Kekkaishi Volume 15

Exploding onto the Kekkaishi scene with the force of an exploding, er, Zekkai... it's everyone's favourite translator, Carlos Net!

</self-worship>

1
Kekkaishi
Tanabe Yellow
Yellow Tanabe Presents
15

2
~Recap of Previous Events~
Sumimura Yoshimori and Yukimura Tokine, as Kekkaishi, members of a clan specialising in ayakashi extermination, fight to protect the Karasumori ground.
After the clumsy handling of the Kokubourou affair, the highest authority of the Urakai, the Council of Twelve, have seen fit to conduct an investigation of Karasumori!
This is all thanks to Ougi Ichirou, Eighth Seat of the Council of Twelve, a man who hates Masamori and is plotting his destruction. The investigation is to be conducted by the Ninth Seat, Okuni. But just as the investigation was set to begin, a mysterious black box was delivered to the headquarters of Masamori's personal group, the Yagyou...
And now there is a new problem - one of the Yagyou, a young girl named Misao, has been eaten by the mysterious box!! Not only that; an identical box has also appeared at Karasumori as well...?!
Is some foul scheme moving in upon the two brothers, Yoshimori and Masamori?!!

Kekkaishi 15 - Contents
Chapter 135: Box - 3
Chapter 136: Hostage - 21
Chapter 137: Exit - 39
Chapter 138: The Box's True Nature - 57
Chapter 139: The Four Ayakashi - 75
Chapter 140: Cocoon - 97
Chapter 141: Kurokabuto - 115
Chapter 142: Responsibility - 135
Chapter 143: Distortion - 153
Chapter 144: Complete - 171

3
Yoshimori: What's this...? // When did this box get here?
Madarao: Yoshimori... that box has no scent.
Yoshimori: What?
Okuni: Oho... what fools you are. // That box... it has been here since before I arrived, you know?
Yoshimori: Uh-huh... and you're the one who put it there, I'd bet!
Tokine: Ah!

4
Yoshimori: Metsu!!
[Chapter 135: Box]

5
Kekkaishi 15
Yoshimori: Pfft, easy.
Tokine: You idiot! // You don't "Metsu" things before you know what they are!
Okuni: My, my...
Madarao: Yoshimori, / Come over here.
Yoshimori: Hm? // Ahhh...
Tokine: What is it?
Hatori: Sorry to intrude.

6
Hatori: I must apologise for our lateness, Okuni-sama. // I have come in Sumimura's stead. / I am Vice-Chief of the Yagyou, Hatori Miki. // There has been something of an incident at the Yagyou headquarters, // and as such, Sumimura is currently engaged in other matters...
Tokine: What's going on, Hatori-san?
Hatori: My apologies; it was my intent to contact the Kekkaishi in advance as well, however...
Yoshimori: He~y!

7
Yoshimori: Check it, / I found another one!
Okuni: Oh? Do you recognise that box from somewhere?
Hatori: ......... // The Yagyou discovered one exactly like it... //Yoshimori-kun, put it down and get back from it.
Yoshimori: Whaa?
Tokine: I'm sorry, I'm not really following... / [aside]who exactly are these people, anyway...?[/aside]

8
Okuni: Ah, you are referring to us? We have been sent from the Urakai to investigate Karasumori. // Sumimura-san was supposed to be here to serve as our guide. // Incidentally, // would the problem you spoke of by any chance happen to be connected to the box in question?
Hatori: Yes...
Okuni: I see... // Very fishy indeed...

9
Okuni: Well, then... // Miss... Hatori-san? ...If I may inquire as to the exact situation? // As recompense for your lateness, you understand... // I would be interested to hear a thorough explanation.
Hatori: ......... // It all began this evening; a single box, addressed to Sumimura, was delivered from an unknown sender. // However, before we could examine the box properly, there was an unfortunate incident, and a young girl, one of our members, was swallowed into the box.

10
Hatori: Could you tell me what you saw? // Akira... / You saw what happened?
Akira: I - I'm not really sure... // But, I saw Misao-neechan's legs, and her black skirt, just getting sucked inside the box... // [aside]It's all - / - cause I - / - I kicked - / - the ball - / WAAAHHH![/aside]
Todoroki: What should we do? / You think we should open it?
Masamori: ...... // No... / This box has taken a hostage from us... // (Who could have...? They must have been aiming for me... of all the cowardly...) // We shouldn't make any rash moves...

11
[no text just creepy]

12
[box: Amaarashi - controls rainclouds and wind]

13
Todoroki: It ran away - !
Masamori: Catch it!! // (! // The box...)
Makio: It's a pretty high-level ayakashi, but it did nothing but run about... // What the heck's with this thing?

14
Makio: Hm? // ?!
Todoroki: Chief!
Masamori: Did you catch it?
Todoroki: Yeah, we got it, but... // It burst open, and all these little ones came flying out...
Masamori: What are you guys playing at...?
BabyGirl: Chief...!
Masamori: What's wrong?
BabyGirl: Ahh... well... // We were evacuating the children over to the western block, but... // Akira... seems to be missing...

15
Shuu: Chie -
Masamori: What is it now?!
Shuu: Over there... // Underneath the veranda, and at the edge of the garden... // More of those... black boxes have...
Someone: Chief! // There's one up on the roof, too...!

16
Hatori: ...And so the Yagyou is in quite a state right now...
Yoshimori: So this... // ...is just like all those other ones?
Madarao: You think we'd find more of them if we searched?
Yoshimori: Agh...
Okuni: Whose doing could this be...? // Somebody who wishes to interfere with us one way or another, it would appear. // People vanishing... // Ayakashi jumping out... // And these boxes multiplying... // But with a challenge of this nature... // I feel we must accept it.

17
Okuni: Certainly, my mission here was to investigate Karasumori... // But this may be interesting. // Let us see if I cannot... // ...solve every one of these mysteries.
Hatori: ("Mystery-Eater Okuni"...)

18
Hatori: (It is said that she has scoured all the land in an effort to satisfy her own deep curiosity... // ...and also that she has tried her hand at every formula for "eternal youth" known to man... // What has she gained, throwing away even her own humanity...? // That's something I'd like to see for myself...)

19
Misao: (What happened to me...? // I went to get the ball... // ...and there was that box... // ...Box? // ...... // *muttering*

20
Misao: *whe~w* // Thanks! // Here we go... // (Where is this place...?)

21
[Chapter 136: Hostage]

22
Misao: *muttering* // Beloved little one... // Let me awaken you from your slumber... // Let me grant you the gift of life... // ...... // Please, would you... // ...be my friend...?

23
Misao: No use... // Looks like he doesn't want to be friends with me... // ♪♪♪ // There we go! // Okay... // You can be called "Nawata"! // Go find me something good, okay? / Nawata!
[bubbleSFX: boyoing~]
Nawata: [aside]I'm back~![/aside]
Misao: Wow, so fast~! // Huh? / Another rope?

24
[no text just giant ropething]

25
Misao: ...Now where's the way out...? // Hmm...?
[TN: The squares are labelled with the numbers one through 24]

26
Yukimasa: The rain's just not letting up, huh...? // Those Amaarashi spawn must still be hanging around here somewhere, I'd say... / We lost the lot of them, after all...
Masamori: Any change in the other boxes?
Yukimasa: Not particularly... // Some people claim they've seen the lids shifting a little, others say they never moved at all... // Right now, we've uncovered a total of twenty boxes. // Hakota's busy looking to see if he can find any more, / but it's gonna be hard to find black boxes in this darkness... // Nothing over here?
Someone: Not a thing.

27
Yukimasa: What on Earth is this box...?
Masamori: The box itself doesn't seem to be an ayakashi... / I'd say it's just got some kinf of curse upon it... well, that much is a safe guess, but... // We still... // ...have no way of analysing or removing the curse in question. // It would be simple enough to seal from without, but since it's taken hostages...
Someone: We've attempted a number of spells and charms, but nothing seems to have any effect. / Either the lock upon the box is simply incredibly strong, or there's some kind of strange ability involved... // I would speculate... perhaps it cannot be opened except by the original user. // I certainly wonder what could be going on... // ...inside the box...
Misao: ......

28
Misao: !
Baldie: This ain't good... // I went and got myself spotted.

29
Baldie: Shit! // What do I do? / What do I do?
Flashback!Misao: (A box...)

30
Misao: It's him...! // He's the one who pulled me into the box...
Baldlie: Time to go... // Open.

31
[TN: The symbols here seem to be heavily stylised kanji. The bottom one is definitely "in", and the middle one, on the box-symbol, looks like it could be "fuu", making the word "fuuin" ("seal"). However, I can't for the life of me tell what the top one's meant to be.]
Baldie: Nooow... it's your turn.

32
Baldie: Open!

33
[box: Meanwhile, at Karasumori Academy...]
Yoshimori: Oi... / The heck are you trying to do with that weird dance?
Okuni: It is not a "dance". They are performing an analysis of the box. [aside]couldn't you tell?[/aside]
Yoshimori: How am I meant to know that?!!

34
Hatori: Okuni-sama... // With your leave, we will search for any other boxes in the vicinity.
Okuni: Ah, that would be a great help.
Masamori: You found them at Karasumori, too?!
Hatori: Yes. // We are performing our own investigations; we will contact you if we make any progress. // And you have still been unable to locate the two missing children?
Masamori: Yeah... // Well, at least we haven't found any corpses. // It would be nice to think that the children could make their own escape, but... // Misao is such a quiet girl...
Hatori: I wouldn't say that, Chief...

35
Hatori: It's true that she has a tendency to keep to herself, // but she is by no means what one might call docile.
Baldie: Close.
[TN: Docile or otherwise, she certainly is cute.♡]

36
Baldie: Aghhhh!! // Will this tide me over 'til morning...? // Well... // If not, I always have my final resort... // If I kill a hostage kid and hang the brat out... // ...that oughtta be fine... // Hm? // What happened to the rope I left over there...?

37
Misao: (I've gotta run... // But where to...? // I get the feeling... those square pieces of paper are the "exits"... // ...but...)
Akira: Mnnhh!
Misao: (A child's voice...?)
Akira: [aside]Mnnhh!![/aside]
Misao: Akira?!

38
Misao: You okay? // (So it wasn't just me...)
Akira: [aside]where am I...?[/aside]
Misao: ("Kill a hostage kid and hang the brat out...")
Akira: Misao-neechan...?

39
Baldie: (I've got a nasty feeling. // Like somebody's messing about in this world of mine... // One of the captive brats?)
[Chapter 137: Exit]
Baldie: (Well, even if it is...) // Open. // (...it's not like they could actually get out of this place anyway...)

40
Akira: What's wrong, Misao-neechan?
Flashback!Masamori: Misao, do you not like training?
Flashback!Misao: ...I don't really like... // ...fighting.
Flashback!Masamori: Well, it's not like you have to push yourself or anything. // We have plenty of jobs you could do that don't involve fighting. // But you can't just sit around playing with your dolls day in, day out. // Do you understand?
Flashback!Misao: ...... // I don't wanna kill anybody...
Flashback!Masamori: Hahah... / Like I said, Misao, you don't have to do any of that stuff if you don't want to.

41
Flashback!Masamori: You can leave that side of things to us. // But as long as you're here... / ...there's always the chance you'll get caught up in something dangerous. // What would you do then?
Flashback!Misao: Run away.
Flashback!Masamori: Fine. // As long as you put your all into it. // But you know, / even running away requires some measure of strength. // That's why you have to train. // So if you ever do end up in a nasty situation...

42
Flashback!Masamori: You need to take a good look at your surroundings, and think carefully about what to do. // If you don't really put your mind to it, / you'll never be able to get away.
Misao: Akira. // We're gonna run for it.
Baldie: DAMMIT!! // The brat really did get away... // I guess she is an ability-user, after all... // I oughtta have tied her up better, placed some proper seals...

43
Akira: Now! Sure-Fire... // ...Invisible Rope!!
Misao: Dummy! / Don't give us away like that!
Baldie: ?! // ! // Ropes?!

44
Baldie: !! // Why, you...
Misao: Sorry about this!
Akira: [aside]wahhhh![/aside]
Baldie: HOLD IT, YOU BRATS!! // [aside]why, you little...!![/aside]
Akira: [aside]waaaaaahhhhhhh! // aaaahhhhh! / that guy's scary~![/aside]
Misao: (I guess that really is the only way out...)

45
Something: RAAAAAGGHHHHH!!
Misao: !!
Misao/Akira: [aside]Waaaaaahhhhhh![/aside]
Misao: (I don't like this place...! // We've gotta get away, quick...)

46
Misao: (Through here...?)
Akira: How do we get out...?
Misao: (How do these things work?!)
Akira: Misao-neechan...
Misao: (That guy, he...)
Flashback!Baldie: Open.
Misao: (He kept on saying "Open" and "Close"...) // Open! // (That's not it...?)

47
Misao/Akira: Open! // Open! // Open!
Baldie: You can shout and shout all you like... // They'll only open when I ask 'em to. // For a bunch of kids, you led me a merry little chase... // But I'll tell you one thing you got wrong. // Ya should've taken my weapon while I was down.

48
Baldie: Now, if the two of you come quietly... // I might let ya live a little longer.
Misao: (Take a good look at my surroundings, and think carefully...) // Akira...

49
Baldie: That ain't gonna do a thing!! // Hup! // You're not taking me down that easy!
Misao: Ahh!

50
Akira: Misao-neechan!!
Baldie: Hm, object manipulation, is it?
Akira: [aside]stop it~![/aside]
Baldie: Hah, it's no use once I break your concentration. // Dumb shit. / With an ability like yours, you've gotta finish it with the first strike, else you're done for.
Akira: Let go of Misao-neechan!!
Baldie: Shaddup.
Misao: Akira!!
Baldie: (But wait... this other brat must be the one with the power to make stuff invisible...)
Flashback!Akira: Now! Sure-Fire... // ...Invisible Rope!!
Baldie: (So why hasn't he even tried to use it...?)

51
[no text just oh shit all hell is about to break loose now]

52
Baldie: You little shits... removing the seals on the cage...!! // CLOSE!!

53
Baldie: Little brat... // Do you have ANY idea what you just... // (Paper seals... // No, that's useless... I won't make it!!) // Move it!! // OPEN!!
Misao: All right... // And now...

54
Akira: Don't be mean to Misao-neechan!!
Misao: Quick, Akira, let's get out of here!!
Akira: Yeah!
Misao: Quickly! // Quickly!! // [aside]wahh![/aside] // You okay?!
Akira: You've gotta come too, quick!
Misao: Yeah!!

55
Baldie: Not a chance.

56
Okuni: You're staying here? // Everybody else has left to search for the other boxes...
Yoshimori: Shaddup. // I don't take orders from outsiders.
Okuni: Oh, my... I don't recall giving you any orders.
Yoshimori: So, you figured out what's up with the box?
Okuni: It appears to be an ordinary box with a charm placed upon it. Though the charm itself is unique and extremely difficult to analyse. // But from what we have heard just now, // I can make an well-educated guess as to its purpose. // The one who is using this box... // ...most likely possesses an ability very similar to your own.

57
Misao: Let me go!!
Baldie: Little brat... // Stop struggling, girl!!
Misao: Noooo!! // Ahh...
[Chapter 138: The Box's True Nature]

58
Baldie: Agh... // !!
Misao: Nawata!!

59
Misao: Come on!!
Baldie: Ugh... // Wai -
Akira: Misao-neechan!!
Misao: *pant* // *pant* // *pant*

60
[no text just doom]

61
Akira: Misao-neechan...
Misao: Akira...

62
[Chapter 138: The Box's True Nature]

63
Hatori: Hm? / What do you mean?
Masamori: Like I said, the charm on the boxes just disappeared.
[box: Yagyou Headquarters]
Masamori: All of a sudden. // The ayakashi are still flitting around, // and we haven't checked every single box yet, but...
Hatori: And the children?
Masamori: No sign of them yet.
Hatori: ......? // Understood... we shall follow-up on our end as well.
Higurashi: Miki-sama. // Okuni-sama is calling everybody together...

64
Yoshimori: So... // What've you worked out?
Okuni: Well, let's see... // Let us take that box over there. // Go ahead.

65
Okuni: It seemed far too difficult to properly unravel the charm; as such, we simply destroyed it. / This is now but an ordinary box... // Well, take a look at the contents.
Yoshimori: "Four"? // [aside]it's ripped in two...[/aside]
Tokine: The number of the box...?
Okuni: Now, both ayakashi and humans have been seen to enter and leave these boxes. // What exactly could this mean...?

66
Okuni: To put it simply, // This box was not a container, // but rather some form of gateway.
Yoshimori: ? // You're trying to say this thing's connected to somewhere?
Okuni: You heard what I said earlier, did you not? // The one who created these boxes is like yourself... // ...one with the power to manipulate space.
Yoshimori: Huuuh? // What's that?
Okuni: Oh dear, oh dear... // Just this once... // Allow me to demonstrate a similar construction.

67
Yoshimori: ?!
Tokine: (Books...?)

68
Yoshimori: What... was that...?
Okuni: I just searched through my records. // I have deduced the identity of our perpetrator. // Since we know the characteristics of his ability, it was a simple matter.
Yoshimori: Huuuh?! / You know who did this?! // [aside]just like that?![/aside]
Hatori: (Okuni is the Warden of the Inner Study, home of the Urakai's most confidential records.)

69
Flashback!Masamori: She has freer access than any other to the vast quantities of information the Urakai keeps stored away. // She's the sort of person you definitely want on your side.
Hatori: (I see...) // Ah, Okuni-sama.
Okuni: Yes?
Hatori: I just heard from the Yagyou that the charms upon the boxes had suddenly and unexpectedly vanished... // What could this -
Okuni: I see... / A sudden, unnatural dispersal of the charm... // Perhaps the one who placed it has died.
Yoshimori: You think he's dead?!

70
Hatori: But... // The charm still seemed to be intact upon the boxes over here, correct?
Okuni: ......... // There is a fundamental limit to the range of the perpetrator's abilities. // Much power is necessary to twist space such as to connect two distant locations together. // If this perpetrator were one with strength enough to connect the Yagyou Headquarters all the way to Karasumori... // Then clearly, I would be aware of such a person's existence, would I not?

71
Hatori: You mean to say...
Okuni: I think that will be sufficient exposition.
Yoshimori: What the hell? / Didn't you say you were gonna solve all the mysteries?
Okuni: Indeed. And so I have. / However... // At what point did I ever state... // ...that I would relay my findings to you?
Yoshimori: Wh... // Whaaaaat?! // Stop screwing around, you old hag!! If you're gonna be like that, then get lost alre -

72-73
Everyone: !!

74
Tokine: Ayakashi...
Yoshimori: Four of them, from four directions!!
Madarao: And they're all huge!!
Okuni: Hohoho... allow me to remain an observer in this matter.
Reiji: I was just meant to cause a ruckus until dawn, but... // Screw that. // You punks killed my brother... // I'll show you hell.
[box: Twin Box Users (The Younger): Kakushino Reiji]

75
Yoshimori: Four ayakashi, from all four directions... // They didn't invade! They just... appeared. / They must have come out of boxes that were planted in advance...
Tokine: Sounds right. / How should we do this?
Hatori: We will lend you our aid.
[Chapter 139: The Four Ayakashi]
Yoshimori: Well, that makes four of us...
Okuni: Hoho... // Now, then... let's see how this turns out.

76-77
[Chapter 139: The Four Ayakashi]

78
Kekkaishi

79
Hatori: No. // The two of us shall provide cover for you. // You should be the ones to defeat the Ayakashi. // Higurashi.
Higurashi: Indeed.

80
Yoshimori: (That guy... is he a half-ayakashi...? // No, that's not it... // Rather than transforming his body itself, that looks more like some kind of magical force given substance...
Hatori: Well, then... // We will perform our duties from above.

81
Tokine: Yoshimori, I think we should split up! // I'll head this way!
Yoshimori: Fine by me... // Time to get started, then.

82
Hakubi: Hmmm... // That incredible reach could be an issue.
Tokine: "Reach"? // That doesn't even come into the equation. // Ketsu!!

83
Yoshimori: Ketsu!! // Guess your body's all that's big, huh?

84
Yoshimori: Ketsu!! // Metsu!!
Hatori: They don't even need our support...

85
Hatori: Fly.

86
Yoshimori: I saw it before during the Kokubourou attack, but... man, that's awesome. [aside]how does she do it?[/aside]
Madarao: Hm... there's one left.
Yoshimori: I'm on it.
Okuni: Hoho... // They've come this far easily enough... // But perhaps... / ...they should be thinking a little more about what their opponent, the box-user, is actually after...

87
Yoshimori: Where is it, Madarao?
Madarao: It won't stop moving around... // We must be dealing with a speedy one.
Yoshimori: Hah... / I'll just finish it in an instant, then.
Female: How cute you are, boy. // However... // I hate men.

88
Yoshimori: !!
Hakubi: The last one is over this way, Honey!
Tokine: (A human silhouette...?) // Hakubi, follow me.
Hakubi: Hmm?

89
Yoshimori: (I know I blocked it in time with my quasi-Zekkai... / What is this... hair?!)
Madarao: Yoshimori... // My power's draining away...
Yoshimori: Madarao?!

90
Female: If you don't mind, // My hair will be taking your life.
Yoshimori: (So what, she can suck out energy through these hairs?! // I put up my defenses but it didn't do a thing...

91
Female: I hate women, too.
Hatori: Higurashi!
Higurashi: She took my wing, that is all. // I can regenerate in no time.

92
Higurashi: Could it be a humanoid ayakashi?
Hatori: No... if it were truly humanoid, it would take on a more appropriate appearance. // ! // Look.
Yoshimori: !! / Oh, crap! // Ketsu!!

93
Hatori: I see... the perfect type to send into Karasumori. // Its movements are quick, it's difficult to catch, // it hates humans, and loves to fight, // and best of all, it can steal energy from those around it... // ...so it'll be quick to transform.

94
Yoshimori: Ketsu! // Ketsu! / Aahh!!

95
Yoshimori: (Man, this last one's a toughie...)
Reiji: Oh, my... that one nearly got me... // But no matter... that was a nice little gift my current client gave me... // It's certainly able to kick up a ruckus. // Should be enough... // ...to hold them up quite nicely.

96
[no text just creepy]

97
Client: There's something I'd like you to take care of for me.
[Chapter 140: Cocoon]
Client: I've heard that you... two... // ...should be able to organise a hidden-away, safe and secure location to keep it for me.
Reiji: ...... / The contract's a monthly deal. // We have the room to spare, but... / the price will depend on what the item is.
Client: ...... // The truth is, / I meddled in certain forbidden techniques... // The techniques in question are used to artificially create a battle-type ayakashi... // I intended to abort the process in its initial stages, but...

98
Client: It seems to have developed a little further than I anticipated...
[Chapter 140: Cocoon]
Client: Oh, it shouldn't be all that difficult to take care of. // After all, it shouldn't really develop unless taken to highly sacred ground.

99
Yoshimori: Ketsu!! // Ketsu!! // Wait up~!!
Reiji: (Yes, you just keep on chasing after her. // Originally, all we were to do... / ...was kick up a little fuss, make sure the Urakai inspection didn't go smoothly... // You brought this upon yourself.)

100
Reiji: (My beloved brother... // He was everything to me. // It is as though you destroyed half of my own body... // Can you fathom that pain...?!)

101
Reiji: (Even amongst all the items we have in our care, that cocoon is especially dangerous. // Oh, it made us a fair sum of cash, but then the guy who gave it to us ran for it. // It's too dangerous; a difficult item to get rid of even for us, but...)
Yoshimori: Wahh!!
Reiji: (That kid... // The Yagyou chief's younger brother... // I'll let you have it.)

102
Hakubi: He doesn't have a scent.
Tokine: Bingo. // (This guy... // ...is the one who set up the boxes... // He spotted us! // Wait -)

103
Tokine: (Gone?! // ! // The teacher's desk's at an angle!)

104
Tokine: (This thing... different number, but it's just like the one inside that box...)
Flashback!Okuni: ...some form of gateway...
Tokine: (So he went through here... to somewhere? // But then... // If what Okuni said was accurate... // This "gate"... // Couldn't it be pretty similar to the "path" that my grandmother made to Kurosusuki...?)

105
Tokine: (I remember what it felt like back then... // I might be able to get something from this...) // ......
Hakubi: Worked anything out?
Tokine: Be quiet, just wait a moment... // (I can certainly sense the framework... // If I just try to align with its wavelength...)

106
Tokine: Ahh! // Huh?
Reiji: Not good... // (That's not too far from the place I left the cocoon... // I don't want them finding it just yet... // That Yukimura girl... // She shouldn't be able to get me in here, but their abilities are well-suited for battle... one-on-one, I couldn't handle her.) // Dammit!!

107
Reiji: (That girl... // She'll probably still be right by the exit to this number. // I'll just send another ayakashi through here at her. // It'll be dangerously near the cocoon... but if I send a fast one, it should at least make a good distraction...)
Tokine: Ahh! // ...Huh?

108
Hakubi: Whoa, whoa, whoa! // You're going in there?! // Ughh... // Honey... whenever Yoshi's not around... / You do tend to go a little too far...! // What now...? / Will she come back...?

109
Yoshimori: HOLD IIIIIT!! // Ahh!

110
Hatori: Tch! // It recovers fast!!
Yoshimori: No... / Now's my chance!!

111
Yoshimori: Ketsu!! // Metsu!! // All right!!

112
Yoshimori: !! // Wha -

113
Yoshimori: (Don't tell me... // ...the hairs themselves are the main body...?)

114
Yoshimori: ?!
Okuni: Oh, my... // That is...

115
[Chapter 141: Kurokabuto]
Yoshimori: Agh!
Hatori: Higurashi.
Higurashi: Yes.

116-117
[Chapter 141: Kurokabuto]
Yoshimori: ?!

118
Kekkaishi

119
Yoshimori: It's eating it...? // What is the great big armoured thing...?

120
Okuni: "Kurokabuto"...
[TN: Literally, "Black Helmet"]
Okuni: Because of its extreme threat level, the means of its creation were forbidden, and sealed away. // A secret confined to the Inner Study... // To think... // There was still one who knew that secret...

121
[no text just weird]

122
Hatori: To think they were hiding a thing like that... // But it's not actually complete. // Look, / only the upper body is fully-formed. // We'll take that chance to eliminate it.

123
Reiji: No... // Even my brother could not simply penetrate my gates in this way...
Tokine: Ketsu!!
Reiji: Ugh!!

124
Reiji: Open!!
Tokine: !
Reiji: Close!!

125
Tokine: ! // A wall...
Reiji: Don't mess around with me... // You may be a Kekkaishi or whatever... // but this space belongs to me. // Hm... // She's trapped in there now.

126
Yoshimori: Man... that Hatori-san's more ruthless than she looks... [aside]kinda like Tokine...[/aside]

127
Yoshimori: Oh, shit... // Not only is it not working... / the armour seems to be evolving!

128
Yoshimori: Metsu!! // Not a scratch!
Hatori: If we get caught, we get eaten.
Higurashi: Indeed.

129
Higurashi: ?! // The spot where he hit me is rotting away...?! // Miki-sama! / Looks like we shouldn't touch him, either!

130
Hatori: Higurashi?!
Higurashi: My apologies, I just need to head down!
Yoshimori: It grew a left arm...?! // ! // What's with the way all the walls nearby are turning black...? // Looks kinda nasty - // GUAAHHH!!

131
Yoshimori: I'm not gonna get crushed by a thing like that!! // (Huh? // Wait a minute! // If he falls from there... // He'll land outside the school...

132
Yoshimori: Not- // -a- / -frea- // -king-

133
Yoshimori: -CHANCE!! // (Hell...)

134
Yoshimori: If... // If something like this were to get out into the city... // ...I don't even wanna think about it!!
Okuni: The Kurokabuto was originally a failed creation... / Without taking heed of any orders, it would merely seek out new foes and destroy indiscriminately... // If it remains here in Karasumori... / It will become complete... and it's only a matter of time before it reaches its full potential... // This wouldn't end... // ...at a single town...

135
Okuni: The one behind all this... // Since he waited for me to come here for an inspection to send assassins to both the Yagyou and Karasumori, // I have a good idea who it might be... // but even for Ougi-san... // ...this has gone too far.

136
[Chapter 142: Responsibility]

137
Yoshimori: Weren't you just going to watch?
Okuni: That was indeed my intention... // but I had not imagined they would possess something of this nature.
Hatori: You know something of this beast?
Okuni: It is known as Kurokabuto. // An ayakashi created by humankind in ancient times as a tool of war. // However, it was a failure. / It would heed no master, instead merely deciding on an "enemy" and attacking of its own accord. // If it is allowed to develop to completion... / it will continue its rampage until it has consumed all of its own demonic power. // If it comes to that, it will not end at mere casualties... // ...entire towns could very well be laid to waste in a flash.

138
Okuni: As such, // I suggest that the most prudent course of action, / would be to get it out of here before that happens and seal it away.
Yoshimori: Seal?
Okuni: Yes... at its current level, destroying it would be exceptionally difficult.
Yoshimori: Sealing it... can you do that?!
Okuni: I can make an attempt, at least.
Yoshimori: You're kidding... // We can't let something like that out of here if you're not even sure you can seal it! // Doesn't it have some kind of weak point?!
Okuni: It does not. // It was deemed far too dangerous to be of any practical use in battle. // Both its offensive and defensive capacities are inordinate, / and even the very demonic power oozing forth from its body destroys anything that comes near.

139
Okuni: It was born not for battle... // ...but for the sake of pure destruction.
Yoshimori: I'm gonna... // ...come up with something.
Hatori: Yoshimori-kun?!
Okuni: Do you have some kind of plan?
Yoshimori: How am I meant to know until I fight the thing some more?!!

140
Yoshimori: If worst comes to worst... // I'll see what I can do with the power of Karasumori itself.
Okuni: The power of Karasumori...?
Yoshimori: Whoa!

141
Hatori: Yoshimori-kun. // Personally, I support Okuni's suggestion...
Yoshimori: ......
Hatori: ...... // What was that you were saying about Karasumori's power?
Yoshimori: There've been times when... I've felt it. / It was the same back then, with Shishio. // When somebody truly desires death, or actually accepts it, it lends them its power... // So I think... it's a bit cruel, but if I can somehow make that thing want to die...
Hatori: And how would you do that?
Yoshimori: That's what I need to figure out...

142
Yoshimori: Metsu!! // (All right! // Looks like it can be harmed within the armour...) // Wha - ?! // Dammit... // It's getting bigger and bigger!
Hakubi: Yoshi!
Yoshimori: Hakubi?!

143
Hakubi: It's terrible! // Honey went in the box and -
Yoshimori: Hakubi?! // (Tokine... // ...was eaten by the box?!)

144
Yoshimori: (Here I go!) // Houi!! // Jouso... // (If I make my target inside the armour...) // Metsu!!

145
Yoshimori: ...... // (It's definitely working... but it just regenerates in an instant... // In that case...!) // Metsu! // Metsu! // Metsu!! // Metsu! / Metsu!! // Metsu! // Metsu!! / Metsu!! // (Just like back when you ate that hair-demon thing... / I just have to destroy you faster than you can grow back!!) // Metsu!!

146
Okuni: Oh, my... // Now, this is quite something. // (His fighting style, with its reckless expenditure of power... // ...made viable by his own nature... // ...and also... // ...the sheer hubris possessed only by those chosen few.)
Yoshimori: Metsu!! // Metsu!!

147
Yoshimori: I don't have the time to waste... // ...messin' around with you!! // Metsu! // Metsu!! // Metsu!!! // Metsu! // Metsu!! // Metsu!! // Metsu! // Metsu!! / Metsu!! // Metsu!! / Metsu!! / Metsu! // Metsu! // Metsu!!! // Metsu! / Metsu!! // (Just you wait, Tokine... // I'll take care of this punk in no time...) // METSU!!!

148
Yoshimori: Heh... // Would ya look at that.
Okuni: (This boy... // ...truly is a suitable opponent for this beast... // However, even so...)
Yoshimori: (...take him out... // ...in no time...)

149
Yoshimori: !
Hatori: Yoshimori-kun, // You just can't do this!

150-151
Yoshimori: Please, let me down.
Hatori: Hm?

152
Yoshimori: I'm not done yet. // Just now, I got a glimpse of the real scope of what I'm fighting for.
Hatori: Yoshimori-kun?!

153
[Chapter 143: Distortion]

154
Yoshimori: Metsu!!

155
Yoshimori: I made a decision! // That I'd never stand by and watch anyone get hurt here again... // That I'd protect it all! // The whole town... // I'd never really thought about it on that kind of scale, but...
Flashback!Kaguro: As your feelings grow stronger, so do your kekkai...
Flashback!Takeshi: My kind of techniques draw strength from the user's feelings...
Yoshimori: (That's right!)

156
Yoshimori: (My heart mustn't waver! // I have to keep my heart stout and firm!! // If I just manage that... // I can always get all the strength I need!!)
Higurashi: ...Incredible... // His power is even greater now than it was before.

157
Flashback!Yoshimori: Just now, I got a glimpse of the real scope of what I'm fighting for.
Hatori: (Just a moment ago he was struggling hopelessly... // ...but through sheer resolve, he's changed this much...?!)
Flashback!Masamori: My little brother... well, he can be a little erratic... // But there are times when he manages to really concentrate... // ...and when he does, he can surpass himself many times over in an instant and show incredible growth. // Hell, even I get the sensation once in a while of suddenly clearing a huge flight of stairs... // ...But that's probably just my imagination. // If I could do something like that... // ...it'd be hopping swiftly up one step at a time. // But the way he goes about it... // ...that, I could never do.

158
Hatori: Yoshimori-kun!
Yoshimori: Hm!

159
Okuni: My, my... // I suppose we won't get to see the full extent of his abilities just yet. // He has certainly displayed promise... but my worries, my reservations, remain intact... // The issue is simple... // His abilities have simply not yet matured. // Indeed, in that particular respect... // One might say the Yukimura girl has the distinct edge.

160
Tokine: (If this is a space created through his abilities... / ...then everything in here is under his dominion. // I was unable to damage this wall using my kekkai... I could keep trying to break it through sheer force, but I don't know how much use that would be. // On the other hand, if this is a creation of his... // I should be able to "read" it and slip through it like I did before!) // ...... // (But it certainly feels rather different somehow from that gateway...)
Yoshimori: Metsu!!
Hatori: There's a crack in the armour!

161
Hatori: He might just do this... // Let's lend him our support!
Yoshimori: Metsu! // Metsu!! // Metsu!!!
Hatori: (What's this...? // There's some kind of distortion in the air around him...)

162
Shigemori: Madaraooo!! / What the hell is that huge armour-type thing?!
Madarao: Don't ask me... but whatever it is, its power is ridiculous...
Shigemori: Ugh, can't you be any more specific?!!
Madarao: [aside]I don't have the strength right now~~[/aside]
Shigemori: Well, I'll be able to see just how nasty it is once I get a closer look! // If we can't destroy it, we may end up having to bring it outside of Karasumori!! // If it comes to that... / ...we could be in trouble. // Tokiko, // if worst comes to worst, are you ready to lend me your power?

163
Tokiko: !
Shigemori: Guahh... this is... // Yoshimori?!
Hatori: Yoshimori-kun! / Wait a moment! // Stop! // (It's no good... he's not hearing me at all!)

164
Okuni: ...! // (His sheer levels of concentration are throwing the space around him into disorder... // This is incredible... // I had underestimated him... // This could be bad...!)
Yoshimori: Metsu!! // Metsu!!

165
Yoshimori: (Just a bit more!!) // ?!

166
Yoshimori: The hell are you doing...?
Okuni: Emergency measures... I have seen fit to restrain you by force. // Listen to me; at this rate, you may well destroy the town yourself -
Yoshimori: Shut up! Don't get in my way!! // I don't have time for you right now!
Okuni: (This is no time to be holding back... // I must use my full strength to restrain him!!)
Yoshimori: Just get off me, all right?! // Don't you get it?! / If I don't do this quickly -

167
Yoshimori: (The hell is she playing at?!! // At this rate, that thing...! // I can't take this...) // More... // (Just standing by and watching... / Not being able to do a thing...) // More and more... // (I can't take it!!) // Give me more power...!!

168
Okuni: Aahh! // Impossible!
Yoshimori: I told you, don't get in my way...

169
Yoshimori: (?! // What... is this...? // Yet... somehow... // I feel like I'm flooded with power...)
Okuni: What is it now?
Yoshimori: Just some weird stuff twining round me! / Nothing to do with you!
Okuni: "Weird stuff"?
Yoshimori: (?! / Don't tell me... she can't see it?!)

170
Yoshimori: (What's this...? // Why's it all over him, as well...?)
Okuni: Aahh... // Kurokabuto is complete...

171
Yoshimori: (This stuff... // ...what is it? // But... I've felt something like this before. // At the eleventh hour, the sensation of being flooded with so much power I lost sight of myself within it... // Have I just... // ...not been able to see it up until now? // No... // But, why...? // Because this stuff... // It has to be...)

172
Yoshimori: (Karasumori's own power...!!)
[Chapter 144: Complete]
Yoshimori: (Isn't it meant to just work on ayakashi?! // What's it doing around me...?!)

173
Yoshimori: (...Who cares?! // If it's helping me out... // ...I ain't gonna complain!) // Metsu!!

174
Hatori: (He made a hole?! // What is... this power...? // He was stopped by Okuni, but his power just increased still further...)
Yoshimori: (Good... / But not enough... // More... // Give me more.)

175
Yoshimori: There! // Whoa! // It's not like the power's welling up inside me... // ...more like the power's flooding all around me... // If were to... // ...stay like this, just basking in this power... // ? // What would... happen to me...?

176
Yoshimori: (Huh?! // It's gone?! // No... // Why...?)

177
Yoshimori: Why, dammit?! / Before, it was all around me...! // (Was it because I was a little unsure?! // Or because he wanted it more than I did?! // Why...?!)
Okuni: We should give up. // Kurokabuto can no longer be stopped.
Yoshimori: Damn you...
Okuni: However, we cannot allow it to rampage here. // I should at least be able to blast the Kurokabuto away to a deep mountain region where there are no people. // Then we should be able to mobilise the Urakai against it properly.
Yoshimori: No... // I can still...

178
Okuni: You cannot. // The incomplete Kurokabuto is like a mewling infant... // It wishes to grow, and moves with that sole objective in mind. // Do you understand what I am saying? // You may have been putting your all into this... // But Kurokabuto... // ...has not even been trying to fight this entire time. // Now that it is complete... // ...it will go into battle mode. // One such as yourself, who has yet to even develop true control over his own power... // ...would be in the greatest of danger.

179
Hatori: (Is Okuni planning something...? // At this rate, Karasumori will be deemed too much for the Kekkaishi to handle... // But still...

180-181
[no text just awesome artwork]

182
Shigemori: What is that...?

183
Yoshimori: Its eyes changed colour?!
Okuni: (It has entered battle mode!)

184
Yoshimori: (A blade...)
Okuni: (It is seeking out a target...?!)

185
Okuni: (I must hurry... // My preparations are still not fully complete... // Kurokabuto is sure to end up targeting the town...!)
Yoshimori: Dammit... // Karasumori... // Fine! Who cares about your stupid katana!! // COME AT ME!!

186
Yoshimori: ?!

187
Okuni: This is...
Yoshimori: (Could it... // Could it possibly be... // picking a fight with Karasumori?!)

188
Okuni: (It identified Karasumori as its enemy...? // Certainly, Kurokabuto is... // ...an immense being... perhaps it was seeking out an immense enemy to match...? // But fundamentally... // ...it was created to destroy humans and human creations... / ...It should be following that directive... // What on Earth... // ...could this possibly mean...?)
[TN: Well, let's think really hard about this. It couldn't possibly mean that Karasumori was created by humans, as the series has already practically stated, could it? No... never. That would just be silly. </heavysarcasm>]
[Kekkaishi 15: Fin]

189
OMAKE MANGA - special report
Yellow: Anime is awesome~!
[Text: TV Anime Conversion]
Narration: Everybody, did you know? Well, to be honest, this is probably how a fair few of you actually learned about the series, but - Kekkaishi has become a TV anime!
[Label: HDTV]
Yellow: Hi~
Narration: And in primetime, too. I must admit, I was just all like "Are you sure?!" when they made me the offer. I think somebody must have pulled some strings behind the scenes or something... // Anyway, I've been flooded with phone calls, emails, letters, telegrams, all sorts of congratulations from all sides. / Thank you all so very much. Making everybody so happy is what makes me the happiest. // I've been having even more people than usual worrying about my health, but my day-to-day life hasn't really changed too much.
[Label: Lady from the neighbourhood who I ran into when taking out the rubbish]
Lady: Don't you even get time to sleep?
Yellow: No... I wouldn't say that...
Narration: Speaking of which, one of my assistants...
Assistant: So yeah, my parents were all like "He's already drawing a weekly manga and now he has to draw an anime as well... must be tough!" / ...I couldn't be bothered to explain, so I just kind of left it.
Yellow: You should tell them...
Narration: ...told me an interesting story, so... // I thought I should just make this clear...
Yellow: Yeah, right!
Narration: I really don't draw the anime!

190
Narration: Manga and anime are produced in totally different ways, and in particular, manga can be produced by just a small team, whilst anime requires huge numbers of people to produce.
[Label: Just look at all the names in the OP and ED - all those people were involved in making it!]
Yellow: Whoa, so many!
[Label: Well, my name's in there too, though!]
Narration: But yes, it's all far too large-scale for me.
Yellow: Leave the anime to the pros.
Narration: Besides, I have my hands full with the weekly manga. // Anyway, film is what you'd call a composite art - you have to factor in sound and animation and colour and all that... // ...so it has a distinctly different feel to manga, which is purely visual, and almost entirely in black-and-white. // With sound and colour and special effects, they can come up with all sorts of flashy action scenes...
Yellow: Man, couldn't do this stuff in a manga...
Narration: ...Yeah, it's actually kind of painful... but...
Yellow: (But I guess they can't do stuff like inserting giant frames, and they don't have all that freedom to do whatever they like with every nook and cranny of all that space, right?)
Narration: ...whilst there is something of a sense of competition in there, I do think that it's nice how manga, with its exclusive use of visuals and text, leaves a lot more up to the reader's imagination. // At any rate, if you can enjoy it in both forms, I think that's what makes me the happiest!
[Label: By the way, you can spot these penguin faces here and there in the anime... they're a little hard to spot though... doesn't it kind of... get to you?]
Narration: Well then, everyone, I hope you continue to enjoy the series!