Sareki Oukoku [Gravel Kingdom] :: Yuki Kaori
      :: translated by tenno yukie ::





sareki oukoku chapter 01


Chapter 1 : "Kirameki"

text (more like a poem or prose) : universal entities of nature, in eternal 
time, from the burning sand of hell, flows the tears in blood, those who survive 
from feeding on the grains of sand.

(in the desert, someone picks up a dagger half buried in the sand...)

guy : is he here!? kanai.
kanai (this other guy, they are both riding on some camel look-a-likes and in 
some sort of cloak) : it's prince kira's dagger, he's in the vicinity. I'll go 
check out the ruins of the ancient capital.
guy : gotcha.

(later, kanai alone... sees someone)

kanai : now... you're damn lucky that the sand didn't devour you... but if 
you've come this far and haven't found it...

(the other person removes the mask he has around his nose/mouth and reveals to 
be a kid with big eyes)

kirameki : gees! the first time I come out to the desert in my life and I'm 
followed by bodyguards, it's just the same as in the city. *exhale* (later, 
alone, look around him at big plain of nothing but sand) wow...! the vastness of 
this place... (the ground beneath him starts to move) hm? (suddenly the whole 
ground starts to bulge up) wahh! what's going on!?

(a monster comes out of the sand beneath him... and opens its big jaws to the 
prince... someone is standing on its back... by the way, maybe the descriptions 
here seems rather short and crude and things are going way too fast, but this is 
an one volume short story and the pace is totally different from... say AS)

someone : wait, saryuu *sand dragon* (kirameki looks up a bit surprised, there's 
a black hair kid about his age riding on the sand dragon) look, he's still a 
kid. don't eat him. let me handle this, alright?
kirameki (surprise) : [it's huge-------- a saryuu!? and a kid is riding on it.]
kid (smile at him) : hey, I just saved your ass.
kirameki (close up of the kid, black hair, strange eyes, lively looking) : 
[and... he has golden eyes-------!]
kid : so come play with me.
kirameki : ...i will if you let me ride on that.
kid : great! let's go to the ancient city sunken into the sand.

(ok, scene changes are really quick... maybe to the point that people are not 
used to it; I'm not, for one. but this is also one of yuki kaori's first works 
where she doesn't have quite as much control over the story yet... at least 
that's the feeling I get. they are now inside some ruins in the middle of the 
desert)

kid : over here! hahah
kirameki (running after him energetically) : wait! (apparently hide and seek or 
something) huh? (catches up but there's no one there, and the place is basically 
mostly covered in sand) hey, yo... where did you go? (looking around, while a 
pair of arms are coming out of the wall covered in sand behind him, unnoticed, 
looks like they are about to grab him, suddenly a dagger stabs into one hand, 
and the kid falls out of the sand wall holding his bloody hand) ah! (sees the 
guy who threw the dagger, a tall dark hair guy with something like a cigarette 
in his mouth... if they have cigarettes in that world) kanai!? (kneeling 
protectively next to the kid) what the hell did you do that for, kanai!!
kanai (upset) : you were tricked, prince! he is a demon!! (as the black hair kid 
pulls out the dagger from his hand) he is a sand biter who lives in the desert 
and eat humans!
kirameki (shock) : [sand biter!?]

(ok... >.> I'm beginning to doubt my own reading skills after I continuously 
mess up reading the furigana cuz I usually don't pay much attention to it and 
just glance at it or something... but the katakana says "sandobaitaazu" which... 
I get the sand part, but biters sounds weird... of course, the kanji means the 
people who eats sand so that kinda makes sense... also, "sashoukuzoku" which is 
the actual kanji pronunciation is used interchangeably in this case... if you 
have absolutely no knowledge of japanese, just ignore what I just wrote...)

kid (dissolves the dagger to sand in his hand with a smirk) : I am saga of the 
sand. (flings the sand in kirameki's face, who backs off covering himself, I 
don't think "fling" is the right verb x.x)
kanai : prince!!
kirameki : (backing away with eyes shut tight) !
saga (going off into the distance) : it's a promise, prince, let's play together 
again one of these days. (disappear) ahahaha... hahahah
kanai : now you know why the king has forbid you to come into the desert. the 
sand biters controls sand demons like the saryuu and live in the desert eating 
people. humans have fought with them for hundreds of years... in the end, most 
of the kingdoms sunk into the sand like this place. we too... will have to 
confront them one day. (carries kirameki away on his shoulder... he reminds me 
of kira from AS... at least the eyes... pretty early character design of kira 
though...)
kirameki (looking back behind him) : [yes, the golden eyes are proof of demons. 
those lonely, arrogant eyes of a beast. the child of the sand, saga...]

(scene fade out...)

king : "saga"...? kanai, the sand biter child who attacked kirameki is named 
saga...!?
kanai : yes, lord izanaki.
king : ... I see, you can leave now! (looks out the window thoughtfully, he's 
tall, with long black hair, by the way, kirameki has blond hair, just as a side 
note) saga... could it be that child from back then...? perhaps it's not an 
accident that he attacked kirameki...? no, it can't be...
queen (looks at him with mixed feelings) : your majesty...!

(scene change again... x.x I told you it's fast)

text : 8 years later----- the kingdom of time.
captain (or some sort of leader of soldiers) : we are honored that our king 
izanaki comes on the inspection personally!
king (looking at soldier/knights fighting) : hm... we don't know when we might 
go to war, so I thought I should come survey this swordsman training camp that 
instructs young soldiers... (looks a bit surprised at the fight) eh! such a 
little soldier defeated a big man!
kanai (step in between the two) : that's enough!
king : and that referee is kanai?

(and that "little soldier" takes off his helmet... and he's a blond hair young 
boy)

king : !
captain (explaining cheerfully) : that is a kid who was brought in recently by 
kanai for training... his sword skills are quite sharp. (the king doesn't look 
all too happy) ? what's wrong, your majesty?
king : WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, PRINCE KIRA--------!!

(must've been really pissed... later, kirameki redressed in his prince gear... 
stands in front of his father in court)

kirameki (boldly) : I'm training my sword skills. I don't want the throne, I 
want to become the greatest swordsman in this kingdom like kanai and fight 
heroicly!
king (looks like he has a headache, while kanai is kneeling behind kirameki) : 
kira...! kanai! you're suppose to be kirameki's guardian!
kanai : yes, please forgive me.
kirameki (defensively) : don't blame it on kanai! it's all my own idea, punish 
me if you want.
king (jump up from his throne) : kirameki! you're almost 15! in the next water 
spirit ritual you will be officially named the next king! you should start to 
have more self-conscious!
kirameki (turns around and leaves, ignoring his father) : there's nothing more 
to say. let's go! kanai.
king (pissed off) : kirameki!!
queen (comes out from the back) : don't worry yourself over this, dear. boys are 
like that, (smile) he'll understand when he grows up a little more. our kingdom 
is the oasis in the heart of the desert. they've just become bored with no wars 
or political strife in recent years.
king (with a somewhat meaningful glance) : do you really think so? queen 
uraraka...

(fade out... move along, move along...)

girl : you are such an idiot! kira.
kirameki : what!!
girl (laughing at him, while kanai is sitting on the side and just watch the 
two) : how many kids are so fortunate as you to be born in a royal family, and 
you are giving it up yourself!
kirameki : worry, you just became a miko *priestess* don't you think this place 
is all nonsense? [you amateur...]
worry (laugh) : no way! it's almost the water spirit ritual isn't it? I'm so 
busy trying to memorize the spell scrolls. [not bored at all.] (kirameki looks 
bored... x.x) oh! that's right, kira!
kirameki (looks really not interested) : [what is it now!?]
worry (very cutely) : hey, want to run away with me together!? and then I'll 
even marry you.
kirameki (turns all red) : EH? (head is smoking) don't talk nonsense!! 
(sweatdrops) we're just childhood friends!
worry (looks at him funny) : I was only kidding. [idiot.]
kirameki : but worry, you're a miko, if you run away like that, the goddess 
sherafita will be furious.
worry : [aha] and it's easier than kirameki becoming a great swordsman, right? 
kanai-sama!
kanai (smile) : [heheh...] the prince's sword skills are very impressive. but 
it's still playing around, it won't do in real battle.
kirameki : kanai, what is that suppose to mean!
kanai : basically...

(suddenly, a priestess woman shows up)

priestess : worry!!
worry (jump up in this "I got caught" look) : EEK!!
priestess : you're slacking off again! come on, head back.
worry : forgive me, forgive me, onee-sama~~~~~

(note, onee-sama is older sister, or refers to women slightly older than 
yourself, but that's the furigana, the kanji says miko-from-heaven-sama... 
basically... suddenly a monster pops up from the ground and grabs worry's ankle)

worry : ahhhh!
priestess : !
kirameki : a sand demon!!
kanai : watch closely, prince! (draws his sword) in battle, the one who gets all 
worked up does not win. (slash the monster in half) hide your own aura and read 
the moves of your opponents. (pulls out his sword, wth his back turned, another 
monster pops up behind him but he doesn't seem to notice) if you reveal any 
emotions, (suddenly turns swiftly and cuts the monster in half) you die! (puts 
his sword back) -----well basically that's it.
kirameki (all starry eyed with this admiring face) : kanai~~~~~ *heart, heart*

(ok, this is really weird.................... but I think the text on the side 
says "hug me" T.T ok... not that I think, I KNOW... but... I don't think 
kirameki is yet another fruit so I dunno why those words are there x.x *AHEM...* 
not that there's anything wrong... but because of worry... ... I dun think that 
was too appropriate???)

worry (being chased by another monster) : ahhhh (just trying to fend the monster 
off, but unintentionally, a ball of light comes from her and holds the monster 
back)
monster : GARRR
priestess (shock) : !
kirameki (to the rescue) : bastard! (slash monster) you alright!? worry!
worry (fallen back to the ground) : ...u, um, but... just now, there was 
something strange...?
priestess (helping her up, still looks shocked) : ......! (thinking to herself) 
that light just now, could it be...! (dragging worry away) thank you, prince! 
now, let's go, worry!!
worry : oh... (calling back) kira...! (looks a little upset)
kirameki (slow as he is x.x doesn't get it at all... thinking) : worry...?
kanai (looking at the monsters) : although far off, this place is still part of 
the kingdom. and the sand demons got in... the king has wanted to tell you this, 
prince.
kirameki : eh?
kanai : as we speak, the amount of sand on the streets is increasing. there has 
been sand found in the wells in the east, causing water problems and the sand 
demons continue to threaten the people's lives. if this continues, the king 
fears that the kingdom of time will also sink into the desert. therefore this 
country need a capable successor... a young lord...! (smile) and that would be 
you, prince. I want to see you as a king.
kirameki (bit annoyed) : jeez, you're siding with father too?
kanai : no, I am a servant to you alone. (point to a little scar on his 
forehead) look at this, as long as I have this scar...! that you have given me, 
(bows slightly) I will forever serve only one.
kirameki (looks at his city) : I do understand, that the kingdom of time is a 
green oasis. but in reality we fear the great wind and sand storms, and the 
threat posed by the sand biters. we locked behind bars of sand for life and only 
struggles to live on. (looks sad) -------I know it all.
kanai : that is all true, prince. just like worry-dono would be sold to the 
temple to be a miko for money... of course by her own parents.
kirameki (stunned) : what!?
kanai : because only a child born in the year of water, the month of water and 
the hour of water can become a miko of water. you can't say the times are bad 
now, but it's not perfect either. it's also for the sake of children like her, 
prince kira.
kirameki : [sold... by her parents...!?] then... then what she said...!
worry (flashback faintly, seems to be smiling cheerfully but...) : [want to run 
away together? kira.]
kirameki : [worry...!] (night, sitting in his room looking out the window a bit 
depressed)

(somewhere that has sand...)

text : hehehe, hahahah I'm definitely come and play with you, kira. we promised, 
right? ahahah

(the king gets up become something seems to have awakened him)

king : what is it!!
guard (enter, seems shaky) : your majesty... my queen...
king : what is that sound, guard!!
guard (starts to dissolve into sand) : the sand has...! (falls to skeletons will 
all flesh dissolved) Ahhhh!
someone (steps over his bones and comes in) : pleased to meet you, father... and 
my queen. (it's a teenage boy with dark skin and black hair) I am saga of the 
sand.
king (seems shocked) : saga... you say...!?
saga : I've wanted to meet you, father... why didn't you come to see me. I ... 
have been waiting for so long. (looks at the king with sad eyes, and runs into 
the king's arms) how cruel of you, father... have you forgotten about me? it's 
going to be the water spirit ritual shortly right? the throne belongs to me and 
not kira.
king : it's... it's not like that. saga...! you're suppose to be dead!
saga : yes... the pain of burning in the darkness... I have awakened from 
beneath the sand. (stabs a dagger suddenly into the king's chest) I dreamt of 
the day when I tear father and kira into a thousand pieces. (the king looks 
shocked in death) hey... why did you want to kill me?

(the king falls to the ground dead, the queen screams)

queen : KYAHHHHH AHHHHHHHH-------
saga (with a very crazed look in his eyes, holding the bloody dagger and looking 
at the dead king) : oh yes, a corpse won't be able to answer, ahahah... hahah... 
[ahaha...]

end of chapter 1

yukie's note : ok, I noticed that I used some strange sound effects that I never 
used... like garrr or eek... I never write like that in my translations, but I 
think it's just because I'm in such a relaxed mood today after I finished my 
exams that my style of writing has become a lot less serious... I was typing 
them in almost a comical sense ^^;;; although I doubt you would find it funny...

top



sareki oukoku chapter 02


Chapter 2 : "Kanai"

(blood)

queen (screaming) : AHHHHHHHHHHH---- dear... (in horror) dear-----!! (knocked 
out, faint) ah...
saga (as if talking to someone) : what should we do with this queen? Sajuraou.

(some guy wearing a Arabian looking sultan clothing pops up from the ground, 
actually, the opposite of disintegrating, he "integrates" from the sand x.x)

sajuraou : seal her heart and turn her into a gravel puppet. Kill her after the 
spirit ritual.
saga : gotcha.
sajuraou : and now... (walk up to the king) izanagi-ou, lend me your form for 
just a while now. (grab the king by the hair) until I turn this country into a 
gravel kingdom...!

(kira wakes up)

kirameki : hm...? [somehow... it feels like I had a strange dream...?]
maid : prince! this is urgent! go to the palace hall now! the king has summoned 
you! a... and...

(the "king" is on his throne and w/ saga standing next to him, dressed like a 
prince)

king : I introduce to you the first prince, saga. kira's twin older brother. 
(everyone murmuring) silence!!
text : older brother...!? he meant older brother...!? but I never heard about 
that, not at all...! and as for saga... it's the same name as the sand biter 
child eight years ago. the boy who had the golden eyes that were proof of being 
a demon... of course his eyes color is different but the mood just seem alike... 
(kira looks surprised)
council (among themselves) : what is the meaning of this!? the prince is not the 
only one? first time I ever heard of a prince saga!
saga : silence! hold your peace before the king! (everyone shuts up)
king : no wonder everyone has doubts. as you all know, twins are seen as an evil 
omen since ancient times, therefore when they were born, the oracle conducted 
the will of the gods. "the older one who will be king... saga, that is, send him 
to study in a secret and sacred place until the 15th spirit ritual"... his 15 
years of studies is now over. he has returned in order to succeed the throne at 
the spirit ritual. (kira looks surprised and kanai is somewhat unconvinced)
text : so that's it, it has to be the idea of those superstitious elders.
king : kirameki! you have no objections?
text : but what can I do now, I said myself that I didn't want to inherit the 
throne.
kirameki (surprised that he's called on) : oh... yeah...! (evil glare from saga) 
!
saga : so you must be prince kira, I've always wanted to meet you, dear brother. 
(extends a hand) I am the new comer here, so there's a lot of things I must 
learn from you. (shake hands, but kira looks painful, while saga's expression is 
dead)
kirameki : ...uh! (sees the really dark look on saga's face) [what is it!?]

(later)

kirameki : that's so strange.
kanai : of course! if that is so, then why did the lord always press kira-sama 
to inherit the throne!
kirameki : it's like I felt a strong hatred.
kanai (surprised) : huh? [how can you tell]

(even later)

label : heavenly temple of water
priestess : forgive me, prince, but water priestess worry is now in purification 
in the sacred pool.
kirameki : purification!?
priestess : worry has been chosen by the council in heaven as the head priestess 
of the water spirit ritual. she is in preparation for that.
kirameki (really surprised, sweatdrop) : [EH!?] then, when will she be done?
priestess : prince, worry won't be having contact with any males anymore, even 
if you are the prince. now please leave! (slams door shut)
kirameki : how... [how can this be-----!?] (image of worry making a face at 
him... next you see him climbing over the wall with kanai's help) I have to hear 
it straight from worry no matter what!
kanai (supporting him, sweatdrop) : .........
kirameki (lands with a thud) : the head priestess is a sacred girl whom the 
water goddess possesses. I heard it's already been over a hundred years since 
that happened. [the head priestess is the highest honored virgin in our 
kingdom.] (pushing through trees) ah! [how can that wild miko-in-training ever 
do it!] (sees a girl standing in a pool) worry!!

(worry turns around, there's some sort of different air about her, that makes 
kira stops right there)

worry : ~prince. oh, the fated prince.~ (there's a strange mark on her forehead)
text : that's the mark of water on her forehead--------!?
worry : ~my name is sherafita.~
kanai : what's wrong, worry-dono...!
kirameki : no!! [that's not worry----!!]
worry : ~listen carefully. yesterday came a breeze of diasterous sand storm.~
kirameki : !
worry (getting out of the pool) : ~kanai, is your loyalty marked in that wound 
on your forehead?~
kanai (surprised) : what?
worry : ~the time of your destiny comes closer as you reach the point of life 
and death... for the path of your belief, you must cross the burning desert and 
mountains of trial. will you go? on to the path to hell...~
kanai : I don't know what this is all about, but my path is the prince's path.
kirameki : [kanai...!]
worry : ~so be it... if that is the fate you have chosen...!~

(in a flash of light, it appears the goddess has left worry's body)

kirameki : worry!
worry (returning to normal) : ah...... kira...? (suddenly jump on him) kira!!
kirameki (sweatdrops, and unexpected) : worry!? what was that just now...
worry (looks unsure) : I don't know but last night suddenly there was someone 
else inside me... it seems to be sherafita-sama. the priestesses in heaven says 
that I am the goddess's incarnation! (grab kira's shirt) hey, you have to be 
king, kira!
kirameki : what... 
worry : at the next water spirit ritual, I will become the head priestess 
officially. I will have no freedom from now on and only prayers everyday... 
cannot fall in love or get married. only the king can decide to have the head 
priestess resign. therefore you have to be king, kira! I don't want to be a 
priestess, as things are going, i... i... will never see you again! (crying, 
crouching down) not that, no...!
text : worry...!

(later, kira seems to be in a whole lot of troubles)

kanai : prince kira, (point to his forehead with has a little scar on it) do you 
remember the time I received this wound?
text (a younger kanai) : eight years ago in a war with the neighboring country, 
I was still a little punk carrying a sword.and when the little squadron I lead 
was completely wiped out in battle due to my arrogance, the furious izanagi-ou 
decided to have me executed. (kanai kneeling in front of the court, looks 
ashamed, with some bandages etc)
kirameki (much younger, hey, it's 8 yrs ago) : please wait, father. allow me.
king : oh, kira! now that's my son.

(kira draws his sword and stands over kanai, blood, everyone looks really 
surprised... kira puts back his sword)

kirameki : kanai, you have died. (kanai also looks really surprised since all he 
got was a little slash on his forehead) father, this man has been punished. 
what's more, kanai's lover has been brutally killed...!
kanai : ...!
kirameki : father, please... give him to me.
kanai : [prince...!]
text : I knew then that I will live to protect this young king...!!
kanai : since then I have been a servant to you alone. I dream of the day you 
become king and sit on the throne. I understand very well how worry-dono feels. 
everyone hopes for a young king who will build a kingdom of oasis from the 
bottom of their hearts. do you think they will accept a prince who suddenly 
appears to just "take" it? (leaving) I'm going now.
kirameki : w... where to?
kanai : I must speak with the lord that we will not accept prince saga.
kirameki (tried to stop him) : but if you do that, father will be infuriated 
again...
kanai (carefreely) : that's right. so this could be our last meeting.
kirameki : w... wait! kanai, i... (more determinedly) I'm going too! it's my 
business!

(kanai turns around w/ a more satisfying smile, meanwhile, they find the king in 
the library)

kirameki : father, I must speak with you! about what happened this morning... 
that my older brother will inherit the throne, I am rather confused that my 
succession right was taken away by a brother who suddenly appeared! (king looks 
surprised, probably that he would actually speak up) it is as if you have been 
fooling me... and the rest of the people until now! answer me, father!
kanai (as if he noticed something) : !
king (smile, puts away the book he was holding) : ...you've grown up, kirameki. 
it's understandable that you would be angry. I should have spoken about saga 
sooner.
kanai (thinking) : this scent...!
king : but you do know that as the ruler of this very religious kingdom, we 
cannot violate the will of the gods, right? please understand that I am doing 
this for the sake of this kingdom.
kanai (looking around, thinking) : this room... stinks with the scent of 
sand...!?
king (reaching to put his hand on kira's shoulder) : forgive me... kira...!
kira (apparently convinced T.T) : father...!

(but the moment the king's hand touches kira, he is totally shocked and repelled 
back)

king : AHHHH (his hand starts to dissolve into sand)
kanai + kirameki : sand!!
kirameki : you're not my father!
kanai : you're a sand biter!?
king (holding his hand in pain) : grrr... there's water on your shoulder... the 
holy water of that damn woman...!!
kirameki : ! (remembers) [that's right, water from when worry hugged me 
earlier...!]
a voice (from behind) : looks like you found out, kira.

(kira turns around and sees saga sitting on the back of a chair, his mother, the 
queen is on the chair)

kirameki : saga! it's you... m... mother!
queen (looks out of it, holding a doll) : oh my child... (to the doll) your 
stained in blood... playing... in the sand...
kirameki (walks up to her but she doesn't seem to notice) : mo...ther? what did 
you do to my mother! who the hell are you people!!
saga (smile) : it's me, kira.
kirameki : [golden eyes...!!]
saga : didn't we make a promise 8 years ago? I'll definitely come meet you...! 
long ago my mother who was a sand biter fell in love with a human, that human is 
your father, izanagi-ou.
kirameki : [what...!?]
text : however the love between the sand people and humans is a crime of death. 
the king who had realized the seriousness of the matter thought to take our 
life. (blood)
saga : and there is one who was born on the same day as you. it is i... saga. 
you and I are half brothers. (kira is really surprised)
text : he sent an assassin to my mother and I who trusted and waited for him. my 
mother died horribly before my eyes, and I ran for my life until I thought I had 
finally reached the kingdom of time...! however... (young saga crouching in the 
bushes, saw a happy family picture with the king, queen and little kira) of 
course I had always thought it was where I belonged. I was discovered as a sand 
biter and sent to the underground slaughterhouse "yomi"-----

(picture of saga in cuffs... note on yomi... it literally means yellow stream, 
comes from Chinese legend of the dead have a walk on a path called yomi before 
they reach hades)

sajuraou : and the lord of the sand biters, I, sajura saved saga from yomi and 
helps him to achieve revenge on the humans. it's been my dream for many years to 
get my hands on the human's kingdom... (looks really evil)
kirameki : ...my father, where's my real father!
saga : look if you want (pulls the curtain) look at the father who abandoned me. 
(behind the curtain is the dead king looking really horrified)
kirameki (shock) : FATHER!!
kanai (draw sword) : bastards...! you damned sand people!!
kirameki : kanai! (saga draws his sword)
kanai : [!] (saga avoided his attack) damn you...
saga (appears behind him) : what are you playing?
kanai : ! [he's fast!!]

(saga's sword cuts into kanai... flashing scene of sherafita)

text : if that is the fate you have chosen... (kira looks shocked)
kanai (before he dies) : prince... kira, as long as I have this scar on my 
forehead... even if I burn in the flames of hell to eternity, I will guard the 
king... of time... and build the kingdom of light together with you...! (with 
kira still in shock, he dies, pinned to the ground by saga) together... for... 
......
end of chapter 2

yukie's note : I couldn't decide whether to call kira "prince" or "your 
highness" so I guess I ended up using prince unless they refer to him as ouji 
SAMA... and I dunno, kanai just died really pathetically T.T also note that on 
the last page of the book, there's a really nice picture of the goddess 
sherafita... makes me want to scan it T.T the words are written (her name) in 
Chinese too ^^

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sareki oukoku chapter 03


Chapter 3 : "Worry"

saga (who just pinned kanai to the ground) : that's pathetic for the country's 
best swordsman. hahah
kirameki (really angry now) : d... damn you...! (he draws his sword and cuts 
saga, but saga deliberately lets himself get hurt, with a smile) [what!?]
sajuraou : guards--------! (perfect opportunity) come quickly---- restrain 
prince kira!!
kirameki : ! it's a mutiny! (guards rush in) he attempted to assassinate prince 
saga alone with kanai for the throne!
kirameki (frozen in shock) : [wha...]
sajuraou : take kira into custody for treason-------!!
guards (holding kira) : excuse us! prince.
kirameki : let go of me! saga!! no! he's a fake!
other guard : are you alright, prince saga?
saga (holding his bleeding arm) : I'm fine, just a bit of a shock...
king : go get someone to treat his arm quickly! as for the body of that traitor, 
throw it into the desert and let the sand demons feast on him!
kirameki : [kanai...!] (while being held back by the guards, crying but angrily) 
just you watch, I will kill you! I will definitely kill you, saga! SAGA-----! 
[father... mother... kanai... (kanai's old smile) KANAI----!!]
text (kira being restrained) : the side that wants to win so badly in a war will 
not lose. don't be fooled, your highness, he's a monster!! my path is the 
prince's path. this might be the last time we see each other. as long as I have 
this scar, I will forever be your servant alone.

(kira in prison, saga came to see him with a triumphant smile)

saga : hehe, really suits you well, kira. I can tell you what is going to happen 
to you from here on. you are going to the underground slaughterhouse "yomi". in 
that barren, lightless underground, bullied by criminals... digging for 
underground water through heavy labor but no matter how you dig, it's still 
sand. many of the weak die from disease and hunger. you can continue to hate me 
from there, that was how I spent my eight years. living from day to day in such 
humiliation. oh yes, that little girl who is the water goddess's incarnation, 
that's your girl isn't it. I'm not afraid of her but sajuura just won't shut up 
and wants her killed before she does something.
kirameki (upset for the first time) : worry... I will kill you if you dare touch 
worry!! eh.
saga : are you just plain stupid? you're not a prince now anymore, what are you 
but a prisoner brat? that's right. maybe we'll meet again if you're lucky 
enough. (laugh very victoriously) what a big joke, kira! ahahahah [that's right, 
kira, this is the time. this is the time I have been wishing for for eight 
years.] hahahahah.

(in the temple)

text : the goddess of water, sherafita-sama... if you have truly possessed my 
body, then please listen to my wish. help kira...! (worry praying in front of a 
statue and alter in priestess dress) kanai-sama was executed and kira has been 
taken for treason, I don't believe it. there has to be something wrong. if you 
help kira, I will dedicate my life to the temple, even if kira will be together 
with someone else, and however painful it is, I will continue to protect this 
kingdom as a priestess. (a drop of tear fall on her folded hands) so please, 
sherafita-sama, just somehow for kira... my kira...! (she hears strange sounds) 
such strong... evil aura of sand...! (screaming)
worry : ! (runs out) onee-sama...? (shock) !

(in the main hallway is a very gross scene... not so gross if you don't look 
carefully but the main idea is that the priestesses are dead and blood all over 
the place, with sand demons roaming around, chewing on them T.T)

sand demons (sees her) : ! [she has the strongest water... that's her, the girl 
of water. that's the one. KILL HER!!] (surround her)
worry (looks at the seen of slaughter in horror) : STOP ITTT!

(in a burst of power, all the sand demons turn to dust... and she falls back 
panting)

saga (appears) : oh you've done it, wild girl. no wonder even sajura's afraid of 
you, but the same trick won't work on me, because I'm half human. (stands over 
her with a little smirk)

(kira being lead to the underground...)

people : hey, did you hear? that guy this time is the prince? I wonder what he 
did. heheh, and just when I was getting bored. (guards kick kira into the group 
of prisoners gathered there)
guard : there, this is it.

(there's a lot of macho guys around, but the one who seems to be their leader is 
this cool guy wearing an eye patch who has this half light smile on his face, 
his name is kishiru)

kishiru : tada~~~ this place is the best, welcome to yomi, ojou-san *little 
girl*. better watch your back, ojou-chan. the people here especially do not like 
aristocrats. there is no difference in age, race or class here... just like the 
name, yomi.

(kira gets knocked against a wall)

guys : o~~~h, I'm sooo sorry. you're so short that I didn't see you. 
heh---------- heheheh that kid has been worn down by heavy labor everyday, but 
his eyes are still blazing. what a stubborn guy, let's get him.
kishiru : ......

(guys take kira's food away from him)

guys : such horrible food must not suit your taste! prince. here! yomi's number 
one chef's special, mud water soup.
kirameki : give it back! that's my food!!
guy (push him away) : shut up!!

(kira has a fierce glare and picks up a fork from the table and stabs into the 
guy's hand)

kirameki : give it back!!
guy : AHHHHHHHH
kirameki (holding a bloody fork angrily) : I will live! I won't die before I 
kill saga! even if it's one piece of bread, I will kill to stay alive!
crowd (uproar) : kill him! kill him! kill that brat!!
guy (take out a knife) : alright... (but kishiru holds him back, instead he goes 
up and punches kira)
kishiru : how naïve, little tomboy, you can't even defend yourself.
kirameki (crouching in the corner but still with a fierce glare) : ......... 
fuck...!
kishiru (sitting down) : heh, I just get sick looking at him, yo, you take him 
back somehow.
guy (carrying kira away) : hmph, guess I got no choice.
people in the background : [what, it's over already?]
some guy (sitting next to kishiru) : what's going on with you, kishiru.
kishiru (eating his lunch) : what.
guy : you saved that kid from getting killed back there.
kishiru : shut up, or else I'll stuff you with pig food.

(kira's lying on his bed, something small has flown into his room)

kirameki : ...? (it's a cute little sand dragon ^^ which lands on his hand) a 
young saryuu? do you come down here often. hahah, what's this, you got hurt. 
(holding it close to him, the sand dragon has a little scratch on its head) oh 
you must be a mischievous one, aren't you. (hug) [you remind me of someone.] 
...kanai.
kishiru (shows up at his door) : quite amazing, you tamed a monster. is that a 
hobby of aristocrats? saryuu is the most intelligent of the demons. it can 
understand humans, once it has chosen a master, it will obey his orders in 
absolute. I've heard a rumor, you tell me if it's true, missy. why is kanai 
dead?
kirameki (jump up) : !
kishiru : we were competitors in the same doujou, he can't be killed so easily.
kirameki (at a lost of words) : kanai...!
text : my parents were so caught in work that they have no time to care for 
their son. but kanai has always been with me. kanai who carries a black cross 
sword on his back and is stronger than anyone else. he believed in me from his 
heart and yet...!! I won't forgive him. father... and kanai's death and 
dishonor, and I will get worry and mother back from him...!!
kirameki : I will stay alive even if I have to eat sand... and I will get out of 
here!! I will not die until I tear him... saga, to pieces. I will not die!!
kishiru (look at him and considers) : it's dangerous but not entirely impossible 
to get out of here. come. (take him to a hallway, on the ceiling is a wind 
tunnel, the lid slightly broken) this is a wind tunnel, that's where the saryuu 
probably came from. it's too small for us but you can still do it. however this 
place is at the bottom of the desert. who knows if it's a few hundred... no, 
thousands of meters before you reach ground level. of course, with no tools, you 
can only climb up step by step with your hands and feet. you'll fall if you're 
out of strength. and if you ever make it up, this place is about six days of 
walking distance from the kingdom of time for an adult. [and in the desert 
there's no food or drink. I might not be able to take it even] are you going?
kirameki (decisively) : ...i'll do it. I'm already out of options. and you... 
(to the saryuu) if you are really able to understand what I say, take this 
earring to worry. (ties the earring onto the saryuu's foot) [worry must be fine. 
sajura won't be able to touch her.] she's the girl protected by the goddess of 
water, she's probably locked up somewhere. please. (the saryuu flies off)
kishiru : just a moment, missy. (goes to some weird looking guy in a mask) hey, 
kanoe, gimme some of that, three of those paper rolls.
kanoe (throws him a package) : heh, there you go.
kishiru (give package to kirameki) : take it, who know, might come in handy.
kirameki : explosives...!
kishiru : oh and this. (gives him a really strange looking sword)
kirameki : where did you...
kishiru : we have our ways, we're not stupid you know.
kirameki (looks back one last time) : thanks. then, here I go.
kishiru : saga... of the sand. I still remember him, that expressionless brat. 
he doesn't make a sound no matter what. he's tough. can some spoiled kid like 
you understand? he's cold blooded, because his heart has frozen since a long 
time ago. he's use to loneliness. and that's your enemy. well, I'll see you next 
time on the surface.

(kira began his climbing process)

kirameki : damn it...! it's been 30 minutes already... and I don't even see the 
light of day yet, just how much longer must I go. (thinking) it's painful like 
hell...! and everything is being supported by my fingers. I hands are already 
numb and my strength...! [I am not going to die in a place like this!] uh..! 
damn it... [I will kill sajura... and saga...!!] (makes another step) damn 
it...!! [worry... I must save worry...] (suddenly a little glow in the distance) 
! (the glow gets bigger and bigger) [worry...!!]

(in the palace)

sajura : guards, do you know where saga went?
guard : it seems that he went to take a look around outside...
sajura : hm... wandering off at a time like this, how's the head priestess 
doing?
guard : oh, she still hasn't changed and is not doing anything...
worry (lying on her bed depressed) : [why...? kira send down to yomi, the temple 
being attacked, and why am I being locked up in here...!?] (looks at her window) 
! [a saryuu? ...but I don't feel an evil aura.] (flies down on her hand) what's 
that on your foot... (sees the earring) [that's kira...! kira's earring...!] 
(touches the saryuu) thank you, saryuu-san. I give you the baptism of water, (a 
mark shows up on the saryuu's forehead) this mark is the proof that you have 
been freed from the sand people's curse. you are now the same as us, all 
children of water... and free. [I'm so glad... kira is alive. he's alive...! 
somewhere on this land, kira will stay alive. kira......!! (holds the earring in 
her hand and cries)]

(meanwhile, saga is walking around in the city, he hears an angry voice)

guy : why don't you mind your own business! you bitch. I won't ever come back! 
(gets outta there)

(saga looks into the house and saw practically a mess, and there was a naked 
girl on the floor, she has long curly black hair and slightly darker than 
average skin. in the end note, it states that her name is sasha, although it's 
not mentioned in the story, saga seemed very surprised to see her)

saga : [a sand biter girl--------!?]

(later, when the girl is now dressed up... like a gypsy I guess, and he's in her 
room)

sasha : mister, pay up first, it's 50 zels. (guess that's their unit of 
currency) what would you like to drink?
saga : you are... one of the sand people? [this girl...]
sasha : my mom was hanging around sand people, and so that's what I was born 
like. (pouring a drink)
saga : [looks like someone...?]
sasha (hands him a drink) : my mother used all her money to have me baptized, 
but limited by my appearance, selling is the only thing I can do. and it's only 
a little bit, but I can read people's hearts. isn't that kinda freaky... you're 
one of the sand people too, aren't you?
saga (seems surprised) : i...
sasha : here... (touches his hand) I can see it just like this. your heart is 
full of sorrow and coldness...
saga : [she's like my mother...!!]
text (a kind looking woman) : saga... he will come for us from the kingdom of 
oasis, your father will definitely come...! and you have a brother named "kira". 
kira...! he'll surely play with you.

(flashback scene, an armored man busts into the house)

man : the king has ordered your execution!
woman : that can't be! he won't do such...
saga (pulling his mother away) : run! mom.
man : sand people, go to hell! (slash)
saga (dragging her away) : run, mo... (turns around... and his mother's head has 
been cut off, blood splashed on his face, her body dissolves)
text : the sand people... do not leave a corpse when they die, perhaps because 
they are hated by the gods and even mourning is not allowed. they only return to 
the sand...

(in the present... saga is covering his face and seems to be a lot of pain)

saga : i...! i...!
sasha (kiss him) : I'm sorry... I don't know any other way... (they fall onto 
the bed) when this is all over, let's leave together.
saga : where to?
sasha : a kingdom without sand.
text : we'll never get there, never make it... to the sunshine kingdom of trees 
that we search for so desperately...

(I don't know where he got this, but kira broke off his chains with an ax, just 
then a carriage passes by with a kind old man on it)

old man : are you doing to the capital? I see. tomorrow is the water spirit 
ritual! and the succession ceremony of the kings. do you know what the new king 
looks like? kid.
kirameki (sitting on the carriage heading for the capital, dark glow in his 
eyes) : ...yeah, I know. I know very well.

end of chapter 3

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sareki oukoku chapter 04


Chapter 4 : "Saga"

(sajura chants and puts a spell around worry, she suddenly looks different)

sajuraou : now it's been 300 years, goddess of water, sherafita... I have placed 
a barrier of sand around you, it is futile to struggle.
sherafita : are you the one who awakens me from my sleep... sajuraou... I see 
you are still alive and we meet again ... is what I would like to say but it 
appears not to be the case...!
sajuraou : ......
saga : ? (confused by what she meant)
sajuraou : I see, you don't seem to be the woman possessed by sherafita, or 
rather, you are her reincarnation.
sherafita : I would not have been awakened if not for this, and this girl would 
have had a simple life... you will pay a high price for this...!
sajuraou : heh, I only need you to appear before the people for the spirit 
ritual, of course, inside the barrier... that is. (walks out)
saga (makes sure he's gone) : kira... is kira still alive?
sherafita : are you... waiting for kira. saga... what a pitiful child...!
saga : what!?
sherafita : perhaps you should remember what that man who killed your mother...
text : sand people, go to hell!

(note : ok, he said go to hell in a much more complicated way... but it just 
doesn't sound good if I translate it literally, it sounds more sophisticated 
than go to hell, but that's basically the bottom line)

sherafita : what that man said was forbidden for the people in the kingdom of 
time. (she's referring to how he worded "go to hell" which is kinda like go to 
the underworld as a zombie >.<;;; sounds horrible... in English but that's what 
he said)
saga (surprised) : wh... at...! shut up!! I am not pitiful! don't let me hear 
that again!! (exits)
sherafita (left sitting there alone) : [prince... kira... the fate of the 
kingdom of time is completely in your hands now...!]

(in the city, kira hidden in the bushes, saw a palace maid pass by, knocked her 
out and took her mantle... in the palace, the ceremony has already begun)

sajuraou (passes the crown to saga) : thou art the 36th monarch of the kingdom 
of time, acknowledged by the goddess of water sherafita as the one who will 
protect the green kingdom forever, prince, by the name of saga. the crown...

(the crown suddenly gets cut in half, a sword is placed at the king's throat 
from behind)

a voice : don't move!
sajuraou : !

(saga looks up, the maid behind sajuraou whips off the mantle and reveals to be 
kira)

everyone : [kira!!] (people looking in shock)
kirameki : I am the one son of izanagiou of the kingdom of time, prince 
kirameki! in the name of my great father, I will reveal the truth! about this 
sand demon who took the form of my father, and the prince who killed his! I will 
not hand this kingdom over to the likes of you!!
saga (holding the guards off) : get back!!
kirameki (a half twisted smile) : sorry I didn't get all dressed up for your big 
day, onii-chan.
saga (also kinda twisted) : you're late, kira. however I don't remember ever 
inviting you.
kirameki (holds out the explosives) : guess what this is? when I had fallen to 
yomi, this is used to dig up underground water sources. when I left, a friend 
gave me these, they're dynamites. I use to always play in the water ways when I 
was young, and they would use these to clear the path. these are the explosives 
they put into the giant rocks. (all that go to demonstrate how powerful the 
explosives are... T.T)
saga : and... what do you plan to do...!
kirameki : I just want to play a game with you.

(suddenly, some strange sound)

sherafita : [it's coming!]
sajuraou : !
people : w... what is that sound...!
sherafita (the only one who looks calm) : [now come, free me from my binding, 
spirits of water...!!]

(almost the whole ceiling cave in and it's a tsunami! water rains on everyone)

saga : ! (jump to higher ground)
people : what... this is...! water! ahhhh (sherafita seems to be the only one 
who loves to be showered by water, some who were minions of sajura start to 
dissolve)
sand people : ahhhhh...
queen (wake up from her trance) : ah...! k... kira!
kirameki : it's great, mother, that your spell is broken! now stay back!
queen (sees something horrifying) : EEK!!
kira : wha... WHAT... THE HELL IS THIS!?

(in the middle of the pool of water is a huge monster)

saga (shocked too) : sa... saju...ra?

(sajura's whole body turned monstrous, he's covering his face)

sajuraou : [d... damn you...! kira...!! don't look... no one look at me...]
sherafita : that is sajura's true appearance now. sajura was a man who was the 
king of this kingdom 300 years ago.
kira : [worry...? no, it's sherafita now!]
sherafita : however he broke the seal on the forbidden black spell book and 
became the lord of evil. the city evicted him with my help at the end of a long 
war. sajuraou swore revenge for being exiled by his own people and gave his 
flesh to the sand demons. his own body has become one with the sand demons 
since. he sold his soul to the evil sand spirits in order to receive great power 
and created a new kingdom with the dead spirits of the people in the kingdom of 
time. some became sand demons and others became humanoids called sand biters. 
under his rule, they buried the human kingdoms into the desert one by one. 
therefore if sajura dies, the sand biters will return to the sand like his 
demonic power. and sajura saw izanagi-ou and a sand woman falling in love, he 
used saga's hatred to izanagi-ou for killing his mother, and tried to take over 
the kingdom of time once again...!
queen (suddenly) : no!! that's not true!!
kirameki : mother!
queen : he... izanagi-ou wouldn't listen to me. he insisted on taking 
responsibility for mother and child of the sand people. (saga looks shocked) and 
when he discovered that those two were attacked by someone...! he was in such 
deep sorrow!!
saga : w... what...!? that can't be... yes... mother was killed...
sajuraou (angrily) : shut up! lowlifes, you don't know you're place... go to 
hell.
saga (shock) : [ah!]
text : go to hell... Go To Hell... GO TO HELL (flashbacks)
saga : t... then... you're the one who killed my mother...? you were only using 
me!? that's a lie, sajuraou!!
sajuraou : shut up, you are no longer of any use to me!! (he stabs saga)
kirameki : [saga!]
sajuraou : and you too! prince kira. (an energy blast, all the people along the 
way dies but kira is saved and carried off by a saryuu, much larger than before)
kirameki : you... are the saryuu from before...!
saryuu : ~I am the only who guards you...! as long as I have this scar on my 
forehead, it will not change no matter how many times I'm reborn...!~
kirameki : kanai...? it can't be... are you really kanai!? (he hugs the saryuu) 
kanai...!! my kanai...!
saryuu/kanai : ~now my lord, your opponent is over there~
kirameki (jumps off the saryuu and attacks sajura) : alright!! (sajura blocks 
his sword) uh...!
sajuraou : annoying prince! die!!
kirameki : !

(blood, sajura turns around in surprise, saga plunged a sword into his chest 
from the back)

sajuraou : ~w... what are you doing...!! saga! if I die, you and the sand biters 
will turn... into sand...~
saga : how dare you...! my eight years!! everything I ever had!! my mother... my 
father...! MY BROTHER!!
kirameki : [saga...!! you...]
saga : hurry!! kira!! draw your sword, go for the head! cut off his real body, 
the head!
kirameki (slash) : evil spirit!! return to the earth!

(very bloody, bloody splashes on kira and saga, all the sand demons roar and 
dissolves...... dripping water)

worry (looks soaked) : ... (touch her forehead) ah...! the mark of water on my 
forehead... has disappeared. sherafita-sama has returned... back to heaven...!
kirameki : worry...!
worry (turn around) : ah...! kira...!! (run up and hugs him tightly) 
kira-----------!! (sees something) ! (point) kira! (kira turns around and saga 
is sitting in the corner)
kirameki : [saga...! he hasn't vanished...? did his half human blood win 
over...? it's a lie if I say I forgive him, but if I was him, I would've been 
the same filled only with hate...!] ... stand up, saga...! you are going to 
rebuild this kingdom with me from now on. that's your compensation.
saga (doesn't turn around, still with his back to kira) : i... have been alone 
ever since I was young. when I heard that I had a brother from my mother... I 
was so happy. 8 years ago when I met you, I was still just a kid who didn't know 
anything... I just wanted to play with you, that was all...! (he turns around 
and smiles... and there's blood on his face and tears)
kirameki : [saga...!! (flashback to 8 yrs ago)]
text : i... really... (saga reaches for the hand kira extends him) only 
wanted... (his hand starts to dissolve) to play with you. (saga is gone and 
completely turned into sand) kira.

(kira kneels down holding the sand in horror)

kira : y... you can't do that to me... nothing has ended yet and nothing has 
begun...!? [saga!] (covers his face crying)

(somewhere else, a bowl drops, sasha suddenly felt something and ran out of her 
house)

sasha : ! (the breeze brush by her) a... are you...? you lied to me... (tears) 
didn't you say... we would leave together, you would take me away... (suddenly 
bends down in pain) ah...!
text : let's go... let's go together, to the kingdom of green woods and 
sunshine, we will reach it one day, and happily live out our lives... there, for 
ever and ever, we will play with everyone...

(time passes, a lady puts on a crown, and her maid helps her dress, a young man, 
probably in his twenties, also wearing a crown, comes in and knocks on the door)

young man : are you ready, my tomboy queen.
young woman : yes, dear former-convict king.

(^^;;;;;;;;;;;;; as you can see, this is kirameki and worry *ahem* ^^;;; well... 
ok, I love those lines... she takes his hand, and they appear before the people)

people : king kira, congratulations! congratulations on your wedding! come on, 
cheers for kirameki-ou and lady worry! the valiant king of time, kira-sama! 
(kira and worry waves to the people, some kids approach worry)
kids : here, flowers! they are bouquets of blessing!
worry (smile) : thank you.
kirameki : worry, where's kanai?
worry : over there, but he seems bored.

(the saryuu is sitting on the roof of the castle and yawning ^^;;)

a kid (hands them flowers) : here.
kirameki : ah, thank you.
kid : hey, your majesty, can I ride on the saryuu one of these days?
kirameki (carelessly turn around) : yeah, you can play around in the city next 
time. (until he suddenly pauses when he clearly sees the kid's face)
kid (smile) : really? alright! (kira looks really surprised)
text (the 8 yr old saga) : you promised, kira, ahahaha... (just when kira is 
about to say something)
woman : come over here, raisa.
raisa (the kid) : coming
mother (pat him) : did you say anything rude to the king?
raisa : no way, mom!

(the young woman looks up and smiles at kira and worry, it's sasha ^^)

kirameki : [ah...!]
raisa (dragging his mother) : come on, let's go home now, ahahah...

(they walk off into the distance)

text : universal entities of nature... in eternal time... time after time they 
meet, weaving the tales of sand and water, we definitely will find one day... 
the kingdom with children's laughter.

(kids running in the forest playing, chasing after each other... and a guy 
leaving against a tree, relaxing, who vaguely resembles kanai, the kids look 
like saga and kira in front and worry and sasha in the back... anyway... THE 
END! Ah, feels so good saying that, this is the first STORY I finished 
translating but...)

end of Gravel Kingdom

yukie's note : wait, wait... this is not over yet... we still have one more 
short story to go to finish the book ^^;;;; also, after reading this story, it's 
so obvious how much the author's art has improved from this to AS... but still 
even by the end of the story, I liked her drawing a lot better than the 
beginning... this is really one of her EARLIEST works, even before cain... so I 
guess this is when her art looked the worst ^^;;; though still pretty good. 
hm... if you have kefka... you can look at the short story insert in the end, 
that's her debut

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stonehenge


Stonehenge

(someone in a black cloak is standing in front of a stone plate, reading the 
scripture)

text : the coming of the "eclipse", when the sun and the moon overlaps to create 
darkness, sacred temple the giants built is the gateway to utopia. together with 
the light of miracle, it will grant your wish for the one and only time.
someone (suddenly, behind him) : book of judgment, meton, chapter 7, Stonehenge.
guy (turn around, his face is also covered) : !
girl (behind him, holding some flowers) : do you also want it to take you 
somewhere? (sad smile) i... want to go to a kingdom without war... I want to 
live there happily forever with the person I love. (sees that he's wearing a 
black mask over his face) [ah... this guy's black mask...! he can't speak.] 
(smile) hey, aren't they pretty? (her flowers) I'll give you half.
guy : .........
maid (suddenly pop into the picture) : princess sharel---!
girl : ahh!! oh damn!
guy :! (seems really surprised to hear her name)
maid : sharel-sama!! the Stonehenge is a sacred place! no one is allow in here 
beside the summer and winter solstice and the harp festival of the "eclipse"...

(ok thanks to silvia i didn't have to write summer and winter days and write a 
long explanation)

sharel : but they have pretty flowers here.
maid : if the emperor finds out, I'm in trouble! come on, let's go. (drag)
sharel : ehh
maid : and you over there too!
sharel : ah, nurse, just a second! (to the guy) I almost forgot, here... (but 
the guy slaps away her flowers)

(she seems really surprised and he seems really angry with her)

text : that was the first time I met my cousin, the hermit prince vadius...
king : this would be the second time you've met prince vadius, sharel. I've kept 
it a secret from you because his father, the late king of this kingdom, was 
misled by blood and sent the country into unnecessary turmoil. and so he was 
overthrown by his subordinates, but because vad cannot speak, as the younger 
brother, I inherited the throne.
text : prince vad who hid from the world... I never knew......!

(next scene)

king : what!? the kingdom in the north, yesod?
minister : yes, it's rumored that their emperor ezak used forbidden magic and 
called forth demons. and using those monsters, he is invading nearby countries 
one by one...

(excuse me about their names, but unlike most series where characters already 
have commonly used English translated names, GK people don't... and their names 
are not even Japanese so I can't really take the exact Japanese reading either, 
so I'm making up their names as I go along... like vadius, his name read 
"badiusu" and uh... vadius it is)

king : send out an investigation squad to find out the truth in those words.
text : prince vadius, this is the king's order. you are to infiltrate yesod and 
find out the truth.
sharel (upset) : father......!? father, it's too dangerous to.........

(vadius suddenly steps in front of her and motions her back)

sharel (surprised) : you're really going to go, vad? (he doesn't look at her)
text : he cannot speak but it's as if vad's eyes are saying you don't need to be 
protecting me. (sharel definitely seems a bit upset)
sharel (hands something to vad who is ready to leave) : here, it took me one 
week to find it... they say it's the fortunate aqua crystal. um... vad, I made a 
protective earring...... (he looks at her, she kinda waits anxiously *afraid 
he's not gonna take it?* but he does take it and puts it on, so sharel is a bit 
surprised... and he leaves) vad!! take care of yourself!
text : however... prince vadius and those dozens of men in the investigation 
squad never came back... "war will probably start soon" maybe it's to forget 
that horrible rumor, the ceremony of "the eclipse" is been moved forward.

(I don't think this is Japanese alone, but in most asian cultures, the eclipse 
is called "devour" which probably refers to some sort of variation of the legend 
that the sun somehow gets eaten on that day... therefore the word they used here 
is "shoku" but upon seeing that, it's obvious it refers to the eclipse)

someone : oh no-----!! invasion...... from the north-----!! wahhh

(people getting killed, including the king)

sharel : [father!!] father...
king (dying) : run... sharel, you are the hope of this kingdom...! you must live 
on to protect the Stonehenge and that holy sword, and rebuild this country...
sharel (horror) : father...!!

(she wanders around the castle)

sharel : [where are you? the man who killed my father...!? (reaches the 
Stonehenge) the Stonehenge!]
woman (dark skin, with wings on her back) : so this is the legendary Stonehenge 
that creates miracles with using the holy sword?
man (back view, in a cloak) : yes, mildret. princess sharel is probably holding 
the holy sword, I've already sent men looking for her.

(sharel jumps out and attacks him, the guy blocks with a sword, suddenly she 
sees something on his ear)

sharel : [the aqua crystal earring!?] it can't be... VAD!! (angrily) you're 
alive... so you're alive!! why are you on their side... and your voice...!!
vadius (coldly, with the woman kinda smirking behind him) : foolish princess 
sharel, who lived in ignorance and love, your father was the one who took away 
my voice.
sharel : what!?
vadius : I witnessed him kill his own brother in order to gain the throne so he 
made me mute and separated me from the rest of the world. now do you know why I 
detest you?
text : detest?
vadius : the emperor ezak of yesod granted me my voice, magic and knights. in 
turn I swore eternal loyalty.
text : vad detests me...!?
vadius : to prove my loyalty to ezak-sama, I will bring him what he wants, that 
holy sword tipharet and the power of the Stonehenge, and also...
text : and now
vadius : the head of sharel, Athena of boreadis
text : vad wants to kill me----!! (he really seriously looks like he's gonna 
kill her)
mildret (suddenly) : vadius-sama!! the "eclipse" has begun! the Stonehenge is 
glowing...!! (and so is the sword)
sharel : !
text : a miracle...... appears only once with the light, and grants thy wish. 
(glowing)
sharel : [where...? where am i...? where did he go...? vad...!!]

(a big flash of light in a very modern looking city... in fact, it's NY ^^;;;)

people on the street : what's that light... is it a UFO!?

(a pretty funny looking guy finds sharel lying in some sort of dump)

guy : .........

(so what would u do if u find a pretty girl lying unconscious wearing very 
strange cloth and holding a medieval sword? somewhere else...)

man : president! (running over to the car) there's no girl, but this... (an 
accessory)
mildret (dressed in modern cloth, standing by the car) : sharel's bracelet. 
apparently that light was princess sharel. so the reason that we couldn't find 
her for the past 5 years is that she hasn't arrived yet. there probably was a 5 
year difference in the twist of time. but still she appeared along with the 
"eclipse", right? vadius-sama.

(the car window rows down, and vadius is the "boss guy" sitting in there)

vadius (smile) : whatever, as long as she has finally come. take care of your 
work tonight first, mildret.

(in another car driving on the road)

guy : [hahahah] that young CEO vadius really plans on buying out my land. 
driver : congratulations sir, that will take care of your debt and stock 
problems.
guy : what a brat! messing around with NY's finest real estate and now even 
mine!
driver : that guy is quite mysterious. I hear he was not the late CEO's real 
son. somehow he appeared 5 years ago and the company has risen to it's place now 
being in his hands... there was also some mystery surrounding the death of the 
late CEO...
guy : hm?
people in the car : !

(there's a demonic looking monster lurking over the car...)

text : oh Stonehenge, open your doors now once more, hurry, there's not much 
time until the "eclipse".

(the guy who found sharel comes into the room humming, holding a plate of food)

guy : yo, want some breakfast? (no one there) ...... eh.

(sharel suddenly appears behind him and puts the sword around his neck, the guy 
looks at her w/ a sweatdrop)

sharel : don’t' move! what is this place?
guy : my house.
sharel : who are you!?
guy : the owner of my house. (sharel glares at him w/ a sweatdrop and points the 
sword at him... and he backs off w/ a sweatdrop) wah, I was joking! I am kevin 
roth. this is manhattan, close to union square! (*ahahah.... interesting ^^;;; 
she's writing about my home???*) you came down together with the light.
sharel (surprised) : the light... [oh...! (look out the window) the 
Stonehenge...!! a world I've never seen...! I was sent here by the Stonehenge!! 
the legend is true.] (suddenly look around) AH! vad! where's vad!? there wasn't 
a man with me!?
kevin : vad? ...nope, you were all alone. what guy?
sharel : what do you... (and their attention was captured by the evening news on 
TV)
reporter : president vadius, any comments about president Radford who died in 
the accident last night? and with all your rivaling companies gone, what do you 
have planned?
vadius (walking away) : no comment!
sharel (shock) : vad!! ... that guy! that guy is vadius. he took everything away 
from me.........!
kevin : [what's the matter now?] eh? (sweatdrop) that guy appeared on TV a lot 
lately. somehow all the big businessmen in his way all died mysteriously one by 
one!
sharel : died mysteriously?
kevin : basically all from accidents and there's no evidence of homicide at all. 
it's quite unbelievable but when they happened, someone always witnessed a giant 
bat.
text : a giant bat......!?
kevin : well, if you wanna see him, just go to dilon's home office. of course 
you probably will get kicked out but why do you want to see him?
sharel (very seriously) : I will kill him.
kevin (jump up) : KILL HIM!?
sharel : please, take me to his place! it's alright if you just take me there.
kevin (sweatdrop) : well, fine if that's all you want...
text : vad, the man who betrayed his country, the man who betrayed me. what do 
you have planned for this world? this is by the sacred guide of the Stonehenge, 
the gods will have me defeat him. I will definitely use this sword and have my 
revenge!!

(in the car...)

mildret : the last blue stone and the large sand rock is here, they're all so 
big it's a damn pain in the butt.
vadius : good work, mildret.
mildret (lighting his cigarette) : now it's only that girl... and the sacred 
sword.

(they are driving along the street)

vadius : driver, that's not the usual way home.
driver (very suspicious looking) : sorry, there's traffic so we're taking a 
detour.
vadius (not like he cares) : I see...

(behind them, kevin is driving a car w/ sharel w/ him, following vadius' car)

kevin : yo, sharel, the president's car is looking weird, it's driving into an 
alleyway...
sharel : eh?
vadius (with mildret behind him, is facing a bunch of gangsters/mob people) : I 
thought that wasn't the usual driver, what do you want from me?
leader (holding a gun, and very confident looking) : since you've done our boss 
so many favors, to the point of not killing us lackeys, we came to your 
goodwill.
sharel (and kevin peeking around the corner) : who are those guys!
kevin : shh! since he did all those bad things, those are probably lackeys of 
the defeated companies. (*lackeys sound so funny x.x*)
vadius (very nonchalantly) : mildret, you hungry right now?
mildret (looks picky) : well, their meat are not the best but I guess I have no 
choice.
lackey leader : what's this? pretty bodyguard you've got there, mr. president. 
wanna play-----? onee-chan.
mildret (blankly) : that's right.
sharel : !

(she transforms into her demonic form, w/ the wings etc. and tearing the people 
up alive)

sharel : [that's it! the giant bat!]
men : i... it's a monster! fuck! the president!! kill that bastard first! (they 
shoot vadius, and he didn't dodge at all)
sharel : !

(vadius IS bleeding, but from his blood spawn these weird looking demons ^^;; 
and they attacked the guy who shot at him... when he's using his magic, there's 
a weird mark on the left side of his face)

man (dies) : AHHHHH

(more blood, vadius literally ripped some guy's head off, and he's covered in 
blood)

vadius : hahah... it's been five years. (toss the head away) I've waited for you 
for five years, princess sharel. (smile, the head lands right in front of 
sharel)
sharel : ! [he noticed me...!]
vadius (hands his coat to mildret, who's also done) : I came here 5 years before 
you arrived, it was quite problematic to achieve status in a place you don't 
know. I have been waiting for you all along. so I can take your head and the 
holy sword as I promised...
sharel : I don't know what you want with the holy sword now but it's only going 
to stab into your heart! (mildret kinda smiled) ? [what's with that smile...!]
vadius (smile) : I believe the police will be here soon from the gunshots, I'll 
take my leave for now. come on, mildret. (they disappear into a magical circle)
sharel : w... wait! vad!! (but they already disappeared) .........

(in vad's apartment)

mildret : vad-sama, you don't have to do this yourself. I can take care of that 
little girl...
vadius : mildret! (look out the window) I will kill sharel with my own hands! 
you are not going to touch her! understand!?
mildret : .........? (seems surprised) ...... yes. (touches her bracelet, 
thinks) oh it's alright, as long as I have this.

(back at kevin's place)

kevin : you've gotta be joking... how can you get revenge, you saw! the stuff 
they did! how can you fight such a monster! hey, ... sharel! (sharel is kinda 
just sitting there looking sad in her own little world) ah... u... uh! what I 
meant to say is... (guys never know what to do when the girl looks sad... and 
acts like the idiot) even if you kill that guy, you can't go back home. so why 
don't you just stay here with me?
sharel : !
kevin : they are on this world anyway, you can go to the court for your revenge. 
(*yeah right..*) you don't have to risk your life.
sharel (blushing) : ......... (smiles) ...... thank you, kevin. I'm happy, 
really I am... but I cannot forgive vad. and this sword was forged from aqua 
crystal, the holy stone that breaks magic. if he's really a demon, it'll work on 
him. (looks determined) [if even his heart has turned into a demon, by my own 
hands...]

(expensive apartment)

vadius (goes around) : -------mildret!? [she went out without telling me... 
(realization) could it be that]

(somewhere in manhattan)

kevin : this is the place where you landed. [it didn't look like this back then 
though...] (the place looks like a covered up construction site) that guy bought 
all the land around here like maybe he's building something. (they sneak in) 
five years ago there was light around this are like the time when you came. I 
guess that's when vad came to this world.
sharel (climbs over the cover and shocked) : ... this is... (at the center of 
the site is the Stonehenge, nice imitation of what she had at home) this is... 
the Stonehenge!!
kevin (scratch head) : man, he built that in the middle of new york...
sharel : can it be that... (grab kevin's shirt) kevin!! is there a "shouku" 
anytime soon!?
kevin (sweatdrop) : "shouku"?
sharel : yeah "shouku"! when the sun and the moon overlaps and brings 
darkness...
kevin (thinks) : oh, you mean an eclipse. it showed up a lot on TV, I think it's 
tomorrow...
a voice (behind them) : your suspicion is correct, princess. we came to this 
dimension through the Stonehenge of our world, and to return to our own world, 
we will make the Stonehenge at this location and along with the sacred sword, 
create a miracle once again...!

(both turn around, mildret it standing calmly behind them... man I'm sick of 
translating this story... I wanna do AS, especially vol 16 onward *sob* 9 pages 
to go???)

mildret : and tomorrow is the time we've been waiting for, the eclipse is 
coming...!! we will take your head back to yesod...
sharel : w... who sent you for my head!
mildret (laugh) : hahah... your feelings are showing so obviously. you're 
jealous of me......!
sharel : what...!
mildret : I know everything. why you hate vad-sama, because you can't forgive me 
for always staying by his side.
kevin (seems surprised) : [sharel!?]
sharel : be quiet!! you demon...!

(it all happens too quickly but the sword is knocked out of her hands)

sharel : [oh no! the sword...!]

(next, she's in danger of being attacked by mildret, defenseless w/o the sword)

kevin : sharel!!
sharel : [I'll be killed!!]

(the sword froze in mid air like it was being controlled, and someone grabs 
mildret's wrist)

vadius (appears behind her, holding her back, and holding the sword in the other 
hand) : that's enough, mildret. I told you that I will kill her.
mildret (surprise) : vad-sama...!?
vadius (takes mildret and the sword w/ him) : sharel, I'll be waiting for you 
tomorrow during the eclipse at the Stonehenge. you'll get your sword back then.
mildret (protest) : vad-sama! what......
vadius : let's go!!
sharel (watch them leave again) : vad!!
kevin (still frozen in the same position) : ...sharel, you... really like vad 
don't you.........!

(sharel looks at him looking surprised/upset)

mildret (back in the apartment) : vad-sama! why didn't you let me kill that girl 
before. do you plan to betray emperor ezak?
vadius : of course not...
mildret : don't forget how ezak-sama helped you...!
vadius (grip on the arm chair tightens) : I know! I know...!

(flashback, a lot of blood)

text : father!! father is dead!!

(a kid hiding behind the door, looking timidly at the grownups)

someone : vad!!
someone else : what should me do!? kill him?
yet someone else : wait!! you can't kill the prince too.

(a bottle of poison)

text : you didn't hear anything, you didn't see anything. so you won't be 
talking to anyone. here, drink the mercury, vad.

(vadius, alone and grown up)

text : he took my voice, I was exiled from the palace and lived in loneliness. 
(first meeting w/ sharel, with her holding the flowers) that's princess sharel. 
the daughter of the man who killed my father. the most fortunate princess whom 
everyone loves. sharel... then I was assigned to be the head of the dangerous 
investigation squad. (more blood) everyone was killed by the yesod soldiers, I 
was the only one brought before the emperor being a royalty. (scene of vadius 
when he was captured)
ezak : oh, prince with burning hatred, I'll give you a chance to live. if you 
serve me and bring me the life of princess sharel and the power of the 
Stonehenge as proof, I'll send my loyal servant with you. my mildret will help 
you.
mildret (smile) : yes, master.
text : well, what will you do? vadius.
vadius (kiss the emperor's hand) : [I'm at your service.]

(end of flashback)

vadius : [sharel...! since then my heart has been frozen...!!]
sharel (hugs kevin) : ...i'm sorry, kevin. I can't stay with you.
kevin (looks kinda sad, thinking) : you finally said it.
text : yes, I like vad more than anything. the man who killed my parents, 
destroyed my kingdom and took everything away from me, the man who wants to kill 
me...!! there for my hatred, my sorrow...
kevin (sharel gently touches his forehead) : shar... el... (falls asleep)
text : I'm sorry, kevin. I can't involve you any further. yes, this is my 
problem. this is our fight. the "eclipse"... has begun, the door of the 
Stonehenge is opening......!!

(she goes to the Stonehenge, vadius is already there)

sharel : I came, vad. I will kill you. I never imagined this would happen in our 
first meeting. (vadius still has his back to her, and doesn't say anything) my 
father and my people... everyone's souls are alive inside me. if I could only 
hate you as they say...
text (vadius still doesn't look at her and has no reaction) : that's correct, 
sharel, to kill you---- that's my mission...!
sharel (raises sword) : I will kill you in order to forget them!

(mildret suddenly appears)

mildret : move aside, vad-sama!
text: such things...
mildret (attacks sharel in demon form) : if this girl is troubling you, let me 
put an end to it all!
vadius (suddenly step between them) : stop!! (and he blasts mildret back)
mildret : !!
text : I can't do it. I knew since the beginning.
sharel (worried, vadius is also slightly hurt) : vad...!
text : I can't kill her, I can't do it...
mildret (bleeding) : vad-sama...!! you... really... really is betraying the 
emperor huh. then I'll just go back alone... after executing you..
vadius (stands in front of sharel protectively) : heh... are you going to kill 
me? mildret.
mildret (takes off her bracelet) : the emperor never really trusted you so he 
sent me along. look! the yesod crest amulet that you made the pledge with from 
the emperor!! (breaks it) if I break this, all your magic returns to the earth!!
vadius (seems to be slightly in pain) : uh! (realizes the sun and the moon are 
splitting) [the "eclipse" is over...!! the Stonehenge is closing!] (pushes 
sharel into the Stonehenge)
sharel : !
vadius : go! sharel. long ago you said you wanted to go to a kingdom without 
war. while I was fighting you I thought that if that's true, then I wouldn't 
have to kill you. therefore the Stonehenge granted our one and only wish. 
however, this is not the utopia. no matter where we run to, people's hearts do 
not change. but sharel, you are the princess!
sharel (looks shocked) : [vad...]
vadius : there are people who are waiting for you, people who love you. go back 
alive!! and rebuild eden once again!
sharel (being closed off by the Stonehenge) : vad!! behind you...
vadius (turns around, mildret attacking him) : !
mildret : good bye, poor prince!!

(and she makes an energy ball, but vadius suddenly sees that in the center of 
her hand is a mark just like the one on his face before)

vadius : [I see it! the crest of mildret's power...!! aqua crystal that sharel 
claims to bring good luck... (breaks off the earring from his ear) just this 
once... bring me fortune......!!]

(he stabs the earring's pointy end into mildret's hand)

mildret : AHHHHHH

(she seems to be uh, disintegrating... and vadius looks like he succeeded, 
sharel seems like she's fading and with tears... all this happens in a big flash 
of light in the heart of manhattan... afterwards...)

vadius : [she left?] sharel... (smile) be happy... (suddenly...)
a voice : vad......

(he turns around and sharel walks out of the ruins of the Stonehenge and she's 
crying and smiling)

sharel : I won't be happy. because wherever I go... you're not there...!!

(vadius smiles)

text : I want to go to a country without war, I want to live there happily ever 
after with the person I love.

(sharel runs up to him and it really does end with a happily ever after 
picture...)

text : your wish has been granted.

(fade out of the Stonehenge)

end of Stonehenge

yukie's note : this is the first time I've done a short story... and damn it is 
short. 1 volume only... x.x no wonder I am done so quickly... anyway... now that 
this is over with... back to AS ~.~ and yes, I didn't feel like translating the 
atogaki... words so small, and so many -.-;;; actually, until now I've 
translated stuff that is well known already (say AS...) or stories w/ people's 
names in real Japanese (like X or FoR) so this is the first time I had to "make 
up" names for characters and places T.T I believe I have discovered that I'm 
very bad at it >.<