Yamikagishi Volume 4

Last volume for that series too. See a pattern, here?
You can download it here, along with the three previous volumes. Enjoy!
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006
Yamikagishi {4} Table of Contents

25th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (12)..............7
26th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (13)..............31
27th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (14)..............55
28th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (15)..............79
29th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (16)..............103
30th Tale: The Fortune Stealer (1)................131
31st Tale: The Fortune Stealer (2)................155
32nd Tale: The Fortune Stealer (3)................179
33rd Tale: The Fortune Stealer (4)................203
34th Tale: The Fortune Stealer (5)................227

007
25th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (12).

008
Ukiha: ........ Am I still alive?
Hellboy Tetsu: Yeah./That was totally reckless, you know that?
Ukiha: What about Gahoumaru?/Have I been able to avenge Jirouta-sama properly?
Tetsu: I don't know./He was nowhere to be seen after the explosion.
Ukiha: Even my bombshells didn't suffice... I feel so powerless.

009
Tetsu: No. Not at all./You did well.
Jou: Exactly./I owe you my life.
Ukiha: ..........//What of Isshin-sama?
Shinzou: The Satsuma have also cleared the place.

010
Shinzou: They probably didn't expect you to be still alive.
Ukiha: As long as they're unharmed...

011
Shinzou: It must have been a shock. You've just found out what a monstrous beast your leader was.
Ukiha: I have no regrets.//If only I hadn't lost my mem........*COUGH*
*cough cough cough*
Tetsu: Enough. Don't you say anything more!
Ukiha: ........./Thank you, Tetsujuu.
Tetsu: Eh?

012
Ukiha: When I was washed ashore, you unquestioningly came to my rescue...... I never thanked you properly for that.
Tetsu: I don't even know what your name is, at that.
*chuckle*
Ukiha: True. I still haven't told you./It's Ukiha./Spelled like a feather that's rising.[tn: The Kanji for Ukiha mean respectively "float/rise" 浮 (uki) and "feather" 羽 (ha).]
Tetsu: I see./The name was tailor-made for you.

013
Ukiha: Uh!/That string.........
Flashback!Ukiha: Now there should be nothing to worry about.
Flashback!Tetsu: Because of that string?

014
Flashback!Ukiha: I've created a barrier.
Ukiha: I'm happy you brought it with you.
Tetsu: Ye... Yeah.
Ukiha: ........../Just as I thought.
Tetsu: ?

015
Ukiha: Your hands are so warm.........

016
*drop*
Tetsu: !!//Ukiha?/Ukiha![tn: Boo-hoo!]

018
*thud*
Tetsu: Damn it./If only I'd been forging my Evil-Sealing Locks more carefully!!

019
Jou: Tetsujuu. Save the mourning for later./We're going to need your help if we are to seal Gahoumaru.
Shinzou: So he's really alive? Even after that blast?
Jou: The demons who appear into our world cannot be killed by mundane weaponry./There's no choice but to purify them through sealing.
Shinzou: But it's not like your Evil-Sealing Lock has been any more successful.

020
Jou: We must do something about it nonetheless.
Shinzou: Because it's your job to protect the Tokugawa society, yes?
Jou: Not quite.
Shinzou: ?!

021
Jou: It has nothing to do with Tokugawa or Satsuma./My only wish is to protect the people who live here in this world.

022
Tetsu: ..........//Head of the Iga clan. I'm going to have to borrow your forges.

023
Shinzou: They're at your disposal./Lock Kanji./I'll be taking my leave./I have a job to do.
Jou: I'm counting on you, Tetsujuu.
Tetsu: Lead the way.
Gahou: .........

024
Isshin: Let those who can move keep watch in turn./Alright. Don't let your guards down at any price until we've reached Satsuma!

025
Ninja: ?

026
Ninjas: Hiiiic.//........./What is that thing?
Isshin: What is it? Why the commotion?
Ninja: Isshin-sama, look at that!
Isshin: !!

027
Isshin: Gahoumaru?!
Gahou: Isshin, where are you going?[tn: Special font required.]
Isshin: So you were alive, after all?!
Gahou: I said where are you going?!!

028
Isshin: The Iga have found out about our plans. We have no more reason to stay in Edo./We need to make new preparations and reassess our plans if we are to infiltrate the Edo castle.
Gahou: I can't remember authorising any of this.
Isshin: We no longer consider an aberration like yourself our leader.
Gahou: Don't be ridiculous./Shinobi are pariahs and abominations.[tn: In ancient Japan, because of religious taboo and the rigid social hierarchy established by the Tokugawa government, those whose occupations entailed the handling of corpses or animal carcasses (executioners, undertakers, etc...) and most other "unsavory" professions (entertainers, prostitutes, etc...) as a whole were deemed unclean. They were effectively outcasts, deemed "below human" in status.]//Possessing power beyond that of humanity./Is it not the very destination we are all trying to reach?
Isshin: Is that the reason why you fell into such deviancy?
Gahou: Deviancy? Are you talking about me?!

029
Isshin: Isn't the fact that you still live in that state proof enough of your heresy?
Gahou: Aaah. I presume you're talking about the rest of my body?/Then you need not worry.//It's right there, behind yourself and the rest of the dogs.
Ninjas: !!

030
*RHHAARRRHHH*
Gahou: If you won't heed my word, I have no more need for you./I might as well let you become my food.

031
Flashback!Shinzou: It must have been a shock. You've just found out what a monstrous beast your leader was.
Flashback!Ukiha: I have no regrets.//If only I hadn't lost my mem........*COUGH*[/end

032
Tetsu: Ukiha!
26th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (13).

033
Tetsu: I shall dispel your regrets myself.

035
*RHHAAAARHHH*
Ninjas: Aaaaargh.

036
Isshin: .........//Curse you, Gahoumaru!/Is this the way you devoured my brother Jirouta as well?!
Gahou: ......... Jirouta? Yes. He was a delicacy.
Isshin: Damn yooouu!

037
Isshin: !!

038
Isshin: Le/Let me go!
Gahou: Isshin. You are a shinobi, and you are powerful./You should be an even tastier morsel than Jirouta ever was.
Isshin: You accursed monstrosity!/You have deceived us, with promises of toppling the Tokugawa!

039
Gahou: Be at ease./I mean to go there.
Isshin: ?
Gahou: I'll go, and I will feast upon the Shogun's flesh and blood./It shall be a trifle for someone like me.

040
Gahou: ..........

041
Gahou: ....... Well well well. Time to go.

043
Narrator: Temple of the Locks.
Kin: ...... That again.//How strange.//Jou-san!

044
Jou: How did it go, O-Kin?/Have you been able to determine Gahoumaru's whereabouts?
Kin: It's extremely bizarre. I thought I'd wait for you to come back.
Jou: What do you mean?
Kin: The result is the same no matter how any times I try my divination. I get the Temple of the Locks every single time.

045
Kin: Even if we assume he's in hiding somewhere, it would be very strange for him to be here./Because I doubt Gahoumaru even knows about this place.//Am I doing something wrong?
Jou: .........
Kin: There's an enormous demon running about town, and I can't even divine where it is./I can't seem to locate Gahoumaru with my podomancy.
Jou: It might be because he's a shinobi./His spiritual training allows him to keep his evil powers under control.
Kin: So even if I tried now
Jou: No. It's unlikely to work any better.

046
Jou: Ever since he's come to Edo, Gahoumaru's evil powers have been strengthening beyond his control. Probably because of the corrupt, consuming power that nests within this town.
Kin: Edo is a "Land Unclean"........[tn: In Japanese, "Edo ha Edo" (江戸は穢土), with the second "Edo" referring to the Buddhist notion of "Impure World".]
Jou: And that's why we have to protect the people who live here in it.

047
Jou: Here's a fragment of the Lock I couldn't seal him with./Use it and try your divination again.
Kin: ..........

048
Kin: .........
Jou: !!
Kin: Why?!

049
Jou: Watch out, O-Kin./There's no problem with your divination!//He's making his way here!//Where?//Where is he?!!

050-051
Kin: Jou-san. Over there!/Is that Gahoumaru?!

052
Gahou: Oooh. She's a diviner? You people have a large array of fascinating powers at your disposal.
Jou: How did you find out about this place?

053
Eye: *squick*
Kin: Hic
Eye: *squiiirrrm...*

054
Gahou: I have a score to settle with your before I proceed to the Edo castle.
Jou: O-Kin. Get inside![/end

055
27th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (14).
Gahou: I have a score to settle with your before I proceed to the Edo castle.

056
Jou: The Edo castle?/But the Satsuma shinobi are no longer following you.
Gahou: HAHAHAHAHA.//You are perfectly right./They are no more.
Jou: !
Gahou: By now, they have already become my own flesh and blood.
Jou: You wretch!

057
Gahou: Really. I've been proceeding in such a roundabout manner. Using them to get a key to Daimaru, and so forth./I have no more need for these petty tricks. I should have made my way there all alone, from the beginning.
Jou: You still don't understand?
Gahou: ?
Jou: You did it because something still remained of your humanity./As a shinobi, fulfilling your mission was more important to you than anything else.//But things are different now.//You are a demon. Nothing more.

058
Jou: Driven only by your craving for human flesh and blood.//Now you've devolved into a wretched, pathetic creature.

059
Gahou: Wretched? Pathetic?//Hah

060
Kin: !

061
Gahou: I fail to see anything pathetic about that power.
Jou: ........//What have you just thought about?

062
Gahou: ..........
Jou: I'll tell you what. You wanted to sup on that blood.
Gahou: So what of it?

063
Jou: That's what makes you pathetic![tn: Let's see: remember all the previous notes about flesh and blood? The ancient Japanese not eating meat because of its ritual impurity? Now we have Gahoumaru, a cannibalistic monster. You do the math.]

064
Gahou: I've lost count of all the impertinent remarks you've made today./What are you plotting?
Jou: .........
Gahou: Huhuhu. No matter.
Jou: O-Kin, what are you doing? Get inside. Quick!

065
Gahou: Stay where you are!

067
Gahou: You won't escape me, Locksmith!
Jou: !

068-069
Gahou: That's as far as you'll go!

070
Gahou: Die.

071
Gahou: Pah.
Jou: You're still bleeding red, it seems.

072
Gahou: Bollocks!
Jou: Argh.

074
Jou: !!
Gahou: Poor fool./How naive!

077
Jou: !//Urgh.

078
Gahou: Your powers and strength are mine to feast upon.[/end

079
Gahou: RAAAAAAH

080
Jou: ?!
Gahou: Auugh.//What was that?!

081
Kin: Surprised? My accessories are coated in the same metal as the Evil-Sealing Locks.
28th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (15).

082
Kin: Jou-san. I'm going to save you.
Jou: Stay away, O-Kin./Don't worry about me!
Gahou: Pestiferous woman.*bubble bubble*

084
Jou: !/O-Kin. Run away!

085
Kin: This endearing form will not get you any amount of clemency.

088
Kin: !//You have to be joking./I'll never see the end of this.

089
Kin: Ow./Aaaah.

091
Kin: Aaaaaaah.
Jou: O-Kin!

092
Kin: Stop it!//NOOOOOOOOOO.

093
Jou: O-Kin!

094
Kin: !

095
Jou: O-Kin!

097
Kin: Jou-san.........

100
Wifey: Darling./Wake up!
Hubby: Duuuh? Whuuut's dis ruckus?
Woman: Something terrible. Look.

101
Hubby: !!//What is that thing?

102
Hubby&Wifey: !
Tetsu: He's shown his ugly face already./I'm a bit behind schedule.[/end

103
Gahou: RHHHAAAAAARHH!!
29th Tale: Mysteries of the Secret Locks (16).

104
Jou: O-Kin!
Gahou: Jounosuke!/You are also to become a portion of myself!

106
Jou: What is this?!!

107
Tetsu: Here is the Holy Bolt you've ordered, good sir.
Jou: Tetsujuu.
Tetsu: A good man always comes to the rescue in good time.//Here you are, Jounosuke. It's finished!

108
Jou: On.//A. Bo. Kya. Bei. Ro. Sha. Nau. Ma. Ka./Bo. Dara. Ni. Han. Doma...//UN.

109
Gahou: !//Whatever you're planning, it's pointless./No one can stop me!
Jou: Have you forgotten? That simple lock is enough to impede your movements./Albeit for a very short time.

110
Jou: Now, Tetsujuu!
Tetsu: You got it.

111
Tetsu: YAAAARGH.

113
Jou: O-Kin!
Kin: !

115
Jou: Gahoumaru. This time for sure, I'm going to shut you away.

116
Gahou: I think I'm not the only one with a lapsing memory./I can't be sealed into a lock like that![tn: Special font returns!]
Tetsu: Lock Kanji. We're good!
Jou: Demons destroy and consume the door that is the human heart to manifest into our world./The act of fastening anew the lock upon that door and sealing it away is called a Dooring.

117
Jou: If the lock is not enough./Then we close the gate.//Tetsujuu's special, Demon-Sealing Holy Bolt./That's what we'll to seal you with!

118
Gahou: Aaargh.
Jou: There's no escaping from this Door, even for someone like you.

119
Gahou: Aaagh.
Kin: Jou-san!

120
Gahou: So that's why you've lured me all the way here!
Jou: ............
Gahou: Stop this right away, if you value your life!
Jou: It doesn't work that way./We're willing to lay down our lives for this.

121
Gahou: UUGH./No. It can't end like this.

124
Jou: Bolt the door.
Tetsu: I'm on it!//............

125
Kin: What a carefree lot, really./A real festival.//We've been through so much trouble./And there's probably no chance those rubbernecks will ever find out about it.
Jou: That's what protecting Edo's people from demons is about.

126
Kin: Oh, well. I guess you're right, but still... Tetsu-san, I'm sure you can see where I come from.
Tetsu: Ukiha!//..........
Kin: Tetsu-san. I'm talking to you.
Tetsu: Uh... Erm, well.

127
Tetsu: ........ Can't be her./How stupid can I be?
People: .........
*ROOOOOOAAAAR*
People: Oooh.
Monks: Again./It's wailing again!

128
People: The gate is wailing./.........[/end

131
*slip*
Kin: Ow.*sharp pain*
Kin: ..........

132-133
30th Tale: The Fortune Stealer (1).

134
Oroku: .........

135
Oroku: No good./Even if I ascribe these wounds to erotic games, there's still something strange about them.
Kin: !/Oroku-san.

136
Oroku: From what I hear there's been a huge commotion this time. The enemy must have been quite formidable, for you to be injured like that.
Kin: Gahoumaru, from the Satsuma Shinobi. We'd never seen the likes of him before.//Jou-san's been able to seal him away, though.
Oroku: Oh my, oh my. You do sound fond of him.
Kin: Of course not.
Oroku: What? Still the same old one-sided love affair?
Kin: Just leave me alone!

137
Oroku: Jounosuke is a man of intense feelings./He's merely locking these emotions away.//Oh, my. I've just said something pretty good./Huhuhu.../.........//For these wounds of yours... If you don't want them to leave scars, you should grind some medicinal herbs into a compress.[tn: The text actually says "mangorasou" (萬護裸草), which is clearly meant to be a plant of sorts, but I've been unable to find out which one exactly.] //Hehehe./Take good care of your skin, lest you regret it come the critical moment.

138
Kin: Being advanced in age is a good thing. You can just say whatever you please.
Oroku: I've been alive for too long. That's about the only distraction I have.
Kin: *snort*
Oroku: *Hyahaha*
Kin: chuckle*
Oroku: Enjoy yourself now while you can, and as much as you can.

139
Oroku: The foul things are growing in power. The current situation is favorable to them.
Kin: Really?
Oroku: What do your divination skills have to say about it, O-Kin?
Kin: ...........
Signboard: Tenshindou.

140
Jou: I thought you weren't there. You were out bathing?
Oroku: Have you been waiting for me? Sorry about that, Jounosuke.
Jou: It's nothing./I don't see you sparkling clean, fresh out the bath all that often.

141
Oroku: Humph.//There's nothing amusing at all about cracking jokes with a sullen face like yours.

142
Book: Arcane Formula of Bolting. Kimon Suppression Battle Array.[tn: Kimon (lit. the Ogre's Gate) is another name for Northeast, which is considered an unlucky direction.]
Jou: I'm giving this back.
Oroku: A huge demonic face has appeared on the doors of the Asakusa Temple, yes? Borrowing that old book did yield some results, it seems.
Jou: It saved my live.

143
Oroku: To think I'd get to see such a large-scale technique these days.//That'd be one of the perks of longevity.

144
Oroku: It's dark, down there. Be careful.//Put it at the end of the second row. That's the shelf for Arcane Bolting Formulas./Remember it. This is a crystallisation of the Demon Sealers past's wisdom and knowledge.

145
Jou: I'd rather not use it too much if I can avoid it, though.//!
Oroku: Oh my. This brings back memories.
Jou: You even took in that picture?
Oroku: I guess I did.//The Doormen have to leave a record of their works behind them. That's another part of our job.

146
Oroku: This picture dates back to when O-Kin and yourself met for the first time.
Jou: Yeah.//........

147
Narrator: Edo. Two years prior.
Kin: Good. One more to go.
Blob: Give it back.........[tn: Special font, please.]
Kin: ?

148
Blob: Return it to me.
Kin: ....... No way?!

149
Blob: It is mine./Hand it over!
Kin: Don't be silly!/I'd never steal anything from monstrosity like you!//Aaaaaaaah.

150
Blob: Give it back. Fail to comply, and your life is forfeit.
Kin: What are you talking about!

151
Blob: Not this.
Kin: !!

152
Jou: Get away!!

153
Jou: The girl must have dropped this.//.............

154
Dude: Thief!/We have a thief!
Jou: That'd be the girl..........//Why did she even bother to take this picture?[/end

155
Fella: Yaaaaawn. Weather's nice.//Uh?

156
Fella: OOOOOOOH.//Thank you!
Headband: There's one in my house too.
Scarf: Yeah./I found one in mine as well!

157
People: The Fortune Boy! Kicchou Kozou has showed up!![tn: Kicchou Kozou=Fortune Boy. Small children often made the best thieves, because of their agility. Therefore, "Kozou" (boy/kid) was a common nickname for burglars in Ancient Japan. The most famous of them, Nezumi Kozou (Rat Kid) is more or less the Japanese equivalent of Robin Hood.]
31st Tale: The Fortune Stealer (2).

158
People: Thank you. Thank you!/A million thanks to you, Kicchou Kozou.
Kin: ..........
Crier: There we are. The Fortune Boy strikes again!/Wrapping koban coins into a paper with a Fortune character stamped on it, and throwing them into the houses of the poor. A noble, chivalrous thief. A real rarity, these days![tn: Koban=oval gold coin.]

159
Crier: After House Sakai, he hit the Enshuu's lumber wholesale store./Come on. Ask for your copy.
Woman: If only Kicchou Kozou could drop a koban by my house as well. I wouldn't mind.
Woman: Look who's talking. I bet you already got yourself a huge money stash.
Jou: .........

160
Jou: Coming in.
Oroku: Really now. Always the same Noh mask of a face./You should try watching some erotic pictures every once in a while. Content yourself some.[tn: Noh is Japanese theater. The actors usually wore relatively scary-looking masks. Look it up]
Jou: There's something I'd like you to see, today.
Oroku: ... Gosh.

161
Oroku: ..........//You took a rather huge leap past the average titillating stuff.//Where on Earth did you find something like this?
Jou: That's why I'm here, actually.//Certainly you'll be able to tell me whoever made that picture.
Oroku: Jounosuke. Do you have any idea of this things's significance?
Jou: Significance?

162
Oroku: This isn't just any scene of cruelty./The artist was there when it happened.//The point of it is to slake the appetites of deranged men.
Jou: Any idea where I can find that painter?
Oroku: That goes without saying.

163
Oroku: Even in a town like Edo, it's not hard to count how many people would undertake that kind of job.

164
Fuusai: Don't close your eyes!

165
Fuusai: Yes. Good.

166
Fuusai: ..........

167
Fuusai: Wrong!//........./No. That's not it.//True darkness is not like that!
Woman: .........

168
Jou: Excuse me. Does Tsukioka-sensei live here?//.........[tn: Sensei is the proper honorific for teachers, but also artists, doctors, and most highly qualified professions.]

169
Jou: Are you the artist, Tsukioka Fuusai-sensei?

170
Fuusai: ........

171
Jou: Tsukioka-sensei.//Do you remember that picture at all?
Fuusai: ...........
Jou: You're the one who painted it, aren't you?
Fuusai: ........ It's a boring picture.

172
Jou: When did you paint it? Where?
Fuusai: I can't remember.
Jou: Someone asked you to portray this woman as she was getting killed.//Who would that be?

173
Fuusai: Whoever they are, I don't care!/Ultimately, it's a boring picture.//It's bogus, even if it does portray somebody's death!/This isn't what I'm looking for.//True, genuine darkness!!/That's what I wanna paint, you hear me!
Jou: Hmph.

174-175
Jou: The true darkness of this world cannot be conveyed into a picture.
Fuusai: What!
Jou: People aren't meant to touch such a thing.//If you keep this up, you'll end up devoured by it. Grandmaster.

176
Fuusai: Let me have a better look..... Let me look again.
Jou: ?!
Fuusai: Your eyes./You have such great eyes.//I've never seen such a tenebrous look before./The colour of the shadows you hold within.//What have you been doing to have them grow so thick in darkness?
Jou: ..........

177
Fuusai: Stay still!/Alright. Don't move a muscle!//I'm gonna paint that darkness of yours!
Jou: Hold it.//Please let me know./Who asked for this picture?!

178
Fuusai: Let me paint you, for starters. Then, I'll tell you whatever you want to know.
Jou: You talk first. Once we're done, you can do whatever you please.[/end

179
Kin: ........//!

180
Kin: Him!
32nd Tale: The Fortune Stealer (3).
Sign: Coleseed Wholesale Store Azumaya.

181
Jou: Excuse me./..........

182
Ichizou: Hey. Wait a minute.//You look preoccupied. If you're here for order-taking, go to the back of the store.
Jou: Is the owner there?
Ichizou: If you have business here, ask me.
Jou: I was wondering if you wouldn't be needing a new locksmith.
Ichizou: You wanna harass people into buying your goods in front of our store? And that's a low opinion of Azumaya, you have there.
Jou: I've heard there'd been trouble with some Kicchou Kozou, whatever his name is.
Ichizou: We can close our doors just fine, and there are young people here. This isn't the kind of store that's gonna be bothered by one sneak-thief or two.//Just go back to wherever you came from.

183
Jou: Are you sure?/Houses Yamato, Sakai and Enshuu have been hit. Azuma is likely to come next.
Ichizou: ?!/What makes you think that? .............
Azuma: Ichizou, take him inside.
Ichizou: But master.

184
Azuma: Mister locksmith./Let's hear it, shall we?//..........

185
Azuma: ........ Jounosuke-san, is it? I heard the recent rumors about a skilled locksmith, but I never thought you'd go as far as involving yourself into such shady affairs as these burglaries.
Jou: That's the kind of notorious jobs it takes to make a name for oneself.
Azuma: Well well well.//It's not out of place for one in his young days to mistakenly assume recklessness to be part of his profession.
Jou: My apologies.
Azuma: ........... So. After Enshuu, we're next. That's it?
Jou: It's a locksmith's intuition.

186
Azuma: I'll thank you to refrain from such nonsense.
Jou: Actually a certain person told me about you.
Azuma: Oh yes? Who?
Jou: Tsukioka Fuusai-sama, the artist.
Azuma: ......... Well, I don't know that name.

187
Jou: And it's not out of place for one advanced in age to mistakenly assume that speaking in riddles is a form of finesse.
Azuma: Never mind.//How about you let me have a look at those famous skills of yours? Come again tomorrow. I'll have you fix the lock on my storehouse.
Jou: Thank you very much.
Ichizou: ........

188
Jou: !
Kin: Crap.

189
Kin: .........*pant pant*
Kin: Damn it. He's been able to lose someone like me.
Jou: So it was you. Here's a surprise.//Are you here to thank me for last night?

190
Kin: Oh. You remember me? I'm glad to hear it.//Talking about memories, there's one more thing./Can you remember picking up anything yesterday?
Jou: You mean this picture?
Kin: That's the one.

191
Kin: It's mine!
Jou: ..........
Kin: This should be more than enough. For the picture, and to thank you for last night./Now give it back.
Jou: Kicchou Kozou-san does live up to her name./You are profusely generous to the poor.

192
Kin: You've figured it out?/There's a quick answer to that, then.
Jou: You're no ordinary thief./What are you stealing for?
Kin: ...........

193
Jou: What does this picture have to do with the whole thing?/Do you have a relative portrayed on it?/Quit grumbling about this and that. Just return my picture./Or else I'm gonna hurt you. And then some.
Jou: Pft.
Kin: What's so funny?
Jou: I guess you're trying to loom over me, making yourself as threatening as you can but it seems so uncharacteristic from you.
Kin: Shut up!

194
Kin: You were waiting for your cronies? Well, you did seem strangely confident.
Jou: ...........

195
Ichizou: Go!
Dude: Raaah.

198
Jou: These are no backup of mine./They've come from Azumaya to make sure I keep my mouth shut.//Don't you agree?/Ichizou-san.
Ichizou: ........

199
Kin: What exactly have you been doing at Azumaya's?
Jou: Nothing. I merely went there to talk business.//One thing is quite plain, right now./The enemy is even more dangerous than you expected.//If you're on some kind of clumsy endeavor to exact revenge, I suggest you stop it.
Kin: Why should I?!
Ichizou: Quit twiddling your thumbs./Kill off those two and end this already.

201
Jou: Destiny works in strange ways.
Kin: Do you think now is the time? What is it?!
Jou: I get to tell the same line to the same person two days in a row.
Kin: ?

202
Jou: "Get away!"
Kin: Hmph./Don't count on me to thank you.[/end

203
33rd Tale: The Fortune Stealer (4).
Ichizou: This is the last one. It's all there.

204
Ichizou: Carry in inside, as usual.
Dude: Yes sir.
Azuma: Ichizou.
Ichizou: Yes master.
Azuma: Be sure to close the doors properly./I'm concerned about what the locksmith said.

205
Ichizou: You don't have to worry. We've been taking measures to deal with the situation.
Azuma: Oh yes? Like what?
Ichizou: Yamato, Sakai, Enshuu. The Fortune Boy has been using the same methods for all of them./Making his way in from the roof, because it's difficult to guard such a place.//We've built a watch post on the roof. It's hastily made, but it's there./We're keeping a perfect watch on the premises as well.
Azuma: I'm counting on you on this.
Ichizou: Ye Yes master.

207
Kin: ...........//BWAH.

208
Kin: You expected me to keep sneaking in from the roof every single time? Serves you right.//...............

209
Kin: Must be here.//!

210-211
Kin: What is this?!!

212
Kin: I can't believe it./He's completely sick in the head.//!//........../What's that doing here..........?

213
[Flashback]Kichi: Come on, have a look. You've lost something? You're looking for something? You wanna know what the future has in store?/Let the child's legs work their magic and find out for you.//This is podomancy. Something you'll never find anywhere else.//Anybody wants to give it a try?

214
Kichi: Alright, O-Kin. I'm counting on you.
Kin: Yeah.
Kichi: Yeee./Hah.
Kin: That's it?
Kichi: What are we gonna eat tonight?//White rice seems to be out of the question.

216
Kichi: Oh, my, they're so cold./You must be hurting.

217
Sign: Azumaya's.
Kichi: Decrepit and wretched/ignorant of where I stand/the sadness of understanding is visited upon me.........
Ichizou: You're disturbing our business. Go somewhere else!

218
Kichi: My daughter's caught a fever during our travels. Can I have something for free?
Ichizou: What impudence. What are you talking about?
Azuma: No need to be so cold about it, Ichizou.
Ichizou: Master.
Azuma: I've heard her story. A pity. Isn't it.......?//Yes. I have a good idea. I'll have my friends come over, and order a feast.//What say you?

219
Kichi: Alright. This is medicine./Take it, O-Kin. So you can heal quickly.
Kin: Mummy?
Kichi: The store's owner and his friends have called for me./You get as much rest as you can.

220
Kin: Don't go!/Please stay here!
Kichi: You need to become stronger, O-Kin./Your mother won't always be there with you.[tn: Daaaaamn right! :hahaha:][/flashback]

221
Kin: Mummy!//If only I'd done the impossible to keep you from going back then! ..............

222
Azuma: I am surprised to learn that you were female.
Kin: !
Azuma: Kicchou Kozou!//Don't move!//By all means, I have a few things I'd like to ask you.//Why are you targeting me? For what reason have you been housebreaking into Yamato's, Sakai's, and Enshuu's?
Kin: That's why.

223
Kin: I found this atrocious picture in the first house I'd entered. The Yamato's. You were all gathered on it.//That'd be Yamato.//And Sakai and Enshuu.//And Azumaya./You.
Azuma: What makes you think it's me, on that picture?/It doesn't even remotely look like me.
Kin: I can tell./I'm not supposing anything. My gut tells me it's you.

224
Kin: Murderer!/You killed my mum!
Azuma: ? Your mother........
Kin: Don't tell me you've forgotten. This is my mum!
Azuma: .........//I can't remember./I've killed so many people, you can't expect me to remember every last one of them.

225
Kin: ?!
Azuma: I'm going to kill you, like the women on those pictures.

226
Azuma: Too bad there isn't an artist around, though.
Kin: Ungh.[/end

227
Kin: Damnation!//What the hell are you doing?!
Azuma: I told you, didn't I? I'm going to kill you like I did the other women.
Kin: !

228
34th Tale: The Fortune Stealer (5).

231
Kin: You!!

231
Jou: Come over here, quickly./I won't be able to hold him much longer.//Hell!

233
Ichizou: Master, is there something wrong?!//Cough cough./What the heck is going on?!
Azuma: Ah. It's you, scum!
Ichizou: !!

235
Jou: What are you standing there for? Get away!
People: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiic.

237
Jou: Get going immediately!
Kin: !!//Fire! The flames are everywhere.

239-240
Kin: !//Mummy!

241
Kin: ............

242
Jou: So the four of them put their hands on your mother and killed her.
Kin: That's it. Her name was O-Kichi.//That's why I'd wrap the money I stole from them into a piece of paper marked with the "luck" character.[tn: 吉=Fortune/Luck=Kichi.]/To remind them of the crimes they'd committed.//But as far as they were concerned...
Jou: ...........

243
Kin: Nevermind that. That's some pretty neat tricks you got there./What did you do?
Jou: A Dooring.//Demons devour the darkness within people's hearts to come forth into our world.//My job is to seal those who turn monstrous like Azumaya into a lock.
Kin: Anyway, I'm grateful.
Jou: Why?
Kin: Thank you. For letting me see my mother one last time.

244
Kin: ...........//(Now it's over, Mum...)

245
Oroku: What's wrong, Jounosuke?
Jou: I was just remembering how I met up with O-Kin.........
Oroku: But to think that burglar girl would end up working as your partner. Fate works in entertaining ways.
Jou: Guess you're right.
Oroku: What happened to the artist who sketched this, by the way?

246
Jou: I went to have a look in his room after the Dooring, but he was nowhere to be seen./Maybe he'd been dispatched by Azumaya.//Or perhaps the darkness engulfed him.
Oroku: ...........

247
Jou: Oroku-baa-san. Please don't say a word to O-Kin about the artist.[tn: Baa-san means grandmother, but "uncle", "big brother", "grandmother", etc... are common forms of respectful address for one's seniors. Jounosuke and Oroku aren't necessarily related.]
Oroku: Keeping secrets, are we?
Jou: Yeah./We'd better not increase the number of people she has to hate any further, I think. That's why I'm not ever going to mention it to her.
Oroku: .........
Jou: Something wrong?
Oroku: That's extremely considerate, coming from you.
Jou: I'm considerate with women./You excepted, that is.

248
Oroku: Never set foot here again!
Jou: That's gonna be a problem. You're our well of wisdom when it comes to exorcising demons.
Oroku: Quit saying whatever.........
Kin: I knew you'd be there.
Jou: Something wrong, O-Kin?
Kin: Let's go eat some eels, or something.
Jou: Eh?

249
Kin: We don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow./So today, we should be eating something nice.
Jou: I see.
Yamikagishi. PART ONE. THE END.[/end