Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 27. Taikoubou's Disciple ------------------------------------------------ [048] 27. Taikoubou's Disciple Capital of Seiki Houyuu Citizens: Did you hear? It is said that Kishou-sama is visiting the streets! Citizens: Let's go take a look later on! Bukichi: Hmm... *sign: Taikoubou's Stand* Citizens: Because Kishou-sama is a treasure of the empire, everyone wants to see him. [049] Sipuxiang: Goshujin... We have no money, and no customers. What shall we do? Taikoubou: *sigh* The citizens of Seiki don't seem to like fortune telling! Taikuobou: I really want to eat the red-bean buns from Seichin! Sipuxiang: As a doushi, you shouldn't think about eating all the time! *Really!* Sipuxiang: Goshujin! Don't you intend to meet Kishou? Goshujin's mission is to defeat Dakki and help Kishou become the new king. Taikuobou: The time is not right yet. There's no need for haste! Bukichi: .............. [050] *sign: Fortune Telling Taikoubou's Stand* Bukichi: Taikoubou... Bukichi: The legend from Chouka and Rintoukan... Bukichi: Is that him?! [051] Taikuobou: We have no money, we can't afford it, you know. Taikuobou: I'll just have to eat the raddish from the roadside!! Sipuxiang: Hey! That was planted by somebody else!! Sipuxiang: Seiki is a realm governed by laws. You'll be punished for stealing! Taikuobou: Oh, one raddish won't hurt anybody! [052] Sipuxiang: Goshujin? Taikuobou: Who the heck are you!? Taikuobou: What are you doing walking back and forth around here?! Bukichi: Heh heh... Bukichi: My name is Bukichi! Bukichi: I'm a woodcutter!! Taikuobou: How can I help you? [053] Bukichi: Please accept me as your disciple!! *What?* Taikuobou: You silly idiot, what nonsense are you talking about...? Bukichi: I'm very serious!! Bukichi: You are my idol!! Taikuobou: Let's go... Sipu... Bukichi: Ah....... [054] Bukichi: Master, where are you going? Sipuxiang: Is this guy human!? Sipuxiang: How did he move so fast!? Taikuobou: Sipu, quick, fly away! Bukichi: Ah! Bukichi: Please wait a while, Master! Taikuobou: Hurry, let's go!! Taikuobou: He's catching up by running!! [055] Sipuxiang: How can a human run as fast as I can fly!? Sipuxiang: This guy.... *My status as a reijyuu* Taikuobou: These sorts of people are known as natural-born doushi, like Buseiou too... They have sennin bones but are unable to be doushi, so they have special abilities too. Sipuxiang: Won't these sorts of people be hated by others in the human world? Taikuobou: That's why they are usually brought to the Senninkai. Sipuxiang: In other words, he is a fish which fell out of the net? Taikuobou: Ah... you could put it like that. Sipuxiang: Then, if we got his help, that would be good for us. Taikuobou: That's true, but I don't want a disciple... Oh! [056] Taikuobou: That is... Kishou: Ki Hatsu and Shuukoutan... Since Hakuyuukou's sacrifice, everything in Seiki will be depending on you. *Shuukoutan Seihakukou Kishou Ki Hatsu* Kishou: You must care properly for the lives of the people... Bukichi: Must catch up... Taikuobou: Oh no, he's going to collide! [057] Bukichi: Ahh.... Bukichi: Kishou-sama!? KiHatsu: Father, are you injured?! Shuukoutan: Is it an assassin sent by Dakki!? Bukichi: I'm so sorry------!! [058] Bukichi: Treasure of the Empire, Kishou-sama, I.... am willing to accept any and all guilt---!! Taikuobou: How can a person be so stupid!? Kishou: Get up! Young man... [059] Kishou: Such bright eyes, only a good man has eyes like these! Kishou: I have forgiven you. You have an aura which attracts people, you must do good in the future! Bukichi: Ki...Kishou-sama.... Shuukoutan: Must not forgive! Kishou: ! Shuukoutan: Any who harms the Four Earls must be sentenced to death! If Father made an exception, how are we going to answer to the poeple in the future? Kishou: Shuukoutan... [060] Bukichi: Kishou-sama... Shuukoutan-sama is right... Bukichi: But, I'm still really grateful that you thought so highly of me! Kishou-sama is really a great man!! -Seiki City- Bukichi: Am I going to die tomorrow? [061] Bukichi: Leaving behind my mother, weak with illness... Bukichi: ! Bukichi: Eh... Master!! Taikuobou: Ah... you were thinking about your mother? Bukichi: Were you worried about me!? Bukichi: Master~~ I'm so grateful~~!! Taikuobou: I told you not to call me Master! Taikuobou: I'm still a doushi, I don't have the privilege of accepting diciples. I'll recommend a good sennin to be your master. [062] Bukichi: Not just any sennin can be my master! I only wish to be Taikoubou's disciple!! Taikuobou: Why must it be me? Bukichi: Because it so happened that when my father went to Chouka... he was thrown into that snake-filled pit and died... Taikuobou: You know about the Taibon? Bukichi: At that time, there were a few people helping out with Buseiou... I heard it from them! [063] Taikuobou: That was a tragedy cause by my own carelessness. You must hate me because of that, don't you? Bukichi: Everybody said it was Master's fault, But if you think about it, the real culprit is Dakki!! Bukichi: Yet you, Master, didn't avoid the evil Dakki, and challenged her bravely on your own!! So, I wished to help you and join with you in defeating Dakki, to get rid of an evil for the people! Bukichi: But... that is no longer possible... [064] Bukichi: I know I'm going to die tomorrow... But, when I think about my poor mother... Bukichi: What will become of Mother in the future? Taikuobou: ........ Taikuobou: Oh well... I will help you out! Soldiers: What was that? Is it the war!? Aahh.... Soldiers: Bukichi has escaped!! [065] Bukichi: *snore* Sipuxiang: But, in this way, he is now an escaped convict! Taikuobou: It's all right, I'll think of something! Taikuobou: Bukichi... This guy really doesn't look like a convict! 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