Arata no Tsukumogami Oneshot : Arata no Tsukumogami

In ancient times, great warriors would fight to protect beautiful women and defend them from the horrors that may attack them. But what if the protector...isn't human? And what if there is a way it can continue to fight even after it's time? A new tale courtesy of a Weekly Shonen Jump one-shot is here to open the door on a new battle...

One Shot:
Arata no Tsukumogami (Arata’s Tsukumogami) – by Katayama Yousuke

1.
Top Caption: If it’s for a woman that you love, then they’ll even go through fire and water!! Mismatched Guy-and-Guy Tag Battle 45p one-shot!!
Bottom Caption: An Undone Seal, a Captured Princess……and the Lusts of Men!?
Lower Left: Their Talent is Ultra-Super DX!! 2 Consecutive Extraordinary New Authors One-Shot Plan, 2nd Bullet!!

2.
Caption: Armor, Woman, Wilderness----…
Armored Female: It’s been thanks to you that even I, a woman, have fought to this point. I give my thanks, Kabuto…
(TN: “Kabuto” is Japanese for “Helmet”, but since that is whom she is referring to, I will be calling it as if it was its name)
“Kabuto”: Those are more than I deserve in words!!
“Woman”: But…I’m certain we’re coming to when “that” too will be destroyed. That too is destiny…
“Kabuto”: I will be your companion once again at that time!.........that point will be farewell for a short while.
“Kabuto”: ……PRINCESS!!

3.
Narrator: A war bow murdering instrument. A completely forgotten old helmet.
Narrator: They have life possessed when a hundred years have passed; this life dwells within tens of thousands of objects. Once, they were called gods.
(TN: Tens of Thousands usually has a Japanese word of “Man” when spoken of, but here it uses another kanji of similar meaning which has a reading of “yorosu”)
Narrator: Someone attached this to them—
Narrator: “Tsukumogami”
(TN: “Tsukumogami” has a literal meaning of “artifact spirit”, but has a literal meaning with these kanji as “missed possessed god”.)

4.
Boy: This is Chiharu’s “warehouse”?
Chiharu: Yep!! Grandpa’s left it to me.
Lower Caption Box: Asakura Arata
Upper Caption Box: Childhood Friend: Asou Chiharu
Arata: I’m going to be cleaning this today!? Leave this to me!

5.
Arata: (to himself) And then I, whose stock would have risen, will…
Chiharu: (imagination): Arata, thank you.
Arata: (imagination) What’s that, this was for my beloved Chiharu. (to himself) Will it, will it, will it!?
Chiharu: He—y, come back he—re.
Chiharu: Hurry and open it up—
Arata: Sorry, sorry.
Chiharu: Hey, it’s open!
Arata: Wow--! Something beating in me!!
Arata: !!

6.
Chiharu: Uwaa…
SFX: Kyuu (grab)
Chiharu: This is something incredible…
Arata: My…chance!! (out loud) He…

7.
Arata: Here you go…
Arata: (to himself): Is it fine she’s “grabbed” me? (imagination) Kyu (to himself) Wrong wrong wrong wro
Arata: Th…that’s…
Arata: GREAT. (Muhaa~)
Chiharu: Hey!! Wait!!
Voice: Thank you very much somehow. (can’t tell which it is)
“Voice”: …That appearance; that liveliness…I’m certain!
“Voice”: I’ve been waiting for you, PRINCESS!!

8.
Chiharu: Hm—m, I just said that we were cleaning from this warehouse? This is terrible. I thought somehow there would be treasure here but—(ju~~st junk)
Arata: Uha—
Arata: It seems even your grandpa hadn’t opened this at all……….has he?
Arata: THEY’RE JUST BOXES.
“Voice”: Hmm, children these days don’t even know of “Tsudzura”!!
(TN: “Tsudzura” are wicker clothes hangers)
Arata: What’s in them?
“Voice”: !! STU…!!

9.
Chiharu: KYAAAA!?
Arata: ……EH?
“Mouth”: HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT BEEN SINCE I’VE BEEN IN THIS PRESENT WORLD…
(TN: “Present World” is the Buddhist term of “Gense”, the transient world of the living)

10.
“Mouth”: OOOH…!! HAVEN’T ALL OF YOU FORGOTTEN YOUR GRUDGES TOWARDS HUMANS!?
“Mouth”: NOW—
“Mouth”: AWAKEN, AWAKEN, AWAKEN!!
“Mouth”: FUHA…!! FUHAHAHAHAHA
Chiharu: Eh!? Eeeeh!? What’s that!?
Chiharu: Hey…Arata, What are these, aliens?
(TN: Chiharu doesn’t refer to it as an “alien” but “Seijin”, which is literally “star people”; this term is close enough though so I’ll be making it “alien” here)
Arata: CHIHA…!!
Chiharu: KI…YAAAAAAA
11.
Arata: !? Uwaaaa
“Mouth”: I’VE CAUGHT IT. I’VE CAUGHT THE BLOOD OF THAT HATEFUL WOMAN. FUHAHAHAHA
Chiharu: A…ARATAAA!!
Arata: !!
Arata: CHIHA—
SFX: Hyuu
Arata: Eh?

12.
Arata: ………..!?
“Creature”: THE WAR HAS ALREADY BEGUN. IT DIDN’T FLY OUT CARELESSLY!!
Arata: Buho!?
Arata: That idiot!!
Arata: Wh…what!? Th…that thing can talk!?
“Creature”: HMPH, I’M NOT GIVING GRATITUDE. (I’m not a thing, I’m an inrou)
(TN: An “inrou” is a tiered rectancular or circular container originally used for seals, but used as well for medicines or other small objects as a caddy)
Arata: Uwaaaaaa? (Don’t come here!!)

13.
Arata: I’VE UNAWARINGLY BECOME A STAND USER. (HA HA)
(TN: Arata is referring the “Stands” of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” by Hirohiko Araki, where characters gain bizarre psychic abilities that take various and strange shapes based upon their usage and abilities)
“Inrou”: You haven’t.
Arata: UOOOO, THIS IS A DREAM. (This hurts, Chiharu—is this insignificant--!?) I’M CERTAIN THIS IS SOME GREAT SOMETHING!!
(TN: I’m not quite sure about the second line outside dialogue that Arata says, but I tried to make it work)
“Inrou”: CHI
“Inrou”: FINE THEN!! LISTEN CLOSELY, BOY!! PRINCESS…NO, THAT GIRL IS IN DANGER!!
Arata: Chi…Chiharu!? Explain clearly and concisely her situation now!!
“Inrou”: They…no, to be precise, we are “TSUKUMOGAMI”!!
Arata: Tsukumo…gami……!?

14.
“Inrou”: All objects that exist in this world are given life and begin to move when the a hundred years have passed. They are we “TSUKUMOGAMI”.
“Inrou”: Even among them, objects that take cruel treatment by humans and have the years pass pathetically…pathetically change into Tsukumogami who oppose humans and can only harbor hatred.
“Inrou”: Those things have had the seal suppressing them released. They will attack humans once again!!
Arata: It can’t be I’ve done that outrageous thing…?

15.
“Princess”: We’ll come to when that too will be destroyed. That is destiny. At that time, you will once again—
“Inrou”: …NO, THAT IS MY DESTINY AGAIN. –PRINCESS…
“Princess”: You will be called Kabuto…Kabuto, this country now is stormy.
“Princess”: Can’t you loan your power?
“Kabuto”: !
“Kabuto”: It’s thanks to you that I…well, now I will do that promise of then!! (out loud) BOY!!
Kabuto: My name is Iokura Kabuto!! I have a reason and I want to save that girl!!
(TN: Just to make it a bit more obvious, “Iokura” is Japanese for “Five-Hundred Years”)
Arata: !!

16.
Kabuto: Oh!?
Kabuto: Ooh!?
Kabuto: Oooooh.
Kabuto: MODERN GIRLS ARE OUTRAGEO---US!!!
Arata: DON’T CRY OUT!!

17.
Arata: You…fine, it’s fine that I have this Tsukumo. It’s Chiharu!! You want to save Chiharu and yet you—(Tooooh)
Kabuto: Calm down, stupid. I’m now searching for an exact trail!!
Kabuto: ……That state…boy, well are you in love with that girl? (Ku…do you grab like this whenever you have a cell phone or audio player!!)
Arata: YES!! Th…th…th…that thiiiiing is. (HAWAWAWA…)
“Man”: Is he in puberty!?
Kabuto: THAT WAS A BULLS-EYE
Kabuto: Actually, it’s because she’s a nice girl with her fluffy-fluffy and her squishy-squishy. (Kirarin)
(TN: While it probably seems rather obvious what Kabuto is talking about, he does so by usage of onomotopeia to “get it across”. The first is “fuwafuwa”, which is “lightness” and “fluffiness”, while “purinpurin” literally translates into “pudding-pudding”, but also has a similar emphasis of “squishiness like pudding” as in…well, you can probably figure that out)
Arata: DON’T LOOK AT CHIHARU LIKE THAT!!
Kabuto: Usuffu!?
Arata: …Chiharu is a childhood friend.

18.
Chiharu: I’M ASOU CHIHARU—PLEASE LET’S GET ALO-NG. (Nihee)
Arata: She had me at first sight.
(TN: Arata’s expression probably should be considered “love at first sight”, but the Japanese expression of “hitomebore”, is merely to be taken at first sight, not exactly “love at first sight” since it’s a weaker extent)
Arata: ….HI.
(SFX: Gua--)
Boy: Teacher, Arata-kun spilled his milk.
Arata: In Grade School
Chiharu: Arata-chan, I extre—mely thank you.
Aratra: Chiharu, I’ll carry your backpack!! He…hey, can I have it during class!?
Arata: In Middle School
Chiharu: We absolutely must win the athletic festival!!
Arata: Oh……yeah.
Arata: ARATA TORNADO EXPLO—SION!!
Chiharu: Arata—you can do this!!
Students: A demon…!! A demon is here!!

19.
Arata: …It’s because I love the smiling face when Chiharu is delighted.
Arata: …THAT’S WHY I ABSOLUTELY WILL SAVE CHIHARU!!
Kabuto: …Understood.
Kabuto: Is there a secret motive…if possible?
Arata: You’re coming with.
Kabuto: Chi…generally speaking!! We haven’t discovered they’re whereabouts so we can rescue her.
Arata: But how are we going to find her?
Kabuto: Fu.
Kabuto: We discover the “person” who knows.
Arata: Eh!?

20.
Arata: WH…
“Baby”: KILL…KILL.
Arata: WHAT IS THAT!!?
Arata: It…can’t be…
Kabuto: It’s small, but that is one body of the Tsukumogami in question.
Man: It…it’s floating!? What is that photograph!?
“Baby”: KILL…HUMAN, KILL!!
Arata: Aah!!? Seriously!!
Woman: Th…this mail isn’t from a doctor.
(TN: I really couldn’t read her comment here so I can’t say if it was “doctor” or something else)

21.
Kabuto: I’ll threaten it and it will tell it’s whereabouts!!
“Baby”: !?
“Baby”: GUE
Kabuto: Alright!! Behind the ally!!
Arata: Oh…yeah.
Kabuto: Well then…
Arata: So choose!! Will you tell us the girl’s whereabout and be sealed in the Tsudzura? Or will your flame go out and become dust?
Arata: Uo, that choice is hard. So then, what will it come out with!?
Arata: …N? Flame go out…?
Kabuto: This flame is, so you say, the life light of a Tsukumogami. We die if it goes out. (Of course I have it too!!)
Kabuto: It’s because the life of a Tsukumogami is a thing that dwells from afterwards. We don’t have an internal body, so we show it on the outside.
Arata: Understood, it’s a weak point.
“Baby”: Heh, you too are frantic, Iokura. Is that right? That woman…is one with the blood of your beloved “Princess”.
Arata: !?

22.
Arata: PRINCESS!? So then, what is your reason for you saving Chiharu…
Kabuto: …Long ago.
Kabuto: At a moment when Tsukumogami began to attack humans the same as now, I loaned my power to a princess of the Asou Family who governed this land and we fought together.
Kabuto: And thus, I pledged that I would be used for the life of the princess once again when the seal was destroyed someday.
Kabuto: That girl is a descendant of the Princess!! Whatever happens, I!! Must save her!!
Kabuto: Whatever that is, are you fine in being my helper?
Arata: Huh? Chiharu will be rescued by me!! You’ll get along with me as my helper!!
Arata & Kabuto: Hey, you’ve LOST.
“Baby”: Whwhwhwhat!?
Arata: Choose!! Tell us her whereabouts and disappear.
Kabuto: Tell us her whereabouts and disappear.
“Baby”: One option!?

23.
“Baby”: THE SCHOOL…THE NEARBY SCHOOL.
Ball Player 1: Alright, it’s done. I’ll get the ball.
Ball Player 2: Su!!
Ball Player: N?
Ball Player: WHAT IS THIS?
Ball Player: …A BOW---?

24.
Arata: It conveniently knew it was my school…I have a strange feeling in entering at this time.
Kabuto: …Boy!!
Arata: N? What is it?
Kabuto: Is this fine!? Right now we’re doing this unexpected action together, but that super-cute girl will be saved by me!! (How about stretching out just your legs!?)
(TN: Kabuto now calls Chiharu as “buriburi no onago”, with “buriburi” being an ononmotopeia for “super-cute” akin to the “child-like older women” known as “burikko”)
Arata: Cute…!? Can I challenge you for calling her that?
Arata: CHI
Kabuto: What are you doing!?
Arata: CHIHARU WILL ABSOLUTELY BE SAVED BY ME!!
Kabuto: Hahha—n, can you do this!!

25.
Arata: What’s that?
Kabuto: What’s wrong?
Arata: There are lights on the gym but…the rest seem like fire…
Voices: —L
Arata: N?
Voices: —ILL
Arata: TSU…
Tsukumogami: KILL! KILL! KILL!
Arata: TSUKUMOGAMI!?
Arata: So then, Chiharu is here too!?
Kabuto: Perhaps it seems so!!
Tsukumogami: KILL! KILL!
Kabuto: STU…IS THIS THE PLACE TO DO THAT!!
Arata: HURRY, HURRY, HURRY!!

26.
Arata: WAIT FOR ME, CHIHARU!!
Voice: Fumu…I’ve failed.
“Bow”: I haven’t tamed this body?
Tsukumogami: KILL!! KILL!!
“Bow”: Fuhahahaha, don’t get impatient.
Tsukumogami: KILL!!
“Bow”: HOW LONG CAN YOU WAIT FOR THAT MOMENT!!

27.
Chiharu: Save me!!
Voice: Shaking gentleman!!
Tsukumogami: KILL!! KILL!!
Chiharu: Arata…!!
“Bow”: First we’ll entomb the blood of this woman who has hindered us once.
Arata: S**t!!
“Bow”: With that as our beacon, we will gain retribution on humans once again—
Arata: Even if I push, the door won’t open!! (It’s a trap!!)
Kabuto: However I look at it, you’re a guy who pulls on his side!!
“Bow”: LET’S BEGIN!!
Arata: IT’S OPEN!!
Arata: CHIHARU!!?
Chiharu: ARATAAAA

28.
Chiharu: ARATA!!
Arata: …Eh?
Arata: EEEEEEH!? WHAT IS THIIS!?
Arata: It’s on my body on its own!?

29.
Kabuto: BOY!!
Arata: Uo!? Th…that voice is…Kabuto!?
Kabuto: Indeed!!
Arata: Eeh!? That!?
Kabuto: That too—is one—part—of—me.
Arata: Uwaa!?
Kabuto: I AM IOKURA KABUTO
Kabuto: I must guard the Tsukumogami sealed by Princess. They had themselves confined and were the Tsukumogami of the “warehouse”. As is my name, those five-hundred objects that were in the warehouse were all parts of my body.
Kabuto: They can always be summoned from within the shadows which I have!!
Arata: Right!! That’s why it was unawaringly with the Tsudzura that time!!
Voice: Well, choose!!

30.
Kabuto: I’m reluctant, truly reluctant!! To loan power to a person like you!!
Kabuto: But it’s better than having the princess get wounded before my eyes!!
Arata: I prefer to save Chiharu!!
Kabuto: …It’s regrettable but
Kabuto: OUR INTERESTS
Arata: ARE COINCIDENTAL.
“Bow”: Chi
Chiharu: Arata!!
“Bow”: You’ve gotten in a good moment!!
Arata: You won’t be meddling with Chiharu!! Absolutely!!
“Bow”: Humans…

31.
“Bow”: HMPH…WELL, FINE.
“Bow”: I’LL ERASE BOTH PARTIES.
Tsukumogami: HYAHAHAHAHA, KILL HIM!! KILL HIM!! THE HUMAN!!
Arata: IS THAT FINE!?

32.-33.
Kabuto: Be careful!!
“Bow”: It is written left in the root of the heart and becomes a “GRUDGE”…
Chiharu: What is that…
“Bow”: WE HAVE A GRUDGE WITH HUMANS IN OUR ROOT. WE’VE BATHED IN BLOOD IN PLACES OF WAR, SHARPENED AND BROKEN AND WHEN WE’VE FINISHED BEING USED, WE’RE WEATHER-BEATEN. ULTIMATELY WE ARE INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE JUST FOR SATISFYING THE GREED FOR THINGS OF HUMANS. OBJECTS ARE FREE OF OBSTACLES AND HAVE NO REASON OF KNOWING THE YEARS AND MONTHS THAT PILE UP OF JUST ANGUISH. IN THIS CASE, WE KNOW OF HUMANS; AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS ANGUISH!! OUR PURPOSE IS MERELY ONE…
“Bow”: REVENGE ON ALL HUMAAANS!!!

34.
“Bow”: THAT’S WHY YOU’LL DIE
Arata: !! Kaka…Kabuto!! It’s coming!!
Kabuto: UNDERSTOOD!!
Arata: Huuuh!? What are we diving into!?

35.
Kabuto: Our enemy is a bow Tsukumogami; it can’t be used at a close range!!
Kabuto: We’ll slip into the bosom, at that moment, we’ll search for the weak point and attack!!
Arata: HIIIII
Kabuto: While an enemy, I am truly disappointed for its future…
Kabuto: BUT!! With the warmth of my princess and further my pride, I will present it.
Princess: I thank you…
Kabuto: I for some reason will become like all of you who hate people!!
“Bow”: !!
Kabuto: It can’t fire arrows at this distance!! Get ready!!
Arata: !!
Arata: There!!
Arata: In the stomach!! There is—

36.
Arata: Uh.
“Bow”: Fu…however I don’t have a bow, you shouldn’t be stupid to provide an attack from directly in front of me.
Arata: ----!!!
Tsukumogami: KILL, KILL, HAHAHA.
“Bow”: Well, now it’s our turn.

37.
“Bow”: I’ll kill him for fun, bit-by-bit…!!
“Bow”: YOU SHOULD SUFFER!! HUMAN!!
Arata: Guaa…
Chiharu: ARATAA!!
“Bow”: What’s wrong, boy? If you’re dead then next is the woman’s turn!!
Chiharu: …Arata…
“Bow”: FUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Arata: …Gu…what…was that……?

38.
Arata: My next is…Chiharu…!? IF IT IS…THEN EVEN
Arata: IF I DIE, SHE WON’T DIE!!
Chiharu: !! ARATA!!
“Bow”: THAT JOKE IS…
Arata: !! Kabuto!! Are there other weapons within you!?
Kabuto: Actually…the warehouse was filled with sealed Tsudzura. Other than the armor, there…AREN’T ANYMORE!! (Is there) Sorry.
Arata: HUH!?
Arata: What do I do!? There are already only Tsudzura in the warehouse… (out loud) You. (internal) Think, think…
Tsukumogami: KILL!! WHAT’S WRONG, ON YOUR KNEES ALREADY!?
Arata: !!

39.
Arata: Tsudzura…on your knees…!! That’s it!! (out lou) Kabuto!! Whisper whisper whisper.
Kabuto: !!
“Bow”: DIE!!
Arata: NOW!!
“Bow”: !! A TSUDZURA FROM THE BENEATH!?
Kabuto: I can summon from a shadow items within the warehouse!!

40.
Arata: FUR---THER!!
Arata: If the Tsudzura make even a shadow from their construction, then I can avoid your arrows like such.
Arata: What’s going to die, dummy?
“Bow”: IN THAT CASE, THEN FIRST I’LL DESTROY YOU FROM UNDERFOOT!!!
Arata: COME HERE!!!

41.
Kabuto: That hurt…
“Bow”: -----Beneath!? (out loud) EH?
Arata: The one on his knees will be you!!
“Bow”: It can’t be: he moved…within the Tsudzura?

42.-43.
Arata: YOU WON’T MAKE CHIHARU—
Arata: CRY!!!
“Bow”: I’ve been defeated, I’ve been defeated, I’ll retreat for the moment!! I certainly will kill the blood of Asou.
Arata: Eh!? Hold on a moment!? You’re going after Chiharu—hey!!
Kabuto: Under this circumstance, we’ll have to polish up our strategy at once…
Arata: HEY—

44.
Kabuto: ---Can we easily do it…?
Arata: Good…Chiharu is safe.
Kabuto: The possessed human will wake up immediately.
Ball Player: U…u—h
Chiharu: Are you alright!?
Arata: She’s calm!! But what will we do about when Chiharu was kidnapped?
Chiharu: THANK YOU, ARATA.
Kabuto: …HEY, EEH!? CHIHARU…I DID IT TOOOOO.
Arata: Eh--? Enough, stupid—
Kabuto: HOLD ON A MOMEEENT. (A night over here, have a night over here!!)
(TN: The tiny text was tough again and I inferred it as best as I could)

45.
Kabuto: As long as they are released in this world, the danger won’t go away yet!!
Chiharu: What!? What is this alien!?
Arata: That’s not an alien!!
Kabuto: I AM THE TSUKUMOGAMI IOKURA KABUTO I WILL PROTECT YOU IN EXCHANGE FOR MY LIFE!!
Chiharu: !!
Kabuto: SO YOU CAN COME TO RELY ON ME MORE THAN THAT BOY.
SFX: …PUCHI
Arata: HEY YOU, LET GO OF HER!! CHIHARU WILL BE PROTECTED BY ME!!
Kabuto: I’LL DO IT—BOY!!
Caption: THE FATED WORRYSOME STRONGEST COMBINATION WILL PROTECT THEIR PRINCESS!!
(Arata no Tsukumogami – End)

TN: Yeah, it’s been a long time since I’ve done a one-shot, particularly one of an unknown author that may or may not get to be a manga in the future. Heck, I sort of felt apprehensive in doing this because the last one I did of this kind did actually become a manga series…which subsequently bombed. But I got this from someone who wanted me in particular to translate this so I decided to have a bit of fun and expand my horizons and the horizons of manga readers once again. I don’t mind doing one-shot translations, but I guess sometimes I get a tad fearful with how it will be approached by the readers and by what will happen in the future. (but if you have suggestions and I have time, I’ll do them)

So…what to think of this one shot? In a way, it sort of gives me a few notable vibes of a “companion series” akin to Digimon, Gash or Hyde & Closer…with a bit of the “living objects with strange powers” akin to MAR (which I am starting to finally watch the anime of now) and the “mysterious princess” aspect that gives me “Flame of Recca” vibes. Somehow Arata does seem rather conventional for a hero character but he does work somehow, mostly due to his obsessive loyalty towards Chiharu. I like the idea somehow of the hero and heroine being childhood friends…which makes the whole aspect of Kabuto more interesting in being a strange perverted samurai-like character who protects the princess while…um, yeah. The art seemed a tad sketchy but does show potential for improvement over time if given the chance. I didn’t hate it but it does seem like something that can be great with development. All in all, it was a nice, fun one-shot that probably could deserve to be a neat series if done right and given the right circumstances…