Hana to Ryuu 9- The Serpent's Coils

translated by Jeanne

(page) Ryuuji: Huh? An error message?
Ryuuji: Uhh- sorry...
Hibiki: You don't have to be afraid of it just because it's a machine.
Ryuuji: Uhh yeah...
Hibiki: People use machines, not the other way round
Hibiki: I think we should talk a bit, just for a change.
Hibiki: If you're going to be living with Araki-san from now on, there are things you should know.

(page) Hibiki: It's about his deceased wife. I'm sure he'll never tell you himself--
Hibiki: how much he loved her, and how much it hurt him to lose her

(page) Chapter nine: The Serpent's Coils

(page) FX: intercom sounds
Araki: What is it?
Secretary: The Chairman wants to see you
Araki: Very well. I'm on my way.
FX: knocking at the door
Washimiya: Come in
Araki: Excuse me.

(page) Araki: You called?
Washimiya: Araki- I thought I told you to stay at home and get better.
Araki: There was something that needed looking into.
Washimiya: You need to look after yourself a bit. First you insisted on leaving the hospital, and then I hear you got into a major fight.
Araki: I'm sorry.
Washimiya: You still haven't forgiven yourself, have you?
Washimiya: Do you mean to go on bearing the loss of Hisako alone forever?

(page) Ryuuji: Araki-san's... wife?
Hibiki: Yes. Her name was Hisako. A lovely woman, always carefree and smiling
Hibiki: But... she was a bit handicapped mentally.
Hibiki: Still, Araki-san loved her, handicap and all.
Hibiki: They got along very well together...
Hibiki: He was a devoted husband. All the love he had, he showered on her
Ryuuji: I don't like this somehow. My chest hurts...

(page) Ryuuji: Why are you telling me this? Just looking at him now, I can believe he was a devoted husband.
Ryuuji: No-- I don't want to hear about his wife
Hibiki: I'm telling you so that you'll learn to understand the difference between love and sympathy.
Ryuuji: The difference?
Hibiki: Araki-san loves you
FX: jump of surprise

(page) Hibiki: Or so you think
Ryuuji: No- no I don't--
Hibiki: But it's not possible for him to love you.
Hibiki: You do think he loves you, yes? So you can't tell the difference yet.
Ryuuji: I don't think that! I'm not that conceited!
Hibiki: I told you- he gave all his love to his wife
Hibiki: And now there's none left in him at all
Hibiki: He's never loved anyone from the day she died

(page) Washimiya: Has it really been seven years since she died...
Araki: Yes...
Washimiya: I was very depressed when my granddaughter Hisako died before me.
Washimiya: But you can't let yourself go dragging along forever.
Washimiya: Not me, and not you.
Washimiya: Araki-san, you need a family.
Washimiya: Having someone to look after doesn't mean you're vulnerable. It's the other way round.
Washimiya: It makes you stronger than ever- it strengthens your feelings.

(page) Araki: I know you're right...
Washimiya: Well, I'm not telling you to hurry up and get married again. Washimiya: You should do what's right for you. However, I sent for you on another matter.
Washimiya: It's about Kazama Ryuuji-kun. What are you thinking of doing with him?
Washimiya: He won't be happy staying dependent on you forever. So I was thinking-- I'd like to adopt him as my son.
Araki: You- want to adopt him...?
Washimiya: If he doesn't mind, of course. What's the matter? You don't like the idea?
Araki: It's not that.
Araki: I appreciate your kindness. It would be the best thing for him. Araki: But...

(page) Washimiya: But what? Speak up.
Araki: Very well
Araki: I'm being selfish here, but-
Araki: I'd been thinking, that I'd like him to take my name.
Washimiya: Oh really?
Ryuuji: You say he has no love left...
Ryuuji: It's not true. Just last night he said that very word to me
Araki: Take it as just another kind of love

(page) Ryuuji: Was it pity? Did he say that because he felt sorry for me?
Hibiki: His wife was a little neurotic
FX: sound of balcony door sliding open
Hibiki: It happened right here.
Hibiki: This is where she jumped to her death

(page) Hibiki: Araki-san has always blamed himself incessantly- 'Why didn't I realize sooner?'
Hibiki: He thinks it's his fault that she died.
Hibiki: But it wasn't his fault- I know that.
Hibiki: The person who drove his wife to her death
Hibiki: Was you, Kazama Ryuuji-san
Ryuuji: Why- why me...?
Hibiki: For the sake of his obligations to the name of Kazama, he sacrificed his family in order to protect a certain 'Kazama Ryuuji' from the dark. It was his fault for being blind. And he's spent the last seven years regretting it.

(page) Hibiki: His wife was three months pregnant when she died
Ryuuji: Anh...
Hibiki: It was his first child.
Hibiki: This is what I think
Hibiki: It was Kazama Ryuuji who killed his wife and child

(page) Hibiki: You didn't do it directly, of course. But you were the reason that led to their deaths
Hibiki: Do you really think he could love you?
Hibiki: Understand what your real situation is. That's all I wanted to say.
Hibiki: Oh- I almost forgot.
Hibiki: I don't think of you as a human being.
Hibiki: You look like you wouldn't harm a fly. But you bring death to anyone who gets near you. I think you're the angel of Death.

(page) Hibiki: I'll be getting back to the office now. Good-bye
FX: squeal of door opening
FX: thud of door closing
Ryuuji: I'm so dumb.
Ryuuji: I'm so-- conceited...

(page) Washimiya: So you want to act as Ryuuji-kun's father?
Araki: Yes.
Araki: For the sake of the child who died with Hisako
Araki: I want to do for Ryuuji all the things I couldn't do for him
Washimiya: I see. So you'll be getting a grown-up son all of a sudden. But the two of you haven't been living together for long. Do you think it's really alright?
Araki: Yes. If he can get used to the idea
Araki: He's still fighting the idea of a family. But I think of him as part of mine.
Araki: Even more than that, since he arrived I've been changing a bit too

(page) Washimiya: Oh? You feel something's different?
Araki: Yes, I do.
Araki: It's not so hard to smile now.
Washimiya: I see. That's progress.
FX: grinds out cigar
Washimiya: Well, it's a relief to hear.

Washimiya: (grunts as he gets up) mh-
Araki: I'm sorry if I had you worried.
Washimiya: Anhh- if you're sorry about that, then get yourself back home to bed.
Washimiya: Oh- and tell Ryuuji something from me?
Araki: Certainly. What is it?

(page) Washimiya: If he doesn't want you, he's got an adoptive grandfather waiting for him here
Araki: Sir--
Araki: I'll tell him that after he turns me down.
FX: door closing
FX: ring of cell phone
Hibiki: It's Hibiki. I'm coming back to the office
Hibiki: No. He said he wanted to try doing it by himself

(page) Hibiki: Yes... Good-bye..
Hibiki: Hmmph...
FX: cell phone disconnects
Hibiki: hahahaha
Hibiki: Kids and women are a piece of cake
Hibiki: Believing everything a stranger tells them
Hibiki: Forgetting everything the man they love told them-- Love's a pretty flimsy thing after all

(page) Hibiki: Weak people have no right to love a man like that
Hisako: Don't come near me! Liar! I hate you!
Hibiki: Your husband is always saying-
Hisako: I don't want to hear it! Stay away!
Hibiki: Hisako is revolting. She's got something growing in her belly.
Hisako: No! It's a baby! It's Hitoshi-kun's baby!
Hibiki: Hisako is revolting
Hisako: No!! Go away!
FX: slipping on wet balcony tiles

(page) FX: Hisako strikes the edge of the railing
Hisako: Oh--
Hisako: The baby--
Hibiki: Hisako is....
FX: rain falling

(page) Araki: You always do your best. You're a wonderful wife.
Araki: Boy or girl, I don't care... as long as it's born safely...
Hibiki: Hisako- this was your fault
Hibiki: Having his child- taking all his love for yourself- always smiling like you'd gotten all the happiness in the world for your own

(page) Hibiki: It's true- that woman- that kid- they're both the same
Hibiki: The more they're loved the more they want to be loved.
Hibiki: I'm not even able to love, and they--
Hibiki: They stand in front of me with their happy smiling faces, so pleased at how loved they are!

(page) FX: curtain blowing in the breeze as Ryuuji steps out onto the balcony.

To be continued