Volume 9 ISBN 4-09-1387642-8 410 yen [real value, 390 yen] Translated by: Tetris no Miko Edited & HTMLized by: Gaudiora Rest of the translations can be found at ayashi.net * Hakuryou...the name of a fisherman who appeared in the tennyo legend in Miho no Matsubara. //page 65// Shuro: Aya! Yuuhi! wWe'd better get away from here hella fast. It'd be bad for us to have to answer questions! Crowd: //murmur, murmur// Yuuhi: Uh...yeah. Aya! //page 66// Police: Okay, back up, back up!! Crowd: //murmur, murmur// //page 67// Tooya: Mio....ri.... //page 68// //boom! boom! boom!// Voice: ten-nights....let's call you "Tooya" //page 69// Tooya: //ha!//.....What....was that...it couldn't be... [freetalk] //page 70// //chirrrrp, chirp, chirp// Chidori: ...I wonder if Aya-chan's okay...she's been silent like that for days now... Suzumi: She won't eat either...if she keeps this up, she'll get sick. //page 71// Q: How terrible! Why does it always have to be poor Aya-san!! //sniffle// Suzumi: ...Q-san, That's my kimono-sleeve!! Shuro: ...It's more than just terrible. Q: //sniffle// Shuro: That wasn't just a normal suicide...It was the absolute worst "revenge" she could have gotten. I mean, no matter how much she had been pushing back her pain and suffering....what Sahara did was wrong!! Not only that, but she also did it in order to make someone else suffer....taking one's own life for that purpose is something that I sure as hell can't understand!! //bam// [go shuro! ^_^] //page 72// Shuro: Many other people....even though they wanted to live more....still had to die!! Yuuhi: Aya! Food! //slide// You're gonna eat today! How much longer are you gonna not eat or drink?! Aya: I'm not hungry.... //page 73// Yuuhi: I'll just leave it here with you then. I'll come to pick up the dishes in another hour! If you don't eat it by then, I'll pin you down and force you! //clink// Aya: I don't need it, just take it away. I don't want....anything....Yuuhi?! //page 74// Yuuhi: I just told ya I'd pin you down and force you to eat! Aya: ...No!....let go! Yuuhi: hell no!! Aya: yuuhi!! yuuhi: i can't just sit here on my ass and watch you starve to death!! if you don't eat, you'll die!! Aya: I'm already dead!! //page 75// Aya:....If I took one step wrong....I could have died like that...Miori...my cousin...by blood... The instant her body hit the ground...I felt like I was torn to pieces! I know she really must have been in love with Tooya... The one who killed her mom was me. I can't just say "it was Ceres's fault. I didn't do it"!! I mean....this time, I killed...I even killed her daughter!! yuuhi: you're wrong!! \//page 76// Yuuhi: Sahara chose to die. Stop blaming yourself like that!! okay, Aya!! //chirrrrrp, chirp, chirp// Yuuhi: ...Even though I'm running out of ways to comfort you...at least...ask me...Aya... //page 77// Yuuhi: I'll do anything for you....anything.... Ceres: "...Aya...." //page 78// Ceres: "I was the one who pushed Sahara Miori into a corner." Aya:"...What the hell are you saying, Ceres....not you, too... Ceres: "But you do understand..." Aya: Yeah....that happened and I'm still alive....I killed a stranger. Ceres: "......" Aya: Tooya....had said something similar before.....I can't see him anymore now....it would have been easier to just die. //page 79// //squeak// Yuuhi: ....Aya.....if things keep on like this, even you will... Q: Yuuhi-san! //bam!// Yuuhi: aahhhhhh!! Q: Follow me quick! it's an emergency!! Yuuhi: Ha, hang on a bit, Q-san! at least let me put on some underwear!! Q: No one will mind. they'll just say "oh, so his is three inches, huh". [O_o] Yuuhi: WHAT WAS THAT?! //page 80// Yuuhi: Tooya...?! Wh...why...! Tooya: ....I had been hiding in a place where the "Mikage" could not find me, but....I couldn't stop worrying about Aya...and came looking here... //page 81// Yuuhi: So, did you remember about you and Aya?! Tooya:.....I tried many times over these past few days, but....my headaches kept bothering me and I couldn't remember her....but I asked many people about aya....about Aya....about me....eventually, I found out the main mystery is "who I am"...but the one thing I did understand was that "Tooya" is not the man who can make Aya happy. //page 82// Tooya: No matter what the Mikage did to her....I forgot about it all. even though that's the main thing I shouldn't have forgotten. Flashback-Aya: "Good-bye" Tooya: How did she feel about me....and how much did I hurt her....? and not only Aya....but I even drove Miori to her death....it was all my fault...! Shuro: Wait, that's not... //scrape// //scrape...// //page 83// Tooya: I...am going now. I hope that Aya gets better....I'm counting on you. Yuuhi: Hold it! //smack!// What the hell was that?! Is that all you have to say?! Didn't you come to see her?! How can you be so fucking cool about it all?! You may be perfectly okay with saying "it was all my fault. I'm sorry" and making yourself into the "bad guy"... //page 84// Yuuhi: But what the hell's gonna happen to Aya?! She's hella messed up right now!! Shuro: Yuuhi!! Yuuhi: I can't stand to watch! even though she's deeply hurt....she's probably still in love with you!! Go and see her!....go make her better again!! I'm begging you, help Aya!! Tooya: How can I see her?!! Even though "forgetting" about her was the worst thing i could have done, I still can't remember her!! You think I can comfort her as a "different person"?! //page 85// Tooya: I hate myself...!! No matter how much I try to love her...all I seem to be able to do is hurt her!! Suzumi:....You haven't forgotten....no matter how small, the fact that your feelings for Aya are what're most important to you still hasn't changed....and they won't change no matter what....that's why you came here. Am I wrong, Tooya-san? //page 86// [no lines. lalala ^_^] //page 87// [still no lines. hehehe ^v^] //page 88// Tooya: Forgive me.....Aya. Aya: Mm... Tooya: I can't just keep my memories of Miori and live with you as "mizuki tooya"....but....whenever i tried to remember the year we spent together these past few days, i noticed something. that my chest hurts more than my head....like my heart is being ripped out... //page 89// Tooya: I wonder....if I really did love Mikage Aya....so...from here on, I'm going to look for myself...for both our sakes. It was only a little, but I remembered a little bit of my true past...so...for now.. //page 90// Yooya: Aya....take care. Aya: //ha!// //dokun dokun dokun dokun// "Take care"...that voice....it can't be.... //page 91// Chidori: Tooya-san!! I'm sorry....a while ago, I said something bad about you to Aya-chan...that the two of you wouldn't work out. but- Aya: No way... Chidori: But....but that's not true!...your really do...love Aya-chan...more than I know...I'm sorry. I'm sorry!! So please don't go!... Don't leave Aya-chan behind...!! //page 92// Aya: //hah hah hah hah// Yuuhi: Aya! Chidori: Aya-chan!! //page 93// Chidori: Hurry!! Tooya-san's leaving! Aya: //sniff../// //page 94// Chidori: ....Aya-chan?! Why aren't you chasing after him?! If you hurry, you can still... Aya:....This is...for the best.... I understand....We can't be together again anymore. All I can do is...say good-bye. Yuuhi: Aya. //page 95// Yuuhi: Tooya said that "I came to give Aya my life". Aya: Huh...? Yuuhi: He told me to tell you....that "no matter what happens, let's feel like we're living together." He said "I'll stay by your side". //page 96+97// Aya: What's....this...!! Flashback-Tooya: "This dagger is a part of me." Aya: ....Warm.... //dokun// ...Heartbeat....//dokun//...Life..... //dokun// ....Tooya's life..... Flashback-Tooya: "I'll stay by your side. No matter what happens.....let's live together." //page 98// Aya: Tooya...! I hear you, Tooya. you took the blame for everything...even Miori...and you're telling me to live. At first I thought the way we go on living...is to steal the lives of others. But that's wrong. because....I've never been alone. //page 99// Aya: So let's believe. That one more time... Yuuhi....this is really delicious! ....I'll see you again. //page 100// //crash// //crash, crash// Aya: It's the ocean. Tooya....?Are you....gonna look at the ocean forever...? //page 101// Aya: Oh....this ocean...reminds me of the ocean in Miho....turn around, Tooya. I'm right here.....huh? Me? //DOKUN// //page 102// //whap!// Aya: A dream.... //hah, hah...hah, hah.// Tooya //page 103// Aya: It's been nearly a month since you left this and went away... Flashback Tooya: "So we can feel like we're living together." //tokun tokun tokun// Aya: I don't know where you are....or when I'll see you again...I still can't get rid of the pain in my chest, but I'm trying......with your warmth. //page 104// Chidori: Aya-chan 'morning!! //swat// It's lunch time already! if you don't get up, we'll eat it all!! Aya: Dammit, Chidori!! I might have stabbed my face!! Chidori: //whisper// Ohhhh, that! The thing you got from Tooya-san....what is it? ooooh, I got it! it's an adult-toy!! Chidori: //waaaaahhhh// Q: ...What are you doing?! Yuuhi: WHAT?! //page 105// Yuuhi: You're gonna try looking for the hagoromo in shizuoka?! Watase: They're living in an apartment now Aya: Yup! Yuuhi:...Hang on a sec, Aya! Your wounds still aren't healed....and you've still got bruises! You're still not better! Aya: I'm fine. Chidori: Looks that way to me! after all, she was just playing with an adult-toy... Yuuhi: WHAAATT?! Aya: Shut up about that already!! Chidori: But are you sure?....Aren't you still depressed about Sahara... Aya:....It's hard on me.....but I don't want to turn my back on her death either. [freetalk] //page 106// Aya: I've gotta look towards the future...let me go! [Shizuoka] Yuuhi: ...Here's the deal: the house that Tooya thought was his when his name was Mizuki was Sahara's house. The real "Mizuki"-san is in the next town over. But I don't think we'll have much luck... Aya:...That's okay. I'd been thinking about it every day for the past month. //page 107// Aya: During that whole year by herself in that house....what was Miori thinking about...i figured i'd have to start from where she was born; Shizuoka....that's what I thought.... //rrrrrrr// Shuro: Oh, sorry! Go without me for now! Chidori: I guess her manager's been getting on her case lately. Aya: Oh...Shuro's been helping us because she feels she "can't leave us". Even Chidori hasn't been home lately...she must be worried about her little brother. It's even summer vacation and even though my parents are both gone...the Aogiris have taken me as a complete stranger and treated me as one of them. //page 108// Aya: If only someone had been...with Miori; helping her out... Mizuki-chick: Hagoromo~~~? Sign: Mizuki Mizuki-chick: What's with you guys? Why d'ya wanna know that? Aya: uh, it's a project for school, and.... Chidori/Shuro: ...And this is really a tennyo-descendant?! Mizuki-chick: Welllll, I think my grandma might know. but she's kinda senile, and might not be able to tell you much. //puff!// Aya: //cough, cough// Wh, where is she.... Mizuki: Hmmm, now? At Miho no Matsubara. //doki...// //page 109// Aya: That's where I first met Miori....and where Tooya's memories of me disappeared. iIt depresses me...so I didn't want to have to come back here... Flashback Mizuki-chick: "A flower-printed shirt and white pants" Aya: ...Mizuki-san?! //page 110// Aya: Thought so! Excuse me, could you please tell me about the hagoromo in the tennyo leg... //shuffle, shuffle, shuffle// Yuuhi: She's fast! Mizuki-granny: I don't know what you're talking about! Aya: But your granddaughter said you'd know! M-g: That doesn't matter. I hate young people! [the following speech is written all in a jumble behind the granny with no furigana, and parts of words disappear behind people's heads....I'll try my best ^^;;...] My granddaughter's enough for me. young'uns these days only care about gaudy clothes and decorating themselves, because they're empty inside, and they can't even read kanji anymore [at least I could read most of the kanji in this speech of your's! : p ] Boys and girls alike spend their money for useless things.....leading very lazy lives... //perk// M-g: ...Huh....? Come to think of it... //page 111// M-g: You look like a girl who used to come here a lot. //DOKI!// M-g: She looked like she was always crying, so I left her alone. I guess she might have committed suicide a month or so ago....she must've had a reason, I guess. It was stupid of her to just die without telling me. the thing I hate most about young ones these days is how they don't understand the value of possessions versus life! When you're as old as I am, you never know when you're gonna die. The world is cruel. //crash, crash// //clench// M-g: Sorry to make you listen to my ramblings. Run along now! //page 112// Aya: I let that girl die...no, not just her...of course, it's not what I wanted to happen...but...suddenly, I noticed...that I was always dripping with blood. I still can't see what's ahead of me...but can't run from it even if I tried. but that's how frusterating it is...I can't do much the way I am now, but.... //page 113// Aya: Doing all I can is my responsibility towards those who died...so...I'm living with all I've got. Second by second...!! Yuuhi: Aya.... M-g: You just came out of nowhere and started talking to me...who are you? Just what responsibillity do you have regarding the hagoromo?! // page 114// M-g: Understand? The hagoromo is something that when worn brings about destruction. That's what has been passed down in my family. Long ago...in a rage, a man put on the "hagoromo" of the Mizuki family. but when his family found him... Family members: Aaahhhh!!! //page 115// M-g: Everyone believed it was a "punishment from the heavens"...it's a tale only in our family. The hagoromo was buried as they were; burned onto the mutated man's body...it's a story from somewhere around here. Aya: Was that really the hagoromo?! Is there anything else?... M-g: Another famous one is in "Tango"...there's a shrine of a tennyo who was unable to go to the heavens and died...they say that there was a lot of flooding there. it's a little story passed down....that says "maybe someone touched the hagoromo again". Aya: Tango... M-g: the story's over!! Satisfied?! Shuro/Aya/Yuuhi: Thank you so much!! M-g: ....my goodness...sure been a lot of tourists here lately. //mumble, mumble// there was also that man who spent alllll day staring at the ocean... //page 116// Aya: WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS HE?! M-g: Eeep! He was a young man! Didn't seem japanese...he was sitting just about over there starrrrring into the ocean....kind of looked like a copper statue of Hakuryou*. You must have seen it at the entrance so I got kinda interested in him and called out to him, kinda half-jokingly: Flashback-M-g: ...Are you thinking about your beloved tennyo, Hakuryou-san! Flashback-Tooya: ...I told her...that I would come and take her with me someday... //page 117// Flashback-tooya: To get my tennyo... Aya: Tooya. Tooya came here, too...!! Just like me....in order to begin from here...?! //page 118// flashback-tooya: "i'll come to get my tennyo back." M-g:...I see....you're a tennyo, aren't you. //dokkiri// M-g:...I just remembered....that there was a time where I was once young like you....when I was a "tennyo."...you see, with women... //page 119// M-g: "When women are happy with the men they love...anyone of them can be a tennyo..." Yuuhi: ...But even so! does that mean that what happened to the Miyagi nettle tree was caused by the hagoromo? It mentioned the "call of evil"! It'd sure be nice if Ceres'd tell us something. Shuro: I think I heard Tooya say that the mikage think of the tennyo as intellectual beings of the universe....if that's true, then maybe the hagoromo is some bogus thing we can't imagine... What're you gonna do, Aya? //page 120// Aya:..I'll go! i'll look for the hagoromo in Tango or even the universe!! //stomp, stomp// Aya-sama has returrrrned!! Let's goooo! Shuro: Go where? Aya: Oh, and Shuro, why don't you go back to being an idol? Chidori: Hey, wait a sec, Aya-chan! Shuro: Huh...? Aya: You wanna sing, right? Even if you sing by yourself, we all need your singing power!! //page 121// Aya: Your fans are waiting for you....I wanna hear your new songs, too! Then I'll sing them in karaoke! of course, if something comes up, I'll come to your rescue, okay? Shuro: That's my line! Ooookay! I'll release a hit song even bigger than "GeSANG"! Aya: All right, I'll be expecting your debut song to be #1 on the charts! Shuro: Huh? No way! Aya: And Chidori, you should go home and visit Shouta for a while! You miss him, right? Chidori: Eh? Aya: I really thank you all... Chidori: WHAAAT? You're like, laying me off!! //page 122// Aya: So...I'll become stronger little by little. so that some day I'll be able to protect someone....to support someone...good-bye...Miori...Miho's tennyo. [Tango, Kyoto] //page 123// Narration: What is said to be the earliest "tennyo legend" existed in Tango. The foster-daughter of an elderly couple became a tennyo. With her powers, she created a wine that could cure any disease and saved the village with it...but then she was chased after the elderly couple. Even though she had the hagoromo, they were soiled by the earth and she could not return to the heavens...she cried and traveled and made her way to a village where she withered away and a shrine was built to her there.... Yuuhi: So! The village Mizuki-san talked about that was flooded and the temple also do not exist in the present! And after I researched, I found the place that might have the temple, which is...here!! //page 124// Aya: Arrgggghhhhh there would HAVE to be a SCHOOL built on top of it, huh. All I seem to ever do is transfer schools... Yuuhi: There's no other place that looked like it would have the hagoromo. The fact that they were digging underground and discovering artifacts was a dead give-away! Aya: But you didn't have to transfer in here with me, Yuuhi... Yuuhi: //whisper//....At least let me be with you until Tooya comes back. //page 125// Aya: Huh? Yuuhi: Nothing! Let's actually FIND something so we can give Shuro and Chidori some good news! See ya later! Aya: Okay. I know they'll be okay; Shuro and Chidori....I won't be able to see them for a while...but O'll be fine. Bubble: And besides, Aogiri's accompanying you //tokun tokun tokun/ Aya: And even Tooya...is with me here... //tokun tokun// I guess putting his dagger between my breasts was a bit naughty, but...Tooya must feel it, too... //page 126// Sign: 2nd year, 2nd class. Girl: Luckyyyy, I've never been to Tokyo! Girl2: But we sure got a lot of transfers in this year, huh. How strange. Aya: Huh? Girl2: There's three of you all together. Aya: Yuuhi Arrow: 6th class Aya: And me Arrow: 2nd class Aya: And one more? Girl: The other person came from Tokyo, too, I think. the one in the 5th class, right? Aya: Is it a boy?! Girl: Yeah, a boy! Wanna come with us to check him out later? Kids: //zawa zawa// [excited noises] //page 127// Girl: Looks like he's not here. Boy: Hey, you girls! You came to peep in on the new guy, right! Toooo bad! He said he'll be a little late! Girl: You've got the wrong idea! We were just showing our new transfer student around! Girl2: Isn't that right, Mikage-san! Shiso: "Mikage"? My...what a coincidence. //page 128// //PERK!// Shiso: my name's also "Mikage" //page 129// Aya: Wha....no way! Why...? What's he doing here?! //page 130// [Ayashi no Ceres parodies. Joy has them translated somewhere...or did I do this one?? Blah.] //page 131// Aya: Why? What's he doing in Tango...?! Teacher: Oh, won't you enter the classroom, Mikage? //ding, dong, ding, dong...// [the school bell] //page 132// Shiso: //slip// Aya: //bap!// Shiso: //whisper//...Glad to see you're well. Let's talk later in private. Aya: wha, what?! Shiso: //whisper// i'll come and get you, so wait for me. Teacher: You girls go back to your classrooms! Aya: Wh, wh, who... Girl: He was cuuuute! Mikage-san, Do you know him?! Aya: Not really Girl2: Yeah, but he has the same last name as you...and I think you two look alike. Aya: Really?! That's just a coincidence! Girl: Don't you mean a "miracle"? [*The original two lines had a play on japanese words that don't really exist in English, so I just wrote something that would work in English. Okay? Okay.] //page 133// Teacher: Come on, Mikage, introduce yourself! Shiso:....I'm Mikage Aki. I come from Tokyo! Nice to meet you Aya: //ha!// huh?! //page 134// Aya: Aki? //gong!// teacher: will you please return to your own classrooms!! Aya: That can't be...but...somehow, he looked different... Girl1: Wellll, he has scars all over his body; kinda makes ya wonder how he got them. Girl2: Yeaaah, that's why I'm interested in him! Girl3: But I think I like the guy in the 6th class better. Girl4: Me, too! Ceres: "Aya". "You must not get close to that man." Aya: Ceres?....but what if he actually...became Aki again... //page 135// Ceres: "If that were so, then why did he not tell you right away?" Aya:...Oh, you're right... ceres: "He might have really gotten serious about taking me (you). Let us keep an eye on him for a while." Aya: But- Ceres: "Why are you being optimistic?" Guy: why the hell is that chick talking to herself? Ceres: " Even though the body is Aki's the contents are a different man. He is no longer your brother. If you cannot fight him, the only option is to avoid him." //ding, dong...// [the school bells] //look, look// //sneak, sneak// //GULP!// //page 136// Aya: Damn! Yuuhi: Ah, there you are. Heeeeey! A....ya //dash!!// //stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp// //page 137// Yuuhi: Arrggh, my neck hurts like hell! Aya: Sorry Arrow: Suzumi's parents' house Yuuhi: There's been some excitement ever since we transfered?....oh yeah! It's gotta be that rumour about what's happened at the digging site at the new school building!! Am I right? Aya: Huh? not that... Q: That's right! I also heard about it from the neighbors! That many farmers around the area have been hearing a strange screaming voice! Aya: What? What?! Yuuhi: Yeah, "the bones of people who died in that flood long ago under the school's ground were found, and maybe the scary voice had something to do with it?" kinda story, huh! Aya: I've never heard of it. That's not what I meant... Yuuhi: Jeez, Aya's so stuppppid! There's nothing to be scared about! Q: Oh, my, and you were just thinking about how that quality of Aya's is cuuuute. //page 138// Aya: But even though I got away today, if I go to school tomorrow, "he" will be there. But I can't leave the school because the hagoromo might be there...but I hate having to sneak around in hiding all the time...so this's the place, huh? ....But maybe the hagoromo is buried along with the bones?This seems like it'll be harder than before....but... //page 139// Aya: Tooya must be searching very hard right now, too. Flashback-Tooya: "I'll come to get my tennyo back" Aya: I can't give up, either....until he comes back to me... Okkkkaaaay!! Come at me, monsters and Shiso; I'm ready for ya!! //He came// SD-Aya: Um, well... //page 140// Shiso: Aya, just listen to me for a bit... Aya: //slap!// Don't touch me!! Shiso: ...Aya. have you....already forgotten about me? //page 141// Aya: Huh? Shiso: It would be weird of you to trust me, but...I'll be in the library after school today...it's a quiet place, and there are also people there....it's safe, right? This's only if you change your mind, okay? See ya. Aya: Ceres...is that....really Shiso...? He couldn't....he couldn't really be...Aki, could he...!! //page 142// Aya: I mean, it IS possible, and I was also closed inside of myself, and I was able to come back...Aki can, too! Yuuhi: Huh? hey, do you know where Mikage-san went? girl: huh? i thought she already left. Yuuhi: That's weird. Why didn't she wait for me? //page 143// Girl: You're that new kid in the 6th class, right? Girl2: The new kid in the 5th class is also a "mikage". Do you know if they're related somehow? Yuuhi: ...What?! Sign: Library Aya: I've gotta make sure....I can't just keep running from him. forever. [freetalk] //page 144// Aya: If....if he's really Aki.. //doki...// Sign: "Geography" Shiso: Aya! //dokin// Shiso: Good...! You finally changed your mind! //dokin, dokin, dokin// Aya: ...A //dokin// //page 145// Aya: Aki....? Shiso: //nod// Aya: ...Is it....really you?! Shiso: ....I came back to my senses about a month ago. I hurt a lot....and a crack got into my arm. Sometimes Shiso gets let out....but lately, I've been strong enough. But don't tell Kagami. I told him I'd help him with his C-Project if he'd set me free, and he agreed! And then...I found out that the hagoromo might be at this school. Aya: Ah...! That's a habit of Aki's! //page 146// Shiso: You're still...looking for the hagoromo, right? so I said I'd go, too. Aya: His habit of fixing his bangs while he talks...Aki's... Aki: ...! Thank god!! Shiso: It must have been hard on you, Aya...but you don't have to go through any suffering anymore...I've been thinking about this for a while, and you might get mad, but...let's not depend on Kagami-san anymore. //page 147// Aya: Huh....? Shiso: ...We've gone through enough already. I came to get you back. Let's live together...again. Aya: Aki...Aki? Shiso: I'm the only man right for you....you know that, right? This time, I'll be sure to stay with you...forever. It doesn't look like Tooya's coming back. //page 148// Shiso: Well? //slap!// Aya: ...All...along... //clench// //page 149// Aya: You knew all along...!... //slap!// //page 149+150// Aya: Ungh...//ha!// Shiso: What's the problem? I thought you would be glad to see "Aki" again. If you don't appreciate that, I'll really get mad. Aya: You...you dirty man...!! Did you think that by acting like Aki, I'd listen to you?! //dokun dokun dokun// Hey!... //page 151// Shiso: Bad women who hit their husbands must be punished. Aya: No...wha....you... Shiso: Shhhh, we must be quiet in the library....you trying to call out for help? I don't mind, but would it not be embarrassing for you? //page 152// Aya: He...he's too...strong...I can't move...I'm scared...!! Ceres...! Ceres: "Let me take over" Aya: ...I can't! this is school. I can't use my powers here, just like this guy planned...and besides...even though his insides are different...he's...my brother! //ha!// //page 153// Shiso: What're you staring at? ...Get lost. Unless you want me to bust your eyes up, get lost. Aya: D...damn him...!! Shiso: See? They won't help you...the weaklings. Tooya is no different. He ran away, leaving you behind...poor thing. //page 154// aya: tooya....no...no.... //bite!// //perk!!// //page 155+156// //smack!!// //thud, thud// Shiso: //perk// Yuuhi: What the fuck are you doing here...!! Get the hell away from Aya! ...If you don't, I'll rip your windpipe out!! Shiso: //snicker// what are you saying, Aogiri? Are you trying to kill me? I'm Aya's big-brother. You can't kill me. Aya: Yuuhi...! //page 157// Yuuhi: ...Yes I can! Even if you really were Aki....if that means I get to kill Shiso, I'll do it!! Get your damn hands off her...! Librarian: ...Hey, you guys! What seems to be the trouble?! //page 158// Librarian: hey?! Shiso: ...We were just exchanging books. unfortunately, I shall have to return you to him now...now let's just look forward to the sequel of what just happened. But you will give her back to me....very soon. Yuuhi: ...Hey! Come back! //page 159// Librarian: Hold it right there, mister! Why are you holding chopsticks? Are you with the cooking club?! yuuhi: huh? Aya: It couldn't be... //stomp// It couldn't be. wait!! You....you didn't just....Yuuhi...?! Shiso: I came here all the way to get you...I figured I might as well search for the hagoromo in the meantime. but there are many men in your life...I shall not let there be anyone except me. I shall destroy him. //page 160// Aya:...I'll....him....I won't let you kill him!! shiso: ...is he really that important to you?....then let's see you try and protect him. if you really can! //page 161// //page 162// Q: What? Shiso-san is at your school?! Yuuhi: As usual, her face brings no seriousness to the story... Don't call him "san"!!....He even tried to rape Aya at school!! The son of a bitch! Q: Now, now //page 163// Flashback-Shiso: "You are MY woman. I shall destroy Yuuhi. Try and protect him if you can" Aya: He wasn't just holding a grudge against Tooya...but all the men who get close to me (Ceres)... Yuuhi: Aya! Don't let him bother you! And anyway, don't try to do ANYTHING on your own! There're a lot of people at school...if you do something too hasty, even he will be forced to leave. Q: Yes, that's right [freetalk] //page 164// Yuuhi: I'll protect you, okay! Aya: But....! Yuuhi....he has super-natural powers! Yuuhi: What's so big about that?! You think i'm gonna let him touch you again?!!....I won't...! Aya: Thanks...Yuuhi. Q: But Yuuhi-san, don't YOU want to touch her and are just holding back? Yuuhi: can't you just shut up?! Aya; But that won't work....the one Shiso's after right now is Yuuhi. what should I do, Tooya?....What should I do? //page 165// Yuuhi: Don't look at him. //nudge// Let's go. Aya: O...okay. This's bad.... //pat// I'm fine! You be careful, too! //page 166// Yuuhi: Aya? Aya: It'll be like this everyday. This's no place to look for the hagoromo... Sign: 2nd year, 2nd class Aya: I've gotta do something... Boy: //whisper, whisper// Yeah, I heard about it, too! Person: Yeah, yeah, a guy from the 7th class walked in on them... Person: And this morning, she was cuddling with another guy. Person: She's sure pretty cute. Person: It was in the library or... //page 167// //whoosh!// Teacher: Which is why this... //whistle!// Aya: Ah....P.E....that's Yuuhi's class...looks hot out there. //ha!// It's combined with the 5th class?! //page 168// Teacher: Mikage, would you like to read this passage? If so, then open to page 43! Aya: Uh, yeah. "I..in the future world will also be vows....and darkness..." [this passage appears to be from a Japanese textbook as none of the words are in my dictionary and I don't really know what it means....not like it really MATTERS what it means, though ^_^.] Aya: ...Watch out, Yuuhi! Shiso: Hey. Yuuhi: ...O--h, I didn't know you could play soccer? oh, but you're a "high school student", huh. Shiso: ...I can play as well as "Mikage Aki" can... //page 169// //whistle!// //bash!// Boy: Aogiri?! //whistle// Teacher: What's wrong! Shiso: Oh....sorry! //page 170// Shiso: i just got carried away....sorry! Are you okay? Boy: Hey, he's bleeding! Yuuhi: ...Yeah. Aya: "Wo-wo-women in Mihon in-in-in-got heavier-er-er" Teacher: ...What are you, a scratched CD? //thud!// //page 171// Yuuhi:...Ww.... Teacher: Aogiriiiii did something happen again? //whistle// Yuuhi: Son of a..... Shiso: Are you okay? You're bleeding...did you hurt your arm? //squeeze// //crack, crack// Teacher: Aogiriiiiii, come on, let's go to the nurse's office. Shiso: //crack, crack, crack// No, I think.... //page 172// Shiso:...That an ambulance would be more fitting. //CRACK!// Yuuhi: AHHHHHH!!!!! //page 173// Students: What's that?! Aya: Yuuhi?! Boys: Aogiri! What's wrong!! Shiso: Sensei! He's broken his right arm! Yuuhi: ....Ow....!! Teacher: Hang in there, kid! Let's take you to the nurse's office... //page 174// //stomp!// Teacher: Hey, mikage! Where're you going?! Class is still in session! Sign: Nurse's office Aya: Yuuhi!! //page 175// Teacher: Hey, hey! you! What class are you... //bonk!// Aya: Yuuhi, are you okay?! Yuuhi: Aya...he broke my arm...that really....wasn't the strength of a human...!! Teacher: Hey! Stop that! Aya: I'm sorry....I'm sorry...!! //page 176// Yuuhi:....It hurts, but I feel good now. //ding, dong, ding, dong// Yuuhi: Yeah...yup, a severe broken right arm!! It'll take 2 months to heal! Like I said I broke it in P.E.! You don't have to worry that much about it, Nee-san. Yeah, I'm fine! Q: But at least he's still doing okay! Because Yuuhi-san want's to be a chef when he grows up! If you compare the two, his right arm is definitely the important one! //page 177// Flashback-Yuuhi: "I kinda wanna have my own restaraunt when I grow up" //squeeze// Sign: 2nd year, 5th class. //shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, shuffle// Aya: lemme talk to you for a sec!! //page 178// Shiso: However...schools sure are interesting places. Aya: The doctor said that Yuuhi's arm....would take 2 months to heal!! Shiso: Here...I found this in my desk this morning with a letter. Aya: ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!! Shiso: "if you wear this bracelet, I'll be very happy"...There are many kinds of females at this school. Aya: Females? Shiso:...But the only "woman" is you. //clench// //crunch, squish// //page 179// Shiso:...It looks as though you and Aogiri sure get along well. Did you sleep with him, too? Aya: ! Yuuhi is!! Yuuhi is a guy who has helped me out ever since I met him! He's always been by my side, encouraging me...we'd sometimes fight, sometimes smile at each other! Even though I couldn't return his feelings...he fell in love with me...just like a brother....He's always supported me!! //page 180// Aya: He's my friend!! He's the best friend I have in this world!! So if you do anything to him, I-- Shiso: Look at that window. You can easily see the 6th class from here, huh...Aogiri's near the window. //page 181// Shiso: That's a problem...I wonder what would happen if I were to throw this crushed bracelet at him? Aya: Th-that can't reach him!!... Shiso: Are you sure? If I hit my target, maybe it'll be a "fractured skull" this time? Shall I just forget about his being with you and end his life in one swing? aya: no //page 182// //crash!!!// Aya: DON'T DO IIIIIIIT!! //spinnnn// //page 183// Boy: Holy shit! Where'd this come from?! Aya: ...Stop it....I'll do what you say. Just don't hurt Yuuhi...!.... Shiso:...I had not originally planned on handling things this way, but....you ARE my woman... //page 184// Ceres: ...Aya... Yuuhi: Aya!! I've been looking for you! I just heard something about a window being smashed on the first floor! Didn't I tell you? if you're goona leave your classroom, tell me first! At least put your cell-phone on vibrate! Aya:...I'm fine. //page 185// Aya: Besides, even if you were there, how would you help me with your broken arm? Kinda like I'M the one who has to be worried about YOU now. Yuuhi:...."I'M the one"?! I'm okay. come on, at least while Tooya's gone... Aya: What?...why're you bringing Tooya into this....you don't have the kind of power he does. I thought so even before you broke your arm, but....you don't stand a chance against Shiso. Yuuhi: Yeah....!! That might be true, but...what's wrong with you, Aya? You don't have to worry about me... Aya: Hey, stop acting so noble. //page 186// Aya: You were so pathetic in the nurse's office, too! you let yourself get hurt so easily...you think you can be "Tooya's replacement"? you may think you are, but in reality, you're not. Yuuhi:...Is this...why you've been....avoiding me?...Well, I thought to myself that I might be causing trouble, but... Aya: I already know that! I don't mind that you're in love with me, but....you're a little pushy. You've tried to get me so many times before... //page 187// Aya: You were letting me stay in your house, so I couldn't say this before, but....all you really want from me is sex, right? //gong// Aya: A---h, if I change into Ceres, I'm the one who's stronger......why don't you just rest this one out! I'll look for the hagoromo myself. Yuuhi:...Did you mean everything you said....?! I...was i just a "burden" to you all along?! Aya: A burden? //page 188// Aya: you're "useless". Yuuhi:....Fi...ne....I guess...I can't help being "useless"... //page 189// Yuuhi: But that's only becuase unlike you, I'm a "normal human"!! sorry about that!! Aya: Yuuhi...Yuu...hi... //page 190// Aya: Forgive me...I'm sorry... //clap, clap, clap, clap// Shiso:...Well done, bravo! //page 191// Aya: Satisfied...?! I won't see Yuuhi....anymore... Shiso: Won't see him?....What are you saying?....Leave the Aogiri house. Leave them and come to me....if you want to protect your "best friend". Okay? Aya: Leave the Aogiris?? //end of volume 9. hahaha//