Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Hana to Yume
1999 vol. 3, episode no. 53
Translation by Yuki-chan

Colour insert for this episode.
Tsukasa dressed up / Tsukasa normal
Image scanned by Venkarel

Text: Ise Bay --- Tokoname Island.

Tsukasa and Akira are on a ship that will ferry them to the island.

Akira: "---That island is a man made island that houses some of the homeless or street kids of Japan. "Tokoname" is from the name of the welfare representative Tokoname Hitoshi, the former prime minister of Japan."

Tsukasa, totally freaking out: "It's the name of someone that big-----!? I thought it was the name of some rich guy." [BTW, Tsukasa is wearing a jacket and is not freezing. It's rather windy on the boat.]

Akira: "Well... ...Maybe you should have said former... In the last few years, the people who have been prime minister here are all rich but... Tokoname Hitoshi, he's one of the rare ones from the middle class."

Tsukasa: "...He---... ...And such a middle class man can make a whole island?"

Akira: "U~m that would be his virtue. Since he started in politics the attitude was towards lowering taxes and bringing public order. There were a lot of people who were counting on him to change Japan and lent him money. But being so forward about things that politics can't be bothered with and avoid completely must have offended the other politicians. He was banished from politics over a little scandal."

Tsukasa, looking pissed: "That sucks~..."

Akira, turning to her: "That's right! But still the ones in the world with money are right!!" {They run the world!}

Tsukasa nods energetically.

Akira: "Politics today talk sweet but they really don't think that the homeless or the street kids should have rights. But Tokoname-san is different! On "Tokoname Island" there are rights!" {Did you know that Tsukasa!?} "In Tokoname Island's orphanages, no matter how many people are there, they never think to call them by numbers~~~~~~~~~!!" {There are other at-home things~ How wonderful~~~!!!} Akira is taking some wild trip. His eyes are big and tears flow from them. There are flowers everywhere.

Text, pointing to Akira: Former orphan named A-53. Akira is in a different world. {Tokoname-san banzai!}

Tsukasa: "Sorry to interrupt you there Akira-san, but that rea~~~lly cool person may have relations with the kuromaku in drug trafficking." [Okay, I'm getting tired of translating kuromaku as the "person behind it all". It literally means "black curtain" but can also mean the "string-puller". A better translation would be "a dirty person in the shadows that runs the show" but that's too long, so kuromaku it is]

Akira, claming down: "...That's just it~~~..." {A~~a... I don't want to believe it. That he's involved with...}

"...The kuromaku... really isn't Hizaki......"

Akira: "......"

Past conversation.

Akira: "---Hey, Blue Wolf. Your kuromaku really isn't Hizaki?"

Blue Wolf: "...You..... For a cop you sure don't know anything......"

Akira: "---..." {...What... ---...What exactly......}

Looks like the docks on Tokoname Island.

Scorpion: "...E? ......Hizaki......? A~~~... Now that I think about it the name sounds familiar~~~" {Where was it, I don't remember.}

Ryuji: "...... ...Isn't he the one behind all of this......" Ryuji, Kamo-san, Bun-san and Asago are behind Scorpion. None of them looks impressed.

Scorpion turns: "......Is that what you look like when you smile?"

Ryuji: "I'm not smiling." {Don't change the subject.}

Scorpion, shaking his head: "Nn~~~nn. Didn't I tell you~~~ If you want to get in here without being suspected then look happy~~~?" {It's a joyful occasion. You even said that you'd smile when you get here~~~}

Ryuji, with a popped vein: "Shut up! Stop talking nonsense and hurry and get with it!"

Scorpion turns and starts whistling: "Okay, fine." He begins walking again.

Ryuji's eyes are wide [cute SDs].

Ryuji: "..."

Kamo-san: "..."

Asago is looking up at Ryuji questioningly.

Kamo-san leans forward to whisper to Ryuji: "...Sandaime...? ...It seem that you're being swept by his pace...?" {It's not like you...}

Ryuji: "...When I talk with him it reminds me of someone and it's driving me insane." {I won't say who though.}

Kamo-san: "Now that you mention it......"

At the entrance to some building. Several people are crowded.

"Please swipe your invitation in the slot to the right of the gate---"

Scorpion ignores this and goes to the man in uniform at the gate. He shows his tattooed arm.

Man at the gate: "!" He bows to Scorpion.

Scorpion turns back.

Ryuji and Kamo-san: {!}

Scorpion gestures for them to follow.

Kamo-san: "...Entrance just by his face...... ...This...... seems to be a worse situation than we thought...... ......Undoubtedly, everyone here must be their allies."

Bun-san: "...Trapped like a rat......"

Ryuji: {...Wasn't this island the former prime minister's---...} "---..." {...A former politician and the gokudo... Not an unusual combination.}

Kamo-san: "...Sandaime, what shall we do?"

Asago turns to glance at Ryuji.

Ryuji looks determined. He strides forward.

Asago's eyes go wide in shock.

Back at the entrance.

Akira swipes his invitation.

Tsukasa, whispering: "...I'm impressed that you made an invitation between last night and today." {Gee, entering from the front door?}

Akira: "...Well, since I am part of GRAVE. For the police to control the rising crime that takes place these days we have to do things to keep up. Collecting information is vital and sometimes we go through pretty wild things to catch criminals." {An imitation invitation like this is simple.}

Tsukasa: "... ...H~~m........." {...Is... What the police do today just one step away from the gokudo...?} She starts looking worried. {...But I could never say that to Akira-san...!!}

Akira: "...But to be honest, after coming all the way here if we find nothing and we're found out we're really in big trouble..."

Tsukasa: "There's no way nothing gonna happen. When you informed them that there may be a suspicious suspect sneaking in, they rejected your offer of guarding right? That it's a private party or something right? It's all right!! That's evidence that something's suspicious!!" She slaps him on the back.

Akira: "...What exactly is all right..." {What a bad way of cheering me up...}

Tsukasa surveys the party room: "...So, how do we find the kuromaku of the drug trafficking in all of this?" She has managed to lose her jacket somewhere between this page and the previous one.

Akira: "If Tokoname-san has ties with the "kuromaku", then eventually the two of them will talk. Seems we should watch Tokoname-san..."

Tsukasa: "True."

Akira: "It would be quickest if Scorpion was here though."

Tsukasa notices something. "...Akira-san..."

Akira: "...What~~~?"

Tsukasa: "...What's that?"

Akira, with really strange looking eyes: "...What do you mean 'What'~~~?"

He glances in the same direction.

Akira and Tsukasa suddenly crouch behind a man.

Akira: "...It's Scorpion......"

Tsukasa: "It's Scorpion aniki." [Aniki = big brother/boss/one's superior]

The man they're hiding behind: "...?"

Akira: {Why's he in a place like this!?}

Tsukasa, transforming into an entomologist with insect net and case: "Let's take things the quickest way." {Sing the song of the prey!!} [!!? Don't ask. That's what it says...] She starts sneaking up towards Scorpion.

Man, who happens to see Tsukasa: "..."

Akira, who's still hiding: "...A! Tsukasa, wait a second~ At least watch for a bit longer...!" He starts chasing after her.

Man: "!? !?"

Tsukasa: "P~~~ is the p in pre~y, r~ is the r in pre~y~~." [What a weird song... (-.-') ]

She gets closer to Scorpion, then freezes. {...E...!? Ry... Ryuji...!!} Only Scorpion stands between her and Ryuji.

Akira: "Tsukasa!"

Ryuji starts.

Tsukasa freaks.

When Ryuji turns though, he sees nothing. "......"

Scorpion notices this.

Akira, with a very red face and steaming head: "......"

Tsukasa, who has her arms around Akira: "..." She had grabbed him by the waist and had dragged him around a pillar for cover.

Akira looks very confused: "...W......What......?"

Tsukasa: "...E...!?" {W...Why is Ryuji in a place like this...!? But, then again, they had Scorpion. UWOOOOOO What do I do at this unexpected... my heart rate...!!} Her heart is racing.

Scorpion, with a hand to his cheek: "...What? Is there something on my face?" {Don't look at me like that ©}

Ryuji, pissed: "...Who the hell is looking at your face." {I swear, I'll kill you.}

Asago: "...I... thought that just for a moment, I heard a name I hate..."

Ryuji, turning to Asago: "..."

Asago: "...Even at a time like this, you respond to that name......"

Ryuji: "...Asago......?"

Scorpion scans the crowd.

A man in uniform jerks his hand behind him.

Scorpion: "...Hey. ...We're being connected. Come on."

Kamo-san: "A~~ A~~, we didn't ask for a polite introduction to him or anything........." {But since we didn't bring anything, we'll follow.}

Bun-san: "Really~~~" {He could have quietly pointed in the shadows.}

Ryuji, pissed: "Enough complaining we're going!"

From behind the pillar.

Tsukasa has Akira against the pillar and is watching Ryuji intently. {...Ryuji and them guys are being taken somewhere by Scorpion......! Where......}

Akira has a very confused... and red. "... ...A... Um~~~... Tsukasa...?"

Tsukasa: {...A! ...Could it be...}

Akira: "Tsukasa!"

She glances up at him.

Akira: {A!}

Text: Danger!

Akira, with a hand to his head: {...I shouldn't have let Tsukasa take this job...... even there were no other girls... ....Aa... dressing up like a girl like this really makes her... AA... get a grip on yourself Akira...}

Tsukasa takes Akira by the hand.

Akira blushes again: "E!?"

Tsukasa starts running and dragging Akira: "We're going to the kuromaku's place too!"

Akira, who looks like he's flying in the air: "E!?" {What!? Where!?}

Scorpion enters a dark room.

Scorpion: "......"

A figure sits in a chair with his back to Scorpion. "---...Shiki isn't it..." [I'm assuming that's Scorpion's real (first) name but I'm not sure... I'll just keep calling him Scorpion unless it screws up the translation.]

Scorpion: "...Dark aren't you...... How about at least turning on the lights?"

Man: "...I didn't see you yesterday..... where were you...?"

Scorpion waves his hands around displaying the cuffs and sticking out his tongue. "I was caught, by Kuryugumi."

Man: "...Kuryugumi.........? ......You......? The one who has killed countless numbers of people trying to escape from me for the last 14 years...?"

Scorpion, glaring: "...... ...My opponent was a katagi gaki and so I underestimated him." He walks towards a table.

The man turns the chair to face Scorpion: "And it was a katagi, and a gaki... ...So... was this katagi gaki a boy? A girl...?"

Scorpion grabs a remote control. Pressing a button he turns on the lights. "... ...What... are you thinking......?"

Man: "...Nothing... Be it boy or girl, ...I have a bit of an interest of someone who has managed to capture you..." The man is Misumi, the guy back in the hotel in Kyoto with the panther. The large feline is lounging on the floor beside Misumi.

Scorpion: "...Sorry to disappoint you but the gaki walks in and out of Kuryugumi freely so he's not completely katagi and he's not a girl either." He pauses awhile. "......" He recalls Tsukasa's face. "......Probably........."

Misumi: "...Probably...?"

Scorpion: "...Putting that aside, I have Kuryugumi's Sandaime waiting in another room."

Misumi: "...... You didn't have to bring him here for me to be able to imagine how I would destroy them......"

Scorpion: "...... Having people brain washed with that drug attack Kuryugumi...... ...You... are so corrupted."

Misumi smiles.

Scorpion is taken aback: "......"

Misumi, getting up: "...Well... Since he came out here, it would be rude to chase them away. Sooner or later, they (Kuryugumi) will become a cloud over my great plan. Nothing will be better than destroying them." He approaches a door and opens it. "...Don't you ......think so?"

Scorpion: "---..."

Misumi: "...Tokoname-san..."

Tokoname, the owner of the island is bound to a chair with cuffs. A machine is attached to his right side. [Yeah yeah, description right? Well it's not a great view of the man, but he seems pretty tall and has short light coloured hair. Looks like his shirt is stained... Blood?]

Somewhere in the place.

A man's head comes in contact with the hard floor.

Tsukasa, freaking: "AAA! ...I did it~~~..." Tsukasa is in a really weird position with her leg up in the air. Akira is behind her just around the corner. He has dots for eyes.

Text explanation with arrows: The man got the kick in his left cheek.

An arrow points to a huge dent in the wall.

Text: He hit this with his face.

An arrow points down at the fallen man, dressed in uniform.

Text: And after ricocheting off the wall, hits the back of his head on the floor.

Tsukasa crouches down next to the fallen guy: "...Hey, niisan, are you alive? You shouldn't jump out like that all of the sudden~~~" {Since we're sneaking around like this I got scared and~~~}

Text, pointing to Tsukasa: An organism whose head and lower body are separate entities.

Tsukasa notices something: "...N...!?"

She pulls back the man's jacket to reveal a gun, and takes it out. "...... ...Akira-san, ...what's this......?"

Akira, also crouched down, and looking thoughtful: "N~... A lighter perhaps..."

Tsukasa: "Hmmm." She points the muzzle of the gun at the tattoo on the man's neck. It's a tattoo of a scorpion. "...Then what's this?"

Akira: "Maybe a crayfish?"

Tsukasa laughs: "And I thought it was a scorpion."

They suddenly hear voices.

A couple of men in uniforms pass by.

"Apparently there's a double of one of the invitations."

"A rat."

"This is the picture of the two who used the fake card taken at the entrance gate."

"Said to get rid of them when we find them."

"OK---"

"Still at the party room?"

"You never know."

"Let's spilt up and find them."

The guys draw their guns and pass the hall where Akira and Tsukasa were.

Just in time, Akira and Tsukasa had dragged the fallen guy and themselves around the corner. Both blanch in fear.

Text: Hey, hey this is dangerous!! x 2

Tsukasa: {Wasn't it just the kuromaku coming here...!?}

Akira: {Does this mean that everyone except the guests are a part of this!?}

Tsukasa recalls Scorpion, and Ryuji and company going off with him. {---RYUJI---!!!}

In some room.

Asago: "---Ryuji..."

Ryuji turns to look at her.

Asago: "...Ryuji... ...How do you really feel about me?..."

Kamo-san and Bun-san are standing nearby with their hands behind their backs. Their eyes are wide in surprise.

Ryuji: "...What's with you so suddenly at a place like this..."

Asago: "...Lately... I noticed that I've been comparing things."

Ryuji: "...What...?"

Asago: "...Your... attitude towards me versus your attitude towards Baka-zuki..."

Ryuji starts.

Asago: "...Even when we came to this island... I knew that when you realized that everyone around us was the enemy, you started concentrating only on the 'enemy'. You never said anything to me but I followed, thinking that it was natural for a seisai to go where you go... ...But if it were Baka-zuki beside you then what would you have done? If you thought that you may not be able to come out alive......"

Ryuji, thinking: {...Not be able to come back alive... Well... say something like 'still let's get out of here alive'...} He pictures himself glancing at Tsukasa.

Asago, with her head down: "...In my mind... you're ...making eye contact with Baka-zuki..."

Ryuji starts, silently: "...!"

Asago: "...It didn't have to be words. If you really loved me, then I wanted you to look at me just once."

Ryuji: "...I never said that I didn't love you."

Asago: "But you never said that you did. You started kissing me on the lips only because I asked you to. And the time of the engagement announcement too. Ryuji you're sweet, you do anything I ask. I thought that it was because you had feelings for me. ...But, something seems wrong. It's more like... you're being sweet to me because to you I'm more like a younger sister than a lover......"

Ryuji stares at her in surprise but says nothing.

Asago's eyes go wide.

Kamo-san, looking serious: "...... ......"

Asago: "...... ---...Is... ...that it...?" {---...Then... ...then what's the reason...?}

The recalls Sumire's earlier words.

Sumire: "It's not he won't take you for a bride just because you're not the 'perfect seisai' right? Doesn't that mean then that it's because it has to be you and that he loves you?"

Asago, getting up: "...What's the reason I had to become your seisai...!?" {There is no reason------!!} "I lost once to the Purple Dragon Clan's daughter over the seisai! It wouldn't have been strange if I was removed from the position! But then why did it have to be me!?"

Ryuji also gets up: "...Asago..."

Asago: "What reason did you have that made you chose me over her......."

Ryuji: "Asago!" He takes her by the right arm.

Asago starts. "......" She looks down at Ryuji's hand on her arm. {...A...} She feels a stab of pain in her arm.

Ryuji realizes this and lets go.

Asago's right arm begins hurting again as she recalls Rui cutting off her arm.

Somewhere else.

Tsukasa: "OW! Dammit~~~!" {These blasted heels~} "While I'm doing this Ryuji's somewhere~~~" She massages her foot.

Akira: "Ryuji?"

Tsukasa blanches: "...A..."

Akira, with his arms crossed: "I see... I thought you were running around a lot. So the guy's here too........."

Tsukasa: "Akira-san! Ryuji was taken somewhere by Scorpion and I don't know where that is. Help me find him~~~!"

Akira, looking away: "E~~~~~ But we're in danger too~~~"

Tsukasa: "Wherever Ryuji is, the kuromaku will be there too!!"

Akira: "!!"

Back where Ryuji and company are waiting.

They all start as Scorpion returns. He's accompanied by many men in uniforms.

Scorpion: "...Sorry~~~ really. I know you came all the way here but he has no~~~ intention of meeting you."{I'm really sorry you took the trouble of coming here.} "A! But I do have a message from him. ...'Goodbye everyone'." Behind Scorpion, the guys draw their guns and point them at Ryuji.

Shots rings out one after another.

Tsukasa: {------E...!? ------RYUJI...!?}