Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Eleven--Overture to Destruction
Part 93--That Name is Usui
(The guard outside Shishio's headquarters is seized, his throat swiftly cut. A blindfolded figure walks down the path inside.)
Chou: A man who could kill fifty picked men in one night. There are two men like that in the Ten Swords.
Sanosuke: Two . . . that's not that many.
Chou: If he did it in one night, that probably means it took him one or two hours. I could have done it without a time limit.
Sanosuke: Or it's possible that all the Ten Swords were behind it. How about that? You're probably the worst of them.
Chou: All right, let's settle this! Fight me, you rooster head!
Sanosuke: I was hoping you'd say that, broom head!
Saitou: All right, but make it quick and go on with your story.
Chou: Of the two, one is Soujirou the Tenken, the one who's always smiling.
Saitou (thinking): I thought it might be him . . .
Chou: He's young, but he's been with Lord Shishio the longest. The story goes h met Lord Shishio when he was running from the government. That's why of all the Ten Swords Lord Shishio trusts him the most and gave the assassination of Okubo Toshimichi to him. But he didn't do this. After Soujirou assassinated Okubo, he was supposed to gather the Ten Swords scattered in Eastern Japan. Not only would it be strange to attack Kobe, in the opposite direction, there just wouldn't be enough time.
Sanosuke: So who was it? Quit making such a big deal out of it and say it. Remember who's in charge here.
Saitou: You keep quiet. So among the Ten Swords there's someone else equal to Seta Soujirou. He was responsible?
Chou: Yes, I'm sure of it. Of all the Ten Swords, he's the one Lord Shishio is the most cautious of.
(Inside Shishio's headquarters. The bodies of several guards are sprawled in the corridor.)
Guard: The intruder is gone! We lost sight of him! There's no one here! He disappeared!
Houji: I apologize, Lord Shishio.
Yumi: This would happen while the boy's gone!
Houji: The Ten Swords are lying in ambush. It won't be much longer.
Shishio: There's no need for that. I would hate for the Ten Swords to fight among themselves. It's his work. He's probably already here.
Houji: To attack his own comrades . . . I can't believe he would . . .
(The blindfolded figure is clinging to the ceiling directly above Shishio.)
Yumi: Lord Shishio!
(The figure strikes; Shishio draws his sword, deflecting his blow.)
Shishio: You've gotten better.
Houji: It's you, Usui!!
Saitou: Usui the Blind Sword . . .
Chou: Yes. Before the new age he was a swordsman of incredible skill who was used by the Bakufu to counter the Hitokiri. He cut down many famous killers, but when he fought Lord Shishio, he was slashed across both eyes, blinding him. After that, he trained for revenge against Lord Shishio until he mastered the greatest sense of kenjutsu, the opening of the Mind's Eye. And now--
Usui: What are you so mad about, boy? If you leave a weakness, you shouldn't care if I use it. That's what I joined forces with Shishio for. Isn't that right?
Houji: I'm well aware of that! I'm angry you broke in and slaughtered the guards!
Usui: If I fight with the strength of a thousand, it's settled. Whether I meet fifty soldiers or those weaklings. Oh, speaking of fifty soldiers, a suspicious unit of fifty men were gathering in Kobe, so I killed them.
Houji: What . . . ! I've told you to stop acting on your own--
Shishio: Usui. A man with a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek and a tall thin wolf-like man-- they were not among them?
Usui: They were just fifty common soldiers.
Shishio: They are the Ten Swords' greatest enemies.
Usui: I see . . . Then when you and those two come together it will truly be settled . . .
Chou: Soujirou the Tenken and Usui the Blind Sword . . . the strongest of the Ten Swords without a doubt. But Soujirou would never act without Lord Shishio's command. In that way, he's safe. You look pretty tough, but Usui could beat you.
Saitou: Hmm . . . He sounds interesting. Well, one more question. Yesterday we received word of Shishio's plans for the destruction of Kyoto, but no details. What is he doing in Kyoto?
Chou: The Ikedaya affair. You know about it?
Saitou: It's common knowledge.
June 1865. After setting Kyoto ablaze, Ishin Shishi extremists assassinated important members of the Bakufu who opposed them at the Ikedaya inn. The Emperor was transported to Choushuu. Here, where they were holding a secret conference to raise an army, the plan for a strong attack was countered by the Shinsengumi. It's known as the Ikedaya affair. Although the unit of assassins called the Miburo were hated, they risked their lives to protect Kyoto from the great fire. It was the Shinsengumi's greatest achievement, making their unique fighting ability legendary.
Chou: The loyalists set fire to the Thousand Year Castle to stop the Shinsengumi. Lord Shishio plans to destroy Kyoto the same way.
Kyoto will be surrounded by 500 soldiers and burned to the ground. In the confusion, the Ten Swords will eliminate all important members of the government. Just as Lord Shishio was burnt by his own comrades in the time of the Bakumatsu, we'll return the outrage exactly as they did. As suits Lord Shishio, it will be a declaration of war tinged with irony.
Chou: We'll begin when all Ten Swords are gathered. The day is near.
Saitou: I see. The Emperor was moved to Tokyo. But ever since the Tento decree was issued, Kyoto has been Japan's center . . . Even without that, the Thousand Year Castle is the spiritual capital of Japan. If it is not guarded, the people will lose their faith in the government at a single stroke.
Sanosuke: The government can go to hell.
Chou: What, are you still here?
Sanosuke: I'm here! If Kyoto goes up in flames, the ones with the biggest problems aren't going to be the government. It's going to be the people that live here. Ten years ago it was destroyed in the violence of the Bakumatsu and the Boshin War . . . They've only now managed to find peace and prosperity. If someone screws with them again, they'll lose everything they gained. Shishio's men or the government, all they do is screw with people's lives! By the character of evil on my back, Kyoto is not gonna burn! Saitou! I'll settle with you later. First we've got to find Kenshin!
Saitou: You may settle it however you like. I'm already done here. For the spirits of the wolves who fought under the flag of Loyalty, I will stop the burning of Kyoto.
(pause)
Saitou: What.
Sanosuke: Can't believe that was you. I thought I was dreaming.
Saitou: . . . Right. Well, stop beating it to death and go find Battousai! (Idiot.)
Sanosuke: Wait a minute, was that an order?! (I'm no underling of yours!)
Overture to Destruction--End