Niji-iro Tougarashi (Rainbow-colored Peppers) Translation by Wei-Hwa Huang (whuang@ugcs.caltech.edu) Book 4, Version 0 5/29/97-6/5/97 Originally published in Shonen Sunday Heisei year 2 (1990), week 35 to week 45? p5 ------------- PART 30 -- THE GRAVE OF CHINPI'S MOTHER ------------- p7 Oh! How cute! Watch OUT! p8 This dog... Hahah! Chinpi, I see you still remember! Sensei!! p9 Sensei? Yep. Apparently, he was one of Chinpi's neighbors years ago. An old inventor. I see. Hey girls! Oh! Help! Eh? Where's Sanshou? Huh? p10 Sanshou-- That's it for now. Remember! Don't tell them about me! p11 Sanshou-- Oneechan! Sensei, what is this? Huh? This thing? It's my proudest invention! Do you know what this is? A bulky turtle! p13 No, a submarine! Sub...mar...ine! It's especially used for testing water samples and observing the ocean floor! It really works! Aren't you a bit old to be lugging it around, though? You forget about the weight when you think of all the pretty girls you can spy on, right? p14 ??? Dau4 Zhu3 Shen2 p15 Grave of Chinpi's Mother Boy, this gravestone's pretty straightforward! I think it's for the benefit of the readers. Who built such a beautiful grave for Mother? p16 I don't know either. Someone sneaked into the local shrine without waking the monk and left money and a note. This was right after you reached Edo. A friend of our father's? Very likely. And... the monk was a strong martial artist; since he didn't detect anything, this "friend" is no normal being! Aa-choo! p18 Fireflies! Pretty, no? This place is famous for its fireflies! I see! p19 There's a firefly on your eye. It's a tear. You're too honest. p20 All this commotion! What's that old inventor doing at this time of night?! p21 What happened? p22 I did it! What is it, sensei? Heh,...surprised, eh? Let me show you... ...how to make a pile of junk. p23 --------------- PART 31 -- MAGIC DUST --------------- p26 Dang it! It's impossible to sleep with all this clamor! "Seishun ???" Snore... Look! Someone gave me a watermelon while on my walk! Wish I was a girl; getting free stuff just from walking around. Oh, no. It's not just being a girl; it's being a cute girl! p27 Of course! I'll cool it in the well for you. Shichimi went out! I was looking for Sanshou! They went out together! Bug catching! Bugs? Jeez... Why do boys like collecting gross disgusting bugs like that? Liking bugs is a requisite for becoming a famous manga-ka! p30 Wow! So pretty! Keshi-niichan! Catch one for me! Don't you know that fireflies are "bugs" too? Wow! So pretty! Women! Can't understand 'em! p33 Did it fail? No. It was a big success. But, you don't look too happy... Because it was made according to your designs. I didn't invent a thing! p34 So...what is it for? For spreading magic dust... into the fields. Magic dust? Hnh! While you were in Edo, you must have heard... about the gaijin. p35 Huh? Yeah... they made this. In a short time, it can get rid of pests and weeds, make wheat grow faster, ensuring a large crop every year! Supposedly, many regions near Edo have used it with good results; our mayor had to pull quite a few strings to get this sack! Let's start the experiment! p36 Mmm...good. p37 This will save a lot of work for the farmers. Everyone will be happy! Beetle! ??? Locust! If you don't know these bugs, you'll never be a good manga-ka. p38 Eeek! Why didn't you put it in a cage! Gross! Hmph! They're just as buglike as fireflies! Snashou! Get some grass to feed them with! We'll cage these. Okay! p41 --------------------- PART 32 -- BUGS ARE BUGS, PLANTS ARE PLANTS... --------------------- p42 Hey! Wait! p43 Sanshou! What are you fighting over? Waah... Sanshou's just looking for a scapegoat! What? All the bugs you caught died? p44 So he thought I did it! I see. You are the only one here who hates bugs... Waah! But I didn't do anything! Well, bugs don't have a long lifespan to begin with, and they *were* all cooped up in cages... But it sure is a strange coincidence that they all died at the same time! Sanshou, where did you get these leaves? p45 What's in this sack? Huh? That? Magic dust. Magic dust? p46 Supposedly, it gets rid of pests and weeds, lets wheat grow faster, ensuring a large crop every year! Oh... p47 Farmers. From dusk to dawn, the whole family has to work hard, and because of the weather, they only have one small harvest a year. But that could all change... Magic dust... p48 It'll reduce their work by half! Gets rid of pests and weeds, lets wheat grow faster, It's already been proven effective in the townships around Edo! Bugs are bugs... plants are plants, right? Huh? But pests are different bugs, and weeds are different plants? Recategorized so easily? Some things are good for humans, but are a threat to other living things. And some things may be bad for humans, but may be necessary for some other species' survival! p49 And then that species could be a threat to another one... or a necessity! Huh? What? Look! All these bugs we caught! Can your magic dust really "cleanse" them? Just kill the bad ones? p50 I didn't think so. And so this stuff, can it kill men too? No! Well, not unless it gets eaten directly... I mean, if used improperly... You mean it doesn't stay in the ground? Or in water? Now that you've mentioned the gaijin made it, it reminds me... In that book I stole from the Gaijin Hall... p51 Those were also pictures of "magic dust"! Didn't you see them? Aren't you worried? p52 I can't tell without further research. It's only a hypothesis... but it'll make less work for the farmers! You can't deny that! It's not just this village. Something this convenient will spread the country in an instant! Once a man's life becomes easier-- he'll never return to hard work! But, but, you don't know how hard they work! True. I don't know. Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. p53 In any case, we'll know how much we gained, but we'll never know just how much we've lost. Sigh! What a shame. p54 Years ago, there was a famine. Many of the villagers died. They say there were many parents who died of malnutrition because they gave every little scrap of food to their children. Oh. One of them was Chinpi's mother. Um. p58 It's amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Really? I've something more amazing to tell you, then. In truth, Chinpi here is responsible for all of it! What? Thank you! Thank you! p59 ------------------- PART 33 -- GOODBYE, FIREFLY VILLAGE ------------------- p60 The scattering isn't finished yet! Don't come outside! p64 Chinpi? Where are you going? Me? Outside. He's acting funny. Don't worry. He's just feeling nostalgic. Yup! And Natane's next. Ha! How can I be nostalgic when I don't remember anything? A shame, really... p66 The more one gains... the more one loses... p67 Don't worry. You'll be fine. p68 It's just flour. WHAT? When Chinpi wasn't noticing... I looked in his notes (Notes on Magic Dust) He was quite detailed about the dust's chemistry. According to these notes, the "dust" would have drastic effects on the soil and water. p69 From my years of research and experience, boosted by Chinpi's experiments... I made a decision. I hid it from the mayor, and told him to make an announcement to the villagers. That once we used this dust, work would be easier and our crops would be bigger. Funny thing is... all of the pesticide turned into flour! I guess the dust was magic, after all! Ha ha! p70 Yuck! p71 Chinpi...good luck. Oh! You too, sensei. Take care of yourself. If you get fed up with Edo, you're always welcome here. p72 We'll be here for you. Me and the fireflies. Let's go, Chinpi! p73 The people in this village aren't very good at expressing their emotions. Huh? You wouldn't understand it if I told you. But... I suppose I should have known that already. Hey! Walk faster, you two! Coming! p75 Where are they? "Asahi-ya" It should be this inn, right? Right! That's what we agreed upon! It's all your fault! Complaining about your stupid foot. I could be watching fireworks now, with the others! But it really does hurt! p76 Welcome! I'm so envious... What a young couple you are! We're siblings! Haha! I see! I see! I understand perfectly. One futon will be enough? We're siblings! "Asahi-ya Annex" p77 ----------------- PART 34 -- THE OLD MAN AND THE BATH ----------------- p78 "Asahi-ya Main Building" p79 Where are those two? Maybe they couldn't find this inn and went somewhere else. Don't worry! Natane and Shichimi? They can take care of themselves. We'll look for them tomorrow if they haven't shown up by then. All right then. We'll do just that. Here! Let's drink! p80 That room across from us... ...is so noisy! You know, the others probably got drunk while watching the fireworks. Then, instead of coming here, they decided to stop at a local tavern and party. Um. You're probably right. Ha -- Ha -- Hey! Hm? p81 This means... Tonight, in this room... It's just us. Wait! Idiot! What are you thinking!? We're siblings! What's there to worry about!? Don't think things like that. p82 Oh? But you're a new sibling... "Old" sibling? "New" sibling? Does it matter? Of course. I want to change. Step out. What are you thinking?! We're siblings! What's there to worry about!? I guess it does matter. p83 Might as well go to the bath. Wow! Ooh! p84 "Tonight, in this room..." We're siblings! p86 Gosh! Now you're seeing things! Snap out of it! p87 Eeeek! That's my line! What are you doing here? I'm eating dinner --- What does it look like I'm doing? This is the women's bath! No it isn't! It specifically said the men's bath outside! p88 I made sure it was the women's bath! Asahi-ya Hotel, Simplified Map Main Building Annex Bath Where is the bath? Make a right there and keep on going straight. Is it separated? Tee hee... yes, but only the entrance. Only the entrance. Heheh. p89 So I guess the bath is for both sexes. I guess so. p90 What are you thinking? Huh? N..nothing. If we grew up together, we'd bathe together like this a lot. Not at our current ages! Tee hee...where are the girls? p91 I'll get rid of them. Why don't you go back to the room? Oh? Hmph! It's a he. p92 Whew! Excuse me. It's hot today, isn't it? Whew--feels great. Bathing under the moon. It'd be even better with a pretty girl. p93 Right? Old man! Are you okay? Glurg! W...where am I? Don't you read Niji-iro Tougarashi? This is a bath! Bath? I hate baths! You forgot again, didn't you, Maw? p94 What's up with the old man? Nothing. Don't mind him. We used to bathe with Natane years ago. Sure can't now. Yeah. Almost like magic, our little Natane's grown into... a little beauty. Oh-- Nata--ne-- Nata--ne-- Natane p95 --------------- PART 35 -- THE OLD MAN IN THE MOUNTAINS --------------- p96 Nata--ne-- Natane-- You're grown so much! Yi-yi-yi!! Ojiisan, do you know Natane? Let go of me! Gross! p97 Glurg. W...Where am I? Huh? Bath? I hate baths! You forgot again, didn't you, Maw? What? p98 That lady prepared only one futon anyway! I'll have a talk with her. Forget it. Let's just sleep together. We're siblings. What is there to be embarrassed of? Good point. p100 I guess siblings are pretty uninteresting. Natane, I'm off to become a swordsman... p102 Oh! Onii--chan-- p103 Oniisan? Which one? Your favorite one? No. I don't know who he is... but he's not any of you. I have this dream a lot. Since I was a child. p104 So, is this the first time... you've returned to your birthplace? Yeah.. Asahi-ya annex Lots of memories, eh Not really -- I was so young; I don't remember much. You could ask your neighbors. We lived deep in the mountains. No neighbors to speak of. Oh. But...um... I think...you would...still... Actually, I don't want any memories. p105 I just came back to let my mother rest in peace... ...let her know that I have so many brothers near me, that I'm living happily. Oh! What? Nothing. Except that I usually wake up Sanshou at this time of night to tell him to go pee! WAAH!! p106 Didn't realize there was an annex. Forget it. p108 Natane -- are we there yet? Nope. This place is sure in the middle of nowhere! Booy, you sure know how to pick a far out place! pant, pant Are we there yet? pant Almost! p109 pant pant pant Whoo!! I -- am -- pooped!! pant pant Must've drank too much last night. The house is within sight...! Only two more valleys to go! No!! p110 Why don't you all go on ahead? Big Bro and I will catch up later. Oh! That feels good. For shame! Look at that old man. Trotting like a horse. You should be more like him. p111 Him! You know him? Better ignore him. Yeah, his body is hale enough. But his brain's, well, a bit addled. Did you say something? Oh! And his ears are pretty sharp, eh? Where are you boys headed? Oh? My sister...used to live thataways. We're going there to visit. p112 Sister? What's her name? Um...Natane. Oh! Nata...ne...!! p113 --------------- Part 36 -- NATANE, HOW YOU'VE GROWN! --------------- p114 Edo -- p115 Karakuri Tenements p116 Hiss! What are you doing here? Who are you? I'm Hiro, landlord of the Karakuri Tenements. Does a girl by the name of Natane live here? Yes. But she's not here. She's on a trip with her brothers. p117 Her brothers? What's your name? What's your relationship to Natane? Why do you ask? p118 Have we met? Oh! Not really... p119 Bye. Wait! Aren't you going to tell me what your relationship with Natane is? I'm the killer of her father. p120 You're no ordinary landlord. p121 You killed her father? Liar! Believe it, or don't. Do you have proof? You can so search near her birthplace. Her mother's diary should be there. "If the shogun's memory is correct, one of them shouldn't be his child." p122 What do you think you're doing? If I don't kill you today, you'll harm Natane in the future. Probably. p123 I wish I could have sparred with you when you were younger. p124 pant Hmph! pant I wish I didn't have to get so old! p125 Don't worry! You won't be getting any older! p127 ASAJIROU! p128 Nata--ne. Sigh. Finally, she grew up. Ojii-san! p129 Did you really know Natane? pant Hey! What're you doing? This is the wrong path! You were leading! Nata--ne-- Beautiful little Natane-- Shut up! Natane-- She was so cute. A living doll. But she lost both her parents early. Such an unlucky child. Her parentS? Both? Yes... It was such an unspeakable tragedic accident... Tragedic accident? Yes, a horrible, unspeakable tragedy! What kind of tragedy? An unspeakable one! Hey!! p131 ------------------- Part 37 -- THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN ------------------- p132 This is Natane's brother, too? Hi! I, Asajirou, am back! How've you been, Landlord Hiro? Save the greetings for later! p133 Seven siblings, all the same father? How strange. Natane certainly can't have any elder brothers, let alone younger brothers. For her father's already been... Asajirou! Kill him quickly! Landlord Hiro? He looks very tough to beat. I know! That's why I'm asking YOU to kill him! p135 That was only half of my skill. Well? If you really think so, then this fight is pointless. Msot people overestimate their own skills. p137 Hmph! Didn't expect... to lose to a scruffy kid. You seem happier than that. Well, I don't feel too dejected... p138 Look! IT'S ASAJIROU! WHEE! IT IS! ASAJIROU! You cad! Leaving without telling us! Where did you go off to, anyway? Ow! That hurts! Did you read my letter? Oh! Your face is bleeding! Heavens! Let me bandage it! No, me! p139 Until we meet again. Uh...yeah. 140 Coo Coo p141 So... where are they? Oh! Ah! This is their itinerary. It's been a while since they left. If they're on schedule, they should be... at Natane's birthplace. Really,...and just when I got home, too. p144 Ojii-san... is this really a short cut? Oh! Damn! Must be lost again! Heh! I remember! Where the short cut is? No, not that. I remember about Natane's father! p145 Coo p146 Yes, he was a swordsman. He would come into these mountains alone, to train. This man was strong of will, yet kind of heart... Even I, a man, found him very likable. Um...he was a lot like me as a young man... Yes! Exactly like me! Don't get lost! But later... He met a woman who had deserted her family and background, a single mother of a little boy. Her name was Lotus ??? p147 A boy? It started out as just visits, then menial work, then he even taught her son swordplay... The three of them dined together... And then... Natane was born. Wait! Here! This is it! This is my home... p149 -------------------- PART 38 -- THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT -------------------- p150 Natane had a half-brother by the same mother? Um... That was when Natane was 2 or 3... p151 Kid! What are you doing there? I'm helping Dad with his training. He told me to set some traps on the path! But hidden daggers are dangerous! If something goes wrong... Don't worry. My Dad can handle anything. p152 If something's wrong, he'll notice immediately! If there's no danger, it's pointless. But... Just watch! Hey! Do we have to be so far away? He'll notice if we're nearby. p153 Now! p154 Dad! p155 Too easy? Haha... Compared to your last attempt, it was quite challenging! Here! This is for you. Wow! A real sword! Be careful! Yes, sir! Hey! Hum...such a lively child. p156 He's not just lively... As far as swordplay is concerned, he's got quite a bit of potential. WATCH OUT! p157 That was scary! Oh! It was very dangerous. Thank you, Dad... Dad? p159 Such a tragic accident. That lively, happy young boy... he never was quite the same again. One day, without a word, he left home. His mother eventually died of overexertion. Only little, innocent, Natane was left... What was his name? The father? Um... p160 When I came, they were already living there. She never mentioned it... Shichimi... you actually believe this old geezer? Don't you remember? ... one of us isn't related to the others. Oh! Uh... But... That's only a theory... The details should be in Natane's mother's diary. p161 It should still be in the house. Her mother wrote everything in that diary. Shichimi! Let's go! p162 Do you... remember anything? p163 Um... It feels familiar... ...but also a bit foreign. Natane... there's a box here! Where? Let's open it. What is this? Sanshou -- Stop running around up there! p164 Funny? What was that noise? Oh! There's someone there! Hm... p165 What is this thing?! Onee-san!! p166 The house is on fire! p167 ----------------- PART 39 -- THE GRAVE OF NATANE'S MOTHER ----------------- p171 Strange. There wasn't even a spark when we left it. Even stranger...how could it have flared up so quickly? What's going on? Hm... In any case... now we'll never know if that old man was telling the truth or not-- About what? I didn't hear anything. p172 Natane-- I feel bad. Seeing the house you were born in go up in flames? I understand. No. If I remembered anything, I'd probably be crying... but I don't feel a thing. p173 So, what took you two so long? Uh... we got lost. Did you visit your mother yet? Yes. I haven't; why not introduce me? Big Brother (???), you too! You two go on ahead! I want to rest a bit; I'll catch up. Really! p174 Let's go! Shichimi! I didn't hear anything, you know? What was that about? Nothing. p175 Here! Coming. p176 "The Grave of Natane's Mother" A high-quality gravestone. Our father must be rich. Yeah... Mother, this is Shichimi. He doesn't look like much, eh? He can't even swim! Oh, please! p177 He's also foolish... Just for me, he broke into jail, jumped into a burning house,... But... he really can't swim. Oh, please! There. End of Introduction. Your turn! I'll take good care of Natane from now on. Please don't worry about her. Oh, please! Stop talking like a fiance'! p178 Let's surprise Big Brother. Eh? We're not kids! It's okay; C'mon! p180 "fire no yo kokoro" Shichimi... I wonder what he's like? p182 Oh...! What a peaceful world! p184 Dang! The sun's setting, and we're still on the mountain! It's all Goma-niisan's fault for lagging behind! Looks like We'll be camping out tonight. Oh!! I'm so tired! Why not rest a bit? ---------------- End of Book