Rurouni Kenshin Chapter 247 - Nerves of Insanity First Translation version by Serizawa-san (hey! That's me! ^_^) Additional translation by Hiko-san (thanks a lot for the scans!!) More stuff by Serizawa. p.1 (Enishi's body seems to pulsate with veins as he screams...) Enishi: I'll kill you! I'll kill you!! I'LL KILL YOU!!! Misao: What the? Aoshi: So, after all... that thing that rose on his cheek just a second ago wasn't an illusion... Saitou: You don't seem happy. Well, what is that? Even you don't know what that is? Aoshi: No... even with the Oniwabanshuu's 300 year history in the arts, that ability is... p.2 Side text: The power that resides within the body that swore revenge, and only revenge. What is its true nature!? Enishi (crying out loud): HAAAAAAAAA!!!! p.3 (Enishi stops screaming, Kenshin looks at Enishi worriedly.) Kenshin: ....Enishi....? Misao: What the heck is that? How disgusting. Are those his blood vessels? Megumi: No...it's not his blood vessels... It couldn't be, that's--- Enishi: .....Let's do it. p.4 (Enishi suddenly appears behind Kenshin, who gets surprised, like everybody.) Kenshin: Wha--- Kaoru: KEN-- Enishi (bringing down his sword): FN! p.5 (Enishi passes through, as Kenshin avoids the blow. Enishi glares at Kenshin, who is sliding in the sand) Kenshin (thinking): He's fast! His speed has undoubtedly increased -- (Kenshin looks astonished to Enishi's sword just in front of him) p.6 (Enishi tries unsuccessfully to behead Kenshin, who parries Enishi's sword with his own.) Kenshin (gritting his teeth and thinking): His speed has increased!! Everybody (watching the fight): Kenshin! Megumi: As I thought, those vessels are not blood vessels. They are-- p.7 (A close up of Enishi's cheek, showing...) Megumi: Nerves! Sanosuke: Nerves? Are there any nerves as thick as those? Oi! Megumi: Not normally... But that's the only way to explain it. Both Kenshin and Enishi have gotten the best reflexes. To increase further one's reflexes then, all that can be thought of is to augment the sensitivity of the nerves itself! Saitou: Yeah, but... it's not easy for even a disciplined person to master the nerves. Not only that, they wouldn't rise to that level... Aoshi: An abnormal body condition he was born with... He must have a natural talent for it. p.8 Enishi: A natural talent...you're wrong. This power was granted to me... My sister granted this power to me. The power to get revenge on you. Ever since that day the snow fell, I have always despised you... As my hair turned pure white, as I was washed to Shanghai, I have always despised you... In spring, summer, winter and autumn... On clear days, on rainy days... In the day, in the night.. p.9 Enishi: My hate was like food for my brain, who forgot what sleep was, keeping madly an awakening state! To ordinary people, the sleep calms down both the brain and the body, but in my case, even though my body calmed down in sleep, my brain kept awake. And the brain, under such conditions, stimulated the growth of my nerves through my spine and so my nerves got thicker and gradually improved. And after 15 years, they are now able to detect even the lightning that runs inside my body! This is my true and last resort -- the Nerves of Insanity!! (a courtain of sand rises, as Enishi disappears, leaving a surprised Kenshin. The sword hits the sand.) p.10 Kenshin (thinking): Lef-- (Enishi strikes Kenshin very hard) Enishi : It's futile! The very nature of the speed that comes from the nerves of insanity is different from your speed! You increase your speed of reaction by reading the moves of your opponent, but as you can see, I can fully react to your attacks even after their beginning! My eyes capture each drip of blood that flies! My ears hear each twitch of the bones! My skin feels each grain of sand that swirls! I don't give a damn about your Hiten, every perception of mine are focused on you, capturing each movement of yours, and every reflex of mine will -- p.11 Enishi: -- HIT YOU!! (Enishi lands a kick on Kenshin, who feels the blow and bleeds profusely) Kenshin: GA-- (Enishi grabs Kenshin's head and throws him with violence) Enishi: HA! p.12 (Kenshin is thrown and falls into the sea. Enishi glares, his nerves popped up and his breathing strange.) p.13 Everyone: .... Saitou: Not only height but also speed...it's not that the finishing techniques have been rendered useless, but the very Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu itself has been rendered futile. Sanosuke (punching the palm of his left hand): Well...it looks like this is it... Hey, Megumi. Get ready to treat him. Megumi: ! Sanosuke: Although I had intended to take no part on this private battle, I've got no choice... I'm gonna take control of this. I'm not going to let him go and die. p.14 Misao: Aoshi-sama...I don't want Himura to die either... Aoshi: ....Yeah. (Aoshi and Sano prepare to take a step, but are halted by Yahiko) Yahiko: Wait a minute! p.15 Yahiko: No matter how dangerously cornered he is, Kenshin has not yet given up. So it's still his fight. And (points his finger) he always wins. Now and -- (shows Kenshin coming out from the sea) -- forever. p.16 Yahiko: Right? Kenshin: Yeah. Everyone... Thank you for your concerns. This private battle is one that I can never hand it over to another person... and it marks a turning point of my life, as I am now determined to carry with my life of struggling... I will grab victory with my own hands !! p.17 Enishi: Yes, that's fine! Your defeat is meaningless now! Only your death will be the salvation of me, my sister and everything!! My Watou Jutsu and Nerves of Insanity that you see is completely incomparable against your Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu! Know despair with my unfathomable sword and die!! Let's go!! p.18 (Enishi flies high above Kenshin, and then comes downward) Enishi: WATOU JUTSU!! SHIKKUU TOU SEI !!! p.19 Kenshin (grabbing his scabbard): Enishi -- it's true that the power of your sword is greater than mine. (holding his sword backwards) But you only see the power, and you measure the sword only by the power harnessed in it. IN THE PROTECTION OF THE WEAK FROM THE HARDSHIP OF TIMES, THERE IS NO END IN THE HITEN MITSURUGI!!!! (waves come from Kenshin's scabbard, surprising Enishi) Kenshin: HITEN MITSURUGI RYUU -- RYUU MEI SEN!!! Enishi: !? Notes: Ryuu Mei Sen - Dragon Reverberation Flash