Rurouni Kenshin Chapter 255 (The Last) "To a New Age" From Shounen Jump 43 Translated by Reiko (wl0423@aol.com) Notes: Genpuku = Ceremony of attaining manhood *thoughts* (extra text) Pg. 1 [color pic of Kenshin looking happy and relaxed, with a smiling Kaoru in the background] Side text: Over a decade since the dawn of Japan. Once again now, a legendary day is arising!! Pg. 2 Top text: A sudden call! The true meaning of it is?! Yahiko stands in front of the doujou. Yahiko: He---y! Teacher Myoujin Yahiko is entering... He suddenly hears a child wailing loudly. Pg. 3 He looks up and sees a boy of about three years old, looking a lot like Kenshin, bawling on the roof. Yahiko: What, Kenji? You were okay getting up there, but got too scared to come down again? Geeze. He lifts Kenji down with his sheathed sword. Yahiko: The form of your appearance is like a minature Kenshin, but you're an idiot inside, huh... If this is Kamiya Doujou's heir, then------- A thrown sandal smashes Yahiko in head. Kaoru [off panel]: HEY-!! Pg. 4 She and Kenshin emerge from the doujou. Kaoru's looks have changed a lot; the two locks of hair that used to hang over her shoulder are now shorter, her bangs are different, and there's no longer a ribbon in her hair. Kenshin's hair is short now, with no more need to tie it back. Kaoru: You're bullying my child again! I'm getting angry, dammit!! Yahiko: Who was bullied?! Look well! You attacked me from behind!! Kaoru: Hm, you're right. Kenji enthusiastically holds out his arms to Kaoru. (Arrow: Loves his mom.) Kaoru [hugging him]: Oh, all right, all right. You were probably scared, huh. Sorry. Yahiko: Hey, apologize to me first! Kenshin: Sorry for calling you in the middle of this heat, Yahiko. Yahiko: Kenshin. Pg. 5 Yahiko: It's all right. More importantly, what's going on today? As he talks, the view changes to the wall of the doujou, where the names of the teachers and students hang. There are now a lot more students, although only the first few names can be read: Instructor - Kamiya Kaoru Teachers - Myoujin Yahiko and Tsukayama Yutarou Students - Shinichi Kosaburou, Higashidani Outa, etc. Yahiko: If it's another request for lessons at home, no matter how simple it is I can't take anymore-------- Kenshin puts a hand to his sakabatou. Kenshin: Get ready, Yahiko. Pg. 6 Kenshin: One hit fight. All right? Kaoru: Yahiko. Yahiko: ! Kaoru: What day is today? You've probably forgotten. It's your fifteenth birthday. You've heard about it, haven't you? That warriors of the past were treated as full-grown men at fifteen... Pg. 7 Yahiko: *I see... To determine whether or not I've become a man, Kenshin's going to test me now... But----... This kenki! This coercion!! Even though it's said that Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu has become mostly ineffective already, he was once the strongest swordsman, even stipulated as a legend----...* Kenshin: Don't hesitate. Yahiko: ! Kenshin: From the time you chose the path of the sword to here... Remember all the battles that appeared in your life! The battles you saw with those eyes... The battles you heard about with those ears... And the battles you started yourself... Pgs. 8-9 Kenshin: If you strike with all you felt within all those battles, it will be okay. Yahiko: All right-!! He brings his sword forward but doesn't unsheath it. Kenshin: Good... Kaoru-dono. Kaoru brings her hand up as Kenshin and Yahiko face each other. Pgs. 10-11 Kaoru [swinging her hand down]: START!! Kenshin and Yahiko attack. Pg. 12 Kenji watches wide-eyed as both of their blows land. Kenshin strikes Yahiko in the stomach, and Yahiko's sword hits Kenshin's shoulder. Kaoru: A... A simultaneous hit...? Yahiko drops his sword and falls to his knees. Pg. 13 Yahiko: Heh... Can't do it huh... Kenshin: Yeah....... But it was a great hit... Can you stand? Yahiko: Yeah, guess so. Kaoru glances at Kenshin, who nods and holds out his sakabatou to Yahiko. Kenshin: Yahiko. Pg. 14 Kenshin: A celebration of Genpuku. Take it!! Yahiko stares at him in shock for a moment. Yahiko: Wha... Wai... Wait a minute! There's no way I can accept that! Foremost, I lost, didn't I? Kenshin: I wasn't planning to look at the win or loss from the very start. Whether or not you put your soul into the hit. That's what I looked at and decided this on. I entrust this to you. Pg. 15 Yahiko accepts the sakabatou. Yahiko: *It's heavy......* Kenshin: For a while, I think it's treating you very heavily, but in the future use this with your own power in the way you think it should be used. And exceed me someday. Pg. 16 Yahiko [grinning]: Aa! Kaoru and Kenshin watch silently as Yahiko leaves the doujou. Pg. 17 Kaoru: It's an end to one thing with this... Kenshin: Aa... Kaoru: Giving up the sword that accompanied you for fifteen years, won't you be lonely...? Kenshin: That's true... But my feelings of happiness exceed that, so I guess I'm calmer than I thought I would be. Kaoru hands Kenji over to Kenshin. Kenshin: Okay, Kenji. It seems like you'll inherit the sakabatou after Yahiko. Kenji pulls at Kenshin's hair. (Arrow: Hates his dad.) Kenshin: ---Well, if you do someday, you'll get used to me. Kaoru [smiling]: ....... She lightly touches Kenshin's cross scar, which is fading although still visible. Kaoru: The time we went to Aizu, I heard from Megumi-san....... About scars left from a sword with strong emotions. That as long as those emotions weren't cleared, the scar would never disappear. Your cross scar........ has mostly weakened, hasn't it....... Pg. 18 Kenshin: Aa. But it will probably never disappear. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu is already mostly unusable... The sakabatou's also been released... But that doesn't mean that there won't be anymore fighting with this. The life of the fight still hasn't been accomplished. He gives Kenji back to Kaoru. Kenshin: From here on also, I'll continue fighting under the belief of not killing. Kaoru: Yeah... *But-------...* Kenshin. Kenshin: Oro? Pg. 19 Kaoru: *For the time being, rest.* She takes Kenji's hand and pats Kenshin on the arm. Watsuki-sensei: Thank you truly, for reading for this long time. The End