Jail Bird volume 1

By Takamure Tamotsu
Translated by asphodel

Chapter 1

ーこないだ天使を
一匹拾ったー
—One day, I found an angel—

(A city at night, teeming with people. A young boy wanders among them.)

ー魔物が存在する確率は天使と同じ
—The probability of the existence of demons is the same as that of the existence of angels.

人ゴミに紛れて
存在する確率と同じ
That probability is the same as human refuse slipping into existence.

都会はむしろ彼ら
には過ごしやすい
かもしれない
It’s probably easy to miss them in the city.

もしも魔物を
殺すことができるのは
天使だけだというなら
If it is true that only angels can kill demons

—魔物を狩る 天使がいてもおかしくないー
—then there is nothing strange in angels who hunt demons—

(A rooftop.)

A demon
この娘
まだ一四歳だ
いける...
This girl was only fourteen when I got her...

肉づきが
もう少し欲し
かったがな
Ah, I feel like I want a little more of her flesh.

(The demon, a one-eyed, horned monstrosity with long rows of teeth, munches on a bloody bone.)

最近は
ダイエットだとか
言ってわざわざ
肉を減らす
I’ve said that I’m on a diet lately, so I’ve been eating less meat.

その上よけいな
添加物が多い
からな
やっぱり俺は
子供がいい
More than this would be too much for me,
so kids are perfect for me.

お前は
どうだ?
紫音
What do you think,
Shion?

どんな人間が
美味いと思う?
What kind of humans do you prefer?

(The demons turn to a cloaked human-like figure.)

Shion
俺はあいにく
菜食主義でね
喰うことには興味ないね</br>It’s too bad I’m a vegetarian.
I have no interest in eating.

—興味があるのは
—What I do have interest in is

(He slowly lifts his right hand.)

—殺しだ...!!
—killing...!!

(Blood bursts out of the demon. Shion smiles, lifting his human-like face.)

A Demon
仲間に
むかって
何を...!?
What are you doing against your own kind...?!

Shion
仲間?
My own kind?

仲間だったことなんてあったかね
—この
姿のおかげでね
So he was my kind, huh?
—thanks to this form?

(He flings away the cloak, revealing a human-like body with long black hair, pointed ears, and a pair of white wings. Light glows from his hands, and silver threads flash out from them to bind the demons.)

Demons

What?!

Shion
封魔陣をひかせてもらったよ
I seal this nest of demons for the redemption of a debt.

お前らごときに必要ないかもしれないけどね
The likes of you are unnecessary, you see.

真紀
Mahumi.

(A boy comes forward, smiling confidently.)

Mahumi
さすが
紫音
As one would expect of Shion.

A Demon
天使!?
An angel?!

A Demon
でも人間のものでもー...
But he has a human’s—...

A Demon
いや
ちがうぞ
このオーラは...
No.
That’s not right. That aura is...

Mahumi
俺が何者か
なんてどうでも
いいよお前らが
知る必要は
ない
What I am is of no concern to you.

(He draws a sword smoothly from his hand. Its blade is clear like crystal.)

Shion
冷酷な瞳が
幼い容貌を
裏切る
—城峰真紀
Those ruthless eyes belie the childish figure.
—Kinomine Mahumi.

Mahumi
俺が俺に戻るには
お前たち
999匹の血と
魂が必要なのさ
For me to return to myself I need 999 of your blood and souls.

Shion
だが
それ以外の顔も
俺は知ってる
But I also know his other face.

A Demon
た...助けてくれ!
Sa...save us!

A Demon
紫音!
この封魔陣を
解いてくれ!
Shion!
Release this seal!

Demons
紫音!!
SHION!!

Shion
...汚い血だ
早く殺せ...!
...their blood is filthy.
Kill them now...!

A Demon
紫音!
Shion!

A Demon
お前...!
You...!

Demons
裏切者...!!
Traitor...!!

(Mahumi’s blade flames.)

Shion
—裏切者—か
—traitor...hmm?

それもまた
俺には相応しいな...
That’s what I am now...

(flashback: Shion is walking down an empty, dark corridor.)

Shion
—真紀と
初めて会ったのは
ほんの数日前だ
—The first time I met Mahumi was only a few days ago.

(He hears a footstep, and glances back.)

誰か...
つけて
きている...?
Someone...
is following me...?

(He sees Mahumi coming towards him.)

Mahumi
—お前
人間じゃないだろ
—you
are not human, are you?

Shion
子供?
A child?

Shion
...だったら?
...so?

Shion
オーラが違う
No, his aura is different.

Mahumi
じゃあ
魔物だな
Then you’re a demon, aren’t you?

(He draws the sword from his hand.)

Shion
仲間
じゃないな
He is not of my kind, is he?

Mahumi
獲物見っけ!
The chance for a trophy!

(He drives forward, slashing downward. Shion dodges just barely. He looks into Mahumi’s eyes.)

Shion
—冷たい瞳
—such cold eyes.

強い...!
So strong...!

人間じゃない
こいつ何者だ!?
He isn’t human—then what is he?!

獲物—
俺をつかまえて
獲物だって!?
A trophy—I’m to be caught as a trophy?!

(The sword pierces Shion’s shoulder. He tumbles to the ground, wings flaring from his back.)

Shion
—その一瞬
—In that moment

死ぬんだと
思った...
I thought that I would die.

(Mahumi stops himself from delivering the final blow.)

Mahumi
て...
An...

Shion
俺にわかったのは
こいつが俺を
殺そうとしていることと
All I understood was that he seemed to want to kill me.

不意をつかれたの
もあるが
こいつの方が
強いってこと...!
Suddenly I was very tired.
He was so strong...!

Mahumi
天使か...? お前
Are you...an angel...?

Shion
フ...
フ...フ
アハハハ...!
Heh...
Heh...heh
Ahahah...!

天使...?
天使だって...!?
バカかお前
Angel...?
An angel..?!
Are you an idiot?

よく見ろよ!?
この姿
俺は魔物だよっ
Look at me carefully!
This form—
I am a demon!

背中の翼を見て
言ってるのか?
You say that because of the wings on my back?

これは単なる擬態
天使の翼なんかじゃないっ
偽者だ
偽のー
Those are mere mimesis!
They are not the wings of an angel
They are a sham,
Fake—

—醜い姿だ...
仲間からも疎まれた...
—this is the ugly form
that alienates me from my own kind...

Mahumi
—それでも
そんな翼
を持つ者は殺せ
ないー...
—Even so
I can’t kill someone with those wings—...

Shion
—皮肉にも
この姿に助け
られたわけだ
俺は...
—how ironic
that I would be saved by this body.
I...

(An apartment complex. Mahumi rings the doorbell. Shion glances back and smiles a little. He opens the door.)

Shion
入れよ
Come in.

(Mahumi looks around at the perfectly ordinary room.)

Mahumi
へ...え
Humm...

(Shion pours hot water into a mug.)

Mahumi
魔物の住いって初めて見るけど
案外普通だな
もっとあやし気なとこかと思てった
This is the first time I’ve seen the dwelling of a demon, but it’s unexpectedly ordinary.
I was thinking it would feel more suspicious.

Shion
別に...
こんな生活しなくても
生きていけるんだが
せっかく人間界にいるんだしな
Not really...
Even without this sort of life I could keep living, though
I went through a lot of trouble to be in the human world—

(They sit down at a table, and Shion hands Mahumi his cup.)

Mahumi
ミルクもいれて
Put milk in it too.

Shion
—人間ごっこ
—pretending to be human.

—変な奴
お子ちゃまめ...
—a strange guy
He really is a kid...

そんなことかな
けっこう楽しんでるよ
Ah, but...
It can be really wonderful.

Mahumi
ふぅん
Hmmm...

Shion
城峰真紀と名乗ったそいつは
どういうわけか俺が気に入ったらしい
The one who called himself Kinomine Mahumi—
Somehow it seemed that I had begun to care about him

Mahumi
俺さ
You see, I

(He grins.)

本当にもと天使だったんだ
was actually an angel originally.

Shion
—嘘つけ
—You’re lying.

Mahumi
本当だよっ
昔のことは忘れちゃったけど
そのことだけは覚えてるんだ!
It’s true!
I’ve forgotten about my past, but that one thing I do remember!

(flashback: A public park at night.)

Mahumi
—あの日
—that day

気がつくと俺は
街中に倒れてた
I realized that I had fallen into the middle of the town

ここは?
俺の翼は?
人間になってる!?
天使だったはずなのにっ
Where is this?
Where are my wings?
I’ve become human?!
But I was an angel!

—頭の中で声がした
—There’s a voice in my head.

Voice
999匹の化物を倒せと
Defeat 999 monsters.

Mahumi
自分の力はすぐ気がついた
I soon realized my own power.

かすかに覚えてる
天使たちの群天上の歌人たちの楽園
Dimly I remembered the shining host of angels, the poets in the gardens of heaven.

それだけが俺に残された記憶
それだけがわかること
That was all that remained of my memories. That alone I know.

—俺の姿
俺の翼—
—My body,
my wings—

Mahumi
もとの姿に戻るため
本当の姿をとり戻すため...!
To return to my body, in order to return to my true form...!

俺はそれまで魔物を殺し続ける!
Until that happens, I will continue to kill demons!

Shion
...!

Shion
—これは!!
—That’s!!

Shion
...その話が本当なら
一匹殺しそこねたわけだ
...if that’s true,
then you’ve injured to kill at least one of them.

Shion
—とんだ天敵だな
—We’re the most terrible of natural enemies, aren’t we.

Mahumi
お前 俺のこと
手伝う気ない?
Why don’t you help me?

俺の魔物狩り手伝えよ
そしたら俺が天使に戻った時
人間界にいられるようにー...
Help me hunt demons!
If you do, when I return to being an angel, and you can be in the human world—...

Shion
...

断る
I refuse.

お前自分が何を言ってるのかわかってるのか...
Do you even understand what you’re saying...?

(Mahumi stares blankly, and Shion closes his eyes in exasperation.)

こいつバカ...?
Is he an idiot...?

わかってない
He doesn’t understand.

逆の立場で
考えてみろよ
Try thinking about it from my position.

お前がたとえば天界で魔物と一緒に天使を殺したとしてみろっ
For instance, what if you were together with a demon in Heaven and killed an angel?

Mahumi
なんで俺が
Why would I!

Shion
たとえばだよ!
It’s an example!

許されること
だと思うか?
Did you think it was something that could be forgiven?

—つまはじき者だ
...仲間から
—I may be the black sheep,
...but they’re my own kind.

俺に
...そんなことをしろと言うのか?
Would you
...tell me to do such a thing?

まったくこれだから子供なんて奴はー...
自分勝手で考えなして
つき合ってなんかー...
Sheesh, this is why he’s still a kid—...
Thinking of making me his companion,
keep company with me, somehow—...

Mahumi
...俺...
そんなこと考えてなかった...
...I...
didn’t think about things like that at all...

お前が...
一緒に手伝ってくれたらいいな...って
そう思っただけで
I only thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if you could help me, do this together...”

お前の立場とか
都合なんてちっとも考えてなくて
I didn’t think at all about
your position and circumstances

人間界にいられたらお前が喜ぶと思ったから
だからー
Because I thought that you would be happy to the in the human world, and so—


俺—...
....
俺—...
I
I—...
...
I—...

(Mahumi looks like he is about to cry.)

Shion
—お前は充分強いよ
—You are perfectly strong enough.

—なんで
Why—

一人でも大丈夫だ
仲間なんて要らないだろ...?
You’re fine by yourself; you don’t really need a companion, right...?

そんな顔をする...?
is he making that face...?

俺を殺そうとした時のあのお前はどこにいったんだよ
Where is that you from the time when it seemed you were going to kill me?

俺のこと虫ケラみたいに殺そうとしたくせに
Who was about to kill me as if I were no more than a worm beneath your feet?

まるっきり平気で殺そうとしたくせにー...
Who seemed perfectly unconcerned about killing?

Mahumi

お前 は他の魔物とは違うと思ったんだ
Yo-you—
I thought that you were different from the other demons.

(Mahumi wipes at his tears roughly.)

紫音はなんだか人間みたいな姿だし
他の魔物みたいに悪い奴じゃないんじゃないかと思って
Somehow your form is almost human—
I thought that maybe you’re not evil like the other demons.

Shion
俺は唐突に理解した
I abruptly understood.

あの時に—
こいつが俺を殺そうとした時
冷酷な奴だと思ったがそうじゃない
That time—
When it seemed that he would kill me, it was not ruthlessness that I had seen in him.

彼は信じているだけだ
自分が“正儀”なのだと
ただ純粋にー
信じているだけなのだ
He only believed that
he was “just”.
Simply, purely—
He believed

自分のことを...
in himself...

あの時殺されていたなら知らなかった真紀の本当顔それがこんな頼りなげなものだったなんて
こんな奴だったなんてー
If I had been killed then, I would never have known Mahumi’s true face.
Such a unforeseen thing
That he could turn out to be someone like this—

Shion
—...
いいよ
Fine.

お前のこと手伝う
I will help you.

どうせ魔物にだって好きな奴なか
一人もいないんだ
It’s not like anyone likes demons anyway.

それは嘘だった
That was a lie

人間界にもしばらくいたいからな
I want to remain in the human world a little longer.

仲間に好きな奴なんていない
というのは本当だったが
俺は別に魔界に帰っても良いと思っていた
It was true that no one liked my kind.
And I didn’t really think that it would be good to return to the demon world.

リスクをおってでも人間界に留まる理由はなかった
Even so, I was taking a risk; there was no reason for me to remain in the human world.

ただ
Just that

—こいつが笑うと思ったんだ
—I thought he would smile.

(Mahumi smiles happily.)

そう言ったらきっと
真紀が笑顔を見せると
思ったから...
だから—...
Because I thought: If I agreed, then Mahumi would surely show me his smiling face...
And so—...

—その顔が見られるなら
仲間を裏切ってもいいこも
しれないと
—If I could see that face
Then perhaps I could even betray my own kind.

(Back to the present: the rooftop explodes with light.)

Shion
...思えたから...
...because I thought...

真紀
お前が俺に仲間にならないかって訊いた時なんで俺に了解を得た?
Mahumi.
When you asked me if I would turn against my kind,
why did you ask my consent?

俺の命はお前が握ってた
You held my life in your hands.

了解なんて必要なかっただろ...?
You didn’t really need to ask...?

“仲間にならなければ殺す”って命令すれば良かったんだ
“If you don’t, I will kill you”—
You could have commanded me instead.

Mahumi
はは...
そうか
だけどそんなこと思いつかなかったよ
それにそんなひどいことする気ないよ
こうして仲間になってくれたじゃないか
Hahah...
That’s true, isn’t it.
But I didn’t think of anything like that.
Besides, I don’t want to do a cruel thing like that.
So you became my companion anyway, right?

Shion
疑うことを知らない
純粋な魂
He knows no doubt:
A pure soul.

真紀は俺の持ってない物をみんな持っている
翼以外は正真正銘の天使
本物の...
Mahumi has everything that I lack
except the wings.
He is a genuine angel,
the real thing...

俺はどうしてあいつの側にいるんだろう—
Why am I by his side...?

(Shion sits in front of a lake in a forest.)

A Voice
裏切者
Traitor!

(There is a great splash, and a giant squid-shaped demon rises from the lake.)

Demon
裏切者
Traitor.

おまえは裏切者だ...!
You are a traitor...!

魔族のくせに
あんな天使もどきに
味方して
同族を殺すとは...!
Even though you are part of the demon tribe, you help that angel,
killing your own family...!

天使もどきはお前もかハンパ者同士
慰めあっているってわけか
You are the one who is aiding the angel.
Do you have any rebuttal to that?

(Shion remains silent.)

Demon
—退せろ...!
—Renounce him now...!

あんな奴が恐いのか...?
あんな子供一匹—
Are you afraid of a someone like that...?
One small child—

Shion
だまれ!
だまれ
だまれ!!
Shut up!
Shut up!
Shut up!!

同族だと...!
お前らが俺に何をした
The same family...!
How have you treated me?

Shion
お前たちはみんなして
俺を嘲っただけだ
この姿をこの俺の姿をー...
All of you,everyone only ridiculed me.
This form
This form which is mine—...

(Shion and the demon face each other beneath a full moon.)

Demon
醜いからな
Because it is ugly.

白い翼に陶器のような顔
ぞっとするね天使そっくりじゃないか
White wings, and a face like marble—
It makes one shiver, how like you are to an angel

我らが忌み嫌う天使の複製品
A replica of the detested angels.

...憐れだな
...we pitied you

—お前なぜそんな姿に生まれた...?
魔族なのに...
—why were you born in that form...?
though you are of the demon family...

Shion
—俺が
知るかよ...!
—How would I
know that...!

俺にわかるのはこのせいでお前らに仲間扱いしてもらったことなんてないってことだけさ
The only thing I know is that because of this I was ostracized from your society.

そうだな俺は偽者
That’s true, isn’t it. I’m an imposter.

情もわくかよ!
You’re trying my patience!

Demon
ほう...
Oh?

Shion
中身は悪魔で姿は天使...
無様だ...!!
The interior is demonic, while the exterior is angelic...
How unshapely...!!

だから
憧れたんだ...
本物にー!!
That’s why
I admired him...
the real thing—!!

Demon
では
あいつは知ってるのか
お前のもうひとつの姿を
Then
Does he know
your other form?

あいつはお前のその天使のような姿がお気に入りなんだろう?
He was taken in by your angelic appearance, wasn’t he?

Shion
もうひとつの...悪魔の...
The other...the demon’s...

Demon
アレを見たらどう思うかな
If he saw that, what would he think?

Shion
あの...姿...!
That...form...!

悪魔の...
いやだ
The demon’s...
No.

Demon
どうだ
強いといってもたかが子供一人
Well?
However strong you say he is, he is only a child alone.

幸いあいつはお前には気を許している!
Will he happily forgive you for that!

Shion
見られたくない!!
I won’t show him that!!

見たらきっとあいつは俺を嫌いになる...!
If he saw it, he would surely hate me...!

Demon
どうだ俺たちに協力して騙し討ちというのは
そうすればまた仲間に加えてやるぞ
How about it? If you collaborate with us and attack him secretly—
If you do that, we will once again accept you into our midst.

Shion
!
—ふざけるな
—Don’t toy with me!

俺の力を知ってるだろう
お前らみたいな雑魚に協力する気ないね
さっさと去れ!
You know my power, don’t you?
I have no intention of collaborating with small fry like you.
Leave quickly!

(Power crackles in Shion’s hands.)

Demon
ほう
それでは
殺しかないようだな!
Oh?
Then
shall we see which of us will be killed!

Shion
...フン!
...Hah!

Demon
バカな奴だな!
お前 本当に自分があいつの仲間だと思ってるのか!?
You idiot!
Do you really think that you’re his companion?!

(Shion loses control of his power for a moment, and the demon wraps him in a thick tentacle.)

Shion
しまった!
Shit!

Demon
—考えてもみろ
あいつは魔物を殺し続けてるんだぞ
お前忘れてないか?
自分も魔物だということを
—Think about it and you will see.
He is killing demons, is he not?
Have you forgotten?
That you are also a demon?

いつかあいつがその姿に惑わされずお前が魔族だと気づいた時に
殺されるのはお前自身かもしれんのだぞ
When he sees through that form’s disguise to recognize that you are part of the demon family,
the one who will be killed will be you.

狼を家の中で飼うような真似をするとは...
愚かな男だ
The man who raises a wolf within his own family is...
a fool.

Shion
真紀が俺を殺す...?
Mahumi, kill me...?

真紀 が—...
Mahumi...

Demon
ここでワシに殺されたほうが倖せ だろう
You should be happy to be killed here by me.

Shion
それはまるで予言のようだ
俺はいつかあいつに殺される...
That sounded entirely like prophesy.
I will someday be killed by him...

(Shion sees himself pierced through by Mahumi’s sword. Mahumi smiles coldly in triumph.)

Shion
そんな残酷な瞬間をむかえるくらいなら
今ここで殺された方が
いいというのか...?
If I must someday face such a cruel moment,
would it be better
to be killed here...?

今ここでー...
Right now—...

(flashback: Shion opening a door on a bright day to see Mahumi sitting at the window with a bird in a birdcage.)

Shion
どうしたそれ
What’s wrong?

Mahumi
ケガをした鳥を捕えたんだけど変なんだ
I captured a bird that was injured, but it’s strange.

ほら
Here.

(Shion approaches, and Mahumi shows him the bird.)

Mahumi
戸口を開けても逃げないんだ
I’ve opened the door, but it won’t fly away.

もう傷は治ったのにね
I’ve already healed its wounds

Shion
俺にはわかった
I understood.

(The bird peeps and flutters out of the cage onto Mahumi’s head. Mahumi laughs. Shion smiles, looking at Mahumi.)

Shion
鳥が逃げないのは真紀になついたから
真紀のことが好きになったからだ
The bird does not fly away because it has become attached to Mahumi,
because it has fallen in love with him.

—俺にはわかった...
—I understood...

人を捕らえるのはなんだろう
柵か? 檻か?
How does he capture a person?
With a fence? With a jail cell?

いいやちがう
もっと形のない物だ
No, not those.
With something more intangible

—真紀に殺されたっていい
殺されてもいいんだ
嫌わないでくれるなら...
—It would be fine to be killed by Mahumi.
I wouldn’t mind being killed, if he doesn’t come to hate me...

—殺されたって—真紀になら—...
—to be killed—if it’s by Mahumi—...

Demon
安心しろ!
紫音!
すぐ後からあいつも葬ってやるぞ!
Don’t worry!
Shion!
We will entomb him soon after!

(The demons strikes toward Shion.)

Shion
—かまわないー...!
I don’t care!

(Shion turns and blasts his full power at the demon’s head. The demon disintegrates into tentacle pieces and splatters of blood. Shion lands on the ground, wings extended.)

Demon
な...ぜ...
Wh...y...

(In Shion’s memories, Mahumi smiles.)

Mahumi
天使は殺せない
魔物を999匹殺して
—天使に還るんだ
I will not kill an angel.
I must kill 999 demons
—then I will return to being an angel

Shion
—あいつ以外に誰が
—Who, besides him...

—真紀は
殺させない
—I will not be made to kill Mahumi.

—誰がこの俺を必要としてくれるっていうんだ...!
—No one else has ever said they needed me...!

Mahumi
俺がみつけた天使だ...
I am a faulty angel...

俺が
天界へ還してやる...!
I will
return to heaven...!

(Shion opens the door to his apartment and walks in.)

Shion
真紀
Mahumi

(He sees Mahumi sleeping on the couch.)

眠っているのか
Is he asleep?

...疲れてるんだな
ぐっすりだ
...he must be tired.
He’s fast asleep.

—俺だけに見せる
無防備な寝顔...
今なら簡単に—
—this defenseless sleeping face
shown to me alone.
It would be simple now—

こいつを殺せるのに...!
to kill him...!

(Shion bends down and kisses Mahumi.)

真紀
真紀...!
Mahumi
Mahumi...!

Mahumi
...う
...Un.

(Shion lifts Mahumi up in his arms.)

Mahumi
ん...
Mmm...

Shion
—そうだ
本当はもう
わかってる
—Of course.
I truly understand now.

Mahumi
し...
おん...?
Shi...on?

Shion
...寝ぼけるなよ
こんなことで寝て
...Don’t be only half awake.
Sleeping in a place like that...

俺はこいつが欲しいんだ
I want him.

ベットまで運んでやるよ
I’ll carry you to the bed.

Mahumi
ん...
Mmm.


変な夢を見たなあ
I saw a strange dream just now.

Shion
仲間も帰る所も
Companionship and a place to return to...

Mahumi
紫音がさ
俺に—
You know, you
...to me.

Shion
俺自身さえも
I don’t care if

俺がお前に?
I did what to you?

Mahumi
..はは
いや
なんでもない
ただの夢だよ
..Hahah.
Nothing.
Nevermind.
It was just a dream.

Shion
捨ててしまってかまわないほどー...
—I end up casting myself away—

Mahumi
紫音が俺にあんなことするはずないもんな
You wouldn’t do something like that to me

Shion
—いつかこいつに殺される日が来るかもしれない
来ないかもしれない
—Whether or not the day he kills me will come.

(Another day: Shion watches as Mahumi fights another demon.)

Shion
こいつらと同じように
ゴミのように
Even if like them,
like garbage...

(Mahumi turns and gives Shion a cheerful thumbs-up.)

Shion
だが
かまわない
俺は捕われの鳥
Even so, it doesn’t matter.
I am a jail bird.

翼のない天使の代わりに
この羽を与えてやろう...
In compensation to the angel without wings
I will give my own.

Chapter 2

—一九XX年 東京—
—year 19xx Tokyo—

(Nighttime. The city blazes with lights. In an empty park, a demon glances behind, panting.)

Demon
く...
くそ...っ!
Damn...
Dammit...!

このままで済むと思うなよ
城峰真紀
俺たちはお前をー...
So I’m going to be finished off here, huh.
Kinomine Mahumi,
We will—

を?
Ah?

(The sword slices him cleanly in half. His body crashes to the ground and dissipates.)

Mahumi
ふう
今度の奴は手間取ったな
Fuu.
That guy took a while, didn’t he?

—俺は城峰真紀
—I am Kinomine Mahumi.

本当は元天使なんだけど記憶喪失の上に999匹の魔物を殺さないと天使に戻れないらしい
目下のところせっせと魔物退治に励み天界に戻るべくがんばってる
Originally I was actually an angel, but I’ve lost my memories—except that it seems I must kill 999 demons to become an angel again.
So now I am working diligently to exterminate demons so that I can return to Heaven.

Shion
—終わったか
—Is it over?

(Mahumi turns. Shion is sitting in the tree behind him, wings extended.)

Mahumi
紫音
Shion.

(Shion chuckles.)

Shion
今回は苦戦だったな
天使様
It was a hard fight this time, huh,
Angel-sama.

Mahumi
見てたんならなんで助けてくれないんだよっ
紫音のケチッ!
If you were watching all this time, then why didn’t you come and help me?
You meanie!

(根性久: quick-tempered.)

Shion
ちゃんと大丈夫だったろ?
You were perfectly fine, weren’t you?

—それに
信じてたから
—and besides,
I believed in you.

ちゃんと最後にはお前が勝つって
信じてたからな
I knew that you would emerge victorious—
So I believed in you.

Mahumi
...!
へ...
へへーん
そんなの当たり前だろっ
Heheh
Well, of course!

(He sticks his tongue out at Shion.)

Mahumi
俺を誰だと思ってるんだ?
真紀様だぜ?
Who do you think am I?
I’m Mahumi-sama!

今までずっと一人で戦ってきたんだ
魔物の100匹や二00匹軽い軽い!
Up ’til now I’ve always fought alone!
100 or 200 demons are small fry!

Shion
はいはいはい
Yes yes yes...

(Shion notices Mahumi limping.)

Mahumi
真紀
どうしたんだその足は
Mahumi,
what’s wrong with your leg?

Mahumi
えっ?
あっ
これ?
Huh?
Oh,
this?

さっきすりむいたみたい
たいしたことないよ
こんなのなめてりゃ平気って!
I guess I skinned it earlier.
It’s not important.
I’ll lick it and it’ll be fine!

(Back in the apartment, Shion gets out his first-aid kit.)

Mahumi
—て
言ってんのに
大げさなんだよ紫音は
—Uh...
Say, Shion,
that rather over-doing it, isn’t it?

Shion
念のためだ
Just making sure.

Mahumi
いててっ!
Ow ow!

Shion
貸してみろ
Give it here.

(Mahumi extends his left foot from his seat on the couch. Shion, kneeling in front of him, holds it steady and carefully applies antiseptic. Mahumi stares at him.)

Mahumi
—本当は
紫音は人間でも天使でもなくって魔物なんだ
俺の敵—殺さなくっちゃならない奴等の一人...
—In reality
Shion is not a human being or an angel; he is a demon.
He is my enemy—one of those I must kill...

だけど背中に天使のような純白の翼を隠してる
どうしてなんだろう
—こんなに優しいのに...
どうして紫音が魔物なんだろう
But he conceals pure white angelic wings on his back.
Why is that?
—He is so gentle...
Why is it that he’s a demon?

今までだったらケガなんかしたって放ったらかしで
それで平気だった
一人でいたってさみしくなんかなかった
それで当たり前だと思ってた
—なのに
あの時こいつの白い翼がなつかしくって
仲間みたいに思えてー
Until now I’ve simply ignored any injuries,
and that was fine.
I wasn’t really lonely by myself.
I thought it was the norm.
—But...
when I saw his white wings
I thought he seemed like one of my kind.

だからー...
and so—...

Shion
はい終わり
Okay, done.

(Shion closes the lid of the first-aid kit, looks up and smiles at Mahumi.)

どうした真紀
What’s wrong, Mahumi?

(Mahumi slips off the couch and grabs Shion’s arm.)

Mahumi
...なんかさ
こういうのっていいなって思って
一人じゃないっていいよね

下界に来てから昔のことも仲間のことも忘れちゃって
ずっと一人だったから
紫音がいてくれて良かった
ずっと
このまま
離れないでいてくれるかな
...somehow...
I was thinking that “this is wonderful”.
It’s wonderful to not be alone.
I...
Since I descended I’ve forgotten all my old companions,
and I’ve always been alone.
I’m glad that you’re here.
Can we
always
be together like this?

Shion
真紀
Mahumi

...
..ああ
...Yeah

もしもそれが叶うならどんなにかー...
If that wish could become true, how I would—...

—俺だって...
—Because I...

(Morning. The doorbell rings. Mahumi, in pajamas, sits up in bed groggily. Shion is still asleep. He opens the door, yawning.)

Man
ぼうや一人?
お父さんやお母さんは?
You’re alone, kid?
Where are your mom and dad?

Mahumi
...いません
...not here.

Man
えーっ困ったなー
新聞とってくれない?
一ヶ月だけでいいから
ほらマンガも載ってるよっ
サービスしてオマケもいっぱいつけるから! ホラホラホラ!!
Hmm, that’s too bad, huh—
Do you want the paper?
Just a one month subscription is fine.
See, it’s got the comics.
As a service to you I’ll give you a great discount! Here here here!!

(He starts piling various things into Mahumi’s arms.)

Shion
—で
—so

(Mahumi dumps the lot onto the table.)

...もらっちゃったわけだ
色々と
...you took everything, didn’t you.

Mahumi
—ゴメン
—Sorry.

まだハンコ押してないから
もらうもんだけもらったら今度追い返してやろーっと
I haven’t signed the form, so
the next time he comes I’ll send him away.

(Shion picks up two pieces of paper from the pile.)

Shion
遊園地のチケットまであるじゃないか
There are even tickets for the amusement park, huh?

Mahumi
遊園地?
Amusement park?

(His eyes grow big and round.)

うにゃ?
Merrrgh?

Shion
行ったことない?
You’ve never been to one?

...行ってみろ?
...then shall we go?

Mahumi
うん...!
Yeah...!!

(An amusement park, complete with ferris wheel and roller coasters.)

Mahumi
...次
あれ乗ろう!
...Next,
let’s go take that ride!

Shion
...いや
俺はちょっと...
...Nah,
I’m a little...

(He holds a hand to his face, nauseous.)

Mahumi
紫音!
あれ!
Shion!
Over there!

わーハトだっ
Wow, a dove!

キャッ キャッ
Whee whee!

(He runs after it, laughing, scattering popcorn.)

Shion
真紀...
お前は昨日ああ言ったけど一人だったのはお前だけじゃない
仲間と馴染めず
ずっと一人ぼっちでいたのは俺 の方だ
お前がいてくれるなら
そんな時があったことさえ忘れられそうでー...
Mahumi...
I said “yes” to you yesterday, but the one who is alone is not you.
I am not used to your companionship.
The one who was always alone was me.
And while you’ve been here,
I’ve forgotten that such a time ever existed—...

お前は俺の翼を天使のようだと言ってくれたけど
お前の方がずっと...翼なんかなくたって
—お前が本物の天使なんだよ...
You told me that my wings are like those of an angel, but
even though you...do not any wings
—you are the real angel...

(Mahumi and Shion walk by a “Chamber of Horrors”.)

Mahumi
ここ!

ここに入ろうよ
Here!
Next,
let’s go in here!

Shion
いや
俺は外で待ってるよ
No thanks.
I’ll wait outside.

Mahumi
ちえー
Humph.

案外つき合い悪いんだよな
紫音って
Shion’s unexpectedly bad at socializing, isn’t he..

A Voice
「来タゾ」
“He has come.

Shion
見られたもんを今さら!
Someone like me looking at things like that!

(He sighs in exasperation.)

A Voice
来たぞ来たぞ
あいつか
He came, he came,
Him.

A Voice
我れな仲間を次々と殺していってるという奴は...
ジャマ...
敵...
The one who has been killing our kind one by one...
Meddler...
Our enemy...

A Voice
目ざわりだぞ...あいつ
He is an eyesore!

A Voice
...しまえ...
殺...てしまえ...!
...him...
Kill...him...!

(Mahumi, sensing something, spins around.)

A voice
殺してしまえー...
Kill him—...

Mahumi
今視線を感じたと思ったんだけど...
Just now I thought I felt someone staring at me...

気のせい?
My imagination?

(A boy with glasses steps out from behind a wall and looks after Mahumi.)

Boy with Glasses
フーン
彼が真紀ね
Hmmm...
He’s Mahumi, isn’t he?

確かに普通の人間とは違うみたいだけど
それだけじゃあわからないですね
In any case, it would seems that he is different from ordinary humans.
But I can see that it’s not just that.

Man
—少し様子を見てみるか
—Let’s take a look.

Woman
だってえ
But...

Man
—だからさぁ
—Look, see?

こういうのみんな作り物なんだよね
Everything is artificial, see?

コワくないコワくない
Don’t be scared, don’t be scared.

(They turn to see a scythe behind them.)

Man
あれ?
でもこれはよくできて—
Hmm?
But that one’s really well done—

(The scythe has blood dripping from it, and a skeletal hand is holding a bloody decapitated head.)

Man
うわぁ
Waaaaa!

Woman
キャアアアア!
KYAAAAA!

Man
本物!?
It’s real?!

(The head falls to the ground and rolls over.)

Woman
いやああ!
Nooo!

(Mahumi, hearing the screams, comes running over, his sword sliding out of the palm of his hand.)

Mahumi
こいつら
みんな本物だっ
どうして魔物がこんなにこんな所に
They—
All of them are real.
Why are there demons here?

(He slashes through the crowd of demons.)

Demon’s Decapitated Head
...これで終わりと思うなよ...
お...お前を
ずっと狙ってやる...
...don’t think that it ends here. You...you will
always be targeted!

Mahumi
今までむこうから襲って来ることなんかなかったのに
どうして...?
Until now they haven’t really attacked me.
Why...?

Boy with Glasses
それはあなたが邪魔だからですよ
That is because you’re a hindrance to them.

彼ら少しは本気であなたを倒そうという気になったんでしょう
奴らにとって地上に降りた天使ほど邪魔な者はないですからね
It looks like they’ve decided to go against you seriously.
Because there are no other angels who have descended to earth to trouble them.

Mahumi
誰だっ!?
Who’s there?!

(The boy steps out into the open, smiling.)

男の子...俺と同じ年くらいの
—敵?
A boy...someone who’s about my age.
—an enemy?

いやちがう
魔物の類じゃない
この感じはまるでー...
No.
He is not one of the demons.
This feeling, it’s as though—...

お前何者だ!
You, who are you!

まるで
It’s as though—

Boy with Glasses
...まさか
僕のことまで忘れちゃったんですか...!?
...Could it be
that you’ve forgotten even me...?!

...本当に?
...truly?

記憶が封印されたとは聞いていたけど
...そんな
I had heard that your memories had been sealed, but
...even so...

(He grabs Mahumi by the shoulders.)

Mahumi
あ...
Oh...

Boy with Glasses
ああ
でもお互いこの姿じゃ無理もない
昔とまるっきり違うんだもの
可哀想に...!
Oh,
But this form is just too much!
It’s completely different from your former shape.
You poor thing...!

Mahumi
変だ...

こいつ見てるとなんだか
なんだかー...
懐かしい...!?
It’s so strange...
I...
Seeing him, I feel as though
as though—...
I’ve missed him...?!

そんなバカな!?
俺の仲間は紫音だけなのに紫音だけのはずなのに
That’s stupid, isn’t it?!
My companion is Shion alone, and should be only Shion.

お...
お前誰だよ...!
You...who are you?!

お前なんか知らない
I don’t know you!

(He slaps the boy’s hands away.)

紫音...!
Shion...!

紫音
紫音
Shion!
Shion!

怖い...
こいつ...!
I’m afraid...
He...!

どこにいるんだ来てくるっ
Where are you! Please come!

Boy with Glasses
—あいつは
あなたに相応しくない...!
—he
is not fit company for you...!

自分の立場もわきまえず
魔物のくせして天使と一緒にいるなんて
思い上がった奴だ...!
You don’t even know your own position!
A demon who thinks he can be with an angel—
he thinks pretty highly of himself, doesn’t he...!

Mahumi
—お前
なんでそんなこと知ってるんだよ...!
—you—
How do you know something like that...!

Boy with Glasses
知りたければつかまえてごらんなさい
教えてあげますよ
色々と
If you want to know, then catch me.
I’ll tell you
everything.

(He laughs and runs away.)

僕は
あなたの過去を知る者ですから
Because
I am someone who knows your past.

Mahumi
待っ...!
Wa...!

俺の過去—
この姿になる前の...!
My past—
Before I took this shape...!

—そうか俺
—I see, I—

あいつが怖いんじゃない
あいつを見てて昔を思い出しそうになるのが怖いんだ...!
It’s not him that I’m afraid of.
I am afraid of the memories of the past evoked by seeing him...!

—俺の過去...!
何があったんだ?
どうして俺は翼をもがれて人間の姿で魔物たちを殺さなければならない?
怖い...!
でも知りたい!!
知りたい...!
—My past...!
What happened?
Why were my wings taken away, why was I given a human shape, and why must
I kill the demons?
I’m afraid...!
But I want to know.
I want to know...!

(Outside, Shion sees Mahumi running past him.)

Shion
...真紀?
...Mahumi?

—水族館—
The aquarium

Mahumi
...どう行ったんだ
あいつ
...where did he go?

—そうだな
バカだよ俺って
別にあいつが紫音と同じ魔物だとしても俺と紫音のことは知ってるんだよな
俺の過去を知ってるなんてまるっきり口からでまかせの嘘かもしれないのに
あんな言葉本気にしてー...
—Of course.
I’m such a fool.
He may not be a demon like Shion, but he knows about Shion and me, doesn’t he.
He’s probably just making up things about my past.
Though he says them so seriously—...

Boy with Glasses
ようやく追いついた
You’ve finally caught up.

昔は僕の方があなたの後をついてまわったものなのに
変な感じだな
Before, I was always the one following your lead.
It’s a strange feeling, isn’t it?

Mahumi
...お前
—何者だ
...You—
—who are you?

Boy with Glasses
—それは...
—Well...

Shion
真紀?
Mahumi?

Mahumi
紫音!
Shion!

(The boy, looking at Mahumi’s face light up as he calls Shion’s name, smiles slightly, then grabs Mahumi by the collar and kisses him.)

え...
Wh...

ええっ!?
What!?

お...お前
—何を!
Y-you
—what are you—!

Boy with Glasses
—これだけ
やっても思い出さない...?
—even after that
you still cannot remember...?

悲しいな
記憶を失くしても僕のことだけは絶対忘れないと信じてたのに
That makes me so sad.
Though you lost your memories, I believed that you would surely remember me.

...ずっとあなたを探してたんだ
助けてあげるために...!
...I’ve been looking for you for so long
so that I can help you...!

僕たちは
本当の
仲間です...!
We are truly of the same kind...!

天使は天使に相応しい相手を選ぶべきですよ
魔物なんかじゃなく...

Angels must choose angels to be their companions,
not demons...
right?

僕はウリエル
“裁きの座”にひき出す者
炯眼の精霊
真紀
あなたは僕が守ってみせる
この僕が...!
I am Uriel.
The one who holds the “seat of judgment”.
The spirit of the penetrating eye.
Mahumi,
let me show you that I will protect you.
I will...!

(Shion stands silently by as Uriel hugs Mahumi. Elsewhere a woman with short black hair is talking with a man with long blonde hair.)

Woman
—相当頭にきてるわね
ウリエル
—He’s really making me mad,
Uriel.

自分が忘れられてたもんだから
いつになく意地悪よ
He’s forgotten himself
and become even more malicious than usual.

彼とウリエルはただの仲間ってだけじゃないのにそれを教えてあげないなんてー...
Uriel didn’t even tell him that they don’t have just an ordinary relationship—...

Man
—目ざわりだな
—A disgrace, isn’t it.

なんだあいつは
紫音とか言ったな
魔族のくせに...!
Why does he associate
with the likes of Shion
though he’s from the demon tribe...!

Woman
...
—私もビックリしたわよ
天使と魔物がつれんでるなんて前代未聞だもの!
—I was surprised, too.
It’s unheard-of for an angel and a demon to keep company!

Man
彼もー
He—

Woman
ああ
今は真紀だったわね
Yes.
That was Mahumi just now, right?

Man
真紀も一人で不安だったんでしょうよ
Mahumi didn’t want to be alone, I guess.

Woman
でも大丈夫
私たちが迎えに来てあげたんですもの
紫音さえいなくなれば
真紀も私たちのこと思い出してくれるわ
...きっと...!
But it’s okay.
We’ve come this far to meet him.
As long as we can get rid of Shion,
Mahumi will remember us.
...surely...!

Chapter 3

~Mahumi
Ah...I have finally returned to my true self.

(Mahumi spreads large white wings, soaring through the air.)

Look, Shion! Wings the same as yours—pure white wings! I’ve regained my true form!

(Shion looks at Mahumi coldly.)

Shion...?

Shion
Mahumi, I am not the same as you.

Mahumi
What’s wrong, Shion?
Aren’t you glad?

Shion
Your wings are the mark of an angel: proof that God loves you. But mine are—...

Mahumi
That I’m an angel again?

(Shion spreads his wings.)

Night-black wings...a demon’s wings...!

(Mahumi is horrified.)

Shion
My wings are the brand of a sinner, punishment for one who disobeyed God and fell from grace.
I carry upon my back sins which can never be erased.

Mahumi
You’re...lying. You would never...!

Shion
...you merely do not know. You merely do not know the true me.

(A sword appears in Shion’s hand. He stabs it into Mahumi’s chest.)

Even you—you merely didn’t know of my cruelty—

(Mahumi stumbles away from Shion.)

Mahumi
“No.”
“—...you’re lying.”

Uriel
That’s why I told you that you shouldn’t let yourself be deceived. You belong with us; he is an enemy, a demon. Here, come away with me.

Mahumi
Shion...!

Why did Shion...look so sad...?!

(Mahumi sits up suddenly in his bed.)

A dream...! —so it was a dream after all.

Shion
Are you awake? I’ve made breakfast.

Mahumi
It’s because I met that weird guy yesterday that I ended up with such a weird dream.

Ick. You put green onion in it? I hate green onion!

Shion
Just eat it.

Mahumi
Even though he knew that I hate it. Why did he put it in anyway?
—Shion’s been in a bad mood. It’s probably because of yesterday. But why is Shion angry about that?

(Mahumi is picking out the green onion.)

Yesterday’s—
KISS.

(Mahumi flashes back to Uriel kissing him.)

Waaah, I’m remembering it again, what should I do?

Shion
Mahumi.

Mahumi
Huh?

Shion
You really are—

Mahumi
Shion?

Shion
Disliking green onion—I guess you really are still a child.

Mahumi
What the heck was that! If you’ve got something to say, then just say it!
You idiot!

(He slams out the door.)

Shion
Ah...
...

(Shion spreads his wings.)

Uriel, flashback
“We are truly of the same kind.

Shion
“Truly”—huh?
He...probably really is a companion of Mahumi from before. Uriel is one of the four archangels; if such a high-level angel has descended to earth, then... What does that mean? Mahumi must have also originally have been of the highest order of angels, because I do not think someone like him would bestir himself for the sake of a lower angel.

(A feather flutters to the ground, and Shion bends to pick it up.)

Shion
The feather...

(It is stained black.)

Shion
—If Uriel says that he is Mahumi’s true companion, then does it mean that what Mahumi and I have between us is fake? It’s probably best
—for Mahumi to be with his fellow angels...—

Mahumi
What the heck? Stupid Shion. Why doesn’t he just tell me what he wants? It’s not like I picked a fight with him... If he has something to say, he should just say it straight. Anyway—...
I feel so dumb for crying for a guy like that this morning!
Yeesh. My stomach’s growling. It’s flattened to my backbone. Because that was in the middle of breakfast.

(He chews on a leave from a bush.)

I wonder if I can eat this?
Hmm? The sound of an organ?

What’s going on?

(He wades through the bushes. A church stands before him. A wedding is in procession.)

People
Congratulations. Congratulations!

Mahumi
Wow!

A wedding...! A wedding—it’s a wedding!
I didn’t even know that there was a church here in this neighborhood! (Well, I haven’t really walked around much in the daytime.)
I should get closer to watch it.

(He scampers through the crowd.)

How beautiful.
I want to show this to Shion too.
Hey, what am I thinking? It’s because we’re fighting that I’m out here now.
Huh?

(The bride has thrown the bouquet, and it lands squarely in Mahumi’s hands.)

A girl
Huh? On no!

Mahumi
What is this? Why did this...

A girl
I wanted that!

A girl
That boy got it.

A girl
Little boy, where are you from?

A girl
Won’t you give that to me?

A woman
Didn’t you know? It’s said that the one who catches the bride’s bouquet will become the next bride.
Wouldn’t that be nice, little boy?

Mahumi
Huh? What?! I—I don’t need—...

Priest
Oh my. It’s a bit of a pity to tease such a cute child, don’t you think?

A Woman
Father!

Priest
It’s okay, is it not? On such a long-awaited happy day, that these blessings are passed even onto this child who was walking by?

A Girl
If you put it like that...

A Girl
Though it’s rather funny, isn’t it—

Mahumi
Wow...
He is rather somber with the glasses, but is still so beautiful... Though he has blond hair, he is perfectly fluent in Japanese....

Priest
All the young ladies here today are so beautiful; even without the bouquet you will all probably be wearing wedding dresses soon.

A Girl
Father, you are such a charmer. (But I’m happy.)

(The priest bends to talk to Mahumi.)

Priest
Do you live around here?

Mahumi
Huh? Ah...yeah.

Priest
What is your name?

Mahumi
Mahumi.
Ah...um...I...these flowers...

What should I do? I can’t return them.

(Mahumi’s stomach growls loudly. The priest chuckles.)

Priest
I see. “Food before flowers”, right? That’s easy to understand. It’s okay, come this way.

(Bread, cheese, and other food are set on a table for Mahumi.)

Mahumi
—um...what about the wedding? You’re the priest, right?

Priest
Ah, the wedding ceremonies are already done. It’s okay. About now the bride and groom are in a limousine headed for the airport for their honeymoon. And besides, your stomach is very important. (How about something sweet? I also have financiers from Henri Charpantier.)

Mahumi
A...strange feeling...He’s an awfully nice person, isn’t he...

Priest
I feel like I’ve met you somewhere before. I remembered something that has been in my family for a long time.

(He leads Mahumi to another room.)

Here.

(He shows Mahumi a painting of angels kneeling in prayer.)

What do you think?
—The angels in this drawing resemble you, do they not?
The color of the hair and eyes are a bit different, but the features are very much alike, aren’t they?
You should remember. They are faces you saw every day.

Mahumi
Rippling golden hair which glitters with light, a patrician nose, ice-blue eyes which see through you if as if were a glass ball...

Priest
Perhaps because of this I feel like I know you. If you like...

Mahumi
—if we are speaking of angels, this Father fits the image perfectly.

Priest
...why don’t you come back to play tomorrow?

(Night. The priest is kneeling in prayer in front of the church altar. He sense something and whips around.)

Priest
!
Who’s there!

Uriel
You’re very good at winning over children as usual, Raphael.

Raphael
Uriel. You shouldn’t say that when you’re the one who took the form of a child.

Uriel
I didn’t have a choice. I wanted to be the same age as Mahumi to make him remember, but... I guess it was for nothing.

Raphael
What a pity.

Uriel
Humph.
Anyway, I thought you said that you were preparing for battle? Why don’t you hurry up and kill that guy so we can be done with it? What’s with all this leisurely taking your time?

Raphael
Don’t be so impatient, Uriel. It will probably only result in our failure.

Uriel
What?!

Raphael
Moving suddenly will only scare off our target. We must take our time, move slowly and carefully, so that he will come to trust us more than that demon.
Killing him—will come after that.

Uriel
...Why is Mahumi with a guy like that? Now that we’ve gone through so much trouble to leave Heaven and come here, what should we do?

Raphael
Uriel...

Uriel
I only want us to live happily together like in the old days. That why I came to find him. —He

Raphael
You must not say his name.
To say his name is an act forbidden by God. You must not allow Mahumi’s true name to leave your lips.

Uriel
...He is an annoyance.
Shion...! If he were not here—...

Raphael
It’s okay, Uriel.
I will most certainly take revenge on that demon—...

Raphael
—most certainly, without fail.

(A bright day. Mahumi is running towards the church. He sees the priest and waves.)

Mahumi
Father!

Raphael
Ah, good afternoon.

Mahumi
The weather was nice, so I came to play again! Do you have snacks today, too?

Raphael
Of course.

(He leads Mahumi inside.)

Today we have apple ice tea and raspberry pie.

Mahumi
Yaaaay!

Mahumi
The Father is really great. Every day he waits with a snack for me.

(He notices a short sword on a stand.)

Mahumi
Hmm? Father, what is this?

(Raphael picks up the sword.)

Raphael
Ah, this is called the “Sword of Flame.”
It’s been handed down in this church since ancient times. There is a legend that it will burn away all evil things. I think it was used a very long time ago.

Mahumi
Wow. Can I see it?

Raphael
Here.

Mahumi
This is great. If I had something like this... No, if Shion had something like this, we could exterminate even more demons.

(He slides the sword out of its sheath.)

Nothing happened? I thought it would be hot.

Raphael
Ahahah, of course.
This sword only burns wicked, evil things. You and I are okay.

Mahumi
Really?

Raphael
There have been countless accounts of demon-kind attempting to snatch away this sword in the past, but they could not touch it.

Mahumi
Huh?

Mahumi
—demon-kind... I see. So Shion would not be able to wear this sword. Then having this thing might actually hinder Shion. And it seems he hates churches, too.

Raphael
Mahumi, don’t move.

Mahumi
Eh?

(Raphael takes the sword and waves it near Mahumi.)

Mahumi
Father?!

(He begins to glow.)

!
Wh...what was that just now?

Raphael
Heheh. It was a charm against evil spirits, a talisman. But it’s just an imitation.

Mahumi
You surprised me!

Raphael
What I gave Mahumi just now was the protection of the sun. Ordinary demons would not be able to touch one who uses this holy Sword of Flame. It has more than enough power to just kill them. But I will inflict more than pain on the one who stole this child’s trust. It’s simple payback. How disgraceful—how humiliating—that he who was once one of us, who was taken from us and robbed of his memories, is together with that eyesore.
Now then. Come along, Shion.
Crawl out of your hole. I will crush your life out of you as if you were a rodent...!

(Night. Mahumi steps into Shion’s apartment.)

Mahumi
I’m back!

Shion
Where have you been? You’re late again. Dinner is getting cold—

(Shion sees the bright glow around Mahumi and stops cold.)

Mahumi
Shion?
What’s wrong? You’re making such a scary face.

Shion
Mahumi. —Who did you meet today?

Mahumi
“Who”...the Father at Yamanote Church.

(Shion turns and abruptly walks off.)

Mahumi
Shion?!

Shion
A priest...? You’ve got to be kidding me. At least, he is certainly not just a human priest, to be able to put up such a powerful barrier. What is he, this priest? Why would he do something like this?

(Shion walked into the church. He sees the sword on the altar.)

Shion
This is—

The Sword of Flame!

Raphael
You can’t get near it, right? It is a holy sword which unclean souls cannot approach.

Shion
Who’s there!

Raphael
Well, well. I should say “how do you do?”, shouldn’t I?
I am the High Angel Raphael. You spawn of the demon tribe should recognize that name, shouldn’t you?

Shion
!
Raphael—he stands at the top of the millions of angels as one of the archangels.

Shion
—so
The angel captains have organized this little business trip down to Earth?
Heaven has peace to spare, hmm?

Uriel too—why are all these big-shots here? Could it be because of Mahumi?

Raphael
Heh...you’ve got some nerve, don’t you.
The lower demons quiver with fear and don’t even dare to raise their faces in my presence. So it would seem that you’re one of the higher demons..

Shion
Could it be...?

Raphael
—but you might as well stop bluffing.

Shion
The intense aura of a high angel...spreading through the air even now...

Raphael
After all, you are not my enemy.

Shion
Why did you do something like that?

...it’s like being stifled!

Raphael
—because you are an eyesore. Oh yes. Perhaps you have never sinned. But imagine that you put much work into raising a garden of roses. If insects came to devour them, you would hate them. It’s the same. Insects have no malice. But they are a blemish upon the beauty of the flowers.
You are an insect. And I will exterminate you...!

Chapter 4

~Shion, flashback
Who did you meet today?

(Mahumi is in the street, hurrying towards the church.)

Mahumi
Why did you have that expression on your face? Was it something about the Father? But Shion doesn’t know the Father. I have to catch him.
—Why?
I have such an awful feeling—...

Uriel
Are you still with him?

(Mahumi looks up. Uriel is standing on top of a telephone pole.)

Mahumi
You...!

Uriel
Even though I warned you. Have you lost your brains along with your memory?

(Mahumi glares.)

Naaaah, I’m joking, I’m joking!

Mahumi
He was absolutely serious, wasn’t he.He’s a guy with bad character.

I told you! I don’t know you at all! How are we of a kind! Why would I do something like that!

Uriel
Eh? What kind of a greeting is that?

Mahumi
Shut up! Anyway, don’t get any closer to me! My only companion is Shion!

Uriel
You shouldn’t trust him. You don’t know anything about him, do you? Then why do you trust him so much?

Mahumi
I know enough. I know him more than I know you.

Uriel
...how many people has he killed?

Mahumi
Wh...!

Uriel
It’s obvious. He’s a demon, isn’t he?
Hey, Mahumi, aren’t you mistaking something? There are no good demons. I suppose, compared to other demons, his outward appearance isn’t atrocious. He’s not stupid, and his features are beautiful.
But you only see one side of him. The face that he wears only to show to you.
You probably feel confused. One who betrays his own kind to protect an angel—what do you think that makes him?
One who is ostracized. From demonkind.

Shion, flashback
—one who is ostracized from his kind...

Uriel
If there is risk of that, why do you think he’s with you? He has some secret motive.

(Mahumi strikes Uriel.)

Mahumi
Don’t toy with me!
You bad-mouth people pretty freely, but I won’t forgive you this time if you say things like that about Shion in front of me!
What “companion of old”? I don’t remember anything about you at all. I hate you most of all! I’m in a hurry, so don’t mess with me!

Woman
Uriel. Looks like you’re thoroughly hated, hmm? Mean-child-san.

Uriel
Mikael.
Humph. Not really. It doesn’t matter. It was necessary for the first part of Raphael’s plan.

Mahumi, flashback
I hate you!

Uriel
—...sheesh—
you’re the one who’s truly mean.

(Mahumi is running once more down the street.)

Mahumi
What the heck is with him? Why did he have to say things like that? Things like—

Shion, flashback
Did you think that it could be forgiven? To betray one’s own kind?

Mahumi
Shion only wants to stay in the human world. Is that the only reason he agreed to help me? But that’s weird. He must have a reason. Then—....
Then...
Why is Shion with me?

(At the church, Raphael slashes towards Shion with the Sword of Flame and opens a gash in his shoulder.)

Shion
Ugh...!

Raphael
Heh...hahah...!!
How it is? The taste of the Sword of Flame?
This Sword of Flame is the demon-exterminator of legend. Let me show you its effect! —in any case, if it touches people like me or Mahumi, we are completely fine. But it will cause great damage to one with the dark blood of a demon like you.
Here! Shall we see it burn once more?

Shion
Ug...!

(He wrenches away and spreads his wings.)

Raphael
Wings...!
—An angel’s—

Those things on your back...!
This is getting more and more unpleasant...!
Those unnatural wings! Just that makes me ten times angrier!

Shion
You can say whatever you want...! Damn you...!
I won’t leave him no matter what you say! Even if I die!

Mahumi
Shion

(Mahumi enters the church, panting.)

—Shion. Father...? What are you doing...!

Shion
Mahumi...!

(Raphael cringes back from Shion.)

Raphael
Waaaah! Stop! This demon!! He’s going to kill me!

Shion
Wha...!
You...!

(Power rushes into Shion’s hands.)

Mahumi
Shion?!

Raphael
Do you really want to do that? Mahumi will cry, you know!

Shion
WH...AT?

Raphael
You don’t understand, do you. I am different from those ghouls you’ve been defeating up until now. I am not Mahumi’s enemy. I am your good neighborhood priest.

(He sits agains the wall, the wall cracked behind him.)

A priest targeted because of this holy sword—... If you injury his friend the priest, Mahumi will be sad. And if you exposed your true demonic nature, will he hate you...?

Shion
YOU...BASTARD...!

(Raphael stretches out a hand.)

What? My body is...

Raphael
You will be still. Like a wooden puppet.
I am writing this entire script. “The Shion I liked so much was really a bad guy after all. He attacked the church, but my ally the righteous priest killed him.”
“The end.”
How about it?
And afterwards I tell that child that I’m of his kind. He’ll forget all about you in time.

Shion
Ra...pha...el...you bastard...!

Raphael
Mahumi! Look out!

(He whispers a spell, then jumps in front of Mahumi and grabs him. Something strikes him from behind.)

Mahumi
Father!

Shion
He struck himself...!

Raphael
U...ugh.
This demon would attack even you...!
It seems that he came to snatch away this sword... I wouldn’t hand it over to him...!

Mahumi
It couldn’t be...
It couldn’t be...! Shion attacked the priest...? Because this sword irritated him? That’s impossible.

Mahumi
Fa...Father. There must be a misunderstanding here! He isn’t a bad person! Truly! He’s my friend. There must be a mistake.

Raphael
This isn’t good. It seems that he has much more confidence in him than I thought.

...ah... My poor Mahumi...you’ve been completely deceived. It was easy to beguile your pure soul. They can lie with such cleverness...!

I guess It’ll be necessary to put more pressure on him.

I’m fine—take this.
—At least I know you won’t run away.

(He hands Mahumi the sword.)

Mahumi
Father...!

Shion
No. That’s not true, Mahumi.
Dammit...! I can’t speak.

Mahumi
If I am serious about it, I can beat Shion. But—...

(Raphael grabs Mahumi.)

Raphael
Mahumi! Don’t look!
AAAH! U...gh...

Mahumi
Father...Father...!

(Mahumi looks at his hands—they’re covered in blood.)

Blood? It’s blood...! He’s bleeding...!

Raphael
Oh...Ma...humi...

Hah. I’m putting on a fine performance, aren’t I?

Please...believe me... Open...your eyes...

Mahumi
How cruel... That was cruel, Shion! Doing something like this to the Father. It’s cruel!

“You shouldn’t trust him.”
Is this what he meant?

...I trusted you.
You’re so cruel, Shion...!

Is that it? ...Shion.

Shion
Raphael...! You...bastard...!

(Power glows around Shion.)

Mahumi
Father...Father... Don’t die...!

(Shion is released from the binding.)

Shion
!
It came apart. I’ll get you back for that!

(Power gathers at his fingertips.)

Shion
You...!

Mahumi
Stop! Shion, don’t injure the Father any—-...

(Shion doesn’t hear him. His face is a mask of rage and hatred.)

—no. This is not Shion...!

(Mahumi slashes toward Shion with the Sword of Flame, and blood bursts from Shion’s chest. They stare at each other, equally shocked.)

Shion
...!
Wh...! —y. —Why, Mahumi? Why...did you hurt me...!

Mahumi
Be...because! Because, because you’ll kill him! That’s cruel...! He hasn’t done anything!!

Shion
Mahumi. He is not a priest. He—

Mahumi
...I trusted you. You were different from the other demons. But doesn’t this make you the same? This you...you— You are entirely like a demon...!

Shion
Yes, I am a demon. What did you think I was...?
You...trust his words over mine?

Mahumi
!?
What are you talking about? You attacked him, didn’t you? How has the Father lied? You did this to him just for the sake of that sword? The poor Father. I didn’t think you were a guy like that!

Shion
...you merely don’t know.
What I... What cruel things I have done to others.

(Shion grabs Mahumi.)

You... You were the only one who didn’t know what cruel things I have done for your sake!

Mahumi
—deja vu—
It’s the same at the dream...!

(Shion wrenches away from Mahumi and walks away.)

Mahumi
Shion!

(Shion stops at the door.)

Shion
—Mahumi. Since you don’t trust me

Mahumi
...!

Mahumi
It hurts as if my chest has been stabbed by a cold needle.

Shion
...I can no longer be with you.

(Shion opens the door and walks out of the church.)

Mahumi
Shion!

(Mahumi stands frozen, gazing after Shion.)

Raphael
Ugh...

(Mahumi goes to the priest, but he is still looking at the door.)

Mahumi
It’s the same as the dream! But somehow the look in Shion’s eyes is so much sadder...

END

Add new comment