Ekkusu [X] :: Clamp
 VOLUME 12
:: translated by tenno yukie ::
:: volume 11 :: Forbiddence (KEKKAI II) :: Character File - Aoki Seiichirou :: volume 13 ::

volume 12

THEIR DESTINY WAS FOREORDAINED, 1999
X Forbiddence (KEKKAI II)

(where we last left off, if you don't remember, go back and read 11, i know i've left x translations for quite some time, subaru made a five point star kekkai)

fuuma : ...so you made a kekkai? (still choking kamui, but now turning towards subaru) leaving the uninvolved outside the kekkai.
kamui (while being choked, notice that nataku is gone) : [he's gone!?]
fuuma : if i want to leave... the quickest way is the kill the creator.
kamui (warning) : SUBARU!!

(nataku jumps up from behind, basically his attacks are blocked off by a barrier that subaru creates, and subaru attacks him with his onmyoujutsu which nataku also blocks off, meanwhile, one of nataku's long fabric whatevers ties onto subaru's left hand)

kamui : SUBARU!! (although fuuma pulls him back)

(nataku attacks subaru from above but subaru casts a spell that sets everything on fire, nataku goes back to where fuuma is with his fabric thingy somewhat burnt out, i'd say subaru got the upper hand ^^)

fuuma : looks like he's quite strong. (smile) ...allow me. (holds kamui very close and touches the finger marks around his neck *ahem, from being choked by fuuma...*) ...don't worry, afterwards.. i'll play with you some more.
kamui : fuuma...!

(fumma binds kamui with a buncha wires and pipes, from the ruin of the building from which kamui cannot struggle free)

kamui (tries but fails) : [they won't break!?]
fuuma (takes the burnt up fabric from nataku and smiles) : watch after "kamui" for me.
kamui : stop! fuuma!! (fuuma is off) FUUMA!!

(subaru appears on guard, and fuuma lands before him, but subaru has a very shocked expression when he saw him)

subaru : [...eh...!?]
kamui (back there struggling in vain) : SUBARU!!

(fuuma attacks with energy blasts, and subaru dodges the series of attacks, as he jumps around, he quietly put down his paper stuff x.x)

fuuma : you're only running away, aren't you going to retaliate?

(subaru concentrates and the ground around fuuma breaks, the papers he put down before formed a large 5 pointed star around fuuma)

fuuma (smile a bit darkly) : i see, you were making the formation while you were running.
subaru : [as i thought...! (he sees the resemblence in fuuma and seishirou) he looks lie... seishirou-san!? that's impossible...! why, (he's not concentrating) why are they so similar...?]
fuuma (smirk) : if you don't concentrate, the kekkai will have flaws, "subaru-kun"

(ok, he's done it... ^^ "subaru-kun", seishirou still calls him that, and he still also calls seishirou "-san", which i think i mentioned, is a bit strange if they are after each other's life... AHEM... those who've read up to 16 or 17, don't say anything... fuuma breaks the kekkai when subaru is hesitating and subaru gets hurt)

kamui : SUBARU!! (don't you think fuuma will get jealous... from him screamingly so loudly for subaru ^^)

(he struggles... again in vain... fuuma walks up to subaru who is lying in a pool of blood, meanwhile kamui is hurting himself from struggling)

nataku (seems confused) : you're only hurting yourself more. why do you do such useless things?
kamui (glare at him angrily) : SHUT UP!! i don't want anyone else to die before me ever again!!

(fuuma kicks subaru :( and lifts his head, subaru still almost sees seishirou)

subaru : se...ishiro... w...hy... are you and seishirou-san...
fuuma (continues) : so alike you mean? (raises his hand) because you have wished so. (blood splash)
kamui : NOOOOOOOO (explosion, kamui *finally* breaks free and blasts fuuma away from subaru) subaru!! (he holds on to subaru who is unconscious, and has blood all over his face) SUBARU!!

(the star shaped kekkai around them starts to fade away)

fuuma : ...the kekkai has been broken, which means, that dragon of heaven is approaching death.
kamui (looks up angrily) : fuuma...!
fuuma (turn around and ready to leave) : if sunshine falls, this whole area will be destroyed. the kekkai at ikebukuro has been broken.
kamui : wait!! fuuma!!
fuuma (turn around) : we will meet again, soon. because i will come to kill you.

(while kamui sits there wide eyed... as if it's so hard to believe that fuuma is gonna kill him... fuuma and nataku disappears into the smoke cloud, leaving kamui to cry over subaru)

kamui (still holding on to the unconscious subaru) : subaru...! i'm sorry...! (crying, his tears drop on to subaru's face) i'm sorry...!

(sunshine collapses and creates great destruction in the surrounding area, someone is standing at the tip of a cross sticking up on a roof, watching from afar, and it's seishirou, lightning strikes, in the shape of a dragon soaring... meanwhile in the hospital---)

people : have you contacted the doctor!? confirm the emergency room!
kamui (by the bed side) : subaru!!
nurse (subaru seems to have moved) : what!?
subaru : ...p...lease wait...
nurse : don't say anything, we must hurry or you...!! (subaru tries to sit up) you can't get up!
subaru (turns to kamui) : ...ka...mui...
kamui (bows down at the side) : i'm sorry...! i couldn't do anything at all...! (cry) I'm sorry!
subaru : no... it's not... kamui's fault... (hugs kamui) it's not your... fault...
kamui : ...subaru...
subaru (looks sadly at him) : ...this is... what i have wished for... (kamui's eyes widen with surprise, then subaru faints)
kamui : SUBARU!!
nurses : hurry to the emergency room! (push subaru away, and the "operation in process" light lights up)
kamui (leaning on the door outside, very depressed) : ......subaru......!!

(ahem ahem, that scene w/ kamui against the ER door is a very familiar picture... for those who've read tokyo babylon ^^ anyway, we enter kakyou's dream world now, in that world, there're birds, blue sky, ocean, and a model of japan, just now, a piece has broken off from that model - as you can guess - ikebukuro)

kakyou (watches kamui through an image in the water) : ...kamui of the sky dragons... as long as kamui is bounded to being "kamui"... ..."fuuma" will never return...... (a piece of feather in his hand turned into the last moment of kotori)
kotori : [the future... has not... been decided...]
kakyou (gloomily) : the future has already been decided, if those living cannot abandon their "wish"...

(on a rainy day at the hospital, sorata and arashi came to see subaru with flowers)

sorata (quite upset) : when i found out there was a kekkai at ikebukuro, i came as fast as i could... but it was still too late...
arashi (looks sad) : i couldn't make it... either.
sorata : ...... and kamui?
arashi : he's still in the room...
sorata : ...i see...

(they reach subaru's room and knock)

inside : ...come in.

(they go in and sees subaru sleeping on the bed, kamui sitting at the bedside holding subaru's hand)

arashi : so he's sleeping.
kamui : yeah...
sorata (pretty worried) : areyou alright? (kamui nods, then, subaru's hand moved) ...subaru... (subaru woke up)
subaru : ...i'm sorry... ...because of me...
sorata : subaru-san, you don't have to apologize. ...we are the ones who should apologize... (they all look sad... and then subaru looked at sorata with a different look and sorata seems to understand) ...kamui, is there a vase here somewhere?
kamui : it's with the other things...
sorata : nee-chan, would you go with kamui to put away the flowers?
arashi : ...alright. (they leave)
sorata (sit down in kamui's chair) : i thought you wanted to speak to me, no?
subaru (calmly) : it's really... my fault this time. but... kamui who was with me then... still blames it on himself... please take him home... he's been with me and i don't think he slept at all... if it continues like this, he's going to fall apart... the wounds... on kamui's heart... ...are more grave than those on his body.
sorata : ...the same goes for you, subaru-san. (subaru seems surprised) i gotcha, i'll do whatever i can to watch over him.
subaru : please do...
sorata : and... your right eye...?
subaru (calmly) : ...it's blinded. (but sorata seems very upset)
sorata (fist tightens) : any chance of recovery...
subaru : ...no...
sorata : and kamui...
subaru : ...he knows. (lies in bed and looks at the ceiling) ...but that... is really what i wished for...
sorata (confused) : eh...?

(then, kamui and arashi comes back with the flowers in a vase)

sorata (to arashi) : we shouldn't stay for too long... let's go, shall we.
arashi : ...alright.
sorata (smile) : and kamui too.
kamui (protest) : i...! sorata : this place will take care of him, plus if you fall down now, then it's not worth it.
kamui : but...
subaru : ...it's best that you go home.
kamui (looks a bit sad) : ...is it... alright... that i come... again?

(subaru touches kamui's face gently, and... uh... i have a feeling that CLAMP's shounen ai couples are getting more and more messed up... don't get any wrong ideas T.T then the three of them leaves, leaving subaru alone in the room)

subaru : [i've often thought, how i wished if only that right eye cannot see. how does he... that land dragon's kamui know...] (touches the bandages over his right eye) does he... ......even know what i truly wish for......

(kamui and co leaves the hospital in the rain, elsewhere, fuuma is over looking the streets of tokyo, when someone approached him)

fuuma : so you were watching back then at ikebukuro.
seishirou (the person who came up on him, smiled and took off his sunglasses) : i thought you would notice.
fuuma : that sky dragon seems to be related to you.
seishirou (taking out a pack of cigarettes) : a long time ago... we made a pointless bet. (*this is where i start coughing again, have you realized that i must have a sorethroat lately? well, there must be a reason why seishirou x subaru is my favorite couple ^^* he offers the cigarettes to fuuma) ...under-age don't smoke?
fuuma : ...well (smile) ...it really doesn't matter to you if i do or do not, does it? (seishirou doesn't say anything and lights his cigarette, fuuma leans against a poll) that sky dragon wished to lose his right eye. ...the same as you. however, his real wish... is something only you can grant. (seishirou smirks slightly, fuuma smiles and takes his cigarette) his "real wish" is not what you think it is.

(seishirou seems slightly surprised, fuuma smiles and leaves, seishirou stands there as if thinking about something and then he takes out another cigarette and lights it, it continues to rain, kamui is in his room and in pain because he still thinks about subaru getting hurt, fuuma's evil glare...)

kamui : [i was there... (covers his face) but i couldn't do anything again.

(in the house, sorata comes in to the room, the food as not been touched)

sorata : what's wrong?
yuzuriha (and arashi have aprons on) : ...dinner is ready, but kamui-san is still up in his room... (they both look sad)
sorata (pat them both like patting little kids with a big smile) : i'll go get him. get the miso soup ready. (upstairs, he knocks, no response) i'm coming in. (kamui is sitting alone in the dark, sorata goes in and turns on the lights, then greets kamui with a big smile) dinner is ready.
kamui (depressed) : ...i'm fine. i'll be... making everyone feel uncomfortable......
sorata (serious) : kamui, i've never really said anything worthwhile to you, because my life has not be so distinguished as to where i can instruct someone else. however, there is one thing that i can tell you with great confidence. regret... is there so that we can think and reflect upon what we can do so that we will not regret again. kamui, you have regretted enough, rather you should look ahead, even if it's only a little, take a small step forward.
kamui (first seems surprised, then more like understanding) : ...you're right. ...or else, i will have to regret once again. (he looks up and his eyes now look different, not depressed anymore but determined)
sorata (puts a hand on his shoulder) : that's why... (turns completely goofy again) you should eat well to gain strength! you can't do anything on an empty stomach!
kamui : ... hn.

(so they both come down stairs, yuzuriha and arashi seems rather surprised)

kamui : sorry to have kept you waiting. (sits down in his seat as usual) ...itadakimasu. (and both girls looks happy for him)
yuzuriha : please! take some more!
arashi (leaves the table) : i'll go get tea.
sorata (gets up too) : i'll give you a hand!
arashi (when they are in the kitchen) : ...that was amazing.
sorata : ah?
arashi : it's amazing to make someone who refuses to eat to pick up the food again.
sorata : not at all, it was kamui's own decision.
arashi (pouring tea) : but it's because you said something to him that made him decide to eat. (thoughts wander far away into her own past) because to eat... means to live.
sorata (suddenly takes her hand) : if it's you, nee-chan, would you eat because of what i say?

(arashi looks up at him slightly surprised, and they just have a moment there, until yuzuriha starts yelling outside)

yuzuriha : arashi-san! sorata-san! the food's getting cold! (and then arashi pulls her hand away and sorata brings out the tea)
sorata : coming! (lack of seriousness again, leaving arashi standing in the kitchen, looking at the hand that sorata touched)

(they are back in school, at the gates, sorata pinches kamui's face)

sorata : hn, looks pretty good, come on and cheer up. (he and arashi leaves for their class while kamui rub his face with a sweatdrop)
yuzuriha : may i touch you too?
kamui (sweatdrop) : y, yeah.
yuzuriha (touches kamui's face gently) : i'm also sorry that i wasn't able to do anything. but... (looks sad at first and then looks up determinedly) if kamui-san is ever in danger next time, please call for me and inuki. (sticks out her pinky) promise. (kamui seems surprised and then hooks fingers with her, and yuzuriha smiles most happily and off she goes) then i'll go now! (wave)

(soon afterwards, kamui is back to the tree... THE tree)

kamui (touch the branches) : [...kotori... i think for kotori's sake, i can't cry anymore. because shedding tears cannot change anything. ......will you forgive me? (wind blows by, many birds fly out of the tree past him, kamui smiles) ...thank you.] (later in class...) where's segawa? (asking a classmate)
classmate : i think he's in the office. segawa-kun took off until yesterday. during the ikebukuro earthquake, his mother died... (kamui looks shocked and runs out of class, after much running around he finds segawa who is looking quite depressed)
keiichi : shirou-kun! (grabs kamui's arm which is wrapped in bandages) ah! i knew it, you got hurt!?
kamui : i'm fine. (more worriedly) but you...
keiichi (points out the bandaid on his face) : just a little scratch. (smile) you heard about my mother? (kamui looks sad) ...i see. (he's still smiling) when i got back the house was already buring... i didn't make it in time. the time with my father, and my mother too, i couldn't do anything either times. but... that's more the reason why i must live on, with my father and mother's share too! i have cried enough during the funeral, from now on i will smile with their shares altogether. although my house burnt down, i moved into clamp academy's dorm! the exams are coming, i must study harder so my grades don't fall! (kamui looks happy for him, suddenly keiichi grabs his hand with a big shocked face) classes started already---------!!
kamui : ...if there's anything i can do, please tell me.
keiichi (quite surprised) : eh?
kamui (pauses and finally...) : ...because... we're friends.
keiichi (big smile) : hn!! (then the two of them runs through the school) [ah! the teacher might be there already---]
text : what i can do--- is to protect what is important to me, to create a "kekkai" in order to protect them.

(elsewhere...)

fuuma : ...a kekkai, huh. if the sky dragon roars, the land dragon will respond. and then the seven angels will break the seven seals. (smile) kamui, if you create a kekkai, then i will also receive a new power. because that is what you wish for, "kamui".

(under the parliament, in hinoto's room)

hinoto : have you recovered already?
kamui : my injuries were not serious.
hinoto : you were hurt, one of the sky dragons lost his right eye... yet i could not see any of it in my dreams...
kamui : so there is someone interferring.
hinoto : i'm afraid so...
kamui : the one whom i met in the dream before, kakyou...?
hinoto : ...yes. (bow) please forgive me. (daisuke who's standing on the side looks sad too)
kamui : ...hinoto, it's not your fault. (both daisuke and hinoto looks rather surprised) therefore, you don't have to apologize.
hinoto (smile kindly) : thank you.

(in the hospital, yuzuriha knocks on subaru's door)

subaru : ...come in.
yuzuriha (goes to subaru's bed side) : i'm sorry! i'm sorry for not being able to do anything at ikebukuro.
subaru : you don't have to apologize for anything to me.
yuzuriha : but if i don't apologize, it will always bother me. i like everyone. kamui-san, sorata-san, arashi-san, aoki-san, karen-san and of course, subaru-san.
subaru : i don't deserve your kindness. i make everyone worried yet in the end i only care about myself.
yuzuriha : no! subaru-san is a kind person! (subaru looks up surprised) therefore do promise me, (sticks out her pinky) that subaru-san won't go off on your own, whatever happens, call for me and inuki. (subaru hooks her pinky, and yuzuriha looks all happy) thank you so much! (pause) ...you really are very alike.
subaru : ...eh?
yuzuriha : subaru-san and kamui-san are very alike. i don't mean your appearance, you just are. i'm very happy. i met so many people who would care for inuki in tokyo. (smile) therefore i want everyone to always be together. (blush) ......... ...with kusanagi-san too...
subaru : eh?
yuzuriha (shakes it off immediately) : it's nothing!!

(back to the underground)

hinoto : i have discovered the identity of the old man you brought back from ikebukuro.
daisuke : he's the chairman of toujou medicine, the largest medication production company in japan.
kamui : why is fuuma after a medicine company chairman...
daisuke : toujou medicine has been rumored since a long time ago to be "allocating large budgets to research 'something' somewhere underground".
kamui : ...what is it?
hinoto : you can see him now, will you meet him?
kamui : yeah. perhaps he would know something about fuuma.
hinoto : i don't know. saiki-dono, lead the way.
daisuke : yes.
kamui (still did not get up) : there's one more thing i want to ask you. you said that the requirement of being a sky dragon is to be able to create a "kekkai".
hinoto : yes.
kamui : teach me, what i must do to create a "kekkai".
hinoto : that, only the sky dragons themselves know. i cannot teach it to you. (kamui follows daisuke out, daisuke is a bit uncomfortable and coughs to get kamui's attention)
daisuke : *AHEM* i've asked seiichirou once before, about how to create a kekkai.
kamui (a bit unexpected) : aoki-san... why...?
daisuke : i don't really understand the method myself, but he said you must always think about the things important to you. to protect what is important to you, when you create the kekkai you must always strongly wish so. (blushing) it's only for your reference, probably not useful at all!
kamui : oh no, thank you.
daisuke (blush some more) : you... you are very straight forward. you were quite violent when we first met.
kamui (think back) : i just came to tokyo then, i treated everyone who approached me like an enemy. (silence from daisuke) ...oh, are you alright by now?
daisuke : oh, yeah, i healed long ago!
kamui : i'm sorry about what happened then. (making daisuke blush even more than he is already, if possible)
daisuke (gets out of the elevator) : w... we're here!

(they get out and people in the parliament are throwing them strange glances)

daisuke : i was... at fault too. f... forget it!

(kamui smiles gently, meanwhile, 6PM in the hospital)

yuzuriha : it's so late already! (get up) i'm sorry, i stayed for so long, subaru-san must be tired.
subaru : ...not at all.
yuzuriha (puts a stuffed bunny on the table) : this is for you. (smile) you'll be lonely by yourself.
subaru : ...thank you.
yuzuriha (at the door) : i'll come again! (leave)
subaru (picks up the bunny) : ...lonely... by myself... huh...

(sakura peddels fall in the background... yuzuriha runs on the streets)

yuzuriha : [i have to meet kusanagi-san, although it's not time yet, kusanagi-san is always there early waiting for me.] today i will be there first and wait! (and she runs into a person) wah! (almost falls, but he catches her) i'm so sorry! are you alright!?
fuuma (yes that's the person she bumped into) : i'm fine, what about you? (kindly) did you get hurt?
yuzuriha (jumps up all genki etc) : no! i'm fine!
fuuma : great, do be careful. (leave)
yuzuriha (blush a little) : [what a cute guy] (starts giggling and making passing by people all look at her funny) he looks a bit like kusanagi-san! [but... it's like i've seen him somewhere before......] (inuki glares in fuuma's direction fiercely) what's wrong, inuki? (pat) you seem worried about something.

(later...)

kusanagi : ojou-chan! (did i mention before that it meant miss, missy kinda thing?) did i get the time wrong? and i thought i was here early.
yuzuriha : i just came even earlier!
kusanagi : really?
yuzuriha : yes!
kusanagi (smile) : that's great then.
yuzuriha (makes a cat face) : earlier, i met someone who looked like kusanagi-san.
kusanagi : me? [another macho guy like me?]
yuzuriha : hm, i don't mean physically... [although he is tall too] ah...! it's the air about him that's similar, especially the smile. (kusanagi smiles and yuzuriha blushes somewhat) but... i thought i've seen him somewhere.
kusanagi : someone who's like me huh.
yuzuriha : perhaps you know him?
kusanagi : no, i don't think so. the person i know, rather than to say that he is like me, he is like anyone, and yet no one. it's as if he has given up himself and plays that "someone" the others wish him to. but i don't think that's really a good thing.
yuzuriha : kusanagi-san...
kusanagi (smile) : look, i've said some strange things. so where do you want me to take you today?
yuzuriha : takano fruits parlor! [their seasonal fruit juice are very good!]

(kamui and daisuke came to the place where they kept the old man)

kamui : aren't we going to the hospital?
daisuke : the chairman is here. along with toujou medicine's treatment staff.
kamui : why a hotel?
daisuke : although his position is chairman, the actual head of toujou medicine is still it's creator, toujou motoharu. and so if the chairman was somehow hurt during the ikebukuro sunshine earthquake, it would affect the coorperation inside and out.

(they enter, the old man is surrounded by doctors and nurses)

toujou motoharu (in his bed, he's surprised to see kamui) : you are... ...kamui. (to doctors) leave us.
doctor : but...! (they leave)
toujou motoharu : i must first thank you.
kamui : i didn't...
toujou motoharu : if it wasn't for you for dragging me out of sunshine, i would not be here right now. thank you.
kamui : i have somethings to ask you. ...why was fuuma at sunshine?
toujou motoharu : fuuma?
daisuke : the other kamui's real name. toujou motoharu : as for why kamui and nataku would appear below sunshine, even i do not know. however kamui has said, "i will break all the kekkai, and kill those who pollute this earth. sunshine is one of the kekkais".
daisuke (while kamui looks sad) : what about nataku?
toujou motoharu : nataku is a clone. (that is unexpected for kamui and daisuke) he's a lifeform born from a man made uterus and genetic manipulation. and... he is also my granddaughter.
kamui : granddaughter...? but, he... appears to be a man.
toujou motoharu : kazuki... my granddaughter died young from a disease. and the head of research in toujou medicine, my son, decided to revive kazuki... he continued to research ...of a cloned body. but kazuki's body was rotten by the virus and could not be completely revived. therefore for the parts not enough, my son... we used kazuki's father's parts.
kamui : ...did he pass away.
toujou motoharu : in order to revive kazuki... my son committed suicide. and together with the artificially developed uterus of kazuki and my son's physical composition, it was completed, that nataku. half of the skeleton make up belonged to my son, therefore it appears to be a man. however in reality it has no gender. and... no emotions.
kamui : then why is he together with fuuma?
toujou motoharu : that should be because kazuki... i mean nataku... is "one related to the end of the world."
daisuke : one of the land dragons!? toujou motoharu (next to his bed is a happy family picture) : even... if he knew that, my son would have wanted kazuki to be revived...
kamui : how do you know that your grandchild is a land dragon?
toujou motoharu : ...that's... (suddenly the whole building shakes)
daisuke (look out the window) : an earthquake!? (the whole city is shaking)
kamui : the kekkai...!!

(elsewhere... wires began to prop out of the ground and loom over the city menacingly, fuuma seems to be enjoying himself)

fuuma : ...... "beast", huh.

(satsuki is sitting inside beast and controlling the wires to do damage to the city... people running for their lives)

kusanagi (shielding yuzuriha from debris) : are you alright!?
yuzuriha : yes! (look around) [this... is not a normal earthquake!]
kusanagi : [the people under city hall did this!]
yuzuriha : kusanagi-san! i remembered something urgent!!
kusanagi : huh!?
yuzuriha : may i call you again!?
kusanagi : y, yeah it's alright but...... (yuzuriha runs off) wait! ojou-chan!!
yuzuriha (wave back) : quickly get out of here!
kusanagi : OJOU-CHAN! (yuzuriha ran off already, he can't go after her cuz big wires start to get in his way) damn!! (vein popping)

(he disappears from where he was standing and goes after yuzuriha, meanwhile, in a little alley where yuzuriha made sure no one is around, she creates a kekkai, her kekkai has the shape of a cylinder)

end of X 12

yukie's note : aya... i finished this one volume in a day... man X is easy to translate ^^ ah well, i think since i can't start on AS yet, i'll do some of flame of recca... don't worry, since X is so easy to translate, i'll do the rest before you know it ^_^ ara... i got the X ova 1... kakyou's story, it's exactly like how the manga tells it, i suppose coming out with an ova also brings some interest back into the series, especially when kakyou's story is all the way at around volume 15...

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volume 12 character file

AOKI SEIICHIROU

(wind blows, a kid runs through a grass field)

kid : seiichirou-san, seiichirou-san!

(seiichirou is standing in the middle of the field, wind surrounding him, his eyes closed, feeling the breeze)

kid (impressed) : wow!! that's why seiichirou-san is the best wind master among us!
seiichirou : oh that's not true.
kid (can you guess who he is?) : no! even the master said so! in our family, seiichirou-san is the best who controls the wind! i will work harder, i want to be like seiichirou-san!
seiichirou (bends down and smile) : you'll get here, soon enough.
kid : really!?
seiichirou : yes.
kid (excited) : what should i do!?
seiichirou : daisuke-kun, why do you wish to be skilled in controlling the wind?
daisuke (yeah, now you guessed) : because i want to be strong!
seiichirou : why?
daisuke : because there's someone i want to protect!
seiichirou : ...do you mean princess hinoto whom you met under the parliament house? (daisuke blushes) we of the wind clan are only bestowed with such power for the sake of protecting someone. feel the wind's path and control it; we use this power to protect the only person we have chosen in our life time. and you, yourself, will choose that only one. so you have decided to protect princess hinoto. your heart will grow strong with that wish and you will become strong. as long as your heart does not change, the wind will always be with you. (smile)
daisuke : hai!! seiichirou-san, have you decided already who you want to protect?
seiichirou : no, but i will, i believe i will.

(time passes, modern tokyo)

seiichirou (in suit and tie *he was in a kimono before* in a phone booth) : hello!? shimako-san? it's me. yes i got the author's original. yes, i'm coming home. eh? you mean what day it is today? of course i remember. (looks at a bag of presents he's holding) it's our wedding anniversary, and also our cute little daughter, yuka-chan's birthday. once i'm done in the editor's office, i'll come home immediately. eh? (smile) of course, i love shimako-san and yuka-chan the most in this world.

(he leaves the phone booth and walks on the street, unnoticed by people, the wind circles around him and he's like one with it)

seiichirou : and that's why, i will become even stronger.

end of volume 12
12 HANGED MAN
KEKKAI
1) forbidden entrance, blockade
2) the space between inner and outer, the area open to only certain people
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:: volume 11 :: volume 13 ::