X character file: Sorata Arisugawa. -- translated by Rika Takahashi (fuu) * Monologue. SORATA It's kinda embarrasing to write you formally like this, Grandpa. But since I started, I'll try my best to continue. Grandpa, you okay? Although I haven't been here in Tokyo for that long, it looks like things aren't going towards the better. As you were worrying, Kamui seems to be in shock about losing his mother, and it seems like a lot of things have been happening around him, so he's gotten to be pretty surly. I guess that's understandable considering where he stands and what will happen now.... Oh yeah. Grandpa. About Kamui. He's really short. He's a sophomore, younger than me. He seems to have someone he fancies, but this seems to be complicated too. Because there will be so many things going on in Tokyo in the future, it will probably be hard for him to go out on a date. Kamui has a cute face, but he has really sharp eyes. But he looks lonely. I want to see him smile, but I think that's way into the future. Grandpa. I'm not good at thinking about complicated things, nor do I like it. Kamui seems to be worrying about his powers, his existence, and stuff like that, but I stopped thinking about such things when I was a kid. I think it's useless to wonder why you exist. I am not good at thinking such thought, and my motto is to live life as pleasantly as I can. And Even if you have a Trick that is different from other people, you still end up hungry, and you have to sleep when you're tired. It's best if humans live the way they want to live. Grandpa, I think you know well, but I grew up far from girls from when I was a little kid so I'm really weak when it comes to girls. I would leave old guys alone if you collapsed, but if it's a girl, I would run to her side. And I'm especially weak when it comes to beautiful chicks. I'm weakest when it comes to crying ladies though.... Do you remember, Grandpa? When I was still in Kouya-san.... I wonder if that was when I was 13. I was hungry like usual, so I was wandering around looking for hidden snacks. * Drama. Kouya-san late at night. The temple in the far corner. Faint sounds of insects. In the silence, one hears footsteps. creaking of wooden and tatami floors, as if someone was confirming each step. SORATA Carefully, carefulllly..... Sorata (13 yrs old) walks along, mumbling to himself. He is walking around the temple in tiptoes. SORATA If I remember correctly, they put something here during the afternoon.... Sorata enters one of the rooms in the temple. A cabinet door opening. SORATA (chucking contentedly) Hehehe. Here it is. Sorata rummages through the cabinet. Finds the manjyuu (rice-bean donut) hidden inside the cabinet. SORATA They think I'd be full with that small a supper? All the other priests are old, so they may be fine. But I'm a young child, who will keep growing in the future. I don't think it would hurt to give me a little more. Sorata munches on the manjyuu. SORATA (while eating) It's not that I don't like sesami-tofu, but one piece ain't enough. Why do foods that are spiritually rewarding have so little volume once it goes into the stomach? Sorata munches on another manjyuu. SORATA And the rice. It would be nice if it was free refills, or all-you-can- eat. I wish they would be more generous that way. ...... this manjyuu is yummy. PRIEST Sorata! SORATA Waaah! Suddenly hearing a voice behind him, Sorata is surprised. PRIEST Stealing food again, Sorata!!? SORATA I ain't stealin' the food. I was just eating the manjyuu quietly by myself. PRIEST That's called stealing food! Priest runs into the room to catch the manjyuu-eating Sorata. Sorata quickly dodges. PRIEST Sorata! SORATA Ooh. If I get caught, that would be another lecture. Sorata deftly avoids the priest and runs out of the room. SORATA Wheee! Runs from the room into the garden, then hops onto the tree. PRIEST Wait, Sorata! SORATA (with a manjyuu in his mouth) Thanks for the food! Sorata runs off, laughing. PRIEST Wait, you mischivous monk you!! SORATA Wahahahaha! Sorata escapes, running and jumping through the trees. Sorata's laughter disappears into the distance. Somewhere else in the same temple. Sorata's laughter is faintly heard with the breeze flowing between the trees. The Stargazer sits. Smiles as he hears Sorata's laughter with the wind. STARGAZER Sorata again? Another distant voice. Must be the priest who was chasing Sorata. PRIEST Waaaait! Sorataaa!! Leave the manjyuu! STARGAZER (laughing) Eating all that dinner did not seem to be enough for Sorata. The wind. Stargazer looks up at the night sky, listening to the sound of the insects. STARGAZER (erasing the homely feeling) Sorata..... His Powers grow stronger day by day. Even here in Kouya-san, there is no one that can beat him. The sound of a staff. STARGAZER The seven stars in the Sky, the Dragons of Heaven..... The old astrology that has been passed down in Kouya from long ago. Looking at the stars, following the stargazer, the teller of future... we separated the three-year-old Sorata from his family and brought him here to Kouya-san..... He does not even remember the faces of his parents. To save Japan, no, the world.... I may have done something cruel..... SORATA You're thinkin' too hard, Grandpa. Stargazer is surprised at Sorata's voice. STARGAZER Sorata...! Sorata lands in front of the stargazer. SORATA I like it here. You're really scary when you're mad, but when you're nice, you're REALLY nice. I love you too, Grandpa. STARGAZER ...... Sorata. SORATA And, I'm thankful for you, Grandpa. STARGAZER Thankful...? SORATA You foretold the future for me the other day, right? My fate..... STARGAZER Sorata.... Stargazer, in a forteller's voice. Wind blows. Insects stop chirping for a moment. STARGAZER You will become one of the people influencing the fate of the Earth using those Powers. Sorata. Meet KAMUI, and be of His help. Protect KAMUI with your life. But you will die for a woman. You will lose your life for the woman you love..... The stargazer's fortunetelling ends. Insects start to chirp again. Sorata looks serious. SORATA I believe your telling, Grandpa. It's something that you did for me. It will be true. Sorata, sounding as if in retrospect. SORATA I.... I don't remember what my mom's face looks like, but I remember too clearly that she was crying.... Looking lonely.... A sad face that makes whoever sees it sad..... Sorata, embarrassed. SORATA I don't like seeing women cry. Sorata walks up to the stargazer. Seeing eye to eye, smiling. SORATA You know, Grandpa. I don't want to make the woman I love cry. You taught me how to use my Power. So I can protect the woman I love. So I can die protecting her the way I should protect her. I really appreciate it, Grandpa. STARGAZER ..... Sorata. SORATA So...... Sorata, suddenly cheerfully. SORATA Pray with me so that the one I fall for is gorgeous! STARGAZER You only accept beautiful women? SORATA If it's anyone I can choose, I want the most beautiful woman in the world. Sorata defiantly says. Priest's voice heard in the background. PRIEST Waait! Sorataa! Leave the manjyuu!! SORATA Oops! Sorata, slightly fretting. Hands over one manjyuu to Stargazer. SORATA Here's your share. Live long, Grandpa. Sorata, smiling, jumps down. SORATA Grandpa ate one too! He's my accomplice! PRIEST So, sososo, Sorataaa!!! * Monologue. SORATA Grandpa. I think our wishes came through. I found this gorgeous woman. One of the Dragons of Heaven. Black hair, beautiful black eyes, wears a sailor suit, occasionally produces a sword from her hand, but overall a nice woman. Oh yeah. She seems to be the Ise Shrine's Hidden Maiden. If the Ise folks hear that I'm chasing after her, I wonder if they'll file harassment charges on Kouya.... If that happens, I would feel bad for you, Grandpa. If they really do complain, contact me. I'll go apologize with confectionery in hand. Hey Grandpa. I believe in your stargazing. It's your fortunetelling that you do with all the power you got from sacrificing most of the happiness that you could have found in a normal life. I'm positive that it's always right. So. If I'm going to die, I hope it's for her. I don't want to see her cry, so I hope I can protect her. It would be nice if she smiled for me sometime... but she's one tough gal. But that's another good part about her though. You know what? You want to visit Tokyo once? I want to take you sightseeing here. Before everything in Tokyo changes. Grandpa. I really can't think about "saving the earth" or something drastic like that. It seems too big, and so it flies over my head like all those traffic safety warnings. So. Would it be fine to say "I don't want to make the woman I love cry, so I'll save the earth while I'm at it"? Ooh. There seems to have been something else right now. I'll chuck this into the mailbox while I'm at it. So I'll write again, Grandpa. Take care. From your cute Sora-chan. --end--