Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Hana to Yume
1999 vol. 7, episode no. 56
Translation by Yuki-chan

It's raining outside.

The time is 4:00 am.

Kamo-san: "......"

Bun-san: "......"

Both stand silently, leaning against the wall.

Next to them is Tsukasa sitting on a cushioned bench with her head down, hugging her knees. "........." She's wearing guys' clothing too large for her. [Where did she find shoes that fit her...?]

The three are waiting outside the operating room.

The OR light above the door goes off all the sudden.

Tsukasa: "!!"

The doctor and an aide (male) are met outside the door by Tsukasa, Bun-san and Kamo-san.

Moments later, they are found sitting in a large room with comfortable chairs.

Doctor: "---The operations on the injured organs were successful and are functioning well, though with the help of machines. But eventually, we will be able to remove all of them, so there is no need to worry about that."

Tsukasa, with drooping dog ears looks visibly relieved. She sighs. "~~~... ...Tha......"

The doctor interrupts her: "---...However,"

Tsukasa stops. Kamo-san and Bun-san are sitting on either side of her.

Doctor: "...In his case... there has been a 10 minute blank since when his heart stopped and when it was restarted... If within one week he does not become conscious, if things go badly ------... then he may become a vegetable..."

Kamo-san: "..." He looks shocked.

Doctor: "...Or even if he does regain consciousness,"

Bun-san: "......"

Doctor: "There is the chance of brain damage..."

Tsukasa, with large eyes: ".....! ...No......"

Doctor, trying to sound reassuring: "...Well... This is the worst case scenario. For patients in this kind of condition, if we have permission of the immediate family, we can implant this core into his brain."

The doctor's aide takes out a case holding a core, that is about walnut sized. It is suspended in solution and is attached by several wires.

Kamo-san, suspiciously: "...Core...?"

Doctor: "An artificial assistant brain."

Kamo-san shows the core to Tsukasa and Bun-san as well.

Tsukasa: "......"

Doctor: "It contains the programs to compensate for reflex movements, speech and other functions of a normal brain. ...Actually, there would be no problem best if we could copy his brain it... however it is too late for that... If in the case of the unexpected, would you object to the use of a manual type core?"

Kamo-san: "... ...Manual type..."

Kamo-san: "...Meaning...?"

Doctor: "Just like its usual meaning, it will follow the everyday type of communication that a 'person' uses as if from a manual but there is no 'character'. Presently, it is the same type of core used in the very human like Noaroids*." [*The latest type of android.]

Tsukasa's facial expression slowly changes. "...Are you saying..."

Bun-san starts.

Tsukasa: "... That you're going to make Ryuji like an android......?"

The doctor starts.

Tsukasa: "...You...... 've got to be kidding------!! You bastard----!"

Bun-san: "Wa!! Hey, hey Tsu-bo!" He has her arms pinned behind her back.

Tsukasa shows fangs and starts trying to rush at the doctor. She manages to kick one of the chairs away.

Tsukasa: "I can't let you make Ryuji's brain into some weird machine-like contraption------!! Uooooooooo!!"

The doctor is already freaking out and is climbing over the backrest of the couch.

Kamo-san: "Doctor! This is dangerous! Please escape!"

The doctor and the aide make a hasty escape as Tsukasa continues to yell.

Tsukasa: "What do you mean everyday communication as if by a manual!!? Ryuji is not a person who normally says good morning, good night, hello or good evening!! Even if he could use the language that any old person uses, that's not Ryuji------!!" She's crying now. She suddenly slumps to the floor in despair.

Tsukasa: "UWAAAAAAAann!"

Bun-san, who had let go of her: "Aa! She's crying!"

Kamo-san, who's now sitting on his heels: "Tsukasa-san! Calm down Tsukasa-san."

Tsukasa: "AA~~~~~~!! U--------AAAA!!!" She's face down and covering the floor with tears.

Kamo-san, bending over so that his face is almost level to hers. "The doctor even said himself that that would be the worst case scenario. Tsukasa-san?"

Tsukasa: "U...Gu~~~~~~uuu WAAAAAAAUUU!"

Kamo-san: "Even in these types of cases, there are many people who have recovered completely!!"

Tsukasa's tears stop immediately. "......"

Cute SD of Kamo-san crouched down next to her.

Tsukasa lifts her head: "...REALLY......?" The floor is covered with a puddle of tears.

Kamo-san, with his hands on his hips, as if bragging: "Really!! ...But... for that, Sandaime's body is weakened so could you not give Sandaime some of your power?"

Kamo-san helps her to her feet. Tsukasa looks up at him with a tear streaked face.

Kamo-san, winking: "Let's send our ki to Sandaime from outside the ICU ward." [ki is kinda hard to explain. It's energy, one's life force, spirit, will... it depends on who you ask.]

Tsukasa smiles broadly: "...Yeah...!!" She wipes the tears away. "Okaaaaay!!! Wait there Ryuji!!! I'll send you some good ki---!!" She takes off at a run, leaving a trail of dust.

A nearby nurse: "Quietly!!"

Bun-san, looking suspicious: "...Kamojima-san... ...Is it true...?" {That there are people who have recovered...}

Kamo-san: "......" {...Well... yeah... not a lot but....} "...Rarely..." {But if we don't at least have Tsukasa-san as powerful as that... then it'll be truly depressing......} "...Shibuya... About this......"

Bun-san: "...I understand... Keep this secret a while from the executives... right." {Until we know for certain Sandaime's condition.} "When they're already panicking over the fact that Sandaime is in critical condition, we couldn't tell them that there's the possibility that Sandaime may no longer be Sandaime... ---Especially... when the day comes that we have to tell Asago-san------..." He sighs.

Kamo-san: "---! That's right... What happened to Asago-san? Is the treatment on her shoulder finished?"

Bun-san: "...A... Yes. Actually Asago-san... it seems that she wants to receive treatment here at the hospital for awhile... Since there was an empty room she was able to have it readied for her so I'm sure she's resting there."

Kamo-san, worriedly: "A private room!?"

Bun-san: "Unfortunately, there was only a private room available..." A shadow passes over him. "...... ...Was that a bad idea......"

Kamo-san, thinking: "...Maybe........." {---...Already, she was like an empty shell after Sandaime was shot protecting her. And to be shocked again knowing that Sandaime's heart stopped as well... Asago-san, who has a strong sense of responsibility being the Durga and all...... Lately... it seemed like she was tormenting herself as well...} He turns to Bun-san. "---Shibuya, you stay by Asago-san's side." {---I only hope that she's not thinking of anything absurd---...}

In Asago's private room.

The rain beats on the window. Asago's seen sitting up, but with her head bowed. A close up of Asago shows her almost lifeless eyes, staring at nothing.

Outside, a number of cars pull up in front of the hospital.

Voice: "...Oh...? Well... my, my. It seems like the arrival of some men who look very out of place in a hospital."

The Kuryugumi clan heads make their entrance in the hospital. Nearby patients freak and back away.

The owner of the voice is Shiki (formerly known as Scorpion). [Yeah, I'll start calling him Shiki.] "Right now, they are passing directly in front of me. Oh, they have badges, so they must be the execs of Kuryugumi." Shiki is wearing a hat to cover most of his face, and he's pretending to read a newspaper. He also has these cool shades and is wearing earphones. "I'll send you an image." {Go ahead and make as many printout as you wish.} A tiny lens appears on the shades. Looks like they can transmit images.

Voice through the earphones: "...Don't bother. Do your work."

Shiki sighs: "Didn't I just show you an image of 'the people celebrating the success of Shirogami Ryuji's operation'?"

Shiki looks at the phone that allows you to see who you're talking with. He's talking to Misumi.

Misumi: "......"

Shiki: "When I came here to the hospital, that woman and the really big guy were gone." The really big guy is referring to Akira. {I checked and found out that the girl who was with Shirogami Ryuji the whole time is gone for treatment on her shoulder.} "...Those two must be cops or something."

Misumi is going through the printouts. "...... ...What's this...?" He shows Shiki a photo of Tsukasa, sitting on the bench outside the OR with her head on her knees.

Shiki: "A? AA, that's the guy I said earlier. 'The katagi gaki that beat the crap out of me'."

Misumi: "!" He glances at the printout again. "------... ...You said he's a guy......"

Shiki: "...Yeah."

Misumi: "Is he really a guy?"

Shiki starts: "...... ......Isn't he......?" {Well yeah, the face looks a bit sexless.} "...He... didn't have any breasts."

Misumi: "...If they're bound then they can make a person look male. You'll know for sure if you strip him/her."

Shiki: "Ge! You're telling me to molest!? Hey hey, and what if he's really a guy? That'll make me a molester and a hentai. No thanks."

Misumi: "......If you don't like that idea then do something. You might be able to see the woman from last night again."

Shiki: "......"

Misumi, snickering: "...What's wrong... .....Are you scared......?"

Shiki starts.

Misumi: "...The woman from last night was just like Hogou's kage no seisai. ---As ferocious as Wakasa------..." [Wakasa seems to a first name. The kanjis used in this name are "youth" and "cherry blossom/sakura".]

An image of Hogougumi's kage no seisai comes to Shiki's mind. He overlaps her with Tsukasa from the night before.

Shiki: "......!"

Misumi: "......From when you were young, the only emotions you had towards Wakasa were hatred and fear. Whenever you heard the name 'Wakasa', you always replied with 'ogre' or 'devil'. That still doesn't change. ---Even now, I'm sure the only image you have of her is of a blood covered and cold hearted Wakasa with an emotionless face killing people."

Shiki: "...It's not just an image...... ...That woman was really heartless... During the dispute where the kumi was going to be destroyed, she deserted my father and my mother------...!!"

Misumi, finishing Shiki's speech: " 'And on top of that, he put me in the hands of young kumiins when I got in the way of her escape---...' ?"

Shiki doesn't reply: "......" {-...That's right... I was ditched by that woman too...... ---... and... ---the next thing I knew------ the young kumiins that were with me had disappeared and I was surrounded by the enemy. From that day on, I became this guy's slave---.} There's an image of a young Shiki surrounded by several men.

Misumi: "---Shiki, Wakasa is dead, don't blame her like that."

Shiki snorts a reply. "...It's because of her that you were saved 14 years ago......"

Misumi smiles all of the sudden: "......That may be true........."

Shiki is surprised at the sudden change in Misumi's expression: "......" {...And this is the guy who usually has the eyes of a snake when he's angry......}

Misumi: "---Either way, go check if the boy is the same person as the woman from last night."

Shiki: "...... ...... ...You're... pretty particular about the woman from last nigh...... ...Is there a reason...?"

Misumi: "---... ...The same as you..."

Shiki: "...What...?"

Misumi: "Seeing a woman like that makes one's blood run wild. ---But unlike your blood that runs wild out of fear and hatred, mine runs wild because of the desire to make her mine------..."

Shiki: "------..."

Misumi: "---If you understand that, then hurry and follow orders. ...Don't you dare return empty handed------..."

In the ICU ward.

A female nurse who happens to be passing by freaks and drops the tray she's carrying. "Hi!!!"

Tsukasa, from outside the viewing window: "Ry~u~ji~ Come ba~ck~~ Come ba~ck~~ So that you can remain as yourself~~~ You have to come back by yourself~~~~~" {You don't want to borrow help from technology~} Tsukasa looks really freaky. Her eyes are flashing, a strange aura is surrounding her and she's wearing a headband with 3 lighted candles on it. Her hands are outstretched and the text claims that she's sending some good ki.

Nurse 1: "W..! What's with this kid!!?" {How sickening! It feels a curse or something!}

Nurse 2: "A joke! Of really bad humour!!"

One of the nurses throws a switch that changes the 2 way glass to translucent glass.

Tsukasa: "A! How cruel------!! When I finally found out where Ryuji's sleeping---!!" {What a cruel nurse---!} She starts throwing a tantrum. The headband and the candles are thrown to the floor. "Uoooooo!!"

Voice: "...What...!? The origin of the drugs that were sold on Kuryugumi's territory...!?"

Tsukasa turns to listen in.

Kamo-san: "...Hai... ...Though we're not completely positive... all the persons involved had a tattoo of a 'scorpion'------..."

The clan heads are stunned into silence.

"---..."

"..."

"......"

Sumon: "...... ...The emblem... of the 'scorpion'......"

"Garyukai------......!!"

Tsukasa: {...Garyukai...? ...I've heard that somewhere... where was it... ummm, ummm A! At Asaba-kun's place!! During the graduation trip! I remember them saying something about picking a fight with Garyukai!! AA---!! Damn---!! So they were the rumoured 'Garyukai'!! Then I should have helped Takarabegumi to crush 'Garyukai'------!!"

Shiki remains behind the corner.

Shiki sighs: {Finally, I found them.} He notices the group of execs and a tiny flame all by itself. The flame is Tsukasa of course. {Even if he says to check if the boy is the woman from last night~~... Do I have to molest him.... No......} He sighs again, staying put.

Tsukasa, surrounded by flames: {Remember this Garyukai~~~ The next time I see you it'll be your day to die~~~~}

Shiki is staring at Tsukasa.

Tsukasa starts all of the sudden: "! ...A..."

Shiki, thinking that he had been discovered retreats further around the corner.

Tsukasa notices the nurses who could freely enter the ICU ward. "...A~~~..." {...No fair~... The nurses could go in like that freely...... No fair~~~...}

Shiki: "......"

Tsukasa: {...I waited 8 hours. 8 hours until Ryuji's operation was done. And right after that, he was immediately transferred here.}

Image of Ryuji being transported to the ICU ward. The bed is completely movable, [and I think it floats too]. Two nurses manoeuvre the bed while 3 stick figures are seen in the background. One of them is labelled as Tsukasa.

Tsukasa, trying to melt her face into the glass: {...I haven't even seen his face......} "------..." {---...I want to be by his side------... ...Even if it's just for a bit...... I want to be by his side, to be of help to him------...}

There is an image of Ryuji hooked up to a zillion machines plus a respirator.

Tsukasa, leaning on the glass: {For me to send Ryuji this miracle power ...... would mean that I would actually have to get in here...... But this is the ICU~~~} "------..." {...A~~~~~a... ...If only there was a nurse's uniform and ID card lying around somewhere~~~...}

Tsukasa suddenly notices a basket lying on the floor. A note is attached to the basket reading 'please use this'.

Tsukasa has oval shaped eyes. "---...?" It's sitting a little away on the floor. Behind her the clan heads are still in discussion. She approaches the basket. She puts the nurse's cap on her head. The note falls to the floor as she picks up an ID card and a nurse's uniform. "---...!?" She then picks up a long, dark haired wig. "---...!? !? !? !? !? !? !?"

The clan heads start talking amongst themselves. [Sorry, I don't know who's who.]

" 'Garyukai'... This means trouble..."

"...Really..."

"In Japan's world of the gokudo... outwardly we are the strongest, but them... we don't know of all their secrets." [Okay, this isn't the greatest translation... Sorry.]

"14 years ago after that dispute, it appeared that their power fell but they probably raised their name again using other ways." {And since we no longer deal with drugs...}

"And even after they raised the power of the kumi once more, they've been quiet for the longest time. I thought that they would do something big again." {And here they are starting with drugs.}

"...... The dispute from 14 years ago------... ...The rumour that they killed even all the kumiins wives and children of the other kumi... is it true......"

The other clan heads don't answer.

"...T... The only thing... that we know for sure......... is that the 'Hogou's' kumicho and his seisai that were destroyed by 'Garyukai', and the woman that everyone knows as 'Hogou's other seisai' are dead." There is an image of Hogou's kumicho, a tall man with short, dark hair. At his feet sits his seisai with long, wavy light coloured hair. In the foreground stands Wakasa, the kage no seisai. "---I heard that Hogou's kumicho had a son but --- he couldn't possibly be alive------"

In another part of the hospital.

Shiki takes off the shades to get a better look around: "...He~~~~y... That gaki... When I put it out like that he really took the nurse's uniform~~~..." {What's a guy gonna do with those?} "And on top of that I lost sight of him~~ ..Where... A!" He spots a washroom.

In the washroom, in one of the stalls.

Tsukasa: "---... Dear Kumagawa Rieko-sama, whom I've never met before I will gladly borrow your uniform, though I have no idea why your uniform was left lying there." She looks at the ID card and then claps her ands in prayer.

Tsukasa begins changing. "A, oh yeah... I forgot about this..." She unravels the long cloth she had used to wrap around her chest. [Damn! I forgot what this is called!] "...Akira-san... I wonder if he could bring my protector today..."

Text: It was left in the car that she and Akira used to get to the bay.

Tsukasa: "I guess that's unlikely since he's probably being yelled at over last night..." {He must be getting yelled at...... no doubt......} "Uu~~~ ...Sorry~~~ Akira-san~~~"

Outside the stall, Shiki stands in silence. "---..." {---You mean... that he's....... right......?}

Misumi's voice echoes in his mind. "...Don't you dare return empty handed------..."

Shiki: "...Chi... yeah yeah." {I know that------!!}

Shiki suddenly swings his right leg into a kick aimed at the door of the stall.