Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Twenty-Eight--Toward a New Age
Part 255--Toward a New Age
(The prosperous-looking dojo. Yahiko enters the front gate.)
Yahiko: Acting master Myoujin Yahiko coming in . . .
(A little boy, the spitting image of Kenshin, is sitting on the roof bawling his eyes out.)
Yahiko: Not again, Kenji. You climb up and get too scared to climb down?
(He hooks his sword on the back of Kenji's robe and swings him down.
Kenji goes limp, relieved.)
Yahiko: You may look like a little Kenshin, but you're really just a little idiot . . .
I don't know how you're going to carry on the dojo--
(Kaoru pegs him with a sandal.)
Kaoru: Hey! Quit picking on my son, or I'll really get mad!
Yahiko (swinging Kenji around to her): Who's picking on him? I saved him!
(Kenji gurgles and holds out his arms to be picked up--he loves his mom.)
Kaoru: Oh, so you did. (taking him in her arms) Were you scared? I'm so sorry.
Yahiko: You should be apologizing to me.
Kenshin: Yahiko. I'm sorry to call you out here in this heat.
Yahiko: Kenshin.
(Inside the dojo. The wall bears a large number of students' nameplates; Kaoru is
listed as master, Yahiko and Tsukayama Yutarou as assistant masters, Shinichi Kozaburo
and Higashidani Outa as students . . .)
Yahiko: What is it? If you want to arrange for outside practice at a new dojo I could--
(Kenshin puts hand to his sword.)
Kenshin: Take your stance, Yahiko. A one-point match. All right?
(Yahiko looks startled. Kaoru steps forward.)
Kaoru: Yahiko. Have you forgotten what day it is today? Today is your fifteenth birthday.
You've heard, haven't you, that warriors long ago were recognized as men when they became
fifteen . . .
(Yahiko remembers Sanosuke telling him, "It's called genpuku. It's what you're aiming for
as a swordsman. Remember that.")
Yahiko (thinking): So that's it. Kenshin is testing me to see if I've truly become
a man . . . But . . . Those instincts! That presence! Even if he hardly ever uses the
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu anymore, he's the greatest living swordsman there is, a true legend . . .
Kenshin (as if sensing his thoughts): Don't be afraid. You've resolved to follow the path of
the sword. Remember all the battles of your life. The battles you've seen with your eyes. The
battle you heard with your ears . . . The battles you embraced with your own skill . . . And
all the battles you carry within you. If you concentrate all your strength behind that one
blow, it will be enough.
(Yahiko is suddenly struck by all the warriors, all fighting for their own reasons, that he's
seen over the years. He takes his stance.)
Kenshin: It will be enough. Miss Kaoru?
(Still holding Kenji, Kaoru steps forward with one arm raised.)
Kaoru (letting it drop): Begin!
(Kenshin and Yahiko charge at each other, both striking.)
Kaoru: A . . . a draw?
(Kenshin's sword has hit Yahiko in the side, but Yahiko's sword caught him on the shoulder.
Then Yahiko's sword drops and he falls to his knees with the force of the blow.)
Yahiko: Heh heh . . . guess I couldn't measure up.
Kenshin: Hm. But it was a good blow. Can you stand?
Yahiko: Yeah, I guess so.
(Kenshin and Kaoru exchange glances. Then Kenshin holds out the sakabatou to him.)
Kenshin: Yahiko. A gift for your coming of age. Take it!
Yahiko: Wha . . . Wait--wait a minute! I can't take that! First of all, I lost!
Kenshin: I wasn't concerned with who won or lost. I only wanted to see if your whole soul
was behind your attack. When I saw that it was, I made up my mind. Take it.
(He holds it out again, and Yahiko accepts it.)
Yahiko (thinking): It's heavy . . .
Kenshin: You may find it heavy and hard to use at first, but you'll learn to wield it with
your own strength. And someday you'll surpass me with it.
Yahiko (nodding): Right!
(He races out the gates. Kenshin and Kaoru watch him go.)
Kaoru: So that's the end. You carried that sword for fifteen years. You must feel a
little lonely without it . . . ?
Kenshin: A little. But I feel happy as well, so I feel better than I expected.
(To Kenji, as he takes him) Come on. All right, Kenji, you'll inherit the sakabatou after
Yahiko.
(Kenji scowls and pulls Kenshin's hair--he hates his dad.)
Kenshin (laughing): I suppose you'll get used to me eventually.
(Kaoru smiles, and reaches out to touch the cross scar.)
Kaoru: Megumi told me something when I went to visit her in Aizu. She said sword scars
carry strong emotions behind them. As long as those feelings remain, the scar will never
fade. (thinking) The scar looks so much lighter . . .
Kenshin: Yes. Probably the scar will never completely fade. I almost never use the
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu . . . I've passed on the sakabatou. But that doesn't mean I'll
never fight again. The battle of life isn't over yet. (He passes Kenji back to Kaoru.)
I'll fight on, upholding my vow not to kill.
Kaoru: You're right. (thinking) But . . . (aloud) Kenshin?
Kenshin: Oro?
Kaoru (thinking): You've fought well.
Rurouni Kenshin--End.
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 2 september 2002