Chapter 221: "Yahiko's True Fight (Part 3)"

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Yahiko grabs the crying young lad just as Kujiranami takes aim at
him with his grenade launcher. The trigger is pulled, and the
resulting explosion throws Yahiko and the young boy violently into
the air.

Kujiranami goes into a fit of rage, clotheslining the police squad
and laying waste to the surrounding area. After a few explosions,
nothing is left but rubble. The townspeople nearby comment on the
growing number of horrific explosions, and Tsubame wonders if Yahiko
has been killed.

Kujiranami announces that this is the result of anyone who stands
in his way, and demands to know where they've hidden Battousai.
Hiding him is useless, he adds.

Policeman Shinichi laments on the deaths of the two young boys, but
he's soon proven wrong -- Yahiko and the boy he saved have survived!
Bleeding and badly bruised, Yahiko says aloud that he's alright, and
that he hasn't suffered any major injuries. Shinichi realizes that
Yahiko's first priority was to shield the boy from the bombardment
with his own body, and he wonders just who is this kid.

Yahiko asks the boy if he's able to run, and the latter responds that
he can. He then tells him that on his signal, to run to town with all
his might, because his father will definitely be looking for him
afterwards. Putting his hand on the boy's head, Yahiko adds, "It's
alright... you're strong. In the midst of the grenade bombardment,
you didn't let out a scream, right?" Yahiko finishes by telling the
boy that even if you're scared, that by no means is he to return here.

Yahiko then turns to Kujiranami, and says "Now, believe me, when I say
that I will definitely stop you, I will!" The pupils in Kujiranami's
eyes shrink, and he sees the Battousai he's been searching for in Yahiko.

Kujiranami readies his grenade launcher once more, as Yahiko orders the
young lad to get going. "I've found you, Battousai! You're right there...
geh!?"

The police squad grab a hold of Kujiranami's grenade launcher and refuse
to let go, for Yahiko's sake. Their efforts are futile, and the lumbering
monster tosses them aside like rag dolls. "Battousai!!!"

Yahiko takes a step forward. "Kenshin is in the middle of his own fight
right now. This is a very important battle for him. People like you only
make it worse. If you don't give him his space, then I have no choice but
you get rid of you! I'll beat you!!"

"Yahiko-kun..."

Tsubame meanwhile is remembering her last few moments with Yahiko. She
frantically tries to think of someone that might be able to save him from
Kujiranami, and an image of Kenshin suddenly flashes through her mind.
She gets on her feet and begins running. "Kenshin-san... Yahiko-kun is
yearning to be the best fencer in Japan... please save him!!"

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