Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Five--Truth
Part 223--Dreams, Reality & Phantoms
(Men surround Tsubame at the entrance to Rakuninmura.)
Men: I told you to go home!
You deaf, little girl?
This is no place for outsiders.
Tsubame (thinking): I'm so scared. (aloud, barely managing to get the words out)
Ken . . . shin . .
Men: Ken . . .
You mean the new guy?
You wasted a trip. There's nothing left of him. He's hollow--
Tsubame (finding her tongue): That's not true! The Kenshin I know is a kind, strong person!
(running forward) Kenshin!
Man: Hey, watch it!
(He puts out a hand to stop her.)
Tsubame: Let me go! Let me see him!
Man: Kuma?
Kuma (sighing): Guess the samurai gets another guest.
(Kenshin sits silently beside the uncorked bottle of white plum scent.)
They say white plum has the power to ease the heart . . .
(He is awash in a sea of memories.)
(Himself, as a young boy.)
Even if I was throwing away my life, I thought I had to protect them.
(Hiko)
From now on, your name is Kenshin. I'll teach you everything I know.
(Himself, a bit older.)
Protecting people from the suffering of the ages is the reason for the
Hiten Mitsurugi school! If I can't use it now, when can I? There are so many people
suffering before my eyes--I can't ignore them!
(Katsura and Takasugi, watching him.)
Let me ask you. Have you ever killed anyone with your Hiten Mitsurugi school?
No.
Do you think you could?
(Himself, killing Tomoe's fiance.)
I would sacrifice my life and my bloodstained sword for an age in which people
could live in peace.
(Tomoe, blood on her face.)
I've often heard in plays about a rain of blood, but you really made it
rain blood . . .
(He and Tomoe, talking quietly in the country evening.)
Do you intend to keep on killing like this?
I wielded my sword and killed for the principles of the Hiten Mitsurugi school . . .
It was for a new age in which the weak could find happiness, but up til now, I didn't know what
happiness was . . . There's only one thing I can do--fight for the happiness of the people
I see before me . . . The happiness you once lost. I want to try and protect it for you . . .
(The fatal blow.)
I killed her!
(Tomoe smiling at him in death.)
If I abandon the sword now, then all the lives I've taken really will be
meaningless. I'll continue to fight for an age lit by those small happinesses.
But when the new age comes . . .
(Shakkuu, giving him the reverse blade.)
No matter how many people who kill, you'll never escape. You live by the sword,
you die by the sword. That's the only way for you. Try using this for a while. You'll find
out how naive you really are. When that one breaks, come and see me again, if you still
believe in that weak joke . . .
(Kaoru, soon after they first met.)
It doesn't matter. Everyone has a few things in their past they don't like
to talk about.
(Kaoru, as he tries to leave.)
I didn't say I wanted Battousai! I want the vagabond--
(Yahiko, just after stealing his wallet.)
I'm not a child! I'm Myoujin Yahiko, descendent of Tokyo samurai!
(Sanosuke, challenging him with the zanbatou.)
I won't lose. I can't lose!
(Later, after the fight.)
Now I'm just the fighting idiot Sagara Sanosuke. Just like you're not
Hitokiri Battousai any more!
(Jin'eh)
A Hitokiri is a Hitokiri until death. I'll be watching from the depths of hell
to see how long you can call yourself a vagabond!
(Megumi)
Will you help me escape from Kanryuu?
(In Kanryuu's mansion, knife to her wrist)
In the end, I was glad I was able to meet you . . .
(Kanryuu, realizing he is at Kenshin's mercy.)
Save . . . me . .
(Aoshi, surrounded by the Oniwabanshu.)
I at least wanted to lay the title of ‘strongest' on their graves . . .
Until I kill you, no one will.
(Tsubame, looking down nervously)
I'll try not to be so shy anymore . . .
(Yutarou, arm in a sling)
I'm not gonna quit kenjutsu! You think I'd quit?
(Raijuuta)
Kenjutsu is the art of murder. The shinai kenjutsu of today is a perversion.
(Saitou, facing off against him in the Kamiya dojo.)
Kill. Evil. Instantly. That's the only true justice we shared.
(In gatotsu stance)
I deny everything you are.
(Misao)
Hang on a sec. I'm looking for someone.
Forgetting the person I care most about--where's the happiness in that?
(Shishio, backed by the Ten Swords.)
If that turmoil has ended, I'll stir up another one.
(Chou)
If you've forgotten the joy of killing, I'll make you remember.
(Anji)
My prayers and hopes couldn't save anything.
(Soujirou)
You say you don't kill and you protect the weak, but that's not right.
(Yumi)
Please beat him, Lord Shishio . . .
(Houji)
There's no way Lord Shishio could lose!
(Enishi, and the Six Comrades)
Let us begin our Earthly Justice . . .
(Kaoru, Enishi's sword in her chest and a cross scratched on her cheek.)
The answer you've been looking for is there . . .
No more . . . I'm tired.
(Tsubame dashes up.)
Tsubame: Kenshin!
(There is no recognition in his dull, flat eyes.)
Tsubame: Kenshin . . .
translated by maigo-chan
last updated 30 may 2001