Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Six--A Man's Back
Part 234--A Man's Back 7--The Back Speaks
(They survey the battered remains of Fudozawa's forces.)
Higashidani: You took out two hundred men? . . . Damn.
Sanosuke: Idiot. I held back a little. Nobody died.
Higashidani: You held back a little?
Sanosuke: Just a little. (looking at the fallen Fudozawa) But he got what he deserved.
He's not going to be making a comeback.
Higashidani: Well . . . time I got home.
Sanosuke: Yeah . . . time I got going.
(They walk off; Higashidani carrying Outa on his back.)
Sanosuke: He asleep?
Higashidani: Yeah. He's always asleep by this time. He did his best to get out here
and fight. He's tired . . . He doesn't look like much, but he's got my blood in him.
When it's time to fight, he'll fight. Deep in his heart he wants to be strong.
Sanosuke: So it's Uki's fault he's the way he is.
Higashidani: That's your fault.
Sanosuke: . . . Guess you're right.
Higashidani: The reason Uki's such a worrywart, to tell the truth, is cause you took off.
She was always tagging along after you. You know how much she cried when you left? You
may be an idiot, but she worshipped you. When we heard you'd joined the Sekihoutai, she
kept saying she wanted to go too . . . And when we heard that Sekihoutai'd been destroyed
she wouldn't stop crying . . . I thought she'd settle down when Outa was born, but when
Naname died it was the same thing all over again. (aside) You remember your mother's name
was Naname?
Sanosuke: (likewise) I remember that. (in a normal tone of voice) So more than anything
she's afraid of losing her family.
Have you seen my dad? He's gone!
Higashidani: Outa kind of senses this and keeps quiet, like he's trying to play his part.
If I help Uki, I can't help Outa; if I help Outa it won't help Uki. But now that my
oldest son is home, things'll work out . . .
(They give each other a sidelong glance, and suddenly burst out laughing.)
Sanosuke: That was a stupid thing to say.
Higashidani: Yeah, it was. I'll look after Uki and Outa till they grow up, protect ‘em.
You get on out of here.
Sanosuke: Yeah, I'll go. I got no one to protect and no home to go back to.
(gesturing to his back) Long as I got his, that's enough. They might have
political power, physical strength, whatever. With this on my back, I can fight like
they did, staking everything for their ideals, fighting to protect what can't be replaced . . .
Higashidani: A man . . .
Sanosuke: Yeah?
Higashidani: A man grows up looking at the back of the man in front of him.
You've been watching the backs of some good men . . . If I could've, I would've
liked to have raised you watching mine . . .
Sanosuke: Don't sound so pathetic. You raised me fine until I was ten. Well . . .
(They reach a fork in the road.)
Sanosuke: Here's where I gotta get going.
Higashidani: Tokyo?
Sanosuke: Yeah. There's a guy there I can't turn my back on. And someone else who's
seen me do something wrong. (patting Outa) Hey, round-cheeks. Wake up.
Sorry I was so rough on you before. Glad to see you turned out to be the kind
that fights when you have to. It's tough, but pretty soon--until your sister gets
married and starts her own family, you have to be a good little brother to her.
Then, if you can, come up to Tokyo and try training at the Kamiya Kasshin school.
You'll be stronger then. Good luck.
(Outa watches Sanosuke walk off, the word for evil on his back.)
Higashidani: Well. Let's get on home, Outa. Your sister'll be worried about us.
Outa: Okay.
(On the road, Sanosuke stops.)
Sanosuke: Damn. Forgot something. Gotta take care of that before I go.
(In his mansion, Tani is drinking wine and talking to himself.)
Tani: There's no way a man like Battousai would show up here. Well, I got the jump on him.
One less thing to worry about--
(Thuds and cries of pain ring out behind him.)
Tani: What is it? Who's there? Guards?
(Kihei and Gohei collapse in a heap.)
Gohei: So this is the only thing we're good for . . .
(Sanosuke opens the sliding doors.)
Sanosuke: It's no fun drinking alone. I thought I'd come join you.
(Tani screams.)
The next day.
(In town.)
Villagers: Did you hear about him?
He took down two hundred of Fudozawa's men all by himself!
Really?
And he broke six of Fudozawa's ribs!
Serves him right too!
And smashed a boulder with his bare hands.
That can't be true.
And that Ishin Shishi that was backing him, they say he was beaten up in his mansion.
He's all wrapped up in bandages in the hospital, crying in his sleep, "Evil. I'm scared.
Evil. I'm scared."
Ha ha ha. What does that mean?
This is no laughing matter. Now that they've pushed this far the prefectural
authorities won't keep quiet. The police will be here to investigate.
(The shopkeeper is talking with Higashidani in his house.)
Shopkeeper: But who was that young man? He blew in like a sudden wind, tore up the
gang by the roots, and disappeared. I wish he'd at least given us his name . . . Well
. . . We're all grateful to him, but I'm glad he wasn't from around here. If he were
connected to the town at all, the police would have to take a hand . . .
You really don't know who he is?
Higashidani: Nope. I've never met him before.
(Uki, sewing, remembers Sanosuke's words: "Uki, go back to the house and wait!
Outa, take care of your sister! I'm going to bring Dad back.")
Uki (thinking): Could it have been . . . (aloud) Sanosuke . . . (thinking)
No, it couldn't be . . .
(She ties off her thread.)
Uki: All right, Outa, it's finished.
(Outa puts on his shirt, a new patch with the word "evil" stitched neatly on the back.
Smiling, he runs out to play.)
Shopkeeper: It looks like we'll remember that young man around here for a long time . . .
Uki: He looks so happy . . . Does really he know what that character means?
Higashidani: Ha! Of course he knows!
(Sanosuke surveys the surrounding fields.)
Sanosuke: All right. Time to head on back!
Thus, Sanosuke and the others return once more to Tokyo!
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 29 july 2001