Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Eleven--Overture to Destruction
Part 91--Misao’s Resolve
(Okina, heavily bandaged, is sleeping; Misao kneels beside him. Everyone else is clustered
outside the door.)
Shiro: He took stitches all over his body, 138 in all. The doctor said it’s a miracle he’s
alive . . .
Kaoru: In other words, it’s mysterious that he didn’t die.
Shiro: He didn’t let up on him at all . . . .
(Flashback. Misao opens the door on the scene.)
Aoshi: It’s over.
(He walks past her into the forest.)
Misao: Lord Aoshi!!!
Aoshi (without turning around): Get out of here. And never show your face to me again.
Omasu: Is she crying?
Okon: Probably.
Yahiko: No way, she’s got more balls than that.
(The Aoiya people bite his head off.)
Shiro: No, she’s really crying! Misao’s only sixteen!
Omasu: Exactly! She’s usually pretty rough, but she’s really delicate!
Okon: And what are you talking about balls to a girl anyway?
Misao: SHUT UP! EVERYONE BE QUIET!
Omasu (in the aftermath): It’s probably better not to talk now.
Kaoru: Yes. While she sorts out her feelings. After that we can talk all we want.
(Flashback: Kaoru and Yahiko have gone to the Aoiya after Misao has run off.)
Kaoru: Shinomori Aoshi and Mr. Okina! So Misao’s--
Omasu: Gone to stop them. She’s fast, but probably--
Shiro: It’s been a while. It’s probably already been settled.
(He pulls out a pocket watch to check the time; reflected on its surface is Aoshi walking
towards them.)
Aoshi: You know where Himura Battousai is.
Kuro: O . . . Okashira . . .
Shiro: You’re here . . .
Omasu: Okina . . .
Aoshi: Answer me. Or I’ll kill you.
Okon: What do we do . . .
Kuro: Even Okina couldn’t stand up to him . . .
Shiro: If we all attacked at once . . .
(Yahiko steps forward.)
Yahiko: Shinomori Aoshi. I thought you were above this.
(A long pause.)
Aoshi: You’ve got guts, at least. (pushing the kodachi out of its sheath a little) You know
where Battousai is too.
Yahiko: Yeah, I know, but Kenshin’s in the middle of some important training. Are you going
to teach him how to be killed? Fine!! Even if you don’t find him, Kenshin will fight you
again someday! And this time he’ll defeat you!
Kaoru: Yahiko’s right. So don’t raise your sword up anymore. Not this sword which you’ve
used against so many people. It is a villain's sword that will only bring you misery.
Aoshi: I don’t care if it is a villain's sword. If it kills Battousai, it’s good enough.
I’ll wait at Shishio’s headquarters. Tell Battousai that.
(He walks off.)
Shiro: Lord Aoshi has fallen completely to the path of violence.
Okon: What are we all going to do now . . .
Omasu: I don’t know. But whatever happens, we’ll help Misao to settle her heart.
(There is a letter sitting next to Misao. She remembers Omasu handing it to her, saying,
"Okina left you this. He said if anything happened to him to give this to you.")
Ciao, my pretty darling Misao. (Misao about dies of embarrassment.) If you’re
reading this, I have probably left his world. But, there's nothing to be sad about. I
prepared to destroy my enemy and prepared to be destroyed by him. As of today, the
Oniwabanshuu is dissolved. After this, it is all up to Himura. Forget about the Oniwabanshuu
and about Aoshi. Find happiness as a normal girl, living a normal life. Good luck.
(Misao gets to her feet, marches to the closet, and removes her clothes.)
Omasu: Stop, Misao, that’s immodest!
Kaoru: Misao have you gone mad?!
Okon: You men turn your backs!!
(Misao dons full battle gear.)
Misao (thinking): I’m sorry Gramps. I was born and raised in the Oniwabanshuu. For me,
it’s my family and my friends. (aloud) All right, everyone. From now on, we, the
Oniwabanshuu, will go on as before. We and Himura will stop the ambitions of Shishio’s faction.
(thinking) Without the Oniwabanshuu I could have no happiness! (aloud) Whoever our
enemy is, even Lord Aoshi, we will destroy him! (thinking) I will protect the
Oniwabanshuu. From now on no one is going to die. (aloud) From now on, instead of
Shinomori Aoshi, I am the new Okashira!
Everyone: WHAT??? (That’s crazy!)
Kaoru: That’s absolutely ridiculous. Stop talking like that!
Omasu: She’s right, Misao. Just--
Misao: Not Misao! Okashira!
Kyoto Police Headquarters
Chief: It must have been a long trip. You’re later than we expected.
Saitou: I had some business to take care of. Chief, the swordsman from Shishio you just
captured--
Chief: Ah, in the very bottom cell. (Saitou turns) Um, wait a minute, Fujida. Before you
go there’s a little matter for you to take care of. A week ago, there was a big fight in town
and we took this guy in, but . . . whatever we say, he just sits there. We can’t get him to
move. Could you do something?
Sanosuke (behind bars in the cell behind him): Heh heh. Just like I wanted. ‘Stead of
stumbling around in the dark, I made some trouble for the police to get ahold of you. Quickest
way I could think of to find Kenshin.
Saitou: It’s you . . .
Sanosuke: You got it. Sagara Sanosuke arrives in Kyoto with style!