Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Eight--Toward a New Age
Part 254--The Passage of Time
Sanosuke's arrest and his sudden flight. We heard all about it from that Uramura guy.
That was probably the first we heard of Saitou's transfer. Then a week went by without
hearing from Sanosuke.
Yahiko: We can't help him if he doesn't get back here!
Kaoru: The police haven't caught him. He hasn't been back to his longhouse. It's like he's
just disappeared.
Yahiko: What do they want him for anyway? Sanosuke wouldn't attack a stranger for no reason.
They should find out what's really going on here!
Kaoru: The chief's tried, but it's not easy. A lowlife gambler is one thing, but when an Ishin
Shishi's been assaulted, there's not a lot he can do . . . I wonder why Sanosuke didn't tell us?
Kenshin: This was Sano's personal business. If he had told us, we would have done something.
I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted that.
Kaoru: But . . .
Kenshin: If I had traded on the name of Hitokiri Battousai, I could have settled this with a
word . . . but then I would be no different than Tani.
Kaoru: I see . . . Sanosuke wouldn't have liked that.
Kenshin: Collusion and conspiracy was what Sano hated most. If he thought they were in the
wrong, he would strike out at anyone, even me. He had to settle this himself.
Yahiko: I guess that's the kind of man he was. But you wouldn't have any mercy on him either.
Kenshin: That's true. He's a grown man. But, maybe it's because he was my only true friend.
I never liked fighting, and he hated the Ishin Shishi, but despite all that, we were able
to spend our time together. I've had many comrades who shared my beliefs and faced death
with me, but there was never anyone like him.
Yahiko: Hm . . .
Sagara Sanosuke . . . where have you really gone?
Voice: Hey . . .
(They turn. A man is standing behind the dojo fence, looking around nervously and gesturing
for silence.)
Kenshin: You're a friend of Sano's--
Man: Shh . . . Follow me quietly. Sano's waiting.
(Farther in the distance, hiding behind a tree and watching, is a policeman.)
(Sanosuke is waiting for them, standing in a little boat at the docks.)
Sanosuke: Yo. Been a while.
Yahiko: Sanosuke!? What the hell are you doing in a boat in the middle of the night?
Sanosuke: Should be obvious. I'm taking a boat out of here.
Yahiko: You're going to sea?
Sanosuke: Thought this was a good chance to say goodbye to lil ol' Japan and see the big
wide world.
Yahiko: You're going to take that little boat to a foreign country?
Kaoru: You're so stupid! You'll die! Forget it!
Sanosuke: You're the fools. There's a ship waiting for me offshore.
(The sound of police whistles. Two of Sanosuke's friends race up.)
Friends: They found us!
The cops are coming!
Cops: Find him!
He's on the docks somewhere!
Yahiko (unslinging his shinai): All right, I got one--
Kenshin: No, wait a minute--
(Chief Uramura points the way--in the wrong direction.)
Uramura: There he is! This way! Charge!
Yahiko: --Say what?
Kenshin: Oro?
(Uramura glances their way and puts a finger to his lips.)
Kaoru: Chief . . .
Sanosuke: What's wrong? They aren't here yet? Couldn't they see me?
Kenshin: No, the chief made a "mistake."
Sanosuke: Mistake, huh . . . Well, guess everyone makes mistakes. Then it's time for me
to get going.
Kaoru: Hey . . . are you really leaving?
Sanosuke: Yeah. But I'll make sure this isn't goodbye for life. Just be sure you got a
couple of kids to show me when I get back.
Kaoru (blushing furiously): Wh-wh-what are you saying?!
Sanosuke (laughing): Don't act so innocent. Yahiko, you'd better give those two some
privacy and get out of the dojo. I'll give you my longhouse.
Kaoru: Stoppit!
Yahiko: . . . What am I supposed to do?
Sanosuke: What?
Yahiko: You're just going to run off with your tail between your legs and let them have
their way? What if Tani hasn't learned his lesson? What if he tries something again?
What is that "evil" on your back for, anyway?
Sanosuke: If you think that, then you've kinda got "evil" on your back too, right?
Yahiko: Huh?
Sanosuke: You don't get it? In other words, (patting him on the head) Kenshin isn't
the only one I expect great things from.
Kenshin: Sano--
(Kenshin and Sanosuke look at each other a moment, then slap hands.)
Sanosuke: I'm off.
Kenshin: Right.
And that was it . . . Honestly, right then I thought "They're amazing!" Sagara Sanosuke
left behind this narrow country to see the world. He's a little different from Kenshin,
but . . . I could see the "evil" on his back beckoning, and I knew I'd follow him someday.
Kaoru: It's like you said, Kenshin.
Kenshin: Hm?
Kaoru: Megumi and Sanosuke and everyone are walking their own paths, living their own lives.
They're journeys without farewells, beginnings without end. It's a little lonely, but
I can bear it.
Kenshin: Yes . . . It's a little lonely, but we can bear it.
And so--time passed--Meiji 15 (1884).
On the day of the last journey . . .
Tsubame: Please let me through. I'm on an errand.
(An older Tsubame, wearing a Western uniform and apron with a little lace cap,
is trapped against a wall by three thugs.)
Thugs: Don't say that. Play with us a little.
Tell us a funny story. C'mon, Akabeko girl.
(Behind them): Tsubame isn't clever enough to tell a story that would make a thug like you
laugh. I'll tell you one instead.
Thug: What?!
(He swings with his sword, but Yahiko catches the blade between the first two knuckles
of his right hand.)
Tsubame: Yahiko!
Thug: Yahiko? Not Myoujin Yahiko, acting master of the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo . . . Not
Yahiko the master of a thousand shiratori?!
Yahiko: So what you're saying is, I don't have to introduce myself.
(The thugs are off screaming.)
Tsubame: That's amazing, they ran after just hearing your name . . . So it's true you're
the swordsman with a grip on all of eastern Japan.
Yahiko: Who said that?
Tsubame: Who--everyone says so.
Yahiko: It's not true. I'm the second greatest swordsman in Japan. (Obviously the
greatest is Kenshin.)
Tsubame: It must be nice to have so much self-confidence . . .
Yahiko: Anyway, what are you wearing? Dressing flashy like that is only going to get you
into trouble! (Is Watsuki into that kind of thing?)
Tsubame: (I guess so . . .) It's the new Akabeko uniform . . . We're supposed to
stand out for the summer . . .
Yahiko: That place has taken a turn for the worse.
Tsubame: I think so too, but . . . Anyway, thank you for saving me. Why don't you come
back to the Akabeko and eat lunch with me?
Yahiko: Wish I could. I gotta get back to the dojo. (Can I come later?)
Tsubame: (Sure.) What is it? Practice?
Yahiko: No. I don't know why, but Kenshin called me out.
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 2 september 2002