Saiyuuki Gaiden Chs 3-5
(Begins on page 53. Pages are numbered here where a number appears in the manga.)
(Page)
I pray that I may die in the Spring underneath the cherry blossoms- Saigyo
Third Tale
(Page 54)
F/X: the tramp of Goujun's boots
F/X: the thud of Kenren's boots
(Page)
F/X: they pass each other wordlessly
Goujun: Oi. When you meet a superior officer, how about at least saying hello?
Kenren: Oh. Thanks for mentioning it.
(Page)
Kenren: Goood morning.
F/X: bow ('Peko-chan.' Untranslateable pun. Peko is the sound-word for a bow. Peko-chan is a little girl, licking her lips, who advertises a chain of pastry stores.)
Kenren: Goood-bye.
F/X: quick turn
Goujun: General Kenren
Kenren: What do you *want*? Yer buggin' me
I don't have time for this.
Goujun: You can say that with a wine jar hanging from your hip?
Kenren: This? It's my fuel
Goujun: How childish...
(Page 57)
Goujun: If not for Marshal Tenpou, you'd long ago have been out on your ear. You should be grateful that your adjutant is so outstanding
Kenren: Haha
And you too
Be careful that 'outstanding' pet dog of yours doesn't bite you some day
(Page)
Goujun: What...?
Kenren: Bye. Catch ya.
Kenren: (thinks) Goujun, dragon King of the western sea. One of the military elite from a family of toushin. That ramrod attitude of his, that pure-white skin and those red eyes-- I don't care if he /is/ my commanding officer, I just don't /like/ him
F/X: bang
Kenren: AGHH!
Gokuu: Hunh!!
(Page)
Gokuu: Oh- sorry!
Kenren: (thinks) Golden eyes?
Gokuu: So long
F/X: grab
Kenren: Oi, kid.
Gokuu: Lemme go! Whatcha doing!!
Kenren: You're that Gokuu that Tenpou was telling me about, the one that's been brought to Kwannon's place?
Gokuu: Huh?
You're Ten-chan's friend, ojisan?
(Page 60)
Kenren: I'm not *ojisan*! It's *'onii-san*!!
Soldiers: Kenren-dono
Kenren: What?
Soldiers: That boy has been wandering about the Emperor's palace without permission. He must have sneaked in somehow
F/X Gokuu shrinking back
Kenren: Anh- he's OK
Soldiers: What? He's an acquaintance of yours, Kenren-dono?
Kenren: Well, to tell the truth-
(Page)
Kenren: He's my love child
Soldiers: Love---
Kenren: (laughing)
Soldiers: Kenren-dono?!
F/X: thud of papers falling on desk
Konzen: There you are
(Page)
Kanzeon: What's that?
Konzen: That overdue paperwork. Ever since that monkey got here I've had no time at all.
Get somebody else to do this stuff for you
Kanzeon: Looks like you're having fun
Konzen: Get real! Shoving this total nuisance off on me...
Kanzeon: Given he's such a nuisance, you've been a really good father to him
Konzen: Never mind all that
(Page 63)
Konzen: You know a marshal in the western army called Tenpou?
Kanzeon: Mh. The eccentric young man with the outstanding reputation and the pretty face
What about him?
Kenren: He's got suspicions about what the officers in the army are up to
He's very bright. He may turn out to be dangerous to the army's upper command in future
Kanzeon: He's a friend of yours, isn't he? Should you be running him down in front of me?
Konzen: I'm telling you *because* of who you are
(Page 64)
Konzen: I don't know what they're thinking. I don't deal with the army and I don't hear these things. However--
I don't need glasses to see that there's been a lot of unrest happening lately
Kanzeon: Unfortunately, I don't know any more than you. I can't tell you anything at present
But--
Konzen: But?
Kanzeon: For sure, it's nothing good.
(Page)
Kanzeon: Well, I'm just another paper pusher here in Heaven. Be careful how your pet dog behaves
Konzen: Mhh.
Kanzeon: What're those?
Konzen: That monkey went and put them there. Picked them somewhere around here.
Kanzeon: Mh- but they *are* pretty.
Konzen: Yeah, they are...
(Page 66)
Kanzeon: You've changed, Konzen.
Konzen: What? Go on, get out
Kanzeon: What's wrong? It's dull when nothing changes
Boredom pure and simple
(Page 67)
Konzen: Yeah, maybe...
Kenren: So look- why'd you come sneaking into the palace? Kannon's got a separate place of hir own, right?
Gokuu: Yeah- but-
It was here that I met Nataku the other day
So I thought if I came here maybe I'd be able to see him
Kenren: Na-ta-ku... You mean Prince Nataku?
(Page)
Gokuu: Yeah! He's my friend!
When we met before I didn't have a name, so I figured I have to tell him
Kenren: The killing puppet's your friend, hm...
Gokuu: Huh?
Kenren: Nothing. Just talking to myself
But if you want Nataku he's down on earth just now
Gokuu: What--? He's not here?
Kenren: He'll be back today or tomorrow. If you come and see him then...
(Page)
F/X zun (? surprise?)
F/X Kenren's cigarette drops out of his mouth in surprise
Kenren: You're--- awfully heavy
Gokuu: Huh? Oh, yeah. Cause I've got these on
Kenren: Those shackles- they've got to be 20 kg each (45 lbs)
(thinks) This kid can move around no problem, with something like that fastened to him...?
Jeez- does that mean that even before this, he was so dangerous that they had to do *this* to him?
(Page 70)
Kenren: Just who on earth...
Messenger: General Kenren!
Prince Nataku has returned from overthrowing Gyuuma-oh
Kenren: Oh..
Gokuu: Ah- *really**!!
Kenren: So how was it?
Messenger: Ah- well- he was successful in battle, apparently
(Page)
Messenger: But it seems he was a little hurt
F/X: zuru- pain of Nataku's injuries
Bystanders: Nataku-sama! Nataku-sama!
F/X: noise of mob
Man: Are you alright, Nata--
F/X Nataku slaps the man's hand away
Nataku: Keep your hands off me!
Man: Uh...
F/X startlement
Gokuu: Nataku!
(Page 72)
Gokuu: Nataku! Are you alright!
F/X Gokuu running up
Nataku: Omae...
You're the one I met...
F/X dizzyness
F/X collapse
Gokuu: *Nataku*!!!
(Page)
Who keeps to discipline becomes a donkey, who breaks discipline becomes a man.-- Ikkyuu Soujun
Fourth tale
(Page 74)
F/X knock knock
Kenren: Oi, Tenpou!
F/X annoyed silence
Kenren: Are you tripping out again? I'm coming in, Ten--
F/X pile of books falling down
Kenren: AAKKK!!
(Page)
Kenren: I just helped you clean this place up a month ago and now it's like *this* already??
Oi, Tenpou!!!
Tenpou: Yes?
Kenren: Don't 'yes' me!! How many times do you think I called your name out there?
Tenpou: Oh, sorry
I didn't hear you at all
Kenren: Naturally...
Tenpou: Once I start reading about the wars on earth I just can't stop.
Really, war is the human race in its truest form. What appears over and over again in history is this conceptless concept, which is a sublation that creates a balance with the ridiculous state of peace--
Kenren: Uhh- excuse me?
I didn't come here to have you recite the encyclopedia to me
(Page)
Kenren: Nataku's back from overthrowing Gyuuma-oh
Tenpou: That was pretty fast. The upper officers have been so careful about hiding their plans
Kenren: Well, even Nataku this time managed to get himself hurt badly.
He's still unconscious
But there's something I don't like about it
All the other soldiers who were sent out with him came back unhurt
Tenpou: Meaning they left it all up to the Killing Puppet.
Kenren: Oh- and--
I met the little guy Kannon sent over here
(Page)
Tenpou: You met Gokuu?
Kenren: First time I ever saw someone with yellow eyes
It's not 100%, but mostly he didn't look like an itan
That little kid's got a good 80 kg (176 lb) of chains on him.
Do they have to use that much?
Tenpou: Heaven dwellers aren't gentle with itans. They can't get rid of them openly so they keep them 'restrained'
in one sense of the word or another
They're the same, aren't they? Nataku and...
(Page)
Voice: He's itan! An itan being!
Woman: I never gave birth to him! He makes me sick!
Man: Madam has become distraught and it's all the fault of this child!
Nataku: Stop
Litouten: You were born to fight and for nothing else. Even if you die-
Nataku: Stop!!!
(Page)
Gokuu: Nataku!
F/X Nataku wakes with a start
Nataku: Oh...
pant pant
Nataku: It's you...?
Gokuu: I'm so glad! You never opened your eyes and I didn't know what to do.
Are you OK?
Nataku: Yeah...
(thinks) I defeated Gyuumaoh- I came back...
(Page 80)
Gokuu: Hey- is this your room?
It's awful! You're hurt and they leave you all alone in this dark place
Nataku: It's OK. I'm used to it
If anything happened to me, no-one would care
Gokuu: What do you mean!! That's not true!
'Cause after all-
(Page)
Gokuu: *I* came here to see you.
I was really happy cause you said I was impressive
and I was even happier when you smiled and said 'See ya later'
(Page)
Nataku: Yeah, I see
Hey! When I'm better I'll show you all round heaven. All the hidden places no-one knows about, and places you can find lots of berries
Gokuu: I'll come with you! Definitely, for sure!
Nataku: --ow
F/X pain
Gokuu: Don't move. You gotta rest. I'll go get someone
(Page 83)
Nataku: It's alright
Stay here
Gokuu: OK
Servant: Konzen-sama! I didn't realize you were that child's guardian-
Konzen: I'm not his guardian. I'm his 'keeper'.
F/X annoyed walking
Konzen: He's been bothering you. I'll take him home.
(Page 84)
Konzen: Oi monkey! I told you not to go wandering around just as you please--
Two little--- animals, is it?
(Page 85)
Voice 1: A dangerous element...
Voice 2: Yes. We're hearing that someone's become suspicious about what we upper officers are doing
Voice 2: We think he's only a minor player, but he might threaten our plans, or else--
Voice 1: Very well. When you find out who it is, get rid of him somehow
Voice 2: Yes sir.
(Page)
Voice 2: Won't Prince Nataku be a problem? I've heard he has a tendency to get into trouble
Voice 1: No...
He's our perfect weapon
With other people he tends to be uncooperative and high-handed. But he'll never go against my wishes
Voice 1 (Li): I've made my son to be that way.
(Page 87)
Gokuu: Naa, Konzen. There's lots of people out there. What's happening?
Konzen: There's a banquet day after tomorrow. They're getting ready for it. The emperor's birthday
Gokuu: A festival?
Konzen: Call it that, but there won't be any stalls or stuff. You can stay quietly here---
F/X Gokuu puppy-dog panting
(Page 88)
Konzen: Do what you like.
Gokuu: It's a festival!!
Unh?
F/X rushing about?
Gokuu: Oh NOOO!!!
Kenren: What is it?? Pipe down, saru!
Gokuu: I forgot to tell Nataku what my name is!!
After I went and got one so I could--!!
Kenren: No problem. Tell him when you see him next. You two are friends?
(Page 89)
Gokuu: Yeah!
We are!
F/X trumpets ?
(Page)
F/X noise of crowd
Gokuu: Wow!! look at all the people...
Kenren: This is the grandest festival in Heaven. If you start wandering you'll get lost-
meaning, don't leave my side!
F/X grabs Gokuu's hair
Kanzeon: yaaawn
Jiroushin: Kanzeon Bosatsu, you're being too obvious
Kanzeon: But this is so *boring*
Why've I got to go to a birthday party for an old fart like him?
(Page 91)
Kanzeon: All he wants to do is double-check on how loyal the heaven dwellers are to him, and that's what this feast is for
Our status means we have to be here and smile about it.
Oh-- but there--
This year looks like maybe we'll see something more interesting...
Jiroushin: What...?
(Page 92)
Our four guys appear
P. 93
'Form is emptiness'- The heart sutra
Fifth tale
(page) Kanzeon: Ahh- but this year
It looks like the program will be more interesting
F/X noise of crowds around the imperial palace
Page 95
Gokuu: Unh...?
Where's Konzen?
Page 96
Announcer: Silence! Silence!!
The Emperor is about to speak
Konzen: Gokuu
While the Emperor's giving his address you must be qui--
That stupid monkey!
Where the hell's he gotten to?!
(Page)
Nataku (thinks): This is dumb
I wish this stupid ceremony would get over soon
Litouten: You look bored, Nataku
Nataku: ...no. Not at all, Father
Litouten: Listen to me, Nataku
Take a good look at all this
Some day I'll be standing in the Emperor's place
And it's you who'll succeed me
You understand me?
F/X Nataku grips the rail
Nataku (thinks): There are times--
(Page 98)
Nataku: Quite
(thinks): when I hate that look in Father's eyes so much I can't stand it
(lower right-hand panel) Emperor: It has been a long while now since rebellion and disorder have appeared in this land---
The will of Heaven is that demons be subdued and destroyed! My loyal retainers---
Gokuu: Hey- Konzen, where are you?
If I've lost him he'll be mad at me again. Uhh--
Maybe he's here?
F/X thud of someone running into Gokuu
F/X thump as Gokuu lands on his ass
Gokuu: Aghh!
(Page)
Man 1: Whatcha doing, you dirty kid?!
Man 2: Quit wandering around like that!
Gokuu: What??
*You're* the one bumped into *me*!!
Man 2: Hunh??
Hey- this kid has golden eyes
Man 1: You're right. So *he's* the one--
The itan being they brought up from Under Heaven.
So *that's* why that frigid weirdo of a Konzen Douji thinks so much of a kid from nowhere?
Pretends he's not interested in sex because he actually likes little boys?
(snicker snicker)
(Page)
F/X Gokuu's leg (and leg iron) gets the man in the knee
Man 2: OWW--!!??
Gokuu: Hey you! You're saying something bad about Konzen, right?
I don't let anyone say mean things about him!
Man 2: Fucking kid--! -??
F/X runs at Gokuu
F/X Has his wrist grabbed by someone
Tenpou: Violence towards an untrained child shows a certain lack of breeding.
(Page 101)
Man 1: You're--
Man 2: Marshal Tenpou of the western army?!
Gokuu: Tenchan!
Tenpou: Before you start criticizing children, do try to correct your own immature behaviour
F/X smiley-smile
Man 2: You poor excuse for a soldier! Who are you to talk like that!!
Emperor: This is indeed a heaven-sent opportunity but nonetheless--
Official: What's that disturbance down there...
You're in the Emperor's presence! (And he's in the middle of his speech...)
Soldiers: What's with this dirty kid? Throw him out of here
Gokuu: Unh--! What're you doing!!
(Page 102) Lemme go!!!
F/X: chomps on soldier's arm
Soldier: Aaoooowww!
Gokuu: Dummy!!
Soldier: Shit-- Grab him!!
Tenpou: Wait a minute! That boy--
F/X: Kenren gets the soldier in the knee
Kenren: Nooow now.
(Page)
Kenren: Heyy, this looks kinda interesting
I'll come and join you
Gokuu: Ken-niichan!
Tenpou: And now someone's appeared to make things worse
Official: I don't care if you're General Kenren, you can't act like this in front of the Emperor
Kenren: Oh?
I was falling asleep from boredom at Gramps' dumb speech
This will do just fine to keep me awake
Anybody here got a gripe against me, come and get me! I'll take you all on!
(laughs)
Tenpou: Doing that will just make things worse
(Page 104-105 read as one)
Man 1: Shit!!
Man 2: You making fun of us!
Kenren: Haha!!
This is fun!
Tenpou: My- looks like you've annoyed an awful lot of people
Kenren: Oh shut up-
F/X punching bodies
Kenren: A gripe against me is a gripe against you, right?
Tenpou: Huh- do we two really have that kind of married relationship?
But this is so sudden...
F/X elbowing the man attacking him from behind
Man: Guggg---
(Page)
Gokuu (thinks): Wow! They're both so strong!!
This is great!
F/X Gokuu darts forward
Gokuu: Ten-chan, look out!
F/X Gokuu gets Tenpou's attacker with a flying kick
Kenren: You're pretty good, l'il monkey
Gokuu: Don't call me *monkey*!!
(Page 107)
Emperor: To invite the proper circumstances we must all--
Official: What are they doing??
Emperor: --with all our effort-
Official: Get that disruption calmed down now!!
Goujun: (thinks) It's *him* again...
Litouten: What's happening?
Servant: It seems there's some people down in the square who've started to become violent
Nataku: It's *him*!!
Litouten: How idiotic
F/X Nataku starts at his father's voice
(Page)
Litouten: It's a pity that most people are vulgar and inferior fools.
Don't you agree, Nataku?
Nataku: Yes
F/X Nataku's hand gripping the rail
I can't even reach out a hand to it
to the world of freedom on the other side of this handrail
Officials: Oi! Stop this uproar!
Be quiet!
Kanzeon: Henh henh...
Well, Jiroushin? Pleasant little sideshow, isn't it?
Jiroushin: ...the poor Emperor...
(Page)
Kanzeon: Why, what's the problem? 'Fires and fights are the flowers of Edo', they say.
Jiroushin: ...where on earth is 'Edo'...?
Konzen: ...ku!! Gokuu!!
What are you *doing*, you dolt!
Tenpou: Ahh- now the master appears
Kenren: Um?
Gokuu: Konzen!!
F/X happy(?)
Kenren: Ohh-hh.
So that's the famous...
(Page)
Konzen: Bakazaru! I *told* you, don't run off!
F/X Konzen pulling Gokuu's hair
Gokuu: Owwww- I said I was sorry!!
Konzen: Now, now, o-niisan
Kids are the wind's children- it's natural for them to play.
Konzen: Get your hands off me!
Who the hell are you!?
Kenren: 'Abarenbou Shougun'-- (The rampaging shogun/ general- a famous historical tv series)
-'down there' included.
Konzen: You're General Kenren.
(Page)
Official: Konzen-sama!
I thought you were in the upper seats! Why are you here!
Konzen: They're with me. I'll take responsibility for this disturbance. And now we'll be on our way.
Official: B-but--
Konzen: Let's go
Tenpou: You're sure this is alright? We *did* start all this trouble ourselves, after all...
Konzen: Mh.
(thinks) It just means I have a good excuse to get out of here
(Page)
Goujun: (thinks) Those four...
They're dangerous
Kanzeon: Well then, I'm going too
Jiroushin: And what excuse will you make to the Emperor?
Kanzeon: Cramps!