Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Sixteen--Divine Providence
Part137--Nourishment
(Kenshin and Shishio attack, blocking sword with sword.)
Sanosuke (thinking): Good. He’s hurt, but he isn’t weakening yet!
(As Shishio’s sword strikes Kenshin’s, it bursts into flames. Shocked, Kenshin is knocked down.)
Houji (thinking): That must be it! The first secret sword Homura Dama!
Kenshin: The tip burns from the friction heat of being drawn against the scabbard . . . ?
Shishio: Feh.
(He draws the tip of his sword deliberately against the ground; once again it bursts into flame.)
Kenshin (thinking): No. If he were just producing a flame by friction, I should be able to do the same thing. This is something else!
(His sword still flaming, Shishio charges again.)
Kenshin (thinking): Settle down. Don’t let the flame confuse you! The fire itself shouldn’t be able to hurt you much. Focus on the tip of the blade!
(Shishio slashes once in front of him; striking the blade again against the scabbard, he rakes Kenshin across the chest with the flaming sword.)
Sanosuke: Kenshin!
Houji: Lord Shishio!
(Kenshin goes to his knees, supporting himself with his sword.)
Shishio: How did it feel, Battousai? Was my Homura Dama your first taste of the pain of being cut and burnt at the same time?
Kenshin: Yes . . . But compared to the sharpness of a cutting attack, the actual cut wasn’t as deep as I expected. I saw your Homura Dama for what it really is. The friction produced by striking the tip is to ignite it. What actually burns is something else.
(A close look at the sword reveals tiny teeth along the edge.)
Kenshin: What actually burns is what you’ve soaked your fine-tooth saw of a sword with, the fat of those you’ve killed.
Shishio: Well done. As with the Rengoku, you show your keen insight.
Houji (thinking): He saw through Lord Shishio’s Homura Dama after only taking it once? He is truly the formidable Himura Battousai!
Shishio: But it was rude of you to compare my blade to a saw. It’s the brother-blade to our true reverse blade. If you continue to kill with a fine sword, the blade catches and nicks and the edge dulls. Shakku recognized the limits of maintaining the utmost killing power and made a sword that could be used continuously by chipping a portion of it away beforehand. Arai Shakku’s final killing sword, the Mugenjin, and my own technique perfected in my years as a Hitokiri, the first secret sword Homura Dama. Through them, the weak but serve to feed my strength. Thus, the flesh of the weak is the food of the strong.
Sanosuke (thinking): Both bear the same past as a Hitokiri, both wield blades by the same master swordsmith .. . . but their hearts are complete opposites.
Shishio: You look as though you disagree. Prove you’re right with your own sword.
Sanosuke: Kenshin . . .
Kenshin: I know. I told Soujirou a fight can’t decide who’s right and who’s wrong. But if I don’t stop him here, he’ll feed on all Japan.
Shishio: I won’t deny that.
Kenshin (charging): Let’s do it, Shishio Makoto!
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuushousen!
(Shishio catches the blade with his gloved hand.)
Shishio: You already showed me that in Shingetsu. Once I’ve seen a technique, it won’t work against me. Battousai . . . shall I feed on you as well?
(He sinks his teeth into Kenshn’s neck, spraying blood. Kenshin screams.)
Sanosuke: Kenshin!
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 6 march 1999