Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Eighteen--Do you Still Have the Scar?
from the front flap--
Watsuki (studying a doll): But such quality . . . how long have they been making these?
Tsubame: . . . . . . . . . That one's already over . . .
ACTION DOLLS
I finally bought one, a shojo doll. I'd decided to stay away from them, but these Nakoruru and Rimururu--not to mention the poseable joints--Watuski Nobuhiro finally got 'em. (Pokemon-style) Now if two-player Nakorimu would come out!
But still, action dolls . . . ha! Could this be a new trend in the author's comments? (I hope not . . . )
Part 149--Kyoto Epilogue 3--An Early Summer Morning
(A beautiful morning. The sun shines, birds chirp, people go about their business. The morning peace is suddenly rent by a shriek.)
Misao: WHAT?! You're going back to Tokyo tomorrow??
(Misao, Okina and Kaoru are eating breakfast together.)
Misao: Why? We just got the Aoiya rebuilt! I thought we could finally relax and have fun now!
Kaoru: Why? You've taken care of us long enough. And it's about time I reopened the dojo in Tokyo.
Misao: But you can open a rundown dojo with only one student any time!
Kaoru (sweetly): Misao, I'll let it go this time, but next time you say that I'll smack you into next week, kay?
Okina: Tomorrow is so sudden. Why not take your time and wait a few more days?
Kaoru: I've already bought our tickets. And for Kenshin, this is a city full of bitter memories. It's better not to stay too long--
(A slight pause.)
Okina: That's true. We forget we only know the Himura of today. He was once utterly the Hitokiri Battousai . . .
Misao: But--but that was in the past! He's a good guy now! He's gotta make up his mind and move on!
Kaoru: I think so too, but it seems as though Kenshin himself doesn't feel that way . . .
Misao: Well it's not going to help if you're as dark as he is! If you don't start being more cheerful he's going to stay like this forever!
Kaoru: Maybe so, but . . .
Okina: Well then. There's something to what both of you are saying, so it's time I took a hand . . .
(he throws an armful of guidebooks in the air.)
Okina: Today we'll do it all in Okina's personal guided tour of Kyoto's greatest sights! We'll make the city a happy place even for Himura!
Misao: All right!
Kaoru: In other words, you're just looking for another excuse to have a good time . . .
Okina: Go wake everyone up! We've got a big day ahead of us!
Kaoru: Okay, okay . . . (she walks down the hall to Kenshin's room.)
Kaoru: Kenshin--guys? Are you awake? I'm coming in . . .
(The room is empty except for Yahiko.)
Yahiko: If you're looking for Kenshin and Sanosuke, they left already.
Kaoru: Together?
Yahiko: Nah, separately. When I woke up Kenshin was already gone. (walking past her) I'm going out too.
Kaoru: Going--going where?
Yahiko: Mount Hiei.
Kaoru (thinking) That's where the Shishio faction headquarters was--
Yahiko: Masu gave me some onigiri so I don't need lunch. (leaving)
Kaoru: Hey, wait a minute! (but he's gone.) That kid!
Megumi (right behind her): Hm. So Ken-san's out today.
Kaoru (jumping): Megumi!
Megumi: Did I say something wrong? (turning serious) This is perfect. I have something I need to talk to you about. Come with me.
(Okina and Misao are pouring over the guidebooks with great glee.)
Misao: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion! I wanna go there!
Okina: No, no, the Silver Pavilion is much more elegant.
(Kenshin paces the city streets, amid signs of Westernization.)
Kenshin: Ten years . . . the city has changed, a little.
(Yahiko arrives at the site of Shishio's headquarters, now just a cave surrounded by burnt and twisted metal.)
Yahiko: So this is it . . . (thinking) This is where Kenshin fought to the death for the destiny of Japan . . .
(A figure appears, walking towards him out of the cave.)
Yahiko (grabbing his shinai): One of Shishio's men survived?
Sanosuke: Hm?
Yahiko: Sanosuke??
Sanosuke: What're you doing here?
(A little later. They sit in a clearing eating Yahiko's onigiri.)
Sanosuke: You came all this way just to see this place?
Yahiko: Yeah. Something wrong with that? I was stuck on the sidelines the whole time.
Sanosuke: Don't be so hard on yourself. Defeating one of the Ten Swords is a pretty major thing.
Yahiko: I never even got to see Shishio's face . . .
(Kaoru and Megumi are eating shaved ice at a streetside cafe.)
Kaoru: Um . . . before you say anything, I just want to thank you.
Megumi: Thank me?
Kaoru: For coming all the way to Kyoto to help Kenshin. You were the one who could have helped him best. And I hope you can look after him in the future as well.
Megumi: You think you can settle this just by saying thank you? You don't understand anything. Haven't you thought at all about what could happen next time?
Kaoru: Next time?
Megumi: Everyone thinks Ken-san is this invincible hero, so he'll be fine no matter what. As a doctor, I know that his reflexes and nerves are second to none, but other than that he has an ordinary human body. The effects of the repeated injuries are taking their toll. It's not like this is his first fight. He's all right now, he got through it this time, but next time something like this happens, he could easily die.
(Kenshin enters a cemetery, holding a pail of water and some chrysanthemums.)
Kenshin: Ten years have passed . . . but here nothing has changed.
Hiko (appearing behind him): So that's the grave.
(The grave is a small one, with an unmarked stone headstone. Kenshin puts a hand to the scar on his cheek.)
Kenshin: Yes . . .
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 7/21/99