BIRTHDAY PRESENT by Tsukuba Sakura Source: LaLa Volume 7, 2002 Translated: Dianne Dimabuyo (DiDi) Yomikiri [Short Story] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: Birthday Present belongs to Tsukuba Sakura and Hakusensha. This is a fan translation and no money is being made off of this. Note: This translation is loose and must not be taken to mean word-for-word, because that would just be silly and nonsensical, ne? ^^ Don't hesitate to send comments and criticisms, if it so moves you. : text in bubbles <> sound () little text [] translator's additional notes.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -TITLE- Psychic Burning Love Picking up a guy on her 16th birthday...!? BIRTHDAY PRESENT Tsukuba Sakura -151- Birthday An important day celebrating the day you were born -152- Kotoko (thought): Did he just collapse? /Kotoko/ What's more he's stripped Kotoko: A.. are you alright? -153- Kotoko (thought): Nobody's gonna pass by at this time of the day... /Kotoko/ It's only 5 a.m.... Kotoko (off): Ussh! {S}...... {D}......Come {D}Come here {S}......Shut up. [note: That would be "S" for Shin and "D" for the darkness....] -154- {D}You are mine {S}Shut up. Don't mess with me. {D}Come {S}Shut up! Shut up! {S}SHUT UP!! -155- Shin: ...... Shin: ...... Shin: Where am I? Shin: ..... Shin: Ah, well.. Looks like I'm safe anyway. Shin: Hm? /Shin/ What's this shirt... -156- Shin: ........ Shin: Ah------ Kotoko: AH! Kotoko: You're awake! Kotoko: How are you feeling? Are you hurting somewhere? Shin: ...... Shin: Wh... Who are you? Kotoko: Kotoko Kotoko: Mayama Kotoko. You? Shin: ...Shin Shin: Is this your apartment? Kotoko: Yep. You had collapsed on the road, so I carried you here. Kotoko: Pretty buff, ain't I? -157- Shin: Pretty buff indeed. Kotoko: Shall we have breakfast? Shin (thought): That guy earlier... Shin (thought): he's not here anymore... Kotoko: We've got sardines and chopped roots and tofu and cold miso on the menu.... Shin (thought): She even bandaged me... Shin (thought): What a good Samaritan... /Kotoko/ ru.. laruru... Shin (thought): Probably the edible type.. /Kotoko/ A little slow on its feet, possible vegetarian.... a hippo? [note: I'm assuming Kotoko's singing... ¬_¬] I'm different I won't be held by them Shin: Do you live by yourself? Kotoko: Yeah Shin: What about your parents? -158- Kotoko: Nope. They're both dead. /Kotoko/ That shirt belongs to my dad. Shin: ......... Shin: .... Shin: Hmmm Shin: ........And here you are picking up strange guys Shin: You shouldn't be doing something so dangerous Kotoko: Kotoko Shin: ......... Kotoko: KOTOKO Shin: Kotoko [note: He called her "omee" which is kinda rude, and so she's reinforcing that he use her name instead] Kotoko: But you were out on the ground Shin: (You just told me that...) Don't you think I might steal your money and run away? Kotoko: Hahaha. I don't have anything you can take anyway. Kotoko: Besides Kotoko: Today's my birthday. Kotoko: You might just have been my present Shin: .... Kotoko: By the way Kotoko: Are you free today? -159- What is it? Somehow Kotoko: Would you come shopping with me? Something doesn't feel right Lady: Kotoko-chan, happy birthday! Guy: I hear you're 16 now? /Guy/ You sure don't look it Shin: How come everybody knows your brithday? Kotoko: I was born here. /Kotoko/ And I used to work at the greengrocer here Shin (thought): Well.. I guess I owe her a favor for the bed and the meal... Shin (thought): I guess I'll keep her company /Shin/ I ain't staying though... Kotoko: Ah Kotoko: Shin-kun -160- Kotoko: Doesn't this doll look just like you? Dust bird: MOZO.. Kotoko: That expression in its eyes... -161- Kotoko: ? Kotoko: What is it? Shin: ...Uh. It's nothing... Shin: ...Damn. -162- Shin: Don't make me mad---- Ghost: Uh.. Um---- Shin: Ah---- Shin: You were in the apartment earlier Ghost: Ah, nice to meet you. I'm sorry about earlier. Ghost: I'm Kotoko's dad. Ghost: I've been dead for about 2 years. Ghost: ...Thank you for what you did earlier /Old man/ Ah, Kotoko. Today's your birthday, isn't it? /Old man/ How about playing one game? Ghost: For saving Kotoko -163- Shin: ......It's alright. Shin: Those are my enemies. /Old man/ Well, how about I give you some advice instead? /Kotoko/ Hm? Those things can't be seen by normal people They've been hanging about trying to manipulate me since I was a child They just appeared out of nowhere all of a sudden and have been trying to drag me in {D}Come {S}Shut up! {D}Your power is mine {S}Shut up! Don't touch me! {S}Don't touch me! They aren't beings of this world They have such a disgusting feeling, and if they had taken me in, I have a feeling that I won't be myself anymore. -164- Then again, being able to see ghosts and things like those I guess it's probably because I'm close to being like one of them Shin (thought): Ah.. I feel kinda sick......... Ghost: Th.. then!! Ghost: We have a common enemy, don't we *heart* Shin: Huh? Ghost: Kotoko's mom was kind of like that... /Man/ Ah!! Kotoko-chan! /Kotoko, to the other man/ Oi-chan. You're a little short over here.. /Other/ I see, I see... Ghost: Kotoko was being haunted by a kind of vengeful spirit Ghost: It tried to take Kotoko's life -165- Ghost: And now Kotoko Ghost: is all alone Ghost: She can't see me and all I can do is watch over her /Ghost/ It hurts that I couldn't save her at such a crucial time just now Ghost: And so I've got a request to make of you! Ghost: Won't you be part of "Kotoko's Bodyguards"!! Shin: No Ghost: ...... Shin: It's better if I don't /Shin/ A go piece Shin: She's going to be too easy of a target if I stick around Shin: And just yesterday, I was attacked. /Old man/ Ah----- Dammit. /Kotoko/ You're dropping your go pieces. Shin: And when I get injured, I lose all control. -166- Shin: And I was just able to do that at the last second Shin: Even if I could depend on it, it could be too late It annoys me Kotoko isn't alone She is loved, watched over, given birth to In unpleasantness the unpleasantness in hatred, I was forgotten -167- I have never really been born Shin: hm? Are they trying to drop it on her? -168- Kotoko: Shi... -169- -170- /Old man/ What? Kotoko: ...... /Old man/ What just happened? Ghost: Wow!! You're so great! Ghost: Wow! You're such a nice guy!! /Old man/ What was that? /Ghost/ You burned them so well -171- Shin: Wh.. Shin: WHAT!? /Ghost/ Hey.. hey, now.. Don't you go holding boys' hands Kotoko: Doesn't it hurt!? Kotoko: That was a BIG flame your hand was catching. Doesn't look like you have any burns, but.... Kotoko: We have to go to the ice vendor... Shin: ...... Shin: I'm fine. -172- Kotoko: What do you mean "it's fine"? What if it starts hurting? Shin: I don't have any burns! This happens all the time!! Kotoko: ...all the time.. Kotoko: you mean that "fire"? Shin: That Shin: is my Shin: hatred Shin: It burns what it touches That's right. Everything else burns but -173- I'm not hurt at all Shin: Is this Shin: what you came out to buy? Kotoko: Yup *heart* Shin (thought): Could that be a happy look on her face...... /Kotoko, singing/ Ca~ke /Ghost, singing/ Kotoko~ -174- Hate Hate Hate Kotoko: What's wrong? Shin: N.. nothing. Kotoko: Shin-kun Kotoko: Does it hurt? Shin: No Kotoko: You look mad.. Kotoko: Are you tired? Kotoko: Sweets are good if you're tired Kotoko: Let's eat the birthday cake together -175- Shin: Birthdays Shin: are nothing to celebrate Shin: You saw that fire just now, didn't you? Shin: It's been like that since I was born My father tried to kill me as soon as I was born Shin: I have been cursed ever since I was born The feelings emanating from my father Shin: Celebrating.. I understood that I wouldn't receive any blessings Shin: isn't it just a load of bull? -176- Shin: Your cake Shin: eat it by yourself Shin: Thanks for this morning Shin: Seeee yah It annoys me I'm off-balance Hate!? Is this hate? Shin: ! -177- Kotoko... is safe Geez, what is she doing? Go home alrea... -178- -179- It's got me! {D}Come -180- {D}Don't fight it Shin: Ggggggguh {D}You are mine {D}Mine {D}Your power is mine -181- Shin: Be gone. -182- -183- Kotoko: ...... Ghost: W... Wow...... Hatred Hatred Uncontrollable hatred The fire won't stop -184- /memory/ Kotoko: Does it hurt? It doesn't hurt, Kotoko. Even though it seems as if the whole world is burning I don't feel any pain /Ghost/ Uwa.. The fire's getting worse? I see, Dad. [note: Kotoko's dad? o.O?] Shin: Because I Shin: should have never been born? -185- Kotoko: Don't Kotoko: say that! -186-187- Shin: Kotoko, get off! It's dangerous! Kotoko: Don't say that! Shin: It's fine! My parents didn't even want me to live!!! Shin: My parents didn't want me!! Kotoko: I Kotoko: do. -188- Before I knew it Kotoko: Are you alright? my hatred had disappeared Ghost: HEY YOU TWO GHOST: GET OFF EACH OTHER Shin: Hm? Kotoko: Hm? -189- Kotoko&Shin: ! /Kotoko/ Kya--------- And so /Shin/ Wa--------- Kotoko went to get some clothes from her house /Kotoko/ Just hide for a bit! /Ghost/ Don't you show something like that to Kotoko /Shin/ It's not like I could help it. My clothes burned away... And I -190- I'm so mad and tired that I'm sleepy Ah.. but then Kotoko would probably pick me up off the road again And then we'll eat cake together To celebrate her birth THE END -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Homepage: http://trans.hazydaze.net/ Email at: lostin@hazydaze.net Date: June 20, 2002