Mashiro's Castle - Short Stories


Mashiro's True Castle

Angel or Devil - Written by Mashiro Yuh

All translation here is made by Mr.Raccoon. Additional Editting by Chris Hill

I heard a piercing noise.
I thought the verandah might have been destroyed.
That noise woke me up and I think. I'm not sure for I had gone to sleep again, thinking I was still in a dream.
“Hmm? Gee! W-what the hell is thiiiiis?”
The voice was heard from around the verandah. What a noisy dream!
Then I was continuing heard another noise and then the door was opened.
I don't remember at all what happened after that. I have the feeling that I dreamed a comfortable dream, though.

“Uhh, uhhn…”
He woke up.
It was a hard night,'he thought, putting his hands on his bed. I must stand up.
Then his hand touched something soft like a marshmallow.
What is that feels like this?
He could not help rubbing it.
“Ah.”
A human voice. He turned his face toward the voice and taken by surprise.
He was surprised to death.
Along with him in his bed was a sleeping person whom he has never seen before. It was a stunningly cute girl.

The Stranger Sleeps
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

He removed his hand from her soft breasts.
“Uhhn… murmur…”
She seemed to be dreaming, turning over in her sleep with her short hair disheveled.
Her innocent sleeping face seemed to be of an angel.
“H-hello…”
He spoke to her and though he knew it was useless doing that in her sound sleep.
It sounds so silly if I ask her who she is, doesn't it?
He could not help staring at the girl intensely.
Her clothes made her look much cuter.
She had ample breasts under a blouse made of soft material. Her healthy legs went down from an extremely short skirt.
Who could disregard that kind of girl sleeping sound on the bed?
“Uhh, uhhn…”
Gee! She's gonna wake up!
Kenta was in helter-skelter. He knew that he did not do anything indecent. It was the girl who would be to blame: she committed intrusion into the other person's house. Still, he could not be calm.
She raised her upper body and sat herself on the bed in a very girly manner. She shook her head, rubbed her eyes and murmuring.
She's so cute.

The Stranger Awakens Confused
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

“Hmm? Hmmmmmm? W-what the hell happened to me?”
He was surprised that the pretty girl cried suddenly.
“Ah, ahhhh.”
She said in a sorrowful voice and rubbing her whole body.
“Ah,” she said again as she grasped her own breasts hard and then blushed. “Shit! The bastard got me!”
“H-hello…”
“…? Oh, you must be Kenta Kashiwagi,” she said in a cute voice but in a very manly manner, which shocked him to death. “Freeze! I will take your soul as planned.”
“What?”
He thought that this must be a new TV jack-in-the-box program.
“Freeze!”
“Who… the hell… are you?”
“I am a devil.”
He was all mixed up; he woke up and found a cute girl, who he had never seen, sleeping along with him and she told him in a cute voice that she was a devil. In a sense, she was little less than a devil though.
“I totally can't get what you said.”
“Can't you? Well, let me explain.”
If she's right when she says she's a devil, she's a good devil,'thought Kenta.
“Errr… just a moment,” she said and fumbling with every part of her body. It seemed she was searching for something. “I'm f-----g impressed with the fact that you human beings can be wearing such insecure clothes.”
“No. All that you're wearing are clothes for girls.”
“I Lost it!”
“What?”
“Where is it now?”
“What're you looking for?”
“Contract!”
“Contract?”
“So is it you,” asked the girl, approaching him. “You must have done something to me while I was sleeping”
“I like that! That's what I have to say.”
“Shit! That f-----g bastard did to me…”
“Then, why do you need the contract now?”
“Hmm? I think I'm allowed to talk.”
On the bed she sat cross-legged and immodestly exposing her panties to the air under her extremely short skirt.
“W-well.”
“Hmm? What? You just sit down.”
“I mean, I don't know where to look.”

The Devil is Embarassed
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

“Oh, my,” she said, then almost jumped to sit straight at the side of the bed. “I-I'm sorry.”
“No, it doesn't matter…”
W-what a sour-sweet feeling!
“Anyway, I've come here to take your soul.”
“That's what I would like to ask you about. How come you can take my soul? I don't remember selling my soul to any devil.”
What a funny conversation! But I can't help saying so since I really don't remember.
“I know you didn't. Your grandfather made a contract with me.”
“My grandfather… grandpa did?”
“Yeah. Once your grandfather almost died. I'm afraid he would have died if he had been left as he was. Then I happened to pass by.”
“You did?”
“I don't mean I was walking in the street. We devils are always seeking persons who are likely to call us. I came across him while I was seeking.
“Then he sold my soul…”
“That's right. I told him to give his soul for his life… following the ABC of business.”
“What business?”
“Devil's business, of course! Don't interrupt me! Then he replied to me that he would like to sell his grandchild's soul and not his own.”
“Gee! How could he do that?”
“I've heard he used to be a remarkable playboy.”
“I've heard of that.”
“I'm afraid he didn't expect to even have a child, still less a grandchild. So, it's no wonder that he sold your soul.”
“Oh, my!”
Her statement now resembles some of the Western traditions and usually ending with extermination of the devils.
“I'll be waiting a little. You had better enjoy yourself in this world as best you can.”
“What do you mean by waiting?”
“Let me say. All is not evil that we devils do. We will have to proceed in accordance with the contract. That's why f-----g angels cannot do anything with the soul we take after contract has been made.”
I see.
However…
I have difficulty resisting the temptation to look at her body.
Who can believe such a cute girl is a devil?

The Devil Dislikes Kenta's Look
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

“Hey, you've been thinking of something indecent, haven't you?”
“N-never such a thing!”
“I must warn you,” she said and stood up. “This is not what I am. The real me is… errr… more good-looking.”
I don't know how to take what she told so hesitatingly.
“So? I have been thinking you transformed yourself into a girl at your will.”
“Bullshit! That bastard did to me. Just a moment…I should think she is near me. Watch out!”
“Whaa!”
Suddenly she jumped at me.
Kenta was knocked down on the bed, his chest and hers touched each other. The weight of her soft body brought him a mixed feeling.
“E-excu…”
At the very moment the windows of the verandah were broken into pieces with ear-splitting noises.
“Ahhh!”
Kenta was in a panic.
The noises and destruction lasted so long that he felt as if it would last forever. Actually it lasted just some ten's of a second.
He had a ringing in his ears after it was over.
Then noises of stepping on the broken glass came. He felt someone approaching to him.
“Kenta Kashiwagi, don't hide yourself!”
It was done by extremists or someone else? What the hell is happening?”
“You bastard! Juliel,” she said and rising to her feet.
“Why, you must be Cifer. You're looking so cute!”
“Who do you think did this to me?”
Over her voice was another girl; not a plain girl but a beauty wearing camouflaged clothes and headband with arms in his hand.
“L-let me ask…”
“Hmm? About this? I had difficulty making up my mind which to take, but I've taken the Scorpion after all. This is an excellent sub-machine gun.”
“No. I want to ask…”
“Oh, yes. I am Juliel the angel. Nice to meet you.”

The Army Angel
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

I don't know how to answer the words “nice to meet you”.
“You bastard! How could you transform me like this?”
The girl called Cifer grabbed at the other girl.
“It was very lucky to you that I didn't transform you so much.”
The next moment Cifer was blown off to the wall. Her entire body was banged on the floor.
“Gyaah!”
“Boy! How could you do such a terrible thing?”
“What? I've come here to rescue you.”
“To rescue me?”
“Yeeees! Haven't the devil explained to you? He is trying to take your soul.”
“I know. Indeed, I've heard so, but…”
“That's why I am here. I'm, what is called a devilbuster.”
“But…”
“Can't you believe me?”
“Why can I? You forgot machine-gunning some minutes ago? I almost honeycombed.”
“I don't mind such a trifle.”
“You do not, but I do!”
“Anyway, I'll bring down this devil. Take this,” she said and handing the sub-machine gun over to Kenta.
“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”
“I wanna kill them but must conform to the contract. To my regret I cannot do anything so harsh.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I mean you must protect your soul.”
“…?”
While Kenta still did not understand exactly what she said, she also handed the same gun over to Cifer who was moaning with pain.
“Hey, use this.”

A Forced Decision
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

Cifer was biting her lips to kill her vexation.
“What does it mean,” he asked again.
“How don't you get it? It means you must bring her down yourself at a showdown.”
Then Cifer stood up with the gun in her hands; now her beautiful looks were worn, torn and ruined. Finally she said, “All right. Let's do it.”
He had never shot a human being. Though she might be a devil, how could he try to shoot apparently a girl of his age?
“I can't.”
“Hmm? The Scorpion will not do to you? Then why don't you take the Assault rifle?”
“What a nut!”
“I guess you're caring about this bastard,” said Juliel, staring at Cifer as if she were a worm or something disgusting.
“Let me ask you a simple question.”
“What's that?”
“You are an angel, aren't you?”
“I am.”
“I think… you look f-----g evil.”
“You shut up! No angels need to care about small things. The President said so.”
“Who's the f-----g President?”
“Anyway,” Juliel said in a loud voice, trying to bring all under control. “I don't wanna waste my time after I made things easy.”
“…? What does it mean?”
“To make a long story short, we, angels or devils, have some unguarded moments when we move to this world. Taking advantage of it, I transformed the devil like that,” said Juliel and pointing her forefinger at Cifer near the wall; a slender pretty girl standing with a 12-caliber hand-gun in her hand.
“I see…”
“Now that I've taken the advantage, I have superiority over her. In addition, I killed her magic. She's just a girl for now. Why do you take time to kill her? I wanna get back home soon.”
“How could an angel say those words?”
“You don't have to care. You can do anything to the devils.”
“Do you know about the `crusade'?”
Then he heard a bang on the floor.
“Kenta!”
Startled at the bang and voice he looked at Cifer.
“It's a waste of time your talking to her,” said Cifer, with a refreshed expression on her face as if she had conquered some trouble. “I have been living for a very long time. It seems good to put an end to my life today…”
“Considering you're a devil, you're too sensible.”

Kenta Must Choose
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

“But…I will fight and die,” she said, pointing the gun at Kenta.
“Take the gun. If I win now, nobody can get in my way. I will take your soul. The terrible angel knows that very well.”
“Does she?”
“Indeed. But… hey Cifer!”
“What?”
“Just thank me for generosity. I have the kindness to arrange that you be believed that you will be defeated after the gunfight. Never expect to win!”
“I know. That's the way you do.”
“J-just a moment! You had better not discuss between yourselves.”
Then Kenta was grasped by the chest.
“Hey, you! Don't you know we are talking about your soul? You must be more serious!”
“No. I can't be ready for that so soon.”
“Kenta, are you ready? If you don't shoot, I will shoot first. Take the gun.”
“Don't be nervous. She has a 12-caliber gun by which she can hardly kill you even if your heart is hit.”
“That's not my point!”
“I'm gonna shoot you. Daaah!”
“Whaaaah!”
There was a hush.
“……?”
“…? I am… alive?
“Hey, Juriel the bastard! This gun has no bullet contained.”
“Gee! You've noticed it.”
“You're playing a foul. F-----g unbelievable!”
“Shut up! I can do anything for justice!”
Then the two of them looked at Juliel with cool gazes.
“A-alright! I will give a bullet to your gun,” said Juliel, moving fingers a little.
“Now I'm ready,” said Cifer, trying to take up a posture of offence, which made Kenta get stiff.
The next moment, however Juliel kicked Cifer right on the stomach.
“Gwaaah!” said Cifer, crouching down.
“It's now or never. Fire!” said Juliel. She was always sly.
Kenta dashed the Scorpion to the floor.
“I can't stand any more!”

Kenta's Decision
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

There was a hush over the room.
“Hey, you. Be more careful handling the gun with bullets.”
“Shut up your f-----g mouth!”
His words made Juliel silent.
“Enough. Though you call yourself an angel, all you have done are tricks and foul play. You're only teasing a girl.”
“…”
Not only Juliel but Cifer stared mind-absently at Kenta.
“Hey, you…” said Juliel, scratching her head. “How do you think could I save my face?”
“F---k you!”
Then Juliel looked surprised at his words.
“Don't behave yourself like that. I feel you're making a fool of me.”
“No, I don't mean to make a fool of you.”
“I've been disillusioned upon discovering the angel is damned like you.”
“…”
Juliel was looking down, embarrassed; she seemed to have been criticized by a human being for the first time in her life.
“Anyway, I can't shoot her.”
“Heh,” said Cifer, “you've been jilted Juliel. It serves you right.”
Then Juliel sighed and said.
“Then, seriously I'm asking you. How are you settling this matter?”
“What do you mean?”
“As things stand, this bastard is sure to take your soul!”
“Are you sure, Cifer?”
“…”
Cifer didn't reply.
“Frankly speaking, if you would like to voluntarily give her your soul, I won't allow you to do that. Never!”
“Don't I have even the right to choose which way to go?”
“Hey, man! You know policemen in your world would not try to overlook any crimes. Neither do we.”
“…”
Kenta was thinking.
“I…”
Cifer and Juliel were staring intensely at him.
“I… would not like to give my soul.”
Juliel grinned and looked at Cifer with a triumphant expression on her face.
“At the same time, I don't wanna kill her.”
The two girls looked surprised.
“I just don't wanna kill her.”
“So! That's o.k with you?”
“Anyway, you're an angel, aren't you. If so, you're supposed to know how to resolve the matter completely?”
“I don't like you to say in such a way. Before that I should correct an error: this bastard is male.”
“It doesn't matter!” Kenta said out of breath and much excited.
Juliel shook her head and then said.
“You're a winner.”
“What? Then…”
“Yes, we will get back home.”
“W-wh…”
“You won't have to worry any longer. We won't do anything and will get back to where we belonged. That's all.”
“That's good…”
“Still,” Juliel said in a threatening manner, “you should know what you've done. As a devil, this devil will survive and possibly try to take your soul again. I won't take care of you again. Are you alright?”
Kenta nodded at Juliel with a strong will, not looking away from her even when she was right before his eyes.
“O.k. Let's go!” said Juliel and then looking back. “I've never met a good-natured person like you.”
“Really?”
“No. Some killed devils in an incredibly cruel way as soon as they got aware that they were allowed to kill at will. They looked crueler than devils. I, as a devil-buster, have seen so many persons of that kind,” said Juliel, not looking back. “I'm a little assured to know there are a few good-natured persons.”
“Juliel…”
“Cifer, let's go.”
Cifer seemed reluctant to follow Juliel. As she passed by, she said.
“Well, errrr… t-thanks.”
Embarrassment made her falter.
“No. Don't mention it…”
“So long! I hope I'll see you again.”
He did not feel happy to hear a devil say that.
They both got out to the verandah.
“Don't worry. We will manage to get this room back to what it was.”
“Very kind of you.”
“Go to sleep, you will wake up next time to find another morning coming as usual and noticing nothing unusual.”
“All right. Thanks for everything.”
“Hey, you don't have to say thanks. What a fool you are!”
“I'm embarrassed. It's not becoming to me.”
When Juliel turned red and then Cifer made fun of her.
“Shut up! Why don't we move now?”
Then he Lost consciousness.

“Uhh, uhhn…”
He woke up.
It was a hard night.
He put his hands on his bed.
Recollecting something, he looked at the bed.
But there was nothing but a disordered coverlet.
He looked around.
His room was totally in order as if nothing had happened. There was neither sign of ruin with machine-gunning nor loud-mouth girl, who had a very manly way of speaking.
“Phew,” he sighed.
It seemed as if everything had happened in a dream. Everything may have happened in a dream.
Kenta remembered an embarrassed expression on Cifer's face when she said, “T-thanks.”
It made him smile.
Though she called herself a famous devil, she looked to me nothing but a Young girl…
I dreamed a good dream, maybe.

“`morning.”
He said to himself and began to eat a piece of bread on the table.
Another day is beginning.
“Hi, you're too late.”
Then he scattered a swallow of milk out of his mouth.
“Ah… ah… ah… uhh… ahuhah…”
He was surprised to see the girl who had been called Cifer; she was wearing a pure-white blouse, a bright red ribbon and a checked miniskirt, quite like a schoolgirl.
“Hm? Interested in these? Do they suit me?” she asked him and picking her ribbon and skirt.
“W-well, why the hell…”
“Errrr… strange enough , I have forgotten how to go home. That's why I have decided to stay in your house for the time being. Be a good boy to me from now on.”
“W-what???”
“Don't worry. I have arranged that the people will believe I'm your cousin. Your parents and neighbors believe so.”
“…”
“My real name is Lucifer, but I think it hard to use it. I have decided my name for this world is Mako Inoue. Is that a good name?”
“C-cousin?”
“Yep!” she said nonchalantly. “Don't mind. Eat quickly or you'll be late for school.”
“Surely but…”
She goes together well with her short haircut. Just a high-school student from head to heal. Who believes she is actually a man or more exactly a devil?
Cifer, who was now Mako, didn't hesitate to sit next to Kenta.
He was all mixed up with what was happening to him.
“You're f-----g…”
“W-what?”
“… soiled. Wipe your mouth!”
Sitting next to him, Mako wiped his mouth and leaned forward.
Her soft body was touching his. Her hands, though through the cloth and rubbed his face softly.
“Ouch!”
“Keep your mouth shut!”
He held her shoulders in spite of himself and he didn't know why.
“Ah…”
The cloth dropped.
Kenta's heart beat fast and almost blew up.
Very soft…
She had a body so fragile that it is likely to be easily broken if you push it hard. At the same time it was healthy and full of vigor.
Mako turned red, looking away and down embarrassedly. “N-no. You know, I'm a man, or should I say, I'm a devil.”

Mako Inoue (Devil) Returns
Illustration: Yozora
Yozora

Kenta did not reply.
Slowly she was turning her gaze toward him.
He could not force his gaze away from her eyes in sorrow.
The distance between them was getting short.
She closed her eyes very slowly.
“`morning.”
Hearing the powerless voice, they stopped getting closer and got back to their original positions.
Kenta pulled himself back so hard that the dish he would eat was scattered.
“Oh, my god!”
“Hey, you're f-----g loud.”
There stood Juliel, wearing pajamas instead of the military uniform he remembered.
“Well, I have arranged to go to the same school as the devil will go. Be kind to me.”
“What?”
“It can't be helped. God scolded me for what I had done, saying that I went too far and expelled me. Now my name is Juli Amano. Keep it in your mind.”
“Damn! You're too self-centered!”
Then his mother came in and said.
“Gee! What's wrong with you, Ken? Oh, Good morning Juli and Mako.”
“Good morning,” the two girls replied in unison in an incredibly comfortable - actually maybe occupational - manner.
In this way he had to start living a queer student life, sitting between a devil and an angel.

(To be continued)

Actually it isn't continued. (Hahahahaha!)
As of July 21 and 2002, I have been putting in order all story files so that they will be easier to read. I happened to find out this story I had been forgetting for so long.
It was meant for to be a 5-episode tale, for which many events seemed to have been dreamed up.
This is a typical kind of browbeating wife story. Differently from others, it also contains a factor of trans-gender story.
I myself laughed a deal at this story while reading (Come on!).

I still think it possible to be continued, but also think one episode is enough for this kind of story.

Saga-Media