Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Thirteen--A Beautiful Night
from the front flap--
Watsuki (patting Iwanbou on the nose): You just make yourself at home.
(But this is unexpected ...)
Iwanbou: Gufu?
LOOKING BACK ON 96
1) I had three serious breaks with people; one I couldn’t persuade no matter what, one I
couldn’t compromise with no matter what, one I couldn’t forgive no matter what.
2) I did some deep soul-searching three times--all after the breaks. Without giving into anger,
if I talk to people more calmly, I could solve problems without breaking human relations or
trust, but ...
3) I realized one thing--whether things go well or badly is all up to what I ought to be.
Part 103--One Dawn
(A group of police take care of the wounded.)
Saitou: No buildings were burnt down, seven partially burnt. Fifty minor blazes, but they
were soon put out.
Sanosuke: Pretty miraculous, eh?
Saitou: Well. Forty-one officers were killed and many more were wounded. Civilian casualties
haven’t been determined, but reports aren’t in yet.
Kenshin: Forty-one . . .
Saitou: That's not even a hundredth of the five thousand we mobilized. We were able to arrest almost
all of the enemy soldiers; it was ideal.
Kenshin: . . . That’s not the problem.
Saitou: Feh. Well, you can think whatever you want. I need to deal with the results of last
night before we go to Shishio’s headquarters. Wait at the Aoiya till I send for you.
(Kenshin and Sanosuke head off.)
Sanosuke: We’re supposed to be fighting together, but we get along like oil and water.
Same as ever since I came to Kyoto.
Kenshin: The police were looking after you. Could it be you've made peace with Saitou?
(Sanosuke slugs him, sending him slamming into a brick wall.)
Sanosuke: Why would I make nice with that underhanded cop!
After we settle with Shishio he’s next! Now that we got that straight, I’m hungry. Hurry up
and show me where the Aoiya is.
Kenshin (trudging off): Okay, okay. (He keeps punching people out of the blue . . . )
(A little later.)
Sanosuke: So the Oniwabanshuu are in Kyoto, but this time they’re on our side. That’s a weird
twist.
Yahiko (standing in front of the Aoiya): Kenshin! And Sanosuke!
Sanosuke: Hey, Yahiko. What, they made you stand outside? You get in trouble?
Yahiko (steam blowing out of his ears): I’m on guard!!
(Kenshin: Oh, new trick.)
Yahiko: Hey, Kaoru! Kenshin’s back!
(The door opens a crack, and Kaoru peeks out.)
Sanosuke (yanking the door open): What’re you sneaking around for.
Kenshin: I’m sorry I caused you worry, Miss Kaoru.
Kaoru: . . . Not at all . . .
Sanosuke (to Yahiko): Good job getting the girl here.
Yahiko: It was a man’s promise. I had to keep it.
Kaoru: Did you learn the technique?
Kenshin: Pretty much. After this, it depends on my heart . . . How is Miss Misao?
Kaoru (bowing her head): She’s . . . pretty bad . . .
(They race down the hall.)
Kenshin (thinking): Oh no! I wrote the letter so the Oniwabanshuu could spread the word
and warn Kyoto, but knowing Miss Misao, she wouldn’t leave it at that. She’d have to do
something herself. This was my mistake! (throwing open the door) Miss Misao!
(Misao pounds the floor with her fists, tears streaming from her eyes.)
Misao: I can’t believe this!! An enemy got up right behind me! I’m so embarrassed!!
Kaoru: She’s been like this since last night. She's fine, but it was really close.
(Kenshin: Such a strange expression of suffering.)
Yahiko: It was this crazy guy with his eyes covered. Everything about him said killer.
"Mind’s eye" was written on his blindfold, but it looked like he was blind.
Sanosuke: It was probably Blind Sword Usui from the Ten Swords. He’s supposed to be one of
the toughest of the Ten Swords, according to that broom-head. If he was right behind you, you did pretty good getting out
without getting hurt.
(Flashback. Usui appears behind Misao, ready to stab, when Anji breaks his spear.)
Usui: What are you doing, Anji.
Anji: Other than Kamatari and Henya, almost all of our men are put to flight. This battle no
longer has any meaning.
Usui: That’s not what I meant. Why do you interfere with my pleasure? Your life hangs on your
answer.
Anji: . . . Mr. Usui, you joined the Ten Swords under one condition. I joined under the same.
Have you forgotten it?
Usui: Power over life and death. If ordered to eliminate someone, we are free to decide their
fate, yes?
Anji: I take no pleasure in the wanton taking of life.
Kaoru (in the present): Then they stood staring at each other for half a moment. In the end,
they both withdrew without saying a word.
Kenshin: This Anji . . . he seems a little different than the other Ten Swords. Usui was on
the point of attack, and if they had fought he probably couldn’t have settled it without
injury to himself. Well, whatever happened, Miss Misao, I’m glad you’re safe.
(Misao is clutching her forehead, wailing to the heavens.)
Kenshin:--you’re not listening.
(Sanosuke is staring at his fist with a strange expression on his face.)
Kenshin: Sano?
Sanosuke: Twist of fate . . . So it wasn’t someone else’s concerns.
(thinking) Interesting . . . I’ll make sure it was the guy who said he would save the world
with this fist.
Yahiko: Kenshin. Hey, Kenshin!
Kenshin: Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. What is it?
Yahiko: I’m not done yet. There’s someone else you have to look out for. I didn’t want to
interrupt your training so I kept quiet about it--
Kaoru: He just forgot, actually.
Sanosuke: Aoshi’s in Kyoto?!
Misao: And that’s not all. Okashira Shinomori Aoshi, who has vowed to kill you, has joined
forced with Shishio Makoto. He put the Aoiya in danger. He almost killed Gramps . . . He is
our enemy, and we should destroy him. (in a quieter voice) That’s right. Our enemy . . .
Kenshin: Miss Misao . . .