lebateleur | And a little bit of Bleach...

Namely, chapter 181, originally translated on the fly for

metal_dog5, and still mostly unedited. I have no idea who else (if anyone), is translating this series, but since I'd already done it, I figured I might as well post it here for any interested parties to see. And here she be.

As always, translation by Trismegistus (gmorrison). Please don't take it without asking me first.
Bits in "" are spoken dialogue; everything else is internal.

Renji: "You're probably wondering..."
      "...why you're still alive."
      "If, against all odds, you died..."
      "Who would I have to measure myself against?"
      "Taicho, I..."

Ichigo: "RENJI!!!!"
Renji: "SHUT UP!!"
Ichigo: "Oh yeah?"
Renji: "What the hell are you doing here?"
      "The Taicho and I were about to have a talk."
Ichigo: "Oh, uh... sorry..."
      "Do you know...where Rukia is?"
Renji: "Huh?"
      "What? Has something happened to her?"
Ichigo: "No, uh, nothing's wrong. I was just wondering if maybe you knew..."

Orihime: "Kurosaki-kuuuuuuuun, climbing up to 3rd floor windows is really dangerous, you know..."
Ichigo: "Oh?! You're the one who's putting herself in dang-- and damn, how did you even manage to climb up here?"

Ichigo: "Ah, sorry, Renji, Byakuya. We're gonna get out of here now."
Orihime: "Sorry to have bothered you."
      "Renji-kun...Byakuya-san".
Ichigo: ".........................."
      "...what the hell is up with those two?"
Renji: "? Taicho? Something the matter?"
Byakuya: "No....."
     "But how increbibly gauche of that boy to call me by my first name."
Renji: ...................

Matsumoto: "HEY! SHUUHE----I!!"
      "GET OVER HERE FOR A MOMENT!!"
Shuuhei: "Yes?"
Matsumoto: "Look what we've got to drink! Feel like joining us, Komamura-taicho?"
Komamura: "Huh? No, I'm fine..."
Matsumoto: "A square as ever...but hey, he's not wearing his straw hat any more, is he?"
Shuuhei: "So it would appear. 'though I'm already used to seeing his face anyway."
Matsumoto: "Hmm, good point. Well, it's all for the best. I always felt like he was trying to hide something when he wore it."
Kira: "Ah..Aaah!?"
Shuuhei: "What's wrong, Kira!? Don't freak out like that."
Matsumoto: "Oh!"

Matsumoto: "Ichigo-o! Orihime-e!!"
Matsumoto: "How about you guys? I've got some great alcohol over here!!"
Ichigo: "Yo! We'll drink it later."
Orihime: "We're underaged!"
Matsumoto: "I've got some great tea as well... Ugh, can't get anyone to relax with me."
?: "We need that tea over here, Matsumoto-san!! Kira's about to dehydrate himself sweating."
      "Kira!! Hang in there, Kira!!"
      "And what the hell are you doing in fundoshi!?"
(Fundoshi are traditional underwear - like a breachclout.)
Kyouraku: "Well, well. You certainly seem to be enjoying yourselves."
      "How about including me too?"
Matsumoto: "Hell, no. If I let a Taicho drink with us, Nanao'll get angry with me."
      "Kouraku-san, Kouraku-san, hurry up!!!!"
Orihime: "Hey, hey, Kurosaki-kun, shouldn't we ask them about Rukia before we go?"
Ichigo: "About Rukia?"
      "No."

Ichigo: "If Renji doesn't know where she is, it isn't likely anyone else will."
      "We searched all of the Soureitei at Rikka, so there's only one place left where she could be."
      Ganju: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
      "It's...It's useless!! It's useless, Nee-chan!!"

Ganju: "....Oh...!"
Rukia:" ....Yes......"

Kuukaku: "What are you doing here?"
Ganju: "Wai-- Wait, Nee-chan!! That's Rukia! The shinigami Ichigo and everyone put their lives on the line to save."
Kuukaku: "I know."
Ganju: "....huh?"
      "Kuchiki Rukia is the Shinigami who killed our older brother."
      "Which is why I'm asking. What are you doing here?"

Rukia: "Forgive me!"
      "I should have apologised immediately...it's all I've thought about, since it happened."
      "But I'm a coward...all I did was run away from it..."
      "And I've even delayed coming here now..."

Rukia: "Forgive me. Truly, I..."
Kuukaku: "That's enough."
Rukia: "What..?"
Kuukaku: "That's enough! already! I've had enough of your prattling."
Rukia: "But...but..."
Kuukaku: "I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!!"
Rukia: ???
Kuukaku: "I already know about how it happened. I heard from Ukitake."
     "And I know that it wasn't your fault. And that you're the one who's agonised about it the most."
      "So I'm satisfied, having heard one apology from you. I'd already determined to forgive you a long time ago."

Kuukaku: "So stop it already."
Rukia: No. I'm not the one who was truly hurt by this.
      " ..........................Thank you......................"
Kuukaku: I'm grateful.
Rukia: "I am truly, deeply, sorry fo--"
((Kuukaku slugs her in the face.))

Kuukaku: "I TOLD YOU NOT TO APOLOGISE."
Rukia: "Yes, you did. I'm sorr---I mean, thank you."
Ichigo: "Oh-ho! So you are here after all."
Rukia: "Ichigo. Inoue."
Ichigo: "Well, it looks like you've finished what you came to do."
      "Let's go. They're opening the gate from the Soul Society for us tomorrow."
      "And you aren't fully recovered yet. You should rest before tomorrow."
Rukia: "I was just thinking...about how you were the first I had to say this to..."

Rukia: "I want to stay here in the Soul Society."

Ichigo:".........I see."
      "...Good."
Rukia: "Huh..?"
Ichigo: "No, it's just..."
      "If that's what you've decided for yourself..."

Ichigo: "....that you want to stay.."
      "And you're able to do it on your terms..."
      "Well, that's all right then, isn't it?"
Ichigo: ...I've remembered...
     ...why I wanted to save you so badly...

Ukitake: "This is the official gate to the physical world."
      "We've taken measures to transform you into spirit form so you can pass through it."
      "Ichigo-san."
Ichigo: "Ukitake-san."

Ukitake: "Here, take this."
Ichigo: "? What is this?"

Ishida: "Well, then, Kuchiki-san. Take care..."
Rukia: "Yes."
      "Chad and Ishida and Inoue too. Take care, everyone."
Orihime: "Ah! That's-- That's right!! This is to you from Ishida-kun!!"
Rukia: "Woah."
Orihime: "Wea-- Wear it with pride, okay?"
Rukia: "Huh?"
      "Um...yeah."
Ichigo: "...Okay, then."
      "Rukia."
Rukia: "...Yes."

Rukia: "...Thank you."
      "Ichigo."
Ichigo: That's what I want to say.
      Thank you, Rukia.
      Thanks to you...
      I feel like it's going to stop raining.
      I've been [can't make out this bit]
      The rain falling inside my heart has finally ended. And that's how I spent my summer.
      Well, on to the next story!

Heartwarming, non? But the pressing question of ~~who's left to cut Renji up~~ where the story will go from here is far from answered.

これで以上です。