Kekkaishi Volume 18

[TN: I do believe that with this release, I've translated more chapters of Kekkaishi than I have of any other series. Go Kekkaishi~! ^^ It's also easily the quickest I've ever got a volume translation out... hell, I translated this entire volume in just over a single day.]

1
Kekkaishi
18
Tanabe Yellow

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.
Whilst helping his elder brother Masamori with his work, Yoshimori was drawn into the Shin'yuuchi... and what awaited him there was the man Masamori had been chasing, Mudou!
Mudou, who had abandoned his humanity and become an ayakashi, absorbed a huge mass of power from the master of the Shin'yuuchi!! He showed them his overwhelming power; even the two Sumimura brothers together were no match for him.
When things were at their grimmest, and Mudou was readying the final blow, Masamori attempted to let Yoshimori escape and then close off the Shin'yuuchi permanently... but then...!! Masamori was drawn into the engulfing darkness alongside Mudou... things don't look good!!

Kekkaishi 18 - Contents
Chapter 165: Promise - 3
Chapter 166: Traitor - 21
Chapter 167: Mind-Reading - 39
Chapter 168: Intelligence Unit - 57
Chapter 169: Kagemiya Sen - 75
Chapter 170: Arrival - 93
Chapter 171: Covert Action - 111
Chapter 172: Panic - 133
Chapter 173: Gathering - 151
Chapter 174: Four-Corner Formation - 169

3
[Chapter 165: Promise]
Masamori: (Everything's gone. // "Up"... // "Down"... // I can't tell what's what anymore. // I have to get out of here, quickly...)

4
Masamori: (This is worse than I'd imagined...) // *pant*
Flashback!Mudou: (...to take that power for yourself... // ...before someone else does...?)
Masamori: (I don't have the time to be thinking about that. // I'm already nearing my limit. // I must hurry... // First, I have to establish a definite foothold...) // Kurohime.

5
Masamori: Do this for me. // Some kind of trace of the path that brought us here... a tiny tear where the boundaries of this place are weak... / It doesn't matter what, just find the nearest place that we might be able to use as an exit. // Just for a moment, I'm going to create the largest shadow I can muster right now. // Use that instant to find it.

6
Masamori: This place should work, right?! // (I don't make a habit of using charms like these... / But right now, they're better than nothing... // This better work...!)

7
Masamori: Calm down... concentrate! // It doesn't have to be as perfect as the path Tokiko-san created when we went to Kokubourou... / I just have to create a path stable enough to hold a single person...)

8
Masamori: Ngh... // *pant* // *pant* // *pant* // (Shit...!! / My pride, my immaturity... it's all detestable...) // *pant* // (But... // I can't allow myself to die here......!!

9
Masamori: (An exit?!) // *pant* // *pant* // *pant* // *pant* // *pant*

10
Masamori: (My body feels heavy. // My head feels heavy.) // *pant* // (Ahh... the darkness is so close...) // *pant* // *pant* // (It's no use... I'm getting faint... /// I want to sleep.) // *pant* // *pant* // (Come to think of it... what am I even doing here...? // That far-off light... // ...what lies beyond it...? // Ah, who cares... // No... I'm sure there was something... // ...important...)

11
[no text]

12
Yoshimori: Hello, Aniki?! // Hey, Aniki!! // Are you there, Aniki?! / Hello?! Hello?!! // Aniki!! // ANSWER ME, DAMMIT!!
Masamori: .........ah, shaddup...

13
Yoshimori: Aniki?! Is that you?!
Masamori: Oh, just be quiet already...
Yoshimori: You're the one who told me to call you!!
Masamori: ......... // ...Huh?
Flashback!Masamori: You need to call me out of the depths.
Masamori: Oh, right... // So... / You kept your promise, then...
Yoshimori: You're alive... right?!
Masamori: Just about.
Yoshimori: Wheeeeeew!! // Honestly, what's wrong with you...?! // And what about that other guy?! / Did you beat him?!
Masamori: Mm... well, it was the master who did it really... / I kind of feel like... I lost the fight, but...
Yoshimori: You lost~?!

14
Masamori: I hadn't expected him to still be... / ...quite so human... // I guess that's why... // ...he seemed so much better, at the Urakai...
Yoshimori: Huh?
Masamori: Ahh, sorry, just thinking out loud.
Yoshimori: ......... / You know... after saying all that stuff... // ...why did you still end up getting me to safety first...? // I wish you'd stop doing that...
Masamori: And what... about you? // Back then... when I'd turned my back on you... / ...and ended up in trouble myself... // ...what did you think?
Yoshimori: What did I...? / [aside]can't really remember too well...[/aside]
Masamori: You wanted to save me despite everything...?

15
Yoshimori: I... / Well, I just can't stand it, you know... // Seeing people get hurt... // That's why... // No matter how you felt about me, that didn't matter...
Masamori: (He says "I can't stand it"... but with him, it isn't really rejection at all... // That kekkai... if I were to guess, I'd say it comes from the will to protect... // It really is... nothing like my own Zekkai, which can do nothing but destroy...) // Yoshimori. // The stuff I said back there... it was all just lies.
Yoshimori: Huh?
Masamori: I lied. // So don't worry about it, okay?

16
Masamori: You know, you really aren't an easy guy to work with, are you? / I came up with all sorts of plans, and even acted out all that crap...
Yoshimori: Huh... // [aside]really...?![/aside]
Masamori: ...but thanks to you, it was all completely pointless. / I guess in the end, there's nothing to do but laugh about it, huh? / [aside]ahahahahahah![/aside]
Yoshimori: The hell's that... you're blaming me...? / I mean, I am sorry for not exactly following your orders and stuff... / [aside]*mumble mumble*[/aside]
Masamori: No, that's fine. // I'd say... you're all right. // Just as you are. // I mean, in the end, // you did help me out a hell of a lot.
Yoshimori: Huh? / I don't get what you're saying...
Masamori: [aside]heheh...[/aside] / Like I said, you helped me out back there. // (I think I've finally figured it out myself... // The reason why I brought you here...)

17
Masamori: (Just as long as you stay that way, kind to the point of stupidity... // I'll always be able to look at myself properly. // When I look at you, I can understand... // ...just how twisted I really am... // And even if only a little... / I might be able to come to my senses.) // This time round... / You really saved my ass, in all sorts of ways... // That master, especially... / That was a nasty business...
Yoshimori: ......... // What... happened to the master?

18
Masamori: Good point... // As for that Shin'yuuchi... / Well, I'll think of something... // Hey, Yoshimori.
Yoshimori: Mm?
Masamori: The thing is... I can't actually seem to move at all right now.
Yoshimori: WHAAA?!
Masamori: [aside]hehehehe...[/aside] // Sorry, but... would you mind coming over here?
Yoshimori: What are you, some kind of idiot?! / You should say stuff like that sooner!! Where are you?!!
Masamori: Dear me... I seem to have ended up in a pretty uncool sort of place... / [aside]heheh...[/aside] / You won't laugh, right?
Yoshimori: Shaddup! Just tell me where you are already!!

19
Yoshimori: Mukade-san! // Help me out here... this guy's real damn heavy...
Mukade: Chief...?! // Aaahhh... Aaaahhhhhh...
Yoshimori: No, he's okay... / He's not dead... / He's not dead, all right?! // Nnhh...

20
Yoshimori: Ahhhh... // Morning already...? // (With that face in his sleep, he really does look like he's dead...) // [aside]kinda pisses me off...[/aside]

21
[Chapter 166: Traitor]

22
[no text just bird]

23
Tan'yuu: (What's this...? // The world has suddenly begun to stabilise...)

24
Tan'yuu: Ahh...

25
[Chapter 166: Traitor]
Servants: Tan'yuu-sama!

26
Yoshimori: Yeah, so according to Aniki... // Thanks to the shrine that was originally just one getting split into two... / ...the Shin'yuuchi connected to them got all unstable and stuff... // So, / Apparently Aniki's put them back together properly, and stabilised them or something... // You get it?
Tokine: Pretty much...
Yoshimori: So yeah... / Entering into other dimensional spaces, fixing them up where they've weakened, recreating them and stuff... / ...that's part of a Kekkaishi's power too, isn't it... // Which means, I can do it too, right?!
Tokine: Depends how hard you try, I'd say...

27
Madarao: (What's he plotting now...?)
Yoshimori: (Huh... I bet I could use this stuff to seal Karasumori, yeah...?) // But you know... // That Aniki, there's something real weird about him...
Tokine: Hm?
Yoshimori: I mean, he was covered in wounds, and he was tired out to the point where he couldn't even move... / But then on the phone today, he told me he'd made a "complete recovery"...
Flashback!Masamori: Yeah, I'm fine now! // [aside]ahahahah[/aside]
Yoshimori: I mean, it hasn't even been three days! // And when I called him a liar, / he just said "Oh, I have my ways and means", and chuckled at me! // What's with that?! // He's making an idiot of me, I'm sure of it! // Dammit, he pisses me off... // [aside]*mutter mutter*[/aside]

28
Yoshimori: Well, in the end, the Shin'yuuchi didn't lose all its power or anything, though... // I hope it's regenerated all right... / [aside]it was a pretty nice place, after all...[/aside] // Oi. // What're you laughing about?
Tokine: [aside]hee hee[/aside] // Don't worry... // I'm sure it's going just fine!
Yoshimori: [aside]eh?[/aside] // Yeah... // ...I guess.
Tokine: Uh-huh! / I mean, you both worked so hard, and together! // (I'm so glad... / Yoshimori never used to talk about Masamori-san like this before at all... // Maybe the two of them are getting on a little better...?)
Yoshimori: ......... / But what're you looking all happy about?

29
Yomi: ......... // Could you possibly stop guzzling your parfait like that?

30
Masamori: Why don't you have one too, Kasuga-san? // [aside]my treat.[/aside]
Yomi: To meet up with you and even eat the same thing you're eating... / I'd rather die! // Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't call you "tounyou" instead of "touryou".
[TN: "Touryou" = "Chief", "Tounyou" = "diabetes"]
Masamori: Why, Kasuga-san, you actually have a sense of humour!
Yomi: ...Have you lost weight? // Or perhaps you're just worn out?
Masamori: Are you actually worrying about me?
Yomi: Yeah, right. // Oh, could I have some tea?
Masamori: Well, let's get down to business.

31
Masamori: I think it's about time... // I started actually giving you some proper work to do.
Yomi: ......... / What do you mean?
Masamori: Well, up until now, I've only ever given you little independent tasks... // But I'm starting to think... / ...I really ought to get you to start properly contributing to activities, for the sake of the whole...
Yomi: Don't you mean for your sake?
Masamori: For the sake of improving the organisation. // From here on out... // We're probably going to have to start taking on a whole lot of nastier, more dangerous action, so... // I'm thinking... / ...of completely restructuring the Yagyou.

32
[box: Yagyou Headquarters]
People: Welcome back!
Kids: Ah!

33
Kids: Welcome ho~~~~me!!
Sazanami: Hey there, kids! // How've you been doing?
Kids: [aside]fine! fine![/aside]
Guy: Haven't seen you for a while... // Sazanami-san.
Sazanami: Yeah, // they sent me quite the way out into the back-country. // Well, / I guess this place never changes, though.
Kids: Sazanami~! Let's play football! / Football!
Sazanami: No, no, I'm pretty tired just now. / Maybe later, okay?
Kids: [aside]awww~[/aside]

34
Sazanami: Aah - why, you - / Get off me!
Kids: [aside]c'mon~![/aside] // Sazanami~! Didja bring us presents~?! // [aside]well~?[/aside]
People: [aside]hahahah[/aside]
Sazanami: Yes, yes, okay! / You'll get your presents, so calm down, okay?
Kids: [aside]ya~~~y![/aside]
Sazanami: Don't go fighting now!
Kids: [aside]ya~y! a new ball~~![/aside]
[TN: Yay, I see Misao-chan~!♡]
People: Ahh... Sazanami-san? // Did you get something for us, too...?
Sazanami: Oh, yeah. // You won't believe the treasures I've got for you this time!
People: [aside]aaaahhh![/aside]
Sazanami: I don't have many of 'em, but they're top-quality stuff. // So don't complain, yeah? // We have Western women... // We have married women... / ...we have female teachers...
People: [aside]ahhhhh[/aside]
[DVD: Treasure DVD]
Sazanami: And the prize of the bunch... a real live kunoichi.
People: REAL LIVE KUNOICHI?!
Hatori: (They seem awfully excited about something...)

35
Hatori: Welcome back, Sazanami-san.
Sazanami: Ahh, Vice-Chief.
Hatori: The Chief isn't here right now, / but he should be back by evening.
Sazanami: Yeah, // gotcha.
Sen: Sazanami-san!!
Sazanami: Hey, Sen. // You seem well.

36
Yomi: Huh... // So you've finally called him back?
Masamori: Mm, / well. // Your own position is going to be changing, too, and it won't be the only thing to change.
Yomi: I must say, I was a little surprised. // I would have thought you the type to make a decision of that sort much sooner. // Perhaps what they say about you being kind to your nakama... // ...isn't true after all...?

37
Yomi: But it was thanks to you leaving him unchecked that unnecessary information was leaked to the outside... // ...those Kokubourou or whatever took advantage of us... / ...and in the end, there were sacrifices. // Say what you like, / but you can't deny the fact... // ...that your nakama have died for you in the past. // Deciding that you want to settle things with the traitor Number Three after all this time... / ...was there any reason behind it?
Masamori: Not really.

38
Sazanami: Sen. // How's your training?
Sen: Well, // I've been keeping it up.
Sazanami: You haven't said anything to anybody, right? // You haven't tried it out on anybody, right?
Sen: No...
Sazanami: Good... / Time for our first training session in a while, I think.
[box: Sazanami Kei / Member of the Yagyou, operations squad of the Urakai / Leader of the Intelligence Unit]
Sazanami: Let's head outside.
[box: De facto Number Three of the Yagyou]

39
[Chapter 167: Mind-Reading]
Sazanami: And you really haven't tried it out on anybody?
Sen: Huh?!
Sazanami: I'll know even if you lie, you know. // Well, at any rate, / I'm not sure I care for your attitude. // You should try and cultivate more of a poker-face.
Sen: Yessir...
Sazanami: I should certainly hope... / ...you haven't been making the Yagyou suspicious.
Sen: No problems there, sir! // I... / Whenever the Yagyou are around, I only ever do "image training"!
Sazanami: What have I said about your face and your manner...?

40
Sazanami: Well, I guess as long as there's no malice in it, they won't really suspect you. // They know that you're a receptive person, and that you've got sharp senses... // So just like how they know I'm a practitioner of hypnosis and brainwashing, // you have some decent camouflage. // Nobody's gonna suspect... // ...that both of us... / ...can read what lies in the depths of people's very minds.
[Chapter 167: Mind-Reading]

41
Sazanami: So, who'd you test it on?
Sen: Just a few random complete strangers...
Sazanami: And did it go well?
Sen: Well, I could tell what lay on the surface... // But most of it was just stuff that I could tell easily enough just by looking at their faces, // and it was all in bits and pieces, all mixed up...
Sazanami: That's why it's so important that you hone your senses. // You need to be able to screen out all the unimportant stuff. // Picking out the important nuggets is what this stuff's all about. // Besides which, / it's not like we can read every little thing. // We have to fill in the gaps with our own deductive skills. // Hmm... // Ah, / there's a good subject, just over there.

42
Sen: (Ahh... / She looks like she could leap off the edge at any moment...)
Sazanami: You see her, yeah? / Woman looking out over the lake, blatantly deep in thought. // C'mon. // I'll show you how it's done. // Now, me, my limit's about ten metres. / I'll have to get a little closer to the target. // Sen, / what kind of range have you got right now?

43
Sen: I've managed around fifty metres during my training. / I think I should be able to stretch it a little further than that. // Demonic presences are easier, and I can stretch it further still, / but humans are much harder to read...
Sazanami: Heh... / Good stuff. // Well, I'm gonna head out there. / You see what you can manage to pick up from where you are.
Sen: (I haven't seen Sazanami-san doing this in a long time...)

44
Sen: (! // He's started!)

45
Sen: (He's got her... / He's just as smooth and perfect as ever...)

46
Sen: (Aahh, he's quick. / I should hurry up and get something too - let's see...)

47
Sen: Sazanami-san!
Sazanami: Sen, / What did you get from her?
Sen: Eh - ... // Well... // Meat-and-potato stew... and sweet-and-sour pork...?
Sazanami: Yep. // And?
Sen: She was... / ...she was mulling over what to cook for dinner tonight, I think...?
Sazanami: Mm, yeah, that's right.

48
Sazanami: Anything else?
Sen: Well, / I picked up this image of a middle-aged man...
Sazanami: And how's he related to her?
Sen: A lover... / No, they're married. // But there's some kind of distance...
Sazanami: As in physical distance? / Or something else?
Sen: Huh?! / Ummm...? / I can tell that she likes him, but...
Sazanami: Could you tell what it is that's bothering her?
Sen: No... // The image of the stew and stuff was too strong...
Sazanami: What did I tell you about picking out what's important...?
Sen: Ah - / But... // The image of the stew... it seemed kind of burnt, but it was a relatively positive image... // ...whereas the pork, although it seemed well-made, had some kind of negative associations...
Sazanami: ......... // Well, okay. // That woman, right...

49
Sazanami: Her husband's going to come home soon from a job post he took up far away. // So, / She's worrying like crazy about which of those things she should make for him, since he likes them. // Reason being... // She sucks ass at cooking. // The beef stew is her own cooking, the best thing she could possibly manage. // The pork is shop-bought, reheatable stuff. // She doesn't know which she should choose for her beloved husband... // Tough decision... // Well, / you're not bad at reading ordinary people, I guess. / Keep on practising. // But make sure you never do it when the Chief's around. / He'd catch you for sure.
Sen: For sure?!
Sazanami: Yeah. // Those Kekkaishi are a special breed. They're incredibly attuned to anything weird going on around them. // Apart from people with the same ability as me, he's the only one... / ...who's ever been able to properly sense what I do.

50
Sen: (In that case, mightn't he be the same...? // He is his brother, after all... // Well, he may not look like much... / ...but he is incredible... // I hear he defeated an absolute giant of an ayakashi just recently at Karasumori, too... // Ah!! / I actually read some demon-auras right in front of him, and I didn't exactly keep my mouth shut, either...!! // He could already be on to me...!)
Sazanami: Sen. // I know... / ...you hate your own timid nature, don't you?
Sen: !
Sazanami: But y'know, // it's because I knew when to be cautious that I've stayed alive this long, right? // Always taking care upon care. // With this ability, if you're exposed, that's it for you.

51
Sazanami: Nobody trusts a guy who can read what's in their hearts... / ...not even your closest friends. // And alone, guys like us are nothing. / You get my drift?
Sen: But in that case, Sazanami-san... // Why did you leak information about the Yagyou to outsiders...?
Sazanami: ......... / You know about that...? // Who did you read it from?
Sen: I didn't read it... / I just happened to be doing training, hiding my presence while moving, // when I heard some of the higher-ups discussing rumours...

52
Sazanami: Heh. // You really are a born intelligence man. // What're you doing in the combat division?
Sen: And also... / I heard the reason you'd been called back... / ...is so they could settle things with you...
Sazanami: Yeah... I'd say that's about right. // Well, I've got me plenty of connections outside the Yagyou now, / so I'm not too bothered! // The Chief may be the Chief, but he's still only young. / He's still too soft. / Letting a guy who turned traitor run free for all this time... // Well, I guess my ability was pretty valuable to him...
Sen: You're going to leave the Yagyou?!
Sazanami: Sen... // You want to come with me?
Sen: Huh...?
Sazanami: If you do, I'll give you plenty of opportunity to work on your powers.

53
Sen: Ahh... but... / Sazanami-san, you're the Number Three of the whole Yagyou... // Are you saying that isn't enough for you...?
Sazanami: Nah, truth be told... / I'm not really all that fussed about positions and stuff. // Long as it's comfortable enough, I'm happy.
Sen: Are you saying... / ...you're not comfortable here at the Yagyou...?
Sazanami: Well, the thing is... // If there's one thing I really can't stand... // ...it's working under a guy I can't read at all. // It's Sazanami.
Masamori: Come in.
Sazanami: Sorry to intrude...

54
[no text just masamori]

55
Masamori: Is there something wrong? Please, come on in.
Sazanami: What is it...?! This... soft yet incredibly powerful sense of malice...
Masamori: Well, you can stay there if you like. // A man like yourself... // ...should, I'm sure, be able to tell just how I'm feeling right now. // I've been hesitating all this time. // You've been a great help to me since the very founding of the Yagyou... / Indeed, it's thanks to you that I was able to make that decision and found the Yagyou in the first place. // As such... // I'll ask you just one thing.

56
Masamori: Are you... // ...my enemy?
Sazanami: Aghh...
Sen: I wonder, if I go along with Sazanami-san... // ...Will I really be able to change...?

57
[Chapter 168: Intelligence Unit]
Yoshimori: I'm lea...ving... // (Ugh... back to school again today... // And I'm as exhausted as ever...) // Ah - ! / [aside]it's Tokine![/aside] // Tokine~! // Guahh! // Owwww!!
Tokine: .........

58
Yoshimori: Hey!! // Oi!!
Tokine: You're in the third grade of middle school starting today, aren't you? You move up through the years, but you never mature.
Yoshimori: We were up late last night, you know that!
Tokine: You need to try a little harder.
Yoshimori: Shaddup! It's spring!! I'm sleepy!!! // [aside]Huh? What's this? I'm dizzy? / Is my body trying to tell me not to go to school? // Hey, wait... // ...up already...[/aside] // (What's with her?! / Yeah, like anything's meant to change just 'cause I went up a year in school!! // I mean, it's an integrated school, so there aren't even exams to prepare for... // And she's in the second year of high-school now, so it's not like we've got any closer together...)

59
Yoshimori: (Huh...? // Why did I think of Shishio just then...?)
[Notice: Third-year class listings]
Kyoko: Ah, I'm in Class 1!
Ayano: What about you, Yuri?
Yurina: Ah, let's see...

60
Kyoko: Good going, Yuri! You're in the same class as Sumimura again!
Yurina: Aahhh...
Ayano: Gotta be some kind of destiny~~!
Yurina: But, I'll be too nervous without you there, Kyoko, Ayano...
Ayano: Oh, we'll come and see you at breaktimes...
Ichigaya: Ah, Sumimura.
Yoshimori: Hey.
Ichigaya: Looks like we're both in Class 3.
Hiromu: I'm in Class 1.
Yoshimori: Oh... / Still together with you, huh, Ichigaya? // Who's the teacher?
Ichigaya: Kurosu-sensei again.
Yoshimori: Gahh... three years in a row?!
Teacher: [aside]Spring is a season of beginnings...[/aside]

61
Kurosu: [aside]let's have another great year together...[/aside]
[sFX: di~ng do~ng]
Ichigaya: ............ // Sumimura.
Yoshimori: Just five more minutes...
Ichigaya: No... // School's over for the day. // Let's head home.
Yoshimori: Hu~~h? // Opening ceremony really is short, huh...

62
Yoshimori: Huh? When did I end up in this seat?!
[Label: Teacher's desk]
Ichigaya: Well, Kurosu-sensei said... // Since we're third-years now... we could all discuss and choose our own seats...
Yoshimori: THEN HOW DID I END UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TEACHER'S DESK?!
Ichigaya: Well, you were asleep...
Yoshimori: Nobody told me!!
Ichigaya: But, Sumimura... / When Kurosu-sensei said "Here should be okay, yes?", you just nodded.
Yoshimori: Yeah, like hell! // This is a conspiracy!! // Nobody but Tabata would want to sit in a seat like this! / What's going to happen to my napping lifestyle, huh?! / Help me out here!!
Ichigaya: Well, it's not exactly up to me...

63
Yoshimori: C'mon, Ichigaya... you'll trade seats with me, right?! / Right?! / Right?!
Ichigaya: Don't strangle people when you're asking them for favours! / [aside]like I'd do that anyway![/aside]
Shuu: Yoshimori-kun!
Yoshimori: Wha?! // You're - from the Yagyou -
Shuu: Long time no see!!
Ichigaya: [aside]whoa![/aside]
Yoshimori: Guahh!!
Shuu: Well, I pulled a few strings... // And basically, I've joined - this - school! // [aside]heheheheh[/aside]
Yoshimori: Whaa?!

64
Yoshimori: What's with that...?
Shuu: Ah, / You must be Yoshimori-kun's classmate? // I'm Akitsu Shuu, first-year in the Karasumori Academy high-school division! / [aside]nice yo meet'cha![/aside]
Ichigaya: Ah... / I'm Ichigaya Tomonori...
Yoshimori: Oi!!
Shuu: Aaahh!!
Yoshimori: What's going on here?! / You been dispatched by the Urakai?!
Shuu: That's right! Looking forward to working with you! // So, / what about Sen-chan?
Yoshimori: Kagemiya?! // He's here too?
Shuu: Huh? But Yoshimori-kun, isn't he in your class?
Yoshimori: In my class...?!
Ichigaya: Ahhh... // If you're talking about the transfer student... / Apparently he's absent today.
Shuu: ABSENT?! // Wha...

65
Shuu: That little... // Skipping school...
Yoshimori: [aside]his eyes opened![/aside]
Shuu: [aside]on the very first day... and I walked him all the way to the school gates, as well...[/aside]
Yoshimori: Ichigaya... / Sorry, but could you just go on ahead?
Ichigaya: Ahh, sure...
Yoshimori: So... / You and Kagemiya were assigned here... // (Honestly, Aniki... you could try warning me about these things...) // What about that hat-guy who was with you two?
Shuu: Oh, Dai's not in the same division as us any more. // Me and Sen-chan both transferred to the Intelligence Unit.
Yoshimori: "Intelligence Unit"?
Shuu: Yeah. // I mean, I've always been saying that we'd be better off in Intelligence... / But Sen-chan was always dead-set on the combat division...

66
Shuu: Oh, / by the way, // our main duty here is to investigate Karasumori... // So we're not here... / ...to help you out with your work, like Gen was. // Well, anyway, Yoshimori-kun, enough about Sen-chan, we should go. // Don't want to keep Tokine-chan waiting.
Yoshimori: Tokine's waiting for you?! // (Why, that bat-bastard... / Since when is he all friendly with Tokine...? // [aside]and that nasty little gesture, too...[/aside]
Shuu: Ahh, Sen-chan could really be an issue... // This is a mission, so he really needs to sort out that hatred of school he has...
Tokine: Ah, / Shuu-kun!
Shuu: Tokine-chan! Sorry for the wait!

67
Yoshimori: Tokine... How could you give a guy like this a smile like that...?!
Shuu: Sorry, Sen-chan doesn't seem to be around... // ...so I guess it's just going to be me for today.
Yoshimori: What could she see in him... His height? Is it his height...?
Shuu: Yeah... / But at the Yagyou, y'know... / ...people move between divisions and stuff, so it's normal enough to hold multiple positions. // We're pretty flexible, I guess! / Me, I'm in the provisions squad and the cooking squad as well!
Tokine: Nice...
Sen: Don't go flapping your mouth about more than you have to, // Shuu.

68
Sen: Don't you have any sense of responsibility to the Intelligence Unit?
Shuu: Ahhhhh!! // Where the hell have you been, Sen-chan?!! // You're the one with no sense of responsibility!!
Tokine: [aside]should they really be going on about how they're members of the Intelligence Unit...?[/aside]
Shuu: Skipping the first day?! Whaddaya call that?!
Sen: It's just one day, what's the big deal...? // [aside]and stop spitting...[/aside]

69
Sen: Hey.
Yoshimori: (Huh...? // The uniform... // No, maybe it's his eyes... // But he reminds me awfully of Gen...)
Sen: Whaddaya think you're staring at?

70
Yoshimori: (Oh, of course... // I know why it is I thought of Shishio this morning... // He'll never be moving on... // ...past the second year...)
Shuu: [aside]c'mon, we've gotta introduce ourselves together![/aside]
Sen: [aside]shaddup already...[/aside]

71
Sen: (Ugh, what's with him... // Acting all spaced-out and stuff... // I mean... // It's not like he even has any real issues with us being here, does he? // Such a carefree guy...)
Flashback!Sen: Sazanami-san!! // You know, I've been thinking... // And I think I really might want to go with you...

72
Flashback!Sazanami: Sen, // situation's changed. // Looks like I was the one who was too soft. // Sure, I was prepared for a little punishment, but... // I can't make an enemy of that. // I've made my decision. // I've hammered in the nails, and there's no going back. / I'll stay and do what I can here.
Flashback!Sen: Huh? Sazanami-san, you...
Flashback!Sazanami: Oh, and one other thing... // Sen, // don't take this the wrong way, but...

73
Flashback!Sazanami: I put in a good word for you.
Flashback!Sen: (Huh?!)
Flashback!Masamori: I've called you here today... / ...to discuss a new mission for you. // Sazanami recommended you, true, // but I too... // ...think that both mentally and physically, / you are suitable for this position.

74
Flashback!Masamori: This is a surveillance mission.
Flashback!Sen: Survei...llance?
Flashback!Masamori: That's right. / "Officially", of the land of Karasumori... // ...but actually... // ...I want you on surveillance of the individuals Karasumori has chosen.

75
[Chapter 169: Kagemiya Sen]
Flashback!Masamori: These are the current legitimate sucessors present at Karasumori. // I'm sure you met them all when you were staying at our place. // The appearance of legitimate successors... // ...is by no means a settled process. // Records are not exactly clear, but according to my research... // ...there have been times when no legitimate successor appeared for generations... // ...and even times when two legitimate successors appeared as brothers in the same generation.
Flashback!Sen: Huh?

76
Flashback!Masamori: In other words, it is not a matter of numbers, ratios or even of time... // ...but rather the mark of the legitimate successor, the Houin, appears on those who fulfil a certain set of conditions. // For the Sumimuras it appears upon the right hand... / ...and for the Yukimuras, the left breast. // It is said that it is rare for a legitimate successor to die whilst he or she is upon Karasumori ground. // We'll be thinking about their resonance with the ground itself... / ...but the important thing is that they rarely die there. // In the event that many legitimate successors are present at any one time... // We witness an inequality in power.
Flashback!Sen: This "power" is something granted by Karasumori?
Flashback!Masamori: Yes. // Even legitimate successors are by no means equal.

77
Flashback!Masamori: In my grandfather's age, the Yukimuras had the strongest successor... // And in the following generation... or should I say, // one whose strength is such that it seems likely to impact upon many successive generations... // ...That is my brother... Yoshimori. // First of all, I want you to look into the conditions for legitimate succession, // as well as looking out for any changes in the successors accompanying changes in Karasumori itself.
Flashback!Sen: When you say "first"... // ...there is some other ultimate objective...?
Flashback!Masamori: ......... // Yeah, well... / We'll see...

78
[Chapter 169: Kagemiya Sen]

79
Ichigaya: Considering he skipped the first day, he seems to be fitting in surprisingly well... // [aside]that transfer student.[/aside]
Hiromu: Kagemiya Sen... // Sumimura, you know him, do you?

80
Yoshimori: Yeah, a little... / Hmm? / Actually, maybe I don't, really...
Hiromu: Really? And there I was hoping to ask you all sorts of questions... // Well, since he's sociable enough, I have a fair amount of data on him already, though. // [aside]apparently he likes cuttlefish.[/aside]
Yoshimori: [aside]cuttlefish?[/aside]
Hiromu: But he seems to avoid answering the important questions... / ...there's definitely something fishy about him!
Yoshimori: "Fishy", you say...
Hiromu: Well, apparently there were issues in his family, so he's here to stay with his relatives.
Yoshimori: (So that's the story...)
Hiromu: I tries asking the teacher directly, // but he just smacked me with a corner of the attendance register without a word. / He's fishy, that much is for sure. // It's like back with Shishio... I guess transfer students just tend to be fishy like that. / [aside]is it some kind of rule?[/aside] / Well, not that they're anything like each other.
Yoshimori: They're not? // I mean, you know... / I was just thinking they seemed kind of similar...
Hiromu: Hm? / I don't really see how.

81
Hiromu: If I had to find a similarity...
Girls: [aside]Oh, no~! / Hey - hey - ! / Kagemiya-kun~! / F - from the class next to mine...[/aside]
Hiromu: ...I'd go for the way they're both popular with the girls.
Yoshimori: (Ehh? / What, do ayakashi-majiri just attract girls or something?!)
[sFX: di~ng do~ng]

82
Sen: What, you skipping class too? // Heh, / shall I move over for you a little?
Yoshimori: You've been surprisingly sociable.
Sen: Hm? / I wouldn't say that.
Yoshimori: You were fitting right in back there.
Sen: Oh, come on, that's just an act. / 'Cause it's easier that way, right?
Yoshimori: I was... // ...kind of relieved, really, though... / To see that you were at least getting on with everyone... // Since Akitsu was saying that you hate school and everything...

83
Sen: I didn't come here to have fun. // Don't say such meaningless things.
Yoshimori: Sorry. // But you know... / since we are at least classmates now... // Well, just don't overdo it, / Kagemiya.

84
Sen: (Who does he think he is?! // Doesn't he have the slightest sense of tension?! // He makes me feel like an idiot observing him! // In fact, he's the idiot! / An optimistic moron like him, the legitimate successor... // Ugh, it kind of really irritates me... // Even without the Chief in the picture, that's just wrong!) // ...... // (He could at least be a little suspicious...)
Girls: Ah - / Kagemiya-kun!

85
Girls: Did'ja just skip that class, then? // You shouldn't do that when you've just arrived!
Sen: (Ahh... girls from my class...)
Flashback!Sazanami: Well, even without using your mind-reading powers, you should be able to handle a little intelligence-gathering. // You still haven't got that skill to the level where it's practical for actual use, / so you should just concentrate on training it. // All right? // Only attempt to read ordinary people. And you mustn't try using your ability when the Kekkaishi's about. / When you do perform readings, do it in short bursts wherever possible. // If you feel any exhaustion, then stop it right there. / And never attempt a reading when your concentration is broken.

86
Flashback!Sazanami: And one other thing... // When you use your power, it shows in your eyes. // You need to fix that as soon as possible.
Flashback!Sen: Eh...? But I'm an ayakashi-majiri... / I can't help changing a little in appearance when I use my abilities...
Flashback!Sazanami: Then you can restrict the extent to which you use them, or control it in some other way, I'm sure it's not impossible. // Just make sure you fix it. // It won't be a problem if you're reading from far-off... // But you're no pure mental-resonance user, so there's a limit to how far that'll get you. // To put it bluntly, you're limited to reception. / On top of that, all you can pick up are the thoughts on the very surface of your target's consciousness.
[box: Address - ? / Full name - ? / Age - ? / Family - ?]
Flashback!Sazanami: Anything beyond what the person is thinking about at that moment is beyond your reach.
Imaginary!Sen: (Maybe he wants to eat yakiniku...)
Flashback!Sazanami: That considered, / what you really need to be effective is...

87
Flashback!Sazanami: Conversation. // You throw out the right words into conversation... // ...and you'll be able to draw the information you're actually looking for... // ...out to the fore. // And if you're going to be conversing with your subject, those eyes are a fatal flaw. // You see? // The school you'll be heading to for this mission is packed full of ordinary people. Plenty of opportunity for practice. // Oh, / but watch out for the Kekkaishi.

88
Flashback!Sazanami: Sen. // You naturally possess... / ...the kind of looks that stand out. // So you make use of that. // The more interested a target is in you, // the easier they'll be to read.
Sen: Ahh, you know, I really hate maths lessons.
Girls: Ah, me too~! // Ohhh? // So you're gonna skip 'em from the get-go?
Sen: Oh, by the way, do you girls know Sumimura? / [aside]I'm kind of looking for him...[/aside]
Girls: Sumimura? // Hmm...? / [aside]who's he again?[/aside]
Sen: Oh, if you don't know him, that's no problem.

89
Girls: Ah - / Wait a minute, Kagemiya-kun... / ...lessee... // You know, he's that guy right at the front of class! // Ohh, the guy who slept through the opening ceremony! // Yeah, him! // I saw him just now! / In the classroom, was it...?
Yoshimori: Wait up, dammit!! // [aside]Gahh, what're you doing, Tokine?! // that one was mine![/aside]

90
Sen: Shuu, / you handle the rest.
Shuu: Huh? / Where you going, Sen-chan?
Sazanami: Hello?
Sen: Ah, / Sazanami-san.
Sazanami: Oh, what is it?
Sen: Oh, no, there's no problem or anything like that... // Just something irritating me...
Sazanami: Irritating?
Sen: Well, you see... // He's not exactly the most satisfying target to observe...

91
Sen: I've looked into him a little at school, and what do I find? / I'm observing a guy who exhibits his greatest power when the school lunch includes coffee milk!! // His nickname in primary-school was "hairball"... I doubt the guy can even recite the seven-times-table! / I tried the girls in the class, but he's barely even on their radar... hell, the image I got from their heads was completely wrong!! // I mean, it's true that I once witnessed how incredible he can truly be firsthand... // ...but frankly, right now I find myself wondering if that wasn't some sort of crazy illusion. He doesn't even have the slightest sense of caution!! // So the thing is, I just can't seem to motivate myself to do this job...
Sazanami: Sen. // You'd better not give the Chief a shallow report like that.
Sen: .....! / I know that...
Sazanami: Also, get rid of that guilty conscience of yours. // You don't want to work yourself into a corner. // Well, don't be so impatient. This is only the beginning.

92
Sen: ......... / Sazanami-san, // I think this is a good opportunity as well. // And I am sure that following through with this post that you so helpfully recommended me for... // ...can only be of benefit to me. // I understand. / I will do my best to eliminate my guilty conscience. // I hope that I may continue to benefit from your expert guidance.
Sazanami: Heh... // You have promise, you know that?

93
Yoshimori: Tokine! // Guaaahh! / Wait! // Don't start dashing on ahead! // Hey! / I have something to talk about!! // It's about them... // About Kagemiya in particular... // They just seem kind of distant, I think.. / Kagemiya really seems kind of, I dunno, tense, you know?
Tokine: Your point?
Yoshimori: I - / I'm just saying...
[Chapter 170: Arrival]

94
Yoshimori: Mmmm... / Well, he looks like he's getting along in the class and stuff... // ...but I get the feeling he's really having trouble connecting with ordinary people... // I wonder if there's anything we could do to help...
[box: Devil Ear / Able to distinguish far-off voices]
Sen: So... // What're they talking about?
Shuu: Ahhh... // [aside]*si~~~gh*[/aside] // Yoshimori-kun really is a great kid...
Sen: Like I said, what're they saying?!
Shuu: Why, they're worrying about you, Sen-chan~! / [aside]heheheh[/aside]
Sen: Worrying?!

95
Shuu: Y'know, Sen-chan... this is your first real big mission... / I think you're being a little too tense about it all. // But man, getting worried about by the guy you're spying on... // That's just hilarious, don't you think! // Guaaahh!!
Sen: You were dispatched here as my assistant, right?! / Is that how you talk to your superior?! / Well?!
Shuu: Oww! That hurts, Sen-chan!
Sen: If you keep on getting carried away, I'll see if I can't drill a hole right through between those ears you love so much!!
Shuu: That's not nice - you're terrible, Sen-chan!!
Tokine: (Personally... // ...there's something that doesn't sit quite right with me about those two being sent here. // But Yoshimori... // ...he really wants to get on well with them, huh...)

96
HatPerson: Karasumori... // I can survey the full scope of it nicely from here...

97
HatPerson: Now, // fly on in.

98-99
[Chapter 170: Arrival]

100
Flashback!Tokine: You're so silly. // If a guy like you gets all broody about things... // ...it's just going to make the other guy keep his guards up, right? // You should just try and act normal. // If you do that, he'll be sure to relax too in the end.
Yoshimori: (Well, you can say that...)

101
Yoshimori: (Agh, it's no good... I still have no idea what I should actually do... // I mean, "normal"... what's that?)
Sen: (This is terrible... I could handle being suspected... // ...but being worried about by my target, I have no idea how to handle... // I guess for the moment, I should just try to act friendly... // I can use this guy as a step up to help me investigate the other legitimate successors, too... / ...since being on good terms with the Sumimuras and Yukimuras is a good strategy... // But using someone who's worrying about me for my own purposes...?) // ......... // (I made a promise to Sazanami-san... / I need to get rid of all this guilt...)
Yoshimori: (Hmmmmm... / I need... // ...I need some kind of trigger...)

102
Sen: ! / What is it?!
Yoshimori: An ayakashi just entered the premises!
Sen: An ayakashi? // Whoa, whoa... it's the middle of the day.
Yoshimori: Yeah... it's certainly kinda weird... // ...but it seems to be just one, and really weak, too... // Well, / for an ayakashi like this, my shikigami should be able to handle it! // You go catch it and bring it back, yeah? // Good luck!

103
Sen: Huh... useful little things.
Yoshimori: Not that they're much use against stronger ayakashi.
Sen: ! // Come to think of it... / Whenever you skip out on classes, / you have a shikigami that looks like you attend instead, right?!
Yoshimori: Hm? / Yeah.
Sen: Hey... / D'you think you could make one of those for me, too?! // (All right, this is the friendly vibe I need!!)
Yoshimori: Ehhh... / Dunno 'bout that.
Sen: But why not?! // It's not like it's a huge thing to ask!!
Yoshimori: Well, it'd use up some of my power... and that'd just make me get tired out... // And, well, wearing myself out to avoid work... // ...kinda defeats the purpose, you know?

104
Sen: (This little punk... / A guy finally tries to actually be friendly towards him, and he...!! // And despite being such an idiot, he actually has a logical excuse...!)
Yoshimori: Whooa?! / Wait up, Kagemiya! What are you -
Sen: Tch! / My phone...
Yoshimori: (What's with that?!)
Sen: Ohh? / mm, mm... / Okay, gotcha.
Yoshimori: ............
Sen: That was Shuu. Says he just took out an ayakashi on the third floor of the high-school area. // So that's that.
Yoshimori: (Ahhh... / So he can be normal when he's talking about work...)

105
Teacher: Well, then, on to the next passage...
Yurina: (Wow... // What a beautiful butterfly...)
[box: High School Division]
Teacher: So as you can see, // this had wide-reaching implications, ushering in a new age...

106
Tokine: (Ahh, what should I do...? // There's about 15 minutes left until the end of class...)
Teacher: Yukimura-san, could you read the next section?
Tokine: I'm sorry, Sensei... / I'm not feeling too well...
Teacher: Oh? Ahh... could somebody please escort Yukimura-san to the infirmary?
Tokine: Oh, I'll be fine on my own.
Butterfly: ...... // HAVE... FEAR...
Tokine: (Is it... saying something?)

107
Butterfly: ...THIS GROUND... // ...CALAMITY...
Tokine: (Calamity?)

108
Shuu: Ah, // Tokine-chan!
Tokine: Shuu-kun, is that...
Shuu: Heheh... / I've taken care of it!
Tokine: Hey, did you hear that ayakashi saying something?
Shuu: Huh?! / Sorry, I've just been taking 'em out as soon as I spot 'em, so... / [aside]I wouldn't've noticed...[/aside]
Tokine: ?! / Wait... // Are you saying it's not just one?!
Shuu: Yeah, this is the fifth.
Tokine: (......? I'm sure I only felt one enter... // And barely any time has actually passed since then...)

109
Yoshimori: Ah, // here comes my Shikigami back.
Sen: Huh? / But didn't Shuu say he'd taken care of it...?
Yoshimori: Mmmmm... // Good point... // Hey, the shikigami brought back two of them!
HatPerson: Have fear...

110
Butterflies: HAVE FEAR... // GROUND... // DESCENDS... // ...... // ...... // ...... // GOD... // UPON THIS GROUND... // NOW DESCENDS... // A GOD OF CALAMITY...

111
HatPerson: Have fear... // Have fear... // For a god of calamity, swathed in the scent of blood... // ...now descends... // ...upon this ground.
[Chapter 171: Covert Action]

112-113
[Chapter 171: Covert Action]

114
Kekkaishi

115
Yoshimori: I guess they must've multiplied. // No other explanation. // I mean, I definitely only sensed one intruding...
Sen: But man, they're weak little things.
Yoshimori: Yeah, so weak it's difficult to detect them moving about... // How many more of them are there?
Shuu: Tokine-chan?
Tokine: (We really ought to catch them before they can multiply any more...) // Okay, Shuu-kun. / Lessons are going to end soon, / so if you find any more, could you take them out without attracting any attention?
Shuu: Gotcha!

116
Tokiko: (Oh, my. // It's the middle of the day... / ...and yet I feel a disturbance at Karasumori...)
Kyoko: Oh? / Sumimura not here?
Yurina: No... / He ran off somewhere, soon as the lesson finished.
Kyoko: You really need to get to know him better, now you're sitting so close and everything.
Ayano: Hey, / more importantly, what about that new transfer student everyone's on about?

117
Yurina: Mm... / I've not actually spoken to him... / But he does seem kinda weird.
Kyoko: I don't know about guys who look as feminine as all that, myself.
Ayano: Ohh? / I think it's cu~te!
Yurina: Ah... // Springtime, huh... / There are even butterflies flying about in the classroom...
Kyoko/Ayano: Huh? // Butterflies? Where?
Yurina: Look, there are three of them right over...
Kyoko: ..................?
Yurina: (Oh no!! // Don't tell me neither of them can see them...?!)
Ayano: [aside]where...?[/aside]
Yurina: It's nothing! Nothing at all!!
Ayano: Honestly, Yuri, just because you're happy to be sitting near Sumimura-kun, doesn't mean you have to start messing us around!
Kyoko: Messing around and pretending to see butterflies...?!

118
Yoshimori: Ahh, I knew it... / They're flying about in here too... // My shikigami can deal with the ones outside... / ...but in here, I guess we'll just have to take them out without attracting the notice of the other students... // Kagemiya, can you give me a hand with this?
Sen: Well, guess I ought to!

119
Yoshimori: Houi! // Jouso... // Ketsu! // Metsu.

120
Yoshimori: [aside]Metsu.[/aside]
Students: [aside]hahah... // oh, come on, that's crazy... // ahahah[/aside]

121
Yoshimori: Oohh... // [aside]fast work...[/aside]
Students: [aside]I guess you'll have to show me... // sure![/aside]
Yoshimori: Ah, / Kagemiya, over there!
Sen: Hm? // Ahh... so there are.

122
Sen: ...You just cheated there!
Girl: (That "scissors" and "paper" are a little off...)
[box: High School Division]
Students: What's up? // Nothing... / [aside]thought I felt a breeze...[/aside]
Shuu: (...And that makes a round hundred...)

123
Tokine: Metsu!

124
Tokine: *sigh~* // (That's that area clean for now... // Agh... / Still so many of them...! // No time to rest... // But...)
Butterflies: ...... // CALAMITY... // ...... // GOD...
Tokine: (I do wonder what exactly those things they're saying mean... // Maybe I should just see if I can catch the whole thing...)
Madoka: Tokine!
Tokine: Waahh?!

125
Madoka: ...Is my face really that shocking...?
Tokine: Ohhh, it's just you, Madoka...
Madoka: Whaddaya mean, "ohhh"...? // Are you all right, Tokine...?
Tokine: Huh?! / What?!
Madoka: I mean, you just ran out of class saying you weren't feeling well...
Tokine: (Oh... right, that...) // Oh, well... / I was feeling better, so I came back, but now I'm not so sure... // I think I might ski - miss the next lesson, too. // But don't worry about me, okay?♡
Madoka: Tokine?! // (Wow, she can be kind of strange sometimes...)
Yoshimori: Ketsu!
Student: Hmm?

126
Yoshimori: Oh, crap, there's a person in there! // Kai!
Sen: Jeez, what do you think you're playing at?! / [aside]tch...[/aside]
Student: [aside]what was that...?[/aside]
Yoshimori: Shaddup!! This is pretty difficult stuff, okay?!
Sen: (Well, I can't exactly help with so many people about... / ...so try doing your job properly, you've been at it long enough!)
Yoshimori: (I don't want some outsider like you acting all high-and-mighty!)
Sen: (Huh?! I'm not part of the combat division any more, you know! / I can say what I like!)
Yoshimori: Why, you... // Could you try not being such an ass at a time like this?!
Sen: What was that...?!
[sFX: tap tap tap // tap]
Yoshimori: ?! // That's Gramps'...

127
Shigemori: An intrusion like this in broad dayliglht... // ...this is a major crisis!!
Yoshimori: Why, you stupid old fool!!
Shigemori: What do you think you're doing, brat?!!
Yoshimori: Who the hell comes into the school at midday dressed like that?!!
Shigemori: This is the proper dress for exterminating ayakashi!!
Yoshimori: Having my grandpa in the school grounds is weird enough already, / but waving a thing like that around, you stand out like a sore thumb!!
Sen: ......
Shigemori: Such impudence!! I simply have to move about such that people don't notice me!
Yoshimori: Like hell they won't!!
Shigemoroi: What, then?! You want me to wear some stupid uniform, like you?!
Yoshimori: Oh, yeah, right!!!
Sen: (! // Wait...)

128
Sen: (If things continue at this rate... // ...it's entirely possible I could have the chance to observe all four of the legitimate successors in action at once...?!)
Yoshimori: Get outta here, Gramps! / We're fine, okay?!! // All right?!
Sen: (......Yes, I see... // I mustn't waste this opportunity...) // Yoshimori. // If the situation worsens, we could well need all the help we can get. // We should let him stick around. // Besides, no matter how suspicious he looks, as long as he doesn't get himself caught, there's no problem. / And if we just pretend that we don't know the guy, he's not doing us any harm.
Yoshimori: You're kinda evil, you know that?
[Label: incredibly suspicious]

129
Shikigami: !
Yoshimori: ! // My shikigami's vanished! / No... it was destroyed?!
Shigemori: What?
Sen: Shikigami... / ...you mean the one who was hunting the ayakashi? // But I didn't feel any particular evil aura just now...
Yoshimori: Yeah... / And I haven't felt any of them transforming...

130
Yoshimori: So what happened...? // It gives me a nasty feeling...

131
Girl1: Huh...? // Hey, did you just hear something?
Girl2: Hm? / Hear what?
Teacher: Hmm? / Who was that? // Who spoke just now? // You shouldn't be muttering in class like that. // Who was it? / Something about "calamity" or something...

132
Tokiko: (Something's definitely wrong at Karasumori... / What is this...?) // What... / ...are those...?!

133
HatPerson: Return, now... // Return! // (The butterflies aren't listening to a word I say... // What do I do...? I never intended... // (Nothing like this ever happened at the other Shin'yuuchi...!! // What's with this Karasumori...?!)
[Chapter 172: Panic]

134
Shigemori: Tenketsu!! // Damn it all! // I suck 'em and suck 'em, but it makes no difference!!

135
Yoshimori: Metsu, // Metsu, // Metsu! // There's no end to them...
Yurina: Sumimura-kun!!
Yoshimori: Kanda...
Yurina: I've been looking for you!! // Th... these butterflies... // What are they...?! // Are they bad?! / Are you okay?!
Yoshimori: It's okay, don't cry.
Yurina: Really?
Sen: Huh, that girl can see them...?
Yoshimori: Don't worry. // I'll sort them out somehow before anything happens.

136
Students: *cough* // *cough, cough* // Are you okay? // Yeah... / ...my throat just suddenly...
Ichigaya: (What's this...? // I'm having trouble focusing...)
Butterflies: ........ // .........
Tokine: "A god of calamity... // ...descends upon this ground"... // Is that some kind of threat...?
Butterfly: CALAMITY...
Girl: Have fear...

137
Girl: For a god of calamity... // ...swathed in the scent of blood... // ...now descends... // ...upon this ground.
Students: Aaaahhh! // Hey, what's wrong?!

138
Tokine: (We've never faced a situation like this... // I need to speak to Grandmother...)
Sen: What's going on?! / Where are they even coming from?!! // And all this muttering is really annoying!!
Yoshimori: They may have a nest concealed somewhere. // Like a leader controlling all the rest... // But since it's daytime, I don't have Madarao... // Wait! // Kagemiya, you can do that stuff, can't you!!
Sen: Hm?

139
Yoshimori: Back then with the Kokubourou, you searched for Kaguro, right?! / Use that! You can use it to find the nest for me! // I'll handle everything after that. // Okay?!
Sen: Ehh... // ...... // (This isn't good... I ought to avoid using those abilities with all these Kekkaishi about at all costs... // But if I refused, it would look suspicious... // I'd like to be able to see all four legitimate successors working together, but at the same time, I don't want this situation getting any worse... // Doing as he asks and earning his trust is probably the best option here...) // You owe me one.

140
Shigemori: Hm...
Tokine: (What is this sensation...? // It's odd... overall, it's faint, but there's a small amount of evil aura mixed in there... // Could it be him...? // It's coming from the middle-school area...)

141
Yoshimori: Hey, Kagemiya... // Any luck?
Sen: It's no good. These guys... // ...they're all at the same level.
Yoshimori: Huh?
Sen: There's no nest, nothing of that sort at all. They're all exactly the same. // There's no signs that they go through any kind of development process... / ...like egg to larva, larva to cocoon, and cocoon to maturity... // ...and it's not like certain high-level ones have the ability to reproduce, either. // I can only assume... they reproduce by division, just splitting off into two copies.
Yoshimori: Are you telling me we can't get rid of them without defeating them all one by one?!
Sen: Just a moment, I'll see what else I can get. // Agh, my phone at a time like this?! // It's Shuu. / You answer it for me.

142
Yoshimori: Hey, Kagemiya kind of has his hands full right now...
Shuu: Yoshimori-kun?! / It's terrible!! // Some of the students are starting to see them!
Yoshimori: Huh?
Shuu: As more and more of these things are appearing, I guess it's affecting people who had fairly sharp senses already... / I've witnessed three people already myself who just suddenly started to see them... // And there are people who've started hearing things... / ...I've seen people starting to feel ill, or even fainting... // The infirmary just can't handle them all! // At this rate, it's only a matter of time until the whole school falls into a panic...
Sen: Yoshimori! // This is bad. / They're starting to transform. // And it's not just some of them, // Slowly but surely, they're all evolving...

143
Students: Aaaaaahhh! // What is it?! // Someone cut my shirt!! // Huh?! / [aside]who..?![/aside] // Hey, you're bleeding!! // Hey, somebody help! // There's a guy collapsed over here!! // Call an ambulance!
Sen: Tch... / They're doing real damage now...! // Hey... // You've been cut too...

144
Sen: Huh?! // Wha - ?! // What are you doing?! // Wait up!! // Hey!! // What're you doing?!!
Yoshimori: I'm going to surround the whole school.
Sen: Huh?! What good is that going to do?!! // Hey - / Wait up already!
Yoshimori: I'm going to perform a Metsu that only affects the ayakashi.

145
Sen: ...You can do a thing like that...?
Yoshimori: I can.
Sen: (Huh... That's incredible... // Sounds like something worth observing...)
Tokine: Wait right there!! // What are you doing...? // It's crazy! // You have to stop!

146
Sen: What's with you showing up all of a sudden...? // He says he can do this... / ...so don't bother him.
Tokine: You just be quiet!
Sen: Huh! Wearing shorts under that skirt?! / What's with that...
Tokine: Whaaa?! What's wrong with you?! / You just shut up already!!
Yoshimori: Houi!
Tokine: Yoshimori!!
Yoshimori: Jouso...

147
Yoshimori: KETSU...!!
Sen: Ahh... // (He really is incredible...)

148
Tokine: Yoshimori, stop this! / It's too dangerous!!
Yoshimori: Don't worry... I can handle this size long enough to Metsu it.
Tokine: That's not it!! // There are people in there, you know?! // Do you really think a guy like you can possibly handle such subtle target discrimination?! // If you fail, the result would be disastrous... // You should at least evacuate the place first...
Yoshimori: THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT!! // People are already getting injured... // If I don't do something now, people are gonna die. // Look. // There's another one collapsing. // There are people I know in there... and people I don't... // So... / ...So many of them...

149
Yoshimori: Don't worry... I can do this.
Tokine: Yoshimori!!
Yoshimori: ?!

150
Yoshimori: ......

151
[Chapter 173: Gathering]

152
Yoshimori: Don't... // ...get in my way, old woman... // If I don't get rid of those ayakashi, and quickly... / ...everyone inside that school will be in danger. // Don't you get it? // That's why I have to surround the whole school with a kekkai... / ...and Metsu it so that it just destroys the ayakashi, okay?
Tokiko: If I thought you could actually do that, // I wouldn't have stopped you by force.

153
Yoshimori: What are you talking about...?!
Tokiko: The lives of a great number of people hang in the balance here, yes? // This is no place for you to be attempting to refine your clumsy techniques. // I hope you understand that.
Yoshimori: Don't decide that on your own. // You don't know what you can do until you try.
Sen: (Saying "you don't know what you can do until you try" in a situation like this... // Wait... was he actually trying to perform a technique he has no experience with whatsoever...?)
Tokiko: *sigh*
Yoshimori: !

154
Yoshimori: (A shikigami of Tokine...?)
Tokiko: Create a kekkai around those two, // and see if you can destroy the shikigami alone.
Yoshimori: ?!
Tokiko: Do you think you can do it...? // Why don't you show me?
Sen: (What the heck does she think she's doing...? // That's her own granddaughter...)

155
Yoshimori: Ketsu!!
Sen: Hey, wait! / Are you sure about this?! // (From what I've been told, the most skilled of the Kekkaishi in Karasumori right now is this old woman. / For her to make a decision like this...)
Yoshimori: (This technique... holds incredible risk!!)

156
Tokiko: Quickly, now.
Sen: Wait, already! // This is no time to be stubborn! / She doesn't want you to actually do it! // She's just telling you to clear your head! / Don't you get it?!
Tokine: Yoshimori!

157
Yoshimori: Ahh... // ......
Sen: (Whew...)
Everyone: ?!
Tokiko: Metsu!!

158
Tokiko: If you cannot even manage something of this level, // then you are clearly not ready to attempt something so rash. // However, your plan of targeting the ayakashi alone... / ...is fundamentally a good idea. // I suppose there is no choice. // I will do it in your place.

159
Shigemori: JUST YOU WAAAAIT!! // Huaah!! // Don't make decisions like that on your own, old hag!!
Sen: (All four... // ...are here!)
Students: Hey, hey, did you hear?

160
Students: This guy from Class C collapsed out in the grounds... / Apparently he was muttering something about "black butterflies". // Man... that's scary... // Aahhh... // Did you hear about the girl who cried out all this weird stuff in the middle of the corridor and then fainted...? // Hey, I heard there's a "phantom killer" roaming the school... // A "phantom killer"?! / Are you saying someone from the school's behind this?!
Shuu: (The ayakashi are starting to evolve the ability to attack... // What am I meant to do with so many of them...? // No matter how much I hunt them, it's just no use...)
Students: Are you okay? / You look kind of pale... // Ahh!!! / Shinagawa just collapsed!! // Hey...!

161
Shinagawa: Owwww...! // I lost my balance...!
Students: Huh, don't scare us like that! // [aside]hahahahahah![/aside]
Shinagawa: No, I mean... my chair, it suddenly...
Students: You idiot!
Shinagawa: Shaddup!

162
Sen: (I finally have all four of them in one place... // But I'm kind of uneasy...)
Tokiko: We're up against the clock here. / So be quiet.
Shigemori: You old fool!! Just how much power to you think it's going to take to surround the whole of Karasumori?!! / You're not even good at high-power operations!
Tokiko: Houi!
Shigemori: Try LISTENING to me for a second, you senile old hag!! // We don't need you going on a rampage on top of everything else, you know!!
Yoshimori: Huh? / Rampage...?
Tokiko: Grandmother...?!
Shigemori: Don't you remember what happened...
Tokiko: That was a long time ago... / I can handle this much, no problem.
Shigemori: You can't say that for sure, idiot!!
Sen: Whoa, whoa, is she the kind to suddenly snap or something...?!

163
Yoshimori: Hey, Gramps. // What's all this about her going on a rampage or whatever?
Shigemori: Hah... this old hag can get nasty, you know. // If she flips out and loses control of herself, / she starts making time-space distortions all over the place, and then she throws herself into one of them and disappears!
Tokiko: There's no need to dwell on the past... / [aside]blockheaded man...[/aside]
Shigemori: Who do you think it was that had to run around closing up all the holes you opened?!! / And all the things I had to drag out of them... neighbourhood kids, the Tanakas' bull; do you have any idea how much of a pain that was?!!
Yoshimori: Wow, she's a pain...
Tokine: (Yeah, like you can talk.)
Tokiko: I'm fine. // Don't you realise this is no time for us to stand around arguing? // Or do you honestly think that you have a better chance of doing this?
Shigemori: Why do you...

164
Shigemori: Why do you always... // ...try to handle everything on your own like that...?
Sen: (Hm? // What's this? / It almost seems like the old man's worried about her...)
Shigemori: I'm not letting you do this alone. // Can't have the Yukimuras hogging all the glory. // Tokiko, // why don't we use the Four-Corner Formation?

165
Shigemori: After all... // There are four of us.
Yoshimori: What's that? The four-corner whatever?
Tokine: Four-Corner Formation. // I've only read about it in our scrolls, but... // ...it's a technique where four Kekkaishi form the four corners of a single kekkai. // Of course...! With that, we can trap the ayakashi and move them somewhere safer, // so we can Metsu them with no people around... not to mention it lightens the load on each of us. / It's perfect... // Um - ! / I think that's an excellent idea!
Tokiko: Tokine... / It's not nearly as simple as all that. // We've never practised that technique; it would be extremely dangerous.

166
Tokiko: And with two inexperienced rookies involved in the technique, I have my doubts about how well it would work...
Shigemori: That's why...! // You can manage the whole thing! // We'll just lend you our power for the less fiddly parts, it should be fine! // Sure... / ...it's possible that you could handle this whole thing on your own... // But that way neither we nor our connections with one another... // ...will improve in the slightest.
Tokine: Yoshimori? / [aside]what about you?[/aside]
Yoshimori: I... // I prefer whatever method is going to be most reliable.

167
Yoshimori: Whichever way... // ...stops anyone from getting hurt. // Which one is it, Granny?
Shigemori: Tokiko...
Tokiko: None of these methods are absolutely reliable. // To perform the Four-Corner Formation, all four of us would have to breathe in unison... // ...so it would take quite a while to actually set up. // And if we lose it for even a second, // then that disturbance will make it even more difficult for us to re-establish it. // Under the current circumstances... // We're really rather short on time.

168
Tokiko: We have only one chance. // Do we all agree on this?
Sen: (The four legitimate successors combining their power... // This is absolutely incredible!!)

169
[Chapter 174: Four-Corner Formation]
Tokiko: All right, / so now you all know what to do. // I will create the initial structure for the Four-Corner Formation and the initial footholds. // After that, it's up to each of you individually... // but there will be many obstacles. / Make sure you are prepared.

170
Shigemori: Tokiko, / I'll handle the remaining footholds. // The young'uns ought to focus completely on maintaining the giant kekkai.
Tokiko: I can't say I'm entirely confident in that... // You're not exactly skilled at multitasking, are you?
Shigemori: How dare you...!! That was a long time ago!!
Tokiko: All right, you do that. // But my biggest worry here... // is your grandson over there. // The Four-Corner Formation is a technique in which four separate powers complement one another, / and the four users must be synchronised down to their very breaths... // If even a single person gets ahead of himself, the carefully aligned and balanced structure could fall apart in an instant. // You would do well to keep that in mind. // Well then, we're out of time. / Everybody, get to your positions.

171
Yoshimori: Tokine. // I'm sorry about back there.
Tokine: That's okay. // Good luck.
Yoshimori: Yeah...!

172
Shuu: Hello, you there?! // Sen-chan, this is really getting bad! / We had a guy spurting blood from his leg just a second ago... // Huh? / What?!
Sen: Hurry up, Shuu! / We can't possibly miss the chance to see this!
Shuu: I don't want my uniform getting damaged... // So what is this "Four-Corner Formation", anyway?
Sen: The four Kekkaishi are going to combine their powers to create one huge kekkai. // They're going to target the ayakashi alone, // and then slowly move the kekkai away from the school.
Shuu: But aren't the Sumimuras and the Yukimuras supposed to be rival clans? / Strange that they'd work together so easily.
Sen: Mmm... / I think it's a more complicated relationship than just rivalry. // I'm not completely sure... // ...but I think I'm starting to understand those four a little.

173
Sen: Good, / we're right on time! // The old woman's handling the initiation. / Make sure you watch carefully!
Shuu: (Man, it tires me out carrying someone like this...)
Sen: ! // (They've started!)

174
Yoshimori/Tokine: (It's here!)

175
Yoshimori: (Whoa... // What's this incredible unsettling sensation?! It's creeping me out...)
Tokine: (But we mustn't resist the power flowing in... // We accept it... // ...and channel it...!!)

176
Shigemori: Hnngh!!
Sen: (The four points have connected!)
Shigemori: (This is where it gets tricky... // We take in the power of the other three... // ...add our own power to the mix... // ...and focus it...!)

177
Shigemori: (Then, the instant the power of the whole is fully stabilised...) // And... now!!
Yoshimori: (Imagine yourself as a pillar supporting the whole... // ...and focus the power upwards as one...!!)

178
Kekkaishi: KETSU!!
Yoshimori: (All right, the kekkai is established!)
Tokiko: (That's the first problem out of the way... // Now for the next... // Here goes!!)

179
Yurina: (This is scary... // Is it really going to be okay?! // [aside]i really should've left early...[/aside] // Sumimura-kun...!!)

180
Yurina: (Huh?! // Huh?! // What's going on?!)

181
Teacher: Kanda, could you read the next passage...?
Tokine: Ugh... // (It's pulling at me...! // It's already warping back and forth... // ...but if it actually collapses, then this is all over... // At this rate... we're only just holding it up...!!)

182-183
Shigemori: Nnnnnngh!!
Yoshimori: Nghhh...
Tokine: Nnhhh...

184-185
[no text just epic O_O]

186
HatPerson: This is...!!
Shuu: They did it!
Sen: No, this isn't good!! // It's not stable enough... // It's going to collapse...!!
[Kekkaishi 18: Fin]

187
Fourth Kekkaishi
Character Illustration And Graffiti
GENERALS Revealed!!
[Text: We received a lot of submissions from hopeful Illustration Generals. And somehow, we actually received a lot of Graffiti General submissions as well! It suspect that must be because last time, I was complaining and saying "I think I might have to get rid of this section". But from all your enthusiastic submissions this time around, I've learned that you should never give up so easily just because things aren't going too well! Thank you all! for your hard work!! We'll keep publishing this corner as long as you keep on supporting it!]
Character Illustration General
[beneath title: We asked our hopefuls to send in their illustrations of Masamori.]
[right text: The theme this time round was "Sumimura Masamori".]
[banner: You are the GENERAL!]
Penguin: It's the General!
[Label: Hyogo Prefecture / Nakatani Yuuta (17)]
[Text: It has real atmosphere and presence. He looks pretty evil! And you deserve this for your perfect attendance record. Congratulations!]

188
[box: Other noteworthy pieces. I guess he's just an easy character to mess around with - there's some real variation in expressions, so it was interesting. The ranks given are just random. // Note: Sometimes the author might make rather nasty comments, but she doesn't mean it, honest!]
[TopBanner: Minister]
[Top-right: Shiga Prefecture / Asa (12) // You have a mother-complex too? I like the composition here.]
[on top picture: [Masamori: (Mother... I wonder if you're well)] // Sumimura Masamori]
[MiddleBanner: Magistrates]
[Middle-right: Osaka Prefecture / Nakatani Mayu (23) // You again! The Stippling Magistrate.]
[Middle-left: Aichi Prefecture / Haruno Nanami (12) // Invisible Ink Magistrate. This applicant sent in what at first glance seemed to be a blank postcard... a cunning strategy indeed. But applying a little heat revealed the truth.]
[on middle-left picture: KEKKAISHI // An invisible Masamori.]
[bottomBanner: Governors]
[box: Did these come out right? They're pretty black, you guys...]
[bottom-right: Fukushima Prefecture / Kikuchi Rena (12) // Even his face is black.]
[bottom-left: Niigata Prefecture / 6-DORORO (13) // That's a very black scene you've chosen.]
[on bottom-left picture: Masamori]

189
[Top banner: Aides]
[box: I liked the faces on these four.]
[Top-right: Osaka Prefecture / Ichigo (?) // Nice linework here.]
[Top-left: Saitama Prefecture / Karasumori (14) // How very pleasant.]
[Middle-right: Kumamoto Prefecture / Kakuda Kimika (10) // Eating a taiyaki. Looks tasty.]
[TN: I should probably just mention that although of course I can't be 100% sure on the readings of any of these names, this "Kakuda" is particularly uncertain. It could just as easily be "Kakuta" or "Tsunoda".]
[on middle-right picture: Sumimura Masamori]
[Middle-left: Kagoshima Prefecture / Emoto Sayaka (12) // He has a rather youthful smile here.]
[on middle-left picture: Masamori]
[bottom banner: Kagemusha]
[box: Uh, I'm not sure that these are even Masamori at all, you know...?]
[bottom-right: Shiga Prefecture / Takayama 日莱 (9) // I kind of feel like he looks like someone... but I don't know who.]
[TN: I've left the kid's name in kanji because I have no idea how the heck to read it ~_~]
[on bottom-right picture: Masamori // [Masamori: Kurohime, read the ripples for me.]]
[bottom-left: Iwate Prefecture / Chiba Yuutarou (10) // His clothes seem completely off, too.]
[on bottom-left picture: Sumimura Masamori]

190
[Text: GRAFFITI GENERAL // We asked our applicants to photocopy a panel from the comic, and edit it in interesting ways. // For the first time in a while, we actually have a Graffiti General! It really is nicer when there are lots of submissions. Please keep it up for next time, too!♡]
[Top-rightBanner: You are the GENERAL!]
[Top-right: Tokyo / I Love Penguins (16) // A very surreal situation, and I like the way you edited the original picture.]
Penguin: It's the General!
[on top-right picture: Chapter 149 / Roast Potatoes]
[TN: He's edited the chapter title, "Yakimochi" ("Jealousy") into "Yakiimo" ("Roast Potatoes"). And, er, edited the picture to match.]
[Top-leftBanner: Heart General]
[Top-left: Kochi Prefecture / Kuwae Hiromasa (12) // I thought it was just another porno joke at first, but the last panel was just genius.]
[on top-left picture:]
Masamori: What's up, Hakota?
Hakota: Chief!! // I found porno books!!
Masamori: What?! Where?!
Hakota: On that mountain over there!!
[/On top-left picture]
[TN: The original line was "I found Misao and Akira" :p And naturally, there was no, ah, heart.]
[bottom banner: Radish General]
[bottom-left: Kyoto Prefecture / Taniguchi Yasuki (13) // I'd kind of like to know what happens next...]

[Hakubi: Thank you for all your submissions! I'll send my autograph to the winners (eventually). And we're now taking submissions for the next one!]
Fifth / Character Illustration and Graffiti General Contest // "Character Illustration General" / The theme this time is simply "ayakashi". Draw any ayakashi character however you like and send it in. If you wonder "Is this character an ayakashi...?", well, you can decide. // "Graffiti General" / Photocopy a panel from one of the volumes, edit it however you like, and send it in. // Draw your entries on a postcard in black and white, clearly specifying your name, address, telephone number, age, and a pen-name if you wish, and send them to:

〒101-8001
東京都千代田区一ツ橋2-3-1
小学館　少年サンデー編集部気付
結界師単行本企画
「キャラ別イラスト大将」係 or 「らくがき大将」係

The deadline is the publication date of the next volume. Results will be announced after that date. We await your submissions.