Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 18. Taikoubou Gets an Afro ------------------------------------------------ [027] 18. Taikoubou Gets an Afro Raishinshi: Cool, huh? My wings can be folded in!! [028] Rishin: You damn bandits... Rishin: What are you going to do to me!? Rishin: What are you planning... Raishinshi: You bastard! I should've killed you earlier! Rishin: Wah...please don't~ .... Raishinshi: The citizens have been suffering due to the lack of water... [029] Raishinshi: Yet you stored up all this water here! I'm going to distribute all the water here to the citizens! Rishin: Ah, you want water? The water problem has already been solved by the doushi. Raishinshi: What? Rishin: That's the doushi right there!! Even if you give them the water now, they won't appreciate you for it!! [030] Raishinshi: Damn you busybodies!! Sipuxiang: Ahhh~ it wasn't meeeee!! Raishinshi: Ooops, my mistake! Excuse me! Raishinshi: ........... Then, it must be you... [031] Taikoubou: I am Taikoubou, a doushi from Kongrong Mountains. And that white-coloured reijyuu is Sipuxiang. Bandit: Boss, is he that legendary doushi? Bandit: The one who saved all those refugees... And who challenged Nataku at Chintoukan... Raishinshi: That's right! The legendary doushi also rode a white reijyuu. Raishinshi: If such a moronic-looking person can be a hero... I should be able too! Raishinshi: But, instead... [032] Raishinshi: Why did you have to go and be so meddlesome? HUH? Taikoubou: Did I do something? Sipuxiang: Hm...? Raishinshi: You're still denying it!! You helped the villages solve the water problem and now, even if I stole all the water here, I can't be a hero!! Taikoubou: I see, that's all rigiht! As long as the problem is solved now, everything is fine... Raishinshi: No way!! Raishinshi: I'm the ONLY one who can be a righteous hero! Your presence here will hinder my chances of being a hero!! Taikoubou: Hero... Raishinshi: That's right!! [033] Raishinshi: I want to be as famous as Buseiou and Seihakukou Kishou! Cool, huh? Taikoubou: HA! Taikoubou: Hahaha! A bandit wants to be famous? Notorious is more like it! /Bwahahahahaha/ Raishinshi: Don't laugh!! Raishinshi: Get yourself out here! I'm going to chop you up into a thousand pieces!! [034] Taikoubou: Ah....drats, he's angry now... Sipuxiang: You did it on purpose!! Taikoubou: Oh well, let's go, Sipu!! Sipuxiang: ...! You're really going to fight him? He doesn't seem like a bad guy! Taikoubou: Oh, relax, I did this intentionally, so that he will join us as an ally! Sipuxiang: Don't tell me you went digging for underground water was to get his attention too? Taikoubou: What do you think? [035] Raishinshi: Are you really as good as the legends say? If that is so, then I only have to beat you and I'll be famous!! Taikoubou: Don't be so cocky! As a doushi, I won't lose to you so easily! Raishinshi: HAH! Raishinshi: I'll show you what I can do! Taikoubou: !? [036] Raishinshi: COME WIND!! Taikoubou: Ehhh...?? Taikoubou: Aaaaaaaaaaa~~~ Raishinshi: How was that!? My wings are not just for flying!! [037] Sipuxiang: What... Sipuxiang: What was that!? Are his wings paopei too!? Taikoubou: Ahh... I'm not sure either. Taikoubou: He seems to have a few other secrets too! This guy is really interesting, we must get him to join our side!! Raishinshi: That reijyuu could actually dodge my wind! Raishinshi: Try this on for size!! [038] Eh? Raishinshi: COME THUNDER!! Bandits: YEAH!! That was a direct hit!! [039] Raishinshi: Oi... That was tiring... Sipuxiang: Do you think he can still continue fighting if he tires so easily? Taikoubou: How would I know... Raishinshi: You... what... Do you still wish to... fight...? [040] Taikoubou: Accckk! Got an afro!! Sipuxiang: Goshujin! Let's not worry about the hair first!! Taikoubou: You're right!! Raishinshi: .......................................... ....................... [041] Raishinshi: For goodness' sake! Fix your hair first before we continue! It's soooooo ugly... Taikoubou: You are really trecherous! Raishinshi: What did you say? Taikoubou: With such powerful wings, of course you're great! Taikoubou: We'll call it a draw for this round! [042] Raishinshi: Don't you have that 'whatever-ben' too? Taikoubou: That's not the same! You're not a sendou, I can't use paopei! Raishinshi: Then how do you want to do it!? Taikoubou: Ah... Taikoubou: Let's fight with hand-to-hand combat! Raishinshi: ........... That's not a bad idea!! [043] Raishinshi: Since we've decided on that, then follow me! I know a location which is perfect for a fight! Sipuxiang: That guy still wants to fight? Taikoubou: I guess so! Taikoubou: He wants to defeat me on even terms. That's how he can become famous. Sipuxiang: (thinking) In the end, he still fell for Goshujin's scheme... Taikoubou: ---------- What is that!? [044] Raishinshi: It's a sparring ground that we built! Raishinshi: The loser will fall into the valley, death is inevitable! [045] Raishinshi: We use this place for recruiting members into our band... The weak are in no position to join our band! Raishinshi: I will never lose to you!! Taikokubou: Sipuxiang, stay back! Sipuxiang: Roger!! Taikoubou: Come on! Round One, Begin!! o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o Translation (c) 2000 Koushi - all rights reserved. No part or whole of this document may be broken up or published on a web-page without the express permission of the author. It may be freely distributed for _personal_ use ONLY on the condition that it is distributed in its entirety and no changes of ANY KIND are made, leaving all original author and copyright information intact. o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o