Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Eleven--Overture to Destruction
Part 86--Aoshi and Okina
Yahiko: Shinomori Aoshi is in Kyoto!
Kaoru: Shinomori . . . you mean, the Oniwabanshuu Okashira?
Yahiko: I just caught sight of him in the crowd, but I know it was him!
(Misao seizes him by the scalp.)
Yahiko: Ow! What’re you--
Misao: Is it true? You’re not lying to me? Is Lord Aoshi really in Kyoto?
Yahiko (thinking): Lord . . . Aoshi . . .
(He knocks her hand away and pulls out his shinai.)
Kaoru: Yahiko!
Yahiko: Get back, Kaoru! She’s one of the Oniwabanshuu! (to Misao) What’s the real reason
you were sticking so close to Kenshin? Backup for Aoshi? Revenge for Hanya and them?
Misao: Backup . . . revenge . . . What’s going on?
Yahiko: Quit playing innocent!
Kaoru (pushing them apart): The two of you just calm down. All right. I’ll tell you.
Yahiko: Kaoru! (What’re you thinking!)
Kaoru: Thanks to Misao, I found Kenshin again. Now it’s my turn to help her.
(to Misao) I never saw Shinomori Aoshi myself. I’m sure of alll the details, but I
heard it secondhand. This may be painful for you to hear . . .
(In the Aoiya)
Omasu: Okina, Okina--
Okina: What? You don’t have to shout, I can hear you.
Omasu: You have guests outside.
Okina: I haven’t been feeling too well these past few days. If it’s someone I don’t know,
just get rid of them for me.
Omasu: Are you sure? It’s three young girls.
Okina: Idiot, why didn’t you tell me sooner!
Omasu: They’re friends of yours?
Okina (rushing off): No! Never saw ‘em before in my life!
Omasu (thinking): Dirty old man.
(It’s Yahiko’s chow-chow girls.)
Girl: Um, someone asked us to deliver a letter here--
Okina (thinking): Boring. (aloud) Thank you. Who was it?
Girl: This really good looking guy.
Girl 2: He was kind of gloomy, though.
Girl 3: But cute.
(Okina flips the letter over and sees Aoshi’s initials on the back.)
(Later. Amid the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, Okina sits out in an outdoor cafe.)
Okina: Roasted tea and rice cakes in oak leaves, please.
Waitress: Coming right up.
(Aoshi is waiting behind him.)
Okina: It’s been a long time . . . I should be using polite language to my Okashira, but
since we’re alone we can do away with the formalities.
Aoshi: Yes . . . it will be easier to talk that way.
Okina: If you were in town why didn’t you come to the Aoiya? Misao would have liked to see
you.
Waitress: Here you are.
Aoshi: I left Misao with the Aoiya so she could live her life far from danger. I have no
intention of seeing her now.
Okina: Of course . . . the only grandchild of the illustrious previous Okashira. None of us
want to see her in danger. So what’s the matter?
Aoshi: I want you to find someone for me. He’s already in Kyoto but I haven’t been able to
find him on my own. Himura Battousai.
(meaningful pause)
Okina: That’s enough. Can't you wake up? Killing Himura now won’t bring back Hanya and the others.
I heard the details of the matter from Himura. He brought Misao back after she went looking
for you. Anyway, Himura has already left the Aoiya. I don’t know where he is now.
Aoshi: So he was right under my nose all along . . .
Okina: Aoshi. Why don’t you just forget about this. What you need now is not a battlefield,
but a place to rest your heart.
Aoshi: Even though you are of the Oniwabanshuu, you cannot understand us. (thinking)
Until the name of strongest is in my hands, this battle will not be over.
(He walks off.)
Okina: Aoshi . . . I have one thing left to say to you. If you have lost the honor of the
Oniwabanshuu for the sake of violence, then making you the Okashira was a mistake. I’m sorry
for Misao’s sake, but with every breath in my body, I’ll destroy you.
(Aoshi walks on through the crowd.)
Soujirou (who is walking the other way with Anji and two other of the Ten Swords): Well fancy
meeting you here. So you did come to Kyoto! I’m so glad.
Aoshi: Where’s the guy I’m always seeing feigning innocence?
Soujirou: You’re very suspicious. We only got into Kyoto this morning.
Aoshi (walking on): I see. A chance meeting. I have been feeling you watching me from the
shadows since this morning.
Soujirou (hurrying after him): I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I really do apologize. I’m sorry, so
would you mind coming with us?
Aoshi: I told you before. I have no intention of working for anyone.
Soujirou: Oh, not at all. This has nothing to do with working for us. Mr. Shishio only wants
to see you. Our previous negotiations seem to have broken down. But our own ways of gathering
information are nothing to sneeze at. That alone should be worth a look.
If you have lost the honor of the Oniwabanshuu for the sake of violence . . .
Aoshi: All right. Show me the way. As you wish, I will see Shishio Makoto.