're still in the process.
woman : oh you make a wonderful couple. and she's very cute, with a lovely husky voice.
seishirou (^^ subaru is a bit embarrassed) : not "she", it's "he".
woman (very shocked) : that's not a girl? (subaru is sweating a lot)
seishirou : he's a boy.

(suddenly a beeping sound comes from subaru, everyone turns to look at him, he digs out his beeper embarrassedly)

subaru : s, sorry.
seishirou : no no, I don't mind. it seems you carry your pocket bell (*beeper*) with you everywhere.
subaru (while reading the message) : in case of urgent calls about a job......
seishirou : the onmyoujis must be catching up to the times lately if they carry pocket bells. who is it from?
subaru : it looks like hokuto-chan.
seishirou : then you better call her back. (the woman hands him the printout results) I hope the results are good, subaru-kun!
subaru : um, seishirou-san, you always joke......
seishirou : I'm not joking, I've told you before but you still don't believe me, do you?
subaru (red) : no, that's not it......
seishirou : I like you, subaru-kun. (the woman is blushing too, on the side)
subaru (burning red with a lot of sweatdrops, walking away pretending he didn't hear anything) : p...phone call......

(subaru calls hokuto from a pay phone)

subaru : i'm sorry, hokuto-chan, I can't hear you very well from this phone! eh? what? I can't hear...... (suddenly he pulls the phone as far as he could from his ear embarrassedly as a bellowing voice comes from the other end)
hokuto : YOU'VE GOT A JOB--!!! (everyone around stops and looks in his direction with a sweatdrop)
subaru (bows apologetically in all directions) : i'm sorry, i'm sorry.

(later that night)

label : subaru's apartment
hokuto (in a bunny dress) : what!? you were out on a date at ikebukuro!? (brings them english tea and desserts - think alice in wonderland) what were you planning to do at ikebukuro?
seishirou : drink tea at "afternoon tea", eat omrice at the "theater coffee shop", go for barbeque at "heiseian" (store name)......
hokuto (leans in suspiciously) : what are you planning with that stuffing your face in lineup!?
seishirou (innocently) : ahahahahah
hokuto : subaru, you're in trouble too. you don't even have time for a date.
subaru : seishirou-san, i'm really sorry.
seishirou : oh no, don't worry about it. we can go have barbeque some other time.
hokuto (sweatdrop, glare) : do you really think barbeque is good for a date?

(anyway, hokuto pours tea for everyone)

hokuto : is it a job again?
subaru : yes.
hokuto (hands him a cup) : oh what? what is it this time!? (she sounds so interested in these thing)
subaru : hokuto-chan, do you know about "Dial Q²"?
hokuto : I do. it's the one that has two 9's in the number.
subaru : it appears to be something wrong with their "party line"......
seishirou : what's that? the party line thing.
hokuto : sei-chan, you don't know?
seishirou (^^) : forgive me for being so uninformed.
hokuto : it's one kind of the "Dial Q² System". the first four numbers, "0990", has two 9's in it, so they call it "Q²". the party line is a service that can connect up to 10 people at one time on a single line...... basically it's like a telephone chatroom. you just dial a selected number, an dyou can chat with a whole group of people.
seishirou : sounds fun to me.
hokuto : but really, Q² has a major drawback which is that it makes your phone bill skyrocket. I believe from 14-18 seconds is about 10 yen (about 8 cents), so if you get into a long interesting party convo, you could be getting a five digit bill from NTT (5 digit in yen approx = hundreds of $, NTT is the phone company), then you'll really get to hear from your parents.
subaru (while biting on an apple?) : you sure know a lot, hokuto-chan.
hokuto : I'm naturally good with information since I'm an aquarius.
seishirou : speaking of aquarius, subaru-kun and I went for an affinity test earlier at sunshine. (hands hokuto the results)
hokuto (very interested) : ehhhhh...... so how was it?
seishirou : we haven't read it yet but...... ......here.
hokuto : gimme gimme...... (opens the folded paper) eh? sei-chan, you were born on april 1st as an aries? seishirou : I don't know much about zodiacs but yes, I was born on april 1st.
hokuto (reads with a thoughtful face) : hmmmmm
seishirou (o.o) : what's the matter?
hokuto : seishirou-chan, you don't look like an aries to me.
seishirou (^^) : really?
hokuto : you would be more like a water related element, so it seems.
seishirou : water related......?
hokuto : like scorpion or pisces.
seishirou : hokuto-chan, you sure know a lot.
hokuto : what do you mean, there's not a single magazine that doens't have horoscpes these days. that's what I call the occult boom, since it is the "end of the century" after all.
seishirou : the occult is becoming popular because it's the end of the century?
hokuto (reading the results still) : since the great prophecy of nostradamus and the bible talks a lot about the world being destroyed in 1999, it's the whole fuss about the grand cross or something that will end the world.
seishirou : the end of the world, huh. what do you think about that, hokuto-chan.
hokuto : you mean the world being destroyed? (back to reading, uninterested) I find the sales at marui *store name* in three days a more important matter than what's going to happen to the world eight years later.
seishirou : ahahahahaha, you're quite right. (back to subaru) so what is the job anyway?
subaru : o......oh, there has been a lot of prank calls recently all over the country.
seishirou : prank calls? I get those at the clinic too. they say stuff like "what are you doing right now, miss" or "what is the color of your underwear?" while breathing heavily.
subaru : ? did they make the prank calls after going on a marathon? (poor innocent little subaru...)
seishirou : well, since I'm not a woman, I'm afraid I can't provide them with the replies they are expecting. (view of seishirou holding the receiver up to the animal cages he has in the clinic) I always end up giving them animal sounds...... from cats, dogs, monkeys......
subaru (little confused, wonders) : why would they want to know the color of the underwear? (oh god, dear subaru, you are....)
seishirou (^^) : could be that it's the sport of their life? anyway, what about prank calls?
subaru (reads off the info he has, btw hokuto is still reading their results) : it appears that for the last three month, numbers ending with "19x9" have been getting a whole lot of pranks. and they are not just any prank calls...... they seem to be some sort of spell. they were taken as ordinary pranks at first, until the victim families and companies came under supernatural influences. when NTT traced them back, they were found to be accessed through a party line in the Dial Q² system...... (going through the rest of his report)
seishirou : but since anyone can use the line, it's impossible to find the one responsible for the prank calls.
subaru : yes, and apparently troubled by that, NTT has hired the sumeragi family.
seishirou : what kind of spell is it?
subaru : it looks like a lot of different ones...... islamic, cabalistic, tibetian, nothing specific.........
seishirou (scratch head) : that is quite a variety.
subaru (thinking) : but to be able to use so many spells would mean that this is an experienced sorcerer, so I don't know where I should begin my investigation......

(hokuto suddenly draws their attention away from the topic and onto the test results)

hokuto : hey, seishirou-chan, you sure this test is correct? they doesn't say a thing about seishirou-chan's character. (vein pops) in addition, it says that sei-chan and subaru's relationship will be the worst.
seishirou (doesn't seem to mind at all, ^^) : our love will only burn greater with the amount of obstacles.
hokuto (cheering for him) : splendid! that's my future brother-in-law!
subaru : h... hokuto-chan!
seishirou : by the way, subaru-kun, you know the party line number, right?
subaru : o... oh yeah.
seishirou (point to the phone number on subaru's report) : then it's simple. just try to connect to the line directly then.

(on the party line, the three girls are at it again)

girl 1 (phone booth) : the world will be destroyed in 1999.
girl 3 : we must accomplish the mission that was assigned to us.
girl 2 (dreamily) : I've had a dream.
other two on the line : what kind of dream?
girl 2 : it's the end of the world, the evil has awakened.
girl 3 (alarmed) : already? it's too early!
girl 1 : calm down. the dream is a prophecy.
girl 2 : the evil has awakened, and it came to kill us "warriors" with its followers.
girl 3 : we must hurry.
girl 1 : yes, we must find our comerades, the "warriors" who were fighting along with us in the "previous life". we will find them.
other two : will we really defeat the evil?
girl 1 : don't worry, we are the chosen warriors. we have special powers, even though it has not awakened yet for now. one day, someone will come and tell us, "you are special, you are the chosen ones".
girl 2 : the promised day shall come, the day when we will battle the evil.
girl 1 : until then, (grab a phone book) we must sabotage the enemy's bases...... my vision is correct, the telephone numbers ending with "19x9" are the headquaters of the enemy.
girl 3 (digging out a book of ancient spells from her bag) : I've destroyed one today too.
other two : what spell did you use?
girl 3 : an ancient hindu spell, that I found in a book in the remote corner of the library.
girl 1 : you were destined to find that book, as determined since our "previous lives".
girl 3 : but is it really alright, won't the enemy find this place and attack us?
girl 1 : don't worry. we've all equipped our own houses with kekkais, as explained on the line before. as long as you've posted up the ofudas.
girl 2 (look at a spell diagram on her door) : yes, of course.
girl 1 : plus, all the calls that attacked the headquarters were made through Dial Q², and luck is on our side, we will find our comerades.
girl 3 : truly, we might have never met for the rest of our lives if it wasn't for the party line. althought I knew I possessed special powers, I never realized that I had comerades.
girl 1 : I have always known that I am special, unlike everyone else. since we were warriors in the previous life, we must also fight for the sake of the worldin the present time. I knew I had comerades and I was sure I would meet you guys through the party line.
girl 3 : it is all in destiny, we being born with special powers, and meeting over the party line.
girl 2 : I really want to meet you guys soon.
girl 1 : not yet. we can do no more than talk on the phone for now, but surely when someone gives all of us a mission......

(and just when I was getting sick of their repeated dialogues and ego inflations, a ring broke in just in time)

ring : PING PONG (everyone freezes)
girl 3 : someone is accessing.
girl 2 : it is an enemy or a friend......
girl 1 : I don't know, but don't let your guard down.

(on the other end of the line, subaru has placed a phone receiver on the floor in front of him that is connection to the party line)

phone : PING PONG PING PONG
voice coming from the phone : yes?
subaru : u, um sorry to intrude...
hokuto (whisper) : what the hell is he being so nervous about.
seishirou (whisper back ^^) : that's because subaru-kun is quite shy.
girl 1 (hostile) : your name?

(subaru looks towards hokuto and sei-chan on the side, hokuto scribbles on a board and holds it up for subaru to see)

board : you don't have to give your real name! everyone uses a mic name! (mic name for phone just as right now we say screen name for internet -_-;;)
girl 1 (impatiently) : name?
subaru : e... eh, uh...... (sees that seishirou had grabbed hokuto's board and held it up for him to read)
board : what do you think about pochi?
subaru : i... it's pochi. (the three girls have pretty funny expressions at hearing that -_-)
hokuto (whisper) : yo, sei-chan! (vein pops) what kinda stupid name is that?
seishirou (whisper, innocently) : don't you think pochi's cute?
hokuto (further vein pop, whisper) : more like sakurai asshi or ootsuki kendi.
girl 1 : are you our comerade?
subaru : huh?
girl 1 : do you have special powers?
subaru (hokuto and sei-chan stopped fighting and listens) : special powers?
girl 1 : what do you think when you hear the number 1999?
subaru : are you the ones who made the prank calls!? (girls jump up in alarm)
girl 2 : he's the enemy!
girl 3 : an enemy!

(girl 1 starts chanting over the phone, the spell carries over and makes subaru's phone emit electric energy, the room also becomes a bit shaky etc, whatever that happens when under the attack of a spell)

subaru : [an inverse chant!?] (the room shakes violently)
hokuto (falls to the side) : s... subaru!

(chanting continues from the phone that's sitting in a cloud of smoke, subaru chants a counter spell)

subaru : on sowahanba shuda saraba tamara sowahanba shudo kan, on tatagyato dohanbaya sowaka, on handobo dohanbaya sowaka, onbazoro dohanbaya sowaka, (he grabs the tea pot with one hand and takes out a few ofudas) onbasaragini harajihataya sowaka (he pours tea over the ofuda and flings them towards the phone) onbarodaya.................. sowaka! (performs a spell) on boku ken

(the ofudas creates a kekkai around the phone and it returns to normal, responding with a dial tone, subaru carefully picks up the phone with a handkerchief)

hokuto (manages to get up) : w... what was that? [wah... scary]
seishirou : it was an inverse spell.
hokuto : inverse spell?
subaru (cleaning the phone) : it was originally a tibetian chant that's used to protect oneself, but read backwards, it becomes a curse.
hokuto : even if it's only over the phone? don't you have a kekkai around the room, subaru?
subaru : kekkais don't work for the phone.
hokuto (o.o) : why not?
subaru : a connection of the phone line also connects the spiritual dimensions as well, thus the distance between the places becomes zero.
hokuto (looks away unhappily, sweatdrops) : basically, a sorcerer's kekkai lost to some electronic product.
seishirou (to subaru) : it was a girl's voice back there.
hokuto : they should be about my age.
subaru : I wonder if they are really the ones behind the prank calls.
seishirou : apparently so. if they know the inverse chant, I wouldn't be surprised if they knew the islamic mudra and christian hymns as well.
subaru : the sumeragi family would have their information is they are sorcerers, if we investigate......
seishirou : maybe not. if they are really sorcerers, they wouldn't be using such a mix of religious spells unfaithfully. just like subaru-kun is also knowledgable in any white and black magic spells, but would never actually use them.
hokuto : why's that?
seishirou : because it's a taboo. spiritual powers are not without consequences. it takes a great deal of training to perform even one spell, and depending on the caster's ability. in addition, the more powerful the spell is, the greater the consequences that would reflect in case that it should fail. the pros know of that terror, therefore they will never challenge the taboo.
hokuto (energetically) : seishirou-chan you sure know a lot, huh, huh, I always knew you must be related to the assassin organization sakurazukamori, right, right?
seishirou (picks up the empty tea pot) : ah, I'll make more tea.
hokuto : how sly of you------! you always change the subject when we talk about that!
subaru (he looks worried though) : ......then that would mean that............... they are......
seishirou (with a slightly darker smile) : only amateurs, of course.

(the girls are not having such a good time right now, the consequences of the spell repelled is that they are puking all over and getting very sick)

girl 1 (falls down to the ground) : uh...... GUUHHHHH *puke*
girl 3 (falls down shaking after hanging up) : *panting* hah... hah...
strangers : are you alright?
girl 3 : uh......... i...... it's nothing.
girl 2 (screams, rolling on the ground) : UHHHHHHH
mother (comes into her room) : what's wrong? I heard a loud noise.
girl 2 (quickly covers up the mess that she puked) : it's nothing!
mothing : are you on the phone again? that's enough!
girl 2 : alright already!
text (all three girls thinks angrily) : that was the enemy.
girl 3 : [the enemy has appeared.]
girl 1 : [the enemy has made an assult on us.]
girl 2 : [we must defeat him, for we are warriors.]
text : we are "special"!

(seishirou makes drinks for all of them)

seishirou : if they are only playing around with spells...... then the spell subaru-kun used earlier literally returned their curse. and so if they were not properly prepared......
hokuto (sweatdrop) : oh dear god......
subaru : oh no......! I did cast a reflection spell but I didn't mean to send the curse back to them, they should be ok... kinda...... (start sipping on the tea with a sweatdrop) they'll probably just be painfully vomiting all the stuff they ate today......
hokuto (-_-;;) : uhhhh------ since it's through Dial Q², we don't know where the phone call was made from. (imagination running wild) it would be a huge embarrassment if they were out of their own homes, they won't be able to get married like that.
subaru (blames himself) : it's because I...... couldn't control myself......
seishirou : it's not subaru-kun's fault, it is natural to have to be burdened with the same hatred...... if you want to curse someone else.
subaru (suddenly jump up) : I have to stop them!!
hokuto (sweatdrop) : subaru?
text : if things continue like this, those girls will...!

end of CALL A

top
volume 3.2

text : I - d o n ' t - w a n t - t o - b e - i g n o r e d

(girl 1 looks like she's trapped in a phone booth, in her head at least, the phone rings and she hesitantly picks it up)

phone : d i e
girl 1 (screams in horror) : kyahhhhhhhhhh (looks like her hand holding the phone is melting)
phone : d i e - d i e
girl 1 (her melting hand) : AHHHHHHHHH!

(wakes up from dream, as does the other 2, or rather... nightmare)

girl 1 (making sure her hand is ok) : it was an attack from the enemy.
girl 2 (sweating) : we won't lose, because we are the chosen ones.
girl 3 (putting on her glasses) : we have been warriors since our previous life.
text : we are all "special".

Tokyo Babylon
VOL.3/CALL.B

(night in tokyo, subaru in his apartment has dressed up in his onmyouji robe and set up a small alter thing in the living room)

seishirou : oh you're doing this fully dressed up.
hokuto : subaru may not look like it at first glance, but he really is a pro.
seishirou : what are you going to do, subaru-kun?
subaru : I was thinking of tracking down the locations of the girls who made the prank calls.
seishirou : you mean the dial Q² people?
subaru : yes, at this rate, if they continue to use spells...... (looks worried) if they don't stop before that...
seishirou : subaru-kun, you really are kind.
subaru (blushing very red) : I... I'm not really...... (seishirou: ^^ face)
hokuto (breaks them up) : don't go into your own two-people world again.
seishirou : even these little things can be an important chance.
hokuto (pats him encouragingly) : I must praise you for your dedication.
subaru (on the side, with the errrr look) : hokuto-chan!
seishirou : speaking of which, did you eat anything yet, subaru-kun? we weren't able to go to afternoon tea together after all, and you only had a little bit of muffins earlier.
hokuto : subaru doesn't eat before his work, he's one of those super rare hard working boys in the present day society. he doesn't eat any meat since the day before work, and also goes into water bath since early on in the morning. it's the same in all seasons.
seishirou : is that what you call the "purification"?
hokuto : bathing in water seems less enjoyable to me.
subaru : any medium would do that kind of stuff, i'm not standing out specifically......
seishirou : that certainly is admirable dedication.
hokuto (nodding) : [uh huh]
subaru : not...... really. (he looks a bit sad) since I do get paid for this.
hokuto (rubs his hair) : [good boy] subaru didn't really think too highly of this job at first......
seishirou : by the way, i just realized that subaru-kun was not the only one who changed for work...... why did you change your attire, hokuto-chan?
hokuto (the ohohohoh laugh, she's wearing like a butterfly dress but seriously, they all look the same to me after a while) : or else subaru would be alone by himself.
seishirou (^^) : I see, hokuto-chan is such a kind sister.
hokuto : hoho----- hohoho, you just noticed?

(while they r chatting, subaru got to work, he kneels in front of the table, hokuto signals seishirou to be quiet. subaru places his hand over a piece of paper with a 5 pointed star and concentrates)

subaru (chant) : shuku dou (the paper floats up in his hand) shou! (the paper turns into a white bird and disappears out the window) ...onmyou gokou hikuu......
seishirou : that's pretty amazing.
hokuto (whisper) : subaru's shikigami is very useful besides being powerful.
seishirou : they do say that the pet are alike to their masters.
hokuto (curious face) : the shikigami is a type of spell that works like part of the master's body, but i guess you could kinda say that they are pets. by the way, what is your shikigami, seishirou-chan?
seishirou (^^ looks out the window) : hm, where did subaru-kun's shikigami-san go?
hokuto (fuming) : you changed the subject again!

(the bird flies over the city at night, it splits into 3 birds, suddenly one of them sees something)

shikigami : !

(flies towards that direction, lands on some telephone wire above the street)

shikigami : *whatever kinda sound birds usually make -_-;;*

(and flies off again... it lands outside the window of an apartment *house of girl 2*, another shikigami is seen standing ouside girl 3's window)

girl 1 : so you've had the same dream as well?
girl 3 : yeah.
girl 1 : what about you?
girl 2 (sitting in bed) : .........
girl 3 (nervously) : did you see the dream of the future? (trembling)
girl 2 (screams in denial) : no, that was not a dream of the future!
girl 1 : it's an attack from the enemy.
girl 3 : the dream we saw also?
girl 1 : that's right. the enemy fears our special powers, that's why they show us such dreams to unnerve our hearts.
girl 3 (like she just found a good excuse to convince herself) : that's must be it...... that's right.
girl 2 : ......... (dunno if she's so convinced)
girl 1 : it only shows that our powers are extraordinary.

(girl 2 is distracted by something, she notices that the spell paper she stuck on her door is glowing)

girl 2 : the ofuda!?
girl 3 : the ofuda in my room as well!
girl 1 : it's glowing!?

(they are all pretty shaken, the books around girl 3's room starts flying all over the place)

girl 3 (cover herself) : KYAHH!

(the lamp in girl 2's room explodes, the mirror in girl 1's room cracks, girl 1 backs off to the wall as she sees these zombie looking monsters emerge from the floor and comes towards her)

girl 1 : AHHHHHHHH!

(subaru who is in the middle of his ritual feels what's going on)

hokuto : what's wrong? subaru?

(subaru doesn't answer and pulls out a ceremonial dagger from his side)

subaru (chants over the dagger) : rin pyou tou sha kai jin retsu

(the bird outside girl 1's window starts to move and knock on the window trying to get in)

subaru : zai zen

(the birds outside girl 2 and 3's windows as well bang on the windows, subaru though, looks like he's suffering)

girl 2 : KYAHHHH
subaru (stabs the dagger into the ground) : ha!

(there is a brilliant flash of light, the 3 birds he sent out suddenly glows powerfully, the girls cover their eyes and when they look again, the zombies melted away and disappeared. back in the house, subaru slides down extremely worn out, his beads around the neck falls apart)

hokuto : subaru!
subaru : i'm ok, hokuto-chan.
seishirou : you altered the spell half way, what happened?
hokuto : did you find the girls' houses?
subaru (-_- SD face) : i found it. the prank calls are made by three people. at asagaya, hachiouji...... and misato...... (all place names in tokyo)
hokuto : was the search difficult?
subaru (recovering) : the search itself didn't really take much time......... but those girls had some sort of barrier around their rooms, and what's more, the barriers are incomplete...... so if I had let the shikigami return, leaving them like that......
seishirou : it looks like that they were in the middle of being punished for their pranks.
hokuto : being punished?
seishirou : the "reverse effect". no matter what kind of a spell it is, the greater it is, the stronger its effects will reflect back upon you. even if the spell itself does not return, its karma certainly will, more or less, return to the master, that is the so called "reverse effect". since pros know all about that, they have ways to protect themselves from the reflection, such as in subaru-kun's case. (when did he suddenly know so much -_-;; I'd think it's really obvious that he's not some normal vetenerian) but those girl used a spell without knowing such defenses. in fact, it was a quite advanced spell, so it has turned on them in full force.
subaru : just when I was about to return the "shikigami", there was an unsettling aura in their rooms...... it looked like various spirits had been awakened from their excessive usage of spells......
seishirou : and so you recklessly broken into their kekkai?
subaru (sweatdrop) : ......yes.
seishirou : you're pushing yourself again...... you let the scouting shikigami break the kekkai, and even attack...... you could've been in danger if it failed.
subaru : but the problem came up when they were visible...... if I had just left them like that, their mental state would......
seishirou : ......... (looks over at the mini prop setup thoughfully)
hokuto : what's the matter, sei-chan? (hops over) what are you thinking?
seishirou : something perverted. (answers with the usual ^.^)
hokuto (laugh) : oh sei-chan, you're too honest!
seishirou (^.^) : oh, I was thinking... that maybe I could use the chance when subaru-kun is exhausted and get into a perverted situation like that.
hokuto (big smile, subaru falls splat in the background... again) : sei-chan you're so ambitious!

(scene change, in an ordinary house...)

girl 2's mother : Exactly how may hours did you talk on the phone!? how much do you think the phone bill this month is!? your father is not working to pay your phone bill, you know! (goes to do chores) oh geez...... and your grades are...
girl 2 (still shaken from last night) : [what...... was that thing last night......... i'm scared...... i'm scared.........]

(in school, bell rang, it's break time)

girl 3's classmate : how about lunch? aren't you going to eat?
girl 3 (blank expression, very engrossed in a book called "the supernatural for beginners") : it's alright, i'm not hungry.
classmate : but you haven't been eating at all recently, have you? are you on a diet?
girl 3 (snaps) : I don't want to! leave me alone!! (the classmates were scared off, she goes back to reading) [I need to buy a telephone card with the lunch money, I can't use the phone at home anymore since mom is there...... oh hell, the phone bill is over 100,000 yen...... (about = $850, grips a thousand yen bill in her desk tightly) we are "warriors", we must save the world from destruction. (looks around the room) I'm different from those "original" girls.]

(in a math classroom, the teacher is speaking up front)

teacher (points to board) : that's why this...
girl 1 : [where could the enemy possibly be hiding... and when will the "voice" that call on us come...... it should've known that we were under attack. but why haven't we heard the "voice" yet? (she writing on a notebook hidden under her textbook) it must be coming soon. just like this novel that I'm writing, surely we will survive when the end of the world comes. and our special powers will awaken, and fight the bastards who will lead earth to destruction. we are the "chosen ones", we are "special".]
teacher (knocks on her desk, bringing her back to reality) : hey, hey!
girl 1 (looks up) : y... yes?
teacher (grabs her hidden notebook) : are you writing this crap in the middle of class again! (he takes her notebook and the class gossips mockingly behind her)
girl 1 : [we are "special"! (glares at teacher angrily)]

(at subaru's house... subaru is in bed, hokuto sitting next to him on a chair, bell rings)

hokuto : com------ing (to subaru before leaving the room) subaru, you're going to get worse if you don't stay put in bed and rest! (answers from the security device at the door) yes? oh, sei-chan.
seishirou (face appears on the screen) : has subaru-kun's fever gone down?
hokuto (pressing a button) : he's still at 38 degrees! (uh converts to... 100+) oh, I just opened the door to the lobby. (now their apartment doorbell rings, she runs over) coming, coming. (opens door)
seishirou : I want to pay him a visit, though would I be intruding?
hokuto : but it looks like the subject himself is already planning to get up.
seishirou (^.^ he's holding flowers, and a box from tops) : here.
hokuto (*_*) : wa-----i, it's tops' chocolate cake-------------! (hops inside happily) subaru's in the bedroom, I'll go ahead and make some tea. (I call that a bribe, even if it's for your future sister-in-law -_-;;)
seishirou (taking off his shoes to come in) : alright.

(knock, knock)

subaru (inside) : come in.
seishirou (enters) : feeling any better?
subaru (sits up uncomfortably) : I'm fine already, just a bit tired.
seishirou : I don't think I should've asked you to go to ikebukuro after a job.
subaru (very red, waving his hands) : no no no! it wasn't because I was tired, actually it was really fun......
seishirou (smiles) : I'm glad to hear you say that.

(subaru scratches his head embarrassedly, hokuto comes in with food and tea)

hokuto : sei-chan, you go tell him too.
seishirou : what's wrong?
hokuto (puts the plate down) : subaru insists on calling Q² one more time today.
seishirou : Q²?
subaru : if I don't stop them as soon as possible...... things will get very ugly. (still seems weak from the fever) if the spiritual disruptance appeared that clearly, then every second matters.
hokuto (touch his forehead) : SUBARU!
subaru (pulls her hand away) : hokuto-chan, this is my job. (looks seriously at her) I'm paid with money, to do this job. If so, then I want to do this properly.
hokuto (a bit surprised) : subaru... (smiles like she gives in) subaru is a pro, i gotcha, (hands him the phone) for the money you get paid, do work hard.
seishirou : may I be in on this?
subaru (gets out of bed in PJs) : but my body is not in the best condition this time...... what if something happens.
seishirou : I won't get in your way. (but there is a dark light in his eyes, that subaru obviously does not see) because I have confidence in subaru-kun's "work".

(so things are set up again, subaru in a robe, kneels before a small table. there are daggers stabbed into the floor on four corners, seishirou and hokuto are outside, the phone is placed in front of him)

ring: PING PONG (the someone entering chat sound)
subaru : who is it?
girl 2 : you're the one who called before, right?
subaru : you're the one who made prank calls?
girl 2 (panting) : help me! hey, you did this right!? (there are like ... things... crawling outside her window) the scary dream and the spirits in the room... that's all your doing, isn't it!? I tried everything to get rid of them but they're still there!
subaru (other end of the phone) : it's not me.
girl 2 : how can that be!?
subaru (calmly) : calm down, it's alright. your scary dream and the spirits in the room, they are all going to go away.
girl 2 : really...?
subaru : really.
girl 2 (hugging a doll) : who are you? are you also a warrior?
subaru : no, I'm not.
girl 2 (sounding hopeful) : are you our comrade?
subaru : no, I'm not.
girl 2 : are you a "special" person?
subaru : ...... no, I'm not. (I find that kinda... sad)
girl 2 : then why......
subaru : do you have something like an ofuda taped up in your room?
girl 2 (looks at the piece of paper on the back of her door) : I do.
subaru : please take it off.
girl 2 (disagree) : but if I do that!
subaru (voice over the phone) : that ofuda is wrong.
girl 2 (sweat) : eh......!?
subaru : the direction and the way it's written...... maybe you were doing it according to a book or something like that, but that book itself was wrong. that is the first reason.
girl 2 (touch the ofuda uncertainly) : is it really alright to take it off......?
subaru : yes.
girl 2 (very unsure) : for real!?
subaru (quietly) : I promise.

(the girl hesitantly peels off the paper. subaru starts chanting on the other end of the phone)

subaru : noubou aratan nou tarayaaya (hokuto drags sei-chan aside meanwhile) noumakuariya mitabaya tatagyataya arakatei sanmyaku sanbodaya
hokuto (whispers) : it looks like it's going smoother than we thought. [I can just see it from here.]
seishirou : it's fine if that's the case, but...
subaru : tanitayaon amiritei

(suddenly, two rings indicating someone else entering the chat)

ring : PING PONG PING PONG (both the girl and subaru heard it)
subaru : amirita dohanbei
girl 1 (hears subaru's chant) : what's the matter? did something happen!?
subaru (continue chanting) : amirita
girl 3 : what is that spell?
subaru : sanbabei
girl 2 (happy as all the spirits are melting away) : this person is going make the scary dreams and spirits all go away.
girl 1 : what!? he's the "enemy"!
girl 2 : but our ofudas were wrong! it is its fault that we're seeing scary dreams!
girl 1 : you betrayed us!
girl 3 : traitor!
girl 2 (shock) : no, I didn't!

(the other two girls dig out their spell books and start chanting their own counter curses, it's a bunch of kanji that looks like clamp just dug out of some old buddhist scrolls, I recognize them but they make no sense here -_-;; anyway, let's not get into technical details. the spells goes to attack the other girl)

subaru (still chanting) : sarabaarata sadanei sarabakyara kishougyarei (wips out a ofuda)
girl 2 (at the same time) : KYAHHHHH (the spirits are back again and approaching her) EEEEEEKK

(subaru's ofuda is stuck to one of the daggers at the corner and there is an electrifying energy inside the kekkai he created, and he seems to be in pain)

hokuto : subaru! why don't you call back your spell!?
seishirou (stops her from running up) : subaru-kun already started the exorcism for one of the three people, if he stopped midway, the life of the girl who tore the ofuda would be in danger.
hokuto (worried) : but the other two's spell!
seishirou : whether the kekkai would hold or not......

(the ofudas placed on the daggers holding up the kekkai are breaking down)

hokuto : subaru!
subaru (hurt) : -----------uh

(the girls' counter curse continues, a wirlwind forms around subaru)

hokuto : wind?

(the wind starts making little cuts over subaru's body)

subaru : [wind cuts!? (uh, that's what you would call being cut by the wind)]
girl 2 (shrinks into the corner as the spirits comes nearer) : noooo, don't come any closer, help me, help me!
subaru (ignores his own wounds and chants again) : amirita gyarabei amirita shiddei amirita teisei amiritabiki randei (he gets more cuts from the wind but he continues to chant to save the girl) kishyayou gyarei sowaka

(the wind around him dies, the mirror amongst the props in front of him cracks, and the whole table actually falls apart, the girl 2 is already KOed, but the evil spirits all melted away before they could touch her, and then subaru couldn't take it anymore and fell down unconscious)

hokuto (running up) : subaru!! (but seishirou holds her back, she looks at him angrily) sei-chan!

(he smiled and took off his glasses, his eyes glowed in an eerie light and she fell unconscious too from a glance. he laid her down gently on the couch on the side and then walked toward subaru. he kinda just ripped the kekkai open and entered. one of the daggers on the corners flew into his hand and he knelt down and picked up the phone that's still connected to the chat)

seishirou : isn't that enough?
girl 1 (recognize it to be a new voice) : who's there?
girl 3 : an "enemy"!

(a wave of evil spirit/energy rush out from the phone and attacks sei-chan)

girls : we are "special"! we are the "chosen ones"! (seishirou easily blocks off the attack) we're "special"!
seishirou (smirk, the attack kinda melted away) : special, huh......
girls : we are fighting to save the earth! we were given "special" powers to fight you "demons"! even when the earth is destroyed, we will survive! and we will save the people who remain! we're different from those "ordinary" people! we're different from those "powerless", useless people!
seishirou (carries subaru in his arms) : whether you talk about such foolish nonsense, or make trouble for others, it neither concerns me, nor do I have any interest in it. but I won't forgive you... for hurting subaru-kun. (*_* how sweet~)

(some sort of a wolf/dog thing rise from the phone - ths girls' spell again - and attacks seishirou)

girl 1 : enemy! I will defeat you! I AM SPECIAL! (wolf thing rushes at sei-chan)
seishirou (pretty scary expression x.x) : so what is the value of being "special" anyway?
girls : we were warriors in our past lives! and in this life as well!
seishirou (holds up a hand) : and what's the use of a past life?

(a hawk appears from his hand - his usual shikigami ^^ and it flies over and battles the wolf/dog and totally rips it apart)

girl 1 : GYAHHHHHH

(the hawk returns to seishirou's hand, the wolf thing gets sucked back into the phone and disappears, the phone falls to the ground, normal again)

seishirou : since I'm not kind like subaru-kun, I won't just passively accept your attacks.
girls : no...... to be "ordinary"...... to be the same as everyone else... no!
girl 1 (talks about all the times when her teacher picked on her) : the teacher who scolded me in school, (and the classmates who gossiped behind her back) and those kids who laughed at me, they are all going to die in the year 1999!
girl 3 (they sound really egotistical) : I am "special"! I will not be "ordinary", like mother, and father, and everyone around me!
girls : we won't be common like everyone else and be overlooked!
seishirou (smiles) : it looks like you've got it all wrong. the most wonderous thing in the world is the people who stand firmly on the ground, and strive for the best day after day in their "common lives". waking up every morning, going to school everyday, working everyday, crying and laughing, in anger and pain, and still strive to "live" in "reality"...... if you want to make fun of "ordinary" people like that... then you don't want to "live" the same way those "ordinary" people do? (looks evil) if you really want to be "special" that badly, then I'll give you a hand.

(the two girls on the phone sees illusions of themselves melting away, starting with the hand that's holding the phone)

girl 1 : !
girl 3 : EEK
girls (horrified) : AHHHHHHHHHHH (their whole body is melting) GYAHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(melting and melting... until there's nothing left. next scene, separately in their hourses)

girl 3's mother (comes into the room) : what's the matter, is something up?
girl 1's mother (comes into the room) : what are you screaming about in the middel of the night?
girl 1 : *giggle insanely* (girl 3 is lying on the floor of her room kinda expressionlessly) *giggles* (she has like tear and sweat all over her face)
girl 2's mother (comes into the door) : what's wrong?
girl 2 : uh...... (gets up from the floor and runs up to her mom crying) mom! help me! help me! HELP ME!! (and hugs her mom tightly) [wahhhhh~]

(back in subaru's apartment, seishirou certainly is taking advantage of the situation ^^;; the hawk is on his shoulder and he carries subaru up)

seishirou : geez, a spell that you could easily send back, but you rather accept it with a sick body, should I say that you're reckless, or foolish...... if you ever take up jobs like this again, hokuto-chan is going to cry. (looks at subaru's hand, which has gloves on them right now) and, the bet with me...... (holds subaru's hand up to his face ^^;;) it's not over yet, subaru-kun.

(and the scene fades out in this awkward mood, another time at seishirou's clinic)

subaru : in the end...... i didn't save anyone...... I tried to contact the three houses that the "shikigami" found, of the three, two of them were hospitalized for mental illness, and the third whom I exorcised was fine but her parents...... (looks kinda depressed) said she's under treatment with a psychiatrist since "she kept on saying nonsense about seeing ghosts"...... I know that spiritual or supernatural occurrences are usually thought of as mental illness, but in the end, I couldn't do anything...... in order to heal a wound in the heart, if she has her family's support, she might still recover. but I'm afraid that the girls' future will......
seishirou (cleaning up tea cups) : it is not so common to overcome the fact that your heart was once wounded, because japan is really not a country which understands mental illness or supernatural phenomenon as well as america.

(hokuto goes over and leans over the depressed subaru, and she holds his chin up to face her)

hokuto : subaru, this incident was your job, wasn't it. then you should save it as data and forget about it afterwards. (subaru smiles) if you mess up on the next job because you keep on worrying about this, then you're not being a pro!
seishirou : if subaru-kun is feeling better now, why don't we all go for some tea and eat? (^.^)
hokuto : WA~~~~~~I! (suddenly remembers) by the way, why did I suddenly pass out back then?
seishirou (^.^) : ahahahaha-----
hokuto (realize that seishirou and subaru went ahead already) : ah, that's sneaky, sei-chan!
seishirou (^.^ pushing subaru along) : well, shall we get going?
hokuto : you cheated again!

(...and they are gone)

end of CALL B

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