Cutlass Chapter 3 Translated by Tae-chan Chapter 3: The dark cloud that sneaks in Page 94 Resting in a cavern, Tokimaru attempts to make a fire. “Shit --- this wood is hard to light.” Once the wood is burning, he exclaims, “Ah, it’s lit! Man I’m wonderful.” He puts a cigarette to his lips, “(Meanwhile I’ll have a smoke) First, we have to work out how we’re going to find your mother.” Tsubasa replies, “Having a fire is dangerous isn’t it? Aren’t those guys around here somewhere?” Tokimaru looks over his shoulder. “You seem cold." Page 95 Tokimaru takes of a glove and comes to stand next to Tsubasa. “Hey come closer. I bet you have a fever.” Tsubasa lifts up his nose. “No I don’t, not at all.” Tokimaru checks Tsubasa’s temperature. “Don’t be stubborn. From the past, when you’re under pressure you get a fever. (You baby) Tsubasa complains “Shuttup!” while Tokimaru continues, “Looks like you have a slight fever?” Tsubasa turns to him. “Speaking of which, are you gonna be alright with your wounds untreated Tokimaru?” Tokimaru gives him a wink and a grin. “All I need to do is give it a lick and it’ll heal.” Tsubasa sweatdrops. “How you gonna do that?” Tokimaru (Like this.) Tsubasa (Stop, humans can’t do that....) Page 96 Tsubasa gives Tokimaru a sly smile. “Shall I lick it for you?” Tokimaru, stunned, drops his cigarette, then rushes out the cavern blushing furiously and replying, “I-idiot! What are you saying! J-just before I saw a river so I’ll go get some water.” While Tsubasa cracks up laughing behind him. Tokimaru thinks as he leaves, “He’s just joking like usual...! What am I getting all bothered about...” Page 97 Meanwhile Tsubasa is still chuckling, but then falters. “---- After Tokimaru... touched me I felt so good.” He puts a hand to his forehead and says, “--- I guess... I do have a fever after all.” Page 98 Tokimaru reaches a tree next to the river. “Awright, there it is.” He then hears the sound of someone humming a tune and sees a woman by the river and thinks, “Uh-oh, there’s someone here.” He hides behind the tree. “The people of this world don’t follow common sense so... I need to be cautious.” The woman looks up as she hears a shout. Page 99 Tokimaru has been caught in some sticky sap-like stuff, yelling, “Wha... what the hell is this stu~~ff?” The woman puts a hand to her lips, “Oh dear” The next moment we see her helping to pull the sap-stuff off Tokimaru, commenting all the while, “That was stupid for you to have gotten entangled in a Petora tree. It likes the warmth of human skin, but it’ll dissolve. If you don’t take care, it will poison you!” Tokimaru mumbles, “Sorry.” The woman smiles. “You’re not from here, are you? You shouldn’t stay, if you loiter in this sort of place, you’ll be tempting bait for evil guys. (Because this place is wild)” Tokimaru thinks blissfully, “Waah, she’s so cool.” Page 100 She catches sight of Tokimaru’s wound. “Oya, that’s a terrible wound! You’ve been cut by a sword. If you like, I’ll take you to my house where I have some medicine that works for sword cuts.” She gives him a big smile. “Alright? Come with me.” Tokimaru puts his hands together in a grateful prayer, thinking, “Th... thank goodness there isn’t only bad guys here....!” At the woman’s house, Tokimaru is putting Tsubasa to bed. “Are you okay, Tsubasa?” Tsubasa mumbles an affirmitive while the woman comes in. “Here, sorry to keep you waiting.” Page 101 She is carrying a tray with a drink on it. “Leda-sama’s specially made fever remedy. If you drink this, fevers will go away.” Tokimaru says to her, “I’m sorry... making you take care of my younger brother too...” She smiles. “I said it was fine. At a time like this, I have to help.” Tsubasa makes a face as he drinks it. “(It’s bitter).” Tsubasa falls asleep while the other two walk out the door. Ledania says, “So if we just let him sleep for one night, he’ll soon get better.” The door shuts. page 102 Ledania sneaks out the back door and whistles – a couple of men come out of the bushes. She leans in closer with a smirk and says, “Summer insects who’ve jumped into the fire! This is perfect – they came from somewhere else. One is inside sleeping so take him the normal way.” We see Tokimaru inside while one of the men asks, “What shall we do with the other brat, anego? <> Shall we kill him?” Page 103 Ledania licks the tip of her fingers. “Nah ---- he’ll be a real good man. (He looks delicious). I’m certain.” “I’ll make that child into my pet. I won’t accept you making any move against him.” They laugh nervously. “You like him.” Tokimaru starts as Ledania comes back in saying, “Sorry to have kept you waiting. I was going to get some of that salve for wounds. So, come here and I’ll treat you.” She comes right over and starts tugging at his jacket. “So, take off your jacket.” Tokimaru blushes a little and holds up a hand. “It’s okay, I’ll do it myself.” Page 104 Ledania has gotten Tokimaru to sit on a couch while she kneels in front of him, applying the salve to the cut on his chest. “Hey, sit still. I’ll just dab a little on.” Tokimaru looks highly uncomfortable as Ledania starts putting bandages around his chest. She squeezes his upper arm. “Slender, but the muscles aren’t useless. The young are like that.” Ledania leans in very close. “I like you.” Now Tokimaru smiles politely looking even more uncomfortable and says weakly. “Le... Ledania-san...” “Just Leda is fine, boy.” Page 105 She takes his head in her hands saying, “This is the boarding fee.” Tokimaru starts in surprise, then starts to say “Board..ing.. f...” then is stunned into silence as Ledania kisses him. Suddenly the door opens and Tsubasa walks in, saying “Tokimaru, what happen...ed...?” He is also stunned as he sees what’s happening. Signs pointing to Tsubasa and Tokimaru (rigor) Page 106 Tokimaru sweats as he puts a hand over his mouth, thinking, “What...? Just now --- I swallowed something...!?” He mutters, (Bitter...) Ledania just smirks. Tsubasa gives one big humph. “So that’s how it is.” He turns to leave. “Three’s a crowd!” Tokimaru calls, “Wa... wait, Tsubasa! It’s a misunderstanding....” He winces as Tsubasa slams the door shut. Page 107 Tokimaru stares at the door resentfully. “What’s with that guy!” Meanwhile Tsubasa is leaning against the door on the other side. “Somehow it made me feel really sick” (He was reacting to it, really happily) Tsubasa remembers a moment in time with his mother. ---Insignificantly remaining memory of an infancy day... He remembers his mother saying, “Listen... Tsubasa. I must return over the sea. That’s something that I can’t run away from.” Page 108 Young Tsubasa and his mother are by the sea-shore, looking over the ocean. She continues, “You have a fate the same as mine and even more ---- You mustn’t let people from here become involved...” Tsubasa thinks, “My... fate -----“ His mother continues, “For the sake of the day, someday... when you will return over the sea.” The present day Tsubasa is thinking, “So, I tried not to have people around me as much as I could, but...” He remembers Tokimaru reaching out his hand to him to take him along back in their former world. “---- I didn’t think there would be an idiot who would get himself entangled with me.” He sighs and frowns. “Clueless idiot.” Page 109 Tsubasa lies back on the bed grumbling, but thinks, “The clueless idiot is me.” (It’s the fault of the fever.) Suddenly his eyes open. “Huh?” He sits up. ´---- Just now... there was a shadow...” He peers out the window, unaware of the person coming up behind him. “Is someone ---- there...?” He hears a sound and looks over his shoulder. Page 110 Tokimaru falls on his knees to the floor. Ledania stands behind him, smirking. “Oh my, what’s wrong boy?” Tokimaru “---- I sorta got dizzy... standing...” Page 111 He looks over his shoulder at her. “But anyway --- Leda.. just now from Tsubasa’s room there was a strange sound. That ----“ He sees Ledania really smirking. His eyes widen in shock, “---It couldn’t be...!” He sees Tsubasa being carried off by a bunch of men. “TSUBASA!?” page 112 He runs for the door. “Shit! Wait!” Ledania smiles coolly. “If you leave here now, then you’ll die.” Ledania blocks the doorway as she explains, “What I made you swallow that time was Petora poison. Welllll, it shouldn’t be such a big deal if you drink my compounded antidote. But ---- but as you are now, ----- yeah, you won’t last half a day.” She flinches as Tokimaru slams his hands each side of her head. Page 113 Tokimaru commands, “--- Get out of the way.” Ledania smirks. “Give up on that child, boy. There are people who want a child just like that. I think you’re unlucky----“ She sweats a little and continues more seriously, “It’ll take half a day for the poison to circulate through you. At the moment it should already be tightening around your neck.” Page 114 She smiles cruelly, “What do you think a boy like you who doesn’t know our world can do? Ha, don’t make me laugh.” Tokimaru says, “ ---- When I got here, I killed someone.” He looks right into her eyes and continues, “Killing one or killing two ---- is just the same...!” Ledania sweats and thinks, “ ---- this child’s eyes ---- are serious.” Tokimaru flings his jacket over his shoulder and heads out. “Wait for me, Tsubasa! ‘Cos whatever it takes, I will absolutely, -absolutely- protect you!” [1]