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Format Guide: 

Person: "spoken words in a word balloon" (handwritten words in word balloon)
Person: not spoken aloud or not in word balloon…ie thoughts, handwritten words outside balloon…
romanized sound effect—meaning of sound effect
[note: translator’s note]

panel 1

Voice: "…a cat?"

za za—scraping sound

panel 2

za—scraping sound

panel 3

Person a: "Yeah, it’s living up in the daimyo’s castle or somewhere. It meows every night and it’s driving me crazy."

Person b: "It’s probably living under the building, boss."

Person c: "Oh, well then…"

panel 4

Person c: "Heh heh, check out this sword. I got a new one."

Person a: "Woah! This is a real master sword!"

[note: the Japanese term, "wazamono," refers to a blade created with care by a master swordsmith]

za za—scraping sword

panel 1

Person c: "I needed something to test the new blade on, so I killed that cat."

Person a: "Ha ha, killing some cat isn’t gonna be much practice!"

panel 2

Person c: "What? All right, next time I’ll cut up a [wolf]!"

[note on "wolf": the kanji given are Jin (ninth calendar month), Sei (living, life, new, etc.), Rou (wolf). For some reason, I want to say that this simply means "wolf," but I have only the last kanji to go on here. I suspect it’s some expression or feudal dialogue, but I regrettably am unfamiliar with it. At least thinking of it as "wolf" flows with the rest of the dialogue. It could also be the name of a person or group.]

Person a: "A [wolf] and a cat? That’s like night and day! Ha ha ha"

[note: actual comparison is "difference between heaven and earth," and implies one is much better/stronger than the other]

panel 3

Katsura: "… what are you doing?"

panel 4

za za—sound of scraping (dirt, as it were)

Himura: "I’m burying the cat."

panel 1

Himura: "I wasn’t planning on taking it in, but after it’s parents died it attached itself to me and I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it, so I secretly took it in."

panel 2

Himura: "However, while I was at ‘work,’ he got out, and ended up being cut."

panel 3

Himura: "I’m not mad at them for doing it, though."

panel 4

Himura: "After all, it’s what I do every day."

Poem: Flowers left behind in the darkness

Face to face with the mirror,

I see the expanse of death.

[note: I know very little about traditional poetry interpretation, so what you see above is a simple direct translation.]

Reimei no Toki: Time of Dawn

January 9th, Meiji year 4. Choushuu-han councilor Hirosawa Saneomi was killed late at night. There were thirteen wounds found on councilor Hirosawa’s body; fatal wounds were three blows to the throat. Killer remains unknown.

Katsura: "Himura!"

Himura: "Katsura… san…"

Reimei no Toki

—Meiji year 4: being like "here"—

[note: I translated this straight, but it might be a feudal sentence structure form that I am unfamiliar with.]

panel 1-2

Katsura: "It’s been a long time."

panel 3

Katsura: "If I recall correctly, we last saw each other around the time of the battle of Emporer Toba and Fukuken, so it’s been almost 4 years."

Katsura: "When I saw you from the carriage I didn’t believe it, but I’m glad to see you’re doing all right."

panel 4

Himura: "Katsura-san, you’re also looking very nice; so much so I almost didn’t recognize you. Wait, it’s Kido now, isn’t it."

panel 5

Katsura: Ah, ha ha, back then you saw me as a beggar, of course…

panel 1

Katsura: "Call me Katsura. To be honest, I’m not really used to that name anyway."

panel 2

Himura: "Katsura-san…"

panel 3

Katsura: "Anyway, what have you been up to all this time?"

Himura: "Oh, I’ve been traveling here and there… not really much at all…"

panel 6

Katsura: "You still haven’t gotten rid of that thing on your waist…"

panel 1

Katsura: "Frankly, after that incident I expected you to give up the sword."

panel 5

Himura: "If this is taken from me, nothing would remain…"

panel 1

chi chi chi—bird call

panel 3

Katsura: "All right!"

pon—sound of hand slapping other hand

[probably as a fist; common action in manga indicating sudden dicision]

panel 4

Katsura: "What do you say, Himura? Let’s tour Kyoto together today. Knowing you, you probably haven’t been anywhere in town yet. I’ll show you around."

panel 5

Himura: "eh? But Katsura-san! Weren’t you on your way somewhere already—?"

gui—sound of grabbing

panel 6

Katsura: "Don’t worry, it’s not important."

Himura: "Katsura-san!"

Driver: "Lord Kido!"

[note: The kanji suffix translated here as "lord" (ie "Kido-kyou") means "State Minister"(read "Kei") when standing alone; It therefore seems likely then that the suffix "kyou" would probably only be used when addressing a state minister.]

panel 1

Driver: "The important Councilor Meeting is starting now!"

panel 2

Katsura: "I’m taking the day off. Tell them I have ‘that disease’ or somesuch."

panel 3

Driver: "Lord Kido!"

Katsura: "Come on."

Himura: "Katsura-san"

panel 2

(written outside): Fried squid

Katsura: "Here Himura, try eating this."

gon—sound effect of the presense of squid

[note: Okay, this requires explaining. This isn’t a "sound effect," as no sound is being generated or even implied here. Instead, when something in manga appears or is drawn which is supposed to have a powerful visual or mental impact, sometimes a sound effect is drawn to emphasize that. An example is "don," frequently used during weighty soliloquies. In this case, the less serious "gon" sound emphasizes the lumpy, somewhat silly shape, and incongruity of the immediate appearance of the fried squid.]

panel 3

Katsura: "Trust me, it’s very good."

panel 2

Himura: "Thank you for today. I’m sorry for interrupting your work."

panel 3

Katsura: "Nonsense; this was a much needed rest for me. Every day is filled with head-splitting problems and walking outside like this is really refreshing."

Katsura: uumm…

panel 4

Katsura: "Hey, Himura. It’s probably too late to ask this, but have you thought of working for the Government? The Meiji Government?"

panel 3

Katsura: "Of course I realize you don’t want to. But because of the last fight the government is extremely lacking in superior warriors, and all they have rank below second or third class."

panel 4

Katsura: "Himura, if it is all right with you…"

panel 3

Himura: "I’m very sorry, but I…"

panel 6

Katsura: "I see. I’m sorry, it’s all right. By the way, where are you staying tonight? Have you already reserved a room at an inn?

panel 1

Himura: "Of course not. I don’t have that kind of money, so I always sleep outside."

panel 3

Katsura: "In that case, won’t you stay at my house?"

panel 4

(written outside): sexually harassing old man…

Himura: "No, I couldn’t impose on your wife, Ikumatsu…"

Himura: Hiee— [sound not of scream so much as a soft wailing moan; made when one is forced into an unpleasant situation]

Katsura: "Don’t worry, having one or two more guests over won’t change things a bit."

Himura: "Katsura-san!"

panel 5

Himura: "Is this…"

panel 6

Himura: "…an ‘order’?"

panel 2

Katsura: "No"

panel 3

Katsura: "This is my ‘request’."

panel 4

Katsura: "I don’t suppose you’d honor it, Himura?"

panel 5

Himura: "Certainly, Katsura-san."

panel 5

ton ton—knock knock

panel 6

Katsura: "It’s me. Have you finished your bath?"

panel 7

Katsura: "How about a drink? It’s western sake."

panel 1

Katsura: "My apologies. I would like to put you up in the main house but right now the guest area is being used by some important people."

panel 2

Katsura: "Please excuse this governmental reserve room."

panel 3

Himura: "Oh, not at all. This wonderful room… is it really all right?"

panel 4

Katsura: "Normally, this is the room I use to sleep in in times of emergency. There’s no need to worry. (go ahead)"

panel 5

gan—sound effect indicating shock or suprise

[note: While not actually a "sound," often in anime it’s added as a real sound. It’s the gong-like sound heard when a character learns of something unpleasant.]

Himura: Br-brown colored fluid?

panel 3

Katsura: "Hey, Himura."

panel 4

Katsura: "I don’t suppose I could change your mind about that?"

panel 6

Katsura: "The foolishness of the imperial family and nobles leads to conservatism. The government is still unstable, and feudal lords still dot the landscape. Our relationship with other nations remains precarious. Starting with Oomura Sensei, many large villages have fallen, and the Meiji government is bringing little more then days of chaos."

panel 1

Katsura: "Beginning with the violence at Echigo,"

panel 2

Katsura: "The Nichita Prefecture Rebellion."

Katsura: "Lord Yamaguchi’s revolt, and my own actions."

panel 3

Katsura: "It may be too late for this, but will you once more aid me? In this government with so few people to trust, I need you more than ever."

panel 1

Himura: "I don’t have that kind of skill. All I’ve ever done…"

panel 2

Himura: "All I’ve ever done is kill the people you asked me to."

panel 3

piku—sound effect denoting a small, quiet motion; one associated with an emotional response

panel 4

Himura: "ah..!"

Katsura: "No, I don’t mind. After what I’ve done I have no right to question what you say of me."

Himura: "I didn’t mean it like that…"

panel 1

Katsura: "Without staining my hands in blood in the least, I had you eliminate my foes…"

Himura: "Katsura… san."

panel 2

Katsura: "I easily let you do horrible things…"

panel 3

Himura: "Please stop…"

Katsura: "In this way, even friends when they became unneeded were killed, and that I live and stand today rests on the fact that I walk upon the graves of those I slayed."

Himura: "Katsura-san!"

panel 4

Katsura: "It was like that at the pond flats room, and at the battle of the guarded gate, and at the assult on Shimonoseki…"

Himura: "Katsura-san!"

panel 5

Katsura: "Stand naked and put your hands on that table."

panel 6

Himura: "eh...?"

panel 1

Katsura: "Did you not hear me?"

panel 2

Katsura: "I told you to put your hands on that desk."

panel 4

Katsura: "What’s wrong? This is an ‘order’."

panel 6

yura—sound of swaying, hesitant walking motion.

panel 7

suru—sound of cloth on cloth

panel 2

pasa—flapping sound

panel 3

gaku—sound of bending over

panel 5

gu—sound of grabbing

panel 6

Katsura: "You were indeed an excellent ‘tool’."

panel 7

Himura: "Ka-katsura… san?"

panel 1

Katsura: "Much smarter and stronger than those noisy fools."

gu—grabbing sound

panel 3

kara—sound of ice tinkling

panel 6

Katsura: "Above all, you were always ‘submissive’ to me."

panel 7

Himura: "u…"

panel 1

Katsura: "Back then, you…"

panel 2

Himura: "nn..nn.."

kucha kucha—wet, sliding sound

panel 3

Katsura: "...you would do whatever I said."

gui—wet, forcing sound

panel 4

Katsura: "Betraying friends, eliminating enemies…"

Himura: "ah…"

Katsura: "To that end, you would easily open your body…"

panel 5

keho keho—dry cough

panel 6

Himura: "Katsura…sa…"

panel 1

Katsura: "Truly, a useful ‘tool’."

panel 2

gucha—wet, sliding sound [since this sound occurs once, it is not rhythmic like the last one; presumably the ice cube entering.]

panel 3

biku—twitching sound

panel 4

Himura: "Ka- Katsura sa-n"

panel 5

Himura: "Stop…"

Himura: "...no…"

panel 6

Himura: "Katsura…sa"

gu—clenching sound

panel 1

giri—sound of something forced

panel 2

Himura: "C… col…"

panel 3

Katsura: "It’s cold?"

panel 4

Katsura: "That certainly can’t be. Your insides are this hot…"

gutcha gutcha—wet, sliding motion

panel 5

Himura: "ah…"

Katsura: "The ice is already starting to melt…"

kuchu kuchu—moist sound

pota—sound of a solitary drop of water

panel 6

su—soft, sliding sound

panel 7

biku—twitch sound

panel 8

Katsura: "And it seems your body still remembers."

Himura: "ah…"

biku biku—rhythmic twitching

panel 1

kucha—moist contact sound

guri—twisting sound effect

Katsura: "Remembers that time…"

panel 2

Himura: "uh…"

kuchu—wet forcing sound

biku biku—rythmic twitching

panel 3

Himura: "haa…"

kuchu—wet forcing sound

panel 4

Himura: "ya… aa…"

kucha—wet forcing sound

biku biku—rythmic twitching

panel 6

Katsura: "Kenshin."

panel 1

Katsura: "That time… I didn’t let you go."

panel 3

gu—heavy motion sound

Katsura: "You were choking, so I granted you a short period of ‘freedom,’ that is all."

panel 5

Katsura: "From now on, you will remain my ‘tool’."

panel 6

gu—heavy motion

Himura: "ah…"

panel 1

gu—grabbing sound

panel 2

gura—rolling sound

panel 3

Himura: "tsui… Ka…tsura…sa…ya.."

panel 4

Himura: "haa… aa…"

panel 3

su—sound of motion of clothing

panel 6

Katsura: "Tomorrow there is a Councilor Meeting at the Government Meeting Hall. I must attend."

panel 2

Katsura: "You will accompany me as my guard."

panel 3

Katsura: "Realize this… it is an ‘order’."

panel 4

patan—door closing sound

panel 1

[Ito]: "Yeah, that person who didn’t attend yesterday claiming illness has his problems…"

panel 2

[Yamagata]: "It’s not as though [Saigo]-san is going to be stopped at Setsuma."

panel 3

[Yamagata]: "About that topic; his dislike of Satsuma is a bit troubling."

[Ito]: "Still, after all that, well…"

[note: The names Yamagata and Ito were pulled from the difficult-to-read notes the author placed underneath their pictures; the names were somewhat verified via Japanese search engines, but I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. The same goes for the name Saigo in the dialogue.]

panel 4

zawa—sound of sliding door opening

panel 5

[Yamagata]: "Oh, I should get back to the barracks ministry soon."

[Ito]: "Yeah..."

panel 2

ka... ka...—sound of shoes clicking on hard floor

panel 4

[Yamagata] and [Ito]: "Himura!"

END

PAGE 43

Ougi no Aida – Space in a fan

[note: I think this is some sort of cultural reference and refers to the mini-comic that follows; the actual title for the mini-comic occurs in the first panel.]

panel 1

Growth Record

By: Sakaki Aimi

[note: This may or may not be the correct reading for the kanji of the author’s name. Kanji used for names have multiple pronunciations, and the method for deciphering them is notoriously difficult.]

narrator: Since Katsura said "give to me," several months passed.

panel 2

Takasugi: "Hey, is Katsura in?"

Takasugi: Not that I have any business with him…

Iizuka: "Ta-Takasugi sensei!"

ban—sound of suddenly appearing [not out of thin air, but suddenly being noticed and already being close by or filling view]

panel 3

Iizuka: "I really must say! Wandering around without a guard, that’s beyond careless!"

teku teku teku—sound of small steps

kyoro kyoro—sound of rotation

Takasugi: "easy, easy, easy. More importantly, where’s that kid that Katsura took to Kyo?"

[note: The kanji for Kyo is the first in Kyoto; I assume that’s what he’s refering to; though I’ve never actually seen Kyoto abbreviated in this manner, it’s certainly not unheard of to do so.]

Takasugi: After I came to see him… <--Today’s goal

panel 1

Iizuka: "Oh, I believe Himura was in the garden…"

Takasugi: "Right! The garden! Thanks."

panel 2

hyoi—smooth, quick motion of appearing sound [A hand puppet, for example, would make this sound when it first appears on stage in a hand puppet play, if it quickly popped out from below. In this case it carries less of a cutesy connotation, but a similar one nonetheless.]

Takasugi: "Hey, kid, you here?"

[note: The actual word is "chibisuke," which basically means "young little guy" or "kid."]

Takasugi: If you’re free let’s play!

panel 3

Himura: "Oh, it’s been awhile, Takasugi sensei."

nikkori—sound of a bright smile

panel 4

Takasugi: "Eh?"

Takasugi: A girl?

panel 1

Takasugi: Ju… Just what has happened in these last few months…?

Before use-->After use

kira kira kira—sound of shining

panel 2

Takasugi: Could it be… KATSURA has made the kid an adult?

Takasugi: The second Hikaru Genji?

[note: Most likely a reference to Tale of Genji (perhaps Genji’s relations with Murasaki).]

furu furu furu—sound of shaking with rage

Himura: Kyaaa! Stop it Katsura-san! No…

Takasugi: "Forcibly stripping and holding down the fighting kid, then to savor his soft, white skin his hand creeps down the nape of his neck; and then to his yet unmatured form, his fingers slip… and then…"

butsu butsu butsu—sound of muttering

Takasugi: Damn it!! I should have struck first and raised him up myself!

panel 3

Katsura: "FOOL!"

Katsura: Who are you calling Hikaru Genji!

beshi—sound of a chop

Takasugi: "Uge…"

Katsura: "Quit imagining things!"

Katsura: Are you a porn author? Where’s your [material]...

[note: unsure of kanji for the word translated as "material;" handwriting of author nearly undecipherable]

Himura: Katsura-san

Himura: They get along

The End

 dj-ka note: Sorry it didn’t turn into a Taka and Ken story

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