Ruroni Kenshin Chapter #178 "Flashback Thirteen - Cross Scar "
Author: Nobuhiro Watsuki
Publisher: Shueisha


Pg 1.

Old man: Eat this! Muteki Ryu martial art - Gofu Baku!!!

(He slams his biceps into Battosai's neck cracking the neckbone. Battosai
chokes)


Pg 2.

Old man: huhu... you're all beat up and exhausted with your imperfect 
instinct, hearing and vision. And my Muteki Ryu!!
There's no way you're gonna win-!!

(Battosai slashes him in the chest)

Battosai: Though I can't use my body and senses correctly, hitting you is all
I need to focus on.

Old man:  I see...


Pg 3.

Old man: ... so you use your head huh.  I do plan on giving you a quick 
death. Well that is, until I switch to another fighting method.

-back in the hut-

Tomoe: (rubs her forehead) Where am I... ?


Pg 5.

Tomoe: What the...

(She looks down and sees her tanto. Picking it up, she thinks)
What in the world am I doing...
(hears noises outside)   Who's fighting... ?  There's... there's -
(steps towards the door and peers out)


Pg 6.

(Tomoe sees the image of Kiyosato with a sword but then she rubs her eyes
and realizes it's Battosai)


Pg 7.

Tomoe: (thinks) - Oh... I see -
(thinks of Kiyosato)   He died because I couldn't stop him...
(looks at Battosai)   I risk everything I have for him to die...


Pg 8.

Tomoe: However, letting him die is out of the question... 
I really love him-
I don't want my beloved to die again... so...  (she smiles)


Pg 9.

(Old man hits Battosai all over but he cannot counterattack because the old
man moves around a lot)


Pg 10.

Old man:  How's that?  First I hit the targets with some fancy moves. Then 
I keep on stepping out and in so you'll never hit my chest...
It can't deliver a deathblow. However on the positive side, this strategy
wears down the rival's fighting ability...
You can't hit me with your sword now...

(Battosai growls and the grip on his sword slackens)

Old man: (notices)   It keeps adding.


Pg 11.

Old man:  Due to your massive blood loss and the freezing temperature, your
body's senses have become numb...   You've lost your sense of touch.
The "4th Kekkai" has taken effect -
You think it's all a trick?  Wouldn't doubt that you'd think so...
It is the greatest weapon after all. It'll outwit even the most brilliant
youngster... it has for many decades. It's "shrewd"
After fighting you I'd say you probably don't have any chance of winning...
would you like a slow and painful death or a quick and painless one?
I'll let you at least decide that for yourself.


Pg 12.

(silent pause)

Battosai: ... so there isn't any chance of me winning... it sure seems that 
way...   (thinks)   though it may as well be both of us!!

Old man: ... so you decide to have a quick death...

Battosai: (thinks)   I'll force my imperfect senses to work and put all my
effort into this attack.
Forgive me Tomoe...  Live in the new era and may you be happy-...


Pg 13.

Battosai: (charges)  Let's go!!   OOOO!!
(about to strike he smells something familiar)  - this is -

Pg 14-15.

(Battosai accidently slashes Tomoe who jumps in front of him to protect him
from the old man with her tanto. The old man also gets slashed )


Pg 16.

Battosai: (in panic)  - This is the... scent of white... plums -


(Tomoe's blood falls with the snow in front of Battosai)


Pg 17.

(The tanto flies back and cuts Battosai's left cheek. Enishi arrives at the 
scene behind a tree in shock)


Pg 18.

Battosai: (holds Tomoe crying)  Tomoe... Tomoe... Tomoe...
Why...   why...

(she reaches up and touches his cross scar)


Pg 19.

(Tomoe gives him one last smile)

Tomoe: (thinks)  It's better this way... so please don't cry... 
(she shuts her eyes)

Battosai:  -to.. mo... e         TOMOEE!!


-End of Ruroni Kenshin Chapter #178-


translation by Jenny