Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies from the front flap-- (Watsuki-sensei is committing seppuku, with Kenshin as his second. Above him, his death poem: Nightingale I too know the feeling Of spitting blood.) FOR THE THIRD TIME, WATSUKI IS A LIAR. I’m really sorry. I’ve broken the promise I made in Volume Two. I wouldn’t care if you threw stones at me. As in the picture, I’d commit seppuku to apologize, but until I finish RuroKen I’ll have to refrain. Samurai Shodown, too. I’ll just have to buckle down and stop slacking. So don’t give up on me . . . Part 23--Spy and Kempoist, Hanya Hanya: A spy of Edo Castle’s Oniwabanshuu, Hanya. As ordered by the Okashira, I will guard this place to the death! Kenshin: I would avoid an unnecessary fight if possible. Will you stand aside? Hanya (striking his fists together): The commands of the Okashira are absolute. Sanosuke: A metallic sound . . . the bastard’s wearing metal guards under his gloves. So that's why Kenshin didn't hurt him last night . . . Kenshin: The guards will certainly take the shock of the blow, but the act of stopping it is due to the skill of the kempoist. (to Hanya) Then all we can do is fight. I know how strong you are. I’m sorry, but I can show you no mercy. Hanya: The same goes for you. Let’s go. (he leaps forward. Kenshin dodges slightly, but the punch still hits him in the face.) Yahiko: A direct hit?! Kenshin (thinking): Back punch! (He dodges the first but takes the second punch. Hanya jumps to smash him into the ground, but Kenshin slips out of the way. He gets to his feet.) Yahiko (hitting him with a "Rocket Kick!"): You idiot! Kenshin: Oro!? Yahiko: You’re just getting beat up! That’s not like you! Use the Hiten Mitsurugi reading technique you’re so good at! Kenshin: I already am. I saw the punch and the back punch and just barely dodged. But his arms seemed to grow longer. Hanya: What’s wrong, Battousai? You’re supposed to be better than that. If you can’t even defeat my arts, you wouldn’t last a minute with the Okashira. Yahiko: Arts!? Hanya: I am Hanya of the Edo Castle Oniwabanshuu. While I am a kempoist, I am also a spy. The instant I decided to keep an eye on you, a week ago, you had already fallen prey to my arts. Without even noticing. (in the ballroom.) Aoshi: They must have begun. Hanya is tough. Besides his skill at kempo, he uses the killer technique of Shinwan-jutsu. Unless he realizes what the technique really is, Battousai cannot win . . . Kenshin: I see. An art . . . (he assumes a new stance) It may be tedious, but you must defeat this first. Sanosuke: Hey, kid swordsman. What stance is that? Yahiko: I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before. Of the five stances it’s closest to the "Seigan," but it’s still pretty different. Hanya: The Shinken stance! From the seigan, both arms are raised high and extended. The sword is held straight and horizontal, the point level with the opponent’s forehead. One can adapt to change in the opponent’s movement. One of the solid defensive stances of old-style kenjutsu! Hanya: However! On the other hand, it’s difficult to turn around and attack. It’s a stance totally committed to protection. Is that all you have to scare me with, Battousai? (Kenshin says nothing.) Hanya: Answer me! (He doesn’t move.) Hanya: Is this . . . nothing more than this . . . what the legendary Hitokiri really is . . . ! I am a fool for overestimating you! Someone like you and the Okashira . . . you could never face Lord Aoshi! I’ll kill you here! No matter what kind of defenses you've got, you can't defeat the Shinwan if you don't even know what it is!! (He charges, punching to the right of the outstretched sword. This time Kenshin pulls himself out of the way.) Yahiko: He dodged! Sanosuke: He figured it out? (Kenshin strikes Hanya across the forehead. He falls back, clutching his mask.) Yahiko: He did it! Sanosuke: Did you figure it out? Kenshin: Yes. The truth behind his art is the horizontal stripes tattooed on both arms. Sanosuke: Stripes . . .I get it, they fool the eye . . . !! The horizontal stripe pattern makes things appear shorter and fatter than they are. So you misjudge the distance. Kenshin: Yes. His arms were a little longer than they appeared. So it felt like his arms were growing longer. That’s why when I intended to just barely dodge, I took the full force of the blow. Hanya: So . . . you . . . the defensive Shinken stance wasn’t useless at all! You used the horizontal sword to correct your error! Sanosuke: Of course. A swordsman would know the length of his beloved blade like the back of his hand! (demonstrating with Yahiko’s bokutou) Yahiko: So he could use it like a ruler! (Gimme back my sword!) Kenshin: When I first saw you I had doubts about that strange costume. Stripes on both arms would be too striking, a disadvantage to a spy. But, they might be an advantage to a kempoist . . . On top of that, the mask hides your eyes and expression, making your moves more difficult to read. At first glance it looks strange, but this is carefully calculated battle dress! Hanya: You’re correct . . . but this mask does more than hide my expression. (He takes his hands away from the cracking mask.) Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 24--Hanya’s Costume, Shikijou’s Scars Yahiko: He’s a demon. . . (Hanya’s face is horribly deformed, with no nose, no lips, and mismatching eyes.) Hanya: A demon? Heh heh . . . This face is convenient in its way. You don’t have to like it. Kenshin: You . . . is that face your own . . . Hanya: Well now. I am a spy. My primary duties are not fighting, but gathering information. I can disguise my face in any way. I burned off my lips. Cut off my ears and nose. Smashed my cheekbones . . . I don’t know where you’re from, but in the region where I was born there are a lot of poor villagers. In villages like that parents sometimes kill their children if they can’t afford to feed them. It’s still a custom today. Where I come from, it’s called "returning the child." Sanosuke: So you were . . . Hanya: Even though they were almost starving, my family couldn't do it. If I had been "returned" then, my life would have ended. Instead, I could only hang around like a dog, kill or steal like a lone wolf. However! (Long claw-like blades rip out of his gloves.) Yahiko: Kagitsume! Hanya: Lord Aoshi picked me up when I was a lone wolf and raised me to be the finest spy! Now I am one of the Edo Castle Oniwabanshuu. I was given these compatriots as something to live for!! If it would help Lord Aoshi, I would give up my face, my life--anything!! (he leaps forward) Sanosuke: Watch out, Kenshin! He’s crazy! He’d risk it all for his Okashira . . . the Oniwabanshuu . . . A mad demon! Kenshin: Answer me one thing, Hanya! Did you know about Miss Megumi’s past? Hanya: There’s only one thing an Oniwabanshuu spy doesn’t know--nothing! (Kenshin blocks the claws with his sword. Hanya twists, trying to break it, but the sword holds true. He springs away, leaping off from the opposite wall. Kenshin rushes forward to meet him. They trade blows, and Kenshin takes a cut to the shoulder.) Hanya: It’s no good. (his claws splinter and break) You’re nowhere near as good as Lord . . . Aoshi . . . (he collapses.) Yahiko: He’s finally down. Sanosuke: A tough guy. Kenshin: . . . Hanya. Even though you of all people should know the bitterness of being alone, you couldn’t think of Miss Megumi . . . Sanosuke: Kenshin . . . Kenshin (sheathing the sword): Miss Megumi’s waiting. Let’s hurry. (They set off running) Sanosuke: You okay? Kenshin: The wounds are minor. They’ve already stopped bleeding. Sanosuke (thinking): And Hanya idolized this Shinomori Aoshi . . . what kind of man could he be . . (A giant iron ball on a chain smashes between them. It’s wielded by a large man covered in scars, standing at the top of the stairs.) Shikijou: If you’ve come this far you must have beaten Hanya. Well done. (He snaps the chain, bringing the iron ball to rest in his hand.) Oniwabanshuu Keeper of the Castle Gate, Shikijou. Instead of a greeting, let’s have a game. (He throws the ball again. Sanosuke catches it with both hands.) Kenshin: Sano! Sanosuke: It’s okay. Leave this muscle freak to me. You hurry up. I’ll take care of him, and we can go get that twisted girl! Kenshin: Sano . . . Let’s go, Yahiko! (Picking up Yahiko, he zips up the stairs past Shikijou, who makes no move to stop him.) Sanosuke: Why you . . . you knew Kenshin could get past you from the start! Shikijou: It’s nothing. It’s standard practice to give way to the best. So I'll have to put up with a third-rate match. The street fighter Zanza. Surprised? Hanya told me all about you. Including your underworld name. I know what you're worth without your zanbatou. Sanosuke (throwing down the ball and driving it into the floor): Make no mistake, you patchwork doll! Even without a zanbatou, I've still got these two fists!! I'm the one putting up with third-rate!! Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 25--A Showdown of Strength Yahiko: Hey, Kenshin. Is Sanosuke gonna be okay by himself? That patchwork guy looked pretty strong . . . Kenshin: Sano will be fine. He won’t need any help. (they approach the ballroom) We’re breaking in. Hold on! (back at the stairway) Shikijou: Feh. So you call the one entrusted as Keeper of the Castle Gate "third-rate"? It looks like all we've got to be proud of is our arms. A literal test of strength. Sanosuke: Great. Let’s do it!! (They grapple. Shikijou drives Sanosuke up against the wall.) Sanosuke (thinking): What kind of strength has this patchwork guy got . . . (Shikijou, grinning, headbutts him. Sanosuke slides to the ground.) Shikijou: Poor, very poor. You let in the headbutt. As you can see from the scars, my whole life has been fighting. You can move the body in more ways than you think. Sanosuke (struggling to his feet): You . . . bastard . . . Shikijou: Stop. If you took that blow your skull should have been smashed. The shock should have reached your brain, and you should be unable to move a muscle. And yet . . . you made my hands shake. (glancing down at his hands, which have been gripped so hard they’re torn and shivering). I like you, kid. How about it. Forget Battousai and join us. Sanosuke: What? Shikijou: We don’t care about your background. All that matters is that you’re strong. I was originally a spy from Satsuma, on the side of the Ishin Shishi. In the second year of Keiou I was sneaking into the Edo Castle for information about the upcoming war. I was crushed by the Okashira, even though he was only thirteen at the time. Young Aoshi (standing over the fallen Shikijou, who has fresh cuts bleeding across his face): To kill someone whose strength is so extraordinary would be regrettable. Come to the Oniwabanshuu. If you were to use our secret muscle-building medicine you would become even stronger. Do so and join us, and you will be unbeatable. The young Aoshi. It’s really a design I had done for a different character, but I tried it here and it felt right (It was actually a girl, but oh well.) However, Aoshi’s bangs really bother me now. --Watsuki Nobuhiro Shikijou: And so I gained my unbeatable strength! You are the same. You have the potential even now. If you used the Oniwabanshuu’s secret medicine, you might rival Hanya or I! Sanosuke: That’s quite a story. Shimomori Aoshi must be some warrior. Shikijou: If the Okashira had gone to Kyoto with the Ishin Shishi, the legendary strongest of all would not be Battousai! Sanosuke: The Oniwabanshuu is strong . . . of course. Fighting like Beshimi or Hyottoko works --but that’s all you can say about it. Shinomori Aoshi has gathered fighters from far and wide, but that's all. Shikijou: What are you trying to say? Sanosuke: Every last one of them is strong. So that means he found men to which fighting is everything. But Himura Kenshin is different. The girl, Yahiko, even Takani Megumi . . . he’s surrounded by all kinds of people who love him. The Hitokiri is a thing of the past. He’s a vagabond now. He wouldn't fight unless it was a just cause. Shikijou (punching him): What are you trying to say, kid?! Sanosuke (catching his fist): Everyone knows it. How strong he is, and that he doesn't fight for himself. (He catches the other fist) His reverse blade is only to protect others. You’re addicted to strength! You couldn't give it up, and now you're just the puppets of Takeda Kanryuu! Himura Kenshin is not like that! Shikijou (flailing, trying to escape the hold): What do you think all that flattery's going to get you? Who’s addicted to strength? You talk big, but you won’t defeat the great Shikijou!! Sanosuke: That's what I mean by addicted to strength! (He squeezes Shikijou’s fists, then releases them, broken and bleeding.) Shikijou: What--!? (Sanosuke punches him in the middle of his forehead.) Sanosuke: No matter how thick your skull is, you must have felt that. (Shikijou collapses) Sanosuke: Shikijou. If your paths cross, try fighting Kenshin. (remembering Captain Sagara) Maybe you can find what you've lost. (turning to go up the stairs) Who knows how many of the Oniwabanshuu are left. If we keep on going like this I’m gonna . . . (he passes out.) (Kenshin enters the ballroom to see Aoshi standing alone at the other end.) Kenshin: This is the first time we’ve met, equally, face to face. Aoshi: Yes . . . the Makings of the Characters--Oniwabanshuu Hanya-- Hanya’s motif wasn’t a masked ninja (laughs) but the Elephant Man and Spiderman. In the early story, like the Elephant Man, Hanya’s mother was trampled by an animal while he was in the womb and so was born disfigured. He could not come in contact with people without being persecuted, and was called a demon, and so lived alone deep in the mountains. Aoshi found him there and he became one of the Oniwabanshuu. "There is no place other than the Oniwabanshuu where I can live as a human being," I thought about him saying, and so only through fighting could he prove he was human. That was the early Hanya. But, when I had to draw it, the idea that "one’s birth determines one’s situation" didn’t appeal to me, and at the end of a long debate with my boss about what would be the best way to end a boy’s comic (the longest since the beginning of Ruroken, I’m sure) I replaced it with the present version. After this, Yamazaki Susumu of the Shinsengumi was brought to his nature. I received a lot of interesting guesses about Hanya; many people though he was actually a beautiful woman, others that he was Aoshi’s double or his twin. Many of them I’d never even considered, and I thought they were very interesting. Maybe I’ll have to bring them in as a new character . . . (But my plans are uncertain.) Other than the motif, his design was purely a skeleton. That his two eyes are a different shape is a holdover from the original design. This is off the subject, but as we drew Hanya’s clothes over and over, my assistants kept calling him a robot or a mobile suit. Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 26--the Okashira, Shinomori Aoshi Kenshin: As I said to Hanya, I would avoid an unnecessary battle if I could. Will you stand aside and tell me where Kanryuu and Miss Megumi are? Aoshi: When you said that to Hanya, did he give way? I will not either. You will ask where they are with your reverse blade. And I will answer with this. (he pulls aside his coat, revealing a short sword) Kenshin (thinking): The length of that sword! Yahiko: You’re gonna fight him with just one wakizashi! You're mocking him!! Aoshi: Stand away, child. Yahiko: WHY YOU-- Kenshin: I too must ask you the same. Yahiko (stomping off to the sidelines): Everyone’s against me! Fine, but one wakizashi isn’t going to give you any trouble. So settle this quick! Kenshin (turning back to Aoshi): If that truly was a wakizashi we could settle this without trouble, but . . . Aoshi: It seems you know of the strengths of the kodachi. Yahiko: Kodachi? Kenshin: In short, it’s a sword between a katana and a wakizashi. Shorter than a katana, its attacking power is lesser, but it is lightweight and turns extremely quickly, so it is a strong defense in emergencies. These are the characteristics of the kodachi*, "the sword which is used as a shield" . . . *also known as the long or the large wakizashi. Kenshin: A considerable disadvantage when turning to attack the enemy . . . Aoshi: Really. If that’s true, then let me attack. (He drives forward. Kenshin instantly whips his sword out of its sheath.) Aoshi (thinking): He’s fast! (He blocks Kenshin’s blow with the kodachi, then kicks him to the head.) Yahiko: Kenshin! Kenshin (thinking): A kick! No . . . Like Hanya, he’s a kempoist! (They trade blows. While Aoshi lands several punches, he blocks everything Kenshin throws at him.) Kenshin: I see. You plan to create an impenetrable defense with the kodachi, then, like Hanya, attack using kempo . . . Aoshi: You make one mistake. I was the one who taught Hanya kempo-- (he strikes Kenshin several times) Aoshi: And the speed and strength of a master and his pupil are vastly different. Do not think we are the same. Battousai, I have no personal grudge against you. But as the strongest of the Ishin Shishi, you will find your death here. Kenshin: You’re not doing this for Kanryuu. Aoshi: That goes without saying. That scum knows nothing. Kenshin: As the Edo Castle Oniwabanshuu, is it for the destroyed Tokugawa shogunate? Aoshi: If you too were a patriot, you know about the battle of Tobafushimi and the conduct of Tokugawa Yoshinobu-- Kenshin: Yes. The last Tokugawa shogun, Yoshinobu, knew his army was outnumbered and he and his senior officials fled Osaka Castle and escaped to Edo is his warship. He abandoned the ten thousand soldiers who were fighting and laying down their lives on the battlefield . . . Aoshi: After he fled to Edo, he sought sanctuary in the Karei Temple of Ueno. He entrusted everything to Katsu Kaishuu, who in conference with Saigou Takamori agreed to avert a decisive battle in Edo. Edo Castle was surrendered without bloodshed. The Bakumatsu ended without the Oniwabanshuu ever seeing battle . . . That Tokugawa was a coward means nothing. I regret only that I could not fight. In the course of history there is no "if," but if there had been a battle in Edo, if we had fought, the victory of the new era would have been ours. If a great fire had started in Edo, I and the Oniwabanshuu could have taken advantage of the confusion to rise and kill Saigou, Okubo, Katsurara and the rest of the Shishi leaders. The remaining incompetents could be smashed by the superior numbers of the Shogun’s army; it would have been finished. Yahiko: You--you idiot!! There’s no way you could have done that! Aoshi: We could. And could it not happen now? In this Tokyo? However, to do so now would have no meaning. What has meaning is the true strongest of the Bakumatsu. That is the Oniwabanshuu. This is proof. Kenshin: In these times . . . Ishin Shishi and Bakufu samurai were plunged into battle without their say. We were at war . . . But it wasn’t to decide who was right and who was wrong. It was for the country’s future. We laid down our lives for the people’s peace and happiness. But this is not you! You speak of burning a city to the ground--amidst all this bloodshed there is only a fighting heart cold as ice! So even now you continue. You assist Miss Megumi in bringing pain to people poisoned with opium. As an Ishin Shishi and as a vagabond, I cannot pass by without silencing you!! Aoshi: Whatever you say, as serious as you are, you have no chance of victory. Come. (Kenshin seems to disappear. Aoshi blocks the falling stroke from above. Kenshin sheathes the blade and slices it out again, but Aoshi counters that as well.) Aoshi: From the Ryuutsuisen of the Hiten Mitsurugi school to the instantaneous Battoujutsu? You attack well, but my kodachi cannot be destroyed so easily. (Kanryuu waits at the balcony.) Kanryuu: Damn those hirelings of mine! They're making a fool of me! (thinking) But I know this now. Like Battousai, that man has no interest in money. His fighting spirit is so strong he's almost mad. The slightest error on my part and they'll both be after me! Is there no way to be rid of both of them at once? Think, Kanryuu. If you can do this your future'll be golden. Servant: Um, Mr. Kanryuu. Kanryuu: What do you want!! Servant: Well . .. the tests were scheduled for today, but . . . Kanryuu: Idiot! Look around and think for once!! That was for the infantry! Servant: I understand. Please excuse me. Kanryuu: That--Wait!! (thinking) Of course! I’ve still got that--! (aloud) We’ll test it! Where is it now? Servant: It’s stored in the cellar . . . (Megumi sits in the tower, staring at the unsheathed dagger.) Megumi (thinking): Painful life . . . or a peaceful death . . . the Makings of the Characters--Oniwabanshuu Shikijou-- Shikijou’s motif was Sanosuke. It’s surprising to write this, but it’s true. That is, he has the same kind of nature as Sanosuke (full of self-confidence, big-hearted), his fighting style (power fighter) is the same, and we assume his position (the number one advisor of the group) is the same. When they confronted each other, the match between Sanosuke and Shikijou threw the differences between the two groups into sharp relief. (But whether I succeeded or not I’m not really sure . . . ) You can't be sure if Hanya is really evil or not, but I tried to make Shikijou a villain. But, when we see him at the edge of death, he accidentally became cool. On top of that, as is customary for a secondary character, a section of enthusiastic readers became attached to him. (But if you think about it, all of the Oniwabanshuu are like that . . .) But, this time the best reader response was for a single page, when the young Aoshi is introduced . . . as you’d expect, all the guys look like that (bitter laughter). Other than that, I don’t have much to say about the design. A power fighter needs muscles, but he looked too ordinary so I covered him with scars. But, the depiction of the muscles is a reference to American comics. Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 27--Fierce Fight (Aoshi’s punches rain down; one catches Kenshin across the face.) Aoshi: No matter how many times you attack, it’s futile. When pressed my kodachi could keep off bullets from a rifle. (Kenshin goes down.) Yahiko (thinking): He's too good . . . Kenshin couldn't even hit him once . . . Aoshi: Stand up. I don’t like dealing the finishing blow to one already defeated. Yahiko (thinking): No matter what advantage he has, he never has even a thin smile on his face . . . he really does have a fighting heart of ice! Dammit, he must have tripped him! (aloud) Kenshin! Kenshin (getting to his feet): I’m fine. It would take more than that to defeat me, without apologizing to Miss Megumi, without seeing Miss Kaoru’s face, without a word to Sano . . . Finally, I’ve come to see how to keep off the kodachi. Aoshi: Suddenly, you want to say, but it’s not in your nature to say such things. I’ll show you how. (Kenshin strikes) Aoshi (blocking): Slow! (he drops the kodachi to counter the next, when he sees that Kenshin is not gripping his sword by the hilt but above it.) Aoshi (thinking): What! The edge of the blade . . . (Kenshin drives the hilt into his throat, driving him back.) Kenshin: Aoshi. The secret to your strength is perfectly controlling your opponent’s range. Yahiko (thinking): Range . . . (flashback to a lesson from Kaoru.) Kaoru: Okay, Yahiko, range. The distance your opponent can cover with one attack. (Yahiko: Boring.) Kaoru: (You want to be strong, right? So listen up.) The range changes according to an individual’s skill and specialty with his weapon, but in a match at the master’s level, how your reach and your opponent’s precommit your moves become the essence of the fight. Kenshin: While there’s an advantage to my simple thinking and way of holding the sword, my longer reach creates a blind spot for me at close quarters. You use this blind spot when you trap the sword with the kodachi and attack with your fists. But when you attack with the kodachi, the blind spot is naturally eliminated. Aoshi: To cut flesh and sever bone . . . You’ve shown me the essence of the Hitokiri. In return, I shall bring you down with the essence of the Oniwabanshuu. (He strikes.) Kenshin (blocking easily, and thinking): Slow! Why so . . . (Aoshi is behind him, and then it seems he is surrounded by Aoshis, all in different positions.) Kenshin: The Kenbu!? (dodging stroke after stroke, and thinking) This is no ceremonial sword dance! Aoshi: You're too used to the clearly-defined moves of kenjutsu. This ever-changing flood of movement cannot be stopped. Kenshin (thinking): The kempo moves and the kodachi techniques are combined in a true fighting sword dance . . . ! Aoshi: Die. (He rakes Kenshin three times across the chest. Kenshin falls.) Aoshi: The Kaiten Kenbu. The technique which disposed of all who crept into Edo Castle. Yahiko (eyes wide with shock): Ken . . . shin . . . Aoshi: It’s over. Himura Battousai is dead. Yahiko: Shut up . . . then I’m next! I’ll destroy you even if it’s the last thing I do! Aoshi: Brave words. I'm almost sorry I'll have to kill you . . . Kenshin: Yahiko is the successor to the Kamiya Kasshin school . . . He can’t die in a place like this. Yahiko: Kenshin! Kenshin (regaining his feet): And I have no reason to die here either! Aoshi: Are you immortal--! Kenshin: Hardly. (Three pieces fall away from Kenshin’s scabbard.) Kenshin: This Kaiten Kenbu . . . it cut through the iron sheath like it was wood . . . Aoshi: I see . . by quickly raising the scabbard you cut the force of the blow in half. A great man. I see why they called you the strongest. No, I admit it myself from the heart. So now once more! We are prepared to take your title of strongest! (Kenshin is once more surrounded.) Yahiko: Watch out, Kenshin! He’s going into the Kaiten Kenbu! Aoshi: I said it before. You can’t stop this flood of movement. You’re slowed by wounds from head to foot . . . It’s over, Himura Battousai!! (Kenshin’s sword is knocked out of his hands.) Yahiko: Kenshin!! Kenshin: I certainly can’t stop your flood of movement. But, when you move to attack from the Kaiten Kenbu, for an instant, it’s a different story. (He grasps the kodachi between his two palms.) Yahiko: The shirabadori! Kenshin: In the five hundred schools of kenjutsu, there is only one way to catch a sword bare-handed. In all of kempo, there is none. Aoshi, if you want the title of "strongest," it’s yours. It’s not something I’m proud of. Right now, saving someone, and returning to someone who’s waiting-- (He twists the blade out of Aoshi’s hands and drives it into his throat again.) Kenshin:--is a thousand times more important! Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 28--The End of a Duel to the Death (Kenshin twists the kodachi out of Aoshi’s hands and drives the handle into his throat.) Aoshi (thinking): Can I have . . . lost . . . Kenshin: It’s futile. Retreat! A second blow to the windpipe-- Aoshi (punching him): Not yet--!! (They both fall.) Yahiko: Kenshin! Kenshin: I’m all right. (going spiral-eyed) Well, not really. But I’m fine. Yahiko: Which is it? Kenshin: Better than Aoshi-- (They turn to look at him, collapsed face forward.) Yahiko: Is he dead? Kenshin: No, just fallen. It wasn’t the pain of the second blow to the throat but the breath he needed to for that last punch that caused him sharp pain, making it difficult to breathe . . . But in the end, his fighting heart wouldn’t give up. He refused to accept defeat. (he smiles, patting Yahiko on the head.) When the Kaiten Kenbu knocked me down, your words showed a strong heart. Yahiko (grinning): All right! Now to destroy Kanryuu and rescue Megumi!! Kenshin: Now that you mention it, we still don’t know where they are. Maybe we should try to wake Aoshi-- (they are startled to see Aoshi rising to his feet.) Kenshin: You amaze me. Aoshi: I was down. . . Kenshin: Well . . . not for more than ten seconds. Aoshi: Why didn’t you deliver the final blow? Kenshin: I’m a vagabond now. Not the Hitokiri. But even without the final blow, a man like you would understand which of us should get the victory. Answer me one thing, Aoshi. You were a great man, entrusted with the position of Okashira for the Edo Castle Oniwabanshuu. Was there no oppurtunity for you to become an officer in the new government? Why are you now a mere bodyguard? There must have been a place for you to use your own abilities . . . Aoshi: That place was as distant as the mountains. I don’t know where you heard about the Oniwaban, but I could have been anything from an intelligence officer to a bodyguard for important members of the government. But all the offers were only for me. Those like Hyottoko and Beshimi were considered mere one-trick ponies. Those like Shikijou were traitors. If you’ve seen Hanya’s face you’ll understand why he . . . And the others didn’t even have a chance. How could the Okashira betray his followers for a government post? I refuse to be a traitor like the last Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu. But I understand Yoshinobu. What he did demanded total obedience. To not drag out the war and drain the country’s resources was an important government decision. But I refuse this as well. When we were thrown out into the new Tokyo, the Oniwabanshuu stayed with me for ten years. One by one, they found new lives and left me. Finally there were only four left. The Oniwabanshuu, who could not fight when the time came for it, were left over. The miserable few who didn’t know how to do anything but fight. I wanted at least to give them the honor of being known as the strongest--Deliver the final blow. Or I’ll pursue you until I have satisfaction. Kenshin: It doesn't matter. Challenge me, if that's what you want. Yahiko: Kenshin! Kenshin: But I cannot permit you to involve others in our fight. (Kanryuu appears in the double doors, beside a cloth-covered object.) Kanryuu: Ha---ha ha! You talk big even while you fail--you’re pathetic, Shinomori Aoshi!! (confident he has their attention.) Hello. It’s a shame to interrupt your talk, but I’m afraid I’ll have to cut you short. Aoshi: Kanryuu . . . Kenshin: Good. I won’t have to waste time looking for him. Kanryuu: You’re very self-confident. Will you be so brave when you see this?! (He whips away the cloth.) Yahiko: What the-- Aoshi: That’s . . . Kenshin: No . . . A Gatling gun--!!! Gatling gun--the weapon developed by the American doctor Gatling in 1861, which was the original form of the future machine gun. Not only was it used in the American Civil War, but as a result various forms were produced all over the world. In Japan, it was purchased in the domain of Echigo Nagaoka, during the third battle of the Boshin war by the minister Kawai Tsugunosuke, and it became a grave threat to the government army. Kanryuu: Yes, a Gatling gun! But this is the very latest model from the black market, not yet known by the armies of the world. There’s no comparison to the ones from the time of the Bakumatsu. Very high-powered. Shall we try it out!! (The gun chatters, spewing bullts. In the observatory, Megumi hears the noise.) Megumi: Was that . . . gunshots? It can’t be . . . (thinking) Ken-san . . . (At the foot of the stairs, Sanosuke rolls over.) Sanosuke: God, that’s loud. Well, it woke me up, but-- Hanya (behind him): It sounds like something’s going on upstairs. Sanosuke: Hanya! Hanya: Relax. I and Shikijou lost our battles. We have no intention of doing something so cowardly as cutting a victor’s throat in his sleep. Now I’m more worried about Lord Aoshi. I’m going with Shikijou. You? Sanosuke: You . . . you’re not half bad, are you? Hanya: I hear sarcasm. Sanosuke: Nah. Hanya: Wake up, Shikijou. Shikijou: What, Hanya. Your face is exactly what I want to see when I wake up. Hanya: Sheesh. If it’s not one of you it’s the other. (In another part of the mansion, Hyottoko and Beshimi are convalescing side by side.) Hyottoko: Hey, small stuff. Beshimi: What, big guy? Hyottoko: Did you hear that? Beshimi: You hear it too? I thought my ears were playing tricks on me . . . Guess this is no place for a nice nap. (Kanryuu sprays the room with gunfire.) Kanryuu: What do you think? Amazing, isn’t it! Two hundred bullets per minute!! Yahiko: That bastard--he’s missing deliberately, just to mock us!! Kenshin: We've got one chance . . . but now there’s nothing to do but run. Kanryuu: Look, look, look! I’ll get you the instant you stop moving!! Aoshi: Kanryuu!! What the hell are you doing with that thing-- Kanryuu: How dare you address me without a title!! (He raises his line of fire to hit Aoshi’s legs.) Kenshin: Aoshi! Kanryuu: Well, that’s good enough. Why don’t we take a little break and I'll answer a few questions. (lighting a cigar) I plan to rise above this petty opium smuggling. My ultimate wish is to make more money than any merchant on earth. Aoshi (realizing what he means): No! Kanryuu: As a real "merchant of death" arms dealer. With this new type of opium I can gather the capital to fund my line of Gatling guns. This is what the great merchant Takeda Kanryuu was born for! Kenshin: You’d go so far--to prey upon the lives of others for money . . . Kanryuu: I might as well be chanting sutras to a horse, but . . . Hitokiri Battousai, until you attained your herculean strength you paid in time and effort. It was no easy task, am I right? However! With money, it’s easy to gain power! In an instant! Without paying any kind of price at all!! Money! The true proof of power! The true "strongest" is me! Now die!! (Sanosuke, Hanya and Shikijou dash through the opposite set of double doors.) Sanosuke: What the hell’s that!! Hanya: The Gatling gun! (Shikijou, catching sight of the wounded Aoshi, runs towards him.) Sanosuke: Shikijou!! Hanya: Now! Run, Battousai!! (Kenshin grabs Yahiko and runs for the doors.) Kanryuu (thinking): Which one! Which one to aim for-- Shikijou (to Kenshin, as they rush past each other): That rooster head. He spoke well of you. I didn't like him much, but he's got potential. Look after him. Kenshin: You . . . Kanryuu: Aoshi’s first--he can’t move! Shikijou: No! (He dives into front of the bullets.) Sanosuke: Shikijou!! Aoshi: Shiki . . . Shikijou: Don’t look like that. I am content. Ever since I used that medicine, my muscles have been my pride. That they could be a bullet-proof shield is proof . . . Kanryuu: That lump of meat--two hundred bullets should have pulverized him!! Hyottoko (bursting in through another set of doors): Hold it! Your opponent is the great Hyottoko! Don’t shoot! If you hit me the oil sack will catch fire and we’ll all go up in smoke! Kanryuu: Then try this!! (He shoots him in the head.) Aoshi: Hyottoko! Hyottoko: He got me . . . Beshimi! (Beshimi breaks out of the barrel on Hyottoko’s back.) Beshimi: Poisoned Rasen-- (Kanryuu fills him with bullets before he can throw the pellet.) Beshimi: O . . . Okashira, I didn’t think this would work . . . They called us the useless bastards with only one trick to perform . . . but we didn’t abandon the Oniwabanshuu, we gave our lives for our Okashira . . . I’m sorry . . . I guess we weren’t much help . . . Aoshi: Beshimi!! Kanryuu: Phew. That was close. That street performer’s trick could have done for me. Sanosuke: That bastard . . . Hanya: Battousai. How long would it take you to pick up the reverse blade and stop Kanryuu? Kenshin: Fifteen . . . no, ten seconds. Hanya: Ten seconds. That’s cutting it close. Kenshin: What? Hanya: Look. If you go up that second flight of stairs, there’s a small observatory. Takani Megumi is imprisoned there. Kenshin: Hanya . . .? Hanya: I have no special reason to think of the girl. Lord Aoshi is more important. After this it’s up to you. Himura Battousai. Kenshin: Wait, Hanya! (Hanya rushes out. Kenshin reaches his sword just as Hanya is cut down.) Kanryuu: That’s far enough, Battousai! To use that monster as a decoy is a cold trick worthy of the Hitokiri! But in the end you’ll all die in vain! Die! (He turns the handle. The gun is silent.) Kenshin: Take a good look. It can fire two hundred bullets per minute. You’ve been firing blindly for some time now. Kanryuu (thinking): I’m out of bullets?! Kenshin: They have not died for nothing. The lives of the Oniwabanshuu have defeated your Gatling gun. Now try begging the Lord God Money for your life!! (He strikes. Kanryuu collapses, twisted and broken.) Yahiko: You’re just lucky Kenshin doesn’t kill. (Aoshi stands in the center of the ballroom, surrounded by the bodies of the Oniwabanshuu. Kenshin puts a hand on Sanosuke’s shoulder.) Kenshin: Now, he might rather be alone. Sanosuke: You’re right. Kenshin: Let’s go. Miss Megumi’s waiting. the Makings of the Characters--Takeda Kanryuu-- Like Sanosuke, you’ll be able to tell right away I’m a fan of the Shinsengumi. Kanryuu’s model was the captain of the fifth unit of the Shinsengumi, Takeda Kanryuusai. Takeda Kanryuusai was a student of the Koushuu school of military science, and within the unit was an unusual kind of civil servant. But his character was bad; he flattered those above him and was spiteful and tricky to those below. In brief he was a fox borrowing the authority of a tiger, but whether he was bad or not, he opened a route to Satsuma. He finished and was purged. In books and novels about the Shinsengumi, the villains are always Serizawa Kamo, Yamanami Keisuke, Itoukashi Tarou, and finally Takeda Kanryuusai. I decided to use the last as my model. But, he was overshadowed by Megumi and the Oniwabanshuu. I think he was a failure as a villain, which is too bad. By the way, Takeda Kanryuusai was famous as being homosexual, and my first plan was to make Takeda Kanryuu gay as well. But it had nothing to do with the story and in the end I rejected that idea. Other than the model there’s not much to say about the design. To make him different from Nishiwaki from the short story, and since Aoshi and Kenshin were wearing black, I made his suit white. That’s really about it. Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 29--Two Destinies--Megumi (They climb the stairs and proceed down a passageway overlook the ballroom. Kenshin suddenly falls to his knees.) Sanosuke: Kenshin! Kenshin (getting up): I’m all right. I just stumbled a little. Let’s hurry. Miss Megumi is waiting. Sanosuke (thinking): Looks like it would be better if we hurried. (looking down upon the ballroom.) Shinomori Aoshi. Your great strength hurt Kenshin a lot. But in one battle, you were hurt worse by far . . . (Megumi, in the tower, clutches her knife anxiously) Megumi: The gunshots have stopped . . . what on earth . . . (The doorknob begins to rattle.) Sanosuke & Yahiko (kicking it open): This is taking too long! Yahiko: Right! Hey, no ambush. Megumi: Yahiko. Sanosuke . . . Kenshin: Sorry to have kept you waiting, Miss Megumi. Megumi: Ken-san . . . you’re hurt. Kenshin: We had a little trouble. But more importantly I’m glad to see you’re safe. (Megumi does not return their smiles.) Megumi: I’m sorry. I involved you in all this. And on top of that exposed you to such danger. But don’t worry. (putting the knife to her wrist.) The source of your worries will soon disappear. Kenshin: Miss Megumi!! Megumi: I’ve been reduced to making drugs . . . I regret that I couldn’t have seen my family again, but I’m very glad I met you in the end. Kenshin: Wait! Megumi: Thank you . . . (Sanosuke grabs the blade with his bare hand.) Sanosuke: You idiot! Kenshin and Yahiko just laid their lives on the line for you! You wanna throw all that away?! Megumi: But . . . there’s nothing I can do. My opium caused so much pain to so many people . . . Even knowing that I was forced to do it couldn’t restore to me even the weakest happiness . . . (a pause. Yahiko glances out the window.) Yahiko: Kenshin, trouble! It’s the police! They must have heard the noise! Hurry, let’s get out of here! Sanosuke (grabbing Megumi’s wrist): Don’t just stand there, hurry! (She snatches her hand away.) Megumi: Ken-san. (holding out a tiny jar) It’s a family treasure, medicine that stops bleeding. It’ll take care of the cuts on your chest until you can get to a doctor. Kanryuu made a secret passage in the roofspace. If you go through there you’ll get out safely. Thank you for taking care of me. (She turns to walk away.) Kenshin: The punishment for smuggling opium is death--Did you know that all along? Miss Megumi. Megumi: Yes . . . But the opium killed people like Sanosuke’s friend. I cannot run away. For the crime of taking life I can pay with my own. (Below, the police storm the mansion in a scene of chaos.) Policeman: Chief, look here! A hidden warehouse in the cellar! Chief: All right, confiscate everything! General Hubbub: Be quiet! Let me go! Dammit! This is a major smuggling operation! Let no one escape! Chief: We jumped at the chance to investigate this place when we got that report of noise, but I can’t believe there was a Gatling gun hidden here. (catching sight of Megumi on the second story landing) Who are you? Kanryuu (restrained by two policemen): That’s her! She’s the one that produced the special opium! She’s my accomplice! Don’t try and get out of this, Megumi! Whatever you say, you’re the one that made the opium! You’re coming to hell with me! Chief: Is this true? (Megumi begins to nod.) Kenshin (covering her mouth and saying sweetly): No, it isn't. Chief: Mr. Himura! Megumi: Mwen-man!! (Ken-san!) Kenshin: This women is an excellent doctor. They wanted her to produce opium for them. Kanryuu: What are you trying to pull, Battousai!! Kenshin (glaring at him with fierce Battousai eyes): You will be silent! (resuming his ordinary sweetness) Isn't that right, Yahiko. Yahiko: Oh yeah! I’m Myoujin Yahiko, descended of Tokyo samurai. And I definitely wouldn’t be fighting for someone who made opium! Kenshin: Sano? Sanosuke: I don’t know, I just came for the fight. But if you arrest this woman, I’ll have some more fighting to do. Kenshin: What do you say, Chief? Chief: I understand, Mr. Himura. I’m sure what you say is true. Kanryuu: What---!! She’s my accomplice!! Just investigate and you’ll see-- Chief: That’s enough, take him away. Kanryuu: Damn you!! This is a travesty--!! Police: Let’s go. Kenshin: Once in a while, everything turns out right . . . Sanosuke: Once in a while? (This happens every time, so I wouldn’t know.) Megumi: Ken-san . . . what on earth did you . . . Kenshin: "For the crime of taking life, I’ll pay with my own." There is another way to atone. You can’t bring back the people you’ve killed at your own deathbed. Rather than that, a single person wielding a sword for many--that is the true meaning of atonement. Hitokiri Battousai lives this way in the Meiji Age. Megumi (thinking): Hitokiri Battousai . . . (aloud) The legendary . . . Kenshin: The excellent Takani school of medicine should be able to save many more people than the sword of Battousai. (tossing her the jar of medicine) Become a doctor, Miss Megumi. Use your strength to save the hurt and the sick. Sanosuke: Yeah, and about my friend . . . I forgive you. Yahiko: And you can find your family! Kenshin: Let’s go home. Miss Kaoru’s waiting. Megumi: . . . All right. Kenshin (stopping): Oh yes. Chief, about Aoshi-- Chief: Aoshi? Who’s that? Kenshin: What? The tall man in the coat . . . Chief: There’s no one like that here. When we arrived the only one in the ballroom was Takeda Kanryuu. There were four decapitated bodies, but . . . The Making of the Characters--Takani Megumi-- I didn’t have any specific model, but made an image of an adult flirtatious woman. There were a lot of readers that were confused that she was completely different from the Megumi in the short story (compare them in Vol 3), but I don’t think they’re that different; they have the same place in my heart. The Megumi of the short story was the middle of three children but cast the faintest shadow and was content to be passive. But, as it came out in the books, it was imperative that she be flirtatious, and as I’d never done that kind of character before, I did a lot of research. Reading it over now, It’s too bad I didn’t cut the flirting. Well, discord is the essence of drama, so there’s nothing I could do . . . . Individually Megumi was fun to draw, so I thought I would introduce her as a minor character, the only other woman that Kaoru interacts with. And on top of that it was necessary for her to have special skills . . . . I got a lot of letters from readers that said "Aoshi and Megumi look good together," and "Sano and Megumi look good together," but I think that of the former, it's their art that looks good together, and of the latter, it's their personalites (they both have no characters). But, just like I haven’t decided whether Kenshin and Kaoru will be a couple . . . . The theme of the Megumi story is atonement, and although it was a story where I could think about Kenshin/Hitokiri Battousai’s feelings on atonement, the second half gave me a lot of trouble. When it comes time to write about Kenshin’s own atonement it will give me even more trouble, but right now my head hurts too much. My design came from young Baichi-chan in Obata’s "Cyborg Jiichan G." (Cyborg Grandpa G) It was a great deal of work, and of course I can’t draw like him, so in my style it turned into a bad Megumi. (Sigh . . .) Back to Home To Volume Four To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Four--Two Destinies Part 30--Two Destinies--Aoshi Sanosuke: Aoshi's gone?! Chief: There’s no windows . . . and no one’s gone in or out the doors. Sanosuke: He’s really gone!? How’d you let him escape?! Chief: Don’t be foolish! We have every exit covered. It’s impossible that anyone could have gone in or out without our noticing. The perimeter of the mansion is also secured. Yahiko: Well, then he really is a spy. He disappeared like smoke . . . Kenshin: No . . . there’s another entrance below us. Megumi: Kanryuu’s secret passage! While we were in the observatory and the police were entering, he got out through the passage in the roofspace! It goes from the roofspace, through the walls and comes out in the woods. I’ll take you there! (In the woods, a square of turf has been dragged aside to reveal a shaft with a ladder.) Megumi: The door’s open. He came through here. Chief: Search the area! He can’t have gone far! Don’t let so much as a cat escape! (Aoshi appears standing atop a wall, holding the four heads of the Oniwabanshuu. The police freeze at the sight.) Chief: What are you doing? Seize him-- Sanosuke (silencing him): Stop, or he’ll just kill them. (to Aoshi) It's not your fault. You couldn't stop the Gatling gun. They died for you, but they don't want revenge. Kenshin: Aoshi . . . if you can’t forgive yourself, then fight me again now. Fight and destroy me. And lay the name of "strongest" on their graves. Aoshi (turning away): Battousai. Until I kill you, no one will. (He disappears.) Chief: He’s getting away! Follow him! Megumi: Kenshin . . . Kenshin: It’s all right. Comforting words will do no good now. Megumi: But now it’ll be you he’s after! Kenshin: I’ll be all right. Now this time, let’s really go home. (At the Kamiya dojo. Kaoru greets them with open arms, all ten fingers bandaged from her cooking efforts.) Kaoru: Welcome back!! Kenshin: We’re home. Kaoru: Ouch, you really look hurt . . . Kenshin: Miss Kaoru, your fingers . . . Kaoru: Oh yes! There’s breakfast and I prepared a nice hot bath after your hard work. Help yourselves! Sanosuke (passing her by): I’m tired, I’m going to bed. (Lemme borrow a futon.) Yahiko: Me too. (Kaoru (looking heartbroken): But, I worked so hard . . .) Kenshin: I'd like a bite to eat. Megumi: I’d like something too . . . if it’s all right. (They look at her in surprise, and then smile.) Kaoru: Of course! And so the curtain closes Megumi: This tastes terrible. (Kenshin restrains the furious Kaoru.) On the matter of the opium and the two destinies of the fight to the death. (Later. Megumi is about to leave with the doctor.) Megumi: I want to thank you for everything. I’m sorry I had to burden you with another mouth to feed . . . Yahiko: What? Someone should come and cook for us everyday. Megumi: Well, if I hear of a good live-in cook I’ll introduce you . . . Doctor: No, with an assistant like Megumi we’ll get a big welcome wherever we go. (patting her rump.) Megumi: Ken-san? (Doctor (broken and bleeding): Somebody call a doctor . . . .) Kenshin: Oro? (Yahiko: You are a doctor) Megumi: If you ever get tired of Kaoru, please tell me. I’ll be your "opponent" any time. Kaoru: Get out of here, you--you--you--vixen! (Megumi giggles.) Kenshin (blankly): What do you mean, opponent? Sanosuke: I told you before. The girl’s too naive, don’t tease her. Megumi: Oh, that’s all right. I was serious. If I said I wanted one like you, I might be joking, but . . . Sanosuke: You looking for a fight? And I thought you’d really reformed this time . . . No way. Megumi: Silly. By the age of 22, it’s too late to change your ways. (as they leave) Polish yourself up a little and get in line with Ken-san. I’ll give you an opponent! Sanosuke: Only you’d say something like that. (So whadduya mean, opponent?) Well, whatever. (Kaoru: And don’t come back!) (Kaoru’s sign: No Vixens Allowed.) Sanosuke: This whole fiasco’s over. (Yahiko (to Kaoru): Oh, shut up.) Kenshin: Well, that's Miss Megumi all right . . . Sanosuke: You fought at the risk of your own life, and her life is what you’ve got to show for it . . . And in the end he shook off the police pursuit and disappeared . . . . Kenshin: Yes . . . maybe we won’t see him for a long time yet. The wounds will heal and we’ll train again. Before I can say I’ll win for certain I’ll have to prepare my own strength and confidence . . . Out of regard for Miss Megumi, I said I was all right, but . . . next time, who will win . . . Yahiko: What are you saying. Kenshin, there’s no way you’ll lose! Kenshin: Maybe it’ll be all right. (thinking) It has been . . . so far. If I can see Shinomori Aoshi’s salvation in this world it’ll be all right . . . (A traveler deep in the forest stumbles on a clearing, where a tall man in a coat stands before four crude graves.) Aoshi: I don’t have flowers to lay before you yet. But I will. Traveler: What are you doing? Alone deep in the mountains. (Aoshi walks silently away.) Traveler: Hey, you can’t do that! Locals can’t come in here! It’s a demon’s forest! Those who train in the ways of weapons can’t set foot in there! Hey, can’t you hear me!! Hey--!! Two Destinies--End The Makings of the Characters-- Okashira Shinomori Aoshi-- Even when I wrote the paragraph about Beshimi, I was just adding the Oniwabanshuu impromtu to the story, and although I was glad that Aoshi would appear, I was in trouble because I had no idea what he looked. But, as models for the Oniwabanshuu, my beloved Shinsengumi came to mind, and Aoshi naturally grew out of the Shinsengumi’s Hijikata Toshizou. But, there are two ways that Hijikata is portrayed in books and novels (if you’re a fan of the Shinsengumi I think you’ll understand.) One is the way he is represented in "Burning Sword:" Hijikata with great combat instincts who fought until death (this is the Hijikata I’m a fan of.) But the Hijikata who killed his gentler feelings, who played the role of a demon and cried within his heart, who buried his human weakness, is the Hijikata that Aoshi is based on. How Aoshi, like Hijikata, fought until death we won’t give away here, but it won’t be long until he reappears. Other than this model, I didn’t have any particular design, but used one from my sketchbook. However as time went on, the image of Hijikata became looser, his bangs got longer, more in the modern style. I tried to go back and fix it, but it would have made you laugh (hey!) so I left it how it was. The coat I took from that popular American comic . . . Back to Home To Volume Four To Volume Five