Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation
Volume Two--Two Hitokiris
Part 11--A Ribbon and Selfishness
The next morning. Kenshin and Sanosuke are walking home.
Kenshin: Six badly injured, three less so. The Black Hat affair has begun with some small
damage. One cannot face nine casualties with a calm face.
Sanosuke: You’re expecting too much. Nobody died--that’s pretty good. The Black Hat . . .
Udou Jin’eh, huh. Originally a Hitokiri and completely psycho to boot. But we’ve got the
strongest of all on our side (slapping Kenshin on the back) so why worry?
Kenshin: Not really. (That hurt.) In the ten years since the new era began, I took a vow
never to kill again, but he’s done just the opposite, continuing to kill. As Hitokiris, the
difference is great. I don’t know when or where Jin’eh mastered the Nikaidou Heibou, but
when he appeared in Kyoto at the beginning of the Bakumatsu, he was the head of the
Shinsengumi.
Sanosuke: The Shinsengumi--the best of the Bakufu’s companies of swordsmen. So he's an
old enemy of the Ishin Shishi?
Kenshin: Actually, he killed many of the Ishin Shishi, unnecessary deaths.
In the end, he fled the Shinsengumi after internal conflicts turned the unit against him.
From then he appeared many months later among the Ishin Shishi as a hitokiri.
Sanosuke: So he doesn’t follow the principle of loyalty to the Emperor.
Kenshin: Jin’eh has only the desire to kill. Since he is motivated only by this desire, he
is an exceedingly dangerous Hitokiri.
Sanosuke: This guy . . . I know I don’t have any part in this, but--
Kenshin: I am his only target, and I’ll be his only opponent. But there’s something I want
you to do for me instead.
(At the dojo, Kaoru has dozed off sitting on the porch.)
Sanosuke: Sheesh. Look at that face. She must be getting old, sitting there drooling in her
sleep.
Yahiko: I don’t think she slept a wink last night.
Sanosuke: Oh yeah? Hmm. (patting her cheek.) Hey, girl, wake up. (stretching her mouth
open.) Hey, wake up.
Yahiko: Ah---ha ha ha!!
Kaoru (breaking a shinai across his head): Welcome home.
Sanosuke: Nice to see you too.
Kaoru: I--huh? Where’s Kenshin?
Sanosuke: Kenshin’s not coming back. This time, the killer’s after him. He was afraid he'd
get you in trouble, so he’s not coming back here for a while. While he’s gone he
wanted me to look out for you.
Kaoru: But where did he go?
Sanosuke: He said he was gong to the riverbank. (remembering Kenshin’s words: "A Bakumatsu
Hitokiri had to be able to attack easily and run easily. Many acted from a base near a
riverbank. If I’m by the river, Jin’eh will find me.") I guess.
(Kaoru starts running.)
Sanosuke: Hey--hey, where are you going?
Kaoru: I’ve made up my mind. I’m looking for Kenshin!
Sanosuke: Idiot! Jin’eh is not your average opponent! Do you have to see him to understand?
If you go after him you’ll just get in the way and make trouble! If you just wait here
quietly it’ll be better for everyone--
Kaoru: So after he fights Jin’eh, what if he doesn’t come back? What if he goes off
wandering again, what do we do then?
--Since I am a vagabond, I never know where I’ll be when--
Kaoru: My father died. Kiheh betrayed me. If Kenshin leaves . . . if I’m going to be left
alone again, I’d rather meet the danger face to face!
(She runs off again, and this time no one tries to stop her.)
Sanosuke: She can’t stand being separated from Kenshin. She really is selfish. Well, you
can’t separate selfishness from love, so I guess there’s nothing you can do, huh? Although
you probably don’t care. (You don’t look like you mind being left alone.)
Yahiko: Whatever. There’s nothing you have to do. The opponent is Kenshin. The best in
Japan. (pointing at himself) By the way, I’m the second best! (Got that?)
Sanosuke: So that makes me number three? (Whatever you say.) The girl’s so stubborn she’ll
probably find Kenshin and drag him back here. I’m going to take a bath and get some sleep,
so have fun.
Yahiko: Kenshin’s counting on you. You should be more responsible!
Jin’eh (concealed behind them): Heh heh heh. The river. Heh heh heh . . .
(He disappears.)
(Kenshin sits on a log near the bank, watching the river.)
Kenshin (thinking): There must have been heavy rain upstream, the river’s swollen. If you
fell in it’d all be over. (he senses a presence behind him.) He’s here . . . (clicking the
sword out of its sheath.)
Kaoru: KENSHIN . . .I’VE FOUND YOU.
Kenshin (thinking, as Kaoru plunks herself down beside him): She’s scarier than
Jin’eh . . .
Kaoru: I heard it from Sanosuke. You’re not coming back to the dojo for a while. So I’m not
going back either. I’m staying here with you.
(a pause)
Kenshin: Miss Kaoru. Did you have a fight with Sano? Or with Yahiko?
Kaoru: That’s not it!
Kenshin: You heard about Jin’eh.
Kaoru: I heard. But I’m not going.
Kenshin: If I have to protect someone as I fight, I cannot possibly beat Jin’eh.
(Another pause. Then Kaoru stands up again.)
Kenshin: Miss Kaoru?
(She pulls the ribbon out of her hair.)
Kaoru: It's my favorite ribbon, indigo blue. I’m lending it to you.
Kenshin: I couldn’t possibly.
Kaoru: It’s all right, so take it!
Kenshin: Okay!
Kaoru: All right? I’m only lending it to you. Be sure and give it back. After you fight
Jin’eh, if you forget and go off wandering again, I’ll never forgive you.
(Kenshin stares at her for a minute. Then he smiles.)
Kenshin: I understand. I’ll be sure to come back to return this. You can wait at the dojo
without worry.
Kaoru (smiling a little): . . . all right.
(Kaoru is suddenly snatched away by Jin’eh. He is balanced in a small boat ripping down the
river.
Jin’eh: Heh heh heh. Heh hwah ha ha ha!!!
Kenshin: Miss Kaoru!!!
Jin’eh: I’ve seen you, I’ve seen you, Battousai! I’ve seen that this girl is your woman!
Get angry, get angry! Angry like you were last night when I broke that rooster’s arm!
Return to the way you were ten years ago! Like you were when you could have killed me, the
matchless, strongest, cold-hearted Hitokiri. (flicking a letter to him) Wait for me here,
Battousai!
Kaoru (getting her head free): Kenshin!
Jin’eh: Hwah ha ha ha ha!!!!
(The river carries them out of sight.)
Kenshin: Jin’eh . . .!!!!!