Mirage - The sea he could not return to

[insaneneko]

Just the short prologue bit from Gunjou (Ultramarine), the side story from the Hojo POV. I really liked the short scene and have been punting around the translation for a while. Just can't get the flow of the original, but oh well. ^_^;



I can hear the rippling of the water.

"Saburo, take a good look. That is the sea of the Hojo. Etch it into your mind, so that you can always remember it when you close your eyes. This is your home. You don't need to restrain yourself. This sea will always be waiting for you."
"..."
"Return at anytime, Saburo."
"Ujiteru-ani [1]."
"Ujimasa-ani, as well as Kuni and Nori...we will all be waiting for you. If something should happen in Echigo, I will come to help you immediately. Don't worry, even if I have to snatch you away I will bring you back to Sagami. You can go a firm will. Never forget that my heart is always with you."
"You could even melt the snows of Mikuni Mountain Pass [2], Ujiteru-ani."
"That's right, I will melt all the snows of the likes of Echigo."
"Ha ha. I look forward to it."
"I'm not boasting. Have I ever lied to you?"
"Ani-ue..."
"Make certain that you return. Then we can watch the sun set over the seas of Sagami together again. I swear this to you, Saburo."
"Thank you, Ani-ue..."

Snow falls on the beach of midwinter. The pure white snow melts into the sea my younger brother was not able to return to.
That promise still remains in my heart...It will surely never fade.

I swear this to you, Saburo.
Without fail, someday...
Together with you.


Notes:
[1] "Ujiteru-ani" = "Older brother Ujiteru". Similar for "Ujimasa-ani." "Ani-ue" is a formal form of address for older brother. "Kuni" and "Nori" are shortened forms for "Ujikuni" and "Ujinori."
[2] The highest pass in Hokkaido.

Random information:
- Locations of Sagami and Echigo.
- Hojo Genealogy and more on Hojo Ujiyasu.

+++++

I don't sense regret from Ujiteru in this short scene...This has such a wistful feel, with that bit of bantering thrown in. It makes an interesting contrast with a scene between Takaya and Naoe in the second side story, The Sirius Born in July. They get on the subject of the Hojo, and Takaya starts rattling off the dry facts about Kagetora's connection to them....

"Have we ever fought with them?"
"Previously, with Hojo Ujikuni, at Kawagoe."
"Ujikuni?"
"Hojo Ujiyasu's third son. That is..."
Naoe's face became serious.
"Your older brother by blood, Kagetora-sama."
"My...older brother..."
Even as he was told that, it didn't feel real to him. It was only natural since he didn't have any of his memories. Naoe gazed at Takaya with some pity and said, "In any event, the Hojo are an enemy that will have to be destroyed."
Naoe felt an ache as he said that.
Takaya could not even feel that ache yet.
But he seemed to have felt something painful at the words "older brother," and muttered, "I wonder what kind of people they were..."
"Kagetora-sama"
"They were related to me by blood before. My brothers...what kind of people were they?"
"Ani-ue..."
As he gazed at Kita no Maru Park as darkness fell on it, Takaya thought about those dear and beloved people he still could not remember.
"Saburo..."
He still couldn't remember that gentle voice either.
"Come back..."
Takaya lowered his eyes.

To the sea of Sagami...

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Okay, that second bit was a spontaneous translation (just did it really quickly right now). O_o In any case, I thought it made a nice contrast and companion to Ujiteru's reminisces. And it struck me again how much it sucks to have to fight your brothers while not remembering them at all.

As I typed this up I had the Matsumoto Leiji compilation CD playing, and when the ending song from Sayonara Galaxy Express 999 played...oh, how the feel of that song is perfect for the mood of the post. It is absolutely beautiful, wistful and heartbreaking...

Sayonara by Mary MacGregor

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