Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 20. The Two Princes ------------------------------------------------ [069] 20. The Two Princes (on the right) Older brother Inkou (on the left) Younger brother Inkou Translation note: Since the two princes have the same name when romanised, I'll refer to them as ani-Inkou (older) and otouto-Inkou (younger). [070] Rintoukan Kid 1: Yeah~~ Hippo! Kid 2: Fly!! Fly, Hippo, fly!! Merchant: These kids, ever since their mother passed away, they've been very moody... It's been a long time since we've seen them enjoying themselves so much. Merchant: Thank you very much, this is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it! Merchant: You will definitely like what's inside. [071] Merchant: By the way... Doushi-sama, did you have some business in Rintoukan? Merchant: It's because I noticed you've been staying here for some time now. Taikoubou: I'm waiting for someone. Waiting for a person who will definitely come... Taikoubou: Look here! This is great!! [072] Taikoubou: It's our clothes! It appears that he was a tailor. Taikoubou: It looks like a good fit. Sipuxiang: I find those two kids really pitiful... Sipuxiang: Speaking of kids, I wonder how -those- two are doing now...? Taikoubou: Ah...you're referring to Chuuou's sons? Sipuxiang: Oh!? How did you guess? Taikoubou: I was thinking the same thing too. [073] Chuuou has two princes: Inkou and Inkou. First Prince of Yin ani-Inkou Second Prince otouto-Inkou When Taikoubou went to Chouka the first itme, he had investigated the matter regarding them. Those two prince's lives are currently in great danger... [074] ani-Inkou: Mother... Mother!? Guard: Kyouhi commited suicide! Kyouhi could not bear the humiliation of being the "former empress" so commited suicide in her cell. Kyouhi The daughter of Tohakukou Kyoukanso. She is the rightful empress of Yin, but her position was usurped by Dakki. Later, when Kyoukansou offended Chuuou, Kyouhi was subsequently locked up in the dungeon. [075] ani-Inkou: A knife...!? ani-Inkou: Mother was locked up in the dungeon, how could she have a knife!? Investigate this at once!! Guard: It was Dakki-sama's orders! She said to give the empress a knife... ani-Inkou: Dakki...she knew that Mother would commit suicide, so she gave her a knife... !? [076] ani-Inkou: EH!? [077] Kokutenko: Shinkouhyou... what is that? Shinkouhyou: That's Kyouhi's soul! Shinkouhyou: It flew to the Houshin-dai! Kokutenko: Eh? Why would the souls of humans be sealed too? Shinkouhyou: The evil sennin are not the only ones who will be sealed! In time, Kokutenko, the real purpose of the Houshin Project will be revealed. ani-Inkou: ...... Mother.... [078] KouHiko: Your highness... Don't be upset anymore... ani-Inkou: Buseiou!! ani-Inkou: Buseiou!! Mother, she's dead... KouHiko: Now is not the time to grieve... Your highnesses... please leave Chouka immediately! ani-Inkou: Leave Chouka!? KouHiko: If you don't, the empress will create trouble for you! KouHiko: You are both so young, you will easily fall to Dakki's Temptation spell... KouHiko: In any case, it's best to hurry and leave! Everything has been prepared! [079] otouto-Inkou: Brother... This place is creepy... ani-Inkou: Inkou, don't be afraid! In a while, Buseiou's men will come to meet us. They will take us away from here. otouto-Inkou: Where will we go? ani-Inkou: To find Taikoubou at Rintoukan in the west. He was the one who saved the refugees at Rintoukan. Buseiou said that he is the only one who can help us. [080] otouto-Inkou: But we don't even know how he looks like... how do we find him? ani-Inkou: Taikoubou will come to look for us, don't worry! ani-Inkou: He is an intelligent person, he should be aware of the situation... At first, Tohakukou was murdered, then Mother commited suicide... Our situation is very dangerous, so Buseiou helped us to escape to where Taikoubou... is! ani-Inkou: But, I heard that he couldn't defeat Dakki... otouto-Inkou: Then, aren't we in great danger...? Aaaaaaaaaahh!! [081] Houhitsu: Your highness!! Housou: There you are!! ani-Inkou: Are you Buseiou's men? Houhitsu: Yes!! Houhitsu: Your highness, let's hurry and leave, the empress' minions will catch up soon. ani-Inkou: Dakki already knew we were going to escape!? Housou: Ah! They're here!! [082] Housou: Come on, let's go!! otouto-Inkou: But why did Buseiou send only the two of you? How could he! Houhitsu: Because the others have been killed! otouto-Inkou: Killed... ani-Inkou: Mother, we really miss you... [083] Houhitsu: They shouldn't be able to catch us all the way here. ani-Inkou: The two of you are pretty strong! ani-Inkou: If we carry on at this pace, we should be able to reach Rintoukan in another two or three days. ani-Inkou: ......... ani-Inkou: Father... Father must really despise us too... Houhitsu: You mean His Majesty, Chuuou? His Majesty only has two sons, why would he despise you? ani-Inkou: True...! ani-Inkou: What are your names? Houhitsu: I'm paler, call me Houhitsu. The darker one, he's Housou. [084] Housou: Your highness, we're almost there! Please bear up for a little while more! [085] ani-Inkou: Houhitsu, Housou, thank you very much! Without the two of you, we would already have been finished. Houhitsu: Please don't say that!! We were only following Buseiou's orders. Houhitsu: ......! otouto-Inkou: Ahh... otouto-Inkou: It's Rintoukan!! This is great!! [086] otouto-Inkou: We're finally here! It's been a tiring few days, let's find a place to sleep! Houhitsu: There's no need to find a place to sleep... Because you two princes are about to go into long-term slumber right here! Houhitsu: Didn't you notice something? Those people chasing us that time were actually Buseiou's men... [087] Houhitsu: You two silly princes!! We are the ones who are trying to kill you! !!! [088] Dakki: It was me who sent them~ to hunt down the two princes, Inkou and Inkou. Minion A: You're cunning as ever! You'd forseen that Buseiou would help the two princes to escape... Dakki: But of course! Buseiou's every move is so obvious to me! Minion A: But why wait specially till they've arrived at Rintoukan to kill them? Actually, you could have killed them much earlier! [089] Dakki: Didn't you know that Taikoubou is still alive? And...I also heard that he would be at Rintoukan... Dakki: I purposely intended to use the two princes to draw Taikoubou out... Dakki: Taikoubou can't help but rescue the two princes... At that time, Houhitsu and Housou will fight him 2-to-1! 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