* Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translation *
* Volume 13: The perfect night *
* Chapter one hundred and three: After dawn *
Saitou: Total destructed structures of nil, partially destructed structures
of seve. Over fifty fires started... put out not long after. Not bad. This
is what I'd call a miracle. As for casaulties, there are 41 dead and many
injured. Civilian casualty reports has not been accounted for yet, but no
deaths have been reported so far.
Kenshin: Forty-one souls...
Saitou: It's not even a single percent of our total manpower, for a
sacrifice so little to supress Shishio's animated plot, I'm already quite
satisfied.
Kenshin: That's not the point isn't it?
Saitou: ... Humph!
(he flicks his cigarette away)
Saitou: Fine by me! I have no right to interfere with your thoughts.
(picture of rooftop)
Saitou: (voice over) Befoer we head for Shishio's old hideout, I have
something to sort out. You go back to the inn and wait for my news!
Sano: I say, Kenshin!
Kenshin: Um?
Sano: Just like the never neutralizing mixtures of oil and water, so we
cannot get along well with that prawn head even in Kyoto can we?
Kenshin: I heard you were caught by the police shortly after your arrival in
Kyoto. Surely you could not have achieved some sort of invisible mutual
agreement with each other?
(Sano jets Kenshin up a wall)
PA KOOM!
Sano: Why must I have any sort of invisible mutual agreement with that sly
and sinister fellow? After defeating Shishio I MUST finish off our
undetermined battle!
(they continue walking)
Sano: But that's outta the point now. I'm hungry, so take me to that place
you call the inn!
Kenshin: (bump on his head) Yes sire! *How could you punch me...*
(they arrive outside the inn)
Sano: It's fun enough having a Kyoto Oniwabanshuu, who would've thought
they'd be on our side this time. There are really quite so many miraculous
meetings in this world!
Kenshin: Oro?
Yahiko: ! Kenshin! And Sanosuke!
Sano: So it's you! Yahiko! By the way, what're you doing at the door?
Committed some unpardonable sin again?
Yahiko: To the ground with you! I'm performing guard duty!
Kenshin: *Another new fatality of his...*
Yahiko: Kaoru! Kenshin's back!
(the door slides open hesitantly)
Sano: Hey! What's with all this caution and secrecy! Come on out!
Kaoru: (as Sanosuke wrenches the door open) !
Kenshin: To have caused you much anxiety over these few days, Kaoru-dono...
Kaoru: (surprised) No... not really.
(Sano and Yahiko smiles)
Sano: Not bad, little fellow, you actually managed to drag her all the way
here!
Yahiko: A true gentleman always keeps his word!
Kaoru: Have you completely mastered the succession technique?
Kenshin: Theoratically yes. But now the final strokes depends on my heart
and will... By the way, Misao-dono...
Kaoru: Misao... she...
(Kenshin's eyes widen)
Kenshin: *Oh no!*
(they all start running)
Kenshin: *I only wrote the letter to her in hope of borrowing the vast
contact net of the Oniwabanshuu and inform all the townspeople about
Shishio's plan to incinerate Kyoto. But if only I stopped to consider her
nature, that she would not rest with just spreading the word but employ her
own actions as well! This is my genre of strategic failure!*
(he slides open a door)
Kenshin: Misao-dono!
Misao: I. Am. So. USELESS!
(she slams the floor over and over again)
Misao: How can the Oniwabanshuu's Okashira not know anything about the enemy
already behind me? I am so so so so so so soooooooo USELESS!
Kenshin: ...
Kaoru: She's been at it for an entire night. Though it's quite good enough
that nothing's happened so far...something however, did almost go wrong
yesterday!
Misao: Nooooo!!!
Watsuki: Misao's self-hating pose is really quite interesting.
Yahiko: The guy at that time was clothed with murderous intents, and silly
clothes embroided all over with eyes and more eyes. He had a blindfold with
the words 'heart-eye' painted on it, therefore I can safely assume his
eyesight handicap.
Sano: ! Then that must be the blind swordsman of the Juppongatana, Usui.
Everyone else: !
Chou: (broom-head voice over) He is one of the experts in the Juppongatana.
Sano: Yup, that's what he said. It's unbelievable that you could fully
retreat after a sudden attack by this kindda person. You really have a big
life!
Kaoru: But that's only because -
(flashback)
Kaoru and Yahiko: MISAO!
(Misao watches in horror as the blade approaches her)
Bright spark
(the blade does not touch her. Anji as grabbed it away)
(pause flashback)
Sano looking shocked
(resume flashback)
Usui: Anji, what is the meaning of this?
Anji: Kamatari, Henya and the rest have already started their retreat, and
there's no meaning in prolonging this battle any further.
Usui: I meant to ask why spoil my only leisure? And you'd better give me
something acceptable.
Anji: Usui, you joined the Juppongatana of some forementioned reasons. But
don't you forget that I too joined the Juppongatana of some forementioned
reasons.
Usui: "To kill or not depends on one's will"... So what if there are no
orders from the top? You still enjoy the right of holding the enemy's life
in your hands...
Anji: I dislike your so-called "to kill or not".
(picture of Usui and Anji looking at each other)
Kaoru: Thereafter they summed each other up for about half an hour or so,
then left without any more conversation.
(end picture flashback)
Kenshin: That gentleman by the name of Anji sems to differ much from the
rest of the Juppongatana. Usui probably knew the consequences likely to
follow should he resume his attack, therefore retreated in the end. By the
looks of it, Anji's position in the Juppongatana should more or less equal
that of Soujirou and Usui.
(he turns to look at Misao)
Kenshin: Whatever it may be, Misao-dono's safety rests my heart in peace.
Misao: (still waving herself around in self torment) ...
Kenshin: Although she does not seem to be listening at all... (he notices
something) ! Sanosuke?
Sano: Miraculous meeting. This is no doubt one of it! *I shall use my fist
to force your details as to what this so called "saving the world" is!
Kenshin: ...
Yahiko: Kenshin! Oei, Kenshin!
Kenshin: Ah... apologies, is there something else?
Yahiko: I've not finished yet. Another dangerous guy's appeared in Kyoto.
(Misao stops squirming)
Yahiko: I didn't tell you all these earlier so you could focus your
concentration on -
Kaoru: Oh come on! I'd say you've just plain forgotten everything. Haven't
you?
(picture of Aoiya's roof)
Kenshin: Aoshi is in Kyoto?
Kaoru: Oniwabanshuu's former Okashira Shinomori Aoshi joined hands with
Shishio Makoto and attacked the inn just to seek you for revenge, and
wounded Okina so serious he's still not out of danger yet - ...
Misao: It's not as simple as that!
(Kenshin and Kaoru snaps)
Misao: Shinomori Aoshi, is now our enemy!
(she clenches her fist)
Misao: Our asolute, definite mortal enemy!
Kenshin: Mi... Misao-dono...
END TRANSLATION
(c) Nobuhiro Watsuki Translation: ruroken@geocities.com
(
geocities.com/athens/olympus) (
geocities.com/athens)