Rurouni Kenshin Chapter 253 "Mild Autumn Weather" From Shounen Jump 41 Translated by Reiko (wl0423@aol.com) Notes *thoughts* (extra text) _emphasis_ All narrations are by Kaoru. Pg. 1 Everyone: Eh? Aoshi: We're returning to Kyouto. It's about the proper time. Kenshin: The proper time? Misao: EH---? EH---!? EH---!?! Whyyy? We're not going to Asakusa or Ginza? Yahiko: You weren't coming for fun right from the very start. Hurry up and go back! Aoshi: We'll combine our departure with Takani Megumi's tomorrow. It's better to have farewells done with at one time. Narration: I never really understand this person's speech and conduct... Side text: Aoshi announces an abrupt setting off! Why now...?! Pgs. 2-3 2 page cover spread, with Saitou, Aoshi, Misao, Megumi, Sanosuke, and Yahiko. Bottom text: A new form of each one's aspirations for the dream of the new era appears...!! // A new era for each one! // Aspirations and dreams appearing in new forms! Pg. 4 Nighttime. Kaoru enters Misao's room with a wrapped package. Kaoru: Misao-chan, this is a gift for Okina-san and the oth------- Eh? Where's Aoshi-san? Misao [sulking on the floor]: He left when Himura came a little earlier. I'm not sure, but he said something about tea. (Ha~~ I don't wa~~~~nt to go back.) Kaoru [absently patting a weeping Misao on the head]: Tea? Misao: (I want to have some more fu~~~~n.) Kaoru: *Ah...* Pg. 5 In another room, Kenshin sips his tea as Aoshi sits quietly across from him. Kenshin [lowering his cup]: Sorry to be so sudden about this. But if the opportunity got away, it's unknown when the next one would have come around, so. Aoshi: Aa. Kenshin: I really owe you for recent matters. Thanks. Aoshi: Aa. Pg. 6 Kenshin: Although one of another method says it, don't murder other people. // Although you'll be facing foes with techniques unknown, // don't murder too many people, okay? Aoshi [picking up his cup]: ...Is that your entire perspective? Once... I said I agreed. // ... so you know everything. Well, in any way... let's say // that I will comply. Kaoru is carrying a tray of tea cakes with Misao still moping behind her, when Aoshi comes out. Kaoru: Ah. Um, here's some tea ca---- Aoshi [walking past her]: Not necessary. It's over already. Kaoru: A-and, we really owe you for--- Aoshi: If it's thanks, I've already heard it from Himura. Kaoru: *... I really don't understand him...* Pg. 7 Kenshin [walking out]: Oh, are those "kasuteira?" // note from Serizawa: "kasuteira" is sponge cake. // The name comes from the Portuguese, // "pćo de Castella", "bread from Castella". Kaoru: Ah, yeah. Want some? Misao tugs desolately at Aoshi's sleeve. Misao: Hey~~~~ Aoshi-sama, are we really going back tomorrow~~? Aoshi: Aa. Kenshin [munching on a cake]: If Misao-dono also would like to, how about letting her stay a while longer, Aoshi? (Mm, these are delicious.) Misao [happily]: Himura! Kaoru: If that's the case, then sure. It's fine if only Misao-chan remains. (Do you want to eat some too, Misao-chan?) Misao: Kaoru-san! Aoshi: Seasons in the mountains are a step faster than the plains. If we become even later than this, the earth will freeze and we'll have to wait until spring. Everyone: Eh? Aoshi: Before that happens, we should bury them in a place with more sunlight. Misao's eyes widen. Pg. 8 Misao: Himura, Kaoru-san, sorry! On second thought, I'll return home with _everyone!_ Aoshi smiles very faintly, which goes unseen by the others. Kenshin: Aa, that's good. Kaoru [surprised]: *Ah----...* Misao [running to catch up]: Aoshi-sama----! Kaoru: I see... Pg. 9 Kaoru: If I think about it, Aoshi-san is also a person who lived through a severe past which others couldn't possibly understand... Kenshin: That's true. A considerable part of that difficult personality is probably due to that influence... Kaoru: Yeah... *But even if it's not understandable to others, he'll obtain it perfectly. The true title of peaceful places and loved ones------...* // Yeah... *But even if it's not understandable to // others, he has indeed gotten it. A place of peace // (showing the dead Oniwabanshuu) and the true title // (flower) that should be cherished ------...* (showing // the other Oniwabanshuu) Pg. 10 Narration: The next day. Aoshi-san and Misao-chan left on dawn's first train from Shinbashi station. And------ Megumi: It was a short time, but I'm really indebted to you. Narration: Megumi-san's departure--- Yahiko: Hey, are you going back on foot? Megumi: Of course not. See, I was given the coach of Oguni-sensei's acquaintance. Pg. 11 She hands Kenshin a piece of paper. Megumi: If you feel some abnormality with your health, please contact me here and I'll rush right over. Kenshin: Thank you. But at that time, I'll go there myself. Saving sick and wounded people is a doctor's most important duty. Try your best. Megumi: Yes, I will. She turns to Kaoru and holds out a medicine box. Megumi: And you. Here, take this. It contains prescriptions and medicine for when Ken-san and the others get wounded...---- She stops as she notices Kaoru's downcast expression. Pg. 12 Megumi: Hey, just a minute! What the hell are you doing, being the only one depressed? Didn't you hate me? Kaoru: Yeah, I hated you. Megumi fumes. Kaoru: But it's like, this way... with these continuous farewells piling up... Sanosuke [patting her on the head]: Come on, don't get all gloomy, jou-chan. It's only Aizu. If I ran, it'd be a day's distance, wouldn't it? // Come on, don't get all gloomy, jou-chan. It's only Aizu. // Only a day's distance on foot, isn't it? Megumi: That's only you! Sanosuke: Besides, even with Kyouto we'll go once a year to visit Tomoe's grave. So it's not like a lifetime parting. No matter who you want to see, you can visit them at anytime, right? // Besides, we'll even go once a year to Kyoto // to visit Tomoe's grave. (...) Pg. 13 Megumi: You really do say nice things occasionally. Sanosuke: I never say anything but nice things. Megumi: Well... If there are any problems with your left hand, you're also welcome in Aizu. Because this isn't Ken-san's occasion I'll offer to see well to it. // Well... If there are any problems with your right // hand, you're also welcome in Aizu. I'll offer to // see well to it, not as an intermission to Ken-san's // treatment. Sanosuke: Thanks. Megumi [turning back to Kaoru]: So with that said, you stop with the indecent face. Ken-san has chosen not I, not Tomoe-san, but you. The number one most effective medicine for Ken-san's cross scar is a "smile," so... So if you always watch over Ken-san with a smile, someday, surely----... Pg. 14 Kaoru: *........ Megumi-san-----...* Megumi: It's like before the Kyouto fight, after it, everytime something happens there's nothing to do but scold you. Geeze, it's really a losing role reversal. She smiles and turns to go. Megumi: Well then, everyone. It's been pleasant. // Well then, everyone. Fare well. Sanosuke: Aa. Stay healthy. Narration: In that way----- Pg. 15 Narration: In that way, without even looking back once, Megumi-san elegantly left----... No matter where or how one looks at it, that was an amazingly cold mature appearance........ I don't know when we'll meet again, but until that time I'll try to also become a little more mature. Sanosuke: Well then... Since we took the trouble of coming this far, we might as well get something to eat next. Kenshin: Yeah. Yahiko: I'll have a Western-style meal! Western-style, absolutely! Pg. 16 Suddenly, two policemen come charging down the street blowing their whistles. Policeman A: Found you!! Kenshin: ! Policeman B: That's the guy!! Wait, you bastard!! Sanosuke: What, are they talking about us? Yahiko: Isn't it about the sakabatou? Kaoru catches sight of a posted notice and begins reading it. Kenshin: Ah, I see. This is unfortunate. Policeman A: That tall guy! Policeman B: You, the rooster head!! Sanosuke: Me? Kaoru [freaking out]: AH----------?! Yahiko: Shut up, Kaoru. Kenshin: Oro? Pg. 17 Kaoru points at the post, which has a wanted notice for Sanosuke. Kaoru: WHA-WHA... WHA-WHAT IS THIS-----!! Sanosuke: ------- Oh. It must be about the matter at Shinshuu. So the search has crossed several places huh. Everyone: EH?! Policeman A: Take arrest like an adult! You... Take arrest peaceably! You... Policeman B: Insolent bastard who assaulted Ishin Shishi Lord Shibumi and his kin! // note from Serizawa: Shibumi wasn't the man who was // murdered by Saitou? ^_^ Watsuki-sensei must be // quite tired... ^_^ Pg. 18 Sanosuke [punching out both men]: Don't call someone insolent when you don't even know the circumstances, dammit. A crowd of policemen rush toward the group. Policeman C: Found him, this way! Policeman D: He got two of us!! Pg. 19 Sanosuke: Che- Is this the organization's leave? // Che- Here comes the whole organization... Kaoru: Sanosuke, what in the world......... Sanosuke: Looks like in my case it'll become a lifetime parting. Kaoru: Sanosuke? Sanosuke [turning]: I can't get caught in such a place. I'll indulge a bit. He runs off. Kaoru: SANOSUKE?! Side text: Does it... end with this?! End chapter 253