Requested by Amilka, another one of my favourites of the album. Seen in the booklet and subtlely shown in the lyrics, this is coming from Youmu’s point of view, taking place just before the events of Perfect Cherry Blossom. At one point, Yuyuko was my favourite character. Not so much anymore, but Ultimate Truth is still a great song. Here, we see a lot of RD’s unique punctuation style in action.

★ Title: 妖々 「全て桜の下に」
☆ Album: 奉 -Sasage-
★ Album Artist: 凋叶棕
☆ Vocals: ΦKushiΦ (Φ串Φ)
★ Lyrics and arrangment: RD-Sounds
☆ Original Titles: Ultimate Truth (アルティメッとトゥルース)
・Border of Life (ボーダーオブライフ)
★ Website: http://www.rd-sounds.com/

tooi mukashi, touta koto ga aru.

As far as I recall, I have questioned something.

”桜の下に何が“

“sakura no shita ni nani ga”

“What’s under the sakura tree?”

それに返る、答えは終ぞなく。

sore ni kaeru, kotae wa tsuizo naku.

Never yet has an answer come to me.

”おそろしいもの“とだけ。

“osoroshii mono” to dake.

Only “Something terrifying.”

桜が咲くことがあるならば。
それが目覚めるならば。

sakura ga saku koto ga aru naraba.
sore ga mezameru naraba.

If the sakura would bloom.
If it would awaken.

おそろしいものが何であるか。
知ることが叶うのか。

osoroshii mono ga nan de aru ka.
shiru koto ga kanau no ka.

What would the terrifying thing be?
Will my wish to know come true?

不甲斐無さと、焦燥と。己の未熟を苛んで。
傷つく体を抱えて、走る。

fugainasa to, shousou to. onore no mijuku o sainande.
kizutsuku karada o kakaete, hashiru.

Gnawing at my cowardice, and impatience. And my own inexperience.
Bearing my hurting body, I run.

ただ只管に、主の下へ。何が出来るでもないのに。
胸騒ぎの静まらぬままに。

tada hitasura ni, aruji no moto e. nani ga dekiru de mo nai noni.
munasawagi no shizumaranu mama ni.

With one goal in mind, I’m off to the mistress. It’s not about what can be done though.
While the racket in my chest won’t calm down.

桜の下に。眠る何かに。
主は何を思うのだろう。

sakura no shita ni. nemuru nani ka ni.
aruji wa nani o omou no darou.

Underneath the sakura. Whatever sleeps there.
I wonder what the mistress thinks of it.

あれの下には。恐ろしい何かが。
眠っていると聞いたのに…

are no shita ni wa. osoroshii nani ka ga.
nemutteiru to kiita noni…

Though I’ve heard. That something terrifying.
Is sleeping under there…

かつて教わった、旧い記憶が。桜に重ね見せた幻は。
翅を広げた二匹の蝶となる。
何よりも幽雅に。

katsute osowatta, furui kioku ga. sakura ni kasane miseta maboroshi wa.
hane o hirogeta nihiki no chou to naru.
nani yori mo yuuga ni.

Memories of old, those that I once was taught. The visions they repeatedly showed to the sakura.
Become two butterflies with their wings spread.
More noble than anything.

只、立ち尽くすのみ。

tada, tachi tsukusu nomi.

I merely stand still.

この光景はきっと。

kono koukei wa kitto.

I’m sure this sight.

生きては見えず。死しても見れず。

ikite wa miezu. shishitemo mirezu.

Can’t be seen alive. And neither can you see it dead.

放たれる光の彩。
広がる。集まる。四散する。
苛烈に舞い続ける紅白の蝶。

hanatareru hikari no iro.
hirogaru. atsumaru. shisan suru.
karetsu ni mai tsudzukeru kouhaku no chou.

The colours of the light being emitted.
Spread. Gather. Scatter.
As red and white butterflies that continue to violently dance.

追いすがっては、爆ぜる光に。
ひらりひらりと遊ぶように。
優雅に舞うは桜色の蝶。

oi sugatte wa, hazeru hikari ni.
hirari hirari to asobu you ni.
yuuga ni mau wa sakura iro no chou.

Upon reaching you, in the bursting light.
Nimbly nimbly, as if playing.
Dancing elegantly are sakura coloured butterflies.

桜の下に。眠る何かが。
夢見る光景を重ね見る。

sakura no shita ni. nemuru nani ka ga.
yume miru keshiki o kasane miru.

The thing that sleeps. Underneath the sakura.
Repeatedly I see the scene that it dreams of.

生きるも死ぬも
その境目までもがここでは酷く曖昧で。

ikiru mo shinu mo
sono sakaime made mo ga koko de wa hidoku aimai de.

The entire way
to the border of life and death is awfully vague here.

二匹、舞い戻る。桜の下へ。
最後のときとばかり相向かう。

futari, mai modoru. sakura no shita e.
saigo no toki to bakari ai mukau.

The two dance back. Underneath the sakura.
Only to face each other in the end.

咲かぬ桜を、今、咲かさんとして。
再び舞い上がる。

sakanu sakura o, ima, sakasan toshite.
futatabi mai agaru

Just as she’s about to make the unflowering sakura now bloom.
They will soar again.

芽吹く花。
吹雪く花片。
何か見てはいけないものをみて。

mebuku hana.
fubuku hanabira.
nani ka mite wa ikenai mono o mite.

Budding flowers.
Storming flower petals.
I saw something that I shouldn’t have.

どの桜より。
それは、美しくて。そして、怖ろしくて。

dono sakura yori.
sore wa, utsukushikute. soshite, osoroshikute.

More than any sakura.
It’s beautiful. As well, frightening.

桜の下、眠る貴女が。
”誰“なのか今―それがおぼろげに。

sakura no shita, nemuru anata ga.
“dare” nano ka ima― sore ga oboroge ni.

You, who sleeps under the sakura.
“Who” you are― that is now unclear.

おそろしいものは、きっと、はじめから。私の傍にいた。

osoroshii mono wa, kitto, hajime kara. watashi no soba ni ita.

I’m sure, the terrifying thing, from the beginning. Was by my side all along.

只、立ち尽くすのみ。

tada, tachi tsukusu nomi.

I merely stand still.

この光景はきっと。

kono koukei wa kitto.

I’m sure this sight.

生きては見えず。死しても見れず。

ikite wa miezu. shishitemo mirezu.

Can’t be seen alive. And neither can you see it dead.

Requested by Amilka, one of my favourites of the album. I’m no professional when it comes to classical Japanese, by any means, but I’ve done my best. I even feel like there’s something more deep about the title than is really letting on (袂 has quite a few definitions, and is kinda like 手元 too), but as I said, this is all I’ve got. God bless archaic dictionaries and yahoo answers JP, without which this would not be here.

★ Title: 神霊 「死せる哲学の袂」
☆ Album: 奉 -Sasage-
★ Album Artist: 凋叶棕
☆ Vocals: ΦKushiΦ (Φ串Φ)
★ Lyrics and arrangment: RD-Sounds
☆ Original Titles: Desire Drive (デザイアドライブ)
・Starry Sky of Small Desires (小さな欲望の星空)
★ Website: http://www.rd-sounds.com/

kanau sube no nai yokubou o
idaku sono uchi yori umareru kage

From the embracement of desires
with no means to grant them, shadows are born

だが全ては　か細き声
誰もその耳を　傾けない

daga subete wa kabosoki koe
dare mo sono mimi o katamukenai

Yet it’s all tenuous voices
Nobody is lending an ear

もし生まれたてのあれらを
受け入れるものがいたならば

moshi umaretate no arera o
uke ireru mono ga ita naraba

If only there were someone who
could accept those newborn things

だが彷徨い辿りつく先は
定かならずに消えていく

daga samayoi tadori tsuku saki wa
sadaka narazu ni kiete iku

Yet at the end of wandering and barely making it
they disappear without certainty

哀れかな　何処へともつかずに
最期には　食らわれ夜の闇に消ゆ

aware kana doko e to mo tsukazu ni
saigo ni wa kuraware yoru no yami ni kiyu

Is it pitiful? To be eaten and fade into the dark of night
in the very end, without arriving anywhere

一縷の望みに　求めて加速する
その声を　聞くものは――どこに。

ichiru no nozomi ni motomete kasoku suru
sono koe o kiku mono wa ―― doko ni.

Where is the one who will listen to the voices
seeking, ever hurriedly, for a ――ray of hope.

生きて死ぬ定めにも
人の欲望　果てしなく
何しも求めているのは
甘き哲学の言

ikite shinu sadame ni mo
hito no nozomu koto hateshinaku
dare shimo motometeiru no wa
amaki tetsugaku no koto

In a fate to live and die
the desires of people are endless
What all seek for are the words
of a sweet philosophy

縋る　欲望の捌け先
十の言葉で訴うるは
願い聞き届け給えと
我ら受け容れ給えと

sugaru yokubou no hake saki
too no kotoba de utauru wa
negai kiki todoke tamae to
warera uke ire tamae to

After draining the desires they cling to
all they can plead for with ten words is
“Please let my wishes reach your ears”
“Please accept us”

たとえその体が滅びても
その魂は不滅だと

tatoe sono karada ga horobitemo
sono mikokoro wa fumetsu da to

They say that even if their bodies perish
their souls are immortal

おおいなるものと一体なら
それら一つの価値　いかばかりか

ooi naru mono to ittai nara
sorera hitotsu no kachi ika bakari ka

If they were to be united with the divine spirits
what would their value be as one?

だがそれでも　その欲望故
誰もその思い　阻めはせず

daga sore demo sono omoi yue
dare mo sono omoi habame wa sezu

Yet, even so, because of those desires
nobody can hold back their thoughts

そも叶わない願いなら
生まれることさえ過ちか

somo kanawanai negai nara
umareru koto sae ayamachi ka

If those wishes can’t come true in the first place
is being born itself a mistake?

だが彷徨い辿りつく先に
無限の夢を見ていよう

daga samayoi tadori tsuku saki ni
mugen no yume o miteiyou

Yet, at the end of wandering and just making it,
let us witness the infinite dreams

惨めかな　何にもなれもせず
最期には　囚われ星の海に消ゆ

mijime kana nan ni mo nare mo sezu
saigo ni wa toraware hoshi no umi ni kiyu

Is it harrowing? Being caught and disappearing into the sea of stars
in the end, without becoming anything at all

一縷の望みを　迎えてほくそ笑む
その声を　聞くものは――どこに。

ichiru no nozomi o mukaete hokosuemu
sono koe o kiku mono wa ―― doko ni.

Where is the one who will listen to the voices
chuckling, and welcome their ―― ray of hope.

死してなお生きる為
人の欲望　果てしなく
何しも飢えているのは
甘き哲学の言

shishite nao ikiru tame
hito no nozomu koto hate shinaku
dare shimo ueteiru no wa
amaki tetsugaku no koto

In order to live after death
the desires of people are endless
What all starve for are the words
of a sweet philosophy

縋る　欲望の捌け先
十の言葉で訴うるは
願い聞き届け給えと
我ら受け容れ給えと

sugaru yokubou no hake saki
too no kotoba de utauru wa
negai kiki todoke tamae to
warera uke ire tamae to

After draining the desires they cling to
all they can plead for with ten words is
“Please let my wishes reach your ears”
“Please accept us”

人の欲望を礎に
いつか神霊とて顕現せり

hito no omoi o ishizue ni
itsu ka ooi naru mono tote kengen seri

With people’s desires as foundation
someday I’ll even manifest as a divine spirit

死せる哲学の袂は
かくて目覚めのときを今、迎えんとして―。

shiseru tetsugaku no tamoto wa
kakute mezame no toki o ima, mukae n to shite.

The sleeve of a dead philosophy
now thus is about to enter, the time of awakening―.