Editing Shakugan no Shana:Volume0 Chapter 1 (section)

=== 3. The Aizen Couple ===

According to the square slip next to the painting, a bundle of miscellaneous things
were left inan area with a mountain and a sky. The picture was covered from
below with a screen. Yet beyond that screen, a thin, beautiful man came into view.

It was Hunter Friagne. And next to him, trampling the ground of the screen, was
the flying form a girl doll. "It is time for us to answer questions!" said one
of them.

Together with comical music, as the two said their line, a title logo flashed
into view. There was a fairy-tale like character as many pictures were
revealed and then disappeared. After that, a spectacle not unlike a doll play
remained. Could this be their reappearance!?

"It's like a dream, my master!" said Marianne the doll. The doll did not have
a sewed expression and its hands and feet pattered, revealing its glee. In contrast,
the young man, restrained compared to the actions of the doll, was beaming with
a smile of relief. "Absolutely right, my cute Marianne. Because the author likes
me the best." he replied.

As they had died in battle, so to speak, they reappeared using a desperate ploy.

"And so, Marianne-" began Friagne. The beautiful young man made a strict
face while straightening a finger in his white gloves. The doll tilted
her head. "Yes, my honorable master, or rather, Friagne?"
"Ah, yes - Friagne-sama" said Friagne, adding the honorific to his name.
Upon hearing that phrase, his expression broke into a sloppy smile. He
embraced the doll and pressed his face against her.

"That's it! That's the way it should be, Marianne! Oh, you are so cute."

"Friagne-sama, we need to be moving the story forward," said the doll.

"Ah, yes. Yes, we should do that," answered Friagne. With a face
that plainly showed his grief, he released the doll.
Marianne, with a hand that lacked fingers, tapped her hand against
her mouth. "Hmm. I guess in this part of the work, characters
in the story ask questions, raise problems, and then answer them.
Putting that aside, as if we were designed for it, we fit this
situation perfectly," stated the doll.

"Ha ha ha. That's right, Marianne. For some reason our motive is
like that of Kyo-___ television show's M.C. Am I Mr. Ta__pu?"
Perhaps the man was like her older brother. He looked older
than Marianne. "In any case, let's read a letter with
questions."

Marianne quickly withdrew a hand out from his embrace, produced
a letter from her sleeve, and then slipped her fingers inside
it.

"Well, well. 'When did Shana start buying melon pan, and how did
she save up the money for all those sweets?'
What a difficult question," stated the doll as she stalled for time.

"That reminds me. Int he third book she gave a thick envelope
to Chigusa. She lives alone in a mansion apartment so I assume she
also has to pay rent," chimed in Friagne, who was making a dry
smile.

Marianne had crossed her arms. "Inside the envelope, there was probably
a bundle of 10,000 yen notes. And in the 4th book, she bought
two uniforms and threw down 10,000 yen like it was nothing. She seems
very indifferent towards money," said the doll, continuing the
analysis.

"Actually, we tried to interview her. Let's start the tape!" said
Friagne, pushing a button on the VCR.

The video feed cut to Shana, who was holding a microphone as the
camera brought her into focus.

"Oh the money? We got that when we attacked those drug dealers.
Isn't that right, Alastor?" said Shana calmly.

"We got the money in Hong Kong dollars and then had to
convert that into Japanese yen using some unjust water routes.
These routes had funds fleeing Japan," explained Alastor.

The feed then cut back to Friagne and Marianne.

"Well, should I call that a primitive or an easy to understand
answer?" asked Friagne.

"Really, that's barbaric. For reference, let's look at one more
Flame Haze on video," said the doll.

The feed cut away, this time revealing a young woman in a suit,
wearing glasses, with her hair swept into a straight ponytail.
She spoke. "Um, these days they swindle money they Holy Association
earns. Over the period of 100 years, the chief stock was left
to 'a certain person'. Sometimes there may have been personal
ultilization of that policy," said the woman.

The feed then cut back to Friagne and Marianne. "That was
surprisingly firm. If she said the opposite, it would have
seemed strange," stated the doll.

"In any case, both stories begin with funds being seized," observed
Friagne.

"By nature, Flame Hazes are exceedingly impulsive so there's nothing
that can be done. By the way, in the case of Crimson Denizens
like us, it's more common for us to seize and devour. First
and foremost, for us eating the Power of Existence is the most
common feature, and usually the 'working one' has a way to get
these things, but there are many exceptions," said Friagne as
he provided the backstory.

"It's said there are many types of people. Well, dear readers, are
you satisfied now?" asked the doll.

As if they were intentionally overacting, the two raised their arms
and pressed their backs against one another. Using a cheerful voice,
the two spoke in unison. "Now, please look forward to the next part!"