Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Ten--Master and Student of the Sword
from the front flap--
Watsuki: Picture it in katakana: "Virtual Meiji!" It would be a cool title for a 3D fighting
game!
Hiko (reading a magazine) The column's pretty negative. Well, nothing wrong with that.
VIRTUAL MEIJI
If you put it in kanji, it's "imaginary Meiji." I was just casually reading a magazine standing up
in a bookstore when I found a review of Ruroken in a column. I was impressed, they were
speaking pretty highly of it. And it cleared up one confusion I had.
It's not a knowledgable historical manga about the Meiji period, but it's fun with a little of
the feel of the real Meiji. Yup, that's Rurouni Kenshin.
Part 76--the Ten Swords Act
(Misao sits at a table holding a fan; beside her is a sign reading "The Story Thus Far:
Presented by Makimachi Misao.)
Misao: Himura Kenshin, you in your search for a new reverse blade went to the son of the
swordsmith Arai Shakkuu, Seikuu. But Seikuu, out of respect for this era of peace, no
longer makes swords. Kenshin, you said you could not bear to force Seikuu to make one.
(snapping the fan closed) Pitifully, the search for a reverse blade must start anew.
(pointing an accusing finger) You're so nice! You're just too nice!!
Kenshin: Oro?
Misao: You could see it in his eyes, in every word he said--that guy was a wuss. If you'd
just leaned on him a little he would have done anything for you.
Kenshin: No. (smiling) I have no right to force myself into Mr. Seikuu's peaceful life.
Misao: God that's nice.
Okina (entering the room): Even if he forced him to make it, he could not rule the swordsmith's
spirit; it would be poor work. If he faced Shishio with a sword like the one broken by Seta
Soujirou, Himura's death would be certain. It would be completely useless if it only had the
form of a reverse blade. The new reverse blade must surpass the old one! (shrugging helplessly) I raised
you myself, and you don't even understand that?
Misao (attacking): What's that supposed to mean?! At least he'd had something to fight with!
Okina: Well, there's swordsmiths in Kyoto for that.
(Kenshin looks at his hand, remembering Iori saying "Anfake! Anfake!")
Kenshin (thinking): This is best. If Seikuu had agreed to make my reverse blade, Shishio's
men would have eliminated him. I don't want this family living in the Meiji peace to be
involved in this struggle. Nor the people here. No matter how much they learned in the
Oniwabanshuu, they couldn't settle a fight with Shishio's men without someone being hurt.
There's one more person left to find. After that, I'll go.
Misao (hitting him with a flying kick): People are worrying about you and you're lost in
your own little world!!
Kenshin: O--
(Misao's kick knocks him through the wall, over the balcony and down to the street below.)
Misao: Uh-oh. Himura!!
Kenshin: --ro . . . .
(Shishio and Yumi walk through the gates leading to his headquarters.)
Yumi: Here we are in the Flower of Kyoto, and we have to live in a cellar.
Shishio: This place was built for us.
Yumi: But--
Shishio: It will only be for two or three more months. Be patient.
(They enter. The main hallway is lined with rows of masked soldiers at attention.)
Houji: Welcome back, Lord Shishio.
Shishio: This is quite a welcome, Houji. Did you take care of the job I left to you?
Houji: Yes, sir. The firearms have been purchased as planned. Where is Soujirou?
Shishio: He's in the east gathering the Ten Swords. Those like Anji may be hard to find.
I've sent word to those in the west personally.
Houji: You mean--
Shishio: Yes. After the Ten Swords have been assembled, our conquest of the country begins.
(The soldiers break into cheers, chanting "Lord Shishio! Lord Shishio!")
Houji: Did you hear, comrades! The time to rise up together has come! Do not neglect your
own preparations!
(Amid cheers, Shishio, Yumi and Houji leave the hall.)
Shishio: "Did you hear, comrades"? You've been leading drills a little too long, Houji.
Houji: It suits the organization's aide-de-camp. Well, I'll send the word to everyone
throughout the country--
Shishio: Wait, there's more. It will take time for the Ten Swords to be assembled. We've
been lying in wait for so long that they're probably hungry for blood. Instead of a
celebration for our upcoming coup, we'll make a blood offering of the enemy's secret weapon,
Himura Battousai.
Houji: I see . . . So that's why you ordered me to keep track of Battousai's movements in
your letter. Speaking personally, I'm against it! The Ten Swords are the most important of
our strike forces, who bear the responsibility of assassinating key figures in the government.
It's ludicrous to ask them to trifle with trash like Battousai!
Yumi: Oh, now look. You've made Houji mad.
Shishio: Feh.
Yumi: I was surprised at first too, but it will be fine. The Ten Swords aren't that weak.
Chou: Yumi's right. Ten Swords can't lose to one Battousai.
(Chou is tall; his hair is swept straight up; he carries two swords and has two more strapped
across his back.)
Shishio: That was quick, Chou.
Chou: I am from Osaka. And I thought since I'm the first to arrive, I'd get a chance to
show off my beloved blades.
Shishio: What's your hurry? Wait until two or three of you are here. Houji, what's
Battousai's position?
Houji: We still haven't found his place of residence. But yesterday he made contact with the
son of swordsmith Arai Shakkuu, Seikuu.
Shishio: To replace the reverse blade Soujirou broke. Well?
Houji: Seikuu refused to make him a sword. It seems he has Shakkuu's final work, but he
didn't offer that to him either.
Chou: The final work of the famous Bakumatsu swordsmith Arai Shakkuu . . . (walking away) I
didn't know that. Hmm.
Shishio: This is important. Don't make any trouble.
Chou: Who me?
Yumi: His eyes always light up when someone mentions swords. Well, I'm all dirty from the
journey. I'll be waiting in the bedroom, so come soon.
(She leaves as well.)
Houji: Lord Shishio, I am still opposed. Even if he is weaker now, Himura Battousai is still
the legendary Hitokiri. If in fighting the Ten Swords he should regain the strength of his
glory days, it could mean disaster for our plans . . .
Shishio: So what if he does? I was particularly looking forward to killing the reawakened
Battousai. But with Soujirou and Usui among the Ten Swords, the chance of that happening is
virtually nil. Whoever kills him, I will be well pleased.
(He breaks into laughter.)
Houji (thinking): He is as inscrutable as ever . . .
(Outside the Arai house, Iori is playing with a top.)
Iori (pointing): Broom! Broom!
Chou: You're funny, kid. Where's your dad?
Seikuu (coming out): Oh, welcome, sir. Were you looking for something?
Chou: Shakkuu's last work. You got that?
(In the street, Misao and an interested crowd gather around Kenshin.)
Misao: Himura! Please don't die! Himura!
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 5 august 1999