Ruroni Kenshin Chapter 188 "The Mechanical Artist"
Author: Nobuhiro Watsuki
Publisher: Shueisha


Pg 1. 

Narrator: The three battles in the final fight.

Sanosuke VS Banjin

Yahiko VS Hyoko

and-


Pg 2-3.

Kenshin/Enishi poster: Two who loved the same person. Their destiny to fight
is inevitable...


Pg 4.

Kenshin VS Gein

Gein: Puppet play... ?  Well said, however, no one has ever since that from 
their mouth twice.


Pg 5-7.

Gein: (jumps into Iwanbo) Those who say it the first time DIE! 
Let's go Battosai!

(Iwanbo smashes his hands down towards Kenshin and misses. He quickly follows
with a kick. Kenshin steps off the kick and moves in for a counterattack)

Kenshin: HITEN MITSURUGI RYU - RYU KAN SEN!!


Pg 8.

(His sakabato whacks it's arm but to his surprise, his attack took no effect
on the rubber puppet)

Kaoru: Kenshin!! Hitting it has no effect! It's thick surface absorbs all the
impact!!

Gein: A shock-absorbant device.
(moves his controller) And it also does this as well.


Pg 9.

(He flips Iwanbo's arm around to grab Kenshin then spins and slams him 
to the ground)

Kaoru: Kenshin!!


Pg 10.

Gein: All the joints turn freely on a spinning cross-axis. 
It's a "Flexi-jointed Device"  Even for you, a man who has killed and 
defeated many, this is the first time you've ever fought an "unhuman being"
right?

Kenshin: An unhuman being... ? That's right... 
In that case, there will be no mercy. First of all for that puppet!


Pg 11.

Kenshin: I'll tear it to shreads!!

Gein: A sword attack? Sure looks like it... but-


Pg 12.

(Gein stretches Iwanbo's arms out. Kenshin's sword bounces off)

Kenshin: What!?


Pg 13.

Gein: With super flexible high-textured rubber parts and steel marionette
strings, the internal skeleton would truely be impossible for you to cut
through! This is a "Multi-purpose Device" Supposing that we'd be fighting, 
I added new components to Iwanbo, the third.

Kenshin: ... who the hell are you?

Gein: Me? Oh yeah, I still haven't introduced myself, have I? It's Gein.


Pg 14.

Gein: Gein, the "Mechanical Artist"! 
I am the last decendant of a puppet master, who mastered puppets and molds 
for generations ever since the Medival times

Megumi: Mechanical...

Kaoru: artist...

Kenshin: Considering that you call yourself an artist, you don't have a very
good sense of beauty, do you?

Megumi/Kaoru: (sweat drops roll down their faces) For sure.

Megumi: [Ken san's got guts]

Kaoru: [He's so insensitive...]

Gein: (chuckles) Well said. However, that is only your opinion of beauty.
There are many other different opinions out there as well. This "Iwanbo" is
my beauty as an artist. In other words, it's not something that is made for
the beauty of sculpture.


Pg 15.

Gein: As an artist and as a sculpted model that I will surely present
as a masterpiece one day, this Iwanbo has a completely different beauty-
So to say, it's a model made for functionality!

Kenshin: ... functionality? That must have some great technics involved.
If that technology is used to service people, something good'll come out of 
it...

Gein: That is also well said. However, does a fine swordsmaker make higesori?
And, does a castle carpenter construct tenement houses? The latest technology
is always used in warfare. Since I research technology, my strong point is
working alongside with men who are involved in warfare.


Pg 16.

Gein: At first, I was with Makoto Shishio. Then afterwards, Enishi Yukishiro.
And now as of this moment, I've gotten you, Himura Battosai.

Megumi/Kaoru: So his fight with Kenshin holds no personal grudge!

Kenshin: ... anyway, no matter how much I remember the past, there's no 
memory of fighting a puppet master or an artist after all.


Pg 17.

Kenshin: Taking that into consideration, I don't have anymore time to play 
with your puppet!! (charges at Iwanbo) HITEN MITSURUGI RYU!

Gein: So you think you can slice off a piece of my puppet before I unloosen
it! You're just giving me more practice with this puppet!!


Pg 18.

Kenshin: RYU SHO SEN!!

(Gein strecthes out Iwanbo's arms again. Kenshin's sword catches it)

Megumi: Oh no! He's a moment too late!!

(Kenshin starts to roll up rubber with his sword)

Gein: What!?

Kenshin: OOO!!


Pg 19.

(The rubber tears and Iwanbo's right arm falls off)

Kaoru: I see!! Just before the sword attack reaches it's limit and when the
sword blade is about to lose it's grip, no matter how highly flexible the 
rubber is (thinks) it can be twisted apart!

(Kenshin looks up at Enishi still in his air balloon)


Pg 20.

Kenshin: Stop sightseeing from up there! I've had it with you!
How about coming down here for yourself, ENISHI!!

Gein: ... I see... so you twisted it off...
You're unbelievable Battosai. Not one strand of rope left.
However, the "puppet play" has yet to come. I'll be the one to fight you.


-End of RK Chapter 188-


translation: Jenny H