xxxHOLiC 194

Guidelines For Using My Translations

1
[Side text: What shocking decision has Watanuki made?!]
[BubbleSFX: cha~~ng // chacha~~ng // cha~~ng // cha~~ng]
Watanuki: Whilst the cicadas sing / in the fiery passion of love
[BubbleSFX: chacha~~ng]
Watanuki: The silent fireflies / yet burn the brighter still
[BubbleSFX: cha~~ng]
[TN: Koi ni kogarete / naku semi yori mo / Nakanu hotaru ga / mi wo kogasu. It's a classic piece of verse, I believe.]
[SFX: slide]

2-3
xxxHOLiC: Rou
Chapter 194
[Insert text: No matter how many customers' wishes he may grant / No matter how powerful he may become / Watanuki's heart / will never be satisfied. // For as his feelings / for Yuuko-san / who watches over him / even after she is gone // grow stronger / his feelings of impotence / of being able to do nothing / grow ever greater. // Here in this shop / where all that remains to him is to wish from the heart and continue waiting / a new tale begins to stir...]

4
Rabbit: That's some skill you've gained there... / Master of the Shop.
[Sign: Moon Rabbit Kiseru Shop]

5
Watanuki: Well, I have an excellent teacher.
[SFX: place]
Rabbit: I suppose that beauty offered... // ...to stand by your bedside and teach you every last motion.
Watanuki: Quite. // As thanks for this, she said.
[SFX: touch]
Watanuki: Though I am not to use a bachi to play it.

6
Rabbit: Hence the ballad.
[SFX: hop]
Watanuki: I can only play one other song besides the one you just heard, though.
Rabbit: More than enough to charm the ladies.
Watanuki: And where do you expect me to find those ladies?
Rabbit: You might just find one among your customers! // A suitable companion.
Watanuki: Companion, you say...
Rabbit: Dear, dear, mustn't be dawdling. / To business, to business.
[SFX: tap]
Rabbit: How does that beauty over there happen to be doing?

7
[SFX: pass]
Watanuki: A little out of sorts, I suspect.
Rabbit: No matter how many times you show her to me, I still swoon over this beauty every last time... // She's more than the likes of me deserves.
Watanuki: That's good to hear. // I feel lucky to have your services, as well. / I hear it's almost impossible to find a proper kiseru-maker in the world outside nowadays.
Rabbit: Yes, the humans just don't smoke kiseru any more, now, do they? / Well, at least in our world they're still going strong.

8
Rabbit: Now, then...
[SFX: shift]
Rabbit: It looks like you have a slight split in the stem here.
Watanuki: I'm sorry to say... / ...I dropped it recently.
Rabbit: You ought to be more careful with a beauty like this, you know... / She might end up walking out on you!
Watanuki: I do try to take good care of her so that doesn't happen. // But I collapsed onto the floor the other day, you see...
Rabbit: Dear, dear... not going overboard on the daytime drinking, I hope?
Watanuki: I hadn't actually been drinking, no...
Rabbit: ...Cruising the old dreamboat again, then?
Watanuki: Something like that.

9
Rabbit: Now, I know dreaming is part of your job as the master of this establishment... // ...but if you board that boat too often, you'll find yourself unable to get back onto solid ground.
Watanuki: ...I know that.

10
Rabbit: Well, then... / You'll be wanting the stem replaced, I presume.
[SFX: tap]
Watanuki: If you would.
[SFX: shift]
Rabbit: Oh, and... // I think I ought to give the head and mouthpiece... / ...a proper polish.
Watanuki: I would be grateful.
[SFX: pop]

11
[SFX: touch // slip // clunk / clunk // whiiii~ // bubble // bubble]

12
[SFX: bubble // bubble // bubble]

13
Watanuki: This always is an intriguing sight. / Those fish-looking things...
Rabbit: Their favourite food is tobacco residue, you see. / Long as I keep them here in my cart, they get plenty to eat. / And I get to carry out my business.
Watanuki: Mutual benefit... I see.
[SFX: hop]
Rabbit: What colour would you like?

14
Watanuki: ......Red.
Rabbit: Yes... quite.
[SFX: twist / twist]

15
[SFX: shift // thunk // twist // twist // twist / twist]

16
[SFX: breathe]
Watanuki: ...Delicious.
[SFX: blow~~]
Watanuki: I've been doing my best to keep it well-maintained myself... / ...but it just isn't the same at all.
Rabbit: Well, if any old amateur could pull it off, us professionals would be out of a job!

17
Watanuki: ...True enough. / Thank you.
Rabbit: Always a pleasure to hear it. // Now then... / How do you plan on paying?
Watanuki: I have some zunda-mochi ready as usual, of course...
Rabbit: Excellent.
Watanuki: But since you changed the entire stem, I don't think that will be enough.
Rabbit: Then how about this, Master of the Shop. / I'll present you with a little request of my own.
Watanuki: What would that be?

18
Rabbit: I'd like you to just say "you may enter" for me.
Watanuki: But you're already here...
Rabbit: Even so. / That's all I want.
Watanuki: ...Well, if it will really do...

19
Watanuki: "You may enter".
[SFX: step]

20
Jorougumo: Thank you kindly... // ...for the invitation.
[Side text: A tension grips the air. Memories flood vividly back. The Jorougumo who stole Watanuki's right eye suddenly appears once more. To be continued in the thrilling next issue!!]