Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Eight--On the Meiji Toukai Way
Part 60--Megumi’s Feelings, Kaoru’s Feelings
I couldn't follow him.
I don’t know why. But when he said one word, "farewell," it was like I was chained from head to foot.
I still am.
Kenshin . . . !
(Tae is kneeling besides Kaoru, who refuses to look at her.)
Tae: I understand your feelings, but Kaoru, brooding forever won’t solve anything. Cheer up. Oh, I know! I’ll give
these to you. (holding up two nishiki-e) Mr. Tsunan’s Ibahachi. And the real Nakajina Nobori’s Hijikata Toshizou, my
treasure!
Kaoru: No thanks.
(Tae turns to stone.)
Tae (thinking): No thanks. My treasures, no thanks.
(Yahiko is running home.)
Megumi: Yahiko?! Didn’t you go to Kyoto? Or did they leave you home alone?
Yahiko: What are you talking about? Kaoru’s still at the dojo.
Megumi: What . . .
(Tsubame places a tray of food before Kaoru.)
Tsubame: I know it’s not very good, but it’s not good for you not to eat.
Kaoru: No thanks.
Tae: How can you say that? Tsubame worked hard to make that for you.
Kaoru: I said, no thanks.
Tae: Kaoru!
Kaoru: You don’t have to look after me!! Please, just leave me alone!!
Megumi (appearing at the door): I’m disgusted. You’re still here.
Kaoru: What do you want.
Megumi: Isn’t it obvious? I came to laugh at the tanuki-girl Ken-san rejected.
(Kaoru: Why you . . .)
Tae: Miss Takani!
(Megumi holds up the little jar.)
Megumi: This is medicine, a family treasure. Ken-san told me before how well it worked. Now, it’s something he needs,
but I guess I can’t ask you to give it to him. I’ll have to ask Yahiko.
Kaoru: Shouldn’t you take it yourself, without relying on others? All the way to Kyoto.
Tae: Oh-oh . . . cat fight . . .
Tsubame: I’m scared . . .
Megumi: Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of free time, like you. I have patients to take
care of. I can’t go off on a
journey.
Kaoru: Your patients over Kenshin? In other words, he’s not that important to you.
Tae: Kaoru, that’s going a little far--
(Megumi slaps her, but Kaoru puts up a hand to block.)
Kaoru: You mock an adjutant master--
(Megumi raises a hand to slap the other cheek. Kaoru winces, but Megumi’s hand stops inches from her face.)
Megumi: You’re the one trying to mock me. (lifting Kaoru’s chin with two fingers) I became a doctor so I could save
lives and atone for my sins. All right? This is my life’s path. And there is no one who could have shown me how to live
that path but Ken-san. So even if he’s not here, I’ll keep on atoning as a doctor. This atonement is how I feel towards
him. So I don’t need some cowering girl to tell me he’s not important to me. Oh, so now you’re going to cry? You really
are weak.
Speechless at Megumi’s power
(Tae and Tsubame)
(Megumi opens the door to leave.)
Kaoru: . . . You don’t understand, Megumi. How it felt for him to say goodbye to me, face to face . . . you don’t
understand at all!
Megumi: That’s true. But we’re even. You don’t understand how it felt for him not to say goodbye to me at all.
Before you start going to extremes, consider your own feelings once more.
(She crosses the courtyard.)
Kaoru (thinking): Megumi . . . .
Yahiko: Are you done?
Megumi: Yes.
Yahiko: Don’t worry. Kenshin’s coming back. (running towards the dojo) So wait here and don’t cry.
Megumi: All right . . .
(But a tear is running down her cheek.)
You don't understand how it felt for him not to say goodbye to me at all.
Kaoru (thinking): Megumi . . . She really wanted to go to Kyoto . . . (aloud) I . . .
Yahiko (bursting in, all packed and ready to go): What’re you sitting around for. Get ready! We’re going to Kyoto!
Kaoru: But . . .
Yahiko: No shit and no buts. You’re the only one Kenshin said goodbye to. Don't you get it?
It was hardest for him
to part with you! So listen up! No matter what anyone else says, you're the one who's got
the best chance of making him
come back! Megumi said
she’d look after the dojo. In
return, you're taking this to Kenshin (holding up the jar.) Answer me, Kaoru! Don’t you want
to see him?
Kaoru: I . . .
Tae: Kaoru!
Tsubame: Miss Kaoru!
Kaoru (thinking): I want to see him . . . (aloud, choking on tears) I guess I really
do want to see Kenshin . . .
Yahiko: So it’s settled then!
Kaoru (thinking): We’ll go to Kyoto. To Kyoto, where Kenshin is . . .
(later that night. Megumi stands in front of the dojo.)
Megumi: So in the end I’m the only one left behind. And on top of that, I have to look after
the dojo. What am I doing--
(She puts a hand to the door, and is surprised to find it unlocked.)
Megumi (thinking): It’s open. Then why did they leave me the key . . . Did they come back to get something? Or
maybe . . . Ken-san came back!
(She throws open the doors.)
Megumi (thinking): The . . . the Oniwabanshuu Okashira . . . Shinomori Aoshi . . .
Aoshi: Where has Battousai disappeared to?