Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen Chp 14 Translation

Here's "Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen" chp 14.  I like this chapter a lot because it has a good mix of humor, romance, and action.  The ending, though, is ominous.  Anyhow, I think in this chapter, Johanne's brother, Joshua, forgot that Johanne is a "butcher" and believes in "enhanced interrogation techniques."  Haha...silly Joshua.  So much for "talking"...

Link to ZHD Chp 14 (Update:  12/17/2009 Minor edits from Kuma-chan!  Kuma-chan lives!!!)


The next chapter should be out in two months, around 2/10/2010.  Next up Ouran 77.  I decided not to do the one-shot because after translating the first few pages, I didn't like the story or the main character.

Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen to Ouran Comparisons

I been browsing the ZHD forums lately and I got a couple of comments about the ZHD Kiss fan art I did and apparently there are some that think ZHD is like "Ouran". I've felt this way too while translating the manga. Obviously, Yuda and Haruhi look almost identical and have very similar reactions to the realization of their feelings. In many ways I feel that Yuda and Haruhi are the same character, but cast in a different universe. With respect to the Johanne and Tamaki, they too share looks and they both have delusional thoughts about their desired women wearing a cute sundress and a hat. I think, though, that is as far as it goes. Johanne is straight forward with his feelings and is a shrewd, kick-ass battle hardened killer whereas Tamaki is 100% "lover" and 0% "fighter", as well as a buffoon (well ... given that kidnapping episode, it's possible that Tamaki could go ape-sh** crazy if anything were to happen to Haruhi or any of his friends (BTW: that would be AWESOME) -- still, it doesn't seem to take much to make Johanne tear through some baddies). Clearly, Johanne is more mature than Tamaki, but strangely, I think I like both Johanne and Tamaki about the same. They are both great characters and I care very much about what happens to them.

What do you all think? Leave a comment.

Summary: Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen Chp 7

For a pretty presentation with pictures, go here.

Today Johannes is teaching Yuda self-defense as two of the palace guards look on. As they spar, Johannes asks Yuda why she wants to study self defense. Yuda explains that Johannes' protection is not an excuse for her to be weak. She wants to get stronger through lots of training. Meanwhile one of the onlooking guards thinks that the training is an excuse for them to be together, followed by the other guard remarking about how happy Johannes looks. Meanwhile Johannes has pulled a fast one and is now happily hugging a very embarrassed and surprised Yuda (<3)

"At least wait until a wedding date has been set. Until then, if you don't show restraint it will be troublesome."

And then they take Yuda away remarking about how all men are wolves and then give Johannes the stink-eye. Johannes, getting in the last word, yells, "When we are married you better be as adorable as I want! Be prepared!

Later, Yuda is studying at her desk. She thinks about how they have been engaged for 6-months and even though there's a meeting about the wedding today, the date will not be set at that meeting. She thinks disliking Johannes is what she should be doing from her standpoint and then back to the fact that the date has not been decided. She sighs ... Surprised by her emotions, she shakes her head to clear the thought.

"When I'm beside him my heart beats so fast. But marriage! How ever I think about it, it's impossible! But if we are married ... It is likely I will ..."

She stops that thought as she imagines herself kissing Johannes and then falls to the ground crying about how she can't possibly be adorable in front of him. "For the sake of the people, can I be so unwilling to sacrifice?" she thinks. The handmaidens are looking on, trying to figure out what's Yuda's problem. Yuda knows that she will most likely resign herself to a happy life with Johannes.

Later Yuda is walking outside in the inner court colonnade when some guards go rushing past her in the opposite direction. Yuda asks them what has happened. She follows and find Johannes sitting on a short wall drying himself off with the help of his own pair of handmaidens. One of them explains to Yuda that Johannes has just been in an accident. Johannes further explains that the brakes failed and that if he had been driving faster he could have dug up the castle wall. On top of this, the brakes are only a small part of a series of accidents that have been happening lately to him. He tells Yuda that a vase also came falling as he was walking in the garden. This greatly worries Yuda, but their conversation ends early as one of the palace guards informs Johannes that Ralph-sama has arrived. Johannes stops and looks terrified of whoever this Ralph-person is. One of the palace guards tells Yuda that Ralph is Johannes' relative and the household teacher. Yuda further wonders about their relationship since Johannes had such a terrified look on his face.

Later, Johannes meets up with Ralph. Ralph has a stern look on his face and his arms are folded in dissatisfaction.

Ralph: I'd greet you properly but you kept me waiting for so long. Even though I called, telegraphed, and went out of my way to meet you, I had to wait.

Johannes: You came without much notice.

Ralph: That's because if you knew, you would have run away.

Johannes: That's because school was so hellish, ultimately I wanted to run away from all the studying. Anyhow, get beyond talking about childhood. What do you want to talk privately about?

Johannes sits in a chair looking very calm and relaxed. He smiles a bit.

Ralph: Last month you arrested Claspel. They were acquitted and released.

Johannes: Did they bribe the judge or the prosecutor?

Ralph: Your elder brother Yoshua-sama acquitted them. That weapon's merchant knew it was pointless to go up against the "hero." For Yoshua, he would seem to be an eyesore compared to his younger brother, don't you think?

Johannes: To sum it up the elder brother grouped with criminals to crush me, the usually estranged younger brother.

Ralph: That brother of yours ... how'd he entice Claspel?

Johannes: My brother is really a reckless guy.

Ralph: Don't say that about him! You and that princess are more reckless. It's great the war is over, but you standing as the virtuous man can only lead to your death.

Johannes: Stop speaking of death as if I'm its poster child (flag boy). ... Well, if I'm going to think about when I die, I can't complain because I don't intend to die without a fight. I bought the war I was sold.

Johannes smiles thoughtfully in reflection.

Meanwhile, Yuda is reading Johannes latest entry in their exchange diary. It says:

"It seems like we are apart a lot. It's dangerous so we can't meet. Of course, continue to exchange this diary. So if anything happens, write it here."

Yuda freaks at the message, puts on here cloak, and takes off running to find out what's going on with Johannes' safety. Yuda stops a pair of palace guards and frantically asks if Johannes is in danger and who's after him. She asks if it's people from her country. The guards tell her to calm down and left them do their jobs. They tell her to return so she isn't targeted too. Yuda complains to them about how it's been difficult for her and Johannes to see each other and for that reason she wants the criminals quickly captured. The guards say, " ... I see <3.">

"When he's sleeping, he's such a prince. Unfortunately, when he opens his mouth ... such long eyelashes and hair the same gentle color of flax."

She reaches out to caress him and then stops herself. She recalls Johannes saying, "I want to touch you because I like you."

"Love = touch" Yuda thinks to herself. "Touch = love" she thinks further. She then thinks that she's being stupid ... and in walks Ralph who catches her in the middle of her internal struggle.

Ralph: I returned because I heard Johannes-sama is bedridden. So he hasn't been taking enough care of himself.

Yuda: Eh?

Ralph: I didn't make it in time to warn him.

Yuda: ... you are?

Ralph: My name is Ralph. I'm sorry I didn't greet you earlier.

Yuda: The warning ... what do you know about this matter? Who is the group responsible for this murder attempt?

Ralph: The person is part of group from outside the country. This is your fault.

Yuda looks very shocked hearing someone confirm what she already believes.

Ralph: Do you know the reason Johannes is together with you, the enemy country's princess?

Yuda: Why ... we are together to end the war.

Ralph: He was a intimidator. Binding for peace wouldn't move this former soldier.

Yuda: ...

Ralph: If the war continued, no soldier would have said anything. The Johannes-sama of then was considered a hero. Because he had the support of the people and the soldiers, the King and Parliament had to comply with his rash demand.

Yuda: ... sonna (hard to express in English)

Ralph: You really think that peace was the only reason?

Yuda: But my father and brothers?

Ralph: A secret agreement with your father was concluded in advance. Of course Canaan was at a numerical disadvantage, so your father thought it wasn't a bad offer.

Yuda: ...

Ralph: This is how Johannes-sama's objective was realized. It was easy to rally the people once the scary people left.

Ralph: Clearly, I'm opposed to your engagement. Since you have been together, he has been exposed to danger. A child so stupid he was cute. When he was a child, I was always with him. If I could, I would not let any harm come to him.

Ralph turns to leave the the room.

Ralph: He's in love, so please give that some consideration in your thoughts.

A little later, Johannes awaken to a an empty room. He calls out to Yuda.

It's night and Yuda is walking in the inner courtyard lost in thought.

"If it was for peace, any kind of sacrifice would not be distasteful so I thought. I hadn't thought about the reason Johannes-sama put himself in so much danger. But love isn't the reason if was the old Johannes."

She then sees one of the guards collapse on the ground. There is a cup of tea spilled on the floor. She wonders whether it's a sleeping drug and then immediately suspects the doctor. She begins to run to Johannes' room to makes sure he's safe. On her way there she catches up to the doctor. She asks him to wait. He tells her that he is on the way to give Johannes the painkillers he's requested. Yuda asks to see the pills and then asks him if he had anything to do with the sleeping guard. The doctor then turns on her and pulls a scalpel out. Yuda sharpens her gaze and mentally prepares herself for the fight. "If being with me is putting Johannes-sama in danger, then I will protect Johannes-sama." She then grabs the doctor by the arm and flips him over her shoulder and onto his back. She tells him to settle down and that the guards will be on the scene soon. The doctor is stronger than Yuda, though, and breaks free and flips her on her back and begins to choke her. Yuda regrets how she couldn't protect Johannes as she struggles. And then suddenly the doctor falls. Johannes is standing before her with his sheathed sword in hand. "I want to be together with him" Yuda thinks as she runs into his arms.

Johannes: Again, you are in danger.

Yuda: It's okay.

Johannes: It is not okay!

Yuda: But I only cause you trouble.

Johannes: But I wanted to be with you, so it can't be helped.

They are in full embrace when Ralph walks in on the scene.

Ralph: Johannes! Are you all right?

Johannes (under his breath): No, I'm not all right. Just when the mood was getting good ...

Yuda: (under her breath to Johannes) Calm down

Ralph (to the couple): You will never be safe and these types of things with continue. Even so, do you still want to be together?

Johannes has collapsed again and Yuda is supported him. They look at each other in affirmation and holds hands. "Yes" says Yuda.

Yuda's narration: This person and I came together for peace so I thought. Perhaps..., no always, I will have this feeling of not wanting to left go of this hand.

They smile as they hold hands. Then Johannes earnestly asks Yuda why she isn't wearing a nurse's outfit and Yuda then regrets having nice thoughts about him.

Summary: Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen Chp 6, part 2

Gomenasai, minnasan! "Tomorrow" turned into "next week." It was for good reasons, though ( hopefully :) ). Anyhow, let me finish up this chapter.

Johannes runs towards Yuda's scream and finds her hanging from a tree with a rope around her pinning her arms to her sides. She is wearing Johannes's jacket and the hood is covering her head. She is caught in a trap used by the people of Johannes' country. Yuda looks pitiful and is sobbing as she asks Johannes to release her from the trap. Johannes is tickled, laughs and then says, "You look like a monk!" Johannes laughs himself until it hurts and Yuda who is clearly embarrassed swings and manages to kick Johannes in the face. Later, Yuda is shown released and pouting on a rock while thinking, "I knew it! Johannes is not kind! I hate him!!" Johannes tries to apologize for his earlier reaction but Yuda isn't hearing him. He then says he'll roast the fish he caught earlier so they can eat. Yuda, now defiant says she doesn't want any because she's not hungry as her loudly rumbling stomach betrays her. Johannes tells her it's ok if she has no willpower and offers her a tasty fish. Yuda eats and Johannes warns her to be careful of the bones. Yuda is surprised and smiles broadly as she eats the fish. She tells Johannes that the fish is delicious and that it's her first time having fish prepared this way. "Finally a smile" Johannes notes and warmly returns a smile to Yuda. Yuda, overwhelmed, turns her head not see it. "Why?" she thinks, "I don't understand but, when Johannes smiles and is nice, my heart pounds faster. Johannes said it was love but ... I have others like family and employees -- lots of people I love. So why is it only Johannes who makes my heart pound?"

Yuda is in deep thought as they sit under a tree. A leaf falls onto her hair and Johannes moves to remove it. "Why?" she's still thinking when she notices that Johannes is in motion. She slaps him away with a twig and asks him what he's doing so suddenly. And off Yuda goes, running, with Johannes in pursuit.

Johannes: Why'd you hit me over the head with a twig!?
Yuda: Because my heart is pounding and I hate it!
Johannes: That's because you're in love!
Yuda: Lies! Because Johannes-sama never loses composure!!

Johannes finally catches up with her and grabs her by the shoulder to stop the chase. He's blushing and asks Yuda, "When I have I been calm?" Now they are both blushing and Yuda has turned to face him. Johannes is looking her in the eyes. He reaches out his hand to stroke her cheek and leans in for a kiss. Yuda is wide-eyed as she is kissed on the cheek. Johannes is holding her hand ... when a gunshot goes off. The bullet grazes Johannes' scarf.

A car accident has happened and three men in military uniforms are tied together. "What a dangerous place. Geez ..." says one military guys walking around. He's accompanied by a guy who looks like he's from Yuda's country and another guy from Johannes'. "You two can come out, it's safe!" says the other and Yuda's two handmaidens pop out from behind the bushes. The military guys tell them that there is one more terrorist left to catch. The handmaidens worry for the safety of their princess and the military guys says they must hurry.

From behind another bush, "Just when things are going well, somebody has to come out of nowhere and interfere. Whoever it is wants to die!!" Johannes mutters with great irritation. Yuda urges him to calm down and then another bullet whizzes by. Yuda asks where the gunshots are coming from. Johannes wonders that himself, but it's clear to him that he is the target. He tells Yuda to stay hidden as he runs off to investigate. Yuda thinks Johannes is being reckless as she hides. Even though Johannes is very strong he probably doesn't know where the gunshots are coming from and she doesn't know what he's going to do about the situation. Meanwhile Johannes is sprinting through the woods. He turns ... and Yuda hears another gunshot. Yuda springs to her feet and runs towards the sound. She only has Johannes' safety on her mind. On the ground she sees drops of blood and she freezes. Close behind a bush is a military guy and he is pulling up a blood covered shirt. Yuda thinks it's the worst case scenario and runs and grabs onto the man's arm. "Stop!" she yells. "Let go of him!" She pulls the military man's arm and continues, "Johannes-sama run!!" and then again her foot lands on a trip rope for another trap and up she goes again. Meanwhile, the military guy is suddenly down and someone is behind him with a knife. Suddenly, Yuda is cut down and ... lands in Johannes' shirtless arms. "Why were you trapped again? I told you to hide, but again you are in danger!!" he lectures. Yuda, still only thinking of Johannes, says, "but blood ... but you're bleeding ..." Johannes calms her, "I bled to lure him. But look, the bleeding has already stopped" (at least, I think that's what he's saying). He continues, "And you? Are you hurt?" Yuda lets loose and cries loudly on Johannes' chest. She's bawling and snotting and holding him very tightly. Johannes assures her that everything is alright and then says that she's hugging too tightly and it hurts. He reaches down to touch her face while still assuring her that everything this alright. He whispers in her ear, again, that everything is alright and holds her face in his hands. He then looks her in the eyes and strokes her bottom lip with his thumb. Yuda thinks, "as usual my heart is pounding, but I hear Johannes-sama's heart and it's beating quickly too -- the same as mine. If our hearts are beating the same together, then maybe this feeling ..." Johannes is leaning in for a kiss, his eyes are closed and Yuda is softening and begins to close her eyes to accept the kiss. They are EVER so close! And then from behind the bushes, one of their bodyguards and Yuda's handmaidens pop up. "Johannes-sama! Yuda-sama! Are you okay!?" they yell. The mood is broken and the almost-loving couple is in shock. Johannes is HELLA pissed and Yuda is embarrasses and looks like she is trying to come up with an excuse for the situation. "YOU BASTARDS!!! 30% OFF EVERYONE'S BONUS!!!" Johannes yells, finger pointing at the bodyguard while the handmaidens ask Yuda what was going on just now.

Narration: I would have thought the pounding of my heart was a dangerous experience, but in a moment, my confused thoughts were cleared. (or something like that -- okay, I like it this way even if my translation of this final narration is wrong -- hopefully, it's close enough though -- the words are there, but they are in a weird order as written literally in Japanese. It makes sense in English when I reorder the words as I have written.)

Summary: Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen Chp 6, part 1

This chapter opens with Johannes and Yuda enjoying a lovely drink through a heart shaped straw for two. Two maids are looking on and commenting about love-love they are today and how the other has heard that they've begun an exchange diary.

The engaged couple have both been busy for a long time and are not accustomed to seeing one another. So they are using the diary to convey their warm thoughts.

They remark about how romantic it is and how they yearn for that type of relationship. Then they talk about the fishing trip the couple will be going on tomorrow where they can confirm their love until their hearts are content.

The next day: Johannes is flashing a sparkling smile while holding out his hand to help Yuda. He is wearing some goofy outdoor wear composed of plain shirt, a fringed scarf, topped but a dark hooded jacket. He is carrying a messager bag across his shoulders. "Here Yuda, watch your step," he says. Yuda bounds across the little stream without help. She is dressed in full river fisherman's gear and looks even more like a dork than Johannes. The narration explains how their relationship is different from the love-love relationship everyone thinks they have. Back to the scene ... Johannes is dumbfounded and explains," When a person goes through the trouble of offering help, don't ignore them." Yuda returns, " Me crossing shouldn't have worried you." To which Johannes in exasperation says, "Even though you crossed, you should have understood the mood. Anyway, what's with that outfit! Couldn't you have dressed cuter for our date?!" In his fantasy he had hoped Yuda would be wearing a cute sundress and a hat (his fantasy reminds me a lot of Tamaki's fantasies about Haruhi). Yuda blushes and looks a little like a scared rodent. Nervously she responds, " Don't think this is da-date, please! We are only going out to stop the war and everyone is going along with our act. We only went out today because I was curious about fishing." Johannes laughs off her little speech, " I know and liking me is something that is not going to happen."

"Not now and not ever!" Yuda confirms. Johannes changes the subject. "Anyhow, everyone is late. I told them the general place we'd be" (not really ... heheh). He reaches for Yuda's hand and Yuda retracts her hand in shock.

Lately, when I'm with Johannes-sama my heart beats fast when we touch. At first I hated Johannes-sama but ... I don't understand myself now

Yuda narrates. Meanwhile, Johannes still has his hand out and then tries to grab Yuda's hand, resulting in what looks like a game a "slappies." "Darn she's fast" Johannes thinks as she dodges his every attempt.

Later, Johannes has caught a small fish. "Look Yuda! Doesn't it look delicious!" he proudly says as his shows off the fish. Meanwhile, Yuda looks like she having a miserable time. Despite reading a bunch of books about fishing she has yet to catch a fish. Johannes approaches with the bait and says, "Since you are a novice, I can attach the bait if you think it's yucky." Yuda grabs the bait and quickly turns around, insisting that she can do it herself. Her face is bright red from embarrassment. Again Johannes is having some Tamaki-like fantasy of Yuda in her sundress clinging to him in fear of the bait. Yuda, on the other hand, is trying to calm down. "No good. No matter what I do, when he gets close, my heart pounds." She recalls again Johannes explaining that her condition is because she loves him. She shakes her head to get rid of the thoughts.

Why is it like this ... no matter how I think about it, it's wrong because Johannes-sama is so violent. But I don't think he's a bad person

She thinks. Then her thoughts are abruptly interrupted. Johannes is close and holding her fishing rod with her. "Yuda! Look you've got a bite! Reel it in slowly," he says. Slowly, they reel it in, but it gets away. "Too bad!" Johannes says with a beaming smile. Yuda is surprised by his cuteness. "Don-don't come near me please!" Johannes, confused, says he was just trying to give her some advice. Yuda says that when he stand next to her, he interferes with her efforts. Johannes is again frustrated. "Fine!" he says, "Do as you please even though you haven't caught one fish and I've caught many!" Yuda yells back, "Don't worry! I will catch a bigger fish than Johannes-sama!" As soon as she says it, Yuda regrets her actions. "Dammit...I said too much again ... dammit ... why do I always act this way. We have nice conversations in the diary. So why when face-to-face ... no good, no good my heart keeps beating faster." she thinks. Yuda starts to walk while she zoning out. Johannes turns and says to her, "Hey, Yuda! It's slippery. Be careful." And into the drink Yuda goes.

Yuda is soaked from head to toes and she looks absolutely pitiful. Unfortunately, their luggage hasn't arrived. Johannes gives her his jacket and tells her to get out of the wet clothes so she won't catch a cold. He then walks off to give her some privacy. As Yuda changes she thinks about how she feels weird when Johannes is nice. Meanwhile Johannes has begun to worry because the guards are now 2-hours late. He then hears Yuda screaming ...

-to be continued tomorrow because it's late and my brain is failing me-

Summary: Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen Chp 5

Disclaimer: This chapter has hand written letters. I tried to translate the letters, but the characters are handwritten and without the help of furigana, many of the kanji were too messed up to make out -- like trying to make out somebody's chicken scratch. Anyhow, I'll do my best to give what I think the gist of the letters are. Fortunately, the important parts are read by the characters, so they have nice typed kanjis with furigana.
---------------------------------

This chapter begins with Johan and Yuda waving to tourists from the balcony of their residence. Yuda is wearing a dress with a star pattern and Johan is wearing a matching shirt that looks quite tacky. The tourists think the display is very much like that of a "stupid couple." Standing on the balcony, Johan asks Yuda whether she'd like to have tea with him after they finish giving "service" to the tourists. Yuda shakes her head in disgust as they leave the balcony. Johan asks, "Are you in a bad mood again? What on Earth is the problem?"

Yuda retorts," Problem? Of course it's the shirt you decided to wear!!" She continues,"If we were going to present ourselves, is this what we should have done?. We look like a stupid couple!!."

Johan returns, "That's because later you avoid me when we are not in public. I wore this so we appear to have a good relationship. Therefore it's okay, right?"

Yuda is bright red with embarrassment as she walks quickly away from public eye. "From now on it is not necessary" she says. "Certainly they will be saying that Johan-sama and I are a couple, but ...."

Johan, trying to look cute, interrupts her mid-sentence with, "Yeah, yeah. But I am the devil even though I stopped the war. How could you possibly like me? " (Clearly he is enjoying himself)

Yuda looking very much like a child who doesn't want to admit the truth mumbles, "I don't like you because I hate you."

And Johan still lighthearted says, "Yes, yes, and when we are together your heart pounds because you hate me (*heart*)". (recall, in the last chapter, "hate" meant "love") Suddenly, Yuda freaks and takes off running. "Crap!!" she thinks as she runs. Her face looks worried and almost sick. Johan calls after her to wait and then gives chase. All the while, Yuda tells him not to follow her. Suddenly, he has a brilliant idea and stops and runs the other way. Yuda peeks behind to see him running away and then takes off chasing him. "I don't like being near, but being avoided is worse," she thinks. Johan delighted by the result of his brilliant idea, lifts Yuda high off of her feet like she's a child and says, "This is stupid. Frantically escaping and telling me not to follow only to come and get caught." Yuda looks like the proverbial deer-in-headlight before she reacts. She wildly swings her arms as if to scratch Johan's face off and then escapes his grasps and runs off to hide behind a pilaster from which she peers from behind to keep an eye on Johan. She looks shaken and upset like a scared small animal (the mangaka has drawn her with neko mimi to shippo -- cat ears and a tail).

Johan tells her, "You are like a cat."

"Get used to the situation, already!! Didn't you tell me when we are together, your heart pounds and you can't calm down? No one else makes you agitiated and confused and I'll tell you why!" Yuda is still peeking from behind the pillaster, her eyes wide in anticipation of Johan's revelation. And then Johan, with his finger rudely pointing at her, declares, "It's because you love me!!" Yuda gives him the boo-boo-face and leaves from behind the pillaster holding her hand to her chest in relief, much to Johan's dismay. "Wait a minute. What's with that face?" He asks. "When I pointed out the truth, you were supposed to become cute. Hey ..." he says.

Yuda turns and asks, "But where did that explanation come from?" She continues, "If I love you, then I would want to be near you and understand you I think. In my case, it's the opposite." Johan counters,

"Well ... It's different for each person."

Yuda then says, "I don't understand what you mean. Well, it's time for me to study. Excuse me." and then she turns to go to her room. Johan is clueless as to what just happened.

Later, Yuda is in her room. She is supposed to be studying, but instead she is lost in thought.

"Me liking Johan-sama. I don't get it. But lately when we are together, my heart pounds more and more and I can't look him in the eye." Then she recalls her father and his multiple wive who dote upon him and compete for his attention. Her mind then moves on to a happy couple face-to-face smiling while holding hands. "Just as I thought, If I loved him, I would always want to be together and when we are together, I would be happy. So I'm not ..." her thought trails off.

Later, she is walking in the courtyard when she sees Johan recieving a briefing from his staff. To her he looks kind with soft long lashes and his face is bathed in warm sunlight. She blushes at the thought of him and thinks "I am ... not. I'm not ..." as she then proceeds to stalk him for the rest of the day, much to Johan's irritation. Tired of her antics, Johan leaves a notebook on the floor and tells her, "whatever it is you want to say, write it here and give it to me tomorrow." Yuda rushed to pick up the notebook. Could it be an exchange diary?

Later in her room at her desk, Yuda opens the notebook. "An exchange diary with Johan!!" She begins to compose her thoughts:

"Dear Johan,

Early summer's weather ..."

She stops and thinks whether this is the type of letter she should be writing. She wonders what to do because she doesn't want to write something stupid. She then banishes the thought and starts to write. Her two handmaidens look on proudly from just behind the door. They are pleased that their princess is not worried about what to write.

The next morning, Johan is in his office working. He is startled by his assist who enters to give him the exchange diary. Johan can't believe that Yuda actually wrote something and his heart beats quickly in anticipation of what she's written. Yuda, ever baffling, has written a long essay titled "About War and Peace" in the diary. The next day, Yuda is pacing her room in anticipation of Johan's reply. The handmaidens enter to deliver the notebook and Yuda's heart beats fast, too, as she opens the notebook to see what Johan has written. His response is, "Ok, I'll think about it. By the way, what did you do today?" Yuda is utterly confused. She flips through the pages and shakes the book, pages down, to see if there's more hidden somewhere. She wrote 3 pages and he only wrote 2 lines. She then gets very upset and curls up in a ball and cries on the floor. She then stops, looks at the notebook entry again and remarks to herself that he has neat handwriting. She then begins her response.

The next day, Johan reads her response. He is blushing with surprise. She writes about how she spends the morning recieving academic lessons and learning to dance and play the guitar. She asks him about his day day too and wishes him well. Johan is so delighted that he's laughing himself to tears. He replies that his days aren't decided (I think ???). He played the piano for a month and then quit and some other stuff I can't decipher. It must have something to do about fish, because in the next letter, Yuda asks what a "bass" is and writes about a small river in her home country that she's never seen. Johan replies that a bass is a fish and draws her a picture of one. He then writes that he would take her fishing so she could eat one, but it's going to rain tomorrow. Yuda thinks this is strange. "Face to face we do nothing but fight, but through this diary we have normal conversations." Her next entry begins:

"I thought I detested that we got engaged to stop the war, but lately this discussion we have been having has made me happy. We'll probably end up fighting again, but I wonder why from time to time I feel lonely. I guess I do miss Johna-sama."

She freaks out about what she has just written. "No way! But ..." and then she thinks back to Johan's declaration ("Because you love me!) "But this is utterly wrong!" she thinks. "Could the painful and nervous feeling be love?" Just then, the wind from the open window catches the paper and the page she has just written flies out the window. As she searches frantically in the hedges for the paper she thinks, "This is bad. If somebody sees this, our fake love will be revealed. I've got to find it quickly! or else the peace will break down!" Johan comes out and spots her in the hedges. He asks what she is doing. She tells him that it's nothing. She's just trying to find a lost thing. He reminds her that it's going to rain soon, but she insists that she only needs a little more time to search. He asks her why. Yuda's at a loss for words. He reassures her that the radicals have recently calmed down and that even if they are found out (with regards to the notebook) and the public believes the story, if they quit fighting, the they can explain themselves. Yuda returns with, "But! But if things go like that, then what is the meaning of our engagement?" It has started to rain. Johan beckons her to come inside and takes her by the hand to lead her out of the rain.

Inside, looking out the window, Yuda thinks," If that were the case, then getting engaged to Johan-sama wasn't necessary. We wouldn't have to pretend to be lovers. So wouldn't it be better to be found out?" She clasps the notebook close to her chest. "That way once again Johan-sama ..." And then she sees the sheet of paper caught in the bough of a tree.

The rain has cleared and Johan is out taking a stroll when he spots Yuda trying to climb a tree. He begs her to come down. She is dressed in what appears to be a night gown and is precariously swirling around a branch like it's a high bar . She tells him she can't because things may not necessarily go as he thinks. "At the very least, my father would be angered. And the angry people won't be silient! Even if we stop fighting, our engagement will be annulled (without our involvement in the decision). So ..." she says as she stretches her arms and fingers to reach the sheet of paper. She looks desperate and Johan looks on, his eyes are wide as if he is being confessed to. Yuda's hand slips and she falling towards the ground. Johan springs into action and catches her in his arms and they fall to the ground. He puts his hands to her face and holds her gaze close to his and tells her,

"It's all right. When that time comes, I will propose how ever many times until we are allowed to marry again. And if that's no good, I'll kidnap you. So, it's ok." Yuda blushes in his hands. She nods in affirmation and can't stop trembling because of those words. Johan, then says, "Thank goodness we landed together." He has the sheet of paper in hand which Yuda promptly snatches away. Of course Johan wants to know what she has written on the paper and she tells him that it's a secret. To end, Yuda narrates,

"I don't know if this feeling is love or hate but it's ok if things stay the same for a little bit longer."

And she takes off running again with Johan in pursuit. Yuda's heart is pounding, she's blushing furiously, and her are eyes are squeezed shut because she still can't look Johan in the eye.

Summary: Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen Chp 4

I'm sorry it took me so long to post a summary. I had a little crisis of conscience with respect to "Kisu Yori mo Hayaku" and then got sucked into "Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen." All the while, I've been playing Warhammer Online religiously. I will get to KYMH later this week. So for now, here's a summary of "Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen" (roughly translates to "Grand Military Tactics for Absolute Peace"). Chapters 1 -3 are out there in the usual places online.

This chapter begins with Johannes and Yuda touring the city. A tour guide is narrating about how the city of Judecca has been rebuilt since the royal couple settled there 6-month ago. The is walking down the street hand-in-hand while crowds shower them with blessings. The narrator continues that extremists opposed to peace have recently increased their activities.

As usual, after they are out of public view, the lovey-dovey couple act is dropped. They quit holding hands and this time Johannes turns and walks away quickly. He loosens his tie as Yuda looks on shocked. She turns to follow him, now worried because the routine has be broken. She asks Johannes what he's rushing off to do. He replies that he has to return to work because of terrorist activities. He says he can't let the city be destroyed again. Yuda asks whether this means that he will be busy. Johannes responses, "Yes, quite busy." Yuda is embarrassed that this has affected her. She asks herself why she feels this way. She thinks, "At first I hated Johannes-sama, but now that we live together, I don't think he's as bad as I thought at first. I'm trying to compromise a bit ..."

Later on, Yuda encounters Johannes in the hall. He is dressed in his uniform. Yuda follows him around, looking very much like a child. "Johannes-sama! Johannes-sama! Have you found a way to guard the city? Are you going to the courtyard?" she asks. Johannes isn't paying her much attention as he reads through a stack of papers while walking. "Yep, I'm going now." Yuda frets that he won't look her in the eye. Frustrated, she resorts to completely childish behavior. She calls his name and then throws a paper airplane at him, hitting him squarely in the forehead. Johannes unfolds the airplane and in it, Yuda has scrawled, "Johannes is an idiot." Now she's done it and Johannes looks at her with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "He's coming!" She's anticipating his attention as she takes off running. "Who are you calling 'idiot'! Wait you shorty!" is the situation she's waiting for as she runs away, but he doesn't take the bait and instead continues walking to the courtyard. Yuda is now distressed.

Alone in her room, she sits curled into a little ball wondering why Johannes is avoiding her. She recalls that he told her, "I love you so of course I want to be near you and I want to touch you." She thinks, "Even though he said that, why? (do I run away)" as she remembers her cruel treatment towards him and then concludes, "of course, he'd avoid me. If I continue, he'll hate me ..." While confused, it seems that she's coming to a revelation about her feelings. She then vigorously shakes her head, banishing the thought. She's up again, prowling the halls in her hooded coat. "There's no way I like Johannes," she assures herself. Johannes' guards look on as Yuda paces back and forth in front of his office door. Johannes guards are amused because she's been pacing at the door for over an hour. They decide to tease her a little and ask her if she wants them to call Johannes from his office. Yuda takes off running saying that she was just passing by and not to bother.

Yuda goes out into the garden and while watering plants wonders why she can't calm down. Her handmaidens come out to the garden to tell Yuda that Johannes is looking for her and that there are guests to receive. Yuda blushes furiously. She is pleased that Johannes has called her. Johannes is already in the receiving hall when she arrives. She excuses herself and then Johannes introduce the guests, Thomas Claspel and his daughter Isabel. Thomas is the head of many national businesses. Yuda is struck by how pretty Isabel is. Johannes shares one of the threatening letters the terrorists has sent with Mr. Claspel. Mr Claspel pledges the support of his people to help quell the terrorist problem and then asks about the princess, Yuda's safety. Johannes pulls Yuda close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, and then assures them that no trouble could happen and pledges that even if the peace fell apart it would not impact his engagement to Yuda. Isabel says in response, "The rumors are true. You two are close." Johannes replies, "She is the most important person in the world to me." Yuda blushes. There's a tinge of sadness on her face. "I need to be calm," she tells herself. "As always, it's a performance."

The greeting is now suddenly over and Johannes guides Yuda out of the room as he instructs his guards to escort the Claspels back to their mansion. As soon as they leave the room, Johannes releases Yuda and tells her that he will be away for a while. Yuda worried about the terrorists asks, "What if something happens. Should I tell our people that you won't be coming back for a while?" Johannes looks back at Yuda. He's a little surprised. He says, "What's with that response? Are you afraid you'll be lonely?" *Bingo* Yuda blushes and then avoiding his gaze retorts, "Even if you are not here, I would be quite the opposite of lonely. I'd be relieved!" Johannes response, "Oh, so not cute!" He continues, " Whatever ... All because of that blond beauty we greeted a little while ago. " Yuda fires back, "Even if you partner with that uncute woman, I'll get by here just fine. I couldn't care less if you come back!!! Stupid Johannes!!!" Johannes is knocked back on the floor by Yuda's outburst. As she leaves, Johannes asks himself, "Why does this always happen." Yuda doesn't go very far after leaving. She stops and looks around the corner at Johannes office door. She looks very sad and remorseful. "Stupid Johannes." she mutters.

Later ... Yuda is tending to the sick at a hospital. Some men at the hospital are looking at a newspaper with a picture of Johannes accompanying Isabel on the front. They discuss whether the relationship is a lie and say that it's only a matter of time before he leaves Yuda for the blond beauty. Yuda's self esteem takes a blow as she compares herself to Isabel while looking in a mirror. Her handmaidens and a messenger find her in a corner crying. The messenger requires her signature and informs her that Johannes has been invited to a party at the Claspel's mansion and that Johannes has already declined the invitation for Yuda. Yuda's handmaidens are peeved and decide that Yuda will go and show that she is prettier than Isabel.

It is the night of the party and Johannes is dressed in black and going over some papers. Isabel offers him a drink and he declines, telling her that he is still working. She asks him to dance and he cordially declines. The onlookers think that Johannes and Isabel make a nice couple and denigrate the "desert princess." They think it's best that Yuda didn't come. But then, from a car, Yuda arrives. She's dressed in form fitting mermaid dress with elegant boots, looking cute as can be with some flowers in her hair. The crowd is surprised by how beautiful Yuda is. Yuda is blushing like a maiden. Isabel is shocked and Johannes looks completely freaked out -- like his heart has just sunk into his shoes. Yuda panics because she doesn't know how to interpret Johannes' expression. Johannes, looking totally shaken, grabs Yuda by the wrist and drags her out of the room. Outside, Yuda asks what wrong. Johannes tells her that he didn't want her to come because it's dangerous. Yuda bursts into sweet tears -- she's so sad and dejected. Johannes looks even more messed up because he's just understood what happened, but is powerless to do anything about the situation. Yuda takes off running, thinking, "I knew I shouldn't have come." Her confidence shattered, she finds a place outside to hide and cry about how good Johannes and Isabel looked together.

Then she hears voices from behind the wall. A group of men is moving some large boxes. The boxes are filled with weapons and the men talk about a plot to attack to incite the Southern country so the war can resume. Yuda, finally understands the danger and decides that she needs to tell somebody about the men. As she gets up to leave, Isabel comes up from behind her and drags Yuda away. Inside, Johannes' guards enter. Johannes asks if they've found Yuda and they inform him that they have found what they are looking for and that they can begin arresting people. However, Yuda was taken into the inner part of the mansion. Johannes instructs them to act carefully, so as not to cause a ruckus that will allow the criminals to escape in the confusion or or arouse the curiosity of the public. The guards apologize about Yuda and Johannes laments that Yuda seemed so happy in her dress.

Johannes is interrupted by a servant that tells him that Mr. Claspel wishes to speak with him. He is led to room where Mr. Claspel and Isabel are keeping Yuda hostage. The situation is tense and they exchange words about how Isabel isn't Claspel's daughter and Claspel explains that the end of the war has been bad for business and job creation. He then tells Johannes that if he wishes for Yuda's safety, then he should forget about the arms deal and leave the premises. Yuda is upset and feels that this situation is all her fault. She put people in danger and, therefore, she is not qualified to be the princess. Isabel is pointing a gun to Yuda's head. Seeing that there is no hope in the situation -- Yuda believes that Johannes will sacrifice her -- she bites Isabel's arm to free herself and then heads for the the window. Johannes calls out to Yuda to wait a minute. Yuda looks back with tears in her eyes and then jumps. She is diving head first into a pool. Isabel turns to shoot Yuda in the back and Johannes violently stops her. Yuda is sinking in the water and it hurts and she thinks that she is going to die. And then then Johannes' hand appears and he pulls her out of the water. He sets her on the ground on her back and sits next to her. Freaked out he yells, "What did you intend to do?" Yuda tries to explain, "Because of me, you.." but she is interrupted. "What was your point!?" Johannes looks terrified. "Don't do anything that dangerous again!!!" he yells. Yuda is shocked. Then the guards find them and inform Johannes that they've arrested the Claspels and rounded up the terrorists. Johannes begins to walk away. He has completely lost his composure and still looks totally freaked out. Yuda pulls him by his sleeves (-- don't go ...)

Johannes turns around to see Yuda bawling. He asks her why she's crying. Yuda responds, "I hate you. Your touch disgusts me" Johannes returns, "then I won't get near you or touch you." Yuda is still crying. "Now what?" Johannes asks. Yuda says, "But when I'm with you my heart pounds and I can't calm down. I become irritated and I can't stop crying. I don't understand what this is. It's horrible. Even now I don't understand. I've had enough. Johannes-sama, I hate you so much. I hate you ..." Johannes looks at her with kind soft eyes. He's blushing now at her weird confession. "I already know," he says. "You hate me." He then picks her up and hugs her closely and tightly. Yuda thinks, "When our skin touched, it was warm." She continues, "I thought I died painfully, but I feel strange and relieved" Her arms that were awkwardly outstretched before now wrap around Johannes tightly. The chapters ends with Johannes and Yuda sitting on the ground, still hugging tightly. Johannes looks stupidly happy and Yuda's looks as though her mind has been blown. The guards remark that they've been at it for an hour and wonder if Yuda will have another "teething fever." (link culture note on "teething fever" -- see modern translations under Japan.)

**I will proofread this tomorrow. Sorry if this is totally mangled.**