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Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Eight--Toward a New Age
Part 253--Days of Indian Summer
(At the Kamiya dojo, everyone is in the yard while Kaoru and Kenshin are doing laundry.
They all look up at Aoshi in surprise.)
Aoshi: We're going back to Kyoto. It's a good time.
Kenshin: A good time?
Misao: What? What? What? But we haven't even gone to Akakusa or the Ginza!
Yahiko: You didn't come here to sightsee. Go home!
Aoshi: We'll leave tomorrow with Takani Megumi. That way you'll only have to say goodbye once.
Kaoru (thinking): Always the man of few words . . . I never really understood him.
(That evening. Kaoru enters Misao's room, to find Misao alone, slumped on the floor
clutching her traveling bag.)
Kaoru: Misao, I brought you something to give Okina and the others . . . Hm? Where's Aoshi?
Misao (mournfully): He went out with Himura . . . They said something about tea or something . . .
Kaoru: Tea?
(Misao clutches at Kaoru miserably; Kaoru pats her absently on the head.)
(Misao: I wanna stay here more . . . )
(Kaoru remembers Aoshi saying, "If it were tea, I would be happy to.")
Kaoru: That's right . . .
(In another room, Aoshi and Kenshin are drinking tea.)
Kenshin: I'm sorry this was so sudden. I didn't know when we'd get another chance.
Aoshi: That's fine.
Kenshin: You were a great help to us. I want to thank you for that.
Aoshi: That's all right.
Kenshin: You call yourself a villain. But don't kill more than you have to.
Aoshi: As a general rule? For now, let's say that's something I agree with.
(He rises to go, just as Kaoru comes in with a tray.)
Kaoru: I brought some sweets . . .
Aoshi (brushing past her): No thank you. We're finished.
Kaoru: I wanted to say you really--
Aoshi: Himura already thanked me.
Kaoru (thinking): I just don't understand him . . .
Kenshin: Oh, is that sponge cake?
Kaoru: Um, yes. Would you like some?
Misao (tugging on Aoshi's sleeves and whining): Aoshi . . . Are we really leaving tomorrow?
Aoshi: Yes.
Kenshin: If Miss Misao wants to, Aoshi, why don't you stay a while longer? (Munch munch.
This is delicious.)
Misao: Himura!
Kaoru: Or, Misao could stay by herself. (Misao, do you want some cake?)
Misao: Kaoru!
Aoshi: The seasons are shorter in the mountains than on the plains. If we wait much longer
the ground will freeze and we'll have to wait until spring. We must lay our dead to rest
in a sunnier place before that.
(Misao suddenly realizes what he's talking about.)
Misao: Himura, Kaoru! I'm sorry. But I have to go home with everyone.
Kenshin: That's best.
Misao (running off): Aoshi!
Kaoru: So that's it . . .
Kenshin: If you think about it, Aoshi's lived through a harsh past that strangers can't
easily understand. All those hardships have had some effect on his character . . .
Kaoru: You're right. (thinking) But even if strangers can't understand him, Aoshi has what
he needs. A place of rest, and the true essence of love . . .
The next day. Aoshi and Misao left by the first train for
Shimbashi Station. And then--
(Everyone is in the town square saying goodbye to Megumi.)
Megumi: We didn't know each other very long, but thank you for all you've done for me.
Kaoru (thinking): Megumi's leaving . . .
Yahiko: Hey, are you walking back or what?
Megumi: Hardly. A friend of Dr. Oguni's is going to take me by carriage for me, look.
(She hands Kenshin a slip of paper.)
Megumi: If you ever feel unwell, contact me here. I'll come right here to see you.
Kenshin: Thank you. But if that happens, I'll come to you. A doctor puts the work
of healing the sick and injured above all else. I know you'll do well.
Megumi: I'll do my best.
(She holds out a medicine chest to Kaoru.)
Megumi: All right, take this. It's got medicine and prescriptions for when Ken-san and
the others get hurt--
(She stops; Kaoru has a bleak look on her face.)
Megumi: Hey, what are you looking so down about? I thought you hated me!
Kaoru: Yes, I did.
(Megumi: What!)
Kaoru: But . . . there've just been so many goodbyes . . .
Sanosuke (patting her on the head): Don't look like that! If you run you can get to Aizu
in a day, right?
Megumi: Only you can do that!
Sanosuke: Anyway, you're going to Kyoto once a year to visit Tomoe's grave. It's not like
this is goodbye for life. If you want to see somebody, just go and see ‘em.
Megumi: Hm . . . You finally said something right.
Sanosuke: I told you, I always say the right thing.
Megumi: Right . . . Well, if your right hand starts acting up again, just come to Aizu.
I'll patch you right up.
Sanosuke: I'll do that.
Megumi (pressing the chest into Kaoru's hands): Like I was saying. Don't look so pathetic.
It wasn't me and it wasn't Tomoe. Ken-san chose you. The thing that works best on his scar
is a smile. So if you keep looking on him with a smile, someday, I'm sure . . .
Kaoru (thinking): Megumi . . .
Megumi: I got after you before Kyoto, after Kyoto . . . scolding you is really thankless work.
(to the group) Well, goodbye, everyone.
Kenshin: Be well.
Just like that, without once looking back, Megumi left us. However you looked at her,
she was a dignified, adult figure. I don't know when we'll meet again, but when we do, I hope
I'm a little more grown up.
(As they walk away)
Sanosuke: Well, since we came all this way, we gotta get something to eat.
Kenshin: That sounds good.
Yahiko: Western food! I want Western food!
(Shouts behind them): There he is!
It's him!
(Two cops are racing towards them.)
Sanosuke: What, me?
Yahiko (pointing at Kenshin's sword): It's probably that again.
Kenshin: Oh. What a problem.
(Kaoru has noticed a small sign.)
Cops: That's him, the tall one!
The rooster-head!
Sanosuke: Me?
Kaoru: WHAT?
Yahiko: Oh, shut up, Kaoru.
Kenshin: Oro?
Kaoru: Wh--Wh--What is this??
(The sign is a wanted poster with Sanosuke's picture on it.)
Sanosuke: Guess the Shinshuu thing finally caught up with me . . .
Kaoru: What?
Cops: Come quietly, you!
How could you attack an Ishin Shishi like Mr. Tani, you scum!
(Sanosuke knocks them down with two quick punches.)
Sanosuke: Don't call me scum. You don't know a damn thing about it.
(A group of police are running towards him.)
Cops: There he is!
Two men down!
Sanosuke: Looks like the whole force is after me.
Kaoru: Sanosuke, what on earth--
Sanosuke: Guess it might be goodbye for life for me.
Kaoru: Sanosuke?
Sanosuke: There's no way I'm getting caught here. Gotta go.
(He takes off running.)
Kaoru: Sanosuke?!
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 20 august 2002