Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty--Remembrances
Part 168--Remembrances 4--Yukishiro Tomoe
Floating in the darkness, fresh red blood . . .
White sleeves . . . a purple shawl . . .
And deep, black eyes . . .
(Kenshin and Tomoe stare at each other for a moment. Then Tomoe's eyes close, and she slowly begins to pitch forward. Kenshin darts forward to catch her.)
Kenshin: She's fainted . . . It's a natural reaction to seeing all this blood. (thinking) For a moment I wasn't sure if I should silence her or not--No. I forgot even that . . . (aloud) But what to do about this place? I can't leave her here to give evidence. And who knows what could happen to a woman alone in Kyoto at night. Guess I have no choice.
(He picks her up to carry her home.)
Kenshin (thinking): Her perfume . . . That must be white plum scent . . .
(He pauses.)
Kenshin: Not good. I must be going crazy . . .
(At the Ohagi Inn.)
Kenshin (very quietly): I'm back.
(He tiptoes in.)
Okami (the landlady): Oh, Himura, you're home late tonight--Himura, what are you doing?
Kenshin: No, um, there was a fight, and she fainted, and--
(Okami regards Tomoe for a long moment.)
Okami: Are you sure you didn't just get her drunk?
Kenshin: . . .!
Okami: This is not a teahouse. Just this once--I'll get her some warm water and a change of clothes.
Iizuka (sleepily poking his head out a door): What is it, Okami?
Okami: It's that boy Master Katsura's looking after . . .
Iizuka: What?? Ba--I mean, Himura brought home a girl?!
(Later. Tomoe has been put to bed. Kenshin sits by her side.)
Kenshin: So she's just drunk.
(He watches her sleep.)
Kenshin (thinking): The smell of blood and white plum perfume . . . I really am going crazy . . .
(The next morning. Kenshin wakes with a start, to find Tomoe gone, her futon folded neatly in a corner.)
Kenshin (thinking): No--I must have fallen asleep-- (aloud) Mrs. Okami!
Okami (handing Tomoe a stack of breakfast trays): Here, why don't you take these in for me.
(Kenshin face-faults.)
Okami: Oh, good morning, Himura. Despite appearances, your girlfriend is a very good worker.
Kenshin (trying hard to ignore that remark): Um . . what's your name?
Tomoe: Tomoe.
(He follows her as she carries the trays.)
Kenshin: Tomoe, what are you doing?
Tomoe: Can't you tell?
Kenshin: Helping in the kitchen.
Tomoe: So you did know. (opening the door) Excuse me, I've brought breakfast.
(The men are all lined up waiting for her.)
Men: So this is Himura's girl!
She's cute!
An older woman!
And just as unfriendly as Himura!
Tomoe: I'm Tomoe. How nice to meet you.
Kenshin (angrily): Hey, knock that off--
Iizuka: Oh, embarrassed, lover boy?
Kenshin: Iizuka--
Iizuka: So. How was she?
(Battousai puts a hand to his sword. Everyone backs off instantly.)
Iizuka: That was close. For a minute I forgot he was Battousai. Just teasing him is taking your life in your hands.
Kenshin (with great dignity): If everyone's here, we should discuss the provincial governor. Katsura's stay will require the strictest security.
(Iizuka just points at Katsura, who is calmly drinking tea.)
Kenshin: . . . I had no idea the Choushuu patriots were so laid-back . . .
Katsura: Affairs of the heart have nothing to do with your ideals. (After all, I have Ikumatsu.*)
*A Kyoto geisha and Katsura's lover, who became his wife after the Restoration.
Kenshin: . . . May we talk seriously for a minute?
Katsura: Certainly. That's more my nature as well.
(Outside, a little later.)
Katsura: Is that true?
Kenshin: Yes. I was ambushed by a shogunate assassin.
Katsura: Information from Choushuu is being leaked out. Even about our top secret Battousai . . . There is a traitor in our midst. There's one other thing. Furudaka, who was meant to be at the meeting during the Gion Festival tonight, was captured by the Shinsengumi yesterday.
Kenshin: . . . So you'll take a bodyguard after all?
Katsura: No . . . I'll be all right. But I want you to be careful.
(He leaves.)
Kenshin (thinking): The one they're after is the leader of the Choushuu patriots, the center of all this . . . We have to find the traitor soon. If we make even one mistake, history will take an evil turn . . .
(Later. Kenshin is sitting on a windowsill while Tomoe eats her lunch.)
Tomoe: Yes?
Kenshin: That's why--I want you to promise to forget everything you saw last night and leave.
Tomoe: Am I such a burden? Mrs. Okami seems to like me.
Kenshin: . . . Your family will be worried about you.
Tomoe: If I had a family to go back to, I wouldn't be out drinking alone at night.
Kenshin (thinking): This is not going well . . . (aloud) I don't know what your situation is, but we're in no state to look after you.
Tomoe: Then will you finish me? Like you did that samurai in black.
Kenshin: . . . You can think whatever you want, but I'm doing this only to bring a new age where everyone can live in peace. I don't kill indiscriminately. Only armed members of the Bakufu who oppose us. Naturally civilians might oppose us as well, but I would never strike an unarmed man.
Tomoe: So bad people carry swords, and good people don't? Then, if I had been carrying a sword that night, would you have--
Kenshin: That's . . .
Tomoe (picking up her tray): When you have an answer for me, please let me know.
(She leaves the room.)
Kenshin: Wait a minute! You're just going to walk out?
(But the door slams shut behind her.)
Kenshin: Dammit . . . (thinking) Am I going crazy? Or, are things finally starting to make sense . . .
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 24 may 2000