Narrator: Spirit of those who pass away, Fairy who resides in the forest, even god. In this world, there are people who can combine their souls with those spirits. Those who are called "Shaman King"

<< a boy runs, appears to be in a hurry >>
Manta: Ha… Ha… Oh…
Manta: I should not study this late. I will not be able to catch the last train.
Manta: Eh?
Manta: Yes! Narrator: Teenager who needs to go home in the nighttime. What will he meet in such a rushing situation?
Manta: If I use the shortcut through this cemetery, I will reach train station on time.
Manta: A tad scary, but there is no choice…
???: Hey, why in such hurry?
Manta: Eh?

<< manta sees a boy sitting >>
Manta < thinking >: Why on earth he sits there alone in the middle of the night?

< Picture: Shaman King 1: Leaves >

Manta < thinking >: Or… Gh… Ghost?
Manta: Arh! No time for such nonsense! There is a TV program that I want to record!
???: Wait… Manta:!
???: The sky is clear today, favorable for watching stars. Since you are here, why don't you come watch it?
???: Come join everybody.
Manta < thinking >: Strange person
Manta: Stars? What good for that I should watch?
Manta: You are so strange. There are only you there, why do you say "everybody"?
???: I refer to everybody…

???: …in this cemetery
<< ghosts appear >>
Manta: !?

???: Don't worry, everyone is friend here.
???: They just don't want to go yet.*(1)
???: Eh? What happen?
<< Apparently, Manta is shocked >>
Manta: AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<< the next day, at school >>
< sign: Shinra Secondary School >
< sign: 7th grade, Class C >
Manta: I saw it! Manta: Ghosts in the cemetery, watching stars!
Manta: I saw it with my own eyes!!
Student1: I think you've just gone Cuckoo.
<< manta stuns >>

Student1: There is no ghost!!
Student2: It is just your hallucination.
Student3: Or you study too hard you lose your sanity!?
Student1: Or you got possessed?
Manta: What!!
<< everyone laughs, teacher comes to class >>
Teacher: Why is the classroom so noisy? Oyamada, get back to your seat. Homeroom will begin soon.
Student4: Teacher is coming.
Teacher: Today I have an announcement.
Manta: Hmph!
Manta < thinking >: So what was I seeing yesterday? Was it just a dream?
Teacher: Here is a new transfer student

Teacher: Asakura Yoh
Teacher: He just moves from Izumo. Everyone please welcomes him.
Teacher: Oyamada, why do you make your face like that?
Manta: You…
Manta: Why are you here!!

Manta: Everyone! This is they guy!
Student2: Ghost
Student1: A man who hangs out with ghosts?
Yoh: Even kid knows there is no ghost. Who are you?
Manta: Whaaaat??!!
<< Lunch Time >>
Student1: Let it go, Manta.
Student1: He also confirms that. Yesterday you might just…
Manta: NO!
Manta: It is him! He just pretends he does not know me. I just want to ask him…
Manta: But why…

Manta: Why can you sleep since your first day in school? You lazy bum!!
Student1: Shuddup
Student2: He looks weird
Student3: Not surprising if he does weird thing
Student1: More important…
Student1: That cemetery is a lair of punk from Bungzo high school, which is famous for its badness. It is possible that you saw him and his gang.
Student1: Don't care about him.
Student2: Yeah, yeah…
Student3: I am going back home and study
Manta < thinking >: I won't quit

Manta < thinking >: I will expose that guy!
< later that day >
Manta: Fu… Let's see. I need to track him down
Manta: …so that I can get something
Manta < thinking >: I will break that deadpan mask into million pieces.
Manta: How can he wear sandal to school, anyway?

< description: 2 hours later >
Manta: Darn… that guy…
Manta < thinking >: How long will you stand there!

Manta < angry mode >: What a waste!! What fun is looking at the river!?
Yoh : Ah! It feels so good after being one with nature.*(2)
Manta: What?!
Yoh: Eh?
Manta: Ah! Getting exposed!
< A bit later >
Yoh: Um.
Yoh: So you follow me.
Yoh: That's a bad doing.

Manta: You are not angry?
Yoh: Why so? You follow me because I pretend I do not know you in class.
Manta: Ah… yeah, right!
Yoh: Ha, ha. Sorry. I do not want my secret being exposed in front of everybody.
Manta < shock >: Ah… Secret!?
Yoh: Yes. I come here to train myself.
Yoh: I am a shaman.

Manta: Sha…
Manta: Shaman? < thinking > What is Shaman?
Manta < thinking >: Why does he tell me his secret?
Yoh: Ha ha ha. Shaman is the one who link this world with the afterlife. If you have any problem, don't hesitate to call me.

< At 'Juku'*(3) >
Manta < thinking >: Hmph!
Manta < thinking >: What exactly is he?
Manta < thinking >: Shaman, the link?
Manta < thinking >: I don't get it
Manta < thinking >: Why do I have to think about this while I am studying?
< encyclopedia: Shaman >
Manta < thinking >: This word is in encyclopedia?
Manta < reading >: Wha.. what?
Manta < reading >: Shaman is a person who is able to contact the death, angel, fairy, or ghost by meditation.

< description: Shaman borrows those powers to heal the sick and guide people description: A person who is able talk for death. They are in our society since ancient time until now. >

< Manta seems blurring >
Manta < thinking >: Someone who can use spirits? So there are ghosts in this world.
Manta < thinking-screaming >: But I already saw it, No point to be skeptical…
Teacher: Oyamada
Teacher: Mr. Oyamada!!
< Manta getting hit by blackboard cleaner !! >
Teacher: YOU… If you don't want to study, then go home. Don't waste the air here.
Teacher: Our school needs only role model students.
< School Motto: "Be No.1, or go kill yourself" >
Manta: Sor… Sorry, sir.

< later that night, Funbari Train Station >
Manta: Damn.
Manta: That teacher doesn't have to humiliate me that much.
Manta: It is all because of that Yoh guy.
Manta: I don't care what Shaman is, but he just agitates me.
Manta: Those devil-may-care looks.
Manta: Don't study. Listen to music all day.
Manta: …but, actually, I would love to do so.
Manta:…
Manta: Looking at the flow, watching the stars all night.

Manta: But on this world, if you want to survive, you cannot do like that. Ah~ I am so frustrated.
< announcer: "The last train is leaving" >
< manta arrives the destination station >
Manta: Cemetery
Manta: He may be there today.

< At the cemetery, laughing sound >
Henchman1: This place is great!
Henchman2: That's because of Ryu-san!*(4)
Henchman3: Nobody comes to disturb us here
Henchman4: Here is also near grocery shops
Henchman5: Nobody cares even we make a lot of noise.
Henchman2: We can do whatever we want!
Henchman1: But lately there seems to be a boy wandering around.
Henchman3: What?
Henchman4: Really? If Ryu-san knows…
< Someone kicks a tombstone, everyone is scared >

Ryu: Some kid trespass this place? Seems like he needs a lesson from 'Ryu the wooden sword'.
Henchmen: Ry… Ryu-san! You come!
Ryu: Just arrived.
Henchman6: Ah… Ryu-san…
Ryu: What happens, Ball Boy (Nickname)?

Ball Boy: That tombstone, belongs to Amidamaru.
Ryu: What Amidamaru?
Ball Boy: Ah, this is the city's most famous legend. A story of samurai who lived almost 600 years ago.
< description: From the painting 'Amidamaru-the ogre'*(5) >
Ball Boy: A capable sword man who slaughtered a lot of people and was hated by the common. He was executed and that tombstone is set to suppress his avenging spirit.
Ball Boy: If we disrespect the stone, the curse will…
Ryu: So?
Ball Boy: Hm?

Ryu: YAH! YAH! YAH!
< ryu destroys the tombstone with his sword! >
Ball Boy: Ah!!
Henchmen: Using his sword…
Henchmen: to destroy the stone!
Ryu: Bah! Samurai's grave? Curse? Nonsense.
Ryu: Using the land to build graveyard for these anonymous, Tokyo has too much space.

Manta < thinking >: I don't understand it, but he is so scary.
Ryu: Duh, if you exist, why don't you show up?
Ryu: If you are so angry, gimme a curse.
Ryu: Ha ha ha, See? How can the death do something to us?
Ryu: Eh?
< Manta exposed >
Ryu: Who are you?
Manta: Ar?

Manta < thinking >: This is bad. Just when I want to escape…
Manta: Ah, sir, I just pass by…
Ryu: Oh yeah?
Ryu: So you are THAT punk.
Manta: I am not.
< manta gets a lesson from Ryu >
< tombstone: Amida… >
< the next day, school >

Students < laughing >: What happens to you, Manta?
< manta in band-aid >
Student1: I told you not to go there.
Student2: You really follow that guy?
Student3: What happen to a bookworm I know?
Student: Before was seeing a ghost, now what.
Student: You may really go wacko.
< manta starts to cry >
Yoh: Ghosts do exist.

Student: What are you saying? New Student.
Student1: What the heck?
Student2: Arh..
Yoh: I heard it all from friends at cemetery.
Manta: What do you mean 'friends at cemetery'.
Manta: I am a busy man, and this is none of your business.
Yoh: You name is Manta, correct?

Yoh: Let's go to revenge, Manta.
< Yoh drags Manta >
Manta: Wait!
Manta: I don't want your help.
Manta: Listen to me!! Who needs your help!
Yoh: Friend… must help friend.
Manta < thinking >: What?

Yoh: My grandpa told me those who could see spirits were not bad people.
Yoh: You could see the spirits that night, that's why I told you my secret.
Yoh: We are friend. That's good.
Manta: No! Not good at all!
Manta: Who wants to be friend with wacko like you? And you don't know how frightening they are.
Manta: They have more people, and that wooden sword guy is scary. Only idiots will fight with them. A small guy like you can beat them?

Yoh: Ah~ I am indeed weak.
Manta: See!
Yoh: But I have a plan
Manta: There is no way whatsoever!
Yoh: There is. If our opponent use swords…
Yoh: Don't worry. I have a friend who can help.
Manta < screaming >: I don't know you! Please let me go! Arh!

< At the cemetery >
Manta < crying >: You see!! Please, let's go back!! I don't want this!!
Ryu: Ah..
Ryu: What do you say? You want us to get out?
Ryu: You sure seem want to die.

Manta < thinking >: I…am…so…scared.
Yoh: Because
Yoh: My friends in the afterlife told me that you disturbed them.
Henchmen: Fu, ha ha, you talk about ghosts?
Henchmen: Stupid! Our Ryu-san ain't afraid of ghost.
Ryu: Yes. If they exist, let them show up.
Yoh: There already is someone waiting to meet you.
Yoh: Am I right?

Yoh: Amidamaru.
< Amidamaru's spirit appears >
Manta < shocking >: Ghost. Samurai ghost.
Amidamaru: I am grateful that you give me an opportunity to avenge him, Lord Yoh.*(6)

Manta: Avenging? Or this ghost?
Manta: is the owner of that tombstone.
Manta < thinking >: Amidamaru. The legendary samurai.

Manta < thinking >: If he is a real samurai, this should be nothing to him.
Manta < thinking >: But…
Ryu: Stop it, will ya? You still insist on that Amidamaru nonsense.
Manta < thinking >: Yeah. Those bullies cannot see him. So how can he fight them? He is just a ghost anyway.
Ryu: Hey, Space Shot (nickname) and Apache.
Manta < thinking >: What do they want?

Ryu: Let's Beat them!!
Manta < shouting >: Ah! They are coming! What should we do! That samurai is just a ghost, he can't even touch them!
Yoh: Ha ha, take it easy.
Yoh: Amidamaru, let me borrow your sword skill to show them.
Amidamaru: Umph!

< Amidamaru changes into fireball >
Yoh: Make me invincible!
< description: Amidamaru, spirit ball mode >
Manta: Eh! He becomes a fireball.
Yoh: I told you. The link of these two worlds
Yoh: I am shaman.

Space Shot: Shamon?
Apache: Should we beat them now?
Yoh: Let's combine!!*(7)
< yoh put Amidamaru's spirit into himself >
Manta: That fireball gets inside him!
Space Shot, Apache < shouting >: Die!!

< yoh uses worshipping wooden plate to beat them up in one move, everyone is shocked >

Henchmen: Just using that piece of wood…
Henchmen: Those two are defeated… What?
Manta: Connection…
Manta: Connection is to let the spirit possesses you.
Manta < thinking >: Unbelievable. He really is a link of these two dimensions?
Yoh: Ha ha ha. There is no good weapon around, but this should be enough to handle you all.

Yoh: Now it is your turn. Are you ready?
Ryu: Ah… < thinking > he seems to become another person. That sword skill is extraordinary

Yoh < smiling >: What happens? Seeing the real assassin art turns you into a chicken, kiddo?
Ryu: Duh! Don't underestimate me, Samurai ghost!
< Ryu runs to Yoh >
Manta: Arh! That's bad!
Manta: Don't fight him, you will get killed!
Manta: Now, he is a real samurai!

Manta: Now I understand! Linking two worlds is to let spirit possesses you.
Manta: Movement, skill, everything will be sent into this world!

Henchmen: Ah!!! Ryu-san!!!
< Yoh cuts the front of Ryu's hair >

Yoh: Don't worry. I won't kill him. I don't want this guy to be one of us.
< Ryu faints >
Henchmen: Ryu-san … is defeated.
Henchmen: Let's run away!!!
Manta: I know… he likes to laid back to free his mind
Manta: And when his mind is free, he can borrow power from spirits. This is the meaning of 'link of two worlds'.

Manta: Shaman… Asakura Yoh…
< narrative: And my adventure with Yoh begins >

Translation Note:

*(1) go in a sense of reincarnation based on Buddhism belief.
*(2) Well, not likely Buddhism belief. I think the whole concept of 'being part of nature' is more of a Shinto thought (which was more of a product of Taoism). Feel free to drop some thoughts since I might be wrong.
*(3) The idea of tutoring school after regular class (as it is called 'juku') is normal by Japanese (or a broader sense, many Asian countries). These kids will go to the schools to improve chance of passing the entrance examination for good schools. From what I heard, after they get into good schools, many turn to be a college frat whose main responsibilities are partying and getting drunk (since the pressure of examination is enormous, and you are quite guaranteed to get a job as long as you don't flunk the school anyway) :)
*(4) Call me stupid, but I cannot find any word to suit him better than 'Ryu-san' I will let his fellows call him like this unless anyone come with a better idea.
*(5) I also can't find a proper word to describe him. 'Monster' makes me thing of those weird creature (Godzilla comes into my mind), while 'devil' makes me think of Satan. The more accurate picture would be like Sankuro in Samurai Spirits 3&4. 'Giant'? sounds like a character from Doraemon…
*(6) Tough translation again :( Since Amidamaru treats this relationship in term of feudal system (samurai-warlord). I think this prefix is the best I can come up with. Man, I need to study more English.
*(7) A tribute to one of my favorite cartoon, Combattler V, in case you don't know :)