Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation Volume Three--A Reason To Act (from the front flap) (Watsuki-sensei is surrounded by pointing fingers) People: Who? Who? Who are you!! Watsuki: (This is becoming a joke) I’m Watsuki. Pretty much . . . I’M FAT. I haven’t had time for exercise so if you say it's natural, indeed it is. . . And on top of that, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to shave, so friends and aquaintances are treating me just like in the picture. So, my resolution this year is to start a diet and to shave properly. Other than that, I want to devote my full energy to "Rurouni Kenshin"! But, I want to play Samurai Showdown too . . . (No slacking! Wake up!) Part 16--Megumi, Kanryuu, and so . . . (The sun is setting. Kaoru and Yahiko are training outside.) Kaoru: They’re out late. Yahiko: They must have either won big or lost big. Maybe he lost it all. Maybe he's coming back in nothing but his loincloth. Kaoru (looking at his mental picture with disgust): We didn’t need to see that. That’s not pretty. Kenshin: We’re back. Kaoru: Kenshin! Welcome home--? (She sees Megumi standing between them.) Kenshin: I’m sorry we’re so late. Megumi: It’s a very old house, isn’t it? Is this a kenjutsu dojo? (Kaoru is pointing and making question mark noises.) Kenshin: Oh, this is Takani Megumi. The truth is, there was a little trouble at the gambling hall and-- Sanosuke (stifling him): We won, but the guy couldn’t pay up, so we got the girl instead. Sorry, but we’ll have to keep her here for now. Yahiko: I see. So they did win big. Kenshin (aghast): Sa----no----- Sanosuke (under his breath): If we tell the truth we'll have to tell them about the opium. We should keep that quiet for now. Kaoru (fuming): Kenshin, is this true? Sanosuke (whispering): You don’t want to get her involved in this, do you? Kaoru: Kenshin . . . Kenshin: It’s true. Kaoru (punching him out): I can’t believe you!! (beating him up) I can’t believe this! That’s like slavery!! I could understand it from Sanosuke, but you--!!! Sanosuke: What's that supposed to mean? Kenshin: Oro---- Kaoru: Um, Miss Takani . . . I’m sorry. You’re free to return home. Megumi: Oh, I have no intentions of going home. (picking him the dazed Kenshin) I like this man very much. I wouldn’t want to leave his side for a moment. Kaoru: !!! Megumi: I'm much better than that sweat-stinking little girl, aren't I, Ken-san? Yahiko: Oh ho. Go Kenshin! Kaoru (to Megumi): S--stop that! Megumi: Oh . . . I wonder what’s wrong. It doesn’t seem like you’re Ken-san’s lover. Is it really your place to say what he does? Sanosuke: I wouldn’t tease her too much. The girl is incredibly naive. Kaoru: Get out---!! Everyone get OUT!!! (They're all sent tumbling out of the gate.) Sanosuke: Rrraow. Kenshin: I give up. Sanosuke (to Megumi): This is all your fault for speaking before you think. Megumi: Oh, when I said I didn’t want to leave his side, I meant it. Even though he’s fantastically strong, he's a good man. If he’s nearby, even if Kanryuu's men attack, I'm sure he'll protect me. Himura Kenshin . . . you're the man I want for my bodyguard. Kenshin: I’d like to hear more about the situation first, at the very least. Sanosuke: I agree. We don’t know a thing about you. Like why you’re running from Takeda Kanryuu. Why he’s after you. And this! (holding up the opium packet) How and where’d you get this? Megumi: Only a brute would ask questions about a lady’s past. Sanosuke: You-- Kenshin: Now, now . . . Sanosuke: Well, fine. I'll just follow you. Eventually I'll find out where it came from. That stuff killed my friend! If anyone's putting that shit on the streets here, I'll crush them! (Megumi says nothing.) Kenshin: We don’t want to pry into your personal life. Just tell us the details of your involvement with Kanryuu. I think he’s probably behind the opium dealing, but . . . (A man from the gambling hall rushes towards them.) Shuu: There you are, Sano! I’ve been looking all over the place. Sanosuke: Shuu? What’s wrong? Weren't you taking Gin and the others to the doctor? Shuu: They're fine. They’re going to pull through. Sanosuke: That’s good. Shuu: It's something worse than that. Come with me! (a crowd has gathered to see the two bodies the police have fished out of the river.) Sanosuke: Aren’t those Kanryuu’s men from before? Kenshin: It’s terrible. Megumi: He doesn’t tolerate those who fail him. He cuts them down. This is how Kanryuu operates . . . (Kenshin, scanning the crowd opposite him, notices something.) Sanosuke: What is it? (Beshimi is standing among the crowd with two other men. One (Kanryuu) is in a Western suit and glasses, the other (Aoshi) a taller man in a trenchcoat.) Aoshi: Beshimi. Beshimi: Ye-yes!! Aoshi: The swordsman who broke your nose. Isn’t that him with the red hair and scar on his cheek? Beshimi (darting looks all over the crowd until he sees him): That bastard! And Megumi’s here too! All right, this time I’ll kill him-- Kanryuu (pleasantly): A quarrel with this human trash might be trouble. Aoshi (to Beshimi): Leave him. Kanryuu: Thank you. Aoshi: Whoever he is, he’s no ordinary man. Beshimi, I don't think you alone can deal with him.If they’re here, it means Hanya will be here too. Hanya? Hanya (invisibly): Yes? Aoshi: Have you found out where they live? Hanya: Yes. He has sharp instincts; it was hard to follow him. Aoshi: All right. You’ll help Beshimi recover Takani Megumi. Tell this to Hyottoko as well. Hanya: Roger. Aoshi: Understand, Beshimi? Those two will assist you. I won’t tolerate any more failures. Beshimi: I’ll--I’ll remember that. Kanryuu: Well. You’re giving him a second chance. Our Okashira is a humanitarian. Aoshi: Does it seem so? Kanryuu: I’m afraid I can’t do the same. I’m a businessman at heart--if you don’t cut your losses you’ll never get ahead. No harm done. It’s rather refreshing to throw out what you don’t need. However, Megumi could really be a problem. It’s important we not kill this goose who lays the golden eggs. I can’t let her escape. (on the other side of the river) Megumi (catching sight of him): Kanryuu!! Sanosuke: No mistake, that’s him. Kenshin, look. That guy on the left is Takeda Kanryuu. Kenshin: Who’s that on his right? Sanosuke: Hmm . . . the chief of his soldiers? Megumi: No! That’s the Okashira! He’s separate from the other soldiers. Kanryuu hired him recently. He leads the former spies, the Oniwabanshuu . . . Oniwabanshuu-- Spies of the Edo period who would probably be called a kind of ninja today. Composed of those skilled in the arts of combat, they concealed themselves as shadows throughout the Shogun’s and daimyos' estates to protect those within. Just before the Meiji era began, at the age of fifteen, he become the Okashira of the Edo Oniwabanshuu--the genius spy Shinomori Aoshi! Sanosuke: Why would someone like that work for Kanryuu? Kenshin: Hmm . . . he is a more formidable opponent than Takeda Kanryuu. When her enemies are this shady businessman and the dangerous Oniwabanshuu . . . we cannot abandon Miss Megumi! the Makings of the Characters--Oniwabanshuu * Beshimi Rather than from an actual design, this character was made up almost impromptu. Actually, in drawing the Megumi story, while I was arguing with my boss, I thought that Kanryuu’s soldiers would fight Kenshin and the others. But he said, "Up till now the swordsmen Kenshin fights have just been punks. Isn’t that kind of boring?" and so I made up a group that added a spy aspect to the real organization the Oniwabanshuu was. Naturally since this was while I was going ahead with the story I’d already planned, it ended up sort of haphazard. When we first see Beshimi, he doesn’t show much strength, and he only exists to show that something strange is going on. I didn’t plan out his character, and he ended up being an incompetent coward. Later on in the story, he shows a different face, but let’s not give anything away. The design is as haphazard as his character. Except for Aoshi, all of the Oniwabanshuu are pretty weird, and he ended up being shorter than Kenshin. The fact that he’s short goes along with his cowardice. My readers tend to like short character, so I heard a lot of people saying, "Oh, Beshimi’s cute!" It was sort of an odd feeling, though. Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter translated by maigo-chan last updated 7 august 1999 Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Three--A Reason to Act Part 17--Attack of the Oniwaban (Kenshin is drawing up a chart) Kanryuu Takeda Soldiers--Yakuza (30) Swordsmen (10) Infantry (10) Others (10) Okashira--Oniwabanshuu Kenshin: So, these are Kanryuu’s sixty-odd fighters. The Oniwabanshuu? Megumi: Hmm. I don’t think there’s more than ten of them. Kenshin: Next. Where is the opium kept? (she sticks out her tongue.) Kenshin (sighing): Are you always going to keep silent about the opium? Megumi: I'm telling you this in order to make your fighting easier. It has nothing to do with opium. Instead of asking so many questions, just get rid of them. (thinking) If it really comes to a fight with the Oniwabanshuu . . . these people couldn't handle them at all. There's no point in staying here too long. If I leave while everyone's distracted by the fighting, I could get far away before anyone notices. (Kaoru is sneaking along outside the room.) Kenshin: Well, Miss Megumi, what about-- Megumi: I won’t answer any further! (Kaoru creeps cautiously outside and puts her ear to the door.) Sanosuke: You’d make a good peeping tom, little girl. The master of the Kamiya Kasshin school would weep. Kaoru: But--but--but--but--but they’re alone together in that room!! Sanosuke (grudgingly patting her on the head): Okay, okay. It’s all right. It's not what you're thinking, so just relax. Kaoru (tears streaming from big marble eyes): But why-- Sanosuke: It’s his nature. He sees someone in trouble and he just can’t help himself. That’s his nature as a vagabond. The sword is incredibly strong, but the person is incredibly weak when people are involved. Women and children especially-- Kaoru: You can say that about him. (slight pause) But, then aren't you the same? Sanosuke: Stupid. This is just revenge for my friend. I could care less about that vixen! Kenshin (coming out): Sano, there's no trouble, is there? Sanosuke: Nope. Kenshin (tossing him the paper): Here’s the layout of Kanryuu and his followers. I think it’s best if we’re familiar with those other than the Oniwabanshuu as well. We can’t be careless. Sanosuke (studying the paper): Kenshin. You’ve got really bad handwriting. Kaoru: Yeah, it's just like Watsuki's . . . Kenshin: That’s great, can we get back to the story? (They get back to the story.) Kenshin: And, Miss Kaoru. I can’t share the details, but there could be an incident or two. There won’t be another stupid blunder like the time with Jin’eh. I will be sure to protect you. (smiling) And so I want you to close your eyes for a while, okay? Kaoru (sighing): I understand. But when all this is over I want an explanation. Mysterious Voice: Heh heh heh. I heard you, Kenshin! (General shock.) (the mysterious voice turns out to be Yahiko, squished under the porch.) Yahiko: What’s this about a fight? Kenshin: Yahiko, how long have you-- Kaoru: The kid's pretty flexible . . . Yahiko: Since last night. That’s why my face is all flat. (bouncing back to normal) This is cruel! I’m the only one left out! I’m one of your company too! Sanosuke: What? Kenshin: When did I get one of those? Sanosuke: Don't be ridiculous. You're just a kid. Yahiko: What, you . . . ! You talk too much, and you're just a Sanosuke! (kicking him) Knock it off!! Sanosuke (blocking casually) No chance, kid. (Megumi watches them scuffle through the open door. She remembers her own family . . .) (Outside) Beshimi: This is it. We attack according to plan. (Two others are with him. One (Hanya) wears a devil mask and has horizontal stripes running around his arms; the other (Hyottoko) is simply huge.) Hyottoko: You’re good at telling people what to do, Beshimi. We were ordered by the Okashira to help you. Don’t forget that. Hanya: Stop. A company divided will lose a fight that could be won. Hyottoko: Even a company divided could take these guys. I could take them alone! (He smashes through the wall.) Megumi: They’re here . . . Kenshin: They’re at the gate! (Hyottoko emerges.) Hyottoko: Hand over Megumi. Do it now and I might let you go. Kenshin: It’s the Oniwabanshuu. Hyottoko: One of the Oniwabanshuu. I am the great Hyottoko! Sanosuke: Hyottoko? That’s way too cute for you. I’d change it. Hyottoko: Well? Who do I fight first? I don't care if you come together. Sanosuke: He looks like he’s more proud of his strength than any kind of weapon. Kenshin, leave this one to me. Kenshin: However, your opponent is one of the Oniwabanshuu. It won't be just a simple fight . . . Sanosuke: I don’t care! I’ll catch him alive and find out the truth about the opium! Hyottoko (cracking his knuckles): You first? (Hyottoko punches. Sanosuke ducks under it and hits him in the ribs.) Sanosuke: Doesn’t matter how strong you are if you can’t connect. Hyottoko: Thank you. You deliberately stepped into range. (He snaps his teeth together and breathes out flame.) Yahiko: Sanosuke! (His jacket falls burning to the ground. Sanosuke is still standing, but his right leg is burnt.) Sanosuke: That was close, you bastard. Hyottoko: So you’ve warded off my killer Kaentoiki technique. But can you survive the next blast? Beshimi (concealed in a tree above them): Kekeke. He talks big, but he delivers. With an oil sac hidden in his stomach and flint for teeth, this Oniwaban attacks with flame! "Hyottoko" is written with the characters for "fire man"! And there's nothing he can't burn! Hyottoko: I've got you now. (Sanosuke notes the small tube in Hyottoko’s mouth.) Kenshin (to Hyottoko's side, sword out): You look away? I am your opponent. Hyottoko: I’ll finish this one first. No hurry, I’ll burn you next. Kenshin: Your sideshow act won’t singe a hair of my head. Hyottoko (breathing fire): S-sideshow!! (Kenshin whirls his sword in a circle in front of him.) Yahiko: He’s using the wind of the turning blade as a shield . . . Hyottoko: Idiot! How long do you think you can keep this hopeless act up? You'll taste my sideshow act to the fullest! (Megumi stands around the corner of the dojo.) Megumi (thinking): I can slip out now without anyone noticing. Kaoru: Going somewhere? (Megumi stops) Kenshin is fighting for you. You could at least watch! Megumi: He’s not fighting someone a swordsman can beat. That’s the middle-rank of the Oniwabanshuu. He’s different from the low-ranked Beshimi. Kaoru: No. He’ll win. You don’t know Kenshin. He’s a swordsman, but not just a swordsman. (Hyottoko’s flame sputters and dies out.) Hyottoko (thinking): Ridiculous--I’m out of oil . . . Kenshin: Have I tasted your sideshow act fully yet? the Makings of the Characters--Oniwabanshuu Hyottoko There was no model for this character. However I'd already been playing with the idea of "Hyottoko" meaning "Fire Man," or a man who could breathe fire. I wanted to put this man who could breathe fire into the group of spies (ordinarily you’d say ninja, but writing "ninja" seemed sort of cheap, so I used spy (onmitsu) instead) but Hyottoko seems out of place. Maybe it’s something you just don’t have in this fictional world . . . As for his personality, for someone who’s bang introduced and bang defeated, a conceited idiot seemed natural. By the way, as for the match between Hyottoko’s Kaentoiki and Kenshin’s revolving sword, everyone: readers, people at the magazine, friends and aquaintances all said, "Both of them are sideshow acts!!" Looking at it more closely, all I can say is I give up. (It was summer then and I was really tired, so please forgive me.) For the design, I again took a mutant from that popular American comic. As I said before, I needed to keep a strange characteristic in mind, and as I planned to conceal an oil sac in his stomach, I thought I’d make him extremely fat. It was the first time I’d ever drawn someone like that, and until I got used to it, it was really difficult. Once I’d gotten used to it, though, it got easier. Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Three--A Reason to Act Part 18--Kenshin’s Company Charges Megumi: His . . . his sword kept off the flame. (thinking) He’s no mere swordsman. What is he . . . Hyottoko (snatching the barrel strapped to his back): I’m not through with you yet! Kaoru: He’s trying to refill the oil! (Kenshin moves to stop him, but Sanosuke stands between them.) Sanosuke: Thanks for the help, but this guy’s mine. Sorry, but I'm starting over from the beginning! Kenshin (lowering his sword): I understand. You can take it from here. Sanosuke: Leave it to me! Kaoru: Will you stop the stupid macho act? Sanosuke, your leg’s hurt! (The barrel smashes against the wall.) Hyottoko (wiping his mouth): Refill complete. You fool. You came back just to get burned. Sanosuke: You’re the fool. You think that trick’ll work twice? Hyottoko: You too think my technique is a mere sideshow trick? (breathing fire) I’ll cremate you! Beshimi: A giant Kaentoiki! This time there’s no escape! Sanosuke: Yeah right! (He dives straight into the flame.) Kenshin: A good move. He’ll be hurt less if he heads straight for the sac rather than trying to dodge. (Sanosuke punches Hyottoko’s open mouth, seizing the tube and pulling.) Sanosuke: I'll take this! (holding up the bag) This trick you’re so proud of is filth. You’ve got no chance left. Give it up. Hyottoko (charging for another punch): You’re the one without a chance! With burns on both arms you can’t-- (Sanosuke lands a kick to the face, bowling him over.) Sanosuke: You can kick in a fight too. With such short legs you didn’t think of it. (thumbs up) Easy win! Kenshin (smiling): Considering you’re covered from head to foot with burns-- (Sanosuke turns on him, scowling) Kaoru: They won . . . no matter what you say, they're strong . . . Megumi: They're more than just strong . . . Who on earth are they . . . Kaoru: I told you. You don’t know them. Those two are people friends can count on and be proud of. (Megumi says nothing.) Kaoru (running forward): Are you okay? Ohh, you really are hurt. Looks like you just barely won . . . Kenshin: Doesn't it? Sanosuke: You too . . . Megumi (watching them and thinking): Friends . . . Kaoru (looking at the unconscious Hyottoko): What are we going to do with him? Sanosuke: Yeah. Even if we splashed him with water-- Beshimi: Damn . . . Damn . . . that idiot Hyottoko was beaten easily! We failed again! No . . . (thinking) The cause of all this is Takani Megumi! If only you hadn't run away when I had my chance--! (aloud) I don’t know what Takeda Kanryuu wants with you, but after what you've done to me--(he aims with another pellet--you will not escape unharmed! Kenshin (thinking): Killing ki! (aloud) Watch out! There’s still someone here! Beshimi: I’ll kill you!! Kenshin: There! (Beshimi snaps his fingers.) Yahiko (diving in front of Megumi): Watch out!! Kaoru (rushing over): Yahiko! What do you think you’re doing? That thing's small but what if it hit your heart or something?! This is dangerous, so stay back! Yahiko (picking himself up): Stop joking. I don’t really know why but aren't Kenshin and Sanosuke protecting this woman? I’m one of Kenshin’s company too. So even if it’s futile, I’ll try to protect her too. You should have more faith in one of your own students-- (He collapses) Kaoru: Yahiko!! Beshimi: That’s what you get for sticking your nose in other people’s business! The brat’ll be gone in an hour! Poisoned Rasenbyo! The true weapon of the Oniwabanshuu’s Beshimi! I’ll get you all! You’re next, you red-haired basta-- (Kenshin smashes him from behind, but only a log wrapped in Beshimi's jacket hits the ground. The third figure stands by Hyottoko, holding the unconscious Beshimi.) Kenshin (thinking): He could have done it. . . Kaoru: Kenshin, Yahiko’s . . . Yahiko’s-- Sanosuke: Yahiko, wake up! Yahiko! Yahiko! Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Three--A Reason to Act Part 19--A Girl from Aizu Kaoru: Yahiko! (Kenshin and Hanya continue to stare each other down. Hanya holds up a hand.) Hanya: Stop. I see to fight any further here for Takani Megumi is pointless. I myself want to collect these two and report back to the Okashira. Kenshin: You were the ones who started this. We won’t stop you from leaving. But the little one will stay here to give us the antidote for Yahiko.br> Hanya: I have no such duty to an enemy. Kenshin (charging): Then we’ll have to take it! (Hanya drops into a fighting stance. He turns the sword aside with the back of his hand.) Hanya: You have a calm expression, but your emotions run high. (He punches Kenshin with the other fist, knocking him down.) Hanya: As you shelter Takani Megumi, eventually we will fight again. This is just a postponement. (He picks up his fallen comrades and leaps away.) Sanosuke (thinking): That move . . . he’s completely different from that Hyottoko. That was kempo with the weight of experience . . . Kaoru: Kenshin! Yahiko’s--what do we do? Sanosuke (to Kenshin): What do you think? Kenshin: I only have experience dealing with sword wounds and broken bones, but if it’s poison . . . we could try sucking the poison out of the wound-- Kaoru: Right! Megumi (pulling her back): Stop! Kaoru: Do you want me to watch Yahiko die? Stay out of this! Megumi: Fool! You won’t do any good if you infect the wound! This is no work for amateurs. Stand back. (thinking) Unconscious with a slight fever . . . seems to be in pain, pupils dilated. (aloud) The poison is jimsonweed! (to Kaoru) This is a dojo, you must have a doctor. I'll give you a prescription, you go get it from him. Ken-san, boil some water. I need that and a washcloth for the medicine. (to Sanosuke) You go buy as much ice as possible. Treating poison is a race against time! Hurry! (Some time later. Yahiko is in bed; Kaoru and Sanosuke look on as the doctor finishes up.) Doctor: This should do it. He’ll be all right in three or four days. Kaoru: I’m so glad, Yahiko. (hugging him. Yahiko moans in his sleep.) Doctor: As long as he's not disturbed. Sanosuke (slapping the doctor on the back): Thanks, old man, you’re the greatest. Doctor: No need to thank me. The one you should be thanking is the one who wrote this prescription. It’s amazing. The ingredients and recipe for the antidote were perfect. The person who wrote this must have studied Western medicine at a university. Sanosuke (darkly): Or they just knew a lot about poisons. Doctor: Poison and medicine are two sides of the same coin. Jimsonweed is a powerful medicine when used properly. Also known as Korean morning-glory, it’s the main ingredient in an anesthetic called mafussan created by the great doctor Hanaoka Seishuu in the middle of the Edo age. Whoever wrote this must have been a master who studied for a long time at the university. I’m sure of it. Kaoru: I’m surprised . . . And I thought she was just an ill-natured woman . . . Doctor: Woman? Kaoru: Yes . . . Doctor: Not Takani Megumi . . . ? Sanosuke: You know her!? Doctor: Takani Megumi. She was an assistant to a doctor who was killed three years ago. (Outside. Megumi takes a sorrowful look at the smashed dojo wall. Then she turns to go.) Kenshin: Where are you going? (she jumps) It’s dangerous for women to walk at night! Megumi (recovering from the shock): This guy's bad for the heart . . . (aloud) How is the boy? Kenshin: He’s fine. Yahiko’s a strong boy. Thank you for your help. Megumi: There’s no thanks necessary. Beshimi was aiming for me. Kenshin: So, where are you going? Megumi (thinking): You can’t sidetrack this guy! (aloud) I’m leaving Tokyo for now. It looks like they're gone for now. If I leave, you should be fine. Kenshin: Is there someone waiting for you at home in Aizu? (she is surprised) You can’t get rid of the accent of the place you were born and raised even if you speak so flippantly. I know it because I fought with many warriors from Aizu in Kyoto, in the old days. Megumi: You really are bad for the heart. All right. I'll end the silence. Kenshin: Isn’t it time we heard the truth? (Inside) Doctor: The Takanis were a famous family of doctors in Aizu (*now Fukushima prefecture) They were unusual because every generation went into medicine, and they allowed women and children to study as well. Above all, their belief in equality and treatment for all patients was widely known. Even in the Edo times of fierce discrimination, when as doctors they held high rank, they took any sick patients and devoted themselves to their treatment, no matter what their social status. The rigid system of preference for the samurai class was offensive to them; they believed that the true purpose of medicine was life. Megumi’s father, Takani Ryuusei, believed this to the extreme. Upon hearing of Western medicine, he suddenly left to take the family to Nagasaki to study. You young people wouldn't know how much courage it took in those days to leave your province. So at the same time her family was returning to Aizu, through special permission, one of the decisive battles of the Boshin War, the Battle of Aizu, was beginning. the Battle of Aizu--When the domain of Aizu didn't recognize the new government, they were declared enemies of the Emperor, resulting in the fourth battle of the Boshin War. Young and old, man and woman, all the people of Aizu fought together even through the siege. In the end, though, the modern weapons of the government army proved superior, and they were overcome on September 22, 1868. As the domain of Aizu had worked as a guardian of Kyoto peace, controlling the Ishin Shish by setting up the Shinsengumi, it was a long time before the cruel oppression of the new government was lifted . . . Doctor: The Takani family left the young Megumi to serve as doctors on the battlefield. Ryuusei died there, and her mother and two brothers were declared missing in a fire. Since then, Megumi has been alone . . . I think she’s borne a lot of troubles since then, but five years ago she came up to Tokyo and became the assistant of a certain doctor. As I said, he was killed two years after that. I don’t know what happened to Megumi after that. I’d very much like to see her. Where is she now? Kaoru: Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen her. Sanosuke: She couldn’t have-- (Outside) Megumi: Five years ago, I had no eyes to judge people. That doctor was secretly involved with Kanryuu. Kanryuu would lay in a cheap stock of opium ingredients, and the doctor would refine them and sell it back to him. They were good at it. Until the doctor came up with this. (she holds up a paper packet.) It’s known as "the Spider’s Web." To the casual eye it looks like ordinary opium, but it’s completely new. It’s made with half the usual ingredients, but has twice the addictive power. Which means they could earn four times as much with it. If it hit the streets in Tokyo, it could addict the city in just five years. Planning huge business, Kanryuu tried to find out the method of refining it, but the doctor wanted all the profits for himself and refused to tell him. They quarreled and the doctor was accidentally killed. As his assistant, I was the only one who knew the recipe. So I was forced to produce it. I had made it before, believing it was medicine to save peoples’ lives. When I learned otherwise, I thought of death. But death was denied to me. (she drops the packet, revealing scars across her wrists.) Megumi: Living . . . even though I was separated from my family, I thought that if I was involved in medicine, somehow, somewhere, I could find them. So I thought . . . as for three years I made the medicine which drove men to kill themselves . . . Kenshin: But, if Kanryuu forced you to do this, that means there's no one else that knows the refining method. You kept down production of this "Spider’s Web" to the minimum, taking only the minimum number of victims. Far from abandoning these crimes, you bore them all yourself. (he smiles) Then, if your suffering continued for three years, it’s about time you were forgiven and set free. Megumi (thinking): Ken-san . . . Kenshin: You can’t get rid of us so easily. It’s better if you stay here for a while longer. Megumi: But . . . Kenshin (as Kaoru, Sanosuke and the doctor come out the gate): It’s all right, isn’t it, Miss Kaoru? (a tense moment. Kaoru clearly doesn't like Megumi, but at the same time knows that she's suffered. Finally . . .) Kaoru: It’s fine. I know what you went through when you were alone. If Kenshin hadn't been here I'd be no better off than you. Kenshin: Now all we need to know is how to deal with Kanryuu. Kaoru (whispering): But if you so much as touch Kenshin, that’s it. I’ll abandon you without a second thought. (Sanosuke regards the scene silently.) (A room in Kanryuu’s mansion. Aoshi is studying some papers.) Aoshi: I see. So I won’t be able to use Beshimi or Hyottoko for a while. Hanya, you’re not badly hurt? Hanya: No. (He drops into the room through a gap in the ceiling. His shirt is torn over his stomach.) Hanya: But it was close. As you said, he’s no ordinary man. Even as he took my punch, he was taking advantage of the impact to aim for the liver, a vital spot. Aoshi: Can you fight? Hanya: Not for two or three days, but espionage . . . Aoshi (shutting his book): All right. In three days we’ll know his past. We’ll find out what sort of man he is . . . . Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Trasnlation Volume Three--A Reason to Act Part 20--A Reason to Act (Megumi whips the cover off a plate of ohagi (mochi--white sticky rice balls--covered with anko--sweet bean jam.) Megumi: It’s been a long time since I made these. Yahiko: Oh. Kaoru: Wow. Kenshin: Mmm. (Yahiko and Kaoru dig in with both hands.) Kenshin: They’re delicious! Megumi: Thank you. But, ohagi taste good no matter who makes them. Kenshin: Not really. Before, when Miss Kaoru made some, they were more like mud pies-- Kaoru (slugging him): You talk too much. Megumi: Ohh, that violent girl is giving you trouble, isn’t she. Kenshin (spiral-eyed): Oro---- Megumi: What if you got rid of her and switched to me-- Kaoru: ME--GU--MI--!! Don’t you start that just when my back is turned! I told you, I’ll throw you out if you keep that up! Megumi: Oh, now, but a man's free to like anyone he wants. If you keep on making these accusations you're just showing that you have no confidence in yourself. You should try learning to make better ohagi instead of complaining. Kaoru (beaten down): I just can’t take this. Yahiko: I thought she was being more polite, but she’s just the same. Kenshin: But she’s a lot more cheerful than she was. (smiling) These are good times. Kaoru: They’re not good! Sanosuke (walking up, tossing a paper packet): What’s with the early-morning comedy routine? Kenshin: Hey, Sano. Sanosuke: The old man had a look at it. It’s definitely the new form of opium that’s on the streets now. Kenshin: I see . . . well, have you had breakfast yet? Sanosuke: No thanks. I’d rather eat the little girl’s cooking than anything made by that opium woman. (He turns away.) Sanosuke: I haven’t slept all night. Wake me up when the noon cannon goes off. Kaoru: Wait a minute! (to Kenshin) You can't let him get away with that! Kenshin: Miss Megumi, please don’t mind him. He knows you're the one behind the opium, but at the same time he knows about your past. He'd like to blame you, but he can't. And on top of that we haven't heard a peep out of Kanryuu for a week. He's raised his fist, but now he doesn't know what to do with it. So he’s irritable. It will be a while before he can be more gentle . . . (Megumi is washing the dishes by the well.) Megumi (remembering): Opium woman . . . Book-seller: Hallo . . . Good morning! Lending library. I’ve got plenty of new books, would you like one? Megumi: Well . . . Book-seller: I've seen you often around here lately. Have you just moved in? Megumi: No, not really. I’m just a houseguest . . . Book-seller: Oh, I see. (he raises his hat, revealing Hanya’s devil mask.) How nice. (He has his hand over her mouth before she can scream.) Hanya (holding up a vial): Quietly . . . any awkward struggling and this could end up in the well. Megumi (thinking): Mercury! Hanya: Kanryuu wants to see you. Just to talk, you don’t have to go back with him. Will you do this for him? (Megumi meets Kanryuu in a clearing in the forest. Kanryuu casually lights his cigar.) Megumi: What do you want. Kanryuu: You know without me telling you. Are you ready to come back yet? Megumi: Did you really think my answer would be yes? Death would be better. Kanryuu: Is that so. There’s just one thing . . . if you don’t come with me, the Kamiya dojo will burn to the ground. My soldiers, the Oniwabanshuu. We could surround the perimeter with five hundred men. Not even a rat could escape when it burns. "You kill a cuckoo if it doesn’t sing." But, you’d be lonely all by yourself, so I'll give you a few companions in the next world. This has gone on far enough. Why don’t you stop dreaming? No matter what you say, it's a fact that you made the opium that killed so many people. Even if you did meet your family again, what would they say if they knew one of the famous Takanis was producing opium? So you see, it’s futile to run away. You and I and the opium all share the same fate, from now till eternity. Ah yes, the house will burn at midnight tonight. You don’t have much time, so think quickly and settle this. I'll see you later. (Kanryuu and Hanya walk away.) Aoshi (hidden behind a tree): You think she'll come back? Kanryuu: If she doesn’t there’ll be trouble. I understand the swordsman with the scar is the legendary Hitokiri Battousai. It seems wise to avoid incurring his wrath. Takani Megumi will come of her own free will. Then Battousai will have no reason to act at all. Aoshi: A reason . . . Megumi (thinking): I can’t run. From Kanryuu, from the opium--my whole life I won’t be able to get away. (she falls to her knees, tears in her eyes.) Opium woman . . . opium woman . . . (Later, Kenshin and the others find a note from Megumi.) Please forgive me for leaving without saying anything. Since Kanryuu’s men seem to have given up, it’s time I returned to Aizu. Thank you so much for taking care of me these past ten days. Kenshin: Sincerely, Takani Megumi. Kaoru: This is disappointing. Kenshin (crumping the letter up): It’s a fake. There’s no one left waiting for Miss Megumi in Aizu now! Kanryuu’s men must have found when we weren’t watching and threatened her! Sano, you know where Kanryuu lives! Let’s go! Sanosuke: Go ahead. (They stare at him.) Sanosuke: I’m not doing a thing for that opium woman. Yahiko: You’re just saying that out of stubborn-- Kenshin (with a cold, angry look: That’s enough, Sano. That’s not like you. (pause) Sanosuke: Shut up. That woman made the opium that killed my friend. While the hell should I be helping her? I'm neither a vagabond or as trusting as you are! Kenshin: Sano, you’re didn’t see Miss Megumi’s eyes. She was always brave, but for an instant-- (Megumi approaches the gate to Kanryuu’s mansion.) Kenshin:--her eyes were lonely. She was looking for someone she could trust like her family. Megumi (to the guards): Tell Kanryuu that Takani Megumi has come back. Kenshin: Eyes like a puppy that has been abandoned. Whatever reason a man needs to act, that’s enough for me. (Kenshin begins walking.) Yahiko: Kenshin, I’m going too! Kaoru: Yahiko, wait. You’ll only get in the way. Yahiko: Shut up. She saved my life! So now I have to help her! If I can't do that, what's the point of the "sword that protects life"? Kaoru (letting him go, and thinking): When I wasn’t looking, this child turned into a true swordsman-- Sanosuke (to Kaoru): This’ll probably take all night. Don’t forget to have a bath ready and breakfast for five. You can quit worrying. Cause there's gonna be some rampage here that is like me! Kenshin: All right. Let’s go!! Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Three-A Reason to Act Part 21--A Wind of Rage Kenshin: So, this is Kanryuu's mansion? Sanosuke: Yeah. No matter how many times I see it, this huge place still gives me the creeps. So, how bout we get these guys? (the guards are already taken out.) Kenshin: Speed is the thing in a sneak attack with a small force. We destroy the gate and rush through the entrance with our full strength. Sanosuke: So, a frontal assault. All right. Yahiko: Sanosuke. Make sure you keep up. (a brief scuffle) Kenshin: Let’s go!! (Inside. Kanryuu greets Megumi from an armchair in a rich Western-style room) Kanryuu: Welcome back, Megumi. I thought you’d return. Since this is the only place you have to come back to. By the way, our stock of the Spider’s Web has run out. You’ll make us some more. (Megumi says nothing.) Kanryuu: This is troublesome. You always were difficult. (moving towards her, tilting her chin up) I always thought you were pretty, but . . . Megumi: What you think is pretty is the profits from the opium I make. Kanryuu: Yes, and it makes you all the prettier. Megumi: Perhaps . . . but unfortunately, I didn’t come here to make opium. Kanryuu: What? Megumi (pulling a short sword out of her sleeve): Takeda Kanryuu, I came here to kill you. (He leaps back, taking a cut to the elbow.) Megumi: Don’t worry. You and I share the same fate. I told you returning here would mean death. I have no will to live as I am, bearing my sins. We’ll fall into hell togethe, as penace for the suffering we’ve brought with our opium. (Kanryuu screams.) Megumi: The sword-- Aoshi (behind her): It’s here. (holding it up.) Kanryuu (breathing hard): That . . . that bitch! (beating her) Just because I failed in torturing your doctor, and treated you so kindly, you think you can get away with this! How dare you make a fool of the great Kanryuu! (Megumi falls to the ground.) Kanryuu (to Aoshi): Call my guards. Have them torture her until she gives us the refining process. Aoshi: The men are all outside. Listen. Kanryuu: That’s the emergency whistle . . . Aoshi: He’s here! (Kanryuu’s men are massed in front of the house. Kenshin sends them flying one after another.) Fighters: That speed! Is he human?! Sanosuke: Hey hey hey hey! If you let yourself get distracted-- (they sail through the air as well) Sanosuke: You’re gonna get hurt! Yahiko (running after them): Sanosuke! I said keep up! Sanosuke: Is he still saying that? Stubborn brat. Fighters (unable to withstand the double onslaught): Strong . . . these two are too strong!!! Yahiko: These THREE, you bastards!! Sanosuke (thinking): We’ve about settled the swordsmen and the yakuza . . . the infantry! (a neat formation of ten uniformed soldiers carrying pistols stand before them.) Commander: Ready, take aim-- (Kenshin scatters them before they can shoot.) Commander: He didn’t even flinch before the barrel of a gun . . . Now! He’s stopped moving! Fire!! Kenshin: Sano! Yahiko! Sanosuke: Jump, Yahiko! (Yahiko does so without thinking. Sanosuke seizes him by the collar of his shirt.) Sanosuke (throwing him at the soldiers): Your turn! Let’s see some action! (He flies forward, hitting several with his bokitou.) Commander (hitting him): That brat! (he aims, but his hand is empty.) Yahiko (holding the gun): Looking for something? Guess those pickpocket skills I hated so much are coming in handy. You never know what life brings. BAM!! (The commander about dies of shock.) Yahiko (tossing it away): Idiot. Did you think I’d really fire? I’m a swordsman! I don’t need to rely on guns! Infantry (taking aim): You brat! Don’t be so confident! (Kenshin and Sanosuke take out the remaining soldiers.) Kenshin: Are you all right, Yahiko? From here on it’s serious. Yahiko (even though he’s breathing hard): I’m gonna be fine. I’m not leaving until you leave. Kenshin: All right. That’s the spirit. Sanosuke: Just make sure you keep up. Yahiko: I’m not the one standing behind and throwing people! Sanosuke: Hey, I just let you have a turn. You should be thanking me. Kanryuu (watching from a balcony above): I don’t understand. Why? For what reason would Himura Battousai . . . How does he stand to gain by coming so far for this woman . . . !? Aoshi: If Hitokiri Battousai cared for profit and loss he’d be an officer in the military by now. A businessman like you couldn’t understand, but we and the Ishin Shishi were the kind of people who would die for their beliefs. In this world where even the shadows of most of the Ishin Shishi have rotted away, it’s good to know that such a man still lives. After ten years, we have bait to draw out a great Ishin Shishi opponent! He’ll be our prey! Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Three--A Reason to Act Part 22--Assault on Kanryuu’s Estate Kanryuu: You’re . . . you’re joking . . . how could we have made an enemy of the legendary Hitokiri? Aoshi: Don't say that. We want this fight. (As they walk towards the house, Kenshin stops.) Yahiko: What’s wrong, Kenshin? Kenshin (looking up): Kanryuu!! Your time has come, Takeda Kanryuu. Come down with Miss Megumi. (They stare at each other. Kanryuu begins to laugh wildly.) Sanosuke: Has he gone crazy? Kanryuu (clapping his hands): Wonderful! To have destroyed all fifty of my soldiers so quickly--truly the work of the legendary Hitokiri Himura Battousai! Yahiko: Those jerks, Kenshin’s past-- Sanosuke: The Oniwabanshuu must have looked into it. Kanryuu: That's swordsmanship I like to see. If you joined the Oniwabanshuu under me we truly would be the strongest!! I’ll pay you the price of fifty soldiers’ wages. You’ll be my bodyguard!! Kenshin: You’re coming down or you’re not. Which is it? Kanryuu: Well, one hundred then. Two hundred!! Aoshi: You don’t understand. You can’t win him over with money. Himura Battousai doesn’t act for profit. Kanryuu (leaning out the window): I see. I’ve lost. I’ll hand over Takani Megumi. (They halt in surprise.) Kanryuu: But give me an hour! There’s some preparations that must be made. I’ll send her down after an hour! Trust me! Just wait here! Sanosuke: You think you can just start talking and we’ll trust you?! (Kenshin turns and begins to walk away.) Yahiko: Kenshin! Wait! You can’t be that trusting! Hey!! Kanryuu (thinking): Good. After an hour Megumi will have coughed up the secret of the Spider’s Web and we’ll have no further use for her. She can’t possibly hold out that long! (Kenshin passes a lamppost with a cement base. He stops, and whips his sword from the sheath, cutting it from the base with one backhand blow. It smashes into the house to Kanryuu’s right.) Kenshin: I’ll come up there within one hour! Wait with care, Kanryuu!! Aoshi: Your makeshift plans only added fuel to the fire. This is practically a theatre. Kanryuu: O . . . Okashira, the Oniwabanshuu will-- Aoshi: Already taken care of. My right and left hands are deployed at the stairs at the back of the hallway leading from the entrance. I’ll act as rear guard in the second-story ballroom. Kanryuu: All right, but we can do without worthless trash like Beshimi and Hyottko! I won’t stand for those who can’t live up to their salaries!! Aoshi: You "won’t stand for it"? Make no mistake. The leader of the Oniwabanshuu is not you. (seizing him by the front of his shirt) The Oniwabanshuu is mine. And I won’t allow anyone to speak badly of them! (releasing him) To continue, their target is Takani Megumi. She is confined in the third floor observation tower. Now go count your money and leave this to me. (In the tower, Megumi is coming to her senses.) Aoshi: You’re awake. Megumi: This is . . . the tower? What on earth . . . Aoshi: The men from the Kamiya Dojo have come to get you back. They’ve already defeated the soldiers. Megumi: Fools. Even though I ran off, they still--they’re fools, every one of them. (Her short sword clatters to the floor.) Aoshi: That’s yours. I’m returning it. It’s better not to get your hopes up. They’ll never make it up here. In an hour, you’ll have nothing to prevent Kanryuu from torturing you. A painful life or an easy death. Choose your own path. We aren’t concerned with Kanryuu’s drugs or money. What we care about is the fight. We came to fight for this shady smuggling business, and thanks to you, we have some worthy enemies. This is my thanks. You’re one of little luck, so I have some sympathy. What you do with it is not my concern. (Kenshin and the others stand before the front doors.) Yahiko: From here on it should be guarded by the Oniwabanshuu. Don’t get careless. Let’s go!! Sanosuke: Don't act so tough. (They burst through the doors to meet the first of the Oniwabanshuu.) Kenshin: I’m surprised. Your employer placed you first-- Hanya: As I said before. We can have our match now without haste. A Reason to Act--End Back to Home To Volume Three To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Three--A Reason to Act Bonus Story 2 This is the original "Vagabond," published in a extra edition of the magazine half a year before the story that was included in volume one. The one in volume one was an extra story , but if it were a movie, it would be called the pilot film. The details have changed considerably. If you read this you’ll see how it was the pattern for the Megumi story, but Megumi, Kaoru and Yahiko were brother and sisters, and Megumi is a completely different person. I can confide in you now that I didn’t start this comic of my own volition. My debut was a historical story. It was popular with the readers, but I thought that historicals were too hard and my next story was going to be set in modern times . . . or so I thought, but my boss gave me the advice, "Since you received such a favorable response for a newcomer, and since a historical story would be so popular, why don’t you make a sequel?" and that led to "Vagabond." I was in trouble, aiming for a Meiji mix that took the setting of the Bakumatsu from my bible, "Burning Sword," and adding the going-ons of "Sagata Sanshirou." The title changed along with the contents, from "Swordsman with Two Hearts," to "Kenshin the Jack-of-all-Trades," to "The Vagabond Kenshin" to "Vagabond" in kanji to "Vagabond" without the kanji, to "Vagabond--Tales of a Meiji Swordsman;" and although it was a 45 page story, it took me more than eight months. The first time it was rejected for publication and I thought I was terrible, so this is a story with deep memories attached. After a year’s maturation period went by, this "Vagabond" became "Rurouni Kenshin." I want to thank again all the readers who encouraged me. Watsuki (in the sketch below): But looking at it now, this is TERRIBLE. I’m glad it had to be shelved. Vagabond--Tales of a Meiji Swordsman Long ago in Kyoto, in the violence of the Bakumatsu, there was a patriot called Hitokiri Battousai. This man, who killed in the whirlpool of violence, disappeared as it reached a conclusion. And now, in Tokyo, in the tenth year of Meiji (1877)-- (the busy streets of Tokyo) Vagabond (to the policeman who has stopped him): No, as I said, I’m a vagabond. That’s why I’m carrying a sword. Policeman: What’s a vagabond in these hallowed times of Meiji? Don’t you know there’s an edict against wearing swords? Vagabond: Oro? Policeman: No one is permitted to wear an real sword! (slapping handcuffs on him) You’re under-- Vagabond (hurrying away): Perhaps another time. Policeman: WHY YOU-- Onlookers: There are no vagabonds after ten years of Meiji rule What a fool, in this era of culture and enlightenment. (Among these onlookers is a Yahiko, who resembles the ordinary Yahiko in every way except for his samurai topknot. He scowls. Meanwhile the vagabond is hiding in an alley.) Policeman: Where are you hiding you-- Vagabond: He’s so persistent. Yahiko (from behind him): Hey! Vagabond (recovering from the shock): What is it, child. Yahiko: Kamiya Yahiko is not a child! Vagabond (frantically): Okay, I understand, now shhhhh. What do you want with me? Yahiko: How much to borrow your sword? Vagabond: My sword? What do you need it for? Yahiko (drawing himself up): There is someone I must kill. Vagabond: You should see the look on your face. Yahiko: I’m serious! Vagabond: No, no. I’m sorry, child, but actually this sword isn’t something that could kill. Yahiko: What, is it bamboo? Vagabond: No, but it couldn’t do what you want it to. If you’re in trouble, why don't you tell me about it. Maybe I can help. Yahiko (walking away): I don’t need your help. Vagabond: Wait, wait, just tell me about it. I can at least give you a different point of view. Yahiko: I said I don’t need it! It won’t mean a thing unless I do it myself!! Policeman: FOUND YOU!! You can’t escape the police! Vagabond (scooping up Yahiko and running for it): It’s a little noisy here. Let’s go back to your house. Yahiko: You jerk, lemme go!! (A bit later) Vagabond: This is your house? Yahiko: It’s just an old longhouse. We used to own a kenjutsu dojo. My father was the second strongest man in all Japan, but he’s dead now. (Kaoru opens the door. She is also much as we know her, and carries a broom.) Vagabond (smiling): Oh, you must be the child’s sister. I’m-- Kaoru: Will you ever give up-- Vagabond (in a small voice): Oro. (Kaoru smashes him over the head with the broom.) Kaoru: You’re not taking Megumi. Go back to Nishiwaki and tell him that!! Megumi: What . . . what’s all the fuss, Kaoru? Kaoru (letting him have it again): It’s another one of Nishiwaki’s goons! Megumi: St--stop, Kaoru! Kaoru: Look, he’s wearing a sword! Vagabond: Ow! Yahiko (thinking): This guy’s weak. (A little later. Megumi and Kaoru are eating dinner with the vagabond; Yahiko is sitting before the family altar.) Megumi: I’m sorry. My sister can be a little hasty. Vagabond: Not at all. She has a very good sword arm, however. Did she learn from your father? Megumi: Yes. Vagabond: So it’s as the child said. The second greatest swordsman in Japan-- Megumi: Well . . . he certainly opened a dojo for the Kamiya Kasshin school that’s been handed down for generations . . . but I wouldn’t say he was that strong . . . Vagabond: Really . . . Yahiko: You’re wrong! Father was great! He was the strongest after Hitokiri Battousai! (The name produces quite a reaction from the vagabond.) Megumi: Of course, Yahiko. I’m sorry. (to the vagabond) Please excuse him. Yahiko never learned kenjutsu from our father. He died in the Southwest before he could teach him. So he idolizes him; he believes that Father was strong. Hitokiri Battousai was a compatriot of Father’s, an anti-foreigner loyalist. In Father’s day, he was hailed as the greatest with the sword. Vagabond: So the Hitokiri was the best, and your father the second best . . . Megumi: Hitokiri Battousai . . . they say he could kill three men with a single stroke using the techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi school, but it’s only a story. Probably the Hiten Mitsurugi school itself was just a rumor from the days of war . . . Vagabond: No need to go into particulars. Now, you mentioned this Nishiwaki . . . Kaoru: It has nothing to do with you, so stop asking about it! (the vagabond looks shocked) I may have overreacted a little . . . (pounding the table) But this is a matter for the Kamiya family! Who do you think you are, butting in our problems? Vagabond (smiling): I’m just a vagabond, but . . . (Slow on the uptake). Kaoru (grabbing his shirt): I meant why are you forcing your way into this!! Vagabond: You’re a serious little girl. Kaoru (hands around his throat): Who’s a little girl??? Vagabond: Oro . . . Megumi: Stop, Kaoru! Nishiwaki: Such a lively scene. (all eyes to the door, while the vagabond ponders his brush with strangulation. Nishiwaki stands in the doorway, surrounded by fighters of all descriptions. He wears a black western suit with a white scarf.) Nishiwaki: Good evening. Megumi: Mr . . . Mr. Nishiwaki. Vagabond: Ah, so that’s him. Nishiwaki: You look exhausted, Megumi. This life of poverty is draining you. Stop your tedious resistance, and come back to our Kamiya Kasshin school dojo. Vagabond: Our . . . but Miss Megumi said it was passed down through the family . . . Kaoru (leveling a shinai at Nishiwaki): He stole it. This bastard of an assistant master stole it! When my father died he used the fact that there was no master to drive away all the other students! And then took on his followers! Didn’t you, Nishiwaki!! Nishiwaki: I didn’t steal anything. Say that I’m taking care of the school. No matter how many students you have, a school will fail without a master. You may know kenjutsu, but a woman can’t carry on the school. So. After the eldest daughter Megumi becomes my wife, I’ll become a member of the Kamiya family, and I can take up my place as a rightful successor. Won't I, Megumi? (The vagabond steps up, but Nishiwaki smacks him to keep him quiet.) Vagabond: Oro. Nishiwaki: Let’s go someplace where we can talk, Megumi. Kaoru: Don’t come one step closer to Megumi! Vagabond (rubbing his nose): But does Miss Megumi need a successor for the school? The family has a son. Yahiko: Exactly! (He rushes forward with his bokutou.) Megumi: Yahiko! Fighter: Brat . . . (smashing him across the face) stay out of this!! Vagabond: Hey, there’s no need to-- (Kaoru knocks the fighter down.) Fighters: That bitch-- Kaoru: Yahiko, stay back! Vagabond: Do as she says . . . (Yahiko shakes himself free.) Vagabond: Child! (thinking) Child . . . Kaoru: Yahiko, stay back! Fighter (kicking him down): Get out of the way, brat! Megumi: Yahiko! Kaoru: Stay back, Yahiko! You’re only getting in the way! (This is the final straw. Yahiko charges once again, roaring.) Kaoru: Yahiko!! Man (from the door): Hey, what’s all the noise? Stop, or I’ll call the police! Megumi: The landlord . . . Fighters: You think we’re scared of the cops? Nishiwaki: Stop!!! (to the landlord) I’m sorry about the noise. We were just leaving. There’s no need for the police. Landlord: Well . . . Nishiwaki: Megumi, things got a little out of hand, but I’m sure you’ll excuse us, since it was for the sake of continuing the school. You couldn’t bear to see your ancestral school destroyed. Please think about the best way to save it. Landlord: What was all that about, Miss Kamiya? Give me an explanation. Megumi: Um . . . Vagabond: The child. Kaoru: What? Vagabond: I don’t see the child. (A little later. The vagabond and Kaoru are out searching for Yahiko.) Kaoru: Where can that boy be!! Vagabond: Well, no need to get so angry. Kaoru: This is all Nishiwaki’s fault for getting him so mad. Vagabond: Being angry causes wrinkles, you know. Kaoru (whapping him in the nose again): I’ve hated him ever since he joined the school. We heard rumors about how he was the leader of those guys. From the start I knew he had to be up to something! But he deceived father with his talent . . . and thanks to him we’re now . . . Vagabond: I see . . . He didn’t make any distinctions about who he taught kenjutsu to, but only hoped that they would find the right path . . . Well, every individual chooses for himself. (Kaoru is silent.) What’s wrong? (thinking) I wonder if she suspects I knew her father . . . no, it can’t be. (They both glance up. Yahiko is standing on the roof of the house, staring into the distance.) Vagabond: There he is. He climbed up there. Kaoru: Hey, Ya-- Vagabond (pulling her ponytail): Wait. Kaoru: What do you think you’re-- Vagabond: Leave this to me. We’ll have a talk, man to man. You wait down here. (Kaoru looks puzzled but agrees. The vagabond climbs up to the roof.) Vagabond: Your sisters are worried about you. Come back to the house. (Yahiko turns away.) Vagabond: You were in the way, so do you hate your sisters now? No. You must love both your sisters very much. The one you hate, for not being able to protect them, is yourself. You want to protect them. That’s why you said that if you didn’t do it yourself, it didn’t mean anything. (Yahiko is fighting tears, refusing to turn around.) Vagabond: You’re small, but you’re the son of the second-best swordsman in Japan, so you want that strength . . . (he sits back to back with Yahiko) But, Yahiko, you shouldn’t kill anyone. Your father never would have told you to become a killer. A killer, no matter how strong, is just an imitation. The only things left are your regrets and a lonely sword . . . Yahiko (kicking him): You’re weak, what would you know about it? Vagabond: Oro. (almost falling off) But, Yahiko, you’ll be strong. You have my guarantee, so set your mind at ease. Yahiko: I’m supposed to be happy with your guaruantee?! (Kaoru, who has been listening to this conversation, now makes her way back to the house. The landlord is just leaving.) Landlord: I’ll overlook this once. But next time there’s a disturbance I’ll have you thrown out. Megumi: I’m very sorry. (Kaoru walks in.) Megumi: Oh, Kaoru, you’re back. Where’s Yahiko? (Kaoru clutches Megumi’s jacket.) Megumi: Kaoru? Kaoru: His own sister didn’t understand . . . That vagabond understood how Yahiko was feeling. And I didn’t understand at all . . . Megumi: Kaoru . . . (thinking) Yahiko and Kaoru have taken as much of this as they can stand. (she remembers Nishiwaki’s words: "You couldn’t bear to see your ancestral school destroyed. Please think about the best way to save it.") I can’t cause them any further pain. If I gave up . . . If I went to him, everything could be all right again. If I went to him . . . Vagabond (coming in): You two are-- (Kaoru is instantly at his throat again) Vagabond: No, I just meant that you’re both so beautiful. Kaoru: Some recovery!! Yahiko: What was he saying? Megumi: You don’t need to know. Vagabond: Well, it’s getting late. I think I’ll get to bed. Kaoru: You mean you’re staying here?? (The next morning. Kaoru finds a letter: I’ve gone to Nishiwaki. Yahiko, Kaoru, please try to forgive me. Megumi. Kaoru (crumpling the letter): Megumi is too nice for her own good . . . Vagabond: What are you going to do? Kaoru: I’ve made up my mind! (kilting up her kimono skirt and sleeves) I’m storming Nishiwaki’s mansion! Megumi isn’t going to face this misery alone! (Yahiko begins to scowl, but Kaoru hands him a bokutou as well.) Kaoru: Yahiko! Your sister will be fighting Nishiwaki’s men as hard as she can! So you need to protect Megumi! Let’s go, Yahiko! (Megumi enters the Kamiya Kasshin dojo, to find it has been converted to a gambling hall.) Nishiwaki (behind her): I’m pleased that you came, but it could be dangerous to enter the dojo on your own. Megumi: Mr. Nishiwaki, what on earth . . . Nishiwaki: Don’t you recognize a gambling hall when you see one? The dojo was isolated from the world. But it can’t be helped; this is spacious land in the best of districts. Even more than a dojo, a gambling hall needs to be spacious. The police would hear about a land sale immediately, but when your lands are transferred to me, we can build our fortune quite easily. Megumi: You . . . you planned this from the beginning . . . Nishiwaki (lifting her chin): In the Meiji era of culture and enlightenment, a kenjutsu dojo is just out of date. Megumi (tears in her eyes): You scum. Nishiwaki (licking his lips): As you like. Kaoru: Nishiwaki!!! Return Megumi! Or else you’re dead!! Vagabond: What she said. Megumi: Kaoru! Yahiko! Nishiwaki (to his fighters): Since we have the woman, we have no use for the brat and the girl. Fighters: You won’t get away! Kaoru: Let’s go, Yahiko! Vagabond (pulling their respective ponytails): Wait. Kaoru (as she and Yahiko lay into him): What was that all about!! Vagabond: Just be reasonable and leave this to me. Nishiwaki: Did you just come here to quarrel among yourselves, or . . . Vagabond: No, no, we’re here to take back Miss Megumi and the dojo. It’s a family dojo, and it properly belongs to the eldest son, Yahiko. Of course, he’ll have to be an adult to run the school, so Miss Kaoru can take care of it in the meantime. Her nature is pretty much a man’s anyway, so she’ll do a good job. Kaoru (hitting him): You talk too much. Nishiwaki: That’s reasonable indeed. Did you expect me to say, "Oh, you’re right" and back off? Vagabond: No good? So you refuse to listen? Nishiwaki: We can settle this easily enough. I see we both have swords. Face me, the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin school, and my nine followers Vagabond: I was afraid you would resort to violence. But as you say . . . . Kaoru: Wait a minute! Vagabond: Oro. Kaoru: I know what you’re trying to do, but this has nothing to do with you, you don’t need to get involved! Vagabond: That’s cold, considering you’ve given me a meal and a place to sleep. Kaoru: For that you’re going to throw your life away? Vagabond: Not just that. One more thing. Even if I die, I think Mr. Koujirou’s spirit guided my wanderings here because his children were in need . . . This may be dangerous, so stand back. Megumi (thinking): But I never mentioned Father’s name . . . Kaoru (thinking): So he did know Father . . . Nishiwaki: Enough of this foolishness!! (His fighters charge.) Vagabond: Yahiko! Watch the sword your father called the strongest! Kaoru (thinking): He’s strong . . . too strong. This is the Hiten Mitsurugi school’s . . . Megumi (thinking): He . . . this vagabond is . . . Yahiko (thinking): The one Father called the strongest . . . Hitokiri Battousai! (all nine fighters are quickly laid out on the floor.) Kaoru: With three strokes . . . you took out nine people . . . Vagabond: Don’t say things like that. I didn’t kill anyone. Kaoru: That blade--! Vagabond: The blade and flat edge are reversed--a reverse blade. One can use ordinary strokes without killing. Kaoru: I see. But what would Hitokiri Battousai be doing with a sword that couldn’t kill . . . Vagabond (flipping the blade over): It's all right. But, Mr. Nishiwaki. You could still suffer several broken bones. Will you leave them alone? Nishiwaki: You . . . don’t toy with me! (drawing his sword) I am the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin-- (The vagabond breaks his sword.) Vagabond: Never say that again. You dirty the name of the Kamiya Kasshin school. (Nishiwaki retreats a few paces.) Nishiwaki (drawing a gun from his coat): Then what about this? The tables have been turned. What good is your sword now? Vagabond: I’ll say it again. Will you leave them alone? Nishiwaki (firing): Die!! (The vagabond merely ducks his head a little to the side, letting the bullet fly by harmlessly. Nishiwaki panics, firing again and again.) Vagabond: Reading the angle of your lines of sight and the gun’s mouth is simplicity itself! (He strikes Nishiwaki across the face with the handle of the sword; Nishiwaki goes down. The sword lands point down between his legs.) Vagabond: I have reached the end of my patience. This is your last warning. You will never bother them again. (Nishiwaki faints.) Vagabond: Well. (sheathing his sword) I think I’ve done all I can for you. Miss Megumi, it must have been very hard for you when Mr. Koujirou died. Please look after the Kamiya family. Miss Kaoru, until Yahiko becomes an adult, please take care of the dojo. (doing the innocent smile again) And try not to be so grouchy all the time! Kaoru: You’re a big help. Yahiko: The Hiten Mitsurugi school . . .teach it to me. Please! I . . . I want to be as strong as you! Vagabond (smiling sadly): I said it before. No matter how strong, a killer is only an imitation. You don’t need the kenjutsu that would kill like this, without this sword. (tousling his hair) You’ll be strong in the Kamiya Kasshin school, and bring pride to the name of your father. (turning to go) Good luck. Kaoru: Wait! Where are you-- Vagabond: I’m a vagabond. I’ll be wandering once again. Kaoru (watching him go): . . . Hitokiri Battousai . . . (thinking) A sword that can’t kill . Why would Hitokiri Battousai . . . no. A nameless vagabond . . . Long ago in Kyoto, in the violence of the Bakumatsu, there was a patriot called Hitokiri Battousai. This man, who killed in the whirlpool of violence, disappeared as it reached a conclusion. And now, in Tokyo, in the tenth year of Meiji-- A swordsman known only as "vagabond"-- Policeman: Today for sure, you’re under arrest-- Vagabond (running): Perhaps next time. --is wandering through the age. Megumi: But if he was one of father’s compatriots, how old would he have to be? Kaoru (looking stricken): He looked young, but he’d have to be at least thirty . . . Vagabond--Tales of a Meiji Swordsman (end) Back to Home To Volume Three To Volume Four