Scanning: HoneyBunny
Japanese text translation: Cirrus
Editing & touchup: Cirrus
Coordination, additional typesetting & graphics: Cibo
Transcription (9/16/03): SpiralSea
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[text] = text in bubbles, boxes
{text} = text outside of bubbles or boxes
/text = small handwritten texts
text = dialogue
sfx: *text* = onomatopoeic (otherwise, it is a description of the noise)
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Page 01:
Kazusa Takashima Presents: The Last Client
Page 02:
The Last Client
Story/Illustration: Kazusa Takashima
Chris: {Inside me is ingrained the smell of gunpowder.}
{What the hell was it that I came to protect in this world?}
Page 03:
Chris : {Who the hell would grant me forgiveness?}
Page 04:
(no text)
Page 05:
Chris: Fuck . . .
{I don't even have any strength left . . .
Behind the reason why I pull this trigger.}
Damn slut . . .
Hooker: Hey there, bro. Wanna play with me?
Come on.
I can take you to heaven and back.
Chris: With _you_? Not a chance.
Hooker: You ungrateful bastard!
Chris: Thanks.
Man's voice: Quit just standing there! Get to work!
Page 06:
Luke: Wait, Leonardo. Mr. Fowler told us not to mess up his face, remember?
Chris: [I can't stand the look in this punk's face.]
Luke: But anyways . . . It's rare to find an Asian in this place.
But you get your self good clients.
Ain't that right? Aya?
If you behave like a good little boy, you won't get hurt.
Page 07:
Luke: !
What?
Page 08:
Chris: Hey, Mister.
What do you think you're doing with my kitty?
Aya: /Haa. Haa./
Luke: You got business with Aya?
Chris: Sorry, but I'm running out of patience.
Luke: No need to get your panties in a knot.
Leonardo: Dammit . . .
Page 09:
S/fx: *CRASH*
Page 10:
Luke: Leave it be. I left a note out for him, but Mr. Fowler won't want to
hear it.
Chris: Ugh.
Luke: Those who can't keep their cool die young.
Got it Mr. Client?
He's _your_ client, right, Aya? Now be a good boy and take care of him.
Aya: No . . . I've never seen his face before.
Chris: Ah.
Luke: Not from around here, huh?
Page 11:
Chris: God damn! That hurt!
If you're gonna do it, keep people's feelings in mind, got it?
/It's a law, right?/
S/fx: *Aya sits heavily on bed*
S/fx: *Chris groans*
Chris: Woah!
Hey, I got a proposition to make.
If you're going to take care of me, could you be a bit more gentle about it?
Aya: Let's get this over with.
Chris: Hey! W- - wait a minute!
I - - I wasn't planning on doing this!
Aya: Huh?
Page 12:
Aya: What are you talking about! I'm not playing around!
Chris: Well, yeah!
Aya: I know that! I know!
Chris: This'll cover 'til morning.
S/fx: *Aya snatches money*
Aya: If you won't do it, then I have no more business with you.
Chris: Are you Japanese?
Aya: You could say that.
Chris: They say your name's Aya?
Chris: What's your real name?
You can call me Chris.
Page 13:
Chris: Look, stop hanging around those guys.
Hey . . .
It's lonely talking to myself.
Aya: Shut up old man.
Chris: Thanks.
Man, that guy packed quite a kick.
/Yeesh./
Aya: I've never met someone as dumb as you.
"Bend to the impregnable."
It's an old Japanese proverb.
You're of no use to keep around.
You'll die next time.
Page 14:
Chris: So you're saying that it's best to be strong?
If that's how it is . . .
Then I don't mind being stupid.
Aya: Fine. But don't be one in front of me.
I don't care to see a dead man.
Chris: Oh!
I'll be staying here for awhile, so . . .
Feel free to stop by some time.
Page 15:
Aya: I'll think about it, if you clean yourself up for once.
S/fx: (Chris sighs?)
Chris: ?
Aya: ["If that's how it is . . .
Then I don't mind being stupid."
How could he say that?]
Aya: Hey there.
I'm free right now . . .
Page 16:
Aya: So? This much.
How about it?
Aya: [There's nothing in this world with enough value worth protecting.]
Customer: A Japanese, eh? How old?
Aya: Twenty.
Customer: Your name?
Aya: [Even my own . . .]
Aya.
[. . . existence.]
Page 17:
S/fx: *Knock knock*
Aya: It's me.
Sfx: *door creaks open*
Chris: Oh!
Hey there!
/Come on in./
I was waiting.
Sorry you had to catch me like this.
Page 18:
Aya: [What horrid scars.]
Chris: I got nothing to wear until the laundry's done.
What, did you forget?
Aya: No . . .
S/fx: *slips money into pocket*
S/fx: *slides leg between Chris's legs*
Chris: Hm?
S/fx: *unzips jacket*
Aya: So how do you like it?
Chris: /Huh?/
Page 19:
S/fx: *laugh or gasp?*
Chris: Hey!
Look! I told you! You don't have to do this!
Aya: In this get up? I know you want to!
Chris: L - - listen! You said you wanted me to clean up, right?
Aya: Huh?
Aya: What? Are you for real?
That's why you're wearing this?
Chris: Yeah, of course. Get it?
Aya Oh man! You really are such an idiot!
Chris: /Okay, okay!/
S/fx: *Aya laughing*
Chris: What's so funny? All right, already. You're still in between my legs
. . .
Aya: [There was someone who would actually do something for _me_.]
/My stomach hurts!/
Aya: [He was a happy, awkward man that would keep smiling like an idiot.]
Page 20:
Aya: [Why is Chris "paying" for me?
Somewhere along the way, I stopped caring about that.
What's Chris getting out of this for himself?
I started to keep myself at a distance to keep from finding the answer.]
Page 21:
Aya: [But I didn't have the confidence to . . .
Face the reality that just wouldn't disappear, no matter how hard I struggled.
That's how I started to . . .
Gather up the fragments of a dream, one by one, like I was in a daze.]
Page 22:
Aya: [If this were a dream . . .
I'd forget about everything the moment I woke up.]
The rooms in this hotel are filthy, and the food's only so-so.
Oh? Isn't the taste kinda strong?
/Hey!/
That reminds me. I haven't seen you drink yet. Do you?
Chris: Well . . .
My old man was a heavy drinker, so I'm pretty bad at it . . .
And this is good for your body.
/Try it. It's not so bad./
Aya: I hate tomato juice.
Chris: Oh.
Aya: Listen.
Lately the guys I know . . .
Chris: /Oh?/
Aya: They say that you've changed.
Page 23:
Aya: I agree.
Chris: Oh?
Aya: Yeah . . .
I'd say the atmosphere's certainly lightened since we first met.
Chris: Have I gotten cuter?
Aya: /Hah./
Aya: If I keep hanging around an idiot like you, I'll turn into one, too.
S/fx: *Aya stands suddenly*
Chris: Oh? You nervous about that?
Chris: Well then, this idiot will see you off.
Aya: Shut up, will you?
Page 24:
Aya: You don't have to follow me.
Chris: Fine. Then I'll just stop here.
Aya: Quit following me from now on.
Chris: Eh? Why's that?
Aya: You're a nuisance.
And because . . .
I have other clients.
[Because I don't want you to see me like this.]
Chris: All right. I won't go.
Page 25:
Chris: Come by tomorrow, got it?
I'll be waiting right here for you.
Leonardo: Yo, Aya.
You seem to be having a lot of fun these days.
Is that English guy that good?
You must've gotten a lot today.
Come on now. What's with that scary face?
Well?
S/fx: *Grab*
Our little kitty won't drop the temper?
S/fx: *Takes Aya's money*
Page 26:
Leonardo: Looks like your new client's really taken a shine to you.
Let's have a little party at his house, now, hm?
Hurry it up. Show me where he lives.
Aya: Do you have any idea what Fowler will do if he finds out?!
Leonardo: Shut your trap.
You think Mr. Fowler's going to listen to your nonsense?
Aya: Let go of me!
Let go of me!
Chris!
Leonardo: If you don't shut up, I'll break your little arm.
Aya: . . .!
Leonardo: I wonder how much you can do with your mouth and hole with a broken
arm or two?
Page 27:
Chris: So you said you wanted to party?
. . . Sounds like fun.
Aya: C . . .
Leonardo: Perfect timing.
Aya: Idiot! Get away!
Page 28:
Leonardo: Show us to your room.
Chris: Sure.
But first you have to let go of my kitty.
Leonardo: Yeah?
Looks like the party's off.
Aya: GET OUT OF HERE!
Leonardo: Damn brat!
S/fx: *Chris's footstep*
Page 29:
Leonardo: Bastard!
S/fx: *Leonardo thuds into wall*
S/fx: *Chris lands from kick*
Page 30:
Leonardo: Umph!
S/fx: *Click of gun being cocked*
Leonardo: !
Chris: Bastard . . .
How do you like this?
Page 31:
Chris: Is the party really over?
S/fx: *Pushes gun into Leonardo's head*
Leonardo: Damn you . . .!
You think you're gonna get out of this alive?
Chris: Bring it on.
I'll play cowboy and Indians with you any day.
Hurry up.
Go home and cry to your mama.
Leonardo: Ugh.
Page 32:
Aya: Chris . . .
Chris: Aya, are you okay?
Aya: Hey.
S/fx: *thud of gun into garbage can*
Chris: Hm?
Aya: What . . .
What the hell are you?
S/fx: *kuh-click*
Chris: Sorry, but I'm unemployed at the moment.
Page 33:
Chris: And I've run out of business cards.
Narrator: The third man appears! The wheel of fate begins to spin- - !
End Chapter One. To be continued.