No gambling with Death Tribute to 地獄少女1 1地獄少女– reads as ‘Jigoku Shoujo’. Eaxct translation means ‘Hell Girl’ 1 Editor’s note This text in fact is a monologue of Nohatsu Jun, kind of real-time blog. So we tried to interfere into it as less as possible: direct speech can tell a lot of things not only about the story, but also about the character tell it. This is why, even some mistakes that you can find in this text – will tell you more about this strange, but, for us – very interesting and attractive maiden. Unfortunately, for unprepared reader her style is little bit overloaded with modern Japanese terms, conditions and cultural phenomena (including such phenomena as manga and anime). Although these terms could be understood from context of its usage, and others even not really necessary for understanding the story – but it definitely adds some colour. So we tried to add some footnotes to this text. Actually, these footnotes would not be of any use for anybody knowing Japanese culture even slightly (even for English- speaking manga fans). But anyway – if somebody will be interested – you are welcome. Episode 1. Preface. Day zero. Late evening. Hundred-twenty kilometres per hour on Dubai Bypass road. Time to time, just automatically dropping a quick look into the rear-view mirror. What? In the mirror – half-seen in the darkness black hair, white face, huge red eyes. Short look to passenger seat. A girl. Black kimono, decorated with bright flowers. Decorated? Flowers slowly mowing, covering one to another, turning around… – Greetings, Enma Ai… Quick assessment of situation: I am not angry or worried… And Enma is not wearing school uniform. Thus – there is no point to wait that she would propose a contract with me to send somebody into Hell. Moreover, she is in kimono… fatigue, I would daresay. So… – Somebody ‘ordered’ me? – Yes. – Then let me at least to stop on the side of the road? If a driver will disappear from car running full speed – others also can be harmed. Or, if you are not in hurry – let’s stop at my place. At least I will treat you with some tea... – Afraid? Corner of the lip jumps in curved sarcastic smile. – Of course I do. Even while I know that for some people Hell is looking like Heaven. But this is not the main point. With some surprise I see some curiosity rising in me: ‘To whom I managed to be such a pain that they ‘ordered’ me? Well, one or two people at work. One or two mates. No, that’s not it. It is all small things. Love-to-hate transfer? Possible. But… there could be unpredictable things. Don’t want to think of it. Either I will know it in the end, or not. Anyway – I am not an angel. It could be something unintentional.’ – Trying to coax? – Not without it. But… You know, it was in series (and I believe in that) – you always trying to make sure: does the person, whom you are ‘sawing out’, understand – for what? Do they confess their sin? You know, 2 to do bad things – I did not want it never and to anybody. But it happened time to time – with my limpness, with my pride… I have quite a lot of sins... After turning from the highway, car speeds by the line of tankers. – ...And I feel sorry for those, to whom I intentionally or unintentionally did something worrying. Even if intentionally, in the end – to wish bad for somebody – is not my nature… But anyway, it happened to cause pain to people. It is worrying, that happened. And even such pain – that they called for your help. So, either way – Hell is my destination. From bottom of my heart I wish that they will be happy in the world without me. But… even with this confession – the contract is already signed. So, no. Not trying to coax. Few turns, parking. – Bargaining?! – Again – not without it. But it is also not a main point. Oh, here we are. Welcome to my (now I should add ‘ex-‘?) place. Clicking lock. Lights switched on. Bubbling water flows to the teapot from canister. – Main point in another thing. Please, sit on the bed – it is my guests place. And for you the height of the table would be comfortable. A cup, a metal glass, teapot and a box of oath cookies are appearing on the table. Enma takes a cup and emotionless looks on snacks. – Try it. Original Russian cookies. Maybe you will like it. Tea is poured into volumes. Enma thoughtfully gulps from her cup. – Main point is that you have not an easy job. And even while 地獄少女 should have heart of stone – until now sometimes you feel quite an ugly aftertaste after your work. And it s the job that you’ve got not because of exemplary behaviour. Maybe, it could be said that I pity you… But it is not exactly as is. I just want to do something pleasant for person for whom I feel… sympathy. And for person, who is not really happy. Even just tease her with cup of tea. Enma bites another cookie, probably she liked it. – And as for bargaining… At some background I had a logical idea: in modern world people interact not only with people directly. The can hide a lot behind ‘nicknames’, drop here and there in the Internet some small clues. Sometimes simply entrust their feelings to encrypted file in the ‘My documents’ folder. And when you trying to dig out the reasons of client’s hatred – common ‘human’ methods of investigation, even with super-human capabilities – could be not so effective… thus I had a question: do you need an IT specialist in the team? The girl turns to me and narrowly looks straight into my eyes. My lips without my will curve into somehow sorry, but, as I feel, warm smile. – Maybe I do, but... She bends to me and whispers few words into my ear. Idiotic smirk – again without my will – comes to my face. – Is it possible...? I am starting to speak without finishing formulating words and ‘freezing’ in the middle of sentence. But Enma understood me: – Yes. – Well. It was always interesting to try. – It is an eternity, not try. 3 – You should pay even for interest... And it would not even significantly change the restraint – your home is also in Hell. Enma puts empty cup on the table. – Thank you for snacks. – You are welcome... Well, I understand – it is time? Hell Girl stands up and raises her right hand: – O pitiful shadow, tied in darkness, looking down upon people and hurting them... A photo in my hands. – This is it. Last goodbye. Be happy, M…! And I hope – it was not you. I do not wish you to get there, where I am going now. You not deserved it! – ... a soul drowned in sinful karma... I am kissing the photo, putting it back. Looking into Enma Ai’s eyes. – 一遍死んで見る？2 ‘Of course – not. But everything already decided, isn’t it, Mistress?’ Episode 2. 之法 殉3 Day eighth. – Hone-Onna-san4? – Yes, Jun-chan? – I would not want to look like being haunting or encumbrance… But I have a plea for you… quite a personal one. Hone-Onna turns to me. Oh, how gracious is she! More than two hundred years passed, but adopted (or it was hammered in her when she was alive and they were making her a geisha5?) manners have not changed. No her face – small gentle glimpse of interest. – Why not?.. Let’s step out then. She flows by me, not watching puts her pretty foots into dzori6 and swoon near to the door. Hastily I stand up and follow her. Yes, in traditional Japanese house dzori are much more useful – I have to spend some time fixing belts on my European T-strap slippers. 2一遍死んで見る？ – reads as «ippen shinde miru?». Means something like: 'want to die at once?’ 3Nohatsu (之法) – could be translated in two ways. It is either some kind of prophesy (with respect to the following story) – «the one, who expands laws|restrictions », or some kind of subtle mockery: «the one with expanded (not very strkt) manners». Jun – is a very meaningful name for her: (殉) this kanji means «sacrificing [themselves+» and simply «death» 4 «-san» (and appearing some time later ‘-chan’ and ‘-kun’) are three most common Japanese postfixes to names, showing relations to subject: ‘-San’ is being used to show respect. ‘-Kun’ – to show equality to male. This postfix could be added to female name only when someone wants to stress on very wrok-related addressing. Even with that most likely she will feel insulted. ‘-Chan’ in opposite nearly monopolized with females. It means something like ‘cute little one’, and used even with grown-up women. Men call themselves only in early childhood and later will be insulted with such addressing. 5Geisha (芸者) is quite usually being mistaken for prostitute in other cultures. In fact, geisha entertains her guests only mentally: talks to them, makes a tea ceremony, daces, plays music, sings.To become a geisha girl should lern for few years. For more ‘traditional’ prostitutes – there is another word: (遊女) ‘jujo’ or ‘ju-onna’. 6Dzori (草履) – оne of kinds of the traditional Japanese wooden (or straw) sandals. 4 We are coming to the field and going towards blue flowers. Besides of everything else – Hone-Onna also very attentive: already spotted, that I prefer blue ones to red ones. By the way, in kimono, on wooden sandals – she do not break a single flower! And there is a new path after me.