Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Eight--Toward a New Age
Part 252--Autumn Winds
Then--there was suddenly a lot of change for the people I knew.
(At the Oguni Clinic.)
Kaoru: You're going back to Aizu?! This is so sudden . . .
Megumi: I didn't really decide suddenly. I've always been thinking of opening a clinic where I
grew up. Now that this whole thing is over, and Ken-san and Yahiko are better, I've decided
to leave Tokyo in a week.
Kaoru: Kenshin . . .
Kenshin: It will be a little lonely here without you, Miss Megumi, but this is something you've
chosen to do for yourself. It's been an honor knowing you.
Megumi: Thank you . . .By the way, Ken-san . . . I've kept quiet up till now, but as your
doctor, there's something I need to tell you . . .
Then--there was suddenly a lot of change for the people I knew. Thinking back on it, maybe
Miss Megumi's announcement was the beginning of it all . . .
(Standing guard in front of the police station, Shin'ichi lets out an enormous yawn.)
Shin'ichi: I'm so bored. I wish something would happen around here.
Fellow Guard: Don't say that! That's bad luck!
Shin'ichi: Sorry, sorry . . . It's just that nothing exciting has happened around here
lately . . . (getting a manic gleam in his eye) Don't you get filled with that overwhelming
sense of duty as an officer in times like that?
Guard: Idiot! I don't want any more of that! I don't want to die on this job!
(Kenshin is walking toward them.)
Shin'ichi: Master Himura!
(He bowls Kenshin over with his enthusiasm.)
Kenshin: You must be . . .
Shin'ichi: Shin'ichi Kosaburo, officer, fifth class, sir!
Kenshin: Mr. Shin'ichi, then, why do you call me sir?
Shin'ichi: I heard all about you from the chief! I believe all Ishin Shishi are worthy
of respect!
Kenshin: . . . Well, it doesn't matter. I don't want to go into the station since
I'm carrying a sword. Would you take this for me?
Shin'ichi: Oh, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for you, sir . . . A letter?
Kenshin: Yes. Please give this to Inspector Fujita.
(In Saitou's office. Saitou is sitting on a couch holding the letter, while Chou toys
with a sword.)
Chou: From Battousai? Zat some kind of thank-you note or something?
Saitou: Why don't you read for yourself?
Chou (picking his nose): Lemme see then . . .
(He ends up stabbing himself in the nose and bleeding in shock.)
Chou: Man, this is . . .
Saitou: Huh. Funny, isn't it. But this is no time for jokes. He's finally . . .
I've kept quiet up till now, but as your doctor, there's something I need to tell you . . .
Kenshin: This must have to do with my condition, doesn't it?
(Everyone looks surprised.)
Megumi: So you've noticed . . .
Kenshin: It is my body, so . . . I first felt something was wrong some time after the Kyoto
battle . . . And now each time I fight it gets a little worse. It was so faint that I might
have been imagining it, but I felt that something was stagnating in my own body.
Megumi: It's true that in the time since I examined you in Kyoto and when I examined you today,
your condition has gotten worse . . .
Kenshin: It was probably mastering the succession technique . . . that acted as the trigger.
Megumi: The Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu is a style of kenjutsu that was meant to be used by large men,
blessed like Hiko with a muscular physique that shields their bodies. Ken-san, you're just a little
too small. No matter how great your talent, the more you use it, the more damage your body
will take. You've seen the slight damage already . . .
Kenshin: That's true. But mastering the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu was my own choice, and I knew I
might risk my life in doing so. I have no regrets. But please tell me honestly. What will
happen to me?
Megumi: The damage to your body is still slight. If you're careful, you should have no trouble
using a sword. But in four or five years, you won't be able to use the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu.
(Walking back, Kenshin catches sight of Saitou through a second-story window.)
Before that happens, I must settle things with him. He's the only one left from those scorching
times . . . I must settle with my last enemy.
(At the Kamiya dojo, that night.)
Misao: Wow, the moon's already up . . . It's only dusk now.
Sanosuke: Summer's almost over.
Kaoru (coming out): Dinner's ready--where's Kenshin?
Misao: Huh? He's not back yet? (hopefully) Well, I guess I better go look for him!
Kaoru: That's okay. He got some pretty big news today. Kenshin probably wants to think things
through on his own.
Yahiko: Don't worry about him.
Sanosuke: Yeah, this is the only place he's got to go back to.
Kaoru: That's true. Well, let's go ahead and eat.
(Under the full moon, Kenshin sits alone in a rocky field, watching a pocket watch that reads
ten minutes to midnight.)
(At home, Kaoru is mending, glancing up at a clock that reads just past midnight.)
(In Saitou's office, a grandfather clock strikes ten past midnight and chimes.)
Chou: Hey!
Saitou: Why are you here at this time of time?
Chou: Well, I got sick of this spy stuff and thought I'd just grab all your money and
run . . . No! It's past time for your showdown! If you don't get going--
Saitou: Who told you I was accepting the challenge?
Chou: What?
Saitou: The man I wanted to settle with, Hitokiri Battousai, is no more. A wolf is a wolf.
Shinsengumi is Shinsengumi. I had thought a hitokiri was a hitokiri, but I was wrong.
Chou: But Himura Kenshin and Hitokiri Battousai are the same person, right? I don't get it.
Saitou: You don't need to understand. Settling with a hitokiri that doesn't kill wouldn't
mean anything to me.
(He crushes out his cigarette in an overflowing ashtray.)
Saitou: That's all.
(A sudden gust blows through the open window, scattering papers. Chou jumps in surprise,
but Saitou barely seems to notice.)
Saitou: It's grown cold . . .
Chou: Huh? Well, yeah . . . it's almost autumn.
Saitou (staring out the window): You fool.
(That morning. Kaoru has fallen asleep sitting up. Kenshin opens the door to her room.)
Kenshin: Miss Kaoru. You'll catch cold if you sleep like that.
(He smiles.)
Kenshin: I'm home.
Kaoru: Welcome back . . . Wait just a minute, I'll get you some breakfast.
(Aoshi appears in the hall.)
Aoshi: Himura. Did you settle things?
Kenshin: . . . No. It seems he's given up on me.
Some time later, we heard from Chief Uramura that "Fujita Gorou" had been transferred to
another department. The former third captain of the Shinsengumi, Saitou Hajime . . . the last
wolf left with fangs dropped out of my life forever. Together with that one justice I never
met again, Aku Soku Zan . . .
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 14 july 2002