Seiden [RG Veda] :: Clamp
VOLUME 9
:: translated by tenno yukie ::
::
volume 08
::
The Twin Cities of Flame and Thunder I
::
volume 10
::
volume 09
RG VEDA
Volume 9 : The Twin Cities of Flame and Thunder I
prophecy : Six stars fall
Thou art a Dark Star that rises against the Heaven
At the tip of the destiny being woven
Thou shalt thyself foster
As the extinct blood clan dictates
Thou shalt depart with a child
Though neither good nor evil be determined
That child shall move the wheel of the destiny of the Heavenly Kingdom
The gathering of the Six Stars forewarns the end of Heaven
But to the side of the Darkness one will come
Who governs the orbit of the stars and rules both the Dark Star and the Heavenly Star
That one, not even my zodiac can ascertain
The red flame that you nurture
Will burn away all evil
Together, the Six Stars shall overwhelm any and all others and be unconquerable
And---
You shall become the "Break" that will destroy the Heaven
(in zenmijou, through the water mirror, taishakuten and co has witnessed koumokuten's defeat)
hanranya : it appears that five of the six stars have gathered together.
taishaku-ten (not too interested) : ............... (hanranya suddenly seems horrified by the image of koumokuten dying that appears in her mirror)
koumokuten : ... (seems to be screaming for help) ... ...
hanranya : ! commander of the west, koumokuten-sama...... has died in a battle with yasha-ou.........
bishamonten (uncomfortable) : ............
taishaku-ten (not caring much) : koumokuten...... what a useless scum.
bishamonten : however to have one of the shitennou defeated...... the matter is serious.
taishaku-ten : whatever, he's worthless anyway.
bishamonten (slight smile) : you haven't changed at all. everything to you is only for the purpose of realizing your wish...... only a tool. in order to obtain what you want, you don't care if thousands of people will bleed. I've been following you ever since the time you rebelled against the ex-emperor. I fought together with you and survived with you. yet I still do not understand............ what is it that your heart wish for, what you want, I can't understand even now. what did you want ever since three hundred years ago that you were fighting for? (faces taishakuten right at his glare, perhaps he's the only person who can speak to taishakuten so freely)
taishaku-ten (smile... of irony?) : what I truly desire... is forever out of my reach.
bishamonten : as I thought, the reign of heaven is not what you really wanted.
taishaku-ten : no...... taking over heaven is only a route to what I want. (slightly touch his third eye)
bishamonten : a route......?
taishaku-ten (turn around and leave) : I have "something I want to protect" . just this one.
bishamonten : as I thought, his wish is not power over heaven, hanranya. what will you do, hanranya, knowing that, you would still serve him?
hanranya : I do not serve him because he is the emperor.
bishamonten : that's true. you have been with taishakuten-sama since before he achieved any fame or position......... (hanranya always wears some sort of cloak covering half her face, now she removes it and the top half of her face, including her eyes is all burnt up, and on her forehead is the mark of the stargazer) you sacrificed your face in order to obtain power rivaling that of your sister kuyo.
text (short flashback) : two stargazers cannot coexist within one era. but I wanted that power. (hanranya held a torch in her hand indecisively) no matter what happens, I want power like kuyo nee-sama's. (she held the torch to her eyes) power for that person's sake......
bishamonten : I am the same. because my heart was captured by his strength, even if I will never again see a smile from the person I love...... (broken glass image of the young happy princess who is now the quiet woman) I still made up my mind to follow him.
(scene change to tenou and kendappa)
tenou (helping kendappa off the horse now that they've returned) : I'm so sorry to have put you in danger for asking you to go out. did you get hurt anywhere? (calling servants) anyone......
kendappa-ou (grab his hand) : no......! (smile) I'm fine. will you report what happened today to your father?
tenou : you mean...... yasha-ou, karura-ou and my brother.
kendappa-ou (covers her face in a fake sob) : karura-ou and yasha-ou are both my old friends, even though... I think those who oppose your father tentei taishakuten-sama must not be allowed to live, (teary face ^^;;) I want them just to live a day longer, tenou-sama will you laugh at me?
tenou : kendappa-ou............
kendappa-ou (lean) : please keep what happened today to yourself. what we saw today will all be in our heads......
tenou : I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything...... forgive me for my helplessness to save your friends. (and continues to say...) if I can only convince father......... (and kendappa has a sweatdrop funny face, with words "really was scared" in the background since she thought that tenou meant he couldn't as she asked....)
tenou : but I have a plead also. I want you to keep quiet about "ashura" (look depressed) ashura clan is heaven's greatest forbiddance, however...... ......he is my brother. my only brother in the world.........
kendappa-ou (^^) : tenou-sama is such a kind person. the exact opposite of myself.
tenou (blush furiously) : t... that's not true.
kendappa-ou (a more deep, serious smile) : no, really the exact opposite of myself.
tenou : that's............ (kendappa puts a finger on his lips)
kendappa-ou : this is our secret. (smile)
arrow (point to her) : evil person
kendappa-ou (bows formally) : truly thank you for today.
tenou : uh....
kendappa-ou (walks away) : good night.
tenou : uh! (yell) about today......... the proposal...... (but kendappa is far away now and tenou kinda gives up) [kendappa-ou.........]
(kendappa-ou is walking in the halls of the palace along carrying her harp.)
kendappa-ou : [souma...... as expected this is the inevitable fate......... I will not just watch you die! but...... (dark look in her eyes) it's impossible for you to defeat taishakuten. (gently touch her harp) it's impossible......]
(there's a huge meeting/gathering in the palace)
taishaku-ten : gathering everyone here is only to discuss one thing, it seems those rebels who are disturbing my world known as the "six stars" are heading towards zenmijou. ......so says hanranya's prophecy. (scenes flash by of hanranya lying on the ground, her bowl of water spilled) it seems the six stars want to destroy my world and kill me. shitennou koumokuten's forces have fallen before the six stars, commander of the west, koumokuten himself has been claimed by the rebel yasha-ou's sword. (scream from the middle of the crowd)
tamara : NOOOOOOO! father! father! (faint)
servant girls : tamara-sama......! please take care......!
taishaku-ten : one corner has collapsed of the guardians of the four realms, shitennou...... the remaining three, can you beat them? tenkai's strongest bushinshou and the six stars. (bishamonten and zouchouten bows)
shashi : koumokuten was another useless one, but tentei, isn't there only two of the shitennou left? bishamonten, zouchouten, and as for the other......... no one's ever seen him. of shitennou's subordinate bushinshou, only the east bushinshou is left now. (the north is yasha, west is ryuou, south is karura) but after the last one died, that position has been open until now...... can you really kill ashura like this?
tenou (upset) : mother......!
taishaku-ten (cold smirk) : don't worry. (a shadow appears from the curtains behind him) come out. (the shadow walks out) commander of the east, jikokuten.
(and thus appears the big super spoiler, which is kendappa-ou now dressed in full black armor with a helmet and cape, holding a long curved sword. the shock from everyone is as to be expected...)
people : ahh...... that's... (shashi looks shocked too)
zouchouten : the musician.........
tenou (probably the biggest shock of his life) : KENDAPPA-OU......!! (taishakuten has a somewhat smile of pleasure, like he hid his trump card from everyone for so long) the musician is one of the shitennou, commander of the east jikokuten. (he's still digesting it)
(flashback through kendappa's eyes, that scene before when she was walking in some obscure hall in the palace, she ran into taishakuten on the stairs)
taishaku-ten : the six stars care coming to this city. commander of the west koumokuten has been defeated. "six stars fall, thou art a dark star that rises against heaven", hahah, it seems the stargazers prophecy is true. however I will not be destroyed as predicted by this prophecy. it's your turn, kendappa-ou. ......no, "commander of the east, jikokuten". one of the six stars, yasha-ou, is your old friend, will you defeat him? (he walks past her)
kendappa-ou : I like strong people......... (smile) but I like to fight with strong people even more. tenkai's strongest bushinshou, yasha-ou of the north.
taishaku-ten : you are skillful for one who doubles as the bushinshou of the east...... the secret shitennou jikokuten. (scene of a man lying in a pool of blood holding a curved sword like kendappa's right now, and little kendappa holding a little harp standing by his body, not looking sad at all, smiling at taishakuten who just killed her father) ever since the ex-emperor's shitennou jikokuten was killed by me in the holy wars three hundred years ago, that young girl inherited the name of jikokuten which only bishamonten and I know about. it's likely that you are the strongest of the shitennou...... (little kendappa looked at taishakuten with interest) it's been a long time since I enjoyed your sword skills.
kendappa-ou : taishakuten-sama seems to be quite bored these days, then as you wish. (the strings on her harp begins to break off and the spine of the harp turns out to be a sheath from which she drew out that curved sword.) you shall observe everything.
(they part ways again, taishakuten has a slight smile and kendappa walks off holding the sword)
tamara : this is ridiculous!! that woman is a shitennou same as my father!? she's only a trashy musician...... this is a joke!
servant girls : tamara-dono, please watch your mouth!!
tamara : a low commoner like you cannot be jikokuten. (held back by servants) let go! let go of me! (kendappa has no reaction, taishakuten raises a hand)
taishaku-ten : fine. I'm sure everyone wants to know jikokuten's strength too. we can demonstrate her power. (to kendappa) prove that you were not named shitennou jikokuten by chance. zouchouten, be her opponent.
zouchouten (surprise) : [hey, hey, hey, why me~~~!? however...... I am interested to see one of the shitennou, jikokuten's strength......]
(takes out his sword and they immediately start to fight, almost blowing the whole place apart, people running out screaming)
tamara (shocked) : [she's strong...! she's strong, that woman is about the same as my father, no, even stronger!!]
zouchouten : [she's amazing, I'd be in trouble if she's serious.]
kendappa-ou : [as expected from zouchouten-sama.]
(another huge blast, more people running for their lives)
tenou (still digesting) : [kendappa-ou, kendappa-ou is the east shogun jikokuten!!!]
taishaku-ten : enough!! a tie is good enough!! I'm sure everyone understands now. (everyone's still in shock...)
(meanwhile, the gang has reached zenmijou, viewing it from a nearby cliff)
yasha-ou : this is where taishakuten lives, zenmijou. (everyone looks serious except ryu-ou who's so energetic)
ryu-ou : come on---- let's just go and come back. (turns his horse)
yasha-ou : wait, ryu-ou.
ryu-ou : huh?
yasha-ou : if you go into zenmijou with us like this, then you will completely become a rebel. we have personal debts to settle with tentei taishakuten, but you're different, you must protect your people and your country. as the lord of a god clan, it's his duty to live and fight for his people. the dragon clan is waiting for to you to return to ryuuguu *the dragon palace*. the people you need to protect are waiting. you still have time to return to ryuuguu, return to your duties ......ryu-ou. you can't go any further than this.
ryu-ou (seriously) : I won't accept that, yasha-ou. (smile) didn't the shuratou show that I am one of the six stars. and plus taishakuten already knows that I am one of rebels led by yasha-ou. I am ryuuzoku's king. therefore I can never leave the companions I've been traveling with and run away. even my people will not accept a king who gives up his decision so easily. therefore I will live by my decisions. that's how I live. yasha-ou, just worry about how to beat taishakuten now. and we'll settle our duel afterwards. don't forget, yasha-ou.
ashura : ryu-chan...
ryu-ou (rub his head) : and plus who's gonna feed you if I'm not here? or is it? you want to send me back too?
ashura (shake head) : I want us to be together, but...... ashura...... wants ryu-chan to always be able to laugh so energetically. (looks sad)
ryu-ou (gently pat him) : it's alright, I'm strong. (smile) I will protect you. (poke ashura's forehead)
(ashura smiles more relieved, and suddenly feels a vibration from zenmijou, light glows in his hand)
ryu-ou (surprise) : ashura!? (shuratou comes out) shura-tou!? ashura!?
ashura (possessed) : ~six stars, the last star.~
(the reflection on the sword is kendappa-ou in her armor since she is now jikokuten, shock reaction from everyone)
yasha-ou : kendappa-ou......!?
souma (horror) : [impossible......!!]
ryu-ou : KENDAPPA-OU!?
karura-ou : a six star!?
ryu-ou : but why is the musician wearing armor!?
ashura : ~the stars chosen by heaven shall gather. when the time has come, the prophecy's fulfillment is near. (point) go by the direction of the stars, go. find the things you want.~ (he pointed at zenmijou)
ryu-ou : zenmijou!?
yasha-ou : kendappa-ou is at zenmijou!?
ryu-ou : great! perfect timing!!
souma : my lord......
(shuratou returns to ashura's body and he faints in yasha's arms)
yasha-ou : ashura...... kendappa-ou is one of the six stars......
ryu-ou : are you alright?
ashura (getting up) : ......hn.
yasha-ou : "the prophecy's fulfillment is near. go, find the things you want."
ryu-ou (worked up) : great! let's break into zenmijou! meet up with kendappa-ou, and according to the stargazer's prophecy, take down tentei taishakuten! (everyone looks prepared now)
ashura : let's go!
(in the palace, continuing from where we left off, kisshouten watching from her balcony, jikokuten standing on the center floor)
kisshouten : that can't be......
servants : kisshouten-sama......
kisshouten : [that just can't be...... kendappa-ou is shitennou jikokuten...... then why......! why did she hide souma whom taishakuten was after at my place. if she's really that important to her, why did she silently allow her to join yasha-ou to fight taishakuten back then. why......?]
taishaku-ten : jikokuten, zouchouten, bishamonten. I'll ask you again, can you defeat the six stars? (the three replies with their own smiles, zouchouten is a confident one, jikokuten has a cute one, and bishamonten has his usual calm one) then I shall anticipate the meeting with the six stars with interest.
(after he leaves, tenou goes up to kendappa)
tenou : kendappa-ou, you are the last person of the shitennou......
kendappa-ou : tenou-sama, about tenou-sama's proposal last time, forgive me but I cannot accept. there's someone very special to me. she's more important to me than anyone else...... (gently touch her earring)
tenou (looks a little sad) : i...... see...... (smiles more cheerfully) then I wish you both happiness. (kendappa starts laughing) kendappa-ou!?
kendappa-ou : happiness is impossible. because from now on, we will be deadly enemies.
(turn and leaves with a smile... meanwhile taishakuten has gone to this forbidden part of the palace, it's a huge room with big round carving design on the floor, the carving is of a woman with three heads and six arms, like of the one on shuratou's handle... taishakuten's just looking at it and suddenly...)
voice : this is the passage to ashurajou. *ashura's city*
taishaku-ten : who's there...... (kujaku appears from the shadows)
kujaku : ashurajou which becomes zenmijou's twin reflection on the water surface does not exist there in reality. an illusion of ashurajou which is in an alternate dimension far from this world only makes it look as if it is there. this is the path that connects heaven and ashurajou, but only the chosen ones may pass. it seems close at hand yet cannot be touched, how pitiful.
taishaku-ten : [purple eyes] a mazoku?
kujaku (laugh) : sorry but that is incorrect. (spreads his wings)
taishaku-ten : [black wings......?]
kujaku : I pity the mazokus who are confused with me. (up till now he's had bangs covering his forehead, now he lifts them with his hand and reveals a third eye just like taishakuten's) I'm the same as you, people who are considered to have "conduct worse than a mazoku". look, I have the daten *fallen from heaven* mark.
(taishakuten also touches his eye with a slight smile, kujaku is still smiling so friendly even though he starts to look scary sometimes)
kujaku : you made a promise with someone here once. three hundred years ago. and you only live to keep that promise. since the beginning of time the stargazer's prophecy has never been wrong. will the stars prophesized by the last stargazer kuyo be carried out or not. I came here in order to witness the result.
taishaku-ten (lifts kujaku's chin) : who are you? (kujaku smiles)
kujaku (wings spread wide) : I've been living here since a long time ago. (the room begins to shake, earthquake) ......it has begun.
(the big carving starts to glow. outside, the gang is beating up all the small people, the "get out of my way" type)
yasha-ou : yama TEN ROU KEN!!
(more blasts, the five of them has entered zenmijou and the battle has begun)
kujaku : the wheels of fate has begun to turn.
soldiers (rather pathetic group) : stop! can't go any further!!
ryu-ou : kaiou------jin! (blast of water dragons)
(in the next section, the 3 shitennou are already waiting, and a soldier came to report)
soldier (run in) : reporting! rebel yasha-ou brings ashura's child and three companions and have broken through zenmijou's gates! (kneeling) our forces have been defeated and they will soon reach this main hall! shitennou-sama, please instruct some sort of attack!
shashi (first to panic) : that child...... that forbidden child has come after me!! he wants to kill me...!
servants : shashi-sama...
tenou : mother?
shashi : you must stop him, shitennou, you are not allowed to retreat before you finish them! (and runs off to her room)
tenou : mother!! please wait!!
shashi : [ashura!!]
servants (follow) : shashi-sama! shashi-sama!!
tenou : mother... (leave with her)
(while everyone else are all running off finding their own shelter, bishamonten takes one last look up at the balcony and kisshouten's sad face...)
bishamonten : [kisshouten......] (then turns back) shitennou let's go! we shall destroy the ones who disturbs tentei's world!
(big blasts, energy balls, flying rocks and confusion, basically what 1/3 of this book is composed off and it's really pissing me off... anyway, they went to meet the rebels)
bishamonten : it's been a long time, yasha-ou of the north. however, you are not allowed to go any further than this. we shitennou (look at zouchouten and jikokuten) since the time we had made our contract, gave our body, our life to become the sword and shield that guard's tentei's world. you must defeat us if you want to meet tentei!
(there's suddenly another synchronized vibration in the air, all the stars feel it, since they are finally gathered now, all look like they have headaches)
kendappa-ou : [what!?]
yasha-ou : [synchronization!?]
(shuratou comes out of ashura's hand and he's now changed back into the black ashura)
ashura : ~six stars have gathered, the dark stars that rise against heaven. you shall become the "break" that will destroy heaven. hahaha...... it's been too long.~
ryu-ou : ashura!?
ashura : ~I am finally here...... soon the prophecy will be fulfilled. with my hands...~ (jump up to the second floor, heading for the back of the palace)
ryu-ou : ashura!
ashura : ~I will make a blood sacrifice out of the traitor. you will carry out your last duty as the ashura clan's miko. mother!!~
ryu-ou : ashura! (no response)
yasha-ou : ashura!? [that was the other "ashura"?]
ryu-ou (run after him) : I'll go after him!
yasha-ou : ryu-ou!?
ryu-ou : you guys get kendappa-ou!!
(yasha now turns uncertainly to kendappa)
yasha-ou : kendappa-ou...... we need your strength. you are the last of the six stars prophesized by kuyo. the prophecy cannot be fulfilled without you. we need you. defeat taishaku-ten with us!! kendappa-ou......!!
kendappa-ou : no...... I cannot do that.
souma (shock) : [my lord!!]
kendappa-ou : I must kill you rebels. it is my duty to destroy those who disturbs tentei's world. the reason is because... I am the east shogun jikokuten.
souma (greater shock) : [east shogun jikokuten!?]
karura-ou : what!?
yasha-ou : [kendappa-ou!!]
(souma touches the earring she's wearing, meanwhile, ashura is torching the whole palace)
ashura : ~[it's calling me. shuratou's voice, its pulse, tells me where the last seal is at. you have it, mother.]~
shashi (feels ashura coming and starts getting psycho again) : he's coming......! that child is coming......!
servants : shashi-sama. (restraining her)
shashi : he came after me!! he's here to kill me!! help me! (falls on bed)
tenou : mother......!
(the wall's blasted apart, ashura appears)
ashura (evil smile) : ~do you know how long I've waited for this? the woman who abandoned me and betrayed the ashura clan, shashi.~
shashi : [ashura!!]
tenou : ani-ue *brother*
ashura (eyes glow in hatred) : ~it's been a long time, mother.~
shashi (horrified) : [ashura!!] n...... NOOOOO what the hell are the shitennou doing!? don't let this filthy child get near me! why are you here!? you...... you were... that forest......!!
ashura : ~yes. in "that forest" you tried to kill me. I am here to expose your crimes......~
shashi : h...... ho...... w...... did you know that......!?
ashura : ~even if you close your eyes, your sin still exists. even though you cover your ears, the voices that accuse you of your sin does not stop...... you have betrayed, abandoned and destroyed my race. the voices of hatred from the ashura clan will not stop. the crime of betraying the people you served, the crime of conspiring with the enemy general as the lord's wife, the crime of an entire people losing their lives through your hands, the crime of attempted murder of the next lord as a miko, and... (scream hatefully) the crime of attempting to murder your son with your own hands when you are my mother!!~
shashi : [you can't possibly know this... back then...... you were only a baby whose eyes were not even open. you can't possibly know......]
ashura : ~because I was a baby whose eyes were not even open? so you think I wouldn't know? you're such a fool!!~
shashi (frightened) : MONSTER! you're a monster!! you are not my son!
text : you will only obstruct me. out of the way.
shashi : you filthy monster!!
text : cursed child!!
shashi : anyone......!! kill him......!
ashura (smirk) : ~foolish woman.~ (shuratou is on fire, tenou steps between them)
tenou : a... ani-ue! please wait. I understand how you feel but......!
shashi : tenou......
tenou : what do you get from killing mother. you are only adding to the crime, and you don't get anything out of it!
shashi (gratefully) : oh tenou, tenou! only you are my beloved child!
ashura (cruelly) : ~I...... will not yield, my foolish brother!!~ (blast tenou out of the way)
shashi : tenou!!
ashura : ~what do you understand, for someone who was loved since the time of birth. for you who lived in leisure and peace, what can you understand about me? do not speak to me as if you know.~
shashi : tenou......!! (in anger) damn you...... someone kill this child!! MAKE THIS MONSTER DISAPPEAR!!
(ashura raises shuratou in fury, servants scrabble out of the way, tenou is still slammed against the wall)
tenou (struggle) : a...ni... u...e, PLEASE STOP! ANIUE......!!
(ashura coldly stab his sword into shashi's heart)
shashi : a...shu...ra...... (ashura looks dead cold)
tenou : a...ani......ue...
ashura : ~do you still remember this, mother...... (referring to the gem on the sword's handle) yes...... this is the key of the first seal. the gem from your sister kara's forehead. and... (turn the sword over) on this side, the key of the second seal is on your forehead. now why don't you return it to me, mother. so that shuratou can be completely revived.~
tenou : mo...th...er (watching helplessly)
(ashura digs his fingers into her forehead and grabs the bloody gem, the large carving in that other room begins to glow, ashura places the second gem on the handle, the three goddesses on the handle use to have their eyes closed, they now slowly open. ashura withdraws the sword from shashi's body and just leaves her to die)
ashura : ~it has awakened.~
(that weird cocoon stuff grows out of the ground again and starts to wrap him in)
ashura : ~shuratou's last seal is broken, ashura's seal is also broken, now......~
(he's closed in the cocoon, while outside, yasha's sword is also vibrating)
yasha-ou : [yamatou is...... synchronizing...... ashura!!] (space out)
bishamonten (whom yasha was fighting) : what are you looking at, yasha-ou. (blast)
yasha-ou : bishamonten...... (angry charge) we'll settle what you did to my clan today!!
(those two get back to fighting, souma and kendappa on the other hand, kendappa's serious while souma really don't want to fight her, plus she's not her match to begin with, means that souma is in trouble)
kendappa-ou (smile) : what's wrong, souma, if you are only going to defend, sougetsu will weep.
souma : my lord...... I can't...... ......fight with you......
kendappa-ou (smile) : souma...... (throws her off to the side) I hate weak people.
souma (bloody) : my lord......
(meanwhile, zouchouten and karura-ou)
zouchouten : I'm glad that you're alive. if I could help it, I wouldn't want us to meet again under such circumstances, karura-ou.
karura-ou : zouchouten...... my life that has already ended once, is for the sake of defeating taishakuten, to avenge karyoubinga, even if you are my opponent, I will not give up this life. come, take that!! (blast)
(on the side, kisshouten still has not retired yet, but watching the battlefield intensely)
servant : kisshouten-sama!! please hurry......! (kisshouten only watches bishamonten and yasha's fight) kisshouten-sama, it's too dangerous here.
kisshouten (falls to the floor) : [oh... I am...... such a fool...... as the ex-emperor's only daughter, I can't even lend a hand to yasha-ou to defeat taishakuten, and even though I know I am only a hostage, I still cannot stop worrying about you...... bishamonten......!!]
(in hanranya's room, she sees everything that's going on in her mirror)
hanranya : shuratou's seal...... is broken...... the path to ashurajou is open. [kuyo nee-sama...... it seems your stargazing really will become reality. the stargazer's prophecy of reading the stars to know the path of heaven. the stargazer's prophecy is the soon realized fate. the planned, absolute tomorrow. no one can alter it.] I know...... (crying) I know that...... but still I......
(ryu-ou ran after ashura, now he reached shashi's room)
ryu-ou : ashura!! (and sees the big cocoon) what's that thing......! (grab servant woman) hey, what happened here!?
servants (sobbing) : sh...... shashi-sama is......! (ryu-ou sees shashi's body)
ryu-ou : [ashura's mother!?] who...... did this...... (servant women helping tenou up)
tenou : uh... ani-ue...... ani-ue...... (half conscious)
ryu-ou (shock) : ashura!?
(and as he speaks, the cocoon starts to fade away, the big carving is really glowing now...)
kujaku : the path to ashurajou seems to be open. then ashura has awakened. (a big ray of light shoots up) then, is the stargazer's prophecy really a fate that cannot be altered? in the end, can ashura and yasha-ou really break their destiny? I just wanted to verify that.
(ryu-ou watches the cocoon liquefy in awe, ashura begins to come out)
ryu-ou : ahh...... that's......
(the whole cocoon opens up and a grown up, much older, taller, basically adult version of ashura appears.)
ryu-ou : [ashura!?] are you ashura!?
ashura : the seal has been broken, I've returned to my real form. ......i am ashura......!
ryu-ou : you....... killed her!? your own mother......!!
ashura : so what... if I did......? (walking toward him)
ryu-ou : why!? didn't you want to meet her!? do you know what you did!?
tenou (lying on the floor) : ahh...... ani-ue...... please stop!
ryu-ou : ASHURA!!
(ashura still has that cruel smile on his face and without any warning, cuts ryu-ou in half... maybe that was kinda sudden but...)
ryu-ou : a...shu...ra...... I'm...... I'm...... sorry. i... pro...mised you...... ashura. (smile) i...... ......can't protect you anymore...... ......i'm sorry, ashura......
(falls down, die, ashura seems unmoved, and pulls out his sword)
ashura (smile) : everyone in zenmijou will become a live sacrifice, heaven shall be scorched to the grounds.
(the moment ryu-ou died, everyone else felt it)
souma : [this "ki" is...... ryu-ou......!?]
kendappa-ou : [just now...]
karura-ou : [ryu-ou's "ki" disappeared!!]
yasha-ou : [it can't be......]
everyone : [ryu-ou died!?]
tenou (shock) : how... cruel... (ashura turns around with a cold glare) I understand that you hated mother...... if you can't forgive me, you can even take my life...... but wasn't that...... a very important friend of yours? why...... why are you so heartless to your own friends...... what is it that you really want...... ani-ue......
ashura : my wish...... is to destroy everything.
tenou : wha......!
ashura : the ashura clan is the god of war, we have no mercy to begin with. when the seal on shuratou has been completely broken, it activates the nature of destruction and slaughter in the ashura clan's lord.
tenou : that can't be...... the past ashura-ou has guarded heaven together with tentei......
ashura : that was because the seal of blood that slept inside my father was not completely broken.
(suddenly cuts off tenou's right arm)
servants : tenou-sama!
tenou (fall in pain) : AHHHHHHHHH
ashura : I won't kill you. you will be a witness to the events from now on. everything will be burnt into your memory. how the stargazer's prophecy shall be fulfilled......
(outside)
bishamonten : what's wrong, yasha-ou! you don't look too good!!
yasha-ou : [ryu-ou's aura really disappeared back there, who killed ryu-ou......!!] (meanwhile, more fighting) AHHHHHHHHHHH YAMA TENROUKEN!!
karura-ou : yasha-ou, just now... ryu-ou is......!
yasha-ou : I know!!
souma : [ryu-ou!!]
kendappa-ou : it seems like he's dead......
souma : only we can feel it, if you also felt ryu-ou's death, then you are also a six star like the rest of us! why must we fight each other!? kendappa-ou!! (but kendappa's not stopping)
kendappa-ou : it's too late. I have already decided three hundred years ago. I've chosen my own fate, with my own will! (flashback to little kendappa standing next to her father's dead body, looking at taishakuten)
text : I've decided at the time when taishakuten killed my father jikokuten. I will serve this man before me. I don't care if he was my father's enemy or a rebellious traitor. I was only drawn to his strength, that flawless strength was everything.
kendappa-ou : I like strong people! whether they are relatives or companions destined by stars, I hate weak people! you who have dedicated to avenging your parents won't understand my feelings. souma...... you are a very gentle person, I've always loved that about you. but...... I hate weak people. I really...... really like you...... but that still won't do. no matter what, since one person has already died, the six stars cannot unite to defeat taishakuten anyway right?
souma : [ryu-ou......!]
(yasha still fighting bishamonten *this is not going anywhere is it*)
ryu-ou (flashback) : I can't accept that, yasha-ou, I'm also one of the six stars. all you have to think about right now is defeating taishakuten, we'll settle our duel afterwards, don't forget, yasha-ou.
yasha-ou : [ryu...ou......]
karura-ou (flashback) : it's my own decision to fight tentei taishakuten.
ryu-ou : but then won't the karura clan get in trouble?
karura-ou : [ryu-ou......!!]
everyone : [who was it...]
yasha-ou (fierce attacks) : TENROUKEN!!
souma : SOUGEPPA!!
karura-ou : HITENSHOU!!
everyone : [that killed ryu-ou!?]
(the whole city basically starts to fall apart, and suddenly from above)
taishaku-ten : so you've made it this far. (they all look up in surprise) are you here to entertain me, six stars.
(it's night and he's standing coldly under the moonlight, on some broken ruins)
karura-ou : taishakuten!!! [karyoubinga!!] (charge towards him)
zouchouten : stop it, karura-ou!!
karura-ou (charge!!! not listening T.T) : AHHHHHH!
zouchouten : karura-ou!
karura-ou (eyes glowing in anger) : taishakuten! prepare yourself!! (huge blast) KARURA HI TEN SHOU!!
(huge explosion yet taishakuten is unharmed, he carelessly conjure up a energy ball and throws it at karura)
karura-ou (thrown back) : AHHHHH
everyone : karura-ou!! (another blast from taishakuten)
zouchouten : karura-ou! KARURA-OU!! (she looks passed out, her bird is half dead too) karura-ou...... (fist tighten)
taishaku-ten : how immature......
yasha-ou (angry) : damn you......!
karura-ou : wait! yasha-ou!! (she struggles to get up) I will defeat taishakuten.
zouchouten : stop! karura-ou! you can't defeat tentei like that. I was really happy that you were alive. you were my cute assistant and I don't want to see you die. but you really will die if you don't stop!
karura-ou : even so......! even so......!! i...... live only for this day. (in memory of her dead sister) I promised my sister, that I would be free...... live in freedom without pretense...... if I yield to taishakuten, I'm not being honest to myself. my heart will live on in dishonesty, and it's meaningless to me. [for karyoubinga's sake and my own sake...... I will defeat taishakuten!]
zouchouten : karura-ou!!
karura-ou (charge again) : AHHHHHHHH
taishakuten (smirk) : foolish one. (lots of blasting back and forth, wonder why they're not bored our of their mind yet because I sure am...)
yasha-ou : karura-ou! (he tries to go help her, but gets blocked while I'm also wondering why they all only have three word vocabularies)
bishamonten : I am your opponent, yasha-ou. (by the way he uses a light staff I think)
(karura's attack's been forced back again... and she's quite bloody now)
taishaku-ten : not bad, as expected from sou-ou. (summons a sword) I'll just accommodate to your style and use this sword to fight you.
souma : ! (worried) [karura-ou......]
kendappa-ou : karura-ou is strong. she will fight till the end for her own beliefs. a strong person. (karura-ou makes another round of attacks) but...... taishakuten is even stronger. (easily holding off souma while big explosions go on in the background)
(when the smoke has cleared, karura's lying on the ground half dead, the bird glares defensively at taishakuten who cuts it in half, karura seems to feel the pain, taishakuten throws the bird aside)
taishakuten : it's been fun but, this is the end.
(karura-ou look up wide eyed as he raises his sword and......... bloody feathers......)
text : KARURA-OU!!!
end of volume 9
yukie's note : well, this is close to the ending, the final battle has begun and I actually like this volume more than the ending because there's that shock w/ kendappa and the little mysterious hints concerning kujaku... ah well, ryu-ou's death is also a bit of a shock to most people but after a while you should just accept it and tell yourself - this is clamp, everybody dies in the end. ok maybe not everybody, but most people... the majority. sometimes I don't really like it because it makes me feel kinda empty after finishing a story. it's one thing if everybody died, but to have 1 or 2 left or something (ie X movie) it's as if I didn't gain anything from reading
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volume 08
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volume 10
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