Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Ten--Master and Student of the Sword
Part 82--The Threads That Lead Me to You
Misao: YOU'RE LEAVING THE AOIYA!?!
(Kenshin silently fits a new handle on the reverse blade.)
Misao: Why?! Now, when you finally got a new reverse blade?
(She charges at him with such ferocity that they butt heads. They both clutch their aching heads.)
Okina: Settle down, settle down. Himura, you owe us a reason.
(No reply.)
Misao: You're not gonna talk??
Okina: You stay back.
(Kenshin hammers the new handle on.)
Okina: You don't want to tell us? Well, after all, we're perfect strangers. I have no right
to ask you about matters close to your heart. Then before you leave, you'll
just pay the bill for ten days' stay, seven yen and fifty sen.
Misao: Oh, he turned to stone.
Okina: The Aoiya is an inn. A stranger has no right to stay for free.
Misao: Right on Gramps!
(Sign above Kenshin: He can't even groan.)
Okina: Tell us, Himura. If you don't, even if you get past me, you'll never get past her.
I MADE THIS UP.
Kenshin: If I stay here, others will be involved. (sheathing the sword.) In order to avoid
involving anyone in this battle, I left Tokyo alone. But in this latest matter, the Seikuu
family became involved. If I stay here, you will be involved as well.
Misao: What! You don't have to worry about that. I was taught kempo by Hanya! It's not like
I'm Iori!
Kenshin: No. In the eyes of Shishio's men, Miss Misao, you and Iori would be the same. I don't
want to put anyone else in danger. From now on, I fight alone.
Okina: I understand, Himura. I'll respect your wishes. When we find out about the other
person you asked me to search for, Hiko Seijuurou, I'll send word. The old ways of doing things
are the surest.
Kenshin: Thank you.
Misao: Why, Himura. Why are you so remote all of a sudden. Because I know you're Hitokiri
Battousai? Well excuse me, I don't care about your stupid past. Whoever you are, the person I
met wasn't the Hitokiri you. It was the vagabond you. (Kenshin smiles.) What's so funny!
Kenshin: Someone I parted with in Tokyo said something like that to me. But I never expected
to hear those words in Kyoto. I'm sorry I never told you about Aoshi.
(He closes the door behind him.)
Misao: I knew I couldn't count on you. I'll show you, I'll find him by myself.
Okina: It's all right. He's kind, but he's no youth. I understood yesterday when he lost
control that he still has the harsh nature of the Hitokiri deep within his heart.
I could see it clear as day. If we meddled any further out of vague feelings of justice
and half-naive sympathy, it wouldn't end without someone getting hurt. After we find the person
we said we would look for . . .
(Misao strides over to the window; Kenshin is still on the street.)
Misao: Hey Himura! You told Eiji in Shingetsu to be happy! Why don't you take your own
advice! You're going to end up miserable if you try to do everything all by yourself! I don't
agree at all! Don't forget, you jerk!
So Kenshin was once again alone, shunning human contact and living as a recluse.
As the Hitokiri lived during the Bakumatsu . . .
Misao: I'm still not happy about this. I understood what he had to say, but he can't fight
anyone alone.
Okina: It's been three days and you're still worrying.
Misao: The other side is a huge group. If we stuck together we'd have an advantage.
Okina: Maybe now you're in love with Himura instead of Lord Aoshi--
Misao: GRAMPS!!
Okina: Sorry, sorry. Jokes aside, thinking about it all the time will get you nowhere. Maybe
eating lunch out will make you feel better.
(At the Shirobeko)
Sae: Oh, it's perfect.
(Yahiko is fuming, wearing an apron with a bow in his hair.)
Kaoru (trying to keep a straight face): It looks good on you, Yahiko.
Yahiko: What the hell is this? I worked at the Tokyo Akabeko, but I never had to wear some
stupid apron!!
Kaoru: But it's your job here.
Yahiko: Then what's with this ribbon!!
Sae: Oh, that's just my little hobby.
Kaoru (thinking): She's definitely Tae's sister.
Sae: But I really do appreciate your helping us out like this.
Kaoru: Not at all, you're looking after us. And you let me put up the notice. Maybe instead
of searching blindly in a place I don't know, I can find some clue by staying put.
(Misao enters the restaurant.)
Yahiko (in the angriest possible way): Welcome!
(They stare at each other a minute.)
Misao & Yahiko (thinking): What's with the weird outfit?
Kaoru: We've got a customer!
Sae: Got it!
(Misao sits in her booth.)
Misao (thinking): Coming here alone isn't going to make me feel any better. This is all
Himura's fault, damn him!
Kaoru (as Misao tunes in): --order. What would you like?
Misao: Umm . . .
(She glances at the menu on the wall. Besides the items is a poster reading Missing Person:
Himura Kenshin. Short, red hair, cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, carries a sword. If
found please contact the Shirobeko at once.)
Misao: Himura!!
Kaoru (jumping forward with such ferocity that they butt heads): You know where Kenshin--
(They both clutch the bumps on their heads.)
Yahiko: Settle down, settle down.
Kaoru: You . . . you know Kenshin! Can you tell me where he is?
Misao (thinking): Maybe she's the one . . . the one he parted with in Tokyo . . .
Meanwhile.
(A letter is handed to Okina.)
Okina: Omasu.
Omasu: Yes?
Okina: Prepare the signal flare.
(Kenshin sees the flare shoot across the Kyoto sky.)