Finally after many hours of effort, I completed my first humble translation attempt.

This is actually translated from the Chinese-translated-text rather than directly from the Japanese Novel. I believe, the chinese translation follows the Japanese Novel very closely. So, I have in turn tried to translate it as closely as possible too.

It is actually a dilemma for first-timer like me.  As sometimes, the translated para sounded kind of awkward in English - if followed too literally - and I would attempt to re-order or re-phrase a bit, but then the original essence may somehow be diluted a little. I don't know, I guess I will learn along the way.....

I didn't do a full chapter 13 translation, as at this point, I'm still struggling with some plot stuff, kanji names and places. This chapter is the section where Naoe finally caught up with the fleeing Takaya. Yes, you will find angst, pain and .., but I ...hey, like this kinda stuff.....^ ^

For those who stopped at Ch20, you may wish to read the summaries of ch21 to 24 to understand the background leading to this scene. You can go to my Mirage of Blaze Novel translation index page at http://community.livejournal.com/mirage_trans/profile and look for the respective summaries. Ok, here we go...


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Mirage of Blaze  Vol 24-Chapter 13 ( about last ½ of chapter 13)

The blood dripped onto the surface of the water.

The strength within Takaya was leaving like a receding tide. Takaya’s face was upturned as he let up a beast-like-groan. Yoshimura held down Takaya’s throat firmly and blood oozed out of his month.

In reflex, Takaya sat up abruptly grasping for his breath. Air gushed into his lungs like tidal waves. Takaya was completely soaked through and sea water was dripping down from his hair. As he turned around, he noticed that Yoshimura was kneeling miserly on the ground.

Suddenly, sensing a loathing presence behind his back, Takaya stiffened up immediately. It’s a presence that he could not ignore, a presence that terrified him extremely.

He held his breath as he turned around slowly.

There was a form of a man at the cliff. He seemed to have had just run down the slope and was panting heavily, shoulders moving up and down in rhythm with his breath. Although his breathing was already erratic, he still exhibited an intense disposition, filled with murderous intent.

The man’s suit was already ragged, probably the result of him running. His shirt was stained with blood, his tie was loosened, and his hair was tousled. He had a suffocating presence, remising one of a solider that had just survived a war.

With beast-like-eyes, the man was starring daggers at Yoshimura , an obvious instinct to kill.

However the one who stumbled was Takaya instead. As blood drained from his brain, Takaya felt faint. He recognized that man. Takaya turned pale, his body involuntarily started to tremble. 

“Khu…Ah…..Ah.” 

With a lunatic killing-intent in his eyes, the man recited an incantation, gradually closing up on Yoshimura. Yoshimura trembled with fright as death pressed upon him. Turning to Yoshimura, the man uttered.

“….I’m going to kill you….” 

At this moment, Takaya’s knee lost his strength and he leaned onto the rock behind him. Although the man was speaking directly to Yoshimura, his voice penetrated into Takaya’s shoulder and entered his body. 

The struggling Yoshimura suddenly turned upwards to the sky and fresh blood spurted out of his mouth in an instant. As if synchronized, Takaya turned around and took flight towards the bay. 

“ !  ... Don’t run!”

Naoe recited an incantation to hold onto Takaya’s legs immediately. With his legs held, Takaya fell onto the ground, face twisted with fear, he stared at Naoe.  Naoe shook his head wordlessly as he gazed at Takaya, with a sense of urgency in his eyes. It’s no use running away.  

Takaya’s body began to quiver with fear. His breath was short as anxiousness caught him. He had forgotten to blink. Blood drained out of his face, as he stared at Naoe. 

Yoshimura became fidgety. 

From his blood-oozing mouth, he shrilled and wrung up a chant to break free of Naoe’s grasp. 

” ! ” 

“Khhhhuuu…huhu !” 

Yoshimura recited another incantation and launched at Naoe directly. He stiffened up his body and aimed at Naoe with a series of bullet-like attacks. Naoe expanded his “protective wave” immediately and threw back a few attacks.  

With thunder-like strike, the rock that Yoshimura was standing shattered into pieces, and debris flew far and wide, towards the white cave. Yoshimura fell into the water. However, he didn’t stop his assaults. He focused all his strength and aimed them at both Naoe and Takaya. So determined, was his intention to kill. 

“ You bastard, Ougi! Only you, I will never let you off !”  

However not a moment, did Takaya look at Yoshimura. His line of sight was completely transfixed at Naoe. He was still in shock and was oblivious to neither his surroundings nor the attacks launched at him. To protect Takaya, Naoe used his body to bear the brunt of all the incantations directed at Takaya. The divided attention between restraining Takaya and shielding off the attacks put an enormous strain on his body. Gradually, he was overpowered and was repeatedly forced backwards. 

“ Agrhh…. !” 

He reached his limit.  

At his instant, Takaya sprang up, staggering and stumbling as he ran off towards the direction of the cliff.

“ ! …..Takaya-san! ” 

Naoe’s lost his focus momentarily as his instinct to go after Takaya took over. Taking advantage of the situation, Yoshimura advanced his assaults. Naoe, gathered his utmost strength, and used the protective shield to hold his position and faced Yoshimura. 

“ Don’t run, Ougi ---- !” 

“Khuuuhhhhhhhhhh!” 

Naoe widened his stance and mustered the last bit of his strength, and with one strong chant, managed to break off the attacks of Yoshimura . 

“ Ohhhhh …Oh…oh oh ..!” 

In a low voice, Naoe recited another incantation. The overwhelming strength of the attack swallowed up Yoshimura in an instant. Yoshimura screamed as his body was being thrown backwards and landed heavily on to the rock. Naoe knotted his palms together and started chanting again. But Yoshimura stubbornly resisted and continued his merciless attacks. 

“ Ougi, only you, shall not live ! Only me, shall triumph over you !” 

Naoe’s eyes pierced with a ferocity that showed resolve to kill. He wanted to completely wring the last breath out of Yoshimura. Yoshimura’s struggle came to a halt finally. His soul was forcibly dragged out his body, turning into an evil spirit, and flew straight at Naoe. 

“ You don’t deserve to return to the scared land ! “ 

A fatal incantation hit straight at Yoshimura’s soul. Naoe had no intention to exorcise him in retaliation for the pain he inflicted on Takaya. Instead, he increased the intensity of the incantation directed at Yoshimura . 

Naoe won. 

Yoshimura’s soul shattered into all directions, gradually dimmed, diminished and sank into the sea like shriveled seaweed, swallowed up by the waves. 

Without taking a second look, Naoe sprang around and ran off., going after Takaya. 

*******

Takaya was running without regard. He was in a daze and his mind was in complete blank.

He couldn’t feel the pain of the fiction against his wounds. He was constantly frustrated with the heaviness of his body that immobilsed him. He continued to run with self-abandonment. The blanket that had replaced his overcoat was no where in sight.  His shirt was soaked through as coldness bit into the core of his body. But Takaya couldn’t feel it.

Naoe was chasing after this very Takaya. He was probably going towards the direction of mountain. Naoe could see the back of Takaya that was running and stumbling right in front of him. However, that Takaya, in a white shirt, made a sudden swift turn and disappeared into the thick forest. A car drove by. The headlight lighted up the signboard along the road. It read “足折岬”.

 (Where has he gone to ….? )

Naoe ran into the forest too. Right in front of him, was a flight of cemented steps. It appeared to be leading to an observation platform above. Without hesitation, Naoe ran up the steps. The view open up into a horizon in an instant, and strong wind was blowing at him. As Naoe was about to ascend the steps further…..

“ Stop, don’t come any nearer !”

Naoe’s mind went blank momentarily as he froze there.

It was Takaya.

At the extreme end of the observation platform, Takaya was right there.

The Takaya that was being pursued hotly by him had his back towards the sea. He was facing Naoe.

“If you come and nearer, I’ll jump off from here.”

Right below, was an 80m steep cliff. Although there was a cemented wall and railings, Takaya would only need to take two steps to jump off from the railings.  There was a circular observation platform between them. It’s an obstacle. Though the observation platform was not very high but at the place where Naoe was standing, whether to go round or to leap over it, just to grab onto Takaya, even at lightning speed, Takaya could have jumped off the cliff before he could reach him. 

This was the last of all obstacles. A miserable obstacle. 

Strong winds swept past the top of the cliff. Fine mist scattered by broken waves landed onto both of them. 

Beyond was the deep blue Pacific Ocean. 

He had been pursued to the edge of the world. Takaya could not retreat any further. He wanted to run but he could no longer escape. 

The rectitude in his eyes had disappeared. His face was twisted in desperation. Takaya had his back leaned closely against the wall, with hands on the railings in preparation to leap right off the cliff. 

The moon was right in front of Takaya. A beautiful flawless full moon. The ocean surface glimmered continuously under the moon-lit-darkness. And there appeared a road weaved out from the glimmers of reflections. The soaked Takaya had his frozen back to the full moon, to the ocean, and to the road of glimmer reflections. He had been forced to the edge of the cliff. 

His expression was one of an agonizing pain turned rigid, with eyes wide-opened, so intense, as if about to burst out of his sockets. It was no longer those sad solemn eyes that gazed at Naoe at the little white house. Was it fear that was staring right back at him ? Naoe’s heart ached as he thought of it. 

“ What have I made you so afraid? ”  

Naoe extended his hand towards the far-fetched Takaya. 

“ Please come back….Takaya-san.” 

“ Don’t come any nearer ! “ 

Takaya cried out sharply in rejection. His expression had turned into despair. 

“ Please, please, don’t come near me….” 

( This man……) 

The fear in Takaya was unusual. Was Takaya no longer able to see the Naoe in his eyes?  Did Takaya see only “fear” ? 

Naoe clenched his teeth and ascended the steps. Suddenly, Takaya jerked. He started to tremble as if he was been bitten by the coldness, his reaction was that of a terrified child responding to fear. With a stiffened body, he shook his head incessantly 

“ Don’t come over…..” 

Naoe ignored him and continued to ascend the steps. Takaya pressed his back tightly against the wall behind him and unbearably he cried out. 

“ No, Naoe ! “ 

Naoe was observing Takaya’s eyes, as tears flowed out of them.

“ I can no longer see you……please, don’t come over! Don’t come any nearer, Naoe ! “ 

His cries was so heart-wrenching, tearing at Naoe’s soul. Holding back the pain that was about to burst out of him, Naoe extended the tip of his fingers towards the direction of Takaya. However, Takaya shook his head and rejected Naoe, stubbornly he continued to reject him. 

“ From that very moment, I have been looking for you ………..” 

Naoe poured out his heart. 

“ Continously… regardless of when and where, I have been looking for you. I have searched all over the places for traces of you. Your smell, your hair, your footprints, your voice, whoever you have met, whatever you have seen --- I have been looking for you --- never stopping…in order to find you, my body wouldn’t let off any traces of you, no matter how faint it was. During the time without you. ……I have been looking for you..”

 That was how I lived on.

 Takaya was dumb-founded. He knew it. That was the truth alright. At this very moment, Takaya finally understood what Naoe had done. Takaya could see that there was no betrayal behind Naoe’s yearning for him. His yearning for Takaya was so absolute that exceeded what Takaya had expected of him. Therefore….

 ( Therefore…..)

 Takaya could no longer hold back and started to cry uncontrollably. Why? For what reason that he have to reject Naoe ? Takaya could not understand it himself.

 At this point, the only thought that Takaya held was to jump if Naoe would to come any nearer. Takaya could no longer think. That was the only response that engraved deeply in his consciousness.

 “ No…..”

 Takaya was listening continuously to sound of the crashing waves behind him.

 “ I can longer …be…with you….”

 “Why?“

 Naoe asked imploringly.

 “Why? ….What makes you think it in this way ? “

 Takaya continued to shake his head.

 “I love you……”

 Naoe bit his words to pour out his heart. Takaya replied pleadingly.

 “I will….kill you.”

 “I’m fine.”

 “No…I cannot kill you…..”

 “It’s alright even if you kill me! “

 Naoe injected strength in his words.

 “No matter how many times I die, I’ll revive. Even if your poison kills me, I’ll repossess and continue to live in a new body. If this body dies, I will repossess another body and if the next body dies, I’ll repossess another.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman or the old or the young, I do not mind. Even if I have to repossess the bodies of the rest of the world just to live, I’ll still want to embrace you !”

 “You are a fool…..”

"There will not be guilt. I will continue to repossess and repossess, till only the two of us are left in this world! I’m willing to exchange the lives of the 5 billion people just to hold you! You will never be alone in this world! “

This is not allowed !”  Tears flew as Takaya shouted.

“ Because, we cannot do this! To possess is evil. It’s a sin. We do not have the rights to habour such thoughts …to steal the life of another just to live on to pursue someone…!”

“It’s alright even if it’s a sin. If it is for you, I’ll sin without regrets. “

“No, you can’t !”

"I do not fear hell. If someone has to bear the sin, allow me to bear the sin alone ! I’m not least afraid. There is nothing more fearful than to lose you !”

Takaya cried out pleadingly at the approaching Naoe – Don’t come any nearer!

“Don’t come any nearer.  I couldn’t stop and I can’t stop myself now!

“Takaya-san…!”

"Please leave if you do not want me to die!  Leave now, Naoe!”

However Naoe did not flicker. He jumped onto the observation platform. Takaya leapt over the railings, Naoe too, leapt out instantly. Extending his hand. The tip of his hand extended further. Takaya’s body was falling. His shadow eclipsed the moonlight. Right below came the roar of the crashing waves.

 “Takaya-san !”

 Takaya’s body was in mid air.

 In a nick of the moment, Naoe’s extended right arm grabbed onto Takaya.

Naoe held onto Takaya with all his life and dragged him back to safety. Takaya clung onto Naoe’s body as both of them fell onto the floor of the observation platform. Appearing right in front of Takaya’s eyes was Naoe’s arms as his head hit the floor slightly.  It was not an illusion but a pair of strong arms that firmly wrapped around Takaya’s waist and back.

Resistance ended here.

Naoe straightened both his hands to the platform floor, with Takaya lying directly, beneath him. It was as if to declare to Takaya that he could no longer run. Naoe’s form, hovering right on top, enveloping Takaya, exuded an almost suffocating presence that caught on Takaya’s breath.  

Naoe was right there - against the moonlight. It was exactly the same as that night. 

With still panting breaths, Takaya gazed at the teary-face-Naoe who was drawing closer towards him. At this moment, there was nothing more real, more significant than the expression in Naoe’s eyes behind the backlit sky. So painfully real that made one frantically reminisced about, longed for it. 

An illusion that would continue to appear no matter how many times that had occurred. Again and again, the eyes that stared. 

He had thought he would never be in these arms again. 

Your --- …….. 

The rhythm of Takaya’s pulse -- real and distinct --was transmitted directly from his withheld wrists through Naoe’s palms. 

Naoe wrenchingly reminisced this very being that he dearly missed. Not a moment did he take his eyes off Takaya’s eyes. 

“Ougi Takaya “ 

The ever obstinate eyes of yours. 

It was as if he was determined to send his heart to ruins, madly and continuously pursuing this pair of eyes, circling tirelessly and searching about in the “desert” of the mortal world.  He had prayed feverishly for the return of the eyes—in exchange, he wouldn’t mind to shoulder all the sins of the world. 

(They only belong to me……) 

At this very moment of mutual gaze, there would be no further defiance. Be it rationale, reasons, fairness or righteousness. Everything else faded into the background. 

They were like opposite magnets, fatally attracted. Like destiny, fatefully entwined. It drew them closer and finally re-united. It was this means, there were no other ways. 

As they continued to gaze at each other, their lips drew closer, slowly.   

Below the cliff, the sound of the roaring waves crashed on. Their lips deeply overlapped and united. 

They turned into one. 

Naoe’s lips was hotter, thicker and more real than what Takaya had imagined it to be.

 (This must be an “illusion”.)

 It should not have existed.

 As prior to this, Takaya had known that he would never meet Naoe again.

 While trying to ascertain with his eyes that the Naoe, right in front him was not an illusion, Takaya was at the same time denying it. It was an illusion. It must be an illusion. He should still be withheld in the prison at this very moment. It was no mistake. It should be an illusion while being hung with his arms in the prison. Unmistakably, this must be an illusion.

 He would definitely have done it if it was him. Even if the act was deemed as foolish and sinful in the eyes of the world, he would still have done it. He would continue to hallucinate for Naoe. In this harsh, cold, lonely reality, wasn’t it better to remain in this dream? Because…..

 (Because….you are here….)

 Although in actuality, this was not the case. Reason had told me that you were not here.

The truth was that we would not meet again.

  (You….are right here.)

 The waves continued to crash heavily on the rocks.

 Takaya closed his eyes and buried his face into Naoe’s warmth. He could continuously feel Naoe’s weight on him.

 On the cliff, they had turned into one.

 They were the focus in this long harsh winding road. Right here at the boarder of this wilderness, they were united.

Takaya gazed at the crystal clear moonlight and tightly, they embraced each other. These two persons who were about to return to “one in body” were hearing continuously the resonance of the waves crashing onto the rocks, below the cliff.


 

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That's the end of chapter 13. Phew...

Well...Chapter 14 is no less intense......will need some time to get it up...
Btw, feel free to comment.