Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation
Volume Two--Two Hitokiris
Part 9--The Black Hat of Rushes
(Lightning crashes. Inside a mansion, a well-dressed man cowers before a man shrouded in a
cloak, wearing a wide black hat. He carries a bloody sword and bodies litter the floor
between them.)
Rich Man: P . . . please. If it’s money I can get you as much as you want. Just spare my
life.
Black Hat: The honored patriots of the new age bathe in money like water. Has it made
you weak?
(He laughs, quietly. The man screams. Black Hat fixes his eyes upon him.)
Rich Man (thinking): I . . . I can’t move! What’s happening?!
Black Hat: Die.
(The sword is brought down.)
Sanosuke: This is terrible.
(Kaoru is grimly grilling fish in the dojo yard.)
Sanosuke: It’s no good at all. Girl, you’ve got to take some cooking lessons.
I could teach you to do better than this. How do you take this day after day, Kenshin?
Kenshin: It’s not that bad. The more of Miss Kaoru's cooking you eat, the better it tastes.
Sanosuke: Oh, so this is some kinda exotic acquired taste, is it?
Kaoru (pelting him with utensils): If it’s bad then don’t eat it! You come over here all
the time to mooch food!!
Sanosuke (blocking with Kenshin): Since I stopped taking fights I have no money. Don't be so
uptight.
Kenshin (as he gets pelted): Oro! Oro! Oro!
(the Chief of police--from part 2--slides open the gate.)
Chief: I’m sorry, I don't mean to interrupt anything, but is Mr. Himura here?
Kaoru: Chief! Kenshin, the chief of police is here--
(Kenshin is dazed and covered with bumps.)
Chief: I have a favor to ask of you, Mr. Himura.
Kenshin: Oro?
(Yahiko continues to munch determinedly at his fish.)
Chief: I truly apologize for the trouble with the Sword-bearing police. The matter has
served as an
opportunity to dissolve the unit. Discipline within the force is being strengthened. I, too,
am working at this, so please forgive us . . .
Kenshin: That’s all right. What is it you have to ask me?
Chief: Let me explain something first. This concerns the problem of the police’s reputation.
We’ve kept this out of the newspapers, so I beg you all to keep this a secret. My request is
none other than this. I want you to destroy a certain ruffian.
Sanosuke: Ruffian?
Chief: Known as "Black Hat of Rushes," he's a fiend who targets former patriots who play a
part in the Meiji world of power and wealth. An swordsman without scruples, he has struck over
ten times throughout Japan without making the slightest misstep.
Kaoru: So basically he’s out to get the Meiji patriots? Is it because of a grudge, or does he
think he's making the world a better place or something?
Chief: Perhaps. But above all the Black Hat enjoys killing. Since he’s
targeting patriots who hold important posts, the police has dedicated itself to providing guards, and
the targets themselves use their power and money to hire bodyguards. Yet the Black Hat seems
to enjoy killing as many as he can, once he has broken through our defenses. Two months ago,
when he appeared in Shizuoka, counting victim, police and bodyguards, thirty-four were killed
and fifty-six suffered heavy
injuries.
Kaoru: Wait a minute. If you know he’s so strong, why don’t you use the infantry?
Since there were so many casualties . . .
Chief: We did . . . but the unit was wiped out before they could draw their weapons.
According to one who just barely escaped with his life, he couldn’t move at all, like he was
bound hand and foot. That’s why they were killed--
Kenshin: By the Nikaidou Heibou "One-sided Heart."
Kaoru: What?
Kenshin: Probably after so many murders, he has lost his original purpose and will, drawn
only by the color and smell of blood. That such a
man should exist ten years into the Meiji era . . .
(they all stare at him)
Kaoru: Kenshin . . .
(Kenshin, saying nothing, sips his tea.)
(Another mansion. Inside is the man they have come to protect, Tani.)
Tani: A guard? No thanks. It’s only one ruffian. I won’t need police to protect me.
Chief: It’s not that simple. Mr. Tani, your assailant is the Black Hat of Rushes!
Tani: Watch your tongue! I survived forests of swords and rains of bullets until the dawning of the
Meiji era. Do you think I care about the opinion of a mere police chief?
Chief: Then you can understand how terrifying the killing sword of a master can be.
(Tani is sitting in an armchair, surrounded by fighters of every description.)
Tani: Huh. I know, and so I’ve assembled the very best and strongest to be my personal
bodyguards! Every possible fighter who admires Tani Juusanrou, the best man in the War Department!
Fighter 1: That’s right. We’re devoted to Mr. Tani.
Fighter 2: Why don’t you just go home, cops.
Tani: I won’t rely on outsiders from god knows where. That has no honor! Are you saying that
this outsider is stronger than all your henchmen together?
Chief: It pains me to say it, but yes.
(Kenshin enters the hall. Tani is shocked.)
Kenshin: I’d heard you had become very self-important, Mr. Tani. Like a different person
than the one I protected from the forests of swords and rains of bullets during the Bakumatsu.
Tani: WHAT?
Sanosuke: Where’d you get these "best and strongest" from, anyway? I remember beating every
one of 'em up at least once.
Fighters (who recognize him too): WHAT?!
Kenshin: It must be very annoying to have bodyguards from god knows where, but please
overlook it just for one night.
Tani: This . . . this is unheard of. The . . . the honor is more than I deserve.
Sanosuke (to the guards): Tonight, we’ll forget old times. We’re on the same side, right?
(Just tonight, though!)
Chief: Besides these too, Mr. Tani, a unit of police is positioned outside.
Tani: Fine! Have it your way.
Kenshin: Oro?
Tani: I mean, by all means, thank you very much.
(The clock reads five minutes to one. Kenshin and Sanosuke are playing shogi.)
Sanosuke: It’s five minutes until the challenge letter said he would be here. I wonder if he’s
really coming.
Kenshin: Hmm . . . well, if he doesn’t come, he doesn't come, and so much the better.
Sanosuke: I guess the little girl and the kid are already asleep.
Kenshin: Yes. Miss Kaoru said she would get up early to prepare a bath and wait for our
return.
(a contemplative pause)
Sanosuke: But, Kenshin, why'd you take this job. I thought you didn’t like being called on
for these Battousai kind of things.
Kenshin: Of course I don’t like it. But I have no reason to turn my back on this. If the
evil acts of the Black Hat are not halted, these misfortunes will only increase.
Including that of the Black Hat himself . . . But then why did you come too?
Sanosuke (grinning): This is fun. There’s just no good reason to stay out of a fight.
Chief (thinking): This is no simple fight, but . . .
Sanosuke: Okay, I have one question for you. What is this Nikaidou Heibou "One-sided Heart"
thing you mentioned before? Do you know this Black Hat guy?
Kenshin: Actually, that’s two questions--
Sanosuke (hitting him): Stop being picky and answer me.
Kenshin: They're rumors.
Sanosuke: Rumors?
Kenshin: Rumors I heard more than ten years ago. I don’t have the slightest idea if they’re
true, but the point now is how to--
(a scream. They throw open the windows. Two police guards lie dead at their posts.)
Others: What was that?
It wasn't from in here. It must be outside!
Kenshin: He’s here! Sano and I will take the front! Everyone else follow behind!
(Tani glances anxiously from side to side as his guards rush to take their positions.)
Sanosuke (kicking him): Stop shivering, you pig. Everyone knows you always put your king in
the middle!
(The clock strikes one. All eyes are focused on the door.)
Bodyguard: It’s one o'clock . . .
He’s not coming?
Ha. Just an empty threat.
(the Black Hat appears in a window, cutting the last speaker down.)
Black Hat (chuckling again): There they are, there they are, you careless little insects . . .