Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Hana to Yume
1998 vol. 9, episode no. 38
Translation by Yuki-chan

Asago, clutching her arm and bent over: ".........! AAAAAAA"

Rui raises her arm with the blade again.

Tsukasa: "!! Asa......"

Ryuji draws his gun and fires, hitting Rui.

Tooya: "! ...Shirogami...!"

A Hizakigumi kumiin: "The bastard! How...!"

Rui glares.

Tsukasa: "......EH?"

Bun-san and Kamo-san catch up with Ryuji and Tsukasa.

The dress-like thing that Rui was wearing was more like a robe and she whips it off, still not saying a word.

Tooya: "...A~a... She's angry. That must have hurt a bit, since the drug will wear off soon." [I have no idea where Rui was hit though.] "Once Rui is angered, she won't obey my orders. The only thing that will calm her down is the drug that Sakahogi stole from us." Kamo-san and Bun-san freak.

Yuuwa: "Chi."

A Hizakigumi kumiin: "Hand it over."

Yuuwa: "...I'll bring it over myself." He has a gun on the kumiin.

Sakahogi: "! Yuuwa!"

Tooya [probably]: "I'm sure you know that once Rui is after you that you can't escape after what you saw back at the hotel."

Tsukasa: "...What does that mean...?"

Ryuji: "...You'll understand soon."

Tooya: "You, the bodyguards of Shirogami Ryuji. If you can protect your master from Rui, I'll reward you. With a drugged Shirogami Ryuji. I'll let him lick the bottom of your shoes while he grovels at your feet. A ha ha ha ha ha"

Kamo-san and Bun-san: "...... ......"

Rui tenses.

Ryuji: "She's coming!" He readies his gun.

Tsukasa: "!?"

Rui seems to disappear from in front of them. [Very cool fight scene.]

Tsukasa: "!!" {She disappeared...!}

Ryuji, and his bodyguards: {From above!?}

Tsukasa sees a flash of colour. Rui had not attacked from above, but was trying to get at Ryuji from the left side. Everyone was taken by surprise. Everyone that is except for Tsukasa. She managed to intercept Rui's blade with her own.

Tsukasa: "......!" But Rui's weight on the blade was pushing Tsukasa backwards. (Looks like Rui was aiming for Ryuji's ribs.) "RYUJI---!"

Ryuji: "!!?" He pivots and fires at Rui, but she had already moved out of the way. Tsukasa falls back on Ryuji. He winces in pain.

Tsukasa: {She disappeared again!!} "U!" She notices Rui coming straight down on them. She raises herself above Ryuji and intercepts the blade again. "Ryuji!!" He doesn't respond. "...Ryuji!?"

Ryuji: "......!" A shot (probably fired by Ryuji) hits Rui in the right shoulder. Kamo-san and Bun-san also fire their weapons but Rui manages to avoid all the shots while moving backwards.

Kamo-san: "She's so nimble!!" {I can't hit her!}

Bun-san: "Those movements don't seem human do they!" {She's a monster!}

Tsukasa, who's crouched by Ryuji: "Hey... Ryuji."

Kamo-san looks worried: "...Sandaime, are you all right?"

Tsukasa: "......"

Ryuji, getting up: "...... ...Aa... ...I was just a bit dizzy. ...I'm fine now..."

Tsukasa, seriously freaked: {That's a lie---!! He doesn't look the least bit well---!! And he's sweating like crazy---!! ...I thought that it wasn't that bad since he was talking and moving like he normally does but...... ...maybe the guy's...... seriously weakened------...!!}

Tooya: "......" {Rui's movements have gotten slower. She did take 2 shots." Turning to some of his kumiin. "You guys help."

Yuuwa has been disarmed and had passed the drugs over to Hizaki: "...Hey. Don't you want to check the contents of the briefcase? They're fakes."

Hizaki: "What are you saying now..."

Yuuwa, with both his hands up (Hizaki has a gun to his head): "My buddies, out of curiosity tried the drugs and died strangely." {A fountain of blood from all their openings.} "So the guy who watched it threw the thing in the sea." {When I got there, only the briefcase was left.} Yuuwa shakes his head. "Well what do you expect from a layman?"

Asago is now crouched on the floor, clutching her right arm. "...!" {...It hurts...... It hurts...! ...I can't... move...! I can't move...! Ryuji......! Ryuji... Come to my side......!!}

Ryuji: "Asago!"

Asago, in tears: "...Ryu..."

Ryuji, handing her her gun: "...You can still fight.........?"

Asago looks totally shocked.

Ryuji kinda drags her into a standing position: "You have to stand."

Asago: "! It hurts---! No! It hurts when I move---!!"

Ryuji, yelling: "I know it hurts!! Asago, at a battle scene, don't show it in your face that it hurts! If you don't want people to look down on you then pretend that you can fight even when you can't! No matter how weakened you are, bluff! Show them a face that tells them that you won't be put down by them!! That's the mental attitude of people in this world (of the gokudo). That is the way of the one who stands above others!!"

Tsukasa, feels a stab of pain at his words.

Asago: {...A------...!}

Ryuji is now missing his jacket (seems like he used it to bind Asago's arm). "Kamojima, Shibuya. Cover us. We'll make a forced breakthrough."

Kamo-san: "Hai."

Ryuji, turning to Sakahogi: "Sakahogi-san, you're going to have to protect yourself and your son."

Sakahogi: "...Of course."

Ryuji, turning to Tsukasa: "......"

Tsukasa: "...... ...Don't turn back...... Just look straight ahead and run. I'll protect your back." She looks determined as she readies her blade.

Ryuji looks very pleased (smiling?): "...Asago."

Asago: "!"

Ryuji: "Don't fall behind." He pats her on the head. Asago nods. "Come!!"

Outside the factory at station number one.

Gunfire is heard.

Sendai starts.

Kumiin: "!"

"Gunfire!! Gunshots again...!!"

"Hasn't the call for help come yet!!"

"Kashira!"

Sendai: {...What's wrong... Is it bad enough that they can't even call for help!?}

"Kashira!"

Sendai: "This is an emergency situation Group one move in!! Hurry!"

Kumiin: "! Right!!"

"!!"

"What!?"

Sirens are heard in the distance and approaching.

Sendai: "......!"

Kumiin: "The police!!"

"......"

Back in the factory.

Hizaki is shaking the drugs.

Tooya: "...What's this......!! No matter how many time you shake them they don't turn into a liquid! These...! They're really...!"

Yuuwa, who has a spare gun: {Chance!!} He points his gun at Tooya's back.

Tooya: "You..." He whirls around and fires at Yuuwa. "Kusogaki---!"

Yuuwa makes a hasty escape: "How unmanly to start firing like that at my back---!"

Tsukasa, who has a huge paper fan [brought out of nowhere] smacks Yuuwa on the head: "That's not something that a person who was aiming at someone's back should say." [A cultural thing (?). If you watch Japanese comedies, then you'll understand the thing about the fan. I guess it's an equivalent of slapping someone for doing/saying something stupid.]

Yuuwa, with a huge bump on his head: "Well I can't help that! If I was good as Shirogami Ryuji at using my gun then I wouldn't do such a dirty thing!"

Tsukasa: "......" {Ryuji... He's back to his usual self...... ...Though he's sweating more than before...}

Looks like Asago can use her gun in her left hand as well. She and Ryuji down a man who's aiming at them from the side.

Yuuwa notices a man behind them up above. "A!"

Tsukasa: {...Ryuji...} Without turning, she whips her chain back, catching the guy around the neck. She pulls him down, making him fall over the edge.

Yuuwa: "AA!"

Tooya: "Don't let them get away!! Especially Sakahogi who knows the secret about the drugs!!"

Hizaki, calmly: "Even if you kill Sakahogi, you won't live any longer."

Tooya: "!?"

Hizaki, taking out a cigar: "That the drug was taken from you, a Hizaki member won't change." {Thanks to you, everything's a mess.} "...I'm going to stay out of this world for awhile."

Tooya: "!"

The sound of the sirens approach.

Hizaki kumiin: "Cops!?"

"Cops!"

Hizaki: "...If you want to escape then do so."

"!"

"Kumicho!"

Hizaki: "...But ...Hizaki's failure will eventually reach that upper section...... They really despise 'failure', so don't think you'll be alive staying in this world........."

Hizaki's kumiin look very afraid.

Kamo-san: "Huh? It looks like they've stopped attacking?" {What's going on?}

Bun-san: "...It they're not going to shoot, then it's good that they don't. Let's leave now. Let's leave now." {We can't be caught by the cops, and in a place like this!}

Sakahogi: "...Sorry... Really..."

They start running off.

Tsukasa glances back as she's running: "...... ......?" {...Those guys ...What are they so calm about......!?} Hizaki has taken a seat on a table and was now smoking.

Tsukasa and Yuuwa freak out when they suddenly hear a loud thud.

Tsukasa: "...E...?" {That blond...}

Rui is collapsed on the floor.

Yuuwa: "...Maybe the drugs wore off and her body couldn't take it...? Looks like she suffered a lot too..." {Her wounds look bad too.}

Tsukasa, bent over Rui: "...... ...Is she dead......" She reaches out to touch Rui.

Rui's hand twitches all of the sudden. Tsukasa and Yuuwa run away in fear: {She's alive------!!! Ihyaaaaa---! Sorry------}

Outside the factory, the police arrive and start making their way into the building.

At the Kuryugumi main house.

Sumon [Asago's father]: "---When I heard from the head office, I was shocked. I didn't think you were dragged into such a serious situation..... Sandaime, thank goodness you're all right."

Kuryugumi kumiin: "WELCOME BACK HOME SANDAIME!!!"

At the main entrance, Ryuji is greeted by Sumon and his kumiin.

Yuuwa, holding his ears: {What loud voices! They say that you can tell how much the kumiin respect their kumicho by the way he's greeted...... ...And... that there's only 2 years difference between us......}

Sumon: "...Sandaime... Your injuries....."

Ryuji: "...They're not that bad......"

Tsukasa, who's at his side: "---..."

Ryuji: "I'm worried about Asago."

Sumon: "...E...?"

Ryuji: "I just took her to the medical treatment centre, but it doesn't seems she needs me now." {She had me ordered out...} "It's not life-threatening but could you stay by her side? She's probably pretty down......"

Sumon: "...Ha... I understand..."

Tsukasa: "---..."

Narration by Tsukasa: ---After that, Ryuji had a talk with Sakahogi's kumicho to prevent further happenings like this from occurring and afterwards saw Sakahogi to the door as if nothing were wrong. ---That's right, to show the kumiin behind him that he didn't have a serious injury.

Tsukasa: {...I guess... That if the kumiin find out that he was seriously injured because of getting involved with Sakahogi then they'll have another go at Sakahogi's kumiin...... ...What is this... A.... ...Again... This feeling...... Just like then---} She recalls when Ryuji was telling Asago not to show her weak side in front of the enemy. "......!" {...That time...... I knew that Ryuji was really pushing himself though it must have been painful...... Though he was sweating like that and so weakened that he was about to pass out any minute... he fought as usual, acted as usual......... I knew that the path Ryuji was living on wasn't easy, but that was the first time that I saw Ryuji bluff like that..... When I knew that Ryuji...... was only moving by his spirit...... ---it hurt me as well...}

Ryuji is now sitting on the couch with his hands on his knees and his head bowed down.

Tsukasa: "...Ryuji..." {It made me wonder what kind of world they live in.........} "...Shouldn't you be lying down? ...Your ribs are broken...... Even Meiko-sensei said to take it easy."

Ryuji, not looking at her, shakes his head: "......"

Tsukasa: {No matter where they go, they can't take a breather. It's as if they're thrown into an angry sea. At this rate, he'll drown someday.} Seeing this, Tsukasa snaps. "Don't shake your head like that!" {You're hurt so rest like you're supposed to!!} She wheels a stretcher out of nowhere, dumps him onto his bed and tucks him in. "Ryuji!!" She's pointing accusingly at him. "Knowing you, you think that taking an early rest because you're injured will endanger your charisma right!?" {It won't happen. Even if it's before 7:30 when kids normally go to sleep! Even a kumicho is a child of human beings so,} "If you're suffering, then say so!! You should be allowed to say that!!"

Ryuji: "---..."

Tsukasa: "...... ...What......?"

Ryuji, sitting up: "...Nothing...... ...I was just thinking that... maybe I should have said something like that to Asago then....... Could it be that I... and Asago are tied down so much in the world we live in that I can't make the best choice.........."

Tsukasa: "...... ...Asago... said that she didn't want to become a weak accessory-like woman who can't fight...... If... you said something sweet to her then, then she would have been sheltered by you........." [Okay, that's not quite right, but there's no English equivalent......] "...And then Asago over time, will probably never forgive herself that she was lowered to a weak woman......... I thought that was right, for Asago's sake..."

Ryuji, looking up at Tsukasa: "...... ...Is that right......" He smiles, clearly showing relief.

Tsukasa is freaked. She points at Ryuji.

Ryuji: "... ...WHAT?"

Tsukasa, still pointing: "Right now, you had this look of relief like after you took a big crap---!" [I think that's what she's saying. If not, it's equally as disgusting.] {That's the first time I've seen that face!}

Ryuji, pissed: "I am not."

Tsukasa, laughing madly with tears in her eyes: "I gotta draw this before I forget!!" {Damn! I wish I had a camera---!}

Ryuji is still denying it, and looking like his normal self.

Tsukasa took a sketch book out of nowhere and starts drawing madly: {I bet I'm the first one who's seen Ryuji look like that......!! This is my privilege since Ryuji lowers his guard in my presence!!} "......" She pauses a moment. {...But... the one that made him show such a face is...... Asago......} "......" {...Ryuji... was worried about Asago by himself...... He was worrying so much that when he learned that his choice wasn't wrong that he could be so relaxed...... ...Is... it because that she's an important person who's going to become his seisai......?} She starts feeling angry. {...A... This feeling... is the one when I turn into someone I hate......! It's since then!!} She takes out a room freshener [actually, it sprays flowers] and tries to get rid of the 'feeling'. She starts chasing after her evil self with the spray can.

[In this last part, Tsukasa was kind of rambling, so it doesn't quite make sense... Sorry.]

Tsukasa stops running in mid step: "......" She whirls around in surprise. "HUH!!?" She points at Ryuji. {AAAAAAAAA Ryuji's!! Sleeping!! It's the first time!! The first time I've seen Ryuji's relaxed sleeping face---!} She takes out her sketch book again. {The title "At ease"---!!} She stops. {... "At ease"......? ---Ryuji lowers his guard only in my presence......} Ryuji is indeed in a deep sleep. Tsukasa, smiling, pulls the blanket up over his shoulders. {Even though he's this tired...... he tries not to show his weak side outside and even inside the house.......} She laughs as his hair falls back, exposing his forehead. She smiles again, and pats him on the head. "You did well today Ryuji... Well done." [This looks so cute!] {I never thought that... I'd find out the cause of these feelings of anticipation, as if my blood flowed in reverse temporarily, so soon after this------...}