Niji-iro Tougarashi (Rainbow-colored Peppers) Translation by Wei-Hwa Huang (whuang@ugcs.caltech.edu) Book 3, Version 0 5/9/97-5/29/97 Originally published in Shonen Sunday Heisei year 2 (1990), week 25 to week 34 p5 ----------------- PART 20 -- THE PERSON IN THE DREAM ----------------- p6 Avalanche? Yeah. It just suddenly happened last night. Weird. Why would there be an avalanche when there hasn't been any rain or earthquakes in weeks? p7 Articifially induced, perhaps? Yup. There's evidence of dynamite here! That means... Those gaijin do have tunnels... p8 What could they... ...really want? Hmm... In any case, p9 No one'd believe us. Yeah! Don't worry! I, Hiro, will take care of everything! p10 But... to trouble you like this... Don't say such things! It's nothing for the men who saved my life. Then... we'll leave it to you. No problem! What a simpleton. Well, it'll be much easier for us now. p11 How about the kid who got away through the tunnel? Forget about him. He's ineffectual. You're so, so, ... ineffectual! p12 Oh, be quiet. My hand just slipped, that's all. Aren't you supposed to be sick? Go back to bed. Yow! Can't even cut a piece of tofu right. Useless! I'm not drinking any miso soup that has your hand as a key ingredient! I know, just go to sleep! Oops. Argh! Stop! p13 If this goes on, my temperature will really flare up! I'm using your room. Hey, you can leave the futon; I have some in my room! I don't WANT the ones in your room. Sanshou... could you go buy another piece of tofu for me? Meow p20 Whoa! The fish is all burnt! Uh-oh! It's completely inedible now. Fwap But Sanshou said he'd do it! And you let him? p21 Medicine Please read instruction before using. Only one egg left. Leave it for Natane. Fine with me. Chinpi, see how your sister's doing. Click Is her fever better? She's still fast asleep. Should be. p22 Shichimi, did you put the scallions in the soup? Ka-CLANG! Oh! I forgot! Bonk! Chinpi, I'm fine. Go get the clothes! Okay. CLANG! Sanshou, stop following so close to me! CLANG! Klunk! Bang! Sigh. And what do I get if I try to sleep? Mysterious flashbacks. And who is that boy in my dreams, I wonder...? Hey! No scallions in the soup! I HATE scallions! p23 Remember? This is a story of the future. p24 ----------------- PART 21 -- MOTHERS IN MEMORIES ----------------- p26 So, where are those... gaijin from, anyway? Hmm... This book... ...that you stole from the Gaijin Hall... Hey! I didn't steal it! I was going to return it after you finished reading it! Not my fault they sealed the tunnel. p27 Oh! What's this toy for? It's a Russian drum toy. "Russian" drum toy? It's based on Russian Roulette. People are supposed to take turns spinning it. If some unlucky player hits a certain point on the drum, it'll p28 Unbelievable... So advanced... No! I should say... too advanced! Oh? p29 I can't figure out the details, but if this is true... that planet won't last for long. Planet? What's this? p30 It's not going to explode! Forget it! Would you like to come with me to visit my mother's grave? Hah? Oh! Your mother's anniversary is coming soon? Okay! Where is it? Here. p31 Uh...where's Edo? Here. They're right next to each other! On a 42 million to 1 scale! Oh. What does that mean? Oneesan, I'm hungry. Wait, I'll make some rice balls. Oh! I want some too! p34 The Red Light Legion's dirigible exploded? Yup! They say all the corpses washed ashore. Some were even dashed to pieces on the reefs! Were they still all wearing those masks? Yup! p35 Guess that means they're all dead. Maybe... and maybe not. In any case, there's no way to be sure. p36 I hear you're going with Chinpi to visit his mother? Yup. I hear it's a 4 to 5 day journey. I don't like the idea of him going by himself, so I'm going with him. Good thinking. Well...it is a good season for travelling. You know, I haven't left Edo for some time now... You can come with us, Keshi-oniisan! p37 Good thinking. Get some exercise! I haven't visited my mother for a while, either. Keshi-oniisan, what was your mother like? A respectable, kindly... beauty who smiled a lot. Or so I've been told. She died when I was six... so I don't remember her very well. p38 Compared to Natane and Sanshou, I'm lucky,... Their mothers died before they were even cognizant, so they don't even recall their mothers' appearances! You're the one most worthy of envy. So many memories of yourself together with your mother... Even though...you probably took her loss the hardest, eh? Erm... p39 Keshi-oniisan, could you do that roof too? Sure! Where's the stupid-looking guy that was with you? Sorry, no one fitting that description up here! Get down here! I've something to tell you! Really! Call me oniisan! Now! Yeah, right! p40 You have free time tomorrow? Tomorrow? Oh, I'll be real busy. I have to fold my futon in the morning! Then I have to wash my face, eat breakfast... Want to watch a play together? What? Trying to date me? Let me finish! I have a good reason! O-Kayo has tickets that she'll share with me... p41 ...on the condition that you'll come, too. I don't want to watch a play. But I do! Come on, aren't you going to give in when your cute sister begs you? Whaddaya mean, cute? Sanshou! Careful! That's a weak spot...! p42 This is what they call, "Man a'from heaven"! Oneesan, I'm hungry! Meow! Alright! Thanks. What? I haven't accepted yet! p43 ------------------ PART 22 -- LUCKY! ------------------ p44 Where's O-Kayo? p45 The play's going to start without her. Ho hum. Go over there and look for her. Go yourself. Are you Miss Natane, from the Karakuri tenements? I'm Yohei, a servant from Shinetsu-ya. Miss O-Kayo wanted me to give you these tickets. p46 Where is she? So sorry! An urgent message from a relative, Miss couldn't come herself. She's very sorry, especially towards Master Shichimi! I'll be off then! You can go. Why, you... p48 What's that idiot doing? Shush! His name's Yumesaburo Tawara... Currently, he's the most handsomest and most popular actor in Edo. Whatever, but... With all this screaming, how can anyone hear him? It means they like him! Or how can you hear me, for that matter? He's so manly. I could watch him forever. A man shouldn't be such a show-off. I can't hear you! p49 Oh? You're going on a grave visit? Good idea. p50 It is better to have someone along. Hey! Wanna go too! Better prepare the sacrificial props. ??? You're too little. WANNA GO! DON'T CARE! I wanna go! Wanna go! Okay, okay! Waa... Keshi! How about if we all go? p51 That way, we can all understand each other better... ...and we can also visit the different places where we all grew up. How about Asajirou-oniisan? He should be back soon. We can leave a message telling him to catch up. This way... we can start building some shared experiences, too. And most importantly-- when we're traveling, maybe we can figure out who our father really is. p52 HA-CHOO! p54 Chief... p55 "You're ???" "???" p56 What? I said, it's being a firefighter that makes him cool! No it isn't! It's being Yumesaburou that makes him cool! Stupid! He'd be cool even as a manga-ka! Hi! p57 Yumesaburou...he seems to be quite popular. I've heard some nasty rumors about him. Oh? They say that after each performance, he picks girls from the audience, invites them to dinner, and drugs their drinks. Then he...hee hee! Only men who can't get their own girls would spread such a silly story. Being popular with the ladies isn't so great! I can attest to that. Oh? Funny... Out of all the girls in the audience, there aren't many pretty ones... Are you sure you're here to watch the play? p59 I'd say, only three of them are worth looking at. Not much. I better be one of your three! Gong! Gong! You! And you! And YOU! By random selection, these three are our lucky winners who get to be tonight's dinner guests of Yumesaburou! p60 Oh! Darn it! I'm so disappointed! Great! These three? Random selection? Heh, what a coincidence. p61 --------------------- PART 23 -- OUT YOUR ASS ??? --------------------- p62 Haha! I see. Hm. Sorry, but only these three are invited. I'm Number 2's bodyguard... Let's go, girls. p63 You're in charge of dinner. To ???ya? Yes, please. Hunh! Hunh! Hunh! p65 Edo's most popular, most handsome actor! Yumesaburou Tawara! What's so special about him? I'll never understand girls. Might as well go home. p67 To act in "Kinji the Firefighter," I had to apprentice under the fire chief for six months. Sometimes I was actually allowed to participate! Behold! Scars from actual firefighting! Wow! Real scars! I guess it's not easy to be an actor. Yeah! You really are skilled! You can't find another person as dedicated as I in all of Japan! Dedicated to being the most popular entertainer in Japan. p68 Really? But actual firefighting is so dangerous! Yes! If your handsome face got disfigured, then every girl in Edo would be crying. Yeah! Better leave jobs like that to those ugly commoners! Hot! Hot! Oh! Sorry. Oh yes, I hear your sword-fighting skills were from one of the secret schools. Yup. Haniwa-nen style swordplay. p69 Wow! Impressive! Then you know Asajirou? So that's real swordplay on the stage? What? Asajirou. He's a follower of Haniwa-nen style as well. Um,...there are a lot of different Haniwa-nen branches, so, um... p70 Huh? Hic! Sorry... wrong room. Hic! Sorry! Sorry! I hate drunkards! Yeah! Oh! Girls, eat up! p71 All three are cute today! Hey hey! (heart) Did you drug their soup, as usual? Yes, sir. So, bro, you like number 2, Natane the best? Yup! You know me quite well, I see. Boss, don't forget us. Don't worry. Oh! Bro! Heh! Your face... Hic. p72 Hum. Haven't you found your room yet? Huh? Hic! What is it? Nothing. That drunkard seemed to be snooping outside. Drunkard? Hmm... p73 Ah... are you all finished? Even the soup, I see. Yes! It was so delicious! Oh... that's just great. p74 Heh... Come in! "Soup's" on! Heh. Hee hee... Boss! You're such a good actor! Even when compared to "Kinji the Firefighter," you're still the best at seducing women. Hmph! They even believed the scar. Why would I learn actual firefighting? Real acting isn't about learning anything! It's all just looks and acting ability. Even the Haniwa-nen style line was fake. And like fools, they took it... No wonder you didn't know my brother's name. You better watch it! p76 You see, my brother holds the record for mastering Haniwa-nen style... in the shortest time! Eh? Didn't you drink the soup? Why aren't you unconscious? I didn't drink any! Because you put scallions in it! I HATE scallions! I didn't want to be embarrassed, so I let the flowers drink it. But, but, scallions are good for you! Stop changing the subject! You wolf in sheep's clothing! p77 Can't let her expose us. You stupid girl! If you had fallen asleep like you were supposed to,... She'll take us no more than 2 or 3 tricks! Yup! Oh, yeah? I'm not alone. p78 Let me introduce you. He doesn't look like much... but he looks after his sister. Do you know a restaurant called ???ya? Heh... must be the wrong room again. Hic! p79 --------------- PART 24 -- LONG TIME NO SEE, CHIEF --------------- p80 Hic! Bye! Get back here! p81 Could you be quiet? p82 Sorry... won't take a second. Heh... Hey! Can't you see these three men are after me? You're just going to sit there and watch? I'd like to see it. Heh... this guy's all right! I'll pay for your food... Yow! You psychopath! (???) Don't even THINK of touching me! p83 I may not actually be skilled in martial arts... but I am good at catching women and children. "Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls..." I'd like to see you try! p84 Well? Anything else? Cheater! Whatever you say... Heh... Ooh, just as I thought. Beautiful, silky skin. Hee! And here are three cute little moles! Let me go! Heh... p86 What...what are you doing? I've changed my mind. Let her go. What? p89 HELP! My grandson's in there! How? It'd be suicide to enter that inferno now. Not just anybody could do it. Don't worry! There's an expert here! Huh? Wow! It's Yumesaburou Tawara! Oh! Kinji the firefighter! p90 No...that's... just acting... All right! Yumesaburou! You're a national hero! Yumesaburo is a man among men! You should be happy at such a large audience. Come on, let's see your acting! And if you run away, you'll be the laughingstock of all Edo. p91 You'll be the next fire chief! Do you best! Yumesaburou! Yow! p93 Shichimi-oniisan!!! Shichimi...oniisan? Wait. What's your name? Let me go! Don't worry. He won't die. Uh... Trust my instincts. p94 Shintarou! p95 Are you really brother and sister? Of course! Now mind your own business! p96 Thank you! Thank you! I can't thank you enough! It was nothing. Oh! I know what you could do for me. Is there a hotel named ???ya around here? p97 ----------------- PART 25 -- LET YOUR LOVED ONES TRAVEL ----------------- p99 What's your name? Huh? p101 Ow! Still hurt? Hi! "Bonjour"! Need some more medicine? Don't worry. This is nothing. I'll be fine in a day or so. p102 No. You'll scar! A scar is the medal of a true man. Ouch! You whole body is covered with burns! None of your business. So what? I'm not going to listen to girls who run away with guys based purely on appearances. Silly! I just wanted to see if the rumors about Yumesaburou were true. p103 Didn't you stick out your head a bit too far for that? You were a girl all alone by herself! What if something happened? Then I'd rely on the fact... that I'd have a brother who would follow me even when I told him not to. You're such a dependable brother. Ha! I just couldn't find the way home. But it was really dangerous back there... If not for that strange ronin... Ronin? p104 Yeah. His swordplay was phenominal. Oh! I think he knows you; he asked me about you. Strange ronin...phenominal swordplay? I only know... ...one person fitting that description. p106 What's up with Yumesaburou Tawara? The story of his shame at the inferno spread around Edo like wildfire. No one wants to watch his plays now. Sigh... Dangerous professions, actors and manga-ka. Once they fall, they fall hard. Yeah. p107 A grave visit? Hm, All of you?? Yes. p108 Since we all grew up in different environments... to understand each other better, and to revisit our birthplaces, we'll... It'll be a long journey. Journeying together, we can forge some wonderful memories. Visit your birthplaces? Yes. In other words... ...retrace the steps of our father. p109 Hack hack! This is our itinerary... If Asajirou comes back, tell him to find us. Well... thank you for everything. Hanzo! p110 Heh! Hanzo!! Here! p112 Grave visit? Ooh! Their mothers will be happy. If possible, I'd like to go too! Lots of warm memories in those places. p113 That's what I'm worried about. I'm afraid their investigations may uncover things about you, sir. Ha! Ha! Don't worry! My disguises were perfect! Sometimes a wandering performer... sometimes a reserved, travelling monk. and sometimes, a weird magazine editor! But my real identity is... Fwap! Hey! Old man! [Manga] In any case, in such a long journey, something's bound to happen. Let Hanzo follow them secretly! If something happens... Travel is by nature dangerous... it imparts maturity. It's said... "If you love them, let them travel!" Hey! Pay attention! p115 ------------------ PART 26 -- BON VOYAGE ------------------ p117 I planned a trip, but I met a torrid rain; I planned a game, but I met a stupid opponent! Your turn! I think you're the "stupid opponent;" checkmate! Uh! Are you guys ready? Hi! p118 What's this "Hi"? We're leaving! Hello? We're not in a hurry; why leave in this weather? No! It's a lucky day for travelling! It's not as if it's a marriage! Who cares of the day's lucky or not? No! I've already drawn lots at the shrine! We're leaving today! You, superstitious? I don't believe it. This rain will stop in a couple of hours! Yeah! Two more hours! p120 Mm...maybe... As the general said... True bravery and strength is not born of luxury, but amid the winds or peril! Sip... Then again, there's a gaijin phrase: "Trips are trouble!" But through those hardships, the mutual cooperation will bring them closer together. Instead of pointless worrying... why not await their triumphant return? They're all yours, Hanzo! p121 You call me, sir? What are you doing?! Huh? They've left already! It's still raining like mad, though. Stop kidding. They'd catch a cold if they went out... p122 You're so stubborn! p123 Look! The cloud layers are moving! The rain'll stop soon. By then, we'll be so wet it won't matter! A lucky day, eh? Hee! Hee! Hee! Sanshou! Don't run! Walk slowly! p124 See? Ow! Waa... p125 OId woman! Is something wrong? Old man, you mean! p126 Water? Oh. Thanks! Gurgle! Gurgle! Wow! I haven't eaten so well in years! Three days without food or drink makes anything seem good, eh? No, that's not what I meant... these rice balls would be tasty any time! p127 Well, duh... Don't forget to leave some for us. Oh? Oops! There's only... one left. Really!? You shouldn't eat that much no matter how hungry you are! True! I know! Keep it and save it for later! Here. Sniff... Thank you all! Now I can go find my friends in Edo! You saved my life! p128 I don't know how to thank you. Why not accept this? What is it? It'll help you in times of trouble. Oh! Really? I'll keep it, then. Good luck! Bye-bye! p129 Sir, get on the sedan??? before you catch pneumonia. Yes. Hi! Bon voyage, children... p130 Oh? What is this thing?! This is the symbol of the shogun! Really? That old man... it's gotta be fake. Or stolen! p131 Real or not, it's bound to cause trouble! Right! I'll throw it away! I knew something was fishy from the start... That old man...? Look! p132 A beautiful rainbow, seeing us off on our journey. p133 --------------------- PART 27 -- THAT'S OUR 50 RYOU --------------------- p136 Hey! Wait! Excuse me,.. what am I about to do? Commit suicide by jumping into the river. Correct! Uh... It just rained. There's lots of water in the river. Don't worry, you shouldn't have any trouble drowning. No,...aren't you going to ask me why? p137 Sorry... we already met a strange man at the start of our trip. We don't want to be fooled again. Besides, we don't even have to ask you to figure out why. What kind of an attitude is that? You're no fun! Can't you at least let the readers in? Okay; you're a chronic gambler! A very unlucky one! And to get out of debt, you stole from the public treasury. And now you're finishing it all! Jump! Die! Water ghost! p138 But no one should lose all the time! The games must be rigged! Yes, must be! Of course they're rigged. This is called "digging your own grave"! But don't you think... that killing oneself over a mere 20 ryou is very sad? So go and earn 20 ryou! Well, 20 ryou is nothing at the casino, but to earn it through hard work... could take years! Heh! You deserve to die. p140 Don't follow us! Hmph! I want you to be punished for ignoring an unfortunate soul! I'm jinxed! So if I follow you, you'll bound to be unlucky! Hee hee... That's preposterous! p142 Your money... ...or your life! Waah! I *am* jinxed! Shut up! p143 Oh! p144 Here, out in the daylight, and they still dared to rob passerbys? Yeah! So what do we do about them? Can't leave them in the road like this. Oh! I'll take care of this annoyance! Even though you got me in trouble, I'll do it as a favor on account of saving my life! Heheh! Who got who in trouble? You'll get in trouble anywhere! Yes! Good luck on your journey! Farewell! p146 Wanted: The Fox Brothers Reward: 50 ryou p147 Hey! Wait! p148 50 ryou?!? Why, that...! p150 Found him! Oh! Uh... p151 ------------------- PART 28 -- ??? ------------------- p152 Please don't ask. You can guess. You mean you already...? Uh-huh. All of the 50 ryou...? All of the 50 ryou. p153 DIE!! Yow! I was going to jump myself! Forget that! I'll kill you right now! Even for a gambler, that was too fast, though. I told you, it's gotta be rigged! p154 So, then, why the hell did you go?! Hey! Calm down! Up to then, I thought that I was just unlucky... But now... I'm sure of it! Positive! They're rigged! What? You spent the 50 ryou just to figure out if the games were rigged?? 50 ryou that was supposed to be OURS!? Hey! I'll fall! p155 Oh? There's still one left!! p156 With that swimming ability, you expected to drown yourself? Oh! Gimme another chance! Haven't learned your lesson, eh? p157 Then...we'll go to the hotel. Okay. p158 I'll get back our 50 ryou. Don't worry. Didn't expect you to get so worked up over money. I don't want four water ghosts haunting me! Like this loser? No way! Don't you remember my skills? This baldy knows more about dice than his books! Jinx! Lead the way! Ow! p159 Welcome to our palace ??? Casino Want to try your luck? C'mon in! Let's go. C'mon, c'mon! Odd! Even! Bets placed! Open! Let's see! 4-6 even! 5-2 odd! Odd! Even! p161 Wow! Understand? This is the way to play! That's enough sweet stuff, right? I know! Even! p162 Snake eyes even! Odd! 3-6 Odd! Hey! You want to give 'em cavities? No more sweet stuff! Heh, yeah. Even. Odd! Even! p163 Thank you! Come again! What's going on? Um...er... p164 Mmph! Mmph! That bastard monk! Catch him! Don't let him get away! It was a fine place! Only an imbecile like you would blame the casino! With luck and skill, one can still win. Whap! p165 Yeah,.. I know I'm not cut out to be a gambler. I won't play again! Good bye. What you stole from the treasury... Huh? 20 ryou, right? Work hard and luck will return naturally! What goes around, comes around! Oh...thank you! Thank you! p166 Kill! Kill them! Get our money! What are you doing? Aren't you one of our men? p167 Heh. Yeah... p168 Nice weather today! I thunk I drunk a little too much yessherday! Phew! Not just a little! Sanshou! Careful! Ha! Hey! Want ride! No! p169 --------------- PART 29 -- NICE KID? (???) --------------- Summer-- Sun-- Bikinis-- p172 Um...travelling is good! p173 Yay! Hey! You guys! Woah! Feels great! Come on! Really! Only thinking of fun and not what's planned! You could go ahead by yourself... Wata! Wata! Wata! That's right! Sanshou's never seen the sea. Oh well... I guess we can spare the time. Oh? So we're staying? p175 Hello, ladies! Eee! Aaa! Bald guy! p176 Aren't you going to swim? Someone has to look after this stuff! I think you just can't swim! p177 After all that, and you can't swim?? p178 Gulp! Oh! Aren't you that suicidal gambler? What are you doing here? Oh! Well, I'm not sure myself, but I seem to have trouble drowning. I think I managed to swim here after jumping off that bridge. Hold it! That means... you gambled off the 20 ryou?? p179 Get back here! Huh? You can't swim? Hmph! Having a weakness makes a man more attractive! Strange! You can rush straight into a burning fire, but not into the water? I have it! Try this gadget! Huh? p182 Not bad! Not bad! Not bad! Not bad! p184 Hey! I lost my bathing suit! Oh no! It's floating away! Get it back! Hm! p185 Wow! What beautiful seashell flowers! For me? No! I mean... that's... I know. For your mother, right? Un. If she had lived longer, she would have been able to see your wonderful inventions... ----------------------- End of Book 3