Shakugan no Shana:Volume0 Chapter1 Part3

3. The Aizen Couple

According to the square slip next to the painting, a bundle of miscellaneous things were left inan area with a mountain and a sky. The picture was covered from below with a screen. Yet beyond that screen, a thin, beautiful man came into view.

It was "The Hunter" Friagne. And next to him, trampling the ground of the screen, was the flying form a girl doll. "It is time for us to answer questions!" said one of them.

Together with comical music, as the two said their line, a title logo flashed into view. There was a fairy-tale like character as many pictures were revealed and then disappeared. After that, a spectacle not unlike a doll play remained. Could this be their reappearance!?

"It's like a dream, my master!" said Marianne the doll. The doll did not have a sewed expression and its hands and feet pattered, revealing its glee. In contrast, the young man, restrained compared to the actions of the doll, was beaming with a smile of relief. "Absolutely right, my cute Marianne. Because the author likes me the best." he replied.

As they had died in battle, so to speak, they reappeared using a desperate ploy.

"And so, Marianne-" began Friagne. The beautiful young man made a strict face while straightening a finger in his white gloves. The doll tilted her head. "Yes, my honorable master, or rather, Friagne?" "Ah, yes - Friagne-sama" said Friagne, adding the honorific to his name. Upon hearing that phrase, his expression broke into a sloppy smile. He embraced the doll and pressed his face against her.

"That's it! That's the way it should be, Marianne! Oh, you are so cute."

"Friagne-sama, we need to be moving the story forward," said the doll.

"Ah, yes. Yes, we should do that," answered Friagne. With a face that plainly showed his grief, he released the doll. Marianne, with a hand that lacked fingers, tapped her hand against her mouth. "Hmm. I guess in this part of the work, characters in the story ask questions, raise problems, and then answer them. Putting that aside, as if we were designed for it, we fit this situation perfectly," stated the doll.

"Ha ha ha. That's right, Marianne. For some reason our motive is like that of Kyo-___ television show's M.C. Am I Mr. Ta__pu?" Perhaps the man was like her older brother. He looked older than Marianne. "In any case, let's read a letter with questions."

Marianne quickly withdrew a hand out from his embrace, produced a letter from her sleeve, and then slipped her fingers inside it.

"Well, well. 'When did Shana start buying melon pan, and how did she save up the money for all those sweets?' What a difficult question," stated the doll as she stalled for time.

"That reminds me. Int he third book she gave a thick envelope to Chigusa. She lives alone in a mansion apartment so I assume she also has to pay rent," chimed in Friagne, who was making a dry smile.

Marianne had crossed her arms. "Inside the envelope, there was probably a bundle of 10,000 yen notes. And in the 4th book, she bought two uniforms and threw down 10,000 yen like it was nothing. She seems very indifferent towards money," said the doll, continuing the analysis.

"Actually, we tried to interview her. Let's start the tape!" said Friagne, pushing a button on the VCR.

The video feed cut to Shana, who was holding a microphone as the camera brought her into focus.

"Oh the money? We got that when we attacked those drug dealers. Isn't that right, Alastor?" said Shana calmly.

"We got the money in Hong Kong dollars and then had to convert that into Japanese yen using some unjust water routes. These routes had funds fleeing Japan," explained Alastor.

The feed then cut back to Friagne and Marianne.

"Well, should I call that a primitive or an easy to understand answer?" asked Friagne.

"Really, that's barbaric. For reference, let's look at one more Flame Haze on video," said the doll.

The feed cut away, this time revealing a young woman in a suit, wearing glasses, with her hair swept into a straight ponytail. She spoke. "Um, these days they swindle money they Holy Association earns. Over the period of 100 years, the chief stock was left to 'a certain person'. Sometimes there may have been personal ultilization of that policy," said the woman.

The feed then cut back to Friagne and Marianne. "That was surprisingly firm. If she said the opposite, it would have seemed strange," stated the doll.

"In any case, both stories begin with funds being seized," observed Friagne.

"By nature, Flame Hazes are exceedingly impulsive so there's nothing that can be done. By the way, in the case of Crimson Denizens like us, it's more common for us to seize and devour. First and foremost, for us eating the Power of Existence is the most common feature, and usually the 'working one' has a way to get these things, but there are many exceptions," said Friagne as he provided the backstory.

"It's said there are many types of people. Well, dear readers, are you satisfied now?" asked the doll.

As if they were intentionally overacting, the two raised their arms and pressed their backs against one another. Using a cheerful voice, the two spoke in unison.

"Now, please look forward to the next part!"

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