Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation
Volume One--Kenshin * Himura Battousai
Part 3--Descendant of Tokyo Samurai Myoujin Yahiko
The day after Kenshin defeated the Sword-bearing Police, rumors flew and people
gathered in the Kamiya Kasshin dojo.
Kaoru: Wow, there’s more than fifteen people here! The Kamiya Kasshin school is revived!
Kenshin: This isn’t good.
Kaoru: Huh?
Kenshin: Excuse me, everyone. I’m not originally from this school, and I’m not taking any
pupils, so if you came because you saw the disturbance yesterday, I’m sorry, but please leave.
(Kaoru stands staring at an empty yard.)
Kenshin: Well, I’ll go start the fire for the bath.
Kaoru (slamming him with her shinai): You idiot!! They all left!!
Kenshin (spiral-eyed): Because I’m not originally--
Kaoru (attempting to strangle him): But why’d you have to tell them to leave!!
(punching him) It would have saved the school!!
Kenshin: That would be dishonest.
(Later. They walk across a bridge, Kaoru carrying her kendo equipment.)
Kaoru: Honestly!
Kenshin: Are you still mad?
Kaoru: Of course I am! There were more than fifteen of them!
Kenshin: But a pupil who’s only half interested won’t last half a year. It won't help to
worry about it. There’s nothing you can do now. It’s better to keep a cheerful, patient
spirit.
Kaoru: But with no pupils I have to walk to another dojo for practice! Since
you won’t practice with me.
Kenshin: I'm not much good with a shinai.
(A kid walks straight into him from behind.)
Kenshin: Oro.
Kaoru: Wait! (running after the kid and wrestling him to the ground.) Kenshin, this kid’s a
pickpocket! Here’s your wallet!
Kid: Damn you! Lemme go, you hag!
Kaoru: Ex-excuse me! I’m the one they call the kenjutsu beauty!
Kid: Shut up, hag!
Kenshin (as Kaoru hands him his wallet): Now, now. There’s really nothing we can do if
it was stolen. Here, child. Next time don’t get caught. (picking up Kaoru’s bag and
walking away) Let’s go.
Kaoru: But--but Kenshin!
(the kid watches them go for a moment, then throws the wallet at Kenshin.)
Kenshin: Oro!
Kid: I’m not a child! I’m the son of a Tokyo samurai, Myoujin Yahiko! I haven’t sunk so low
that I need pity from strangers! I was just making fun of you cause you’re wearing a sword!
Don’t get me wrong, you idiot!!
Kenshin (sweetly): Child.
Yahiko: I’m not a child!!
Kenshin: You have the form of a child, but your heart is already that of an adult. I’m sorry. I
underrated you.
Yahiko: Feh. (he give him one last evil look and runs off.)
Kenshin (watching him go): Foolish pride, or a strong sense of honor?
Kaoru: Just plain rude, if you ask me.
Kenshin: That child . . . in a better world, he would be a fine samurai.
(Yahiko is sitting by the riverbanks as the sun sets. Two men approach.)
Man1: Here he is . . . We’ve been looking for you, Yahiko. This month’s payment is due
today. Let’s have it.
Yahiko: Get out of here.
Man1: What’s that?
Yahiko: I’m not stealing anymore. And I’m not with you yakuza creeps anymore either.
(The second man--who is named Gasuke--strikes him with a sheathed sword-cane.)
Gasuke: Don’t talk to us like that. You daydreaming or something? What the hell you think you’re gonna do?
Yahiko: It doesn't matter.
(remembering Kenshin’s words "You have the form of a child, but you have a fine heart")
Yahiko: I’m just sick of doing something as pathetic as picking pockets
(Gasuke kicks him in the face.)
Gasuke: Keh! You’re pretty fresh. This is a good time to teach you
who's in charge!
(Kaoru is walking home over the bridge.)
Kaoru: Mm--worked up a good sweat. I’ll go home and take a nice bath. I wonder if Kenshin
got the water boiling? He left early, so that’s probably what he’s doing . . . (she looks
up and notices the two men walking away, with Yahiko slung across Gasuke’s shoulder.)
That’s . . .
(Inside the yakuza headquarters. Gasuke is beating Yahiko in front of a group of yakuza and
their leader, Tanishi.)
Gasuke: Stubborn brat. One word of apology and this would all be over.
Tanishi: Wait a little. Gasuke, Hitokiri of the yakuza, if you go any farther
you’ll really kill him. Yahiko. (Yahiko turns an angry glare his way.) If you stop picking
pockets how are you going to live? If you think you can get somewhere because your family
was samurai, you’re making a big mistake. It’s the Meiji era now. We live in a world where
only money talks. Honor is just another word. If anything, the samurai who tried to cling
to what they had are the ones who’ve gone to the dogs. You can see the daimyo Okugata’s
daughters lolling around the pleasure quarters. They say when they catch theives, they’re
all samurai. It's pathetic. Forget your samurai family and remember your lowly life. And
live long as a follower of Tanishi.
Yahiko: Don’t make me say it a thousand times. I’m done with you.
Gasuke: You act like this to the boss who picked you up out of the gutter when your parents
died! You brat! They were samurai, but your father was a poor man with only three koku of
land and only two servants! He died like a fool shielding the Emperor’s army! Your mother
worked in the pleasure quarters until she got sick and died, a stupid whore! I don’t know
which one you take after, but you’re your idiot parent’s idiot child!
Yahiko: SHUT UP!!!! (he bites Gasuke between the legs, who goes down howling.)
Yakuza: Gasuke!
Yahiko: My father saw the trend of the times. Although he was ashamed to betray the Bakufu
to the Emperor’s army, he joined the Shogitai and sacrificed himself for justice. My mother
shaved her life away to nothing to raise me until she was destroyed by
her illness. My parents had honor. They lived nobly. And I won’t permit you to speak badly
of them!!
Gasuke (livid, drawing his sword-cane): Won’t PERMIT--you brat!! I’ll kill you!!
(He is knocked over by a flying screen door as Kenshin kicks his way in.)
Yakuza: Who--who the hell is that!
Tanishi: It’s a raid. Call everyone in!
Kenshin: You can call, but they won’t come. When they wouldn’t let me enter, those outside
were treated to a short nap. I am the vagabond Himura Kenshin. I’m paying you this visit
to bring back the child.
Gasuke: Whadduya mean, "visit"! You’re a samurai too! I’ll settle this!!
(One blow smashes him into the ceiling.)
Kenshin: I was still speaking. Be silent there for a while. (to the boss) What do you
think? Will you show off your good nature and generously give him to me? I think it’s better
than suffering the shame of having your company destroyed, but--
Tanishi: I--I understand. Have it your way.
Kenshin (sheathing his sword): Thank you. I apologize for my harsh words. (offering his
hand to Yahiko) Are you all right, child? I don’t know this place, and I lost some time
fighting the company outside.
(Yahiko smacks his hand away.)
Yahiko: Who asked you to save me? I could have fought alone! I could have fought them!!
Kenshin: I see. Have I underrated you once again?
(Yahiko stares at him. Kenshin picks him up and slings him over his shoulder, walking out
the way he came.)
Kenshin: If so, let me at least apologize by treating those wounds.
Yakuza: That--that bastard’s running away!
Tanishi: Stop. It doesn’t matter. Those were the eyes of the Hitokiri. Not the Hitokiri of
the yakuza. That was the real thing. I can't believe there are men still left in the Meiji world with
eyes like that . . . If we fought him, our lives would not be enough to pay. One brat is a
small price to settle things.
(As they walk home)
Yahiko: Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. (There are tears in his eyes.) Dammit.
Kenshin: Is it your own weakness that bothers you, child?
Yahiko: Dammit. I want to be strong. Strong so I don’t need anyone’s help . . . so I can
defend the honor of my parents myself.
Kenshin: I see.
(At the Kamiya dojo.)
Kaoru: He’s late . . . Well, Kenshin is probably okay, but that kid . . . (Kenshin slides
the screen door open.) Oh, he really is hurt. There’s a carriage outside waiting to take
him to a doctor--
Kenshin: The adjutant master of the Kamiya Kasshin School. From now on, your master.
Yahiko: Wait a minute!! Are you telling me to learn kenjutsu??! From that hag??!!
Kaoru: Master?! That kid’s not gonna be my pupil--!?
Kenshin: Exactly. Well, now it depends on your efforts. All the preparations are in order.
You’ll be as strong as you want--Yahiko.
And so, the second guest of the Kamiya dojo,
Yahiko: Feh! I’d do it even if you didn’t say it.
Myoujin Yahiko, son of a Tokyo samurai, joined the group.
Kaoru: Wait--you just called me a hag again!!
Yahiko: So what’s your problem, hag?
Kenshin: Um, about that doctor . . .
the Makings of the Characters --Myoujin Yahiko--
Rather than having an actualy model, Yahiko is more based on my own feelings when I was
in junior high. When I was in junior high I actually joined the kendo club. At the
same time I started casually playing kendo, I was involved in drawing manga. I was
tired out everyday from swinging the shinai. But, I was terrible. Even though I was
183 cm tall, I was pathetically bad. My whole ninth grade year I only got to be one
of the regulars on the team once. When someone dropped out they voted someone else
to come in ahead of me. On top of that, I finished the league meet without a single
victory. That's the reason why Myoujin Yahiko isn't a hero like Kenshin or Sanosuke,
but a real-life person who shares those feelings of frustration and "wants to be
strong." (If you read the 45 page short story "Vagabond" in the third book, you'll
understand.) Lately he's been used as a comic character, but I think it's better to
draw him as a boy my readers can feel will be a fine swordsman five or ten years
from now.
Like Kaoru, there was no real design. It was time for the big-eyed, messy-haired boy
you always get in boys' comics.