Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Seven--May 14, 1878
Part 49--Cruel as a Wolf
(Saitou stabs Sanosuke in the shoulder, smashing him straight through the dojo wall. The blade
snaps.)
Saitou (tossing it aside): It’s convenient to carry a swordcane, but they’re about as strong as
toys. The Japanese sword is, after all, the best--
Sanosuke: Where’re you going, you slit-eyed bastard. We’re not finished yet.
(He is bleeding heavily, but on his feet.)
Saitou: You show good spirit. But it’d be better if you just went quietly to sleep. The
wound is not life-threatening, but it’s deep.
Sanosuke (charging): Shut up! I may be wounded, but your sword’s broken! The fight starts
here!
(Saitou blocks the punch, then drives the fragment of sword deeper into Sanosuke’s shoulder.
Sanosuke reels. Saitou takes his wrist in one hand and his head in the other.)
Saitou: Sleep.
(He smashes him into the dojo floor.)
Kaoru: What’re you walking so slow for, Kenshin?
Kenshin: Mm . . .
Kaoru: If you keep dawdling it’ll get dark. (to Yahiko) He doesn’t look well. I wonder if
his stomach hurts or some--
Megumi (behind her): Oh, that’s my cue.
Kaoru: Me--Megumi!! (What are you doing here?)
Megumi: What, are you surprised? We all come and go beneath Heaven. Why can't our paths simply cross?
(smiling) Actually, I have today and tomorrow off. I thought I’d come over and play.
Kaoru: No way! No vixens in my house!
Megumi: Ohh, and who was it that treated Yuta, hm? And for free?
*Actually she was paid later by Yuzaemon.
Megumi: Yahiko, what do you think? I’ll cook dinner.
Yahiko: Fine by me. Don’t be so mean, Kaoru.
Kaoru: TRAITOR!!!!
Megumi: Ken-san, is it all right with you if I come over?
Kenshin: Mm . . .
Megumi: Oh, you really don’t look well. Do want me to have a look at you?
Kenshin (waking up): No, I’m fine. It’s nothing. (thinking) I should stop fretting . . .
I'll only cause them worry. I said it was because I was dreaming of the old days, but being
deep in thought won't solve anything. Even though there should be an answer--
(They see the hole in the dojo wall.)
Megumi: This . . .
Kaoru: What on earth could have happened!
Kenshin (thinking): The smell of blood . . . ?! (opening the door) Sano!!!
(That evening, in a restaurant, a businessman, Shibumi, meets with Saitou. A shadowed figure,
Akamatsu, lurks besides them.)
Shibumi: Well, first have a drink, Fujita. Or here I may as well call you Saitou.
Saitou: As you like. But nothing for me tonight.
Shibumi: I wouldn’t have expected you to be a non-drinker.
Saitou: No, not at all. It’s a weakness. It was my nature when I drank to want to kill
excessively. Since it’s the Meiji era now, I refrain.
Shibumi: Ah . . . (laughing nervously) ha ha ha. You’re promising indeed.
Saitou: Thank you.
Shibumi: Then let's get down to business. Himura Battousai is now--
Saitou: At the Kamiya dojo. I went there today, but he wasn’t home.
Shibumi: You’re all I expected from the captain of the Shinsengumi third unit. When I heard
you’d been added to our group I was surprised, but now I’m relieved to find this "job" is in
such capable hands.
Saitou: I was surprised as well to find that the man behind the Black Hat case, Udou Jin’eh’s
boss, was Mr. Shibumi, originally Secretary to the House.
Shibumi: Well, the Meiji government does a lot of different things.
Saitou: Of course. But that has nothing to do with me, one of the losers of the new era. If I can
spend the remainder of my life at something interesting, that’s enough. Killing is my
specialty, so this work is all I could desire as a sideline. And if the job is eliminating an old enemy . . .
Even so, one thing doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone want to assassinate a vagabond
wandering the countryside? Who commissioned this job--
Akamatsu: Hey!
Saitou: Excuse me. I talk too much. (bowing) Please forgive me.
Shibumi: No, as long as you understand. Well, why don't we forget about the job for now and
have some entertainment?
Saitou: I’d be happy to, but I should be returning to my real job before they grow
suspicious. (donning the jacket and cap of a police officer.) So, permission to be excused.
Shibumi (watching him go): Captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi, Saitou Hajime.
After the new era, he changed his name to Fujita Gorou and fought as a member of the
sword-bearing police in the Southwest war. Now, he’s employed as a police officer. Some say
he was the strongest of the Shinsengumi, stronger even than Okita Soushi. Even Jin’eh couldn’t
destroy Battousai, but this man . . .
Akamatsu: I don’t like him. He smiles too much.
Shibumi: You’re prejudiced, Akamatsu. From now on you’re to welcome him to our group as Jin'eh's
replacement. I was completely at a loss about the commission of Battousai’s death, but if
we do this well we can say goodbye to the dirty work of assassinations that I first needed to
rise in the world. And my success in this interesting matter will be due to the man from the Shinsengumi
who threatened us so mercilessly during the Bakumatsu. They called the Shinsengumi the Miburo,
but in the Meiji era, they're nothing but toothless lap dogs . . .
(in the dojo)
Megumi: It’s too dark, I can’t see the wound! Even candles will do! I need more light!
Kenshin (examining the dojo): This round seal with a triangular cap on the medicine box . . .
a broken blade driven horizontally into the wound . . . this uncommon destruction . . .
it couldn’t be his doing . . .
translations by maigo-chan
last updated 1 jan 2001