* Yuu Yuu Hakusho Translation * * Volume 1: So long, world! * * Chapter two: The test for revival. * [Urameshi Yuusuke, 14 years old; died while trying to save a little boy, and is a loser and the ultimate juvenile delinquent.] Yuusuke: Oh shut up. [On account of this unexpected (and idiotic) behavior, the Reikai granted him a chance to come back to life, but...] Yuusuke: Hey! Where are we going? Botan: To 'that world'! And to that person who would be able to brief you about 'that test'! Yuusuke: Who's that? Can't he come to see me himself? Botan: It's King Enma. Yuusuke: What! Botan: Let me remind you first! If you don't mind your manners while talking with King Enma, he'll banish you to the deepest level of hell without a chance at rebirth! Yuusuke: Don't joke! I wanna go back! Botan: Don't be tempermental! See, the entrance is just in front of us, let's go in! Yuusuke: Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Botan: Just hang on for a while more! We're almost there! See! We're here! Yuusuke: (dangling from Botan's oar above a curvy path) That is *really* huge. Is that the road of "Yomi"? * Just a little footnote: Most Orientals believe in an afterlife whereby they would have to pass by a road above a 'Yellow Spring' (our so-called "Road of Yomi") before reaching the destination for the next life. Botan: That's right! And over there, is the hall of judgement. (they arrive outside a huge pagoda tower lookalike) Botan: This is Botan, seeking an audience with King Enma. Yuusuke: (as he glances up at the monstrous building) Wow! *King Enma? I don't suppose I'll be able to win in a match against him!* [King Enma, judge of the underworld with the power to decide the path of those who are sent to the Reikai.] Yuusuke: *No hang on... if I give him a sudden punch to his face and while he's still sore from the pain go around him to give him a pinch or a tickle...* ... and then grabbing his 'ball' with my left hand... that'll do it! Botan: What're you mumbling about? (she presses a button on the wall) Botan: This is Botan, I've brought Urameshi Yuusuke here! Voice: All right, come in! (the door slowly rumbles open) Yuusuke: WAH! Oni here: Ken from the third column's here! Oni there: Over here! Oni over there: Hey! Chase the two of 'em! Oni over here: What? He's earlier than expected! The rest of the Oni: (while running around) ... Yuusuke: Is this a trading mart? Botan: Ah! King Enma! Yuusuke: Hm? King Enma: I'm over here, over here! (a little baby trods out) King Enma: So you'r ehere! Relax a little, boy! (he rests into his plush leather seat) Botan: This is Urameshi Yuusuke. King Enma: Phew! I'm so busy that my eyes are doing the shimmy! Yuusuke: This fellow's King Enma? WAHAHAH! Hey! Don't joke with me! Botan: (hits Yuusuke on the head) Idiot! Why would I joke with you for? Yuusuke: Then... that little kid's really King Enma? Darn! All that terror for nothing! King Enma: To be more accurate, I'm King Enma's Junior, Koenma. My lifespan's at least 50 times more than yours, so don't you look down on me; and watch your tone! Yuusuke: You don't look that old to me. (Botan hits him on the head instead) Koenma: You should show respect to me! Oni: (placing a stack of papers on desk) Lord Koenma, please sign these documents. Koenma: Oh my, not another pile. (reaches into his pocket) Koenma: You can see for yourself how busy the Reikai is! Let's draw a conclusion to this quickly! Urameshi Yuusuke, the test you have to accept is... (his hand flashes by) Koenma: This! [And right now, in the Ningenkai... (Human World)] Girl 1: Perk up! Girl 2: You can't be sad forever! Keiko: Don't worry! I'm okay now. I still have to go somewhere else, so I'm off! Girls: ... Girl 2: I suppose she was just forcing herself to smile! Girl 1: No matter what, a childhood friend suddenly passing away... Keiko: ... "Idiot! Rotten egg! KNAVE! You might as well die!" Yuusuke's mother: Thanks for specially offering joss-sticks to him. Keiko: Don't mention it, I'll come again tomorrow... Yuusuke's mother: Keiko-chan. You need to perk up a little! Keiko: Mm! I'll take my leave now! (she turns away with a despondant look in her eyes) Yuusuke's mother: Yuusuke. Keiko's expression looks pained. (puts a finger on his photograph) Yuusuke's mother: You casanova! *Didn't you see that expression on her face? When did all of that begin? I still remember that one winter day when you fell into the river...* Little Yuusuke: Uuuu... Yuusuke's mother: What a big idiot! Little Keiko: Mmm... Yuusuke's mother: Don't worry, Keiko-chan. Better go home before the sky darkens. (Keiko shakes her head furiously) Keiko: I'll return after his fever subsides. I wa sthe one who caused him to fall into the river. Yuusuke's mother: Ah, it was this little fellow who played around with your dress in the first place! He slipped and fell in while you were chasing him around... he deserved it! Yuusuke: Hey! Is that what a mother should say about her son? (at the door) Yuusuke's mother: Don't worry! He'll be all right tomorrow. Keiko: ... (the next day) Yuusuke's mom: Yuusuke, are you really all right? You're still having a fever! Even when you're fine you'd play sick and play traunt... what's so special about today... Yuusuke: Because... if I took leave, she'll come again! Mom: ... Yuusuke: I don't like want to see... that kind of expression on her face. (sees Keiko) Yuusuke: Hi! Keiko: Ah! Yuusuke! You've recovered? Yuusuke: Of course! I'm feeling so energetic! Mom: ... Keiko: And to think I was so worried! Yuusuke: (as he drags on his nose drips) Wanna stick some on you? Mom: Heh... (back to the present) Mom: Yuusuke... ! Keiko-chan's expression now was worse than that before! What... shall I do this time? (leans down and sobs) (inside Yuusuke's coffin, some slight banging sounds are heard) (darkness in the Reikai...) Koenma: This so called 'test'... is this! (holds out an egg) Koenma: To tend this egg and ensure it's smooth hatching. Yuusuke: What's this? Koenma: The egg of the Beast of Reikai. No need for extra temperature, just make sure that you have it by your side always. Yuusuke: Oh... so how long does it take for that egg to hatch? Koenma: Well... maybe about 20 years! Yuusuke: Who can wait for 20 years? Koenma: There's no hurry! I was merely exaggerating. Surely I couldn't say '1 or 2 years' could I? Relax! "As of now, your heart's beginning to beat again, all we have to wait is to see whether your soul can return to your body." Yuusuke: So that means, the day this egg hatches is the day I'll be able to return? (throws the egg in the air) Yuusuke: I don't know why this is the test... do you, Botan? Botan: I don't! ... (she thinks back) Koenma: Listen! You must keep this a secret from that boy. The Reikai Beast grows little by little by sucking on a human's energy. It can become a demon, or an angel. It all depends on the heart condition of the person giving the energy. If he continues to only give out evil energy... (a wild, ferocious monster bursts out of the egg in the background) Koenma: *The Reikai Beast will formulate into a ferocious monster. The soul represents the heart, and feeding on these will result in an accelerated growth speed for the Beast. It won't be long before we know what kind of 'beast' will evolve out!* Botan: ... So if the beast becomes a monster, he won't be able to return to his body? Koenma: I won't do that. I'll still let him return. But once he does, the beast would probbaly attack and eat up both his body and his soul... (back to the present) Botan: *What will the ending be?* Yuusuke: (slams his fist on his palm) Oh yeh! If no one knew that my heart was still moving, then my body will be thoroughly cremate tomorrow! (turns to Botan) Yuusuke: Is there any way I can communicate with a normal human being? Botan: But of course! You can do it through dreams. Spirit: Return my money! Person sleeping: (funny faces) [Passing on dreams: gods or buddhas or dead spirits passing on messages through dreams.] (a bottle flies out of a window) Mom: Yuusuke you big idiot! Will any normal human being die after being knocked down by a car? I certainly don't remember feeding such a weakling as my son! IDIOT... (drinks some wine) Yuusuke: ... this one's out... Botan: Perhaps she'll fall asleep if we wait a while longer. Yuusuke: No way, she'll stay this way for 3 days at least. *Can't help it... though quite reluctantly, I guess I'll have to go through Keiko.* (floats over) Yuusuke: *Haven't been to her house for a long time...* (in Keiko's room) Yuusuke: *Only a while since my last visit and her room's become so much more cute.* Keh! *The actual person however becomes more and more hatable.* !! (Keiko's crying) Yuusuke: *She's crying?* ... Keiko: *I'm sorry, Yuusuke... that you're dead... I'm so sorry... Yuusuke: *Fool! It's not your fault!* Keiko: *No...* Yuusuke: *Not over such small matters...* Keiko: ... Mmm... (Yuusuke sits atop Keiko) Yuusuke: Keiko, I don't know what's wrong, but why're you so crestfallen? I'm not that weak as to be driven to death by you! It's just that I've got something on and my soul's out for a while, but I'll be back. If you don't believe me, open my coffin and listen to my heartbeat! And by the way, tell that drunk mother of mine that I'm still alive! (next page please. ^_^x) Yuusuke: ... Well, that's about all! (looks at Keiko) Yuusuke: *Don't... give me that hurt expression! I don't... like that kind of expression on you!* (wipes away her tears) Keiko: Yuu... suke... ? (wakes up) Keiko: Yuusuke! ... My tears... wiped away! *It wasn't a dream!* (runs towards Yuusuke's house) Keiko: Atsuko-san! Open up! Atsuko-san! Excuse me, Atsuko-san! Please open up! Atsuko: Keiko-chan... Keiko: Atsuko-san, listen to me! It's like this... Yuusuke's... Atsuko: Yuusuke... Keiko: Atsuko-san? Atsuko: Just now I wanted to give him a final punch, so I opened up his coffin... and I saw that his cheeks were still red. Keiko: And his heart... seems to be still moving! Atsuko: Yuusuke's... still alive! Yuusuke's... still alive... Yuusuke... ! Yuusuke: ... Keh... Well, they're so glad that they're crying all over their face now. And I don't even know when I can return. Yeh... maybe I should smash the egg... it'll be interesting if I couldn't return... Botan: *Ai - ! How dishonest... I just hope nothing horrible hatches out of that egg!* Egg: ... END TRANSLATION 11/1/99 (c) 1991 Togashi Yoshihiro Translation: fwah@geocities.com