Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Six--A Man's Back
Part 229--A Man's Back 2--Two of a Kind
Fudozawa: The high-quality silk from this region passes through this highway town.
In the new era, it's a major export, and if I controlled it I could make huge profits.
With more than two hundred followers and a powerful patron, there's nothing I can't do.
But when it comes down to it, he always gets in my way. The stubborn old man Higashidani.
He's pretty tough; none of my men can deal with him. You're a street fighter.
I want you to take care of him.
Sanosuke: Don't say it like I'm an assassin. Whether he dies or not is up to fate; it's
got nothing to do with me. If I enjoy the fight, that's all that matters.
(Outside the Higashidani house. Kihei holds a bow and an arrow with a note tied to it.)
Gohei: Aim well, brother. As it is now we're just flunkies.
Kihei: I know it! If I kill him now there'll be nothing for Zanza to do.
We'll turn the tables on him now!
(He fires; Higashidani snatches the arrow out of the air.)
Higashidani: What's this? An arrow-letter? (untying it.) Dammit, one of Fudozawa's men.
Uki: Dad, what's all that noise?
Higashidani: Nothing.
(The note reads: "I want a fight. I'll wait by the lone tree in the east valley. Zanza.")
Higashidani: Uki, I'll be out for a while.
Uki: Dad! We have to finish the hats for tomorrow! If we don't work all
today we won't make it!
Higashidani: I'll be back by lunchtime.
Uki: Dad!
(A bright summer morning. Sanosuke leans against a tree.)
Higashidani: You alone? You must not think too much of me.
Sanosuke: I hate having a lot of deadweight around. Fights're more fun one on one.
Higashidani: One of Fudozawa's gang? Great.
Sanosuke: I'm not in his gang. I'm just a fighter. (turning to face him)
So let's get started . . .
(He stops.)
Higashidani: What's the matter? Something on my face?
Sanosuke: . . . . Dad . . .
Higashidani: You're . . . Sanosuke . . .
Sanosuke: So the girl yesterday was my sister Uki. And the kid with the round cheeks,
Outa . . . is that my little brother?
Higashidani: Sanosuke . . .
(He punches him in the face.)
Higashidani: Don't you call me dad! Sure, I had a son named Sanosuke, but he ran away to
join Sagara's false army when he was ten! I don't know if he's alive or dead, but no
son of mine would work for the likes of Fudozawa!
Sanosuke: That's right . . . I left home ten years ago. But I'm not Sanosuke.
I'm Sagara Sanosuke. And now, I'm the street fighter Zanza.
Higashidani (smiling): Come on. There's a bond between us since you got the same name as my son.
So ol' Kashishimoemon'll knock some sense into you instead of your real father.
Sanosuke: Come on, you excuse for a father!
Higashidani: Bring it on, prodigal son!
(They fight. Higashidani dodges one of Sanosuke's punches, grabs his arm, and
sends him flying and twisting through the air.)
Higashidani: Killer Technique Father's Whirlwind Throw!
Sanosuke (picking himself up and charging again): Yeah right!
Higashidani: Killer Technique!
(He blows through his pipe; the hot ash arcs up to fall on the tip of Sanosuke's nose.)
Higashidani: Father's Burning Soul!
Sanosuke: Cut that out!
(The sun moves across the sky. Locked in combat, they finally fall to the ground,
covered in sweat.)
Higashidani: Man . . . look at the time. I'll leave the field to you today.
Sanosuke: Running away?
Higashidani: Idiot. I got work to do. I can't play all day with you.
Sanosuke: You're all covered in muck like always. Still growing daikon?
Higashidani: Fudozawa ruined our fields. We can't work them for now. I don't want Uki
and Outa to go hungry. I'll be up all night making those straw hats.
Sanosuke: But why is that M-Baldy messing with you? All he cares about is silk and silkworms.
Nothing to do with a daikon farmer like you.
Higashidani: Stupid as you are, you probably remember that this used to be an out of the way
place. Back then, no matter how much daikon or silk you had, without a way to transport
it you had to sell it cheap. Everyone suffered together. Then, when the new age began,
they built this road and made this town a waystation. That's why we can eat something
with our rice morning noon and night and live the way we do. Now our livelihood is going
to be stolen again, and you stand on the sidelines and say it has nothing to do with me!
(Sanosuke is silent.)
Higashidani: Tell Fudozawa. No matter what kind of backing he's got, Kamishimoemon won't
give in.
Sanosuke: Who is this patron he's so proud of?
Higashidani: Some Ishin Shishi. I don't know what their connection is, but he's a
high-ranking official or something. We can continue this later. Come on by,
if you remember where the house is.
(Sanosuke watches them go.)
(In a mansion elsewhere, sake cup clinks with wine glass.)
Fudozawa: Sorry to drag you all the way out here in the country. You've looked after me
ever since I was still a wrestler.
Tani (a fat-faced man in a suit; also the target of Jin'eh's attack in vol. 2): Ha ha.
You certainly got us in trouble that time you half-killed the oyakata. So how are things?
The silk?
Fudozawa: One old guy's holding out, but, well, it's just a matter of time.
He's about to be forced out of the ring.
(At the Higashidani house.)
Uki: Dad! You're late!
Higashidani: Sorry about that. Outa, how many hats did you make today?
Uki: Look at your clothes! Have you been fighting?
Higashidani: Five? Hey, good job, kid! Your dad'll take care of the rest.
Uki: . . . Did something happen? (He's in a good mood.)
(Sanosuke sits under a tree in the twilight.)
Sanosuke: All this way to run into an Ishin Shishi. This is not helping my mood at all.
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 8 july 2001