Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Six--No Need for Worries
Part 46--Sanosuke and Nishiki-e (the Middle)
Sanosuke: Katsu . . . what exactly have you got planned?
Tsukioka: Whatever they say, there was only one vision of the Sekihoutai. The captain dreamed
of an age of perfect equality for the four classes. Until the interfering government
destroyed his vision.
Sanosuke: While you were painting pictures, didn’t you hear anything about the Southwest war?
Hayato and his followers under the great hero Saigou didn't last half a year.
Tsukioka: Saigou raised his soldiers in Kagoshima, the tip of Japan. The fighting was just
so much wasted effort. My goal is the center of Japan. Namely, Tokyo. Here there is a
possibility of bringing the Department of Internal Affairs, that controls all domestic
administration, to a complete halt. I’d like to destroy the military offices and the
Department of Finance at the same time, but alone it’s impossible.
Sanosuke: Alone?
Tsukioka: Can you trust strangers? I went forward with my plans alone. But even though I’m
alone, I have this. Come have a look.
(He opens the door to a storeroom filled with homemade bombs.)
Tsukioka: I made the originals with the knowledge of firearms I’d learned in the Sekihoutai.
Bombs. It may seem like I don’t have my feet on the ground, but I have great faith in the
plans I’ve laid so carefully for ten years. No one would ever suspect a painter of doing all
this. As each district office is destroyed one after the other, the power of the
center will be cut, the discontented samurai and the peasants will rise; revolts will occur on
their own. After the Southwest war, the government is exhausted and weakened as never before.
After this, the avalanche has only been waiting. And then, the age of true equality for the
four classes will come, and the name of the captain and the Sekihoutai can be cleared. I’ve
already got a rough sketch of the office. I’ll do it tomorrow; no one will be there on a Sunday
night. Sano, I don’t want to force you. As one of the
Sekihoutai, I’ll do it even alone. Think about it till tomorrow evening, and give me your
answer.
(Later, Sanosuke is walking home.)
Sanosuke: This is pointless. (thinking) It’s weakened by the Southwest war, but a few
bombings and isolated uprisings won’t shake the Meiji government. It’ll just be another
bloodbath like Hagi and Akitsuki’s. For ten years, all he’s been thinking about is clearing
the name of the Sekihoutai and the captain . . . He can’t see the present at all. Ten
years . . . . (he stops on the bridge, as the wind blows leaves around him.) Damn.
It’s spring, but a cold wind is blowing . . .
The next day.
Kaoru (loudly): You're joking!
Kenshin (likewise): You mean Tsukioka Tsunan is an old friend of yours?!
Sanosuke: You don't sound that surprised.
Kenshin: Of course we are, aren't we, Miss Kaoru?
Kaoru: Really surprised, Kenshin.
Sanosuke: Well, whatever. We thought we’d have a reunion party. Do you mind if we use the
dojo?
Kaoru: That’s fine, I guess, but . . . where are you going to get the money to . . . You’re
not sponging off me again! No way! Absolutely not!
Sanosuke: Hey, don’t worry about it. Leave that to me. Well, thanks a lot. Oh yeah, tell
Tae and the little girl to come too. They’d probably enjoy it. (leaving)
Kaoru: Strange. This is strange. Too strange! (shaking Kenshin) You think he’s sick?!
Kenshin: Just . . . calm down . . .
Yahiko: It’s gotta be spring.
(That night, they are seated in the dojo around a vast spread of sushi and bottles of sake.)
Sanosuke: Well, let’s begin.
Kaoru: What, when you said to leave it to you, you meant you were sponging off Mr. Tsunan?
Sanosuke: Look, like I always say . . . "What’s mine, is mine. What’s yours, is also mine."
Kenshin: Sano . . .
Sanosuke: Well, don’t worry about the details. Let’s demolish a few of these bottles!
(A good time is had by all. Later, the sushi is gone, the bottles are emptied. Tae and
Tsubame huddle together under a blanket, Kaoru is curled up dreaming of Kenshin, Yahiko is
passed out on the floor, and Kenshin is sleeping sitting up against a wall.)
Sanosuke: Well . .. (as he and Tsukioka stand up) looks like it’s time to go.
Tsukioka: Your last meal. Did you enjoy it?
Sanosuke: Not really. But I didn’t really think I would. The girls at the Akabeko
have fed me plenty of times, so this is to pay them back. What about you? Enjoy your first
party in the last ten years?
Tsukioka: Feh. Not at all.
Sanosuke: You’re so dark.
Tsukioka (after a pause): . . . Are you sure about this, Sanosuke?
Sanosuke: It’s stupid, but I have to be out in front for this.
Tsukioka: I see. So you’ve chosen the Sekihoutai over the present. I thank you from the
heart. Let’s hurry. If we take too long getting the bombs, by the time we get to the office
the night will be over.
(He leaves; Sanosuke lingers a moment.)
Sanosuke: Sorry, guys. I’d explain, but you wouldn’t understand. I guess I’m just one of
the Sekihoutai at heart. (on his way out) Kenshin, when we meet again I’ll be a great
criminal. You can even take me out with the reverse blade . . .
(He closes the door behind him. Kenshin opens his eyes, stands up.)
About three hours later. Lost in the darkness of a night without stars. Two men from
the Sekihoutai. In front of the central office of the Department of the Interior, they
appear.
the Makings of the Characters--Tsukioka Tsunan
The original source of the character was from the false announcements I sometimes tell the
magazine: "the introduction of a mysterious artist." While I was drawing the Sanosuke extra
story, I planned out a fellow member of the Sekihoutai, a lone bomber who planned to overthrow
the government, but when that didn’t seem like enough, I added in the announcement of an artist
and ended up with Tsukioka Tsunan.
Like the Raijuuta story, on top of the difficult drawing, I was supposed to be beginning
the color for the opening of the next Saitou Hajime story, and this story was four chapters
when I had to make it three, and there wasn’t any chance to do any work. But, alone in the
manga, Tsunan was a character that had something to do with mass media, and so he was very
useful; also, although he’s dark, I like his single-minded nature. If I could, I think I’d
bring him in from time to time.
There was no particular design. There was one in my sketch book I thought I would
use, but when I made a first draft, contrary to my expectations I thought, "I could use this
for a different bad guy," and changed it in a hurry. I just made him up as I went along. An
artist’s clothes should be flashy and kind of strange, so I gave him the paisley bandanna (I
had a paisley design in my sketchbook too) and dressed him in the jacket with the weird
pattern.