Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now from the front flap-- Watsuki: No sooner do I finish cleaning than it's messy again! What is this?? Okina: It's only natural if you spend all your time working, not to mention collecting books and figures and all. HOUSECLEANING It's already been a year since I moved to my present office. It's pretty big, so my stuff is all over the place. I start cleaning, and then I stop in the middle before I get anything done. I ended up throwing most of my books and things into the closet because the Spawn series of figures have finally come out and I got bogged down messing around with those. These days I kind of wish I had some time, or a maid, or a wife . . . Part 112--Advance Move (Sanosuke throws his jacket over his shoulder and walks back towards the others--and falls over.) Kenshin (applying Megumi's salve to his hand): Are you all right? Sanosuke: Ow ow ow. Saitou: It's your own fault. You're the one that ignored my advice and neglected your defense. Well, there's seven of the Ten Swords left. And there's only two of us. Sanosuke: WHAT?? Saitou: You think you can still fight? Especially with that right hand. The Sanjuu no Kiwami on top of repeated Futae no Kiwami have jarred the bones. If you're hurt you're only going to get in the way. You should turn back here. Sanosuke (raising a fist in defiance): You must be joking. To come this far and turn back without even getting a look at Shishio's face? (remembering it's his right fist he's clenching) Owwwwwwww. Kenshin: . . . Lately, Sano, you've been just a little too dense. Well, the bleeding's stopped for now. Let's get that hand bandaged. Sanosuke (taking the jar of medicine): Lemme borrow this a sec. Anji! (Anji has not moved, still on his knees, head bowed.) Kenshin: Even Megumi's medicine can't heal those wounds. (Sanosuke starts forward) Sano. Sanosuke: Anji. Wanting to save the weak and oppressed isn't wrong. It was only your way of doing it. You can fix your mistakes. Just not as the Bright King this time. Go back to being the kind priest and save the world. You can save with kindness. It's not weak . . . You knew that ten years ago. You should have been saving the kindness of the man you were just before the children of that tablet . . . died. For their sake, don't end it here. (He turns to go.) Anji: Even now it might not be too late. Turn back now. (Everyone turns in surprise.) Anji: The only Ten Swords ahead of you are Soujirou, Usui and Houji. The others have already left to massacre those at the Aoiya. Kenshin: Shishio. Yumi: Don't get the wrong idea! This is Houji's plan. Lord Shishio had nothing to do with it! Sanosuke (pushing her aside): Who cares who it was? Come on, we're going back! Yumi: You can't. I'm the only one who knows the way out. You can go back if you want, but one false step and you'll all die together. Sanosuke: Damn you! Kenshin-- Kenshin: . . . We'll have to keep faith that the others can take care of themselves and hurry forward. It'll be quicker than trying to find our way through the maze . . . (As they walk on) Kenshin (thinking): Master . . . please be in time. (Shishio's masked soldiers march in on the Aoiya. Okon bursts inside.) Okon: This doesn't look good! We're completely surrounded! My count's around a hundred and fifty! Okina: So Himura was right. Misao: All right, this is it! Kaoru: We're fighting to protect ourselves, not destroy the enemy. Got that everyone? Misao: Of course! No one's gonna die while I'm Okashira! Yahiko: A hundred and fifty? If the old guy's not fighting, that's twenty apiece. Kamatari (from outside): You're a little off, boy. (He, Henya and Iwanbou stand in front of the army.) Kamatari: These guys are just to keep you from running away. We're your opponents. So give it up and come on out! (In Shishio's headquarters) Yumi: We're here. This is the second room. Once you open this room, you can't turn b-- Kenshin: No need to speak further. (He kicks the door in. The floor, wall and ceiling are painted with giant eyes. In the center of the room crouches Usui. He holds a short spear with a double-edged tip and a large ball at the base.) Usui: Welcome. One, two . . . three of you. So Anji couldn't even get one of you, eh? Well, no matter, no matter. Kenshin (going into battle stance): I don't care about your big words. Are you getting out of the way or not? Hurry and decide. Sanosuke: Hey, Ken-- (Saitou thwacks Kenshin out of the way.) Sanosuke: --shin . . . Saitou: It's good that you're angry, but don't rush it, fool. Haste will cause unnecessary strain and cut your strength in half. This one's mine. Hurry and get out of here. Kenshin (surprised): Saitou. Saitou: Go. Kenshin (turning to go): Sorry about this. Yumi: Hey, wait! You can't just-- Sanosuke (scooping her up and running after him): Shut up! You're coming too. Yumi: Hey! Lord Shishio's the only man allowed to touch me! Usui: Saitou Hajime. You're a nicer man than I thought. Saitou: And your mind's eye isn't as good as I thought. Now that he's out of here he can't get in my way. And I'll be free to kill you. Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 113--Usui's Mind's Eye, Saitou's Mind's Eye Yumi (being carried by Sanosuke as they run): You can't just run off like this! If Usui wins, one of you's next! Hey! Sanosuke: Who said you get to make up the rules? Just tell us where the next room is! The Results of the Second Character Popularity Poll 1. Himura Kenshin--21292 2. Sagara Sanosuke--10433 3. Shinomori Aoshi--4871 4. Kamiya Kaoru--3488 5. Saitou Hajime--3418 6. Seta Soujirou--3224 7. Myoujin Yahiko--3181 8. Makimichi Misao--2759 9. Hiko Seijuurou--2446 10. Yuukyuuzan Anji--1814 11. Sagara Souzou 12. Shishio Makoto 13. Okita Soushi 14. Takani Megumi 15. Sanjou Tsubame 16. Kamatari 17. Arai Iori/ Udou Jineh Usui: Kill me? Me? (Saitou only half-smiles.) Usui: Could it be you carry a grudge for the fifty policemen I killed in Kobe? (Saitou seems somewhat surprised.) Usui: I can't see, but with my mind's eye I know you completely. Your emotions run high. You cannot hide anything from me. Revenge and justice. No matter, no matter. Just remember to keep your cool. Saitou: I see . . . so I was right. Your mind's eye isn't any kind of witchcraft or magic. You can't read my thoughts or even my state of mind. As one of the Shinsengumi and of the police, I have a duty to protect the peace of Japan and livelihood of her people. Once I accepted this role, losing my life became a given. It would be strange to obsess over every detail, like Battousai does. The dead are at peace. When I enter their world, I may think that my duty is unfulfilled, but I'll have no thoughts of revenge. If you can't see it with your mind's eye, I'll tell you. Only one thing stirs my emotions. Kill. Evil. Instantly. For the sake of my own justice alone! Usui: Interesting. Former captain of the Shinsengumi third unit, Saitou Hajime, as an opponent you are not wanting. (Saitou leaps forward, striking with the Gatotsu. Usui blocks it with the ball at the base of the spear.) Usui: So this is your famous Gatotsu? It's weak! Bouken Bougyoku Hyakka Ryouran! (He strikes in a flurry with both the tip and base. Saitou jumps back, taking hits on the left shoulder and right thigh.) Usui: You look like you've been bewitched by a fox. How could I aim when I'm not supposed to be able to see? How could I have blocked the Gatotsu? You want to know? Hmm . . . Looks that way, looks that way. All right, I'll tell you. As you said, my mind's eye isn't magic. It's this. (He points at his ear.) Usui: During the Bakumatsu, I went up against Shishio and was blinded. I was useless, so the Bakufu simply abandoned me. My days in hell began. I couldn't tell where I was. Before long I was lost in the mountains, wandering on the border of life and death. I could bear my hunger, but not my thirst. Then, I heard the sound of water and ran towards it. I ran and ran. By the time I reached the small stream, night was already falling. That's when I realized. I could heard the far-off sounds of the stream because I had developed unnaturally keen hearing. Through this sense I can hear all the sounds of the human body. Their heartbeats betray my opponent's state of mind. The expansion and contraction of their muscles and the abrasion of their bones tell me exactly how they plan to attack. This is my invincible mind's eye! Before this, your Gatotsu is just a stab in the dark! (a pause) Usui: Hm, your pulse is a little quicker. Saitou: I might have guessed by that strange outfit, but you're pretty sure of yourself. Don't underestimate the Gatotsu. (He snaps his fingers. The ball falls in pieces from the spear.) Saitou: I thank you for your valuable information about your mind's eye. In exchange, shall I tell you about mine? Don't worry. I don't have amazing ears like you. My mind's eye is simply the insight a swordsman gains after escaping a lot of life-or-death situations. You could call it intuition. Usui: Oh? And what do you see with your mind's eye? Saitou: Just this! The real reason you fight for Shishio! After your story about Shishio blinded you--it should be a loathsome past you bear a deep grudge for, but when you smiled faintly, I understood at once. You've given up on revenge. You learned to use your mind's eye and thought you had become strong, but you were only strong enough to escape death when you fought Shishio again. Your failure was inevitable. You'd been allowed back into your old life in vain. So you accepted Shishio's proposal under the condition that if you ever got your chance, you would kill him. By pretending he was your real target, you could live without having to recognize your own failure . . . How was that? Am I close? Usui: Heh. Saitou: Heh heh heh. Usui & Saitou: HA---HA HA HA HA HA! Usui: WHAT'S SO FUNNY! (He unscrews the base of the spear, shortening it to about two feet, and holds out his turtle-shell shield.) Usui: Saitou Hajime, your mind's eye is great, but--one practioner of the mind's eye is enough! I'll kill you with my true technique! Saitou (in Gatotsu stance): A whipped dog shouldn't bark so loud. Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 114--The Stabbing Fang Usui: I'll kill you! Saitou: Try it. Usui: I will! (They charge) Saitou (thinking): The turtle shield! I don't know if there's some trick to it, but there's nothing the Gatotsu can't pierce! (The tip of his sword meets the shield. Usui hears it and moves the shield sharply to the side, glancing the sword away.) Usui: A trick? What did you think, Saitou? This shield is a Timbeh. The curve of the turtle's shell disposes of the enemy's weapon--(thrusting the shield in Saitou's face)--and seals off his field of vision. And its partner, the hand spear Rouchin--stabs! (He drives the spear into Saitou's thigh. Saitou drops back a few paces.) This is one of the arts of the royal family in my homeland, Ryuukyuu. A fighting art based on this spear and shield! (Saitou, showing no sign of pain, resumes the Gatotsu stance.) Usui: . . . I see. The strength of the Shinsengumi sword, the attack you refined until it became an ultimate killing technique. Till the end you rely on the Gatotsu. But! (Saitou charges again, only to be blocked and stabbed as before.) Usui: The instant your Gatotsu strikes the surface of the shield it can't see past, my mind's eye sees everything! My three-step attack cannot fail! (Saitou falls back again, bleeding.) Usui: You can see where this is going, Saitou. You can't hit me with the Gatotsu. Prepare yourself, Saitou. I'll kill you without a second's pause. You saw the depths of my heart that even Shishio didn't see. I'll make you regret that. Saitou: You think torturing those weaker than yourself will make you forget that you can't kill Shishio? You think he doesn't know? He's no fool. He's probably well aware of your trite pride. By pretending not to know he can make good use of you. Usui: Shut--SHUT UP! (He leaps forward suddenly, thrusting the shield before Saitou.) Usui: What about now! You can't use the Gatotsu and you can't see! You're a blindfolded daruma doll! Let's hear you talk big now! (thinking) Taste fear, Saitou! The final attack comes through the shield to your face to kill! You can't see it coming! But my mind's eye sees all your movements--?!? (Saitou pulls the sword back and stabs straight through the shield. Usui is literally cut in half and pinned against the opposite wall.) Usui: Was that . . . the Gatotsu? Saitou: You said it yourself. The Gatotsu is a refined stabbing technique. Naturally there are different forms for different situations. The ordinary one is the first method. Cutting down on the diagonal from above is the second. To intercept in midair, the third. And the secret technique I used just now, sent out from close quarters with a spring of the upper body is the Zero method. I was saving it for when I settled things with Battousai. Think this an honor. Usui: Damn you. When Shishio finds out . . . how I was killed . . . by the likes of you . . . Saitou: Pathetic. (Usui is silenced.) Saitou: You should have thrown away your sword when you lost to Shishio without fighting. Keeping up appearances for the sake of your vanity was a mistake from the start. A man who can't uphold his beliefs is pathetic dead or alive. Usui: You have no . . . mercy? Saitou: What? You expected sympathy? Usui: Heh . . . stupid . . . Without . . . hesitation . . . you uphold . . . your belief. Doing the difficult . . . simply. Saitou . . . you . . . live by the sword. In the Meiji era . . . can you keep up your . . . Kill . . . Evil . . . Instantly? Saitou: Of course. Until death. (Elsewhere in Shishio's headquarters) Sanosuke: Dammit, aren't we there yet! This chick's heavy! Yumi: What are you trying to say, you jerk! And quit whining, you're almost there! The best of the Ten Swords is next, the Seta boy! This time it won't be so easy! Kenshin (thinking): Seta Soujirou . . . (He suddenly stops in front of a door.) Yumi: Don't be in such a rush, this isn't it! This is Houji's room, it's empty now! Empty! Sanosuke: We gotta hurry, Kenshin--hey, Kenshin! Kenshin (thinking): He's here! The Making of the Characters--Uonuma Usui The idea for this character came from conversations I had with my assistants. A lot of the Ten Swords start with my assistants saying "What about this?" and then I add this or that and finish them up, but with Usui, my then-assistant was really pushing for a blind swordsman. At first I wasn't very enthusiastic about it, but after we came up with the idea of listening to your opponent's heartbeat to judge his mental state, he became one of the Ten Swords. At first, I meant to draw Usui as a strong, Terminator-like character who would follow Kenshin relentlessly throughout the city after his fight with Chou. To my complete surprise, by the time I finished working out the story, he had fought with Saitou and met his death . . . He unexpectedly had a lot of fans, so in that respect he was helped more than Raijuuta. Since I didn't use it with Usui, I'm thinking of using the Terminator idea after the Kyoto story. Coming soon! As for the design, a lot of people thought it was Lau from Virtua Fighter, but it was actally Tao Pai Pai from Toriyama-sensei's Dragon Ball. (The first bad guy to defeat Goku, the one that really leaves an impression.) About the eyeball design, at first I imagined him wearing some kind of traditional costume, but after I saw the angel that looked like a cloud covered with eyes in Evangelion, I quickly changed it. (Up until about the twentieth episode I was really caught up in Evangelion, so major or minor those characters had a big effect on me. Man, I can't keep any of my secrets.) To reveal even more, at first I was thinking of Usui as a handsome man with long hair. But when I tried it out, he looked like Ukyou from Samurai Spirits. "This won't work, I'll get hit again," I thought, got a fresh sheet of white paper, and drew the Usui you see now. There were a lot of different influences on his design, but I think he ended up being an original and not too bad, either. I guess being really good and completely original would be too much to ask for . . . Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 115--The Promised Time is Now Sanosuke: She said it's empty! Hey, Kenshin! Kenshin: No . . . someone's in there . . . Sanosuke (turning on Yumi): You're trying to trick us again! Yumi: What kind of way is that to talk? I told you before, this is all Houji's doing! Lord Shishio didn't want his challenge to be like this! Houji doesn't know anything about war! No one's supposed to be in there. If there is, it's definitely not one of the Ten Swords! Sanosuke: . . . So it's someone who'd be in Shishio's headquarters, but not one of the Ten Swords . . . (realizing) It couldn't be . . . Kenshin: Yes. He's here. (thinking) The Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu, Shinomori Aoshi! Sanosuke: What are you going to do, Kenshin. (thinking) While we're just standing here things are getting worse for the Aoiya . . . We can't afford to lose time! (Outside the Aoiya) Kamatari: Look, look, the Ten Swords have come all this way just to fight you! So get yourselves ready and come on out! (singing happily) We're gonna cut off all your heads, and give them to Lord Shishio as a pres-ent! Yahiko (with a sweatdrop): Is that really one of the Ten Swords? Misao: Looks that way . . . Kaoru: What do we do? Okina: Hmm . . . Seven against three is better odds than seven against a hundred and fifty. We'll have to accept their offer. There may be only three of them, but they're from the special fighting unit the Ten Swords. As you said, protecting ourselves is the priority. If we play for time, they'll have their numbers to contend with. The police will notice something strange and come out. Kuro: How are we splitting up? Evenly, three two and two? Okina: No . . . we'll start by bringing one of them down. Once we do that, it's going to be three on one, four on the other. Kaoru and Yahiko, the one in the black mask! Misao, the woman with the scythe! But don't get too drawn in. And you four, take the stupid one and bring him down in a unified attack! When you've got him, split up and help the others! I'll give further orders afterwards. Misao: All right, let's do it, guys! (They leap to the attack.) Okon (throwing a boomerang at Iwanbou): Kunoji Shuriken! Omasu (throwing a small shield-like circle): Enkei Shuriken! Shiro & Kuro (throwing large rings): Kotewa Shuriken! (The seven projectiles all strike Iwanbou. They land in a circle around him.) Misao: They got him! (They all rebound off of him; Iwanbou is unhurt.) Okon: His flesh is too thick--they had no effect! Kuro: That's impossible--he's not hurt at all?! (Iwanbou flexes his fingers, tipped with long steel nails, and bounds to the attack.) Misao: Guys!! Kamatari: You're in no position to be worrying about others. Henya (to Kaoru and Yahiko): Well, shall we get started? (Back in Shishio's headquarters) Sanosuke: Kenshin . . . Kenshin: I have promises to keep. My promise to Misao to bring Aoshi back, and my promise to Aoshi of a final battle . . . If I let this chance slip by, those two promises will be eternally broken. The time to honor them is now . . . I must open the door to this battle with my own hands! (He opens the door. Aoshi is sitting on a couch in a small library.) Aoshi: You're here . . . It's the promised time . . . Himura Battousai. Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 116--The Final Battle Begins Kenshin: Aoshi . . . (They stare each other down.) You've changed . . . You've changed so much I would hardly have thought you were Shinomori Aoshi. Aoshi: So I've changed. (unsheathing his swords) To defeat you and win the title of the strongest, I'd change anything. Sanosuke (thinking): Two kodachis! Aoshi: Draw, Battousai. (Kenshin pulls his sword out of its sheath a little, then clicks it loudly back into place.) Sanosuke: Kenshin . . . Aoshi: What was that. Do you intend to break your promise of a final battle at the last minute? Kenshin: I'll honor my promise. But my opponent isn't you. My promise was with Aoshi, the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu, not to you. Aoshi: . . . What do you mean by that. Sanosuke: Give it up, Kenshin. If he listened to reason, you could have settled this long ago at Kanryuu's mansion. Aoshi's Aoshi, all you can do is fight him and beat him. Kenshin: But that would mean breaking another promise. The Aoshi I promised to bring back to Miss Misao was Aoshi the Okashira, not the Aoshi before our eyes. Defeating him or bringing him back as he is now would mean nothing. (to Aoshi) I'll keep my promise! But my opponent won't be you, who lives on the verge of violence. Aoshi: Are you done playing with words? Sanosuke: Go on, draw, Kenshin! Kenshin: No. Sanosuke: Dammit, I've had about enough of your selfishness! Kenshin: I will defeat him as I am, with only the advantage of terrain. Like this, there may be a possibility he will return to his old self. Sanosuke: We've got no time, and this is a really annoying way to fight. Kenshin: I'm sorry. Sanosuke (grinning): But this kind of fight is definitely your style! I forgive you. Go get him! (Aoshi charges. Kenshin reaches out and throws a shelf-full of books at him. As Aoshi slashes them out his way, Kenshin leaps atop the bookshelf.) (Unobserved, Yumi dashes behind the bookcases, finding a desk with a telegraph set out.) Yumi: There is it . . . Houji: Lord Shishio, a telegram from Yumi! Anji has failed. Usui is fighting Saitou Hajime . . . Himura and Shinomori Aoshi are fighting in my room--I didn't expect this. The fight's not going well. Shishio: Is that so . . . No one could fight Anji and get away without being hurt. Usui will probably lose to Saitou, but he'll be hurt as well. Two wounded lions and Battousai . . . Sou and I will be sufficient. Houji: More than sufficient. Shishio: Did you really want to see me lose my temper? (Houji smirks.) Shishio: So it's finally time for the big match between Battousai and Shinomori Aoshi. Sou, take your time with my blade. Soujirou (who is cleaning it): Yes? Shishio: This is going to take a while. (Kenshin is running down the top of the bookcase, Aoshi close behind. Aoshi puts a foot on a shelf to climb after him. Kenshin jumps down the other side.) Kenshin: Aoshi! The way you are now, I could defeat you without even drawing my sword! (He puts his shoulder to the bookcase and shoves.) Sanosuke (thinking): There's no place to run under a whole bookcase. (aloud) You really did beat him without draw-- Aoshi: Kodachi Nitou-ryuu Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren! (He tears the bookcase apart with his swords.) Soujirou: Take a while? Why is that? Shishio: Simple. The Battousai of today and Shinomori Aoshi are evenly matched. When those two cross swords, someone is going to have to die. (Kenshin inadvertently pulls his sword out to block Aoshi's attack.) Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 117--Aoshi's Fierce Attack Sanosuke (thinking): He forced Kenshin to draw . . . Aoshi: So your sword's finally out. Good. Now we can fight. (Kenshin pulls back, taking a hit to the shoulder. As they fight, Kenshin blocks one sword only to be struck with the other, and Aoshi drives him back until his back is against the wall.) Sanosuke: Kenshin! (Kenshin holds his sword straight out. Aoshi drives forward with the right kodachi. Kenshin flips himself around to Aoshi's right side, behind him.) Kenshin: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu Ryuukansen! (Aoshi blocks with the kodachi in his left hand, then smashes Kenshin in the mouth with the handle of the other. Kenshin flies back against the wall.) Aoshi (throwing the sword like a dart): Kodachi Nitouryuu Onmyou Hasshi! Kenshin (thinking): A thrown sword technique like the Hiryuusen! (He knocks the sword aside--) Kenshin (thinking): A second sword along the same line, hidden by the first--!? (He just dodges; the sword buries itself in the bookshelf. Aoshi kicks him across the face. Kenshin slumps against the shelves.) Sanosuke (thinking): He's good . . . Aoshi (retrieving his weapons): Get up, Battousai. The you I know wouldn't have been beaten just with that. I'll say everything you said about me to you. Destroying you just like that would mean nothing. I have to destroy the man they called the strongest of the Bakumatsu, Hitokiri Battousai! I live to destroy that man in the name of the four who perished. That will be proof that we were truly the strongest! This is what I threw away everything for. Honor. Pity. Good and evil. And true companions who knew the road I walk. Get up, Battousai. I'll destroy you now, and the glory of the strongest will fall into my hands. Then, my Bakumatsu and my life as the final Okashira can all end. Battousai. Turn that reverse blade around and answer my sword with your full strength. (Kenshin says nothing.) Sanosuke (thinking): He challenged him prepared to throw his life away in the fight. No . . . even if he wins, he still plans to die. He really is going to throw it all away . . . Live to fight and then you die. True violence. Maybe he was unconsciously holding back with the old guy from the Aoiya, but not now. This is no good, Kenshin. This is no place to talk about promises any more. In this fight, it's kill or be killed--you have to kill him, or you will be killed! (Kenshin drives his sword into the floor and pulls himself to his feet.) Kenshin: You'll take the honor of being the strongest and end it all? Aoshi, this is how you want to fight? Don't give me that shit! Miss Misao or Okina, Hanya or Shikijou, Beshimi or Hyottoko, none of them want to see you dead! (Aoshi makes no reply.) Kenshin: All right, Aoshi. As you wish. This fight . . . I know have to win, but with the tragedy of those four in a corner of my heart, I don't want to destroy you. But I also know this halfhearted approach isn't going to help you. I'll set about defeating you with my full strength. But I am myself until the end! I fight as Himura Kenshin! Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 118--By a Hair's Breadth Aoshi: You'll fight with your full strength, but as you are, without turning the reverse blade around . . . Kenshin: Yes. Aoshi: More empty words. (He strikes the bookshelf to Kenshin's side, destroying it.) Aoshi: You fight with regard for your opponent's life. How can you use your full strength? At the height of the Bakumatsu, you fought to kill your enemy. That's exactly why you survived as the strongest of the Hitokiris. To fight with swords is to take life! A fight is to decide which is stronger! There is no decision but who lives and who dies! I trained on the edge between life and death and threw everything away to challenge you! Stop chopping logic and prepare to kill me here! Kenshin (wiping away a smear of blood from his mouth): I trained at the point of life and death as well. (Aoshi is taken aback.) Kenshin: For a mere week, I returned to my master Hiko Seijuurou. I gained the secret techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi school. And without reverting to the Hitokiri Battousai, I achieved the possibility of using my full strength. (Sanosuke as well as Aoshi is surprised.) Aoshi: More sophistry-- Kenshin: If you want to know if it is or not, fight me and see. Sanosuke: Looks like all you can do is fight, Mister Shinomori. Standing there talking is going to get you nowhere. Time's running out; we've got a lot of other things to take care of. In the end only the sword can tell whether the swordsman is weak or strong. You're the challenger. Logically, it's not your place to complain. If the challenger gives up, it's Kenshin's unconditional win. And Kenshin. You didn't tell me anything about secret techniques or possibilities. Kenshin (smiling): Sorry about that. (I forgot to tell you.) Sanosuke: Well, that's okay. Instead, it's too bad for the girl and Yahiko, but I get to be the first to see the strongest non-Battousai Kenshin in action. Kenshin: Yes . . . Aoshi: Battousai. Let's do it. (They charge.) Aoshi: Oniwaban-style Kodachi Nitou-ryuu (He crosses the two swords and scissors them across Kenshin's neck.) Aoshi: Gokou Juuji! Kenshin (leaping back): Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu Ryuushousen! (striking upwards. Aoshi falls backwards as Kenshin leaps above him.) Kenshin (striking down): Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu Ryuutsuisen! (Aoshi blocks by crossing his swords above him. He falls to his knees; Kenshin lands in front of him.) Kenshin (hand on the cuts on his neck): Do you still think I'm chopping logic? Aoshi: It's a little soon to be getting arrogant. A hair's breadth closer and the arteries in your neck would have been severed. Kenshin: But that hair's breadth was decisive. It was the difference between my strength and yours. In my training between life and death, when I decided that come what may, I would live . . . I found a strength different from my abandon and achieved the final techniques. Nothing is stronger than the will to live. I had the honor of proving that on my master's body. I committed crimes as Hitokiri Battousai I cannot atone for . . . So until then, I lived not caring when I died or was killed, locking away my heart. But now I won't throw away my will to live, to live with my crimes and be punished for them. Aoshi, you said you came to throw it all away, but anyone can do that. It's easy. With the sword, you're strong. But in your heart, you're weak. Aoshi: What are you . . . Kenshin: Hanya. Shikijou. Beshimi. Hyottoko. The most loyal of comrades met their noble death . . . I understand your wanting to offer them glory as proof that they were the best. But it makes your heart weak! Whatever you say, it's not just an excuse for you to hide from reality! It's not for them, it's because of them you're wielding the sword of a murderer! Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 119--The Time to Awaken is Now Kenshin: Hanya. Shikijou. Beshimi. Hyottoko. They made your heart weak! It's not for them, it's because of them you're wielding the sword of a murderer! Aoshi: Sh--shut up! (He backhands Kenshin with the butt of his sword.) Kenshin: Taking me seriously and denying it, isn't that proof that you yourself know it to be true? (Aoshi hits him with the other sword.) Aoshi: What the hell do you know! Kenshin: I don't know much, but I know that because of your goal of winning the title of strongest, your true self lies dormant. You're running from reality. (Aoshi kicks him, and he flies back into the wall.) Kenshin: By doing this, if you stop thinking, you can blot out your guilt over their deaths. I know all that, but no matter what you do, they're not coming back. (Aoshi punches him again, his eyes wild.) Sanosuke (thinking): It's working. The pain of having your heart hollowed out by jeers, and the pain of having to jeer a man you refuse to recognize as your enemy . . . It's more painful for both of them than when they were hitting each other. Kenshin: Aoshi, you . . . no, your weakness, is making it all their fault. You're making them into evil spirits haunting your soul. (Aoshi raises a sword to strike. Kenshin catches it in his bare hand. Blood runs down to the floor as they stare at each other.) Kenshin: Did you know this, Aoshi? Miss Misao has named herself Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu. After you fought with Okina, she took on the responsibilities of the Okashira in your place to protect Kyoto and the Oniwabanshuu. Aoshi: . . . Misao is a strong girl. I don't think she should have anything to do with the Oniwabanshuu, but she'll do fine on her own. Kenshin: Then did you know that this strong girl wept when I promised to bring you back? No matter how strong she is, she's only sixteen. She must have been desperate, in the midst of a harsh reality. There's no one else in the world who can honestly answer for those tears. Or are you still trying to run away from reality, Aoshi! Are you going to pretend you have to prove you're the strongest for those four so you can run away in death! Take back your strong heart! And call back your lost honor! The time that stopped at Kanryuu's mansion moves now! The time to awaken is now! (They pause for a long moment. Then Aoshi punches Kenshin in the stomach with his free hand. Kenshin staggers back and Sanosuke steadies him.) Kenshin: . . . Aoshi . . . Aoshi: . . . But I can't finish this without settling our fight. Kenshin (almost smiling): Settling fights is nothing new to me. Sanosuke: It's no good, Kenshin. His eyes are different. Kenshin: I see it too, for the first time. As they were before Kanryuu-- (thinking) This is the one who Okina recognized, who the four honored, who Miss Misao adored. Shinomori Aoshi! Aoshi: Win or lose, there will be no grudge. Kenshin: Yes. This is our last fight. But one that will take all our strength! Back to Home To Volume Fourteen To the Next Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations Volume Fourteen--The Promised Time is Now Part 120--The First Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki Soujirou: Which do you think will win? Shishio: Hard to say . . . They’re perfectly matched. Houji: Logically, they should destroy each other. That would save us some trouble. Soujirou: I want Mr. Himura to win. Then, we could settle what we started on the Rengoku. But, if Mr. Shinomori wins, what are you going to do, Mr. Shishio? Shishio (smiling): Then, if I killed Shinomori Aoshi, I’d be the strongest. (In the library, Aoshi and Kenshin square off for the attack.) Sanosuke (thinking): This is it, Kenshin and Aoshi’s final match! Aoshi’s holding the kodachis backhanded, he’s going for the Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren. Six deadly-swift attacks beginning from either the left or the right. Left or right . . . Kenshin’s already taken two cuts to the neck. A moment of indecision would cost him his life. In response he’s taking a battou-jutsu stance . . . Since he said he’s using his full strength, he’s probably going to use his new techniques. If Aoshi jumps blind into an unknown attack, he’s sure to lose . . . Whatever happens, neither of them can counterattack. It’s a perfect deadlock . . . Aoshi (thinking): I’m sorry . . . Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijou, Hanya. In the end, as Battousai said, for your sake my soul was lost in a blind alley. Maybe I was a fool, saying it was all because of you . . . But win or lose, it ends here. No . . . I’ll finish this with a victory for your sake! (They are motionless, watching each other.) Sanosuke (thinking): This is taking forever . . . It’s been ten minutes, but it feels like hours . . . There’s gotta be a clock around here. (He goes looking for one, and finds Yumi with her hand poised on the telegraph machine.) Sanosuke: Watch out, Kenshin! Shishio knows all about the fight! Don’t use your techniques! (The tension breaks, and Aoshi strikes.) Aoshi (thinking): First attack--I'll strike left! Targeting the opposite of the battou-jutsu’s base point. The back of the neck! Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren! Kenshin (drawing his sword and thinking): At the height of a duel to the death, this technique sees and separates the hair’s breath between life and death. Hiko: To overcome this, you discovered the border between life and death. The will to live is essential. Kaoru: It’s not just me and Megumi. Everyone wants you to come back safe. Kenshin (thinking): So, in the end, there are no fears in my heart-- Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu Secret Technique! AMAKAKERU RYUU NO HIRAMEKI! (He strikes spectacularly. Aoshi goes flying.) Aoshi (as he falls): That was . . . Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu’s . . . Houji: Lord Shishio, a telegram from Yumi! Himura used his secret technique! It’s a battou-jutsu technique with all his strength behind it that took out Aoshi in one blow! As for the details--(His face falls)--”I couldn’t see.” (Soujirou starts laughing.) Houji (ripping up the telegram): That doesn’t help!! Shishio: But it does. He struck after Aoshi began the Kaiten and still surpassed it. In other words, it’s some kind of lightning-fast battou-jutsu attack. (thinking) There must be something else. But what? There’s something special hidden in this . . . (Aoshi is lying on the floor, barely conscious, with a huge gash across his chest.) Kenshin: . . . Once again, it was by a hair’s breadth . . . Aoshi: That hair’s breadth was pretty wide . . . The Promised Time is Now--End Back to Home To Volume Fourteen