Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-One--And So Time Passed
Part 181--A Ray of Hope
A long day dawns . . .
Enishi: Nine more days . . .
(He is standing on the upstairs stairwell, as Gein comes in the front hallway.)
Gein: You're up early.
Enishi: Mr. Gein. Where were you, dressed like that so early in the morning?
(Gein is carrying shovels, pickaxes, and two wooden boxes. Out of one trails strands of human hair.)
Gein: I ran out of materials. I had to go out for some more. I found some good stuff. With this I can probably
finish a day or two early.
Enishi: That's encouraging. But don't rush yourself. We'll attack as planned, in nine days. So that Battousai
can suffer fully. (thinking) He stole my sister's happiness. He stole my sister's life. And he stole my
sister from me. Suffer, Battousai. Your suffering is my only joy!
Gein (thinking): This man won't be stopped . . .
(Kenshin walks to the well and pours water over his face.)
Kenshin (thinking): Nine more days. I can't avoid this fight. But . . .
(Kaoru comes walking through the yard. Their eyes meet for a moment. Then Kaoru smiles.)
Kaoru: Good morning. Although, it's actually lunchtime. There are a lot of us, so I thought we'd eat in the dojo.
Kenshin: I . . since yesterday, I haven't been very hungry, so--
Megumi: Uh-uh, Ken-san. If you don't eat at least a little, you'll be exhausted later.
Kaoru: I'll go get a fresh towel. Wipe your face and come eat.
(In front of the dojo, Yahiko is practicing hard, while Sanosuke dozes on the porch.)
Yahiko: FIVE THOUSAND! That's it! I'm halfway there!
Kaoru: You finished half your exercises?
Yahiko: Yeah!
Kaoru: Not bad! Since you're trying so hard, I'll let you do just seven thousand more.
Yahiko: Seven thousand to go! Wait--that's more!
Kaoru: Well, let's eat.
Tsubame (thinking): That's so mean . . .
Kaoru: Hey, Sanosuke, wake up. Food, Sanosuke! Wake up! Don't you want some of the miso soup I made?
Megumi: Allow me.
(She takes a ladleful of soup, pinches Sanosuke's nose until he opens his mouth, then pours it in. Sanosuke,
waking up all at once, spits it out.)
Sanosuke: Who was that?! Someone tried to poison me!
Kaoru: Sanosuke! Megumi!!
(A little later. They are all seated in the dojo.)
Sanosuke: Man, that really scared me. I thought you were giving me wolfsbane.
Kaoru: That's enough.
Yahiko: Let's eat! (he wolfs his bowl of rice and holds it out.) More! More! More! Mo--
Kaoru (pushing the lid into his face): Settle down. (Eat this.)
Tsubame: That's amazing, how much he's eating.
Megumi: They say appetite is the basis of health. I don't think we need to worry about Yahiko.
Kenshin (thinking): . . . . The ordinary fuss. The smell of an unchanged life . . . That's right. Don't get
caught up in the past. Now I can only fight . . . I'll protect the present. I'll fight for that.
Yahiko: More!
Kenshin: Miss Kaoru.
The way to atone is to believe in what we have here.
Kenshin: I'd like some more too.
Kaoru: Here.
Yahiko: More!
Kaoru: That's enough!
(A little later. Sanosuke is back out on the porch. Yahiko, fat and bloated, is lying behind him.)
Sanosuke: Man, I ate well. All this stuff going on now, I feel like I've been brought back to life.
Tsubame: If only nothing was happening in nine days . . . This fight . . . I guess talking can't stop it.
Megumi: I understand how you feel, but it's impossible. Probably the only one who could stop Yukishiro Enishi is Tomoe.
Only her words could reach her now . . .
Kaoru (thinking): Tomoe's words . . . (aloud) Kenshin! Where is Tomoe's diary now? (thinking) Her real
feelings, set down on paper. If he knew that Tomoe didn't die hating Tomoe, maybe Yukishiro Enishi could be stopped . . .
Kenshin: Her diary . . . After the battle at Toba Fushimi, when I left Kyoto, I entrusted it to the temple
where she was buried.
Kaoru (thinking): Kyoto . . what do I do? I can't leave Kenshin and go myself. Even if I asked someone . . .
Yahiko and Tsubame can't go. Megumi has patients to look after. Sanosuke has to be ready to fight . . . If only
I had someone to ask!
A few days later, in Kyoto.
(At the New Aoiya, Misao is at her comedian stage telling jokes, while Aoshi reads.)
Misao: Well, I have a silly little story to tell you. A mysterious travelling performer was on his way when he came
across a well. He stood by the well and said to himself, "Hey, leave that bucket alone!"
(note--this is actually something of a pun in Japanese. It's still not very funny, though--maigo)
(The icy winds of Aoshi's silence blow through the room.)
Misao (clutching at Okina and weeping): It's not working! I promised Himura I'd make Lord Aoshi smile!
Okina (under his breath): Yes, but this is ridiculous . . .
Misao (now burning with resolve): I shall take Yoshimoto's work as my guide! (Awaken, comedian!)
Okina: (Yoshimoto?) All right, all right, just listen to me. We got a letter from Kaoru in Tokyo.
Misao (taking it): From Kaoru?
Okina: I'm not sure of all the details, but it seems as though Himura's in a tight spot. We may still be in time.
They want our help.
(Misao reads the letter.)
Misao: All right! I'll go to this temple and bring them the diary.
Okina: Aoshi. I don't like the idea of Misao going alone. Go with her. Then, if they need you, you can help Himura
and the others.
Aoshi: . . . I don't think they'll need my help. But I'll go and have the cup of tea I promised.
Misao (hearts for eyes): A trip alone with Lord Aoshi!
Okina: Idiot! Be serious for once!
Bringing the ray of hope that may stop Yukishiro Enishi, Aoshi and Misao journey to Tokyo--
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 7 july 2000