* Yuu Yuu Hakusho Manga Translation * * Volume 3: The demonic forest * * Chapter five (22): A mother and son's motivation! * Yuusuke: *Oh man! All these injuries. Better go home and rest!* Detector: Beep beep beep! Yuusuke: !! *The watch's detected something! 100 metres, 50 metres... incoming! Somebody within this crowd? Surely he won't attack in front of so many people? I can't fight right now! That's it! He's the one!* ... Kurama: Don't be so tensed! I won't fight, and I won't run. I have a request... Yuusuke: Request? (at Yuusuke's home) Botan: I still think it's a set-up. Yuusuke: Ouch! Botan: It's too good to be true! "I'll return you the Treasure in another two to three days." Right? Isn't it a full moon three days later? The Dark Mirror Kurama has will be at it's peak then. The Mirror is said to be able to reflect the true desires of one, and fulfill it. However, something needs to be given in exchange for that one wish fulfilled, and as for what 'something' is, it remains a mystery. He must want to use this three days to find out what 'something' is! Yuusuke: ... If that's the case, why did he bother showing himself? Botan: Ah... you're right! Yuusuke: Well... I really don't think he's that bad after meeting him and talking with him. Botan: WAH! How could you say that? It was his companion who had you in such a bad state! Yuusuke: There's something else I didn't tell you, Botan. The three of them have already split. Kurama wants to leave them! But I don't know what reason for. Something must have happened to make him change his mind. He really doesn't look like he's lying. Botan: ... Atsuko: Yuusuke, time for dinner! Botan-chan too! Botan: Thank you! Yuusuke: Hey! We were talking about some serious stuff! [wet blanket] Atsuko: And what is that that your mom can't know? Yeh, and what girl is that one? If you dare let Keiko-chan down, I won't spare you! Botan: ? Yuusuke: There's nothing of that sort! Kurama: (standing on the top floor railing of the opposite block) ... [three days later] Pupil: Urameshi, somebody's at the door looking for you. Yuusuke: Oh? Which High school student is that? It's been long since anybody's came for a chat. ! It's you! Kurama! Kurama: Hi. We had an appointment today to return you the Treasure didn't we? Yuusuke: Hm? Aaah! *Oh man! I clean forgot about it!* [a detective without common sense] Kurama: Before that, I'd like you to meet someone. Yuusuke: Me? (they go somewhere else) Yuusuke: Hospital? [Room 501: Minamino-sama] Mrs. Minamino: Oh... It's so rare to see you bring a friend over. Kurama: You should just lie down, mom. Yuusuke: *Mom?* Mrs. Minamino: Hm... I'm feeling better today. Kurama: I'll help you peel some apples. Mrs. Minamino: Don't bother, I have no appetite today. Kurama: That won't do! If you don't eat something healthy, you'll never recover. Mrs. Minaminio: Okay! Okay! You are so strict, Shuuichi. Yuusuke: ? ? ? ? *What in the world is going on?* (at the hospital rooftop) Kurama: "Shuuichi" is my alias in the Ningenkai. And she's my foster mother, my foster father died not too long ago. Yuusuke: Your background resembles some great popstar. Kurama: They've been taking care of me for 15 years, yet I've been hiding the truth... [My true form is a Youko (demonic fox), and my profession is to disarm wards and disengage locks to steal ancient treasures and weapons. Fifteen years ago, I was pursued by a highly skilled hunter, and seriously injured. Then I escaped into the Ningenkai with a spirit body.] [Youko: What a fox transforms into after living a hundred years. Empowered with rei abilities. The most well known being the nine-tailed-spirit-fox, who is able to transform into anything at will, as well as induce illusions.] [Being helpless then, I was unable to transform or possess just anybody, so I was forced to lay await in a lady's still forming foetus. If I can just bear for another 10 years, I would recover, and my flesh would completely become that of a demon's. I decided to, when that happens, vanish from this lady's sight forever.] Yuusuke: But why did you... Kurama: ... Did you see the wounds on her hands? Yuusuke: Yes... they look like scars to me. [It was because of those scars! Six years ago...] Kurama: I'm home. I'm going to do some gardening. Are there any large containers around? Mrs. Minamino: Up there in the cupboards. I'll get it for you. Kurama: There's no need. I'll do it myself. (he stands on a chair, tries to reach) Kurama: ! Ah! Mrs. Minaminio: Danger! (plates break, but she still slides her hands across those pieces to cushion Kurama's head from the fall) Kurama: AH! MOM! Mrs. Minamino: Are you all right? Are you hurt? [After the bandages were removed, the scars still remained. I tried so many times to leave home, but... her smile, and the scars kept hounding me... I was unable to leave!] [As a demon myself, it is unthinkable to have fostered such emotions, but it was when she fell ill that I realized... that I had always been respecting her as my mother.] Kurama: She won't last for another one month. And I want to use this mirror to save her. That's my only wish now. Once my wish if fulfilled, I'll return you the mirror. Yuusuke: If you give herself up, won't she be very lonely? Kurama: It doesn't matter... She has a loving boyfriend with her now. He's the president of the little business she's working for. If she recovers, she'll be happier without me around. Yuusuke: ... so... why're you telling me all this? Kurama: Perhaps I needed someone to listen to my regrets! After all, you believed me. Yuusuke: ... Man: Ah! Shuuichi are you here? Hurry up! Ms Shiori is... Kurama: ! Doctor: The illness suddenly worsened... frankly speaking, she's in an unstable state right now. Tonight will be dangerous... I've tried my best. Kurama: ... I have to do it! Yuusuke: ! You're going to use the mirror? I heard that you'll need to give something to it in exchange for it's fulfilling your wish... do you know what it is? Kurama: Yes... it's 'life'! Yuusuke: ! Kurama: This is a mirror which, as it fulfills your wish, takes away your life. Therefore it's known as the Dark Mirror, and the owner of the mirror often changes hands. Oh Dark Mirror, accept the moonlight and awaken! Reveal your strength that will fulfill my wish reflected on your surface! Mirror: The happiness of this woman... is it really your wish? Kurama: Yes! Yuusuke: Hey! Are you sure about this? If she lives and you die, won't it be just as meaningless? Kurama: Other than this, there's no other way. Mirror: Is this really your wish? Sacrificing your life for somebody else's happiness. Kurama: I've been cheating her for 15 years. If I can slightly pardon myself by doing this... Mirror: Very well! I shall do as told.. and grant your wish. Kurama: !! Uugh... !? What are you doing? Yuusuke: Hey mirror! Take part of my life instead of his! This way, you can still fulfill his wish without entirely taking his life isn't it? Kurama: Ah... just what is going on in your mind? Yuusuke: Have you ever seen your own mother crying for yourself? That would be the ultimate unpardonable deed! Kurama: ... [GA] Kurama: ... Ugh! Ah! I'm still alive... then my mom... Mom! Yuusuke: Ouch! That hurts! Great! I'm still alive! I just couldn't help but interfere in view of the situation just now... now that I think about it, it was frightening! Mirror: ... Yuusuke: Hmm... that means one more Treasure to go. Wonder how his mother is... Mirror: Oh boy! I never thought such reckless people existed. But if every wisher were like you, I would have no need to be called the Dark Mirror anymore... Man: Shuuichi! Your mother has successfully passed through the danger period! Kurama: ... Doctor: She's not only passed through it, her health has improved too! The will to live is indeed frightening. Shiori: Shuu...ichi... are you there? Shuuichi... Kurama: Mom... I'm here... I'm not going anywhere... Mom... Yuusuke: ... (he goes home) Yuusuke: I'm home. Atsuko: Oh, you're back. Yuusuke: Let me cook dinner tonight. Atsuko: OHO! And the sun rises from the west! END TRANSLATION 31/1/99 (c) Togashi Yoshihiro Translation: fwah@geocities.com