Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Yakusoku no Basho - Mai Fukui


約束の場所 / Yakusoku no Basho
-Mai Fukui-
(Final Fantasy XIII-2 Soundtrack)

たちえばあながが 今
此処にいたとしたら 何を伝えるでしょう?

Tatoeba anata ga, ima
Koko ni ita to shitara, nani wo tsutaeru deshou?

If for example, right now
You were here, then what am I going to tell you, I wonder?

言葉もないまま きっと
その胸に頬寄せ 涙零すだけね

Kotoba mo nai mama, kitto
Sono mune ni hoho yose, namida kobosu dake ne

Without saying nothing, surely,
I'm just going to put my cheek on your chest with tears staining it, right?

もう一度 抱きあえたら
二度と離れぬよう
強く    結び合うの
それが 希望の光
きっと

Mou ichido, dakiaetara
Nido to hanarenuyou
Tsuyoku, musubiau no
Sore ga, kibou no hikari
Kitto

If I can hold you close once again
I'll never let you go again
I'll hold you ever so strongly
It will surely be
My light of hope

愛よ どうか連れていって
約束の場所へ
繋ぎあえた 想いは永遠だから
愛を呼んで この腕に
抱きしめあえるなら
どんな未来も 恐れないで迎えにゆける
瞳を見つめ答えよう
あなたのそばにいる

Ai yo, douka tsurete itte
Yakusoku no basho he
Tsunagiaeta, omoi ha eien dakara
Ai wo yonde, kono ude ni
Dakishimeaeru nara
Donna mirai mo, osorenaide mukae ni yukeru
Hitomi wo mitsume kotaeyou
Anata no soba ni iru

Oh love, please somehow take me
To our promised place
Because our linked feelings are eternal
Calling you my love, if only I could
Hold you here in my arms
Then I'll be able to face any future without fear
And I'll answer while gazing at your eyes
"I'll be by your side."

静かに 心が言った
私はここにいて あなたを愛してる

Shizuka ni, kokoro ga itta
Watashi ha koko ni ite, anata wo aishiteru

Silently, my heart said
"I'm right here; I love you."

離れていたって ずっと
変わらぬこの想い あなたに届けよう

Hanarete itatte, zutto
Kawaranu kono omoi, anata ni todokeyou

Even if we are apart, these unchanging feelings
I will forever send them to you

もうなにも 怖くないよ
どんな暗闇でも
照ら すこの光は
いつか あなたの許へ
きっと

Mou nani mo, kowakunai yo
Donna kurayami demo
Terasu, kono hikari ha
Itsuka, anata no moto he
Kitto

I'm not afraid anymore
No matter how deep the darkness is
This light which shines over me
Will someday reach your place
Surely

愛よ どうか連れていって
約束の場所へ
そこへゆくよ 誓いは永遠だから
愛を呼んで この腕に
抱きしめあえるなら
どんな痛みも 越えてみせる微笑みながら
光は二度と失くさない
かならずそこへゆく

Ai yo, douka tsurete itte
Yakusoku no basho he
Soko he yuku yo, chikai ha eien dakara
Ai wo yonde, kono ude ni
Dakishimeaeru nara
Donna itami mo, koete miseru hohoeminagara
Hikari ha nido to nakusanai
Kanarazu soko he yuku

Oh love, please somehow take me
To our promised place
Because this vow to go there is eternal
Calling you my love, if only I could
Hold here in my arms
Whatever pain and suffering, I'll pass through them while smiling
I'm not going to lose the light for the second time
I promise I'll go there

時が すべてを癒す
それをただ待つより
今は 歩き出そう
風が 指差す場所で
明日が待ってる きっと

Toki ga, subete wo iyasu
Sore wo tada matsu yori
Ima ha, arukidasou
Kaze ga, yubisasu basho de
Ashita ga matteru, kitto

Time will heal everything
But instead of waiting for that
I'm going to start walking now
The tomorrow is waiting, surely
In that place the wind points at

愛よ どうか連れていって
約束の場所へ
ただ、うなずき
抱きしめあえるその日へ

Ai yo, douka tsurete itte
Yakusoku no basho he
Tada, unazuki
Dakishimeaeru sono hi he

Oh love, please somehow take me
To our promised place
Just one nod
For the day we can embrace each other again

愛よ どうか連れていって
約束の場所へ
繋ぎあえた 想いは永遠だから
愛を呼んで この胸に
抱きしめあえるなら
どんな未来も 恐れないで迎えにゆける
瞳を見つめ答えよう

Ai yo, douka tsurete itte
Yakusoku no basho he
Tsunagiaeta, omoi ha eien dakara
Ai wo yonde, kono mune ni
Dakishimaeaeru nara
Donna mirai mo, osorenaide mukae ni yukeru
Hitomi wo mitsume kotaeyou

Oh love, please somehow take me
To our promised place
Because our linked feelings are eternal
Calling you my love, if only I could
Hold you here in my arms
Then I'll be able to face any future without fear
And I'll answer while gazing at your eyes

あなたのそばにいる

Anata no soba ni iru

"I'll be by your side."

(Kanji lyric from booklet, romaji and translation by me)

I actually listened the English version first and was like "eww what's this, so not Final Fantasy" but then I found this Japanese version. I don't know what's really different but this one struck me quite hard (though not as hard as Kimi Ga Iru Kara). Maybe I'm just an otaku and a sucker for anything Japanese
Soo yeah. Another shipping material, believe me. This is like Hope's internal screaming lol. But you can also say this is for Serah and Lightning.
Some people call this "a happy song for a death scene" but if you look at the lyric it's not really the case imho. Still, this song is strong and holds a lot of hope.

DAT KIBOU NO HIKARI (LIGHT OF HOPE) THO

Monday, July 27, 2015

Kimi Ga Iru Kara - Sayuri Sugawara


君がいるから
(Kimi Ga Iru Kara)
-Sayuri Sugawara-
Final Fantasy XIII Soundtrack
 
「泣いたっていいんだよ」
君が不意にそう言ってくれたから
なんだか嬉しくて
涙じゃなく 笑顔が零れた

Naitatte iin da yo
Kimi ga fui ni sou ittekureta kara
Nandaka ureshikute
Namida janaku, egao ga koboreta

"It's okay to cry, you know."
Because you just said it out of nowhere
Somehow I became so happy
That instead of tears, smile came out.

不器用すぎる言葉で
君を傷つけてしまった
それでも離れたりしないで
今もこうして 支えになってくれてるんだ
きっと

Bukiyou sugiru kotoba de
Kimi wo kizutsukete shimatta
Sore demo hanaretari shinaide
Ima mo kou shite, sasae ni natte kureterunda
Kitto

I've carelessly hurt you
With my far too clumsy words
But still, you didn't leave
Even now you're still here, watching the rear for me
Surely

叶えたい願い 叶えたい夢
届けたい想い全て
信じ続けることが奇跡を呼んで
未来に繋がって行くよ
ずっと ねずっと
見守っていてほしい
Dear my friend

Kanaetai negai, kanaetai yume
Todoketai omoi subete
Shinjitsudzukeru koto ga kiseki wo yonde
Mirai ni tsunagatteyuku yo
Zutto, ne zutto
Mimamotteite hoshii
Dear my friend

Wishes and dreams that we want to make true,
Feelings that we want to send, all of them
Things we always believe in will call miracles upon us
And they connect us to the future
I want you to forever, forever,
Watch over me
Dear my friend

「君なら大丈夫だよ」
別れ際にそう言ってくれたから
感じてた孤独が
その一言で綺麗になくなった

Kimi nara daijoubu da yo
Wakare kiwa ni sou ittekureta kara
Kanjiteta kodoku ga
Sono hitokoto de kirei ni naku natta

"If it's you, then it will be all right."
Because you said it during our farewell
With that one word, the loneliness I felt
Was gone just like that

新しい扉を開く
それは誰でも怖くて不安だらけだけど
背中を押してくれた君を思い出せば
力が溢れてくるからね

Atarashii tobira wo hiraku
Sore ha dare demo kowakute fuan darake dakedo
Senaka wo oshite kureta kimi wo omoidaseba
Chikara ga afuretekuru kara ne

When opening a new door,
Anyone would naturally be scared and insecure, but
If I think about you, who always pushed my back
Strength pours over me again

素直な気持ち 譲れないもの
正直な言葉全て
声にして伝えることができたなら
未来は広がって行くよ
いつも そういつも
心に君がいるから
Dear my friend

Sunao na kimochi, yuzurenai mono
Shoujiki na kotoba subete
Koe ni shite tsutaeru koto ga dekita nara
Mirai ha hirogatteyuku yo
Itsumo, sou itsumo
Kokoro ni kimi ga iru kara
Dear my friend

Pure feelings, immovable thoughts
Honest words, all of them
If only they can be turned into one voice and conveyed to you
Then the future will spread out
Because you're always, always,
Here inside my heart
Dear my friend

立ち止まっても 忘れそうになっても
何度も 何度でも 前を向いて行くと誓うよ
見上げた空 光が差し込んでいる君に
また逢える日まで

Tachidomatte mo, wasuresou ni natte mo
Nando mo, nando demo, mae wo muite yuku to chikau yo
Miageta sora, hikari ga sashikondeiru kimi ni
Mata aeru hi made

Even when I stop on my tracks, even if I seem to forget,
No matter how many times, I swear to always keep my eyes front
Light is shining in that sky I'm looking up at
Until the day I can meet you again

素直な気持ち 譲れないもの
正直な言葉全て
声にして伝えることができたなら
未来は広がって行くよ
願い 叶えたい夢
届けたい想い全て
信じ続けることが奇跡を呼んで
未来に繋がって行くよ
ずっと ずっと
見守っていてほしい
Dear my friend

Sunao na kimochi, yuzurenai mono
Shoujiki na kotoba subete
Koe ni shite tsutaeru koto ga dekita nara
Mirai ha hirogatteyuku yo
Negai, kanaetai yume
Todoketai omoi subete
Shinjitsudzukeru koto ga kiseki wo yonde
Mirai ni tsunagatteyuku yo
Zutto, ne zutto
Mimamotteite hoshii
Dear my friend

Pure feelings, immovable thoughts
Honest words, all of them
If only they can be turned into one voice and conveyed to you
Then the future will spread out
Wishes, dreams that we want to make true,
Feelings that we want to convey, all of them
Things we always believe in will call miracles upon us
And they connect us to the future
I want you to forever, forever,
Watch over me
Dear my friend

Kana and romaji lyric transliterated by me, with help from Final Fantasy Wikia.
English translation also by me.

A nice, powerful song. At first I thought the lyric fits for Vanille and Fang, but as you know, I ship Hope with Lightning so hard that in the end I think this song is their song. Especially when you look at Hope in FFXIII-2 argh I can't. 
Cookies to anyone who could spot two shipping clues in this translation! I really had fun putting them there.

Friday, July 24, 2015

GENESIS - Aoi Eir


GENESIS
-Aoi Eir-
(Aldnoah/Zero ED2)
僕たちは
彷徨える未来
窮屈な空に
ヒカリを探している

Bokutachi ha
samayoeru mirai
kyuukutsu na sora ni
hikari wo sagashiteiru

We are
Wandering future
And we are searching for that one light
In the narrow sky

朝焼けに
時が過ぎてゆく
戻れない日々は
切ないほど輝いてる

Asayake ni
Toki ga sugiteyuku
Modorenai hibi ha
Setsunai hodo kagayaiteru

At dawn
Time passes by
And those days we can't go back to
Shines brightly until it hurts

震える手は無力で
叫びはまだ遠くて
だけど飛ぶことを
恐れていられない

Furueru te ha muryoku de
Sakebi ha mada tookute
Dakedo tobu koto wo
Osorete irarenai

These trembling hands are devoid of strength
Our voice still sounds so far away
But, there's no need to fear
About flying

永遠じゃなくても
完璧じゃなくても
背中合わせの世界を
真っ直ぐ生きてゆく
何度 傷ついても
何度 間違えても
運命さえ飛び超えていこう
この宙(そら)の果てまで

Eien janakute mo
Kanpeki janakute mo
Senaka awase no sekai wo
Massugu ikiteyuku
Nando kizutsuite mo
Nando machigaete mo
Unmei sae tobikoete ikou
Kono sora no hate made

Even if it's not for eternity
Even if it's not perfect
This world of us standing back to back
Is still living forward
No matter how many times we get wounded
No matter how many times we make mistakes
Our fate will trancend
To the far edges of this sky

静けさに
咲く花のように
凛とした姿に
何を背負うのだろう

Shizukesa ni
Saku hana no you ni
Rin to shita sugata ni
Nani wo seou no darou

In the tranquility
Just like a flower about to bloom
With a cold, frigid form,
What are you trying to shoulder, I wonder?

この声が響くなら
この手が届くのなら
いつか伝えたい
本当のしあわせを

Kono koe ga hibiku nara
Kono te ga todoku no nara
Itsuka tsutaetai
Hontou no shiawase wo

If this voice can ring out
If this hand can reach out
Someday, I want to tell you
About what true happiness is

翼をはためかせ
自由を呼び覚ませ
決して離しはしない
絆という誇り
もう何も 迷わない
もう何も 失くさない
繋がること恐れずに進もう
汚れなき魂(こころ)で

Tsubasa wo hatamekase
Jiyuu wo yobisamase
Kesshite hanashi ha shinai
Kizuna to iu hokori
Mou nani mo mayowanai
Mou nani mo nakusanai
Tsunagaru koto osorezu ni susumou
Yogorenaki kokoro de

Flap your wings!
Awaken your freedom!
And don't you ever let go
Of this pride we call "bond"
I won't get lost anymore
I won't lose anything anymore
Let's keep this bond without fear
Inside our pure hearts

空と風と海に抱かれ
ひとは夢をみてる
ナミダの要らない
さよならのさきへ

Sora to kaze to umi ni dakare
Hito ha yume wo miteru
Namida no iranai
Sayonara no saki he

People keep dreaming
As they got embraced by the sky, the wind and the sea
Toward what lies beyond a goodbye 
About which we don't need to cry

永遠じゃなくても
完璧じゃなくても
背中合わせの世界を
真っ直ぐ生きてゆく
何度 傷ついても
何度 間違えても
運命さえ飛び超えていこう
この宙(そら)の果てまで
創造(はじまり)を信じて

Eien janakute mo
Kanpeki janakute mo
Senaka awase no sekai wo
Massugu ikiteyuku
Nando kizutsuitemo
Nando machigaetemo
Unmei sae tobikoete ikou
Kono sora no hate made
Hajimari wo shinjite

Even if it's not for eternity
Even if it's not perfect
This world of us standing back to back
Is still living forward
No matter how many times we get wounded
No matter how many times we make mistakes
Our fate will trancend
To the far edges of this sky
Believing in the beginning 


(kanji lyric from booklet, romaji and translation by me)

ring your bell - Kalafina



ring your bell
-Kalafina-
(Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works ED2)

いつか心が消えて行くなら
せめて声の限り
幸福と絶望を歌いたい

Itsuka kokoro ga kieteyuku nara
Semete koe no kagiri
Koufuku to zetsubou wo utaitai

If one day my heart is going to fade away,
At least for now, I want to sing about happiness and despair
To the end of my voice

僕らを待つ運命は
いつでもただ
命が夢を見て駆け抜ける
今の続き

Bokura wo matsu unmei ha
Itsudemo tada
Inochi ga yume wo mite kakenukeru
Ima no tsudzuki

The fate which awaits us
In the end is just
The continuation of life we have now
That chases the dream it sees

君が泣いた夜はその中に
遠い未来の輝きを隠してた
静けさが君を待つ
眩しい丘
きっと行ける
君の地平へ
ring your bell, and raise your song

Kimi ga naita yoru ha sono naka ni
Tooi mirai no kagayaki wo kakushiteta
Shizukesa ga kimi wo matsu
Mabushii oka
Kitto yukeru
Kimi no chihei he
ring your bell, and raise your song

The night you cried
It hides the brilliance of your far future
The calmness is waiting for you
I know I can go
Through the dazzling hill
Toward your horizon\
ring your bell, and raise your song

君がそんなに欲しがっていた
光が消えて行く
何度でもその時を知っている

Kimi ga sonna ni hoshigatteita
Hikari ga kieteyuku
Nandodemo sono toki wo shitteiru

The light you wish for so much
Is fading away
I always, always know when it happens

蒼白い道の上に立ち塞がり
未来へ行く足を止めるのは
君の心だけ

Aojiroi michi no ue ni tachifusagari
Mirai he yuku ashi wo tomeru no ha
Kimi no kokoro dake

The only thing that stands in the blue-white way
And stops your steps toward the future
Is your heart

夜明けはまだ遠い
明るい星も見えない
だから窓を開いて
風に乗り響くだろう
明日を呼ぶ君の調べ
闇の中へ
ring your bell

Yoake ha mada tooi
Akarui hoshi mo mienai
Dakara mado wo hiraite
Kaze ni norihibiku darou
Ashita wo yobu kimi no shirabe
Yami no naka he
ring your bell

Dawn is still far away,
And stars can't be seen
That's why, open your window!
Your tune, that calls for tomorrow,
Is flowing in the winds, right?
It is flowing into the darkness
ring your bell

君へと続いてた道の
君から続いて行く道の
眩しさはきっと消えないから

Kimi he to tsudzuiteta michi no
Kimi kara tsudzuiteyuku michi no
Mabushisha ha kitto kienai kara

The brilliance of that path which stretches to you
The brilliance of that path which starts from you
Will not fade easily

君が泣いた夜の向こうには
まだ何も無い
始まりが広がる
風に乗り消えるだろう
明日を呼ぶ君の調べ
遠い地平へ
木霊を残して
ring your bell, and raise your song

Kimi ga naita yoru no mukou ni ha
Mada nanimo nai
Hajimari ga hirogaru
Kaze ni norikieru darou
Ashita wo yobu kimi no shirabe
Tooi chihei he
Kodama wo nokoshite
ring your bell, and raise your song

Beyond the night when you cried,
The beginning with nothing in it
Is getting wider
Your tune, that calls for tomorrow,
Is fading out in the wind, right?
It is fading into the far horizon
Leaving behind a part of your soul*
ring your bell, and raise your song

*) kodama are actually spirits in Japanese folklore that inhabit trees according to wikipedia, but of course this isn't the literal meaning of the lyric. At least I don't think so, therefore I decided to use 'part of your soul', because tama/dama (霊) means soul.

Kanji lyric is taken from booklet, romaji and translation is by me.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 18)

Title: To Learn Something New
Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: K+
Genre: General
Disclaimer: I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction
Warning: set during FFXIII-2. Genderswap (male!Lightning, fem!Hope, male!Alyssa)

lie /lie/ n an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive

“You understand why I wanted to show you the Oracle Drive?”
“I think I do. You've been looking for Lightning, too, all this time.”
-Hope and Serah, FFXIII-2 in Bresha Ruins, 10AF-

After Serah and Noel left, Hope daintily closed the lid of the Oracle Drive's storage case. Her face was facing downward and her features were somehow clouded in sorrow. Her sudden silence did not go unnoticed to her assistant, Erick Zaidelle, who crossed his arms in deep curiosity.

“Directress?”

“Yes, Erick?” Hope answered without missing a beat, proving to be in full focus despite her aloof attitude.

“This Lightning person in the Oracle Drive... So he is Serah's brother?”

“Yes.” The young woman turned to face her assistant. “Ten years ago, I traveled with him as fellow l'Cie. When he disappeared at the end of our journey, we instantly assumed that he was inside the pillar with Fang and Vanille. Who knew it was a paradox...” she trailed off, eyes no longer focusing on her companion but rather to the nothingness. She still remembered that journey vividly like it happened yesterday. The pain still felt new as well.

“You two look close.” At this suspicious remark Hope blinked and stared dumbfound at him. “I mean, you work so hard for him, you also reacted strongly when we first saw the recordings...”

“He's a dear friend,” the Directress promptly cut him off. “I want to save him, just like I want to save Fang and Vanille. That's all, Erick.” She shot him a quick, polite smile before taking off to her office with a whip of her silvery ponytail. She left the conversation so smoothly that it never gave Erick any chance to second guess at her honesty.

Well, that little lie wouldn't hurt anyone.

A/N:
Yeah Hope, like he's ever gonna be 'just friend'. Ain't fooling anyone.
 
I doubted myself whether to keep Alyssa as a female or not. But well, the way she throw herself at Hope was so trademark-ish that I just had to keep it that way. Now she becomes Erick Zaidelle who always tries to court the Directress but to no avail lol.

Aaand another detail I have in my head! Hope keeps her hair in a mostly-neat, high ponytail. She never puts it down, and the only one who gets to see her hair down is, well you know who it is. I find this particular thing very special so I use it for them.

[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 17)

Title: To Learn Something New
Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim, Serah Farron
Rating: K+
Genre: General
Disclaimer: I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction
Warning: set before FFXIII-2. Genderswap (male!Lightning and fem!Hope)

collection /col·lec·tion/ n the act or process of getting things from different places and bringing them together

And this is taken during my high-school's entrance ceremony.”

Hope looked closely at the photograph Serah was pointing at. Young Serah was the same as always, all smiles and her trademark side ponytail was also there. Meanwhile, young Lightning looked... well, young. He wore a simple white shirt and brown pants, and his gesture was much more relaxed than the Lightning Hope knew.

He had just entered the Guardian Corps, so I guess the soldier figure has not attached itself to him yet,” the younger Farron explained further, chuckling at the end of her sentence. After that, she moved her fingers to flip another page of the photo album. However, the next few pages held significantly less photos which raised question to Hope, as perceptive that girl was.

There's so few after high-school,” the silverette commented quietly.

Serah hummed thoughtfully. “I rarely see him with all the trainings and missions he had to do. That's why I always forced him to take a day off for his or my birthday.”

Laughing lightly, Hope said, “Mom used to do it too; you know my dad was always busy with work. The success ratio was near zero though, he never made it to my birthday party. That's why I really hated him.”

It's a good thing you managed to fix things between you and your father, Hope.”

Yeah,” she nodded. The conversation died at that point, because Hope looked to be deep in thought and reminiscence as she traced the figure of Lightning in those photos while Serah decided to let her be. Discreetly the pinkette searched for something in the young girl's eyes, then smiled softly when she saw it.

Do you want to keep that photo album?” Serah suddenly asked.

Startled, Hope stammered for answer. She couldn't deny the happiness when Serah said it, but taking this precious family photo album would be too cruel. Hope was not the only one missing Lightning's presence. No, more than anyone, it was Serah, his only family. That's why she could not steal this treasure away from the younger Farron. “I... I can't. This belongs to you, Serah.”

Serah shook her head with a smile. “It's okay, Hope.”

No, Serah. I really appreciate it, but I can't.”

Serah knew nothing would budge the girl once she's said no, so instead she peeled a photo from the album and offered it to Hope. “Then at least take this. I know you miss him too. It's not much, but I hope this would help. One way or another.”

Hope was left speechless at that. She could not explain the gratitude she felt deep in her heart as she took the photograph from Serah's hand. It was a more recent photo of Lightning, presumably when he was just promoted to a sergeant because he was standing alone and proud in his uniform. He looked exactly the same as Hope remembered him. She could feel tears beginning to well in her eyes.

Thank you, Serah,” she mumbled, trying hard to stop the tears, pressing the photo to her chest. “I really, really mean it.”

A/N:
Serah definitely saw how much Lightning meant to Hope. I honestly think that fem!Hope would make very close friends with Serah after he disappeared. Which makes Hope's loss even greater after Serah left with Noel. Oh the feels.
On the side note, I feel like losing my edge in writing. I'm still trying hard to keep writing and keep the rust away.