Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 21. The Two Princes II ------------------------------------------------ [091] 21. The Two Princes II Chouka Residence of Buseiou Servant: Buseiou!! Servant: It's no good! We still can't find both His Highnesses. KouHiko: I see...thank you for your troubles... KouHiko: Could the empress Dakki already have known about me helping the two princes to escape...? She is really too formidable... KouHiko: I beg of you, Taikoubou... Please help the two princes, Inkou and Inkou. [092] Houhistu: You silly prince! Come meet your maker! otouto-Inkou: Brother... [093] 21. The Two Princes II [094] Houhitsu: ! Housou: Taikoubou has shown up, just as expected. ani-Inkou: Taikoubou!? You are the doushi that Buseiou was referring to...? ani-Inkou: HEY! ani-Inkou: Aaaahhh!! Housou: You two little brats aren't going to get away that easily! [095] Taikoubou: So everything was actually planned by Dakki. Houhitsu: What? Taikoubou: Using the two princes to draw me out. It is indeed a brilliant plan. Taikoubou: But it isn't necessarily a well-thought out plan. She has underestimated me! Taikoubou: To think that she's sent two useless fools to deal with me! Houhitsu & Housou: Useless fools!? [096] Houhitsu: We are not useless fools!! Taikoubou: Give it up, how can you fight me without even a paopei? Go back! I don't kill those who are innocent! Houhitsu: What!? You'd better think again about why Dakki would send the two of us to deal with you. It's impossible for you to defeat us!! [097] Taikoubou: Impossible? Houhitsu: That's right! Your paopei has no effect on us!! If you don't believe me, go ahead and try it! Taikoubou: ......... Taikoubou: Well, since you asked... Taikoubou: DASHINFUU!! [098] Houhitsu: Aaaaa!! Taikoubou: Aaahhh!?!? Houhitsu: Didn't I tell you? This little thing of yours is like a toy to us! *Citizens: Who are they?* *Citizens: Looks like sennin fighting!* Taikoubou: Eh!? His skin...it's peeling...? [099] Houhitsu: Hah! I'll be attacking from here this time! Taikoubou: Oi! I jump...! Taikoubou: Since that's the case... Taikoubou: It seems that your body has suffered a little injury too... so you must be considered to be an ore type of youkai-sennin? [100] Houhitsu: And so what if you've realised that? Taikoubou: !!! Taikoubou: He...he's heavy!! The original form of these guys must be some great big boulders!! [101] Housou: Silly princes, you better be good and stay put!! Brother, I'm coming to help you!! ani-Inkou: Inkou, let's escape!! otouto-Inkou: But...it's really dangerous... ani-Inkou: Taikoubou deliberately led them away so that we can escape! Let's go! Otherwise, we're going to die!! [102] !! Taikoubou: He's above!! Taikoubou: Uh.... [103] Housou: You're too careless!! Don't forget about me!! Taikoubou: Damn you... Taikoubou: TAKE THAT!! Housou: It's useless---!! [104] Housou: Ah... I'm going to send you to hell!! Taikoubou: *pant* Continuing like this will not do... Taikoubou: These two are under the control of Dakki's spell even when they're outside the influence of her fragrance... This can only mean that Dakki has nearly mastered the REAL Temptation spell. Taikoubou: If this is the case, then there is no hope of curing Chuuou any longer... [105] Houhitsu: What are you muttering to yourself about?! Perhaps you've realised that you have no way of possibly defeating us!! Taikoubou: That's right! I had better escape first myself! Since the Dashinben is ineffective, I have to go think of something else! Taikoubou: See you later! [106] Houhitsu: Hey! What's all this smoke... Housou: Damn it! How could we let him escape!? Taikoubou: Back to the previous plan... Taikoubou: Sipu, Sipu, are you there? Sipuxiang: I'm right here, Goshujin! Taikoubou: Time to begin your attack plan! Sipuxiang: Roger!! Taikoubou: Hand me the Karyuuhyou that's tied to your body! Sipuxiang: Eh? You want to use this? Taikoubou: Yep! (Karyuuhyou - in chapter 2, paopei obtained from Chintou, emits fire which can melt bolders) [107] Sipuxiang: But Goshujin, what are you going to do with this?! Taikoubou: Since the Dashinben was ineffective against them, I have to use this! Sipuxiang: Do you have a plan to defeat them? Taikoubou: Sipu, you have to help me buy some time! Houhitsu: Ahh.......finally..... The smoke has cleared!! Houhitsu: ! Houhitsu: Over there!! It's him!! [108] "Taikoubou": Hey... I'm over here~~~ Come and get me~~~ From behind Sipuxiang: Come and get me~~~~ Hey...I'm over here~~~~ Houhitsu: Stop there! You can't escape!! Sipuxiang: Ah! They're coming!! [109] Sipuxiang: I have to try my best to buy more time!! Sipuxiang works really hard... Housou: Brother, that's a dummy! Where's the real person? The ploy didn't last very long... At that time, the real Taikoubou is hugging the ground---- 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