Kizuna Book 5 Part 19 translation KIZUNA by Kazuma Kodaka Book 5 Part 19: pp. 43-63 unofficial translation by Katherine Conventions: regular text: name of speaker and spoken lines italics: thoughts bold: descriptions Koga: Standing over the tied-up Enjouji. Hey, lift up your head. Scared? Sagano's dogs are pretty cowardly. Enjouji: Looking up at him. You're the coward. Enjouji: Punk. Koga: ...You've got a big mouth there. Koga: And this face... Koga: The look in your eyes at least is 100% yakuza. (page) (page) (page) (page) Enjouji: Thanks. You've got your profession written all over you, too. Enjouji: You've got a face that says you could never make an honest living. Koga: Pretty good talker, aren't you? There's something we'd like to hear you talk about. Enjouji: The fact that they used Kai means they'd probably use me too, if they realize who I really am. Enjouji: I've got to get out of here somehow before they find out. Enjouji: ..... (page) Hat guy hands Koga Enjouji's identification. Koga: Kei... Enjouji... hm? Koga: Fancy name, huh? Enjouji: ...... Koga: If you seem useful, we'll use you. Koga: Guard him so he can't escape. (page) Meanwhile, Kai sneaks around the outside of his apartment, while police appear to be questioning people on the sidewalk. Kai: The cops are still hanging around... He goes up the steps. His end of the hallway is blocked off with police tape. (page) Inside the apartment, he gets the keys to his bike out of his drawer, and then opens his futon closet. He pulls down a sword that was taped to the underside of the shelf. (page) He unwraps the sword and checks the blade, looking pleased. Kai: Guess they didn't bother to check in the closet. Outside. Kai, carrying the wrapped sword, eludes a policeman who is vigilantly looking at his clipboard. He starts up his motorcycle and puts on his helmet. Kai: Someone posing as me is spreading drugs around... that dumbass Kei is missing. Kai: No one's telling Samejima-sempai what's going on... Kai: I can't just sit around and wait anymore! (page) Meanwhile, Tashiro and J.B. are still talking on the phone. Tashiro: Why are you... Tashiro: Ah, it's work, isn't it? Otherwise you'd never come all the way to Japan... Tashiro: As children play around J.B.'s rooftop bench. What? Have you forgotten your Japanese? J.B.: I was shown the results of your work. J.B.: Just in a photo, though. Tashiro: !! Tashiro: What do you mean you were shown? Tashiro: Who are you working for right now...? (page) J.B.: I thought I told you when we parted... Find some other work, you're not suited for this career. J.B.: Have you forgotten that? Tashiro: You should talk. You're the one who taught me this work. Tashiro: I'm not a boy anymore. I can decide for myself how I live. Tashiro: This is what I've done for eight years, since you disappeared. J.B.: Eight years... Has it been that long...? (page) Tashiro: Going out onto the roof of his apartment. That's right. And don't tell me you didn't know I was a minor when we met. Tashiro: Looking through binoculars. After you did all those naughty things to an innocent little boy. J.B.: What do you mean, a minor? You were twenty when we slept together. I remember. J.B.: Planning to take me to court after all this time? Tashiro: Yeah, right. Tashiro: I wouldn't bother to go through all that when firing one bullet would be faster... Tashiro: Spotting him through the binoculars. You've gotten older, Jack. (page) J.B.: I look distinguished. You'll fall for me all over again. Tashiro: Smiling. Whatever you say. Tashiro: Jack... let's meet and talk face to face, not on the phone... J.B.: That's impossible. J.B.: My client wants your head. J.B.: Get out of Japan now. Tashiro: Jack... Tashiro: Jack! J.B.: I've betrayed my client once by warning you. There will be no second time. (page) Tashiro: Jack!! Are you planning to run away from me again?! J.B.: ..... J.B.: ...Take care, boy. He cuts the connection. (page) J.B. closes his laptop and picks up his briefcase. He looks up and waves. J.B.: Adeiu. (page) Tashiro slams his fist on the railing. Tashiro: ...Shit... Tashiro: Why does the enemy assassin have to be J.B. of all people!! Tashiro: What should I do?! If my opponent is J.B., it's a fight I can't win! He thinks about Kai. Tashiro: If Araki-san dies, that kid will be sad... Tashiro: The first person I've been hired to protect, not kill... (page) Tashiro: I've made the decision to protect his life. Tashiro: And my client's life... Tashiro: Jack... even if it comes to pointing a gun at you... Tashiro: I'm going to do my job. (page) At Ranmaru's apartment. Ranmaru: Looking startled as the doorbell rings. !! Ranmaru: Opening the door and finding Kai. Sagano! Kai: Sorry I'm late. Ranmaru: Are you okay?! Isn't it dangerous for you to be walking around outside? Kai: I'm fine. It's not like this is the first time the kumis are shooting each other up. Kai: Don't worry about anything! I'll find out where he is right away... Ranmaru: Find out? How? Kai: I'm gonna go to the Sagano Tokyo office and make them give me the information. (page) Kai: You told Masa what happened, right? So Masa's surely on his way to Tokyo. The most up-to-date information will be coming in to the Tokyo office, before he arrives... Kai: I'll let you know as soon as I find out anything. Ranmaru: Sagano... I have a favor to ask... Kai: What? Ranmaru: Please take me with you. (page) Ranmaru: I can't stand just waiting here and doing nothing. Please. Take me with you. Ranmaru: I want to know where Enjouji is. Kai: ...It'll be ...dangerous...? Ranmaru: I know. Kai: I figured you'd say that, so I brought a helmet for you, too. But if it gets too risky, you have to leave! Kai: Agreed? Ranmaru: Yes. Thank you, Sagano.