Lesson 1: I send you straight to heaven!

To kick start this game, do allow me to share one of my favourites from Manga.

It is a dialogue by Sebastian to Grell, on the Page 9 in the Volume 03 Chapter 012 "That Batler : Retaliating". This one was also adopted by Anime as it is, and voiced by Mr Ono Daisuke. As a result, the dialogue sounded even sexier.

Sadistically stepping onto Grell's face, Sebastian says:

"なかなかいい声で啼くじゃないですか。 ご褒美に 貴方のお気に入りの玩具で ｲかせて差し上げます" .

This has been translated by a scanlator as:

"The sounds of you crying in pain is pretty good on the ears. As a reward, I shall send you on your way, using the toy you like so much!"

The scanlator has done a good job here, as I know how difficult it may be to translate such dialogue full of wits and sexual implications. But with this translation, most likely those who cannot read the original Japanese dialogue may not understand what's so funny or sexy about this dialogue.

If you allow me to re-translate this dialogue into English, it will be like:

"Well, well, you surely are a hell of a moaner, aren't you? As a reward, I shall send you straight to heaven with your favourite toy!"

In Japanese, the word "いかせる" has several meanings. Usually it means "make you go" or "send you on your way", just as the scanlator translated. However, it also means "send to heaven" or "kill", implying the actual death. And finally, it also means "make you come" or "make you reach orgasm". In this case, the word is specifically highlighted with the use of Katakana as in "イかせる". So it is strongly implying its sexual connotation.
Coupled with the phrase "with your favourite toy", this dialogue sounds so erotic, combining "Sex" and "Death" together in a rather sadistic tone.

Similar sexual implications, puns and wordplay are sprinkled all over the Kuroshitsuji manga in a diabolically stylish way, and I believe that's one of the main reasons why it became such a hit manga among ladies in Japan! ;-))

Lacrimosa by Kalafina : Anime Kuroshitsuji's ED song

Now, as much as I love SID's "Monochrome Kiss", I adore Kalafina's "Lacrimosa" as well. This song was also written and composed specifically for Kuroshitsuji, after reading the original. According to the song-writer Ms Kajiura, she read the original Kuroshitsuji manga, and this song came to her instantly just like a divine revelation.

For those who are interested in the meaning of the lyrics, I took the liberty to translate them into English. (*Lyrics translation isn't my specialty, so even if you found it sound rather weird, please forgive me!) Now, I am translating the lyrics while listening to Lacrimosa itself.


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Lacrimosa by Kalafina

暗闇の中で睦み合う
絶望と未来を

My despair and future were
growing close to each other in the darkness

哀しみを暴く月灯り
冷たく照らしてた

And the cold moonlight that unveil agony
was illuminating them

君のくれた秘密を標に
蒼い夜の静けさを行く

With the secret you gave me as a guide,
I am walking into the silence of the blue night.

Lacrimosa　遠く砕けて消えた　眩しい世界を
もう一度　愛したい

Lacrimosa
Once more I want to fall in love with this dazzling world
that shattered and vanished in the distance

瞳の中に夢を隠して
汚れた心に　涙が堕ちて来るまで

Hiding dream in my eye,
until the day my defiled heart sheds tears

幻の馬車は闇を分け
光のある方へ

The phantom carriage parts the darkness,
going toward where the light is

夢という罠が
僕たちを焔へ誘う

A trap called dream is
luring us toward the flames

空の上の無慈悲な神々には
どんな叫びも届きはしない Lacrimosa…

No cry of despair will ever reach
the ears of merciless gods far above in the sky
Lacrimosa…

僕等は燃えさかる薪となり
いつかその空を焼き尽くそう

We’ll become the blazing firewood
that burn down the sky some day

Lacrimosa　ここに生まれて落ちた
血濡れた世界を　恐れずに愛したい

Lacrimosa
I want to love this blood-soaked world without fear
into which I was born

許されるより　許し信じて
汚れた地上で　涙の日々を数えて Lacrimosa

I want to forgive and believe, rather than be forgiven
Counting the number of days of tears on the sullied earth
Lacrimosa

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Done! I would say, this one was much easier to translate compared to "Monochrome Kiss", maybe because it is more descriptive / story-telling than its J-POP counterpart.

The lyrics are just so beautiful, aren't they!? To think that they were written purely based on original Kuroshitsuji, it's just so amazing.

I especially love the 2nd part; it just reminds me of Ciel and his predicament which brought him to Sebastian. When he was thrown into living Hell, no god appeared in front of him for his rescue. It was only Sebastian, the Devil, who answered Ciel's cry and offered his hand to help, even if that was in exchange for Ciel's soul.

Lyrics Text

Kurayami no naka de mutsumiau
Zetsubou to mirai o
Kanashimi o abaku tsukiakari
Tsumetaku terashiteta

Kimi no kureta himitsu o shirube ni
Aoi yoru no shizukesa o yuku

Lacrimosa
Tooku kudakete kieta
Mabushii sekai o mou ichido aishitai
Hitomi no naka ni yume o kakushite
Yogoreta kokoro ni
Namida ga ochite kuru made

Maboroshi no basha wa yami o wake
Hikari no aru hou e
Yume to iu wana ga boku tachi o
Homura e izanau

Sora no ue no mujihi na kamigami ni wa
Donna sakebi mo todoki wa shinai
Lacrimosa

Bokura wa moesakaru takigi to nari
Itsuka sono sora o yakitsukusou

Lacrimosa
Koko ni umarete ochita
Chinureta sekai o osorezu ni aishitai
Yurusareru yori yurushi shinjite
Yogoreta chijou de
Namida no hibi o kazoete

Monochrome Kiss : Anime Kuroshitsuji's OP song

Does anyone love Anime Kuroshitsuji's OP "Monochrome Kiss (モノクロのキス)" by SID?

モノクロのキス (Monochrome Kiss) by SID on YouTube

Since I fell in love with Kuroshitsuji, I have been playing this song over and over and over again. Everyday. Yes, I know, I'm CRAZY!

Apparently, the song was written and composed by SID specifically for Anime Kuroshitsuji, after reading the original Manga. So its lyrics are subtly but surely implying the relationship and emotion developing between Sebastian and Ciel. ;-))

For those who are interested in the meaning of the lyrics, I took the liberty to translate them into English. (*Lyrics translation isn't my specialty, so even if you found it sound rather weird, please forgive me!)

Monochrome Kiss by SID

出会いに色はなくて モノクロ 吹き抜ける
痛みごと 君 委ねましょう

Our encounter was colourless, Blown through in monochrome
I shall surrender each and every bit of my pain to you

傷跡 強くなぞる 容赦ない秋がきて
涼しい指 手招くままに

Merciless autumn comes, Tracing my wounds so hard
As its cool fingers beckoning me

溶けた後のやっかいな 氷みたいな私を
優しくすくって 上唇で遊ぶ

I'm like a piece of melted ice, So difficult to handle
You gently scoop me up　　And toy with me with your upper lip

それでもひとつの愛の形を探す
遠くよりも今を結んだ 枯れた瞳は
できればこのまま 包まれて終わりたい
二人で秘めた 淡い肌 月も隠れてる

Still, we are searching for a form of love
Withered eyes that bound the present rather than the future
If possible, I just wish to end now, while wrapped by you like this
Pale skin, the two of us has been hiding, Even the moon is hiding

あれから幾らか 夜 好きにもなりました
依存の海 息も忘れて

Several nights we have spent, I have grown to love you
In the sea of dependence, I forgot even to breathe

夢中のその手前で 生温さだけを残して
引き際の美学 得意げなキス 嫌う

Leaving behind nothing but tepidity, right before losing ourselves into passion
The aesthetics of abdication　You loathe smug kisses

一人にしないで もう察して 彩めて
どの言葉も 君の部屋では すり抜けていくの
乱れて 眠って それ以上を教えて？
笑顔の問いに 迷う吐息 月だけが見てる

Don't leave me alone, please take a hint, and colour me
But all these words slip pass and away in your room
Losing control of myself, then lost consciousness in my bed ...Now, can you teach me more than that?
Hesitant breath at a request with smile No one but the moon is watching us

次の長い針が 天井に届く頃には
君はもういない 私はもういらない

By the time the long clock hand reaches the ceiling
You won't be here anymore, And you won't need me anymore

それでも確かに愛の形を探した
遠くよりも今を結んだ 濡れた瞳は
できればこのまま 包まれて終わりたい
その願いは 夜は 虚しく 朝を連れてくる

Still, we did searched for a form of love
Wet eyes that bound the present rather than the future
If possible, I just wish to end now, while wrapped by you like this
Such a wish was in vain - the night brings along the morning

優しくて 熱くて 卑怯なキスで

With a gentle, hot, but cowardly kiss

彩ってよ 最後の夜 月が照らしてる

Colour my last night The moon is illuminating us.

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OK...I wouldn't say that the translation above is perfect, but at least tried my best to convey the nuance and implication of the original Japanese lyrics into English. Hope you like it.

The most difficult part was the word "彩めて". After much researching and consideration, I chose to translate it as "colour me". It's so hard to translate it correctly, as it can mean a dozen things, and the original lyrics are not really clear about the meaning. If anyone can suggest better alternative, my door is open! ;-)

Lyrics Text

Deai ni iro wa nakute monokuro fukinukeru
Itami goto kimi yudanemashou
Kizuato tsuyoku nazoru youshanai aki ga kitte
Suzushii yubi temaneku mama ni

Toketa to no yakkai na koori mitai na watashi wo
Yasashiku sukutte uwakuchibiru de asobu

Soredemo hitotsu no ai no katachi wo sagasu
Tooku yori mo ima wo musunda kareta hitomi wa
Dekireba kono mama tsutsumarete owaritai
Futari de himeta awai hada tsuki mo kakureteru

Are kara ikuraka yoru suki ni mo narimashita
Izon no umi iki mo wasurete

Muchuu no sono temae de namanuru sa dake nokoshite
Hikigiwa no bigaku tokuige na KISSU kirau

Hitori ni shinai de mou sasshite ayamete
Dono kotoba mo kimi no heya de wa surinukete yuku no
Midarete nemutte sore ijou wo oshiete?
Egao no toi ni mayou toiki tsuki dake ga miteru

Tsugi no nagai hairi ga tenjou ni todoku hyoro ni wa
Kimi wa mou inai watashi wa mou iranai

Soredemo tashika ni ai no katachi wo sagashita
Tooku yori mo ima wo musunda nureta hitomi wa
Dekireba kono mama tsutsumarete owaritai
Sono negai wa yoru wa munashiku asa wo tsuretekuru

Yasashikute atsukute hikyou na KISSU de
Irodotte yo saigo no yoru tsuki ga terashiteru