* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume twelve: Kyoto inferno *
* Chapter ninety-five: Sacrifice mine life, mine unworthy life *
(Hiko and Kenshin stand facing each other)
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu "Ku Zu Ryuu Sen"
Kenshin: *If the opponent really attacked all my nine vital points with such
a destructive speed, it is true that I cannot shield or retreat from it...*
(remembering how Hiko struck the move)
Kenshin: *This is the Succession Technique...*
(Hiko looks at him, slightly annoyed)
Hiko: What are you still dumbly stuck there? Do a few moves for your master
here to see!
Kenshin: T... Try the moves now?
Hiko: How can you still be saying these words now? Following the traditional
way of teaching one can never learn anything, the most effective way of
learning kenjutsu is to learn it through pain! Only things learnt this way
are of use. Did not you walk over this way the last times?
Kenshin: (wide-eyed seeing stars) I recall now...
(flashback)
Ryuu Sho Sen
(little Kenshin gets whipped under the neck till his entire head bends
backwards)
Ryuu Tsui Sen
(little Kenshin gets a big bump on the head)
Ryuu Kan Sen
(little Kenshin gets whipped on his left cheek)
Kenshin: It is indeed a big miracle that I can live till now...
Hiko: You must thank your master's big heart for that. (preparing his sword)
When you've finished thinking, draw your sword and attack! With full
strength, is that clear!
Kenshin: ...
(he pulls his sword)
Kenshin: (closed eyes) *... Then, even if I had wanted to move there was no
time for it. But... that does not mean I could not catch Master's move...
(half opened eyes) The nine different attacking methods, was each clearly
saw by me...*
(he fully opens his eyes in determination)
Kenshin: Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Ku Zu Ryuu Sen!
(he strikes. Words inside each attacking zone, "one two three four five six
seven eight nine")
Kenshin: ! *Success!*
(Hiko gives a small smile. Attacks similarly)
Kenshin: !!
(each attacking force of Kenshin's and Hiko's meets and dashes against each
other. Hiko gets clear to the other side while Kenshin falls to the ground)
Kenshin: (pushing himself up) *... both are Ku Zu Ryuu Sens... why is the
power difference so far... do not tell me, that my Ku Zu Ryuu Sen just now
was not perfect enough?*
Hiko: No, it is already perfect enough.
(he turns around)
Hiko: But, although it is the same form of kenjutsu, different people...
wield the sword with different strengths. Confusion attacks depend on wrist
power, close-in sudden attacks on weight, but, you lose me by far in these
two aspects. Which means to say... in front of my Ku Zu Ryuu Sen, your Ku Zu
Ryuu Sen or any other kenjutsu are of no use.
(Kenshin stares shocked)
Kenshin: *... Do not tell me, that I really have no fate with the Ku Zu Ryuu
Sen...*
Hiko: But, to be able to break my Ku Zu Ryuu Sen, it isn't really
impossible. That would be Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu's Succession Technique,
Ama Kakeru Ryuu No Hirameki!
(Kenshin stares more shocked)
Kenshin: WHAT!
Hiko: What is the matter? What is there to be surprised at in this
announcement? I never said that the Ku Zu Ryuu Sen was the Hiten Mitsurugi
Ryuu's Succession Technique did I?
Kenshin: ... I have been fooled by him!
Hiko: Heheh! Ku Zu Ryuu Sen did not evolve from fighting or training, but
from the passing on of the Succession Technique did it really develop. The
passing on of the Succession Technique of our Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu starts
with the introduction of the Ku Zu Ryuu Sen.
(he prepares himself)
Hiko: If you may break the Ku Zu Ryuu Sen your master wields with full force
afterwards, then the imparting of the Succession Technique can be rendered
done.
Kenshin: But...
Hiko: Specifically think about the specialities of the Ku Zu Ryuu Sen! This
way, you should be able to capture the main theme of the Ama Kakeru Ryuu No
Hirameki.
Kenshin: Specialities of the Ku Zu Ryuu Sen... (snapping)
(he sheathes his sword fully)
CHING
(into a Battoujutsu stance)
Kenshin: *Ku Zu Ryuu Sen... specializes in the kenjutsu format of inability
to shield, defend or retreat, therefore, the only way to break it... is the
Battou of superior speed to the opponent to strike him down first... !*
Hiko: Accurate answer. You have good judgement. Faster than lightning and
as swift as sound sudden attacks' Battoujutsu, that is the true light of the
Ama Kakeru Ryuu No Hirameki.
(he smiles)
Hiko: But, your sakabatou is to the Battoujutsu a serious flaw, your master
suspects whether your Battoujutsu can surpass the level of lightning speed.
(Kenshin stares and drops his stance with his sword hanging by his waist)
Hiko: (snapping) ... after sheathing the sword, a motiveless stance... to
engage in an impossible duel is it not... this is sending yourself to death.
Kenshin: ... I do understand this point. But... by hook or by crook I must
master the Succession Technique today, even my life lost it is nothing worth
mourning over!
Kenshin and Hiko: ...
Hiko: (relaxing his sword) You are truly my stupid disciple.
Kenshin: Huh?
Hiko: After half a day, you still haven't figured anything out.
Kenshin: Master!
Hiko: I give you one night. Use that one night to think about what is that
'thing' you really lack! If you cannot figure it out, not only would you not
master the Succession Technique, really too you would lose your life here.
(he walks away)
Kenshin: ...
(nightfall)
Kenshin: *... I never thought I have any points worthy of praising over any
other.*
(Kenshin sitting on the well looking at the stars)
Kenshin: *Always thinking I was one with a wild and violent Hitokiri buried
deep within my heart... what is the thing that, I really lack - ...
(Hiko pours out wine)
Hiko: ...
(flashback)
Hiko: (to inn keeper) He did not come?
Innkeeper: Um. In this while, not only the kid you were talking about, even
a lost stray cat dare not venture near here. Your requested wine.
Hiko: ...
(walking through the forest)
Hiko: *Do not tell me he has seen through the world, and suicided in some
other place?*
(he continues walking)
Hiko: *This is not something rare. Although I wield the righteous sword for
the ideal of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, but, eventually, is it not always
that there is not a single one saved? Those disciples of violence, after
killing one in one place another emerge in another. One layer by layer of
chaos, pushes this world into a bigger state of turmoil.*
(arriving at a certain clearing)
Hiko: *From the looks of it, many such similar situations will occur in the
near future. What I can do... is to bury the innocent dead for them...*
(he snaps as he stares at a clearing full of wooden sticks tied into
crosses. Amidst the crosses stands the 'boy' who had obviously dug the
graves for them)
Hiko: (walking towards the 'boy') ... other than your parents, you actually
dug a funeral for those bandits...
Boy: They were human slave drivers, not my parents. My parents last year,
died due to contracting cholera. Bandits or human slave drivers, after death
there is only a corpse left...
Hiko: ... therefore you arranged a burial for them? (he notices something)
... these three stones are?
Boy: Three girls I met. Because their parents could not pay their debts,
they were pitifully forced into this trade. We only knew each other for one
day. ... since we all had no parents, while I was the only boy, I promised
that even if I should sacrifice my life, I must protect their safety.
However...
(they look at the three stones)
Boy: So I thought... at least I must arrange for a tombstone, but in this
area there were only stones of this kind... besides, I searched the area for
so long, yet there was not even a single strand of fresh flower to present
to them... (he notices Hiko behind him)
PANG!
(he pours wine onto the stones)
Hiko: To depart the world without tasting the wonder of wine, it is their
misfortune. This is a little gesture from me. (he caps back the bottle)
What is your name?
Boy: Shinta...
Hiko: Too tender a person, is not suitable to be a kenkaku! From today
forth, your name shall be "Kenshin"!
Shinta: !
Hiko: I have decided to affiliate you... as the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu's
heir disciple!
(Hiko and Kenshin stands in the graveyard in shadows)
Hiko: (voice over) ... by count it should have been about 19 years ago. And
now...
(end flashback)
(Hiko drinks his wine)
Hiko: Whether he can be able to master the Succession Technique tomorrow,
the fate of us Master disciple shall be ended...
END TRANSLATION
(c) Nobuhiro Watsuki Translation: ruroken@geocities.com
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